Tag: rumormill

Rumormill: Lexus to build GT racing version of LFA, GT1 or GT2?

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Lexus, Racing

Lexus LFA race edition

Lexus LFA race edition – Click above for high-res image gallery

Motor Trend is reporting that Toyota’s may be getting back into motorsports big-time with a GT entry based on the Lexus LFA. According to the report, Lexus would enter the FIA GT1 championship to take on the Nissan GT-R. This seems like a move downmarket for the $375,000 Lexus sports car from a marketing standpoint. GT1 is also a faltering race class that’s being eliminated under the new 2011 Le Mans rules.

If Toyota wants to race the LFA, it would make more sense to head to Le Mans where it can take on Ferraris, Aston Martins and Porsches in the GT2 class. The LFA race edition (above) that’s already been developed and run in the last two 24 hour races at the Nürburgring would already be close to GT2 specification and could be ready for the 2011 race season.

Gallery: 2010 Lexus LFA racer

[Source: Motor Trend]

Rumormill: Lexus to build GT racing version of LFA, GT1 or GT2? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Rumormill: Lexus to build GT racing version of LFA, GT1 or GT2?”

Rumormill: Lancia Stratos revival won’t be one-off, production planned

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Specialty, Luxury, Lancia

The story of the coachbuilt Lancia Stratos gets more curious by the day. Although it appeared that the homage was a Pininfarina-designed one-off for a wealthy and anonymous European, Car & Driver has done some snooping of its own and reports that it wasn’t exactly designed by Pininfarina and it won’t exactly be a one-off.

Supposedly in the works for four years, word is the new Stratos was penned by Jason Castriota when he was still at Pininfarina before departing for Stile Bertone. Italiaspeed has a sketch of a Stratos with a different front end, signed by Castriota, that was published in the Japanese magazine Zoom. If that sketch is accurate it could jibe with what a tipster wrote to us, saying that the client had asked the front end be changed to something more traditional. Even though the C/D notes the photo above as having been taken on Pininfarina’s roof, according to C/D it is Bertone that will get credit for this new Stratos – and we supposed Castriota will, too, eventually.

The best news for all those commenters disappointed that there would be just one: rumor is this thing is going into production. If true, it would be a huge deal for Lancia, an underperforming brand with rebadged Chryslers that would have this to parade around the world. Everyone wins. And to that shadowy, monied-up American, if you made this happen, we salute you.

[Source: Car & Driver]

Rumormill: Lancia Stratos revival won’t be one-off, production planned originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 16:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Rumormill: Lancia Stratos revival won’t be one-off, production planned”

Rumormill: Saab to enter WRC with new 9-2

Filed under: Motorsports, Saab, Rumormill

Saab 9-X Air BioHybrid Concept

Saab 9-X Air BioHybrid Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Saab was quite successful in rally competition once upon a time, and it looks like the automaker’s new management hopes to kick-start the brand’s revival with a return its motorsports roots.

The word out of Europe is that Saab has met with World Rally Championship officials and committed to a 2012 entry into the series with a machine based on its upcoming smaller car. Depending on who you talk to, the new model could be dubbed either the 9-1 or 9-2.

The small car project originally began several years ago when Saab was still under the General Motors umbrella with the car expected to be based on the Gamma platform that underpins the Opel Corsa. As an independent, Saab doesn’t have the resources to develop such a platform on its own and is currently talking to other potential partners including BMW and some Chinese makers. Expect its design to be inspired heavily by the Saab 9-X Air BioHybrid concept (above).

If Saab hooks up with BMW, it could have a Mini-based 9-1/9-2 competing against the new Mini Countryman WRC.

Gallery: Saab 9-X Air BioHybrid Concept

[Source: CAR]

Rumormill: Saab to enter WRC with new 9-2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Rumormill: Saab to enter WRC with new 9-2”

Rumormill: Lancia Stratos is a Pininfarina-designed one-off

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Fiat, Specialty, Luxury, Lancia

Turns out Italiaspeed had it right: the remade Lancia Stratos spotted on a Fiat test track in Milan is a coachbuilt one-off for a European client, and has nothing to do with Fenomenon. As the story goes, a certain unnamed industrialist asked Pininfarina – not Bertone, the Stratos’ original designer – to pen a body with a traditional front end true to the icon.

