CARSCOOP |  |
- First Photos of Seat's All-New Leon Cupra 280PS Hot Hatches
- 2015 Chrysler 200 Official Photo and Info Leaked, Priced from $21,700 [HD Photo Update]
- Place Your Bets: Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series vs Jaguar XKR-S GT vs Aston V12 Vantage S
- Google Teams with Audi, GM, Honda, Hyundai and NVIDIA to Bring Android Platform to Cars
- BMW Reveals M235i Self Driving and…Drifting Car, Smartwatch-Compatible i3 [w/Video]
- Production Qoros 3 Estate Looks Unsurprisingly Familiar
- Toyota Bringing FCV Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Car to Market in 2015 with a 300-Mile Range
- Goodyear Hostage Situation Ends in France, U.S. Investor Lashes Out and Calls French "Nuts"
- 2015 Corvette Z06 Fender Badge Comes with "Supercharged" Label
- Ferrari FF Hits Ford C-MAX Taxi Then Fence in Boston
- French Goodyear Workers Take Managers Hostage to Get Higher Severance Packages
- This 1969 Ford Boss 302 Mustang was Tucked Away in a Barn for 40 Years
- 2013 is Ford’s Best U.S. Sales Year Since 2006; Top-Selling Marque for 4th Consecutive Year
- Say Hello to the 2015 Audi TT's Interior with Fully Digital Instrument Cluster
- Why, oh, Why? First Generation Dodge Viper Pounded and Crushed
- New Volvo Concept XC Coupe Shows the Styling Way for Next XC90 [w/Video]
- Take a Ride Along in a Fully Original 1980 Maserati Merak SS
- BMW 750i V12 E38 Individualized by Vilner
- French Vandals Torch 1,067 Cars for New Year’s, 10 Percent Less than in 2013
- New 2015 Corvette Z06 gets 620HP, Reveals Chevrolet's Official Website
- 2001 Acura NSX-T with a Mere 3,000 Miles will Make You Drool
- Dodge Announces New Dart Blacktop Package for 2014 Detroit Show
- Opel Plops New 200PS 1.6-Liter Turbo in Astra GTC Making it The Most Powerful Non-OPC/VXR
- Caterham Seven Now Officially and Legally Available in the USA
| First Photos of Seat's All-New Leon Cupra 280PS Hot Hatches Posted: 07 Jan 2014 06:45 PM PST  Official images of Seat's new duet in Europe's competitive hot hatch segment, the Leon Cupra five-door and its three-door sibling, the Leon Cupra SC, have spilled online ahead of their world premiere at the 2014 Geneva motor show in March. Both models feature the same aerodynamic kit, bespoke trim accents and big alloy wheels that give them a (subtly) more dynamic look than the regular editions, as well as a common 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four rated for 280PS or 276hp. In the VW Group world, the output figure places the Leon Cupra between the VW 217hp (220PS) and 227hp (230PS) editions of the VW Golf GTI, and the Golf R and Audi S3, both of which come with a 296hp (300PS) 2.0L turbo. Power will likely be channeled to the front wheels through a six-speed manual or an available DSG dual-clutch transmission and a mechanical limited-slip differential. As you'd expect, the Cupra models will also come with uprated suspension, brake and steering components to improve handling and feel.                  |
| 2015 Chrysler 200 Official Photo and Info Leaked, Priced from $21,700 [HD Photo Update] Posted: 07 Jan 2014 05:32 PM PST  We guess the new 2015 Chrysler 200 wasn't bound to be a secret as the first official picture of the car along with a snippet from the press release was accidentally released, or at least that's what the folks from Jalopnik are alleging. You can see the new design for yourself and place your comments about it below. As for the information we get on the mid-size sedan, Chrysler mentions that for the first time, it will be optionally available with all-wheel drive, while engine options include a 184hp 2.4-liter inline-four and a 295hp 3.6-liter V6. Both gasoline powerplants are linked to a nine-speed automatic transmission controlled through a rotary dial, with the base model delivering up to 35mpg U.S. We're also told that prices will start from $21,700 excluding a $995 destination fee when the new 200 goes on sale later this year. Chrysler will debut the car at next week's 2014 Detroit Auto Show.      |
| Place Your Bets: Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series vs Jaguar XKR-S GT vs Aston V12 Vantage S Posted: 07 Jan 2014 05:10 PM PST  The following video comparison reunites some of the most hardcore coupes one can think of: the 542hp Jaguar XKR-S GT, the 565hp Aston Martin V12 Vantage S and the 510hp Mercedes C63 AMG Coupe Black Series. Autocar reviewer Steve Sutcliffe makes no secret of the fact that the Mercedes is one of his all-time favorite cars, so the comparison is all about finding which of the two British cars comes close to the AMG-flavored C-Class Coupe. On paper, the Aston Martin V12 Vantage S is the fastest, hitting 60 mph (96 km/h) from a standing start in just 3.7 seconds – 0.2 seconds faster than the Jag and 0.5 seconds faster than the Merc. But what happens on the track? You'll have to hit play on the video posted below to find out. By Dan Mihalascu    |
