Peugeot 208 T16 Rally Car Climbs Volcanic Mount Etna: Video

Even though it's titled "Etna Volcano Climb," the video above doesn't depict a theater of the absurd, but the meaning should be taken literally - a rally car actually climbed Sicily's Mount Etna, which is one of the most active volcanos in the world. The car in question is the Peugeot 208 T16 in rally guise, driven by national rally champion Paolo Andreucci. Obviously, part of the footage is a tribute to the famous "Climb Dance" cin ma v rit short film (click the name to see it), which featured legendary rally driver Ari Vatanen setting a record time at the 1988 Pikes Peak Hillclimb.

Not coincidentally, both films depict Peugeots, but Vatanen drove a 405 Turbo T16 GR hillclimb car, while Andreucci used a modern 208 T16 hatch built for rallying. Unlike the Climb Dance, the new Peugeot video is strictly a marketing ploy and doesn't feature any record-breaking attempt, but the footage is still mesmerizing.

Even though the CGI shots at the end are a bit tacky, the car going sideways up those volcanic roads makes for some pretty cool video action. Despite featuring a range of craters with intense and almost continuous activity, Mount Etna is one of Sicily's main tourist attractions. In Greek mythology, the forges of Hephaestus were said to be located underneath the volcano, so there is also a lot of history surrounding the area. That doesn't make Peugeot's stunt any less dangerous, since the volcano could have erupted at any moment.

Peugeot 208 T16 Rally Car Climbs Volcanic Mount Etna: Video originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 16 March 2015 07:00 EST.

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2016 Ford Focus RS VS. Ford Focus WRC

In a rather unexpected turn of events, Ford took the automotive world by surprise in early 2015, when it introduced a host of high-performance models, such as the second-generation GT supercar, the Shelby GT350R and the third-gen Focus RS. They are all part of the Blue Oval's new performance offensive, and harken back to iconic classics from the company's rich motorsport history. Since we've already discussed both the GT and the Shelby GT350R, it is time to turn our attention to the Focus RS, a race-bred hatchback inspired by Ford's WRC-winning RS World Rally Car.

Sure, you're probably ready to point out that the brand-new RS is in no way related to the Focus WRC, which was retired at the end of the 2010 season and replaced by a Fiesta-based rally car, but that's not entirely true. While the Focus may have ended its career as a rally car more than four years ago, its spirit was summoned back to life with more rally-inspired technology than ever, including an all-wheel-drive system. Keep reading to find out what makes the 2016 Focus RS the spiritual successor to the previous-gen Focus WRC.

Click past the jump to learn which version is better: street or race!

2016 Ford Focus RS VS. Ford Focus WRC originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 10 February 2015 17:00 EST.

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Hyundai Prius Fighter

Despite the number of the hybrid vehicles introduced over the last dozen years or so, none have really been able to take too big of a bite out of the sales figures for the poster child of hybrids, the Toyota Prius. Hyundai looks to change all of that soon by launching its own dedicated hybrid hatchback, which was recently spied on the back of a car hauler heading to the Arctic Circle for extreme cold-weather testing. Not many details are known about this new model, but seeing the undercarriage reveals the telltale orange cables associated with a gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle.

Although this unnamed model will debut for the 2017 model year as a parallel hybrid hatchback, the lineup (like the Prius) is also expected to grow to include a plug-in hybrid model and different body styles.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2017 Hyundai Prius Fighter.

Hyundai Prius Fighter originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 2 February 2015 08:00 EST.

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Video: Renault Megane 275 Trophy Out For A Spin

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There are a lot of cool cars we're not getting here in the United States for one reason or another, and the 2014 Renault Megane 275 Trophy is one of them. Just like the 2014 Seat Leon SC Cupra 280, the Megane 275 Trophy is an amazingly quick hot hatch and, as of 2014, the fastest front-wheel-drive vehicle around the Nurburgring track. At least the limited-edition Trophy-R is, because the regular production model is a bit heavier and lacks some of the racing goodies that come with the "R" badge. Either way, the 275 Trophy is the race-bred hatch the Volkswagen Golf R isn't, although the German isn't bad either.

