BMW Dropping Manual Transmission Option from the M5 and M6

For true car nuts, there is nothing better than having total control over your car’s power via a manual transmission. Unfortunately, we three-pedal lovers are becoming less and less common each year, especially with the advancements being made in automatic transmission technology. This disappearance of the slush-box automatics and introduction of precision shifting performance automatics has left the manual transmission as an undesirable hunk of metal.

The BMW M-Series is a clear example of where a manual transmission is at its best. With the baby brother, the M3, punching out 414 ponies and its two big brothers, the M5 and M6, slated to wallop the concrete with 560 horsepower; we think a manual transmission is the only way to really experience them. Well, apparently we are in the minority, as according to Inside Line, only 15 to 20 percent of the M5s sold in the U.S. last year were six-speed manuals and BMW has taken notice.

With this, BMW has decided that the next generation M5 and M6 will not be engineered with a manual transmission option, leaving just a dual-clutch automatic as the only available transmission. This makes the reports that the U.S.-bound M6 models will come with a manual option seem like they were just pipe dreams. The M3, however, will still receive its typical no-cost manual transmission option.

Fortunately for us, the dual clutch transmission is just as responsive, if not more responsive, than a manual transmission. Plus, there is no clutch to mess with, so your left foot can take a much needed break from all of the thrashing it has received over the years. To boot, this automatic transmission has also proved to be a more fuel-economy-friendly option over manual transmissions, which is pretty much the opposite of what we have had crammed into our heads for the last, say, 100 years!

Customize your own Mustang and Ford may just give it to you!

Ford has just unveiled an updated customizer for 2013 and although this may seem like a non-news event, they threw in a giveaway to pique our interests. This new customizer allows potential buyers, or bored employees, to play with all the options available for the Mustang, but it also provides the chance to win "Your Fantasy Mustang." In fact, they will be giving away four different Mustangs: a Mustang V6, a Mustang GT, a Mustang Boss 302, and a Mustang Shelby GT500.

All you have to do is go online, create the Mustang of your dreams, save it, and start praying. At the end of the year, Ford will pick four winners from all the cars entered into the contest. The new customizer will allow you to apply a dizzying array of colors, graphics, body kits, and wheels to achieve the look you want. The winners will have their cars produced exactly as they designed them to look, so be careful what you wish for!

No Nose Job for Acura, Despite a Beak of Monstrous Proportions

Nearly every automotive brand has its own little gimmick. Ford has its blue oval, Chevy has its bow-tie, Buick has its shields, and on it goes. Acura, however, never really developed a gimmick until recently and it certainly made up for its lack of said gimmick by making one for the ages.

Acura’s newfound gimmick was what it dubbed “the shield” or as us automotive buffs have dubbed it “the beak.” As of late, Acura has received a good bit of flack regarding said beak, and even its own design head admits that it went “a little overboard at some points” when speaking about “the shield.”

According to multiple reports, however, Acura has no plans to drop the beak any time soon, but it may massage it a little on certain models. We already saw that the nose was slightly reduced on the ILX, though it was still pretty large. The NSX Concept was another that looked as if the beak was trimmed back a little bit, but it was also still very noticeable.

It’s one thing to have your own little niche carved out in automotive history, but it’s another thing when that niche suddenly becomes the focal point for your cars. We are willing to bet that “the shield” gets trimmed down over the next few years and the largest cut down just may happen when Acura finally releases the production NSX.

Then again, car companies can be a little stubborn when it comes to admitting failure and letting designs linger around for way too long, so we may be in for several decades of this massive beak. Only time will tell.

Ferrari North Europe Setting out to Reclaim its Parade of Ferraris Record

World records are a funny thing, because you can easily set something just by thinking up a new thing that no one else has. Once you do it, you’re the record holder, until someone else does it. Ferrari of North Europe did something of that sort in 2007 by setting the Guinness world record for number of Ferraris in a Parade, which ended up being 385 cars.

