The next generation Toyota Prius is entering its final stages of development and to entice those prospective consumers in we can bring the first shot of the redesigned interior.
We've got the TT, we've got the more powerful TTS, now all we have to wait for is the super powerful TT RS and judging by these latest shots that wait is nearly over.
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As part of its plan to increase its position on the South American market, today Renault announced the latest addition to its range, the Renault Sandero Stepway. Based on the Renault Sandero (also marketed in some countries as the Dacia Sandero), the Stepway has a raised ground clearance, roof bars with an integrated spoiler, new bumpers and grille and a chrome-finished exhaust pipe. Though it looks like an offroad version of the Sandero, the car wants to offer a better urban experience. Under the hood, the Sandero Stepway will be offered with Renault’s 112 hp 1.6 16V Hi-Flex, Renault's most powerful bio-ethanol engine in Brazil, followed by a dCi diesel engine.
The car will be available in Brazil starting with October and then in Argentina. The Renault Sandero Stepway will be assembled at the Curitiba plant and will come with a three-year/100,000-km warranty in Brazil.
Click here to read the full press release and check out more photo after the jump.
Hennessey announced that it’s currently working on an upgrade package for the new Dodge Challenger SRT8. There will be two power upgrade levels, first one up to 620 hp at 5,200 rpm and 650 lb-ft of torque, while the other one increases the engine’s power output to 650 hp at 4,800 rpm and 680 lb-ft. of torque. The extra power comes from several new features that include new cold air induction system, high flow cylinder heads with polished combustion chambers and lowered compression ratio, Garrett 67 mm Ball-Bearing turbocharger and new exhaust system. According to Hennessey, the Challenger SRT600 will go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds, the 620 hp version, and in 3.6 seconds, the 650 hp version. Also, the SRT600 does the quarter mile in 11.9 seconds at 121 mph.
Check out more photos and a video of the Dodge Challenger SRT600 after the jump.
Today, Audi released a presentation video of the new Audi A6 facelift. The new sedan from the Ingolstadt features a few restyled elements, like the single-frame grill, bumpers and air vents, new LED tailights. Also, a new engine will be available, a 3.0 liter V6 TFSI that develops 290 hp (213 kW) and 420 Nm (309.78 lb-ft) of torque. The new Audi A6 facelift will be available in Germany in mid-October with pricing starting at 34,200 Euros for the A6 2.0 TFSI sedan. Enjoy!
Super-sedans are the new trend from the supercar manufacturers, with the likes of Porsche, with the Panamera or Aston Martin, with the Rapide and now, sweedish manufacturer Koenigsegg has announced, through their manager for the Middle East, that a sedan is currently in the clay modelling stage, and that it might be powered by a 700 hp V8 engine. This model is set for a release date of 2011.
In development for about two years already, the sedan will be the slimmest car in that segment, all this low weight making it possible to reach about 350 km/h. Of course, the experience gained with the CCX will be put to good use, engineers using their abilities with the construction of carbon-fiber when they built the sweedish supercar in this new sedan.
Although the sweeds were rumoured to have financial problems, especially with the construction plant, according to officials, they will be able to produce about 70 to 80 sedans, while still manufacturing 35 CCX supercars.
The Russian luxury car market is growing by leaps and bounds, a lot of wealthy people there want to indulge their taste for luxury and buy expensive cars. Unfortunately some of the drivers can’t really handle the power of these cars. Such was the case with the driver of this Bentley Continental GT, who plowed the car on a nearby field, taking out two wooden posts and ending up nearby a set of train rails. Details are scarce but until then, here are some photos of this exotic crash, after the jump.
A while ago we told you about the 5-stars safety rating that Ford Flex received. Today we have some news for the ones that like it old style. There’s a company selling a body kit that will make your car look like a Woodie from the 60s. It costs $899, but you will have to install it yourself. No need to worry though, the guys say that an 80-year old grandma already did it. For those of you that are technically challenged, the people at Auto Tech Plastics can also install it for you. So for some old school styling, call the guys at Auto Tech Plastics today. I know I would!
Team Penske’s transporter suffered disaster when their transporter truck caught fire on Interstate 80, west of Cheyenne, Wyo. The two drivers were unharmed, but the lower level of the transporter, containing crewmember uniforms and a variety of equipment was destroyed. A team spokesman said the No. 3 and No. 6 Dallara-Hondas that were on the upper level of the transporter had extensive water, smoke and heat damage. The fire started on the right side of the transporter, possibly from a wheel bearing failure. It was put out by a local fire department, but the transporter will remain in Wyoming for further inspection and assessment of the damage.
