CARSCOOP |  |
- Carscoops' A to Z Guide to the 2013 LA Auto Show
- Jaguar Filming First-Ever Super Bowl Commercial for the New F-Type Coupe
- Consumer Reports' First Drive of 2015 VW GTI, Calls it a Grown-Up Car
- The First Fruit of the BMW-Toyota Deal May be Hybridized Supercar – Next Lexus LFA?
- A Nitrous-Boosted 2014 Corvette C7 and a Tuning Website Hacked to Display Pro-Islam Messages
- Audi's 2001 TT One-Off Prototype with 380PS 2.7 V6 That Failed to Make it to Production
- Toyota Models on Flatbed Truck Crunched Under New York Bridge - This Won't Buff Out...
- Minor Updates for 2014 Hyundai Genesis Sedan as Replacement Nears
- IIHS Awards Volvo XC90, Subaru XV Crosstrek and Impreza Top Safety Pick + Rating
- BMW's New Diesel-Powered X5 M50d Video Reviewed in the UK
| Carscoops' A to Z Guide to the 2013 LA Auto Show Posted: 09 Nov 2013 04:00 PM PST  From November 22 to December 1, the Los Angeles Convention Center will turn around the "Press Only" sign to the "Open for all" side welcoming the public to the 2013 edition of the LA Auto Show. Our area of focus is on the days leading to, as well as, the actual press days on November 20 and 21, when we will witness some two dozen world premieres along with a similar number of North American debuts. Hotly anticipated production displays at this year's LA motor show include the Jaguar F-Type Coupe, the Nissan Juke Nismo RS performance crossover and the next generation of the Mini hatchback. Below, you will find our preliminary list of new cars that have been officially confirmed, as well as some that we have heard might break cover in LA, such as the new global Ford Edge crossover and the next iterations of Subaru's popular WRX and STI series. Be sure to bookmark and re-visit this page as we will be updating it regularly whenever we receive more information.         |
| Jaguar Filming First-Ever Super Bowl Commercial for the New F-Type Coupe Posted: 09 Nov 2013 01:30 PM PST  Jaguar will advertise its new F-Type Coupe during the second half of the Super Bowl XLVIII on February 2, 2014. The new brand and product advertising campaign will be called "British Villains" and will include the Jaguar's first television commercial produced for running in the broadcast of the biggest sports event in America. We're told that the campaign features a 30-second spot and a wide range of digital assets and executions and will pay tribute to Brits that have long made the best villains in movies, "combining intelligence with charm, restlessness with calm, and always confident." The campaign asks the question, "Have you ever noticed how in Hollywood movies, all the villains are played by Brits?" and will launch with a unique hashtag, #GoodToBeBad, projecting the image of the British villains onto the F-Type Coupe. The commercial features renowned British actors and is being filmed by Academy Award-winning British film and television director Tom Hooper in London. "The campaign signals that the F-Type Coupe is the new British bad boy in the segment and is designed to disrupt the tradition-bound sports car market," said Jeff Curry, Brand Vice President, Jaguar North America. "We look forward to bringing the best of British film to the Super Bowl viewing audience with renowned actors and Academy Award-winner director Tom Hooper," he added. The new F-Type Coupe will debut later this month at the Los Angeles and Tokyo motor shows. By Dan Mihalascu                   |
| Consumer Reports' First Drive of 2015 VW GTI, Calls it a Grown-Up Car Posted: 09 Nov 2013 12:00 PM PST  The seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf GTI has been on sale in Europe for more than six months, but in the United States, the car will only arrive early next year as a 2015 model. Given that the GTI is traditionally a high-volume seller in the U.S., Consumer Reports was acquainted with an Euro-spec model to find out what buyers should expect from the new GTI when it launches next year in the country. As far as the design is concerned, the publication noticed the car has retained its understated looks, with only GTI enthusiasts recognizing that it's a new model when seeing it on the street. First driving impressions are positive with CR praising the car's "phenomenal" grip and describing it as a grown-up GTI that knows how blend fun and refinement. The engine gets good marks too, although it doesn't offer as much power as some rivals, while the double clutch gearbox receives credit for quick and smooth shifts. Scroll down to watch the review. By Dan Mihalascu    |
