Saturday 30 December 2017

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VW Celebrates Record Year With More Than Six Million Vehicles Produced

Posted: 30 Dec 2017 04:03 AM PST


It appears that 2017 will be a record year for Volkswagen, as the core brand of the VW Group will, for the first time ever, have manufactured more than six million vehicles by year's end.

VW's success was driven mainly by its long-standing best-sellers, namely the Jetta, Golf, Passat and Polo, as well as the popularity of the Santana in China and the growing demand for its newer models like the Tiguan, the T-Roc and the Arteon.

"More than six million vehicles produced in 12 months - there is one thing that this shows above all: our plants and employees are continually improving their production competence," said Thomas Ulbrich, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen. "We have top teams in production which successfully master growing demand from customers."

The VW brand has more than 50 plants in 14 countries, and its global product portfolio now including over 60 models.

In 2017, VW launched more than 10 new models globally and is expected to renew its entire product range within the next few years. By 2020, it will offer 19 SUVs around the world, with the share of SUVs and crossovers in its overall range to be increased to around 40 percent.

From 2020 onwards, the brand plans to build a family of all-electric models based on a new bespoke architecture, including the I.D., the I.D. Crozz and the I.D. Buzz. VW expects to have sold one million electric vehicles by 2025.

PHOTO GALLERY

UK Drivers' 2018 Resolutions Include Learning To Reverse Properly

Posted: 30 Dec 2017 02:45 AM PST


With 2018 around the corner, some have already set their resolutions, most of which likely include hitting the gym more often or improving their skills in various fields.

However, Britain's motorists might want to reconsider and include their driving skills as well, as a research conducted by Young Driver, which is the country's largest pre-17 driving school, reveals.

One in four drivers admitted that they want to check the tire pressure and oil levels more often, being followed by 17 percent of the responders, who admitted that learning how to parallel park properly is something that they need to work on.

Another 15 percent of drivers said that they're bad at reversing, and getting better is one of their New Year's Resolutions, whereas 14 percent want to remain calm behind the wheel and avoid road rage.

Using a phone when driving remains a major concern, so 13 percent of the responders want to switch it off completely when they're on the go. Always using their indicators when turning and checking the mirrors more often are also New Year's Resolutions for 9 and 8 percent of drivers, respectively.

The list also includes learning how to reverse into a parking bay, less speeding, conquering the fear of driving on country roads, being more courteous to other road users including cyclists and pedestrians, and stop tailgating completely.

VW Golf R Mk6 With 800HP Runs 1/2 Mile In 18 Seconds!

Posted: 29 Dec 2017 06:17 PM PST


For hot hatch fans, Volkswagen Golfs don't get much cooler than the range-topping 'R' version.

As we have learned over the years, these can be heavily tuned to the point where they breathe in the neck of true supercars, such as this one that was filmed during a half-mile event in Germany.

Apart from some minor visual tweaks, there isn't really anything that gives any indication that it's a true powerhouse, so what we're looking at here is a true sleeper, one that can run the 1/2 mile in just 18,655 seconds, reaching a top speed of 256,031km/h (159.09mph).

According to the video's description, the sixth-gen Golf R tuned by Turbo Technik Sami features an R32 engine fitted with R30 turbochargers and plenty of other modifications that allegedly round up to a whopping 800hp. Stopping power is provided by a set of brakes from a Lamborghini Aventador, and the suspension appears to have been tinkered with as well.

VIDEO

Phantom-Based Mansory Conquistador Sticks Out Like A Sore Thumb

Posted: 29 Dec 2017 05:41 PM PST


Mansory unveiled their Conquistador body kit for the Rolls-Royce Phantom more than a decade ago, and to this day, it remains one of the rarest mods you might ever see on a luxury car.

This example, spotted by Jelmer99 in Amsterdam, barely fits in the designated parking space by the side of the road. Of course, you wouldn't want to park those massive black wheels anywhere near a curb now, would you?

So what's different about this Phantom compared to a regular one aside from the obvious matte black paint and silver matte mirror casings? Actually, quite a lot.

For starters, there's a body kit that consists of a custom front spoiler with LED daytime running lights, elongated grille strips, custom side skirts with aluminum flanks, a trunk lid spoiler, new rear bumper and the previously-mentioned black wheels.

