Car Zone: March 2015

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Diamond Black Widebody BMW E92 M3 by European Auto Source

Diamond Black Widebody BMW E92 M3 by European Auto Source Picture #7

2013 Lamborghini Aventador Carbonado Apertos by Mansory

2013 Lamborghini Aventador Carbonado Apertos by Mansory Picture #6

Monday, March 30, 2015

BMW wants Z4 replacement before 2020

BMW Z5 / BMW Toyota sports car rendering / Automedia

Co-developed with Toyota

BMW has announced intentions to introduce a Z4 successor
before the end of the decade.

Speaking with

Automotive
News Europe

at the Geneva Motor Show, BMW head of development Klaus Fr hlich
expressed his desire to launch a replacement for the Z4 within the next five
years, acknowledging the company could share development costs with Toyota as
part of the ongoing collaboration between the two.

Fr hlich went on to specify the segment for
two-seater roadsters is shrinking and that the world's largest car market,
China, is "not interested in roadsters." As a consequence, a Z4 successor is
not high on BMW's list of priorities since such as model would only bring
modest sales especially if we take into account that last year the Bavarian
marque sold only 5,300 units (down by 11 percent) of the Z4 in Europe and 2,150 cars (down
by 13 percent) in United States.

According to the latest

gossip

,
the co-developed sportscar will use the Z5 moniker for BMW's version and has
reached conceptual phase. It will allegedly use a carbon fiber tub just like
the i3 & i8 duo and will adopt a conventional soft top but could possibly
spawn a fixed roof coupe version later during its lifespan. If all goes according to plan, the BMW Z5 and
Toyota's version will be out around 2017.

Note: Unofficial BMW Z5 render pictured.

2016 Chevrolet Spark teased ahead of April 2 reveal

2016 Chevrolet Spark teaser (modified)

Billed as an all-new model

Chevrolet has released a teaser image for the 2016 Spark set
to receive its world premiere on April 2^nd.

Billed as being an all-new model, the 2016MY Spark has
already been caught on camera completely
undisguised about a month ago adopting an evolutionary design compared to
the outgoing model. It will be based on the Opel
Karl / Vauxhall Viva duo but unlike the other two it will have the rear
door handles mounted near the C pillars just like the current car.

Chevrolet has not released any technical specifications but
these should mirror its European brothers so expect power to come from a
naturally aspirated three-cylinder 1.0-liter engine with 75 HP (55 kW). The
Karl/Viva weighs 939 kg (2,070 lbs) and is offered exclusively with a five-speed
manual transmission and consumes only 4.3 liters / 100 km (66 mpg UK or 55 mpg
UK), with corresponding CO2 emissions of 99 g/km.

It should be 3680mm long and provide a 2385mm wheelbase
while the trunk capacity will likely stand at almost 1,000 liters with the rear
seats folded. Among the available options will include cruise control, heated
front seats, sun roof, park assist, infotainment system and a heated steering
wheel.

The 2016 Chevrolet Spark will be revealed on April 2 at the
Seoul and New York auto shows.

Note: We adjusted the exposure of the teaser
image to reveal more details.

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Volkswagen announces three-row Tiguan production in Mexico starting late 2016

2016 Volkswagen Tiguan mule spy photo / SB-Medien

On sale in 2017

Volkswagen has disclosed plans to produce in Mexico a
three-row version of the second
generation Tiguan.

It seems rumors about a seven-seater
Tiguan were true as Volkswagen de Mexico has announced the car will enter
production towards the end of 2016 at the factory in Puebla. To get ready for
the roomier Tiguan assembly, Volkswagen will invest $1 billion in the expansion
and modernization of the production facilities where they also put together the
seventh generation Golf.

The seven-seater Volkswagen Tiguan will be built by about 2,000 employees at a
production rate of 500 units per day and will be commercialized starting 2017 in North and
South America, as well as in other regions of the world, with the exception of
EU countries and China. Tiguan production will require installing new lines at the Puebla
factory where they will also establish a new body shop and other buildings which
will add 90,000 square meters to Volkswagen de Mexico's Puebla facilities.

According to the latest rumors, the Euro-spec Tiguan will be
unveiled in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show and will have just about the
same dimensions as the outgoing model. Needless to say, the seven-seater will
adopt a longer wheelbase to make room for the third row of seats.

Volkswagen Australia managing director John White has
previously revealed the new MQB-based Tiguan will be "totally redesigned" and it will
look "phenomenal." Interestingly, there are also talks about a sporty-looking five-seater version
which if produced will likely be influenced by the Cross
Coupe GTE concept.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet spied undergoing testing with full body camo

2016 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet spy photo / Automedia

Getting a soft top

A fully camouflaged Mercedes-Benz
C-Class Cabriolet prototype has been caught on camera by our spy
photographers.

The defunct CLK is about to get a spiritual successor in the
form of a C-Class Cabriolet equipped with a multi-layered soft top and according
to several reports it will be cheaper than the SLK (soon to be SLC).
The prototype spotted here is still dressed in a heavy amount of disguise but
it's not that hard how to imagine how the car will look like after looking at
the sedan.

Mercedes-Benz provided a sneak preview of the interior cabin
through a mockup
which was displayed last summer in Stuttgart at the firm's museum.
Unsurprisingly, the cabin was largely carried over from the sedan and wagon
C-Class but with different power tilt & slide seats and additional buttons
for the roof. The production car will most likely get the AIRSCARF (neck-level
heating) and AIRCAP (air deflector) systems as seen on other open-top
Mercedes models.

