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Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV interior spied

With is flanks still heavily covered in these photos we can't tell much about the outside of the upcoming Alfa Romeo Stelvio, but it's the first time we've been able to catch a glimpse of the SUV's interior. It is obvious the Stelvio's driver environment will largely follow in the footsteps of the Giulia sedan, and fans of characteristic Alfa Romeo detailing like the gauge cluster "buckets" will be pleased to see familiar themes. The development mule here features light, birch-like wood around the shifter console, which may or may not make it into the production car. Despite appearing a little Volvo-like, the material is not out of place in the Stelvio, and we'd expect the production car to offer different trim options. Above that, a navigation screen is integrated in a similar fashion as the Giulia, and large paddle shifters garnish the steering column. The start-stop button mounted directly on the steering wheel is also a trait shared with the Giulia. The Stelvio is inching closer to production, with official unveiling expected in late 2016 or early 2017. Little by little, the test vehicle camouflage comes off, and compared to some earlier shots seen in April, the Stelvio mule has already lost the box disguising the rear window shape. Perhaps there's an attractive, sporty 4WD vehicle underneath it all. Related Video: Featured Gallery Alfa Romeo Stelvio Spy Photos with Interior Related Gallery Alfa Romeo Stelvio: Spy Shots View 10 Photos Image Credit: Carpix Spy Photos Alfa Romeo alfa romeo giulia alfa romeo stelvio

Here are the cars Fast 8 characters will drive in Iceland

The eighth installment of the Fast & Furious franchise will feature some characteristic wheel-to-wheel adventuring, this time on Icelandic ice. As revealed by the F&F production team, here are some of the vehicles that will be seen in the film. What else could Dominic Toretto drive than a Dodge? The previous film showed a Charger fitted for off-road driving, and this time the classic shape has been formed into an ice racer. The muscle car is still recognizable, but the altered wheelbase and fender flares make this something quite different. And as the bullet holes testify, the matte black machine is definitely going to see some action. Letty drives a Local Motors Rally Fighter, which might be the best fit for the ice scenes. The off-road coupe has been modified with a brush bar and some serious roof-mounted lights. Roman will be seen behind the wheel of an orange Lamborghini Murcielago, easily standing out in the frozen wastes. To top it off, there are some tank-like machines: There's a tracked Ripsaw for Tej Parker and an "Ice Ram" for Hobbs, who is played by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Both of these look like mean machines, and on the screen they'll probably prove to be the admission ticket's worth. Related Video: Featured Gallery Fast 8 Ice Cars Image Credit: Fast & Furious Facebook page Celebrities TV/Movies Dodge Lamborghini Off-Road Vehicles Special and Limited Editions Supercars local motors fast 8 ripsaw

What if the mid-engine Corvette is really a Cadillac?

Call me crazy, but I'm not convinced the mid-engine Corvette is the next Corvette. The rumor is strong, yes. And, contrary to some of the comments on our site, Car and Driver - leader of the mid-engine Corvette speculation brigade - has a pretty good record predicting future models. But it's another comment that got me thinking: or maybe it's a Cadillac. There is clearly something mid-engine going on at GM, and I think it makes sense for the car to be a Cadillac. First off, check out how sweet the 2002 Cadillac Cien concept car still looks in the photo above. Second, there are too many holes in the mid-engine Corvette theory. There are too many holes in the mid-engine Corvette theory. The C7 is relatively young in Corvette years, starting production almost three years ago as a 2014 model. Showing a 2019 model at the 2018 North American International Auto Show would kill sales of a strong-selling car before its time. Not to mention it would only mean a short run for the Grand Sport, which was the best-selling version of the previous generation. More stuff doesn't add up. Mid-engine cars are, in general, more expensive. Moving the Vette upmarket leaves a void that the Camaro does not fill. There's not much overlap between Camaro and Corvette customers. Corvette owners are older and enjoy features like a big trunk that holds golf clubs. Mid-engine means less trunk space and alienating a happy, loyal buyer. Also, more than 60 years of history. The Corvette is an icon along the likes of the Porsche 911 and Ford Mustang. I'm not sure the car-buying public wants a Corvette that abandons all previous conventions. And big changes bring uncertainty - I don't think GM would make such a risky bet. Chevrolet could build a mid-engine ZR1, you might say, and keep the other Corvettes front-engine. Yes they could, and it would cost a ton of money. And they still need to fund development of that front-engine car. I highly doubt the corporate accountants would go for that. But a Cadillac? Totally. Cadillac is in the middle of a brand repositioning. GM is throwing money at this effort. A mid-engine halo car is the just the splash the brand needs to shake off the ghosts of Fleetwoods past. And it's already in Cadillac President Johan De Nysschen's playbook. He was in charge of Audi's North America arm when the R8 came out. A Caddy sports car priced above $100,000 isn't that unreasonable when you can already price a CTS-V in that range.

