CARSCOOP

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• Formula 1: 2013 Season to Open with Australian Grand Prix
• Callaway Plans to Turn 2014 Corvette Stingray into a Shooting Brake for Under $15,000
• 2012 Best Year in Porsche’s History, Cayenne Made Up More Than Half of Total Sales
• Meet Belgium’s Wiesmann GT, the Imperia GP Hybrid Sports Car
• GM Said to be Plotting Entry-Level Corvette Priced Well Under $50,000
• Rare Alpina BMW 320i Turbo E21 Prototype Could Be Yours for $24,990
• Russian Motorcyclist Lives Another Day After Scary Accident with Tractor
• SsangYong Releases Renderings of New LIV-1 Concept SUV Ahead of Seoul Debut
• An American Paid $104,000 for Chopped Fiat 500 Tender2 by Castagna Milano
• The Year of the Hot Hatch: See Which Models We're Expecting in 2013
• TF-Works Rolls Out New Scion FR-S Coupe Project
• Real Madrid’s Benzema Fined €18,000 for Doing 215 km/h in a 100-km/h Zone in an Audi RS5
• Alfa Romeo 4C Official (?) Brochure with Full Specs and Equipment Range
• Oil Kings Will Love It: Mercedes-Benz Details the G 63 AMG 6x6 Pickup in Huge Gallery
• Sounds Like GT-R Spirit: Why the New Renault Clio RS Sound App is Just Lame
• Portland Police "Arrests" Man Doing the 'Harlem Shake' in Central Precinct Garage
• Mercedes-Benz Reportedly Plotting Renault-Based X-Class Supermini in 2018
• Citroen Shows Production 2014 C4 Picasso in New Promo Video
• Old Chevrolet Impala Offered a Life Extension for Another Year
• Another Shotgun Ride, This Time in the Renault Clio RS 200 EDC

Formula 1: 2013 Season to Open with Australian Grand Prix Posted: 15 Mar 2013 07:16 PM PDT March always marks the beginning of a new Formula 1 season – and this year is no exception, as 11 teams and 22 drivers line up for the inaugural race of the 19-event marathon that starts this weekend at Australia's Albert Park circuit. Major changes in technical regulations will be implemented in 2014, when turbocharged engines will return to F1 after a quarter of a century, as they were banned at the end of 1988. For now, the biggest differences compared to 2012 are the restrictions in the use of the DRS system during practice and qualifying and the new tire compounds by sole supplier Pirelli. Read more »

Callaway Plans to Turn 2014 Corvette Stingray into a Shooting Brake for Under $15,000 Posted: 15 Mar 2013 03:00 PM PDT Perhaps it's a solution to a problem that nobody knew existed, but Callaway Cars has come up with an aftermarket shooting brake concept for the new 2014 Corvette Stingray, which it says, results "in a unique style and increased interior space". Read more »

2012 Best Year in Porsche’s History, Cayenne Made Up More Than Half of Total Sales Posted: 15 Mar 2013 02:27 PM PDT Porsche reported sales of 143,096 vehicles for 2012, up 22 percent than in the previous year, which is a new record for the sports car manufacturer. The model series with the highest growth was the 911, with sales up 49 percent to 26,203 vehicles. Read more »

Meet Belgium’s Wiesmann GT, the Imperia GP Hybrid Sports Car Posted: 15 Mar 2013 01:57 PM PDT Imperia is a Belgian car brand that built motorcycles and automobiles from 1904 to 1958. It was resurrected 50 years later by Green Propulsion, a company that spent only €400 (US$523 at today's exchange rates) to acquire the brand. It did so in order to build a hybrid sports car under the name of Imperia GP. Fast-forward to 2013 and the concept car is ready for production. While it may be dubbed the Belgian Wiesmann due to its resemblance to the German manufacturer's GT model, the retro-styled GP uses design cues from past Imperia models. Read more »

