Ask anyone who knows their cars from their elbows what kind of car a S-Class is and they’ll tell you it’s a sedan. A big sedan. A big luxury sedan. But that common assumption is about to get blown out of the water.
The next-generation is set to arrive late next year as a 2013 model. And when it does, the sedan will only be the start of it. Reports indicate that the next S will spawn no fewer than four body-styles.
First things first: two wheelbase options cover two of those versions, even if the shorter wheelbase isn’t offered in North America. But don’t worry – the third option isn’t a wagon. Nor is it a four-door coupe – the CLS covers that base just fine. But following the integration of the CLK into the family and the arrival of the new coupe, the big CL coupe (which was originally a rebadged S coupe in the first place) will be re-integrated into the S-Class.
So where does that leave the fourth variant? Convertible. Although Mercedes has toyed with the idea of a CL cabrio for years, it’s never offered one (at least not as a production model direct from the factory). And while the Ocean Cruise concept pictured above was a four-door convertible, sources expect the production S Cab to pack two doors like the coupe on which it’ll be based. Of course in the current trend of busting segments, there’s no telling what the future might bring, but for now it seems Daimler has its eyes fixed squarely on the .
Perana Z-One – Click above for high-res image gallery
Zagato’s been keeping busy, what with the , , and the rumored . Now, PistonHeads reports that another another sexy Zagato-bodied sports car can join the party. The Perana Z-One has finally reached production, with UK deliveries set to commence.
The Z-One, as you might recall, , where it stole the spotlight. The custom chassis was reportedly set up by Lee Noble – the same talent behind a variety of cottage-industry sportscars wearing names like Ultima, Ascari, Rosion, Fenix and, of course, Noble. Powered by a442-hp LS3 V8, it’s bound for these shores as well, with the order book now open – though precisely when we’ll begin receiving deliveries remains to be seen.
How NOT to get out of a C6 Corvette – Click above to watch video
Are sixth-generation coupes attempting to take out their owners? , another driver, captured above, also believed he was stuck inside his ‘Vette. The real issue here, however, isn’t folks being outsmarted by their cars; it’s that vehicle owners don’t even bother learning how their cars work.
When the battery dies on a C6 Corvette, the door-release buttons stop working. isn’t in the business of creating sports cars that turn into traps, so it installs (very obviously marked) levers on the floor that, when pulled, manually open the doors. Not rocket science, guys. No need to panic. But hey, when you do freak out, and your friends are kind enough to find it hilarious and videotape it, well, we’re happy to share.
to watch. Just be advised: the language is not safe for work.
After painfully watching for years as the automaker’s beloved M lineup ballooned in both size and weight – even adding sport utility vehicles – the German’s have delivered us a new little jewel.
After painfully watching for years as the automaker’s beloved M lineup ballooned in both size and weight – even adding sport utility vehicles – the German’s have delivered us a new little jewel. It’s not another derivative of the race-bred , the highly anticipated next-generation or a sneak preview of the future M6. Instead, this little shot of driving ecstasy comes in the guise of the lowly – the entry-level BMW.
BMW invited us to its headquarters in New Jersey for our first driving impressions. Instead of death-by-PowerPoint, the traditional manner of new vehicle introduction, they immediately handed us the key fob to a brand-new along with a paper map. Our assignment was to drive the back roads for the next two hours to Monticello Motorsports Park, the private racing circuit outside New York City. After extended hot laps followed by lunch, we’d polish the marbles off the tire treads with a drive back to Montvale before a six-hour flight back home.
2012 Hyundai Genesis Sedan – Click above for high-res image gallery
According to the sleuths at Car and Driver, the current won’t come with all-wheel drive. Instead, buyers will have to wait until at least 2014 before the traction-adding tech shows up on the company’s luxury four-door. That may also mean that the and the lengthy will miss out on all-wheel drive for another few years until the Korean automaker can come up with a refreshed platform. CEO John Krafcik has long made it clear that the Genesis twins and the Equus would receive an all-wheel drive option in the future, but we were hoping that we’d see a variant of the that churns from all four wheels.
As Car and Driver points out, the Genesis Sedan has seen fairly strong sales since its introduction, and the addition of all-wheel drive will likely help the model inch ever closer toward that magic 30,000 unit-per-year mark. Unfortunately, with at least three years before an all-new model touches down, buyers will have to content themselves with the rash of more powerful engines, a reworked suspension and refined visuals that Hyundai recently unveiled.
Word from Auto Express is that has given Vauxhall the go-ahead on a new coupe project based on the Epsilon II platform. That may mean that a similar model is headed to the land of the free under the Tri-Shield badge. After all, wherever Vauxhall goes these days, is sure to follow. In the old country, the upcoming coupe is rumored to pack a 2.8-liter turbo V6 under its pretty little bonnet, though there’s no telling what a Buick version would rely on for power. Auto Express reports that Vauxhall plans to offer varying levels of boost depending on trim.
