Autoesque

Manufacturers are forever trying to create new niches, but it seems Nissan has now answered the question that nobody was asking: why aren’t there any convertible crossovers on the market? The Murano CrossCabriolet, which will be unveiled at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, is the world’s first all-wheel drive crossover drop top. And there’s possibly a reason why we haven’t seen any before. With all-new bodywork from the front bulkhead back, the CrossCabriolet retains seating for four and it’s claimed there’s plenty of space for luggage, even with the top down. Expect the engine to be the same 260 bhp (193 kW / 263 PS) 3.5 litre V6 that’s currently found in the five-door. Sales are due to start in early 2011, although it’s doubtful whether the Murano CrossCabriolet will make it to Europe.

Anyone thinking of spending around £95,000 on a performance car is spoilt for choice. A Porsche 911 GT3 perhaps, or how about an Audi R8, Maserati GranTurismo, or Aston Martin V8 Vantage? Alternatively, European buyers can now go for something completely different. Allard may not be a name familiar to all (especially as the original company went out of business in 1966) but now it’s back with a MKII version of the J2X, a model previously produced between 1951 and 1954. Like its predecessor, the J2X MKII features an American V8 engine, but it’s no longer British-built. The rights to the Allard name are now owned by Allard Motor Works Inc., which is based in Montreal, Canada. Although the J2X - unsurprisingly - looks like something from the 1950s, the mechanical elements are bang up to date. Power comes from a GM Ram Jet 350 cubic inch (5.7 litres) fuel injected V8, which pumps out 350 bhp (260 kW / 354 PS) and 542 Nm (400 lb-ft) of torque. That’s a lot in a car that weighs just...

Volkswagen has revealed the electric Golf blue-e-motion. Instead of an engine under the bonnet, there’s an electric motor that produces maximum power of 113 bhp (85 kW / 115 PS) and has a continuous output of 67 bhp (50 kW / 69 PS). Electricity for the motor is stored in a lithium-ion battery pack, which has an energy capacity of 26.5 kilowatt-hours. Volkswagen claim that that’s enough to give the blue-e-motion a range of around 90 miles (150 km). Performance is brisk, too. With 270 Nm of torque, 0-62 mph (100 km/h) acceleration takes a respectable 11.8 seconds, while top speed is 83 mph (135 km/h). That’s despite having to lug around the batteries, which weigh a bulky 315 kg. They’re stuffed under the rear seats, in the transmission tunnel and into the boot floor, which reduces luggage capacity from 350 litres to 275 litres. Volkswagen isn’t saying how long the recharging process will take. An obvious difference between the blue-e-motion and a standard Golf is the instruments...

Someone at Honda must be a fan of the dual sport Yamaha TDM900, because its new Crossrunner is similarly aimed at those who want the benefits of an adventure bike but are never going to go off-road. It’s a concept that has proved successful in mainland Europe, but not so much so in other markets. UK riders might be surprised to learn that Yamaha still offers the TDM900 here, while it simply doesn’t bother in North America. An odd situation, especially given the very healthy sales figures of ‘proper’ adventure bikes such as the BMW R 1200 GS. Whether the looks of the Crossrunner will help increase the popularity of this class of bike is debateable. Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but the Crossrunner’s styling seems to pull off the trick of appearing bulky yet overly fussy at the same time. Photogenic it is not. But the Crossrunner won’t be short on power. Its engine is a V4 unit, previously seen in the VFR800 sports tourer. Producing 100 bhp (75 kW / 101 PS) and...

Buick has unveiled the halo version of its Regal, the model that’s based on the Vauxhall / Opel Insignia. Called the GS, it will come with a turbocharged two-litre Ecotec four-cylinder engine connected to a six-speed manual transmission (a six-speed automatic will also be available later). An output of 255 bhp (190 kW / 258 PS) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque promises brisk performance, with Buick estimating that the 0-60 mph (96 km/h) sprint should be achieved in under seven seconds. But the Regal GS is front-wheel drive, which raises a rather obvious question: Why didn’t Buick simply badge-engineer the Vauxhall Insignia VXR (also known as the Opel Insignia OPC)? Not only do the European cars get a 2.8 litre V6 turbocharged Ecotec motor with 320 bhp (239 kW / 325 PS) and 435 Nm (321 lb-ft) of torque, but they also feature permanent four-wheel drive. As a result, the VXR / OPC gets from 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds, while top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph (250 km/h). ...

