The News for June 19th, 2015

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:

• Mercedes-Benz GLC replaces the GLK, nobody complains

• Jaguar updates the flagship XJ

• The Super Snake returns with 750 hp at a price

• Renault and Alpine celebrate 60 years with awesome concept

• Follow up: two of Forza’s fastest players win real MX-5s

• What’s your automotive news?

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC

The Mercedes-Benz GLK is no more… sort of. Starting with the 2016 model year, the GLK will be replaced by this, the new GLC. It’s sort of like what the GLK would be as a redesigned 2016 model, but it’s better because it’s called the GLC. The new mid-size Benz SUV really is a step up from the old GLK though in terms of styling, technology, and comfort.
Styling-wise, the GLC bares no resemblance to the old GLK thanks to a heavy dose of Benz’s new design language. The wheelbase is four inches longer and the overhangs have been reduced to give it a more stretched, athletic look. It was also meant to look more modern and confident, but overall it has all the same styling cues that are already being worn by others in the lineup. Mercedes-Benz is in the middle of a major model nomenclature overhaul and they’re helping us adjust to the changes by making everything look exactly the same.

The interior also gets thoroughly reworked so it’s now more spacious and much prettier – that is, assuming you can get past the infotainment screen looking like someone forgot to include it when making the molds. It all looks more open and less in your face thanks to the reduction of sharp edges in favor of more swooping curves (real interiors have curves). There’s also nicer leather all throughout with open-pore wood trim and available blue accent lighting to make it all look as modern as it needs to.
The technological advances are mainly in the business of safety and comfort. Some of the new bits are a full-support multi-chamber air suspension with electronically controlled, continuously adjustable damping, new available permanent all-wheel drive, a heads-up display, collision prevention, attention assist, crosswind assist, cross-traffic assist, and much more.

The Mercedes-Benz GLC can partake in various SUV activities, such as driving into the ocean.

More engines are promised further down the line, but as of the GLC’s US launch this November, it will only be offered as a GLC 300 and GLC 300 4Matic with a gas-burning 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder good for 241 horsepower and 273 lb.-ft. of torque. A nine-speed automatic transmission is the only option. That power should be more than adequate given the fact that the GLC is 176 pounds lighter than the old GLK.
Expect pricing to come in right under $40,000. Maybe.
[Source: Mercedes-Benz via Autoweek]

2016 Jaguar XJ

The Jaguar XJ currently serves as Jag’s flagship model and has been since it was first introduced six years ago. An impressive amount of change has occurred within the rest of Jaguar’s lineup during that six years but the XJ has been left out of almost all of that. The lads in charge of the biggest cat in the lineup have finally put away the laser pointers and delivered a refreshed XJ for the 2016 model year. It’s not a thorough redesign, but that’ll come soon enough.
Available as XJ Luxury, XJ Premium Luxury, XJ Portfolio, XJ R-Sport, XJR, and XJ Autobiography, the sort-of new models are distinguishable from plebs in older models by a few small new details. It features a larger, more upright grille, some new sculpted chrome blades in the air intakes, full LED headlights which are easier on the driver’s eyes, and new “J-Blade signature” daytime running lights/turn indicators that are unique to the XJ. The LED taillights also feature a new distinctive design which are accompanied by a new gloss black valence and oval exhaust tips.

Then there’s the improved interior which can probably be sufficiently summed up by what might be the most British quote I’ve read from a press release all year. According to Jag’s real words, “so luxurious has it become that the outgoing Portfolio trim is now used for the Premium Luxury model”. Many of the updates are trim level-specific, but overall the materials are upgraded and the technology is as well. A new InControl Touch Pro infotainment system was conceived in-house and built around a quad-core Intel processor and a 60GB solid-state drive to back up a powerful and intuitive tool for looking at cat pictures in traffic (or memorizing your commute and offering alternates based on traffic data it collects from historical and real time events, offline route planning, and helping you find a parking spot). There’s also a new 26-speaker, 1,300W Meridian Reference sound system.
Engine options are all the same, which means a 335 horsepower supercharged V6 is standard for the US market and a 542 horsepower supercharged V8 is top-of-the-line. All engines are paired with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and the choice between all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive only exists for a handful of “entry-level” models. Some XJs will also come with electric power steering to reduce unnecessary load on the engine and leave more power for smokey burnouts.
The 2016 Jaguar XJ will reach US showrooms sometime this fall with an undisclosed price taped to the window. I would expect the price to be as painful as a cat pouncing on a laser aimed at your –
[Source: Jaguar]

