Freaky Five-Door: Audi Prices 560-HP 2014 RS7 from $105,795

Audi’s A7 luxury five-door is one of the most attractive cars on the market, but it has since birthed the higher-performance S7 and now, this: The 2014 RS7. Compared to the S7 and regular A7, the RS7 packs an additional 140 and 250 horsepower, respectively. Now Audi has revealed how much more than those two models the RS7 will cost. At a starting price of $105,795, the RS7 will set buyers back quite a bit more than the A7 and S7, but then Audi claims it can hit 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and top out at 174 mph.

For those who aren’t keen on doing the math, allow us to crunch the numbers and illuminate how the RS7 costs $40,400 more than the A7, which is powered by a 310-hp, supercharged V-6. The next-speediest model in the A7 family, the S7, is still $24,700 cheaper; it is powered by a lower-output version of the RS7’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8. On the upside, the RS7 is quite a bit more affordable than the (less expensive) BMW M6 Gran Coupe, which, like the RS7, is just a slinkier version of a regular sedan. (The RS7 essentially is a sultrier RS6 sedan, while the BMW is an M5 with a less-practical back seat.) Mercedes-Benz’s rough equal for the RS7, the CLS63 AMG, was priced at less than $100,000 before it was refreshed for 2014—pricing for that car is not yet available, but it is still down 10 ponies on the Audi. (Mercedes-Benz hasn’t revealed how much it will charge for its newly all-wheel-drive E63 AMG wagon, but it should come in near the RS7.) Impressively, the RS7 is rated for the same 27 mpg on the highway as the S7 (down 1 mpg from the V-6 A7) and just 1 mpg lower in the city, thanks to engine stop-start and cylinder-deactivation features.

While buyers can get the A7 in Premium Plus and Prestige trims, content-wise, the RS7 comes standard with the ritzier Prestige gear. As befits a car in this price category, the RS7 is available with a number of luxury options and packages. Techies will gravitate toward the $500 Cold Weather package, $2800 Driver Assistance package (adaptive cruise, front and rear cameras, lane-keeping assist, Audi Pre Sense Plus pre-crash system), the $5900 Bang & Olufsen sound system, and $2800 Innovation package (head-up display, night-vision camera). Vanity fans will dig the $2000 Comfort Seating package (ritzier leather with diamond-quilted inserts, 22-way power front seats with a massage function and ventilation), $4000 Carbon-Optic package (high-gloss black and carbon-fiber exterior trim; also requires $1000 sports exhaust), and $1000 21-inch five-spoke wheels.

Go all-in on the options, and the RS7’s price tag easily exceeds $130,000—but when you consider that Audi refuses to send Americans its excellent RS6 Avant wagon, what price can you put on owning a luxurious, hot Audi five-door?

2015 Porsche Macan Turbo Spy Photos

What It Is: Porsche’s upcoming mid-size SUV, the Macan, caught testing wearing almost no camouflage. The Macan, which carried a code name of Cajun—short for “Cayenne Junior”—is smaller than the Cayenne and designed to bring even more buyers into the Porsche fold. Our spy photographers previously captured a Macan prototype out for testing, but it had considerably more camouflage than the car you see here. We’ve also gleaned new details about the Macan’s powertrain in the interim.

Why It Matters: Although brand purists will cry foul, the Macan is poised to become quite the moneymaker for Porsche. Of course, this cash flow will help bankroll the cars these purists love—the excellent Cayman,Boxster, and 911—in a similar fashion to the successful Cayenne and Panamera. The smaller, more affordable Macan also gives Porsche a seat at the table in the ultra-hot luxury-crossover segment.

Platform: If the Porsche Macan’s basic stance and profile seem familiar, that’s because underneath, it’s an Audi Q5. Some dimensions will be altered for the Porsche, including its width (which will grow) and height (which will shrink). As is visible in these photos, the Macan will have Porsche-specific styling, right down to its sporty door mirrors and intake-riddled front end. This prototype is wearing odd headlight and taillight stickers intended to throw off an examination of those critical styling elements, but the cut-line for the front peepers is visible and roughly mimics those of the Cayman and Panamera. The fascia carries a heavy Cayenne vibe, as do the body sides and roofline. Out back, the rear window is steeply raked, and the fast D-pillar is stylishly thick, if detrimental to blind-spot visibility. Overall, the car closely imitates the Cayenne, but with smaller, tighter, and even sportier proportions.

