Here comes the 2014 Subaru Forester, and this time, it's official as the Japanese carmaker released the first photos and details simultaneously in North America and its home market of Japan. This is the fourth generation of the Forester since the model's debut in 1997 and as we've seen from previous pictures of the car, it doesn't stray too far away from the design of the current model. In fact, we wouldn't be surprised if an untrained eye had a hard time telling the two apart… Read more »
The good news about the V40 Cross Country is that we have a fresh set of high-resolution images and a pair of videos to show you following the introduction of the car the other day. The bad news is that if you live in the United States and thought the Cross Country's tougher looks may have persuaded Volvo to bring it to this side of the Atlantic, we hate to disappoint you, but that's not going to happen. We asked Laura DiStefano, Corporate Communications Manager for Volvo Cars of North America, and her reply was the same we got for the regular V40 hatchback: "No plans for the U.S." Read more »
The new generation of the more practical A3 Sportback, which was revealed online on Wednesday, will be joined by the spanking new S3 at Audi's Paris Motor Show stand next week. The performance model of Audi's MQB platform-based compact hatchback is lighter and more powerful than the model it replaces. It is scheduled to go on sale in Europe early next year with a starting price of €38,900 (US$50,500) in Germany. At the heart of the car lies a newly developed 2.0-liter TFSI direct-injection and turbocharged gasoline engine that belongs to the EA888 engine family. 
The new powerplant weighs around five kilograms (11 pounds) less than the previous EA113 2.0 TFSI and is also much more powerful delivering 296Hp (300PS) at 5,500 rpm and 380 Nm (280.27 lb-ft) of torque between 1,800 and 5,500 rpm, an increase of 35Hp and 30Nm respectively. It redlines at 6,800 rpm. Read more »
Despite Honda's recent announcement that the facelifted version of the CR-Z compact sports hybrid would make its premiere at the Paris Auto Show, the Japanese automaker pulled a fast one by unveiling the new car at the Indonesia International Motor Show in Jakarta today. External changes include a redesigned front grille, which loses its vertical bars, revised front bumper, HID headlamps with LED daytime running lights, new fog lamps, reshaped door mirrors and rear diffuser, LED rear lights and new 17-inch alloy wheels. Read more »
It appears that Jaguar is trying to capitalize on the interest surrounding its newest sports car after the first official image of the F-Type made the internet rounds on Wednesday by reminding us that the roadster will debut in a week's time at the Paris Auto Show, and more importantly, by sharing a new video. The new film released today includes footage of the British brand's vehicle dynamics team testing a craftily camouflaged pre-production model in the UK, Germany and Italy. In one instance, we see the speedometer's needle surpassing the 180mph (290km/h) mark. Read more »
After telling us that the new Buick Encore has received an EPA certification of 28mpg combined, General Motors has now announced pricing for its Nissan Juke-sized small crossover that will arrive in U.S. showrooms in the first quarter of 2013 starting at $24,950, which includes a $750 destination charge (*). The Encore is offered exclusively with a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine churning out 138-horsepower (140PS) and 148 lb.-ft. (200Nm) of peak torque. All-wheel drive is available on all models for $1,500. Read more »
Only a day after the official brochure of the 918 Spyder leaked on the web, Porsche confirmed reports that its hybrid supercar posted a 7:14 lap time at the 20.6 km (12.8-mile) Nürburgring track on September 18. Porsche said that the prototype was packing 795HP, which is the first time the automaker is being specific about the 918 Spyder's "770HP-plus" output. Read more »
It’s going to a busy time for General Motors and its Buick and GMC brands as the company's executives told dealers today that the two automakers plan to launch nine all-new or "significantly" refreshed models in the next 12 months. The first models to arrive will be the brand-new Buick Encore small crossover and the revamped GMC Acadia SUV this fall. In the course of 2013, Buick will introduce the Regal sedan and LaCrosse (most likely facelifts), while GMC, the new Sierra and Sierra HD full-size pickups, as well as the Yukon and Yukon XL full-size SUVs. Read more »
First, there was the CLS: a car with four doors and four seats that claimed its distinctive styling and rakish glasshouse made it a four-door coupe and not a regular saloon. Well, no matter what they called it, the CLS brought Mercedes-Benz a nice profit thanks to its sales success and actually launched a brand-new niche, forcing Audi and BMW to follow suit with the A7 Sportback and the Gran Coupe respectively. Read more »
Any doubts that we had about the authenticity of the single image of the production F-Type roadster found on Chris Doane's Facebook page earlier today, were cleared up by Jaguar itself that released a high-resolution version of the same picture. As we noted in our previous posting, the F-Type in roadster guise looks more or less like an exact copy (sans the absence of the roof, of course) of last year's C-X16 Coupe Concept model. If the idea of a sturdier and racier-looking closed-top model sounds better to you, fear not, as Jaguar will present a coupe version of the two seater, possibly by late 2013 or early 2014 with sales to follow in the second half of 2014. Read more »
About month ago, Toyota unveiled its brand-new 2013 MY Auris ahead of its Paris Auto Show world premiere on September 27. Now, Japan’s biggest carmaker has shed more light on the latest iteration of what it claims to be the most popular C-segment model series (including the Corolla nameplate) in the world, having sold 39 million units in more than 140 countries since the introduction of the Corolla in 1966. Toyota says that the second generation of the Auris was specifically designed for Europe, which will be its biggest market. It will be manufactured alongside the Avensis in Toyota’s UK plant in Burnaston, which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary. Read more »
Audi will showcase a new addition to its redesigned A3 series at the 2012 Paris motor show from 27 September. The 2013 A3 Sportback is the more practical and versatile five-door version of Audi's premium compact model. The evolutionary (according to Audi, stale according to others) styling language of the A3 can be found on the Sportback variant as well, with the five-door variant employing the use of three side windows and a sloping tailgate design. For a sportier look, buyers will be able to opt for Audi's S-Line package that adds different bumpers, spoilers and larger alloy wheels. While the car's exterior dimensions at 4,310mm (169.7 inches) long, 1,780mm (70.1 inches) and 1,425mm (56.1 inches) tall are only slightly greater than on the previous Sportback, the new model now rides on a 2,636 millimeters (103.8 inches), an increase of 58 millimeters (2.28 in). 
