Auto News 5

Acura has just unveiled its 2015 TLX Prototype, which will arrive in showrooms as a production model in mid-2014. The TLX-based GT Race Car also made its debut at the North American International Auto Show.

"The Acura TLX Prototype is a precursor of some amazing things we have in store for our Acura sedan customers," said Mike Accavitti, senior vice president, American Honda Motor, Co., Inc. "As you would expect from an Acura, this completely new model will offer innovative technologies that break down the barriers between the driver and the machine to deliver a more intuitive, connected and personal driving experience."

Photo: Acura

The 2015 Acura TLX Prototype comes with two advanced powertrains including:

• All-new 2.4L i-VTEC inline 4-cylinder with direct injection that's significantly lighter than previous Acura engines, mated to an all-new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission;
• 3.5L V6 with direct injection, VTEC variable valve control and Variable Cylinder Management (VCM), mated to a new close-ratio 9-speed automatic transmission.

Acura claims both powertrains will target fuel economy ratings at the top of the midsize luxury sedan class. Power is handled by the next-generation Acura Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) and Precision All-Wheel Steer (P-AWS) systems.

The show car rides on 5-spoke 20'' wheels and features Jewel Eye LED headlights in addition to mirror-integrated LED turn signals.

There are few details about the interior of the 2015 Acura TLX Prototype, but the company promises comfortable seating for five adults.

Photo: Acura

The all-new 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe, the brand's first compact luxury two-door model, made its debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It will go on sale this summer, although prices have yet to be announced.

Available in rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations, the 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe offers two engines including a 272-horsepower 2.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged engine and a 321-horsepower 3.6L V6.

The ATS Coupe rides on the same 109.3'' (2,775 mm) wheelbase as the sedan, but features its own bodywork. The roof, doors, rear fenders and trunk lid are all unique to this model. The front and rear tracks are wider than the sedan's, enhanced by short overhangs and sheet metal that wrap tautly around the tires. Standard 18'' wheels are exclusive to the Coupe.

Inside the 2015 Cadillac ATS Coupe, you'll find a standard Bose audio system with Active Noise Cancellation technology (a 12-speaker surround sound upgrade is available), CUE infotainment, and optional head-up display.

Advanced safety features include the Safety Alert Seat, Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keep Assist (new to Cadillac for 2015), front and rear park assist, and a rear-vision camera with dynamic guidelines.

Photo: Cadillac

From press release

The Radical Cup USA sports car series, which rewards club racers and rising stars alike with a chance to race in Europe, has added eligibility for the new road-going Radical RXC hyper-car, including the turbo variant just launched at the Autosport International show.

In 2014 the series will also compete at two former Formula one tracks, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Mosport) and Watkins Glen, expanding the season to 7 rounds.

"The 2014 Radical Cup USA is a combination of favourites and fresh challenges, with new tracks like Willow Springs in California, and a new class for Radical's latest creation, the road-going RXC hyper-car," said Simon Shepard, Director for Radical West, the world's largest Radical distributor.

"The RXC is a true GT prototype that is both road and race ready. It's a car you could genuinely drive to the track, bolt on the Dunlop slicks, and go win the championship."

Powered by either a normally aspirated or twin-turbocharged Ford EcoBoost engine, the RXC offers a closed coupe option alongside the highly successful open cockpit 270hp SR3 and 460hp bespoke V8 powered SR8 Radical prototypes also eligible for the series.

The addition of the RXC class means at the end of 2014 three champions will be awarded drives in the FIA sanctioned Radical Masters Euroseries, while the overall Radical Cup USA champion will also receive a test in a top European Le Mans Prototype (LMP) car.

The 2014 series continues its backing from two of the most exclusive tracks in the country, Spring Mountain Motor Resort and Country Club near Las Vegas and New York's Monticello Motor Club, where the final round of the championship will be held.

As in its inaugural 2013 season, the 2014 calendar sees the series commence at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah (March 21-23), before taking on Georgia's Road Atlanta (April 11-13). New York's Watkins Glen (May 16-18) replaces last year's round in Virginia, while Laguna Seca passes the baton to Willow Springs (June 27-29) for the series' Californian round.

After heading north of the boarder for the first time to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (July 25-27) the 2014 season will conclude at the Autobahn Country Club in Illinois (August 15-17) and Monticello Motor Club (September 11-13).