The record was broken recently with a total of 490 cars and Ferrari North Europe plans on reclaiming this title in September. Ferrari has already accumulated more than enough entrants (600) to beat the record, but it wants to make it stick by hitting the 1,000-entrant mark. The event will take place at Ferrari Racing Days at Silverstone Circuit on September 15th and 16th.

Ferrari owners get into the Ferrari Racing Day event free of charge and can even register for the Guinness word record attempt by clicking here.

The rules of the world record attempt are pretty straightforward. The cars must travel over a distance of more than 2 miles with a distance of no more than two car lengths between each other. Simple enough, huh?

So, not only can you get free tickets for taking part in the record-setting event, but you can be forever be recognized as part of a world record in Guinness – whatever that’s worth these days. Either way, the Ferrari racing days event is always a blast, and getting free entry makes it all the better.

PSA Tie-In With GM will Likely End Part of its Relationship With BMW

The web tying varying automakers to one another is a very complex, yet delicate thing. One strand heading the wrong direction can cause an automaker to break off another connection, and we see it every day. One prime example was when AMG hacked off its advertising ties with Ducati just because Audi bought the company. Really, what do motorcycles have to do with your competing with Audi in the automobile realm?

Well, we have another bit of info to pass on in regards to one partnership killing another. Recently PSA, the parent company of Peugeot and Citroen, increased its stake in a partnership with GM affiliate, Opel, to develop four vehicle platforms together. This leads BMW to believe that PSA will not have the ability to fulfill its partnership duties in reference to BMW’s developing Hybrid platform.

A BMW spokesperson said “We are discussing conditions for the exit of PSA but we will not make any payments,” in an interview with Reuters. In addition, PSA has accepted the fact that this new relationship with GM will force it to “change the conditions” in its partnership with BMW. This likely means that BMW will buy-out PSAs share of the investment in the project and take development into its own hands.

This will not, however, affect the other relationships that BMW and PSA have going on. The largest of these relationships is the partnership between the two to build the MINI Cooper’s engine.

We’ll keep an eye on what’s going on with this development and let you know if anything else pops up. For now, this seems like a pretty open-and-shut case.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster - Rear Angle, 2012

BMW M1 successor to be revealed in 2016

We have heard all kinds of rumors about the BMW M1 supercar, including the possibility of its return. You may remember that, four years ago, BMW unveiled the M1 Hommage - a concept car built as a tribute to the M1’s 30th anniversary. Back then, everyone believed that this would be a preview of a new production M1, but BMW quickly denied those rumors, leaving all of us with the disappointed hopes.

Now German magazine Autobild is reporting that a successor for the M1 will in fact be unveiled in 2016, after the unveiling of the hybrid i8. The next M1 will be built as a combination between performance and economy and will be powered by a V8 engine with direct injection and a turbocharger. This engine’s an output will be placed somewhere between 600 and 650 HP.

The new M1 will be built using BMW’s "Efficient Dynamics" program meaning that it will come with features like a start-stop system and braking energy recovery. All of these features will be combined with a carbon-fiber body and a total weight of 2,755 lbs, which will make the next M1 a real competitor for models like the Mercedes SLS AMG GT and the Audi R8.

Expect the new BMW M1 to debut in 2016, priced at about 250,000 euro, about $315.000 at the current exchange rates.

Natural Gas-Powered Cars Coming to 2013 American Le Mans

A while back, we weighed the possibilities of LPG and CNG making its way into our lives as an automotive fuel on a more regular basis. We determined that there is a niche market for it, but its chances of widespread U.S. use are highly unlikely. We did, however, mention that it does have a use in high-performance vehicles, like the Maxximus LNG 2000.

It looks like the American Le Mans Series is starting to consider this a possibility, as it attempts to dig itself a niche in racing as a “green” automotive racing series. According to reports, Patrick Racing Team and Indy 500 legend, Jim McGee, are working hard toward retrofitting the 430-horsepower ORECA FLM09 American Le Mans racer with a natural gas injection system.

