Tuesday, 26 July 2016

CARSCOOPS

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Lotus CEO Suggests Next-Gen Lotus Elise Will Arrive In 2020

Posted: 26 Jul 2016 04:30 AM PDT


Lotus chief executive Jean-Marc Gales has hinted that the next-generation Elise will hit the market in 2020, despite reports to the contrary.
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The Five Craziest Things Chrysler Ever Did With The Viper's V10

Posted: 26 Jul 2016 04:00 AM PDT


Chrysler has made some audacious decisions in the course of its history, especially in the 1990s. While its rivals wheeled their show cars off stage and into storage as usual, Auburn Hills actually put some of its most outrageous concepts into production: models like the Plymouth Prowler, Chrysler PT Cruiser (seriously), and most especially the Dodge Viper.

Arriving at a time when V10 engines were practically unheard of, the Viper was the most outrageous move ever cooked up in Auburn Hills. And once they had the ten-cylinder engine on the shelf, the Mopar crew didn't stop there. They've since slotted that big ten-pot powerplant into all manner of vehicles, though most of them sadly never followed their donor into production.

That doesn't mean we can't look back at them fondly, and even wonder "what if." And that's just what we're doing with this drive down memory lane, all ten cylinders firing away. Come along for the ride.

1991 Chrysler 300 Concept


Chrysler first showcased the Viper as a concept in 1989, and put it into production in 1992. But just before it did, it displayed the sleek four-door sedan concept you see here. It revived the name 300 that Chrysler had used decades earlier and would use again decades later. But it looked nothing like either. Looking back on it now, it strikes us as the lovechild between a Fisker Karma and Dodge Avenger Coupe. The 300 sedan that began production in 2003 was, and remains, a decidedly boxier affair, all straight lines and a high beltline. More important in this case is that it was powered by the Viper's V10... all eight liters of it. Only it had room for passengers in the back, too.

1998 Chrysler Chronos Concept


Bridging the stylistic gap between show car and showroom versions of the 300 was the Chronos concept that arrived that arrived in 1998. Now we have to admit we're stretching it a bit here, because though the Chronos packed a big V10, it was not actually related to the Viper's. Instead it was pieced together from three 4.7-liter V8s. The resulting 6.0-liter engine produced around 350 horsepower, capped by a big, snarling egg-crate grille.

2003 Dodge Tomahawk Concept


The most bonkers thing Chrysler ever did with the Viper's engine was to put it into a motorcycle. Well, sorta. The Tomakawk concept actually rolled on four wheels, but they were so closely paired that it looked more like a cycle than a quad. Call it what you will, it was built around the Viper's V10, which had by 2003 grown to 8.3 liters, putting the six-cylinder Honda Valkyrie and the V8-powered Boss Hoss to shame. Of course Chrysler had no experience with vehicles you ride on instead of in, and the Tomahawk was never intended for production. However nine replicas were built, each selling for half a million dollars in the Neiman Marcus catalog.

2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10


The one creation on this list that you could actually buy at your local dealership was the Ram SRT-10. It was a pickup based on the Ram 1500, but with a V10 up front. Now at this point you might be thinking that there already was a V10 offered in the Dodge Ram pickup, and you would be right. Only that engine, long since phased out, was only offered in the larger 2500/3500 Heavy Duty models, and was geared for work, not for play. The Ram SRT-10 was another kind of beast: a performance truck akin to the Ford F-150 SVT Lightning, packing 510 horsepower and a dropped suspension. It was the production version of a concept showcased back in 1996, and was offered in both regular and quad cabs, with a manual or automatic. Fewer than 10,000 were made between 2004 and 2006.

2008 Dodge Challenger SRT10 Concept


What do you do when you have a muscle car and a big engine just sitting there on the shelf? Why, you put the two together, of course! That's what Dodge did with the Challenger in 2008, ditching the Hemi for the bigger V10 from the Viper. With it, they created a 600-horsepower muscle car... concept. Though never offered for street use, the idea was dusted off again three years later in the form of a Drag Pak that was offered to customers strictly for racing. The disappointment of not being able to put one on the road, however, was softened by the arrival of the Hellcat last year, packing an even more impressive 707 horsepower from a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 and available in either the Challenger coupe or Charger sedan – which, for better or worse, made most of us forget all about the Viper's V10.

Gilded Nissan Leaf Sweetens The Deal For Olympians

Posted: 26 Jul 2016 03:00 AM PDT


You'd be hard-pressed to find an individual more driven and focused than an Olympic athlete. But to give them a little extra motivation (or at least make the victory taste that much sweeter), Nissan will give any of the competitors it sponsors a gold Leaf if they win a gold medal at the upcoming games in Rio.
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Snetterton Circuit Names Hairpin After Justin Wilson

Posted: 26 Jul 2016 02:00 AM PDT


There is no greater honor for a racing driver than having a corner named after him at a racetrack. Senna has an S complex in his name at Interlagos. Andretti has the hairpin at Laguna Seca. Schumacher has the first turn at Bahrain. And now Justin Wilson has been immortalized with a corner of his own.
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Porsche Confirms That An Electric 911 Doesn't Make Sense...For Now

Posted: 26 Jul 2016 01:00 AM PDT


While Porsche is open to producing an all-electric 911, the firm has announced that it doesn't see a market for such a model just yet.
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Mazda Still Keen To Bring Diesels To U.S. Despite Lengthy Delay

