CARSCOOP |  |
- Real-Life Photos of New Mercedes-Benz C-Class W205 Sedan
- Does the Alfa Romeo 4C Really Sound that Bad?
- BMW Plays Tricks with M-Badged 760Li Bi-Turbo Special Edition for the Middle East
- Citroën’s DS Brand Will Launch Three All-New Models in a Year in China, No Replacement for C5
- Dodge Exec Details 100th Anniversary Package for Charger and Challenger
- Daihatsu Prepares New Custom Kopen Concepts for Tokyo Auto Salon
- Ford Shows How It Simulates Daylight to Test Outdoor Conditions in Interiors [w/Video]
- New Citroën C4 Cactus Makes a Peek-a-Boo Appearance Before February 5 Debut
- Robocop Fights Drink-Driving in NHTSA’s New PSA
- New BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe Outlined in Purportedly Official Patent Drawings
- Shotgun Ride in Porsche Macan Discovers On- and Off-Road Capabilities
- Loma PhotoShop Teases New Corvette Stingray GT7 Widebody Tune
- Jeep Looking into Hybrid-Powered Models
- Peugeot Smashes Into Road Construction Block, 6th Accident to Happen on this Site in Past Month
- Mazda's 2014 Tokyo Auto Salon Lineup Revealed
- Lexus Flings Out Teaser of New GT6 Vision Concept
- Mazda's New JDM Flair Mini Crossover Looks Mighty Familiar…
- 2015 Subaru WRX with New CVT Transmission Video Reviewed
- Shelby Coupe and Convertible Listed on Ford 2015 Mustang's Lineup
- Mercedes-Benz Confirms Long-Wheelbase C-Class for China
- New BMW M4 Spotted in the Wild in Silverstone Finish
| Real-Life Photos of New Mercedes-Benz C-Class W205 Sedan Posted: 26 Dec 2013 04:42 PM PST  Sometimes, press shots can be deceiving or at least misleading, so it's always useful to see cars in their natural habitat, even when captured on camera under less than ideal conditions. Many of us haven't had the chance to view the new 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class in the flesh yet, so these candid shots from MB Passion Blog reader Christian Mrotzek are of interest as they're the first we've seen of the compact executive sedan out on the road. We're not entirely sure which trim version of the C-Class is pictured here as the blue-colored saloon appears to be fitted with the base model's regular Halogen lights, but the Avantgarde Line's wheels and the AMG Line's bumper designs (according to what we saw on Mercedes' German site). We'll remind you that the North American debut of the new C-Class will take place at next month's Detroit Auto Show. Photos courtesy of Christian Mrotzek via MB Passion              |
| Does the Alfa Romeo 4C Really Sound that Bad? Posted: 26 Dec 2013 03:52 PM PST  YouTube uploader Marchettino recently posted a video showing the sexy rear end of an Alfa Romeo 4C, accompanied by the raspy note of its four-cylinder power plant that you either like or you don't. It's definitely not one of the car's strong points, that's for sure, but then again, it's hard to make a four-pot sound good these days, so I was kind of expecting it to be better… It's not the worst four-cylinder I've heard, but for some reason it doesn't excite enough, at least not according to those who have had the chance to drive one. Alfa Romeo has made some great sounding V6 engines over the years, and one of those in naturally-aspirated form would have complimented the typically Italian styling well. So, what do you think: is the sound made by the 4C bad enough to make it a deal breaker, given its price tag and prospective rivals? The comments section lies below. By Andrei Nedelea    |
| BMW Plays Tricks with M-Badged 760Li Bi-Turbo Special Edition for the Middle East Posted: 26 Dec 2013 03:18 PM PST  It may wear the triple-stripe "M" badge on its fenders, but please do no mistake the new BMW 760Li M Sport Bi-Turbo Special Edition for a real "M" model because it isn't. Revealed in front of Saudi Arabia's "fashion elite" during a special expo named "You are the Queen" (we'd like to believe it sounds better in Arabian than in English…), the 760Li M Sport is an individualized version of BMW's top saloon offering made exclusively for the Middle East. At the presentation of the car, Toni Yazbeck, Head of Marketing at BMW dealer Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors, said: "High-end fashion is about design perfection – an ethos that mirrors BMW. It is therefore fitting that we choose the 'You are the Queen Expo' as a platform to introduce the exclusive BMW 760Li V12 M Bi-Turbo, a vehicle that is a byword for luxury, elegance