Cadillac drops the base engine in the 2017 ATS

Cadillac, in an effort to boost sales of the slow moving ATS, is making some changes to the 2017 model. Most notably, the luxury manufacturer is dropping the base 2.5-liter normally-aspirated four-cylinder engine from the lineup, leaving the 272 hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four as the base engine. The base 2.0-liter ATS will start at $35,590, $1,380 more than the 2016 model, though that's partially offset by more standard equipment. The base model now comes standard with Cadillac's controversial CUE infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen display, a Bose surround-sound speaker system, and a backup camera. Despite the bump in price for the base model, all other ATS trim levels will see prices reduced between $650 and $1,100, depending on the model. The ATS was designed to be Cadillac's answer to the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Though the ATS was originally released at a time where the Germans were slightly off their game, it's never quite matched up in terms of performance or customer perception posting disappointing sales figures compared to the competition. Cadillac has had problems getting customers into cars, and few ATS customers are converts from luxury competition. In order to offload inventory and lure in new customers, the company has previously been forced to offer big lease deals. Many of these customers have come over from more mainstream brands like Chevrolet and Ford. ATS sales have fallen 23 percent through May versus 2015. The car's market share has fallen every year since 2013, currently occupying just 4.5 percent of the compact luxury market. Unless Cadillac can offer some truly amazing deals, we don't expect many shoppers to buy American over the strong German competition. Related video: Cadillac Luxury Sedan

Acura NSX hybrid wins Time Attack 2 division at Pikes Peak

Acura sent three NSX supercars up the PIkes Peak Hill Climb and one of them - the TA2 that was a standard NSX with some additional safety equipment - beat out its competition in the Time Attack 2 class by over 11 seconds with a time of 10:28.820. Nick Robinson was the driver. This was not his first time atop the podium, as he won the PP250 motorcycle class last year. The EV concept NSX came in second in the Electric Modified class with a time of 9:06.015. That's good enough for third place overall. Acura says that the TA1 NSX - which had a lighter chassis and a modified racing exhaust – "also campaigned." Both the TA1 and TA2 NSX vehicles used the car's standard three-motor hybrid powertrain. Related Video: 2017 Acura NSX Supercar Claims Class Victory in North American Racing Debut at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Jun 26, 2016 - PIKES PEAK, Colo. Acura NSX wins its North American racing debut by more than 11 seconds American-built NSX wins Time Attack 2 class at 100th running of the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb NSX-inspired Acura 4-Motor EV Concept finishes second in the Electric Modified Class The recently-launched 2017 Acura NSX claimed victory today in its North American racing competition debut, climbing the 14,115-foot pinnacle of Pikes Peak and clinching first place in the Time Attack 2 class at the 2016 Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the 100th anniversary of the running of America's second oldest race. The production-based Acura NSX is powered by Acura's revolutionary three-motor Sport Hybrid Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive™ powertrain (Sport Hybrid SH-AWD®), the first electrified torque vectoring powertrain in the world of exotic sports cars. With added required safety equipment for competition, the NSX negotiated the 12.42-mile course in a time of 10:28.820 to win the Time Attack 2 class of the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Nick Robinson, North American R&D team member and engineer in charge of the next-generation supercar's dynamic performance, drove the production-based Acura NSX to victory. Nick is also the reigning PP250 winner from the 2015 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. "I'm incredibly happy to have won the Production Class with the new NSX!" Robinson reported.

Top Gear has an Extra Gear problem | Episode Review

When the BBC announced Extra Gear, I was excited. As an avid fan of show's like The Talking Dead – companion show to AMC's hit The Walking Dead – a behind-the-scenes look at my favorite motoring show sounded promising. But with the fifth episodes of each show, I'm worried that Top Gear is suffering to keep Extra Gear interesting. We'll start with Chris Evans, inarguably the most heavily criticized member of the new Top Gear team. Evans is progressively less shouty and more comfortable filming while driving in each episode – the fifth is no different. He's almost likable in the Zenos E10 video, like a ginger James May, and he delivers accurate and eloquent driving impressions. The review is entertaining, until Extra Gear shows the producers cut a huge element – an old-versus-new sprint around the Race of Champions circuit at the Olympic Stadium in London. Former Formula 1 ace David Coulthard would drive a Caterham 360, while current F1 pro Daniel Riccardo rocked the Zenos. If the entire premise of Evans review is that the Zenos E10 is the newest of the new for British super-lightweight track toys, why did the producers decide to leave a race against the segment's standard bearer for Extra Gear? It's a baffling move, cutting a segment of the film that reinforces Evans' excitement over the Zenos. Rory Reid's Jaguar F-Type SVR piece is excellent. Fifty five years to the day after Jaguar test driver Norman Dewis raced to the Geneva Motor Show in a second E-Type for display, Reid would attempt the same feat in an SVR. If he failed, Jaguar wouldn't have a car to display. Dewis made the 750-mile trip with 13 hours of notice, and Reid would need to do the same. It's a brilliant, simple premise that reminded me of Jeremy Clarkson's so-called "Race against God" in a Jaguar XJ, way back in season 16. The history of the challenge and Dewis' gravelly commentary add gravitas. But the entire film goes by so fast. It's longer than Evans' Zenos video or Harris' BMW M2 film, but at less than ten minutes, Reid and the SVR deserved more screen time. Extra Gear poured salt in that particular wound with a great segment featuring Norman Dewis that deserved to be in the main show. Reid takes the famed test driver for a spin around the Dunsfold track, then, instead of the comedian of the week, the hosts interview Dewis on Extra Gear's couch.

