Future cars in the making. Should they be an innocent drawing, a fine computer rendering or real driving concept, they always preview the cars of the future in some aspects.
Collaborative efforts aren’t anything new in the car world. Companies have been borrowing bits and pieces from each other for years, but lately it seems as though full blown projects are being split between companies to develop almost identical vehicles. Take Subaru and Toyota, for example. They joined forces to develop the new GT 86/BRZ sports car that carry identical parts with different maker flares. Now Fiat and Mazda are jumping on board the team builder wagon to produce a new small roadster based on Mazda’s next-generation MX-5 rear-wheel-drive architecture.
The two companies will have to develop two differentiated, distinctly styled roadsters and each variant will be powered by specific proprietary engines unique to each brand. Both models will be built at Mazda’s Hiroshima, Japan, plant with production for Alfa Romeo envisaged starting in 2015.
"Establishing technology and product development alliances is one of Mazda’s corporate objectives and this announcement with Fiat is an important first step in that direction. It is especially exciting to be collaborating with such a prestigious marque as Alfa Romeo on a new roadster based on the next-generation MX-5, which is such an iconic vehicle for Mazda and recognized as the best-selling roadster of all time." said Takashi Yamanouchi, Mazda’s Representative Director and Chairman of the Board, President and CEO.
"This agreement clearly demonstrates our commitment to Alfa Romeo and the determination to grow it into a truly global brand. By partnering with Mazda, we will be co-operating with the recognized leader in compact rear-drive vehicle architectures in order to deliver an exciting and stylish roadster in the Alfa Romeo tradition. We are appreciative of this collaboration with Mazda and look forward to maintaining a fruitful and continuous relationship." said Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne.
Back in 2008, Mercedes was looking to expand its market to include the younger population and they decided that the best way to do that was to offer a C-Class Coupe alternative. That project led to the birth of the CLC whose success in the market was more lackluster than bedazzled. Now, Mercedes is at it again with a much more simple approach to meeting the needs of the younger generation. This simple - in the best sense of the word - vehicle is the C-Class Coupe, and Mercedes is even taking a stab at an AMG version. This is certainly a good thing because, well, the BMW M3 Coupe needs a real competitor, right?
The new C63 AMG Coupe will join the current AMG Coupe and will be put on sale this July in Europe, while on the US market sales will begin in September 2011. The first units will be sold as the "Edition 1" and will be offered with exclusive equipments.
UPDATE 05/24/2012: Mercedes’ "Thank You - 2 Million Times" video generated some positive feedback and many people have requested to see the uninterrupted drift footage. Questions were even asked as to if the C 63 AMG Coupe actually drifted the corkscrew or if it was creative editing. Mercedes is offering the answer to this question with a new video. Enjoy!
Not only does the Nissan DeltaWing prototype resemble something out of batman rather than a racer which will take up a grid position at this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours, but it may also suggest what the future of racing could look like. Unfortunately for many motoring enthusiasts, that does include the elongated, tapered front end and the aircraft inspired hind quarters.
However, the effectiveness of this design will not be proven until after the Le Mans endurance race and despite the car being largely experimental, the guys over at Top Gear recently teamed up with English car customizer, Andy Saunders, to produce a replica of the DeltaWing concept.
Andy Saunders is no rookie when it comes to producing the weird and wacky, and his very own DeltaWing will be testament to the belief that what’s worth doing, is worth overdoing. In order to create the one-off piece of art, Saunders will search the scrap heap for components which not only resemble certain elements of the original but can also be tweaked to get the look just right.
So far, Saunders has borrowed the wheels from a Ford Mondeo, the rear axle from a Ford Escort, and has combined components from the Fiat 126 and Morris 1000 bonnet to shape the rear deck of the car.
And that list will continue to grow as the rear pod sections will be created from old Mazda MX-5 bumpers, while the “DeltaWing kick-ups on the rear” will be formed around the air intakes of Australia’s last F1 champion, Alan Jones’ 1975 Formula One racer.
It’s currently unclear what engine, drivetrain, and transmission Saunders plans to utilize for the car, but you can be sure of two things: they’ll be recycled and when finished, the Top Gear DeltaWing will be significantly heavier, less powerful, and slower than the real racer.
Nonetheless, we respect Saunders’ ambition and wish him all the best!
Here we go, folks. The 2012 model year will be the last for the current Aston Martin DBS and a newly redesigned model is on its way. In the mean time, Aston Martin fans can enjoy the 2013 DBS Ultimate, which is little more than a slightly upgraded version of the Carbon Black model, but a limited edition nonetheless.
We all anticipate seeing the upcoming 2014 Aston Martin DBS in the 2012 Paris Auto Show, which kicks off the 29th of September. We are also anxiously awaiting some official photos from Aston Martin, which we expect to see some time in June. As we wait, the spyshot groups are out and about seeking some prey and fell upon a 2014 DBS specimen frolicking around the streets and snapped a few pics. Unfortunately, the DBS was wearing significantly more clothing than the models at the Beijing Auto Show and there wasn’t much to be seen.
Well, our crack rendering team has stripped the clothing from this beauty and gave us a good idea of what to expect, with the above picture. Rendering is not what we’re all about though, as we also are prepared to offer you a full review of this new beast using the information we have gathered and just a pinch of speculation.
Click past the jump to read the entire review on the 2014 Aston Martin DBS
There have been tons of rumors surrounding the engine choice for the next BMW M3, ranging from a new V6 engine to an inline-six engine with tri-turbo (our favorite rumor), but now, the President of BMW North America, Mr. Ludwig Willisch has finally confirmed that the next M3 will feature an inline 6 layout - the same layout that will be used for the M4.
