Initially rumored to be based on a Nissan GT-R, the Renault Alpine has been reborn and a lone photo has leaked ahead of the sports car’s planned debut at the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend.
Auto News
AutoGuide News Blog
The AutoGuide News Blog is your source for breaking stories from the auto industry. Delivering news immediately, the AutoGuide Blog is constantly updated with the latest information, photos and video from manufacturers, auto shows, the aftermarket and professional racing.
Earlier this week in Tennessee, the 2013 Nissan Altima rolled off the line to an executive reception, but nestled into the release accompanying the event was confirmation of a 2013 Nissan Rogue.
Despite little news on the Lagonda front as of late, Aston Martin is reportedly continuing to prepare for the launch of its new sub-brand.
At last year’s Frankfurt Auto Show, Volkswagen displayed a Beetle “Fender Edition” concept car that paid homage to the legendary guitar brand based out of the U.S. A year later, the German automaker has decided to offer the package to interested buyers.
Unfortunately the production model won’t be as cool as the concept, which featured the ability to connect an electric guitar to a subwoofer of the Fender sound system. A subwoofer will still be in the production model, but musicians will have to plug it in via an aux-in port or through Bluetooth by means of a smartphone app. Missing will also be the auxiliary tube amplifier located on top of the dash.
What buyers will get however are 19-inch wheels and a leather-coated roof along with a high-gloss black paint job with red accents. The door mirror covers, handles, side sill accents, VW badge, exhaust tips, and trim strip beneath the side windows will be finished in chrome. The Beetle Fender Edition concept was also lowered 1.2-inch, though we expect the production model won’t be as drastic. On the hood is a guitar pick decal while the original Fender signature can be seen underneath the VW badge on the trunk.
Inside the Fender Edition Beetle, what will remain is its unique ‘Sunburst’ two-tone wood design pattern that’s seen on many Fender guitars. And of course there will be a high-end stereo system to enjoy your beats while driving around town.
GALLERY: Volkswagen Beetle Fender Edition
[Source: Car and Driver]
Buick is the latest brand to leave a breadcrumb trail for its future products by filing for a tradermark on May 3 to cover its Riviera moniker. While that doesn’t prove anything on its own, the company isn’t known for flippantly filing for trademarks on the off chance they might one day come true.
Having renewed its long-term business relationship with GM, Walt Disney Land has renovated, or “re-imagined”, an older test track feature at Epcot for a more up-to-date experience.
With an atmosphere that combines Tron themes and the appearances of a development lab, the new ride incorporates a new design center concept that allows visitors to design and create their own GM vehicles. Guests use interactive design and styling workstations to come up with their own prototypes, and will later hop aboard to experience their thrilling creation first-hand on the twisting and turning Test Track. After the ride, participants can also make their own pretend commercial, or take a picture with the new car.
Sponsored by Chevrolet, the ride is intended to provide a fun learning experience, sharing a look inside the process of vehicle testing and development.
Expect the new Epcot Center Test Track to be revealed this fall. To car enthusiasts planning a fun trip to Orlando, don’t miss out!
Brace yourselves, the Ferrari hybrid is coming. Having first revealed its mid-engine HY-KERS development at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show, Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa confirmed that the future halo mid-engine hybrid supercar will officially debut in 2013.
Honda announced a technology breakthrough today capable of detecting the potential for traffic congestion by actively determining whether the driving pattern of a vehicle is likely to create bottle-necking.
Brabus established its name as the monster tuner of Mercedes-Benz engines capable of exceeding 1,000 lb.-ft. of torque. But for its latest project, the company drops its earth-shaking V12 in a bold pursuit for a more eco-friendly diesel hybrid.
Everything that Audi is putting into the e-tron R8 seems to be taking time, not that it’s a bad thing, but time is precious and the world is an impatient place.
Originally debuting in 2009 at the Frankfurt Auto Show, the automaker’s electrified halo car keeps slipping just out of grasp. in September, 2011 we reported that the car would launch in 2012, but news beyond that has been slow to surface.
Audi‘s future hybrid drivetrain plans became much clearer today when it debuted the A6 L e-tron concept at the Beijing Auto Show.
Based on the A6 platform, but with a longer wheelbase (designated by the “L”), we’re getting a taste of what Audi’s advanced e-tron drivetrain system will look like as it is fitted to cars starting with the 2014 model year.
Although BMW M division president Friedrich Nitschke emphasized earlier that the BMW M135i will not arrive to U.S. shores, later reports confirm that we will get the sporty small BMW after all.
Hinged on a technicality, the M135i concept shown at the Geneva Motor Show is based on a 1-Series hatchback layout exclusive to the European market. However, a recent interview between BMWblog and Nitschke revealed that an M135i tailored for the North American market will be available. Rather than a hatchback format, the American M135i will likely adopt a coupe or convertible layout.
