Porsche Cayman GT4 Spied Racing towards Production

With each new generation of Porsches, people like to draw the conclusion that the 911 has grown mature, that it now offers just the right mix. Well, being good enough on your own is not...sufficient for the whole Porsche badge and it seems that the 911 is now starting to learn how to share the attention. As the rear-engined coupe is set to spread its assets with the upcoming facelift, the Porsche range is now ready to welcome a Cayman that’s not kept on a leash anymore. Meet the Cayman GT4, or whatever they’ll call it for production.

An uber-Cayman, is this what we should expect?

Yep. Porsche is currently testing an upcoming uber-Cayman that will take the car into that special area which has only been reserved for the 911 in the past. We are referring to a positioning that places the car past what its sports car genre has to offer. To put it shortly, the Cayman GT4 will be some sort of mid-engined Porsche perfection tool.

Speaking of mid-engined, what will be found at the center of the Cayman GT4?

Hybridization. That’s what we could expect. Porsche is working to bring petrol-electric muscle to all its range-topping model. As for the petrol part of the equation, there are two posibilities. As you know, Porsche is set to unleash its V4 hybrid powers on the 2014 Le Mans race. If all goes well with their 919 Hybrid, we should see the Cayman GT4 receive Porsche’s upcoming turbocharged four-cylinder boxer engine.

A simpler way for the Germans would be to simply carry on with the current six-cylinder pathway, but, at the moment, it is too early to tell which way the Cayman GT4 will go.

As for the rest of the car, expect to see an example of how a sportscar should be like. For instance, you can expect magic-like weight saving measures.

If this is what you get, how about the cash?

For its extreme Cayman, Porsche will charge some rather extreme money. The Cayman GT4 could be offered for as much as $125,000 (EUR 90,000). Sure, if you compare this to a 911 GT3, things suddenly seem much more reasonable.

One brilliant side of this story is that all the efforts will also have a Boxster incarnation. Better start saving for a new sports car...

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Mahindra Starts GenZe Electric Scooter Production in Michigan

Last year in late September we reported about Mahindra’s new electric scooter, the GenZe STS, and it’s now time to tell you that production started in the Ann Harbor, Michigan plant.

The new Mahindra North American Technical Center (MNATC) facility currently delivers the GenZe with a rate of up to 9,000 units per year, but official sources, in the person of Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group, mention that the production capacities could be increased to almost 20,000 units per year, if need be.

GenZE has been designed and engineered in Michigan, by the brand’s R&D local department and judging by its architecture, it is the only electric scooter with such a design in the US. While most similar two-wheelers rely on underseat storage, Mahindra opted for a “bed” behind the solo seat, not unlike pickup trucks have. Time and sales figures will tell whether this will turn out to be a winning one.

It comes with a lightweight battery which provides enough energy for a 50 km (31 miles) ride, with a speed up to 50 km/h (31 mph). The battery is replaceable, so getting two or more can turn your scooter into an even more practical machine, while a weatherproof compartment provides USB charging for smartphones and tablets. The GenZe also boasts smartphone integration for GPS and music. The initial rumored price was $3,000 (€2,220), and a payment plan for students is now rumored, too.

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Fiat 500X Production Body Shell Revealed Ahead of July 4 Debut

Fiat’s 5-year plan announced this week calls for a more focused lineup of cars, one that is relevant in any market. Their first attempt at rekindling fans’ love is going to be the 500X, a pocket-sized crossover to take on cars like the Nissan Juke or the Renault Captur. It’s already been announced for 2014 and now the Italians are giving us more information.

The first thing they told us is that the debut will take place on July 4th. Should we hope for fireworks? That means less than two month separate us from seeing the car, and to keep us going Fiat is also giving us a sneak peak.

This is a prototype mockup of the body shell. Engineers usually work with these to find all the kings in the assembly process or find flaws in the fabrication of the sheetmetal.

The shots were taken at the Melfi factory, where the edgy, square-shaped Jeep Renegades are also made. You can see their bare bones in the background, making for a very interesting comparison of two cars based on the same platform.

We’ve said before that the 500X will be as much of a 500 as the MINI Countryman is a MINI. Some will see it as a fake, others will welcome the rugged appearance and practicality. Compared to the Jeep Renegade, it’s definitely a sharper looking tool. The rake of the windshield is more pronounced and the side window line slopes down for a compact look. The boot is is also smaller and more curved than of the Jeep.

Come July 4th, we’ll likely see a very small lineup of the best engines possible, all designed for the European market. The American debut probably won’t come until 2015’s Detroit Auto Show. Most automakers chose about 3 engines/powertrains for official debuts and if we were to take a wild stab in the dark, the 1.4-liter turbo with manual and twin-clutch and the 1.6-liter diesel are the best fits for the 500X.

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