CARSCOOP |  |
- Mazda MX-5 Roadster Has a Four Seat Long Erection [w/Video]
- Fresh Videos Offer Closer Look at New Cadillac ATS Coupe
- 20 Years of Toyota's Ground Breaking RAV4 Compact SUV
- Scoop: New Opel / Vauxhall Corsa Test Mule or Facelifted Prototype?
- XCAR Calls Morgan 3 Wheeler The Best Horse Ever
- Porsche Already Considering Raising Production Target for Macan SUV
- Ouch…Taiwanese Scooter Rider Hits a Cab but Keeps on the Throttle
- Fiat Completes Chrysler Acquisition from VEBA Trust in $4.35 Billion Deal
- Honda FCX Driver Details the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Experience
- Honey Boo Hoo Hoo; Clarkson Doesn't Like Our Top Gear Trailer Rant
- New Fiat Panda 4X4 Antarctica Arrives in the UK with…Penguin Decals
- Updated 2015 Nissan GT-R Starts from $101,770 in the U.S.
- Watching Lamborghini Aventador Dumped Onto Truck Will Make You Cringe
- Caterham Gets a New and…Greener Corporate Logo
- Mercedes-Benz U.S. Boss Expects GLA to Be Even More Successful than CLA
- Cool Upgraded Ferrari F40 from Fast’n Loud Sells for $742,500
- Check Out Tim Allen’s Superb 1968 Camaro 427 COPO
- BMW M4 to Receive WideBody Makeover from Duke Dynamics
- Smart ForFour May Not Arrive in the U.S., Report Says
- Top Gear Drops Two More…Tedious Teaser Trailers for Season 21
- Nissan Sells 100,000 Leaf to British Dentist
- Chevrolet to Debut New Camaro Z/28.R Racing Car This Week
- Prankster Hands Out Ridiculous Parking Tickets
- Shelby Launches 50th Anniversary FIA Cobra, Only 50 Will Be Made
- Mini Dominates 2014 Dakar Rally, Fills Podium
| Mazda MX-5 Roadster Has a Four Seat Long Erection [w/Video] Posted: 21 Jan 2014 05:20 PM PST  I full-heartedly disagree, as I find Mazda's small roadster one of the purest and most fun to drive sports cars around, but you know what they say about the Miata / MX-5. There's also another racy saying about men with big cars, and well, you get the picture with this extended version of the MX-5. Listed for sale on Craigslist, the 1993 model was placed on the Procrustean bed sometime in the early 2000s, gaining a few feet in length and two more seats in the process. As you can see for yourself in the gallery and videos below, it's an unfinished project, but the stretched two-door roadster is drivable. We're told that, the man who created it, unfortunately passed away and now his nephew wants to sell it because he does not have space to store it. Do check out the listing in full below, and if you're interested, you can communicate with the seller who is located in San Diego for more info. By John Halas  Seller's Description This car was put together by my uncle in the early 2000's and pretty much never driven around. He truly loved this car and wanted it to be perfect before he took it out, but a few years ago he was diagnosed with cancer and passed away leaving me his car. I absolutely hate to even make this listing, but my family isn't rich; we live in a condo and we do not have a garage to store it in, or otherwise I would keep it and work on it every now and then. It us currently being stored at a family friend's house out in Alpine and I feel like I have over staid my welcome there. I looked into storing the car at a storage location down the street from my house, but they want around $150 per month and there is no way I can afford that. This car does need a lot of work to make it look nice and I simply cannot afford to do it myself, so I am left to watch it collect dust. This car IS indeed drivable, I had it registered at one point and I would take it out to Coronado every now and then with no problems at all. It gets a lot of attention, especially from the other Miata drivers. I assure you, this car will pass smog, I have documentation of it passing back in 2011 and no modifications have been added since then. I will personally smog it for the next owner. This car was put together using 2 Miatas. One had damage in the front and the other was damage in the back, so he cut them up and put them together to make 1 really long Mazda that will carry 4 people! Originally the car had a single drive shaft, but due to its length, it would cause massive vibrations, so I had a custom 2 peace drive shaft made for it wish instantly solved the problem. I have not gone over 80MPH, but I know that up to that point, it works just fine. I don't have a listed price because I honestly don't know what it is worth. I have a sentimental value for it, but that does not mean it is realistic. What I am looking for are offers. Remember... this is a drivable car... please have some respect and don't send me something unreasonable.                    |