Shelby Super Snake

Even though the legendary motorsport guru we all knew as Carroll Shelby is no longer with us, the company he left behind is still in the business of making Fords a bit faster. With the all-new Shelby Super Snake, however, they’re making 300 Fords go a lot faster this year.
Welcome to the new Shelby Super Snake, a beast that Shelby himself would surely approve of. It starts life as a 2015 Ford Mustang GT and retains the 5.0-liter V8, independent rear-suspension, either of the two available transmissions, and the more modern styling but adds a Ford Performance supercharger, Ford Performance suspension components, Borla exhaust, WELD Racing Super Snake 20″ wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Super Sports, and six-piston Wilwood brakes. Shelby American will also offer a better intercooler and heat exchanger system to those interested as well as a “more powerful” supercharger option.
Either way, the end result is at least 750 horsepower on pump gas. Aren’t you glad the new Mustangs can turn now? Shelby American promises a well-rounded super ‘stang with the new Super Snake and that largely has to do with the base Mustang being a more well-rounded car from the factory. All of the modifications are meant to further build upon the Mustang’s newfound strengths – but mostly with the 750 horsepower part.
Like every Super Snake before it, this one wears the signature stripes and an aero package that adds a front splitter, carbon fiber hood with a forced-air scoop, and a larger rear spoiler. Apart from the usual special badging inside, they’ve also added some upgraded upholstery, new floor mats, and a three-gauge dash pod.
The Shelby Super Snake passes emissions in all 50 states and are assembled in Las Vegas. Those interested will need to provide their own 2015 Ford Mustang GT and arrive with a check for $49,995 (that sounds way better than $50,000). A base 2015 Mustang GT costs $32,300, so that’s at least $82,295 your very own 2015 Shelby Super Snake. Worth it?
[Source: Shelby American, Inc.]

BLIPS

At last weekend’s awesome 24 Hours of Le Mans, Alpine and Renault arrived with a new concept to celebrate 60 years of Alpine and give us an idea of what their pending road car revival could be like. The car is called the Renault Alpine Celebration and it has all the makings for a future classic. It wears the iconic Alpine racing colors, features traditional compact coupe dimensions with a low profile, and has all the right styling cues inspired by cars from Alpine’s illustrious past. This car is probably old news by now, but I don’t care because it’s awesome.
[Source: Alpine via Autoblog]
A while back, Forza and Mazda announced a competition that would score the fastest Horizon 2 driver a real 2016 Mazda MX-5. All players could compete in a virtual time trial with the MX-5 in Forza Horizon 2 and the two fastest drivers would be flown out to Los Angeles to battle head-to-head at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. The two finalists were David Goss of Missouri and Colton Miller of Indiana and only the winner was going to drive home in the real thing. Ultimately, David Goss won the head-to-head race, netting him a 2016 MX-5 all for himself. But then in a classy move, Mazda surprised Colton Miller with his own 2016 MX-5 as well. When two dudes put that much effort into practicing and racing their hearts out, you might as well make sure neither go home empty handed.
[Source: Mazda]

What’s your automotive news?

Consider this a teaser for what’s in store next week. I had the opportunity to tour Omix-ADA’s historic Jeep collection that happened to be in my area. They have an impressive display there and you’ll see more of it for Truck Thursday. In the meantime, let’s see how quickly someone can guess what Jeep is in the image above.
Now it’s your turn. If you saw, drove, bought, broke, or otherwise did anything newsworthy that you want to share with your fellow hoon, sound off in the comments.
[Image source: © 2015 Hooniverse/Greg Kachadurian]