CARSCOOP |  |
- Subaru Reality Checker: Concepts vs. Production Cars
- Is the New Mercedes-Benz S-Class a Better Luxury Car Than the Range Rover and Audi A8?
- Meet the Nature-Inspired Entries for the 2013 LA Auto Show Design Challenge [62 Photos]
- This Ford Fusion Energi Features Interior Fabrics Made of...Coke Bottles [w/Videos]
- German Rumor Mill Says Porsche 991-Based 911 Speedster Coming in 2015
- The Inner Workings of Adaptive Suspensions
- Mercedes-Benz May Bring the V-Class and Vito to the U.S. in 2015
- Lesson Learned, Opel Insignia Is Not a…Trolley
- Take a Better Look at the Seat Leon ST in 52 New Photos
- Tesla May Launch F150-Rivaling Pickup in Five Years’ Time
- Yellow Ferrari LaFerrari Revs its V12 Engine at the Mugello Race Track
- Nissan Exec Says GT-R Hybrid is a "Very Real Prospect"
- De Tomaso Brand Bought by Italy's ATS, New Pantera Planned
- Ducati Shop Blurs the Lines and Reverses Roles for Shoot with Men Replacing Female Models
- Spied: BMW 4-Series Wears Fours Doors and Becomes the Gran Coupe
- New Tesla Model S will Reportedly Cost from £49,900 in the UK
- Fast&Furious Mazda RX-7 VeilSide FD3S Crashes Into Crowd in Japan Taking Down 5 People
- 2014MY Chrysler 300S Gets Light Styling Updates and New Interior Color
- Nissan Bringing Production Version of e-NV200 to Tokyo, Launches in Japan in 2014
- VW Brings Unchanged CrossBlue Coupe Concept at the LA Auto Show
- Drunken Ukrainian Football Star Scores a Crash with His Ferrari California in Turkey
- European Car Tuner GP is All About the Old Continent
- VW Recalling 2.6 Million Cars Globally Including 850,000 in China
- Polestar Video Teases New Volvo Performance Model, What Do You Think It Is?
- Mercedes' Lifts The Skirt On New Playstation GT6 Vision AMG Concept
| Subaru Reality Checker: Concepts vs. Production Cars Posted: 15 Nov 2013 06:29 PM PST  Let me tell you, when it became clear that the 2015 Subaru WRX photos circulating around the net were real, my first reaction was to chuckle and shake my head (that, and saying to myself, "oh, Subaru…" in a South Park "oh, Butters…" kind of way). I had the same reaction when Subaru presented its LA Auto Show Legacy Concept earlier this week. Why, you ask? Well, more or less for the same reasons, as in regards to the WRX, this year's impressive NY Auto Show sports concept remains freshly imprinted in my mind, while in the second case, because I imagined how the production Legacy would look like (Josh Byrnes did more than that). To be fair, Subaru isn't the only automaker presenting over-the-top, and sometimes, even cool looking studies, supposedly previewing production cars only to heavily disappoint when the time comes to introduce these models in dealerships. We've seen this scenario play out numerous times in the past and will continue to do so in the future, but for a company like Subaru that tends to think differently in many other areas, one expects more, and not more of the same in this department. And yes, I do understand that Subaru was never a brand of the likes of Alfa Romeo or even a Fiat when it came to design, with the Japanese carmaker mostly treading between outright quirky and unreservedly boring, but some of its latest concepts received very positive reactions, and it's a shame that it never really followed through. In other words, when Subaru states that the Legacy concept "provides a look at the styling cues for future Legacy models", to see what it really means, all you have to do is check out its recent prototypes that promised the same and compare them to the production cars they ended up inspiring. As always, we're open to your thoughts on the matter in the comments section below the virtual jump. Concepts and production cars shown below include the WRX, Impreza and BRZ concept. You could say that the BRZ study is the only one that came close to the production car. By John Halas                                
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| Is the New Mercedes-Benz S-Class a Better Luxury Car Than the Range Rover and Audi A8? Posted: 15 Nov 2013 04:50 PM PST  We've seen many reviews of the all-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class lately, and the unanimous opinion is that the new luxury sedan is a class above all of its competitors. However, when it comes to luxury cars, things are not that simple to classify. Nowadays, traditional luxury sedans face stiff competition from other luxury vehicles as well, like SUVs and four-door coupes. This is why AutoExpress decided to test the S-Class against a traditional rival like the Audi A8 (albeit the pre-facelift model) and against a vehicle that theoretically belongs to another segment, the Land Rover Range Rover. One of the reasons the magazine chose the luxury SUV was because it won Best Luxury Car at the 2013 Auto Express New Car Awards, following six consecutive years of S-Class supremacy. I suspect the award may have had something to do with British pride as well, but can the Range Rover beat the S-Class in a comparative review? You'll just have to watch the video to find out. By Dan Mihalascu    |
