Whoever said that minivans with their utilitarian oversized box shape and seven passenger layouts had to be boring never met the guys from the automotive arm of Fuji Heavy Industries’ in house tuners at Subaru Technica International. While STI is better known for working their magic on the sport compact Impreza WRX and occasionally dabbling with a slightly larger Legacy sedan, but until today the largest car that Subaru’s engineers had given a hot rod inspired makeover to was the Forester crossover utility vehicle. That is because the Japanese automaker has just announced their plans to bring an STI tuned Exiga 2.0 GT multi passenger vehicle to the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show.
Dispelling the notion that MPVs can’t be exciting, this particular Exiga has undergone a similar treatment as the slightly more sophisticated Subaru Impreza WRX STI Limited. There are no oversized rear wings or gaudy racing stripes adorning the tuner vehicle, instead the full size minivan was covered in one of the automaker’s Satin White Pearl paint, given a set of trick headlamps with an attractive blue bar separating the front and corner lights while the large grill complete with the new Subaru crossbar that can be found on almost all of their new cars. The specific STI upgrades include a sporty front lip spoiler, an STI tuned dual exhaust and a set of polished 17 inch BBS rims lifted from an old WRX STI that are connected to a sport tuned set of springs and dampeners that will make the all wheel drive minivan handle more like a sports car.
This distinctive seven seater touring concept will add a bit of enthusiasm to the full size MPV segment and in true Subaru fashion will provide an excellent fun to drive performance value with the practicality of an extremely spacious interior. There is no word as of yet if STI will upgrade the 2.0 Liter turbocharged boxer engine to go along with the new car’s exterior styling and up rated suspension components in order to create and all around performance MPV.
The German automaker Volkswagen has just unveiled the special edition Golf Variant Exclusive at their home motor show in Frankfurt. This is the first model that has been created by the automotive conglomerate’s new “Volkswagen Exclusive” brand and is slated to go on sale sometime this Fall. The Exclusive brand name will be used to move extensively personalized VWs and other specialty vehicles by offering a wide variety of owner specified tailor finished features ranging from upholstery options to paint finishes aimed at pleasing even the pickiest of new car shoppers by offering a more elegant showroom experience.
The new Volkswagen Golf Estate Exclusive will no only but it will give the automaker an upscale Golf, but also adds will ride on a sport tuned suspension that drops the vehicle by 15 mm and closes the fender gap between the body and the Exclusive’s 17 inch alloy wheels and original Volkswagen Exclusive emblems dress up the outside, while the interior gets “Climatronic” (Volkswagen’s automatic climate control system) to help acclimate the passengers, a large panoramic sunroof to open up the estate’s interior and two tone leather wrapped sport seats that are available in a variety of different color combinations.
The 2010 Volkswagen Golf Estate Exclusive will add another reason to take a trip down to your local VW dealership to see what’s new on a regular basis. Hopefully Volkswagen won’t price themselves right out of their target market’s range and as long as Audi doesn’t decide to develop an A3 wagon it looks like the well finished Golf Estate has a strong future with the new brand.
Press release after the jump.
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Skoda will bring at the Frankfurt Motor Show the station wagon version of the Superb model. 4,838 mm long, 1,817 mm wide, and 1,481 mm high - the new Skoda Combi continues a tradition of more than 80 years in producing "combined cars" (hence the name "Combi").
Initially the car will be offered with a choice of three petrol and two diesel engines, all with direct fuel injection and low consumption and emissions. Diesel line-up includes: 2.0 TDI PD DPF diesel engine that generates power of 140 hp, 2.0 TDI CR DPF with 170 hp. Petrol line-up includes: 1.4 litre four-cylinder TSI engine with 125 hp, 1.8 TSI, offering power of 160 hp and 3.6 FSI V6 with 260 hp. All the engines are mated to a six-gear manual transmission or the six-gear direct shift gearbox (DSG).