Of several tips we’ve received on the car, one stated that the body would fit over a greatly-shortened Ferrari F430 chassis and retain the F430’s V8, “so just like the original car it will try and kill you.” Although this isn’t the best news for anyone hoping for a Stratos revival, we can’t wait to see this bespoke Stratos on display at some future show. Hat tip to Lindz.

Rumormill: Lancia Stratos is a Pininfarina-designed one-off originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 08 Aug 2010 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Rumormill: Lancia Stratos is a Pininfarina-designed one-off”

Rumormill: Range Rover plans fourth model

Filed under: SUV, Crossover, Land Rover, Rumormill, Luxury


Range Rover Evoque – Click above to enlarge

According to Autocar, Land Rover isn’t done expanding its Range Rover model lineup now that the Estoque has made its official debut. Citing so-called “well-placed sources,” the UK mag suggests that LR is surprised by the overwhelmingly positive reaction to the new entry-level Range Rover – enough that it’s now considering another model to slot in below the Range Rover Sport.

The report goes on to suggest that development of the proposed machine has barely begun and there’s no clear indication of what exactly is in store, though a seven-passenger “lifestyle” (whatever that means…) vehicle has been hinted at. It’s thought that the Range Rover Sport may be moved slightly upmarket from its current £46,000 (just over $60,000 U.S.) starting price to make room for this theoretical new model. In any case, considering that the Evoque is still quite a way off, we don’t expect to see this new rumor fulfilled any time soon.

[Source: Autocar]

Rumormill: Range Rover plans fourth model originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 07 Aug 2010 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Rumormill: Range Rover plans fourth model”

Rumormill: GM mulling Zeta-based Buick flagship?

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Buick, GM, Rumormill, Luxury

We can quit wondering where General Motors is heading with Buick. Maybe. If rumors dusting up from GM Inside News are to be believed, company leadership has the Tri-Shield’s sights trained solidly on Lexus. We all know that the 2010 Buick LaCrosse was positioned as the answer to the Lexus ES 350, but supposedly, GM is aiming even higher and cooking up a Zeta-based sedan to go head-to-head with the Lexus LS. If you believe the hype, design work has already been given the go-ahead, but production ihas yet to receive an official OK from up top. Details are predictably scarce, but GM Inside News claims that the styling is sharp as can be.

Interestingly enough, the Zeta platform that would provide the basis for the rumored big Buick isn’t exactly the same as the one underpinning the mega-Holdens prowling Australia (or the Caprice soon to be cruising your local donut shop, or the Buick Park Avenue that’s already sold in China). Instead, GMI says that the luxe Buick will be built upon something called the Premium Zeta Platform, and that the oft-rumored Cadillac flagship will use the same bones. Sounds great, but until we hear something official from The General, we won’t start holding our collective breath.

[Source: GM Inside News]
Photo by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2009 AOL

Rumormill: GM mulling Zeta-based Buick flagship? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 07 Aug 2010 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Rumormill: GM mulling Zeta-based Buick flagship?”

Rumormill: Mercedes planning C63 AMG Coupe

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Rumormill

It’s been confirmed for some time that Mercedes-Benz is developing a new two-door coupe version of its C-Class to replace the current hatchback CLC model. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that Autocar is reporting that Mercedes-Benz is also working on an AMG variant of the coupe to go up against the Audi RS5, BMW M3 and Cadillac CTS-V.

The British magazine is reporting that the coupe will use the same AMG 6.2-liter normally aspirated V8 as one of our favorite Benz sedans, the C63 AMG. However, if this car is to debut later in 2011 as projected, it would seem logical that Mercedes might switch to the new twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 that’s going into the 2011 CL63.

