Chrysler Pacifica Hellcat

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is building a Hellcat-powered Pacifica minivan! That’s what Ralph Gilles, FCA’s Head of Design, tells TopSpeed in an exclusive phone interview. The automaker, with the help of SRT’s engineering team, will produce the heavily modified family-hauler for the 2017 model year.

You may recall Gilles’ January Instagram post of a hand-drawn sketch showing a low-slung Pacifica-looking vehicle with low-profile tires on large wheels and pronounced aerodynamic features. The post, which has received more than 700 likes and 60 comments, started the Pacifica Hellcat rumors.

“The Instagram post was something done in pure fun over dinner,” Gilles said in the phone interview. “But it quickly turned into something else. It made the email rounds here at the office and soon ended up in Sergio’s inbox.” Gilles laughed, saying he thought he was in trouble when FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne called him into his office. “Mr. Marchionne didn’t sound amused when he paged me, but when I walked in his office, he had my sketch printed out. ‘Can you build it?’ he asked. I told him ‘absolutely.’” Gilles admitted the project requires a sizeable investment, both in cash and engineering hours.

SRT’s engineering team is handling the project. The Pacifica‘s chassis is being completely reworked in order to fit the Hellcat V-8, eight-speed automatic transmission, and AWD configuration. Gilles says the powertrain is borrowed from the upcoming Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk – itself a Hellcat-powered SUV with AWD.

Though the final design hasn’t been set in stone, Gilles did give us a few ideas how the high-powered minivan will look. “It’s the perfect sleeper,” he chuckled during the candid conversation. We then had our in-house designer construct what the Pacifica Hellcat might look like. There’s also more details about the vehicle past the page break.

Continue reading to learn more about the Chrysler Pacifica Hellcat.

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Tesla Model 3 first look

Tesla Motors’ [NSDQ:TSLA] Model 3 has been making headlines for the past several years but now it’s finally here. The BMW 3-Series-rivaling electric sports sedan was revealed tonight in Hawthorne, California and Tesla has been taking pre-orders since early this morning. According to Tesla, it's already racked up over 115,000...

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BMW M4 by Mcchip-DKR

When BMW released the M4 back in 2014, it officially became the poster car for fans of the company’s M division. Two years later and the M4 has proven worthy of carrying that mantle for BMW. But let’s face it, a good car shouldn’t settle for good. Likewise, a better car shouldn’t stop there either, if it can be the best. Part of that responsibility lies with aftermarket tuners who make their bread by giving cars like the M4 the upgrades it needs to further stand out from the crowd.

We’ve seen some fancy and powerful kits for the M4 and the latest one figures to be no different. This one comes by way of Mcchip-DKR, the same tuning company that has been responsible for past programs for the Mercedes C63 AMG, Audi R8, and Porsche Panamera. Suffice to say, Mcchip knows its way around German performance cars, a category that the M4 surely belongs to.

For this program, Mcchip focused exclusively on the M4’s 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine and gave it a noticeable performance improvement. That’s the long and short of it, which tells you where the tuner’s attention really was. In the end, the M4 got what it needed as it’s now faster and more powerful than any of its standard counterparts.

The question is: does this kit stack up against what other tuners have done for the M4?

Continue after the jump to read the full review.

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Mechanic Dies After Crashing Russian MMA fighter's Lamborghini

It’s one thing to own or drive a vehicle like the Lamborghini Murcielago, and it’s another to push yourself and the car beyond the limit. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened recently when two men were transporting Russian MMA fighter Adam Yandiev’s Murcielago to a repair shop.

The driver, who was a Mechanic at a workshop in Moscow, was killed instantly. The passenger, who was found to be breathing but unconscious at the scene was transported to a hospital where, as of the time of this writing, he was alive but still in a coma. As you can see from the image, the car had to have been travelling at a high rate of speed at the time of impact, as the car was almost cut in half by the lamp pole.

We were able to find a video from the scene that was recorded from a GoPro camera on a motorcycle rider’s helmet. In the video description, the poster claims that an iron base column was bounced more than 90 feet away from the vehicle in the event of the collision. When the rider arrives at the scene, debris is seen pretty far away from the car itself.

