About the future Subaru WRX we have heard all kinds of rumors, including the fact that it will drop the "Impreza" from its name and it will be simply called WRX. After that we heard that Subaru will place under the hood of the new car the same turbocharged 2.0-liter boxer engine found in the BRZ. And now the speculation continues: new rumors suggest that the car will in fact feature an electrically-operated turbo engine.
According to Drive.com.au, Subaru is working to trap heat energy from exhaust gases, generating electricity to power the turbo. This new system will create power more efficiently with less turbo lag. But no matter what engine we will see under the hood, the next WRX will keep the same continuously variable transmission used in the standard Impreza.
The same source is also reporting that the next WRX "will be completely distinctive from the current Impreza, it will look considerably different." The model will also be featuring very significant technical changes and innovations.
Expect to see the new Subaru WRX launched sometime next year. A STI version will also follow.
Brought onto the market in the mid of 2011, the Range Rover Evoque shortly became one of the most successful models offered by Land Rover. So, as no surprise, the company will try to diversify the list of versions offered and after the previously rumored Grand Evoque and Evoque Cabrio, new details suggest that the company will also be offering a Sport version for the SUV.
In an interview with the British magazine AutoExpress, design director Gerry McGovern has suggested that such a model is being considered. Could this be a reaction to the recently announced Audi RS Q3 concept? We are not sure, but we really like the idea of seeing a sporty Evoque out there.
As for the engines to be used in the new models, rumors are talking about an updated version of the current 240bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo, tuned to deliver more than 300 HP. But a 2.2-litre SD4 engine will also be offered for the diesel fans out there, also with an output increased from the current 190 HP to at least 210 HP.
However, do not get to excited, the Range Rover Evoque Sport will make its debut late in 2013.
People have been talking about a possible BMW M7 for quite some time, and now in an interview with Car And Driver, Friedrich Nitschke, President of BMW’s M division has confirmed that the company is indeed considering a competitor for models like the Audi S8 and the Mercedes S63 AMG. However, he did not refer to it as the M7; instead he used the name "M Performance 7-Series."
This means the M7 hasn’t been confirmed just yet, but the M Performance model will be close enough to the real thing to gauge reaction. The future model will surely receive the same treatment as all the models unveiled in the past few months by BMW M Performance. These changes will include new front and rear aprons with large air intakes, a bespoke rear apron, a new exhaust system with a trapezoidal shape, and a new set of 20" M light-alloy wheels.
If built, the new 7-series M Performance will be unveiled sometime in 2013.
We all watched as Mazda rolled out the sexy Mazda Takeri concept car in New York. At that same time we learned that the 2014 Mazda6, which we will see at the 2012 Paris Auto Show, will be “strongly influenced” by the Takeri concept and we became rather excited by its potential. With those “look at me” body lines we assumed that there would be some hot V-6 option for this new stylish body. Unfortunately, Mazda went in a completely different direction, according to Mazda spokesperson Jeremy Barnes, via Automotive News.
Barnes made it quite clear that there are no plans to place a V-6 option or any other performance engine option under the 2014 Mazda6’s new hood. Actually, Mazda is even axing the somewhat impressive 170-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. The likely replacement for both engines is the Skyactiv 2.0-liter four-banger that cranks out a respectable-for-its-size 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. However, if you have to add “for its size” in front of something, that’s typically not a good thing.
The goal of this freshly revised Mazda6 is obviously fuel economy, which we can respect Mazda for doing. In all honesty though, they could produce a turbo-charged four-cylinder or even borrow an EcoBoost engine from Ford, who still owns a small share of Mazda. A possible performance engine would be the 250-horsepower, 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine slated for the upcoming Focus ST.
Having said all of that, Mazda did not completely rule out a future optional Skyactiv V-6 option for the Mazda6, but for now we will only see a four-cylinder engine.
We just hope that Mazda isn’t cutting its own throat by offering an under-powered four-cylinder for this hot-looking model. Then again, the automotive world tends to change with the wind, so you never know what may actually happen between now and the 2014 Mazda6’s release in the first quarter of 2013.
Some of you might be too young to remember this, but back in the 60’s, Dodge had a vehicle called the "Dart." It’s been a while since we saw this nameplate out on the streets, but now, Dodge has officially brought it back with the unveiling of a new compact sedan at the 2012 North American International Auto Show.
The new Dart is currently under development and will be based on a modified version of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta hatchback’s platform named Compact U.S. Wide (CUSW). According to Dodge, the new Dart will feature a body that’s made out of high-strength steel and a bevy of powertrain options.
The base engine for the new Dart will be a 1.4-liter MultiAir Intercooled Turbo engine. Just ahead of that is a 2.0-liter Tigershark engine, while the most powerful engine will be a 2.4-liter MultiAir Tigershark engine.
UPDATE 04/30/2012: Dodge has unveiled a new promo video for the 2013 Dart Limited. The video presents running footage and beauty shots of the car. Hit the jump to watch the video!
Find out more about the 2013 Dodge Dart after the jump.
Full story
A few months ago, Nissan started its teaser campaign for the new generation Altima. Now, the same marketing strategy is being applied to the future Sentra that will be launched as the nameplate celebrates its 30th anniversary in the U.S. If Nissan follows the same rules as with the Altima, then the official debut will be made in about six weeks. According to the first details, the 2013 Sentra will bring a new level of refinement and innovation to the segment.
