Friday 8 December 2017

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Mazda MX-5 Z-Sport Limited Edition Coming To UK From £25,595

Posted: 08 Dec 2017 04:30 AM PST


The Mazda MX-5 range is about to welcome a new member, the Z-Sport, a special edition of the popular roadster that's limited to just 300 units.

Created exclusively for the UK market, the open-top model will go on sale on March 1, priced from £25,595 ($34,312). It will then try to lure customers away from the competition with its Machine Grey Metallic paint, Deep Cherry Red fabric roof and 17-inch black BBS rims.

Meanwhile, the numbered Z-Sport plaque on the dashboard, Sand Leather seats, Z-Sport floor mats and scuff plates round up the list of novelties inside.

However, since the limited edition car builds upon the Sport Nav grade, it also gets LED headlights, keyless entry, climate control, navigation system, DAB radio, Bilstein dampers, strut brace, and a limited slip differential

There's nothing special about its power unit though, as the 2.0-liter engine, rated at 160PS (158hp) and 200Nm (148lb-ft) of torque, is the sole choice. Getting from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) takes 7.3 seconds, while the top speed is rated at 214km/h (133mph).

PHOTO GALLERY

F1 Champs Past & Present Gather For FIA Hall of Fame Induction

Posted: 08 Dec 2017 04:00 AM PST


This week the FIA opened its new Hall of Fame in Paris, created to honor Formula One world champions and, naturally, a number of them attended the event.

While the majority of the 33 champions inducted couldn't be there in person, nine were: namely Sir Jackie Stewart, Mario Andretti, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg.

The evening started with the induction of drivers who won a single world championship, followed by the two- and three-time champs, then four-time winners Prost, Vettel and Hamilton, five-time winner Juan Manuel Fangio and, finally. seven-time champion Michael Schumacher.

"We all know Michael should be here and I am totally sure he would love to be here," said Schumacher's longtime manager Sabine Kehm, who accepted the award on his behalf. "He always had the highest respect for everyone in this room and he would be very honored."

"It's been incredible to see all these names, all these faces," echoed Vettel. "There's so much history in the sports, it's still so alive, and thanks to events like tonight's, we'll keep it like that."

On display outside were Schumacher's Ferrari F1-2000, Alonso's Renault R25, Senna's McLaren MP4/5, Jim Clark's Lotus Climax 25, Phil Hill's Ferrari 156, and Nino Farina's Alfa Romeo 158.

The Hall is situated at the Paris headquarters of the Automobile Club de France, where the original F1 regulations were first written in the 1940s, with the gallery designed by prominent French architects Wilmotte and Associates. The plan is to create similar galleries for past winners of other FIA-sanctioned world championships at the FIA offices in Geneva.

Video

2018 VW Golf Sportsvan Arrives In The UK With New Face And Features

Posted: 08 Dec 2017 03:30 AM PST


Volkswagen has launched the facelifted Golf Sportsvan in the United Kingdom, where it carries a £20,475 ($27,425) starting price.

Offered in four grades, S, SE, SE Nav, and GT, the compact MPV can be ordered with full-LED headlamps, two new colors called Cranberry Red and Reflex Silver, four new alloy wheel designs and a Discovery Pro infotainment system with a 9.2-inch display and gesture control.

The revised Golf Sportsvan comes as standard with the Front Assist and Predictive Pedestrian Monitoring, alongside the optional Emergency Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, Park Assist, 'Security & Service' package, and others, which make it safer than ever.

Customers can choose between four turbocharged petrol units for the 2018 Sportsvan, with outputs ranging from 85PS (84hp) to 150PS (148hp), and two diesels, a 1.6-liter with 115PS (113hp) and a 2.0-liter with 150PS (148hp). Depending on the engine, it can be had with a five- or six-speed manual gearbox or a 7-speed dual-clutch DSG.

The most affordable DSG model uses the 110PS (108hp) 1.0-liter engine and starts from £22,230 ($29,775), whereas the range-topping GT that's powered by the 150PS (148hp) 2.0-liter diesel is priced from £28,595 ($38,300).



