Tag Archives: GT

Automobiles

Rumormill: Toyota pondering high-performance GT-86 hybrid?

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By Jeffrey N. Ross

Toyota GT86 TRD at Paris Motor Show reveal - front three-quarter view

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From what Autocar has to say, Toyota has even more plans for the GT86 beyond the convertible concept we just saw at the Geneva Motor Show. Along with a planned midcycle facelift, Toyota is reportedly looking at how to pack some extra ponies under the coupe’s hood, and while there has already been a lot of talk about superchargers and turbochargers, it sounds like a performance-boosting hybrid system could also be in the works.

Talking to Toyota chief engineer Tetsuya Tada, Autocar has learned that the automaker is considering an electrical motor assist for the sporty coupe to improve performance without harming fuel economy. In attempting to keep weight – and, presumably, costs – down, the article mentions the use of a system closer to what Honda uses for its Integrated Motor Assist rather than a full Hybrid Synergy Drive system used in current Toyota hybrids. Tada says the added weight of the system could be offset by weight reduction, while aerodynamic changes and a lower center of gravity could improve the car’s handling.

No word yet on whether a mild hybrid system would find its way to North America’s Scion FR-S – let alone its Subaru BRZ twin – but the thought is certainly an intriguing one.

Toyota pondering high-performance GT-86 hybrid? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

2013 Hyundai Elantra GT – More Versatility for the Compact Sedan

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By Harvey Schwartz

2013 Hyundai Elantra GT Beauty Right Done Small

For the 2013 model year, Hyundai expands its model lineup of its bestselling Elantra line by adding a GT hatchback to enhance its versatility and functionality.  This new model should increase its sales capability by giving consumers more of what they want in a compact five door hatchback sedan.  I tested and photographed the new car and enjoyed the ride, it interior accruements and its new versatility and functionality.  It has stiff competition in the hot-selling compact five-door hatchback niche from the Toyota Matrix, Mazda3, Ford Focus, Subaru Impreza and VW Golf.  This new model should stand out from the rest with its fresh new looks, its adequate power and excellent fuel efficiency, its sport-tuned suspension, with a finely crafted and versatile interior plus a long list of safety systems.

The styling of the new Elantra GT is sleek and aggressive utilizing Hyundai’s ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ DNA.  Up front is Hyundai’s signature hexagonal grille with chrome accents that flows into the hood, and its lower air-intake with L-shaped foglamps.  The side shows steeply raked A-pillars, a chrome beltline molding, aero-styled sideview mirrors, a character line that runs from the flared front up, through the pull-out door handles, and over the rear fenders.  The deep side extensions lowers the look for a more aggressive stance.  The rear features large, wraparound triangular lamp clusters, a spoiler set atop the wide hatchback and a flat bumper with a black contrasting diffuser.  My Elantra GT came equipped with the optional 17X7 inch aluminum alloy wheels wrapped with 215/45R17 inch low-profile performance tires that filled the fenders wells.  The Elantra GT slips through the air with a low 0.30 co-efficient of drag that increases fuel economy and lessons wind noise.

The use of high-strength steel provides a 37% increase body stiffness and the roof in my Elantra GT features a panoramic sunroof so it is completely made of glass which lightens the curb weight even more.  High strength steel allows the suspension to work optimally and at 2,784 pounds with the six-speed automatic the Elantra GT is lighter than its competitors while offering more interior room than Focus, Mazda3, Golf and Matrix.  This weight-efficient unibody structure enables the Elantra GT to achieve and estimated 37mpg/highway rating.

