Normally our response to something called a Merdad Mehron GT would be “The what what?” Having seen it, however, our response is: “That’s hot.” The British tuning firm that normally occupies itself turning Cayennes into hot, swollen messes has looked homeward and out of nowhere done a bang-up job with the McLaren MP4-12C. As impressive as McLaren’s offering is out of the box, to our eye, Merdad has made it better.
It has done so with a body kit that beefs up the svelte lines of the standard car. Up front is a new splitter with cues from the 360 and . Along the sides, gone are the twin gills, replaced by a single, massive vent that elegantly separates a fine front form flowing into a meaty business end. In back are new vents and color-cued diffusers and provide the type of rear end you’d expect from the house of the F1.
Merdad hasn’t said much about it, but rumor is that we’ll see it next week at the , and it will be released next year along with a GT3 version. We should find out at Frankfurt what’s been done to the cabin and, more importantly, what’s been done to the powerplant. We can’t wait.
Our long-termer continues to pile on the miles in the effortless fashion that one expects of a premium sedan. August’s main outing was a weeklong stint in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, about 800 miles from Detroit. All-in, the trip accounted for over 2,000 miles, during which the Equus stretched its legs as a capable freeway cruiser and even was pressed into undignified service as a surfboard transport (see above). In case you’re wondering, no, an eight-foot rental longboard won’t fit in a luxury sedan (not in this or any other we can think of), so you’ll be forced to do the shish-ka-windows-and-empty-side-road-creep with the hazard lights on if you don’t have any alternatives.
With the exception of a modest bit of track time at Hyundai’s Seoul proving grounds in a few prototypes, this was your author’s first experience with the Equus. As one might expect, it acquits itself better over-the-road than on the track, delivering a comfortable ride and plush confines in which to while away the miles.
What was surprising for this driver was how much attention our Equus garnered – it’s rather innocuously styled, after all. But we hadn’t been driving further than our first rest stop when a couple of attractive twenty-something ladies stopped to ask about our car as we got out in the parking lot. “What is it?!” they gushed. “Believe it or not, it’s a ,” we answered. Puzzled looks. “Wait… really? Well… it’s still really nice, though!” We laughed a little inside and moved on, but their reaction was telling – “It’s still really nice, though!” is both a credit to what a pleasant surprise the Equus is for Hyundai, as well as a subtly backhanded ding at the company’s “off the radar” standing among many consumers. The same rest area yielded a discussion with a very enthusiastic owner, and subsequent conversations were held at stoplights with frantic arm-waving drivers and more random people in parking lots, including a E60 owner fed up with his ownership experience. We have to admit, we viewed the Equus as something of a generic knockoff design-wise, but our conversations suggest that the general buying public doesn’t feel the same way (or doesn’t care).
The latest exotic two-door to wear the Cavillino Rampante is the , and our friends at . How’s it look? How do you think it looks? The already gorgeous coupe has been given a styling kick that also turns the aural pleasure knob to 12 (11 is so last year).
Sure, the 458 coupe will be the choice of those seeking adventure on the track. The 458 Spider, however, will provide the perfect soundtrack to a life well lived. The affluent among us will have to live in Europe to get first crack at the car, which goes on sale there in the spring of 2012. Ferrari faithful here in the U.S. will have to wait until the end of 2012 to put a droptop 458 in their garage.
Our spy photographers have caught . This time, however, the air is a bit thinner and the camo-clad vehicle is sitting up a little bit higher. The vehicle that appears to be the future Ford Fiesta CUV was spotted chugging into the Monster’s den that is Pike’s Peak.
While it’s still a quite heavy on the camouflage, we can predict that this compact soft-roader will utilize the same powertrains found under the bodywork of the . Hopefully there’s a punched-up optional engine available as well, to cope with a potential four-wheel-drive variant. Can you say Fiesta EcoBoost crossover? We sure can, and we hope does as well.
According to a senior source inside of America, the German automaking giant is considering bringing production of the next generation to North America. But why? And where?
The reason behind the potential move is obvious: Shifting some of the assembly from Wolfsburg, Germany to North America has the potential to save hundreds of millions of dollars over the lifetime of the next Golf. The budget-minded hatch is due for a major overhaul in the next few years, and lining up another NA-based production center would go a long way towards bringing VW’s production capacity up to achieve its goal of selling 15 million vehicles worldwide by 2018.
With its Puebla, Mexico facility building the new and ramping up production of the new , its output could be tapped out if the reborn Bug proves to be a sales success in the States. And VW probably won’t expand its Mexican production operations, leaving its new Chattanooga, Tennessee plant, which is currently producing the .
