Friday 24 November 2017

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Renault Signs A Deal To Make And Sell Cars In Pakistan From 2019

Posted: 24 Nov 2017 04:29 AM PST


Renault has signed a definitive agreement with Al-Futtaim, a global automotive operations company that's present in 29 countries worldwide, to produce and sell vehicles in Pakistan.

As part of the arrangement, the French automaker will bring its latest products and technological know-how into the new market. Al-Futtaim, on the other hand, will have to establish a new manufacturing and assembly plant, and to distribute the brand's vehicles, through its new subsidiary, Al-Futtaim Automotive Pakistan (Private) Limited.

"Group Renault is delighted to extend its international footprint by entering Pakistan, a fast-growing market with a 10 percent annual growth rate", said the company's Senior VP and Chairman of Africa Middle-East India Region, Fabrice Cambolive. "By partnering with Al-Futtaim, a very professional and renowned automotive partner, Groupe Renault aims to become a major player in Pakistan."

"With a population of over 200 million, a fast-growing economy and a vibrant middle-class, Pakistan is undoubtedly a very important strategic growth market for us", added Al-Futtaim Automotive's President, Len Hunt. "We are very excited to represent Group Renault, which is among the top automotive brands worldwide, and a leading European car manufacturer, entering this market."

Renault and Al-Futtaim still have to finalize the transaction, as it remains subject to a number of conditions, most of which are related to relevant regulatory approvals from Pakistani authorities.

However, both parties expect work on the new facility to start in the first quarter of 2018 in the capital of the country, Karachi, while car sales should commence in 2019 and ramp up one year later.

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UK Vehicle Production Falls Due To Weakening Demand, Industry Blames The Brexit

Posted: 24 Nov 2017 03:58 AM PST


UK car production is lagging behind figures in 2016 as domestic demand for vehicles continues to decline. According to The Financial Times, in the first 10 months of the year a total of 1,439,475 vehicles have been built in the UK, 1.6 per cent down from the same period in 2016. The key reason is slowing local demand, down 6.8 per cent to 320,841 units. Additionally, exports have fallen by 0.1 per cent to 1,118,634.

On the back of these figures, independent production forecasts estimate the UK will build 1.73 million vehicles this year, a drop from previous estimates of 1.8 million.

The decline in sales and production is particularly surprising to analysts, who expected domestic production to actually increase this year and continue to climb and reach 2 million by 2020.

Speaking about the results, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) chief executive Mike Hawes commented that the Brexit is a key factor in the less-than-impressive production results.

"Production for British consumers has continued to fall as domestic demand for new cars decreased for the ninth month this year amidst continued uncertainty over both Brexit and the government's air quality plans. It's important that confidence is restored to the new car market, as sales of the latest cleaner, greener cars not only address air quality concerns but speed up activity on factory lines across the UK," Hawes said.

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DS Virgin Racing Gears Up For Season 4 Of Formula E With New DSV-03

Posted: 24 Nov 2017 03:26 AM PST


The fourth season of the FIA Formula E Championship is about to kick off in Hong Kong, with DS Virgin the latest team to unveil its new car for this year's championship.

Named the DSV-03, the latest machine packs similar specs to all the others on the grid, but is tuned by the PSA Group's DS Performance division for optimal performance.

The 16-foot-long chassis weighs at least 1,940 pounds (with the driver) and is powered by a single electric motor sending 268 horsepower to the rear wheels through a three-speed gearbox for a run to 62 mph (100 km/h) in under four seconds.

For the 2017/18 championship the team has employed the first all-British driver lineup in the series, pairing Sam Bird with Alex Lynn. Bird has been with the team from the start and former GP3 champion Lynn contested two races last season, impressing with a pole position on his debut.

The team has notably won races in each of the three seasons so far, starting with the second event at Putrajaya in 2014, the anniversary of which it is now celebrating. However, so far it's placed no better than third in the championship. We'll be watching to see how it fares this season, which kicks off on December 2 with a double-header before hitting Marrakesh, Santiago, Mexico, Sao Paulo, Rome, Paris, Berlin and Zurich, finishing in July with double-headers in New York and Montreal.