No word on the official release date for the hot little Bimmer, but its arrival should come well after the standard second-generation 1 Series in 2013. BMW is refraining from revealing official performance numbers as well, but we expect the solid twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six to produce roughly 340 hp.
GALLERY: BMW M135i Concept
[Source: BMWblog.com]
BMW‘s M division president Friedrich Nitschke has revealed some new details regarding the line of future M products.
First, the BMW M135i concept unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show is confirmed for production, offering a turbocharged six-cylinder powerplant mated to a choice of manual or automatic transmissions. What’s more, optional all-wheel drive is offered as well. Unfortunately, the M135i will be out of reach for the North American market.
Last week, Chrysler announced delivery of four plug-in hybrid Town & Country minivans to the Auburn Hills city of Michigan as the initial part of an extensive two-year hybrid development project worth $25.8 million. Today, company delivered eight more units to the Duke Energy utility company as part of the two-year project.
As the only minivan to boast a plug-in hybrid powertrain in combination with flex-fuel capability, Chrysler also revealed the specifications of its new plug-in Town & Country.
A hot batch of photos and a detailed video of the Mercedes-Benz Concept Style Coupe (CSC) didn’t take long to surface after the initial images leaked.
Mercedes briefly flashed some of the car’s interior last week in a video talking about style and craftsmanship. Now we have a full video and a host of pictures to show you what the car looks like. More importantly, it gives us a strong indication of what the CLC or the CLA will look like at the 2013 debut.
A seemingly pointless video released on the official Mercedes-Benz YouTube channel might not be so irrelevant after all. The video features fashion critic Luke Leitch commenting on design and style… the suit making the man and all that.
There are plenty of shady shots and clips of materials being cut and sewn. Most are traditional Mercedes-Benz stuff and then, at the every end, there’s a quick shot (above) of some rather wild black Alcantara with neon green piling and stitching.
The video comes our way just ahead of an important date, the start of this year’s Avant/Garde Diaries event in Los Angeles, which according to Mercedes will host, “the artistic staging of the Mercedes-Benz Concept Style Coupe.” Presumably, that coupe is the baby CLS, known as the Mercedes CLA (or CLC). And possibly (yes, we’re working with a lot of assumptions here), that black and neon interior is that of the CLA/CLC.
With the event set to begin April 20th and run until May 6th, look for a reveal of something provocatively new from Mercedes soon.
Sales of smaller cars are on the rise as the average transaction price for a new vehicle continues to climb, recently hitting an all-time high of $30,748.
In response to these trends, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) has conducted a study revealing the proposed 54.5 mpg CAFE standards for 2025 will cause a significant increase in the technology as well as the cost required to build vehicles and, in turn, increase the price for each vehicle. As a result, many potential new-car buyers will be forced out of the market.
According to estimates calculated by the Environmental Protection Agency and NHTSA, the efficiency standards will cause the average retail price of passenger cars and light trucks to increase by nearly $3,000 by 2025. NADA’s study, “The Effect of Proposed MY 2017-2025 Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards on the New Vehicle Market Population,” states that the price hike may be too much for approximately 7 million lower income consumers, such as college students and working families, as they may no longer qualify for auto financing to purchase the more expensive vehicles.
Regarding the 2025 CAFE requirements, Ford dealership owner Don Chalmers said during the NADA press briefing, ”To work, fuel economy improvements must be affordable. While you can mandate what automakers must build, you can’t dictate what customers will buy, nor can you dictate if a bank will make a loan.”
Chalmers continued, “If my customers can’t buy what I’ve got to sell, there are no savings at the gas pump and there is no environmental benefit. If car and truck buyers do not purchase these new products, we all lose.”
Doug Greenhaus, NADA chief regulatory counsel for environment, health, and safety, summed up the sentiment and suggested that the government must better understand the impact of the proposed CAFE regulations on consumers and auto lending before proposing the lofty mpg mandates. Greenhaus urged, “Disregarding vehicle affordability will undermine the environmental and national security benefits the administration is seeking. The proposed MY 2017-2025 fuel economy rules should be deleted until there is a more accurate picture of how prospective buyers will react.”
Only a little more than a week ahead of the upcoming Beijing Auto Show, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann disclosed new development details on its upcoming SUV.
Speaking to German newspaper Handelsblatt, Winkelmann revealed Lamborghini’s goal to have an SUV as a new third model to diversify the Lamborghini line-up as soon as 2017. Suffering losses (as most supercar brands do) since 2009, Lamborghini is under pressure from parent company Volkswagen to become a profitable asset.
Looking to double sales in China over the next three years, Honda has announced it will introduce more than 10 all-new or replacement models in the world’s largest car market during that period.
The Japanese automaker has already released teaser images of two of those models ahead of a planned debut at the Auto China motor show in Beijing later this month. The first appears to be a hatchback or van, while the second looks to be a sedan version of the Accord Coupe Concept first shown at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this year.
