Car Zone

Friday, December 5, 2014

2016 Toyota Tacoma to debut in Detroit

2012 Toyota Tacoma - 5.9.2011

Will battle the new Chevrolet Colorado & GMC Canyon

The mid-size truck segment is finally heating up and it appears Toyota isn't ready to surrender their top spot without a fight.

In an interview with Automotive News, Toyota General Manager Bill Fay confirmed plans to introduce the redesigned Tacoma at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Fay declined to elaborate but he expects the segment will grow thanks to new products and renewed interest in smaller and more fuel-efficient pickups.

Little is known about the truck itself but it is expected to feature a number of improvements including a new engine and upgraded transmissions.

Volkswagen Touran shows its familiar shape in new spy photos

2015 / 2016 Volkswagen Touran spy photo / Automedia

Should be introduced sometime next year

Work continues on the 2015 / 2016 Volkswagen Touran as another prototype has been spied in Europe.

While the car is heavily disguised, it features LED-infused headlights and an evolutionary design. Additional styling details are hard to make out but the model is expected to be heavily influenced by the Golf.

Our spies couldn't get close enough to snap interior photos but there should be a more accommodating cabin with Easy Fold seats. Previous reports have also suggested there will be additional amenities but there's no word on specifics.

Volkswagen has remained coy on specifications but the Touran is expected to ride on the MQB platform. This could enable the car to weigh up to 100 kg (220 lbs) less than its predecessor.

Engines options remain unconfirmed but possible candidates include:

A 1.2-liter TSI with outputs of 85 PS (63 kW) and 105 PS (77 kW)

A 1.4-liter TSI with outputs of 122 PS (90 kW) and 140 PS (103 kW)

A 1.6-liter TDI with 105 PS (77 kW)

A 2.0-liter TDI with 150 PS (110 kW)

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Audi A7 Sportback H-Tron Quattro Concept

Audi has just gotten into the ydrogen game with its A7 h-tron concept.

Audi is pushing deeper and deeper into alternative propulsion every year. Recent concepts have seen a push towards electric power with the e-tron lineup, the racing division is pushing hybrid tech with diesel engines, and of course, we have Audi's large lineup of TDI models. Now though, we have the next step towards a gasoline-free future with the A7 Sportback h-tron Quattro. This new car is based on the sporting and attractive A7 Sportback, but instead of the standard gasoline or diesel engines that Audi sells it with, this new car comes packed with a fuel cell combined to a plug-in hybrid system.

Audi promises outstanding speed and performance, with a hydrogen-only range of more than 300 miles. A unique and capable new electric Quattro AWD system makes its debut and it should give the A7 h-tron a level of handling prowess never before seen on a hydrogen car. Once you add in the fact that the A7 is a stunning looking car with plenty of room for five people, lots of luggage space and class-leading levels of luxury and the h-tron looks like a real winner.

Click past the jump to read more about the Audi A7 Sportback H-Tron Quattro Concept.

Audi A7 Sportback H-Tron Quattro Concept originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 21 November 2014 10:00 EST.

Porsche Cayenne GTS

We caught up with the Cayenne GTS at the LA Auto Show.

Porsche first offered the Cayenne GTS in 2007 as a lighter and more aerodynamically honed version of the SUV. Although not as powerful as the Turbo versions, the GTS had better driving dynamics thanks to its sport suspension and reduced curb weight.

The Cayenne was the first modern Porsche to wear the GTS emblem, paying tribute to a nameplate introduced in 1963 with the 904 Carrera. The moniker was later used for the front-engined 924 and 928 models and, once it returned on the Cayenne, it found its way on the 911 and Panamera. As the facelifted second-gen SUV bowed for the 2015 model year, Porsche also launched an updated version of the Cayenne GTS.

