It’s safe to say that the recently-revealed all-new Ford Taurus will not be scrutinized by the folks at Ford Performance for a possible RS version.
In this form (we still don't know about the US model), the Taurus is a full-size sedan designed for the Chinese market, where rear legroom, comfort and luxury are all that matter. But if you wonder what a Ford Taurus RS would look like, then you’re in the right place.
Photoshop manipulator X-Tomi has done this exercise and virtually transformed the big sedan into a big sports sedan.
The grille has been turned into a massive air intake for the engine, while the aggressive-looking bumper features an equally big air intake as well. Big black alloy wheels were also added, as was a massive rear wing. While a Ford Taurus RS would look good (based on this rendering), it’s unlikely to happen. Still, Ford will offer aTaurus SHO model in the US, which should provide enough thrills for buyers of the big sedan.
No, don’t adjust your computer screens, yes, Aston Martin Lagonda has confirmed it will be putting the DBX into series production. The automaker will be expanding its Gaydon production operation (or build an entirely new factory in the US) with a £200- / $300- million investment and seems to have big plans for the future.
Half of that money has already reached the automaker, while the other half will be injected into its accounts over the coming 12 months.
Aston Martin Lagonda CEO, Andy Palmer, said “this additional long-term funding, will enable us to add extra model lines and broaden our presence in the luxury market segment by the end of the decade. The DBX concept, has generated interest far beyond our expectations. The additional investment announced today will allow us to realise the DBX and other new luxury vehicles that will form the strongest and most diverse portfolio in our history”.
He adds that their “shareholders have shown their strong commitment and confidence in the management team to execute the strategic plan.”
We don’t know the specific details (when it’s going to be launched) but we assume it will roughly be a two year wait. Hopefully, it will have an AMG engine under the hood...
The 2016 Mazda CX-3 will go on sale this fall in the US with a single engine option and pricing that will start “in the low $20,000s.”
The small crossover will be offered with the 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G gasoline engine rated at 146hp at 6,000 rpm and 146lb-ft (198Nm) of peak torque available from 2,800 rpm. The engine will be offered exclusively with a six-speed automatic transmission. EPA-estimated fuel economy is not yet certified, but Mazda engineers anticipate it to achieve fuel economy “at the top of its class.”
The 2016 CX-3 will be available with Mazda’s predictive i-ACTIV all-wheel drive system and the i-ACTIVSENSE safety features, including lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, Smart Brake Support, rear camera, Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) and Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC).
A standard feature for all models is the Mazda Connect infotainment system which includes Bluetooth phone pairing, audio streaming, USB ports for phone charging and entertainment connectivity and Commander control knob, as well as a 7-inch color touchscreen interface.
The crossover will be available with three trim levels (Sport, Touring and Grand Touring). Standard equipment for the Sport will include 16-inch steel wheels, premium cloth seats with a 60/40 split-fold rear bench seat, Bluetooth hands-free phone pairing and audio streaming, push-button start, AM/FM/CD player, USB input, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, air conditioning, power windows and door locks and keyless entry.
The Touring model will add 16-inch alloy wheels, a six-speaker audio system, heated exterior mirrors, mirror-mounted turn signal lamps and center armrest.
The range-topping Grand Touring will come with standard 18-inch alloy wheels, power moonroof, leather/Lux Suede seats, LED headlights, adaptive front lighting, LED fog lights, LED daytime running lamps, navigation system, BOSE premium audio system with seven speakers, SiriusXM/HD radio, automatic climate control, Active Driving Display, paddle shifters, driver and front passenger seat heaters and rear cargo cover.
It's not that we don't love the RS3, we do; it's just that, watching an R8 "give birth" to it in such an explicit way is really weird. Hard to believe somebody actually came up with this during a board meeting.
What we have here is basically a facelifted first generation Audi R8, struggling to give birth (slowly) to what is, at first, a gooey red RS3.
