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Jaguar’s I-Pace Concept has been named Most Significant Concept Vehicle of 2017 at the 16th North American Concept Vehicle Awards. Apart from that, it also bagged the award in the Production Preview Concept of the Year category.

Speaking of the accolade, Ian Callum, Jaguar Director of Design, said, “Our challenge was to design an electric vehicle that’s distinctively and unmistakably a Jaguar – and one which demonstrates that an electric vehicle can be visually dramatic as well as practical.”

He then added, “I think that the Jaguar I-Pace Concept has done exactly that, and is clearly at the forefront of the trend for more beautiful, more desirable electric vehicles. We’re very proud of it, and we’re delighted that the North American jurors have recognized us for succeeding in our mission.”

The award ceremony was held at the Concours d’Elegance of America, an upscale automotive event that plays host to a gathering of the elite as well as car shows and competitions. But the point of the North American Concept Vehicle Awards, is to give recognition to vehicles that will most likely shape the future of the automobile industry.

More than a dozen jurors were responsible for picking out the awards’ winners. They were involved in a selection process that included a total of 24 vehicles, each introduced to North America during this year’s motor shows in Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Toronto and New York.

See, the I-Pace concept is a precursor of the soon to be launched I-Pace road vehicle. It was meant to ready us for the road going all-electric version that is said to blend suave looks with with respectable performance and practicality.

It is slated for release sometime during the second half of 2018, which isn’t that far away. And unlike automakers like GM or Nissan, EV territory is considered uncharted waters for Jaguar. As such, there is a lot at stake with the I-Pace, because its success will determine how well Jaguar EVs of the future will be perceived by the general public.

Nissan has announced that a new and more efficient version of the Leaf will be due for release sometime in the near future. Nothing is set in stone yet, and the only image that the automaker has made available is a detailed outline of the actual car.

According to the company, the new Leaf’s body will feature improved and more efficient aerodynamics. This will help it reduce drag when in motion and remain more stable at higher speeds. The car’s bodywork will also allow it to withstand strong crosswinds without being dragged off its path, which is a very dangerous situation to be in.

This new design is said to have been inspired by airplane wings and the physics behind their method of operation. Utilizing the lessons learnt from the aerospace industry, Nissan’s engineers were able to recreate the ideal shape for the new Leaf. It will have a symmetric air flow that will help it cut through the air for a more smoother and efficient journey.

Cleaner and more streamlined design characteristics are of great importance when it comes to electric cars. Due to the limited battery pack capacity and the time it takes to recharge one, every kilometer gained through better efficiency can be extremely beneficial to the car’s practicality.

This coupled with an improved electrified powertrain should provide the new Leaf with a respectable range on a single charge. The new car has a lot to live up to considering that the original one was the first electric car to be mass produced. And with companies like Tesla making ever efficient EVs, Nissan will definitely want the new Leaf to perform well.

We believe that this is an exciting time for electric cars as more and more mainstream automakers jump on the electrified bandwagon in a bid to outdo each other. and this will benefit us, the consumer, the most. Ever stiffer competition between manufacturers mean that EVs will get better and better with each passing year.

Lately, many high-end luxury car brands have taken notice of the SUV craze and have decided to build one of their own. Porsche has the Cayenne and Macan, Bentley has the Benteyga, Maserati has the Levante SUV and Rolls-Royce will be coming out with one too.

Luxury SUVs have been in high demand for quite a while and automakers have noticed this and are capitalizing on it. Now, Ferrari, the most respected name in motoring wants ‘in’ on the action, as well.

Based on an article from the US edition of the Bussiness Insider, CEO of Ferrari’s parent company, Fiat Chyrsler Automobiles (FCA), Sergio Marchionne said that he wouldn’t rule out the possibility of the Italian sports car maker building an SUV. Though stopping short of revealing the time frame, he did imply that the possibility was quite real.

He added that it would be a crime to prevent Ferrari engineers from exploring the possibility of building a Ferrari version of a vehicle with ‘utilitarian features, to travel through uncharted territory’.

