CARSCOOP |  |
- 2014 Corvette Stingray Goes Tete-A-Tete with Porsche Cayman S
- Big Japanese Auto Suppliers Fined $745 million for Price Fixing in the U.S.
- Grand Theft Auto 5 Online Component Goes Live [w/Video]
- Chevy Pickup Truck Pops a…V8 During Tug of War
- BMW Increases Prices of Select 2013 and 2014 Models in the U.S. by Up to $2,000
- Spied: LR Superchargers Range Rover Sport with RS Model
- Ferrari F12berlinetta Blows its Horn on the Laguna Seca Track
- Hyundai Reveals 2014 Tucson with New Engines and Other Upgrades [w/Video]
- It Took Dacia 10 Months to Sell Its 10,000th Car in the UK
- New Photos of NYC Bikers Beating SUV Driver Surface Online, DA Won't Charge Arrested Rider
- Be Careful Who Tows Your Car if it Breaks Down – You May Never See It Again...
- Watch a Dream Test of BMW’s Most Iconic Roadsters
- Peugeot Releases Full Pricing for New 308 Hatch in the UK
- Subaru's First Ever Hybrid, Based on XV Crosstrek, Priced from $25,995
- 1,400HP Koenigsegg One:1 will Weigh 1,400Kg and Reach 450 Km/h!
- Cop Fired for…Firing at Man During Red-Light Traffic Stop
- GM and PSA Confirm Plan to Jointly Build B-Segment MPVs in Spain
- Scoop: VW Turning Lady Bug Into a Stag Beetle with R Edition?
- Lexus RC F Super GT500 Takes to the Track for the First Time
- Oh, My…Bangle's BMW 7-Series in a Blue Aluminum Wrap Riding on Stilts
- Ford’s New EcoBoost 3.5-Liter Race Engine to Debut at 2014 24 Hours of Daytona
- Daredevil Motorcycle Pair Does a Blushing Wheelie
- New Nissan Rogue to be Built in South Korea as well for North American Market
- Subaru's Facelifted Outback with New Diesel-CVT Combo Lands in the UK
- Porsche Digitally Dissects 918 Spyder Hybrid in New Promo
| 2014 Corvette Stingray Goes Tete-A-Tete with Porsche Cayman S Posted: 02 Oct 2013 05:02 PM PDT  Of all the online magazines and sites that have tried out the new 2014 Corvette Stingray, Edmunds is in a class of its own when it comes to seeing what Detroit's newest sports car does against any kind of competition (well, we're still waiting for…sub-compacts and minivans) on the track - just as long you don't have high expectations in terms of a full depth review in said clips. If you've seen all the previous tests with the SRT Viper, Nissan GT-R Track Edition, Porsche 911 Carrera S, BMW M3 E92 and the Shelby Mustang GT500, you should already know who the winner is between the 450hp Corvette C7 and the 321hp (325PS) Cayman S, in the eyes of Edmunds, at least. There's also a second video and while we know you may be tempted to think that it's another Harlem Shake office creation upon clicking play, it's a new segment called "Edmunds Live", which tries to approach a more modern crowd in a "TMZ Live" kind of format. In it, and among other things, the crew from the online site talks about its recent tests with the Corvette C7. You can watch both videos just past the jump.        |
| Big Japanese Auto Suppliers Fined $745 million for Price Fixing in the U.S. Posted: 02 Oct 2013 04:20 PM PDT  Nine Japanese companies and two executives will pay approximately $745 million (€552 million) in fines after they pleaded guilty for conspiracies to fix the prices of auto parts sold to U.S. automakers. The Department of Justice said that price-fixed automobile parts were sold to Chrysler Group, Ford and General Motors, as well as to the U.S. subsidiaries of Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota and Subaru. According to a Reuters report, the activity, which involved separate conspiracies to fix prices of more than 30 different products, lasted for a decade or longer in some cases. Among the parts were seat belts, radiators, windshield wipers, air-conditioning systems, power window motors and power steering components. These components were sold to automakers for an estimated $5 billion (€3.7 billion), with more than 25 million cars being affected by said practice. However, it is unclear how much the conspiracies inflated the price of the parts. Antitrust enforcers from many countries have been working on the case, with Japan's competition agency being the first to uncover the illegal activities. Each of the companies and executives involved has agreed to cooperate with the Department of Justice's ongoing antitrust investigation. Company executives usually met face to face or talked via telephone to arrange price-fixing agreements. "In order to keep their illegal conduct secret, they used code names and met in remote locations," said Attorney General Eric Holder. The companies involved are Hitachi Automotive Systems, Jtekt Corp, Mitsuba Corp, Mitsubishi Electric Corp, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, NSK, T.RAD Co, Valeo Japan Co and Yamashita Rubber. By Dan Mihalascu         |