| Fresh Videos Offer Closer Look at New Cadillac ATS Coupe Posted: 21 Jan 2014 04:50 PM PST  Since all new mid-size executive sedan-basede coupes are either too old, too bold or just plain forgettable, the Cadillac ATS Coupe comes in looking classy but not in your face, with a big dollop of style that thankfully is of the subdued kind that is easy on the eye is still pleasant. Just think of how different this will look to its direct competitor, the Lexus RC, when placed alongside it and even the new BMW 4-Series too, though that's bordering on the boring... The year that has just passed may have been for me, the year of the hot hatch, but 2014 could be the year of the executive coupe (and its sporty variant). As we wait for the first reviews and first cars on the road (for comparos) to make their appearance, CNET and Edmunds had a good look around the new two-door Caddy and their impression and expectations of it are quite lofty – even Forbes chipped in with a (positive) video take from the motor show floor. It shows that the modern automotive industry does have a lot of freedom to create whatever it wants if the right context can be justified at board meetings and to shareholders – the ATS Coupe is going to pick up the role of restrained face in the market share once the ageing (but still attractive) Audi A5 is replaced by an LED-laden successor that will most likely have a grille as big as that of the Lexus RC but of a more regular shape… Scroll down and check out the videos below. By Andrei Nedelea    |
| 20 Years of Toyota's Ground Breaking RAV4 Compact SUV Posted: 21 Jan 2014 04:15 PM PST  The market is flooded right now with compact SUVs, but the car that started all this frenzy is the Toyota RAV4, nearly 20 years ago. At the 1994 Geneva Motor Show, Toyota launched the first-generation RAV4, a compact SUV whose name was an acronym for a Recreational Activity Vehicle with 4-wheel drive. What originally started out as a niche product developed into a mainstream category twenty years later, with nearly every volume carmaker producing at least one compact SUV. When Toyota launched the RAV4, it had modest expectations however, forecasting initial global demand of only 4,500 units a year. But when the carmaker received 8,000 orders in the first month alone, production volumes had to be doubled. Previewed by the 1989 RAV-FOUR Concept, the production Toyota RAV4 was not easy to pitch by Chief Engineer Masakatsu Nonaka, who discovered that it was hard to convince other Toyota departments of the feasibility of creating a mass production car for a market segment that didn't yet exist. Furthermore, many people inside the business had a hard time understanding the concept of a car platform-based model that combined the benefits of a 4x2/4-type vehicle, including higher ground clearance, increased interior height and the availability of all-wheel drive, with the handling and fuel economy of a compact model. The project was stopped at one point, but Toyota's European and Japanese sales divisions convinced management that it was time for this new type of car. And they were right: in its first year on the market, the RAV4 was chosen by 53,000 customers worldwide. Sales doubled in 1995 and by 1996, the total had tripled. From 1994 through 2013, more than 5 million have been sold worldwide, of which 1.3 million in Europe, including 167,000 in the UK. Toyota says more than 90 percent of all RAV4s ever sold are still on the road today, which says a lot about the brand's SUV. Toyota RAV4 Milestones 1994: The first generation RAV4 debuts at the Geneva Motor Show with a transverse-mounted, 2.0-liter, 127bhp petrol engine and full-time all-wheel drive. The RAV4 was available with a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic, but with no transfer box or low-range ratios. It had a unitary, monocoque construction and featured independent suspension front and rear. 1995: A five-door model is made available in the UK. 1997: Production of an electric-powered RAV4 is launched, continuing until 2000. 1998: A three-door soft-top RAV4 is offered in the UK. 2000: The second generation RAV4 is introduced, bringing an increase in length (+55mm/2.16in for the 3-door and 40mm/1.57in for the 5-door) and 1.8 and 2.0-liter petrol engines. The AWD system gets a limited-slip center differential, with a Torsen LSD offered as an option on the rear axle. 2002: The first diesel RAV4 is launched. 2006: The third generation RAV4 is built on a new platform and is sold exclusively as a five-door model, but with different wheelbases in different world markets. The car is significantly longer: +190mm (7.48in) for the short wheelbase version and +475mm (18.7in) for the long wheelbase. A new AWD system with an electronically controlled coupling was introduced, along with Downhill Assist Control and Hill-start Assist Control. 2010: A new RAV4 EV concept is developed in the USA with Tesla. 2013: The fourth generation RAV4 is again a five-door only model, but is now offered with a single wheelbase worldwide. It's longer by 235mm (9.25in) compared to the previous SWB model and marks the debut of the Dynamic Torque Control AWD system. By Dan Mihalascu                                 |
