Tuesday, 2 January 2018

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Grab The Renault Koleos Initiale Paris From £36,700 In The UK

Posted: 02 Jan 2018 04:30 AM PST


Renault expanded the Koleos family more than a year ago, with the range-topping Initiale Paris, which can now be ordered in the UK.

Priced from £36,700 ($49,552) OTR, and with deliveries commencing this spring, the SUV comes with an exclusive body color - Amethyst, new exterior badging, 19" two-tone alloys, and full LED headlights.

Inside is where things truly change, as the new Renault Koleos Initiale Paris benefits from heated and ventilated front seats, two-tone Nappa leather, ambient lighting, heated and cooled front cup holders, dual-zone climate control, R-Link2 infotainment with 8.7" display, TomTom sat-nav, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and hands-free tailgate.

Advanced Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Warning, Hill Start Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition with Over-Speed Prevention, and Lane Departure Warning are also part of the standard equipment, alongside the reversing camera, parking sensors on both ends, ESC with traction and understeer control, cruise control, speed limiter, and the electrochromatic rearview mirror.

Powering the Renault Koleos Initiale Paris is a 2.0-liter dCi four-cylinder diesel engine that makes 177PS (175hp) and 380Nm (280lb-ft) of torque, mated to a 7-speed Auto X-Tronic transmission. Four-wheel drive is standard, and the SUV needs 9.5sec to accelerate from 0 to 62mph (100km/h), before topping out at 125mph (201km/h).

PHOTO GALLERY

Mercedes Celebrates The G-Class Before New One Arrives On January 15

Posted: 02 Jan 2018 03:55 AM PST


Mercedes-Benz has confirmed that the next-generation G-Class will premiere on January 15, following the release of a new teaser video.

The clip, dubbed 'Stronger Than Time | The Amber Cube', depicts the outgoing G-Class suspended in a cube of amber, representing its timelessness and longevity. Although it doesn't offer a glimpse of the new off-roader, it does make us even more excited for the impending release.

The G-Class hasn't enjoyed a major redesign since 1979, and if Mercedes plays its cards right, new technologies should make the new one a significant improvement over the outgoing model.

Compared to its predecessor, the new G-Class will be larger and offer increased leg, shoulder, and elbow room, while rear seat passengers will also be able to enjoy an additional 5.9 inches (150 mm) of legroom.

Based on recent spy images, the exterior design of the new G-Class will be similar to the current model. Beneath the bodywork, however, it's all new, and modifications will be aplenty, including the availability of straight-six turbo engines and an independent front suspension.

VIDEO

Fiat Reveals The Interior Of South America's All-New Cronos Sedan

Posted: 02 Jan 2018 03:32 AM PST


Four weeks after it took the covers of the Cronos sedan in South America, Fiat has released its first images of the interior of the Linea replacement that will rival the likes of the Volkswagen Virtus sedan.

Defining aspects of the cabin include a small touchscreen infotainment system, a three-spoke steering wheel and a small digital gauge in the center of the cluster. Elsewhere, there are the usual array of vents, buttons, and plastics expected of a car like this.

Customers will have the option of 1.3-liter and 1.8-liter engines, with power expected to range from between 101 hp to 139 hp for the range-topping 1.8-liter mill. The two engines will be offered with a five-speed manual gearbox, with a six-speed automatic being an option on the 1.8.

Fiat Cronos sales will commence early this year in Brazil, and other South American countries will follow.

PHOTO GALLERY

Updated Kia Sorento Arrives In The UK With 7-Seat Layout, £28,995 Starting Price

Posted: 02 Jan 2018 02:49 AM PST


Kia has opened the order books for the facelifted Sorento in the United Kingdom. Offered in five trim levels, the most affordable version of the Korean mid-size SUV starts from £28,995 for the KX-1 grade, which features standard equipment such as three-row layout, LED DRLs, alloy wheels, reversing sensors, DAB digital radio, smartphone connectivity and a host of driving assist systems.