and innovation." The special edition model retains the regular 760Li's 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V12 mill with 544PS (537hp) adding a raft of bespoke styling elements and colors starting with a choice of eight BMW M exterior shades named after some of the world's most famous tracks, such as Monte Carlo Blue, Silverstone II and Imola Red. An M Sport aero package and 19 or 20-inch alloy wheels with double spokes, along with the aforementioned "M" badging and shadowline (or chrome delete) kit, complete the exterior revisions. Inside, most of the interior is covered in soft Nappa Oyster leather available with orange, blue, red or black contrasting M color stitching and BMW Individual Piano Black wood trims. BMW did not share any information regarding pricing or the number of cars it plans to build. Story References: Alarabiya & Autoblog.nl         |
| Citroën’s DS Brand Will Launch Three All-New Models in a Year in China, No Replacement for C5 Posted: 26 Dec 2013 02:47 PM PST  The recently unveiled DS 5LS is the first of three all-new luxury models that Citroën's DS brand will roll out in China over the course of the next year. The French carmaker is planning a major expansion of the DS line that will also include an SUV previewed by the DS Wild Rubis concept and a flagship luxury model inspired by the Numero 9 study. Citroën's managing director Frédéric Banzet told Autoexpress magazine that China's premium sector is a key market for growth and this explains the company's big investment into a new DS plant in Shenzhen together with Chinese partner Changan. The plant has already started making the DS5 in September, with the new DS 5LS sedan to be produced from March 2014. "During the downturn we went through some difficult times, and we had to prioritize certain projects. We had to back the investment in China, as the whole business is far too reliant on Europe," Banzet said about Citroën's focus on China. The next model that will be produced in Shenzhen is the production version of the DS Wild Rubis SUV study in the second half of 2014, with the plant estimated to reach a maximum production capacity of 200,000 units by 2016. Finally, the third DS model that will launch in China will be a large luxo-barge arriving in 2015 and inspired by the spectacular Numero 9 concept. Citroën doesn't rule out that some of these models, particularly the SUV, may arrive in Europe at some point, provided that build quality will be high enough. As for its European lineup, Banzet told the UK publication that the C5 mid-size sedan is unlikely to get a direct replacement model because of a huge drop in D-segment sales in recent years. By Dan Mihalascu                   |
| Dodge Exec Details 100th Anniversary Package for Charger and Challenger Posted: 26 Dec 2013 02:01 PM PST  Dodge will launch two limited edition models in the first quarter of 2014 dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the brand. The 100th Anniversary Dodge Charger and Challenger sport similar style, technology and features, as well as retro design details. Unveiled at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show, the two models are presented in an official video with Jenna Kirkpatrick, Dodge Brand Manager doing the talking. The two cars feature unique elements including the new "High Octane" red pearl coat paint, all-new 20-inch aluminum wheels, commemorative badging, unique key fob and a special limited-edition owner's kit and commemorative book that celebrates 100 years of Dodge heritage. Scroll down to see what other features are offered on the two limited edition Dodge models from the video filmed at the LA Auto Show. By Dan Mihalascu    |
| Daihatsu Prepares New Custom Kopen Concepts for Tokyo Auto Salon Posted: 26 Dec 2013 01:31 PM PST  Much in the same way it did at the recent Tokyo Motor Show where it presented three different custom versions of the near-production Kopen Concept, including the RMZ roadsters and the ΧΜΖ crossover convertible, Daihatsu will be bringing another trio of Kopen models to Japan's biggest aftermarket and styling show, the 2014 Tokyo Auto Salon in mid-January. Named the RM1, RM2 and XM1, these fresh concepts are for a regular looking edition of the hardtop roadster, a track special and a slightly taller-riding crossover version with protective cladding, respectively. Daihatsu didn't say if these latest concepts sport any other changes under the body - in fact, it didn't say anything specific about the lightweight roadsters, so we don't know if any of these individualization options will materialize when the production Kopen comes into the light within the next year.       |
