mercredi 31 décembre 2014

2014 TopSpeed Year in Review



2015 is almost upon us, car lovers, and TopSpeed has one last post to close out the year that was 2014! As this little blue green ball we all inhabit completes yet another revolution around that warm spot of fusing hydrogen hanging in the sky, we tend to revert back to the time-honored tradition of summarizing a few of the big events that transpired over the course of the year. It’s a crossroads, a time to bask in the glory of past wins, as well as learn from prior mistakes in a bid to avoid such blunders in the future.


In many ways, 2014 was a time of great change and rebirth, with both exciting successes and catastrophic failures laced throughout. We’ve seen the glorious return of heroes like the Dodge Challenger, plus the emergence of exciting new technology like in the Toyota Mirai. Unfortunately, we’ve also seen a glut of niche vehicles stretched thin between a variety of purposes, like the Mercedes GLE Coupe, as well as fatal corporate mistakes in a record-breaking year for automotive recalls.


Usually, we’re a glass-half-full kind of crowd, so we’re tempted to say, overall, this most recent spin around the sun yielded a net gain for the automotive world. Perhaps, but we suppose that’s still open for debate. Regardless, it’s been a mixed bag, no doubt about that. But don’t fret: we’re here to tie it up into one neat package for you.


Click past the jump to read our list of highs and lows from 2014.


2014 TopSpeed Year in Review originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 31 December 2014 19:00 EST.


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Donkervoort D8 GTO Bilster Berg Edition

Donkervoort is set to release a new toy in the form of the D8 GTO Bilster Berg Edition. Will it be an even wilder machine or just a snazzed-up D8 GTO?


Apart from Caterham and a varying number of British kit car manufacturers building the so-called Locosts, there aren’t many people out there who can brag about offering a somewhat modern take of Colin Chapman’s Lotus Seven. Among them is Joop Donkervoort, a Lotus fan who founded the Donkervoort car brand back in 1978, transforming it since then into a bona fide family business.


Donkervoort’s latest offering in terms of ultra-lightweight sports cars is the 2012 D8 GTO, arguably the most impressive model to ever come out of the Dutch factory’s gates. Largely based on the D8 GT, the super sports model is powered by the awesome-sounding inline-five from the Audi TT-RS and RS3 that offers between 340 and 380 horsepower, which only has to move around 1,500 pounds of vehicle. With Donkervoort celebrating the fact that it recently opened a new facility in Germany, right in the heart of the Bilster Berg Drive Resort, the Dutch car maker will manufactur a limited edition of the D8 GTO dubbed the Bilster Berg Edition.


Just 14 examples of the D8 GTO Bilster Berg Edition will be ever made, a number which Donkervoort says it represents the successful year 2014 for the company. The model, which was developed on the Bilster Berg circuit itself and earned the best lap time on the circuit, features a number of updates compared to the regular model. In theory, this should make it the top-of-the-range model in an otherwise petite lineup.


Click past the jump to read more about the Donkervoort D8 GTO Bilster Berg Edition.


Donkervoort D8 GTO Bilster Berg Edition originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 31 December 2014 18:00 EST.


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Video: Aston Martin DB10 Live Unveiling



We’ve all seen and drooled over the 2015 Aston Martin DB10, which will make its on-screen debut in the new James Bond flick: Spectre. Unfortunately, we’ve already learned that the car will not become a production vehicle, nor does it preview the next-generation DB9, but it is a real car as you can see in this video of its official reveal (above).


The fact that it has no production future is a crying shame, but at least it will have a starring role in Spectre, so we can enjoy it again and again. That said, I take with a grain of salt Aston’s claim that the DB10 will not inspire a production car. Automakers have a habit of holding their cards very close to their chest and sometimes hide new products in plain sight to throw others off. So I feel there is still a chance that the DB10 could either become its own model or inspire a new-generation DB9, given its reception remains warm after the movie has come and gone.


Regardless of what one keyboard-punching auto junkie thinks, I can tell you that the car does actually exist and it was debuted at an event earlier in December. If you thought it was sexy in pictures, just wait until you get a look at it in the flesh in this video. The only thing that would make this video better would be if Daniel Craig himself would have hopped into the car and let its V-8 engine sing a song for us.


Click past the jump for more on the 2015 Aston Martin DB10.


Video: Aston Martin DB10 Live Unveiling originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 31 December 2014 17:00 EST.


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Chevrolet Corvette SR-2

The oft-forgotte Corvette SR-2 is set to cross the auction block, so we decided to take a look back at its impressive life.


A chronicle of Corvette’s success in motorsports could fill several books, but the nameplate’s first contact with the world of racing is often forgotten. It all began in 1956, when Zora Arkus-Duntov set a 150-mph speed record at Sebring driving a Corvette roadster. The experiment would soon spawn the Corvette SR-2, a modified C1 Vette that featured a lengthened front end a massive, Jaguar D-Type-like wing on its trunk. Legend has it the SR-2 was born when Jerry Earl, the son of GM Styling chief Harley Earl, announced that he wanted a Ferrari. Harley immediately commission a racing Corvette that would become the SR-2, GM’s first purpose-built track car.


Nearly 58 years old in 2015, the SR-2 returns to the spotlight after years of lurking in the shadows. Having been through a complete and thorough restoration, the SR-2 is as magnificent as it has ever been and it is looking for a new racing enthusiast to take it back to Sebring, or any other American track for that matter. The SR-2 may have been overshadowed by the Ferraris and Jaguars of the late 1950s, but it earned its place in Chevrolet’s hall of fame as the first Corvette-badged factory race car. Read all about it below.


