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:
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TVR is back!
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Nissan introduces next-generation LEAF with more tech and range
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Lotus introduces newest fastest car in company history again
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Ford is building a Ranger Raptor
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More images confirm that the Kia Proceed Concept is stunning
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Jaguar Land Rover to add EV, hybrid options for all models past 2020
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BMW revealed a concept for the X7 but who cares because M8 GTE
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What’s your automotive news?
TVR Griffith
It’s happening. For real this time, TVR is back! A little over a decade since the last TVR rolled off the assembly line, a reborn TVR has debuted an all-new sports car with a familiar name. The first of hopefully many more TVRs to come is the Griffith, an old school driver’s car with a modern twist.
When designing the Griffith, TVR dictated from the very beginning that it had to be “British in every way”, a front-engined V8 with a manual and RWD, and a two-seater with breathtaking performance and design. The car itself looks as if it’s surprised by something, so I’d say they’re already on the right track.
The Griffith stays true to TVR’s heritage with a “fast while standing still” look, the performance to back that up, and perhaps most importantly, a big powerful engine that makes lots of noise. Drivers are treated to fine materials and a perfect view of that big bonnet ahead of them. It’s best summed up by their perfect tagline, “always fast, always noisy, always TVR”.
Making said noise is a Corsworth-tuned 5.0-liter V8 with around 500 horsepower. The engine originates from the Ford Mustang GT but is reworked with a dry sump oil system, custom ECU, a new flywheel and clutch, and can only be paired with a six-speed Tremec manual. It’s too early for official acceleration figures, but there’s no way it won’t be quick. Fast? Check. Noisy? Double check.
Cosworth isn’t the only big British name involved either. Gordon Murray was heavily involved with the car’s development as well by lending his unique iStream process to build the car’s chassis. Using carbon composite materials, they’ve created a super lightweight and extremely stiff (20,000 Nm per degree) chassis. The Griffith is expected to have a perfect 50:50 weight distribution and weigh in below 1,250 kg (2,755 pounds) according to Autocar.
Wrapped around that chassis is a full carbon fiber body with a few tricks hiding in plain sight. It’s a sleek as a sports coupe should be and it’s even aerodynamic. It has side-exit exhaust to allow for a completely flat floor which sucks the car to the ground at speed. The combination of ground effect and the retractable spoiler means this car should be well planted at any speed.
It’s also safer (which is unusual for a TVR) as its designed to direct impact force to the tires. It also makes room for airbags, ABS, and traction control, three things you’re pretty much guaranteed to never find on a previous TVR. Another TVR first is its digital gauge cluster and the promise of reliability. But they maintain that the old-school British muscle car is back as the Griffith.
Initial plans call for UK sales only to regain their foothold with pricing below £90,000 for the first 500 launch edition cars. After that, expect a European expansion in the coming years. No plans are currently in place for a US expansion.
[Sources: TVR, Autocar]
Nissan LEAF
And now for something completely different, the Nissan LEAF. The world’s best-selling EV is getting a complete redesign, stronger performance, and more user-friendly additions in its second generation.
A new, more advanced e-powertrain offers a generous increase in power and torque with up to 147 hp and 236 lb.-ft. Range is also increased to 150 miles per charge. Other EVs like the Chevy Bolt and everything from Tesla would laugh at a number like that, but at its $29,990 starting price, it’s well in line with other similarly-priced options like the VW e-Golf. However, Nissan does plan on a more powerful model with a greater range (and a higher price) next year.
Of course with a new generation comes an all-new design. The new LEAF has a low, sleek profile that’s also been aerodynamically optimized. They say it’s more aero efficient, but the LEAF’s already low 0.28 coefficient of drag remains unchanged. It also proudly sports the latest Nissan styling cues like boomerang-shaped lamps, V-motion grille, and blue molding synonymous with an EV powertrain.
The interior is designed to be produce a more relaxed feeling when inside thanks to its spacious design and “carefully selected” materials. Drivers get information through a “gliding wing” front panel and passengers can play with a new 7″ TFT display which controls a more user friendly infotainment system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported.
