CARSCOOP

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• Take a Look at German Tuners’ Exhibits from 2013 Essen Motor Show
• Renault Releases Captur as Samsung QM3 in Korea, Receives 5,000 Orders
• Norwegian Rides Bike Backwards Down a Hill at 80km/h…While Evading Traffic!
• Nissan Leaf Batteries Used to Power Office Buildings in Japan
• Lamborghini Rolls Out Pointless Teaser of Men Preparing to See the New Hexagon Project
• Bulletproof Dacia Duster Army Vehicle Is a Budget Humvee-Wannabe
• Refreshed Renault Megane is Cheaper than Before in UK; Hatch Starts at £16,745
• Eins, Zwei, Polizei: AC Schnitzer Turns BMW 428i Coupé into 290HP Police Car [w/Video]
• 2015 Ford Mustang Trots Out Early, See the First Pictures [HD Gallery Update]
• VW Celebrates Touareg's 10th Anniversary with X Limited Edition Diesel in the U.S.
• Suzuki A:Wind Concept Debuts in Thailand, Previews Future Alto [w/Videos]
• Leaked Clip from Fast & Furious 7 Shows Paul Walker Promising "Just One More" Funeral
• Porsche Shows its New V6-Only Cayenne Platinum Edition
• Spied: Watch 2015 Audi TT Testing Alongside Peugeot RCZ, BMW Z4
• Renault Remembers the Original Twingo on its 20th Anniversary
• Check Out How the IIHS Prepares for Each Crash Test
• Fantasy Rendering Gives the Juke the new Nissan Face
• Who Needs a Bridge When You Can Transport Your Car Across the River Like This?
• New Mercedes C-Class Reportedly Set for Online Reveal on December 16, World Debut at Detroit
• New Hyundai Genesis Sedan Makes its Video Debut with Promos and Tech Clips
• Volvo May Phase Out Newfangled Pedestrian Airbags Already, Rely More on Active Electronics
• Mahindra Adds its Name to Formula E Roster for 2014

Take a Look at German Tuners’ Exhibits from 2013 Essen Motor Show Posted: 03 Dec 2013 08:03 PM PST If SEMA had an equivalent in Europe, it would no doubt be the Essen Motor Show in Germany. The largest tuning event in the Old Continent is in full swing as we speak (November 30 – December 8), so we thought you'd enjoy taking a look at some of the modified cars on display at the Messe Essen. Germany's most famous tuning powerhouses, including ABT Sportsline, AC Schnitzer, Brabus, Hamann, Lorinser, Prior Design and TechArt, all brought their latest customizing packages to Essen, and you can check them in the many videos posted below. In a way, the 2013 Essen Motor Show is like a bodybuilding contest for cars where most contestants are German and originally started life as Audis, BMWs, Mercedes or Porsches. The cars in the following videos are all about power, aggressiveness and luxury - a combination that needs careful dosage for the result to be remarkable. You can judge for yourself which of the cars actually managed that by watching the videos. Special thanks to Toldi for the videos! By Dan Mihalascu VIDEO

Renault Releases Captur as Samsung QM3 in Korea, Receives 5,000 Orders Posted: 03 Dec 2013 03:24 PM PST Renault's South Korean unit Renault Samsung Motors said it has received 5,000 orders for the QM3 crossover only two weeks after opening the order books. The QM3, essentially a rebadged Renault Captur, went on sale in Korea on November 20, with Renault Samsung Motors receiving the first 1,000 orders within seven minutes after opening, with deliveries to take place by mid-December. A further 4,000 orders have since been taken, with delivery for these vehicles scheduled for the first quarter of 2014. The Renault Samsung QM3 debuted at this year's Seoul Motor Show on March 28 and was voted Best Car of the Show. The small crossover is the fifth model in RSM's lineup and targets young Korean customers looking for alternatives to traditional B-segment vehicles. Positioned below the QM5 (aka Renault Koleos) in the brand's range, the QM3 is identical with the Renault Captur, with the exception of badges. The QM3 is priced from 22,500,000 Korean Won ($21,265) and is only offered in three equipment grades: SE, LE and RE. For now, the crossover is only available with Renault's 1.5-liter diesel engine that produces 90PS (89hp). Mated to a 6-speed DCT dual-clutch gearbox, the unit delivers an average fuel economy of 18.5 km/l (5.4 l/100 km or 43.5 mpg US). By Dan Mihalascu PHOTO GALLERY

