2012 Honda Civic Si getting new 2.4L engine with 200 hp

Honda gave us a preview of its 2012 Civic at this year’s Detroit Auto Show, and while the car we saw on stage was technically a “concept,” we expect the production car to look very similar, albeit with more conventional wheels, headlamps, and, you know, an interior. Instead of just showing one Civic, Honda brought out both a sedan and Si coupe concept, and now our friends at Temple of VTEC have reportedly confirmed that a new 2.4-liter mill is on deck for the sportiest of Civics.

Known internally as “K24,” the 2.4-liter engine slated for Civic Si use will be very similar to the powerplant currently used in the Acura TSX. No official power numbers have been divulged, but this engine currently makes 201 horsepower in the TSX, so we’ll bet that Civic Si output will be somewhere between 200 and 210 hp. That isn’t a huge increase over the 197 hp currently available from the Si’s 2.0-liter four, but the 2.4-liter engine should prove to be a bit torquier. Look for something along the lines of 170 pound-feet in the 2012 model, whereas the current car only produces 139 lb-ft of twist.

Official data will be revealed closer to the Civic family’s launch later this year. And while these new Si numbers aren’t leaps and bounds better than what’s currently available, the easily flickable driving dynamics and rev-happy power should still make it an engaging steer.

Source:Autoblog

Hyundai may import Elantra from Korea to meet surging demand

The rakish 2011 Hyundai Elantra hit North American dealerships late last year, priced from $14,830 (*excluding $720 for destination). In December 2010, Elantra sales totaled 13,096 units, up from 5,763 in 2009, and this high demand for the new Elantra may be higher than the Korean automaker had originally anticipated.

This increased demand has prompted Hyundai to consider importing some Elantras from Korea. Currently, Hyundai produces U.S.-market Elantras at its Montgomery, AL plant. This facility’s annual production capacity, which stands at 330,000 total units, may not be enough to satisfy America’s thirst for the stylish compact. Recently, Hyundai spokesman Frank Ahrens told Automotive News that:

If Elantra does what we think, hope it will do, it will mean we’ll have to export them from Korea. We’re pretty bullish on it, given the reviews it’s received so far and the price.

The 2011 Elantra is $1,445 cheaper than a base Chevrolet Cruze and $1,440 less than a base 2012 Ford Focus, which makes Hyundai’s model a pocketbook-friendly alternative to its main competitors in the compact class.

Source:Autoblog

Subaru adds WRX-powered Forester S-Edition for Australia

Before your heart goes all aflutter at the thought of a factory Subaru Forester XTI, cool your jets a bit. It’s true that Subaru Australia has just pulled the sheets off of a more powerful Forester complete with nearly 260 horsepower and 256 pound-feet of torque, and yes, the high-rider packs a new five-speed automatic to replace the archaic four-speed slusher found on most Forester models. Drivers can even control shifts via a pair of paddles should the mood strike them. But this isn’t some slammed hardcore grocery getter. Instead, the Forester S-Edition, as it’s called, wears a slightly revised suspension cooked up from the minds at STI along with a few subtle aero tweaks outside.

Jump indoors and those from down under will enjoy a cabin trimmed in Alcantara bits, navigation and a rear view camera, all for a just a bit more than what you’d typically pay for a Forester XT in those parts.

Will we be getting anything similar? It certainly wouldn’t hurt our feelings, but we’d be surprised if Subaru suddenly decided to lay another model on top of its range-capping XT here in the land of the free. We’ve got our digits crossed for that five-speed transmission, though. Hit the jump for the press release.

Source:Autoblog

Backwards cars are blowing our minds

Not everything is always as it seems. This truth is once again proven true by the fine chaps at the Final Gear forums, who took it upon themselves to borrow the idea of and expand upon a recent Photo of the Day at Autoblog’s own official Facebook page.

And so we bring you this photo gallery of the backwards car. Mind? Blown.

