Scion fuse sports coupe conceptIn an effort to hang on to their lead as competition chomps at Scion's heels, the automaker has released this concept at the New York Auto Show. The aim of the car? "To push the limits of a coupe by combining entertainment, digital technology, and versatility into one sinister looking package." Much of the inspiration was sourced from the popular JGTC series in Japan, according to Scion.
Build It:A race helmet inspires the wraparound windshield, and the large rectangular intake hints at the potential for a large intercooler. A speed-activated spoiler sits aft of the rear window.
Spare Us:The blinkers are in the wheels, and the headlights and fog lights can be programmed to illuminate in different colors. The reverse lights are in the exhaust tips and the steering is drive by wire.
NR-A for Not Readily Available?Mazda's MX-5 may or may not be the Miata anymore, but Mazda is still pushing it as the ultimate car for road and track use by enthusiasts. And towards that end, the company has just introduced the latest version of the NR-A model MX-5. At least it's available in Japan.
The NR-A is designed for use in the "Roadster Party" one-make racing series in its native land and the special equipment ladled onto it by Mazda includes height-adjustable Bilstein shocks, a torque sensing "Super LSD" (limited-slip differential), and front strut tower bars.
Now the NR-A isn't likely to make it to the U.S., but the JDM parts sure are.
Nissan sweetensthealtimaMainstream sedans are, almost by definition, less than spectacular. And as reliable, useful, and comfortable as cars like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord are, they don't come close to being beautiful. At the New York Auto Show Nissan, however, showed that its next-generation Altima may actually qualify as unique.
The 2007 Altima is built atop a new "D" platform that Nissan promises has better body rigidity than before and a redesigned suspension. However, while the company is still being coy about the details, don't expect anything that will rewrite the physics textbooks when it comes to dynamics or design parameters. Front drive is still part of the package with the car powered by either Nissan's familiar 2.5-liter I-4 or VQ-series 3.5-liter V-6 under the hood (power ratings on both are expected to climb with the V-6 closing in on 280 horsepower to compete with the 268hp V-6 available in the Camry). The new Altima will have the Xtronic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) in lieu of a conventional automatic.
Since we're working off preliminary information that doesn't include specifications (this is being written in March-a few weeks before the Altima's debut in NYC), what we're left to talk about is the new fourth-generation car's astonishing good looks. While most of the styling carries forward current Nissan themes, the detailing is smoother than before and more aggressive with a character line that adds a wedge-shaped profile. The taillights are HUGE, but the most impressive element in the car's appearance is the near-fastback roofline that transitions into the trunk lid with a bit of grace.
Nissan will have a busy 2007 with the new Altima joining the new Versa and new Sentra in showrooms. But as interesting as the Versa and Sentra are, they're nowhere near the lookers the Altima promises to be.
ProductionM3 Spied!We're now at the point where we need to drive a new M3 or we're going to crack wide open after reporting months and months and months of teaser photos. Well here's the new M3, in the metal. Ready for showrooms. Pretty much.
Here's the latest for those of you not scoring at home. Scheduled to show up next year, the new M3 will be available in coupe, convertible, and four-door models with a 4.0-liter V-8 making around 415 horsepower under its hood and either a seven-speed SMG or a traditional six-speed manual transmission behind it. Yes it will have larger tires, bigger brakes, and big vents in the nose and all sorts of stuff that makes fast cars fun to drive fast.
Just let us know when we can drive it.
Lexus is convertible on the way?Rumors abound that Lexus is about to take on the BMW 3-Series coupe and convertible directly with the introduction of a two-door coupe and convertible version of the IS next year. This computer-generated fake-up indicates a best-guess of what such a Malibu-ready sun machine might look like-just add four to nine sorority girls crammed aboard to complete the photo.
If there is to be an IS 250 and IS 350 coupe and convertible, don't expect it until early 2007 at the earliest.