| Grand Theft Auto 5 Online Component Goes Live [w/Video] Posted: 02 Oct 2013 03:50 PM PDT  While the single player campaign in Grand Theft Auto 5 was always going to be a predictably story- and dialog-driven endeavor, with strong emphasis on the characters and the shocking atrocities they commit, as well as a host of mini-games and side quests to keep you busy when you're not performing special missions, the multiplayer component promises a fresher perspective. Strangely, it wasn't ready when the game was first released, but now it has been activated courtesy of an updated that came out yesterday. Perhaps it wasn't working properly at the time and they didn't want to postpone the game anymore, so they deemed it as being the best decision - it was still down for a few hours after release, but it got fixed fairly quickly. Now it's here and after taking a look on the scene, I encountered lots of conflicting opinions about how it plays and the fact that each server is limited to just 16 players roaming the city at the same time – clearly not enough to take full advantage of the open world freedom, right? By all accounts, it's not bad, and if anything, it may be even more endearing than the single player part, as it allows you to fully customize your character, level it up and unlock new stuff to use, just like any conventional role playing game. YouTube has been inundated with videos, but I've done my best to discard the boring stuff and found some insightful ones that actually shed some light on what the game is now like with the online bit activated. Check them out below! By Andrei Nedelea    |
| Chevy Pickup Truck Pops a…V8 During Tug of War Posted: 02 Oct 2013 03:18 PM PDT  There's just something about the moment when an overly-stressed engine explodes in front of a numerous crowd. To some, it's a magical moment and people always seem to cheer on while the contour of the hood begins billowing smoke, prompting the driver get out and power punch the air or take a bow, as if at the end of some sort of act. That scenario is based a scene from an older video we posted, but the formula holds true for most of them… This time, it's the turn of a beefed-up blue Chevy pickup engaged in what looks to be a fairly balanced tug of war with a similar vehicle. It seems to be doing just fine, until sparks start flying from beneath, only to be followed a fraction of a second later by the explosion. As usual, the spectators go crazy, but this time, the owner seems a bit more concerned about the bits of crankshaft and huge puddle of oil underneath his still smoldering truck – bring on the next one! By Andrei Nedelea Story References: Jalopnik   |
| BMW Increases Prices of Select 2013 and 2014 Models in the U.S. by Up to $2,000 Posted: 02 Oct 2013 02:31 PM PDT  BMW of North America today announced "a modest inflationary price increase" for some model year 2013 and 2014 vehicles, effective October 1, 2013. There's a price hike of $300 (€221) for the entire 2013 1-Series and some 3-Series models (including the M3 Convertible), while price increases for 2014 models vary from $100 (€74) for the X1 sDrive28i and X1 xDrive28i to a not so modest $2,000 (€1,476) for the M5sedan, M6 Gran Coupe, M6 Coupe and M6 Convertible. Other price increases are for the 2014 3-Series and 2014 5-Series GT ($200/€147), 2014 6-Series Coupe, Gran Coupe and Convertible models ($500/€369), 2014 X6 range and 2014 Z4 range ($1,000/€738). The new prices include a $925 (€683) Destination and Handling fee. Prices remain unchanged for the 2014 BMW 3-Series Diesel Sedan, 3-Series Sports Wagon, 3-Series Gran Turismo, 4-Series Coupe, 5-Series Sedan (excluding M5), 7-Series and X5 Sports Activity Vehicle. By Dan Mihalascu            |