Norwegian Rides Bike Backwards Down a Hill at 80km/h…While Evading Traffic! Posted: 03 Dec 2013 02:39 PM PST I'm pretty sure that even if someone paid you to attempt what artist and daredevil Eskil did in the appropriately named for this stunt Trollstigen (Trolls' Path in English), a winding mountain road in his home country of Norway, if not all, most of you would answer, "thank you very much but there's no way in hell I'm doing this". The Norwegian rode his bicycle backwards down the 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) long road down the hill (with a 10% slope), at some point reaching an alleged speed of 80km/h or 50mph (something we can't confirm). And if that's not crazy enough, how about the fact that the road wasn't closed as we see him trying to avoid traffic? Here's what he says about himself on his dedicated website: "Eskil has spent his entire life living on the edge creating art that makes a difference. The goal is not just to leave an imprint on mind. The goal is to move boundaries, inspire and show humans all over the world that anything is possible." "Eskil performs live, at TV-programs, in movies and exceptionally by promotional actions. He is also giving lectures about his journey from a little village in Norway to great international success, his unique working methods and the balance between life and death." VIDEO

Nissan Leaf Batteries Used to Power Office Buildings in Japan Posted: 03 Dec 2013 02:02 PM PST Nissan is developing a system that will allow companies to regulate their electricity bills using the batteries of Nissan Leaf EVs used by their employees to commute to work. The Japanese carmaker has already carried out a successful early field test of the "Vehicle-To-Building" program, which allows up to six Nissan Leafs to be connected to a building's power distribution board. The idea is simple: charging is phased during the day so at peak hours, when electricity is most expensive, the building draws power from the cars. When electricity is cheaper it flows the other way. Nissan says that the cars are fully charged by the end of the working day for their owners to drive home. "Vehicle-to-Building" has been in use since July at the Nissan Advanced Technology Center in Atsugi City, Japan. By controlling the charging time of the EVs, the facility benefited from a reduction of 25.6KW during peak summer periods. Nissan says the program had no impact on the workers' daily commute, or their vehicles. As a result of the program, Nissan recorded a 2.5-percent reduction of electrical power use during peak hours, which corresponds to a saving of nearly 500,000 Yen per year ($4,864) in electrical power cost. Nissan pointed out that it will further test and refine the "Vehicle-To-Building" system, which is a development of the "LEAF-to-Home" system. "LEAF-to-Home" power units provide an uninterrupted flow of electricity stored in the high-capacity Leaf batteries to residential homes. The carmaker hopes the system will encourage Leaf owners to charge their cars with electricity generated during the night, when demand is low, or sourced from solar panels.  By Dan Mihalascu PHOTO GALLERY

Lamborghini Rolls Out Pointless Teaser of Men Preparing to See the New Hexagon Project Posted: 03 Dec 2013 01:43 PM PST After tingling our ear buds with an engine sound clip from the Hegaxon Project, which is widely believed to be a codename for the Gallardo's replacement (unless it's another limited series or concept of sorts), rumored to carry the Cabrera moniker, today Lamborghini aired the first in a series of videos, which will lead to the car's reveal. You're free to watch the video below the break, but just in case you don't want to waste 4 minutes of your time for something that won't add to your knowledge of the supercar, we'll tell you that it simply shows a trio of young men from London getting ready to fly to Italy and get a sneak peek of the Hexagon Project. There are a couple of sketches, but we can't say for sure if they show a previous work from Lamborghini or the Hexagon Project. PHOTO GALLERY VIDEO

Bulletproof Dacia Duster Army Vehicle Is a Budget Humvee-Wannabe Posted: 03 Dec 2013 01:01 PM PST December 1 is Romania's national holiday and on this occasion the country's Ministry of Defense showcased a special Dacia Duster vehicle modified for military use. The Dacia Duster Army was the highlight of the traditional military parade that takes place each year under Bucharest's Arch of Triumph monument. Modified by Renault's Romanian engineering center RTR, the Duster military vehicle complies with NATO standards and with the Romanian Army's transport necessities. The vehicle is fitted with a series of special features including an armoring system, additional underbody protection for the engine, gearbox, fuel tank and rear differential, removable winch, anchoring system for air transport, capability to tow military trailers, "black out" and camouflaged lighting systems, plus exterior 12V and 24V sockets. The most obvious feature is without a doubt the machine gun mounted on top of the car, on a roll cage-like structure. No details were offered about this feature, but it's not hard to figure out what it's for. We don't know whether the engine accepted any modifications, but since the car is armored and heavier, extra output would be needed. The parade also included two Duster police vehicles based on the facelifted model, which feature special visual and acoustic upgrades, as well as police specific livery. Other special vehicles based on the Duster present at the parade were from the Gendarmerie, firefighters and border police. By Dan Mihalascu PHOTO GALLERY

