7/10/2012

TopSpeed Daily Update

Video: Gymkhana 5 has arrived!
Jaguar XFR-S
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee fails in Evasive Maneuver Test
Porsche 911 Cabriolet by TechArt
Suzuki and Volkswagen in Legal Battle to end Partnership
Lexus LS
Mercedes CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake
Spy Shots: New Opel Adam caught during photoshoot in Spain
Video: MINI wishes British Olympic athletes good luck with horn orchestra of national anthem
Luxury car sales continue to skyrocket with Bentley posting 6 month sales surge

Posted: 09 Jul 2012 09:00 AM PDT

The wait took longer than we had hoped, but you know what they say, "to those who wait, there is prosperity."

So we waited...and finally, our patience has paid off. Ladies and gentlemen, Gymkhana 5 has arrived!

As promised, July 9 was the date of reckoning; the day where Ken Block goes back to his roots, away from the Hollywood look of the fourth installment and back to the raw, uncut, thrill ride of a lifetime.

This time around, the stage was set for the urban jungle that is San Francisco. Just as we expected - and hoped - Block absolutely takes the Bay by storm, complete with sick drifts, plenty of burnt rubber, and mind-bending jumps that completely blew us away. Then there’s a Travis Pastrana cameo in there too. We had hoped that he would do a few stunts of his own, but we certainly aren’t complaining on how the finished product ended up looking.

Gymkhana 5, you made our day and hopefully, the wait for 6 won’t take as long.

Video: Gymkhana 5 has arrived! originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 9 July 2012 16:00 EST.

Jaguar XFR-S

Posted: 09 Jul 2012 08:00 AM PDT

Jaguar certainly knew what they were doing when they presented the XKR-S at this year’s Geneva Motor Show and now they are bringing yet another spark to their lineup with an XF version of the speedier package. At this same event, the company also confirmed a future compact model that will compete with the BMW 3-Series, a four-cylinder diesel option for XF in Europe, a 4x4 drivetrain targeting North America, and a petrol V6 option for the XJ luxury sedan in China.

The firm’s global brand director Adrian Hallmark said in a recent interview: "’I can confirm there is a project to transfer the upgrades from the XKR-S to the XFR, but we haven’t confirmed it for production yet. But it would be great to see the XF with 550hp!"

Jaguar has yet to offer any real details on the future RS package for the XF sedan, but the 550 HP engine from the XKR-S will surely transfer over. Our recent spy shots show the wheels from the XKR-S will also used for the XFR-S.

UPDATE 02/02/2012: In an interview with Autocar, a senior company insider has confirmed that Jaguar is indeed working on an XFR-S sports sedan that will take on models like the BMW M5. The new model will be powered by a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine that will deliver a total of 550 HP. As for the exterior, it will receive the same treatment as the XKR-S. On the British market, the XFR-S will be priced at about £70K, or about $110,000 at the current rates.

UPDATE 07/09/2012: If British magazine, Autocar, is to be believed, then the XFR-S will be making its world debut in November at the 2012 Los Angeles Motor Show.

gallery: Spy Shots: 2014 Jaguar XFR-S Plays with its XKR-S (...)

Jaguar XFR-S originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 9 July 2012 15:00 EST.

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee fails in Evasive Maneuver Test

Posted: 09 Jul 2012 07:00 AM PDT

The guys over Teknikens Värld recently got a little more than they bargained for when they performed a Moose test (or Elk test) with the brand-spanking new 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Moose test determines how a vehicle acts when the driver evades a suddenly appearing obstacle, such as an animal or a child, and the Grand Cherokee didn’t exactly get to the top of the class.

The purpose of this test - done at very low speeds - was to determine how well the SUV’s active safety system would work. At only 39.5 mph, the Jeep Grand Cherokee went up on two wheels, in the middle of the maneuver. If it wasn’t for the professional driver behind the wheel, it would have easily rolled over. As many can imagine, not everyone that purchases vehicles have professional driving skills, so at the hands of probably most Jeep Grand Cherokee owners, the result could be deadly. According to Teknikens Värld’s Linus Pröjtz, this is an unacceptable result for a 2012 SUV, and we would have to 100% agree with this.

By comparison, SUVs like the Volkswagen Touareg and the Volvo XC90 did well at even greater speeds of 43.5 mph. To make matters worse, when Teknikens Värld performed the Moose Test on the previous generation of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, it passed the test with no problems at all.

This information should certainly not fall on deaf ears, especially the ears of Chrysler heads.

gallery: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee fails in Evasive Maneuver Test originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 9 July 2012 14:00 EST.