| Spied: LR Superchargers Range Rover Sport with RS Model Posted: 02 Oct 2013 02:03 PM PDT  If you look at Land Rover's current lineup, the fastest and most powerful editions of the new Range Rover Sport Mk2 are the Supercharged and Autobiography, both featuring a 510hp V8 that offers a 0-60mph (96km/h) time of 5.0 seconds. However, that doesn't seem to satisfy Land Rover, or at least, not from a marketing perspective, as the British firm is now working on a more performance orientated model, rumored to wear the RS moniker. Earlier this year, we had spotted a slightly modified Range Rover Sport prototype, but at the time, we weren't sure if it was the RS. This new tester is a further development of that car featuring additional items such as a new rear bumper with a diffuser and quad, instead of twin tailpipes. The fastest edition of the Range Rover Sport series will likely borrow the 550-horsepower version of the Jaguar-Land Rover group's 5.0-liter supercharged V8 found in a number of cars, including the Jaguar XFR-S, with the brand's engineers also reworking the SUV's suspension software and hardware components, and adding a more potent braking system. Interior upgrades are also to be expected. Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS            |
| Ferrari F12berlinetta Blows its Horn on the Laguna Seca Track Posted: 02 Oct 2013 01:29 PM PDT  Launched in 2012, the Ferrari F12berlinetta is not exactly a new car. But who would let a minor detail like that get in the way of taking an F12 for a test drive? The folks at Motor Trend magazine didn't – and that's a good thing, since their video offers a great opportunity to hear the spine-tingling symphony of the engine's 12 angry cylinders. Obviously, the testers were stunned by the F12's sheer acceleration, although they found a bit of a contradiction between the car's GT credentials and the racy engine and steering that keeps the driver constantly on his/her toes (and fingers, we may add). You can find out what more they had to say about the Ferrari in the 10-minute-long video below. If you don't have that much time you can skip to the 7:10 minute mark to watch the Ferrari F12 set a hot lap on the scenic Laguna Seca circuit. Just make sure the volume is up so you can enjoy the truly intoxicating sounds produced by the 730hp 6.2-liter V12 engine. By Dan Mihalascu    |
| Hyundai Reveals 2014 Tucson with New Engines and Other Upgrades [w/Video] Posted: 02 Oct 2013 01:00 PM PDT  Subsequent to the release of the facelifted, European market ix35 at the Geneva Show in March this year and the refreshed Tucson iX in South Korea later in spring, Hyundai has now announced the North American version of the series, which goes on sale this fall as a 2014MY priced from $21,450, excluding freight charges of $855. The first thing that people look for in a new model year car are the changes on the outside, but in this respect, there's not much to say, as exterior revisions are limited to new projector headlights with LED accents, LED lights at the back, a shark-fin-style antenna on Limited trim, and new 17- and 18-inch alloy wheel designs. The same holds true for the interior where Hyundai added new beige and brown cabin colors, illuminated cup-holders, floor console mounted rear vents, new two-stage reclining 60/40 split rear seats, along with a new 4.3-inch color LCD touchscreen audio with rearview camera and a third generation navigation with a larger 7-inch touchscreen and HD Radio (depending on the trim model). More important are the updates under the hood where Hyundai is introducing two new engines, both with direct-injection technology, including a 164hp and 151 lb-ft 2.0-liter four-cylinder that returns an EPA estimated 23 mpg city fuel economy, and a 182 horsepower and 177 lb-ft 2.4-liter unit that achieves 24 mpg combined The two available powerplants for the Tucson are offered with a standard six-speed automatic, while for the first time, the entry-level 2.0L unit will also offer AWD as an option. Hyundai says it has also made charges to the suspension.
