Friday, April 30, 2010

Spied: 2011 Audi RS3

Hot News: BMW X4??

Hot News Up Date: Opel/Vauxhall City Car

The design of Vauxhall/Opel’s new city car will be signed off within the next six to eight weeks ahead of it going on-sale towards the end of 2012.

This is according to Nick Reilly, the boss of General Motors Europe. Reilly told Autocar that he believes his experience in conceiving, building and selling small cars will allow the car to be profitable in what is traditionally a difficult market segment to make money in.

“The whole cost chain, from development through to marketing, has to change in order to hit worthwhile profit targets with small car,” he said. “Not every rival of ours has this experience.

“There is a segment in which wealthier and younger car buyers don’t associate status with the size of the car. They want a good-looking car and are interested in technology and environmental factors such as CO2, or features such as an iPod connector.

“This segment has great potential – and there are not a great deal of rivals that are successfully exploiting it. That’s the reason why we are working intensively on such a project.”

Reilly said the pricing of the car, which will be designed and built in Europe, would reflect the positioning of the Opel brand in relation to its rivals. Although he wouldn’t be drawn on exact pricing, Reilly said it would cost more the cheapest Corsa but less than the most expensive Corsa.

It has been conceived a four-seater, but a five-seat variant is under consideration. Initial sales will be for the three-door model, with a five-door variant set to follow. It is shorter than a Corsa.

Reilly described the car as “setting new interior standards”. Engines will mainly be four-cylinder units, all equipped with a stop-start system, although three-cylinder engines are also under consideration. Reilly ruled out fitting the car with a two-cylinder engine, but an electric version will be launched.

“Such as car would suit electric drive,” said Reilly. “With pure electric drive, it becomes easier the smaller the car because you don’t need such big battery as in larger cars. Electric drive won’t likely be available at first – but it’ll come as soon as it is possible.

Thanks to: Autocar

Source URL: https://carrevieeeew.blogspot.com/2010/04/
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Spied: 2012 BMW 5-Series Hybrid

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Audi Q7 New Cars

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Hot News: TVR to Make Comeback

Nikolai Smolenski, the Russian oligarch who owns TVR, has revealed plans to revive the marque with a new Corvette-engined model to be produced in Germany.

The cars are likely to be built by Gullwing, which currently makes the AC MkVI, the successor to the AC Cobra. Alan Lubinsky, AC’s owner, said discussions to make TVRs are under way, but no deal has been concluded as yet.

Smolenski bought TVR from its long-time owner, the late Peter Wheeler, in 2004 for a rumoured £15 million, but was unable to sustain production and the company collapsed in 2006 amid considerable acrimony, leaving around 250 workers without jobs.

Smolenski has been linked with secret plans to show a new prototype TVR at Goodwood’s Moving Motor Show in July.

In an exclusive interview with Autocar, Smolenski revealed that his new car will have a modified version of the traditional steel backbone chassis and all-independent suspension that were used for all previous TVR models.

There is no question of reviving TVR’s own-design V8 or straight six engines, Smolenski said, due to homologation and cost reasons.

“We looked at every engine available — including making our own — and decided that the Corvette was the most powerful off-the-shelf design going. Fitting it to our chassis allows us to meet all current regulations and is not too big a step.”

In the longer term, the revived TVR company plans a hybrid concept, said Smolenski. “I always wanted an automatic model,” he said, “but the chassis wouldn’t allow either a regular auto or an automated manual. The hybrid concept would allow us to kick out the conventional gearbox completely.”

The first new-generation TVRs will be convertibles, reminiscent of the Tuscan, because Smolenski believes that most customers prefer open-top cars. It is too early to forecast names or prices, he said, but a new car “shouldn’t cost any more” than the European price of an equivalent Corvette.

Thanks to: Autocar

Source URL: https://carrevieeeew.blogspot.com/2010/04/
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New Car: 2011 Ford Fiesta S1600

Spied: 2011 Opel/Vauxhall Astra GSI

Spied: 2013 Ford Ranger

New Concept Car: Alfa Romeo - Zagato TZ3 Corsa

Hot News: Infiniti CUV to Use Mercedes A-Class Platform?