Note: If you’re going to watch the video, be aware that it is quite graphic, as both passengers are still in the vehicle during the recording, and emergency personnel had yet to arrive. If you have a weak stomach or have children around, you might want to skip watching this one.

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Mitsubishi Using Military Technology To Develop Self-Driving Cars

About two decades ago, most automakers were investing their money and energy into hybrid and all-electric technology. Now that nearly all important automakers offer at least one vehicle that can be labeled as green, autonomous driving has surfaced as the new trend and probably the next big thing in the automotive industry. Several companies have announced plans to develop self-driving cars, including General Motors, Nissan, Tesla, Mercedes-Benz, and even Google. Now, Mitsubishi is now looking to join in on the (costly) fun.

And, needless to say, the Japanese brand is taking a slightly different route compared to it competitors.

According to Bloomberg, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, one of the core companies of Mitsubishi and a supplier of air-to-air missiles to Japan’s armed forces, is adapting technologies it developed for military use to help self-driving cars detect obstacles and avoid collisions.

Speaking at a Mitsubishi test course for autonomous vehicles in Ako city, Katsumi Adachi, the Senior Chief Engineer at Mitsubishi’s automotive equipment division, said that the company is working to adapt systems such as millimeter-wave radars, sonars, sensors, and cameras developed to guide missiles.

"All we have to do is to put together the components that we already have. None of our competitors have such a wide array of capabilities, said Adachi, adding that he is confident Mitsubishi will be able to offer a system superior to those developed by Continental, Denso Corp, and Hitach Automotive, which have a head start in the business.

Details as to what Mitsubishi is planning to bring to the market are scant, but Adachi said Mitsubishi’s system will arrive next year and will benefit from the company’s expertise in high-precision sensors and electric power steering technology.

Continue reading for the full story.

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Peugeot 208 XS Special Edition

The Peugeot 208 was first unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show as a replacement for the Peugeot 207, and by February of 2016, the production hit a total of 300,000 examples. It initially started out as a three-door hatchback, but was later produced as a five-door hatchback as well. In the short time that it has been in production, it has spawned several other variants like the Peugeot 208 T16 Pike Peak Racecar, Peugeot 208 GTi, and GTi Sport, and the Peugeot 208 R, which slots in above the GTi trim level.

Back in 2014, Peugeot introduced the Peugeot 208 GTi 30th anniversary edition that was designed to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Peugeot 205 GTi. Now with 2016 well underway, Peugeot is announcing the Peugeot 208 XS Special Edition – a model that is said to enhance personalization and increased desirability. If you’re interested in obtaining one of these special-edition models, you might want to get in touch with your local dealer quickly. Produced is limited to just 2,000 examples and is already available for order.

The Peugeot 208 XS Special Edition is said to have a decent list of standard features and a choice of various colors and exterior personalization packs. So, with that said, let’s take a closer look at it and go over the details.

Continue reading to learn more about the Peugeot 208 XS Special Edition.

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New Top Gear Series First Trailer Released: Video

Since Top Gear dropped Jeremy Clarkson over an altercation, there has been a pretty steady flow of news. A lot of news involved the famous trio from Top Gear moving to a new show with Amazon, but lately, we’ve seen a lot of news about Top Gear’s continuation, with the most recent being BBC’s official reveal of the six new hosts that will be presenting the show when it kicks off this May.

Now, Top Gear has released its first teaser trailer. It has gotten a lot of negative feedback from viewers since it posted, with most claiming the show won’t be the same, and a few even said they won’t even check out the new Top Gear. Regardless, this teaser shows that there may be an interesting season coming and, with any hope, it will be just as entertaining as it was before.

This official teaser trailer is only a minute long, but in that one minute, we can see a number of cars that the new team will play with during their first season together including the McLaren 675LT, a Ferrari F12tdf, and the Ariel Nomad. It even looks like Sabine Schmitz gives Chris Evans the ride of his life. Regardless of how you feel about the new Top Gear, give it a shot and check out the teaser. Sure, it won’t be the same as it was, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be an entertaining show to watch. I think you’ll find the new trailer entertaining, so go ahead and click play. You’ll be happy you did.

