Porsche has introduced a more hardcore version of the Cayman called GT4. Set to debut in Geneva next month, the GT4 is the first Cayman to venture into the 911′s performance territory.

Power for the Cayman GT4 comes from an evolution of the 911 Carrera S’ 3.8-liter flat-six engine that has been tuned to produce 385 horsepower. Bolted to a six-speed manual transmission, the six-cylinder sends the Cayman GT4 from zero to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds – 0.1 seconds faster than a Carrera S equipped with a seven-speed manual – and on to a top speed of 183 mph.

911-sourced chassis components, bigger brakes and a stiffer suspension setup that has been lowered by over an inch help keep the power in check. Porsche promises the GT4 can lap the North Loop of the Nürburgring track in a class-leading 7:40.

Outside, the GT4 gains a number of aerodynamic enhancements including a deep front bumper that incorporates three large air dams and a splitter, a sizable fixed rear wing and a wide air diffuser out back. Model-specific alloy wheels help set the GT4 apart from other members of the Cayman family.

The interior has been upgraded with features such as sport seats upholstered in a combination of leather and Alcantara and a three-spoke sport steering wheel.

Following its debut at the Geneva Motor Show, the Porsche Cayman GT4 will arrive on dealer lots nationwide as a 2016 model next July. It will carry a base price of $84,600 excluding a mandatory $995 destination charge. The list of options will include Porsche Carbon Ceramic Brakes (PCCB), bucket seats made out of carbon composite and a custom Sport Chrono package that includes a Track Precision application.

Tom Brady, the four-time Super Bowl champion quarterback from the New England Patriots, has access to a lot of high-end cars. It should come as no surprise, then, that the 37-year old QB decided that the Colorado pickup Chevrolet gave him for being named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XLIX didn’t make the cut for his garage.
But rather than just unloading the Colorado at the nearest Chevy dealer, Brady did something a lot more admirable — according to The Detroit News, the three-time Super Bowl MVP handed the keys to rookie cornerback Malcolm Butler.

Although he wasn’t named the game’s MVP, you could argue that Butler made the most import play of the game. With the Seahawks knocking on the door of a go-ahead touchdown, Butler intercepted Russell Wilson’s 1-yard pass with just 20-seconds to go. Thanks to that turnover, the Pats were able to wind down the clock to claim their fourth NFL championship.

GM’s decision to hand out the Colorado as a prize for the MVP trophy in the first place is a bit of a head scratcher. Although the Colorado is one of GM’s newest products, the Detroit automaker pays a lot of money to list its GMC brand as the official vehicle of the NFL. Therefore the Colorado’s Canyon twin would have made a lot more sense. But given the high-profile of NFL players, it seems like the GMC Yukon Denali — which is still a relatively new product — would have been a better giveaway option.

At any rate, Butler, who makes the rookie minimum of $420,000 per year, will surely appreciate his gifted truck.

Brady, meanwhile, will continue rolling in his fleet of high-dollar vehicles. At one time or another, the Golden Boy’s personal fleet has included an Audi R8, Audi S8 and Land Rover Range Rover.

Aston Martin executives have rejected the thought of moving downmarket in an attempt to bolster sales.
The company’s foray into the entry-level segment — the Toyota iQ-based Cygnet — was primarily intended to increase its fleet-wide emissions average, though it was also expected to more than double the brand’s overall sales volume. The model was axed after just a few years of extremely poor sales, however.

Julian Jenkins, president of Aston Martin’s Americas operations, suggests the company has no plans to repeat the mistakes made with the Cygnet. The Vantage GT, and its six-figure price tag, are said to be comfortable entry points for the lineup.

“I think today, certainly for Aston Martin, we focus on … sports cars,” he told Autoguide in a recent interview. “That’s where we come from and that’s our niche.”

Most luxury brands have experienced a boom in sales, and Aston Martin is considering expanding its upmarket range, rather than moving into lower segments, to take advantage of the market conditions.

Following the introduction of the Lagonda sedan for customers in the Middle East, the company is said to be considering Lagonda as a sub-brand with wider ambitions across the globe. Rumors surrounding a high-end SUV have also persisted, with the latest reports pointing to market availability in 2021.

“If there is a segment, if there is an opportunity that we can sit comfortably within we will go after it,” Jenkins added.

Fiat has announced US-market pricing details for its new 500X compact crossover.
The base ‘Pop’ package will fetch $20,900 (including $900 freight), representing an $800 premium over the 500L and more than $3,500 above the entry-level 500.

Buyers looking for upgraded trim with “a more urban appearance” can pick up the ‘Easy’ for $23,200 or the ‘Lounge’ for $25,750. The Trekking and Trekking Plus models, available for respective prices of $24,000 and $28,000, feature a more aggressive appearance with unique front and rear fascia design and silver accents, .

Some packages are powered by a 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo engine with a six-speed transmission, sending 160 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels. A 2.4-liter Tigershark mill is mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox, with 180 ponies and 175 lb-ft of twist for front- and all-wheel-drive configurations.

