CARSCOOP |  |
- Cocky Dancing Tool's Moment of Fallen Zen
- Scion Unleashes Four FR-S and One xB Stretch Limo Concepts for SEMA
- This is How BMW Treats Customers who Switch from Mercedes to Their Cars [w/Video]
- Toyota Camry, Prius V and RAV4 Lose Consumer Reports Recommendation
- Check Out this Exclusive Detailed Look at the McLaren P1
- These 2014 Scion tC SEMA Concepts Were Built at a Cost of $15,000 a Pop
- Another Tesla Catches Fire, This Time After Crash in Mexico [w/Video]
- Spied: Jaguar Begins Work on Redesigned XF Saloon
- Selfish Cyclist Thinks Rally Stage is All for Himself…
- Care for a 680HP Toyota Camry Coupe with a NASCAR Flair? [Gallery & Video]
- Duke of Windsor’s Ultra-Luxurious 1941 Cadillac Known as The Duchess up for Sale
- Scoop: A Static Look at the New BMW M3 Sedan Caught by Accident
- Toyo Tires Previews Unique Booth Vehicles for 2013 SEMA Show
- This 16-Year-Old Girl Runs 1/4 Mile in 11 Seconds!
- Fiat Adds 105HP TwinAir on the 500, 120HP 1.6 MultiJet II Diesel on the 500L
- Mitsubishi Mirage Hello Kitty is Oh, So Tacky
- VW Uses 36 Dogs to Advertise Its Entire Model Range
- Tokyo Motor Show Preview: Daihatsu's FC凸DECK and Deca-Deca Concepts
- Chrysler Reportedly in Talks to Build Cherokee in China as Fiat Viaggio Sales Dissapoint
- Porsche Cayenne, the White Dream Edition by Anderson Germany
- Bad Situation for Crashed Mazda Gets Worse with Tow Truck Fumbler [NSFW]
- Subaru Teases Tokyo Show-Bound Levorg Wagon Concept
- Daihatsu Kopen Roadster Concepts One Step Before Production
- Porsche Proves That The New Macan Can Do Sand Dunes
- BMW 2-Series Coupe Rendered in M Performance Clothing
| Cocky Dancing Tool's Moment of Fallen Zen Posted: 30 Oct 2013 06:05 PM PDT  Have you ever crossed paths with pretentious people trying their hardest to act smart and cool to impress others only to end up making a complete fool of themselves? Sure you have, but that doesn't make any new occurrences any less hilarious… The man on the pickup truck bed was flaunting his racy dance moves (among other things…) to the young lady, when he decided to take it to the next level with some spanking simulations. Laughably, the only arse slapped was his own when the truck took off and he fell flat on the road and then had to run after the vehicle to get back on…. The video awaits you after the break – and oh, if by any chance you happen to know where this was filmed, please do tell in the comments area.        |
| Scion Unleashes Four FR-S and One xB Stretch Limo Concepts for SEMA Posted: 30 Oct 2013 05:28 PM PDT  If you're a fan of custom Scion cars, you'll be happy to know that the three 2014 tC concepts that we shared with you earlier today, won't be alone at next week's SEMA aftermarket show (November 5-8), as the Japanese firm has just confirmed five more studies, four of which are based on the ever so popular FR-S Coupe, and one on the xB tall compact hatch. The first version of Scion's coupe is the 'x FR-S' designed by well-known DJ and producer Steve Aoki. It features "a fully operational mixing station, a custom Pioneer sound system with multiple component speaker packages, a deck lid-mounted LCD display, a fog machine and strobe lighting". Next up is the Bulletproof FR-S Concept One sporting a carbon fiber interior, a wide body, a 500-horsepower turbocharged engine and a track-tuned suspension, while the third FR-S from GReddy Performance pushes the power envelope further with a turbocharged 2JZ-GTE engine capable of tweaking out 750 ponies. Last but not least is the sleek FR-S "Style J" fitted with a rather tasty looking bodykit and a nicely re-done custom interior that places emphasis on luxury and quality materials. As for Cartel's stretch limo xB conversion (not the first one, mind you), it is said to bring "a business agenda" with an on-board Wi-Fi hotspot, Apple Mac mini, wireless keyboard with mouse and hands-free mobile calling. See all the cars in the gallery below the break.
