Peugeot Le Mans Dealer Creates 208 Rallye Concept, Should the French Automaker Build it?

If you lived or grew up in Europe during the late 1980s through the early 2000s, you will no doubt remember the iconic Rallye series from Peugeot, which started out with the 205 supermini and continued with the 306 compact and the smaller 106.

The common denominator of the series was that the Rallye models were usually based on fast versions of their respective hatchback counterparts (i.e. the 106 XSi and 306 GTI) but did away with most luxury amenities such as electric windows and mirrors, the heavy seats and in some cases, even power assisted steering and airbags.

Peugeot's ultimate goal was to lower the cars' weight to improve performance and handling while also offering them at a lower price point – something that made the Rallye models extremely popular with driving enthusiasts on a budget.

Today, Peugeot is looking to re-enter the sports hatch segment with the new 208 GTi that is lighter at 1,160kg (2,557 pounds), smaller, and thanks to its new 197hp (200PS) 1.6-liter turbo engine, more powerful than the disappointing 206 and 207 GTi models.

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Concepts , New Cars , Peugeot , Peugeot 208 , Peugeot Concepts

2013 Jaguar F-Type Disclosed in New Photos Including the First of the Interior

While Jaguar itself was releasing videos of the new F-Type in camouflage, a member of the Teamspeed forums unloaded a fresh gallery of 14 pictures that show us the open-top sports car from in two different shades from all sorts of angles, including the never before seen interior.

We can happily report that the styling of the roadster model's rear end with its sharp lines, narrow taillights and a protruding pair of twin exhaust pipes has also remained true to the well-received C-X16 Coupe Concept model.

The same appears to be case for the interior, at least from this point of view with only some minor changes to the design of the body-hugging seats and possibly the trim décor.

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jaguar , Jaguar F-Type , New Cars , Paris Auto Show

Jaguar Releases Final Test Track Videos of the F-Type Before the Big Unveiling in Paris

As the countdown for the grand-premiere of the all-new F-Type at the Paris Motor Show this Thursday officially begins, Jaguar published the final clips of its teaser video series on the development of the rear-wheel drive roadster model.

The first video named "Fierce" takes us to the Nardo Test Facility in Italy, where the British firm's engineers performed numerous high-speed tests on the unique ring shaped track that allowed the F-Type to reach its maximum velocity.

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jaguar , Jaguar F-Type , Jaguar Videos , New Cars , Nurburgring , Paris Auto Show , Video

Tesla CEO Cagey About 2012 Model S Sales, Confident About Meeting 2013 Targets

Two months ago, Tesla co-founder and CEO Elon Musk said that his company would deliver 5,000 units of its Model S this year. Yet, when he was interviewed on Bloomberg Television’s “In the Loop with Betty Liu” on September 21, he was reluctant to confirm that the company’s electric saloon would indeed meet its initial sales target.

“I need to be very hesitant about talking about any near-term metrics for Tesla”, said Musk who, nevertheless, was buoyant about Tesla’s 2013 targets claiming that it will deliver 20,000 units and achieve a gross margin of “more than 20 percent”.

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ebay , New Cars , Reports , Tesla , Tesla Model S

All-Electric iQ Revealed, but Only 100 will be Produced as Toyota Prefers to Focus on PHEVs

While electric vehicles may not yet have substantial range to be as versatile as hybrids or internal-combustion engine models, if the their use is confined in daily commute in cities, theoretically then, their range is more than enough to satisfy most drivers’ needs.

The iQ city car (sold under the Scion nameplate in North America) is designed specifically designed to be used in an urban environment. Prototypes were displayed at both the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show in the form of the FT-EV III concept and this year’s Geneva Auto Show. Now Toyota has officially revealed a plug-in all-electric variant – but it will not enter full production.

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Electric Vehicles , New Cars , Paris Auto Show , Reports , Toyota , Toyota Videos , Toyota-Scion iQ , Video

Maserati Officially Announces but Reveals Very Little About New GranCabrio MC

The release of the first photos of the new GranCabrio MC on Friday has been followed up by an official confirmation from Maserati - though, the Italian sports car maker is holding back most of the details until the Paris Motor Show.

What Maserati did reveal is that the GranTurismo MC Stradale inspired the creation of the new GranCabrio MC model with which it completes the open-top model's range.

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Maserati , Maserati GranCabrio , New Cars , Paris Auto Show

Carscoop’s A to Z Guide to the 2012 Paris Motor Show

The European car market may be in trouble because of the financial crisis that’s been dragging on for a long time now, but carmakers are gearing up to display their latest models in the City of Light.

From September 29 until October 14, the Paris Expo at the Porte de Versailles will host some of this year’s most important world premieres.

The French automakers have chosen the 2012 Paris Auto Show to launch models like the all-new Renault Clio, the Peugeot 208 GTi and the Citroen DS3 Cabrio.

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Concepts , New Cars , Paris Auto Show , Reports

Only About 5 Percent of all Chrysler U.S. Dealers to Sell New 2013 SRT Viper, Each will be Charged $25k

As the Chrysler Group's undisputed "halo" car, one would believe that the Detroit-based carmaker would want most of its U.S. dealers to be able to show and sell the new 2013 SRT Viper, but that's not the case.

An Autonews report back in July, quoted Ralph Gilles, CEO of the SRT brand, saying that around 15 to 20 percent (or roughly 340 to 460 showrooms) of Chrysler's more than 2,300 U.S. dealers will carry the V10-powered sports car, but according to USA Today, Gilles has now lowered that number even more to only about 100 to 150 shops or 4-6%.

Gilles told the newspaper that the No. 1 requirement, "Is first of all, to have the fire, the passion. That's the unofficial requirement -- that you have a love affair with the cars and you just love fast cars."

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Chrysler , New Cars , Reports , SRT , SRT Viper