Tag: rumormill

Rumormill: Porsche sending off 997 with 500-hp 911 GT3 RS

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Porsche, Rumormill

Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Porsche 911 GT3 RS – Click above for high-res image galley

Just when you thought that the Porsche 911 GT3 RS couldn’t get any more enticing, word crops up that German sports car manufacturer has a new special edition planned. If the buzz cropping up over at Teamspeed is to be believed, Stuttgart is working up a special edition RS to end all RS models. The car will be limited to just 500 units, each one packing a heady 500 horsepower from a 4.0-liter mill. That represents a 50 horse jump over what’s available in the standard GT3 RS and 65 more ponies than the “base” GT3.

The news comes courtesy of Teamspeed member AlexG, who despite the urging of his fellow forum members, won’t share his source. Even so, the GT3 RS Limited Edition is supposed to make use of the same flat-six engine found in the mighty RSR. Pricing is supposed to fall well below the 911 GT2 RS but above the standard 911 GT3 RS. We’re guessing that the sticker will fall somewhere close to $200,000 if/when it goes on sale in July 2011.

Gallery: 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RS

[Source: Teamspeed]

Rumormill: Porsche sending off 997 with 500-hp 911 GT3 RS originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Sep 2010 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Nissan GT-R ‘Egotist’ coming soon?

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Japan, Nissan, Rumormill

2010 Nissan GT-R – Click above for high-res image gallery

Don’t call it the Spec M. According to Autocar, the suits at Nissan have decided to sail a new luxury version of the mighty GT-R under the Egoist banner. The car will supposedly wear a completely new front fascia, and will debut alongside the facelifted version of the GT-R later this year. Other changes include a pair of special Recaro thrones, massive front brakes and unique 10-spoke wheels. All of that kit will set you back a lofty $166,740 at current conversion rates, but so far, it’s unclear whether the Egoist will make its way to the States or whether it will be a JDM-only (and possibly Euro-only) piece.

Autocar is also serving up a few details on the plain Jane 2011 GT-R. If the report has hit its mark, we can look forward to a significant weight reduction along with a few mechanical tweaks that should up the horsepower. A new oil cooler, exhaust system and slightly larger turbos should help the car churn out a grand total of 506 horsepower and 448 pound-feet of torque. Those numbers are awfully specific without any official word from Nissan, but right now, this estimate is as good as anyone’s.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Nissan GT-R

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2009 AOL
[Source: Autocar]

Rumormill: Nissan GT-R ‘Egotist’ coming soon? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Toyota working on FT-86 sedan?

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Japan, Toyota, Rumormill

Toyota FT-86 SedanThat’s what the crew at Car Guide would have us all believe. According to the website, Toyota is looking to hedge its bets by producing a second model on the same platform as the upcoming FT-86. As the theory goes, If the two-door doesn’t find the kind of favor the company is hoping for, it will at least have a four-door version to pick up a few sales. The site points to a shadowy Toyota executive as the source of the information, and it’s even worked up a rendering to show the world exactly what the sports sedan could look like.

That all sounds reasonable and all, but we’re still having a hard time swallowing this one. Toyota isn’t exactly the kind of company to take huge manufacturing risks. With the development costs of the FT-86 shared with partner Subaru, Toyota would be looking at shoving quite a bit of extra money toward coming up with a proprietary four-door variant of the car. We just don’t see that happening, even if we do like the idea of a more affordable rear-wheel drive Japanese four-door. Head over to Car Guide to have a look at the full rendering.

[Source: Car Guide]

Rumormill: Toyota working on FT-86 sedan? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: General Motors mid-size sedans going all four-cylinder

Filed under: Sedan, Buick, Chevrolet, GM

Straight from the “No Surprise” department comes word from GMInsideNews that all of General Motors mid-size offerings will come equipped with four-cylinder engines as the only available powerplant.

GM has made it clear for the last few years that a large part of its future product strategy is to downsize its engine line-up in preparation for the new 2015 CAFE standards. The shift has already begun with the introduction of the 2011 Buick Regal, available with either a 182-horsepower direct injected 2.4-liter or a turbocharged 2.0-liter putting out 220 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque.

The next model to go all-four-banger will be the next generation Chevrolet Malibu, slated to arrive late next year and likely packing – to begin with – the same 2.4-liter four. A range of direct injected engines, both naturally aspirated and turbocharged, are in the works, so the General won’t be hurting for options, but expect the V6 to stick around for GM’s larger offerings, including the next Impala.