| Ford Shows How It Simulates Daylight to Test Outdoor Conditions in Interiors [w/Video] Posted: 26 Dec 2013 01:00 PM PST  Ford's Visual Performance Evaluation Lab is the place where the carmaker tests outdoor conditions on vehicle interiors to reduce sun glare on vehicle controls and instrument panels. The lab benefits from 6,000 watts of light, allowing engineers to re-create any lighting condition in the world, which is a good thing especially when developing global cars like the 2014 Ford Fiesta and the new Mustang. Known internally as the Lighting Lab, the facility uses a planetarium-like dome to simulate sunlight conditions from dawn to dusk, re-creating the phases of the earth's revolution around the sun. Furthermore, additional lights lining the perimeter of the dome can be adjusted to simulate the effects of weather conditions. The facility was also used to develop the 2015 Ford Mustang, more specifically to create highly legible gauges and new, glare-free aluminum dash panel. "With the Lighting Lab, we can ensure that the first time a buyer sits in the 2015 Ford Mustang, that person will be able to see the interior as the designers originally envisioned it – in the best light possible," said Mahendra Dassanayake, Ford lighting technical specialist. Ford's Lighting Lab can simulate light conditions at every time of day, while the additional lighting in the dome is used to vary weather conditions from bright sun to full cloud cover. You can learn how the lab works from the videos posted below. By Dan Mihalascu                   |
| New Citroën C4 Cactus Makes a Peek-a-Boo Appearance Before February 5 Debut Posted: 26 Dec 2013 12:33 PM PST  French carmaker Citroën has officially initiated the countdown process for the introduction of its new C4 Cactus compact crossover on February 5, 2014, with the release of five images. In these photos, the Cactus makes a peek-a-boo like appearance, without revealing much about the production model that will receive its world premiere at the next Geneva motor show in March. There are no press statements either, but Citroën officials have independently confirmed that the production C4 Cactus will keep largely true to the concept we saw at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show in September, right up to the use of the "Airbumps" incorporating air capsules to protect doors from scratches and minor damages, and the sofa-style front bench seating. Since it is riding on the C4 hatchback's underpinnings, we know for sure that the Cactus will borrow the compact model's engine range of four-cylinder gasoline and diesel units, though, we'll have to wait for further details.         |
| Robocop Fights Drink-Driving in NHTSA’s New PSA Posted: 26 Dec 2013 12:05 PM PST  Robocop has landed a leading role in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) new anti-drinking advertising campaign. Aimed at discouraging drivers from drinking and driving, the campaign is called "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" and cost some $7.5 million (€5.5 million). In the first ad featuring Robocop, the superhero finds drunken drivers and pulls them over. "Be ready to move in on my request," Robocop says and then asks a driver to drop the keys. "I'd put those down now if I were you." The commercial also features actors Samuel L. Jackson and Joel Kinnaman, as well as clips from the Robocop science fiction action movie, opening in theaters on February 14. By Dan Mihalascu    |
| New BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe Outlined in Purportedly Official Patent Drawings Posted: 26 Dec 2013 11:39 AM PST  Recently published patent illustrations sourced from China are giving us a fresh look at the upcoming production version of the BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe, which will carve a new niche in the brand's compact executive car offerings sitting just above the 3-Series. Depending on which way you view this segment, the Gran Coupe is a four-door version of the new 4-Series Coupe or a sportier looking and handling edition of the 3-Series saloon that rides on a longer wheelbase length than either model. The 4-Series Gran Coupe's closest competitor is the Audi A5 Sportback, but unlike Ingolstadt's model, the BMW will be available in North America where it will launch with a similar engine lineup to the 4-Series, so expect a 4-cylinder 428i and a six-cylinder 435i, both turbocharged, while Europe will likely get diesels as well. Story References: Autohome via F30 Post Thanks to Justin for the heads up!            |
