CARSCOOP

---

• BMW Woos Japanese Consumers with New 5-Series Exclusive Sport Edition
• Consumer Reports Not Really Thrilled About New Mitsubishi Outlander
• Allegedly Official Photos of MG's New CS Crossover Concept Surface Online
• Ford Confirms 1.5L EcoBoost for 2014 Fusion and Mondeo, but it's a 4- and Not a 3-Cylinder Unit
• Watch Chevrolet Manager Point Out What's New in the 2014 Camaro SS
• Spy Shots: BMW Puts 5-Series Gran Turismo Under the Knife
• Michael Schumacher and Mercedes Reunite, Former F1 Ace Promotes Driving Systems
• Iron Man 3 Approves 2014 Audi R8 in New Promo
• Ford Simplifies UK Mondeo Range, Gives Entry Level Model More Kit
• Watch a High-Speed Police-Pursuit Through the Eyes of a Motorbike Officer
• Bugatti Veyron GS Vitesse Sets New Open-Top Speed Record at 409KM/H (254MPH)
• Harris Helps Us Understand Negative Torque with Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell Test
• Movie Scoop: Lamborghini, McLaren and Koenigsegg Battle it Out in Need For Speed Film
• Insane Classic Fiat with Lamborghini V12 is the Godfather of all 500s
• Mazda Shows Off Japanese Style in Milan, With KODO-Inspired Chair
• Ford Begins Production of the Latest Explorer SUV in Russia
• AMG Says "Nein" to Diesel, "Ja" to Hybrids, Will Keep Big V12s for Six More Years
• Toyota, Honda, Mazda and Nissan Jointly Recall 3.4 Million Cars Worldwide Over Airbag Issue
• Lamborghini Pregunta Concept Could be Yours for $2.1 Million
• Look at These Indian Kids Drive Around in a Real-Life Ferrari F430!
• Citroen Unveils DS Wild Rubis Concept, Says Hints at Future Luxury SUV [60 Photos & Videos]
• Tesla Tries to Entice Texas Officials With New Plant Where it Could Make Electric Pickup

BMW Woos Japanese Consumers with New 5-Series Exclusive Sport Edition Posted: 11 Apr 2013 06:09 PM PDT The marketing division of BMW Japan is looking for select buyers, 300 of them, to be precise, for a new special edition version of its 5-Series sedan and Touring (station wagon) models dubbed "Exclusive Sport", which are offered with a choice of two four-cylinder engines, a 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol for the 523i and a 2.0-liter force-fed diesel for the 523d. Read more »

Consumer Reports Not Really Thrilled About New Mitsubishi Outlander Posted: 11 Apr 2013 05:25 PM PDT The Mitsubishi Outlander has never been the kind of car one buys because of burning desire, but it was always competent and one of the better vehicles to drive in its class. Now, the all-new model, which is radically different from its predecessor, takes center stage, as Mitsubishi tries to keep itself relevant in the current context of the automotive industry, both in the US and the rest of the world. The new 2014 Outlander needs to be very good, but if we are to listen to Consumer Reports (CR), which recently took it for a drive, things aren't looking up. Read more »

Allegedly Official Photos of MG's New CS Crossover Concept Surface Online Posted: 11 Apr 2013 04:06 PM PDT In the UK, MG currently sells one model, the MG6, but they will also be adding the MG3 supermini and the VW Golf-sized MG5 hatch to their range, according to the automaker's official website. It also lists the Icon crossover concept under the Models section hinting at the fact that they're considering such a vehicle. However, if a report from China's Autohome is to be believed, they've had a change of heart with the styling direction for it. The Icon concept was a retro-inspired vehicle, drawing heavily on the MGB, a car from the better part of the company's history, but now with the new CS crossover, they've gone for something completely different and much more modern-looking. Read more »

Ford Confirms 1.5L EcoBoost for 2014 Fusion and Mondeo, but it's a 4- and Not a 3-Cylinder Unit Posted: 11 Apr 2013 03:30 PM PDT Ford just announced that it will launch a new 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine which will power the 2014 Fusion in the U.S., among other models. Contrary to a report earlier this week from the website Fordinsidenews, the engine will not be a 3-cylinder, but a more conventional inline-four unit. Read more »

Watch Chevrolet Manager Point Out What's New in the 2014 Camaro SS Posted: 11 Apr 2013 02:55 PM PDT Recently introduced at the 2013 New York International Auto Show, the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro SS has been given a walk-around-style presentation by the carmaker's marketing manager for performance cars, John Fitzpatrick. What we find out from this video is that Chevrolet wanted to differentiate the V8 from V6 models with the restyled Camaro, so the SS received some styling tweaks inspired from the ZL1, including the hood extractor and the lower grille. Read more »