The turbo V8 could the output from the current 451 horsepower to somewhere closer to 500 hp. Autocar also speculates that a C63 Black Series coupe could be a followup to an upcoming SLS Black Series.

[Source: Autocar]

Rumormill: Mercedes planning C63 AMG Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Rumormill: Mercedes planning C63 AMG Coupe”

Rumormill: Abarth Roadster based on KTM X-Bow?

Filed under: Convertible, Budget, Performance, Europe, Fiat, Rumormill

Now this is a rumor we can get behind. According to Auto Express, Fiat is looking to take the mid-engine, rear-wheel drive fight to the Lotus Elise with a new Abarth roadster based on – get this – the KTM X-Bow. How’s that for mouth watering?

Supposedly the Italian’s factory tuning division will snap up a slew of rolling chassis from KTM and drop in its own 1.8-liter turbo four-cylinder good for around 200 horsepower. Throw in some new body work and suddenly you’ve got a world-class handling machine that’s at least somewhat drivable when the weather turns sour.

AE says that according to “senior sources within the company” the car could show up as soon as 2013. That’s still an awfully long way off, so chances are this one has about as much of a chance of coming to fruition as a rear-wheel drive Acura. That’s a shame, too. We’d love to play around with a low-buck mid-engine Italian.

[Source: Auto Express]

Rumormill: Abarth Roadster based on KTM X-Bow? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Rumormill: Abarth Roadster based on KTM X-Bow?”

Rumormill: Production BMW Efficient Dynamics sports car in 2013, M version too!

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, BMW, Diesel

2009 BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

A production sports car based on last year’s BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept will reportedly debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show and come to market by 2013. According to Germany’s AutoBild, the car which they refer to as the I100 (as part of BMW’s project I which is also spawning the MegaCity EV) will be powered by a hybrid powertrain much like the one in the concept.

A 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine (possibly a diesel) paired with an electric motor based on the architecture of BMW’s mild hybrid 7 Series would drive the rear wheels, while a second motor would drive the front wheels. A lithium ion battery pack is earmarked to provide electrical energy storage, although it’s not clear if the plug-in capability of the concept would be retained.

According to Autobild, it’s also possible that we’ll see an M variant of this car using the 450 horsepower twin-turbo inline-six from the next generation M3 along with set of supercapacitors instead of a lithium battery pack.

Gallery: BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept

p90047167_highresp90047169_highresp90047179_highresp90047133_highresp90047141_highres

[Source: AutoBild]

Rumormill: Production BMW Efficient Dynamics sports car in 2013, M version too! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Rumormill: Production BMW Efficient Dynamics sports car in 2013, M version too!”

Rumormill: 2012 Porsche Cayman Clubsport headed for LA Auto Show

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Porsche, Rumormill

2010 Porsche Cayman S – Click above for high-res image gallery

According to Porsche enthusiast site Planet-9.com, a hardcore version of the Cayman, dubbed CS or Clubsport, will be shown at this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show in December. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard rumblings of a lighter, more powerful Cayman, but now that Porsche has successfully launched the Boxster Spyder, it’s only fitting that the same sort of package be offered on its harder-core hardtop sister.

Expect the Clubsport to produce around 333 horsepower from its 3.4-liter flat-six, an increase of 13 hp over the Cayman S. From there, lightweight 19-inch wheels will be standard, as will fabric door pulls, aluminum body components and a slightly revised front fascia that we’ve seen on the Boxster Spyder. Obviously, the real goal with a Clubsport model is lightness, and Planet-9 reports that the CS should be about 162 to 184 pounds lighter than the stock Cayman S.

If the LA Auto Show reveal stands true, the Cayman CS should be hitting the road sometime in 2011 as a 2012 model, priced from around $66,300. Fingers crossed, everyone.

Gallery: 2010 Porsche Cayman S

[Source: Planet-9]

Rumormill: 2012 Porsche Cayman Clubsport headed for LA Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Rumormill: 2012 Porsche Cayman Clubsport headed for LA Auto Show”