CARSCOOP |  |
- Check Out the Student Parking Lot at the American University of Dubai
- Chris Harris Leaves Systems On In New Porsche 918 Spyder
- Listen to the New Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4's V10 Fire Up
- This 2004 BMW X5 4.4i Sport with 2,500 Miles is Priced at $110,000 Because…
- It’s Nice That HSV can Still Wish Us "Merry Christmas"
- Chevrolet Gives Us a Walk-Around of New 2015 Tahoe and Suburban
- Investigators Say Speed Caused Paul Walker’s Fatal Crash, Rule Out Mechanical Defects
- New Lamborghini Huracan Envisioned in LP650-4 Superleggera Trim
- This is What '90s Singer Brian Adams Would do to an Opel Adam
- Citroën Unveils DS3 Cabrio Racing in Production Clothes
- Chuck Norris Shows Jean-Claude Van Damme A Thing or Two About Splits
- Citroen Officially Reveals its Chinese Spearhead, the New DS SLS [w/Video]
- VW Says Happy 30th Birthday to Jetta with New GLI Edition 30
- Mercedes-Benz Strikes Back at Jaguar with Photo Ad!
- Mcchip-DKR Gives Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG More…"Puff"
- First Official Photos of Citroën's DS-Branded 5LS Sedan for China
- VW Opens Order Books for the Golf Sportsvan, Starts from €19,625 in Germany
- Spied: Porsche Nabbed Testing Updated 911 Turbo!
- Cane-Wielding Russian Grandma Crossing Highway at Night Narrowly Escapes Death
- Acura Bringing New TLX Prototype to Detroit, Replaces Both TL and TSX
- Watch AMG Founders Tell the Story of Mercedes' In-House Tuner
- These Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4 Photos Look Legit and Real to Us…
- 1977 Ford Escort Mk2 Rally Car that Belonged to McRae Family Up for Auction
- Daimler Takes 5% Stake in Aston Martin, Signs Engine and Tech Supply Deal
- Honda Unnecessarily Teases US-Spec 2015 Honda Fit, Debuts in Detroit
| Check Out the Student Parking Lot at the American University of Dubai Posted: 19 Dec 2013 05:02 PM PST  Say a big hello to the student parking lot at the American University of Dubai (AUD) in in the United Arab Emirates, which as we're informed by the all-knowing Wikipedia, "was founded in 1995 as a branch campus of American InterContinental University in Atlanta, Georgia, but turned into a private, non-sectarian institution in 2007." I don't know about you, but my days of college included a lot of foot work and poky public transportation – the crew at LeFigaro seems to agree with us. Not to sound like a whiner, but dang, dang and dang; just look at these super rides photographed by student Meeka Nasser, who himself owns a BMW 750Li, which is worlds apart from the Mirthmobile picture we have about debt-ridden students. Nasser said the following about the cars owned by AUD students on Reddit: "I attend the American University of Dubai, and the cars that students drive here are just ludicrous. If I was back home in Canada my car would be considered nice, but here nobody looks twice at it. Here is a collection of pictures. These were taken in the span of a couple days, and only in 1 of the parking lots of the school, so this isn't even close to all of the nice cars at the school. Because Cayennes and Range Rovers are a dime a dozen here, I only included a few of them in the album. Keep in mind, almost all of the students are between 18 and 24 years old, as the graduate program is pretty tiny here. The students that drive the insanely expensive cars (Rolls Royces and Bentleys etc.) are usually local (Emirati) for those wondering. UPDATE: Since this post has gotten so much attention I decided to take a few more pictures today. Here they are. I made sure to include Reddit's favorite car: the BRZ. Also, since everyone keeps asking, I drive a 750Li, the one beside the BRZ in the pictures." Photo Credits: Meeka Nasser Shout out to Lionel B. for the tip!        |
| Chris Harris Leaves Systems On In New Porsche 918 Spyder Posted: 19 Dec 2013 04:29 PM PST  The Porsche 918 is finally ready as a production car, so this time, Chris Harris didn't have some German man to his right telling him which buttons to prod and which of the five driving modes to select. Now he took control of the hybrid hypercar by himself, though he realized that it's not the kind of car that's forgiving at the limit, due to the high power and high weight combo that defines it. However, it's by no means boring to drive or look at, as you would probably imagine for a car that sprints past the benchmark speed in two point five seconds dead, has all-wheel drive that responds instantly thanks to the electric motors and one of the nicest and most futuristic dashes I've ever seen, and the coolest one in any Porsche to date. It shows Tesla that you don't have to go all Gulliver with the touchscreen to make a nice looking standout feature... Harris' full impression of the car can be found below. Be warned, though, that he doesn't disable the electronic safety nannies, so it's by no means a video filled with lots of sideways action. By Andrei Nedelea    |
