Monthly Archives: January 2017
5 Things To Get Excited About The 2017 Bentley Continental Supersports
What’s even better than having a Bentley Continental? A Continental Supersports, that’s what. Bentley had just taken the covers off its Continental Supersports, which is slated for the 2017 model year. This is the automaker’s most powerful and fastest four-seater luxury car.
Here are the top features of the new Bentley Continental Supersports:
1. Speed And Power
Let’s talk about speed first, since this is what Bentley has been boasting about the Supersports. The Continental Supersports packs a massive 6.0-liter W12 engine that produces 700 horsepower and 750 pounds-feet of torque. That is 70 horsepower and 130 pounds-feet of torque more than what it currently churns out.
That power can boost the Supersports from 0 to 60 mph in just a matter of 3.4 seconds, or so Bentley said. This has never been tested. With the convertible, that time stretches to 3.7 seconds. Still, not bad, right? Top speed is 209 mph for the coupe and 205 for the drop-top convertible.
Worried about braking on time? Don’t be. The Supersports’ braking power is coming from a 16.5-inch carbon-ceramic brakes at front and 14-inch brakes at the rear.
2. Additional Power
Thanks to higher-capacity turbochargers, as well as a revised intercooling system, the Supersports’ engine can handle more power. Standard to both the coupe and the convertible is an 8-speed automatic transmission. Really, this is the only one available. The suspension has also been lowered to keep you on the 200 mph cruise.
3. Design
The coupe and the convertible will benefit from the new design—new front- and rear-bumper designs with carbon-fiber splitter and diffuser, new side-sill extensions, carbon fiber-finished hood vents, and gloss black front wing vents. As for the convertible, drivers can expect neck warmers for cool weather conditions.
4. Aerodynamic
One of the options you have for the Bentley Supersports is a titanium exhaust system. Having this will lower the curb weight of the Supersprots by 10 pounds, putting the coupe at 5,027 pounds and the convertible at 5,412 pounds.
5. Exterior And Interior
Personalization is one of the benefits of owning a Supersports. The X Specification pack has eight duo-tone paint treatments and carbon-fiber heel plates and mirrors. It finishes it off with 21-inch forged wheels.
Inside, you can expect everything to be in carbon fiber, leather, and suede.
3 Things You Need To Know About The Upcoming Mitsubishi Crossover
The US market is in need for a new car from Mitsubishi. Lucky for them, they can expect one during the Geneva Auto Show in March. The concept has been released, and it looks like it will fit the bill between the Outlander Sport and the Outlander.
The company’s last big auto-show production car was the Mirage hatchback back in 2013. But in just a few short months, the all-new vehicle is going to arrive in America and true enough, it’s going to be another Mitsubishi crossover.
Where It Will Fit In
The gap between the Outlander Sport and the Outlander is quite small to accommodate another model based on a report, so we’re a little bit curious as to how small or big the new crossover needs to be. The Outlander Sport is a five-seater and slightly larger than the “kings” of crossovers such as the Honda HR-V. The Outlander, on the other hand, is a seven-seater that is a bit bigger than other compact like the Honda CR-V.
This only means that Mitsubishi is looking at growing the Outlander and making the Outlander Sport smaller by 2018, when the two will get refreshed for that model year. It’s still unclear if the resize of the Outlander Sport and the Outlander will happen during the refresh or when it get fully redesigned later on,
What The Engine Is Going To Be Like
The engineers over at Mitsubishi have full control of the design and power of the crossover. Nissan, its new owner, did not intercede in this one. According to reports, the new crossover will use a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that will have more power than the current 2.4-liter four-cylinder that comes as standard on the Outlander and optional on the Outlander Sport.
The engine will give off around 166 to 168 horsepower and about 162 to 167 pound-feet of torque.
How Will It Look Like
The crossover will have Mitsubishi’s famed “diamond shield” grille design, and it might look a bit like the eX concept that was shown in 2016.
4 Things We Noticed About The 2018 Jaguar E-Pace Crossover
Spy shots of the 2018 Jaguar E-Pace Crossover showed a number of details about this latest crossover from the British automaker. The E-Pace is a little bit smaller than the F-Pace, and will be similar in size to the XE four-door.
According to analysts and reports, these all-wheel drive crossovers are the reason why Jaguar’s US sales have been toppling that of luxury giants such as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. Thanks to the presence of all-wheel drives throughout the range, more people are going to Jaguar for their all-season vehicles.
1. Platform
The platform to be used in the E-Pace is some kind of variation of the one underneath Land Rover’s Land Rover Discovery Sport. The platform is front-drive based, though this might not be a problem at all for consumers who simply want a crossover that looks stylish and has an elevated seating position at the same time.
