Mazda MX-5 Miata

When early photos of the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata showed a return to wheels with just four lugs, the theories among the Miata fan base ranged from "that's some sort of base model" to "it's just for the auto-show displays."  Not true, there will be two major variants of the MX-5—one with a 1.5-liter engine that will be Japan's only choice and one with a 2.0 that will be an option in Europe and the sole available engine in the states—and both are four-bolt cars.  Hitoshi Takamatsu, the Deputy Program Manager tasked with the chassis and running gear of the 2016 MX-5, is quick to emphasize that the weight savings from doing so amount to more than just a few steel lugs. Virtually every part of the running gear is lighter.  The transmission loses about 15 pounds. The differential sheds 22 pounds as part of a comprehensive program of lightweight material choices that accounts for 30 percent of the over 200 pounds the "ND" has managed to lose compared to its predecessor. Even the styling saves weight: the rear corners of the car are "chopped" off to narrow the rear bumper beam and support structure. Masashi Nakayama, the MX-5 designer, is careful to point out that the new standard LED headlamps were chosen because they permit a much more compact front end, which further reduces weight and leads to this surprising fact: this 2016-model MX-5 is shorter than the 1990 original. This new Mazda, therefore, amounts to a master class in how to do what nearly every other manufacturer in the business seems quite unable to accomplish: cut the size and weight of your product while improving crash safety and structural rigidity.

Mitsubishi PHEV

This year, though, the marketing spend is £20m, and Mitsubishi's ads will be back on the small screen. Suddenly, it has something to shout about: the Outlander PHEV plug-in hybrid SUV. There were two generations of Outlander prior to this one, neither of which received anything more exotic than internal combustion engines. The PHEV’s origins can instead be traced to the iMiEV, the five-door electric hatchback based on Mitsubishi’s ‘i’ kei car. Given how badly most ‘plug-in’ vehicles have been missing their sales targets of late, you might think that introducing another sounds like a gamble. Mitsubishi, like every car maker who has introduced a battery car of the current crop, would reply that its plug-in is different – the one to break through. But Mitsubishi argues with more compelling reasoning than we’re used to. The Outlander PHEV comes with a price relative to the diesel-engined mid-sized 4x4 standard and, says Mitsubishi, without a compromise elsewhere, while returning a claimed 148mpg. As it can expect no assistance from the petrol engine, the rear motor has been made more torque, developing 144lb ft, compared with the 101lb ft of the front motor. Both are fed by the 12kWh battery which is mounted between the axles and charged by the petrol engine (via a generator) in the Series Hybrid setting. The Outlander's front and rear trans axle transmissions each include single-speed reduction gearing for EV mode, although the front one is an all-new GKN Multi-Mode transmission with a hydraulic clutch engaging and disengaging whenever power is required directly from the engine. While the rear motor produces slightly more torque, the one at the front is assisted at times of need by a 119bhp 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine. Mitsubishi says the Outlander PHEV can cover 32.5 miles as an EV before tapping into its 45-litre fuel tank for an ‘extended’ range of around 500 miles. 

Mini Minor

Unlikely relationships that yield astonishingly positive results: a dachshund raising a group of abandoned tiger cubs, rapper 50 Cent and actress Meryl Streep chuckling courtside at a New York Knicks game, and BMW and Toyota working together. The symbiosis started in 2003, when Mini launched its first diesel version powered by a Toyota engine. Eight years later, the automakers got back together and signed an extensive cooperation agreement: BMW would supply diesel engines to Toyota as well as develop and build the rear-wheel-drive Supra coupe replacement, which will be twinned with the BMW Z4 roadster replacement, and Toyota would offer its fuel cell know-how in exchange. For BMW’s near-premium brand Mini, that would mean an all-new Minor (shown here in renderings). “It´s still early days as far as the baby Mini goes,” says a source from Mini. The Minor—its name dating back to 1959 when the original Issigonis design was first marketed as Austin Seven and Morris Mini Minor—would likely cost between $14,500 and $16,000. Early styling exercises combine elements from the Paceman and the Rocketman concept. No timeline was provided for the Minor’s arrival, but the report does state that early styling exercises show fresh proportions and a double-bubble roof; a small, trapezoid-shaped grille; and Union Jack–themed taillamps (à la the Superleggera Vision Concept).

