Lightning Seed? Subsequent-Generation Ford F-150 Functionality Pickup Rendered!

In the course of the sport-truck mania of the 1990s and early aughts, Ford’s SVT unit graced us with 2 versions of the Lightning. Out of production because 2004, that hole in Ford’s lineup ostensibly has been filled by the flatbill-ready, improbably lovable Raptor. And even though FoMoCo wasted no time displaying a second-gen Raptor primarily based on the new, aluminum-intensive F-150, SVT’s successor unit, Ford Overall performance, has but to supply any official word on a Lightning replacement. But that does not mean 1 is not on the way.

Ford says it has 12 new Overall performance cars in the pipe for delivery by 2020, but we’ve only noticed the Focus RS, Mustang GT350 and GT350R, the subsequent Raptor, and of course, the quite spendy, quite limited GT supercar. We’d anticipate to see a Mustang GT500 added to the mix, which brings us to 6. And it is hardly inconceivable that Ford would want to additional butter its share of the F-150’s pie. Although the current F-150 Tremor had the brief-cab, brief-box silhouette of a classic sport truck, it wasn’t specifically packing in the muscle division. Its 6.-second -to-60 time was handily bested by the Lightning we tested in 2001, which made the very same run in 5.2.

2001 Ford SVT F-150 Lightning

The 2017 Raptor dispenses with V-8 energy in favor of EcoBoost V-6 motivation, and we’d count on a Lightning successor to continue to emphasize outright muscle. No matter whether that indicates a 6- or 8 cylinder engine or twin-turbo or—like the second-generation Lightning and ’00s Harley-Davidson trucks—supercharged forced induction is unknown at this point, but we’re betting on a couple of snails offered Ford’s major EcoBoost push of late. What ever happens, Ford lately applied for a trademark on “EcoBeast”, and that name would sound pretty rad applied to a streetgoing Raptor analogue.

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Our artist’s rendering suggests what such a machine could look like, replete with a Felicia Fun–grade combination of yellow paint and tailgate spoiler. The blacked-out maw of a grille echoes other zoot-oriented Ford automobiles like the Concentrate ST and Mustang. Because you want a hood scoop, it is got a hood scoop. Simply because you will want front-fender air extractors, it’s got those, as well. Larger brakes and stiffer suspension naturally would be on the menu, since when you are hustling your truck by way of the Southern Cascades and Northern Sierra Nevada, say on a run from Bieber, California, down to Butt Lake, Momma ain’t got no time to wallow.

Predictably, Ford has refused to comment on any future item, but appears to us that with Ford Functionality on such a tear, a hot-rodded, road-oriented pickup can’t not be on the future-machines docket.

Lightning Seed? Subsequent-Generation Ford F-150 Functionality Pickup Rendered!

2016 Audi Q7 Revealed With Subsequent-Generation Styling, Subsequent-Level Weight Savings

Official Pictures and Info

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The A6 wagon returns?

As of late, every single automaker is boasting colossal weight savings realized from redesigning traditionally heavy cars employing far more lightweight materials. Land Rover claimed to have shaved as a lot of as 926 pounds from the most recent Variety Rover—our scales showed probably half that savings—and Ford has trumpeted the 2015 F-150’s aluminum body as saving 700 pounds versus its predecessor. Now Audi’s all-new Q7 SUV arrives touting a curb weight that’s 717 pounds lighter than before.

That’s a lot of fat to trim, but simplifying the activity was the truth that the last-gen Q7 was veritably overengineered. It sat on a platform shared with Volkswagen’s Touareg and Porsche’s Cayenne, underpinnings made to deliver big-time off-road ability as such, the bones had been heavier and beefier than essential for these vehicles’ day-to-day tasks.

Let Jeep Have the Off-Road Company, We’ve Got Carbs to Reduce

Freed from requiring significant off-pavement ability, Audi was able to pull weight out of the Q7’s MLB II body structure, suspension, and even its transmission. A mix of higher- and ultra-higher-strength steel comprises the lion’s share of the SUV’s body-in-white using aluminum most everywhere else—the fenders, hood, doors, and the tailgate—means the basic vehicle has shed 209 pounds. A further 221 pounds was pulled out of the Q7’s suspension, which switches from front manage arms to several links at all 4 corners and is made virtually completely from aluminum and higher-strength steel. The front half-shafts are hollow, and the knuckles are forged-aluminum pieces. Far more pounds have been found by incorporating the transfer case into the 8-speed automatic transmission and by streamlining the electrical architecture.