Built in Italy, the 500X will arrive in US showrooms in the second quarter of the year.

Volvo is reportedly working on a mobile fuel-delivery system that would eliminate the need to visit gas stations.
The ‘self-filling’ cars can monitor fuel levels and automatically request a fill-up from mobile fuel suppliers whenever the tank us running low, unnamed sources have told the Daily Mail.

Fuel suppliers would be supplied with a unique security code that provides access to the fuel cap, further reducing the need for any owner involvement in the refueling process.

Volvo has not publicly confirmed the report, though it acknowledges that such features are merely a unique application of existing technology.

“The internet of things has hit the automotive industry and the widespread use of smartphones is unlocking new potential in what you can do connecting a car with a customer,” the company’s head of technology, Klas Bendrik, said in a statement.

Fiat Chrysler is preparing to recall approximately 230,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs from the 2014 and 2015 model years.
The company acknowledges a software deficiency that allows airbags to improperly deploy during certain ‘extreme’ maneuvers, even if the vehicle is not involved in an accident.

The fix is focused on side-airbag deployment, which can sometimes occur when the SUVs are off-roading at steep lateral angles. The software appears to mistakenly interpret such scenarios as accidental rollovers.

The same model years were recalled late last year to fix an airbag non-deployment problem. The issue was traced back to an electrical fault that caused a short in the occupant restraint control (ORC) modules.

The company has not outlined a time-frame for beginning the latest software recall.

Mazda earlier this week confirmed that the new MX-5 will provide 155 horsepower in the US market, however one executive is already hinting at more powerful packages in the works.
The lighter fourth-generation model boasts a slightly better power-to-weight ratio than its predecessor, despite a downgrade in output from its 2.0-liter SkyActiv engine.

Mazda PR manager Kudo Hidetoshi promises the company is seriously considering a larger displacement engine, or a turbocharged variant. The latter option is said to be more likely, with minimal negative impact on fuel efficiency and vehicle weight.

“We will have this ND-series model for maybe ten years, which gives us plenty of time to make many variants,” Hidetoshi told Motoring. “And yes, a turbocharged or [Mazdaspeed] variant is one of the options we will definitely consider.”

The comments suggest a powerplant upgrade will not be available for several years, potentially after the rumored coupe edition arrives.

McLaren is celebrating a new production milestone, building the 5,000th car in the newly named Super Series family.
Based on the company’s carbon-fiber MonoCell chassis, the lineup began with the 12C in 2011. The company then added the 12C Spider, the popular 650S and finally the Asia-market 625C.

Th 5,000th car, a 650S Coupe clad in Volcano Yellow paint, today rolled off the assembly line at the McLaren Technology Centre. It will now be headed to a customer in Australia.

The company claims its Super Series is now the highest volume carbon-fiber supercar range ever. The milestone was reached after only the fourth full year of production, with 2014 sales surpassing 1,400 units.

“We have built a solid foundation for the business, delivering record numbers year on year, and I look forward to our next production milestone with the addition of the 675LT to the Super Series, and the new Sports Series later in the year,” said McLaren Automotive chief Mike Flewitt.

Following a teaser appearance in Nissan’s Super Bowl commercial, the GT-R LM NISMO race car will be headed to the Chicago Auto Show.
The company has taken a unique approach with its Le Mans entry, opting for a front-engine layout. The GT-R’s twin-turbocharged V6 engine can be found under the hood, powering the front wheels, while hybrid power is generated by the front driveline to provide supplemental power during acceleration.

“LM P1 cars are the most extreme sports cars in racing today so, for Nissan and NISMO, the opportunity to innovate at the highest level could not be missed,” said NISMO marketing head Darren Cox. “The competition is well-established and the racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship is ultra-close, but this is a challenge that Nissan has accepted and the Nissan NISMO team will fight like it has never fought before.”

The GT-R LM NISMO will be on display in Chicago alongside other NISMO-badged model, including the GT-R, 370Z, Juke, Juke RS, Sentra and a new mystery street concept that will be revealed on February 12.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced a follow-up recall for more than 2.1 million decade-old vehicles manufactured by Chrysler, Honda and Toyota.
The vehicles were already listed in previous recall campaigns to fix a problem with TRW-sourced electronic components, blamed for inadvertent airbag deployment in the absence of a crash.

After monitoring incoming data from consumers and automakers, the agency has concluded that the original fix was insufficient to fully resolve the problem. At least 40 vehicles have experienced improper airbag deployment after receiving the original remedy.

The situation is considered particularly serious because approximately a million of the Toyota and Honda vehicles were built with defective Takata airbag inflators, which could rupture and cause shrapnel injuries during deployment.

“This is unfortunately a complicated issue for consumers, who may have to return to their dealer more than once,” said NHTSA administrator Mark Rosekind. “But this is an urgent safety issue, and all consumers with vehicles covered by the previous recalls should have that remedy installed.”

Affected vehicles include the Acura MDX, Dodge Viper, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty, Honda Odyssey, Pontiac Vibe, and the Toyota Corolla, Matrix and Avalon.