Renault Chief Operating Officer Carlos Tavares has revealed some new details about the 2015 Twingo.
Speaking to Automotive News, Tavares said the model has "huge potential" because it will be geared towards male drivers and offered exclusively as a five-door hatchback. Tavares also acknowledged the car will offer a variety of personalization options to better compete with the Fiat 500 and Opel / Vauxhall Adam.
The change to a rear-wheel drive platform will also enable the model to have a "relatively large cabin for [such] a short length." This should help to increase sales as the current Twingo can be a little cramped, especially in the rear.
The 2015 Twingo was recently previewed by the Twin'Run concept and is expected to be launched late next year.
Mazda has officially unveiled the 2014 Mazda3, following this morning's leak.
Looking sleek and sporty, the model embraces the Kobo design philosophy which has already been used on the CX-5 and Mazda6. The end result is pretty impressive as the car is more stylish and upscale than its predecessor.
The company's five-point grille dominates the front fascia and is equipped with a new active air-shutter system which helps to reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency. Moving further back, there's soft curves and flowing surfaces as well as a tailgate-mounted spoiler. Overall, the Mazda3 measures 175.6 inches long, 70.7 inches wide and 57.3 inches tall with a wheelbase that spans 106.3 inches - an increase of 2.4 inches.
The interior also takes a step in the right direction as it is equipped with higher quality materials an improved design. Notable highlights include a new instrument cluster, satin chrome trim, piano black accents and more comfortable seats which can be upholstered in cloth, leatherette or leather. There's also a new infotainment system with Bluetooth/USB/AUX connectivity as well as the ability to access the internet via a smartphone. More notably, the Mazda3 has an Active Driving Display that shows important driving information - such as navigation directions - on a clear panel behind the instrument cluster surround.
In the United States, the Mazda3 will be offered with two different petrol engines. The 2.0-liter SKYACTIV-G produces 155 bhp (115 kW) and 150 lb-ft (203 Nm) of torque, while the 2.5-liter SKYACTIV-G develops 184 bhp (137 kW) and 185 lb-ft (250 Nm) of torque. They can be paired to a SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual or SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic.
To improve fuel efficiency, the Mazda3 has i-ELOOP brake energy regeneration and a SKYACTIV-Body that uses high-strength steel for "significant weight savings." The company declined to go into specifics but said European models equipped with the 2.2-liter SKYACTIV-D engine and the SKYACTIV-MT transmission will weigh 198 pounds (90 kg) less than their predecessor.
On the handling front, engineers retuned the springs, dampers and stabilizer bars for improved stability and greater ride comfort. The model has also been equipped with an electric power steering system that promises to deliver improved feel and responsiveness.
The Mazda3 will also be offered with a variety of new safety systems including High Beam Control, Blind Spot Monitoring, Forward Obstruction Warning, Smart City Brake Support and Radar Cruise Control.
Check out the press release for additional information
Steve Saleen made a name for himself by building high-performance Mustangs and the S7 supercar, but he's finally back in control of the company that bears his name.
Thanks to a recently completed merger, Saleen Automotive now consists of Saleen Automotive and SMS Signature Cars. As you may recall, Steve Saleen resigned from Saleen Automotive in 2007 and went on to start SMS Signature Cars a year later.
The newly reconstituted company will offer a "complete line of upgraded muscle cars, performance cars, automotive aftermarket specialty parts and lifestyle accessories." More importantly, Saleen confirmed they are developing a new supercar as well as electric and zero-emission vehicles.
In a statement Steve Saleen said "We are excited to become a publicly-traded company and enter into the next stage of our growth, as we bring these automobiles into the mainstream and grow our retail presence into new markets in the U.S. We are also developing high-performance electric vehicles targeting the zero-emissions segment."
Scion Racing has announced plans to compete in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 30th.
The company will field three different models including the xD, tC and FR-S. The xD rally car will be driven by Andrew Comrie-Picard, while the GReddy tC will be piloted by Takeshi Aizawa. Both will be competing in the Time Attack class.
Rookie Robert Walker will be behind the wheel of a specially modified FR-S which was built by Evasive Motorsports. He will be competing against Rhys Millen and Sébastien Loeb in the Unlimited class.
The company didn't have much to say about the cars, but the GReddy tC has a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that develops 365 bhp (272 kW) and 382 lb-ft (517 Nm) of torque. It enables the model to accelerate from 0-60 mph in an estimated 3.76 seconds.
Likewise, the xD rally car has a turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that pumps out 265 bhp (197 kW) and 265 lb-ft (358 Nm) of torque. This enables the car to run from 0-60 mph in approximately 4.3 seconds.
SRT has unveiled the all-new 2013 Dodge SRT VIper GT3-R, direct descendent of the high performance Viper GTS-R. SRT will return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the all-new Viper. The new Viper GT3-R is priced from $459,000.
A 1956 Chrysler Diablo Concept was auctioned at the 2013 Barrett-Jackson auction for $1,375,000, the auction has seen some one-off projects auction at very high prices such as the Original 1966 Batmobile that auctioned for $4.62 million.
This Diablo was a product of the director of automotive design for Chrysler in 1953, Virgil Exner Sr., who was given the responsibility to design all of Chrysler’s concept cars starting in 1954. Exner would then collaborate with Ghia, one of the best body builders in Italy to come up with the Diablo Concept. Designed in a wind tunnel, the Diablo is one of the largest custom bodied convertibles ever built by the Ghia body builder and in its second phase it retained a full convertible top.