The Porsche Panamera

The Porsche Panamera  is a luxury four-door sedan. It is front-engined with rear-wheel drive, with four-wheel drive versions also available.The Porsche Panamera production model was unveiled at the 13th Auto Shanghai International Automobile Show in Shanghai, China, on April 2009.  In 2011, hybrid and diesel versions were launched. In April 2013, a facelift to the Panamera was announced, launching again at the Auto Shanghai show. A plug-in hybrid version, the Panamera S E-Hybrid, was released in the U.S. market in November 2013. The current Panamera is offered in a number of different guises. The mainstream model lineup includes the rear-wheel-drive Panamera, S and GTS and the all-wheel-drive Panamera 4, 4S, Turbo and Turbo S. The Panamera and Panamera 4 are powered by a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 310 horsepower, while the S and 4S get a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that pumps out 420 hp. The GTS features a 4.8-liter V8 rated at 440 hp, and the Turbo ups the ante with a turbocharged 4.8-liter V8 cranking out 520 hp. Of course, the 570-hp Turbo S wins the race. All of these models utilize Porsche's seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual, known as PDK. From the driver's perspective, the Panamera borrows the 911's classic five-gauge instrument panel, but it was the Panamera that introduced the elevated, button-rich center console now shared by the 911 and other Porsches. While those buttons can take some getting used to, the touchscreen above them is both intuitive and graphically rich. The front seats look and feel sporty, yet can adjust to accommodate just about any physique. The unusual twin rear seats resemble those in front and provide first-class comfort; spring for the long-wheelbase Executive (limited model availability) with its extra 5.9 inches of wheelbase length and the legroom gets downright limolike. Thanks to its handy hatchback and fold-flat rear seatbacks, the Panamera can haul up to 44.6 cubic feet of stuff.

Audi R8

The Audi R8  is a mid-engine, 2-seater sports car  which uses Audi's trademark quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. It was introduced by the German automaker Audi AG in 2006. In 2005, Audi announced that the name of the successful Audi R8 race car would be used for a new road car in 2007, the Audi R8, based on theAudi Le Mans quattro concept car (designed by Frank Lamberty and Julian Hoenig), appearing at the 2003 International Geneva Motor Show, and 2003 Frankfurt International Motor Show. The car was exclusively designed, developed, and manufactured by Audi AG's high performance private subsidiary company, quattro GmbH, and is based on the Lamborghini Gallardo platform. The fundamental construction of the R8 is based on the Audi Space Frame, and uses an aluminium monocoque which is built using space frame principles. The car is built by quattro GmbH in a newly renovated factory at Audi's 'aluminium site' at Neckarsulm in Germany. The R8 also features a distinctive curved bar of LED daytime running lamps  mounted inside the xenon HID headlamp casings. The R8, like most mid- or rear-engine designed sports cars, utilises wider wheels and tyres on its rear axle.  There was some confusion with the name, which the car shares with the 24 Hours of Le Mans winning R8 Le Mans Prototype (LMP). 6-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Jacky Ickx described the R8 as "the best handling road car today".