| Meet the Nature-Inspired Entries for the 2013 LA Auto Show Design Challenge [62 Photos] Posted: 15 Nov 2013 04:20 PM PST  This year's LA Auto Show Design Challenge is called "Biomimicry & Mobility 2025 – Nature's Answer to Human Challenges" and it's an important detail in order to understand why competing projects look the way they do. The nine competing projects were submitted by world-renowned auto design studios and propose mobility solutions inspired by natural creatures, structures and occurrences. The only studio with two entries is BMW Group DesignworksUSA. The "L.A. Subways" is a vehicle concept inspired by the efficiency of swarms and the unique power generating processes found within cells aimed at solving L.A.'s daily traffic congestion and decreasing environmental impact. The "S.E.E.D." (Sustainable Efficient Exploratory Device) uses the maple seed as its main inspiration and is aimed at "exploring the world's harshest environments in search for new life forms and inspiration". China's Changfeng Motor Corporation has created the "'LaBrea' – Los Angeles Bio Research Project," which is a system resembling a grasshopper that is capable of running, jumping, climbing, swimming and also squeeze between narrow openings. Japan's JAC Motors R&D Center participates with "HEFEI" (Harmonious Eco-Friendly Efficient Infrastructure), a revolutionary mobility solution inspired by the self-sufficiency of the eco-system. Mazda Design Americas came up with the "AUTO ADAPT", a vehicle that has the ability to adapt from being fully autonomous to a manual machine. China's Qoros Auto entered the competition with the "Silk Road System", which will allow vehicles to operate harmoniously, actively eliminating accidents. SAIC Motor designed the Roewe "Mobiliant", a single-seat vehicle for urban public transit, while Subaru Global Design Team came up with the "SUBAROO", a one-legged, self-contained, wearable mobility vehicle personal mobility vehicle with a propulsion method that mimics the jumping motions of a kangaroo. Finally, CALTY Design Research, Toyota Design Network, invented the "e-grus", an electric hypercommuter that specializes in long distance travel and minimal footprint city driving. The winning project will be announced during the LA Auto Show on November 21. By Dan Mihalascu                                                                  |
| This Ford Fusion Energi Features Interior Fabrics Made of...Coke Bottles [w/Videos] Posted: 15 Nov 2013 03:40 PM PST  Ford has unveiled a Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid research vehicle that uses fabric made using Coca-Cola's PlantBottle Technology for seat cushions, seat backs, head restraints, door panel inserts and headliners. The car will be on display starting next week at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Coca-Cola says fabric made using this technology consists of up to 30 percent plant-based materials and shows the potential for renewable materials to help replace petroleum and other fossil fuels traditionally used for PET fabric. Using Coca-Cola's expertise, Ford has been able to produce the first-ever fiber that can be woven into durable, automotive-grade PET fabric from PlantBottle material. The two companies say the research vehicle marks the first time PlantBottle Technology is applied beyond packaging, with the two corporations aiming to develop new products produced from renewable materials. Both Coca-Cola and Ford use PET, a durable, lightweight plastic also known as polyethylene terephthalate, in a variety of products including plastic bottles, fabrics and carpets. Ford says that if all its U.S. models used PlantBottle interior fabrics, nearly 4 million pounds of petroleum-derived materials would be eliminated, saving the equivalent of 295,000 gallons of gasoline and 6,000 barrels of oil. Ford already uses renewable materials for its Fusion sedans, from sound-absorbing denim material equivalent to more than two average-sized pairs of blue jeans in the car's carpet liner, to material equivalent to 38.9 clear-plastic 16-ounce recycled bottles in select cloth-seat Fusion models and the equivalent of about 31,250 soybeans in the foam found in Fusion seat cushions. By Dan Mihalascu                       |
