Spied: 2013 Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet

256 horsepower from a turbocharged 2.0L engine, 4Motion all-wheel drive, a 6-speed manual transmission, all in a fun hatchback; what else could you ask for?

A convertible?

Volkswagen has been spied testing their upcoming model of their Golf lineup; the Golf R Cabriolet.  Who would of guessed that a convertible was something that the hot-hatch scene really needed?  The upcoming convertible R is expected retain most all of the same equipment that the current outgoing Golf R has.

I honestly can't imagine this car being hugely successful in today's market.  The only people I can really imagine actually wanting one would be someone with a VW EOS or convertible Beetle, wanting more horsepower and 4-wheel drive; or someone with a Golf R/Gti wanting a convertible.  

This is an odd niche market in which most car manufacturers haven't ventured into before.  But I'd love for Volkswagen to prove me wrong!

It is expected the Volkswagen is to announce the new Golf R Cabriolet this September in Paris.

Source/photos: Carscoop

Spied: 2014 Subaru WRX Test Mule

The next generation of everyone's favorite hot-hatch has been spied testing out in the desert somewhere in the States.  

This Subaru WRX test mule looks almost identical to the outgoing Impreza sedan, which is not surprising to us, seeing how the last thing Subaru wants to do is leak or show too much before the actual car is unveiled within the next year or two. 

We expect the new WRX to have the aggressive, edgy look that the current car has to retain it's iconic hot-hatch image. 

Rumor also has it that Subaru will be using their new FA engine from the recently announced BRZ in their next generation of vehicles, and we wouldn't be surprised if they have a turbocharged variant in their test mules now.  Having a newly refined engine, we expect to see better fuel economy and more power from the 2.0 L flat-four boxer engine.

We're excited to see what Subaru brings us in the future; stay tuned!

Source/photos: Autoblog

2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo Price Revealed!

The recently announced 2013 Hyundai Veloster price has just been revealed!  It will start at $21,950, plus a $775 destination charge.  The Veloster Turbo now has a twin-scrolled turbocharged 1.6 inline-four engine that makes 201 horsepower and 194 lb.-ft. of torque, paired with your choice of a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.  A more aggressive body-kit, sports-tuned suspension and exhaust, heated sports seats, and LED headlights and taillights are just some of the newest additions to differentiate between the new Veloster Turbo and its' naturally aspirated counterpart.  
There will also be an additional "Ultimate Package" which will set you back another $2500 that will include a panoramic sunroof, automatic headlights, back-up sensors, navigation system with a backup camera, a 115-volt outlet, and additional Veloster Turbo monikers.

Usually when automakers create a "sports-edition" of an already existing car, they may make it faster, but comfort, quality, and most importantly fuel economy goes out the window.  But luckily for us, Hyundai did a magnificent job of still retaining the Veloster's magnificent fuel economy for the newest Turbocharged Veloster.  The Veloster Turbo will make an estimated 26 MPG in the city, and 38 MPG in the highway, which is amazing for any car with 201 horsepower from a turbocharged 1.6 inline-four engine.

I am very excited to test out the turbocharged version of an already impressive car, and see how it competes with some of the other "hot-hatches" in the market; like the Volkswagen GTI, the new Ford Focus ST, and even the Mazdaspeed3.  Stay tuned for more updates about the Veloster Turbo!

Source: autoblog/Hyundai

2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

The Ford Mustang is the iconic American muscle car.  It's origins date back to the mid sixties where it was less known as a high-powered race car, rather a conservative two door sports car. Going through many different generations of the Mustang, the car has seen some major overhauls and design changes throughout it's life; for better or for worse.

For 2013, Ford has genetically enhanced the Mustang to be a complete monster.  Their mad creation is named the 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. Not only does the 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 have the longest name out of all of the Mustangs, it also has the highest amount of raw power directed to it's massive rear tires.  650 horsepower, and 600 lb.-ft. of torque from a supercharged 5.8L V8.  Ford has masterfully created the most powerful massed-produced V8 engine in the world, and fitted it into a small two-door sports car; sounds like a recipe for success to me!

Besides the massive horsepower and torque numbers that Ford told us the new Mustang GT500 has, another number Ford has quoted it to have is 200...