[Source: GMInsideNews]

Rumormill: General Motors mid-size sedans going all four-cylinder originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Next Mazdaspeed3 to go diesel?

Filed under: Hatchback, Mazda, Rumormill, Diesel

Mazdaspeed3

2010 Mazdaspeed3 – Click above for high-res image gallery

File this in the drawer labeled “Only Remotely,” but Mazda U.S. VP of product development Robert Davis allowed that the company is considering a diesel engine for the next Mazdaspeed3. Based on the report in Car and Driver, it looks like that’s as far as this has gotten: a diesel is on the table. Beyond that, none of the ‘pros’ mentioned seem to make a case for it, and the ‘cons’ make a case against it.

The idea is made possible by the fact that whippersnappers getting into a Mazdaspeed3 aren’t against diesel engines, being more familiar with modern clean diesels than the particulate monsters of yore. But if Mazda boosted its diesel Sky engine for the purpose of being a high performance engine, the frugality benefits of the engine would be erased. Then there’s that whole issue of additional heaps of diesel torque, and the additional heaps of torque steer that Mazda would have to engineer out of the car.

So it is perhaps best to take from this that a diesel engine for the next Mazdaspeed3 is a distant option, which could be seen as another crack in the wall. And while “Only Remotely” doesn’t mean impossible, we wouldn’t place any wagers on such a thing happening this next go-round.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Mazdaspeed3

Photos copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Car and Driver]

Rumormill: Next Mazdaspeed3 to go diesel? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Lotus Esprit to use LFA V10, V8 in lesser spec

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Paris Motor Show, Lotus, Rumormill, Luxury

Lexus LFA engine

Now this is a rumor. According to the crafty crew at Inside Line, Lotus is set to release details on its planned resurrection of the long-dead Esprit at this year’s Paris Motor Show. Even better? There’s some indication that the top-of-the-line model may pack the same heavenly V10 found in the current Lexus LFA. Oh yes, we’re excited. Inside Line spoke with someone at Lexus who’s cozy with the deal who hinted that the 552-horsepower 10-pot would find its way into the car in order to help it better compete with the likes of Ferrari. That’s right, kids; Lotus is movin’ on up.

There’s also word that lower-rung trims will receive the same 5.0-liter V8 found in the Lexus IS-F. With 416 horsepower, that lump is no slouch. Both engine choices would seem to dovetail with the close partnership we’ve seen between Lotus and Lexus parent company Toyota in the past, and with new Lotus CEO Dany Bahar (formerly of Ferrari) clamoring for ever more powerful, upscale models, all of the puzzle pieces seem to be falling into place.

Still, that’s almost way too much awesome for most manufacturers to handle. Fortunately, the Paris show is just a handful of weeks away, so we should know which parts of this rumor are solid in short order.

[Source: Inside Line]

Rumormill: Lotus Esprit to use LFA V10, V8 in lesser spec originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Volkswagen Touareg R Hybrid under consideration

Filed under: Hybrid, Performance, SUV, Technology, Volkswagen, Rumormill

2011 Volkswagen Touareg – Click above for high-res image gallery

The words “performance” and “hybrid” are typically only bandied about in the same sentence by marketing types. Here in the real world, lugging around an extra few hundred pounds of batteries is no way to sharpen a vehicle’s dynamics, but if the rumors kicking around the interwebs are to be believed, that’s exactly what Volkswagen has planned with a new R version of the Touareg. Auto Evolution reports that engineers are hard at work on a new version of the CUV that will pack a punch from both a gasoline V8 and a powerful electric motor.

As you might imagine, specs for such a monstrosity aren’t exactly solid, but the Italian rag says VW is shooting for 500 horsepower from the V8 and 47 horsepower from an electric motor. Sure, that means the high-rider will pack a grand total of 547 ponies, but we’re more interested in the mountain-moving levels of torque available from such a combination. Sounds like a fine way to embarrass a Porsche Cayenne Turbo, if nothing else.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Volkswagen Touareg

Photos by Jonathan Ramsey/ Copyright (C)2010 AOL
[Source: Auto Evolution]

Rumormill: Volkswagen Touareg R Hybrid under consideration originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Ford Falcon to get blown 5.0-liter Coyote

Filed under: Performance, Ford, Rumormill

Ford FG Falcon XR Series

Ford FG Falcon XR Series – Click above for high-res image gallery

Back before Ford announced it was producing a new aluminum block version of its supercharged 5.4-liter V8 for the 2011 GT500, speculation ran rampant that the new 5.0-liter Coyote V8 would get the force-feeding treatment. At the time, Ford declined to comment, but even with the introduction of the lighter 5.4-liter, the speculation never died away.