"Sentra is the third of five all-new core models we’ll be introducing in a 15-month product onslaught," said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, NNA. "The all-new Altima goes on sale this summer and will be followed closely by the all-new Pathfinder and Sentra. And when the next two new models launch in 2013, we will have refreshed 75 percent of our volume, rewarding our loyal owners and attracting new customers into Nissan showrooms."
The 2013 Nissan Sentra will be unveiled in the United States later this summer and will go on sale in the fall.
A few days ago, Mercedes Head of Design, Gorden Wagener, officially confirmed that the new baby SLS - also known as the SLC will officially be unveiled sometime in 2014. This new model will take on vehicles like the Porsche 911 and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, and will be priced from about $130,000.
As previously reported, the future SLC will drop the famous SLS model’s gullwing doors, but will feature the same design language as the current SLS. Under the hood, Mercedes will place a twin-turbocharged 5.4-liter V8 engine with an output of about 500 HP. There were rumors suggesting that the next baby SLS would use an inline-6 engine, but we strongly doubt that Mercedes will drop their usual V8 engine for a sports car. The engine will more than likely be a downsized version of the V8, with its capacity taken to about 4.0 liters, but those are rumors as well.
Now that Audi has officially debuted the new generation A3 hatchback at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, it’s now time to focus on the other models in the A3 line-up. Just a few days ago, we brought you the first spy shots of the S3 version, and today we’re taking it down a notch by introducing to the future A3 Convertible version via our first rendering of the model.
The convertible version of the A3 will look exactly like its hatchback version, except of course, for its cloth roof. This roof is fitted with hydraulic drive that will open the cloth in just nine seconds. Just like with the hatchback version, the future A3 Convertible will be offered with one TDI and two TFSI engines, with power ranging from 122 to 180 HP. The engines will be mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed S tronic transmission, depending on the version.
The new Audi A3 Convertible will be officially unveiled at the end of 2013.
With Lotus having to cease production completely for the past 60 days as a result of its sale from Proton and acquisition by DRB-Hicom, production has finally resumed. Fingers crossed; this could be the start of a much needed recovery for the ailing brand.
Even though we knew production would resume eventually, we are very surprised that it’s happened so soon, especially after reports surfaced just days ago that DRB-Hicom was already looking for a Chinese buyer to take Lotus off their hands.
Up to this point, Lotus has more than $316 million in debts and in order for these debts to be overcome, Lotus has to decrease production costs significantly and increase output. If these two strategies cannot be met, then we can’t see how Lotus can be a viable business in the future.
Autocar is reporting that production will restart at the beginning of May, when Lotus hopes to pump out no less than 44 cars weekly with the Elise, Exige, and Evora all being produced yet again. The most exciting news to come out of this revelation however, is that development of the upcoming Esprit supercar should resume including development of the brand new V-8 engine it’ll feature. This new V8 is being developed completely in-house and will deliver between 550 - 570 HP.
Finally, Dany Bahar confirmed that DRB-Hicon is not actually looking to sell the flailing brand off to the Chinese stating, “It’s just not true,” he says. “There is no fire sale, no selling process and no bidding. If there were, lots of strange people would be here doing inspections and due diligence, but there is nobody. Besides, I have no authority to sell the company. That’s a job for the shareholders. I am just an employee.”
Ferrari has already confirmed two things for its future. The first to come was the fact that it will soon feature a V-12 hybrid drivetrain dubbed the HY-KERS system. The second thing that Ferrari confirmed was the fact that a new Enzo-like vehicle will debut in the coming years boasting this HY-KERS system as its power plant.
Some snooping around also produced that this new “Enzo” may bear the F70 name. Currently, the details on this upcoming F70 are scarce, at best, and all we have seen in the form of visuals on it are some spy shots of its testing mule, which looks more like an Italia 458 with poorly placed metal slabs bolted onto it. The same rings true for the interior. What we do know is that in an effort to reduce weight, the F70 will include some carbon-fiber panels.
We also know a good deal about the 6.3-liter V-12 HY-KERS (Hybrid-Kinetic Energy Recovery System) that will power it. Starting with the internal combustion side; this engine will be as efficient as possible, using multi spark technology – a series of cooler sparks as the piston travels upward – that assures that no fuel goes to waste by the spark plug igniting multiple times before the each cylinder hits top-dead-center. This combustion engine links to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
On the electrical side, you have a series of components working together for optimal efficiency. On the backside of the seven-speed trans, you have a high-power traction motor. This motor electrifies the seven-speed trans, adding to the power the engine delivers to it. Attached to the gasoline engine is an auxiliary generator that charges the batteries, as needed. Lastly, on top of the transmission is the hybrid power unit, which features two inverters and a smart cooling system.
All of this crazy technology plops down a whopping 920 combined horsepower and a 0 to 200 km/h (124 mph) time of 6.5 seconds. This also drops the CO2 emissions by a whopping 40 percent, 10 percent more than the initial tests.
We will continue to keep you updated with additions to this review, as more info becomes available, so stay tuned!