Much like the revised Cayenne, the GTS boasts numerous exterior design updates and a slightly revised interior. More importantly, though, the GTS ditched its familiar V-8 powerplant in favor of a twin-turbocharged, V-6 mill. Despite dropping two cylinders and displacing only 3.6 liters, the new engine pumps more power and torque into the Cayenne GTS, which also brings quicker sprints and a stronger position among its competitors. Read on to find out what's new on the revised Cayenne GTS.

Update 11/21/2014: We're live at the LA Auto Show and took some shots of the Cayenne GTS while there. Check out the images after the jump and in the gallery.
Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 Porsche Cayenne GTS.

Porsche Cayenne GTS originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 21 November 2014 10:30 EST.

Mercedes G63 AMG 4X4 Green Monster

Okay, so we already have the 6x6 G63 AMG, so what in the world is Mercedes doing with this jacked-up G-Class?

The monstrosity that is the Mercedes G63 AMG 6x6 first entered our lives in March 2014, packing just about everything we needed in the event zombies start overpowering our world. Back then, Mercedes announced that it was building a limited number of the six-wheeled monolith, essentially cutting off supply for everyday Joes to score one for themselves.

Well, fret not, because it appears that Mercedes-AMG is making a fresh batch of awesome G63 AMGs, albeit with the standard four-wheel configuration. It's admittedly not as awesome as the six-wheeled, three-axle variety, but this new version still packs quite an intimidating punch.

Our spy photographers captured the vehicle doing test runs in southern Europe, dubbing it the G63 AMG Green Monster. We're not exactly sure that it's the actual name of the vehicle, but the description does fit on account of the prototype's splashy neon-green finish and its imposing posture.

All the design elements of the 6x6 appear to have been included in the Green Monster, minus the two wheels and the flatbed out. That's not to say that the Green Monster is less frightening; it just has two less wheels to scare us with.

Click past the jump to read more about the Mercedes G63 AMG 4X4 Green Monster.

Mercedes G63 AMG 4X4 Green Monster originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 21 November 2014 14:00 EST.

Audi Q8

According to a report, Audi has confirmed that the Q8 will arrive within three years.

When BMW introduced the X6 in 2009, a new segment was born. But although the crossover BMW describes as a Sports Activity Coupe proved somewhat popular with SUV enthusiasts, the trend didn't catch on with other automaker until 2013, when Mercedes-Benz revealed plans to develop a coupe-like crossover based on the M-Class. Shortly after, rumors of a Cayenne Coupe emerged, signaling Germany's finest automakers are finally paying more attention to this niche. Now, a fourth manufacturer is ready to jump on the coupe crossover wagon. Not surprising, this new player sports Audi's four-ringed badge on its hood and goes by the name Q8, a moniker the folks over at Ingolstadt trademarked back in 2012.

The news comes straight from Audi technical chief Ulrich Hackenberg, who confirmed "the Q8 will come" within the next three years at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. "It will be something new, following designs established on the Prologue concept. It will be positioned as something more emotional and more sporty than the Q7. The Q7 will be a car for seven people, the Q8 will be more coupe like," he told Autocar.

Although the details are still being kept under wraps as of November 2014, we used some of the hints provided by both Hackenberg and Autocar to paint a (still blurry) picture of the Q8. Read all about it below.

Note: Future Audi Q7 pictured

Click past the jump to read more about the Audi Q8.

Audi Q8 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 21 November 2014 15:00 EST.

Valet parks ten Bugatti Veyrons in one night

Keys from ten Bugatti Veyrons 07.08.2013

In Monaco

A valet working in Monaco had the opportunity to park no less than ten Bugatti Veyrons in a single night.

You would imagine the Bugatti Veyron is a rare car given its hefty price tag but not when we consider locations such as Monaco, London or Dubai, just to name a few. Former Formula 1 driver Taki Inoue posted on his Twitter account a photo depicting ten key fobs from Veyrons which were all parked at the same spot somewhere in Monaco.

It might have been a little bit frustrating for the valet to drive those cars only for a brief moment but it is still far from being a bad job taking into account the tips he must receive and the cars he gets to drive on a daily basis. In addition, any job is better than no job.