Richard L. Shaver Blog

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Audi RS3 Sedan Shakes Its 400 HP Engine In Paris

Introduced in 2011, the Audi RS3 became the company’s most affordable high-performance car. However, it was only made available in the five-door body styles, with the sedan, which was launched in 2013, still waiting for its RS badge. The wait ended at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, where Audi unveiled its smallest performance sedan to date. But despite being small, the RS3 Sedan has a five-cylinder heart that pumps out a massive 400 horsepower.

Developed to grab some market share from the Mercedes-AMG CLA45, the new RS3 Sedan was built on the same recipe that gave birth to the RS4. Audi slapped a menacing body kit onto the A3 Sedan, and replaced the mild and efficient four-pot engines with a beefed-up version of its already iconic 2.5-liter five-cylinder unit. The end result is remarkable, with the sedan having 400 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque at its disposal, 25 horses more than its AMG-badged competitor. It’s also quick too, needing only 4.1 seconds to hit 62 mph from a standing start. Its top speed is also impressive at 174 mph, but this is only available when the 155-mph limited is removed optionally.

Highlights continue beyond the engine, which is 57 pounds lighter than its predecessor, with an updated dual-clutch transmission and Quattro AWD system, wheel-selective torque control, progressive steering, and carbon-ceramic front brakes.

Styling-wise, the RS3 has a rather subdued appearance beyond the blacked-out chrome, the honeycomb grille mesh, and the larger intakes. Inside, there’s a seven-inch MMI screen, sporty instrument dials, a boost pressure indicator, and as expected on a performance-oriented car, a lap time. This setup can be replaced by a fully digital instrument cluster if you’re not planning to set any Nurburgring records.

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A Preliminary Tale Of The Tape Between The Mercedes‑Benz "Generation EQ" Concept And The Tesla Model X

Up until this point, the premium electric SUV market has been dominated by the Tesla Model X. But Mercedes-Benz has taken the first step to putting an end to the Model X’s dominance with the launch of the Generation EQ Concept, the German automaker’s preview piece for one of the foundational models of its future electrified lineup.

Predictably, my first instinct upon seeing the Generation EQ Concept was to compare it to the Tesla Model X. I know it’s too early to say how this comparison is going to be considering that the Mercedes EV SUV is still in concept guise. For one, it’s hard to compare the two physically because the production model of the Generation EQ will likely look different from one Mercedes has presented at the 2016 Paris Motor Show.

But there are some noteworthy comparisons that can be made now in various categories, including power and performance, range, and technology.

Based on the numbers that Mercedes has released, the Generation EQ’s combined output of 402 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque is impressive. But it still doesn’t measure up to the Model X 90D’s output of 518 horsepower (combined), more so with the P90D’s titanic output of 762 horsepower (combined). At least in this category, the Model X takes the cake, quite handily even.

Here’s the question though: is the Model X still superior to Merc’s presentation of the Generation EQ Concept?

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BMW X2 Arrives In Paris In Concept Form

Rumored for quite a few years, the BMW X2 just made its debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. Although just a concept for now, the X2 is not overly wild for a show car and previews the company’s third coupe-like crossover.

Described as a vehicle for "active people looking for a combination of enjoyment and practicality," the X2 concept looks like a mash up between the X1 and X4, but seasoned with a number of conceptual styling cues that will find their way on the production car in a more toned-down form. Although part of the same family that includes the X4 and X6, the X2 isn’t as sleek as it bigger cousins. The roof line is closer to those of the X1 and X3, missing the familiar hump of the X4.

On the flipside, the glasshouse is lower, while the tailgate is significantly smaller compared to the rest of the rear fascia. This gives the small crossover a more imposing look, as do the massive grille and bumper at the front. Speaking of the latter, it houses two big side vents and a wide center intake that remind of M-spec Bimmers. Onto the sides, the X2 showcases large wheels, gray wheel arch and side skirt inserts, slender mirrors. The window surrounds are made from brushed aluminum instead of the usual chrome or black trim. Another notable feature is the rear diffuser, which features two big exhaust outlets at each corner.

Other than that, the X2 remains true to BMW’s current styling language for crossovers, highlighted by the two-box design, short overhangs, and heavily forward-slanting C-pillar. The trademark Hofmeister Kink is also present. Naturally, the production model will drop the exaggerated wheels, grille, and bumpers and will adopt larger windows, but for the most part this concept is a good preview of things to come.

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Opel Ampera-e Debuts In Paris With 310-Mile Range

American cars rarely take center stage at European auto shows, but it has happened quite often in recent years, especially with the sixth-generation Ford Mustang and several Cadillac nameplates going global. This year’s Paris Motor Show will also feature a number of American vehicles, one of which is the Chevrolet Bolt. However, don’t go looking for it at the Chevy booth, as the compact electric car will sold in Europe under the Opel badge. And it will called the Ampera-e.

If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Opel is already using it for the Euro-spec version of the Chevrolet Volt. But the extra "e" in the name makes quite a difference, hinting that new hatchback features an all-electric drivetrain. And, much like its American sibling, it promises to return an impressive range.

