CARSCOOP |  |
- How Does the New Corvette Stingray Stack Up Against the Competition on the Track?
- Porsche Buyers Spend More on Options Than Anyone Else, UK Study Finds
- Boo! It's Hyundai's Zombie Survival Machine from the New York Comic Con
- Another Truck Stalls at Rail Crossing, is Obliterated by Train
- Toyota Wins Bellwether Case on Unintended Acceleration in California
- Check Out this Video Explaining the Difference Between Styling and Design
- Ferruccio Lamborghini’s 700HP V12-Powered Sports Boat Brought Back to Life [w/Videos]
- New Mazda3 or Axela Hybrid Announced for Japanese Market [19 Photos]
- Oh, Cartman…South Park Fist-Bumps Tesla Model S Calling it's Throttle 'The P…Y Pedal’
- Jeremy Clarkson Filmed and Photographed Driving McLaren P1 for TG, Says He Loves It
- Too Much? 2014 Cadillac ELR Starts at $75,995 Before Incentives, Arrives in January
- Impressive Tether Miniature Car Hits 205 MPH Top Speed!
- Is Report on Four-Door Toyota GT-86 and Scion FR-S Bull Caca?
- Farewell to a Legend: Land Rover Defender Will Be Axed by Mid-Decade
- Must Watch: When You're Drunk, You Don't Notice Concrete Slabs….
- Mini Shows New 2014 Hatch's Interior Bits, Confirms Head-Up Display
- This is How Fast the New Porsche 911 Turbo S Goes from 0 to 333km/h [207mph]
- Slovakia's New Praga R1 is Much Faster in Turbo Form [w/Video]
- Spied: Here's a Better Look at BMW's New X1 Compact SUV
- Volvo XC90 Signature Edition Is the Swan Song of the 11-Year-Old SUV
- Can You Explain These Consecutive Accidents?
- Jeep has 12,000 New Cherokees on Stand By for Shipping as it Waits for Transmission Fix
- Formula 1 Test Driver Maria de Villota Found Dead in Hotel Room
- Audi Celebrates 500,000 TT Sales with 500 Special Models, 120 Cars Allocated for the UK
- Alpina Details the 345HP D3 Biturbo Diesel in New Video
| How Does the New Corvette Stingray Stack Up Against the Competition on the Track? Posted: 11 Oct 2013 05:31 PM PDT  Talk about milking it to the very last drop… Oh, yes, it's another one of Edmunds' videos on the new 2014 Corvette Stingray that supposedly comes to wrap up (though, we wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't…) the individual tests it performed against a variety of sports cars, regardless of price or if they're direct competitors in the eyes and pockets of consumers. The online news site brought together all six challengers, including the SRT Viper, Nissan GT-R Track Edition, Porsche 911 Carrera S, Porsche Cayman S, Ford Shelby GT500 and the now discontinued BMW M3 Coupe, to the Willow Springs International Raceway, which is about an hour away from Los Angeles, to see how the Corvette C7 stands up to them. We know what you're thinking, but the Stingray wasn't the fastest car on the track; can you guess which one was? To find the answer, click play on the following video.        |
| Porsche Buyers Spend More on Options Than Anyone Else, UK Study Finds Posted: 11 Oct 2013 04:31 PM PDT  It goes without saying, buyers of expensive cars can usually afford to add as many optional extras as they want, but if you were wondering who are the biggest spenders, a new study from the UK has the answers – at least in what concerns British consumers. According to an analysis from HPI Spec Check, a valuation service providing factory fitted options data, Porsche buyers are most likely to spend big money on optional extras. Buyers of the Cayenne luxury SUV spend on average almost £10,000 ($15,950) on factory fitted options. With that money, they could buy a Dacia Duster and still have some change left. Next on the big spenders' list are BMW X5 buyers, who add extras worth £8,000 ($12,780) on average. Third place goes to Mercedes SLK drivers, who spend £6,290 ($10,050) on optional extras. Owners of the Audi R8 and A8 complete the top 5, with £5,351 and £5,338, respectively. Porsche is also on top when all models from a brand are taken into account, with an average of £7,394 spent on options for each car sold. BMW is second with £3,892, followed by Mercedes-Benz with £3,510. Mini (£2,974) and Audi (£2,370) are fourth and fifth, respectively. But don't think only luxury car buyers are tempted by the long lists of additional equipment. The Vauxhall Insignia has a reasonable average spend on extras of over £1,400, followed by the VW Golf with a little over £1,000. Data includes factory fitted options in the UK from the last six months and worth £75 million, across 19 manufacturers from Alfa Romeo to Volvo. By Dan Mihalascu           |
