New AutoCars News: Review

Honda HR-V Crossover

The all-new HR-V features a lower profile fuel tank mounted under the front seats in order to free up the underfloor space beneath the rear seats, enabling the use of their 60:40 split Magic Seats - which can adopt several configurations.

New BMW i3 Model

BMW will keep improving the two i vehicles it already sells, and we presume they too will feature an LCI (facelift) at some point which will also improve some of the technical aspects as well as update the styling, gadgets and interiors.

2016 Infiniti QX50

The updated 2016 Infiniti QX50 has a wheelbase increase of more than three inches, creating additional rear legroom and interior volume as well as new front and rear fascias, newly designed alloy wheels, side sills, and a slightly higher ride stance.

2016 Hyundai Tucson

The All-New Tucson has a bold and athletic presence achieved through refined, flowing surfaces, bold proportions, sharp lines and most importantly, our newest generation hexagonal grille – our brand signature.

2016 Toyota Avalon

The fourth generation Toyota Avalon first saw the light of day back in 2012 when it became an overnight hit with mid-size car buyers across the continental United States.

All-New SuperB Skoda

The All-New Superb is a bigger, more elegant-looking and tad more luxurious car than Skoda's existing Octavia, with the two cars positioned slightly below and above the mid-size segment respectively.

Kia Sportspace Concept

The study is a stylish estate created for long distance driving, with Kia saying it has been designed "for fast and efficient travel with maximum comfort and minimal stress, in the best grand touring tradition of the weekend getaway."

New Alfa-Romeo Sedan

The sedan still hasn’t got a name, although it has constantly been referred to as the Giulia. Alfa Romeo will also offer a high-performance model.

2016 McLaren 570s Coupe

McLaren 570S Coupe McLaren says that its new coupe is able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.2 seconds, to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 9.5 seconds, while top speed is 328 km/h or 204 mph.

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2017 Chevrolet Cruze Hatchback

9:35 AM

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Just like the sedan, the Cruze hatchback comes with a class-leading 106.3 inch (2,700 mm) wheelbase, but also a unique roof and rear-end design, which includes wraparound taillights and an integrated spoiler. Design-wise, it's definitely a massive improvement over what we came to know as the 5-door Cruze. Chevrolet didn't skimp on the practicality either, as the Cruze hatchback features 524 liters (18.5 cu ft) of cargo space behind the rear seats, which can become 1,189 liters (42 cu ft) with those very same seats folded.

Alan Batey, president of GM North America said that "With 9 percent market growth in small hatchbacks last year, it’s the perfect time to bring the Cruze Hatchback to America. As Cruze continues to set the tone for Chevrolet globally, it articulates the brand promise of offering cars with the latest technologies, more features and greater efficiency, performance and safety with fresh, distinctive styling."

On the road, the new Cruze hatchback is 91 kg (200 lbs) lighter than the previous generation model, thanks mainly to an all-new, more rigid and lighter architecture - 100 lbs lighter to be exact, whereas the 1.4-liter turbocharged engine itself is also 20 kg (44 lbs) lighter and comes with Stop/Start tech. While these numbers aren't mind-blowing, they will have meaning to customers who are new to Chevrolet as well as to returning customers. In the US, the Cruze is the segment's second-best selling model to people under 25, and 35% of those customers are actually new to the Chevrolet brand.

Spec-wise, the 2017 Cruze hatchback will be offered in LT and Premier trims, as well as with a more expressive RS package which brings unique front & rear fascias, rocker panels, rear spoiler, fog lamps and 18" wheels to the table. Other key features include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility via the MyLink system (available 4G LTE with Wi-Fi hotspot), Lane Keep Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alerg, Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Park Assist. Chevrolet also pointed out how neither the Corolla nor the Civic feature these types of safety systems, and that inside the cabin there is more rear legroom then you get in the Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra.

Sticking with the cabin, the Cruze hatchback can be configured with a heated steering wheel, heated front and rear seats, Athens leather-appointed seating surfaces and true French seams. Stepping outside, you'll find halogen projector-beam headlamps with LED signature lighting. On the road behavior will be dictated by the electric power steering and on Premier models, a Z-link rear suspension as well, which is good considering how there are plenty of models in this segment which offer reasonably sporty drives.

