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The Arrinera Hussarya to be the first polish supercar

The Polish supercar automaker Arrinera has unveiled their debut model, the Hussarya. It’s the first supercar to emerge into the industry from Poland. 

Originally previewed as a concept last year, the Arrinera Hussarya production model has undergone a makeover and the company plans to produce about 100 models per year. 

The automaker will use a 6.2-litre V8 engine borrowed from GM tuned to produce 641 horsepower and 818 pound-feet of torque. Arrinera claims the car will be able to produce speeds of 0-99 kilometres per hour in just 3.2 seconds and 0-199 in an astounding 8.9 seconds. The car will have a top speed of about 339km/h. The power will be sent to the rear wheels through an automated-manual gearbox.

It will ride on a steel chassis designed by Lee Nobel the British supercar brand creator. The car will have a carbon fibre exterior package as well, which will help reduce the weight to 1,300kgs. Buyers will also have an option of a power package, which will add larger brakes and horsepower, creating 690hp. Track enthusiasts will be able to get a track pack, which is dressed with carbon fibre bucket seats, four-point seatbelts, lower profile tires and a stiffer suspension. 

Initially, the Polish automaker said the car would wear a price tag of about $176,444, but with improvements and materials, the price is probably is expected to rise. 

 

Could cameras replace side mirrors?

Cars have always had mirrors, and when someone was learning how to drive, you were probably taught to look in your side mirrors. If Tesla and the U.S.-based Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers get their way, those mirrors could be ditched just like roll-up windows and cassette players.

According to Automotive News, the Alliance, which represents companies like General Motors, Toyota and Volkswagen and Tesla have filed a petition with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration trying to remove side mirrors and replace them with cameras.

Many different laws across North America require cars to have side mirrors, but the petition argues that the cameras could be just as safe as mirrors and will be more aerodynamic. 

The original concept version of the Tesla Model X crossover had cameras instead of mirrors. Tesla, however, isn’t the only automaker swaying to the technology side. Volkswagen has ditched the mirrors and used cameras instead on the XL1. Currently, both Mercedes-Benz and Nissan offer a 360-degree birds-eye view of a car to assist drivers in avoiding collisions and fender benders. With the way technology is moving nowadays, I wouldn’t be surprised if this petition passes.

 

Special edition Evo X unveiled to celebrate Mitsubishi’s 40th birthday

Mitsubishi has unveiled a new Evolution for the automakers 40th anniversary. The special edition, named the Evo X FQ-440 MR will feature dramatic performance upgrades and cosmetic changes. 

The new Evo will have a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a bespoke ECU re-map good for 440 horsepower. This will be the most powerful production Evo Mitsubishi has created. The power will be sent to all wheels via a six-speed dual-cutch sports shift transmission. The special edition Evo will ride on 18-inch allow wheels that are more than 35mm lower to the ground at the front and 30mm at the back. 

Inside the beast, it will be dressed with Recaro leather bucket seats and will have a seven-inch LCD touchscreen. An eight-speaker sound system will also be fitted inside the car. The Japanese automaker has equipped the cars with a data recorder, which will be connected through the on-board diagnostic system.

Mitsubishi will only be making 40 special edition Evos to celebrate their anniversary. All of the cars will only be available in a Frost White colour and come standard with the company’s 3-year/ 36,000 mile warranty.  It will carry a price tag of 50,000 pounds, which is about $91,656 CAD.

 

Ford Mustang celebrating 50 years as it goes up the Empire State Building

Ford is celebrating the birthday of its iconic Mustang by taking it apart. The American automaker is keeping the tradition alive for the 50th birthday of the Mustang by returning to the spot it sat 50 years ago. The 86th floor of the Empire State Building will display a new 2015 Convertible Mustang on April 16 and 17 for only 54 hours. Getting the car up 86 floors is even harder than it sounds.

When the original Mustang was on display in 1965, the car was disassembled and taken up the Empire State Building elevators. Mustang chief engineer, Dave Pericak said “Like all craftsmen, our team is measuring twice and cutting once to make sure we can get this Mustang up in the elevators.” 

“Like the team that did this in 1965, the current crew visited the Empire State Building before starting and took careful measurements of its new elevators and doors before cutting up the car,” Pericak said.

The 2015 Mustang is almost seven inches longer and four inches wider than its ancestor, which makes it a lot more difficult to move the car. After the pieces have made it up 86 floors, technicians will have less than six hours to reassemble the sections to have a whole car. The all-new ‘stang will have a range of available engines including a new turbocharged EcoBoost 2.3-litre and an upgraded 5.0-litre V8 with upwards of 420 horsepower. The car will go on sale later this year, and over the past 50 years, more than nine million Mustangs have been sold.

 

2015 Hyundai Sonata Spotted without Camouflage

The new 2015 Hyundai Sonata, about to be unveiled at the 2014 New York International Auto Show in April, has been spotted already without any camouflage. And while some automotive websites have been trying to pass off the 2015 Genesis as the next-gen Sonata, we’re quite confident that these pictures must be the real deal.

The upcoming Sonata, slated to be released as a 2015 model will sport the brand’s new Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design. It has a more formal hexagonal grill design, and traditional headlights. The LED-enriched headlights and dual-tip exhaust pipes are finished in chrome and add a touch of elegance.

The focus has been more on improved comfort for drivers and passengers, as well as capabilities. It’s expected that it will sport new paint colours, as well as optional 18-inch Hyper Silver alloy wheels. 

It has been rumoured that it will continue to make use of the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, with a smaller turbocharged four replacing the base car's 190-hp 2.4-litre. On the other hand, there’s a chance the Sonata may replace the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with the Veloster Turbo's 1.6-litre four-cylinder.