All topped out, the two-door would offer a little over 320 horses at all four wheels, and engineers are said to be working on improving the vehicle’s handling dynamics by shortening the chassis. Design wise, the newcomer will borrow heavily from the GTC concept, though we would expect to see the corporate waterfall grille on any American iteration. Across the pond, the coupe will reportedly carry the Calibra moniker. Here in the States, we’d be satisfied with a big GNX badge on the rear deck should this sucker come to life.
Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS – Click above for high-res image gallery
We’re not exactly sure what’s in the water over in Stuttgart, but something apparently makes the folks over at wake up most mornings and think, “There aren’t enough versions of the . We should make another.” It’s the same time-to-make-the-donuts spirit that has already given us more than twenty versions of the iconic rear-engined sportscar, and has now given us two more in the form of the 911 Carrera 4 GTS coupe and cabriolet.
When the rear-drive debuted last September, it included the wider bodywork typically reserved for all-wheel-drive models. Now Porsche has backed it up with the Carrera 4’s traction, packing the same 408-horsepower 3.8-liter flat-six as its rear-drive counterpart for an identical 4.6-second sprint to 62 mph – that’s in coupe form with the six-speed manual, to which you can add or subtract 0.2 seconds for the cabrio and PDK dual-clutch transmission, respectively.
A restyled front bumper with lip spoiler, side skirts, black 19-inch RS Spyder wheels and sport buckets trimmed in Alcantara round out the package, which now stands as the flagship of the Carrera range – those being the naturally-aspirated, non-Motorsport models in the 911 family. Prices start at $110,200 and spiral upwards from there. Details in the press release after the jump and high-res photos in the gallery.
Red Bull Peachtree Drift Battle in Atlanta – Click above to watch the video
According to the company’s slogan, Red Bull is supposed to give you wings. Apparently, all it gives Rhys Millen and Ryan Tuerck is smoke… tire smoke that is, and lots of it.
The two drivers – Millen in his and Tuerck in his Pontiac Solstice Coupe (may it rest in peace) – were flown out to the Georgian capitol to take part in the Red Bull Peachtree Drift Battle, which, as you may have guessed, takes place down Peachtree Street in downtown Atlanta.
There’s isn’t really a winner to this staged race, except for perhaps all the innocent bystanders who got a much-needed injection of excitement into their routine daily commutes. See all the tire-smoking action in the video .
According to a leaked dealer order guide for the range, we red-blooded Yankees might be able to once again sink our teeth into the super-hot Estate. As you’ll recall, Mercedes-Benz decided not to offer the new-for-2010 E63 wagon here in the States, but that is wrong is reportedly being righted for 2012. BenzBoost.com reports that the cargo-hauling AMG stunner will be available for U.S. customers later this year, powered by the same twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 that at last month’s , complete with start/stop technology and mated to a seven-speed MCT dual-clutch transmission.
We can already picture the inevitable E63 AMG Wagon vs. battle, and it looks awesome.
In other E-Class news, BenzBoost reports that the E550 sedan – which – will only be available with 4Matic all-wheel drive. A similar move was made to the , which uses the same engine and is no longer available in a two-wheel-drive configuration. Stay tuned for the official details later this year.
Good as it may be to drive, and better as it may be to ride in, we still don’t quite understand the . It isn’t as hunkered down and svelte as a or , and its big booty style isn’t exactly the most attractive thing to come out of Munich.
And now there’s a smaller one to look forward to.
In addition to a sedan, coupe, convertible and wagon, the next-generation will be offered in hunchbacked Gran Turismo form, seen here all covered up in swirly camouflage. Our sources indicate that the 3GT will have a different front fascia than the rest of the 3 Series lineup, as well as a unique roofline and a frameless window design.
Expect engine choices to be the same as the rest of the 3 Series lineup, with turbocharged four- and six-cylinder powerplants across the range. No word on when the 3GT will bow (or if it’s destined for consumption here in the States, where the 5GT hasn’t exactly been lighting the sales charts afire), but our spies suggest that BMW’s new genre-bender will launch one year after the 3 Series Touring, another bodystyle we’re not sure is coming to North America.
Part of what made the , the series of films with Clive Owen, so compelling was that it was well written, it was underplayed, and as far as action films went it didn’t obliterate believability. The laconic Owen was able to sell hopped-up adventures with his relaxed delivery of cutting lines, and it was credulous that a driver-for-hire made his living in a .