Porsche 911 Cabriolet by TechArt

Posted: 09 Jul 2012 06:00 AM PDT

Noted Porsche tuner, TechArt, has made a living off dropping our jaws with some of the programs they’ve built for the German automaker. With their latest piece of work, they managed to do it again.

This program for the 911 Cabriolet, which TechArt decided to fit with an aerodynamic body kit, reminds us of the 911 Turbo S Edition 918 Spyder. The first defining characteristic of the body kit are the lime green accents that have been applied and mixed into the gloss black body finish. From there, TechArt added in a slew of new components, including a new spoiler with an integrated splitter at the front, new aerowings in the front air intakes, headlight and side mirror trims, three different spoiler options, a fixed spoiler with a trailing edge, and last, but not least, an integrated third brake light.

The interior also gets the same treatment, particularly the leather interior with matching lime green stitching. The steering wheel was also replaced in favor of a Techart sports steering wheel while the PDK button shifts have been dropped for a set of paddle shifters. Another TechArt addition are the new set of Formula III forged wheels that have also been finished in gloss black.

gallery: 2013 Porsche 911 Cabriolet

Porsche 911 Cabriolet by TechArt originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 9 July 2012 13:00 EST.

Suzuki and Volkswagen in Legal Battle to end Partnership

Posted: 09 Jul 2012 05:00 AM PDT

For the better part of the last decade, Volkswagen Automotive Group has been snagging up various automakers and auto groups in an attempt to build an empire that would likely make Darth Vader cower in fear. It looks like one of VW's Stormtroopers is turning its back on the "Dark Side," as Suzuki, a company that VW bought some $2.1 billion worth of shares in 2009, is taking VW to court in an attempt to force VW to return the 19.9 percent of Suzuki stock that it owns.

The issues that run between the two are your typical automotive wah-fest, as Suzuki is boo-hooing over the fact that VW did not share enough technical information with Suzuki, which was a stipulation of the stock sale. VW, on the other hand, is crying foul because Suzuki opted to source a small-displacement engine from Fiat instead of VW. Oddly enough, VW is fighting Suzuki to keep its shares, while Suzuki has filed suit against VW in a London court to force VW to sell its shares back.

Another odd turn of events is the fact that Suzuki is willing to pay market value to VW for said shares, giving Volkswagen a cool $300K to $400K in profit.

Overall, this is a very strange turn of events, as we are not quite sure exactly what in the world VW would want with the Suzuki brand under its umbrella. The brand has been really struggling in the last decade and looks to eventually go the Isuzu route and pull out of the American market altogether. Then again, VW has been apt for turning around struggling car companies, a la Audi.

We'll keep you posted on any new happenings in this legal battle.

Suzuki and Volkswagen in Legal Battle to end Partnership originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 9 July 2012 12:00 EST.

Lexus LS

Posted: 09 Jul 2012 04:00 AM PDT

At the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, Lexus unveiled the new generation RX, as well as a video that shows RX chief engineer Takayuki Katsuda describing the car i detail. What that video also offered was the first teaser image of the next generation LS sedan that is set to be unveiled sometime by the end of the2012, as promised by Lexus.

While the teaser image doesn’t show much, you can still see that the upcoming LS will borrow some design elements from the recently launched GS sedan, like Lexus’ new spindle grille with one of the boldest interpretations yet. It also appears that the LS may have a full chrome hourglass shape around the grille, as well as a new set of headlamps.

Hit the jump to see the video of Takayuki Katsuda talking about the RX. Keep an eye out for the teaser image of the LS, as well as other teaser images showing the next generation IS and ES.

UPDATE 07/09/2012: The next generation Lexus LS will be making its official debut on July 30th, next to the all-new LS F Sport.

Lexus LS originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 9 July 2012 11:00 EST.

Mercedes CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake

Posted: 02 Jul 2012 04:00 AM PDT

When Mercedes unveiled the Shooting Brake Concept last year, we didn’t think there was any way we would see it hit production lines, but recent spy shots have proved us wrong. After all, if Ferrari can come out with the FF, why shouldn’t Mercedes release a Shooting Brake version for the CLS?

Our spy photographers have only caught the standard version testing, but we jumped at the chance to render a possible AMG version of the future Shooting Brake model. The new model will be the perfect vehicle for those who want to combine a standard family car with the sportiness of the CLS 63 AMG sedan.

