Infiniti has introduced the 2017 QX70 Limited at the New York International Auto Show.

The Limited addition is the second to join the Infiniti family, following the 2016 QX80 Limited. Both range toppers feature a variety of interior and exterior upgrades.

The QX70 variant is visually distinguished by a unique front fascia with LED daytime running lights to replace the standard QX70 fog lights. Designers also crafted a new grille, which will eventually be used for all 2017 QX70 packages. Other exterior tweaks include a stainless steel rear bumper protector and unique 21×9.5-inch multi-spoke wheels with a dark paint finish.

Occupants are treated to a special high-contrast Graphite and Stone interior color scheme. Upgraded elements include open-pore wood trim, aluminum flake trim, pillow quilting and aluminum-trimmed pedals.

The QX70 Limited shares the same powertrain with the lesser packages. All are powered by a 3.7-liter V6 engine with 325 horsepower.

Infiniti has not yet announced pricing or launch dates for the new package.

Live images by Brian Williams.

General Motors has released a promotional video showing Chevrolet Bolt pre-production.

The teaser arrives ahead of Tesla’s long-awaited Model 3 unveiling, serving as a reminder that GM plans to be the first on the market with an mass-market long-range EV.

Despite the video of a fully assembled Bolt on a production line, the EV is still many months from arriving in showrooms. The company expects to begin deliveries before the end of the year, potentially giving GM a significant head start before the Model 3 is expected to hit the market in the second half of 2017.

Whenever it does land in showrooms, the Bolt will carry a MSRP of $37,500 (before tax credits) with a promised range of more than 200 miles.

Analysts will be closely watching sales of both the Bolt and Model 3, though the competitors will be quite different beyond their price tags and battery capacities. Tesla’s offering is expected to focus on luxury, positioned as an electric alternative to BMW’s 3-Series, while the Bolt takes inspiration from small crossovers.

Nissan has unveiled an updated GT-R at the New York International Auto Show, introducing a fresh new look and other improvements for the 2017 model year.

The revision represents the most significant change to the flagship coupe since the model was first introduced a decade ago, bringing the nameplate into line with Nissan’s latest design language.

The front end has been thoroughly revamped with a new ‘V-Motion’ grille, enlarged to provide better airflow. A new hood features more pronounced character lines, blending into a reshaped bumper and front spoiler lip.

Engineers have pushed out the side sills to better manage airflow around the vehicle, while new side air vents now flank the quad exhaust tips. Altogether, the exterior design changes are said to improve stability at high speeds without affecting the GT-R’s 0.26 drag coefficient.

Designers worked to deliver a more premium interior, wrapping the reshaped dashboard in a seamless piece of Nappa leather. A thinner dash cushion layer and new seats help reduce weight.

Controls have been simplified, reducing the number of navigation and audio switches from 27 to just 11, while a larger eight-inch touchscreen replaces the existing seven-inch unit. The company also moved the paddle shifters to the new steering wheel, enabling drivers to easily change gears in mid-turn.

Changes for the 2017 model year are not merely limited to aesthetics and ergonomics. The GT-R’s beloved 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V6 has been tweaked to deliver 565 horsepower at 6800 rpm and 467 lb-ft of torque — an increase of 20 ponies and four lb-ft of twist — thanks to ignition-timing control of individual cylinders and extra boost. Engineers also revised the six-speed dual-clutch transmission for smoother shifts and less noise, while a new titanium exhaust system promises to sound better than ever.

The updated coupe brings a more rigid body structure and suspension revisions, providing higher cornering speeds and better stability during rapid lateral transitions. Despite the handling improvements, ride quality is said to be smoother than the outgoing edition. Active noise cancellation and new sound absorption materials further contribute to a quieter cabin.

Pricing will likely be announced closer to market arrival.

Live images by Brian Williams.

The Scion FR-S is set to be rebranded and revised for the 2017 model year, arriving as the Toyota 86 in the US market.

The nameplate is now consistent with Toyota’s global naming scheme as the company drops its Scion sub-brand in the US and Canada. The FR-S has already been known as the Toyota 86 or GT86 in global markets since its introduction for the 2012 model year.

“When we announced the transition of the Scion models to Toyota we hadn’t planned on changing the names of our cars, but by popular demand, for our sports car, we decided to adopt the global name of 86,” says Toyota VP Bill Fay.

Receiving more than just a new name, the 86 brings slightly more power than the 2016 edition. Its 2.0-liter engine is still naturally aspirated, though the manual version has been retuned for 205 horsepower and 156 lb-ft of torque — up five ponies and as many lb-ft of twist, delivered via new gear ratios.

