Get a Free Ford GT Snap Kit by Visiting the Detroit Auto Show |
- Get a Free Ford GT Snap Kit by Visiting the Detroit Auto Show
- AutoGuide.com’s Most Viral Stories of 2015
- AutoGuide.com’s Most Popular Car Reviews of 2015
- Tesla is Going on a Hiring Spree
- Volkswagen Releases Short Teaser for Upcoming Concept Debut
- Infiniti Q30 Now Renamed to QX30 for North American Market
| Get a Free Ford GT Snap Kit by Visiting the Detroit Auto Show Posted: You might not be able to afford a Ford GT, but you can get a free snap kit just by heading to the 2016 Detroit Auto Show. The American automaker is giving "kids" a free, limited-edition, build-it-yourself Ford GT snap kit at its booth, but we're going to guess that if you beg hard enough, they'll give them to adults as well. Developed by Revell as an "af-Ford-able" GT, the snap kits will also go on sale online and at select retailers starting in April if you aren't able to make your way to Detroit early next month. The limited-edition snap kit offered at Detroit will include 14 pieces for easy assembly in just a few minutes and features a unique auto show stamp on the bottom to signify the special edition. SEE ALSO: 2016 Detroit Auto Show Coverage The retail model will be a bit different, priced at $14.99 and will be more detailed with 28 pieces, taking 10 to 15 minutes to build. Ford has collaborated with Revell to build snap kits for auto shows and retail sale since 2013 and this will be the third product following the Mustang and Raptor. "Our annual Revell Make 'n Take model kit program has become a fun-filled auto show tradition," said Mark Bentley, Ford Licensing manager. "Letting kids build their own Ford GT is a great way to introduce them to the Ford brand and create new enthusiasts." Discuss this story on our Ford Forum Loading, please wait...  |
| AutoGuide.com’s Most Viral Stories of 2015 Posted: Thanks to social media, some of AutoGuide.com's stories this year spread all over the Internet. Whether it's recall notices, new car announcements or spy photos, we do our best to stay on top of automotive news so our readers stay up to date. But some stories have a way of touching a certain nerve with our readers and their popularity spirals. Here are our most viral stories from 2015. SEE ALSO: AutoGuide.com Auto News
The introduction of the 2016 Honda Civic proved to be popular on social media and for good reason. It may seem like forever since Honda has introduced a Civic worth getting excited about, but the 2016 model is just that. Since the sedan's unveiling, Honda has also debuted the coupe variant at the 2015 L.A. Auto Show.
One of the most highly anticipated cars in a while, Acura toured the 2016 NSX around the nation earlier this year. When photos of the red hybrid supercar showed up after it was spotted on public roads for the first time, they quickly got shared on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.
News that the 2015 Ford Shelby GT350R is as fast as a Porsche 911 GT3 got American muscle enthusiasts excited. The Shelby GT350 went on to win our Reader's Choice Car of the Year award, proving that Ford has a winner with the 5.2-liter flat-plane V8 packing 526 hp and 429 lb-ft of torque.
Hyundai had a huge surprise at this year's Monterey Car Week, introducing the Vision G Coupe Concept at a show normally reserved for ultra-luxury vehicles. We had a chance to sit down with Hyundai's designers to find out just how the Vision G Coupe Concept came to be.
Porsche wants to deliver a Tesla Model S competitor and previewed its idea with the Mission E Concept at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. Boasting an electric powertrain with more than 600 hp and 300 miles of range, the company recently confirmed that it will head to production.
One of the most exciting rumors this year was that Honda is working on a baby NSX sports car. Along with releasing renders of what that model could possibly look like, rumors spread that the baby NSX would be introduced as early as the 2015 L.A. Auto Show. Unfortunately, that didn't come to fruition, but we're still hoping it bows sometime next year.
Holy… can you believe one couple in Texas owns nearly 80 Dodge Viper sports cars? In fact, they probably do by now since they took delivery of numbers 78 and 79 in July. The story about their collection got shared on Facebook over 20,000 times.
Now that the Acura NSX has been unveiled, all eyes are on Toyota to see what it will do with the successor to the Supra. The FT-1 Concept is absolutely stunning and reports earlier this year said that the model will use an aluminum spaceframe chassis with a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic body. Toyota is planning to use a 3.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine and we can't wait to see it finally get introduced in production form. |
| AutoGuide.com’s Most Popular Car Reviews of 2015 Posted: Each year, automakers treat the world to plenty of all-new models and 2015 was no exception. AutoGuide.com got behind the wheel of hundreds of new cars this past year, giving car shoppers the opportunity to get an up close and personal look before scheduling a test drive. As the year came to a close, we also had the chance to check out some exciting rides heading into 2016 model year including the all-new Honda Civic, Chevrolet Camaro and Toyota Prius. SEE ALSO: AutoGuide.com New Car Reviews Let's take a look back at 2015 and see what were the most popular reviews you clicked and commented on on AutoGuide.com.