Click past the jump to read more about the 1956 Chevrolet Corvette SR-2.


Chevrolet Corvette SR-2 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 31 December 2014 16:00 EST.


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Alfa Romeo 4C Spider

An odd statement referring to the Detroit Auto Show at the end of an otherwise ignorable blog post from FCA leads us to believe that the production 4C Spyder will debut in Detroit.


The 2016 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider has made its official debut at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show today and has quickly found itself atop our wish list. Based on the current 4C, the updated 4C Spider gets a host of upgrades as it moves into 2016.


The most obvious change to the car is its removable top and additional bodywork rising from the rear decklid. A naked carbon fiber roll bar hoops over the occupant compartment, as does a similar windshield brace. Beside the lack of a sloping rear window, the car keeps a similar profile to its coupe counterpart.


There are changes underneath the bodywork, however. Alfa had to add structural supports to the carbon fiber tub in order to retain the car’s rigidity. The new materials result in 132 additional pounds yet is said to not adversely affect the car’s performance. New, more traditional headlights replace the bug-eyed ones from the coupe while new centrally mounted exhaust pipes give the rear end a sportier look while leaving the lower diffuser untouched.


Power still comes from the 1.75-liter, turbocharged inline-four making 240 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. No changes are made to the only gearbox option, Alfa’s TCT twin-dry-clutch, six-speed automatic with paddle shifters.


Best of all, the car still gets 24 mpg city and 47 mpg highway on the EU cycle. Such practicality will surely make it easier to persuade your missis the $83,360 purchase is justifiable. Now if only Alfa would sell the 4C Spider inside the U.S…


Updated 12/31/2014: In a post on FCA’s blog about the arrival of the 4C Launch Edition arriving in the U.S., there was one small sentence that has gotten the industry (myself included) all worked up. At the end of the post it reads: "Of course, if you like what you see, there will be more over the next few years. Alfa Romeo plans to introduce eight new models by 2018. You’ll get your next Alfa fix at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January." This almost certainly means that the official production version of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spyder will make its much-anticipated debut in Detroit. Remember, earlier in 2014 we saw this stunning white beauty pictured here, which was a "preview" of the upcoming 4C Spyder. Stay tuned for more.


Click past the jump for all the details on the new 2016 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider


Alfa Romeo 4C Spider originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 31 December 2014 15:00 EST.


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Lexus GX 460 - Driven

Christian Moe spent a week with a dying breed: a luxury, body-on-frame SUV. Check out what he thought of the GX 460 at TopSpeed.com.


The Lexus GX 460 feels like a dinosaur on the road. Much of its underpinnings are shared with the 4Runner and have been around for more than a decade. The second-generation SUV debuted in 2009 with a new and more powerful engine as well as some revised suspension and equipment pieces, but it still retained the same body-on-frame chassis that the model debuted with way back in 2002. For 2014, Toyota has taken the second-generation machine and slapped a new coat of paint on it with some small visual tweaks and the new family “spindle” grille. Our 2015 model carries on with no major visual changes, but adds some new interior technology to the mix.


With modern crossovers dominating the market, is there room on the sales floor for an old-school, 5,000-pound SUV with legitimate off-road prowess? America’s love affair with the classic SUV has long since died, but after a week with this gigantic bruiser I couldn’t quite figure out why. With a true four-wheel drive system capable of tackling the tough stuff, a solid three-ton tow rating and seating for seven, the Lexus GX ticks off every box on my list.


Continue reading to find out more about the 2015 Lexus GX 460.


Lexus GX 460 - Driven originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 31 December 2014 14:00 EST.


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Shelby 50th Anniversary Cobra 427

Shelby American is celebrating the 50th birthday of the big-block Cobra with this 50th Anniversary Cobra 427. Check out all of the details at TopSpeed.com.


The iconic Shelby Cobra — based on the British-built AC Ace roadster — first left Carroll Shelby’s shop in 1962 with a 4.3-liter, V-8 engine under its hood. It took the Cobra name only a few months to become famous and Carroll quickly turned to making it equally popular on the race track. Although the 4.7-liter version was unbeatable in the U.S. racing scene throughout 1964, Carroll also wanted the Cobra to become competitive in the FIA GT class, which was dominated by Ferrari back in the early 1960s. Thus the Cobra 427 was born, a roadster that featured wider fenders, fatter tires, an upgraded chassis and a massive, 7.0-liter, V-8 engine.


Notwithstanding the fact that it missed homologation for the 1965 racing season, the Cobra 427 went on to capture the SCCA’s covered "A Production" championship. A the same time, its road-legal version rocked the sports car world thanks to its amazingly powerful engine and reduced weight, which combined helped the Cobra obliterate most of its competitors. As the 427 turns 50 years old in January 2015, Shelby American is building 50 new examples, which are dubbed the 50th Anniversary Cobra 427, to commemorate the occasion and bring back the most powerful roadster of the 1960s. Read on for the full details.


Click past the jump to read more about the Shelby 50th Anniversary Cobra 427.


Shelby 50th Anniversary Cobra 427 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 31 December 2014 12:00 EST.


