2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe Rendered

Presenting the 2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe! OK, we present a rendering of what we think the M-badged Gran Coupe will look like. Up to this point, only camo’d versions of the M6 GC have been seen, but BMW recently confirmed the model for U.S. sales in 2013 and so we thought we’d provide an early peek at the car.

As you might expect, the M6 Gran Coupe will get M-specific wheels, aggressive fascias with bigger intakes up front, and M5/M6 hardware underneath. That means a 560-hp twin-turbocharged V-8, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, and rear-wheel drive. A carbon-fiber roof panel, like those on the M3 and M6 coupes, is a possibility for the M6 Gran Coupe—and it’s depicted in our illustration—but we’ll have to wait and see whether BMW decides to officially adopt the woven lid.

Given its close relationship to the M5, it’s possible that the M6 GC will have steering, ride, and braking shortcomings similar to those we noted from the über-5er during its recent third-of-three comparison-test finish. If our rendering is accurate, at least the M6 Gran Coupe will look fantastic. 

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2013 Nissan Versa Sedan

Nissan claims the 2013 Versa sedan will see a bump in highway fuel economy from 38 mpg to 40 when equipped with the CVT. The car also will once again be available with a traditional four-speed automatic, which brings the low-buck, lackluster ride’s gearbox count to three; the two self-shifters are complemented by a five-speed manual.The CVT’s 2-mpg increase in highway mileage comes from new engine and transmission programming, and improved aerodynamics by means of a new decklid spoiler and underbody ducting. We’re told that the transmission programming provides a wider ratio range, expanding on both the high and low end. City mileage for CVT models stands at 30 mpg for 2012.

The traditional four-speed auto returns to the Versa sedan’s U.S. lineup for cost purposes, according to the manufacturer. The CVT was the only automatic available for 2012, adding $2130 to the $11,770 sticker of a manual-equipped base model. Pricing for the four-speed auto–equipped Versa sedan will be available this fall, when it goes on sale—when Nissan still offered the four-speed auto in 2011, it was a $1000 option, and we expect a similar cost again. Nissan says its traditional slushbox will be good for 26 mpg in the city and 35 on the highway, while the manual is again rated at 27/36 mpg. Regardless of economy, buyers can be secure in the knowledge that they won’t have a very good car—the Versa finished a quite-distant sixth out of sixth in our most recent small-car comparo. 

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Ram 392 Quick Silver Concept

Not much of a logical, rational case can be made for the Dodge Ram SRT-10. A full-size pickup with a Viper engine isn't a practical vehicle. It doesn't address any unmet need in the market. It's ridiculous, and that's what we loved about it. As it happens, though, OEMs like Ford (F-150 Lightning) and Chrysler (Ram SRT-10) are chasing the off-road enthusiast these days, and as much as we like the SVT Raptor (Ford) and the Ram Runner (Chrysler), we miss the SRT Ram. We've brought the issue up with the folks at Ram and SRT on more than one occasion, but they keep telling us it's not in the cards right now. Someday, who knows? But who wants to wait? Not us, and neither do some of the SRT and Mopar guys. They decided the time was right for a new SRT truck, and after many late nights and weekends, they pulled the cover off the Ram 392 Quick Silver concept at last year's SEMA show. 

The Ram 392 Quick Silver concept is a single cab, short-bed Ram stuffed with SRT's potent 470-hp, 392-cubic-inch V-8. Its 6.4 liters of all-American displacement pump out 470 lb-ft of torque, which normally powers SRT Challengers, Chargers, and Grand Cherokees. Under the Ram's hood, the 392 benefits only from a Mopar cold-air intake and custom headers, prototypes that may show up in a future Mopar catalog. They dump into a modified Mopar 3.0-inch exhaust with electrically actuated cutouts and dual 5.0-inch tips. The rest of the drivetrain consists of the stock six-speed automatic with a high-stall torque converter and a 4.10:1 rear end for better performance. 

