CARSCOOP |  |
- Lamborghini Aventador vs Ferrari FF and Other Duels in UK Drag Race
- U Spy: New Mercedes-Benz V-Class Minivan Spotted, May Fill in for the R-Class
- After Nissan, Ford Too Warns UK Against EU Exit
- Mazda Cosmo Originally Shown at 1968 Paris Show up for Sale
- Distracted Belgian Policewoman Tests Passenger of RHD Car for Alcohol Consumption!
- Kia GT4 Stinger Concept Rendered Roofless
- Next Toyota Camry to Have a More Emotional Design
- Watch How the 2015 Chrysler 200 is Built at the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant
- Say Again? Report Has Toyota Co-Working with BMW on Next Z4 Sports Car
- Skoda Releases New Octavia GreenLine with 88mpg and 85g/km CO2 in the UK
- GMC May Offer a Standalone New Model, Says GM Boss
- Ice, Ice Crashes Russian Style
- Spied: All-New Land Rover Freelander / LR2 Wearing Production Body
- Top Gear UK Releases New Trailer for Upcoming New Season No21
- Maybach Type 57S Modified from Top to Bottom Wears a Carbon Fiber Suit, Costs $1 Million
- First Recorded BMW i8 Crash Occurs on the Autobahn
- Lotus C-01 Motorbike Allegedly Leaks Online, Is There Such a thing as too Much Carbon Fiber?
| Lamborghini Aventador vs Ferrari FF and Other Duels in UK Drag Race Posted: 20 Jan 2014 04:20 PM PST  From the dawn of the motoring age, or actually, come to think of it, from the time we humans discovered that we could use horses for our transportation needs, people enjoyed staging races. We still do, and one of the most archetypal types of racing is a straight-line duel. It doesn't matter if we've seen the same machines before, as there are always a number of parameters that can change with each race – from the driver, to the condition of the vehicle and the road. We could go on talking about this subject forever, but let's see what we have in store for you in the following video before you abandon us… It's the "Race the Runway" charity event at the Edinburgh Airport in Scotland that was sponsored by Mercedes-Benz and covered by AutoExpress magazine. In total, 25 high-performance and super-cars participated in the race on the 1,350 meter (0.839 miles) course on one of the taxi runways. The cars included the following models, though, unfortunately, we only get to see a handful of them (yes, we too wanted to see the R33 Skyline and the Tuscan): Lamborghini Aventador        |
| U Spy: New Mercedes-Benz V-Class Minivan Spotted, May Fill in for the R-Class Posted: 20 Jan 2014 03:47 PM PST  The clock is ticking for Mercedes-Benz's all-new V-Class that will make its first appearance in front of an international crowd at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show this March before going on sale in Europe later this year. The brand with the star has already shown us the minivan's vastly upgraded and more luxurious interior through an official batch of photos, and now, Carscoops' reader Marco C. kindly shared these spy shots of a lightly disguised prototype he recently snapped in Germany. "I grabbed my camera and took a few pictures of the vehicle in Stuttgart when I was walking home from work last week," Marco told us in an email, adding, "Thank you guys for your good work. I've been a reader for years and I guess now it's time to 'give something back'." Well, thank you Marco; it's always a pleasure to have quality readers who contribute to the site! Getting back to the new V-Class that replaces both the Viano and Vito passenger and light commercial van models, the exterior design of the MPV comes with a no-frills boxy shape, but the front and rear ends will get a more modern styling influenced by Mercedes' latest passenger cars. The interior also brings to mind other Benz cars like the new C-Class dashboard, with the automaker also spiffing up the rest of the cabin, which accommodates 6 passengers seated in individual captain-chairs in the version previewed in the official photos, and more people on regular models. Recent reports bring Mercedes-Benz officials thinking about offering the new V-Class for sale in North America from next year, as a spacious alternative to the R-Class that was discontinued last year. Thanks to Marco for sharing the spy pics!      ![New-Mercedes-V-Class-2[2]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6jX_DygRLJY/Ut2vNxpwsoI/AAAAAAAP1O8/y0Q9Gxw8m6M/s1600-h/New-Mercedes-V-Class-2%25255B2%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "New-Mercedes-V-Class-2[2]") ![New-Mercedes-V-Class-3[2]](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-E6boId69X1g/Ut2vQOylvCI/AAAAAAAP1PM/5KAW-_Csh10/s1600-h/New-Mercedes-V-Class-3%25255B2%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "New-Mercedes-V-Class-3[2]") ![New-Mercedes-V-Class-5[2]](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-guVHq08QDvI/Ut2vS2eLDJI/AAAAAAAP1Pc/YVLKFhGGy0g/s1600-h/New-Mercedes-V-Class-5%25255B2%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "New-Mercedes-V-Class-5[2]") ![New-Mercedes-V-Class-6[2]](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hxVzQUbsIQI/Ut2vVeUsTNI/AAAAAAAP1Ps/NsqYDpfHWiI/s1600-h/New-Mercedes-V-Class-6%25255B2%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "New-Mercedes-V-Class-6[2]") ![New-Mercedes-V-Class-8[2]](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XNsI-dD-jGA/Ut2vX9Ga4VI/AAAAAAAP1P8/90SV6pGuIDc/s1600-h/New-Mercedes-V-Class-8%25255B2%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "New-Mercedes-V-Class-8[2]") ![New-Mercedes-V-Class-4[2]](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-36MyJItwYsA/Ut2vabI_ZRI/AAAAAAAP1QM/6F60WwQ-JY0/s1600-h/New-Mercedes-V-Class-4%25255B2%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "New-Mercedes-V-Class-4[2]") ![New-Mercedes-V-Class-7[2]](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GRHGTeQ_Bl4/Ut2vcwdSnfI/AAAAAAAP1Qc/gG8q430xFag/s1600-h/New-Mercedes-V-Class-7%25255B2%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "New-Mercedes-V-Class-7[2]") ![New-Mercedes-V-Class-1[2]](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0xS4NExOeho/Ut2vexzr1ZI/AAAAAAAP1Qs/SB5HhvfOwig/s1600-h/New-Mercedes-V-Class-1%25255B2%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg "New-Mercedes-V-Class-1[2]")    |
| After Nissan, Ford Too Warns UK Against EU Exit Posted: 20 Jan 2014 02:59 PM PST  Not so long ago, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn warned that the carmaker may reconsider its investments in the UK if the country decides to leave the European Union. Now, Ford Motor Company, another global carmaker, is issuing a similar caution to the UK. The U.S. automaker said that it would reassess all its plans in the country if it decided to exit the EU. Ford of Europe CEO Stephen Odell said such a move would be catastrophic for British jobs and businesses. "It cannot make any sense," Odell told The Telegraph. "I don't want to threaten the British government, 'If you do this there are consequences' [but] I would strongly advise against leaving the EU for business purposes, and for employment purposes in the UK," he added. Odell pointed out that even if the UK was out of the European Union, it would still have to trade with the economic block, which means it would have to comply with EU regulations – however, as a non-member it would lose its ability to influence policies. "I understand the frustrations, but not to the point of cutting your nose off to spite your face," Odell said. Ford has a long-standing history in the UK, where it has operated factories since the late 1920s. However, as part of the restructuring of its European operations, the U.S. giant has closed the Southampton plant and sections of its Dagenham operations last year, marking the end of its vehicle assembly operations in the country and the loss of 1,400 jobs. However, Ford still employs nearly 15,000 people in the UK at its engine manufacturing plants in Bridgend and Dagenham. By Dan Mihalascu     |
| Mazda Cosmo Originally Shown at 1968 Paris Show up for Sale Posted: 20 Jan 2014 02:00 PM PST  The 110S Cosmo is a car that has a very unique shape; unlike other manufacturers from Japan at the time, the two-door Mazda really had a style of its own which it retains to this day. Seen in short-wheelbase guise with a red body, the car you see below is the actual example that took part in the 1968 Paris motor show, the venue where it was originally unveiled back in the day. Now, the exact same car can be yours for an asking price of sub $30,000; it's available on eBay. The ad explains that while it is the short-wheelbase model, it features the front fascia design of the later long-wheelbase examples – it's apparently preferred over the original face it came with. Power for it comes from a later-model 13b rotary engine that drives the wheels through a gearbox that didn't exactly fit and they had to hack at the transmission tunnel a bit, in order to make it fit. Still in need of restoration and missing some important bits like the rear lights, it's definitely a nice car, if you're into the stylish 60s and want a piece of that for yourself, but one that is much less expensive than the prestige brands of the day. Browse through stills of it below. By Andrei Nedelea Story References: eBay via BAT             |
