Amazing : 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series Show Off Its Moves !

If you haven’t gotten enough of the all-new 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series, fret not – the automaker has just released 64 glorious seconds of running footage. However, there is one downside: we are treated to a faux-rock soundtrack in place of the SLS Black’s V-8 snarl.

The V-8 in question is a naturally-aspirated 6.2-liter unit hand-built at AMG’s facilities in Affalterbach, Germany that is good for some 622 hp and 7400 rpm and 468 lb-ft at 5500 rpm. Other engine upgrades for the Black Series over the “basic” 2013 SLS AMG GT include a 8000-rpm redline (up from 7400 rpm); a slightly quicker 0-62 mph time (3.5 seconds versus 3.7); and a new oil pump, crank bearings, camshafts, intake, and connecting rod fasteners.

The front and rear tracks are wider (by 0.8 and 0.9 tenths of an inch, respectively) and now house black 10×19-inch wheels up front and 12×20-inch in back. Starting at the rear, there are now quad rectangular exhaust outlets that are nestled within an aggressive carbon fiber diffuser, all of which are below a massive new carbon fiber fixed rear wing. Hood, front fascia, and body scoops have all been accented in carbon fiber, and the head- and taillights have been have been tinted.

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Tesla CEO Elon Musk Pontificates On Future EV Products !

It’s been about two weeks since Tesla’s Model S won Automobile Magazine’s Automobile of the Year, and the EV sedan added another trophy–Motor Trend’s Car of the Year title –to its case, which also includes Yahoo Autos’ Car of the Year. Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk is happy to see the awards rack up and hear the accolades, but is reportedly celebrating with the promise of more Tesla models.

That isn’t to say that Musk isn’t spending a minute or two just celebrating. “When I heard that the Model S had won Motor Trend‘s Car of the Year, I did a double-overhead high-five with George Blankenship [head of Tesla's retail efforts],” the CEO told Motor Trend Editor-in-Chief Ed Loh. “It’s going to be a huge shot in the arm to the whole Tesla team.”

But there aren’t many laurels for Musk to rest on: Tesla is still struggling a bit, amidst the financial hardship of starting a car company, creating a network of charging stations, and now fighting legal battles over its retail network. Keep in mind that Tesla has only built 1000 Model S bodies (which likely includes development models) at its Fremont, California plant through the end of last month. Tesla is hoping to ramp up production to 20,000 units a year by next year.

If Tesla is successful, there are still a few roadblocks between here and President Obama’s stated goal of having one million EVs, plug-in hybrids, and EREVs on the road by 2015, namely the charging infrastructure and initial cost of buying an electric car. Musk hopes to have both of those bases covered, too, and predicts that Obama’s reelection will help keep the pressure on from the government to promote greener, more electrified cars.

First up: the Supercharger network, a national grid of solar-powered electric car chargers along major thoroughfares that hopes to make interstate (or cross-country) driving possible with the Model S. Musk and Tesla recently opened a handful of Supercharger stations but hope to have all major intercity routes (like Boston to New York/Philadelphia/Washington D.C.) covered by 2014.

As for the products, Musk hopes to introduce new products to expand Tesla’s reach while the technology’s costs naturally come down. “I think we’ve got some really good products coming down the pipeline,” he said. “We’ve got the Model X, which is really trying to apply some major innovation to the SUV and Minivan segment, and we’ve got our third-generation car, which is a mass-market electric car–that’s actually the one that I’m most keen to bring to the market.” Lest you think that Teslas are only going to be passenger-focused vehicles like SUVs and sedans, Musk did slip a little fun into his conversation with Motor Trend. “We have this idea for an electric truck that could really be a big improvement in truck technology…[and] we’d like to do an electric supercar.”

With that said, the truck and supercar’s future (and the saleability of the Model X) do depend on the ability of the Model S to make money. So if you’re hoping for a California-built, all-electric truck in your future driveway, keep your fingers crossed.

Sources: Reuters, Motor Trend

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2013 Dodge Dart Police Car !

When most hear “Dodge police car” they think of the Charger or Durango. Add another nameplate to that list – the Belvidere, Ill. Police Department has added a 2013 Dodge Dart to its fleet.

The Belvidere Police Department Dodge Dart has a light bar fitted to the roof; red, blue, and white lights in the crosshair grille; and a search light mounted to the driver’s side A-pillar.

To be fair, the Belvidere Police Department’s new Dodge Dart police car isn’t actually a patrol car. Belvidere police officials wanted to drive the vehicle built by the local community, so it contacted Dodge to commission this one-off Dart police car. This 2013 Dart police car will be used for ceremonial and non-patrol duties like its first official mission escorting a convoy of Chrysler vehicles to the local food pantry to donate food for Thanksgiving.

