type='html'>
Another case of a GM model and one of its airbags opening without a collision of any sorts during a fast ride on the track has hit the web. The first one we reported on concerned a Chevrolet Camaro back in August of 2011 (read here), when the coupe's side airbags deployed while the driver was drifting the car.
We don't know if they are related, but a similar incident occurred earlier this week when according to Jalopnik, GM Engineer Brad Doerr took his Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon for fun day of auto-crossing before his wedding.
Read more »
type='html'>
Honda, a brand that used to be synonymous with performance cars for the masses, has toned down if not…completely erased its sporty side these past few years, something that has not gone unnoticed by consumers and fans alike. However, it seems that the Japanese automaker has received the message and is making plans to revitalize itself by returning to its roots, as evidenced by the new NSX sports car that will go on sale within the next three years.
For the mainstream crowd in Europe, Japan and other markets worldwide sans North America, Honda appears to be preparing a replacement for one of its more popular models, the Civic Type R.
Our spy shooters spotted a prototype of the latest generation of the European market Civic hatchback featuring a large rear wing near Honda’s technical center at the Nürburgring, which we believe could be a test mule for the next Type R.
Read more »
type='html'>
One of Slovakia's most successful companies, IT security specialist ESET, turned to Bulgaria's most well-known tuning firm, Studio Vilner, for the creation of a promo car for the upcoming Software World Conference. The car of choice was a first generation Audi A3, which spent two months at Vilner's main facility. ESET, which is most famous for its Nod32 antivirus software package, wanted to the car to be dressed in the company's corporate colors.
Read more »
type='html'>
The latest news on the upcoming, seventh-generation Volkswagen Golf GTI, is that the hot hatch could get a more powerful engine than what we originally thought. Up until it now, it was believed that the next GTI's 2.0-litre turbocharged four-banger would get a 10 to 15 percent boost from 207hp (210PS) to around 220hp-230hp, but Autocar magazine reported today that the hot hatch may make as much as 260-horsepower.
Read more »
type='html'>
Back in the 1995, when Honda was still producing and developing cars that drivers liked to drive, the automaker displayed a concept model called the SSM (for Sports Study Model) at the Tokyo Motor Show. Three years later, Honda revealed the production model of that concept named the S2000 in celebration of its 40th anniversary.
The rear-wheel drive roadster with the manically revving 240hp (243PS) F20C 2.0-liter 4-cylinder DOHC-VTEC engine went on sale in 1999 and remained in production for a decade selling more than 112,000 units worldwide.
We've heard many rumors about a replacement for the S2000, but unfortunately, nothing concrete. Naturally, design students are not bound by any production plans and are free to visualize their ideas like Michael Mcgee who took part in a Honda sponsored project for the creation of an S2000 for the year 2020.
Read more »
type='html'>
This is the all-new Opel Astra sedan, the fourth and likely last member of the Astra family after the five-door hatchback, the Sports Tourer station wagon and the GTC coupe as the upcoming convertible model is said to gain a new nameplate in the likes of the VW Golf-based Eos. If you have already laid eyes on the North American market Buick Verano or its Chinese twin, the Excelle GT, the 2013 Opel Astra sedan's appearance won't surprise you.
That doesn't mean there aren't some styling changes, just that they are limited to the front and rear ends with the European model sporting the typical Astra face and new tail lamps that ditch the Buick's chrome 'eyebrows' along with a restyled boot that integrates a spoiler in its design.
Read more »
type='html'>
The crossover-ish station wagon craze over at the Volkswagen Group continues with the presentation of the new Skoda Superb Combi Outdoor. However, unlike the VW Passat Alltrack, the Audi A4 and A6 Allroad and even Skoda's own Octavia Scout, the Superb Combi Outdoor is only about the looks, as it doesn't get a higher ride or a modified suspension nor any protective underbody plates.
Read more »
type='html'>
Good news for Honda as its 2013 Fit EV has scored a combined adjusted Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mile-per-gallon-equivalency rating of 118 MPGe, which the company says is the "highest fuel-efficiency rating ever given by the EPA". But wait, doesn't the EV part of the new Fit's name stand for 'Electric Vehicle'? Yes, it does, so saying it has the "highest fuel-efficiency" is not entirely true. What Honda has achieved is to create a vehicle with a low consumption rating of 29 kilowatt hours (kWh) per 100 miles.