| Shotgun Ride in Porsche Macan Discovers On- and Off-Road Capabilities Posted: 26 Dec 2013 11:05 AM PST  Porsche's new sub-Cayenne SUV, the Macan, makes no sense from a monetary value standpoint, as in its current form, it's priced at the same level as the larger SUV. However, with its Audi Q5 platform underneath, more pleasing aesthetics, better efficiency and all-round capability it's not necessarily a good idea to dismiss it. Autocar was recently treated to a shotgun ride in the new Macan, on courses that put both its on- and off-road credentials to the test. What surprised us was just how easily it went up steep muddy and rocky inclines without a hitch, going back down again through the use of hill descent control – a must-have in this class and price bracket. Street behavior is also promised to be of the excellent kind, and given the manufacturer's excellent track record in this area, we believe what's said in the video about it being agile and easy to thread through corners at speed; it's also praised for its stability too. Check out the video after the virtual jump, but don't go thinking it's a review, because it's not. By Andrei Nedelea    |
| Loma PhotoShop Teases New Corvette Stingray GT7 Widebody Tune Posted: 26 Dec 2013 10:44 AM PST  Loma, a Barcelona, Spain based tuner with a presence in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Miami and New York in the USA, says it prides itself for being a "different" tuner than most other companies in the field, while making some bold and aggressive claims (see an extract after the jump), among which there's a mention about "renderings" that don't make it into the market. Amusingly, if we're not grossly mistaken, Loma's teaser for the upcoming GT7 Widebody kit for the new Corvette Stingray C7 is also a Photoshop, though the Spanish company says it will be released in the future. For those C7 owners that want something right now, Loma says it offers a selection of wheels that are displayed in the following gallery. A funny thing about the three alloy wheel pictures is that all of them appear to have been…photoshoped (based on images from Autoblog.com, MotorTrend and a press image).
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| Jeep Looking into Hybrid-Powered Models Posted: 26 Dec 2013 10:05 AM PST  It looks like it won't be very long before Jeep will start offering hybrid-powered models. While the off-road specialist brand has relied so far on traditional technology to make sure its vehicles can handle serious off-roading, stricter emission regulations will force it to adopt some form of electric assistance in the future. "We are absolutely looking at different things in that field and we are very active behind the scenes in the development of these systems and how it fits into our profile," Chrysler's Asia-Pacific product planning manager, Steve Bartoli, told Australia's Drive. "With greenhouse gas and regulatory constraints around the world, it is definitely pushing our hand in that way but we haven't made any decisions on that and we're not ready to talk about that," the executive added. According to Bartoli, the biggest challenge is the reliability of electric motors and the range of battery packs under difficult conditions. "These are very complex and expensive systems, not just for us to develop but also for the consumers. Not only that, but range is a very important issue and we need to make sure how we can fit that into our systems because you don't want to be stuck in a creek in an electric Jeep that is going nowhere," he said. However, Jeep is aware of the potential benefits of hybridisation and is evaluating new ways of integrating hybrid power specifically for serious four-wheel drive applications. By Dan Mihalascu         |