                                                           |
| This is How BMW Treats Customers who Switch from Mercedes to Their Cars [w/Video] Posted: 30 Oct 2013 04:45 PM PDT  Remember BMW's launch film for the new 4-Series Coupe? It looks like a couple was so impressed by it that they decided to buy a new 4-Series instead of going for a Mercedes-Benz, per their initial plan. Debra Hayden wrote BMW on Facebook and told the Bavarian company that the video made her and her husband decide to buy a BMW 428i instead of a Mercedes-Benz. She also wrote that they had opted to pick up the car from BMW Welt in Munich on October 21 and that the marketing team that put the video together "deserves kudos" for bringing in new business for BMW. Now what do you think BMW did with all this information? It decided to surprise the customers when they arrived in Germany to pick up their brand new car. They arranged a very special delivery with a VIP treatment, and surprised them by bringing the man responsible for the launch film, among other things. If you happen to own a business, watch and learn how to make your customers happy from the following video. By Dan Mihalascu    |
| Toyota Camry, Prius V and RAV4 Lose Consumer Reports Recommendation Posted: 30 Oct 2013 04:15 PM PDT  Consumer Reports pulled its recommendation for three of Toyota's cars, including the popular Camry sedan, due to poor crash test results. Although Lexus, Toyota and Acura were ranked as the U.S. auto industry's most reliable brands in Consumer Reports' annual new-car reliability survey, the magazine withdrew its recommendation for the Camry, Prius v and RAV4 because they received poor ratings in the latest IIHS crash tests. "Honestly, we don't take this lightly, but virtually every vehicle now in the family sedan category has been tested and the only one that has gotten a 'poor' is the Camry," said Jake Fisher, director of auto testing at Consumer Reports. "At this point, we don't feel we can continue to recommend people buy a Camry when there's other good choices out there that do better on the test," he added. Last year, the IIHS included crashes that involve only a front corner of a vehicle in its tests. Consumer Reports waited to see how the entire industry was affected by the test before adjusting its buyer recommendations. Traditionally, the magazine does not recommend consumers to buy a car that gets poor crash test results. The Camry was the third best-selling vehicle in the U.S. through September, behind two full-size pickup trucks. Sales were up 1.3 percent from the same period last year to 318,990 cars. Toyota says it has made changes to the Camry to improve its performance in the crash tests and IIHS is planning to retest the car in December. By Dan Mihalascu Story References: Consumer Reports via Reuters         |
| Check Out this Exclusive Detailed Look at the McLaren P1 Posted: 30 Oct 2013 03:44 PM PDT  Now that you've had time to let all of the performance figures of hybrid hypercars like McLaren's P1 sink into your brain, it's time for the more interesting part of seeing how it all comes together, and how it works. It's a car, so it needs to feel like one, especially now when there's no longer an excuse for ultra-high performance models to be completely impractical, as we've seen that balance can be achieved. Thankfully, if the 12C supercar is anything to go by, then the P1 should be fine. Shmee150 has had a good poke around the latter, making three videos detailing his time with the car. He was able to catch up with it as the owner had had taken it to have protective film stuck to its body, for obvious carbon fiber clear coat stone chipping reasons. The first video's highpoint is the passenger ride that shows just how much of an overkill move it is to drive the P1 through regular traffic, at regular speeds, and the ease with which it accelerates and does away with gears is impressive. According to the uploader, "The other videos you are going to see of this car include a detailed tour looking around it, showing you the interior, inside the various flaps and parts of the car and talking about some of the features." Check all of them out after the virtual break! By Andrei Nedelea    |