2013 Hyundai Elantra GT Engine Done Small

The new Elantra GT is powered by a 1.8 liter Nu four-cylinder engine generating 148 hp at 6,500rpm and 131lb.ft. of torque at 4,700rpm.  The Nu engine features an aluminum cylinder head, crank and block with a cast iron liner.  The engine also features dual continuously variable valve timing (D-CVVT) camshafts and hydraulic engine mounts for optimum power, efficiency and refinement.  Using D-CVVT on both camshafts has several advantages when compared with using it just on the intake camshaft.  With D-CVVT, there is a 2% improvement in performance (increased volumetric efficiency), a 2% improvement in fuel economy (reducing pumping loss) and a 30% reduction in hydrocarbon emissions-according to Hyundai.  In the valvetrain, roller swing …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Automotive Addicts

Automobiles

Geneva: 2013 Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale gets its groove, seats back

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By Steven J. Ewing

2013 Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale

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The Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale was exclusively a two-seater, but here in Geneva, the big Italian coupe gets its rear thrones back. We don’t know if the addition of rear passenger space will help improve sales of this special trim of the aging GT, but it’s at the very least an excuse for Maserati to shine a few lights on its gorgeous two-door.

Under that rakish carbon fiber bonnet is the same Ferrari-sourced 4.7-liter V8 we’ve loved for years now, tuned to 460 horsepower in this application and mated to Maserati’s MC Race Shift six-speed automatic transmission. Other updates for the MC Stradale include new 20-inch alloy wheels and a smattering of new materials inside the cabin.

Yes, it feels like we write about some version of the GranTurismo every time we attend the Geneva Motor Show, but this car still tickles our fancy each and every time. Scroll down for the press blast and check out the four-seater for yourself in the high-resolution gallery.

Continue reading 2013 Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale gets its groove, seats back

2013 Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale gets its groove, seats back originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Mar 2013 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Geneva: Kia Cee'd GT and Pro_cee'd GT are Korean for "hot hatch" [w/video]

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By Zach Bowman

2013 Kia Pro_cee'd GT - Front three-quarter view, Geneva Motor Show premiere

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Kia has pulled back the curtain on its sportiest offerings to date at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. The Cee’d GT and Pro_cee’d GT benefit from a direct-injection, turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine good for 204 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. Those numbers are up 51 percent and 61 percent over the models’ base engine, respectively. A six-speed manual transmission puts power to the front wheels, and Kia says the hatches can spring to 60 mph in 7.7 seconds. Top speed for both sits at 143 miles per hour. Penned by design guru Peter Schreyer, the cars wear tweaked front fascias complete with new grilles, headlamps and fog lamps.

Out back, dual-exit exhaust separate GT models from their common kin, and 18-inch alloy wheels are standard equipment. Indoors, buyers can expect to find a set of Recaro sport buckets and a specially designed TFT instrument cluster. Take a peek at a brief video of the Pro_cee’d GT and the official press release below.

Continue reading Kia Cee’d GT and Pro_cee’d GT are Korean for “hot hatch” [w/video]

Kia Cee’d GT and Pro_cee’d GT are Korean for “hot hatch” [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Mar 2013 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Geneva: KTM X-Bow GT allows the freedom of going helmetless [w/video]

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By Chris Paukert

KTM X-Bow GT

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We’ve never quite understood exactly how air manages to negotiate the KTM X-Bow’s unusually contoured carbon monocoque form, but nature’s stiff breeze ought to have a clearer path over the trackday hero now that this new GT model includes a windshield and side windows.

The added foul weather protection doesn’t include a roof (good luck designing one of those, KTM). However, it does include an integrated defroster similar to that of a Land Rover, along with a windshield wiper/wash system, too. Those two additions that should go a long way toward increasing the X-Bow’s day-to-day livability, as one won’t feel so vulnerable to bugs and kicked-up rocks when driving without a helmet. Other changes to the model include a redone center console, as well as new heating and ventilation controls.

No word yet on whether the X-Bow GT will be available in North America (the standard car recently found distributorship in the US). Want to learn more? Scroll down to check out the press release, and while you’re there, check out a new KTM-produced video of the X-Bow Battle.