| Boo! It's Hyundai's Zombie Survival Machine from the New York Comic Con Posted: 11 Oct 2013 04:00 PM PDT  I'm not sure why any automaker would want to be identified as a manufacturer of zombie-slaying machines, but Hyundai doesn't seem to have a problem with it. Who knows, maybe they're thinking anything is possible in the future and a car equipped to kill zombies may open up a whole new lucrative segment for them. Anyway, following the computer renderings of the Santa Fe Zombie Survival Machine designed by a fan, Galpin Auto Sports built the car, with the official presentation scheduled for today at the New York Comic Con. Anson Kuo's Santa Fe design was picked as the winner out of more than 82,500 fan submissions on The Walking Dead Chop Shop configurator app. It looks like the fan really put some thought into the project, taking care of "practical" details as well. "I knew knives and blades would be the best bet for weaponry – they could slice and dice the zombies without releasing any ammunition. Basing the design on the Santa Fe allows space for extra passengers as well as weapons, supplies and all the other necessary items needed during a real zombie apocalypse," Kuo said. The camouflaged Zombie Survival Machine features knife blades, an automatic crossbow, razor-wired windows, three machine guns, a samurai sword, aluminum armor and a muffler silencer – so you know, it can roll undetected […]. The special Santa Fe will be on display at the Future US booth, along with a zombie make-up artist, limited edition giveaways, and more. The Hyundai and Future US displays will be located at Booth #542 on the Javitz Center show floor. By Dan Mihalascu        |
| Another Truck Stalls at Rail Crossing, is Obliterated by Train Posted: 11 Oct 2013 03:30 PM PDT  Out of all the realistic places where your vehicle could stall and not start back up again, rail crossings have to rank among, if not the, one of the most dangerous of all. And yet, the same kind of accident always seems to be caught on video, featuring one vehicle (usually a truck) that can no longer be moved, a driver that tries to restart it, but jumps out at the very last second, and a train that smashes through and drags the debris on for hundreds of yards. Well, here's another one that perfectly fits the bill. As you can see in the video below, the tractor-trailer is unable to move, despite the driver's best efforts and the Union Pacific-operated train smashes through it with ease. The incident took place in West Texas, and was shot via phone-cam by Kelly Blay, with the man yelling 'Holy Smokes!' in the background. However, despite the violent nature of the crash, the truck driver jumped out with time to spare, and nobody was hurt in the end. Moreover, the train made contact with what was an empty flatbed trailer, so it didn't offer too much resistance. By Andrei Nedelea    |
| Toyota Wins Bellwether Case on Unintended Acceleration in California Posted: 11 Oct 2013 03:01 PM PDT  A U.S. jury found Toyota not guilty for a 2009 accident that killed a 66-year-old woman who crashed her 2006 Camry into a tree after it accelerated out of control. California's Judicial Council Coordinated Proceeding (JCCP) rejected claims that the Camry was defective because it lacked a brake override system. After four and a half days of deliberating, the jury ruled in favor of Toyota in the case brought by the family of Noriko Uno, who claimed that the accident would have been averted if the car had been outfitted with brake override. The jury found guilty the driver of another vehicle that had crashed into Uno's car before she lost control of the Camry. The driver will have to pay $10 million (€7.38 million) in damages to Uno's husband and son, but his lawyer said they would appeal the decision. The Uno case was selected as a bellwether by the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee in the JCCP for about 85 personal-injury and wrongful-death lawsuits in California state court that were brought against Toyota following the 2009 and 2010 recalls. The 2006 Toyota Camry wasn't included in the recalls for unintended acceleration issues. "We sympathize with anyone in an accident involving one of our vehicles as well as the family and friends of Noriko Uno. Regarding the verdict, we are gratified that the jury concluded the design of the 2006 Camry did not contribute to this unfortunate accident, affirming the same conclusion we reached after more than three years of careful investigation – that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle at issue in this case," Toyota said in a statement. "As an important bellwether in these consolidated state proceedings, we believe this verdict sets a significant benchmark by helping further confirm that Toyota vehicles are safe with or without brake override," the carmaker added. By Dan Mihalascu         |
