Hasta La Gadget!

Nissan has announced plans to roll out a gas-electric hybrid version of its popular Pathfinder SUV this summer, a change that will bring with it a slight increase in both price and gas mileage. Neither a specific release date nor price were given, but word has it the SUV will cost about $3,000 more than the current non-hybrid Pathfinder, which has a starting price of $41,000, and goes up from there to nearly $50k.

The gasoline-electric hybrid Pathfinder will feature both a supercharged 2.5-liter gas engine and an electric motor that, combined, offer 250 horsepower. This will bring about 5 more miles per gallon, bringing the total up to 25MPG in the city and 27MPG on the highway for a combined total of 26MPG.

This is a tad higher than the current 21MPG combined total for the all-wheel drive gasoline model. Of course, an electric hybrid brings with it some extra-battery baggage, which will be found below the third-row bench, taking up that section of space and perhaps proving inconvenient to some owners.

Nissan’s Vice President of Product Planning Pierre Loing said: “The Pathfinder Hybrid is highly affordable because it matches motor and battery size well, while minimizing the number of additional parts or modifications needed to the platform and body. It is designed as a logical bridge between conventional internal combustion engine powertrains and the wider acceptance of hybrid systems by providing enhanced efficiency with no compromises versus the standard vehicle.”

[via Wall Street Journal]

Nissan to launch electric-hybrid Pathfinder SUV this summer is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Hyundai has displayed its 2014 Equus luxury sedan at the 2013 New York International Auto Show, boasting about its new “premium-sport” design and variety of luxury features. In addition to the redesign, which is as much about modern visual updates as it is about improved aerodynamics, the vehicle has some new standard features and multiple driving modes. We have a gallery of the car after the jump.

Starting with the 2014 Equus’s exterior, drivers will find a 19-inch polished silver turbine-blade wheel design, as well as new side mirrors, grille design, front bumper fascia, and tail light graphics. LED fog lamps are now standard for the vehicle, and “Night Shadow Brown” has been added as a new exterior color option.

The interior has seen similar updates and improvements, with Hyundai completely redesigning the center stack and instrument panel, as well as the shift lever and the center console. The control layout on the steering wheel has been revised, and the rear seat’s console controls have been redesigned. There’s new wood trim options, as well as a new ivory leather interior design.

Features include climate control with three cabin temperature zones, a 7-inch cluster display in the Signature model, which increases to 12.3-inches in the Ultimate. The center stack has a 9.2-inch display, and in the back there are dual 9.2-inch displays as part of the entertainment system. The vehicle uses a smart key of both the card and fob varieties. There’s Standard Assurance Connected Care & Blue Link.

Under the hood, there’s a 5-liter Tau DOHC V8 engine with 429 horsepower at 6400 rpm, offering a tuned variable induction system and D-CVVT (Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing). The 2014 Equus gets 15mpg city/23mpg highway, combing for a decent 18mpg average.

[via Hyundai News]

Hyundai shows off redesigned 2014 Equus sedan at New York International Auto Show is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

This week the folks at Chevrolet have revealed the 2014 Camaro Z28 (or Z/28 if you prefer), a beast of a vehicle with a 7.0L LS7 V8 engine with no less than 500 horsepower ready for road-thrashing action. This machine works with 470 pounds-feet of torque under the hood paired with a six-speed Tremec TR6060 manual transmission. The look of the vehicle is all classic Camaro with a smooth-yet-sharp set of aesthetics for this years battle with the best.

Inside this next-generation automobile you’ve got a set of hardware that’s ready and willing to be compared to the more powerful Camaro ZL1. As Chevrolet let us know this week, you’ll find that the Z/28 is 300 pounds lighter than the ZL1, this thanks to a series of changes in the makeup of the car. From its lighter wheels to the thinness of the rear window glass panel, this car has been polished to perfection. Even the air conditioning has been made available only as a stand-alone option for your ability to keep the weight low.

Chevrolet has also noted that this 2014 model has averaged three seconds faster than the ZL1 in tests they’ve conducted thus far.

While the new Camaro Z/28 is not intended to compete in a specific race series, it is solely focused on track capability. In initial testing, the Camaro Z/28 is three seconds faster per lap than the Camaro ZL1. That extra speed comes from three areas:

• Increased grip: The Z/28 is capable of 1.05 g in cornering acceleration, due to comprehensive chassis revisions
• Increased stopping power: the Z/28 features Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes capable of 1.5 g in deceleration, and consistent brake feel, lap after lap
• Reduced curb weight: The naturally aspirated Z/28 weighs 300 pounds less than the supercharged Camaro ZL1, with changes ranging from lightweight wheels to thinner rear-window glass

Once you’re past the tweaks and pushes, you’ve got a fabulous set of Recaro racing seats inside that complement a set of aesthetics across the entire vehicle that make it appear ready for any of your most race-ready road-blasting adventures. You’ve got a flat-bottom steering wheel, blacks and grays with bright red accents – mostly in the stereo and speedometer areas – and an overall look that reads: SPEED.

The engine, again, is of course the monstrous heart of this amalgamation of Camaro bits and pieces – here you’ve got your hand-assembled 7.0L (427 cid) V-8 made from top-end parts as follows:

• Titanium intake valves and connecting rods, and sodium-filled exhaust valves
• CNC-ported aluminum cylinder heads
• Forged-steel crankshaft and main bearing caps
• High-lift camshaft
• Hydroformed exhaust headers
• 11.0:1 compression ratio, and a 7,000 rpm redline.
• 10.5-quart, dry-sump oiling system

You’ve got what Camaro engineers describe as “the very best components in the industry” used here in the chassis of this high-performance vehicle, including 19-inch diameter wheels and tires, forged aluminum wheels that is, wrapped with “massive” 305/30ZR19 tires. This vehicle uses the ultra-high performance Pirelli PZero Trofeo R tire, the first production implementation of said technology – one that they say they believe is now the widest front tire on any production car – hot and large!

