Tag: Detroit

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Ford Motor Shows

Detroit 2015: Ford GT wins design award

Ford GT

The Ford GT has edged out the Honda NSX and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe to win the EyesOn Design award for the best debut production vehicle at the NAIAS in Detroit.

Moray Callum, Ford Motor Company vice president, Design, accepted the award and said: “Ford and its employees are honored to receive this recognition. The great thing about the all-new Ford GT is that we were able to maintain the essence of the original GT40, while making it into a 21st century car. The GT’s cutting-edge technology and engineering demonstrate Ford’s commitment to performance and innovation in every aspect of our business.”

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Motor Shows Porsche

Detroit 2015: Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS

Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS

What do you get if you cross a Porsche 911 Targa 4 with a 911 Carrera GTS? Well, a 911 Targa 4 GTS, of course!

This variation will stand at the top of the Targa model line and gives you a cool retro roof and 316kW to play with. It’ll spit you out to 100km/h in 4.3 seconds (ugh, that’s slower than the Cayenne Turbo S) and has a top speed beyond 300km/h.

The Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS goes on sale down under in the second quarter of 2015 and is priced from $305,300.

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Motor Shows Porsche

Detroit 2015: Porsche Cayenne Turbo S

Porsche Cayenne Turbo S

Just in case anyone cares, Porsche has launched a Turbo S version of its Cayenne behemoth at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The super SUV boasts 419kW/800Nm thanks to its 4.8 litre biturbo V8, which is rather impressive. Even more so is the fact (or claim) that it can lap the Nordschleife in under eight minutes.

If you want to buy one in Australia, start getting $284,700 together and turn up to your local Porsche dealer sometime after March.

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Ford Motor Shows

Detroit 2015: Ford GT

Ford GT

Ford surprised a few by rocking up to Detroit with this very rad looking GT. Awesome, another iconic V8 from the masters of V8 making. This is gonna be good.

Well, you see, here’s the thing, this new bad ass looking GT isn’t actually powered by a V8 at all. Rather its power comes from a nancy boy hippy loving EcoBoost V6. A vee-bloody-six.

I don’t care if they’ve stuck two turbos on the damn thing, or that it produces 600hp+, it’s a GT and it should be powered by a V8 and that’s all there is to it.

Gee, it looks good though, don’t you think?

It’ll be a long burn with production not commencing until late 2016. Deliveries should just sneak out in time to catch the 50th celebrations of the GT40’s epic 1966 win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Henry famously triumphed over Enzo by taking all three steps on the podium.

Of course, the original GT40 had a fair dinkum 7.0 litre man’s man V8 so it deserved to win at La Sarthe. This chai latte sipping hipster model is just taking the piss, right?

You reckon it will be any good?

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Honda Motor Shows Video

Detroit 2015: Honda NSX

Honda NSX

Honda, or more accurately Acura, has taken the covers off the production-ready NSX. It’s sharp, refined and looks pretty good, we think.

While we have new pictures giving us a good look at the latest “new sports experience” from the boffins at Honda we can’t bring you a lot of technical detail.

Power from the twin-turbo 75° mid-mounted V6 engine? No.*

Power from the independent electric motors driving the front wheels? No.

We can tell you the NSX has a 9-speed dual clutch transmission. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9 gears. Overkill perhaps?

The Sport Hybrid system—which has three electric motors in all, two at the front, one mounted between the engine and transmission—uses its electric power to provide “zero delay” launch performance. We don’t know how fast yet, but this is going to be a fast car. It will handle well and it will reset benchmarks from what you can expect from the iconic NSX nameplate.

The new NSX will be assembled at a dedicated plant in Marysville, Ohio by 100 specially trained workers. Production commences in the third quarter of 2015 with initial deliveries before the year is out.

We’d like to know more about this car and we’re guessing you would too. For now, you’ve got everything we can get our hands on waiting for you after the break.

*We’ve been told total power is beyond 550hp/410kW during the car’s presentation at Detroit, which you can see in the videos below.