| These 2014 Scion tC SEMA Concepts Were Built at a Cost of $15,000 a Pop Posted: 30 Oct 2013 04:36 PM PDT  Scion has always encouraged clients and tuners alike to individualize their cars, and at this year's SEMA Show held in Las Vegas from November 5 to 8, it will showcase three customized versions of its updated 2014 tC coupe that were built with a maximum budget of $15,000 (about 11,000 euros) within 90 days as part of a competition. The first model finished in an orange tri-coat paint is the tC WSD by Josh Croll, owner of Croll's Customs in Pennsylvania. It's the world's first right hand drive version of the car (or so Scion says), and is powered by a heavily modified turbocharged four pushing out 324 wheel-horsepower. "This tC is a modern day hot rod with clear Japanese roots," Croll said. "It has the uniqueness, style and power to win this competition." Walter Franco, an Art Center College Design graduate, is responsible for the white-colored L-DZ Concept that draws inspiration from Japan's VIP scene. Franco, who also owns transportation lifestyle brand NAMSAYIN, performed upgrades on the body, interior and under the hood with a nitro boost. "We aimed to reach that next level within the VIP style with performance capabilities and a good sense of design cohesiveness," Franco said. "This build represents the new direction I want to bring to the industry and the skill represented here in the Pacific Northwest." The third and final concept is the Simpli-tC by Young Yea from California, who is the co-founder of the Scion FR-S community FRS86. The teal-colored tC sports a wide body and hunkered down stance, along with a turbocharged engine, among many other upgrades. "The tC popularized the concept of a cost-effective and easy-to-modify coupe, and that principle inspired this SEMA build," Tea said. "We want to show people what you can build in the garage, and that you can be proud of your car." The three competition cars will be judged by a panel that includes representation from Super Street magazine, with the winner, who will take home a $10,000 grand prize, to be announced during the SEMA Show.                                            |
| Another Tesla Catches Fire, This Time After Crash in Mexico [w/Video] Posted: 30 Oct 2013 02:46 PM PDT  After Tesla narrowly evaded a full-scale investigation on the Washington State incident, another example of its Model S saloon has caught fire, this time more severely and at the hands of a reportedly drunk driver in Mexico that crashed it straight through a wall, then into another one, while attempting to enter a roundabout in the town of Mérida, says Progreso Hoy. They had a video up on October 18, so the two incidents are separated by around two weeks. Apparently, as Jalopnik reports, an official statement from Tesla has already been issued. "We were able to contact the driver quickly and are pleased that he is safe. This was a significant accident where the car was traveling at such a high speed that it smashed through a concrete wall and then hit a large tree, yet the driver walked away from the car with no permanent injury. He is appreciative of the safety and performance of the car and has asked if we can expedite delivery of his next Model S." The Tesla Model S is definitely one of the fastest two-wheel drive cars off the line in the world, and from a standing start, it can hold its own against or even be quicker than more powerful mainstream rivals. We've seen countless videos of just how electric it really is, but only now are we starting to see what happens when that kind of swift progress is stopped by significant metallic debris that pierces the battery – fire breaks out, and because it's an EV, people tend to react differently…The heavily discussed Washington State incident had a negative and direct effect on company shares and cast some doubt in people's minds as to the safety of the Model S in the event of a severe crash, something that is not hard at all to achieve, given the performance on tap. By Andrei Nedelea    |
| Spied: Jaguar Begins Work on Redesigned XF Saloon Posted: 30 Oct 2013 01:59 PM PDT  This prototype XF may look similar to the test mules for Jaguar's upcoming BMW 3-Series challenger that has been officially confirmed for a 2015 market launch, but there are differences on the body, with this mule also sporting a slightly longer wheelbase and wider tracks. As noted by our spy photographers, what it is, is a mule for the redesigned XF that's scheduled for a late 2015 or early 2016 introduction. The styling at this point remains a mystery, but Jaguar officials have hinted at the use of more aluminum on the next XF (chassis and body panels) to bring down the weight and gain in performance as well as fuel economy numbers and handling. It is also said that the mid-size luxury model will adopt the Jaguar-Land Rover group's range of four-cylinder engines known as the Hotfire, offered alongside the bigger, more powerful and thirstier V6 and V8 units, in both rear- and all-wheel drive arrangements. Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS              |