| Check Out this Video Explaining the Difference Between Styling and Design Posted: 11 Oct 2013 02:31 PM PDT  If you ever wondered what the difference between styling and design was, you need not do so any more. Autoline.TV reports on this, and tries to dispel the idea that the two words can be interchanged – it says they can't and stand for different, yet intrinsically linked, concepts. Presenter Jim Hall explains that design stands for proportions, and the overall look and feel, while styling is something that comes in to complete, and add a new dimension to it. I will use a different example than his whiskey glass one, and try cars, for a change… So, for instance, a Volkswagen Passat has a lot of (clean, simple) design going on, and this means it will never be displeasing to the eye, however, for me at least, its look does not draw you in for a closer look. Now, let's move on to the old Passat CC, now plain CC, which uses the same basic ingredients for a less practical but much more stylish proposition – it's stylish because it was deliberately styled this way… If the distinction is still not clear to you, the video posted below goes deeper into the discussion and may shed more light. By Andrei Nedelea    |
| Ferruccio Lamborghini’s 700HP V12-Powered Sports Boat Brought Back to Life [w/Videos] Posted: 11 Oct 2013 02:01 PM PDT  Almost half a century ago or 45 years to be precise, Ferruccio Lamborghini, the founder of the Italian sports car manufacturer, commissioned a sports boat to luxury boat manufacturer Riva. Built in three months, the Riva Aquarama Lamborghini was no ordinary boat; it was powered by two Lamborghini V12 engines each developing 350 hp. The Italian industrialist owned the boat until his death in 1993, with no one knowing what happened to it ever since. That is, until a Dutch collector tracked it down and had it fully restored to its original condition by Riva World, a company specializing in the restoration of Riva boats. Work on the project began in 2010, and now the boat has been brought back to its original condition. The boat's wooden hull was repaired and sanded, with no fewer than 25 coatings being applied. The wooden interior was repaired as well and the seats were reupholstered in the famous Riva design. On top of that, all buttons and switches were disassembled, repaired and reinstalled. But the most important and difficult part of the restoration regarded the engines. The boat originally had two Lamborghini V12 engines from the brand's first production model, the 350 GT. "One of the two original engines from the Riva can still be seen in the Ferruccio Lamborghini Museum in Italy, but unfortunately wasn't available for sale for this project," said Sandro Zani, Riva World owner. The company found two identical V12 engines and converted them for boat use. Interestingly, one of the engines rotates to the left and the other to the right, to increase torque at low speeds. The two 4.0-liter V12 units each develop 350hp and are equipped with six twin Weber carburetors. They have a rev range between 700 and 5,000 rpm, with much of the torque being available from around 1,500 rpm. The Riva Aquarama Lamborghini has a top speed of around 48 knots (89 km/h), compared to 40 knots (74 km/h) for regular Aquaramas fitted with twin V8 units as standard. By Dan Mihalascu                |
| New Mazda3 or Axela Hybrid Announced for Japanese Market [19 Photos] Posted: 11 Oct 2013 01:34 PM PDT  Mazda had told us that it would present a hybrid version of the Axela, which is the Japanese domestic market name for the new Mazda3, back in the summer, and now it has announced a launch date, while also providing first details and photos. For the time being, the Axela Hybrid will be available exclusively as a sedan in Japan, with no mention on whether it will be followed up by a hatchback body style and if it will be sold overseas at some point. Mazda said that this is the first time that a Japanese automaker is offering three different powertrain types (gasoline, diesel and hybrid) in a single model in the Japanese market. The Hybrid model links a dedicated SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter gasoline engine to an electric motor, a battery and a continuously variable electronic transmission driving the front wheels. While no performance numbers were announced, Mazda said the new Axela Hybrid delivers a fuel economy of 30.8 km per liter under JC08 mode, which is equal to 3.2l/100km, 72.4mpg US and 87.0mpg UK. Sales of the Axela Hybrid will kick off in Japan next month, with prices starting from 2,373,000 Yen (about US$24,100 or €17,800). Story References: Mazda via Worldcarfans                       |