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr., (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American pastor, activist, humanitarian, and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil
rights using nonviolent civil disobedience based on his Christian beliefs. He was born Michael King but his father, Martin Luther King, Sr., changed his name in honor of the German reformer Martin Luther.  A Baptist minister, King became a civil rights activist early in his career. He led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957, serving as its first president. With the SCLC, King led an unsuccessful struggle against segregation in Albany, Georgia (the Albany Movement), in 1962, and organized nonviolent protests in Birmingham, Alabama, that attracted national attention following television news coverage of the brutal police response. King also helped to organize the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. There, he established his reputation as one of the greatest orators in American history. On October 14, 1964, King received the Nobel Peace Prize for combating racial inequality through nonviolence. In 1968, King was planning a national occupation of Washington, D.C., to be called the Poor People's Campaign, when he was assassinated on April 4 in Memphis, Tennessee. His death was followed by riots in many U.S. cities. Allegations that James Earl Ray, the man convicted of killing King, had been framed or acted in concert with government agents persisted for decades after the shooting. King was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established as a holiday in numerous cities and states beginning in 1971, and as a U.S. federal holiday in 1986. Hundreds of streets in the U.S. have been renamed in his honor. In addition, a county was rededicated in his honor. A memorial statue on the National Mall was opened to the public in 2011.

The G63

There's nothing quite like the Mercedes-Benz G-Class sports-utility vehicle. How many vehicles can say they were designed at the request of the Shah of Iran, have served as the official transportation device for the Pope, are used as military vehicles by nearly every major country in the world and are sold brand new fully swathed in luxury from car dealerships in North America? Only one that we can think of: the G-Class. The G has been around for more than 30 years, although only since 2002 has the G-Class been officially imported by Mercedes-Benz. Previously, North American importation was through Santa Fe, New Mexico-based grey market importer Europa International. Since 2002, the G has been available new from Mercedes-Benz dealers, despite brief hiatuses. 

 Inside, the G63 feels a bit like a 30-year-old vehicle thank to an upright windshield, limited shoulder room and blocky design. Yet it's exceedingly well built and now features a new to the G-Class instrument panel and a center stack that brings the secondary controls into the 21st century. Standard equipment includes Mercedes-Benz's latest COMAND navigation, a harman/kardon audio system, a multicontour driver's seat with pneumatic bolsters and extensive premium leather trim, while G63-specific touches include designo leather upholstery with fluted leather door paneling.

New standard safety features include DISTRONIC PLUS, Blind Spot Assist and the parking aid PARKTRONIC with reversing camera. The ESP stability control system has been revised and now includes Trailer Stability Assist. Most G63s are special order items. All are built under contract by Magna-Steyr at an assembly plant in Graz, Austria.

Bentley Bentayga

The first Bentley Bentayga SUV isn't even out yet, but the company is already mulling more SUVs for its lineup, according to Auto Express. The British luxury automaker will debut Bentayga toward the end of the year, but Bentley executives told Auto Express that the company will seek to take on Land Rover with additional models.

“We are keeping a close eye on what Land Rover has done with the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and even the Evoque," said Kevin Rose, head of Bentley sales and marketing, in an interview with Auto Express.

Bentley has been considering an SUV off and on for about a decade since the purchase of the ailing British automaker by Volkswagen, and its first SUV will debut in production form later this year, most likely at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The large Bentayga, which has been calling attention to itself with giant Twitter hashtags in barely-camouflaged form, is expected to go on sale at the end of 2015 as a 2016 model, and is rumored to start at $210,000. Bentley has already received 4,000 "expressions of interest," but any smaller siblings will still be at least a couple years off. Bentley will have the SUV platforms of Volkswagen and Audi at its disposal for smaller SUVs, should it choose to use them.

"As soon as the SUV is delivered we will keep the momentum going by adding more and more models that stay true to the brand," Chairman and CEO Wolfgang Durheimer told Auto Express.

A decision on additional models is not expected until mid-2016 by which time the Bentayga, expected to arrive in W12 gasoline, V8 diesel, and plug-in hybrid flavors will have been revealed.

What your car color says about you

Does your car "color" your personality? Car color can act as a psychological shortcut that expresses how we want the world to think about us. Gender and age influence choices, along with what colors are available on the lot.

Of course, that's not all there is to choosing a color.

"Color preferences change throughout time and may differ by region or vehicle type," says Nancy Lockhart, a color marketing manager with Axalta Coating Systems (formerly DuPont), a global car-coating business in Detroit. "The personality of the vehicle is as important as the personality of the buyer. The vehicle style, design and branding can influence color choices.

