cars

Mazda LM55 Vision Gran Turismo 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 14:03:00 -0800

Ever since the Gran Turismo 6 began arriving in Playstations all around the world at the end of 2013, an increasing number of car manufacturers have revealed a list of outstandingly designed cars for the aptly named "Vision GT" segment of the game.

Mercedes-Benz andToyota went as far as creating real variants of the virtual cars designed for GT6, but I think it’s a safe bet that the recently-unveiled Mazda LM55 Vision Gran Turismo concept will not be joining that league.

Released as part of a special holiday season update for Gran Turismo 6, the Le Mans-inspired Mazda will probably remain a virtual model, which is not that bad considering that you don’t see many people driving the aforementioned Mercedes-AMG Vision GT or the Toyota FT-1 Vision GT out in the real world.

As it should, Mazda is rather proud of the historic win it managed at the Le Mans 24-Hours back in 1991, and that is probably why the LM55 Vision GT’s DNA is obviously infused with some genes from the fabulous-sounding 787B.

To refresh your memory, the1991 Mazda 787B was the first-ever Japanese car to achieve an overall victory in the prestigious endurance race and it was also the first and so far only rotary-powered vehicle to do so.

Despite the casual stylistic resemblances with the 787B, the virtual LM55’s design actually follows the Kodo language found in modern Mazdas, which from some perspectives makes it even more beautiful than the original.

With that being said, if you own GT6 and a Sony PlayStation 4 gaming console you should definitely update the game to the latest version, which will give you option of buying the fantastic-looking Mazda LM55 from the "Vision GT" section within the "Cars" area in "My Home." Alternatively, Mazda says that you can also get a hold of the car by completing a lap in a Season Event, which is available only for a limited time in the game.

2015

make:

Mazda

price:

$ 100000 (Est.)

0-60 time:

3 sec. (Est.)

Top Speed:

200 mph (Est.)

Aston Martin DP-100 Vision Gran Turismo 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 13:52:00 -0800

Creating Vision Gran Turismo concept cars has become quite the habit among automakers, as they rushed to showcase their design skills and advanced powertrains in the latest iteration of the franchise.

This year’sGoodwood Festival of Speed brought yet another futuristic supercar to the game, this time from British-based company Aston Martin .

Dubbed DP-100 and developed in-house by a team led by Design Director Marek Reichman, the concept car highlights a brand-new approach for the company, as its engine is mounted behind the seats.

The Brits have yet to build sports cars in this configuration, except for the B09/60 Le Mans prototype co-developed with Lola, and the DP-100 comes to put an end to that. At least in the virtual world.

The DP-100 joins a large batch of virtual supercars created for Gran Turismo 6 this year, and will be available for gamers to download starting July 2014.

There are no production plans waiting to turn this virtual racer into a vehicle for the real world, but the DP-100 is a concept worth looking into from a design and technological point of view.

2014

make:

Aston-Martin

price:

$ 250000

Engine:

V12

Horsepower @ RPM:

800

0-60 time:

3 sec. (Est.)

Top Speed:

200 mph (Est.)

Mercedes-Benz Vision Gran Turismo Concept 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 13:47:00 -0800

BMW Vision Gran Turismo Concept 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 13:38:00 -0800

After first showing us some Gran Turismo awesomeness late last year, BMW has finally pulled the covers of its latest concept vehicle, but one that will only be available in the world of Gran Turismo 6.

This is the 2014 BMW Vision Gran Turismo Concept and as we had expected, it looks positively insane.

Remember when Mercedes became the first company to unveil its own Vision Gran Turismo Concept ? When it did, we all fell out of chairs, blown away by the insanity of Merc’s creation.

But what it also did was set the bar really high for the rest of the car brands that were preparing their own concepts for Gran Turismo 6.

Admittedly, we had some trepidations on what other companies had up their sleeves. But with the arrival of BMW’s GT6 concept, all the doubts that crept up in our heads about what the car was going to look like quickly evaporated.

