TopSpeed Daily Update |  |
- International Engine of the Year Awards are in and BMW Cleaned House
- Ducati 50 Sport SL1
- Audi Q2
- Maserati GranSport
- Yamaha Neo's 4
- Love the sound of turbos? Well, iBoost is the right app for you
- Ducati 900 Superlight II
- Buick Verano Turbo
- Yamaha Super Ténéré Worldcrosser
- Infiniti EMERG-E
| International Engine of the Year Awards are in and BMW Cleaned House Posted: 14 Jun 2012 08:00 AM PDT
TV buffs get the Emmys, movie buffs get the Oscars, and music lovers get the Grammys; so, where does that leave us gearheads? Well, the International Engine of the Year Awards, of course, and the 2012 results are hot off the press! Ford took home the top prize of International Engine of the Year, with its 999 cc engine found in the European Focus. This engine, despite its petite size, cranks out 125 PS (123 horsepower) and manages to squeeze out 56.5 mpg. The 1.0-liter engine didn't win a close battle either, it took home top honors by a full 113 points. Points are accumulated based on fuel economy, smoothness, performance, noise and drivability and each engine can only receive 15 of each voter's total 25 points to give. Needless to say, that was quite a landslide victory. That's not the biggest news though, as BMW brought home top honors in four different categories. Bimmer took home the 1.4- to 1.8-liter prize with its 181-horsepower, 1.6-liter engine found in the MINI Cooper S. In the 1.8- to 2.0-liter class, BMW took first prize with its 241-horsepower, 2.0-liter twin-turbocharged four-pot. In the 2.5-liter to 3.0-liter class, BMW wrapped up top honors with its bi-turbo 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine and its 335 horsepower. Last, but certainly not least, BMW took home 1st place in the 3.0- to 4.0-liter class with its 414-horsepower, 4.0-liter V-8 engine. Despite all of the accolades, the highest mark that BMW achieved in the Engine of the Year award was 5th place, with its 2.0-liter twin-turbo four-banger. Click past the jump to see all of the results of each class. International Engine of the Year Awards are in and BMW Cleaned House originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 14 June 2012 15:00 EST.
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| Posted: 14 Jun 2012 08:00 AM PDT
The look of the Ducati 50 Sport SL1 might not tickle the taste buds of today’s generation, but back in the day, this road-runner was a bonafide stud on the road. The 50 Sport SL1 was one of the last 50-cc Ducati Sports ever built. Quite frankly, the SL1 was one of the most elegant of this variant, boasting of a design that became popular in its time. On top of that, it also carried a moderate 50 cc single cylinder, two-stroke engine that was mated to a four speed transmission. It also weighed only 100 lbs, which means that it was capable of hitting a top speed of 50 mph. It also had twin fuel fillers on the petrol tank, a full year before the 350 Desmo Mark 3 would have the same feature. The 50 Sport SL1 that was auctioned off at the 2012 RM Auctions ended up being bid on feverishly by a number of bidders. It was sold at a price of €10,530 ($13,500), well above the listed auction price range of €2,500 - €3,500 ($3,200 - $4,500). Ducati 50 Sport SL1 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 14 June 2012 15:00 EST.
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| Posted: 14 Jun 2012 07:30 AM PDT
Audi currently offers a Q3, a Q5, and a Q7 SUV in their line-up, with a Q6 in the pipeline to serve as a competitor for the BMW X6. Now new rumors suggest that the company is already working on a new baby SUV that will be sportier than the five-door Q3. The future Audi Q2 will be built on the MQB Group architecture and will be closer in design to the A1. Rumors say that the new Q2 will introduce advanced LED headlight technology never before seen in small cars and that Audi will offer customers the chance to personalize the Q2 in any way they see fit. The Q2 will be a two-door SUV featuring a front-wheel drive system as standard, but quattro four-wheel drive will be offered for the most powerful versions. Under the hood, we will see the same engines as in the A1 including a 1.4-liter direct-injection four-cylinder turbo and an efficient 1.6-liter diesel engine. A concept version of the Audi Q2 should debut in about a year’s time, with a production version set to arrive in 2014. UPDATE 06/14/2012: British magazine AutoCar is reporting that the first concept of the upcoming Q2 SUV will be unveiled in September at the 2012 Paris Auto Show with a production version to follow in 2015. Audi Q2 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 14 June 2012 14:30 EST.
