Monthly Archives: August 2016
Mercedes-Benz Plans To Build All-Electric Sprinter Van For 2018
There will be a next generation Sprinter van from Mercedes-Benz, and the good thing is there will be an option for an all-electric drivetrain. The German automaker believes a fully-electric van will allow the Sprinter to be more competitive and will enable it to operate in congested cities while having zero emissions.
Ulf Zilig, the head of Sprinter’s replacement project, said in an interview that the new generation van will be available in 2018. It will reportedly share the same dimensions as the current Sprinter van, but will be packed with a slew of other upgrades to make the van easier to manage. There is a possibility of an autonomous driving system.
For a better-designed product, Mercedes will be working with upfitter companies to build the van’s bodies, interior shelving and full box truck systems.
If you want the fully electric Sprinter, however, you’d have to wait for more information. Zilig said that the electric drivetrain would only be available “if the market supports it.” So, before Mercedes invests more money into its research and development for the all-electric van, it has to make sure there is market there.
But to be sure, Mercedes will build the Sprinter with an all-electric drive in mind.
This full-size van is hugely popular both in Europe and the United States. Ford and Ram went so far as to adopt Mercedes’ strategy in using Euro-spec Transit and ProMaster vans for American use.
Mercedes is just right to arm itself with a new electric drivetrain option, considering the potential challenges being posed by other automakers. The German automaker even established its own van production plant in Charleston, South Carolina. This new facility is scheduled to start operating and be online before the decade ends, just in time for the release of the new Sprinter in US shores.
There is no information yet about the specifications of the van, as well as the pricing, so stay tuned for more details as Mercedes releases it.
Aston Martin V8 Supercar To Arrive In 2022
Aston Martin has a new business plan, and it will culminate in the building of the V8 supercar by 2022. Company executives revealed that Aston’s “second century plan” includes releasing a new model every year until 2022, when the range will be completed and model replacements will begin.
What will generate the most interest among Aston Martin enthusiasts is the mid-engined supercar that is set to arrive in 2022, according to Autocar. This will be the final car in the company’s plan. But instead of being too out-of-this-world, Aston’s design boss Marek Reichman said that the mid-engined supercar will be “more mainstream” compared to the limited edition AM-RB 001 hypercar currently being developed by Aston Martin and Adrian Newey, Red Bull Racing’s chief technical officer.
When it goes on sale, the Aston Martin V8 supercar will sit just above or at par with Ferrari 488 GTB. According to Reichman, all car designers “dream” of designing a mid-engined supercar, which should include a smaller fronter area, lower nose, shorter overhangs and smaller wheels.
Aston Martin last showed interest in building midengined cars in 2014 when it introduced the DP-100 Vision Gran Turismo at Goodwood. This 800bhp mid-engined GT racer was specifically created for the Gran Turismo 6 computer game and the theoretical twin-turbo V12 was also made available for download.
But the DP-100 project is far from being just available in the online world since Reichman revealed that the design cues used on the DP-100 could very well be applied on sports cars Aston Martin will launch in the real world.
Coupled with the developments in the AM-RB 001 project, the DP-100 concept could very well be used to engineer and design Aston’s mid-engined supercar. No doubt, the V8 supercar we are expecting in 2022 will have the same design aesthetics to the AM-RB 001 and the DP-100 concept.
Mercedes-Benz Is Planning A Sub-Brand For Electric Models
Recent reports have indicated that known luxury car maker Mercedes-Benz is gearing up to build an entire sub-brand for electric vehicles, following the success of Tesla’s luxury EVs. It seems the German automaker wants to cash in to what was once perceived to be merely a hype tech geeks, engineers and moguls have created.
Last June, Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Mercedes-Benz’s parent company Daimler, said that the automaker plans to introduce its first EV at the Paris Motor Show in October. According to reports, the model would be a direct competition to the Tesla Model S, and will have a 310-mile range either to meet or exceed what the Tesla model can deliver.
Expected to be built in Germany, Merc’s new EV will carry whatever moniker the automaker conceives to challenge BMW’s i label.
Tesla’s Model 3 currently has 373,000 reservations, so it’s fairly obvious this is not merely a trend. Mercedes wants to capitalize on that interest, and the timing now is just about right.