Inside, it's got a new Shadow Black leather cladding courtesy of interior specialist Glasurit to go with solid silver trim pieces instead of the petty (...) chrome ones used by Rolls-Royce itself.

Mansory has also tuned the Phantom's V12 to deliver roughly 500 HP and 780 Nm (575 lb-ft). It's hard to fall in love with those looks, though, isn't it?

PHOTO GALLERY

Koenigsegg One:1 Gets Festive With Holiday Season Outfit

Posted: 29 Dec 2017 05:03 PM PST


This winter-themed Koenigsegg One:1 moves away from the reindeer antlers and red-nosed monstrosities usually seen this time of the year, and is all the better for it.

Imagined by JavierOquendo, the Swedish hypercar sports an urban camo scheme along with an array of cosmetic tweaks, from the Porsche Mission E-like headlights to a gigantic rear wing.

Its unique character is emphasized furthermore by the additional LED lights added to the front bumper and the top, and the roof rack used in this case to haul a generously sized Christmas tree, which makes the BMW M3 E30 pickup we showed you a few days ago look like child's play.

Christmas-themed renderings aside, the Koenigsegg One:1 has made a mark in the rarefied air of the hypercar niche by using a 5.0-liter V8 engine that generates 1MW of power, which equals to 1,360PS (1,341hp), and 1,011lb-ft (1,371Nm) of torque. It also tips the scales at just 1,360 kg, which makes for a power-to-weight ratio of 1:1, hence its name.

If you're looking to go all-in on a product made by Christian von Koenigsegg's company, then you may want to check out the Agera RS. This is the hypercar that holds on to the speed record for production cars by reaching 284.55mph (457.94km/h), throwing the glove into Bugatti's side, which now have to double check everything for the Chiron's attempt to become the new speed king.

PHOTO GALLERY

That Didn’t Take Long: Lamborghini Urus Has Already Popped Up For Sale

Posted: 30 Dec 2017 03:19 AM PST


Lamborghini will start assembling the Urus next year, but a couple of them, or more specifically their delivery slots, can already be found on the used car market.

Both dealers are located in Germany and the first one is willing to let 'their' Lamborghini Urus go for €330,000 ($393,784), tax included, according to the ad posted on Mobile, adding that the SUV can be configured as desired.

The second one says that 'their' super-SUV, which will be shipped from June 1, 2018, has been already personalized and comes with a Blue Astraeus exterior over a two-tone leather interior. It's also wearing 22-inch Titanium Matte alloy wheels and orange brake calipers, and is fitted with plenty of optional extras that should justify its price tag that's set at €341,530 ($407,543).

That's a huge mark-up for both vehicles, as the Urus has a base price of €171,429 ($204,564) in Europe, £131,500 ($176,679) in Britain and $200,000 in the United States, but in this market there are always customers who want to skip the waiting list and be among the first to own the latest and greatest.

Both car dealers appear to be legit, as their home pages reveal a bunch of other vehicles that are for sale, from a Jaguar XF, to a Land Rover Discovery, and from an Audi R8 to a Ferrari 812 Superfast. One of them actually claims to have four Lamborghini Urus SUVs for sale, alongside two Bugatti Chirons, whereas the other will sell you a Ferrari Portofino, with shipping from mid-2018.

PHOTO GALLERY

New Mercedes-Benz CLS 'Edition 1' Launch Model Is As Subtle As They Come

Posted: 29 Dec 2017 04:05 PM PST


The 2019 CLS is still pretty fresh, having been officially revealed this month and, as is often the case, Mercedes-Benz will roll out a special edition for its first customers before the plain vanilla ones become available.

This Edition 1 launch model was spotted recently in Germany and, unless you look really close, you may not realize that it looks a bit different compared to the rest of the range.

Starting with the exterior, there's Edition 1 lettering on the front fenders, as well as AMG Line parts. According to Mercedes, the Edition 1 CLS also comes with LED headlights and black 19" AMG alloys as standard, although this car apparently didn't get the memo.

Inside, it's got black pearl nappa leather seats with copper-colored accents and contrast top stitching, all of which are visible in this video. Other features include the IWC analogue clock, Edition 1 floor mats, chrome Edition 1 lettering on the center console and a gloss black vehicle key.

As for why it says CLS 350 on the rear, we can only assume that the 'd' is missing, since the only 350-badged model in the new CLS range that we know of is a diesel, producing 286 PS (282 HP) and 600 Nm (442 lb-ft).

