Monday 29 February 2016
Volkswagen T-Cross Breeze Previews New Small CUV – Auto Shows
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2016 Geneva Auto Show: Coverage of Every Debut, News, Photos, and More
Check this space often as our team on the ground brings you the latest information.
BMW X1 Tested: Is a FWD-Based Bimmer a Bummer?
The BMW with the sideways engine.
Lexus Nexus: 2017 Lexus LC500 Coupe Dissected!
The LC500 slyly defines what Lexus wants to be.
The Best Cars, Trucks, SUVs, and More for 2016
Our editors' top choices for the best cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, and more for 2016.
2016 10Best Cars: The Envelopes, Please . . .
These are the cars we love for 2016.
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2017 Honda Civic Hatchback Debuts—In Concept Form – Auto Shows
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Electric Shocker: Morgan Shows Production 3-Wheeler EV
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Morgan isn’t like other automakers, but you probably knew that already. This tiny British sports-car maker continues to do many things in much the same way it has throughout its century-plus of existence, regarding timber as an appropriate structural material for use in a car and producing some models that could be sent through a time machine to 1935 without exciting undue comment.
But it’s always had the capacity to surprise as well, with recent examples including some of the gorgeous aluminum-bodied sports cars it has crafted around BMW V-8 engines, and the relaunch of the 3-Wheeler motorized tricycle. Now here’s the biggest shock of all: an EV version of the 3-Wheeler, set to go into full production later this year.
The company released images of a concept version last year, although it refused to let us see what the front might look like. That, we presumed, was because a 3-Wheeler without its V-twin motorbike engine would look utterly ridiculous. On that, we were wrong. The production EV3—which we’re seeing in near-finished form at the Geneva auto show—now wears a battery pack where you’d expect to find its silvery engine, and it’s wrapped in “brass conductive cooling fins” that give it a distinct steampunk vibe. The headlights have been moved lower and joined by a third that sits on one side of the half-empty engine slot; this gives the EV3 the distinct impression that it’s wearing a monocle and about to inquire whether anybody feels like a game of tennis.
It’s a smart little thing, in terms of construction as well as styling, with carbon fiber used for its hood, tonneau cover, and side panels (underneath still sits an ash wood frame). Performance is comparable to the gasoline-fired 3-Wheeler, with a water-cooled 62-hp electric motor driving the rear wheel. It’s fed by a 20-kWh lithium-ion battery. The company says that 0 to 62 mph takes less than nine seconds and that the EV3 has a top speed of “more than 90 mph.” Total weight is quoted as being under 1100 pounds, and the maximum range at 150 miles.
Inside, there’s a new dashboard layout featuring old-fashioned aero-style toggle switches, and—in lieu of a gearshift—a direction switch in the middle of the dashboard that gives the simple choice of forward and reverse. This is flanked by a speedometer and a display that shows how much power the motor is using or regenerating as well as the remaining range.
Morgan is also showing a special edition of its more traditional 4/4 sports car at Geneva, built to celebrate the 80th anniversary of what the company claims is the longest-running production car in the world. Sadly, though, that one won’t be coming to the States, although the EV3 will be sold in the same markets as the conventional 3-Wheeler, including this one.
Morgan recently announced that it has received funding from the British government as part of a £6-million ($8.3-million) consortium project that will help develop new hybrid and EV Morgan models, of which the EV3 is the first. It will go on sale in the fourth quarter of this year and we’ll bring you pricing, additional specification details, and—most important—driving impressions just as soon as we can.
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Electric Shocker: Morgan Shows Production 3-Wheeler EV
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2016 Geneva Auto Show: Coverage of Every Debut, News, Photos, and More
Check this space often as our team on the ground brings you the latest information.
BMW X1 Tested: Is a FWD-Based Bimmer a Bummer?
The BMW with the sideways engine.
Lexus Nexus: 2017 Lexus LC500 Coupe Dissected!
The LC500 slyly defines what Lexus wants to be.
The Best Cars, Trucks, SUVs, and More for 2016
Our editors' top choices for the best cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, and more for 2016.
2016 10Best Cars: The Envelopes, Please . . .
These are the cars we love for 2016.
