car-exist

Spied: Chinese-Israeli Startup Qoros Testing New C11 Compact Sedan

2012-07-05T17:23:00.001-07:00

If you're a devoted follower of car-exist and at the same time have the memory of an…elephant, you may remember a report from last November when we first told you about the birth of a new brand named Qoros.

The newly formed automaker's parents are China's Chery Automobile Co. and Israeli investment firm Israel Corp. The joint-venture firm is headed by Chery official Guo Qian with former VW executive Volker Steinwascher having filled the role of vice chairman.

At the time, Steinwascher was quoted saying that the brand was employing experienced designers and engineers who had worked at companies like BMW and VW. And true enough, in December of 2011, Qoros hired Gert Hildebrand, former General Manager of Mini Design, to lead its styling division.

Ford Mustang 5.0 Jumps 70 Feet Before Crash Landing on a Brick Wall

2012-07-05T16:41:00.001-07:00

Like it or not, accidents are an unavoidable part of the motor racing world, something that all drivers have to live with.

Steve Butscher is one of those fortunate drivers that had a serious accident but lived to tell the tale almost unscathed.

While running in the AIX Outlaw Ford Mustang 5.0 at the Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond, California, last month, Butscher entered turn No8 too fast and too wide and as a result, slid his tires on the dirt at a speed of around 130mph (209km/h).

Wald Wants to Make to the Toyota Prius Look Bad Arse

2012-07-05T15:55:00.001-07:00

In its second attempt to tune the Toyota Prius Mk3 after the "Exclusive Line" in 2010, Japan's Wald International has released the first images of its "Sports Line" package that will soon be available for order. Read more »

Spy Shots: Is Aston Martin Preparing a More Powerful Rapide S Model?

2012-07-05T15:21:00.001-07:00

Understandably, with only two years under its belt, it's too early for Aston Martin to be working on a mid-life facelift for its Rapide sports saloon. So, what is the British brand doing with this partially camouflaged prototype of the Rapide?

Our spies believe that the car you see in these photos is a more powerful and sportier version of luxury sedan named the Rapide S.

Quite Possibly, the Most Awesome Hagwalah-Style Save Ever

2012-07-05T14:11:00.001-07:00

Of all the mishaps with a happy conclusion that we have seen on the wild, wild roads of Russia, this one has to be if not the best, one of the best ever.

Seriously now, the driver of this silver colored tall hatchback cheated death and made it out alive without even scratching his car.

If you pay close attention to the dash-cam video from a car coming from behind, you will see the driver sliding between two trucks and making a full 360-degree turn only just avoiding contact with another truck.

2013 Opel Insignia Facelift Draws Nearer

2012-07-05T13:22:00.003-07:00

Opel and its sister company Vauxhall are almost ready to showcase the refreshed Insignia, prototypes of which were caught by our photographers while undergoing tests in Southern Europe.
Seen here in both four-door sedan and Sports Tourer estate body styles, the new Insignia series will feature subtle changes to the front end including the grille, bumper and possibly the headlamp designs, as well as to the rear that will gain a restyled bumper and different taillights which are rumored to get LED fixtures.
Read more »

Jaguar Releases New Films on Upcoming F-Type Roadster

2012-07-05T12:35:00.001-07:00

The creative folks at Jaguar are gearing up their marketing hype on the British firm's new F-Type roadster with the release of two new videos.

In the first clip named 'Future', Jaguar's Global Brand Director Adrian Hallmark, describes his vision for the car while in the second video dubbed 'Fearless', Jaguar's Design Director, Ian Callum, shares his thoughts about the roadster's design and performance credentials.

car-exist is Looking for New Writers

2012-07-05T12:15:00.001-07:00

Are you a news and internet junkie with an obsession about cars who would like to share his or her automotive insights and thoughts with the world?

Well, we may just have something for you as we are seeking new writers who wish to join our motor-head team here at car-exist.

If you happen to be interested, then by all means, click through the jump to learn more about the details and how to apply for the position.

Honda Mugen CR-Z GT with Twin-Turbo V6 is the One You'd Like but Can't Have

2012-07-05T11:54:00.001-07:00

Truth to be said, the lukewarm reception of the reborn CR-Z has much to do with its puny 122hp hybrid powertrain – in comparison, the second-generation CR-X from the late 1980s came with 150 ponies that also had to move a lot less weight.

In stark contrast to the production CR-Z that employs the use of a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid-electric system, Honda and its racing partner Mugen have come up with a far more interesting powertrain for the competition model that will run in the GT300 class of Japan's SUPER GT Series.

