CARSCOOP |  |
- New Mercedes C-Class W205 Visually Compared to Old C-Class W204
- Take a Close Video Look at 2015 Audi TT's Cockpit from CES
- China's Qoros 3 Sedan Designated 2013’s Safest Car by Euro NCAP [w/Videos]
- Supercharged 2015 Corvette Z06 Speculatively Rendered
- Driving 700 Miles in India in a Range Rover Hybrid Is not as Bad as You'd Think
- NCG Has its own Breed of Physics Based Automotive Mayhem
- 2014 VW Passat Sport is Inspired by Performance Concept, but with 77HP Less...
- Aaron Paul Tries to Brake Bad at Need For Speed Driving School
- Edsel Ford Recalls How He Got a Custom Ford Mustang for His 16th Birthday in 1964
- Not Even Digital NISMO Treatment is Enough to Spice Up Nissan Note
- We're Pretty Sure This Isn't a Drive-Thru Drugstore…
- Bentley Confirms North American Debut of New Continental GT V8 S
- Review Finds New Lotus Exige S Roadster V6 not Quite as Mad as the Coupe
- Scion Readies New FR-S and tC Monogram Series Editions for Detroit Show
- Damaged Range Rover Sport by Mansory Seems Repairable and Costs Just $25,995
- New Mercedes-Benz S600 V12 Allegedly Revealed Through Official Brochure Shots
- Mazda Delays the Launch of its Skyactiv-D Clean Diesel Engine in North America Once Again
- NYC’s Central Park Carriages to Be Replaced by Antique EVs
- Tuned Nissan GT-R Versus All-American Muscle
- Further Confirmation of Nissan’s Wish to Produce BladeGlider
- New Mercedes-Benz S 600 Confirmed for Detroit Debut
- Official: 2015 Audi Q3 Compact SUV Coming to the U.S. This Fall
- Kia Gives us an Overhead View of New GT4 Stinger RWD Coupe
- Chris Christie's Aide Accused for Shutting Down Bridge Over a Political Vendetta [Live Video]
| New Mercedes C-Class W205 Visually Compared to Old C-Class W204 Posted: 09 Jan 2014 06:02 PM PST  The all-new Mercedes-Benz C-Class (W205) represents a significant jump over to the previous W204 generation, both in terms of technology and design. The latest model adopts the brand's new design language to such an extent that some will have a hard time differentiating it from the S-Class if it weren't for the size. Obviously, the new C-Class also does away with the rectangular lines of the previous generation, both inside and out. The new C-Class may look like a smaller scale version of the S-Class flagship sedan, but that's not a bad thing: in my view, the W205 looks sleeker and more modern compared to the W204, which in itself wasn't an ugly car. As far as the exterior is concerned, I think there's no doubt the new model looks better: it appears to be more dynamic, especially when viewed from the side, and more elegant as well. The design is more coherent, but that's only natural given that we're comparing an all-new to an outgoing model. The bodywork's curves are carried over to the interior, where the dashboard is more fluid – except maybe for the touchscreen which seems a bit out of place. The new model's cabin also looks more ergonomic, as many of the buttons from the center console have disappeared, replaced by the touchpad. Quality is said to have improved as well. Overall, judging from the success of the S-Class, I think Mercedes-Benz has really nailed it with the design of the new C-Class and the outgoing generation will not be missed. Of course, you don't have to agree with me, so feel free to voice your opinion in the commentary section. By Dan Mihalascu                                  |
| Take a Close Video Look at 2015 Audi TT's Cockpit from CES Posted: 09 Jan 2014 04:33 PM PST  While not a first in any way, as we've already seen production cars like the latest Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Cadillac CTS boast all-digital and customizable instrument clusters, Audi was still able to draw the media's spotlights on its next generation TT's cabin at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas (January 7-10). The sharp looking dashboard does away with many controls to reduce the clutter and (supposedly) improve ergonomics, but the main reason why it captured our attention is the 12.3-inch TFT that replaces not only the traditional instrument gauges, but the center console MMI infotainment screen as well. If you're worried about the huge 3D navigation map seen in the press photos drawing your attention away from the road with its bright colors, the all-digital instrument panel allows the driver to switch between different modes, showing, for example, virtual gauges in a choice of sizes. It's worth noting that the graphics on the TFT display are enabled through an Nvidia Tegra 3 processor chip. The way the industry works, it's only a matter of time before fully-digital displays make their way down to more affordable mainstream models. For now, take a video look at the 2015 Audi TT's dashboard in a selection of clips we found on YouTube from a number of sources including CNET and Autobild magazine.    |