Continue reading KTM X-Bow GT allows the freedom of going helmetless [w/video]

KTM X-Bow GT allows the freedom of going helmetless [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Mar 2013 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Geneva: Wiesmann GT MF4-CS offers track-ready forbidden fruit, par excellence

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By Seyth Miersma

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Wiesmann has long been forbidden fruit of the very tastiest variety for car fans here in the US, and the boutique German sports car maker continues to concoct varieties of its GT that we long to drive. For this year’s Geneva show, that means this flaming orange Wiesmann GT MF4-CS.

It’s the last two letters of that name that are the most stirring, as they signify that this is the raciest-yet “Clubsport” version of the GT. With just 25 examples being built worldwide, the GT MF4-CS wraps a sparse interior with the same lascivious bodywork that we’ve come to expect from Wiesmann. The cockpit has shed such niceties as navigation, air conditioning and even a radio, in search of a lower curb weight (down to 2,976 pounds, unladen). The interior also features an integrated roll cage, racing seats and a fire extinguisher, so it’s ultimate track aspirations should be clear from the first time you get behind the wheel.

As ever, the motive force of this Wiesmann comes courtesy of a BMW engine and gearbox; in this case its front-mounted, naturally aspirated, 4.0-liter V8 making 420 horsepower, and connected to your choice of a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Wiesmann specifies a top speed of 182 miles per hour, and a 0-62 mph sprint of 4.4 seconds. Further, large, 275-section rear rubber (245 at the front) on 19-inch wheels and a locking differential should help to keep all of that power flowing to the tarmac.

You’ll find a full press release regarding the Wiesmann GT MF4-CS as you continue on below, and galleries of both live and stock images for your happy browsing, as well.

Continue reading Wiesmann GT MF4-CS offers track-ready forbidden fruit, par excellence

Wiesmann GT MF4-CS offers track-ready forbidden fruit, par excellence originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

GM Surges Ahead of Toyota in China

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By John Rosevear, The Motley Fool

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So far so good for General Motors in China in 2013: GM announced on Tuesday that its sales in the first two months of the year were up 7.9%.

That’s a respectable gain that comes even as key Japanese rivals like Toyota have reported declines, suggesting that GM, powered by solid results for its Buick and Chevrolet brands, could be gaining ground in the world’s largest auto market.

GM gains ground as Japanese rivals struggle
Not so long ago, the big Japanese automakers seemed poised for success in China, but nationalist feelings sparked by a territorial dispute between China and Japan last year led to sharp declines in sales for Toyota, Honda , and Nissan .

Toyota’s 2013 sales through February were down 13.3% from year-ago totals, suggesting that the Japanese giant – the leader in global sales in 2012 – still has work to do to repair its reputation in China. Honda and Nissan saw 4.1% and 14.1% declines over the same period, respectively.

Automakers doing business in China prefer to report January and February sales as a single combined total because of China‘s week-long New Year‘s celebrations, which sometimes fall in January and sometimes in February. Strictly speaking, nearly all automakers saw big increases in January and year-over-year declines in February this year – because those celebrations fell in February in 2013 and in January in 2012.

Meanwhile, General Motors, and in particular its Shanghai GM joint venture, which sells Buick, Chevrolet, and Cadillac models, has continued its steady growth trajectory so far in 2013.

Continued progress for GM’s key brands
Shanghai GM‘s sales were up 12.4% to 255,243 units in the first two months of 2013, a good gain and a record for the period. Highlights included strong sales for the upscale compact Buick Excelle XT hatchback and GT sedan, which saw sales rise more than 20% in February despite the holiday week. The Excelle GT and XT, China-only models that are closely related to the Buick Verano compact sold here in the U.S., have been consistently strong sellers for GM since their introduction in 2010.

Sales of the Chevrolet Malibu more than doubled in February, GM said, and the brand also saw a 22% gain for its Sail in February. The Sail, the first Chevy designed in and built specifically for the Chinese market, is an entry-level subcompact car that has been one of China‘s best-sellers since its introduction in 2010.