While we won't get to drive it unless we travel to Europe, the folks over in mainland Europe or the Great Britain have no trouble in purchasing the 275 Trophy and taking it to the track. For those of you still not convinced of the Trophy's cool factor, there's a brand-new review coming from XCar that you might want to watch. I know French cars have a lousy reputation in the U.S., but this video has what it takes to prove that the Megane 275 Trophy is a Renault like no other; one that we desperately need here in the States.

There's only one downside to it, besides the fact that we can't buy it, of course. Its 38,000 French sticker, which converts to around $47,300 as of 11/28/2014, makes it awfully expensive. For that kind of dough, there are a lot of cool sports cars you can by on this side of the pond. Very few of them benefit from race-bred technology like the 275 Trophy though. Hit the play button above to spend nine minutes with the fastest FWD car around the 'Ring.

Video: Renault Megane 275 Trophy Out For A Spin originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 6 December 2014 06:00 EST.

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Video: Chris Harris Puts the Fiesta ST Against the G63 AMG in a Weird Way

Posted on 08.5.2013 15:00 by Simona

In the latest episode of Drive, Chris Harris performed a rather interesting head-to-head comparison, putting a Mercedes G63 AMG against a Ford Fiesta ST. That may sound insane, given the ST hits 60 mph in around 7 seconds and the G63 AMG does the same in 5.3 seconds, but there is a twist. The twist is that Harris wanted to see if the G63 AMG could beat the Fiesta ST to 60 mph while towing, well... the Fiesta ST...

That's right, Chris strapped 4 tons of trailer and car to the G63 AMG and put the pedal to the metal to see if monstrous Benz SUV can get to 60 mph in under 7 seconds. Quite an interesting and original comparison.

As a reminder, the G63 AMG is powered by a 5.5-liter V-8 biturbo engine that delivers a total of 544 horsepower and 560 pound-feet of torque. The Fiesta ST's 1.6-liter turbocharged engine produces 197 horsepower and 214 pound of torque.

So, is the Fiesta ST faster under its own power or while strapped to the back of the Mercedes?

Video: Chris Harris Puts the Fiesta ST Against the G63 AMG in a Weird Way originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 5 August 2013 15:00 EST.

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Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall is a largely unknown brand in the U.S., but it's got a pretty big following in the UK. In fact, one of the brand's most popular models is the Corsa supermini, a car that first broke into the scene back in 1982 as the Opel Corsa. The Corsa was actually called the Nova in its first incarnation out of fears that Corsa was too close to the word "coarser". It doesn't exactly build up confidence that a model's name sounds like a word that means "poor quality". Over time, Vauxhall finally adapted the Corsa name, beginning the supermini's run that has lasted four generations. After years of bland facelifts and minor upgrades, Vauxhall finally welcomed the fourth-generation Corsa for 2015, complete with enough new features and new technology to make your head spin. Vauxhall also confirmed that it's going to release a VXR variant of the Corsa. Good times all around!

Before diving into the Vauxhall Corsa, it's important to remember that Opel and Vauxhall actually share the Corsa model. The two models are virtually identical except for the different company badges. The only difference is that the model is badged as a Vauxhall in the UK while Opel is used throughout Europe.

The Vauxhall Corsa is an incredibly popular model in the UK, routinely averaging over 83,000 units sold per year. That's second only to its closest competitor, the Ford Fiesta. But here's the catch: the Corsa was still getting strong sales numbers despite the fact that the third-generation model was in its last stages.

But with an all-new, fourth-generation model scheduled to hit showrooms for 2015, you can bet that more people will be clamoring to get a piece of the Corsa.

