Renault Confirms Pricing for Refreshed 2012 Megane Range in Britain

Renault today announced that its subtly updated Megane 2012 compact model is available for order now in the UK ahead of its official launch on April 1. On-the-road prices start from £16,275 for the 3-door Hatch, £16,775 for the 5-door Coupé and £17,075 for the estate Sport Tourer.
For 2012, the Megane series gains some minor styling tweaks up front that include the addition of LED daytime running lights from the Dynamique TomTom trim level and above, and a revised bumper with a gloss black finish and chrome highlights, plus a new selection of alloy wheel designs.

Hyundai to Debut European Spec Veloster Turbo at the Geneva Auto Salon

After its world premiere at the Detroit Motor Show in January, the new Hyundai Veloster Turbo is heading to Switzerland and the 82nd Geneva International Auto Salon for its European debut. 

 

Like the North American (N.A.) model, the European specification Veloster Turbo is equipped with the Hyundai Group's new 1.6-liter T-GDI four-cylinder engine featuring a high-compression, twin-scroll turbocharger and direct-injection technology. 

 

However, whereas the N.A. version's T-GDI delivers 201-horsepower and 264Nm (195 lb-ft) of peak torque, the European model's engine has been slightly wringed down to 183-horses (186PS) while providing a little more torque at 270Nm (199.1 lb-ft).

Renault Slaps its Badge on the Samsung SM7 and Calls it the New Talisman Sedan

The good thing with owning several brands across the world is that you can market the same products under different names, in different countries. Renault has done this several times with a number of Samsung and Dacia models and will continue the practice with its new Talisman sedan.

The French automaker released a single teaser image of the Talisman, which borrows its name from Renault's 2001 luxury concept car and will make its world premiere at the Beijing Motor Show in China on April 23.

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Ford's 650HP 2013 Mustang Shelby GT500 Priced from $54,200, Convertible from $59,200*

America's most...muscular pony car has made its appearance on Ford's official website with prices starting from $54,200 for the 2013 Mustang Shelby GT500 coupe and $59,200 for its open-top sibling, not including a $795 (*) destination fee that bumps the total to $54,995 and $59,995 respectively.

In both cases, that's a $5,390 increase over the previous 2012 models. Intriguingly, the Mustang Shelby GT500 coupe's price is identical to that of Chevrolet's 580-horsepower Camaro ZL1 Coupe ($54,995 with destination and handling).

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ABT Wastes No Time in Preparing a Tune for the 2013 Audi A3

It's only been ten days since the world premiere of the third-generation Audi A3 at the Geneva Motor Show, yet amazingly, we already have an announcement on the first tuning project, courtesy of ABT.

The German tuning brand said it is preparing a comprehensive package for the new Audi hatchback marketed under the name AS3 and which will be available for order later this year.

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Peugeot Confirms UK Pricing for 508 RXH Crossover and New 508 Hybrid4 Sedan

The Peugeot brand has announced pricing and specification details for two new additions to its 508 range in Britain, the 508 RXH crossover estate and the 508 Saloon HYbrid4, both of which make use of the company's diesel-electric hybrid powertrain.

The 508 RXH starts at £33,695 and the 508 Saloon HYbrid4 at £31,450. Both models are available to order now, with the 508 RXH to go on sale in May and the 508 Saloon HYbrid4 from July 2012.

The hybrid powertrain on both models consists of a 2.0-litre HDi 163 Diesel engine powering the front wheels and a 37bhp electric motor driving the rear wheels.

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Kia Quietly Introduces 2013 Sorento with Equipment Upgrades

We don't want to get you overly excited, but while we were busy with the Geneva Motor Show debuts, Kia quietly dropped information on its 2013 Sorento crossover.

Don't go looking for any styling tweaks, though, as the 2013 model year is all about equipment enhancements and packaging upgrades.

First of all, the mid-level EX trim gains new standard leather seating while the LX V6 trim gets a newly standard third-row seat, and the base LX grade now offers the optional UVO powered by Microsoft voice-activated infotainment system.