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Mercedes Concept Car

Remember that oddly shaped car we caught under heavy cover months ago? Well, it appears as if Mercedes is set to debut it at the Consumer Electronics Show on January 6, 2014


Mercedes-Benz may have introduced the stunningly beautiful AMG GT at the Paris Motor Show, but it seems the sports car is not its last vehicle to be revealed in 2014. With the Los Angeles Auto Show less than a month away, the Germans are readying a brand-new concept car. The news just arrived in our inbox alongside a batch of spy shots sent by paparazzi stationed in Germany. The outlandish vehicle was spotted driving around a Mercedes facility and hints the Germans are bringing something unconventional to a future auto show, possibly the L.A. Auto Show.


What could it be? We honestly have no idea, but, as usual, we’d love to speculate on the matter. Things is we don’t even know whether this is just one of Mercedes’ many eccentric concept cars or a study meant to preview some sort of upcoming hybrid or all-electric vehicle. Either way, join us past the break as we try to solve this intriguing mystery.


Updated 12/31/2014: Mercedes has just revealed a teaser image of the odd concept car that we caught under heavy cover earlier in 2014 on its Facebook page. Along with the teaser image was the quote "The future will be bolder than you’ve ever imagined. ‪#‎mbCES‬." The hashtag indicates that this concept will make its debut at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show on January 6, 2015. Stay tuned!!!


Click past the jump to read more about Mercedes’ future concept.


Mercedes Concept Car originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 31 December 2014 11:00 EST.


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Report: By 2017, Fewer Than Half Of U.S. Cars Will Run On Conventional Gasoline Engines

If we've learned anything from the rosy, sci-fi predictions that emerged from the Space Race of the mid-20th-century, it's that human beings can be very optimistic when thinking about their future. Decades after The Jetsons forecast flying cars and 2001: A Space Odyssey promised interplanetary travel for the everyman, we've awoken to the sobering...



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GMC Acadia

The GMC Acadia is the truck brand's minivan substitute, a three-row crossover utility that is aimed at families who don't need a true full-size SUV. It's closely related to today's Buick Enclave and Chevy Traverse, as well as the discontinued Saturn Outlook crossover. The Acadia can seat up to eight passengers, but it's more accurately described...



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GMC Yukon

The GMC Yukon is a full-size SUV that’s based on the same architecture ad the GMC Sierra pickup truck. The Yukon shares most of its components with the Cadillac Escalade and the Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe. The Yukon competes with those other GM SUVs, as well as the Ford Expedition, the Lincoln Navigator, the Toyota Sequoia, and the...



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Acura MDX

The sporty Acura MDX crossover is one of the oldest nameplates in the luxury and near-luxury utility-vehicle category. Among U.S. large luxury crossovers, the competition includes the Infiniti QX60, the Lexus RX, the Lincoln MKT, and perhaps the Buick Enclave. While it can seat up to seven passengers, it remains a driver's car with family-friendly...



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Mercedes-Benz AMG GT

The Mercedes-AMG GT is a two-door, high-performance luxury coupe. It’s the second car the AMG brand has built completely on its own, without a Mercedes-Benz production car as its basis, and it aims to take on the Porsche 911. The AMG GT follows the SLS AMG in terms of timing, but it is not considered a successor. The GT uses some of the...



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Kia Sedona

The Kia Sedona is one of the handful of minivans still on sale in the U.S. It has also just been through a major model change--for the 2015 model year, the Sedona was completely reworked, with a new sliding-seat system and a stiffer, safer—not to mention more stylish—body. The Sedona is built in South Korea and sold as the Carnival in...



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Kia K900

The Kia K900 is the biggest, most expensive sedan the Korean automaker has yet offered in the U.S.--and its most luxurious offering to date, too. A new model entry for the 2015 model year, the K900 shares its architecture with the Hyundai Equus, though the base model comes with a six-cylinder that is only available in Hyundai's shorter Genesis...



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Rolls-Royce Wraith

The Rolls-Royce Wraith is the newest model from the venerated British luxury marque. It is the most powerful car Rolls-Royce has ever built, and the first fastback coupe from the company in decades. Launched for 2014, the Wraith has a shape and price that suggest it's a competitor for the Bentley Continental GT that really defined the ultra-luxury...



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Fiat 500L

The Fiat 500L, introduced as a 2014 model, is a compact tall wagon that's the first of several vehicles that will extend the popular Fiat 500 line into new segments. Remarkably roomy inside for its footprint, it actually shares almost nothing but a powertrain with the Fiat 500 minicar that brought the brand back to the U.S. market decades after it...



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Honda Civic

The Honda Civic is one of the best-selling, most widely recognized car lines in the world. Across almost a dozen generations, the Civic has included hatchback and wagon styles as well as the sedan and coupe now offered. With its enviable reputation for longevity and durability, the Civic also has had another trump card in its hand for most of its...



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Honda Ridgeline

The Honda Ridgeline is the Japanese brand's first and so far only attempt at a large pickup truck. It shares underpinnings with cars and SUVs alike, making it somewhat of a hybrid-crossover truck in its construction. It may have a pickup bed, but it's less concerned with hauling lumber than it is hauling toys. The Ridgeline's unusual set of bona...



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Honda Accord Hybrid

The Honda Accord Hybrid and Accord Plug-In Hybrid were both added to the Honda range for 2014. This represents the second time the mid-size sedan has offered a hybrid option, and the first for a plug-in model. The new versions are much more mileage focused than the original, which should resonate better with green customers. The Accord Hybrid was...