| German Rumor Mill Says Porsche 991-Based 911 Speedster Coming in 2015 Posted: 15 Nov 2013 03:15 PM PST  The Speedster name is even older than the 911 model designation, dating back to the early 1950s, when Porsches were still mechanically related to the VW Beetle. It's been used over the years on the back of a number of models, the most recent of which being the 997-based 911 Speedster from almost three years ago. Now, AutoBild tells us that it may be brought back in early 2015, as a limited series model with a unique body similar to that of the 2011 car, based on the latest 991 cabrio. Apparently limited to just 550 units, in this way Porsche will be paying tribute to the original 550 Spyder. We imagine it's going to incur the same treatment as before and feature a chopped windscreen, a rudimentary and most likely manual rag top and additional unique touches to set it apart, kind of like the quick Photoshop edit you see here. Porsche has a wide array of these that it's been known to use on special models, so we won't speculate as to which ones it would use here, but the ducktail spoiler would surely look nice on the back of this new 911 Speedster... By Andrei Nedelea     |
| The Inner Workings of Adaptive Suspensions Posted: 15 Nov 2013 02:30 PM PST  Adaptive suspension, not so long ago, used to be relegated to the realm of exclusive, expensive or odd cars. One of the first ones to really use it en masse was Citroen, though its hydraulic setup was aimed at merely providing superior ride comfort, and at the expense of the loss of road feel. Nowadays, the emphasis is no longer only on a cushy ride, and adaptive suspension systems have invaded the market, where they are usually optionally available, promising to enhance both handling precision and competence, as well as pothole absorption capability on demand. However, now there's a multitude of different systems, only one of which is related to what Citroen used, as the CNET video posted below shows. Currently, one of the most advanced type of adaptive damping uses iron filings and magnets in the shocks to adjust the characteristics, and it really does work (even better than first believed), at least in the Audi that I had a chance to try it out in. Find out how it and the other alternatives work by scrolling down and clicking play. By Andrei Nedelea    |
| Mercedes-Benz May Bring the V-Class and Vito to the U.S. in 2015 Posted: 15 Nov 2013 02:00 PM PST  The next generation Mercedes-Benz Viano minivan and Vito commercial van may be introduced to the United States. According to company insiders quoted by Automotive News, the new V-Class minivan, which replaces the Viano, and the new Vito commercial vehicle could arrive in the U.S. in 2015, following their launch in Europe in spring 2014. If introduced in the U.S., the V-Class would compete with the Chrysler Town & Country, Honda Odyssey, Nissan Quest and Toyota Sienna, although it will be slightly larger than these models. The V-Class would also be the only rear-wheel drive minivan in the segment. As for the Vito, which sits a class below Mercedes' Sprinter commercial van, its competitors will be the Ford Transit and the Chevrolet City Express, Nissan NV200 sibling models. Both the V-Class and Vito are using the same rear-wheel-drive platform and will be available with all-wheel drive as well. Four- and six-cylinder engines will be offered. As Mercedes-Benz revealed last month, the V-Class will have a more luxurious interior than the outgoing Viano, including wood trim, ambient lighting, many electronic features and a big panoramic roof, among others. Mercedes-Benz USA declined to comment on the report, but earlier this year Volker Mornhinweg, global head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, said the Sprinter was a "door opener" and a U.S. launch of the new vans was possible. I, for one, believe the V-Class would make sense in the United States, as Mercedes-Benz has been left without a luxurious people-carrier after the R-Class was discontinued last year. By Dan Mihalascu             |
| Lesson Learned, Opel Insignia Is Not a…Trolley Posted: 15 Nov 2013 01:30 PM PST  As it turns out, the Opel Insignia, GM's mid-size sedan that some of you may know with Vauxhall's moniker and others with Buick's as the Regal, doesn't really fit the bill as a tram, in fact, it's terrible at it, especially if you put it on the tracks. We can't answer any of your questions regarding the camera being at the right place at the right time, nor what was going on inside the head of the Insignia driver when he made a turn and entered what looks like an underpass riding on the raised trolley rails. He did do well, though, for roughly five seconds before the Insignia fell off the tracks and decided it was not worth the hassle, placing the car in reverse and giving it a… good scratch under the belly. Watch the video right after the jump.    |
