• Facelifted Peugeot 508 sedan leaked ahead of debut

    May 10, 2014
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    A lone leaked image has prematurely revealed Peugeot’s facelifted 508 sedan ahead of its scheduled debut later this year.

    Introduced across Europe in 2010, the 508 gets a sharper front end that borrows design cues such as a thin, angular radiator grille and aggressive headlights from the Exalt concept that was presented at last month’s Beijing Motor Show.

    Pictures of the 508′s rear end were not leaked but expect the sedan to feature minor visual updates such as revised tail lamps and a new bumper.

    Inside, Peugeot’s biggest sedan will gain minor updates in order to close the gap that separates it from the Volkswagen Passat. Better materials and a state-of-the-art infotainment system controlled by a color touch screen will likely be part of the deal.

    Peugeot will not make any significant mechanical changes, meaning the 508 will carry on with two gas-burning four-cylinder mills rated at 120 and 155 horsepower, respectively. Buyers who prefer oil-burners will be able to choose from no less than five turbodiesel units whose outputs range from 115 to 200 horsepower.

    A diesel-electric hybrid drivetrain called HYbrid4 will continue to round out the lineup. The drivetrain uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel and a small electric motor to send 200 horsepower and 332 lb-ft. of torque to all four wheels via a six-speed semi-automatic gearbox. With both power sources running the 508 returns up to 71 mpg in a mixed European cycle.

    Look for official details about the updated Peugeot 508 to emerge in the coming weeks. The sedan will be built in France and in China.

  • Spied: China-bound long-wheelbase Cadillac ATS

    May 10, 2014
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    Two low-resolution spy shots taken in China have prematurely revealed the stretched version of the Cadillac ATS sedan.

    Aimed at similarly stretched variants of the BMW 3-Series, the Audi A4 and the Volvo S60, the ATS-L will be nearly four inches longer than its regular-wheelbase counterpart. The extra space will be allocated to the rear passengers and the interior will undoubtedly be marginally more upscale than the one found in the regular ATS.

    The spy shots reveal the ATS-L will stand out from its regular wheelbase counterpart thanks to a bespoke radiator grille with two thin slats. Interestingly, the spy shots suggest the ATS-L will eschew Cadillac’s new emblem in favor of the old-fashioned wreath and crest.

    Long-wheelbase buyers will reportedly be able to choose from a naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 200 horsepower, a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-banger that makes 270 ponies and a 3.6-liter V6 that generates 320 horsepower. All engines will transfer power to the rear wheels via an automatic transmission.

    Unlike the regular-wheelbase ATS, the ATS-L will be built in China by a joint-venture called Shanghai General Motors so it will be exempt from the stiff tariffs that Beijing slaps on all imported cars. Pricing will start at roughly 275,000 yuans, a sum that converts to approximately $45,500.

    The long-wheelbase ATS will debut over the coming months and go on sale across China shortly after. At the time of writing, Cadillac is not planning on selling the stretched sedan outside of China.

  • First Drive: 2015 Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4

    May 10, 2014
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    Name the wildest, edgiest, super-sportiest automaker to grace the covers of tabloids all over the country.

    Hint: Justin Bieber.

    Hint: Hip-hop videos.

    Hint: It’s Lamborghini.

    And, there’s a reason for that. The engineers in Sant’agata have created some of the world’s most recognizable, uncompromising vehicles in modern history. Think Countach. Think Diablo. Think Murciélago. Think Aventador.

    Lamborghini built its empire on monstrously capable V12-powered supercars, so when the Gallardo debuted with its V10 and ‘affordable’ pricing in 2003, we were skeptical. A decade and several special editions later, all doubts would be dashed, and the Gallardo would claim the throne as the best-selling Lamborghini of all time. In fact, it sold more than 14,000 units in its ten-year run, making up for nearly half of the Lamborghinis ever sold. Ever.

    For 2015, Lamborghini has debuted the replacement for Gallardo: the Huracán LP610-4, and we were invited back to Spain and the Ascari raceway to see exactly how good this little Lambo could be.

    Lines, not curves

    Parked next to the Gallardo, the 2015 Huracán looks more like an evolved creature, rather than a completely reimagined one. That’s not to say that the two cars share components, as much as the fact that you’ll simply see a strong family resemblance. That said, the Huracán has softer, more sensual lines than any Lamborghini in the last 30 years, and some might even consider this one a little more feminine than past models, too.

    Up front, the long, vertical headlights have been replaced by horizontal, angular lamps that look almost serpentine. The Huracán appears determined (if not angry) from the front, but the rest of the car draws many of its angles from the Countach of yore, and there’s something distinctly modern-retro about the rear end. LEDs keep it current, but the simple, clean tail of the car harkens back to the brand’s early days of lines and angles. And we’d encourage you to try to count the hexagons in the design–they’re everywhere, including the gas cap cover.

    Inside, you’ll find a car that is entirely modern, but keeps some of the switchgear controls that we love. You can choose between leather and Alcantara, and you can have either power adjustable for fixed racing seats, too. The rest is of the car is filled with intuitive controls and a gauge-mounted 12.3-inch infotainment system that can be configured to your heart’s desire. Want to raise the suspension over a speed bump? That’s an easy click of a switch. Trying to get to your favorite restaurant or a track in the countryside? All of that displays directly in front of you. We’ve seen this concept in the upcoming Audi TT, but Lamborghini gets the technology first.