Read more »
type='html'>
If you are into tuned Lamborghinis, then you have heard the name Underground Racing before. The Charlotte, North Carolina, based tuning firm has created some of the most insane and powerful Lamborghini models to date. It's latest project is the first ever twin-turbocharged version of the new Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4.
Read more »
type='html'>
Following Tuesday's announcement on the winning design for the first-ever 'SEMA Mustang Build Powered by Women', the Blue Oval has released a short video to introduce two of the driving forces behind the project, Ford vehicle designer Jennifer Seely and SEMA Project Manager, Sherry Kollien, to the world. Seely was responsible for the design of two out of the three Mustang GT concepts, including the winning "High Gear" study that will be unwrapped in the flesh at the 2012 SEMA show in Las Vegas at the end of October.
Read more »
type='html'>
What could easily be mistaken for a 991 Convertible or perhaps even a Speedster by an untrained eye is in fact the next generation of the 911 Targa. A closer inspection of the pictures supplied by our spy photographers leaves no doubt that this is indeed the new Targa model that has been cleverly disguised to pose as a soft-top model.
The Targa moniker, which by the way, remains a registered trademark of Porsche, has been applied to the 911 series since the late 1960s with all generations up until the end of the 1980s, featuring a removable center panel above the passenger compartment.
The nameplate made a return in the mid-1990s with the 993, thought this time, with a large glass roof that slid under the rear window. The same sliding sunroof concept was also applied to the current 997 model that is still on sale.
Read more »
type='html'>
To save space and transfer as many vehicles as possible, this company parked a bunch of small city cars side by side on what looks like a double decker, flatbed truck trailer. Evidently, placing the cars this way on the truck is as difficult and dangerous as getting them out. See how this driver coped with the problem in the video after the jump.
Hat tip to Andrew for the video find!
Read more »
type='html'>
It has been a while since we last heard any news about the third generation Audi A3, but today, the German premium automaker released UK pricing for the three-door hatchback model, while we've also added a new photo gallery. On the road prices start at £19,205 and go up to £26,560, with Audi UK accepting orders now for first deliveries in September.
Read more »
type='html'>
Automakers in general but even more so German brands among themselves, tend to waste no time to replicate technologies or features developed by their rivals. When Porsche debuted the world's first production 7-speed manual gearbox on the new 911 series last year, we knew that it was only a matter of time before one or more of its German adversaries would do the same.
Read more »
type='html'>
And the award for the most reckless mother of the year goes to…a Colorado woman who had her two children, a 14 year old and a toddler, sitting in the car without seatbelts but had a small gas tank strapped on the child's safety seat. It sounds like a joke but there's photo proof as the police officer who pulled over Sandra Ramirez during a routine stop in Aurora, Colorado, on May 30, snapped a shot of what he encountered in the car for the "Click It or Ticket" campaign.
Read more »
type='html'>
The ongoing 2012 Auto Mobil International (AMI) in Leipzig, Germany, saw Volvo tuning specialist Heico Sportiv reveal the first-ever racing version of the V40 as well as the first real life photos and details of its upcoming performance and styling program for the production model. Heico Sportiv, which is the official Volvo Car Germany partner for road vehicle customization, says it is developing a raft of parts for the V40 premium compact hatchback.
Read more »
type='html'>
On Wednesday, the BMW Group celebrated the production of the three millionth engine at it is UK manufacturing facility at Hams Hall, near Birmingham. The milestone unit was a 1.6 four-cylinder petrol mill that was shipped to the MINI plant at Oxford for a car to be built for the emerging Indian market.
Read more »
type='html'>
Lexus has welcomed the IS F CCS-R racer to the U.S. as its first ever entry in Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, which will take place in July. The IS F CCS-R is the racing version of the Lexus IS F Circuit Club Sport concept dispalyed at the 2010 Tokyo Motor Show. It has taken part in several races such as the VLN 10 event at the Nürburgring.
Read more »
type='html'>
Even though the McLaren MP4-12C only just went on sale in 2011, Car&Driver magazine is reporting that the British automaker is preparing a raft of improvements for the 2013 model year. What makes the news more fascinating is that with the exception of a new suspension feature, the rest of the upgrades will be provided to existing owners of the MP4-12C at no charge.