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Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V is a five-passenger, compact crossover utility vehicle--and one of the top sellers in its niche. Powered by a four-cylinder engine alone, the current CR-V has good crash-test scores and reliability, making it a formidable rival for vehicles like the Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, and Chevy Equinox. Adapted from the same...



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Ford Expedition

The Ford Expedition is a full-size SUV with a mission in mind: to carry big families or to tow and haul their belongings in a way today's crossover vehicles simply can't. The Expedition is one of a small set of truly big utes; it competes with vehicles such as the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban, the GMC Yukon, the Nissan Armada, and the Toyota Sequoia...



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Kawasaki Ninja H2



The Ninja H2 is the newest addition to the Kawasaki’s lineup and incorporates the latest technologies developed by the Japanese manufacturer.


The biggest news is the introduction of the all-new liquid-cooled, 4-stroke in-line four cylinder turbo engine with a displacement of 998 cc. The engine is mated on a six speed transmission and is mounted on a trellis, high-tensile steel frame with swingarm mounting plate.


As far as wheels are concerned, the Kawasaki Ninja H2 is fitted with a pair of cast aluminum wheels which feature a star-pattern, five-spoke design. The wheels are wrapped in a massive 200/55 rear tire and a front 120/70 tire.


Other features that are worthy of being mentioned include the Öhlins Electronic Steering Damper, KQS (Kawasaki Quick Shifter), KIBS (Kawasaki Intelligent Anti-Lock Brake System), Kawasaki Engine Brake Control and the Kawasaki Traction Control.


Hit the jump for more information on the Kawasaki Ninja H2.


Kawasaki Ninja H2 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 31 December 2014 11:12 EST.


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BMW Isetta



You would think that BMW would feel a bit embarassed at having such a humble means of transportation as part of its history, but that has never been the case when talking about the Isetta bubble car. After World War II, the Bavarian car maker was not exactly in tip-top shape in terms of financial success, with Herbert Quandt being close to selling the entire company to Daimler Benz under the pressure of management. Thanks in small part to the prosperity brought by the tiny Isetta and Quandt’s rather risky decision of increasing his stake instead of selling all of it, BMW is still an independent brand now.


As some of you know, the Isetta was actually born in Italy, not Germany, and its original raison d’être was simply to offer an inexpensive means of transport with good fuel economy. Created by Iso, which subsequently became famous afterward for its elegant sports cars in the 1960s, the original Isetta had thee wheels and a single-cylinder motorcycle engine from the Iso Moto 200. Its quirky styling, low price and great city maneuverability caught the eye of BMW, who bought the project along with its tooling and made its own version, keeping the name.


Using a BMW motorcycle engine this time, the BMW Isetta spawned two more variants and became a resounding success for the Bavarian car maker, with over 150,000 units being sold between 1955 and 1962. Part of its success was also thanks to the Suez Energy Crisis, but no one can argue with the cuteness of its bubble car design as also being a very good reason.


Click past the jump to read more about the BMW Isetta.


BMW Isetta originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 31 December 2014 09:00 EST.


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Toyota 4Runner

The Toyota 4Runner is a mid-size SUV that is spun off from some of the same running gear that underpins the Tacoma mid-size pickup truck. That helps make it a true sport-utility vehicle, as opposed to a car-based crossover. It's not like you'd ever mistake it for a family wagon, though. The 4Runner's brutish style and rugged off-road gear make no...



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Toyota Land Cruiser

The Toyota Land Cruiser is the most luxurious, and most rugged sport-utility vehicle Toyota sells today. As one of the brand's longest-running nameplates, the Land Cruiser is in a class with other globally known SUVs, like the Range Rover and the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. While the plus-sized Land Cruiser that's sold in the U.S. is no longer the...



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Audi S8

The Audi S8 is the quickest, if not the most expensive, version of the German automaker's A8 sedan. Unlike other variants of the big A8, the S8 is offered only in short-wheelbase form. Audi added the S8 to its lineup in the late 1990s, and the current car is the third iteration. MORE: Read our 2015 Audi A8 / S8 review The first Audi S8 was...



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2014-2015 Volkswagen Beetle, Golf, GTI, Jetta, Passat Recalled To Fix Fuel Leak

Volkswagen has issued a recall for nearly 38,000 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Passat vehicles from the 2014 and 2015 model years. According to documents posted at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website (PDF), those vehicles may suffer from fuel leaks, which could cause them to catch fire. The problem is...



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Video: Walter Röhrl and Mattias Ekström Flog an Audi S1 EKS RX

Not too many people can say that they’ve won the Monte Carlo Rally no less than four times, each time with a different car maker, but Walter Röhrl is truly one of a kind. A living legend by most accounts, the German driver has been retired from professional racing since the late 1980s, but that didn’t keep him from being active in the field of awesome driving and becoming the head test driver at Porsche.


Swede Mattias Ekström is almost half Röhrl’s age and a driving legend as well, winning two German Touring Car (DTM) championships and no less than three Races of Champions. Apart from still competing in DTM, coming in as a runner-up in 2014, Ekström has also established his own rally-cross team, fielding a 560-horsepower Audi S1 quattro. Called the EKS RX, his rally-cross team recently released some footage of Ekström and Röhrl sliding an S1 quattro around Germany’s Estering circuit.