    The steering wheel houses the controls for the turn signals, not unlike a motorcycle, as well as the settings for the Huracán’s performance management system. There you’ll find the blood red ‘ANIMA’ switch, which allows you to rifle through Strada, Sport, and Corsa settings. Behind the wheel is a pair of paddle shifters, which control the car’s all-new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

    The Huracán is powered by the newest version of the Lamborghini and Audi’s naturally aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine, which we’ve seen in both the Gallardo and R8 before now. And man, that engine can howl all the way up to its glorious 8,500-RPM redline in a way that may very well earn you a few citations for noise violations. It’s awesome. It produces 610 horsepower and 413-lb-ft of torque here, all of which is pushed through the DCT to an all-wheel-drive system. That system gives the rear wheels a 70 percent bias at startup, but can transition as much as 50 percent of its power to the front wheels, or the full 100 percent to the rear. It just depends on what the car needs, based on traction conditions.

    And, while Sport and Corsa certainly improve the car’s dynamics for more engaging drives, it’s the Strada setting that surprised us most. Visibility in any Lamborghini will be a challenge, but the relaxed suspension settings almost make the Huracán drivable to the grocery store and back, and it’s certainly comfortable enough to manage a daily commute without keeping a chiropractor on call.

    Behind the Wheel

    They’ll tell you that Lamborghini is a brand that focuses on the street first, but by the end of the Gallardo’s run, it had become a substantial force on the track, too. With that in mind, the Huracán steps into a somewhat crowded segment of semi-accessible, track-ready super-sports cars, primarily with competition from the Ferrari 458 Italia, McLaren 650S, Audi R8, and Aston Martin V12 Vantage S. However, the Lamborghini manages to set itself apart from the crowd with ease.

    The Huracán is louder than the rest, both in sound and style, and there’s something to be said about brand image here. While Ferrari and Aston owners will likely earn credit for being the gentlemen of the group, and McLaren guys will be the weird, tech-obsessed racers, arriving in a Lamborghini most assuredly turns you into a showman and entertainer. Everything about the car demands onlookers’ attention, and that’s likely one of the greater joys of driving it.

    Ultimately, we’re talking about a supercar here, and the Huracán is no slouch around town or on the track. That 5.2-liter V10 can launch the car to 60 miles per hour in right at 3.0-seconds flat, and to 124-mph in under 10 seconds toward a top speed of 202 mph. That makes it as quick as all but the McLaren, and just as fast as the Ferrari. We never saw those upper limits thanks to Ascari’s triple-loop design, but those turns did give us the chance to really push the all-wheel-drive system and new transmission. They’re brilliant.

    The Huracán’s steering is both effortless and insanely sharp, and the faster you go, the more responsive car becomes. Tuned up to Sport and Corsa modes, the transmission responds with lightning-quick shifts, and the suspension remains flat as you bank around corners. Those things are expected in the segment. What’s unique, though, is the all-wheel-drive system’s immense traction, which moves power around to each wheel within milliseconds for the very best approach to each corner. You’re able to tackle each curve more aggressively than you can in rear-drive cars, making the Lamborghini very quick around the track, but also very forgiving if you need to make a quick maneuver.

    Perhaps the best part is shifting the car back into Strada and driving away from the track, though. Very few cars today can handle both raceway and roadway so well, but we think you’ll see more and more of that in the future. It’s just the way of the supercar now, to be able to do all things well, rather than specialize. The Huracán is one the of first to be so aggressive and so gentle at the same time, and while you may have some visibility issues due to all of those wild edges in the roofline, you shouldn’t ever have a problem just hopping in and going wherever you want to go.

    Leftlane’s Bottom Line

    If Lamborghini is the type of brand that already resonated with your personality, then go ahead and put the Huracán on your list. It’s the most refined car the brand has built to date. However, we think it’s worth a look if you’re just open-minded to your next supercar, too. This coupe has style and cachet in spades, but it’s also a phenomenal performer on the track. Plus, there’s the added value of being able to drive in colder climates, thanks to the AWD system.

    The Gallardo was a great car, but the Huracán is an exceptional one, and it’s finally a Lamborghini that we actually prefer over the 458.

    2015 Lamborghini Huracán base price, $237,250.

    Photos courtesy of Lamborghini.

  • Fire risk prompts Chrysler to recall 780k minivans

    May 10, 2014
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    Chrysler is calling back 780,000 minivans to address third-row power window vent switches that could overheat and potentially cause a vehicle fire.

    After a series of warranty claims caught its attention, Chrysler launched an investigation that found beverage spills and direct exposure to moisture from rain, snow or washes can cause the third-row vent switches to short circuit.


    No accidents or injuries have been linked to the issue, but there have been 36 instances of overheating along with an undisclosed amount of fires.


    “Some incidents involved fire, many did not,” Chrysler spokesman Eric Mayne told Automotive News. “In each case, damage was confined to areas of the driver’s door,” where the switch is located.


    Chrysler has not announced when the recall will begin, though starting Wednesday owners can visit dealers to have the vent switches disconnected as a temporary measure.


    The recall affects certain model year 2010-14 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans, including 644,850 sold in the United States, 106,980 in Canada, 8,009 in Mexico and 20,638 outside of North America.


    No word on whether the Volkswagen Routan, a close relative of Chrysler’s minivans, will also be recalled.