In exchange for its new police car, the Belvidere Police Department will give Chrysler feedback on its Dart police car, which Chrysler will then use to determine whether there’s a market for a Dodge Dart police car. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen unusual choices for non-patrol enforcement vehicles: last year, Portuguese police put into service eight Nissan Leafs, and New York City purchased 50 Chevrolet Volts for use by the police department, fire department, and other city agencies.

Should Dodge offer a non-patrol 2013 Dart police car to police fleets across the nation? Sound off in the comments below.

Source: Dodge

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Amazing : New Hyundai Sonata to Debut in 2014, New Genesis in 2013 !

A new version of the Hyundai Sonata sedan will debut by 2014, and a new version of the Genesis will arrive in 2013. Reuters reports that Hyundai CEO Kim Choong-ho confirmed the product debuts at an industry meeting in Seoul, South Korea.

The current version of the Hyundai Sonata (pictured) was introduced in Korea in late 2009 and launched in the U.S. in 2010. Since then, the car has not been significantly updated, although new turbocharged and hybrid models have become available. The Sonata is the best-selling Hyundai vehicle in the U.S., and the third best-selling Hyundai in Korea. The new, revamped version is designed to help Hyundai steal more market share from Japanese competitors like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

The Hyundai Genesis, which is the company’s large rear-wheel-drive flagship, should be updated by 2013. The Genesis launched in the U.S. for the 2009 model year, and for 2012 was upgraded with an optional 5.0-liter V-8 engine. The Genesis is the second slowest-selling Hyundai in the U.S. market, after the Azera sedan.

Hyundai also is planning to launch a new version of the Santa Fe crossover at the New York auto show in April. The company already is taking orders for the 2013 Santa Fe in South Korea.

Source: Reuters

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Rumor : Hyundai Confirms 204-HP Veloster Turbo Will Debut In Detroit !

After much speculation, Hyundai CEO John Krafcik has confirmed that there is, in fact, a turbocharged version of the Veloster hatchback in the works. The turbocharged hatchback will make its debut this upcoming January at the 2012 Detroit auto show.

Krafcik confirmed the hot hatch last night while at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas, Nevada, and – as he often does – sent a tweet to Hyundai’s Twitter feed announcing the car’s debut in Detroit. That’s ironic, considering the company used the same account last week to downplay the possibility of a turbo Veloster.

We already knew that this car was coming, and even have a good idea of what will power the veloce Veloster. Just two weeks ago, the automaker took the wraps off of a turbocharged version of the 1.6-liter Gamma inline-four cylinder that is in the current Veloster. That new turbo mill should be good for around 204 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, which is a significant improvement over the 138 hp and 123 lb-ft produced by the of the naturally aspirated engine.

Just as with the rest of its competitors, we expect that the Veloster Turbo will send all of its power through the front wheels. Expect transmission options to mirror those of the base Veloster, with either a six-speed manual or Hyundai’s all-new six-speed dual-clutch. No word yet on whether or not the more powerful engine will affect the Veloster’s 40 mpg highway rating, but don’t be surprised if those figures decrease slightly.

With 204 hp, the Veloster Turbo will sit mid-pack along with other hot hatches. It will best the Mini Cooper S (181 hp), the Volkswagen GTI (200 hp), and the Honda Civic Si (201 hp), although it won’tbe quite as powerful as the Mazdaspeed3 (263 hp) and Subaru WRX (265 hp).

Expect further details – along with a facelifted Genesis Coupe – to emerge closer to the Detroit show

Source: Hyundai Twitter

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The Hyundai Veloster Turbo Is Here…Finally !

The number one criticism of the Hyundai Veloster is that it lacks supreme power to match its go-fast looks. No more: Hyundai debuted a new Veloster Turbo at the Detroit Auto Show today, in hopes of turning the heat up on the hot hatchback.

That heat comes from a newly turbocharged 1.6-liter Gamma inline-four-cylinder engine. Thanks to the inclusion of a twin-scroll turbocharger, the Veloster Turbo now makes 201 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, an increase of 57 horses and 72 pound-feet. That power, as before, is sent to the front wheels via either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Considering that the Veloster Turbo is projected to weigh around 2800 pounds, the increase of power should mean big gains in acceleration times. It should also mean good fuel economy numbers: while the manual-equipped Veloster hits 40 mpg on the highway, the Veloster Turbo is projected to hit 27 mpg city and 38 mpg highway. Not bad for a car with at least 40 percent more power.