9:02 AM

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German's rival to the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class will arrive in US dealerships this Spring with a single engine option, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four gasoline mill rated for 252hp and 273 lb-ft of peak torque paired to a standard 7-speed dual-clutch transmission for both the front-wheel drive and quattro all-wheel drive versions.

Prices start from $37,300 for the FWD Premium trim, not including a $950 destination charge, which compares to $35,900 for the outgoing A4, though Audi says it comes with an expanded list of standard kit that includes keyless start/stop, rearview camera, Audi smartphone interface, LED interior lighting, digital 3-zone automatic climate control and Audi pre sense city. The most expensive model in the launch range is the Prestige with quattro at $48,900.

Later on, Audi will enhance the A4’s lineup with an entry-level 2.0L gasoline and a frugal 2.0L diesel engine, as well as the performance S4 model fitted with a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 pumping out 349hp (354PS) and 368 lb-ft of peak torque for a 0-62mph (100km/h) time of 4.7 seconds. It will compete against the BMW 340i and the Mercedes-Benz C450 AMG.

While there are no plans to introduce the regular Avant (station wagon) model in the States, Audi will offer the taller-riding A4 Allroad, while company officials are also discussing the possibility of bringing the next generation of the high-performance RS4 to North America.

PHOTOS GALLERY:

9:02 PM

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The major attraction was of course the Skoda 935 Dynamic prototype, a streamlined concept dating back to 1935 which was carefully restored back to its original condition by Skoda themselves. This is after all the only one in existence globally, with its last public appearance set back in October 1935 at the Motor Show in Prague where the Skoda 935 Dynamic made its debut. With its teardrop-shaped body, the 935 was exhibiting one of the most progressive designs in the auto industry at the time.

The mid-engined concept is using a body made out of aluminum/steel composite which kept the weight figure down at 1170kg. The water-cooled flat-four 2.0-litre engine is mounted in front of the rear axle and produces 54hp, enough the take the aerodynamic 935 at speed up to 140km/h. Measuring 4.86m in length, 1.68m wide and 1.54m high, this Skoda prototype is a testament of the innovative power that fuelled Skoda back then.

The car was a part of a private collection from 1939 and up until 1968 where the then newly-founded Skoda Museum bought it with Skoda deciding a full restoration back to its original glory in 2012.

Skoda showcased nine cars in total, with the rest of them to be the Laurin & Klement Voiturette A (1905), Laurin & Klement Type S (1911), Laurin & Klement 110 (1925), ŠKODA 645 (1930), ŠKODA Rapid Cabrio de Luxe (1937), ŠKODA Superb OHV (1939), ŠKODA Felicia (1961) and the ŠKODA 1100 MBX (1969).

PHOTOS GALLERY:

8:27 PM

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The range-topping Audi TT is going to be offered exclusively with the same, seven-speed dual-clutch unit found in the latest Audi RS3 as the German company decided to stop pairing a manual gearbox to the turbocharged 5-cylinder 2.5-litre engine according to this Car&Driver report.

We have already heard that the next TT-RS will likely produce close to 400 ponies instead of the 362hp this engine makes under the bonnet of the RS3 which is expected to reach the US shores in a sedan body rather than the hatchback available in Europe. The new Audi TT-RS is expected around the second-half of 2016.

If you are curious about how the new Audi TT-RS will look like, your best chance is to have a second glimpse on the TT Quattro Sport concept from the 2014 Geneva Motor Show which was wearing a more aggressive bodywork and an updated aero agenda.

PHOTOS GALLERY:

7:14 PM

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Changes are most obvious on the 1.6 JTDM-2 engine, which now benefits from more power as well, as output has increased from 105hp to 120hp. Thanks to the addition of a variable-geometry turbo charger and low rolling-resistance tyres, CO2 emissions are down from 104g/km to 99g/km, while fuel efficiency improves to 74.3 mpg (3.8 l/100 km) on the official combined fuel economy cycle. That's a significant improvement over the 70.6 mpg (4 l/100 km) recorded by the current 105hp engine.