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Volkswagen Up! for Sale in Britain, Starts from £7,995

After announcing preliminary prices for the Up! back in October of 2011, the most compact of Volkswagen models is now in UK showrooms. On the road prices for the three-door Up! start from £7,995 for the entry level model and rise to £11,180.

Buyers can choose from two 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine options producing 59bhp (60PS) and 74bhp (75PS) as well as a more fuel efficient 59bhp BlueMotion Technology version.

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Seat UK Adds Some Zest to Leon FR+ with New Supercopa Edition

Another day, another new edition to Seat's Leon FR range. Following the presentation of the higher-specification FR+, the VW Group's Spanish subsidiary is introducing yet another trim level in the UK called the Supercopa, which offers a sportier look via a special edition styling kit.

Named after Seat's global one-make race series, the Supercopa's styling additions include new front and rear bumpers, side skirts, a more pronounced tailgate spoiler, bespoke BBS 18-inch alloy wheels and unique chrome-tipped, twin exhausts.

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GMC Introduces 2013 Terrain, gets New Denali Variant and a 301HP 3.6-liter V6

About three years ago, GMC launched the Terrain as its entry-level crossover model positioned right under the Acadia.

Now it’s time for GM's truck division to shake things up in the Terrain's range with the presentation of the 2013 model ahead of its world premiere at the New York International Auto Show in April.

There are two things you need to know about the 2013 Terrain: the first is that GMC has replaced the current model's 3.0-liter V6 with a newer 3.6-liter V6 unit, and the second, that it has introduced an upscale Denali variant into the Terrain's lineup for the very first time.

Beginning with the new 3.6-liter V6 that will be available on both the regular Terrain and the luxed-up Terrain Denali, it produces 301-horsepower and 272 lb.-ft. (369 Nm) of torque, compared to 264hp and 222 lb-ft of the 3.0-liter V6.

Despite the increase in power and torque, GM says that it expects the new Terrain to deliver fuel economy equal to its predecessor (FWD: 17mpg city and 24mpg highway).

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Lamborghini Designer Says that Aventador J was Cooked up in Six Weeks

Can you imagine any automaker coming up with a new model in just six weeks? You read that correctly: an entire car, not its ashtray or a pair of steering column stalks.

Yet that this is how long it took Lamborghini to prepare its fully functional Aventador J speedster that caused a sensation at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

Stephan Winkelmann, who ordered his cohorts to ready “something special” for Geneva, has served as a paratrooper in the German army for two years and his first job was at the German financial institution MLP.

However, Herr Winkelmann grew up in Rome, where he also studied Political Science, and was employed by Fiat for a decade before his appointment as Lambo’s CEO.

Not just any VW Group company, but a supercar manufacturer that was born out of Ferrucio’s desire to serve a cold dinner of revenge to none other than Enzo Ferrari.

Top Gear magazine interviewed Lamborghini’s designer Filippo Perini about the creation of the one-off hypercar.

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One-Off 2012 Chrysler 300S Customized by John Varvatos goes up for Auction

One of the stars in Chrysler's 'Imported from Detroit' campaign has rejoined forces with the Detroit automaker, albeit for a different cause.

John Varvatos, the Detroit born, high-fashion menswear designer, teamed up with Chrysler to create a one-off version of the 2012 300S that was announced at the John Varvatos ninth annual Stuart House Benefit that supports children and which took place this past Sunday on March 11 in Los Angeles.

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Mercedes-Benz Unleashes Huge Gallery of Sixth-Generation SL with 168 Photos

Overlooking the top-of-the-line, twin-turbocharged 63 AMG, it’s been nearly three months since we had any news about the brand-new 2013 Mercedes-Benz SL.

Following its launch and subsequently, its world premiere at the 2012 Detroit Motor Show, Stuttgart revealed all the secrets of its latest technological tour-de-force that include the weight-reducing aluminum bodywork, the revamped V6 and V8 engines and the new passive and active safety systems.