Available from £32,695, the KX-2 adds chrome exterior door handles, leather/faux upholstery, heated front and outer rear seats, sat-nav with 8-inch touchscreen, dual-zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, and others. Opting for the KX-3 will get you LED dynamic bending headlights and taillights, 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat, alloy pedals, keyless entry&go, hands-free tailgate, a premium sound system, wireless phone charger, 7-inch TFT color instrument display, and Lane Keep Assist, and it starts from £36,695.

Building upon the KX-2, but adding a smart key, engine start/stop button, 8-way power-adjustable front seats, 7-inch LCD supervision cluster, Lane Keep Assist, Speed Limit info, and Driver Attention Warning is the new GT-Line trim, which starts from £36,495.

The Sorento's range-topping trim is the GT-Line S that is priced from £41,995. Standard equipment includes a 360-degree camera system, Smart Park Assist, adaptive cruise control, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Autonomous Emergency Braking, premium sound system from Harman/Kardon, 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat with memory function, ventilated front seats and a panoramic roof.

Unlike the North American Sorento, which is powered by a 2.4-liter inline-four or a 3.3-liter V6 petrol engine, in the UK it is available exclusively with a 2.2-liter diesel that puts out 197PS (194hp) and 441Nm (325lb-ft) of torque, and can be mated to either a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic gearbox.



PHOTO GALLERY

Alfa Romeo Giulia And Stelvio Recalled Over Contaminated Brake Fluid

Posted: 02 Jan 2018 01:55 AM PST


When you drive any new vehicle, you count on the brakes to be working properly at all times. But this is not the case with certain Alfa Romeos, as the company has just issued a recall concerning this issue.

The Italian automaker reports that it filled the braking systems on a few hundred new Giulias and Stelvios with contaminated brake fluid, which could damage the brakes and keep them from performing as they should.

The problem appears to be limited to 2018 models manufactured between the 14th and 23rd of November, 2017, of which only 307 examples are estimated to be found in the United States, though it's possible that there are more in other countries around the world.

Those sedans and crossovers will need to be brought in to their local dealers to have the braking systems inspected and, where necessary, replaced entirely. The process is set to kick off on February 8, so drivers of the affected vehicles had better test their brakes to make sure they're working in the meantime or refrain from using them altogether.

Photo Gallery

Porsche Has Opened Its 100th Showroom In China

Posted: 02 Jan 2018 12:58 AM PST


If you had to guess which country is Porsche's biggest market, what would it be? Germany? The United States? Guess again: it's China - which makes sense, as it's also the world's number one car market.

The German automaker has just opened its 100th showroom in the Asian country, but it's not a traditional dealership. Billed as a "Porsche Studio," the location is situated within an upscale shopping mall in Guangzhou, a city whose metropolitan area is more than twice as populous as Beijing.

"In recent years, China has become Porsche's largest single market", says the company's global sales and marketing chief Detlev von Platen. "Our four-door sports cars are especially popular in Asia, but demand for our two-seater models is also increasing rapidly." Porsche delivered over 5,000 Boxsters and Caymans from the 718 line in China over over the course of the past year, more than any other country in the world.

Little wonder, then, that the automaker is so keen to cater to the Chinese market with the opening of the new Porsche Studio Guangzhou. The space covers nearly 5,000 square feet, and includes the display of all five model lines Porsche offers, along with iPad-based configurators. Though the location – run by the manufacturer – is not a dealership, per se, it does have sales representatives on site from a nearby dealer.

To further accommodate local buyers, the company is also opening another of its Porsche Experience Centres in Shanghai. Similar to those it runs in Atlanta, LA, Leipzig, Silverstone, and Le Mans, the latest facility will allow customers to drive on track and even off-road.

"Although we live in a digital age, the ability to offer a true driving experience has not lost any of its significance for Porsche – quite the opposite in fact," said von Platen. "Our experience centres in Europe and America are an important part of our sales landscape. Opening another site in Asia is a logical step given the increasing importance of this market region."

Photo Gallery

Could This Mule Be Hiding The Next-Gen Mercedes-Benz GLA?

Posted: 02 Jan 2018 12:04 AM PST


To the untrained eye, this is a prototype of the 2019 Mercedes-Benz A-Class, but look closer and you might doubt that.