Drivers also benefit from two new driver assistance systems. The first is ProPILOT Assist, which is a semi-autonomous system that controls acceleration, braking, and steering when during single-lane highway driving. It’s still a hands-on system where the driver’s inputs always take priority, but it’s the LEAF’s first step towards autonomous assistance. The other big new addition is an e-Pedal which basically allows you to accelerate, slow, and come to a complete stop by only using the pedal on the right. It’ll also hold its position when stopped, even on hills. Under *normal* driving conditions, you never have to use the brake pedal.
So there you have it. A new LEAF with a bit more range, more user-friendly features, and a longer-range model in the works. Prices start at $29,990 and it goes on sale in Japan by October 2nd and then US and Europe in early 2018.
[Source: Nissan]
Lotus Evora GT430 Sport
Another week, another new Lotus. This time it’s a variation on the Evora GT430 that was revealed back in July which brings a new lower drag body configuration and another transmission option. This alone is enough to make the new Evora GT430 Sport the fastest production Lotus ever.
For all intents and purposes, this new car is identical mechanically to the other GT430. It runs with the same 3.5-liter supercharged V6 with 430 horsepower and rides on the same balanced chassis, but you can now get it in all its carbon-bodied goodness without the extra downforce-creating elements. What the GT430 Sport lacks compared to the GT430 is a carbon front splitter, carbon wing, and carbon louvers over the front wheel arches, but everything else is the same.
Another new option for both the GT430 and GT430 Sport is a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. It offers lightning-quick gear changes, a quicker 0-60mph time of 3.6 seconds, and only weighs an additional 24 pounds compared to the manual.
Yep, it’s still awesome. Stay tuned for another fastest, most powerful Lotus in another couple weeks.
[Source: Lotus]
BLIPS
Surprise! Ford’s building a Ranger Raptor. The news came from Ford Australia who also released a teaser video of a prototype hooning in the Australian Outback. We don’t have any confirmed details to work off of yet as it is still in development, but the video sure does make it sound like a tuned turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder is involved. Expect it to be as tough and capable as the F-150 Raptor, but in a smaller package to compete with the Colorado ZR2. Now we are for sure getting the new Ranger here in a couple years, but for now we can only hope and make tire sacrifices to the gods of hoon that the Raptor version will come here too.
[Source: Ford Australia via MotorAuthority]
Kia has revealed new images of the Proceed Concept. Can confirm: it’s gorgeous. It previews a new body type for them which they describe as an extended hot hatch. It’s low, lean, and supple and it hints at the design of the next-generation cee’d. Kia’s concepts aren’t always reflected well in production form, but if even a portion of this design lives on, the new cee’d and perhaps other Kia hatches worldwide will look pretty nice. Some of the design highlights include a muscular form within a compact footprint, a “Sharkblade” in the bodywork, a lack of b-pillars, and a “Luminline” – an illuminated outline of the car’s glasshouse. I can dig it.
[Source: Kia]
A technically incorrect headline you may have already seen is that all Jaguar Land Rover vehicles will be electric after 2020. As with previous announcements from major manufacturers committing to powertrains with extra batteries and electric motors, this doesn’t mean all future JLRs are going to be pure electric. Hybrids count as electrified too; potentially supercharged V8 hybrids no less. So yes, all new models built from 2020 on will have a hybrid or pure EV option. But if new cars aren’t your thing, Jaguar Classic has performed an EV conversion on a Jaguar E-Type Series 1.5 Roadster. This is a one-off for now, but it’s an experimental way to future proof one of their most iconic cars. It sports a 220kW electric powertrain with a range of about 170 miles and a 5.5-second 0-60 time. Its 40kWh battery can be recharged in about seven hours, depending on the power source. But most importantly, its looks haven’t been changed at all.
BMW has revealed the concept for their first ever X7 SUV, but it’s so hilariously ugly that I’m gonna talk about something else instead. That something else is the M8 GTE which is surely the car practicing its war face under the covers in the picture above that was tweeted by BMW Motorsport. The car is making its worldwide debut next week during the Frankfurt Motor Show and will see competition for the first time at the Rolex 24 at Daytona next year. It’ll race in IMSA in GTLM and WEC in GTE. I, for one, can’t wait.
[Source: Twitter]
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]
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