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Friday, December 30, 2016
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Infiniti QX50 Concept Detroit Auto Show Bound
Infiniti will use the stage of the Detroit auto show to introduce the QX50 Concept. According to Infiniti, the model previews a possible application for its new, production-ready variable-compression turbo engine.
Earlier this year, Infiniti announced it would bring out the new engine in 2018, although it didn’t give a specific timeline for its rollout among different models. Using a multi-link system, the variable compression engine, dubbed VC-Turbo, can adapt its compression ratio to different driving conditions to offer optimal levels of performance and fuel economy.
“Such an advanced powertrain would be perfectly suited to the packaging of the QX50 Concept,” Infiniti said in a press release.
On the outside, the Infiniti QX50 Concept looks quite a bit like the QX Sport Inspiration Concept that debuted earlier this year at the Beijing auto show. It features muscular proportions and a raked roofline like the previous model, as well as a new large skid plate that lends the SUV a distinctly athletic appeal.
Infiniti says the QX50 Concept also previews the brand’s rollout of autonomous technologies. Expect the automaker to make an announcement on that front at the show, but in the meantime, Infiniti says its autonomous technologies are intended to act as a “co-pilot” rather than a replacement for the driver. The car will take over certain driving tasks, such as muddling through start-stop traffic, while the driver can focus on more enjoyable ones.
We’ll learn more during the Detroit auto show, which begins January 8.
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Thursday, December 29, 2016
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2017 MG ZS SUV Video Revealed
MG has changed hands a few times since it started building cars in the early 1920s. Since 2007, the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) of China has owned the iconic British brand.
Last month, the MG ZS compact crossover made its world debut at the Guangzhou auto show and now a follow-up launch video was released on YouTube. The flashy promo showcases the small SUV in red, white and blue trims.
In the video, we can see the potential Nissan Juke fighter with a front snout similar to a Mazda CX-3 or a Jaguar XE sedan. It also sports a large, centered MG badge on a galvanized sky-star grille.
The pint-sized four-door has broad shoulders, panoramic sunroof, roof rails, and is smaller than the MG GS, a mid-sized SUV, which made its debut last year. Around back, the rear hatch opens via a large chrome MG logo that can tilt up. Horizontal lights are similar to the GS model and wrap around the rear body panels snugly.
Under the compact crossover’s short hood we’re told there’s a 1.6-liter turbo engine with 125 horsepower and 125 lb-ft of torque.
Autoevolution reports that two 1.5-liter engines could be offered and increase the total output up to a respectable 165 hp. They also speculate that the ZS will most likely be offered with a 6-speed manual or a twin-clutch gearbox.
MG is touting the modest ZS as a car made for young people or Generation Z. The peppy SUV features intelligent voice control that allows its occupants to open and close windows, adjust temperature controls, music, and navigation by voice commands.
The ZS will be built in China. Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but it is expected to go on sale in China, the U.K. and other markets outside of the U.S. in late 2017.
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Subaru BRZ STI Sport Concept Ready for 2017
Subaru is debuting one good-looking BRZ at the Tokyo Auto Salon next month. The coupe, dubbed the Subaru BRZ STI Sport Concept, delivers a host of cosmetic upgrades and, according to the automaker, “STI-tuned driving performance.”
The model is based on the BRZ GT that’s sold outside of the U.S. Here, that model will be known as the BRZ with the Performance package when it arrives in late 2017. On top of special touches afforded by the Performance model, the concept adds unique bodywork, special 18-inch wheels, and STI badging. Open the doors, and you’re greeted with a rich wine-colored interior.
Along with the special BRZ, the automaker will also showcase four race models, including the WRX STI NBR Challenge 2016 that won two consecutive championships in the SP3T class at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring race. The other three race-going models include the BRZ GT300 2016, WRX STI for Japan Rally Championship, and BRZ CG Robot Racing 2017. Also look for a WRX S4 STI Sport Concept as well as special STI versions of the Levorg and Impreza G4.
