Wednesday, 1 April 2015

2016 Honda Civic gets VTEC Turbo, Hatchback Bodystyle

2016 Honda Civic gets VTEC Turbo, Hatchback Bodystyle

2016 Honda Civic gets VTEC Turbo, Hatchback Bodystyle

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Surprising the automotive industry, Honda revealed a new Civic at the New York Auto Show today. This so-called concept strongly hints at what the 10th-generation car will look like when it goes on this fall.

The biggest news of this sneak reveal is that Honda has confirmed the upcoming Civic will feature a turbocharged 1.5-liter VTEC engine. Gearbox options include a six-speed manual and one of Honda's continuously variable transmissions.

Beyond this exciting powertrain news the car will be sold as a hatchback in the U.S. once again. For the first time ever Honda is offering a five-door model in the American market. This body-style will be sold alongside sedan, coupe and Si models.

Complete 2015 New York Auto Show Coverage

All variants share the same basic architecture — an all-new platform — one that's larger and safer than ever. The 10th generation Civic was developed in America and designed at Honda's studio in Los Angeles. It will be built in North America as well.

Worldwide more than 20 million Honda Civics have been sold since the car was introduced back in the early 1970s. The new model should excite exiting customers and attract new buyers.

The sedan model is expected to land on the market first, followed by the coupe and finally the hatchack. Look for the all-hew Honda Civic at dealers this autumn. Further enticing enthusiasts Honda officially announced that they will bring the Civic Type R to the American market.

Discuss this story on our Honda Civic Forum.

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Honda Civic Type R Confirmed for America

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The compact car segment in North America is about to get a lot hotteR.

That's because Honda will bring its new Civic Type R to the U.S. in the near future.

Speaking at the debut of the 2015 Honda Civic Coupe concept today at the New York International Auto Show, American Honda Motor Co. Executive Vice President John Mendel asked the gathered media if they thought the new European-market Civic Type R should be sold in North America.

SEE ALSO: 10 Sports Cars the Civic Type R Beat Around the Nurburgring

The crowd reacted with applause and Mendel responded that he's in agreement.

Mendel confirmed that the 2016 Civic sedan and coupe will arrive later this year, but did not specify exactly when the Type R would go on sale.

SEE ALSO: Honda Civic Type R First Look

Powered by a turbocharged VTEC 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine the Civic Type R makes 305 hp and can hit 62 mph in just 5.7 seconds. It also boasts a record setting Nururgring lap time of just 7:50.

Discuss this story at our 10th Generation Honda Civic Forum

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Cadillac ELR to be Axed

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Cadillac's slow-selling plug-in hybrid coupe won't be a part of the brand's future.

Speaking to AutoGuide.com at the New York International Auto Show, brand president Johan de Nysschen confirmed that the ELR will stick around in the short term, but not beyond.

"The ELR will continue through its lifecycle," he said, however, "I don't' think we will create a next-generation, compact, two-door, gorgeously styled alternative powertrain successor to ELR."

That doesn't mean the end of green cars for Cadillac, which, says de Nysschen, "will continue to offer alternative powertrain technologies in our cars."

In fact, Cadillac is already preparing to launch a plug-in hybrid version of its all new CT6 full-size luxury sedan. Unveiled at the New York show, the CT6 is aimed at German rivals like the BMW 7 Series. When it first hits the market it will be available with a 400 hp twin-turbo V6, as well as a choice of either a naturally aspirated V6 or a turbocharged 4-cylinder.

Introduced in 2013, the ELR sold just 1,310 units in 2014 according to GoodCarBadCar.net. So far in 2015, just 311 units have been purchased.

It's not clear when the ELR will officially end production, however, considering it shares numerous powertrain components with the original Volt, and that car is being replaced for 2016, it could be soon.

Discuss this story at our Cadillac forum

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2016 Optima is a Bright Star in Kia’s Future

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The 2016 Kia Optima just debuted here at the New York Auto Show after going through a careful transition into a new generation under the watchful eye of supreme design leader Peter Schreyer.