Willisch also said that, at some point, BMW was indeed considering a V6 engine for the next M3, but in the end, this choice was dropped. What he didn’t specify was whether or not the new inline-6 engine will get bi-turbo or tri-turbo. Regardless of the technology, the future M3 will deliver at least 450 HP.
Ludwig Willisch also confirmed that the next M3 will be lighter, faster, more powerful, and more efficient than the current M3. It will be offered with an optional or standard manual transmission.
Don’t expect to see the new BMW M3 launched until late in 2013 or early 2014.
About two weeks ago, Auditrademarked a series of new names, providing a glimpse of their future lineup. One of the names trademarked was the Q8, which logically speaking, will be a new SUV placed above the current Q7. Now, British magazine CAR is offering up the first details on the upcoming SUV.
The future Q8 will be built on the company’s new MLB platform and will benefit from all the technologies that will help the future Q7 be lighter than the current model. This means, the future Q8 will consist of 60% steel and 40% lightweight materials like aluminum.
As for the engine, the upcoming Q8 will see the same engines found in the Q7, except for the car’s new four-cylinder base engine. This means that the Audi Q8 will use two petrol V6 engines with 230 and 300 HP, a V6 TDI engine with 250 HP, and a 4.2 V8 engine with 400 HP. An S version will get a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 with an impressive output of 550 HP. Audi will also be offering a hybrid version that will combine a V6 TDI engine with a pair of electric motors.
Expect to see the new Audi Q8 launched sometime in 2015.
A few days ago, Auditrademarked an impressive amount of names that we hope will join the lineup sooner rather than later. One of the most anticipated names from that list is the S9, which has brought out a new hope that the previously rumored Audi A9 will be launched sometime in the upcoming years. And, of course, whenever there is hope for a production version of a model, we automatically create a rendering that embodies our vision for it.
The Audi A9 has been churning up the rumor mill for a long time, but Audi hasn’t really confirmed or denied anything about it, leaving the general public with an empty feeling in regards to the vehicle. The S9 should evoke better feelings, as long as Audi doesn’t drag its feet through the mud with its details. As for the A9, rumors have lead us to believe that it will be a large sedan to be placed above the current Audi A8, and ready to take on models like the Porsche Panamera Turbo. In its base version. it will get a 3.0 TFSI engine with around 300 HP, while the top version will get a V8 with 500 HP.
The Audi A9 will go on sale around 2015 with a price tag of about $150K.
Our spy photographers have been pretty busy today. First, we got a set of images for the Porsche 911 Turbo, then came the spy shots for the Landrover Range Rover, and now their third round of spy shots reveal the next Acura MDX.
The MDX was caught testing on public roads somewhere in Germany, close to the Nürburgring. This prototype is heavily camouflaged, even though we don’t expect to see big changes in the design of the future MDX. It will, however, borrow some of the design elements seen on the RLX concept.
Under the hood, we will see the same engine line-up as in the RLX, meaning there will be two different engines. The standard model will get a V6 engine with about 300 HP. It will be joined by a new hybrid model featuring the Acura Sport Hybrid Super Handling All-Wheel Drive system that will also find its way to the next NSX supercar.
Expect to see the new Acura MDX launched in late 2013 as a 2014 model.
When Subaru unveiled the Advanced Tourer Concept at the 2011 Tokyo Auto Show, not many people paid much attention to it. After all, it was sitting next to the brand new Subaru BRZ, which pretty much stole the show in the Subaru booth. Now, in a twisted turn of events, MotorTrend is reporting that the Advanced Tourer was a preview version of the next generation Subaru WRX set to be unveiled sometime in 2013.
According to the magazine, a Subaru insider revealed that the next WRX will get the headlights, air dam, grille, and front brake ducts from the Tourer Concept. The overall side profile will also resemble the Tourer, but the front design will be even more aggressive and so will the rear wheel arches and fenders.
The future WRX will be built on a modified version of the current Impreza platform and as previously reported, will drop the Impreza from its nomenclature. While the engine to be placed under the hood is still a subject for speculation, Motor Trend suggests that Subaru is currently testing a new FA series of 1.6- and 2.0-liter direct-injected turbocharged boxer fours and a hybrid version of the 1.6-liter turbo. One of these three versions will definitely find its way under the hood of the next WRX, maybe even the 2.0 version.
It’s not too often that us auto industry buffs get a chance to toot our own horns by calling our shots and being right. To be honest, most of the time we end up being wrong when we start calling our shots. But when we do smack that nail right on the head, we like to let you know about it ASAP…
On that note, remember the long trail of breadcrumbs that we have been following since 2011? If you don’t, allow us to refresh your memory:
April 20, 2012:TopSpeed reports that the “SS” moniker was officially trademarked by GM, after 51 years of using it on various models. Some other experts claim this was just to protect the “SS” trim levels, but we knew better.
Now we have real-life news on the Chevrolet SS front, as GM has officially released, FINALLY, something that we have all pretty much known for at least a few months. For the 2014 model year, Chevrolet will import the Holden Commodore and badge it as the Chevrolet SS – no “Performance” after it. Chevy will have the SS on showroom floors starting in late-2013.
Not only is the SS coming to showrooms, it will also run in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Its debut will occur at the 2013 Daytona 500 race.
Finally, we can put to bed the ongoing mystery of Chevy’s odd breadcrumb trail and start focusing on the next in line, the yet-to-be-announced Cadillac ELR.
Click past the jump to read GM’s official press release on the Chevy SS.
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