Diesels

2016 Audi Q7 e-tron 10

2016 Audi Q7 e-tron 3.0 TDI quattro Trusts Locomotives and Submarines for New Diesel-Electric SUV Powertrain

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As any fan of locomotives or submarines will tell you, the combination of diesel engines and hybrid battery tech is a match made in heaven. Endless research has determined that diesel-electric is the most efficient and powerful combination for heavy machinery. Typically, in the car business, diesel-electric power has been shunned because the combination is too expensive. Diesels are around a $4000 price premium above a gas engine, while hybrid components can add at least $5000 to a car’s wholesale price to make. But in a class like the large SUV segment, innovation is affordable if it can achieve huge …

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2015 SEAT 20V20 Concept SUV 2

2015 SEAT 20V20 Concept SUV Is Large and Remarkably-Handsome Design Study

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   The New SEAT 20V20 concept is only the second SUV showcar to come out of VW’s Spanish off-shoot, but you wouldn’t know they are amateurs based on this car’s cool style and perfect size. Large by Euro standards, this new “twenty twenty” SUV brings the interior roominess of a BMW X3 but width of an X5 — while lower than both. The 20V20 is a very, very appealing design and would surely be a big seller for SEAT in crossover-mad markets like the UK. 2015 SEAT 20V20 SEAT PRESENTS THE 20V20 SHOWCAR 02/03/15 Prospect of an extremely dynamic, four-door …

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2015 Infiniti QX30 Concept Revealed For Geneva – Coming Next Year Priced From $35k

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Geneva 2015 is about to kick off in full swing — starting what is arguably the largest and most important auto show on Earth in terms of product reveals. The 2015 Infiniti QX30 is the first in a new range of compact, front and AWD premium models, built with shared engines and platforms with the Mercedes-Benz CLA and GLA-Class. This new QX30 Concept is a lightly-upgraded version of the production model expected as soon as this Fall at US Infiniti showrooms. What is real? We believe that all the bodywork and metal elements are the final production-specification. (Aside from adding …

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2015 Audi Prologue Avant Concept Shows 4-Door, Fast-Wagon Style Ahead of Geneva Show

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We have seen two iterations of the Prologue concept so far from Audi: both coupes with the scale and presence to compete between the BMW 6 series and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupes. With a design that harks back to the low and lean appearance of the Audi 5000 from the late 1980s, the Prologue design does feel much better as a deeply-sloping wagon silhouette. More naturally Audi, but still a bit blah for our tastes. It engenders little to no visual passion or excitement, despite being a clean and pure design. This latest Prologue Avant dramatically decorates the exterior details …

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2016 Range Rover EVOQUE Refreshed With Full-LED Lighting, New Cabin and All-New Infotainment

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Remember how much excitement the Evoque generated just a few short years ago!? Looking like a production Range Stormer Concept, but sized at the affordable side of the Land Rover catalog — the Evoque really packed a wallop in the cool-SUV poker game. But reality is a harsh mistress. The Evoque took almost two years to finally arrive in the USA, by which time most of the excitement had worn off. Still cool, make no mistake. But not gotta-have-it cool. And then you sit inside. It is respectable in the front, but woefully tiny in the rear seat. The low …

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2016 Skoda Superb 6 copy

2016 Skoda Superb Revealed in Prague With Audi A8-Rivaling Roominess and Superior Design?!

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Skoda is very proud of the Superb, their flagship of the line and packing a gigantic back seat that is in the same league as the standard-wheelbase A8 limousine. How and why is this possible in a car that is priced under the VW Passat? How comes down to the mass-market MQB chassis componentry and lack of an aluminum-spaceframe chassis or alloy bodywork. Front-drive is the name of the game, but this is also a side benefit. The trunk is bigger than any Audi sedan. Why? That is a bit more complicated. Think of the Superb as the Phaeton of …

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tucson_01

2016 Hyundai Tucson Breaks Cover Ahead of Geneva Show Packing New DCT

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Warning: this is not a concept. This fresh and big-SUV design is in fact the real Euro-spec Hyundai Tucson! This seriously stylish upgrade of the compact Tucson crossover also includes new engines and a brand-new seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission on some trim levels. You can really see the Hyundai first-mover advantage coming into play: as this Hyundai crossover looks far more grown-up than the new Chevy Trax or Honda HR-V, but is likely to be priced at similar sub-$20,000 base prices when it arrives stateside this Fall. 2016 Hyundai Tucson   The all-new Tucson All-New Tucson represents significant step forward …

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2016 Toyota Avensis Sedan and Estate Coming to Geneva; Showing New Prius Nose?

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  Toyota’s latest Avensis is coming to the Geneva auto show next month, with a nose that wears a striking new split-arrow LED emerging from the slim upper grille. This nose is the product of the ED2 design studio in France, and may influence the upcoming 2016 Toyota Prius sold globally.   2016 Toyota Avensis Sedan and Estate Posted on 15 February 2015 TOYOTA TO REVEAL NEW AVENSIS AT THE GENEVA MOTOR SHOW Toyota will reveal the new Avensis at the Geneva motor show (3 – 15 March), the latest development of its contender in the European mid-size (D-segment) car …

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2016 Citroen DS5 3a

2016 Citroen DS5 Is Fresh With Upscale Cabin and Ultra-Modern LED Lighting

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The 2016 Citroen DS5 is here and very cool!  Packing a cosmopolitan luxury-wagon style, a premium and laid-back cabin layout — the latest DS model really proves the transformation from basic Citroens up to the premium and swanky DS lineup. 2016 Citroen DS5   NEW DS 5: THE SYMBOL OF THE DS BRAND The New DS 5 is a vehicle of avant-garde styling, allying dynamic behaviour, refinement and attention to detail with a selection of advanced technologies. It embodies all the attributes of present and future DS vehicles. The DS flagship model introduces the brand identity and gains the new …

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DAF Trucks – Powerful, Efficient and Extra Affordable When Pre-Owned

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  Part 1 of TruckMaster Article Series Powered by TruckLocator.co.uk   DAF Trucks – Dutch Innovation Since 1928 DAF was founded in 1928 by Hubert van Doorne and A.H. Huenges, a local business owner. Huenges’ had used the services of van Doorne on several occasions to fix his car. He was so impressed with his engineering skills he put forward an offer of investment, creating a business which the two of them would run together. From this start-up business grew the Van Doorne’s Aanhangwagen Fabriek or Van Doorne’s Trailer Factor, more simply known as DAF. By 1936 Huenges had parted …

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2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen 14

2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen Replaces Dog-Shit Jetta Wagon With $2k Price Drop

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The new Golf SportWagen replaces the hideous Jetta SportWagen with better tech, performance, style and – gasp – even pricing. The TSi is $700 cheaper, while the TDI is a cool $2,000 less than before. Good. These are like-for-like comparisons, however. The nasty current Jetta SportWagen is listed at $21k on VWusa.com, leading to some head scratching overall. No word in the below release on when the new Golf SportWagen’s will become available in the US. Probably before 2018, presumably.   2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen VOLKSWAGEN ANNOUNCES PRICING OF 2015 GOLF SPORTWAGEN Feb 11, 2015 Pricing starts at $21,395 for …

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INFINITI QX70 Larte LR3 Widebody from AHG-Sports

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Larte Design is making some waves in tuner-loving Germany! The wildest of the three upgrade kits, dubbed LR3, is fitted here to the QX70 by AHG-Sports, who also completes a comprehensive dechroming and black-on-black styling overhaul. The results speak for themselves! INFINITI QX70 Larte LR3 Widebody from AHG-Sports INFINITI QX70 LR3-WIDE BODY from AHG-SPORTS Since five years AHG-Sports has been extremely positively talked about as in-house tuning department of the car dealer Günther, which is represented four times in Hamburg especially with cars of the precious Nissan-offshoot Infiniti. And cooperation agreement recently reached with LARTE Design resulted in additional opportunities …