| Scoop: New Opel / Vauxhall Corsa Test Mule or Facelifted Prototype? Posted: 21 Jan 2014 03:35 PM PST  Our spies secured another set of pictures of a prototype Opel (Vauxhall in Britain) Corsa, this time getting up close and personal with the sumpermini's interior revealing the new dashboard design. Up until recently, it was believed that the testers were for an updated version of the current model, but some European publications are claiming that these cars may actually be test mules for the next generation Corsa, which is scheduled for a world premiere later this year, possibly in Geneva in March, or at the Paris Motor Show in October. Which of the two applies remains unknown at this time, but for the record, the differences between the current Corsa and these prototypes concern the newly styled front end and dashboard, both of which draw heavily on the Adam city car. Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS           |
| XCAR Calls Morgan 3 Wheeler The Best Horse Ever Posted: 21 Jan 2014 03:10 PM PST  Gearheads seem to genuinely love the Morgan 3 Wheeler: it has a back-to-basics design, it's unusual, since it successfully crosses a motorcycle with a car and, as a direct consequence of the latter, it's incredibly fun to drive. At least that's what XCAR presenter Alex Goy supports after having driven the 3 Wheeler. Powered by a 2.0-liter V-Twin motorcycle engine producing 110hp, the Morgan 3 Wheeler is both very fast and entertaining to be in. It sprints from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 120 mph (193 km/h). Morgan resurrected the 3 Wheeler nameplate in 2011 after a 58-year hiatus and it looks like the move paid off, as the car/motorcycle proved to be a big success for the UK sports car manufacturer. Returning to the video review, you may have noticed that the 3 Wheeler is called "the best horse ever". If you want to know what that is all about, make sure you watch the video posted below. By Dan Mihalascu    |
| Porsche Already Considering Raising Production Target for Macan SUV Posted: 21 Jan 2014 02:45 PM PST  Porsche's Macan has only just seen the light of day, not reaching any customers yet, and the German automaker is already pondering upping the planned production figures. WirschaftsWoche reported (via Reuters) that they're looking at raising the number from 50,000 to 80,000 units on unclear grounds. Set to hit showrooms in April, the next Audi Q5-related Macan is the model Porsche is looking towards for the increase of its annual sales figure to over 200,000. Apparently, they were not shooting for that goal until 2018, but now the sub-Cayenne SUV has come in to make them rethink it and place it the nearer future. However, I struggle to understand where this optimism comes from, given the awkward pricing structure that the Macan's range suffers from that makes it a direct rival for the bigger, more spacious Touareg platform-based Cayenne. Maybe it's just Porsche's way of creating a bit of hype a few months before the actual launch, saying that it will sell very well and perpetuate that mentality until prospective buyers begin to think it's a though of their own – this could be a promo of sorts… By Andrei Nedelea            |
| Ouch…Taiwanese Scooter Rider Hits a Cab but Keeps on the Throttle Posted: 21 Jan 2014 02:13 PM PST  What could have been a simple bump on a taxicab took a turn for the worse when a Taiwanese rider kept on the throttle after impact and was dragged for a long distance on the road before tumbling down. The man's scooter continued speeding on until it hit a bus. Perhaps the most worrisome aspect of this incident isn't the crash itself, as these things can and will happen, but the indifference of dozens of pedestrians and fellow motorists, as no one stopped or came to the man's help, even though he was lying down for a good amount of time before he tried to get up. Check out the video for yourself below the jump.    |