PHOTO GALLERY

China-Only Jeep Grand Commander Surfaces In Design Sketches

Posted: 08 Dec 2017 03:01 AM PST


Following the 2018 Wrangler's premiere in LA last week, Jeep are now looking to expand their presence in China with an entirely new SUV, named Grand Commander.

The patent images that leaked from the country's National Trademark Office and were posted by Autohome, reveal a design similar to the Grand Cherokee, at the front.

However, it appears that the new SUV is actually the production version of the Jeep Yuntu Concept, which was shown for the first time at the 2017 Shanghai Auto Show. It comes with a generous footprint that will allow it to compete locally against the Toyota Highlander and Volkswagen Teramont, offering seating for seven, unlike the study's six-seat layout.

Power is believed to come from the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four cylinder that's found on the new Wrangler, where it makes 268hp and 295lb-ft (400Nm) of torque.

Further details are scarce at the moment, but Jeep is expected to shed more light on the new Grand Commander next April, as it should debut at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show.

In other related news, one patent images reveals additional FCA products aimed at the People's Republic. The first one is allegedly the Chinese name of the Grand Commander, which is said to translate as 'Big Commander', literally, followed by the Deserthawk, a Renegade special edition.

The Pacifica is also on that list, as is the Summit Grand Cherokee (Grand Cherokee Summit, perhaps?), a more upscale version of the SUV, and Hyperspace, which could announce a new concept car. Finally, Portal, and Chrysler Portal are mentioned as well, which likely refer to the Portal Concept that debuted at CES 2017.

PHOTO GALLERY

FIA Finalizes 2018 Formula One Calendar

Posted: 08 Dec 2017 01:31 AM PST


The FIA has just published the finalized calendar for the 2018 Formula One season with two famed Grands Prix returning next year.

On June 24, the French Grand Prix will return to the calendar and take place at the gorgeous Circuit Paul Ricard in LaCastellet. Additionally, the German Grand Prix is returning, scheduled for July 22 at the Hockenheimring.

Elsewhere, a few other alterations have been made over the 2017 season. Most significantly, the Malaysian Grand Prix has been dropped, the Russian Grand Prix has been moved from April to September and the Azerbaijan Grand Prix will be held in April, rather than June.

Next year will also see the first bank-to-back-to-back races with the French Grand Prix, Austrian Grand Prix, and British Grand Prix to be held over consecutive weekends.

Full calendar:

March 25 - Australia
April 8 - Bahrain
April 15 - China
April 29 - Azerbaijan
May 13 - Spain
May 27 - Monaco
June 10 - Canada
June 24 - France
July 1 - Austria
July 8 - Great Britain
July 22 - Germany
July 29 - Hungary
August 26- Belgium
September 2 - Italy
September 16 - Singapore
September 30 - Russia
October 7 - Japan
October 21 - USA
October 28 - Mexico
November 11 - Brazil
November 25 - Abu Dhabi

PHOTO GALLERY

Bugatti Chiron Hit With Worldwide Recall

Posted: 08 Dec 2017 12:02 AM PST


Bugatti has announced a recall of 47 examples of the 1,500 hp Chiron hypercar, 12 of which reside in the United States.

In what is just the latest example of high-priced exotics not being immune to recalls, Bugatti recently informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that a number of Chirons have faulty welds in the front seat recliner brackets.

The French automaker says it has notified all the affected owners and will transport each Chiron via enclosed truck to the most convenient Bugatti dealerships for inspections. If inspections reveal a faulty weld, Bugatti will replace the entire seating assembly.

Although deliveries of the Chiron commenced quite some time ago, the road is far from over for the car. Bugatti is widely expected to announce the Chiron's top speed sometime in 2018 but it remains to be seen if it will top the 277.9 mph top speed record recently set by the Koenigsegg Agera RS.

VIDEO

Chevrolet Had A Hilarious Codename For The Corvette ZR1's Engine

Posted: 08 Dec 2017 04:26 AM PST


The LT5, 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine of the 2019 Corvette ZR1 may not be the twin-turbo mill many were expecting but it is still a very special engine and Chevrolet knows it.