Like the Superb sedan, the station wagon version can be fitted with HHC (Hill Hold Control), ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) and also TSA (Trailer Stability Assist) for use with factory-fitted towing equipment. On the interior the car can be ordered with two different 2 DIN car radios with CD/MP3 players, a touchscreen Amundsen system enabling the driver to operate all functions intuitively, a top-of-the-range touchscreen Columbus navigation system, an Aux-In socket, an MDI (Mobile Device Interface) in the Jumbo Box between the front seats to connect external storage media, and a CD changer.
Press release after the jump.
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We recently received a 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring into the Top Speed test fleet. Starting at only $17,800 this Vivid Blue beauty is easily one of the most stylish Korean cars we have seen in a while. The Korean design team has hit a home run with the new car’s flowing curves and strong character lines that highlight the Elantra Touring’s broad stance and stretched wheelbase. We love the dual finish 17 inch rims and appreciate that Hyundai equipped our car with a B&M sport shifter to send the 138 HP and 136 lb-ft of torque from the 2.0 Liter DOHC CVVT ultra low emissions four cylinder engine to the front wheels. The Elantra Touring gets as much as 23 MPG in the city and 31 MPG on the highway.
Our car came equipped with the $1,500 Premium Sports Package that not only included those rims we liked so much, but also a large power sunroof and heated seats. The audio system consisted of an AM/FM/XM radio complete with in dash CD player and auxiliary input for MP3 connectivity. Despite the car’s compact footprint, there is tons of storage space inside of the roomy interior; in fact it has the most interior volume of any five door model in its class, 125.5 cubic feet to be exact. The Elantra Touring represents a return to the compact five door segment for Hyundai and offers class leading standard safety technologies like Electronic Stability Control with Traction Control, ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Brake Assist as well as the peace of mind that comes from having six standard airbags.
We thoroughly enjoyed our time with the Elantra Touring, not only was it attractive but it was fun to drive as well. If the automaker from the free half of Korea can continue to build cars of this caliber and offer them at the same competitive price points, the rest of the manufacturers around the world will have to take an even closer look at Hyundai as their newest competitors.
Continued after the jump.
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If you’ve heard of the Twindoor system, chances are you’ve probably heard of Skoda. The Czech-based Volkswagen subsidiary is known for their innovative technology all while giving new meaning to the term ‘hybrid’ – and were not talking about fuel efficiency.
That being said, Skoda is set to unveil their latest creation, an estate version of their Superb sedan, the Superb Kombi at the Frankfurt Motor Show, along, of course, with about two dozen other vehicles of different classes.
But while the Superb Kombi is neither a sports car nor a luxury sedan, it does have one thing none of those other cars car come close to having: the Twindoor trunk/tailgate system.
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The Internet has become such a large market place for automobile sales that even General Motors has signed up to sell their new products on the mega online auction house, e-Bay. With the ability to reach customers thousands of miles away for one low price it is no surprise that even more second hand specialized vehicles are making their way onto the information superhighway with a for sale sign in the back window. So we were delighted to come across this modified M3 on “Germany’s biggest vehicle marketplace online,” mobile.de.
It is not very often that you see a modified avant, the dirty stigma associated with function vehicles went the way of the SUV a long time ago and yes, that is a full size squared off window frame above the BMW’s rear wheels. However that is just the tip of the iceberg, because aside from the radical deep dished RAD Forged wheels and massive Stoptech brakes there lies the heart of a beast inside because this is no ordinary tuner wagon, this is the Manhart Racing E91 BMW M3 TV10. Günter Manhart is a man who prides himself on going above and beyond the extraordinary to create something truly special and that is why everything from the suede headliner and carbon fiber trim, to the 5.0 Liter V10 under the hood it all looks like it could have come that way from the factory.
Now at about $168,500 the TV10 is no bargain, but considering that you will be able to go from 0 to 60 MPH in about 4.3 seconds on the way to your kid’s soccer tournament or hitting 207.5 MPH on the Autobahn when you take delivery might be worth it. Besides if you are that much of a BMW fanatic, a very clean M5 engine swap would something to brag about to your friends and it is a much more practical package than an M5 wagon.