| Distracted Belgian Policewoman Tests Passenger of RHD Car for Alcohol Consumption! Posted: 20 Jan 2014 01:03 PM PST  You may think the following report is actually from a comedy movie, but it's as real as it gets. A Belgian policewoman pulled over the driver of a Renault Espace on Saturday night for an alcohol check, but failed to notice one essential fact: the car was a right hand drive vehicle and she was talking to the passenger. The distracted officer didn't notice the female passenger had no steering wheel in front of her and proceeded to test her for alcohol consumption, while the actual driver, who had a couple of beers earlier in the day, escaped the check. "That was a few hours before the check, but if I had to blow, it would have been close. When my wife opened her window down, everything went according to routine. 'Would you mind blowing, ma'am,' asked the officer. My wife did, although she could barely blow because of the giggles. However, the agent did not notice anything," driver Patrick Van Den Kieboom told Gazet van Antwerpen. As the test was negative, the policewoman then congratulated the passenger for not drinking and wished her a safe trip. The owner said he imported the Espace from the UK a year and a half ago. By Dan Mihalascu Story References: AutoblogNL    |
| Kia GT4 Stinger Concept Rendered Roofless Posted: 20 Jan 2014 12:00 PM PST  The GT4 Stinger Concept should definitely be the base or starting point for a production car from Kia that would compete with the likes of the Toyota GT-86 or Nissan's 370Z if they decide to position it a bit higher in terms of power/performance – the concept has 315 hp. However, if they were to actually make it into one, chances are that they'd also turn it into a convertible. Thankfully, we don't have to wait around for that scenario to unfold in order to see its result, because X-Tomi has already done it and the result is actually quite nice. It doesn't really change the look of the original motor show concept too much, but the lack of a roof immediately gives it a different kind of vibe. In fact, with the roof down, the crease on its side is emphasized and it's strong enough to bring focus lower down on the body – it would be definitely addressed at a different audience than the coupe, that's for sure, but that only equates to more buyers for Kia, so they wouldn't mind if these were not hardcore racing types. Check out the large photo below. By Andrei Nedelea Story References: X-Tomi    |
| Next Toyota Camry to Have a More Emotional Design Posted: 20 Jan 2014 11:01 AM PST  Toyota is looking to make the next Camry a more emotional proposition, as per the direct request of company president Akio Toyoda. According to a Bloomberg report, the traditional mid-sized sedan from the manufacturer will undergo a major transformation for the new generation along with the Prius – we assume the latter will still keep the slippery suppository-like shape, though. Kevin Hunter, the head of Toyota's US design operation admitted that the current-gen Camry received flack for its looks and that they are looking to remedy that in the new version. He said: "Camry's taken some hits on styling, but it's still selling well. But we need to create better design for Camry in the future." Aside from the infusion of drama into the outside lines, they also want to improve interior packaging and the quality of materials and imbue it with the same treatment as the exterior. The Prius' makeover is similar in philosophy, but in-keeping with what it already is and what customers expect from it – that's quite different from the Camry and will reflect in the finished product. What they want to do is make it look futuristic on top of being emotionally-evoking while also working on its eco-credentials too – the revised shape will have aerodynamic significance too. By Andrei Nedelea         |
