CARSCOOP

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• Toyota Chairman Says BMW Joint Venture Coupe Should be Like the Supra
• How to Turn a Ferrari 458 Italia Spider into a Family Car for Five
• Nissan Debuts Intelligent Self-Cleaning Rear View Camera on New Note [w/Video]
• Forza 5 Gets Intelligent Cloud-Based AI Which Learns and Adapts
• Dodge Brand's Future Uncertain, Says Wards Auto Report
• This Is What a 240 Km/h Crash in a Lamborghini Looks Like from Inside
• "Points" Could Be The Street Sign of The Future Eliminating the Need to Ask for Directions
• Audi Expects A3 Sedan to Be the Range’s Bestseller
• DC Designs Crafts the Rolls-Royce of Nissan Versa Sedans
• Steve Sutcliffe Drives Le Mans Winning Bentley Speed 8
• Meet the ATS Sport 1000, a 200HP Street-Legal Car that Weighs Under 500 Kg
• Spy Shots: Porsche Brings 2015 Cayenne Out for a Walk Again
• EVO Does First Review of All-New 2014 Range Rover Sport
• What if the New Mercedes-Benz CLA was a Proper Coupe?
• GM Says Cruze Diesel’s Overboost Feature Puts It on Par with Camaro Z28...from 1972
• Racing Bliss: Watch Jari-Matti Latvala Tackle the Acropolis Rally 2013
• Matt Farah Explains the Aston Martin Vanquish Experience
• New Mopar '13 Dart Priced from $25,485 (€19,140) in the U.S.
• New 2014 Cadillac CTS Priced from $46,025 or $7,000 More than Outgoing Model
• Watchdogs Open World Game Promises a Lot – E3 Trailer Shows Drive, Action and Stealth Scenes
• Need for Speed: Rivals Debuts at E3 with Trailer and Gameplay Video
• Holden Launches New Malibu Sedan in Australia Priced from $28,490
• Yokohama's HER-02 EV is Gearing Up for Pikes Peak 2013 [w/Videos]
• Ford Begins European Production of the Focus Electric

Toyota Chairman Says BMW Joint Venture Coupe Should be Like the Supra Posted: 13 Jun 2013 06:16 PM PDT From the moment we learned about the Toyota and BMW joint venture for the development of a new coupe in the summer of 2012, the first thing that crossed our minds was a Supra replacement. We weren't the only ones to go there, as over the past year, we heard many voices supporting the same– even a BMW source told Autonews that the collaboration may result in the rebirth of the Toyota Supra. Adding to these voices now is a high-ranking Toyota executive, and in particular, the brand's incoming chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada, who will soon replace Fujio Cho. Uchiyamada said he'd like the BMW co-developed sports car to be midsize vehicle "comparable" to the obsolete Supra, during an interview yesterday in Japan, according to Bloomberg News. Read more »

How to Turn a Ferrari 458 Italia Spider into a Family Car for Five Posted: 13 Jun 2013 05:46 PM PDT We could always be wrong, but from the little we know about Italian exotics, the creative minds in Maranello designed and developed the Ferrari 458 Italia Spider for two people - a driver and a passenger. Perhaps the owner of this bright yellow 458 Spider in Dubai was in a time squeeze of sorts, or maybe his Rolls-Royce Phantom limousine and Range Rover SUV were both unavailable. Read more »

Nissan Debuts Intelligent Self-Cleaning Rear View Camera on New Note [w/Video] Posted: 13 Jun 2013 05:23 PM PDT The all-new Nissan Note features an intelligent self-cleaning rear view camera that ensures systems like Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning and Moving Object Detection are fully optimized. In order to make these premium tech features accessible to the B-segment, Nissan has developed all the functions of the Safety Shield to rely on only the rear view camera. However, with so many functions depending on on the perfect operation of the wide angle rear view camera, Nissan's engineers realized the lens would need to be clear of dust and dirt at all times. Read more »

