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In a new teaser video, Mazda previewed what looks very much like the next-generation Mazda3. In a tweet, Mazda’s Japanese PR account confirmed the model teased below will debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.

A New Era Begins November 2018#マツダ #MAZDA #LAAutoShow pic.twitter.com/BkOCnSM1Uo

— マツダ 広報部 (@Mazda_PR) October 17, 2018

The 15-second video starts out showing a red Mazda3 hatchback. With slim taillights, angled windows, and a bulbous rear end, it resembles the Kai concept that debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show last year. Of course, we expect Mazda will tone down some of the concept’s more dramatic styling elements. In this teaser, the Mazda3 has traditional door handles instead of the Tesla-like retracting ones we saw on the Kai concept.

After the red car appears, Mazda shows a gray car. It’s unclear whether this vehicle is a sedan or hatchback, but whatever it is, it has a nice long hood.

The current-generation Mazda3 arrived for the 2014 model year. But every year since then, Mazda has made thoughtful changes, so the car has felt relatively fresh, particularly when it comes to handling. If the Kai concept is any indication, expect the new Mazda3 to sit on the latest Skyactiv platform, which should improve driving dynamics further. The Mazda3 should adopt the Kai concept’s Skyactiv-X engine that uses spark plugs to initiate compression ignition. This new engine promises to deliver more torque and better fuel economy than Skyactiv-G engines.

Pictured below is Mazda’s Kai concept.

Source: Mazda via Twitter and YouTube

The post Next Mazda3 Teased Ahead of L.A. Debut appeared first on Motor Trend.

The renowned Lingenfelter Collection will be holding their annual Fall Open House next month. The event will take place from 10am – 5pm on Saturday, October 27th.

Not only will you have the chance to peep one of the biggest and best car collections in the world, but you’ll also be helping to fight breast cancer.

Continue reading The Lingenfelter Collection’s Fall Open House is October 27th at Corvette: Sales, News & Lifestyle.

Does this bright new color on the 2019 Camaro “Shock” you?

Chevrolet shared the first pics of the new exterior color which is described as Shock Yellow but referred to simply as Shock in the official press release. The color is featured on the 2019 Camaro SS that will be displayed at the SEMA show in Las Vegas October 30-November 2.

Continue reading HOT or NOT: Chevrolet Shows Off New Shock Exterior on 2019 Camaro at Corvette: Sales, News & Lifestyle.

Small crossovers are best known for offering a mix of value and utility in a manageable size. They’re less known for offering rousing acceleration. But even so, there are plenty of right-sized crossovers that won’t let you down when you lay into the right pedal. Here are the quickest compact crossovers under $40,000 that Motor Trend has tested.

Starting price: $38,790
0-60 mph: 7.9 seconds
Quarter mile: 16.2 seconds at 85.9 mph

One of the more accessible Land Rover models, the Discovery Sport features a 2.0-liter turbo I-4 from the Ingenium family. Despite the added heft of its standard all-wheel-drive system, the engine offers good punch even in its base 237-hp guise. Like the larger Discovery, the Discovery Sport is available in a standard five-seat configuration or a 5+2 layout, giving you room for seven in a pinch.

Starting price: $34,965
0-60 mph: 7.6 seconds
Quarter mile: 16.0 seconds at 85.9 mph

FCA’s new Hurricane 2.0-liter turbo I-4 gives the refreshed 2019 Jeep Cherokee a much needed torque boost that improves its straight-line performance on pavement. The added torque also helps off-road for crawling over large obstacles without needing to wring out the engine. With the optional Trailer Tow package, turbocharged Cherokees can haul up to 4,000 pounds of payload.

Starting price: $35,145 (LX 2.4: $25,245)
0-60 mph: 7.5 seconds (LX 2.4: 7.7 seconds)
Quarter mile: 15.8 seconds at 89.0 mph (LX 2.4: 16.0 seconds at 88.4 mph)

Smooth power delivery defines the Honda CR-V’s powertrain, especially with the 190-hp 1.5-liter turbo-four. Minimal turbo lag and a smartly tuned CVT combine to deliver better acceleration than you’d expect from a car with less than 200 hp. Even the base model with a 2.4-liter I-4 driving just the front wheels gives up little to its turbocharged counterpart in straight-line performance, coming in only a few ticks behind.