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2015 Infiniti QX30 Concept 2

2015 Infiniti QX30 Concept Headed for Geneva

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  The newest Infiniti is almost here! The QX30 Concept’s first teaser image is official, and is almost a dead ringer for the Q30 concept seen at Frankfurt 2013. From the back at least, the new QX30 does appeal to be significantly more SUV-ish than the low-riding Q30. This would imply there might be road and trail versions of the model in the cars. This version is also nearly production-ready (tires aside…) and should arrive in global Infiniti showrooms by December, we predict. The premium compact crossover is likely to be an influential design template, later rolling upmarket with a …

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2016 Renault Kadjar 8

2016 Renault Kadjar Is New Mid-Size Crossover With High Style and Available AWD

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 This is the all-new Renault Kadjar! Revealed ahead of its public launch in Geneva next month, the Kadjar is the freshest entry into Renault’s rapidly-growing crossover arsenal. After owning family car transport for the last decade or more with the Espace and Picasso minivans, Renault is changing with the times. Ultra-functional vans are no longer the must-have family accessory. The new must-have for carpools and primary-school dropoffs? Mid-size crossovers. This new Kadjar takes aim squarely at the Honda CR-V and a three dozen other alternatives. The Kadjar promises to be more luxurious and stylish than the Nissan Qashqai, which comes …

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2016 Land Rover Discover Sport HSE 11

2016 Land Rover Discover Sport HSE – Full Design Analysis + Letter Grade Scores

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INTRO: ICELAND IN JANUARY The new Land Rover Discovery Sport just enjoyed its big coming-out party over the weekend in Iceland, with many auto writers enjoying a 1000-mile adventure trying out the new baby Landie across heaps and dales and ice bales. But from our impression back at home, the vast majority of the travel time was not by car, but by plane. Iceland is farrrrr from everywhere in the United States. Far. (Sidebar, would we have gone if invited? YES!) And a general rule of thumb? The more exotic the launch location of a hum-drum car, the worse the …

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Mecum Florida 2015 Favorites - 1987 Volkswagen SYNCHRO 4x4 TurboDiesel Westfalia 11

Mecum Florida 2015 Favorites – 1987 Volkswagen SYNCHRO 4×4 TurboDiesel Westfalia

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A VW Vanagon with, get this: – factory Synchro 4×4 – Westfalia full camper van setup inside – turbodiesel engine from the factory with five-speed manual – and 45k original miles Those four, folks, are a very rare combination in the US market. Any suriviving VW Vanagon — or bus, for stoners — is relatively special these days. But a 4×4 with these cool off-road upgrades like the steel bumpers, rally lights, custom nose detailing and four-pack of round headlamps, plus tinted brake lights!? Very, very cool. For me, the only thing that would make this VW cooler would be …

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Concept Flashback – 2012 MINI Rocketman 1 and 2

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  The 2011 and 2012 MINI Rocketman concepts took a look at an even more micro MINI city car. As the new model Hardtop three-door grows far larger and wider than ever, there is a strong desire to return to the car’s barely-there dimensions. This is in sharp contrast to the overall MINI range, which has blown outward in all directions to a total of nine models at this point. Even MINI feels this has gotten out-of-control, with the Paceman (2-door offroader) and Coupe set for the chopping block in the near future. The problem with an even smaller MINI …

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2015 BMW 1-Series 30

4.5s, 326HP 2015 BMW M135i xDrive Gives Supercar Thrills for VW Golf Bills

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The new BMW 1-Series just came out, and it is a really cool evolution of the rear-drive compact hatch. The premise is the same as before: sports-car thrills, VW Golf bills. The new model range is a three-door and five-door hatch to start, with a future four-door sedan headed to the US market. We are unlikely to see either of the hatchback styles, but the five-door might theoretically be in the cards for the US market as well. Engines start with the 116d, and extend up to the 118, 120, 125 and finally the 135i at the top of the …

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xc90r

2016 Volvo XC90 R-Design Is Damn Sexy Swede

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When the Volvo XC90 debuted earlier this year in Stockholm, we were floored by its super luxurious cabin and extremely smart PHEV powertrains that actually deliver huge horsepower — and mileage. The 400-horsepower T8 is far ahead of any other seven-seat hybrid SUV, and is the world’s first plug-in seven-seater. But to be honest, the style of the normal two XC90’s — one body-colored and one with off-road pieces unpainted — seemed extremely frumpy and dull. The XC90 R-Design helped a great deal in those stakes, but it is always hard to get a sense of a car from renderings, …

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2015 Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE

Update2 – 360HP Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE Is Sporty PHEV Crossover Concept

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The Volkswagen Cross Coupe GTE has arrived today with sporty looks and a five-passenger cabin that is about the size of the BMW X6 inside and out. The concept runs a 3.6-liter V6 plus a large hybrid power unit with EV-driving ability. Its style is an important preview of the production CrossBlue, a Passat-based seven-seater set for assembly in Tennessee beside its sedan cousin. We are likely to see this style replicated near-exactly on the large CrossBlue, but in a larger and blockier roofline layout. This design is production-ready in almost all ways, with the actual Cross Coupe a possibility …

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q7 tech

2016 Audi Q7 Shows New MMI Touch, Audi Connect and MIB Tablet Interfaces by Nvidia

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The new Audi Q7 will debut not just a much lighter chassis and all-new styling outside, but a cabin that is fresh from the carpet upward and absolutely packed with tech goodies. Where to start? The latest Virtual Cockpit design uses a 12.3-inch TFT panel in the main guage cluster, able to show 3D instruments, full Google-Earth navigation and maps, and a dozen other custom displays as needed. These are operated by voice, redundant knobs and buttons on the wheel and dash, or by the new MMI Touch control panel with multi-touch capabilities (ahead of the shifter). On the road, …

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glk sema

Concept Flashbacks – 2010 SEMA Mercedes-Benz GLK Tuner Cars

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Shocked and appalled by hideous custom Mercedes-Benzes prowling the world’s roads? Wish there were an upgrade kit that fits the refined aesthetic of the Merc brand? If only Mercedes would commission a few tuner custom show cars of its own, it would have control and be able to yay/nay any questionable elements. For the US launch of the GLK in 2010, MB-USA did just that: four custom GLK’s for the SEMA show in Vegas. Unfortunately for those who do not like loud, brash designs…. what resulted are four of the wildest, silliest concept GLK’s ever seen. Removing the constraint of …

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ez miev

Concept Flashback – 2006 Mitsubishi EZ MiEV

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  If the Concept D5 Mitsubishi van represents a hard and blocky view of the future, this EZ MiEV is a much softer look into next-gen van style and tech.With its ultra-rounded and white pearlescent exterior features, the resemblence of this concept to the iPod from Apple is intentional. But things in this bubble van are just getting started with the exterior design and wrap-around glass. With a flat-battery platform an in-wheel electric motors, the EZ MiEV takes cabin versatility to a whole new level. The seats fold to form a full eight-foot bed with room for two adults. The …

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mitsubishi concept d5

Concept to Reality – 2006 Mitsubishi D5 to 5th-Gen Delica

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When we think of cars from the future, the aesthetic is generally minimalist and slightly brutal with its form language. This can be typical normal shapes like hatchbacks and pickups and mid-size sedans — but all designed with a lean and crisp look that eschews frivolous bulging and chrome in favor of minimalism. Will this be what cars in the future actually look like? Probably not. Just like we do not dress in spandex StarTrek outfits or one-piece tracksuits in 2015. But those are still the most popular uniform for most hyper-futuristic hollywood movie. Cars that would fit in that …