Ride along with Mark Higgins for a record-setting lap

Earlier this month, driver Mark Higgins, Subaru of America, and Prodrive broke their own record on the Isle of Man's Snaefell Mountain Course by setting a time of 17 minutes, 35 seconds. The attempt was approximately two minutes better than their previous record, which was set with a time of 19 minutes, 26 seconds. Now, Subaru has released the full, hairy in-car video of the record-setting lap that is narrated by Higgins himself. Listening to Higgins' 550-hp Subaru WRX STI scream to over 170 miles per hour is the best cure for a case of the Mondays, while watching the driver navigate over the course's less-than-perfect road will surely cause some anxiety. It may be a 20-minute long video, but every minute is filled with nail-biting moments and listening to Higgins' thought process through the course is mesmerizing. Incredibly, Higgins managed an average lap speed of 128.73 mph. And while that may seem impossible for mere mortals to match, Higgins believes he can go even faster. Subaru will surely be back with another WRX STI next year, but it's hard to fathom a car being able to go any faster around the Isle of Man. Related Video:

Recharge Wrap-up: NASA's EV plane, GM and Navy partner on fuel cell drone sub

NASA is building an all-electric test aircraft called the X-57. The lightweight plane's design balances speed with efficiency. The wings house two main propellers at their tips, with twelve smaller motors with retractable prop blades dotting the wing's lead edge. This helps it get the lift it needs to take off while reducing drag in the air, a delicate balance rooted in wing design. The X-57 is part of NASA's 10-year New Aviation Horizons program to make aircraft quieter, more efficient, and less polluting. Fans of The Right Stuff are sure to be pleased to see X-designated planes back in action. Read more at Wired. Suzuki has made its Baleno hatchback more efficient with a mild hybrid system. The European model has a lithium-ion battery pack under the front passenger seat that stores energy from a regenerative braking system to supplement power from the 1.2-liter engine during acceleration. Suzuki says the system improves the Baleno's fuel economy and reduces CO2 emissions by about five percent. Read more from Automotive News Europe. The Borgward BX7 plug-in hybrid SUV has won several Plus X Awards. The revived German automaker's PHEV received awards in the categories of Design, High Quality, Ergonomics, and Functionality. Any Plus X Award winner must display added value, which the panel of judges call the "Plus X Factor." The BX7 launched in China earlier this year, with plans to go on sale in India later this year and Europe soon after that. Read more at Green Car Congress. General Motors and the US Navy are teaming up to power underwater drones with hydrogen fuel cells. The Navy's goal is to provide its large displacement unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs) with 60 days of operation between refueling. "Our in-water experiments with an integrated prototype show that fuel cells can be game changers for autonomous underwater systems," says Frank Herr, head of Ocean Battlespace Sensing at the Office of Naval Research. "Reliability, high energy, and cost effectiveness – all brought to us via GM's partnering – are particularly important as Navy looks to use UUVs as force multipliers." GM says that just as on-road experience gained through its Project Driveway fuel cell test fleet is valuable, automotive customers stand to benefit from lessons learned from this naval project. Read more in the press release below. GM AND U.S.

Photos Of 2017 Porsche Panamera Leaked Ahead Of Debut | Autoblog Minute

Leaked photos give us a glimpse of the 2017 Porsche Panamera ahead of its official debut next week. Porsche Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video photos panamera

Weekly Recap For 6.24.16 | Autoblog Minute

Leaked photos of the 2017 Porsche Panamera, and spy shots of the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Fiesta ST. Senior Producer Chris McGraw reports on this edition of Autoblog Minute. Ford Jeep Porsche Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video ford fiesta st fiesta st

GM patent reveals new two-stage turbocharger

Modern turbochargers may be some of the best ever made, but performance is something that engineers are always trying to improve. According to GM Inside News, General Motors (GM) is hoping to alleviate some of the negative aspects of a two-stage turbocharger setup with a newly-patented design. The patent, that was filed on May 19, 2016, reveals a clever bypass system that allows the engine, a four-cylinder unit, to optimize both the low-pressure and high-pressure inlets for its respective functions. According to the filing, a conventional two-stage turbocharger setup is engineered to allow both turbines to operate simultaneously at low and mid engine speeds. At high engine speeds, only the low-pressure turbine works. The setup can't isolate either the low or high pressure side, which can impair low-end performance. GM's new two-stage turbocharger setup looks to eliminate this by linking the high-pressure turbo to the exhaust manifold through the high-pressure inlet duct. The low-pressure turbo is attached to the high-pressure turbo by a low-pressure inlet duct, which is linked to a connecting channel. A single actuator that is housed in the exhaust manifold creates a bypass that can opens the high-pressure inlet or close the connecting channel. Depending on what the engine load and speed is, the ECU guides the actuator—a single rotating spindle with discs corresponding to flanges on the high and low pressure sides—to isolate one of the two turbos. Isolating the turbos allow the respective inlets to be engineered for the best possible fluid dynamic performance. The setup should increase performance and decrease lag. There's no word on what car this setup will make an appearance on, but it will most likely be used in premium vehicles before trickling down to the rest of GM's vehicles. Related Video: News Source: GM Inside News, AutoGuide via GM Authority Cadillac Chevrolet GM Technology Sedan turbo patent engine turbocharging