| China's Qoros 3 Sedan Designated 2013’s Safest Car by Euro NCAP [w/Videos] Posted: 09 Jan 2014 03:57 PM PST  In September last year, the Qoros 3 Sedan became the first car made in China to get five stars in the Euro NCAP crash tests. That was an impressive feat, but what's even more impressive is that Euro NCAP has designated the Qoros 3 Sedan as the safest car it has tested last year (in that time frame, not in general), regardless of category. The Qoros 3 Sedan scored the best result for Adult Occupant Protection in Euro NCAP's 2013 program, while its safety passenger cell proved to be "extremely robust" in front-end, side impact and pole impact collisions. Obviously, the Chinese car was the safest of its category (Small Family), with six other cars being designated the safest in their class. These cars are the Renault Zoe (Supermini), Lexus IS 300h (Large Family), Kia Carens/Ford Tourneo Connect (Small MPV), Jeep Cherokee (Small Off-Road 4x4) and Maserati Ghibli (Executive). The Renault Zoe and Lexus IS 300h were at the same time the all-round performers of the electric/hybrid cars tested by Euro NCAP in 2013. Euro NCAP updated its assessment of child occupant protection in 2013, giving credit to manufacturers that allow for easy installation of most popular types of child seats, which comply with the most recent revised child safety standards. Furthermore, the organization has started to test voluntary-set intelligent speed assistant systems as part of the rating. By Dan Mihalascu                                       |
| Supercharged 2015 Corvette Z06 Speculatively Rendered Posted: 09 Jan 2014 03:29 PM PST  It won't be long before we find out what the first performance edition of the seventh-generation Corvette Stingray is all about, as GM plans to pull the sheets off the new Z06 at the 2014 Detroit motor Show on Monday, January 13. In the meantime, the folks over from TopSpeed sent us this speculative photoshop. The digital conversion package from regular 2014 Corvette Stingray to 2015 Corvette Stingray Z06 encompasses the use of carbon fiber aero parts such as front splitter, side skirts and rear spoiler, mixed with black wheels and body trim. We already know that the new Z06 will come with a supercharged V8 engine producing at least 620-horses (today we heard that GM may actually up that number) along with a bag of other performance- and handling-enhancing goodies. Thanks to Mike from TopSpeed for the render!     |
| Driving 700 Miles in India in a Range Rover Hybrid Is not as Bad as You'd Think Posted: 09 Jan 2014 02:59 PM PST  To demonstrate the capabilities of the new Range Rover Hybrid, Land Rover took three prototypes on a 53-day 10,000-mile expedition from the factory in Solihull, UK, to Mumbai in India where parent company Tata Motors is based. The carmaker invited journalists along the Silk Trail expedition, with the following video filmed by Auto Express during the last leg – a 700-mile (1,126-km) trip through India. So how is it like to drive the world's second most-populous country? According to Mat Watson, you have to keep the eyes wide open as potential hazards can come from virtually anywhere. Although traffic is chaotic, driving in India in a Range Rover is an interesting experience as you'll find out from the video posted below. By Dan Mihalascu    |
| NCG Has its own Breed of Physics Based Automotive Mayhem Posted: 09 Jan 2014 02:31 PM PST  There's an individuality crisis among our current crop of driving games. Very little innovation going on, still, with a whole lot more effort into trying to make things not look like they're from a different game; actual examples come to mind too, but it's cool little low-budget productions like Next Car Game (NCG) that really put big money titles in stark contrast, at least when it comes to innovation. Thankfully, though, its developer, Bugbear Entertainment, knows a thing or two about developing a mass-audience game, as their previous FlatOut series of destruction derby-style racing proved. Now, NCG adds a little bit of Beam NG Drive into the mix, but keeps the nice polished graphics of a commercial title, and promises a game of reckless action, but with substance. There will be a physics engine that keeps everything as real as possible, and there will also be a deep modding and tuning part too. Then, all that's left to do is to destroy your tricked out banger by smashing it against other cars or obstacles… The game is currently very early in development and looking for backers, but it already looks very pretty and detailed for its state, and the motion of the cars looks really nice and fluid – I'd even call it realistic… Check out the videos after the jump to see what it's all about. By Andrei Nedelea    |