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Forza Franchise To Become PC-Compatible Moving Forward

Excuse the pun, but the Forza video game franchise is all set to expand its horizon after Turn 10 Studios announced that all future Forza games will be made available on both the Xbox and PC. The game’s availability on the latter platform is the big news here as past titles of the Forza racing franchise have only been made available on the Xbox. Turn 10’s arrival on the PC coincides with the franchise’s first foray into Windows 10 with the release of Forza 6 Apex, a free-to-play version of Forza 6 that’s scheduled for a spring 2016 release.

Forza 6 Apex, or just Apex, as it’s referred to by the folks at Turn 10, is the first game under the franchise that will be made available to PC. It will also be the first Forza game that will be developed using Microsoft’s new Universal Windows Platform, a game development tool that studios can use to build games that will be compatible across all devices that run on Windows 10. One of the platform’s biggest features, at least as far as Apex is concerned, is the game’s ability to run at 60 frames per second to go with a 4K resolution. Turn 10 Studio Software Architect Chris Tector calls it the highest level of fidelity in the history of the Forza video game franchise.

All this points to an important expansion for the Forza franchise, one that will see it expand its availability past the walls of the Xbox. At the very least, those who don’t own an Xbox One will now have the opportunity to experience the thrill of the Forza franchise through their own PC units.

Continue after the jump to read the full story.

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Tanner Foust rampages all over San Diego in a Polaris Slingshot

Tanner Foust can really drive. It's almost like the Formula Drift and Rallycross champion made a deal with the devil to be so good at it. While that is (probably) not true, Foust did make a deal with Mad Media to rip around San Diego in a three-wheel Polaris Slingshot SL. But this isn't just any Slingshot. The General Motors' sourced 2.4-liter...

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BMW debuts new exclusive 7-Series editions

BMW has taken the wraps off of a pair of new special edition models of its flagship 7-Series sedan: The Solitaire Edition and the Master Class Edition. Just a handful will be built—six examples of the Solitaire and a single Master Class—but the two models are closely linked to each other, differing only in exterior color paint. Both...

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Shelby Daytona Coupe

Caroll Shelby cherished one dream while racing in Europe and North and South America throughout the 1950s; building the world’s fastest sports car. By 1956 he had already come up with a name for his car, it would be called the Cobra. Soon after his 1959 victory at the 24 Hours of LeMans for Aston Martin, Shelby was struck by heart problems. Reluctant to do so, he was forced to give up racing as a driver. This lifestyle setback turned out for the best, however, as Shelby had the opportunity to pursue his Cobra-building dreams.

A few years earlier and on the other side of the globe, John Tojeiro designed a small sports car, which sold under the AC Ace name. The open-top car was a simple tube-frame chassis with a Bristol 2.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine derived from the BMW M328 engine. The lightweight combination made the Ace a moderately successful racer. However, its success was jeopardized when BMW began phasing out the 2.0-liter. Other engines were tested, including American V-8s, but the AC Ace’s future seemed dim. So dim in fact, Tojeiro decided to end production of the car.

That’s when Shelby heard about the AC Ace and its lightweight design. He immediately contacted AC, along with his long-time associates at Ford Motor Company. He convinced AC to continue constructing the Ace and Ford to supply special versions of its Fairlane engine for installation in the AC chassis. Shelby and his team of engineers and builders shoehorned the V-8 into an AC at Shelby’s Venice, California shop. Of course, these early AC Ace cars were the roadsters that became known as the Shelby AC Cobra. The cars enjoyed a successful racing career, but could never outrun Enzo Ferrari, Shelby’s longtime Le Means rival, and his Ferrari 250 GTO.

That’s where the Shelby Daytona Coupe comes in. Shelby had Pete Brock design a more aerodynamic body for the AC Ace – one that would allow for higher top speeds at Le Mans’ Mulsanne Straight. The design worked, allowing the coupe to hit 190 mph. The car’s debut race would be the 1964 Daytona Continental 2000 at the famed Daytona international Speedway in Florida.