| Selfish Cyclist Thinks Rally Stage is All for Himself… Posted: 30 Oct 2013 02:25 PM PDT  A while ago, we saw a cyclist that didn't want to share a London street with a supercar, but this is the first time we see a cyclist using a…rally stage while the actual rally is taking place. It happened in Rome, Italy, over the weekend, during the inaugural edition of the Rally della Capitale. The cyclist entered the closed rally stage and started pedaling, ignoring the crowd's warnings to clear the road. Not only did he put himself and the spectators in danger, but he also ruined the race for the Fiat Grande Punto S1600, whose driver had to brake hard to wait for the cyclist to clear the road. One would say that by now he had realized he wasn't supposed to ride on that road, but he didn't. After the car passed, he hopped on the saddle again and continued his ride, only to cross paths once again with the Punto. What do you think; was the cyclist simply stupid or defiant at the rally being organized there? Tell us in the comments. Story References: YouTube via WorldcarfansBy Dan Mihalascu    |
| Care for a 680HP Toyota Camry Coupe with a NASCAR Flair? [Gallery & Video] Posted: 30 Oct 2013 01:01 PM PDT  When is a fairly new Toyota Camry worthy of making it on a coveted auction list like the one from RK Motors among other special automobiles? Why, when it has been turned inside out and upside-down, naturally. As you can see from the pictures, this is no ordinary Camry but a special concept created as a collaboration between RK Motors and Toyota for the 2010 SEMA Show. Inspired by NASCAR, the fully functional model sports a custom fabricated, two-door body with a two-tone paint-job, special aero enhancements, side exhaust pipes and TRD wheels. The same racing flair can be found inside the five-seat (four if you want to be realistic) cabin that has been individualized with TRD accessories. That's all fine and dandy, but the real kicker about the NASCAR Edition Camry Coupe is what lies under the hood: a 358 cubic inch or 5.9-liter TRD NASCAR V8 delivering 680 horsepower at 8500rpm, linked to a Tremec T-56 Magnum six-speed manual transmission with a Ram dual-disc street clutch. According to the release, "racecar handling is achieved through modified MacPherson struts in the front and a Venza-modified multi-link independent rear suspension". Despite these heavy modifications, the car was made to be street-legal. However, RK Motors does note that it "may not be emissions compliant in all 50 states".
                                                                   |
| Duke of Windsor’s Ultra-Luxurious 1941 Cadillac Known as The Duchess up for Sale Posted: 30 Oct 2013 12:20 PM PDT  There has always been demand for bespoke luxury cars to opulently show status, wealth and power and there are really few better car to illustrate that way of thinking better than this 1941 poor people-crushing Cadillac that was built for Edward VIII, Duke of Windsor and his wife to potter about in while they were in the US around the middle of that decade. The ex-king and his American wife used it for 11 years, then it disappeared in 1952, being believed to have been destroyed. However, now it's mysteriously back and it's going under the hammer during the Art of the Automobile auction on November 21 – it's expected to fetch up to $800,000 / €580,000. RM Auctions adds more background to the car, nicknamed "the Duchess" saying that "not a single body panel on the Windsors' car matched any other 1941 Cadillac. The hood, trunk, fenders, fender skirts, roof, and doors were all crafted by hand, and all interior appointments were hand-fitted." It had a streamlined fender shape that was unique to it, and an innovative way of designing a car for the age. One would expect the rear accommodations to be sumptuous and well-appointed, and with the enormous sofa taking up most of the space it was very obviously the case here too. There were even special compartments for the (actual) duchess to put her jewels in while the two travelled – they must have been a hefty burden to wear… Even more special was the attention to detail observed in the front, and on the dashboard. RM Auctions' description of the car reads: "The Duke was a well-known enthusiast of automobiles and aircraft, Cadillac expected that he would take the wheel of this car on occasion. As a result, unusually for a limousine of the time, the front compartment was detailed to be as elegant and opulent as the rear, including its own radio, with a manually controlled roof-mounted antenna and buttons preset to New York City AM stations of the era." By Andrei Nedelea            |