Starting price: $34,485
0-60 mph: 7.3 seconds
Quarter mile: 15.7 seconds at 85.0 mph

The most powerful Ford Escape comes with a 245-hp 2.0-liter turbo I-4, giving you punchy acceleration during your commute. That engine also makes 275 lb-ft of torque, which is one reason why the Escape is rated on the higher end of the compact crossover towing spectrum at up to 3,500 pounds.

Starting price: $32,250
0-60 mph: 7.2 seconds
Quarter mile: 15.5 seconds at 88.1 mph

Small in stature but packed with character, the Mini Countryman S ALL4 gives you all-weather traction, a gutsy turbo engine, and sporty handling in a practical, city-friendly package. Despite its 189-hp rating, the Countryman S’ 2.0-liter turbo-four delivers good acceleration and its 207 lb-ft of torque is available early in the rev range so passing power is always there.

Starting price: $35,950
0-60 mph: 6.9 seconds
Quarter mile: 15.3 seconds at 90.3 mph

Mercedes’ smallest crossover doesn’t skimp when it comes to straight-line performance. The GLA 250 4Matic offers plenty of torque down low from its 2.0-liter turbo I-4 and gets you to highway speeds with minimal fuss. Put the car in Sport mode for improved responsiveness and quicker shifts from the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Starting price: $37,180
0-60 mph: 6.9 seconds
Quarter mile: 15.3 seconds at 91.0 mph

Lexus’ first compact crossover was the original recipient of its 2.0-liter turbo-four, which is rated at 235 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Although the 2018 NX 300 weighs nearly 4,000 pounds, the little turbo engine gives it respectable acceleration, and the abundant low-end torque might even convince you there’s a small V-6 underneath the hood.

Starting price: $36,895
0-60 mph: 6.8 seconds
Quarter mile: 15.2 seconds at 90.5 mph

The first BMW model to move to a front-drive platform was the X1, making it a relative to the Mini Countryman. Unlike its quirky British cousin, the BMW X1 comes standard with more power from the same 2.0-liter turbo-four, which is rated at 228 hp and 258 lb-ft, giving it better straight-line performance.

Starting price: $39,195
0-60 mph: 6.7 seconds
Quarter mile: 15.1 seconds at 90.9 mph

Volvo’s smallest crossover, the XC40, is stylish and sensible, but also surprisingly quick. With 248 hp and 258 lb-ft on tap from its 2.0-liter turbo I-4, the XC40 T5 AWD offers plenty of passing power, all while looking like no other crossover on the road.

Starting price: $33,995
0-60 mph: 6.6 seconds
Quarter mile: 15.2 seconds at 92.1 mph

Smaller than its predecessor, the 2018 Chevrolet Equinox ditched the V-6 in favor of a 252-hp 2.0-liter turbo-four as its most powerful engine option. Despite the drop in output, the Equinox’s lighter curb weight offsets it, giving it strong acceleration that will make you forget about the previous model’s six-cylinder when you hit the throttle.

Starting price: $39,395
0-60 mph: 6.3 seconds
Quarter mile: 14.9 seconds at 92.9 mph

The BMW X2 is the less practical and more expensive sibling of the X1, but it’s tuned for a sportier driving experience. As a result, it offers better handling when the road gets twisty and superior straight-line acceleration. Credit the X2’s lighter curb weight and stickier rubber for the improved performance.

Starting price: $30,945
0-60 mph: 6.3 seconds
Quarter mile: 14.9 seconds at 93.7 mph

The Infiniti QX30 is closely related to the Mercedes-Benz GLA 250, sharing the same engine, transmission, and chassis. However, due to Infiniti having its own powertrain calibration, the QX30’s transmission shifts more smoothly and the car is quicker to accelerate. The QX30S, which is the most expensive trim, also features a lowered suspension with a unique calibration, giving it more car-like handling.