With Walter Röhrl getting the first drive and Mattias the second, the result is rather amazing to watch, especially since the German is now 67 years old. While no lap times were published, since this was a friendly match-up, it becomes apparent that age isn’t necessarily a disadvantage for some people in their line of work. Ekström even mentions that Walter Röhrl attacked some corners even better than he did himself. The only downside of the video above is that it doesn’t show more of that bonkers Ur-quattro drifting around and showing the newer S1 what Group B was all about.


Video: Walter Röhrl and Mattias Ekström Flog an Audi S1 EKS RX originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 31 December 2014 07:00 EST.


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What The Top Automotive Stories Of 2014 Mean For You In 2015

If you stop by an auto dealership this week, it’s likely you’ll find it bustling. The week between Christmas and New Year’s is always one of the busiest of the year. But as sales continue to reach record levels, it’s a good reality check to remind us how far the economy and our consumer confidence has come versus just five...



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mardi 30 décembre 2014

Jaguar XE will be Built in China



The brand-new, BMW 3 Series-fighting 2017 Jaguar XE will be built in China, making it the brand’s first model to be manufactured in the Asian country, Auto News reports. Speaking to Jaguar Land Rover global fleet director Ken Forbes, Automotive News Europe learned that the midsize premium sedan will be built alongside the Land Rover Evoque and land Rover Discovery Sport at the company’s assembly plant in Changshu. Although Jag declined to say when XE production would begin, since European sales of the XE start in May, the first sedans are expected to roll off the assembly line in the first half of 2015.


Jaguar’s decision — although not yet official — to make the XE the first China-built model isn’t surprising. According to JLR sales operations director Andy Goss, the XE is expected to help boost Chinese sales beyond the 20,000 units delivered throughout 2014. "Our spearhead vehicle for China is the XE and we think it could make significant inroads — it’s inevitable that’s going to be case," Goss said.


Even though the British automaker hasn’t confirmed whether it will build a long-wheelbase XE version, such a variant is very likely considering China’s demand for roomier interiors. Long-wheelbase versions of the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-Class are already popular in China and a stretched XE is obviously mandatory for the local market.


Click past the jump to read more about the Jaguar XE.


Jaguar XE will be Built in China originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 30 December 2014 19:00 EST.


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Audi RS6 Avant by Audi Exclusive

Audi Exclusive got its hands on the RS6 Avant and made all of us here in the U.S. drool over this beauty.


There are a lot of cool cars we can’t have in the United States, including a host of incredibly fast yet still practical wagons. The Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake is the first that pops into mind, but the RS6 Avant is the vehicle that adds even more insult to injury. While Europe gets no less than four Audi-badged wagons, U.S. customers have just the one in the form of the A6 Allroad. And while most of us can live without the A4 Avant and the A3 Sportback, not having the RS6 Avant on this side of the pond is pure blasphemy. While I could rant about this for hours, I’m going to take a break to tell you about the latest Exclusive package Audi rolled out for the RS6 Avant.


The bundle comes just in time for the wagon’s recently launched facelift and adds further aggressiveness to the already beefed-up grocery getter. Nothing massive, but just enough to turn the RS6 Avant from enticing to downright sinister.


Click past the jump to read more about the Audi RS6 Avant by Audi Exclusive.


Audi RS6 Avant by Audi Exclusive originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 30 December 2014 17:00 EST.


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2015 Porsche 911 GT3 Delivered Without its PDK Sport Button

A 911 GT3 without a PDK Sport button is like a stick on dynamite without a fuse: still dangerous, but not nearly as much fun.


The 911 GT3 has been under a lot of scrutiny lately, given its tendency to, you know, catch on fire... But with deliveries back on schedule and 2015 models finding homes in owners’ garages, all is fine in the world of Porsche, right? Well, not quite, as apparently some of the workers at Porsche’s assembly plant felt that certain owners didn’t need a PDK Sport button (AKA the "go-fast" button).


That’s right, a 2015 Porsche 911 GT3 that an owner just picked up reportedly lacks one of the model’s key features. The news comes from a claim made by Rennlist user dadams1598, who got his beloved sports car home just to notice the PDK Sport button was missing. He even snapped a picture of the console (after the jump), which is where the button is supposed to be.


The missing button was discovered on December 14, 2014 and on December 24, the dealer made things right by special ordering the correct console with the PDK Sport button. Once the dealer receives the new console, it will install it and perform all of the necessary mapping to get his GT3 to its full potential. There’s still no explanation as to how the button got overlooked, but I’m certain Porsche will figure it out and fix the issue immediately.


What’s more, for those of you who think this is an isolated incident, there was a second claim made in the same thread of a missing PDK Sport button. The second issue has yet to be validated or resolved as of December 30, 2014, but I am sure he will get the same treatment as the first.


Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 Porsche 911 GT3.


2015 Porsche 911 GT3 Delivered Without its PDK Sport Button originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 30 December 2014 16:00 EST.


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from Top Speed http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/2015-porsche-911-gt3-delivered-without-its-pdk-sport-button-ar166872.html

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Video: A Look at the Porsche 918 Spyder Assembly Line

A more than worthy successor to the bonkers Carrera GT, the 2014 918 Spyder is not only the fastest road-going Porsche in history, but it is also the most fuel efficient when it comes equipped with the Weissach package. Until recently, a car that can hit 60 mph from a standing start in just 2.5 seconds and offer a combined fuel economy of 67 MPGe was probably considered still a dream by some people.