We know it doesn't have 200 horsepower, nor does it get 200 miles per gallon; but it has a top speed of 200 MPH!  200 miles per hour in a Mustang? Who would have ever thought that a production Mustang would be able to ever hit those kinds of speeds like a Ferrari or Lamborghini?!


Is this new Mustang a supercar eater?  Is it worthy of that title?  Let's see: It has 650HP, 600lb.-ft tq, reaches 200 miles per hour, reaches 0-60 MPH in 3.5 seconds.  Yes, i'd say it is a supercar eater.

Oh! and the best number of all?  The price; it retails for $54,000 in the US.  It seems like a lot of money (which it is), but it is the best bang-for-your-buck sports car for around $50-60k.  No other car for that same price range comes with that amount of power and performance than the GT500 does.

The Mustang GT500 seems to be one of the best new sports cars around, which it might be; but try taking it around a set of corners or a track (somewhere else besides a drag strip), and there you might see some of the weaknesses of their semi-flawed equation for the GT500: massive power + RWD = ?

All-in-all, the 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 seems like a great track day/weekend driver/or even a daily driver for those who have the need or desire for a 650 horsepower sports car, which surprisingly  doesn't get the dreaded gas guzzler's tax.













source/pictures: autoblog, insideline

Video: Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Nearly Crashes

Not very often do we see videos of Bugatti Veyrons going around tracks, but this video was found of a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport coming close to crashing on a hill climb in Prescott. 

Luckily the skilled driver was able to save the $1.7 Million car and still show off its jaw-droping acceleration to the onlooking crowd.  Check out the video below!

source: youtube, carscoop

Steven Tyler's $1.1 Million Convertible

Guess who just took delivery of a Hennessey Venom GT Spyder? The newest judge on American Idol and Aerosmith's own Steven Tyler.

Tyler contacted Hennessey asking for them to build him a unique version of their stripped down 1,200 horsepower super car; but his would be without a roof.

This being a first, the Hennessey team had to make some necessary structural changes to ensure there the car was still rigid and safe for there to be a removable top.  The structural changes and removable roof resulted in an extra 30 lbs. added to the weight of the car, so Hennessey decided to add more horsepower (up to 1,244hp) to keep its 1 horsepower per 1 kilogram weight ratio.

This equation has been very successful for Hennessey and his team in creating one of the fastest and most powerful cars in the world. allowing the Venom GT get to 200 MPH in only 15.9 seconds.  And for a measly $1.1 Million, Hennessey Performance would be more than happy to make you another custom Venom GT Spyder!

source: Hennessey

BMW Zagato Coupe

This is the BMW Zagato Coupe Concept just unveiled at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este Auto Show in Italy.  The Zagato Coupe Concept is derived from the current BMW Z4 chassis, with brand new 
design cues, making the car look much more aggressive and futuristic.  

The Coupe is said to have a 400 horsepower from a 3.0 twin-turbo straight 6 from the current generation Z4.  The Zagato front end looks purely BMW, with the lights, grill and front fascia; but when we move to the rear of the car, Alfa Romeo and Ferrari cues seem to be present.
  
We are excited to see what BMW and Zagato do in the near future to hopefully bring this car (or others) to the market.


Take a look at a video of the BMW Zagato Coupe's exterior walk around, and it's engine startup and rev.

 

source: autoblog

Unveiled: 2013 SRT Viper; ZR1 Killer?

Dodge SRT just unveiled the 2013 Viper at The New York Auto Show, and it was the highlight of the entire event.  Now the world hasn't seen a Viper from Dodge/SRT since the summer of 2010, and they have been working their tails off on this new model, and have honestly done an amazing job!

It's not the usual "brand new car," when they only moderately change up the front fascia; with the 2013 SRT Viper, they redesigned the car inside and out.

The new Viper is stunning.  The classic Viper-esque body style is still seen throughout the car, with much improved changes throughout the body, making it look like a more refined, stylized, futuristic, and do I dare say, luxurious Viper?