So what will an extra 80 hp and 63 lb-ft of torque get you compared with the top-spec 5.7-liter V-8? It'll get you Ram SRT10 performance. At the dragstrip, the Quick Silver hit 60 mph from a stop in just 5.2 seconds and ran the quarter mile in 13.7 seconds at 101.2 mph. The last Ram SRT10 we tested, an automatic transmission-equipped 2005 model with a 4.10:1 rear end, needed 5.3 seconds to hit 60 mph and 13.7 seconds to run the quarter, though it was traveling slightly faster at 102.9 mph. Despite being down 40 hp and 55 lb-ft of torque compared with the V-10, the 392 V-8 had no trouble wearing the SRT badge at the dragstrip. To be fair, the fastest Ram SRT10 we've ever tested was a 2004 with a manual transmission and 4.56 rear end, which hit 60 mph in a blistering 4.9 seconds and ran the quarter in 13.2 seconds at 107.1 mph. With that, you're ready to build your own Ram SRT. Now, if all you want is a big honkin' motor, all you need is a Ram ($24,175 for a base V-8 Ram ST if you don't already have one) and the crate engine, which costs a cool $17,000. 

Naturally, you're going to require some miscellaneous parts and maybe an exhaust shop if you're not a big fabricator, but you could get out the door for around $41,000 if you do the work yourself. If you want to build your own Quick Silver, you'll need a few more dollars. The Quick Silver is fitted with a nice list of Mopar parts, along with a few other bits from other suppliers. Starting with the Mopar parts, you'll want $1375 for the lockable fiberglass tonneau cover and another $422 for the BedRug. To get the right look, budget another $959 for the body kit. Inside, you'll need the Katzkin leather-wrapped SRT seats, which run $749, and don't forget the $119 door-sill guards, the $112 bright pedal kit, and the $71 premium floormats.

For performance, the cold-air intake goes for $420, and the cat-back exhaust system costs another $1500. But what about the bulging hood? For now, it's a prototype, and, like the headers, not approved for production, so you'll have to find another option. Plan to spend around $1300 for a Mopar or similar quality product. All said and done, if you want to build your own Ram Quick Silver, you're looking at nearly $37,000 in parts before paint and any installation fees for work you can't do yourself. Add in the price of the vehicle, and you're looking at about $60,000 minimum to build this truck as it sits. We'd start with the engine, suspension, and brakes and have a killer sleeper, but like any custom build, your imagination (and your wallet) is the limit. Be sure to send us pictures.

Front-engine, RWD, 2-pass, 2-door pickup6.4L/470-hp/470-lb-ft OHV 16-valve V-8 

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2013 Lexus LS460 and LS460 F-Sport Sedans

The wall surrounding the 2013 Lexus LS has completely broken with some 30 or so high-resolution photos of both the regular LS 460 and the F-Sport variant of the same model flooding the web-o-sphere. 

Taking into consideration the fact that the current generation of the LS has been with us since 2006 with Lexus performing a mild makeover in 2009, when the company announced that it was preparing a new model, we believed that it would be just that and not another facelift. 

The exterior redesign is concentrated exclusively on the two ends of the car with the front gaining a version of the Japanese brand's spindle grille, new headlamps (very similar to the ones found on the outgoing Hybrid model), reshaped fenders and a new hood that includes a bulge running along the middle. 

At the back, there are restyled and darkened tail lamps connected with a chrome strip, a re-sculptured boot and a new bumper design. 

Making its debut on the 2013 model is the new LS 460 F Sport edition packing a more muscular appearance thanks to a different front bumper that accommodates chunkier side air vents, a front grille with a mesh pattern, side skirts, a diffuser positioned between the tail pipes and bespoke alloy wheels. 

We don't for know sure yet, but if the F Sport versions of the RX crossover, GS sedan, and CT hatchback are anything to go by, then the LS 460 F Sport will have sportier interior trim and suspension tuning but no engine upgrades. 

While there are no photos of the interior, a close up from one of the rear facing pictures suggests that Lexus has overhauled the center console and added a large LCD screen on top of the air vents. 

The Japanese carmaker has said that the 2013 LS will be available as the LS 460, LS 460 L long wheelbase, LS 600h L hybrid sedan and the all-new LS 460 F SPORT, with the car's debut to take place on Monday, July 30, at which point, we will be able to give you all the details. 

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2015 Chevrolet Camaro Coupe Design Study

There is a debate going on right now, as to whether Chevrolet designers should make the next Camaro coupe, expected to be introduced in 2015, look more like a first-generation model (1967-1969) or the second-generation version built from 1970 to 1981. 