GM Said to be Plotting Entry-Level Corvette Priced Well Under $50,000 Posted: 15 Mar 2013 01:27 PM PDT At the same time that General Motors is officially talking about taking the Corvette nameplate to the next level with the new 2014 Stingray model, a report from Reuters citing "people familiar with the plans" states that the Detroit carmaker is looking to expand the range with a lower cost entry-level model priced well under $50,000. "Clearly, there's a lot of opportunity with Corvette," said one of the people, who asked not to be identified. "It's good for General Motors to be thinking out of the box a little bit." Read more »

Rare Alpina BMW 320i Turbo E21 Prototype Could Be Yours for $24,990 Posted: 15 Mar 2013 12:53 PM PDT This is a real treat. It's one of only three Alpina-branded E21 3-Series BMWs, which were given a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine, instead of the familiar 2.3-liter straight-six. They were made in the late 70s, when BMW was still deciding what engine to give its new 320. Sure, in the end, they took the classic approach and used the six-pot unit, but that only serves to make these prototypes even more interesting and sought-after. Read more »

Russian Motorcyclist Lives Another Day After Scary Accident with Tractor Posted: 15 Mar 2013 12:32 PM PDT This just in from the land of countless dash-cams and mind-blowing incidents from this world and…beyond. Earlier today, the drivers of three cars involved in a crossway accident in the Russian city of Irkutsk had set up safety cones and were waiting for the police to arrive at the scene. Read more »

SsangYong Releases Renderings of New LIV-1 Concept SUV Ahead of Seoul Debut Posted: 15 Mar 2013 12:20 PM PDT Following the Geneva show debut of the SIV-1 SUV concept, SsangYong has released two renderings of another design study, called the LIV-1. Set to premiere at the Seoul Motor Show on March 28, the LIV-1 is SsangYong's proposal for a large premium SUV shaped by the brand's "Robust Aesthetics" design philosophy. Read more »

An American Paid $104,000 for Chopped Fiat 500 Tender2 by Castagna Milano Posted: 15 Mar 2013 11:57 AM PDT Have you ever wanted a Fiat 500, which was modified by a renowned Italian coach builder specifically for beach use, complete with a shower, champagne cooler and yacht-like wood veneer? If the answer is no, then shame on you for not thinking outside the box, and if the answer was yes, well, just keep on reading. Read more »

The Year of the Hot Hatch: See Which Models We're Expecting in 2013 Posted: 15 Mar 2013 11:05 AM PDT If anything else, this year, the automotive world will be blessed with a wide range of new hot hatches for you to choose from. Sadly, for U.S. buyers, most of these pocket rockets will be staying in Europe, but if there was ever a time to switch continents, now would be it (well, from an automotive perspective...). To make your decision easier, we have put together a list of all of the hot hatches that are expected to go on sale in Europe in 2013, and which you can check out in detail right after the break. Read more »

TF-Works Rolls Out New Scion FR-S Coupe Project Posted: 15 Mar 2013 10:11 AM PDT The aftermarket industry is having a blast with the RWD coupe duo from Toyota and Subaru, which is something we expected after the two Japanese carmakers softened up the appearance of their respective production models compared to the impressive looking concepts. Read more »

Real Madrid’s Benzema Fined €18,000 for Doing 215 km/h in a 100-km/h Zone in an Audi RS5 Posted: 15 Mar 2013 09:34 AM PDT French footballer Karim Benzema has been fined €18,000 ($23,500) after being flashed on a Spanish motorway doing 216 km/h (134 mph) in a 100 km/h (62 mph) zone. The 25-year-old Real Madrid forward will also have his driving license suspended for eight months, a Spanish court ruled. Read more »

Alfa Romeo 4C Official (?) Brochure with Full Specs and Equipment Range Posted: 15 Mar 2013 09:25 AM PDT Apart from the trio of hypercars, probably the most eagerly awaited model of the 83rd Geneva Motor Show was the production version of the Alfa Romeo 4C. Now, after the extensive coverage it has received, one may wonder what is left to say for the sexy two-seat, mid-engined Italian coupe. Well, quite a lot actually: 4C-Forums, the only site (so far) dedicated to the new Alfa, has published what it claims is the official brochure for the car. Read more »