Single-Owner 1988 BMW M3 E30 Coupe with only 26,000 Miles up for Grabs

2012-07-05T11:12:00.001-07:00

Each generation has its automotive icons and the first generation of the BMW M3 Coupe (E30) is one of those cars that rank high up in the list of special vehicles for most gearheads who are currently in their 30s, 40s and 50s.

Given that it was built from 1986 to 1992 and putting aside heavily abused models or cars that were involved in accidents, the biggest percentage of M3 E30s have clocked many miles on the road and in many cases on the track as well over the years, which makes finding a low-mileage example a difficult task today.

Footage Shows Van Ramming Microsoft's Greek Headquarters

2012-07-05T10:44:00.001-07:00

Greek authorities have published video footage from a closed circuit television camera of an incident that took place last Wednesday, June 27, at the local headquarters of Microsoft in Athens when three men drove a stolen Nissan van into the building's entrance.

In the video, we can see the driver trying to break the glass doors of the building, something he achieves after some back and forth movements. Somewhat comically, the men found themselves in a bit of a squeeze, as there was not a lot of space at the back while the glass door pillars blocked the driver's door.

Artist Imagines Sporty Range Rover Evoque R with Supercharged V6

2012-07-05T10:01:00.001-07:00

A string of unsubstantiated rumors concerning Land Rover's intent to develop a high-performance version of the Range Rover Evoque provided the inspiration for a digital mockup of what such a model could look like from the crew over at PS-Garage.

The so-called Range Rover Evoque R was envisioned as a three-door model powered by the Jaguar-Land Rover group's newly announced 3.0-liter supercharged V6 delivering up to 375hp (380PS) and 460Nm (339 lb-ft) in the upcoming Jaguar F-Type roadster.

Volkswagen to Finalize Porsche's Sports Car Business Takeover this August

2012-07-05T09:05:00.001-07:00

Ending years of bickering between two of Germany's most successful automakers and the respective families that hold their fate, Volkswagen has announced that it will complete the buyout of the remaining 50.1 percent stake of Porsche's sports car business it doesn’t own already for €4.46 billion (US$5.6 billion).

In a joint statement, Volkswagen and Porsche said that the deal will be completed by August 1, 2012.

Honda Launches New N Box + with More Practical Interior in Japan

2012-07-05T08:02:00.001-07:00

Honda has presented the second model of its new mini-vehicle N Series named the N BOX + (N BOX plus) in Japan. The new model is essentially a more practical version of the N Box tall city car with added functionality in the cargo area.

In particular, the Plus model introduces the so-called "Universal Bridge" system that includes a retractable aluminum slope to make it easier to load and unload heavy items on wheels such as a small motorbike. When not in use, the aluminum board can be neatly tucked away under the boot.

Watch Polish Drivers Try to get a Jeep Cherokee Out of Waist Deep Mud Water

2012-07-05T07:29:00.001-07:00

The tallest snorkel and toughest wheels in the world won't do anything to help if you underestimate the depth of a body of water and what lies underneath, as was the case with these explorers that tried to cross a mud pond near the village of Siennica in Poland with their trail-rated, ~~Jeep Grand Cherokee~~ second generation Cherokee.

The video shows the Jeep model filled with water right up to the door handles and stuck in the mud.

Mazda Officially Reveals Mildly Facelifted 2013 MX-5 Roadster in Japan

2012-07-05T06:20:00.001-07:00

A leaked brochure gave us our first look at the mildly refreshed MX-5 in both soft- and retractable hard-top (RHT) body styles earlier this week and now Mazda has come out with an official release for the 2013 model that goes on sale today in Japan.

We suspect that if not all, most of the changes on the JDM model will be applied on the international market versions before the end of the year.

The second facelift for the third-generation MX-5 since its debut in 2005 brings a redesigned face with a new bumper sporting a larger front grille opening with a more curved upper part, new front fog lamp housings, a front chin spoiler plus black headlamp bezels for the soft-top and chrome bezels for the hard-top model.

In addition, the refreshed roadster model gains a pedestrian protection system in the guise of an Active Bonnet, which raises the rear end of the hood in the event of an accident to absorb the energy of impact and reduce the severity of head injuries in collisions involving pedestrians.

New Ford C-MAX Hybrid Scores 47mpg City and 44mpg Highway, Beats Prius V by at Least 3mpg

2012-07-05T05:43:00.001-07:00

Ford announced on Thursday that its new C-MAX Hybrid is projected to achieve a fuel economy of 47 mpg (5.0lt/100km) in city driving and 44mpg (5.3lt/100km) on the highway, and as has been the case ever since we learned about the hybridized minivan, Ford is comparing it to the Toyota Prius V. Read more »

Mitsubishi Reintroduces L200 Trojan Double Cab to its UK Range

2012-07-05T05:10:00.001-07:00

The Mitsubishi L200 Trojan Double Cab pickup truck is once again available in Britain with prices starting at £17,999 (CVLP) for the base model and from £19,324 when fitted with leather seats.

