Subaru has unveiled its North American WRX STI specs at the LA Auto Show. The engine is a 2.5L H4 producing 305hp and 290lb-ft/lbs of torque.
The Scooby has been outfitted with an updated version of their Driver Controlled Center Differential (DCCD) AWD system. Power can be distributed between 41/59 to 50/50 front/rear. There’s three automatic modes, track, street, and snow, with a manual mode that can override the system. A driver selectable stability control system comes standard to keep things in check should the driver find themselves in a hairy situation. Brembo brakes and massive vented brake rotors ensure that the WRX STI stops on a dime.
The 2008 Subaru WRX STI is priced to begin at $34,995 American, making it one of the most affordable high performance year round daily drivers on the market.
[Source: Auto North]
Honda’s latest offering for you tree huggers environmentally engaged citizens out there is the FCX Clarity, a zero-emission, hydrogen powered fuel car that gets some impressive mileage stats. Honda tells us that the FCX Clarity will get a combined fuel-economy of 68mpg with a vehicle range of up to 270 miles! Based on Honda’s new V Flow fuel cell platform, the company announced plans to begin limited retail marketing of the vehicle in the summer months of 2008.
How much is it gonna cost? I couldn’t really tell you, to be honest. Full details of the production and limited retail sales won’t actually be announced until much closer to launch. I can tell you that current plans consist of a three-year lease term with a price of $600 per month, including maintenance and collision insurance.
Now my only question is WHY MUST IT LOOK LIKE A PRIUS?!
[Source: eGMCarTech]
Hyundai revealed yet another daring concept car at the LA Auto Show, this one a little more risque. Designed to appeal to the Y-generation, the Veloster concept coupe evokes a futuristic, high tech feeling.
The name supposedly stems from a combination of the words “velocity” and “roadster” and Hyundai execs hope to combine an iconic design with great value and robust construction.
Specs remain under wraps for the most part, but we can tell you that this car will be built on a FWD platform, and powered by a 2.0L DOHC 4 cyl engine mated to a 5 speed manual transmission.
We really like the direction Hyundai is taking, and they are definitely buzzworthy. The styling of this vehicle is a bit too radical, even for this member of generation Y. What are your thoughts?
[Source: 4WheelsBlog.com]
It really is a shame we couldn’t be there in person for the unveiling of the Genesis Coupe at the LA Auto Show. Nope, instead we have to live vicariously through our friends at Autoblog. There, they managed to get some juicy details about this thing, as well as some awesome photos.
Here’s the facts:
The Genesis Coupe and the next generation Tiburon (or its replacement) are 2 different vehicles.
The car you see here is adorned with all kinds of carbon fiber goodies, however this is not a final production model. Obviously to keep cost down, the carbon fiber stuff will likely have to go when we do get to see the production model in March 2008.
Hyundai used the BMW E46 M3 (last gen) as a performance and quality benchmark. Boy are we glad they did! The top notch engine for the Genesis Coupe will be Hyundai’s 3.8L V6 which produces 300 horses. A slightly less powerful turbocharged 4 cyl will also be available. Brembo will be supplying the brakes, and a limited slip differential will be helping to ensure power makes it to the ground as efficiently as possible.
All we know is that this thing is freaking SWEET and we can’t wait to get our hands on more information for you.
Make the jump to read Hyundai’s official press release!
[Source: Autoblog]
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Hyundai has just released these renderings of the upcoming Genesis Coupe concept ahead of the official debut of the real deal at the LA Auto Show in a few weeks. You can bet we’ll be on that the way a fat kid is on his Halloween candy.
Hyundai has been mum on specific details, other than to offer a small press release seen below. This means its time to get speculative!
Obviously the coupe will be RWD, but will it come with the V8 Tau engine built for the Genesis sedan? While we really really hope so, the official concept to be presented at the LA Auto show may only come with the 3.8L v6. Still not a bad offering, but if the real car looks as radical and badass as the renderings will lead us to belive, it would be pretty lame of Hyundai not to show us a V8.
With a resurrected interest in Hyundai, we are reminded that a few months ago we proposed a question to our readers: Should Hyndai create a luxyry subdivision?
We want to know your thoughts!
[Source: Hyundai]
PRESS RELEASE:
Hyundai to Unveil Concept Genesis Coupe:
LAS VEGAS, October 30, 2007 – Concept Genesis Coupe (shown here as an exaggerated sketch) will make its world debut at the 2007 Los Angeles International Auto Show on Weds. November 14. Concept Genesis Coupe hints at design direction for a future rear-wheel drive sports coupe from Hyundai.