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Social-Media Snafu: New Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Confirmed for Geneva
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Auto manufacturers work tirelessly to keep secrets, particularly when it comes to keeping the lid on leaks about new products. When it comes to halo cars like the Chevrolet Corvette, you can bet info is kept on a need-to-know basis. Unfortunately for Chevrolet, need-to-know operative and Corvette racing team driver Oliver Gavin—you might recognize his as a five-time 24 hours of Le Mans winner—inadvertently confirmed what we’ve suspected for some time: The 2017 Chevrolet Corvette C7 Grand Sport will make its debut at the 2016 Geneva auto show.
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February 29, 2016 at 4:34 pm by Andrew Wendler | Photography by olivergavin/Instagram
The leak comes by way of Gavin’s Instagram account, as the affable Brit apparently took a moment to review his Geneva itinerary in public, noting that he was, “off to rehearsal for the @corvette #GrandSport world premiere tomorrow.” Zoom in on the itinerary pictured, and you can see that both a “Corvette Grand Sport video” and a “Grand Sport drive-on”—with lead Corvette engineer Tadge Juechter at the wheel!—are planned for the big reveal.
As far as what the new Grand Sport may offer, we’re thinking it subscribe to the same formula as previous Grand Sport editions, which means it will combine the Z06 chassis (same brakes, dampers, and bodywork with the exception of maybe the hood) with the base car’s Z51 engine. If it follows the precedent set with the 2010 Corvette Grand Sport, it will be available with either an automatic or a manual transmission. Interestingly, the 2010 Grand Sport supplanted the Z51 option when it came out, but we’re not ready to make any claims of than nature yet. You can bet, however, there will be add-ons, and we are willing to go out on a limb and suggest there is a possibility of ceramic brakes, among other items.
Whatever the equipment particulars, it appears the wait for the complete details of the C7 Grand Sport will be a short one, as the Chevrolet press conference is scheduled for 4:45 a.m. EST tomorrow morning.
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The Most Entertaining Facts, Figures, and Boasts from the Bugatti Chiron Press Release
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There is nothing subtle about Bugatti’s new Chiron hypercar. How could there be? It has a quad-turbocharged 16-cylinder engine, costs $2.6 million, and boasts a top speed of 261 mph. As you’d expect, the press release for the Chiron is as unsubtle as the car itself, which is wholly appropriate. Press releases for regular cars tend to be overly positive missives, grabbing at all available firsts, superlatives, and best-in-class features. For the Chiron, this posturing is taken to new levels, and Bugatti layers on the braggadocio thicker than Donald Trump in an insecure moment. The Chiron’s press release is so quotable, in fact, that we couldn’t resist dragging a few of its more jaw-dropping factoids and immodest bluster in front of you for fun:
“With the Chiron, Bugatti has made the best even better.”
– As opposed to, you know, making the Chiron worse than the Veyron it replaces.
“The design of the Chiron combines significantly more “beast” with a very high level of ‘beauty’.”
– Didn’t Disney make a movie about this?
“Electromagnetic compatibility comparable to that of a military vehicle.”
– This boast isn’t structured very well, but Bugatti is referring to the Chiron’s level of protection against electromagnetic interference.
“More than 60,000 litres [2118 cubic feet] of air per minute are pumped through the engine.”
– Like the Veyron, the Chiron gulps in a ton of air to feed its quad-turbocharged W-16 engine at full whack. Put another way, the Chiron’s engine can ingest roughly half the interior volume of a 53-foot semi trailer in air per minute.
“The coolant pump is also a very high-performance unit. In one minute, it circulates 800 litres [211 gallons] of water through the entire engine.”
– The Chiron’s cooling system consists of two main circuits, one for the engine and another for the turbochargers’ intercoolers. The engine’s loop holds 9.7 gallons of coolant, all of which passes fully through the engine and three radiators once every three seconds.
“The total active surface of the six converters used for exhaust gas treatment is about 230,266 m², corresponding to the area of more than 30 soccer fields.”
Translated from metric units, that’s 2,478,563 square feet, or roughly the same area as 43 American football fields.
“It goes almost without saying that the Chiron has permanent four-wheel drive.”
– If you didn’t know the Chiron has permanent four-wheel drive, you’re a dummy and a loser.