| The First Fruit of the BMW-Toyota Deal May be Hybridized Supercar – Next Lexus LFA? Posted: 09 Nov 2013 10:30 AM PST  BMW's collaboration with Toyota brought the latter the promise of more exciting, engaging and emotionally stirring cars destined to change the staid perception the industry and buyers now have of it. The first rumors we heard claimed that the manufacturers were already working on a spiritual successor to the Supra, that was reportedly going to ride on Bavarian underpinnings. Now, after some downtime, it seems that the rumor mill is turning again, and Motoring reports that they have bigger plans than we originally thought for their first lovechild. The Australian report bases its writing on "a source close to the two companies," who informed them that the common plan is to make a Lexus-badged hybrid supercar that would build on the philosophy of the LFA supercar. As I understand it, after having been leaders in all things hybrids for many years, they have lost their head start, especially in the ultra-high performance sector, where Ferrari, Porsche and McLaren have stepped their game up. Even BMW is ahead in this sector, with the i8, a hybrid that, at least for me, makes a lot of sense as a genuine sports car – too bad it's so darn expensive for the actual numbers it puts down. If this new LFA build on its predecessor's philosophy, it might also incur the same penalty when it comes to pricing – it may, in fact, be even more expensive than the old car, if it uses the same costly carbon construction, plus the additional financial burden of the batteries, motors and controllers needed for smooth running. By Andrei Nedelea Note: 2007 Toyota FT-HS Concept pictured
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| A Nitrous-Boosted 2014 Corvette C7 and a Tuning Website Hacked to Display Pro-Islam Messages Posted: 09 Nov 2013 09:57 AM PST  I'm sure you will be wondering how and why we got two completely different subjects, one regarding a tuned Corvette C7, and the other, a website hacked to show messages comparing Islamic and Western traditions, intertwined in the same post. Well, blame internet surfing and data collection. You see, we wanted to learn more about a Corvette C7 modified by Late Model Racecraft (LMR) and went to check out Performance Driving Network (PDN – proceed to the link at your own risk…), a site from the people responsible for High Tech Corvette and Houston Performance Driving, only to discover that it had been hacked to auto-play a scrolling message along with Middle Eastern music… Putting that aside and while we wait for PDN to solve their software issues, we're assuming you will want to know what gives with LMR's C7. From the video descriptions, we learned that the automatic transmission Stingray has some light mechanical mods and a nitrous boost system, with the car dyno-rated at 502 rwhp (rear wheel horsepower) and 668rwhp respectively. It also completed the quarter mile run in 9.99 seconds – with a nitro shot, from what we understand. Watch it in the videos below.    |
| Audi's 2001 TT One-Off Prototype with 380PS 2.7 V6 That Failed to Make it to Production Posted: 09 Nov 2013 08:00 AM PST  Long before the Audi TT-RS, the company's Quattro GmbH division saw potential for a high-performance TT Coupe model. Engineers thought a good way to turn the soft TT into a true sports car was to transplant the twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine from a contemporary Audi RS4 Avant (B5 generation). However, they soon found out the engine didn't fit in a transverse position, as the TT required. Unfazed by this "minor" inconvenient, they decided to use the entire platform of the RS4 Avant including the engine, transmission, rear differential, axles, braking system and the wheel assemblies. In order to fit all of these components under the more compact bodywork of the TT, engineers shortened the platform by 170mm (6.7 inches). The interior is almost unchanged compared to standard TT models, with the exception of the Alcantara steering-wheel and Recaro Seats. The car took eight months to build and was tested for 20,000 km (12,430 miles), proving to be a serious contender even for the Porsche 911. The engine produced 380PS (375hp) and 440 Nm (324 lb-ft) of torque and made the TT sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 295 km/h (183 mph). For some reason though (probably costs), it didn't make it to production and has remained a one-off. Never seen before, the car was spotted by German photographer Gunter Stachon at the Audi Forum Neckarsulm, where it was on display. By Dan Mihalascu Photo Credits: Gunter.Stachon.Photography [Used with permission]                      |