Although its low ground clearance and overall stance point to this being the next A-Class, the test car that, naturally, is covered in camo has fender extensions, which makes us wonder whether we're looking at a mule of the hatchback or the next generation of the GLA.

Development of the premium subcompact crossover is still in an early stage, but the vehicle will continue to share the same architecture with the A-Class. However, it will differentiate itself with wider tracks, increased ground clearance and a higher driving position.

Most of the engine lineup will be shared between the GLA, A-Class, B-Class, CLA, and rumored GLB, and one of the units that will power them will be the new 1.3-liter petrol unit that's been co-developed by Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance and Daimler. The new engine is already available on the Renault Scenic and Grand Scenic in three power levels: 115PS (113hp), 140PS (138hp) and 160PS (158hp).

The interior of the next-gen Mercedes-Benz GLA will be very similar to the brand's other compact cars, and it will be dominated by the MBUX infotainment system that on base trim levels will feature two 7-inch displays, whereas better-equipped models will come with two 10.25-inch or one 7-inch and one 10.25-inch screen.

Mercedes will, reportedly, unveil the next A-Class as early as the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, in March, and then they will focus on the A-Class Saloon and CLA/CLA Shooting Brake that will be followed by the second-gen GLA shortly after, so we expect the crossover to arrive near the end of the year or in 2019.

VIDEO

Watch A New TVR Griffith Come Together Before Your Very Eyes

Posted: 01 Jan 2018 04:04 PM PST


The vast majority of cars these days are put together on moving assembly lines, a practice established long ago by Henry Ford. But not all of them; some of the most exotic performance machines are put together one at a time, by a handful of craftsmen

One of those few is the new TVR Griffith. The reborn British sports car is designed by Gordon Murray, with a Cosworth-tuned 5.0-liter Ford Coyote V8 at its heart, capable of producing 500 horsepower to send the Griffith to 60 mph in four seconds flat and on to a top speed of 200 mph (320 km/h).

The car is set to be built using Murray's patented iStream method, streamlining production and lightening the vehicle's construction based on lessons learned from Murray's extensive experience in Formula One.

Anyway, irrespective of the manner it's being built, we're glad to see the TVR name return to the scene. And you can watch this one coming together in a three-minute timelapse video from the good folks at Goodwood Road & Racing.

Video

Any Takers For A Brand-New White LaFerrari Aperta?

Posted: 02 Jan 2018 03:11 AM PST


With only 210 examples made, you must be a highly-regarded customer in Maranello to have a LaFerrari Aperta sitting in your garage. But if you were hoping to still get one, and didn't get the chance the first time around, a splendid example has come up for sale.

The open-top version of the LaFerrari is available at the Seven Car Lounge in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh, and has just 62 miles on the odometer. In other words, it's brand new and as factory-fresh as you're ever going to find.

Like the fixed-roof hypercar on which it's based, the Aperta is built around a 6.2-liter hybrid V12 powertrain kicking out 950 horsepower to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission - only the Aperta version has an open cockpit, the first in the series to be built since the F50 from the mid-1990s.

As with most Ferraris, you can bet that most LaFerrari Apertas to have left the factory in Maranello were done up in red. That makes this Storm Trooper job even more unique, and potentially more desirable.

The dealer's not saying how much it's asking for the hyper-rare exotic but, for what it's worth, it originally "retailed" for over $6 million. The last one we saw up for sale carried a $7.3-million asking price, and the last one we saw come up for auction sold for €8.3 million – or nearly $10 million, thus it's reasonable to expect that the price tag will be in the same ballpark.

Photo Gallery

Acura NSX Dares To Challenge Tesla Model S P100D In 1/4 Mile Drag Race

Posted: 01 Jan 2018 12:03 PM PST


Since there aren't many supercars that can keep up with a Tesla Model S P100D over short distances, perhaps it's time for everyone to acknowledge just how quick the all-new NSX really is.