Details after the jump.
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Hyundai has just announced pricing for the 2010 Elantra Touring. Set to go on sale in the third quarter of 2009, the 2010 Elentra Touring will be priced from $15,995 for a very well-equipped entry-level GLS model and will go up to $18,995 for the top-of-the line SE model.
Standard equipment on the 2010 model includes: air conditioning, power windows, heated mirrors, power door locks, remote keyless entry with alarm, four-way adjustable driver’s seat and plenty of storage compartments.
The optional Popular Equipment Package on the GLS adds roof rails, a telescopic steering wheel, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, trip computer, eight-way driver’s seat with lumbar support, dual illuminated vanity mirrors, sliding sunvisors, seatback pockets, retractable cargo cover, fog lights, illuminated ignition and a premium cloth interior with cloth door panel inserts.
Press release after the jump.
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Wagons have gotten a bad rap recently, it’s almost like an automaker would rather call their utilitarian model a sport hatch before uttering that five letter word that reminds us of family road trips and faux wood paneling; it is almost worse than the truck/SUV controvery. Well the American essence of automotive luxury, Cadillac, has a few tricks up their sleeve that will hopefully help to change the nation’s attitude about practical transportation, with a high performance, V-Series twist.
Cadillac has announced that before putting the highly anticipated CTS Coupe into production next May that they will release the CTS-V sport wagon. Now they did manage to squeeze the word sport into the name, but with a 6.2 Liter LSA supercharged V8 under the hood generating an estimated 550 HP and 550 lb-ft of torque, General Motors has all the right in the world.
The all new Cadillac CTS-V sport wagon will compete head to head with world class performance touring models like the BMW M5 Touring and the turbocharged Audi RS6 Avant.
Even if the German automaker has just launched the new Mercedes Benz E-Class, and it is a big hit in the new car market. Since appearing in showrooms this past spring, the luxury automaker has moved 40,000 of the redesigned four door full size sedan. Starting this fall, Mercedes will be adding another variant of the popular new E-Class into the marketplace, and this time it will be an avant, meaning that we should see something at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show.
Like the sedan, the new wagon will be offered with a range of four, six and eight cylinder power plants producing anywhere from an economical 136 HP to a very menacing 525 HP. When the leaves change colors the Mercedes lineup will include a few diesel powered versions like the E 250 CDI making 204 HP and 368 lb-ft of torque, the E 220 CDI pumping out 170 HP and the E 200 CDI that makes up the lower end of the power range. The most powerful of the alternatively fueled versions will be the E 350 CDI with a maximum output of 231 HP. The gas burning lineup consists of the E 200 CGI with 184 HP, the E 250 CGI cranking out 292 HP; both equipped with the newly developed 1.8 Liter four cylinder engine while the range topping E500 will send 388 to the ground.
Press release after the jump.
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The German variant of General Motors, Opel, has already released a green version of their popular four door Insignia model wearing the ecoFLEX badge, but that was it. Well now there is good news for fans of environmentally friendly wagons and estates, because Opel has just announced that their ecoFLEX Insignia will soon be available as a Sports Tourer.
The green five door is powered by a 2.0 Liter CDTI engine with the Clean Tech System producing 160 HP and an impressive 280 lb-ft of torque. The fuel efficient diesel burning drive train is complimented by a six speed manual transmission, complete with a higher final drive to allow highway cruising at lower engine speeds. The result is a Sports Tourer that can go from 0 to 60 MPH in 9.9 seconds and hit a top speed of 133.5 MPH, if those numbers don’t seem too impressive, than consider the vehicle’s fuel mileage of 44 MPG.
If only drivers here in the U.S. could learn to appreciate different things like sports wagons and diesel burning power plants. If we hadn’t attached such a lasting stigma to either of those two items then maybe we could enjoy a spirited ride in an ecoFLEX Insignia Sports Tourer, try getting that kind of performance and economy from a gasoline powered vehicle.
Press release after the jump.
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