| 2014 VW Passat Sport is Inspired by Performance Concept, but with 77HP Less... Posted: 09 Jan 2014 02:05 PM PST  Volkswagen has announced a new sportier model for the Passat family, the Passat Sport, arriving in showrooms later this year. VW says the Passat Sport is the production version of the Passat Performance Concept shown at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, but the road-going model misses about 77 horsepower compared with the study. Whereas the Passat Performance Concept was powered by a 247hp 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the Passat Sport gets a detuned version of the same EA888 unit producing 170hp and 184 lb-ft (136 Nm) of torque. The engine can be mated to a five-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. The VW Passat Sport gets, however, a number of study-inspired features, including 19-inch Luxor wheels, a rear spoiler, sport comfort seats, carbon trim accents, aluminum sport pedals, stainless steel door sills, and Sport-specific floor mats. Other additional features compared to the SE trim line are the fog-lights, aluminum sport pedals, stainless steel door sills and paddle shifters when equipped with the automatic transmission. The model is available with three exterior colors: Urano Gray (exclusively for the Passat Sport), Candy White, and Tungsten Silver. The latter two are accompanied by a black roof and black mirror caps, as seen on the concept car. The new model starts at $27,295 (€20,045) with the manual transmission ($28,495 with the six-speed automatic), slotting in between the mid-level SE and the range-topping SEL Premium trims. Both prices include $820 destination and handling. By Dan Mihalascu                 |
| Aaron Paul Tries to Brake Bad at Need For Speed Driving School Posted: 09 Jan 2014 01:41 PM PST  Even though it's in Hollywood's nature to create unbelievable scenes for action movies (remember Vin Diesel in the tank stunt in FF6?), movie producers and promoters also want to make you believe, if you know what we mean. To give some added credibility to Aaron Paul and the character he portrays in the "Need for Speed" film that's scheduled for release this March, Tobey Marshal, producers released a featurette in which the "Breaking Bad" protagonist undergoes some stunt-driving lessons, necessary for when he's on camera. His teacher is stunt driver Rick Seaman who tries to teach him some drifting, braking and 180 degree turning techniques. See the clip along with the most recent Need for Speed trailer right below the jump.    |
| Edsel Ford Recalls How He Got a Custom Ford Mustang for His 16th Birthday in 1964 Posted: 09 Jan 2014 01:15 PM PST  For most teenagers in the 1960s, getting a brand new car as a Christmas present was just a nice dream. However, for one 16-year-old named Edsel Ford (and yes, he's the great-grandson of FoMoCo's founder), on Christmas day in 1964, the dream became reality when he found a very special Ford Mustang fastback in front of his house. Featuring a pearlescent white finish with slim blue racing stripes over the top of the body and along the rocker panels, the 1964 Mustang fastback sported details like a functional hood scoop, chrome trim on the three gills in the headlamp buckets, and fender-mounted rearview mirrors similar to Mustangs sold in Europe at that time. The custom interior featured blue leather with aluminum trim. One unique detail, albeit more subtle, that told the story of this particular Mustang was the "EBF II" lettering on the rear fuel filler cap. Those initials stood for Edsel B. Ford II, great-grandson of company founder Henry Ford. The car was prepared by Ford Motor Company CEO Henry Ford II as a gift for his son's 16th birthday, which fell on December 27, 1964. "I came downstairs that Christmas morning with my sisters, and my father indicated I should take a look outside. This amazing Mustang was sitting in the driveway, and I immediately grabbed my coat and shoes and went outside to check it out," recalls Edsel Ford, Ford Motor Company director. "The rumble of the high-performance 289-cubic-inch V8 was always intoxicating. I only drove it for a few minutes that first day because there was snow on the ground, but as soon as the roads were cleared, I drove it almost every day," he adds. He used the Mustang as a daily driver as he finished high school and went off to college, but it was sadly destroyed in an accident in 1968 when a friend borrowed it. Fortunately, the car was photographed for the Ford archives before the crash and you can admire it in the photo gallery below. By Dan Mihalascu             |
| Not Even Digital NISMO Treatment is Enough to Spice Up Nissan Note Posted: 09 Jan 2014 12:50 PM PST  The first generation of the Note was literally a box on wheels that you'd only have bought for practical or monetary reasons. Now Nissan has added some curves to the replacement model bearing the same name, though, it retains the same overall aesthetic presence. Not even the conceptual NISMO version dreamt up by digital photo manipulator X-Tomi is enough to make it fit for an enthusiast, but it is an improvement. Seen from both the front and rear three-quarter views below, the Note NISMO gets low and sporty bumpers and side skirts, large rims and lots of red detailing – there's even a diffuser with an integrated exhaust at the back. However, the rear still looks a bit empty and would have warranted some kind of roof-mounted spoiler, a bit smaller than the one available on this tuned example. Nissan should take a good look at this rendering, and since they made a NISMO version out of a crossover (the Juke), it would not be that big of a departure if they did the same with the uninspiring new Note, maybe make it more desirable by plopping this sporty model at the top of the range. By Andrei Nedelea Story References: X-Tomi     |