| Toyota Models on Flatbed Truck Crunched Under New York Bridge - This Won't Buff Out... Posted: 09 Nov 2013 06:40 AM PST  The first question we asked ourselves after watching these videos of a truck full of Toyota cars munched under a metal overpass in New York City, is not how on earth did this happen, but how the heck did we miss it, since this incident purportedly occurred in the beginning of May this year, with each video having only garnered a few hundred views since. We hope that we can do our bit to assist in fixing the latter. As for the first question posed regarding how could an accident like this take place, we don't have any information in our hands, but we're guessing that it could have been a height miscalculation on the truck driver's behalf. Whatever it was, he surely had some explaining to do to the owner(s) of the mangled up Toyota Camry and RAV4. Skip past the break to watch the two videos from the recovery process.    |
| Minor Updates for 2014 Hyundai Genesis Sedan as Replacement Nears Posted: 09 Nov 2013 06:00 AM PST  The current, first generation Genesis Sedan will soldier on for another model year in the United States with some subtle updates and enhancements, as Hyundai prepares for the launch of an all-new model, officially teased in these sketches, and unofficially revealed in these photos. So, what's new for the 2014MY Genesis? According to Hyundai, the most notable upgrade is an offer for three years of Hyundai Assurance Connected Care telematics services free of charge on cars equipped with Blue Link, which was initially added on the 2013MY. The services available via Hyundai Blue Link include the following: Automatic Collision Notification, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Vehicle Diagnostic Alert, Monthly Vehicle Health Report and in-vehicle Car Care maintenance scheduling. Other changes for the new model year include the addition of 18-inch alloy wheels as standard and a more efficient electro-hydraulic power steering with enhanced feel for the 3.8-liter V6 model, a standard heated steering wheel for the 429HP 5.0-liter V8 R model, and the introduction of a new Santiago Silver exterior color that replaces Platinum Metallic. Pricing for the 2014 Genesis Sedan is to be announced.         |
| IIHS Awards Volvo XC90, Subaru XV Crosstrek and Impreza Top Safety Pick + Rating Posted: 09 Nov 2013 05:00 AM PST  The Volvo XC90 is one of the oldest SUVs you can still buy; an old-school car, if you will, which benefits from the incremental improvements that have been brought to it over the years. These seem to have maintained it in the competitive end of the market, particularly in the area concerning safety. The brand is synonymous with advanced safety features, and its largest and heaviest of offerings doesn't disappoint in 2013, ten years after its debut, as it has just been awarded the Top Safety Pick + distinction by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), along with the recently tested Subaru XV Crosstrek and regular Impreza hatch. It even went through the dreaded small overlap test well, and the testers concluded that in the event of such a crash, "injury measures recorded on the dummy indicate low risk of any significant injuries in a crash of this severity." What's interesting is the fact that not all that much work was done on the XC90 to bring it to this standard (allegedly), but if it's true, it's something that definitely looks good in Volvo's resume. When it comes to the two Subarus tested, we were not surprised that they too achieved the same result as the XC90, as their new models have started receiving the very high safety accolades. Moreover, the XV and Impreza received structural improvements for the 2014 model year, and they too showed that the driver would have been able to pretty much walk away from the same small overlap test. All three vehicles scored a "Good" rating in all five tested categories (small overlap, moderate overlap, side, roof strength, as well as head restraints and seats). By Andrei Nedelea             |
| BMW's New Diesel-Powered X5 M50d Video Reviewed in the UK Posted: 09 Nov 2013 04:15 AM PST  Meet the new generation BMW X5 M50d, powered by a tri-turbo three-liter V6 diesel engine that puts out 375 hp (380PS) and a chassis-twisting 740 Nm of torque, ensuring a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 5.3 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h). It is the subject of CarBuyer's latest video review, one of, if not the, first to feature it. It says there's no real technical highlight to speak of when comparing this new F15 X5 to its predecessor and/or rivals, as it shares its (modified) platform with the old E70 model, and is by no means a big departure from it. Many engines are carried over too, but their job is a slightly easier one, as it now weighs less than before and this is reflected in the more svelte side profile – it's only a few millimeters lower, but it does look more estate-like, helped perhaps by the body kit fitted to the sporty version tested in the video. Check it out below, and feel free to share your thoughts on the new X5, and this M50d variant in particular. By Andrei Nedelea    |
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