Thursday, July 5, 2012

Spied: Chinese-Israeli Startup Qoros Testing New C11 Compact Sedan


If you're a devoted follower of car-exist and at the same time have the memory of an…elephant, you may remember a report from last November when we first told you about the birth of a new brand named Qoros.

The newly formed automaker's parents are China's Chery Automobile Co. and Israeli investment firm Israel Corp. The joint-venture firm is headed by Chery official Guo Qian with former VW executive Volker Steinwascher having filled the role of vice chairman.

At the time, Steinwascher was quoted saying that the brand was employing experienced designers and engineers who had worked at companies like BMW and VW. And true enough, in December of 2011, Qoros hired Gert Hildebrand, former General Manager of Mini Design, to lead its styling division.

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Ford Mustang 5.0 Jumps 70 Feet Before Crash Landing on a Brick Wall


Like it or not, accidents are an unavoidable part of the motor racing world, something that all drivers have to live with.

Steve Butscher is one of those fortunate drivers that had a serious accident but lived to tell the tale almost unscathed.

While running in the AIX Outlaw Ford Mustang 5.0 at the Willow Springs Raceway in Rosamond, California, last month, Butscher entered turn No8 too fast and too wide and as a result, slid his tires on the dirt at a speed of around 130mph (209km/h).

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Wald Wants to Make to the Toyota Prius Look Bad Arse


In its second attempt to tune the Toyota Prius Mk3 after the "Exclusive Line" in 2010, Japan's Wald International has released the first images of its "Sports Line" package that will soon be available for order. Read more »

Spy Shots: Is Aston Martin Preparing a More Powerful Rapide S Model?


Understandably, with only two years under its belt, it's too early for Aston Martin to be working on a mid-life facelift for its Rapide sports saloon. So, what is the British brand doing with this partially camouflaged prototype of the Rapide?

Our spies believe that the car you see in these photos is a more powerful and sportier version of luxury sedan named the Rapide S.

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Quite Possibly, the Most Awesome Hagwalah-Style Save Ever


Of all the mishaps with a happy conclusion that we have seen on the wild, wild roads of Russia, this one has to be if not the best, one of the best ever.

Seriously now, the driver of this silver colored tall hatchback cheated death and made it out alive without even scratching his car.

If you pay close attention to the dash-cam video from a car coming from behind, you will see the driver sliding between two trucks and making a full 360-degree turn only just avoiding contact with another truck.

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2013 Opel Insignia Facelift Draws Nearer


Opel and its sister company Vauxhall are almost ready to showcase the refreshed Insignia, prototypes of which were caught by our photographers while undergoing tests in Southern Europe.
Seen here in both four-door sedan and Sports Tourer estate body styles, the new Insignia series will feature subtle changes to the front end including the grille, bumper and possibly the headlamp designs, as well as to the rear that will gain a restyled bumper and different taillights which are rumored to get LED fixtures.
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Jaguar Releases New Films on Upcoming F-Type Roadster


The creative folks at Jaguar are gearing up their marketing hype on the British firm's new F-Type roadster with the release of two new videos.

In the first clip named 'Future', Jaguar's Global Brand Director Adrian Hallmark, describes his vision for the car while in the second video dubbed 'Fearless', Jaguar's Design Director, Ian Callum, shares his thoughts about the roadster's design and performance credentials.

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car-exist is Looking for New Writers


Are you a news and internet junkie with an obsession about cars who would like to share his or her automotive insights and thoughts with the world?

Well, we may just have something for you as we are seeking new writers who wish to join our motor-head team here at car-exist.

If you happen to be interested, then by all means, click through the jump to learn more about the details and how to apply for the position.

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Honda Mugen CR-Z GT with Twin-Turbo V6 is the One You'd Like but Can't Have


Truth to be said, the lukewarm reception of the reborn CR-Z has much to do with its puny 122hp hybrid powertrain – in comparison, the second-generation CR-X from the late 1980s came with 150 ponies that also had to move a lot less weight.

In stark contrast to the production CR-Z that employs the use of a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid-electric system, Honda and its racing partner Mugen have come up with a far more interesting powertrain for the competition model that will run in the GT300 class of Japan's SUPER GT Series.

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Single-Owner 1988 BMW M3 E30 Coupe with only 26,000 Miles up for Grabs


Each generation has its automotive icons and the first generation of the BMW M3 Coupe (E30) is one of those cars that rank high up in the list of special vehicles for most gearheads who are currently in their 30s, 40s and 50s.