At first glance, you get the vibes of the M4 Coupe , albeit one that’s been rebuilt specifically for video game-racing purposes.

But the best part about this concept is that unlike the Mercedes version, this one looks like its ready to be transformed into the real world.

Should that happen, trust us when we tell you: it’s going to be have a lot of people clamoring for a piece of it.

2014

make:

BMW

Model:

4 Series

price:

$ 100000

Engine:

inline-3

Horsepower @ RPM:

549 @ 6200

Torque @ RPM:

501 @ 1900

Displacement:

3.0 L

0-60 time:

3 sec. (Est.)

Top Speed:

200 mph (Est.)

Porsche Cayman GT4 Teased In Real Racing 3

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 13:31:00 -0800

Like most of you here, I enjoy some daily racing action on various platforms, the latest of which being EA’s Real Racing 3 for Android,unlike most PC and console games, I find it rather easy to follow and play during the busiest of days.

For those of you not familiar with the game, it features 105 cars and 12 tracks as of January 2015.

New features are added by way of monthly updates, and this month’s upgrade was arguably the most surprising yet. As I opened my Nexus 7 to do a couple of laps around Laguna Seca in the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, I found myself staring at EA’s newest update, which included a teaser for the upcoming 2017 Porsche Cayman GT4.

While the image itself isn’t very revealing, depicting only part of the sports car’s front end, the description that comes with it suggests Porsche will use the game to unveil the GT4, allowing Real Racing 3 to make its first-ever exclusive reveal.

"Participate in the unveiling of a stunning new sports car. Take it on a global press tour, then take one home!," the update says, hinting the Cayman GT4 is already rendered for RR3, with gamers to drive it on RR3’s virtual tracks as soon as the vehicle breaks cover. The "take one home" part obviously refers to having the chance of earning a virtual version of the car for free after completing a series of in-game events.

"Exclusive Worldwide Reveal. A prestigious manufacturer is about to announce a new vehicle... Be the first to take the wheel!," the update goes on to mention, confirming the teaser showcases a global debut.

Unless Porsche was secretly working on another Cayman, what we’re looking at is indeed the track-focused GT4.

Unfortunately, there is no word on when the big unveil will take place, but judging by EA’s previous updates for RR3, I expect the in-game GT4 challenge to commence sometime next month. As for the actual car, it could pop up simultaneously with the RR3 reveal, possibly at the Chicago Auto Show in a few weeks, or later at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Either way, keep it locked here for updates. Should the GT4 arrive in RR3 only at first, we’ll be back with a batch of in-game screenshots.

Porsche Working On An All-Electric Pajun To Battle Tesla

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 13:21:00 -0800

The 2019 Porsche Pajun (AKA the baby Panamera) has been on and off for some time now, but the latest news was that it was pushed back to 2019.

Now, a new report from Auto, Motor und Sport claims that there may be more than meets the eye with the upcoming model, asPorsche has reportedly turned its focus to making it more on it being a Tesla competitor.

According to the report, the Pajun will carry a full-electric powertrain that will offer in the range of at least 350 to 400 km (217 to 248 miles).

That would put the Pajun directly in the wheelhouse of the lower-range Model S versions, but still far short of the2015 Model S P85D’s range.

Chances are that the range included in this report was simply a base model.

There is no mention of whether or not the Pajun would be solely an electric car or if Porsche may make a standard gasoline-powered model and an EV. However, the German-to-English translation sure does imply that it may be EV only.

According to AMS, the Pajun EV will be ready for the road by 2018 or 2019. As with all of these speculative reports based on some shrivel of fact, take it with a grain of salt.

Jeep Renegade Urban Mopar-Equipped 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 13:17:00 -0800

Jeep had a handful of vehicles at the North American International Auto Show this year, including a couple modified Renegades.

Those who favor the rugged side of Jeep vehicles took an appreciation with the Renegade Off-Road equipped by Mopar. Its lifted suspension, Trailhawk-spec 4WD system, and exterior upgrades made it ready for the trail.