Continue reading for the full review

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Nürburgring Removes Speed Limits At Nordschleife

Last year, during the VLN endurance race at the Nürburgring, a spectator was killed after the No. 23 Nissan GT-R GT3 went airborne at the Flugplatz portion of the track. This accident resulted in a speed limit being applied to the track for safety reason. Initially, the speed limits were only applied race cars, but it didn’t take long for the speed limits to be enforced against manufacturers too, ending all record lap attempts at the circuit.

As early as August of last year we learned that the speed limit would be removed for the 2016 season, but it wasn’t exactly a simple feat. To lift the speed limits, 1,500 feet worth of track has been completely resurfaced to remove bumps, new metallic fences have been installed, and a spectator-free zone has been implemented in the Schwedenkreuz section. The necessary work was completed, and the track was inspected by FIA and DMSB officials earlier this month.

The new safety measures passed with flying colors and track operator – Capricorn Nürburgring GmbH – has received new track licensing from the FIA and DMSB. The license from the FIA is a Grade 3 license and is good for three years while the BMSB license for national events is good for one year. The most important part, however, is that the track is now able to lift the speed limits on the track.

Manfred Strack, the Head of Event Management for the Nürburgring, said, “With these safety measures and the two new licenses we have created the prerequisites for an exciting racing season that will hopefully see no accidents, and we are glad that the speed limits are finally a thing of the past.”

Continue reading for the full story.

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Meet "Robocar" - The First Concept Car For The Upcoming Roborace Series

In late 2015, it was announced that a new racing series with autonomous cars will be launched in 2016. It will be called Roborace and will act as a support series for the all-electric Formula E championship. With the next Formula E season only six months away, more details about the series and the self-driving race car are now available.

Although actual specs of the vehicle are still under wraps, Roborace announced its chief design officer as Daniel Simon. Known for his work as a vehicle concept designer on Hollywood films "Tron: Legacy and Oblivion", as well as his popular "Cosmic Motors" book, Simon has also designed a number of road-going vehicles, race car liveries, and even motorcycles. Notable projects include several cars for Seat and Lamborghini under the supervision of Walter de Silva, the Bugatti Veyron Hermes, the Lotus C-01 motorcycle, and the liveries of the Lotus LMP2 and Hispania Racing F1 cars.

At Roborace, the 41-year-old was tasked with creating the all-electric car that will bring autonomous technology to the race track. Although the self-driving vehicle is still under development, Roborace has already published photos of the prototype. Not surprisingly, given Simon’s previous work, the Robocar looks as futuristic as they get. It mixes the familiar design of Formula E cars with a bit of the Chevrolet Chaparral 2X VGT concept, with some wild results. Devoid of a traditional cockpit, this thing looks like a rocket with fenders and wheels. It makes me wish current Formula One and Formula E single-seaters had a similar design.

The setup might change, however, as Roborace moves closer to its debut season. According to Simon, the cars will be modified to include active body parts that are "more organic and seamless than solutions today." Details are scant, but expect some groundbreaking technology to evolve from this. No info as to what will motivate the self-driving race car, but it could receive a drivetrain similar to that used in Formula E cars.

Continue reading for the full story.

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Pagani Teases Mystery Huayra: Video

It’s been less than a month since Pagani introduced the hardcore Huayra BC at the 2016 Geneva Auto Show, and the Italian supercar maker is already working on a new iteration of its AMG-powered machine. The news comes straight from Pagani itself, which just released a 30-second video teaser through its official YouTube channel. And, while the clip doesn’t reveal much about this upcoming model, it’s intriguing to say the least.

We already know that Pagani is preparing a roadster version of the sold-out coupe, but we’re 100-percent sure that the model in the teaser is something different. First, because the supercar appears to sport a hood scoop, which can’t be fitted on a convertible and would make for an awkward design on a targa. Second, Pagani says the vehicle was crafted for Refined Marques, a British supercar dealer known for selling Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Bugatti models, among products from other brands.