VIDEO

Hyundai Continues To Tease The Veloster Ahead Of Its Debut In Detroit

Posted: 29 Dec 2017 03:30 PM PST


Spy photographers recently caught the 2019 Hyundai Veloster undisguised but that hasn't stopped the company from releasing a new teaser video for the redesigned hatchback.

In the Christmas-themed clip, we can see the all-new Veloster will have an evolutionary design with a rakish windscreen, muscular wheel arches, and a long sloping roof which meets a tailgate-mounted spoiler. The undisguised photos also revealed the model will have a more prominent grille, a center-mounted dual exhaust system, and a sporty rear diffuser.

Hyundai has been relatively tight-lipped about the model but the company has already confirmed the Veloster will be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show and offered with two turbocharged engines that have displacements of 1.4- and 1.6-liters. A six-speed manual transmission will be offered with the latter engine while both can be equipped with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Hyundai also has plans for a high-performance Veloster N and it should have at least 246 hp (183 kW).

In South Korea, the model will be offered with an assortment of high-tech features including a heads-up display, adaptive cruise control, and a collision warning system. The car will also offer high beam assist and a lane departure warning system.

H/T to Motor1

Video

Ford F-150 Continues To Dominate The Sales Chart But The Surprise Winner Is The Dodge Grand Caravan

Posted: 29 Dec 2017 02:50 PM PST


Mercedes is on track to become the best-selling luxury brand in the United States for the second year in a row but that's not the only interesting sales competition as there are classic rivalries such as Camaro vs Mustang and F-150 vs Silverado.

USA Today compiled a list of the hottest segments and they found some pretty familiar winners. In the compact sedan category, the Civic is dominating the competition as Honda has sold 345,880 models through November which puts it far ahead of the second place Toyota Corolla and its 290,163 sales.

The mid-size sedan segment is the opposite as the Camry is outselling the Accord by nearly 43,000 units. Next year promises to be even more interesting as the redesigned Camry had an early head start against the all-new Accord.

The muscle car segment is always interesting and this year was surprising as Dodge Challenger sales dramatically increased thanks in part to the halo effect of the Challenger SRT Demon. This helped Dodge to move 60,029 Challengers which wasn't far behind the 64,138 Camaros that Chevrolet was able to sell. Of course, the real winner is Ford which sold 74,152 Mustangs.

Talking about surprises, the minivan segment was won by the ancient Dodge Grand Caravan. Thanks to fleet and commercial sales, Dodge sold 118,573 Grand Caravans which put it ahead of the newer Chrysler Pacifica which came in second place with 107,130 sales through the first 11 months of the year.

The crossover segment is booming and the Toyota RAV4 was a huge hit with consumers as they bought 375,052 units so far this year. The Honda CR-V is close behind at 340,912 units but the remaining competition isn't even close.

The mid-size pickup market has seen renewed interest thanks to entries such as the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, and Toyota Tacoma. However, the latter model is the winner as Toyota has sold 179,420 Tacomas so far.

Speaking of trucks, the Ford F-150 continues to dominate the competition as it's outselling the Chevrolet Silverado by nearly 300,000 units. Even when you factor in the GMC Sierra, General Motors still trails Ford by almost 100,000 units.

Photo Gallery

Lamborghini Huracan LP 580-2 Gets Supercharged To Produce 492 WHP

Posted: 29 Dec 2017 05:54 PM PST


The Lamborghini Huracan LP 580-2 is an impressive machine as it boasts a 5.2-liter V10 engine that develops 580 PS (426 kW) and 540 Nm (398 lb-ft) of torque.

This enables the rear-wheel drive coupe to accelerate from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 3.4 seconds before hitting a top speed of 320 km/h (198 mph).

While that's nothing to sneeze at, Nitto Tire and professional stunt driver Samuel Hubinette teamed up to create a drag racing variant which features a Magnuson TVS2300 supercharger.

The car was modified by VF Engineering and in its standard configuration the model produced 492.37 WHP. After installing the supercharger and an assortment of other components, the car developed 685.76 WHP which is an increase of 193.39 WHP.

Of course, something this powerful begs to be raced and that's exactly what Hubinette does. While you'd expect the model to race a traditional supercar, Hubinette pits it against an Unlimited Class Ultra4 off-road racer driven by Jason Blanton.