| Scoop: A Static Look at the New BMW M3 Sedan Caught by Accident Posted: 30 Oct 2013 11:50 AM PDT  Our spies got a hold of the original film (see it here) that was recorded by a motorcyclist who stumbled by chance on a completely naked 2015 BMW M3 sedan that was out for a photo shoot, and used their digital software to come up with some better quality screenshots, which they passed on to us. The exterior cues that separates the M3 from its lesser 3-Series saloon counterparts include the swollen wheelarches filled with bigger wheels (five spoke on this car), the bespoke mirrors, front and rear bumpers, hood bulge, carbon fibrer roof, quad exhausts, side gills and a discreet boot spoiler. This particular example sported a new exterior finish named "Yas Marina Blue Metallic", but at this point, we do not know if it's a standard or a BMW Individual option. Mechanically, the next M3 will be identical to the upcoming M4 Coupe, marking a return to the engine arrangement that BMW is most well-known for, a straight-six, but with a twin-turbo twist that the company says will churn out about 430PS (424hp), travelling to the rear wheels via a manual gearbox or a dual-clutch auto transmission. Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS             |
| Toyo Tires Previews Unique Booth Vehicles for 2013 SEMA Show Posted: 30 Oct 2013 11:25 AM PDT  Toyo Tires will display more than 20 vehicles at this year's SEMA Show in Las Vegas. With three locations in the Las Vegas Convention Center, the company will have a larger presence than ever. The main Toyo Tires booth located on the first floor of the South Hall will include Baja Champion BJ Baldwin's Chevrolet trophy truck equipped with Toyo Open Country M/T-R tires, suspended in air over the Liberty Walk Nissan GT-R. The 600+ horsepower GT-R features a CSDadjustable suspension with Platinum VIP-coil overs, an LB Performance Works wide body kit and 20-inch Forgiato wheels shod with Toyo Proxes R888 Rcompound DOT competition tires. Another special exhibit will be the RWB (RAUH-Welt-Begriff) Porsche 930. The car is owned by RWB founder and renowned Porsche tuner Akira Nakai of Japan. The 930 features and RWB wide body kit, KW coil over suspension, Recaro racing seats, Takata harnesses and Work New Mesh 18-inch wheels shod with Toyo Proxes R888 tires. Also making it debut is the all-wheel-drive Kontrabrands 2014 Lexus IS built by Gordon Ting. The urban road machine resembles a competition touring car and features a TRD five piece aero kit, massive Brembo brakes, a Sparco interior and Toyo Proxes T1 Sport tires. The 2014 Corvette Stingray could not be ignored, so the Toyo Tires main display will feature the P58 Concept Stringray by Michigan-based design house TZD. The 580hp show car sports a TZD aero package, carbon fiber motorsports-style rear wing plus 20-inch front and 21-inch rear Vossen Monoblock wheels with Proxes T1R ultrahigh performance tires. Classic vehicle lovers will notice the 1969 Ford Bronco built by ASC. Owned by actor Tony Besson, the SUV features a lift kit, 33-inch Toyo Open Country M/T tires for off-road and a 351 Windsor engine. There will also be a 1969 Camaro called "Lou's Change", which has been built by V8 Speed & Resto. By Dan Mihalascu          |
| This 16-Year-Old Girl Runs 1/4 Mile in 11 Seconds! Posted: 30 Oct 2013 10:59 AM PDT  Alex isn't your (stereo)typical 16 year old American teenager. She's a car gal and an aspiring drag racer who just completed her first 11 second quarter mile pass this year running in a modified 1968 Chevrolet Camaro powered by an LS1 V8 that used to be her mom's. The crew from 1320Videos who recorded the teen's efforts commented: "Alex is one lucky girl, not only does she have an amazing family that has helped her build this beautiful Camaro, she was able to take a whole week off school to race for 6 days straight across the midwest on Drag Week 2013. Not only is her car beautiful, but it's pretty damn quick too!" See her running down the drag strip in the video that follows the jump below.    |
