2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe Teased Again

2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe Teased Again
Jeep Renegade Trackhawk Confirmed for Production
Hyundai’s Prius-Fighting Hybrid Spied Up Close and Personal
2016 Toyota Prius Unveil Set for September 8
Audi e-tron Quattro Concept Previews Electric SUV
Top 10 Ford Mustangs of All Time

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Mercedes-AMG is still teasing the C63 coupe despite it leaking on the Internet yesterday.

The latest official teaser image shows the standard C-Class coupe along with the Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe partially obscured by clever photo editing. This is the best official look we have yet on the C63 AMG coupe, which is expected to share its powertrain with the existing C63 sedan. That means the standard model will have around 469 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque while the C63 S AMG coupe will have 503 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque.

Styling changes will include a more aggressive front end, which can be seen in the teaser image, as well as a different front grille that is used on other AMG models. More aggressive wheels sporting a classy, mesh design fit the coupe's body lines nicely while carbon fiber accents can be seen on the mirrors and front bumper and will likely be on the rear diffuser and spoiler as well.

The Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe will make its official debut at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show next month, but at the rate things are going, we'll likely see the full unveil this week.

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Jeep Renegade Trackhawk Confirmed for Production

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Jeep's new small crossover will be getting a high-performance Trackhawk variant.

Motor Authority reports that the Jeep Renegade Trackhawk has been confirmed for production and will likely come with a new 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes around 300 hp. An all-wheel drive setup will get that power to the ground while the transmission that will be used is still unknown.

The Jeep Renegade Trackhawk is actually set to arrive on the market before the larger Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, which has reportedly been delayed by a year. That means it should arrive as a 2017 model year, while the high-performance Grand Cherokee should hit the road by 2018. That big SUV will get its power from the 707-hp Hellcat V8.

An FCA spokesman declined to comment on these future product plans.

[Source: Motor Authority]

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Hyundai’s Prius-Fighting Hybrid Spied Up Close and Personal

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Hyundai is working on a dedicated hybrid model and we have new spy photos showing it in detail.

Built to compete with the Toyota Prius, the new Hyundai hybrid will be based on the same platform as the redesigned 2017 Elantra, though its body lines will actually resemble the Prius.

Powering the hybrid will be a lithium polymer battery pack that is said to provide up to 38 miles of all-electric driving. A 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine will provide the gas power.

The interior is likely to borrow heavily from the Elantra and Sonata. From the photos, we can see a single screen in the center stack that will control infotainment while a set of conventional gauges is seen in the driver's info cluster.

The Hyundai hybrid, which has yet to receive a name, is expected to hit the market in late 2016 as a 2017 model year. Expect it to debut at a major auto show during 2016.

Discuss this story at our Hyundai Forum

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2016 Toyota Prius Unveil Set for September 8

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Toyota will show off the redesigned 2016 Prius hybrid on September 8 in Las Vegas.

Toyota's top-selling hybrid model will be all-new for the first time since 2009. The new model is supposed to offer more all-electric range, improved overall fuel economy and a more engaging drive along with boosted power output, up to around 150 hp.

SEE ALSO: 2016 Toyota Prius Interior Spied

Rumor has is that the new Prius will be about 10 percent more efficient than today's model, putting fuel economy around 55 mpg. All-wheel drive is also rumored to become available with the new Prius, a first for the car.

The new Prius will be the first car to use Toyota's new TNGA modular architecture which will help the Prius lose weight. Slightly larger dimensions are also expected from the Prius.

Watch AutoGuide.com on September 8 for coverage of the new Toyota Prius reveal.

[Source: Automotive News]

Discuss this story at our Toyota Prius Forum

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Audi e-tron Quattro Concept Previews Electric SUV

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Audi is giving us a taste of what its new all-electric SUV will look like with the e-tron Quattro Concept.

Set to debut at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in September, the concept previews Audi's upcoming electric SUV that is supposed to arrive on the market around 2017.

An all-electric range of over 310 miles is expected from the SUV thanks to new batteries and optimized aerodynamics. Audi says the SUV has the same 0.25 drag coefficient as the Toyota Prius.

Te size of the new SUV will sit between the Q5 and Q7, while the roofline will stay flat to mimic a coupe. Audi placed the battery pack between the axles, right underneath the passenger compartment to help give the SUV a low center of gravity and decent balance.