Forza 5 Gets Intelligent Cloud-Based AI Which Learns and Adapts Posted: 13 Jun 2013 04:56 PM PDT We are very fortunate to inhabit this planet at this very moment in history, as it really is a very unique time. Sure, there are problems with North Korea, and the economy in some parts of the world may be shaky, but when it comes to progress through technology, in any field, all seems to be going very strong. Like the automotive industry itself, which has grown into a massive octopus composed of intermingling companies and corporations, the gaming industry has also expanded and grown, as have their products – this is very evident at this year's edition of the E3 games convention which has featured a host of promising titles, of which we've featured the ones with cars. It seems that 2013-2014 is a really prolific period for game development. Read more »

Dodge Brand's Future Uncertain, Says Wards Auto Report Posted: 13 Jun 2013 03:23 PM PDT If we're to believe a report from WardsAuto, 2016 may be the year when the Dodge brand will disappear. In 2016, several new models and plant sourcing moves that were initiated in late 2010 will come to fruition. These moves will be decisive for long-term strategy of Chrysler, especially for the future of Dodge. By 2016, Chrysler will see almost its entire production renewed, with more than three-quarters of production volume to be based off the Fiat-engineered C/D-Evo, or CUSW, platform. This architecture is currently used by the Dodge Dart and the will also be used by the upcoming Chrysler 100, the next-generation Chrysler 200, Dodge Journey/Fiat Freemont, Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler and a new large luxury Chrysler SUV. Read more »

This Is What a 240 Km/h Crash in a Lamborghini Looks Like from Inside Posted: 13 Jun 2013 02:36 PM PDT Crashing while going 240 km/h (149 mph) is something no one would like to experience in their lifetime. Nevertheless, when you are a racing driver, chances are that sooner or later you'll be involved in a high-speed accident. Read more »

"Points" Could Be The Street Sign of The Future Eliminating the Need to Ask for Directions Posted: 13 Jun 2013 01:45 PM PDT This is Points, by Breakfast Productions, the innovative new futuristic-looking street sign that could make asking for directions an obsolete inconvenience - for some, at least. It is about the same height as any other street sign you've seen, but aside from its general look which hints at what it is, everything about it is new and innovative. For instance, it is constantly connected to the internet, and can display a wide array of interest points, events and is even social networking-enabled, meaning it can display tweets, as well as RSS feeds. Read more »

Audi Expects A3 Sedan to Be the Range’s Bestseller Posted: 13 Jun 2013 01:24 PM PDT On Wednesday, Audi started production of the new A3 sedan, a model that the carmaker expects to outsell the A3 hatchback and convertible variants. "We assume every second A3 customer will opt for the sedan in the future," Audi spokesman Josef Schlossmacher said. The A3 sedan is mainly aimed at the U.S. and Chinese markets, where sedans are more popular than in Europe. Read more »

DC Designs Crafts the Rolls-Royce of Nissan Versa Sedans Posted: 13 Jun 2013 12:45 PM PDT No one in their right mind would ever look for excessive luxuries in a car like the Versa that Nissan brags has the lowest MSRP for a new model in the States, nor would they attempt to make a premium vehicle out of it, or would they… Well, actually, someone has tried to give the Versa, which is also known as the Sunny in other markets including India, a far more luxurious character. That someone is none other than Dilip Chhabria of DC Designs, who took a look at what premium manufacturers like Rolls Royce and Mercedes-Benz have to offer and applied a similar formula (on a lower budget) to the Versa / Sunny. Read more »

Steve Sutcliffe Drives Le Mans Winning Bentley Speed 8 Posted: 13 Jun 2013 12:24 PM PDT Driving a Le Mans winning LMP1 prototype car isn't something many road test editors can brag about. Autocar road test editor Steve Sutcliffe somehow convinced the people at Bentley to let him drive their 2003 Le Mans winning car, the Speed 8. Read more »