Inside, the seats get a predictably sporty treatment, and that sporty design moves outside as well: the Veloster’s distinctive grille receives a horizontal-slotted insert, which is topped off with a full aerodynamic kit.

The Veloster Turbo should be zooming toward Hyundai dealerships by this summer, at a price to be determined in the meantime.

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LA Show : Mitsubishi Promises 2014 Outlander and 2013 Outlander Sport Limited Edition !

We’ve all heard the news by now: in the wake of Suzuki’s death in the United States, Mitsubishi doubled-down and promised to stay in the U.S. market despite ballooning inventory, tanking sales, and little in the way of new product. While the first two points are more difficult to fix, Mitsubishi hopes to address the third later this month at the Los Angeles Auto Show by launching two new products, the 2014 Outlander SUV and a new Limited Edition trim level for its 2013 Outlander Sport CUV.

The 2014 Outlander debuted at this year’s Geneva Motor Show and has actually been on sale for a while in the Japanese domestic market, at least in conventional gas-burning form (a plug-in hybrid is still in the works). Mitsubishi is setting some ambitious goals by saying that the Outlander will have compact CUV fuel economy while also arriving in showrooms with seven seats as standard equipment. As such, it seems as if Mitsubishi is targeting a 30-mpg highway rating, although it’s unclear exactly how the Outlander will do earn that figure. The Outlander will be available with a 2.0-liter I-4 in European markets, but Mitsubishi has yet to detail powertrain options for the U.S. market. Instead, Mitsubishi promises a MIVEC engine with an updated variable valve and lift timing system to improve fuel economy.The Outlander will also feature a few tricks Mitsubishi hasn’t previously offered in the U.S.,including forward collision mitigation, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control.

The second car is less of a new model and more of a trim level update. The 2013 Outlander Sport Limited Edition, which builds on the 2013 Outlander Sport’s new-for-2013 facelifted exterior and minor mechanical changes. The Limited Edition gains black mirror caps and a black grille divider, along with black roof rails and “dark chrome alloy wheels.” The only mechanical change comes in the form of a different engine balancer shaft, which promises stronger acceleration while reducing NVH and keeping highway fuel economy pegged at 31 mpg, the same as stock Outlander Sports. The package is rounded out with a six-way power driver’s seat, aluminum pedals, a leather-covered handbrake lever, and two tone gray/black leather upholstery.

If any of this piqued your curiosity, do stay tuned: Mitsubishi promises to reveal the new model and the new trim level at a press conference at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Thursday, November 29. An on-sale date for either model has yet to be announced.

Source: Mitsubishi

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Which Does It Better? Land Rover DC100 Vs. Mercedes-Benz Ener-G Force Concepts !

When it comes to next-generation rough-and-tumble off-roaders, both Land Rover and Mercedes-Benz have shown off concepts of their next burly SUVs. But which of those is the better concept: the cutesy Land Rover DC100 or the futuristic Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-Force?

Both vehicles are attempts to bring iconic old-school SUVs into the 21st century. In the case of the DC100, the concept represents Land Rover’s vision for the next Defender. Shown at various auto shows including Frankfurt, Los Angeles, and New York, the DC100 loosely shows how the next-generation Land Rover Defender will look when it debuts in 2015. And unlike the current Defender, the next one will be sold in America, as confirmed by Land Rover design director Gerry McGovern.

The light-blue DC100 hardtop and the yellow DC100 Sport both have chunky lines, big skidplates, raised suspension, and even options like snorkels to make the vehicles capable of true off roading. They borrow much of their styling from the Range Rover Evoque, and are supposed to be far more pleasant and modern than today’s boxy, dated, and still somewhat crude Land Rover Defender.

The Mercedes-Benz Ener-G-Force, meanwhile, shows how the German brand could evolve its famous G-Class. The SUV has long been a hallmark of durability and simplicity, with trademarks like three locking differentials helping cement its exceptional off-road ability. Although the Mercedes G-Class was slightly revised for 2013, an all-new version is likely on the way soon.

Although designed to meet a competition for which entrants must design the police vehicle of 2025, the Ener-G-Force is very much a futuristic G-Class SUV. The squared-off nose with big grille, beefy wheels and tires, tall stance, and off-road accessories like big roof lights all make this concept look like a more modern Gelandewagen. The powertrain is a futuristic hydrogen fuel-cell setup with an individual electric motor powering each of the four wheels.