Read more »
type='html'>
Let's face it; the Hummer crowd has and never will be subtle with its tuning choices but there are some builds that always manage to stand out more than others - in a "sore thumb" kind of way… As you will soon find out, there's too much to mention about the Black Knight Hummer H2, but we'll just note the Lamborghini-style scissor front and rear doors, the decorative (?) machine guns, axes and swords (yes, all in plural) and more LEDs than a Christmas tree at a KISS concert.
Read more »
type='html'>
Ever since Porsche borrowed a page from the 959 introducing all-wheel drive to its most famed model series back in 1989 with the 964 Carrera 4, the German automaker has been offering four-wheel drive versions of every generation of the 911. This won't change with the new 991 series, the range of which will be expanded with the Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S models at the end of the year following a world premiere at the Paris Motor Show in late September.
Read more »
type='html'>
It’s no secret that Lincoln has been struggling on many different levels over the past years - if not decades, with one of the more persisting problems being that the Blue Oval's sole luxury standard bearer has persistently failed to deliver in the design department. The Ford group's answer to this problem was the appointment of former Cadillac exterior design Max Wolff as the head of Lincoln's design team last year and the creation of a new 40,000-square-foot dedicated studio in Dearborn, with the new MKZ being the first example of Lincoln's styling revitalization.
Moreover, Lincoln is also looking for young and emerging talents from colleges and universities by sponsoring projects. One of the more recent Lincoln backed concepts that caught our attention is the MKF from Brian Malczewski, an automotive design student at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit.
Read more »
type='html'>
Ferrari has kicked off an on-line international charity auction to raise funds for the families of the victims of the recent earthquakes in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy in May. The Maranello-based supercar maker has listed and pictured all of the items that are up for sale on its www.ferrari.com website, which welcomes visitors with a message from the company’s Chairman, Luca di Montezemolo.
Read more »
type='html'>
This is our first official look at the upcoming Volvo S60 Polestar, which is rumored to be a high-performance version of the stylish compact executive sedan prepared in conjunction with the Swedish firm's tuning and racing partner Polestar. For the time being, Volvo tells us only this about the car: "Introducing the Volvo S60 Polestar. Debuting June 16th at the Gothenburg City Race. Stay tuned for more."
Read more »
type='html'>
Local and government officials abusing their power to block roads is nothing new in Russia, but the exposure of one incident that involved a dying patient in an ambulance has caused uproar in the country. News agencies in Russia reported that a convoy of the current speaker of the Russian State Duma, Sergei Naryshkin, had police block the way of an ambulance carrying a patient in serious condition, who died before he made it to the hospital, in the town of Vsevolozhsk on Monday.
Read more »
type='html'>
About a year after the market launch of the MP4-12C, McLaren has announced a new package of enhancements for its supercar headlined by a 25hp increase in power from the 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8.
If you have already bought the MP4-12C, we have good news for you, as most upgrades, including the power boost, will be offered to all existing owners at zero cost.
Read more »
type='html'>
The Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S have just touched down in the States but they have already received their first recall. However, buyers do not need to fret since the recall does not affect the cars themselves but their owner's manuals, which evidently, are the same.
Read more »
type='html'>
With the presentation of the Enzo's replacement having being confirmed for the end of 2012 by Ferrari’s Chairman Luca di Montezemolo himself, it's actually surprising that the Italians have managed to keep the supercar under wraps for such a long time. Today, we got word from one of our readers that a friend of a member of the Ferrarichat community snagged a very interesting prototype driving around the company's headquarters in Maranello, Italy, and which we believe to be the next Enzo that may or may not be called the F70.
Read more »
type='html'>
The last or at least one of the last things you expect to see on the road is a house. Then again, if we are talking about Russia, anything goes… Like a large truck carrying a small house on its trailer that wasn't tied down securely and fell on the highway with a car smashing right into it.
Seeing is believing so hop over the break for the half-pink-tinted video.
Read more »
type='html'>
After our revealing spy shots of the European market 2013 Skoda Rapid, there's really not much left to show about the Czech automaker's entry in the compact sedan category. However, if you're still wondering what the front and rear ends of the car will look like without the craftily positioned decals on the lights, here are some official design sketches and cropped images of the final production model.