You’ve got Brembo Carbon Ceramic Matrix™ rotors as well as fixed, monoblock calipers. You’ve got 394 x 36 mm front rotors matched with six-piston calipers up front and 390 x 32 mm rear rotor paired with four-piston calipers. This setup saves another 28 pounds (12.5 kilograms) compared to comparable two-piece steel rotors.

And that’s not all! We’ll continue to run down the full layout of this lovely vehicle as it hits the road later this year. Chevrolet dealers will be getting the Camaro Z/28 “later in 2013″ while the vehicle will be appearing in track events throughout the USA in Spring of 2014.

Keep tuned to the whole industry in SlashGear’s Car hub and don’t forget to catch the rest of our show coverage in our New York Auto Show 2013 tag portal, too!

2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 unveiled with lightweight body and hard power is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

At the 2013 New York Auto Show today, the 2014 Range Rover Sport was debuted, and its myriad of features are enough to make anyone’s head spin. From top to bottom, inside and out, this vehicle is filled to the brim with luxury, sporty options and features. Prices start at $63,495 for the SE V6 model and increase steadily from there to $93,295 for the Sport Autobiography V8 model.

The 2014 Range Rover Sport will be available in four different models: the Sport SE, Sport HSE, Sport Supercharged, and the Sport Autobiography. Customers will be able to choose from 11 interior color themes (plus a seat color), three real wood veneers, 4 aluminum interior finishes, 19 exterior paint options, wheel size from 19-inches to 22-inches, 3 roof colors (Santorini Black, Indus Silver, and Corris Grey), 3 exterior accent finishes (Gloss Black, Dark Atlas, and Atlas Silver), as well as illuminated side sills.

As you can imagine, the 2014 Range Rover boasts a variety of safety features, all the following of which are available across all the models: Roll Stability Control, Dynamic Stability Control, Electronic Traction Control, Trailer Stability Assist, Hill Start Assist, Hill Descent Control, Gradient Release Control, Engine Drag Troque Control, Antilock Braking System, Emergency Brake Lights, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Corner Brake Control, Emergency Brake Assist, and Electronic Park Brake.

Moving on to technology, there’s a host of connectivity options, including a hands-free Bluetooth option that can be controlled via steering wheel controls and an 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth audio streaming for playing audio files over the sound system, voice control, and USB ports for use with audio devices/smartphones/flash drives. This accompanies the Meridian audio system, of which three options are available. The highest audio package is a 1700 watt system with 23 speakers and a subwoofer.

The audio will be extra enjoyable thanks to the low-noise design of the 2014 Range Rover Sport, which was specifically engineered to reduce road noises. While passengers will hear a “sporting engine note” under hard acceleration, there’s little noise at regular cruising speeds. Enhanced seats, a rear entertainment system, configurable mood lighting, keyless entry, a center console cooler, and a heated steering wheel/seats/windshield round out the biggest luxury and interior features.

The 2014 model is being hailed as the “fastest, most agile and responsive” of all Land Rovers, offering a new high-strength aluminum stucture that shaves 800 pounds off over the 2013 Sport model. Unlike the previous model, the 2014 offers a 5+2 third row option, intelligent start and stop technology for less emissions and better gas mileage, and two transfer case options: the single-speed Torsen and the two-speed locking low range option.

Pricing:

Range Rover Sport SE: $63,495 3-Liter Supercharged V6 340hp
Range Rover Sport HSE: $68,495 3-Liter Supercharged V6 340hp
Range Rover Sport Supercharged: $79,995 5-Liter Supercharged V8 510hp
Range Rover Sport Autobiography: $93,295 5-Liter Supercharged V8 510hp

[via Autoblog]

2014 Range Rover Sport debuted at 2013 New York Auto Show is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Honda has rolled out its 2014 Odyssey Touring Elite at the 2013 New York International Auto Show, showing off a variety of features that range from safety upgrades over previous models to its HondaVAC in-car vacuum. Perhaps one of the best features that can be included in a family van, where kids will no doubt produce their fair share of crumbs and other debris, the HondaVAC is the first vacuum system to be integrated into a vehicle.

The HondaVAC system – partly developed by Shop-Vac – comes standard in the 2014 Odyssey, and features user-replaceable filters and a canister bag, as well as various nozzles to vacuum the van’s nooks and crannies. The nozzles are stored in the driver’s side bulkhead, while the vacuum itself has a hose that can reach all areas within the van. HondaVAC is completely integrated into the vehicle, and can run for however long necessary as long as the van is turned on. When shut off, HondaVac can be used for 8 minutes.

In addition, the 2014 Odyssey features a variety of design changes and improvements, with Honda calling the exterior styling “more sophisticated”, with a sculpted hood, bolder grille, aluminum front fenders, and integrated chrome-trimmed fog lights located lower in the front fascia than before. There’s Smart Entry, HD Radio, integrated texting functionality, and HondaLink with Aha Mobile Interface.

In addition, the minivan’s structure has been upgraded in hopes of getting high marks on the IIHS popular front-crash test, which could earn it a Top Safety Pick+ award. The van features Expanded View Driver’s Mirror, Forward Collision Warning, and Lane Departure Warning, among other safety features. Honda’s Vice President of Marketing Operations Michael Accavitti had this to say: “The Odyssey is already the leader in its segment, and for 2014, Honda has made the modern family hauler even better. Honda is once again showcasing its reputation for innovation with HondaVAC, and its ability to provide true value to our customers.”

[via Honda News]

Honda’s 2014 Odyssey Touring Elite minivan features in-car vacuum system is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.