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| Posted: 14 Jun 2012 07:00 AM PDT
Last month, Maserati revealed that it is in the process of developing a new mid-engined sports car to rival the Porsche 911. Today, in an interview with British magazine EVO, Maserati CEO Harold Wester offered a few more details on the upcoming car. The model will most likely arrive in 2015 and will be called the GranSport. Wester described it as "the most pure expression of Maserati sportiness possible." "Imagine having something like the Alfa Romeo 4C but for Maserati," said Wester. "It would have a carbon fiber monocoque and a mid-engined layout, just like the Alfa 4C, as this gives the stylists the most freedom to design something really stunning." He also confirmed that the new model will be powered by a 4.7-liter V8 engine that will deliver a total of 454 HP. The engine will be mounted longitudinally, meaning that the car will need a much longer wheelbase than the Alfa 4C. The engine’s power will be send to the rear wheels via a new twin-clutch transmission. Wester also said that the new model will be better than the Porsche 911, as well as cheaper. Maserati hopes to sell between 1500 and 2000 units a year. Maserati GranSport originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 14 June 2012 14:00 EST.
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| Posted: 14 Jun 2012 07:00 AM PDT
Trying to pick the right kind of scooter you want in a market that offers plenty of choices is a daunting task. But the Yamaha Neo’s 4 is no ordinary scooter; it’s one specially built to become a rider’s best friend, capable of taking you out on the ride with a careful mix of style and performance. The Neo’s 4 comes with a elegant bodywork and a smart and stylish design that makes you feel comfortable when you’re riding it. A lightweight design and a low seat height, combined with big 12" wheels, a 190 mm front disc brake, and the company’s Unified Braking System makes for a bike that’s well-equipped to handle the rigors of the road. The stylish touch is also added here, from the impressive blue-lit LCD display to the great alloy wheels. In addition to the room for a passenger, there’s plenty of storage space under the seat. This Yamaha Neo's 4 is really a scooter that turns heads, whenever and wherever it goes. At the heart of the Yamaha Neo's 4 is a 50cc 4-stroke engine that’s clean, quiet, and reliable. With a scooter like the Neo's 4, the purpose of your riding is to combine style with practicality, engineering excellence, and environmental responsibility. Find out more about the Yamaha Neo’s 4 after the jump. Yamaha Neo's 4 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 14 June 2012 14:00 EST.
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| Love the sound of turbos? Well, iBoost is the right app for you Posted: 14 Jun 2012 06:00 AM PDT
There's no denying that the sound of any kind of forced induction is incredible. Fitting a turbocharger to any car is quite expensive and as a result, people generally only install aftermarket ones for the performance upgrades. However, if you're still obsessed with the sound of a turbo, but aren't prepared to pay to have one installed, then a recently launched iOS app dubbed 'iBoost' may be the perfect solution for you. Developed by app development team Bonobo in conjunction with Japanese tuning firm HKS, the app helps recreate the sounds of the systems developed by HKS itself. In order to function, the iBoost app utilities the iPhon’s accelerometer to detect movement of the car, with a variety of different gauges and sounds being offered. Nathan Hamey, lead designer of iBoost stated, "Working with HKS has been a blast. The partnership has given us pit-lane access to extract the best sounds possible from their SQV. We’ve also painstakingly crafted their boost gauges to look and respond just like the real thing. I think people are going to get a real buzz out of seeing and hearing authentic HKS gear in their car." "We're thrilled to have the chance to be featured in iBoost," says Masaya Funayama, spokesperson for HKS. "It's is an incredibly well designed application and a lot of fun to play with. It's a great match for the HKS SQV," he continued. With the basic version costing just $0.99, while the upgraded pack costs $1.99, the iBoost app is definitely an attractive purchase. Love the sound of turbos? Well, iBoost is the right app for you originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 14 June 2012 13:00 EST.