| We're Pretty Sure This Isn't a Drive-Thru Drugstore… Posted: 09 Jan 2014 12:23 PM PST  A 71-year old woman who somehow lost control of her vehicle came crashing into the entrance of a Rite-Aid drugstore in New Jersey on Wednesday, and it was all captured on film through a security camera. Miraculously, even though the Chevrolet Aveo hatch actually hit an unsuspecting 18-year old customer as it plowed the store front, no one was injured. Sgt. Sean Farrell told local news station NorthJersey that no summons was issued for the accident and the matter remains under investigation, for now. According to a casher, this is the…third time in two years that a driver has accidentally crashed on the front of the building at 208 Park Ave. In the previous incidents, only the building suffered damages.    |
| Bentley Confirms North American Debut of New Continental GT V8 S Posted: 09 Jan 2014 12:00 PM PST  As a niche luxury firm with a limited lineup, Bentley feels no need to debut a brand new car or concept at every international motor show. As such, the only news it will have for 2014 Detroit motor show goers is the North American premiere of the Continental GT V8 S range with a more potent 4.0-liter turbocharged mill. First displayed at last September's Frankfurt motor show, the Continental GT V8 S represents a step up from the base GT V8, in terms of performance, handling and features. The "S" model is fitted with an uprated twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine producing 521 hp (528PS) and 680 Nm (502 lb-ft) of torque, or 27hp/ps and 20 Nm (15 lb-ft) respectively more than the standard Continental GT V8. The package is complemented with an 8-speed automatic transmission upgraded with an S mode, tuned chassis, 20-inch wheels and new exterior and interior trim bits. Bentley claims the GT V8 S coupe dispatches the 0-60 mph (96km/h) sprint in 4.3 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.5s) before reaching a top speed of 192 mph (309 km/h). Joining the Continental GT V8 S at Bentley's Cobo Center display will be the latest model year versions of the Flying Spur and the Mulsanne luxury sedans.         |
| Review Finds New Lotus Exige S Roadster V6 not Quite as Mad as the Coupe Posted: 09 Jan 2014 11:28 AM PST  Launched last year in Europe but unavailable in the United States, the Lotus Exige S Roadster is one of the most exciting drop-top models on sale today. At least that's what the folks from XCar said about the car after taking it for a test drive. The Exige S Roadster is 10 kilograms (22 lbs) lighter than the coupe, as it lacks a metal roof, as well as a rear wing and front splitter. While not quite as hardcore as the Exige S coupe, the roadster is nevertheless a car for driving enthusiasts. It sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.8 seconds, just like the coupe, but has a top speed limited at 145 mph (233 km/h) – the coupe reaches 170 mph (274 km/h). Powered by the same 345 hp 3.5-liter supercharged V6 engine, the Exige S Roadster feels "marginally more sensible." That's not a bad thing, as it's better suited for road driving. See what the Lotus Exige S Roadster is like to drive in the video posted below the break. By Dan Mihalascu    |
| Scion Readies New FR-S and tC Monogram Series Editions for Detroit Show Posted: 09 Jan 2014 11:01 AM PST  We all like some added features at a lower cost when buying a car, and these usually come in the form of so-called special editions. Scion is certainly no stranger to this type of marketing promotion to increase sales, and at the upcoming 2014 Detroit motor show, it will debut the limited run Monogram Series for the tC and FR-S coupes. Both models are set to go on sale across the States in February, with the FR-S production limited to 2,000 units and the tC to 2,500 cars. The rear-wheel drive FR-S Monogram Series is priced at $27,400 for the 6sp manual model and $28,500 for the 6sp automatic, with Scion claiming savings of more than $1,900, thanks to additional standard features such as leather seats with Alcantara inserts and a higher-end audio with integrated navigation system. Those who choose the front-wheel drive tC Coupe will pay $21,400 and $22,400 for the manual and automatic versions respectively, which Scion says represents a value package of over $1,500. Among other added features on the Monogram Series tC are the leather seats, rear spoiler and navigation. More details on the equipment features of both models can be found in the lists below.