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| It Took Dacia 10 Months to Sell Its 10,000th Car in the UK Posted: 02 Oct 2013 12:35 PM PDT  Despite being on the UK market for less than a year, the Dacia brand has announced its 10,000th sale. It's a surprising number since the Brits are usually quite picky about their cars, and aren't usually the quickest to welcome newcomers. We have no doubt very few of the ones that bought a Dacia did so for any reason other than its shocking affordability, but it goes to show you that if a package is solid and sold as good value, instead of cheap, people will buy into it, especially when they're not as well off as they used to be… I think Dacia has chosen its range well, and I think the highlight for UK roads is the Logan MCV that is cheap to buy and run, but offers the space of estates from the size class above. Until sales of that model pick up, the figures will be split between the Duster and Sandero (including Stepway model). Of the first 10,000 cars sold, 5,600 are Dusters and 5,400 Sanderos, yet the official press information reads that the latter may become the top seller, as the Stepway is "the fastest gainer."         |
| New Photos of NYC Bikers Beating SUV Driver Surface Online, DA Won't Charge Arrested Rider Posted: 02 Oct 2013 12:00 PM PDT  Word of Caution: Some readers may find one of the following images graphic New material from last Sunday's scuffle between a group of riders and a Range Rover driver in New York City has appeared online in the form of two photos shot from a nearby building. The first image shows five bikers having surrounded a man, who is believed to be the Range Rover driver Alexian Lienn, lying down on the ground, with his distraught wife trying to see what was going on outside the SUV. We'll remind you that Lien's young daughter was also in the car at the time. In the next picture the bleeding man is shown on his knees, with the motorcyclists getting ready to leave. Lien ended up in the hospital, as did one of the riders he ran over On Tuesday, we told you that NYPD arrested and charged motorcyclist Christopher Cruz, 28, who was the one to hit the brakes in front of the Range Rover in the beginning of the video, with endangering the welfare of a child and reckless driving, and that a second man, who was allegedly seen smashing the rear window of Lien's Range Rover, had given himself in. A NY Post report now says that the Manhattan DA's office won't press charges against the second man, who has since been revealed to be Allen Edwards, 43, of Queens, adding that the DA is also reluctant to prosecute the other rider. A spokesperson for Manhattan DA Cy Vance's office told the NY publication that Edwards "won't be charged at this time. The entire case is still under investigation." Meanwhile, police are continuing their investigation and are now focused on trying to ID two bikers seen assaulting the driver. "We have recovered a lot of video — new video — from bikers who videotaped the ride," an unnamed police source told the newspaper. "One video shows the guy in the chrome helmet ripping the victim out of the SUV. The video then cuts off. [But] we also have a witness who filled in the gaps on what happened next." Story References: nypost      |
| Be Careful Who Tows Your Car if it Breaks Down – You May Never See It Again... Posted: 02 Oct 2013 11:35 AM PDT  Picture the scenario of your car having been immobilized on the hard shoulder of some dark interstate and the prospect of the tow truck coming to your rescue being driven by a criminal who is going to take it away and sell it for scrap. It's not a pleasing thought at all, but apparently, it can and has happened. KSDK reports that "a graveyard shift worker (Mitch Mattingly) got stuck on Interstate 70. His stuck car turned into a stolen car in less than two hours." The culprit was reportedly driving a tow truck that he used to take the car away, this leading the 911 operator he called to suggest it may have been held at Airport Towing – it wasn't. The owner of the company, who is also the head of the Tow Truck Association, said this was not a new occurrence, and that last year, thieves took two of his own trucks, and then played dirty with them, though, they were ultimately caught. Sadly for Mitch Mattingly, his car is probably in bits by now, as these types of runs always end at the junkyard, where the cars were sold and quickly crushed. By Andrei Nedelea Video via KSDK    This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Watch a Dream Test of BMW’s Most Iconic Roadsters Posted: 02 Oct 2013 11:10 AM PDT  Like any car manufacturer, BMW has had its ups and downs since