When Nissan announced plans to drop the DeltaWing program, it also announced plans to return to 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2014. The company plans to enter the race as a "Garage 56" with an "innovative project that promises to continue the pioneering spirit of last year’s award-winning Nissan DeltaWing experimental entry."
Today, the company released the first teaser video and image of the vehicle that will make its world debut on Friday, June 21st. At the 2013 Le Mans, Nissan will also open a "Nismo FanZone" experience that will offer the fans a chance to see the drivers of the No. 42 Greaves Motorsport and No. 26 G-Drive Racing cars.
Also, visitors will have the possibility to enter competitions to win helicopter rides, garage tours, circuit tours and numerous other giveaways throughout the event. Nissan is also offering the possibility to watch the groundbreaking Juke Ride biometrics system.
Click past the jump to read more about Nissan’s competitors in Le Mans.
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Volkswagen unveiled the Taigun concept (pictured here) at the 2012 São Paulo International Motor Show and announced that it previews a new small family SUV. Now, it has been rumored that a production Taigun will arrive sometime in 2016 at a starting price of €15,000 - around $20,000 at the current exchange rates.
The production version will be based on either the Golf or Up! platform and will sit below the Tiguan. However, German magazine Autobild reports that Volkswagen will likely opt for the latest version, because itis rumored that the VW plans an SUV based on the Polo platform and priced at about €20,000 (around $26,500).
The production Taigun will measure about 3.86 meters (151.96 inches) long, which is about 32 inches longer than the Up! and 11 inches shorter than Polo.
Under the hood, Volkswagen will place a new family of four-cylinder engines, with displacement up to 2.0 liters. We also believe that the company will offer a four-wheel version, while front-wheel drive will be offered as standard.
Click past the jump to read more about the 2012 Volkswagen Taigun.
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Chrysler has unveiled the first details on a new limited-edition vehicle set to be unveiled at next month’s Chicago Auto Show. The new Mopar ’13 Dodge Dart will join the current lineup of limited-edition vehicles offered by Mopar: Mopar ’10 Dodge Challenger, Mopar ’11 Dodge Charger and Mopar ’12 Chrysler 300.
This special Dart will be distinguished by a gloss-black finish with a pair of car-length Mopar Blue stripes, plus a very cool aerodynamic kit and an updated interior.
The new Dodge Dart Mopar ’13 will be limited to only 500 units, and will be put into production this spring at the company’s assembly plant in Belvidere, Illinois. Each customer will also get a limited-edition sketch of the vehicle signed by Mark Trostle, Chrysler Group Chief Designer for the Mopar Brand.
Updated 01/31/2013: This review has been updated with the official details, images and specs.
UPDATE 06/13/13: Dodge has released pricing details for the Dart Mopar ’13. Click past the jump to read at least how much it’s going to cost you to own one.
Hit the jump to read more about the Mopar ’13 Dodge Dart.
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The Cadillac CTS was not the best-received model that the luxury automaker released when it debuted back in 2008. Despite its lukewarm reception, it has grown on buyers and has really blossomed into quite the staple in Caddy’s lineup. Now, at the 2013 New York International Auto Show, Cadillac has unveiled the third-generation CTS Sedan, but no coupe model yet.
Unfortunately for Cadillac, the images had leaked several days before the model actually debuted, so we already knew what it would look like. However, there are still plenty of details left unknown. For example, we have no clue what model will receive that sexy, sexy twin-turbocharged V-6 engine. We also have no clue what features the new CTS will include.
Well, all of the mysteries can be laid to rest today, as Cadillac has officially released all of the information on the upcoming CTS.
Updated 06/13/2013: Cadillac announced today prices for the 2014 CTS sedan that will arrive in dealerships this fall. Click past the jump to find out how much you have to pay for the new CTS.
Click past the jump to read all of the information on the 2014 Cadillac CTS Sedan
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At the 2010 Geneva Motor Show Audi expanded its lineup with the addition of a new small, city car: the A1. Initially offered in a three-door version, the model was soon followed by a five-door variant called the Sportback. Since then, the model remained basically unchanged, except the addition of some special editions, like the A1 Amplified.
The A1 measures less than 4 meters (157.5 inches) in length, making it the perfect car for today’s crowded cities. In fact, the A1 was already voted best-in-class by several German magazines. Despite its compact sizes, the A1 features powerful engines and an agile chassis making it the sportiest car in the segment. The A1 also offers enough interior room for five adults.
The A1 is offered with a choice of seven engines - four TFSI and three TDI units - all of them combined with start-stop system.
On the European market, the A1 is priced from €15,800 - roughly $21,000 at the current exchange rates. Unfortunately, the model is still not offered on the U.S. market.