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Renault Trafic SpaceClass Launches In The UK As A High-End Shuttle

Posted: 24 Nov 2017 02:55 AM PST


Renault has started taking orders for the new Trafic SpaceClass in the United Kingdom, subsequent to its debut at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.

Billed as "a high-end shuttle version that provides an attractive and fitting environment in which to transport VIPs and business people", the van comes in three trim levels, Standard, Adventurer, and Prestige, with a starting price of £40,191 ($53,095), including tax.

All three variants can be had in short or long wheelbase, with a choice of two diesel engines: the dCi 125PS (123hp) and dCi 145PS (143hp), which are mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.

Building upon the Trafic Passenger Sport, the new Renault Trafic SpaceClass can accommodate up to 9 people. Moreover, its seats mounted on rails in the second and third rows can be rearranged to create more than 50 different configurations, a feature Renault claims is unique in the segment.

Depending on the selected trim, the high-end van comes with features including rear privacy glass, climate control, air conditioning in the rear passenger area, individual LED reading lamps, 220V and USB sockets.

Standard equipment on the entry-level grade counts the MediaNav Evolution infotainment system with a 7-inch touchscreen display, navigation, full leather steering wheel, cruise control, automatic headlights and wipers and front fog lamps.

The Adventurer adds a pair of Captain chairs in the second row and a rear bench that can fold out creating a fully flat bed, whereas the Prestige gets Riviera leather upholstery and flexible seating, among other things.



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BMW Dreams Up A Road Exclusive To EVs

Posted: 24 Nov 2017 01:34 AM PST


BMW has designed an elevated road of the future that could be used exclusively by electric vehicles.

Developed at the BMW Group Technology Office China in Shanghai, the BMW Vision E³ Way project aims to offer a solution to congestion and air pollution in megacities. The 'E³' name stands for elevated, electric, and efficient.

With that in mind, the concept roadway is elevated above existing road infrastructure and would be modular in design, making it particularly economical to build.

If the E³ Way is ever turned into reality, which it probably won't be, it would be connected to existing roads through ramps and sluice systems. It could also be connected to underground stations, shopping malls and other traffic hubs, all in an attempt to make daily commuting faster and safer. To reduce the risk of crashing, all cars using the roadway would be automatically limited to 25 km/h.

Unlike a traditional road, the E³ Way is largely covered by a roof and could, therefore, regulate temperatures through a cooling system with purified rainwater, doubling as a means to clean the road at night or during times of low use.

"Our goal is to link sustainable and efficient mobility with a high quality of living in cities. We use new technologies as well as our creativity in order to create innovative approaches as the BMW Vision E³ Way," said senior vice president of research, new technologies and innovations at BMW, Dr. Gerd Schuster.

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Hear The New Aston Martin Vantage Rev Its AMG Heart Out

Posted: 24 Nov 2017 12:02 AM PST


Beyond its beautiful exterior design, the outgoing Aston Martin Vantage will be fondly remembered for its remarkable V8 engine and exhaust note.

Delivering 380 hp in its initial form, the 4.3-liter V8 was far from the most powerful engine on the market but it sounded absolutely incredible and Jeremy Clarkson actually named it as the best sounding car of the year in 2006. Can the new Vantage compete with its predecessor in this department?

Until we hear the new sports car in person, it'll be difficult to know. In the meantime, the video below provides a taste of what to expect from the twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8 sourced from AMG.

Even at low revs, it is clear that Aston has made the new Vantage sound quite distinct from AMG models that use the same powertrain. In fact, the exhaust cracks and pops at just the slightest throttle input and will surely sound fantastic when being unleashed on a mountain road.

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Next-Gen Porsche 911 Turbo S Could Have 630 HP

Posted: 23 Nov 2017 08:44 PM PST


Porsche's next-generation 911 Turbo S could have as much as 630 hp, pushing the hypercar-slayer to entirely new performance heights.

Autocar reports that Porsche engineers will modifying the car's existing 3.8-liter twin-turbo six-cylinder engine with components from the GT2 RS, resulting in a 50 hp bump over the current 911 Turbo S.

If such a figure is reached, the new Turbo S will easily be the quickest Turbo ever produced. As it stands, the 991.2 Turbo S is one of the most accelerative cars on the planet, despite having significantly less power than some of its rivals, including those from McLaren, Lamborghini, and Ferrari.