| Listen to the New Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4's V10 Fire Up Posted: 19 Dec 2013 03:55 PM PST  There's no holding back anymore on the new Lamborghini Huracan after we tasted the first official images of the Gallardo's replacement on Wednesday night with Carscoops bringing you first the full photo set today. And while the Italians are holding on to the numbers and facts for a little bit longer, we can now present to you the first live video of the car, courtesy of German magazine Autobild that unashamedly placed its camera on the Huracan's rear-end. What it found there are the delicious crackling sounds coming out of the 602-horsepower (610PS) V10 engine's quad tailpipes, as the car was being driven away. It's a short video, but we guess it will do for now until we get better footage.      |
| This 2004 BMW X5 4.4i Sport with 2,500 Miles is Priced at $110,000 Because… Posted: 19 Dec 2013 03:35 PM PST  There's no question from these photos that the 2004 BMW E53 X5 4.4i Sport seen here looks almost just like it left the factory about the same time Snoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot" was hitting the airwaves – and with only 2,500 miles (a little over 4,000 km) on the odo, why shouldn't it look like new. While any other similar low-mileage example could fetch anywhere from low $20s to mid $30s, this one has an asking price of…$110,000 on eBay! So, what gives? The insanely expensive price tag has to do with the fact that it's an armored model. While we're in no way experts on the matter, we did find this quote from an unrelated car-armoring company from Texas that says "costs vary from $55,000 all the way up to $500,000 and beyond", so it all has to do with the quality of work and the level of security offered. The ebay seller of the BMW states: "This vehicle has been armored to CEN B5 and has less than 2,500 miles on the odometer. The low miles were accumulated before the armoring process began, and the vehicle has had no miles put on it after the armoring process was completed. It was briefly used to transport VIP's and is in mint condition. The vehicle has the latest in armoring design and the bullet catchers are covered in leather to match the interior. The vehicle maintains a discrete appearance due to the armoring design and is the perfect armored vehicle for families or for VIP transport. Upgrades include upgraded suspension, upgraded brakes, door overlaps, bullet catchers as well as ballistic glass. The vehicle has 360 degree armoring and comes with run-flat tires on all four wheels as well as the spare tire."        |
| It’s Nice That HSV can Still Wish Us "Merry Christmas" Posted: 19 Dec 2013 02:57 PM PST  There has been a lot of talk recently about GM's Australian branch, Holden, shutting down production from 2017 onward, being stirred by rumors (that were later denied) insisting that said year would also mark the end of the brand completely; the hole in the Aussie market would end up being plugged with front-wheel drive Chevys, if that dark scenario was to actually unfold. However, in spite of all the imminent hardships that it's predictably going to endure within the next few years, HSV (that's Holden Special Vehicles) has just released a lovely video to wish everybody a Merry Christmas via the LED-infused body and neon-clad underbody of a GTS sedan. The result is oh so colorful, and if its exhaust smelled like pine trees and didn't kill you within minutes, it would have been the perfect fun new Christmas decoration. Scroll down and check it out after the virtual jump. By Andrei Nedelea    |
| Chevrolet Gives Us a Walk-Around of New 2015 Tahoe and Suburban Posted: 19 Dec 2013 02:28 PM PST  The most affordable, plainer and lesser impressive version of GM's trio of full-size SUVs, the new 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe and its longer counterpart the Suburban, have been given a video walk-around focusing on the exterior and interior design and features, as well as a look at its anti-theft systems and advances. While the contents of the first two videos were to be expected, we're guessing that the reason GM is highlighting the 2015 Tahoe and Suburban's security systems has a lot to do with the bad reputation received by the outgoing Cadillac Escalade. A sister model to the current Tahoe and Suburban, the Cadillac was found to be six times as likely to be stolen by thieves than any other car mainly because it was easier to steal. GM says that the new models will "offer a new level of security and one designed to deter thieves who target vehicle parts", including a steering column lock that deters push-away and tow-away theft, hidden compartments, and side cut keys that deter lock picking. "We have engineered a layered approach to vehicle security," said Bill Biondo, General Motors' Global Vehicle Security lead. "With new standard features and the available theft protection package, we are making the all-new 2015 Tahoe a less attractive target to thieves and more secure for our customers."    |