Queens man knows how to party, disrupts Mets game with van

A New Yorker and all-around true American hero took his weekend festivities a little too far and landed himself in front of a judge last week. According to NBC New York, Nelson Hidalgo drove his unassuming Sprinter to Citi Field on Saturday, June 18, around 10:45 p.m. While the Mets were getting thrashed by the Braves, Hidalgo pulled up to the intersection of 127th street and 35th avenue. Hiding within the van's cargo area were 80 speakers driven by powerful amps, around $20,000 worth of car audio. Hidalgo opened the Sprinter's rear doors, deployed his amazing speaker system, cracked a cold Coors Light, and unleashed hell. Noise complaints immediately started flooding in to the police, including one from the Mets' bullpen. Soon, Hidalgo amassed a sizable crowd who had come to rock out and marvel at the lunacy of the Sprinter's sound system. The NYPD showed up eventually and, undaunted by noise and the crowd, clapped the irons on poor Nelson. The Sprinter was impounded and Hildago was charged with second-degree criminal nuisance, general noise prohibition, disorderly conduct, and obstructing the driver's view. "I know it's illegal, but it's the weekend," he explained to the cops as they hauled him away. Once they had him in custody, the NYPD realized that Hidalgo was the person they had been looking for in connection with absurdly loud music coming from various city junkyards in the dead of night. Hidalgo, who has no prior record, spent the night in the slammer but was released the next morning with no bail on the promise that he return for his court date on August 1. Related Video:

FCA facing class-action lawsuit over Grand Cherokee shifters

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is now facing a multi-million-dollar class-action lawsuit over the recalled shifter design in the 2014 and 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and the 2012 to 2014 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300. Grand Cherokee owners, galvanized by Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin's fatal accident, filed the suit. According to The Wall Street Journal, the owners allege that FCA concealed the shifter's problems. On top of restitution, the class action suit is demanding a court order force FCA to issue a do-not-drive warning to owners of affected vehicles until it fixes the problem. FCA started distributing a software fix to dealers last week – according to the WSJ, the update will add more warnings about the shifter's position and will automatically kick the vehicle into park if the driver steps out. FCA's shifter problems have been bubbling under the surface as part of the company's recall issues. The US government dinged FCA with a $105 million fine last year for its recall practices (or lack thereof) last year, but things have exploded this week after Yelchin's death. The 27-year-old, best known for playing Ensign Pavel Chekov in the rebooted Star Trek film series, was killed after his 2015 Grand Cherokee rolled down his driveway and pinned the actor against a security gate. According to Jeep CEO Mike Manley, the company will dispatch engineers to analyze Yelchin's vehicle. Related Video:

Viral video helps catch unlicensed teen hit-and-run driver

A video of a driver mangling a Porsche SUV was uploaded for a laugh on YouTube last week, but police recognized the vehicle and suspected it was used in an early crime. The video titled How to park your Porsche in Vancouver recently surfaced on YouTube and was meant to be a source of entertainment. However, it appeared that there is damage on the passenger side of the vehicle, opposite the side being scraped away on the garage wall. A few days after its initial posting, the video came to the attention of the Vancouver Police Department who used it as evidence to find a hit-and-run driver. Constable Brian Montague of the VPD said that the vehicle shown in the video hit a parked, unoccupied car on June 16. Using the video, VPD officers tracked down the Porsche driver, who turned out to be a sixteen-year-old kid with no license. Montague stated that if the young driver had stayed at the scene of the crash, they very likely would have gotten off with a fine for driving without a license. Unfortunately, because they fled the scene, the driver is facing multiple, costly charges including hit-and-run and driving without a license. The driver will also be responsible to damage caused to the parked car and to the house they damaged while trying to hide the Porsche. Related Video: News Source: Global News Auto News Weird Car News Porsche Driving Safety viral video bad driver parking fail

Watch the Goodwood Festival of Speed live here

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is always one of the automotive highlights of the year and 2016 promises to be even better. It's theme is entirely fitting: "Full Throttle - The Endless Pursuit of Power." Automakers will not only be unveiling some of the fastest, most expensive vehicles in the world, but will also be running many of those same cars up the iconic hill. For enthusiasts that didn't have the opportunity to get to Goodwood, watching the event live is the next best thing. The live stream will continue on until Sunday, so turn up the volume, click the video below, and get ready to see some incredible machines in action. BMW Coupe Racing Vehicles Supercars Classics Videos Goodwood

Aston GT12 Roadster is a one-off convertible from Q Division

The Aston Martin GT12 is already the most track-focused, hardcore variant in the Vantage lineup. Q by Aston Martin has made the GT12 a little more special by unveiling a one-off GT12 Roadster at the Goodwood Festival of Speed today. Thanks to a naturally-aspirated 6.0-liter V12 engine, the brute puts down 592 hp and 461 lb.-ft. of torque. And thanks to a weight savings of 330 lbs. over the road-going Vantage V12 S, it's blisteringly quick around a track. Chopping the roof off of a hardcore track car seems a little odd, but Q by Aston Martin received a request from a customer and delivered the vehicle in a nine-month period. The roadster may share a lot of the same components as the GT12 it's based off of, but it's a bespoke machine that most likely won't be repeated. While the GT12 Roadster utilizes the same V12 engine and seven-speed Sportshift transmission, changes have been made to the car's body. New carbon-fiber body panels give the GT12 Roadster a menacing look, while changes to the suspension ensure the lucky owner receives the same cornering ability as drivers in the coupe variant. Thanks to a folding fabric roof and titanium exhaust system, the GT12 Roadster's V12 will provide a marvelous soundtrack that can't be rivaled by today's turbocharged cars. Pricing for the vehicle hasn't been announced, but it's surely a lot more than the base price of roughly $343,000 for the hard top. As a one off, the GT12 Roadster will most likely be garaged for the majority of its life. However, the vehicle will make its first - and perhaps only – appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed today. Related Video: Featured Gallery Aston Marting Vantage GT12 Roadster By Q Division View 19 Photos Aston Martin Convertible Luxury Special and Limited Editions Supercars roadster vantage