It is uncertain exactly what type of natural gas, CNG or LPG, the Patrick Racing Team is targeting right now, but we would anticipate it being LPG, due to its more widespread availability. Given the fact that natural gas has an average octane rating of 130, it makes a perfect racing fuel. The biggest issue is getting it connected to the existing Chevy engine without losing too much horsepower or fuel economy.

Also according to reports, the plans are to have this system in place and homologated in time for the 2013 ALMS racing season, which will kick off in March next year. That gives Patrick Racing just under a year to get this system in place, tested, and certified for racing. If this takes off, it could ultimately alter the path that automotive propulsion is taking now – a lean more toward the electric side – and skew it back toward the natural gas/hydrogen direction.

Granted, CNG, LPG, and hydrogen will not overtake electricity in hybrids on the grand stage, but it could bring about a slight shift toward these alternative fuels. We’ll keep a close eye on this project and let you know how it’s going.

DMC creates mini-LP670-4 SV rear wing for Gallardo LP560

One only has to look at the various one-off Pagani Zonda’s to know that when enough cash is on the table, consumers can almost bend car manufacturers to produce custom components and cars at their will. Of course, that doesn’t seem to be the case for Lamborghini.

A Chinese customer is reported to have approached Lamborghini to have an LP670-4 SV wing attached to his Gallardo LP560-4 but interestingly, Lamborghini refused to make the install despite decent money being on the table.

On one hand this does surprise us as installing the SV wing on a Gallardo shouldn’t be all that strenuous but on the other hand, Lamborghini clearly doesn’t like the recycle components from model to model even if it is on a customer’s request.

As a result, the man involved asked DMC Germany and it seems that he got a better deal from DMC than he could have ever hoped for from Lamborghini itself. Rather than just fitting the SV wing to the Gallardo and cutting the legs to fit the car, which Lamborghini probably would have done, DMC Germany managed to completely re-engineer the unit to suit the overall proportions of the Gallardo, as well as not hindering the car’s aerodynamics.

Rather than just spending all this time developing a one-off unit, DMC Germany has decided to put the rear wing on sale for special requests although no pricing details have been released just yet.

Subaru BRZ specs and prices

The Subaru BRZ goes on sale in the UK this summer, with prices ranging from £24,995 to £27,995.
Buyers have the choice of two specifications: SE and SE Lux. Both models feature a 2.0-litre petrol engine that produces 197bhp. A stripped-out S model will join the line-up in 2013.
All models come with 17-inch alloy wheels, a limited-slip differential to provide more grip in corners and dual-zone automatic air-conditioning as standard. The cabin features a leather-trimmed steering wheel, hand brake and gearshift lever, plus a six-speaker stereo.
The BRZ is fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, but is also offered with a six-speed automatic with paddleshifters behind the steering wheel for £1,500 extra. SE Lux trim adds heated leather seats and also carries a £1,500 premium.
Optional extras include sat-nav priced at £1,000 and special paint finishes, priced at £500. When fitted with the automatic gearbox, the BRZ produces emissions of 164g/km.
In addition, every new BRZ will be sold with Subaru's Everything Taken Care of (ETCo) aftercare package that covers a wide range of costs, from minor body and alloy wheel repairs, to an annual wheel alignment check and first MOT.
All Subaru cars are sold in the UK with a three-year / 60,000-mile manufacturer warranty.

VW Golf GTI Cabriolet prices confirmed

The VW Golf GTI Cabriolet is now on sale with prices starting at £29,310 for a six-speed manual, rising to £30,610 for the DSG automatic version.
In keeping with previous Golf GTI models, the Cabriolet features several recognisable exterior design cues - including a honeycomb radiator grille with red edging and GTI badge, along with special 18-inch ‘Monza Shadow’ alloy wheels.
Other features include tartan ‘Jacara’ cloth seats, a leather GTI multifunction steering wheel, stainless steel pedal caps and an electrically operated hood that folds away in 9.5 seconds while travelling at speeds of to 18mph.
The Golf GTI Cabriolet is powered by the same 210bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine found in the GTI hatchback, and comes with a six-speed manual or DSG automatic gearbox. The 0-62mph sprint is covered in 7.3 seconds with either transmission, while top speed is 146mph.
The manual is capable of 37.2mpg with emissions of 177g/km and the DSG fares slightly worse at 36.7mpg and 180g/km.
All Golf Cabriolet models come with automatically deploying rollover protection and seven airbags as standard. Volkswagen's two-door soft-top also boasts a full five-star Euro NCAP crash test safety rating.
The VW Golf GTI Cabriolet is available to order now, with first deliveries due in July.

