More sporty Hyundais

Hyundai will embark on a Mazda-style strategy of producing warmed-over models of its family fare.
The Korean car maker released its first performance-enhanced car wearing an SR badge this week, with the Veloster SR Turbo expected to be the first of a series of Mazda SP-like models arriving on the Australian market.
While he wouldn’t be pressed on which model would be next to sit alongside the Veloster SR Turbo in the showroom, Hyundai senior manager of product planning Scott Williams says a likely candidate is the i30 hatchback, which wore an SR badge in the previous generation.
‘‘While it was just basically a body kit, it [the now-superseded i30 SR] didn’t achieve a very good mix of product sales,’’ Williams says.

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‘‘But coming from Mazda I know full well the impact an SP range has for your model line like a Mazda3, and it can generate significant incremental volume, profitability and a halo effect.
‘‘I can see the potential, as I see it, of having a sausage with some sizzle, where we can take the SR sub-brand to a new level with incremental performance.’’
He says Hyundai is ‘‘studying very hard’’ the possibility of a unique sub-brand in the mould of Mazda, featuring powertrain and handling enhancements to justify establishing the SR line.
‘‘Now, I’m not saying it’s all cut and dry - there’s still a lot of work to do, but the turbo SR is on the way.’’
As with the Veloster SR Turbo, Hyundai could fettle the i30 with forced induction and a retuned suspension and steering system to add driver enjoyment.
However, while efforts should produce a better-handling Hyundai, the car maker is still very conscious about keeping its connection with budget-conscious buyers.
The Veloster SR Turbo comes without several performance-enhancing technologies, such as a clever stability control system that that can send torque to the wheel with the most grip during acceleration. The maker says the technology wouldn’t allow the car achieve its sharp price point.
As a stop gap, the company has used the car’s anti-lock brakes system to stop the front wheels from spinning, and also to reduce the amount of torque steer (where the steering pulls to one side under hard acceleration).
There was also no push to replace the locally tuned suspension system with a selectable system that allowed the driver to decide how hard the turbocharged Veloster would ride.
‘‘The key goal for this vehicle is affordable performance and accessibility,’’ product planning manager Andrew Tuitahi, who also helped retune the Veloster for Australian roads, says.
‘‘I think that kind of system would add quite a level of cost that would place the Veloster ... outside of its target market.’’
One thing the extra driver-enhanced models won’t feature, despite it already being available, is a dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
According to Hyundai’s senior manager of product planning, Scott Williams, the six-speed dual-clutch unit featured in the bog-standard Veloster isn’t able to handle the extra torque that the patched-on turbocharger generates, pushing the Korean car maker to choose a traditional torque converter auto instead.
‘‘It was a question of handling the torque the best way,’’ Williams says. ‘‘It was seen that a normal six-speed automatic transmission gets the power down (to the front wheels) in a more fluid manner, and gets better performance overall.’’
However, while the automatic does have performance benefits, it makes the Veloster SR Turbo a lot more thirsty than its normally aspirated sibling.
While the dual-clutch auto in the base model car achieves an official average fuel use rating of 6.4 litres per 100 kilometres, the traditional auto in the SR Turbo version carries a big 7.6L/100km fuel-use rating.

Aston Martin Vanquish

Update: We've just caught the new 2013 Aston Martin Vanquish testing on the Nürburgring in full production skin. Powered by a 5.9-liter V-12 engine, it is expected to produce over 550-horsepower. The cost? About $300,000. See the new photos here. - Jen Degtjarewsky for R&T
The rumor machine has been spinning, but at last here is proof positive that Aston Martin will be recalling the famous Vanquish name for next year’s new top model. Seen here testing in Italy without camouflage, the new car, code named AM310, was shown at the Ritzy Italian car-polishers gathering, the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este last month as an unbadged concept car. This, though, is the first confirmation of the name, which we can see at the rump of this new supercar. We understand Vanquish was one of a series of old ‘V’ names being considered for the new car, which included Vantage and even Vignale.

The original Vanquish was launched in 2001 and was the first Aston produced by the current chief executive, Ulrich Bez, who delayed the launch because he didn’t like the dashboard air vents. With its hand-built carbon-fiber and aluminum construction, it was the last all-new model to come out of Aston Martin’s old Newport Pagnell works. Ian Callum’s outrageous styling dripped testosterone, its 420 bhp gave it a genuine 200 mph capability and its booming exhaust note demanded attention. It also cost $245,000 (£158,000) at launch.