This is the same NSX that ran a 1/4 mile in just over 11 seconds last week, maxing out at 124 mph (200 km/h) as it crossed the finish line. It's also mostly stock, with the only modification being a Fabspeed exhaust system. It may not be as powerful as the P100D, but its 581 PS (573 HP) and 686 Nm (506 lb-ft) of torque is nothing to laugh at.

The two cars raced twice, though the second time, the Model S didn't have as good a start as it did during the first run. Either way, it was really close, with just 0.14 seconds between them.

So, did the NSX manage to outrun the all-conquering Tesla? There's only one way to find out: just press the play button in the video that follows right after the jump.

VIDEO

Happy New Year With Carscoops' Most Popular Articles For 2017

Posted: 02 Jan 2018 01:09 AM PST


By now, you will have welcomed 2018 no matter in which part of the world you may reside - and it goes without saying that we wish you all the best for the new year.

Now, the issue with writing articles such as this one is that, if you've been doing it for quite some time, at some point you run out of ideas. So you start ruminating about how you could greet your visitors without repeating the same thing over and over again.

At the same time, we are always paying attention to the statistics, so we can see what you like the most; and while, generally, we do have an idea if an article is going to prove popular or not, there always seem to be a number of unexpected ones that draw a surprisingly big number of readers. Now that 2017 is officially gone, we have the overall numbers about the past year's Top 10 stories. So, without further ado, here's the list, starting from number 10 and ending at the most read article of the past 365 days.

#10 BMW Stops Sales Of i3 And Issues Voluntary Recall Of All Models


A surprise, this one, for a number of reasons: first of all, it was published near the end of November, which didn't give it much exposure time compared to other articles. Second, it doesn't have to do with a battery fire issue or something like that, which we would expect of a full stop-sale issued by BMW for its electric hatchback, but a difference in a specific crash test scenario between the NHTSA's results and the automaker's own data. Guess BMWs are always popular and, even though EV sales haven't skyrocketed, it was enough to arouse the public's interest.

#9 Future Cars: 2019 Ford Focus ST Brings Back The Styling Magic


A photo rendering of what the next Focus might look like. Nothing to write home about, right? Well, wrong, actually, because the Blue Oval's compact hatch is, obviously, very popular and, what's more, our own Josh Byrnes, who is the one behind this almost realistic creation, has a knack for getting things right. No wonder, then that our guesstimate at how the 2019 Focus will look, and at the sporty ST trim at that, ended so high up on the list.

#8 1975 Porsche 911 Turbo Continues To Tick Away After 725k Miles


A sports car created four decades ago that a. didn't sit in the garage but was driven on a daily basis, and b. is a Porsche 911 Turbo, cracking the 1 million km (621,000 mile) mark? Surely there's a catch here somewhere. Or not; in fact, the owner went on and the 911's odo currently reads 1,165,937 km (725,000 miles) - and not even getting hit by an SUV managed to stop him. We always knew the 911 was robust, but a 930 Turbo going so far is incredible!

#7 2017 New York Auto Show A-Z Debut Guide


Auto shows always attract lots of traffic, and this year's New York event had a lot of premieres, from the first-ever Civic Type R to be introduced to the North American market by Honda, to the first SUV in the history in Alfa Romeo, the McLaren 720S or Volvo's new XC60, to name but a few. And then there were some intriguing concepts, like that of the upcoming Mercedes-AMG GT saloon and the Genesis GV80 SUV, that really caught the audience's attention.

#6 2019 Mercedes-AMG G63 Looks Just About Ready For Prime Time 


It's not accidental that the name of the site is CarSCOOPS, as uncovering future models well before they are officially launched is one of our prime targets. Yet, of all the scoops that were published last year, it was the 2019 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen that, for some reason, attracted the most viewers - bar one, which you shall see shortly. Who would have thought that the successor to the long-in-the-tooth Merc 4x4 would prove so interesting...

#5 Your 2017 Geneva Motor Show A-To-Z Guide


Not all auto shows are equal, and when it comes this year's Geneva event, there were more than 150 world and European premieres, which is more than the Los Angeles, Detroit and Chicago motor shows combined. From an artillery of Porsches to the European-spec Kia Stinger or the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, there were so many important cars present it made perfect sense for the Swiss show to be so popular.