The movie Drive & Seek, however, throws all of that away. A promotional piece for the Coupe, it’s slick, utterly good looking, outrageously over-the-top, and goofy in every way possible. The only reason we know it’s not a Michael Bay film is that nothing explodes, otherwise it prays at his altar: a hot woman in a bathing suit (Kate Nauta, from The Transporter 2), hot women in white skinsuits robbing a bank, gunfire in an expensive suit, an absurd car chase… and some other stuff. If that’s your bag, there’s 9:25 of it in the video .
-Benz Drive & Seek action movie stars C-Class, scantily clad bank robbers
2010 Mercedes-Benz E350 – Click above for high-res image gallery
The hardcore isn’t the only model that gets a new heart for the 2012 model year. According to our sources within , both the E350 and E550 models will receive new powerplants currently found elsewhere in the automaker’s lineup.
The base E350 will now be powered by the automaker’s new 3.5-liter V6 with direct-injection, an engine that we recently tested in the sedan and roadster. Rated at 302 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, the new engine provides power increases of 14 hp and 15 lb-ft over the current V6, while the use of direct-injection and a seven-speed automatic transmission will no doubt return improved fuel economy.
Moving along, the eight-cylinder E550 will ditch its naturally aspirated 5.5-liter V8 in favor of a twin-turbocharged 4.6-liter unit with direct-injection, currently found in the coupe. In the E-Class, this engine will be good for 402 hp and 443 lb-ft – improvements of 20 and 52, respectively.
Look for the refreshed E-Class range to debut this Fall.
has pulled the wraps off its latest supercar, the 2012 SLS AMG Roadster. Gone are the gullwing doors and fixed roof; in their place are traditional entry-ports and a folding cloth softtop. The car is still undergoing testing, but these shots reveal far more of the car than we’ve previously seen in . A more polished version will be revealed to the world at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show this September.
Before the 2012 SLS AMG Roadster hits the show circuit, it needs to spend some more time with Mercedes’ engineers. The MB team has put a lot of work into this drop-top SLS, and ditching the fixed roof has required more than simply taking a sawzall to the bodywork.
Though the aluminum spaceframe was originally developed with both a coupe and convertible in mind, Benz engineers added beefier side-skirts to the roadster. This allows for improvements in both crash performance and overall rigidity. Further aiding in the quest for increased strength, a cross-member that supports the dashboard was given additional bracing at both the window frame and transmission tunnel. Despite this increased rigidity, the bodyshell of the SLS AMG Roadster weighs just five pounds more than the bodyshell of the .
Like its hardtop sibling, the roadster is capable of hitting an electronically limited top speed of 197 miles per hour. The convertible top is constructed from three layers of fabric, magnesium, steel and aluminum. It’s lightweight, strong and can be opened or closed at speeds up to 31 miles per hour.
You can see the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster being put through the testing paces by clicking through the gallery below. Be sure to to read more about the new SLS convertible in the full press release.
Emerging from a tumultuous transition period, is intent on breaking out of the fringe and into the mainstream. But doing so with its current line-up would be a challenge. So the British automakers are planning a whole slew of new products – 40 in all – including new models, derivatives of existing ones and new powertrain technologies.
According to The Detroit Bureau, among Jaguar’s plans is a new model to target the and the rest of the entry-level luxury set. The model will represent a significant departure from the ill-fated X-Type, striving to embody the look and feel of larger Jaguars into a smaller package. What we didn’t know until now, however, was that Jaguar is planning several body-style derivatives of its new small sedan. The X-Type included the first wagon ever offered by Jaguar, so a hatch could be among the offerings, along with a two-door coupe, four-door “coupe,” convertible and others. As the Germans have shown, there’s no limit to how many derivatives a model line can spawn, and it’s precisely the Germans which Jaguar has in its sights.
Another new model on the horizon is a large crossover, a project on which we recently . While Jaguar has been careful not to step on sister-company Land Rover’s feet, the feeling now is that there’s enough territory in street-focused crossovers to stay clear of Land Rover’s go-anywhere SUVs. While Jaguar’s first crossover will target the and , a smaller model could also be in the works.
Beyond that, Jaguar is reportedly looking at further expanding the diversity of its powertrains with new diesels, hybrids and other propulsion technologies. Unfortunately, a production version of the turbine-hybrid supercarconcept doesn’t appear in the cards. Plans are underway, however, to further separate the two brands from each other by implementing separate showrooms. Our own Jonathon Ramsey has more details on Jaguar Land Rover’s plans for the future, so watch this space for more.
Emerging from a tumultuous transition period, is intent on breaking out of the fringe and into the mainstream. But doing so with its current line-up would be a challenge. So the British automakers are planning a whole slew of new products – 40 in all – including new models, derivatives of existing ones and new powertrain technologies.