Spy Shots: BMW Puts 5-Series Gran Turismo Under the Knife Posted: 11 Apr 2013 02:21 PM PDT There's so much you can do to improve the looks of a car like the 5-Series Gran Turismo (GT), and judging by these latest spy photos, BMW isn't really in the mood for any extensive modifications for the car's mid-life update. Instead, the exterior refresh simply tweaks the front and rear bumpers along with the respective light clusters, and possibly the grille, bringing all these elements in line with BMW's more recent presentations like the F30 3-Series and the F20 1-Series. Understandably, the same will apply to the rest of the 5-Series range, the sedan and Touring models. Read more »

Michael Schumacher and Mercedes Reunite, Former F1 Ace Promotes Driving Systems Posted: 11 Apr 2013 01:22 PM PDT Mercedes-Benz and Michael Schumacher today announced a new long-term partnership focusing on the development of the brand's safety and comfort systems, united under the name "Intelligent Drive." The seven-times Formula 1 world champion, known for his previous work on road safety, will help develop those systems and represent them as an ambassador, supporting Mercedes-Benz's involvement in this field. The carmaker says it will use Schumacher's expertise to develop the best solutions for safety on the roads. Read more »

Iron Man 3 Approves 2014 Audi R8 in New Promo Posted: 11 Apr 2013 12:52 PM PDT Just like kids who can't resist wearing an Iron Man's plastic mask, Audi too can't stop associating itself with the Marvel comics superhero and the third film in the Iron Man franchise that will see Tony Stark, played by actor Robert Downey Jr., using a battery-powered R8 e-tron coupe for his casual strolls around town. Read more »

Ford Simplifies UK Mondeo Range, Gives Entry Level Model More Kit Posted: 11 Apr 2013 12:27 PM PDT The Ford Mondeo is a firm favorite with British car buyers, and it is still a strong buy, despite the fact that it is long-overdue for a replacement in the form of the European version of the Fusion sedan. Now, Ford has announced that it will be simplifying the range, and will be offering two new spec levels in the United Kingdom. Read more »

Watch a High-Speed Police-Pursuit Through the Eyes of a Motorbike Officer Posted: 11 Apr 2013 11:48 AM PDT Now here's something you don't get to see every day. The Florence Police Department (in the U.S., not Italy) released footage captured from a helmet-mounted camera of an officer riding a motorcycle in pursuit of a motorist who failed to stop after being signaled by the police. Read more »

Bugatti Veyron GS Vitesse Sets New Open-Top Speed Record at 409KM/H (254MPH) Posted: 11 Apr 2013 11:31 AM PDT Following the 2010 world speed record achieved by the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport (431,072 km/h/267.8 mph), Bugatti has set a new benchmark, this time with the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse. Driven by Chinese racing driver Anthony Liu, the convertible Veyron reached a speed of 408.84 km/h (254 mph), enough for the German organization for Technical Inspection and Certification (TÜV) to certify it as the world's fastest open-top production sports car. Read more »

Harris Helps Us Understand Negative Torque with Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell Test Posted: 11 Apr 2013 11:00 AM PDT As is most often the case when a manufacturer announces a revolutionary new car, it is viewed with doubt, disbelief and trepidation. Trigger-happy motoring hacks around the world await for the first signs of trouble so that they can fire off a series of articles and follow-ups aimed at dissecting the problem over and over again. However, there's nothing bad to write about the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell thus far, so we can stand back and take it all in with our minds unbound by negative projections. Read more »

Movie Scoop: Lamborghini, McLaren and Koenigsegg Battle it Out in Need For Speed Film Posted: 11 Apr 2013 10:29 AM PDT Now that we've pretty much confirmed that a number of exotic supercars used in the filming of the "Need for Speed" movie in California are replicas from a detailed set of close-up shots, these fresh pictures from our new friends at Mendocinosportsplus (MSP) make a lot more sense – would you ever imagine any movie maker endangering so many rare, multi-million dollar vehicles? In one scene, we see the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento, of which only 20 examples were built in real life, chasing what we assume to be a clone of the all-new McLaren P1 and the a Koenigsegg Agera R in a very tight turn. Read more »

Insane Classic Fiat with Lamborghini V12 is the Godfather of all 500s Posted: 11 Apr 2013 09:37 AM PDT Stuffing a 6.2-liter V12 from the Lamborghini Murcielago onto the rear axle (and much of the interior) of an old Fiat 500 sounds like a job for a very determined mechanic. Finding the necessary space to fit such a big engine inside a tiny bodywork like the 500's can be quite a discouraging enterprise. However, the job was nothing that the the crew at Oemmedi Meccanica couldn't handle, with the Italian aftermarket specialists successfully turning one of the world's most "peaceful" cars into an absolute beast. Read more »