| Google Teams with Audi, GM, Honda, Hyundai and NVIDIA to Bring Android Platform to Cars Posted: 07 Jan 2014 04:45 PM PST  Audi and Google have confirmed earlier reports about their collaboration to bring Android to vehicles, but the agreement also includes GM, Honda, Hyundai and NVIDIA. Reunited under the name Open Automotive Alliance (OAA), the six companies announced at CES 2014 that they will join their forces to bring the Android platform to cars starting this year. The open development model and common platform will allow automakers to bring new technology to their customers and create new opportunities for developers. "The worlds of consumer and automotive technologies have never been more closely aligned, and this alliance will only pave the way for faster innovation," said Ricky Hudi, Head of Electrics/Electronics Development at Audi AG. "Working toward a common ecosystems benefits driver safety above all," he added. "The expansion of the Android platform into automotive will allow our industry partners to more easily integrate mobile technology into cars and offer drivers a familiar, seamless experience so they can focus on the road," said Sundar Pichai, SVP of Android, Chrome & Apps at Google. OAA's founding members say they share a vision for the connected car and that the introduction of the Android platform to cars "will help extend people's mobile experience seamlessly to another platform they already know and love." The first cars with Android integration are expected to launch at the end of 2014, but each automaker has its own timeframe. OAA says other automotive technology companies are welcome to join as well. By Dan Mihalascu     |
| BMW Reveals M235i Self Driving and…Drifting Car, Smartwatch-Compatible i3 [w/Video] Posted: 07 Jan 2014 04:30 PM PST  BMW has chosen the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2014, held in Las Vegas, to show off its self-driving car. As they put it, it "a new kind of research prototype for highly automated driving which uses advanced control technology to demonstrate maximum safety up to the car's dynamic limit." In other words, the M235i prototype running the system (called ActiveAssist) can drive itself (even around a track, briskly), and is capable of doing no-hands powersliding, as the opening photo shows. Moreover, it is claimed that it can thus predict if the car wants to oversteer or understeer and nip it in the bud, making even more planted driving possible when it's not doing it by itself. Another new piece of technology showcased at the fair is the Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch which runs a simplified Android OS, and can now be connected wirelessly to an i3 EV via the BMW I Remote App that it supports. Through it, the user/driver receives state of charge and range information, and is also made aware of whether or not the windows and/or sunroof are closed – the climate control can be remotely altered too. The Bavarian automaker is also proud of its safety-oriented camera-based assistance systems – they've managed to bring costs down by not using radar, relying entirely on visual input from the cameras to make it work. They say, "modern camera-based systems have advantages over purely radar-based applications when it comes to recognition of stationary obstacles. A wide camera angle, moreover, enables reliable detection of objects pulling in or out at the edge of the driver's field of vision." By Andrei Nedelea                   |
| Production Qoros 3 Estate Looks Unsurprisingly Familiar Posted: 07 Jan 2014 03:06 PM PST  Not long ago, Chinese-Israeli carmaker Qoros Auto released two teaser renderings of its second production model, which we assumed to be the crossover previewed by the Qoros 3 Cross Hybrid concept revealed at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. Meanwhile, leaked photos of the Qoros 3 Estate in production guise have surfaced on a Chinese website. Wearing German plates, the car looks identical to the pre-production prototype that debuted in Geneva last year. There's no information regarding a launch date, so we don't know which production model will debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. One thing is certain, though: it will be the 3 Estate or the 3 Cross Hybrid. The estate model is said to feature a wide range of storage compartments and attachment fittings, as well as a rear seat bench that folds plat, to optimize functionality. Based on the same platform as the 3 Sedan, the estate should be available at launch with the same pair of 1.6-liter four-cylinder petrol engines: a naturally aspirated version producing 125hp (126PS) and 155Nm (114 lb-ft) of torque, and a turbocharged variant with 154hp (156PS) and 210Nm (155 lb-ft) of torque. By Dan Mihalascu Story References: PCauto via AutoblogNL        |