Honda says all of its China-market models will shift to use its next-generation Earth Dreams Technology engines. In the mean time, Honda has announced the launch of three of its hybrid models in China: the CR-Z, Insight and Fit Hybrid. Honda will also launch the new 2013 RDX in China as well as the ILX, while the RLX will go on sale next year. In addition, Honda is planning smaller sized engines for many of models based on demand for such product in the country
Honda will announce more at the start of the Beijing Motor Show on April 23rd, with doors opening to the public on April 27th.
GALLERY: Honda Beijing Concepts
Excitement gathered around Toyota as the company announced a factory-backed return to Le Mans in the LMP1 category. Now, it seems like Toyota will be taking its racing efforts to a new level.
During its glory days, Toyota enjoyed 43 victories as well as seven FIA world rally titles. From 1973 through 1999, Toyota was a fixture in the sport.
Now, a report from the FIA World Rally Championship website revealed that Toyota has built a regulation 1.6-liter turbocharged powerplant, which meets the WRC Global Race Engine technical regulations, and is currently performing a series tests at Toyota Motorsport GmbH in Cologne. According to a spokesman from Toyota Motorsport, “We’re leaning towards an S2000-style of car which would be available for customers first. This is a development project, but it’s very early days – the engine only fired up for the first time a few weeks ago- at the very earliest, a car won’t be available until next year. Obviously, this being a Global Race Engine, it could go in any car, but the Yaris seems to make sense.”
According to the anonymous spokesman, participation in rallying is a part of the automaker’s medium-term future goals. What’s more, a Super 2000 category vehicle may also suggest new plans for World Touring Car Championship, as the S2000 specification is split to cover both rally and touring car racing regulations.
[Source: WRC.com]
As more and more automakers embrace social media marketing, Lamborghini has opted for a more intimate approach, inviting select clientele to attend a special New York City preview event to gain feedback for a potential third model for the Lamborghini line-up.
Lamborghini should, however, know that technology always prevails with details of the private affair having leaked on the internet.
A couple guests blabbered news of a cherry red Lamborghini SUV concept that will make its way to a Beijing premiere at the Auto China later in the month. Armed with a personal blog, one Lamborghini guest, Ed Bolian, revealed that the new Rambo Lambo features a silhouette similar to the BMW X6 and an overall size similar to the Audi Q7, all but confirming previous reports that the Lamborghini SUV will use a modified VW Group PL71 SUV platform that’s also used for the Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg.
Even though an SUV body style is naturally higher off the ground, Lamborghini’s carbon fiber body kit brought out a more muscular and couple-like profile to make the stance of the Lamborghini SUV seem lower and more planted. Bolian also described the front fascia as Estoque-like, while also featuring a full LED headlight arrangement. The rear of the SUV is emphasized by a boldly designed trapezoidal quad-exhaust, integrated to the rear diffuser. Wheels on the SUV are 24-inches in diameter and incorporate carbon fiber blades similar to that of the Aventador J. A dramatic statement for a concept vehicle, the carbon fiber blades are unlikely to carry over into production.
Inside, carbon fiber trim is generously applied throughout the cabin, lending an appearance similar to the interior of the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento. What’s more, a high center console extends to the rear passengers to provide a more coupe-like seating arrangement.
Lamborghini has yet to reveal any details regarding the production powertrain but previous reports have suggested a Gallardo-sourced 5.2-liter V10 engine, producing 585-hp.
Whether the concept is the real deal or just a styling exercise, we’re excited to share more information on Lamborghini’s concept SUV as we draw closer to Beijing’s Auto China show.
GALLERY: Lamborghini SUV
[Source: World Car Fans]
Watch out Tesla. Step aside Fisker. With the reveal of the LE Concept at the NY Auto Show this week Infiniti has confirmed it is preparing to enter the luxury electric car segment.
Those new automakers may already have vehicles on the market, but considering the success parent company Nissan has had with the Leaf as the world’s first mainstream electric car, Infiniti is poised for success. Find out more about the car’s impressive design, premium interior and innovations that include wireless charging in AutoGuide’s first look video below.
GALLERY: Infiniti LE Concept
At least that’s the case in the U.S. In Europe a production version of this wagon has been on sale for several months, but despite being on display at this year’s New York Auto Show, the official line from Volkswagen was just a study designed to gauge public reaction.
However, given the success of vehicles like Subaru’s Legacy Outback here and even Audi’s AllRoad, it seems like a no-brainer to us for a North American version to be made available to dealers.
However, the powertrain may be of some concern in the American market. The European car is offered with a choice of 2.0-liter diesels (the concept in NY sports the 140 hp version) though making that marketable here would probably require a gas option.
That said, a combination of 4Motion all-wheel drive, raised ride height, electronic locking differentials and decent cargo capacity are bound to strike a chord with a healthy portion of North American vehicle shoppers. We’ll see if VW has anything else to say about it once New York show wraps up.
GALLERY: Volkswagen Passat AllTrack concept