Hot News: Peugeot and Citroen to Get Mitsubishi RVR in 2012

Mitsubishi’s compact Outlander Sport will go the same route as its larger Outlander brethren and head to Europe as rebadged Citroens and Peugeots in early 2012.

The move mirrors the original collaboration agreement between Mitsubishi and Peugeot-Citroen on the Outlander SUV from a few years ago. Known as the Citroen C-Crosser and Peugeot 4007, these badge-engineered Outlanders feature slightly modified bodywork and rather distinct Citroen and Peugeot front grilles. With the Outlander Sport, or ASX as it will be called on European soil, we can expect much of the same, although the currently unnamed Citroen and Peugeot variations will be equipped with its own corporate 1.6-liter diesel engine. The Euro-spec Outlander Sport will come with the choice of a 1.6-liter gasoline engine or an all-new 1.8-liter diesel of its own; U.S. models will, of course, get a gas-powered, 2.0-liter inline-four.

For both companies, the cooperation was a natural step. Citroen-Peugeot eyes opportunity within a market segment that is expected to expand globally by almost 60 percent by 2015. For Mitsubishi, presenting the French automaker group with the keys to its newest compact ‘ute helps to bolster volume and production. Peugeot-Citroen is projecting a combined sales of 50,000 vehicles per year when both models are released.

The Outlander Sport, or RVR as it is known in its home market, has already been released in Japan. Its U.S. arrival date is pegged at Fall 2010 while European models are expected sometime in the middle of this year.

In addition to the Outlander and Outlander Sport, Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV city car is being rebadged as the Citroen C-Zero and Peugeot iOn for the European market, starting later this year.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

Source URL: https://carrevieeeew.blogspot.com/2010/04/
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Friday, April 23, 2010

Audi R8 Black 5 Cars

Hot News: 2011 Volkswagen Polo Sedan

Volkswagen has christened the Polo saloon the Vento for the Indian market. The Vento, which means wind in both Italian and Portuguese, follows the VW tradition of naming its models after prominent winds. VW certainly hopes the Vento badge clicks in India when the car goes on sale this July. In fact, India is one of the most important markets for the Vento and the German company hopes to sell 25,000 units every year once production is in full swing.

The Vento (code: VW251) is essentially the saloon version of the recently launched Polo and it shares a common platform with the hatchback. Both the saloon and the hatch are similar upto the B-pillar, except for a different grille and lights to differentiate it from its hatchback sibling. The Vento’s rear section or third box is well integrated with the body and the VW engineers were aware that the Polo’s rear seat would be inadequate for saloon car customers and hence the wheelbase has been extended by an estimated 50mm for better legroom. Headroom too will be better as the roof doesn’t taper down as sharply as in the hatch. Using the Honda City as the Vento’s benchmark, VW engineers hint at best-in-class comfort with the use of special seat cushions to withstand prolonged use without compromising comfort. Boot space is expected to be in the region of 500 litres with a split seat option on offer. Equipment levels are expected to be higher than in the Polo and the top-of-the-line version could get some of the features from the Jetta.

The Vento will initially get two engine options – a petrol and a diesel. Both these engines displace 1.6 litres and both produce 105bhp. However, the diesel has a thumping 25.5kgm of torque to the petrol motor’s 15.8kgm and their driving characteristics will differ like chalk and cheese.

Like in the Jetta, the petrol motor in the Vento is a naturally aspirated unit but it’s more advanced. While the Jetta’s 1.6 motor had two valves per cylinder driven off a single cam, the Vento has a four-valve head and double overhead camshafts. VW is likely to introduce the same engine in the Indian Polo after the Vento is launched.

The 1.6 common-rail diesel is brand new and comes from the same engine family as the 1.2 turbo-diesel that powers the Polo and the bigger 2-litre diesel under the hood of the Jetta. This engine comes with 90bhp and 105bhp power outputs and thankfully VW has decided to give us the more powerful engine. If the relatively lightweight Polo is anything to go by, then the Vento won’t be more than a 100kg heavier than the hatch, which should give it a good power-to-weight ratio. While the petrol Vento may not match the Honda City for pace, the diesel Vento should be a close match for the 110bhp Verna diesel. Both these engines, the diesel in particular, have been tuned more for fuel economy and driveability.