Is 100,000 units a year possible for the fourth-generation Vauxhall Corsa? We can't tell you that right now, but all the signs seem to point to a resounding "yes!"

Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 19 July 2014 12:00 EST.

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Chevrolet Spark

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You might be wondering why Chevrolet would be developing the next generation of its popular Spark so soon. After all, 2013 was the Spark's first year in the U.S. While the likeable little subcompact was new to us last year, the overall design has been in production since 2009 and sold in countries around the world as the Chevrolet Beat.

The aging Beat (Spark) is due for a refresh and the General looks to be making a clean sweep.

Not much is know about the prototype seen here as it scurries about during cold-weather testing near the Arctic Circle. The redesign will likely be more evolutionary in nature, and will feature a heavily updated grille as evidenced by the thick camouflaging.

The Spark has sold well in the U.S. over its first year, selling 26,869 units - 35 percent beyond what Chevy had originally forecasted. Worldwide sales total 720,000 units since the model's 2009 introduction.

An all-electricSpark EV came to market for 2014 and has sold over 400 examples in the EV's limited markets of California and Oregon. The EV has a range of 82 miles on a single charge (7 more than the Nissan Leaf), and is powered by an electric motor that produces 140 horsepower and an impressive 400 pound-feet of torque.

The standard gasoline model isn't quite as powerful, as its 1.2-liter I-4 puts out a scant 84 horsepower and 83 pound-feet of torque. But at only 2,269 pounds, the Spark doesn't need much more for its inner-city intended purpose. Both a manual and CVT are available in the gasoline-powered Spark.

Click past the jump to read more about the 2015 Chevrolet Spark.

Chevrolet Spark originally appeared on topspeed.com on Sunday, 9 February 2014 12:00 EST.

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Fiat 500 Cattiva

Posted on 08.13.2013 18:00 by Simona

In Italian "cattiva" refers to a naughty yet cool person. In English "Cattiva" refers to the newest addition to the Fiat 500 lineup that the automaker will launch at the Concorso Italiano, which takes place August 16th at Laguna Seca Golf Ranch in Monterey, California. Buyers can choose to base this new model on either Sport or Turbo variant of the Fiat 500, and it will make its way to dealers in the fourth quarter of 2013.

The new 500 Cattiva draws its inspiration from the Fiat 500 "Cattiva" Concept that the automaker unveiled at the 2013 North American International Auto Show. Fiat bills it as adding "more excitement and tuned style to the 2013 Fiat 500 Sport."

The model features a more aggressive exterior look, with plenty of black-out treatments to go around, and a nice amount of pop under the hood, should you choose to go with the Turbo model.

Click past the jump to read more about the Fiat 500 Cattiva.

Fiat 500 Cattiva originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 13 August 2013 18:00 EST.

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Mini Cooper

Posted on 07.4.2013 15:00 by Simona

Mini has already announced big plans for the future: new models, an expanded line-up, and new engines are just a few of the targets set by the company. And as a proof that Mini engineers are hard working to keep these promises, our spy photographers have caught the new generation Cooper testing. The new Mini Cooper is set to be released in 2013.

Despite the heavy camouflage, we can see that the new Mini will grow in all directions in order to make room for the production version of the Rocketman concept announced at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. The new Cooper will also receive a more aggressive design language, a more sharply steeped A-pillar, and a wider front grille. It will be built on an all-new UKL platform that will also be shared with the next generation BMW 1-Series and will be offered in both FWD and AWD versions.

As for the engine line-up, Mini will offer a new three-cylinder engine family next to the conventional four-cylinder engines. These three-cylinder engines will first make their debut in the new BMW 3-Series as the 316i.

Mini has promised that the 2013 Cooper will be offered in up to ten body versions, including a van.

Updated 07/04/2013: A few days ago the new generation Mini Cooper was caught at a private event and revealed in all its glory. Of course Mini was not to happy about it and said in an official confirmation that the production version looks in fact far better than the model revealed in those pictures. Next to this promise, Mini unveiled a very strange teaser image and announced we will have the official details "soon."