Set to arrive in 2019, the 992-generation Porsche 911 promises to be a significant improvement over the current car. Beyond bumps in power and torque across all variants, the 992 will include a new chassis and improved suspension components. Additionally, the 992 will be the first 911 generation to offer a plug-in hybrid model.

Alongside all of the mechanical developments, the new sports car will be adorned in bespoke bodywork and receive taillights inspired by the Mission E Concept.

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoops

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Nissan Launches Nismo Heritage Offering Spare Parts To Firm's Icons

Posted: 23 Nov 2017 08:04 PM PST


Nissan has announced its new Nismo Heritage program, designed to ensure that the Japanese firm's most famous models remain on the roads for as long as possible.

First uncovered back in April, the Nismo Heritage program is a joint project between Nissan, Nissan Motor Sports, Autech Japan, and a selection of suppliers. The program will see replacement parts produced, initially for the iconic R32-generation Skyline GT-R.

When sales of the parts commence on December 1, approximately 80 genuine parts will be available to R32 GT-R owners. Among these parts will be harnesses, hoses, emblems, and a selection of exterior components. In the near future, additional parts will be added to Nissan's inventory and soon, both the R33 and R34 GT-R models will be included in Nismo Heritage.

If Nissan is unable to reproduce certain parts with original suppliers, Nismo will consider replacing these parts with substitute, rebuilt or overhauled products.

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Ken Block's 700 HP Ford RS200 Evo Will Make You Yearn For The '80s

Posted: 23 Nov 2017 07:33 PM PST


The latest Ford Focus RS is amazing. However, it is far from the coolest vehicle to wear Ford's famed 'RS' badge. That honor has to go to the RS200.

Built by Ford Europe from 1984 to 1986, the Ford RS200 was a road-going version of the brand's Group B rally car and restricted to just 200 units worldwide.

Ford Performance driver Ken Block recently acquired number 34, a rare Evolution version, quickly adorned it with a matte black wrap and took to LA's streets alongside his Focus RS. You only have to watch the videos below for a few seconds to realize just how special the RS200 is, particularly when compared to the new all-wheel drive hot hatch.

Powered by a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the RS200 Evo delivers roughly 700 hp.

Road cars don't get much better than this.

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Lyft Gets The Go-Ahead To Test Autonomous Cars In California

Posted: 23 Nov 2017 07:03 PM PST


Lyft has become the latest company to be granted the green light to test autonomous vehicles on public roads in California.

The ride-hailing company hasn't specified exactly when it intends to put the self-driving permit to use but the news comes about four months after Lyft said it will start to create its own autonomous technology.

Lyft is relatively late to the party when it comes to self-driving technologies but it hasn't stopped that from holding it back. In fact, it has already formed partnerships with Ford, General Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, NuTonomy, Drive.ai, and Waymo to deploy their respective technologies through its huge fleet of vehicles.

In receiving this permit, Lyft joins the likes of VW, Mercedes-Benz, Waymo, Delphi, GM, BMW, Honda, Ford, Baidu, NVIDIA, Subaru, Apple, Samsung, and Continental to be granted testing rights in California.

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All-Electric Tesla Semi Priced From $150,000

Posted: 23 Nov 2017 06:33 PM PST


A week after the Tesla Semi was unveiled by Elon Musk in California, pricing details for the all-electric semi-truck have been announced.

Sitting at the base of the range is the 300-mile (480 km) version, starting at $150,000. For private customers and fleet operators looking for more flexibility, the 500-mile (800 km) variant is expected to start at $180,000.

Upon debuting the Tesla Semi, Musk said the truck could be reserved for $5,000. However, updated prices reveal that a base reservation of $20,000 is now required. In typical Tesla fashion, a Founders Series will also be made available to customers, priced at $200,000 and requiring the full price as a reservation.

When fully packed with an 80,000 lbs load, the Tesla Semi will accelerate to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 20 seconds. With the trailer removed, that time drops to five seconds, significantly quicker than a comparable diesel semi-truck.

