The first official images and specs of the production Honda S660 roadster have been leaked online, from what appears to be a Japanese brochure or dealer info sheet.

According to the photos, the production version hews very close to the concept shown at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show. The nose adds a piece of brightwork above the grille, bringing the S660 closer in line with the Honda Beat, a similarly-sized compact roadster built from 1991-96.

The sporty profile remains in tact, adding a bit of trim along the vent and a side signal light aft of the front wheels. The rear vent’s shape stays the same, but the blacked out graphic surrounding it turns to body color. Production concessions like door handles and a larger side mirrors show up in the images as well.

The largest change comes from the rear, in which the CHMSL is brought lower between the nacelles that sweep rearward from the headrests. The bridge between taillights is also eliminated for a more conventional rear graphic, and the vertical flanking triangular exhaust outlets disappear.

Interior-wise, the concept’s steering wheel is replaced by a conventional Honda split 3-spoke. A touchscreen multifunction interface also appears on the dash.

The spec sheet confirms the predicted 63 hp figure, which comes in at 6,000 rpm, while the peak torque rating stands at 77 lb-ft at 2,600 rpm. Curb weight ranges from 1,830 to 2,116 pounds depending on options and trim. The same 660cc engine can be mated to either a CVT or 6-speed manual.

Six body colors are available, including orange, purple, red, and the Beat staple of yellow.

Live images by Ben Hsu.

French Minister of the Interior Manuel Valls has announced that 940 cars, vans and scooters were set on fire in France on New Year’s Eve.
The number of cars burned during the transition from 2014 to 2015 dropped by about 12 percent compared to last year. Speaking at a press conference held in Paris, Valls attributed the decline to the record-breaking 90,000 law enforcement officers that patrolled major cities across the country from 6:00 pm on December 31st to 6:00 am on January 1st.

Burning cars on New Year’s Eve (and on July 14th, France’s national holiday) started in the early 1990s as a form of protest in deprived neighborhoods but it quickly morphed into a contest between a number of the country’s regions. Youth that typically live on the outskirts of major cities such as Paris, Strasbourg, Marseilles and Toulouse take to the streets each year to see who can cause the most mayhem.

France’s previous government stopped reporting the number of cars burned on New Year’s Eve in order to put an end to the contest but the measure did little to quell the annual unrest.

To complicate the situation, some motorists take advantage of petty regional rivalries to commit insurance fraud. Government sources indicate that about 20 to 30 percent of the cars that burn in the early hours of January 1st are set on fire by their owner.

Although 940 cars burned in one night is a sobering statistic, it pales in comparison to the roughly 40,000 cars that go up in flames in France each year.

Photo by Ronan Glon.

Volkswagen’s commercial vehicles division is putting the final touches on the next-generation Transporter, and a new report gives us a good idea of what to expect from it.
Called T6 internally, the next Transporter will borrow styling cues from the retro-inspired Tristar concept (pictured) that was presented last fall at the annual Commercial Vehicles Show held in Frankfurt, Germany. More of an evolution than a revolution, the T6 will get a sharper look all around but its overall dimensions are not expected to drastically change.

The Transporter will follow the van industry’s shift towards more car-like interiors and adopt a touch-screen based infotainment system similar to the unit found in the Golf and the Passat. Called Multivan in Germany, the Transporter’s passenger-carrying sibling will be offered with premium features like real wood trim on the dashboard and full leather upholstery.

The EuroNCAP, Europe’s rough equivalent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), recently urged auto manufacturers to build safer commercial vans. Accordingly, Volkswagen’s next-gen Transporter will pack numerous airbags and a wide array of standard and optional electronic driving aids.

Volkswagen will fit its mid-size van with more efficient gasoline- and diesel-burning engines, and rumors claim that a range-topping version powered by a plug-in hybrid drivetrain will be offered several years into the production run. Both front- and all-wheel drive models will be available.

