Hiding in Plain Sight: The Subaru XV Concept Is the Next-Gen Crosstrek

-Mild-mannered Subaru has been on something a concept-car bender lately, first busting out the Impreza 5-door hatch concept last October, which was quickly followed the next month by a sedan counterpart, the aptly named Impreza sedan concept. The latest concept to see the light of day is the Subaru XV, a thinly veiled peek at the upcoming 2017 Subaru XV Crosstrek. Introduced in the U.S. as a 2013 model, the XV Crosstrek is basically a lifted version of the Impreza hatchback, so it makes sense that this XV concept would debut so soon after the other Impreza show properties. READ MORE ››

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2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Debuts, Is Essentially a Z06 in All But Engine

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The original Corvette Grand Sports stalked racetracks in the 1960s, but the name went dormant until it was revived in 1996 for the final year of the C4-generation Corvette. With a 30-hp bump over stock and the wider wheels and tires of the mighty ZR-1—and the bulging fenders to match—that Grand Sport also sported a pair of fender hash stripes like those on the original race car, and it established the blueprint for production Grand Sport models going forward. For 2010, Chevrolet created another Grand Sport around the sixth-generation Corvette using the suspension and wider rolling stock from the Z06. And now the seventh-generation Corvette gains a Grand Sport option this summer for the 2017 model year. READ MORE ››

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2016 Porsche 911 R Packs GT3 RS Engine and Manual Gearbox in a Lightweight Body

-Despondent over Porsche’s migration with the rest of the auto world to boosted engines and automatic transmissions? Behold this ray of sunshine: Porsche has a new 911 R that combines just what you want/need—a hot naturally aspirated engine, six shift-’em-yourself gears, and a clutch pedal all in one tantalizing package. READ MORE ››

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2017 Lamborghini Centenario: The 759-hp Birthday Present – Official Photos and Info

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Revealed! Lamborghini Centenario, the 759-hp Birthday Present

-When normal people die, they are remembered in framed photographs or personal anecdotes told by their loved ones. Pillars of the community might get their name on a street or a ball field, but for most of us, that’s where our legacy stops. But if you’re a dead Italian tractor-builder-cum-supercar-constructor named Ferruccio Lamborghini, who would have turned 100 years old this year, your tribute comes in the form of the car you see here: the spectacular, 217-mph Lamborghini Centenario, which also marks the 50th anniversary of the debut of the stunning Miura. READ MORE ››

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2017 Audi Q2 Crossover Debuts as First Step in Big SUV Expansion Plans

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Key Audi rivals BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and even Lexus have flooded the market with every conceivable size and shape of crossover SUV over the past decade or so. Yet the four-ringed brand from Ingolstadt has plugged along with just three such models: the Q3, Q5, and Q7. All three have been success stories, sure, but profit-laden variations and entries in other size classes have been conspicuous by their absence. Enter the Q2, which begins the rapid expansion of Audi’s SUV lineup. READ MORE ››

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Ford Unveils New Edge, S-Max, and Mondeo Five-Door in Upscale Vignale Trim, Kuga Vignale Concept

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Ford is moving to expand its upscale Vignale trim in Europe—it isn’t offered in the U.S.—from more or less a single offering built around the Mondeo sedan and wagon (sold as the Fusion here), to an entire sub-brand with multiple offerings. Joining the Mondeo Vignale on the automaker’s Geneva auto show stand are Vignale iterations based off of the Edge crossover, S-Max people mover, and the Mondeo five-door hatchback (as distinct from the already revealed wagon), as well as a concept Kuga (Escape) Vignale.
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The new Vignale models follow closely in the the original Mondeo Vignale sedan and station wagons’ footsteps, with additional chrome brightwork sprinkled over their bodies, polished aluminum wheels, and hexagonal dark-finished grilles. Inside, the three new Vignales all feature hexagon-quilted Windsor leather seats, Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system, active noise control digital noise mitigation, and special aluminum trim. The Edge Vignales on display in Geneva wore attractive Ametista Scura (brown) and White Platinum paint colors, while the S-Max also rocked the white paint, as well as Vignale Milano Grigio gray paint. Engine choices for the range include a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder or a turbodiesel four.

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• 2017 Lincoln Continental: The Flagship Has Come In
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• 2017 Ford Escape Debuts, Cranks Up the Technology
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• Ford Edge Research: Full Pricing, Specs, Reviews, and More
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It is clear based on the Kuga Vignale concept that Ford is thinking about adding a Vignale to the Kuga lineup soon. Ford says that nearly 80 percent of Kugas sold in Europe last year were of the range-topping Titanium variety, indicating room to expand with a pricier offering. That said, the Kuga Vignale concept packs a few touches that aren’t likely to see production, namely a leather cargo floor and leather covering for the inside of the tailgate. Figure on the concept’s special leather interior, dark-finished grille, and special wheels making the cut for a production model.

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So would any of the attractive, seemingly posh Vignale models work in the U.S.? In all likelihood yes, but as we’ve pointed out before, that would only be the case if Ford’s Lincoln luxury brand didn’t exist. Lincolns aren’t sold in Europe, leaving Ford the freedom to offer nicer Fords.

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