Monthly Archives: February 2016
Callaway Brings the Chevrolet Camaro to 610 HP
The motoring world now is not like before. Manufacturers are continually downsizing their supercars to be more efficient and eco-friendly. Still, it’s nice to see car companies use forced induction that focuses on extra horsepower, not minding fuel economy and efficiency.
Callaway has thankfully brought their GenThree supercharger to the Chevrolet Camaro V8, pushing it to a height of 610 horsepower, according to Gizmag. This is based on a package originally developed for the Corvette with a 2300cc Eaton rotor pack that forces air upwards, which then create that extra power for the machine.
But the problem is supercharging creates extra heat that then forced Callaway to use convective cooling to allow the air to cool as it flows through the supercharger housing. This process becomes more effective because the housing exposes it to the air.
Combined with Callaway’s system, the motor can produce 610 hp (449 kW), and a monstrous 827 Nm (610 ft-lb) of torque through a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. In total, that’s 155 hp (110 kW) more than the base edition Chevrolet Camaro SS churns out to the market.
The Camaro SC610 would also have a larger intercooler to ensure that the car can provide maximum power on the track. What hasn’t been tested yet is the ability of Camaro’s brakes to do the same. That would have to wait.
Under the hood, the Camara SC610 is even more impressive. It has a special carbon fiber that covers the air intakes, as well as a unique build plaque and a number of badges on the exterior.
And if that isn’t enough, Callaway is selling the car with a three-year, 36,000-mile (60,000-kilometer) warranty that also works with GM’s powertrain warranty.
The Camaro SC610 reportedly has a starting price of $54,920 with a new Camaro SS, or $16,995 as a package to already existing cars.
2017 Honda Civic Hatchback To Debut In Geneva Motor Show
Honda is expected to tease with previews of its 10th generation Civic hatchback during the 2016 Geneva Motor Show next month. Those curious to see what the hatchback would look like should seek no further since we got some photos when Honda tested it on the road.
Although it was covered in camouflage, there was no padding so the design cues were reflected. It basically retains 80 percent of the DNA from the 10th generation Honda Civic sedan, so you know what to expect from the fenders down to the rear doors.
The hatchback will be launched in the first quarter of 2017 in Europe, but since this is a “global car,” expect it to arrive soon enough in the United States and other parts of the world.
By looking at the Civic sedan, you’ll immediately have an idea of how the hatchback would look in front. It would have the same radiator grille, huge chrome louver, the Honda “H” in the middle, the updated headlights, fog lights, and less dramatic corner vents. As for the hood, it looks like the hatchback would have the same one as the Civic coupe and sedan.
If you’re a fan of the mild body line from the front wheels to the rear taillights, then you would love that too about the hatchback. The difference between the sedan and the hatchback can be seen after the rear doors since the hatchback sports a dual exhaust outlet near the fascia in the middle.
Inside, it would probably be similar to the sedan and the coupe. There would be a light-colored floating center console, touchscreen display, and digital instrument cluster. The front and the rear seats would mostly be the same, but the rear deck would be gone for more cargo space.
No prices have been announced for the hatchback, although the current one sells for $20,067in the UK. Pricing may increase a bit because of the new design and extra length.
Below are some spy shots of the upcoming Honda Civic hatchback, which were provided by AutoBlog:
Lotus Evora Sport 410 Gives Ferrari F50 A Run For Its Money
Lotus made a special edition of its Evora Sport 410 that has supposedly become faster than the Ferrari F50. This special edition is based on the latest 400, but focuses on giving it more power and less weight.
As a result, the Lotus Evora Sport 410 will provide more power and stronger performance at a top speed of 186 mph with a 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds. This is 0.3 second quicker than the 400 edition, and is at par with the Ferrari F50.
According to TopGear, the special edition 410 packs a supercharged 3.5-litre V6 engine—output rising to 404 horsepower—with the extra 10bhp. On top of this super machine, the Lotus Evora Sport 410 will only be 1,325 kilos, 70 kilograms lighter than the previous edition.
The weight would take it on the level of the Ford Focus, but this means Lotus had to trim some features such as the arm rests, storage bins and speakers. It’s also mainly made of lightweight carbon trim, including the boot lid.