Specifically, Opel claims that the Ampera-e will be good for at least 500 km (310 miles) on a single charge. That’s at least 100 km more than any other vehicle in similar segments can offer and some 200 km more than the BMW i3. However, that 500-km range might not be reached in the real world. After taking into consideration factors such as road characteristics, weather conditions, driving style, and load, Opel concluded that the Ampera-e can travel for more than 380 km (236 miles).

The impressive range also comes with strong performance figures such as a 0-to-50 km/h (31 mph) sprint of 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 150 km/h (93 mph). All these figures are courtesy of the 60-kWh battery and the 204-PS (201-horsepower) and 360-Nm (266-pound-feet) electric motor. Opel’s new electric car is scheduled to arrive in showrooms in 2017.

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Are Mitsubishi's SUV Plans Finally Within Sight?

By now, most people in the industry know the running joke about Mitsubishi as the world’s foremost authority in building SUV concepts. The Japanese automaker has actually made it a specialty of sorts, if you can believe that. Since 2013, Mitsubishi has unveiled more concept SUVs than actual, real-life SUVs. There was the XR-PHEV, which actually gave way to a sequel concept, the XR-PHEV II. There was the EX, the GC-PHEV, and today at the Paris Motor Show, the GT-PHEV. At this point, an end-game for all of these Mitsubishi SUV concepts should be in sight, right?

Fortunately, there is. Mitsubishi’s long-term strategy has always been grounded on the objective of becoming a market leader in SUVs. Two of the aforementioned SUV concepts are expected to arrive in production form in the near future. The XR-PHEV II Concept, for instance, is reportedly set to arrive in 2017 as the Outlander Sport, while the production version of the eX Concept, will be packaged as a small crossover to rival the Nissan Juke. No timetable has been set for this model, but it is believed that this model is due for a production call-up when the Outlander Sport is released.

The GT-PHEV Concept that’s saying hello to the world in Paris is likely the long-term wait of the group. It’s been touted as a preview version of the next-generation Outlander, which isn’t expected to be released until 2018 at the earliest. The good news here is that the wheels are supposedly churning within Mitsubishi to finally bring these SUV concepts to life.

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New Nissan Micra Debuts In Paris With Revolutionary Design

The highly-anticipated fifth-generation Nissan Micra made its global debut at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. Sporting a revolutionary design that sets it apart from the not-so-exciting fourth-gen car, the new Micra remained faithful to the Sway concept unveiled at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.

What makes it revolutionary, you ask?

Well, the Micra has always been a car that didn’t adhere too much to the rest of the Nissan family in terms of design. The small hatchback usually featured styling cues of its own, while the overall impression was that of a bubble on wheels. All told, it wasn’t exactly exciting to look at — even though some found it to be cute — compared to most of its competitors. This changes with the fifth-generation car, which was redesigned to include most of the design language seen on larger Nissan models.

Specifically, it now has a large V-motion grille flanked by squinty, sporty looking headlamps, boomerang-shaped taillights, a floating roof with blacked-out B- and C-pillars, a sculpted character line that runs from the nose all the way back to the tailgate. The hatchback is also lower, wider, and longer than its predecessor, which not only gives it a more aggressive stance, but also provides a lot of extra interior room.

Speaking of the cabin, it is packed with state-of-the-art technology and numerous features usually available in larger cars. The Micra comes with Lane Departure Prevention, a segment first, Intelligent Emergency Braking with pedestrian recognition, a first for Nissan vehicles in Europe, as well as Intelligent Around View Monitor, Traffic Sign Recognition, High Beam Assist and Blind Spot Warning

The engine lineup now includes a 0.9-liter, turbocharged, three-cylinder, gasoline unit and a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder diesel, both developing 90 horsepower and both shared with other Nissan and Renault cars. A naturally aspirated 73-horsepower 1.0-litre gas mill will be added to the lineup later on. European sales are set to commence from March 2017.

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Renault Zoe Debuts In Paris With Record 250-Mile NED Range

Normally, a car like the Renault Zoe doesn’t generate the same type of excitement in auto shows compared to those limited edition supercars that pop up every so often. But when said Renault Zoe promises something that no other car of its kind can do, that’s when it becomes a lot more interesting. Such is the case at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, where Renault unveiled the Z.E. 40 battery-powered Zoe EV that packs a record NED cycle-certified 250-mile range, or the equivalent of 186 miles in real-world traffic conditions.

The range figure may not be as high as the 315-mile range of the Tesla Model S P100D or the 238-mile range of the Bolt, but it completely laps the field against its more direct competitors, including the Fiat 500e (87 miles), Kia Soul EV (93 miles), and Volkswagen e-Golf (83 miles). That’s an impressive feat brought about by the automaker’s groundbreaking Z.E. 40 battery’s high-energy density lithium-ion technology that Renault developed in collaboration with LG Chem.

Together, the two companies were able to devise a method that resulted in the increase of energy density in the battery cells, all while retaining the battery’s physical characteristics, while also improving its overall safety and reliability. The result is a battery that has 41kWh of usable energy, close to double the capacity of the battery being used by the current model. It also allows for quick recharging. In fact, with a 30-minute charge, the battery can recoup an extra 50 miles of range, which if you do the math, already accounts for 60 percent of the Soul EV and e-Golf’s overall battery range.

Continue after the jump to read the full story.

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