Ford Introduces Technology to Inhibit Speeding

Ford Introduces Technology to Inhibit Speeding
Top 10 Most Anticipated 2015 New York Auto Show Debuts
2016 BMW 7 Series Spied in Aggressive Trim
Audi RS3 Rumored for US Approval
Mercedes Plans Midsize Pickup Truck for 2020
Indian Automaker Wants to Buy Pininfarina

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Ford is bringing technology that could keep you from getting a speeding ticket.

The American automaker's new S-Max, which is available in Europe, features an Intelligent Speed Limiter that will automatically adjust the driving speed to stay within legal limits. Before that starts sounding like an annoyance, the system can be activated through steering wheel controls and the driver can also set their own maximum speed before the system's windscreen-mounted camera takes over, monitoring road signs and automatically slowing down the vehicle if the speed limit is lower than the maximum speed set. Of course the system can also be turned off.

SEE ALSO: 2015 Ford Focus ST Review

According to Ford, the system is effective at speeds ranging between 20 and 120 MPH and will smoothly decelerate the vehicle by restricting fuel supplied to the engine, rather than applying the brakes. In a way, it's similar to what an adaptive cruise control system would do, but the Intelligent Speed Limiter also sounds an alarm if the vehicle is traveling downhill and is exceeding the specified speed.

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Top 10 Most Anticipated 2015 New York Auto Show Debuts

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Once again we're headed to the Manzana Grande in search of new cars, pizza and the highest concentration of angry taxi drivers in North America.

This year the Javits Center will host debuts for McLaren, Cadillac and Nissan among many others. Keep on scrolling to see the top 10 cars we're looking forward to most.

10. Mystery Honda Announcement

Our friends at Honda won't even give us an off-the-record hint about what they plan to announce next week so we can only speculate.

Rumors of plans to port the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine from the Civic Type R to an American vehicle are swirling. The European Type R probably won't make a direct transition to this market, but a performance oriented Honda with an engine making 306 hp wouldn't be so bad. Would it?

Let's hope that's what they're bringing.

9. 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid

When the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu arrives, it will mean that Chevrolet finally has a midsize hybrid sedan efficient enough to compete with segment heavyweights.

It might be hard to imagine looking at the Malibu in a positive light after the deplorable eAssist model, but GM promises the new model can average 45 MPG courtesy of technology cribbed from the second-generation Volt. We just might bite if that's really true.

8. 2016 Mazda MX-5

The MX-5 is one of the world's most lovable cars and the ND generation is shaping up to be the best version yet. Even if it isn't news at this point, it's exciting to know that the next Miata will include a Club Edition with more aggressive styling and presumably a tighter suspension.

7. 2016 Lexus RX

Lexus will unveil the next generation of its most important product – the RX crossover – next week. For perspective, roughly one out of every three vehicles that left a Lexus dealer last year was an RX. In total they sold 107,490 of them, which is also more than double the IS sport sedan, it's second-best citizen.

6. 2016 Kia Optima

We don't know very much about the Optima yet other than the fact that it looks really good. Kia says it will be available with a variety of powertrains (probably a 2.4-liter naturally aspirated four cylinder, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder and a hybrid), and technology new to the nameplate.

5. 2016 Scion iM

Scion is going to showcase two new models in New York next week: the iA and iM. The first of those is a badge engineered Mazda2, but the iM is an honest-to-goodness Toyota.

Engineering details about the iM haven't been announced yet, but it's essentially the U.S. market manifestation of the Toyota Auris sold in other markets.

4. 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE 550e

The GLE (called the ML last year) isn't exactly new, but the plug-in hybrid GLE 550e that will debut next week is. It uses a 3.0-liter Biturbo V6 along with a hybrid drive unit built into the seven-speed transmission to generate a total system output of 436 HP and 479 lb-ft of torque.

3. 2016 Nissan Maxima

This is what the 2016 Nissan Maxima looks like. In much the same manner as the Kia Optima that it will compete against directly, we don't have any official details about the parts that make it go.

Despite that, there's a good chance that it will use a V6, probably with a 3.5-liter V6. That engine will almost definitely make somewhere around 300 hp and be linked to a CVT that helps turn the front wheels.

