Wednesday, 6 December 2017

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Order The New Hyundai i30 Fastback From £20,305 In UK

Posted: 06 Dec 2017 04:30 AM PST


Hyundai has released the official pricing and specification for the new i30 Fastback, which goes on sale in the UK on January 18.

Available in three trim levels called SE Nav, Premium, and Premium SE, this compact car joins the range alongside its Hatchback and Tourer siblings, priced from £20,305 ($27,289) on the road.

The entry-level model comes with an 8-inch touchscreen display, sat-nav, smartphone integration, Bluetooth with voice recognition, wireless phone charging, leather steering wheel, reversing camera, rear parking assist system, 17-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps, and others.

Pay at least £22,105 ($29,708) for the Premium grade, though, and you will unlock additional equipment, including dual-zone climate control, privacy rear glass, heated front seats with part artificial leather, electronic parking brake, 4.2-inch display instrument cluster, LED headlights and taillights, and front and rear parking assist.

Finally, the 2018 i30 Fastback Premium SE starts at £23,405 ($31,455) and a adds panoramic sunroof and heated steering wheel, in addition to other features.

Depending on the selected trim level, this new model features a multitude of driver assistance gizmos such as Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Autonomous Emergency Braking, and Hill Start Assist.

Customers will also have to choose from one of two engines: 1.0-liter T-GDi with 120PS (118hp) and a 1.4-liter GDi rated at 140PS (138hp). The former comes exclusively with a 6-speed manual gearbox, whereas the latter is mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DCT.



PHOTO GALLERY

Jenson Button Will Race For Honda In Japan's Super GT Series Next Year

Posted: 06 Dec 2017 03:25 AM PST


Having taken the 2017 season off, Jenson Button has announced that in 2018 he will race in the Japanese Super GT series.

The 2009 Formula 1 World Champion is no stranger to the series, as he made his Super GT debut in August and has since reached a deal with Honda to race for the entire 2018 season, which kicks off on April 7-8 at Okayama.

"I'll be racing for Honda and have a contract to race with Honda in Super GT in 2018. It's been a dream for the last couple of years, I love the category. I did one race in Suzuka this year, and it got me very excited. I'm very excited about the new season. There's a lot of testing to be done to feel comfortable and hopefully improve the package and go out next year and be competitive," he said.

Button retired from Formula One at the end of the 2016 season, but negotiated a contract with McLaren that would allow him to return to the sport in 2017 if he wanted to. This resulted in Button getting the call up to replace Fernando Alonso at the Monaco Grand Prix, as the Spaniard was racing at the Indy 500 the same weekend.

PHOTO GALLERY

BMW Tests The Upcoming X7 Near Munich

Posted: 06 Dec 2017 01:33 AM PST


The BMW X7 is arguably the most eagerly-anticipated vehicle currently being developed by the German carmaker and when it launches, is almost guaranteed to sell in considerable numbers.

BMW has been testing X7 prototypes for well over a year and Carscoops reader Krystian Granatowski recently snapped some images of one on a highway near Munich.

As with previous prototypes scooped testing in recent months, this example is bathed in white and black camouflage that hides most of its key design traits. In fact, all we can ascertain from the images is that the X7 will feature a huge kidney front grille, roof rails, black wheel arches, and large rectangular tailpipes.

Beneath the skin, the X7 utilizes BMW's CLAR platform, already in use with the latest-generation 5- and 7-Series. A host of petrol and diesel engines in six- and eight-cylinder configurations are widely expected, as is a plug-in hybrid with a four-cylinder.

Much to the delight of President Donald Trump, BMW confirmed last year that the X7 will be built in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The SUV should hit the streets as a 2019MY.

Hat tip to Krystian Granatowski for the photos!

PHOTO GALLERY

Potential Ford Mustang Bullitt Snapped During Commercial Shoot

Posted: 06 Dec 2017 12:02 AM PST


Talk of a 2018 Ford Mustang Bullitt has divided many pundits throughout 2017 but it now appears as if the car is the real deal and that it's edging ever closer to its launch.

A member of the Mustang6g forums recently stumbled upon a 2018 Mustang that looked strikingly similar to the alleged Bullitt variant first spotted as a sketch in a promo video starring Dwayne Johnson. The forum member says a commercial was being shot in Chicago when he snapped a single image of the pony car.