Marchionne went on to admit that the SUV market and demand for such vehicles were too big to ignore, and mentioned that Ferrari sees potential in building such a vehicle. However, when asked if the automaker would follow in the footsteps of Porsche with the Cayenne, he replied, “hell no.”

The news seems rather vague, but there is no doubt in our minds that Ferrari is mulling over the idea of creating a Porsche Cayenne rival albeit, more expensive and built in smaller numbers. Ferrari is adamant that unlike Porsche, it want’s to maintain a certain level of exclusivity with its vehicles.

As such, expect more hair-raising news from Ferrari in the coming months when it divulges more about the potential of creating its own SUV. This will definitely seem like stomach-churning news for the Ferrari tifosi and purists alike – so stay tuned.

Source: Business Insider

Ford has introduced a new feature that might help Mustang owners be less ‘quieter’ when arriving or leaving their homes. It helps lower the audible volume of the raspy exhaust notes emanated by the V8 equipped Mustangs, enabling owners to go about their activities without announcing their intentions to the entire neighborhood.

It’s called the Quiet Exhaust Mode, which is available on the latest Mustang that is equipped with the active valve performance exhaust system. It can be activated through the car’s infotainment system – offering three audible exhaust levels namely, Quiet, Normal, Sport and Track.

“Active valve performance exhaust gives Mustang owners the best of both worlds – that classic Mustang sound, and the ability to not wake up your neighbors when you leave the house early in the morning or arrive home late at night,” said Matt Flis, Ford exhaust development engineer.

Also referred to as the ‘Good Neighbour Mode’ this addition to the Mustang line-up should refute the stigma that plague decent Mustang owners – obtuse driving etiquette. It will also allow them to enjoy the vehicle without disturbing the peace and activating about a dozen car alarms.

It’s inception is a result of first hand experience by Steve von Foerster, former head of vehicle engineering for the Ford Motor Company. Apparently, Steve ruffled a few feathers when he drove his Shelby Mustang GT350 out of his driveway one morning. The loud and aggressive roar of the Mustang’s Coyote V8 maybe music to our ears, but his neighbors of the quite suburb, were more than perturbed.

One of them phoned it in to the Police, requesting law enforcement deal with the disturbance. Steven was long gone by the time the cops come and as such, escaped being ticketed. But this goes to show that you can’t really trust your neighbors to be tolerant with your way of life.

The video below was published by Ford to demonstrate the night and day difference that the new Quiet Exhaust mode feature has on the Mustang’s exhaust note. And going a step further, the company has also introduced Quiet Start, which adds on another layer of stealth.

https://youtu.be/Z1MehhS4GIw

This feature enables drivers to schedule a time for when they require the engine started so as not to inconvenience their neighbors. Owners can set a time between 8pm and 7am to have this feature activated. Working together with the Quiet Exhaust mode, most people won’t notice that they live right next door to the most advanced muscle car that Ford has ever made.

https://youtu.be/sUOkrUPpRro

Apart from the exhaust system, Ford has equipped the new Mustang with a restyled exterior design and refined interior, Mustang will offer an all-digital 12-inch instrument cluster, a 10-speed automatic transmission, MagneRide damping system and SYNC® Connect with FordPass.

Check out the videos and picture gallery below and let us know what you think of these new additions to the new Ford Mustang.

Like former racing cars, rally ones are some of the most sought after vehicles of collectors. And when a Lancia Delta Integrale Evo rally car driven by Juha Kankkunen was put up for sale by Silverstone Auction, a bidding war ensued.

Multiple bidders, both on site and by phone were vying to be the owner of the car that competed in the 1990 1000 Lakes Rally. The bids came pouring in from online bidders and commission ones, pushing the price well beyond the estimated price (£120,000 or RM 680,777). Within minutes, the asking price for the car surpassed the £200,000 (RM 1,134,629) mark and by the time the hammer went down, the winning bid was £225,000 (RM 1,276,458).

