First Alfa Romeo 4C Promo Touts Brand's Return to the U.S., Configurator Launches in June

There's a lot to like about the production Alfa Romeo 4C, from its ultra-lightweight construction that uses carbon fiber components to keep the dry weight at a surprisingly low 895kg or 1,973 pounds, to its nicely crafted body, and one thing to hate: those spider eye-style headlamps that look like a bad afterthought.

Of course, it could be just us and a bunch of other gearheads we talked to and who said the same thing, so if you disagree, don't be shy to share your feelings in the comments.

Now, the reason why we're coming back to the 236HP (240PS) Alfa 4C that was unwrapped earlier today at the Geneva Auto Show isn't to talk about its lights, but to tell you that the Italian brand has released the first promotion videos of the mid-engine sports car, and launched a primitive online configurator.

Alfa tells us in one of the videos that the full-spec configurator will be available in June. The one that's online now, only gives the chance to choose from two colors for the body and interior trim.

At Alfa Romeo's Geneva motor show press conference, the Italian company's CEO Harald Wester confirmed the 4C's North American premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, with first deliveries before the end of the year.

While Alfa won't reveal pricing for the United States until the LA show, Wester did say that the 4C Launch Edition shown in Geneva will be priced at €60,000 (US$78,000) in Europe where it goes on sale in September.

Articles Source : Carscoop

 Video Source : Youtube

2014 Jaguar XJR

Jaguar has revealed a teaser pic of the 2014 Jaguar XJR for debut at the 2013 New York Motor Show further augmenting its “R” series of performance sedans.

2014 Jaguar Logo

2014 Jaguar XJR

2014 Jaguar XJR

2014 Jaguar XJR

Andy Goss, President, Jaguar Land Rover North America said “Jaguar is growing its product lineup to meet a far wider spectrum of customer demands ranging from sedans with 2.0 liter and 3.0 liter engines and All Wheel Drive to the exciting new F-TYPE sports car. It is clear that performance will continue to lie at the heart and soul of the brand. To that end, the growing R performance lineup offers our customers the truly elevated dynamics and design, but in a Jaguar luxury package. The Jaguar XJR is a British performance machine that delivers emotionally and dynamically on the road and on the track.”

The first visual differentiation on the new aggressive looking Jag is the dark grille with an ‘R’ badge which generally is chromed in the Jaguar lineup. A revised bumper, spoiler, vented hood, new set of wheels and racy red calipers. The steering, suspension and braking dynamics have been tested at the manufacturer’s Nürburgring test facility.

The 550 bhp supercharged V8 has been retained from the Jaguar XFR-S that was showcased last year at the Los Angeles Motor Show. Shifting duties will be taken care of by an 8 speed paddle shifted ZF auto transmission. Though official performance figures haven’t been announced yet, but expect the big leaping cat to clock 0-100 kph just over 4 seconds with top speed to be likely in the region of 300 kph.

2014 Buick LaCrosse

Buick on Monday revealed its refreshed 2014 LaCrosse sedan featuring new front and rear fascia, a larger and more striking grille, new LED wraparound tail lights and a new interior with more comfortable seats.

General Motors Co. Tuesday in New York City will show the full-size sedan, which has a more modern look and comes with more technology than today's LaCrosse. That's just ahead of press days at the New York International Auto Show.

2014 Buick Lacrosse

2014 Buick Lacrosse

2014 Buick Lacrosse

2014 Buick Lacrosse

2014 Buick Lacrosse

"We evolved the interior and exterior design, increased luxury amenities and materials and enhanced the safety and personal technologies to give customers more reasons than ever to rediscover Buick," Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick marketing, said in a statement.

It's the first exterior and interior refresh for the LaCrosse, which was all-new in 2009.

Inside the cabin, consumers will find more luxurious materials, the next generation IntelliLink infotainment system with natural voice recognition and swiping capability, 10 fewer center stack radio controls and more storage.

New for the 2014 LaCrosse, Buick is offering an Ultra Luxury Interior Package that features sangria-colored seats with ebony accents, suede headliner and pillars, real wood trim and high-end leather.

"The warm color combinations, premium interior materials and advanced technology in the 2014 LaCrosse provide the interior environment our discerning luxury customers are seeking," Ven Lai, creative designer for color and trim at Buick, said in a statement.

The large sedan will hit dealer showrooms this summer. The new version will be sold in China later this year.

U.S. LaCrosse sales have been on the slide, dropping 2.4 percent last year from 2011 and are down 21.9 percent through February compared to the first two months of 2012.

"The large car segment that the Lacrosse is in is a tough one," said Michelle Krebs, a senior analyst for the car shopping website Edmunds.com. "We don't see a lot of growth in that segment."

In February, the large car segment captured just 3.9 percent of the U.S. new car sales market. That compares with an 18 percent market share for the midsize segment last month, according to Edmunds.com.

Globally, GM has sold more than half a million LaCrosse vehicles since its 2009 debut.

There are no powertrain changes for the 2014 LaCrosse. Customers can buy a LaCrosse with a standard, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine featuring eAssist technology or a 3.6-liter V-6. Buick says about 25 percent of LaCrosse sales feature eAssist, which uses a small electric motor and lithium-ion battery to boost fuel economy.

The new LaCrosse is available with loads of technology, such as a lane change alert technology, which detects fast-moving vehicles in the next lane that are up to 230 feet behind the vehicle. The LaCrosse is the first GM vehicle to offer that technology, said Buick spokesman Nick Richards.

Buick also is offering several LaCrosse first safety features such as forward collision alert, adaptive cruise control and collision mitigation braking that can apply emergency brakes for the driver.

Pricing for the 2014 LaCrosse has not been released. A 2013 front-wheel drive LaCrosse starts at $32,555 and a 2013 all-wheel drive at $36,930.

Articles Source : detroitnews

2014 Dodge SRT Viper TA

Since its arrival in 1991, the Dodger Viper has been a stateside supercar that just doesn’t get its due. From the RT/10 all the way to the 2014 SRT Viper, the Dodge beast, much like the serpent from which it takes its name, has been a quiet killer.

2014 Dodge SRT Viper TA

2014 Dodge SRT Viper TA

2014 Dodge SRT Viper TA

2014 Dodge SRT Viper TA

2014 Dodge SRT Viper TA

While the 2014 SRT Viper TA is likely slated for the same underrated reception amidst the Italian, French, and German supercars of the moment, at least its retina-searing colorway is damn loud.

About the car itself: Back in the ’70s and ’80s “TA” stood for Trans/Am, but as a sign of the times, it now stands for the very-videogame-y term “Time Attack”.

Only 33 of these Time Attackers (?) will be produced, all in that crazy tangerine paintjob. While Dodge once hoped the Viper could fight Ferrari or Porsche in the luxurious sports car division, but the TA says “f**k” that noise, scratching leather seats and an audio system in exchange for the ability to hit 60mph in just 3.3 seconds.

It’s an 8.4-liter V10 and 640 horsepower that’ll get the TA to that speed, and oversized brakes will help slow it down once it does.  Carbon fiber detailing, and stickers (instead of badges) help to slim the Viper down for the track. Of course, it sports the oversized side exhausts — they’ve become almost as recognizable a trademark as its pouncing snake logo.

Considering its relatively accessible $97,000 USD base price, it’s a real shame there are only 33 to be had.