Subaru Previews Fully Electric STI E-RA And Three More STI Performance Concepts For Tokyo Auto Salon

Posted on December 23, 2021 by admin

Subaru will join the Tokyo Auto Salon 2022 with a bunch of interesting concept cars that were previewed today in a press release. The most important launch will be the STI E-RA Concept signalling the electric era of the performance brand, but we are also going to see “STI Performance” variants of the WRX S4, Levorg, and BRZ in concept form.

The STI E-RA Concept is described as a “study model of motorsport vehicles for the carbon-neutral era,” so don’t get your hopes up for a production vehicle anytime soon since this is probably a racing car prototype. However, as suggested by the teaser, the model will introduce new design elements that could be used in future Subaru vehicles like the C-shaped LED headlights mounted on the fenders, the double vented bonnet, the red illuminated STI badge on the low nose, and the front bumper with a prominent splitter. Subaru didn’t give us details on the powertrain, other than it will be fully electric.

Besides the motorsport concept for the new era, Subaru will also showcase three “STI Performance” concepts of the WRX S4, the Levorg, and the BRZ. The first one was previewed in an official picture showing additional aero components, which will likely be the case with the other two as well.

Compared to the WRX S4 STI Sport R that is already on sale in Japan and served as a base for the concept, the new aero includes a splitter, side sills and rear bumper extensions painted in pink, matching mirror caps and STI emblem, plus a large carbon-fiber rear spoiler. The bumpers seem to be slightly redesigned for a sportier look while there is a new set of black rims shod in performance tires. We are not sure if there will be any mechanical upgrades over the production model but Subaru also mentioned a performance muffler.

Similarly, the Levorg STI Performance concept will be based on the recently announced Levorg STI Sport R trim. It will feature cherry red accents on the additional aero components, a performance muffler, plus items “that will improve the usability” of the performance-oriented wagon. As for the BRZ STI Performance concept, it will add performance parts to the BRZ S grade painted in the same cherry red shade.

Lastly, the BRZ GT300 2021 racing car that won the class victory this year will be also exhibited at the Subaru booth, where the automaker will make announcements for the 2022 motorsport team. A lucky visitor of the Tokyo Auto Salon 2022 will drive away in a brand new WRX STI Sport R EX that will be this years’ questionnaire prize.

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Watch A Lotus Engineer Hoon The New Emira Around A Test Track

Posted on December 18, 2021 by admin

Set to roll into production in the third quarter of next year, Lotus’ latest sportscar, the Emira, is rapidly approaching. And the British automaker has decided to let us see what it will look like when it’s rapidly approaching, leaving, and sliding through corners in a new video.

The car was driven by Gavan Kershaw, the company’s director of attributes and product integrity, who explained just what the company was looking to achieve when it designed its latest model.

“With the 3.5-liter V6 configuration and the supercharger, you start an acceleration from as low as 1,500 rpm and the car just pulls and pulls and pulls, getting stronger and stronger as the revs increase,” said Kershaw. “This is what a real sports car feels like.”

Filmed at Lotus’ Hethel test track, the video sees the Emira tackling tight chicanes, long sweepers, and everything in between. As you’d expect, it’s well-equipped to take on any corner.

“When you turn the car, the car stays really flat to the road and it gives you a sensation that the CMG is very low,” Kershaw explained. “Makes the car very enjoyable to drive, very responsive, intuitive to drive.”

And with four drive modes, it’s as adaptable as you could ever hope for. In Tour mode, it gets maximum stability control, whereas, in Sport, the Emira sharpens throttle response and allows itself to step out of line a little more. In Race, the digital instrument layout changes to give you a performance rev counter and yet more slip angle is allowed.

Finally, Fully Off turns off all of the stability control systems to put the car completely in the driver’s hands. Even in this mode, and indeed in every other mode too, ABS stays on to ensure maximum braking capability no matter how much you want to hoon.

This model, an Emira V6 First Edition, features a mid-mounted 3.5-liter supercharged V6 that, in U.S.-spec, makes 400 hp (298 kW / 405 PS) and up to 317 lb-ft (430 Nm) of torque. A six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmission are both offered, with the latter allowing the car to hit 62 mph (100 km/h) from a standing start in just 4.2 seconds. Prices for the Emira are set to start at $93,900 when it comes Stateside.

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Hyundai Expects Flying Urban Taxis To Take Off Before 2030

Posted on December 10, 2021 by admin

Hyundai is very optimistic about the future of urban air mobility and has suggested the industry will really take off towards the end of the decade.

