Bugatti EB 18/4 Veyron concept

When the Bugatti EB 18/4 Veyron concept made its debut at the Tokyo auto show in 1999, it marked the beginning of an era which would see the French sports car brand atop the performance automotive heap. The Bugatti EB 18/4 Veyron concept was the starting point for the Bugatti’s world-record-setting Bugatti Veyron 16.4, and the design study will now be displayed publically for the first time since its original reveal.
The eighteen-cylinder Bugatti EB 18/4 Veyron concept, scheduled for display this summer at the 2014 Salon Rétromobile in Paris, was created as an homage to Pierre Veyron, who was a decorated driver for Bugatti during the 1930s. Bugatti’s shocking design was nearly as dramatic as the car’s reported performance capability, an unbelievable 252 mph top speed that Bugatti announced in 2001. The 1001-hp, quad-turbo, W-16 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 took the world by storm when it first made delivery to customers in late 2005, complete with its staggering $1.3 million sticker price. Only around fifty units were scheduled for delivery per year, and production of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 and even-battier 1200-hp Veyron 16.4 Super Sport, unveiled in 2010, totaled just 300 units—now completely sold out. The Veyron 16.4 Super Sport had a 258 mph top speed and a dizzying 2.5-second 0-62mph sprint.
Bugatti claims that around forty Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Vitesse roadsters are still available, which would ostensibly be the final new Veyron models available in the world. For those of you wondering why Bugatti picked now of all times to show its original Veyron concept, it probably is not in order to give the Veyron a swan song as it warp-speeds off into the sunset. News recently broke that Bugatti has canceled its planned Galibier luxury sport sedan in favor of a Veyron successor, which could be the rumored 1600-hp “SuperVeyron” powered by either a retuned 8.0- or 9.6-liter W-16 engine. Sources estimate that the ultra-performance Bugatti could reach 60 mph from a dead stop in 1.8 seconds on its way to a 288-mph top speed. Yikes.
It’s been nearly 15 years since the Bugatti EB 18/4 Veyron took the stage in Tokyo in 1999, and it's high time for some big news out of Molsheim, France. The exhibit in Paris will also feature a display detailing the original configurations of the 300 Veyron coupes, which could provide the context for a major reveal. Check back for more updates about Bugatti and the Salon Rétromobile as more information becomes available.

2014 Mini Cooper

On sale: March 2014
Base price: $20,745
Engine: 1.5-liter I-3 turbo
Power: 134 hp @ 4500-6000 rpm
Torque: 162 lb-ft @ 1250 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic
Drive: Front-wheel
Curb weight: 2605/2675 lbs (manual/automatic)
Cargo volume: 8.7 cu ft
EPA fuel economy: 30/41 mpg city/highway, 30/42 mpg city/highway (manual, automatic)
As one journeys further into adulthood, extra pounds and inches are harder to avoid. Friends and acquaintances retain their same physical features, but the proportions are a little off. So it is with the new Mini. Certainly, the design has been ever so carefully evolved to maintain the now-iconic look. All the key elements are present and accounted for: the large round headlights, the hexagonal grille, the upright taillamps, the floating roof. But they have been applied to a body that has morphed into something noticeably different than the first of the new Minis, which debuted back in 2002.
Sophisticated new equipment, a nicer interior, more rational ergonomics, and a quieter ride are some of the more pleasant effects of a Mini that has grown up. It has done so while maintaining its driving character and—in the base Cooper particularly—increasing its responsiveness. It may not have quite the same wrapped-around-the-driver feel of its smaller predecessors, but the Mini enters adulthood with its personality intact.
Mini engineers have had more success fighting weight gain, the true scourge of adulthood. Despite the new car’s significantly larger size and increased level of equipment, the third-generation Mini carries at most only 70 more pounds than its predecessor. Base curb weight now ranges from 2605 to 2795 pounds (up from 2535 to 2712 previously). The better news for both the Mini Cooper and Cooper S is that new, BMW-sourced engines provide enough additional grunt to easily obliterate any additional pounds.
One area where we might have wished for a little more refinement is in ride quality. A harsh ride has always been the Mini’s dirty little secret, the price you paid for its super-responsive handling (as well as a side effect of its run-flat tires). With an all-new suspension—albeit in the same damper-strut/multilink configuration—there was an opportunity to make some improvement here. That’s particularly true now that the Mini offers the option of variable dampers ($500) with three levels of firmness. The switchable dampers are controlled by the standard three-mode driving system: Sport mode (“Maximum go-cart feel”), default Mid mode (“Typical Mini driving fun”), and Green mode (“Low-consumption driving fun”). Besides affecting throttle mapping, automatic transmission shift points, and steering effort, the three modes also can increase the damper firmness by ten percent or relax it by an equal amount. Alternately, sport mode can be configured to call up only the more aggressive chassis calibrations or drivetrain calibrations. Even with the dampers in standard mode, though, impacts are sharp, and the firmer sport setting adds a high-strung busyness on relatively smooth pavement.

Saleen Tesla Model S

While Saleen Automotive is well-known for building some of the best American tuner cars on the market, ranging from Challengers, to Mustangs, and Camaros, the company has announced that it will build a specially-tuned Tesla Model S.
Tesla mentioned it was working on development of an all-electric Saleen car based on an existing electric vehicle, and the Model S seems an appropriate choice given American-owned Tesla’s unique combination of technology, performance, and luxury. CEO Steve Saleen promised last December that people can “Throw out [their] preconceived notions and expectations. This vehicle will be revolutionary in aesthetics and mechanics.”
The existing performance-trim Tesla Model S P85, which we recently saw out-drag a 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z51, is already quite swift off the line thanks to its 416-hp all-electric drivetrain. All 443 lb-ft of torque an be directed to the rear wheels at 0 rpm, making the Tesla Model S a zero-emissions speed demon. Neither Tesla nor Saleen has come forward with a release date for the Saleen Tesla Model S, but a spec sheet showing some of Saleen’s planned modifications is on the way.
"I fully intend to produce one of the most compelling Tesla's to ever hit the roadway," said Saleen in a Tesla statement.
The question now is how Saleen will achieve the bonkers-level performance increase we expect from them with our 2013 Automobile of the Year. Modified aerodynamics? Bigger electric motors? Greater use of lightweight materials? Let us know in the comments what you think Saleen will to do get the most out of the Tesla Model S.