The Evora Sport 410 can handle recalibrated suspension, which was dropped at 5mm compared to the Evora 400. Imagine combining it with Evora’s sharp dynamic elements such as its limited-slip differential, Michelin Cup tires, and multi-stage stability control, and you’ve got a supercar in your midst.
This and the Porsche Cayman GT4 is on the same wavelength, but the Evora Sport 410 promises to be more powerful and easier to handle because of the lightweight materials used to produce it.
And although it packs less features than the 400, so that it can be lighter and more powerful, the price remained at £79,995. This is 8,000 more expensive than the Evora 400. If you want to get your hands on the 410, you have to order quickly since only 150 cars will be mass produced.
The 2017 Rimac Concept_One Is Coming
Do you remember the E-Runner Concept_One, a joint effort by Japanese racing driver Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima and Croatian EV-builder Rimac Automobili, during last year’s 2015 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb “Race to the Clouds” event?
According to TopSpeed, the group decided to release a production version of the Concept_One since electric vehicles seem to be on the rise. This would actually work considering the positive feedback from last year’s auto event.
But more than just being an electric car that makes use of today’s innovative technology, the Rimac Concept_One promises to have a gorgeous styling, crafted interior and affordable pricing.
The road wasn’t easy for e-cars the past years. The public has yet to welcome these cars, and Rimac took five years to create a production-ready Concept_One. Back in 2011, Rimac announced the idea of creating a mass produced Concept_One with four ground-up redesigns.
Everything on the car was developed and manufactured by Rimac, and the production version would probably boast of the same. Mate Rimac, CEO of Rimac Automobili, said that the company’s goal is to create an electric version of existing supercars. He wants to create a technology that would make the supercar even better on every front—speed, entertainment and efficiency.
Rimac is aiming to create the “supercar” of the 21st century.
Unlike other electric cars, the Rimac Concept_One actually looks aesthetically better than even some regular sedans. It is modern, futuristic, sleek and bold. If you look at it closely, you can even begin to imagine the concepts taken from Jaguar F-Type and XJ220, the Noble M600, a Bugatti, and the Koenigsegg Agera.
The Concept_One would have 1,072 horsepower and 1,180 pound-feet of torque with 0-62 mph in 2.6 seconds, 0-124 mph in 6.2 seconds, and 0-186 mph in 14.2 seconds. It would also have a max speed of 221 mph.
Pricing for the Rimac Concept_One is approximately 850,000 euros or $936,445.
2016 Volvo V40 Gets Facelifted
The 2016 Volvo V40 has received a facelift with styling and interior tweaks that brought it in line with the current Volvo lineup.
The exterior now includes an updated grille mesh incorporating the Volvo iron mark and Volvo’s new T-shapes LED headlights, which were taken from the Volvo S90, V90 and XC90. Volvo also came up with five new exterior colors that potential buyers can choose from.
As for the wheel designs, there is a total of eight new ones buyers can pick from. These designs are available across the V40, R-Design and V40 Cross Country models.
Some other new features to the Volvo V40 is the City Weave upholstery, which was taken from the Volvo Concept Estate, a new charcoal/blond steering wheel option, new interior panel trims that include Milled Aluminium, Black Grid Aluminium and Stealth Aluminium, as well as trim-colored door inserts with contrasting stitching.
In terms of connectivity, black headlining is expected while Volvo’s On Call technology will also be updated. Currently, it already supports connectivity to Apple Watch and Android Wear, but Volvo promised more options such as compatibility with Microsoft Band 2 connectivity, which will enable voice control when using Windows 10-based smartphones.
The V40 will also enjoy a calendar integration function that connects the owner’s personal calendar to the app. This would allow destinations in your calendar appointments to be sent to your sat-nav. Then, there’s an added Flic button function that will basically allow owners to start preheating the car or lock the car.
What more, this model will also get Volvo’s CleanZone technology to ensure outside air is finely filtered before entering the cabin. It will remove pollutants and aid those with allergies.
Volvo will begin taking orders for the V40 in May, and deliveries will begin in June. No pricing has been released yet, but it will likely have the price range of the current model.
Source: AutoCar
The 2017 Bentley Mulsanne Is A “Pinnacle” Car
There’s a new term in the motoring world—a “pinnacle” car, referring to everyday luxury cars in champagne-colored gorgeousness. Bentley’s pinnacle car is the Mulsanne, a sedan with the characteristics and performance of the best in its class.