| Toyota Bringing FCV Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Car to Market in 2015 with a 300-Mile Range Posted: 07 Jan 2014 02:45 PM PST  Toyota is displaying its FCV concept car along with a camouflaged engineering prototype at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The Japanese automaker says it will launch the car on the U.S. market in 2015 at a "reasonable" but unspecified price with a targeted 300-mile (483-km) range. Furthermore, filling-up the car will take between 3 and 5 minutes. The prototype on display at CES has been used for extensive and extreme on-road testing in North America for more than a year, with Toyota saying it has "consistently delivered a driving range of about 300 miles, zero-to-sixty acceleration of about 10 seconds, with no emissions, other than water vapor." Bob Carter, senior vice president of automotive operations at Toyota Motor Sales, said the carmaker is doing a good job with building the vehicle at a reasonable price and helping kick-start the construction of convenient hydrogen refueling infrastructure. He added the production fuel cell vehicle will launch in 2015, initially in California. That's because The Golden State has approved more than $200 million in funding to build about 20 new stations by 2015, a total of 40 by 2016, and as many as 100 by 2024. Toyota says it has dramatically reduced the cost of building a fuel cell powertrain since 2002, when it began testing and developing prototypes. The carmaker estimates a 95-percent cost reduction in the powertrain and fuel tanks of the vehicle it will launch in 2015, compared to what it cost to build the original prototype in 2002. Furthermore, the size and weight of the FCV's powertrain has been significantly reduced while maintaining a total output of more than 100kW (134hp). Another advantage of the FCV is that a fully-fueled vehicle will be capable of supplying enough energy to power a house for a week in an emergency. By Dan Mihalascu                                          |
| Goodyear Hostage Situation Ends in France, U.S. Investor Lashes Out and Calls French "Nuts" Posted: 07 Jan 2014 01:58 PM PST  After being held hostage for two days by left-leaning union members at a Goodyear tire factory in Amiens, located some 60 miles north of the French capital, Paris, two company managers were released today with the help of French police. On Monday, the General Confederation of Labour (GCT) union-backed workers had used large farm tires to barricade site director Michel Dheilly and human resources manager Bernard Glesser in an office after a meeting over lay-off pay for the 1,250 employees who are set to lose their jobs at the factory. According to CNBC, CGT union heads want the Ohio-based tire-maker to increase the packages offered to workers from €20,000 to €80,000 or about $27,000 to $109,000 respectively. Goodyear, on its behalf, claims that it had offered €80,000 as part of restructuring in 2012, which CGT then refused. Bloomberg reported that the union leaders warned this isn't the end of the story. "The show is only just beginning," Mickael Wamen, leader of the CGT union at Goodyear's Amiens-Nord factory, told the media after the release of the two hostages. In the meantime, Maurice Taylor, Chairman of Titan International Inc. who had considered investing in the farm-tire operations of the factory in 2013 but decided to walk away stating at the time, "The French workforce gets paid high wages but works only three hours. They get one hour for breaks and lunch, talk for three and work for three", spoke to French radio station RTL about the hostage situation last night: "That's really stupid," he said. "They're taking hostages. In the U.S., that's kidnapping. If they did that in the U.S., these people would go to jail. Why don't they just go and rob a bunch of French banks and they could end up buying Goodyear? They're crazy. I mean, come on! Get real. There's no reason to do that. They're not the big bosses. They can't do anything. My God, they're nuts." Video and print-screen courtesy of CNBC    |
| 2015 Corvette Z06 Fender Badge Comes with "Supercharged" Label Posted: 07 Jan 2014 01:37 PM PST  Just a few hours ago, we reported about Chevrolet's website coding slipup that revealed the new 2015 Corvette Stingray Z06's output numbers through the search result metadata, but not the type of engine. Now, a freshly released photo from GM tuning specialist Lingenfelter Performance may provide an answer to that, as the allegedly official cropped picture shows the upper side of the Z06's fender vent, which was hidden from the original press teaser. The badge reads, "Z06 SUPERCHARGED", and if true, it confirms earlier reports (see Jalopnik's piece with the leaked engine pics here) of a new supercharged V8 unit named LT4. According to the metadata that has since been removed from Chevy's