2012 Toyota 86 Review

To turbocharge or supercharge the Toyota 86? It’s the puzzle facing enthusiasts around the world. Gazoo Racing’s solution, the Sport FR Concept, takes a leaf out of the Old El Paso girl’s book, answering: ‘why not have both?’

The Gazoo Sport FR Concept takes the Toyota 86’s standard 147kW/205Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder Boxer engine and adds a turbocharger and a supercharger, taking its total output to 239kW of power and 421Nm of torque.

The double boosted system is similar to the concept employed by Volkswagen’s 1.4-litre twin-charger engine, found in the Polo GTI and Golf, among other models.

Full performance specs of the Gazoo are still to be revealed, although with power to rival a Porsche 911, the Sport FR Concept is likely to shave more than two seconds off the 86’s 0-100km/h time and slide into sub-5.0 second territory.

Other mechanical enhancements include Gazoo-tuned suspension, brake calipers and rotors and dual exhaust system.

The unique body kit, which adds a decidedly Lexus LFA flavour to the rear-wheel-drive coupe, adds new front and rear bumpers, racing spoiler, Gazoo logos and a new alloy wheel and tyre combination.

Inside, the Sport FR Concept features a full roll cage, bucket seat with four-point seatbelt, black skin tone surfaces and an additional meter with boost gauge, water temperature gauge and oil temperature gauge.

There’s no word yet if Gazoo has plans to turn the Sport FR Concept into a kit or a ready-to-race product.

We expected the Toyota 86 to be good and it is. Brilliantly bringing together the strengths of Subaru’s Boxer engine (both in performance and packaging) with Toyota’s design smarts and production quality, the 86 marks a stellar return to mainstream sport scars by the world’s number one car-maker.

Not as raw as the Nissan Z-car, the Toyota 86 is intended to appeal to a wider audience and succeeds because it brings to the table Toyota’s every-day-car prowess but with a distinct sporty edge when pressed.

If you’re considering a sporty coupe, definitely wait until the first quarter of 2012 when the Toyota 86 goes on-sale in Australia.

More Pictures of 2012 Toyota 86

2012 Honda Fit review

Honda knows that maintaining (or better yet, increasing) market share with the Fit takes work, so the automaker has made subtle changes to content and features for the 2012 Honda Fit. For all 2012 Honda Fit models, they get revised beverage holders, console ambient lighting, more sound insulation and thicker front-corner window glass to reduce cabin noise. Base Fit models now come with body-color side mirrors and restyled wheel covers, but the bulk of the 2012 Honda Fit changes come on Honda Fit Sport models.

For 2012 Honda Fit model year, Fit Sport versions get a revised front grille and bumper, black headlight trim and dark “machined surface” alloy wheels. Inside, the 2012 Honda Fit Sport models get dark metallic dash trim, chrome accents around the instruments, steering wheel audio controls and upgraded seat fabric. When equipped with Honda’s navigation system, 2012 Honda Fit Sport models now include Bluetooth phone integration and audio streaming. Oddly absent is satellite radio, which remains unavailable on all 2012 Honda Fit models.

Faced with fierce competition from the likes of the Ford Fiesta and Hyundai Accent, the Japanese manufacturer decided to tweak the model for the 2012 Honda Fit model besides still working on the 2012 Honda CR-V. There are no changes under the hood of 2012 Honda Fit specs with the 1.5-liter 4-cylinder still making 117-hp and 106 lb-ft of torque and also coupled with a 5-speed manual or automatic transmission. Inside the 2012 Honda Fit, all variants will benefit from superior soundproofing; the engineers worked to reduce noise infiltration in the cabin by including noise-proof material under the floor, front arches and A pillars.

