News: Jaguar F-Type Fully Revealed

Jaguar has revealed more details of its highly anticipated F-Type together with more pictures. First things first, if you were disappointed about the F-Type not being a coupe, fret not because a year and a half's time after the cabriolet's production next May, a coupe version will surface.

For now, the F-Type can be had in three choices; F-Type, F-Type S and F-Type V8 S. The most basic F-Type will be powered by a 3.0l V6 engine developing 340 bhp while the S version gets the V6 tuned for a 380 bhp output. The V8 S gets a newly engineered V8 generating 495 bhp and 625 Nm of torque enabling a 0 to 100 km/h sprint time of just 4.2 seconds and a top speed electronically limited to just 300 km/h. The less powerful F-Type S gets the sprint done in 4.9 seconds and its top speed can hit 275 km/h while the basic F-Type manages the century sprint in 5.1 seconds and a top speed of 260 km/h. All versions regardless of their varying engine difference transfer their power to the rear through an 8-speed Quickshift transmission. The F-Type S gets a Dynamic Launch feature though I'm not sure about the rest (I do hope the V8 S gets one too). An all-aluminium double wishbone fits to the front and rear suspension and active exhaust system generating crisp exhaust notes is offered to the S and V8 S as an option. Boxster owners look out.

The interior also sees air vents that hide when the engine goes off, much like the XF's but the rising circular gear selector gets replaced with a conventional stick instead. The rear spoiler can be actively moved and used as an air brake as well while the roof is made out of fabric, reason being it taking little space and is very light. Other than the roof cut off, much of the F-Type reminisce the C-X16's a whole lot and it's a good thing really. Who doesn't like the C-X16?

After all these pictures and a dandy video, fancy one? That's £58,500 (RM 291,829) for the V6, £67,500 (RM 336,726) for the V6 S and £79,950 (RM 398,883) for the V8 S.

News: Porsche Panamera Sports Turismo Reveals More Details

As with the opening of the Paris Motor Show, more is revealed about the striking new Panamera. Previously, no engine details were revealed except for an e-Hybrid badge but Porsche has finally spoken about the powertrain available in this beaut. 

The Sports Turismo will be a hybrid comprising of the current Audi 3.0l supercharged V6 pushing 329 bhp, an upgraded Panamera Hybrid's electric motor putting out 94 bhp and a 9.4 kWh lithium-ion battery. The combined output of 410 bhp allows the car to get from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 6 seconds and return 28.5 km/l of petrol. The car's lithium-ion battery can be charged within 2.5 hours through a high voltage wall-mounted charger. AC I suppose. If you so liken the car to be driven in pure electric mode, a top speed of 130 km/h and 30 km distance can be achieved.

The Panamera Sports Turismo's dimensions differ little from the current one at 1,990 mm wide (61 mm wider), 1,401 mm tall (17 mm lower) and 4,950 mm long (20 mm shorter). Still, it's shorter, wider and lower which makes it a slight bit more aggressive in its stance. Together with the bare carbon roof spoiler, huge air intakes at the front with C-shaped LED lights, 3D rear taillights seen in the video (below) and the bulbous bonnet, wicked sick may not be enough an expression to justify it. Nope, not even sexy.

Live pictures: Carscoop

News: Porsche Panamera Sports Turismo Concept Revealed

If you didn't like the Panamera, you'd be forgiven as it truly was an ugly machine. As ugly as it may seem, it proved to the masses that a family supercar is workable and the Panamera made perfect sense to the really rich who had something called a family. Still, it's a shame it looked like a clumsy fat kid with a huge butt and droopy eyes.

Now though, Porsche has revamped the Panamera's looks and in a sudden, it's a real looker. I guess they knew a simple update wouldn't save it from its fugly nature and decided to overhaul the design altogether. Dubbed as the Panamera Sports Turismo, it is aimed at Merc's CLS Shooting Brake and that's another real looker. But with a design as outstanding as this one, it definitely is able to give the CLS a run for its money. While it looks this handsome, many of its design cues get inspired by Porsche's new and upcoming models like the 918, 911 and Boxster. The headlamps and rear taillights feel sharper, the heavily revised front fascia redefines the term Sporty Porsche and the rear which was butt ugly then, has now had its fats shaved off. Instead, it's more shapely and has a more masculine touch to it.