Meet the ATS Sport 1000, a 200HP Street-Legal Car that Weighs Under 500 Kg Posted: 13 Jun 2013 12:03 PM PDT Italy's Automobili Turismo Sport (ATS for short) is a car manufacturer founded by Ferrari F1 engineers in 1962. According to the company, the philosophy behind ATS' cars is that supercar performance can be achieved by using light materials and compact, high performance engines. ATS says that's what the new Sport 1000 is all about. Its chassis is made of stainless steel, paneled in aluminum, and only weighs 55kg (121 lbs) while the body, completely removable in 5 minutes, is made of GRP and weighs 57 kg (125 lbs). The car is available on the market in both FIA/CSAI compliant race and road legal licensed versions. Read more »

Spy Shots: Porsche Brings 2015 Cayenne Out for a Walk Again Posted: 13 Jun 2013 11:25 AM PDT If you want to stay on top of your game in the auto industry these days, you need to keep your products fresh and relevant. For the fairly new second generation Porsche Cayenne that's only been on the market since mid-2010, this means a light mid-cycle refresh to keep it up to date for the next few years until the release of a third generation model sometime in 2018. This isn't the first time we've shared scoop shots of a prototype of the facelifted 2015 Cayenne, and to be frank, there's nothing new to add as it looks like the same tester with the same set of fake lights and black masking tape to cover some of the new design details on the front and the rear ends of the SUV as before. Read more »

EVO Does First Review of All-New 2014 Range Rover Sport Posted: 13 Jun 2013 10:49 AM PDT I never really understood the purpose of old Range Rover Sport, with its dash set so high inside the cabin, that they were forced to paint a black line on the lower part of the windscreen to mask it off. I never got why they used Discovery underpinnings, and still called it a Range Rover, despite the fact that anybody who has been in/driven one of those will tell you there is a big difference in the way they feel/make you feel. Read more »

What if the New Mercedes-Benz CLA was a Proper Coupe? Posted: 13 Jun 2013 10:19 AM PDT There have been many heated discussions over the past few years about whether sedan models with low rooflines (sometimes lacking door-window frames) should be called four-door coupes and if the term itself is contradictory, but at the end of the day, this is how we have come to know and call cars like the Volkswagen CC, the Mercedes-Benz CLS, and more recently, the CLA. We're not going to get into that discussion again, though, you're more than free to do so if you wish in the comments, but we will share this rendering of a proper Mercedes-Benz CLA Coupe made by the creative minds at Hungary's X-Tomi Design. Read more »

GM Says Cruze Diesel’s Overboost Feature Puts It on Par with Camaro Z28...from 1972 Posted: 13 Jun 2013 09:57 AM PDT The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel uses a turbocharging feature called "overboost" which shortly lifts torque for better acceleration. The turbocharged 2.0-liter engine delivers 151 horsepower and 264 lb-ft of torque (358 Nm), but overboost can increase peak torque to 280 lb-ft (380 Nm) for about 10 seconds of stronger acceleration. GM compares it with the equivalent torque delivered by the 1972 Camaro Z28's heavier 5.7-liter V8. Read more »

Racing Bliss: Watch Jari-Matti Latvala Tackle the Acropolis Rally 2013 Posted: 13 Jun 2013 09:04 AM PDT To truly appreciate the talent, hardships and dangers of racing on a professional level in a very difficult and demanding course like the Rally Acropolis that is held in dusty, jagged and rocky mountain roads around Athens, one would have to take the seat next to the driver, but that's near impossible for most people. The next best thing we can think of is to mount a couple of cameras onboard and watch the driver and co-pilot unfold their skills, which brings us to this video from the official WRC channel. Read more »

Matt Farah Explains the Aston Martin Vanquish Experience Posted: 13 Jun 2013 08:36 AM PDT Aston Martins are behind many exotic brands when it comes to technology and engines, but what they are good at more than makes up for that. For instance, in my opinion, the design of the new Vanquish is their best effort since they first drew up the modern DB9 (still a reference point in terms of clean GT/coupe looks). In addition, it's hugely customizable because it's hand-made, and the reworked V12 engine now sounds better than ever. Read more »

