News - New ModelsNissan Sport Concept Could See Production
Mustang Shelby - Don't Slow Your Mustang Down
The SVT brand has gone through plenty of soul-searching in recent years, as Ford officials noisily argued over the role of performance in the brand. There were more than a few who considered killing off the operation, but in the end, SVT boosters won the debate. In the long-run, SVT's new chief, Hau Tai-Tang, said the unit could have as many as five different models in production at any one time. And going forward, SVT will focus on trucks, as well as cars, a smart idea considering the nature of the current U.S. auto market. For its revival, SVT will start out with not only the Mustang, but also the Adrenalin, a pulse-pounding version of the newly updated Explorer Sport Trac. A crossover lend of SUV and pickup, the Adrenalin's supercharged V-8 will make a whopping 390-hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The all-wheel-drive truck will not only launch fast, but haul a heavy load, with a rated towing capacity of 6000 pounds. Defining What IS Is
Lexus Sees All-Hybrid Performance Lineup
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Is it simply a "design exercise," in the words of one senior Nissan official, or are there production plans for the new Nissan Sport Concept, the edgy little show car that will officially make its public debut in New York next week? The three-door Sport Concept is arguably the most aggressive design exercise to emerge from Nissan's design studios in recent months, the trio also including the Azeal sports coupe and the Actic, a crossover/SUV. Like the Azeal, the Sports Concept was developed by Nissan's newly expanded design center in suburban Detroit. The prototype's wedge design was heavily influenced by the U.S. tuner market, noted Nissan's senior vice president of design, Shiro Nakamura. The high-tech cockpit boasts an assortment of digital touches, including its large video screen. The race-style seats emphasize the sporty nature of the design. Yet if it were to go into production, an admittedly less edgy version of the Sports Concept would be targeted "below the Sentra price range," said Nakamura, and targeted at "first-time car buyers." A decision on which, if any of the three concepts to build will be made in the near future, Nakamura hinted, adding that "otherwise, it will be too late." He said he believes a vehicle like the Sports Concept might be seen as niche right now, but is likely to appeal to the mainstream as the so-called Millennium Generation grows older.
The long-awaited Shelby Cobra GT500 took its official bow in New York on Wednesday, putting to rest any rumors that Ford was getting ready to abandon its SVT high-performance unit. "I'm just proud to be here at this point in my life," proclaimed Carroll Shelby, the legendary racer and raconteur who lent his name, and some of his knowledge to the development of the top-performing Mustang spin-off. Where the Mustang GT gets by with a 4.6-liter V-8 making 300 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque, the GT500 squeezes a 5.4-liter, supercharged eight-banger under the hood. Though Ford didn't have official, final numbers, it should make at least 450-hp and 450 lb-ft of tire-spinning torque. Carroll Shelby first put his name on a Mustang way back in 1964, with the GT-350R racer. A production version followed soon after, and variations continued in production until 1970.
While a former president might have quibbled over the definition of IS, Lexus wants to be perfectly clear what it has in mind with the second generation of its sporty, entry-luxury sedan. The wheelbase is longer; the car is wider. The newer, sleeker design of the IS350 shown in New York is based on the automaker's L-finesse design theme, putting an emphasis on sporty, yet minimalist design elements. There's nothing minimal about the IS350's numbers, however. The top-line model will be powered by a beefy 3.5-liter V-6 turning out 300 hp. It will boast a new front and rear suspension, and a sporty new version of the automaker's Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management, or VDIM, stability control system. The IS250 will feature a 200-horsepower, 2.5-liter V-6, and will be offered in both rear- and all-wheel-drive powertrain configurations. Though the most affordable entry into the Lexus lineup, the IS will be offered with a range of upmarket options, including adaptive (turning) headlamps, radar cruise control, and ventilated front seats.
Lexus lifted the covers on a pair of new models during its spin in the New York spotlight. Clearly the most significant new entry is the GS450h. The prototype revealed at Jacob Javits Center will be a hybrid-electric version of the all-new sports sedan Lexus launched earlier this year. The 450 starts out with a 3.5-liter V-6, which is mated to a high-output electric motor. Together, they are expected to pump out "over 300 horsepower," according to Lexus marketing manager Mark Templin. That should help the hybrid more than match the performance of the V-8-powered Lexus GS430, launching from 0-60 mph in less than six seconds. Company officials say the most noticeable improvement in performance will be felt at passing speeds, in the 30-50 mph range. The GS450h will be the world's first luxury sedan hybrid, as well as the first rear-drive hybrid when it hits showrooms about a year from now. It will join the RX400h, the first hybrid-electric vehicle in the Lexus lineup. But according to General Manager Denny Clements, the two models may soon have plenty of company. Lexus is giving strong consideration to launching a brand-within-a-brand of high-performance vehicles, akin to Mercedes' AMG line-up. The big difference, Clements told TheCarConnection, is that all the Lexus models would be hybrids. The Toyota division will closely watch the market reaction to the GS450h and RX400h to see if it should proceed with the hybrid performance project. Clements described the performance hybrid strategy as a "shield" against environmental concerns, promoting the idea of getting V-12 power with V-6 mileage.