TopSpeed Daily Update |  |
- Design Flaw Corrected: Next Generation KTM X-Bow will add windscreen and doors
- Dodge Journey SRT6
- Ford F-150
- Volvo S60 Polestar
- Tesla Sets Pretty Lofty 2013 and 2014 Goals
- McLaren MP4-12C
- Porsche 911 GT3
- Mitsubishi Mirage Evolution
- Surprise! Ferrari F70 will deliver 1000 HP to all four wheels
- The Dodge Durango's Death will Bring About the Rebirth of the Jeep Wagoneer
| Design Flaw Corrected: Next Generation KTM X-Bow will add windscreen and doors Posted: 07 Jun 2012 08:30 AM PDT
  The KTM X-Bow is a n aggressively designed sports car geared towards being light as possible. In fact, many of the vehicle’s exterior and interior components are vacant to save weight. Well, that design may have brought out some setbacks for KTM because some customers were not too pleased with the layout. For the next generation X-Bow, the company will be adding both the doors and the windscreen previously left out of the look. The announcement for these additions was made by Stefan Pierer, CEO of KTM AG, in an interview with Top Gear. He said that the company is currently trying to find a solution for this new layout because adding a windscreen to the car creates lots of homologation compliance issues. In order to offer the windscreen, the company also needs a heating system to de-mist it, doors to allow easier access to the cockpit, windscreen wipers, and much more. Initially, KTM wanted to add a bubble roof, but because this would have caused even more homologation problems, they have opted for a windscreen plus a temporary ’cruising home parasol’ that can be used up to speeds of 80 mph. The next X-Bow will even try to assault the LMP2 category at Le Mans, most likely using a five-cylinder engine under the hood, and not the current four-cylinder engine. Design Flaw Corrected: Next Generation KTM X-Bow will add windscreen and doors originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 7 June 2012 15:30 EST.
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| Posted: 07 Jun 2012 08:00 AM PDT
 It seems as though the entire Fiat ownership umbrella is undergoing significant lineup changes in the upcoming years and this includes the entire Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep lineups. One rather odd model that we just received confirmation on is the Dodge Journey SRT6. The only car that could have been more awkward of an addition to the SRT lineup would have been if Dodge slapped an SRT badge on the now discontinued Caliber… Oh wait, they tried that. Regardless of its awkwardness, seeing that "6" on the end of "SRT" is rather intriguing, as that definitely indicates some serious muscle is on the way. The Journey R/T, the likely donor car for the SRT6 model, has a powerful-as-is 3.6-liter V-6 engine that cranks out 283 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque and pumping more power from that Pentastar is pretty eyebrow raising. Given the fact that most STR4 and SRT6 models include either a supercharger or a turbocharger, we would expect this Pentastar V-6 engine to crank out upwards of 370 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque with a turbo or 330 horsepower and 325 pound-feet with a supercharger. Regardless of the configuration, this will make this crossover SUV, which looks more like a minivan than an SUV, a real screamer. We also anticipate the SRT6 model to come standard with all-wheel drive, as anything less than that would be a true disservice to Dodge's customer base. On top of all of the performance enhancements, expect SRT to inject some appearance items. The likely additions will include 20-inch rims, ground effects, a custom interior, and a lower stance. While there is no anticipated release date yet, we expect to see the SRT6 as a mid-2013 model or an early 2014 model. We will continue to keep you updated as more details come out, but on the surface, this looks like one crossover not to be messed with. Our hats go off to the Fiat leadership for thinking outside the box, now we just have to see if people actually buy it. Dodge Journey SRT6 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 7 June 2012 15:00 EST.
