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Earlier this year, Morgan committed to bringing one new model to market every two years, and the first vehicle to come out of this initiative is the EvaGT, a 2+2 coupe set to debut at this year’s Pebble Beach extravaganza.

Aside from the teaser above, Morgan isn’t offering much in the way of design details, but judging by the tapered roofline and massive rear fenders, we’re having a hard time imagining how more than two occupants could fit comfortably within the EvaGT.

The hand-finished, superformed aluminum body – which is decidedly more modern than past Morgan – boasts a number of aerodynamic tweaks, including flush door handles, hidden wipers and millimeter thin panel gaps to reduce drag and improve downforce. Underneath, the bonded aluminum chassis is based on Morgan’s Aero SuperSports, the same underpinnings used on its GT3 competitor.

As it’s done for the last decade, Morgan is sourcing its powertrain from BMW, and in the case of the EvaGT it’s using the German’s 306-horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight six, along with a six-speed manual or “sport” automatic gearbox to shuttle power to the rear wheels. Morgan is estimating a curb weight of 2,755 pounds, resulting in a 0-60 mph dash of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 170 mph.

After the EvaGT makes its debut at the 60th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Carmel, California, Morgan will begin taking deposits on the first 100 units, with deliveries expected to begin in mid-2012. Get the full details in the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Morgan confirms EvaGT launch for Pebble Beach

Morgan confirms EvaGT launch for Pebble Beach

2011 Renault Latitude – Click above for high-res image gallery

Continue reading 2011 Renault Latitude brings back conventional style to premium segment

2011 Renault Latitude brings back conventional style to premium segment

It’s a precarious game making a racing car for the road. The Caparo T1 never seemed to have gotten off the ground, close as it was to a road-going F1 racer. The Tramontana is just about as close, but at half a million euros, the niche automaker is reportedly having trouble finding buyers.

The solution? Tap into the racing market. According to emerging reports from across the pond, Tramontana is considering replacing the twin-turbo V12 sourced from Mercedes with a Cosworth V10 for the competition model. The British engineering firm is known to many for its Formula One engine program: While it currently supplies 2.4-liter V8s to Williams, Lotus, HRT and Virgin, as recently 2006 it was still building 3.0-liter V10s for Scuderia Toro Rosso.

Cosworth also has plenty of expertise building engines for other racing series as well as roadcars, so there’s plenty to tap into to transform the Tramontana from a road-garbling beast to a curb-chomping racer.

[Source: AutoWeek.nl - translated]

Rumormill: Race-spec Tramontana to receive Cosworth V10

In its latest newsletter update, Carbon Motors has revealed that it’s received over 14,000 reservations from over 400 police agencies for its new purpose built E7 police car. However, it’s best to bear in mind those are just reservations for slots in the production schedule. As of yet, no one has placed a firm order for the E7 because Carbon hasn’t even announced pricing. While the concept of a vehicle built specifically to meet the needs of police forces certainly sounds good on paper, the E7 will undoubtedly be expensive.

Besides using plenty of bespoke hardware that won’t benefit from economies of scale, it will be powered by a BMW 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine – a phenomenal engine and much more fuel efficient than anything else currently available in the police market, but coming from Munich will certainly elevate the price.

It will be very interesting to see how many reservations get turned into firm orders once pricing is announced. Make the jump for the full details.

[Source: Carbon Motors]

Continue reading Carbon Motors claims 14,000 reservations for E7 police car

Carbon Motors claims 14,000 reservations for E7 police car

If there’s to be a singular automotive theme guiding us into this second decade of the 21st century, it’s downsizing. If not in dimensions, then in displacement. Automakers, forced to adhere to higher government-mandated fuel economy standards and lower CO2 emissions, are beginning to collectively reduce engine size while attempting to maintain the thrust consumers demand.

The newest posterchild for this movement comes in an unlikely wrapper: the 2011 Audi Q7. Packing the same supercharged 3.0-liter V6 found in the S4 sports sedan, Audi bids adieu (or is that Auf Wiedersehen?) to the 3.6-liter V6 and 4.2-liter V8 for the 2011 model year and brings with it the 2011 A8’s eight-speed automatic transmission. We tackled the congested highways and byways in and around Ingolstadt to see if the revised Q7 has the goods to placate both bureaucrats and buyers, while taking a deeper look into Audi’s new powertrain strategy. Click through to the jump to see if we can make sense of it all.