The interior holds lots of Porsche DNA but it looks far too fancy here and will definitely see a more toned down interior when it goes into production but like all new Porsche models, high expectations are necessary. There isn't any news about the engine specifications but an e-Hybrid model is definitely apparent with a logo of it embedded on the side of the vehicle. Well, before I sign off, I'd like to declare that I now am a big fan of the Panamera, the new one though.

News: Next-Gen Volkswagen Golf GTi Revealed

Not too long ago, the MK6 Golf GTi was a hit in all parts of the world, including our very own Malaysia. Love it or hate it, there's a new one coming and it's called the MK7. Not quite a big difference than the previous one but it definitely looks sharper than before.

Powering the GTi is a similar 2.0l TFSI turbo engine now generating 220 bhp and 350 Nm of torque. A performance package is available and that bumps the power up to 230 bhp. 0 to 100 km/h is done in 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 246 km/h can be achieved. With that performance package, the sprint time is cut by 0.1 seconds and the top speed touches 250 km/h. The engine, though gutsy is claimed to return a respectable 15 km per litre of petrol. 

The GTi's bodywork isn't revolutionary and is expected to look like its predecessor with its oh so recognisable air intakes, red strip across the honeycombed grille and dual chrome tipped exhaust. Still, the Bi-xenon headlights and LED taillights are definitely worth a mention as they're new and Volkswagen beautiful. Also, the chassis is lowered by 15 mm and updated Brooklyn alloys are available. Don't they look good in the pictures? Inside, it's the same with the basic Golf other than the familiar red stitchings, a flat bottomed steering wheel, aluminium pedals and GTi badges. Oh, you get red ambient lighting too. Now, that's a good thing.

News: More Photos of McLaren's P1

If the previous post wasn't enough to justify your thirst of the new F1's spiritual successor, here's more. Not that any official technical specifications were released though, it's just a few more photos. Previously, the pictures revealed an orange P1. Well, it's still orange but there's a massive wing at the back and it moves too. McLaren labels the pictures here as a design study but with the continuous flow of pictures revealed, this   may be it, the real thing.

Still under speculation, the P1 is believed to use the MP4-12C's twin-turbo V8 albeit with a higher tune and adopting an F1 KERS system which enables the power output to hover around 900 to 1000 bhp. It isn't aimed to be the fastest car in the world but one that is the most involving, most exciting or put simply, the best driver's car there is existing. Like I said before, a stupendous claim but who knows, they're McLaren after all.

Sorry, no interior pictures yet but expect it to look futuristic and minimalistic.

News: Upcoming Kia Forte Announced

If you've decided to get the Forte as your next vehicle but can hold out a little longer, please do as the new Forte trumps the current one a whole lot. As you realized, Kia has transformed their designs to a class, higher than expected and the new Forte is clearly one that shows it. But you can't say the same with the naming as the Forte, we all know and love is also named K3 elsewhere, or Cerato in parts where elsewhere didn't cover. 

It may have a weird naming system but the rest of the car isn't. In fact, it's impressive. Technologies like Parking Assist, LED lights and Kia's next-gen telematics service UVO, which enables the driver to control the vehicle with a smartphone or other IT devices can even put the new Elantra to shame. The car is larger and lower than before at 4,560 mm long (30 mm longer), 1,780 mm wide (5 mm wider) and 1,435 mm tall (25 mm lower). Wheelbase has also grown longer to 2,700 mm (51 mm longer) and that increases leg room for passengers.

In Korea, the Forte will have a 1.6l four-cylinder delivering 138 bhp and 167 Nm of torque and return 14 km in a litre of petrol. A coupe and a five-door hatchback will follow but for now, there's only the sedan. Price? About as much as the Viva Elite for the base model and a MyVi SE for the top end Forte but that's in Korea. Yes, be sad. Be very sad.