| Oh, Cartman…South Park Fist-Bumps Tesla Model S Calling it's Throttle 'The P…Y Pedal’ Posted: 11 Oct 2013 01:01 PM PDT  If you ask me, Matt Stone and Trey Parker's South Park animated series has aged like fine wine. Sure, the first two seasons were a mere test bed for characters, settings and humor types, but that's some 15 years in the past, and now the show has created its own unique bubble where freedom of speech and expression are pushed to the very edge, and whatever situation (or bad movie) is plaguing the American public will be violently satirized and ridiculed to raise awareness. Naturally, laughing at clearly directed pokey humor is a big part of why South Park is still so popular, and so far, in the newly-started season, number seventeen, it's been business as usual. The two creators don't seem to miss any of the important developments that take place while the show is off-air, and thus we were not shocked to see Tesla's electric Model S featured, and, of course, made fun of specifically because it's not powered by gasoline... There's nothing in particular that they link to, though, and the only use of derogatory terms is calling the car's throttle the 'pussy pedal' – its logo has been altered, though, and now it looks like some kind of mushroom. They would have definitely played more with the Model S, had the recent fire happened before the episode was put together, but it doesn't mean they won't be picking it up again. Check out the video excerpt posted below, or go watch the complete (third) episode which is freely available on the official site, M'kay? By Andrei Nedelea    |
| Jeremy Clarkson Filmed and Photographed Driving McLaren P1 for TG, Says He Loves It Posted: 11 Oct 2013 12:33 PM PDT  The chit-chatter on the interwebs today is that Jeremy Clarkson and the filming crews from Top Gear UK were at the Spa-Francorchamps motor-racing circuit in Belgium testing the new McLaren P1 hybrid supercar. Clarkson confirmed it with a Twitter post that read, "Right. The P1. Complete game changer. The next chapter in motoring. Speed like you simply would not believe". The black-colored P1 was both filmed and photographed in and around the racetrack by fans of the show, with the famed matte-black Mercedes-Benz Pursuit ML63 AMG camera car and a helicopter also making an appearance. We assume it won't be long before we see the car on Top Gear's television show, but until then, enjoy the material we have right below the jump. Photos via Mike Crawat Photography, Videos via Cvdzijden and CarExposure, Hat tip to Vincent from Autoblog.nl !
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| Too Much? 2014 Cadillac ELR Starts at $75,995 Before Incentives, Arrives in January Posted: 11 Oct 2013 11:59 AM PDT  Cadillac has announced that sales of the 2014 ELR will begin in January in all U.S. metropolitan areas, with the electrified luxury coupe having a starting price of $75,995 (€56,075), including a $995 (€734) destination charge but excluding tax, title, license and dealer fees. However, buyers may be eligible for a tax credit up to $7,500 depending on individual tax liability. If the maximum tax credit is applied, the 2014 Cadillac ELR could cost $68,495 (€50,510), including $995 destination. Dealers across the U.S. are "specially trained and certified to sell and service the 2014 ELR", says the release, with prospective customers and buyers to have their own ELR Concierge Representative that will provide information on battery care, home charging, service scheduling, news and updates. The ELR comes standard with Cadillac Shield, a program that includes owner benefits including Remote Vehicle Diagnostics, a Premium Care Maintenance program and 24/7 roadside assistance. The ELR also benefits from an extended battery and propulsion warranty of eight years of 100,000 miles (160,934 km), and a four-year or 50,000-mile (80,467-km) bumper-to-bumper limited warranty. The Cadillac ELR has a hybrid powertrain consisting of a 16.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, a naturally-aspirated 84hp 1.4-liter gasoline engine that works as a generator and two electric motors with a combined output of 181 hp. The car has a total driving range of over 300 miles (482 km) and can drive on electric power alone for about 35 miles (56 km) on the highway. By Dan Mihalascu              |
| Impressive Tether Miniature Car Hits 205 MPH Top Speed! Posted: 11 Oct 2013 11:31 AM PDT  I'll admit to not being familiar with the joy of running a gasoline- and/or nitrous-powered model cars very fast, while it's tethered to a central pole, on a track that is perfectly circular in an effort to reach the highest possible top speed. It's actually a sport enjoying world-wide interest – the current record holder for the class with the highest engines (10cc) is an Italian man whose model achieved 214.4 mph or 345 km/h during a competition that took place in Sydney. We don't have a video of that actual run, but Jalopnik did come across one that portrays one of these scary-quick toy cars reaching 205 mph, or 328 km/h, and it's really spectacular, especially after having watched what happens when high-performance vehicles don't stick to their intended routes and wander off, hitting spectators. In no way am I saying I want that to happen, or that it would be actually useful in any way, but it would be cool to see what exactly goes on when the tether breaks (in controlled and safe conditions), and preferably in slow motion. By Andrei Nedelea    |