The facility in Tennessee is presently capable of producing 150,000 vehicles per year, but as VW officials have previously confirmed, there’s plenty of potential to expand the plant. And we’re sure Tennessee would welcome the extra investment.
One thing that won’t happen – we’ve been assured – is a diluted and cut-price NA-specific Golf to compete on the low-end of the segment – even if production shifts to this side of the planet.
Regardless of where it’s built, the next Golf will be a global model, unlike the current Jetta.
Two things have developed in the last decade: The compact segment has finally spawned vehicles we want to drive and is no longer an automotive punchline. So why, when listing off top-notch C-segment vehicles like the , , , and , does the rarely make the cut?
It’s packing everything compact buyers are looking for, including a fuel efficient drivetrain and loads of tech and amenities that used to be reserved for far pricier models – just like the rest of the pack. What’s more, it’s available in five-door form and can carry an MSRP that’s over $1,000 less than the competition.
So why no love for the Forte? We spent a week with the new-for-2011 Forte SX 5-Door to find out.
Vice President Joe Biden has held plenty of high-profile jobs in his lifetime, but at his core, he’s a lot like any of us. That’s because he’s a die-hard auto enthusiast with a list of cars to back up his love of the auto.
Car and Driver recently sat down with the VP to talk cars, and it turns out that the life-long politician knows more than a thing or two about autos. Biden, the son of a car salesman, still owns a Goodwood-green 1967 Corvette 327 that he appears to be quite fond of. Unfortunately, the Secret Service won’t let him drive that dreamy Vette; something that Biden says he hates about his job. The VP also talks about his brother’s , of which he says he jumped in and laid down some serious rubber while in his driveway. Sounds like something we would do if we had a 1,700-foot driveway.
Biden went on to defend the bailout of and , and talked up Uncle Sam’s $2 billion in battery technology investments. In fact, Biden claims that in 10 years, batteries will be able to propel a vehicle for 1,000 miles, while weighing as little as a tenth of today’s lithium ion batteries. Sounds good to us. Head over to C/D to . Interesting stuff.
builds truly outrageous automobiles that stretch our perceptions of performance and personal wealth. The currently serves as the automaker’s only ambassador into the world of high-speed and exotic engineering. Bugatti executives are looking to add a second steed to the stable, and we believe the Galibier sedan would make a good fit. It seems, however, that Bugatti CEO Wolfgang Durheimer doesn’t think it’s ready. Why not? It’s not wild enough.
The 800-horsepower four-door concept car needs more power, rear space and an extra dose of luxurious comfort. Durheimer believes the Galibier should be the car that serves as an “argument stopper,” meaning there is no further discussion with regards to its position as best car on the planet.
Bugatti executives will make a decision on the fate of the Galibier later this year. Though we may never be able to afford one, we hope that Durheimer gives it the green light. There’s not enough cars in the world that run on pure insanity, and the Galibier would certainly help liven up that segment.
doesn’t just make crafts for landlubbers. The Japanese automaker is venturing into the ocean, and this isn’t the first time that Toyota engineers have put on life jackets. In the late 90’s, Toyota tried its hand at building a boat targeted at towable watersports enthusiasts. The Toyota Epic was a Lexus-engined ski boat that was built for a few years before the automaker backed away in 2001. Now, Toyota is ready to head to sea with a very different type of craft.
Called the Ponam-35, this nearly 40-foot cruiser is a stylish ship that gets power from two diesel V8 engines sourced from the Toyota Land Cruiser. The twin 4.5-liter eight-cylinder mills produce a combined 730 horsepower, which should be sufficient to get the nearly 19,000-pound craft up to speed. Inside the Ponam-35, 12 passengers can enjoy the interior space, while up top, the fly bridge is rated to support five.
Toyota says that the Ponam-35 is just the first example in the Ponam line, which will consist of boats adept at both pleasure cruising and light fishing duty. The automaker/boatmaker is looking to sell 15 units per year. That’s a reachable goal considering the Ponam-35 starts under a million bucks, with a base price of 59,010,000 yen or approximately $765,271.
to read the full press release and get the full specs on Toyota’s maritime adventure.
Everyone reading this right now has, at one time or another, felt they could do a better job designing a car than the folks in charge. You would pick up a different engine, powertrain layout, body style or even come up with a better name than any executive. Well, Camshaft Software plans to let you prove it… virtually.
Camshaft Software is a company formed by Andrew Lamb and Caswal Parker, two car enthusiasts who also happen to be skilled programmers and 3D artists. They are hard at work on a new computer game called , which pits you as the main person in charge of a brand new manufacturer.