Hyundai Veloster Turbo at Geneva

The Hyundai Veloster Turbo is due to be revealed at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show this week, and it offers greater performance and sportier looks than the standard model.
It's powered by a 1.6 GDI turbocharged petrol engine that produces 183bhp, and the Veloster can sprint from 0-60mph in 8.4 seconds – over a second faster than the standard 138bhp car. It uses a six-speed manual gearbox.
Exact emissions, fuel economy figures and prices will be released nearer to the UK launch date.
The Turbo retains the 1+2 door design but features a sporty bodykit that incorporates a new grille, rear spoiler and 18-inch alloy wheels. It also gets unique LED headlight accents, new LED tail-lights and comes with two larger exhaust tailpipes that produce a slightly sportier sound.
The Veloster Turbo will also come with Hyundai's Five Year Triple Care warranty.

Volvo S60 - deal of the week

This week's CarBuyer deal of the week is the Volvo S60.
Online broker www.buyacar.co.uk is offering the high-spec D5 R-Design model for just £24,777 – a saving of £5,273 over list price.
The D5 uses a 2.4-litre diesel engine which returns 60mpg and produces emissions of 124g/km.
R-Design trim comes with a manual gearbox, leather sports seats, cruise control, rear parking sensors and sporty 18-inch alloy wheels.
For more information telephone 0845 226 0101 or visit www.buyacar.co.uk

Mazda2 Venture Edition

The Mazda2 Venture Edition is a special edition based on the five-door Mazda2 Tamura.
The Venture Edition comes as standard with a touchscreen TomTom sat-nav, Bluetooth phone connection, climate controlled air-conditioning and rear electric windows as standard.
On the outside, the Venture Edition gets 16-inch alloy wheels, a smart bodykit, front foglights and privacy glass. It's available in a choice of six exterior colours including two unique to this model, called Dolphin Grey and Burgundy Red.
Other standard equipment includes front, side and curtain airbags plus a leather steering wheel with audio controls. The Venture also shares its 1.3-litre petrol engine with the Tamura. It returns 56.5mpg and produces emissions of 115g/km.
Only 1,500 versions will be built, priced from £12,995 - £1,000 more than Tamura.
The Mazda2 Venture Edition is available on a 5.9% APR finance package with up to 36 monthly repayments until 31 July 2012.

Land Rover Freelander 2 production reaches 300,000

The 300,000th Land Rover Freelander 2 was driven off the production line at Jaguar Land Rover's Halewood Operations plant in Merseyside this week.
The milestone was achieved by a 2.2-litre Diesel model in Barolo Black, which is destined for a customer in Brazil - one of Land Rover's fastest-growing markets.
The four-wheel-drive Freelander 2 is offered in the UK with a 2.2-litre diesel engine available in two power outputs: the 150bhp TD4 and the 190bhp SD4.
For buyers looking to maximise fuel consumption, a two-wheel drive model is also available, called the eD4. It produces emissions of 158g/km and returns 47.1mpg.
The Freelander 2 range is priced from £22,250 on the road.