The spy shots showed that the E-Pace will probably have slender headlights, squarish grille opening, aggressive air intakes, and a raked rear window. Since we’re seeing an aggressive roofline, we don’t expect this crossover to have a third-row seating.
2. Powertrain
The E-Pace is armed with a turbocharged inline-four engine with a ZF-sourced nine-speed automatic transmission. There’s no word yet on what drive system, aside from all-wheel drive, will be available.
3. Competition
As expected, the E-Pace Crossover will be competing with the Audi Q3, the BMW X1, the Infiniti QX30, and the Lexus NX.
4. Arrival And Pricing
Early this 2017, we can expect the E-Pace Crossover to be revealed by Jaguar. But it wouldn’t be available until the end of this year when it will be delivered to showrooms and auto dealers nationwide.
There are no details about the pricing but based on the competition like the Audi and the BMW, we can expect the E-Pace Crossover to be in the mid-$30,000 range.
3 Things We Can Anticipate From The New Audi Q8
Spy photos of the upcoming Audi Q8 being tested in Finland have been revealed. While this is a concept for now (though Audi said it’s the closest to the production unit that will be released), we can safely say that Audi will amaze and intrigue us once more.
We now have a pretty good idea of what the automaker will unveil at the Detroit Auto Show next week. The vehicle’s aggressive stance, flat roof line, and striking grille are all welcome developments from the existing Audi Q8.
Check out our expectations from the car below:
Exterior
The Q8 has a flat roof line, which made many enthusiasts wary that the interior space may be sacrificed. Audi assures that it will not, and the car can seat four people comfortably. Outside, the Q8 features an octagonal single-frame grille that is wider than the one found on the Audi’s current production models. You may even remember the 1980s Ur-quattro on the design elements used on this next-generation Q8.
The vehicle also features a flat but wide C-pillar, a prominently-displayed flared shoulders, and new sets of headlights and taillights.
Rivals
The Q8’s coupe-like stance but sporty aesthetics will most likely raise the eyebrows of many models in the same segment. That being said, Audi is looking to compete with the likes of BMW X6, Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe and Land Rover Range Rover Sport.
Similar to the Q7, the Q8 is using the Volkswagen Group’s MLB platform, which was designed specifically for the chassis of front-wheel-drive vehicles with engines mounted on a longitude position.
Powertrains
The base model for the United States should be the turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 that can produce 354 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. This is believed to be paired with an 8-speed auto transmission and all-wheel drive system.
There will also be an e-plug hybrid that will likely be paired with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 with an electric motor. The two will combine to produce 367 horsepower and 516 lb. ft. of torque.
3 Things To Watch Out For In The 2017 Kia Picanto
It was supposed to be introduced at the Geneva Motor Show, but months ahead of the scheduled launch, the South Korean automaker released the official photos of its 2017 Kia Picanto. The design of the all-new Picanto came from the ingenious minds of the teams in Namyang, South Korea and Frankfurt, Germany.
Such collaboration between the two teams made the 2017 Kia Picanto pleasing for the European market. Here are the top three features of the car based on our source:
1. Exterior
Much of the exterior and interior look better than its predecessor. We cannot be sure, however, if this will hold true for the lower-trim models. Kia just released photos of its top-of-the-line GT Line trim. Its sporty aesthetics conveys an assertive stance because of its well-sculpted features.
The dimensions are the same with the current model, though it’s getting a 15-millimeter longer wheelbase (0.59 inches). The assertive and dynamic styling was largely thanks to the positioning of the wheels in the corner.
2. Interior
The interior spacing has been updated, which is a mystery since the exterior dimensions stayed the same. But according to reports, the interior space of the 2017 Kia Picanto was a big surprise, and can rival the very best in the segment.
Aside from that, you’ll be surprised with what you see—from the dashboard to the in-car technology. The new dashboard has a tablet-style screen for the infotainment system, a digital display between the two instrument cluster dials, and the latest in-car technology that all passengers can enjoy. That means, the Apple CarPlay and the Android Auto, of course.
3. Powertrain
Kia has yet to release details about the new Picanto’s powertrains. But what we surely can expect are these: 1.0-liter turbocharged, three-cylinder engines that produces 100 horsepower while the other one churns out a pretty impressive 120 horsepower.
Pricing for the 2017 Kia Picanto is not available yet, but more details shall come as the Geneva Motor Show comes closer to launch.
3 Things To Know About The Mid-Cycle Refresh For The 2018 Ford F-150
The 2017 Detroit Auto Show is just around the corner, which means we’ll get to see a slew of new cars and updates on our favorite trucks and sedans. The Ford F-150 is expected to receive a mid-cycle refresh for the 2018 model year. We don’t have much information about it, but the upcoming auto show seems to be the perfect place for a launch.
