forbidden fruit
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In the United States, Subaru’s ultimate all-wheel-drive hoon-mobile, the WRX STI, comes packing 305 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque. While that’s nothing to sneeze at, it’s nowhere near as impressive as it was just a few years back. These days, even a base V-6 Ford Mustang or Chevy Camaro makes more power. Subaru buyers in the U.K., however, have options that we don’t get on this side of the pond. One such choice is the Subaru WRX STI 340R, named for its output of 340 ps (the equivalent of 335 horsepower). The car also makes 361 pound-feet of torque, a gain of...
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2013 Volkswagen Golf R Cabrio Spy Shots
The Golf R Cabrio is the final hurrah for the MkVI line, though like the Golf Cabrio, on which it's based, it won't be sold in the U.S.
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Forbidden Fruit: FPV Launches Ford Falcon GT RSpec Muscle Sedan
First teased as a concept in 2011, Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV), the official tuner to Ford in Australia, has released a new special edition model based on its line of Falcon GT muscle sedans. Though not as extreme as the sinister looking concept, the production version, labeled the Falcon GT...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
HSV Updates Lineup For 2012, Revives ClubSport And Maloo Names
Official tuner to Holden, HSV has introduced a range of updates to its lineup of high-performance sedans, wagons and utes, with the updates coinciding with the company’s 25th anniversary taking place this year. HSV’s model lineup, sold primarily in Australia though available elsewhere...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Audi's New RS6 Will Outgun The BMW M5: Report
Those of us on this side of the pond have long had a love / hate relationship with the Audi RS6. While we loved the idea of a twin-turbo V-10 station wagon (the RS6 Avant) with 580 horsepower, we hated that fact that we could only read about how good the car was. The RS6 Avant was not for U.S...
Kurt Ernst -
BMW Teases Its Not-For-North-America M135i: Video
We’ll admit it: we’re smitten with BMW’s M Performance hatchback, the M135i. It’s the right size, it offers hatchback sensibility and it looks to be a whole lot of fun on twisty roads. In fact, there’s only one problem with BMW’s hot hatch: it’s not for...
Kurt Ernst -
It’s human nature to want what we’re told we can’t have. On this side of the pond, we’re blessed with the Cadillac CTS-V Sportwagon, a 556 horsepower grocery-getter than can put a surprising amount of sport sedans to shame, yet we lament that we won’t get the Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG Shooting Brake. There are no guarantees we’ll get a Porsche Panamera Estate here, either, should Porsche decide to produce and build such a concept, as it would likely pirate sales from the Cayenne SUV. Adding insult to injury, we know with relative certainty that we won’t...
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Audi Swayed To Build More RS 3 Sportbacks Due To Popular Demand
It still isn’t coming to the U.S., at least in this generation, but a few hundred buyers in the UK will be able to drop their hard-earned on an Audi RS 3 Sportback even though production of the car officially came to an end last year. Demand for the car was so strong that Audi decided to...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Mitsubishi Selling Rebadged Infiniti M Sedans In Japan
As hard as it is to believe, there are two virtually identical versions of the Infiniti M sedan sold in Japan--one wearing Nissan badges and the other badged as a Mitsubishi. An Infiniti M being sold as a Nissan in Japan is nothing out of the ordinary, as this has always been the case with Infiniti...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Renault Seeks Partner For Alpine Sports Car Revival
French automaker Renault is investigating the launch of two new sub-brands in its quest to expand into new markets and quell its overcapacity issues back home in Europe. One of these brands is to be a luxury line using platforms borrowed from alliance partner Mercedes-Benz. The other, and more...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Spain’s Tauro V8 Spider Based On The Pontiac Solstice
Spain is quickly proving to be a hotbed for sports car development. Following the launch of the stylish Spano supercar from GTA Motors back in March, and the announcement last month of a new model from Aspid, another company based in Spain is now celebrating the launch of a new V-8 powered...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Updated 2012 Opel Astra Revealed
Joining the brand new Astra Sedan in European showrooms later this year is the updated 2012 Opel Astra range, which has been revealed today ahead of its official debut at the 2012 Paris Auto Show this September. The current generation of the Opel Astra has been on sale since 2009 and this is the...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
While the Audi A1 isn’t sold in the U.S., new upgrades for the car overseas may hint at some new trim options to be offered on some of the Audi’s other models, including ones sold here. The new upgrades are designed to add a sportier touch to the A1 premium hatch and carry an ‘amplified’ tag. The upgrades are available on both the A1 three-door and A1 Sportback five-door and can be broken down into three different levels, helping to offer something for everybody. They can only be ordered in Misano Red or Glacier White, however. The first level is known as amplified. On...
