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Because someone out there still needs to party like it's 1989, Bugatti is considering a 1,500-hp hybrid hypercar as the only conceivable thing that can truly follow the Veyron.

Bentley is considering launching an in-house bespoke division to cater to requests for more personalized cars,

During my trip to Sweden last month, I spotted many interesting old Detroit cars on the street (

What

Carmakers are always defining segments for their own purposes, and here's this morning's latest instance. Acura is touting its

News 11 Jul, 2014

Vauxhall has fitted its new 1.6 CDTi diesel engine to the three-door Astra GTC, priced from £22,260

Kia is looking at introducing diesel engines to America as part of its long-term plan to continue growing by entering new segments.

Infiniti boss Johan de Nysschen is leaving the Nissan luxury brand to become president of Cadillac. De Nysschen will take up his new post Aug. 1, reporting to GM President Dan Ammann, GM said

PSA/Peugeot-Citroen's future could be brighter following former chairman Thierry Peugeot's departure from the automaker's board.

Karl-Friedrich Stracke, Magna Steyr's head of vehicle technology and engineering, is betting on acquisitions in China. The supplier is watching the MandA market very closely, Stracke said in an interview.

Johan de Nysschen, the former Audi executive lured away in 2012 by Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn to jump start the Infiniti brand, is leaving the carmaker. De Nysschen has been talking with GM about joining Cadillac, sources said.

Skoda is counting on new models and dealership face-lifts to boost China sales more than 10 percent by the end of the year. Skoda was one of only two mass-market foreign brands to see a decline in China deliveries last year.

From GMM

Pastor Maldonado is looking forward to a major power boost at Hockenheim next weekend.

The 2012 Spanish grand prix winner, who chose to race the number '13' this year and beyond, has had a dire campaign since switching from Williams to Lotus over the winter.

Along with Sauber and the backmarkers, the Venezuelan is yet to score a solitary point this year as the Enstone based team grapple with poor pace and reliability.

But things could be about to get better.

Speed Week reports that Maldonado has been using struggling engine supplier Renault's older engine specification.

But at the Silverstone test this week, he finally got a taste of the updated V6 unit, marvelling: "It felt as if I suddenly had two engines in the car.

"Based on the data we have, the difference between the old and the new engine specification is 60 horse power," he exclaimed.

Pastor Maldonado, Lotus E22-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

According to world champion Sebastian Vettel, however, Maldonado might be wrong to set his sights too high.

Red Bull has been at the cutting edge of Renault's efforts to up its game in 2014 after a disastrous winter, but Vettel says the gap to Mercedes has stayed the same.

"Right now the gap is very big and we haven't really closed the gap since race one," the German told Britain's Sky. "Obviously we have tried lots of stuff to improve, but they (Mercedes) are doing the same thing."

From DTM

The introduction of two-litre turbo engines for the DTM is reported to have been delayed by one year, from the original plan of 2016 to 2017.

“We will have four-cylinder engines by 2017. The change was planned for 2016, but the deadline has passed,” said Dieter Gass, Audi DTM head, to Motorsport-Total.

The announcement of the planned change of engine regulations for DTM came last year as a part of the plan to share regulations with the Japanese Super GT series as well as the planned American version of DTM.

Super GT is already racing with turbocharged four-cylinder engines and has Honda, Lexus and Nissan taking part in the championship. The principal behind the shared regulations is to allow the Super GT manufacturers to be able to race in Europe and USA, as well as for the current DTM manufacturers Audi, BMW and Mercedes to race in Asia and the USA.

Pros: After being named Canadian Car of the Year back in February, the sporty Mazda6 returns for 2015 with the same great combination of edgy styling and dynamic performance, mixed with a tremendous dose of fuel economy thanks to Mazda's SKYACTIV technology. Driving enthusiasts will also love the fact that a manual transmission is available. Plus, the car boasts a lovely interior with top-quality materials.

Cons: The touchscreen interface is less advanced and harder to use than competing systems, while headroom in the backseat is tight. Also, ride quality may be too firm for some, especially with the larger wheels on the GT model.

Photo: Mazda

2015 Mazda6 Price: The Mazda6 is available as a sedan only and in three different trims. Prices range from $24,495 for a base GX all the way to $32,195 for a GT with automatic transmission. The Technology Package costs an extra $2,800.

2015 Mazda6 Fuel Economy: Based on Natural Resources Canada's new 5-cycle testing procedure to determine fuel consumption ratings, expect to achieve 6.4L/100km on the highway and 9.4L/100km in the city with the manual transmission, or 6.2/8.8L with the automatic transmission.