In the 2012 Honda Fit, you’ll also find new cup holders and new ambient lighting with two original colors (blue and metallic orange), replacing two similar hues in the old version. The 2012 Honda Fit Sport comes with a bunch of changes, starting with the design where it will come with a new front bumper, an updated grille and a pair of tinted headlights. Again, the 2012 Honda Fit Sport got a little extra attention. The 2012 Honda Fit Sport dash will boast dark metallic elements and chrome accents surrounding the instrument cluster, and it will be delivered standard with audio controls on the steering wheel.

2012 Honda Fit release date will come very soon and the base price will be of $16,910, which I guess it’s quite decent for one of the best cars in its class. 2012 Honda Fit could have been a lot better if they did something more significant about the design, but I guess it’s a matter of tastes.

More Pictures of 2012 Honda Fit

BMW 6-Series Gran Tourer planned for 2017 – report

2012 BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe – 10.12.2011

To feature electric tailgate opening

A report issued by Automobile Magazine says BMW is planning a 6-Series Gran Tourer.

The next generation 6-Series is expected to come out sometime in 2017 – a year after the all-new 5-Series – and besides the usual Coupe, Convertible and GranCoupe derivatives it will allegedly spawn a more practical yet equally luxurious Gran Tourer variant. Its design will be influenced by the GranCoupe but with a more inclined electrically operated tailgate, a lowered ride height and without roof rails.

Going up against the Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake, the 2017 BMW 6-Series Gran Tourer will be a more stylish and pricier alternative to the next-gen 5-Series Touring. Expect the next-gen 5- and 6-Series to go on a considerable diet estimated at 100 kg (220 lbs) while the engine lineup will encompass a variety of four-, six- and eight-cylinder units. There are also talks of a three-cylinder engines but BMW still hasn’t made up it is mind since many potential customers would be reluctant to see such a small engine in a big car.

Mysterious Ferrari California T test mule spotted in southern Spain

Ferrari California T test mule / diariomotor.com

Appears to be a US-spec car

An interesting Ferrari California T test car was photographed in southern Spain recently.

At a first glance this appears to be a U.S.-spec Ferrari California T judging by the additional mandatory lighting but upon closer inspection we notice some duct tape hiding a few wires coming out of the hood near the right A-pillar. It’s unusual to see an American specification vehicle testing in Spain but chances are underneath the familiar skin is something else.

This could turn out to be an early mule for Ferrari’s rumored entry-level model scheduled to come out before the end of the decade. It is believed such a model will be powered by a newly developed V6 2.9-liter twin-turbo engine outputting somewhere in the region of 500 bhp (373 kW) and 596 Nm (440 lb-ft) of torque. It will reportedly come with a manual gearbox and should carry a starting price of 175,000 EUR.

If it isn’t that, maybe Ferrari is testing their new twin-turbo V8 engine set to make an appearance in next year’s M458-T Italia where it will deliver an estimated 670 bhp (499 kW). Ferrari has already announced plans to embrace turbocharging with the California T and other models will feature turbo in the years to come as a method to reduce Ferrari’s CO2 footprint and also slash fuel consumption. Only their V12 will remain naturally-aspirated while hybrid systems are also in the works.

Special thanks go to Óscar Miguel from DiarioMotor for sending us the tip!

Second-gen Hyundai i20 spied without camouflage

2015 Hyundai i20 spy photo / team-bhp.com

Could debut in Paris later this year

The 2015 Hyundai i20 has been caught on camera totally undisguised ahead of a rumored debut in October.

The vehicle has been spotted by our spy photographers several times this year and now we have it fully revealed. The front end looks similar to the i10 and features a hexagonal radiator grille and bigger headlights. The top-end variants will reportedly get chrome door handles, diamond-cut alloy wheels and wing mirrors with integrated turn signals.

On the back, there is restyled tailgate and redesigned bumper with integrated reflectors.

Most likely, a 1.0-liter three-cylinder and a 1.25-liter four-cylinder engines will be available for the 2015 i20. On the diesel side, there could be a 1.1-liter three-cylinder and a 1.4-liter four-cylinder units.

The second-gen i20 is expected to debut during the Paris Motor Show later this year.