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tt concepts

Best of Awards – 2014 Audi TT Offroad and TT Sportback Concepts

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After really hating the Audi Prologue, we are eager to balance those sharp opinions on Audi design. The expanded TT range via two concepts this year shows huge promise and great potential. A TT sedan! So simple an idea, and one that would be a sharp competitor for the BMW 1 Series sedan in 2016 and the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class. The TT Offroad shows the same potential. Both have an approachable and modern-but-fun design, great proportions, and a style that will pull sales. 2014 Audi TT Sportback Concept 2014 Audi TT Offroad Concept      

c111

1969 Mercedes-Benz C111 and 1970 C111-II: Wankel vs V8 Proved Piston-Engine Dominance

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Updated 12.15.14 Including the first two C111 prototype designs here: the C111 proper from 1969 with a Wankel engine, and a C111-II running a 3.5-liter V8. The way to tell them apart is that the V8-powered C111-II has open spaces in the rear flying pillars, while the C111-I has louvered and solid-looking pillars.   1969 Mercedes-Benz C111 and 1970 C111-II     PREVIOUS The Mercedes-Benz C111 was a sports-car vision revealed in the late 1960s with a slant-nosed, mid-engine design far removed from any Mercedes passenger vehicle. It was part of the continuing quest to broaden the Mercedes brand into …

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q7

2016 Audi Q7: Dramatic Quattro-Style Redesign is 700-Pounds Lighter!

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Here is a welcome new crossover! The long-anticipated 2016 Audi Q7 is here and official. The revamp is far more thorough than the Porsche Cayenne and VW Touareg, with Audi using a new mixed-material body and numerous other lightweighting tech to drop its weight ratings dramatically. At 4,400-pounds, the 2016 Q7 is still no ballerina, but is now the lightest in its class, per Audi. It is certainly much more svelte than the 5,000-pounds-plus of the latest Escalade and others. These benefits have a multiplicative impact on performance, handling feel and efficiency for all engines and driving scenarios. We are …

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908rc

Concept Flashback – 2006 Peugeot 908 RC Was Rear-Engine V12 Diesel Limo

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Peugeot is one of the most prolific OEMs when it comes to fantastic halo concepts. These very rarely are the lightly dressed-up versions of future production cars that other manufacturers trot out these days. They are pure and simple fantasy looks into the future. Often, though, these concepts are a fun and lavish way to preview actual design themes and styles that will make it to the brand’s mini hatchbacks in the coming years. And so it was with this 908 RC. Running the powertrain of the 908 HDi FAP Le Mans car, the 908 RC shows some slinky style …

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i30 turbo

2015 Hyundai i30 Turbo Joins New i30 Five-Door and Tourer in Europe

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Big launch day for Hyundai Europe! The new i20 Coupe, i30 and i30 Turbo, and a fresh i40 are all official. The style has a cohesive family look with a classy single-frame grille and very chic LED lighting for even these low-price eco hatches. The i30 Turbo has a subtle sportification to its grille that blacks out a new grille insert, adds color-accented splitter pieces and dresses the cabin in some stylish red accents as well. The Turbo makes 186-horsepower and delivers an 8.0-second sprint to 62-mph. 2015 Hyundai i30 Turbo HYUNDAI MOTOR REVEALS NEW i30 TURBO AMONG ENHANCED NEW …

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650i 2015

2015 BMW 6 Series Revised With New Grille, LED Headlights and Dual-Mode Exhaust

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The 2015 BMW 6 Series Coupe, GranCoupe and Convertible are freshened for the 2015 model year, with a new look for the nose, upgraded trims and cabin tech, and a few tweaks to the performance setup. Arriving from around February to showrooms, the new 640i, 650i and M6 have a few meaningful design tweaks that go a long way. The most noticeable element is admittedly pretty subtle, but is a new, larger and sharper twin kidney grille. This new look fixes some of the awkwardness of the previous car’s grille and hood intersection, where there was some uncomfortable overlap between …

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GLE450 AMG

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class Coupe Revealed! Production Form Ahead of Fall 2015 USA Deliveries

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Here is a twin-turbocharged burst of huge news for this Tuesday! The new Mercedes GLE-Class is official: the red model is the GLE450 AMG 4Matic and is set for its public unveiling at Detroit in just a month’s time. The GLE-Class will slide in beside the ML-Class replacing-GLE as a sportier X6 rival. The GLE-Class proper then is likely to be more practical and family-friendly, with a taller roofline and a third row of seats for the first time. This GLE-Class Coupe is therefore targeted at the coolest and most-stylish clients in the luxury SUV business. This GLE450 AMG is …

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1977 Mercedes-Benz C111-III Diesel 14

201MPH 1977 Mercedes-Benz C111-III Diesel World Speed Record Car

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The Mercedes-Benz C111 was a sports-car vision revealed in the late 1960s with a slant-nosed, mid-engine design far removed from any Mercedes passenger vehicle. It was part of the continuing quest to broaden the Mercedes brand into new segments, in this case the supercar market. We will cover the orange-colored C111 and C111-2 models in a later article. This post is dedicated to the much-later iteration on the theme from 1977 and 1978. The original C111’s Wankel engine was shelved indefinitely by the early 1970s, and production of the car was a non-starter due to dramatic Wankel failures in Audi …

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hoggar

Concept Flashback – 2003 Peugeot Hoggar Was Twin-Engine 4×4 a la 2015 DKR Racer

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Here is a fun look at a dune buggy from Peugeot more than a decade ago. The brand had long ditched its  off-road-race pedigree through the 1990s, and with it any available 4×4 powertrains. The only way they could make this little cabrio a true 4×4 involved some very unique engineering. In what is a strange and exponentially more complex arrangement than a prop shaft, the Hoggar has twin four-cylinder turbodiesel engines. Both mounted transversely – with one on each end. Think of it like the noses of two Peugeot hatchback’s joined by a chromoly chassis in between. It is …

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f700

Concept Flashback – 2008 Mercedes-Benz F700 Was Aggressively Ugly Eco-Limo

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After scathing critiques of Audi’s Prologue concept for LA 2014 and a few other recent machines, we want to balance things out. An equal-opportunity offender here! But the Prologue is just a major disappointment. It is not something that makes you want to gouge your eyes out with a red-hot iron spike. When thinking of other truly fug-nasty concept cars, the F700 leaps to mind instantly. What were they thinking? The low-nose and cab-forward style as a future S-Class-plus limo is hard enough to swallow, but then we have gobsmacking bug-eye lamps, a deeply plunging windowline into the front doors, …

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acs m4

AC Schnitzer Reveals 510HP 2015 BMW M4 F82 At Essen Motor Show

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  Great to see a power upgrade reflash for the BMW M4 from AC Schnitzer – with a jump up to 510-horsepower feeling like it was aching to break free from the factory M4 from day one. The second excellent upgrade from AC Schnitzer to the powertrain? A variety of sport exhausts to make the M4’s turbocharged six really howl at the moon like a 24-hour Nurburgring racecar. The rear wing is a love-or-hate type of thing, but closely matches the production 2016 M4 GTS aero kit BMW is likely to apply to the rumored track version of this hot …

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brabus c-class sport

2015 BRABUS C300 and C400 Sport are Stage 2 Aero, Wheels and ECU Reflash Kits

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  New products from Brabus for the 2015 C-Class today: wheels and aerodynamic addtions for the ‘Sport’ trims of the new C-Class. For the US market, this is the C300 Sport and C400 Sport. The Sport style option replaced the previous AM Sport and comes from the factory with different bumper and grille detailing versus the standard car. Great to see Brabus making special products to be exact-fits to whichever Mercedes you own. This set of upgrades is extremely subtle – replacing the black chrome lower splitter in the front bumper with a grey carbon-fiber element, changing the grille bars …