We started off the year by taking the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 for a spin, and what a spin it was. Our Road Test Editor Mike Schlee summed it up best on the Corvette Z06 saying, "It's stupid fast and the capabilities of this machine are ridiculous." There were very few things we could find wrong about the iconic sports car, but we did love its power, brakes, grip and price. The Corvette Z06 is powered by a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine with 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque and starts from $79,990.
Honda did a lot of work this year and another model it introduced was the 2016 Honda Pilot, priced from $30,875. With a 3.5-liter V6 engine under the hood providing 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, we loved its much quieter cabin, new safety features, cabin and cargo room as well as being the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid model in its class. To improve on the popular Pilot, the Japanese automaker put it on a diet, shaving nearly 300 pounds off its curb weight. It also replaced the aged five-speed transmission with a six-speed unit, while high-spec models get a nine-speed automatic.
For the past few years, Kia has made significant strides in the marketplace and the Korean automaker continued with a strong 2015. The all-new 2016 Kia Optima is available with three different engines with pricing starting from $22,675. Shoppers can choose from a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 185 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque, a 1.6-liter turbo-four mill with 178 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque, or a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 245 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. We praised the Optima's quiet interior, slick styling, smooth driving dynamics and technology-packed packages, while we preferred to have seen a more exciting interior and more power.
The Acura ILX has had a bumpy start ever since it was introduced, but the automaker has been quick to make changes. Intent on fixing some of the issues of the original ILX, Acura made numerous changes for the 2016 model year with revised front and rear styling, multi-LED headlights and a new 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 201 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque. The powerplant is mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and pricing for the entry-level luxury sedan starts from $28,820. So what did we like about the updated Acura ILX? For starters, we enjoyed that the standard engine wasn't so underpowered anymore and came away impressed with the performance of the dual-clutch transmission. In addition, the 2016 Acura ILX gets improved fuel economy returning 25 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. Still, the ILX doesn't feel particularly powerful and can be pricey once options are added on. We found that it also still needs more headroom to compete in the segment.
Sedans and sports cars weren't the only segments that saw noticeable new additions this year. The pickup market got plenty of new entries with our 2016 Toyota Tacoma review proving quite popular. Available with either a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine with 159 hp and 180 lb-ft of torque or a 3.5-liter V6 with 278 hp and 256 lb-ft of torque, we came away impressed with the new Tacoma's improved fuel economy, overhauled interior and transmission performance. The Tacoma features a six-speed automatic or manual, while the four-cylinder-equipped models can be had with a five-speed manual. Pricing on the 2016 Toyota Tacoma starts from $24,200 and our biggest complaints were seating position and rear seat space.
One pickup that really impressed the crowd this year was the 2016 Chevrolet Colorado Diesel, earning AutoGuide.com's Reader's Choice Truck of the Year award. Sporting a 2.8-liter four-cylinder diesel engine with 181 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, the Colorado Diesel returns 22 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway with two-wheel drive, while the four-wheel-drive model is good for 20 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. Priced from $33,520, we were impressed with the Colorado Diesel's torque, NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) as well as its integrated trailer brake. We did notice a slight turbo lag in terms of performance and weren't too thrilled with its low ground clearance.
Not everyone is thrilled at the idea of a four-cylinder Ford Mustang, but the EcoBoost variant has proved to be a worthy addition to the sports car's lineup. Under the hood is a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 310 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Fuel economy is respectable with 22 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway, but arguably the most attractive aspect of the EcoBoost Mustang is its $26,125 price tag. Despite the fact that it's not a naturally aspirated V6 or V8 under the hood, we loved the Mustang's engine power, handling, looks and price, while we gave thumbs down to its fake engine sound and rear seat space.
Admittedly, the 2015 Jeep Renegade is an interesting addition to the brand's lineup, having built its reputation on off-road ruggedness. It's a baby Jeep model and shoppers likely had the same question we had when it was first introduced: can it really go off-road? Available with either a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 160 hp or a 2.4-liter with 180 hp, the Renegade is available from $18,990. After putting it through its paces, we came away finding the Renegade to be great on pavement and reasonably capable off-road, and it had plenty of interior space and a low starting price. We found the "My Sky" sunroof a tad silly and its driving position slightly awkward.