Starting price: $37,750
0-60 mph: 5.9 seconds
Quarter mile: 14.6 seconds at 88.3 mph

Yes, the quickest compact crossover under $40,000 is a plug-in hybrid, and it has one of the smallest gas engines available, too. The Mini Countryman S E ALL4 pairs a 1.5-liter turbo I-3 to an electric motor and a six-speed automatic for a combined output of 221 hp and 284 lb-ft. With instant electric torque, this fun-sized utility vehicle gets off the line swiftly, making it perfect for darting through city traffic.

The post The 13 Quickest Compact Crossovers Under $40,000 appeared first on Motor Trend.

After dieselgate, Volkswagen Group has shifted its focus away from diesels toward electric vehicles. Porsche went so far as to drop diesels across its entire global lineup, citing low demand. But rival BMW doesn’t paint such a grim picture for diesels or internal combustion engines in general. Speaking with Australian outlet Go Auto, BMW’s research and development boss estimates that 85 percent of the brand’s vehicles will still have an internal combustion engine by 2030.

“We have a spiral in Europe where every politician sees only one solution—diesel bashing,” BMW AG board member for development Klaus Fröhlich told Go Auto. “From a CO2 and customer perspective, a modern diesel is a very good solution. Especially for heavy, high-performing cars.”

Cities around the world—from Paris to London and Berlin—are placing bans on diesel cars. Still, Fröhlich said he was “very optimistic” about the future of diesels, and the board member even cast doubt on the notion that all markets would abandon internal combustion and adopt electric vehicles at the same time.

Even in a best-case scenario, he foresees pure electric cars and plug-in hybrids making up 30 percent of BMW’s global lineup in the next 12 years. “If you assume that, from this 30 percent, half of them are plug-in hybrids—I have 85 percent in my portfolio in 2030 with a combustion engine,” he said.

While that projection seems to be in stark contrast to the EV plans of automakers like VW Group, Ford, GM, and others, BMW has said previously that it hopes to have 25 electrified vehicles, including 12 EVs, in its lineup by 2025. Some upcoming electric models include an i4 four-door coupe that’s based on the iVision Dynamics concept and is due in 2021. Also coming that year is the iNext, a highly autonomous vehicle with an estimated all-electric range of 435 miles. Arriving a bit sooner will be the iX3 crossover in 2020, which will likely share underpinnings with the current X3 but feature a next-gen electric powertrain. Almost all other future vehicles (including i4 and iNext) will be based on a next-gen platform that can support internal combustion, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric drivetrains.

Source: GoAuto

The post BMW Exec Says 85 Percent of 2030 Lineup Will Still Use Internal Combustion appeared first on Motor Trend.

It’s been more than three years since news broke that Volkswagen had used illegal software to cheat diesel emissions tests and almost two years since the German automaker reached a $14.7 billion settlement with U.S. regulators. Despite the amount of time that’s passed, the fallout from the scandal still continues. In the latest development, Germany just fined Audi nearly a billion dollars.

Reuters reports that Audi has been ordered to pay €800 million, or about $926 million at current exchange rates, for its role in the scandal. Audi will reportedly pay the fine without filing an appeal. This news comes only a few months after Germany handed Volkswagen a similar €1 billion ($1.16 billion) fine. Audi also recently fired (now former) CEO Rupert Stadler after he was arrested following a criminal investigation into the scandal.

As you can imagine, such a large fine won’t be good for Audi’s profitability. It’s already released a statement warning that yearly earnings will be affected. “Considering these special items the Audi Group will significantly undercut major financial key performance indicators forecasted for the fiscal year 2018,” said Audi in its statement. Volkswagen’s profitability will also likely be impacted, as well. This latest fine brings the total cost of the scandal to nearly $33 billion, according to CNN.

Source: Reuters, CNN

The post Germany Fines Audi $926 Million for Cheating Diesel Emissions Tests appeared first on Motor Trend.