During development of the new powertrain, Chevrolet engineers tried to keep the project a closely-guarded secret and thus thought up a particularly 'colorful' codename for the new LT5.

Speaking to Automotive News, Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juecther revealed that the company stamped 'BAS' on the supercharger, rather than 'Corvette ZR1'. In doing so, the engineers thought they could trick their fellow workers into thinking it was a development of the Belt Alternator System, currently used by a diesel engine from GM.

However, to those who knew the truth, 'BAS' did not stand for 'Belt Alternator System' and was instead an acronym for 'Big A** Supercharger'. Fitting.

Compared to the supercharger of the LT4, the LT5's is 52 per cent larger and works alongside an all-new 95 mm throttle body, dual fuel system, two engine controllers, and a custom crankshaft made from high-strength alloy. These components work alongside the same block, head, pistons, and connecting rods as the LT4.

The figures are something to behold. Chevrolet quotes 755 hp and 715 lb-ft of torque, enough to accelerate the ZR1 to 100 km/h in under 3 seconds and to a top speed beyond 337 km/h.

PHOTO GALLERY

Honda Teams Up With Billion-Dollar Chinese Startup SenseTime

Posted: 07 Dec 2017 08:01 PM PST


Honda has announced a partnership with SenseTime, a Chinese startup valued at over $1 billion with expertise in artificial intelligence.

According to Tech Crunch, SenseTime is a leader in object recognition technology and will combine its AI and deep learning skills with Honda's AI and autonomous technologies to ensure self-driving cars operate safely in urban areas.

Alongside the duo's work on autonomous vehicles, the partnership will expand joint activities in robotics.

SenseTime secured $410 million in investments from a series B funding round earlier this year, reportedly the largest private financing round ever closed by an AI startup. Additionally, it is thought that the technology company will secure a $227 million investment from Alibaba before the end of the year.

PHOTO GALLERY

The One-Off Pagani Zonda Riviera Is For Sale Right Now

Posted: 07 Dec 2017 07:33 PM PST


When we saw that the one-off Pagani Zonda Riviera had landed at Saudi Arabian dealership Seven Car Lounge, we assumed it was going to be handed over to its owner immediately. As it turns out, the hypercar has been listed for sale.

It's unclear whether Seven Car Lounge commissioned the car for a client who has since pulled the plug on the purchase or if Seven Car Lounge itself was able to order the car from Pagani. Either way, it is looking for a home and considering the wealth found in Saudi Arabia, we wouldn't be surprised to see it get snapped up quickly.

Understandably, no asking price has been made public but the car dealer does list the Riviera has having 31 miles (50 km) under its belt. As we suspected, it is also listed as having 760 hp, meaning it shares all of its mechanical components, including the 7.3-liter AMG V12 engine, with other vehicles in the 760-series range of Zondas.

The exterior of the Zonda Riviera is a mixture of white, gloss carbon fiber, and bright blue accents. Among the most eye-catching exterior components are the large air intake on the roof, a towering rear wing, and a carbon fiber shark fin.

PHOTO GALLERY

Waymo Self-Driving Engineer Says Humans Aren't Meant To Drive

Posted: 07 Dec 2017 07:02 PM PST


A self-driving car engineer from Waymo says humans aren't designed to drive cars in a strange tweet that has left many pundits scratching their heads.

Yesterday, Vahid Kazemi tweeted of his experience almost running over five people in two days while driving a rental car without autonomous features.

"Have been driving in LA with a rental car that doesn't have the autonomous features that my own car has. Almost crashed ten times and ran over five people in two days! Humans aren't designed to drive cars!" he said.

The tweet has since been deleted with Kazemi claiming that it was a joke.

Nonetheless, it's hard to ignore his ignorance. Sure, humans aren't designed to drive cars but that doesn't mean we can't. In fact, many human drivers are better than any of the autonomous systems on offer. The point that many technology companies are designing their self-driving vehicles to mimic the way humans drive tells you that we can't be all that horrible at controlling an automobile.

In Kazemi's defence, there are millions of dangerous drivers out there that shouldn't be on the roads but clearly he understands the error of his tweeting ways.



