Monthly Archives June 2015

Last week we have reported that the turbocharged 2016 Lexus IS200t is coming. However this brings another question: how about the AWD version for folks living in the snowy area? Lexus has already prepared us an answer: no it will not be called IS200t AWD, its name is: “IS300 AWD”, to be offered starting as the 2016 model year this fall, for the Canada market at least.

By its name, the IS300 AWD is not using the turbocharged engine. Its power comes from a 3.5L naturally aspirated V6 engine, making 255 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. Lexus said it is going to replace the current IS250 AWD.

At this moment we do not know any details about this 3...

The current Audi A4 (B8) has been around since 2008, and of course it is now due for a complete renewal. Today Audi announced the 5th-gen 2016 A4 (B9), based on MLB-Evo platform.

Since the MLB-Evo is just an upgraded version of the current MLB architecture, you will not see dramatically revolutionary enhancements like full-aluminum or carbon fiber car body. On the 2016 A4, it uses a little bit more hot-stamped steel or aluminum parts in the car frame. Due to this reason, regarding the body-in-white, the B9 A4 just slashed around 15kg from the current B8 A4.

The new A4 has major change in the rear suspension design: it switches back to the 5-link type from the previous H-...

We have already known it is coming, and today Lexus finally announced the news officially: the 2016 Lexus IS200t.

As the new member in the IS sedan family, the IS200t is equipped with the same 8AR-FTS turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder engine as in the NX200t. But power output is slightly bumped to be 241 hp and torque is remained the same: 258 lb-ft. Lexus said the IS200t will also borrow the 8-speed automatic transmission from the RC-F.

Below are some major specs:

– 2.0L 4-cylinder engine with twin-scroll turbochargers: 241hp @ 5,800 RPM, 258 lb-ft @ 1,650-4,400 RPM
– 0-100 km/h in 7.0 seconds
– Top speed: 143 mph

We have been relentlessly following the all-new Ford Focus RS for a while (please see our articles here). Ford gives us the most wanted information today: the engine output parameters.

Here it comes:

– 345 hp (350 ps)
– 325 lb-ft (440 Nm) of torque @ 2000-4500 rpm
– Overboost mode: 347 lb-ft (470 Nm) can be maintained for 15 seconds

Besides the engine, the upcoming Focus RS has another important feature that will impress you: its AWD system. As has been covered in our previous article, the AWD system can correct many unwanted disadvantages inherited from the Focus RS’s front-wheel-drive platform.

And what’s more, the AWD Focus RS even has torque vectoring functionality o...

The compact luxury sports sedan market has already been saturated with many strong competitors such as the BMW 3-Series, Mercedes C-Class, Audi A4, Jaguar XE, Lexus IS, Infiniti Q50, Acura TLX and Cadillac ATS etc. Now it looks like the market will be changed from saturated to over-saturated, with the Italian auto maker announcing the 2017 Giulia today.

If you are not familiar with the “Alfa Romeo” badge, here are some background information: Alfa Romeo cars were previously exported to the US market from Italy until 1995, and the brand returned to the States last year, in 2014.

The Giulia sedan will be on sale next year as the 2017 model, and it is based on a rear-wheel-...