The model has approximately 900 hp (671 kW) which is enough to give it a commanding head start. However, the Lamborghini eventually catches up and manages to beat the off-roader racer across the finish line by 0.3 seconds.

Video

VW To Fight The Appoint Of An Auditor Investigating What It Knew About The Dieselgate Scandal

Posted: 29 Dec 2017 01:30 PM PST


The Dieselgate saga continues as Volkswagen has announced plans to fight the appointment of an auditor who has been tasked with determining what the company's management team knew about the emissions cheating scandal.

According to Reuters, the company will petition Germany's constitutional court to overturn a lower court ruling that would install an investigator to determine whether or not Volkswagen's management was aware of the emissions cheating and failed to disclose that information to investors. A lower court ruled Volkswagen couldn't appeal the decision but the company rejects that notion as they believe the action is a "violation of its fundamental rights."

Sueddeutsche Zeitung reports the company will attempt to have the audit stopped until the constitutional court hearing takes place. Volkswagen declined to comment on the reports but confirmed it will take its case to the constitutional court sometime in the future.

Volkswagen's decision to fight the audit obviously raises a few eyebrows and, if the audit goes forward, it could potentially cost the automaker billions of dollars if investigators determine the company knew about the scandal and didn't disclose the information to investors in a timely fashion. Volkswagen believes they are in the clear but it's apparent they aren't taking any chances.

Photo Gallery

Mercedes-Benz Set To Claim The Luxury Sales Crown In The U.S.

Posted: 29 Dec 2017 11:51 PM PST


The year is coming to a close and it appears Mercedes has clinched the luxury sales crown in the United States for the second year in a row.

As reported on Bloomberg, though November of 2017, Mercedes sold 302,043 units thanks in part to strong sellers such as the C-Class, GLC, and GLE. Mercedes-AMG sales were also up 49.6% for the year to total of 30,116 units. This is due in large part to the entry-level 43 lineup which is more affordable than full-bore AMG models.

The second place title is in contention as BMW and Lexus are only separated by a couple thousand units. BMW currently has the lead with 271,432 units but Lexus is close behind with 269,671 sales. Overall, BMW sales are down 3.2 percent while Lexus sales have sagged 7 percent for the year.

Audi is in a distant fourth but it has been an impressive year for the automaker as November marked the 83rd straight month of record sales. Year-to-date sales have totaled 199,534 units which is an increase of 6.7 percent over last year. This is due in large part to the success of the Q5 and Q7 crossovers which have been a hit with consumers.

Photo Gallery

Chinese Businessman Uses $11,000 In Coins For BMW Down Payment

Posted: 29 Dec 2017 12:10 PM PST


A businessman in China has used almost $11,000 in coins as a down payment for a new BMW.

In a scenario which we desperately wish we could replicate, the unnamed businessman reportedly purchased the BMW on December 18 with the unusual down payment, forcing workers at the dealership to count the coins for hours, The Daily Mail reports.

The coins used were each worth five mao (5p) and had been saved up by the buyer for a number of years.

Video from the bizarre purchase shows dozens of dealership employees counting all the coins in a scene that both amuses and upsets us.

On one hand, it's always quite funny to make any purchase with loose change you have lying around, particularly if it's a rather expensive item. On the other hand, the businessman could have simply gone to a bank and deposited the thousands of coins, saving the BMW staff from doing the laborious work themselves.

Thankfully, the remaining balance of around $50,000 was paid in a more conventional way.

VIDEO

Track-Focused Ferrari S2 Design Study Has Us Dreaming Of Fast Lap Times

Posted: 29 Dec 2017 11:32 AM PST


While this Ferrari S2 Concept exists only in the digital realm, its aggressive lines, massive wheels and muscular fenders sure make us wish it was real.

Brought to "life" on-screen by designer Sachin Zakarde, all we know about it is that it's called the S2, and that it has a lot of carbon fiber components, including the wheels, side skirts and roof.

It also seems to come with a sort of Formula One-ish suspended nose and half a rear win. We're not exactly sure what's going on there but it doesn't really detract anything from the concept's overall aggressiveness.

What's weird, in a way, is that not too long ago such a design might have been considered too futuristic. In reality, you can argue that this S2 Concept is by no means more bonkers-looking (in a good way) than the LaFerrari.