| Investigators Say Speed Caused Paul Walker’s Fatal Crash, Rule Out Mechanical Defects Posted: 19 Dec 2013 02:04 PM PST  Investigators have established that the Porsche Carrera GT in which actor Paul Walker and friend Roger Rodas lost their lives in a November 30 crash had no mechanical defects before the accident. Furthermore, the investigation found no evidence that debris or other roadway conditions have caused the car to hit a light pole and a tree. Since mechanical defects and road conditions have been eliminated as potential causes, the hypothesis that gains more ground is that the car was speeding at the moment of the crash. "We're looking at speed and speed alone," a law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation told the Associated Press. The report says the official was not authorized to speak publicly about the investigation and asked not to be named. Investigators with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department have estimated a speed range at which the car may have been traveling but won't disclose it before Porsche engineers come to California next month to extract information from the car's onboard data collectors. The unnamed official wouldn't disclose that range. Despite the explosion that followed the crash and killed the Fast & Furious star and his friend and financial adviser, data recorders survived and may help investigators establish the speed the car carried at the moment of the impact. According to the same official, the Porsche Carrera GT had negotiated a curve in the road just fine before crashing. "They were well out of the curve when they lost control," the official said. By Dan Mihalascu     |
| New Lamborghini Huracan Envisioned in LP650-4 Superleggera Trim Posted: 19 Dec 2013 01:20 PM PST  After having, more or less, established that the pictures of the new Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4 are official, what's next? Well, a full-blown press release detailing Lamborghini's answer to the Ferrari 458 Italia and McLaren 12C would be nice, but let's not be greedy now… We've heard that the new Huracan is a tad bigger in size but lighter on the scales, while the LP610-4 badge on the car denotes the V10 engine's output – 610PS or 602hp. It's also a given that the Italians will follow up the coupe with a roadster body style and a number of different editions, including the more hardcore Superleggera that has been rendered here by a forum member of Lambocars with a neat aero package and bespoke wheels. The author imagines that the Superleggera would get a power hike in the range of 50 added ponies under the hood, which sounds reasonable. Renderings courtesy of Lambocars        |
| This is What '90s Singer Brian Adams Would do to an Opel Adam Posted: 19 Dec 2013 01:00 PM PST  Opel tells us that Canadian-born singer/songwriter Brian Adams whose career certainly peaked way before he had to fly to Kathmandu, Nepal to get kudos, is also a respected photographer, it seems. Undoubtedly an interesting fact in and of itself, but what's more eye-catching is that now he's also entered a creative partnership with them that has thus far resulted in this customized Adam city car, shot artistically from multiple angles. The lovely set of photos can be found after the virtual jump, which you can cross by scrolling down. Once you do, you'll see that the mini-MINI-DS3 (attempt) proudly wearing camouflage and its country's colors to reinforce its image, and at one point even has the nice model in suitably skintight clothing stand in front of it and cover most of it up. Granted, even then, the lively livery shows through... Mr. Adams went to all the trouble to make the Adam look cool for a calendar that will be on display at an event planned for early next year at the Haus der Kunst museum, located in Munich. There, it will have a light shone on it for three days between January 23 and 26, by which time, they will have realized that a car won't sell well in a sustained manner unless it has substance and identity; a big turbo might fix that, though. No amount of silly marketing glitter will make it fly out of showrooms faster (aside from the aforementioned means of forced induction, of course). By Andrei Nedelea          |