Following the unveiling of the new 2011 CBR600F earlier this week, Honda has now released full technical specs for the bike. Surprisingly, the engine seems to be exactly the same as the one found in the CB600F Hornet, the model on which the CBR is based. Perhaps Honda felt that 100 bhp (75 kW / 101 PS) was sufficient for the target audience, and any increase in power might be embarrassing for the 118 bhp (88 kW / 119 PS) CBR600RR? 2011 Honda CBR600F Technical Specification ENGINE Type Liquid-cooled 4-stroke 16-valve DOHC inline-4 Displacement 599 cc Bore × Stroke 67 × 42.5 mm Compression Ratio 12 : 1 Max. Power 100 bhp / 75kW / 101 PS at 12,000 min-1 (95/1/EC) Max. Torque 64 Nm at 10,500 min-1 (95/1/EC) FUEL SYSTEM Carburetion PGM-FI electronic fuel injection Throttle Bore 36 mm ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Ignition System Computer-controlled digital transistorised with electronic advance Starter Electric Battery Capacity 12 V / 8.6 AH ...

Mitsubishi will be unveiling a wider, squatter version of its i-MiEV electric car at this month’s Los Angles Auto Show. Designed exclusively for the US market, the official line is that the upsizing is being done to satisfy the country’s more stringent crash tests. It definitely, absolutely, categorically has nothing to do with rumours that some Americans might be a bit large. The ‘narrow’ i-MiEV has an anticipated range of 100 miles (160 km) and a top speed of 80 mph (130 km/h). There’s no word yet on whether the bigger body will affect that performance, but an added benefit of the changes is that the US-spec i-MiEV will have a wider dash, and that surely means extra space to fit bigger cup holders? The Mitsubishi i-MiEV is due to go on sale in the US late next year with a price tag of under $30,000, before the $7,500 federal tax credit for electric vehicles is applied. Related posts: Mitsubishi i-MiEV costs UK i-MiEV prices slashed PSA goes electric

The Morgan Threewheeler is returning to the roads, 58 years after production of the original version ceased. Due to go on sale in 2011, the new car will be powered by a 1,800 cc Harley-Davidson V-twin with around 100 bhp (74 kW / 101 PS), connected to a Mazda five-speed transmission. That should be enough to accelerate the 500 kg lightweight from 0-60 mph (96 km/h) in 4.5 seconds, before taking it onto a top speed of a windy 115 mph (185 km/h) - flying goggles might be a good idea. The Threewheeler is constructed from super formed aluminium bodywork over a tubular steel chassis frame. Additional protection is provided by individual rollover hoops behind the driver and passenger seats, but there’s no hood to keep the weather off. Aviation clearly provided the inspiration for the design of the cockpit, which features a black anodised dash panel, aluminium 'aircraft' toggle switches and a 'bomb release' style starter button. In the UK at least, the Morgan Threewh...

BMW has signalled its intention to enter the maxi scooter market. The firm revealed the Concept C (‘C’ for ‘commuter’) at the EICMA Motorcycle Show in Milan, claiming it combines the best features of a motorcycle with those of a scooter. Power will come from a new in-line twin cylinder engine, driving through a continuously variable transmission. Capacity hasn’t been disclosed yet, but BMW is saying that output and torque will be in the top range for a maxi scooter. For more details, check out the BMW Motorrad Concept C video .

The seven finalists in Europe’s 2011 Car of the Year contest have been announced: Alfa Romeo Giulietta Citroën C3 / DS3 Dacia Duster Ford C-Max / Grand C-Max Nissan Leaf Vauxhall / Opel Meriva Volvo S60 / V60 Notable is the Leaf, which is the first purely electric car to reach this stage of the competition. All new models were eligible for the award, provided that they were already on sale (or soon would be) in five or more European markets, and are expected to achieve annual retails of 5,000 or more. This year, there were 41 that met the criteria. A first stage of voting, which involved motoring journalists from across the continent, whittled those candidates down to the final nominees. The list of cars that failed to make it onto the shortlist makes interesting reading, too, and it includes some surprises: Audi A1 BMW 5 Series Honda CR-Z Mini Countryman Mitsubishi i-MiEV / Citroën C-Zero / Peugeot i-On Nissan Juke Renault Fluence The jurors will now have a secon...

After an absence of four years, the CBR600F middleweight is returning to the Honda line-up. Judging by the images, it appears to essentially be a faired version of the updated-for-2011 Hornet, although it’s thought the CBR600F may boast slightly more power than the 100 bhp (75 kW / 101PS) that the un-faired bike currently has. 2011 CBR600F and... ...2011 CB600F Hornet The new all-rounder is aimed at riders who want more practicality and versatility than the more hardcore CBR600RR offers, but without losing sports bike performance. That said, it doesn’t look like pillion passengers are particularly well catered for. Pricing for the 2011 Honda CBR600F, which goes on sale sometime in the first half of next year, is yet to be finalised. Launch colours will be Pearl Cool White / Hyper Red, Pearl Cool White / Moody Blue Metallic and Pearl Nightstar Black / Matt Cynos Grey Metallic.

