Mitsubishi Evo MR and lightweight Subaru STI Spec-C coming

Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Mitsubishi, Subaru

Click either image for a high-res rendering of each model at AutoExpress.

Mitsubishi and Subaru are entering round two of the newest battle for all-wheel-drive supremacy and AutoExpress has ringside seats. Both automakers are preparing hard-core versions of their turbocharged, rally-bred road rockets and that means more power, more aerodynamic mods and, in the case of Subaru, less weight.

The Lancer Evolution X MR is on the way, with a new fascia equipped with extra venting and a new air intake, while a revised rear wing, side skirts and blacked-out wheels complete the exterior makeover. Output is increased by 20 hp (in JDM spec) to 305 hp and the mid-range has been tweaked to provide more low-end torque, dropping the 0-60 time to under five seconds. The paddle-shifted SST twin-clutch transmission transfers over from the GSR model (likely with some software revisions) and the body has been stiffened to maximize the MR’s handling.

Subaru is taking a different tack, keeping power upgrades to the STI’s turbo’d 2.5-liter boxer to a minimum and instead focusing on weight reduction. The Impreza WRX STI Spec C will get a slightly revised aero kit, with a roof scoop (functional?), standard gold wheels, a lightweight roof, aluminum trunk lid, compact battery, smaller fuel tank and thinner compartment glass all around. All that work is expected to result in a 154-pound drop in weight, so the Spec C will tip the scales at just over 3,000 pounds.

Subaru is also planning to equip the new Legacy with the STI’s drivetrain, a revised suspension and slapping on an “S402″ badge on the back, along with a sporting interior with more grippy seats. All of this is only for JDM consumption at the moment, but we’d expect to see both the MR and Spec C hit the UK next year, with sales in the U.S. of the MR coming around the same time.

[Source: AutoExpress]

 

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Tuner Tuesday: Steinmetz tweaks the Opel Corsa OPC

Filed under: Tuners, Sports/GTs, Euro, Hatchbacks, Opel

Click above for a gallery of the Steinmetz Corsa OPC

The Opel Corsa is small, cool, and like most other neat U.S.-automaker Euro offerings, unavailable to us — at least for now. As good as the current car would look wearing Saturn badges and slotted beneath the Astra, we’ll have to wait a good while until the next-gen Corsa arrives to see it in Saturn stores. Nifty though it may be in standard guise, it’s the OPC performance variant that really strikes our fancy. 192 horsepower, a 6.8-second 0-60, and fuel economy in the neighborhood of 30 mpg is a compelling combo.

Longtime Opel tuner, Steinmetz, has unveiled a suite of mods for the butched-up Corsa OPC. The factory hot hatch gets a new exhaust that adds ten horsepower, bumping its peak output to 202 ponies. Next comes a suspension upgrade that drops the car 30 millimeters, giving it a more athletic stance. Finally, Steinmetz closes the deal with a new front spoiler, replacement grille, side stripes, aluminum gas cap, and an upgraded wheel/tire package. Looks like fun to us.

[Source: Steinmetz]

 

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Tuner Tuesday: Steinmetz tweaks the Opel Corsa OPC

Filed under: Tuners, Sports/GTs, Euro, Hatchbacks, Opel

Click above for a gallery of the Steinmetz Corsa OPC

The Opel Corsa is small, cool, and like most other neat U.S.-automaker Euro offerings, unavailable to us — at least for now. As good as the current car would look wearing Saturn badges and slotted beneath the Astra, we’ll have to wait a good while until the next-gen Corsa arrives to see it in Saturn stores. Nifty though it may be in standard guise, it’s the OPC performance variant that really strikes our fancy. 192 horsepower, a 6.8-second 0-60, and fuel economy in the neighborhood of 30 mpg is a compelling combo.

Longtime Opel tuner, Steinmetz, has unveiled a suite of mods for the butched-up Corsa OPC. The factory hot hatch gets a new exhaust that adds ten horsepower, bumping its peak output to 202 ponies. Next comes a suspension upgrade that drops the car 30 millimeters, giving it a more athletic stance. Finally, Steinmetz closes the deal with a new front spoiler, replacement grille, side stripes, aluminum gas cap, and an upgraded wheel/tire package. Looks like fun to us.

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[Source: Steinmetz]

 

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Cadillac CTS convertible: American coachbuilding at its finest

Filed under: Aftermarket, Convertibles, Sedans/Saloons, Cadillac

While Cadillac busies itself with a 2-door version of the new CTS sedan, the folks over at Coach Builders, Ltd have been busy taking their tops off. The boulevardier CTS gets an insulated, hydraulically-powered roof fitted with a heated glass rear window and cloth headliner. The top also comes in several colors. Judging by this pic, it also looks like a fair bit of work has gone into making the car look good with the top down. No word on what happens to trunk space, however.

It’ll cost you more than a few quarters — $19,000 gets the job done in eight weeks — but that’s the price of exclusivity, right? It’s also employs a manual release, but these things happen when you’re a style pioneer. We’d like to see pics of the car with the top up, because we wonder if this could be the first cloth-topped Caddy truly fit for the younger set.

[Source: Inside Line]

 

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Hyundai i10 Ice Cream van hits sweet spot

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, Minivans/MPVs, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Commercial Trucks, Hatchbacks, Hyundai, Toys

Click to view more of the Hyundai i10 ice cream van

We can come up with all manner of criteria for evaluating a car at any level: design, performance, spec sheet, ride, features, technology, value… but the one factor that trumps all others, what it all really comes down to, is how it appeals to our inner child. At the heart of it, that’s why we love Lamborghinis and HUMMERs and Mustangs… and this particular Hyundai i10. It’s just a treat.

The ice-cream van conversion wasn’t made for Good Humor, although it certainly put us in that state of mind. It was created as a promotional tool for the British launch of the i10 by auto innovator Andy Saunders, the same guy who gave us the neo-Picasso Citroen 2CV and the ground-hugging Fiat 126, among others. While the Poole, England-based customizer has come up with many creative designs before, we doubt any of them would get children running after it down the street like the Pied Piper. Have a look at the images in the gallery below and pick out something delicious on us.

[Source: theCarfanatic.com and AutoTrader.co.uk]

 

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