The system works with three electric motors; one on the front axle and two in the rear, providing all-wheel drive capability to the SUV.

Inside, a new OLED touchscreen interface will be present, as shown in the above gallery.

The Audi e-tron Quattro Concept will debut at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show and AutoGuide.com will be there to capture the action live.

Discuss this story at our Audi Forum

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Top 10 Ford Mustangs of All Time

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The Ford Mustang may be the most iconic American car in history. It bleeds red, white and blue and is built out of liberty, pride and freedom. With a snarling V8 and sexy good looks, the Mustang has enjoyed decades of success, creating a following more loyal than Charles Manson's minions.

The Mustang has only been available in a limited number of countries, but people around the world not only know what a Mustang is, but also wish they could own one.

Part of the reason for its legendary status has to do with the various special edition models Ford has created over the years. Designed for the street, drag strip or track, these low-volume, high performance specials have set people's souls on fire.

Here are 10 of the best Mustang specials to ever roll off the showroom floor:

10. Ford Mustang II King Cobra

The poor Mustang II is regarded by pretty much everyone as the worst Mustang generation ever created. But it's not the car's fault. The Mustang II was a byproduct of its era, one that saw gas prices skyrocket and big beefy performance cars fall out of favor.

Even if the outright performance was gone, Ford did make a few second-generation Mustangs that did their best to pretend they were just like the muscle cars from a decade earlier. King amongst these was the King Cobra that had a V8 soundtrack and all the right exterior upgrades to look like a proper muscle car. Just ignore the fact it only had 139 hp and took around 10 seconds to reach 60 mph.

9. Ford Mustang California Special

In 1968, California auto dealers convinced Ford to create a special version of the Mustang for their state only. Called the GT/CS (California Special), the car borrowed a lot of styling elements from the Shelby Mustangs to look sportier and faster. Although performance was unchanged, the car has a unique look that splits the difference between a regular 'Stang and a Shelby.

Since so few of these cars were produced, the original California Specials are in high demand today with collectors. In 2007, Ford began selling the GT/CS as an exterior upgrade package on the Mustang once again. Since then, many different iterations of the GT/CS have been offered and for 2016, the GT/CS will return once again.

8. Ford Mustang SVO

Turbocharged four-cylinder engines in a Mustang aren't anything new and even when the Mustang SVO showed up, Ford had been doing it for years. Although early turbo-four Mustangs were a bit anemic, when the SVO was introduced in 1984, power was up to 175 hp. By the end of the SVO's run, power had been bumped up to 200 hp and even 205 hp for a few lucky customers.

But the Mustang SVO was about more than just its engine. The brakes, steering, transmission and suspension were all upgraded as well. The rear end came standard with a limited slip differential and the car wore distinct aerodynamic body work.

7. Ford Mustang Bullitt

The first Bullitt Mustang wasn't actually called a Bullitt, but earned that nickname due to its iconic role starring alongside Steve McQueen in a movie called, you guessed it, Bullitt. A dark green 1968 Mustang Fastback with a 390 engine, the car looked unsuspecting but packed plenty of punch.

In 2001, Ford released an official Bullitt Mustang to commemorate the legendary 1968 car. With upgraded mechanics, including a bump in engine power, the new Bullitt wore retro-inspired wheels and could, of course, come in dark green. For the 2008-2009 model years, Ford once again introduced a special edition Bullitt Mustang that stripped off unnecessary exterior dressing to better resemble Steve McQueen's 1968 Mustang. Again, mechanics were upgraded and it included a bump in engine power.

6. Original 1964 ¼ Ford Mustang 289

OK, so this isn't an official model, but the original Ford Mustang is what started it all. Specifically, it was Mustangs equipped with the 289 V8 that really captured the imagination of the public. With V8 power and sound in a relatively small body, the Mustang was fast, agile and, of course, gorgeous.

The car would kick off the so-called Pony Car craze that is still alive and well to this day.

5. Ford Mustang Mach 1

No, this Mustang couldn't actually reach speeds of Mach 1, but like the ambitious name alludes, these are some very fast 'Stangs. First introduced in the 1969, the Mach 1 was a performance version of the Mustang. It could be had with a trio of beefy V8s, including the ridiculous 428 cubic inch Cobra Jet.