Posted: 26 Jul 2016 12:00 AM PDT


Mazda has confirmed that it still intends to bring its diesel engines to the United States even though its effort has been some five years in the making.
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Next-Gen Nissan Micra Spied As Being Sportier, Bigger And More Aggressive Than Ever

Posted: 25 Jul 2016 11:00 PM PDT


The latest-generation Nissan Micra has been spied in the midst of testing in Southern Europe, adorned with significantly less camouflage than previously-spotted examples.
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Nissan Adds Single Cab Variants To Titan And Titan XD Range

Posted: 25 Jul 2016 09:15 PM PDT


The Nissan Titan squad has expanded following the additional of the Single Cab models for both the Titan and Titan XD variations.
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Lexus LC Race Car Spotted Testing In Japan

Posted: 25 Jul 2016 09:00 PM PDT


Deliveries of the new Lexus LC Coupe are a year away from commencing but that hasn't stopped the company from commencing development and testing of the race-going variant.
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BMW Hints At Possible Pickup To Rival Mercedes GLT

Posted: 25 Jul 2016 08:00 PM PDT


On the back of Mercedes-Benz's impending jump into the pickup truck market, BMW has hinted that it too could ditch with tradition and launch a similar model.
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Volkswagen To Build Electric Cars In North America By 2020

Posted: 25 Jul 2016 07:00 PM PDT


Volkswagen will begin producing electric models in North America by the year 2020 as it rebuilds its image after last year's diesel emissions scandal.
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VW Golf R Fights Hard Against The Ford Focus RS In Drag Race

Posted: 25 Jul 2016 06:27 PM PDT


Few cars manage to live up the promises of their respective manufacturer, but with the latest-generation Ford Focus RS, the car has proven not only a fitting replacement to the previous car but been hailed as the best hot hatch on the market.
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Porsche Exclusive Enhances The New Panamera Inside And Out

Posted: 25 Jul 2016 06:00 PM PDT


These two factory select Panameras are described as innovative, individual and without room for boredom, each bearing a unique style crafted by Porsche Exclusive.
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Delectable Ferrari 599 SA Aperta Could Sell For $1.5 Million

Posted: 26 Jul 2016 12:21 AM PDT


A highly desirable Ferrari 599 SA Aperta will be sold by Mecum Auctions in Monterey next month and could go for as much as $1.5 million.
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The McLaren 570S May Be A Daily Driver But Can It Handle A Dirt Racetrack?

Posted: 25 Jul 2016 04:56 PM PDT


McLaren is marketing the Sports Series range as its most liveable models, offering up supercar performance courtesy of a twin-turbo V8 alongside the comfortability of a daily driver and enough luggage room for long road trips.
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Ice-Blue Lamborghini Diablo SV Is The Hairy-Chested Supercar We'd Love To Own

Posted: 25 Jul 2016 04:27 PM PDT


Described often as the last true Lamborghini, the Diablo is definitely one of the most iconic supercars of the nineties and for good reason.
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Tangorot Metallic All-New Audi S5 Showcased In Neckarsulm Showroom

Posted: 25 Jul 2016 04:01 PM PDT


The recently launched S5 Coupe isn't just faster and more fuel efficient than its predecessor, it also represents a massive step forward in terms of on-board tech as well as interior aesthetics.
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That's One Incredible Save After A Right-Rear Tire Blowout

Posted: 25 Jul 2016 03:28 PM PDT


True, we've seen plenty of spectacular recoveries before in NASCAR, but very few where the car ended up getting as sideways as this Toyota did here at the Indianapolis Speedway.
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Merc GLA Coupe Replaced By GLA F/L In New Daimler Road Map - What's The Story?

Posted: 25 Jul 2016 02:53 PM PDT


With the GLE Coupe aimed at BMW's X6 and the GLC Coupe competing against the X4, a GLA Coupe would have been aimed at a possible X2, which has been rumored more than once.
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C3 Pluriel Makes A Virtual Return Based On Brand-New Small Citroen

Posted: 25 Jul 2016 02:37 PM PDT


It's been quite a while since Citroen have sold a non DS-badged convertible version of their C3 supermini, the last one being the quirky Pluriel six years ago.
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Corvette Scores 100th Race Win With Lime Rock Class Victory

Posted: 25 Jul 2016 01:59 PM PDT


With Ford and Ferrari back at it in sportscar racing, it would be all too easy to forget about the Corvette Racing team. But the all-American squad was there to remind us that it's still a powerhouse, taking its 100th win this weekend at Lime Rock Park.
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Rolls-Royce Expands Used Car Sales With Dedicated Provenance Dealers

Posted: 25 Jul 2016 01:31 PM PDT


Want a Rolls-Royce, but can't quite pony up the six figures it takes to buy a new one? Well, you could settle for a new Mercedes or Lexus instead, or you could buy a Provenance model.
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Jeep’s Upcoming Wrangler-Based Pickup Truck Finally Spotted

Posted: 25 Jul 2016 02:12 PM PDT


After years of speculation, rumors and Jeep's executives teasing us, it looks like we are going to get a proper pickup truck version based on the next Wrangler.
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Skoda Kodiaq Crosses The Tour de France Finishing Line

Posted: 25 Jul 2016 12:52 PM PDT


Marking its first official public debut, the Skoda Kodiaq made a strong guest appearance at the finale of the Tour de France.
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FCA Moves Closer To Pulling The Plug On Chrysler 200, Dodge Dart

Posted: 25 Jul 2016 12:00 PM PDT


As it is looking to make room for crossovers and SUVs due to the increased demand for them in North America, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will most likely phase out the Chrysler 200 and Dodge Dart.
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