PHOTO GALLERY

Tesla Could Be Causing A Global Battery Shortage

Posted: 08 Dec 2017 04:26 AM PST


Tesla has reportedly caused a global shortage of cylindrical batteries as it looks to up production at the Gigafactory.

According to Korean publication ET News, the car manufacturer is receiving the majority of Panasonic's Japanese battery supplies to meet demand for the Tesla Model 3. Consequently, other companies have been left to look for battery cells from the likes of Samsung, LG, and Murata, brands which cannot keep up with demand.

Due to the limited supply, a host of companies, including the likes of IT firms and other electric vehicle manufacturers, are unlikely to receive their battery orders until the middle of 2018.

"It is impossible to purchase cylindrical batteries within Japan and we were even notified by Panasonic that they are not going to sell cylindrical batteries anymore," a representative for a Japanese battery distributor said.

"It has come to a point where we cannot even purchase products from Samsung and LG and even products from Samsung and LG that were produced in China."

Sources claim that the remote location of Tesla's Gigafactory and its reliance on renewable energy is the cause of production delays.

PHOTO GALLERY

Safety Group Expresses Concerns About GM's Marketplace App

Posted: 07 Dec 2017 06:02 PM PST


A prominent safety group has expressed concerns about GM's recently-announced Marketplace app.

The application allows GM owners to use the vehicle's onboard WiFi to browse through various outlets, including Starbucks, Priceline, and Dunkin Donuts, and place orders.

However, the National Safety Council claims the application will only contribute to distracted driving and potentially increase fatalities.

"There's nothing about this that's safe. If this is why they want Wi-Fi in the car, we're going to see fatality numbers go up even higher than they are now," National Safety Council president Deborah Hersman told Bloomberg.

Upon unveiling the app, GM was proud to boast about it being the "industry's first commerce platform for on-demand reservations and purchases" and intends on rolling it out to roughly four million drivers in the United States within the next 12 to 18 months.

VIDEO

Lamborghini Urus Is A Must-Have For The Italian Police

Posted: 07 Dec 2017 05:30 PM PST


Every once in a while, you'll hear about Lamborghini donating supercars to the Italian Police, as they've done with the Gallardo and the Huracan.

Now that there's an much more practical option out there, perhaps they might want to consider giving one to the Polizia as well. After all, the Urus is much more suited to the job, as it cannot just chase down bad guys, but also give them a nice ride back to the station after booking them.

This render, uploaded to Behance by designer Aksyonov Nikita, features the typical Polizia livery, meaning the car is predominantly light blue with white stripes on the side and the front fascia, plus a Tricolore stripe and the obligatory light bar on top.

Interestingly, in spite of weighing 2,200 kg (4,850 lbs), the Urus is actually quicker than the Gallardo LP560-4 Polizia, as the latter needs 3.7 seconds to hit 100 km/h (62 mph), whereas the Urus does it in just 3.6. So, they're practically equal, but it's quite an accomplishment from Lamborghini, considering that the one is a bona-fide supercar and the other an SUV. Then again, with 641hp at its disposal, it's much more powerful than the Gallardo and raises the bar for what a crossover can do, at least on tarmac.

PHOTO GALLERY

Get A Low Mileage Jaguar F-Type V8 S For The Price Of A Civic Coupe

Posted: 07 Dec 2017 07:15 PM PST


With four days still left to bid on this 2014 Jaguar F-Type V8 S Convertible, any petrolhead who's on the lookout for a new ride might want to check out this ad.

To us, the prospect of purchasing a 495 PS (488 HP) F-Type with just 13,000 miles (20,921 km) on the clock is pretty exciting. At the time of writing this article, the highest bid was $20,000, which makes it very tempting indeed.

According to the Bring a Trailer ad, the car comes with adaptive suspension, active exhaust, electronically-controlled LSD, 20-inch wheels, heated seats and steering wheel, and a Meridian sound system.

It also sports the Vision Pack, which adds adaptive lighting, automatic high-beams, a rear-view camera and blind spot monitoring, and the Design Pack that includes the body-colored front bumper splitter, aero splitters and side sill extensions. In other words, this car is pretty loaded on all fronts.