The last Saab 9-3 Convertibles

Saab is no longer in business, but thanks to a group of dedicated workers, you can now buy one of the last 26 remaining hand-finished right-hand drive Saab 9-3 Convertibles.
Saab Parts UK is handling the sale of the 9-3 Convertibles, which will be available to buy through Saab's network of 87 authorised repairers.
Three versions are available, the SE, Aero and Independence Edition. They're fitted with 1.9-litre diesel engines producing 160bhp and 180bhp or 2.0-litre petrol engines with 163bhp and 220bhp, depending on which car you buy.
The Independence Edition (pictured), uses the 180bhp 1.9-litre diesel engine, fitted with a six-speed automatic gearbox. Seven Independence models are now available, featuring Amber Orange metallic paint, 18-inch alloy wheels, sports leather seats, and a leather steering wheel.
The remaining 19 Convertibles offer a high level of specification, including alloy wheels, leather heated front seats, park assist and Bluetooth. Prices start at £22,750, with a range of colours available.
Interested buyers are advised to contact their local Saab authorised repairer to register their interest.

Alfa Romeo part-exchange deal

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Alfa Romeo is currently offering an extra £500 off the price of a Giulietta when you trade in your old car. The deal sees an extra £500 added to the CAP or Glass's Guide valuation, and is offered on the Giulietta 1.4TB (120) Lusso model. It's available when you pay cash or take out Alfa Romeo's personal contract plan or hire purchase schemes. Finance is available with a deposit of £299 and 47 monthly payments of £299.

The Alfa Giulietta Lusso comes with rear parking sensors, cruis control, air-conditioning, Blue&Me phone and MP3 conncetivity and the DNA switch, which changes the car's responses according to your mood.

Also included in the deal, and available on the entire Giulietta range, is Alfa's Preferenza after-sales package. This includes three ears servicing, warranty, paintwork cover and AA roadside assistance, plus an eight-year anti-perforation warranty.

JULY 2012: 2013 Cadillac ATS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To say that Cadillac is chasing the BMW 3 series with this car would be an immense understatement. The ATS’s footprint is such a spot-on copy of the BMW that the Caddy could proverbially step right into the BMW’s shoes. Even the EPA interior space is close, which is no accident at all. With the all-new ATS, Cadillac didn’t want to fit somewhere between Bimmer’s 3 and 5 series, which is what happened to the CTS, as well as Infiniti G sedans and more than one Acura. Nor did Caddy want to make the great mistake Lexus did with its IS—copying the BMW look, but falling down on the job of making a real driver’s car.

Nope, Cadillac says it wanted to beat the BMW 3 series in every part of the game. The ATS is a lighter car, at 3400 pounds, with more engine options that pack more punch. The Caddy’s 2.0-liter four delivers 270 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, topping the 240 hp and 260 lb-ft you’d get from the new 2.0-liter four in the 2012 328i. The ATS also offers a V-6 good for 320 hp, besting the BMW 335i by 20 hp. (Note, however, that the 335i can put down 300 lb-ft to just 267 for the V-6 Cadillac.)

Given what Cadillac has achieved with the CTS, which is a heavy platform, it’s going to be exciting to see what the carmaker can do with its sights set squarely on the lighter and nimbler 3 series. MSRP is still a ways off, but figure the ATS will have very similar pricing to the 3 series, perhaps minus the expensive markups.

Ferrari 599 GTO shot in Belgium

An incredible picture of a Ferrari 599 GTO has already made its way into our ‘Photo of the Week’ a couple of weeks back, and even though the latest addition to our weekly promotion of stunning car photography features the same car, the following GTO shot by Willem Rodenburg showcases Ferrari’s fastest production car from a completely different angle.

Shot in a desolate forest in Brasschaet, Antwerp, Belgium the 599 GTO is showcased from a high-angle which helps to capture the aggressive stance of the car, while the light bursting through the trees directly behind the car help to create one of our very favorite GTO photos.

Being Ferrari’s fastest production car produced to date, and despite the upcoming F70 set to supersede the old Enzo and the 599 GTO, it still produces an impressive 660HP at 8,250 rpm and 457lb-ft of torque thanks to the 6.0-liter V12 engine directly behind the front axle.

As a result, the 599 GTO can launch to 62 mph in less than 3.4 seconds before hitting a top speed of 208 mph.