Ok, now lets talk about the numbers.  640 HP, 600 lb-ft. of torque, produced from a naturally aspirated 8.4 liter V10.  While it's not the most horsepower we've ever seen in a production vehicle, it is still a staggeringly amount of power all sent to those massive rear wheels.


The chassis was also updated with a stronger X-brace to make the car's rigidity 50% stronger than older Vipers in the past.  Traction and stability control were also added to help the driver keep this massively powerful car on the road.

Everything about this new Viper is looking very promising.  Will the new Viper beat out the monstrous Corvette ZR1?  Will it be any competition to the Ferrari 458, or the Aventador?   We'll just have to wait and see; can't wait!

Check out this video that Dodge just released, it's not very exciting, but it does show off the amazing design of the 2013 SRT Viper.  Enjoy!

source: autoblog/motortrend

Subaru BRZ priced at $25,495*

Subaru just announced that the much anticipated BRZ sports car will be starting at $25,495 plus destination fees and taxes.  This is actually lower than expected, especially how the lesser equipped Scion FR-S was priced at $24,930.  

The BRZ Premium will come standard with a touch-screen navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, and HID headlamps.  
Adding the Limited package to the car will add on heated seats with Alcantara inserts and leather bolsters, heated mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, fog lights, keyless entry/start and a body-color rear spoiler.  
Lastly, adding an automatic transmission with paddle shifters will set you back another $1,100 on top of the limited/premium packages. 


Subaru has yet to announce an exact date for the release of the BRZ, but say be ready by "this spring".  
source: autoblog

New High-Performance Ford Explorer? ...Seriously?

Ford posted a new teaser video on their YouTube account, and in this video they show us a glimpse of their new addition to the Explorer Family.

From what we can decipher from the video, they seem to be hinting at a new high-performance model of the Explorer...which just sounds weird to say.  We all know Ford has very high-performance vehicles like the Mustang and the legendary Ford GT, but an Explorer?  

Not too many companies have ventured into the high-performance SUV market before, besides BMW and their M X5/X6, Mercedes' AMG line, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8.  Maybe Ford will make this an Explorer SHO, taking after the Taurus SHO, which added a sportier performance parts to the bland Taurus.

Will Ford be able to add something different to this almost un-existent market?  Maybe, maybe not.  We'll just have to see when Ford unveils the car Wednesday, March 28.  For now, just check out the clip.

2013 Scion FR-S Price Unveiled!

Automotive enthusiasts everywhere, our wait is over; Scion just unveiled the price for the new 2013 Scion FR-S!
The base price of the 2013 FR-S will be $24,930 for the 6-speed manual, and the 6-speed paddle-shift automatic will set you back $26,030 plus destination charges.

Now this may be a little more than many of us were hoping for, but Scion did go below their initial statement of "under $30,000."  This price puts the FR-S right up against the brand new 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T at $22,250, the Ford Mustang V6 at $22,310, and even the Chevy Camaro at $23,280.
Now this isn't really that expensive for a rear-wheel drive sports car, but then again, it is a Scion.  We will just have to wait and see if the Scion really packs a punch against the fierce competition already in this market.
image source: autoblog

Only 6,000 Subaru BRZ's will come to America!!?

If you haven't read our post on the Subaru BRZ / Toyota GT86 / Scion FR-S, click here to check it out!

Car and Driver reports that they have received word that Subaru will only be releasing 6,000 BRZ's in America for the 2013 model year.  Having a very limited number of these released will make this car an instant collector's car and very hard to find.

If you were planning on purchasing one of these in the near future, I recommend preordering one now to ensure you get your hands on one before they are all sold out!  If you are content on waiting, check out the Scion FR-S.  It is the BRZ's almost identical twin; the only differences is in the front and rear facias, and some interior and exterior features and accessories.  We'll have to wait till Spring of 2012 to see the BRZ on the road; I can't wait!

Sources/Images: Car and Driver

2012 Prius C: Do We Need 4 different Prii?

Getting the most MPG seems to be the top priority for auto manufacturers in this day and age; and I don't blame them.  Companies are coming out with hybrids in their line-up to attract consumers with high MGP and greener commuting, but how many hybrids does a company need?