However, Jeep didn’t forget about the folks living in more urban areas where the streets aren’t always strewn with rocks and mud. This Renegade Urban Jeep shows the more city-friendly side of Jeep.

The Renegade Urban still gets similar exterior upgrades as the Renegade Off-Road. A bespoke orange accent color graces the wheel inserts, roof rack, side mirrors, grille rings, and taillight accent trim. The vehicle also comes with a Mopar-sourced trailer hitch and bike rack.

The Jeep’s mechanicals are all untouched – left just like every Limited trim level that rolls off the factory line. The 4WD system still offers plenty of capabilities to hit weekend trails and muddy passes, yet still gives a tamer ride for weekday drives around town.

Cadillac's New Small SUV Is Four Years Away

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 13:13:00 -0800

Cadillac has been on fire lately with new vehicles like theEscalade , CTS and ATS , but a big void in its lineup just so happens to be one of the faster-growing segments: small premium utility vehicles.

Even worse, Reuters is quoting Cadillac president Johan de Nysschen as saying that the automaker is still at least four years away from bringing such a vehicle to market.

These small, luxury crossovers are extremely popular right now in key global markets that include the U.S., China and Europe, and just about all luxury automakers – including Lincoln – have recently introduced such a product such as the 2015 Lexus NX , 2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class , 2016 BMW X1 and 2015 Lincoln MKC .

Based on Cadillac’s new naming structure, the small utility vehicle will likely wear the XT3 moniker, slotting beneath the third-generation SRX, which is expected to go into production later this year possibly called the XT5.

There is no word as to what platform Cadillac would use to underpin this new utility vehicle, but between the rear-drive ATS and a new rear-drive subcompact sedan under the ATS, there is a pretty good chance that the sub-SRX utility vehicle could be rear-drive based.

If that’s the case, then it just might be worth waiting for, as most other competitors in this segment are based on front-drive platforms.

As far as pricing goes, there is also plenty of room beneath the current SRX’s $37,605 starting price to position it competitively in the market.

Some good news for Cadillac is that once it gets this new utility vehicle onto the market, it should be able to compete on a global scale right out of the gate. Having come from Audi(before his short stint at Infiniti ), de Nysschen knows the importance of diesels in Europe and was quoted as saying "if you want to play in Europe, you better have some diesels.” The report says that Cadillac will begin offering diesel engines in its new models starting in 2019, which seems to match up with de Nysschen’s four-year timeline.

Toyota Prius c 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 13:08:00 -0800

The Prius c started its life in 2012 as a smaller and more affordable version of the hotly successful Prius liftback.

Through 2014, the model remained relatively unchanged and failed to really shake up the hybrid segment. Now as we approach 2015, the Prius c has undergone a nice refresh that makes it stand out from its larger brothers with its sportier and more youthful appearance. Oh, and it gets 50 mpg combined, which sweetens the deal a little.

Though it’s just a refresh the 2015 Prius c looks like a whole new car; that’s just how farToyota took this upgrade. Sure, from the side it looks like the 2014 model, but the wide-open front grille and the “light pipe” taillights inject a little youth into the lineup.

So, is this redesign enough to help push the Prius c to the next level?

Porsche 911 GTS Club Coupe 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 12:38:00 -0800

The first official Porsche Club of America meeting was organized by founding member and commercial artist Bill Sholar in September of 1955 in Washington D.C. Unofficially called “the gripe group,” the club agreed to have its first official meeting at a local spot called Blackie’s House of Beef.

Thirteen prospective members rolled into Blackie’s parking lot, but one was asked to leave because he was driving a Volkswagen.

Fast-forward 60 years, and the PCA now has 140 local regions in the U.S and Canada and boasts well over 100,000 members, making it the largest single-make car club in the entire world.

This hasn’t gone unnoticed by Porsche, and in recognition of the PCA’s continuing loyalty, Porsche has introduced the extremely blue 911 GTS Club Coupe at its brand new U.S. headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.

