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.
Volkswagen will be headed to the upcoming Wörthersee event with a pretty cool concept car designed and built for the street. The new Polo WRC Street Concept is based on the Polo R WRC announced last year and was designed as a preview version of an extremely sporty small series due to be launched in late 2013.
The new Polo WRC Street will feature a highly unique and distinctive design language distinguished by a rear spoiler, a diffuser, a sports suspension, and an inscription with R-WRC logos. Volkswagen will adopt the same white exterior paint combined with blue and gray elements as seen on the rally car.
Under the hood, the VW Polo WRC Street Concept gets a 2.0 liter TSI engine that delivers an impressive 220 HP and produces motorsport-like performance. Of course, Volkswagen wanted to keep the performance figures a secret until the car’s official debut, so we’ll just have to wait until then to find out!
The second model to be displayed by Seat at the 2012 Wörthersee event, next to the Leon Super Copa, is the Ibiza SC Trophy. The SC Trophy is based on the new generation of the standard Ibiza. It is priced at 31,500 Euro (about $40K at the current exchange rates) and has been described as the ideal starting machine for amateur racing drivers.
The new Ibiza SC Trophy is powered by a 1.4 liter TSI engine that delivers a total of 180 HP and is mated to a seven-speed DSG transmission operated from the steering wheel. The engine has been combined with a modified oil sump, a powerful brake system, and racing suspension running on 18-inch wheels housed under noticeably flared wheel arches.
The interior drops all the "unnecessary" elements from the production model and provides only data truly relevant to racing drivers. The interior is painted in a special grey paint finish combined with fluorescent orange on the mirror casings, wheels, and interior roll cage.
The Seat Ibiza SC Trophy can be driven in single-brand race series.
Volkswagen-owned Skoda doesn’t get nearly the credit it deserves. Maybe it’s because under the VW umbrella, there are a lot more high-profile brands to choose from.
Nevertheless, the Czech automaker is still worthy of our attention, now more than ever, actually, considering they’re bringing a pretty radical rally car concept to the 2012 Worthersee show.
The vehicle, called the Citigo Rally Concept, is based on the three-door Citigo hatchback. As a rally designed vehicle, the Citigo Rally Concept comes with its fair share of rally-spec modifications, including a ventilated hood, an aggressive front bumper, extended side skirts, a huge rear spoiler, a center-mounted exhaust system, and last but certainly not least, a new set of 18" wheels with low-profile tires.
Performance modifications are also expected to be part of the Citigo Rally Concept’s overall make-up. Skoda has yet to provide information on what kind of powertrain it’s going to have, but rest assured, we’ll be ready to provide all the necessary updates when the information becomes available.
Seat will be attending the legendary Wörthersee event with another extensive display: the Spanish company plans to unveil some very cool concept cars as well as a bunch of vehicles that can already be ordered. Once such vehicle is the Leon Super Copa - a model inspired by its sibling racer from the WTCC and priced at 63,000 euro, or about $80,000 at the current exchange rates.
The new Leon Super Copa is powered by an uprated version of the 2.0-liter TSI engine from the Leon Cupra R. The engine delivers a total of 300 HP and a peak torque of 250 lbs-ft, sprinting the car up to a top speed of 155 mph. The engine’s output travels through a six-speed DSG transmission and mechanically locking differential to the front wheels.
The Seat Leon Super Copa features a special grey paint finish, while the mirror casings, wheels, and roll cage highlight the vehicle in a fluorescent orange.
The next generation Mini Cooper was caught testing for the first time at the end of 2011, and now our spy photographers have captured it yet again, this time cruising on public roads in Europe.
Codenamed "F56," the third generation Mini Cooper will share a chassis with the next-generation BMW 1-Series and will be offered in both FWD and AWD versions. Aside from the usual four-cylinder, turbocharged engines, BMW will also be adding a three-cylinder option.
These recent spy shots reveal that the new Cooper will grow slightly, adding a bit of width and length. The front grille, however, will be a bit shorter, while the hood and the front overhang appear to be longer than the current model. The front and rear windshields also appear to be more raked than the current Mini.
The new Mini Cooper will be unveiled in the first quarter of 2013, with the convertible following one year later.
After debuting the M135i Concept at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, BMW has now unveiled the M135i production version. The new model will be distinguished by a specific exterior and interior design, as well as an impressive 3-liter, straight six-cylinder engine that delivers an amazing 320 HP. This output allows the car to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.1 seconds and up to a top speed of 155 mph (electronically limited).
The car’s exterior will be distinguished by specific M design elements: a front apron with large air intake vents and three-dimensional flaps on the outer air vents inspired by automobile racing. At the rear, there will be an impressive rear apron plus dual exhaust pipes. The final touch is provided by a new set of 18-inch M light alloy double-spoke wheels. The interior receives Hexagon/Alcantara upholstery, an M leather steering wheel, BMW Individual roofliner in Anthracite, and an aluminum Hexagon trim with matte Estoril Blue or high-gloss black accent lines.
