Family Car Reviews: Future Cars

Tampilkan postingan dengan label Future Cars. Tampilkan semua postingan

Leaked Drawings of the New Corvette C7

These images were recently posted but taken down by a corvette forum member. They appear to be drawings of the new C7 corvette which will have its official debut at the Detroit Auto Show in a couple of weeks. These drawings seem to capture what we would expect to see in the new corvette. Let us know what you think!

Leaked Photos of the 2014 Mercedes CLA

The website Auto Monthly has released a few images that show stylized images of the new 2014 Mercedes CLA. Since the CLA is meant to debut at the Detroit Auto Show next month these have a good chance of being legitimate. This is not the first time that images of a new Mercedes models have been leaked before an auto show. Our speculation won't last much longer because in a few weeks we will know for sure if these are indeed the press photos of the Mercedes CLA.

For more details about the 2014 Mercedes CLA: http://www.ignitionspeed.com/2012/08/mercedes-cla55-amg.html

Mercedes Reveals SLS AMG Black Series

Just yesterday, Mercedes-Benz released a teaser on its Facebook page showing what we could only guess was the SLS AMG Black Series, and this morning our suspicions proved true as the automaker removed the tight-fitting cover. Preparing for the car's official debut at the 2012 LA Auto Show, the latest addition to the Mercedes-Benz Black Series is by far the most impressive with extensive measures taken to improve performance and reduce weight.

Underneath the SLS' long hood, AMG has reworked the engine squeezing an extra 39 horsepower from the 6.2-liter V8 raising the output to 622 hp. And even though overall torque has dropped by 11 pound-feet, acceleration from zero to 60 miles per hour is quicker at 3.5 seconds. Top speed is 196 mph. The handling of the car has also been improved on all levels, including upgraded ceramic brakes with two-piece rotors (measuring 15.8-inches in the front and 14.2-inches at the rear wheels), adjustable coil over suspension, electronically controlled rear differential and a track that has been widened by almost an inch. For added rigidity, many of the body braces in the aluminum space frame have been replaced with carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) helping to shed precious pounds.

At 3,417 pounds, the SLS AMG Black Series has dropped a total of 154 pounds compared to the SLS AMG GT. Some of the numbers are actually pretty significant, such as the 35.3 pounds saved with the ceramic brakes, 29.3 pounds cut thanks to using a CFRP engine-to-transmission torque tube rather than aluminum and 28.7 pounds from the titanium exhaust system. Showing AMG's determination to shed pounds, even the car's conventional battery has been replaced with a lithium-ion battery which is good for another 17.6 pounds of curb weight savings – possibly the first such application of a lithium-ion battery outside of a hybrid or electric vehicle.

Mercedes-Benz says that the styling of the SLS AMG Black Series was inspired by its GT3 racecar, and elements like the front chin spoiler, forged alloy wheels, rear diffuser and the vented side skirts and rear fascia help the car look the part. Many of the body panels are made of CFRP, including the flared front and rear fenders. This racecar styling is also applied to the interior of the Black Series with a sport steering wheel that features a red 12 o'clock marking and plenty of exposed carbon fiber. The car shown in the images above not only sports the Solar Beam paint exclusive to this car, it also features the optional AMG Aerodynamics package that gets an adjustable CFRP rear wing with aluminum uprights and front fascia flics (the little swooshy fins below the air intakes), but all of the cars get a vented hood that increases front axle downforce.

The 2014 SLS AMG Gullwing Black Series goes on sale next summer, but Mercedes has yet to announce pricing or production numbers.

News Source: AutoBlog.com

Possible Subaru BRZ STI sighting on the 'Ring

Between recent word of a new turbo engine in the works and these latest spy shots, there is no doubtSubaru is working on a faster version of its sporty BRZ coupe. Our spy photographers snapped these images of an interesting-looking BRZ testing around the Nürburgring that, upon closer inspection, is proudly displaying the STI badges.

Right away, we can tell something is special about this car from its aggressive body kit including a front chin spoiler and extended lower side sills. This car is also fitted with 15-spoke wheels that aren't hiding the red STI center caps and help show off the bigger brakes and STI-branded brake calipers. Of course, you can't miss that adjustable rear wing that replaces the BRZ's regular spoiler, but we're guessing this is more for aero testing rather than a production-ready piece. There are also fatter exhaust outlets on this prototype that should help give this car a deeper growl.

It isn't clear where the turbo engine fits in with this potential BRZ STI model, but with auto show season upon us, we get the feeling we'll be finding out much more about a sportier version of the BRZ sooner rather than later.

News Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/01/possible-subaru-brz-sti-sighting-on-the-ring/

Bugatti working on Super Veyron capable with 1.6 second 0 - 60 time

At some point, someone is going to have to hand the minds at Bugatti a physics book and tell them to settle down. Automobile reports the monarch of the Volkswagen stable is out to eclipse its own ludicrous performance threshold by building a new Super Veyron capable of snapping to 60 mph in 1.6 seconds. How? The company plans to shove even more carbon fiber at the ultracar while also turning up the horsepower. Rumor has it the machine will boast either an 8.0- or 9.6-liter W16 engine good for 1,600 horsepower, which should be enough to nudge the vehicle's top end from 259 mph all the way to 288 mph.

All told, the Über Veyron will hold a 550-pound advantage over its predecessor for a power to weight ratio of 2.2 lb/hp. How much will one of these things cost you? Expect to pony up $2.5 million for the privilege of ownership. That is, if it makes it to production.

Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/29/bugatti-working-on-super-veyron-with-1-6-second-0-60-mph-time/

New Photos of the Lexus LF-LC Concept

So far we know very little about the new Lexus LF-LC sports car which was unveiled in the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. It will be powered by a 5.0 liter V8 engine that will be accompanied by and electric motor for a total output of 500 horsepower. This will easily be enough to sprint the car to 60 mph in under five seconds. For specifics numbers we will just have to wait and see, but until then enjoy some of the new images that were released today by Lexus of the car in Sydney Australia.

Ferrari F70 to be revealed at 2013 Detroit Auto Show in January

The Ferrari F70 is excepted to be the successor to the iconic Ferrari Enzo which was built between 2002 and 2004. So far we know that the new F70 will have a carbon fiber chassis with a Formula One style build developed by the F1 team. The chassis will be 20% lighter than the Enzo's, yet stiffer. The cars total weight should come in around 2,500 pounds. As for the engine, it will come with a mid-mounted V-12 using a state-of-the-art energy-regenerating HY-KERS unit which will be able to produce around 900 horsepower; something we would expect from the Enzo successor.

2,500 pounds and 900 horsepower, you do the math.

2014 Jaguar F-Type Roadster

The F-Type Jaguar is the successor to the E-Type which was last produced in 1974. It was announced in April and was recently revealed at the Paris Motor Show. This sports car will feature supercharged V-6 or V-8 power depending on the trim and will first debut as a roadster, but a coupe version will follow soon.

The F-Type will come with three different engine specs: The base F-Type has 340 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque; the F-Type S will come with 380 hp and 339 lb-torque. The top model is the V-8 S, which is able to produce an astonishing 495 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. With all of that power and a body made almost entirely of aluminum to reduce the weight to 3,521 lbs, this Jag is more than likely able to beat the estimated 0 – 60 time of 4.2 seconds. The base model has an estimated 0 – 60 of 5.1 seconds while the upgraded V-6 is expected to do the deed 0.3 seconds quicker.

All three engines send their power to the rear wheels but they'll only do it through an 8-speed automatic transmission. Later down the road there will be an R version which will come will a proper manual gearbox, but until then you'll have to live with downshifts from the orange paddle shifters mounted on the steering column.

Superior handling will also be a huge part of the equation. The F-Type has an all-aluminum double-wishbone suspension at each corner and the quickest steering rack Jaguar has ever used in a production car. The S model of the Jag will also get adaptive dampers that can be adjusted by the driver who can also adjust throttle response, shift speed, and steering weight.

18-inch wheels will come standard on the base F-Type, while the upgrade V-6 will get 19-inch wheels, and the top of the line model will receive the premium 20-inch wheels. The interior design of the F-Type is very driver focused; Jaguar refers to it as a “1+1”. Jaguar uses their signature all-digital screen based gauge clusters, but also included physical dials in the F-Type because they feel it seemed right for this sports car. The interior also includes orange paddle shifters and another orange button that puts the car in a more aggressive "Dynamic" mode. According to the designers, they really wanted to highlight the controls that bring this Jag to life. As for the rest of the interior the color, trim, and materials for the cabin are very refined and what one might expect from a 2014 Jaguar.

Jaguar plans to price the F-Type between the Porsche Boxster and Porsche 911 at around a base price of $65,000. This will put the F-Type right in line with its competitors in price. With the F-Type, Jaguar has given consumers a very desirable alternative to an area of the market that has been dominated by Porsche for many years.

Lexus LF-CC Concept

The Lexus LF-CC is a new two door concept that will make its debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show on September 27^th. This concept will likely be the successor to the current Lexus IS model which has been the base model for Lexus over years.