Cindric estimated the damage to be “a couple million bucks.” Specially outfitted transporters used by Indy-car teams cost about $400,000 with the cars worth at least $500,000 each. The incident is the team’s second major disaster in three years. In 2006, the team’s IndyCar headquarters, then in Reading, Pa., suffered major losses in flood damage. But the team responded by winning the next race, at Kansas Speedway. “We seem to always perform in these circumstances,” Castroneves said.
For the first time we get to see the model without the black clad camoflage which had obscured our view of the front end styling in the past, instead it uses some light black and white zebra stickers.
Swedish supercar maker Koenigsegg are branching out, we are only accustomed to seeing purely performance orientated models coming out of their factory doors but we will see a more practical four door version unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next year.
ands up how many of us have watched one of these illegally uploaded videos of Top Gear on Youtube. Well, we can now do away with the illegal part after the world's premier automotive enthusiast TV show officially launched their own channel on youtube.
Our spy photographer caught these fresh shots of the new model which currently carries the code name RR4, giving us a first glimpse of the all-new styling.
We cannot confirm or deny a concept version will be unveiled in Paris alongside the regular Golf MkVI, but with the help of these spy photos, we can report the GTI version is entering its advanced stages of development.
It is powered by a 100% biodiesel engine which pumps out 550bhp and a massive 950lb/ft of torque, it allows the sportscar to propel from 0-60mph in just 3.7 seconds and it can reach a top speed of over 200mph.
Jetstream's 250 bhp SC250 road and track joy toy is now open for purchase to anyone smart enough to have a spare £29,495 and ballsy enough to handle a 357 bhp/tonne car.
Scheduled for an official presentation at the 2009 Geneva show, there are two new four-door coupés testing at the challenging Nürburgring at the moment.
These latest shots caught by our spies show the slowly developing mule for the next generation Jaguar XJ. Styling for the all-new model will be radically different, a fact that is hardly surprising considering the slow sales rate of the current model.
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The Audi A5 si definitely one of our favorite cars over here at Auto Unleashed and we are happy to report some really interesting stuff. The guys from Infomotori had the chance to test drive an experimental car from Audi, based on the S5. Dubbed ‘Evo’, the car was powered by a modified version of the 4.2 liter V8 engine, which developed 420 hp and was equipped with Audi's new seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission. Of course, the first conclusions were that Audi is probably trying to fill the gap between the S5 (354 hp/260kw) and the upcoming RS5, which is expected to be powered by the same V8, but which will develop around 450hp (335kW). Rumors also say that the RS5 might be powered by the 500 hp 5.2 liter V8 from the Gallardo.
Besides the more powerful engine and the new gearbox, Infomotori reports that the four cars presented by Audi were having the same specs as the S5, but Audi refused to make more details available on the car and its future.
I love pets, especially dogs, so this story really made me sad and angry at the same time. Here’s what happened. Michael Gonzales and his girlfriend, from Texas, were really in a hurry to take their poodle, Missy, which was very sick, to the vet. However, they were clocked doing 100 mph and were pulled over by San Marcos police officer Paul Stephens who began writing Michael a ticket. Meanwhile, the dog was chocking on the backseat, but that didn’t impress the cop, who began talking about how driving at that speed puts people lives in danger.
Of course, we don’t agree with speeding on public roads but that doesn’t mean we are insensitive to situations like this. While the couple was almost begging the Stephens to let at least one of them drive with Missy to the vet, he replied “It’s a dog. You can get another one. Relax.” Unfortunately, all this arguing did not help the poodle at all, Missy dying right under their owners’ eyes. Police Chief Howard Williams agreed that Stephens’ behaviour was not one the most appropriate, but probably no measures will be taken against the stubborn cop.
Audi hasn’t even started delivering the new Audi Q5 and the German tuner ABT already came up with a tuning program for the latest crossover from Ingolstadt. The package features a bodykit including fender extensions and more aggressive front skirt and grille, restyled side skirts, roof spoiler and rear skirt incorporating a 4-pipe-rear muffler, plus new 20 inch alloys. Handing upgrades include ABT Level Control (electronic lowering for the CDC air suspension), new sport springs that decrease the car’s ride height and a new set of 380mm diameter brake discs.
Power upgrade kits are available for all the engines: the 2.0 TFSI’s power output has been increased to 240hp/177kW (211hp/155kW on the factory version), the 2.0 TDI to 190hp/140kW (170hp/125kW) and for the 3.0 TDI there are two levels of power upgrades, the ABT Power, which increases the power output from 240 hp (177kW) to 282 hp (207kW) and the ABT Power S, which takes the engine up to 310hp (228kW).
To be honest, I was so amazed when I stumbled upon this news, that I didn’t even know how to start the post. This thing you see in this photo and in the video below is the work of Claes Gustafson and the crew at Classe’s Garage and it was created for a Swedish TV show.