BMW has only unveiled the three-door version of the M135i, but they have promised that a five-door version will follow shortly.
UPDATE 05/14/12:This review has been updated with the official details and images for the BMW M135i.
Hit the jump to read more about the new BMW M135i.
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The top model Mini from the last generation was the JCW GP - a special edition with just 2,000 units. Now it seems history is about to repeat itself as Mini has just unveiled the official details on the new John Cooper Works GP, described by the company as the fastest Mini ever built: it laps the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in 8 min. 23 seconds.
The new John Cooper Works GP will be offered with powertrain, chassis and aerodynamics technology inspired directly by motor sport, but Mini did not announced any specifications just yet. However, they did confirmed it lapped the Nurburgring ring in 8 minutes and 23 seconds - an improvement over the previous GP model by 19 seconds.
On the exterior the new model will be distinguished by large front and rear aprons, striking side skirts, a bespoke roof spoiler and newly developed rear diffuser. This impressive package continues on the interior where the car has the rear seats removed in order to get a more racing appearance.
The new model will go on sale later this year in a limited run of 2,000 units.
Updated 05/12/2012: This review has been updated with the official details, images and specs..
Just over 10 years ago, Hyundai was still pretty much the black sheep of the automotive industry. Despite the fact that the Hyundai Excel of the 1980s won several awards, Hyundai’s quality was still considered low and very few took them seriously. In the past 10 years, Hyundai has managed to dig itself out of the grave that it placed itself in and is now a legitimate competitor to import giants like Honda, Toyota, and Nissan.
Regardless of the brand’s recent resurgence, no one would ever suspect that the words “BMW” and “Hyundai” would ever be used in the same sentence, except in the case of someone saying “I can’t afford a BMW, but this Hyundai will do.” Well, that was until just now…
There are rumors being passed around the automotive world that Hyundai and BMW have been seen courting one another rather intensely, as reports indicate that Chung Euisun, the son of Hyundai’s chairman, and BMW brass were discussing sharing engine development costs.
These types of development sharing partnerships are not uncommon. Currently, we have Audi sharing its cost with VW, Toyota and Subaru joined up for the BRZ/GT 86/FR-S project, and in the past we have seen Ford and Mazda joining forces. However, those collaborations are all pretty much linear, as they are all on the same level with each other. With exception to the top-level Genesis sedan and Equus, Hyundai couldn’t be much more non-linear with BMW. In fact, Hyundai is pretty much the anti-BMW.
In reality though, Hyundai does build quality engines now and they still remain significantly cheaper than BMWs. With CAFE regulations becoming more of a reality every day, BMW needs to find a way to increase its vehicles’ fuel mileage without sharply increasing cost. Sharing some developmental cost with a company that produces quality and economically friendly engines just might do the trick.
As expected, both companies have adamantly denied any discussions of collaborating, but that means nothing in this day and age. Nearly every car company denies everything until they decide to officially release it.
We’ll keep you updated on this situation as more info comes out.
Image is of the 3.8-liter Lambda engine with direct injection (GDI) technology found in the 2012 Hyundai Genesis.
A few weeks ago, we let you in on the conversation that Car and Driver had with executives from Subaru and Toyota about the possibility of a turbocharger on the BRZ, GT 86, and FR-S. It was a flat out “No” on the FR-S and an “Eh, maybe, but not now” on the BRZ and GT 86. Well, first off we think that’s a load of corporate horse manure, as Subaru and Toyota would be out of their engine control modules not to force at least 8 psi into that new jointly built 2.0-liter engine.
Apparently, Subaru is taking a nibble of the bait that us turbo junkies are tossing in the water, as it has just completed development on a turbocharged version of the FA20 engine used in the BRZ, GT 86, and FR-S family. This engine is not an identical twin to the FA20, so don’t go getting your hopes up yet, but it is its fraternal twin at least. The only real difference is that Subaru scrapped the Toyota fuel injection system in favor of its own direct-injection system.
So what kind of power are we talking about? We are hearing that it cranks out a whopping 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque! Now for the bad news… As of now, this engine is only slated to be dropped into the JDM-spec Legacy. To make things worse, Subaru is linking this awesome engine to a CVT. What a gigantic waste.
Don’t go getting all sad on us now, this is a good start that Subaru is willing to slap some boost on this puppy and get nearly 300 ponies and 300 twisting power. Now just imagine that in a BRZ…
So we will reiterate what we said before. Regardless of what smoke and mirrors Subaru and Toyota throw up there, we will see boost in at least the BRZ and GT 86, and we would be willing to bet a penny that we see the FR-S whistling down the road one day too.
