Nother CarGuy

While we’ve all seen Mercedes prototypes of  the next generation of the A-Class , spies have caught a current-gen A45 AMG test car running around the roads of Nurburgring. What’s different this time is that the car in question is featuring some seriously wider fenders. These of course are there to cover the wider tracks of the car and we all know what happens when AMG decides to widen the body of one of its models.  We still have no idea of what AMG has in store for the A45 and all we can guess is that Mercedes is planning to send off the current generation of the A-Class with a proper bang. The wider body will be likely accompanied from a series of upgrades in the chassis and the powertrain departments. Despite  the normal A45 AMG  being one of the faster and most capable hatchbacks out there, this new hotter version, believed to be called A45 S, is expected to offer around 400hp  from its turbocharged 2.0-litre engine .  As for the name, the possibilit...

Faraday Future has dropped a brief teaser video of its  first production model  which will debut in January at CES 2017. While the clip only shows a heavily disguised prototype for a matter of seconds, the vehicle's overall shape definitely resembles a crossover with similar proportions to the Tesla Model X. Although  Faraday Future  hasn't confirmed what form its first model will take, a previously-released teaser image also previewed what appeared to be a crossover. Few details about the startup's first model are known other than the fact that it will be powered by the  world's highest energy dense battery  cells used in the automotive industry. This should give both an impressive range and enough grunt to keep up with Elon Musk's creations. FF has made no secret of its bold ambitions and after the crossover is released, it will only be a matter of time before a second model hits the market, potentially in the form of an all-electric sedan. Via Carsc...

Volkswagen has unveiled its brand new Atlas seven-seater crossover ahead of the model's world premiere at the  Los Angeles Auto Show . Once known as the  Teramont , the VW Atlas offers three-row seating and aims to satisfy the SUV-hungry desires of North America by representing the firm's first foray into the local family SUV segment. Built in Chattanooga, Tenneessee, the Atlas is underpinned by VW's Modular Transverde Matrix (MQB) architecture and measures 198.3 inches (5,037mm) long, 77.9 inches (1,979mm) wide and 69.6 inches (1,767mm( high, making it the largest Volkswagen on sale in the United States. At launch, the  Atlas  will be offered with two powertrains. The first, a 2.0-liter turbocharged four cylinder, delivers 238 hp and is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. For those looking for some added grunt, a 3.6-liter six-cylinder with 280 hp is also available with the same eight-speed 'box. The four cylinder can only be configured in front-whee...

Hyundai has cleared the air regarding the availability of their  new generation 2017 Azera  in the USA: we won’t be getting it, and we’re not the only ones. Speaking to  Carscoops , a US spokesman for the Korean company said: “Hyundai will sell the all-new Azera in all global markets except for Australia, Europe and North America. The  all-new Azera  will not be sold in the U.S.” But here’s where things get a bit confusing, as the spokesperson added: “Considering the importance of Hyundai Motor's flagship model in overseas markets, Hyundai is currently reviewing the possibility of introducing a US-specific model that reflects the needs of customers in North America".  Does that mean Hyundai will develop and offer a different model based on the Azera for the States, or perhaps even market a restyled version of the car under their  just launched Genesis brand  as an entry-level premium sedan – think Lexus ES rival? We don’t know yet, but we did a...

After sharing a  few candid drawings  of the redesigned for 2017 Azera or Grandeur in Korea earlier this week, Hyundai dropped the first real-life images of their bolder and more youthful take on the mid-size sedan segment. The Koreans say the new generation Azera “spearheads a new era” of design for the brand, and while that may hold true for Hyundai, we can’t help but notice the styling similarities with the products of its  just-launched Genesis luxury marque  that was spun off last year.  So much so in fact, that some have hypothesized that instead of replacing the current model, Hyundai could  turn the Azera  into the ‘Lexus ES’ of their Genesis brand in the States, which kind of makes sense given the decline in the non-luxury mid-size sedan category. The new Azera not only looks more handsome and upscale than the current car on the outside, but inside too, especially in the grade featured in the release photos that boasts a partially leather c...

Skoda has been quietly working on a  facelifted version of the Octavia , which will become available to order by the end of the year.  On the visual front, the  brand's best-seller  now sets itself apart from the current models with dual headlights, which can be fitted with the full-LED technology on request, a reworked grille, slightly tweaked bumpers on both ends, and  new patterns  for the light alloy wheels that range from 16 to 18 inches. The revisions have brought new infotainment systems to the  2017 Skoda Octavia , with a 9.2-inch display on higher grades, WLAN hotspot, and SIM card module, joined by the safety assistance systems that include Predictive Pedestrian Protection on the Front Assist, optimized  Parking Assistant , Blind Spot Detection, Rear Traffic Alert, rear radar, and rearview camera.  The  engine lineup  remains untouched, as Skoda continues to offer the compact car with five petrol and four diesel mills...

Skoda's usual values of space and practicality could be left aside when it comes to a new stylish vehicle, based on the recently unveiled  Kodiaq  SUV.  The sportier version of the Kodiaq is definitely on the automaker's 'to do' list for the European market, according to  AutoExpress , which is citing the brand's chief, Bernhard Maier.  " The coupe SUV is a wonderful derivative. We are going to make the brand even more emotional ", Maier said.  Skoda had already green lit a coupe derivative of the Kodiaq for the  Chinese market , which will be assembled locally. It would love to have it at its European dealerships, but first it must ensure it has an adequate  production capacity  - and that's no easy feat. " We would like to have this car in Europe, yes. The real problem is that we do not have the capacity to build everything that we would like to build ", added R&D Board Member Christian Strube. " There would be a ...

A new generation of Mazda’s popular CX-5 compact crossover will make its world premiere at the upcoming  2016 Los Angeles Auto Show  on November 16.  In a short statement, Mazda said it has “refined all aspects of its award-winning compact SUV’s design and technology to deliver new dimensions of driving joy. For example, the carmaker has taken the CX-5’s KODO — Soul of Motion exterior to a new level, honing the car’s beauty and imparting a formidable combination of sophistication and strength.” The Japanese brand’s darkened teaser paints a sharper and more dynamic looking  picture for the new CX-5  with a lowered profile and tauter body surfaces – some could say it looks like a shrunken  CX-9 here. Mazda is keeping the new CX-5’s details a secret for now, but in all likelihood, we’ll see the crossover keeping the current car’s 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline and in select markets, the 2.2-liter diesel engine options, unless the firm surp...

Mercedes’ AMG division has introduced the new generation  E63 and E63 S models , with the latter being the most powerful and fastest E-Class of all time.  Revealed on Wednesday ahead of a world premiere at  next month’s Los Angeles Auto Show , the duo of 2018 E63 sedans have dropped the outgoing models’ 5.5-liter twin-turbocharged V8 for AMG’s smaller displacement, but more potent, 4.0-liter force-fed V8, and now get standard 4MATIC four-wheel drive across the range.  In the base E63, the eight-cylinder lump churns out 563hp (571PS) and 553 lb-ft (750Nm) for a 0-60mph in 3.4 sec (0-100km/h in 3.5 sec), while in ‘S’ guise, it produces 604hp (612PS) and 627 lb-ft (850Nm) allowing Merc’s M5 rival to reach 60mph in 3.3 sec (100km/h in 3.3 sec). Both models have a restricted top speed of 155mph (250km/h), though the available AMG Driver’s package raises the limit to 186mph (300km/h). If for any reason you want to show your frugal side by cutting down on fuel consumptio...