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Black Ferrari Enzo Looks Like A Million Bucks, Is Worth A Lot More

Posted: 23 Nov 2017 05:56 PM PST


Seeing a car like the iconic Ferrari Enzo on the street is so much more special than seeing it in a showroom, mainly because you can properly gauge its stance and proportions next to regular, everyday cars.

This shiny black example was spotted in Paris earlier this week by Autogespot user Fanbuga75, and we have to say, it looks immaculate, especially for a car that's at least 13 years old, as production ceased in 2004.

In case anyone needs a refresher course in what's so special about the Enzo and why it sells for way over $2 million today, we'll gladly remind you about its carbon-fiber body construction, electro-hydraulic F1 transmission, composite brakes, active aero and of course, the 6.0-liter V12 engine.

Accelerating in an Enzo means putting down 660 PS (651 HP) and 657 Nm (485 lb-ft) of torque, helping you reach 60 mph (96 km/h) in just over 3 seconds and 100 mph (160 km/h) in 6.6 seconds.

As for its looks, the Enzo has split opinions. Once it was even named as one of the "Fifty Ugliest Cars of the Past 50 Years," yet that's rather subjective, and we think it looks better in black than the traditional Ferrari red - but that's just us...

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Audi R8 Spyder Is Even More Enjoyable Than The Coupe

Posted: 23 Nov 2017 05:27 PM PST

The Audi R8 appears to have it all: stunning looks, great interior and a fabulous 5.2-liter naturally aspirated V10 engine shared with the Lamborghini Huracan.

If you'd rather enjoy open-top motoring, then instead of the Coupe you'll go for the Spyder version, which works very well as an everyday driver, as CarBuyer pointed out in their review of the base, 540 HP version.

Inside, everything feels very familiar, as most controls come from other Audis. There are some very good quality materials, standard equipment is generous and it includes the virtual cockpit as well, and you also get enough storage spaces for a car in this segment.

Take it out for a short spin and you will find that it simply grips to the road, has impressive amounts of power and a great gearbox. Moreover, with the roof up, the R8 Spyder is almost as relaxing to drive as the Coupe.

Still, there are some downsides with the £140,000 ($185,778) German supercar, such as the interior, which doesn't feel that special, the steering isn't as sharp as you would expect and the brake pedal is too mushy.

You can find the rest about Audi's open-top supercar by hitting the "play" button in the video that follows right after the jump.

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2019 Infiniti QX50 Uncovered Before LA Premiere

Posted: 23 Nov 2017 04:58 PM PST


The first official image of the 2019 Infiniti QX50 mid-size SUV has been published before the vehicle's launch at the LA Auto Show.

In designing the QX50, Infiniti has kept the styling eerily similar to the QX50 Concept from earlier this year. In fact, the only significant differences on the front fascia are unique headlights, fewer chrome accents and a set of small faux air intakes under the headlights.

Like the concept, the side of Infiniti's new QX50 features black wheel arch trim, chrome accents around the side windows and a pair of seductive lines running horizontally along the doors.

Beneath the sleek bodywork of the QX50 sits a new front-wheel drive platform that's 23 per cent more rigid than the old model.

The headline of the new Infiniti QX50 isn't the platform, however. Instead, what really sets the SUV apart from any other production vehicle is the VC-Turbo four-cylinder, featuring a continuously adjusting compression ratio between 8:1 for maximum performance and 14:1 for increased efficiency. At full chat, the engine delivers 268 hp and 380 Nm of torque. When mated to a CVT transmission, front-wheel drive variants will hit 62 mph (100 km/h) in 6.7 seconds. All-wheel drive models will slash that time to 6.3 seconds.

Like many other new models from Nissan, the Infiniti QX50 includes the company's ProPILOT semi-autonomous driving technology, capable of controlling steering, acceleration, and braking on single-lane highways.

Stay tuned to Carscoops in the coming days as more photos and details about the QX50 are released.

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A Brief History Of Automotive Safety Courtesy Of Mercedes-Benz

Posted: 23 Nov 2017 04:30 PM PST


If you want to judge carmakers by their past achievements and how consistently they brought innovations to the forefront of the automotive industry, then you could say we owe quite a lot to Mercedes-Benz.

In this video brought to us by YouTube channel Veratasium, we not only get to "take a ride" in what's widely regarded as the world's first automobile, but also explore some of the safety features Mercedes invented throughout its history.