Cadillac sales were up on strong results for the SRX crossover, which is GM‘s key representative in the premium-SUV niche that has been one of China‘s hottest automotive segments in recent months. Cadillac’s overall China volumes are still tiny, especially in comparison with those of GM arch-rival Volkswagen‘s white-hot Audi brand. Increasingly, there are hints that GM has an ambitious long-range plan for Cadillac in China (and elsewhere), but such a plan is expected to take several years to implement.

Meanwhile, while VW hadn’t posted its February sales results …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Automobiles

Turbocharged Kia Pro_Cee’d and Cee’d GT Take Aim at GTI—In Europe [2013 Geneva Auto Show]

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By Alexander Stoklosa

2013 Geneva auto show full coverage

Kia has pulled the wraps off of high-performance, turbocharged GT iterations of its European-market Cee’d five-door and Pro_cee’d three-door hatchbacks, and the pair appear to take direct aim at Volkswagen’s current GTI. We already knew Kia was working on the GT models, but the cars are making their in-the-metal debuts at the 2013 Geneva auto show.

Kia’s GT treatment largely centers around a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that pumps out a GTI-baiting 201 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers are close to the European GTI’s 210 horsepower and 207 lb-ft—despite the Kia engine displacing 0.4 fewer liters than VW’s 2.0-liter. A six-speed manual handles shifting duties. Kia claims that both the Pro_cee’d GT and Cee’d GT can run from 0 to 62 mph in a conservative-sounding 7.7 seconds, and that top speed for both is a lofty 143 mph. The cars’ suspension upgrades aren’t specifically outlined, with Kia saying only that the setups were worked over to match the higher-performance engine.

Kia pro_cee'd GT

Aggressive visual upgrades back up the go-faster hardware. The three-door Pro_cee’d GT appears slightly sportier than its more-practical five-door sibling, but both get unique front and rear fascias with large intakes and neat-looking square nacelles. Up front, the nacelles each pack a quadrant of LED running lights. Dual exhaust outlets poke out of the rear ends of both GTs, and handsome 18-inch wheels and red-painted brake calipers serve as eye candy.

Kia pro_cee'd GT

The GTs’ interiors are just as businesslike as their exteriors, gaining Recaro sport seats, aluminum pedals, and a seven-inch TFT digital gauge cluster. For Kia hot-hatch fanatics—do those exist yet?—there will be a special launch-celebrating pro_cee’d GT 1st Edition. Just 500 examples will be built for all of Europe, and each one will include adaptive xenon headlights, automatic climate control, navigation, and a sunroof. Visually, they’ll be set apart from regular GTs by black wheels and door mirrors, stainless steel sill plates with backlit “GT” lettering, red ambient lighting, velour floor mats with red stitching, and a number plate. Here’s hoping Kia decides to give the GT treatment to the Forte and Forte five-door we get here.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

Geneva: BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo fills a void we didn't know existed

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By Steven J. Ewing

Despite its substantial functionality, the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo has been an utter sales flop here on our shores – so much so that the Germans have reportedly been rethinking the decision to not offer the 5 Series Touring in the States. So forgive us, then, for questioning the motives behind this new GT version of the smaller 3 Series, which will arrive in the US this summer in both 328i and 335i variants.

Nevertheless, the 3 Series GT makes its official debut here at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, and despite its focus on rakishness (or something), it’s actually more functional and spacious than the 3 Series Sport Wagon. That’s right – thanks to an extra 4.3 inches of wheelbase, 7.9 inches of length and 3.2 inches of height, the 3GT offers more space for rear passengers and one more cubic foot of storage overall.

Engine choices are unchanged from the 3 Series sedan, with the 328i getting a 240-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo-four and the 335i utilizing a 300-horsepower turbo-six. Pricing will be announced closer to the car’s on-sale date this summer.

