Rumours of a coupe version of Jaguar’s new F-Type Roadster have been circulating for months, and now, we finally have proof.
Patented drawings of the coupe have leaked online, giving us a first glimpse at the new hardtop’s sleek design.
As expected, the coupe looks to have inherited all of the Roadster’s design cues and should use the same range of V6 and V8 engines.
Interestingly, though, a more powerful R Coupe is said to be under consideration.
Expect the coupe to hit market sometime in 2014.
Stay tuned for Wheels’ first drive of the F-Type Roadster, which is currently taking place in Spain.
Apple has revealed an ambitious plan to invade your car.
The company, famous for its smartphones and iOS operating system, is reportedly looking to land a sat-nav killing blow by integrating its mapping software into your car’s dash.
Apparently Apple is working closely with several car manufacturers to use the next version of its software, iOS7, which will allow drivers to ‘sync’ their smartphones with their car’s dash display.
This will allow drivers to use Apple Map’s turn by turn navigation system, which is controlled by the voice-activated technology, Siri.
The news comes just weeks after Volkswagen released the iBeetle – a car developed with Apple which features a unique ‘docking system’ for a driver’s iPhone.
But what do you think? Is Apple’s infiltration a good thing? Leave your comments below.
India will soon have its very own sportscar, with production of the DC Design Avanti confirmed for 2014.
The new mid-engined car, which is tipped to cost around $50,000, will be powered by a 2.0-litre turbo charged unit (possibly a Ford Ecoboost) producing 180kW.
DC Design’s website reveals the sportscar will boast a tubular frame chassis, double wishbone suspension and weigh around 1560kg – about the same as a Lotus Evora.
Of course, DC Design’s plan could go belly up, with the company yet to build its factory in Gujarat.
Still, should it go ahead, DC Design says it plans to build around 3,500 examples of its new sportscar.
A classic Daimler driven by Sir Winston Churchill during World War Two has been sold on eBay.
The pristine 1939 Daimler DB18 Drophead Coupe fetched $598,802 after sparking a bidding war earlier this week.
Sold, interestingly by German dealer Fahrwerk Classics, the Daimler is believed to be the only one of its kind left in existence.
Just eight Drophead Coupes were built, with all examples either missing or destroyed.
Churchill’s use only adds to the car’s value, with the British PM using it to hit the campaign trail between 1944 and 1949.
Images show Churchill riding in the Daimler, speaking to crowds through a specially modified speaker system on the bonnet.
As you’d expect for a 74-year-old car, the Daimler’s performance is far from eye watering, with its 2.5-litre engine pushing it from 0-100km/h in 17.9 seconds.
Still, it’s in pristine condition, with over $250,000 spent on its restoration.
Dutch supercar maker, Spyker, will launch a convertible version of its new B6 Venator later this year.
Spyker confirmed the open-top B6 late last week, with the convertible likely to share much of the coupe’s mechanical underpinnings.
First shown to the world at this year’s Geneva Motor Show in March, the coupe is powered by a 275kW mid-mounted V6 and boasts a carbonfibre and aluminium body.
The coupe, which goes on sale in early 2014, is expected to cost between US$125,000 and US$150,000 with the Spyder likely to carry a small price premium.
It’s already the fastest, most extreme road-car ever built by Ferrari, but reports are swirling an even quicker, no compromise version of the LaFerrari is on its way.
Ferrari chief designer Flavio Manzoni has hinted the brand is considering a hardcore version of the hypercar, which would reportedly be 250kg lighter and have even more power.
Currently the LaFerrari boasts 718kW and 900Nm from its hybrid drivetrain.
“When we were producing the original design proposals for LaFerrari there was one proposal that I thought was especially beautiful,” said Manzoni. “So we decided to keep that one back for something truly special in the future.”
Should it go ahead, Ferrari is expected to make just 10 versions of the ‘raw’ LaFerrari, with buyers likely to pay an astronomical $6.75 million.
Ferrari has a history of making limited edition hardcore versions of its road cars, like the Enzo FXX and 599XX.
Holden has slashed prices of its new VF Commodore by up to $10,000, with buyers not only saving at their hip pocket, but getting significantly more equipment for their money.