Photos by Damon Lavrinc / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Audi Q7 downsizes with an upside

First Drive: 2011 Audi Q7 downsizes with an upside

It appears that BMW may have overestimated the U.S. market appeal for high-end versions of the 550i Gran Turismo, and executives now acknowledge that the six-cylinder 535i probably should have been available at launch. It’s not unusual for an automaker to launch an all-new model by shipping mostly loaded, top-level versions in order to absorb the maximum number of dollars from early adopters, but sometimes that approach backfires if the market isn’t ready for the new vehicle.

Case in point is the 5GT, of which BMW has apparently sold fewer than 1,200 units in the U.S. since the launch of the polarizing people mover late last year. Interestingly, BMW has found that more women than expected have bought the model, while its less-than-stellar fuel consumption has hurt sales in a still-weak U.S. economy. Gran Turismo sales are apparently ahead of projections elsewhere, but those other markets launched with both gasoline and diesel inline-six engine choices.

Given that the 5GT is best suited as a road trip machine, it might make sense for BMW to install the 3.0-liter diesel from the X5 and 335d as an alternative to the twin-turbo V8. So far BMW has not indicated any plans to offer a diesel GT in America, but the less costly 535i GT is still slated to arrive in the Fall.

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: AutoWeek]

Report: Slow early sales have BMW thinking 5GT should’ve launched with six-cylinder

Porsche North America has revealed American pricing for the all-new 2011 Cayenne on its consumer website, including the company’s first hybrid model. When the Cayenne goes on sale in the coming months, the base 3.6-liter gasoline V6 model will apparently start at $46,700, with the normally aspirated 4.8-liter V8 S taking the tab up to $63,700.

The new hybrid model, which combines the 333 horsepower supercharged 3.0-liter V6 with an electric motor and battery will cost customers a minimum of $67,700. While that is $21,000 more than the base model, it is massively less than the $99,000 price tag for a similar Volkswagen Touareg hybrid in Germany. The Deutsche prices, of course, include a hefty Value Added Tax. The better comparison here would be the between the V8 powered S and the hybrid, which is also at the S trim level. There the price premium is only $4,000, which seems much more reasonable.

The EPA has not yet published fuel economy numbers for the new Cayenne, but in Germany, the S is rated at 22.4 mpg (U.S.) while the hybrid is rated at 28.7 mpg. The Europe-only Cayenne diesel is rated at an even more impressive 31.8 mpg.

Finally, while base pricing is live on Porsche’s website for the 2011 model, the configurator is still that of the outgoing 2010 edition. Thus, if you’d like to see how much it’s going to run you to outfit your dream Cayenne, you’re going to have to wait a while – or at least call your local dealer. Thanks for the tip, Matt!

[Source: Porsche]

Porsche website reveals U.S. pricing for 2011 Cayenne, MSRP starts at $46,700

Even though we won’t see the production version of the standard Audi A7 until this year’s Paris Motor Show, the men and women in Ingolstadt are already prepping a hotted-up version of the swoopy four-door coupe (we still aren’t used to typing that), as seen here in this latest set of spy shots. Rumors have stated that a RS7 Sportback might debut alongside the A7 in Paris, complete with a 580-horsepower V10, and it would certainly be show-stopping if Audi could pull off having all three variants of the A7 range on hand.

As for the car spied here, we spot larger air intakes, a more robust wheel/tire package, bigger brakes and quad exhaust pipes, seemingly proving that this A7 will definitely arrive wearing an S badge. However, the camouflaged beast isn’t as muscular as Audi’s RS models, which leads us to believe that the mid-range S7 is what’s under all of the swirly paper. As for what’s housed beneath the hood, your guess is as good as ours, but something along the lines of Audi’s new supercharged 3.0-liter V6 or the free-breathing 4.2-liter V8 could be in order. Scroll through the gallery below to see the S7 prototype from all angles.

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: First look at Audi S7

When the new LRX compact crossover hits the market, it’s goal is to change the way the world perceives Land Rover. Unlike the rest of the marque’s range, the LRX isn’t likely to boast unbeatable off-road prowess with fuel-sucking power – quite the contrary, in fact. Land Rover has officially announced that in addition to the previously rumored front-wheel drive model, a diesel hybrid version of the LRX will be on the road in 2013. These two new-to-Land Rover features should go a long way in broadening the brand’s attractiveness to new sets of buyers interested in smaller vehicles like the new LRX, though the move might risk alienating traditionalists, particularly if the model’s off-road ability is severely compromised. (Note: The LRX name still isn’t in the books yet, and to this day, Land Rover is referring to the crossover as the “all-new compact Range Rover”).

