Mazda RX-7

50th Anniversary Rotary Engine

Mazda 16X Rotary Engine

With the RX-8 out of production earlier this year, Mazda is now left without a rotary engine in its lineup. The main reason for the engine’s downfall is its heavy fuel consumption and subsequent high emissions, which makes it simply not needed in the current market.

Mazda is working on a new rotary engine, and it is expected to come out next year. It will be a range-extender for an electric car, which will most likely be based on the next-generation Mazda3.  Although the rotary engine seems to be getting sucked in with the funnel for a more fuel efficient motor, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel.

According to one of Mazda’s top engineers, the rotary’s future is much brighter than simply being a range-extender for an Eco machine. According to The Motor Report, Nobuhiro Yamamoto, program manager for the Mazda MX-5, said that a new RX-7 sports car was in the works and that it will be launched in 2017, the 50th anniversary year of the Mazda Cosmo Sport, Mazda’s first rotary-powered car and the first volume production car to feature such an engine.

Drawing of 2017 RX-7

He revealed that the "new RX-7 would feature Mazda’s still-in-development 16X rotary engine, which will retain the previous 13B’s twin-rotor design but will see its displacement increase to 1.6 liters." Peak output will likely come close to 300 horsepower, and that's without help from a turbocharger.

The last RX-7 on the market was in 2002, with twin turbochargers it put out only 280 hp and a top speed of 155 (factory limit).  In 2017 we should see a more fuel efficient, lighter, and faster RX-7.

Yamamoto explained that Mazda’s latest SKYACTIV technology will help the new rotary engine be much more fuel-efficient than previous versions. He also said there would be no hybrid option for the RX-7 because of its sports car appeal.

In the U.S. the next RX-7 is expected to come as a strict two-seater.

Sadly, five more years is still a very, very long time to wait.  But when it's here the RX-7 will be a thing of beauty.

Read More:  http://www.motortrend.com/future/future_vehicles/1004_future_mazda_rx_7/

2014 Jaguar XFR-S

2014 Jaguar XFR-S 

At the Los Angeles Auto Show serious performance was displayed, where the 2014 Jaguar XFR-S sedan was revealed.  The letters in Jaguar's R-S breed don't stand for “really serious,” but maybe they should.

Much like the performance-oriented 2012 Jaguar XKR-S, the 2014 XFR-S is all business, dressed in carbon-fiber, enhanced aerodynamic treatments and wide, 20-inch wheels.

Engine

2014 Jaguar XFR-S Engine

The supercharged 5.0-liter V8 in the XFR-S leaps to 550 hp and 502 lb-ft allowing for a cat-like, 4.4-second sprint to 60 mph and a top speed of 186 mph. The power-train is completed with a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox.  The new 2014 Jaguar XFR-S is ranked as the company's fastest, most agile and powerful sports sedan ever.

Even with all that additional power, the XFR-S is expected to get up to 23 mpg on the highway. That means it won't be subject to the gas-guzzler tax.

Exterior

The 2013 XFR-S is offered in five colors: French Racing Blue, Stratus gray, Italian racing red, ultimate black and Polaris white. These colors are merged with a gloss-black trim.

2014 Jaguar XFR-S Front View

The body comes standard with an elongated aero blade and side sills, extended rear bumper, new spoilers, and side moldings. The aerodynamic package was created using carbon fiber and helps by lowering the body weight. Also, the XFR-S is fitted with 20-inch Varuna alloy-wheel to go with Pirelli tires.


Sale

Now you better hurry because only 100 Jaguar XFR-S sedans will be available for the 2014 model year in the United States, starting at $99,875.  According to MotorTrend the XFR-S will, "sell out for those who like the XKR-S but need an extra set of doors."  This sporty sedan should astound it's audience when put to the test.

I find this car a thing of beauty.  The Jaguar XFR-S may seem superficial but in reality it's power backs it's beauty.  Although the XFR-S's base price reaches $100,000 you have to realize this is a luxury sedan.  Meaning it's for a select few, but admiring it's elegance is open to all.

http://wot.motortrend.com/2014-jaguar-xfr-s-is-fastest-jaguar-sedan-ever-2012-l-a-295205.html#axzz2MrOLPtFn

Top 10 Most Efficient Non-Hybrid 2013 Cars 

(By Combined Mileage)

With hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric vehicles topping the fuel/energy efficiency charts, Motor Trend put together a list of the most efficient fossil-fuel powered cars based on the EPA’s combined rating for the 2013 models. This list is consists of equal parts gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles. 