website (we took a print screen below), the supercharged V8 pushes out 115hp more than the outgoing Z06's naturally-aspirated 7.0-liter V8 at 620 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque. ![2015-Chevrolet-CorvetteZ06[3][1]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dc6x_4-aErM/UsxzRpguZhI/AAAAAAAPoaE/29gAR4xnH1c/s1600-h/2015-Chevrolet-CorvetteZ06%25255B3%25255D%25255B1%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg "2015-Chevrolet-CorvetteZ06[3][1]") ![2015-Chevrolet-CorvetteZ06[3][2]](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mDCcRzJ9RhU/UsxzUKahWXI/AAAAAAAPoaU/4ra1ha-LYCI/s1600-h/2015-Chevrolet-CorvetteZ06%25255B3%25255D%25255B2%25255D%25255B4%25255D.jpg "2015-Chevrolet-CorvetteZ06[3][2]") ![2015-Chevrolet-CorvetteZ06[3][3]](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sXFJ6MJczj8/UsxzWOojscI/AAAAAAAPoak/Y_zDLdkgZlI/s1600-h/2015-Chevrolet-CorvetteZ06%25255B3%25255D%25255B3%25255D%25255B4%25255D.jpg "2015-Chevrolet-CorvetteZ06[3][3]")    |
| Ferrari FF Hits Ford C-MAX Taxi Then Fence in Boston Posted: 07 Jan 2014 12:55 PM PST  Regardless of where the blame lies – be that the freezing conditions in Massachusetts, the driver of the Ferrari and/or the other car reportedly involved in the accident with the gunmetal FF seen in the above photo, a crashed Ferrari is never a pretty sight. Here's all that we know about the incident at this time, courtesy of Wreckedexotics: "Ferrari FF collided with a Ford C-Max taxi last night in Boston. Witnesses say the Ferrari was making a lot of noise shortly before the crash." You never know, but given how expensive it is to fix luxury cars in general, let alone special Italian exotics, and looking at the damages the supercar sustained, we would say that this Ferrari FF is either toast or an insurance write off. - Do you have more information on the crash? Send us an email or tell us in the comments and we'll update this post. Photo Credits: Wreckedexotics     |
| French Goodyear Workers Take Managers Hostage to Get Higher Severance Packages Posted: 07 Jan 2014 12:33 PM PST  Negotiations between management and employees over layoffs can be heated sometimes, but in France, this type of intense discussions can even lead to "boss-napping." That is the term coined for a phenomenon that has become commonplace in France since the onset of the financial crisis: employees taking the managers hostage as a negotiating leverage. It happened again on Monday, when trade union members at Goodyear's tyre plant in Amiens, northern France, took two of their managers hostage in a pay-related dispute. The CGT workers' union said they had detained factory director Michel Dheilly and human resources director Bernard Glesser after failing to agree terms with management over the proposed closure of the Amiens plant. "It was no longer possible to keep fighting for our jobs. So we decided to change tactics and fight for the largest compensation possible," union president Mickael Wamen told local media. The two managers have been locked in a room at the plant, with union members saying they will keep them hostage until Goodyear provides guarantees over pay bonuses and severance packages. Goodyear condemned the union's action in a statement. "This kind of initiative, always to be condemned, is especially inopportune and counterproductive at a time when we should concentrate on the future of employees affected by the restructuring, after several years looking for a solution." Boss-napping has become commonplace in France since 2009, with employees at Caterpillar, 3M and Sony taking their managers hostage asking for higher severance packages and fewer job cuts. By Dan Mihalascu Story References: Financial Times    |
| This 1969 Ford Boss 302 Mustang was Tucked Away in a Barn for 40 Years Posted: 07 Jan 2014 12:04 PM PST  If you're thinking in the back of your head, "why can't I get lucky with a barn find", you're not alone, but there's still hope, as proved by the following story of a 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Fastback that was found hiding in a New Hampshire barn, some four decades after its owner abandoned it there. The Acapulco Blue-colored V8 pony car was left in the barn after its second owner, who purchased the Mustang from the original buyer in 1971, had a crash-encounter with a fire-hydrant and subsequently lost his license and interest for the car sometime in the mid-1970s. As pointed out by Autos-Yahoo that found the Boss 302 listed for sale on eBay, in one of the photos, there's an oil-change sticker on the door sills from 1973, which could very well be the last year the car was used. The eBay seller found the car last summer and has now listed the matching-numbers Mustang Boss 302 for auction, with the highest bid currently standing at US $68,600, with some 7 hours left to go at the time we wrote this post.