Scion tC Monogram Series Specifications
        
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| Damaged Range Rover Sport by Mansory Seems Repairable and Costs Just $25,995 Posted: 09 Jan 2014 10:35 AM PST  If you don't mind the extra brashness brought about by the fitting of a Mansory body kit on an already flashy Range Rover Sport, yet you never thought you were going to afford one, well we have news. There's this damaged example for sale by Land Rover Greenville in South Carolina and they only want $25,995 for it (equal to €19,100). The vehicle is a 2011 model-year featuring the full exterior makeover that Mansory offers for it, though it needs a bit of attention before it can be put back on the road. At first glance, it seems that the front bumper is damaged and offset, as is the rear – it could have been caught up in the middle of a pileup, since there's damage on the front and back but minimal or none at all on the sides. However, the airbags don't seem to have popped and damaged the custom-stitched red and black interior which looks to be in top shape. We won't make an estimate as to how much it would cost, but with the very expensive kit fitted, it could be worth it in the end. Scroll down and check out the gallery below. By Andrei Nedelea Story References: Cars.com via GTSpirit                                  |
| New Mercedes-Benz S600 V12 Allegedly Revealed Through Official Brochure Shots Posted: 09 Jan 2014 09:59 AM PST  At the advice of one of Carscoops' readers (thanks Alex!) in our previous post about Mercedes-Benz's confirmation of the new S600's debut at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show, we looked around and found what are claimed to be brochure shots of the V12-powered model, including a specification sheet. Besides the "S600" and "V12" badges, and the quad tailpipes, there's nothing else that stands out on this model (again, if these are indeed official photos). The spec-sheet says that the S600's 6.0-liter bi-turbocharged V12 delivers 530PS (523hp) between 4,900 and 5,300 rpm and a massive 830Nm (612 lb-ft) of peak torque from 1,900 to 4,000 rpm. Nevertheless, the S600 isn't the most potent S-Class model, as this distinction belongs to the S65 AMG, the 6.0L V12 of which is rated at 621hp (630PS) and 1,000 Nm (737 lb-ft). In the S600, the 12-cylinder unit is linked to a 7G Tronic Plus transmission offering a combined fuel economy of 11.3 l/10km (20.8mpg US or 25.0mpg UK) on the European cycle. Photos via GCF        |
| Mazda Delays the Launch of its Skyactiv-D Clean Diesel Engine in North America Once Again Posted: 09 Jan 2014 09:41 AM PST  For the second time in four months, Mazda has announced that it is delaying the launch of its Skyactiv-D clean diesel engine in North America because the unit needs further development. The Japanese carmaker originally said it would launch the engine before the end of 2013, but announced in September that the launch would be postponed for April 2014. "While Mazda understands its Skyactiv-D can meet emission regulation requirements without the use of a NOx after-treatment system, it was decided that further development is required to deliver the right balance between fuel economy and Mazda-appropriate driving performance," the company said in a statement. What this means is the engine doesn't quite please Mazda in terms of performance and some more fine-tuning is needed. Mazda said further information, including a timeline of launch for North America, technical specifications and fuel economy will be available "at a later date, closer to launch." However, it didn't offer a timeframe for the launch. U.S. consumers wanting a Mazda6 diesel car must now wait indefinitely – or they can switch to a diesel model from the competition. In the mean time, Mazda's plan to become the only Japanese automaker to offer a diesel car in the United States takes a new blow. Mazda is playing the diesel card in order to meet stricter fuel economy standards, while its Japanese competitors have chosen the path of hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles. By Dan Mihalascu         |
| NYC’s Central Park Carriages to Be Replaced by Antique EVs Posted: 09 Jan 2014 09:05 AM PST  New York may soon end up without its famous horse-drawn carriages, if the city's new mayor, Bill de Blasio, has his way. He announced in the campaign prior to his election that it would definitely be one of the bullet points on his to do list in office. The second phase of the plan is designed to fill the gap and not rob tourists of the opportunity for slow rides through the city. Thus, the carriages will be replaced with electric cars designed after those built close to the end of the 19th century. Naturally, the carriage drivers are not pleased, and fully deny allegations of horse abuse. They say only three horses have died in service over the last 30 years, and that all of them get five weeks' vacation every year which is more than the large majority of the American working class gets; there are around 220 of them in active duty at the moment. It's not a foregone conclusion yet, though, and both the mayor and his legal advisers, as well as the carriage drivers will not back down – there is a very high likelihood of this matter ending up in court (multiple times). However, aside from the slight break with tradition, the move to old and slow EVs is definitely not a bad way to end it, and could in fact be a welcome change – the same carriage drivers could be the hired to operate the cars. Get the complete picture by watching the CNN video posted below. By Andrei Nedelea Opening Photo CarScoopS/John Halas    |