Our friends over at Autoblog were present at this year’s SEMA car show, and they managed to see firsthand the Cobalt SS Turbo we had reported on earlier. Seems we were wrong about suggesting GM’s L850 LNF 2.0 turbo 4 would be detuned for use in the Cobalt. The car comes with all 260hp and 260 lbs-ft of torque that can be had in the Solstice GXP/Sky Redline. That’s a ton of power to those front wheels. Its a good thing GM added a John Heinricy tuned FE5 sport suspension that saw development time on the Nürburgring Nordschleife to try and keep all 4 wheels on the road.
We sure wish we could have been at SEMA to report on this and so much more, but unfortunately we were stuck thousands of miles away. To get the rest of the dish on this hot tuner, head over to Autoblog!
Cadillac wants its CTS to be seen as a performance player in the luxury segment, and to try and sway public opinions, they have entered a hopped up CTS for the SEMA show. Admittedly, “hopped up” may be a bit of a stretch, since, as far as we can tell, the only additional performance parts are a free flowing Corsa cat-back exhaust and some upgraded brakes. Still, power is rated at 304-hp, coming from a 3.6L Direct Injection V-6.
Most of the modifications to the car were aesthetic, which is fine. Judging by the press pictures, this thing looks badass. The CTS Sport boats new front and rear facia as well as an aggressive looking hood, all air vents covered by a mesh grill.
There’s a lot more info on this sexy CTS, but you’ll have to make the jump to see the rest of the high res pictures and the official press release!
[Source: Autoblog]
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Honda has confirmed plans to build a production version of the CR-z hybrid sports car. We reported earlier that the CR-z was considered a successor to the highly popular compact sports coupe, the CRX from a few years back. Though no dates were given by Honda execs as to when the car would hit the sales floor, sources close to Honda have suggested a launch between late-2009 and mid-2010.
At the Tokyo Auto Show, Honda’s execs explained that their vision of the production CR-Z will be a compact, lightweight sports car powered by the latest iteration of Honda’s hybrid IMA powertrain, promising to deliver low emissions and fuel consumption figures, without sacrificing performance potential.
We’re pretty stoked that this concept will see the light of day as a production model, but we’re guessing that some aesthetic changes will have to be made first in order for this vehicle to become consumer friendly. Check back on Driver’s Life for more details!
[Source: Car Scoop]
Audi’s answer to the BMW Mini comes in the form of the A1 (officially called the Audi metroproject Quattro), and from the looks of things, in exchange for “cutesy” styling, they’ve given it some attitude. You may recall an earlier post in which we pointed out that Audi execs still weren’t sure about the final design of the A1, on the cusp of the Tokyo Auto show. Seems like that’s been taken care of, as you can now see. The A1 offers a much more grown up and demure take on the sub compact segment, and even though this car doesn’t scream for attention, it is still undeniably an Audi.
We now know that power will come from a 1.4L TSFI engine mated to a 41 HP electric motor which is mounted on the rear axle, producing 150 horses and 147 lbs-ft. of torque. Because of the placement of the motor, the A1 can be plugged directly into an outlet. Audi estimates a 100 km range when running solely on the lithium-ion batteries. Choice of transmission is limited. Very limited. An S-tronic dual-clutch gearbox is all that will be available for the A1 at this point.
Despite the relatively low horsepower and torque figures, the A1 is capable of a 0-60 sprint in 7.8 seconds. Not too shabby. Handling should be even more impressive, however, thanks to Audi’s magnetic ride shock absorber technology, found on the Audi TT and R8.
We should have much more information about the A1 after it is presented at the Tokyo Auto show. See below for some high resolution images of the A1, and stay tuned to Driver’s Life for updates.
[Source: Motor Authority]
You can thank Inside Line for this one! The Nissan GT-R is going to be the unrivaled star at the Tokyo Auto Show next week and we’ve got high resolution photos of the car in all its undisguised glory!
Through the photos we can discern that this car, capable of 0-60 in 3.5 seconds will also be relatively practical. The trunk is spacious enough that it can even fit your mother in law should you decide to take a “road trip.” Interior shots indicate that the dashboard is quite tame, the steering wheel is nice and thick, and there are even back seats in case you wanted company on your aforementioned “road trip.”
Make sure to read the rest of the article for the pictures.
[Source: Inside Line]
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