But what if GM and Chevrolet were to take a different path and create something with very few, if any, retro touches? 

This is where 22-year-old automotive design graduate from Lawrence Tech in Michigan, Tyler Bame, steps into the picture. 

The young designer, who we first heard about back in April through a conceptual study for a new Ford Taurus sedan, has come up with a futuristic looking concept of the next Chevrolet Camaro coupe. 

We'll let you check the two renderings of the exterior and interior of the car before you hit the comments section to tell us what you think about the design. 

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2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek U.S. Spec

In 1995, Subaru became one of the first manufacturers to jump into the emerging crossover SUV market when it introduced the Forester, which was essentially an Impreza with a new, taller body. Fast-forward to 2012, and Subaru has once again called upon the Impreza to be the bones for an-all new compact crossover, this one called the 2013 Subaru XV Crosstrek. The interior of the Crosstrek is nearly identical to that of Impreza, save a few minor differences: the instrument cluster, a plastic cargo tray, and privacy glass. This similarity is hardly surprising -- it's both easy and cost effective to use as much as you can from what you have on hand. You sit in, not on, the firm yet comfortable seats, which have just enough bolstering keep you in place. For such a relatively small vehicle, the Crosstrek has a surprising amount of room inside. I could easily sit behind myself with plenty of headroom. Being 6'2", that's not something I can say about every vehicle. 

We got to sample both transmissions our drive, which consisted of both on- and off-road driving, and found that the five-speed made the Crosstrek much more enjoyable to drive. Being able to row your own makes a big difference in how lively it feels. Since it is neither a hardcore SUV nor a completely on-road vehicle, Subaru had to balance on-road feel with off-road capabilities, a job it accomplished very well. On the highway, the Crosstrek had a smooth feel, and when we hit broken road, the suspension absorbed the bumps nicely -- not too firm, not too soft. We couldn't get a feel for more spirited driving feel, specifically how the Crosstrek felt going through a corner hard, partly because the two-lane roads of Oahu often are clogged with slow-moving vehicles. 

We're guessing it will be similar to the behavior of other Subarus, exhibiting a little bit of body roll with the AWD system pulling you nicely through the corner. According to Subaru, its customers are active individuals who are four times more likely to hike and 3.5 times more likely to bike compared to your average customer. The target buyer is what Subaru calls a "youthful explorer," someone who seeks particular attributes in their vehicle. They want something that can handle all-around adventure, has flexible capabilities, is equipped for fun, and, of course, is safe. Subaru feels it has hit the nail on the head with the XV Crosstrek, and we agree. It's not a sports car by any means, but it is a sporty, capable, and fun CUV that will definitely fill a void in Subaru's lineup.

Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door CUV 2.0L/148-hp/145-lb-ft DOHC 16-valve I-4 147/112-135/102 kW-hrs/100 miles 

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2014 Mazda 6 Revealed in Photos

When a photo of the 2014 Mazda 6 leaked on a Russian car-enthusiast website, it raised a few eyebrows. Not because the car looked any different from what we expected, but rather because it came from a Russian site. That all makes a little more sense now, because Mazda has announced that the 6 will make its debut at the Moscow auto show next month, rather than the Paris show this September as had been expected. The company also filled in the gaps between the teaser videos it has been releasing lately, which you can see in a new cut after the jump.

In addition to moving up the 6's debut, Mazda also divulged some details about its new mid-sizer. The 6 will debut with the Skyactiv-G 2.0-liter four-cylinder that’s already featured in the Mazda 3 and CX-5. In its current applications, the engine produces 155 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque while still achieving an EPA-estimated 28-mpg city and 40 highway in the 3 and 26/35 in the CX-5. The 6 also will get the Skyactiv-Drive six-speed automatic transmission that’s available in the 3 and CX-5.

Along with that, we’ve learned that the 2014 6 will be the first Mazda to use what the company calls i-ELOOP, for “intelligent energy loop,” which is a brake-energy recovery system. When the vehicle is decelerating, a variable-voltage alternator sends power to a supercapacitor. The electricity can then be discharged when the engine stop-start system takes over, supplying juice to the accessories when the vehicle is stopped with the engine off. It’s a take on the clutched-alternator approach that is making its way into other manufacturers’ vehicles.

The 2014 Mazda 6 making its debut in Moscow on August 29 will be specific to the Russian market; since this is a global model, we expect most of the details to carry over to the U.S.

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Chevrolet Reveals 2013 Camaro NASCAR Nationwide Race Car

Today, Chevrolet released the first photos of its 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series entry rendered in the Camaro’s likeness. The new Camaro race car is not to be confused with the yet-to-be-revealed SS sedan, which will be entered into service in next year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup series. The arrival of the Camaro and the SS marks the end of the Impala’s run as the bow-tie brand’s entrant for both series.

If you’re not familiar with NASCAR’s two racing series, there are two major differences: One, Sprint Cup cars produce around 850 hp, while the Nationwide cars make 650. And two, the series use different sets of cars. For example, Sprint Cup cars include sedans like the Dodge Charger, Ford Fusion, the aforementioned Chevy SS, and the Toyota Camry. Nationwide’s lineup includes sportier two-doors like the Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang, and now this new Camaro. (The Camry also is part of the Nationwide mix, but that likely has more to do with lack of a production Toyota coupe.)

We say based on looks alone, this new Camaro has what it takes to run with the series-spec Challengers and Mustangs. The race car’s body gets a fairly realistic take on the real Camaro’s scalloped-out grille opening, hood power bulge, and headlight design. You can first see the Camaro in a NASCAR race next year at Daytona International Speedway. 

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Nissan Leaf Limousine

So many vehicles have been turned into limousines, some more sensibly than others. These stretched examples, in our opinion, were a bit over the top. It’s probably no surprise, then, that electric vehicles now are getting in on the act. Nissan, in conjunction with the Embassy Suites hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, commissioned the limo-fication of the all-electric Nissan Leaf.

During our test of a standard-wheelbase Leaf, we experienced a range of 58 miles. The builder of the stretched Leaf, Imperial Limo Land, says that it expects range to decrease by 15 percent. The drop in range is a result of the extra 400 pounds from the additional aluminum structure used to stretch the center section of the car.

That roughly 12-percent gain in weight is not offset by any changes to the powertrain. The Leaf’s 24-kWh battery remains, though it is located farther back for better balance. The hotel says that it will use the Leaf limo for journeys averaging around 10 miles round-trip. If our calculations are right, the Leaf limo might complete five trips before needing as many as 12 hours to recharge.

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2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

The Mercedes-Benz GL-class was once a cautionary tale. It launched in 2006 to strong demand but, as we all know, gas prices soon spiked and then the financial market collapsed. The unsurprising sales slump that followed -- a 46 percent drop in 2009 -- seemed to underline the shortsightedness of relying on sales of big, expensive trucks as opposed to smaller, more efficient vehicles. 

The only problem with such a pat conclusion is that the world didn’t actually come to an end in 2009. Since then, the seven-seat GL, like many “outmoded” big trucks, has steadily recovered. Mercedes sold some 25,000 of them in the United States last year, nearly equaling its 2007 sales high and outselling the smaller GLK crossover. It should thus come as no surprise that although Mercedes is indeed preparing smaller cars like the new A-class, it is first interested in showing off a new, even more powerful GL-class. 

Did we mention it’s more powerful? GL buyers will choose from two, soon to be three, potent V-8s. The 2013 GL450 now features a bi-turbo 4.7-liter V-8 that basically equals the output of the old GL550 with 362 hp and 406 lb-ft. Good thing then, that the new GL550 has its own bi-turbo 4.7-liter (down from 5.5 liters) that produces 429 hp and a stout 516 lb-ft of torque. These engines manage to achieve small fuel economy gains despite carrying over the last generation’s seven-speed automatic. That said, both still fail to break 15 mpg in the city or 20 mpg on the highway. We expect even heavier drinking from the new GL63 AMG, which arrives next year with a 550-hp 5.5-liter bi-turbo V-8. 

On sale: September
Base price: $63,305 (GL350); $64,805 (GL450); $87,405 (GL550)
Engines: 3.5-liter turbo-diesel V-6, 240 hp, 455 lb-ft; 4.7-liter biturbo V-8, 362 hp, 406 lb-ft; 4.7-liter V-8, 429 hp, 516 lb-ft
EPA mileage: 18/24 (GL350); 14/19 (GL450; 13/18 (GL550) 

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