Is Alpine heading for our shores?
Is the Renault Alpine heading to North America? That’s a distinct possibility, according to the Sleuth’s sources. Although the Alpine name is well known in Europe as a successful rally and luxury model, it’s mostly unknown in North America, except among a few die-hard fans. Now a brand new version, christened the Alpine A110, is set to roll off a Renault-Nissan Alliance assembly plant in France for the 2018 model year. The car will reportedly use a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine (similar to the one used in the Nissan Juke Nismo) mated to a seven-speed automated manual transmission. The version of the Alpine A110 that would arrive here would possibly wear an Infiniti badge and be priced in the $60,000-$70,000 US range.
The 2018 Wrangler is in final development: The Spymaster’s operatives recently spotted disguised versions of Jeep’s two- and four-door models that make up two of three new JL-series Wranglers. The remaining model will be a four-door pickup that, at least for now, goes by the name “Safari.” Although the upcoming Wranglers closely resemble the current models, the boxed frame is newer and lighter and many of the body panels will be made of aluminum. The base engine will be a turbocharged four-cylinder, while a variation of the current V-6 will be optional on two-door variants, but most likely standard in the four-door model and the Safari truck. The pickup will also be available with a canvas roof, making it the only truck of its type to be sold as a convertible.
Meet the latest member of the Land Rover family: The Sleuth was caught off-guard when the latest member of the Land Rover family landed on the automaker’s website, ready to buy, with a $62,000 base price in Canada. The 2018 all-wheel-drive Range Rover Velar (from the Latin verb velare meaning to cover or veil) borrows some of its styling cues from the Range Rover Evoque, especially the sloping roofline. The Velar can be had with a base 247-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder, an optional 180-horsepower 2.0-litre turbodiesel four-cylinder, or a supercharged 3.0litre 380-horsepower V-6. An eight-speed automatic transmission is used by all three powerplants.
The 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS has been outed: The Sleuth’s ever-vigilant observers recently spotted the latest edition of the car that began the whole four-door “coupe” craze a decade ago. Of course, there are notable differences to report. The roofline appears not quite so swoopy, which should please those seated in back. The car appears to be larger overall and closer dimensionally to the current E-Class sedan (it will probably use that model’s platform). That likely means two turbocharged 3.0-litre V-6s, making 329 and 396 horsepower, will likely be used, while the potent 577-horsepower 5.5-litre V-8 will anchor the AMG version.
VW maps out plans for the Atlas: The more info being fed to the Spy Guy about Volkswagen’s upcoming Tennessee-built tall wagon, the more intrigued he becomes. The seven-seat model will likely generate plenty of interest by providing significantly more third-row leg space than competitors such as the Honda Pilot, Ford Explorer, GMC Acadia and Toyota Highlander. The Atlas will also come with one of the highest towing ratings among its peers, although the final numbers are not known at this time. Available engines include a standard turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder and optional 3.6-litre V-6. The automaker is expected to introduce a plug-in hybrid version a year or so following the Atlas’s launch later this year.
Takata admits guilt and fined in airbag scandal: A Detroit, Michigan, judge has approved a proposed $1-billion US fine that the airbag maker will pay for hiding evidence concerning the product’s faulty inflators. Of that amount, $750 million will go to automakers to help defray the costs of recalling and repairing millions of affected vehicles, while $125 million will be paid to those injured by the airbags’ deployment, or to the families of those who died of injuries from the devices.
Rolls-Royce tiny ride for sick kids: The BMWowned maker of luxury automobiles has donated an electric-powered car built especially for youngsters awaiting surgery at a hospital close to the automakers factory in Chichester, England. The little Rolls will be used by kids who can drive themselves to the operating room, instead of being wheeled there on a gurney.