470HP VW Golf R By APR Beats Canyons Into Submission

Posted: 29 Dec 2017 10:51 AM PST


Tuned VW Golf Rs have gained the reputation of offering a "mini GT-R" vibe and it's easy to see why after watching what APR has done to theirs.

APR's "Gonzo" show car features almost everything the company has to offer for the VW Golf R, including a complete APR 2.0-liter crate motor with forged internals and a 71mm Borg-Warner turbocharger.

The results are pretty impressive as this Golf R makes 471hp at the wheels on 91 octane fuel, which goes up to 536hp if you use race gas. In comparison, the factory Golf R makes 292hp, at the crank.

However, and despite its long list of mods, APR's Golf R remains a civilized drive, albeit one that will glue your back to the seat every time you go near the throttle. And the chassis looks like it's more than capable of dealing with the power, giving the driver the confidence to really enjoy the supercar-baiting performance.

Watch Matt Farah shredding one of his favorite canyon roads with the APR Golf R in his latest One Take video.

VIDEO

Semi Climbing On The Sidewalk Is The Scariest Thing You'll See All Day

Posted: 29 Dec 2017 10:13 AM PST


This shocking incident occurred last week in Poland, where a semi truck climbed onto the sidewalk and drove right between a bus and a populated bus stop.

A closer look at the bus stop reveals that just seconds before the semi drove by, a women had just walked off, strolling down the sidewalk completely unaware of what was about to happen.

Thankfully for her, as well as the other two pedestrians waiting at the stop, they were spared. In fact, the only casualty, if we can call it that, was the bus itself, after getting sideswiped by the trailer.

According to Fakt24, the driver of the semi was identified by the license plate that fell off during the incident, and taken into custody 19 hours later.

While the description of the video does suggest that a braking malfunction could have been at fault, that still doesn't explain why the driver didn't stop as soon as possible, if only to save the authorities the trouble of having to locate him.

VIDEO

Paris Hilton Coming To The Grand Tour To Race Rory Mcllroy

Posted: 29 Dec 2017 11:45 PM PST


Paris Hilton and pro Golf player Rory Mcllroy will go head-to-head on The Grand Tour's Celebrity Face Off segment, in February.

Both guests will get to drive the Jaguar F-Type, in a bid to see which of them is faster around the show's new track. The idea behind having Hilton and Mcllroy on, was to see which is the fastest Golfing enthusiast.

"I have always loved cars and racing," said Paris Hilton while speaking about her lap. "Going around the track was so much fun and being able to drive that fast without having to slow down was exhilarating. By my final lap everything clicked into place and I think Rory and I will be quite close in the race."

Mcllroy meanwhile added that lapping The Grand Tour track was an "amazing experience," even in slippery conditions. "As a sportsman, I am fiercely competitive and I know that Paris loves cars too so it wasn't going to be easy to drive faster than her."

As for the rest of us, we'll have to wait until February 8th in order to see which of the two came out on top.

Is The Mitsubishi Mirage America's Worst New Car On Sale?

Posted: 29 Dec 2017 08:52 AM PST


Small economy cars are almost never described as being fun but the Mitsubishi Mirage is probably one of the few new cars right now that don't even know what fun means.

There's a general blandness surrounding the small Mitsubishi while the obvious cost-cutting in places is really obvious and never lets you forget that this is one of the cheapest new cars in the market right now.

Of course these cars are used for commutes and nothing much more really and while the Mirage is more than capable of getting you safely to your destination, people who like cars will almost definitely prefer something a bit more interesting for their everyday travels.

Even the three-cylinder engine is laughably small and underpowered -by U.S. standards, mind you- measuring 1.2 liters in capacity and producing 78hp and 74lb-ft of torque. Opt for the CVT automatic transmission and then you'll get the perfect car to make your petrolhead friends hate you eternally.

Want to know more about this fascinatingly cheap Mitsubishi? Let Doug DeMuro then give you a tour around the strongest contender for the title of USA's worst new car right now.

VIDEO

Incredibly Rare Bristol Fighter With Dodge V10 Shows Up For Sale

Posted: 29 Dec 2017 08:09 AM PST


If you're familiar with your British car makers, then you'll know that coming across a Bristol Fighter on the used market is a big, if not huge, deal.

Thanks to Bristol's infamous secrecy, no one really knows how many Fighters were even built, by hand of course. Some say that Bristol made as many as 14, others talk about 9, with specialists believing the exact number to be 11 cars. No matter what, the Bristol Fighter is a rare object.