There are already a couple of flying cars already on the market but no major automaker has introduced one so far. Among the car manufacturers venturing into the market is Hyundai, although it is developing a vertical take-off and landing flying vehicle, rather than a flying car that can also be driven on the street.

The South Korean automaker first introduced its S-A1 flying vehicle concept co-developed with Uber back in early 2020. Work on the vehicle is progressing well and Hyundai plans to launch its first commercial flight in 2028.

“There’s some time before we can really get this off the ground,” the chief executive of Hyundai’s European operating, Michael Cole, told The Guardian. “We think that by the latter part of this decade certainly, urban air mobility will offer great opportunity to free up congestion in cities, to help with emissions, whether that’s intra-city mobility in the air or whether it’s even between cities.”

Hyundai is so serious about the future of flying mobility that in November, it formed a new company dubbed Supernal that serves as an evolution of its Urban Air Mobility Division and will be responsible for bringing the S-A1 concept to the market. The VTOL aircraft has been designed for cruising speeds of up to 180 mph (290 km/h) with a cruising altitude of 1,000-2,000 feet (300-600 meters) and will be powered exclusively by electricity.

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Mazda3 And CX-30 Get Mild Updates In Japan Including New Special Editions

Posted on October 28, 2021 by admin

After the Mazda CX-3 Super Edgy, the automaker announced a series of special trim levels of the Mazda3 and the CX-30 in Japan, alongside small updates on the e-SkyActiv X motor.

Those include tweaking the intake port and exhaust silencer of the gasoline engine to produce a richer sound for spicing up the driving experience during acceleration. Additionally, engineers have updated the gas pedal feel for a greater “sense of unity with the car”. As a refresher, the e-SkyActiv X is a mild-hybrid 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 183 hp (137 kW / 186 PS) and 240 Nm (177 lb-ft) of torque.

In terms of the new trim levels, the Smart Edition is available for models equipped with the e-Skyactiv X engine. It brings more comfort and safety equipment including an active driving display, smart brake support, high beam control system, lane keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring.

Meanwhile the Black Tone Edition, which is available for all powertrain variants of both models, is visually differentiated by the black 18-inch aluminum wheels, the gloss-black mirrors, and the red stitching inside the cabin.

The pictured Mazda CX-30 Black Tone Edition is fitted with optional aero components including the bumper and side-sill extensions.

Following the example of the more recent CX-30, all Mazda3 models get a new dimming turn signal which, according to Mazda, gives “a sense of life” in the car. Last but not least, the Platinum Quartz Metallic is a new color option for the Mazda3 and the CX-30, while the Polymetal Gray Metallic is added to the palette of the Mazda3 Sedan.

Orders for the mildly updated Mazda3 and CX-30 are open in Japan as of today, with vehicles arriving in dealerships in late November.

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Richard Hammond Drives His Jaguar XK150 For The First Time Since Restoring It

Posted on October 28, 2021 by admin

Richard Hammond is a very happy man. That’s because, for the first time since the body was taken off the frame, he can now drive his Jaguar XK150.

The car, part of a restoration that has been ongoing throughout the pandemic, was traded for a vintage Lagonda. Hammond reveals in his latest video, though, that when he got it, it was in a rotten state.

“It had been painted rather ugly dark red and underneath that dark red paint lurked, unbeknownst to me, a horror story,” explains Hammond. “It had had a hard, hard life. It had been crashed, bent, brutalized, and abused. And because, like a lot of these cars, it went through a phase of being worth two quid and a packet of crisps, it hadn’t been expensively repaired and restored. It had been bodged and lashed together.”

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Hammond and his team went through the process of painstakingly repairing it, which, since it’s an old Jaguar was hard. Millimetric precision wasn’t reality a priority for early postwar carmakers, not in the U.K., anyway. So, as Hammond puts it, there was as much building as restoration involved in this project.

With a completely rebuilt engine and hotter cam, a new diff, and better brakes the car drives brilliantly now, though. The only question is whether or not the decision to fit a slightly newer, but less precise transmission was a good idea.

To see him driving the car proudly really makes me wish I had a classic Jag of my own to toot around in, as well as some Amazon money kicking around to fund it and its restoration. Ah, to be a rich Brit.

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This Is How The 2023 Chevy Corvette Z06’s N/A V8 Delivers 670 HP

Posted on October 28, 2021 by admin

The 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 was unveiled earlier in the week and promises to be unlike any other ‘Vette before it, largely thanks to its engine.

