German automaker teamed up with fashion house Sieger to give its roadster a fitting send-off after 18 long years on the market. The duo came up with – one for each year the car was on sale – and one of those cars is currently on display at the .
Besides being the perfect ride for a University of Michigan alum, this machine, like all MF3 models, is powered by an inline six-cylinder engine. In this guise, that mill sends a total of 343 horsepower to the rear wheels.
We’re not certain how many of the 18 special edition machines are still available, but we imagine that if yellow and blue just aren’t your cup of tea, you’ve got other options. Like maybe one that’s scarlet and gray?
has unveiled the at the Geneva Motor Show – the first B-segment hybrid in Europe. While the vehicle makes use of a 74-horsepower 1.5-liter gasoline engine, engineers mated the internal combustion mill with a more compact 80-hp electric motor along with a smaller inverter and battery pack. Combined, the two can crank out up to 100 combined horsepower. Toyota says the Atkinson-cycle engine and it’s associated techno wizardry is 20 percent lighter than the standard 1.8-liter hybrid drivetrain found in most of the company’s hybrid offerings.
Speaking of batteries, the Yaris Hybrid stores its power via a nickel-metal hydride pack. With fewer cells than those found in the , the batteries are around 20 percent lighter. The drivetrain will net buyers a fuel consumption rating of just 3.5 liters per 100 kilometers, or around 67 mpg on the European scale. for the full press release.
If what tells us about the FT-Bh is true, it’s not some futuristic fantasy, but a design study that points to what a next generation hybrid might look like. With an unbelievably low, sub-1,800-pound curb weight and a 0.235 coefficient of drag, the FT-Bh uses minimalist design rather than sci-fi technology to achieve 112 miles per gallon.
The FT-Bh packs a two-cylinder, one-liter gas engine that runs on the Atkinson cycle, and uses lithium-ion batteries for it’s hybrid drive system. Toyota says a compressed natural gas hybrid and a plug-in hybrid version would also be possible.
But what’s really impressive about the FT-Bh is its massive weight reduction. Toyota says it managed to reduce the mass of the car by 25 percent when compared to the current Yaris. Much of that came in the interior parts and trim, which weigh half that of the production car. Toyota says that this drastic diet also makes possible a low center of gravity – just over 21 inches – that helps improve the FT-Bh’s handling.
While the FT-Bh may look a little weird – we’re reminded of how odd the looked before we’d gotten used to the shape – this may well be what the next generation of hybrids will look like. While Toyota has thrown out some branding buzzwords to describe the FT-Bh’s “Ecomotion” theme (or is that “Under Priority” design language? or “Keen Look” styling?) the bottom line is that it’s all about aerodynamics. This is why the FT-Bh uses cameras rather than side-view mirrors and doesn’t have door handles. It’s also why the front end has those “air curtain” intakes and there’s an underfloor spoiler in the rear.
While we certainly wouldn’t expect to see something so radical roll off a production line next year, as the company shows more concepts like this and the , it seems that Toyota wants its next hybrid designs to be as revolutionary as its first.
Check out our galleries of live and official photos, and for the full press release.
We’ve come to rely on Hamann to supply the world with a range of over-the-top modified vehicles. While the company’s tastes rarely dovetail with our own, we’re absolutely smitten with the memoR on display at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The company apparently set forth with the intention of giving the McLaren MP4-12C a more aggressive exterior. Mission accomplished.
With a serious widebody treatment, massive wheels and a striking red-on-black exterior, this machine will clearly stand out from its stock brethren. Hamann says that massive front splitter does more than simply attract parking barriers. The piece actually serves to supply additional aerodynamic downforce.
Near as we can tell, the memoR is bereft of mechanical upgrades. Likewise, Hamann hasn’t said how much the company will charge for the pleasure of turning your MP4-12C into the creation above. Something tells us the surgery won’t be cheap. for the full press release.
While recalls are , they’re still news. And today’s announcement certainly qualifies for the modifier “big,” with nearly half a million pickups being recalled under one campaign, and 116,000 crossovers and 70,500 Camrys under another.