| Fiat Completes Chrysler Acquisition from VEBA Trust in $4.35 Billion Deal Posted: 21 Jan 2014 01:36 PM PST  As of January 21, 2014, Fiat is the sole owner of Chrysler Group, following the acquisition of the all the VEBA Trust's membership interests in the U.S. carmaker. Following the January 1 announcement, Fiat paid VEBA (Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Association), a retiree healthcare trust affiliated with the UAW, the sums stipulated in the contract. As part of the deal, Chrysler Group has paid a special distribution of $1.9 billion to the VEBA Trust, while Fiat North America has paid $1.75 million. Both Fiat and Chrysler funded the operations from available cash on hand. As previously agreed with the UAW, Chrysler Group will also pay the VEBA Trust an aggregate of $700 million in four equal annual installments, the first of which was paid on January 21 in connection with closing of the transaction with Fiat. Fiat and VEBA spent a year and a half in a dispute over how to value the trust's stake. Fiat's board will meet on January 29 to lay out terms of the merger of the two carmakers, including the corporate organization, the location of its headquarters and main stock listing. Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne is expected to remain in charge through at least 2016 to merge the companies into a single global automaker. According to his estimate, Fiat and Chrysler together are the seventh-biggest carmaker worldwide. The two carmakers sold about 4.4 million vehicles in 2013, less than half the annual deliveries of Toyota, GM and VW. By Dan Mihalascu         |
| Honda FCX Driver Details the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Experience Posted: 21 Jan 2014 01:16 PM PST  Honda started leasing the FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel-cell EV in 2008 exclusively to people from Southern California, and one of the first to get one was Jon Spallino, now 48. He told the WallStreetJournal that with a 230 mile (370 km) driving range, it satisfies most of his long-distance driving needs, though he does concede that traveling from his home in Redondo Beach up to San Francisco is not a feasible thing to consider… That's because there are no hydrogen pumps along the way, which would enable Jon to simply refuel the FCX like he would a normal car. Even so, when he does fill it up with hydrogen, he doesn't get charged for it, as Honda has not figured out a payment scheme for it yet and is including the fuel cost in the monthly lease of $600 per month, plus tax. It seems that with the supporting lifestyle, running a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, even via an underdeveloped refueling station network is still a feasible thing to consider, especially if frequent long commutes aren't your thing. Even so, a Tesla Model S would take you further, as you'd be able to top it up from the decent number of Supercharger stations that are operational – it's a regular EV that makes more sense and even beats the FCX in terms of outright range in the case of the bigger battery packs. Below, Fifth Gear's VBH goes for a spin in an FCX. By Andrei Nedelea    |
| Honey Boo Hoo Hoo; Clarkson Doesn't Like Our Top Gear Trailer Rant Posted: 21 Jan 2014 01:23 PM PST  A throng of miffed internet followers of Jeremy Clarkson's Twitter account brought to our attention one of his posts in which Top Gear's main host chirped the following in regards to Carscoops' "tedious" remarks about the three TG Season 21 teasers: "Classic example of Americans not quite getting British understatement." Look, perhaps we should have explained it better, but it's not that we didn't see what Top Gear was trying to do with these short clips; it's just that we didn't find the underlying humor successful. In reverse, perhaps Clarkson and those commentators who were annoyed didn't quite get what we meant. No harm done old chaps; if all of you who commented on our post did, then good for you. Since we're not accustomed to wearing Clarkson, Top Gear or any other famous personality's or show's goggles, we said what we thought regardless of who agrees or disagrees with us. And if you must know, I thoroughly enjoy watching Clarkson on TG and more often than not, I find his humor sarcastically amusing, even more so when it's not politically correct. Just not this time, as in my opinion, the three TG trailers get both thumbs down. Deal with it. By John Halas    |
| New Fiat Panda 4X4 Antarctica Arrives in the UK with…Penguin Decals Posted: 21 Jan 2014 11:41 AM PST  Last we remember, when Fiat announced the new Panda 4x4 Antarctica edition at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show, it didn't come with any kind of special decals. Apparently, the UK edition does in the form of two prominent front door stickers depicting a…penguin waving one of its flippers. Besides that, it's the same car we saw in the fall finished exclusively in white with a black roof, while also gaining orange detailing, diamond-finish 15-inch alloy wheels and 30th anniversary badges. The interior of the Antarctica sports grey and orange upholstery and comes equipped with a number of additional standard features, including dark-tinted rear privacy glass, a height adjustable driver's seat and three-passenger rear seat with 60:40 split/folding backrests. UK buyers have two engine options, an 85hp 0.9 TwinAir petrol unit or a 75hp 1.3-litre MultiJet II turbo diesel. Only 300 examples of the new Panda 4X4 Antarctica are destined for Britain, with prices starting from £14,895 OTR.                |