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Renault Launches Pricey Clio R.S. Red Bull Racing RB7 Edition and Special Mégane R.S F1 Show Cars

Only a few days before this year's Formula 1 season kicks off with the inaugural Australian GP in Melbourne on Sunday, Renault released a special edition version of its sporty Clio R.S. 200 hatch to celebrate its F1 Constructors’ title with Red Bull Racing in 2011.

The Clio R.S. Red Bull Racing RB7 is a limited production model that will be marketed in five countries: France, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium and Austria.

Renault will begin accepting orders in these markets on March 14, with the car’s price in France set at €27,900 (US$36,660), or a little over €4,000 on top of the price of the regular Clio R.S. 200.

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Get in Line: Subaru will Reportedly Bring Only 6,000 BRZ Coupes to the U.S. in 2012

If for some reason you prefer looking at Subaru's Pleiades star cluster-inspired logo on the Toyota 86, you had better act fast, as according to a report from Car and Driver today, the Japanese automaker will ship just 6,000 examples of its BRZ sports coupe to the United States this year.

Subaru declined to comment on the report but the publication says the carmaker had previously revealed that in order to make a business case in the U.S., it had to sell 5,000 to 7,000 cars priced at around $25,000.

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Dodge Launches New Entry Level Avenger V6 Priced at $21,495*

The Chrysler Group is widening the choices for buyers of the Dodge Avenger with the addition a new base SE V6 model that carries a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $21,495, excluding destination and handling (*). That's $2,500 less than the previous base V6 variant, the $23,995 SXT Plus. Read more »

Auto Avio Costruzioni Makes a One-Off Alfa Giulietta

Laurent Miller, the man who bought the Auto Avio Costruzioni brand name eight years ago, has churned out his third tuned Alfa Romeo.

This time Miller decided to turn his attention on the Giulietta, Alfa’s five-door hatch. The car features a unique two-tone paint job with Alfa dark grey for the lower body and a Lamborghini-sourced “White Ballon” pearl color for most of the upper part of the car and the wheels.

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Facelifted Seat Ibiza Arrives in the UK with Reduced Prices

Following its debut at the Geneva Motor Show, the VW Group's Seat brand has announced that the subtly refreshed Ibiza range will be available for order in Britain this month with first deliveries planned for late April.

While the updates are mild, the good news for buyers is that Seat has actually reduced pricing for the majority of Ibiza derivatives.

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Geneva 2012: Vote on the Best, Worst and Dullest Debuts of the Show

The Geneva Palexpo convention center may have opened its doors to car fans from the general public on Thursday, but for the rest of us, the 82nd edition of the Swiss motor show has already taken its place in the history books.

But what a spectacular car show it was with dozens of world premieres ranging from economical mainstream city cars such as the five-door Skoda Citigo to one-of-a-kind supercar exotics like the €2.1 million Lamborghini Aventador J.

Looking at our stats, we found that the five most read stories from the 2012 Geneva Motor Show this week (March 5 to 9) on Carscoop were:

1) Mercedes-Benz A-Class
2) Bentley EXP 9 F SUV Concept
3) Rolls Royce Phantom Facelift
4) Lamborghini Aventador J
5) Mitsubishi Outlander

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Fiat Designer Walks us Through the Styling of the New 500L Small MPV

The Fiat Group had two major world premieres in store for us at the ongoing 82nd Geneva International Auto Salon. The first was the Ferrari F12berlinetta and the other the Fiat 500L - two very different cars that are equally important to each of their brands for different reasons.

The new 500L marks the first expansion in the Italian brand's 500 range promising to combine styling elements of the three-door hatchback with a larger five-door body style that can accommodate rear passengers and their luggage with greater comfort .

The five-seater model seen here will go on sale in Europe later this year and is also expected to arrive in North America next year. If you follow the break, you'll find the video presentations of the car from the Geneva Show.

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