| Watch How the 2015 Chrysler 200 is Built at the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant Posted: 20 Jan 2014 10:00 AM PST  Before the all-new Chrysler 200 sedan made it entry at the Detroit Auto Show for its world premiere, the carmaker played a special video that shows how the car is born at the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant. Humans and robots alike are featured in the clip as they assemble the new Chrysler 200, with the camera following each production step down the assembly line. Whether you like the new 200 or not it's still a pretty cool video to watch, if only to realize once again how complex modern car manufacturing is. The new mid-size sedan will go on sale later this year with prices starting from $21,700 plus a $995 destination fee and will be available with two engine options: an 184hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder unit and a 295hp 3.6-liter V6, both paired to a nine-speed auto. The new Chrysler is also offered with an optional all-wheel drive system for the first time in the model's history. By Dan Mihalascu    |
| Say Again? Report Has Toyota Co-Working with BMW on Next Z4 Sports Car Posted: 20 Jan 2014 08:59 AM PST  None of BMW's Z-cars, named after the German word for 'future,' ever lived up to their promise. The biggest flop of all was the (arguably very pretty) Z8, but you couldn't really call the E30 3-Series-based Z1, subsequent Z3 or two generations of Z4 models 'top class,' and they were slightly cannibalized by BMW's range of already sporty cars that also did the practical stuff too. Now, though, a report released by Australia's Motoring says that while BMW is not actively involved in the development of the next Supra, Toyota is involved in the creation process of the upcoming new Z4. The Aussie publication quotes an unnamed inside source that explains the intricacies of the predicament. "BMW is not involved in the new Supra. I just wanted to make that clear," the BMW insider allegedly told the publication, "What I can say is that Toyota is involved in the development of the all-new BMW Z4," the source added. As always, it's good to take these reports with the usual grains of salt. However, one thing's for sure, the upcoming Z4 will be a very different-feeling car to anything that has preceded it. Design-wise, it will be very edgy and not necessarily pretty, but they may work on that as they still have time until the planned 2017 launch. What will stay is the front-engined rear-driven layout, the burden upon which will be made easier through the use of carbon fiber and aluminum extensively in the construction. It will borrow construction methods from the i3 and i8 eco cars. Apparently, even if it's still at the early end of the development pipeline, the quote source says it's expected to cost "no more than $70,000," which we assume are Aussie dollars. One final rumor is that the new Z4 could include a capacitor-based hybrid system, similar to the one used by Toyota in its TS030 Le Mans racer. By Andrei Nedelea Note: Current-gen Z4 pictured            |
| Skoda Releases New Octavia GreenLine with 88mpg and 85g/km CO2 in the UK Posted: 20 Jan 2014 08:33 AM PST  If fuel economy, CO2 emissions and 'Benefit-in-Kind' (BIK) value ratings are among your first priorities, then Skoda has added a new model to its UK fleet that may be of interest to you. The new Octavia Greenline sedan (liftback) is priced at £20,150 and comes with a 1.6-litre TDI CR 110PS (109HP) diesel engine that returns an impressive (for the car's size) combined cycle fuel economy of up to 88.3 mpg UK (73.5 mpg US or 3.2 l/100km) with CO2 emissions of just 85g/km. Features that help the Octavia model obtain these numbers include low rolling resistance tyres fitted to 16-inch 'Velorum' alloy wheels and a start-stop system. According to the Czech carmaker, the Octavia Greeline has a BiK rating of 13 percent for 2014 and VED Band A status.     |
| GMC May Offer a Standalone New Model, Says GM Boss Posted: 20 Jan 2014 08:02 AM PST  In recent years, GMC entire product portfolio is based on existing Chevrolet models, with some vehicles differing more than others do from their bow-tie siblings, but now, parent company General Motors is contemplating to add at least one new car to GMC's range that would not share its underpinnings with another Chevy. The news comes from GM global product chief Mark Reuss who, when asked by Automotive News during the Detroit Motor Show unveiling of the new Canyon pickup truck whether we'd see a non-Chevy-based GMC, he replied "Oh, yes, you will." Reuss would not disclose further details about the type of vehicle or the timing, but he said that GMC's excellent market performance is a very good reason to invest in the company. "The health of GMC is astonishingly good from a consideration standpoint," Reuss said. The only recent GMC concept that differed from other GM products was the Scion-xB-like Granite study (pictured above and below) for a small (just 161.3-inch or 4,097 mm long, roughly the same as a Ford Fiesta hatch) crossover model with opposite opening doors, though, the Detroit company has said at the time that it won't enter production. Furthermore, GM global design chief Ed Welburn told Automotive News last week that all concepts under development at the GMC studio are trucks, so it's unlikely that the brand is considering a crossover.                   |