2014 Radical Cup USA Calendar:
21-23 March- Miller Motorsport Park, Utah
11-13 April- Road Atlanta, Georgia
16-18 May- Watkins Glen International, New York
27-29 June- Willow Springs, California
25-27 July- Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Mosport), Ontario
15-17 Aug- Autobahn Country Club, Illinois
11-13 Sept- Monticello Motor Club, New York (Thurs, Fri, Sat)

Revealed at the 2014 North American International Auto Show in Detroit was the all-new 2015 Lexus RC F. Based on the RC coupe introduced in Tokyo last fall, this performance model houses the brand's most powerful V8 ever, generating more than 450 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque for a top speed of 270 km/h.

The 2015 Lexus RC F rides on 19'' wheels and benefits from L-shaped air vents behind the front fenders. An active rear spoiler, similar to the one found on the Lexus LFA supercar, automatically deploys at 80 km/h and retracts under 40 km/h.

The interior of the 2015 Lexus RC F features new high-back seats that were designed for exceptional support. The instruments and gauges are also derived from the LFA. The Lexus-first elliptical cross-section thick grip steering wheel is said to ensure greater control during sporty driving, while the placement, shape and operation of the paddle shifters make it easier to change gears.

The 2015 Lexus RC F will arrive at dealers toward the end of this year. Pricing, fuel consumption ratings and other technical specifications will be announced in the meantime.

Photo: Lexus

Andretti Autosport invited the press at its Indianapolis headquarters to showcase the liveries of its 2014 Indy cars which will be powered by Honda after switching from Chevrolet.

Andretti's team will field Ryan Hunter-Reay, Marco Andretti, James Hinchcliffe and rookie Carlos Munoz this year's IndyCar series.

Carlos Munoz. (Photo: Andretti Autosport)

Munoz's No. 34 car will be co-entered by HVM Racing, and it will have a new sponsor for the series, Cinsay, an Austin-based social media company.

Hinchcliffe's car will carry the colors of United Fiber and Data for the first time.

Ryan Hunter-Reay. (Photo: Andretti Autosport)

Hunter-Reay is returning to the No. 28 DHL-sponsored car after using No. 1 last year as the IndyCar Series' reigning champion.

Marco Andretti's car is sponsored by Snapple.

James Hinchcliffe. (Photo: Andretti Autosport)

Andretti also announced it will enter the Global RallyCross series with Volkswagen.

Marco Andretti. (Photo: Andretti Autosport)

From GMM

Reports that Ferrari has abandoned its innovative 'pullrod' front suspension layout for 2014 were apparently wide of the mark.

In late November, Italy's Autosprint said the Maranello team had "almost certainly" decided to revert to the more conventional pushrod for its new V6-powered car, used by every other team except struggling McLaren in 2013.

And just last week, the authoritative F1 technical illustrator, Giorgio Piola, agreed that his sources also said Ferrari - third in last year's constructors' championship - would not have pullrod suspension this year.

"Usually the information from Giorgio Piola is bulletproof," said Tobias Gruner, correspondent for Germany's Auto Motor und Sport. "But even the best-connected experts are apparently also sometimes fed false information."

Ferrari F138. (Photo: WRi2)

Ferrari said on Monday that its returning driver, Kimi Raikkonen, will be at the wheel of the 2014 car in the new simulator at Maranello over three days this week.

Finn Raikkonen also revealed his lukewarm reasoning for picking 'lucky' number 7 for his new, permanent race number.

"It's the number I already had last year and I saw no reason to change it," he said. "I like it which is good enough isn't it?"

Despite the wins of Carlos Sainz (buggy SMG) on Sunday and Nasser Al-Attiyah (MINI) on Monday, Juan Roma (MINI) remains in the lead in rally Dakar, with four days remaining.

After Roma was holding a huge lead before the rest day in city of Salta on Saturday, his rivals get a bit closer after stage 8, as the Dakar entered Chile after one week in Argentina.

After Carlos Sainz was quickest on his buggy SMG on Sunday, during the Salta-Salta loop, it was Nasser Al-Attiyah's turn to set the fastest time on Monday driving his MINI X-Raid, as the cars arrived in Calama, in Chile.

Nasser Al-Attiyah, MINI ALL4 Racing. (Photo: Dakar.com)

Al-Attiyah won Monday's stage ahead of Stéphane Peterhansel (MINI), Carlos Sainz and Orlando Terranova (MINI). In overall classification, Peterhansel get closer to Roma, who takes 6th position in stage 8.

In overall classification, Roma now holds a lead of 23'46 ahead of Peterhansel, and 48'25 ahead of Giniel de Villiers (Toyota Hilux), who now stands in third position thanks to his usual consistency, ahead of MINI drivers Terranova and Al-Attiyah, and Sainz's buggy.