Its rivals include the S-Class, the Mercedes-Maybach models, the Pullman and the Phantom. Yet, even with this kind of competition, Bentley is pressing its claim that the 2017 Mulsanne lineup is the best in the world. What’s new is a long-wheelbase model, an even longer-wheelbase model, and a new technology on the safety and infotainment fronts.
Next week’s 2016 Geneva Motor Show will debut the revamped sedan in the lineup. Unlike other automobiles that are made in less than 17 hours, the Mulsanne takes a total of 400 hours to complete. That’s efficiency for you. It is created in the same lab that churns out the likes of Continentals, Flying Spurs and Bentayga SUVs.
The extra 383 hours it takes to make the Mulsanne shows in the perfection of its aesthetics and designs, which can only mean it was handcrafted with love and precision. Although machines and robots weld the aluminum together, it is craftspeople who had to braze the metals together to create the Mulsanne’s roofline, as well as the customized interiors Bentley’s customers might come to request.
For its infotainment functions, the Mulsanne boasts of its 8-inch display screen with touch and swipe inputs backed by 60GB of media storage. It also has Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and an in-car 4G LTE data connection.
The Mulsanne will also accept a detachable 10-inch Android tables mounted to the back of the front seat headrests. The tablets can have 4G and wireless connection, and comes with a 32GB of onboard expandable storage. Passengers can use the connection to stream music to the car’s audio system, browse the Internet, or open navigation maps on Google Maps.
Expect the Bentley Mulsanne to wow automobile enthusiasts during the Geneva Motor Show with its 6.8-liter V-8 (“6.75 liters,” in Bentley heritage-speak) with 505 horsepower and 752 pound-feet and eight-speed automatic transmission. It has a top speed of 60 mph in 5.1 seconds.
2017 Renault Megane Estate Shares Similarities With Nissan Pulsar
The similarities between the fourth generation Renault Megane and the 2015 Nissan Pulsar cannot be denied when the former was launched during the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. But unlike its Japanese cousin, the French hatchback is more exciting to look at because of its revamped DNA.
According to TopSpeed, potential buyers can take a look at the Renault Megane Estate when it makes its public debut during the 2016 Geneva Motor Show in March.
The new Megane has a GT version, which is not as powerful as the RS but has a sportier body kit and dual-clutch gearbox. This wagon version has an extra legroom for rear-seat passengers. It also has a bigger trunk, which would allow it to compete with the wagon versions of Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus.
No details have been revealed yet about the C-segment wagon, but all the information we need would drop by March 1. For now, here’s what we know about the new Renault Megane Estate:
- Based on the teaser photos earlier released, the hatchback and the wagon are almost identical from nose to the C-pillar. The only difference is the longer rear overhang, allowing for a quarter window and bigger trunk. The roof, of course, has long rails for sports equipment and longer trips.
- As for the interior, there’s no information yet, except that it would most likely have the same sleek and gorgeous interiors as the hatchback version. This would mean Talisman-inspired features, a massive touchscreen display on the center console, large A/C vents on the dashboard, and a three-spoke steering wheel.
- Renault also wants its customers to be as convenient as possible, so they included other components such as a full-color heads-up display, a seven-inch TFT instrument cluster, and an 8.7-inch touchscreen display.
- Renault has yet to announce the pricing for this one, but the current model retails for $26,290 in the UK. The wagon version would most likely have a price range between $26,900 and $28,300.
Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe Finally Arrives
The Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe is back 19 years after it introduced the second AMG-tuned C-class that brought the V8 flag with 306 bhp 4.3-litre V8. It can go 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds.
However, that was in 1997. This year, Mercedes comes back with the C43 badge, featuring a warmed-over C-Class Coupe that is second fiddle to the full-fat C63.
Officially called the Mercedes-AMG C43 4MATIC Coupe, this super machine uses a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 that can produce 362 bhp and 384 lb-ft of torque through a nine-speed automatic transmission. Its four-wheel drive runs 0-62 mph in 4.7 seconds, just 0.8 seconds slower than the 503 bhp C63 S Coupe, with a top speed of 155 mph.
The Mercedes-AMG C43 4MATIC Coupe shares its engine with the Mercedes GLE450 AMG Coupe, but is still boasts of a distinct individuality as it was imbued full Mercedes-AMG status.
It might not be the C63, but it can definitely handle itself well.