| Citroën Unveils DS3 Cabrio Racing in Production Clothes Posted: 19 Dec 2013 12:37 PM PST  Following its presentation in pre-production guise at the Goodwood Festival this summer, the Citroën DS3 Cabrio Racing has been confirmed for production, with orders starting in January 2014. The production model looks very similar to the concept and follows the same philosophy of combining the performance of the Citroën DS3 Racing with the pleasure of half-open-top driving offered by the DS3 Cabrio. Since the latter is only 25 kg (55 lbs) heavier than the DS3 hatchback, the difference in performance will be basically undetected. The DS3 Cabrio Racing features chrome-finish, twin exhaust pipes and genuine carbon finish on several bodywork components – air diffuser, semi-rigid splitter in the front bumper, wraparound body sills, wing flares and others. Available with an all-new body color, matt Moondark grey, combined with a black roof and gloss-black 18-inch Nemesis alloy wheels, the DS3 Cabrio Racing also features Carmin Red paint on the wheel centers along with the DS logo, and on the doors in a wide strip. On the inside, Moondark Grey bodywork color is also used on the upper dash, center console, instrument panel and other interior trim items, while the steering wheel inserts and the fascia panel cap have a carbon fiber effect. The headrests of the front seats feature the Citroën Racing signature, while the base of the gearshift lever has a numbered identification plaque. Under the hood there's the same 1.6-liter turbocharged engine from the DS3 Racing, but with slightly more horsepower - 207. Order books open on January 2, with deliveries starting at the end of January. Citroën didn't say how many units of the DS3 Cabrio Racing will be built, but since the DS3 Racing hatchback is limited to 1,000 units, the open-top variant could be even rarer. By Dan Mihalascu              |
| Chuck Norris Shows Jean-Claude Van Damme A Thing or Two About Splits Posted: 19 Dec 2013 12:16 PM PST  Our love and admiration for Chuck Norris here at Carscoops is a well-documented fact; hell, we even devised an entire entity named after our childhood hero who can do just about anything; from making onions cry to scoring a touchdown in a basketball game. Recently, Volvo hired another big action movie star from the past, Jean-Claude Van Damme, who performed an epic split on two moving trucks. Naturally, the 73-year-old "Walker, Texas Ranger" couldn't leave this unanswered – well, at least his numerous fans couldn't… The creative minds at Hungarian animation company Delov Digital came up with a response in the form of a virtual video showing Norris upping/spoofing Van Damme's split by stepping on the wings of two jumbo jets flying in the air…with 11 soldiers standing on his head forming a human Christmas tree! Now that's the definition of epic… Watch the video below.    |
| Citroen Officially Reveals its Chinese Spearhead, the New DS SLS [w/Video] Posted: 19 Dec 2013 11:39 AM PST  Sounding like a much sportier car than it will ever be, Citroen's first DS-branded model, the new 5LS, is a bold and brash sedan with a weird face, sleek lines and distinct Alfa Romeo proportions at the back, plus a chrome strip running the length of the car (again, though this time it's thinner). It measures 4,700mm in length, 1,840mm in width, and 1,500mm in height, and it will be aimed specifically at the Chinese market; production will exclusively take place locally, in Shenzen. Its interior is in the vein of the other larger DS models, and from the sole photo we have of it, it looks okay. The funky watch-strap seats like those of the DS5 will be present too, even if we don't see them yet. The big talking point will probably be the front-end design, which is said to hark back to the original DS, though, I honestly don't see it. The plan is to make this the new face of the sub-brand. Power will come from PSA's turbocharged 1.6-liter petrol engine with either 158hp (160PS) or 197 hp (200PS) and will be sent to the front wheels exclusively via a six-speed automatic transmission. It goes on sale in China in March of 2014 and will be available through a 50-strong dealer network around the country. Citroen didn't say if or when it will offer the car outside of China. By Andrei Nedelea Live pictures via Autohome                  |