Your company gets underway in post-war 1946, and your mission is to develop automobiles from the ground up. This means engine, chassis, suspension, body style and all other details that go into producing vehicle. Basically, this is your chance to build the car that you feel best suits a variety of markets, all the while dealing with changing customer demands and new technology.
The entire concept sounds incredibly engrossing, and after watching a demo video, we’re sure that Automation will kill all of our productivity. Still, the game isn’t here yet, and the developers need a bit of help to bring it to market. They’ve turned to RocketHub.com, and their goal is to collect $100,000. As of this writing, they’ve managed to snag just 5 percent of their target. There is still plenty of time left to help, however, and donation amounts are available from as low as $5 and all the way up to $10,000. , and .
If we’re honest, our memories of the aren’t exactly fond. And as much as we’d like to look back on Toyota’s Red Hat Society coupe and convertible through a pair of rose-tinted glasses, we’ll be content with our currently Solara-less lives.
But now there’s a new , and a whole new world of possibilities. Is it possible that the Solara name (or, at least, form) could be resurrected? Automotive manipulator now offers this idea of what a two-door 2012 Camry could look like, and while it’s decidedly more aggressive than any Solara that came before it, we still can’t help but receive it with a resounding “meh.”
Still, sells the , and offers a two-door version of the , so there could be room in the market for a Camry coupe yet again. Hold on to your (red) hats.
Remember that ? The one that was highly considering in an effort to expand the Regal line here in the United States? You know, the one we spied lurking around the GM proving grounds?
It’s not going to happen.
Inside Line got the word right from a Buick spokesperson’s mouth: “Absolutely not… There is no Regal Wagon in our future plans.”
Still, even if the report is correct, that doesn’t mean there won’t be some expansion to the Regal portfolio. In addition to the recently launched and models, there’s been a , and until we get a definite ‘no’ statement from the product folks within GM, we have no reason to doubt that it’s in the cards. There’s also the five-door liftback model that’s already on sale overseas under different badges. Shame about that wagon, though.
Design-World Company in Sundern, Germany is offering to turn your into what you see above for just €12,150 ($17,091 U.S.). That will get you a 23-horsepower bump (to 435 hp) as well as the wheels, a “thread undercarriage” from H&R, and “the main accomplishment” which appears to be the grinding and varnishing of plastic parts and the lively paint scheme.
There’s more information in the press release , but good luck making sense of it, or there’s always the gallery of high-res photos… and then a call to your Swiss banker to get this metallic orange and black and white party started, right?
Those who love both dogs and sports cars often find that their two passions can’t exist together in perfect harmony. A man named Geoffrey Stevens thought differently, and in the 1970s, he decided to build a car that would allow him to prove his point. We’re not going to speculate here that drugs were involved in this decision, but it was the ’70s after all…
The resulting car is called, somewhat appropriately, the Foxbat, and it’s the unholy union of a 1959 XK150 and a Morris Minor Traveller. Mr. Stevens was able to enjoy the driving entertainment provided by his XK150, while also taking in the company of his beloved Labradors.
The , and it will be auctioned off at the Goodwood Revival event on September 16th. Auction officials have estimated that it will fetch between $50,000 and $60,000.
Commanding of the pickup’s sales, is making huge waves on both the sales floor and in the garages of the truck-buying and trailer-towing masses with its EcoBoost-powered models. Having driven several examples of the turbocharged and direct-injected V6, it’s easy to see why – excellent performance and good fuel economy go hand-in-hand with refinement and a price that’s rather easy to swallow.
So, is worried that it doesn’t have a competing technology in its full-size pickups? Not according to Chris Perry, Vice President of Global Marketing for . In a new Ward’s Auto article, Perry claims that GM can beat the F-150’s fuel mileage performance with the suite of technologies in The General’s arsenal when the and are given their next major redesigns.
“( has) done a good job of marketing the EcoBoost, and that’s a challenge on our side to make sure that consumers understand you can get similar mpg out of a V8 Silverado without sacrifice,” Perry says. “Without sacrifice” isn’t really a sentiment we can agree with, however. In point of fact, the V8 engine GM offers that posts fuel mileage figures close to the EcoBoost’s is the 5.3-liter V8, and that engine’s power levels (315 horsepower and 335 pound-feet of torque) pale in comparison to the 365 horsepower and 420 lb-ft delivered by the Ford.