The Volkswagen T6 Transporter will be introduced at a major trade show this spring and go on sale across Europe and in a number of other global markets shortly after. Whether or not Volkswagen will take on rival Mercedes-Benz on North America’s burgeoning midsize van market is up in the air.

Suzuki has issued a recall for the 2010-2013 SX4 and the 2010-2013 Kizashi, affecting more than 60,000 vehicles.
The company has cited a problem with the shift selector, which sometimes allows the transmission to be moved out of ‘park’ without first depressing the brake pedal. The shift-lock failure is said to be caused by a combination of a tilted detent pin and high temperature conditions.

The issue can allow the vehicle to unexpectedly roll away, increasing the risk of a crash and injuries, though it is unclear if any accidents have been blamed on the defect.

Service technicians will install a new shift selector assembly to resolve the problem, with repairs expected to begin by late January.

Photo by Ronan Glon.

After posting record sales of more than eight million units in 2014, Hyundai and Kia are bracing for a significant slowdown in sales growth amid increasing pressure from Japanese rivals.
The duo expect sales to increase by just 2.5 percent in 2015, compared to gains of approximately four percent in 2013 and 2014. If the forecast proves accurate, 2015 growth will be the worst in more than a decade.

The automakers have issued the warning in response to the weak yen, which is expected to give Japanese rivals a competitive edge through the rest of the year. Foreign brands have also continued to erode Hyundai-Kia’s domestic market share in home Korea.

Group chairman Chung Mong-koo suggests the companies will attempt to increase production, cut costs, improve technology sharing and increase research-and-development spending to help the brands compete in the global marketplace despite the currency shift, according to comments quoted by The Detroit News.

Japanese automakers, meanwhile, are expected to increase domestic production to take full advantage of the weak yen. Subaru appears to be one of the first to follow the likely trend, reportedly killing plans to move XV Crosstrek production from Japan to the US.

General Motors has entered the new year with more ignition-switch trouble, one of three new recalls focused on SUVs and pickups.
The latest ignition-switch campaign includes the 2011-2012 Chevrolet Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe and Avalanche; the 2011-2012 GMC Sierra and Yukon; and the Cadillac Escalade from the same model years.

The company suggests the ignition-lock actuator is prone to binding, causing the ignition to get stuck in the ‘start’ position and then potentially snap back to the ‘accessory’ position and kill the engine while underway. Like the small cars, the SUVs will lose power steering, brake assist and airbag functionality when the switch is in the ‘accessory’ position.

The condition is only believed to be present in a few hundred vehicles, though the recall lists more than 83,000. No accidents or injuries have been officially blamed on the defect.

A small batch of 2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups are also being recalled to replace the rear axle shaft, after the original parts were installed without proper heat treatment. The defect lead to complete fracture, allowing the wheel to separate from the axle shaft.

The third recall lists just a few dozen Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups, also from the 2015 model year. Some left the factory with an improperly-tightened hose clamp that secures the fuel-tank vent line, potentially allowing fuel to leak.

Hyundai will use next week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to unveil a new smartwatch app that will be compatible with the company’s first- and second-generation Blue Link systems.
Controlled via voice commands, the smartwatch app will give Hyundai owners instant access to some of Blue Link’s integrated features, including remote start, remote lock/unlock and vehicle finder. In order for the app to work, the smartwatch must be paired via Bluetooth with a smartphone that has a cellular or internet connection.

“This new app expands Hyundai’s exploration into how wearable technology and Blue Link fit into a customer’s lifestyle,” said Barry Ratzlaff, executive director, customer connect and service business development, Hyundai Motor America. “Connecting to your car through a smartwatch and voice recognition was previously something seen only in science fiction movies. Now, we can provide this capability to owners of Hyundai vehicles equipped with Blue Link.”

Hyundai launched its first-generation Blue Link system in the 2012 Sonata and updated the infotainment system starting with select 2015 model year vehicles. Hyundai will updated Blue Link again this year with a new destination search powered by Google.

