Carscoops

Car Theft Victim Recovers SUV at McDonald’s Drive-Through She Worked at

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:02:12 PDT

The palpable existence of Karma is a subject that brings about much debate, especially if the parties are informed and sufficiently vocal. However, you can’t deny that something happened when a woman who had stolen an SUV went straight to the McDonald’s drive-through where the owner of the said vehicle was working, and ultimately get caught. Read more »

Check out 2013 Gumball 3000 Rally's Impressive Lineup of Cars

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Tue, 21 May 2013 07:13:48 PDT

The Gumball 3000 rally started on Saturday, May 18, and videos with the ridiculously expensive cars that take part in the competition have already appeared on YouTube.

The first two clips were shot at Koenigsegg’s headquarters in Sweden, where the cars made a stop. The rainy weather that was responsible for an accident in the first day of the rally – a Lamborghing LP670-4 SuperVeloce, didn't stop the expensive lineup from continuing their journey, as you can see in the third video which follows contestants down Swedish roads.

That's One Helluva Strange Bimmer: 1982 BMW M35 Speedster

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Tue, 21 May 2013 06:05:20 PDT

While poking around on eBay today we found this ambiguous 1982 BMW 320i that doesn't know if it wants to be a junior 633CSi Cabriolet from the Back the Future 2 flick, a poor man's track racer or a homemade M3 wannabe. Perhaps it's all three in one…

The owner of the car removed the roof and cut around two-thirds of the windshield and A-pillars, adding M3 E30-like fender extensions, a hood scoop, front and rear spoilers and a roll cage, while also partially stripping out the interior – for some unexplainable reason, the unusable rear seat bench and door panels were left intact.

AutoExpress Drives Facelifted Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Tue, 21 May 2013 05:30:10 PDT

The freshly-facelifted Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet builds on the familiar strengths of its predecessor, while adding a pint of more style, better efficiency and improved handling. The new headlights and reshaped front fascia are the highlight of the facelift, while the rest of the car gets only minor alterations. Read more »

New Mitsubishi Attrage is the Akward Looking Sedan Version of the Mirage

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:56:58 PDT

After previewing the conceptual G4 sedan at the Bangkok International Motor Show in March and the Shanghai Auto Show in April this year, Mitsubishi has now announced the production version of its new small sedan named the Attrage.

Billed as a "next-generation global sedan", the Attrage is the sedan sibling of the new Mirage supermini for buyers on a budget that is offered in several markets and regions around the world, including Europe, Asia and starting from this fall, in the United States as well.

Renault Reveals Mégane RS Red Bull Racing RB8 Limited Edition Model

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Tue, 21 May 2013 04:34:54 PDT

To celebrate their third Formula 1 Constructors’ world title, Renault and Red Bull Racing have released the new limited edition Mégane RS Red Bull Racing RB8. Painted in the exclusive Crépuscule Blue color used by the Red Bull F1 team, the limited edition Mégane RS sports Red Bull's colors for the second year in a row. Read more »

Instant Karma for Toyota Prius Cabby Making an Illegal U-Turn

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:55:38 PDT

This is what we call "instant karma". Bill Walsh, a bicyclist, who seems to have suffered from drivers making illegal U-turns on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., as evidenced by the head-cam videos (see below) featured on his YouTube channel, finally saw justice served.

While riding on the bike lane, Walsh was confronted by yet another driver looking to make a quick U-turn. Infuriated by the move, he yells "Illegal, illegal!" to the driver of the Toyota Prius taxicab, who doesn't really seem to care.

Driven: New Peugeot 2008 – A Grown-Up 208 That Goes Off-Road

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:36:23 PDT

Wake up early, drive two hours to the airport, catch the flight to whatever destination the program dictates (in this case it’s Paris), though my trip doesn’t stop there. Peugeot has decided to launch the new 2008 small crossover in Strasbourg. This means another boarding, this time on the TGV – that’s train de grande vitesse, or high-speed train. Yep, it sure is high-speed, at one point reaching 326 km/h (203 mph) but, even so, it takes two and a half hours to get there. I hope it’s worth all the time and a sore bum.

Going Global

The 2008 is Peugeot’s entry in the expanding small SUV niche. At 4.16 m long, it’s 200 mm longer than the 208 hatchback on which it is based and is poised to take on rivals such as the Nissan Juke, the Renault Captur and the Ford EcoSport. Mind you, the wheelbase remains the same (2,538 mm) so the extra length is accounted for by the slightly increased front and, mostly, rear overhang that increases boot volume from 295 to 360 lt (VDA).