This gull-winged GT is powered by the Dodge Viper's 8.0-liter V10 engine, which Bristol has modified to produce around 525hp, allowing the Fighter to travel up to speeds of 210mph and reaching 60mph from a stop in 4 seconds flat.

This 2004 example is believed to be the first customer car Bristol made, which has been used for testing and promotional activities as well. It has covered 17,000 miles since new and has spent most of its lifetime in Netherlands.

This Bristol Fighter is offered by Derek C Mowat in Edinburgh, Scotland, with the price set at £199,950 (around $268k in current exchange rates). If you want one of the most exclusive hand-built British supercars ever made, you can't go wrong with a Bristol Fighter.

H/T To BaT!

PHOTO GALLERY

Volkswagen To Double E-Golf Production Following Strong Demand

Posted: 29 Dec 2017 07:30 AM PST


Volkswagen is doubling production of the e-Golf on the back of strong demand for the EV.

InsideEVs reports that the German automaker will change the Transparent Factory Dresden responsible for producing the e-Golf from a single-shift operation to a two-shift one, increasing production from 35 to 70 cars a day.

Over a month, this will mean production reaches 2100 vehicles compared to the current 1050. Production of the e-Golf will increase gradually, staring in March 2018.

In its most recent guise, the VW e-Golf is powered by a 35.8 kWh battery, a significantly jump from the 24.2 kWh battery used by pre-2017 models. The EPA lists the e-Golf's range between 83-125 miles (134-201 km). The electric motor powering the e-Golf delivers 134 hp and 214 lb-ft of torque, a 19 hp and 15 lb-ft gain over earlier versions.

PHOTO GALLERY

Mercedes-AMG’s Upcoming Four Door Will Make Hybrids Cool, Like 800HP Cool

Posted: 29 Dec 2017 06:59 AM PST


Mercedes-AMG's yet-unnamed four-door coupe will spark a new war with its arrival in late 2018 in the hyper-saloon segment.

Our spies spotted a pair of prototypes being tested in cold-weather conditions, with the cars still being covered under a light camouflage wrap.

The first dedicated four-door model from AMG is planning to offer a series of new, performance-focused plug-in hybrid powertrains under the EQ brand, producing up to 805hp. The colossal power figure will be combined with a 31-mile driving range on electric power alone according to the latest reports.

This will not only position it directly against the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, but it will also make it the most powerful saloon on the market. The four-door AMG will feature wider tracks compared to the current E63 AMG but it will sit closer to the ground and of course have a lower and unique roofline for that coupe-like vibe.

Mercedes-AMG's upcoming Panamera rival will be initially launched with the same 604hp 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that the E63 is using, paired to a nine-speed automatic gearbox and the configurable all-wheel drive system.

The latest reports talk about the new Mercedes AMG making a possible debut at the Geneva Motor Show this March, with sales to begin later in 2018 and the plug-in hybrid versions to arrive in 2019.

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoops

PHOTO GALLERY

New Porsche 718 Cayman and Boxster GTS Detailed In 85 Pics

Posted: 29 Dec 2017 11:47 PM PST


Until Porsche gives us a new GT4 version of the 718 models, the new GTS will be the most focused variant of the Boxster and Cayman on sale.

Porsche has released a detailed gallery of the new GTS versions of its mid-engined sports cars, giving us a better look on what the differences are from the "regular" S models.

Porsche has updated the turbocharged 2.5-liter flat-four engine with a redeveloped intake duct and an optimized turbocharger with variable turbine geometry and a larger compressor that also comes with more boost pressure. Instead of the maximum 1.1 bar the 718 S models make, the new GTS is now capable of 1.3 bars of boost pressure.

Maximum output is rated now at 361hp (365PS), 15hp more than the regular 718 S versions, while torque is rated at 317lb-ft (430Nm) when fitted with the optional PDK dual-clutch transmission and at 309lb-ft (420Nm) with the standard six-speed manual gearbox.

The new Porsche 718 GTS models come with the Sports Chrono Package as standard. When fitted with the PDK transmission, Porsche claims a 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds, 0.1 seconds faster than the S versions, while the manual version takes 4.6 seconds for the same procedure. Top speed on both cases is set at a rather pleasing 180mph (290km/h).