| Is Report on Four-Door Toyota GT-86 and Scion FR-S Bull Caca? Posted: 11 Oct 2013 11:00 AM PDT  Did you read the latest report about Toyota allegedly giving the green light to a four-door version of the Toyota GT-86 and consequently, the Scion FR-S? Well if you didn't, you can read all about it from the source, which is a one Peter Lyons from Australia's CarSales, as well as on a number of other sites that repeated the story such as Autoblog, Jalopnik, Motorauthority and Worldcarfans, just to mention a few. These stories make for wonderful, eye-catching and viewer-engaging headlines, but one has to be cautious, and by that, I mean there are times when who's talking is as important as what they're saying. It all so happens that I made fun of an eerily similar story about a four-door coupe GT-86 back in 2010 (read our humorous post here - again I repeat, humorous, don't take it seriously…like some did at the time), which according to the author, should have been in showrooms…today. Can you guess who wrote the aforementioned story of a Toyota GT-86 sedan coming into the market in 2013 based on insider information? Yes, that's right... I'm not saying that Toyota has never considered expanding the range of its sports model that was co-developed with Subaru (it did present a convertible concept) or that it won't go down that road in the future, but when these purportedly "anonymous inside sources" fail to deliver, readers should treat / approach these stories with a few grains of salt and certainly some common sense. By John Halas         |
| Farewell to a Legend: Land Rover Defender Will Be Axed by Mid-Decade Posted: 11 Oct 2013 10:30 AM PDT  Land Rover has confirmed reports that it will stop making the Defender SUV, built since 1948 with little changes. "The Defender will go out of production by the middle of the decade due to legislative reasons," a Land Rover spokesman told Autonews Europe. The legislative reasons may have something to do with safety and CO2 emissions, but the spokesman declined to comment. The Defender will be succeeded by an all-new vehicle, but details about it are scarce and its name is yet unknown. Land Rover doesn't say when the replacement model will go on sale, but analysts at Bernstein Research believe it won't go on sale earlier than 2019. Why so late? Because of the "lack of volume and weak business case", according to Bernstein analyst Max Warburton. The successor to the Land Rover Defender was widely expected to be influenced by the DC100 concept, shown in 2011 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. However, Warburton says that the steel-based vehicle has been cancelled and the brand is now looking at the possibility of a more expensive aluminum vehicle that would use the current Range Rover platform. That vehicle may even break the tradition and be built in India. Since its launch in 1948, the Defender racked up 2 million sales and helped establish Land Rover's reputation as an off-road vehicle specialist. However, current sales are small, with only 561 Defenders delivered in Europe in the first eight months of this year. By Dan Mihalascu                   |
| Must Watch: When You're Drunk, You Don't Notice Concrete Slabs…. Posted: 11 Oct 2013 10:00 AM PDT  Yay, for the Winter Olympics city of Sochi and drunk Russian drivers who keep us amused for months on end with their antics! We have the sneaking suspicion that one time won't be enough and you'll find yourself pressing the replay or play button of the following video on multiple occasions – we won't blame you, if you do. You ask why? Well, because it's not every day that you see a driver speeding into a fixed concrete slab destroying a fairly new car. Eyewitnesses, including the person who happened to film the incident through his dashboard camera stated that the driver of the Chevrolet Orlando minivan had one too many drinks before he sat behind the wheel – you don't say… Check it out for yourself in the clip below the virtual break.    |