Continue reading BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo fills a void we didn’t know existed

BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo fills a void we didn’t know existed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Mar 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Geneva: Rolls-Royce Wraith revealed, ready to battle Bentley

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By John Neff

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Bentley may have rounded out the redesign of its Continental line of cars with the new Flying Spur four-door’s debut at this week’s Geneva Motor Show, but Rolls-Royce has shown up in Switzerland with the Wraith, a GT coupe version of the Ghost sedan that moves the brand one step closer to having an answer for everything that wears a Flying B.

The Wraith’s natural combatant would be Bentley’s Continental GT Coupe, though as all Rollers come in orders of magnitude more expensive than their already costly competitors from Crewe, the new coupe’s €245,000 initial starting price will be $100k USD more than the base price of the most expensive Continental, a GT Speed coupe.

What your CEO bonus money will get you is a 624-bhp V12 engine cranking out 590 pound-feet of torque. The sprint to 60 miles per hour will pass by in 4.4 seconds, with a unique 8-speed ZF automatic transmission snapping off shifts using a new Satellite Aided Transmission technology that works with GPS to pre-select the right gear for not only the road you’re on, but the road you’ll be coming up on ahead.

Rolls-Royce is also pushing the bounds of technology inside the Wraith relying heavily on voice commands, what it calls an ‘on-board valet,’ to input instructions and data into the nav and infotainment systems. For those who prefer more tactile inputs, a Spirit of Ecstasy Rotary Controller accepts inputs via a touchpad that offers pinch-to-zoom and character drawing functionality.

The Wraith wouldn’t be allowed to wear the winged goddess if it didn’t pamper its passengers, and that goal is achieved in typical Rolls fashion with herds of “Phantom-grade” cow-hide, expanses of new Canadel Panellng wood trim, and the first use of the brand’s unique Starlight Headliner fiber optic headliner outside the Phantom range.

We’ll have live images of the Wraith’s debut in Geneva soon, but you can dine on this gallery of fine official images until then and have a servant read you the official press release below.

Continue reading Rolls-Royce Wraith revealed, ready to battle Bentley

Rolls-Royce Wraith revealed, ready to battle Bentley originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 23:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

5 of Last Week's Biggest Losers

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By Rick Aristotle Munarriz, The Motley Fool

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There’s never a shortage of losers in the stock market. Let’s take a closer look at five of this past week’s biggest sinkers.

Company

March 1

Weekly Loss

ITT Educational Services

$13.56

27%

Molycorp

$5.81

12%

GT Advanced Technologies

$2.78

12%

Halcon Resources

$6.65

11%

OmniVision Technologies

$13.61

11%

Source: Barron’s.

ITT Educational Services flunked out after revealing that the SEC was investigating the accounting behind the post-secondary educator’s private loans program.

Molycorp fell after delaying its fourth-quarter report to March 15. The rare-earth minerals producer still isn’t sure how big a goodwill hit it will be taking related to last year’s purchase of Neo Material Technologies.

Facing challenging conditions in the solar and LED markets, GT Advanced Technologies posted disappointing quarterly results. GT served up a loss as revenue declined sequentially and year over year. The company booked just $6.5 million in new orders during the quarter.

Global Hunter Securities downgraded Halcon Resources this week, even after the Bakken oil producer delivered strong growth in its latest quarter.

Finally we have OmniVision posting a double-digit percentage decline after offering a weak near-term outlook. OmniVision is the top dog in image sensors at a time when high-quality cameras are a priority in smartphones and tablets. The problem for OmniVision is that this has become a very competitive market.

Sure, OmniVision far exceeded Wall Street expectations on the top and bottom line during the holiday quarter, but its near-term outlook isn’t as rosy. OmniVision’s guidance for earning $0.14 to $0.29 a share on no more than $330 million in revenue is well short of the $0.32 profit on $371.5 million in revenue that analysts were forecasting.

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The article 5 of Last Week’s Biggest Losers originally appeared on Fool.com.

