Carscoops | Newsletter |  |
- Electric Car Sales In The UK Drop By A Third Since January 2018
- Reserve Your Polestar 1 Hybrid Performance Coupe Now For $2500
- Ferrari FXX K Evo Hits The Track For The First Time In Austin
- Don’t Expect A Dedicated Mercedes-AMG SUV Anytime Soon
- Mercedes-AMG GT R Shows 1000 HP G63 What True Speed Looks Like
- Uber’s Trucks Are Driving Themselves While Hauling Cargo In Arizona
- This Wacky Lexus LS 400 Might Make Sense In A Parallel Universe
- Range Rover Sport SVR Sets A New Record On The Tianmen Road
- AMG Boss Confirms GT Black Series, Hints At 2020 Launch
- BMW M4 CS Gets Tuned To 600PS By G-Power
- Toyota And Subaru Have The Most Loyal Customers
- 2018 Hyundai Sonata Reviewed By Consumer Reports, And It Has A Major Flaw
| Electric Car Sales In The UK Drop By A Third Since January 2018 Posted: 13 Mar 2018 04:30 AM PDT  Fully-electric vehicle sales in the UK have gone down by a third since the start of the year, as motorists grow more concerned by high prices, limited battery range and poor roadside charging infrastructure. In fact, The Times reports that fewer than 1,000 battery powered cars have been sold since January 1st, a massive 33.7% drop since the same time last year. With a £4,500 government grant set to end next month, sales could drop by even more. “These figures suggest that consumers are still worried about the four Rs that we see holding back the pure-electric market: retail price, range limitation, recharging availability and uncertain residual value,” stated Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation. “Until more affordable models come to market with a longer range, and more is done to make recharging less of a headache, it is hard to see how the picture is really going to change.” The Department for Transport said that there have been over 130,000 claims for its plug-in car grant (£4,500 off EVs and £2,500 off PHEVs), with a spokesman stating that more than 11,500 public charging points had been installed, including 900 rapid chargers, making this the largest network in Europe. Yet, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, more drivers have been opting for hybrids, powered by either a petrol or diesel engine. Overall, the number of all-electric sales is actually up, with 13,600 units being moved last year – 32.5% more than in 2016, though only 0.5% of total new car sales. While clean hybrids are said to not be included in the British government’s ban on new diesel and petrol cars by the year 2040, if the plan is to move towards a zero-emission future, in the end only fully-electric and hydrogen models will endure. PHOTO GALLERYmore photos... The post Electric Car Sales In The UK Drop By A Third Since January 2018 appeared first on Carscoops.    |
| Reserve Your Polestar 1 Hybrid Performance Coupe Now For $2500 Posted: 13 Mar 2018 04:02 AM PDT  Have you been waiting for your chance to place an order for the new Polestar 1? Well your opportunity, we’re glad to report, has now come. Volvo’s electric performance off-shoot has now opened pre-ordering for its debut hybrid coupe in eighteen countries around the world. And that includes the United States. "With over 7,000 people interested in owning a Polestar 1 since its reveal, we are extremely encouraged by the passion shown for our product," said Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath. "We will now take the next steps towards delivering this beautiful car to our first customers." The first model from the relaunched Sino-Swedish brand, the Polestar 1 boasts 93 miles (150 kilometers) of pure electric driving range. That’s the longest of any hybrid on the market, according to the manufacturer. It also produces 600 horsepower and 737 lb-ft (1,000 Nm) of torque, which promises to deliver impressive pace and performance. Add to that a beautiful design, inside and out, and parent company Geely could have a real winner on its hands. The vehicle was previewed by the Volvo Concept Coupé of 2013, and debuted at a dedicated event in Shanghai last October. Polestar showcased the vehicle on European soil for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show last week. In addition to the United States, pre-ordering has opened as well in Canada, China, and fifteen European countries: Sweden, naturally, but also Norway, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Poland, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The reservation process involves placing a deposit of $2,500 to hold a spot on the order list, and is fully refundable in the event of cancelation. PHOTO GALLERYmore photos... The post Reserve Your Polestar 1 Hybrid Performance Coupe Now For $2500 appeared first on Carscoops.   |
