Officially Announced: The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE Class

Please do not be confused by its name: the 2016 Mercedes GLE Class is not a new model, it is just the current M Class with a new name.

2016_Mercedes-Benz_GLE_41

For the 2016 model year, Mercedes-Benz renames the current M Class to be GLE Class. Major changes are in the updated interior styling, and also the AMG model is expanded to two trims, both get a bump to its power output. More specifically:

– The GLE300d is the current ML250 BlueTEC
– The GLE350 is the current ML350
– The GLE400 is the current ML400
– New model: GLE550e 4Matic, 329hp V6 + 114hp electric motor, combined output: 436hp, 479 lb-ft of torque
– The Mercedes-AMG GLE63 output is upgraded to 550hp (from current ML63 AMG’s 518hp); G...

Read More

All-New 2016 Kia Optima First Image Released

Kia is going to debut the all-new 4th generation Optima (2016 model year) on Apr.1, at the 2015 New York auto show. Today it released the first official image, as shown below.

2016_Kia_Optima

We do not have further information regarding the 2016 Optima, we will report back all detail information after its NY debut next month.

Read More

2016 Cadillac ATS-V Comes with More Power, Reaching 464HP

We have been extensively covered the 2016 Cadillac ATS-V since last May, 2014. For our previous reports about the ATS-V, please see here. Originally Cadillac said the ATS-V’s 3.6L twin-turbo V6 engine is capable of 455hp and 445 lb-ft of torque, 0-60mph only needs 3.9 seconds, with top speed 189mph.

2016_Cadillac_ATS-V_LAShow_5

Today Cadillac announced that the final output spec of the ATS-V will be higher than the original estimate, now SAE-certified at 464hp and 444 lb-ft of torque. 0-60 time is reduced to 3.8 seconds.

Please note: if you read Cadillac’s previous press release, it mentions for the ATS-V there is “structural stiffness increased by 25 percent”. Please do not be confused about this...

Read More

Officially Announced: The 2016 Jaguar XF

The current Jaguar XF has been around for 8 years and it has been overdue for a renewal. Today Jaguar finally took the wraps off the all-new second generation XF, starting from the 2016 model year.

2016_Jaguar_XF_1

Here are the highlights:

75% of the car body architecture are made with aluminum, this is the biggest selling point (currently there is no similar competitor is using so many aluminum for the body-in-white)
– Weight saving benefited from the aluminum material: 132 lbs (RWD) and 265 lbs (AWD)
– Longer wheelbase: 116.5in
– Only two 3.0L supercharged V6 are offered during the initial launch: 340hp/322lb-ft, and 380hp/322 lb-ft
– 8-speed automatic transmission
– Front double wis...

Read More

Hyundai Is Working on Twin-Turbo 3.3L V6 Engine

Talking about turbocharging, currently Hyundai only has several 4-cylinder engines that are using forced induction. However this does not mean the Korean auto maker is not interested in applying turbocharging on larger engines. For example, it has been rumored that Hyundai is working with Blood Type Racing (BTR) to develop a twin-turbo engine based on its 3.3L Lambda V6 mill.

Hyundai_Lambda_3.3L_Turbo_V6_3

During the 2015 Chicago auto show last month, BTR displayed a Hyundai 3.3L twin-turbo GDi engine, which is currently used on the Genesis Coupe BTR Edition...

Read More