Sadly, there are no plans to introduce a TSI engine. The direct-injection and turbo-charging hardware in a TSI motor is proving too costly for a saloon in the sub-Rs 10 lakh category. Also, both the petrol and diesel will come with five-speed manual transmissions initially but a DSG ’box in the top-end diesel maybe introduced at a later stage.

VW plans to price the Vento between Rs 7-9 lakh and is gearing up for a July 2010 launch. This all-new saloon with a brand new set of engines promises to blend performance, luxury and economy like no other mid-size car. Can the Vento blow its rivals away? Wait for a few months to find out.

Thanks to: Autocar India

Source URL: https://carrevieeeew.blogspot.com/2010/04/
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New Car: 2011 Suzuki Wagon R

New Car: 2011 Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 SV Chinese Edition

New Car: 2011 Volkswagen Phaeton

A newly revised rival for the S-Class? Now that’s Phaeton talk! Despite lacklustre sales of the first-generation car, VW has unveiled a facelifted version of its luxury flagship ahead of its debut at the Beijing Motor Show.

Featuring air-suspension and four-wheel drive as standard, the newcomer is aimed squarely at the top end of the market. That takes it dangerously close to Audi A8 territory – a car also built by the VW Group. And just like the A8, the Phaeton will be offered with a standard or extended wheelbase – the latter pushing out the car’s length from 5.06 metres to 5.18m.

For effortless cruising, a range of engines with either six, eight or 12 cylinders is available, including one diesel and three petrol options. The best seller in the UK will be the 237bhp 3.0-litre V6 TDI. The common-rail direct-injection unit is capable of sending the Phaeton from 0-62mph
in 8.6 seconds, but still returns 33mpg.

Petrol fans can choose between a 276bhp 3.6-litre V6, a 330bhp 4.2 V8 or a full-blown 444bhp 6.0 W12. The latter is the same engine fitted to the outgoing Phaeton, not the recently announced 6.3-litre W12 offered on the Audi A8.

In keeping with the model’s understated character, the styling changes are predictably low key. A new front end has pulled the VW flagship into line with the rest of the brand’s portfolio. But unlike VW’s other new models, the Phaeton’s more upright grille is finished in chrome instead of shiny black. The standard bi-xenon headlights and rear light clusters now feature LED lights.

With such a sombre exterior, it’s the luxurious cabin that’s designed to get customers excited. There’s four-zone climate control, while the 18-way electric seats should ensure anybody can get comfortable. Buyers can choose between a three-seater rear bench or two separate electric rear seats and a virtually limitless range of wood, leather and Alcantara trim.

Cutting-edge equipment includes an eight-inch touchscreen sat-nav, which can download satellite images from Google maps and overlay your selected route. A front-mounted camera can recognise road signs and flash them to the driver, plus there’s a self-dipping Dynamic Light Assist system which keeps the headlights on full beam, and masks part of the light if it senses oncoming traffic. Expect the entry-level petrol V6 to start from around £50,000 when it goes on sale at the end of the year.For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

Source URL: https://carrevieeeew.blogspot.com/2010/04/
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New Concept Car: BMW Gran Coupe

In a move reminiscent of—and likely inspired by—its sultry Concept CS of 2007, BMW is unveiling a new, low-profile, four-door coupe concept at the 2010 Beijing auto show. Called the BMW Concept Gran Coupé, it’s meant to showcase the company’s design abilities and philosophy. It’s also another one-off concept that we wish BMW would actually build.

According to BMW, the Gran Coupé “concentrates the design expertise of the brand” and “captures a sense of superior dynamic performance and high-quality elegance.” Whatever. It’s a sleek, low-slung, long-wheelbase sedan with a coupe-like roofline and short overhangs. Despite its thorough execution and rather production-feasible look, the possibility of it reaching the market in its current form is probably very low. Details about its powerplant and drivetrain technology are not available, but what we can tell you is that the Gran Coupé is a few inches longer than the new 5-series at nearly 197 inches, but is about four inches lower at 55.1.

