Monthly Archives: May 2018
5 Things To Know About The 2020 BMW 7 Series
The latest sixth generation of the BMW 7 Series was revealed three years ago in 2015. Now thanks to these spy photos that revealed a fresh exterior and a revamped interior space, it looks like BMW is finally going to come out with the seventh generation of the 7 Series.
Exterior
There’s not much that happened up front but overall, the 7 Series has a revamped exterior that keeps the style fresh for new customers. It has updated headlight housings that are slimmer than the current generation and it has a reshaped hood design and new trunk lid. As revealed by the tweaked front end, this looks like an M model and will most likely include a larger grille, revised intakes, active air flaps in the kidney grille, and reshaped taillight housings.
Interior
The new 7 Series will have more or less the same interior design as before, which is characterized by horizontal lines and high-end materials throughout the cabin. The seats are going to be upholstered in Nappa leather and there’s a new three-spoke multifunction steering wheel design. On the dashboard, you’ll find a 10-inch display screen and a few knobs below. The most notable change is the new all-digital gauge cluster that finally replaces the physical needles and driver’s information screen on the current model.
Drivetrain and Performance
The 2020 BMW 7 Series will carry over the same engines as before. The base model is a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder machine which currently produces 320 horsepower. This will be offered in RWD and xDrive AWD. Next is twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 engine that makes 445 horses, though it may be upgraded with an additional 20 ponies for the 2020 version. RWD will be standard and AWD is extra.
The hybrid model, known also as the 740e, has a plug-in powertrain that produces 322 horsepower. The power comes from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and electric motor combo. The upgraded version could produce as much as 390 ponies. This will be paired only with AWD.
The top-of-the-line model is a turbocharged 6.6-liter V-12 with the standard AWD. The current output is 601 horsepower, though we expect a few extra ponies and better fuel rating.
Prices
The 2020 7 Series should stay within the same price range. The current model has a starting price of $83,650. The top-of-the-line M760i is selling for $156,700.
Competition
Current competitions are the Audi A8 and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
Photos
Check out the photos of the 2019 BMW 7 Series below, which were provided by Autoguide:
3 Things We Can Learn From The 2019 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Spy Shots
After Porsche fitted its 718 Boxster and Cayman with the GTS treatment, the German automaker is now planning the new 718 Boxster Spyder and the Cayman GT4. The spy shots shown here is that of the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 or even possibly, a Cayman GT4 RS, which is being developed together along a new Boxster Spyder.
Powertrain
The Boxster’s and Cayman’s standard versions are fitted with a turbocharged flat-4 engines, though the more powerful versions run on naturally aspirated flat-6 engines (same with its predecessors). The last Cayman GT4 was introduced in 2016 and was fitted with a 3.8-liter flat-6 that could produce 385 horsepower. What we’re seeing right now is possible the one that carries a 4.0-liter flat-6 that can come up with 400 horsepower or more.
We’re still not clear on our information whether there will be a dual-clutch transmission seeing as the last Cayman GT4 was sold exclusively with a manual gearbox. The car should be able to go 60 mph from a full stop in just 4 seconds and the top speed would be above 180 mph. The last Cayman GT4 could hit 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and its top speed was 183 mph.
Other upgrades will include a lowered suspension, a more aggressive aero kit with larger intakes, plus uprated brakes and sharpened steering.
Exterior
From the spy shots, we can see that the exhaust tips are no longer on the center of the rear bumper, but were moved toward the outer flanks. Aside from that, there are not much details to go on.
Production
There will be limited production of the Cayman GT4. If you want your hands on one, you better start asking your favorite Porsche dealer. These special edition Porsches sell pretty fast.
Speaking of GT4, there’s another GT4-spec racing version called the Clubsport. A prototype of this was seen being tested at Italy’s Monza.
Photos by: CarAdvice
Hyundai Kona N Crossover With 247HP Is Looking For Approval
Hyundai’s N Performance sub-brand is awaiting approval from the top tier of the South Korean automaker to make over the Kona, the brand’s new compact crossover. Once it has the approval, the Hyundai Kona N Crossover will get 247 horsepower from a 2.0-liter turbo engine used in the i30 N.
Albert Biermann, Hyundai’s N performance boss, already instructed his engineers to develop a test mule version of the Kona. This test mule version would be the consideration for the production of the Kona by the end of the decade. Biermann had no assurances about the Kona getting approval, but he reiterated that the Kona needs to use the powertrain in the i30 N.