it started building cars in 1929. There were many crises that the Bavarian carmaker had to overcome, with the most important being World War 2 and bankruptcy. The history of BMW roadsters reflects the company's sinuous trajectory over the decades on its path to become the world's biggest luxury car manufacturer. As a matter of fact, some of these roadsters shaped BMW's destiny, but probably none more so than the legendary 328 and the 507. While the 328's long list of motor racing victories established BMW's reputation as a sports car manufacturer, the gorgeous and luxurious 507 nearly sank the company because it was very expensive to make. There are many interesting stories you can find out from the XCar video, as well as driving impressions of each one of the following BMW roadsters: the 327, 328, 507, Z1, Z8 and Z4. You'll probably notice that the BMW Z3 is missing from the video, with the reason being that the U.S.-built roadster was not "very sporty", always according to the reviewer. By Dan Mihalascu    |
| Peugeot Releases Full Pricing for New 308 Hatch in the UK Posted: 02 Oct 2013 10:50 AM PDT  Peugeot's promising entry in the highly popular compact hatchback category, the all-new 308, is now available to order in the United Kingdom, though; prospective buyers will have to wait until the 4th of January, 2014, for deliveries. Offered exclusively in a five-door body style (for now, that is) with a four-trim grade lineup and a choice of diesel and gasoline engines, the new 308 starts from £14,495 OTR for the 1.2-liter VTI Access with a manual, and tops out at £24,045 OTR for the 2.0-liter HDI Feline Auto. Beginning with the Access model, standard equipment includes air conditioning, remote central door locking, cruise control with speed limiter, DAB digital radio, LED daylight running lights and Bluetooth connectivity. Moving up to the Active grade, customers gain standard dual zone air conditioning, electric handbrake, rear parking sensors, integrated 9.7-inch touch screen and satellite navigation. The next step is the Allure, distinguished by the full LED headlamps, 17-inch alloy wheels, a reversing camera and front parking sensors. At the top of the range you'll find the Feline model with plenty of added goods, ranging from a panoramic Cielo glass roof to Alcantara trimmed sports seats and the Driver Assistance Pack. For full details on pricing and optional equipment features, do check the list below the break.
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| Subaru's First Ever Hybrid, Based on XV Crosstrek, Priced from $25,995 Posted: 02 Oct 2013 10:12 AM PDT  A little over a year after the regular XV Crosstrek landed in the States selling some 45,000 units in the process, Subaru announced pricing for the new Hybrid version of the tall-riding hatch, which also happens to be the Japanese automaker's first-ever production hybrid vehicle. There are two trim levels to choose from, the base Hybrid priced from $25,995 or (*) $26,820 with destination and delivery, and the better equipped Hybrid Touring that starts at $29,295 or $30,120 when you include the aforementioned fees. Among other standard features on the base model are a high-grade color multi-function display with a 4.3-inch screen, automatic climate control system, upgraded instrument cluster and chrome exterior door handles, while the Touring adds a touch-screen navigation system, leather-trimmed seating and a power moonroof. Regardless of trim grade, the XV Crosstrek Hybrid pairs a 148hp 2.0-liter boxer engine to a CVT transmission fitted with a 13.4 hp (~10 kW) electric motor. Subaru claims a combined fuel economy figure of 31 mpg, or 7.6 l/100km, and as much as 34 mpg (6.9 l/100km) on the highway.                                    |
| 1,400HP Koenigsegg One:1 will Weigh 1,400Kg and Reach 450 Km/h! Posted: 02 Oct 2013 09:59 AM PDT  As if Koenigsegg was not building extremely powerful and rare cars to begin with, the Swedish company will launch an insane version of the Agera S, called the "One:1". Limited to six units, the hypercar is named after the company's ambition to build the first production vehicle to truly achieve a one-to-one power-to-weight ratio. In an interview with Bloomberg, company founder and owner Christian Von Koenigsegg confirmed that the One:1 will weigh 1,400 kg (3,086 lbs) and will be powered by a 1,400hp engine. That's a massive leap over the Agera's 965 horsepower. About the power-to-weight ratio, von Koenigsegg stresses that the car's weight will include all the necessary fluids and even the driver. "Other cars have achieved this but by measuring dry weight - no oil, no water, no fuel," he said. As