Hyundai says the smartwatch app will be available to download starting in early 2015.

For most of recent history, the small commercial van segment simply didn’t exist in the United States. Sure there were a few attempts at jumpstarting the class — remember the ill-fated Chevrolet HHR Panel? — but for the most part, full-size vans like the Ford E-Series and Chevrolet Express have reigned supreme.
But then a funny thing happened in 2009 — Ford introduced the Euro-flavored Transit Connect and suddenly a small cargo van in the United States started to make a lot of sense. Fast-forward to modern day and Chevrolet, Nissan and even Mercedes-Benz are getting in on the action.

Not wanting to be left on the outside looking in, Chrysler’s Ram division is now throwing its hat into the ring with the Fiat Doblo-based Ram ProMaster City. Curious to check out the latest big thing in small vans, we packed our work gloves and boots and headed to Austin, Texas, to put the ProMaster City through its paces.

Italian roots
Despite its Americanized badge, the Ram ProMaster City is little more than a lightly re-worked version of the Fiat Doblo. But that badge engineering isn’t such a bad thing in the case of the ProMaster City. That’s because the Doblo on which it’s based has been named European Van of the Year twice and has sold more than 1.3 million copies since being introduced in 2000.

Moreover, the Doblo, like the Ford Transit Connect, was designed in Europe with tiny European villages and roads in mind. That means the ProMaster City is perfectly suited for zipping in and out of the heavy traffic and tight parking spots that are typical in our congested city centers.

Building a better box
Features like eye-catching exterior styling and the latest in-car electronics need not apply here — with commercial vehicles, it’s all about utility.

To that end, the Ram ProMaster has been graced with a fairly generic mug, with form taking a back seat to function. The van’s lights were placed high and slightly inboard so that any accidental bumps with a loading dock wouldn’t result in the replacement of an entire light cluster. And although it’s plain, the ProMaster City’s front end has been fitted with some wind-cheating cues to helping it to achieve 29 mpg on the highway.

As with all commercial vehicles, the business end of the ProMaster City is its cargo area. In this case, the ProMaster City has been engineered with nearly vertical walls and a large rear opening, providing enough space for a fully-loaded pallet. Payload capacity is a class-leading 1,883 pounds.

The cargo version of the ProMaster City ships with little more than a floor, some walls and a ceiling, but there are a number of different storage solutions available via the aftermarket.

One nice touch that you’ll only find on the ProMaster City is a sliding door locking mechanism. Standard on both sliding doors of the ProMaster City, the system latches the door open so that it won’t come sliding back on you if you open the door with too much force or happen to be parked on a steep hill. The latch disengages when the handle is pulled to close the door.

The ProMaster City can’t match its bigger brothers in terms of towing prowess, but it’s still capable of hauling a respectable 2,000 pounds.

Office on wheels
As you might expect, the interior of the ProMaster City isn’t lavishly equipped, but it is comfortable and highly functional.

The ProMaster City’s high seating position and large windows gives the driver a commanding view of the road ahead. Those attributes combined with tight proportions make the little van surprisingly easy to drive.

Seats are comfortable with good thigh support, ensuring that the ProMaster City can double as an all-day office on wheels. A durable cloth is the only seating material available.

Storage is ample throughout the ProMaster City’s cabin, including a large space overhead for notebooks and the like. As an added extra, that overhead compartment also includes a storage net so its contents don’t come crashing down on your head.

Fitting of the class, most of the ProMaster City’s interior is made from hard plastics, but the armrest areas have been graced with soft-touch material for added comfort.

Instrumentation is basic but straightforward. Controls for cruise control and Bluetooth hands-free are located on the steering wheel.

A basic radio comes standard, but a miniaturized 5-inch version of Chrysler’s UConnect infotainment system with navigation can be ordered.

And although it may be from the land of manual transmissions, the ProMaster City is available exclusively with an automatic gearbox. In this case it’s a nine-speed unit driving the front-wheels.