| VW Says Happy 30th Birthday to Jetta with New GLI Edition 30 Posted: 19 Dec 2013 11:05 AM PST  Volkswagen's successful Jetta compact series will soon enter its third decade in the States and to celebrate the event, the Germans are going to release a new special version of the car aptly named "GLI Edition 30" that will go on sale early next year. Available in two trims, with or without a navigation system, with pricing for both to be announced closer to launch, the GLI Edition 30 builds on the existing 207bhp (210PS) 2.0-liter TSI Jetta GLI offering buyers the choice of a six-speed manual or DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Edition 30 model adds a few more extras and bespoke cues beginning with 18-inch "Laguna" aluminum-alloy wheels, red trim on the front grille, a boot-mounted spoiler, and special badging on the outside. The Navigation model also adds red trim inside the Bi-Xenon headlights. For the interior, VW chose to fit the Edition 30 with contrasting color V-Tex leatherette seats with red accents; red contrast stitching on the steering wheel, shifter, brake lever, and armrests; carbon-look trim inlays; Edition 30 kickplates plus floor mats with – you guessed it, red stitching.     |
| Mercedes-Benz Strikes Back at Jaguar with Photo Ad! Posted: 19 Dec 2013 10:36 AM PST  The friendly advertising rivalry between Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar that erupted after the later made fun of the former's chicken spot in its own video continues, and as Mr. Ronald would say, we're loving it! So, after the Jaguar ate the chicken in the British firm's commercial (see all videos below), Mercedes quickly responded with this print-like ad on its FaceBook page with the following comment: "Jaguar is proud of their cat-like reflexes.#IntelligentDrive helps ensure they can stay that way." The ad itself reads, "Because cat-like reflexes aren't fast enough. The PRE-SAFE brake". We're hoping that Jaguar replies and continues this harmless, but no doubt amusing and beneficial advertising for both brands, especially with the younger crowds. Perhaps BMW, Audi, Cadillac or Lexus can jump in with their own ads… We tip out hats to Rok for the heads up!     |
| Mcchip-DKR Gives Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG More…"Puff" Posted: 19 Dec 2013 10:15 AM PST  What you read above in the title is Mcchip-DKR's own words, not ours, and what the German tuner means to say is that, it has made the Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG brisker through a newly developed range of performance upgrades that can push the 2.0-liter turbocharged four's output up to 444HP or 450PS. In detail, Mcchip plans to offer three engine packages starting from the already available Stage 1 kit that increases the turbo-fed unit's power from 355HP (360PS) and 450 Nm (332 lb-ft) to 396hp (400PS) and 535 Nm (395 lb-ft) respectively, all via a software upgrade. In February next year, the German firm will release a Stage 2 kit that adds a full sports exhaust system to lift output 414hp (420PS) while retaining the same torque numbers as Stage 1, and a Stage 3 package that completes the goods with a revised turbocharger for a total of 444HP (450PS) and 550 Nm (406 lb-ft). The other offerings from Mcchip-DKR include KW Clubsport coilovers and new mbDesign KV1 19-inch alloys wrapped in Sport Maxx Race Dunlop tires size 235/35ZR19.              |
| First Official Photos of Citroën's DS-Branded 5LS Sedan for China Posted: 19 Dec 2013 09:46 AM PST  Citroën is supposed to unveil the new DS 5LS luxury sedan today, but the first seemingly official photos have already leaked on the web. Following the teaser from a week ago that only let us see the design of the alloy wheel, now we can admire the luxury sedan that will be the first DS model sold under the DS badge – the car features no Citroën logos or hints, except for small Citroën lettering at the rear. We learn that "LS" comes from Luxury Sedan and the "5" from the five themes of the car: "inspiration, dynamism, quality, vanguardism and healthy life". Based on the same platform as the DS4/DS5 and the C4, the DS LS5 is 4,720mm (186in) long, which makes it 190mm (7.5in) longer than the DS5 and 60mm (2.3in) shorter than the Citroen C5. It's 1,840mm (72.4in) wide and retains the wheelbase of the C4 – 2,720mm (107in). The 5LS features design cues from the DS Wild Rubis crossover concept, especially the grille and the headlights. The interior takes inspiration from the DS4. The only engine mentioned is a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline unit with 200 hp. The car will launch at the end of March 2014 in China and will be built in Shenzhen. Stay tuned for official details as Citroën will officially unveil the car later today at the Musee du Louvre in Paris. By Dan Mihalascu Story References: Autoblog.nl and TF1 Thanks to Jean-Philippe for the tip!        |