That being said, this could very well be a bespoke Huayra that’s either based on the BC or built to a new configuration. The fact that the standard Huayra is already sold out makes a good case for this scenario. Then there’s the roof scoop, which is a novelty for the Huayra and an element Pagani previously offered on track-only supercars such as the Zonda R. That’s not to say Horacio is necessarily working on a race-ready Huayra, but whatever this is, it should sit atop the Huayra BC in terms of power and aerodynamics.

All we can do for now is wait for more details, but the massive amount of carbon-fiber and the "transparent" blue shown in the teaser suggest that something really exciting is on the way.

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Aston Martin DB11 Receiving Massive Pre-Orders

Aston Martin may have struck a gold mine with the recently introduced DB11. That was the tone laid out by CEO Andy Palmer when he told The Motoring Report at the Australian Grand Prix that more than 1,400 customers have already pre-ordered the DB11 despite the British automaker not yet releasing the car’s full specs.

The massive interest in the DB11 can be attributed to a lot of things, but given what we know about the car so far, the two most obvious sources of attention are the car’s overall aesthetic design and it’s 5.2-liter twin-turbocharged V-12 engine that pumps out 600 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Customers who know the nitty gritty details about their cars are likely to have appreciated the fact that the DB11 also comes with a new-generation chassis, suspension, steering, and technology, the last of which comes with the assistance of technology partner Daimler.

With many of the specifics still unknown, the notion the DB11 is already getting significant attention can be considered a massive coup for Aston Martin. The British automaker isn’t particularly known for having unlimited resources, so when one of its cars gets this kind of attention, it’s something that the company should be proud of.

If anything, Aston Martin’s goal for the DB11 to be its resident GT car is off to a great start. The kind of interest is generating gives the automaker the confidence to believe that its plan for the car to appeal to a broader consumer base is working flawlessly.

Aston Martin’s duty now is to ensure the DB11 will justify the massive demand it’s generating. No pressure, right Dr. Palmer?

Continue after the jump to read the full story.

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Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe Inferno by TopCar

When BMW launched the X6 back in 2008, many thought that Mercedes-Benz would be quick to follow with a model of its own. Turns out, the three-pointed star was more than content to give the X6 an unimpeded run, thinking that it would run its course in due time. Well, for better or for worse, the X6 lives on. In fact, it has actually become one of BMW’s most important SUVs, something Mercedes finally admitted when it launched the GLE-Class in 2015, seven years after X6 broke cover.

As long overdue as the GLE’s arrival was, aftermarket companies evidently didn’t mind it one bit. In the short time that it’s been around, a handful of tuners have already built programs for different variants of the coupe-SUV. Wheelandmore has one. Mansory has one. Brabus has two. Even Topcar, the Russian tuner that’s made a business of tuning Porsches and naming their programs with weirdly affectionate names, is getting in on the fun.

Its kit, appropriately dubbed the Inferno, comes with all the bells and whistles of a comprehensive tuning program, including an aero kit, a spruced-up interior, and plenty of engine modification options that cover a significant population of the GLE family. Granted, it’s not the most powerful GLE program we’ve seen, nor is it the most audacious to look at. But it is complete, right down to the wheel options and the crocodile leather.

Those things count for something, especially when you’re dealing with a vehicle that still has that figurative "new car smell" label attached to it.

Continue after the jump to read the full review.

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Nissan Micra

The Nissan Micra hit the Japanese market in October of 1982 with the purpose of competing against the Honda City and the Toyota Starlet, and as a replacement for the growing Nissan Cherry, which had outgrown the supermini sector. Since its initial debut, it has seen four different generations with the most recent debuting in 2010. The Micra has received a mid-cycle facelift since then, but it’s about time for another generational overhaul, and Nissan is already in the testing phase.

What we’re looking at here is what we believe to be the fifth-generation Micra, and even though it is under heavy camo and padding, it looks like it will be dramatic redesign over the current model. Sources have indicated that the new Micra will use the CMF B platform that has been developed within the Renault-Nissan alliance, which will also underpin the next-generation Nissan Juke.