Longtime Fool contributor Rick Aristotle Munarriz and The Motley Fool have no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Automobiles

Official: Ford brings FPV Falcon production in house [w/video]

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By Seyth Miersma

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For the first time since 1976, Ford of Australia is bringing the assembly of its stonking Ford Performance Vehicle line back in-house to the company’s Broadmeadows and Geelong facilities. That’s a point of pride for FPV, which builds high-performance versions of the Australian Falcon model like the F6, GS and the heroic GT seen here.

In the video below, we hear FPV employees talking in hushed tones about the important legacy that cars like the GT have for Australian gearheads of all stripes, and how proud they are to say that hand-built machines like this GT R-Spec with its Boss 355 engine are now rolling out of their home base. For our part, we’re just dying to drive this version of the Coyote V8; the engine is rocking a “Miami” supercharger from Harrop and makes some 450 horsepower.

Continue on below for the video, or you can check out some images of the new FPV at the facility, as well as a gallery of the GT R-Spec car.

Continue reading Ford brings FPV Falcon production in house [w/video]

Ford brings FPV Falcon production in house [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

BMW’s New Z4 GTE ALMS Racer Makes M3 GTs Museum Pieces

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By John Lamm

BMW Z4 GTE race car

BMW’s championship-winning M3 GTs are now museum pieces after the Bavarian automaker replaced them with the Z4 GTE for the 2013 American Le Mans Series season. The Rahal Letterman Lanigan team—who’s run M3 GTs under the BMW umbrella since the 2009 season—has been involved with the development of the Z4 GTE, which is based on the successful Z4 GT3 race car, from the beginning and first tested the new racer in mid-January. The result is a 2745-pound (rules-mandated) car powered by a 32-valve, 4.4-liter V-8 restricted via intake to 480 horsepower, down from the GT3′s 508, with maximum torque of 354 lb-ft and mated to a paddle-shifted six-speed automated manual. While the GT3 race cars are allowed to use such electronic aids as ABS and stability controll, they are banned on the GTE machines. The Z4 GTE will give BMW a race car to bridge the transition from ALMS in 2013 to the ALMS/Grand Am combined series in 2014.

Given the M3‘s cult status, you might be asking yourself, “Why the Z4?” For one thing, with last year’s launch of the new F30-generation 3-series, the current M3′s days were numbered. However, the next M3 isn’t scheduled to be revealed until late 2013 or early 2014, and if BMW wants to continue using a coupe, as it has, the wait will be even longer with the new M4 expected to follow six months or a year later. Given this confluence of bad timing, it made sense to convert the established Z4 GT3 to GTE specification. Not only does the logic check out, but it also provides BMW with a platform to further market the Z4, of which 2751 were sold in 2012—nearly two-thirds being coupes—and making it the basis for a race car can only help sales.

BMW’s efforts will be in the hands of venerable U.S. driver Bill Auberlen, teamed with an ALMS rookie, Belgium’s Maxime Martin. German Dirk Müller will be in the second car, his co-driver being one of two American drivers, Joey Hand when his BMW DTM commitments allow, or John Edwards. That lineup applies to eight of the ALMS races for 2013, while at the Sebring and Road Atlanta enduros, German drivers Jörg Müller and Uwe Alzen will join the team.

Those M3 GTs will prove to be a tough act to follow. They took the ALMS team and manufacturer GT crowns in 2010 and did the same in 2011, adding driver titles with Hand and Müller. Chevrolet won the title in 2012 with its Corvette thanks to Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner, and BMW is hedging its bets for 2013 by calling it a “development year.” The Z4 GTE will get its first race action in March at the 12 Hours of Sebring.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

Automobiles

Official: Toyota GT86 gets TRD treatment in UK

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By Chris Paukert

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As dearly as we love the Toyota GT86 / Scion FR-S / Subaru BRZ franchise, we readily admit we wouldn’t look sideways at a model with a bit more firepower. And while that’s not quite on the table yet, Toyota has been busy amping up the visual firepower of its rear-drive coupe with a whole host of TRD parts. To this point, that’s been a largely à la carte affair, but the automaker’s UK outpost has just announced a special-edition model that allows our British friends to pick up the whole shooting match all in one go.