| Fiat Adds 105HP TwinAir on the 500, 120HP 1.6 MultiJet II Diesel on the 500L Posted: 30 Oct 2013 10:31 AM PDT  As of today, the Fiat 500 hatchback and 500C cabriolet models can be ordered in Italy with the most powerful version of the 0.9-liter TwinAir engine developing 105 hp. Until now, Fiat 500 models were only available with the 85hp version of the two-cylinder engine. When equipped with the new engine, the Fiat 500 hatch sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 10 seconds and reaches a top speed of 188 km/h (117 mph). Fuel economy is 4.2 l/100 km on the combined cycle, with CO2 emissions rated at 99 g/km. The new engine is linked to a 6-speed manual gearbox and adds to the existing 69HP 1.2 and 85HP 0.9 TwinAir gasoline units, the 85HP 1.3 MultiJet II diesel and the 1.2 EasyPower (LPG/petrol). The new engine can be combined with the Lounge, S and GQ equipment grades, with list prices in Italy varying between €16,181 ($22,275) for the 500 Lounge and €21,525 ($29,620) for the 500C GQ range-topping model. Fiat has also announced the introduction of the new 120HP 1.6 MultiJet II diesel engine on the 500L, 500L Living and 500L Trekking models. The engine uses a variable geometry turbocharger and a third-generation Common Rail system, allowing it to deliver 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque at 1,500 rpm. List prices in Italy vary from €21,525 for the 500L Pop, Star and Easy trim levels to €23,894 ($32,875) for the range-topping 500L Living Lounge. By Dan Mihalascu              |
| Mitsubishi Mirage Hello Kitty is Oh, So Tacky Posted: 30 Oct 2013 10:01 AM PDT  Granted; Mitsubishi's official Mirage Hello Kitty Edition isn't half as bad as this feline-customized Ferrari 360 Modena or Smart's ForTwo versions dedicated to the Japanese character, but still, it doesn't mean we have to like it or, God forbid, want it… Offered on the occasion of the character's 40th anniversary, the Hello Kitty edition of the Japanese city car comes in pink shade, of course, with cat emblems and hub-caps on the outside, and special seats and a pillow inside, among other features. Mitsubishi said it will produce 400 examples of the car in Japan, with each unit priced at 116,970 yen, which comes to around US$11,900 or €8,700 at the current exchange rates. Story References: Mitsubishi Autoblog.com        |
| VW Uses 36 Dogs to Advertise Its Entire Model Range Posted: 30 Oct 2013 09:30 AM PDT  Dogs have starred in car commercials for a long time and it's really hard to find a bad ad featuring man's best friend. That's not necessarily due to the quality of the ads, but because we humans tend to love dogs. Automakers know that, and the latest to use our four-legged friends to sell its cars is Volkswagen. The German carmaker launched a range-wide advertising campaign in the UK to demonstrate the breadth of its lineup by using 36 beautiful dogs from various breeds. To illustrate the tagline "There's a Volkswagen for all of us", the carmaker's advertising agency created a new canine related campaign spearheaded by the TV commercial suggestively called "Woofwagen". The 36 dogs that appear in the campaign represent each model in the lineup, from the Up! city car to the range-topping Phaeton and the special XL1 1-liter car. "We had great fun matching dogs to cars and the filming was like nothing I've ever done before. The dogs were fantastic and we hope this ad puts a smile on people's faces," said Nikki Pates, VW communications manager. You can watch the commercial after the break and a behind the scenes video after that. By Dan Mihalascu    |
| Tokyo Motor Show Preview: Daihatsu's FC凸DECK and Deca-Deca Concepts Posted: 30 Oct 2013 09:00 AM PDT  What's in a name, you ask? Honestly, we don't know what "FC凸DECK" stands for, though we're guessing some of you bad boys and gals might have a cheeky smirk on their face as they look at the name on the screen now… So, Daihatsu tells us that the concept mini truck is 3,395mm long, 1,475mm wide and 1,985mm tall, and that it draws its power from a fuel-cell system. If it looks familiar, it's probably because you remember Daihatsu's FC Sho Concept mini van from the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. Interestingly, the Japanese company has also developed a free standing power generator for the FC-Deck. Joining the concept truck as well as the Kopen roadster studies that we showed you earlier today at Daihatsu's 2013 Tokyo Motor Show booth, is the Deca-Deca kei car van. The 3,395mm long, 1,475mm wide and 1,850mm tall mini (we're guessing that the two concepts are based on the same platform), sports rear sliding doors on both sides of the car, and according to Daihatsu, it offers a variety of seating arrangements inside.          |