According to The Detroit Bureau, among Jaguar’s plans is a new model to target the and the rest of the entry-level luxury set. The model will represent a significant departure from the ill-fated X-Type, striving to embody the look and feel of larger Jaguars into a smaller package. What we didn’t know until now, however, was that Jaguar is planning several body-style derivatives of its new small sedan. The X-Type included the first wagon ever offered by Jaguar, so a hatch could be among the offerings, along with a two-door coupe, four-door “coupe,” convertible and others. As the Germans have shown, there’s no limit to how many derivatives a model line can spawn, and it’s precisely the Germans which Jaguar has in its sights.
Another new model on the horizon is a large crossover, a project on which we recently . While Jaguar has been careful not to step on sister-company Land Rover’s feet, the feeling now is that there’s enough territory in street-focused crossovers to stay clear of Land Rover’s go-anywhere SUVs. While Jaguar’s first crossover will target the and , a smaller model could also be in the works.
Beyond that, Jaguar is reportedly looking at further expanding the diversity of its powertrains with new diesels, hybrids and other propulsion technologies. Unfortunately, a production version of the turbine-hybrid supercarconcept doesn’t appear in the cards. Plans are underway, however, to further separate the two brands from each other by implementing separate showrooms. Our own Jonathon Ramsey has more details on Jaguar Land Rover’s plans for the future, so watch this space for more.
In Vino Veritas, the old Latin saying goes, “In wine is truth.” But what about CAD renderings? That’s what Aussie auto website CarAdvice got a glimpse at while touring the headquarters of German niche carmaker Veritas.
The engineering trust formed the collective brain behind the Veritas RSIII, a radical retro roadster powered by ’s celebrated V10 engine, and has long been rumored to be following up with a coupe to join it. And the design, at least, for that model appears to be coming along nicely.
Since the ’s V10 has now been discontinued, Veritas has, like , had to work around its replacement: the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 that powers the and and which will drive the new M5, as well. Since the turbo-eight reportedly requires a lot more cooling than the ten-pot it replaces, the design’s aerodynamics had to be thoroughly rethought.
That’s about all there is at present, but we’ll expect to hear more as the project progresses. In the meantime, head over to for a closer look.
According to German site AutoBild.de, is prepping a new V8-powered flagship, and it could be wearing three digits on the back that’ll strike a chord with motorsports fans. Rumor has it that this next Porsche superstar will be called the 961. If those numbers ring a bell, that’s because Porsche created a 961 race car that only saw limited action. Based on the 959, the 961 ran three races before ultimately finding a home in Porsche’s Stuttgart-based museum.
It’s being reported that this modern 961 will be modeled after the 918 Spyder, yet will arrive in coupe form. Power will be provided by a V8, however, an electric motor will also be available to provide boost and push output up to 600 horsepower. We expect to see the flagship Porsche 961 by 2013.
has recalled of 2001-2003 Honda and models for airbag issues since 2008, and now the Japanese automaker is re-recalling those vehicles. Honda is inspecting 833,000 vehicles for airbags that deploy with too much pressure, which could lead to metal fragments passing through the airbag cushion material. This defect has resulted in 12 injuries and one death since 2010.
The recall covers vehicles that have already been serviced, as Honda is searching for 2,430 defective airbag inflator parts that were used during the original repair. Since Honda cannot determine which vehicles received the defective part, the Japanese automaker is re-recalling all 833,000 vehicles.
Among the 833,000 vehicles affected by the recalls are the 2001-2002 and , the 2002 and 2002-2003 . Acura models affected are certain 2002-2003 sedans and 2003 CL coupes.
This latest news means that Honda has recalled over 1.6 million vehicles for this issue since 2008. Honda recalled in 2009 and in 2010. The automaker’s official press release is available .
Wringing Out Two New Italians At Monticello Motor Club
Click below for high-res image galleries
Driving a late-model on public roads is akin to watching an epic film in mono – the senses are teased but left unchallenged.
Driving a Lamborghini on a track, however, is a mind-blowing charge of adrenalin. No speed limits, g-forces only capped by available grip, engine wailing, tires screaming, brakes cooking – it’s pure sensory overload.
With an invite in hand, I left New York City for an afternoon and headed north 90 miles to the . Lamborghini chose the private venue to host a hands-on introduction to the and , two of its newest models. The freshly arrived convertible and coupe join the ranks of more than a dozen Gallardo variants that have been released over the years.
While tooling around the countryside on public roads in a new Lamborghini is utterly enjoyable, the only place to truly experience an Italian exotic, or any sports car for that matter, is on a closed racing circuit, and that’s exactly what I’m here to do.
Gallery:
Gallery:
Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder Performante and LP 550-2 Bicolore