Because no body kit is available for the Toyota Prius, the crew modified a Volvo XC90. The back doors were removed and a pair of custom made knife doors were used for the front, the back window was removed, the side ones were reshaped, a carbon fiber wind splitter was placed under the front bumper and under the door sills and the rear end got a carbon fiber venturi. The car rides on an air suspension and 20-inch wheels brought to a halt with over-sized front brakes. The interior is also crazy, with a custom dashboard and a center console, racing seats and a 4,400-watt stereo system (five subwoofers and eight speakers) plus 15 LCD screens and a tablet PC with wireless internet access. All these equipment is powered by four batteries keep it all going.
“The goal … was to give the viewer a great show and, second, to show that a Toyota isn’t a boring and anonymous car,” Claes Gustafson told Wired. According to him, the whole idea was “to show that every car can be styled.”
And if the car’s look don’t leave you wordless, then you must know how much this cost. Exactly $184,275! Was it worth it? Well, we don’t really know whether to hate or love the car, but it definitely is one of a kind. And it also won some awards at the Bilsport Custom and Performance Show, where it took top honors in the eco-car division and also won the John D’Agsostino Kustom Kars of California Special Award.
Peugeot has announced that the 29 finalists of its 5th edition design contest have been chosen. The 29 design were selected from more than 2,500 submissions. This year’s theme is “Imagine the Peugeot in the worldwide megalopolis of tomorrow” (Create a Concept Car which is designed to evolve within the cities of the future, whilst retaining the key values of the 21st century. The projects should bear Peugeot’s stylistic codes and must contain the following four aspects included in this design competition: environmental awareness, social harmony, interactive mobility and economic efficiency). The winner of this competition will be announced in October and, besides the €10,000 prize, will get his design created on a 1:1 scale as a design study and shown to the public at the 2009 Shanghai Motor Show.
The design you see pictured here is called the Peugeot Rayo and was designed by Ivan Kraljevi?, from Croatia. We really like this one. Another interesting one is the RD concept, created by Carlos Arturo Torres Tova from Colombia, you can see in the vide below. You really should check out the Peugeot contest’s website (click here) and vote on the designs, some of those are really cool. Oh yeah, and you can also win an Xbox 360 if you vote.
For their latest campaign, Nokia Connectors, the Nokia UK decided to add 72 brand new Fiat 500s to their fleet. The campaing, which aims on informing people about Nokia phones’ true potential, will include 250 ‘connectors’ (students) which will roam around in UK’s most important 18 cities in the Fiat 500 and “help the British public unlock the magic in their mobiles”.
Some time ago, we reported that Mercedes Benz is planning on dropping the A and B Classes and replace them with a range of vehicles. If details about the CLA are scarce, one thing’s for sure, a small crossover will be part of this range. What’s it gonna be called? Who knows. We wrote about the GLA, but today another option showed up. The guys over at AutoCar published a rendering of a small Merc crossover, which they call the BLK (yeah, I know, it’s getting more and more confusing). Placed below the GLK in the lineup, the BLK is planned to compete with the upcoming Audi Q3, BMW X1 and Land Rover LRX. Autocar speculates that the car will get 4WD and a possible FWD ‘Eco’ version and a range of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, sized between 1.6 litres and 2.2 litres.
Here’s an interesting one. We have a set of photos that picture a BMW M5 Convertible from 1989, which never made it into production. Why? No official info, but the Team Speed member that uploaded the photos said that the car was developed in 1989, even had a spot booked on the BMW stand at the Geneva Motor Show, but BMW decided to terminate the project only one week before the show. They’ve decided to do that because they thought a convertible M5 would probably start a demand for a regular 5 Series cabrio, which would affect the market for the 3 Series, which was their convertible at the time. To be honest, it’s a shame this car never made it into production, because it really looks great and, knowing the M5, it would have probably been really fun to drive.
CarandDriver has a really interesting article about the Nissan GT-R. According to them, they had the opportunity to test five GT-R versions. The first one was really impressive, blasting the Corvette. Howvere, the next two were not that fast as the first one, even considering the track and the weather changes. The last two however were the same as the first one, really fast. Surprised by these changes, they took the last two cars on a chassis dyno and measured its “wheel horspepower”, which is usually smaller than engine horsepower (15 percent for rear-wheel-drive with manual transmissions and almost 20 percent for four-wheel-drive).
The results? Well, the GT-R recorded 420 hp, which, if we count the power loss, we get an engine horsepower of around 520 hp. Wow! That’s something, considering that the production GT-R develops 480 hp. When called, Nissan said that the first four cars CarandDriver tested were early-build versions that received regular engine-computer software updates, which may account for the varied results we recorded. Of course, these are only approximate numbers and speculations, however it really raises a serious question mark over the Nissan GT-R’s performance.