The auction took place at the Silverstone Classic Race Car Sale held at Silverstone on 27th July. The event saw many amazing vehicles that were rich in history being sold for huge sums of money, including an E30 BMW M3 driven by Tim Harvey. Other notable mentions include a BMW 320 E36 built by McLaren as well as race spec 1961 Jaguar MKII 3.8 and 1966 Mini Cooper.

But the Lancia may have stolen the show due to its importance in rally history and the fact that it belonged to a Finnish maestro that meandered it through the tricky rally stages in the early 1990s. Kankkunen was a four-time World Rally Champion and his connection to the car, was probably the reason why people were clamoring to out bid each other.

Speaking of the car, Nick Whale, managing director of Silverstone Auctions, said “The car is a true rally legend and an important part of World Rally Championship history and clearly much in demand on the evening. It was a dramatic highlight in a remarkably successful race car sale.”

Conducted annually, this particular auction in the UK sees its fair share of classic and vintage cars every year. Some of the most coveted vehicles pass through its doors each year, giving rise to ever increasing bidding records.

Aston Martin seems to be pretty busy readying thier fleet of new vehicles, which is probably part of the after effect of its agreement with Mercedes-Benz AMG. The German automotive giant has agreed to supply engines to the Gaydon based automaker and has also acquired a 5% stake in the company.

The strategy is especially evident with its recruitment of ex-Maserati man, Joerg Ross as Chief Engineer of powertrains. Ross, is a seasoned veteran in the powertrain business having served as the Head of Advanced Powertrain division at Maserati.

Prior to this, he held senior management positions at IAV, Scuderia Ferrari F1 and Ford. In total, he has spent more than 25 years in the automotive industry and has no doubt seen his share of technological advancements.

He will be responsible for the development of Aston Martin’s engines, transmissions and electrification work. Ross will be based at the company’s HQ at Gaydon, Warwickshire and will be reporting to Vice President and Chief Technical Officer, Max Szwaj.

“We are delighted to welcome Joerg to the Aston Martin team. His considerable experience and knowledge will prove invaluable for the Engineering team as we prepare the business for the next generation of Aston Martin products,” said Max Szwaj.

Born in Remscheid, Germany, Joerg holds a degree and a PHD in Mechanical Engineering from the RWTH Aachen University, Germany. He speaks several languages including German, English and Italian.

Speaking of his appointment, Ross said, “I’m delighted to be joining Aston Martin at what is an exciting time for the brand. The company is at a significant point in its history, with the recent announcement of its first all-electric car the RapidE. I’m excited to play a part in developing Aston Martin’s future vehicle strategy.”

It seems like the UK based supercar maker has big plans for the not so distant future. Though many consider an AMG engine in an Aston Martin as sacrilege, their proven reliability and power delivery should complement the elegantly styled sporty bodywork of Astons of the future.

The viola-metallic Lamborghini Diablo, made famous after being featured in Jamiroquai’s 1990s hit single, Cosmic Girl, has been put up for sale. It has been listed on Auto Trader, which is the UK’s largest marketplace for new and used cars.

It’s one of two identical car that were featured in the 1996 music video. The first car met its unfortunate end after a crash on the video set. This second car, took its place but it too encountered an unlucky incident. During filming, a precision camera fell on it from a considerable height, decimating the windshield.

Jamiroquai’s lead man, Jay Kay, decided to keep driving the car for the remainder of the filming without a front windshield. And as such, unlike many celebrity cars, this particular Lambo has had quite a past and probably a hex too.

Now, its up for sale with a price tag of £549,995 (RM 3,113,357) and happens to be one of only 16 right-hand-drive models in exsistance. Amari Supercars, a car dealership in the UK, claims to have sold it to the band in 1996. And since then, the Lambo has been past on two further owners before being returned to the dealership after spending sometime in Germany.

Speaking of the car, Auto Trader Car’s Editor, Andy Pringle, said, “One of three classic supercars used in the Cosmic Girl video – it’s the only one that the ‘Space Cowboy’ actually owned – so although it might price-out most music fans at over half a million pounds – there could be a love affair reunited on the cards if Jay Kay’s browsing Auto Trader this week.”