Mercedes-Benz may create electric-only brand

Daimler's Mercedes-Benz division may follow in fellow German automaker BMW's footsteps by launching its own separate brand for electric vehicles, Hybrid Cars says, citing German publication Handelsblatt, which quoted people familiar with the process. Daimler's board may make the decision to go ahead with the plan as early next month. And the brand may officially be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in September. Unlike BMW and the i brand, Mercedes would use its existing factories to produce the newly-branded vehicles instead of operating out of a separate one as the i brand does. The first vehicle under the brand is likely to be an SUV model based on the Mercedes-Benz GLC crossover vehicle and would start sales next year. The product line would be broadened further in 2020. Daimler declined to comment, according to Handelsblatt. Mercedes-Benz and BMW wouldn't be the only two German automakers with plans for more electric vehicle sales. Volkswagen has a plan to unleash as many as 20 electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids to the public by 2020, including the Phaeton and the Audi A8. On that note, reports surfaced last month that VW may build its own "Gigafacory" as it prepares to widen its plug-in vehicle push and bring down their costs. As for US sales, Smart sold 313 ForTwo Electric vehicles, down 43 percent from a year earlier. Meanwhile, BMW's i sales in the US fell 40 percent from a year earlier to 2,723. Currently, Mercedes-Benz's only two electric vehicles are the Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive and the Smart ForTwo Electric two-seat vehicle. In the meantime, take a look at Autoblog's First Drive of the B-Class Electric. Related Video: News Source: Handelsblatt, Hybrid Cars Green Mercedes-Benz smart Electric

The UK votes for Brexit and it will impact automakers

It's the first morning after the United Kingdom voted for what's become known as Brexit – that is, to leave the European Union and its tariff-free internal market. Now begins a two-year process in which the UK will have to negotiate with the rest of the EU trading bloc, which is its largest export market, about many things. One of them may be tariffs, and that could severely impact any automaker that builds cars in the UK. This doesn't just mean companies that you think of as British, like Mini and Jaguar. Both of those automakers are owned by foreign companies, incidentally. Mini and Rolls-Royce are owned by BMW, Jaguar and Land Rover by Tata Motors of India, and Bentley by the VW Group. Many other automakers produce cars in the UK for sale within that country and also export to the EU. Tariffs could damage the profits of each of these companies, and perhaps cause them to shift manufacturing out of the UK, significantly damaging the country's resurgent manufacturing industry. Autonews Europe dug up some interesting numbers on that last point. Nissan, the country's second-largest auto producer, builds 475k or so cars in the UK but the vast majority are sent abroad. Toyota built 190k cars last year in Britain, of which 75 percent went to the EU and just 10 percent were sold in the country. Investors are skittish at the news. The value of the pound sterling has plummeted by 8 percent as of this writing, at one point yesterday reaching levels not seen since 1985. Shares at Tata Motors, which counts Jaguar and Land Rover as bright jewels in its portfolio, were off by nearly 12 percent according to Autonews Europe. So what happens next? No one's terribly sure, although the feeling seems to be that the jilted EU will impost tariffs of up to 10 percent on UK exports. It's likely that the UK will reciprocate, and thus it'll be more expensive to buy a European-made car in the UK. Both situations will likely negatively affect the country, as both production of new cars and sales to UK consumers will both fall. Evercore Automotive Research figures the combined damage will be roughly $9b in lost profits to automakers, and an as-of-yet unquantified impact on auto production jobs. Perhaps the EU's leaders in Brussels will be in a better mood in two years, and the process won't devolve into a trade war. In the immediate wake of the Brexit vote, though, the mood is grim, the EU leadership is angry, and investors are spooked.

2017 Porsche Panamera leaked looking sporty and sleek

The Internet isn't very good at keeping secrets. Someone got hold of some images of the 2017 Porsche Panamera ahead of its official debut next week and leaked them online. While that's bad news for Porsche, it's good news for the auto-loving masses, because the next Panamera is pretty darn... pretty. While the overall shape of the next-gen Panamera doesn't stray far from the car it replaces, the details make for a more cohesive overall package than before. It's clearly a Porsche, and obviously a Panamera (look, four doors and a hatchback!), but it's no longer bulbous or ungainly. Lighting front and rear is inspired by the latest 718 models, and the sleek bulging hood is apparently hiding a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine. We expect a range of six- and eight-cylinder engines for production, along with a plug-in hybrid. Inside, the only analog gauge we see is a tachometer, helpfully placed directly in front of the driver. A quartet of digital dials flank the throwback tach, but we can't see much past that. There does appear to be a good amount of space for the rear-seat passengers, along with what looks to be a touch-sensitive control surface at the rear of the center console. We expect similar capacitive buttons for the front occupants, along with a large LCD infotainment screen. Take a look at the images above for an early glimpse at the 2017 Porsche Panamera. And stay tuned for all the details on June 28. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery 2017 Porsche Panamera leaked images News Source: Motor1.com Design/Style Porsche Hatchback Luxury Performance Sedan