As both the Ener-G-Force and DC100 are set to inform the next generation of serious off-roading SUVs, which one does a better job of bringing the rough-and-tumble box into the 21st century? Do you prefer the cutesy looks and colors, plus lengthy British heritage, of the Land Rover DC100 that will become the Defender? Or does the utilitarian appeal of the G-Class and the forward-thinking design of the Ener-G-Force concept draw your allegiance to Mercedes? Let us know in the comments section below — and check back in a few years’ time to see the completed, production-ready 2015 Land Rover Defender and next-generation Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

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Rumored: Next Toyota Prius to Offer 60 MPG, All-Wheel Drive !

Toyota has big plans for its next-generation Prius. In a recent Motor Trend report, a Toyota engineer suggested the possibility that the next Prius, which should arrive in spring of 2015, is likely to have 60 mpg combined, better styling, and an all-wheel-drive system. With the Toyota Prius already a serious seller in many states, we’re putting it to you: What would it take for Toyota to get you to consider a Prius?

About the new Prius, the Toyota engineer told Motor Trend, “The rear wheels will be driven by a motor in what we call an e-4WD system. Targeting snowy areas, the rears will operate up to 37 mph. Above that speed, it becomes a purely front-wheel drive car.”

New drivetrain technology like that could help expand the Toyota Prius’ reach into other markets. Of course, a more eye-catching design would help too, and we’ve heard the new Prius will be sleeker and have a lower profile. To aid aerodynamic efficiency, the car will sport a lower hood height (by about 3.5 inches) and roof height than the model in dealerships today. Like that car, the new Prius will use NiMH batteries as well as lithium-ion units. “…Our engineers have found that NiMH batteries actually manage power delivery better when it comes to intensive consumption and recharging of electricity,” the Toyota engineer said.

Currently, the original Toyota Prius — not the compact Prius C or the more versatile Prius V — is EPA-rated at 51/48 mpg city/highway. Partly thanks to a lighter-weight platform, the next Prius is said to drop about 150 pounds, and fuel economy may increase all the way to 60 mpg combined or above.

If you were considering a new midsize sedan or hybrid, what would make you most likely to consider a new Toyota Prius: a sleeker design, 60 mpg combined, or available all-wheel drive?

Source: Motor Trend

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Deep Dive: New Jaguar’s Future Model Lineup !

The release of the 2014 F-type is just the beginning for Jaguar. Expect to see an all-new XF, XJ, XK, and more within the next five years.

F-Type

Jaguar is on a roll thanks to its new F-Type, which looks quite fetching even if it may not stir one’s glands in quite the same way as the E-Type did way back when. After the F-Type roadster goes on sale, we will see a coupe, soon-to-be-renamed SC and R versions, an all-wheel drive model, and a hot and hairy GT street racer. It all sounds remarkably like the formula Porsche has perfected with the 911.

XK

Already in the pipeline is a new XK, which must, for cost reasons, use a modified version of the existing platform. The recipe is quite simple: more power, more torque, more equipment, and more prestige all wrapped in a slightly bigger and allegedly even more striking body than now. All of that should help position the next top-of-the-line Jaguar sports car almost a full notch above the current model.

3-Series Fighter

The most significant game-changer from Coventry is project X760. This past summer, the new entry-level rear- and all-wheel-drive Jaguar aimed at the Audi A4, the BMW 3-Series, and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class was given the official go-ahead. The first-generation model is likely to be available in two body styles: a stylish four-door sedan due in 2015 and a sporty five-door crossover that follows in 2016. X760 is an integral part of Jaguar’s premium lightweight architecture (PLA), which is scalable as far as the material mix is concerned and modular in terms of engineering content. Case in point, PLA is already in use with the current Jaguar XJ and the 2013 Land Rover Range Rover.

XF

The next XF – codenamed X260 – is scheduled to carry on in sedan and Sportbrake (wagon) form. A coupe and a convertible are nice options in this segment, but if Jaguar can fund a third model, it would probably be a Land Rover/Range Rover–derived crossover.

XJ

The marque’s strategy for the future XJ (X360) is quite interesting. If all goes according to plan, we may see up to three different XJ models when the current car is replaced in 2017. Absolutely cast in stone is “an absolutely lickable, damn good-looking” high-end sedan that “is going to be even more desirable than a Bentley Continental Flying Spur for half the price.”

Number two in line is a proper XJ replacement, and here is where the internal debate is raging – choices are between a pretty but conventional four-door sedan and a slightly off-beat, emphatically avant-garde design. The outcome of this discussion may be influenced by whether Jaguar (and parent company Tata) can afford a third XJ model, which would likely be a four-seat, four-door coupe “that is breathtakingly beautiful inside and out.” If the CLS/Gran Coupe fighter gets the nod, then the mainstay XJ will probably be less extroverted than the car it replaces.

By : Georg Kacher

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