| VW Opens Order Books for the Golf Sportsvan, Starts from €19,625 in Germany Posted: 19 Dec 2013 09:35 AM PST  The new VW Golf Sportsvan can be ordered at German dealerships from today (December 19, 2013), with prices starting from €19,625 ($26,845). The successor to the Golf Plus will be available at launch with six engines (four TSIs and two TDIs) ranging from 85PS (84hp) to 150PS (148hp). All units are Euro 6-compliant and come fitted as standard with a start-stop system. VW says that the Golf Sportsvan is up to 19 percent more fuel-efficient than its predecessor. The most economical engine is the 110PS (108hp) 1.6 TDI BlueMotion, estimated to average 3.7 l/100 km (63.5 mpg US) and 95 g CO2/km. However, the Golf Sportsvan's big asset is interior space and practicality, with the car featuring a three-seat rear bench that can be folded down separately and slidea up to 180mm (7in) in a longitudinal direction. With the rear bench folded down and loaded up to the roof, maximum cargo capacity is 1,500 liters (53 cubic feet). Standard equipment includes air conditioning, seven airbags, 5-inch touchscreen, variable cargo floor, multi collision brake, XDS+ electronic differential lock and electronic parking brake with auto-hold function. Available features include a 400-watt Dynaudio Excite premium sound system with subwoofer and center speaker, as well as a heated steering wheel, among others. The new VW Golf Sportsvan also brings safety systems such as a blind spot sensor, Dynamic Light Assist, DCC adaptive chassis control, Front Assist with City Brake function, Lane Assist, ACC automatic distance control and Park Assist. By Dan Mihalascu                   |
| Spied: Porsche Nabbed Testing Updated 911 Turbo! Posted: 19 Dec 2013 09:05 AM PST  Porsche is a brand renowned for its unremitting evolutionary approach, but the appearance of lightly camouflaged prototype of what looks like an updated 991 Turbo only three months after the car went on sale in Europe and just as it arrives in North American and other dealerships around the world, has caught us by surprise. We recognize that automakers begin work on completely new or revised projects years before they arrive on the market, but it's not at all common to see facelifted prototypes of a model that just went on sale. These photos of the 911 Turbo come about a week after another camouflaged 991 tester, which is believed to be the 911 GTS, was spied in Europe. In both cases, there seem to be styling changes hidden behind the covered bumpers and the taillights, which our scoop photographers say that up close, looked bigger than the ones used on the current model and appeared to feature a similar "3-D look" to those on the Macan crossover. It's still too early to have information on any engine updates or changes to the cabin, but if Porsche continues to circulate these prototypes, we should find out more soon. Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS           |
| Cane-Wielding Russian Grandma Crossing Highway at Night Narrowly Escapes Death Posted: 19 Dec 2013 08:33 AM PST  Drivers in Russia receive their fair share of criticism for not giving way or paying attention to pedestrians, but you can't always (or only) place the entire blame on motorists, as this dash-cam footage reveals. And truth to be said, this driver actually deserves an awareness and readiness award for managing to literally stop on a dime, when an elderly woman was walking across a busy freeway in the Russian city of Kazan…at night. Just place yourself in his position; the last thing you expect to meet in such conditions is a person clothed in black slowly making their way across a three-lane highway, so kudos to him for saving the woman's life. Shout out to Tom P. for the video submission!    |