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| Posted: 07 Jun 2012 07:00 AM PDT
With a history that started back in 1948, the Ford F-Series is now one of the best sold pick-ups on the US market. The model is currently in its twelfth generation and for the 2013 model year, it has been updated with a new design and all-new driver controls technology. The 2013 F-150 has received an updated front end, with a new grille and HID projector headlamps. Customers can also opt for new 18 and 20" wheels, as well as the choice of three new hues including Blue Jeans Metallic, Kodiak Brown Metallic, and Ruby Red Clearcoat Metallic. The F150 can also now be ordered with SYNC with MyFord Touch voice-activated driver controls. Under the hood, Ford has placed a choice of four engines: a 302 HP 3.7 liter V6, a 360 HP 5.0 liter V8, a 411 HP 6.2 liter V8, and a 365 HP 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine. All of the engines can be mated to a fuel-saving electronic six-speed automatic transmission with tow/haul mode. Hit the jump to read more about the 2013 Ford F-150. Ford F-150 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 7 June 2012 14:00 EST.
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| Posted: 25 May 2012 02:00 AM PDT
After Polestar got their tuning hands on the Volvo C30 a few years back, we knew they were the real deal. Thanks to the firm's racing know-how, they were able to extract 405HP from the small 2.5-liter T5 engine and send that power through an incredible all-wheel drive system which featured adjustable suspension and Brembo brakes, but unfortunately it never made it to production simply because the exercise was too expensive to make production viable. However, Polestar hasn't let that disappointment get the way of its most recent plans to tackle the super-sedan market with a rival for the BMW M3, Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, and Audi RS5. Swedish automotive magazine, TeknikensVarld started the rumors and they definitely have intrigued us, and will undoubtedly intrigue you also. The magazine claims that Polestar will tackle the Volvo S60 in order to make an M3-killer, and could implant a 4.4-liter, Yamaha-sourced, V8 engine into it – the same unit as fitted to the XC90 and Noble M600 – be it without the two massive turbo's found in the Noble. In naturally aspirated form, this engine is said to deliver in excess of the 311 horsepower found in the M3, and if Polestar had their way with the engine, they could easily pump out 400 or more horses if they wanted to really show its German competitors how to create true performance sedans. The prototype caught testing was powered by a T6 AWD with 304 HP, but the final version will deliver much more. Additionally, this unconfirmed car could come fitted with a Haldex all-wheel drive system and a sequential gearbox and would obviously feature more aggressive styling over the stock car. Despite all of this sounding very appealing, we have serious doubts that it'll ever make it into production, unless Polestar and Volvo can work out a cheap way to develop and produce a true rival to the BMW M3. UPDATE 06/07/2012: After being caught on camera by spy photographers a couple of weeks ago, the Volvo S60 Polestar has now been revealed in it first teaser image. Volvo has also promised that the car will be released on June 16th at the Gothenburg City Race. Stay tuned! Volvo S60 Polestar originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 25 May 2012 09:00 EST.
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| Tesla Sets Pretty Lofty 2013 and 2014 Goals Posted: 07 Jun 2012 06:00 AM PDT
 Tesla has yet to officially launch its latest EV, the Model S, and already the upstart automaker is setting up some pretty lofty goals. In an interview with CEO, Elon Musk, it was made clear that the company is confident that it will achieve 20,000 total models sold in 2013. With the Nissan Leaf eclipsing just 9,500 total sales in the U.S. in 2011, those are some pretty stratospheric goals. This is especially difficult considering that Tesla is not expected to infiltrate the European and Asian markets until mid-2013. We do see the logic behind this though, as the base $57,400 price is relatively affordable, considering what you get at that level. Also add in the fact that the Model S is more stylish and ego-massaging than the very odd-looking and soft-feeling Leaf, and Tesla just may be able to hit those numbers. Once Tesla debuts the Model X SUV, the automaker anticipates a huge upswing in sales at the tune of 75 percent. Yup, Tesla anticipates 2014 sales to eclipse the 35,000 mark thanks to its newest EV SUV, which means the Model X's sales are expected to hover around 15,000 for the year. Overall, these are very high goals to achieve for an automaker that really has no reputation or customer base to attach its wagon to yet. However, there are tons of enthusiasts out there that would love nothing more than a 300-mile-per-charge supercar that hits 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and still hauls the family around. So, if Tesla remains true to its promises with the Model S, we could all see this new automaker well exceeding its projected goals. We'll be closely monitoring the sales of the Model S to see if the demand is there and if this upstart can provide ample supply if the demand is high. Tesla Sets Pretty Lofty 2013 and 2014 Goals originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 7 June 2012 13:00 EST.
