The World Leading Tuning Company – Abt Sportsline, redesign current Audi vehicles front grille more in line with the Abt design philosophy. (more…)
Author: Zahari Mladenov
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ABT Audi Grille
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Audi A4 and A4 Avant more attractive
Audi has released its sportier, S-line-packed Audi A4 and Audi A4 Avant, offering its buyers even more tempting and exclusive rides. Developed by quattro GmbH, the S-line sports and exterior packages are now ready to transform the Ingolstadt-made compact executive car into a pure-blooded sports ride.The S-line sports kit is consist of special sports suspension with 30 millimeters lowering and 18-or 19-inch wheels (optionally). Furthermore, it adds sports seats made of fabric Sprint/leather finish or perforated Alcantara/leather (optionally). It also boasts leather sports steering wheel, gear lever gaiter and floor mats decorated with either black or silver seams. The price tag of the S-line sports package is 1980 Euro.
In the terms of eye-candyness, the S-line exterior pack for the A4 andA4 Avant has new, sportier front and rear bumpers, chromed rings around the fog lamps, platinum gray diffuser attachment, chromed tailpipes, as well as a larger roof spoiler on the Avant. The price for the exterior package is 1660 Euro.
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Rolls-Royce releases first sketches of RR4
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars today revealed the first design sketches of its next new model. Known as RR4, the car is due to be launched in 2010 and will sit alongside the Phantom model line-up. RR4 will be smaller than Phantom and powered by a new engine, unique to Rolls-Royce.
The design was signed off in 2007 and engineering development is now fully underway. The Goodwood manufacturing facilities are being completely reconfigured to accommodate the RR4, with extended paint, wood and leather shops as well as a second assembly line. The company will move to a two shift system next year as it gears up for full production of the new model.
Chief designer, Ian Cameron, said, “Effortless performance and standard-setting levels of comfort and efficiency, executed with the utmost care and attention, remain fundamentals of Rolls-Royce design. The RR4 has a more informal presence than the Phantom models with a greater emphasis on driving. In design terms this is expressed through its slightly smaller dimensions and more organic form, yet with powerful, purposeful proportions. It is a true and uncompromising Rolls-Royce in every sense.”
“RR4 will mark a milestone in the history of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars,” Chairman, Ian Robertson added. “The business continues to go from strength to strength and the introduction of this new model will expand the appeal of the brand. We look forward to this next chapter with anticipation and confidence.”
Further design and engineering details will be announced during the course of 2009.
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Holden Celebrates Luxury with VE Calais V 60th Anniversary Special Edition
GM Holden introduces the VE Calais V 60th Anniversary Special Edition, with a range of interior and exterior features including an electric sunroof and 19-inch alloy wheels.“The Calais V 60th Anniversary Special Edition is another example of Holden’s commitment to value with levels of luxury and sophistication set to rival any vehicle in its segment,” said GM Holden’s Director of Marketing, Philip Brook. (more…)
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The new Peugeot 407 Renewed driving pleasure
Since its launch, the elegant, distinctive and dynamic 407 Saloon and SW have become a benchmark in their segment due to their high levels of road holding. They also introduced a touch of style into a segment based around traditional yet conventional saloon and estates, designed with just volume and practicality in mind. Peugeot based the design of the 407 around a number of core motoring values identified from its customers: appearance and technology, driving enjoyment in both the Saloon and SW models, with the SW particularly ideal, due to its versatile for leisure pursuits, for both families and individuals or for business activities. (more…) -
Holden adds another model to its growing diesel line-up
Australia’s biggest-selling European imported car in 2007, the Holden Astra, is now available in a turbocharged diesel wagon, bringing the number of diesel models in Holden’s line-up to four.
The feature-packed Astra CDTi Wagon boasts ESP® as standard and a 1.9 litre turbo diesel engine delivering exceptional performance and fuel economy. (more…) -
Renault Laguna Coupe
Renault has chosen the glamorous weekend which sees the Cannes Film Festival coincide with the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix to take the wraps off Laguna Coupe. The flowing lines of the newcomer’s elegant, uncluttered design express timeless beauty and the promise of sheer motoring enjoyment. Its performance provides unprecedented pleasure behind the wheel thanks to the combination of its Active Drive chassis equipped with four-wheel steering – which has been acclaimed by the media across Europe on the GT version of Renault Laguna – and the two new V6 powerplants which have been introduced at the same time as this image-forging vehicle.The brand new V6 dCi, which is poised to become a benchmark in terms of performance and pleasure, delivers 235hp (173kW), while the new 3.5-litre petrol-powered V6 offers 240hp (175kW). Laguna Coupe stands out as an inspiring, four-seater with genuine sensual appeal and will be shown in further detail at the forthcoming Paris Motor Show in October.