The 2009 is the only model year covered by the recall, while 2009-2011 Venzas are affected. These vehicles may need a replacement stop lamp switch, which may have been installed incorrectly. Symptoms include warning lamps illuminating, a non-starting condition, and the inability to shift out of Park.
The Tacoma recall covers some 2005-2009 models that may need their steering wheel spiral cable assembly replaced. Symptoms include an air bag warning lamp that does not go off after the vehicle is started, which could result in the driver’s air bag being deactivated.
In both cases, Toyota says it is “obtaining the necessary replacement parts” and owners will be notified by mail. Owners may also visit or call the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.
A replacement for the aging is still a few years out, so in an effort to keep the model line fresh, has released this all new Sport trim here at the . Essentially replacing the GranTurismo S, the Sport falls directly in between the base car and the hardcore MC.
The most significant change is a boost in power from the 4.7-liter naturally aspirated V8. This free-breathing engine now produces 460 horsepower – up from 434 – which now puts it at the top of the GranTurismo power range. Of course, that means we can expect a more powerful MC to debut in the near future.
Exterior changes include a more aggressive front fascia with large air intakes flanking the pronounced grille. Additionally, the headlamps and taillamps have been smoked and LED running lights have been incorporated into the GT’s eyes. Inside, there are new sport seats and a revised steering wheel.
It may ride on old bones, but the new GranTurismo Sport’s enhancements are enough to keep the giant coupe exciting for the near term.
The successor to the 207 line, the 208, made an appearance under the lights of the Geneva Motor Show this week. Buyers in the EU may choose from either the three-door body style you see above or a more functional five-door configuration. Both vehicles feature smaller exterior dimensions than the old 207 but with greater interior volume than their predecessors. Peugeot also shrank the available gasoline engine options in the 208. A 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine serves up a heady 75 horsepower, though consumers looking for a little more grunt may step up to a 1.2-liter three pot good for 100 hp.
All told, the 208 is available in five different configurations, including a range of diesel-powered options that include Peugeot’s next-generation stop/start system, which helps return nearly 83.1 mpg on the EU scale. Not too shabby.
Want something a little hotter? How about the Peugeot 208 GTi Concept (above left)? In addition to more aggressive body work, larger brakes and flashier 18-inch alloy wheels, the vehicle packs the same 1.6-liter engine as found in the company’s RCZ. That means buyers can expect to find somewhere between 156 and 200 turbocharged horsepower kicking through a six-speed manual transmission. How’s that for a win?
Meanwhile, the 208 XY Concept (above right)wears more flash than actual go. With a color-shifting purple paint, unique interior treatments and a 1.6-liter turbo diesel engine, this hatch is meant more for prowling city centers than corner carving.
isn’t typically one to embrace change. The company is still proudly building a and sawing components from trees, but the Morgan Plus E on display at the Geneva Motor Show is a clear step into the blinding light of the future.
The vehicle features the automaker’s next-generation aluminum chassis as well as a 94-horsepower electric motor. If you’re frowning at the lack of gusto on hand, allow us to point out two figures. First, the Zytek electric motor cranks out 221 pound-feet of torque from the instant you breathe on the accelerator. Second, the Plus E tips the scales at a relatively light 2,755 pounds.
Batteries, controllers and the like are housed under the traditional bi-hinged hood, and a five-speed manual transmission puts power from the electric motor to the rear wheels. Morgan claims the vehicle can clip off a 62 mph run in a quick-enough six seconds, and top speed sits at around 115 mph. While there’s a 120-mile range with the Plus E, there’s no word on how long it will take to charge the machine. Likewise, Morgan isn’t saying whether or not the vehicle will make it to production.
already offers quite a bit of fun in the small hatchback segment with the 177-horsepower, 40-mpg , but for those wanting even better fuel economy without sacrificing any fun, VW has announced the Polo Blue GT.
Fitted with the new 1.4-liter TSI inline-four, the Blue GT is capable of achieving up to 50 mpg thanks to direct injection, cylinder deactivation and stop/start technology. With 138 horsepower, the hatchback is capable of reaching 62 mph in 7.9 seconds and can achieve a top speed of 130 mph.
