A biweekly roundup of automotive news, good, bad and just plain weird:
De Niro to play Ferrari
Speaking to Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, actor Robert De Niro recently announced that he's signing on to play Enzo Ferrari in a biopic about the founder of perhaps the most famous car company in the world.
While things are still very early in the process — the script is still being written — other rumours are flying; De Niro's star power may be enough to draw Clint Eastwood into the chair, and the former's production company is already signed up. Born at the turn of the century in Modena, Enzo's story is a fascinating one.
Starting out as a racing driver, he founded his own racing team — Scuderia Ferrari — and would go on to roar through history.
The details of his life are endless and fascinating: the feud with Ferruccio Lamborghini; the feud with Henry Ford II; the feud with his racing drivers; hang on, sensing a pattern here. Imagine the Godfather with V-12 racing cars — I can't wait.
Dino Reborn? Ferrari to release V-6 model
In slightly related news, Motor Trend reported quite the scoop from the floor of this year's New York International Auto Show (NYIAS).
According to well-placed sources, the company is in plans to release a new entry-level model, one powered by a twin-turbo V-6. With the LaFerrari's performance already transcending its idiotic name, Ferrari has the halo it needs to move downmarket. Well, sorta downmarket: this new car is reportedly a $180,000 competitor for the Porsche 911 Turbo S. Further, even though the Chinese market is a little rocky these days, a smaller-displacement V-6 of below 3.0 litres would dodge some punitive taxation laws.
And it's worth noting that Ferrari already developed the turbocharged V-6 used in the Maserati Ghibli. To crown it all off, there's the historical precedent set by the Dino. Not actually labelled a Ferrari, the gorgeous Dino was named for Enzo's son and values are insanely high for collectible examples at present. The swoopy pre-1973 V-6 version is the best, although there's a certain unlikely charm found in the '73-'80 V8-powered wedge. With much of its range going turbocharged to get past emissions testing, a smaller Ferrari makes all kind of sense. To do it right though, it'll have to be jaw-droppingly beautiful.
Honda kills off Crosstour
Speaking of jaw-droppingly beautiful, here's some news about a car that is most emphatically not that. The odd-looking Honda Crosstour has finally reached the end of its run, with production ceasing for 2016.
Well good riddance, I say. The Crosstour was neither attractive nor particularly practical, managing to be uglier than a Subaru Outback without the go-anywhere appeal. Sure it was as functional as a regular Honda Accord, but with the Pilot and CR-V in the lineup (and the HR-V on the way; and two Acura crossovers if you wanted to go upscale), the Crosstour remained unloved.
Sales were initially disappointing four years ago, and just declined from there. Why didn't they make it more like a Honda Accord wagon? Or a copy of the Volvo XC70 with better Honda reliability?
Crosstour, we hardly knew ye. But get lost.
Honda fans rejoice! Civic Type-R is coming!
OK, so never mind the bulbous discontinued crossover — here's some really juicy news. In a surprise unveiling at the NYIAS, Honda took the wraps off a bright-green Civic Concept and announced that turbocharged Civics were coming soon.
Honda's concept vehicles are almost always thinly disguised production models (apart from that humanoid robot thing they have), and the lime-green model shown was pure Fast and Furious. The further announcement that a version of the Euro-spec, 306 h.p. Civic Type-R was coming in a few years sent Honda hearts racing into VTEC.
For the more practical-minded Honda lover, the Civic Hatchback is returning (finally!), in the same form as the European versions, and the new sedans will have a punchy 1.5-litre turbo to hopefully produce better torque and slightly improved mileage. I'm less super-enthused about this last bit as turbocharged engines often give decent mileage on paper and then suck down the fuel in the real world. Here's hoping Honda figures it out.
Mercedes-Benz pickup truck on the way
You tend to forget that in most parts of the world Mercedes-Benz isn't a premium brand; they just happen to make premium cars. For example, the Sprinter van might seem a little more upscale than a Ram Promaster, but overseas it's just another delivery vehicle. That's why the announcement of an upcoming Mercedes-Renault collaboration on a pickup truck shouldn't seem so ridiculous. It kind of does though — will there be an AMG version with portal axles for one million billion dollars? I kinda hope so.
Don't expect to see this German cowboy any time soon. It'll be built in Spain and Argentina, and kept mostly in Europe and South America with exports to Australia. However, the Nissan NP300 platform it's based on will likely be our replacement for the Frontier. So you just know somebody's going to rebadge one.
Audi to release RS3 in North America
Gimme five! The 362 h.p. turbocharged five-cylinder Audi RS3 is coming to America. And Canada! (Maybe.) Already available as a hatchback in Europe, we'll likely get this little turbocharged tyke as a sedan. Why? Because Americans like sedans and Canadians always get lumped in with 'em, even though we are a totally separate and distinct market with a fondness for plaid and hats with ear flaps. There'll be all-wheel drive, of course, and a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, and it'll likely be really rather expensive. A stick shift version is not to be expected, and once again you can lay the blame at the feet of those hosers below the 49th parallel.
Watch this space for all the best and worst of automotive news, or submit your own auto oddities to [email protected] Follow Brendan on Twitter at @brendan_mcaleer