IIHS: Drivers safer than passengers in frontal crash test

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced a small overlap frontal crash test in 2012 that replicates what happens when the front corner of a car impacts another object. In the test, vehicles travel at a speed of 40 mph toward a five-foot-tall barrier with 25 percent of the total width of the car striking the barrier on the driver side. One would assume that vehicles with good small overlap front ratings would protect the driver and the passenger equally. But a recent study from the IIHS proves that passengers aren't as protected as drivers. The IIHS conducted the test on seven small SUVs with good driver-side small overlap ratings and only one of the vehicles, the 2016 Hyundai Tucson, performed well enough to be given a good rating. The other SUVs performance ranged from poor to acceptable. After reviewing the results of the test, the IIHS is deliberating whether it should institute a passenger-side rating as part of its Top Safety Pick criteria. "This is an important aspect of occupant protection that needs more attention," states Becky Mueller, lead author of the study and an IIHS senior research engineer. "More than 1,600 right-front passengers died in frontal crashes in 2014." Since the small overlap front test was introduced, 13 automakers have made structural changes to 97 vehicles with roughly three-quarters earning a good rating after the adjustments. The IIHS' test for frontal ratings is completed with a dummy in the driver's seat and with a barrier overlapping the driver's side. Which makes sense, as passengers aren't always riding in a vehicle. "It's not surprising that automakers would focus their initial efforts to improve small overlap protection on the side of the vehicle that we conduct the tests on," states David Zuby, IIHS executive vice president and chief research officer. "In fact, we encouraged them to do that in the short term if it mean they could quickly make driver-side improvements to more vehicles. As time goes by, though, we would hope they ensure similar levels of protection on both sides." As the IIHS' test revealed, there's a massive difference in safety between the two front seats. Increase passenger safety, according to Mueller, would require automakers to strengthen the occupant compartment by using a different type of material or by making it thicker.

Maserati to recall Quattroporte and Ghibli over shifter

On Thursday, documents on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website revealed that Maserati is preparing to recall 13,092 2014 Quattroporte and Ghibli sedans because of a "counter-intuitive" gear shift lever. The shifter may lead drivers to believe the car is in park while it's actually in reverse, potentially causing the car to roll away. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Maserati's parent company, has recalled 1.1 million vehicles worldwide for this same issue. The affected vehicles span several model years and all share a ZF-designed eight-speed automatic transmission. The shifter design in these vehicles is similar to but not exactly like the one in the two Maseratis. Currently, 41 injuries have been attributed to this issue. There seems to be no indication of hardware failure for any of these incidents. In the United States, the 2012-14 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 and 2014-15 Jeep Grand Cherokee were named in this first recall. Actor Anton Yelchin's recent death, caused when he was crushed by his 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, may be related. As of the current model year, the Charger, 300, and Grand Cherokee have an updated shifter design. According to the documents, FCA is currently working on a software update that will remedy the issue. Because the solution must be tested and verified, the company doesn't expect it to be ready for another few months. Both recalls were brought about after a NHTSA investigation. In May, NHTSA suggested Maserati issue a recall and on June 1 the company agreed with the group's assessment, though Maserati did tell NHTSA that they have had no complaints of vehicles rolling away. We're currently waiting on comment from Maserati North America and will update the story when more information is available. Related Video: Recalls Maserati Luxury Sedan maserati ghibli

Jerry Seinfeld and Margaret Cho get coffee in a Mazda Cosmo Sport

The new season of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee has already reached its second episode, imaginatively titled, You Can Go Cho Again. If it's classic Mazdas you like, you're in for a treat. In this episode, Jerry Seinfeld plays up the You Only Live Twice vibe you get from the 1967 Mazda Cosmo Sport, as it's suitably similar to the Toyota 2000GT seen it that film – in color, at least. Unlike the Yamaha twin cam six Toyota, the little Mazda is propelled by a characteristic rotary engine, which in Jerry's opinion is similarly eccentric as the episode guest Margaret Cho. The right-hand-drive Cosmo Sport is an unicorn in the States, and it's in absolutely perfect condition right down to the houndstooth upholstery. Check out the video below, or head on over to Crackle for this video along with all the previous episodes from seasons past. News Source: Crackle Celebrities Mazda Classics Videos jerry seinfeld comedians in cars getting coffee

Toyota reveals cause of heartbreaking failure at Le Mans

Toyota was set to become only the second Japanese automaker to win the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. But on the last lap, the No. 5 TS 050 car, which was being driven by Kazuki Nakajima, suffered a technical issue that resulted in a sudden loss of power. In a team statement, Toyota Gazoo Racing has revealed that the culprit was a "defect on a connector on the air line between the turbocharger and the intercooler." The defective air line connector, according to the statement, resulted in a loss of control over the turbocharger. The team isn't sure why the connector failed and is continuing to analyze the component to get down to the root cause, the team said in the statement. During the race, the team was able to get the No. 5 car running again by modifying the control settings. The fix, however, came a little too late as the vehicle could not complete the lap under Le Mans' maximum final lap time of six minutes and limped its way to 45th place. While the team is working hard to find the fix – to avoid a similar type of failure in the future – it claims there is no relation to the engine issues that were experienced by the two TS 050 cars at Spa during the World Endurance Championship in May. You can read Toyota Gazoo Racing's full statement here. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Image Credit: JEAN-SEBASTIEN EVRARD via Getty Images Motorsports Porsche Toyota Racing Vehicles le mans 24 hours