Refreshed Renault Megane is Cheaper than Before in UK; Hatch Starts at £16,745 Posted: 03 Dec 2013 12:37 PM PST Renault has partially managed to correct the exterior design awkwardness that the current-generation Megane had via a recent facelift. Available from January 2014 in the UK, the refreshed French hatch has just received its official pricing information, as well as other details as to what has changed with this new and less visually offensive model. As before, Brits will be given a choice of the three usual body styles, just like the rest of Europe aside from the easterners, who also get the Samsung-based Fluence sedan version: regular hatchback or liftback for £16,745, coupe for £17,645 and estate or wagon for £17,745, plus the more bespoke RenaultSport version that can only be had as a three-door for at least £26,925 – it "becomes a single trim level, with the option of adding the hugely desirable Cup Chassis Pack for £1,350." Pricing for some of the versions is up to £1,200 lower than before, though through their phrasing in the official blurb, it doesn't sound like many versions actually reach this threshold. The range gets a revised range of engines that is five-strong that kicks off with either a classic 1.6-liter petrol engine, or a 108 hp DCi diesel with the classic 1.5-liter displacement. The new and more powerful DCi 130 unit has also been made available for the Megane, and it sounds like the pick of the range to me, available from £19,745 in Dynamique trim. Two motors have been excluded from the range for 2014: the base 89 hp DCi 90 diesel as well as the swift two-liter DCi 165 too. Aside from the new look, Megane buyers will also benefit from higher levels of equipment, that includes standard dual-zone climate control on all models above and including the Dynamique, while seven options packs have also been made available too. By Andrei Nedelea PHOTO GALLERY

Eins, Zwei, Polizei: AC Schnitzer Turns BMW 428i Coupé into 290HP Police Car [w/Video] Posted: 03 Dec 2013 12:17 PM PST For the Essen Motor Show (November 30 – December 8), BMW tuning specialist AC Schnitzer prepared a special project in the guise of a BMW 428i police car concept built under the "Tune It! Safe!" initiative. The Association of German Vehicle Tuners (VDAT) launches a special concept car every year under this initiative, which is supported by the Police and the Federal Ministry for Transport, Construction and Road Development. Like in the previous four years, this year's concept is a police car. Based on the BMW 428i Coupé, the AC Schnitzer ACS4 2.8i Coupé brings not only visual updates but performance upgrades as well – as with AC Schnitzer non-police 4-Series models, also present in Essen. The 2.0-liter twin-turbocharged engine has been uprated to 290hp (296PS) and 420 Nm (310 lb-ft), up from the standard model's 242hp (245PS) and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft). Thanks to these upgrades, the 428i study accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds (0.2 seconds faster than the standard 428i) – which may come in handy for pursuits. Besides the obvious visual and acoustic police accessories from Foliatec and Hella, the car sports tuning upgrades such as the twin sports rear silencer made of stainless steel with new chromed "Evo Racing" tailpipe trims, as well as AC Schnitzer Type VIII Lightweight Forged Wheels in 9.0J x 21" fitted with Hankook "Ventus S1evo" tyres in 245/30 ZR 21 91Y. The tuner also fitted an adjustable racing suspension, front and rear spoilers, rear diffuser and rear roof spoiler to make the car look meaner. On the inside, AC Schnitzer added aluminum pedals and foot rest, "Black Line" handbrake lever, new key holder and velour floor mats. By Dan Mihalascu PHOTO GALLERY VIDEO

2015 Ford Mustang Trots Out Early, See the First Pictures [HD Gallery Update] Posted: 03 Dec 2013 10:54 AM PST As if anyone doubted that the all-new 2015 Ford Mustang would remain under wraps until its official reveal date of December 5 at 12:01 am… Since the Blue Oval's press department kindly shared around photos of the sixth generation Mustang to Autoweek, which were then obtained by Mustang6g – as it turns out, the source was SVTperformance, were bound to leak and here we are. The new Mustang's evolved shape won't come to a surprise if you've been following the news, scoops and renderings – we gave you a pretty close preview of the car back in October last year. Ford believes this new design, which comes on the 50th anniversary of its pony car series, retains most of the styling elements of its predecessor while adding a fresher and more modern tone to the lineup, and in the process, making it more acceptable on a global basis. In other words, precisely what GM did with the fifth generation Camaro in 2009. While we wait for more information and/or photos, do check the photo scans below and share you initial impressions. PHOTO GALLERY

