successor Archives

Report: Incoming Toyota chairman wants a Supra successor

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Toyota

We’d venture to guess that in recent years, there have probably been almost as many rumors swirling about a Toyota Supra successor than there have been for a mid-engine Corvette. (Case in point: the speculative renderings we came across a few years ago, pictured above.) While we don’t expect the Corvette’s recipe to change drastically any time soon, it looks like a Supra – or more appropriately a Supra-like car – could be closer than we think.

First, there was an announcement of a BMW-Toyota joint venture. Said venture would, among other things, “Set up a feasibility study to define a joint platform concept for a mid-size sports vehicle.”

Upping chances even further, a new Automotive News report claims that incoming Toyota chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada wants a vehicle “comparable” to the Supra. Clearly there are a lot of parties that want a new Supra to happen – to say nothing of enthusiasts – but Uchiyamada might be just the guy to get it done. None of this is proof positive of an impending Supra, to be sure, but winds do seem favorable.

Incoming Toyota chairman wants a Supra successor originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Jun 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ferrari Enzo successor inspired by Bugatti Veyron

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Ferrari

Ferrari Enzo

We don’t know a whole lot about Ferrari’s successor to the iconic Enzo, but we can guess that the engineers in Maranello are working on something very powerful and extremely fast. After all, the Enzo packed a 6.0-liter V12 with 651 horsepower, so the next model has to carry a bit more bite, right?

If the folks at Autocar are correct, the Enzo may not be the bogey Ferrari has in mind. The UK scribes quote unnamed sources from Ferrari who say the Bugatti Veyron has helped shape what the next range-topping exotic will be.

The British site speculates that one option for powering the next top exotic to don the Prancing Horse could be powered by a twin-turbo V8. Would that be enough power to take on all comers? Consider that the 458 Italia manages 570 horsepower from a naturally aspirated 4.5-liter V8. Add a pair of turbochargers and squeezing out over 700 horsepower doesn’t sound all that difficult. Those aren’t Veyron numbers, but we’d assume that the Ferrari wouldn’t be nearly as big or heavy, either.

Ferrari is reportedly looking to unleash the Enzo successor in the next year or two, and we’re not likely to know much until that time. But at the same time, it’s never too early to start dreaming of the next super Ferrari.

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Ferrari Enzo successor inspired by Bugatti Veyron originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 16:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Ferrari 612 successor snapped again, interior revealed

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Ferrari

Ferrari 612 Successor

Ferrari 612 successor spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s been less than a week since the last batch of shots of Ferrari’s 612 Scaglietti replacement have hit the Net. And while we were quick to dismiss the hunchbacked shape the last time around, this more revealing set of photos proves that the 612 does, in fact, take on a more traditional shooting brake design rather than that of a swoopy coupe.

Ferrari 612 successor interior Our spies managed to get a quick glance inside the 612 replacement, and in addition to confirming that there’s an honest-to-goodness luggage compartment out back, we now have a relatively clear idea of what the cockpit looks like. In addition to heaps of the finest leather, we can see what appears to be a set of nicely bolstered seats and a Ferrari-spec steering wheel complete with the bright red “engine start” button and drive mode selector switch.

This latest Ferrari will undoubtedly be an eye-catching piece of machinery when the camouflage cladding is removed. Gorgeousness aside, we’re salivating at the rumors of a 670-horsepower 6.3-liter V12 being found underhood, meaning 0-60 should be ripped off in just 3.7 seconds and the car’s top speed should be well north of 200 miles per hour.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Ferrari 612 Successor

Ferrari 612 Successor spy shots

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Ferrari 612 successor snapped again, interior revealed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Ferrari 612 successor prototype makes the rounds

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Ferrari, Luxury

Ferrari 612 successor spy shots

Ferrari 612 successor spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

Our army of camera-wielding spy shot masters have managed to snag a few tasty photos of what appears to be the most advanced test mule of the expected Ferrari 612 Scaglietti successor that we’ve seen to date. As you may recall, rumors have cropped up that Ferrari is hard at work on a new shooting brake interpretation of the 612, and given the cladding slathered all over this particular vehicle, it would be easy to believe that the Prancing Horse pictured above is that very creation. Still, we have reason to believe that additional camouflage on this mule is covering up something a little more conventional – a 2+2 coupe bodystyle, though a rakish two-box shape may also be in the cards down the road.

A longer wheelbase is expected to help facilitate a little extra leg room, or possibly the components of a new Ferrari all-wheel drive system. There’s also some thinking that points to the next 612 as packing a KERS-type system to help boost fuel economy and power off of the line. Either way, we’ll find out more as we get closer to the Geneva Motor Show in March, where the 612 successor is expected to make its debut.

Gallery: Ferrari 612 Spy Shots

[Source: Shawn and Shonna Speer for CarPix]

Spy Shots: Ferrari 612 successor prototype makes the rounds originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pagani Zonda successor to be called Huayra?

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Rumormill

2012 Pagani C9 mule

Spy Shots: Pagani C9 – Click above for high-res image gallery

It looks like we may have an inkling as to what Pagani will call its next supercar. According to the Italian web site Al Volante, the company has gone through the hassle of registering the name “Huayra.” The nearly unpronounceable moniker sticks the company’s tradition of branding its products after the famous winds of the world (not unlike many Volkswagen and Maserati models). In this case, Huayra is the word for “wind” from the ancient South American language of Quechua. Either that, or the company’s marketing department threw alphabet soup at the wall until they came up with a suitable smattering of vowels and consonants.

