Nother CarGuy

Subaru has no plans for a direct replacement of the WRX STI but that doesn’t mean that we won’t get a new one at all. With the current WRX STI steadily heading to retirement, Subaru will soon have a very emotionally significant hole in its range that will remain vacant for a few years, before the successor shows up. The reason for this delay, according to Subaru Europe’s General Manager of sales and marketing David Dello Stritto who spoke with Dutch Autorai, is because the company is still looking at how the market develops in order to finalize the concept of the next WRX STI. With the current turbocharged 2.5-liter boxer engine being too dirty to pass the upcoming stricter emissions regulations, Subaru has to find another way of giving its customers their rallycar-for-the-road fix. "We're not really giving up on ‘fun to drive’. The new Impreza also provides this, but in a different, more environmentally sound way, "said Dello Stritto. Among their options is of...

Toyota is working on a spiritual successor of the MR2 roadster as part of the company’s plan to have a three-model strong range of sports cars, according to Gazoo Racing chief Tetsuya Tada. This means that a lightweight spiritual successor to the MR2 will be positioned next to the GT86 and the upcoming Supra, with Tada-San saying to Evo that Toyota wants to have the trio in production together “As soon as possible”. And staying true to the spirit of the last MR2 roadster, the new model will be as light and simple as possible. With that said though, Toyota is thinking of using some of the hybrid tech found in its LMP1 racers in order to meet the future emissions standards and of course make the necessary connection to its motorsport programme. This also means that a mid-engine layout is almost a certainty, as packaging a hybrid powertrain is easier. While the MR2 may not be a hybrid from the start, Tada-San says Toyota is “working very hard” to make the hybrid roadster a real...

McLaren officially confirmed that the 650S successor will be revealed in Geneva, showing us for the first time the second-generation carbon fiber Monocage II tub. Codenamed P14,  the model that will replace the 650S  in McLaren’s lineup will reportedly carry the 720S nameplate and according to the company, will tip the scales at just 1,283kg, which is 18kg less than a 650S with “comparable specification”. McLaren says that their new Super Series models will be the lightest in its class, thanks to the new Monocage II carbon tub. The new chassis structure also allowed for an even lower centre of gravity for better handling, a wider cabin entrance and lower sills to improve access.  The company also revealed that they will offer a ‘Visible Monocage’ option to customers who wish  to showcase the carbon chassis , exposing the material on the inside area of the A-pillar.  “Super Series is the core of the McLaren business and personifies the blend of extreme perform...

The 650S replacement is not due before the Geneva Motor Show in March 2017, but today we are able to get a very early look at the new model from Woking. Codenamed “P14”, the supercar has been spotted in prototype guise while undergoing testing in Spain. To the surprise of many, McLaren did not bother to camouflage the vehicle at all, thus giving us the opportunity to see its design which has gone through some significant modifications. Some have complained that McLarens all look very much alike, but they probably won’t be saying the same thing about the new arrival which represents a departure in terms of exterior design. McLaren has already announced a “big leap” in terms of aesthetics, and the undisguised prototype demonstrates the company’s design department has lived up to the promise.  The front and rear have gained slender LED headlights providing the high-performance coupe with a sleeker appearance, while the side profile has also been subjected ...

McLaren launched the 650S Coupe a little over two years ago, but the Woking-based supercar marque is already gearing up for its replacement. Codenamed “P14,” the new model will use an evolution of the biturbo 3.8-liter V8 engine which develops 650 PS (641 hp / 478 kW) and 500 pound-feet (678 newton meters) of torque in the 650S. While some are saying the model’s name will start with “7” (so at least 700 hp), a McLaren spokesman has said it’s unlikely to happen. According to company CEO Mike Flewitt, the 650S replacement will stick with the MonoCell carbon fiber chassis, but there are going to be some improvements for the new model. Now that the 570S is on sale, McLaren wants to keep a safe distance between its entry-level Sports Series and the mid-tier Super Series. That’s why the 650S successor is being developed to be considerably faster than the current car which runs to 62 mph (100 kph) in three seconds and maxes out at 207 mph (333 kph). To do that, the “P14...

McLaren will widen the gap between its newly launched  Sports Series  and Super Series range with the introduction of the next-gen 650S and 675LT. Equipped with a similar setup as the  P1 hypercar , the new vehicle, code-named P14, will adopt a hybrid powertrain, with an updated twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 serving as the centerpiece and a lighter electrification system. " The P1 had 375 pounds of [electric powertrain] if you added it up; I think that today we’re within a 70- to 110-pound weight penalty for hybrid. I want to eliminate that, get it to zero—and then really hack off my engineers by saying we want to make it even lighter than a conventional powertrain would be  ", McLaren CEO, Mike Flewitt, told  Car and Driver . Besides being faster than the  650S  and  675LT , the new car will also have improved aerodynamics, with designers and engineers working closely together throughout the development. " It’s not about us creating something beauti...