They used a 1956 Chrysler 300 with a 392 cubic inch V8 engine featuring two four barrel carburetors, automatic push-button transmission and a ton of chrome in the engine compartment. Every detail on this car was fastidiously gone over by Virgil Exner including the pitchfork emblems, emblem on the gas filler lid which is in the trunk area and the sculpting on the exhaust tips, which reportedly took Virgil several days on the drawing board to get the design just perfect.
The Diablo is also fitted with power steering, power brakes, power windows, power top, power antenna and air conditioning. The size of this car is of 21′ long and very wide. This car has been in the same important collection for approximately 25 years.
A 1956 Chrysler Diablo Concept was auctioned at the 2013 Barrett-Jackson auction for $1,375,000, the auction has seen some one-off projects auction at very high prices such as the Original 1966 Batmobile that auctioned for $4.62 million.
This Diablo was a product of the director of automotive design for Chrysler in 1953, Virgil Exner Sr., who was given the responsibility to design all of Chrysler’s concept cars starting in 1954. Exner would then collaborate with Ghia, one of the best body builders in Italy to come up with the Diablo Concept. Designed in a wind tunnel, the Diablo is one of the largest custom bodied convertibles ever built by the Ghia body builder and in its second phase it retained a full convertible top.
They used a 1956 Chrysler 300 with a 392 cubic inch V8 engine featuring two four barrel carburetors, automatic push-button transmission and a ton of chrome in the engine compartment. Every detail on this car was fastidiously gone over by Virgil Exner including the pitchfork emblems, emblem on the gas filler lid which is in the trunk area and the sculpting on the exhaust tips, which reportedly took Virgil several days on the drawing board to get the design just perfect.
The Diablo is also fitted with power steering, power brakes, power windows, power top, power antenna and air conditioning. The size of this car is of 21′ long and very wide. This car has been in the same important collection for approximately 25 years.
A 1956 Chrysler Diablo Concept was auctioned at the 2013 Barrett-Jackson auction for $1,375,000, the auction has seen some one-off projects auction at very high prices such as the Original 1966 Batmobile that auctioned for $4.62 million.
This Diablo was a product of the director of automotive design for Chrysler in 1953, Virgil Exner Sr., who was given the responsibility to design all of Chrysler’s concept cars starting in 1954. Exner would then collaborate with Ghia, one of the best body builders in Italy to come up with the Diablo Concept. Designed in a wind tunnel, the Diablo is one of the largest custom bodied convertibles ever built by the Ghia body builder and in its second phase it retained a full convertible top.
They used a 1956 Chrysler 300 with a 392 cubic inch V8 engine featuring two four barrel carburetors, automatic push-button transmission and a ton of chrome in the engine compartment. Every detail on this car was fastidiously gone over by Virgil Exner including the pitchfork emblems, emblem on the gas filler lid which is in the trunk area and the sculpting on the exhaust tips, which reportedly took Virgil several days on the drawing board to get the design just perfect.
The Diablo is also fitted with power steering, power brakes, power windows, power top, power antenna and air conditioning. The size of this car is of 21′ long and very wide. This car has been in the same important collection for approximately 25 years.
A 1956 Chrysler Diablo Concept was auctioned at the 2013 Barrett-Jackson auction for $1,375,000, the auction has seen some one-off projects auction at very high prices such as the Original 1966 Batmobile that auctioned for $4.62 million.
This Diablo was a product of the director of automotive design for Chrysler in 1953, Virgil Exner Sr., who was given the responsibility to design all of Chrysler’s concept cars starting in 1954. Exner would then collaborate with Ghia, one of the best body builders in Italy to come up with the Diablo Concept. Designed in a wind tunnel, the Diablo is one of the largest custom bodied convertibles ever built by the Ghia body builder and in its second phase it retained a full convertible top.
They used a 1956 Chrysler 300 with a 392 cubic inch V8 engine featuring two four barrel carburetors, automatic push-button transmission and a ton of chrome in the engine compartment. Every detail on this car was fastidiously gone over by Virgil Exner including the pitchfork emblems, emblem on the gas filler lid which is in the trunk area and the sculpting on the exhaust tips, which reportedly took Virgil several days on the drawing board to get the design just perfect.
The Diablo is also fitted with power steering, power brakes, power windows, power top, power antenna and air conditioning. The size of this car is of 21′ long and very wide. This car has been in the same important collection for approximately 25 years.
A 1956 Chrysler Diablo Concept was auctioned at the 2013 Barrett-Jackson auction for $1,375,000, the auction has seen some one-off projects auction at very high prices such as the Original 1966 Batmobile that auctioned for $4.62 million.
This Diablo was a product of the director of automotive design for Chrysler in 1953, Virgil Exner Sr., who was given the responsibility to design all of Chrysler’s concept cars starting in 1954. Exner would then collaborate with Ghia, one of the best body builders in Italy to come up with the Diablo Concept. Designed in a wind tunnel, the Diablo is one of the largest custom bodied convertibles ever built by the Ghia body builder and in its second phase it retained a full convertible top.
They used a 1956 Chrysler 300 with a 392 cubic inch V8 engine featuring two four barrel carburetors, automatic push-button transmission and a ton of chrome in the engine compartment. Every detail on this car was fastidiously gone over by Virgil Exner including the pitchfork emblems, emblem on the gas filler lid which is in the trunk area and the sculpting on the exhaust tips, which reportedly took Virgil several days on the drawing board to get the design just perfect.
The Diablo is also fitted with power steering, power brakes, power windows, power top, power antenna and air conditioning. The size of this car is of 21′ long and very wide. This car has been in the same important collection for approximately 25 years.
