Thursday, 29 September 2016

2017 Audi Q5 Larger, Lighter and Luxurious-er

2017 Audi Q5 Larger, Lighter and Luxurious-er

2017 Audi Q5 Larger, Lighter and Luxurious-er

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The Q5 crossover has been a huge success for Audi. It's a BIG seller around the world. Pushing this successful nameplate forward they unveiled the redesigned 2017 model at the Paris Motor Show.

As before, it combines the sportiness of a sedan with a roomy, versatile interior. Maximum cargo space measures 21.5 cubic feet, nearly half a cube more than the previous model.

This improvement comes courtesy of larger exterior dimensions; the Q5 has grown slightly in nearly every direction, yet in spite of these increases it's up to 198 pounds lighter than the outgoing version. That's what you call progress.

Helping deliver such an impressive weight loss is a mixed-material body that's made from both steel and aluminum. Naturally, with less mass to haul around this crossover should be more efficient than before. Segment-leading aerodynamics should also help in this area as well and provide best-in-class interior quietness.

Another feature of note is the optional Audi Virtual Cockpit. It impresses with a 12.3-inch display that replaces a traditional instrument cluster. It offers two different view modes including one where the navigation map takes over most of the screen for an immersive experience. And really, there's no excuse for getting lost if you've got this!

Check out our Complete 2016 Paris Auto Show Coverage

Underhood, a wide variety of gasoline and diesel engines will be offered to European customers. The range should be both more economical and powerful than before. A 3.0-liter V6 diesel is the top compression-ignition offering, delivering 286 horsepower. The peak gasoline unit has a capacity of 2.0-liters and provides 252 ponies.

As for transmissions, customers on this side of the Atlantic can get a six-speed manual, a seven-ratio S tronic self-shifter or even an eight-speed tiptronic automatic. As always with Audi, quattro all-wheel drive is available. This world-famous traction-enhancing technology gains a disconnecting rear axle for greater efficiency than before.

The 2017 Audi Q5 is set to go on sale in Europe early next year. The vehicle will be manufactured at a brand new factory in Mexico. Base price should be 45,100€, which is about 51 grand.

Discuss this story on our Audi Forum

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Toyota Partners with Microsoft to Take Yaris WRC Car to Victory

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Toyota rolled out its latest effort in the motorsports world at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. 

This specially prepared Yaris will run in the 2017 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), returning Toyota to WRC racing after being absent for 17 years. While it's always great to see automakers reveal new race cars, the bigger news is the partnership behind the car.

2016 Paris Motor Show Coverage

Toyota also announced its collaboration with Microsoft, which will provide the technology for the new race car. Specifically, the tech company will be responsible for data analysis during testing, creating of an information-sharing system for the Toyota race team and helping to enhance communications with the fans.

SEE ALSO: Toyota Yaris WRC Racer to Spawn Road Car

"I believe that, like Toyota, Microsoft aims to enrich society in meaningful ways. Based on the on-going partnership, we aim to further develop our people and enhance our cars through the use of IT in motorsports to promote 'ever-better cars,'" said Toyota President Akio Toyoda.

Outside of motorsports, Microsoft is helping the Toyota Research Institute test new artificial intelligence and robotics for automobiles. The goal is to offer "chauffeur mode," a fully autonomous drive mode that will allow the car to pilot itself.

The new race-ready Yaris also carries the logos of DMG MORI and Panasonic, two other companies that have partnered with Toyota to support its return to WRC racing in 2017.

Actual details on the car weren't released, but we already know that Toyota is working on a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine to provide power. Based on the FIA specifications, the engine should make 300 horsepower.

Discuss this story at our Toyota Forum

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2017 Nissan Texas Titan Rolls Out at the State Fair

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Nissan is joining in the feeding frenzy that is Texas pickup truck sales by adding the new Texas Titan to the lineup. 

The custom appearance package includes a special chrome grille, 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels, metallic-finish kick plates, Titan Texas floor mats, a chrome exhaust and finally Texas Titan badging all around.

Every manufacturer offers a special-edition model just for Texas to try and capitalize on the Lone Star State's love for trucks.

SEE ALSO: Nissan Titan Lineup Gets 5-Year/100K Mile Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty

The Texas Titan package will be available on both the half-ton Titan and Titan XD. On the smaller truck it can be had on two trim levels while the XD offers the package on four trim levels. Four-wheel drive is available with the package.

Discuss this story at our Nissan Titan XD Forum

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2017 Ford Raptor’s EcoBoost V6 Cranked up to 450 HP

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It'll be easy to an easy point to miss so we'll put it right up front: The 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor will be more fuel efficient than the previous generation – and 23 percent more efficient at that!

OK, while that's all true, we're sort of kidding about putting that up front because the real headline most care about is the performance numbers of the new Raptor's twin-turbo high-output EcoBoost V6, which need to be impressive since the new engine is replacing the outgoing 6.2-liter V8.

Fortunately they are, and any concern in regards to performance should be laid to rest with the claimed 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque rating of the new Raptor.

Ford announced all of the details at the Texas State Fair in Dallas, Texas. Along with the horsepower and torque figures, Ford also noted the new high-output EcoBoost engine in the Raptor delivers a 21 percent improved average torque-to-weight ratio compared to the previous-gen Raptor.

The new truck will also boast Ford's new 10-speed automatic transmission. Ford says the 2017 Raptor has an EPA fuel economy rating of 15 mpg city, 18 mpg highway and 16 mpg combined. Another very interesting number for the new Raptor is the price tag, which Ford says will be just under $50,000 for the base model.