Given that it was built from 1986 to 1992 and putting aside heavily abused models or cars that were involved in accidents, the biggest percentage of M3 E30s have clocked many miles on the road and in many cases on the track as well over the years, which makes finding a low-mileage example a difficult task today.

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Footage Shows Van Ramming Microsoft's Greek Headquarters


Greek authorities have published video footage from a closed circuit television camera of an incident that took place last Wednesday, June 27, at the local headquarters of Microsoft in Athens when three men drove a stolen Nissan van into the building's entrance.

In the video, we can see the driver trying to break the glass doors of the building, something he achieves after some back and forth movements. Somewhat comically, the men found themselves in a bit of a squeeze, as there was not a lot of space at the back while the glass door pillars blocked the driver's door.

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Artist Imagines Sporty Range Rover Evoque R with Supercharged V6


A string of unsubstantiated rumors concerning Land Rover's intent to develop a high-performance version of the Range Rover Evoque provided the inspiration for a digital mockup of what such a model could look like from the crew over at PS-Garage.

The so-called Range Rover Evoque R was envisioned as a three-door model powered by the Jaguar-Land Rover group's newly announced 3.0-liter supercharged V6 delivering up to 375hp (380PS) and 460Nm (339 lb-ft) in the upcoming Jaguar F-Type roadster.

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Volkswagen to Finalize Porsche's Sports Car Business Takeover this August


Ending years of bickering between two of Germany's most successful automakers and the respective families that hold their fate, Volkswagen has announced that it will complete the buyout of the remaining 50.1 percent stake of Porsche's sports car business it doesn’t own already for €4.46 billion (US$5.6 billion).

In a joint statement, Volkswagen and Porsche said that the deal will be completed by August 1, 2012.

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Honda Launches New N Box + with More Practical Interior in Japan


Honda has presented the second model of its new mini-vehicle N Series named the N BOX + (N BOX plus) in Japan. The new model is essentially a more practical version of the N Box tall city car with added functionality in the cargo area.

In particular, the Plus model introduces the so-called "Universal Bridge" system that includes a retractable aluminum slope to make it easier to load and unload heavy items on wheels such as a small motorbike. When not in use, the aluminum board can be neatly tucked away under the boot.

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Watch Polish Drivers Try to get a Jeep Cherokee Out of Waist Deep Mud Water


The tallest snorkel and toughest wheels in the world won't do anything to help if you underestimate the depth of a body of water and what lies underneath, as was the case with these explorers that tried to cross a mud pond near the village of Siennica in Poland with their trail-rated, Jeep Grand Cherokee second generation LinkCherokee.

The video shows the Jeep model filled with water right up to the door handles and stuck in the mud.

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Mazda Officially Reveals Mildly Facelifted 2013 MX-5 Roadster in Japan


A leaked brochure gave us our first look at the mildly refreshed MX-5 in both soft- and retractable hard-top (RHT) body styles earlier this week and now Mazda has come out with an official release for the 2013 model that goes on sale today in Japan.

We suspect that if not all, most of the changes on the JDM model will be applied on the international market versions before the end of the year.

The second facelift for the third-generation MX-5 since its debut in 2005 brings a redesigned face with a new bumper sporting a larger front grille opening with a more curved upper part, new front fog lamp housings, a front chin spoiler plus black headlamp bezels for the soft-top and chrome bezels for the hard-top model.

In addition, the refreshed roadster model gains a pedestrian protection system in the guise of an Active Bonnet, which raises the rear end of the hood in the event of an accident to absorb the energy of impact and reduce the severity of head injuries in collisions involving pedestrians.

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New Ford C-MAX Hybrid Scores 47mpg City and 44mpg Highway, Beats Prius V by at Least 3mpg


Ford announced on Thursday that its new C-MAX Hybrid is projected to achieve a fuel economy of 47 mpg (5.0lt/100km) in city driving and 44mpg (5.3lt/100km) on the highway, and as has been the case ever since we learned about the hybridized minivan, Ford is comparing it to the Toyota Prius V. Read more »

Mitsubishi Reintroduces L200 Trojan Double Cab to its UK Range


The Mitsubishi L200 Trojan Double Cab pickup truck is once again available in Britain with prices starting at £17,999 (CVLP) for the base model and from £19,324 when fitted with leather seats.