More photos can be found at the first source link below.

Alfa Romeo crossover coming in 2016 with up to 500 bhp – report

Alfa Romeo Kamal Concept 2003 – 1052

A second, larger SUV also planned

According to a recent report, Alfa Romeo will launch a crossover in 2016.

It was 2003 when Alfa Romeo introduced the Kamal concept at the Geneva Motor Show and now it seems a crossover is nearing production as Auto Express says it will hit dealerships sometime in 2016. Likely to be called the Giulietta Cross, it will have just about the same size as the BMW X3 and will be powered by newly developed four- and six-cylinder engines. The most potent gasoline motor is expected to deliver as much as 500 bhp (373 kW) and there will also be a hot diesel model offering 350 bhp (261 kW). According to a previous report, these high-powered Alfas could get engines developed by Ferrari.

Following the crossover’s introduction, Alfa Romeo will also launch a larger SUV and both these new models will reportedly get both rear- and all-wheel drive setups as well as an ideal 50:50 weight distribution. Before these two, a 3-Series rival called Giulia will likely be out towards the end of 2015 and will be followed by a bigger model to go up against the 5-Series.

Hopefully these rumors will materialize and that Fiat has an ambitious plan for Lancia as well.

Note: 2003 Alfa Romeo Kamal concept pictured.

2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid

Ford is not shying away from the fact that it has set its eyes on the Toyota Prius Vwith the new C-MAX Hybrid as the Blue Oval makes it a point to put at least one reference to the Japanese carmaker’s minivan in all of its press statements.

Last time, it was the C-MAX Hybrid’s fuel economy with Ford stating that its new minivan will be much more efficient than the Prius V that returns an EPA estimated 44mpg city, 40mpg highway and 42mpg combined. So wait, what is the C-MAX Hybrid’s fuel economy? Well, that is something Ford has yet to announce…

Moving on to today, Ford dropped pricing information on the 2013 C-MAX Hybrid, that starts at $25,995, excluding handling and destination fees (* – not yet announced). And as you may have already guessed, Ford noted that its new model is approximately $500 lower than the Toyota Prius V’s base price ($555, to be precise).

“C-MAX Hybrid offers better fuel economy, performance, technology and functionality than Prius v – and C-MAX Hybrid customers will pay less at the dealership and at the pump,” said Ken Czubay, vice president, U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service.

The five-seater C-MAX Hybrid is based on Ford’s European market C-MAX with power coming from a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine linked to an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack.

Ford also plans to introduce a plug-in hybrid variant of the C-MAX, which it claims will deliver a better fuel economy equivalent (MPGe) in all-electric mode than the…Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid along with a 500 miles (800 km) driving range.

More Pictures of 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid

2013 Mercedes-Benz Citan

Mercedes-Benz car maker has announced new car with called 2013 Mercedes-Benz Citan Review. 2013 Mercedes Citan is impressive quality and driving dynamics, exemplary safety and economy, and high level of versatility and robustness, the new Mercedes-Benz Citan is a truly professional urban delivery van.There will also be a variable, five-seater Citan Mixto vehicle with folding rear seat bench, wire mesh partition separating the load compartment, and two sliding doors. This mixed-use vehicle is based on the extra-long variant. The third basic design is the Citan crewbus, which is also a five-seater vehicle with folding rear seat bench and optional sliding doors on each side, but this time with a long wheelbase. Depending on the model, there are also three different weights ranging up to a maximum permissible gross vehicle weight of 2200 kilograms.

2013 Mercedes-Benz Citan is instantly recognisable as a Mercedes-Benz thanks to the vehicle’s characteristic brand look. Providing the brand signature, the chromed star is self-assuredly set against the prominent, robust radiator grille with three sporty perforated louvres.The new Citan is a compelling urban delivery van with a unique appearance and fits seamlessly into the portfolio alongside the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Vito vans.