NASCAR driver Robby Gordon stands in 26th position overall driving his Hummer, while Canadian driver Matt Campbell stands 66th aboard his Dodge Durango with his team mates, the mexican Luis Ramirez Payen Jr and Nicolas Ambriz Suarez.

Pros: As a full-size sedan, the 2014 Dodge Charger will please customers with a striking silhouette, generous seating for four adults, compelling V6 and V8 options, and exhilarating performance.

Cons: Exhilarating performance often means a hefty fuel bill, and that's the case here. After all, the Charger weighs nearly 2,000 kilograms, and its big HEMI engines drink premium gas. What's more, tall folks who sit in the back may not enjoy much headroom.


2014 Dodge Charger Price: There are seven trim levels to choose from this year including:

• SE, $28,995
• SXT, $32,495
• SXT Plus, $34,495
• R/T, $37,595
• R/T Road/Track, $35,595
• SRT Superbee, $43,495
• SRT, $47,395

2014 Dodge Charger Fuel Economy: Don't expect miracles from the Charger. A V6-powered unit will burn 10.9L/100km on average. When opting for a V8, combined city-highway fuel consumption increases to 13.5L/100km (5.7L HEMI) or 15L/100km (6.4L HEMI).

Improvements and Changes: There are no significant changes for 2014.

2014 Dodge Charger Powertrain: Available in SE and SXT trim, the do-it-all 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine produces 292 horsepower in this application. It can be mated to a 5- or 8-speed automatic transmission with manual mode.

The mid-range 5.7L HEMI V8 in the Charger R/T models develops 370 horsepower. As for the high-performance SRT editions, they get a mighty 6.4L HEMI V8 rated at 470 horsepower. Too bad the efficiency-focused 8-speed autobox can't be specified with either V8.

Cargo Capacity: The 2014 Dodge Charger's trunk is slightly larger than average with a limit of 437 litres.

Safety: Standard equipment includes ABS, brake assist, electronic brake force distribution, stability control and traction control, as well as hill-start assist. Enjoy greater peace of mind and protection when selecting adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and blind spot monitoring with rear cross-path detection.

Comparing the 2014 Dodge Charger: Make sure you also take a look at the Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet Impala, Ford Taurus, Hyundai Genesis, Nissan Maxima, and Toyota Avalon.

Photo: Dodge

Référence : L'Annuel de l'automobile 2014

For decades, the Impala has been Chevrolet's range-topping sedan—and the latest version of the long enduring, best selling, great-big-sedan has recently landed on dealer lots.

With a ground-up do-over, the latest Impala uses technology and comfort, as well as a flaunt-worthy new look, to bring a healthy dose of GM presence to the market currently occupied by other big, semi-luxury models like the Maxima, Avalon, Genesis, Taurus and 300.


What is a Chevrolet Impala LTZ?
The Chevrolet Impala LTZ is a big, comfy place to relax, unwind, and look good doing it. Big, stately and magnificently handsome, the tester wore gorgeous 20-inch wheels and was slathered with details, both obvious and intricate, that reward even a lengthy inspection. Intersecting character lines, a deep, confident grille and a graceful curve over the rear wheel arches drew the most attention from passersby. This might be the best looking sedan Chevrolet's built in ages.

On board, the tester's selection of grey leathers, metallic accents, wood trim and just a touch of colored piping deliver an atmosphere that's uniquely formal and upscale. There's detailed stitching, tight panel gaps and premium materials installed which convey a sense of craftsmanship and pride.

Technicalities
Moving the tester along was the Impala's top-line engine: GM's go-to 3.6L V6. Recently given a do-over by engineers, this unit now weighs less and outputs more, turning out a free-breathing 305 horsepower. Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing systems work away inside the powerplant as its main weapons against excessive fuel consumption, and a six-speed automatic is standard. Several four-cylinder options are available, too.

The Chevrolet Impala LTZ is a big, comfy place to relax, unwind, and look good doing it. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Driving the 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ
The space, comfort and upscale atmosphere within the Impala lay the foundation for comfortable, long-distance cruising, as do the full suite of automatic features including lights and climate control. The steering system, further, even auto compensates for pull caused by uneven surfaces and side winds. You don't feel this system working, which is sort of the point.

Seats are comfy without being excessively plush, and feature heating and cooling. The driver info display is slick and informative, and all of the high-end must-haves like memory seating, push-button start, premium BOSE audio and full Bluetooth connectivity are on board, too.