| Ferrari FXX K Evo Hits The Track For The First Time In Austin Posted: 13 Mar 2018 03:36 AM PDT  It’s been over four months since Ferrari revealed the new FXX K Evo. But this is the first time that the upgraded track machine has actually, you know… driven on track. (At least in public, anyway.) Following its unveiling at the Finali Mondiali event at Mugello last year, the Ferrari FXX K Evo has now made its "race" debut at the Circuit of the Americas. There it hit the track alongside a handful of existing FXX Ks, together with seven 599 XXs and a pair of original Enzo-based FXXs. They all form part of Ferrari’s XX development program. Based on the hybrid LaFerrari hypercar, the FXX K packs the same 6.3-liter V12 powertrain, but upgraded from 950 horsepower to over 1,000. It also features an array of other track-specific upgrades, including race-ready suspension and rolling stock, a dry weight cut down to 2,568 pounds (1,165 kg), and more downforce. In fact the FXX K’s aggressive aero package produces 1,190 lbs (540 kg) of downforce at 124 mph (200 km/h) – but the FXX K Evo takes that even further. It produces 23 percent more downforce than the "standard" FXX K, and 75 percent more than the road-going LaFerrari. The Evo version also features a smattering of other enhancements, including a new steering wheel and electronics. The changes were applied to three existing FXX Ks that were on hand for the event in Austin, with the first ground-up examples to follow later. The cars took part in the first Ferrari Racing Days to be held at the circuit in Austin – but they weren’t the only ones. All told, about a thousand Prancing Horses turned out for the event, including several grids’ worth of 458 and 488 Challenge racers and some retired F1 cars. There were two 412 T2s (the Scuderia’s last V12 racers); the F2000, F2003 GA, and F2004 that won the US Grand Prix (when it was at Indy), and the F138 that Fernando Alonso drove at Austin in 2013 (where it finished fifth). PHOTO GALLERYmore photos... The post Ferrari FXX K Evo Hits The Track For The First Time In Austin appeared first on Carscoops.   |
| Don’t Expect A Dedicated Mercedes-AMG SUV Anytime Soon Posted: 13 Mar 2018 03:03 AM PDT  AMG has built a business around tuning Mercedes-Benzes. It also makes some dedicated models of its own, but don’t expect that to grow much more in the near future – and certainly not in the form of a standalone AMG sport-ute. "Regarding SUVs, we have a broad portfolio within Mercedes we do derivatives of," Mercedes-AMG boss Tobias Moers told CarAdvice. "I know a car like this makes an appetite for more but we are so fully loaded and still expanding… there's nothing on the table." The reason? Because it would cannibalize Mercedes-Benz sales. "We have to consider we have an overall business responsibility in Mercedes and AMG in common," said Moers, "and if you would do some dedicated AMG kind of car, there would be a big piece of cake we would be wanting that would be substituted. So from an overall business approach there is no sense to it." The German automaker apparently didn’t think that would be the case with the new AMG GT 4-Door, which slots in above the CLS. The four-door revealed in Geneva last week is AMG’s third dedicated model and the second currently in its portfolio, following the SLS AMG and the AMG GT coupe/convertible. Project One will expand the range even further. But while we could envision a dedicated crossover to take on the likes of the Lamborghini Urus and forthcoming sport-utes from Ferrari and Aston Martin, Daimler evidently feels otherwise. In the meantime, expect to see the engineers in Affalterbach preparing high-performance versions of just about everything Mercedes makes. PHOTO GALLERYmore photos... The post Don’t Expect A Dedicated Mercedes-AMG SUV Anytime Soon appeared first on Carscoops.   |