| Mini Shows New 2014 Hatch's Interior Bits, Confirms Head-Up Display Posted: 11 Oct 2013 09:31 AM PDT  With the unveiling of the all-new Mini hatch scheduled for November 18, the BMW-owned carmaker continues to tease its core model with new photos. This time Mini reveals photos of the interior and some of the driver assistance systems that the new model will be equipped with. Mini says future models will benefit from a number of driver assist systems that will also use intelligent networking for the exchange of information between driver and vehicle. Until then, the 2014 Mini hatch will be equipped with a series of driver assist systems including the Mini head-up display, which displays information right in the driver's line of vision. However, the system is not the same from BMW, as information is not projected on the windshield, but on a transparent glass located behind the steering wheel – similar to the one used by Peugeot and Citroen. The new Mini also features collision warning and pedestrian warning systems, including a city braking function, which help drivers avoid dangerous situations, especially in city traffic. Another feature for the city is the Mini parking-assist feature with reversing camera, which make searching and using parking spaces easier. A video-based speed and distance control system will also be available on the new Mini hatch. The technology automatically keeps a safe distance from the vehicle in front, while the speed limit information system detects and displays speed limits of the current section of road. The system includes no passing display and traffic sign memory functions. Finally, the digital headlight assist function helps visibility when driving at night by using the full range of headlight functions. Oncoming traffic and preceding vehicles are registered by a camera, with the system automatically switching to dimmed headlights. By Dan Mihalascu             |
| This is How Fast the New Porsche 911 Turbo S Goes from 0 to 333km/h [207mph] Posted: 11 Oct 2013 09:04 AM PDT  Does anyone doubt that the new 991-generation Porsche 911 Turbo is one helluva fast machine? Well, in the rare case that someone out there does, then strap on your virtual seatbelts and take a seat behind your computer, laptop or phone screen, because you're about to take a very quick ride to 333km/h (207mph). German magazine Sport Auto's Christian Gebhardt wanted to verify Porsche's acceleration and speed claims for the new 911 Turbo S Coupe, which packs 552hp (560PS) from a 3.8-liter turbocharged flat-six. Stuttgart says that the more powerful edition of the 911 Turbo series completes the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.1 seconds and tops out at 318 km/h (197.6 mph). In the second part of the video, Gebhardt's electronic chronograph recorded a 2.8 second run for 0-100km/h (62mph) and 10 seconds for 0-200km/h (124mph). Looking at the car's dashboard gauges in the first part of the clip, it took about 25 seconds for the Turbo S to reach 300km/h (186mph) and approximately 38 seconds for 333km/h (187mph), but keep in mind, the last two times we mention are rough estimates without taking speedometer errors into account    |
| Slovakia's New Praga R1 is Much Faster in Turbo Form [w/Video] Posted: 11 Oct 2013 08:30 AM PDT  If you're a new manufacturer that nobody has heard of, and you come from Slovakia, a country that is known for making large numbers of mainstream family cars for foreign brands, rather than few, very fast ones in a shed, your product needs to steal the show, and not only match what competition it faces. That's why the ultra-lightweight Praga R1's engine has gained a turbocharger, to more effortlessly shift its 600-ish kg (1,322 pounds) curb weight. Previously only getting its go from a two-liter RenaultSport motor that made 207 hp, Praga has now fitted the same motor with an in-house turbocharger kit that pushes the horsepower figure much higher, to 346 hp (350PS). This has a dramatic effect on performance (obviously), and the car is able to lap the SlovakiaRing track some 10 seconds faster than the naturally-aspirated variant with a FIA GT class time of 1:58.42. Keep in mind that the R1 is designed as a track-day special that can be driven on the road, yet its makers claim it was able to pull 2.4 G in corners and top out at 248km/h (154mph) at the end of main straight on the racing circuit. We do have a sneaking suspicion that less than road-legal slick tires may have been used, and if they weren't, then kudos to the Praga team for coming up with a physics-defying chassis. By Andrei Nedelea           |
| Spied: Here's a Better Look at BMW's New X1 Compact SUV Posted: 11 Oct 2013 08:00 AM PDT  A prototype of the new generation BMW X1 codenamed F48 and expected to launch in late 2015, has made another appearance in front of our scoop photographers all-seeing digital eyes, this time, not on the back of a truck, but on the road. From the looks of it, the X1 will continue to resemble a tall-riding hatchback with estate and SUV elements thrown into the mix, but it will likely sport a less awkward design than the current model. However, we will have to wait and see what BMW's designers have prepared for the front and rear ends, which on this car are not final. The 2016MY X1 will be one of many, many models to use the BMW Group's new front-wheel based ULK platform architecture, with other cars including the next BMW 1-Series hatchbacks and Gran Turismo editions, and up to 10 new Mini variants. We expect base models to be available with front-wheel drive, in which case, the X1 will benefit from increased space and better fuel economy numbers, with the bigger engines offering all-wheel drive (standard on same, optional on others). Speaking about the X1's powerplants, we hear that it will be offered with BMW's next generation four-cylinder diesel and petrol units, and quite likely, the new entry-level 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine range, paired to either manual or automatic transmissions. Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS            |