But to get to that point, the company has to invest extensively in research and development toward EVs. This is in part of the German automaker’s larger plan to boost its R&D spending from $6.3 billion in 2014 and $7.3 billion in 2015.
Passenger cars are not the only vehicles Daimler is looking to turn into electric-based. The Urban e-Truck prototype has proven that electric distribution is already a must in deliveries within the city.
Mercedes-Benz is not exactly oblivious of what Tesla has been doing. Its parent company Daimler has invested heavily in Tesla, and in fact earns a 10-percent stake in Tesla Motors in 2010, though its remaining 4 percent was sold in 2014.
It has even purchased Tesla batteries for the B-Class Electric and Tesla was the one that developed the whole propulsion system for the early version of Smart Electric Drive.
Ford Focus RS Gets Power Upgrade
Tuning company Mountune took it upon themselves to heap the Ford Focus RS with more power than ever before. Though its 345bhp does not exactly equate to being under-endowed, the guys over at Mountune thought the Focus RS would look better with 370bhp. It will also drop to going 0-62mph in just 4.5 seconds.
The new power upgrade package for the 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine was developed together with Ford’s Performance division. While it raises horsepower production to 370bhp, it also boosted peak torque to 376 lb. ft., which is a 30 lb. ft. increase over the standard car.
The tuned Ford’s ability to go 0 to 62 mph in just 4.5 seconds is largely thanks to the Focus RS’ four-wheel drive system. That is a 0.2-second improvement, so it now stands only 0.2 seconds below of what the Audi RS3 can accomplish. The Audi RS3 has a fancy twin-clutch auto while the Focus RS stays with the six-speed manual.
The Mountune upgrade for the Ford Focus comes with an ECU flash too, as well as an uprated turbo recirculation valve and Mountune’s RS induction kit with an alloy crossover duct and high quality silicone hoses. These features improve engine breathing by 11 percent as compared to factory fit pipes. In terms of styling and design, you can expect the Mountune badge, warning other drivers that your car can suddenly and violently accelerate.
If you want the kit, any Mountune-approved Ford dealer can install it in your car in just 90 minutes. It costs approximately $1,174, and won’t invalidate your Ford manufacturer’s warranty.
Aside from that, you also have the option of a 19-inch OZ Leggera HLT wheels that are lighter and even half an inch wider than the standard rims. Then, there’s also the Quaife differential. You can get the OZ Leggera HLT wheels for $496 per corner while the Quaife is for $948.
2016 Nissan Titan XD Marks Major Update For The Pickup
Nissan has finally updated its Titan pickup, which was first introduced back in 2004. The second generation full-size pickup truck will bridge the gap between the half-ton Titan and the heavy-duty contenders from Ford, GM and Ram.
Based on a report, the Nissan Titan XD has an all-new reinforced and strengthened body plus the highly coveted 5.0-liter Cummins V-8 turbodiesel that can produce 310 horsepower at 3,200 rpm and 555 pound-feet of torque at 1,600 rpm. It can lug around 12,640 pounds on the integrated gooseneck hitch, plus the weight of the truck and the passengers in Single Cab form.
The engine is paired with a heavy-duty six-speed Aisin automatic transmission with manual shift controls.
The Cummins diesel is 20 percent better in terms of fuel economy than a gasoline-powered V-8 with full loads. It has a rating of 15.8 mpg city, 20.8 mpg highway, and 17.7 mpg combined.
The Titan XD is also offering a revised, 5.6-liter Endurance V-8. It produces 390 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 401 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm. It comes with a new, seven-speed automatic transmission with Adaptive Shift Control and Downshift Rev Matching.
The standard Titan, on the other hand, will be offered in either a V-6 or V-8 gasoline engine. There are no details yet about the V-6 engine.
In terms of exterior, Nissan completely diverted from the 2016 Titan XD since only the corporate grille and the side mirrors have been brought to this new truck.
The 2017 Titan XD has a bolder and wider stance, thanks largely to its sculpted fenders at the front and rear. There’s also the equally huge front fascia that sports a chrome mesh grille with the name “TITAN” embossed across the top.