Ford will be unveiling a stealthy concept version of its new Police Interceptor sedan at this month’s Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) trade show, which takes place in Las Vegas. Designer Melvin Betancourt set out to give the Taurus-based car a sinister look, while at the same time masking its law enforcement purpose. Drawing inspiration from the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird strategic reconnaissance aircraft, the car is - naturally - finished in solid black. Smoked taillights and tinted glass complete the look. The body has been lowered by an inch, and the concept Interceptor rides on 22” alloys with glossy black centres and chrome rims. Other modifications include a thicker mesh grille and a boot lid spoiler that both conceal LED emergency lights. On the inside the theme continues, and the headlining and B-pillar covers are finished in black. The centre console has also been redesigned so that police equipment, such as the radio and computer terminal, is hidden awa...

Toyota is celebrating ten years of smug Prius owners in the UK by launching a 10th Anniversary special edition. Based on the range-topping T Spirit version, the 10th Anniversary gets 17” smoked-finish alloy wheels, dark-tinted privacy glass and front, rear and side skirts. A sporty look, but still definitely not a sporty car. Paint choice is White Pearl or Astral Black, while the interior is finished in black leather upholstery embossed with the 10th Anniversary logo. The Prius 10th Anniversary will be limited to 1,000 examples, and is available to order from UK Toyota dealers now. Its on the road price has been confirmed at £26,150, including VAT at 20% (which seems to imply that deliveries won’t start until January 2011 at the earliest, as that’s when VAT increases from 17.5%). Based on today’s prices adjusted for 20% VAT, a Prius T Spirit specified with leather seats, privacy glass and metallic paint from the options list would cost around £26,230. So, by comparison, the s...

The UK’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has published an Electric Car Guide. Aimed at anyone thinking of going electric, it sets out to answer all the questions that potential customers are bound to have. One sure uncertainty will be the financial aspects of electric car ownership, and so the guide includes some theoretical running cost estimations. These compare a non-specific, typical, mid-size diesel car against a purely electric model. Although the electric car comes out with marginally better cost per mile figures after three years of ownership, the calculations suppose that a car powered by electricity will have a similar residual value to one run on diesel. The SMMT freely admits that that is a big assumption though, simply because nobody yet knows what the depreciation characteristics will be. Nevertheless, with the OLEV Plug-in Car Grant (which will cover up to 25% of a qualifying vehicle’s price, to a maximum of £5,000) due to be offered from January 2011...

Going against the grain of downsizing, Dodge has revealed that the Challenger SRT8 will be getting a bigger Hemi V8 for 2011. And, just so everyone knows, it’ll be known as the SRT8 392 - a reference to the engine’s capacity in cubic inches, which equates to 6.4 litres. The new engine boasts 470 bhp (350 kW / 476 PS) and 637 Nm (470 lb/ft) of torque which, compared to the 6.1 litre Hemi that it replaces, is a useful increase of 45 bhp (33 kW / 45 PS) and 67 Nm (50 lb/ft). The newer model will be identifiable by its modified front spoiler and larger splitter, while underneath the suspension has been tweaked to cope with the extra grunt. To celebrate the new arrival, the first 1,492 SRT8 392s off the line will be Inaugural Edition models which have 20” SRT wheels and ‘392 Hemi’ badges. Colour choice is Bright White Clear Coat with Viper Blue stripes or Deep Water Blue with Stone White stripes, both of which come with a Pearl White leather interior that features blue stitching. T...

2010 has been a successful season for racers campaigning the BMW S 1000 RR. For instance, Italian rider Ayrton Badovini completely dominated the 2010 FIM Superstock 1000 Cup, winning nine out of the ten rounds. Meanwhile, in the UK Steve Brogan secured the Mirror.co.uk British Superbike EVO Championship and Jon Kirkham took the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 Championship title. Drawing on the experience gained in competition, BMW has now developed a range of High Performance Race Parts for the S 1000 RR that’s aimed at race teams and track day fanatics alike. Included in the HP Race Power Kit are a replacement ECU and a titanium and carbon fibre Akrapovic exhaust system, which impressively weighs 6.8 kg less than the standard item. Those components raise power from 190 bhp (142 kW / 193 hp) to 197 bhp (147 kW / 199 PS), while torque increases from 112 Nm to 120 Nm. Not dramatic, but the important 5,000 to 9,000 rpm midrange is said to be significantly improved. After the...

Following the unveiling of the new North American specification Jetta a few months ago, Volkswagen has now taken the wraps off the European model. On the face of it, both versions appear almost identical. However, a big difference is that European cars will get a superior four-link rear suspension system similar to the Golf’s, instead of a simple torsion beam. What goes under the bonnet has been changed, too. For the time being, North American buyers have a choice of two petrol engines: a four cylinder 2.0 litre with only eight valves and a single overhead camshaft that produces a miserable 115 bhp (85 kW / 116 PS), or a 2.5 litre inline five with four valves per cylinder and double overhead camshafts which manages a more respectable 170 bhp (126 kW / 172 PS). By contrast, the European engine line-up will consist of much more efficient TSI petrol engines, plus a couple of TDI diesels: 1.2 TSI (103 bhp / 77 kW / 105 PS) 1.4 TSI (120 bhp / 90 kW / 122 PS) 1.4 TSI (158 bhp / 11...