"A perfect way to start the New Year with a barn find that is an absolute time capsule and one of the most sought after Muscle Cars. This Boss survivor was just removed from a barn on the east coast where it was hiding for the past 30+ years. It has been under the same ownership for 42 years after it was purchased from the original owner in 1971. Fully documented, Numbers Matching born in engine, real deal, Marti Report and even the newspaper ad the original owner placed. There are only 43,002 miles on the Acapulco Blue Ford. It features the original, factory installed Black Clarion Knit Vinyl Hi-Back Bucket Seat Interior and is equipped with the Original Boss 302-4V Engine, Four Speed Close Ratio Manual Transmission, 3.91 Traction-Lok Rear Axle, F60x15 Belted Tires w/ Raised White Letters, Rear Deck Spoiler, Sport Deck Rear Seats, Power Front Disc Brakes, Power Steering, AM Radio, Color Keyed Racing Mirrors and Tachometer. After lowering the car off of the jack stands and carefully removing the Boss 302 from the barn, the car was then transported back to Valenti Classics, which is a restoration and service facility. After admiring this magnificent piece the spark plugs were removed, cylinders were lubricated and the engine was turned over by hand. A battery was temporarily installed to test the electrical system, interior lights came on once the doors opened, dash and exterior lights functioned and engine turned over. The Acapulco Blue paint is the original finish that was sprayed on at Ford with the exception of the left front fender, which was refinished and blended into the door in the early 70's. This was the result of the owner trying to avoid capture and meeting a fire hydrant. Subsequently he was captured, lost his license and the car was parked. The original Ford dealer that sold this Boss was Main Line Motors in Devon, PA and they sold it to a Mr. Tompkins of Villanova, PA on 9/17/69. Mr. Tompkins sold the car to the Seger's of Concord, NH on 5/1/71 and the car remained under their ownership and in NH until 7/31/2013. We have copies of the bill of sale, envelopes from coming from the original owner to the Seger's as well as a copy of the newspaper ad Mr. Tompkins placed in 1971."                            |
| 2013 is Ford’s Best U.S. Sales Year Since 2006; Top-Selling Marque for 4th Consecutive Year Posted: 07 Jan 2014 11:33 AM PST  The Blue Oval is bluer and more oval than ever with the latest sales data that it just published having received the final details. Ford happily announces that 2013 was officially a really good year for it, with an average rise in retail sales over the previous year of 14 percent (12 percent on cars and 14 percent on SUVs and 17 percent on trucks). Annual records were set by the Fiesta, Fusion and Escape models, as well as the F-Series trucks. In total, it managed to sell 2,412,224 vehicles. For them, last year was marked by virtually continuous growth that carried through into December, when total sales rose by 2 percent – it became the best December since 2005 and went on to complete a very fruitful sales year, the fourth one in a row to see Ford at the top of the charts (as they were expecting). "December was a strong close to an even better year for Ford Motor Company," said John Felice, vice president of Ford US Marketing, Sales and Service, adding that they "saw strong growth across the entire Ford lineup and made significant gains in the import-dominated coastal markets… Strong demand for our new cars, utilities, hybrids and trucks provided Ford with the largest share point gain of any full-line automaker in 2013." Even Lincoln did ok for what was for them a less than satisfactory year and sales of their MKZ went up 73 percent through the whole year and 8 percent in December alone. By Andrei Nedelea           |
| Say Hello to the 2015 Audi TT's Interior with Fully Digital Instrument Cluster Posted: 07 Jan 2014 11:04 AM PST  Audi has dropped photos of a cutaway of the upcoming third-generation TT's interior that will be on display at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas held from January 6 through 10, 2014. No doubt, the first thing that captures your eyes on the new dashboard is the fully-digital instrument cluster sporting a huge 12.3-inch TFT screen that also replaces central MMI monitor. According to the Germans, drivers can switch between two display modes, include a "classic" view in which the speedometer and rev counter are in the foreground, and an "infotainment" mode where the virtual instruments are smaller. Audi says that there's ample display space in the screen for functions such as the 3D navigation map. It remains to be seen whether drivers will appreciate and get accustomed to the digital layout without being distracted from such a radically different display housed right in front of their eyes. The overall design and feel of the dashboard isn't all-too different from the current TT, but it does look sleeker and sharper. The