| Updated 2015 Nissan GT-R Starts from $101,770 in the U.S. Posted: 21 Jan 2014 11:20 AM PST  Nissan announced U.S. pricing for the updated 2015 GT-R, with the base GT-R Premium model starting from $101,770 (€75,145). The GT-R Black Edition and GT-R Track Edition are priced from $111,770 and $115,710, respectively. All prices exclude a $1,995 destination and handling fee. The first two equipment grades are on sale now at Nissan dealers nationwide, while the GT-R Track Edition and the new GT-R Nismo will join the lineup in summer 2014. For the 2015 model year, Nissan GT-R features a series of upgrades that give it a more comfortable ride, more refinement and a more upscale interior. The sports car's suspension has been fine-tuned to reduce load fluctuation between the four wheels, providing better stability and more consistent grip. The brakes have also been retuned for a firmer and more linear response at everyday speeds. In terms of styling, the updated Nissan GT-R features new LED headlights with AFS (Adaptive Front lighting System) and a distinctive "lightning" motif, while the four-ring taillights now form coherent circles of illumination. On the inside, the 2015 Nissan GT-R brings a choice of three color schemes including a new pale ivory trim option. The steering wheel gets a leather wrap, while the part-aniline leather seats feature stitched accents. Under the hood there's the same 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine mated to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission with paddle shifters. With 545 hp and 463 lb-ft (627 Nm) of torque, the 2015 GT-R delivers 16 mpg (14.7 l/100 km) city and 23 mpg (10.2 l/100 km) highway. The GT-R Premium and GT-R Black Edition feature special lightweight black aluminum forged RAYS wheels, red and black interior, Recaro leather-appointed seats and a dry carbon fiber rear spoiler. The limited-production GT-R Track Edition adds a specially tuned suspension, special brake cooling guides, front spoiler with carbon fiber air ducts, special blue-trimmed high-grip seats, as well as a lightweight carbon fiber trunklid, heated front seats and the addition of rear seats. By Dan Mihalascu                              |
| Watching Lamborghini Aventador Dumped Onto Truck Will Make You Cringe Posted: 21 Jan 2014 10:48 AM PST  If there's something worse than receiving a parking ticket, it's getting a violation and having your ride impounded. And while there's no doubt that, in many cases, motorists get what they deserve, the way that some impound agents handle the cars makes you want to cringe… Just take a look at the following video of a matte gunmetal grey Lamborghini Aventador recorded by our friends at SuperCarsofLondon, and you'll understand what we mean. "The owner had parked for less than 10 minutes before being issued a ticket," reads the video trailer. "Within 15 minutes, the car was impounded, through a method looked that looked unstable and reckless. The owner was never present, as you can see the alarm kept being activated." If you watch the clip, you'll see that it's actually a miracle that the car wasn't damaged during the airlift on the truck bed.    |
| Caterham Gets a New and…Greener Corporate Logo Posted: 21 Jan 2014 10:25 AM PST  The New Year brings a fresh brand identity for Caterham, which has just tossed the covers off its latest corporate logo designed to be used across all arms of the group, including Caterham Technology & Innovation (CTI), Caterham Composites, Caterham Bikes, Caterham Moto Racing Team, Caterham Challenge and the F1 and GP2 race teams. Caterham states that the new branding with green tones and a colored Union Flag emblem reflect the brand's "proud British heritage", while also mirroring the brand's commitment to deliver "accessible fun across its whole spectrum of businesses". Tony Fernandes, Caterham Group Co-Chairman commented the following on the new logo: "The Caterham coloured Union Flag emblem is our celebration of Caterham's British heritage. The Caterham brand has been in existence for over 40 years and, in simple terms, is a brand that puts smiles on people's faces. It is a proud British brand, one that celebrates Britain's engineering prowess and we, in turn, are proud to showcase our British heritage." The unveiling of the new brand identity comes only a few days after Caterham announced its best export year ever, with sales expected to grow even further in 2014 as the automaker has established an official dealer in the States.     |