The premise is simple. Fire up Photoshop, chop off the roof of a car, flip it and put it back on top. The result? Endless fun. If you’re not a Fan of Autoblog’s Facebook page, see what you’ve been missing?

Click here to rectify that sad situation, then click through our image gallery below. Feel free to add your own to Facebook, and we’ll add it to the gallery.

 

 

Source:Autoblog

Vaughn Gittin Jr. takes flight in the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

By now, news that the Ford F150 SVT Raptor can get you over the river and through the woods to grandma’s house is older than the dirt splattered down the pickup’s side. Still, that doesn’t mean that we’re above taking a second to watch Vaughn Gittin Jr. put the FoMoCo beast through its paces. As you may recall, Gittin Jr. is the talented hellion who took the 2010 Formula Drift title, so the man knows a thing or two about stretching a vehicle to its limits and beyond.

Gittin Jr. teamed up with the crew from Wrecked Magazine to bash through the sand outside of Las Vegas when someone threw open the gates to the local CORR track. That’s when things got really interesting. The drift guru set to vaulting the pickup to ever loftier heights. At one point, re-entry causes the Raptor’s frame to flex enough to cause the tail gate to pop open on contact with terra firma – impressive given what this bruiser was engineered to withstand. Hit the jump to see the video for yourself.

More details on Jaguar’s 3 Series fighter

Word is bumping around the internets that Jaguar may be interested in dusting off a sub-XF model. Doing so would put the big cat into direct competition with the mighty BMW 3 Series – a feat Jaguar attempted once before with the ill-fated X-Type. But according to Adrian Hallmark, the automaker’s new global brand director, the company won’t be repeating past mistakes.

Instead, buyers can look forward to being able to choose between a sporty coupe and a volume sedan if the project gets green-lit. Offering two models would allow Jaguar to deliver a high-quality vehicle while simultaneously reducing its own costs.

Additionally, there’s word that Jaguar wants to ensure that the new car packs all of the luxury and craftmanship of its bigger brothers at a more affordable price point.

Unfortunately, it may be a good long while before we see the fruits of Hallmark’s labors come to the surface. Jaguar says that it is just now beginning to look into a new, smaller model and that it could be four years or more before the vehicle actually shows up on dealer lots. If that’s what it takes to keep Jaguar from churning out another X-Type, we’re all for the wait.

Greece Car Hire

[Source: Autoweek]

Report: Skoda planning VW Up-based minicar?

According to Inside Line, Skoda is jumping into the minicar game with a little help from parent company Volkswagen. The Czech automaker is set to introduce a new model based on the same platform as the VW Up, with production gearing up toward the fall of 2011.

The vehicle doesn’t have a name as of yet, but according to the report, the pint-sized machine is slated to be built at Volkswagen’s Bratislava manufacturing facility. When it rolls off the production line, it will come packing an efficient 65-horsepower 1.0-liter gasoline engine, though a 75-horsepower 1.2-liter diesel mill will also be available at the time of launch.

Later down the line, there’s word that Skoda will bring an all-electric version to the party as well. The baby Skoda is being designed to lock horns with the Toyota iQ and Peugeot 107, and Inside Line is reporting that it will likely carry a price tag of around $9,300 when it debuts.

USA car hire

[Source: Inside Line]

Aston Martin One-77 already being delivered to customers?

After years of hype, it appears the first customer has taken delivery of their new Aston Martin One-77.

While it seems unusual for the company not to promote such an event (they sent out a press release for the first delivery of the Rapide), a black One-77 was spotted in front of the Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo wearing non-manufacture plates. This seems to imply the car is a retail model, but we cannot confirm it.

Regardless, the supercar features a 7.3-liter V12 engine with 750 hp (559 kW / 760 PS) and 750 Nm (553 lb-ft) of torque. Official performance specifications haven’t been announced, but the One-77 is expected to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 220 mph (355 km/h).

Check out the source for more pictures

Source: GTSpirit