Hot off the press!
The Supra gets more power and a new base four-cylinder:
Toyota鈥檚 new-for-2020 sport coupe, built alongside the BMW Z4 roadster, has been on the market for less than a year, but the Sleuth is hearing it will get some powertrain/performance changes for 2021.
To begin, a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder with 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque becomes the base engine, resulting in a weight drop of close to 100 kilograms, mostly over the front wheels.
This version will also get smaller-diameter front brakes discs, the active suspension will no longer be included and a lower-powered audio system will be installed. The base price will also be reduced, but it鈥檚 not known by how much.
The turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder becomes optional, but output will jump to 382 horsepower and 368 pound-feet of torque from the current 335 horses and 365 pound-feet. Both powerplants will continue to be supplied by BMW and in fact are identical to those currently available in the Z4.
VW鈥檚 hot hatches will get hotter
The Sleuth hears that the next-generation Golf GTI and Golf R will both be upping their game when the redesign arrives later this year for the 2021 model year.
The GTI鈥檚 turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine is expected to produce 241 horsepower, a gain of 13 from the model it replaces. The all-wheel-drive Golf R, which is on hiatus for 2020, will get a power increase to 328 horses from the previous 292.
There鈥檚 also a rumour that a 400-horsepower Golf R Plus could be joining the family, although its arrival here is uncertain. Also uncertain is the future of the basic Golf hatchback in North America, since Volkswagen has so far remained noncommittal.
This hypercar is a real Czinger
The latest off-the-chart performance car is the 2021 Czinger 21C, produced by the Los Angeles-based company founder Kevin Czinger.
The car鈥檚 body is built using a 3D-printing process, then the parts are fused into a single piece and reinforced with carbon fibre. The uniquely styled cockpit has a 1+1 seating arrangement: The passenger is seated behind the driver.
The powertrain consists of an electric motor for each front wheel, plus a twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V-8 that that powers the rear wheels. A third electric motor sandwiched between the engine and the seven-speed paddle-shift transmission also takes care of charging the batteries.
Czinger claims the 1,233-horsepower powertrain will propel the 1,252-kilogram 21C to 100 km/h from rest in a neck-snapping 1.9 seconds, and run the quarter mile in 8.1 seconds. The cost is $1.7 million US each.
Will the GR Yaris make it to North America?
That鈥檚 highly unlikely, but the Sleuth is hearing that Toyota is seriously thinking of putting the 268-horsepower 1.6-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine and all-wheel-drive system into an existing model here. Exactly which model is open to speculation (some think it will be the chiselled CH-R), but The Sleuth is giving odds that the current Corolla Hatchback will be the likely recipient. Whatever it looks like and whenever it arrives, there鈥檒l be fun times ahead for the fortunate owners.
The next-generation Ford F-150 is close to reality
The Spymaster鈥檚 intelligence gathers report that North America鈥檚 best-selling pickup will sport a significantly different look when it arrives in late 2020 as a 2021 model.
For starters, the grille will resemble the one attached to the Ford Ranger. Fancier headlight pods will be surrounded by a string of LEDs, lending a graceful air to the design. The dimensions will be increased slightly, especially crew-cab versions since the competing Ram and General Motors light-duty trucks hold a slight edge in cabin spaciousness.
Most of current powertrains will likely return, with the possible exception of the 5.0-litre V-8, which could be replaced by a more efficient 4.8-litre version. The upcoming electric F-150 will be a no-show until mid-2021 as a 2022 model.
Ups and downs
Down: Volkswagen Tanoak pickup
The VW-Atlas-based concept truck that was expected in a year or two is now pretty much dead in the water, at least for now. According to VW鈥檚 chief operating officer, the Tanoak, which was first displayed in 2018, is no longer part of the automaker鈥檚 long-range plans geared toward electric.
Up: Yet another electric-pickup announcement
Henrik Fisker, CEO of Fisker Inc., revealed an image of what is purported to be the rear of a forthcoming model. The Alaska would be the second Fisker electric model to be announced by the company; the first is the Ocean utility vehicle that鈥檚 due out in 2022.