Yet, here we are with the Porsche 918 Spyder, arguably the most impressive car from a technology standpoint to ever come out of Zuffenhausen since the company was founded. As some of you know, it is able to offer the best of two worlds mainly thanks to a 4.6-liter V-8 with 608 horsepower that is paired with not one but two electric motors that bring an additional 279 horsepower. With a total of 887 horsepower and a tire-torturing 940 pound-feet of torque at its disposal, the 918 Spyder’s powertrain can get its juice from either the fuel tank or the onboard lithium-ion battery pack. The liquid-cooled, 6.8-kWh battery can also give the hypercar an emission-free and EPA-rated range of up to 12 miles. Additionally, it delivers a Nurburgring Nordschleife time of under seven minutes when sporting the Weissach package.


Not impressed yet? It doesn’t matter, actually, because the entire allocated production of precisely 918 units sold out long before its production completes in 2015. Speaking of said production, the 918 Spyder is largely hand-assembled at Porsche’s Zuffenhausen production plant, and the meticulous work that takes place with each and every car is rather well represented by the footage above. Enjoy!


Video: A Look at the Porsche 918 Spyder Assembly Line originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 30 December 2014 15:00 EST.


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from Top Speed http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/video-a-look-at-the-porsche-918-spyder-assembly-line-ar166869.html

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Ford Trademarks 'EcoBeast' Moniker

Ford just filed a trademark for the


The days when FoMoCo used to stuff its high-performance vehicles with high-displacement V-8 engines are long gone, but that’s not to say the Blue Oval’s current offerings are of the slow variety. Although the 2015 Mustang still comes with a V-8 in its range-topping trim, several other nameplates — including the Focus and Fiesta ST, and the Taurus SHO — are motivated by EcoBoost technology. Be it with four or six cylinders, the EcoBoost engine has become the centerpiece of Ford performance and that’s not likely to change any time soon. In fact, it seems the EcoBoost is set to expand to other nameplates as well, judging by a trademark filing with the United States Patent and Trademark office.


According to the folks over at Motrolix, Ford has registered the term "EcoBeast" under the Goods and Services category of "Automobiles and automobile engines." This can only mean one thing; Ford is readying a new version of its turbocharged EcoBoost engine and judging by the name there’s something big coming our way; in terms of horsepower, that is!


So what are Ford intentions with this "EcoBeast" engine? The trademark filing provides no clue, but it’s very likely that this is a pickup truck application. You see, owners of F-150 pickups with the 3.5-liter, EcoBoost V-6 have been known to nickname their trucks "EcoBeast," and that’s solid indication that FoMoCo wants to emphasize on that moniker and use it for production purposes. And with the current 3.5-liter V-6 churning 365 horsepower, we have a feeling the "EcoBeast" will find its way into the next-generation SVT Raptor with more than 450 ponies at its disposal.


Click past the jump to read more about Ford’s new ’EcoBeast’ moniker.


Ford Trademarks 'EcoBeast' Moniker originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 30 December 2014 14:00 EST.


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from Top Speed http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/ford-trademarks-ecobeast-moniker-ar166867.html

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Video: Top Gear Series 22 Teaser

Top Gear is coming back soon, and to celebrate the team has created a wonderful little teaser that features everyone’s favorite racing driver: The Stig. The video follows The Stig as he goes on vacation for a few months to get away from the Dunsfold Airfield. The video is only a minute long but The Stig, equipped with his Lamborghini Aventador rental car, manages to visit several countries that range from Australia to Italy.


Once the trip is over he returns his car in slightly used condition and returns home to the Top Gear Test Track to get started for Series 22. Aside from a slow-motion and rainy drift in an F-Type R Coupe, there is nothing here that hints to what the new series will hold. Pity. There is also no word on the exact starting date of the new set of episodes, just a “Coming Soon” promise.


Still, it’s great Top Gear humor in true Top Gear form and I really enjoyed it. If you want a minute of fun and automotive satisfaction, this should do nicely. When you get done, make sure to hit those comments and shout off about what cars you would love to see in this new series.


Video: Top Gear Series 22 Teaser originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 30 December 2014 13:00 EST.


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from Top Speed http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/video-top-gear-series-22-teaser-ar166844.html

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Volkswagen Passat GTE Police Car



Although we have to wait for it until 2016, the eighth-generation Volkswagen Passat is ready to hit the roads in Germany, with the Euro-spec version being launched back in July 2014. Redesigned inside and out and dressed in a more stylish suit, the Passat no longer seems like the dull-looking people’s car we got used to over the last few decades. The new Passat is gorgeous to look at, but what makes the eighth-gen vehicle a lot more special is that it is now available with a hybrid drivetrain. Revealed in September, the Passat GTE is the first PHEV to wear the famed badge and borrows its powertrain components from the Golf GTE.


We already know everything there is to know about the Passat GTE, except some of the technical details Volkswagen has yet to unveil of course, and all we have to do is wait for a couple more years to find this plug-in hybrid in U.S. dealerships. Meanwhile, the Passat GTE is slated to hit European street in 2015 in both civilian and police guises. Yes, you read that correct, this German hybrid has just signed up for a police career in Heligoland, an archipelago of islands located in the North Sea.