| Volvo XC90 Signature Edition Is the Swan Song of the 11-Year-Old SUV Posted: 11 Oct 2013 07:35 AM PDT  Late next year, Volvo will release an all-new XC90 SUV that will be influenced by the styling of the Concept Coupe study displayed at the Frankfurt Motor Show. In the meantime, Volvo has announced a special series of its current-generation XC90 SUV for the French market. Called Signature Edition, the limited edition model is a range-topping model that brings luxury features and exclusive exterior enhancements. Based on the R-Design trim level, the XC90 Signature Edition features additional equipment including an RTI navigation system, RSE multimedia system for the rear seats, Volvo Premium Sound audio system and audio jacks for the rear seats. Standard equipment also includes an electric sunroof, electrically adjustable rear seats, and heated front seats. Luxury touches include the leather upholstery, Aluminum inserts and the blue background of the instrument panel. The exterior of the SUV stands out from regular XC90s thanks to Aluminum elements including the engine protection panel, mirror caps, side skirts, roof bars, rear diffuser and the 19-inch 'Ixion' wheels. Tinted rear windows and intelligent xenon headlights are also offered as standard. The Volvo XC90 Signature Edition is priced in France from a whopping €62,850 ($85,325), which is still €2,595 ($3,520) less than if all the optional extras were specified individually. However, Volvo says dealers are entitled to offer discounts – rather hefty ones I assume, if they're willing to move the cars off their lots. The upcoming all-new XC90 will be the first vehicle developed under Geely's ownership and will inaugurate Volvo's new design language, as well as the brand's new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA), which will include a new generation of four-cylinder engines. By Dan Mihalascu        |
| Can You Explain These Consecutive Accidents? Posted: 11 Oct 2013 07:05 AM PDT  Sochi is the Russian city that will play host to the XXII Olympic Winter Games in February 2014. It's also where two odd accidents took place on Thursday. Surveillance cameras captured footage of the crashes that happened very close in time with many commentators believing they're related. The first incident shows a grey (?) car swerving in and out before crashing into the cement wall on the side of the road. Shortly after, we see a red hatch losing control and veering into the opposite lane crashing into an oncoming vehicle. Given that both cars seem to have swerved on more or less, the same section, we're suspecting that it has something to do with the road, possibly an oil spill or a bump. What do you think happened? Tell us in the comments below.    |
| Jeep has 12,000 New Cherokees on Stand By for Shipping as it Waits for Transmission Fix Posted: 11 Oct 2013 06:44 AM PDT  When Jeep presented the all-new 2014 Cherokee in February, it received tons of attention in a love-it or loathe-it, but you can't ignore it, kind of way. Chrysler Group CEO even named it a make-or-break vehicle for the company. It was originally scheduled to go on sale in spring, but then, due to "a wide range of issues", Jeep pushed the launch date back to June, then to September, and he were are in October, still waiting… It's not that Jeep hasn't produced cars, as the automaker has more than 12,000 new Cherokees sitting around at its manufacturing plant, but not one has been shipped to a dealer. The reason? Chrysler is looking for a way to fix the software of the SUV's new adaptive nine-speed transmission. "Chrysler Group is in the final stages of validating the updated powertrain calibrations," Gualberto Ranieri, vice president of communications for Chrysler, told The Detroit News in an email. "The company will not ship vehicles until we are fully satisfied the Cherokee meets customer expectations for performance, refinement and quality." It has been rumored, but not verified from Chrysler, that the software issue with the nine-speed transmission's adaptive program causes abrupt gear changes. "Once the latest powertrain calibration is validated, the company will be able to quickly update the powertrain software on Cherokees already built and ship vehicles to dealerships around the country in quantity," said Ranieri. Many industry analysts like Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics LLP, believe that even though it could hurt its quarterly financial targets, Chrysler's decision to delay the launch of the new Cherokee until its solves these problems is a wise one.                                      |