Celebrity involvement aside, the Diablo was one of the most iconic cars of the 1990s. It was the quintessential hypercar of an era when Traction Control and Stability Assist systems were almost nonexistent. It was a true driver’s car and one that required a significant amount of physical strength to keep it in check.

Built at Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy, the Diablo, which is Spanish for devil, was a mid-engine hypercar built between 1990 and 2001. It had either a 5.7 or 6.0-litre V12 engine that was mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.

It replaced the wedge-shaped Countach and was a brute with 485bhp available from its spectacular V12 engine. It was capable of sprinting from 0-100km/h in just 4.5 seconds, which was incredibly fast for the time and capable of achieving a top speed of 325km/h.

Unlike the Countach, the Diablo came with better creature comforts including adjustable seats and steering wheel, power windows and Alpine stereo system. Despite this, the car was a real handful to drive because power steering and ABS only became available in later years.

It was eventually replaced by the Murcielago but we are quite sure that the one up for sale, will fetch a significant amount of money and will be an amazing collector’s item for the near future.

Ford’s F-150 Raptor is one powerful behemoth of a truck that needs no introduction. It’s a tough and capable off-roader that surmises the American dream of sticking it to the man as well as mother nature.

The Blue Oval has taken its latest Raptor and customized it to incorporate design cues of the US Air Force’s Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fighter jet. This particular truck has been auctioned off during the annual auction at AirVenture Oshkosh.

The purpose of this really cool customization job is to raise money and awareness for the Experimental Aircraft Association Gathering of Eagles. It’s an organization and an event committed to aviation and encouraging youth involvement in flight.

Over the years Ford has raised more than $3 million (RM 12,856,500) for this annual event since 2008 by creating these customized one-of-a-kind vehicles. The automaker has also served as exclusive automotive sponsor of the 2017 AirVenture Oshkosh fly-in at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

This F-22 inspired F-150 Raptor was eventually picked up by Gary Ackerman of Gaudin Ford in Las Vegas, Nevada for a whopping $300,000 (RM 1,285,650). Ackerman serves as Honorary Commander/Ambassador for the United States Airforce’s F-22 Squadron at Nellis Airforce Base in Nevada.

Ford design manager Melvin Betancourt and Ford Performance led the design and engineering work of the F-22 F-150 Raptor, said, “Our job – both in the air and on the ground – is to intimidate the competition.The money we raised will enable Young Eagles to reach for the skies as well.”

The modifications that were made are more than skin deep and Ford has released an extensive list of features that set this particular Raptor apart from its civilian counterpart. The vehicle has custom suspension, unique exterior trim pieces and off-roading equipment that help it tackle the worst of conditions.

The following is what the truck comes with:

  • Whipple-intercooled, high-output 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost® making 545 horsepower and 895Nm of torque
  • Modified Addictive Desert Design front suspension and bump stop kit
  • Deaver rear spring pack to provide a smooth, progressive suspension
  • Fox bypass series shocks with adjustable compression and rebound valving to customize damping for on-road and off-road use
  • Innov8 Racing custom forged beadlock wheels with Falcon Wildpeak tyres
  • Upgraded Alcon six-piston painted calipers, oversized rotors, high-friction pads
  • Modular off-road 1.3-million candela LED lighting system by KC Hilites
  • Kicker audio system with 1,500 watts of amplification
  • Unique Sherwin-Williams exterior paint integrating F-22 Raptor jet cues including titanium grille with front silhouette of the aircraft; jet cues
    featured on the interior as well
  • Amp Research power retracting steps
  • DeBerti two-tyre, gas and ProEagle jack holder
  • LineX sprayed bedliner
  • All-stainless-steel cat-back Borla exhaust system with carbon fiber tips
  • DeBerti carbon fiber fender flares, hood and fender vents
  • Paint hand-cut and polished to a mirror finish by Independent Detail

The US Air Force’s F22 Raptor is a technological marvel for the 21st century. It is considered a stealth fighter that is able to evade enemy radar with relative ease. Unlike conventional fighter jets like the F-16 Fighting Falcon, its weapons are stored internally. Once the pilot has chosen the target and is ready to fire, only then do its pod bay doors open, exposing the precision weaponry.

