hardwheels: September 2014

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Future Cars: Hyundai’s All-New 2016 Elantra Compact Sedan

Compact sedans don’t usually stir the soul for us motoring-minded enthusiasts out there, as buyers of models like the Toyota Corolla, tend to tick boxes labeled ‘economy, price, a-to-b transport and follow the sheep’.
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Carscoops' A to Z Guide to the 2014 Paris Motor Show [Updated]

One of the world’s great motor shows kicked off in Paris on October 2 (for the press) showcasing the latest in production cars and concept models.
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Aston Martin Drops New Photos of Lagonda Saloon

Aston Martin has removed the very last bits of camouflage on its all-new Lagonda luxury saloon sharing the first official photos of the final production model.
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Why You Should Think Twice Before Buying a Broken or Totaled Tesla Model S

It seems Tesla’s unique way of selling its cars, which has everything always go through the company directly (and not through dealers) is causing new problems. This time, a man who bought a totaled Model S, which he fixed up and is now road worthy, cannot drive his car because the manufacturer doesn’t want him to.
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Honda's 2015 CR-V Facelift for Europe Gets New 160PS 1.6L Diesel

It’s raining freshened-up Honda CR-Vs today, as after the release of the production 2015MY for North America, the Japanese firm has presented the European market model, albeit as a thinly disguised prototype.
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U Spy: Is There Anything Different About These Ford F-150s?

Ford is currently demonstrating the new aluminum-intensive 2015 F-150 to dealership personnel and consumers across the States, but it's not yet done with testing, as it seems.
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The 2015 Ford Mustang Passes the Tech Test

Everyone is talking about the performance of the 2015 Ford Mustang, but it's also the most technologically advanced Mustang ever.
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Analysts Don’t Expect Fiat 500X to Cannibalize Sales from Jeep Renegade

They may be built in the same plant and based on the same platform, but apparently the Jeep Renegade and the Fiat 500X will not step on each others toes.
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New Citroen C3-XR Small SUV Wears its Production Outfit

Just a few months after Citroen presented the C3-XR Concept at the Beijing Auto Show, the French have announced the production version of the small SUV that will go on sale in China this December.
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New Opel Corsa OPC / Vauxhall Corsa VXR Scooped With Little Camo

Opel / Vauxhall needs to get its Corsa OPC / VXR right in order to compete with the supermini hot hatch class leading contenders.
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That's No Way To Treat a Rolls Royce Wraith, Or Is It…

The power-sliding duo from Tax the Rich are back with a new video, this time hooning a $284,900 Rolls Royce Wraith coupe around the backyard (if you can call it that) of an English mansion.
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Jaguar Mulling Bolder Styling Approach; Will Skip XF, Not XJ

Bold is not what you’d call the styling and design effort put into the all-new Jaguar XE compact exec. Bold is not what you will be calling the upcoming XF, as it will feature a variation of the XE’s design, but you will be tempted to use the epithet for the next-gen XJ.
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Scoop: Is Honda Softening the Looks of 2015 Civic Type R?

While Honda's PR teams are preparing for the Paris Motor Show debut of the latest Civic Type Concept, their engineers are in Germany testing a prototype near the Nürburgring.
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Well, That Was Unexpected of You Dear Matiz

A dashcam recorded an unforeseen (?) accident when a Chevrolet / Daewoo Matiz skimmed through the road before hitting the curb and toppled over, narrowly missing a pedestrian.
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Dacia Launches High-Spec “Midnight Edition” Sandero in the UK

The Dacia Sandero is a fairly bland car to look at, but if you choose one in a dark color and specify (or add your own) alloys it’s really not that bad. If you fancy the look, you can get one like that straight from the manufacturer now, with the Midnight Edition model that’s just been launched in the UK.
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New Skoda Fabia Combi Officially Revealed, Comes with 530L Boot

Skoda has officially yanked the covers off the new generation Fabia Combi that will join the hatchback model in a world premiere at the 2014 Paris Auto Show.
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Regular Car Review Explains Desirability of First-Gen Toyota 4Runner

The loss of soul and character is an issue that not only plagues regular road cars, but also vehicles of with more pronounced off-road inclinations. For instance, RegularCarReviews says there is nothing quite like the 1986 Toyota 4Runner, the first generation of the model.
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VW Confirms New Passat Alltrack for Next Year

A jacked-up version of VW's new Passat B8 with the usual crossover styling references and the Alltrack designation will join the saloon and estate models next year.
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Last 50 Years Limited Edition Ford Mustang Fetches $170,000 [w/Video]

While not quite a one-off as the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat VIN #0001, there was another special pony car at Barrett-Jackson’s latest auction in Las Vegas.
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What Do You Think About a Lime Green Ferrari 458 Spider?

Most people associate green lime with cocktails and tropical vacations or at the very best, with 1970s muscle cars and Italian concepts, but not so much with modern Ferraris - even though Jay Kay might disagree.
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Local Motors Chooses Design for First Sports car, Sets About Making It

In Local Motors’ tradition of asking for a design and then waiting for people to contribute their designs, the company has chosen a look for its upcoming sports car. Now that it’s been picked, the next step is to start trying to figure out ways to make it into a real car.
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A Jaguar XFR-S Also Crashed at UK's Gumball Meet!