Labeled as a 2012 model, the Trojan comes equipped with Mitsubishi's improved and now Euro-5 compliant 2.5-liter turbo diesel that delivers 30 percent more power from 136bhp to 175bhp and 27 percent more torque from 314Nm (232 lb-ft) to 400Nm (295 lb-ft).

Fiat Teases New 500X Small Crossover During 500L's Presentation, will Base a Jeep Model as Well

2012-07-04T07:09:00.001-07:00

On Tuesday, we brought you a raft of images and videos of the new Fiat 500L following the presentation of the small MPV to the members of the international press in Turin, Italy.

However, as it turns out, the 500L wasn't the only new Fiat to be shown at the media conference as the upcoming 500X small crossover made a very brief appearance on the stage as well.

How to Destroy a Skoda Superb with a Tractor and a Bobcat

2012-07-04T06:18:00.001-07:00

Like the person who shared this video on YouTube, we have no idea why these men are destroying what looks like a perfectly good car – a Skoda Superb, to be precise. For all we know it could be a skit from a television show.

Still, that didn’t hold us back from spending close to four minutes watching a backhoe-loader with the help of a skid-steer loader doing their thing on the Czech saloon.

Head past the jump to check out the video for yourself and if you happen to have more information, leave us a comment.

Happy Fourth of July from car-exist!

2012-07-04T05:30:00.001-07:00

In remembrance of Independence Day, we are going to shift our online gear into neutral and take most of the day off here at car-exist in order to spend some time with our families, friends and if there's enough time, our beloved automobiles as well.

For all of you celebrating the Fourth of July, we hope you enjoy the day and remember to keep safe no matter what you do or where you go. car-exist will return to our regular coverage on Thursday, July 5.

New Fiat 500L Minivan: More Than 60 HD Photos and Videos, U.S. Sales to Start Next Year

2012-07-03T18:15:00.000-07:00

Here’s a fresh gallery of photos and an assortment of new videos of the Fiat 500L that will be available for order in Italy and other major European markets starting from this month (July, 2012), with first deliveries scheduled for the beginning of October.

During the course of 2013, the second addition to the Fiat 500 family will go on sale in more than 100 countries around the world, including the United States.

The five-seater 500L (the 'L' stands for Large) is a tall B-segment model with MPV-like practicality and an SUV-esque raised ride height that promises to be a more roomier version of the 500 city car while maintaining the latter's chic styling.

Some of its rivals in Europe include the Ford B-MAX and Opel / Vauxhall Meriva small MPVs.

Underneath the 500-inspired sheetmetal you will find a development of the Punto platform which Fiat calls 'Small Wide'.

BMW Venture Design Study Expands from City Car to German Hot Rod at the Touch of a Button

2012-07-03T17:27:00.001-07:00

Vehicles with dual personalities are nothing new in the auto industry but designer Chris Hammersley has imagined a different kind of concept, one that can transform from a compact-sized urban commuter to a sportier looking hot rod at the press of a button.

The prototype study is named the BMW Venture and one of the main highlights of the project is a pair of arms that extend the two front wheels.

Toyota Imagines an Advanced Future World with Archaic Automobiles

2012-07-03T16:18:00.001-07:00

Being the world's largest and most successful manufacturer of hybrid vehicles with more than 4 million worldwide sales since the first Prius hit Japanese showrooms in 1997, Toyota has every reason to promote hybrid technology as the latest and greatest thing to ever come along for your car.

In this commercial titled 'Advanced World', the Japanese automaker imagines a future world that has progressed in every field except automobiles, which are depicted as polluting and noisy hand-cranked cars from the beginning of the previous century.

Renault Shows Available Customization Options for New Clio 4, Releases a Fresh Batch of Videos

2012-07-03T14:09:00.001-07:00

With the internet abuzz about the brand-new Clio Mk4, the French automaker has dropped a few more images that highlight the personalization programme for the supermini along with three new videos.

The new generation of the Clio introduces a broad range of styling options for both the inside and outside of the sub-compact / B-segment model.

In these photos, we see some of the available features for the Clio 4's exterior including the contrasting color accents for the front grille, rocker panels and alloy wheels, along with a selection of decals that can be applied to the roof, hood and other parts of the body.