The drop in emissions results in a one percent BIK (benefit-in-kind) reduction to 17 percent. Furthermore, the annual Road Fund Licence is now £0. Thanks to the additional power, the engine boosts top speed by 6 mph (10 km/h) to 121 mph (195 km/h), while the 0-62 mph sprint is improved by 1.3 seconds to 10.0 seconds.

All other engines available for the Giulietta in the UK see their emissions and economy improved, with the exception of the recently-introduced 2.0 JTDM-2 turbo diesel with 150hp. Despite the updates, pricing remains unchanged, with the 1.4 TB 120hp Progression starting at £18,450 OTR and the 1.6 JTDM-2 120hp Progression priced from £19,500 OTR.

The high-spec Alfa Romeo Business Edition model starts from £19,080 OTR for the 1.6 JTDM-2 120hp turbo diesel. The model features a 6.5-inch touchscreen Uconnect infotainment system with voice activated satellite navigation, 3D mapping and DAB digital radio, front and rear parking sensors, automatic lights and wipers, alloy wheels and metallic paint.

PHOTOS GALLERY:

6:51 PM

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Nothing changes under the hood compared to the standard Golf R models, which means power comes from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 276hp (280PS) - that’s 20hp less than the European-spec model for hot climate reasons. The engine is mated as standard to a six-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission which sends power to all four wheels via the 4Motion all-wheel drive system. Other Golf R-specific equipment includes adaptive shock absorbers, oversized brakes and quad exhausts.

Fitted as standard to the wagon and priced at AU$1,750 for the hatch, the Wolfsburg Edition treatment adds leather trim, black-painted 19-inch alloy wheels, black door mirrors and a historic crest badge on the tailgate. Other features include driver aids such as adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking and blind spot monitors.

Compared to the Golf R hatch, the Golf R Wagon offers an additional 262 liters (9.2 cu-ft) of storage space for a total cargo volume of 605 liters (21.3 cu-ft). It is however 74 kg (163.1 lbs) heavier, which translates into a slower 0-100 km/h time of 5.2 seconds (5.0 for the hatch).

The VW Golf R Wagon Wolfsburg Edition is priced from AU$58,990 (plus on-road costs), AU$2000 more than an equivalent Golf R hatch fitted with the limited Wolfsburg Edition package.

PHOTOS GALLERY:

3:21 PM

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The new Soul EV-e model offers a long list of standard equipment at a lower price point, while the Soul EV+ continues as the range-topping trim and is further enhanced for 2016 with the addition of the Sun & Fun Package. The other states in which the Soul EV is available (Georgia, Hawaii, Oregon, Texas and Washington) will continue to offer only two trim levels - Soul EV and Soul EV+.

In addition, all Kia Soul EV models get additional standard features for 2016 including a charge port nozzle lock, an illuminated Aux/USB port and two new exterior colors: Shadow Black and Bright Silver.

Priced from $32,775 ($25,275 if the federal tax credit is deducted), the new Soul EV-e model offers a long list of standard features including a DC fast charge port, 6.6-killowatt onboard charger, 3.5-inch OLED Supervision cluster, smart key with push button start and a driver-only ventilation function that closes the passenger vents to help maximize efficiency based on vehicle occupancy. The Soul EV-e also includes heated front seats, heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, and FlexSteer.

However, compared to the $34,775 Soul EV, it lacks a battery-heating system, heat-pump HVAC, navigation system, backup camera, UVO EV connectivity services, cargo screen, and turn-signal side mirrors.

For 2016, the popular Soul EV+ gains a new available Sun & Fun Package, which includes a panoramic sunroof, LED interior lighting and speaker lights that pulse to the beats of the six-speaker audio system. Standard EV+ features include ventilated front passenger seats, heated rear outboard seats, leather trimmed seats, front and rear Park Assist, and power folding mirrors.

Nothing changes from a technical point of view, with the Soul EV offering an EPA estimated range of 93 miles (150 km) from its 27-kWh lithium-ion battery pack.