Full-LED headlights and a prominent BMW kidney grille dominate the forward-angled shark nose, with sweeping lower air inlets helping to accentuate the width of the car. The doors feature frameless windows, which add sleekness by rolling up over and obscuring the B-pillars. The overall theme, with dynamic concave and convex lines and powerful wheel arches, is one of elegance and aggression. The concept’s slim-looking rear end features L-shaped LED taillights and a full-width LED third brake light across the top of the rear window. As with most concepts, the wheels also contribute to the look, with the Gran Coupé’s oversized rolling stock sporting thin, relief-milled spokes that extend into the center of the wheel, lending a three-dimensional appearance.

Details about the interior are nil, furthering our belief that this concept is probably pure eye candy. Rumors of a high-end BMW four-door coupe, possibly carrying a revitalized 8-series moniker, have come and gone ever since the CS concept was shown a few years back. This Gran Coupé will likely serve as the latest addition to those rumors, but we expect at least certain elements of its design to crop up on BMWs sometime soon.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

Source URL: https://carrevieeeew.blogspot.com/2010/04/
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New Concept Car: Chevrolet Volt MPV5

GM has shown a few variations of the Chevrolet Volt before—the headed-for-production Opel Ampera, the gorgeous Cadillac Converj concept, and the sporty Opel Flextreme GT/E among them—and now comes a more family-friendly twist on the extended-range hybrid formula. The Chevrolet Volt MPV5 concept, debuting at the 2010 Beijing auto show, is a five-passenger MPV that uses the Volt’s platform and extended-range powertrain technology.

As such, the Volt MPV5 packs a 16-kWh T-shaped lithium-ion battery pack that feeds a 150-hp, 370-lb-ft electric motor. Like in the Volt sedan, the electric motor provides all the propulsion; the 1.4-liter gasoline engine onboard exists solely to generate electricity once the batteries are depleted. Chevrolet says the MPV5’s all-electric range is 32 miles, down 8 miles from the regular Volt’s, while the range with the gas engine humming away is identical, at 300 miles. Charging time on a regular 120-volt household outlet is quoted as taking “over eight hours,” while a 240-volt hookup will charge the MPV5 in “about four.” The vanlet is said to top out at 100 mph, no doubt after a thrilling five-minute mosey.

As you’d expect given its name, the five-seat MPV5 takes interior and exterior styling cues from the Volt sedan. Up front, the closed-off grille and the lower front fascia are immediately recognizable. The wheels are “inspired” by the Volt’s and wear low-rolling-resistance rubber. A full underbody tray, special taillamps, the rocker panels, and “blades” on the rear quarter-panel help improve atmospheric slipperiness. The styling was handled jointly by GM’s North American crossover design team and members of the General’s Australian design studio. (We hear design proposals were exchanged on the back of Foster’s beer coasters.) The collaboration worked—the MPV5 is a sweet-looking people hauler. The squat stance, bulging fenders, and large rolling stock give it a sense of aggression sorely missing from the crayons-ground-into-the-rear-seat set. Of course, the similarly sultry Volt concept was watered down for production, so we reserve the right to change our opinion if the same fate befalls this concept.

The Volt’s gauge cluster and touch-sensitive center stack are used here, and the two-tone leather seats carry over, too. The second-row seats flip and fold, and the MPV5 can swallow as much as 62.3 cubic feet of AA batteries—you know, just in case. There are 30.5 cubes of storage when the rear seats are up.

The MPV5 may not be as exciting as the Converj or Flextreme GT/E, but it’s the sort of mainstream-oriented variant that could allow GM to recoup its Volt powertrain investment sometime before the earth cools to a ball of over-polluted ice. Expect to see this, or something very similar, on the world’s roads not too long after the Volt sedan goes into production later this year.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

Source URL: https://carrevieeeew.blogspot.com/2010/04/
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