Be sure to check out Rodenburg’s facebook and flickr pages

: Mini Countryman Coupe does its own testing at Nurburgring

Last month, the Mini Countryman Coupe - or the production version of the Paceman Concept unveiled at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show - was spotted for the first time doing some of its testing. Now the Coupe is back for another round of testing at the Nurburgring race track, this time featuring the future Countryman Coupe in a completely new color.

Minus the two doors giving it a more sporty appeal, the upcoming Countryman Coupe will be similar to its four-door version. We expect to see the same technology and engines as the standard Countryman, which means it will get a 122 HP 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine for the standard model and a turbocharged variant with 184 HP for the S version.

Expect to see the new Mini Countryman Coupe launched at the 2012 Paris Auto Show with sales on the US market to begin as a 2014 model.

Despite incredibly high price-tag, just 10 Lexus LFAs remain to be sold

When Lexus first announced that it planned on selling 20 LFA units monthly (500 total) with each one costing at minimum $375,000, we thought the Japanese brand had lost its mind. However, if reports are to be believed, just 10 units of the LFA are waiting for to be picked up at dealerships across Lexus’ worldwide network of dealerships.

Lexus has yet to confirm or deny these figures, nor has it mentioned whether all 50 LFA Nurburgring Editions have sold. Nevertheless, we very impressed by Lexus’ sales figures of the LFA as it tells us two clear things about the company and the brand.

First of all, it proves just how successful the marketing and sales team at Lexus has been in order to ship out almost all of the LFAs ever produced. It also indicates that the LFA is a true performance car which owners believe is worth the $375,000 - even if on paper, it certainly doesn’t appear to be twice as good as many of its competitors.

As a refresher, the LFA features an incredibly-advanced 4.8-liter V10 engine pumping out 560 HP at a screaming 9,000rpm while an impressive torque figure of 354lb-ft wraps up the performance capabilities of the engine. As a result, the LFA can launch to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds and continue onto a top speed of 202 mph. However, if reports are to be believed, the upcoming LFA II could be twice as fast and twice as expensive

EARLY 2013: BMW i3 Electric City Car

BMW claim that it's new $35,000 Chevy Volt-beater will have 99 miles of range from its rear-mounted electric motor and floor-mounted batteries. BMW (being BMW) is also claiming 100 mph for the car's top speed, and the i3 could bring the equivalent of 150 horsepower. Cargo will be divided between the rear seats and in the front trunk (a la the original, rear-engine VW Beetle). Much of the body will be made of carbon-reinforced plastic.

Wireless charging is one intriguing concepts we hope makes it to market. In conjunction with industrial giant Siemens, BMW is working on a magnetic field charging system, like those used in wireless laptop and cell phone charging pads, where a car would parked above a charging station. At that point, a coil in both the ground and the vehicle would recognize each other and begin the charge. This beats having your Volt or Prius PHV plugged in via wire at a garage or mall for a few hours, where vandalism or other hazards exist.

LATE 2012: Corvette C7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The current 'Vette has looked the same for nearly 13 years. Though it's still an amazing car, delivering Ferrari-like performance for one-fifth the price, it's dated in many respects. Expect a lot from the all-new C7 Corvette, then, with cool exterior cues like a split rear window and a vastly upgraded interior that's well above the coach-class quarters of the present car. But handling, which has always been the car's strongest suit, will remain largely unaltered. Horsepower targets in the 400-450 range would be a safe bet for this $50,000 car, even as GM aims to lower displacement to shave weight and nudge up the fuel economy. There might even be forced induction of some kind, and it's perfectly reasonable to expect direct fuel injection for the newest crown jewel of the Chevy badge

APRIL 2012: 2013 Chevy Camaro ZL1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The best reason to herald the arrival of this ZL1 isn’t the Cadillac CTS-V-derived supercharged V-8 with 580 hp (up from 556 hp in the Caddy), nor is it the top speed of around 180 mph. It’s that Chevy engineers finally listened to those of us who howled about how great the Camaro could be.