Saturday May 24 saw Renault President Carlos Ghosn arrive at the foot of the illustrious steps of the 61st Festival International du Film de Cannes at the wheel of Renault Laguna Coupe. The occasion marked the first public showing of the new model’s definitive, distinctive lines and was a fitting way for the carmaker to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its exclusive partnership with the famous film festival.Renault Laguna Coupe also profited from the weekend to make a guest appearance around the track of the 66th Monaco Grand Prix to showcase its sporting credentials. Two Laguna Coupes completed several laps of Monaco’s legendary circuit in the hands of ING Renault F1 Team test drivers Lucas di Grassi and Romain Grosjean, providing the many thousands of spectators with a unique and unexpected show.
Renault Laguna Coupe bears a close resemblance to the racy concept car revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2007, while its elegant styling and proportions boast all the hallmarks associated with truly exceptional coupes. Its distinctive front end suggests the presence under the bonnet of the finest Renault-Nissan Alliance engines which have been designed and developed to ensure supreme driving enjoyment. Indeed, Renault Laguna Coupe is capable of accelerating from standstill to 100kph in less than seven seconds, and this upper-range performance combines with the Active Drive chassis and four-wheel steering to deliver optimum pleasure at the wheel.
Head-turning, racy styling
The flowing lines of Renault Laguna Coupe’s elegant, uncluttered design express a blend of timeless beauty and the promise of sheer motoring enjoyment. There is no mistaking the legacy it has inherited from the show car unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2007 and from the Renault Laguna range at the top of which it is destined to preside. With a length of 4.64 metres and a width of 1.83 metres, its proportions are nicely balanced, while the character line which stems from the grille rises forcefully along its flanks, like a wave of air, gracefully underpinning the design of its front wings before extending rearwards to highlight its muscular haunches. The glazed area of its windows is shown off to its best advantage by a pure, flowing arc. Sitting on its 17- or 18-inch aluminium alloy wheels, Laguna Coupe’s stance exudes a sense of dynamism and power thanks to a wheelbase dimension of 2.69m and a height of 1.40m. This sensation is echoed by the pronounced crease-lines of its long bonnet and by its new variant headlamps. The rear, meanwhile, features a very short overhang and broad, slim lights which give Laguna Coupe a bright, distinctive lighting signature which suggests refinement and power, especially at night when the indicators form a halo that picks out the contours of the thin red LEDs.
Four-wheel steering for an exceptional ride
Developed jointly by Renault Engineering and specialists from Renault Sport Technologies, Laguna Coupe’s technologically-advanced chassis guarantees the ultimate in dynamic performance. Its outstanding agility and stability set new standards when it comes to safety and surefooted handling, while the new car corners with unrivalled directional precision as if it were on rails. Following its introduction on the GT version of Renault Laguna, this chassis has naturally been carried over to Laguna Coupe and is particularly suited to being powered by the new car’s V6 engines. At low speeds, the Active Drive chassis and four-wheel steering system enhance manoeuvrability and it takes drivers no time at all to familiarize themselves with their characteristics. In town, as well as on twisty roads, the car is easy to drive and offers outstanding handling precision. It makes choosing the optimal cornering line intuitive and further enhances the pleasure experienced behind Renault Laguna Coupe’s wheel, a feeling reinforced by the absence of transient dynamic phenomena through turns and by its directional precision at small low steering wheel angles. On the active safety front, the Active Drive chassis equipped with four-wheel steering excels not only under braking in difficult conditions (asymmetric grip, deployment of ESP), but also when taking avoidance action (the so-called ‘elk test’).
Meanwhile, the high level of travelling comfort ensures peace of mind for all occupants who can sense Laguna Coupe’s unrivalled active safety.
Powertrains with pedigree
Under the bonnet of Renault Laguna Coupe, the brand-new V6 dCi, which is destined to become a benchmark in terms of performance and driving pleasure, develops 235hp (173kW) and peak torque of 450Nm. The same figure for the petrol 3.5 V6 powerplant, which is mated for the first time with the AJ0 automatic six-speed transmission it shares with the diesel engine, is 330Nm, while maximum power is 240hp (175kW). In this configuration, Renault Laguna Coupe can accelerate to 100kph in less than seven seconds. Renault Laguna Coupe also naturally benefits from the best engines available for Laguna, in particular the top performing versions of the range’s two-litre petrol and diesel powerplants.
Immersive experience with Microsoft®’s Deep Zoom technology
Friday May 23 saw the inauguration of a bespoke Renault Laguna Coupe website. Building on the success of the Renault Laguna launch in 2007 (inside new laguna), the experience has been carried over for customers who wish to find out more about Laguna Coupe. The www.laguna-coupe.com website has been developed in an exclusive European association with Microsoft®. Thanks to a landmark innovation known as Deep Zoom technology, it has been designed to evolve constantly depending on the latest news to offer an immersive experience at the very heart of this exceptional coupe.