The Toyota Prius Hybrid is the best-selling hybrid car around the world, and for a good reason.  They have one of the most efficient and highest MPG car on the road, tend to be very reliable, and has attractive standard features.  So with the Pruis' long time success, Toyota has decided to add not just one more Prius to their line-up, but 3 more to their best-selling hybrid car.  I am going to give you a run down on one the 3 newest Prii; The 2012 Prius C.

2012 Toyota Prius C

This is the newest addition to the Prius family, the Prius C.  Toyota has manipulated the Prius' DNA in hopes to aim the new compact hybrid at the younger market.  Toyota wants to prove that a hybrid isn't always a boring looking sedan, but can be stylish and fun cars.

The greatest thing about the newest Prius is in it's numbers.  I am not talking about horsepower, torque or top speed; but its price and fuel economy.  The 2,500lb car will have a 1.4 I4 engine connected to a 45kW electric engine producing a total of 99HP.  And with this plentiful amount of power, the Prius C will deliver an outstanding 53 city and 46 highway MPG.  The 2012 Prius C has a base model MSRP of $18,950, and tops out around $24,000 with all the features and accessories added.

This car is presented to be a "competitor" to the Honda Fit, which in reality the only thing that is comparable is the size and estimated price.  In EVERY other way, the Prius C dominates it.  There is no other car in this category that competes with the Prius C, it really is the first of it's kind when it comes to a "compact hybrid."  Everything seems to add up to a very promising car, but we'll have to wait for the reviews to come and drive it ourselves to make that final decision.

This car will be a major hit for Toyota, it is something that no other car manufacturer has ever ventured into before, a small lightweight hybrid hatchback, that gets amazing gas milage, and is affordable enough for most everyone to get behind the wheel of.
Toyota is giving consumers a choice of what they want in a hybrid; there isn't just one "cookie-cutter" mold of what a hybrid should be anymore.  And this is why we will see numerous Prius C's on the road in the next upcoming months.  I sure can't wait to get behind the wheel of the C to see if this new addition to the Prius line-up is really all it is presented to be.
Photos from Autoblog.com

Preview: 2012 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta

This is the 2012 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta.
730 horsepower.
509 lb.-ft torque.
6.3L V12.
0-62 MPH in 3.1 sec.
211 MPH top speed (est.)
Need I say more?

With new information being released recently at the Geneva Auto Show, the F12 Berlinetta is poised to be the fastest Ferrari yet!  It does have a lot of new competition though, including the Lamborghini Aventador, Mclaren MP4-12C, and the Aston Martin V12 Zagato are just a few recently announced rivals.

Tell me in the comments how 

you feel about the all new Ferrari 

F12 Berlinetta and how it stacks up against it's competitors!
Also, check out this video that Ferrari used to unveil the car at the Geneva Auto Show!

Range Rover Evoque Cabriolet?

Just after winning the North American Car of the Year Award, a newer cabriolet version of the Range Rover Evoque has been spotted in London.  Take a look at some of these spy shots and leaked press releases from Range Rover ahead of the Geneva Motor Show.

There isn't too much competition in the luxury convertible SUV category, the only "real competition" is the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet; which isn't much of a competitor. 

We'll have to see the final specs of the Evoque when it is unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in the next few days.  

What do you think of the new cabriolet Evoque?

Is this the 2013 Dodge Viper!?

So if you haven't heard, an image of the 2013 Dodge Viper was leaked recently, but by the LEAST likely of sources; Hot Wheels.  

These are the first seen images of the reborn Viper in the flesh, besides the covered-up test mules that have been spotted.  It is hard to tell the exact detail of the shape of the new Viper seeing how its a 1:64th scale, but it is a nice preview to hold us over until more images are leaked released by Dodge. 

The Toyota GT-86 / Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ

Here is one of the most anticipated cars of 2012; well at least in my book.  It is the Toyota GT86 / Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ.  It really is a concoction of two legendary Japanese companies: Subaru and Toyota/Scion.