Here are a few videos to give you a 360 degree view of the car and a peek inside

News: Maserati GranCabrio MC Stradale

If you liked the MC Stradale but wanted one without the roof, you can have one now. The GranCabrio MC Stradale is an open top version of the MC Stradale and the most extreme version of the GranCabrio series to date.

The supercar is said to be 48 mm longer than the standard GranCabrio and gets a big bootlip or spoiler with an integrated brake light embedded in it. It should share the same Ferrari 4.7l V8 generating 444 bhp and 510 Nm of torque from the coupe MC but Maserati can surprise us. They won't though. It's the most logical choice. Still, you can have the GranCabrio MC Stradale in a carbon finish.

News: Lamborghini Releases Teaser of A New Gallardo

 Lamborghini has released a teaser of a new Gallardo before its debut in the Paris Motor Show. And I've got to say, the teaser isn't informative at all, to me. No actual shape, just parts flying to the left and right.

Anyway, I do not know if the upcoming Gallardo replacement will be a concept or another mild update of the current car but since the Gallardo has been with us since 2003, an all-new vehicle should be in the cards. Nevertheless, enjoy the teaser.

News: Jaguar F-Type's Photos

If you haven't read about Jaguar's new F-Type, you can read it here. But just to recap, this is an all-new model from Jaguar aimed at the compact sports cabriolet segment dominated by the likes of Porsche's Boxster, Audi's TT, BMW's Z4 and Mercedes' SLK. Read more after the jump.

The most basic F-Type will be powered by a 3.0l supercharged V6 producing 335 bhp and 450 Nm of torque. There is an uprated version of the V6 tuned to give out 375 bhp and 460 Nm of torque if the previous engine isn't good enough for some. And for those who love pushing the extreme limits, there's a 5.0l V8 delivering about 500+ bhp also available. It's crazy. But it's a good crazy, this.

It's like a blade. Sexy

Check this diffuser

And check this too. 

News: Volvo V40 Cross Country Revealed

If you've liked Volvo's new V40 but had to dismiss it for being a bit too soft, here's the Cross Country version, a V40 with taller legs and dressed in a more manly fashion. Don't confuse this with the XC series from Volvo as the Cross Country series are all-road versions of hatchbacks or wagons like Audi's A4 All-road or Volvo's pioneer Cross Country car, V70 while the XC series are serious off-road vehicles - not that it's driven much in the mud.

The first thing that differentiates the V40 Cross Country from the standard one is that it sits 40mm higher and then you start noticing other things like dark contrasting bumpers, honeycomb mesh grille, vertical DRLs, sculpted, contrasting sills and bigger wheels. But inside, it's pretty much the same really.

The V40 Cross Country can be had with a 2.5l five-cylinder T5 pushing 254 bhp and 400 Nm of torque including 40 Nm overboost under full chat. Some markets may get the T5 in a different tune, a 2.0l producing 213 bhp and 300 Nm of torque which is sad. A 1.6l four-cylinder T4 GTDi generating 180 bhp and 270 Nm of torque is also available and gets a choice of manual or a Powershift dual-clutch gearbox while the T5 variants only get a conventional auto 'box instead. It's a common tradition that most powerful Volvo variants get conventional automatic gearboxes instead of dual-clutched ones and I never understood why this happens. Might be the reliability of the gearbox towards the amount of power and torque thrown at it but hey, who knows, I'm just guessing.

There are diesel options too, after all they're Volvo and Volvo thinks about everything including enhancing visual excitement for lads with the three point seatbelt. Okay, I kid. Anyway, there's a 2.0l D4 with 177 bhp and 400 Nm of torque and gets from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.3 seconds, 0.3 seconds more in the manual. A 2.0l D3 is also in the cards delivering 150 bhp and 350 Nm of torque. If all these doesn't suit you and you want something greener and goes easier on the fuel than those two, a 1.6l D2 engine is what you need and it has 115 bhp and 285 Nm of torque available with 15 Nm of overboost. Coupled to a 6-speed manual and a start/stop function, the engine manages 26.3 km per litre of diesel. Green hippies should rejoice. Like now.