USA - The 2018 Camaro is topped off with a lighter weight ZL1 1LE supercharged model.

The ZL1 1LE — the ultimate Camaro track-day model — leads the 2018 Camaro lineup, taking the track-focused 1LE legacy to an unprecedented level. With racing-based suspension and aero technologies, as well as Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R summer-only tires,* the ZL1 1LE represents the most extreme track-focused Camaro to date.

The new ZL1 1LE Extreme Track Performance Package (order code A1Z) will cost $7,500, bringing MSRP of the 2018 ZL1 1LE to $69,995, which includes the $995 destination freight charge.

“In the long, storied history of Camaro performance, there’s never been another model that matches the capability of the ZL1 1LE,” said Steve Majoros, Chevrolet cars and crossovers marketing director. 

“With the addition of the new 650-horsepower ZL1 1LE, the Camaro lineup is more diverse and exciting than ever, offering customers the ability to select and personalize their ultimate performance car.”

Additional ZL1 1LE highlights include:

• Downforce-producing aero: Unique features include a carbon fiber rear wing, specific air deflectors and dive planes on the front fascia that produce grip-generating downforce to help the car stick harder and drive faster in turns.
• Adjustable suspension: Racing-derived, lightweight Multimatic DSSV® (Dynamic Suspension Spool Valve) dampers front and rear offer exceptional wheel and vehicle control. The front-end ride height is adjustable, along with the caster geometry. The rear stabilizer bar also offers three-way adjustability.
• Wheels and tires: New, specific lightweight forged aluminum wheels are an inch wider but an inch smaller in diameter, front and rear, than standard ZL1 wheels and are used with new Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R tires that deliver max lateral grip of 1.10g. The overall footprint grows approximately 10 percent over the ZL1, but the wheel-and-tire package weighs about 3.3 pounds (1.5 kg) less per corner.
• Lighter weight: The lighter wheels and dampers, along with thinner rear glass and a fixed-back rear seat, contribute to an approximately 60-pound (27 kg) lower curb weight than a standard ZL1 Coupe. 
• Supercharged performance and more: The power behind the ZL1 1LE is the 650-horsepower, supercharged LT4 engine backed by a six-speed manual transmission featuring Active Rev Match. Brembo brakes are also included, along with dual-zone automatic climate control, Bose premium audio system, heated/ventilated front seats and heated steering wheel.

Camaro for 2018

The Camaro lineup is offered in LS, LT, SS and ZL1 models, which are available in coupe and convertible body styles. The performance-oriented 1LE package is offered on LS, LT, SS and ZL1 coupes, with track-focused content specific to each model.

In addition, on SS models the 1LE package is now available with the uplevel 2SS trim (late availability).

The Redline Edition package returns for 2018, offering a distinctive, personalized appearance that includes black front and rear bowtie emblems, red-accented grille, hash mark graphic, decklid blackout graphic, dark-finish taillamps, black outside mirrors, 20-inch black aluminum wheels with red accents and more. It is available on LS, LT and SS models.

The 2018 Camaro lineup goes on sale this summer.

Honda has today announced a new addition to the popular British-built Civic range. The 1.4 i-VTEC Civic Sport.

• New 1.4-litre petrol engine joins Civic Sport line up from May
• Available from £199 a month on PCP
• Similar aggressive styling to race car for the road Civic Type R

Honda has today announced a new addition to the popular British-built Civic range.  The 1.4 i-VTEC Civic Sport will become the entry level product in the Civic family when it hits showrooms next month.

Priced at £18,360 OTR or £199 a month on a three year PCP deal with 5.9% APR and a deposit of £3,415, the new 1.4-litre petrol engine variant, available in manual transmission, joins the 1.6-litre, 120 PS diesel engine and the 1.8-litre, 142 PS petrol engine in the Civic Sport line up.

Specifically styled as a more sporty and aggressive version of the family hatchback , the Civic Sport features a unique colour-coded rear spoiler and 17-inch alloy wheels and shares some of the striking design characteristics of the Civic Type R, with a lower grille mesh and a black roof lining for the cabin.

The advanced 1.4-litre i-VTEC single overhead camshaft (SOHC) engine has been fine-tuned to boost both its dynamic performance and its environmental credentials.  CO₂ emissions are at 131 g/km while the engine delivers a maximum power output of 100 PS and a torque figure of 127 Nm. 

With the next generation Civic concept unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show and due in showrooms at the start of 2017, Honda UK is revising the current Civic family line up in line with customer demand.  The Sport will become the entry level with the SE and SR grades completing the line up.

Philip Crossman, Managing Director at Honda UK, commented: “The addition of the 1.4-litre petrol engine version of the Sport strengthens our Civic family line up and makes the more aggressively styled version of our popular family hatchback more accessible. 

“The smaller engine makes the Civic Sport more economical and more efficient and therefore a much more attractive proposition.”

The new 1.4 i-VTEC Civic Sport will be available in Honda showrooms from May onwards.

Kia to expand its Green Car line up from 4 today to 11 by 2020, and to replace 70% of its current engines.

• Green car line-up expected to grow from four to 11 models by 2020
• Kia targeting hydrogen fuel cell vehicle production within five years
• Kia aiming to improve average fuel efficiency by 25% over 2014 levels
• Roadmap for low emission cars includes clean combustion, hybrid- and pure- electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuel cells
• 70% of current engine range set to be replaced by more efficient units

Kia Motors today announced its mid- to long-term plans for the development of a greatly increased range of environmentally friendly vehicles. The brand’s ‘green car roadmap’ sets out Kia’s ambition to become a leader in the low emissions car market by 2020.