| Mercedes-Benz U.S. Boss Expects GLA to Be Even More Successful than CLA Posted: 21 Jan 2014 10:06 AM PST  Mercedes' front-wheel drive compact range will grow this year with the GLA crossover, which is tipped to become an even bigger success than the CLA sedan. Mercedes-Benz USA CEO Steve Cannon said dealers should probably count on GLA shortages after the crossover debuts in the U.S. this fall – something that is happening now with the CLA. The compact sedan debuted in September 2013 in the U.S. and sold faster than Mercedes expected, leading to tight inventories. As for the GLA, Cannon said waiting lists could be even longer. "Dealers feel there is a lot more potential in that car. It could be hotter - the feedback is phenomenal," Cannon told Automotive News. The executive added that he expects the GLA's conquest rate to be higher than the GLK's 60 percent rate when it debuted in 2009. Mercedes-Benz has not announced U.S. pricing for the GLA, but the crossover is expected to be more expensive than the CLA, but several thousand dollars less than the GLK, which starts at $38,405, including shipping. The CLA is priced from $30,825, including shipping. The GLA will launch in the U.S. with all-wheel drive and will be offered later on with front-wheel drive as well. Mercedes' FWD range of vehicles, which includes the A-Class, B-Class, CLA and GLA, is in high demand, with Daimler AG CEO Dieter Zetsche admitting the company is looking for ways to increase production. The carmaker is likely to add a third shift at its plant in Hungary that builds the CLA. By Dan Mihalascu         |
| Cool Upgraded Ferrari F40 from Fast’n Loud Sells for $742,500 Posted: 21 Jan 2014 09:05 AM PST  With the explicit goal of turning a wrecked F40 into the more modern car Ferrari couldn't (or just simply didn't) build at the time, the people over at Gas Monkey Garage did a stunning job. The car was featured on the Fast'n Loud show and it recently sold at a Barret-Jackson auction…for $742,500 or €548,500! The all-black F40 featured extensive upgrades to all of its components, improvements that came along with the repairs they did to it, as it was in a badly damaged state when they first got hold of it. As it stands now, with the one of a kind HRE wheels that match the finish of the bodywork, the new brakes and 100 hp boost, it should have no trouble keeping up with any of the modern day supercars, all of which it undercuts on weight and almost matches in terms of power too. It's clearly a vehicle that has been thoroughly rebuilt, showing one of the ways in which you can already make a very special car even more so. The idea here, I think, is to not go overboard with the mods and always keep in mind just how fast it is, even with the meager 471 hp its V8 came with from the factory. Check it out in the gallery and video posted after the virtual jump! By Andrei Nedelea        |
| Check Out Tim Allen’s Superb 1968 Camaro 427 COPO Posted: 21 Jan 2014 08:21 AM PST  Every gearhead has a car that he or she fell in love with as a teenager and actor Tim Allen makes no exception. His dream car is the first-generation Chevrolet Camaro and he is the proud owner of a customized 1968 Camaro 427 COPO. Powered by a Corvette-sourced 7.0-liter V8 engine producing 505 hp, Allen's Camaro is no ordinary pony car. It has an understated look that emphasizes the Camaro's clean, strong lines, not to mention that it is built with an obsessive attention to detail. Tim Allen stopped by Jay Leno's Garage to show his ride and the talk-show host was really impressed. Not only with the car looks, but with the way it rides as well. If you're a fan of the original Camaro, the video is a must-see – especially the part where Leno gets to drive the car. By Dan Mihalascu    |
| BMW M4 to Receive WideBody Makeover from Duke Dynamics Posted: 21 Jan 2014 07:49 AM PST  You can add Duke Dynamics to the long list of tuners that are prepping up for the release of the new BMW M4 Coupe. The Vancouver, Canada based aftermarket company has released renderings of an upcoming styling package named MD4 that gives the Bavarian performance coupe a racier look and stance. The kit encompasses a new front bumper with a lip spoiler along with wider front and rear fenders, matching side skirts, a redesigned rear bumper with a carbon fiber diffuser, a new vented hood and a CSL-style boot. In the photoshop images, the modified M4 rides on different alloy wheels, but we don't know if Duke Dynamics will offer them as part of the package, while the company doesn't mention anything about performance upgrades for the chassis and engine either. We expect to learn more details when the kit becomes available later this year. Story References: Duke Dynamics via Worldcarfans        |