Even even though the 2016 Q7 is virtually the exact same height as the old one particular, it appears reduced, wider, and longer. In truth, thanks to clever visual tricks like the matte-aluminum trim surface between the front and rear wheels, the gently tapering roofline, and the powerful fender flares, the new Q7 looks much more wagonlike than ever. The low-rider vibe isn’t merely visual: Audi’s relocation of the engine reduced in the chassis has yanked the Q7’s center of gravity down by a claimed 2 inches.

The jury remains out amongst our employees on the Q7’s new grille style, borrowed from 2012’s Crosslane Coupé notion, is amazing or deserving of a fiery death, but there’s no query that every little thing aft of the single-frame piece is hot. Because we can’t speak about a new Audi without having investigating what, if any, alterations had been created to its lighting components, we ought to point out that the headlights’ LED running lamps now type pairs of arrow-shaped elements. And the rear finish as a whole positively sizzles.

An Audi With a Nice Interior? Shocking . . .

Things get even greater inside, exactly where occupants face an all-new dashboard that appears to residence complete-width HVAC vents. (The actual openings are only in the anticipated central and outboard places, but the impact is spectacular nonetheless.) A 6-inch screen rises from the dashtop to display pertinent audio, navigation, and automobile information, and the driver can toggle amongst these menus by way of Audi’s newest-generation MMI infotainment controller and touch pad. The very same gloriously sharp 12.3-inch TFT instrument-cluster show that debuted in the 2016 TT sports car is offered right here, as is a 4G LTE information connection to feed the onboard Wi-Fi. A pair of 8.1-inch tablets can be fitted to the front seatbacks and are linked to the main MMI program.

In addition to getting nicer to eyeball, the Q7’s cabin is also nicer to occupy. There’s an added .8 inch of second-row legroom, and headroom increases by 1.6 inches in front and .9 inch in the second row. There is still a pair of pop-up third-row seats, and the middle row can be scooched fore and aft by up to 4.3 inches, as well as fold forward to enable access to the way back. There are now LATCH kid-seat anchors in all 5 rear seats, as properly as a single in the front passenger chair, which signifies single parents with a stressful-sounding quantity of young kids can fit their Q7s with up to 6 child seats. In spite of a slightly narrower and shorter body, the Q7’s cargo capacity increases slightly. Audi also lowered the cargo opening 1.8 inches and creating a energy tailgate normal. Foot motion–activated operation is optional.

Continued…

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2016 Audi Q7 Revealed With Subsequent-Generation Styling, Subsequent-Level Weight Savings

2016 Audi Q7 Revealed With Subsequent-Generation Styling, Next-Level Weight Savings

Official Pictures and Info

arrow

The A6 wagon returns?

As of late, every single automaker is boasting colossal weight savings realized from redesigning traditionally heavy automobiles employing a lot more lightweight materials. Land Rover claimed to have shaved as a lot of as 926 pounds from the newest Variety Rover—our scales showed probably half that savings—and Ford has trumpeted the 2015 F-150’s aluminum body as saving 700 pounds versus its predecessor. Now Audi’s all-new Q7 SUV arrives touting a curb weight that is 717 pounds lighter than just before.

That’s a lot of fat to trim, but simplifying the job was the fact that the last-gen Q7 was veritably overengineered. It sat on a platform shared with Volkswagen’s Touareg and Porsche’s Cayenne, underpinnings made to deliver huge-time off-road ability as such, the bones had been heavier and beefier than needed for these vehicles’ day-to-day tasks.

Let Jeep Have the Off-Road Organization, We’ve Got Carbs to Cut

Freed from requiring main off-pavement capability, Audi was in a position to pull weight out of the Q7’s MLB II physique structure, suspension, and even its transmission. A mix of higher- and ultra-higher-strength steel comprises the lion’s share of the SUV’s body-in-white using aluminum most everywhere else—the fenders, hood, doors, and the tailgate—means the fundamental automobile has shed 209 pounds. A further 221 pounds was pulled out of the Q7’s suspension, which switches from front manage arms to several links at all 4 corners and is created almost totally from aluminum and high-strength steel. The front half-shafts are hollow, and the knuckles are forged-aluminum pieces. A lot more pounds have been identified by incorporating the transfer case into the 8-speed automatic transmission and by streamlining the electrical architecture.