Expect to see Subaru’s entire show car lineup leading up to January 13 when the Tokyo Auto Salon begins. Subaru also says it will make an announcement about its motorsports program at the event.
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Wednesday, December 28, 2016
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Top 10 Most Google-Searched Brands of 2016
Google has released its “Year in Search” results, revealing the top searches of the year in multiple different categories. In the automotive realm, Honda came out the winner.
Honda topped the list of the most Google-searched car brands this year in the U.S. Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, Lamborghini, and Volvo rounded out the top five, and most of Honda’s rivals were nowhere to be found on the list.
- Honda
- Mercedes-Benz
- Tesla
- Lamborghini
- Volvo
- Ford
- Jaguar
- Bentley
- Maserati
- Rolls-Royce
It’s surprising that Honda is one of the only non-luxury, non-exotic car companies to crack the top 10. But it’s hard to deny Honda had a big year as it continued to roll out new Civic variants and introduced a fifth-generation CR-V crossover.
Last year, Chevrolet was the most searched car company in the U.S. Dodge followed in second, while Honda trailed in third.
According to Google Trends data, search interest in Honda this year was particularly high in California, North Carolina, and Georgia. Check out the full “Year in Search” list for more detailed information on search trends for the top 10 automakers, as well as search trends for categories other than car brands.
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Just Listed: Rare 1964 Bill Thomas Cheetah with L88 427 Goes to Auction http://ift.tt/2iG8J8q
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Elon Musk Confirms New Roadster
Tesla’s first production car wasn’t the Model S, it was the Roadster. Based on a Lotus Elise, the Tesla Roadster used the British-built aluminum chassis and skin from the Elise and crammed as many laptop-style batteries wherever Tesla’s engineers could. Range was barely 200 miles, it was heavy, and didn’t inspire confidence with its compromised handling.
But, it produced enough talk among the industry and enthusiasts that it helped propel Tesla to the forefront of electric car design. Since then, every other manufacturer has been doing its best to catch up. Now, according to the man in charge, and our celebrity crush, Elon Musk, has proclaimed the Roadster will be back.
Asked by a fan on Twitter if the rumored Roadster revival will happen, Musk responded, “Some years away, but yes.” This confirmation isn’t so much a shockwave as Musk as hinted at the Roadster’s return for some time, but it does reaffirm that Tesla is in it for the long haul, and has plans beyond the Model S, Model X, and Model 3.
Tesla produced the Roadster from 2008 until 2012, although Tesla still offers updates and upgrades for the Roadster to this day. The first production cars were able to go about 200 miles on a charge, while the later units with upgraded battery packs and motor management software were able to stretch the range.
For many, the Roadster was galvanized in many of the automotive enthusiast’s minds when the BBC’s “Top Gear” skewered the Roadster and its all-electric drivetrain. The “review” produced a lengthy libel lawsuit that spanned years, and was resolved in 2011 when Britain’s High Court decided that the lawsuit should be thrown out and ordered Tesla to pay the BBC’s legal costs of over $100,000.
However, while many saw this legal battle as diminishing Tesla’s stock, it propelled the company to an international stage. Besides the confirmation, Musk didn’t elaborate on what the new Roadster will look like, whether it will use the same Lotus-based architecture, or what battery pack will power the sportscar. But if we were to hazard a guess, Tesla will likely use a version of the Model 3’s architecture — given that it’s smaller than the Model S — has two doors, a higher range than the previous Roadster’s 230 miles per charge, and likely feature a design that’s more in line with the rest of Tesla’s lineup.
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Automobile’s Top Stories of Each Month of 2016
Thanks in part to the auto show schedule, industry news and coverage tends to wax and wane in bursts. Early in the year, when the Detroit auto show is king, companies put out a ton of teasers leading up to a product debut at the show, causing online coverage to swell. In the off-periods between shows, this gives more unconventional stories their chance to shine. Check out our month-by-month chart-toppers below.