| Ice, Ice Crashes Russian Style Posted: 20 Jan 2014 07:36 AM PST  The problem with icy roads is that you never know when you will lose traction until you actually do, and then, more often than not, it's really too late to do anything other than brace yourself for impact. Most parts of Mother Russia experience harsh and extremely cold climate conditions during winter that severely affect the country's roads, and the actions of some drivers don't really help. Below you will find three dash-cam clips of Russian motorists getting into deep snow troubles, beginning with a multi-car accident near Volgograd, formerly known as Stalingrad (watch the video until the end), and continuing with two unrelated incidents.    |
| Spied: All-New Land Rover Freelander / LR2 Wearing Production Body Posted: 20 Jan 2014 07:03 AM PST  You may remember that last time our spies caught up with the Land Rover Freelander's (called LR2 in North America) replacement, the British carmaker was evaluating a test mule outfitted with an extended length body of the Range Rover Evoque. Now, Land Rover has churned out a regular prototype with the production body of its upcoming SUV. You'll still find the Evoque's steel chassis sitting underneath, albeit with an extended wheelbase that will be at least 150mm (5.9 inches) longer. While heavily camouflaged, it appears that the styling of the Freelander's replacement will fuse details from the Evoque and the latest Discovery and Range Rover models. Land Rover will offer the car in both five- and seven seater variants. It is believed that upon launch, towards the end of 2014 or early 2015, the new model will share its powertrain lineup with the Evoque, offering four-cylinder turbocharged diesel and gasoline units, front or all-wheel drive and available nine-speed automatic transmissions, before gaining a new generation of four-pots that will be built at the brand's new plant in Wolverhampton. There's still some confusion regarding the name as recent reports stated that Land Rover plans to discard the Freelander moniker and incorporate the new SUV into its Discovery series. Whether Land Rover will continue to use the LR2 nameplate in North America, remains to be seen. Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS          |
| Top Gear UK Releases New Trailer for Upcoming New Season No21 Posted: 20 Jan 2014 06:34 AM PST  Top Gear UK is on its way back for its 21 series since the format change in 2001, and to announce this, the BBC has released the shortest of trailers. It's an eleven-second clip showing Jeremy Clarkson saying "lorry" a bunch of times, as trucks pass the other way on the road he's on at the moment of filming. I suspect it's part of their grand voyage to Sochi, in Russia, where the Winter Olympic Games are to be held. This is easy to judge as he's at the wheel of an Up!, and last time we checked it was him in the Volkswagen, alongside Hammond in a Ford Fiesta and James May in his favorite car in the world, the Dacia Sandero. This is really great news and will undoubtedly make for at least one entertaining episode in the series. Their road trips through less developed countries usually entertain, even if it's at the expense of the indigenous people... Hopefully there will be more (original and genuinely funny ones), as I found the last series no more than average, with the exception of a couple of episodes. Expect to see the new season air somewhere between the end of January and March. By Andrei Nedelea    |