But first, the Benz Patent-Motorwagen. What you see here is actually a replica of that very first car propelled by an internal combustion engine, which was built originally in 1885.

Apparently, riding in one (or on one, you could say), feels surprisingly fast, even though the car only tops out at 16 km/h (10 mph). Yet 16 years after the Motorwagen was launched, the automaker introduced cars that could do 80 km/h (50 mph), and in 1928 you could already hit 192 km/h (119 mph) in a Mercedes-Benz - faster than lots of entry-level budget cars being built today.

Fast forward a few decades, and you have Mercedes inventing all sorts of passive and active safety systems - things we get to take for granted today, such as ABS, crumple zones and airbags, which make cars much safer.

Since then, Mercedes have gone on to build some of the safest cars on the road, though in today's modern world, they're pretty much neck and neck with rivals such as BMW or Audi. Still, being first at inventing something definitely deserves recognition.

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BMW M760Li Individual Looks Extra Special In Long Beach Blue Coat

Posted: 23 Nov 2017 03:59 PM PST


BMW Individual have come up with yet another stunning machine: a customized M760Li that's on display in Abu Dhabi.

Likely made especially for a local customers, the flagship saloon has a very special exterior color, called Long Beach Blue.

Furthermore, this range-topping 7-Series also benefits from what BMW Abu Dhabi calls a "3D design body kit", which combines the Alpina-like front apron and rear spoiler with carbon fiber mirror caps and 21-inch multi-spoke wheels finished in Liquid Black.

Red leather dominates most of the interior, including the front and rear seats, lower part of the dashboard, central console and doors, and is joined by black leather, wood trim and metallic accents. Two rear individual seats assure the passengers of this stunning M760Li of the required comfort, alongside the rear entertainment system with two displays mounted on the back of the front seats.

In the engine compartment, this M760Li remains stock, meaning that its 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 puts out 600 PS (592 HP) and 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) of torque that are directed to the xDrive all-wheel drive system via an 8-speed auto transmission.

Despite being no lightweight, this luxo-barge needs just 3.9 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) and maxes out at 250 km/h (155 mph).

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Bikini-Clad Girl Runs Out Of Car Following Collision

Posted: 23 Nov 2017 03:33 PM PST


What we have here is a clear-cut case of somebody running a red light and smashing into another car.

In fact, the title of the video gives everything away. The driver of the blue Toyota Corolla sedan t-boned that white Honda Accord after failing to stop at the light.

However, that's not the whole story, because if you keep watching, you just might just notice all the girls that jump out of that Corolla, one of whom is turning on the burners so as to cover up her bikini bottoms as quickly as possible.

The impact wasn't too hard, thankfully, and everybody involved seemed to be in good health, at least from a distance. As for where this occurred, the description of the video states "the highway exit to Picton", which is in New South Wales, Australia, just south of Sydney.

From the looks of it, these ladies may have been coming back from the beach, or perhaps the pool, and the one behind the wheel might have been a little distracted as she approached the intersection.

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Toyota's T-HR3 Robot Will Transport You To The Future

Posted: 23 Nov 2017 03:02 PM PST


As if developing advanced hydrogen and electric vehicles for the car industry wasn't enough, Toyota has found the time to create this; the T-HR3.

The creation is Toyota's third-generation "humanoid robot" and has been designed to provide people with assistance in the home, in hospitals and even outer space.

The Toyota T-HR3 robot doesn't use artificial intelligence and is instead controlled by a separate contraption, dubbed the Master Maneuvering System, that the operator is strapped into. This allows the operator's movements to be replicated by the robot and its 29 distinct body parts. Additionally, the T-HR3 provides force feedback to the operator through the control chair.

Beyond replicating the movements of a human strapped into the control chair, the T-HR3 utilizes Flexible Joint Control to allow it to control the force of contact it makes with objects in its surrounding environment.

Toyota hasn't said what it aims to achieve with the T-HR3 but will display the robot at the International Robot Exhibition 2017 from November 29 to December 2.

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VIDEO


Third Generation Humanoid Robot T-HR3 B-roll from ToyotaGB on Vimeo.