Following closely in the footsteps Kia imprinted during the Geneva Motor Show with its Sportspace concept, the new Optima looks like a step in the right direction for the South Korean auto brand. Two powertrains from the previous generation – a 2.4-liter direct injection four-cylinder engine and a 2.0-liter turbocharged direct injection four-pot – carry over offering 185 hp and 247 respectively. Those are both paired to six-speed automatic transmission, but there's also a third powertrain on the menu. Starting in 2016, the Optima will also be available with a 1.6-liter turbocharged four linked to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. If that sounds familiar it's because this is the Kia counterpart to Hyundai's new Sonata Eco. 2016-Kia-Optima-02

This time around the Sonata is slightly wider and longer than it was before, but only by fractions of an inch in each measure, which is enough to claim improved passenger space, but only marginally so.

Kia also made a point of improving the interior with real stitching on the dashboard and doors along with more soft touch material. Standard fare among the Kia line like heated and cooled front seats are still part of the package, but the company is also offering a power height adjustable front passenger seat to make outward visibility better for the vertically challenged among us.

Cloth and leather seat upholstery are both available, but high grade Nappa leather is also part of the Optima's options list.

Aside from premium materials, Kia is also offering a new suite of technologies through its UVO infotainment system to let parents keep track of young drivers. Now you'll get an alert if your little rebel drives outside a pre-set radius. You will also be able to tell if they are driving recklessly with a new "driving score" feature. The car also has a curfew and speed alert to circumvent the "I lost track" excuse.

Kia didn't announce pricing today, but sales of the new Optima are scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of the year.

Discsuss this article at our Kia forum

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Subaru STI Performance Concept Makes 350 HP

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Not only is Subaru synonymous with reliable, safe, efficient transportation but also with performance thanks to its turbocharged boxer engines and standard all-wheel drive. This Japanese automaker is emphasizing its STI division here at the 2015 New York Auto Show.

They revealed this aggressively modified BRZ coupe earlier today, of course that's the only car in Subaru's lineup that doesn't use all-wheel drive. Called the STI Performance Concept it's spearheading an expansion of the company's in-house go-fast group. Of course STI has three core areas of focus and they include hawking aftermarket parts, participating in motorsports and selling specially modified vehicles.

Complete 2015 New York Auto Show Coverage

This concept is designed to highlight the engineering capabilities of Subaru's skunkworks and it actually features a potent engine that was developed for the BRZ Super GT racecar. Its 2.0-liter four-cylinder delivers around 350 hp, quite an upgrade from the 200 ponies found under the hood of a standard BRZ. Additionally this concept is graced with various suspension and aerodynamic enhancements that should make it run faster and turn harder.

Spreading the joy of performance, more STI-modified Subaru models will be offered in the U.S. market going forward. There's no official word which ones might get the treatment, but the BRZ is a pretty obvious choice. Additionally the company says these upcoming models could receive even more extensive modifications than found in previous STI cars, meaning the division could become even more hard core.

Discuss this story on our Subaru BRZ Forum.

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Mercedes Concept GLC Coupe Teased in Sketch

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Mercedes is teasing its replacement for the GLK in a new sketch.

Called the GLC Concept Coupe, Mercedes will reveal the new concept at the Shanghai Auto Show at the end of April. Mercedes says that it is a "near-production-standard study which transforms the successful GLE Coupe formula into a more compact segment."

SEE ALSO: Mercedes GLC Exposed in Spy Photos

The GLC will shed the GLK's boxy styling in favor of a rounded look, falling in line with the larger GLE when it comes to style. Powertrains are still unknown, although we expect the GLC to share its powerplants with the new C-Class, seeing as the two ride on the same platform. That means a 2.0-liter turbo four cylinder and a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 with 329 hp will be offered along with a plug-in hybrid variant.

Discuss this story at our Mercedes-Benz forum

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