It’s the spiritual successor to the 997-based 911 Club Coupe introduced back in 2005 to honor the club’s 50th anniversary, but this time it’s based on the swifter, sportier Carrera GTS. It uses the same 430-horsepower engine as the Carrera GTS, but has several visual upgrades, some more obvious than others, which I’ll get to shortly.

Only 60 examples of this very special GTS Club Coupe will be built and all are destined for North American shores.

PCA members will have first dibs to buy 59 of them through a lottery, while the remaining example will be given away to one lucky PCA member in a contest, the details of which are forthcoming.

McLaren Sports Series

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 12:35:00 -0800

The upcoming 2016 McLaren Sports Series, the company’s entry-level sports car that’s set to debut this year, will eventually arrive in dealerships in four different versions.

That’s the word from Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, which sheds a bit more light on McLaren’s new product to slot below the fantastic 650S. The report also claims the first member of the new sports car line will break cover in April 2015, at the New York Auto Show, with deliveries to commence in the third quarter of the year.

The sports car will debut on American soil as a coupe, with a Spider variant to show up next. The two will then be joined by a lighter, track-focused version — this one is likely to use the recently revived GTR badge, De Telegraaf notes — and a GT model with emphasis on comfort rather that sportiness.

Not many details are provided, but the report says the Sports Series GTR will be aimed at the Porsche 911 GT3, which is likely to be the case given the standard coupe will be aimed at the 911 Turbo.

As for the GT version, we are told it will offer extra luggage room in the engine compartment, with access via a side opening.

The McLaren F1 offered something similar, but it’s unclear whether the Sports Series GT will be equipped with large openings in the rear fenders or employ a different solution altogether.

There’s no unveil info for any of the aforementioned versions except the coupe, but it’s safe to assume that all four iterations of the Sports Series will be in showrooms by 2018.

Infiniti's Electric Plans Put On Hold

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 12:31:00 -0800

Infiniti is making headlines with cars like the GT-R powered 2014 Q50 Eau Rouge and 2014 Q60 coupe, but before all the performance machines, before Johan de Nysschen and Andy Palmer jumped ship, and before the new naming scheme, the luxury division of Nissan was working on the LE concept.

A more luxurious version of the then-new Nissan Leaf. Over the years since the debut of the LE, Infiniti has moved its focus to growing the brand with more aggressive and better selling models leaving the electric concept to gather dust.

Now almost three years since it was introduced, USA Today has published a story saying that the project is now officially off the table.

The news came from the preview event of the Q60 concept reveal at the Detroit Auto Show. Michael Bartsch, Infiniti’s vice president for the Americas, said the company needed “to be a little pragmatic.” A luxury version of the Leaf just isn’t a volume seller like Infiniti needs.

That doesn’t mean an electric powered Inifniti is completely out of the question, but expect Nissan to wait for improved battery tech, and expect the new car to be a bit larger to better compete with the upcoming 2017 Tesla Model 3.

For now though, just expect more exciting volume models to come from the Japanese luxury brand.

Jaguar XF R-Sport Black 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 12:28:00 -0800

With the expected arrival of the new XF at the New York International Auto Show in April 2015, Jaguar is throwing a few extra odds and ends at the current range of vehicles, creating a new derivative labeled the XF R-Sport Black in the process.

The British automaker wants you think you’re getting excellent value for your money, stating the R-Sport Black “offers an additional £8,770 ($13,322 as of 1/22/2015) worth of value over standardR-Sport models for just a £2,100 ($3,190) increase to its On-the-Road price.”

However, is it really worth ignoring the new XF to spend more on a soon-to-be outdated vehicle packing a bit more standard equipment?

Creating specialized, last-minute spinoffs of a model slated for the dustbin is standard operating procedure in the car world, and given the XF’s popularity over the last year, the announcement of the R-Sport Black shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.