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unimog upfits

2015 Unimog U218 and U423 Upfit Showcase: 4 Seasons Hero in 30+ Configurations!

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When investing in a hard-core heavy truck like the new Unimog U218 and U423, you might have one or two general usage scenarios in mind. But once you realize how unstoppable and customizable the Unimog platform is, what was once a snow-plow or fire rescue truck is suddenly an all-purpose hero. Pull a freight train?  Check. Agriculture tractor-replacement? Dumptruck? Extreme landscaper? Check, check, check. Here is the incredible Unimog in 150 photos showing some of its most popular upfitted uses. A handful of the photos are the previous-gen trucks  – which can be told apart based on the grille. The …

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transit diesel gif

HD First Drive Review – 2015 Ford Transit PowerStroke Diesel

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  In the broad and deep Ford Transit line for 2015, there are more than 50 variations in cab setup, overall length, wheelbase, roof height, engine and rear axle setup. The dually rear-end in LWB, high-roof cargo configuration is surely one of the hardest-working in the bunch. This extends to its payload and tow ratings as well as its overall cost-of-ownership. For cargo and passenger Transits that will cover huge miles with a full pack of cargo in back or on tow, the PowerStroke diesel is a welcome option to consider. This cutting-edge 3.2-liter inline-5 diesel is one of the …

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2015 Ford Transit Upfits Bring 30+ Factory-Adjacent Suppliers For Streamlined Procurement

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One of the most impactful changes in the 2015 Transit vs Econoline is that a huge variety of custom cargo upfits can now be ordered right at a local Ford dealer or through any fleet manager. This means the trucks arrive ready-to-work with exactly the right set of interior cargo solutions, exterior racks or even full chassis conversions. We saw a great selection of the Transit Upfits available on Ford’s recent roadshow — and were very, very impressed. Ford’s suppliers all now have factories within 20-miles or so of the giant Transit hub in Kansas City. This means the trucks …

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2016 Mazda2 Sedan Revealed in Thailand + Gorgeous White MX-5

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Mazda is killing it lately — in a good way! It is hard not to feel a bit of pride in their achievements, even as an outsider. The brand is a loveable underdog. The new CX-3 is amazing, while the exceptionally-competent Mazda6 and CX-5 are also updated for 2016 with cooler LED style details, tech updates and on-trend dark wheels. Just when you thought Thanksgiving could not possibly have any more to offer from Mazda, here comes the dapper new Mazda2 in four-door sedan form. This car was revealed in Thailand where it will be sold from early 2015 onward. …

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zr2 colorado gif2

Update1 – 2015 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 Concept Runs 2.8L DuraMax Diesel

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  The new Chevrolet Colorado mid-size trucks seem just about pitch-perfect for many reluctant truck buyers. People who want to park easily both in the city and in their garages adore the Colorado’s right-sized approach and also love its Z71 off-road trim levels for added butchness and off-road-ability. The 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine has been confirmed by GMC and Chevrolet as coming to the Canyon and Colorado in a few months — so this ZR2 concept is a blend of real and fantasy. The ZR2 concept truck brings a cool and futuristic front end, revised styling all around the lower sills …

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colorado z71 gif

Update1 – 2015 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 First Drive + Colors Guide

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Updated 11.19.14 With 12 New Photos   Enjoyed a chance to meet the 2015 Colorado Z71 this week, and it is really handsome and macho in real life. Initially, the GMC Canyon seemed like the better-looking of the two, but side by side, the Chevy was my clear preference. A lack of LED lighting in the nose of the Colorado is the only demerit that comes to mind. Otherwise, the wide style and fender flares are rough and ready to get muddy. To be fair, the Colorado Z71 and Canyon All Terrain we compared are the most loaded versions of …

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cx3 gif

2016 Mazda CX-3 – Gorgeous World Debut in 90 Photos + Specs and USA Arrival Details

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The all-new Mazda CX-3 is easily one of the best-looking small crossovers on the planet. And it is not a concept. This is the real-deal CX-3 coming to take on the Honda HR-V, Fiat 500X and Jeep Renegade. Where the CX-3 is unique versus the three min-trucks above? It is one that men and women alike would love to own for its sporty style, amazingly wide and low stance, and cutting-edge LED lighting. The above vehicles are fairly emasculating and hard to imagine loving as a testosterone-making gentleman. What the CX-3 represents is another amazing vehicle from Mazda — after …

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500x lounge gif

2016 Fiat 500X Lounge Is Right-Sized City Softroader with 4 Doors!

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Updated 11.17.14 The 500X Cross looks just about *perfect* to answer to wishes of all Fiat dealerships across the US — compact, city-friendly but now a four-door and arguably a bit more handsome than even the original 500. Included below is a mega photo pack of the 500X Cross — which is the off-road guise with chunkier bumpers and gravel-proof plastic sills. Also below are the wheels and trim personalization options, interior photos and UK pricing. No word yet on US pricing or arrival time-frames, but we’d predict around a June 2015 arrival to the US as a 2016 model. …

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500x cross

2016 Fiat 500X Cross AWD Trim Looking Svelt and Handsome in 75 New Photos

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Updated 11.17.14 The 500X Cross looks just about *perfect* to answer to wishes of all Fiat dealerships across the US — compact, city-friendly but now a four-door and arguably a bit more handsome than even the original 500. Included below is a mega photo pack of the 500X Cross — which is the off-road guise with chunkier bumpers and gravel-proof plastic sills. Also below are the wheels and trim personalization options, interior photos and UK pricing. No word yet on US pricing or arrival time-frames, but we’d predict around a June 2015 arrival to the US as a 2016 model. …

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duster oroch gif

2014 Renault-Dacia DUSTER OROCH Shows 4WD Pickup-Truck Potential For Value Brand

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  Dacia’s line-up of cheap but sturdy models is expanding rapidly. Sure, you know the Logan sedan and the Duster SUV — but there lineup is much deeper than just two cars. The variations on these models mean Dacia now offers its unique brand of low-cost and hardy mechanicals in no less than ten passenger-car models and three light commercial vehicles. Dacia (pronounced “Da-Cha”) models are sold in select markets as Renaults — hence the badges on this car for Sao Paolo. Dacia Logan Pickup The Duster Oroch is a logical extension of the Duster platform — with a short-box …

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Updated With 70 New Photos – 2016 Audi A6 USA Debut in LA

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The Audi A6 and A7 are fresh this Spring with enhanced trims, newly-available engines and upgraded LED lighting all around. Here is a first-look at the USA trim levels, plus the previously-announced European models in a few extra images toward the bottom. The changes to the A7 are not too drastic outside of those sexy new headlamps — with more power for the supercharged V6 engine and a new turbo four-cylinder to lower the cost of entry. Despite the Avant and A6 Allroad shown below, those variants will not be coming stateside for 2016.   PREVIOUS The Audi A6 is …

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2016 Mercedes-Benz Metris Mid-Size Commercial Vans Coming to USA In Fall 2015

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 Mercedes arrived in Vegas with a surprising four-pack of minivans this year — confusing spectators and commentators alike! Though the vans they brought are all customized in various flavors, they clearly share much with the new V-Class sold in Europe and elsewhere. Our USA-bound versions will be called the Metris and are not the luxury V-Class – Mercedes clarifies — despite the new Metris being offered in passenger and cargo versions. What does this mean? When is a V-Class not a V-Class? It comes down to distribution channels and luxury content. The Metris will be sold alongside Spinter vans in …