changes are mostly in the details as Audi focused on applying new generation of electronics and connectivity features, as well as minimizing clutter. For example, the controls for the air conditioning are housed in the vents themselves, while the adjustment functions for seat heating, and for the temperature, direction and strength of the flow of air, are located in their axes, with small displays indicating the settings. Audi says it has also made changes to the MMI control on the center console and the second control unit alongside the steering wheel to simplify the process of accessing options. The company added that in the near future, drivers will be able to use "just two rather than four buttons in the area surrounding the rotary pushbutton". We don't get any photos of the exterior of the car, but recent spy shots have outlined the evolutionary changes to the body that sits atop VW's new and lighter MQB modular platform shared with many other models, including the Golf and A3. The new TT will be introduced later in 2014.         |
| Why, oh, Why? First Generation Dodge Viper Pounded and Crushed Posted: 07 Jan 2014 10:40 AM PST  We've seen cars crushed because they were illegally imported to the United States. While I totally disagree with this practice, let's just say there is some logic behind this, as some cars are deemed unsafe for U.S. consumers. But how does one explain why a perfectly good car has to get crushed? If you love cars, and since you're on this website that's pretty obvious, watching the video posted below will be really painful. It shows how a first-generation Dodge Viper is destroyed, much to the amusement of the audience. We don't know why the Viper had to be rumbled down, but it may not be the only one to get this treatment since this is what the uploader wrote in the description: "We had to destroy this Dodge Viper. 4 more to go." If you know something about this or have any explanation about why this had to happen, make sure you share it with us in the commentary section. By Dan Mihalascu Story References: YouTube via Jalopnik   |
| New Volvo Concept XC Coupe Shows the Styling Way for Next XC90 [w/Video] Posted: 07 Jan 2014 10:16 AM PST  We won't have to wait until next week and the 2014 Detroit motor show's grand opening on January 13 to see what Volvo's brand-new Concept XC Coupe looks like as the Swedes have just released a batch of photos and preliminary information on the crossover model. While there's always the distinct possibility of the concept directly inspiring a production model, Volvo's primary goal with the XC Coupe is to preview the brand's new design language for crossover and SUV vehicles, starting with the next generation XC90, which was teased during a presentation last year. Together with the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show Coupe Concept and one more, yet unnamed study that's due for release later on, the three Volvo concept cars are also created to highlight "vital elements" of the marque's new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) that will be used in all future products, starting with the next XC90. "[The] Concept XC Coupe also shows how clever engineering makes it possible for us to reinforce our world-leading safety without compromising design, size or weight," said Volvo's head designer Thomas Ingenlath. "Thanks to extensive use of high-strength boron steel and structures with new, ingenious decoupling we can make SPA cars more compact and safer at the same time." Besides the common platform, the two-door, four-seater XC Concept also shares the same design DNA with the Coupe Concept, including the crispy profile lines and a 'floating' grille flanked by headlamps featuring new T-shaped DRL light guides, albeit styled to offer a more robust impression. "Both concept cars show how we can shape our cars from now on. We add emotional value to the Volvo brand with the calm, confident beauty that is the hallmark of Scandinavian design," said Ingenlath. In regards to the new XC90 that will be presented in 2014 and how it relates to the XC Coupe Concept, Ingenlath commented: "Volvo Concept XC in another demonstration of what our new architecture is capable of. It brings us a bit closer to the all-new XC90. But it goes without saying that a three-row, seven-seater will have a larger and fuller look than this four-seater. Volvo Concept XC is more of a Cross Country version of a sleek sports wagon."                          |