| Peugeot Smashes Into Road Construction Block, 6th Accident to Happen on this Site in Past Month Posted: 26 Dec 2013 09:29 AM PST  Even if the following video doesn't provide us with a detailed look at the accident scene, the fact that, according to Russian media, this is the sixth crash to have taken place on this particular road construction zone on the 74km of the Moscow Ring Road in the past month alone, tells us that there's something terribly wrong with the way it is set up. The five previous crashes resulted in the death of three people with four more sustaining injuries when the vehicles they were travelling in smashed into the roadblocks. In the case of the forceful Peugeot accident captured on a dash-cam video from a following car, the 42-year-old driver of the Peugeot van, Ivan Kalioglo, was injured and transferred to the hospital. Needless to say, Russian authorities should have already taken measures to make the construction zone safe for drivers and workers alike.    |
| Mazda's 2014 Tokyo Auto Salon Lineup Revealed Posted: 26 Dec 2013 08:34 AM PST  Mazda will be heading to the 2014 edition of the Tokyo Auto Salon (TAS) in the second week of January with a group of racing, tuned and pre-production concept cars, some of which will be familiar to those of you who followed the brand's presence at this year's SEMA Show in November. The ones we are referring to are the "Axela Sport Mazda Design Concept 2014" and "Atenza Sedan Mazda Design Concept 2014", which are more or less the same as the SEMA Show Mazda3 and Mazda6 ClubSport studies respectively, with different paint jobs. Other cars to be found at Mazda's TAS stand will be the North American Mazda6 Skyactiv-D diesel-powered racer from the Grand AM GX series, and three pre-production studies, the Mazda6 estate-based "Atenza Wagon Mazda Design Concept 2014", Mazda3 sedan-based "Axela Sedan Mazda Design Concept 2014", and the "CX-5 Mazda Design Concept 2014", all featuring mild aero modifications and bespoke wheel setups.              |
| Lexus Flings Out Teaser of New GT6 Vision Concept Posted: 26 Dec 2013 08:02 AM PST  The red sports car you see pictured in the above sketch is a new Lexus Concept model created specifically for Gran Turismo 6 and its forthcoming package of DLC (Downloadable Content) vehicles created under the Vision moniker to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the racing game series. From the concept's silhouette, we can make out it's a coupe model and that it doesn't look related (at least not directly) to the new RC and RC F cars due to the different design of the profile window line. As with most other upcoming concepts of the GT6 Vision series (excluding Mercedes which went as far as presenting a real-life sized model), Lexus and Playstation are keeping hush about any details surrounding the model, so we'll just have to wait it out to learn more.     |
| Mazda's New JDM Flair Mini Crossover Looks Mighty Familiar… Posted: 26 Dec 2013 07:33 AM PST  We could ask you to find the differences between the Suzuki Hustler Concept from the recent 2013 Tokyo Motor Show and the newly announced production Mazda Flair Crossover, but we'll just save you the trouble and tell you that there are none – unless you place any worth in badges. Scheduled to go on sale in Japan at the end of January 2014, the pint sized Flair is a tall-riding "Kei car" with five doors, available two-tone paint jobs and plastic moldings on the bumpers and wheel arches to create the allusion of an SUV. It can be had with a choice of two CVT-paired 660cc (0.66-liters) engines with or without turbocharging in both FWD and AWD layouts, delivering a fuel economy of up to 29.2 km/l (equal to 68.7 mpg US, 82.5 mpg UK and 3.4l/100km). Mazda said it's targeting monthly sales of 500 units, with prices in Japan ranging from 1,285,200 to 1,607,550 yen (US$12,300 to US$15,400).        |
| 2015 Subaru WRX with New CVT Transmission Video Reviewed Posted: 26 Dec 2013 07:01 AM PST  So here we have the new 2015 Subaru (Impreza) WRX, the all-new version of the road car that used to whet boy racers' appetites around the world. Now all grown up and modern looking, it's more refined and comes with an available CVT gearbox that promises to be sporty yet still efficient at the same time. Only just out, and one model-year ahead of everybody else, the WRX has fallen into the hands of YouTube reviewers, and on first impressions it seems like a decent evolution, even with the snowmobile transmission option – a crisp new six-speed manual is available, thank goodness, and to me, that's really the only available option. Strangely, the reviewers talk more about this new Lineartronic transmission than the actual driving dynamics of the car, so we'll have to wait for some other drivers to take it on track and document their findings there. Until then, the street test videos for it lie after the virtual jump. By Andrei Nedelea    |