Wheels are optional in 17, 18 and 20 inches, but all are wrapped in LT-series tires. To make it easier to step up into the bed, Nissan also incorporated the side running boards to extend past the cab.
New Nissan BladeGlider Edges Close To Production
We had a sighting of the new Nissan BladeGlider, which, contrary to how we met it before in its concept form, is a little close to being production legible. Notice how the form is a little neutered? It’s still not anywhere near a production car, but it looks like Nissan is proving its promise to bring the BladeGlider to showrooms.
Originally introduced during the 2013 Tokyo show concept, the car was so out-of-this-world that we deem it impossible to see a production version anytime soon. For now, it’s dubbed as the BladeGlider v2, an “advanced prototype.”
The differences between the original concept and this one made us think it’s possible to see these with licensed plates soon. After all, Nissan made sure the front and rear widths are less disparate, though still at “odds” with each other. The widths are, of course, inspired by DeltaWing badge.
The BladeGlider is being described by a source as an electric car for car lovers, with specs that definitely prove such claims. It’s a rear-wheel-only drive, each one having its own 130kW motor. The total system output is 264 bhp and 521 lb. ft. Not bad at all for an electric car.
It weighs around 1,300 kg, which is a lot in terms of racing car specs. Remember, though, that the BladeGlider also packs batteries. In terms of sizing, the BladeGlider should compete with the likes of Ford Focus (in terms of length, width and wheelbase) or the Nissan electric Leaf.
The car is powered with a mixture of two motors via torque vectoring. It has three modes—off, agile and drift. There are no details yet regarding powersliding, though we can only imagine how that would feel with the BladeGlider.
Britain’s Williams Advanced Engineering will provide the powertrain, which has a top speed of 118mph, and takes 0 to 60 mph in less than five seconds.
Two of the BladeGliders are on their way to Rio de Janeiro for the Olympics. Let’s see how the reactions will turn this advanced concept into a production version.
Honda Civic Type R Concept To Be Introduced At 2016 Paris Show
Reports said that the Honda Civic Type R concept will make a bow at the 2016 Paris Auto Show in September. But the production version wouldn’t be available in the market at least until the second half of next year.
Honda has been working on the next generation of its Civic Type R, which would be sold in most of the Japanese automaker’s markets, including the United States. Prototypes have been sighted in testing in the past months, but we have to wait until 2017 to see the production unit.
But those who want an early look on the new Civic Type R concept can do so this September as it is slated to be unveiled along with Honda’s Civic Hatchback, which will go on sale later this year as a 2017 model. This new hatchback is the basis of the Type R’s form. It will also be sold in the United States.
We’re hoping that what we will be seeing as a concept in September is also the same production version that would join the market in 2017. This was how Honda first introduced the Civic Type R—first as a concept then that same concept was made into a production version.
Accordingly, this new Civic Type R will follow its predecessor’s formula: a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 that can deliver 300 horsepower to the front wheels, and paired with a 6-speed manual and sophisticated suspension.
Rivals of the new Civic Type R are the Ford Focus RS, the Subaru WRX STI, and the Volkswagen Golf R.
All Civic Hatchbacks, as well as the new Civic Type R, will be sourced from Honda’s plant in the United Kingdom. Details have been very minor about the specs, prices and overall look of the Type R, but we’re expecting more information will come out as the Paris Auto Show in September looms near.
2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Will Sell For $41,700
Everybody knew that the 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro will cost much, but it doesn’t make it easier now that we’re hearing just how much it really is.
First announced at the 2016 Chicago Auto Show, the 2017 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro will sell for $41,700, the Japanese automaker said this week to a source.
But that’s only the entry price for this off-roading pickup powerhouse, which will have a 6-speed manual transmission with plated skid and reinforced Kevlar tires. It will also have amazing suspension system and all that rock-crawling goodness combined in a sturdy off-roader.
If you want an automatic transmission, you will have to shell out $2,000 on top of the entry-level price.
No one’s doubting the off-road credentials of the Tacoma TRD Pro. Ever since it was introduced at the Chicago Auto Show, experts have been looking into the upgrades Toyota fitted their pickup with.
Though we find the entry level price a bit unsettling, it might just be fair because apparently, this midsize Tacoma TRD is closely priced to the all-new Ford Raptor.
