Author: Tabitha
The Spy Guy recently got his hands on Honda’s small-but-mighty Civic Si coupe and sedan. The turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine puts out 205 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque, which is up from the base turbo’s ratinging of 174/167. The output gain, plus the Si’s specially tuned suspension, bigger brakes, revised shift linkage for the six-speed manual transmission and other performance and visual mods (including a rear wing), make the car a blast to drive. Additionally, the $25,000 price tag is reasonable. Although the Spy guy loves to shift his own gears, the Si’s lack of an automatic-transmission option could…
The Sleuth has it on good authority that a long-rumored movie based on the life of Ferruccio Lamborghini, the man who founded Automobili Lamborghini back in 1963, will soon begin production, backed by the Ambi Media Group. The film, based on a book written by Lamborghini’s son, Tonino, will focus on Ferruccio’s longstanding rivalry with Enzo Ferrari. Antonio Banderas will star in the lead role, while Alec Baldwin has been tapped to play Enzo. Ambi apparently intends to show the movie (working title: Lamborghini: The Legend) at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival in France. The Lamborghini flick will join two…
The Sleuth’s sources have been providing intel on what new vehicles are heading our way for 2018, but there’s also plenty of news as to what models will disappear once the 2017 model year is a wrap. Among the known casualties is the quirky and slow-selling Nissan Juke, which is fun to drive but is getting long in the tooth. Then there’s the Kia Forte Koup, done in by a lack of design pizzazz. In the likely-to-leave group are the Acura ILX, which is built on the previous-generation Honda Civic platform, the Fiat 500L (do they still make these?) and…
Intel reaching The Spy Guy suggests that Infiniti’s answer to the Mercedes-Benz GLS, Cadillac Escalade and Lexus LX will continue to run with the same 400-horsepower V-8 used by the current QX80. That means the eight-passenger wagon, which will be based on the QX80 Monograph concept, is not quite as new as it looks. Rumors persist, however, that the Nissan Armada-based big rig will eventually get the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 that’s found in other Infiniti models. It’s also rated at 400 horsepower, but makes more torque than the non-turbo V-8. Another possibly is a hybrid powertrain using the V-6 that…
Josh Welton calls himself as a welder, but he’s really an accomplished sculptor whose primary medium is metal. Among his many subjects are motorcycles and automobiles, including hot rods and classic cars. Some of his pieces are exaggerated caricatures that appear to have been inspired by the late Ed ‘Big Daddy’ Roth’s Rat Fink, while others are somewhat tamer and more to scale. All are cool to admire and would be an excellent addition to any car buff’s art collection. Prices vary depending on the subject and the amount of work involved. Check out the gallery at www.browndogwelding.com.
BedRug, the maker of some of more popular pickup bed liners on the market, has a simple solution for working beneath your vehicle. The foldable four-by-two-foot TrackMat resists stains, oil and other chemicals, while providing plenty of cushioned comfort for your knees and back. The product is also made with the same kind of material used in life jackets so it will repel water and mildew. TrackMat folds in half for storage. You can get the full details, including a full list of retail outlets, at www.bedrug.com. You can also purchase TrackMat for $40 through a number of online resellers,…
National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), the company backed by investors from China that bought Swedish automaker Saab, has shown its first electric production car based on the venerable Saab 9-3 that dates to 2002. The NEVS 9-3, powered by an electric motor, will have a range of about 300 kilometers (186 miles) the company said. NEVS won’t build the 9-3 for public sale yet, according to alternative-vehicle magazine Green Car Reports, but rather has plans for ride- and car-sharing platforms first. The cars will become the core for what NEVS calls ‘a new type of mobility solution’ for sustainable cities,…
Volkswagen has abandoned its diesel-engine aspirations in the wake of its emissions-cheating scandal. Instead, the company says it will develop a range of battery-electric vehicles to modernize its portfolio. It also promises to reduce the environmental impact of vehicle production by 45 percent by 2025. Already, it says, a Volkswagen Golf requires 27.5 percent less water for production than it did in 2010, through a series of 5,300 individual production-line measures. The changes include reduced base-load energy consumption in paint shops, a move that attained a 15 percent reduction in energy consumption. Also, eight VW plants around the world have…
You don’t see too many strictly design exercises at auto shows these days, but that’s exactly what Chevrolet showcased recently when it unveiled the FNR-X (Find New Roads Xperimental). The swoopy five-passenger four-door appears to be roughly the size of a Chevrolet Equinox, only with a lower roofline and exaggerated fenders. The designers envision the all-wheel-drive vehicle having a plug-in hybrid powertrain (and/or pure electric drive system) plus a fully adjustable suspension that increases ground clearance when clambering over rough ground. It will be interesting to see if at least some of the show vehicle’s characteristics carry over into future…
The Sleuth’s operatives are whispering news of three upcoming tall wagons from Volkswagen’s up-level subsidiary, arriving over the next couple of years. The largest of the trio, the Q8, is expected sometime in 2018. It will use the same platform as the current Q7, but apparently will be slightly wider and will sacrifice some interior space for a lower roofline. The Q8 will be joined the following year by the smaller Q4. Its quasi-hatchback design resembles the Audi TT Offroad concept first shown at the 2014 Beijing (China) Auto Show. The Q4 will also form the basis for an all-new…