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.
Find out more about the 2013 Dodge Dart after the jump.
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The current Hyundai Genesis Coupewent on sale in United States dealerships back on February 26, 2009. It was a pretty cool sports car powered by a 2.0-liter DOHC inline four-cylinder that delivered 212 HP and 217 lb.-ft. of torque, but in 2011, Hyundai tried making it even better by adding a new version: the Coupe 3.8 R-Spec. This new coupe is powered by a 3.8 liter V6 engine that delivers 306 HP, which is obviously better than the previous model, but apparently, that addition simply wasn’t enough for Hyundai. Now, they’ve brought the facelift version of the Genesis Coupe to the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, in its American version.
The new 2013 Genesis Coupe sports more aggressive coupe styling, complemented by an improved interior and design. It will be available with 4-cylinder and V6 engines, both of which benefit from significant technology enhancements, a 3.8-liter V6 engine with sophisticated direct-injection technology, and a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that has been upgraded to a more precise twin-scroll turbocharger and larger intercooler.
UPDATE 01/09/2012: This review has been updated with the official images and specs of the Hyundai Genesis Coupe.
Hit the jump to read more about the future 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe.
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We knew that The Black Eyed Peas’ Will.I.Am was the enterprising type, but even we were surprised that the BEP’s front man has entered the auto industry with the creation of his very own car, the IAMAUTO.
The car, which made its debut on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, is being put into production as a way for Will.I.Am to bring some jobs back to East Los Angeles, California.
“I invested my money in building my own vehicle ’cause I want to bring jobs to the ghetto where I come from,” he said.
We understand his motivation in trying to create some positive effect on his old stomping grounds and that on its own is very commendable, but as far as the IAMAUTO is concerned, well, the jury’s still out on that.
Looking at it without any pretense, the car looks like an aftermarket mash-up of "curious" proportions. It’s been built using OEM Chrysler parts and features a Beats by Dr. Dre sound system, which is probably the only thing we like about the car. Performance specs have yet to be revealed, but we do hope that it comes with an impressive powertrain.
Otherwise, we don’t know if this car will go past the ’fad’ phase.
McLaren’s response to Ferrari’s 458 Italia Spyder is well on its way, thanks to the success achieved by the MP4-12C coupe. The new MP4-12C Spyder was confirmed back in 2009 and should be arriving within the next year if it plans to tackle Ferrari’s drop top. When it does arrive, expect the new model to be priced at a few thousand more than the $230K coupe.
The MP4-12C Spyder will feature a retractable hard-top, but will maintain the same mechanical setup and general design found in the standard model. Under the hood, we’ll more than likely find the twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V-8 that will deliver a total of 592 HP. This engine will be mated to a 7-speed twin-clutch Seamless Shift Gearbox (SSG) that will be controlled via paddles mounted behind the steering wheel. The 0 to 60 mph will be made in about the same 3.3 seconds, while top speed will be 205mph.
UPDATE 01/06/12: Here’s an interesting piece of tidbit we found out about the McLaren MP4-12C Spyder concerning the retractable hard-top it’s expected to come with. According to reports, McLaren will be using carbon fiber as the material for the drop-top roof. And, according to Auto Motor Und Sport, the McLaren will feature a roof system much like the one found on the Ferrari 458 Spider, meaning the roof will fold up first and then sink vertically behind the seats.
Ultra luxury brands beware, another one of your comrades is falling down the shame spiral and building a - gasp - SUV!
Sure that’s a little dramatic, but so are all of the people that are scoffing at the fact that Bentley has now confirmed a new SUV scheduled to hit their lineup sometime in 2015. If everyone remembers correctly, these are the same people that were horrified that Porsche decided to build the Cayenne and look how well that turned out for them. Now, with a 37% increase of sales in 2011 (to 7,003 vehicles sold), Bentley is looking to double this number by the time this new SUV comes out by making it "the world’s most luxurious 4x4" SUV and targeting growing SUV markets like the US and China. The "luxurious" title will also match the price; Bentley is stating that the starting price for their future SUV will be $140,000, making the $48,200 starting price of the Porsche Cayenne look like it belongs on a Kia Sportage.
So what constitutes the jumbo price tag? Other than the supposedly tremendous amount of luxury built into the future SUV, it has also been stated that it will be powered by the next generation W12 engine delivering up to 600 HP. For markets like Europe, Bentley will also offer a 6.0-liter V12 TDI engine with an output of about 500 HP.
Bentley is taking a big step with its improving sales by giving an SUV a chance to flourish. Does the world need a strong competitor for the Porsche Cayenne? Probably not, but that doesn’t mean that high-end customers with deep pockets won’t be writing out checks for a chance to wallow in the luxurious nature promised by Bentley.