We have known that the C8 Z06 would feature a 5.5-liter naturally-aspirated V8 ever since the Corvette C8.R race car was unveiled with this same basic engine in October 2019. Recent rumors suggested the engine would be tuned to around the 617 hp mark for the Z06, so you can imagine our surprise when the car was announced with no less than 670 hp and 460 lb-ft (623 Nm).

That horsepower figure makes this 5.5-liter flat-plane crank engine the most powerful naturally-aspirated V8 ever used by a production car. It also gives the new car a 20 hp advantage over the 6.2-liter supercharged V8 used by the C7 Z06. Just how was Chevy able to extract so much power from this smaller-capacity engine without relying on forced induction?

To show how this was achieved, Engineering Explained has released an intriguing video that details all of the technology packed into this engine.

A key reason why the engine is so powerful is that it revs to 8,600 rpm and achieves peak power at 8,400 rpm, 2,000 rpm higher than the C7’s 6.2-liter V8. The car’s high-revving nature has been achieved through the use of a flat-plane crankshaft and the use of a short stroke.

Chevrolet has also engineered the engine with double-overhead cams and four valves per cylinder. It also featured dual valve springs, solid lifts, titanium intake valves, and sodium-filled steel exhaust valves. A complex intake manifold has also been designed with dual throttle bodies, dual plenums, three center valves, and four trumpets on each side.

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Mary Barra Says GM Can Catch Tesla In EV Sales By 2025

Posted on October 28, 2021 by admin

General Motors chief executive Mary Barra says the car manufacturer can catch Tesla in U.S. sales of electric vehicles by 2025.

GM intends on launching no less than 30 electric vehicles by 2025 and while recently speaking during CNBC’s Squawk Box, Barra expressed confidence in her belief that the company will establish itself as the EV leader.

“I am very comfortable, because when people get into these vehicles, they are just wowed,” she said. “So we will be rolling them out and we’re going to just keep working until we have No. 1 market share in EVs.”

Tesla currently dominates the electric vehicle space in the United States. In fact, the automaker accounted for 79 percent of all EVs sold in the U.S. throughout 2020. However, research and forecasting company HIS Markit says Tesla’s U.S. share of EV sales will drop to 56 percent throughout 2021 and fall to approximately 20 percent in 2025.

Speaking with CNBC, LMC Automotive added that sales of EVs, including plug-in hybrids, will account for less than 4 percent of vehicle sales across the country this year. The research firm suggests that EVs will make up 34.2 percent of new U.S. vehicle sales by 2030, with 4.1 percent of those sales being for plug-in hybrids.

A key pillar in GM’s EV expansion goals is their plans to install up to 40,000 Level 2 EV chargers across the United States and Canada as part of a $750 million investment.

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Chrysler Dramatically Cuts Down 2022 Pacifica Hybrid Configurations, Increases Prices

Posted on October 26, 2021 by admin

Chrysler has introduced a host of changes to the Pacifica Hybrid for the 2022 model year while also announcing a new pricing structure.

The most significant change made to the hybrid minivan for 2022 is a dramatic reduction in the number of available configurations. According to Mopar Insiders, the number of possible combinations has been decreased from 3,550 to just 53, bringing the Pacifica more closely in line with the Honda Odyssey and its seven available combinations and the Kia Carnival with its 90 different configurations.

Elsewhere, Chrysler has made a new rear-seat reminder system standard equipment across all models. A Clean Air Filtration System that cleans 95 per cent of air particulates, while also separating out pollen, allergens, and bacteria, has also been introduced.

Customers can pick up the keys to a 2022 Pacifica Hybrid in one of three trim levels. The entry-level model is the Touring L and replaces the base Touring that was offered for 2021. It starts at $46,760 in the U.S., a $745 increase over last year, but does come standard with the Safety Sphere Group that adds ParkSense Front Park Assist with Stop, ParkSense Parallel/Perpendicular Park Assist, and a 360 Surround View Camera.

Found in the middle of the range is the Pacifica Hybrid Limited. It starts at $50,660, a $1,675 price hike over 2021, and now comes standard with the Premium and Safety Sphere Group which adds the aforementioned safety features of the Touring L and adds a 760-watt amplifier and 19 Harmon Kardon speakers. The tri-plane sunroof is no longer available and has been replaced by a dual-plane one.

Topping out the 2022 Pacifica Hybrid family is the Pinnacle. It lands with Amazon FireTV as standard but drops the standard wireless headphones that accompanied the Uconnect Theater system. The Pinnacle’s starting price has been increased by $450 to $54,940.