Just like the sedan version, should expect a more aggressive design language defined by a V-shaped bonnet, a more powerful front apron, larger air intakes, an AMG rear apron with black diffuser insert, and dual twin chrome tailpipes. Under the hood, there will be the same 5.5-liter V8 biturbo engine that delivers 525 HP and 516 lbs-ft of torque and mated to an AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission and Controlled Efficiency stop/start function.

The new CLS Shooting Brake is expected to make its world debut in the summer of 2012, with sales to begin shortly after.

UPDATE 07/02/2012: The recent launch of the new CLS Shooting Brake didn’t open any doors on what the AMG version has in store for us, but Mercedes has decided to drop a cool teaser video of the upcoming CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake to quench our thirst for knowledge. Judging by the fact that the car is completely uncovered in this video, we expect to see it launched very soon.

Mercedes CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 2 July 2012 11:00 EST.

Spy Shots: New Opel Adam caught during photoshoot in Spain

Posted: 09 Jul 2012 02:00 AM PDT

Since an official debut for the Adam will be made in September at the 2012 Paris Auto Show, Opel is rounding out testing for their new small hatchback and prepping it for its media release. This is no more evident than in these images taken of the unclothed Adam during a photoshoot in Spain.

The spy shots reveal the car in four exterior colors and editions, but most likely, the options list will be much longer than even that. As previously reported, the next Adam will be about 3.7 meters long and will only be offered in a three-door variant.

The small hatchback will use a small engine family of three- and four-cylinder units co-developed with Opel's China partner, SAIC. Customers will have the option of choosing between engines with displacements from 1.0 liters to 1.4 liters with direct injection and turbocharging capabilities. The top version will get a 1.6-liter diesel and a 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline unit.

Photo-credit: J.Revuelta / Autofacil.es

Spy Shots: New Opel Adam caught during photoshoot in Spain originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 9 July 2012 09:00 EST.

Video: MINI wishes British Olympic athletes good luck with horn orchestra of national anthem

Posted: 08 Jul 2012 09:00 PM PDT

The countdown to the 2012 London Olympics is on its last legs, and as such, MINI is preparing to give British athletes a proper motivational boost with a new promotional video featuring the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

The video features a handful of 2012 MINI London Special Edition models - nine in total! - with members of the world-famous London Philharmonic Orchestra each getting into one of the models to play a unique version of the British national anthem.

Instead of their instruments, they’re musical equipment this time around is the car’s horn. Pretty sweet, if we do say so ourselves.

We don’t doubt the talent of these guys in blending anything that makes a sound into a unique composition, but this really does take the proverbial cake. If you’re a British athlete and you get to watch this video, how can you not be motivated.

Heck, it even got our juices going, no small feat considering we have the athletic competency of a living room couch.

gallery: 2011 Mini London Edition

Video: MINI wishes British Olympic athletes good luck with horn orchestra of national anthem originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 9 July 2012 04:00 EST.

Luxury car sales continue to skyrocket with Bentley posting 6 month sales surge

Posted: 08 Jul 2012 07:00 PM PDT

On the back of Porsche, Ferrari, and Fisker all posting extremely impressive sales figures for the first quarter of 2012, British luxury automobile manufacturer, Bentley has joined the growing list of high-end car companies increasing profits, recently posting a global sales surge of 32% over the past 6 months.

That 32 percent increase equates to 3,929 new cars being delivered to customers, and has also resulted in the U.S. becoming the firm's largest market once again after it was overthrown by the emerging Chinese market last year. In saying that, however, sales in China skyrocketed by 55.7% in the first half of 2012, equaling 1,059 cars delivered, while the U.S. market grew by a more modest 25.7% or 1,140 new cars delivered.

These increases in sales were partly due to the rapid rise in demand for the brand's flagship Mulsanne rising by 30%, while deliveries of the Continental GT increased exponentially by 48.5%. In addition to these impressive individual results, sales in Europe increased by 22.9 percent (607 new vehicles), the Middle East also grew by 47.9 percent (346 cars delivered) while the U.K saw a more modest increase of 4.5 percent.

Bentley's former Chief Executive, Wolfgang Durheimer who we now know has moved to Audi, stated, "Our half year results show strong growth for Bentley in every single global region. The competition between the Americas and China continues and we are watching closely to see who will emerge as the largest region in 2012. "

"Sales are being driven up by our flagship Mulsanne which is up 30% following strong interest in the US and China. We are also pleased to see the continued growth of the new Continental GT W12, our pinnacle performance coupé," he continued.

"I am very optimistic about the future for Bentley. We are gaining more momentum every month due to the strong performance of our global dealer network, the appeal of our existing model line to customers and the exciting future models like the Continental GT Speed we have in the pipeline."