As you might have already guessed, this is only an initial trial for the Passat GTE as a patrol car, with its duties to be extended should it complete its task successfully in the small archipelago that’s home to roughly 1,100 people. While hiring hybrids for police duty isn’t exactly a premier, it is indeed a first for the Passat, who now joins the fleet of Golf GTE plug-ins the same community received in the summer of 2014. Check out the full details below.


Click past the jump to read more about the Volkswagen Passat GTE Police Car.


Volkswagen Passat GTE Police Car originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 30 December 2014 12:00 EST.


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from Top Speed http://www.topspeed.com/cars/volkswagen/2015-volkswagen-passat-gte-police-car-ar166855.html

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Audi to Invest Billions into New Models and Technology Through 2019



Having started pretty much from the gutter — may I remind you that Audi even belonged to Daimler Benz for a while — the carmaker with the four rings is currently not only a force to be reckoned with in the big league, but actually wants to be the top dog. With that in mind, Audi recently announced that it is increasing its investment program, which was already the biggest in the automaker’s history.


Between 2015 and all the way through 2019, the ring-bearer will invest no less than 24 billion euros (approx. $29.1 billion as of 12/30/2014) in its expansion, with about 70 percent of the total money amount going directly to the development of both new models and technology. Audi’s main concern is to increase its market share and to meet increasingly stricter CO2-emission limits worldwide, with a lot of the focus directed toward expanding its portfolio from 50 to 60 models in the upcoming four years.


All-new models in the C and D segments, along with an expansion of the Q family of crossover/SUVs should do well enough in terms of increasing Audi’s market share, but that wouldn’t be possible without an increase in production capabilities. This is why the carmaker will redirect over half of the total investments in Germany, especially at the manufacturing plants in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm, where the next-generation A8 is expected to be built starting in 2015.


Another subject is represented by a new generation of more fuel-efficient gasoline and diesel engines currently in the works, along with an increase in the development of plug-in hybrids and fuel-cell powertrains, two areas where the Ingolstadt manufacturer had been lagging behind Mercedes-Benz and BMW.


Click past the jump to read more about Audi’s future plans.


Audi to Invest Billions into New Models and Technology Through 2019 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 30 December 2014 11:00 EST.


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from Top Speed http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/audi-to-invest-billions-into-new-models-and-technology-through-2019-ar166854.html

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Volvo XC90 T8

Meet the Volvo XC90 T8, the 400-horsepower, 59-MPGe hybrid SUV.


Since 2002, the XC90 has been praised for its marvelous build quality, family-friendly design and many great safety and convenience features. But while the SUV segment changed continuously, Volvo opted to keep its range-topping vehicle essentially unaltered for more than a decade, which resulted in the XC90 starting to show its age in recent years. I don’t know whether the Swedes did this in order to focus on the second-gen SUV, but if they did, I totally understand why they let the XC90 become one of the most dated vehicles on the market. The redesigned 2016 XC90 was updated in every department, gaining brand-new styling, a rebuilt, futuristic interior, the company’s latest in terms of convenience and safety features and a host of all-new engines.


In 2013, Derek Crabb, Volvo’s vice president of powertrain engineering, said the company’s upcoming smaller and more intelligent engines "will turn V-8s into dinosaurs," and it seems that statement has morphed into reality. Volvo ditched both the 4.4-liter V-8 and the 3.2-liter inline-six from under the XC90’s hood, replacing them with a range of gasoline and diesel four-cylinders. What’s more, the four-pot-exclusive SUV also received, for the first time in its lifetime, a hybrid drivetrain that pumps out 400 horsepower while claiming to return outstanding fuel economy.


Keep reading for the full run-down on Volvo’s most advanced and powerful hybrid yet.


Click past the jump to read more about the Volvo XC90 T8.


Volvo XC90 T8 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 30 December 2014 10:00 EST.


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from Top Speed http://www.topspeed.com/cars/volvo/2015-volvo-xc90-t8-ar166585.html

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Chevrolet Volt



Launched for the 2011 model year, the Chevrolet Volt is GM’s first volume plug-in hybrid vehicle. Also sold as the Holden Volt, Vauxhall Ampera and Opel Ampera around the world, the five-door compact has already won numerous awards, including the 2011 North American Car of the Year. The most advanced version of the Volt uses a 17 kWh battery that enables it to return a range of 38 miles in all-electric mode. The electric motor, which delivers 149 horses and 273 pound-feet of torque, is aided by a 1.4-liter, inline-four gasoline engine. The conventional unit sends 84 ponies and 67 pound-feet to the front wheels. Both "generators" use a multi-mode electric transaxle to propel the vehicle from 0 to 60 mph in 8.7 seconds and up to a top speed of 100 mph. Combined fuel economy sits at 62 mpge, while gasoline range is rate at 40 mpg highway and 35 mpg city. Come 2015, the current Volt is being replaced by a redesigned, second-generation vehicle.


Rumors about a second-gen Volt arriving for the 2016 model year have been floating around for more than a year now. GM has finally confirmed the new Volt is being readied for 2015 Detroit Auto Show debut. Currently the best selling plug-in vehicle in the U.S. market with more than 65,000 units delivered, the 2016 Volt has big shoes to fill. Details are slim as of August 2014, but GM has dropped a few hints about the upcoming Volt in the past. Read on to find out more.