To differentiate it from the standard version, the Hyundai engineers would need to develop a different suspension and steering specs for the performance version.
The i30 N is based on the i30, an overseas version of the Elantra GT seeing as the i30 N was never offered to the American market. It was offered in three body styles—a hatchback, a wagon, and a fastback sedan. Fitted with a six-speed manual transmission, the i30 N has two engine options: the 2.0-liter four-cylinder and another version producing 271 horsepower. The latter version will power the Veloster N, which will be available in the US.
The Kona’s standard version will have two engines: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, or a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that can do 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque.
Other features of the N version of the Kona could possibly be a large grille, red-trimmed undercarriage, a special badge, and interior trim and suspension upgrades that will include a rear diffuser, small roof spoiler, and exposed rear tailpipes.
Since going on sale last February, the Kona had already sold 5,874 units. It also has plans to develop an all-electric version for 2019 and an entry-level Kona Electric will be available in Europe.
Mercedes AMG GT 63 S Four-Door Coupe Gets Edition 1 Model
Mercedes-AMG has decided to come up with a family style model for its AMG GT 63. The Mercedes AMG GT 63 S four-door coupe will mark its launch with an Edition 1 model, complete with exclusive interior and exterior appointments for the 2019 model year.
This latest model of the AMG GT family will get all the trappings of the AMG Aerodynamics Package, including larger front splitter and integrated flics in the front bumper, optimized diffuser and fixed rear spoiler with mechanically adjustable angle.
The paintwork in designo Graphite Grey Magno immediately captures the attention of anyone who’ll see the car. There are AMG sports stripes in matte Graphite Grey on the sides, as well as above the side sill panels, on the hood, roof, and the decklid. Finishing off the whole look is the 21-inch AMG cross-spoke forged wheels painted in matte black and with a high-sheen finish.
Inside the car, you’ll find AMG multicontour performance seats with memory package. These are upholstered in exclusive Nappa leather in Magma Grey/Black with yellow contrasting topstitching. Topping off the whole look of the seats are yellow seatbelts. Even the door center panels and armrests in the door and the center console are in Nappa leather in Magma Grey.
The AMG performance steering wheel is in DINAMICA microfiber with yellow contrasting topstitching, yellow 12 o’clock marking, and “Edition 1” badge. Other important things to note are the illuminated AMG door sill panels and the floor mats in black with the AMG badge.
The Edition 1 is exclusive to the GT 63 S four-door’s top-of-the-range model, which features the handcrafted AMG 4.0-liter V8 biturbo engine with an output of 630 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque. It has a top speed of 195 mph and can go 0 to 60 mph in just 3.1 seconds.
Aston Martin DB11 Gets an AMR Treatment
Aston Martin just updated its lineup by bringing the AMR treatment to its DB11. The 2019 Aston Martin DB11 AMR may not necessarily be the perfect car on the race track, but it suits consumers who want a larger and more focused version of the DB11.
The AMR version of the DB11 has been revealed at the Aston Martin’s Nurburgring test center. It replaces the standard V-12 DB11 in Aston Martin’s lineup and brings a new 5.2-liter twin-turbocharged V-12 that can deliver a whopping 630 horsepower.
This new output now has the capacity to go 62 mph from a complete standstill in just 3.7 seconds. It also has a top speed of 208 mph. The original DB11 with an output of 600 horsepower can do that in 3.9 seconds, and has a top speed of just 200 mph.
The straight-line speed is not just where the DB11 has been upgraded. The team over at Aston Martin also made sure that it will have an improved feedback without harming the car’s supple ride. They also added a more aggressive shift calibration for the 8-speed automatic transmission. And for those of you who love the feel and the sound of a more powerful engine, the DB11 AMR has a more vocal exhaust note.
Distinguishing the DB11 AMR visually are the number of darkened elements and exposed carbon fiber. This dark theme will continue inside—from the dark leather and Alcantara upholstery accented with a contrasting central stripe in AMR’s signature lime color. It also has a leather-wrapped sports steering wheel.
If you want your DB11 AMR to have a more race-car-inspired style, you can choose to have the engine cover, exhaust outlet, rear spoiler, steering wheel, and paddle shifters all in carbon fiber.
The Aston Martin DB11 AMR will go on sale this summer with a starting price of $241,000. There’s also a special AMR Signature Edition of the car. There will only be 100 units of the DB11 AMR that features a Stirling Green exterior with lime accents.