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Alfa Romeo Motor Shows

Detroit 2015: Alfa Romeo 4C Spider

2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider

Here, now in full high resolution detail, is the all-new Alfa Romeo 4C Spider. Looks pretty nice, don’t you think!

It’s powered by the same 1750cc turbocharged four cylinder from the hardtop, which means it has a peak power figure of 177kW (240hp). Torque has been beefed up a little, now up to 380Nm, up from 350Nm.

In race mode and with its 6-speed dual clutch transmission the 4C Spider can reach 100km/h in 4.1 seconds.

Alfa Romeo hasn’t declared the weight of the 4C Spider, at least, not in the material we have seen. So it will be interesting to see how much heavier this model is compared with the 895kg kerbweight of the regular 4C.

Of course, you’re going to want your 4C Spider with the special Track Package, which means you’ll get special forged aluminium wheels (18×7″ front, 19×8.5″ rear), uprated suspension, grippy Pirelli P Zero tyres, a flat bottomed steering wheel and a few carbon fibre highlights around the cabin.

You can read all about that and more after the break.

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Honda

The all-new 2015 NSX is coming soon

2015 Honda NSX

Has it been three years already! We first saw the Acura/Honda NSX concept back in 2012 (and a revised version in 2013). With great fanfare we were promised the production model would arrive in 2015. Well, guess what, it’s almost 2015 and that means the production-ready NSX is almost here.

With the four new teaser images Acura has supplied (which we have digitally altered to provide even more of a tease) we can get a glimpse at some of the final bodywork, which has changed during its three year gestation. There’s flutes in the bonnet which will do what exactly?

Presumably those front flutes will provide relief to the electric gubbins at each front wheel. Remember, the NSX will boast a fancy Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system, able to generate positive or negative torque at the front wheels.

The 3.5 litre V6 engine is mid-mounted and there now appears to be quite pronounced Audi R8-like side air intakes to capture and feed air into the induction system.

All will be revealed when the new NSX is launched at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on 12 January (13 January Australian time). You can watch the press conference live at youtube.com/Acura.

More after the break, including a short teaser video.

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Motor Shows Toyota

Detroit 2014: Toyota FT-1 concept

Toyota FT-1 concept

This very funky looking creation is a Toyota. A Toyota! You’ll find no signs of beige or Camry in this, the FT-1 concept car. It’s so much of a concept car that it’s little more than a three-dimensional model and the only way you can experience it for yourself is in the two-dimensional world of Gran Turismo 6.

Toyota has thrown in lots of emotive names into the melting pot—including 2000GT, 86, Celica, MR2 and Supra—but given us nothing other than to say “FT” stands for Future Toyota. There’s no word at all on what engine powers the FT-1 and not being gamers here perhaps GT6 users can fill us in.

Conceived over a two-year period by Toyota’s Calty Design Research studio in California, chief desginer Alex Shen said: “The FT-1 is a dream-project for a designer and car enthusiast like myself. Our team was heavily influenced by Toyota’s sports car past, especially Celica and Supra, and we sought to capture some of that history.

“It is an aggressive, track-focused sports car concept with a presence that has been amplified for shock and awe.”

In reality the best we can hope for is that the FT-1 is the first sign of a Supra revival and that if so they don’t so a Subaru and completely waste this very appealing and dramatic concept model.

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Motor Shows Subaru

Detroit 2014: Subaru WRX STi

Subaru WRX STi

Following last week’s early preview here’s the official info on the all-new Subaru WRX STi. We now know it will be powered by a 2.5 litre boxer engine with peak power of 227kW at 6000rpm, while the maximum torque of 392Nm is achieved at 4000rpm.

There’s no performance figures given as yet—not even 0–100km/h times—but we do thank Subaru for releasing this car with a 6-speed manual and making no mention at all of a self-shifting transmission.

So actually, aside from the 20-odd photos we don’t have a lot of detailed information from Subaru just yet. What info we do have can be found after the break, including the US release explaining the 1000 Launch Edition models which will be sold in the States. Detailed Australian info will be coming in the later months, apparently.

We’ve been disappointed by the look of the WRX and while the STi and its more purposeful look does alleviate some of our concerns we’re still none the wiser as to why Subaru made such a gorgeous looking concept model and then screwed up the plans and threw them in the bin.