"A luxury sedan is more popular in black and white colors, but a small and sporty version is widely associated with red and colorful shades."

You can take these observations with a grain of salt, but here is what our experts say your car's color says about you. The rankings in this story are based on the Axalta Automotive Color Popularity Report for 2013.

White

If you're driving a white vehicle, you like to present a fresh, young, modern face to the outside world. Environmental psychologist Sally Augustin points out that many contemporary brands -- Apple, for example -- are drawn to white for the same reason.

White suggests that you have taste and elegance, says Marcie Cooperman, a professor of color theory at Parsons The New School for Design in New York City. White is also associated with honesty and purity.

Or, it could be that you live in a desert climate and white doesn't absorb heat like black, and you want a car that won't bake you like a human Pop-Tart.

"However, white can be hard to keep clean in some regions," Cooperman says. "It's a high-maintenance color." Perfect for high-maintenance people, perhaps?

Black

"Black became the number one color for luxury," Lockhart says. According to Axalta report of 2013, black was the most popular color for luxury vehicles.

Black is the sophisticate's color, Augustin says. Just think of the little black dress and black-tie dinners. You'll see diplomats (or rather, their drivers) maneuvering stately black town cars through the urban landscape, and royalty riding through the night in midnight-toned limousines.

"Black is a power color, for sure," Cooperman says. Black declares itself as important, classic and in control.

Silver

The metallic gleam of silver shines bright with innovation. Think stainless steel appliances and silver technology. It's the color of security and style, Cooperman says.

A silver car color indicates that you're a high-class lady or gentleman with an eye on the upscale, Augustin says. Your status is higher in the world, and you're not afraid to show it.

"As a fallback color, it's nice," Cooperman says, because it doesn't get as dirty as a white car or as hot as a black car. It seems most Americans would agree with that assessment, as it's the third most popular car color.

"Overall, neutral colors (white, silver, black and gray) have dominated the market the past few years," Lockhart says.

Gray

Is there really a difference between silver and gray? Yes, Cooperman says.

"The gray car driver doesn't want to stand out," Cooperman says. And between silver and gray, the latter is more nondescript. Gray doesn't need (or want) to be as flashy as silver, projecting more dignity, tradition and maturity.

The driver of a gray car cares less about status and more about the status quo. As the fourth most popular car color in the U.S., gray is another neutral tone. It's just not as loud as the first three colors.

"Gray is popular on all types of vehicle sizes and brands," Axalta Coating Systems' Lockhart says. "Light grays, dark grays and grays with a slight hue offer a nice variety in this color space."

Red

"Go-getter types may pick a red car," environmental psychologist Augustin says. Red projects action, power and masculinity, she says.

A red car for a man may declare great status in his world, whether that's finance or law. If it's a sporty red car, it's a way of "flexing muscles on the road," Cooperman says. However, for women, red often just represents confidence and fun.

The red sports car screams, "Look at me!" in every way.

That driver might think he has something impressive to show you -- the freeway equivalent of an exhibitionist, Cooperman says.

Blue

Picking blue doesn't lead to The Blues. Blue is a practical, happy color for many. The cars almost act like flashes of blue sky on gray roads.

In fact, blue projects stability, truthfulness and serenity, Augustin says. She points out that the minivan mom may choose blue, which projects a nice, stable family appearance.

Blue cars haven't been popular for a while, Cooperman says. However, she says to look for that to turn around in the next few years, particularly with female buyers.

Lockhart agrees: "The forecasted trend is to see more color hit the roads as reds and blues rise in interest."

Brown/Beige

Like the solidity of a mountain range or reserve of a monk's robe, brown exudes a quiet peace.

A preference for brown or beige also may speak volumes about your penny-pinching ways. "Someone who prefers brown doesn't really want to buy anything new," Cooperman says. "He just wants to live his life. He doesn't care about style and might keep a car until it drops."

A brown-car buyer wants value and a long life in his or her purchases and doesn't care about trends or fads.