Familiar to the Chrysler lineup, the ProMaster City uses a 178 horsepower, 174 lb-ft of torque version of the company’s 2.4L Tigershark four-cylinder engine. Performance is just fine, but more importantly the four-cylinder delivers good economy — 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, netting a combined rating of 24 mpg.

Chrysler says a diesel is under consideration, but there are no plans to offer an oil-burner at this time.

The Ram ProMaster City is available in several different configurations, but the choices basically boil down to how many windows and seats you want.

Leftlane’s bottom line
With a host of innovative features and class-leading payload, the Ram ProMaster City should have no problem carving out a niche in the small but growing compact van segment. We doubt many families will take the plunge of the five-passenger Wagon version of the ProMaster City, but the Cargo model promises broad appeal across many different industries.

2015 Ram ProMaster City, priced from $23,130. Destination, $995.

Photos by Drew Johnson.

Even boy racers grow up…eventually. And so it is with the 2015 Nissan 370Z Nismo Tech 7A/T. The brand’s performance division for 30 years, Nismo is responsible for producing the company’s badasses, misfits and delinquents, and they have done quite a job.
But at some point, one makes a concerted effort to step up their game to reflect a more mature attitude. Such is the case with the 370Z Nismo. But don’t be completely fooled. There is still enough scoundrel to go around. Read on as we discuss the new Z.

What is it?
Next to the Nissan GT-R, nicknamed Godzilla, the 370Z Nismo is the performance flagship of the Nissan brand. Based on an anything-but-pedestrian 370Z, the Nismo is a two-seat, rear-wheel-drive coupe that features a tweaked version of the naturally aspirated 3.7-liter DOHC V6 engine that now puts out 350 horsepower at 7,400 rpm, for an improvement of 18 ponies over the 332 hp version found in the standard coupe. Torque checks in at 276 lb-ft (six lb-ft more), and reaches peak power at 5,200 rpm. Fed by a sequential multi-port electronic fuel injection system, it features continuously variable valve event and lift control (VVEL) for added power and efficiency.

Normally, the 370Z Nismo is equipped with a stellar six-speed manual gearbox that features a SynchroRev Matching function that makes anyone a heel-toe hero. Driving purist my scoff, but the technology, which blips the throttle to match engine and transmission speed, makes for smoother shifting and a better overall driving experience.

New this year, and included on our model, is the seven-speed automatic with Downshift Rev-Matching (DRM), adaptive shift control and manual shift mode with steering column-mounted paddle shift levers. While not a dual-clutch unit, it is still able to be used in two ways: we could just pull the paddles according to our whims or make a concerted effort to place the shift lever in the S-mode for a throttle remap and the ability to hold the gears in place longer before shifting. For those who would rather push the gear selector lever forward and back in its own +/- gate, that possibility still exists.

Power gets to the standard Viscous Limited Slip Differential (VLSD) through a light-weight carbon fiber composite drive shaft.

The Nismo-Z rides on a double wishbone front suspension with Nismo-tuned shocks, springs, stabilizer bar and shock tower strut in front, while an independent multi-link suspension with standard stabilizer bar and Nismo-tuned springs and shocks bring up the rear. A secondary stiffening brace in the cargo hold ties up the rear end nicely, but does cut down on usable cargo space. Nismo sport brake rotors measuring 14-inches in front and 13.8 in the rear help to bring things back under control should they ever get out of hand.

A specially-tuned Nismo dual exhaust system with H-Pipe configuration helps get rid of the waste while at the same time giving great throat for a lusty growl when this car’s skinny pedal is squeezed to the floor.

We observed 19 city / 26 highway, with a 21 mpg average, matching the EPA’s estimates for the 3,400 pound coupe.

While our 370Z Nismo 7A/T Tech is only available in a coupe model, the standard Z-car can be had as a hardtop or a drop-top roadster. Using either of those models as a blank canvas, buyers can opt for the Coupe in Base, Touring, Sport, Sport Tech and Nismo versions, while those who enjoy topless motoring can select from Base, Touring, and Touring Sport models.