While the image isn't the best quality, it does show that the Mustang Bullitt will be sold in an eye-catching shade of dark green dubbed Dark Highland Green and come installed with five-spoke wheels with black spokes and chrome accents. It's difficult to tell if the rumored rear window louvers are also present.

According to reports, the Mustang Bullitt will be sold exclusively with the GT's 5.0-liter Coyote V8 and available alongside both Ford's 10-speed automatic transmission and six-speed manual 'box.

If Ford has started shooting the commercial for the Bullitt, we wouldn't be surprised to see it launch at the Detroit Auto Show in January.

PHOTO GALLERY

Aston Martin Not Chasing Tesla Customers With Electric RapidE

Posted: 05 Dec 2017 08:45 PM PST


The upcoming all-electric Aston Martin RapidE may seem like a direct rival to the Tesla Model S but according to boss Andy Palmer, the RapidE won't target Tesla buyers.

During an interview with Autocar, Palmer said customers of the RapidE won't be interested in the mind-boggling straight-line performance of the Model S and instead place a greater emphasis on luxury.

"Most of the people who buy a Model S are buying it fully loaded. They're not limited by their cash; they're limited by the offer.

"We're looking to those guys looking for something above Tesla. That customer probably isn't looking for 'Ludicrous mode'. Our offer will have very credible acceleration – equal to a petrol Aston Martin – but you'll be able to drive the car rapidly all the way around the Nürburgring without it derating or conking out on you," Palmer said.

The British automaker has been developing and testing the all-electric RapidE for quite some time now and will limit production to just 155 units. Rather than chasing huge sales figures, the car is a short-term answer to demand for an electric Aston Martin and in the future, could be superseded by an EV developed from the ground up.

According to Aston Martin, the RapidE will be based on the performance-oriented Rapide AMR and therefore receive a more aggressive design than a typical Rapide. The car is being co-developed with Williams Advanced Engineering and is set to launch in 2019.

PHOTO GALLERY

New Toyota Supra Won't Premiere At Detroit Auto Show

Posted: 05 Dec 2017 08:18 PM PST


While many expected the new-generation Toyota Supra to premiere at January's Detroit Auto Show, the Japanese company has confirmed that the sports car won't debut at the event.

Motor Trend recently spoke to Toyota group vice president and general manager of the Toyota division in North America, Jack Hollis, and discovered that it is too soon for the company to think about unveiling the Supra. In fact, Toyota has yet to finalize the vehicle's specifications.

The release date for the new car isn't the only thing up in the air. Late last week, Hollis actually revealed that there is a selection of other names in contention and that some of the other names are "really pretty strong." According to Hollis, a decision on what to call the car won't be made until next year.

While many enthusiasts would probably like to see the Supra name return, the vehicle's success won't be based on its name but rather the performance it provides. If it doesn't live up to the hype and fails to capture the imagination of the younger generation, Toyota may soon regret ever creating the sports car.

As you'll certainly know by now, the new Supra has been co-developed with BMW and will reportedly be offered with two different engines. The first, expected to be a four-cylinder with roughly 248 hp will be the cheapest option. Additionally, a six-cylinder delivering 335 hp is widely expected to be made available to customers in the United States.

PHOTO GALLERY

BMW Expanding Large Vehicle Range To Fund EV Future

Posted: 05 Dec 2017 07:33 PM PST


BMW says its impending fleet of new large vehicles will help to fund its future of electrified and autonomous technologies.

Speaking to Autocar, BMW sales and marketing boss Ian Robertson said the greater profit margins of large vehicles form part of a long-term strategy from the carmaker to propel it to the forefront of the industry.

"We are intent on expanding our footprint in the luxury segment. We see it as a growth engine, and an ability to be more profitable.

"We need to generate new ideas for the business model, as we go through the transition to a technology business from a car company. It requires investment. Expanding the luxury segment is key to this strategy," Robertson said.

Two of the new large vehicles just around the corner from BMW are the 8-Series and X7. Both will hit the market in the next couple of years and provide the brand with invaluable funds.

Things won't stop there, however. Robertson has confirmed that BMW has trademarked names between iX1 and iX9 as well as X1 to X9, suggesting that a number of other large vehicles are in BMW's future plans, particularly new SUVs.

BMW intends on launching 25 electrified vehicles by 2025, 12 of them which will be fully-electric.