Chances are the Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet will be
introduced in 2016, following the release of the C-Class
Coupe set for later this year. Both cars will most likely get C63 AMG versions
equipped with a twin-turbo V8 4.0-liter engine delivering 476 HP & 650 Nm
and 510 HP & 700 Nm in S specification.

Saturday, March 28, 2015

McLaren Sport Series will be launched with C & S variants

McLaren Sports Series screenshot from teaser video

McLaren CEO Mike Flewitt has revealed some new details about the upcoming Sport Series.

In an interview with Car & Driver, Flewitt confirmed their entry-level model line will carry the familiar "power-output-then-letter pattern" of models such as the 675LT which was recently unveiled in Geneva.

The executive went on to say the Sport Series will be launched with two different coupe variants that both start with the number "5." He declined to go into specifics but confirmed there will be an entry-level C variant and a higher performance S variant. Speaking of the latter, Flewitt said the S variant is "almost our ideal specification" as it has "more power, more focus and so on."

Flewitt went on to say the company will eventually offer a Long Tail variant and confirmed the model will be priced against either the Porsche 911 Turbo or Turbo S - depending on the market.

As a refresher, the McLaren Sport Series will debut at the New York Auto Show and feature a carbon-fiber monocoque chassis and a detuned version on the company's twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 engine which is connected to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

All-new Skoda Superb full UK pricing and specification announced

Skoda Superb

Range-topping variant starts at 28,740 GBP

Earlier today we informed
you the base all-new Skoda Superb will start at 18,650 GBP in the UK and now we
have the full UK pricing and specification information to share.

Actually, the starting
price of the entry-level model with 1.4-liter TSI petrol engine with 125 HP (92
kW) is 18,640 GBP, which is 50 GBP less than the identical variant in the
previous generation of the car. The launch range consists of four trim levels -
S, SE, SE L Executive and Laurin & Klement, with all of them featuring
alloy wheels, air conditioning, LED rear
lights, DAB digital radio and a touchscreen infotainment system.

SE models start from
21,190 GBP and add 17-inch Helios alloy wheels, a dual-zone air conditioning,
rear parking sensors and cornering front fog lights, while SE L Executive
versions will be available from 24,220 GBP and include 18-inch Zenith alloy wheels,
electrically operated boot and Drive mode selection.

The range-topping Laurin
& Klement will be offered with a starting price tag of 28,740 GBP and will
come with a 10-speaker CANTON sound system, a heated windscreen, special floor
mats, piano black decorative inserts, tri-zone climate control and etc.

Full details are
available at the press release section below.

Friday, March 27, 2015

Lamborghini Aventador LP750-4 Superveloce 2015

Visit Lamborghini Aventador LP750-4 Superveloce 2015 for full details.

Porsche 911 GT3 RS 2015

Visit Porsche 911 GT3 RS 2015 for full details.

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Lotus CEO Admits SUV Possibility

With Dany Bahar no longer at the helm of troubled sports car specialist Lotus, you would think that the brand's foray into making more mainstream vehicles would have ended. Unfortunately, the situation may be far from it, if Group Lotus's new chief Jean-Marc Gales is to be believed. Speaking with Reuters at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, Gales admitted that Lotus may need to also jump on the crossover/SUV bandwagon if it plans to survive the upcoming years.

While the news is likely upsetting, to say the least, to die-hard Lotus fans, Gales promises that Lotus will not just do another plain crossover but "reinvent the category," quickly explaining himself: "We'd do an SUV that is very light, very fast on the track and has outstanding handling," he told the news agency. "I'm a bit torn between an SUV and a four-door sports car - but in the end I can see that the SUV has the bigger market."

On the plus side, despite what the quote may suggest, Jean-Marc Gales is actually an old-school car guy who seems to understand the Lotus philosophy better than his predecessor. "We had an electronically opening glove box, which in a sports car is worse than useless. I don't know who put that in, but I took it out." he said at Geneva. In my book, this is a perfect example of his Colin Chapman-like mindset, so hopefully the crossover Lotus will adhere to the "simplify, then add lightness" principle as well, as that would indeed revolutionize the niche.

Continue reading to learn more about Lotus' future SUV.

Lotus CEO Admits SUV Possibility originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 6 March 2015 16:00 EST.

Lamborghini Aventador SV Roadster

Lamborghini launched the SuperVeloce specification all the way back in the 1960s, first appearing on the Miura, the nameplate that basically introduced the world to the mid-engine supercar. Dropped when the Miura was discontinued, the SV name returned nearly 30 years later when Lambo showcased the Diablo SV at the 1995 Geneva Motor Show. Since then, every range-topping Lambo has gotten an SV version. There was a Murcielago SV, and the Aventador SuperVeloce was presented at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.

But while the SV badge has graced four different supercars as of 2015, not all of then have been offered as roadsters. The Miura was built as a coupe only (except for a one-off roadster), while the only drop-top version of the Diablo was based on the less powerful VT. The Murcielago was the first SV to lose its roof and it seems the Aventador is ready to follow suit, as a supercar sporting the body kit of the recently unveiled SV was spotted stretching its wheels with a removable top.

Continue reading to learn more about the Lamborghini Aventador SV Roadster.

Lamborghini Aventador SV Roadster originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 6 March 2015 17:00 EST.

2013 Land Rover LR4 Photo 1008

2013 Land Rover LR4 Photo

http://gearheads.org/2013-land-rover-lr4/. 2013 Land Rover LR4 Specification Launched Price Deals Cheap