Tag: 2015?

Spy Shots: 2015 Subaru Legacy prototype caught testing in Michigan

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Subaru

The current Subaru Legacy is only three years old, but compared to rival midsize sedans like the Mazda6 and Ford Fusion, which have recently received thorough redesigns, it might as well be a million. In other words, a reworking is in order. Caught in these spy shots, the 2015 Subaru Legacy appears to be about the same size as the current model, but it appears that Subaru is looking to push the sedan a little more upmarket in terms of styling and luxury.

Despite the heavy camouflage, some elements of the new Legacy’s design are still visible. The new headlights still have a scalloped shape but are much narrower, and we can also see the deep body creases that run the full length of the sedan. At the rear of the new Legacy, the taillights should get some added depth with a C-shaped brake light design similar to what we saw on the WRX Concept earlier in the year.

Showing that Subaru is aiming a little bit higher for this Legacy, this car is being benchmarked against all-wheel-drive luxury vehicles like the current Infiniti G37 and the Audi Allroad – the latter is likely for comparison with the Legacy’s wagon version, the Outback. Following the XV Crosstrek Hybrid, we expect the 2015 Legacy to be the next Subaru product to get a gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain, which we hear will be paired with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a CVT and, of course, all-wheel drive.

No word as to when the 2015 Legacy will debut, but the New York Auto Show is as good a guess as any.

2015 Subaru Legacy prototype caught testing in Michigan originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jul 2013 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Next Chevy Spark coming in 2015, Sonic delayed

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Chevrolet

As the best-selling Chevrolet product in Europe and a surprising new hit here in the US, the Spark is proving to be quite an important global vehicle for General Motors. Even though the Spark just went on sale in the US last year, it has been on sale globally since 2009, and Automotive News Europe is reporting that the next-generation Spark is expected to debut during the first half of 2015. There is no information about the new Spark except for reports that it will continue to be built in South Korea.

This report also says that the redesign of the Sonic/Aveo has been delayed until after 2015. Again, there was no information as to the cause of the delay, but this means the third-gen Sonic and Aveo will likely debut sometime in 2016 – five years after the debut of the current model. This follows the recent report saying that the redesign of the Cruze has been delayed by almost a year, until the end of 2015, due to engineering changes.

Next Chevy Spark coming in 2015, Sonic delayed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jul 2013 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: 2015 CLS will be first US Mercedes to get 9-speed

Filed under: Sedan, Technology, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Earlier this week, we heard that Mercedes-Benz will be introducing its nine-speed automatic transmission in Europe, but while this 9G-Tronic will first launch over there in the E-Class, we’ll get our first crack at this gearbox in the 2015 CLS-Class. According to Edmunds, the nine-speed CLS will go on sale in the US next fall before eventually spreading to almost all other Mercedes models, but there is no word as to when this would occur.

The current CLS uses a seven-speed automatic, and the 9G-Tronic’s extra gears will help improve fuel economy. Looking ahead, Mercedes said in a press release that this transmission is suitable for use in a broad range of models, both rear- and all-wheel drive and even hybrid and plug-in vehicles.

2015 CLS will be first US Mercedes to get 9-speed originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Jul 2013 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Are you the 2015 Nissan Versa facelift?

Filed under: Spy Photos, Budget, Sedan, China, Nissan, Design/Style

The current-generation Nissan Sunny – the overseas equivalent to the Versa sedan – has been around since 2010, and now it appears that Nissan has some small changes in store for it. Based on these small, dark and grainy photos from Chinese site, Auto Sohu, the Sunny could be set to receive a slight styling refresh.

From what we can tell, the biggest change will be to the headlights with the Sunny getting boomerang-style units similar those on current Nissan sedans in the US. We wouldn’t be surprised to see these changes to carry over to our Versa sedan soon. Grille and fascia changes also seem to be in the works, but it’s hard to make out any other changes from these images alone.

Are you the 2015 Nissan Versa facelift? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Jul 2013 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Chevy delays next Cruze until 2015

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Chevrolet

2016 Chevy Cruze - front three-quarter view

The Chevrolet Cruze has proven to be a popular global car for General Motors. So popular, in fact, that the General is in no rush to replace the compact and is using the opportunity to build more engineering changes into the car’s design. Originally, we were expecting the next-gen Cruze to debut late next year for the 2015 model year, but according to Reuters, Chevrolet has pushed this timetable back by about a year. With the new Cruze now set to go on sale in December of 2015, it will likely carry a 2016 model year designation.

Other than riding on GM’s new D2XX platform, we have had little intel about the next-gen Cruze, so we have no clue what changes are being made to the car. What does seem evident is that Chevy is looking to prevent the Cruze launch from suffering the same kind of flop as the 2013 Malibu, which required emergency updates just one year after its launch. As the article points out, the Cruze has helped spur GM’s post-bankruptcy turnaround, and by the 2014 model year, it will be the oldest car in its US portfolio.

Chevy delays next Cruze until 2015 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Jul 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Hear the 2015 Mustang GT V8 roar for the first time

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Ford

Our combined knowledge of the 2015 Ford Mustang continues to deepen, as spy shooters have begun to compile video and audio of the upcoming sixth-generation car.

Case in point is this latest series of video clips, which not only gives us a great vantage point of the Mustang in motion, but also allows us to hear the Ford V8 engine and exhaust. After perusing the aural delights of this short video, which, admittedly, doesn’t catch the Mustang GT at full song, we can at least say that the throaty exhaust isn’t disappointing.