| Tuned Nissan GT-R Versus All-American Muscle Posted: 09 Jan 2014 08:42 AM PST  Most of car enthusiasts will agree that the Nissan GT-R is a future classic with well-maintained and special editions alike to command big bucks from collectors in the years and decades to follow after production ceases. If we had to pick out one virtue that stands out the most, it would be how blazingly fast it is. It's not only fast around a track circuit, but also in a straight line, thanks to both the power from the twin-turbo six-cylinder engine and the tremendous grip from the chassis, electronic components and sophisticated all-wheel drive. You can see just how fast it is in this street-drag time meeting in California where a tuned GT-R with around 560-horses according to the owner) went up against a multitude of modified American muscle. "We were invited to a daytime street race event out in the boonies of California to hang out and street race all day long," said the poster of the video. "One car that was willing to throw down with anyone was this bolt-ons GT-R from the Bay Area. The street wasn't hooking the greatest at times, giving this GT-R quite the advantage."    |
| Further Confirmation of Nissan’s Wish to Produce BladeGlider Posted: 09 Jan 2014 08:16 AM PST  If Nissan were to make the BladeGlider as a production vehicle, it would definitely draw a lot of attention and would be one of the most unique sports cars in the world. We had already heard about it being a possibility, but now we get confirmation that it is an actual intention of Nissan's to make it happen in the relatively close future. The information is brought to us by Car magazine, which gained it from the brand's executive vice president, Andy Palmer, the man also in charge of product planning. He revealed that Nissan was looking at the prospect of a series BladeGlider in the mid-term, and that their wish is to do it. However, it won't just be the market that dictates whether it is built or not, as racing team Panoz, which took part in the development of the original DeltaWing (the first to use the unusual design), is now pursuing legal action that would not currently allow Nissan to build it. By Andrei Nedelea            |
| New Mercedes-Benz S 600 Confirmed for Detroit Debut Posted: 09 Jan 2014 07:50 AM PST  It looks like earlier reports were right and Mercedes-Benz will debut its S 600 flagship sedan at the upcoming Detroit Auto Show next week. The world premiere of the S 600 in Detroit was confirmed indirectly by one of Mercedes' media partners through an invitation to a press conference on January 13 where the S 600 and the GLA 45 AMG will be unveiled. There are no pictures of the V12-powered sedan, which is expected to be available exclusively as a long-wheelbase model. Traditionally the most luxurious S-Class model, the Mercedes-Benz S 600 will benefit from a consistent standard equipment including systems like Magic Body Control and Collision Prevention Assist Plus, as well as a head-up display. The new S 600 will likely be powered by the same 6.0-liter V12 biturbo engine from the S 65 AMG, but the unit will offer a more comfort-orientated setup than the performance model. Power is expected to be around 523 hp (530PS), adding 13hp to the previous model's 510hp. More details and photos are expected to surface over the coming days. *Note: Mercedes-Benz S500 pictured here By Dan Mihalascu Story References: WorldCarFans        |
| Official: 2015 Audi Q3 Compact SUV Coming to the U.S. This Fall Posted: 09 Jan 2014 07:29 AM PST  The growing interest in smaller SUVs and crossovers combined with the fact that German luxury rival BMW is already offering the X1 and Mercedes-Benz will soon launch the GLA in the States, has convinced Audi to move ahead and bring its Q3 to this side of the Atlantic. Audi said it will host the U.S. premiere of the Q3 compact SUV at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit next week before it goes on sale as a 2015 model this fall at an, as of yet, undisclosed price, but surely less than the bigger Q5 that starts at $37,300. The Q3 will launch with a single engine option, a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline four with 200-horsepower paired to a standard six-speed Tiptronic transmission driving the front-wheels or optionally, all four wheels through Audi's 'quattro' system. "Coming off the recent A3 family announcement we are now for the first time entering into the premium compact class of SUVs with the introduction of the Audi Q3 into our line-up," said Scott Keogh, President, Audi of America. "Our growing SUV family will now offer three distinct products in the premium SUV category; and like the successful Q5 and Q7, the Q3 will continue with the established standards they started with regards to utility, technology, craftsmanship and performance."