VW Celebrates Touareg's 10th Anniversary with X Limited Edition Diesel in the U.S. Posted: 03 Dec 2013 10:19 AM PST Just as it did in Europe a year ago, VW will offer the Touareg X limited-edition model in the U.S. to mark 10 years since the introduction of its first mid-size luxury SUV. Based on the TDI Clean Diesel Lux trim, the VW Touareg X will be built in a limited series of 1,000 units and will be priced from $56,170 (€41,435). Compared to the Touareg TDI Lux it's based on, the X brings unique features, including 19-inch Moab aluminum-alloy wheels, Moonlight Blue Pearl paint, LED taillights and specific badging. On the inside, there's Vienna leather seating surfaces in Black Anthracite with complementing black headliner, Engineered Ebony Wood accents on the dashboard and doors, as well as piano black center console. Rounding out the interior upgrades are the aluminum doorsill scuff-plates with front illumination, aluminum-appearance pedal covers and ambient lighting. Under the hood of the Touareg X you will find VW's trusted 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 TDI Clean Diesel engine producing 240 horsepower and a 406 lb-ft (550 Nm) of torque. Paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission, the unit delivers and an EPA estimated 29 mpg (8.1 l/100 km) on the highway, giving a range of more than 700 highway miles (1,126 km) on each tank of diesel. The Touareg X's extensive list of standard equipment includes a panoramic powered sunroof, Keyless access with push-button start, Bi-Xenon headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights, front fog- and cornering lights, RNS 850 navigation system with an 8-inch color touchscreen, 60GB hard drive, and rearview camera, Bluetooth technology, Climatronic dual-zone air conditioning, 12-way powered and heated front seats and power adjustable lumbar, as well as a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel. Since 2003, VW has sold 700,000 Touaregs worldwide, of which 121,385 in the States. By Dan Mihalascu PHOTO GALLERY

Suzuki A:Wind Concept Debuts in Thailand, Previews Future Alto [w/Videos] Posted: 03 Dec 2013 09:50 AM PST This year's edition of the Thailand International Motor Expo (November 30 – December 10) hosted the world premiere of the Suzuki A:Wind concept, a study that previews a global production city car. Although Suzuki doesn't say it directly, the A:Wind most likely previews the next-generation Alto (marketed as the Maruti A-Star in India). The Japanese carmaker explains the concept's name by its desire "to bring a fresh wind to the A-segment as a global compact car." At 3,600mm (141.7in) long, 1,600mm (63in) wide and 1,540mm tall, the A:Wind is 100mm (3.94in) longer and 70mm (2.75in) taller than the Suzuki Alto currently sold in Europe. It also has a longer wheelbase at 2,425mm (95.5in) compared to the Alto's 2,360mm (92.9in). According to Suzuki, the A:Wind's highlights include the "elegant-looking exterior and interior, the spacious, user-friendly cabin, as well as the excellent fuel economy." The car's front end is dominated by the imposing front grille with integrated headlights and the character lines that extend along the sides. On the inside, the distance between the front and rear seats have been extended – we have to guess that is compared to the Alto, since the carmaker doesn't say it specifically. The A:Wind offers "class leading luggage space and wide opening doors"– always according to the carmaker. The interior features a bi-color layout matching the exterior paint (Energy Yellow or Panoramic Blue) and has a modern looking dashboard that includes digital instruments and a touchscreen in the center console. The (toned-down) A:Wind is powered by a 1.0-liter engine mated to a CVT. The production version of the study will be built in Thailand starting next year and will be sold worldwide. By Dan Mihalascu PHOTO GALLERY VIDEO