Taiwan's Xing Mobility Claims 'Miss R' Is Quicker Than New Tesla Roadster

Posted: 23 Nov 2017 02:29 PM PST


Not threatened by Tesla's promise to shake-up the performance car industry with its second-generation Roadster, a Taiwanese manufacturer is promising to create an electric vehicle quicker than the Roadster.

Dubbed 'Miss R' and created by Xing Mobility, the vehicle apparently produces the equivalent of 1,341 hp. Like other electric supercars, it utilizes a high powered electric motor at each wheel and can allegedly sprint to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 1.8 seconds and 124 mph (200 km/h) in 5.1 seconds.

Sitting in the floor of the Miss R is 4,200 lithium-ion 18650 cells, the same cells used by the Tesla Model S. However, where the Tesla Roadster promises roughly 620 miles (1000 km) of range, Xing Mobility says the Miss R will be capable of traveling 155 miles (249 km) with its 52 kWh battery.

Beyond its bold acceleration claims, a particularly interesting thing about the Miss R is that it takes some design inspiration from rally cars and therefore features a set of beefy tires.

Xing Mobility intends on revealing a completed prototype in 2018.

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VIDEO

VW Arteon Makes Drag Racing Debut Against BMW 5er In Confusing Manner

Posted: 23 Nov 2017 02:00 PM PST


Going head to head in this standing start drag race is a VW Arteon R-Line powered by a 2.0-liter engine, and an old BMW 5-Series F10, powered by a 3.0-liter petrol unit.

Unfortunately that's all the information we get as we're left to interpret exactly what cars are being raced against each other.

Now, since this event takes place somewhere in Eastern Europe, we can safely assume that the 3.0-liter petrol-powered 5-Series is either a 535i (less likely), a 530i, a 528i or a 523i. Meanwhile, the Arteon is either the 280 PS flagship or the 190 PS TSI model.

Another way to figure out which versions we're looking at is by interpreting the results. Without giving anything away, we'll say that if the Arteon is indeed the 280 PS turbocharged model, then that F10 5-Series can only be a 530i (272 PS) or a 528i (258 PS).

If it's the 190 PS Arteon, then the presence of a 523i (204 PS) could also explain the outcome of the race if you factor in how the F10 BMW 5-Series is a slightly heavier car than the much-newer VW Arteon.

Note: Best to turn the volume down on your speakers for this one. The race was filmed with an extremely noisy drone

VIDEO

Time To Play Around With Kia's New Stinger Configurator

Posted: 23 Nov 2017 01:31 PM PST


We've all read and watched the reviews of the 2018 Kia Stinger. Now it's time to create our dream Stingers through Kia's official configuration tool.

Five different trim levels will be sold in the United States. The first, simply dubbed 'Stinger', starts at $31,900 and is powered by a 2.0-liter inline-four cylinder with 255 hp. Next up is the Premium, also powered by the four-cylinder. Inevitably the most popular versions will be the GT, GT1, and GT2, all featuring the 365 hp 3.3-liter V6.

In terms of exterior colors, the 2018 Kia Stinger GT2 can be painted in one of six different finishes and just a single interior configuration. Drop down to the Stinger Premium model and there are two interiors available.

As with any car in this segment, there is a selection of options available. Among these is remote push start for $495, puddle lights for $240, mud guards for $95 and a cargo mat for $50.

Feel free to show us your perfect Stinger in the comments below!

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Wey P8 PHEV Unveiled At Guangzhou Auto Show

Posted: 23 Nov 2017 01:00 PM PST


The veil has been lifted on the 2018 Wey P8 at the ongoing Guangzhou Auto Show.

The latest in an increasing number of new energy vehicles in China, the Wey P8 is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engine alongside an electric motor on both the front and rear axles. All up, it delivers 335 hp and 383 lb-ft (520 Nm) of torque, and will reportedly accelerate from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.5 seconds.

Wey claims the P8 has a combined driving range of 660 km and can be charged to full capacity in four hours from a 220V home charger. Mated to the plug-in hybrid powertrain is a six-speed dual-clutch transmission driving all four wheels.

In terms of safety, the SUV comes standard with a host of increasingly-common safety features. Included among them are adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane-change assist, blind-spot monitoring, autonomous emergency braking with forward collision warning, 360-degree camera system, and a video streaming rear-view mirror.

