by Import RPM on April 18, 2012
Hyundai has officially renewed its partnership with Rhys Millen Racing and will compete in the 2013 Formula Drift Series. The RMR Genesis Coupe sponsored by Hyundai will of course be piloted by none other than Rhys “Mad Skills” Millen, the former Drift champ and acclaimed stunt driver.
Although the 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe is already in showrooms, it’s naturally a watered down version of the one Millen gets to drive. Nevertheless, Hyundai refreshed the Coupe’s styling for the new model year while retaining all the characteristics that are bound to appeal to purist, rear-drive sport coupe buyers. [click to continue…]
by Import RPM on April 16, 2012
Performance driving school are nothing new for brands like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Jaguar, but Nissan is the latest to offer performance driving instruction to a select group of lucky customers.
The 2013 GT-R Experience is an invite-only event for buyers of the 2012 GT-R. The driving instruction will be held at three different tracks across the country including Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in California, Monticello Motor Club in New York, and Palm Beach International Raceway in Florida. GT-R owners attending the event will get top-notch instruction courtesy of the Skip Barber Racing School. [click to continue…]
by Import RPM on April 15, 2012
Honda has become a preferred partner of Zipcar, the world’s leading car sharing network. Through this partnership, Zipcar will offer Honda’s full range of hybrid and electric vehicles to urban commuters.
The agreement will add the Honda Insight hybrid, the all-new CR-V compact SUV, as well as the upcoming Fit EV and Accord plug-in hybrid to select Zipcar locations beginning in early 2013. [click to continue…]
by Import RPM on April 15, 2012
Nissan’s Leaf electric vehicle has raised the bar for the burgeoning EV market. It’s affordable, safe, offers room for five, and boasts solid driving dynamics. It has even gone on to win a slew of awards since its launch, including the coveted World Car of the Year and European Car of the Year awards.
Despite the overall success of the Leaf, its design is polarizing. That’s why the next-generation Leaf is expected to receive a more European-inspired design, as well as a lower price tag. [click to continue…]
by Import RPM on April 12, 2012
The price of a new car is rising and there’s no end in sight. In March, new vehicles sold for an average price of $30,748 according to TrueCar.com. The automotive data tracking service noted that March’s transaction price was up significantly from a year ago.
“It’s not a blip. It’s a trend we’ve been seeing for months,” said Jesse Toprak, TrueCar’s chief automotive analyst. That’s despite the fact, he says, that “This might seem counter-intuitive at a time you might expect to see people buying cheaper cars because fuel costs are rising so fast.” [click to continue…]
by Import RPM on April 11, 2012
Porsche has just removed the covers from the 2013 Cayenne GTS, an SUV that boasts 20 more horsepower over the standard Cayenne’s meager output for a total of 420 horsepower. Other updates to this high(er)-performance utility vehicle include a lowered chassis, a lower final-drive ratio, and use of Porsche’s eight-speed Tiptronic S paddleshift gearbox.
All those subtle powertrain and performance tweaks will help the new Cayenne GTS print from 0-to-60 in a mere 5.4 seconds. Naturally, the 420-hp V8 coupled with all-wheel drive doesn’t make for a very efficient vehicle, but Porsche has included standard stop-start technology to help drivers squeeze out just a few more miles per gallon. This tech already been used in the latest 911 to boost fuel efficiency. [click to continue…]
by Import RPM on April 9, 2012
The 24 Hours of Nürburgring is one of the most grueling endurance races in the world. It takes a very special kind of car to be able to tackle this challenging track for so many hours without issue. Nevertheless, Nissan believes Godzilla is more than up to the challenge. That’s why the automaker is entering a stock GT-R into the race.
Recently updated for the 2012 model year, Nissan won’t be altering the sports car except for adding an updated front fascia in an effort to get a little more downforce. Other than that, it will remain the same as a Nissan GT-R Club Track model that comes straight from the factory. [click to continue…]
by Import RPM on April 8, 2012
The much anticipated Subaru BRZ sports coupe has finally been priced. When it begins to arrive in showrooms over the few months, it will come with a base price of $25,495.
Compared to the Scion FR-S, the BRZ is intended to offer more in the way of features, amenities, and options. The base BRZ Premium model comes with a six-speed manual transmission. For those who opt for the six-speed automatic, that will cost $1,100 more for a new total of $26,595. Doing so will also include a touchscreen navigation system, Bluetooth connectivity and HID headlamps. [click to continue…]
by Import RPM on April 7, 2012
A replacement New York City taxi has finally arrived. Dubbed the Taxi of Tomorrow, the production version of the Nissan NV200 van-based taxi cab was on display at the New York Auto Show, showing what passengers and cabbies will soon get to ride around in on the streets of Gotham.
Designers at Nissan didn’t merely throw yellow paint on a NV200 van, which is currently sold in numerous markets outside of the United States. Instead, they spent months riding in taxis and talking to cab owners, drivers and passengers about what they did and didn’t like. All that information culminated in a vehicle that’s ready to shuttle hundreds of thousands of passengers a day. [click to continue…]
by Import RPM on April 7, 2012
The next-generation Hyundai Santa Fe will continue to be an attractive option for growing families looking for a value-packed crossover. Two all-new variants were on display at this week’s New York Auto Show, including a Sport model that offers two rows of seats and a three-row model simply called the Santa Fe.
The Santa Fe Sport features seating for five and comes equipped with a direct-injection 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 190 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. Buyers can also opt for a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that will crank out an estimated 264 horsepower. Both engines will be mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and both can be paired with all-wheel drive. [click to continue…]
