With just months to go before the debut of the new BMW M3 and M4, it’s only right that we’d catch a prototype or two testing. And we have: this M4 coupe prototype was spotted testing recently at the Nurburgring.
2014 BMW M4 Spy Shot – Front 3/4
The next-gen model will ditch the natural aspiration and V-8 engine for a twin-turbo six-cylinder model (an I-6, not the rumored V-6) that will make about 450 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque — an increase of 36 horsepower and 106 pound-feet over the current engine. Total weight loss for this new model is estimated to be 220 pounds through the adoption of a carbon fiber roof, trunk, and hood. With the increase in power and decrease in weight, the M4 you see here should be able to sprint to 62 mph in 4.3 seconds, down from 4.6.
2014 BMW M4 Spy Shot – HeadOn
We should see the final car this fall at the Los Angeles auto show, months before a summer 2014 release.
The last time you probably saw race car driver Justin Bell behind the wheel of a Viper was most likely the 1998 Le Mans race, when he won the GT2 class. Now, on the premiere episode of The World’s Fastest Car Show, Bell takes a turn behind the wheel of the 2013 SRT Viper.
With a naturally aspirated 8.4-liter V-10 that pumps out a massive 640 hp, 600 lb-ft of torque, and a rip-snorting soundtrack, the automotive world doesn’t get much more muscle than the Viper. In true sports-car form, all that power is directed to the rear axle through a short-throw six-speed manual transmission. No, an automatic is not available.
What would you do if you were given a well-frozen lake covered in a couple inches of snow and a 903 horsepower supercar?
McLaren P1 – Getting Sideways on Ice
Well, if you’re like us, you’d probably hoon the hell out of it. And it seems the good folks at McLaren are like us, based on this video. We’ve seen the P1 in person now in full production trim, but this artfully camouflaged prototype proves that the 903-horsepower supercar looks good in just about any colour.
The McLaren P1 was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, and in a few months the first of 375 cars will be delivered to customers. The P1 is a plug-in hybrid that combines a version of the 12C supercar’s twin-turbo 3.8-liter V-8, good for 727 hp and 531 lb-ft of torque, with an electric motor that produces 172 hp and 192 lb-ft. While the car’s lithium-ion battery pack allows it to drive up to six miles on electricity alone, we’re more interested in the way the motor and engine can work together. To learn more about the mighty P1 click the following link to take you to our previous article: “The McLaren P1 Supercar has been revealed in production form, and its ready for its Geneva show debut“
A dramatic new video highlighting the McLaren P1’s aerodynamics was released this week in non HD, but it does however suggest that the supercar was shaped by air. Wind tunnel air in this case as the video shows how the air flows over raw metal and carbon fiber body panels and other features. In the video, the raw materials are molded into the supercar’s basic silhouette before excess pieces are stripped away to reveal the P1’s body.
By using Formula 1 technology, McLaren claims the P1 is the most aerodynamically advanced car in the world. The video is the first of two that will highlight the McLaren P1 supercar’s story. McLaren has also released new photos of the P1 supercar; the images are in the gallery below.
An alleged image of the new Ferrari F70 was served up on the internet this weekend soaked in typically ambiguous “leaked” caveats. As vague in origin as it is in image quality, the photo is rumored to have first surfaced on a Ferrari fan’s Facebook page.
2013 Ferrari F70 – Presentation Spy Shot
According to Ferrari F70 Facebook page who took this photo from Weibo (a Chinese website), this is indeed the Enzo successor. Motoroids says the picture was taken at a private party in China and an official unveiling is expected next year. That private party could have something to do with Ferrari’s recent 20th anniversary in China.
A digital rendering of the 2013 Ferrari F70 – Front 3/4
As for what’s under the hood, we’re still fairly sure that it’ll be a hybrid of Ferrari’s own design, mixing an 800-hp, large V-12 (we hear 6.3 liters, but it could be larger) and a 120-hp electric motor, combining to pack a 920-hp punch. That should put it above the upcoming Porsche 918 Spyder in terms of total power output which has been confirmed at 795 hp, but behind the swoopy McLaren P1 (said to make 1000 hp). It’ll also weigh well under 3000 pounds, perhaps as little as 2200. Expect a price tag somewhere in the neighborhood of a cool million bucks, pounds, dollars, or Euro’s, she’s a going to be expensive
A digital rendering of the 2013 Ferrari F70 – Rear 3/4
Honda redesigned the Accord for 2013, debuting the ninth generation of its popular family car amid a hotbed of competition. By sales volume, some seven out of 10 family cars saw redesigns for 2012 or 2013. The list includes household names: Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry.
