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. There’s also just a little opinion of mine because I can. This week:

• Volvo introduces all-new XC40, their first small SUV

• Lamborghini enhances Huracan Super Trofeo with EVO package

• McLaren finally joins the Vision Gran Turismo project

• Toyota launches performance sub brand with Gazoo Racing

• Mitsubishi pretends to bring back the Evolution

• Ford Fiesta ST isn’t returning to America next year

• What’s your automotive news?

Volvo XC40

Volvo introduced their all-new XC40 this week, the first small SUV in company history. There are a couple of other firsts being introduced with this one as well: it marks the first time Volvo has ever had three globally available SUVs, it’s the first new Volvo built on their modular architecture, and it’ll also be the first Volvo to launch with a new subscription service called “Care by Volvo”.
We all know the SUV/crossover segment is growing more than any other, but the small ones are flying off dealership lots even quicker. The XC40 will aim to capitalize on that growth while broadening the appeal of the Volvo brand, or something. Design-wise, it has all of the same styling cues as its larger siblings but they worked harder to make this smaller shape look a bit more interesting.

Another thing it borrows from its siblings is the wide range of safety features that Volvo is known for. Things like Pilot Assist system, City Safety, Run-off Road protection and mitigation, Cross Traffic alert with brake support, and the 360° Camera are all packed into the XC40.
And speaking of packing stuff in, the XC40 features a new interior design which focuses on providing more functional storage solutions. There’s extra space in the doors and under the seats, a fold-out hook for small bags, a removable waste bin in the tunnel console, and a special spot for phones with inductive charging.

From launch, the XC40 will be available with with a D4 diesel or T5 gas engine in most markets. Hybrid and pure EV options will be added later. The T5 with an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive is your only option here in the states.
To briefly explain Care by Volvo, it’s yet another subscription service that tries to change how we own cars. This time it follows the cell phone model with a flat monthly subscription fee that “eliminates” down payments, taxes, and other fees (which are likely just included in that monthly fee anyway). You order your car online and have it delivered to you, then after 24 months, you get a new one with a 1mm thinner case and a slightly better camera. There are some interesting perks to this though such as fueling services, cleaning, and temporarily switching cars should the need arise. This service eliminates price negotiations, regional price differences, and age discrimination. If owning a car scares you for some reason, this may actually be the way to go.
[Source: Volvo]

Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO

Lamborghini Squadra Corse, Lamborghini’s motorsport division, has unveiled a more aggressive version of their Huracan Super Trofeo for their one-make racing series. The Huracan Super Trofeo EVO raises the standards with an entirely redesigned aero package to make a fast customer racing car even faster.
Designed by Dallara Engineering and Lamborghini Centro Stile, the new body kit doesn’t actually add any additional downforce when compared to the previous model. The goal was to maintain the already high levels of downforce while enhancing aerodynamic efficiency. They say it still provides the same levels of stability, but there’s less resistance to forward travel.

You can see the Super Trofeo EVO next year in Super Trofeo Europe, Asia, and North America. Teams with existing Super Trofeos can upgrade to the aero kit or buy new from $295,000. Somehow that seems like a great value for a Lamborghini race car.
[Source: Lamborghini]

McLaren Ultimate Vision Gran Turismo

Remember the Vision Gran Turismo cars? Back in the days of Gran Turismo 6, GT founder Kazunori Yamauchi challenged the world’s automakers to create a no limits racing car that’ll only ever exist in their virtual world. McLaren is finally delivering theirs and it comes just in time for Gran Turismo Sport. 
The McLaren Ultimate Vision Gran Turismo isn’t necessarily a preview of an upcoming McLaren model, but it’s a fun concept to show what they could achieve from 2030 and beyond. With no real world limitations placed on them whatsoever, they created a race car with the world’s most uncomfortable driving position.
Your virtual driver doesn’t sit in the car, they lay facing forward in the cabin which is “shrink wrapped” around them. The driving position is designed to give you greater visibility and make your driver question its purpose in life.

The rest of the car is a bit cooler though. Extensive use of carbon fiber brings the virtual curb weight down to about 2,200 pounds. Integrated active aero replaces conventional adaptive wings with tiny aperture covers around air inlets on key surfaces which can allow more or less air to pass through. Centrally-mounted carbon brakes provide great stopping power and reduced unsprung weight.
A twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 of McLaren’s own design powers the rear wheels while electric motors sit at each front wheel pod. Players will have a total of 1,150 PS or 1,134 mechanical horsepower and 940 lb.-ft. of torque.
The McLaren Ultimate Vision Gran Turismo should be in Gran Turismo Sport on launch day, which is October 17th.
[Source: McLaren]

BLIPS

Toyota is launching a new performance sub brand called GR, for Toyota Gazoo Racing. Gazoo Racing is Toyota’s motorsport branch who regularly run the 24 Hours of Nürburgring and other major races, but they’ll soon oversee an initiative to introduce sportier special edition and more mainstream Toyota models. Basically, the GR sub brand is a hierarchy of performance with limited edition GRMN models at the top featuring specially tuned engines and more, followed by mid-range GR models with a decent bit of mods and entry level GR Sport models which may just have appearance packages. They have a range of GR-tuned models in Japan, but the only one that is really relevant for America so far is the Prius… yes, a modded Prius. In GR Sport trim, it features “special” suspension tuning, additional bracing, a GR tach and shift knob, aluminum pedals, and a small diameter steering wheel. GR will start in Japan and make its way elsewhere in the coming years. We’ll just have to wait and see what kind of GR specials we get.
[Source: Toyota]

Mitsubishi is bringing the Evolution back… as an electric SUV “coupe”. You hear that? That’s the sound of Mitsubishi continuing its fall into total irrelevance.
[Source: Autoblog]

Ford will not be bringing the Fiesta ST to America next year, according to an interview with Ford Performance Europe’s director Leo Roecks. When speaking with Carbuzz, he confirmed the sales couldn’t justify bringing the new 2018 Fiesta ST here, especially when the base Fiestas aren’t coming back either. “It’s simply a matter of a lack of interest in the B-segment in America”, Roeck said. “It doesn’t make sense, nor is it possible financially speaking, to import a single trim level, and a niche one at that.” So if you want the little hatchback that auto journalists go crazy over, you need to act fast.
[Source: Carbuzz via Autoweek]

What’s your automotive news?

That’s all I’ve got for you this week, so now it’s your turn. If you saw anything, fixed something, broke everything, or otherwise did anything even remotely car related that you want to share with your fellow hoon, sound off in the comments.
Have a good weekend.
[Image © 2017 Hooniverse/Greg Kachadurian]