#4 An Off-Road Porsche 918 Spyder Looks Better Than A Cayenne


Now that's a surprise, if ever we saw one. Renderings do attract lots of readers, but something so unrealistic as a Porsche 918 Spyder turned into an off-roader is just a flight of fancy. Well, no one ever said that we should stick to what is, or about to become, real and not indulge in a little "what if", did they? Still, a 918 Spyder that would happily tackle Dakar... perhaps it's channeling the legendary 959, which did just that.

#3 Volvo Accidentally Reveals 2018 XC40 SUV!


The top-ranking of our 2017 scoops is Volvo's new compact SUV. The XC40 will be the reborn Swedish automaker's first foray in the popular segment, thus it's only natural for people to be paying attention. Volvo Hungary's staff apparently weren't, though, so we had the chance to see it in production form, both inside and out, before its official launch.

#2 Future Cars: 2018 Honda Accord Goes From Placid to Playful


One man's gain is another's loss, and when it comes to the automotive world, the rise and rise of the SUV has been at the expense of the traditional mid-size family saloon. Even so, though, the Accord is a mainstay of Honda's North American operations, so when we imagined how the next-gen would look, it attracted lots of readers, though we dare say that Josh's rendering was pretty exciting in and of itself.

#1 2017 Detroit Auto Show's A-Z Debut Guide 


Geneva and Stuttgart or Paris might have been the most important automotive shows in the past, but in recent years we've seen the Detroit one, aka NAIAS, overtake them not just in reader's clicks, but in the models auto manufacturers choose to debut there. With the US alone being the second-largest car market in the world after China, it's reasonable for them to do so, too.


2018 Welcomes Hyundai's Facelifted Grand Starex 12-Seater Minivan

Posted: 01 Jan 2018 08:45 PM PST


Hyundai sells plenty of different vehicles in the United States, but there are some we never see. Like the Grand Starex.

Alternately sold in other markets as the iLoad, iMax, i800, and H1, the Starex is more of a commercial van than the minivans popularized in America. It's about as long as a Kia Sedona, but can accommodate as many as 12 passengers across four rows of seating.

The current, second-generation model was introduced over a decade ago, but has now undergone a facelift to keep up with the times. That includes new front- and rear-end styling, punctuated by new head- and taillight graphics.

The grille's new and bigger as well, and the interior's been comprehensively updated to include a new 8-inch infotainment screen, fresh steering wheel, and updated trim.

This being a commercial vehicle, power comes from a diesel engine – specifically a 2.5-liter turbodiesel. It produces 138 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque when mated to a six-speed manual, or 172 hp and 332 lb-ft with the five-speed automatic that brings with it a variable turbocharger.

Buyers in South Korea can opt for all-wheel drive with a locking differential as well. Pricing starts at 21.1 million won, or nearly $20k at current exchange rates. Prospective customers in markets like Europe, the UK, and Australia can expect to see the updated models arrive in the near future as well. Just don't expect to see any roaming American roads.

Photo Gallery

Happy New Year From The Future, A Thousand Years From Now!

Posted: 01 Jan 2018 05:54 AM PST


If we were to take a modern-day Coca-Cola Christmas Truck, give it a retro-futuristic look and slap it with a hover conversion like in Back to the Future, it could end up looking somewhat like this.

This study was drawn up by artist Slava Bondarenko and it's simply titled 'Happy New Year 3018'. While it would probably take us a lot less than 1,000 years to build this type of truck in large numbers, we do understand the idea behind it.

The original Coca-Cola Christmas Trucks first graced our TV screens more than 20 years ago in the winter of 1995. Tasked with making the trucks stand out on-screen was famous special effects company Industrial Light and Magic, founded in 1975 by George Lucas himself as part of Lucasfilm. They were also the ones responsible with bringing the Star Wars universe to life.

Of course, those of you who still get to see the so-called "Christmas Caravan" drive through your town every year, probably noticed that the trucks aren't as well lit in reality as they appear to be on-screen.

Future tech would definitely prove helpful in that department.

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