Improvements and Changes: There are only mild changes to report. Most notable is the new i-ELOOP regenerative braking system. As for body colours, Blue Reflex is no longer available.

2015 Mazda6 Powertrain: The Mazda6 features one engine, regardless of trim, and it is Mazda's direct-injected 2.5L SKYACTIV-G 4-cylinder. The impressive piece of machinery pumps out 184 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque either through a 6-speed manual gearbox (a rarity these days) or a 6-speed automatic with manual mode.

A 2.2L SKYACTIV-D diesel engine is on the way, too, although its exact date of arrival has already been postponed and remains to be confirmed.

Cargo Capacity: The 2015 Mazda6 has a decently sized trunk which can swallow up to 419 litres of cargo.

Safety: Standard equipment includes six airbags, 4-wheel disc brakes, ABS, brake assist, electronic brake force distribution, stability control, and traction control. Lane Departure Warning, Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC), Forward Obstruction Warning (which works with the MRCC), and High Beam Control are optionally available.

Comparing the 2015 Mazda6: The midsize sedan segment is by far one of the toughest in North America with the likes of the Chevrolet Malibu, Chrysler 200, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Honda Accord, Kia Optima, Nissan Altima, Subaru Legacy, Toyota Camry, and Volkswagen Passat also fighting for consumer dollars.

Pros: The fabled BMW M3 returns for 2015 after a brief hiatus. This aggressive-looking, track-tuned compact luxury sedan comes with a new turbocharged 6-cylinder engine that promises exemplary power. As always, expect stellar handling and agreeable ride, along with a slew of high-tech, performance-oriented components and technologies. It is, after all, the so-called “Ultimate Driving Machine.”

Cons: On the flip side, the V8 soundtrack is gone, and some M3 buyers may find a fully optioned model to be a little out of their reach.

By the way, if you prefer your M performance in a 2-door body, turn to the all-new M4 coupe.

Photo: BMW M3

2015 BMW M3 Price: Buyers can get a brand new M3 for a base MSRP of $74,000, or $77,900 with the dual-clutch transmission, then add options such as M carbon ceramic brakes ($8,500), a Technology Package ($1,500), an Executive Package ($5,000), and a Premium Package ($4,500).

2015 BMW M3 Fuel Economy: The official combined city-highway rating for this four-door pocket rocket is 11.6L/100km with the manual transmission and 12.0L/100km with the autobox, which is remarkable considering the power on tap (see below). The optimum shift indicator, auto start/stop, and brake energy regeneration system deserve part of the credit.

Improvements and Changes: Based on the latest 3 Series, the new 2015 BMW M3 is larger, yet about 175 lbs lighter than its predecessor thanks to aluminum suspension and chassis components, a new carbon fibre roof, and increased use of high-strength steel throughout the body. The powertrain has been completely upgraded, as well.

Inside, you'll find all-new M seats with optimized support and comfort, along with a choice of new trim options.

Don't miss: Advanced aerodynamic work has been done to ensure minimum drag and maximum cooling. The striking front bumper visually embodies the M vehicles' specific aerodynamics concept. On the racetrack, large air inlets ensure perfect cooling of the engine, charge air, oil and brakes, as well as cooling of the dual-clutch transmission oil. The two vertical inlets and the side M gills with integrated “Air Breather” behind the wheel arches create an accelerated flow of air around the front wheels.

2015 BMW M3 Powertrain: Say goodbye to the old 4.0L V8 and get reacquainted with BMW's acclaimed 3.0L inline 6-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine, which in this application generates 425 horsepower from 5,500-7,300 rpm. Peak torque is 406 lb-ft, available from 1,800-5,500 rpm. The new mill happens to be 22 lbs lighter than the outgoing V8.

Two transmissions are available including a new 6-speed manual and a 7-speed dual-clutch unit that will deliver 0-100 km/h sprints in 4.3 and 4.1 seconds, respectively (thank you, launch control!). The new Active M Differential not only improves straight-line acceleration, but because it can vary its locking percentage between the rear wheels within milliseconds, it is also tuned to maximize grip and traction, aiding the car's ability to rotate in response to the driver's inputs.

Safety: In addition to stability and traction control, the 2015 BMW M3 offers a host of modern safety and driver assistance systems including pedestrian collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and M-specific head-up display. A high-beam assistant and adaptive LED headlights effectively enhance visibility at night. A parking assistant and various camera systems are available, too.