For $149,500, Hennessey will Turns the Ford F-150 Raptor into the 8-Seat VelociRaptor SUV

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:46:38 PDT

With Hummer gone, it looks like the world badly needed a giant SUV, so the creative minds at Hennessey Performance decided to do something about it. Their proposal is the VelociRaptor SUV, based on the Ford F-150 Raptor pickup truck. The full-sized SUV offers seating for up to 8 people and picks up where the Ford Excursion left off (for good reason, some may say).

“We are now very excited to be able to offer the VelociRaptor SUV to those who like the Raptor but want more seats and space”, said Hennessey Performance CEO Don Goldman.

MT Test Gives 2014 Nissan GT-R Track Pack a Thumbs Up

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:17:41 PDT

You’d be forgiven for thinking that the standard 2014 Nissan GT-R can handle its own on a race track just fine, and yet the Japanese manufacturer disagrees with you with the optional Track Pack, which slightly alters the car, making it a tiny bit more track-focused.

Tested by MotorTrend, there are absolutely no surprises, from the 2.7 seconds it takes to reach 60 mph (96 km/h), to the amazing numbers it records in the rest of the tests (grip, handling and especially braking), the GT-R proves as capable as ever. The Track Pack doesn’t add a whole deal more.

Chrysler’s Quality Chief Says Vehicle Quality Rivals Toyota

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:57:13 PDT

When it comes to quality, Chrysler isn’t the first car brand that comes to mind. However, in recent years, the U.S. automaker says it has improved quality and closed the gap between its vehicles and those of Japanese automakers. In fact, Chrysler’s quality chief says the gap has become so small that it no longer should matter to consumers.

"We still benchmark Toyota," Doug Betts, Chrysler's senior vice president of quality, told Automotive News in an interview. "Toyota's very good at reliability. I believe that we have gotten close enough on reliability to Toyota that it shouldn't be a reason for somebody not to buy our cars."

Range Rover Turned into Stretch Limousine with a Strange Hump on its Roof

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:14:27 PDT

The previous generation Land Rover Range Rover is not exactly a car that lacks interior space or luxury. However, there are people in Dubai that beg to differ, as the following video proves.

The footage shows a very long Range Rover – probably at least 1 meter (39 inches) longer than the standard model – sitting in the parking lot of a hotel in Dubai. The driver of the luxury SUV turned limousine is separated from the passenger area, which is hidden from curious eyes by the darkened windows.

Spied: BMW's FWD 1-Series Gran Turismo Spotted in Longer 7-Seat Version

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:25:12 PDT

The front-wheel drive platform won't be the only significant new feature of the upcoming BMW 1-Series Gran Turismo (GT), as our spies have just captured a longer version of the car sporting a third row of seats increasing its capacity to seven passengers.

BMW had given us our first taste of the five-seat variant of the 1 GT with the Concept Active Hybrid at the 2012 Paris Motor Show, but it hadn't prepared us for a longer model.

What Were You Doing in High School? Certainly Not Converting a Honda S2000 into a 920 hp EV

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:00:43 PDT

The Honda S2000 is one of the last great modern sports cars built. That means it’s a good base to start a project on, however, throwing away the incredibly rev-hungry two-liter engine, which up until the introduction of the Ferrari 458 Italia, had the highest horsepower per liter for a naturally aspirated production unit, is not something we would immediately consider doing. Read more »

Mercedes Uses Fairies and Aliens to Promote the A45 AMG

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:30:58 PDT

With 355-horses (360PS) kicking under its hood, the Mercedes A 45 AMG boasts the world’s most powerful 2.0-liter 4-cylinder production engine. That in itself is enough to make drivers enthusiastic about the prospect of getting behind the wheel of the very hot hatch.

So when there are two drivers and only one car, things can get interesting – even more so if the duo are Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG Petronas’ Formula 1 drivers.

Audi Responds to Report About Tesla Model S Beating its A8's Sales

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:04:46 PDT

Tesla can add another star to its belt of pride after Audi of America came out with a rather lame press statement concerning a report from CNN Money, which said Tesla sold more Model S sedans in U.S. during the first quarter of the year (4,750 examples) than Mercedes-Benz S-Class (3,077), BMW 7-Series (2,338) and Audi A8 (1,.462) sedans.

Audi took issue with the headline from CNN Money, which said "Tesla sales beating Mercedes, BMW and Audi", and which we will agree with Ingolstadt's people, was misleading, but the chart below and the article itself clearly stated that the numbers concerned the Tesla Model S and the big sedans from the three German premium brands.

Ford Receives 3,000 Orders for the Fiesta ST, More than Half Are from the UK

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:20:37 PDT

Ford announced that it has received 3,000 European orders for the new Fiesta ST since the car reached dealerships in March. The markets where the Fiesta ST was most wanted were the UK, Germany and Switzerland.