This aircraft is one of the deadliest fighter jets in existence and as such, its no wonder that Ford chose it as the the design theme for its ever popular powerhouse, the F-150 Raptor.

Tesla’s resilience when faced with almost insurmountable challenges of making a practical electric car, has had an impact on the industry. It wasn’t too long ago when many mainstream automakers suggested that producing a practical electric car was still some ways off, and that the internal combustion engine was here to stay.

Now however, many have changed their tune and are willing to step into relatively uncharted waters and begin mass producing electrified powertrains. Not long ago, Volvo announced that it will only be building hybrid or fully electric vehicles from 2019 onward. Hyundai too are planning on a similar strategy sometime in the near future.

And if an article published by Autocar UK is to be believed, it would appear that Maserati, a well known Italian sports car company has decided to take the electrified route as well. It’s parent company FCA (Fiat Chrysler Autombiles) who also owns Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Dodge, want Maserati to take the lead and produce electrified vehicles and technology.

This same technology can then be adapted by the rest of the brands under the FCA umbrella and ensure that about half of the company’s model range comprises of either hybrid or EVs by 2022.

That said, the first electrified Maserati, which will probably be a hybrid, is predicted to be unveiled by 2020 at the earliest and may be based on the Alfieri concept that debuted at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show.

The article goes on to speculate that Prior to the launch of that vehicle, Maserati might hybridize other current generation vehicles like the Levante SUV. Nothing is set in stone at the moment, but we won’t be surprised if the Italian automaker chooses to go fully electric in the not so distant future.

Many car buyers around the world are beginning to embrace hybrid and electric vehicles as the future of personal mobility. And as soon as there is sufficient infrastructure to sustain their practicality as daily drivers, that will be the final nail in the coffin of the internal combustion engine.

Source: Autocar UK

Ever wanted to own a racing car that could also double as your daily driver? Well, wonder no more because Acura, Honda’s performance arm in the US will be offering the race spec NSX GT3 for sale globally. The race-winning car is certified for professional competition and has been through extensive on-track development.

“We are extremely pleased with the progress and success of the NSX GT3 in our inaugural season,” said Art St. Cyr, President of HPD. “Winning at Detroit and Watkins Glen, two very different circuits, in this highly competitive class illustrates the breadth of capabilities of the NSX GT3. We look forward to seeing the car in Victory Circle at tracks around the world in 2018 and beyond.”

The carbon-fibre paneled car will be offered to customers with the full aero kit including front splitter, rear diffuser and GT wing. In fact, its chassis consists of a mutli-material body structure and TIG-welded chrome-moly roll cage. This NSX GT3 will be built along side the regular production car in Honda’s NSX exclusive manufacturing facility in Ohio, USA.

It’s engine will come from the same place that supplies the standard NSX with its powerplants. Technically the one in the NSX GT3 shares the same specs as the 3.5-litre turbo V6 in the standard car. They have the same block, heads, valve train, crankshaft, pistons and dry-sump lubrication system.

Power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed, sequential-shift racing gearbox and unlike the regular car, this race-ready car is only rear wheel drive. Final assembly takes place in Italy where everything is put together and tested to ensure that it adhere’s to Honda’s stringent standards of quality and safety.

On top of that, the Japanese automaker will also be offering customer support for those who purchase the car, which includes parts, servicing, training and engineering services. The car carries a price tag of €465,000 or (RM2,338,682) and will be available to order from Acura’s specialized dealer network that include HPD for North America, JAS Motorsports (Europe, Middle-East, Asia) and Mugen for sales in Japan.

Though the relatively steep asking price won’t be to everybody’s liking, the NXS GT3 is an exceptionally capable racer that is worth the money. It has already won a number of races in its inaugural season of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competition. And those wanting something a little more visceral than that offered by the standard NSX, won’t be disappointed with this race-ready car.

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