As you can see from a glance, the new Micra will likely borrow some design cues from the Nissan Pulsar and the Nissan Sway concept that we saw last year at the Geneva Auto Show. We expect the new Micra to make its official debut later this year at the Paris Auto Show, but there is no official word on its release. Until Nissan does pull the sheet off its redesigned Micra, let’s take a look at the spy shots and see what we can make out.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2017 Nissan Micra.

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IIHS says most cars need better headlights

When seeing at night becomes difficult, many people blame their own eyes. But car headlights may really be the problem, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which just released its first-ever headlight ratings. Headlights are getting more advanced, with LEDs and other new features going mainstream, and even more advanced...

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Pagani teases special Huayra in new video

Pagani has just unveiled its Huayra BC which we’re told is already sold out. However, Pagani has another special Huayra coming down the line, one built for exotic car dealership Refined Marques. You may remember Refined Marques as being the dealership that—most likely falsely—claimed to have a Lamborghini Veneno for sale within...

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Lamborghini looks to karting for future race drivers

Lamborghini is diving deeper into the world of motorsports. Its Squadra Corse division aims to assist drivers across a range of disciplines, with the hopes that someday those drivers will be piloting GT3 cars bearing the mark of the bull. There's a Lamborghini driver development program that starts with current owners and sees them progress up...

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Lamborghini looks to karting for future race drivers

Lamborghini is diving deeper into the world of motorsports. Its Squadra Corse division aims to assist drivers across a range of disciplines, with the hopes that someday those drivers will be piloting GT3 cars bearing the mark of the bull. There's a Lamborghini driver development program that starts with current owners and sees them progress up...

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Bugatti Chiron spotted on the streets of New York City

Bugatti’s new hypercar to replace the Veyron, the 1,480-horsepower Chiron, made its world debut earlier in the month at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. The car was absent during last week’s 2016 New York Auto Show but it wasn’t far as the same blue example we saw in Geneva was recently spotted in the Big Apple. This photo comes to us...

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Autonomous racing coming, Bugatti Chiron in NYC, Mercedes E-Class Wagon spied: Car News Headlines

The first race series with fully autonomous cars has been announced, but it’s not years away from starting but mere months. The new series is called Roborace and today we got a preview of the car that will be competing in it. Bugatti’s new Chiron has been spotted in New York City. The car was likely being presented to potential...

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2016 Ford Explorer, 2015-2016 Lincoln MKC recalled to replace engine block heaters

Ford Motor Company is recalling roughly 5,500 SUVs to fix a problem with their engine block heaters. Affected models include the 2016 Ford Explorer and the 2015-2016 Lincoln MKC. Ford says that the existing heaters on those vehicles can overheat due to the design of the engine block itself. Overheating is most likely to occur when vehicles are...

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2017 Chrysler Pacifica, autonomous racing, Tesla Model 3: What’s New @ The Car Connection

From The Car Connection: 2017 Chrysler Pacifica review The minivan was invented in the 1980s. Since then, the reputation's been the same. We call them big-box bores. They’re functional to a fault, but sporty? No, not really. Sexy? Not so much. Honda helps develop a pocket-sized breathalyzer Agencies at every level of government spend a lot...

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Here’s the first trailer for new season of "Top Gear"

Here’s your first official taste of the new season of Top Gear. The famous trio made up of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May is no longer there but from what we can gather from this short teaser trailer is that the show will still pack some awesome machinery, a few laughs and plenty of outrageous driving. The list of cars...

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Roborace autonomous race car concept revealed

The first race between fully autonomous cars is coming—and much soon than you think. A championship called Roborace is being established and if all goes to plan will host its first race later this year. Roborace will be an exhibition-style event supporting the Formula E Championship and hosting up to 10 teams, each with a pair of fully...

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1965 Ford Shelby GT350 among rare muscle headed to Mecum Indianapolis auction

We’re fast approaching Mecum Auction’s Spring Classic event which once again is taking place in Indianapolis. The event runs May 19-21 and is set to include some very rare muscle including this 1965 Ford Motor Company [NYSE:F] Shelby GT350. It’s one of the original 100 1965 Shelby GT350s that Shelby American built for SCCA...