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2013 Opel Astra Sedan Revealed
Following last month's spy shots, Europe's Opel Astra range is set to expand this fall with the 2013 Opel Astra Sedan. The new sedan joins the five-door hatchback, Sports Tourer station wagon and GTC coupe in the Astra range, before a convertible version also joins the ranks later this year. While...
Antony Ingram -
Volkswagen Showing New Scirocco GTS In Leipzig
When it comes to the world’s great auto shows, Leipzig is rarely mentioned in the same breath as Paris, Frankfurt, Detroit and Tokyo. Nonetheless, it’s a significant show for German automakers, especially since both Porsche and BMW have manufacturing plants in the former East German...
Kurt Ernst -
Renault Looking To Launch Luxury Sub-Brand With Help From Mercedes: Report
In Early February we first brought you details about an alleged plan from French automaker Renault concerning the launch of a new high-end model that would borrow technology from Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes, as we’ve known for a while now, has formed an alliance with Renault and Nissan, and...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Peugeot Revises Naming Policy With Launch Of New 301
It was in 1929 with the 201 that French automaker Peugeot began its characteristic three-digit numbering system based around the central ‘zero’. This naming policy, which would later force Porsche to drop its intended 901 name for the iconic 911, was structured so that the central zero...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
BMW 1-Series Three-Door Revealed, Includes M135i Range-Topper
BMW has finally revealed the three-door version of its latest-generation 1-Series Hatchback, which has been on sale in Europe since last year. The car is unlikely to be launched in the U.S. though coupe and convertible variants will arrive in the coming year or so, possibly badged as a 2-Series...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
While Saab is no longer building cars, its technology will live on for years to come in a handful of models from China’s Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. (BAIC). BAIC bought the rights to several Saab technologies back in 2009, including the use of the previous-generation Saab 9-3 and 9-5 platforms, from then owner GM. Two of the new models from BAIC riding on old Saab tech are the C70G and C60F sedans. Both of them were revealed for the first time at last month’s 2012 Beijing Auto Show. The C70G, which is based on Saab 9-5 running-gear, has just entered production and...
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2013 Opel Astra Sedan Spy Video
Despite its recent financial doldrums and oversupply issues, Opel, the European arm of GM, is continuing the development of new models like this sedan version of the Astra hatchback. Spotted testing in Germany, the Astra Sedan prototype appears almost complete and should be hitting showrooms in...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2012 BMW 135i Three-Door Hatchback Spy Video
The 2012 BMW 135i three-door hatchback won't be offered in the U.S. but its drivetrain will with the arrival of the next-generation 1-Series Coupe and Convertible models.
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2012 Seat Ibiza Cupra Concept: Forbidden Fruit
Volkswagen’s Spanish unit Seat has rolled out a hot little hatch concept at this week’s 2012 Beijing Auto Show, which despite being labeled concept is actually a preview of a planned facelift for one of the automaker’s most popular models. That model is the sporty 2012 Seat Ibiza...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Infiniti Debuts Long Wheelbase M35hL
Are you an environmentally aware captain of industry? Is it awkward being chauffeured to Greenpeace meetings in a Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended Wheelbase? Fear not, because we have good news for you: Infiniti is building an extended-length version of its M35h hybrid luxury sedan. Dubbed the M35hL...
Kurt Ernst -
Volkswagen’s U.S. Chief Wants To Sell Scirocco Coupe: Report
It’s no secret that Volkswagen’s U.S. chief Jonathan Browning is a fan of the sporty Scirocco coupe. He’s openly admitted that he’d love to see the car here in the U.S., and now he’s given the strongest indication yet that it may be coming here eventually. Speaking...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran