Welcome to the Hooniverse News! As always, this is a weekly recap of some of the biggest stories in the automotive industry without the fluff or bull. I just throw in a little opinion of mine because I can. This week:

• That was fast: C-Class Coupe gets the AMG treatment

• Chevrolet reveals pricing markup guide for 2016 Camaro

• Toyota prices 2016 Tacoma and drops more info

• Hyundai releases new sketch of upcoming Elantra

• Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo could preview upcoming Veyron successor

• What’s your automotive news?

2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe

Whenever a new Mercedes-Benz debuts, the AMG version is sure to follow. That’s the case this week with the introduction of the 2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 and C63 S Coupe debuting a week after the new C-Class Coupe. This car represents a new chapter in AMG’s efforts to bring more technical and visual distinctiveness to the crowded luxury car market.
Providing that distinctiveness AMG is known for is a 4.0-liter biturbo engine – the same found in the AMG GT and GTS – which produces 469 horsepower in the C63 and 503 horsepower in the C63 S. The fire-spitting 6.3-liter V8 from the old car is long gone, sadly. With the new power source, 0-60 mph takes 3.8 seconds in the C63 S and 3.9 in the less powerful C63. Top speed is limited to 155 mph in the C63 and 180 mph in the C63 S. The AMG Speedshift MCT 7-speed transmission sends power to the rear wheels.

This all rides on an AMG Ride Control suspension with electronically-controlled shock absorbers which offer a few typical driving “modes” to pick from. There’s also a limited-slip differential and dynamic engine mounts to keep all of its power under control… sorta.
Styling is made unique by larger wheel arches at all corners, power domes on the hood, larger air inlets at the front, a “twin-blade” grille, an “A-wing front splitter, a new rear diffuser, rear lip spoiler, and typical AMG exhaust.
The 2017 Mercedes-AMG C63/S Coupe will make its world debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show next month and will be available in dealerships starting summer of 2016.
[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

2016 Chevrolet Camaro pricing

The sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro will be storming dealerships and high school parking lots in no time, so to prepare for the dealer markups, Chevrolet has revealed pricing information.
Suggested retail price for dealers to ignore is $26,695 for the entry-level Camaro 1LT while the V8 requires $37,295 in the 1SS. Four trim levels are offered on both the coupes and convertibles: 1LT, 2LT, 1SS, and 2SS. Among the available engines in the new lineup is a brand-new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 275 horsepower and a 3.6-liter V6 with 335 horsepower available in the LT models. The good ole 6.2-liter LT1 V8 with 455 horsepower is the one that commands a premium.
The list of standard and optional features are larger than ever on the Camaro so there are plenty of ways to make it your own. To help you pick which one is for you, Chevrolet has launched an online visualizer for the 2016 Camaro that should help. Have fun.
[Source: Chevrolet]

2016 Toyota Tacoma info dump

The 2016 Toyota Tacoma is the latest iteration of America’s best-selling mid-size pickup and it’s also the best as Toyota explained in a lengthy info dump. They also revealed pricing along with it too, which starts at $23,300 and goes all the way up to $37,820.
The short list of new features on the 2016 Tacoma starts with a strengthened steel frame integrated into the body shell with a new hot stamping process that reduces weight, a new suspension that is both durable and comfortable, a new range of engines, and ends with more standard and optional features. That’s pretty much everything you need to know about the frame and the suspension, but the engine options include a standard four-cylinder and a V6. A 2.7-liter DOHC four-cylinder with VVT-i produces 159 horsepower and 180 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 RPM. Estimated efficiency on the 4X2 model with an automatic transmission is 19 mpg city and 23 highway. This motor can also be paired with a 4X4 drivetrain and a five-speed manual transmission.
An all-new 3.5-liter V6 is optional and features fancy things like Atkinson cycle, VVT-iW (variable valve timing with intelligent wider intake), and direct and port injection to generate 278 horsepower and 265 lb.-ft. or torque at 4,600 RPM. Efficiency on the 4X2 model with an automatic transmission is 19 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. A 4X4 drivetrain and six-speed manual can also be paired with the V6. When equipped with the V6 Tow Package, the new Tacoma can tow up to 6,800 lbs.
The info dump also went into detail about the styling, but you all can clearly see what this thing looks like… so I’ll skip that part.
New interior features include wireless device charging, smart key with push button start, leather seats, power tilt/slide moonroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, touchscreen audio, blind-spot monitor, and rear cross traffic alert. This is also the quietest Tacoma ever, at least from the interior.
The 2016 Tacoma will be available in five model grades and two cab types (extended and four-door): SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, and Limited. Each model comes with individual features that make it easier to exploit the capabilities of the Tacoma, whether it’s towing, off-road fun, or driving to Walmart in a pickup “just in case…”.
2016 Tacomas will be making their way to dealerships in the coming months. It will be interesting to see if Toyota can keep their sales crown after ten years.
[Source: Toyota]

New Hyundai Elantra sketched

Hey look, a teaser! Yaaaaaaaaaay!
This one paints a surprisingly clear picture of what will soon be the all-new Hyundai Elantra. With its launch “just around the corner”, Hyundai is giving us a glimpse of the new sleek, modern, and “dynamic” (god I hate that word) styling that they hope will differentiate it from its competition.
As you can see, this new design will incorporate new muscular proportions and sweeping lines that contour closely to the passenger cell to create a sleeker compact car. The headlights now squint more angrily at the grille which is now bigger and shinier. There’s a new solid line that starts at the front wheel arch and carries on all the way to the back uninterrupted so people walking up to it will be impressed by how modern and straight that line is. I’m pulling all of this out of my ass.
[Source: Hyundai]

Bugatti joins Vision Gran Turismo

For those still playing Gran Turismo 6, or as I call it, Gran Turismo 5 with DLC, great news! Bugatti is joining the awesome Vision Gran Turismo program with a new digital concept car that will only be available in the game as a free download. Dozens of manufacturers have already debuted theirs since the game launched, including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lexus, Chevrolet, and more.
What makes this one particularly interesting though is that Bugatti weren’t announced as being a part of this program at the start. What also makes it interesting as you look at the teaser body panel above is that this is very likely going to serve as a sample for the upcoming Veyron successor everyone’s talking about. This piece looks like it forms and engine bay cover and provides some aero work, so I’d guess it’s another mid-engine car with mind-blowing speed.
Whatever this ends up being, we’ll keep you posted. And be “we” I mean me.
[Source: GTPlanet]

What’s your automotive news?

Oh man… last weekend was incredible. Monterey Car Week is a melting pot of awesome. I spent a good amount of time at a few different shows in the Monterey area last weekend but the highlight was the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Just imagine art, racing. And I mean racing. Immaculate cars on track with professional drivers beating the piss out of them. It was glorious and you can expect some photo dumps from a few of us Hoons that were there throughout this weekend.
So what’s your automotive news? If you saw anything, drove something, broke everything, or otherwise did anything else newsworthy that you want to share with your fellow hoon, sound off in the comments.
[Image © 2015 Hooniverse/Greg Kachadurian]