Yellow/Gold

If you're driving a yellow car, you may be the human embodiment of that "don't worry, be happy" smiley face we remember from the 1980s. Yellow exudes joy and a positive attitude.

Young people are drawn to yellow, Cooperman says. "Kids in their 20s like brighter colors and welcome trends and color," she says. They like small, bolder shapes and vivid hues. "Bright color doesn't feel like a risk to them."

However, it feels risky to many other people. Yellow or gold cars made up only 1% to 2% of car colors.

Green

For the past 10 years, green has been closely tied to nature, Augustin says. Maybe you brake for arboretums and fuel up your sedan with biofuel.

But Cooperman says that green's popularity peaked in the 1990s and now we're in the midst of a backlash against green, with fewer green cars in showrooms and on the road.

Because of the anti-green sentiment, if you still drive a green car, you may be OK with being a fashion laggard and in no rush to catch up to current trends. Hey, at least you're not recycling your car yet.

Orange

There's a reason why places like Home Depot display orange logos. Bright orange declares that you're quite comfortable with value and saving money.

If you're driving an orange Mini, you're saying, "I do a good job of minding my money," Augustin says. You might skip doing things for yourself (no spa treatments or expensive hair appointments) just so you can focus on value-rich investments.

An orange BMW? You pinched pennies to buy that head turner. "You're sort of tipping the world on edge," Augustin says. You're also not afraid of going against the tide. Orange is one of the least favorite colors of new car buyers in the U.S.

Audi TT Offroad

The Audi TT offroad concept breaks the mold, combining the sportiness of a coupe with the lifestyle and utility of a compact SUV. The four-door model, which Audi is presenting at the Beijing International Automobile Exhibition, adds an entirely new expression to the Audi design language. Its plug-in hybrid drive with two electric motors and a system output of 300 kW (408 hp) provides for dynamic performance, yet consumes on average just 1.9 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (123.8 US mpg). A separating clutch links the transverse 2.0 TFSI to an electric motor producing 40 kW and 220 Nm (162.3 lb-ft) of torque. The slim, disc-shaped electric motor is integrated into the six-speed e-S tronic. In front of the rear axle is a liquid-cooled, lithium-ion battery comprising eight modules. It contributes to the balanced 54:46 weight distribution between the front and rear axles and to the low center of gravity. The battery stores up to 12 kWh of energy, enough for an electric range of 50 kilometers (31.1 miles). The Audi TT offroad concept show car features two Audi driver assistance systems that are almost ready for production: the intersection assistant andonline traffic light information technology. The intersection assistant aims to help to avoid side-impact collisions, or reduce their severity, where lanes merge and at intersections. Radar sensors and a wide-angle video camera scan zones to the front and sides of the car. If the system detects a vehicle approaching from the side and assesses it to be critical, graduated warnings are displayed in the Audi virtual cockpit. Online traffic light information is a technology that connects the Audi TT offroad concept via the cell phone network to the central traffic computer, which controls the traffic light systems in the city. Based on the information from this system, the Audi virtual cockpit shows the driver what speed to drive in order to reach the next traffic light while it is green. The cockpit displays the time remaining when waiting for the light to turn green.  The interior of the Audi TT offroad concept offers space for four. The rear seat can accommodate two adults comfortably. The slim sport seats with integrated head restraints ensure lateral hold. The side bolsters of the front seats are very strongly contoured. The design ideas of the new TT* were also the inspiration for the sporty interior of the show car. The top of the instrument panel is designed as a wing. This is supported by a visible aluminum structure that as a horizontal design element incorporates the air vents and underscores the width of the interior. The round air vents are reminiscent of jet engines and incorporate the air conditioning controls. The slender instrument panel is focused on the driver.

Silly Concept Cars

There were plenty of beautiful cars and prototypes at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, but there also was Toyota's i-Road, one of a handful of goofy cars that turned up at auto and trade shows around the world in 2014.