2013 Honda Accord – Coupe and Sedan
Base models come equipped with a direct-injection 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 185 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. When mated with a new six-speed manual gearbox, the sedan returns 24 miles per gallon city, 34 mpg highway and 28 mpg combined. Engineers have also developed a new continuously variable transmission for peak fuel economy. When paired with the CVT, the four-cylinder yields 27 mpg city, 36 mpg highway and 30 mpg combined. Those numbers mark an increase of four mpg city and two mpg highway over the old automatic, but land the Accord behind the 38 mpg of the 2013 Nissan Altima.
2013 Honda Accord Sedan – Front 3/4 view
While the new direct-injection system and transmissions account for a large portion of that increase, tricks like an electric power steering system and reworked aerodynamics also help. Sport trim bumps power up to 189 hp and 182 lb-ft of torque with no significant fuel economy penalty. Buyers who step into the 278 horsepower 3.5-liter V6 with its 252 lb-ft of torque can look forward to 21 mpg city and 34 mpg highway. That’s an increase of one and four mpg, respectively, which helps push the six-cylinder to 25 mpg combined.
In the styling department the new Accord has received a subtle update with a slightly more dramatic flat-fronted chrome grille and a chrome lower front splitter. Further helping to add some premium style to the new Accord are standard 16-inch aluminum wheels and chrome door handles. Out back a new taillight design is oddly reminiscent of the Hyundai Genesis sedan.
2013 Honda Accord Sedan – Rear 3/4 view
That center-screen, an 8-inch unit, will come as standard equipment, as will Honda’s i-MID system, a back-up camera and an Econ button, which, when pressed, will dull throttle response to further improve fuel economy. Upgrading to the new Sport trim adds 18-inch wheels, a 10-way power seat, fog lights, a leather steering wheel, dual exhaust a rear spoiler and paddle shifters. The volume EX trim adds the LaneWatch feature, keyless access with a push button ignition, a moonroof, 17-inch wheels and rear seat ventilation. Finally the EL-L delivers leather, heated seats, an upgraded audio system, forward collision alert and lane departure alert, with navigation optional. V6 models come only as an EX-L trim with leather, while a new top-trim Touring model adds adaptive cruise control and LED headlights.
2013 Honda Accord – Interior
Pricing details have not yet been revealed, and we will be interested to see as each of the 2013 Accord trim levels have added more standard content in what looks to be an attempt at taking the Hyundai approach. Time will tell and we will be here to pass the final numbers along when they are eventually released.
Since the current 40 mpg Elantra Sedan has been on sale in North America for a little over a year. Hyundai has decide that this year’s Chicago Auto Show would be the ideal setting to breathe some new life into the name plate, which they have with the introduction of the 2013 Elantra Coupe and the 2013 Elantra GT.
The 2013 Hyundai Elantra Line-Up
We couldn’t agree more with the timing of the launch as over the past 4-5 months the Elantra has begun to take a back seat to other name plates from Hyundai most the Accent and the Veloster. Both of those cars are smaller than the Elantra however they do share the same fuel efficient engine and power trains allowing them to also achieve 40 mpg or 5.8 L/100km. Curiously neither of the two new models are able to achieve these numbers falling one mpg short with their highway efficiency rated at 39 mpg and 6 L/100km.
Let’s start with the similarities of the two new Elantra Models, Both the Coupe and GT will feature the 1.8-liter inline 4 cylinder, continuously variable valve timing, dual over head cam, 16 valve engine (try saying that 3 times fast) that output 148 hp and 131 lb-ft of torque. The engine power is delivered to the front wheels through either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic transmission, and will accelerate the car from a standstill to 100 km/h in 9 seconds flat. The Coupe and GT will also use the same braking, steering and suspension systems that are found in the sedan. They will also have the same cabin layout as the sedan and will include most of the Elantra’s class leading extra add-ons that are included in the base price and in the case of the GT will include some new feature like a chilled glove box.
2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe - Front
After taking a step back and comparing the two new models with the present sedan model we find that most of their components are shared which will help Hyundai keep the manufacturing cost down and almost ensures that these models will be competitively priced in the segment. As of yet no pricing figures have been officially been announced which is not surprising at a new car launch and we would believe that the same trim levels will carry over from the sedan.