Front Exterior
Recent spy shots of the Ford F-150 showed a new two-bar grille that remind us of the grille on the 2017 F-Series Super Duty. Don’t get us wrong, you will not be confused between these two. In fact, they are similar but barely interchangeable. What is clear is that the one on the Super Duty is more square-ish than what were snapped on the new F-150. They are also more evenly spaced, but the resemblance is still there.
The headlights have the same general bracket shape, though these have been redesigned to conform with the two grille bars.
Back Exterior
The changes on the 2018 F-150 are less obvious at the back. Compared to the current F-150, the tailgate looks smoother on this one. If you have the current production F-150, you can check out the creases there. Those are gone on this redesigned model. The handles have also been redesigned completely. The spy shots did not show the bumper and the taillights because they are covered.
From our experience, that means that there are changes on these parts. After all, Ford wouldn’t take the time to cover these up if they are just going to retain their designs from the current F-150.
Hybrid Version
There are reports that a hybrid version is available for this light pickup come 2018. There are definitely plans to do that, but whether or not they are already working on it remains to be seen. There are also rumors that the truck will have a diesel engine option.
3 Things You Need To Know About The 2017 Subaru Forester Plus Photos
When you look at the 2017 Subaru Forester, you won’t be wowed by its physical transformation. It’s boxed-like structure will raise eyebrows, though not for long as soon as they enter and be amazed with a spacious interior and no-nonsense technology.
In today’s automotive world, it’s hard to find a crossover with a boxier appearance than the Forester. Its 34 cubic cabin space is not the best in the segment (that belongs to Honda CR-V), but the boxy aesthetic allows owners and passengers to exploit the spacious interior more easily.
There Are Six Trim Levels
According to a Car and Driver, the 2017 Subaru Forester will be offered in six trim levels: 2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Limited, 2.0XT Premium, 2.5i Touring, and 2.0XT Touring. The 2.5i models will enjoy a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter flat-four engine with 170 horsepower and 174 lb. ft. of torque while the 2.0XT models will have the turbocharged 2.0-liter flat-four that produces 250 horsepower and 258 lb. ft. of torque.
Standard on the 2.5i and the 2.5i Premium models is the six-speed manual transmission. All the others will use the CVT as standard. The 2.5i, 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Limited, and 2.5i Touring models have a 2017 EPA fuel-economy ratings of 26 mpg city and 32 mpg highway.
There Are New Front And Interior Elements
On the front of the 2017 Subaru Forester, you’ll find a new grille, front fascia, and headlight design. These highlight the changes on the car’s exterior, as well as the redesigned taillights at the rear side. All trim levels, except for the base model, have new wheels. Standard to all models is the rear spoiler and optional power rear liftgate that is available from the high-end models down to the 2.5i Premium.
The Interior Remains The Same, But With Better Spacing
Inside, things are almost the same as its predecessor. The minor changes are the updated steering wheel and the available Saddle Brown interior color in the Forester Touring. In terms of cabin, it has a 34-cubic capacity for the cargo that is situated behind the rear seats. No compromise has to be made even if the forester has a sloping roofline and angled hatch.
3 Must-Knows About the Volkswagen Atlas SUV In R-Line Attire
The North American International Auto Show in Detroit is where Volkswagen’s much-anticipated seven-seater SUV is going to be seen once more. Together with the regular Atlas is the R-Line package, which we can expect to be launched later in the year.
The regular Volkswagen Atlas will be available in five trim levels, and will arrive as a 2018 model in spring, according to reports. The R-Line package, expected to arrive by the year’s end, will only be available in the upper SE and SEL trim levels.
Exterior
The R-Line aims to add a touch of sportiness to the already well-equipped and functional Atlas. For the exterior, the package will boost the Atlas with 20-inch aluminum-alloy twin-spoke wheels, new front and rear bumpers, new side skirts, and air intakes and rear with a diffuser design. Of course, never to forget is the R-Line badging that would essentially separate this from the regular Atlas.
Interior
The changes inside the cabin are not that much. In a nutshell, it has a small R clip on the steering wheel, stainless steel pedal covers, and an R-line logo on the infotainment screen when the vehicle starts up. This pack is available for all powertrains, whether the four- or six-cylinder engines with either front- or all-wheel drive.
Powertrain
That being said, there’s nothing new with Atlas R-line’s powertrain. Under the hood, you’ll find the same engine as non-R-line models: there’s a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine or the 3.6-liter V-6 engine. The four-cylinder engine gives off 235 horsepower while the V-6 produces 276 horsepower. Standard to both engines is the eight-speed automatic transmission.
Front-wheel drive is what’s packing in the four-cylinder engine while the 4MOTION all-wheel drive is available for the V-6 engine.
Pricing for the R-line Atlas has not been revealed for now, but let’s wait if we’ll get more details at the Detroit Auto Show.