First seen in showcar trim as the Mission L concept at last year's Frankfurt Motor Show, the production Rapid will make its first public appearance in Paris this September and hit dealerships across Europe before the end of the year.
Despite its saloon appearance, the rear window lifts together with the boot revealing a capacious 500 liters of space.
Read more »
type='html'>
Infiniti is treading on…BMW M3 waters with its new 2013 IPL G Convertible, pricing of which was announced today after the car's North American debut at last year's LA Auto Show. The 348 horsepower Infiniti Performance Line (IPL) G Convertible joins the existing coupe model and carries an MSRP of $60,600, excluding a destination and handling fee of $895 (*).
Read more »
type='html'>
The British tuner formerly known as Project Kahn has presented a new styling package for the Ferrari 458 Italia. A. Kahn Design proposes front and rear bumper sections in matt pearl grey, rear diffuser, side skirts and roof also painted in matt pearl grey, ceramic brakes and yellow brake calipers.
Read more »
type='html'>
We have watched this video several times and still cannot find a reasonable excuse for why the driver of the Lada Niva crashed into a stopped car on the opposite side of the road. Even if the pedestrians crossing the road surprised the driver, we can't see why she (according to the YouTube poster) didn't stop her vehicle before it hit the Mazda3.
Head past the break to watch the incident as it was recorded from a dashboard mounted camera.
Read more »
type='html'>
General Motors announced today that the upcoming Chevrolet Trax will be sold in Australia as well under the Holden Trax moniker. The only changes over the Chevrolet version of the Trax are the Holden grille and logos along with some market-specific tweaks to the chassis.
Read more »
type='html'>
Say hello to the new TMG (Toyota Motorsport GmbH) EV P002, Toyota's pure electric racecar with which the Japanese brand will compete at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado on July 8. The EV P002 is the racing version of Toyota's road-legal EV P001 prototype that set a new lap record for electric vehicles at the Nürburgring Nordschleife last year with a time of 7 minutes and 47.794 seconds.
Read more »
type='html'>
We just received some more news on the S60 Polestar, a high-performance version of Volvo's compact executive saloon that was teased through a hazy image earlier today. As it turns out, the Volvo S60 Polestar is a street-legal, performance concept inspired by the racing model that competes in the 2012 season of the new Swedish racing series TTA – Racing Elite League.
Read more »
type='html'>
The Buick Reatta is one of those cars with some fairly interesting details that only time will tell if it will become a collectable classic. Presented in coupe form in 1988 with a soft-top convertible following in 1990, the Reatta was Buick's first modern-era two-seater model. Both body styles remained in production until 1991.
Unusually for a mass produced model, the Reatta was hand-built at the Reatta Craft Centre in Lansing, Michigan. Its platform was essentially a shortened version of the GM E chassis used by the Cadillac Eldorado, Oldsmobile Toronado and Buick Riviera, and was shared with the Cadillac Allante.
Read more »
type='html'>
Someone alert the hipsters; there is a new fad going around the auto industry and it's called reconfigurable instrument clusters. Just last month, BMW announced that it will offer a customizable digital instrument display on the 2013 model year 5-Series and facelifted 7-Series, while recent spy photos prove that the next Mercedes-Benz S-Class will also have this future.
For once, Cadillac is not trailing behind its rivals in features introducing an available Reconfigurable Gauge Cluster on its new top sedan model, the 2013 XTS that just went on sale in the States.
Read more »
type='html'>
We will start by letting you in a big "secret": we all do mistakes. Yes, Carscoop included. Back in May, in our hurry to post a tip from one of our readers, we neglected to take a good look at French car magazine L'Automobile's patent images of the Audi RS6 Avant, which as some of you quickly pointed out, turned out to be the RS4 Avant.
Today, it's Autocar's time for a slip-up. The British magazine posted a set of patent drawings stating that these pictures preview the next Auris and not the brochure scans that surfaced online last week.
Unfortunately for Autocar, this is not true. The patent images, while real, do not depict the next Auris but the Dear Qin hatchback concept that made its debut alongside a sedan version at the Auto China 2012 in Beijing this past April.
Read more »