PHOTO GALLERY

Ford Confident China Will Lead The EV Revolution

Posted: 05 Dec 2017 07:02 PM PST


Ford's executive chairman is confident that China will lead the electric vehicle revolution.

Speaking to The New York Times, Ford executive chairman William C. Ford Jr. said the carmaker's plan to introduce 15 electric of plug-in hybrid models in China by 2025 is a sign of its confidence in the market.

"When I think of where EVs are going, it's clearly the case that China will lead the world in EV development," Ford Jr. said.

In recent times, the Chinese government has announced a host of measures which it hopes will cement the country's position as the most prosperous market for electrified vehicles. One of the measures adopted is to offer global automakers enticing financial incentives to sell EVs in the country, all while heavily taxing ICE vehicles with high emissions.

What's more, China now requires car manufacturers to build a certain number of 'green' vehicles or risk losing their right to sell diesel and petrol vehicles in the country.

The likes of Volkswagen, Daimler, and General Motors are joining Ford with unprecedented investments in China. In fact, VW and its Chinese partners intend on launching 25 electrified models in the Chinese market between 2020 and 2025.

Interestingly, Ford has discovered that many Chinese buyers are less concerned than most with the range of electric vehicles as the majority of their driving is done within cities.

PHOTO GALLERY

This 2006 Ford GT Has Been Driven Just 10.8 Miles

Posted: 05 Dec 2017 06:33 PM PST


The 2017 Ford GT is undeniably cool but is it as desirable as this barely-used 2006 Ford GT? We're not so sure.

Set to cross the auction block at RM Sotheby's Fort Lauderdale event next year, this GT has only been driven 10.8 miles since leaving the factory over a decade ago. It's consequently one of the lowest-mileage GT's in the world and is expected to sell for between $300,000 and $350,000.

As the pictures show, the famous American supercar appears absolutely immaculate. In fact, the interior still features the plastic seat covers, Ford floor protectors and a small warning label looped over the six-speed manual shifter. The car really is a time capsule from a simpler time.

In terms of the car's exterior, it is painted in the ever-popular white with blue racing stripes, silver wheels and red brake calipers. Open up the rear clamshell and you'll find an engine that's barely been turned over and is completely free of any dust, dirt or debris. In fact, you could safely eat dinner off the supercharger without a worry in the world.

As with any first-generation Ford GT road car, the supercar is powered by a mid-mounted 5.4-liter supercharged V8 engine delivering 550 hp at 6500 rpm and 500 lb-ft of torque at 3750 rpm. Sending power to the rear wheels is a six-speed manual transmission and helical limited-slip differential.

PHOTO GALLERY

First 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom Heading To Auction In January

Posted: 05 Dec 2017 06:02 PM PST


The first 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom to roll off the production line is set to be auctioned off during the 2018 Naples Winter Wine Festival.

Organizers of the event, taking place on January 26-28 at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, Florida, will donate all the proceeds from the auction to the Naples Children & Education Foundation.

The Phantom in question recently rolled out of the British factory and is painted in Belladonna Purple and has an interior completed with Arctic White and Tailored Purple components. The highest bidder will also receive a number of wines from Napa Valley winery Alpha Omega and have the opportunity to participate in the 2019 ROBB Report Car of the Year.

Speaking about the upcoming auction, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars North America President Pedro Mota said, "Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is honored to leverage our position as the world's leading luxury brand to support the children who benefit from the proceeds of this event."

PHOTO GALLERY

A Lamborghini Urus 'Performante' Version Makes Sense

Posted: 05 Dec 2017 05:29 PM PST


Regardless of what you might think about Lamborghini's brand new SUV, it's hard to deny how aggressively-styled it is and how it will easily catch most people's attention on the road.

Granted, if you already love the way it looks, you're probably itching for Lamborghini to muster an even sportier version, which they could call the Performante, but SV would also make sense - not that any of this has been confirmed.

Still, if you want to go with the 'Performante', you should check out this render by X-Tomi Design, who used the most extreme Huracan ever built as inspiration.

Compared to the regular Urus, this design adds a new bumper, rear wing, decals, Huracan wheels, a blacked-out roof and a darker grille. It's definitely meaner, but we'd like you to tell us if it's too much, or perhaps just what the doctor ordered.

In reality, the only other Urus model we can look forward to is the PHEV, which is rumored to utilize the same power unit as the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid.