In addition to the new variant, Jaguar is also adding new specifications to the Luxury, R-Sport, Portfolio, Diesel S Portfolio, XFR, and XFR-S models, with some even gaining slight price hikes as a result (including the R-Sport). Clearly, JLR is confident that interest in the XF line will stay strong. In fact, the XF recorded its best year of sales in 2014, which makes the new R-Sport Black a likely candidate for success.

The R-Sport Black is available in either a saloon four-door or Sportbrake body style. Upgrades include new exterior features and interior accouterments, but sadly, the drivetrain has remained unaltered.

Still, the R-Sport Black doesn’t represent a major cost increase over the standard R-Sport model, especially when you consider the minor price adjustment seen with this most recent refresh.

But the question remains- is it worth the money?

Nissan Z 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 12:21:00 -0800

Nissan may have plenty of models to boast of, but the one car that stands out to anyone looking for a vehicle with a little pep in its step is the Nissan Z car.

Back in 1964, Nissan began toying with the idea of building a sports car to add to their lineup, but it wasn’t until 1969 that a vehicle was actually produced.

The Datsun 240Z was available in two versions - and proved to be the successful sports car that Nissan had anticipated.
Six generations later and Nissan had produced many variations of the vehicle, including the ever-popular 370Z .

Now, after only four years since the latest 370Z was created, rumors are flying suggesting that Nissan is ready to go at it again with a new generation Z.

Not only will the world be getting one of their beloved sports cars once again, but it may also be powered by a hybrid drivetrain, a rumor we first heard back in 2010 most likely the same one used in the Infiniti M hybrid .

Yes, the world is going hybrid, and there’s nothing we can do to stop it.

Audi R8 LMS Ultra 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 12:17:00 -0800

The competitiveness of the Audi R8 LMS ultra in GT world championships lends itself to the widely known belief that the car is as good a racer you can get.

That competitiveness is expected to continue in the 2014 season, specifically at the Nurburgring 24 Hours where as many as eight R8 LMS ultra cars are tipped to compete.

Ahead of the actual 24-hour race this coming June, the R8 LMS ultra was put through the paces over the weekend in qualification for the endurance race.

While it failed to upend the BMW Z4’s dominance, don’t expect for one second that the R8 LMS ultra won’t be a contender when the real race at the "Green Hell" commences this coming June.

All in all, five teams will be fielding the R8 LMS ultra at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, with some notable drivers in the mix, including Le Mans winners Frank Biela, Marcel Fässler, Stéphane Ortelli, and Marco Werner.

These four drivers have accounted for 11 wins at the ’Ring, and will be complemented by former GT1 World Champions Marc Basseng and Markus Winkelhock, defending FIA GT Champion Laurens Vanthoo, and three-time Porsche Supercup Champion René Rast.

That’s as good a lineup to drive the R8 LMS ultra at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring. It’s going to face some stiff challenges, especially with the BMW Z4 and the defending-champion Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 in the fold.

But don’t expect the R8 LMS ultra to just sit idle and let the rest get the spoils. The racer is tipped and ready to make some waves when the endurance race kicks off this coming June.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution XI 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 12:14:00 -0800

The Evo-loving world was in shambles after Mitsubishi Global Product Director, Gayu Eusegi, announced that the company would be killing off the all-wheel-drive turbocharged Lancer Evolution .

The Evo is one of the best models Mitsubishi has ever offered and fans everywhere were shocked that the company would take such extreme measures.

A few back pedals later and Mitsubishi President and CEO, Osamu Masuko, calmed the waters by stating that the the Evo X would not be the last of the Evolutions.

Now, Masuko has offered even more details for the future of the Evo to Japanese magazine, Best Car, stating that "Mitsubishi is fully intent on producing a high-performance car in the future, albeit green." Yeah, join the club, Masuko.

The rumor has long been that the Evo XI would be a diesel-electric hybrid. Such a powertrain would allow the Evo XI to hustle to 0-60 MPH in under 5 seconds while still receiving better fuel economy than the current Evo.

Now, it seems the technology that was unveiled in the PX-MiEV concept at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show is looking to fit itself into the EVO XI.