| Mercedes-AMG GT R Shows 1000 HP G63 What True Speed Looks Like Posted: 12 Mar 2018 07:01 PM PDT  If you drive a 1000 hp Mercedes-AMG G63, you could be forgiven for thinking you own the road. However, on an open stretch of Autobahn, such a beast is no match for a stock Mercedes-AMG GT R, even if the latter has a 400 hp deficit. AutoTopNL were testing out a 1000 hp G63 when they discovered that, despite its huge power figure, the SUV’s top speed is no greater than a stock example because of the pesky limiter. Consequently, it can’t be pushed beyond 162 mph (260 km/h). By comparison, a stock AMG GT R can sprint to 212 mph (341 km/h) if given enough room, leaving the G63 for dead. As impressive as the AMG GT R is, the German brand isn’t done with its flagship sports car. A host of performance-focused versions are around a corner, the most insane of which shall revive the Black Series label. If history has taught us anything, the AMG GT R Black Series will receive a healthy dose of additional power and undergo comprehensive aerodynamic changes to make it an absolute animal. VIDEOThe post Mercedes-AMG GT R Shows 1000 HP G63 What True Speed Looks Like appeared first on Carscoops.   |
| Uber’s Trucks Are Driving Themselves While Hauling Cargo In Arizona Posted: 12 Mar 2018 06:11 PM PDT  You might recall the (in)famous war between Uber and the State of California's DMV in late 2016, when the former rolled out its fleet of autonomous Volvo XC90s on the roads of San Fransisco. It ended with the hail-riding company stepping down and taking its cars to Arizona instead, where it was welcomed by local Governor Doug Ducey. California's DMV managed to win the feud on a technicality, and more specifically the fact that Uber hadn't applied for a testing license. Arizona authorities had no such issues, though, and CNet reports that the company has begun operating its autonomous vehicles. Only it’s not Volvo’s SUVs, as one might have expected, but cargo-hauling trucks! Last Tuesday, Uber announced that its testing phase in Arizona was over and that it's starting to move freight for various customers across the State. “We’ve been really hard at work the past several months improving the technology,” Alden Woodrow, Uber’s self-driving truck product lead said. “We’re building something that solves problems in the industry and also makes truck drivers’ lives easier and better.” The way this whole thing will operate is the following: Uber will establish transfer stations at certain locations, where a regular, non-autonomous semi with a human driver will take his cargo from the port. There, the freight will be transferred to a self-driving truck, which will drive itself to another transfer station, where a regular truck will complete the last part of hauling the cargo into a rural area. That, the company admits, is due to the fact that city streets might confuse a fully autonomous vehicle at this point. “Because we are still in research and development mode, the capabilities are changing all the time,” Woodrow said. “In general, the trucks are pretty capable of driving on the highway, and that’s what we’re designing them for.” To avoid a repeat of the California incident, Woodrow commented that they are working closely with regulators and do everything by the book. Even though at first they will operate solely in Arizona, Uber hopes to expand to other States in the future. Despite their self-driving ability, a human driver will always be behind the wheel to take over when necessary, like if they encounter an accident or a construction zone ahead, where the autonomous systems might find hard to negotiate. To find out more about the self-driving trucks and the way they operate, you can check out the two videos right below. VIDEOS |
| This Wacky Lexus LS 400 Might Make Sense In A Parallel Universe Posted: 12 Mar 2018 05:38 PM PDT  Despite seeing our fair share of horrible cars mods, until something metaphysically unexplainable comes along, this car will be holding on to first place in our book regarding road-going atrocities. Where do we even begin? Well, not with the front end, unfortunately. There’s definitely some weird stuff going on over there too, with something propped up on the hood, but only this rear 3/4 angle made it on Reddit. The top part of the car looks like one of those padded rooms you find in mental institutions, while the rest of the body is covered in a very thick layer of either leather or vinyl. Whichever of the two it is, we can safely say this car isn’t getting any bumps or scrapes anytime soon. Then there’s the rear wing, which is absolutely gigantic, not to mention comprised of what seems like a chrome bumper. Right underneath that is an extension of what would have normally been the rear bumper, which encompasses two seats, another, smaller bumper, and a pair of boxing gloves. In fact, if you look at it long enough, it almost seems like a little sofa is trying to bust out of the vehicle. We can’t even bring ourselves to think what it would be like to drive that monstrosity. And we’re glad we won’t ever have to find out…