The LF-CC features very bold styling, especially coming from a Lexus. It has a unique mesh patterned spindle grill, functional front air intakes, and triple LED headlights with integrated tail lights, all of which combine to add a more aggressive look. It will will also be a front engine rear wheel drive vehicle like most of the other vehicles in the Lexus lineup.

Lexus will use a lot of the same aerodynamic principles that the Lexus LFA supercar uses. It is specifically designed so that airflow will be directed from underneath the side of the vehicle up through the rear wheel arch by an airflow regulating fin. There is also a pronounced rear spoiler that is integrated with the rear deck lid. Both of these features will significantly improve traction by increasing the rear down-force of the car.

We also know that the LF-CC will feature a 2.5 liter hybrid engine that Lexus says will be used throughout its model lineup and in different variations. Although its styling is very unique and might not be for everyone, this is definitely a car that will bring lots of attention at the Paris Motor Show in late September.

Acura NSX - The Future is Already Here

Acura halted production of its iconic sports car the NSX back in 2005. It was known for its impressive handling and blistering speed. Now, Acura is bringing it back, and it looks better than ever.

The newly redesigned NSX will have a base price around $110,000 which is relatively cheap compared to the 300k+ Ferraris and Lamborghinis it is competing with. It is expected to have a 3.7 Liter V6 which would be accompanied by 3 electric motors. It will produce around 480 horsepower that boosts it to 60 in approximately 3 seconds. The NSX is also going to weigh a mere 3,100 lbs thanks to a high-tech platform made from ultra lightweight materials.

It is a mid-engine, two seat car that can operate either rear wheel drive or all wheel drive depending on which mode it is in. Acura claims that the all-wheel drive system will allow it to have super car acceleration as well as offering more efficiency. The low profile headlamps are LED based and there is currently no interior design plan for the concept yet, but we can expect something that matches the current elegant exterior.

One of the highly anticipated features that the NSX is rumored to have is a "Push-To-Pass" button. When pressed the Acura would send extra power from each of its 3 electric motors to in essence give the car a boost similar to that of the more commonly known Nitrous-Oxide boost. It is currently not known how much horsepower these electric engines would produce but together you can expect somewhere around 200 HP.

It will be on sale in he U.S. in 2015. Acura says it will be built in central Ohio in a “unique, advanced manufacturing operation.”

Unlike the $400,000 LFA from Acura's Japanese luxury car competitor, Lexus, the new NSX should be within reach for the only slightly rich, which opens this car up to a much broader market.

This vehicle has already created a huge amount of publicity, showing up in commercials with Jerry Seinfeld as well as appearing in large movies like The Avengers. We just hope that it when it does come out, it lives up to its iconic supercar reputation, and we can’t wait to find out.

Porsche 918 Spyder - 210 Miles per hour and 72 Miles per gallon

0 – 60 in 2.8 seconds and twice the fuel efficiency of your Honda civic; Porsche has recently confirmed production on its new wicked concept the 918 Spyder.

To achieve these super car numbers with far better than Prius fuel efficiency takes some extremely futuristic technology. For the main engine it uses a 4.6 Liter V-8 that produces over 580 horsepower, but this is also accompanied by three lithium ion powered electric motors that together, can produce 280 horsepower. To save fuel, the Porsche uses only the electric motors when the car is coasting or cruising.

The 918 was intelligently developed with four different running modes: E-Drive is the electric only mode that has a range of 20 miles and uses only the battery powered motor. Hybrid mode uses a combination of the two but maximizes the efficiency of using the electric motors. Sport mode, which harnesses more of the power from the V-8, provides a more sporty combination of the motors. Lastly, the most aggressive mode is Race. In Race mode a “push-to-pass” button is available which when pressed delivers additional electric power from the lithium-ion batteries, similar to a nitrous boost. In this mode the 918 can reach a top speed of 210 MPH but at that speed, forget about your 78 MPG.

The chassis of the 918 is a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic monocoque. It uses extremely lightweight aluminum and magnesium to keep its weight down to 3,300 lbs.

You were probably looking at the pictures of the 918 and wondering; “where are its mirrors?” Well another cool feature of the 918 is that instead of mirrors it uses cameras. This helps reduce drag as well as being really cool. The side view cameras are linked to displays on the dashboard of the car which also gives you important information like engine usage and climate control.

This car is Porsche’s attempt to compete with its Italian counter-parts in the extreme super car market, going up against cars like the Bugatti Veyron and Lamborghini Sesto Elemento; and at a price of around a million dollars it fits right in. With the 918, Porsche is also trying to reach an untapped market that consists of the performance oriented dual-source power hybrids. This is currently the only car in the world that can produce these types of numbers at such high fuel efficiency.