| Smart ForFour May Not Arrive in the U.S., Report Says Posted: 21 Jan 2014 07:25 AM PST  Smart's upcoming ForFour four-seat hatchback is unlikely to reach the U.S. market due to high costs of homologation. While Daimler executives stated that a final decision hasn't been made yet, Smart CEO Annette Winkler revealed that the car has not been homologated for the United States. Winkler said Smart isn't sure there is a big enough market in the U.S. for the ForFour to warrant the cost of homologation. She added that the redesigned ForTwo, which is roomier than the current model, may be enough to help increase Smart's U.S. sales. "There are other regulations to comply with, and to achieve what is needed here costs extra money," Winkler was quoted as saying by Automotive News Europe at the Detroit Auto Show. Given that Smart sales fell 7 percent in the U.S. to 9,264 last year, it remains to be seen whether the decision not to bring the ForFour stateside is a wise one. Mercedes-Benz USA CEO Steve Cannon said the microcar segment in the United States shrunk while the entire market grew last year, which is not a good sign for Smart. And even if the carmaker decided to bring the ForFour to the U.S., Cannon says the increase in annual sales wouldn't be that significant, probably from 10,000 to 20,000 units a year. Naturally, this begs the obvious question: why does Daimler continue to sell Smarts in the U.S.? Cannon's answer is that the company would have to pay compensation to the 92 Mercedes-Benz dealers who sell Smarts if the network was shut down. By Dan Mihalascu Note: The car pictured is the Smart Fourjoy Concept        |
| Top Gear Drops Two More…Tedious Teaser Trailers for Season 21 Posted: 21 Jan 2014 11:53 AM PST  Seriously now, only Top Gear UK can get away with the most useless of teaser trailers and still drive up traffic on its YouTube channel. I mean, if you thought the first teaser for the show's next season (number 21) with Jeremy Clarkson was meh, wait until you see the ones with co-hosts James May and especially Richard Hammond. Both are only 10 seconds long with May shown driving what looks like a Dacia Sandero and uttering something about a service schedule, while Hammond appears to be in a Ford Fiesta chewing black licorice, and well, just that… You've been warned, but if you insist on wasting 20 seconds, be our guest and click play below.    |
| Nissan Sells 100,000 Leaf to British Dentist Posted: 21 Jan 2014 06:46 AM PST  After having sold the 99,999th Leaf ever to a woman in the US, Nissan has now officially announced hitting the 100,000 mark through a car sold to a young UK-based dentist. Retaining the title of world's most popular EV, the Leaf achieved an impressive 45 percent market share worldwide since its launch in December of 2010. Now available in 35 countries, spread across four continents, the Leaf has slowly garnered a following of not only regular people who want to drive noiseless and emission-less cars, but also taxi services and it's even seen some fleet use too. Brett Garner, father of three, is a dentist and practice owner in Fareham, UK and he shared his motivation for choosing a Leaf: "I have chosen my Nissan LEAF because I am very interested in its running costs. The cost of ownership such as maintenance, insurance and charging also convinced my wife. She had the experience of driving 500 miles in a borrowed LEAF and the low cost was remarkable. So she was converted and insisted that we had a LEAF," he said. Nissan will surely not stop here, and they're already trying to give the Leaf a more sporty and desirable image. They also want to further advance the powertrain technology through racing applications – next up is the 2014 Le Mans 24H race where they will be entering a ZEOD RC racer. By Andrei Nedelea      |
| Chevrolet to Debut New Camaro Z/28.R Racing Car This Week Posted: 21 Jan 2014 06:21 AM PST  What a better way to promote a performance model's sporting credentials than to create a very closely related racing version, which is what GM claims for its all-new Chevrolet Camaro Z/28.R racer that will make its first appearance during a 2.5-hour endurance race ahead of the 52nd Rolex 24 at Daytona this Friday, January 24. According to GM, the Camaro Z/28.R will be "one of the most production-based competitors on the track, sharing aero, engine and even axle components with the new 2014 Camaro Z/28". The latter sports a 505hp 7.0-liter V8 engine and will go on sale this spring with a starting price of $75,000 (equal to about €55,400), including a $995 destination charge and gas-guzzler tax. "Apart from series-mandated equipment and the specialized suspension components needed for endurance racing, the Z/28.R is as close to a production-spec race car as you'll find," said Mark Kent, director of racing for Chevrolet. The racing Camaro Z/28.R will be campaigned by Stevenson Motorsports and CKS Autosport in the GS class of the IMSA Continental Tires SportsCar Challenge.       |
