Daily Archives: April 11, 2016
2016 Trans Am SE Bandit Edition Comes Back
If you’re a big lover of Smokey and the Bandit, then listen up. Trans Am Depot has built an iteration of one of Pontiac’s most beloved line of cars—the Trans Am.
The Trans Am SE Bandit Edition, as it was aptly called, is the modern interpretation of the 1977 Trans Am SE featured in the movie “Smokey and the Bandit.” Based on the source, there will only be 77 units built of this car, but they will all come packing the signature features of the original car. It will also be endorsed by Burt Reynolds himself.
This year, the American auto industry saw the discontinuation of such historic brands as the Chrysler’s Plymouth, the GM’s Oldsmobile, and Pontiac’s GTO, Firebird and Trans Am models. Fortunately, Trans Am Depot was founded in 2011, and was given the rights to restore or build iterations of the Pontiac Trans Am and GTO from the fifth generation Camaro.
The Bandit Edition will have a V-shaped nose with the Pontiac badge, twin grille, and two horizontal vents in the bumper. But instead of square units, it would have round quad-headlamp configuration.
The similarities don’t stop there. Both cars have the Trans Am lettering and honeycomb wheels with gold highlights, a big trunk lid spoiler, a wraparound bumper, wide taillights with three horizontal clusters with reverse lights on each side of the license plate recess. They also have a shaker hood and T-top roof, both of which are essential features of a Trans Am.
And to further prove this is the “same” car as the one in the film, the Bandit Edition will have gold accents on the nose, rear fascia, and waistline. Of course, it will feature the “screaming chicken” decal on the engine hood.
The Trans Am Bandit Edition didn’t scrimp on the drivetrain, too. Under the 840 Extreme Performance Package, you will find a 7.4-liter LSX V-8 engine and a 2.9-liter twin-screw supercharger. It also includes a bespoke cold air intake, performance spark plugs, 80cc injectors, a 79mm pulley and belt, and performance 8mm plug wires and boots.
The Trans AM SE Bandit Edition will have a starting price of $115,000.
2016 Chevrolet Silverado Rally Edition Gets Unique Body Panel
Chevrolet has revealed the 2016 Silverado Rally Edition at the Texas Motor Speedway, and we can’t help but be wowed by its unique body panel, including a power dome hood.
The move sees Chevrolet extending its Silverado’s line of special editions, which offers more truck options than any other brand. Sandor Piszar, Chevrolet truck marketing director, said that their 2015 special editions clearly resonated well with new and younger buyers.
The brand’s total truck sales increased by 27 percent in 2015, which was double the increase for the total truck market.
The Chevrolet Silverado Rally Edition differs from the standard truck because of its matte black graphics package and large wheels. Although Chevrolet didn’t reveal much about the details of the Rally Edition, it did say that the changes were largely inspired by trends in street-performance trucks.
The Rally Edition comes in a monochromatic color scheme with black accents and bold hood and body stripes. It has blacked-out wheels, which can be had in either 20- or 22-inch sizes.
If you will go and check Chevrolet’s “build your own” website, you’ll find that the Rally Special Edition will come packing these features—22-inch wheels, a spray-on bedliner, 4-inch round black side steps, black graphics, box-side decals, and front and rear black bowties. That package will cost $4,995.
For those of you who want the Rally Edition, you will have to choose the 2016 Silverado 1500 in LT trim with the Z71 package. That will give you the 4WD pickup with 4.3-liter EcoTec3 V-6 with an option of either Extended Cab or Crew Cab. This will set you back by $46,965.
Meanwhile, while you decide on whether or not to get the Rally Edition, you can vote for your favorite special edition team as Chevrolet partnered their special edition trucks with a different Chevrolet Racing driver. Head on over to Chevy Trucks’ Twitter account to cast your votes.
Corvette AeroWagen Improves Cargo Space And Aerodynamics
Callaway is giving us another reason to adore the ground it stands on. The company is best known for tuning the likes of Corvettes, Camaros and Silverados, and it even gave us the 757 bhp Corvette Z06.
Its latest project, the Corvette AeroWagen, is the stuff legends are made of, however. According to Top Gear, the product is based on the AeroWagen Concept, Callaway basically churned out a shooting brake Corvette. For a reported $15,000, Callaway will remove the tailgate from your Corvette. It’ll replace it with a one-piece carbon fiber structure to lengthen the Corvette’s roofline, as well as expand its luggage space.
This means the Corvette AeroWagen will feel bigger and bulkier. It uses the same factory seals, hinges and latches, meaning the Corvette’s targa top will remain fully functional. Oh, but don’t be too hopeful. There are still no extra seats despite the “improved” cargo space.