Wey has no immediate plans to sell the P8 outside of China.

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Aston Martin Vantage Shooting Brake Would Grab Ferrari GTC4Lusso By The Horns

Posted: 23 Nov 2017 12:32 PM PST


Only a few days have passed since Aston Martin unveiled the all-new Vantage, but some are already dreaming about possible additions to the family.

One of them is Aksyonov Nikita, who believes that the 2018 Aston Martin Vantage would make for a sweet and practical Shooting Brake, and we cannot really argue with that logic, because, well, just look at it!

Of course, such a version of the baby Aston would become a more affordable alternative to the larger Ferrari GTC4Lusso, which has approximately 100hp more at its disposal in 'T' flavor, and 680hp in total in the range-topping form that uses a V12 engine.

This isn't the first time that the new Aston Martin Vantage has been taken into the digital realm, because it has been already imagined as a Volante, which is the brand's slang for convertible. And while a Shooting Brake is too much to ask for, a Vantage Volante is likely just around the corner.

We contacted the British car marque and asked them a few questions about the Vantage Volante, but we hit a wall, as they refused to "comment on future product". Still, we know that a convertible is indeed coming, we just don't know when.

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India's Mahindra Launches New U.S. Factory In Detroit, Production Starts In 2018

Posted: 23 Nov 2017 11:59 AM PST


Indian car maker Mahindra has officially opened its new North American HQ and manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills, the first new OEM plant in the Detroit area in 25 years.

The new factory will be used to produce Mahindra's upcoming new SUV, called the Roxor. The Indian company will reveal the new model towards the end of the year. The brand is known for rugged SUVs such as the Willys Jeep-esque Thar seen in the video below.

Mahindra expects its new US factory to churn out 12,000 Roxor SUVs per year. The car maker was recently announced as one of the five manufacturers selected by USPS (United States Postal Service) to produce prototype delivery trucks for testing and evaluation as well.

According to reports from the Indian press, the new Roxor will be based on a modified platform of the Thar model, an off-roader that looks a lot like the classic Jeep Wrangler, and will be powered by Ssangyong's 1.6-liter engine as used in the Tivoli small SUV.

The company didn't give a timetable for when they will start selling passenger cars in the U.S. but Anand Mahindra, executive chairman of Mahindra Group said that their options include the introduction of the Ssangyong brand to the US public first.

"We have stated on record that amongst the options open to us are to come in with SsangYong Motors, which is our Korean subsidiary," said Mahindra to AutoNews. "As you know it's the third Korean auto company that Americans don't know about."

"So that could be a very logical step for us to introduce that brand here but that's a decision that will be taken by the SsangYong Motors board", he added.

The new manufacturing facilities are part of a $230 million investment that also includes a new warehouse, a logistics operation in Pontiac and an existing prototype operation in Troy. By 2020, Mahindra expects to have created 650 jobs and add another $600 million in local investment.

"This is an exciting day for Mahindra, our terrific employees and Detroit. I couldn't be prouder to be here to help open this new facility today," said Anand Mahindra. "This building opening represents our company's growing presence in North America and locally in the Metro Detroit area where we have tripled our workforce during the past 18 months. We are committed to growing the Mahindra brand in North America and Michigan."

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The Audi R8 V10 Plus Truly Is An All-Season Supercar

Posted: 23 Nov 2017 11:30 AM PST


Most supercars get locked away for the winter and often fall too, but not this Audi R8 V10 Plus, which shows that it can handle the snow easily, almost as good as one of its iconic predecessors, the Quattro.

However, while the Quattro was rally-bred, the R8 is a 21st century supercar, and one of the few in this class that can be used as a daily driver without massive compromises.

Filmed at the foot of the Tatra Mountains in Zakopane, Poland, the following video depicts the German supercar in a beautiful landscape, with the R8 V10 Plus being referred to as "a real winter warrior".

If the footage has whet your appetite, then get ready to spend at least $164,900 for the base 540 HP R8 Coupe, and some $30,000 more for the range-topping V10 Plus that's featured here and puts out no less than 602hp and 413lb-ft (560Nm) of torque.

VIDEO

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