New BMW M5 MotoGP Safety Car Feels At Home On The Track

Posted: 05 Dec 2017 05:01 PM PST


As reviews of BMW's new-generation M5 continue to pour in, it's pretty interesting to see the MotoGP Safety Car version being tested as well.

This 2018 M5 was driven on the track in Valencia, where it could make the best of its power and its Sport M xDrive 4WD system.

While performance is identical to what you get in the regular M5, meaning 600 PS (591 HP) and 750 Nm (553 lb-ft) of torque, there are several differences between the stock model and the Safety Car.

For starters, it's packed with all the M Performance parts you can get, such as carbon fiber side skirts, rear diffuser, exhaust tips, rear spoiler, front kidney grille and wing mirror caps. It also comes with a titanium M Performance exhaust, a custom front splitter that you can't order for the street car, bonnet latches and M4 GTS bucket seats.

The final touches in making this M5 a safety car were the addition of LED lights on the roof and the grille, flashing headlights and, of course, a special livery. You can check out the end result in the video that follows right after the jump .

VIDEO

TechArt Tunes Porsche 718 To 400PS, Adds Nose Lift System

Posted: 05 Dec 2017 04:32 PM PST


Ask TechArt what they could do for your Porsche 718 Boxster or Cayman and you'll probably hear all about the body kit, the carbon fiber package, the custom wheels or the personalized interior.

Now, however, you can also opt for the newly available TechArt front axle lift system, which will help your 718 model clear common obstacles such as ramps, speed humps and curbs at the push of a button.

The nose lift package gives you an extra 60 mm (2.3 inches) of additional ground clearance and includes the two front axle sport springs, two for the rear, two hydraulic cylinders, a hydraulic unit, the installation kit and assembly instructions.

The tuning company has also launched a power kit for the 718's 2.5-liter flat-four, adding 50 extra horses together with 60 Nm (44 lb-ft) over the stock car, for a total of 400 PS (394 HP) and 480 Nm (354 lb-ft) of torque.

A TechArt-modified 718 Cayman S featuring both the power kit as well as the lift system will be on display at the Essen Motor Show until December 10th.

PHOTO GALLERY

2018 Toyota Sienna Is A Soccer Mom's Best Friend

Posted: 05 Dec 2017 04:00 PM PST


If you're considering purchasing a minivan and the updated Toyota Sienna isn't already on your shortlist, this review might actually convince you to reconsider.

Sure, minivans have fallen victim to stereotypes and buyers nowadays more often than not go for an SUV, regardless if they actually need its off-road abilities or not. It's all about perception, and an SUV screams "adventure", which the minivan certainly doesn't, but as Kelley Blue Book's Micah Muzio points out, the latter is still king when it comes to practicality - and the 2018 Sienna certainly has its eyes on the throne.

For the 2018MY, Toyota redesigned the Sienna's front end by adding a lower grille and larger fog lights. Of course, with these types of cars, it's less about styling and more about features - which is where the Sienna excels. Not only can you add Wi-Fi and a premium JBL system, but you also get a new rear-seat entertainment system with streaming capability (only for Android devices, at least for now), 360-degree camera, 4.2" multi-info display and a total of five USB ports, plus loads of other stuff.

In the end, Muzio found the 2018 Sienna to be not just extremely practical, but also surprisingly competent on the road.

VIDEO

Land Rover Will Offer Its Own Version Of The Jaguar I-Pace

Posted: 05 Dec 2017 03:03 PM PST


Jaguar is gearing up to launch its I-Pace in the second half of 2018 and a new report is suggesting Land Rover will eventually receive its own version of the electric crossover.

In an interview with Drive, Land Rover Chief Creative Officer Gerry McGovern confirmed the variant was inevitable. He declined to say when the model will be launched or how it will be positioned but the designer confirmed the vehicle will have to be capable off-road.

That's not much to go on but focusing on the model's off-road capabilities would be one way to distinguish it from the Jaguar I-Pace. The model would also have unique styling with plenty of Land Rover DNA.

There's no word on what Land Rover's version of the I-Pace will look like but McGovern said electric powertrains open up a number of possibilities as the elimination of a conventional engine frees up a significant amount of space. As he explained, "Do you want to utilize that space for all types of innovative features. Do you put all that extra space inside? That does fundamentally change the volume and proportions of the vehicle, which is crucially important to design."