| Take a Better Look at the Seat Leon ST in 52 New Photos Posted: 15 Nov 2013 01:01 PM PST  To convince us that the Leon ST is the most beautiful estate in its class (their claim, not ours), Seat has released a new photo gallery of its compact wagon, which debuted earlier this year at the Frankfurt Motor Show. With an overall length of 4.54 meters (178.74 inches) and a load capacity of 587 liters (1,470 liters when the rear seats are folded down), the Seat Leon ST is the roomiest model in the company's compact range. The wagon is available with a broad range of gasoline and diesel engines with power outputs ranging from 86PS (85hp) to 184PS (181hp). The 1.6 TDI Ecomotive with 110PS is the economy champion, with an average fuel consumption of 3.2 l/100 km (73.5 mpg US) in the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle), equivalent to a CO2 figure of 85 grams per km. The new SEAT Leon ST is already on sale in many European markets and is available with four equipment lines: Leon, Reference, Style and FR. The base model comes with standard features like remote central locking, electric front windows, electrically adjustable wing mirrors, daytime running lights, outside temperature display, height-adjustable driver's seat, Isofix and Top-Tether anchor points in the rear for child seats and 15-inch wheels, among others. Reference models add comfort features including air conditioning system with manual controls, the Media System Touch and the rear-seat backrest with a 60:40 split. The Style trim level brings 16-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps with cornering light function, electric windows in the rear, cruise control, Media System Touch Colour with six speakers and mobile phone connection via Bluetooth, among others. Finally, sporty FR models are recognizable from the 17-inch alloy wheels, sporty bumpers, dedicated FR suspension, tinted rear windows, folding wing mirrors and LED rear lights. Interior features include aluminum entry sills, leather-clad sports steering wheel, sports seats with lumbar support, ambient lighting and Climatronic. The Seat Leon ST starts from €16,640 in Germany and £16,675 in the UK. By Dan Mihalascu                                                        |
| Tesla May Launch F150-Rivaling Pickup in Five Years’ Time Posted: 15 Nov 2013 12:36 PM PST  In a recent brief chat with CNN Money at a Business Insider conference, Tesla CEO Elon Musk was asked about the company's future plans, and more specifically, about what new models it has in the pipeline. Currently, the Tesla range is one-sedan-strong, but a second vehicle, the Model X crossover, will be joining it next year, followed at least another year later by their BMW 3-Series rival – the latter is probably the most eagerly awaited, as it's been pegged to be their most affordable offering. Now, we learn that in around five years' time, the South African-born entrepreneur wants Tesla to also start selling a Ford F150-rivaling pickup, but one that like the rest of the cars they sell, would run purely on electricity. Musk was quoted as saying, "If you're trying to replace the most gasoline miles driven, you have to look at what people are buying. That's the best selling car in America. If people are voting that's their car, then that's the car we have to deliver." However, five years is a long time to wait for something that could be easily achieved with today's level of tech, especially since the market does by no means stand still, and some other company, like Bob Lutz's VIA, that converts GM trucks into range-extenders could have already filled the niche by then and made a name for itself. By Andrei Nedelea Note: Don't take the pictured rendering seriously    |
| Yellow Ferrari LaFerrari Revs its V12 Engine at the Mugello Race Track Posted: 15 Nov 2013 12:00 PM PST  Since the launch of the LaFerrari in March this year at the Geneva Motor Show, Ferrari has only shown us red painted cars. I for one, have always liked how the Ferrari Enzo looked in yellow, so seeing a lemony LaFerrari made me realize the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. A YouTube user has filmed a yellow LaFerrari at the carmaker's Mugello race track in Italy on the occasion of the Finali Mondiali Ferrari, an event dedicated to customer racing. The car was driven by Ferrari test driver Dario Benuzzi, with Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo joining him for a lap around Mugello. The video also includes the superb sounds of the 789HP (800PS) 6.3-liter V12 engine as it is fired up and as it passes by on the circuit's straight line. As a reminder, the hybrid LaFerrari has a total output of 950HP (963PS) and sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than 3 seconds. Enjoy! By Dan Mihalascu    |