Distinguishing itself from the rest of the Polo lineup, the Blue GT features a mix of components from the VW parts bin including front and rear bumpers and a rear spoiler from the Polo GTI, as well as side sills from the BlueMotion model. The car also features unique 17-inch wheels, special badging and a lowered ride height of 15mm. Inside the Blue GT gets redesigned sports seats, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and instrumentation from the GTI model.
Read up on the Volkswagen Polo Blue GT in VW’s official press release or browse through our live photos of the car in the gallery above.
The Roding Roadster 23 is here, and having been , it looks like it’s come good. We knew it would have proper fenders from the latest drawings, but the red-and-black livery makes the little roofless coupe pop.
Roding still hasn’t decided to spill all of its secrets, not that it looks to have many, but we know there’ll be just 23 examples offered. Behind those huggy seats is a turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine from producing 320 horsepower and 332 pound-feet, charged with propelling a car that weighs just 950 kilograms (2,090 pounds). An installable hood goes in the trunk section up front.
In the information from the company’s site , however, Roding indicates that “the first cars to be produced” are a limited edition of 23, which makes it sound like they’ll be around for more than a couple dozen cars.
When American automakers release Carbon editions of their sports cars, buyers are treated to a few carbon fiber veneers, some fancy wheels and a few badges. When Pagani builds a Huayra Carbon Edition, the Italian manufacturer simply constructs every last piece of body work out of the composite and slathers everything in clear coat.
Pagani unveiled its latest sculpture at the Geneva Motor Show this week, and the vehicle is very possibly the definition of sinister sexy. Buyers can look forward to enjoying the same lethal drivetrain found in the “base” Huayra, which means there’s a 700-horsepower AMG-sourced 6.0-liter V12 behind the seats.
While the standard Huayra boasts a carbon-titanium monocoque, the wild carbon fiber body work on the Carbon Edition is something new entirely. We dig it in every way possible.
has obtained a letter from Russel Clark, Director of Marketing for small cars, small utilities and performance cars, to dealers informing them that shipments of all produced to date are being held by General Motors for a “quality assessment.”
There is no explanation as to what’s causing the hold or its duration, though the letter does say it “may last a few more weeks.” has Chevrolet spokesman Monte Doran on record saying, “We may have found a potential issue that we want to resolve.” If you think you know what the issue is, let us know in the comments or send us a tip.
Being one of the Bowtie brand’s halo cars, the Camaro ZL1 can hardly afford a hiccup in its roll out. Though with a 580-horsepower6.2-liter V8 underhood and sub-$55k starting price, we’re certain that a few weeks wait won’t change the number of people in line to buy one.
How many times have you said to yourself, “Self, I’ve modded every single part of my car, but those tires, they’re just so… black. And boring.” Bridgestone has the answer in the form of its Tire Printing Technology.
Comprised of two layers of ink – one below and one above a protective coating – you can fully customize the design of your sidewalls using any kind of vector-based graphics. Bridgestone claims the outer most layer won’t succumb to scrapes and scratches, and neither the durability or the weight of the tires are compromised by the technology.
Bridgestone hasn’t set a date for production, but the tires could be available as early as this summer. And if it hits in time, there’s little doubt we’ll be seeing plenty of horrid designs lining the halls of .
If there are words for the Gemballa Tornado and the vehicle’s spiritual twin, the Mistrale, we can’t find them.
If you like air vents, the Tornado has you covered. The vehicle boasts more intakes than your favorite industrial air conditioner, with the majority of them crafted from carbon fiber. At least the bodywork is lightweight. The abomination creation, based loosely on what was once a , puts a lofty 721 horsepower to the ground and relies on a set of aggressive Brembo brakes to bring the party to a stop.
And what of the Mistrale? As much as we love the , the car certainly didn’t need another go-around with the ugly stick. Like the Tornado, the Mistrale boasts a slew of carbon fiber work, epic 22-inch forged alloy wheels and and a completely reworked interior. Buyers can expect to find the same 721 horsepower under the hood, too. And here you thought SEMA was the only place to this level of insanity.