Officially releasing images and technical details of the VF range this morning, Holden has confirmed the new base Commodore, the Evoke, will cost $34,990.
That’s $5000 cheaper than the base model it replaces and makes it the cheapest and best equipped Commodore in years.
All new VF Commodores will come standard with enhanced voice recognition, park assist technology, rear-view camera and an electric parking brake.
Click HERE to launch image gallery
Prices of the VF Commodore range:
Evoke – $34,990 (down $5000)
SV6 – $35,990 (down $6800)
SS – $41,990 (down $5800)
SS V- $45,490 (down $9800)
SS V Redline- $51,490 (down $6300)
Calais- $39,990 (down $8000)
Calais V V6- $46,990 (down $9800)
Calais V V8- $52,990 (down $9000)
Sportwagon body styles add $2000, while automatic transmissions (excluding Evoke and Calais which are auto only) adds $2200.
Hyundai will go head-to-head against the German prestige brands with the local launch of the new Genesis luxury sedan next year.
Hyundai’s head of International Sales Edward Lee told Wheels in Seoul, “For sure, we’re planning to launch the Genesis [sedan] next year.”
The confirmation shocked local executives, who’ve been debating the decision for months. Lee, formerly boss of Hyundai Australia, admitted the second-gen Genesis sedan is due to be unveiled before the end of the year. It will probably be at September’s Frankfurt show.
Pricing and specification remain the big issue. John Elsworth, Hyundai Australia sales and marketing boss says, “People are happy to pay $55K for a Santa Fe, so Hyundai can stretch.”
The question is: how far?
In the US, Hyundai has priced the Genesis against the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class and Audi A4, although in size, specification and equipment, it’s far closer to the 5 Series, E-Class and A6.
Expect Hyundai to follow a similar policy here, although standard equipment levels are expected to exceed those of the establishment brands.
Hyundai plans both V6 and V8 versions of the new Genesis with rear- and all-wheel drive, although speculation suggests that the AWD models – and possibly even the V8 – are left-hand-drive only.
Initially, Genesis gets an eight-speed auto with a 10-speeder in the model’s five-year life cycle.
An uprated version of Hyundai’s 3.8-litre V6 will be standard, with the possibility of the upcoming twin-turbo 3.3-litre V6, especially if the 5.0-litre V8 doesn’t make it here. Hyundai has previously only confirmed the smaller V6-only Genesis Coupe for Australia.
The sedan’s fastback, three-window styling is derivative – BMW surfacing with Audi-like surround LED headlights – and only loosely borrows from Hyundai’s radical HCD-14 sedan concept four-door, shown in Detroit (below).
The interior also looks very German, with an auto gear selector that could come from Munich.
It’s official: the most aggressive drivers on Australian roads, and those most likely to engage in road rage, drive SUVs.
In an official study of driver behaviour conducted by national insurer AAMI, drivers of SUVs were found most likely to:
• Consider themselves to be an impatient driver
• Have had an accident in the last five years because of their own impatience
• Ignore restricted speed limits in places like suburban roads or outside schools
• Have become angry with the actions of another driver and tailgated them
• Yell or swear at another driver for doing something they thought was rude or dangerous
• ‘Gesture’ rudely at another driver they think was doing something rude or dangerous
Aggressive drivers are also more likely to drive black cars than any other colour.
The results are a ‘major U-turn’ from the findings of the same study in 2011, which named drivers of small cars the most likely to be aggressive.
Interestingly, almost two thirds of Australian SUV drivers are women aged 25-49 – with the study shattering the perception young men in ‘souped up’ cars are the most aggressive drivers on our roads.
The first ever Wheels iPad app is live!
Featuring exclusive interactive content, including video and maps, it’s available for download from the Newsstand app.
Simply search ‘Wheels Australia’. One ($6.49), six ($34.99) and twelve ($59.00) month subscriptions available.
Watch the video for a sneak peek at our first edition!
The move to an interactive iPad app is the latest step in Wheels’ growing digital profile.
Now a serious player in the online motoring sphere, Wheels is the hero brand behind Ninemsn Motoring – Australia’s #1 automotive content website for page impressions – amassing over 9 million page views a month and over 450,000 unique browsers.