Near the end of this year, Land Rover will start testing its first diesel hybrid prototype, which has been dubbed “range_e.” This development vehicle, which rides on a Range Rover Sport platform, will use LR’s existing 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V6 and a ZF eight-speed automatic mated to an electric motor. The goal is to produce a powertrain that can achieve a range of around 20 miles solely on electric power, while emitting less than 100 g/km of CO2 emissions. A conventionally powered production-bodied LRX was already spotted testing just earlier this week.

While this technology is still a few years away, Land Rover has assured us that the front-wheel-drive LRX will be available right away when the range launches next year. Never fear, though – Land Rover will still offer the LRX with an honest-to-goodness four-wheel drive system, and we look forward to getting both some on- and off-road time in the new baby Rover. The full details are available in LR’s press release available after the jump.

[Source: Land Rover Images: KGP Photography]

Continue reading Officially Official: Land Rover confirms hybrid and front-wheel-drive LRX models

Officially Official: Land Rover confirms hybrid and front-wheel-drive LRX models

The new 2011 BMW 5 Series hasn’t even gone on sale yet here in North America but there are now reports that BMW might add a diesel engine option. According to Inside Line, BMW will add diesel engine options to two more models in addition to the X5 xDrive35d and 335d already sold here with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six diesel.

The 3.0-liter with 265 horsepower and 425 pound-feet of torque would be ideally suited to the new 5 Series and has already been calibrated to pass U.S. 50 state emissions regulations. We drove a previous generation European specification 535d two years ago, which was quite the stormer while also being extremely fuel efficient. A 535d would also go a long way towards helping BMW meet new CAFE regulations here in the U.S.

The second diesel addition could be one of several models. Diesel versions of the 7 Series and X6 both seem unlikely since BMW is already offering hybrid versions of both. The more likely scenario is the installation of the company’s 2.0-liter inline four- cylinder diesel in either the 1 or 3 Series. In twin-turbocharged form, this engine produces 204 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, plenty for either car with a combined fuel economy in the 35-40 mpg range.

[Source: Inside Line]

BMW may bring diesel 5 Series to America

Review: 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid makes being green easy

2010 Ford Escape Hybrid – Click above for high-res image gallery The Ford Escape Hybrid was the first mass-produced battery-assisted SUV on the market when it launched in 2004, and from day…

Volkswagen’s autonomous “Junior” reverse power-slides into parking spot

Click above to watch video after the jump Automotive technology is rapidly advancing to the point where we eventually won’t need to actually drive a car ourselves in most real world scenarios. At…

Toyota earns $1.2B in Q1 amidst recall mess

Conventional wisdom might tell you that Toyota should have lost loads of money last quarter in the wake of the company’s largest-ever global recall and safety scandal. Perhaps it shouldn’t…

Also of interest:

• Fast Forward: Panamera already best-selling Porsche in U.S.
• 2015 Audi A4 to shed over 300 pounds
• Volvo’s all-new 2011 S60 priced from $37,700*
• Report: Casey Stoner leaves Ducati for Honda
• Report: Hundreds of complaints about Ford Windstar axles snapping, yet no NHTSA inquiry
• Volkswagen and Porsche may share more technology
• Where’s The Love: Russian Rolls-Royce Centurion abandoned by train tracks?

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The all-new A8 and updated Q7 won’t be the only vehicles in Audi’s line-up to benefit from the automaker’s new eight-speed gearbox. According to dealer order guides released for the 2011 model year, the octo-cog-swapper is set to proliferate throughout the Audi line-up in the next year, with the automaker aiming for around 70% of it U.S. sales volume to come equipped with the new gearbox.

For the 2011 model year, the A4 2.0 TFSI quattro sedan and Avant will come packing the eight-speed tranny, along with the A5 2.0 TFSI quattro coupe and cabriolet (the manual six-speed will only be available on the coupe). In addition, the revised Q7, with its new high- and low-output 3.0-liter supercharged V6s (cribbed from the S4 and A6), will replace the 3.6-liter V6 and 4.2-liter V8 for the 2011 model year. Both engines, along with the new 3.0-liter TDI, will come equipped with the eight-speed auto.