The 4MATIC all-wheel drive system has a rear-biased 31:69 torque distribution, three-stage adaptive dampers like the C63’s, and “Dynamic Select” drive modes such as Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual.
Expect the front axle to have new steering knuckles with the brakes at a bigger 360mm at the front and 320mm at the rear. This is significantly a step up from the standard C-Class Coupe.
Outside, the “C63-lite” badge is replaced with the “BITURBO-4MATIC” lettering on the flanks. The bodywork, on the other hand, is pimped with exhaust pipes and boot lip spoiler.
The C43 will start to drop in early April with an estimated price of £47,000, which is £20,000 cheaper than its brother. For those who are willing and able to shell out that much money, April is your chance to do so.
2017 Mercedes-AMG C43 4MATIC Coupe Photos
Check out some photos of the 2017 Mercedes-AMG C43 4MATIC Coupe in the gallery below, which were provided by Daimler:
Arash AF8 Cassini To Launch At The 2016 Geneva Motor Show
Over the weekend, British supercar marque Arash announced that it is bringing an updated version of its AF10 flagship at the Geneva Motor Show next month. But the drivetrain that packs a reported V-8 and four electric motors for a combined power of 2,000 horsepower has a price tag of at least $1,584,500, so only super millionaires can get their hands on it.
Fortunately, Arash has another gift for car enthusiasts all over the world based on a report from Motor Authority. It is bringing a more attainable car with the AF8 Cassini, an evolution of the first AF8 we saw back in 2014. This one will cost approximately $239,500.
In terms of mechanical package, it hasn’t changed much, but the AF8 Cassini has a more sleek-looking rear than the AF8.
It also features a tubular steel chassis with carbon fiber reinforcements and crash structures and a 7.0-liter LS7 V-8 sourced from General Motors Company. It has a maximum peak of 550 horsepower, and peak torque of 476 pound-feet. Via its six-speed manual transmission, its drive is to the rear wheels.
This means the Arash AF8 Cassini can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5. It also has a top speed of 200 mph.
The interior has all the makings of a modern supercar—a carbon fiber and leather trim, a touchscreen infotainment system, a heated windscreen, and air-conditioning, of course. But if none of these trimmings suit your taste, you can get the stripped-out version made for track use. That way, you can customize the interior of this supercar according to your liking and personality.
The 2016 Geneva Motor Show is set to open its doors on March 1. This means we all have about a week to consume all the details about the various supercars that would be launched there. The Arash AF8 Cassini, with its super engine and gorgeous exterior and interior detailing could steal the show easily.
2017 Kia Sportage Debuts in Frankfurt
Kia Motors dropped the new fourth generation Sportage compact crossover in Frankfurt, Germany. It was launched with a redesigned exterior, an updated interior, and cutting edge technology and driving options.
What the new Kia Sportage offers is efficiency, practicality and performance in a single package. As you know, compact crossovers tend to be a jack-of-all-trade kind of vehicles, and the Sportage is no different. For the 2017 edition, Kia promised to upgrade every factor imaginable from its third generation Sportage.
The Sportage was first introduced in the early 1990s and since then, it has become quite a legend in Kia as it defined its range of compact crossovers.
For the fourth generation, the Kia Sportage will resemble a “fighter jet,” thanks to Kia’s chief designer, Peter Schreyer, the same guy who helped create the Audi TT. Kia’s design studios in Germany, Korea and California all contributed to the overall external look of the new Sportage.
Inside, the Sportage has a more refined and sleek look. The dashboard interface, which also featured a seven-inch touchscreen, is more driver-friendly now with all the buttons and switches angled towards the seat. There are two color schemes available—dark and light gray two-tone, and black and canyon beige two-tone.
The Sportage’s top-of-the-line will most likely include a turbocharged 1.6-liter T-GDI direct injection gas unit, which can produce 130 horsepower and 119 pound-feet of torque. Then, there’s also the option of a 1.7-liter CRDi diesel that can produce 113 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque.
The newest feature for the 2017 Sportage is the seven-speed double-clutch transmission, as well as a revamped suspension that promises a better drive and ride.
Kia has just announced the new prices for the 2017 Kia Sportage, which will go on sale later this spring. You can get your hands on this new compact crossover for a range of $22,990 to $34,000, depending on the trim version, according to TopSpeed, which is also the source of the images below.