Updated 12/30/2014: Chevrolet unveiled a new teaser video for the new Volt featuring GM’s Global Product Development VP, Mark Reuss as he discusses the new and improved Chevy Volt. He also gives us a little teaser about the new range of the Volt, but they stop short of disclosing the actual number.


Click past the jump to read more about the 2016 Chevrolet Volt.


Chevrolet Volt originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 30 December 2014 09:00 EST.


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from Top Speed http://www.topspeed.com/cars/chevrolet/2016-chevrolet-volt-ar164798.html

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Jeep Renegade

The Jeep Renegade is an all-new compact utility vehicle, making its debut for the 2015 model year. Combining Fiat's expertise with small, fuel-efficient cars into Jeep's notoriety for ruggedness and iconic styling, the model lands in an increasingly crowded market of utility vehicles that are small and carlike yet tall and often boxy—such as...



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Mazda 5

The Mazda 5 is a minivan—just one that's a fraction of the size of anything else on the market that bears that classification. The current Mazda 5 is based on the underpinnings of the previous-generation Mazda 3 compact-car family. It's a minivan for those who are fond of driving; what it loses in interior space, it makes up for in handling...



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Buick Regal

The Buick Regal is a four-door, mid-size sedan that rejoined the GM brand's lineup for the 2011 model year. Off and on, it had been a part of the Buick family for decades, in many different forms and sizes. Today, the Regal is the middle child in a three-sedan lineup that includes the large LaCrosse and the compact Verano. More so than those...



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Subaru BRZ

The Subaru BRZ is a compact, rear-wheel-drive sports car. Its emphasis on light weight and direct handling make it a suitable competitor for the Nissan 370Z and the Mazda MX-5 Miata, and if you're pushing the limits of price, the Porsche Cayman. It's an unconventional addition to the Subaru lineup, as the only vehicle the brand sells without...



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Dodge Charger

The Dodge Charger is one of Chrysler's big rear-drive cars. Its relatives currently include the Dodge Challenger two-door muscle car and the Chrysler 300 sedan. The Charger is available with rear- or all-wheel drive, and with a wide range of engines from a sensible V-6 to a huge V-8 for the SRT version. A large sedan, the Charger also now has...



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Chevrolet Impala

The Impala is Chevrolet's flagship sedan, the top front-drive model aimed at providing comfort and space. It's also the largest mainstream model, although Chevy also offers the SS sedan, which is a low-volume performance that has a V-8 and rear-wheel drive. In some ways, the SS sedan picks up where previous Impalas left off. The Impala name has...



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MG GTS (2016): MG makes an SUV

Here’s the latest entry to the ever-growing SUV/crossover market – and it wears an MG badge. This is the MG GTS, set to go on sale in China from spring 2015 with UK sales likely to follow in 2016. This...



from Car Online http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/First-Official-Pictures/MG-GTS-2016-meet-MGs-SUV/

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MG GTS (2016): MG makes an SUV

Here’s the latest entry to the ever-growing SUV/crossover market – and it wears an MG badge. This is the MG GTS, set to go on sale in China from spring 2015 with UK sales likely to follow in 2016. This...



from Car Online http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/First-Official-Pictures/MG-GTS-2016-meet-MGs-SUV/

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Infiniti QX80

The Infiniti QX80 is a large sport utility vehicle with a distinctive design and a relatively new name—it was formerly known as the QX56, but as of 2014, the new QX80 badge is official. The renaming strategy is meant to to dismantle the mix of letters and numbers and begin every Infiniti model with Q (sedans) or QX (crossovers and SUVs). For...



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Infiniti QX70

While the QX70 name has very little history, the car it is affixed to goes back a while and should be familiar to many. Known as the FX before Infiniti changed up its naming convention, the QX70 is a very sporty mid-size crossover utility with a striking design. The brand's new naming convention means the model names no longer follow engine...



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Infiniti Q70

The Infiniti Q70 is a four-door sport sedan that, until 2014, was known as the Infiniti M. Now renamed, but essentially the same car, it competes with the Audi A6, Jaguar XF, Lexus GS, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and BMW 5-Series, and, in some edge cases, the Acura RLX, too. The company's new naming system is bound to generate confusion for a few years...



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BMW M6

The BMW M6 has its roots in the 1980s, just like its M5 kin. Unlike the sport-sedan icon, the M6 has been a more sporadic offering in the German automaker's lineup, appearing for three distinct generations: from 1983 to 1989, from 2005 to 2010, and from 2012 to the present. MORE: Read our 2015 BMW 6-Series review for more details on the M6 lineup...



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BMW M5

The BMW M5 is synonymous with the term "sports sedan." Coined as a stand-alone model in 1985, the current versions pack as much as 600 horsepower, and thrash some modern supercars in acceleration and top speed. The M5 story began in 1980 with a car wearing a different badge, the M535i. As the official motorsport version of the 5-Series at the...



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Audi S7

The Audi S7 is a beautiful, and beautifully detailed, mid-size five-door hatchback that's derived from the high-performance Audi A6/S6 sedans. It calls into question every prejudice you've ever had against that practical body style, but it's more than just a thought leader--it's serious competition against the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class and the BMW...



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Audi S6

The Audi S6 is the performance version of the German automaker's mid-size sedan, and has been offered since the Nineties. A rival for cars like the Jaguar XFR, Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, and BMW M5, the S6 has been joined at times by a hotter RS 6 edition, in the U.S. and in other markets. The S6 joined the A6 family shortly after the Audi 100/200 was...



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