More than half of all models sold to date went to the UK, with Germany and Switzerland ranking next. The most popular color chosen by Fiesta ST buyers was the Spirit Blue, requested in 27 percent of orders. Frozen White and Race Red followed next.

Russian Priest in Mercedes-Benz E-Class Misbehaving

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:41:01 PDT

You gotta love the Russian activists who participate in the growing citizens' movement StopHam (locally called СтопХам), whose goal is to shame all those drivers who illegally park or leave their vehicles anywhere on and off the road (think pedestrian crossings, handicap positions, sidewalks etc.), since many police officers either don't care or turn a blind eye – especially when it comes to expensive rides… Read more »

Chrysler Group Announces Production of One Millionth Jeep Wrangler JK

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:10:04 PDT

As far as American automotive icons, there’s only a handful of cars which can actually touch the Jeep Wrangler, because most of the world is familiar with its shape from World War II, and they have been smart over the years to really retain the look everybody knows and recognizes.

This coupled with the fact that it has always been one of the more capable off-road machines are now culminating with Chrysler announcing the building of the one millionth Wrangler of the JK generation (2007 – present) through their Facebook page.

EVO Pits Porsche Cayenne Turbo S Against the…Caterham 7 Supersport

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:58:35 PDT

What could a Porsche Cayenne Turbo S possibly have in common with a Caterham 7 Supersport to justify a comparison test? Well, they both have four wheels, a steering wheel and live on gasoline fuel, but other than that, they're completely different animals. And it is their differences, rather than their similarities, that make this test from EVO magazine all the more interesting.

The Porsche Cayenne Turbo S is a big and hefty SUV – it's 4,846mm (about 191 inches) long and weighs 2,215kg (4,883 pounds) with power coming from a bi-turbocharged 4.8-liter V8 churning out 542-horses (550PS) and 750Nm (553 lb-ft) of torque.

Nürburgring Racetrack Going Under the Hammer for Around $170 Million

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Mon, 20 May 2013 08:41:47 PDT

The Nürburgring has seen better days, financially-speaking, that is. After having gone under bankruptcy protection in July of 2012, the renowned racetrack is now set to find a new owner who is to take over from the current patrons, the German government. However, the price will be far lower than the $515/€400 -million debt that caused the bankruptcy, according to an AutoWeek report. Read more »

eBay Find: Peugeot 404 Up for Sale after Sitting for More than 25 Years

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Mon, 20 May 2013 08:06:47 PDT

Here’s another cool car from the world of eBay. It’s a Peugeot 404, from 1968, which had been in storage more than 25 years. The seller explains, “This 404 has been stored in a garage since 1985. The original owner purchased this car new in 1968 and drove it about 106k miles and then parked it in their garage in 1985, where it has sat until I retrieved it last week.”

He goes on to say that, the car is solid, with rust only coming in around the right headlight. The interior is praised for its originality and lack of visible wear, especially on the seats that apparently need a good cleaning and should look good.

GM Shows Off New Lime Rock Green 2014 Corvette Stingray [w/Videos]

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:35:03 PDT

It's been a very long while since Chevrolet last offered a green shade on the Corvette – to be precise, the Dark Bowling Green metallic on the 2001MY C5, according to the folks over at Corvetteblogger.

If you're a fan of the color, you'll be happy to know that a similar (optional) shade named "Lime Rock Green" will be available on the brand-new 2014 Corvette Stingray that goes on sale at the end of this summer with prices starting from $51,995 for the coupe model.

Ford Sued Again for its Hybrids’ Economy Figures

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Mon, 20 May 2013 07:02:58 PDT

Ford has been selling its Fusion and C-Max hybrids in the US quite soundly, despite the fact that their image suffered a mild blow after being hit with lawsuits regarding their efficiency claims, three of which were quite major.

Now, Marianne Cibeu from Massachusetts adds to that number, with a new suit asking for $5-million in damages for herself and the rest of the Ford hybrid buyers in the state.

Recall for Alfa 8C, Maserati Quattroporte and GranTurismo, and Subaru Outback and Legacy

noreply@blogger.com (John @ Carscoop) — Mon, 20 May 2013 06:42:55 PDT

The beginning of the week brings two separate and unrelated recall actions, the first from Alfa Romeo and Maserati, and the second from Subaru.

Maserati's North American division issued the recall for certain model year 2005-2008 Quattroporte, 2008 Granturismo, and 2008 Alfa Romeo 8C vehicles, because rear tie rod assemblies on these cars may have insufficient anti-corrosion material applied and could rust and weaken, leading to a possible fail.