It is anticipated that the five-year development plan will see Kia further increase its investment in research and development (R&D) into fuel-efficient technologies and new products, with a range of all-new models and highly advanced powertrains for global markets.

The new investment by Hyundai Motor Group, Kia’s parent company, totals 11.3 trillion won (US$10.2 billion), for the development of a range of new eco-friendly models and building the facilities required for the brand’s efforts to further reduce its CO₂ output. The investment is likely to result in the creation of thousands of new jobs in domestic R&D positions.

Ki-Sang Lee, Senior Vice President, Eco Friendly Vehicle R&D Center, Kia Motors Corporation, commented, “Global market demand is shifting to electric vehicles, with oil prices predicted to rise in future. The electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle market will grow rapidly in the coming years, and this investment will enable Kia to meet the growing demand with a range of advanced new products and technologies.”

Lee added, “We don’t believe that there is any one ‘silver bullet’ that can satisfy the demand for low emission technology within the car industry, so we foresee a wide range of eco-friendly powertrains co-existing for an extended period of time. The plans we’ve announced today represent Kia’s ambition to become a worldwide leader in advanced propulsion technology.”

Kia’s green car line-up to expand

By 2020, Kia’s current green car line-up is expected to grow from four current models to 11. This expanded range of environmentally-friendly vehicles will encompass a wide range of advanced powertrains, from hybrids and plug-in hybrids to battery-electric and fuel cell electric vehicles.

The first models to be launched featuring new types of powertrains under the brand’s 2020 vision for low emissions cars will be the Kia Optima PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle), which will feature a high capacity lithium-polymer battery pack and electric motor, as well as an efficient six-speed automatic transmission, and the Niro hybrid utility vehicle (HUV), which will target CO₂ emissions of 90 g/km (combined, based on the New European Driving Cycle).

Kia to introduce production hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in 2020

As part of this five-year plan, Kia is targeting a 2020 launch for mass production of an all-new hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, featuring next-generation hydrogen fuel stack technology. Kia is working alongside 300 partner companies to develop the next-generation FCEV technology for global markets. Production of the new Kia FCEV is aimed to be around 1,000 units per year, a figure expected to rise as demand for fuel cell vehicles increases.

Kia’s FCEV will feature a fuel stack similar in size to a 2.0-litre internal combustion engine, which development teams believe will offer drivers a high level of durability and power density from the advanced powertrain. Kia engineers are planning to develop the brand’s next-generation fuel cell stack to be 5% more efficient and offer 10% greater stack performance, despite being around 15% lighter and 15% lower in volume, compared to current generation fuel cell stacks. The result is a targeted range of more than 800 km from a single fill-up and a top speed of around 170 kph (106 mph).

The durability of the car’s fuel cell stack and electric motor will be comprehensively assessed, with tests of existing fuel cell stacks from Hyundai Motor Group – Kia’s parent company – covering over 200,000 km on the road. Modern production techniques, system components and electronic control technologies will help Kia to deliver a vehicle that features the high quality standards and levels of innovation that customers have come to expect from the brand.

Kia’s research into fuel cells date back to 1998, which resulted in the creation of the limited production Kia Mohave FCEV, able to travel up to 690 km on a single fill-up.

Average fuel efficiency to increase by 25% by 2020

These plans will help Kia in its aim to raise its average corporate fuel efficiency by 25% over 2014 levels by 2020. As well as investment in advanced propulsion technologies, Kia will also replace seven out of its 10 current engine ranges with next-generation gasoline and diesel units, while increasing the number of turbocharged engines. Higher-efficiency, multi-speed transmissions are also planned, while Kia engineers are targeting a 5% reduction in the average weight of new car bodies through greater application of ultra-high strength steel.

Advanced powertrain investment to create thousands of new jobs

The investment by Kia’s parent company, Hyundai Motor Group, into the development of highly-advanced, highly-efficient powertrain technology as well as smart car technology is expected to create more than 7,300 new jobs, predominantly in R&D roles, over the next four years. Additional job creation is also expected through ongoing investments into the company’s R&D and production facilities, with new overseas Kia production facilities also generating new jobs, directly and indirectly.

Editor’s note: All technical data contained in this press release are expected targets, pending further development and homologation. All figures are subject to change.

USA - Porsche adds a new Special edition Cayman Black Edition model to its new and re-invigorated range.

Exclusive edition of 2016 Porsche Cayman in classic color combination

Porsche is expanding the Black Edition line-up to include a new special edition of the Cayman. A strong complement inside the special edition series, which also includes the Boxster and the 911 Carrera, the Cayman Black Edition is distinguished with a timeless Black on Black design and an extensive level of standard equipment. 

Improvements to standard equipment include enhanced headlights, wheels, and sound system. Additional standard content includes the Sport Design steering wheel, door sill guards with Black Edition logo, auto-dimming rear view mirrors, and headrests embossed with the Porsche crest. Black paint is standard, while Jet Black Metallic is available as an option.

The Cayman Black Edition is powered by a 2.7 liter flat-six engine with 275 hp. 20-inch Carrera Classic wheels and Bi-Xenon headlights with PDLS (Porsche Dynamic Light System) set distinctive highlights, while two-zone climate control and heated seats provide a higher level of comfort for both driver and passenger. The Porsche Communication Management system with navigation, the upgraded Sound Package Plus and Park Assist for front and rear are also included as standard features on the Cayman Black Edition.

The Cayman Black Edition will reach showrooms in January, 2016. MSRP is $59,200, not including a $995 destination charge.