Undermining the work of spy photographers, Volkswagen’s Czech Republic-based Škoda division has published official spy shots of its next Superb flagship.
Ambitiously billed as the best Škoda of all time, the new Superb will ride on the same modular MQB platform as many recent Volkswagen products including the A3, the Euro-spec eighth-generation Passat and the seventh-gen Golf. Switching to the MQB platform will allow the next Superb to weigh about 165 pounds less than the current model while being marginally longer and wider.

The teaser images suggest the Superb will adopt a more chiseled design that will borrow styling cues from the mid-size Octavia and the Fabia city car. It will retain the current model’s innovative Twindoor, a setup that makes it possible to open either the trunk lid or the full hatch.

The Superb will be offered with several Volkswagen-sourced four-cylinder gasoline- and diesel-burning engines with outputs ranging from 120 to 260 horsepower. Power will be sent to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission, though a dual-clutch DSG unit and all-wheel drive will both be available at an extra cost.

The second-gen Škoda Superb will make its debut at a private event held in Prague next February and it will be presented to the public a month later at the Geneva Motor Show. Additional details about the Czech automaker’s next flagship will trickle out over the coming months.

Hyundai’s European division has introduced a two-door version of the Ford Fiesta-fighting i20 hatchback that was presented in Paris earlier this year.
Appropriately called i20 Coupe, Hyundai’s latest city car looks sportier than its four-door sibling thanks to design cues like a wide hexagonal air duct and model-specific fog lights up front, a lower roofline and a trunk-mounted spoiler. New alloy wheel designs round out the exterior updates.

The cockpit has been carried over from the four-door to the Coupe with only minor modifications. Base models are decidedly Spartan but a touch screen-based infotainment system and a first-in-class panoramic sunroof can be ordered at an extra cost on higher trim levels.

The i20 Coupe is available with the same engines as its four-door sibling. The entry-level mill is a 1.1-liter turbodiesel four-cylinder that makes 75 horsepower and 132 lb-ft. of torque, and the most powerful unit on offer is a 1.4-liter gas-burning four rated at 100 horsepower. Most engines come standard with a six-speed manual transmission, while buyers who select the 1.4-liter can order an optional four-speed automatic transmission.

Hyundai promises that an Ecoboost-rivaling 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine will be introduced later in the i20 Coupe’s production run, but technical details are being kept under wraps for the time being.

The 2015 Hyundai i20 Coupe will go on sale across the Old Continent and in a number of global markets early next year. Hyundai is not currently planning on adding the two-door to its lineup in the United States.

Audi has fully revealed the 2016 Q7 ahead of its world debut at next month’s Detroit Motor Show.
Marginally shorter and narrower, the next Q7 retains the current model’s silhouette while adopting an evolutionary design. Up front, it gains a sharper rendition of Audi’s singleframe radiator grille that is inspired by the facelifted Euro-spec Q3 and angular headlights packed with LED technology. The new Q7′s front end is lower than that of the current model’s, a styling cue that reduces the SUV’s visual mass.

The evolutionary treatment continues out back. The current Q7′s wide tailgate has been carried over to the new model but it features a more chiseled design and rectangular tail lamps. Available chrome trim located at the bottom of the doors on both sides and brushed aluminum roof rails add a premium touch to the overall look.

Life Aboard
Inside, the Q7′s clean, modern-looking dashboard can be complemented by an optional fully configurable digital instrument cluster inspired by the unit used by the third-gen TT and a high-definition screen that pops up from the top of the dashboard. The screen is controlled by a touch pad located on the center console.

Buyers can order the Q7 with numerous high-tech options including two 10.1-inch 32GB Audi tablets integrated into the rear seatbacks, several versions of MMI infotainment system and in-car Wi-Fi.

The Q7 continues to offer seating for up to seven passengers in spite of its reduced dimensions. It boasts 10.4 cubic feet of trunk space with seven occupants on board, 31.4 cubic feet when carrying five passengers and a cavernous 73.3 cubic feet when second and third rows are folded flat. The cargo compartment is accessed via a standard power tailgate.

Under the Skin
The 2016 Q7 rides on Volkswagen’s modular MLB platform, resulting in a curb weight that checks in at 4,398 pounds. It is up to 716 pounds lighter than the current model, a diet that promises to considerably improve fuel economy all across the board.

In Europe, the Q7 will launch with two V6 engines. The first is a 3.0-liter TDI turbodiesel unit rated at 272 horsepower and 442 lb-ft. of torque. It sends the Q7 from zero to 62 mph in 6.3 seconds while allowing it to return 41 mpg in a mixed European cycle.

The second available engine is a 3.0-liter gas-burning TFSI that makes 333 horsepower and 324 lb-ft. of torque. The TFSI lowers the 0-60 time to 6.1 seconds and returns 30 mpg in a mixed cycle. Properly equipped, the Q7 can tow over 7,700 pounds.

Additional engines will follow later in the production run. Audi has confirmed the availability of a de-tuned TDI rated at 218 horsepower and 368 lb-ft. of torque and 2.0-liter four-cylinder TFSI that makes 252 ponies and 272 lb-ft. of twist. Market-specific details are not available yet but it is safe to assume the U.S.-spec Q7 will be offered with the two TFSI units and the 272-horsepower TDI.

All engines are linked to an eight-speed tiptronic transmission that spins all four wheels via Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system.

A diesel-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain will be added to the Q7 lineup later in the production run. It will consist of a 3.0-liter TDI V6 that works with a compact electric motor integrated into the eight-speed gearbox to produce a total of 373 horsepower and 516 lb-ft. of torque. The Q7 e-tron quattro will return 138 mpg in a mixed cycle with both power sources running, and it will be able to drive on electricity alone for up to 34 miles. Audi has not disclosed how long it will take to charge the lithium-ion battery pack.