Labeled as a 2012 model, the Trojan comes equipped with Mitsubishi's improved and now Euro-5 compliant 2.5-liter turbo diesel that delivers 30 percent more power from 136bhp to 175bhp and 27 percent more torque from 314Nm (232 lb-ft) to 400Nm (295 lb-ft).

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Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Fiat Teases New 500X Small Crossover During 500L's Presentation, will Base a Jeep Model as Well


On Tuesday, we brought you a raft of images and videos of the new Fiat 500L following the presentation of the small MPV to the members of the international press in Turin, Italy.

However, as it turns out, the 500L wasn't the only new Fiat to be shown at the media conference as the upcoming 500X small crossover made a very brief appearance on the stage as well.

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How to Destroy a Skoda Superb with a Tractor and a Bobcat


Like the person who shared this video on YouTube, we have no idea why these men are destroying what looks like a perfectly good car – a Skoda Superb, to be precise. For all we know it could be a skit from a television show.

Still, that didn’t hold us back from spending close to four minutes watching a backhoe-loader with the help of a skid-steer loader doing their thing on the Czech saloon.

Head past the jump to check out the video for yourself and if you happen to have more information, leave us a comment.

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Happy Fourth of July from car-exist!


In remembrance of Independence Day, we are going to shift our online gear into neutral and take most of the day off here at car-exist in order to spend some time with our families, friends and if there's enough time, our beloved automobiles as well.

For all of you celebrating the Fourth of July, we hope you enjoy the day and remember to keep safe no matter what you do or where you go. car-exist will return to our regular coverage on Thursday, July 5.

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Tuesday, July 3, 2012

New Fiat 500L Minivan: More Than 60 HD Photos and Videos, U.S. Sales to Start Next Year


Here’s a fresh gallery of photos and an assortment of new videos of the Fiat 500L that will be available for order in Italy and other major European markets starting from this month (July, 2012), with first deliveries scheduled for the beginning of October.

During the course of 2013, the second addition to the Fiat 500 family will go on sale in more than 100 countries around the world, including the United States.

The five-seater 500L (the 'L' stands for Large) is a tall B-segment model with MPV-like practicality and an SUV-esque raised ride height that promises to be a more roomier version of the 500 city car while maintaining the latter's chic styling.

Some of its rivals in Europe include the Ford B-MAX and Opel / Vauxhall Meriva small MPVs.

Underneath the 500-inspired sheetmetal you will find a development of the Punto platform which Fiat calls 'Small Wide'.

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BMW Venture Design Study Expands from City Car to German Hot Rod at the Touch of a Button


Vehicles with dual personalities are nothing new in the auto industry but designer Chris Hammersley has imagined a different kind of concept, one that can transform from a compact-sized urban commuter to a sportier looking hot rod at the press of a button.

The prototype study is named the BMW Venture and one of the main highlights of the project is a pair of arms that extend the two front wheels.

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Toyota Imagines an Advanced Future World with Archaic Automobiles


Being the world's largest and most successful manufacturer of hybrid vehicles with more than 4 million worldwide sales since the first Prius hit Japanese showrooms in 1997, Toyota has every reason to promote hybrid technology as the latest and greatest thing to ever come along for your car.

In this commercial titled 'Advanced World', the Japanese automaker imagines a future world that has progressed in every field except automobiles, which are depicted as polluting and noisy hand-cranked cars from the beginning of the previous century.

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Renault Shows Available Customization Options for New Clio 4, Releases a Fresh Batch of Videos


With the internet abuzz about the brand-new Clio Mk4, the French automaker has dropped a few more images that highlight the personalization programme for the supermini along with three new videos.

The new generation of the Clio introduces a broad range of styling options for both the inside and outside of the sub-compact / B-segment model.

In these photos, we see some of the available features for the Clio 4's exterior including the contrasting color accents for the front grille, rocker panels and alloy wheels, along with a selection of decals that can be applied to the roof, hood and other parts of the body.

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Acura Preparing Mild Facelift for 2013 ZDX Crossover


Some three years after the ZDX's world premiere at the 2009 New York Auto Show and a little less since it went on sale in the U.S. towards the end of the same year, Acura's attempt to replicate BMW's success with the X6 has proved to be a sales flop delivering a mere 1,564 units in 2011.