The new 2013 Mercedes-Benz Citan is turning out to be a true transport professional in every detail. Special superstructures made by bodybuilders can be adapted to the vehicle technology with the help of a special interface and a parameterisable special module.Attractive, tailor-made financing and service offerings are being prepared for the new Mercedes-Benz Citan. These aspects are very important to customers so the new Mercedes-Benz Citan scores highly thanks to the integrated expertise of Mercedes-Benz Vans.

More Pictures of 2013 Mercedes-Benz Citan

Audi SQ7

A mysterious Audi SUV was recently spotted doing some runs on the Nurburgring. The sheer size of the vehicle suggests that this model could be the second generation Q7. However, a recent confirmation from an Audi executive seems to indicate that this is not just an ordinary Q7, but the SQ7 that is scheduled to be released in 2016.

So why do we think that it’s the SQ7? It’s a little hard to catch but if you look closely, you’ll notice that it has a quad-pipe exhaust system instead of the dual-pipe setup on the standard Q7.

Audi board member for technical development Ulrich Hackenberg has already confirmed to Autocar that the new Q7 will arrive next year. He also added that a more powerful SQ7 will come a year later. This spy video is the first indication that the car is right smack in the middle of development in time for its scheduled launch in 2016.

We don’t expect a whole lot aesthetic changes between the Q7 and the SQ7. But we do expect the latter to feature a completely different powertrain that could make use of a “supplemental electric charger” that will be used with a 3.0-liter, turbocharged, V-6 TDI engine and a lithium-ion battery.

Audi has already previewed this powertrain on a couple of concepts: the A6 TDI Concept and the RS 5 TDI-e Concept. The two concepts actually carried different iterations of this new powertrain technology. The A6 TDI used an electrically driven turbo combined with a single exhaust gas-driven turbocharger, whereas the RS 5 TDI used used a sequential twin-turbo system with a large and small turbocharger.

It remains to be seen what kind of engine configuration the SQ7 will carry but don’t be surprised if its hybrid system generates a little more than 370 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque output of the rumored Q7 e-Tron.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2016 Audi SQ7.

Audi SQ7 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 29 July 2014 16:00 EST.

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1962 Ferrari 250 GTO can be Yours for $64 Million

There are only so many superlatives you can throw in the direction of the Ferrari 250 GTO. To this day, it’s still considered as the quintessential Ferrari. More importantly, the 250 GTO is also revered as one of the greatest cars of all time. The 250 GTO is treated with such high reverence that the car usually fetches millions on the auction block. We’ve seen a 250 GTO LWB California Spider Competizione fetch $11 million. Before that, a 250 LM scooped up $14.3 million. And before we forget, a pair of 250 GTOs have been sold for $32 million and $52 million, respectively. Here’s the takeaway: if you own a Ferrari 250 GTO, you’re in possession of a car that can net you at least $30 million. There is no shortage of people willing to spend that amount, maybe even double that, to own a piece of Ferrari history. That being said, a 1962 250 GTO has found itself on Mobile.de, considered as Germany’s biggest online marketplace. It’s a legitimate site that has seen its share of million-dollar transactions so there’s little reason to suggest that this isn’t an authentic 250 GTO.

Its seller, GT Golden Tower Real Estate and Luxury Gmbh, indicates that this red 250 GTO has traveled 15,000 kilometers (9,320 miles), which means that its owner has made relatively good use of it. But the car still looks to be in great shape. One photo even shows the car’s V-12 engine to be in immaculate shape. The interior also looks polished and show quality.

Everything about this 1962 250 GTO looks to be in order. Well, almost everything. See, GT Golden Tower thinks this 250 GTO can sell for 47.6 million, which is about $64 million based on current exchange rates on 7/29/2014.

That’s a lot of money, but as history has shown, it’s not an absurd figure for a Ferrari 250 GTO.

Click past the jump to read more about the Ferrari 250 GTO.

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO can be Yours for $64 Million originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 29 July 2014 17:00 EST.

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