Plenty of storage lies within the driver's reach, as do numerous plug-ins for recharging or connecting multimedia devices. The later, as well as navigation and other functions are accessed by a large, bright and easy-to-read touch-screen display which slides upwards at the touch of a button to reveal hidden storage for your wallet, phone or snacks.

Need more room for your stuff? The monster trunk has you covered.

On the open highway at speed, wind and road noise levels are about average for the segment: not mind-blowingly quiet but kept well in check. Impala's suspension is comfort first, though it's not floaty and geriatric, nor is it opposed to being thrown into a bend at speed. It's pretty much just right for a touch of sportiness alongside some long-haul comfort.

All said, drivers should expect to find the Impala LTZ very well equipped for sitting back, relaxing and enjoying the ride with comfort and confidence.

Full-throttle jam for passing or merging should prove adequate for most, and driven gently, the big V6 barely makes a peep. After a week at the wheel, I averaged a thrifty 9L / 100km combined in city and speedy highway driving. For a 300-plus horsepower sedan of this size, I was expecting a much bigger fuel bill.

The space, comfort and upscale atmosphere within the Impala lay the foundation for comfortable, long-distance cruising, as do the full suite of automatic features including lights and climate control. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Ins and Outs of the 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ
End of the day, the all-new Impala is packed with a big list of highly relevant feature content—and should prove a car with many strengths and only a few weaknesses. Your writer made note of light steering effort and a delightfully tight turning circle in parking situations, and above-average performance from the xenon headlights at night.

Noted complaints included limited headroom for taller drivers, and an instrument cluster that's just plain boring compared to the rest of the cabin—even if it's easy to read. Further, the manual-mode on the automatic transmission is slow to react and lacks any sort of performance benefit, making this a gearbox best left in ‘Drive'. Some drivers will wish for bigger side-mirrors, too.

On board, the tester's selection of grey leathers, metallic accents, wood trim and just a touch of colored piping deliver an atmosphere that's uniquely formal and upscale. (Photo: Justin Pritchard)

Comparing the 2014 Chevrolet Impala LTZ
Consider the Impala LTZ a priority test-drive if you're in the market, alongside the more dynamic looking Ford Taurus, the Hyundai Genesis with available V8 power, and the great-big sensible-sedan superhero, the Toyota Avalon. Impala will connect easily with drivers after long-haul comfort, confidence, relevant technologies and notably good real-world fuel mileage.

From GMM

The will drawn up by Michael Schumacher would see his $1 billion-dollar estate divided equally among the three other members of his family.

That is claim of the Argentine daily Ole, as the 45-year-old's coma after his late December skiing fall enters a third consecutive week.

The report said the will and testament was signed by former Mercedes and Ferrari driver Schumacher in 2010, when he returned to F1 after a three-year sabbatical.

It instructs that his fortune, reported to be a billion US dollars, be divided equally between his wife Corinna, his daughter Gina-Maria (16), and son Mick (14).

We reported on Monday that Schumacher's condition, last listed as stable but critical, had not changed since the last medical bulletin issued about a week ago.

The Austrian newspaper Zurich Tagesangeiger reported on Monday that a part of the great German's skull has been removed to relieve pressure on his injured brain.

While the rest of the country dug out from the Polar Vortex, Phoenix was applying SPF30, adjusting its straw boater hat and parking a collection of beautiful cars on the lawn of its historic Biltmore hotel.

News 14 Jan, 2014

Mercedes R&D boss explains why we won’t see a fully autonomous Mercedes for another six years

News 13 Jan, 2014

Audi is weighing up the possibility of a jacked-up TT, as previewed by its Detroit Motor Show concept

News 13 Jan, 2014

Design cues for Juke and US Maxima revealed in Nissan Concept car

Porsche won't build an entry-level roadster or a small crossover, but is ready to make the call on other new models.

Today at the Detroit auto show Volvo has taken the wraps off the Volvo Concept XC Coupé. This concept,

News 13 Jan, 2014

We take the Toyota FT-1 concept for a virtual test drive at the 2014 Detroit Motor Show

Volvo continued its quest for a reinvention by unveiling the XC coupe concept at the Detroit auto show.

News 13 Jan, 2014

From muscly SUVs to monster pick-ups, there are some uniquely American cars on show in Detroit that would look pretty good on UK roads

Hyundai will maintain its sub-$40,000 sticker price for its second-generation Genesis premium sedan when it goes on sale this spring, the company said today.