This would mean a 1.6- liter gasoline engine combined with an electric motor that will take its power from a set of lithium-ion batteries.

The electric motors will power the vehicle at low to middle speeds, while the engine will kick on at high speeds.

The engine will also provide back up for the motors when their charge runs low. The hybrid system will be combined with Mitsubishi’s S-AWC all-wheel-drive system and active yaw control, technologies that have already been used in the Evo X.

Lamborghini Huracan GT3 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 12:10:00 -0800

The 2015 Lamborghini Huracan has been assigned the near-impossible mission of replacing the mighty Gallardoas the company’s entry-level supercar.

Before the 610-horsepower machines even began rolling off the Italian assembly lines, Lamborghini was already developing new, faster versions.

First on its list was the 2015 LP620-2 Super Trofeo, the race car that comes with a one-make series of its own to displace the Gallardo’s.

With the 2015 racing season just around the corner, the Italians revealed yet another iteration of the Huracan: the GT3. As the moniker suggests, we’re still in racing territory, but this time in a more disputed department — the Blancpain Series — in which Lamborghini faces competition from a handful of manufacturers, Audi andMcLaren included.

The brand-new race car comes to replace the Gallardo FL2 , the company’s sole offering for privateers in both the Blancpain Endurance and Sprint Series.

Gentlemen racers, it’s time to grab your helmets, there’s a new kid in town!

Based on the road-going Huracan that arrived in 2014, the GT3 comes with all the goodies specific to an endurance race car, including an aggressive body kit, a stripped interior and a curb weight of only 2,731 pounds.

Updated: 01/21/2015 Lamborghini released the official details on the new Huracan GT3, which was unveiled at the company’s headquarters in Sant’Agata Bolognese. Click past the jump for the new details.

Audi Wants RS Hybrids In The Next Generation

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 12:05:00 -0800

Last week in our coverage of the new 2016 Audi R8, you may have read a cryptic remark from Audi’s board member for technical development Ulrich Hackenberg, expressing his desire to see some level of electrification in every new Audi.

It seemed a bit outlandish, at least for the company’s short-term product lineup, but now some new information has surfaced to back it up.

It looks like Audi’s high-performance RS range could embrace electrification soonish. Speaking with Top Gear at the launch of the new RS3, Quattro GmbH Technical Director Stephan Reil discussed the work his division has been doing with hybridization as a means to enhance performance, but his remarks suggest it could be a while longer before we see an RS e-tron.

“We know that it could give us more in terms of straight line performance," Reil told Top Gear. "But it is not just about straight-line performance.

It is about performance in the bends, how it feels as well. At the moment there are more negatives than positives."

For Reil, another big hurdle is battery weight, but the more it’s reduced, the more likely an RS hybrid becomes. "The next generation will be very interesting," Reil said when discussing current battery tech. "They are getting smaller and lighter. We don’t rule it out."

The highly complex and expensive electronic wizardry needed to make these systems work makes sense for the current crop of hypercars — Ferrari LaFerrari, McLaren P1 andPorsche 918 — but we’re still a few years away from seeing it in mainstream performance cars.

Current rumors suggest you’ll be able buy a next-generation R8 with internal combustion or electric power, but not both.

Chevrolet Malibu 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 12:02:00 -0800

The beginnings of the Malibu name are tied to that of theChevrolet Chevelle , as the former was a range-topping trim level of the latter from 1964 to 1977.

Featuring added luxury and the same powerful V-8s as the Chevelle, the Malibu went on to become the best-selling badge in the lineup by 1978, when it received its own model line.

Although dropped in 1983, the moniker returned in 1997 and soldiered on through 2012, when the eighth-generation model was launched on GM’s Epsilon II platform, shared with the Buick LaCrosse andRegal .

The new Malibu became a global vehicle, receiving a host of four-cylinder and V-6 engines, as well as three different transmissions.

Although criticized for offering less legroom than its competitors, the eighth-gen Malibu was praised for its upscale interior design and smooth and quiet ride.