SEE ALSO: 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor Pricing Available, Truck to Start at $49,520

"Raptor was designed to be a no-compromise, off-road performance machine," said Matt Tranter, Ford Performance engineering supervisor. "That is why we made the switch from the cast-iron V8 to the aluminum block, high-output GTDI V6 EcoBoost engine that our team tuned to add 39 horsepower and 76 lb.-ft. of torque for today's Raptor."

2017-ford-f-150-raptor

The new Raptor will be as much as 500 pounds lighter as well, since it incorporates the same aluminum alloy body and fully boxed steel frame first unveiled on the 2015 F-150. The big news in terms of off-road performance is the addition of larger-diameter 3.0 Fox shocks, along with the six-mode Terrain Management System.

The EcoBoost engine gets the lion's share of attention, however, and Ford says the Raptor's uniquely tuned engine features key updates such as more aggressive turbo compressor with increased boost, cast stainless-steel manifolds, a full dual exhaust and oil-cooled pistons along with "more aggressive engine control calibrations." Other updates include a new twin direct and port-fuel injection system, stronger and lighter crank and valvetrain components, a redesigned twin turbocharger system with electronic wastegate, a redesigned valvetrain and variable-displacement oil pump.

"Looking at the torque curve of the Raptor's EcoBoost engine, you see the twin turbos spool quicker for faster time to torque – it hammers quick and keeps delivering torque for a more brawny feel than its V8 predecessor," said Al Cockerill, Raptor's powertrain development engineer.

A great deal of attention was also paid to the new 10-speed, which Ford says will include it Start-Stop feature along with an integrated electric pump to improve driving efficiency. Ford says this closer gear ratio on the 10-speed automatics trans helps optimize the power and torque curves of the 3.5L high-output EcoBoost V6. Ford also says the Raptor uses all-new adaptive shift algorithms to monitor powertrain and driver controls signals to ensure the truck is in the right gear at the proper time. Ford also notes the new 10-speed gearbox is the first from Ford to not employ cast-iron components, and therefore its advanced-material construction helps reduce weight.

This article originally appeared on Off-road.com

Discuss this story at our Ford Raptor EcoBoost Forum

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Audi RS3 LMS Makes Racing an Audi Cheaper Than Ever

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Audi has rolled out a new race car at the 2016 Paris Motor Show offering customers a cheaper way to get into motorsport behind the wheel of an Audi. 

The new RS3 LMS has been developed for customer racing in the relatively new TCR category, a quickly growing motorsport class.

"The TCR market has even larger potential than that of the GT3 category," says Chris Reinke, Head of Audi Sport customer racing. "In 2016, there were ten TCR series with races in 18 countries, and more and more series are being added. With the TCR version of the RS 3 we're also reaching countries where no GT3 races are held. The costs for a TCR race car are very low."

2016 Paris Motor Show Coverage

The new RS3 LMS will be available for the 2017 race season. To conform to TCR regulations, the race car will use a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 330 horsepower, less than the 400 hp that can be had in the road-going Audi RS3.

SEE ALSO: Audi RS3 Will Hit US in 2017 With 400-HP Five Cylinder

Sprinting from 0 to 62 mph will take 4.5 seconds while top speed for the car is limited to 149 mph (240 km/h).

A full safety kit is provided with the race car including an FIA-spec safety fuel tank, a racing safety cell, the PS3 safety seat, FIA safety nets on both sides of the seat and a rescue hatch in the roof like the one used in the Audi R8 LMS.

Pricing for the race car starts at 99,000 Euros for the Club Sport version while it climbs up to 129,000 Euros for the TCR-ready version. Deliveries will begin in December of this year.

Ram Rebel TRX Concept Ready for Desert Running with 575 HP

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The new Ram Rebel TRX Concept is a supercharged beast ready to run flat-out on the trails. 

At the State Fair of Texas, Ram rolled out the concept truck, powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that makes 575 horsepower. It's hooked into an eight-speed automatic transmission, just like the standard Ram, though that is where the similarities end.

To handle it's new found off-road power, the TRX Concept is fitted with a BorgWarner 44-45 transfer case, custom CV half-shafts to handle the wider track, aggressive 37-inch tires, beadlock wheels and a Dynatrac Pro 60 axle in the rear with an electric locker. Ram says that the suspension travel has been increased by 40 percent while overall front- and rear-wheel travel has been increased to over 13 inches.

Ram Rebel TRX Concept

New 2.5-inch bypass shocks are fitted to help with heat dissipation while Baer six-piston monoblock calipers using 15-inch rotors grab the front tires, while the rears are stopped by six-piston calipers on 14-inch rotors. In case anything goes wrong out on the trail, Ram has fit the concept with two full-size spare tires with custom tools and jack located in a new storage container in the bed.

SEE ALSO: The Mopar '16 Special Edition is a Dressed Up Ram Rebel

Additional airflow for the supercharger was important, so the front end of this truck has a scooped grille while composite fender flares help to compensate for the big tires. A lower brush guard, custom hood and LED clearance lighting also help to make this truck look menacing. Massive five-inch side-exit exhaust pipes don't hurt either.

Inside, suede with accent mesh cloth seats were chosen to help increase comfort but also to hug passengers, a duty also taken on by additional bolstering. TRX badges are found throughout along with muddy track graphics, much like the Ram Rebel offers. Six-point harnesses are also found in all four seats to really keep passengers in place when hitting the desert.

It's pretty clear that Ram wants to prove that it can take on the Ford Raptor when it comes to desert running. Only problem is that the Raptor is actually being built while this Ram is just a concept. Come on FCA. You know what to do.

Discuss this story at our Ram Forum

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