Again, we like the RS3, we even showed you a great looking Nardo Grey one yesterday, but this was more about recreating a scene from Aliens, than it was about showcasing it's 0-100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration time or 367 HP power output.
Obviously we understand what Audi meant to do when they came up with this, we get the general idea, but maybe they should have tried to make it less creepy. How about going all Transformers-like and create the RS3 out of the R8's engine or something like that? Just anything that doesn't involve turning our stomachs.
The one thing we do appreciate is the visuals...technically speaking. Audi did a great job bringing all this to life - no pun intended.
Though next time, we hope they come up with something different. And for a fun couple of minutes, feel free to browse through the video's comment section.
According to Lamborghini boss Stephan Winkelmann, if the Raging Bull is to add another model to what is right now just a two-car line-up, it will definitely be an SUV.
In a recent interview, Winkelmann told Autoblog.com that "We are working on it, but there is no decision taken. If we do a third model, then it's better to have the SUV as this is a growing segment, a more emotional segment, a segment which is very well-distributed in terms of volume all over the planet, and therefore this is a car which is more likely."
Naturally, this wouldn't be the first time Lamborghini has produced an SUV - remember the LM002? So it would be a little unfair to accuse them of venturing into uncharted waters.
We'd love for them to use the design of the Urus Concept for the production model as well. And by that we mean that we'd rather they not change the looks and make it less aggressive visually. If they can improve on it then by all means, improve away Lambo!
A Lamborghini SUV would also target supercar owners that also own sports utility vehicles, such as the Porsche Cayenne.
However, perhaps even more interesting was seeing Winkelmann bring up hybridization in his interview by saying that, "Due to packaging, due to the weight of the entire vehicle, it's more likely that the hybridization is getting in place. It's less a car which is about absolute performance. So this could be an opportunity."
This would certainly be one way to remind people that the Asterion concept they brought to Paris in 2014 wasn't just to showcase what they can do, but also what they will do.
There have been a number of speculative renderings of the next-generation VW Scirocco, but none of them was really convincing enough.
It’s a different case with this latest attempt from Theophilus Chin, who used as a basis the silhouette of the Audi Sport Quattro Concept, then garnished it with design elements seen on the VW Sport Coupe GTE study.
The result is quite interesting, to say the least. There have been reports that the next-generation VW Scirocco will ditch the shooting brake shape for a proper coupe body style, and Chin’s renderings do take that into account.
I for one wouldn’t mind at all if the Scirocco replacement looked like this. Even if it changes its name to Corrado, as Chin suggests.
When the words 'Mercedes-Benz SL' come out of your mouth, there are a few things you need to be aware of before you go on any further.
First of all, this car is legendary, having been born 60 years ago as the famous 300SL. So if you'd like to have high expectations when it comes to it, be my guest. Second of all, and more important, you need to be aware that this is one of the most versatile luxury Roadsters ever made.
The Mercedes-Benz SL is a lot like a luxury watch brand. Not everyone can afford it, but there are plenty of different models to choose from, be it elegant, sporty, stylish and so on. You're spoiled for choice.
Such is the way with the SL line-up. It's available in 4 different versions, each of them able to directly challenge specific versions of pretty much any other luxury convertible in the world.
Of course, there are the top dogs, the SL 63 and SL 65 AMG, where both of them can knock on the door of anyFerrari California, BMW M6 Cabrio, Jaguar XKR Convertible, Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabrio, Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster and Vanquish Volante and so on. Those two are basically as good as any SL Merc can get.
However, the one I've been driving is the entry-level SL 400 - a car that can only go against the likes of the BMW 640i Cabrio, Porsche 911 Carrera Cabrio, Jaguar XK Convertible and Maserati GranCabrio. Normally, all these cars would have been SL 500 rivals, but Mercedes went and got rid of the old SL 350 and the much faster SL 400was born.