| Chrysler Reportedly in Talks to Build Cherokee in China as Fiat Viaggio Sales Dissapoint Posted: 30 Oct 2013 08:30 AM PDT  Fiat and Chrysler boss Sergio Marchionne is reportedly finalizing a deal with local partner Guangzhou Automobile Group to assemble the Jeep Cherokee SUV in China. According to insiders quoted by Bloomberg, the SUV could arrive in Chinese dealerships as early as 2015. Fiat is considering assembling the Cherokee at its existing plant in the country rather than build a new facility for it – that would also help it fill unused capacity as the Viaggio sedan it manufactures in China is forecast to miss sales targets for 2013 and 2014 by more than 60 percent. Viaggio sales are reportedly affected by the model's lack of visibility on the market. The compact sedan debuted on the Chinese market in September 2012. Although Fiat targeted production of 100,000 Viaggios this year and as much as 200,000 next year, analysts estimate sales of only 40,000 units this year and 54,000 units in 2014. The Dodge Dart-based Fiat Viaggio was made specifically for China and competes in the market's biggest segment. Both the Viaggio and the new Cherokee use the same underpinnings as the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, so building them in the same plant would make economic sense for Fiat. The Cherokee, which is called the "Zi You Guang" in China ("Liberty Light"), would also be exempted from the 25 percent import duties. Jeep is more recognizable than Fiat in China because in the 1980s, it was the first western badge built in the country. No Jeep vehicles are currently made in China after the plant shifted to Mercedes-Benz vehicles about 10 years ago during DaimlerChrysler's ownership of the Jeep brand. Fiat and Chrysler declined to comment on production plans for China. By Dan Mihalascu         |
| Porsche Cayenne, the White Dream Edition by Anderson Germany Posted: 30 Oct 2013 08:01 AM PDT  White is a popular color when it comes to exterior shades nowadays in the auto industry, but it remains a special and rare option for interiors, mainly because it can get dirty faster than you can say "ein weißer Innenraum wird sehr schmutzig sehr schnell". The White Dream Edition from Anderson Germany is a styling and performance package developed for the latest Porsche Cayenne Turbo SUV, which as its name suggests, takes white to the next level, albeit with dashes of black and carbon fiber to break the monotony. On the outside, the Cayenne is enhanced with a wide-bodykit that includes some very plastic looking (and not in a good way in these pictures, at least), side skirts, wheel arch extensions, head- and tail-lamp surrounds, plus new bumpers. The roof spoiler, mirror caps, rear diffuser and front spoilers are all made from carbon fiber. Performance-wise, Anderson adds a set of 22-inch light alloy wheels in black shod in 295-wide tires on the front axle and 315 at the rear, and an engine kit that lifts the V8 turbo's output to 592hp (600PS). Inside, most of the interior including the headliner and side panels are swathed in white leather with black piping (the seats and boot also feature crocodile leather accents), while you will also find carbon fiber and chrome black trims and inlays.                  |
| Bad Situation for Crashed Mazda Gets Worse with Tow Truck Fumbler [NSFW] Posted: 30 Oct 2013 07:29 AM PDT  What can possibly be worse for the older-generation Mazda3 hatchback shown lying down on its side in our opening picture above? Well, since you asked, this situation actually went from bad to worse in just under than 20 seconds. The tow truck driver was lifting up the Japanese hatch when the chain broke with the car then rolling on the road before…tumbling down the mountain. You'll have to excuse the profanity heard from the person recording the video and who we have to assume must be the unfortunate owner of the now surely wrecked Mazda3. See the video below the jump.    |
| Subaru Teases Tokyo Show-Bound Levorg Wagon Concept Posted: 30 Oct 2013 07:01 AM PDT  Subaru will unveil an all-new concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show in November, called Levorg. The Japanese carmaker said the study previews a production model, which is currently under development and will launch in 2014. The name Levorg is a combination of the words Legacy, Revolution and Touring, which means the concept car might show what the next-generation Legacy Station Wagon will look like. Subaru says the Levorg is a new type of sports tourer targeting the Japanese market which combines "an exquisite and stylish design with a sports car feel", while offering the best in driveability, safety and environmental friendliness. The car is powered by a newly-developed 1.6-liter Horizontally-Opposed direct injection turbo DIT engine which promises "superb driving pleasure and extraordinary environmental performance". Other new technologies are the next-generation EyeSight with added safety functions and the newly launched steering support control. In the company's own words, the Levorg is "the car which carries on Subaru's great heritage while pioneering a new age of touring car with innovation". The automaker has launched a special microsite in Japanese where teaser images and other information will be released. Alongside the Levorg, Subaru's Tokyo stand will include the Crossover 7 Concept, a seven-seater crossover also aimed at the domestic market. The study's exterior combines an urban look with "rough-road driving capability", while the cabin features smooth tan leather seats and a roomy space. Subaru's booth will also host the world premiere of the Cross Sport Design Concept and the Japanese premiere of the Viziv Evolution Concept. By Dan Mihalascu            |
| Daihatsu Kopen Roadster Concepts One Step Before Production Posted: 30 Oct 2013 06:37 AM PDT  About two years after Daihatsu gave us a first glimpse of its conceptual proposal for a replacement to the Copen small roadster with the funky D-X studies featuring interchangeable exterior components, the Japanese automaker is returning to the Tokyo Motor Show with the Kopen Concepts that are much closer to the production model that's rumored to be presented next year. The styling is based on the D-X with the Kopen gaining production lights, wheels and bumpers (front and back), while the interior has also been reworked. Daihatsu is showing two versions of the Kopen, which like the previous study, was made to easily accept different body parts. The first version is the more traditional looking RMZ (in blue and orange-copper hues), while the second one is the (green colored) ΧΜΖ with crossover styling cues via body cladding. Both editions measure 3,395mm long, 1,475mm wide and 1,275mm tall and come with a retractable metal top. The two seaters are powered by a 0.66-liter three-cylinder unit connected to a CVT with steering wheel mounted paddles.                 |
| Porsche Proves That The New Macan Can Do Sand Dunes Posted: 30 Oct 2013 06:10 AM PDT  To show people that its upcoming baby SUV is not an asphalt-only vehicle, Porsche has released a video that depicts the Macan tackling sand dunes in the United Arab Emirates. Judging from the footage, the Macan should be a pleasure to drive on sand dunes and people living near deserts will no doubt notice that. It's probably the main reason for which Porsche released this video, as rich customers from the Middle East will be important for the SUV's commercial success. The video shows the Macan accelerating through sand dunes in temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) during the car's development process. It's a fun video to watch, especially since it allows us to hear the nice sound of what is likely the twin-turbocharged V6 engine that will power the Macan Turbo. As you probably already know, the Macan will be unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show next month, when the SUV will finally get rid of the Cayenne-imitating camouflage. By Dan Mihalascu    |
| BMW 2-Series Coupe Rendered in M Performance Clothing Posted: 30 Oct 2013 05:45 AM PDT  Whereas there's a big question mark about an M2 Coupe / Convertible from BMW, it's a given that the Bavarian auto brand will soon release a host of M Performance styling and go-fast bits for the 2-Series, just like it has done for most of its regular and even M cars, including, but not limited to, the M5 and M6, 3-Series, and 4-Series. In this digital rendering that is brought to you by Khalil Bouguerra from Virtuel-Car, the 2-Series Coupe is envisioned with M Performance styling parts such as the blacked-out double kidney grilles, side skirts, mirror caps and chunky rims wrapped in low profile tires, plus carbon fiber front lip spoiler and wings. Take a closer look at the Photoshop in the big image after the break, and share your thoughts in the comments. Story References: Virtuel-car     |
| 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 | |