Photo Credit: Mike Frizzell/Operation 100 News

Rescuers had to turn a C4 Corvette coupe into a convertible early Wednesday afternoon after the driver crashed into a tree, trapping him inside the vehicle.

Firefighters removed both doors and the halo from the white 1995 Corvette to extricate the 24-year-old driver, who was trapped inside the car for about 25 minutes.

Continue reading [ACCIDENT] Firefighters Remove the Roof on a C4 Corvette to Free Man Injured in Crash at Corvette: Sales, News & Lifestyle.

BMW offers a pretty wide range of utility vehicles, from big to small, V-8s to plug-in hybrids, and even crossover coupes. But there remains one major hole in the lineup: a full-size SUV. The 2019 BMW X7 will make a belated entrance into this highly lucrative segment when it goes on sale in the U.S. in March 2019. At this time, it will compete against established players including the Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz GLS, Lexus LX, and Infiniti QX80.

BMW is making up for lost time with a design that signals the X7’s position at the top of the lineup. The model features the largest kidney grille ever for a BMW. Measuring 9 inches longer than the X5, the size of this SUV also makes an impact. Bright accents adorn the exterior, including a chrome bar that connects the taillights, a detail shared with the 7 Series.

The X7 seats seven passengers in standard configuration, or six when equipped with captain’s chairs. Vinyl seats are standard, but buyers can opt for leather seats in a host of different colors. Third-row passengers aren’t assigned to a penalty box; instead, they receive cupholders, armrests, their own sunroof, and controls for the rear sliding shade. There are buttons on the rear doors and in the cargo area to fold up or raise the backrests of the second- and third-row seats. The second-row seats can be tilted to make it easier to access the third row.

A solid list of standard features includes four-zone climate control, a 10-speaker audio system, wireless charging, and a Wi-Fi hotpot. Taking aim at Audi’s virtual cockpit, the model gets a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster display as well as a 12.3-inch central display. The infotainment controller on the center console now comes with flat haptic controls instead of physical buttons. Like the new 3 Series, the model features a personal assistant that can provide navigation directions, adjust the car’s temperature, find parking spaces, and answer other questions through voice commands that start with “Hey, BMW.” Options include a head-up display, soft-close automatic doors, panoramic sky lounge LED roof, heated and cooled cupholders, and a rear entertainment package with a pair of 10.2-inch touchscreen displays and DVD player. To up the ante even further, there are optional glass controls for the gear shift lever, stop/start button, infotainment system controller, and volume knob.

Keeping things simple, BMW is offering two trims: the xDrive40i and xDrive50i. Engine choices mirror those on the X5. The 40i comes with a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with a single twin-scroll turbocharger. It makes 335 hp and 330 lb-ft of torque, which BMW says is enough to run from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds. The 50i upgrades to a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 good for 456 hp and 479 lb-ft. With this engine, the big Bimmer can hit 60 mph in a claimed 5.2 seconds. Not bad considering the V-8 model weighs more than 5,600 pounds.

Both engines receive an eight-speed automatic transmission retuned for improved efficiency and shift comfort. The top speed on both models is 130 mph, and as the trim names suggest, they come standard with all-wheel drive. The X7 sits on the new CLAR flexible architecture that underpins a host of other BMW cars and SUVs.

All X7s receive a two-axle air suspension that automatically adjusts its height based on road conditions. Drivers can also adjust the position manually with the push of a button, up to 1.6 inches above the standard setting. There is both a comfort and a sport setting, and as we noted in our prototype review, they feel appropriately different. A Dynamic Handling package is available with M Sport brakes, integral active steering, and on 50i models, the M Sport rear differential.

Customers can pre-order the X7 online, a first for BMW. Pre-ordering begins this month, and those who go through the process will receive priority vehicle production. Prices begin at $74,895 for the 40i and $93,595 for the 5oi.

The post 2019 BMW X7 First Look: Bigger Bimmer appeared first on Motor Trend.