BMW M4 Shows Off Updated Look to Spy Photographers

BMW M4 Shows Off Updated Look to Spy Photographers
Mazda Still Planning to Bring Diesel Engines to North America
Bumblebee and Barricade Spied in Public Ahead of Transformers Debut
Top 10 Best Sounding Four-Cylinder Engines
Upcoming Tesla Pickup Truck Imagined by Artist
Volkswagen’s New 3-Row Crossover Could be Called the Teramont

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The BMW M4 is also getting a facelift, just like the standard 4 Series coupe.

Spy photographers have caught the updated BMW M4 sporting minor changes to its styling, including new headlights and tail lights. On this particular prototype, we can see a camouflaged front splitter similar to the one on the M4 GTS, while the rear is essentially covering up the new graphics on the tail lights. The prototype was also wearing the same orange wheels as the GTS models, hinting that the facelifted M4 could be getting wider tires from the factory.

BMW is concealing more of the facelifted M4's interior, teasing that there might be some bigger changes in the cabin. Parts of the dash are being covered up as well as the center of the steering wheel, so expect to see some changes there to go along with the facelift.

Just like the BMW M3 facelift, don't expect to see any changes with the powertrain, meaning the M4 should keep its 425 horsepower from a twin-turbocharged inline-six engine.

Discuss this story on our BMW Forum

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Mazda Still Planning to Bring Diesel Engines to North America

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Mazda isn't letting Volkswagen's massive Dieselgate scandal hamper its plans to bring diesel engines to North America.

The Japanese automaker has been working on bringing its diesel engines to the U.S. for the majority of this decade, but has been delayed numerous times, leading many to believe it would never happen. But in an interview with Automotive News, Mazda CEO Masamichi Kogai said that the company still plans on bringing diesel engines to the U.S. and even has an internal timeline to do so. Unfortunately, the CEO wouldn't disclose when the U.S. can expect to see it. He did say that he wants diesel engines to be introduced in the U.S. while he is still CEO.

Adding to that, the general manager of Mazda's vehicle development division, Hiroyuki Matsumoto, is confident that Mazda engineers will find the right balance of diesel driving performance and clean emissions that it has struggled to reach for the U.S. market.

Prior to Volkswagen's admittance that it cheated on U.S. diesel emissions tests, some automakers were baffled on how the German automaker managed to meet the stringent U.S. emissions standards. Now that the company's defeat device is out in the open, it's less of a surprise that other automakers haven't been able to solve the dilemma of bringing diesel engines to the U.S.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is that Mazda isn't giving up, despite all the stigma surrounding diesel engines in the U.S.

[Source: Automotive News]

Discuss this story on our Mazda Forum

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Bumblebee and Barricade Spied in Public Ahead of Transformers Debut

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Even if you don't dig the Transformers movies, the cars are still awesome, and spy photographers have caught the protagonist Bumblebee and antagonist Barricade in public before their big screen debut.

Bumblebee, like in past Transformers movies, is based on a Chevrolet Camaro, although this time it seems to be a variation on the new sixth-generation model. Done up in a black and yellow scheme, a gnarly spoiler and numerous scoops and wings for dramatic effect, this Autobot isn't the subtlest movie star out there.

Naturally, the opposite of the Camaro is the Ford Mustang, which is the car the Barricade Decepticon is based on. While we haven't done a comparison of the current generation Mustang and Camaro, this big screen showdown should be epic. Like its predecessors in the past movies, Barricade features big bull bars up front and stickers promising "to punish and enslave" on its rear fenders. There are also blacked-out headlight surrounds, a new vented hood and some large spotlights mounted to the A-pillars that make the car even more menacing.

Many of the same actors from the previous films will be reprising their roles, including Mark Wahlberg, Josh Duhamel and Peter Cullen. Rumor has it that Anthony Hopkins is also set to join the cast. Take a look through the photos and try not to get too excited. Transformers: The Last Knight doesn't come out until June 23, 2017.

Discuss this story on our Chevrolet Camaro Forum

Discuss this story at our Ford Mustang Forum

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Top 10 Best Sounding Four-Cylinder Engines

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More automakers are turning to four-cylinder engines to find an ideal balance between performance and fuel efficiency.

But not all four-cylinder engines are created equally. While more modern ones are turbocharged, there have been some high-revving, naturally aspirated mills that not only deliver amazing performance, but sound great as well.

AutoGuide.com scoured YouTube to find you the top 10 best sounding four-cylinder engines.

10. Fiat 500 Abarth

Sporting a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the Fiat 500 Abarth is one of the best sounding compacts available today. The small engine delivers 160 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque when mated to a five-speed manual transmission, while its dual exhaust system helps make the Fiat 500 Abarth sound the part of a high-performance compact.

ALSO SEE: Fiat 500c Abarth Review

9. Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG

As the world's most powerful four-cylinder engine, it's only natural that the Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG sounds great. The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine now delivers 375 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque, helping the four-door coupe go from zero-to-60 mph in 4.1 seconds.

8. Chevrolet Camaro 2.0t

Some may consider it blasphemous that the Chevrolet Camaro now comes with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but at least it sounds better than the Ford Mustang's Ecoboost. The 2.0-liter turbo-four engine cranks out 275 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque and helps propel the Camaro to 60 mph from a standstill in 5.4 seconds.

7. Volkswagen Golf R

Volkswagen might be in the headlines these days for its massive dieselgate scandal, but let's remember that the German automaker has some great gasoline engines. The Volkswagen Golf R is one hot hatch, thanks to a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 292 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. When equipped with the six-speed DSG automatic transmission, the Golf R does the 60-mph sprint in 4.9 seconds and has lapped the Nurburgring in an impressive 8:15.

