Thursday, March 1, 2012

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U Spy: Another Mystery Sedan Awaits to be Unraveled, What do You Think it is?

Posted: 29 Feb 2012 05:18 PM PST


The evolution of mobile phones into a technological Swiss army knife has made capturing a picture of anything interesting you may stumble upon as easy as lifting a finger.

Nevertheless, you'll have to be very observant to seize the moment as was the case with Carscoop reader Scott M. that quickly snapped a few shots of a heavily disguised sedan model on a freeway in Southern California before it got away.

In a very similar scenario to another "U Spy" story on a sedan model about a year ago (read more here), we'll have to admit that we're not sure what it is we're seeing here.

Sure it looks like a mid-size sedan, but what about the brand and type of model?

The heavy camo and grainy pictures don't help much, but to open the conversation that you can continue after the break, our first though went to the production version of the Lincoln MKZ Concept shown in Detroit last month.

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Magna Steyr Previews "Three-in-One" MILA Coupic Concept Ahead of Geneva Motor Show

Posted: 29 Feb 2012 04:08 PM PST


Magna International, one of the world's largest automotive suppliers, has released initial details on a new concept study named MILA Coupic that it plans to debut at the Geneva Motor Show. This is the sixth member of the MILA concept family.

Basically, the MILA Coupic is a shape-shifting SUV that can be transformed into a pick-up or an open-air convertible.

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Gas Price Jumps 10 Cents Just as Two Corvettes Show Up

Posted: 29 Feb 2012 03:29 PM PST


As you may have noticed, gas prices have been on the rise these past few days. In fact, a gallon of gasoline now costs more than four dollars and in some cases over five or six dollars.

You can blame the oil companies, economy, world politics, government taxes, OPEC, Iran or maybe gas station owner greed.

Last Wednesday, ABC News' Cecilia Vega was reporting on the rising gas prices at "World News with Diane Sawyer" live from a gas station in Los Angeles. After her introduction, the video showed footage from various U.S. cities.

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Redesigned 2013 Buick Enclave Teased, will Debut at NY Auto Show

Posted: 29 Feb 2012 02:45 PM PST


Jumping from one international motor show (that would be Geneva) to another, General Motors revealed today that it would perform the world premiere of its redesigned 2013 Buick Enclave at the New York Auto Show, which runs from April 6 to 15.

Along with the announcement, the Detroit automaker also dropped a darkened teaser image of the new model's interior, which looks like it gained a revised center console featuring GM's new infotainment system.

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Hyundai i-oniq Concept is a RWD Electric Coupe with a Range Extender Petrol Engine

Posted: 29 Feb 2012 02:26 PM PST


Following the release of a teaser sketch back in December, we now have the first official image of Hyundai's i-oniq concept study that is set to debut at the 2012 Geneva motor show next week.

Albeit not a coupe in the traditional sense as it sports a rear hatch, the i-oniq is a sporty looking model featuring a low roofline and sleek body work that represents the next evolution of the Korean brand's 'fluidic sculpture' styling language.

Maybe it's just us, but from this angle, the front-end design brings to mind the Nissan 350Z.

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MTM's Colorful Geneva Motor Show Debuts Include 306hp Audi Q3 and $215k, 466hp VW T5

Posted: 29 Feb 2012 01:59 PM PST


German-based tuning company MTM has shared photos and details of the vehicles it plans to debut at the 82nd Geneva International Auto Salon in a just a few days' time.

We'll start with the Audi Q3 crossover with the 2.0-liter TFSI engine. MTM's tune includes a power kit that lifts output from 170PS (168hp) to 310PS (307hp) allowing for the improvement of its 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time by two seconds to 6.1 seconds, its top speed from 212km/h (132mph) to 250km/h (155mph).

The tuning house also adds a custom exhaust kit, a rear diffuser, a sports suspension kit, 20-inch Bimoto lightweight alloy wheels shod in 255/35 ZR20 tires and the optional black-red-gold foil wrap seen on this car.

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SPY SHOTS: New 2013 BMW M6 Gran Coupe is On its Way

Posted: 29 Feb 2012 01:08 PM PST


BMW is planning to inject some serious power under the hood of its sexy 6-Series Gran Coupe sports sedan with the addition of a flagship version wearing the iconic M badge.

However, don't expect any prizes for guessing the power source as it's a well-known fact that all upper level BMW M models are motivated by the same or in some cases, mildly modified version of the brand's 4.4-liter bi-turbo V8 engine.