Assuming Land Rover's variant remains faithful to the I-Pace, we can expect the model to have a 90 kWh battery and an electric powertrain that develops approximately 400 hp (298 kW) and 516 lb-ft (698 Nm) of torque. This should enable the crossover to accelerate from 0-60 mph in around four seconds and have a range in excess of 220 miles (354 km) on a single charge.

Photo Gallery

BMW Previews E-Mobility Roadmap, Hints At 0-62 MPH Time Of Under 3 Seconds

Posted: 05 Dec 2017 02:32 PM PST


BMW is betting e-mobility will be the next big thing and the automaker has revealed its electrification plans through 2025.

As you can see in the company's product roadmap, its next e-mobility vehicle will be the i8 Roadster which is a plug-in hybrid that recently debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show. It will be joined by another plug-in hybrid next year which appears to be a crossover.

MINI will launch an electric vehicle in 2019 and it will be followed by two or three plug-in hybrids that same year. 2020 will see the launch of the X3 EV and possibility a plug-in hybrid.

The EV push will really kick off in 2021 with the arrival of the often-talked about iNext. Following its debut, it will be joined by nine other electric vehicles.

In 2022, we can expect to see three different plug-in hybrids from the BMW Group. Over the course of the next three years, five other plug-in hybrids will be launched.

Models built from 2021 will be able to accommodate combustion engines, plug-in hybrid powertrains, and pure electric drive systems. The latter variants will have a lightweight aluminum casing that houses an electric motor, a single-speed transmission, and assortment of different electronics.

The vehicles are also slated to use modular batteries which will apparently come in three different sizes. The 30e and 40e variants will be used in "compact" and "executive" class vehicles and have either a 60 kWh battery pack that delivers approximately 450 km (278 miles) of range or a 90 kWh battery pack that increases the range to around 550 km (341 miles). "Luxury" class vehicles will use either the 40e or 50e battery pack with the latter boasting a 120 kWh rating and a range of around 700 km (435 miles).

Mainstream front-wheel drive electric vehicles will have an electric motor that develops more than 134 hp (100 kW). Likewise, mainstream rear-wheel drive models will have more than 268 hp (200 kW). All-wheel drive will be optional and the cars will accelerate from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in less than 6 to 9 seconds.

The performance vehicles are more interesting as they will have a front electric motor with more than 268 hp (200 kW). It can be backed up by two additional electric motors that each produce more than 268 hp (200 kW). The models are also slated to have an optional torque vectoring system and a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time of less than three seconds.

Photo Gallery

GM Rolls Out Its New Marketplace App, Will Allow Drivers To Order Coffee From Their Car

Posted: 05 Dec 2017 02:01 PM PST


Getting your morning cup of Starbucks is about to get a lot easier if you drive a General Motors vehicle as the company has just announced it is rolling out its all-new Marketplace.

Billed as the "industry's first commerce platform for on-demand reservations and purchases," the Marketplace is essentially an app that resides on the infotainment system of Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC vehicles. The app will be rolled out to millions of existing 2017 and 2018 vehicles and doesn't require a separate data plan.

A handful of companies have created their own Marketplace sections and these include restaurants such as Applebee's, IHOP, TGI Fridays, and Wingstop. Other notable partners include Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks, Shell, and ExxonMobil.

The services vary by company but Starbucks fans can place their order through the app, while drivers looking to hit up TGI Fridays can make reservations at a restaurant and time of their choosing. While no one really needs to order coffee from their infotainment system, the Parkopedia option is interesting as it will allow drivers to "find, reserve, and pay for parking, all at the click of a button."

The service will be available to approximately four million drivers in the United States within the next 12 to 18 months and GM's Vice President for Global Connected Customer Experience, Santiago Chamorro, said "The average American spends 46 minutes per day on the road driving. Leveraging connectivity and our unique data capabilities, we have an opportunity to make every trip more productive and give our customers time back."

Video

Hennessey Delivers An Insane 1,000HP Camaro ZL1 Exorcist

Posted: 05 Dec 2017 01:32 PM PST


Not one to shy away from a challenge, John Hennessey decided to create a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1-based rival to the Dodge Challenger Demon before the Demon was even released.

Aptly named 'The Exorcist', the Camaro upgrade package sees power from the LT4 supercharged V8 rise from 650 hp to 1,000 hp at 6,400 rpm and 966 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. What does all of this grunt look like?

Well, Hennessey recently delivered one of the first The Exorcist models with the help of former GM engineer John Heinricy and the clip below perfectly depicts how insane this car is.