expected given these numbers, performance will be ballistic, with computer simulations indicating that the One:1 will be capable of 450 km/h (280 mph) or more. If calculations are correct, it will not only be the fastest production car in the world, but also the fastest from 0 to 200 km/h (124mph), from 0 to 300 km/h (186 mph) and from 0 to 400 km/h (248 mph). The 0 to 400 km/h sprint is expected to be covered in – hold tight – around 20 seconds! For comparison, the Bugatti Veyron needs 45 seconds to reach 400 km/h. Koenigsegg expects to have a prototype ready by the end of the year and says all six units have already been presold. He didn't disclose the price, but said it's "substantially higher" than that of the Agera S. Despite that, he expects to lose money on the project, but that's not an issue given the image boost the record-breaking car will offer Koenigsegg. By Dan Mihalascu Photos via Teknikensvarld      |
| Cop Fired for…Firing at Man During Red-Light Traffic Stop Posted: 02 Oct 2013 09:29 AM PDT  We understand the need for police officers to exercise caution when stopping a vehicle and approaching a driver in these strange times, but isn't there something wrong when their first reaction upon seeing a driver stepping out of his car after being pulled over is to fire a shot? Yes, the man should have stayed inside his car, but does that justify the use of a gun? In the case of Austin Police Department Officer Justin Boehm who pulled over James Barton on May 8 for running a red light and then shot him seconds after exiting his car, opinions seem to be split. According to the Travis County grand jury, the answer to the above question is yes, since they decided not to indict him last Friday, but the Austin Police Department that conducted an investigation into the incident itself, reached a different conclusion saying that Boehm overreacted using excessive force and has now indefinitely suspended him. "He was not consistent with what we expect at the Austin Police Department," said Chief Art Acevedo, according to a report from NBC affiliate KXAN. "This is a profession where you don't get a bad day when it comes to deadly force." To his defense, during the hearing, the officer said that Barton, 55, came out of his car holding a black object, which later proved to be his wallet. Fortunately, the bullet missed Barton.    |
| GM and PSA Confirm Plan to Jointly Build B-Segment MPVs in Spain Posted: 02 Oct 2013 09:03 AM PDT  Following a report that appeared a few days ago, General Motors and PSA Peugeot-Citroën have announced they will jointly build B-segment MPVs at GM's Spain plant in Zaragoza, as part of the existing alliance agreement. The two carmakers are jointly developing a next-generation of B-segment MPVs based on a PSA Peugeot-Citroën platform. The program is one of three projects which were agreed upon and signed by both partners in December 2012. The other two were the joint development of a C-segment MPV for Opel/Vauxhall and a compact crossover for the Peugeot brand, plus the co-development of an upgraded low CO2 B-segment platform to underpin the next generation of Opel/Vauxhall and PSA superminis. The engineering execution of the joint project will be led by Opel's engineering team in Russelsheim, while PSA Peugeot-Citroën will supply powertrains for all applications. The first vehicles will be launched in late 2016. GM's release says the alliance is based on a "balanced approach" and that the vehicles of both manufacturers "will be highly differentiated and fully consistent with their respective brand characteristics." More details about the alliance's joint projects will be provided at a later stage. According to last week's report, the next-generation Citroën C3 Picasso will be built in Zaragoza, Spain, along with the Opel Meriva, Corsa and Mokka, while production of the next-generation Opel Zafira will be transferred to PSA Peugeot-Citroën's plant in Sochaux, France. By Dan Mihalascu         |
| Scoop: VW Turning Lady Bug Into a Stag Beetle with R Edition? Posted: 02 Oct 2013 08:29 AM PDT  When Volkswagen developed the second generation of the New Beetle, it wanted to shake off its predecessor's cute "lady bug" connotation that made many men shy away from it, giving it a more chiseled body to draw in a bigger male audience. However, we all know that looks aren't always enough to get men interested in a car, so VW presented a thinly disguised concept of a macho "R" version in late 2011, with the company hinting at a production model. While this particular Beetle scooped in Europe lacks most of the styling pizazz of the study like the LED lights, vented front and rear bumpers, big rear spoiler and quad tailpipes, it does come with VW's "R" style wheels and a big set of brakes on all four corners, with our spies adding that it sounded far more aggressive than any other regular Beetle. What this matte-grey colored car is believed to be, is a test mule for the upcoming Beetle R, which should come with a 2.0 liter turbocharged engine (possibly the same one found in the latest Golf R) delivering close to 300 horsepower, along, of course, with the necessary updates to the chassis and its appearance. That's all we have for now, but we'll update you as soon as we have something new. Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS            |
