So here’s a fairly significant moment for anyone who’s been religiously following the development of the latest seventh generation 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray with the Z51 package. MotorTrend recently was able to get behind the wheel of one recently.
Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Corvette.
And in the 12-minute video that we’ve provided via some HTML language after the jump, MT’s Carlos Lago provides an idea of what the latest Corvette Stingray is like to drive, both in instrumented testing and on the road.
But most of all, you get to hear Lago open up the taps on the all-new 6.2L LT1 V8.
Check out the video after the jump.
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Mini revealed a concept version that essentially precedes the next generation Mini Cooper, called the Mini Vision Concept. And despite the fact that the Mini Cooper will be going into its third generation, the styling pretty much remains virtually the same—and rightfully so. Much like Porsche with their signature 911, it’s hard to change something that’s already been successful as is.
But here, with the Mini Vision Concept, it’s clear that the designers have been able to evolve the design into a more contemporary example. And altogether, the new Mini Vision Concept isn’t that shabby to look at.
No details have been spared with the press release regarding power and performance, or when the production version will be revealed. But Mini did use the opportunity to showcase a new Driving Experience Control mode selector, which varies the Mini Vision’s onboard systems according to the driver’s input.
For full details, check out the press release after the jump.
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Ford Motor Company and Toyota Motor Company both released press releases in tandem with one another to confirm that any of their plans to collaborate on hybrid technology have been sacked.
According to previous rumors, Ford and Toyota were going to coproduce an all-new hybrid system designed for applications in light trucks, SUVs and crossovers. The plans were initially announced in August of 2011.
Ford said that they will continue research and developing their own “world-class hybrids” in-house, while Toyota will be doing the same.
For full details on both press releases, check them out after the jump.
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TheDetroitNews reports that Chrysler will apparently be extending the production life of the Dodge Avenger, Jeep Wrangler, and the Dodge Grand Caravan, according to insider sources with material supplies.
Chrysler has been recently known to be hard at work, trying to figure out how to proceed and execute Dodge’s plans for the future. As of now, the Dodge Avenger will supposedly continue production until the end of 2015, while the current Jeep Wrangler may go until 2018, and the Dodge Grand Caravan until 2017.
However, when TheDetroitNews inquired with Chrysler directly, a spokeswoman denied any comment. If the production extensions hold to be true though, chances are that Chrysler is trying to buy some extra time to make sure they do a proper job on their future models while avoiding a disruption in supply chain demand.
- By: Chris Chin
Source: TheDetroitNews
Aston Martin confirmed in a recent press release that the small British supercar maker has moved a step closer to joining forces with Mercedes-Benz AMG GmbH. The result is that Mercedes-Benz AMG has acquired around 5%’s worth of shares of Aston Martin. And in the process, Mercedes will be supplying Aston with mechanical resources, such as providing assistance with the development of future V8 powertrains.
“We have selected AMG specifically as the basis for this powertrain development process,” Aston Martin product development director Ian Minards said in the press release, “Aston Martin sources cutting edge technology from key suppliers around the globe and the opportunity to include content from Mercedes-AMG GmbH in our next generation sports cars is, clearly, good news.”
Aston Martin has been in dire need of partnership as many automobile manufacturers have combined forces in the form of cooperative ownerships, especially to achieve future fuel economy mandates. Now, this assistance from the intelligent boffins at Mercedes-Benz will alleviate some of the pressure weighing down on Aston as they make way for a new generation of cars.
For full details, check out the press release after the jump.
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When I saw the Hyundai Veloster for the first time during its inaugural year in 2011, I thought: this is it, Hyundai’s brand new chance to really prove their worth in the hatchback wars. And it’s rather hard to deny, considering the Veloster’s inspiringly bold yet attractive design that just convincingly says, “come drive me, you’ll love me.”
Couple its ambitious design to the fact that Hyundai represents one of the greatest automotive turnarounds in all of automotive history, many of us in the automobile journalism world—including myself—had fairly high expectations. I in particular, thought this could possibly be worthy of being a competitor to the proverbial hatchback leader, the Volkswagen Golf. The South Korean automaker has been getting a lot of things right as of recent, offering up some seriously compelling alternatives to the already familiar mass-market automobile manufacturers, so why should the ball stop rolling for them?