The interior of the Sonata is expected to be a more squared off design, with a large center-stack TFT screen, making it a more aesthetically pleasing design, although it will forgo the completely digital instrument display. On all models but the lowest levels, the Sonata will carry its new infotainment system, which is mounted within the driver’s line-of-sight to prevent driving distractions. The door panels and HVAC vents bear a resemblance to the 2015 Genesis. 

With Honda and Nissan having already released their mid-sizers, it’s a perfect time for Hyundai to launch the new Sonata. The sales of the current generation have remained strong, but the outdated 2011 design and relatively smaller dimensions are making the competitors more attractive.

It will be officially revealed later this month in South Korea, with its North American debut slated in April at the New York International Auto Show. Expect a sticker price of just under $24,000 – in line with its current Canadian market price. 

 

Is Porsche to go EV?

With more automakers creating hybrid and all-electric vehicles, there is no surprise that Porsche has decided to do the same. The automaker has confirmed it’s seriously considering launching and all-electric sports car.

Porsche CEO Matthias Muller told German magazine Auto, Motor und Sport, “We’re constantly developing EV technology.” Although Muller did not specify which model would be the first to receive the EV treatment, but the Boxster and Cayman are possible choices because of their weight, size and price. 

If Porsche decides to move forward with the production, the automaker would need to use a battery pack big enough to have a driving range of about 305 to 402 kilometres so it can be deemed worthy of the Porsche crest and somewhat justify the high price tag attached to it. 

Three years ago, the automaker did built three experimental electric Boxsters. All of the prototypes were powered by two electric motors that sent 240 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels allowing it to reach a speed of about 99 kilometres per hour in 5.3 seconds.

There hasn’t been a timeline released for when Porsche will decide if an all-electric vehicle is a good decision for the automaker.

 

A teaser shown of the up-coming Bentley SUV

After months of speculation and rumours, Bentley has finally released a teaser image of their first-ever SUV. The automaker said the new SUV will create a brand new market segment when it lands in showrooms in 2016.

Powertrain details are still scarce, but Bentley is already billing it as the “most luxurious and powerful SUV on the market.” Unlike other premium crossovers and SUVs, Bentley’s offering will have serious off-road prowess and the automaker expects it will be just as capable on difficult terrain as the Land Rover Range Rover. Bentley said it is a real SUV because in the Middle East it has to go up and down sand dunes, and in Europe it is has to be able to tow in wet fields.

Pricing is currently not available but the automaker has hinted that its first-ever SUV will retail for close to $250,000 before options and taxes. Bentley has not yet named the new SUV, but when it hits markets in 2016, the automaker expects to sell about 3,000 units per year.

 

Porsche to replace all 911 GT3 engines as part of recall

All of the already built 2014 Porsche 911 GT3 sports cars will have their engines replaced. The German company announced plans of their recall that was issued last month to the 785 cars affected by it. After two of the cars caught on fire in Europe, the automaker asked owners to stop driving the cars immediately. 

Porsche released a statement, “that the engine damage resulted from a loosened screw joint on the connecting rod. The loose connecting rod damaged the crankcase, which in both cases led to leakage of oil which then ignited.”

There’s not a set date on when the repairs will be made, but Porsche ensures all of the affected cars will have the part replaced. When Porsche unveiled the 911 GT3, it came as a surprise because it had a dual-clutch transmission opposed to the manual transmission found in previous generations. The PDK transmission is only offered on the GT3, and if the driver were to pull both paddles simultaneously it can de-couple from the engine.

Porsche will go one-step further and be in direct contact with each customer on a global scale to minimize any inconveniences their customers might have.  This personable action is understandable as the Porsche 911 GT3 has a price tag starting at $131,000.

 

Honda issuing recall on the Odyssey minivan

 Honda is recalling nearly 900,000 for their popular minivan for a potential fire risk. A total of 886,815 examples of the Odyssey that were manufactured in Alabama between 2005 and 2010 are being recalled for a faulty fuel pump that could crack and leak with the possibility of catching catch fire.

Because the number of Odyssey minivans affected is so large, Honda says the proper parts necessary will not be available until this summer. As of now, the automaker says interim parts will be used until proper ones become available. Honda will begin notifying owners affected by this next month.

 

Nissan will eliminate blind spots with Smart Rearview Mirror

Nissan is planning to introduce a new technology to the global market that will allow drivers to clearly see what is behind the vehicle. 

Dubbed the “Smart Rearview Mirror,” it’s connected to a high-resolution camera that is placed near the top of the lift gate. This camera automatically allows better vision at night by filtering out glare and high beams, as well as providing the driver with better rear view visibility when taller passengers are accompanying the back seats.  

Along with the ability to use the onboard camera, it utilizes an LCD screen that can be turned off, transforming it back into a conventional rear view mirror.

Nissan is planning to introduce the “Smart Rearview Mirror” technology to the global market in early 2015 as an optional feature. However, they also plan to implement this into its racing division, starting with the NISMO ZEOD RC racing car that is set to compete in this year’s running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

With this new technology, Nissan plans to become the standard in innovative technology that plans to revolutionize the way we see the world behind us. They were also the first manufacturer to introduce the “Around View” mirror that allows the driver to have a bird’s eye view of the entire surroundings, allowing for easier parking. Currently, the system works in conjunction with its lane departure warning system, warning drivers when they are drifting into a separate lane while driving. 

Nissan believes strongly in their optics technology and the safety systems that come equipped along with them. With lane departure warning, around view camera’s, and now the Smart Rearview Mirror, the Japanese car company aims to become the leader in affordable, advanced safety systems. 

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