| Nissan Exec Says GT-R Hybrid is a "Very Real Prospect" Posted: 15 Nov 2013 11:32 AM PST  Rumors had been floating around the scene that the next Nissan GT-R (due in a couple of years) was going to be a hybrid, but they were never confirmed. Now Autocar brings us the closest thing we've had to a confirmation, a quoting of Nissan's sales and marketing boss Andy Palmer's words. "There is an inevitability about electrification of all cars in the future, and there is the very real prospect of enhancements coming from this and ending up on a sports car like the Nissan GT-R," said Palmer. "The electric systems can fill in the gaps in the torque curve and offer genuine performance gains, as well as lowering emissions. It's win-win, and I'd expect to see some form of hybridisation on the next generation of car," the high-ranking exec added. Moreover, as we've seen in the case of the battery-powered Mercedes-Benz SLS, torque vectoring is much quicker and more precise with the instant nature of electric power. This means the next GT-R could stands a good chance of having some serious performance enhancements through electrification – it would definitely make a lot of sense for the car (more so than for others that already use it…) and the current context/climate of the industry that is heading in that direction. Still, until then, we have the Nismo variant of the current shape car to wait for, and we predict it's going to be a wild one. By Andrei Nedelea Photo Renderings Copyright: Carscoops / Josh Byrnes    |
| De Tomaso Brand Bought by Italy's ATS, New Pantera Planned Posted: 15 Nov 2013 11:05 AM PST  In 2009, the De Tomaso brand was bought by Italian businessman and former Fiat executive Gian Mario Rossignolo, who had a plan to revive the sports car manufacturer. By 2011, things were looking promising for the brand following the presentation of the Deauville crossover concept – good in terms of potential revenues, not necessarily design-wise. De Tomaso had even started development work on a new Pantera sports car, but last year, the company went bankrupt, with rumors circulating at the time that BMW was interested in buying it. Unfortunately for the brand, that scenario never materialized, but the De Tomaso saga continues, as the rights to the brand have been purchased by Italy's ATS (Automobili Turismo e Sport), the maker of the Sport 1000 race and street-legal car. Autoblog.com has learned that ATS is preparing to relaunch De Tomaso with a new lineup, with future De Tomaso products to share platforms and other technologies with ATS models. More specifically, a new Pantera could use the platform of the ATS 2500 GT, an upcoming mid-engined sports car. As for the Deauville project, the report says it was never more than a rebodied Cadillac SRX and has no real future - not necessarily bad news here. It sounds great so far, but Automobili Turismo e Sport went back into business only last year, on the occasion of the original brand's 50th anniversary. It remains to be seen whether it has the financial strength to bring the 2500 GT to market, let alone develop new De Tomaso vehicles. Official details will be announced later this month. By Dan Mihalascu             |
| Ducati Shop Blurs the Lines and Reverses Roles for Shoot with Men Replacing Female Models Posted: 15 Nov 2013 10:50 AM PST  And this, ladies and gentlemen, is how an unknown to the masses shop can become an instantly recognizable name. When Portland, Oregon motorcycle dealership MotoCorsa released images from a promotional shoot of seductive ladies posing next to their Ducati 1199 last year, no one really paid attention, and that's understandable considering how many times we've seen this before. However, when the Motorcorsa staff recreated the same shoot this year replacing the slim female models with hairy men in heels duplicating the same poses, it became an instant viral hit. Both promos were the idea of Arun Sharma, general manager of MotoCorsa, who actually used employees from inside the shop – even though some refused to take part, Sharma told CNN said that most were enthusiastic about the spoof photo shoot. "I thought it was a fantastic, hilarious idea," said Motorcorsa senior technician A.J. Ralston. "It seems like we always get a lot of flak from customers whenever we put something up on our Facebook page that has a beautiful woman on a motorcycle, so making light of all of that and having a good time doing it seemed like a good idea." Story References: MotorCorsa , Photographer: Alicia Mariah Elfving Thanks to Maria for the tip!             