| Lexus RC F Super GT500 Takes to the Track for the First Time Posted: 02 Oct 2013 07:59 AM PDT  The Lexus RC will be the Toyota premium arm's answer to the recently-released BMW 4-Series, while the F version will take aim squarely at the upcoming M4. However, until all of that unfolds, we get to see a very cool version of the upcoming RC, the Super GT500 racing variant, tested on-track. Unlike the top-spec F road car, the racing version will get its go from a two-liter four-pot engine mounted up front, but judging by the engine note, it sounds far meaner than that in the video we found and posted below – turbocharging can make a monster out of any small engine, if the desire is so. Just take Jaguar's 1.6-liter unit boasting 502 hp at the crank that is, for all intents and purposes, a road-legal unit, so in a racing application, things could get even more extreme when outright durability and emissions are not main goals. The RC F will be going up against racing versions of the Nissan GT-R and the upcoming Honda/Acura NSX supercar in Japan's popular Super GT500 Championship. All will see active duty next year. By Andrei Nedelea    |
| Oh, My…Bangle's BMW 7-Series in a Blue Aluminum Wrap Riding on Stilts Posted: 02 Oct 2013 07:29 AM PDT  Back in the early 2000s, they told us we'd not only get accustomed to the unconventional styling work of BMW's then chief designer Chris Bangle on the 7-Series E65 sedan, but we'd also come to fancy it in time. Perhaps future generations will have a different eye for the car, but today, the E65 remains an ugly duckling (especially in pre-facelift form) for many car enthusiasts, and this tune from Tate Design doesn't seem to help change that perception in people's minds… The styling mods made by the custom tuner include a foil wrap in a so-called "Blue Aluminum" hue, massive alloy rims (how many inches do you think they are?), which look like horse-carriage wheels, if you ask us, and blacked out front and rear lights, plus tinted windows. There's also a video of the BMW 7er custom ride, which you can watch for yourself just after the jump. Photo Credits: Tate Design           |
| Ford’s New EcoBoost 3.5-Liter Race Engine to Debut at 2014 24 Hours of Daytona Posted: 02 Oct 2013 07:00 AM PDT  Ford will release its new 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost racing engine in the 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship at the 24 Hours of Daytona (January 25-26). The engine is fitted on the 2014 Riley Technologies Daytona Prototype car, which features a new look with Ford styling cues and aerodynamic support from the manufacturer. "We're proud to bring a direct-injected, twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine to the United SportsCar Championship in a field of competitive V8-powered entries. We want to show Ford EcoBoost's capabilities as an engine that provides both performance and fuel economy, on and off the track," said Jamie Allison, Ford Racing director. However, Ford didn't reveal power and torque outputs for the new engine. The first team to use the engine is Michael Shank Racing with a new-look Daytona Prototype car, created with Ford corporate design influence. The car's body features Ford production vehicle design cues created by lead Ford production designer Garen Nicoghosian, while aerodynamic support was offered by Ford Racing chief aerodynamicist Bernie Marcus. While the new engine's racing debut will take place next year at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the prototype will actually hit the Daytona track for the first time on October 9, when Colin Braun will attempt a record run speed test. In a joint effort between Michael Shank Racing, Ford Racing and Continental Tire, the team will aim to beat the 210.364 mph (338.548 km/h) lap set in 1987 by NASCAR champion Bill Elliott with a Ford Thunderbird. By Dan Mihalascu      |