The Toyota GT86 TRD will only be available in black and white, and just 250 examples are to be built. As you can see from the excellent gallery above, the catalog of look-faster bits include a more aggressive front air dam, side skirts, rear bumper fascia, spoiler and unique 18-inch forged alloys. Additional flourishes include a TRD shift lever and branded radiator cap. The sole concession to actual performance? A “fast-response quad exhaust” that might only improve things audibly – 0-62 mph is apparently unchanged at 7.7 seconds, and the top end is still 140 mph for the manual transmission model. (The auto gets by with 8.4 seconds and 130 mph).

Pricing? Glad you asked. £31,495 for GT 86 TRD manual, £32,995 for the automatic – that’s nearly $50,000 US for the tripedalist and just over for the automatic. (Those are heady prices, but bear in mind that UK MSRPs and taxes are generally significantly higher than their US counterparts). If the standard GT86 is more your speed, it still rings up at a more affordable £24,995 – roughly $39,500 – leaving plenty of budget for actual performance parts. No word yet on North American availability of a special TRD model, but we’ve got a call in…

Continue reading Toyota GT86 gets TRD treatment in UK

Toyota GT86 gets TRD treatment in UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Kia Cross GT Concept: Previewing the Sorento’s Luxurious Big Brother [2013 Chicago Auto Show]

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By Andrew Wendler

Kia Cross GT concept

Building on the brand-expanding precedent set by the four-door Kia GT that debuted in Frankfurt in 2011, the brand unveiled the Cross GT crossover concept in Chicago. Just as the GT concept’s arrival signaled the brand might soon offer a full-size luxury car, the Cross GT concept clearly sends the message that Kia is considering the move into the large, premium-crossover market. READ MORE ››

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver

News, Politics, Government

Wikipad Android Gaming Tablet Respawns With New Size, Lower Price Tag

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By Jason Evangelho, Contributor

Things were going well for Los Angeles-based Wikipad, Inc. until late 2012. The creators of the Wikipad gaming tablet had distribution agreements with major retailers like Best Buy, Amazon.com, and Gamestop. The unique piece of hardware was garnering positive press from IGN, GT.TV and other gaming enthusiast sites. The company ultimately missed their target launch date of October 2012, and as CES 2013 approached things fell worryingly silent. Fortunately, that all changes today as the Wikipad respawns with a smaller form factor and a reduced price to match. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Forbes Latest

Automobiles

Report: BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo gets leaked well ahead of Geneva reveal

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By Seyth Miersma

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The great power of the internet has allowed us to get an early first look at the all-new BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo, a car that is slated to be shown in full at the Geneva Motor Show next month, albeit without many details to go on right now. With pictures leaking out this early in the game, we’d expect that you won’t have to wait until March to get the full lowdown, however.

Our first look at the 3er GT reveals a car that is, to our eyes, a tidier piece of design work than its 5 Series GT brother. The long-backside proportions are still a bit ungainly, at least from these images, but they’re helped tremendously with the larger wheel/tire package and more aggressive fascia of the sport package.

Expect the 3 Series GT to hit the ground running, with the same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder and 3.0-liter inline-six found in the standard 3 Series sedan. BMW‘s popular xDrive all-wheel-drive system is a virtual lock for the option sheet, too.

Click through our attached gallery for a closer peek at the car, and stay tuned for more information about the 3 Series Gran Turismo as we get closer to its Geneva launch.

BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo gets leaked well ahead of Geneva reveal originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Feb 2013 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Racing Gamers: Grid 2 Hits Stores On May 28

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By Kurt Ernst

The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 GT - image: Codemasters
The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 GT - image: Codemasters

The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 GT – image: Codemasters

If you prefer your racing games with a bit more emphasis on action and don’t care about things like a realistically-rendered cockpit, we’ve got good news: Grid 2, the eagerly-anticipated follow up to Codemasters’ original hit, Grid, will hit stores on May 28. If you commit to buying it now via pre-order, you can take advantage of a few bonus options, depending upon where you shop.