| Shelby Coupe and Convertible Listed on Ford 2015 Mustang's Lineup Posted: 26 Dec 2013 06:40 AM PST  It looks like Ford won't waste any time to enhance the range of its new 2015 Mustang when it goes on sale late next year, as according to a purportedly official "2015MY Ford Body Code Types" chart that trickled to the Mustang6G forums, there will be a Shelby Coupe and Convertible. Regarding the Shelby versions of the 6th generation Mustang, the word on the street is that, they will carry the Shelby GT350 moniker with a recent screenshot from Ford's dealer promo order system that popped up the SVTP forums supporting the story. The poster of the screenshot noted: "So I just went to order 2015 promo stuff, they list all 2015 models for vehicle photographs and guess what, there is a Shelby GT350 listed!!!!!!! oh by the way, this is dealer promo stuff so its legit, not a shelby ship thru package." An older report from MustangDaily had said that, the new factory GT350 will use Ford's 5.0-liter Coyote V8 offering more power than the 420+hp GT, but less than the insane GT500 of the outgoing Mustang with its 662-horsepower blown 5.8-liter V8. As far as the other models in the 2015 Mustang range, the chart does not list the 305hp+ 2.3-liter turbo engine as an option, but this could be explained by the fact that Ford may offer it as an upgrade to the V6.       |
| Mercedes-Benz Confirms Long-Wheelbase C-Class for China Posted: 26 Dec 2013 06:10 AM PST  Following the example of the E-Class LWB, Mercedes-Benz is preparing a long-wheelbase model of the recently-unveiled C-Class sedan that will be specifically aimed at the Chinese market. Daimler AG board member Thomas Weber said the carmaker is preparing its plants in Germany, the United States, China and South Africa to build the next generation C-Class using a modular production system that allows it to build several different versions adapted to local markets. "In the past we built cars, today we develop generations of models," the head of development at Mercedes-Benz Cars told Reuters. The long-wheelbase C-Class sedan is part of Daimler's plans to roll out production of its biggest selling model across four continents in six months. "There will be a long-wheelbase version for the specific needs of Chinese clients. This car will be built in China, exclusively for that market," Weber explained. An estate and will be added when the car launches next year, following the official debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January. The all-new C-Class is built on a modular architecture that will also underpins the next generation E-Class executive sedan. Thanks to the advances in efficiency, Weber said production figures will be raised faster than in the past. Mercedes-Benz hasn't stopped production of the current generation model, which still enjoys solid demand – 316,000 units were built in the past 12 months at the Bremen plant in Germany. The carmaker will phase in production of the new model in a seamless manner, with increased production expected after the roll out of the new model. By Dan Mihalascu Note: Regular Mercedes-Benz C-Class pictured    |
| New BMW M4 Spotted in the Wild in Silverstone Finish Posted: 26 Dec 2013 05:44 AM PST  BMW chose to launch the all-new M4 coupe in the same shade of light yellowish gold that made the E46 M3 such a standout car back in the day. It's a nice color but, at least for me, it would not be near the top of the choices list for this particular vehicle. It's still a really new model so there are hardly any out on the road yet (even standard 4-Series are still rare), so this Silverstone Metallic one snapped up by reader Sebastian for Bimmertoday, shows an alternative hue. If you ask me, the color itself is okay, but it's still not a top choice for the car, especially on such a dim and overcast day like the one it was photographed on, and not with the darker contrasting wheels. The beige leather interior with no wood trim does redeem it a bit, though. Scroll down and check it out after the virtual jump, where the gallery awaits. By Andrei Nedelea Photos via Bimmertoday             |
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