Oil Kings Will Love It: Mercedes-Benz Details the G 63 AMG 6x6 Pickup in Huge Gallery Posted: 15 Mar 2013 07:27 PM PDT There is no doubt about the target group Mercedes-Benz had in mind when developing the G 63 AMG 6x6 pre-production off-road vehicle. The pictures set in the desert and press release say it all: "The show vehicle is able to storm up the highest sand dunes with ease while sand tracks hold no fears thanks to its unshakable directional stability." Read more »

Sounds Like GT-R Spirit: Why the New Renault Clio RS Sound App is Just Lame Posted: 15 Mar 2013 07:37 AM PDT Call me a conspiracy theorist if you like but, although I don't believe in the "second shooter" theory or that those white lines in the sky are something other than contrails, I have a nagging thought that, in the past few months, some of the most charismatic CEOs in the automotive industry have been replaced by clones. Nissan's Carlos Ghosn is idolized in Japan for turning the ailing carmaker around; he even starred in a manga. Forming an alliance with Renault was also a very successful movement, allowing for parts sharing and cost-cutting while giving each carmaker its own distinct character and, in the process, churning out some pretty driver-oriented cars such as the Nissan GT-R or the Renault Sport Megane and Clio. Read more »

Portland Police "Arrests" Man Doing the 'Harlem Shake' in Central Precinct Garage Posted: 15 Mar 2013 06:59 AM PDT If you haven't heard or seen people feverishly dance to the tunes of "The Harlem Shake", you're either not from this world or you've completely locked yourself out from today's society. In the name of fun, Portland Police chimed in with their own "surveillance" video that shows a man dancing in the Justice Center basement parking lot, before a cop comes and arrests him, with the clip ending with the following note: "NO MORE SHAKE VIDEOS! The Portland Police Bureau arresting your fun since 1870". Read more »

Mercedes-Benz Reportedly Plotting Renault-Based X-Class Supermini in 2018 Posted: 15 Mar 2013 06:38 AM PDT As if the A-Class wasn't already a big departure from what we normally think of when we say Mercedes-Benz, according to Autobild magazine, they may be going one step further, with the creation of a new, smaller next-gen Renault Clio-based range of entry-level models. Reportedly called the X-Class, it is said to be built with costs in mind, looking to attract buyers looking for a premium badge on a supermini – its main competitors will be the Audi A1, as well as the future range of front-wheel drive BMWs (and the MINI). Read more »

Citroen Shows Production 2014 C4 Picasso in New Promo Video Posted: 15 Mar 2013 06:04 AM PDT Citroen continues to make us scratch our heads with the next generation of the C4 Picasso. After circulating a ton of undisguised test cars on Europe's roads and labeling the production model as the Technospace Concept at the Geneva Motor Show, Carscoops reader Florian D. discovered a promotional video from the French company in which we see the new the C4 Picasso (look at the 1:13 mark). Read more »

Old Chevrolet Impala Offered a Life Extension for Another Year Posted: 15 Mar 2013 05:31 AM PDT In April, GM will launch the next generation of its Chevrolet Impala onto the North American market, but the all-new 2014 model won't tread alone, as the Detroit carmaker plans to continue production of the current 2013 Impala until next spring. Read more »

Another Shotgun Ride, This Time in the Renault Clio RS 200 EDC Posted: 15 Mar 2013 04:59 AM PDT Having witnessed a test drive of the all-new Clio RS, done by Renault itself, and watched the few driving videos they put out, we now get one-step closer to a review with yet another shotgun ride video, and by that we mean a Renault test driver taking someone out for a ride. We already covered a similar video done for the Peugeot 208 GTi, so now it's the turn of the even-more-hotly-anticipated Clio RS. Read more »

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