Click past the jump to read more about the Audi A1.
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On the eve of a new 2014 Touareg launch from Volkswagen later this year, here is a look back at the model’s mechanical and style evolution during its 9-year run in the U.S. from 2004 through 2013 – between 2002 and 2004, it was available in other markets. No fewer than seven unique engines have powered this PL71-platform VW behemoth in production form. Even including its stable-mates the Porsche Cayenne or Audi Q7, no other SUV in the history of the automobile has packed more mechanical variations over a relatively short run.
From basic I-5 diesels to V-6s up to the monster V-10 TDI and W-12 gasoline engines and even a hybrid in the mix, the Touareg has been a true jack-of-all-trades and a phenomenal global success for the Volkswagen group. It is worth remembering that the platform development and manufacturing partnership between VW and Porsche had long been dead until this SUV project brought it back to life in 1999.
The first Porsche-VW baby of the new era was born a healthy, slightly pudgy infant with the Volkswagen Touareg. A name only a mother could pronounce, it is said as both “twa-reg” and/or “toar-reg.” If you don’t already know, the Toureg – the real ones, not the car – are a North African group of people that speak Berber.
Ostensibly a response to the success of the Mercedes-Benz ML series launched in 1998, the Touareg’s mission was to be all things to all buyers. The goal was complex: Range Rover comfort, BMW 5-series road-going abilities and G-Wagen strength when all paved roads turn to dirt.
Click past the jump to read about the evolution of the Volkswagen Touareg.
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BMW used the CSL name for the first time back in 1972 when it unveiled the 3.0CSL - a special version of the Six CS (E9) developed to race the European Touring Car Championship. In 2004, that named was used once again, but this time on a road-going M3 CSL (Coupé Sport Leichtbau).
The CSL version was about 240 pounds lighter than a regular M3, thanks to the use of many weight-saving technologies inspired by Formula 1 cars. The model also boasted 17 extra horses under the hood than a standard M3 and thanks to its front-engine, rear-drive layout and the SMG-II gearbox, it delivered the purest driving dynamics of any BMW of the time.
The M3 CSL was limited to only 1,400 units and was offered only in two exterior colors: Silver Grey Metallic and Black Sapphire Metallic. The model never made it to the U.S. market and in the British market it was considered a very expensive car, as it was about £20,000 ($32,000 at the current exchange rates) more expensive than a standard M3.
Click past the jump to read more about the BMW M3 CSL.
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At the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, Audi unveiled the A3 Concept sedan, but the unveiling of the production version took longer than we expected. After we brought you a series of spy shots of the A3 prototypes, today the new A3 sedan made its world debut at the 2013 New York Auto Show.
The new A3 sedan retains much of the design elements we have seen in the concept version and adds numerous innovative features on the A-segment: signature Singleframe grille and available full-LED headlights.
The new Audi A3 sedan will go on sale on the U.S. market showrooms in the first quarter of 2014. European customers will be able to enjoy it starting this summer. In there the new A3 sedan will start at €25,000 - about $32,000 at the current exchange rates.
Updated 03/27/2013: This review has been updated with the official details, images and specs.
Updated 06/12/2013: Audi unveiled a new video presenting the new A3 sedan in action on some public roads. Enjoy!
Hit the jump to read more about the new Audi A3 Sedan.
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The Kia Forte5 is the forthcoming hatchback variation of last year’s new Forte sedan but packs some interesting and timely updates that make this one of the few hot hatches offered in the U.S. market. The highlights include a powerful turbocharged engine, sophisticated front and rear LED lighting, and a cabin with some boy-racer appeal via carbon-fiber-style surfaces and a six-speed manual box.
Let’s face it: hot hatches just aren’t sexy here. As much as our Euro counterparts get excited about the Fiesta ST, there’s a collective “huh?” in U.S. showrooms over the same car. It just seems too tall, too narrow and diminutive for someone to commit to years of payments. The Honda Civic Si is about as close to the recipe as possible and even this is only offered in staid sedan or also-staid coupe bodywork.
This is set to change with the new Forte5. The name is the dorkiest part: the style of low, crisp and wide proportions makes this car look more like a slammed Sportage or Cayenne than an econobox. The mechanical packages on the Kia show a half-step improvement versus corporate sibling Hyundai, with the turbo engine finally delivering some of the sportiness Kia says defines its products.
So where does the Forte5 site within the Forte line that also includes sedans and coupes? Right in that hot-hatch sweet spot, just moved a little further toward “cool” from the embarrassing current hatchbacks: the Ford Fiesta and Chevrolet Spark.
Click past the jump for the full review of the Forte5 ahead of its arrival in U.S. dealers at the end of summer 2013.
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