Thursday, 17 November 2016

Spy Photos Prove BMW’s Lineup is Getting More Confusing

Spy Photos Prove BMW’s Lineup is Getting More Confusing

Spy Photos Prove BMW’s Lineup is Getting More Confusing

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It appears BMW is renaming the 5 Series GT to the 6 Series GT.

When spy photographers first caught the next-generation BMW 5 Series GT testing, rumors suggested that BMW would give it the 6 Series GT nameplate, serving as a replacement for the 6 Series GranCoupe. Speculation at the time also said that the next 6 Series would become a Porsche fighter, although recent spy photos of the coupe and convertible variants don't seem to show a smaller, sportier car.

SEE ALSO: Spy Photographers Catch the BMW 5 Series GT Testing

The latest prototype caught on camera by spy photographers features a note naming it 630d, indicating that the model is getting a name change. It's unclear what that means for the 6 Series GranCoupe, and with how BMW has been revamping its nomenclature, it's best to not even speculate.

That means the new BMW 6 Series GT will essentially be a 5 Series fastback sporting four doors. Expect its powertrain to mirror the 5 Series, despite sporting a 6 Series nameplate.

Look for a debut next year, possibly at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show.

Discuss this story on our BMW Forum

Subaru Unveils Its Biggest Concept Ever to Preview Upcoming 7-Seat SUV

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Subaru has just pulled the wraps off its Viziv-7 Concept to preview an upcoming seven-seat SUV that will be the brand's replacement for the Tribeca.

The Viziv-7 is the biggest concept in the brand's history, and when the car it previews comes out in 2018, it will also be the biggest vehicle Subaru has ever built. The upcoming three-row SUV has not yet been named, but it will fill the large gap at the top of Subaru's lineup that has existed since the Tribeca was discontinued in 2014. It will also be built on Subaru's new global platform at the Indiana plant starting in 2018 and will only be sold in North America initially.

The Tribeca was never that successful because it was just too small to compete with the other three-row SUVs on the market. Subaru is promising that the new SUV will be bigger than the Tribeca in every way, and will also be more premium.

ALSO SEE: Full 2016 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

Although this imposing concept has an interesting style and looks quite futuristic, it's not meant to preview the design of the upcoming SUV, but rather preview the direction the automaker is going in terms of size. The Viziv-7 previews the size footprint and segment that the upcoming Subaru SUV will have. According to Subaru, it measures 204.7 inches long, 79.9 inches wide and 73.2 inches tall including the roof rail. The concept rides on a 117.7-inch wheelbase and is rolling on 265/55/21 tires, further accenting its large size.

No powertrain details have been released, but it's a Subaru SUV, so we can expect full-time symmetrical all-wheel drive as standard, some type of four- or six-cylinder boxer engine, and a continuously variable transmission.

Spy photographers have already seen a big Subaru SUV testing alongside a Ford Explorer and a Mazda CX-9, indicating that these will be the new SUV's main competition. The Japanese automaker confirmed the all-new, three-row midsize SUV will be introduced to the North American market in early 2018.

"The concept expresses our core brand values, safety, dependability, capability for outdoor activities and a forward-looking attitude," said Takeshi Tachimori, corporate executive vice president, Fuji Heavy Industries, LTD. "We know customers in this segment want a full-sized vehicle and the next 3-row from Subaru will be the biggest Subaru vehicle ever."

Jeep’s Most Hated Model Gets Massive Makeover, Instantly Becomes More Lovable

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One of the most hated vehicles in Jeep's otherwise loved lineup has been totally revamped, and the 2017 Jeep Compass has arrived looking like the compact SUV it should have been from the beginning.

Looking like a smaller Grand Cherokee, the new 2017 Jeep Compass finally looks like part of the Jeep family and has the off-road ability to match. The new Compass will be powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque, slightly higher numbers than the previous model. A six-speed manual can be paired with both front-wheel and four-wheel-drive models, but most drivers will opt for the six-speed or nine-speed automatic. The nine-speed unit is only available on the 4×4 model.

Of course, it wouldn't be a Jeep if it couldn't off-road, and the 2017 Jeep Compass gets a bunch of features to ensure drivers don't get stuck. Jeep Active Drive Low has a crawl ratio and is able to send 100 percent of the power to whichever wheel has the most traction. Trailhawk models amp things up with hill descent control, a rock crawl mode, a 20:1 crawl ratio, and a small lift that helps the crossover get a 30-degree approach angle, 24-degree breakover angle, and a 34-degree departure angle.