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| Posted: 14 Jun 2012 06:00 AM PDT
When Ducati began using carbon fiber on their bikes, they predictably used it on a limited edition, single-seat Ducati 900 Super Sport. Built from 1992 to 1996 as the Ducati 900 Superlight, the bike used the aforementioned carbon fiber material on a number of its components, particularly the mudguards and the clutch cover. Initially, the Italian bike maker wanted to build 500 models of the bike, but bumped that up to 900 pieces after incessant public demand. After the 900 Superlight enjoyed success in the market, Ducati built the Superlight II in 1993, replacing the composite wheels with Brembo units and adding a floating rear disc brakes setup. They also fitted in a powerful 904 cc V-twin SOHC Desmo engine that produced 73 horsepower and was mated to a six-speed transmission. The Superlight II that was auctioned off at the 2012 RM Auctions in Monaco was model no. 34 of the 1993 series. It came in original condition, had good paint, and is considered one of the rare super bikes that would find a nice home in a motorcycle collector’s garage. The bike sold for €4,095 ($5,260), below the estimated auction price of €4,500 - €6,000 ($5,800 - $7,700). Ducati 900 Superlight II originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 14 June 2012 13:00 EST.
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| Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:00 AM PDT
For all of us car buffs born in the 1980s and later, we mostly think of Buicks as being granddad's car. You know, a big, cushiony jalopy that can barely get out of its own way. The last real Buick that we know of being even remotely high-performance was the Grand National and the Regal T-Type from 1978 through 1987. Since the Grand National's deletion, there has been little life in Buick's lineup and performance car buyers went away from the brand. In recent years, GM has been reshaping all of its lineups to not only be more economical, but also to be more performance oriented, including Buick. The thing with Buick is that it has to retain its now strong customer base – the retired American – but offer the performance to draw in younger buyers. Well, when Buick released the Verano, it knew it had a car that was compact and stylish enough to draw in younger buyers without alienating its primary buyers. Once GM started mentioning a turbocharged model, a la the Cobalt SS, our ears perked up a little. While the details are still a little scarce on the complete model, we felt it was time to get a full review together, so you can see what's going on. We will preview this review by letting you know that this is not your granddad's Buick… Click past the jump to read more on the Buick Verano Turbo. Buick Verano Turbo originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 14 June 2012 12:00 EST.
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| Yamaha Super Ténéré Worldcrosser Posted: 14 Jun 2012 05:00 AM PDT
With the most recent Worldcrosser accessory package offered by your Yamaha dealer, you now have the opportunity to make over your Super Ténéré into the Super Ténéré Worldcrosser. Yep, anytime you can turn your bike into one of the toughest long-distance bikes that’s ever been built, you do it without batting an eyelash. Supplied as retro-fit parts, the Worldcrosser kit comes with lightweight carbon body panels and special black anodized chassis protectors that make your Super Ténéré ready for the toughest adventure. There are a few caveats, though. One is that the Worldcrosser kit does not come with the Akrapovic exhaust, a fog lamp kit, or pure off road tires, as shown in the images. You can get an Akrapovic exhaust system and a fog lamp kit as added accessory items from authorized Yamaha dealers. Nevertheless, the XT1200Z Super Ténéré Worldcrosser brings the adventure bike concept to a new level. It’s complemented with special kit parts and comes featured with intelligent technology. There’s no doubt that this go-anywhere bike brings class-leading performance and controllability together with superb long-distance capabilities. Find out more about the Yamaha Super Ténéré Worldcrosser after the jump. Yamaha Super Ténéré Worldcrosser originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 14 June 2012 12:00 EST.
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| Posted: 08 Mar 2012 08:30 AM PST
Infiniti has taken their time releasing the EMERG-E bit by bit with teaser image after teaser images, but the concept has finally made its world debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. The Emerg-E is a highly advanced mid-ship sports car with a future dependent on the reaction of the folks at the auto show. Whether it makes it to production or not, it offers an exciting glimpse into Infiniti’s future. Next to a completely new design language, the concept also features an array of exciting new technologies that the brand "will adopt in its quest to build dramatic and sustainable high performance cars." The EMERG-E is powered by a twin electric motor that develops a total of 402 HP. It will sprint from 0 to 60mph in just four seconds and from zero to 130 mph in 30 seconds. UPDATE 03/08/2012: This review has been updated with the official details and images of the Infiniti EMERG-E. Hit the jump to read more about the Infiniti EMERG-E concept. Infiniti EMERG-E originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 8 March 2012 16:30 EST.
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