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| Spied: BMW 4-Series Wears Fours Doors and Becomes the Gran Coupe Posted: 15 Nov 2013 10:05 AM PST  Looks like someone was having his fair share of fun behind the wheel of BMW's soon to be released 4-Series Gran Coupe (you'll have to wait or fast-forward the video to the 40 second mark for the track action), which has been filmed again undergoing tests. You can call it a 'teen' 6-Series Gran Coupe or the missing link between the 3-Series range of family-orientated models and the sportier and less practical 4-Series cars, and you'll be right on both occasions. To somewhat rationalize its existence, BMW is said to have based the 4-Series Gran Coupe on the 3-Series GT's extended wheelbase, which at 2,920mm (115 inches) is a substantially longer than that of the 3-Series sedan (2,810mm or 110.6 inches), while the design of the car blends the sleek look of the coupe's roofline with the practicality of four doors. From what we hear, BMW will likely mirror the 4-series Gran Coupe's engine line-up with the two-door model. A presentation is expected next year. Video courtesy of L'Automobile magazine    |
| New Tesla Model S will Reportedly Cost from £49,900 in the UK Posted: 15 Nov 2013 09:39 AM PST  With the promised right-hand drive version of the Tesla Model S nowhere near in sight, Business Insider tells us that when it does finally arrive in the UK, it will cost upward of £49,900 with the £5,000 government grant factored in. That's close to $80,000 and it makes the electric sedan 26 percent more expensive than in the US, where the same 60 kWh battery pack model costs from $63,570 federal tax credit included. As was the case with the Model S' German, Belgian and Dutch pricing schemes, the higher numbers are associated with the money thrown towards bringing the cars to their respective markets, making them legal and also paying the Value Added Tax (VAT). In China, where the company is supposedly being officially represented, all you can do now is try the grey market and pay a preposterous amount. Back in the UK, Tesla already have one of their trademark self-owned stores up and running in London, but it now only features left-hand drive demo cars. Their Supercharger network is not up yet, but it should become (at least in part) operational by the end of 2014, according to some earlier reports. By Andrei Nedelea           |
| Fast&Furious Mazda RX-7 VeilSide FD3S Crashes Into Crowd in Japan Taking Down 5 People Posted: 15 Nov 2013 09:04 AM PST  Warning: Some viewers may find the following videos disturbing We've seen these types of accidents with cars crashing into spectators (one) too many times before, all around the world – a few incidents that come to mind include a De Tomaso in Sweden, a monster-truck in Mexico, a Ford Mustang in Britain, a Ferrari 458 in Brazil, and a Koenigsegg CCX in Poland. This time, it happened in Japan on Sunday, November 10, during a super- and sports car meeting in Miyazaki Prefecture when the driver of a Mazda RX-7-based Hans VeilSide FD3S lost control and plowed into a crowd of spectators injuring five people, including a five-year old child. Japanese media reported that all five people are well in their health and were simply treated for minor injuries. Police arrested the driver of the car shortly after. While the "Fast&Furious Tokyo Drift" movie was mentioned in comments and reports from Japan, it was not immediately made clear if this particular actually car took part in the film or if it's just the same type of model.        |
| 2014MY Chrysler 300S Gets Light Styling Updates and New Interior Color Posted: 15 Nov 2013 08:33 AM PST  The 2014 Chrysler 300S has been updated with more "blacked out" exterior design cues and a new Ambassador Blue sport interior, among new features. The ever-so lightly refreshed 300S features a more homochromous look with body-color door handles and fascia inserts. In addition, there's new Gloss Black belt molding, daylight opening surrounds and tail lamp bezels are combined with Gloss Black headlamp bezels. There's also a new Black Chrome grille surround, with the grille features sculpted horizontal grille blades in the same unique finish. The front and rear Chrysler wing badges are in Liquid Chrome with black "Chrysler" center logo. As an option, Chrysler offers a Gloss Black painted roof. The 2014 300S brings new 20-inch wheel design (19-inch with AWD) featuring a more sculptured appearance and Hyper Black finish. Also new for the 2014 model year is the Dark Ceramic Gray exterior color. On the inside, the dark Ambassador Blue Nappa leather seats are the most important update. The center console armrest and door armrests are color matched to the seats and feature silver accent stitching. The flagship model of the 300C range continues to be offered with a standard Uconnect 8.4 infotainment system with a touchscreen display, Beats by Dr.Dre audio system with 10 speakers and a 12-channel amplifier and Piano Black trims on the interior center stack, instrument panel, steering wheel, gauge cluster and door panel elements. Under the hood, there's the same 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine that produces 300 hp and 264 lb-ft (358 Nm) of torque. The unit is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The 300S is also offered with the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine with 370hp. By Dan Mihalascu          |