Mini Cooper originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 4 July 2013 15:00 EST.

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Audi A7

Posted on 06.27.2013 18:00 by Tom Burkart

The 2014 A7 risks being overshadowed by the high-powered S7, as well as the track-ready RS7 for the first time in the United States. Buyers may quickly discover that the relatively simple and affordable A7 is the pick of the range. With all the luxury and exterior drama, via a 2014 Black Optics package and S-line trim, the A7 is no wallflower. It can also haul serious mass its huge trunk on its way to 60 mph in under 6 seconds.

The A7 is a mutant of a car in the ultra-conservative luxury sedan world. Style it all you want, but do not add a hatchback or call it a coupe. Where it starts to make sense is in the decadent fastback proportions and more than a little Lamborghini Estoque about the rear end.

The Audi seals the deal with a huge tailgate that opens to a wagon-large cargo area and rear seats that can fold down for loading antiques.

The A7 has a low roofline that is a significant 3-inch drop from the A8 above it. And while the A7 looks enormous, it is about half a foot shorter than the A8, as well.

The A7 does not have this fashion coupe space all to itself. It is nearly $20,000 cheaper than the Porsche Panamera that packs the same freaky hatchback luxury charm. The A7 also takes aim at the Mercedes-Benz CLS550 Shooting Brake and the BMW 650i Gran Coupe, making this one big German party.

None of these over-styled cars ever age very gracefully but the A7 is in the unenviable spot of being the oldest among this group of brand-new competitors. Don't count out the $65,000 A7, as this battle has only just begun.

Click past the jump for the full review of the 2014 Audi A7 3.0T with highlights on the new equipment and performance options.

Audi A7 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Thursday, 27 June 2013 18:00 EST.

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Audi S3 Sportback

Posted on 02.13.2013 13:00 by Simona

In an attempt to keep us busy until the convertible version will finally join the S3 lineup, Audi has unveiled the initial details on the Sportback version - a model set to make its world debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. What’s the difference between this and the standard S3? Well, the number of doors of course: the new Sportback has four doors and offers increased space for families while maintaining its sporty nature.

Except for the extra doors, the new Sportback version will pretty much remain identical to its three-door brother, meaning that customers will continue to enjoy the same performance numbers. You’ll have to consider that as the new Sportback is a little bit heavier, the 0 to 60 mph sprint will take 0.1 seconds longer.

Talking about weight, Audi managed to shave an impressive 154 pounds from the car total weight - when compared to previous generation. This result has been achieved by using weight-saving materials like an ultra-high-strength steel passenger cell and light aluminum wings and bonnet.

Hit the jump to learn full details on the new Audi S3 Sportback.

Audi S3 Sportback originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 13 February 2013 13:00 EST.

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BMW 3-Series GT

Posted on 02.6.2013 11:00 by Simona

The 5-Series GT is one of the most unsuccessful models BMW has ever offered. However, the company is bound and determined to get the GT formula right and will more than likely be doing so with the new generation 3-Series. Rumors for a 3-Series GT began a few years ago and many were enticed with the idea of a roomier 3-Series, and renderings began almost immediately. Now, the first spy images for the larger Avant-style vehicle have been captured, as the new 3-Series GT has been caught during its winter testing somewhere in Europe.

The difference between the unsuccessful 5-Series GT and the new 3-Series GT is that the latter will drop the twin-door hatch design in favor of a normal one piece hatch. It will also be 15 inches longer than the standard model and offer the added bonus of more headroom due to the shooting brake layout. The four-door coupe designed body will combine a set of raised, sliding rear seats with a high lifting tailgate that should make accessing the larger cargo area very trouble-free. This formula may very well make the car a bit more successful than the 5-Series GT.