Competition: Audi Q5, BMW X3/X4, Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, Mercedes-Benz GLK-class.Powertrain: The Macan will come in two trim levels: S and Turbo. Both will be powered by versions of Porsche’s new twin-turbo 3.0-liter V-6 engine, which was introduced via the 2014 Panamera. Expect the base S variant to make 340 horsepower, while the more powerful and sportier Turbo will get a solid 400. (Based on the big wheels, red brake calipers, and quad exhaust outlets on the test car pictured here, it’s a good bet this is the zestier Turbo model.) Look for all-wheel drive to be standard, as it is in the Cayenne. As for the transmission, a seven-speed dual-clutch unit is most likely.

Estimated Arrival and Price: The Macan will be introduced this fall at the Los Angeles auto show, and should go on sale shortly thereafter at a starting price of around $45,000. Actual transaction prices, of course, will depend heavily on how deep customers plunge into Porsche’s vast options and personalization catalog. A well-optioned Macan Turbo could pack an eye-wateringly expensive sticker. View Photo Gallery

Name That Shifter, No. 139: 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am

On Monday, we presented this week’s shifter and asked you to identify the make and model of the vehicle whence it came. We had figured that a few of you would recognize the shifter, but a lot of you did. The first commenter to do so was Rickster, who will receive a Save the Manuals button and sticker as a reward for identifying the shifter as a 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am’s four-speed.

The Trans Am pictured here is from our July 1977 issue, and it wasn’t stock—though its shifter was. The car was worked over by racer Herb Adams to make it more track-worthy. It got dry-sump lubrication, a zestier carburetor and intake manifold, new headers, custom exhaust, experimental four-wheel disc brakes, and Koni shocks. By the late ’70s, the Trans Am was something of a ponderous porker, but we described Adams’ car as “a Trans Am worthy of the name.”

If you can’t wait until next week for more knobby action, be sure to check out our latest Show Us Your Knobs contest. Post a photo of your knob (as in, your manual shifter), and you could win a Save the Manuals prize pack! Plus, silly wordplay with the word “knob” is always funny.

Ford to Offer Compressed Natural Gas Prep Package on 2014 F-150

Ford has announced that it will offer customers a compressed natural gas (GNG) prep package on the 2014 F-150 pickup. Although it isn’t a full conversion, Ford’s package sets the F-150 up to be converted by a Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier. The kit is available only on F-150s equipped with the base 3.7-liter V-6 engine, and it includes hardened valves, valve seats, pistons, and rings. With the prep kit, the F-150 can run on either gasoline or natural gas (via separate fuel systems), as well as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

According to Ford, the CNG/LPG prep package will cost roughly $315, but outfitting the truck with the requisite CNG fuel tank and fuel-delivery systems will set buyers back between $7500 and $9500. Still, Ford claims that customers who opt for the kit and the pricey CNG up-fit can see a return on their investment within 24–36 months, thanks to the ultra-low price of natural gas. The fuel can cost as little as a buck a (gasoline equivalent) gallon—as opposed to the current price of regular gas, which is hovering in the mid-$3 range—meaning fleets that travel lots of miles could legitimately see savings in a short period of time.

Ford claims the F-150 is the only CNG/LPG-capable half-ton pickup on the market, but technically most any vehicle—other half-tons included—can be converted to use natural gas, so the boast is somewhat disingenuous. Perhaps more accurate, Ford is the only manufacturer to offer a preparatory package that primes a half-ton for conversion. (Ram offers a turn-key natural-gas-powered 2500 heavy-duty pickup, and the Mopar catalog offers conversion bits for regular 1500s.) The F-150 is only the latest Ford commercial vehicle to offer a gaseous-prep engine option, and the automaker predicts it will offer eight different compatible models within the next year. Those models include the Transit Connect, the new Transit van, the outgoing E-series van, F-series Super Duty pickups, F-450 and F-550 Super Duty chassis cabs, the F-650 medium-duty truck, and the F53 and F59 stripped chassis. The multitude of CNG-prepped models are part of Ford’s plan to sell 15,000 such vehicles this year.

Chevrolet Onix e Prisma tem segundo aumento de preços este ano

Não adianta. Todo carro que faz sucesso no mercado brasileiro tem sucessivos aumentos de preço, para testar até onde o consumidor está disposto a pagar. O Chevrolet Onix foi lançado em outubro do ano passado com preços a partir de R$ 29.990. Em janeiro deste ano o modelo passou a partir de R$ 30.790, e agora tem o segundo aumento de preços de 2013, com sua tabela começando em R$ 30.990.

Já o Chevrolet Prisma, lançado mais recentemente, também teve um aumento de preços, no mês passado e agora novamente. Dois aumentos de preço em apenas 40 dias.