2019 Subaru Crosstek PHEV Is Company’s First Plug-In Hybrid
Subaru’s third best-selling car, the Crosstek, will be the company’s first-ever plug-in hybrid. It’s quite telling, actually, that the automaker chose the Subaru Crosstek to be its first plug-in hybrid version seeing as it was the first conventional hybrid introduced for the 2014 model year.
Since the Crosstek is the company’s fast-selling vehicle, it makes sense that it would like to experiment on it as people are more open to shelling out their money for something they would choose to go with, in the first place. Subaru has yet to reveal photos of the plug-in hybrid variant, so we’re left to wonder how this would look like.
The Crosstek PHEV will be similar to the Subaru BRZ since both of them will benefit from Toyota technology—the hybrid system, that is. It will still be paired to a flat-four and will be capable of driving in full EV mode and in conventional hybrid mode. We have yet to receive information on what the range of the Crosstek PHEV will be.
What Subaru did reveal is that the Crosstek PHEV will be coming soon, even as early as the end of 2018. We might be seeing this in dealerships before the year comes to a close. Of course, while we’re on the subject of release dates and arrival in dealerships, this also signals that more information and details are bound to come in droves.
There aren’t many plug-in hybrid compact crossovers in the market, but there are a few and they are quite interesting. The closest competition of the upcoming Subaru Crosstek PHEV would be the Kia Niro PHEV, which claimed to have a range of 26 miles on a single charge and a solid 46 mpg when running with the gas engine. The Kia Niro PHEV has a starting price of $28,840, so we’re thinking the Crosstek PHEV might play near this number.
Another competitor is the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV with 22 miles of range and 25 mpg on gas. The Outlander has more cargo, but it has a higher base price of $35,915.
3 Things That Make The 2018 Lexus RX Crafted Stand Out
Photo Source: CarAdvice
Lexus has come up with the RX Crafted. The Lexus RX Crafted sits right between the Luxury and the F Sport trims, giving customers who want more features but don’t want to pay the price of the F Sport trim a new alternative. It’s only available in Australia for now, but we’re hoping we’ll see it this side of the globe, too.
Exterior
The update did not alter the exterior of the RX completely, though it now stands out because of the black accents to the front grille and the fog lamp bezels. The mirror caps are also now wrapped in black for a sportier look and the standard wheels have been replaced with 20-inch alloy units.
The rear is unchanged, but the bumper insert has been painted black and the chrome trim in the center and around the tailpipes have been removed. This gives the RX Crafted a sportier stance. The exterior is finished off with a standard moonroof.
Interior
Think about all the equipment you would want in a car and that’s what you’re going to find inside the RX Crafted interior. The Luxury trim used an eight-inch infotainment display. The Crafted has updated this to a 12.3-inch screen at no additional cost. It also has the heads-up display and the premium 15-speaker Mark Levinson sound system with Clari-Fi technology. These are the features that are reserved for the more expensive models.
Powertrain
Most special-edition models only have one powertrain, but Lexus is giving us more with the RX Crafted. It comes available with all the powertrains offered with the standard RX. There’s the RX 300, which uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. It can produce 235 horses. Next, there’s the RX 350, which uses a 3.5-liter V-6 engine with 296 ponies. Finally, the RX 450h hybrid is rated to have 308 horsepower.
Photo Source: CarAdvice
3 All-Important Rumors About The 2020 BMW M3
The BMW M3 has been around since 1985 and has always been the go-to car for its reliability and its style. The latest F80 generation dropped in 2014, but we’re now looking at the next-generation M3, dubbed internally as the G80.
Exterior
Based on the recent spy shots of the car from TopSpeed, this compact four-door screams sports machine from the first view, thanks to its wide and low stance, aggressive aero bits, and larger intakes in the front fascia. At first, the camouflaged version looked a lot like the standard 3 Series but a closer inspection revealed the transformation from a luxury sedan to a performance car.
Finishing off that aggressive and sporty look are the flared fenders, the pronounced rear trunk spoiler, and wheels that measure between 19 and 20 inches in diameter.
Interior
The 2020 BMW M3’s cabin is almost the same layout and design as the current model. It has a lot of space, enough for a total of five passengers. The dashboard will continue to have physical buttons used to control the car’s features and a widescreen will be mounted on top of the dash.