Rumors exist that a new version will debut in model year 2016 that could possibly feature removable T-top roof panels.

What’s it up against?
Buyers of this legendary two-seater will likely also look at such competitors as the new 2015 Ford Mustang, the Chevrolet Camaro, Audi’s more expensive Quattro-driven TTS and the less-powerful Subaru and Scion glimmer twins, the BR-Z and the FR-S. It’s a tradeoff as to their needs, although many will point out that these main rivals all have second row seating.

How does it look?
With this, the sixth generation of the Nissan Z-car and the second-generation model since its reintroduction in 2008 as a 2009 model, the Nismo has generally aged well. Sure, the huge blind spots still exist, but overall, the car has a certain refined appearance, that like most of its drivers, has matured through the years.

At the front, the Nismo features a unique fascia with splitter and new LED running lights, while other external performance body parts have seen an updating from the previous year’s version. The rear fascia and diffuser have received a makeover that visually extends downward through the elimination of blacked out lower cladding in favor of body-colored side panels.

No part, though, has received a more thorough going over than the former shopping cart-styled rear wing, which has been replaced with a more visually pleasing rear spoiler.

And on the inside?
Inside, the performance look from years gone by continues, this time with leather and Alcantara-trimmed manual Recaro-branded bucket seats. Offering great support, we still wished there were more power-operated creature features inside that befit a near-halo car like the Nismo. All in the name of weight savings, we suppose.

From a driver’s standpoint, we miss the telescoping movement of the steering wheel to go along with its tilt functionality. As a result, we would describe our driving position as almost rather than perfect.

Our Tech model featured improvements over the standard Nismo version, such as a seven-inch touchscreen-based navigation and audio system from Bose, as well as standard Bluetooth connectivity.

Total cabin volume checks in at 58.5 cubic feet, with 6.9 cubic feet of that in the actual cargo hold under the hatchback. In other words, judicious packing is the order of the day for a weekend getaway.

But does it go?
The Nismo Z had us thinking back to our childhood days in go-karts, where there were tons of road feel and a very direct sense of purpose when plowing behind the wheel. It’s easy to do when you are only four-inches off the ground. Driving the 2015 Nissan 370Z Nismo 7A/T reminds us a lot of that. It too, rides like a go-kart, with stiff and direct handling that seems to make an average driver a good one, and a good one even better.

While zero to 60 came on in five-seconds flat, we were more taken by the great aural sensation we felt when blipping through the gears. It’s a feeling that appeals to all the senses from the sight of gauge needles dancing within the confines of their dials, to the feeling of directness from the Alcantara-covered steering wheel. The sound of the H-pipe exhaust system causes an extra burble from within before its final belch with the essence of burnt fossils from the chrome tailpipes. It displays (small) V8-like power from the six-cylinder, Nismo-tweaked engine, which is unfortunately not much faster than the standard 370Z engine. At the end of the day, we would always welcome a few more ponies to this rodeo.

On the downside, we found the ride just a bit rough on secondary roads in South Florida. Whether it was caused by the barely-there flex of the 19-inch low-profile Bridgestone Potenza tires or through a lack of insulation or refinement from the overall construction of the Z, it’s due for some TLC from the NVH engineers. It has become somewhat better though, through a trio of fluid-based engine mounts that help to isolate excessive engine roughness.

Leftlane’s bottom line
Great handling in a personal sports car package, the Nismo 7A/T Tech modernizes a classic, with the addition of a new and more efficient seven-speed automatic sports transmission. Add in the extras that make a Nismo Z into a Nismo Z Tech model and at $47-large, you still have a heck of a package at a relatively bargain price.

2015 Nissan 370Z Nismo 7A/T Tech base price, $46,790. As tested, $47,725.
Nismo carpeted floor mats, $125; Destination, $810.