We knew it was only a matter of time. Toyota has just released their GT 86 and Subaru their BRZ, and whispers in the industry are already buzzing about a supercharged version of the GT 86. In fact, Chief Engineer Tetsuo Tada has already confirmed the future model to British magazine, AutoCar, which cements the fact that Toyota is working on a car to match wits with Subaru’s planned STI model.
The new supercharged GT 86 will be developed by Toyota Racing Developments and will add a supercharger kit to the current Subaru 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine. This new system will add a minimum of 50 HP to the current 200 HP, which will still make it 50 HP shy of Subaru’s promised 300 HP. Nonetheless, expect to see improved performance times from the GT 86’s 0-60 mph sprint time of 6.8 seconds and top speed of 143 mph.
The supercharged GT 86 will also be equipped with an improved suspension system and better brakes to handle the added power, but expect to also see a few exterior mods to differentiate it from a standard model.
Just a few days ago, we reported that Honda would preview the next NSX supercar with the Super Sports Concept set to be revealed at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show and now, British magazine, AutoCar, has come with more details on the future vehicle. Yoshikazu Kigoshi, General Manager for Honda, has described the new NSX as a "halo model that will be a successor to the NSX."
Kigoshi also said that the next NSX will be a hybrid vehicle that will combine a new 3.5-liter V6 petrol engine to drive the front wheels with an electric motor to power the rear wheels. It has also been rumored that the supercar will use a new seven-speed double-clutch gearbox as standard. Its future design language will most likely follow the same one that will be used for the Super Sports Concept.
The new NSX will be sold as an Acura on the North American market and as a Honda on markets where Acura is not being present.
With the rest of the industry already turning their attention towards developing more means of improving fuel efficiency, it appears that German automaker Porsche is ready to join the fold as far as the direction of their next generation engines for the 911 are concerned.
The word comes from Porsche 911 Powertrain Project Manager, Thomas Krickelberg, who laid out the company’s plans to develop a new range of turbocharged engines that could be in the offering for most of the 911 range. According to Krickelberg, Porsche is looking at two options for their engines: one that reduces displacement on turbocharged engines and another that involves improving their naturally aspirated engines through reduced friction and improved combustion.
“We haven’t made a decision yet,” Krickelberg said. “We have to make a decision very soon [by the end of] this year.”
While both options are still on the table, the most likely result from these discussions will be smaller capacity engines, which could even drop all the way to the legendary 2.7-liter capacity that was used in the 911 of the 70’s and 80’s. In the end, the decision on what kind of engines the next generation Porsche will most likely depend on upcoming regulations, both in Europe and in the US.
For his part, Krickelberg would rather see naturally aspirated engines on future Porsches as they are regarded as the best of the lot to drive for purists of the German brand.
Whatever decision Porsche ends up making with regards to its future engines, a lot of considerations still have to be made. And while the company does put tradition in high regard, they have, in past occasions, veered away from it in favor of producing a better product overall.
Whether the company does go down that route again with their new engines still remains to be seen. One thing we do know is that Porsche needs to cover all their bases before making any decisions on the matter.
Joining the 2012 Subaru Impreza WRX STI S206 as new models in Subaru’s line-up is a new option for the WRX STI A-Line called the Type S.
Though it draws a lot of similarities to its A-Line predecessor - including the use of a 2.5-liter turbo engine with 300 horsepower - the new A-Line Type S will still carry some new trims. Among the new features added to the four-door and five-door versions of the car are a new rear spoiler, a pair of Recaro bucket seats, and a new set of specially designed 18" wheels.
Considering that the WRX STI A-Line Type S is treated as the more conservative model of the whole line, the car will retail for 3.28 million Yen, which is around $42,240 based on current exchange rates.
We all know that Subaru has already made it known that they’re going to separate the WRX and STI lines with the Impreza from here on out. So if you’re one that appreciates posterity, the Impreza WRX STI A-Line Type S could very well be one of the last specially packaged models to carry both names on its badge.
After debuting the new generation ML-Class, Mercedes has gone on to offer a series of accessories for those who want more than just the standard SUV. The company has delivered a very long list of accessories starting with different sets of wheels and extending to a powerful Becker MAP PILOT navigation system.
Exterior options give customers the the choice between 12 different light-alloy wheels, snow chain systems, valve caps in sterling silver, bonnet fin attachments, and aluminum-finish running boards. The interior offers customization options not unlike any typical tuning firm, such as new floor mats, a wood/leather steering wheel, illuminated door sill panels, coat hangers, and stainless steel sports pedals. For those who love technology, Mercedes is also offering a rear-seat integration kit for the Apple iPad, a Rear Seat Entertainment System, and an InCar Hotspot system.
The add-ons continue on to include accessories for the average sports nut, including a range of carrier systems, ski and snowboard racks, bicycle racks, and roof boxes.
Earlier in the summer, it was rumored that Hyundai would be offering a 5.0 liter V8 engine for the Genesis Coupe sports car. This new engine would deliver an impressive 429 HP at 6500 rpm and 376 lb-ft of torque at 5000 rpm with an 11.5:1 compression ratio (estimated). The overall buzz in the industry illustrated the excitement over the historic use of a V8 engine, but Hyundai may have another trick up its sleeve: a turbocharged V6 engine.