| Maybach Type 57S Modified from Top to Bottom Wears a Carbon Fiber Suit, Costs $1 Million Posted: 20 Jan 2014 05:21 PM PST  Even if the revival of Maybach was deemed a failure by parent company Daimler that made the decision to shut down the brand last year, the 57 and 62 series models produced from 2002 through 2013 remain relevant in the super-luxury segment today. That said, a full custom tuning job isn't something you'd take lightly with such an expensive and rare car, yet that's what Knight Luxury is proposing to current owners of the Maybach saloon. For starters, despite the fact that Knight Luxury is based in Miami, most of the work takes place in Germany, meaning U.S. owners will have their cars shipped over to Europe. The display model seen in these photos is the Maybach 57S, which translates to the regular 5.7 meter long (225.5 in) version with the more powerful (S) 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine rated for 559hp (567PS). The exterior of the car gains a new aero kit made from carbon fiber, while the rest of the body is either made (including the bonnet, boot, and all four doors and fenders) or wrapped in carbon fiber, with the same material replacing the plastic engine cover and air filter boxes. You'll also find carbon fiber wrap on the new 24-inch wheels that are shod in Pirelli tires size 285/30 R24 all around. And yes, you guessed right if you said that Knight Luxury would do the same inside with the trim accents. In fact, Knight Luxury redid the entire cabin adding the lightweight material wherever it could, while using high quality leather and Alcantara for the other surfaces such as the headliner, doors, steering wheel, dashboard and consoles. New LED lights and an assortment of Apple devices connected to the entertainment system, including an Apple TV module and two iPads with a keyboard in the rear of the car, were also installed. As for the powertrain, an engine kit complete with a sports exhaust system boosts the V12's output to 703hp or 712PS. Knight Luxury said the cost depends on the options chosen, but noted that a $1 million price tag shouldn't be far from reality. Correction: In the previous version of this post we wrongly stated that the "57" in the Maybach model's name correlates to the wheelbase length when in fact, it indicates the overall length – 5.7 meters                             |
| First Recorded BMW i8 Crash Occurs on the Autobahn Posted: 20 Jan 2014 05:28 AM PST  A pre-production version of BMW's futuristic i8 hybrid sports coupe had an unfortunate encounter with the guardrails on the German Autobahn recently. Reports originating from Germany state that, a 30-year old BMW engineer was behind the wheel of the 362 PS (357hp) sports car when it crashed. Local Police Chief Nicholas Bishop told German online magazine Merkur that he suspects the driver was going "a little bit too fast", adding that the i8 first smashed into the median barrier, then flew across the road before coming to a stop on the other side. While the i8 will have a list price of €126,000 in Germany when it goes on sale later this year (equal to $170,900 but BMW has confirmed U.S. pricing at $135,700), due to the expensive testing equipment fitted to the pre-production model, the value of the specific car is expected to be in excess of €200,000 ($271,000). The i8 combines a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder twin-turbocharged petrol engine developing 228hp (231 PS) and 236 lb-ft (320 Nm) of torque driving rear wheels via a 6-speed automatic gearbox and a synchronous electric motor developing 129hp (96kW) and 184 lb-ft (250 Nm) turning the front wheels via a two-stage automatic transmission. It hits 100km/h (62mph) in 4.4 seconds and has a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). Story References: Merkur via BMWBlog     |
| Lotus C-01 Motorbike Allegedly Leaks Online, Is There Such a thing as too Much Carbon Fiber? Posted: 20 Jan 2014 05:04 AM PST  If we are to believe a MotorCycleNews report, the magazine was able to reserve itself two exclusive images of the upcoming C-01 motorbike from Lotus. The shots reveal a low and mean looking naked that makes use of as much exposed carbon fiber as possible – all of it seems to be made out of the stuff. Powered by a 200 hp V-twin motor, it will be one of the most powerful bikes you can buy when it goes on sale later next year for what we expect is a horrendously large briefcase-full of cash. Few details have been made public, but what we have been made to understand is that it's not actually Lotus who makes and will make the C-01, but rather a new company that simply uses the name – we would not have paid any attention to it, frankly, had it been called something not automotive related… Check out the two shots below and do share your views on Lotus going into the motorcycle business. By Andrei Nedelea      |
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