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Concept Flashback – 2005 Volvo 3CC Was Ultra-Efficient PHEV That Influenced Volt and VW XL1

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A few things come to mind when reviewing the Volvo 3CC concept nearly a decade after its debut in Detroit in 2005 — but the resemblence of the design to the current VW XL1 is the most striking. How similar are these two! Especially in the extreme taper of the rear glasshouse – they could be kissing cousins. Of course, there are huge differences in the VW that materialized five years later: the VW is not a PHEV like the Volvo, nor is it nearly as wide or as practical as a city car. The Volvo shares much of the …

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Novitec Tridente Maserati GHIBLI Launches With Gorgeous Performance and Style Upgrades

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  Maserati’s latest sedans suffer from what we call the “Cadillac Problem.” Good design, competitive performance, great equipment and true BMW-battling credentials in almost every way. But one huge deficit is present in the Cadillac and Maserati ranges: coolness. The factory cars wear nerdy wheels, nerdy colors and overall seem tailored to a geriatric customer base. Tan with small multi-spoke alloys? Almost all CTS sedans like this sit on the lot for months, and the same goes for the base Ghibli and Quattroporte. They are just old lady cars — and that is never something to aspire to own. They …

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Mercedes-Benz G-Code Concept Is China-Penned GLB Design Study

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  At the opening of its new Beijing R&D Center today, Mercedes revealed a very tasty new concept car to the world: the G-Code SUV concept. G-Code? Mercedes calls this hot new concept an SUC — which seems like an acronym too far! Let’s just say it is a very sporty crossover coupe. A Super-Sport Utility Vehicle? Regardless, the themes shown here are very interesting and fresh versus previous Mercedes SUV ideas and concepts. The flowing and ultra-sensual forms of the body are an extreme interpretation of Mercedes’ latest California-originating design themes — with the sheetmetal appearing like a taught …

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AC Schnitzer Upgrades Gallery for BMW 3 series F30

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  The BMW 3 series and 5 series are really the core competency of AC Schnitzer. These upgrades center on six key areas: – body styling – wheels – springs – engine mods – exhaust mods – interior decor The monoblock five-spoke wheels are particularly cool. These in a dark finish easily make anything from the 320i to 328i and 335i have the menacing stance of an M car — for far less money. All these pieces can be ordered individually from around the world via the AC Schnitzer website. http://www.ac-schnitzer.de/en/   AC Schnitzer BMW 3 series F30 http://www.ac-schnitzer.de/en/  

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AC Schnitzer Range Rover Sport S Is Seductive Style and Performance Makeover

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Have performance parts, will travel long distances at high speeds! The AC Schnitzer upgrade program for the Range Rover Sport is a dapper and subtle way to make the factory truck far more intense looking, sounding and feeling around corners. The various exhaust options let you pick the style that is just right for your RRSS. The key holder inside a cupholder insert of this and other AC Schnitzers is handy, but would be cooler there was somewhere on on the gearknob to mount the key. AC Schnitzer Range Rover Sport S

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AC Schnitzer BMW X5 Upgrades Are Gorgeous and Functional!

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Two things come to mind with the new X5 from BMW: the lack of an X5 M (so far…) and an overall bumper treatment that can be very busy and awkward. Where is the clean M-car styling we love so much? AC Schnitzer’s latest upgrades catalog addresses this nicely – with huge wheels, lowering springs and a tasteful bodykit to wrap the front and rear in high-speed style. The exhaust and ECU changes also free up about 50-horsepower for all of the engines, as well as sounding absolutely outstanding!  AC Schnitzer BMW X5 – Exhaust Notes Check out the parts …

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2014 Fiat FCC4 Concept For Sao Paolo Is Samba Rambo SUV Pickup!

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Lambo Rambo… in Portuguese… is Samba Rambo? This amazing concept from Fiat is called the FCC4 and looks to be about the size of the Jeep Cherokee, but wearing giant rock-crawling rubber and a bad-ass pickup-truck bodystyle. Fresh ideas and designs abound, including the floating C-pillar and wrap-around brightwork of the glasshouse. Inside the roof and bed structure, we see some of the organic bracing seen from Bertone lately — all good stuff. Looks fantastic, and opens new doors to what the Fiat brand can be in the large Brazilian market. Fiat FCC4 Concept    

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2014 Nissan Kicks Concept Is New Sao Paolo Off-Road Crossover

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  In the ‘cars we want from other markets’ category, here is the latest Nissan crossover – the KICKS for Sao Paolo’s auto show this week and next. As far as what the KICKS concept may preview, we would not bet on anything directly coming to the US market in this off-road-able mid-size crossover segment, where the Kicks appears to share much of its mechanical footprint with the Rogue. But the style and design themes shown here are a strong hint at the next-gen Patrol and xTerra SUVs for the global market. 2014 Nissan Kicks Concept Nissan debuts Kicks Concept …

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Best of Paris 2014 – Citroen Divine DS Concept

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Updated 10.23.14       The DS premium brand spin-off is a HUGE, huge success — sales and margins on the line are better than even Citroen could have imagined five years ago. This gorgeous concept hatchback is relatively practical by French concept standards — it runs a standard THP 1.6-liter turbo engine (with a non-standard 270-horsepower) and a compact four-door hatchback shell. Most logically, this machine would slot in above the DS3 and below the DS5. So will the DS4 be this gorgeous as a production car? Fingers crossed that the nose makes it intact, as well as the …

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TECHART MACAN Stage Two Revealed! Aerokit, Exhaust Flaps, +50HP and Suspension Reflash Join The Fun

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When one of these press photos instantly becomes my Twitter profile’s headline graphic, you know TechArt is doing something right! The latest upgrades for the super-hot 2015 Porsche Macan hit exactly the right notes. In what we are calling Stage Two versus the previous wheel options from TechArt, the team has revealed a subtle but effective aero kit. Up front, a deeper nose-plate in contrast grey helps ground the Macan’s somewhat awkward grille design, and this ground effects kit wraps the sills and rear diffuser as well. We enjoy all these upgrades and accents in Acid Green, as this is …

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400HP, 4.1s 2015 BRABUS Mercedes-Benz GLA Hunkers Low on 21s + Aero Kit

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  The strangest part of the GLA-Class and other small crossovers lately is how low they actually are. Is it an SUV? The OEM plastic shields on the fenders say yes, but the mind is not so sure. It has taken 20 years then for the world to catch up to the classic Subaru Legacy —> Outback conversion. Taller springs, chunkier rubber and an Eddie Bauer package outside is all you need to sell thousands of cars a year! Just kidding. (JK BFR = just kidding, but for real.) How to stay ahead of trends and planted in corners with …

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2015 Maserati Ghibli S Q4 ZEGNA EDITION In Exclusive Blue with Silk-Lined Cabin

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Talk about a meeting of the unpronounce-ables! The new Ghibli (ghee-blee) Zegna (Xen-yaa) Edition is the second partnership between Maserati and the famed Italian fashion house. Outside, the Ghibli Zegna wears exclusive shades for its rich light-blue paint and liquid-silver wheels, but the real action is inside. The leather-edged seats and dash and doors now have a silk seating area with hand-woven chevron patterns.Even the headliner is now wrapped in gorgeous and touchable Zegna fabrics. The Ghibli Zegna’s swanky cabin promises to be as soft as the exact yarns in Zegna’s suits and sweaters — of which a certain Fiat …

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2015 Mercedes-Benz G-Class Edition 35 Celebrates Otto’s 500K Mile World Tour