2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe - Rear
We have to believe Hyundai has produced the Coupe model to appeal to younger buys who are looking for a car that unlike the Veloster can easily accommodate 4 people with ease. They also are able to once again take aim at their Japanese rivals who would be the Honda Civic and Scion tC who have seen lower than expected sales in the segment due to lower fuel numbers and uninspired design. As this Korean vs. Japanese rivalry heats up we can help but hope that the Elantra will also develop a model to compete with the Civic Si and we could see the new turbo 1.6-liter engine, which will debut in the 2013 Veloster, under the hood of this top of the line Elantra.
2013 Hyundai Elantra GT - Front
On the other side of the Elantra scale we find the new practical and family friendly GT, who is set to target a completely different type car buyer. The GT offers significantly more passenger and cargo capacity than those it stacks up next to like the Volkswagen Golf, Mazda 3 and Toyota Matrix. Space behind the rear seat is a substantial 23 cu-ft, with a total of 51 cu-ft when you fold the seats flat. We don’t particularly care for the car new front fascia as it just looks off and the tall roof line back to the hatch back door could be a little more angular for our liking. Maybe these are features that people with young families are looking for but I know that I would subject my wife and two small children who are both under the age of 5 to have to look at this beast in our garage day after day. I care for them too much to subject them to that kind of cruel and unusual punishment.
2013 Hyundai Elantra GT - Rear
Exterior styling aside we understand who these cars have been designed for and we think that Hyundai’s wave of brand excitement and positive press will only continue with the introduction of the 2013 Elantra Coupe and the 2013 Elantra GT. We are looking forward to seeing these to car in person however seriously doubt that they will be at the Toronto International Auto Show which is set to open its doors to the public on the 17th of February . Who knows though as Hyundai has really been upping their game lately and they may make our Toronto show by appearing with these two new Elantra models
Mercedes has been quoted as saying that the new “C63 AMG Coupé Black Series comes to life as it prowls the asphalt before daybreak, unleashing a new level of fierce track-orientated performance. Spectacular design, technology transfer from the world of motorsport and driving dynamics at the highest level: these are the mythical elements infused in the C63 AMG Coupé Black Series.”
Goofy plotlines aside, the commercial is a good showcase for the muscular lines of the Black Series as well as the sonorous sounds of its fire-breathing 6.2-liter V8, which borrows pistons, connecting rods and crankshaft from the SLS AMG supercar in order to make 510 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque.
To Learn more about the new 2012 C63 AMG Coupe Black Series Rocket ship please refer to it own special website that can be found here.
It was just yesterday afternoon when Hyundai officially announced that they have upped the power outputs of both of their engines offered in the 2013 Genesis Coupe. It seems that the big bore 3.8-liter direct injection V6 will be tuned up to a very Camaro and Mustang competitive 350 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. That’s an increase of just under 50hp which is going to be noticed by any driver when they mat the accelerator pedal. For the V6 model Hyundai has also upped the noise quota as the Genesis coupe is not fitted with new sound generator to better pipe in the sweet noises the 50 hp is making.
The Genesis Coupe that will continue to be classified as the entry level model is employing the same 2-liter direct injected inline-4 turbo however it has now been dialed up to output 271 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque. That is an amazing increase of 65hp and places it in the league of the Mazdaspeed 3 and VW GTI R. More importantly it puts its self miles ahead of the new Toyota GT-86, Scion FR-S, Subaru BRZ and just behind the Subaru WRX STI and Mitsubishi Evo X.
Both engines are assisted in maintaining their same fuel consumptions numbers through the use of Hyundai’s eight-speed automatic or the previously offered 6-speed manual.
Hyundai certainly has sweetened the pot with these performance orientated upgrades to the engine. There was no mention of any suspension or brake upgrades but we will see if the spec-R package offers an even more track focused ride.
We will have to see the car in person however before we can decide if we care for the latest styling update is to our liking. As we are no fan of the Velosters’ looks especially from the rear end which the bigger brother is borrowing a lot of its updated styling from, so we will address this aspect of the car at a later date.
Look out American Muscle Cars as the Koreans are coming and they have once again upped the ante to remain as a more than competitive player in the Muscle Car Market. You may not want to wake this sleeping bear as they may actually follow through on their threat of dumping their 5-liter V8 under the hood with all of its 430 hp.
2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe - Front 3/4
2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe - Front 3/4 high view shot
This one comes from Facebook this morning as Mercedes-Benz asked their fans to vote on their favorite video. Well this is the one they picked, A 2012 C63 AMG Coupe threading the needle at high speed—in reverse.
Yes we do, good stuff! RT CARandDRIVER: Who wins when we compare a Jeep and a donkey? We all do, friends. We all do cardrive.co/6019ktMSTweeted: 2 days ago
