Daily Archives: March 11, 2016
Redesigned 2017 Subaru Impreza To Launch Late March
The Subaru Impreza Sedan concept car.
Subaru‘s 2017 Impreza will ride on the new modular platform the company introduced earlier this week. The new redesigned compact in both sedan and hatchback variants will debut later this month—on March 23 to be exact—at the New York Auto Show.
Aside from a redesigned platform, the new compact will also have a sleeker design language compared to the Subaru Impreza Sedan and Impreza Hatchback shown earlier during the auto show season.
But of course, remember that Subaru always churned out mightily impressive stylish cars as concepts that turn out to be a dud in production. This has been the curse of the company in the past years. Here’s hoping Subaru can break that cycle, though leaks of the production 2017 Impreza don’t look as good as the concept.
The Subaru Global Platform, which will be used as well other future Subarus, promises improved refinement, a lower center of gravity, and increased stiffness.
The platform is 70 to 100 percent more rigid than the current chassis, and it is 40 percent more in terms of impact energy absorption.
The key Subaru features will remain, so the new Impreza will likely have a boxer-four engine and all-wheel drive as standard.
Customers can also enjoy Subaru’s EyeSight, which included active safety features, as well as other tech features. The interior is likely to be more spacious too.
The new Impreza hatchback was first seen in silver at the Tokyo Motor Show while a red sedan added a trunk at the LA Auto Show a month later.
However, the debut will only include the more basic Impreza lineup. Subaru fans will have to wait for a new version of the Impreza-based sport compact. But those who want the next XV Crosstrek may enjoy having it sooner since it was already previewed as a concept at the Geneva Auto Show last week.
Is The Porsche Macan Coming To The US?
A few years back, Porsche introduced the Macan, a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that is second to none. It did not confirm back then if the Macan will be available for US consumers so US-based Porsche lovers were left to wonder.
On the other hand, an entry-level Macan, of course, is accessible for certain global market while the UK certainly has it out in the market already.
But now, it looks like Porsche finally decided to bring the Macan to US shores, according to well-placed insiders and sources. We have to wait for an official announcement, as well as more information about that, though.
For those who are not familiar, the Macan houses a corporate VW Group inline four-cylinder engine, and not the turbocharged flat-four used by the new 718 Boxster sports car. Still, that turbo four engine makes 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. It is coupled with a seven-speed and dual-clutch automatic.
Up until now, the regular Macan you will see in the US is the S version, which is powered by a 340-hp twin-turbocharged V-6. There are two other variants—the Macan Turbo with a 400-hp power on its twin-turbo V-6 and the ultra sporty Macan GTS.
More than power, Porsche Macan also improved its fuel economy. The V-6 diesel model, which would most likely face challenges because of emission testing, will probably arrive in the US sometime this year too.
If you base your judgement on specs alone, the four-cylinder engine Macan utilized is similar to the unit placed on the 2017 Audi A4. But remember that the Porsche is way heavier than the Audi A4 so it remains to be seen how the engine will fit in a much heavier body.
This machine should definitely have a price lower than $50,000 since the Macan S starts at $53,650.00.
New Infiniti Q50 Packs Refreshed Looks And Features
Infiniti Q50 is new in the world of compact luxury sedans as it evolved from the G-series model that started in 2013. But even though it is new and untested, it brings to the table to timeless combination of good looks, high tech features, and amazing performance.
The previous Q50 is the best selling production of Infiniti in North America, with sales numbers growing in the past years. It’s no wonder that it’s getting a lot of attention from the company this year. The Q50 is receiving a lot of updates, including updated infotainment, revised suspension technology and new engine options.
But the change that tops the cake is the 400-horsepower twin-turbo V-6, which, although is a far away throw from the 560-horsepower, GT-R derived Q50 Eau Rouge concept we have been expecting, still packs some power.
When it comes to the exterior, the 2016 Q50 is almost basically unchanged. It retained the front fascia, the 3D mesh double-arc grille, LEDs for headlights and daytime lights, and chrome for the side window surrounds, door handles and trunk. There are also taut creases on the hood that adds a muscular style to the roofline, shoulder line, bottom door line and rear bumper.
As for the color, it looks like the 2016 Q50 will only be offered in red, but that brings out the powerful aura more, don’t you think?
Inside, it pretty much looks the same as the previous model with a few tweaks here and there. You get the sophisticated feeling of the gentle curving lines and premium materials used for the seats. The steering wheel has three spokes and dual multi-function pads, as well as an optional heating function and paddle shifters made from magnesium.
The front row seats, which have heating options, face a center console that includes an 8-inch touchscreen above and a 7-inch unit below.
The 2016 Infiniti Q50 will start at a price range of $33,950 for the 2.0-liter I4 turbo option.
Source: TopSpeed
Maserati Levante Will Have A Plug-In Version
The Maserati Levante will make its debut at the 2016 New York Auto Show, but its CEO already confirmed during the Geneva Motor Show last week that the SUV—marking Maserati’s first foray into SUVs—will also come in a plug-in hybrid variant.
According to Motor Authority, the plug-in hybrid powertrain will be sourced from the Chrysler Pacifica, both of which are cousins within the Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles umbrella. The Pacifica, already getting ready for its consumer launch, boasts of the company’s latest hybrid tech.
At this point, it’s pure speculation whatever part of that plug-in hybrid technology will be found under the Levante’s hood. The Levante bound for the United States will be available with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 in either 345- or 424-horsepower tunes.
Levante has competitions from all over Germany in terms of plug-in hybrids, but its CEO Harald Wester suggested that this powertrain will comprise only six percent of the total Levante production.
The Levante, of course, would have to suffer some engineering stylistics because it would have to adapt the Pacifica’s hybrid tech. It rides on a Maserati platform and uses an engine not shared with Chrysler. What’s purely up in the air is how the Levante would perform on the road and in the real world. However, it surely promises fuel savings with plenty of power.
As we very well know, the Levante will come in gas-powered version too, which would probably produce more power than the hybrid variant since it’s using all fossil fuels for its engine. There’s no pricing yet, but expect it to be in the range of the Porsche Cayenne S.
The Levante, according to Wester, is for people who don’t want another Mercedes, Porsche, Audi, BMW or Lamborghini. It was created for those who want something different in an SUV, especially since it’s Italian and promises power coupled with efficiency.