Whereas Dodge focused solely on making the Demon as fast as possible on a drag strip, Hennessey's ZL1 is just as capable through corners as it is in a straight line. Pit The Exorcist against a Demon around a racetrack and it's obvious that the tuner car would win easily.

VIDEO

The Ghost Of SAAB's Past Haunts Us As NEVS 9-3 EV Enters Production In China

Posted: 05 Dec 2017 02:34 PM PST


We haven't heard much about NEVS lately but that's changing today as the company has begun production of the Saab-based 9-3 electric vehicle.

Billed as an "important milestone in implementing the NEVS vision to shape mobility for a more sustainable future," the 9-3 looks virtually identical to the Saab version which was produced in Sweden years ago.

NEVS didn't say much about the vehicle but the company has previously said the model will have a range of 300 km (186 miles) on a single charge. The car is also slated to feature a WiFi hotspot, over-the-air software updates and an advanced air filtration system to deal with China's infamous smog problem.

NEVS is targeting an annual production capacity of 50,000 units but hopes to increase that number to 220,000 units in the future.

The company also announced it is developing three generations of electric vehicles and the second and third generations will be developed in close co-operation with DiDi Chuxing which is billed as the "world's leading one-stop diversified mobility platform." As part of partnership, NEVS will provide DiDi with "cost-effective high-end EVs."

In related news, DiDi, GEIDCO (Global Energy Interconnection Corporation) and NEVS have formed a new joint venture that will "provide services and infrastructure to the increasing Mobility on Demand Electric Vehicles."

Photo Gallery

A Behind-The-Scenes Look At Batman's Mercedes Vision Gran Turismo

Posted: 05 Dec 2017 12:27 PM PST


With Marvel superheroes often associated with Audi, and even Acura in the first Thor movie, DC teamed up with Mercedes-Benz in order to give Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince two very cool rides.

While the latter showed up to meet with Cyborg in an E-Class Convertible, Bruce Wayne gave The Flash a ride in his extremely exclusive (and by that we mean one-of) Vision Gran Turismo concept.

Apparently, the producers wanted to pair the characters up with cars that sort of represented their personality, which is why you might see someone like Bruce Wayne driving a car that nobody else owns.

According to Robert Oliver Samson, Mercedes' creative director, when they built the V GT for the movie, they actually had to make it a little bigger than the original concept, which had a really tiny interior.

As for future movies, the only scheduled DC flick for next year is Aquaman, but it's rather unlikely that the king of Atlantis needs four wheels and an engine to get around. If we were to guess, we'd say Mercedes could make another appearance in the DC Cinematic Universe two years from now, when Wonder Woman 2 hits theaters.

VIDEO

2018 Kia Stinger Lease Deals Start From $382* A Month

Posted: 05 Dec 2017 11:58 AM PST


The 2018 Kia Stinger has been the talk of the industry over the last few months and interested buyers in the U.S. can now pick up the keys to one for as little as $299 a month with a down payment or around $382 without.

Cars Direct has discovered that Kia is offering a $299/month leasing option for the entry-level Stinger with the 255 hp 2.0-liter turbo engine. The lease, running over 36 months, also includes a $2,999 fee at signing, effectively bringing it up to $382/month (*). Included in this deal are $4,800 in factory lease discounts, while it excludes taxes.

The South Korean automaker has only advertised leasing options for the base Stinger but Cars Direct reports that Kia is offering the range-topping, all-wheel drive Stinger GT2 with $6,800 in lease cash.

Following the release of the Stinger, most of the talk has been about the powerful 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 version with 365 hp. For those looking to pay upfront for a Stinger equipped with this engine, at least $39,895 is needed. By comparison, the base 2.0-liter model starts at $32,795.

PHOTO GALLERY

New Porsche Cayenne Turbo Tears Up The Roads Of Greece

Posted: 05 Dec 2017 11:29 AM PST


The latest-generation Porsche Cayenne looks a hell of a lot better than its predecessor. But do its driving characteristics match the sleek looks?

Carlos Lago from Edmunds recently headed to Greece to jump behind the new Cayenne in Turbo trim and as you'd probably expect, was full of praise for the SUV.

Sitting at the heart of the new Cayenne Turbo is a 4.0-liter biturbo V8 engine delivering 542 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque. Those figures are slightly greater than they were with the previous-generation Cayenne Turbo but that is far from the whole story.