Under the hood, the upcoming 3-Series GT will be offered with the same engine line-up as its sedan brother. Customers will have a choice between four engines - two petrol and two diesel - with power ranging from 163 HP to 306 HP. It is rumored that BMW will also offered a range of smaller engines.

The official debut will be made next month at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

UPDATE 02/06/2013: Following the first image that surfaced the internet yesterday, a new set of official images for the upcoming 3-Series GT has been dropped online. Its world debut will be made next month at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, but first details will likely appear online earlier than expected.

BMW 3-Series GT originally appeared on topspeed.com on Wednesday, 6 February 2013 11:00 EST.

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BMW 3-Series GT Images may Have Leaked

Posted on 02.5.2013 15:00 by Simona

The GT version of the new BMW 3-Series has been caught testing many times, but each time the car was heavily camouflaged. Today, however, an image has surfaced on the internet and it appears to reveal the real 3-Series GT.

The 3-Series GT version will be about 15 inches longer than the standard model, meaning it will offer increased interior and cargo room. Unlike the 5-Series GT, the new 3-Series GT will drop the twin-door-hatch design in favor of a normal one-piece hatch.

Under the hood, the 3-Series GT will be offered with the same engine lineup as the sedan version, meaning customers will have to choose between four engines - two gasoline engines and two diesel engines- with power ranging from 163 horsepower to 306 horsepower.

If the image posted on a French forum turns out to be real, we should expect the official details in the upcoming days. Of course, this might also be just a Photoshop'd image...

Volkswagen Golf R "Electrified" by Cam Shaft

Posted on 12.6.2012 08:00 by Aravind Filed under: Volkswagen | compact cars | Volkswagen Golf | hatchback | car tuning | Cars | Car Reviews | Volkswagen

By reading the title, anybody will assume that this article is about an electric powered Volkswagen Golf VI, a daring project since VW itself hasn't even made one. We hate to break your bubble, Golf fans, but the shocking news is that, it's not electric powered. The name is given just to highlight the questionable paintjob that Cam Shaft has applied.

What is definitely worth looking forward to is what Cam Shaft has done under that orange-sherbet-colored hood. The standard Golf R is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 267 horsepower and 350Nm (258 pound-feet) of torque, which is pretty powerful for a hatchback.

Apparently, Cam Shaft disagreed and decided to optimize the ECU software and add in an aftermarket downpipe to allow the turbo to spool quicker and the exhaust top flow more effectively. As a result, this Golf R now produces 325 horsepower and 430 Nm (317 pound-feet) of torque. That's a nice 22-percent horsepower increase and 23-percent increase in torque - not too shabby for some software and a downpipe.

To wrap up the upgrades, Cam Shaft also fitted it with a Tarox F2000 braking system to help you reel in this beast, H&R professional suspension for better handling — if you decide to play in the twist — and a gorgeous set of OZ Ultraleggera wheels with orange accents to complement the electrifying paint-job.

We think this is a great package for any Golf R owner interested in squeezing more horses out of the little engine. Please, for the love of your poor Golf R, skip that paintjob, unless, of course, you're auditioning for the next Fast and Furious movie. In that case, the paintjob will suit it just fine...

Seat Mii Miinx

Posted on 11.10.2012 23:00 by Justin Cupler Filed under: Seat | compact cars | UK | hatchback | special editions | Cars | Car Reviews | Seat

The Seat Mii isn't necessarily the coolest car on the planet, but any time a car company does something to help out an important cause, we can't help but notice. The Mii Miinx began its life as a normal old Deep Black Metallic Mii Sport, but in celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness month, a Seat dealership chose to make it into a one-off show car.

After pulling this Mii Sport and its 75 PS (74-horsepower), 1.0-liter engine off of the showroom floor of Dales Seat in Cornwall, it was wrapped boot to bonnet in a gloss-pink vinyl wrap. To help add a little more of a custom look to this otherwise bone-stock Mii, the folks at Dales Seat tinted the headlights.