As it turns out, the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG we showed you earlier today wasn't the only high-po saloon to crash at Sunday's Gumball Meet in Manchester; a Jaguar XFR-S also bit the dust.
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All-New Ford Mondeo Priced from £20,795 in the UK [New Photos & Videos]

Ford has announced that the all-new Mondeo is available to order in the UK, with the new model being available in five-door, four-door (hybrid only) and estate body styles. Prices for the all-new model start from £20,795 (€26,670).
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Go-Fast Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Gumballer Chasing Audi Crashes Into Sign

A participant at this past Sunday's Gumball Meet in Manchester, UK, crashed his creamy white Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG into a pole while chasing / fooling around with an Audi RS4 Avant.
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New Skoda Fabia Combi Breaks Cover

One of our readers discovered the first photos of the all-new Skoda Fabia Combi prior to the compact estate's world debut at the Paris Auto Show this Thursday.
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IMSA Gives Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG 710-Horses to Play With

IMSA's tune for the new Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG may look subtle on the outside, but it packs a 720PS (710hp) and 1,080Nm (796 lb-ft) punch under the bonnet.
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Facelifted 2015 Honda CR-V with Updated Engine from $23,320* [146 Photos]

Honda has released full details on its updated 2015 CR-V for the US market, with the big news being the heavily revised 2.4-liter i-VTEC engine that produces 11 percent more torque.
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ARK Performance Creates 550HP Hyundai Genesis as a BMW M5 Rival

US tuning specialist ARK Performance has released the first details about its Genesis AR550 sedan that will debut at the 2014 SEMA show with performance and styling upgrades.
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Monday, September 29, 2014

BMW i8 vs Ford Mustang EcoBoost: Which Fakes its Engine Sounds Better?

BMW's i8 and Ford's new 4-Cylinder Mustang EcoBoost are as different as a glass of Pinot Grigio and a pint of beer, but they do have at least one thing in common.
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Hey 2015 Kia Sorento, Those are Some Fine VW Taillights you have There!

The third-gen Kia Sorento has been out for nearly two months now. However, it was only when our reader Ryzer pointed it out and YipYap complimented it with an actual photo, that we realized the striking similarity between its rear lights and those of new-ish VWs.
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Mercedes-AMG Performance Studio Crafts Unique C63 AMG Edition 507 for Australia

Mercedes-AMG’s Performance Studio has released photos of an exclusive model built for Mercedes-Benz Australia, a one-off C 63 AMG Edition 507.
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New Corvette Stingray's Valet Mode Could Be Illegal In Your State

A feature in the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette is facing legal scrutiny not because of speed, but because of privacy concerns.
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Low Rider Miata Needs a Lift and a Push

You know you've slammed your ride way too low when you need to take out the car jack and ask Big Abe for a helping hand to cross over a measly driveway.
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Watch How Jay Leno Had His McLaren P1 Protected from Paint Chips

Stone chips are some of the most annoying aspects of owning a car, right up there with key scratches and bird poop. But there are solutions to avoid paint and windshield damage from small stones, with the protective film being the most effective.
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Cadillac Reportedly Readying Sub-ATS Model to Rival Mercedes CLA

Cadillac is slowly trying to reestablish itself as a force in the world of premium automobiles. It has shifted its old approach to one that is of the times, with the new ATS and CTS, as well as the Chevy Volt-based ELR plug-in.
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These Bikers Must Have a Death Wish

A motorcyclist recorded his friend on a Yamaha R1 escaping a deadly situation for inches while attempting to overtake a Kia Sorento.
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Rolls-Royce Says its SUV Would Redefine the Segment if it Builds One

While Bentley is only two years away from releasing its first SUV, Rolls-Royce is more cautious about its entry to the segment, with a decision on this subject not taken yet.
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This is Lexus' New GS F with a 5.0-liter V8 and Around 500HP

Lexus is finishing tests on its new high-performance GS F, which according to some sources, may debut as early as this fall at the 2014 LA Auto Show.
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Reborn Brabham Team Turns to Crowdfunding

Aussie Jack Brabham was the first (and so far only) driver to win an F1 championship in a self-built car. The feat seems unimaginable to beat nowadays, but at least the Brabham racing team has been reborn, with a fresh twist on the old formula and Jack’s son David at the helm.
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First 2015 BMW M3 to Arrive in the US Tuned to 580HP

The first example of the new F80 BMW M3 to step onto US soil has become a test bed of sorts for a number of tuners including MORR Wheels, which has shared these photos with us.
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New 2016 Chevy Camaro Shows its True Body in Latest Scoop

GM surprised us today at the Nürburgring where it brought along a 2016 Chevrolet Camaro prototype without the heavy camouflage of the previous testers.
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Audi Driver Bumping Into Suzuki Has Some Serious Issues

Nobody and nothing gets into the way of this Audi A5 Sportback driver when he wants to change highway lanes.
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Volkswagen Golf Sportsvan Alltrack, Anybody?

VW would probably make a higher-riding version of its new Golf Sportsvan (SV) minivan if they were not aware of it eating into Tiguan sales. They’d really have no reason not to, especially since there are rival companies that are already doing it – Renault Scenic XMOD is an example.
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