Not only does the new ZL1 get a ridiculous amount of muscle good for 0 to 60 runs in the low 4-second range, but it also benefits from revised front and rear dampers as well as antiroll bars. Finally, then, the $54,995 Camaro ZL1 is starting to fulfill its potential to offer supercar driving at a price that more than the 1 percent can afford. Even better: These same revisions will trickle down to the more affordable $31,930 Camaro SS.

FEBRUARY 2012: 2013 Mitsubishi Evo XI

With Mitsubishi scrapping its gas guzzlers and launching brand-new electric and gas-electric hybrids, all aimed at meeting ever-tighter global emissions standards, the rumor mill is suggesting that even the Lancer Evolution is going to go green. Or green-ish. The idea is to keep it high-performance and AWD, but also use some of the technology already behind the forthcoming i-MiEV electric city car and wed it to either a turbodiesel or a gas motor. The potential would still be there for exceptional output when both gas/electric power plants combine, but it's possible Mitsubishi may allow the driver to roll up to highway speeds on battery juice alone, vastly improving fuel economy. Evo XI may become both larger and more refined too, positioning it more naturally against rivals like Audi.

2012 Range Rover

Chevrolet Captiva

Chevrolet’s versatile SUV has just been given a face-lift and looks all the better for it. An imposing split grille in line with Chevrolet’s new family look and double-barrel headlamps are  the most prominent changes to the Captiva’s styling while clear lens tail-lamps complete the makeover.
The seven-seater will also benefit from revised interiors. On the engine front, the 2-litre motor will be replaced by a new 2.2-litre diesel unit. Peak power will see a spike from 148bhp at present to 184bhp on the new engine. Prices are likely to increase by around Rs 1 lakh when the new model is launched in the middle of 2012.
Factfile:

Engine: 2.2-litre diesel

Power/Torque: 184bhp/40.78kgm

Kerb weight: 1878kg

L/W/H: 4673/1879/1727mm

Expected: January 2012

Price: Rs 22-24 lakh

Audi Q3

It may look like a shrunken Q5, but Audi’s latest mini-SUV has a distinct personality of its own. When launched in May 2012, the Q3 will be the most affordable Audi SUV in India. However, there is nothing cheap about the Q3’s quality which is comparable to Audi’s line-up of saloons and larger SUVs. There is fair space for four adults inside while Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system should also ensure you can get a bit adventurous on weekend excursions. The Q3 will be launched with a 176bhp, 2-litre turbo diesel while a 211bhp 2-litre TFSI turbo-petrol engine will also be a part of the model mix. Prices are likely to start at Rs 27 lakh. This could be the game changer for Audi.    

 

Factfile:

Engines: 2-litre turbo-petrol, 2-litre diesel

Power/Torque: 211bhp/30kgm,176bhp 38.7kgm

Kerb weight: 1565-1585kg

L/W/H: 4385/1831/1590mm

Expected: Mid-2012

Price: Rs 25-35 lakh

2014 Audi R8 - Spy Shots

Audi’s mid-engine sports car gets a makeover.

 

It’s hard to imagine the Audi R8 being overdue for an update. The car looks as stunning today as when it was introduced as the Le Mans Quattro Concept during the 2003 Frankfurt Auto Show. Then again, that concept rolled onstage nearly a decade ago, and the production model has been on sale for approximately six years now. While we love the shape of this mid-engine 2-passenger speed machine, there is definitely some room for improvement. One thing Audi isn’t messing with is the overall design; the R8 test mule caught by our spy photographers sports a new front and rear fascia. The shape of the headlights and taillights has been revised, though this prototype looks remarkably similar to the outgoing model.

2014 Audi R8

The most important changes will take place beneath the R8’s sultry lines. Audi is almost guaranteed to dump the dim-witted R-tronic sequential gearbox for its much more refined S-tronic dual clutch transmission. The optional R-tronic has routinely been criticized for being balky and slow to shift. An improved automatic transmission should improve performance and even eke out a few more miles per gallon – not that you buy an R8 for its fuel savings. A 6-speed manual will also be available. The 430-bhp 4.2-liter V-8, along with the optional 525-bhp 5.2-liter V-10, should be mostly carryover, though both motors are likely to have a bit more power than before.
The 2013 Audi R8 should debut later this year, most likely during the Paris Auto Show in September.