The chassis in the 718 GTS sits 10mm lower compared to the S and features the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) as standard, as well as a mechanical limited-slip differential with torque vectoring. Standard steel brakes measure 330mm in diameter up front and 299mm at the rear. A sports exhaust with black tailpipes is also standard. Porsche offers an even more focused PASM sports chassis option, which lowers the car by 20mm.

Porsche says that the outcome of these revisions is a 7min 40sec lap time on the Nurburgring, two seconds faster compared to the 718 Cayman S and 13 seconds faster than the previous Cayman GTS.

Visually, both the 718 Boxster and the Cayman GTS can be spotted by their standard 20-inch Carrera S wheels, as well as by the -typical for GTS models- black tinted headlights and taillights, the new Sport Design front apron and the black rear apron, and of course the black GTS badging.

Porsche has already opened the order books for the new 718 GTS models in Europe, with US sales set to begin this March.

718 CAYMAN GTS



718 BOXSTER GTS



VIDEO

Faraday Future Continues To Promote FF 91 Despite Financial Turmoil

Posted: 29 Dec 2017 05:59 AM PST


The financial state of Faraday Future has been dominating the headlines in recent months but the electric startup is continuing to promote its first proposed production vehicle, the FF 91 crossover.

In this most recent video, Faraday outlines how important aerodynamics were in designing the car, noting that a 10 per cent reduction in aerodynamic drag results in a 5 per cent improvement in range.

As such, Faraday Future used wind tunnels frequently during the development of the electric crossover, helping to create a vehicle that looks unlike anything else on the market and reportedly attracted over 64,000 reservations just days after the FF 91's world premiere.

Faraday claims that its production-spec FF 91 will use a 130 kWh battery pack joined by four electric motors and producing a combined 1050 hp and 1800 Nm of torque, enough to accelerate the large crossover to 62 mph in a mere 2.39 seconds. An EPA-estimated range of 378 miles has also been touted by the manufacturer.

On paper, the specs of the FF 91 seem very promising. However, they remain nothing more than words on a page and will stay like that if the startup isn't able to dramatically turn around its struggling finances.

VIDEO

Posaidon's Previous-Gen Mercedes-AMG E63 S Is A 1,000PS Hyper-Saloon

Posted: 29 Dec 2017 05:30 AM PST


As it turns out, the previous generation Mercedes-AMG E63 has immense tuning potential, and in the right hands - Posaidon in this case, it can become a force to be reckoned with.

So what can you do to a car that is still very fast, even by today's standards? How about giving it 920PS (907hp) and 1,350Nm (996lb-ft) of torque, which is 335PS (330hp) 550Nm (406lb-ft) more than stock.

But don't go anywhere just yet, because Posaidon have an even more impressive performance mod up their sleeve, one that increases the engine's capacity from 5.5 to 6.5 liters, and tunes almost all components to the max.

The result is 1,000PS (986hp) and 1,500Nm (1,106lb-ft) of torque, and this option comes with new limited slip differential and a strengthened 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox to withstand the new power.

The Mercedes-AMG E63 S W212 shown here retains the 5.5-liter bi-turbo V8 engine (920 PS), and features a few subtle carbon fiber-made updates on the outside, in addition to the urban camo wrap, and special badges. It also gets the tuner's sport suspension to round up the changes, whereas the rims, carbon fiber brakes, and interior remain untouched.

PHOTO GALLERY

Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk Wipes The Floor With Challenger Hellcat

Posted: 29 Dec 2017 05:00 AM PST


When the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat was released, it quickly became the king of the drag strip, frequently out-accelerating much more expensive sports cars and supercars. Soon, high-performance versions of the Tesla Model S came along and the Hellcat's reign was over.

Fast forward to the end of 2017 and it is no longer the sleek, two-door Challenger Hellcat that is the quickest vehicle in the FCA family. As a matter of fact, the Hellcat has now been surpassed not just by the Demon, but also the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk.

Powering both the Challenger Hellcat and the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine delivering 707 hp.

However, whereas the Hellcat struggles to put all that muscle to the ground, the all-wheel drive system of the Trackhawk makes it far superior in a straight line. To show just how big the performance gap is, Hennessey Performance pitted the duo together and the Trackhawk left the Hellcat Widebody in its wake.

While Hellcat owners may be disgruntled that a Jeep is significantly quicker than their muscle car, SUV enthusiasts will be enthusiastically celebrating. We wouldn't blame either of them.

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