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App demystifies stoplight timing; could it ease your commute?

Would you regularly use an app that can advise you whether or not you’ll make that next traffic light along your route? Live data from traffic lights will soon be used by vehicles’ onboard navigation systems, so that they’ll be able to advise you on your speed to best glide through the most green lights without stops and starts...

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Nürburgring speed limits finally lifted

Following the death of a spectator in a crash that took place during a race held at the Nürburgring early last year, speed limits were introduced at sections of the track. This put an end to the possibility of setting Nürburgring lap records, though thankfully the limits were only on a temporary basis pending the completion of some...

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Ionic Seven chassis made lighter thanks to bicycle tech

Now that it’s no longer wasting effort and money on a failed Formula One program, British sports car brand Caterham has returned to what it does best: building affordable, lightweight track cars based on the iconic Lotus Seven chassis. Recently, Caterham teamed up with bicycle frame manufacturer Reynolds Technology to devise a new method of...

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2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon spy shots

Mercedes-Benz has already unveiled its next-generation E-Class, albeit so far only in the sedan bodystyle. There are still several variants due such as the high-performance E63 from Mercedes-AMG as well as the new coupe, convertible, long-wheelbase sedan and wagon. It’s the latter that is the focus of our latest spy shots. The longroof...

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Mazda3 Sport Black Special Edition

Launched in 2003 on a platform shared with the Ford Focus, the Mazda3 was generally well received for its performance, handling, and styling. It was often described as feeling like a more expensive compact despite its value-oriented sticker, a feat that continued in the second-generation model as well. After a decade of using Ford underpinnings, the Mazda3 finally received a Mazda-developed platform in 2013, the same year the compact adopted the "KODO: Soul of Motion" design language.

Having already received its mid-cycle facelift for 2016, the third-gen Mazda3 is an exceptional model in a market packed with compacts. It combines standout styling, the latest safety features, a well-appointed interior, excellent dynamics and, more importantly, an affordable sticker. It won’t get better than this until the fourth-gen version arrives in a couple of years, but for the time being Mazda wants to bring more customers to its dealerships by offering more special editions of the compact. The latest in this line is the Sport Black edition.

Based on hatchback model, the Sport Black features sporty exterior enhancements and a generous list of standard features on the inside. The only downside is that this special edition is a U.K.-only vehicle and won’t cross the pond to the U.S. Until Mazda launches a similar model here, let’s have a look at the limited-edition hatch the Brits will find in dealerships starting April 2016.

Continue reading to learn more about the Mazda3 Sport Black Special Edition.

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Ahead of Tesla Model 3 reveal, pre-order frenzy begins for $35k electric car

Tesla Motors—or just Tesla, as it might now prefer to be called—has very closely guarded nearly all the details about its third mass-production all-electric car, the smaller, more affordable Model 3. Tomorrow’s when the Silicon Valley automaker will at last reveal more, and give a first look of this new sedan, which is expected...

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Porsche 911 GT3 RS In Gulf Livery Ends Up In The Water

Porsche’s may be liquid cooled these days, but apparently somebody at the Porsche Centrum Amsterdam dealership in Holland didn’t get the memo of how to properly fill the radiator and coolant tank. Full details have yet to emerge about exactly how these brand new Porsche 911 GT3 RS ended up nose first in the drink, but there are two rumors floating around right now.

At first, it’s easy to imagine a disgruntled employee driving the car of the edge to stick it to the man one last time before a highly fashionable discontinuation of employment. Of course, nothing that dramatic appears to have happened. One rumor blames a mechanic that made a mistake, and the other blames a body guy who was applying a stripe decal. Either way, the pretty Porsche in Gulf Oil livery ended up in a rather awkward parking spot.

According to RTL News, the managing director of Porsche Centrum, Hans Van der Valk, said, “The car was parked on the waterfront and a mechanic made a mistake when trying to get in the vehicle. That is very unfortunate, but it can happen. When there are people, mistakes are made.” Even more interesting is that Van der Valk believes the car can be saved, saying, “Only the tip was in the water and no one was hurt. There’s not much damage.”

Continue reading for the full story.

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