A few days ago, Chrysler created an official Facebook page for their upcoming SRT Viper and promised that if the page received 10,000 likes by February 1st, they would reveal a teaser image of the next Viper. As expected, the page had received 10,000 likes in just a few hours and now Chrysler has kept their promise. This first teaser image isn’t much, but at least it allows us an idea of how cool the new Viper will be.
As many already know, the future supercar will drop the "Dodge" name and will instead be simply called the SRT Viper. It has been rumored that the next generation Viper will keep its V10 engine, but unlike the previous generation, will use an 8.7 liter displacement instead. Output is believed to be in the 700 HP area.
The new SRT Viper will be making its world debut at the 2012 New York Auto Show in April. Stay tuned for more details!
All you anxious and restless fans of the Dodge Viper can now rest easy. After a one-year "sabbatical," the 2013 Viper is coiled up and ready to strike at the 2012 New York Auto Show on April 6, 2012.
According to Viper Club of America, no less than SRT President and CEO Ralph Giles confirmed the date for the Viper’s return, complete with a new halo look that is bound to make fans welcome the sports car back with open arms.
Patience has truly been a virtue for Vipermaniacs who have waited long and hard for the Viper to come back from the ashes. Understandably, Dodge execs have been very tight-lipped about the car, opting to keep us sweating at what lies in store for us when the 2013 Viper returns.
There have been many rumors surrounding the new Viper, most of which surround the type of engine that will be found under the hood. The first rumors suggested it would get a new direct-injection 8.4-liter V10 engine that would deliver around 700HP. However, European magazines are talking about a V8 engine with an output of 500 HP for an entry level version. A Viper mule was recently caught testing with the new Viper front end attached to the old body style. Something was cooking under that hood and whatever engine that may be, it will need plenty of fresh air to keep it cool. There was a big air intake in the front bumper and what looked to be three air intakes in the hood. This engine will be a beast and Dodge is doing whatever it can to keep it at bay. Rumors suggest this new engine will not come from Ferrari, but could be a variation of Chrysler’s new 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 with some form of forced induction.
Whatever engine is finally chosen, at the very least, we now have an official date to circle on our calendars. With all the secrecy surrounding this car, that alone is already a battle won.
Jaguar came at this year’s New York Auto Show with the facelift version of their XF luxury sedan. But the most impressive thing for the 2012 model year is the addition of a new 2.2 Diesel version, which will even be available on the US market.
The new 2.2-liter diesel unit will deliver a total of 190 HP and 332 lbs ft of torque, while returning 52.3 mpg on the combined cycle and only 149 g/km of CO2. It will feature a water-cooled turbocharger with low-friction pistons, new injectors, and a new crankshaft. The new configuration allowed Jaguar engineers to add a new oil pan and new electronic systems which affect the crankshaft to allow the new intelligent Stop-Start system to operate more efficiently. The new engine will be mated to an advanced eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox, with the seventh and eight ratios effectively acting as overdrive gears.
With this type of setup, the diesel XF will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 8.5 seconds and will hit a maximum speed of 140 mph.
UPDATE 11/22/2011: Jaguar has released a short film that shows the progress of the XF 2.2 as it crossed 11 states, 2,884-miles, and three time zones, achieving an average economy figure of 62.9 mpg! We have also added a new set of images for the XF 2.2 Diesel. Enjoy!
Now, we know we have already seen two concepts- FT-86 and FT-86 II - for this vehicle, but will have to endure one more as Toyota has brought us yet another FT-86 concept. This time it has been revealed at the New York Auto Show under the Scion badge and it won’t go into production until Toyota finally brings their production version later this year at the Tokyo Motor Show. The Scion FR-S Concept is a preview version of a new model coming to the Scion brand next year.
"Scion is always experimenting with new things," said Jack Hollis, Scion vice president. "The brand is iconic with the xB, adrenalized by the tC, and groundbreaking with the iQ. The FR-S will expand the brand into yet another new dimension that I know it is truly destined for."
Like with the other Toyota model, the Scion model is being inspired by the AE86 generation of the Corolla, better known as the Hachi-Roku, meaning "8-6" in Japanese. The concept is being built on a rear-wheel-drive platform and is powered by a 2.0-liter boxer front engine that can be mated with either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.
UPDATE 04/28/2011: Toyota has revealed a new video showing off the Scion FR-S concept’s revving engine. The sound should be the same or very similar for all three Scion FR-S / Toyota-Subaru FT-86 cars since they will all feature the same Boxer engine and exhaust setup. Hit the jump for the video.
UPDATE 05/20/2011: Testing is still underway for the Scion FR-S, and while it was circling the track, spy photographers were able to get a shot of the newly fitted and massive wing attached to the back. Seems a little exaggerated to us, but hey, we’ve waited so long to see this car in action that we will take just about anything they throw at us at this point. Check out the video after the jump.
UPDATE 06/24/2011: Scion has unveiled a new video of their latest FR-S concept in which Ken Gushi - a resident Scion Racing driver - talks about about the Scion FR-S concept car and what it means to him. For those that don’t recognize the name, Gushi started his driving career in the iconic Toyota AE86 also known as the "hachiroku". The AE86 is important because the FR-S is modeled after the prime drifting vehicle.
UPDATE 11/10/2011: SEMA may be all about tuning projects, but next to a bunch of updated iQs, Scion also took the opportunity to show us the FR-S Concept. Check out the gallery to see all of the live images from the show.
Hit the jump to read more about the Scion FR-S Concept.Full story
Subaru
offered up a small taste of what wass to come with the first image of the new 2012 Impreza revealed in both sedan and hatchback versions at the 2011 New York Auto Show. The 2012 Impreza will be offered in base, Premium, Sport Premium, Limited and Sport Limited models when it arrives in dealerships later this fall.