| Take a Ride Along in a Fully Original 1980 Maserati Merak SS Posted: 07 Jan 2014 09:20 AM PST  Despite being a rare car, with around 1,800 examples ever made, the Maserati Merak pops up surprisingly often on the web, proving that there are still a lot of them being looked after and driven, even if it's known that you need a lot of the former to even enjoy a bit of the latter… The engineering behind the Merak was not shabby, though, and if you have the wallet and patience, you can still run a fully original one today, like the man in the video below, Bruce Wagner. He owns a rare 1980 Merak SS, which gets more power and badging than the basic model, by using larger carburetors (of which it has three for the 3-liter V6) and a different cam. The sound it makes is glorious, and the way it looks compliments that perfectly. Even the tires are fully original, and the exact compound that the car was designed to run on originally – they are stickier than average and offer good handling (according to the owner). It's a real peach of a classic that definitely deserves to be kept on the road, as the industry whisks us further and further away from the romantic early image of the automobile. Admire its shape and engine rumble in the Hagerty video posted below. By Andrei Nedelea    |
| BMW 750i V12 E38 Individualized by Vilner Posted: 07 Jan 2014 08:50 AM PST  Most of you probably know what to do if you want a new BMW dressed, or rather, colored-up in the German marque's Individual program, but what gives if you want to do the same to a used model? Well, then the tuning industry is your friend. Vilner, a Bulgarian design studio with a knack for premium interior modifications, has just wrapped up its latest project based on a facelifted (1998-2001) BMW 750i V12. We're still waiting for Vilner to give us the skinny on what it did to the car, but from these freshly released photos, we see that the exterior updates include bigger aftermarket rims finished in gloss black, along with smoked front- and rear lights and badges, a blacked-out grille and new fog light units. Inside, the Bulgarian studio dressed the cabin in a mixture of black and gray leather, gray Alcantara and gloss black trim accents. It's all a matter of personal taste, but in this writer's eyes, the only thing that kind of looks out of place is the re-upholstered and -trimmed steering wheel.                     |
| French Vandals Torch 1,067 Cars for New Year’s, 10 Percent Less than in 2013 Posted: 07 Jan 2014 08:25 AM PST  France has a strange New Year's tradition of torching cars and that happens especially in the largest cities, which compete every year for the No. 1 spot – that is the highest number of torched cars. To fight this disturbing phenomenon, which cannot compare to isolated incidents like the one in Vancouver in 2011, the French government sent a record 53,000 law enforcement officers to patrol major cities from 6 pm on December 31 to 6 am on January 1. The result? The number of torched cars dropped by 10 percent compared to last year. While authorities may see progress in these figures, try telling the owners of the 1,067 torched cars across the country that things are going in the right direction… French Interior Minister Manuel Valls held a press conference last Wednesday highlighting that December 31 was "one of the year's most important events in terms of public security". He also reported the deaths of three people that were stabbed in separate incidents. The embarrassing tradition of vehicle arson started in the poor suburbs near big cities and it's mostly concentrated in these areas. In particular, it started in Strasbourg in the northeast of France in the late 1980s, growing into an alarming phenomenon during the 1990s. In 1997, national media began to obsessively cover the phenomenon, with local government official Patrice Magnier saying at the time that he saw a clear "correlation between the media focus on the phenomenon and the rise in incidents." In fact, vandals from rival neighborhoods were competing for the media spotlight. Soon the tradition spread across France, with a new peak in New Year's car burning being observed between 2005 and 2009. Observers say youths from poor communities burn cars as a form of protest against the state, blaming it for their lack of economic opportunities. Note: Video and print-screen are from 2012, courtesy of Tele/YouTube By Dan Mihalascu    |
| New 2015 Corvette Z06 gets 620HP, Reveals Chevrolet's Official Website Posted: 07 Jan 2014 07:56 AM PST  Thanks to Chevrolet, we now know exactly what to expect in terms of output from the upcoming 2015 Corvette Stingray Z06 that will break cover at the Detroit motor show next week on January 13, and we quote the Google search result snippet for "Corvette Z06 supercar reveal" from the brand's official website: "With 620 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque, the 2015 Corvette Z06 is the most advanced Corvette ever made. Read more about Chevy's supercar here." Too bad Chevy deleted the contents of the page, so we can't actually click on the "read more" link to find out whether the 620-ponies (115hp more than the previous C6 Corvette Z06's 505hp 7.0-liter V8) are sourced from GM's upcoming 4.5-liter V8 turbo or another eight-cylinder unit. Story References: Jalopnik via Chevrolet Note: Regular 2015 Corvette pictured above  ![2015-Chevrolet-CorvetteZ06[3]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hY3gEi9dmeo/UswiV2TJ2XI/AAAAAAAPoC8/s5kaDyRl5kE/s1600-h/2015-Chevrolet-CorvetteZ06%25255B3%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg "2015-Chevrolet-CorvetteZ06[3]")    |
