The current Mitsubishi Outlander Sport has been out for just three years and has already scored impressive results including the coveted "Top Safety Pick" designation by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2012 model year. And now, Mitsubishi has prepared a facelift version for the company’s best-selling vehicle, which it unveiled at the 2012 New York Auto Show.
Changes for the 2013 model year include a host of design and equipment improvements: new-look front and rear fascias and side sills; interior design upgrades; revamped rear suspension; and Continuously-Variable Transmission (CVT), plus much more.
No changes have been made under the hood, which means the new model will keep its 2.0 liter inline-4 engine that delivers a total of 148 HP and a peak torque of 145 lbs-ft. The engine is combined with an Enhanced Continuously-Variable Transmission (CVT) calibration for improved acceleration performance and smoother shift feeling.
UPDATE 07/17/2012: Mitsubishi USA announced prices for the new Outlander Sport which is now available at dealers across the country. The model comes in both 2WD and AWC versions, with prices ranging from $19,170 to $23,695. Hit the jump for the full pricing list.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport.
For the better part of the last decade, Jaguar has been slowly rebuilding its image, eliminating the cushy luxury car image it has had since the mid-1980s and replacing it with a more performance-based luxury image, much like it had in the 1960s. The 2012 Jaguar XF is a key example of how Jag has been rebuilding that image.
Even at the base level, it is obvious what Jaguar’s intentions were with the XF, as it not only boasts luxurious features, but also a 385-horsepower, 5.0-liter V-8 engine that sends the sedan to 60 mph in just 5.5 seconds.
As we said, that is just at the base level. At the top end, you have the XFR, which is a completely different animal that really ties together luxury and performance, and wraps it all with a nice little bow.
The true test is how does this luxury performance sedan actually stack up to its competition, like the Mercedes-BenzCLS63 AMG?
Click past the jump to read our full review and see exactly how the 2012 XFR stacks up.
Patent filings are sometimes the bane of secretive automaker’s existence. They try to sneak up and surprise the buyer by holding their cards close to their chest and not letting any information out about a new car. Well, the problem is that they need to patent these ideas to prevent other manufacturers from catching wind of their designs and stealing them. Then, you have savvy media folk that scour patent filings and dig up dirt on them, a la the Chevy SS, Cadillac ELR, Buick Electra, and so on.
We caught a glimpse of the 2014 Acura RLX concept car and its glorious beak in April and we were somewhat underwhelmed by it. Well, the savvy folk at Car and Driver recently dug up a patent from Europe showing what they are claiming to be the official production model 2014 RLX. Surprisingly, Acura’s production patent, or so it’s claimed to be, looks very much like the concept car. It appears that the only things that are different are the front lip design and the way the exhaust integrates into the bumper, which was far and away the coolest feature on the Concept RLX.
Unfortunately, the production RLX looks like it will retain the goofy looking “Jewel Eye” headlights, which are the two stacks of five LED lights making up the front headlights. On first glance, the “Jewel Eye” headlights did look a little neat, but it was definitely more of a novelty deal, as they now just look odd.
For those in favor of the ginormic Acura schnoz, don’t fear, as it appears to be in the same massive form as it was in at the NY International Auto Show.
Again, the true question is whether these actually are production images or just Acura patenting the basic RLX concept. Only time will tell, as we expect to see the real deal 2014 RLX in L.A. in November.
One of the auto industry’s highly anticipated secrets is finally ready to break cover at the 2012 New York Auto Show.
For the fine folks of Fisker, the debut of the Fisker Atlantic - ’twas once codenamed "Project Nina" - marks as a celebration in its own right, a culmination of years of hard work and dedication.
And now that it’s ready for its world premier, Fisker has come out with the first official details of the car, as well as photos that finally gives us a good look at what they’ve been working on all this time.
Judging by its looks, the Atlantic looks like a bigger version of the Karma, albeit with a more pronounced stance that’s typical of its sedan form. The unmistakable Karma grille is also present, which we’ve never been fans of from the beginning.
All in all, though, the Atlantic looks pretty neat and when matched with a hybrid powertrain should make for a model that would draw the interest of a lot of people.
UPDATE 05/21/12:InsideEVs appears to have discovered new information about the Fisker Atlantic, involving the car’s official power train and how much it’s going to cost.
While we initially thought the the car would have a 2.0-liter engine similar to the 328i sedan with a matching electric motor, producing a total of 240 horsepower, it appears that the Atlantic will have a little bit more ponies than we thought. According to InsideEV, the car will be powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and an electric drivetrain, producing an output of 300 horsepower with a 0-60 mph time of 6.5 seconds and CO2 emissions of around 50 g/km.
It looks like the Atlantic will be carrying a sticker price of anywhere between $50,000 - $60,000. That’s still a far departure from the Karma, which retails now for just under $100,000.
Find out more about the Fisker Atlantic after the jump.
The US market will finally get the smallest version in the X-Series line-up and it’s about time considering the Europeans have already been enjoying it for about three years. The 2013 X1 will be making its world debut at the 2012 New York Auto Show and will go on sale in Fall 2012 starting at a starting price of $31,545. For comparison, the X3 is currently the smallest X model on the US market and it is priced at $37,100.