The Q7 will go on sale shortly after it debuts in America’s Motor City. That will mark the end of a particularly long run for the current Q7, which went into production in 2006 and was lightly refreshed for the 2010 model year.

What’s Next?
Audi is planning to launch at least two new crossovers in the coming years, which will allow the German automaker to reposition the Q7. A smaller, long-rumored Q6 SUV could help the Q7 move upscale in terms of luxury appointments, while a new Q8 due out around 2017 will slot above the Q7 to become the flagship of Audi’s SUV lineup.

As we enter what appears to be the final model year for Mazda’s aging 5, the Japanese automaker has pared down the available options for its mini-minivan, and finally eliminated the 6-speed manual entirely.
2015 Mazda5s are still available in three trim levels–Sport, Touring and Grand Touring–but only a handful of a-la-carte options remain, the most notable of which being headrest-mounted DVD entertainment system.

The Mazda5 was never a volume seller for Mazda, peaking at just over 22,000 units in 2008. This is likely the reason for Mazda’s reluctance to overhaul the small van under its new SkyActiv program. Without these improvements, the aging powertrain combination was only good for 21 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway–worse than the larger (but less flexible) CX-5.

The upcoming CX-3 will likely fill the role vacated by the Mazda5 when it goes on sale later next year, but its lack of sliding doors and third-row seating will put it at a practicality disadvantage to the outgoing van. Mazda’s only other three-row family vehicle is the larger, more expensive CX-9, which is due for replacement in 2017.

The Federal Trade Commission has vowed to crack down on alleged deceptive advertising in the automotive sales business, taking action against two large dealership chains.
Billion Auto, a chain of 20 family-owned showrooms in Iowa, Montana and South Dakota, along with a family-controlled advertising company, Nichols Media, have agreed to settle charges that they violated a 2012 FTC administrative order. The agency accuses the companies of misrepresenting the costs and terms of finance and lease offers.

“The dealerships and advertising company violated the 2012 FTC administrative order by frequently focusing on only a few attractive terms in their ads while hiding others in fine print, through distracting visuals, or with rapid-fire audio delivery,” the agency claims.

Specifically, the dealers and advertisers are accused of promoting low monthly payments and low annual percentage rates for vehicles, without proper acknowledgement that the terms were for leases — not sales — and with significant limits on who would qualify. Some offers are also said to have included “significant added costs” not identified in advertisements.

A separate action against Ramey Motors, which operates dealership affiliates in Virginia and West Virginia, claims the company advertised attractive deals without disclosing the requirement for substantial down payments.

Billion Auto agreed to pay $360,000 in civil penalties, while Ramey Motors is subject to $16,000 in fines. The FTC claims to have brought more than 20 enforcement actions in the auto marketplace in recent years.

“If auto dealers make advertising claims in headlines, they can’t take them away in fine print,” said Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “These actions show there is a financial cost for violating FTC orders.”

General Motors has reportedly encountered more trouble related to ignition switches in recalled vehicles, though the problem is not being handled as a safety issue.
Some owners of aging GM cars — the same models that were listed in the infamous switch recall — are said to be encountering trouble when attempting to remove the key from the ignition.

A bulletin sent to dealers and quoted by Automotive News suggests the keys can become stuck in the ignition if the transmission shifter does not properly disengage the key lock when the car is put into ‘park.’

The company is handling the inconvenience as a “special coverage adjustment,” allowing owners to bring in their out-of-warranty cars for a free fix. In the meantime, affected owners can engage a manual-release plunger under the steering column to release the key, helping avoid battery drain if the key is left in ‘accessory’ position.

The campaign is said to include 2.2 million vehicles in the US and Canadian markets.

Mazda has again expanded its Takata airbag recall, switching to a nationwide campaign for driver-side inflators.
The company last week added several Gulf Coast states to to its regional campaign for both driver- and passenger-side components, affecting a total of more than 86,000 vehicles.

Under pressure from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driver-side components will now be fixed throughout the US — not just in high-humidity states and territories.

Mazda has labeled its latest move a “safety improvement campaign,” rather than a formal recall, since the company has not yet made a formal defect determination.

“So far, Takata has tested a large number of inflators removed from Mazda vehicles, and NONE have been found to be non-compliant at this time,” the company said in a statement (emphasis in original). “One vehicle – a 2005 Mazda6 located in Florida – has been identified as having experienced an abnormal driver’s-side airbag deployment.”

The company has committed to joining other automakers in establishing an independent testing program to determine the true scope of the Takata inflator problems.

BMW has expanded its 2-Series lineup with a three-cylinder engine option and other new model variants.
The 1.5-liter TwinPower Turbo gasoline mill, borrowed from the 2-Series Active Tourer, powers the new entry-level 218i Coupe. The small engine will provide 136 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque.

BMW suggests the lightweight powerplant helps bring the 218i’s weight distribution to nearly 50:50. Drivers can expect to hit 62 mph in 8.8 seconds with a manual transmission, or 8.9 seconds with an automatic, while top speed is just under 132 mph for either gearbox.

The company has also introduced the 220d xDrive, pairing a 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel engine with four-wheel drive. The oil burner is good for a 0-62 mph sprint in 6.8 seconds.

Buyers will be able to choose from several new trim levels. The Advantage package features a multifunction steering wheel, cruise control with braking, parking sensors and fog lamps, while the Sport Line and Luxury Line bring unique 17-inch wheels, a light package, upgraded upholstery and other tweaks.

The company has not confirmed which markets will receive the new packages.