| Acura Bringing New TLX Prototype to Detroit, Replaces Both TL and TSX Posted: 19 Dec 2013 08:05 AM PST  Honda's luxury division Acura said it would unveil the 2015 TLX Prototype at the Detroit Auto Show in January. The TLX nameplate will designate a mid-size production performance luxury sedan to replace the TL and "will feature more dynamic and sporty proportions, two new advanced powertrains and a host of signature Acura technologies," according to the release. The TSX will also be discontinued in 2014, as the carmaker is marketing the 2015 TLX as a proposition for both existing TL and TSX customers. Acura explains the move is aimed at creating "clear hierarchy for luxury sedan lineup". This means Acura will have three distinct sedan models: the entry compact ILX, the mid-size TLX sports saloon, and the flagship RLX. Acura promises more emotional styling with tidier, sports sedan proportions for the TLX, as well as two all-new powertrains that will make sportier than the outgoing TL. "The sporty characteristics that customers found appealing in the TSX are even more pronounced in this aggressive new TLX," said Mike Accavitti, senior vice president, American Honda Motor. The two direct-injected engines will be mated to an all-new transmission, along with available two-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations. The production TLX will launch in the second half of next year and will be built at the Marysville, Ohio auto plant, where the current Acura TL is made. By Dan Mihalascu     |
| Watch AMG Founders Tell the Story of Mercedes' In-House Tuner Posted: 19 Dec 2013 07:44 AM PST  Today, AMG is known worldwide as Mercedes' in-house tuner, but the company founded by Hans Werner Aufrecht and Erhard Melcher in 1967 started life as an independent engineering firm specializing in performance improvements for Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Since its beginning, AMG stuck to a simple philosophy that helped it grow into the most important Mercedes tuner, prior to being bought by the carmaker: it took its customers' wishes seriously. While it may sound like a no-brainer nowadays, back then automakers weren't really used to listen to their customers' feedback about their products. AMG, on the other hand, built cars to suit their customers' desires and that helped their business take off. The company's success as a tuner and racing specialist made Mercedes take over AMG. From 1999 onwards AMG was renamed Mercedes-AMG following DaimlerChrysler's acquisition of 51 percent of AMG shares. The company's range of activities is now more diverse than ever, from tuning to racing and culminating with developing from scratch its first-ever production car, the SLS AMG. Scroll down to watch how AMG evolved from a small garage tuner to a global performance brand. By Dan Mihalascu    |
| These Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4 Photos Look Legit and Real to Us… Posted: 19 Dec 2013 12:29 PM PST  So, remember the purportedly official photo of the Lamborghini Gallardo's replacement called the Huracan that we first you showed you last night and which has been making the internet rounds this morning? What the blog that posted it didn't say last night, is where they found the single photo. Well, we did some detective work this morning and confirmed the source: Italy's LaStampa. Actually, we did more than that; as it turns out, the same site had four more photos that have been since removed, but fret not, as we managed to recover them… Yes, all exterior photos have a computer render-feel to them, but this isn't something we haven't seen before from automakers, while we also have a pretty detailed interior photo. Taking everything into account, including the fact that they were eliminated, we're leaning towards official shots on this one. One interesting detail is the badge on the rear fender that reads "LP610-4" and which means that this Italian puppy comes with a 610PS (equal to 602HP) V10 engine and all-wheel drive. But enough with that; how about you hit the comments and tell us your first thoughts on the looks of the Gallardo's replacement? Update: New photos have been added to the existing gallery / Thanks to Vitaly from Autowp for completing our HD set!               |
| 1977 Ford Escort Mk2 Rally Car that Belonged to McRae Family Up for Auction Posted: 19 Dec 2013 06:40 AM PST  This 1977 Ford Escort Mk2 RS1800 Group 4 rally car has been driven in the past by three members of the McRae family: father Jimmy McRae and sons Colin McRae and Alister McRae. Sporting the Eddie Stobart livery, this car is one of the most instantly recognizable and competitive Historic Rally Cars ever mad. Built by specialists Prepfab Motorsport Engineering, the car was driven by five-time British Rally Champion Jimmy McRae on the 2006 Roger Albert Clark Rally, which it won by a large margin. Before that event, the late Colin McRae also drove the car in the Stang Forest to test it. In 2007, it won the pre-1981 category of the British Historic Championship with Jimmy McRae and co-driver Andy Richardson and a year later it was driven to victory by Alister McRae in the historic category of the 2008 Colin McRae Memorial Rally. Jimmy McRae sold the car in 2009 to Jim Whelan, who commissioned a full nut-and-bolt restoration and entered it in the 2010 and 2011 Rally Clasico Isla Mallorca. The car is sold with MSA stage rally logbook and Historic Rally Vehicle Identity Form in period category 3 class D5, plus MoT and tax until May 2014. The RWD Ford is powered by a 260 hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder Sherwood engine, mated to a ZF five-speed direct top race gearbox. Silverstone Auctions will offer it at the Race Retro & Classic Car Sale on February 22, 2014, and estimates it will fetch somewhere between £65,000 ($106,550) and £85,000 ($139,330). By Dan Mihalascu                     |