January: 5 Things to Know about the 2017 Honda Ridgeline
In addition to being the top story of January, this was our second most popular story of 2016. If you still haven’t learned everything about the new Honda Ridgeline, click over to read about find out five things about the new Ridgeline that you might not find on Honda’s website.
February: The Kia Optima Sportswagon Is More Desirable than Any Crossover
Most new car buyers in the U.S. might not care about wagons, but you, our readers, certainly do. We’re convinced this incredibly sexy Optima Sportswagon won’t make it to our shores, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do a little window shopping. Head over to the article to see more photos of the fab five-door.
March: Lexus, Toyota, Audi, Mazda Top Consumer Reports Reliability Survey
Here’s another story that made its way into the top-of-the-year ranks as well. The usual suspects like Toyota, Lexus, and Mazda remained at the top of the list, but surprising appearances from outliers like Audi really attracted attention.
April: Meet the Tesla Model 3: Elon’s EV for the Masses Revealed
Like a lightning bolt chucked by Zeus himself, the Model 3 was a blinding, polarizing debut from one of the hottest brands on the market. It’s Elon Musk’s first genuine view of a semi-affordable electrified future, and it’s about as forward-thinking as you can imagine. We’re sure our first drive of the Model 3, after the car makes its production debut, will top the charts again.
May: 2017 Porsche Panamera: First Ride
You guys just can’t seem to get enough of the 2017 Porsche Panamera. This was our intrepid European Bureau Chief Georg Kacher’s first glimpse at a prototype of the car, months before it made its official debut.
June: 2017 Ford Escape Review
No Boring Cars, huh? We’d be remiss if we didn’t cover the more pedestrian and affordable new cars on the market, and the 2017 Ford Escape review proved us correct. It isn’t glamorous or cutting-edge, or the next-great-thing, but if you want some insight on a popular crossover, hop on over to the article.
July: 25 Future Cars You Won’t Want to Miss
Every year, we hire a talented illustrator and put our heads together to determine future unrevealed models from any and all manufacturers. We cover everything, from a new Ford Bronco all the way up to the future of the Bugatti lineup. Head over to the feature to see 25 cars you might see at the next major auto show.
August: Cadillac Escala Debuts At Pebble Beach
Cadillac can be such a tease. The eminent American luxury brand stunned in the past with fabulous concepts like the Sixteen, Ciel, Elmiraj; it added to the list with the Escala, which can be viewed as a successor to the drop-top Ciel and fixed-roof Elmiraj. Despite the hopelessness of waiting for a production form, we expect to see some design fixtures from the Escala worm their way down to regular sedans and SUVs from the brand in the future.
September: New Cars for 2017
Just like the aforementioned Future Cars feature, this is our look at confirmed production-ready cars that are ready for the showroom floor. It’s worth a look into just to see what else you can look forward to next year as we escape the cold, clammy clutch of 2016.
October: Quick Take: 2017 Lincoln Continental Reserve AWD
Despite its tendency to split a room full of pundits straight down the middle, interest in the new Lincoln Continental remains strong. There is understandable interest in Lincoln’s much-lauded attempt at returning to pre-1990s form and this article our first dip into the Continental’s water.
November: Exclusive First Drive: Flyin’ Miata’s V-8-Powered 2016 Mazda MX-5
Flyin Miata’s V-8-powered ND Miata, which has generated plenty of buzz even in stock form, is incredibly cool and we were glad to see it gain traction. Flyin’ Miata worked hard on creating a near-perfect product, and it’s worth the read.
December: First Drive: 2017 Subaru Impreza
The Subaru Impreza has always been one of the more fun-to-drive compacts on the market, so we weren’t surprised to see our first drive of the newest version jump to the top of the charts. Offered as a hatch or sedan, the 2017 Impreza is one of the few models on the market that can still be had with a stick.
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