Chances are good that the 2015 Mustang GT will debut with some version of the current (and excellent) Coyote 5.0-liter V8 engine, though we’re unclear as to whether or not the motor has been massaged for its next-gen debut, or what may have been done to exhaust plumbing. At this point, we’re just happy to hear the pony run. Scroll below to hear for yourself.

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Hear the 2015 Mustang GT V8 roar for the first time originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Jun 2013 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Backup camera rule pushed to 2015

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Technology

Once again, the federal mandate for backup cameras has been delayed. According to Automotive News, the rule requiring backup cameras in new cars is being pushed back to 2015, reportedly because regulators are now considering giving safety rating incentives to vehicles equipped with this new technology.

US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who will be stepping down from his role once a successor is confirmed, said that more analysis of the rule’s cost to the auto industry as a whole is necessary before the mandate is officially issued, Automotive News reports. NHTSA has said that that the cost would be roughly $2.7 billion, or as much as $18 million per life saved.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration delayed its backup camera rules earlier this year (on top of several other setbacks), even though the original plan was to require automakers to outfit at least 10 percent of their cars with this technology by 2012. From there, that number was scheduled to rise to 40 percent by 2013 and 100 percent by 2014.

Backup camera rule pushed to 2015 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Jun 2013 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: 2015 Ford Mustang spied on video for the first time

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Ford

2015 Ford Mustang prototype caught testing while disguised - video screencap

Not many cars will continue to hold our rapt attention quite like the upcoming redesigned 2015 Ford Mustang, codenamed S550 internally. Earlier this month, we brought you the first spy photos of a next-gen Mustang prototype out testing, and even though expertly placed cladding concealed the pony car’s new shape, we could tell that underneath was hiding an altogether new form inspired by the Evos Concept from 2011.

Today we give you some video of what looks to be the same Mustang prototype, which you can watch below, and while the budding director behind the camera wasn’t able to capture much in the way of the engine’s audio signature, we can see the car in motion for the first time and compare its relative size and shape to the S197 Mustang GT that’s on its tail.

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2015 Ford Mustang spied on video for the first time originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Jun 2013 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Suzuki back in MotoGP for 2015

Filed under: Motorsports, Suzuki, Motorcycle, Racing

It had been planned for 2014 but it’s going to be 2015 instead – that’s when Suzuki returns to the manufacturer ranks of MotoGP after quitting the series at the end of 2011 because of The Great Recession. When Suzuki stopped after 37 continuous years of racing, it said it intended to return three years later and it has been in talks with MotoGP’s rights holder, Dorna Sports, since last year. No doubt, though, that fan anticipation of the team’s return outdoes any dismay at the delay. It will join Yamaha, Honda and Ducati in the premiere league.

Its bike has already been testing in Japan and was with the official MotoGP tribe in Barcelona, Spain on Monday when Suzuki announced its return. It’s said the development bike is called the XRH-1, being ridden by official tester Randy de Puniet (who currently races in MotoGP on an Aprilia-based bike with TeamAspar). and after a day of testing de Puniet got the new Suzuki to within seven-tenths of a second of the top time posted by other MotoGP teams. Davide Brivio, who once ran the Fiat-Yamaha team and has been close with Valentino Rossi, will be the team manager.

Speaking of Rossi, The Doctor is back with Fiat-Yamaha after a bad run with Ducati but is only contracted to the end of 2014. Brivio is the man who got Rossi to join Fiat-Yamaha, then got him to Ducati. Until he took the head of Suzuki’s works effort, Brivio was working with Rossi’s VR46 management company, heading areas like merchandising. The rumormill has already begun its work, with folks wondering if Rossi will head to Suzuki in 2015 if his second stint at Yamaha doesn’t prove fruitful before then. Scroll down below for the official press release from Suzuki.

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Suzuki back in MotoGP for 2015 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: 2015 Ford Mustang to get 2.3-liter EcoBoost

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Ford, Rumormill

Ford Mustang SVO

It’s that time of year again, kids. There are no auto shows on the horizon and most automakers have squirreled away all of their big announcements for later in the year in anticipation of the summer vacation season. What’s an enterprising auto journo to do but rustle up some tasty vintage rumors for the web to feast upon? The crew at Motor Authority has taken to citing unnamed sources as saying that a 2.3-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine is slated to find its way into the engine bay of the 2015 Ford Mustang.

This, of course, recalls the much-celebrated (but slow-selling) Mustang SVO of the ’80s. It, too, rocked a 2.3-liter forced-induction engine, which makes this particular rumor sound so sweet it makes sugar taste just like salt. MA doesn’t stop with the four-pot, though. The article goes on to say that an EcoBoost V6 will also show up in the pony car around the same time, and that the 5.0-liter V8 currently tucked behind the coupe’s grill will also stay along for the ride.

We hate to be the Debbie Downers of the interwebs, but we don’t necessarily see a turbo four sliding into the Mustang lineup anytime soon. For starters, Ford wouldn’t need to bore out the block to 2.3 liters to make solid power. The EcoBoost 2.0 already spits out 247 horsepower in the Focus ST – more than enough for a bottom-rung model.

Aside from that little tidbit, MA maintains that the rumored small 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 will power the also oft-rumored next-gen Ford Ranger successor in the States, a model we believe to be deader than the current news cycle.

2015 Ford Mustang to get 2.3-liter EcoBoost originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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