Note: 2021 Chrysler Pacifica pictured

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Slammed 2021 Cadillac Escalade Required Much More Than A Set Of Lowering Springs

Posted on October 23, 2021 by admin

It is quite a common sight to see modified Cadillac Escalades roaming the streets in the States. However, this is the first heavily-modified 2021 Escalade that we’ve come across.

The latest-generation Escalade is one of the most luxurious SUVs currently on the market with a price tag that can exceed $100,000 for a flagship model. Evidently, the Escalade’s value didn’t dissuade the owner of this example from equipping it with a host of modifications.

This example is owned by a guy named Jake McKiddie who was recently interviewed for the Ridiculous Rides series on the Barcroft Cars YouTube channel. It may simply look like a lowered Escalade but much more work has gone into it than fitting a set of lowering springs.

Images from the build show that the chassis was completely removed from the SUV and totally rebuilt. It has also been equipped with 30×9 front and 30×11-inch rear wheels and an air suspension system that means it can be dropped so low that both the front and rear bumpers actually hit the ground. A set of enlarged Wilwood brakes have also been installed to better complement the massive 30-inch wheels.

Significant changes had to be made to the SUV’s interior to make this all work. In fact, a large chunk of the trunk is now taken up by the pronounced wheel wells, dramatically reducing cargo space. However, from the second row forwards, the interior of this Escalade is relatively stock.

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Honda Takes 2022 Passport Stage Rallying To Prove Off-Road Bona Fides

Posted on October 18, 2021 by admin

Although crossovers and SUVs often sell themselves as rugged and off-roady, we often wonder how much more capable they really are than the cars they’re based on. Honda, though, decided to take a Passport rallying, and to prove the model’s mettle, they did it without improving the drivetrain or suspension.

Driven by Chris Sladek, a suspension test engineered who works at Honda’s Ohio North American Auto Development Center, and Gabriel Nieves, a chassis design engineer, they took the Passport into competition at the Lake Superior Performance Rally last weekend.

Although the Passport featured a few choice modifications, the SUV’s suspension remained stock while the engine and transmission received no performance modifications.

For the race, the Passport’s production 3.5-liter V6, its 9-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, and its all-wheel-drive system were all stock. The naturally aspirated engine makes 280 hp (283 PS/209 kW) and 262 lb-ft (355 Nm) of torque.

“The fact that we didn’t have to make any modifications to the 2022 Honda Passport’s drivetrain or suspension for such punishing terrain and competition speaks volumes to the capability and performance that comes standard in the Passport,” said Sladek.

That said, there were some improvements made with a view to longevity. The transmission got extra cooling help, while a custom-made 1/8-inch aluminum oil pan and differential skid plates helped protect them from the abuse of a rally stage. The brakes, meanwhile, were modified to feature Carbotech XP12 performance brake pads.

The interior was also stripped for competition and a roll cage, fire suppression system, a rally computer, and in-car communication system were added. The driver and co-driver, meanwhile, were kept in place with the help of OMP racing seats with six-point harnesses.

Traction was helped by 7.5×17-inch BRAID Winrace T rally wheels wrapped in Maxxis RAZR M/T or RAZR A/T tires (265/70-R17), depending on event conditions.

In the end, the Passport finished in 22nd out of 42, with a de-beaded tire on the first day holding them back. The team hopes for more in the coming season, though.

“We’re ready to go racing with the rugged 2022 Honda Passport,” said Honda engineer and co-driver Gabriel Nieves. “It’s going to be a great season.”

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Tag Archives: news

Subaru Previews Fully Electric STI E-RA And Three More STI Performance Concepts For Tokyo Auto Salon

PHOTO GALLERY

Watch A Lotus Engineer Hoon The New Emira Around A Test Track

Hyundai Expects Flying Urban Taxis To Take Off Before 2030

Mazda3 And CX-30 Get Mild Updates In Japan Including New Special Editions

PHOTO GALLERY

Richard Hammond Drives His Jaguar XK150 For The First Time Since Restoring It

This Is How The 2023 Chevy Corvette Z06’s N/A V8 Delivers 670 HP

Mary Barra Says GM Can Catch Tesla In EV Sales By 2025

Chrysler Dramatically Cuts Down 2022 Pacifica Hybrid Configurations, Increases Prices

Slammed 2021 Cadillac Escalade Required Much More Than A Set Of Lowering Springs

Honda Takes 2022 Passport Stage Rallying To Prove Off-Road Bona Fides

PHOTO GALLERY