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| Posted: 07 Jun 2012 05:00 AM PDT
Any fan of supercars remembers the mighty F1 from McLaren. With its BMW sourced V12, center seat driving position and gold lined engine cover the car was truly exotic. It held many records and for longer than most other machines are able to. It shot the company right to the top of the automotive stratosphere and helped them grow into a healthy and sustainable racing company. Several years ago McLaren spent a reported 300 billion pounds to design and build the McLaren Technology Center meant to encompass all aspects of the company. That was finished back in 2003, so what have they been up to in Woking, England for the past 7 years? Quite simply they have been designing the next and possibly most formidable challenger to the Ferrari 458 Italia. Engineers and designers at McLaren are currently developing several new and highly innovative sports cars to bring to the global market. The MP 4-12C is now in production signaling the beginning of the rebirth of a company that has not had a distinct production vehicle for over a decade. Its stunning performance and efficiency have caught the eyes of the automotive press since McLaren first began testing mules at their facility and now we get to see it in final form. UPDATE 06/07/2012: McLaren has officially confirmed that, for the 2013 model year, the MP4-12C will come with an additional 25 HP, an Innovative Intake Sound Generator (ISG), and more color and leather finish options. Also, existing 12C owners will be offered complimentary upgrades to the latest specifications. Check out the full 2013 additions after the jump! Hit the jump for more details on the 2011 McLaren MP 4-12C. McLaren MP4-12C originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 7 June 2012 12:00 EST.
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| Posted: 07 Jun 2012 04:30 AM PDT
The Porsche 911 started its run back in 1963 - and oh what a run it is -, but it wasn’t until 1999 that a GT3 version was offered up for our ravenous consumption. It came to complete the series of performance vehicles that started back in 1973 with the 911 RS, a model that was capable of sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds and to 100 mph in 13 seconds. Why the short history lesson? Well, the new generation GT3 is ready to break cover in the next couple of years and rumors about the sports car are already beginning to sprout. These rumors suggest that the new GT3 will be host to a 4.0L engine and not the 3.8L naturally-aspirated six cylinder engine where it gets its name. We are assuming that if the GT3 ends up with this engine change, we’ll also be looking at a new name for the vehicle, but that’s all speculation at this point. What we do know is that the next GT3 will be lighter than the current generation, but according to Porsche CEO Matthias Muller, it will not be using Porsche’s new 7-speed PDK transmission. UPDATE 06/07/2012: British magazine, AutoCar, is offering up a few more details on the next 911 GT3 before the car’s official debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show next March. Despite previous rumors which said the GT3 will deliver up to 480 HP, the next GT3 will in fact get a normally aspirated 3.8-liter flat six engine with an output of 450 HP - just a 15 HP increase over the current model. This bump in power is good enough to sprint the car up to 200 mph. The model will only be offered with a PDK seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic - No manual - and will be about 88 lbs lighter than the model it replaces. Hit the jump to read more about the next generation Porsche GT3. Porsche 911 GT3 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 7 June 2012 11:30 EST.