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| Kia Gives us an Overhead View of New GT4 Stinger RWD Coupe Posted: 09 Jan 2014 07:36 AM PST  Just so we can keep in mind that it will debut a new concept car at the 2014 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit next week, Kia released a third teaser photo of the GT4 Stinger showing the car (again) from above. We could be wrong, but from this image, we imagine that the two-door GT4 Stinger has a shooting brake like styling with a rear hatch. Under the sculpted and vented bonnet, lies a tuned version of Kia's 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline direct injection (T-GDI) four-cylinder mill twisting out 315-horsepower towards the rear axle through a close-ration six-speed manual gearbox. Kia said that the 'Ignition Yellow' painted body rides on a custom chassis with an independent double wishbone suspension, adding that the car also sports 20-inch alloy wheels with carbon fiber inserts, 275/35R20 Pirelli P-Zero performance tires, and Brembo Gran Tourismo two-piece cross-drilled rotors with four-piston calipers. ![Kia-Concept-GT-1[4]](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BoCzKp2Jcb8/Us62pPTEzfI/AAAAAAAPqpY/LYXXyy2PZsA/s1600-h/Kia-Concept-GT-1%25255B4%25255D%25255B4%25255D.jpg "Kia-Concept-GT-1[4]") ![Kia-Concept-GT-2[4]](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Jb0hFBfLWG0/Us62rbDzazI/AAAAAAAPqpo/vLwhCbWxKGU/s1600-h/Kia-Concept-GT-2%25255B4%25255D%25255B4%25255D.jpg "Kia-Concept-GT-2[4]")     |
| Chris Christie's Aide Accused for Shutting Down Bridge Over a Political Vendetta [Live Video] Posted: 09 Jan 2014 06:42 AM PST  New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is in hot water after newly disclosed e-mails suggested that one of his top aides along with his appointees at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey orchestrated traffic jams on the country's busiest bridge last year as part of a vindictive plan to get back at Mark Sokolich, the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee, N.J. for not endorsing Christie at the polls. In the email correspondence between Christie's deputy chief of staff, Bridget Anne Kelly, and top Port Authority official David Wildstein from August, 2013, which has been made public and you can read for yourself below, Kelly says, "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee," to which Wildstein replies, "Got it." As reported by the Washington Post, what they did was to order a last minute "traffic study", which by the way, cost tax payers $60,000, to see whether bridge traffic flowed better with the access lanes closed on September 9, 2013, the first day of school in Fort Lee. The shutdown lasted four days and disrupted traffic on the George Washington Bridge that carries some 300,000 vehicles on an average day. Christie responded by issuing a statement on Tuesday that reads: "What I've seen today for the first time is unacceptable," he said. "I am outraged and deeply saddened to learn that not only was I misled by a member of my staff, but this completely inappropriate and unsanctioned conduct was made without my knowledge. One thing is clear: this type of behavior is unacceptable, and I will not tolerate it because the people of New Jersey deserve better. This behavior is not representative of me or my administration in any way, and people will be held responsible for their actions." Naturally, the incident has sparked outrage in the political world with New Jersey state Sen. Ray Lesniak telling CNN's "New Day" that the closure was not only inconvenient for traffic, but also endangered people's lives by potentially slowing down emergency services. "This crosses a line that is rarely crossed: People's lives were in danger," said Lesniak. "Endangering people's lives -- that's not politics. That's why the U.S. attorneys have to get involved." While it remains to be seen if Christie had any knowledge on the matter, being that some of the people named in the emails are part of his team certainly reflects on Christie's choices as an aspiring political leader. Below you will find the email transcripts as well as a live video stream of Chris Christie's press conference that starts at 11:00 a.m. EST Thursday morningOpening print-screen via YouTube/NJTV    |
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