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Chevrolet Motor Shows

Detroit 2014: Chevrolet Corvette Z06

Chevrolet Corvette Z06

This is the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and with “at least 625 horsepower (466kW)” from its 6.2 litre supercharged V8 it’s sure to be as fast as it looks.

Known as the LT4, the new 6.2 litre engine has plenty of torque to go with all that power too. 860Nm+ of it! This thing will be brutal. Power is sent to the rear wheels, where else, via a 7-speed manual ‘box or an optional 8-speed auto.

There’s no claimed performance figures that we’ve come across yet. Suffice to say it will be frighteningly quick.

The Stingray on steroids is claimed to be the most track-capable Corvette, ever! You can add to that by ticking the Z07 Performance Pack option which gives you increased downforce, Brembo carbon ceramic brakes and super sticky Michelin Pilot Super Sport Cup rubber.

Limited technical detail is available in the press guff after the break, but stuff that. Just imagine having the window down, a wide open road ahead of you and nailing your foot to the floor and marvelling at the raucous noises being spat out of those quad-pipes!

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Motor Shows Volkswagen

Detroit 2014: Volkswagen Beetle Dune concept

2014 Volkswagen Beetle Dune concept

Volkswagen has rocked up to Detroit with this Beetle Dune thingy. Officially it’s a concept model, but Volkswagen is making plenty of noises stating if the demand is there they will build it.

“Everything about this car is feasible—practically a production vehicle,” Volkswagen’s press release states.

So what do you get that makes it different from your garden variety Beetle? Most obviously there’s a bunch of model-specific cosmetic enhancements, inside and out. But the Dune has been raised by 50mm to give it that crucial urban clearance. And, check this out, it has ski racks on the back window. Yes, ski racks! You know for the snow. Where the roads are slippery and you often need to fit chains, unless you have an all-wheel drive car.

That’s probably the exact reason why the Dune concept is front-wheel drive. Hang on, that’s not right is it? Why didn’t they chuck in a 4 motion system? Cheapskates!

They’ve managed to put a decent engine in the car; a 155kW 2.0 litre turbo. So why leave it front-wheel drive? Even with the supposed weaknesses of the Haldex-sourced systems Volkswagen uses it would still add to the Dune’s abilities.

Interestingly, the front and rear track has been widened by 29mm and that should offer improved road holding, but we wonder if that would be one of the features lost if the Dune does become a series production model.

We actually don’t mind the look and basic idea behind the Dune concept, it looks fun. We just wish it had a bit more substance.

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Motor Shows Porsche

Detroit 2014: Porsche 911 Targa

991 Porsche 911 Targa

Finally, we see official information on the all-new Porsche 911 Targa. It’s a return to an old-skool look with that iconic rollover hoop. As reported the roof does operate electronically and when you see the videos of it in action after the break we’re sure you’ll agree it’s a clever bit of kit.

Available only in all-wheel drive the Targa 4 gets the 3.4 litre engine from the regular 911, which means it has 257kW/390Nm to play with. The Targa 4S boasts the now familiar 3.8 litre flat six with 294kW/440Nm.

When fitted with the 7-speed PDK transmission the 1560kg Targa 4 can reach 100km/h in 5.0 seconds and 200km/h in 17.5 seconds. The addition of the Sport Plus option brings those times down to 4.8 seconds and 17.2 seconds respectively.

The 1575kg Targa 4S and its 400hp knock off 100km/h in 4.6 seconds, while 200km/h takes 15.5 seconds. Again, similar reductions are available with Sport Plus option, bringing the sprint times down to 4.4 seconds and 15.2 seconds respectively.

Despite saving 20kg in weight with the manual transmission you’ll need to add a few tenths to those performance figures.

The roof can only be opened when the car is stationary and it takes 19 seconds. It’s pretty nifty to see it work. The rear window lifts up, parts of of the rollover hoop fold out of the way, the fabric roof comes to life and is then cleverly stowed away out of sight.

Not sure about you, but we want one!

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