Thanks to its twin turbocharged V6 engine, this car is a lot faster and more efficient than the older naturally aspirated V6, but we'll get into all of that a bit further on.
The Looks
Let's start this chapter by talking about how the SL looks, in general, not necessarily this car right here. I think it's fantastic. I had a hard time deciding whether or not I thought it looked more sporty than elegant or vice-versa, but the SL will never make you compromise in such a way. That was true with the old generation model as well.
In comparison, a BMW 6 Series Cabrio is almost entirely an elegant car, as it doesn't look like a sporty roadster. Not even a little bit. And so it's hard not to stare at an SL Merc. It's long, wide and it just looks like it sticks to the road.
Oh, by the way, don't even think about parking anywhere where you have to drive up or down any sort of high angled ramp. The spoiler will touch the cement and you'll sweat it out until you can pull over to check it out. Take it from me.
As for the front of the car, I love the somewhat retro grille, it works great with the big headlights and the ultra aggressive hood. And those "claws" on the hood have an awesome effect on you while you're driving. You feel fast, as you should in such a car.
The somewhat modern-classic look of the SL can be found at the rear as well, where you have these elegant taillights. But the elegant look may not be to everyone's liking. The 19" AMG wheels were awesome too, with Pirelli P-Zero rubber wrapped around them.
The days I spent with this car were very revealing. I realized that there aren't many other convertibles out there that look this sporty and that don't cost way over €100,000. The BMW 640i Cabrio is just a convertible saloon. Actually all the cars I mentioned as direct SL 400 rivals are luxury GTs - except for the 911 Carrera Cabrio, definitely the most agile of the group.
The Feel
The interior of the Mercedes-Benz SL has to properly represent its €100,812 entry-level price tag. And it does, it really does. Every inch of the cabin is covered in leather, wood or aluminum, even in areas where you would expect to find a little plastic. As for when you do find plastic, it's of the highest quality - door pockets, climate control and audio system buttons etc.
The high-quality materials were even better than the ones I found in most other luxury convertibles that I've reviewed in the past, like say the Maserati GranCabrio, Porsche 911 Cabrio or Jaguar XK Convertible. But I'll let you in on a little "secret". Mercedes-Benz have some of the finest car interiors in the world. It's really hard to top them unless your name is Bentley or Rolls Royce.
The car I drove was extremely well "dressed", with pretty much all the options you can have on an SL Roadster today. The Nappa White Porcelain leather is gorgeous, while the heated and ventilated seats with massage function and Airscarf (blows warm air to the back of your neck during cooler spring/autumn days) are delightful. The seats tighten up around you as you go around corners, offering excellent lateral support, and the Magic Sky Control system darkens the roof for you during those extremely sunny days when you have your top up. That's a €2,550 optional extra by the way.
Another reason why the SL stands out as opposed to some of its rivals is the hardtop, which can open or close in less than 20 seconds. Then you've got the optional Harman Kardon audio system which offers impeccable high fidelity sound at all times.
I could go as far as to call the SL's interior a masterpiece of German engineering. Even if you demand more practicality from your roadster, there are plenty of storage places. Cup holders? Just pop open that compartment in front of the shifter. Otherwise you've got the glove box, another compartment in the armrest and another glove box behind your seat. Luggage-wise, there are 356 liters worth of room in the boot with the top up and 235 liters with the top down. Either way, not bad.
Performance
As I said in the beginning, Mercedes-Benz went from a naturally aspirated V6 (SL 350) to a twin turbo V6 (SL 400). This unit is good for 333 HP and 480 Nm (354 lb ft) of torque, which in turn means that you can go from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.2 seconds. The 7G-Tronic transmission helps too, obviously.
However, the 5.2 seconds are a bit misleading to be honest. Even with all the electronics set to 'Sport', you'll never really feel that the car genuinely takes off from a standstill. Yes, it could have used an all-wheel drive system or a more aggressive set up to its transmission and engine mapping. The SL will never let you forget that it's as fast as it is comfortable.