Here are the top EPA-rated non-hybrid vehicles available from lowest to highest (ties broken by the model with the highest highway mileage, then city mileage):

10)  Nissan Sentra FE+: 1.8-liter I-4, 34 mpg Combined, 30/39 mpg city/highway

The Sentra is offered in a fuel-economy enhancing package that gets combined mileage to 34 mpg. The car may not get 40 mpg highway, but its combined mileage is pretty high.

9) Volkswagen Passat Dual-Clutch: 34 mpg Combined, 30/40 mpg city/highway

The Volkswagen Passat TDI is the only midsize car to make the list of most fuel efficient cars. Combine that with a roomy interior, large trunk, and sporty look.  And to top it off it was named  2012 Motor Trend Car of the Year.

8) Fiat 500 manual: 34 mpg Combined, 31/40 mpg city/highway

While the Fiat 500’s 101-hp 1.4-liter I-4 engine may be short on power, it eases out 34 mpg combined. Just don’t be surprised if the, five-speed manual, transmission needs to be shifted into a lower gear or two to climb any hills.

Audi A3 TDI

5) Volkswagen Jetta TDI/Jetta Sportwagen TDI: 34 mpg Combined, 30/42 mpg city/highway – Tie with Golf TDI, A3 TDI

Volkswagen has owned the passenger car diesel market in the U.S. with its 140-hp, turbo diesel 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The compact Jetta sedan with manual or dual-clutch transmission and Jetta Sportwagen wagon with the manual are rated 34 mpg combined.

5) Volkswagen Golf TDI: 34 mpg Combined, 30/42 mpg city/highway – Tie with Jetta TDI, A3 TDI

The Volkswagen Golf TDI offers 34 mpg combined in a slick hatch bodystyle with two or four doors.

5) Audi A3 TDI: 34 mpg Combined, 30/42 mpg city/highway – Tie with Golf TDI, Jetta TDI

If you want something a bit more luxurious than the Volkswagen Golf, you can step up to the redesigned 2013 Audi A3 TDI with dual-clutch transmission. While still maintaining the same 34 mpg combined fuel economy.

4) Nissan Versa sedan CVT 35 mpg Combined, 31/40 mpg city/highway

One of the least expensive cars in the U.S. is also one of the most fuel efficient. The subcompact 2013 Nissan Versa sedan, with its 109-hp 1.6-liter four-cylinder, is third on our list. It also offers more rear-seat leg room than many larger vehicles.

3) Volkswagen Passat manual: 35 mpg Combined, 31/43 mpg city/highway

Smart Fortwo coupe

A midsize family sedan with a six-speed manual transmission and 35 mpg combined? What’s not to like? Of course you may want more power, but the Passat manual gives you all the control without the guilt.

2) Smart Fortwo coupe and cabriolet: 36 mpg Combined, 34/38 mpg city/highway

As its name suggests, the Smart Fortwo offers seating for just two people. The Smart is the smallest car on the list but also the least powerful with a 70-hp I-3 engine and five-speed automated manual transmission.

1) Scion iQ: 37 mpg combined 36/37 mpg city/highway

Although the Scion iQ’s 3+1 seating is most comfortable for just two occupants, the car offers the highest combined rating of any non-hybrid 2013-model-year car in the U.S. The city car’s 37 mpg combined rating matches its highway rating thanks to a 36 mpg city rating.

According to Motor Trend these are the vehicles that almost made the list:

Honorable Mentions

Chevrolet Spark manual: 34 mpg Combined, 32/38 mpg city/highway

Mazda3: 2.0-liter I-4, six-speed auto, 33 mpg Combined, 28/40 mpg city/highway

Chevrolet Sonic: turbocharged 1.4-liter I-4, six-speed manual, 33 mpg Combined, 29/40 mpg city/highway

Toyota Yaris: 1.5-liter I-4, five-speed manual, 33 mpg Combined, 30/37 mpg city/highway

Ford Fiesta dual-clutch auto, 5M, and SFE 1.6-liter I-4, 33 mpg Combined, 29/39-40 mpg city/highway

Source: EPA

Read more: http://wot.motortrend.com/top-10-most-efficient-non-hybrid-2013-cars-by-combined-mileage-318023.html#ixzz2Ivnr6u3V