This Seat Mii Miinx comes relatively well-equipped, featuring: 15-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift, tinted rear windows, fog lamps, and a sports suspension.

The base Mii Sport goes for 11,500 ($18,298 at the current exchange rates), but, as you can tell, this is no normal Mii Sport. There are no immediate plans to sell the Mii Miinx, but Dales Seat has received numerous offers via Twitter and telephone. We're sure the car will eventually be sold off to some lucky buyer for a good bit more than its base price.

In the meantime, Dales Seat will be donating 100 ($159 at current exchange rates) to Breakthrough Breast Cancer charity for every Mii it sells. Even if you can't pick up the Mii Miinx, you can still snag up a Mii and have a portion of its profits go to a great cause.

Click past the jump to read Seat’s full press release.

Seat Mii Miinx originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 10 November 2012 23:00 EST.

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Official Honda Concept S Video May Mean it Hits Production

Posted on 09.12.2012 02:00 by Justin Cupler Filed under: Honda | hybrid cars | concept cars | video | hatchback | minivans vans | Honda Odyssey | future cars | Honda Jazz | Asia | Cars | Car News

When the Honda Concept S hit the stage at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show, two models came to mind, the Odyssey and the Jazz. It is slightly larger than your average hatchback, but significantly smaller than the American Honda Odyssey, so the final production name is up in the air. Keep in mind that the Odyssey in some Asian markets has a much lower-slung roof and a shallower windshield rake than the American version, so therein lays the possibility that it could become the new Odyssey.

Of course, production of the Concept S was never a guarantee, as with nearly every concept car. However, when an automaker produces a video on a specific concept car, you can pretty much rest assured that it will hit production in some form or fashion. That is exactly what Honda has done with the above video.

Seeing the video and people actually sitting in the seats, the Concept S really seems to have more of an MPV type of setup. All of that headroom and the spacious rear seats nearly eliminate it as a replacement for the Jazz, which is closely related to the Fit in the States. Then again, maybe Honda is trying to gain an edge by making the Jazz slightly larger than your typical 5-door hatchback.

Either way, we can say that the Concept S's style is unmistakably awesome and its potential for release just increased 10-fold by Honda releasing this video.

Hopefully we'll have an announcement on a production model soon. Those in the U.S., you'll have to sit this one out, as the Concept S looks like it will be an Asian-market model only.

Mini John Cooper Works GP

Posted on 08.7.2012 13:30 by Simona Filed under: Mini | compact cars | coupe | hatchback | Mini Cooper | special editions | Cars | Car Reviews | Mini

The top model Mini from the last generation was the JCW GP - a special edition with just 2,000 units. Now it seems history is about to repeat itself as Mini has just unveiled the official details on the new John Cooper Works GP, described by the company as the fastest Mini ever built: it laps the N rburgring-Nordschleife in 8 min. 23 seconds.

The new John Cooper Works GP will be offered with powertrain, chassis and aerodynamics technology inspired directly by motor sport, but Mini did not announced any specifications just yet. However, they did confirmed it lapped the Nurburgring ring in 8 minutes and 23 seconds - an improvement over the previous GP model by 19 seconds.

On the exterior the new model will be distinguished by large front and rear aprons, striking side skirts, a bespoke roof spoiler and newly developed rear diffuser. This impressive package continues on the interior where the car has the rear seats removed in order to get a more racing appearance.

The new model will go on sale later this year in a limited run of 2,000 units.

UPDATE 09/04/2012: When Mini unveiled the JCW GP, they didn’t announce the car’s full specifications, but today, a leaked document has solved that problem. In Euro specs, the new JCW GP delivers a total of 218 HP and a peak torque of 191 lbs-ft. The car sprints from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.3 seconds and can hit a top speed of 150 mph. (MotoringFile)

Mini John Cooper Works GP originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 4 September 2012 17:00 EST.

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