We anticipate that it will be the same unit found in the brand-new M6 Coupe and Convertible models with the internal designation S63Tü.

And while there's always the possibility of BMW M engineers fiddling around with the electronics to push out a few more ponies, chances are it will deliver the same output at 560-horses (412kW) between 5,750 and 7,000 rpm, and a peak torque of 680Nm (502lb-ft) from 1,500 to 5,750 rpm.

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First Video of 2012 Chevrolet Cruze Station Wagon Hits the Web

Posted: 29 Feb 2012 12:40 PM PST


After the release of a second image of the new Chevrolet Cruze Station Wagon, we now have the first official video that provides a more in depth look at the compact estate model, which is scheduled to receive its world premiere at next week's Geneva Motor Show.

As we've noted in our previous articles, certain styling tweaks featured on the Station Wagon model such as the new front bumper and grille, alloy wheel designs, headlamp graphics and interior trims, will pass on to the rest of the Cruze range that includes the four-door sedan and in certain markets, the five-door hatchback, for 2012.

You can take a peek at the official footage in the video that follows after the jump.

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Vilner Studio Reimagines New BMW 5-Series Sedan's Interior

Posted: 29 Feb 2012 12:04 PM PST


While a fairly new entry in the aftermarket industry, Bulgarian design studio Vilner is beginning to make a name for itself. The company specializes in designing more premium interiors and its latest work based on the new BMW 5-Series sedan (F10) is no different.

The car was created for Bulgarian footballer Kostadin Stoyanov who currently plays for CSKA Sofia.

Vilner redid the 5-Series sedan's interior in white leather for the outer parts of the seats, sections of the door panels, the center console and the lower part of the dashboard while it chose black Alcantara for the headliner and the center portions of the seats.

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Nissan Leaf Now Available for Order in All 50 States Across the U.S.

Posted: 29 Feb 2012 11:36 AM PST


Starting from tomorrow, Thursday, March 1, the Leaf will become the first pure-electric car available for order in all U.S. markets as Nissan commences the final launch phase with the addition of the remaining 21 states.

The Japanese automaker said that those that had reserved a car in these states would receive an invite from Nissan to begin the ordering process on March 1, while other consumers from these new markets will be able to place a reservation starting from next week.

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Drag Racer Flips Motorcycle. In other News, Photographer Trips on Himself…

Posted: 29 Feb 2012 11:18 AM PST


It's not often that you get to see two completely unrelated fails happening almost instantaneously in the same video, which is why this clip grabbed our attention immediately.

Remember to keep your eyes on the biker as well as the photographer on the lower corner. Video follows right after the jump.

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Ferrari F12berlinetta Configurator is Up and Live, See how the 730hp Exotic Looks in Different Colors

Posted: 29 Feb 2012 03:16 PM PST


So you want to play around with the looks of the all-new Ferrari F12berlinetta, do you now? Well, then you will be happy to know that the famed Maranello automaker has just launched an online configurator for its most powerful production model ever.

For those of you seeking to waste some time, the online tool allows you to customize the exterior of the front-engined supercar through a wide choice of colors together with three different alloy wheels options and several finishes for the brake calipers.

On the other hand, your choices for the interior are limited to two colors, at least for now.

If you don't feel like skimming through Ferrari's website, we've picked 69 pictures of the F12berlinetta from several angles that you can check out for yourself in the gallery that follows below.

Read more »


Volvo Says the V40 Won't be Coming to the U.S. as There's not Enough Inerest in 5d Models [Updated]

Posted: 29 Feb 2012 10:43 AM PST


We had a hunch that the all-new V40 hatchback wouldn't be making it to the United States after the Swedish automaker stated that it expects to sell 90,000 units per year with 85 percent of those or 76,500 cars earmarked for the European market.

Nevertheless, just to make sure, we contacted Laura DiStefano, who is the Corporate Communications Manager for Volvo Cars of North America, asking her if the Swedish company had "plans to bring the new V40 or any of its future derivatives to the U.S.A. or Canada".

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GM and PSA Peugeot-Citroen Officially Form an Alliance, Fiat Still Wants In

Posted: 29 Feb 2012 10:03 AM PST


Well, that didn't take long, did it? Only a week after the first report that General Motors and PSA Peugeot-Citroen were discussing a possible alliance in order to cut their costs and improve their performance in Europe and other regions, the two companies announced today that they have reached an agreement.

The global alliance between the world's number one car manufacturer and Europe's number two automotive group involves two main topics: the sharing of platforms, powertrains and modules, and a joint venture for the sourcing of US$125 billion worth of parts and services from suppliers.