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| Range Rover Sport SVR Sets A New Record On The Tianmen Road Posted: 12 Mar 2018 05:01 PM PDT  China’s Tianmen road is world renowned for its beautiful scenery and 99 bends so it comes as little surprise that a number of automakers have attempted to set a record on the twisting mountain course. The latest company to do so was Jaguar Land Rover which brought its latest Range Rover Sport SVR. While an SUV sounds like an unusual choice, the SVR isn’t your typical model as it features a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine that develops 575 PS (422 kW) and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque. It is connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive system which enables the model to accelerate from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 4.5 seconds and onto a top speed of 280 km/h (174 mph). Those numbers are nothing to sneeze at but the fastest vehicle to tackle the Tianmen road was a Ferrari 458 Italia which set a time of 10 minutes 31 seconds in 2016. The SVR needed every advanage it could get so Land Rover enlisted Panasonic Jaguar Racing driver Ho-Pin Tung to attempt to set a new record. Tung was successful as he set an unofficial time of 9 minutes 51 seconds with an average speed of 68.8 km/h (42.8 mph). This sounds relatively slow until you remember there are 99 turns over the uphill course which spans 11.3 km (7 miles). According to Tung, “I am used to the high speeds of racing but these 99 turns were something unique. Maintaining concentration was the biggest challenge as the road twists and turns constantly, with huge drop-offs to the side.” VIDEOPHOTO GALLERYmore photos... The post Range Rover Sport SVR Sets A New Record On The Tianmen Road appeared first on Carscoops.   |
| AMG Boss Confirms GT Black Series, Hints At 2020 Launch Posted: 12 Mar 2018 04:32 PM PDT  Prototypes of what we figured out was the anticipated Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series were spotted on numerous occasions last year. Still, despite what was believed to be an imminent presentation, the Black Series badge won’t return until around 2020. Speaking to journalists during the Geneva Motor Show, AMG boss Tobias Moers said: “There is still a GT variant left. We are on the journey, we started the journey for the Black Series”, CarAdvice reveals. And 2020 would seem like an “interesting year”, Moers said, for its launch. By the turn of the decade, the current Mercedes-AMG GT will be six years old. This probably means that the new Black Series will serve as the swan song of the first generation, before it gets replaced by a new model for the next decade. We have a pretty good idea of what we should expect when it comes to the upcoming Black Series compared to the current range-topping AMG GT R: aerodynamic upgrades, tweaked suspension, steering and brakes and a weight loss. Obviously, the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series (or is it Mercedes-AMG GT R Black Series?) will put out more than 600 horsepower. The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that powers it is already making 577hp in the GT R, and 603hp in the E63 S performance saloon. However, its peak performance is reached in the AMG GT 4-Door Coupe S that puts out 630hp. The recently launched saloon has all-wheel drive, and the Black Series is said to remain RWD, so if they keep it in that state of tune, it should be very interesting, to say the least, on the road. It will also slash a few tens of a second from the GT R’s 0-62mph (0-100km/h) sprint that takes 3.6sec, and will probably have a slightly higher top speed, too. Expect an obvious price bump over the GT R, which might bring it very close to the $200,000 mark in the USA. PHOTO GALLERYmore photos... Image Credits: CarPix for CarScoopsThe post AMG Boss Confirms GT Black Series, Hints At 2020 Launch appeared first on Carscoops.   |