Leaked Clip from Fast & Furious 7 Shows Paul Walker Promising "Just One More" Funeral Posted: 03 Dec 2013 03:04 PM PST Leaked footage containing a chilling scene from the next Fast & Furious 7 film in which Paul Walker's character Brian O'Conner promises "just one more" funeral while attending the burial of Han Seoul-Oh, played by Sung Kang, is making the internet rounds. We don't know for sure when the video surfaced on the web, as many clips containing the footage have been deleted. However, there have been reports that it first appeared on November 27, three days before the fatal car crash that took the lives of Paul Walker, 40, and the driver of the Porsche Carrera GT, Roger Rodas, 38. A report from Movies said that the spoiler is sourced from the upcoming Fast & Furious 6 Blu-ray and DVD release, originally set to hit stores on December 10, 2013 – it's unclear at this point if producers will stick to the release date. Meanwhile, Tyrese Gibson, who plays the role of Roman Pearce in the Fast and Furious series, shared a touching video of the film crew celebrating Walker's 40th birthday earlier this year [NSFW language]. "Not just a family on camera were a real family#WeJustCelebratedHis40th Pray for his daughter and family and closest friends please this hurts #RIHAW ( Rest in HEAVEN Angel Walker ) Stay strong#FastFamily #MyLastPost," Gibson wrote on his Instagram account. Thanks to Lavrik from Youcar for the heads up! VIDEO

Porsche Shows its New V6-Only Cayenne Platinum Edition Posted: 03 Dec 2013 08:45 AM PST If you thought neither of the two base Cayenne V6 engine options were special enough, and that you had to opt for the V8 to make it a worthwhile purchase, now Porsche has revealed the Platinum Edition and Platinum Edition Diesel models that may interest you. In Germany, the 295 hp gasoline version starts at €66,379, which is €7,854 more than the base model, while the 241 hp diesel is €67,212, or €4,284 more. For the extra money, you get bi-xenon lights, tinted rear glass and unique 19-inch Cayenne Design II rims, as well as a bespoke palette of paintjobs. Inside there's a beige-black theme going on, with part-leather seats as standard, though full-leather can be had at extra cost. Owners will be able to tell which Cayenne it is that they're driving, as opening the front doors reveals Platinum Edition-engraved aluminum sill plates. A unique touch is also the beige outer edging on the special floor mats it comes with. The list of extras ends at the pretty looking Sport Design steering wheel, complete with paddle shifters. By Andrei Nedelea PHOTO GALLERY

Spied: Watch 2015 Audi TT Testing Alongside Peugeot RCZ, BMW Z4 Posted: 03 Dec 2013 08:23 AM PST At a first glance, all taped-up in a psychedelic theme, you could mistake it for the current Audi TT, but this is in fact the all-new, third generation version of Ingolstadt's sports model that will be available once again in both coupe and roadster trims. We've seen scoop photos of the car before, but this time, our spies took out their cameras and recorded a video of the car while it was running some hot laps on the Nürburgring as well as outside the track, where it was spotted testing against rivals, including a BMW Z4 and Peugeot's RCZ. Expected to undergo a significant weight loss, mainly thanks to the adoption of the VW Group's MQB platform shared with many other models, including the VW Golf and Audi A3, the 2015 TT will be offered with the newer EA888 1.8-liter and 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engines, possibly equipped with Audi's fuel-saving cylinder deactivation technology. Europe will also get at least one diesel option, while the range will be topped off by an RS model featuring a tweaked version of Audi's current 2.5-liter inline-five. Video Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS VIDEO