Finally, Audi quietly revealed the 2.0 TFSI inline-four-equipped Q5 at the New York Auto Show, and part of the new package will also include the eight-speed ‘box.

Sales of the eight-speed automatic-equipped models will begin this fall, each delivering improved fuel economy, quicker downshifts and, thanks to its compact packaging, no additional weight gain over the standard six-speed tiptronic.

Eight-speed automatic transmission available on A4, A5 and Q5 this fall

Automotive technology is rapidly advancing to the point where we eventually won’t need to actually drive a car ourselves in most real world scenarios. At the forefront of this development work is Volkswagen and its new electronics lab in Palo Alto, California that’s operated in conjunction with Stanford University. VW and Stanford have a long relationship in autonomous vehicle development and are continuing to develop “Junior,” an autonomous Passat wagon that was built for the last DARPA Urban Challenge a couple of years ago. We recently got to play passenger in the backseat of Junior for a demonstration and were quite impressed with its parking prowess.

The basic hardware technology that makes Junior work is fairly straightforward: a mix of GPS, radar, laser, optical and inertial sensors. The hard part is creating the software algorithms that allow the system to detect and work through the more esoteric scenarios that arise in the real world.

The videos after the jump show just far those algorithms have come: Junior can now reverse power-sliding into a parallel parking spot. While this particular scenario is probably not something you want your autonomous car to do without your permission, learning how to do it is important. In the real world there are many variables that cannot be programmed into the controls. The Stanford engineers are developing methods to allow the system to blend instructions for basic scenarios with learned responses from situations like this. Check out the videos after the jump. A tip of the hat to James!

[Source: Crunchgear, Youtube]

Continue reading Volkswagen’s autonomous “Junior” reverse power-slides into parking spot

Volkswagen’s autonomous “Junior” reverse power-slides into parking spot

The Volvo S60 has been priced: $37,700 plus $850 in destination charges is all you’ll need. What happens when you put a comparably equipped S60 priced at $41,400 up against the BMW 335i xDrive, Mercedes-Benz C350, Lexus IS350 and Audi A4? The S60 undercut the BMW and Merc, while coming in above the the Lexus and Audi. Of course, none of those other cars include Volvo’s Safe + Secure plan that offers five-year/60,000-mile warranty, maintenance wear-and-tear and roadside assistance coverage, so there’s that.

The Volvo is also the most powerful of the bunch with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 325 foot-pounds of torque, albeit in front-wheel-drive, sport-tuned Dynamic chassis guise, with power getting down through a six-speed Geartronic transmission. But wait, there’s more: The Volvo also has Pedestrian Detection and City Safety systems that the others don’t offer. Follow the jump for a press release with all the details, and see if the Swede has what it takes to get your lux dollars.

[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading Volvo’s all-new 2011 S60 priced from $37,700*

Volvo’s all-new 2011 S60 priced from $37,700*

In celebration of the 70th anniversary of its historic victory in the famed Mille Miglia automobile race in Brescia, when the classic BMW 328 not only finished in first place but also in third, fifth and sixth places, thereby ensuring overall team victory as well, the German automaker has announced that it will build just 99 examples of the limited edition Z4 sDrive35is Mille Miglia.

Setting this car apart from other Z4s, each Mille Miglia edition will be finished in a coat of matte Polaris Metallic with a blacked-out front grill, an M aero kit and 19-inch wheels finished in Dark Chrome. Inside, the seats and steering wheel will get a dash of red stitching. And of course, the limited edition model will also get unique badging inside and out.

Power will come from the standard 340-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six, mated up to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. In somewhat related news, BMW has also recreated a classic 328 Kamm Coupé to take part in this year’s Mille Miglia festivities. Check out the press release after the break for more.

[Source: BMW via BMWBlog]

Continue reading BMW to build limited edition Z4 sDrive35is Mille Miglia

BMW to build limited edition Z4 sDrive35is Mille Miglia

General Motors may be shying away from badge engineering here in the United States, but that doesn’t mean the company is giving up its old ways in other parts of the world. Daewoo recently unveiled its new Alpheon sedan at the Busan International Motor Show in Korea, and the car is as identical as identical gets to the 2010 Buick LaCrosse we all know and love. The Korean automaker says that its newest luxury cruiser is “based on the same architecture” as the mid-size Buick, though we would be more inclined to say Xerox couldn’t come up with a better copy.