2. 2016 Cadillac CT6

Here's what we know about the CT6 so far: it uses an eight-speed automatic transmission, offers rear- or all-wheel drive with a new 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 that makes 400 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. Oh and the dang thing can come with up to 34 speakers.

1. 2016 McLaren 570S

Would an auto show be an auto show these days without a supercar debut? Probably, but New York won't need to know the answer to that question because McLaren wil be on hand with a 570S. Like other McLaren products, it uses as 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 and is based on a carbon fiber monocoque structure. In this case it makes 570 metric horsepower (562 hp).

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2016 BMW 7 Series Spied in Aggressive Trim

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AutoGuide.com's spy photographers caught BMW testing a prototype version of the next BMW 7 Series in what looks like an M-design trim.

The photos also offer an early look at the interior of the upcoming BMW 7 Series that will be the first product to arrive on a new platform for the German luxury brand. BMW is expected to underpin most of its future rear-wheel drive lineup with the platform, which will rely on a mixed material strategy including carbon fiber reinforced plastic and magnesium among other lightweight materials. The same platform is expected to underpin the upcoming Rolls-Royce SUV.

But BMW might also field a high-performance "M" version of its flagship sedan. BMW M product boss Carsten Pries told AutoGuide.com during an interview at the 2015 North American International Auto Show that there is demand for an M7, but that the company might not be able to make a business case to offer one.

"We always have more ideas than resources," Pries said during the show.

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Audi RS3 Rumored for US Approval

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The historically Europe-only Audi RS3 might finally be available through U.S. dealers in the current generation.

Audi hasn't officially confirmed plans to market the high-performance version of its MQB-based small sedan here, but enthusiast forum Fourtitude reports that the company is discussing the possibility of selling the hotter sub-compact in this market during the Audi of America all employee meeting held yesterday in Maryland.

Audi currently sells the RS3 in Europe as a hatchback, which would contradict the current generation's sedan-only strategy in the U.S. market if it shipped here as-is. Were that to be the case, the car would boast a 2.5-liter TFSI gasoline engine with 362 hp mated to an all-wheel drive system and either a manual or an Stronic dual-clutch gearbox.

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[Source: Fourtitude]

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Mercedes Plans Midsize Pickup Truck for 2020

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Mercedes-Benz will market a pickup truck aimed at Europe, Australia, Latin America and South Africa by 2020.

The new midsize truck, not to be confused with the AMG 6×6 shown above, will be built by its commercial van division and have a metric ton of payload capacity (roughly 2,200 lbs).

"The Mercedes-Benz pickup will contribute nicely to our global growth targets," Daimler chairman and Mercedes-Benz boss Dieter Zetsche said. "We will enter this segment with our distinctive brand identity and all of the vehicle attributes that are typical of the brand with regard to safety, comfort, powertrains, and value."

Mornhinweg, head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, told the Wall Street Journal that Mercedes hasn't made a final decision yet on whether it will try to compete in the U.S. market or not. If the company chose to sell its new truck in this market, it would face the 25 percent "chicken tax" that typically dissuades automakers from importing trucks. For example, Volkswagen sells its Amarok pickup in Mexico, but not in the U.S. because of the tax.

Mercedes said the number of pickup trucks being used for private purposes around the world is increasing and that customers are asking for vehicles that offer more car-like specifications. The company said it plans to be the first premium automaker to fill that niche.

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Indian Automaker Wants to Buy Pininfarina

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India's largest SUV manufacturer is eyeing the company responsible for designing the Ferrari Testarossa.

Mahindra & Mahindra is in talks to buy Italian design house Pininfarina SpA, according to a report by Bloomberg. The Indian automaker is still in negotiations and no deal has been confirmed, but Pininfarina's stock jumped 26 percent Wednesday, its biggest gain in nearly four years. The boost share price valued the company at $170 million.

Founded in 1930, Pininfarina has been struggling with debt after posting losses in 10 of its past 11 years. The company has a relationship with Mahindra on SUV design and worked with the Indian automaker last year on the Halo electric sports-car concept.

Last year, Mahindra agreed to purchase Peugeot Motocycles SA and also owns Korean automaker Ssanygong Motor Co. from an acquisition in 2011.

[Source: Bloomberg]

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Car Reviews

Friday, 27 March 2015