Comparing the 2015 BMW M3: Alternatives to the new M3 sedan include the 2014 Lexus IS F and 2014 Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG, although they're based on the previous-generation IS and C-Class, respectively. Don't forget about the Cadillac CTS Vsport.

You probably know about Bugatti and its amazingly fast Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, which boasts 1,200 ponies under the hood. Well, get this: In a move to become more environmentally friendly just like the rest of the auto industry, the Volkswagen-owned French automaker has reportedly developed a hybrid version that produces 1,500 horsepower and could start selling it as early as this year, according to sources that spoke to Reuters.

Similar to the outgoing Veyron, the new 2-door model will house a 16-cylinder engine and will probably be limited to about 450 units.

"Moving to hybrid propulsion seems like a logical next step for supercar makers," Stefan Bratzel, head of the Centre of Automotive Management near Cologne, was quoted as saying. "By curbing emissions and boosting performance, they can justify building more of these cars."

Competitors like the McLaren P1 and Porsche 918 Spyder already use a hybrid system to improve performance and fuel economy.

The same sources claim the new Bugatti hybrid could very well eclipse the speed record of 431 km/h set by the Veyron Super Sport... before it was broken by the Hennessey Venom GT last February.

Wouldn't it be awesome if Bugatti regained its title of world's fastest production car with a hybrid?

Source : uk.reuters.com

Jaguar Land Rover has unveiled a range of all-new turbocharged gasoline and diesel engines called Ingenium. Compact, lightweight, and extremely clean, they deliver strong performance while burning less fuel.

Production of Ingenium engines -- for RWD and AWD applications, with manual or automatic transmissions -- will begin in the U.K. next year. Hybrid compatibility is in the works, too.

These aluminum blocks share several components, providing flexibility for the development of alternative engine formats in the future.

The first member of the Ingenium family will be a 2.0L diesel codenamed ''AJ200D.'' Expect a weight saving of 176 lbs and a decent increase in power.

Jaguar Land Rover has yet to announce which models will offer Ingenium engines.

Photo: Land Rover

China's shocking ways continue with the announcement of a competition pitting security experts against each other. We mention this because contestants will have to hack into a Tesla Model S and take control of it.

The winner will receive $10,000.

The event will take place at the SyScan conference in Beijing on July 16-17. Organizers told Forbes magazine that we might see someone control a Tesla from a PC or make the in-dash browser inside the car visit specific websites, potentially exposing malware vulnerabilities.

A Tesla spokesperson confirmed that the electric car maker is not involved in the competition in any way, but urged anyone who successfully hacks into the car to pass on their findings to Tesla as soon as possible.

Source : forbes.com

Photo: Tesla

From WRC

The 2014 WRC season has reached its midpoint. Leading the standings, Sebastien Ogier delivers his analysis.

As FIA World Rally Championship title defences go, the first half of the season has been almost perfect for the determined Frenchman.

Yes, he's been driving the best car. And yes, he's benefited from others hitting trouble at the vital moment. But there's no denying that Ogier has a formidable knack of getting the very best performance out of himself when he needs it most. And as his rivals know so well, that usually translates into yet another rally win.

The VW Motorsport team leader has won five out of seven events so far this year and has already scored 166 points - 12 more than he had at the same stage of the season in 2013.

And with a 50-point lead over team-mate and chief title rival Jari-Matti Latvala heading into Neste Rally Finland, Ogier could literally spend the next couple of events lying on a sun-drenched beach and still be leading the points standings on his return. That's how dominant he's been. There is no better WRC driver at the moment.



Sébastien Ogier, Volkswagen Polo R WRC. (Photo: WRi2)

High point

The way he took the fight for victory to Latvala at Rally Italia Sardegna. Ogier suffered massively as the first car sweeping the rocky gravel stages, but he didn't panic. He set himself the target of staying in touch with leader Latvala and then gradually turned up the heat as his road position improved and his determination became stronger. He eventually forced Latvala into a costly mistake and victory was his. This was a drive of a true champion.



Low point
A certain snow bank at Rally Sweden is sure to give Ogier nightmares for years to come. He had done the hard work by carving out a 5.8s lead after seven stages - a great effort as the first car on the road. But he made an uncharacteristic error a stage later and lost 4m 30s after sliding harmlessly off the road and getting stuck in a snow bank. He did recover to finish sixth but he knew Sweden could and should have returned more. “I'm stupid,” he said bluntly afterwards.