| Daredevil Motorcycle Pair Does a Blushing Wheelie Posted: 02 Oct 2013 06:30 AM PDT  We don't know if we should give you a mature or a safety warning for the following video footage of a risky pair of motorcycle riders performing an unconventional and rather dangerous wheelie on a public highway. Recorded from the helmet-mounted camera of another biker who seems to be part of the pack, the video shows the female passenger first swapping places with the rider before sitting on the handlebars and then lying down, all while the motorcyclist does a high-speed wheelie. What would usually strike other people as "common sense" somehow escaped the notice of these riders… Feel free to comment below after you take a look at the short video clip.    |
| New Nissan Rogue to be Built in South Korea as well for North American Market Posted: 02 Oct 2013 06:10 AM PDT  Nissan has announced it will allocate a part of the production of the new Nissan Rogue to the Busan plant in South Korea. Colin Dodge, head of Nissan's operations in North America, and François Provost, CEO of Renault Samsung Motors, signed a memorandum of understanding sealing the deal. Manufacturing of the all-new Nissan Rogue will begin in the United States in October 2013, while production at the Busan plant will start in the second half of 2014. The annual output of the Korean plant's Rogue line will be 80,000 units, most of which will be shipped to the North American market, where Nissan will continue to sell the Japan-made previous-generation Rogue, renamed Rogue Select. The decision to give South Korea a part of the Rogue production is one of the results of the Renault Samsung Motors revival plan launched in January 2012. The company also launched the new SM5 last year, and the QM3 and SM3 Z.E. this year. "This project is an outstanding example illustrating the strong 'win-win' synergies of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. In the future, we will continue expanding such cooperative operations," Colin Dodge said at the press conference. "This project will also allow RSM to contribute to Renault's growth in Asia and serve as a hub for the Group's regional development," added Gilles Normand, Renault Senior Vice President and Chairman of Asia-Pacific Management Committee. By Dan Mihalascu             |
| Subaru's Facelifted Outback with New Diesel-CVT Combo Lands in the UK Posted: 02 Oct 2013 05:50 AM PDT  The visually and mechanically refreshed 2014 Subaru Outback, the tougher looking and higher-riding version of the Legacy Station Wagon, is now offered for sale in the UK, with on-the-road prices set at £29,995 for the manual gearbox model and £31,495 when opted with a Lineartronic CVT (continuously variable transmission). This is the first time that Subaru's 2.0-liter boxer diesel engine (the only one offered for the UK market), is available with a CVT. According to the Japanese automaker, with the new engine and gearbox combination, the 2014MY Outback returns 44.8 mpg UK and 166g/km CO2 on the combined cycle. Other tweaks for the 2014 model year include some minor cosmetic revisions on the outside, clearer and more modern instrumentation plus new materials for a number of dashboard elements on the inside, and alterations to the car's front and rear suspensions. The SX trim level features new 17-inch gunmetal alloy wheels along with newly-styled body-colored bumpers, silver roof rails and roof spoiler. It also comes equipped with self-leveling automatic HID headlamps, rain sensing wipers, heated mirrors, front and side window defrosters, and a windscreen wiper de-icer function, dual-zone automatic air-conditioning, Bluetooth, audio system with USB connectivity and a VGA centre display with rear vision camera and a modified instrument cluster.        |
| Porsche Digitally Dissects 918 Spyder Hybrid in New Promo Posted: 02 Oct 2013 05:31 AM PDT  Following its new line of office accessories, Porsche shifts focus back on its most prized recent car – the 918 Spyder. After breaking the production car record at the Nurburgring, we've seen it, we know what it's about and we're deeply impressed by it thus far. Now, Porsche has released a promo for the 918 that does a nice kind-of digital dissection of the car, using a very detailed 3D representation. They peel away the polygons of the car's body and all of the mechanical bits seem to be minutely recreated, and even if all of it is CGI, unlike this Jaguar promo that's only about a quarter done on a computer, it has good graphics and looks fit for the upgrades screen of any self-respecting racing game. It's one of the better videos I've seen from Porsche recently, and it's attached below, after the virtual jump. By Andrei Nedelea    |
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