Toyota and Subaru came together with one vision: to create the most "pure" sports car.  When we think of sports cars today, most of us think of small coupes with a large engine and lots of horsepower.  But when it comes down to it, who says that a sports car by definition has to have an enormous amount of power?  A car doesn't have to have a lot of power to be a fast car; it can have a decent amount of horsepower, be really light and nimble, and still be a "fast car" because of it's lightweight design.  Toyota's and Subaru's vision was to bring the enjoyment back into driving; they wanted to create a driver-focused car that produced a pure driving experience.  When it came to who produced what in the car, Subaru took care of the development of the engine and chassis, while toyota worked on the exterior and interior of the car.  

The GT-86/FR-S/BR Z is a super-lightweight RWD sports car equipped with a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated Boxer engine producing 200 hp and 151 lb.-ft of torque.  Thats an admirable amount of power coming from a flat-4 Boxer engine for most vehicles today.  But the way the GT-86/BRZ is designed, it makes that "minuscule" 200 hp feels quite adequate because of its 2800lb. curb weight.  The GT-86/BRZ is a very nimble and precise vehicle to drive.  It has a considerably lower center of gravity than some of the biggest names in the sports car world, like the Porsche Cayman, Nissan GT-R, Subaru WRX STi, and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.  Having this great lower center of gravity allows the GT-86/FR-S/BRZ to shine against some of it's fiercest competitors.  This will prove the GT-86/FR-S/BRZ to be a force to be reckoned with whether it is on the track or on the street.
The U.S. price of the Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ are TBA, and are expected to be released mid 2012.

Just take a look at the car in action.  This is a video by Chris Harris of Drive.

"Stand-Out" Cars of 2012

Car manufacturers have been designing cars for nearly 100 years now, and its no surprise that most of the cars on the road look very similar, due to their overall popularity throughout consumers.  But auto manufacturers are always unveiling different concept cars to show their ideas and to gauge consumer interest, using abstract designs that stand out from the crowd.

I compiled together some of the newer cars on the market in 2012 that definitely stand out from the crowd, showing that having daring designs can play out well; sometimes.

We rated these "stand-out cars" on  a scale of 1-10 on their design.

What do you think?

Acura ZDX

that auto blog rating: 

7/10

(7 out of 10)

Hyundai Veloster

that auto blog rating: 

9/10

(9 out of 10)

Mini Cooper Coupe

that auto blog rating: 

8/10

(8 out of 10)

Nissan Juke

that auto blog rating: 

7.5/10

(7.5 out of 10)

Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet

that auto blog rating: 

5/10

(5 out of 10)

Tesla Model X

that auto blog rating: 

8/10

(8 out of 10)

Volvo C30

that auto blog rating: 

7/10

(7 out of 10)

V8 Shootout: Which is best?

When it comes to high powered V8 engines, most people immediately think of American muscle cars.  Yet there are a few more players in the field that can rightfully take away that crown of having best and most powerful V8 engine.  Which do you Prefer?

American V8's
One of the most powerful American production cars on the market is the 2012 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.  It packs a Supercharged 6.2L V8 that produces 638 hp, and 604 lb.-ft of torque.  Thats an INSANE amount of power especially that its all being transferred to those massive rear tires.  Chevy recently announced it's Camaro ZL1, which packs the same ZR1 engine, but in a high performance Camaro body.

German V8's

Some of the most popular German V8 engines come from BMW.  The engine/car in focus is the all-new 2013 BMW M5.  This fully redesigned M5 has a 4.4L twin-turbo V8 underneath the hood, putting down an exceptional 560 HP and 502 lb-ft. of torque to the wheels.  Having insane sports car performance in a family saloon car is a big feat for BMW, having added a lighter and more efficient twin-turbo V8, and shedding some pounds throughout the car allowed BMW to make it faster than its previous V10 variant.

Japanese V8's

The Japanese aren't really known for having big V8's in the cars, but Lexus changed things up by introducing the IS F in 2007.  The IS F was truly the first steps for Lexus into the sports cars world.  The engine in the IS F is a Lexus/Yamaha collaboration that creates 416 HP and 371 lb.-ft of torque, coming from 5.0L V8.  Its not the most powerful engine in the list, but it is sure nothing to complain about!  The IS F's main competitors would be the BMW M3 or the Mercedes C63 AMG.

There are obviously more companies that produce amazing V8's, but these were the ones that we chose to highlight today? So tell me, which V8 is best?