• Is this the 2015 Porsche 911 Targa?

    January 9, 2014

    A lone leaked image might have prematurely revealed the 2015 Porsche 911 Targa ahead of its scheduled debut next week at the Detroit Motor Show.

    The leaked image reveals the 911 Targa will be identical to the existing coupe and convertible variants from the rocker panels up to the belt line. Above that, it will gain a large wraparound rear window and a roll bar adorned by three small vertical air vents, design cues that characterized the first 911 Targa that bowed in 1967.

    The roof panel directly above the occupants’ heads will be removable and likely made out of a lightweight material such as aluminum. The interior is not expected to undergo any major interior modifications, meaning its dashboard will be nearly identical to the one found in 911 Convertible.

    Rumors indicate the base Targa will be powered by a 3.4-liter flat-six rated at 350 horsepower and 288 lb-ft. of torque, while the more expensive Targa S will utilize a 3.6-liter flat-six that churns out 400 horsepower and 324 lb-ft. of torque. At launch, the Targa will only be offered with rear-wheel drive but a four-wheel drive model with a widened rear end will likely join the lineup later in the production run.

    Look for official details about the Porsche 911 Targa to emerge in the weeks leading up to its debut in Michigan next month. The car is expected to land in Porsche showrooms around the world by the middle of next summer at the latest.

  • VW to display updated Beetle Dune Concept in Detroit?

    January 9, 2014
    A report coming out of Germany indicates Volkswagen will travel to next week’s Detroit Motor Show to unveil an updated version of the Beetle Dune Concept that bowed at the 2000 Los Angeles Motor Show.

    Based on the current Beetle, the yet-unnamed concept will wear a rugged, Audi allroad-like appearance thanks to plastic cladding on the wheel arches, brushed aluminum trim on both ends and 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped by all-terrain tires. The suspension will be noticeably raised in order to increase the car’s off-road capacity.

    Inside, the Beetle Dune will boast a bespoke analog instrument cluster that harks back to the original Beetle, sport seats for the front passengers and a state-of-the-art infotainment system controlled by a 7.7-inch touch screen mounted on the center stack. The cabin will be equipped with several grab handles including a large one prominently mounted in lieu of the glovebox.

    The fully-functional concept will be powered by a 210-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas-burning engine linked to a six-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission. The Beetle Dune will be able to sprint from zero to 62 mph 7.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 140 mph.

    German magazine Auto Bild claims the concept has already been given the green light for production and a toned down version of it will join the Volkswagen lineup in 2015.

    If the rumor proves true, look for official information about the off-road Beetle to emerge in the coming days.

  • Saudi Arabia makes drifting a criminal offense

    January 9, 2014
    In the wake of an increasing number of deadly accidents, the Saudi Arabian government has passed a law that makes drifting and other popular reckless behavior such as driving on two wheels a criminal offense. Previously, drifting was considered a mere traffic violation.

    First-time offenders will have their car confiscated for up to a month and be fined 10,000 Saudi riyals, a sum that converts to roughly $2,600. Repeat offenders will have their car taken away for three months, be asked to pay 20,000 riyals (about $5,300) and risk spending anywhere between six months and a year in jail.

    Finally, third-time offenders will pay 40,000 riyals (around $10,600) and wait up to five years to retrieve their car from the impound lot. Interestingly, passengers and spectators will also be fined and could have their car taken away for at least 15 days even if it is not being used for drifting.

    Drifters who want to avoid fines and jail time will need to go to a race track or hold an authorized event away from public roads.

  • Detroit Preview: Ram 1500 Mossy Oak goes camo

    January 9, 2014
    Debuting next week at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the Ram 1500 Mossy Oak Edition isn’t a new venture between Chrysler’s truck division and hunting camo firm Mossy Oak, but it is the most extensive.

    Following up on a 2012 model year special edition, the 2014 model features additional camo outside but a more subtle motif inside. Mossy Oak’s Break-Up Infinity camo adorns the trucks’ bedcaps and tailgate; additional camo can be ordered for the truck’s lower cladding. A Mossy Oak logo appears on the rear quarter panels.

    Inside, the truck features the same camo print on its instrument panel and doors, plus a Mossy Oak logo on all four outboard head restraints. Optional Katzkin-supplied Espresso leather features unique Mossy Oak embroidery on the seatbacks as well.

    Ram says that the Mossy Oak edition starts life as its already woodsy Outdoorsman trim level. However, all Mossy Oak models will be 4×4 Crew Cabs offered only in

    Black, Black Gold Pearl and Prairie Pearl monotone exterior trims, over a Canyon Brown and Frost Beige interior.

    Both 6’4 and 5’7 bed lengths will be offered, as will Ram’s extra-cost RamBox system.

    The Ram 1500 Mossy Oak Edition lists for $39,985 not including a mandatory $1,195 destination charge.

  • Construction begins on Lexus’ first U.S. assembly line

    January 9, 2014
    Lexus is officially on its way to building the brand’s first-ever vehicle on U.S. soil after construction workers laid the first steel column at the company’s future production site in Georgetown, Kentucky, on Wednesday.

    Just nine months after Lexus parent Toyota announced plans to build the ES sedan in the United States, workers have begun constructing a new production line at the company’s Georgetown assembly complex. The expansion will cost Toyota $360 million and create an estimated 750 new jobs.

    “Today’s milestone is symbolic of the bright future that lies ahead of us,” said Wil James, president of Toyota’s Kentucky plant. “We’re proud of our long history of building world-class vehicles in the Bluegrass, and look forward to raising the bar once again by adding Lexus to our lineup of Kentucky-made products.”

    The ES, Lexus’s best-selling sedan, has been produced exclusively in Japan up to this point. Sales of the ES 350 grew by about 30 percent in 2013 to 72,581 units.

    The new assembly line, which is scheduled to open in 2015, will have an annually capacity of 50,000 units, meaning Lexus will still have to import some ES models from Japan.