Renault Remembers the Original Twingo on its 20th Anniversary Posted: 03 Dec 2013 07:54 AM PST Following a video released earlier this year, Renault has now posted a photo gallery of the original Twingo city car, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The project started in 1989 when project director Yves Dubreil was asked to come up with a small car that was also practical, economical and comfortable, but not a direct rival to the Clio. Three years later, the Twingo was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, with the car entering production in 1993. It proved to be a success, thanks to its monobox shape and cute "frog" (some say, Betty Boop) face, funky interior and innovations such as the sliding rear seat. Renault sold almost over 2 million Twingos since the first-generation model was discontinued in 2007. Everything was simple about the Renault Twingo. The car was sold in a single version, with just one 55hp 1.2-liter engine and one interior trim level that featured power windows and apple green control stalks. Only two options could be specified: a folding canvas roof and climate control. Twingo was available with four body color choices at launch: Outremer Blue, Corail Red, Coriandre Green and Indien Yellow. The car featured a surprisingly spacious interior for its size thanks to the monobox architecture, as well as modularity: all four seats could in fact be folded flat to create an impromptu double bed. There were also happy touches like the turquoise buttons on the dashboard or the hazard warning lights switch shaped like a clown's nose. Renault says the Twingo inspired people to buy cars for themselves and not to impress others – that is something not many cars can brag about today. Before we let you browse the photo gallery, here are some landmark dates from the original Twingo's 14-year career. By Dan Mihalascu March 1993: Commercial launch of Twingo, following a preview several months earlier at the Paris Motor Show. 1994: A Frenchman covered 240,000km in a Twingo across the harsh Australian outback, demonstrating the reliability of the car outside the city environment it was designed for. At the end of the journey, the car was painted by an Aboriginal artist. 1994: Launch of Twingo Easy equipped with a manual gearbox but no clutch pedal. 1996: Launch of the limited-edition Twingo 'Benetton' and Twingo'Matic versions, fitted with an automatic three-speed gearbox. The engine also got a 5hp boost to 60hp. 1998: First major restyling of Twingo with upgrades to the chassis, seats, dashboard, lights and front bumper. Introduction of the limited-edition 'Elite' version. 1999: Launch of the top-of-the-range 'Initiale Paris' version. 2000: Launch of the 16V, 75hp powerplant and Quickshift sequential gearbox. 2005: Appearance of the 'Kiss Cool' limited-edition. June 28, 2007: Production of the last Twingo 1 in Europe following some 2,075,300 sales over a career that lasted 14 years – an impressive lifespan by modern car industry standards. 2012: Twingo continued to be manufactured in Colombia until 2012. Between 1995 and 2012, Twingo achieved success in the Colombian market, notching up sales in excess of 100,000. Twingo Tatoo was Twingo 1's final limited-edition version. PHOTO GALLERY

Check Out How the IIHS Prepares for Each Crash Test Posted: 03 Dec 2013 07:30 AM PST Those working at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety can't afford to slack at all with what they do; it's the nature of their job, and the accuracy and long-term relevance of their work depends on it always going as planned. That, of course, needs a heck of a lot of preparation work, all of which has been detailed in this official video uploaded on the IIHS channel. It starts of at the very beginning of the procedure with a general inspection of the car that's about to be crashed, making sure it works and hasn't been involved in a previous accident, and only then do they start fitting sensors to it, and adding the dummy. Cameras are also very important, or rather their placement which needs to be exactly the same test after test, to make comparing the results (and videos) a worthwhile exercise. The car is even rolled slowly up to the crash barrier every time in order to make sure the cameras are in focus. This is just a small part of what goes on, and for the rest, scroll down and click play. By Andrei Nedelea VIDEO

Fantasy Rendering Gives the Juke the new Nissan Face Posted: 03 Dec 2013 07:08 AM PST The Nissan Juke's weird face was probably one of the single most intensely talked about design statements in the industry at the time of its introduction, and I think it still is to this day. The Juke didn't sell based on its front fascia look, though, but rather people accepted it in return for getting a good to drive supermini-sized crossover with cool overall design and a motorbike tank inspired center stack – it was trendy, cool and very efficient. However, now that Nissan made a big splash that still ripples today, perhaps it would be a good time to start thinking about giving the Juke the more restrained face seen on their latest offerings (the Qashqai, for instance). I mean, if this rendering brought to you courtesy of X-Tomi Design is anything to go by, then I think they should go for it. Sure, the praying mantis effect was nice for a while, but this more serious front-end look could attract even more buyers who might have been put off before. So, what do you think? Is this a direction they should go in, or should they just use the Juke's original styling as a base for an updated/facelifted model? By Andrei Nedelea Designer: X-Tomi PHOTO GALLERY

Who Needs a Bridge When You Can Transport Your Car Across the River Like This? Posted: 03 Dec 2013 06:42 AM PST Siberia is a vast region full of striking natural beauty that covers approximately 77 percent of Russia, yet has only 28 percent of the country's population at 40 million people. That said, it is if not impossible, impractical and financially unfeasible to build and maintain a comprehensive transport infrastructure covering the entire region. Nevertheless, people still need to move around, so Siberia's inhabitants have come up with some ingenious, albeit dangerous solutions to their transportation needs. In the video that follows below the break, you will see how they use a heavy-duty zip-line to ferry their automobiles across a powerful river using a…tree as a stop. VIDEO