GM will acquire a 7 percent stake in the French group, which is slightly higher than the 5 percent originally reported, but still enough to make it the second largest shareholder behind the Peugeot Family Group.

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Ford's Geneva Motor Show Presentations to Include Production Versions of Kuga and Fiesta ST

Posted: 29 Feb 2012 08:53 AM PST


With less than a week left for the grand opening of the 2012 edition of the Geneva Auto Salon, we're continuing our reports on the vehicles that will make it to Switzerland with the Ford brand.

Today we can confirm that aside from the world premiere of the production B-MAX small MPV that we've already covered extensively, the Blue Oval will debut the European version of the 2013 Escape as the new generation of the Kuga SUV and the production version of last year's Fiesta ST Concept 3d.

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Forklift Gets it Wrong while Trying to Move a Shipping Container

Posted: 29 Feb 2012 09:41 AM PST


Moving around a 40-foot shipping container weighing several tons in the air is not an easy task by any means. A lot of things can go wrong, and in this case, they did. Luckily, no one seems to have been hurt (or at least not seriously) in this accident, though the driver of the forklift was definitely shaken like a rag doll.

Head past the break to watch the video

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Bitchin' 2012 Dodge Charger Pursuit to Pace NASCAR Races in Phoenix

Posted: 29 Feb 2012 07:31 AM PST


Maybe it's the Mad Max syndrome, but there's something very cool (just as long as you're occupying front seat...) about mean looking police cars like the 2012 Dodge Charger Pursuit, which as we learned today, will pace both NASCAR Nationwide Series and Sprint Cup Series races in Phoenix on March 3 and 4.

The pace car will assume its role in full police livery on top of a matte black finish combined with white accents for the body.

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Land Rover Builds 1 Millionth Discovery, Prepares an Epic Road Trip to China to Celebrate

Posted: 29 Feb 2012 07:04 AM PST


Some 23 years and one model change after Land Rover introduced the original Discovery back in 1989, the British automaker rolled out the 1,000,000th example of its capable SUV at the Jaguar-Land Rover's Solihull assembly plant in the UK.

The Discovery, which first came to market as a third model sitting between the more luxurious Range Rover and the rough'n'tough Defender, set records sales of almost 45,000 units last year across 170 worldwide markets.

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A New Video on the Pagani Huayra Supercar

Posted: 29 Feb 2012 06:36 AM PST


When it comes to supercar exotics like the Pagani Huayra, we never miss the opportunity to share with you a new video that comes our way.

This latest find is the work of the crew over at eGarage who filmed a short clip of the Huayra with the promise to release more footage in the near future. Here's hoping that next time, they'll skip on the annoying music background and let the 700-horsepower V12 powerhouse do the singing…

You can check out the video after the break.

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Volkswagen Whisks the Covers Off the New Golf GTI Cabriolet

Posted: 29 Feb 2012 06:21 AM PST


With each passing day, we are edging closer to the 82nd Geneva Motor Show premiere on March 6 and more models are coming out in the open.

One such case is the Volkswagen Golf GTI Cabriolet. Just yesterday, we received word that the production version of concept model shown at last year's Wörthersee meeting in Austria will be displayed at VW's 2012 Geneva motor show stand, and today we have the first official details and images of the car.

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New F12berlinetta is the Most Powerful and Fastest Ferrari Ever [Photos and Videos]

Posted: 29 Feb 2012 06:45 AM PST


Maranello has blown the covers off the successor to its 599 GTB Fiorano and a direct opponent of the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4. The car was rumored to be called the F620 GT but as it turns out, we will come to know it as the new F12berlinetta.

Billed as the fastest and most powerful regular production Ferrari in history, the F12berlinetta sports a 6.3-liter naturally-aspirated V12 engine that produces 730HP (740PS), which translates to a specific output of 116HP per liter. It also delivers a peak torque of 690Nm or 508.9 lb-ft, 80 percent of which is available at just 2,500 rpm, while it can rev up to 8,700 rpm.

The 12-cylinder unit is linked to an F1 dual-clutch transmission with close gear ratios that drives the rear wheels.

Ferrari says that the F12berlinetta accelerates from 0-100 km/h (62mph) in 3.1 seconds and from zero to 200 km/h (124mph) in 8.5 seconds en route to a top speed in excess of 340km/h (211mph+) adding that it also completes a lap of the Fiorano circuit in 1.23", faster than any other Ferrari road car.

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