The F-Type V8 S can sprint from zero to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.3 seconds and tops out at 300 km/h (186 mph). Moreover, the seller was nice enough to make a video showing off the Jag's exhaust note, which you're probably going to enjoy.

PHOTO GALLERY



VIDEO

Porsche 911 GT2 RS And Lamborghini Huracan Performante Battle It Out On The Track

Posted: 07 Dec 2017 04:30 PM PST


Every self-respecting supercar manufacturer must have at least one hardcore version of its best-seller nowadays. Even though you are spoiled for choice in Porsche, the GT2 RS is without a question the top 911 money can buy, while Lamborghini launched the Huracan Performante last summer.

You don't need to be a genius to figure out that these two are obvious rivals, but how can you determine which is the best? Why, you take both of them out to the track and time the laps, that's how.

The venue that was chosen by SportAuto was Hockenheim, but before checking out the video, let's talk numbers.

The 911 GT2 RS has 690 horses and 553 pound-feet (750Nm) of torque from a 3.8-liter twin-turbo flat-six, needs 2.9 seconds for the 0-62mph (100km/h) acceleration, and maxes out at 212mph (340km/h).The Huracan Performante, on the other hand, is powered by a 5.2-liter naturally aspirated V10. It might lack turbochargers, but it puts out a respectable 631hp and 443lb-ft (600Nm) of torque nevertheless, which allow it to sprint to 62mph (100km/h) in 2.9sec and reach a top speed in excess of 202mph (325km/h).

So, they are quite evenly matched, and even if the Porsche having a power advantage and can boast about being the fastest RWD production car at Nurburgring, the most extreme version of the Huracan is no pushover, thus their duel on a track that, refreshingly, isn't the 'Ring, is quite a spectacle, as you can see in the video that follows.

VIDEO

Do These HRE Rims Make The McLaren 720S Look Better?

Posted: 07 Dec 2017 04:00 PM PST


McLaren's latest addition to the Super Series range, the 720S, made a name for itself very quickly after demolishing almost all of its contenders, even ones with significantly more power, in a straight line.

We have no doubt it will be a hit with customers, some of which might want to personalize theirs by fitting a set of custom rims. One of the companies they can put on the list is HRE, which has already made a set of custom rims for the 720S, the P103, and is now launching a new one.

Named P204, the monoblock forged alloys are available in 20, 21, and 22 inches and come in a wide range of finishes, from the Brushed Titanium ones seen here, to more extravagant colors that such as Frozen Polished Purple or Stone Green, to name just a few.

If they look somewhat familiar, it's because they are already worn by the Ferrari F12tdf, Lamborghini Aventador SV, Acura NSX and Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupe. Mind you, they start from $11,200 per set - but, hey, if you can afford a 720S, this shouldn't be an issue.

PHOTO GALLERY

Bentley Will Pursue Electrification Over Autonomous Driving Technology

Posted: 07 Dec 2017 03:29 PM PST


Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös recently revealed his company isn't in a rush to offer semi-autonomous driving technology and it appears Bentley is taking a similar approach.

In an interview with The Drive, Bentley's boss of the Americas said he hasn't heard a customer describe autonomous driving technology as a must have feature. Mark Del Rosso went on to say "It has to become a want and a need and a desire" before the company decides add the technology to its vehicles.

Despite this, Bentley is starting to add high-tech driver assistance features to newer models such as the Continental GT. As the company noted at its unveiling, the GT comes with a new electric power-assisted steering system which enables the car to offer Active Lane Assist, Traffic Jam Assist and Park Assist.

While Bentley appears to be taking a cautious approach to autonomous driving technology, Del Rosso said it is embracing electrification. As the executive explained "We want to be the leader in luxury electrification" and "It's not a matter of if, but when."

Del Rosso confirmed we'll get our first taste of an electrified Bentley in the form of the Bentayga plug-in hybrid. The company still debating if future models should be plug-in hybrids or pure electric vehicles but Del Rosso says it ultimately depends on what the customer wants.