Porsche has taken a long time building this concept and we are just starting to see some 918 test cars covered in camouflage racing around the track. But soon this concept will be a reality, and the select few who were lucky enough to purchase one will have bought one of the most technologically advanced cars on the planet.

If Money Was No Object - Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

The Lamborghini Sesto Elemento is one of the most extraordinary supercar concepts out right now. With only 20 of these cars being produced, a price tag of 2.2 million is not unexpected, but neither is a 0 – 62 time of 2.5 seconds. The Sesto Elemento includes a 570 HP V10 with an amazing power to weight ratio of 1.75 kilograms per horsepower. It is also possibly the most aerodynamic car ever built.

The President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini said “The Lamborghini Sesto Elemento shows how the future of super sports car can look – extreme lightweight engineering, combined with extreme performance results in extreme driving fun.”

With a curb weight of 2,202 lbs, an all-wheel drive system, and a V10, it is understandable why this car is able to produce such incredible numbers. Almost the entire car uses carbon fiber material which is why this is the lightest sports car in the world. To put it in perspective, this weighs about half as much as a CLS63 AMG. The Sesto Elemento uses a 6 speed transmission with paddle shifters on the steering column that set off shifts faster than you can release the paddle.

Putting the Bat Mobile to shame seems to be what the car does best. If you are somebody who just made a phone call to your personal assistant to write a check for 2.2 million dollars to Lamborghini though, I’m sorry to inform that all 20 units have already been sold.

Reasonably Priced Future Cars - Porsche 550 and Audi R4

There have been many rumors about Porsche developing a reasonably priced entry level sports coupe. We suspect the name would be 550 which is representative of the iconic Porsche 550 first built back in 1953.

This car comes about because of a recent spike in sales for affordable sports cars that was primarily set off by the Subaru BRZ/Scion FR-S. We can hope that it would be in the $35k range but it will more likely be a little over $40k. The 550 is suspected to have a 1.6 Liter turbocharged engine that will generate around 200 HP. There will also be other trims of the car with engines that produce upwards of 400 horsepower like the current 911 turbo.

Porsche isn’t the only one who has caught on to the growing demand of the affordable sports car market. Audi with its brand new 2013 TTRS has already dipped into the middle range sports car market with its petite coupe the Audi TT. The flagship TTRS it costs about $60k but that gets you a 0 – 60 of 3.5 seconds which sets this car up to compete in the super car market. To put that into perspective, that is faster than the +$100,000 Audi R8. The only drawback to the TT is that some sports car enthusiasts claim this is a woman’s car because of its bubbly look. This has actually hurt the sales of Audi slightly because of the lack of purchases by men. Audi has a solution to this and it fits in perfectly with where the market is headed, the R4.

Everybody wants an R8, Iron Man’s car, probably the sexiest car on the planet with supercar performance. The only problem is that it costs about $130,000. Audi plans on addressing the entry level market with the so called “little brother” of the R8, the R4. The R4 will be smaller and lighter than the current R8. The 2.5 Liter Turbocharged engine currently found in the TTRS is what will most likely be used in the R4. It produces lightning fast speeds with 400 HP powering such light cars. The R4 will be around the size of the TT but will look much more aggressive like the R8. This two seater will most likely come in a convertible version as well. We can only hope it will be less than $50,000 but with the Porsche 550 coming in at a cheap price, we know the Audi has to price low as well if they want to compete.

So with both these cars planned to be released around 2015, if you have a steady cash flow coming in and are looking to buy, it may be a very wise decision to start saving now. So while at the moment we can only speculate, we at least know that both of the cars would turn heads and be the best weekend cruisers out there.

Mercedes CLA45 AMG

The Mercedes-Benz CLA is expected for 2014. Considered the younger brother of the all powerful CLS, the CLA will be much cheaper and more affordable to the every day working man. The more notable CLS63 AMG packs a whopping 550 HP with the optional AMG package. According to Mercedes it accelerates to 60 miles per hour from a standstill in 4.3 seconds. We believe this is a very safe estimate considering it has been tested at 3.8 and 3.9 zero to sixties repeatedly.

For the CLA, we can certainly assume the AMG version will debut shortly after it arrives in 2014. We speculate it will contain the smaller, naturally aspirated V8 engine that is currently found in the 2013 SLK55 AMG. The 5.5 Liter engine produces 422 HP with 398 lb-ft of torque. With the CLA expected to weight slightly less that the new bulky SLK we think we can expect a zero to sixty time of around 4 seconds.

The new CLA is coming soon to dealers near you...and we expect it to haul some serious tail.

Categories