Automotive News & Reviews, Cars & Prices, Test Drives, Crashes » SMART

2013 BMW 4-Series Convertible Spy Shots

admin — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Like clockwork, prototypes for the next-generation BMW 3-Series Convertible have been spotted just a day after prototypes for its hard-top sibling were sighted. Based on the recently revealed 2012 BMW 3-Series, the new convertible, known internally as the ‘F33’, should be on sale in time for the summer of 2013, about the same time the…

Spain’s Aspid Teases New Sports Car

admin — Wed, 23 May 2012 15:00:00 +0000

It’s been a while since we last heard from Spanish sports car manufacturer IFR Aspid. The company’s last car, the SuperSport, has gone on to sell in reasonable numbers and will soon be spawning a successor. IFR Aspid, now called Aspid, has released a teaser image for a new sports car the company plans to launch in the coming year…

Next-Gen Mazda MX-5 To Spawn New Alfa Romeo Spider: Official

admin — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Mazda and Alfa Romeo parent company Fiat have announced the signing of a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development and manufacturing of a new convertible sports car for the Alfa Romeo brand based on Mazda’s next-gen MX-5. Not to be mistaken with the smaller and more exotic Alfa Romeo 4C, which will be built by fellow…

Ferrari 458 Italia Crashes In Dramatic Fashion At Laguna Seca

admin — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Last weekend California’s Laguna Seca race track played host to the American leg of the Ferrari Racing Days, an event where avid race fans, including those in Ferrari’s own Corse Clienti program, congregate in order to race some of the most of the most sought-after cars on the planet. As we saw yesterday, one driver managed to set an…

2014 MINI Cooper S Spy Shots

admin — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:00:00 +0000

A brand new generation of the MINI Cooper is just around the corner, and that means replacements for all the different variants including the sportier S and John Cooper Works trims, as well as new versions of the Clubman, Countryman and all the other bodystyles MINI is now offering. Right off the bat we’ll see a new version of the regular…

Congress (Again) Ponders Military Sports Sponsorship Ban

admin — Wed, 23 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

The United States Army and the National Guard, in the eyes of the Pentagon, are brands that requires ongoing promotion to raise public interest and awareness. One of the most cost-effective ways of doing this, in terms of media exposure and number of eyes-on, is via sponsorship of professional sports like auto racing. In fact, the National Guard…

More Indy Penalties – Turbo Boost To Remain At Lower Level

admin — Wed, 23 May 2012 03:19:00 +0000

Indianapolis Motor Speedway isn’t open for on-track activities on May 22, but today is the day that qualified teams may change to their race engines, provided they are full-season entries that are not here for an Indianapolis 500-only effort or did not change engine manufacturers, as did Panther/Dreyer & Reinbold (Chevy), Team Barracuda BHA…

Porsche Models Coming To Forza Motorsport 4 After All

admin — Wed, 23 May 2012 03:00:00 +0000

Last August, we broke the bad news to you as gently as we could: thanks to licensing restrictions, the Xbox 360 racing simulator Forza Motorsport 4 would have to make do without any models from Porsche. The problem was a legal one: the rights to use Porsche vehicles in video games were held by EA Sports, the rival to Forza’s creator, Turn…

DeltaWing May Race In ALMS After Le Mans

admin — Wed, 23 May 2012 02:48:00 +0000

It might not be “one and done” for the Nissan DeltaWing, scheduled to take garage No. 56 at Le Mans that’s reserved for technically innovative entries that aren’t eligible to receive points in the 24 Heures du Mans on June 16-17. While the revolutionary Delta Wing debuts at The Sarthe circuit after not quite 12 months of effort by its…

Ferrari Racing Days Visits Laguna Seca: Video

admin — Wed, 23 May 2012 02:00:00 +0000

Ferrari’s Corse Clienti program visited California’s storied Laguna Seca circuit last weekend, tied to the Ferrari Challenge North America race. The event drew some uncommon Ferrari models, such as the 333 SP seen in the video above. Released in early 1994, the Ferrari 333 SP heralded the automaker’s return to sports car racing…