| Formula 1 Test Driver Maria de Villota Found Dead in Hotel Room Posted: 11 Oct 2013 06:07 AM PDT  She could have been the first woman to start a Formula 1 race since Maria Grazia "Lella" Lombardi in 1976. Unfortunately, life had a different plan for Spain's Maria de Villota. Marussia Formula 1 team's former test driver was found dead this morning in a hotel room in Seville, Spain. A BBC Sport report says local police stated she likely died of natural causes, but a spokeswoman said they cannot confirm anything. The 33-year-old driver lost her right eye in a horrific crash last July during her first test for the Marussia F1 team. She suffered severe head and facial injuries after losing control of the car and colliding with a lorry at Duxford Aerodrome in the UK. Before becoming a reserve driver for Marussia, de Villota had previously raced in Spanish Formula 3 and the Daytona 24 Hours race in the United States. She had her first F1 test in 2009 with the Renault F1 team and impressed team manager Eric Boullier. Since the accident, de Villota continued to be active in motor-racing as an ambassador for the FIA's Women in Motorsport Commission. The daughter of ex-Formula 1 driver Emilio de Villota was supposed to launch her autobiography in Seville today. "Today is a very sad day for Spanish sport. We have lost a fighter with a huge smile," said Formula One double world champion Fernando Alonso. McLaren driver Jenson Button was equally shocked to hear the news. "Very tragic, the girl has been through so much, more than most people go through in their lives. It has been tough for her but this is horrific news and a real shock to the whole paddock and the world of motorsport," said the Briton. Our thoughts are with her family and friends during this very difficult moment. By Dan Mihalascu       |
| Audi Celebrates 500,000 TT Sales with 500 Special Models, 120 Cars Allocated for the UK Posted: 11 Oct 2013 05:40 AM PDT  Depending on which side of the Atlantic you hail from, the Audi TT has been called many names, but at the brand's Ingolstadt headquarters, they prefer to just call it 'successful', especially, after sales surpassed the 500,000th mark, which includes two generation models, the original presented in 1998, and its successor in 2006. To commemorate this sale milestone, Audi created a special edition version based on the TTS named Competition. Only 500 cars will be made for customers worldwide, of which 120 examples are for the United Kingdom. Audi told us about the TTS Competition back in August, but today, it released pricing information for the UK models, with the Coupe version starting at £38,860 OTR and the Roadster from £42,320 OTR. According to Audi, the Competition models come with "£5,665-worth of styling and equipment upgrades for a premium of £2,815 over 'standard' TTS equivalents". While keeping the same 268hp (272PS) 2.0-liter turbocharged four, the Competition cars feature an RS-style fixed rear spoiler, 19-inch five-arm alloys, Impulse grey leather upholstery with 'baseball' stitching in grey and yellow, and a selection of additional driver aids and entertainment extras such as a DVD-based satellite navigation, a Bluetooth mobile phone interface and Audi Music Interface (AMI) iPod connection.             |
| Alpina Details the 345HP D3 Biturbo Diesel in New Video Posted: 11 Oct 2013 05:20 AM PDT  If you're looking for a fast diesel-powered BMW 3-Series and the 330d doesn't quite cut it for you, chances are the Alpina D3 Biturbo will. Powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter engine developing 345 hp (350PS) and 700Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque, the D3 Biturbo has 91 hp and 140 Nm (67 lb-ft) more than the standard 330d. Naturally, it is faster too, covering the 0 to 100 km/h sprint in 4.6 seconds (0.6 seconds quicker than the 330d) and reaching a top speed of 278 km/h (173 mph) – the 330d is limited to 250 km/h (155 mph). The 330d has a better fuel economy though, with a combined consumption of 4.9 l/100 km (48 mpg US), compared to the Alpina D3's 5.3 l/100 km (44.4 mpg US). Of course, the Alpina D3 Biturbo is more expensive than the 330d (€46,975 compared to €37,815, prices excluding taxes in Germany), but there's more to the car than the souped-up diesel engine. Find out what from the official video posted below. By Dan Mihalascu    |
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