Mazda Shows Off Japanese Style in Milan, With KODO-Inspired Chair Posted: 11 Apr 2013 09:01 AM PDT We're the kind of people who like carmakers to stay focused on what they are supposed to do – make automobiles. However, in the modern world of design, which is an entire sub-culture in and of itself, it seems that it doesn't matter what you come up with, as it can easily be translated and made into something else entirely, while keeping its relation to the first inspirational object very clear. Read more »

Ford Begins Production of the Latest Explorer SUV in Russia Posted: 11 Apr 2013 08:36 AM PDT The first Explorer rolled off the assembly line today at Ford's Sollers Elabuga Assembly Plant in the Republic of Tatarstan in Russia, marking the first time in the nameplate's 23-year long history that the full-size SUV is fully produced outside of the United States. All production at the Soller's plant is aimed at the Russian market. Read more »

AMG Says "Nein" to Diesel, "Ja" to Hybrids, Will Keep Big V12s for Six More Years Posted: 11 Apr 2013 08:10 AM PDT Mercedes-Benz, through its AMG division, makes some of the best large-displacement engines in the world, and if you were wondering how long they were going to keep at it, in the face of increasingly-stringent emissions laws, we now have an answer for you directly from the AMG Chairman himself, Ola Källenius. In a talk with Edmunds, the AMG boss said that we can expect to see the firm's V12 engines in action for "a minimum of five or six year," after which they will be replaced with something considerably greener. This means that if you want an AMG V12, the hourglass has already been turned and the countdown has begun… Read more »

Toyota, Honda, Mazda and Nissan Jointly Recall 3.4 Million Cars Worldwide Over Airbag Issue Posted: 11 Apr 2013 07:34 AM PDT In this day and age, automakers share a number of common components, which is beneficial in terms of pushing down costs and development times, but can also be troublesome when something goes wrong, as is the case of a faulty air bag from Japanese manufacturer Takata Corp., which is used by Toyota, Honda, Mazda and Nissan. Overall, the four Japanese carmakers and their subsidiaries are recalling 3.4 million vehicles worldwide for the same issue that stems from improperly manufactured propellant wafers that could cause the airbag inflator to rupture and the front passenger airbag to deploy abnormally in the event of a crash. Read more »

Lamborghini Pregunta Concept Could be Yours for $2.1 Million Posted: 11 Apr 2013 07:10 AM PDT If you're looking to buy a hugely-expensive supercar or hypercar, you are willing to spend six-digit figures to achieve your dreams, then perhaps you should take your eyes off the Paganis, Koenigseggs and Bugattis of the world, and take a look at this Lamborghini Pregunta (Spanish for "question") concept from 1998. As you would imagine, only one was ever built, but more importantly, it represents the final car made by Lamborghini, before going under Audi control. Read more »

Look at These Indian Kids Drive Around in a Real-Life Ferrari F430! Posted: 11 Apr 2013 06:32 AM PDT We had to rub our eyes and watch this video a couple of times just to make sure that what we're looking at here is real and not made up. If you're wondering why, just ask yourself, how many times have you seen kids – again, not teenagers, kids…- riding around in what looks and sounds to be a real Ferrari F430 (unless it's a very good replica) ? This is the first time we've seen something like this, and one hand, we're completely dumbfounded by the recklessness of the adults supposedly supervising the two young boys, but on the other hand, there's also a little devil inside us saying, "wow, these youngsters are sure lucky…". Read more »

Citroen Unveils DS Wild Rubis Concept, Says Hints at Future Luxury SUV [60 Photos & Videos] Posted: 11 Apr 2013 06:06 AM PDT In yet another display of the increasing importance of the Chinese market, Citroen will be revealing a new concept car named the "Wild Rubis" that hints at a future SUV for its upmarket DS sub-brand at next week's Shanghai Motor Show. This is the third time in recent years that Citroen has chosen a Chinese auto show for the world premiere of a DS concept car, the two previous models being the shooting-brake-style Numero 9 at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show and the DS9 sports saloon at the Shanghai Auto Show in 2010. Read more »

Tesla Tries to Entice Texas Officials With New Plant Where it Could Make Electric Pickup Posted: 11 Apr 2013 04:58 AM PDT The CEO and co-founder of Tesla Motors, Elon Musk, recently went to Texas to try to talk to local officials into letting the company sell its cars directly to consumers and not through a dealer network. Currently, Tesla has two "stores" located in high-end districts of Austin and Dallas, with a third one to be made in Houston. However, they can't currently offer pricing information or test drivers to potential customers, and won't be able to do so until Musk convinces the Texas Automobile Dealers Association to let them sell the cars by themselves, and not through an outsourced dealer. Read more »

You are subscribed to email updates from Carscoops To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610