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoops

Photo Gallery

BMW's New Strategy: M All The Things - 26 Models Reportedly Coming By 2021

Posted: 07 Dec 2017 07:15 PM PST


BMW recently announced plans to offer 25 electrified models by 2025 and it appears the company is going to need all of these eco-friendly vehicles to help offset a massive onslaught on new M models.

According to Autocar, BMW is preparing to launch 26 M and M Performance vehicles over the next few years. The M8 will be unveiled next year but the real push will begin when the all-new M3 debuts at Frankfurt Motor Show in 2019. As BMW M boss Frank van Meel explained, "The M3 is a crucial car for BMW M ... it wasn't the first fully fledged M car but it continues to stand for everything the brand is based upon."

The report says the new M3 will ride on the CLAR platform and feature more aluminum and high-strength steel. The car is also slated to adopt a number of carbon fiber components to ensure it weighs less than the M3 CS which recently debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Despite rumors of a hybrid powertrain, sources told the publication we can expect a conventional twin-turbo 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine that produces around 465 hp (346 kW). The car will reportedly be offered with a six-speed manual and an optional eight-speed automatic transmission. Regardless of which gearbox is selected both are slated to send power to the rear-wheels as the rumored all-wheel drive system was reportedly deemed too heavy and expensive.

Besides the M3, we can expect M versions of the X3, X4, and Z4. They are slated to be joined by M Performance variants of the 3-Series, 4-Series, X2, and X7.

Photo Gallery

New Chevrolet Silverado And GMC Sierra Slated To Offer Carbon Fiber Beds

Posted: 07 Dec 2017 02:32 PM PST


General Motors mocked Ford for using aluminum beds in the F-150 and that struck many people as a surprise considering the redesigned Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra were expected to go the same route.

However, Autonews and The Wall Street Journal are reporting the upcoming trucks will instead use a mix of lightweight materials including aluminum and carbon fiber. Nothing is official but speculation suggests the trucks may use carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic which has company has been developing since 2011.

Little is known about the company's plan but the WSJ says the mixed material bed will be offered within the next two years. The report also claims the bed would to limited to higher-end versions of the pickups which presumably means we could see it on the next GMC Sierra Denali. Over time, the beds could eventually become available on more mainstream models.

The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra are expected to be unveiled shortly and this points to a debut at the North American International Auto Show. If that's the case, the models will be shown alongside the 2019 Ram 1500 which is expected to be lighter and more efficient that its predecessor.

Photo Gallery

GM And HSV Announce Camaro SS And Silverado HD Heading To Australia Next Year

Posted: 07 Dec 2017 02:02 PM PST


General Motors and Holden Special Vehicles have reached an agreement which will ensure the latter company remains active following the death of the rear-wheel drive Holden Commodore.

Described as a "pivotal moment" in HSV's history, the agreement paves the way for an assortment of new vehicles to come to Australia. There will be two "product streams" and the first will consist of the familiar vehicle enhancement program that is offered on existing Holden vehicles.

An example of this is the new HSV SportsCat which is based on the Holden Colorado. The model features an all-new front fascia with a revised grille, tow hooks, and LED fog lights. Other notable features include new fender flares, a retuned suspension, and an increased ride height.

Power is provided by a 2.8-liter Duramax Turbo Diesel engine that produces up to 197 hp (147 kW) and 368 lb-ft (500Nm) of torque. It can be connected to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission.

The second product stream is more exciting as it will see HSV launch all-new vehicles in Australia. These include the Chevrolet Camaro and Silverado HD which will retain their bow-tie badging.

On the Silverado side, HSV will offer 4x4 Crew Cab variants of the 2500HD WT, 2500HD LTZ, 2500HD LTZ Midnight Edition, 2500HD LTZ Custom Sport Edition, and 3500HD LTZ. All of the models will come equipped with a 6.6-liter Duramax Turbo Diesel V8 engine that produces approximately 445 hp (332 kW) and 910 lb-ft (1,234 Nm) of torque. The engine will be paired a standard six-speed automatic transmission.