2013 Aston Martin Vanquish

Vanquish ceased production in 2007 and to be honest its DBS replacement never managed to recapture its combination of style, price and performance. The company, now based at Gaydon in Warwickshire, will be hoping that the new Vanquish recaptures the magic and the imagination of film directors and pop stars. The old Vanquish appeared in James Bond's 2002 'Die Another Day' and 2003 remake of 'The Italian Job', plus received name checks in Lil Kim's 'Lighter's Up' and The Pussycat Dolls 'Don't Cha', as well as appearing in countless music videos and video games.
The new Vanquish will be a replacement for the V12 DBS. It borrows some of its style from the $1.87 million One-77 supercar, particularly the sculpted sides, the side mirrors now mounted on the doors and rear lamps. The company has been stung by criticisms of the weight of its supercars and under the skin, engineers have been looking seriously about saving pounds with exotic materials such as carbon fiber on its bonded, welded and riveted VH aluminum platform, which underpins all its current models.

2013 Aston Martin Vanquish

While the familiar “Cleveland” twin V6-based V12 engine will be retained for the new Vanquish, it will be boosted to produce a lot more horsepower than the current DBS’s figure of 510 bhp. The rumor machine suggests the German-built engine will muster a figure closer to 600 bhp. We also understand that the facia design, now 10 years old and looking it, will also get a lift for the new Vanquish, although the crystal oblong ignition key (called the Emotional Control Unit – yuk!) will be retained – it is a favorite of Bez. One feature of the old Vanquish that looks as though it won’t be making a comeback are the under-bonnet chimneys, which jetted hot air out of the engine bay and gave the driver a permanently heat-hazed view out of the windscreen. Looking at these spy shots, chimneys are out for next year.

New car review: Lexus LX570

Price: From $140,900
Engine: 5.7-litre V8 270kWk/530Nm
Fuel use: 14.8 L/100km
Emissions: 350 g CO2/km
Most people don’t spend mega-bucks on a luxury SUV to venture into the really rough stuff. That explains why many of them have off-road styling cues but only basic off-road ability.
The LX570 flies in the face of this convention. Based on the 200 Series Toyota LandCruiser it is a traditional go-anywhere 4WD, albeit laden in luxury and recently updated.

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Price and equipment

Most obviously, the LX’s mid-life makeover includes the new Lexus “spindle” grille, which certainly presents more ostentatiously and aggressively than its predecessor.

There are some equipment and spec changes that come with the update, but the fundamentals of the 570 remain; an eight-seat wagon powered by a 5.7-litre V8 engine permanently driving all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.

Lexus now offers just one model priced at $140,900, an $8500 chop from the old Sports. An Enhancement Pack costs an additional $16,000, but this still undercuts the deleted Sports Luxury model by more than $8000.

Being a Lexus the standard equipment list is interminable. Selected highlights include 20-inch alloys (including spare), power sunroof, sat-nav, quad-zone climate control, 19-speaker Mark Levinson audio, dual rear DVD screens, keyless entry, 10 airbags, active cruise control, reversing sensors and a reversing camera.

Important new gear centres on off-roading. Drivers can now pick from five off-road traction modes via a system dubbed Multi-Terrain Select. “Turn-Assist” aids in-tight manoeuvring while updated “Crawl Control” offers more speed settings. There are also more surround-view cameras (Multi-Terrain Monitor).

The Enhancement Pack includes pre-crash anticipation, active cruise control, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats and paddle shifters.

There is no NCAP safety rating for the LX or the Land Cruiser it is based on.

Under the bonnet

The 5.7-litre all-alloy V8 delivers a hefty 270kW and 530Nm. Trouble is it must haul along 2.75 tonnes.

The result is performance that is solid rather than super. However, it engages well with the six-speed auto, making the paddle shifters superfluous and hills and over-taking non-threatening.

Our testing included a Sydney-Coffs Harbour-Sydney round trip of more than 1300km (including stop-start urban traffic), producing a final fuel consumption average of 13.6L/100km. That’s surprisingly good, especially as Lexus only claims 14.8L/100km. Dual tank capacity of 138 litres means a range of 900km or more.

An urban driving diet would inflate that average appreciably, as would the use of anything approaching the LX’s 3500kg braked towing capacity.

How it drives

A ladder frame chassis is designed to conquer the toughest off-road conditions, and we have no reason to doubt the LX can do just that.

But our testing was limited to a few rocky sections on an otherwise unchallenging and scenic bush track.
There was no need for low range or manipulation of Multi-Terrain Select, just drive sensibly and let the plush air suspension and substantial ride height deal with the issues.

On-road, it was a case of setting the variable damping to auto and enjoying the supple ride. A serenely quiet cabin adds to the LX’s credentials as a highway cruiser.