“If all the [carbon] fibres used in the monocoque were laid out end to end, they would stretch nine times the distance between the earth and the moon.”
– To give you a more grounded idea of how many carbon fibers are utilized in the land-based Chiron’s monocoque, if laid end to end, the fibers would wrap around the Earth over 86 times.
“Thanks to Bugatti’s outstanding expertise in airbag design, it proved possible to develop an airbag that shoots through a carbon-fibre housing.”
– Airbags deploy through hard housings in most vehicles, notably plastic dashboard, steering-wheel-hub, and seat covers that are designed with seams that break away in specific ways. It’s impressive that Bugatti has figured out how to safely deploy an airbag through carbon fiber. (We do question the use of the verb “shoots” in this particular context, however, given that a large portion of the industry is currently ensnared in the Takata airbag scandal, which involves inflators that could shoot shrapnel at occupants.)
“Thanks to the new asymmetrical design, the brake caliper can dissipate an extraordinary amount of braking energy. It also looks like a small work of art.”
– This story, by the way, is a small work of art.
“ ‘Safety first’ remains Bugatti’s motto.”
– We weren’t aware that this was Bugatti’s motto.
“Ettore Bugatti, whose motto was ‘nothing is too beautiful and nothing is too expensive,’ would certainly have taken pleasure in this example of sheer craftmanship.”
— We’ve heard that, for an undisclosed sum of money, Bugatti will offer customers bespoke motto consistency.
“And of course, all these [HVAC] systems continue to perform reliably even at speeds significantly over 400 km/h [249 mph].”
– Because what’s the point of going 250–261 mph if you can’t do so in air-conditioned comfort?
“Even in the case of the headlamps, Bugatti has not attempted to save high-quality materials, using carbon fibre for the light trims.”
– Bugatti wouldn’t dare risk an opportunity to add ‘spensive stuff to its multimillion-dollar hypercar.
“Audio-system connoisseurs will appreciate the use of a one-carat diamond membrane in each of the four tweeters, delivering a crystal-clear sound.”
– This isn’t hyperbolic wordplay on Bugatti’s part—the harder a speaker’s membrane, the clearer and sharper its sound reproduction. Also, do your car’s speakers feature diamonds? We didn’t think so.
“It is almost unsurprising that the [Accuton audio] system can even be adjusted for different interior materials. It is even possible to take different types of leather into consideration.”
— If you can detect the subtle differences in sound deflection off of varying types of leather, you should market your skills to Bugatti for obscene amounts of money, and then use that money to buy a Chiron.
“For the first time, it is possible to stow a suitcase with the size of a cabin trolley approved for air travel (44 litres) in the luggage space of a Bugatti.”
— $2.6 million, and you can fit one whole carry-on bag in the Chiron? Now Bugatti’s customers can finally give up commercial air travel altogether.
“The interaction of an aluminum trim strip of this size and shape and the carbon-fibre outer skin poses a special challenge, which Bugatti has mastered impressively. This detail alone already demonstrates Bugatti’s ability to facilitate the impossible.”
– Move over Mother Teresa, Bugatti will take over the miracles from here.
“The Bugatti oval is the only component of the Chiron that has not been subjected to the painstaking weight saving programme that is normal practice in the development of a super sports car. This part is allowed to be heavy. The eyecatcher, with a circumference of 26 cm, consists of solid 970 fine silver and enamel and has a total weight of 155 g, including 140 g of silver.”
– From now on, we’ll be excusing our beer guts with the line, “this part is allowed to be heavy.”
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The Most Entertaining Facts, Figures, and Boasts from the Bugatti Chiron Press Release
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2016 Geneva Auto Show: Coverage of Every Debut, News, Photos, and More
Check this space often as our team on the ground brings you the latest information.
BMW X1 Tested: Is a FWD-Based Bimmer a Bummer?
The BMW with the sideways engine.
Lexus Nexus: 2017 Lexus LC500 Coupe Dissected!
The LC500 slyly defines what Lexus wants to be.
The Best Cars, Trucks, SUVs, and More for 2016
Our editors' top choices for the best cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, and more for 2016.
2016 10Best Cars: The Envelopes, Please . . .