If you’re really interested with what Callaway is offering, then you better own a targa-top Corvette. Any hard top ‘Vette, even the Z06, as well as the Stingray and Corvette donor car, can be converted. It doesn’t even matter if it has one of Callaway’s performance kits or not.
And don’t be too afraid of having your vehicle converted. The installation is fully reversible. Installation will start later this year with orders being received as early as now.
The Corvette Z06 is priced under $80,000 with the SC757 power kit at $18,000 and the AeroWagen tailgate adding another $15,000. All in all, that’s a combined power kit of $113,000 for a 757bhp Corvette shooting brake.
The concept was first showed off in late 2013 with Callaway Cars planning to start production of the Corvette C7-based AeroWagen later this year. During that time, Callaway said the shooting-brake-style conversion would cost $23,000.
This particular Callaway look was built by Montreal-based car designer Paul Deutschman, but it remains unclear if he also had anything to do with the AeroWagen’s styling.
2017 Audi S3 Sportback Gets Updated Drivetrain, Technology
Audi already unwrapped its new A3 family, which included a hatchback, sedan and cabriolet—all of which have quite powerful performances on the road. The hatchback version, however, deserves special attention, especially as it comes both in three- and five-door body styles.
Similar to the rest of the A3 family, the Audi S3 Sportback has a redesigned front fascia, updated rear end, enhanced technology, and a slightly more powerful drivetrain. It’s a good facelift and has a pretty improved engine, but it’s clear why Audi came up with it—to satisfy clients while waiting for the next generation model.
The S3 is inspired heavily by the new generation A4, and used many of the sedan’s sharper features and more aggressive body lines. The engine hood and the bumper have a more muscular appearance. It also has larger air vents and a U-shaped gap under the grille.
Looking closely at the style, you’ll find new taillights with horizontal LED strips, a reshaped bumper, and a new diffuser with larger fins. There are six color palettes available—Ara Blue, Cosmic Blue, Nano Grey, Tango Red, and Vegas Yellow.
Inside, Audi didn’t change much in the S3 Sportback. There are a few changes, of course, such as the mildly redesigned three-spoke steering wheel, an optional heating function, and leather-wrapped driver seat with massage function.
The important changes are all in the tech department. There’s Audi’s virtual cockpit, a 12.3-inch TFT screen with multiple display modes, navigation, audio system and phone info. It also offers LTE connectivity that provides WiFi hotspot for mobile devices, Google Earth, Google Street View, parking and traffic info, and weather.
The S3 comes with the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with an output of 310 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Transmission options include a seven-speed S Tronic automatic and a six-speed manual.
That power can hit 60 mph in 4.7 seconds with the manual gearbox and 4.9 seconds with the automatic. Top speed is put at 155 mph.
Audi is not selling the S3 in the US, or any of the models in the A3 family. Prices, if you’re interested to know, will be around €42,600 in Germany.
2017 Mazda CX-4 To Be Unveiled At Beijing Motor Show
Mazda introduced the Mazda Koeru concept during last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, promising to venture into the growing crossover SUV segment. This is the answer to that—the Mazda CX-4. It came sooner than expected, but who’s really complaining?
Most upcoming models come as prototype, but based on a source, the CX-4 was immediately spotted in production in Asia late 2015. By the beginning of 2016, Mazda has confirmed this and said it will be unveiled at the 2016 Beijing Auto Show this April.
The CX-4 will walk on that thin line between Mazda 3 and CX-5, so it will probably be the sportier, coupe version of the CX-3.
Mazda has already released a few teaser photos for the CX-4, and we can’t help but be charmed by it. The CX-4 will have the same features such as the KODO-styled front end, massive grille, and sculpted engine hood. Koeru’s grille frame extends into the headlamps—a feature not available on current Mazda units.
Koeru has a sporty profile, and we can see this on the CX-4 with its roof sitting slightly higher and its door handles having standard design.
Inside, the CX-4 interior is not as fancy as the current CX-5. But this doesn’t mean the CX-4 will have no premium features since it comes with aluminum inserts, leather, contrast stitching, and overall fit-and-finish.
Since the CX-4 is configured to become a coupe, it will feel less roomy than the CX-5.
No exact word yet on the vehicle’s powertrain, but it might actually not go too far off and remain inspired by the CX-5. That one has 2.0-liter SkyActiv unit rated at 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque in entry-level guise and a more powerful 2.5-liter SkyActiv with 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque.
Choices for transmission would make us pick between a six-speed manual and a six-speed automatic.
If it will cost as much as the CX-5, then you better prepare around $21,795.