The 2012 Impreza comes with an improved fuel economy achieved with the use of a 2.0-liter horizontally-opposed four-cylinder producing 148 HP and 146 lb-ft of torque which debuted in Europe earlier this year. This engine replaces the current 170 HP 2.5-liter SOHC aluminum-alloy engine. Further aid is offered with the use of the new continuously variable transmission.
The new model will come with a totally new design that "will propose roomier cabin space with new level of comfort and refinement for enhanced product appeal."
UPDATE 08/22/2011: Subaru has announced prices for their 2012 Impreza. The base model 4-door Impreza 2.0i with a five-speed manual transmission starts off at $17,495 to match last year’s prices. The automatic version, offered exclusively with Subaru’s newly designed continuously variable transmission (CVT), starts at $18,495. The base 5-door Impreza 2.0i starts at $17,995 when equipped with a five-speed transmission and $18,995 for the CVT-equipped model.
Porsche has unveiled the official details on the seventh model in the Panamera line-up. The new Turbo S is the most powerful version and, of course, the most expensive one as well. On the US market sales will begin later this spring with an MSRP of $173,200. The car will make its first appearance at the New York Auto Show on April 20th, 2011.
With the new Panamera Turbo S, Porsche has combined ultra high performance and efficiency, sports-car-like driving dynamics, and first-class comfort in just one car. Under the hood Porsche has placed a 4.8 liter, V8 biturbo engine that delivers an impressive 550 HP, a 50 HP improvement over the previous Turbo version. This is more than enough power to sprint the car from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and hit a top speed of 190 mph. We get all of this while receiving a fuel economy of 23 mph (highway).
Throughout multiple Porsche lines, the Turbo S model has made an appearance and remains today as the range topping model. Some models are more inclined to find a buyer for an ultra-performance version, but other manufacturers have found success with the same formula. The Mercedes S-class has even more model variations than the Panamera, but even the ridiculously powerful S65 with a bi-turbo V12 has found plenty of takers. One of the biggest hurdles Porsche may face is the fact that the basic Panamera is less than beautiful and the Turbo S model is hard to distinguish.
UPDATE 07/20/11: Porsche has been on a trailer fix the past few days and it continues with the release of the latest video promoting the 2012 Panamera Turbo S. This comes a day after the company released the first official teaser video of the next-generation 911. Not that we mind because the new Panamera Turbo S is about as beautiful a Porsche as you can find in the market these days. Click the photo above to watch the trailer!
Hit the jump to read more about the new Porsche Panamera Turbo S.
Chrysler is up and running with its last attempt to make their 300 even the teensiest bit successful on the market and just a few months after the 300 sedan hit the ground running at the Detroit Auto Show, the company has now brought the 300 SRT8 (Street and Racing Technology) - the most powerful version in the line-up - to the 2011 New York Auto Show.
The new 300 SRT8 comes with a distinct upgrade to the exterior, as well as the interior, and a bigger engine ready to spit out 40 HP and 45 lbs-ft more than the standard model. This new 6.4L engine will come equipped with a new active valve exhaust system and a five-speed automatic transmission with "Auto" and "Sport" modes.
"We’re bringing three new and distinct models to our 300 lineup in 2012 with the 300 SRT8, 300S Series, and 300C Executive Series, each designed with specific consumer lifestyles in mind," said Olivier Francois, President and CEO - Chrysler Brand and Lead Executive for Marketing, Chrysler Group LLC. "More than an icon of simple American motoring, the Chrysler 300 is an icon of attainable style and performance. For those customers who live for the sport of being first, the all-new Chrysler 300 SRT8 is the no compromises king of the hill, featuring the ultimate combination of world-class luxury and performance in our most powerful, best-handling sedan ever."
UPDATE 07/15/2011: Chrysler has announced that the 2012 300 SRT8 will go on sale at a starting price of $47,995. The model will be built at the Brampton Assembly plant in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8.
Long relegated as a mid-tier, mid-size sedan, the Ford Taurus was one of those cars that needed a refreshed styling, especially considering the growing number of competitors coming out on the market these days.
Fortunately, the people at Ford seem to have taken the challenge to task by introducing a refreshed and much-improved 2013 Taurus at the New York Auto Show.
Suffice to say, it was a tough task for Ford to shed some of the negative stereotypes given to the Taurus. A lot of people said it was chubby while some had pointed words on the car’s overall design.
For the 2013 model, Ford seems to have addressed a lot of these connotations, giving the car a more appealing look to quiet down its naysayers. While the styling refresh certainly gave the Taurus a more palatable appearance, its the addition of a new engine - a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder turbo engine - that seems to have given the Taurus the right kind of buzz.
Jaguar brought out the XF back in 2008 as a replacement model for the old S-Type in 2008. Three years later and it’s time for the luxury sedan to get a little refreshing in the form of a facelift. The revised XF made its debut today at the New York Auto Show and will be followed by diesel and station wagon versions at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
The facelift XF will come with revised front and rear end styling inspired by the XJ sedan. It will also get new engines, including a diesel. The new Ford/PSA-developed 2,200 cc engine is the same one that will be used for the Range Rover Evoque and will deliver a total of 187 HP. The engine will come with a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox that will send the power to the rear wheels. And since it is equipped with start-stop technology, the new engine will emit less than 130 g/km of CO2.
UPDATE 05/04/2011: We have added two new videos of the 2012 XF for your utter enjoyment. The first video stars Ian Callum as he talks about the 2012 model year design and the second video showcases both the XF and XF-R models by showing us every angle of the two cars up close.
UPDATE 06/28/2011: We have added new images to the XF high res picture gallery.