2014 Audi R8

Toyota GT 86 prices and specs announced

The Toyota GT 86 coupe arrives in the UK in early July, and is available in two versions: the six-speed manual at £24,995 and the six-speed automatic at £26,495.
Both models come with a limited-slip differential to provide more fun in corners, dual-zone climate control, sports seats, xenon headlights and 17-inch alloy wheels.
Customers have the option of specifying Toyota's Touch and Go satellite navigation, plus and leather or suede upholstery.
The GT 86 is fitted with a front-mounted 2.0-litre engine that produces 197bhp. Power is sent to the rear wheels.
Other standard features include LED daytime running lights, front fog lamps and electric folding door mirrors. It is available in Dark Red, Silver metallic, Black metallic, Blue metallic, Dark Red metallic, Orange metallic and White pearlescent.
The GT 86 is available to order now.
To view the full Toyota range, visit CarBuyer's Toyota reviews page.

Skoda Yeti Urban - deal of the week

Online broker www.carfile.net is offering the Skoda Yeti Urban Special Edition 1.2 TSI or 2.0 TDI, with savings of around £800. We rate the Skoda Yeti highly - our sister title Auto Express, even crowned it their Car of the Year in 2010.
With only 750 units going into production, Urban models are based on the SE trim and include extras worth £2,450 - including sports seats, sat-nav and metallic paint.
The 1.2 TSI is priced at £16,195, the 2.0 TDI is on sale for £17,495.
For more info call 01785 270101, visit www.carfile.net or email info@carfile.net
To view the full Skoda range, visit CarBuyer's Skoda reviews page.

Alfa Romeo part-exchange deal

Alfa Romeo is currently offering an extra £500 off the price of a Giulietta when you trade in your old car. The deal sees an extra £500 added to the CAP or Glass's Guide valuation, and is offered on the Giulietta 1.4TB (120) Lusso model. It's available when you pay cash or take out Alfa Romeo's personal contract plan or hire purchase schemes. Finance is available with a deposit of £299 and 47 monthly payments of £299.

The Alfa Giulietta Lusso comes with rear parking sensors, cruis control, air-conditioning, Blue&Me phone and MP3 conncetivity and the DNA switch, which changes the car's responses according to your mood.

Also included in the deal, and available on the entire Giulietta range, is Alfa's Preferenza after-sales package. This includes three ears servicing, warranty, paintwork cover and AA roadside assistance, plus an eight-year anti-perforation warranty.

The cashback scheme is available until 30 June, and you can find out what we think of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta at our Alfa Romeo homepage.

Post titleMercedes E-Class estate - deal of the week

Online new car specialist www.drivthedeal.com is offering the Mercedes E350 CDI Avantgarde estate for just £30,115 - a saving of £9,500 over list price.
The Avantgarde comes with xenon headlights, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, leather seats and Bluetooth.
Call 08456 26 26 26 for more information or visit www.drivethedeal.com for more new car deals.

Hyundai i30 Tourer enters production

The Hyundai i30 Tourer estate will be made at the company's plant in Nošovice, Czech Republic.
The new estate model is based on the existing five-door i30 hatchback - CarBuyer's 2012 Car of the Year, adding a greater load-carrying capacity. The i30 Tourer offers 528 litres of load space, growing to 1,642 litres with the rear seats folded.
The i30 Tourer will rival the Volkswagen Golf estate and the Ford Focus estate, when it goes on sale later in the summer.
Hyundai has received almost 60,000 orders for the new i30 since its launch, making it the brand's most popular car among European customers in 2012, ahead of the Hyundai ix35. It also achieved a five-star Euro NCAP rating, including a 90 per cent score for child occupants.
The new Tourer is expected to account for around 30 per cent of the model's sales, and will come with Hyundai's Five Year Triple Care warranty.
Full UK prices and specifications will be announced nearer to launch.