ALSO SEE: Full 2016 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

Inside, the Compass gets the pretty standard Jeep treatment with a large touchscreen (three different sizes are available) powered by the excellent UConnect system, big, chunky buttons and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

With the 2017 Jeep Compass, the automaker finally has a legitimate competitor in a hot segment. In size, it sits between a Renegade and a Cherokee. Pricing and availability have not been announced yet, and the 2016 L.A. Auto Show marks the crossover's North American debut.

Tesla P100D Ludicrous Mode is Getting Even Faster

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Tesla is making its existing cars even faster and it won't cost current owners a dime.

After hinting that the P100D models are getting faster, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has confirmed the Model S P100D Easter egg will allow it to go zero-to-60 mph in 2.4 seconds, which is 0.1 seconds faster than it currently is. In addition, the quarter-mile time is estimated to be 10.6 seconds. Musk also expects the Model X to improve its acceleration time by 0.1 seconds on both zero-to-60 and quarter mile.

SEE ALSO: America's Most Loved Car is Once Again from Tesla

Best of all, the upgrade won't involve any hardware changes as it will be purely software optimization. It will apply to all P100D vehicles produced to date.

Discuss this story on our Tesla Forum

Mazda’s New Racecar Prototype Could Be the Prettiest One Ever

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Alongside the reveal of the new Mazda CX-5, the Japanese automaker introduced a new prototype racecar that will compete in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

Finished in a gorgeous shade of red similar to the Soul Red Crystal that the CX-5 debuted with, this new prototype racecar is simply gorgeous. Called the Mazda RT24-P, it will debut in the 2017 Rolex 24 race at Daytona in late January.

Under the hood is a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine making around 600 horsepower. The chassis is an all-new one, called the Riley Mk. 30. It's designed by Riley Technologies and features suspension from Multimatic. Thanks to the new design language, Mazda says that the RT24-P is more aerodynamic than the old race car.

ALSO SEE: 2017 Mazda CX-5 Revealed with Diesel Powerplant On The Way

"This is a huge moment for Mazda Motorsports and the entire Mazda family," said John Doonan, director of Mazda Motorsports North America. "To have a car which features Mazda design language at the top level of our motorsports program is meaningful for us as a brand. We believe we have the right team, the right drivers and the right chassis to win races and championships.

"Mazda has good, long-standing relationships with Riley and Multimatic, and is happy to be the first to test their new chassis. We look forward to seeing it make its racing debut at Daytona with Mazda bodywork and the Mazda MZ-2.0T engine. The strategic vision of IMSA to give auto manufacturers this opportunity to integrate our branding — to better engage our passionate fans — is unique and we're proud to be the first to unveil what is possible."

Interestingly, the name RT24-P has a few interesting meanings. Mazda says it stands for its Mazda Road To 24 driver development program. The 24 also stands for the 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine.

The Best Porsche 911 Ever isn’t Even Street Legal

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Porsche has unleashed its all-new race car at the 2016 L.A. Auto Show.

The newly developed GT racer takes advantage of the breadth of the Le Mans 24 Hours GT regulations, said Porsche. Along with the 911 RSR's systematic lightweight design, the German automaker has placed the flat-six engine in front of the rear axle, making it mid-engined. It's a 4.0-liter powerplant that promises to deliver around 510 horsepower, depending on the size of the restrictor.

For the first time, a Porsche GT race car has state-of-the-art assistance systems, and the 911 RSR is equipped with a radar-supported collision warning system. Even in the dark, the faster LMP prototypes are detected early enough to help prevent misunderstandings.

2016 L.A. Auto Show Coverage

The German automaker also made changes to the carbon fiber body, allowing certain elements to be exchanged completely in a very short period of time through quick-release fasteners. The same goes with the suspension, where changes can be done more quickly and safely.

For next year's race season, Porsche plans to run the 911 RSR at 19 events. Look for the new Porsche 911 RSR to make its race debut at the Daytona 24 Hour Race in January 2017.

"For the 911 RSR, we deliberately focussed on a particularly modern and light normally aspirated engine, as this gave our engineers immense latitude in developing the vehicle," explains Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, head of Porsche Motorsport. "Apart from that, in principle, the LM-GTE regulations stipulate the absolute equality of various drive concepts, as the torque characteristics of turbo and normally aspirated engines are aligned."

Discuss this story on our Porsche Forum
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