Visitando o site da Chevrolet, notamos que a versão de entrada do Onix subiu, mas as outras também. Vamos a uma comparação, mostrando o preço de outubro de 2012, o preço de janeiro e o preço atual. No caso de algumas versões, mostramos apenas dois preços, o de 2012 e o de hoje, já que não publicamos os preços reajustados em janeiro:

Chevrolet Onix LS 1.0 – R$ 29.990 -> R$ 30.790 -> R$ 30.990
Chevrolet Onix LT 1.0 – R$ 31.690 -> R$ 32.590
Chevrolet Onix LT 1.4 – R$ 35.290 -> R$ 36.190
Chevrolet Onix LTZ 1.4 – R$ 41.990 -> R$ 43.090 -> R$ 44.190

As versões com câmbio automático que acabaram de ser lançadas não tiveram aumento de preços. O Onix LT 1.4 automático continua custando R$ 43.390 e o LTZ 1.4 automático R$ 47.190.

Agora falando do Prisma, alistamos também seus aumentos de preço:

Chevrolet Prisma LT 1.0 – R$ 34.990 -> R$ 35.390 -> R$ 35.790
Chevrolet Prisma LT 1.4 – R$ 39.090 -> R$ 39.490 -> R$ 39.890
Chevrolet Prisma LTZ 1.4 – R$ 45.990 -> R$ 46.490 -> R$ 46.990

As versões automáticas do Prisma não tiveram aumento de preço. O Prisma LT 1.4 continua custando R$ 46.390 e a versão LTZ 1.4 continua tendo preço de tabela de R$ 49.990.

Chevrolet Spin 2014 tem sistema MyLink e transmissão atualizada

A Chevrolet Spin 2014 está sendo divulgada hoje pela GM. As novidades do modelo são o sistema MyLink, que já estava disponível nos modelos Onix, Prisma e Cobalt e também uma transmissão manual atualizada.

As unidades da Spin 2014 com câmbio manual recebem a segunda geração F1X, que conta com um novo conjunto de sincronizadores triplos para 1ª e 2ª marchas e a adição de sincronizadores duplos para 3ª e 4ª marchas , possibilitando ao motorista engates com menor esforço e a possibilidade de trocas mais esportivas. A nova geração contempla também a ré sincronizada, o que facilita o engate da marcha a ré em manobras.

O Chevrolet MyLink da Spin 2014 permite ao usuário trazer suas músicas, fotos, vídeos e aplicativos do celular para dentro do veículo, além de fazer ligações telefônicas via Bluetoothpor meio da tecnologia HFT (Hands Free Telephone). Ele se destaca por sua interface intuitiva e de fácil navegação, a qual faz uso de uma tela LCD 7’’ touch screen.

O sistema multimídia Chevrolet MyLink está disponível como item de série somente na versão LTZ (7 lugares). A versão LT (5 lugares) passa a contar com a cobertura de porta-malas como item de série e, os pacotes R9X e R9Y terão bagageiro de teto de série.

A Chevrolet Spin 2014 está disponível com motor 1.8 Econo.Flex, com opções de transmissão manual e automática – esta última de seis velocidades.

Os carros mais vendidos do mês de julho de 2013

O mercado de automóveis e comerciais leves sofreu queda de 7,82% em relação a 2012 com venda de 323.916 unidades, mas em relação ao mês anterior, o volume foi 6,94% superior. O acumulado do ano continua com saldo positivo e nesse caso de 2,42%.

Entre os automóveis, a Fiat liderou com 21,26%, seguida por GM (20,97%), VW (18,02%), Ford (9,54%) e Renault (6,74%). Nos comerciais, a italiana manteve a frente com 18,96%, tendo VW (15,89%), Ford (12,46%), GM (12,46%) e Renault (9,01%). Note que Ford e GM empataram nos utilitários. No geral, a Fiat ficou na frente com 20,74%, seguida pela GM (19,03%), VW (17,53%), Ford (10,21%) e Renault (7,26%). A GM novamente ficando à frente da Volks.

Entre os automóveis, o Gol mantém boa vantagem para o Palio com 5.404 unidades de diferença. O Uno segue perto do irmão e logo atrás já aparece o Fiesta, em boa fase no mercado. Fox, Classic e Siena ficaram muito próximos, da mesma forma que HB20, Sandero e Onix, que caiu na tabela e fechou o grupo dos 10 mais vendidos. Civic continua na frente do Corolla, mas a presença de Voyage, Celta, Prisma e Cobalt empurraram a dupla nipônica para baixo no ranking. O Etios Hatch já está entre os 20 mais vendidos.

Nos comerciais leves, a Strada nem precisa mais de propaganda, pois já está se vendendo. Bem distante, a Saveiro aparece em segundo, seguida bem de perto pelo EcoSport. O Duster reagiu bem e fechou julho em quinto. Hilux e Montana surgem depois e encontram a dupla da VW, com a Kombi mostrando para a novata Amarok que pode ser sessentona, mas ainda vende muito bem… Por fim, a Ranger fecha o grupo dos 10.