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  One of the best parts of any trip is the momentous return home. A place you never knew you missed until seeing and feeling all those familiar sights through a dusty windshield up ahead. In the case of ‘Otto’ the 300GD Mercedes-Benz, the journey has been 26 years, 216 countries and 900,000 kilometers in the making. The photos of Gunther and Christine Holtorf’s long, long journey home to Swabia from Germany are absolutely miraculous. The map of their travels is completely unbelievable! The red lines below are not borders — those are their routes! Along the way, Otto and …

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BMW X Model SUVs Celebrate 15-Year Anniversary Ahead of X7 Launch

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What a kerfuffle the BMW X5 created! Between when the X5 was revealed in 1999 and began arriving in the US as a 2000 model-year, people were seriously up-in-arms. They were angry and skeptical and vocal critics. Why would any BMW SUV ever seem logical, they said. How could an SUV maintain the BMW driving style epitomized by the well-liked 3, 5 and 7 series luxury cars? But all that came to a sharp stop the moment you sat in the X5’s driver seat — or any of its five seats, frankly. Led by the 4.4-liter V8 engine and its …

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Update1 With 50 New Photos – 2014 Renault Eolab Concept PHEV Is Not Ebola-Proof

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  The Renault Ebola Eolab concept PHEV is back with 50 new photos! Renault reads the newspaper, right? How could they let a name so close to the deadliest disease known to man be attached to the back of a damn-sexy concept car previewing a PHEV Megane? We especially like the orange-red accent color that appears to be bleeding out the Eolab’s grille and under its floating A-pillars. Classy. Eolab. Ebola. Pretty close. We are excited for the upcoming Chevrolet Cancer and Vauxhall SIDS. Or how about the new Volkswagen HIV? Mazda Malaria? Opel Polio?     PREVIOUS Ahh! What …

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INFINITI Q50 Parachutes into 2015 BTCC BAttle! OEM Racing Program To Benefit British Army Paratroopers

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Proof that the Infiniti Q50 is ripe for more performance than even the Eau Rouge concept? The new BTCC Q50! Wearing an awesome widebody with menacing aero vents and scoops, the Infiniti Q50 BTCC entry is low and lean and mean. The program’s headline sponsor is Infiniti itself – with the car wearing a satin grey finish and giant Infiniti logos on both sides. In addition to building brand awareness in the UK, the team will raise money for a newly-formed Paratrooper Regiment charity for the British Army. The new “Support Our Paras” foundation is a combined entity for the …

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2015 MINI Cooper 5-Door in Postcard-Worthy Trip Around The City of Light

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A moveable feast with a big back seat? Yep! Table for five, please. Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Metro, the Seine and the Arc de Triumph — all in an afternoon with this big new MINI! Any of these charming photos would look nice on an old-fashion paper postcard, or even an Instagram to your friends back home. The 5-door SD shown here is the hot Diesel engine for Europe, but the looks are identical to the Cooper and Cooper S engines we will see in the US. This means a base turbo triple and a turbo …

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Speculative Renderings – 2016 Volvo S80 and 2017 Volvo S60

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The new Volvo XC90’s style is being very warmly received across almost all of the seven-seat SUVs major markets. This all-new platform brings a stunningly-luxurious cabin and a high-tech PHEV hybrid drivetrain with T6 and T8 engine choices. But the secret behind those badges and the T8 moniker? They are both turbocharged four-cylinder engines, with varying levels of electric assistance. So how will the new XC90 influence the rest of the Volvo lineup, both under the skin and in the exterior designs? The answer to both, we predict, is heavily. The tech of this new chassis is set to roll …

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European-Market 2015 Volkswagen Passat Is Luxury Sedan For Contract Killers on a Budget

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Updated 10.9.14 We had some seriously scathing things to say about this new 2015 Passat for European markets when it debuted the other month online. Overall, the new Passat is not nearly as dull and lifeless as it seemed in VW’s initial renderings. In real life, the detail in the new design is pretty fresh up front and in back. A new-to-VW LED style is seen in both the head and taillamps, and is the most successful part of the design. Overall, the wagon is far more appealing in its quest to bring some of the low-roof / long-hood look …

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Meet BharatBenz – India’s Locally-Made Trucks Seeing Huge Growth Via Combo of Low-Cost + High-Quality

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  Familiar with the American FUBU apparel line? The name stands for ‘For Us, By Us.’ Think of BharatBenz as the ‘FIBI’ of big trucks. For India, By India. Heavy trucks may not be huge business by volume, but for Daimler, they are some of the most profitable. Among the truck lines owned by Mercedes’ parent company are big names like Mitsubishi Fuso, Wester Star, Thomas Bus Lines, Freightliner and Setra. The newest kid on the block? BharatBenz — a locally-made and locally-tailored line of trucks both from and for India. Mercedes engineering and safety foundations are a great shared …

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2016 JAGUAR XE Configurator Is Live! Buyers Guide To Colors, Wheels, Options and Trims

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Updated 10.5.14   We’ve spent a few hours with the all-new Jaguar XE configurator today, and are blown away by the amount of customization available on this hot new executive sedan. Far below are are prices for the various trim levels, and included here are the major configurations for Colors, Wheels, Exterior Options, Interior Options and cool accessories. Most of the features are organized into tiled Tallpapers or animations, but the base images are included mid-way down. My final XE R Sport with the 240-horsepower turbo four is viewable at this link – where you can work backwords and change …

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2016 Fiat 500X Makes Paris Debut With Optional AWD and 9-Speed Automatic

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Fiat has big plans for the 500X, a four-door off-roader sharing a name and styling themes with the popular 500 line of mini cars. This machine is a logical next move for Fiat as the 500 enters its third year on the US market. Under the skin, the 500X shares major platform and chassis pieces with the upcoming Jeep Renegade mini SUV, and benefits from the Jeep’s AWD and automatic transmission requirements. Both features are relatively critical to the 500X achieving sales volume in the US market when it arrives in Spring 2015 as a 2016 model. Perhaps even more …

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2015 Chevrolet Colorado Z71 Quick Drive Shows Lively and Very Handsome Mid-Size Truck

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Enjoyed a chance to meet the 2015 Colorado Z71 this week, and it is really handsome and macho in real life. Initially, the GMC Canyon seemed like the better-looking of the two, but side by side, the Chevy was my clear preference. A lack of LED lighting in the nose of the Colorado is the only demerit that comes to mind. Otherwise, the wide style and fender flares are rough and ready to get muddy. To be fair, the Colorado Z71 and Canyon All Terrain we compared are the most loaded versions of each – so base models will not …

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2016 JAGUAR XE – Models, Specs and Prices + 75 New Photos!

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It appears that the Jaguar XE sedan is very, very close to production! So close that the car is available for UK orders from today, October 2. This points to a US arrival around April of 2015 as a 2016 model. We are likely to receive a base 2.0-liter turbo making 240-horsepower with available AWD and a base price of around $40,000. At launch, the XE will also offer a variety of diesels in Europe, but the up-market model will be the supercharged V6 XE S with 380-horsepower and a sprint time of under 4.9-seconds. The XE S is also …

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2015 Ford Mondeo Brings New LED Headlights + Redesigned Steering and Suspension

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  Ford’s new Mondeo is heading to European dealers by the end of this year! Revised LED lighting, tech and redesigned steering/suspension round out the changes. The Mondeo Hybrid will also be new to the European and UK market. Might these updates show the direction of Ford’s hot-selling Fusion here in the US? Time will tell! Despite lots of moves toward global models, the Mondeo vs Fusion name difference is slightly helpful in making different update cycles by market a bit easier to swallow. This is in sharp contrast to the Euro VW Passat versus the US Passat, for example, …

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Concept Flashback – 2003 Citroen C-Airlounge Is Most Artful and Memorable Van Concept… Ever?