Place your order with Game Stop, and you can get the Grid 2: Turbo Charged edition, which includes downloadable content (DLC) in the form of the McLaren Racing Pack and the GTR Racing Pack. The McLaren add-on gets you a unique MP4-12C GT3 plus modified circuits around England’s Brands Hatch, while the GTR Pack gives you a Nissan GT-R SpecV and variation on the Yas Marina circuit.

If Best Buy is your store of choice, you can select the IndyCar Pack, which gives you the IndyCar pace car and a Dallara DW12 IndyCar as DLC. The added track choices are variations on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Pre-order through Amazon, and you’ll get the Head Start Pack, which gives you the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 GT as DLC, plus additional discounts on car upgrades and a one-time RaceNet bonus.

Regardless of which option you pick, Grid 2 will deliver single player, multiplayer or online action, with tracks ranging from famous world circuits to city streets and mountain roads. Grid 2 will be available in versions for the Microsoft Xbox 360, the Sony PlayStation 3 and PC.

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Automotive Addicts

Automobiles

Official: <em>GRID 2</em> gets May 28 on-sale date, special DLC depending on where you buy

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By Jonathon Ramsey

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Codemasters is promising all kinds of wunderbar things for Grid2 like “new standards for a racing multiplayer experience” and “the most visceral and exhilarating racing yet.” The 24-karat test of those claims will have to wait until we can get controllers in our hands, but not for too much longer: The game will be shipping to stores on May 28 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation3 and PC.

What we can confirm now is that there will be three different options for special edition downloadable content depending on whether you pre-order the game at GameStop, Best Buy or Amazon. GameStoppers will get the McLaren and Nissan GT-R Racing Packs, featuring the MP4-12C GT3 and two new ways around the UK’s Brands Hatch track in the former, and a GT-R SpecV plus an exclusive online event and five daytime circuits at Yas Marina in the latter.

Get the goods from Best Buy and you’ll get the IndyCar Pack that includes the series Pace Car and Dallara chassis, an exclusive online event and two additional routes around The Brickyard. Amazon’s version will offer the Head Start Pack, which is a Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 GT on top of discounts in the Car Upgrades Store and a RaceNet bonus.

You have about 120 days to decide which one is for you, with the help of the high-res gallery above. In the meantime, there’s a press release below.

Continue reading GRID 2 gets May 28 on-sale date, special DLC depending on where you buy

GRID 2 gets May 28 on-sale date, special DLC depending on where you buy originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 03 Feb 2013 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Toyota to Introduce i-ROAD and FR-S Roadster–Previewing FT-86 Open Concepts in Geneva [2013 Geneva Auto Show]

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By Austin Lindberg

Toyota has a pair of concepts prepped for the upcoming Geneva auto show, one that has us scratching our heads and another that has us panting with anticipation: the i-ROAD and the FT-86 Open, which you might as well begin referring to as the Scion FR-S roadster.

Toyota says that it’s assessing the engineering behind converting the GT 86 to a convertible, while simultaneously gauging customer reaction. We previewed the inevitable FR-S roadster last year and suspect this concept has Mazda Miata marketers looking over their shoulders. Unlike the Miata, however, we think it’s likely the open-top FR-S will have rear seats if the sketch above is anything to go off of. If customer reaction is as positive as we think it will be, it’s possible a production-spec FR-S roadster could be debuted later this year or early in 2014.

As for the head scratcher, the i-ROAD, it’s a small, lightweight “personal-mobility concept” that is emissions-free and meant for urban environments. There’s room for two sitting in a tandem formation. With just a top-view drawing and no further information available, we’ll have to wait to get to Geneva to see what the i-ROAD really looks like. In the meantime, we’ll just think of it as a 21st-century version of Harry Miller’s 1917 Golden Submarine.

2013 Geneva auto show full coverage

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Car & Driver