Rather than simply making the new Cayenne Turbo faster in a straight line, Porsche has ensured that it is better in all areas, therefore installing an advanced air suspension system that adapts to the driving conditions.

Additionally, the Turbo includes a similar rear-wheel steering system to other Porsche models, allowing the SUV to take tight corners with ease while offering excellent stability at high speeds.

VIDEO

Ex-Faraday Future Employee Claims Startup Dismissed Sexual Harrassment Allegations

Posted: 05 Dec 2017 11:01 AM PST


A security guard who previously worked at Faraday Future claims she was sexually harassed by an IT administrator and that the company dismissed her multiple complaints.

In a lawsuit, plaintiff Genesis Reyes alleges that Josue Alejandro Sanchez repeatedly approached her during work hours and asked for her personal information. At the time, Reyes says she was working in a single person security booth at the startup's Californian headquarters.

Reyes further claims that Sanchez often "stared at [her] in a sexual way" and once followed her to the bathroom and waited outside the door for her. Following Reyes' denial to provide her personal information to Sanchez, the defendant reportedly stole her work schedule and was able to find her phone number, repeatedly sending her text messages until she blocked his number, The Verge reports.

Reyes says that she brought verbal and written complaints to both Faraday Future and her employer G4S Secure Solutions. However, a supervisor at Faraday Future allegedly told her that "Sanchez simply had a 'crush'" on her and that she was "inviting the harassment." Shortly after issuing these complaints, Reyes was given a written warning in April 2017 and fired in May 2017.

In an email to The Verge, the lawyer for Reyes, James Urbanic, said the ex-employee wants to expose how Faraday Future and G4S operate.

"What kind of message does a company send when it fires a woman who has mustered up the courage to complain? The time has come to expose common corporate policies of "zero tolerance" as empty promises," Urbanic said.

Responding to the lawsuit, Faraday Future simply said "We will not comment on ongoing litigation."

PHOTO GALLERY

Scoop: Facelifted Audi TT-RS Will Not Mess With A Winning Formula

Posted: 05 Dec 2017 10:29 AM PST


Audi is working on the mid-life update of the TT, with the first spy shots showing a TT-RS roadster being tested on public roads.

You wouldn't expect Audi to mess too much with the successful design of the current TT and you would be right: the small patches of camo tape around the car lead us to believe that Audi will most certainly keep the visual changes to a minimum.

Expect to see new lighting signatures on lights all around in order to bring the TT in line with Audi's latest products, as well as subtle tweaks and changes on body parts like the front grille, side sills and bumpers.

Inside, the updated TT will also receive some updates, with Audi to use the latest version of their Virtual Cockpit along with the latest infotainment features, as well as new trim options and colors.

The engine range will remain more or less the same, with the range-topping RS version keeping the characteristic 2.5-liter five-pot unit which in the current models produces 395hp (400PS) and 354lb-ft (480Nm) of peak torque.

The facelifted range of the Audi TT is expected to debut in 2018, so stay tuned for more info in the coming months.

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoops

PHOTO GALLERY

2018 Ford F-Series Super Duty Gains Upgraded Diesel Engine With 935 Lb-Ft Of Torque

Posted: 05 Dec 2017 10:01 AM PST


Ford recently redesigned its Super Duty pickups but the company isn't resting on its laurels as the 2018 F-Series Super Duty can be equipped with an upgraded 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 diesel engine.

The upgraded engine features redesigned cylinder heads and "optimized fuel and turbo boost calibrations to take advantage of the increased cylinder head capacity." Thanks to these changes, the engine produces 450 hp (335 kW) and 935 lb-ft (1,266 Nm) of torque which is an increase of 10 hp (7 kW) and 10 lb-ft (13 Nm). While these are minor gains, they ensure the F-Series Super Duty has best-in-class horsepower and torque.

Speaking of best-in-class ratings, the truck has a best-in-class payload capacity of 7,360 pounds (3,338 kg) and a best-in-class conventional hitch towing rating of 21,000 pounds (9,525 kg).

The Super Duty lineup is also growing for 2018 as Ford will offer a new F-450 Super Duty 4x2. The truck will go on sale this winter and have a base price of $52,830. While it's not the most affordable truck on the market, it has a best-in-class gooseneck towing rating of 34,000 pounds (15,422 kg) when properly equipped.

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