These are the cars we love for 2016.
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2017 Volkswagen Phideon: That’s “Phideon,” Not “Phaeton” – Auto Shows
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2016 Geneva Auto Show: Coverage of Every Debut, News, Photos, and More
Check this space often as our team on the ground brings you the latest information.
BMW X1 Tested: Is a FWD-Based Bimmer a Bummer?
The BMW with the sideways engine.
Lexus Nexus: 2017 Lexus LC500 Coupe Dissected!
The LC500 slyly defines what Lexus wants to be.
The Best Cars, Trucks, SUVs, and More for 2016
Our editors' top choices for the best cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, and more for 2016.
2016 10Best Cars: The Envelopes, Please . . .
These are the cars we love for 2016.
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2017 Mercedes-Benz C-class Cabriolet: Available in C300, C43 AMG Potencies
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Mercedes-Benz has long enjoyed a healthy reputation for quality, comfort, and solidity, but it is once again making cars that are beautiful, too. The latest in the company’s string of handsome designs is the all-new C-class cabriolet, which may be among the most attractive vehicles on the star-studded floor at the 2016 Geneva show, where […]from Car and Driver Blog http://ift.tt/1Qo9Lja
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2017 Mercedes-Benz C-class Cabriolet: Available in C300, C43 AMG Potencies – Official Photos and Info
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2017 Volvo S90 – Prototype Drive
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2016 Geneva Auto Show: Coverage of Every Debut, News, Photos, and More
Check this space often as our team on the ground brings you the latest information.
Updated 2016 Infiniti QX60 First Drive
Doing an admirable job filling its own shoes.
Tested: 2016 Range Rover Td6 Diesel
The toniest diesel rig in America.
The Best Cars, Trucks, SUVs, and More for 2016
Our editors' top choices for the best cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, and more for 2016.
2016 10Best Cars: The Envelopes, Please . . .
These are the cars we love for 2016.
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Set Mouth to Water: This Ford GT40 Road Car Is Heading to Auction
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February 29, 2016 at 11:41 am by Chris Perkins | Photography by Gooding & Company/Brian Henniker
Back in the 1960s, if you wanted to race in the GT class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, you had to build at least 25 road-going versions of your race car. That was a pretty great rule because it gave the world cars like this, the Ford GT40 Mk I street car. This 1966 example will be auctioned at Gooding & Co.’s Amelia Island event next month, where it’s expected to fetch over $3 million.
Ford built 31 GT40 Mk I street cars, seven of which were used as dealer promotional cars. This was one of those dealer cars until it was sold to a man in Texas in 1967. From there, it changed hands many times and underwent many repaints, although it was only driven sparsely. It was fully restored in 2009 and returned to its stunning original color of Azure Blue.
As it sits right now, this GT40 has a little over 3000 miles, which seems like a bit of a shame. I certainly hope the next owner puts some miles on it, but considering its tremendous value, it’s understandable why they wouldn’t.
Its 289-cubic-inch V-8 reportedly produces 390 horsepower and looks stunning with quad twin-choke Weber carburetors and the GT40’s iconic headers. Power is sent to a five-speed ZF transaxle and four-wheel disc brakes help bring this car to a stop.
Based on the new Ford GT’s reported cost of $400,000, you could have eight of them for the price of this GT40, but the older car is a certifiable legend. It’s also lot cheaper than a Ferrari 250 GTO, and unlike the GT40, the GTO never won Le Mans outright.
This story originally appeared on Road & Track.
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2017 Bugatti Chiron: The $2.6-Million, 1500-hp, 261-mph Image Booster – Official Photos and Info
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2017 McLaren 570GT: Laid-Back and Luxurious
A slightly more relaxed supercar.
Updated 2016 Infiniti QX60 First Drive
Doing an admirable job filling its own shoes.
Tested: 2016 Range Rover Td6 Diesel
The toniest diesel rig in America.
2016 BMW M2: We Test Munich’s Mini Monster!
The follow-up to the 1-series M finally is here.
The Best Cars, Trucks, SUVs, and More for 2016
Our editors' top choices for the best cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, and more for 2016.
2016 10Best Cars: The Envelopes, Please . . .
These are the cars we love for 2016.
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