It now appears that a supercharged 5.0-liter will first appear in Australia in 2011 powering the new Falcon XR8 and possibly a GT-HO. Ford acknowledged that the Boss 302 could have been fitted with a blower, saying in its release that “the Mustang team knew a supercharger would be the simplest way to extract significant power improvements from the new 5.0-liter V8, but they elected not to pursue forced induction for the 2012 Boss to stay true to the original Boss 302 engine.”

Given that the rest of the 5.4- and 4.6-liter V8 applications in North America are disappearing in 2011, one has to wonder how long Ford will keep the current GT500 engine around. The most recent speculation is that a boosted version of the Coyote will arrive here in time for the 50th anniversary of the ponycar in 2014. And that can’t come soon enough.

Gallery: Ford FG Falcon XR Series

[Source: GoAuto.com.au]

Rumormill: Ford Falcon to get blown 5.0-liter Coyote originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Mercedes working on B-Class-based CLC Shooting Brake

Filed under: Wagon, Hatchback, Mercedes-Benz, Rumormill, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Oh, Mercedes. When will you learn that the CLC was just a bad idea? BMW did so with the chopped-trunk 318ti, but Mercedes seems determined to make its counterpart work. To that end, the Silver Star automaker is reportedly working on a new derivative.

Drawing its inspiration from the CLS Shooting Break concept (pictured above) and its underpinnings from the B-Class, the CLC Shooting Brake (hopefully they’ll get the spelling right this time) is expected to slot in below the C-Class Estate wagon, but presumably with a svelter roofline.

That doesn’t mean they’ll get the door count right though: the jury’s still out on whether it’ll be a proper shooting brake with three doors (like the existing CLC, but longer) or five doors like a conventional wagon. Engine options, meanwhile, are tipped to revolve around turbocharged fours, ranging from 108 horsepower and 1.2 liters to a 272-hp CLC22 AMG with 4Matic all-wheel drive. Sources expect the CLC Shooting Brake to arrive around September 2013.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Break Concept

Gallery: Beijing 2010: Mercedes-Benz Shooting Break concept

[Sources: Autobild]

Rumormill: Mercedes working on B-Class-based CLC Shooting Brake originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Porsche 918 Spyder lapped the ‘Ring in 7:20?

Filed under: Convertible, Hybrid, Performance, Porsche, Rumormill

Porsche 918 Spyder concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Porsche 918 Spyder is an impressive vehicle in almost every conceivable way. The stunning, production-approved drop-top should be motivated by something close to the concept’s 500-horsepower V8; almost weak by supercar standards but the still-powerful mill is only part of the powertrain story. The 918 concept also featured a pair of 109-hp electric motors powered by a lithium-ion battery capable of EV-only propulsion that theoretically enables the 918 to drive 16 miles on electricity alone. Then there is perhaps the most awesome statistic: the 918’s rumored €500,000 ($650,000 in U.S. dollars) price tag.

What could make the 918 still more impressive? How about a 7:20 lap around the famed Nürburgring? That’s the word coming out of the Teamspeed forums, where an image quoting the ‘Ring time (see it here) was allegedly used in a presentation by Ferdinand Piëch. If true, the 918 would best ‘Ring kings like the Corvette ZR1 and Nissan GT-R. A lap time of 7:20 would even best the time of the last exotic Porsche, the Cerrara GT, by eight seconds.

Such a quick lap isn’t out of the realm of possibility, especially since we’re talking about a $650,000 Porsche, but we’re not inclined to believe it until we see some in-car video. For one, we don’t even know if the 918 Spyder has actually been to the ‘Ring yet, let alone laid down such quick times. If it had, we would expect our spy photographers to have caught it on film, which they haven’t… yet. Second, the forums are also claiming that Piëch once said his hybrid supercar did a simulated lap of the Nürburgring in 7:30, which further adds to the confusion. Finally, the 7:20 lap time could also just be a target for the production 918 Spyder, something not yet achieved but that Porsche hopes the car will do on the other side of its development.

Whatever the case may be, even the mention of being that quick around Germany’s Green Hell implies that Porsche is developing the production 918 Spyder to compete like no Porsche has before.

Gallery: Porsche 918 Spyder concept

[Source: Teamspeed forums via World Car Fans]

Rumormill: Porsche 918 Spyder lapped the ‘Ring in 7:20? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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