Under the hood, Korean buyers will find the same mid-range 3.0-liter gasoline V6 that American buyers enjoy. As near as we can tell, the only significant difference is that the Tri-Crest badge has been ditched in favor of a Daewoo piece. At least they went that far.

The Alpheon/LaCrosse joined the debut of the Orlando MPV on stage at Busan. According to Daewoo, the sedan will hit dealers mid-way through this year. Hit the jump for the full press-release.

[Source: Daewoo]

Continue reading Buick LaCrosse rebranded as Daewoo Alpheon in South Korea

Buick LaCrosse rebranded as Daewoo Alpheon in South Korea

2011 Volkswagen Phaeton – Click above for high-res image gallery

As impressive of a vehicle as the seminal Volkswagen Phaeton may have been, the uber-luxe German sedan was an unqualified flop of an experiment here in the United States. In some other parts of the world, though, VW’s BMW and Mercedes-Benz (not to mention VW-owned Audi) competitor is still going strong.

Hence, VW has seen fit to give the Phaeton a mild update for the 2011 model year, and it tellingly used the Beijing Motor Show as the platform to reveal its top-shelf sedan. In case you missed the exterior changes, take a closer look at the front and rear fascias, where you’ll find tighter lines and new LED lighting.

It’s inside the cabin where the Phaeton gets the bulk of its improvements. Included in the refresh is VW’s latest navigation technology, along with a helpful seeing-eye camera that can monitor speed limit and no passing signs and inform lazy drivers of the data. There is also a lane-departure system that keeps the car between the proper lines and Dynamic Light Assist that adjusts the headlights to keep from blinding oncoming traffic.

Powertrain options remain the same as before, with a 450-horsepower 6.0-liter W12 engine taking top billing over a 335-hp 4.2-liter V8 and a 3.6-liter V6 that puts out 280 ponies. Finally, those looking to save a few bucks at the pump can opt for a 3.0-liter diesel V6. Check it out for yourself in the high-res image galleries below.

Photos by Sam Abuelsamid / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Beijing 2010: 2011 Volkswagen Phaeton ups the luxe

Beijing 2010: 2011 Volkswagen Phaeton ups the luxe

We’ve just returned from the grand opening of Saab’s new North American headquarters in Royal Oak, Michigan, where the newly emancipated automaker has just priced its pivotal new 9-5 for the U.S. market.

Saab will launch its new 9-5 lineup with the 2010 model year Aero sedan carrying a price of $49,990. The all-wheel drive 300-horsepower, 2.8-liter V6 turbo four-door will actually sit atop the range, with an entry-level 2011 model with Saab’s 2.0-liter turbo powerplant coming on stream shortly thereafter with a promised MSRP of “under $40,000.”

That’s ambitious pricing in what already amounts to a very crowded and competent sandbox. For reference’s sake, the 2010 Infiniti M37x starts at $48,400 and brings 330 horses to the table, while Cadillac’s CTS rings up at $43,465 in comparable all-wheel drive trim with a 304-hp 3.6-liter. The European establishment rings up at $48,925 for Mercedes-Benz’s 268-hp E350, and BMW’s new 2011 528i will start at $44,500, though both of those segment stalwarts are rear-drive and tend to run comparatively thin on standard equipment. A better comparison is Germany’s Audi A6 3.0T model, which packs 300 horses and Quattro all-wheel drive for $50,200.

According to Saab’s hand-out press release (sorry, no digital version available yet! *UPDATE: PR added after the jump), the Aero will feature a six-speed automatic gearbox with paddleshifters, so apparently no manual transmission will be available with the V6 – at least at launch. Saab does, however, promise its superb XWD all-wheel drive system, power leather seats, dual-zone HVAC, and a cooled glovebox (a longtime brand staple) among other standard features. Options will include items like a heads-up display, lane-departure warning technology, and a Harman-Kardon surround sound stereo.

The first 9-5 models are slated to go on sale in July, with the 2.0T models arriving hard on its heels. No word yet on 9-5 SportCombi pricing or availability, but we expect the two-box model to go on sale in about a year.

[Source: Saab]

Continue reading Saab announces U.S. 9-5 pricing, leads with range-topping Aero *UPDATED

Saab announces U.S. 9-5 pricing, leads with range-topping Aero *UPDATED

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