It’s even worse this year as Acura has sold only 416 examples of the ZDX crossover during the first six months of 2012, down 56.21 percent over the same period in 2011.

Nevertheless, Acura will try to improve the ZDX's position in the market with a mid-cycle refresh for the 2013 model year that will bring a light exterior makeover along with new technology features.

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Aston Martin on Track Event at the Nürburgring


For all you that weren't able to attend the "Aston Martin On Track" that took place in May at the Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit - in other words, 99.99 percent of those reading this post (and we're probably being generous…), the British automaker has released a video to show what you missed out on during the event. Read more »

Mercedes Reportedly Confirms Electric Version of New B-Class for the States


It looks like the new generation of the Mercedes-Benz B-Class will come to the United States after all - or at least one of the models in the lineup will.

An unnamed inside source at Mercedes-Benz's parent company Daimler AG told German publication Automobilwoche that an electric version of the compact MPV will go on sale in America from 2014.

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Lexus Says LFA AD-A and AD-B are One-Off Prototypes and Not Special Editions


During the past couple of weeks, spy photographers and eagle-eyed individuals alike spotted two similar but visibly different Lexus LFA prototypes with the AD-A and AD-B monikers respectively undergoing tests in and around the Nürburgring in Germany.

Their bespoke styling parts and colors suggested that Lexus may be readying a handful of special edition versions of the LFA to mark the end of the supercar's production.

Well, as it turns out, that's not the case. In an email to the Lexus Enthusiast website, Etienne Plas, senior manager of product communications for Lexus Europe, said that the company does not plan to present any kind of special edition version of the LFA.

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Always Look Behind Before You Try to Overtake Another Vehicle…


There's a reason why vehicles and motorcycles have mirrors: for drivers and riders to use them to avoid getting into situations like this. It's your responsibility as a driver to pay attention to what's in front of you, beside you and behind you.

Sure, one could claim that the blue car coming from behind was in the blind spot of the driver of the burgundy colored sedan, but it’s not like it appeared from nowhere nor did it come speeding from behind the last moment.

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PSA Peugeot-Citroen May Cut up to 10 Percent of its French Workforce, Equal to 10,000 Jobs


The dark clouds over Europe are having a profound effect on the auto industry, especially outside the continent's powerhouse that is Germany.

A PSA Peugeot Citroen union official told reporters today that the company might eliminate up to 10,000 jobs or about 10 percent of its total workforce in France to compensate for dwindling sales.

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U.S. Government Slaps a $1.5 Million Fine on Volvo for Delayed Recall Reporting


Swedish premium carmaker Volvo has agreed to pay a US$1.5 million (€1.2 million) fine to settle U.S. government allegations that the company's North American division failed to report safety defects and noncompliances to federal regulators in a timely fashion.

The fines received from Volvo, a company that prides itself on its reputation for safety, will be paid into the General Fund of the U.S. Treasury.

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New Audi TT Coupé S Line Competition is All About the Looks


Audi is trying to lure customers into its showrooms with a new special edition version of the TT Coupe named S Line Competition.

The new trim model is available worldwide with all engine versions up to 208hp (211PS). Depending on the market, these include the 158hp (160PS) 1.8-liter TFSI, 208hp (211PS) 2.0-liter TFSI and the 168hp (170PS) 2.0-liter TDI diesel.

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New Renault Clio 4 Officially Breaks Cover, Mega Gallery with 60 HD Photos and Videos


Some 22 years after the launch of the first Clio as a replacement to the '5' and more than 11.5 million cars sold in more than 115 countries around the world, Renault has now unveiled the fourth generation of its supermini ahead of its public premiere at the Paris Motor Show in September.

Perhaps one of the most important things to know about the Clio 4 is that it is Renault's first production model to be penned entirely under the watch of the company's chief designer Laurens van den Acker.

The Dutch designer joined Renault in 2009 after resigning from his position at Mazda where he was responsible for several concepts such as the Nagare (2006 Los Angeles), Ryuga (2007 Detroit), and Hakaze (2007 Geneva).

At Renault, van den Acker previewed the firm's new design DNA with a string of concept studies that included the DeZir in 2010 and the Captur, Frendzy and R-Space in 2011.