BMW i8 to go full-electric after facelift

According to Autocar, BMW has plans to turn the i8 sports car from a hybrid to a fully electric vehicle. The carbon fiber structure would be modified with a wider center tunnel to house a sizable battery. Despite this, there would be no weight gain to the i8; the current version weighs in at 3,274 lbs. The electric prototype would have three BMW-developed brushless electric motors, two of them powering the rear wheels and one of them taking care of the front wheels. As the 1.5-liter gasoline engine would be shelved, there would be ample space for the two rear-mounted motors. Currently, the i8 produces 357 horsepower all told, but the electric motors in the prototype are said to produce up to 268 horsepower – each. The electric prototype is to be based on the architecture of a hydrogen prototype, which manages 242 horsepower in total. The information relayed on to Autocar comes from a source close to BMW's development boss, Klaus Frohlich. The facelifted version of the i8 should arrive next year, with awaited improvements like a new 26Ah lithium ion battery – 6Ah up from the current version. There is also talk of a Qualcomm inductive charging system, and its 7.2kWh operating power is doubled from the current 3.6kWh plug-in setup. If the rumormill is to be believed, engine output in the facelifted version would be up ten percent, resulting in 390 horsepower. Related Video: News Source: Autocar Green Rumormill BMW Electric Hybrid Hydrogen Cars

Question of the Day: Worst year of the Malaise Era?

The Malaise Era for cars in the United States spanned the 1973 through 1983 model years, and featured such abominations as a Corvette with just 205 horsepower (from the optional engine!) and MGBs with suspensions jacked way up to meet new headlight-height requirements. There were many low points throughout this gloomy period, of course. The horrifyingly low power and fuel-economy numbers for big V8s during the middle years of the Malaise Era make a strong case for 1974 or 1975— the years of Nixon's resignation and the Fall of Saigon, respectively— as the most Malaisey years. But then the GM-pummeling debacles of the Chevy Citation and Cadillac Cimarron could make an early-1980s year the low point. 1979, the year of the ignominious Chrysler bailout? You choose! Related Video:

Recharge Wrap-up: Karma expands in Michigan, Genovation to attempt another record

Karma Automotive (Fisker's successor) is expanding its engineering and program management team at its new Michigan office as it plans to launch the Revero. "Detroit is the home of some of the top technical resources and leading suppliers in the world," says Karma VP of Engineering Darren Post. Recent hires include former Ford GT engineer Kip Ewing, newly appointed President & Chief Operations Officer Dennis Dougherty, and other employees who "bring with them expertise in many technical areas and deep experience with many great companies such as Aston Martin, Rolls Royce, Tesla, Ford, FCA, and GM," according to Post. Read more in the press release from Karma. Businesses and developers in Phoenix, Arizona are planning their endeavors around the city's light rail project. Mixed use space The Newton, DeSoto Central Market, and Luhrs City Center are all located along the Valley Metro rail line. Not only does the light rail system help bring in customers, it is also a great way for employees to get to work. Valley Metro recently gave a tour of several businesses to highlight how light rail has been an important part of growth and development in the city. Read more at Mass Transit. Genovation is looking to set a new speed record for a street-legal electric car. The company recently set a record of 186.8 miles per hour in its GXE (Genovation eXtreme Electric car), which uses the frame and body of a Chevrolet Corvette. Now, Genovation is looking to push those limits further. We'll update you when we have more details, but for now, read more in the note below. Genovation Looks to Set Second World Speed Record With Proprietary All-Electric Vehicle WHAT: Genovation Cars is looking to make history once again by breaking the top speed world record for a street legal all electric car. Genovation currently holds the world record, achieved on February 23, 2016 by reaching a top speed of 186.8 mph with its GXE (Genovation eXtreme Electric car). Genovation's custom vehicles combine cutting edge green technology with the Corvette's lightweight frame and aerodynamic body that allow the vehicles to reach record-breaking speeds. The record breaking attempt is open to select media with advance security clearance. Join us to learn more about Genovation Cars and the behind-the-scenes work that goes into building the fastest all-electric vehicle on the planet.

McLaren P1 LM is the world's most extreme, exclusive supercar

As fast as it is, and as deep as its manufacturer's roots may run in motor racing, the McLaren P1 was designed from the get-go as a road-going supercar. The subsequent P1 GTR adapted it for use exclusively on the track, but now Lanzante has put it back on the road in the form of the new P1 LM. For those unfamiliar, Lanzante is the outfit that campaigned the original McLaren F1 GTR to such great success at Le Mans back in 1995. Following the 28 examples of the F1 GTR, McLaren built another six examples of the F1 LM, kept one and sold the other five – each based on the GTR's specs but modified for road use. Now Lanzante has unearthed that playbook again with the release of the new McLaren P1 LM. Among the steps Lanzante took in transforming the P1 GTR to road spec involved retuning the hybrid powertrain to keep the output at 986 horsepower while running on 99-octane pump gas and at higher temperatures. The automaker saved a good 130 pounds compared to the GTR by ditching the onboard air-jacking system, fitting polycarbonate windows, refabricating the exhaust and cat pipes out of lightweight Inconel and the bolts out of titanium. It even insulated the engine bay in gold leaf – just like the original F1. Lanzante also fitted an exposed carbon-fiber roof, new rolling stock and steering wheel (replete with switchgear like a modern grand prix racer's). It trimmed the interior in Alcantara, and mounted a bigger front splitter and rear wing to increase downforce by 40 percent. The result ought to make for one frighteningly extreme ride, likely to be capable of embarrassing just about anything else on the road or track. We'll try not to be too tempted, though, as Lanzante – mirroring the original – will only make six examples and sell five: one in dark gray (like the prototype pictured) and another four in orange. Given the extensive modifications and the $2 million or so McLaren charged for the P1 GTR in the first place, we don't even want to know how much it would cost to put one in our driveway. We'll be watching, though, to see it run up the hill at Goodwood tomorrow at the hands of McLaren factory driver (and former Indy 500 winner) Kenny Brack, who'll also set up each of the customer examples at the Nurburgring. Related Video: THE McLAREN P1 LM Background Lanzante Ltd. first became globally synonymous with the McLaren name when it ran the semi-works McLaren F1 GTR that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995.