Until now, the next Pagani has simply gone by the internal code name C9. And while the company has been kind enough to share a strange video teaser with the world, hard facts about what we can expect from the Zonda successor are few and far between. There’s some indication that the beast will pack a mighty V12, and we’d be surprised if it didn’t have enough horsepower to melt asphalt at a whim, but otherwise, we’re completely in the dark as to what to expect. Thanks for the tip, JH!

Gallery: Spy Shots: Pagani C9

Spy Shots: Pagani C9

[Source: Al Volante | Images: CarPix]

Pagani Zonda successor to be called Huayra? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ferrari Enzo successor will be a hybrid

Filed under: Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Europe, Technology, Ferrari, Luxury

Ferrari 599 HY-KERS Concept

Ferrari 599 HY-KERS – Click above for high-res image gallery

Sorry, Ferrari purists, but even the mighty Prancing Horse isn’t immune to the need to increase fuel economy. According to Autoweek, Ferrari Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo has confirmed that the successor to the Enzo throne will come equipped with a hybrid drivetrain. According to Montezemolo, the electrified supercar will borrow heavily from the company’s 599 HY-KERS concept that debuted at this year’s Geneva Motor Show. That vehicle used hybrid tech derived from the kinetic energy recovery system that Ferrari experimented with on its F1 vehicles.

Previously, Ferrari has said that the incorporation of a battery pack and an electric motor would allow the company to continue to offer high-cylinder-count engines while offsetting fuel consumption and emissions. The company has also made it clear that it intends to begin moving toward smaller models to further reduce weight.

The news came as Montezemolo announced that he has no intention of moving from his post at Ferrari to greener pastures in the Italian government. The chairman said that he fully intends to stay at the company long enough to help craft the vehicles in the next product cycle, each of which will follow in the footsteps of the Enzo successor.

Gallery: Ferrari 599 HY-KERS

[Source: Autoweek]

Report: Ferrari Enzo successor will be a hybrid originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BBC: Ratan Tata successor sought

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, India, Tata

Rumors of Ratan Tata’s retirement from the international corporation he helms as CEO have been buzzing around the internet for over a year, but they’ve recently been lent a little credence. According to BBC News, Tata Group has assembled a five-person panel to find a suitable successor to the company’s throne. It had previously been suggested that the 79-year-old Tata would retire by the end of 2012. The panel hopes to locate a new CEO by March of next year, providing a bit of overlap between the incoming and outgoing regimes. In the past, Tata Group has kept the boss’s seat within the family, though there is some speculation that a few outsiders are favored for the post.

BBC News reports that other media outlets have pointed to Noel Tata, Ratan Tata’s half brother and head of the Tata Group’s international operations, as a strong candidate for the CEO position. Other possibilities include Arun Sarin, who once headed Vodofone, and Nusli Wadia, a textiles chairman. At this point, it remains unclear whether Ratan Tata will retain some influence over the corporation he helped save from financial doom post-retirement or if he’ll leave the decision making to his successor. Either way, the next few months should be interesting for the company.

[Source: BBC News | Image: AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade]

BBC: Ratan Tata successor sought originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Bentley Continental GT successor snapped from new angles

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Bentley, Luxury

Bentley Continental GT spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

A few months ago, our crafty spy photographers managed to snap a single shot of the next-generation Bentley Continental GT with all of its camouflage stripped away, revealing the Conti’s swoopy new shape and updates to the front and rear fascias. Now, our spies have returned with a new batch of shots, and while the car is completely covered in checkerboard camo, we can see the new GT from a few new angles.

Up front, Bentley has added new LED headlamps similar to those on the Big Daddy Mulsanne, nicely flanking the more upright grille and prominent lower air intakes. Out back, we see that the Continental uses a more sloped, hatchback-like rear window, though the dead-on rear view confirms that a standard-issue trunk will still be in place. Obviously, LEDs are the bulbs of choice for the taillamps, and we like how the revised rear design better highlights the Conti’s shapely hips.

The new Continental GT may be covered from head to toe, but we won’t rule out a possible debut at this year’s Paris Motor Show. Until then, scroll through our gallery for high-res shots of the new Bentley out on the road.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2012 Bentley Continental GT

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Bentley Continental GT successor snapped from new angles originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Jaguar working on aluminum X-Type successor

Filed under: Sedan, Jaguar, Luxury

Tata Motors chief executive Carl-Peter Forster has acknowledged that Jaguar needs a smaller, higher-volume vehicle and it appears that just such a car is already under development. Unlike the less-than-stellar X-Type which was based on the second-generation Ford Mondeo, the new car should actually be a real Jaguar.

Jaguar is reportedly working on a new modular aluminum platform that would be shared between the new smaller car, the mid-sized XF and the next-generation XK. In renderings posted by AutoExpress at least, the baby Jag bears a strong resemblance to the XF but with curvier rear haunches and XJ-style taillamps. Of course, what the real thing will ultimately look like is anyone’s guess.

Power will likely come from downsized and boosted four-cylinder gas and diesel engines, with the current 3.0-liter diesel V6 as a range-topper. Also look for a hybrid to enter the mix. All of this will help Jaguar meet the new EU CO2 emissions limits once the new smaller Jaguar debuts, which could happen as soon as soon as 2012.

[Source: AutoExpress]

Rumormill: Jaguar working on aluminum X-Type successor originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Jul 2010 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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