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| Posted: 07 Jun 2012 04:00 AM PDT
 It looks as if the Evolution lineup in Mitsubishi may be getting bigger, but not too much bigger. Rumor has it that the struggling Japanese automaker is currently working on developing an Evolution trim level for its incoming hatchback, the Mitsubishi Mirage. Details are still pretty thin on this potential model, buy Japanese magazine, Best Car, is all but certain that the model is underway and it will join the Mirage lineup shortly after its 2013 release. Seeing a subcompact hatchback like this bearing the "EVO" badge may seem a little strange, given the fact that the original Lancer Evolution has always been a four-door sedan with monstrous performance numbers. This version of the EVO will not quite have the power numbers of the Lancer EVO, but it will be extremely powerful, given its puny specifications. Under the hood, we all expect to see a 1.5-liter three-banger engine that pumps out a respectful 150 horsepower, thanks to the help of a turbocharger. Where this new Evolution will make up ground is in the diet that Mitsubishi has this hatchback on. When it is all said and done, it is expected that Mitsubishi will have the Mirage weighing less than 2,000 lbs, giving it around a 12.5 pounds-per-horsepower rating, which is very respectable for its class. Other than those few bits of information, everyone's lips are pretty well sealed on the possible Mirage Evolution. We will continue to monitor the rumor mills for you and keep you up to date on all of the latest rumors and leaks, as we keep our fingers crossed for this performance subcompact hatchback. Mitsubishi Mirage Evolution originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 7 June 2012 11:00 EST.
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| Surprise! Ferrari F70 will deliver 1000 HP to all four wheels Posted: 07 Jun 2012 03:00 AM PDT
 Ferrari Enzo Until recently, the details we had on the Ferrari F70 were that it would come with a 7.3-liter V12 engine combined with the company’s HY-KERS system for a total of 920 HP. Now, new details suggest that the Enzo successor will in fact be even more powerful, boasting a biturbo engine, most likely a V12, combined with the HY-KERS system and a four-wheel drive system for a mouthwatering 1000 HP. It just keeps getting better and better! This information was provided by a client who has already ordered the F70, making it extremely plausible. In a previous statement, Ferrari CEO Montezemolo said: "We want to surprise people not just in terms of price but also with the car itself." A full 1000 HP when we only expected 920 HP is surely a huge and welcoming surprise! The future F70’s V12 engine will be mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and a high-power traction motor that electrifies the seven-speed trans, adding to the power the engine delivers to it. Attached to the gasoline engine is an auxiliary generator that charges the batteries, as needed. Lastly, on top of the transmission is the hybrid power unit, which features two inverters and a smart cooling system. The new Ferrari F70 will be making its world debut in March 2013, at the Geneva Motor Show. Surprise! Ferrari F70 will deliver 1000 HP to all four wheels originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 7 June 2012 10:00 EST.
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| The Dodge Durango's Death will Bring About the Rebirth of the Jeep Wagoneer Posted: 07 Jun 2012 02:00 AM PDT
The Dodge Durango has never really been one of the most popular SUVs in the market. Sometimes we automotive media even tend to forget it's around. But the Durango certainly has its own group of enthusiasts that love them and buy a new one every few years, and rightfully so. The Durango has recently morphed into one of the better looking body-on-frame SUVs available, as well as one of the most utilitarian SUVs remaining on the market. All of that aside, Dodge and parent company, Fiat, have decided that the Durango has run its course and it's time for it to ride off into the sunset. There is no need to mourn its death, as its axing will bring about yet another cult classic that will don the same underpinnings of the outgoing Durango. This new model, according to an interview with Fiat CEO, Sergio Marchionne, by Automobile Magazine, will be dubbed the Jeep Wagoneer. Yup, after nearly two decades have passed since the Grand Cherokee replaced it; the Wagoneer name is again being uttered by the brass at Jeep. With the Durango reportedly going the way of the dodo bird in 2016, we assume that the Wagoneer will arrive sometime in the 2015 model year to give it some time to catch on before cutting the Durango altogether. In the same interview, Marchionne also let us know that Dodge will axe the Avenger for the second time, in 2014. This time around, the Avenger lasted only five model years, one year less than its original version. We were shocked to even see it return, so seeing it disappear is no surprise at all, despite that it was far less ugly than its original rendition. As soon as we can get a hold of some info on the upcoming Wagoneer, we will update you further. The Dodge Durango's Death will Bring About the Rebirth of the Jeep Wagoneer originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 7 June 2012 09:00 EST.
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