| Nissan Bringing Production Version of e-NV200 to Tokyo, Launches in Japan in 2014 Posted: 15 Nov 2013 08:03 AM PST  Nissan has announced that the e-NV200 electric commercial vehicle will arrive in the Japanese market in 2014, with global sales to follow later on. The e-NV200 is Nissan's second all-electric model available globally, following the Leaf. Production of the e-NV200 will begin at Nissan's plant in Barcelona, Spain in mid-2014. Based on the NV200, the e-NV200 features the powertrain of the Nissan Leaf - an 80kW (107.2HP) synchronous motor that generates 207 lb-ft (280 Nm) of torque with a lithium-ion battery providing the energy. The company says its electric van has the lowest operating costs in the commercial vehicle segment without compromising the interior space, utility and practicality of conventional NV200 vans. The e-NV200 also provides functions that extend business potential, including a power supply function in the the luggage area for outdoor activities or emergency power, and the advanced telematics system. Nissan and the government of Yokohama, the company's hometown, are considering the use of the e-NV200 by the city for its public services vehicles as well as the establishment of a vehicle monitor user program that would be available to all city residents. There are also similar plans to utilize the e-NV200 in Barcelona for smart transportation purposes, such as for taxis. For this, the Spanish city plans to install a quick charger network and dedicated EV parking areas to support the taxis. The e-NV200 will be on display at Nissan's booth at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show. By Dan Mihalascu     |
| VW Brings Unchanged CrossBlue Coupe Concept at the LA Auto Show Posted: 15 Nov 2013 07:38 AM PST  After its debut at the Shanghai Auto Show this spring, the VW CrossBlue Coupe Concept will hit U.S. shores at the Los Angeles Auto Show next week. No changes were made to the study since April, so we're talking about the same five-seat SUV concept based on the new MQB architecture and powered by a plug-in gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrain. Just like the bigger CrossBlue Concept, the CrossBlue Coupe study previews the design language of future SUV models from Volkswagen. Under the sleek body there's a plug-in hybrid powertrain combining a turbocharged direct-injection V6 TSI gasoline engine with two electric motors to produce a combined 415PS (409hp). The 4.890-mm (192.5-in) long SUV sprints from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 5.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 147 mph (237 km/h). VW rates the combined fuel consumption of the CrossBlue Coupe at 70 MPGe (3.36 l/100 km), with the driving range in hybrid mode estimated at around 570 miles (917 km). The study has an all-electric driving range of up to 13 miles (21 km) at a maximum speed of 75 mph (121 km/h). Since it is based on VW's Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) architecture, the CrossBlue Coupe concept could also accommodate conventional four- and six-cylinder engines if it were produced. By Dan Mihalascu                                      |
| Drunken Ukrainian Football Star Scores a Crash with His Ferrari California in Turkey Posted: 15 Nov 2013 07:12 AM PST  Ah, to be young, rich, famous and successful in the professional world of football. Still, that doesn't give you a free pass to do anything you want, and if anything, you may want to hold back on the booze, especially when behind the wheel of a car… Case in point, Ukrainian football (soccer) striker Artem Milevsky, who already has a bad reputation in regards to alcohol abuse, confirmed his addiction and mindless ways by crashing his Ferrari California this week in Turkey. Police said that the 28-year-old player of Turkish club Gaziantepspor was found to be well over the legal drink-drive alcohol limit. Milevsky's Ferrari, which he had purchased just last year, suffered extensive damages and will likely be a write-off, but fortunately, the striker came out unscathed. Check out the recovery videos along with an older clip of Milevsky having some…fun in his BMW X5.    |