The Camaro, on the other hand, will arrive in 2018 in 2SS guise. The model will have a 6.2-liter V8 engine which produces up to 455 hp (340 kW) and 453 lb-ft (615 Nm) of torque. Unfortunately for performance fans, it will only be offered with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The model will come nicely equipped with HID headlights, a rear spoiler, and 20-inch alloy wheels with Goodyear Eagle tires. The Camaro also has heated / ventilated leather sport seats, a dual-zone automatic climate control system, and a 9-speaker Bose audio system.

According to HSV Managing Director Tim Jackson, "This marks a whole new era for HSV and Holden and I hope our customers are as excited as we are. HSV is moving beyond simply 'hotting up' existing models, and customers will see two product streams from HSV over the next few years."

His sentiments were echoed by Holden Managing Director Mark Bernhard who remarked, "Today is a great day for Holden and HSV, but even more importantly, for our customers".

Photo Gallery

Is This The Mazda RX-9 Mule We’ve Been Waiting For?

Posted: 07 Dec 2017 05:56 PM PST


A very suspicious-looking Mazda RX-8 was spotted around the Nurburgring, with our spies telling us that this is a mule powered by the company's upcoming two-rotor turbo engine.

2019 will mark the 60th anniversary of the Wankel engine as well as the 50th anniversary of Mazda's first application of the piston-less engine in Cosmo II, making it a good year for the company to bring the beloved spinning-dorito engine back to production.

However, the main question is which form will Mazda choose for the wankel engine in order to return. The company's executives have said in the past that the specific technology will return in the role of a range-extender generator as part of a new electrified powertrain.

Our spies however saw Mazda engineers benchmarking a Porsche Cayman against their test mule on the Nurburgring, indicating at a much sportier reincarnation of the rotary technology.

Some reports say that the new rotary engine will be a turbocharged 1.6-liter two-rotor unit with around 400hp, while others talk about a hybrid rotary powertrain with as much as 450hp.

The final production car is expected to tip the scales at around 1,300kg, making use of Mazda's expertise in lightweight vehicles while the design will be inspired by the jaw-dropping RX-Vision concept.

Is this real? Are we finally going to get a new rotary sports car? Stay tuned for more info as we have them.

Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoops

PHOTO GALLERY

What Our Cars Tell Google Street View's AI About Our Political Views

Posted: 07 Dec 2017 01:01 PM PST


Google Street View is an amazing service but as it turns out, the images it captures can be used for much more than simply displaying the world around us.

Recently, a team of researchers, predominately from Stanford University, used artificial intelligence to analyze the types of vehicles parked in 200 cities across the United States to determine the political leanings of a particular area.

According to Popular Science, researches built a collection of over 50 million images from Google Street View and used an object recognition technique to pick out vehicles from their surrounding environments. An AI tool was then trained to classify those vehicles by make, model, and year.

Researchers discovered that if there were a greater number of pickup trucks in an urban area, that region had an 82 per cent chance of voting Republican. Alternatively, the presence of more sedans meant there was an 88 per cent of that area voting Democrat.

Study co-author Timnit Gebru said the AI was "surprisingly accurate" but wasn't so accurate that such an analysis could fully replicate the results of a census.

PHOTO GALLERY

Here Are The 15 Safest Cars For 2018, And Only One Is American, IIHS Says

Posted: 07 Dec 2017 12:28 PM PST


The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has revealed 15 vehicles qualified for their Top Safety Pick+ award following the decision to strengthen the requirements to include "good-rated headlights and good or acceptable passenger-side protection in small overlap front crashes."

The winners were predominately German, Korean and Japanese cars including the Kia Forte sedan and Soul as well as the Hyundai Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport. The list also includes the popular Toyota Camry as well as several different Subaru models including the Impreza, Legacy, Outback, and WRX.

Several luxury vehicles came away with the Top Safety Pick+ award and they include the BMW 5-Series, Lincoln Continental (the only American brand to make the list), and Genesis G80 and G90. Mercedes also made the list thanks to the E-Class sedan and GLC crossover.