Nearly three years old as of 2015, the current Malibu is set to receive a comprehensive redesign for the 2016 model year, one which promises to bring significant improvements inside and out.

You are going to be blown away styling-wise," Mark Reuss, GM’s executive vice president of global product development, told Edmunds at the 2015 Detroit Auto Show

without going into specifics. "I think it is more true to what Chevrolet should be.

Think about Impala . It’s not luxury , but it is more than what you thought you would get for that price. That is what Chevrolet should be and you will see that in the (redesigned) Malibu," he added.

GM’s decision to overhaul the Malibu just a little more than three years since the current model debuted is not at all surprising. With competitors like the Toyota Camry , Honda Accord or the Ford Fusion around, the eighth-gen Malibu has been struggling sales-wise ever since it arrived into dealerships in 2012.

Details are still being kept under wraps as of January 2015, but GM vice president of global design Ed Welburn disclosed a few details about the upcoming Malibu. Keep reading to find out more about that.

Land Rover Discovery Sport 2016

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 11:57:00 -0800

It took months of rumors, spy shots, speculation and leaks, but the newest member of the Land Rover family is finally official and we have all the details. Say hello to the Land Rover Discovery Sport.
Much like the Range Rover Sport , the new Discovery Sport is a smaller and faster version of a car that wears a similar name. It has an all-new design that is very similar to the Discovery Vision Concept that bowed earlier this year.

The new model is loaded to the gills with new technology, and it features some of the nicest design touches ever fitted to a Discovery.

To make the most of this new, stylish shell, the engine and modern nine-speed ZF automatic transmission from the Range Rover Evoque are combined with an advanced AWD system to create a dynamic and capable machine.

If you want to know all the exact details like horsepower, ride height and available extras just click through to read our full coverage.

We even have a whole collection of nice high-res photos to go with it. Enjoy.

Updated: 01/22.2015 Land Rover announced full pricing details on the new Discovery Sport which is now available at U.S. dealerships.

The model is offered in three trim levels: SE, HSE, and HSE Luxury. The base SE carries an MSRP of $38,920 including destination.

Lexus GS450h - Driven 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 11:51:00 -0800

“Sport” and “hybrid” aren’t often found in the same sentence when talking about anything this side ofMcLaren, Porsche, and BMW, but Lexus makes that claim with its second-largest luxury sedan.

Things gets plausible when considering the GS450h comes with 338 horsepower thanks to a 3.5-liter V-6 and a pair of electric motors – all of which power the rear wheels.

Despite not coming equipped with the optional F Sport package, the G450h still comes with an adjustable suspension and various drive settings that allow for a range of driving feels, spanning from Eco to Normal and Sport to Sport+. Even the gauge cluster modifies itself to suit the mood – switching from an eco gauge to a full tachometer.

You may recall our own Christian Moe’s review of the GS450h back in the fall.

He walked away pleasantly surprised at the car’s ability to coddle occupants in luxury while getting decent mileage with horsepower in reserve.

Surprisingly his tester and mine came equipped with exactly the same options, even down to the paint color.

Only eight GS sedan separated our cars on the assembly line as the VINs were only separated by a factor of 10.

While Moe has the beauty of curvy back country roads snaking through the hills of East Tennessee, I make use of near sea-level lands in central Florida.

Would the scenery and altitude change the GS450h’s behavior? How well does a child seat fit in the back?

Two questions among many I aimed to answer during my week with one of Lexus’ premiere hybrids.

Porsche Panamera Goes Winter Testing

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 11:46:00 -0800

With winter having taken over northern Europe for a few months now, several manufacturers have already traveled to freezing Sweden for cold weather testing.

It turns out Porsche is one of them, as the German automaker shipped the upcoming 2018 Panamera to Scandinavia for some proper snow flogging.

The new sports sedan comes to replace the first-gen Panamera, a four-door that’s seven years old. Porsche has been working on it for more than two years now, with the first prototypes showing up on public roads in early 2014.

