Lexus has released the high-performance 2008 IS F in Japan. The IS F’s 5.0-litre V8 engine is derived from the Lexus LS600h engine, and makes 417 hp at 6600 rpm and 504 Nm of torque at 5200 rpm. It also has the 8-speed automatic transmission from the LS, but programmed to shift quicker, taking as little as 100 ms to shift gears using the paddle shifters.
Already revealed as a coupe, the BMW M3 was known to have a sedan and convertible bodystyle in the works too. And now, the 414 hp M3 sedan has just been unveiled.
Mitsubishi has officially launched the Lancer Evolution X in Japan. The trims announced are the standard GSR model and the stripped-down RS model.
This has to be one of the most daring TV commercial that any car company has ever come up with. Renault is showing off the safety of their cars in the ballet of crushed sheetmetal and twisted frames. It’s an ad for the European market of course.
A soft-top convertible version of the 2008 BMW 1-Series has been unveiled in Europe, even before the coupe version has gone on worldwide sale. Like the coupe, the convertible will also be available in a top-of-the-range 135i variant, among others.
Nissan is going to unveil its best ever sports car at the end of next month during the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show. Dropping the “Skyline” name, it will be called the Nissan GT-R, and will be equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre V6 powerplant, pumping out an estimated 480 hp to 530 hp. Shown above is the disguised working prototype. The surprising part is it has unofficially been proven to be quicker around a track than a Porsche 911 Turbo, which costs twice as much as the GT-R.
The examples in this article hasn’t aged well as 99.99% of automotive specs sheets nowadays only show net horsepower ratings, but it still makes for interesting reading, especially as there are still a couple of hold-outs advertising gross horsepower in this day and age. We led the way back then in exposing this practice.
I just got the press release for the new 2008 Chevy Avalanche, to be launched mid-October, claiming their 5.3-litre V8 to have 355 hp. I also read a review in Wheels magazine where the writer assumes the Tahoe has 355 hp, and that the Murano has 265 hp.
A number of new cars were launched this month, although not all of them had the fancy launch party that Nissan had. BMW didn’t even have a party for their Rolls and Mini models.
While I test cars, I unconsciously compare them to my 17-year-old inline-six “baby” Mercedes to see how far cars have progressed (not far enough really). Similarly, I compare tested sports cars with my 20-year-old modded twin-turbo Supra. But I’ve never owned a 4WD before, and I needed one to judge new trucks against. I set a budget, and I started researching for a reliable, tough and true 4WD that could go up against the latest. Oddly enough, the 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 you see in the picture fit the bill. A Jeep? Reliable? There’s more to the story.
We’ve come across full press photos of the all-new 2009 Honda Jazz, also known as the Fit in other markets. This car will be released at the Tokyo Auto Show this year