That one has a twin-turbocharged V-6 that produces somewhere around 450 horsepower, reports said.
The Raptor is being paired with a 10-speed automatic too, and it has sophisticated chassis wizardry. The new Ford off-roader will start at $49,520 for a Super Cab and $52,505 for the double cab.
These two models are in direct competition with the Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon Hard Rock off-roader, which is being sold for $42,790. That off-roader suits all kinds of terrain, as expected.
The Tacoma TRD Pro will go on sale later this month, so we’ll expect to see its driver scaling some mountains after taking this out from the dealership. No further details have been released by its maker about the start of deliveries, but we are sure the next few weeks will reveal more.
BMW Releases Pricing Info On The 30 Jahre M3
BMW introduced the M3 30 years ago, and as a tribute to its 30th anniversary, the company came out with an anniversary edition called the 30 Jahre M3 (German for “30 Years M3”).
Reports said there will only be 150 units of the 30th anniversary edition produced for these shores. And now, pricing information from its maker is available too.
The 30 Jahre M3 will go on sale starting this month, and it will be available either with a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The former will cost $84,245 while the latter goes as high as $87,145, depending on the slew of features these will come with.
These US-bound anniversary edition from BMW will come with a deep coat of Macao Blue paint, a color that was first seen on the E30 M3 Sport Evolution. It’s a sophisticated and elegant color that speaks well of the German automaker’s dazzling style.
To complement this dark hue, the German automaker used a 20-inch “star-spoke” wheels, which are also being used on the M4 GTS.
There are minimum interior changes in this anniversary edition sedan. As expected, there are 30 Jahre M3 logos placed on the dashboard and the doorsills, as well as embroidered into the headrests of the two-tone seats.
As for the performance aspect, BMW fitted the 30 Jahre M3 with its Competition package, which means an adaptive suspension that boost’s the sedan’s dynamic capabilities and a 19-horsepower rise over the standard car, bringing the total production to 444 horsepower. This while using the same standard 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged straight-six.
Every 30 Jahre M3 that will arrive in the United States comes with BMW’s Executive package, which comes with a head-up display system, heated steering wheel, rear-view camera, and other equipment. It has Driver Assistance Plus package as well that include blind spot monitor, additional exterior cameras, and LED headlights with automatic high-beams.
1965 Bizzarrini P538 To Be Auctioned Off For A Million Dollars
If you’ve got a million dollars right now, would you spend it on an ultra-exclusive Bizzarrini P538? This dreamy speed car will be presented at the Mecum car auction between August 18 and 20 as Lot S111. It is expected to be sold for close to a million dollars, according to a report.
Car enthusiasts in the United States of America may not be all that familiar with the Bizzarrini brand, but Europeans know the name carries serious weight since Bizzarrini is the builder of such cars as the Iso Rivolta, Iso Grifo, Ferrari 250 GTO and the Lamborghini 3500 GT V-12.
Giotto Bizzarrini worked with Alfa Romeo and Ferrari before building his own company called the Prototipo Bizzarrini S.a.r.l, Progrettazione e Costruzioni Automobili in 1964.
The P538’s impressive bodywork is made of fiberglass to keep it as lightweight as possible. Its overall look is classic Italian with lots of intakes, cuts, swoops and dives. The fenders are profiled high, encapsulating the wheels in a wave that runs from the front to the back.
The unique exterior features include the new primary intake in the nose, the upright windshield that extends along the car’s flanks (which follows the dips and rises of the bodystyle), and the new side intakes on the miniscule doors.
Inside, it’s all race car business. The bucket seats have four-point racing harnesses while the steering wheel is large, thin-rimmed and trimmed in wood. The dashboard houses various buttons and switches.
Under the hood, the Bizzarrini P538 uses the V-8 from the Chevrolet Corvette that is rated at 327 cubic inches in displacement or 5.3 liters. The V-8 comes packed with side draft Weber carburetors, four individual intake horns per side, and a Campagnolo intake manifold. This package can produce 365 horsepower with top speed at 174 mph.
As for the price? The Bizzarrini P538 will likely be sold between $750,000 and $950,000.