| BMW M4 CS Gets Tuned To 600PS By G-Power Posted: 12 Mar 2018 03:59 PM PDT  Easily one of the hottest modern BMWs around, the M4 CS can become even quicker than when it left the factory floor with a few tweaks. G-Power’s bundle of upgrades, for example, takes the stock twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six up to 600PS (592hp) and 740Nm (546lb-ft) of torque. The extra 140PS (138hp) and 140Nm (103lb-ft) of torque over the regular model was achieved with a combination of hardware and software modifications. As a result, the M4 CS now takes just 3.7 seconds to hit 100km/h (62mph) from a standstill and maxes out at 320km/h (199mph), a 0.2sec and 42km/h (26mph) improvement over the stock model. Its supercar slaying abilities have been enhanced by the German tuner with the addition of a new exhaust system. Crafted from titanium, it features four 90mm (3.54in) carbon fiber tailpipes and provides the CS with a deeper sound, as highlighted in the video that follows below. Making sure that its look matches its new grunt, the BMW M4 CS has been fitted with a fully adjustable coilover suspension and a set of Hurricane RR forged alloy wheels. The rim set is 9.0×20- and 10.5×21-inch front and rear respectively, and it’s shod in 265/30 front and 295/25 rear tires. PHOTO GALLERYmore photos... VIDEO
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| Toyota And Subaru Have The Most Loyal Customers Posted: 12 Mar 2018 03:32 PM PDT  Mercedes might be the most valuable automotive brand but it doesn’t have the most loyal customers. According to the 2018 Edmunds Trade-In Loyalty Report, which studied more than 13.9 million vehicle transactions from 2007 to 2017, customers are most loyal to Japanese brands such as Toyota, Subaru and Honda. Rounding out the top five spots were Ram and Chevrolet which both had a loyalty rating of 54%. At the opposite end of the mainstream spectrum were brands such as Chrysler, Smart and Dodge. All three had less return customers than Fiat and Mitsubishi. Over the past decade, there have been some major winners and losers. Subaru and Mazda saw significant jumps in customer retention while the latter brand’s CX-5 crossover had the highest number of return customers of any vehicle in 2017. The loser’s bracket saw customers flee from Chrysler and Dodge vehicles. Both brands saw their loyalty rating nearly cut in half over the past decade and Buick didn’t do much better as its rating dropped from 35% in 2007 to 29% in 2017. In the luxury segment, buyers are most loyal to Lexus, Audi and Land Rover. They were closely followed by Mercedes, Porsche and BMW. The least loyal luxury customers belong to Infiniti, Jaguar and Volvo. The love affair with crossovers was also evident as Edmunds notes passenger car loyalty hit its lowest point in eight years. Cars only accounted for 36 percent of all new vehicles sold last year and it helps to explain why the Honda Accord isn’t flying off dealer lots. Another interesting finding was the fact that crossovers and SUVs dethroned trucks in customer loyalty for the first time ever. To help build and maintain a loyal following, Edmunds says automakers need to “leverage emotional design, offer a wide array of SUVs and have a solid history of reliability.”
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| 2018 Hyundai Sonata Reviewed By Consumer Reports, And It Has A Major Flaw Posted: 12 Mar 2018 03:01 PM PDT  Hyundai’s midsize sedan, the Sonata, was facelifted last year with a refreshed styling, a number of tweaks inside and some work carried beneath the skin. A couple of months later, it was launched in the United States, with an MSRP of $22,050. Consumer Reports got behind the wheel of the 2018 Sonata and let’s just say they didn’t fall in love with it. In fact, they claim it has one major flaw: a huge sacrifice in ride quality compared to its predecessor, “to the point that it falls short of most competitors”. However, the harsher ride quality was the trade-off Hyundai’s engineers chose in order to improve the handling and braking. And in that end they have succeeded, as the Sonata now corners much better than before. The cabin won’t impress its occupants, as most trim is made from hard plastics, but there are some improved materials. Its controls are also very easy to use, there’s plenty of space on the rear seat, and the front seats were found to be comfortable for most body types. Even the standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, with its 185hp and six-speed automatic gearbox, is good enough to live with on a daily basis. Still, those who want a bit more can order the 2.0-liter unit, which puts out 245hp and comes with a new eight-speed automatic transmission. VIDEOThe post 2018 Hyundai Sonata Reviewed By Consumer Reports, And It Has A Major Flaw appeared first on Carscoops.   |
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