| European Car Tuner GP is All About the Old Continent Posted: 15 Nov 2013 06:42 AM PST  The magazine crew over at MotorTrend recently attended an organized event for modified Euro cars dubbed "European Car magazine's European Car Tuner GP". It pitted the entrants against each other in a series of challenges, most of which were about sheer power – for future editions, more (diverse) challenges are planned. Sporty European models have always been highly sought-after in the United States, right from the very earliest days of motoring, and this trend has maintained over the years, creating a very unique yet strong take on that particular corner of car culture. The US Euro tuning scene is very strong too, with lots of home-grown shops taking already fast motors and turning the performance dial way further than the manufacturer originally intended. Many cool highly-customized motors turned up, but for me the most enticing definitely had to be the black and red Mercedes C63 AMG coupe, which looked borderline racecar-esque, with its low stance, light wheels and sizable wing on the back. To my knowledge, not that many people modify their C63 AMGs like that, so it's refreshing to see one taken as far as this one is. By Andrei Nedelea    |
| VW Recalling 2.6 Million Cars Globally Including 850,000 in China Posted: 15 Nov 2013 06:21 AM PST  Volkswagen has announced it is recalling approximately 2.6 million cars worldwide, a third of which are in China. The company said 800,000 Tiguan vehicles worldwide, including 147,000 in Germany, built between the beginning of 2008 and the middle of 2011, are recalled because a fuse may trip and cause one of the two vehicle light circuits to fail. This in turn would cause individual light functions to fail. According to VW, replacing the fuse with one with a tougher surface coating only takes a few minutes, with affected vehicle owners to be informed by the company accordingly. The carmaker also announced it is recalling 239,000 Amarok pick-ups globally (12,359 in Germany) built between the vehicle's launch and June 2013. That's because "some Amarok pick-ups with a 2-litre TDI engine may be affected by leaks to the fuel pipe within the engine compartment," VW said. To avoid any accidental damage to the fuel lines a chafe protector will be fitted at the affected points as part of the recall action. Besides the Tiguan and Amarok, VW said it will request all owners of VW Group cars with a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DQ200) filled with synthetic oil to visit a workshop for an oil exchange. Around 1.6 million vehicles are affected by this recall, most of them located in China (640,309 cars) and Southeast Asia. Furthermore, 207,778 Tiguans will be recalled in China as well. VW has discovered that on cars with the 7-speed DSG "electric malfunctions could occur in the gearbox power supply if synthetic gearbox oil is used." That happens particularly if the vehicle is subject to a hot and humid climate, coupled with a high proportion of stop & go driving, VW added. The remedy is to replace the synthetic oil with mineral oil. Models affected by this recall in China are imported VW cars like the Scirocco, Golf Variant, Golf Cabriolet and Beetle, as well as locally built models with FAW and SAIC Motor, including the Bora, Golf, Sagitar and Magotan, Touran, Lavida, Superb, Octavia, Passat and Polo. By Dan Mihalascu Story References: VW via Reuters             |
| Polestar Video Teases New Volvo Performance Model, What Do You Think It Is? Posted: 15 Nov 2013 06:00 AM PST  Volvo's performance and motorsports partner Polestar is preparing a new model, which will be unveiled to the world in 11 days from now, on Tuesday, November 26. To put us in mood and get readers interested in what it will bring forth, Polestar dropped a video teaser with an…invisible car undergoing tests in aerodynamic tunnel. Think you can guess what it is from the outline created by the smoke and the sounds of the engine? For the record, the only Polestar prototype we've scooped recently is a Volvo V60 estate performance model (see it here), which is believed to feature similar upgrades to the production S60 Polestar Edition made available in a limited run exclusively for Australia.    |
| Mercedes' Lifts The Skirt On New Playstation GT6 Vision AMG Concept Posted: 15 Nov 2013 05:40 AM PST  Here's our first sneak peek at Mercedes-Benz's unique AMG supercar concept model created exclusively for Gran Turismo's digital world and in particular, the highly anticipated GT6 racing game that's coming to a store near you on December 6, 2013. The Mercedes AMG concept will join a number of special creations from other carmakers, design houses and even unrelated brands like Nike under the Vision GT6 banner, with all cars to be released from 2013 to 2014 as gifted downloadable content (DLC) to owners of Gran Turismo 6 through online update. In the summer, Polyphony Digital, Sony's partner behind the Gran Turismo racing game franchise, had stated the following about the Vision project: "Design teams from Alfa Romeo, Alpine, Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Bertone, GM Design, Honda, Infiniti, Italdesign Giugiaro, JORDAN Brand, Mercedes-Benz, Nike, Nissan, Peugeot, SRT(Chrysler), Volkswagen and Zagato will create concept models giving a unique insight into the future of the automotive sector. Their designs will then be recreated as working cars for GT6." Mercedes did not divulge any details about its bespoke concept car. Story References: Mercedes via Worldcarfans
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