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What does it take to make a minivan form sexy? To make it fresh and trippy and almost psychedelic? That would take the mad hatters at Citroen in France. The look of this C-Airlounge concept actually strongly informed the designs of the current generation of people-movers like the C4 Picasso — but loses much of the surreal sense of hypercurved panel shapes and seamless construction. Part of the fantasy of this C-Airlounge is that imagining a car like this on the road is nearly impossible. Virtually no panel gaps or shutlines get in the way of the features, while the …

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Update2 New Photos – 2015 Peugeot 508 Facelifted With New LED DRLs, Box-Design Beams and Tweaked Cabin Tech

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My passion for great LED lighting is spiraling out of control. It seems, lately, that a new headlight design with some flashy LEDs is enough to win my favor. But am I alone? LED lighting and headlights are by far the easiest piece of a car for the manufacturers to update — no new sheetmetal is required at all in many cases. But the impact on the 30-percent of the time spent driving in the dark or dusk? A totally transformed car. This new 508 is more than an LED refresh – and includes various new shapes for the grille …

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Renault Espace New for 2015 With More-Butch Styling, Will Not Come to UK

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  The Renault Espace has long been one of the biggest players in luxury French family travel. Consider its history: the minivan exemplar has been plying Europe’s roads since its near-simultaneous debut in the mid-80s with the Chrysler minivans over here in the States. Many variations on the Espace’s appeal have moved the car upmarket over the years, without reclaiming much if its initial sales volume from its first few generations. The new Espace is a seriously low-volume seller at this point, and will not be made in right-hand-drive since being dropped from the UK price lists two years back. …

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2015 Honda Civic Sport is New for UK with Type-R Styling Accents!

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How fantastic does this Euro Civic Sport look! Enjoy it, our UK pals. We are envious here in the States! 2015 Honda Civic Sport     Honda UK Ltd 24 September 2014 New design, new technology and a new Sport derivative for the Swindon-built Civic range   New sporty exterior and interior styling upgrades for Honda Civic and Civic Tourer models Introduction of new Civic Sport with visual links to forthcoming Type R New in-car entertainment and technology system introduced across the line-up New automatic low-speed braking system applied as standard across the range Class-leading boot space of 477 (Civic) …

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Citroen C1 Urban Ride Concept Adds Crossover Height and Style Atop Supermini Chassis

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Crossover mania is sweeping France and the wider world this year! Citroen is joining the fun with a butched-up suupermini concept called the C1 Urban Ride concept. With a taller ride height and chunky bumpers and sills, it promises to be tougher than a standard C1 for light off-roading. It will also be unstoppable across any parking lot of pot-holes — with the extra ride height making speedbumps a non-event! The fabric roof rolls back to give those in back an al-fresco safari experience; all the better for going wild down the main streets of Paris! Citroen C1 Urban Ride …

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2014 Volkswagen TRISTAR Is All-New Off-Road Cargo Van with Pickup Truck Bed

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The world’s top commercial truck show is going on this week in Hanover, Germany — and VW has just debuted an exciting light truck concept. Part van, part pickup truck, and part off-roader — the idea is for the best of all worlds. Called the TRISTAR and packing a styling design and modern cabin, the machine promises to be an all-star work truck for the fleets of tomorrow. Just a concept for now, the design is likely to preview a heavy-duty version of the next Transporter van. 2014 Volkswagen TRISTAR WORLD PREMIERE OF VOLKSWAGEN TRISTAR AT THE IAA 23/09/14 Concept …

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2011 Volkswagen Cross Coupe SUV Concept is Future MQB-Sized BMW X4 Competitor

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Volkswagen has been flirting with an expanded large SUV line for more than five years, with this 2011 Cross Coupe concept a sportier Touareg variant. Since then, we have seen the CrossBlue Concept and the CrossBlue Coupe Concept, but both are believed to carry underpinnings from the US-market Passat. This extra-wide machine is clearly from another family altogether — despite its quoted MQB (Golf) underpinnings. VW CrossBlue concept VW CrossBlue Coupe concept The look of the car shown here is quite interesting, but may or may not be en route to production. Volkswagen’s adventures in the Phaeton-land have established a …

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Audi Sexes Up 48-Volt Conversion With New Electric Turbo RS5 TDI

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The 12-volt automotive electrical architecture has long been a weak link in the further electrification of the automobile. Audi is taking big steps to quadruple the system voltage, which might be a dull topic. Step in, the new RS5 TDI and A6 TDI concepts. Running diesel engines with this more-powerful 48-volt system allows a new type of forced induction: the electric turbocharger. Similar to a super-powerful electric leaf-blower, the possibilities are pretty interesting. No exhaust gasses are needed for this electric turbo, which can also offer anti-lag traits by zinging up to max boost before the throttle is floored — …

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Concept Flashback – 2009 Audi R8 TDI V12 Shows Great Engineering Potential, But Limited Market

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Audi seems to have no trouble winning LeMans with its ultra-sophisticated R18 models in the last decade — but has struggled mightily trying to translate racing tech to the road. Even today, there is no clear link between Audi racing glory and the cars sold by Audi dealerships. Sure, there is anecdotal evidence hat motorsport success has fueled Audi’s continued sales rise — but it is a tenuous link. Upon the arrival of Audis’ first supercar, the R8, this finally looked set to change. At last — a way to show how LeMans racing improves the breed in general! The …

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2015 Ford S-Max SportVan Adds LED Lighting and Next-Gen SYNC in Comprehensive Redesign

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Ford of Europe just revealed the new S-Max sports activity vehicle with all-new everything: engines, cabin design and exterior styling are all fresh for 2015. The S-Max is now clearly part of the C-Max and Grand C-Max family, but with premium features that are missing from the smaller and cheaper siblings. The new Ford nose blends nicely into this sportvan shape, and the LED styling front and rear is great to see. LED headlights and accents are included in the S-Max — as only the second Ford model to every pack this technology, right after the 2015 F-150 Platinum. The …

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2015 Ford C-Max and 7-Seat Grand C-Max Make UK Debut With Revised Styling and Tech

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Very subtle tweaks to the nose of the C-Max and Grand C-Max debuted today for the UK market. No word yet on when the US-market C-Max Hybrid might receive these changes, but a Spring arrival to US showrooms is likely. The Grand C-Max with seven seats would be a welcome car for the US market — but Ford has those bases covered with the Transit Connect Wagon — which is far better-looking than the sliding-door C-Max shown here in a dark tan color. What the Grand C-Max does offer shoppers is a more-sophisticated set of drivetrains and a more refined …

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2014 Renault Eolab Concept is Ultra-Aerodynamic Innovation Showcase

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Ahh! What a terrible, terrible name for a pretty cool concept, Renault. The focus of this machine is to maximize the efficiency of an EV powertrain in a holistic way. This means aero as well as weight and management and materials innovation. The car is said to preview an EV that will be larger than the current ZOE hatchback and will integrate many of these features into a production car. The drag coefficient of the Eolab concept is just 0.235, which is very good but not very much better than the slipperiest new cars available in 2015 – like the …

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2015 VOLVO XC90 R-Design Adds Sex Appeal to All-New 7-Seater

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  Hooray for Volvo! We are very excited for the XC90 launch and have a strong feeling that Volvo’s efforts in the cabin and with the ultra-modern powertrains will be a big hit with shoppers. But if one thing was missing from the XC90 announcement last week — it might have been a bit of sex appeal. Where was the VaVaVoom of the Concept Coupe and Concept Estate? The new XC90 seemed a little too practical for its own good? Luckily, the R-Design trim is now out and addresses many of these concerns. It looks hot — and even hotter …

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2014 Peugeot Quartz Hybrid Crossover Concept Revealed Ahead of Paris Show