The second-gen Panamera, which is set to arrive for the 2016 model year, is in for significant changes inside and out, as well as under the hood.

Some alteration have been kept well hidden under the mule’s heavy camouflage, but this new test car tells another story as it’s being pushed to the limit through Sweden’s wintery landscape.

Various body parts are now visible for the first time, revealing intriguing details never before seen on the Panamera. Keep reading to find out what this test car has to say about the upcoming second-generation sedan.

Chevrolet Silverado Midnight Edition 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 11:42:00 -0800

General Motors is diving deep into the trendy “murdered-out” market these days, especially in the truck segment. Well, Chevrolet has just announced its new Midnight Edition – an all-black sport version of the Silverado.

Thankfully this special edition actually adds more than just some swanky paint, unlike the GMC Sierra Elevation Edition.

This Silverado comes packed with all the fixin’s from the Z71 off-road package, plus some meaty Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires not otherwise found on GM trucks.

As the name suggests, the Midnight Edition comes with a blacked-out grille, bumpers, wheels, mirror caps, door handles, and even bowties.

The underlying Z71 package adds some desirable mechanicals like the upgraded suspension, Hill Decent Control, locking rear differential, skid plates, tow hooks, and the trailering package.

The Silverado Midnight Edition joins the ranks of theChevy Impala Midnight Edition, along with the GMC Canyon Nightfall Edition and the aforementioned Sierra Elevation Edition.

Chevrolet is offering the Midnight Edition on Double-Cab and Crew-Cab Silverado 1500s. Only 5,000 examples are set for production for the 2015 model year.

Chevy is charging between $1,595 and $1,995 for the Midnight Edition, depending on the truck model.

Audi R8 V10 Spyder 2014 - 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 15:13:00 -0800

In a span of 24 hours, Audi has dropped not one, not two, not three, not four, but five new variants of their mighty supercar, the R8 . So even if the new lot of R8 models have descended upon us in record-breaking fashion, you won’t find any complaints from us. As a matter of fact, we love it!

For this particular space, the onus is on the R8 V10 Spyder , considered the sexiest of them all thanks to its rich looks, throaty power, and yes, that fold-able top. Unlike the coupe versions of the R8, the R8 Spyder can dress up in more ways than one.

And trust us, that’s a very good thing.

In any case, the new R8 family does have plenty of surprises, including new aesthetic features, a plushier interior, and engine upgrades that will literally give you that proverbial "I-want-me-some-of-that" itch.

Don’t’ feel too bad though because we’ve been scratching for quite some time now so you’re certainly not alone.

Updated: 08/30/2012 Today we have added a new set of images for the facelift version of the Audi R8 V10 Spyder. Check the picture gallery to see them all.

Ferrari LaFerrari 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Shaheen) — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 15:06:00 -0800

After years of speculation, the successor of the legendary Ferrari Enzo is finally out. The supercar made its world debut today at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show and it comes with a rather unexpected surprise: its name!

Previous rumors suggested the model could be called either F70 or F150, but Ferrari decided to go with something odd: LaFerrari! No, it is not a joke!

Why did the company make such a radical decision on the name? Well, the answer is offered by Ferrari’s President, Luca di Montezemolo himself who declared: "because it is the maximum expression of what defines our company – excellence." While we appreciate his answer, we still have to admit the name sounds a little bit silly.

Everything else on the new LaFerrari is also a big surprise, starting with its exterior design language and up to the innovative HY-KERS system used for the first time in a production version Ferrari.

Updated: 03/22/2013 Ferrari has unveiled a new behind-the-scenes video revealing how the official video for the new LaFerrari have been filmed.

Updated: 04/08/2013: Ferrari has unveiled a new video featuring Fernando Alonso behind the wheel of the new LaFerrari supercar.

Updated 04/30/2014: Ferrari unveiled a new video showing the new LaFerrari in action at the Fiorano circuit and around the Maranello roads. Enjoy!