The new 2013 BMW X1 will be offered in three trim levels: X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, and the X1 xDrive35i. The first two levels will be powered by a 240 hp 4-cylinder engine, while the top version will get a 300 HP 6-cylinder inline engine. Both engines will be combined with an automatic gearbox and extensive BMW EfficientDynamics technology.
Compared to the previous model, the 2013 X1 has received some minor design upgrades at the front and rear of the vehicle, while the interior has received new colors and trims.
UPDATE 04/03/2012: This review has been updated with the official details and specs for the 2013 BMW X1.
UPDATE 05/03/2012: Today we have added about 100 new high res images to the BMW X1 picture gallery. Enjoy!
Mercedes warmed the crowds up at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show by displaying the SL 63 AMG, but next month at the 2012 New York Auto Show, things will be heating up as the company will be bringing an even more powerful version for the current SL-Class: the SL 65 AMG.
While the current SL 63 AMG is powered by a 5.5-liter V8 engine that delivers a total of 537 HP and 590 lb-ft of torque, the SL 65 AMG will be powered by a AMG 6.0-liter V12 biturbo engine that delivers a total of 621 HP and a maximum torque of 738 lb-ft. With this amount of power the SL 65 AMG will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, while top speed goes up to an impressive 186 mph (in Europe it will be limited to 155 mph).
In Germany, the new SL 65 AMG will go on sale in September 2012 at a starting price of 236,334 euro (about $310,000 at the current exchange rates). Prices for the US market will be announced at a later date.
UPDATE 04/24/2012: Mercedes has unveiled a new promo video showing off the brand new SL 63 AMG and SL 65 AMG as they drive through the beautiful Tenerife. Enjoy!
Hit the jump to read more about the new Mercedes SL 65 AMG.
The Mercedes GL-Class entered production in 2006 and six years later, is still rolling around in its first generation. However, for 2013, Mercedes is launching a new generation of the SUV, with an improved exterior look and new, more fuel efficient engines. The new GL-Class made its world debut at the 2012 New York Auto Show and will go on sale in the U.S. in September 2012.
The new GL-Class has a more powerful and sporty appearance, thanks to its new upright radiator grille with a central star and new headlamps with LED technology. The daytime running lamps also feature LED technology and are integrated in a chrome insert in the bumper, while chrome insertions have been placed under the radiator grille.
The new GL-Class will be offered in three models: GL350 BlueTEC, GL450, and GL550. The base version is powered by a 240 HP V6, while the other two models are powered by V8 engines, with 362 HP and 429 HP.
UPDATE 10/16/2012: Mercedes USA has unveiled a new video featuring a pretty cool overview for their latest GL-Class SUV. Enjoy!
Hit the jump to read more about the Mercedes GL-Class.
Here’s something you don’t get to see everyday. In an effort to promote the 2012 New York Auto Show, event organizers decided to take a different route than conventional advertising.
Trust us, it can’t get any more different than the Lamborghini Aventador hot dog cart. The Italian supercar was parked in midtown Manhattan together with a cart of Sabrett hot dogs and anybody that walked up to it could get - wait for it - free hotdogs! Nothing gets New Yorkers more amped up than free stuff, then you add the obvious attraction that is the Aventador and you have the prefect blitzkrieg cross-promotion.
In the middle of all the gawking at the Aventador and the chowing done of the hot dogs, the tinge of irony surrounding one slogan in the cart that says "keep parks clean" wasn’t lost on us. After all, for all the positive messages and call to action the slogan is encouraging, it goes without saying that a Lamborghini Aventador is the farthest thing from what you’d describe as eco-friendly.
Nevertheless, the publicity stunt must have worked wonders for the organizers because the early returns on the 2012 New York Auto Show suggested that the event was one of the most successful stagings in the past years.
Maybe next year they’ll come up with a Ferrari F12berlinetta that dispenses free subway tickets.
So Chrysler has been aggravating all of us by doing its social media teasing via Facebook. Between the SRT Viper and the Ram 1500 teasing campaigns, we were about teased out. Just as it did with the Viper, Chrysler redeemed itself by finally releasing the actual production 2013 Ram 1500.
This new 2013 Ram 1500 made its debut on April 5th via a live webcast on, you guessed it, FACEBOOK! First and foremost, Chrysler’s focus with the new Ram 1500 was gas mileage, as pickups are falling drastically behind cars in this area, and soon buyers will not be able to fuel these monsters. Luckily, Chrysler has no plans to drastically reduce engine size or mess with the aesthetics of the Ram in order to increase mileage. There are just a few tweaks here and there.
The true test is if this pickup can catch up to its main competitors, the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, and the GM Sierra 1500. The only way that Ram can hope to catch up to these models is to significantly increase its V-6 output and lower the fuel consumption on the V-8 models.
Hit the jump to read the full review on the Ram 1500.
When we attend an auto show, the first things we watch for are the brand new cars gracing the stage, but usually, next to those beautiful new cars are equally as, if not more so, beautiful women. This year’s New York Auto Show was certainly no different as the ladies were out in full short skirt force.
It may be a little difficult to pay too close attention to the women in our picture gallery considering they are standing next to the likes of the Audi R8 GT Spyder, the SRT Viper GTS-R, the Lincoln MKZ, and the Lexus RX, but the girls certainly hold their own.
Enjoy the picture gallery and let us know whether you liked the cars or the girls better in the comments section below!