It’s definitely not a secret that automakers have been leaning towards forced induction options such as turbocharging and supercharging to achieve high power while reducing fuel consumption. Hyundai is no different in that aspect. During a recent interview at Hyundai Motor America’s technical center in Ann Arbor, MI, Powertrain Boss John Juriga confirmed that the rumored turbocharged V6 really did exist and that is currently under testing: "The 3.8 is a contender for turbocharging for some high-output applications." But the fact that such an engine exists does not guarantee that it will be put into production. The final decision will only be made based on customers’ feedback.
The two Genesis Coupe concepts seen at the 2011 SEMA Show - the V6 powered Hurricane SC and the V8 powered Genesis RM500 - were specially created to generate feedback for which method of power delivery would be preferred by the masses. The decision is inevitably ours to make; do we marvel over the tried and true power and feel of a massive V8 engine or do we take that same amount of power and pay less at the pump? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!
Recycling is huge nowadays. Everywhere we go there are canisters for our glass and plastic bottles, as well as our old cans. Small contributions like this can make a big difference, but there are other items out there - bigger items - that can be recycled into some pretty cool merchandise. Take cars, for example. An estimated 10 million vehicles are recycled every year, giving them the title of the #1 recycled product in the U.S. 75% of the materials that make up each of those 10 million vehicles is entirely recyclable, which can translate into many different things.
The biggest product recyclable from a vehicle is metal. A car is 8% non-ferrous metal and 69% ferrous metal, totaling 77% of the vehicle. The recycled metal from just one car can make 22,400 matchbox cars. Any one with a child knows just how important those matchbox cars can be to children and that’s just the metal from the car.
Another big recyclable goodie from vehicles is rubber. Rubber only makes up 3% of the recyclable material in a car, but that number is significant when translated into usable terms. 80% of all scrap tires are used to make recycled products and 2.7 million tires can be recycled into 30 million lbs of playground surfaces.
Bottomline: Recycle those old, beat up cars and make some kids happy.
Check out the rest of the infographic to get more helpful information and remember to check back with us for the next installment in our Car Infographics series.
Over the years, tons of tuning companies have gotten their hands on a Porsche 911 at some point or another. Typically, with every new generation 911, there’s hundreds or thousands of kits to improve upon the standard model. Very rarely, however, do we come across a tuning kit for a much older model such as this 1973 Porsche 911. German tuner, dp Motorsport, has decided to take on this task with an impressive body kit, interior updates, and a boost of power to 310 HP.
The new body kit used for the 1973 Porsche 911 is made entirely from carbon fiber and includes a new front bumper, hood, fenders, lightweight doors, rear fender flares, rear bumper, and rear spoiler. Both hoods were also equipped with quick release fasteners. The Porsche’s standard windows have been replaced by a set of green-toned Plexiglas windows and lightweight lamp lenses were also installed, both for the sake of saving some weight. This is also the reason the carbon roof panel has been manufactured using the sandwich vacuum technique.
Full story after the jump.
Full story
Audi may be sending out the current generation TT-RS with one final special edition - the TT-RS Plus - but they are introducing another with that same package. At least, that is what a leaked document is suggesting.
Back in June 2011, Audi reported that all of the 2,700 units of the highly anticipated RS3 Sportback had been sold out, but if this document is to be taken seriously, then customers may have another chance to snag the sports hatch in an even cooler package. The RS3 Plus will take the turbocharged 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine - also found in the TT-RS - and jump-start it by 20 HP, leaving it with a total of 360 HP and 342 lb-ft. of torque. And just like with the TT-RS Plus, the RS3 Plus will be a few pounds lighter, thus making it a little bit faster. Expect to see different carbon fiber elements as well, most likely a specially designed wheel and a fixed rear wing.
The Audi RS3 Plus will be unveiled in May 2012, a month after the TT-RS Plus.
SSC’s answer to Bugatti’s record breaking Veyron came in the form of the ultra-fast and expertly designed Tuatara released about a year ago. This supercar boasts of an insane quad-cam, twin-turbo 6.8L V8 barreling out a colossal 1350HP and a proposed top speed of 275 mph! Basically, this car is shaping up to be a heart-stopping, Veyron-slaying super car of epic proportions, and now we can match the killer looks and power with the advanced interior recently developed by SSC.
This futuristic interior was developed following the aerospace design found on the exterior. In fact, many of the interior elements found on the Tuatara resemble specific elements of the exterior. For example, the two small, informational HUD displays situated on the left and right of the driver are inspired by the Tuatara’s rear winglets and the central AC vents were inspired by the Tuatara’s twin central exhausts. The holes pattern on the top of the central console area are inspired by the hole patterns on the Tuatara’s exterior body panels and the door pulls even have their exterior counterpart in the flying buttresses from the rear sides of the car.
Click here for a video of the car’s interior.
More on the interior of the SSC Tuatara after the jump.
Interior Shots Full story