1971 would see the introduction of the second Mach 1 that once again could be had with a trio of V8 engines. The Mach 1 trim level would continue through the entire run of the Mustang II and sadly came with a V6 engine in 1975 (which ironically was its best sales year).

After a long hiatus, Ford brought the Mach 1 trim level back in 2003, complete with a high output V8 that produced 305 hp. The new Mach 1 was given a full exterior makeover to mimic the original Machs from the 1960s.

4. Ford Mustang Boss 302/429

In 1969, two very special Mustangs came into production using the Boss moniker. Equipped with the smaller engine of the two, the Boss 302 was a near race car for the street, as it was designed to meet SCCA Trans Am regulations in 1969. The exterior removed any unneeded body cladding and added a front lip spoiler as well as one on the rear deck lid. Suspension and brakes were upgraded over lesser Mustangs and the 302 cubic inch engine was claimed to make 290 hp, but probably made much more.

The other Boss introduced in 1969 was the Boss 429. As the name would suggest, the engine shoehorned into this Mustang was a 429-cubic-inch big-block V8 with 375 hp and an Olympic-sized pool of torque.

In 2012, Ford revived the Boss 302 name and attached it to a more track-focused version of the Mustang that, once again, was using a 5.0-liter V8 engine. If the great performing Boss 302 wasn't enough, there was also a Laguna Seca edition that upped the performance ante even further.

3. Ford Shelby Mustang GT500

In 1969, Shelby decided to add another Mustang variant alongside the company's Trans-Am ready GT350. Called the GT500, the new Shelby Mustang featured a 428-cubic-inch V8 and various exterior upgrades as well as a few mechanical enhancements. If more power was needed, there was also the Shelby Mustang GT500KR (King of the Road) that came with the higher performance 428 Cobra Jet V8.

In 2007, Ford revived the Shelby GT500 trim level by dropping a 500 hp, 5.0-liter supercharged V8 into the Mustang. Once again, there was a GT500KR model available that pumped up power to 540 hp. By 2011, all GT500s were making 550 hp.

But Ford wasn't done there. In 2013, an all-new Shelby Mustang GT500 was introduced, this time with an insane 662 hp, 5.8-liter supercharged V8. Like all modern Shelby GT500s, the 2013 car received significant upgrades to the tires, suspension and brakes, in an effort to control all that power.

2. Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R

From 1993 until 2004, the highest performance Mustangs wore the SVT Cobra badge. With more power, better handling and an enhanced driving experience, the Cobras were a step above regular V8 Mustangs. But if even more performance was needed, there were a few special edition track-ready Cobra R models.

The first Cobra R appeared in 1993. Using the Cobra's 235 hp 5.0-liter V8, the R received upgraded shocks, larger brakes, bigger wheels and extra cooling. Unneeded items for the track, like the rear seat, air conditioning and the stereo were all removed to save weight.

In 1995, the second Cobra R went on sale. It took things a bit further than the 1993 model by ditching the regular Cobra's 5.0-liter V8 for a 300 hp 5.8-liter unit. Other track-ready upgrades included a fuel cell, heavy duty springs, thicker stabilizer bars and a front strut tower brace. Weight savings were once again a main focus as the rear seat, power windows, air conditioning and radio were all removed.

The Final Cobra R was introduced in 2000. Sticking to the same formula used in the previous two Cobra R models, the new car included upgraded mechanical components and removed any unnecessary weight. The engine was now a 385 hp 5.4-liter V8 and the body featured race-ready aerodynamics all around, including a massive rear wing.

1. Ford Shelby Mustang GT350

Only a year after the Mustang was introduced, Shelby and Ford created a raw, track-focused version of the car. Using the Mustang's 289-cubic-inch V8, engineers tweaked the power plant to produce a healthy 306 hp. For 1965, the Shelby only came in white and had the rear seat removed. Destined for Trans Am racing, a few GT350R variants were created to terrorize the track. The GT350 would live on until 1970, but none would be as race ready and raw as the original 1965 model.

For 2016, the GT350 and GT350R nameplates are coming back. Anyone worried that these new cars won't live up to the legends need not worry. With a 5.2-liter V8 making 526 hp, the new GT350 can scream to over 8,000 rpm. But like the original Shelby GT350, the new car will be about more than just engine power. Expect it to be the best handling factory Mustang ever created.

Discuss this story on our Ford Mustang Forum

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Car Reviews

Wednesday, 19 August 2015