2015 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Facelift Spied

  

With its baby brother, the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class, getting all the attention lately, it’s no surprise that the larger Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class has fallen by the wayside. According to these spy photos, though, the original “four-door coupe” should be getting a refresh sometime soon with updated looks up front and a new interior infotainment system that mirrors the new system in the 2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

The current Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class was last redesigned for the 2012 model year, and the facelift seen in these photos looks to revise the front end with more modern, swept-back headlights and a slightly more prominent front grille that may adopt the concentric-dots pattern seen on the CLA-Class's grille. These new headlights are expected to adopt a new LED lighting system with an active high-beam system that adapts to the ambient light of the car’s surroundings. Although the front and rear bumpers are disguised in these photos, we expect small fascia changes to update the car’s look.

On the inside, the new Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class replaces its display screen sunken into the dash with a new tablet-like display screen that sits on top of the dashboard like in the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and CLA-Class. Curiously, the new CLS-Class does not appear to have the new COMAND controller from the C-Class that includes a larger touchpad that responds to touch controls like swiping and clicking from the driver. It’s possible that the CLS-Class’ older interior design is not ready to accommodate this system just yet.

Other than these exterior and interior improvements, don’t expect many other changes for the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class. The CLS is currently offered in three models in two models in the U.S.: the CLS550 with a 4.6-liter turbocharged V-6 making 402 hp and the CLS63 AMG 4Matic with a turbocharged 5.5-liter V-8 with 550 hp and 531 lb-ft of torque. We expect this facelifted Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class to arrive as a 2015 model.

Mercede Benz CLS class

Don't place that order for the upcoming Volkswagen Passat CC just yet. Mercedes-Benz blessed its own four-door "coupe" (mentioned as one of six modern cars in Automobile Magazine's 25 Most Beautiful Cars issue) with a few updates for 2009, including one that throws a jab at VW.

Not to be overshadowed by a newer, four-door for the masses, Mercedes' segment-defining, exclusive CLS gets a revised grille (now with two louvers instead of four), a new rear apron with trapezoid exhaust pipes, a three-spoke steering wheel, a new infotainment system, new side mirrors and taillights outfitted with arrow-shaped LED turn indicators, and perhaps the biggest news, a new 3.0-liter V-6.

Mercedes execs couldn't have been happy to see the VW team taking a page from their CLS design book, so introducing a less powerful V-6-engined model could theoretically help steal a few Passat CC sales in non-USA markets. However, Mercedes doesn't officially recognize the lower-priced V-6 Volkswagen as a direct competitor, and it looks like the CLS and Passat CC V-6 models will only get a chance to be cross-shopped in Europe (America gets only the V-8 CLS).

In an effort to improve the CLS's performance, the 6.3-liter AMG version is now outfitted with a transmission that blips the throttle during downshifts. And using newly redesigned rear exhaust silencers, the CLS63 AMG's pair of twin pipes deliver a raucous bark unheard of in any family sedan - if it doesn't wake the neighbors, it will certainly be a healthy caffeine substitute.

Mercedes CL550 4Matic

What athlete wouldn't appreciate a little more grace?

This summer, Mercedes-Benz will begin offering its 382-hp CL550 with standard 4Matic all-wheel drive - the first time any large Mercedes coupe will get such a feature.

Giving the CL greater traction - and therefore better low-grip handling - the coupe's permanent 4Matic all-wheel drive system helps the CL appeal to snow-belt drivers by splitting torque between the front and rear axles at a 45/55 ratio. The CL's center differential uses a twin-plate clutch to manage the torque distribution between the front and rear axles.

Integrated into Mercedes' seven-speed automatic transmission's case, the CL's updated 4Matic system debuted two years ago on the S-Class. Unlike the earlier 4Matic system, it doesn't require special suspension parts or a wider transmission tunnel. Additionally, the extra gears and shafts driving the CL's front wheels only add 154 pounds to the CL's weight, and improvements to the drivetrain ensure that fuel economy doesn't suffer.

And while clear Vienna skies didn't give us an opportunity to truly feel the CL's new 4Matic system, we can tell you it certainly doesn't hinder the Mercedes' ability to scramble up twisting country hillsides.

POrsche Cayenne Turbo S

The Porsche Cayenne Turbo S was only around for one year before the SUV was (slightly) redesigned. The Turbo S model disappeared for a while, but returned to the Cayenne lineup at this year's Beijing Auto Show. Now the Cayenne Turbo S packs 550 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque.

Changes between the Turbo and Turbo S are minimal, so don't expect to see a totally different vehicle when one cruises past you on the road. Fender flares are a little wider and the rims are 21-inches on the Cayenne Turbo S. Functional changes include a remapped engine computer, different air intakes, and the exhaust system. That's enough to thrust the Cayenne Turbo S from 0 to 60 mph in less than 4.8 seconds.

With all that power, it's only fitting that Porsche is offering ceramic composite brakes on this monster of an SUV. We probably don't need people rocketing around in 5200-pound vehicles that can blast past 60 mph so quickly without such incredible brakes. Top speed is an equally insane 174 mph.