Cadillac brought the thunder this year, with a new CTS-V packing a wicked 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine with 640 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. Mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, the CTS-V returns 14 mpg in the city and 21 mpg on the highway, but we think fuel economy might be the last thing on your mind if you're eyeing the CTS-V. Priced from $92,580, the CTS-V isn't exactly affordable, but you get quite a lot for your money. We fell in love with the supercharger whine under the hood while the CTS-V's driving dynamics, premium interior and incredible power left us wanting more seat time. Minor complaints on the Cadillac CTS-V include its low-resolution backup camera, confusing CUE infotainment system and driving position.
And our most popular review of the year? Well, that honor goes to the 2016 Cadillac ATS-V. The American automaker made a lot of noise when the car first debuted and did the only thing it could when it came to letting us review it: put it on the track. The 2016 Cadillac ATS-V is the smallest and lightest V model ever, sporting a 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 engine with 464 hp and 445 lb-ft of torque. Transmission options include an eight-speed automatic or six-speed manual, while pricing starts from $61,460 for the sedan and $63,660 for the coupe. Yes, the ATS-V essentially targets the BMW M3 and M4 models in the marketplace, offering an engaging and responsive driving experience. We also loved its exhilarating exhaust note and outright performance while we yearned for a more desirable color palette. The rear seats are a tad cramped in the coupe and we just couldn't look past its outdated gauges. Loading, please wait... |
| Tesla is Going on a Hiring Spree Posted: Tesla is on a hiring spree and plans to grow its current family of 14,000 employees. According to a recent report from The Wall Street Journal, the American electric automaker plans to hire 4,500 new employees in four years as it focuses on building a self-driving vehicle. Earlier this year, Tesla launched its Autopilot system with semi-autonomous features that allow its vehicles to drive on their own on the freeway. Last month, the company's CEO Elon Musk went to Twitter to recruit "hardcore software engineers." He added in the same tweet that no prior experience with cars was required and that he would be interviewing people personally and that Autopilot reports directly to him, making the job a super high priority. SEE ALSO: Tesla's Electrifying Christmas Card Will Get You in the Spirit Tesla has grown more than 14 times since 2010 and currently has 1,600 open positions. The hiring spree means that the company will have nearly 20,000 employees by the end of the decade. With other companies working on self-driving cars such as Google and other automakers also investing into the technology, it's no surprise Tesla wants to be on the forefront considering how high-tech its vehicles already are. [Source: The Wall Street Journal] Discuss this story on our Tesla Forum Loading, please wait... |
| Volkswagen Releases Short Teaser for Upcoming Concept Debut Posted: Volkswagen has released a short teaser video for its upcoming concept that will debut at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show. Rumored to be an all-electric Microbus, the upcoming concept will bow in Las Vegas, Nevada, early next year. Based on what the video reveals, it does appear to be a minivan-esque concept sporting LED headlights, fog lights and an illuminated grille, further hinting that it's an electric vehicle. Focusing on what is shown for the rear of the concept, there's a badge with the letter "e" in it and it does look like it will have a liftgate rather than a conventional trunk. SEE ALSO: Volkswagen Teases All-Electric Microbus Concept It has been speculated that the Microbus will be revived as an all-electric vehicle with a range between 250 to 310 miles. The German automaker will host a keynote on the eve of the show's opening and has confirmed that the new concept "marks the beginning of a new era of affordable long-distance electromobility." Discuss this story on our Volkswagen Forum Loading, please wait... |
| Infiniti Q30 Now Renamed to QX30 for North American Market Posted: The Infiniti Q30 is undergoing a name change before it arrives dealerships in North America. Having been introduced earlier this year at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show as the Infiniti Q30, the Japanese automaker has decided to rename the compact luxury model to QX30 and will market it as a premium crossover. But wait, isn't there also another QX30 that was shown off at the 2015 L.A. Auto Show? The thing is, both models are nearly identical with the QX30 sporting extra body cladding and a slightly higher ride height so it could be marketed as a crossover. So although the Q30 and QX30 will be sold as two distinct models elsewhere in the world, the North American market will only get the one QX30 in three different variants. SEE ALSO: Infiniti Q30 Revealed as Premium Compact Segment Offering In the U.S., the 2017 Infiniti QX30 and QX30S models will be identical to the Q30 we have seen and will come only with front-wheel drive. Those wanting all-wheel drive will have to opt for the QX30 AWD that is basically the QX30 as we know it, with the higher ride height and off-road inspired front and rear valence panels. All models will be powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 208 horsepower and mated to a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission. The QX30 will arrive Infiniti dealerships in North America starting mid-2016. Discuss this story on our Infiniti QX30 Forum Loading, please wait... |
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