| Prankster Hands Out Ridiculous Parking Tickets Posted: 21 Jan 2014 06:02 AM PST  No one, and we mean no one, likes receiving a parking ticket, regardless if they're at fault, though, it's always amusing to watch peoples' reactions if you're on the other side of the fence. This brings us to internet magician and prankster Rich Ferguson who conducted what he describes a "social experiment" by handing out numerous tickets for parking violations over the silliest of reasons to several people. The kicker is that he wasn't even dressed as a cop or a parking maid, while the device he was holding to presumably log in the tickets was a…Texas Instrument's calculator. Watch the videos below the break.    |
| Shelby Launches 50th Anniversary FIA Cobra, Only 50 Will Be Made Posted: 21 Jan 2014 05:37 AM PST  Shelby American has announced the launch of a limited-edition 50th Anniversary FIA Cobra that is a close copy of the small block Cobra FIA version race car that competed in the 1964 World Manufacturers Championship series against brands like Aston Martin, Jaguar and Corvette. The subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International will build 50 limited edition continuation (CSX7000) Shelby 289 FIA Cobras, but the cars will be delivered as a rolling chassis (without a drive train), with a Shelby American issued MSO. Each of the 50 cars will wear the "Viking Blue" paint with FIA stripes and roundels and will feature a black FIA interior, special billet anniversary badges, original style wheels and a series of additional options. While styling is identical with the original car, the Continuation Shelby Cobra 289 FIA vehicles are upgraded to contemporary standards, using modern disc brakes, a stronger frame and aluminum or fiberglass bodies. The limited edition model also features a complete exhaust for a small block Ford V8, a special fitted car cover and optional detachable steering wheel. The original 289 FIA Cobra was built specifically for racing and featured a new dash, widened front and rear fenders, cut-back doors, new dampers, racing wheels featuring the pin-drive hub, oil cooler scoops and a competition spec 289 small block engine. Introduced on January 17 at the annual Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, the 50th Anniversary CSX7000 FIA Continuation Cobra will be priced from $94,995 with a fiberglass body or $159,995 for an aluminum bodied car, excluding drive train. By Dan Mihalascu          |
| Mini Dominates 2014 Dakar Rally, Fills Podium Posted: 21 Jan 2014 05:13 AM PST  Joan "Nani" Roma in the yellow Mini All4 Racing has won the 2014 Dakar Rally, with the car class dominated by the Monster Energy X-raid Mini team, which took 1st, 2nd and 3rd place and had seven cars finishing in the top 10. It is Mini's third straight win at the Dakar since the carmaker's debut in 2011. The BMW-owned carmaker entered 11 cars at this year's event and all of them crossed the finish line. Roma's first Dakar victory in a car came exactly 10 years after winning the motorcycle category on a KTM. The Spaniard narrowly beat teammate Stéphane Peterhansel, with only 5:32 minutes separating the two drivers in the overall standings. Nasser Al-Attiyah took third place, with the other four Mini drivers ranked in the top 10 being Orlando Terranova (5th), Krzysztof Holowczyc (6th), Martin Kaczmarski (9th) and Vladimir Vasilyev (10th). "I'm so relieved and happy. It was my big goal to win the Dakar not only on a motorbike but also in a car. A dream came true for me and I want to thank everybody at X-raid and Mini for their great work!" said Roma. Roma has been leading the overall classification at the 2014 Dakar Rally for nine days, winning two stages in total, while Mini cars won 11 of the 13 stages. The motorcycle category was won by Spaniard Marc Coma on a KTM, while the truck class was won by Russian Andrey Karginov from the Kamaz-Master team. This year's edition was one of the toughest of all time, with the 9,374 km (5,825 mile) long route leading from Rosario, Argentina across the Andes and the Atacama desert to Valparaiso, Chile at the Pacific coast. By Dan Mihalascu      |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Carscoops To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