Renault Laguna Coupe will be shown in greater detail at the forthcoming Paris Motor Show and will be available for international media road tests immediately after that. As the spearhead of the Laguna range, it has been designed to offer sheer driving pleasure and plays a key role in the Renault’s brand’s expansion in the upper-range market. Renault Laguna Coupe epitomizes this savoir-faire when it comes to motoring enjoyment and quality which is built into its genes and which can be seen in the finish which matches even the most demanding standards. Laguna Coupe will be introduced progressively across the Renault sales network from mid-October featuring a long list of luxury equipment.
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Peugeot Bipper van is awarded fleet world’s ‘best van of the year’ accolade
Bipper van is an award-winner – just weeks before going on-sale in June
Peugeot van range now covers six-models
Endorsement for Bipper van recognised affordability, design and capability
The new Peugeot Bipper van, the latest addition to Peugeot’s comprehensive LCV range, has been awarded ‘Best New Van’ award at the 2008 Fleet World Honours.The Bipper delighted Van Fleet World judges with its novel features; a 610 kg payload and load volume of 2.5 m3, all contained in a compact exterior with an overall length of only 3.86 m. Bipper also offers the flexible loading of bigger vans with its innovative Multi Flex folding passenger seat that lowers to the load floor level, so extending the load length and volume to 2.49 m and 2.8 m3 respectively. A range of bulkhead options also enables the load space to be readily adapted to suit specific customer requirements.
The judgement by Van Fleet World judges also recognised the virtues of the comprehensive standard equipment specification of the new Bipper.
April Harris, Peugeot’s Light Commercial Vehicle product and pricing manager, said, “We’re looking forward to offering our customers all the virtues that the new Bipper van offers, recognised by the judges in naming it ‘best new van’ in the Fleet World awards. Customers will also recognise the benefits of Bipper being economical, environmental, cost-effective, compact while not compromising on load capacity and payload.”
Product summary
New Peugeot Bipper van range on sale from 9th June
Two model range: S and S with Plus Pack
Single load volume – 2.5 m3 (2.8 m3 with Multi Flex passenger seat)
Two engine options – 1.4 litre Petrol and HDi diesel
Single payload – 610 kg
Range starts from a Basic Price of ?7,995 excluding VAT
Creating a completely new van segment, the innovative Peugeot Bipper will start working the streets of busy urban towns from June.Fitting into the Peugeot light commercial vehicle (LCV) range between the 207 Van and the Partner Origin, the Bipper will benefit from a comprehensive standard specification, including: 14” steel wheels, ABS, driver’s airbag, asymmetric steel rear 180o opening doors, radio/CD player, power steering and driver’s ladder frame protector.
It will be available in two versions: S and S with Plus Pack. The S with Plus Pack adds the following to the standard specification of the S model: one touch electric front windows, electric adjustable and heated door mirrors, remote control central locking with separate cab and load area locking, deadlocks and automatic drive away door locking. A wide range of options is also available including Bluetooth, air conditioning, rear parking aid, roof bars and side sliding doors.
The Peugeot Bipper will be available with two gearbox options, including for the first time on a Peugeot LCV an electronically controlled manual gearbox – 2-Tronic. This gearbox will be a real asset for busy urban delivery drivers, who will also benefit from its electronic control which reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions to only 119 g/km.
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All-new 2008 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan Earn Top Safety Ratings
The all-new 2008 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan earned “good” ratings, the highest ratings available from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), in both frontal offset and side crashworthiness tests. -
Technical Enhancements for Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Aston Martin’s V8 Vantage – originally launched to widespread critical acclaim at the Geneva Motor Show in 2005 – is to receive significant technical enhancements, reaffirming the car’s position as one of the world’s most desirable and exhilarating sports cars. (more…) -
Ford Escape hybrid delivers total package for los angeles county ocean lifeguards
Ford Motor Company is teaming up with the Los Angeles County Lifeguards, a division of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, to help save lives while protecting the environment. Today, Ford presented the squad with the first 10 of a fleet of 45 eco-friendly Escape Hybrids with Intelligent four-wheel-drive, specially equipped for use on rescue patrol along 72 miles of Southern California coastline. (more…) -
World premiere of the VW Scirocco GT24 with 325 PS
Volkswagen will present the world premiere of a 239 kW (325 PS) version of the new Scirocco today at the legendary GTI Meet at Wörther Lake. For two days later, a team of legendary drivers will start the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring in the sports version of the Scirocco. Thus, the new Scirocco will be in the spotlight at two cult events for car enthusiasts at the same time.
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