Friday 19 August 2016

Volvo, Polestar Considering Formula E Entry

Volvo, Polestar Considering Formula E Entry

Volvo, Polestar Considering Formula E Entry

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Volvo is eyeing the Formula E race series to promote its electrified models.

The Swedish automaker is currently part of the advisory board for the FIA race series and a spokesperson recently confirmed to Autocar that although there are no immediate plans to enter Formula E, it remains a possibility for the brand. Volvo wants to sell one-million electrified cars by 2025, and promoting its products in Formula E would help raise awareness about the brand and its support for electrification.

The only thing is, Volvo itself doesn't align with motorsports, so it would be campaigned under the Polestar banner, the automaker's performance brand.

SEE ALSO: Formula E Reveals Bold New Look for 2016 Race Cars

Earlier this year, Volvo revealed an all-electric concept and wants to produce two hybrid variants of every model in its lineup. An all-electric model is scheduled to launch in 2019. Right now, Volvo only participates in the World Touring Car Championship with its S60 Polestar.

Other automakers that have already committed to Formula E include BMW, DS, Renault, Mahindra and Jaguar.

[Source: Autocar]

Discuss this story on our Volvo Forum

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Acura Precision Concept Nabs Spot on the Pebble Beach Concept Lawn

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Acura has been chosen to show off its latest concept car, the Precision Concept, on the Concept Lawn at this year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. 

Acura calls the design theme for this concept "quantum continuum," previewing a glimpse of what future Acura models might look like.

"We're proud to have the Acura Precision Concept featured among the most prestigious vehicles in the world at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance," said Jon Ikeda, vice president and general manager of the Acura Division.  "More than a concept, the Acura Precision Concept is the blueprint for Acura's future styling direction and manifests our commitment to delivering Precision Crafted Performance in every element of the Acura experience."

The Precision Concept has already had an impact on Acura's passenger vehicle lineup, with the 2017 MDX adopting the concept's diamond pentagon grille. More models in the lineup are also set to start adopting this new grille as they are redesigned.

SEE ALSO: More Acura NSX Variants Planned Including a Convertible and Type R

Outside of the wild supercar exterior, the Precision Concept also features a new human-machine interface that uses a wide curved center screen which is operated by a touch pad suspended on the center stack, which is "floating" thanks to a cantilevered design.

The car was designed at Acura's California Design Studio.

Discuss this story at our Acura Forum

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Hyundai Expands Amazon Partnership with On-Demand Test Drives

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Hyundai is launching another new program in partnership with Amazon that will allow prospective customers to book a test drive on their device and have the car show up to their location. 

Using Amazon Prime, those interested in the Los Angeles/Orange County area can book a test drive in a 2017 Hyundai Elantra using Amazon Prime Now. The service will run over two weekends (August 20-21 and August 27-28), and offer a 45- to 60-minute test drive at the time and location of your choosing. Test drives can be booked between 9am and 7pm.

The test drives will be with trained driving hosts, while customers will need to proceed into the dealership to finish the transaction if they wish to purchase a car.

SEE ALSO: Hyundai, Google Discussing Possible Partnership

This news comes a day after the announcement that Hyundai's new luxury brand, Genesis, is now capable of receiving commands from Amazon's Alexa voice recognition system.

"We know people are looking for a new way to experience our vehicles, and with the convenience of Amazon's Prime Now service, 'Prime Now. Drive Now.' is an innovative solution we are testing to modernize today's automotive shopping experience," said Dean Evans, chief marketing officer, Hyundai Motor America.

Discuss this story at our Hyundai Forum

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Bugatti Chiron Hits Monterey for US Debut

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The Bugatti Chiron has officially been unveiled in California where it will be on display during Monterey Car Week. 

Visitors can first see the car at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering on Friday, before it heads to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on Sunday, where it will be on display beside the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo Concept.

This is our first look at a U.S.-spec Chiron, though the changes are minimal. Orange indicator markers are seen in the bumper while the speedometer is now displayed in mph, topping out at 300 mph. Top speed is limited to 261 mph in the Chiron, though Bugatti will use unrestricted versions of the car to try and crack the Veyron's production-car land speed record of 267.8 mph.

SEE ALSO: Bugatti Chiron and Vision Gran Turismo Get Together for the First Time

Of course, power still comes from a quad-turbocharged 8.0-liter W16, sending 1,480 horsepower to all four wheels. The sprint to 60 mph comes in under 2.5 seconds, while 124 mph happens in just 6.5 seconds.

Only 500 Chirons will be built with more than 200 cars already sold. Bugatti says about 30 percent of the Chiron's customers will come from the U.S., which means that roughly 150 of these cars will be sold here. Deliveries of the new Chiron will begin in the fall.

If you're thinking about picking one up, it will cost you 2.4 million euros or about $2.7 million U.S.

Discuss this story at our Luxury Lifestyle Forum

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Fiat Offers Free Performance Driving School to Abarth Buyers

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Fiat is offering its high-performance buyers the chance to learn about their cars from the pros. 

Anyone who purchases a Fiat 124 Spider Abarth or a Fiat 500 Abarth will be given the chance to attend the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving for the new Abarth Track Experience, a chance to learn the limits of these small sports cars for free. The school is designed for Abarth owners and includes an introduction to the Fiat brand. New buyers will have one year from their lease or purchase date to take advantage of the school.

Those who attend will be led through a series of different driving experiences including a skid pad, slalom, auto-cross course and hot laps on the track. Attendees can choose to come back for a second day road rally that involves about 220 miles of driving through scenic Arizona.

SEE ALSO: 2017 Fiat 124 Spider Review

"We have a great relationship with Bob Bondurant, and extending our partnership is an excellent opportunity to provide FIAT fans with the knowledge, skills and setting they need to fully experience the performance that the Abarth models can deliver," said Tim Kuniskis, head of passenger car brands in North America.

Pricing for those who are not new buyers was not announced. It costs $1,225 to take the one-day Bob Bondurant high performance driving program featuring the Dodge Challenger SRT 392.

Discuss this story at our Fiat 124 Spider Forum

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Ford GT Demand Spurs 2 More Years of Production

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Ford will continue to build its GT supercar for another four years, which means that we can expect a total of 1000 units.

The first run of 500 cars, which will be built over the first two years, is already spoken for, and plenty of people who wanted to buy one were denied access. Those applicants who were wait-listed during the initial process will be first in line to get their hands on one of the newly announced GTs from the third year of production.

The final year of production will be open to those who were initially denied a car and to new applicants. Those who missed their chance to apply the first time will have to wait until early 2018 to place all-new applications.

SEE ALSO: Ford Requiring 'Clean Room' at Dealerships to Service Ford GT

Keeping GT production going also supports Ford's motorsports initiatives in both IMSA and World Endurance Championship for the next four years.

"While we can't build enough Ford GTs for everyone who has applied, we are going to produce additional vehicles in an effort to satisfy more of our most loyal Ford ambassadors," says Dave Pericak, global director, Ford Performance. "We want to keep Ford GT exclusive, but at the same time we know how vital this customer is to our brand."

Discuss this story at our Ford GT Forum

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