The coupe also receives a few aesthetic tweaks alongside the Toyota badging. The front fascia has been refreshed with new LED headlights and turn signals, complementing a restyled bumper with a more pronounced lower grille. The back end has also been refreshed with a new number and sportier LED taillights, while new alloy wheels feature a twisted spoke design.

Toyota has upgraded the interior, adding new soft-touch ‘Grandlux’ material on the instrument panel and door trim. Seating material has also been swapped and highlighted with silver stitching.

Engineers worked to improve control and road manners, retuning the shocks and tweaking the spring rates.

Live images by Brian Williams.

Jaguar’s Classic division has announced that it will recreate the nine XKSS road cars that were destroyed by a factory fire in 1957.

Essentially a road-going version of the Le Mans winning D-Type, the XKSS is often billed as the world’s first supercar. In an era when most cars struggled to hit 100mph, the XKSS was capable of hitting speeds in excess of 140mph.

The nine so-called continuation cars will be hand-built at Jaguar’s new ‘Experimental Shop’ in Warwick. It doesn’t appear as though any original parts will be used in the construction of the nine continuation cars, but Jaguar promises that all XKSS’s will be “constructed to the same specifications as those first 16 made in 1957.”

“The XKSS occupies a unique place in Jaguar’s history and is a car coveted by collectors the world over for its exclusivity and unmistakable design,” said Tim Hannig, Director Jaguar Land Rover Classic. “Jaguar Classic’s highly skilled team of engineers and technicians will draw on decades of knowledge to ensure each of the nine cars is completely authentic and crafted to the highest quality.”

A total of 16 XKSS’s made it out of the Browns Lane factory before the fire destroyed the remaining nine cars and the tools to build them in 1957. Some of those cars have passed through the hands of famous owners, including Steve McQueen.

Jaguar says some of the nine continuation cars are still available for purchase, but any buyer will need to have deep pockets; the automaker says each one will command more than 1 million pounds.

Mazda has introduced the 2017 MX-5 RF ahead of its official debut at the New York Auto Show.

The name RF stands for “retractable fastback.” Mazda has added a retractable hard top that gives the MX-5 a fastback-like silhouette when it’s in the up position. The roof panel right above the occupants automatic retracts at the push of a button at speeds of up to 6 mph, making the MX-5 RF more of a targa than a full-blown convertible. Clever packaging allows the RF to offer the same amount of trunk space as the standard MX-5, even when the top is down.

Top aside, the RF is identical to the fourth-generation MX-5. On our shores, it ships with a naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 155 horsepower and 148 lb-ft. of torque. The four spins the rear wheels via either a standard six-speed manual transmission or an optional six-speed automatic. Performance figures haven’t been published, so we don’t know how RF stacks up against the regular MX-5 ragtop.

The 2017 Mazda MX-5 RF will go on sale in the coming months, though a more specific time frame isn’t available. Pricing information hasn’t been announced yet, but expect the RF to carry a small premium over the MX-5.

Live images by Brian Williams.

Mercedes-Benz has introduced the new 2017 GLC Coupe ahead of its public debut at the New York Auto Show.

Developed to take on the BMW X4, the stylish GLC Coupe is essentially a toned-down version of the Concept GLC Coupe that was shown last year during the Shanghai Auto Show. The overall silhouette has transitioned from concept to production with only minor modifications, but the crossover has gained more realistic-looking headlights, a less aggressive front bumper, bigger mirrors, and standard door handles.

As its name implies, the GLC Coupe rides on the same basic architecture as the GLC. However, it’s 186.2 inches long and 63 inches tall, dimensions that make it a little longer and lower than its more utilitarian sibling. It rides on 19-inch alloys, and buyers who want an extra dose of bling can order 21-inch units at an extra cost.

Inside, the GLC Coupe is virtually identical to the GLC. Passengers are treated to a posh interior with a sloping center console, air vents with chromed frames, and a color screen that pops up from the top of the dashboard. The optional Sport Package bundles sport seats for the front passengers, a flat-bottom steering wheel, specific pedals, and AMG floor mats.

At launch, the GLC Coupe lineup will be split up into two models called GLC300 and GLC43, respectively. The GLC300 is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 241 horsepower and 273 lb-ft. of torque. The turbo four spins all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission and Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel drive system. Moving up to the GLC43 brings a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 rated at 362 horsepower and 384 lb-ft. of torque. Also bolted to a nine-speed automatic, the six sends the GLC43 from zero to 60 mph in under five seconds.

The GLC Coupe boasts a more direct steering ratio than the GLC crossover, and it can be ordered with an optional air suspension that features a built-in Sport+ mode.

The 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 and Mercedes-AMG GLC43 will go on sale nationwide early next year. Pricing information hasn’t been published yet.