47 vehicles earned the Top Safety Pick award and the updated requirements mean they all have either good or acceptable headlights. You can view the full list here but notable compact vehicles that earned the award include the Mazda3, Hyundai Elantra, and Toyota Corolla. Other award winning sedans including the Alfa Romeo Giulia, Audi A4, BMW 3-Series, Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, and Nissan Altima.

On the crossover side, the IIHS gave honors to the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5, and Mitsubishi Outlander. Other notable models included the Honda Pilot, Lexus RX, Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4, and Volvo XC60.

Trucks and minivans had a poor showing overall but the Chrysler Pacifica as well as the Honda Odyssey and Ridgeline made the cut.

The decision to increase the requirements was made because the IIHS says it "became clear that some manufacturers weren't paying sufficient attention" to offering effective headlights and a safe environment for passengers.

According to IIHS President Adrian Lund, "Drivers expect that their passengers, who are often family, will be protected just as well as they are." He added, "Manufacturers have been taking this issue seriously since we first shed light on it, and we're confident that good small overlap protection will become the norm on the passenger side, just as it has on the driver side."

Video




IIHS Top Safety Pick+


Small cars

Kia Forte (sedan)
Kia Soul
Subaru Impreza
Subaru WRX

Midsize cars

Subaru Legacy
Subaru Outback
Toyota Camry

Large luxury cars

BMW 5 series
Genesis G80
Genesis G90
Lincoln Continental
Mercedes-Benz E-Class (sedan)

Midsize SUVs

Hyundai Santa Fe
Hyundai Santa Fe Sport

Midsize Luxury SUVs

Mercedes-Benz GLC

Top Safety Pick


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MSO Comes Up With New Shade Of White, Demoed By 570S Spider

Posted: 07 Dec 2017 12:00 PM PST


Dubbed 'Muriwai White' the new color pays homage to the New Zealand coastal community, Muriwai, where Bruce McLaren won his first race at the age of 15.

It's also the name chosen for his family house in England, which was panted in a blueish-white color, much like the one you see on this McLaren 570S Spider.

MSO's Muriwai White paint is white with blue flecks, inspired by the whitewashed walls, deep blue doors and shutters of the old McLaren homestead.

Bruce McLaren's daughter, Amanda McLaren herself worked with MSO in order to develop this color, before returning to her childhood home in the first 570S Spider to be finished in Muriwai White.

"Muriwai was always special to my father; the exotic name as much as the house. Forty-two kilometers' northwest of Auckland, it's where he grew up and won his first hill climb, aged 15, at the wheel of an Ulster Austin which remains in McLaren's heritage collection in Woking."

"I'm sure my parents would have loved this 'Muriwai' color, and they would be so proud of the 570S Spider and the other McLaren road cars, as that is where my father saw the future of the company," said Amanda McLaren.

Moving forward, MSO will be offering Muriwai White as an 'a la carte option', available on any McLaren road car.

PHOTO GALLERY

Get An In-Depth Tour Of The 2018 Jeep Wrangler

Posted: 07 Dec 2017 11:29 AM PST


Jeep unveiled the 2018 Wrangler last week at the LA Auto Show and Redline Reviews were able to get up close and personal with the new off-roader, highlighting all of its important features and nuances in the video below.

Unquestionably our favorite 2018 Wrangler variant announced at the event is the two-door Rubicon, available with a plethora of unique body components that are sure to make it an absolute riot when off-roading.

For starters, Jeep has developed optional doors with large cut-outs in them, allowing drivers to look for rocks when driving. Additionally, the entire roof can be removed, as can the side windows. Heck, owners will even be able to lower the windshield by removing just four bolts. It then sits gently on rubberized mats on the hood and offers drivers a true open-air experience.

Another noteworthy feature of the Wrangler Rubicon are 33-inch tires and 17-inch wheels as standard. If that's not enough, Jeep has also designed the off-roader to support 35-inch tires and a 2-inch lift kit.

From launch, the 2018 Wrangler will be available with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder from the Alfa Romeo Giulia. The V6 is offered with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a six-speed manual while the four-cylinder comes exclusively with the eight-speed.

In the coming years, both a 3.0-liter diesel and plug-in hybrid will be added to the powertrain range.

VIDEO

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