Unsurprisingly, there are body wobbles and a sense of roll and pitch, but the only times it ever felt less than secure was when the live rear axle hopped around after encountering mid-corner bumps.

Steering is loose and light, the former good for off-roading, the latter for navigating tight urban spaces. Big windows, big mirrors and the reversing aids help here too.

Comfort and practicality

Within its 5-metre body the LX can carry up to eight passengers in three rows. The outboard seats in row one and two are powered, the row three seats flip up or down with electrical assistance and the tailgate upper-door also opens at the press of a button.

Naturally, the interior is daubed in leather and there are also liberal doses of a fake mahogany wood trim (if you option the Enhancement Pack).

There are trinkets and touches galore of course. A new “Easy Access” system retracts the steering wheel and driver’s seat when the ignition is switched off; a touch-screen stands imperiously atop a bluff centre stack; there is an imposing row of buttons for suspension comfort, ride height and off-road switches at the base of the centre console; dual sliding armrests cover a huge chill box between the front seats.

But the LX cannot avoid its 4WD origins. Unlike almost all current day off-roaders it is based on a ladder frame chassis (the 200’s of course), and that raise the floor height, so second and third row passengers sit knees up. Otherwise, space is good for two adults in row two and two kids in row three. Filling the middle seats is possible, but not recommended.

Luggage capacity is limited with all three rows in place. Folding even one half of the third row helps significantly.

Porsche 911 Targa

The 2014 Porsche 911 Targa is taking a page from the past or, more specifically, a silver-colored roll bar. Spotted in Germany while undergoing testing ahead of its arrival next year, this Targa prototype offers the clearest preview we've seen of Porsche's latest sun-loving model. Unlike recent iterations of the 911 Targa, which have used a large retractable glass roof panel, this version appears to have a completely removable center section located between the windshield and roll bar.

2014 Porsche 911 Targa

This arrangement hasn't been used in nearly two decades – the 964 generation, built from 1989-1994, was the last to feature the 'classic' targa top. The first 911 Targa appeared in the late 1960s, and the model has played a vital role in terms of Porsche's U.S. sales ever since.

2014 Porsche 911 Targa

Modern Mechanicals Meet Retro Design
As we noted back in August 2011, the Targa hoop might also be available in a retro-themed brushed aluminum finish. Other colors could be optional, depending on the paint job and trim level chosen. Throw on a set of vintage Fuchs-style alloy wheels – along with an avocado green or pumpkin orange paintjob – and you'll have a thoroughly modern 911 with the retro-themed allure of a classic example (minus the twitchy swing-axle rear end).

2014 Porsche 911 Targa

Like the standard 911 coupe, the Targa will be available with a 350-bhp 3.4-liter or 400-bhp 3.6-liter flat-6 engine, coupled to either a 7-speed manual or 7-speed paddle-shift twin-clutch PDK transmission. An official debut early next year at Geneva Auto Show seems likely, with sales to follow shortly thereafter.

Rolls-Royce Corniche

We know Rolls-Royce builds some of the most expensive and luxurious cars in the world, but who could have imagined how creative the British luxury brand was in terms of prototype camouflage. These spy images of the future Rolls-Royce Corniche offer a hint at what the opulent 2-door Rolls will look like once it reaches production in the next couple of years. Though from all the bizarre humps and bumps of this test mule (especially towards the rear of the car), not to mention faux rear doors and massive BMW twin kidney-style grille cut outs, Rolls could be hiding pretty much anything beneath the swirly black and white paintjob. Even the center caps of the 7-spoke alloy wheels have been hidden. Expect the production model to wear a grille that’s slightly smaller and, perhaps, raked back a few more degrees compared to the sedan. While it’s hard to see on this car, the roofline will elegantly taper down to where it meets the trunk – fear not, the blocky rear spoiler on this test car is only part of the extensive disguise.

2014 Rolls-Royce Corniche

No Mystery With This Ghost.
Sorry Rolls-Royce, but we’re here to at least pull the sheets off what’s lurking beneath the surface of this ultra-luxurious coupe. Based on the existing Ghost sedan, presently the cheapest offering in the Rolls arsenal with its sticker price of approximately $250,000, the Corniche will likely cost upwards of $300,000, give or take a couple options (such as armor-plating or gold-plated champagne coolers). Powering the car will be the same 563-bhp twin-turbocharged 6.6-liter V-12 engine and 8-speed automatic transmission found in the 4-door. Performance should be suitably stately, whenever some decorum is needed, and downright rapid if you decide to stomp the gas pedal with your Dolce&Gabbana loafer. A debut at next year’s Geneva auto show seems likely, with production possibly starting later that same year or in early-2014.

2014 Rolls-Royce Corniche