It’s been said before, but doesn’t seem to know how to make a bad-looking car these days. Take the current , for example. It’s been around since 2006 and has largely gone unchanged aside from a slight nip/tuck for the 2012 model year, but it’s arguably one of the most beautiful coupes in the luxury GT segment.
To further enhance the XK’s good looks, Jaguar has launched the new that makes its debut at the . Available in both naturally aspirated and trims (in both coupe and convertible body styles, no less), the Artisan package incorporates some special paint colors including the Celestial Black you see here, as well as unique 20-inch wheels. Inside, there are new performance seats with “scraffito” leather, not to mention a host of interior upgrades like a 525-watt Bowers & Wilkins stereo, stainless steel pedals and new veneer trim pieces.
It’s sexy and sophisticated, and sadly, it’s only available in the UK (for now, at least). See it for yourself in our attached high-res image gallery.
It isn’t only the that’s celebrating its 60-year milestone, the coupe – now called the – has been around (sort of) since the 1952 300S. Its birthday cake comes in the form of the , a hand-finished version of the already monumental CL550 or CL600 that adds exclusive paints and leathers, the AMG Sports Package and 20-inch wheels.
The Grand Edition options start at €4,850 (about $6,368 based on current exchange rates), and adding that to the €119,773.50 (about $157,300) price of the CL is probably what you call a bargain. In certain circles, at least.
In the fine tradition of the Celebrity Wagon, the Bow Tie brand brings you this: The .
We kid, but in all honesty, the Wagon isn’t just a more utilitarian take on one of our favorite C-segmenters – it’s an attractive one to boot.
And speaking of boots, the Cruze wagon uses its extra inches to good effect, expanding the cargo capacity of the standard sedan and hatchback models to 17.6 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and blowing out to 52.9 inches with the rear thrones folded flat.
Chevrolet MyLink comes along for the ride, and in Europe, buyers get a choice of three gasoline engines and two diesels. But here in the U.S. we get nothing. Chevy has no plans to bring the Cruze Wagon to the States.
The relentless expansion of M-engineered and branded wares doesn’t just stop at the and the . Here in , announced the latest line of M performance parts that spans the spectrum from appearance bits to powertrain upgrades.
M Performance exhausts will be available for the new (in Europe), along with the and . Carbon fiber front splitters join black kidney grilles in the catalog, as does a new version of the M Performance steering wheel. BMW also claims to have some suspension components are in the works, and all this kit will be on sale and ready for installation at BMW dealers in the United States this summer.
Do you love the notion of the 507-horsepower, twin-tubocharged , but just can’t get behind a high-performance family wagon? Alpina has good news for you. The company has officially pulled back the curtain on the new B5 Sedan, and the vehicle boasts the same wicked driveline as its long-roof twin. That means there’s a dizzying 516 pound-feet of torque pouring out of the same forced-induction 4.4-liter V8. A ZF eight-speed automatic transmission takes care of gear-swapping duties while a range of subtle aesthetic tweaks set this bruiser apart from its more mundane counterparts.
There is no mistaking the flashy, 20-inch Alpina wheels, however. According to the company, the combined kit allows the B5 Sedan to clip off a 0-62 dash in just 4.5 seconds. That’s plenty quick by our estimation and about on par with the new . Which would you rather have? for the brief press release while you mull it over.
What’s the next going to look like? The Megapixel concept is a good indication of where the Indian brand’s ultra cheap micro-car could be headed in the next few years, and if the onboard tech makes it to production, the Megapixel could be one of the most compelling – and most affordable – city cars in the world.
Measuring in at a scant 138 inches, the Megapixel combines a small footprint with four electrically powered and individually articulating wheels that help it achieve an impressive nine-foot turning radius.
Power is provided by the aforementioned wheel-mounted electric motors which can deliver a maximum of 369 pound-feet of torque, with a 13kW lithium-ion battery pack providing the juice. A 325cc single-cylinder gasoline engine will refill the batteries for trips longer than 54 miles, giving the Megapixel a theoretical range of over 560 miles. A production model is still a ways out, but with Tata’s continued expansion and ambition, we wouldn’t be surprised to see something like the Megapixel on sale in India and other developing markets by the end of the decade.