"[The] New Renault Clio was conceived as a piece of sensuous sculpture which stimulates desire," explains van den Acker. "Like muscles, its curves express the dynamism radiated by the DeZir concept car. No acute or aggressive angles, just voluptuous curves that make you want to go up to it and caress it."

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SUV Goes Airborne After Heat Creates a Huge Bump on Wisconsin Highway


The extreme heat that has scorched many areas of the U.S. these past few days was to blame for a bizarre accident that took place on Highway 29 in Chippewa County, Wisconsin during the weekend.

The high temperatures caused a section of the highway to buckle up and create a…launching ramp.

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Citroën Introduces New Options for UK Market DS5, Hybrid4 at 99g/km CO2


A new no-cost alloy wheel option that drops CO2 figures on select models and the introduction of two new packages, highlight the upgrades for the new model year version of Citroën's UK market DS5.

Starting from this month, Citroën is offering buyers of the DS5 Hybrid4 DStyle and DSport versions the no-cost option of downgrading to 17-inch "Houston" alloy wheels. And why is this important, you may ask?

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Famed Car Designer Sergio Pininfarina Dies at Age 85


The automobile industry is mourning the death of legendary designer Sergio Pininfarina who passed away on Monday night at his home in Turin, Italy. He was 85 years old. No cause of death was given.

Born in 1926, Sergio Pininfarina was the son of Battista "Pinin" Farina (later Battista Pininfarina) who founded the legendary Italian coachbuilding and design company.

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New McLaren MP4-12C Spider with Retractable Hard Top Officially Revealed


The MP4-12C has finally lost its top as McLaren Automotive presented the second addition to the family in the guise of the new Spider model that comes equipped with a retractable hard top, much like one of its chief rivals in the mid-engine supercar segment, the Ferrari 458 Italia Spider.

The metal roof is operated using a switch in the lower section of the centre console and takes less than 17 seconds to raise or lower. McLaren points out that unlike many other convertible models of its kind, the Spider's roof can be operated whilst the car is moving at speeds of up to 30 km/h (19mph).

Right behind the passenger compartment is a rear windscreen that can double as a wind deflector and which may also be electronically lowered and raised. To improve safety, a roll over protection system has been incorporated into the rear buttresses.

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New Photos of 2013 Renault Clio Mk4 Supermini


The Clio is...out of the bag as following the release of a single image on one of Renault's consumer websites (which has since been removed), a new batch of photos has hit the web today.

Besides getting an all-around view of the Clio Mk4's exterior, we also have the first ever picture of the French supermini's interior.

The new Clio's cabin looks more premium and is distinguished by its chic styling and interesting details such as a pair of deeply set instrument panel gauges and a large screen for the infotaintment and navigation system on the center console, which may or may not be standard on all models.

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Monday, July 2, 2012

Infiniti Emerg-e Runs, Breaks Down During Demonstration Laps at Goodwood Hill Climb


One of the more impressive and unique cars to storm up the Goodwood hill climb this past weekend was Infiniti’s first running prototype of the range-extender Emerg-e sports concept, which was first shown at the 2012 Geneva motor show as a static prototype.

The UK-designed and built concept had a slightly awkward moment on Friday during the demonstrator laps, as according to a video filmed by YouTube user 'MrDHandZ', it either broke down or ran out of electric juice at some point during the race and was carried away on a truck.

While surely an unwelcome development, one should not forget that the Emerg-e is an advanced study making its first public outing as a fully-functioning model in a race. On the Sunday hill climb, the Emerg-e completed the run in the hands of Red Bull Racing's Australian Formula One pilot, Mark Webber.

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Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupe and Roadster Design Studies by Slimane Toubal


Even though it may not exactly look like it, but the contemporary Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG is in fact the spiritual successor to the German firm's original 300 SL in both 'Gullwing' Coupe (built from 1954 to 1957) and Roadster (from 1957 to 1963) forms.

Slimane Toubal, a professional clay artist from France who has worked with several automakers around the world including Audi, Honda and more recently, at PSA Peugeot-Citroen's China office, used his free time to create his own vision of what a modern-day 300 SL should look like.

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Ancient Rituals Come Alive on Russian Roads


The weapons of choice may have changed over the centuries, but the nature of humans hasn't changed one bit since the beginning of time.

Following an insignificant traffic incident in Russia when the driver of the dashcam-equipped vehicle blocked a taxi that had attempted an unlawful turn, the two motorists stopped on the road to confront each other.

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