6. Subaru WRX STI

For decades now, the Subaru WRX STI has stood for four-cylinder performance with its turbocharged Boxer engine. In the latest iteration, the powerplant cranks out 305 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels, and you really can't mistake the sound it makes with any other engine in today's market, unless it comes from Porsche.

5. Mitsubishi Evolution

Truth be told, the stock Mitsubishi Evolution engine doesn't sound insane. But once it's been modified, it's one of the craziest sounding four-cylinder engines available. Enthusiasts will say that the older 4G63 engine is the better engine, but as the company bids farewell to its four-door sports car, it comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged unit with 291 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque.

4. Porsche 718

Yes, it's true, Porsche is using four-cylinder engines for its 718 models and at the very least, they sound like they belong. Available on the Cayman and Boxster models, the standard trim 2.0-liter engine delivers 300 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque while the more powerful S models pack a larger 2.5-liter engine with 350 hp and 309 lb-ft of torque. Like the Subaru WRX STI, the Porsche's engine is a turbo Boxer four-cylinder, delivering a signature sound.

3. Ford Focus RS

There is so much to love about the Ford Focus RS hatch, but we can all agree it's the 2.3-liter Ecoboost four-cylinder engine that steals the show. Churning 350 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque, the Ford Focus RS is one of the meanest sounding cars we've ever heard with a four-cylinder engine.

2. Alfa Romeo 4C

You're probably wondering how it's possible the Alfa Romeo 4C isn't the best sounding four-cylinder engine on our list. Well, consider it sort of a tie with the one we have after this. The 1.75-liter turbocharged engine packs 237 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, allowing the lightweight sports car to hit 60 mph from zero in 4.1 seconds. But when you push down on that gas pedal, the Alfa Romeo 4C just sounds mean.

1. Honda S2000

So what four-cylinder engine possibly sounds better than the Alfa Romeo 4C? Well, that honor goes to the Honda S2000 and that's because it's a naturally aspirated mill instead of all these other turbocharged units. First introduced in 1999 for the 2000 model year, the S2000 had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 240 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque, while revving to a ridiculous 8,800 rpm redline and 9,000 rpm fuel cut off. Later on, Honda updated the S2000 with a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine with a lower redline to 8,000 rpm and fuel cut off at 8,200 rpm. But still, there are very few engines to this day that sound as wonderful as that naturally aspirated S2000 engine.

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Upcoming Tesla Pickup Truck Imagined by Artist

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Tesla has gone on record saying that it wants to build an electric pickup truck, so our graphic artist has imagined what that could look like.

As part of Tesla's Master Plan, Part Two, CEO Elon Musk confirmed that a light-duty and heavy-duty pickup truck are in the early stages of development and will be unveiled early next year. Musk said he wants a product to compete with the Ford F-150.

But what would a Tesla pickup truck be called? So far, we have the Model S, 3, X, so maybe Model Y would be a good name for the truck to complete Tesla's cheeky "S3XY" lineup? The Model Y could also be a compact crossover built on the Model 3 platform, but Tesla could still use that designation for its upcoming pickup truck.

Tesla Pickup Truck render rear

Engineering a proper powertrain for an electric truck would be a huge challenge for the American automaker, as it would need to have a good driving range, even under a heavy load. Trucks need massive torque for pulling, towing, and off-roading, but Tesla should be somewhat prepared for a light-duty pickup with its existing technology. It shouldn't be too difficult for the automaker to create a Honda Ridgeline-sized competitor that is based on a car chassis and with a shorter bed like the one imagined in these artist renderings.

A heavy-duty truck is also in Tesla's cards, and that will likely be more difficult to engineer.

Our artist chose to use Tesla's grille design, but it's very possible that a pickup truck could debut without a traditional grille. What do you think of these renders? Let us know in the comments section.

Discuss this article on our Tesla Forum

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Volkswagen’s New 3-Row Crossover Could be Called the Teramont

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Forget head-scratching model names like Tiguan and Touareg. For its new midsize crossover, Volkswagen scrapped its naming-by-German-committee tradition and turned the process over to its American division.

When the new models goes on sale next year, expect a rugged, easy-to-pronounce name designed solely for the U.S. market, Automotive News reports. That name could be "Teramont."

Volkswagen isn't saying what the name is. Hinrich Woebcken, CEO of Volkswagen's North American Region, claims it might not even begin with a "T." The model will carry a "bullish, much easier to pronounce, American-style name," Woebcken told Automotive News.

A Chattanooga-built three-row crossover is a big part of the company's plan to reverse falling sales. Diesels and semi-premium posturing is out, and money-making crossovers are in. Add a brawny name to U.S.-bound utility models, and the emissions scandal should fade like cheap upholstery.

ALSO SEE: Volkswagen Teases New Seven-Seat SUV

The creation of the North American Region earlier this year means more autonomy for Volkswagen's domestic operations. When the scandal broke, the company was criticized for being too top-heavy and bureaucratic.

"Two or three years ago, it would've been a no-go that the region decides an individual name," Woebcken said. "This is already an early sign that Wolfsburg is willing to let go."

A trademark filing from early December shows that Volkswagen added the Teramont name to its stable. The name was registered internationally on June 2. The trademark filing predates the creation of the North American Region, but the moniker could already have been on file as a suggestion. If Teramont isn't the crossover's U.S. name, it could still show up on overseas models.

This article originally appeared on The Truth About Cars

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Car Reviews

Monday, 25 July 2016