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Well here is an interesting surprise! This PHEV crossover concept leverages some of the sexy looks of the 2008 DKR race truck into a production-friendly shape. A 270-horsepower engine powers the front wheels, while the back wheels are driven by a powerful electric motor. The new plug-in setup even allows the Quartz crossover to have a 31-mile EV range when the batteries are fully charged. 2014 Peugeot 2008 DKR Prototype In terms of style, the defining elements of this cab-backward crossover are the long hood and ultra-low roofline. While not the most practical of shapes for an SUV, it is …

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2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA250 4Matic Bases at $34k with Standard 6.9s Sprint Time

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 When it comes down to it, Mercedes-Benz has traditionally been very, very conservative about entering new market segments. That is going out the door with new entrants like the GL-Class or the CLS Shooting Brake. But in truth, a front-drive compact crossover is about as far from the Mercedes sweetspot as anything one can imagine — especially in the image-managed US market. We are not offered the nerdy and frumpy B-Class, nor the A-Class. We also generally receive the most-loaded models in every range. This is why the GLA-Class will be offered in Europe as the GLA200 and GLA220 CDI …

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VOLKER SCHMIDT 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Is Low and Lean With New Springs and Wheels

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It has been more than a few years since a C-Class Mercedes was a real pin-up beauty. And for a C220 to look as good as the original C36 AMG!? That is some achievement without changing one body panel or aero piece. These Volker Shmidt Revolution wheels come with a ride height drop courtesey of coil-over springs all around. This might not be our choice — the newly-available AirMatic ride in the forthcoming US-market C400 and C300 is hard to beat! But it would look a hell of a lot better with these hot wheels. VOLKER SCHMIDT 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class …

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2015 Citroen C4 Cactus Is Large-Cabin Crossover With Funky Design Details

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At first and second glance, there are many things bizarre about the C4 Cactus from Citroen. A production version of the Cactus show car, this funky little crossover packs conventional diesel engines and front-drive under those futuristic panels. This ditches the need for AWD and any off-road credibility, but the tradeoff for big cabin room at a low price is well worth it. Perhaps most importantly, the C4 Cactus can play to both the young hipster crowd as well as the young parent consumer segment. A big child seat or three will certainly fit inside — with Mom and Dad …

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2016 Audi A6 LED and Trim Refresh Previewed by UK Updates

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The Audi A6 is looking fresh in the UK this month, with a new LED design for the head and taillights. The latest look shows a solid horizontal bar diverging at the outer ends. No word on then these or the new A7 lights will be coming to the US market, but as a 2015.5 or 2016 seems highly likely. 2016 Audi A6  

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4.9s 2016 Jaguar XE Makes London Debut with 340HP and Rear-Drive Dynamics

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  Before you get too excited… The XE will not come to the USA until calendar 2016…     Official details below!  2016 Jaguar XE   WORLD PREMIER OF JAGUAR XE AT LONDON’S EARLS COURT First showing of the performance-orientated Jaguar XE S The Jaguar XE S features a 340hp supercharged 3.0-liter V6 engine with a 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph1 Front engine, longitudinal rear wheel drive layout, with capability of accepting all-wheel drive Highly aerodynamic with a drag coefficient of 0.26 Cd Two new and intuitive Jaguar InControl® infotainment …

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2014 Peugeot EXALT Concept Refreshed for Paris – Will Future 509 Sedan Reach This Level?

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UPDATED 9.5.14   2014 Peugeot EXALT Concept   PEUGEOT EXALT CONCEPT: A NEW INCARNATION FOR THE PARIS MOTOR SHOW 04/09/14 European version of PEUGEOT EXALT Concept Car brings a host of innovative features Hybrid petrol-electric power train has a combined output of 340hp A new version of ‘Newspaper Wood’ returns to uniquely tailor the Concept’s bespoke interior PEUGEOT is showcasing the EXALT Concept Car in a new livery at the Paris Motor Show next month. The bodywork features shades of grey that emanate from the bare steel covering the majority of the exterior to the distinctive ‘Shark Skin’ rear end. Inside, the …

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Citroen Divine DS Concept for Paris 2014 Shows Way for 2016 DS4

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The DS premium brand spin-off is a HUGE, huge success — sales and margins on the line are better than even Citroen could have imagined five years ago. This gorgeous concept hatchback is relatively practical by French concept standards — it runs a standard THP 1.6-liter turbo engine (with a non-standard 270-horsepower) and a compact four-door hatchback shell. Most logically, this machine would slot in above the DS3 and below the DS5. So will the DS4 be this gorgeous as a production car? Fingers crossed that the nose makes it intact, as well as the impressive panel slashes from the …

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2015 BRABUS C-Class Offers Intense Aero Kit, Wheels and Turbo Chips

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How fantastic does this Brabus sport upgrade look on the new W205 C-Class! The performance kit for the gasoline C300 and C400 4Matic coming to the US are not on the chip list yet, but stay tuned. The current tune adds 41-horsepower to the 2.0-liter four-cylinder, so we can expect double that for the US-market turbo V6 engines.       2015 BRABUS C-Class BRABUS NEWS RELEASE     Brand-new: The BRABUS refinement program for the new C-Class The new Mercedes C-Class opens the next chapter in the success story of those that came before. BRABUS offers an exclusive refinement …

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Update1 With 88 New Photos – 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport – Specs, Prices, Options and Colors

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Updates today from the very-finished 2015 Land Rover Discover Sport, an all-new design to replace the aging Freelander LR2 with a new seven-seat mid-size crossover. Okay, premium compact is more like it — the dimensions are similar to a $23,000 Nissan Rogue all around. But this model with one 240-horsepower turbo + 4WD + 9-speed automatic will definitely make buyers in the X3 and Q5 segment perk up their ears. The Discovery Sport is priced and all-set for USA arrivals en masse starting as soon as this January 2015. We are impressed by the speed of the launch rollout, and …

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2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport is All-New 5+2 Crossover from $38k in USA March 2015

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Building on the design momentum of the Discovery Vision Concept, today we have an all-new Discovery Sport production model on its way very soon. This eagerly-anticipated update to the LR2 is larger, more modern, vastly better-connected to new tech and sporting a low-slung Evoque-meets-RRS profile. Inside, a new rear jumpseat answers a clear buyer priority, while gasoline turbo engines will make up the launch line in the US during first shipments in Spring 2015, we estimate. Analysis? The cabin in these very fake pre-production renderings looks very Ford-ish, as does the exterior.     2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport   …

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NOVITEC TRIDENTE Maserati Quattroporte Is Quicker and Far Sexier Than Ever!

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While writing the big 2014 Quattroporte buyers guide the other day, we regretted how few cool wheel and performance options are available on the Maserati flagship lately.   Novitec Tridente, the trident branch of Novitec Rosso and Torado, has come to the rescue with sets of gorgeous wheels in four finishes, ECU upgrades to the twin-turbocharged engines, and a delicious exterior upgrades menu. The matte-effect paint protection wrap and black-tinted elements for all the factory brightwork are amazing, but even the subtle trunk spoiler and lower aero kit work wonders. A fantastic machine made even more exciting with these brand-new …

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2015 VOLVO XC90 World Premiere – Pricing from $48,000 – Fabulous Hybrid Tech and Cabin Innovations

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The 2015 XC90 is official and it is fantastic! At once both very futuristic and innovative, while also rebuilding on the Volvo luxury and family safety that have been brand pillars for decades. The base price is $48,000 in the US market, where the first trucks will hopefully be arriving before year-end. The two launch packages are likely one of the biggest choices to make when considering the new XC90: — Urban luxury: body-color trims and 21-inch wheels — Rugged luxury: grey body cladding and some very handsome 22-inch wheels 2015 VOLVO XC90 World Premiere   World premiere: the all-new …

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