Daily Archives: August 2, 2016
Spy Shots Of 2017 Opel Insignia Released
The new 2017 Opel Insignia has been spotted about to be tested by car engineers. It was initially designed to compete in the mid-level sedan race, but the new model can also rival some larger models because of its relatively larger size. It looks like Open designed the sedan with a coupe-like profile too like the Audi A7.
Despite its bigger size as shown in the spy shots, the new Insignia should be lighter and more dynamic than the current model, largely thanks to the E2XX platform, which made its debut in the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The platform was made to endure high-strength steel in its construction, allowing the Malibu to have about 300 pounds of savings in weight. The same can be expected for the new Insignia.
As for the drivetrains, front-wheel drive will be the standard, but there will also be an option for an all-wheel drive. There are speculations that the power would come from a 3-, 4- and 6-cylinder configurations, both in diesel and gasoline flavors.
A hybrid option and a sporty OPC are rumored. The latter is expected to be paired with the Regal GS.
Remember Opel’s Monza concept from 2013 and the more recent GT concept? The new Insignia will be likely influenced by these. We should see features such as Matrix LED headlights, semi-autonomous systems and an infotainment system with smartphone connectivity.
Plans are also being made for an Insignia Sports Tourer Wagon, which might be brought to the US as a new Buick wagon.
This new model is crucial for General Motors since the Insignia is sold both in Europe, US and China where it is called the Buick Regal.
The new Insignia is expected to make its debut late this year or early next year. There might be an appearance at the 2016 Paris Auto Show in September, though no confirmation has been made yet.
2017 Acura NSX GT3 Race Car Shows Up At NY Auto Show
It was safe to assume we’ve seen the last of the Acura NSX because it has just went on sale last month with the launch of its online configuration. But then, it just showed up at the New York Auto Show with a GT3 variant of the Acura NSX. There was an announcement too that Acura plans to turn this model into a GIA GT3 race car this fall based on a report.
In terms of overall design, there is almost no difference between the NSX and the NSX GT3, except for the latter’s new hood that sports a larger vent for cooling down the engine. The fascias, headlights and front grille are also the same. What’s new is the larger front spoiler that extends several inches away from the fascia, giving the NSX GT3 a more truck-like appearance.
On the sides, the GT3 is more toned down than the NSX. The mirror arm sits almost vertical and the mirror housing is smaller. The aggressive body line we’ve seen on the NSX is no more. Instead, it has been toned down to fit the smoother side skirts that transition into the rear wheel arches and the rear quarter panels. This was probably done to assist in air distribution.
To make it lightweight, the GT3 was wrapped with a lightweight, aluminum-intensive space frame. The main color is white, though there are black accents around the grille and the fascia’s flics, hood vent and rear air intakes.
There is not much information yet about the drivetrain, though we have a thinking that the GT3 will be powered by a 3.5-liter, 75-degree, twin turbo DOHC V-6 that has the same engine specs as the road-going NSX. The engine block, cylinder heads, valvetrain, crankshaft and pistons will be similar as well.
The current road-going NSX can produce 573 horsepower and 476 pound-feet of torque. The GT3 will most likely upgrade these figures.
We can base the GT3’s future pricing to the Porsche 911 GT3 R, which has a current price tag of $479,216.
Hyundai Tucson Mildly Updated For 2017
2016 Hyundai Tucson Eco AWD (Source: CarAndDriver)
The redesigned 2016 Hyundai Tucson sold like pancakes this year. Its sales have doubled compared with the numbers it posted from last year until June 2016. The Korean automaker didn’t need to change much for its smallest crossover, seeing as it has been wildly successful in its target market.
Luckily, Hyundai heeded the sales figures, and only gave minor interior tweaks to the 2017 edition. These tweaks included the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay availability, as well as a new audio system and barely noticeable revisions to the cabin.
It’s a welcome development to see Apple’s and Android’s smartphone compatibility software with the new Tucson, although it’s kind of a bummer that this integration is only available on the top Limited trim level. Of course, there are third-party companies that can install the software in your lower-Limited Tucson trim, but it’s just not the same as getting it straight from the source.
The Tucson Limited is the only model that has a larger 8-inch touchscreen with navigation compatibility with the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto tech. The other trim levels—the SE, Eco and Sport—are stuck with the mediocre 5-inch touchscreen that includes a backup camera and Bluetooth audio streaming.
Hyundai also announced recently that it has software updates to retroactively add Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to current Tucson models, but that also means it will only be available for the top trim level.
There’s another new development for the 2017 Tucson, and that’s the 315-watt Infinity audio system. This, unfortunately, is also reserved for the Limited trim level. But don’t worry if you only have the budget for the Tucson Eco and Tucson Sport since these models now come standard with rear-seat air vents. The Sport will now also come packed with the Limited’s door panels.
The exterior and powertrains remain the same, but that’s completely okay since Tucson is powered by 1.6-liter turbo four-cylinder standard on Eco, Sport and Limited. Prices stay the same for the SE ($23,595) and the Eco ($25,045) while the Sport ($26,795) and Limited ($30,670) are actually a couple of bucks cheaper than the previous tags.
Baby Porsche Panamera Could Be The Future All-Electric Mission E
There are reports that the baby Porsche Panamera mule, nicknamed the Pajun, could be the development car for the all-electric Mission E. The appearance of the mule in spy photos proved speculations that the development of the Pajun is back on track after it was shelved in 2014.
Apparently, the Pajun will be arriving in 2019. It is just in time for the planned launch of the production Mission E, which Porsche plans to sell before the end of the decade as a rival to the Tesla Model S. With this coincidence, there are now talks that despite the exhaust tailpipes on the Porsche Panamera mule, this could very well be the foundation for the Mission E.
This isn’t such a surprise as car makers have, for years, tried to lure their competitors through false pretenses. The tailpipes could very well be there to confuse the stockholders in the market, as well as to hide what’s really under the mule’s body.
This latest sighting pushed the luxury automaker company to remain even more mum about the Panamera mule and the possibility that it could be the all-electric Mission E. This attitude has only led sources and experts to believe that the latest photos showed the Mission E in an advanced development stage—road-based testing.
It would only mean that the German automaker is right on schedule to debut the all-electric vehicle by 2019. This would be the perfect time to give the Tesla Model S a run for its money.
We don’t have exact details yet of the technical specifications that the Mission E will come packed with, but expect the vehicle to have a lithium ion battery that can power the car to a range of more than 330 miles. Combined with two electric motors, Porsche’s all-electric car can go 0-62 mph in just 3.5 seconds.