Mitsubishi fuel economy scandal will result in $1.39 billion loss

The fuel economy scandal revealed a couple months ago will cost Mitsubishi Motors a pretty penny. According to The New York Times, the Japanese automaker predicted the fiscal year 2016 will result in a loss of 145 billion yen, or $1.39 billion. We won't know for sure until March rolls around. The prediction is even more striking when compared to Mitsubishi's performance during the last few years. It will be Mitsubishi's first reported loss in eight years. In 2014, Mitsubishi reported a global profit of $1.2 billion, which doubled the profits of the previous year, and in the spring of 2015 the US arm of the manufacturer reported its first profits in seven years – $4.18 million. For a little while there, it seemed like things were looking really good for Mitsubishi, but past flaws caught up with it. Some of the models built have had their fuel economy readings rounded by as much as 15 percent, due to the way running resistance is calculated in laboratory conditions. Nissan swept in to buy one third of Mitsubishi, and under the Renault-Nissan alliance it is likely Mitsubishi will be put on a crash course to clear its name and start turning a profit again. But the bad publicity caused by the scandal will probably mean it'll be far in the future. Related Video:

2016 Porsche 911 R First Drive

Competition has forced the 911 GT3 RS to prioritize lap times over driving enjoyment. The 911 Carrera line has softened, now full of GT cars rather than the wild children of yore. Turbocharging is hitting the rear-engine Porsche en masse. All of this gave Porsche Motorsport a vacuum of emotion and purity to fill with just 991 examples of its glorious 911 R, a machine focused on putting unadulterated feel and enjoyment back into driving. Even amongst the diehard Porsche fraternity, just going faster doesn't work for everybody. They don't all want the thrill that comes from a high-downforce car running out of grip inches from a concrete wall. Not everybody loves suspensions so tied down that the slightest bump threatens the front splitter's continued existence. And many don't love turbochargers or want a computer to shift gears for them. Fortunately, just such people live, breathe, and work at Porsche Motorsport. This part of the company makes its living building Porsche's fastest machines, like the Cayman GT4 and the 911 GT3 and GT3 RS. But in an era when the bulk of Porsche's profits come from SUVs, Porsche Motorsport also sees itself as the guardian of the parent company's soul. Motorsport has enough pull that when it tells Porsche's board it needs a car like the 911 R the board listens. The quickest way to turn the 911 into a driver-connected car was to pull the weight out, and the easiest way to do that was to use the 911 GT3 RS as the basis. So it gets that car's magnesium roof, polycarbonate side and rear glass, carbon-fiber bonnet and front fenders, and lots of aluminum. The air conditioning got thrown out (you can pay to put it back in), as did the multimedia screen (ditto), the audio and navigation systems (ditto, ditto), the rear seats, and even the interior door handles. Cloth straps replace the latter so you can still get out of the car. At 3,020 pounds, the R is 110 lighter than the race-bred GT3 RS. Eschewing turbocharging in the interest of car-lover must-haves like induction noise, butterfly chirps, intuitive throttle response, and purity of sound, the 911 R simply borrowed the GT3 RS's 4.0-liter flat-six. So there's 500 horsepower of engine playing for keeps, the car ripping to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds from a standing start, hitting 124 mph in 11.6 seconds, and continuing on to 201 mph thanks to the lack of a monster, drag-inducing rear wing. The dry-sump engine revs and revs and feels like it wants to keep revving forever.

McLaren 570S Sprint is both track day weapon and bargain

If you've ever dreamed of getting behind the wheel of a McLaren engineered specifically for the race track, this could be your best shot. It's the new 570S Sprint, and it's set to debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed tomorrow. Like the P1 GTR and the Sprint versions of the 650S and 12C before it, the new McLaren 570S Sprint is meant to be a track toy for gentlemen racers, without the limitations imposed by any specific racing class regulations. It's based on the 570S coupe at the heart of McLaren's entry-level Sports Series, but takes the opposite approach from the softer 570GT. The team in Woking has installed a new radiator behind a reshaped front bumper. The front splitter and underbody are borrowed from the 570S GT4, and there's a giant rear wing made of carbon fiber to give it more downforce than any other model in the series. Naturally the cockpit is all stripped out, and fitted with an FIA-spec roll cage, racing bucket with six-point harness, and a fire extinguisher. The suspension carries over from the road-going model, but comes mounted here to center-locking mags wearing Pirelli slicks. Though it didn't provide any concrete details, the manufacturer says that "power and torque levels have been optimised to ensure the ultimate levels of driver engagement and the best levels of noise." You can get an idea about the latter in the short video clip below. Deliveries are set to begin next year, with pricing in the UK starting at the equivalent of $218k – which you could easily on a road-going model without running out of boxes to tick on the options list. Sprint buyers, meanwhile, will be able to spec options like an onboard air jacking system, a passenger seat, various livery options from McLaren Special Operations, and even a GT4 compliance package. The one option they won't have, however, is driving it home at the end of the track day. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. McLAREN 570S SPRINT TO MAKE GLOBAL DEBUT AT THE 2016 GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED 22 Jun 2016 The recently-announced McLaren 570S Sprint will make both static and dynamic global debuts at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed as part of the largest presence by McLaren to date.