New Mopar '13 Dart Priced from $25,485 (€19,140) in the U.S. Posted: 13 Jun 2013 08:01 AM PDT Dodge dealers are taking in orders for the limited-edition Mopar '13 Dart, which starts from $25,485 (€19,140), excluding a $995 (€750) delivery fee. The limited-edition Dart, which will be built in 500 units, will arrive this summer at dealerships across the country. Read more »

New 2014 Cadillac CTS Priced from $46,025 or $7,000 More than Outgoing Model Posted: 13 Jun 2013 07:36 AM PDT General Motors has just released pricing information on the all-new 2014 Cadillac CTS sedan before it arrives in dealerships across the States this fall. The mid-size luxury model starts at $46,025 for the entry-level version fitted with a new 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four delivering 272hp, which makes it close to $7,000 more expensive than the current base CTS with a 270hp 3.0-liter V6. Keep in mind, though, that the new CTS is 5-inches longer but also 244 pounds lighter, and in base trim, also quite faster than its predecessor hitting the 0-60mph (96km/h) mark in 6.1-seconds (vs. 7.6 seconds). Read more »

Watchdogs Open World Game Promises a Lot – E3 Trailer Shows Drive, Action and Stealth Scenes Posted: 13 Jun 2013 07:09 AM PDT This year's edition of E3 has been peppered with nice little promos, teaser and gameplay videos for various upcoming racing/driving games. Some are more focused on the actual driving part, like Need for Speed: Rivals, while others have a more Hollywood-style approach and lots of action, as is the case with The Crew. However, my personal favorite and most eagerly-anticipated game is Ubisoft's Watchdogs. At first, you may dismiss it as a mere Grand Theft Auto (GTA) clone, which in some ways it is. That is a very broad way of putting it, though, and this new game is far more serious in its character than any of the more light-hearted GTA games. Read more »

Need for Speed: Rivals Debuts at E3 with Trailer and Gameplay Video Posted: 13 Jun 2013 06:36 AM PDT The "Need for Speed: Rivals" racing game is the spiritual successor for the 1999 smash-hit "Need for Speed: High Stakes" (a classic of the racing genre), or at least that's what EA says regarding the twentieth installment in the long-running series – yes, there have been twenty of them, thus far. Having gone through a street-racing phase with several of the older games, NFS is back to its core, featuring the never-ending battle between cops and the ones they chase. Read more »

Holden Launches New Malibu Sedan in Australia Priced from $28,490 Posted: 13 Jun 2013 05:50 AM PDT Sporting the same exterior looks as the pre-facelift Chevrolet Malibu sans the Holden badges and front grille, GM's Australian unit confirmed the model line-up and pricing for its new mid-size sedan that will slot between the Cruze and the Commodore in its range going up against the likes of the Honda Accord, Ford Mondeo and Mazda6. The Holden Malibu goes on sale in Australia this month offerings customers a choice of two trim levels, CD and CDX, and a pair of engines, a 2.4 liter petrol rated for 165hp (123kW) or a 2.0 liter common rail turbo diesel developing 157hp (117kW), with prices ranging from $28,490 to $35,990. Read more »

Yokohama's HER-02 EV is Gearing Up for Pikes Peak 2013 [w/Videos] Posted: 13 Jun 2013 05:20 AM PDT After finishing fifth in its class at Pikes Peak in 2012, Japanese tire manufacturer Yokohama is trying again this year, with the same all-electric vehicle, dubbed the HER-02. Having been in development since 2009, and entered in the famed hill-climb starting in 2010, the vehicle has reached some level of technical stability most likely, if you will, and hopes are high - every year has seen the car perform better, so 2013 should be no exception. Read more »

Ford Begins European Production of the Focus Electric Posted: 13 Jun 2013 05:11 AM PDT Ford has started production of the Focus EV, the first full-electric vehicle to be built by the U.S. carmaker in Europe. Manufacturing of the Focus Electric was integrated directly into the established Focus assembly line at the company's Saarlouis plant in Germany. Instead of using a gasoline or diesel engine for its motivation like the regular Focus models, the Electric sports an electric motor and lithium-ion battery powertrain that produces 145PS (143 hp) allowing the hatch to reach a top speed of 84mph (135 km/h). Read more »

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