Even even though the 2016 Q7 is virtually the same height as the old one particular, it appears lower, wider, and longer. In reality, thanks to clever visual tricks like the matte-aluminum trim surface between the front and rear wheels, the gently tapering roofline, and the effective fender flares, the new Q7 appears a lot more wagonlike than ever. The low-rider vibe isn’t merely visual: Audi’s relocation of the engine lower in the chassis has yanked the Q7’s center of gravity down by a claimed 2 inches.

The jury remains out amongst our staff on the Q7’s new grille design and style, borrowed from 2012’s Crosslane Coupé concept, is wonderful or deserving of a fiery death, but there’s no query that every little thing aft of the single-frame piece is hot. Because we cannot speak about a new Audi with no investigating what, if any, modifications have been made to its lighting components, we should point out that the headlights’ LED operating lamps now form pairs of arrow-shaped components. And the rear end as a whole positively sizzles.

An Audi With a Nice Interior? Shocking . . .

Things get even far better inside, exactly where occupants face an all-new dashboard that appears to home full-width HVAC vents. (The actual openings are only in the expected central and outboard places, but the impact is beautiful nonetheless.) A 6-inch screen rises from the dashtop to show pertinent audio, navigation, and car information, and the driver can toggle amongst these menus by means of Audi’s most recent-generation MMI infotainment controller and touch pad. The same gloriously sharp 12.3-inch TFT instrument-cluster show that debuted in the 2016 TT sports vehicle is available right here, as is a 4G LTE information connection to feed the onboard Wi-Fi. A pair of 8.1-inch tablets can be fitted to the front seatbacks and are linked to the major MMI program.

In addition to getting nicer to eyeball, the Q7’s cabin is also nicer to occupy. There’s an further .8 inch of second-row legroom, and headroom increases by 1.6 inches in front and .9 inch in the second row. There is still a pair of pop-up third-row seats, and the middle row can be scooched fore and aft by up to 4.3 inches, as well as fold forward to allow access to the way back. There are now LATCH kid-seat anchors in all 5 rear seats, as well as one in the front passenger chair, which indicates single parents with a stressful-sounding quantity of young children can match their Q7s with up to 6 child seats. In spite of a slightly narrower and shorter physique, the Q7’s cargo capacity increases slightly. Audi also lowered the cargo opening 1.8 inches and creating a energy tailgate normal. Foot motion–activated operation is optional.

Continued…

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2016 Audi Q7 Revealed With Subsequent-Generation Styling, Next-Level Weight Savings

1st Images of Subsequent-Generation Mazda 2 Appear Online, Appear Legit

The subsequent-generation Mazda 2 hatchback is out of the bag that is, if the photo above, which was posted by Carscoops, is the true deal. It surely looks to be authentic, and could indicate that an official debut of the new Mazda 2 (referred to as the Demio in Japan) is imminent.

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Even although it is not clear which powertrain the U.S.-market place Mazda 2 will get, we do know that abroad, at least, the 2 will get a new 1.5-liter Skyactiv diesel 4-cylinder engine. The physique structure, too, will have Mazda’s fuel-economy-enhancing Skyactiv light-weight technologies baked in, just like the most current Mazda 3, Mazda 6, and CX-5. Mazda will construct the new 2 in Mexico alongside the subsequent-generation Toyota Yaris, which also will use a Skyactiv engine.

The production 2 appears to have inherited the desirable styling of the Hazumi concept (pictured above) that previewed it, practically unchanged. The only major distinction, of course, pertains to the headlights, which have swollen from the Hazumi’s squinty peepers into a pair of admittedly rather cute and eye-like pieces. Otherwise, the new 2 looks much more or significantly less like a shrunken Mazda 3 hatch, which is a very great issue.

To see far more images of the new 2, head over to Carscoops for the full batch, and stay tuned to this space for much more Mazda 2 data, which we’ll bring you as it becomes accessible.

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1st Images of Subsequent-Generation Mazda 2 Appear Online, Appear Legit