In any case, we look forward to 2013, which is when GM is expected to roll out its next-generation full-size trucks. We fully expect to see advancements in both fuel efficiency and power, with turbocharged engines, eight-speed transmissions and even hybrids on the menu. Of course, we don’t exactly expect Ford to sit on its britches ’till then, either…
has announced that its mid-size pickup will start at $16,875 (*plus $810 for delivery). For those keeping track, that figure is exactly $510 more than it was in 2011. That sum will net the buyer a Regular Cab 4×2 equipped with a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission.
Opting for Ye Olde Four-Speed Automatic with the four-cylinder engine will add $900 to the bottom line, while ticking the box for the Access Cab will bring the sticker up to $19,665 with a manual transmission. The least-expensive Double Cab with a four cylinder and automatic (manual gearboxes are not offered on four-door models) will cost $22,175.
The cheapest way to get into a V6 Tacoma is to opt for the PreRunner package and five-speed automatic gearbox for $22,760. Want four-wheel drive? Be prepared to write a check for $20,725 with the four cylinder (Regular Cab, five-speed manual) or $25,055 with the V6 (Access Cab and six-speed manual).
Going for broke? Fill out the paperwork for a V6-powered Long Bed Double Cab with a five-speed automatic and be prepared to spend $27,835 for the privilege of driving it off the lot. Each of these figures is a wee bit higher than last year, and you can read all about it in detail .
Making A Case Against Increasingly Excellent Factory Options
The last time we drove a Roush Mustang – – we declared that the company had set the bar for tuners around the country. But that was nearly two years ago. Since then, the pony car landscape has evolved immensely. itself revamped the entire Mustang lineup, introducing the new 412-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 , dropped weight off the with a new aluminum block 5.4-liter V8 and successfully launched the track-ready, -fighting . Every Mustang that comes from the factory now offers more performance than ever, and a $50,000 aftermarket Mustang from a couple of years ago with a paltry 435 horsepower simply can’t compete with an OEM-developed ‘Stang.
But Roush hasn’t been sitting idly by. Its answer to hottest factory options from Ford comes in the form of the 2012 Stage 3 Mustang. Offering up 540 supercharged horsepower, a fresh look and Roush’s legendary suspension tuning, the RS3 is perhaps the company’s most appealing Mustang yet. But does it still have the magic of Roush’s previous pony cars?
A Dodge Charger Pursuit police car is a rather unwelcome sign in your rearview mirror. Especially if you’ve got an eye towards criminal pursuits and a mind to press your luck and your throttle pedal to make a run for it. Now, you better ask yourself… do you feel lucky, punk? Do you? We know what you’re thinking. Is that Mopar-equipped carrying the 292-horsepower 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, or does it have the 390-horsepower 5.7-liter Hemi V8 under the hood?
Either way, this new cop car has a slew of features handed down from the minds at Mopar, including slide-out trunk trays, trunk ventilation (to keep expensive electronics cool), a 100-watt siren, and upgraded electrical systems. Dodge is offering police officers the choice of one of six quick-order packages so America’s various law enforcement divisions can get the car that fits the job. In addition to the pre-prepped vehicles, Mopar is offering 24 more items that an officer might want to make his cruiser even more battle ready.
to go through the full list of Mopar options for Dodge’s new Charger Pursuit police car.
is headed to the Frankfurt Motor Show next week with a stack of new and revised models, and chief among them is the company’s next-generation Avensis. Built in the UK, the vehicle will feature a new front fascia that falls more in line with the rest of the Toyota clan. Likewise, the automaker says that the sedan’s interior has also received a quick once-over and that we can expect to hear word on new drivetrain options as well. At the moment, Toyota is being tight-lipped about what exactly that will mean for price, fuel economy and power.
In addition to the Avensis, visitors to the Frankfurt Motor Show can get their first glimpse at the 2012 Hilux as well as a three-door variant. Toyota will also be bringing along the entire Prius family, including the Prius Plug-In and Prius+. As you may recall, the latter will be marketed as the Prius V on our side of the world. for the press release.
When debuted the swoopy new , we were told that a hatchback-shaped , and since the last-generation model was nearly identical to the then-current i30 sold overseas, it would only make sense that this new five-door will make its way Stateside at some point (albeit with the necessary Europe-to-America adjustments). And might we say, she’s quite unique looking, with a distinct bow-element grille and mirroring lower fascia.
Mum’s the word on what sort of powertrains lie under the hood, and we’d really like to see what that rear hatch looks like, but we’ll have those details within the next couple of days, as Hyundai is set to debut the all-new i30 at the next week. We’re confident it’ll fit right in with the plethora of diesel-powered hatches that fill the streets of Europe, and we’re eager to see if it shows up Stateside. for Hyundai’s official press release.