| 2001 Acura NSX-T with a Mere 3,000 Miles will Make You Drool Posted: 07 Jan 2014 07:29 AM PST  Even if the Acura NSX (sold as a Honda outside of North America and Hong Kong) remained in production for a solid 15 years, we're rapidly approaching the 10 year mark since the last cars rolled off the assembly line at the end of 2005, so it's getting harder and harder to find unmolested and low mileage examples. The odometer on this yellow 2001 NSX-T we discovered on eBay (it's listed as a 1991, but we double-checked the VIN and it's a 2001) shows a mere 3,081 miles (4,957 kilometers). From the pictures, the car looks almost like it left the factory in the beginning of the previous decade, and the only changes made to the targa-top model from its two previous owners are the HRE alloy wheels and a high performance sound system with a custom-built speaker mounted behind the seats. The 'Buy it Now' price for Acura's most famous sports model on eBay is $73,900 (equal to €54,300).                                       |
| Dodge Announces New Dart Blacktop Package for 2014 Detroit Show Posted: 07 Jan 2014 06:55 AM PST  The Dart compact sedan is joining the growing list of Dodge models to be offered with the Blacktop package that adds a blacked-out styling treatment for an affordable premium, which in this case, stands at $295. What you get with the Blacktop package is unique 18-inch Gloss Black wheels, Gloss Black side mirrors, plus black and ruby or black and light Tungsten cloth interior with ruby accent stitching, stripes and accents on the seats, doors, center console and instrument panel. Exterior color choices include Redline Red, Header Orange, Blue Streak, Granite Crystal Metallic, Billet Silver, Pitch Black and Bright White. The 2014 Dart Blacktop package is based on the SXT model with the Rallye Appearance Group that now comes as standard with the 2.4-liter MultiAir2 Tigershark inline-four engine producing 184 horsepower and 174 lb.-ft.         |
| Opel Plops New 200PS 1.6-Liter Turbo in Astra GTC Making it The Most Powerful Non-OPC/VXR Posted: 07 Jan 2014 06:33 AM PST  The Opel/Vauxhall Astra GTC, equipped with the new 200 PS (197 hp) 1.6-liter turbocharged petrol engine, is the most powerful non OPC/VXR model that the manufacturer offers and is able to crack 62 mph (100 km/h) in an impressive 7.9 seconds, before topping out at 143 mph or 229 km/h. This equates to a 30 percent boost over the previous turbo 1.6, though the increase in performance doesn't seem exactly proportional. Efficiency is up too, and it is claimed that equipped with the new power plant, the GTC is able to achieve a combined figure of 51 mpg UK or 6.6 l/100 km while expulsing 154 g/km CO2. Engineers also say it's now more refined than before, and it's "the only unit in its class to feature twin balancer shafts for smooth running, while a host of sound engineering measures have been made for low noise, vibration and harshness (NVH)." Along with the new engine, there's also a new IntelliLink infotainment system that features sat-nav, voice control, Bluetooth and photo viewer, all accessed through a 7-inch touchscreen. In Germany, the Astra GTC equipped with the 200 PS motor starts at €25,500, while UK buyers will be asked to part with at least £20,995 for one. By Andrei Nedelea            |
| Caterham Seven Now Officially and Legally Available in the USA Posted: 07 Jan 2014 06:06 AM PST  If you can live without any modern day luxury and comfort amenities and don't mind getting your own or your trusted mechanic's hands dirty to drive one of the world's most purest and exciting cars, then you'll be happy to learn that Caterham's iconic Seven is now officially and legally available for sale in the United States. As of January 1, the Seven is offered in a number of different versions from Caterham's official U.S. distributor, Irvine, California-based Superformance, including the Seven 480 and the new Seven 620R with a 310hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four. According to the company, the vehicles will be shipped to the States in part-built form and sold as rolling chassis via Superformance's nationwide dealer network with customers then having to complete the build at home. Caterham noted that X Factor host Simon Cowell deserves some kudos for the move to offer cars in the States as the delivery of a Seven CSR 260 to his home in Los Angeles sparked "increased American interest" in the series. Caterham Group CEO, Graham Macdonald, commented: "The US market has always been a difficult one for us, thanks to the stringent federal homologation rules. But we know there is an appetite for our particular brand of lightweight and performance and we already export our SP/300.R to the States through Dyson Racing."                 |
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