Still, when you do floor it, after the first 2-3 meters the twin turbocharged V6 will jump over 4,000 rpm and the asphalt beneath you is going to beg for its life - and once that happens, you'll realize just how fast this car really is. Whatever you may have thought about the 333 HP, get ready to go back to school on that one. If this wasn't a twin-turbo unit, we wouldn't be having this "conversation", but because it is and because it's so brilliant, it will make you feel like you're accelerating in a naturally aspirated V8 car.
It's magnificent. It's such an amazing engine, especially for an entry-level model - this is what boggles the mind. It's hard to extract this type of performance from just 333 HP, because when your car weighs over 1,700 kg (~3,750 pounds), you'll want to have somewhere around 400 HP in order to get to 100 km/h in about 4.8 or 4.9 seconds. The SL400 won't top the 5 second mark because of the way in which it's set up. Once you're moving though, once you're already off the line, it feels really fast. It's hard to compare this with something else, but honestly it reminded me of the E92 BMW M3 from about 30km/h to over 100km/h. Such a spectacular power unit this is.
As for the engine noise, it's really impressive. With this car, the real music comes from the engine and the exhaust, not from the speakers.
Now let's put all these performance figures into perspective:
- BMW 640i Cabrio: 3.0 liters S6, 320 HP, 450Nm, 0-100km/h in 5.5 sec, 7.9 liters/100km avg, 1,915kg
As you can see, the SL 400's peak torque is a lot closer to what you get from a naturally aspirated V8 model than any regular V6. And the performance figures, along with the price tag, the fuel economy, the way it sounds, the way it accelerates and the way it looks, means that the SL 400 is pretty much a 'best-buy', looking at this group of cars.
The only reason why you'd go for a 640i Cabrio would be for some extra room (it has two seats in the back). OK yes it does cost a little less in some markets, but once you click on a few options all of that goes away.
As for the 911 Carrera Cabrio, the only reason why you'd get one over the SL 400 is the extra agility. You can argue that it looks a little better too, but it won't feel as premium as the SL, or as comfortable.
The Maserati GranCabrio, to me never felt as agile as its direct rivals. The SL feels a lot more alive on the road, since it's a lighter car as well. The Maserati however does sound much better (almost demonic) and feels stiffer to drive.
The SL 400 is very playful on the road if you're in the mood for that sort of thing. Its electronic brain will keep you honest even when you push harder than you should. Still, it's almost impossible not to lose grip when you accelerate and the steering wheel is turned either way. But that's how it should be. All of this makes the SL a very easy to drive car. Respect the fact that it has rear wheel drive and the fact that the 480 Nm of torque need a dry road in order to be happy and you won't have any problems.
But most of all, respect the comfort level and way in which it can take you from point A to point B. You can leave the transmission in ECO mode and the suspension on Comfort and you'll hardly feel some of the road bumps. It's almost like driving a C-Class.
Bottom Line
I've already mentioned the price tag - €100,812. However this particular car had all those optional extras which bumped its worth up to €128,209. It's not cheap but hey, it's an SL Roadster, not an A180 CDI.
What Mercedes-Benz has done with this car is nothing short of amazing. They've managed to build an entry-level SL that can take on cars which until recently could have been challenged only by the likes of the SL 500. The old SL 350 couldn't handle a 911 or a Maserati GranCabrio. The SL 400 can and makes it look easy.
Bottom line, well, odds are that no matter where you live, nobody's going to build you a better roadster than Mercedes-Benz in terms of value. An Aston-Martin is a lot more expensive and the Ferrari California will shake when up against the 1,000 Nm of torque of the SL 65 AMG.
As for our SL 400, all I can say is that I love everything about it. It looks great, it goes like the wind, it sounds awesome, it revs like a naturally aspirated V8, its cabin is top notch and it's as comfortable as a soft bed when you need it to be.
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