McLaren 650S Le Mans Edition Honors Famed Race

McLaren 650S Le Mans Edition Honors Famed Race
Audi Not Advertising During 2015 Super Bowl
Jaguar F-PACE Crossover Spied Testing
VW Considering Golf R400, Van for U.S.
Hyundai Spied Testing Prius-Fighting Hybrid
Redesigned 2016 Honda Pilot Coming This Year

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McLaren is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a special model.

The British automaker announced the McLaren 650S Le Mans, a limited edition model that features design and styling inspired by the race-winning chassis #01R McLaren F1 GTR including its iconic roof-mounted "snorkel" air intake. The special edition model was designed by McLaren Special Operations with consultation from Peter Stevens, the designer of the iconic F1. Available in coupe form only, the 650s Le Mans comes with lightweight 19-inch wheels in the front and 20-inch wheels in the rear and McLaren Orange calipers.

Performance remains the same as the standard production 650S with 641 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque but the 650S Le Mans does benefit from carbon fiber features including the front splitter and rear bumper. The limited edition model also gets MSO-developed extended side blades and the distinctive MSO rear diffuser. Inside, the automaker has outfitted the McLaren 650S Le Mans with black leather and Alcantara while the sport seats are finished in black with contrasting McLaren Orange Alcantara.

SEE ALSO: 2015 McLaren 650S Review

Limited to just 50 units worldwide, the McLaren 650S Le Mans will begin deliveries in mid-2015. Owners of the vehicle will receive an exclusive invitation to join the automaker at the 20th anniversary celebration at the Le Mans circuit. Pricing in the U.S. was not announced, but it will be priced at £244,500 ($370,660) in the UK.

"With a mix of subtle design traits, the 650S Le Mans adds a modern twist by blending the iconic lines of the McLaren F1, and heritage features such as the wing louvres and the roof-mounted air intake, with groundbreaking technologies," said Peter Stevens. "It is a fantastic homage to that original design, and to the incredible race result achieved by the team in 1995 at one of the most difficult, and most challenging races in the world."

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Audi Not Advertising During 2015 Super Bowl

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Audi is the latest automaker to announce its intentions to not run a commercial during this year's Super Bowl.

For the first time in seven years the German luxury automaker won't advertise during the big game. "While the NFL remains an important platform for reaching our consumers, we won't be investing in the game this year," an Audi spokesman told Automotive News. Ford, Lincoln, Volkswagen and Jaguar have also announced that they will not advertise during football's biggest game this year.

SEE ALSO: 2013 Audi Super Bowl Commercial

Right now, six brands are expected to field ads during the 2015 Super Bowl: BMW, Kia, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Toyota. Last year's game, which set a record as the most viewed TV program ever with 111.5 million viewers, saw 11 automakers run commercials.

[Source: Automotive News]

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Jaguar F-PACE Crossover Spied Testing

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Jaguar's F-PACE performance crossover is getting ready to hit the market.

Seen here in our spy photos, the F-PACE takes its design cues from the CX-17 concept and will be the "the ultimate practical sports car," according to the brand. The crossover will use the aluminum unibody and modular chassis developed for Jaguar's new XE entry-level sedan.

Powertrain options are also likely to carry over from the XE, which means the F-PACE will have a turbocharged four-cylinder and an optional supercharged six-cylinder. Both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive should be available.

"The Jaguar F-PACE, inspired by the F-TYPE, represents a perfectly judged balance of style, performance and practicality," said Ian Callum, Director of Jaguar Design, at the official announcement for the F-PACE. "It offers a unique combination of Jaguar sports car inspired exterior design, fused beautifully with a thoroughly practical and spacious luxury interior. The F-PACE is our family sports car."

The F-PACE will go on sale in 2016.

Discuss this story at our Jaguar Forum

VW Considering Golf R400, Van for U.S.

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Volkswagen's product offensive may be larger than just new crossovers and SUVs.

Hans-Jakob Neusser, VW's development chief told Automotive News that the decision on whether or not to green light the high-performance Golf R400 is coming very soon. "We are just in front of the decision to do it or not, but I personally think that we have good conditions to do it," Neusser said. The R400 use a 394-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that sends power to all four wheels, giving it a 0 to 62 mph sprint of 3.9 seconds.

The CEO of VW America, Michael Horn, told Auto News about an entirely different product that the brand may offer in the future: a van. "We're studying this, and personally I believe we should do something based on the technology which we already have in this market," said Horn. One option mentioned by the CEO was the next-generation Crafter which is currently a Mercedes Sprinter-based commercial van, but will be moving onto its own platform when VW's deal with Daimler ends this year. A small van, like the MQB-based Caddy, is another possible candidate for US adoption.

Introducing a new midsize crossover and a long-wheelbase redesigned Tiguan model are priorities for VW America right now and the company sees the potential for even more crossover models in the future. "I think first we have to make our two core models right, the Tiguan and the midsize SUV, but then there's room for derivatives whether they're priced upwards or priced downwards," Horn said. "There's definitely more potential in the market."

[Source: Automotive News]

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Hyundai Spied Testing Prius-Fighting Hybrid

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Hyundai is moving forward with its plans to compete with the Toyota Prius.

Last time we saw Hyundai testing hybrid prototypes, the cars were Hyundai Elantra GT mules that had been fitted with a hybrid powertrain. These new photos reveal that the Hyundai hybrid now has a body of its own which appears to resemble the aerodynamic shape of the Prius quite closely. Up front, horizontal grille slats, blue-accented headlights and LED daytime running lights are fitted.

Our spy photographer managed to grab a shot from below that shows off orange high-voltage cables and a sticker that tips off this car's hybrid powertrain. A 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder engine is expected to power this car, hooked up to an electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack. A plug-in hybrid version will arrive 12 to 18 months after the car is launched.

Initially, a five-door hatchback will be the only body style, but the lineup will expand to more directly compete with the Prius family.

The new Hyundai hybrid is expected to be a 2017 model year vehicle.

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Redesigned 2016 Honda Pilot Coming This Year

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Honda has some vehicle reveals in store for 2015.

Shortly after the new HR-V hits the market, "we'll introduce an all-new Pilot SUV that will redefine what is possible with an eight-passenger midsize SUV," John Mendel, executive vice president of Honda's U.S. division told Edmunds. The new Pilot is supposed to be larger than the current one, though it will likely retain the same 3.5-liter V6 it uses today.

The Pilot isn't the only new vehicle coming from Honda in the near future. "Further ahead, a completely reengineered Ridgeline pickup. And we have some more excitement on the passenger car side of our lineup this year as well." It is still unknown whether the new Ridgline will be a 2016 model or a 2017. Based on teaser photos, the new small pickup from Honda appears to have a more traditional truck appearance than before.

As for its cars, Honda is getting ready to introduce a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine lineup which should be featured in at least one Honda vehicle before the end of 2015. A new electric car along with a plug-in hybrid model are also being added to Honda lineup by 2018 confirmed Mendel.

[Source: Edmunds]

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Car Reviews

Tuesday, 20 January 2015

McLaren 650S Le Mans Edition Honors Famed Race

McLaren 650S Le Mans Edition Honors Famed Race

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