Click here for more news on the Hyundai Veloster.
Though, when I had the chance to sample a friend’s 2012 Hyundai Veloster last year, I walked away a little disappointed. It didn’t quite meet my expectations of being a car for the driving enthusiast. Its lackadaisical engine, lifeless steering, and odd body motions left a feeling like I can’t get no satisfaction. It was like being convinced that you’ve just met a girl worthy of keeping around—she’s strikingly beautiful, smart and charming, but only to find out that she’s an ironing board in bed.
In my eyes, the Veloster was no different than Toyota’s equivalently hip and trendy Scion tC, which on paper and aesthetically, always seemed like it would deliver at least some goods associated with driving fun, without actually delivering—though it was plenty fine at everything else. And to further grasp the fast-changing lifestyles of the younger generations—like Scion—Hyundai introduced a much more culturally focused alternative to the base Veloster and the top dog Veloster Turbo: the limited release 2013 Hyundai Veloster RE:MIX, which sits at the middle of the pack price and equipment wise. So, what do you get?
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Toyota released some official pictures on its homepage in mainland Japan of their latest Harrier crossover SUV, which is in essence, the Japanese Domestic Market version of our Lexus RX. That said, the designs have always nearly been exactly the same—minus some specific details depending on our countries’ differing safety laws and aesthetic differences varying between Lexus and Toyota.
More importantly, the 2014 Harrier provides us with a glimpse as to what our updated Lexus RX could look like—again, just look at the pictures, and imagine that it has Lexus badges on it. If you really need to, you could also always bust out Photoshop.
Speculation in the rumor sphere points at a following RX update very soon, perhaps sometime later this year.
- By: Chris Chin
Source: Toyota.jp via WCF
AutomotiveNews reports that Cadillac is pretty adamant about changing its logo for the first time in more than a decade. Insider sources apparently spoke to the news outlet, who learned that the wreaths around the crest of the logo often resulted in negative reactions amongst potential customers. And that’s obviously because Cadillac was once the automobile of choice for retirees and great grandparents.
“Every time it was tested, the reaction was almost universally negative,” AN was told by the insider, “The wreath is seen as outdated and obsolete.”
Should Caddy reveal a new logo, it could see the light of day as early as next month at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California on a concept car. The redesigned badge could see production sometime in 2015, if not earlier—depending on the feedback. Historically speaking, Cadillac’s logo is the 11th version ever since the brand’s first version in 1902.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: AutomotiveNews
Mercedes-Benz recently released a video on their YouTube account, sharing the story of how the latest 2014 S-Class flagship sedan came to be.
Of course, this was no easy task for the Silver Arrow as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class is and has been a pinnacle ever since the first one was truly born quite a few decades below. This is even particularly important because this is the first S-Class to be completely redesigned from the ground up after the DaimlerChrysler “merger of equals” ended in 2007—a year after the last generation S-Class was introduced.
Click here for more news on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
And most will agree, Mercedes-Benz suffered some tough years during their DaimlerChrysler years. Though because of its long-standing tradition for being the outstanding automobile that it is, the new S-Class is in terms of build quality, reliability and durability—three majorly defining points of what makes a great Mercedes-Benz. And let’s not forget attention to detail and craftsmanship, all of which seem to permeate through this latest generation.
It’s almost 16 minutes worth of documentary footage, and it’ll certainly provide for your lunch break. Check it out after the jump.
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Mitsubishi Motors and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have issued a recall for the 2013 Outlander Sport. A defect was found for 305 units for an improperly welded stabilizer link on the front strut towers.
They are at risk of severing, according to the statement, which could increase the risk of crash by significantly altering the handling and braking characteristics of the car.
Mitsubishi will of course notify all of the owners affected by this recall and will replace the entire assembly free of charge.
For full details, check out the press release after the jump.
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