The five-door model is also 35 millimeters (1.38 in) longer between the axles than the three-door version, resulting in an increase in rear passenger legroom. The luggage compartment offers 380 liters (13.42 cu ft) of space in the basic configuration and can be expanded to 1,220 liters (43.08 cu ft) with the rear seats (60:40 split) folded down. Read more »
While most manufacturers do their best to hide their latest models from prying eyes before their official launch, Porsche has been quite forthcoming about its new supercar, the 918 Spyder. In fact, it has already released a barrage of information, including the specifications of its 770+ HP hybrid powertrain and (provisional) performance figures: 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) comes in 3.2 seconds and top speed exceeds 320 km/h (199 mph). Today, Porsche announced on its Facebook page that the 918 Spyder has lapped the Nordschleife in 7:14’. That's better than most supercars, including its Carrera GT predecessor and the Lexus LFA Nürburgring edition, but behind the "old" Dodge Viper ACR (7:12.13) as far as production models are concerned. Read more »
The P1 design study for a modern day F1 may be all the talk these days, but McLaren has another new model up its sleeves, one that will be unveiled during the Singapore Grand Prix this weekend. The new car is the limited run MP4-12C "SGP Edition", of which only three examples will be built, each carrying a price tag of S$1.28 million or about US$1.05 million / €800,000. While that may sound like a lot of cash, the folks over at TeamSpeed reported that two cars have already been spoken for leaving only one up for grabs. Read more »
On the occasion of the international driving debut of its brand new XF Sportbrake that took place only a few weeks before the car arrives in European showrooms, Jaguar unveiled a bespoke speedboat concept to showcase the brand's design DNA on a completely different product as well as to inspire buyers of the estate model. "We recognise that both our existing and future customers enjoy diverse and active lifestyles," explained Jaguar Director of Design, Ian Callum. "With the launch of the new Jaguar XF Sportbrake, we had an opportunity to create a vision of how our design philosophy might be applied to an alternative product, in which speed and beauty are also priorities." Read more »
The 2013 model year Amarok that was first announced in August is now available for order in Britain with on-the-road prices starting at £23,536 for the base 2.0 TDI 120hp (122PS) 4Motion and topping out at £31,098 for the new 2.0 BiTDI 178hp (180PS) 4Motion Permanent with BlueMotion Technology and an 8-speed auto. Before we get into more details about the changes and upgrades on the 2013 Amarok, it should be noted that from now on, all models for the UK and the rest of Europe are produced at VW's Hanover factory in Germany, instead of being imported from the brand's Argentina plant. Read more »
After being displayed as a thinly disguised concept model at this year's Auto China Show in Beijing, the revamped Seat Ibiza Cupra has now been revealed in production form. The facelifted model inherits all the styling changes seen on the regular Ibiza family including the wider front grille and then some more in the guise of a bespoke aero package with new front and rear bumpers, LED headlamps and rear combination lights, exclusive 17-inch wheels, black mirror caps and a rear diffuser housing a central trapezoidal tailpipe. Read more »
Special or limited editions are a speedy and cost efficient way for automakers to create some marketing buzz around one of their models and increase sales. More often than not, all it takes is a few cosmetic touches and added equipment features, and presto; your special edition is served. One such example is the new Volkswagen Beetle Edition 53, a special edition model made exclusively for Spain that pays tribute to Walt Disney Pictures' "Herbie" character, which first appeared on film in 1968 with "The Love Bug" that spawned several sequels over the years. Read more »
There's a very good reason why the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas is considered the biggest trade event of its kind, not only in North America, but in the world. Every year at the end of October, thousands of companies from automakers to tuners and parts providers make their way to the Las Vegas Convention Center to exhibit their production and conceptual goods, be that complete cars or aftermarket accessories and components of all sorts. Read more »
Dodge's portfolio of Blacktop Editions for the 2013 model year will grow to include the Avenger, Challenger R/T and Charger R/T. The common theme on all cars are the unique dark alloy wheels, grille surround, headlights and rear spoiler as well as some bespoke interior touches. Read more »