| Daimler Takes 5% Stake in Aston Martin, Signs Engine and Tech Supply Deal Posted: 19 Dec 2013 06:20 AM PST  The long-rumored tie-up between Daimler's Mercedes-Benz and AMG units and Aston Martin is finally here with the German automaker set to own as much as 5 percent of the British firm, as part of a broader agreement to supply the latter with engines and technology. Today's official announcement comes after the signing of a Letter of Intent in July this year, with the two automakers stating that Mercedes' AMG division and Aston Martin will develop V8 engines in the UK to support the British brand's next generation of cars, which will also incorporate "cutting edge technology" from Benz. "This strategic collaboration for Aston Martin will, in our next generation of luxury sports cars, offer our customers increased performance and state-of-the-art features whilst retaining the unique character and style of an Aston Martin," said a spokesman for the Aston Martin board. Tobias Moers, Chairman of the Management Board of Mercedes-AMG GmbH, added: "Mercedes-AMG will provide the British icon Aston Martin with engines for their forthcoming sports cars. At our company´s headquarters in Affalterbach we are proud to work with Aston Martin – this agreement is a real win-win situation for both sides." Being that Aston Martin is the only luxury sports car maker with a global presence that is not owned by a large automotive group, we could see this cooperation with Mercedes growing in the future if everything goes well between the two partners. "Daimler will receive up to five percent non-voting shares in Aston Martin without cash consideration in several steps following the progress of the technical partnership," said Mercedes in a statement. "At the same time, the company will receive an observer status on the Aston Martin Holdings board. Daimler joins Aston Martin's existing shareholder body that includes Prime Wagon, Adeem Investment and Investindustrial."              |
| Honda Unnecessarily Teases US-Spec 2015 Honda Fit, Debuts in Detroit Posted: 19 Dec 2013 06:00 AM PST  Even though the third-generation Honda Fit (known as Jazz in some markets) is no longer a secret, the Japanese carmaker has released a teaser photo of the North American version of the car, which will debut at next month's Detroit Auto Show as a 2015 model. The automaker doesn't offer further detail, but one can't expect any significant differences to the car that is already on sale in Japan, as the teaser photo reveals (you can compare it with the Japan-spec Honda Fit featured in the photo gallery). The third-generation Honda Fit keeps its small minivan-like stature while adopting a different styling than the previous models. It has a sharper front end with thinner headlights and a rear that features upright taillights, stretching all the way up to the ceiling. The interior is also redesigned and brings sharper lines as well as new comfort and technology features including full-touchscreen controls on the center console. We don't know yet what engines will be on offer in the U.S., but in Japan the Fit comes with three options: a 1.3-liter unit delivering 100PS (99hp), a 1.5-liter engine producing 132PS (130hp) and a hybrid version fitted with a 1.5-liter Atkinson cycle (high expansion ratio cycle) engine. The latter is the first model to feature Honda's new Sport Hybrid Intelligent Dual Clutch Drive (i-DCD) system for small-size vehicles that consists of a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) with a built-in high-output motor, and IPU (intelligent power unit) incorporating a built-in lithium-ion battery. As a result, the Fit Hybrid is more than 35 percent more fuel-efficient, returning 36.4km/l (85.6mpg US - 2.7l/100km - 102.8mpg UK) on the Japanese driving cycle. The U.S. market Fit will be produced for the first time in North America at an all-new plant in in Celaya, Mexico. Note: The light blue Fit pictured in the gallery is the JDM-specification model By Dan Mihalascu             |
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