The steering wheel has a three-spoke design with loads of buttons and switches to control the car’s main features. One of the biggest upgrades, however, would be the gauge cluster behind the steering wheel. It will all be digital, something that both Audi and Mercedes have been planning for quite a while.
Performance
The 2020 BMW M3 will have a new powertrain package—a standard M-tuned twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder. Known also as the S58B30, it’s the same engine used in the M4. It could produce as much as 500 horsepower, the lowest estimate might peak at 465 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque.
The engine will be paired with an eight-speed automatic, replacing the current dual-clutch seven-speed unit. We could also see BMW offering the new M3 in RWD and manual gearbox.
2018 Fiat 500 Minicar Gets $1,500 More Expensive For Additional Ponies
The 2018 Fiat 500 minicar will be $1,500 more than its original price, thanks to an enhanced powertrain and other upgrades. There’s also an additional $250 on the destination charge, so it’s going to cost quite a bit to drive this little Italian number.
It’s not just the Fiat 500 minicar that will get the additional destination charge. The other sedans, SUVs, and trucks in the FCA family will also get its prices boosted.
According to CarsDirect, the FCA has increased the prices on the 2018 Fiat 500 by $1,500. The 5-speed manual will now have a price tag of $17,490 while the 6-speed automatic is going to sell for $18,485. The Fiat 500 Lounge will start at $20,990, which is also $1,500 more than last year. Finally, the top-of-the-line 500 Abarth will have a starting price of $21,740. That’s up $750 from the price last year.
Those figures already include the $250 additional destination fee. This was announced by FCA to dealers last March, and it will take effect on cars, SUVs, and trucks. The destination charge for the Jeep Wrangler now is $1,445. The destination fee is the charge automakers put on top of the advertised price to ship vehicles from the factories to dealers. The Fiat 500’s destination fee is now $1,245.
The additional charges is warranted because the Fiat 500 minicar received some upgrades through a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 135 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. It also has sportier suspension, brakes and exterior design, a sport-tuned exhaust and rearview camera, 16-inch aluminum wheels, fog lamps and a “Turbo” badge on the rear fascia.
The Fiat’s new price makes it more expensive than the 2019 Honda Fit, which has a starting price of $17,085. It is interesting to see where Fiat’s sales will fall after the additional fees. They might be forced to give discounts for the slow-selling minicar, in the end.
5 Things We Should Expect From The 2020 Volkswagen Golf Mk8 GTI
Rendering of the 2020 Volkswagen Golf MK8 GTI from TopSpeed.
After four long years, German automaker Volkswagen is finally ready to uncover the next-generation Golf GTI in 2019. As one of the most popular hot hatchback out there, it’s only a matter of time before folks at Volkswagen decide to update the Golf GTI, especially considering that Ford is already working on a new-generation Focus ST.
Not much is known about the 2020 Volkswagen Golf MK8 GTI performance hatchback, but it should have most of the styling cues found on recently introduced Volkswagen models, including the sporty Arteon sedan.
Exterior
The 2020 Volkswagen Golf Mk8 GTI will get the company’s latest design package, which means larger front grille, bigger headlamps, and a more aggressive bumper. The GTI package will also come packed with a honeycomb mesh instead of the horizontal slats in the grille. There’s also the traditional red stripe on each side of the logo.
Designers over at Volskwagen also added C-shaped LED lights on the air vents on each side of the lower grille. The Golf Mk8 GTI is also a bit longer and wider than the previous generation.
Interior
We don’t have any spy photos of the interiors of the 2020 Volkswagen Golf Mk8 GTI, but the latest in Polo and Touareg models provided us some hints. It has a much cleaner dashboard with rectangular vents at the corners and in the center stack. It will also get a bigger infotainment screen, a new steering wheel, revised seats, new upholstery and materials, as well as enhanced room for rear passengers.
Performance
The upcoming Golf GTI will use the updated version of the company’s MQB platform and will help shed off about 70 kilograms off its weight. It will continue using the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that can produce more than 250 horsepower, though no exact figure has been revealed. Other technology to help in the performance will include engine-off coasting, an integrated starter-motor and generator, as well as electrically driven turbochargers.
Prices
No pricing information has been announced yet but the outgoing model is priced at $26,415, so the Mk8 model could be sold for $28,000 before options. The production of the eight generation Golf will begin in June 2019, so the GTI could be launched before 2019.
Competition
The 2020 Volkswagen Golf Mk8 GTI direct competitors are the Ford Focus ST and the Hyundai I30 N.