Monday 12 September 2016

Here’s Our Best Look Yet at the Mid-Engine Corvette

Here’s Our Best Look Yet at the Mid-Engine Corvette

Here’s Our Best Look Yet at the Mid-Engine Corvette

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Spy photographers have managed to get better photos of Chevrolet's worst-kept secret.

The American automaker is keeping quiet about a mid-engine Corvette, but spy photographers have managed to capture better photos of a prototype that has been testing. Sporting a profile unlike the current Corvette, the mid-engine C8 has a low-cowl, small hood that wraps tightly over the front wheel. Given just how small the front of the vehicle is, it's highly unlikely that there's an engine lurking underneath the hood. Overall, the car's design is a bit reminiscent of the original Acura NSX.

It appears that engineers are taking advantage of the mid-engine layout for the new sports car, with what looks like an air intake just in front of the rear wheel. Overall, the design looks sleeker than the existing Corvette.

SEE ALSO: Here's Everything We Know about a Mid-Engine Corvette

Photographers also got some photos showing off the rear end from a distance, with an engineer standing next to the car to give us a perspective of its height. Unfortunately there is still plenty hiding underneath the camouflage, but it does give us a good overall impression of what the mid-engine Corvette will look like when it debuts.

Discuss this story on our Chevrolet Corvette Forum

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MINI Countryman Spied Looking Longer and Wider

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The MINI Countryman will continue to grow in size.

Spy photographers have caught the next-generation MINI Countryman testing in Germany, looking both longer and wider than its predecessor. The Countryman will ride on the same new platform as the BMW X1, meaning it will become more like a compact crossover than a city car. Expect front-wheel drive to be standard with optional all-wheel drive and a wide range of engines, both gasoline and diesel. A plug-in hybrid variant is also in the works, while at the top of the range will be a John Cooper Works variant with over 230 horsepower.

SEE ALSO: MINI Countryman John Cooper Works Spied Testing on the 'Ring

Since MINI is parent of the BMW Group, expect the plug-in hybrid version to beneifit from the German automaker's focus on electrification with its i sub-brand. That means the front wheels will be driven by a 1.5-liter, three-cylinder engine while the rear wheels will be powered by an electric motor. Total system output should be around 240 hp, making it a compelling plug-in hybrid in the segment.

The next-generation MINI Countryman could be making its debut as soon as the 2016 Paris Motor Show later this month. If it doesn't bow then, look for it at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show in March.

Discuss this story on our MINI Forum

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Mercedes-AMG GT C Roadster Teased Ahead of September Debut

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The Mercedes-AMG GT C Roadster will bow at the 2016 Paris Motor Show later this month.

Spy photographers have caught the drop-top version of the AMG GT testing over the past several months, and now Mercedes-AMG has confirmed it will make its debut in Paris with the above teaser video.

SEE ALSO: Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster Rumored for September Debut

Expect more details on the latest additions to the Mercedes-AMG GT lineup later this month when the GT C Roadster premieres at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. Most recently, the company the hardcore Mercedes-AMG GT R, packing 577 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque.

Discuss this story on our Mercedes-AMG GT Forum

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All-Electric Jaguar E-Pace to Arrive by 2018

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Jaguar has approved production of its first all-electric vehicle which is expected to hit the market in 2018. 

According to Autocar, the new compact all-electric SUV is due to be revealed before the end of this year and will be called the E-Pace, though Jaguar has yet to confirm the name. The E-pace will be slightly smaller than its big brother the F-Pace, packing a lower roofline and more aggressive styling cues.

The new EV will be based on the Evoque E concept that was shown back in 2015 by Jaguar's partners over at Land Rover. That concept used a 70 kWh lithium-ion battery though the production version is expected to use a larger battery to make sure the E-Pace can drive a distance of between 280 and 300 miles. The platform itself uses lots of aluminum to keep it lightweight and a large battery that's packed into the floor to provide structural strength.

SEE ALSO: Jaguar Launches I-Type 1 Formula E Race Car

Jaguar's electric motors are designed in house and according to an unnamed Jaguar Land Rover engineer, they will be about 60 percent cheaper to produce in material costs over conventionally designed electric motors thanks to the use of aluminum winding and the deletion of rare earth magnets. The front motor makes 114 horsepower while the rear is good for 195 hp, combining for a total output of 308 hp. Having a twin motor setup will allow Jaguar to make use of torque vectoring along with the ability to switch from all-wheel to rear-wheel drive.

An all-electric Range Rover based on a larger version of the same platform is expected to arrive in the future, but not before 2019.

[Source: Autocar]

Discuss this story at our Jaguar Forum

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Chevy Tahoe, Suburban go Dark with Midnight Editions

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Chevrolet's lineup of blacked-out Midnight Editions has just grown to include the brand's full-size SUVs. 

Both the Chevy Suburban and Tahoe will now be available with the Midnight Edition package,  joining the Colorado, Equinox and Trax. Two different flavors of Midnight Edition will be available with the SUVs: the Z71 Midnight package and the LT Midnight package.

Opting for the Z71 version brings along off-road tuned suspension, off-road tires, skid plates, fog lamps, tow hooks, assist steps, sill plates, a 3.42 rear-end axle ratio, a two-speed transfer case, hill descent control, a high capacity air cleaner and Z71 badging. As for the 'midnight' part of the package, that is handled by 18-inch black-painted wheels, black grille inserts, black roof rack and black Chevy bowties.

SEE ALSO: 2017 Chevy Colorado Gets Eight-Speed Automatic, Tiny Power Bump

Going for the LT version includes 20-inch black wheels, black roof rack cross rails, black assist steps and blacked-out Chevy bowtie badges.

Both the Tahoe and Suburban Midnight Editions will be available by late 2016. Pricing for the models was not announced.

Discuss this story at our GM Forum

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You’ll Soon be Able to Drive the 800-HP SCG 003 on the Streets

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The car world got its first glimpse at the SCG003 at last year's annual Geneva Auto Show, a built-from-nothing car designed by American car aficionado James Glickenhaus, and now a street-legal version is available. 

The SCG 003 was made for motorsport and designed to meet GT3 regulations, but can make its way onto public streets without too many mods. The race car has taken a few runs on the track, and now Glickenhaus is trying to make it street legal, a process that's a bit more than slapping on some indicators and a license plate.

Glickenhaus and his car company, Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus, have settled on a pretty ingenious workaround: rather than costly airbag and crash testing in the U.S., they'll sell the SCG 003 as a kit car. This should make it legal in all 50 states.

SEE ALSO: James Glickenhaus Reveals His Ground-Up Supercar

Its modular design makes it a snap to break down into various parts, and easily bolted back up again. Glickenhaus will even have a mechanic flown out to help customers with their builds.

The only other speed bump is emissions regulations, so Glickenhaus will include a compliant engine: a 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V-8. It outputs roughly 800 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. This engine, it should be noted, is not made for racing; for anyone wanting to race in a sanctioned event, an engine swap is a must.

"This car could race the 24 Hours of Nurburgring as it is, with just an engine change," Glickenhaus told Road and Track. "What I wanted was for someone to be able to drive [to the track], put the car on jacks, put on slicks and race wheels, go out and run all day," he said. "Don't change the suspension, nothing. And then at the end of the day jack the car up and put the road wheels and tires back on."

Glickenhaus says the SCG 003 will go for close to $1.3 million – assuming he receives 10 orders – though he'd still be losing capital at this point. Should the order double, he'll be able to finance his personal goal of fielding a team in the non-hybrid LMP1 class of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

This article originally appeared on Luxury4play.com

[Source: Road and Track]

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