Along with the serious models and swoopy, elegant concepts, there also were vehicles designed by automakers to draw lots of attention by showing how wild or fanciful they can be. They let their designers' imaginations run wild without regard to practicality or real-world acceptance — such as a Renault with a built-in hangar for a flying drone that can be released to scout traffic ahead.

Here are some way-out concepts — and one production model — that made appearances at auto and consumer shows in the past year:

• Toyota i-Road. For the ultimate in personal transportation, Toyota showed off its i-Road at the L.A. show. The three-wheeler holds just one person and its small size makes it perfect for tight city streets, though it can't carry many grocery bags. Also, the entire vehicle cants, leaning into a turn. It's a concept, so don't look forward to seeing an i-Road soon on a real road.

•
Honda N-Box Slash. Honda put this odd, boxy vehicle with an equally odd name on sale in Japan last week. It's perfect for Japan, putting a premium on inside space while having a tiny engine and wheels. Even though its looks aren't particularly American, it's being offered in designs meant to evoke America, such as a red-and-white "California Diner Style" or a music-themed "Tennessee Session Style." And it can be ordered with a killer sound system.

• Hyundai Intrado. Seen at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, the Hyundai Intrado is a tiny bit strange, with weird flares around the wheels and lower body. The front end has vague styling cues from the redesigned 2015 Genesis. The funky three-door is meant to be a concept for a fuel-cell car and is named after the underside of a wing where an aircraft's lift is created.

• Renault KWID. How many cars can boast of being able to release their own video drone from a rooftop hangar? The KWID concept, developed by Nissan and seen as a concept at the Delhi Auto Expo in India, has what it calls the "flying companion." The idea is that when you're struck in traffic, you can send your drone ahead to scout for better routes. The KWID is a two-wheel-drive car styled to look like a four-wheel offroader. If that sounds strange, consider the "bird's nest" lattice work on the seats inside.

• Kia Niro. Kia brought its Niro concept to the Chicago Auto Show. It's an eye-catching little crossover riding on 20-inch wheels, is aimed at urban hipsters and has interesting upward opening doors.

Pagani Huayra

The Pagani Huayra is an Italian mid-engined sports car produced by Pagani. Succeeding the company's previous offering, the Zonda, it costs €1,198,000 ($1,600,000). It is named after Wayra Tata, which means "God of the winds" in Quechua, the official language of the Inca Empire. The Huayra was named "The Hypercar of the Year 2012" by Top Gear magazine and received a very positive review when tested by Richard Hammond on Top Gear. The Huayra is currently the fastest car to go around the Top Gear Test Track, setting a time of 1:13.8, beating the previous record of 1:15.1 set by the Ariel Atom V8 in January 2011. It was used in the movie Transformers: Age of Extinction as the KSI prototype turned Decepticon Stinger. The Huayra uses a twin-turbo, V12 engine developed by Mercedes-AMG specially for the Huayra. The Huayra's 6.0-litre engine, the M158, produces 730 metric horsepower (720 bhp (539 kW)) and 1,000 N·m (740 lb·ft) of torque. Its top speed is about 231 mph (372 km/h) and it has a rating 0–60 miles per hour (0–97 km/h) acceleration time of 3.2 seconds. The Pagani Huayra uses a seven-speed sequential gearbox and a single disc clutch.The choice not to use a dual-clutch in an oil bath was due to the increase in weight of over 70 kg (154 lb), thus negating any advantage of the faster gear changes in a double-clutch transmission. As a result, the entire transmission weighs 96 kg (212 lb). The Pagani Huayra is different from its predecessor in that it incorporates active aerodynamics. It is capable of changing the height of the front from the ground and independently operating four flaps placed at the rear and front of the car. The behavior of the flaps is managed by a dedicated control unit that is fed information from systems such as the ABS and ECU, which pass on information about the car's speed, yaw rate, lateral acceleration, steering angle and throttle position. The Pagani Huayra was officially debuted online with many pictures in a press release on January 25, 2011.The official world debut was at the Geneva Auto Salon 2011 in March.