New Mercedes C-Class Reportedly Set for Online Reveal on December 16, World Debut at Detroit Posted: 03 Dec 2013 06:12 AM PST The usually well informed on Benz matters German blog Mercedes Passion is reporting that the brand with the star will blow the covers off the next generation C-Class in less than two weeks' time, on December 16, with the car to receive its world premiere in front of the public at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show in mid-January. It's also reported that in its home market of Germany, Mercedes will launch the car with an initial choice of three engine variants, including the 170PS (168hp) C220 BlueTEC diesel, and the 156PS (154hp) C180, and 184PS (182hp) C220 petrol models. The traditional sedan model will be followed up by the Estate (or Wagon), which we spied without camouflage on Monday, a convertible, and a coupe, as well as their respective AMG high-performance variants. For the first time in the model's history, the C-Class will be manufactured in the U.S. as well. Story References: Mercedes Passion via Worldcarfans PHOTO GALLERY

New Hyundai Genesis Sedan Makes its Video Debut with Promos and Tech Clips Posted: 03 Dec 2013 05:54 AM PST So, a week on the dot after Hyundai officially unveiled the second generation of its Genesis sedan during a special event in its home market of Korea last Tuesday, the country's biggest carmaker dropped the first series of videos of the luxury model. Hyundai included commercial and promotional videos as well as tech clips of the car, and even though they are in Korean, the visuals will let you know what the company wants to say - like, that it can go sideways on the Nurburgring... Bigger with a length of 4,990mm (196.5in), width of 1,890mm (74.4in) and height of 1,480mm (58.2in), but also sharper looking than its predecessor - according to most accounts at least, the Genesis will first go on sale in Korea where Hyundai expects to deliver 32,000 units next year, and then globally where the company is targeting 30,000 annual sales. In the U.S., the new Genesis will make its local debut at the Detroit Motor Show next month before it goes on sale later in 2014, available with both V6 and V8 engines, as well as the option of AWD for the very first time. VIDEO

Volvo May Phase Out Newfangled Pedestrian Airbags Already, Rely More on Active Electronics Posted: 03 Dec 2013 05:35 AM PST Volvo's ingenious but slightly contrived under-bonnet pedestrian-friendly airbag seems to have been a short-lived development in the world of car safety, and one that reaches the end of the road rather early in its life, as electronics and crash-avoiding sensors become better and more widespread. Australia's Go Auto says the news comes straight from the manufacturer's senior vice president, Lex Kerssmakers, with whom they spoke on the sidelines of the Tokyo motor show. The high exec expressed his (company's) view on the matter: "I am not even sure if we will continue with the bonnet (airbags) because it's not necessary, SUV is a pretty high car… It's also there for the pedestrians and they need to land soft but if the car is high, they land soft anyhow. So no, at the moment no." He is referring to this type of airbag making it into their next big model to be launched, the 2015 XC90, the all-new version of the hugely popular SUV. The brand's City Safety array of sensors is deemed enough, while the pop-up bonnet becomes irrelevant. Granted, the tech will move on in two more years' time, so it will be even more capable of avoiding a crash than it is nowadays, when it already knows if a cat, person or bicyclist has cut your path. Another noteworthy piece of information spilled by Kerssmakers was the automaker's strategy of moving from diesel-electric hybrids, to the more conventional gasoline-electric setup used by pretty much everybody else. I hope they change their mind, as their current offering seems like one of the more appealing every-day hybrids on the market today, and it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to see it refined further and (positively) associated with the Volvo name. By Andrei Nedelea VIDEO

Mahindra Adds its Name to Formula E Roster for 2014 Posted: 03 Dec 2013 05:17 AM PST The motorsport arm of Mahindra&Mahindra (yes, they do have one), called Mahindra Racing, has just been officially announced as one of the competing teams that are to take part in the inaugural Formula E championship that's due to kick off in 2014. Already a builder of electric cars via its Reva subsidiary, the Indian group wants to show that it can take that expertise to the track too. Anand Mahindra, Chairman and Managing Director of Mahindra Group started by saying "We strongly believe that Formula E can provide an excellent global showcase for our electric vehicle technology." "With advanced operations and expertise in electronics, IT, automotive technologies and manufacturing, we are already seeing the fusion of this technology into our electric vehicle operations. Racing will further accelerate that trend while Formula E is set to raise awareness globally about the benefits of electric vehicles," he added. It will be the eight team to join the the FIA-approved competition, and that leaves only two more additional team spots open for others to join the silent kind of fun that the series promises; once it passes official scrutinizing. Do also check out the official video debut of the actual racecar to be used next year. By Andrei Nedelea Note: Gallery consists of photos from the test car debut (the event in the video), not the Mahindra entry. PHOTO GALLERY VIDEO

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