Katya Mikova – Page 25 – Automobiles Review

Audi Prologue Concept Car Officially Revealed

Audi Prologue Concept is finally revealed at the 2014 LA Auto Show. With the new Prologue Concept car comes a new age in the automotive world. This car is set to establish new tendencies which will be conducting the design of Audi for the future. The remarkable shape, exclusive lines, sportiness and excellent quality form a car that builds the backbone of Audi’s lineup.

The show car’s technology represents a mixture of power, efficiency and convenience. It is powered by a 4.0 TFSI engine which generates up to 605 PS of power and 750 Nm (553.2 lb-ft) of maximum torque. The car speeds up from 0 to 62mph in 3.7 seconds. Its dynamic all-wheel steering, in which the rear wheels can turn up to five degrees, makes the large couple really stable and highly responsive while it is driven. The show car is capable of returning to 32.8 mpg combined, which is equal to CO₂ emissions of 199 grams per kilometer.

One of the most significant elements at the low front end is a Singleframe grille which depicts the emblem of Audi. The radiator grille has gone through some changes too. Widened up, it is positioned lower than on the current production models. Audi Prologue Concept has a strong horizontal effect that is an embodiment of power and powerful dynamics. The vehicle benefits from 22-inch wheels which are set in widely flared wheel arches. They are fitted with 285/30 size tires.

The Gran Turismo based interior is what really stands for innovative design that will set the benchmark of Audi’s future models. It is luxurious, stylish and communicates technological advancement. There is a generous open space that allows ultimate comfort. The car’s virtual cockpit organizes the information on a different and innovative level makes it more easily accessible and comprehensible.

Source: Audi

November 20, 2014

Gymkhana Seven – Wild in the Streets of Los Angeles [VIDEO]

It roars and fumes and crosses the streets of Los Angeles like it owns them. This is the 1965 Ford Mustang modified to hell with 4-wheel drive! If the entire city could belong to it, why couldn’t the car have the whole world too? Well, it probably could as the recently launched video of the mind-blowingly good performance of the custom-made Mustang already circles around the history of people’s browsers worldwide.The beast is powered by Roush Yates 410 cubic inch Ford V8 engine that boosts the WOW-ing 845 hp and 720 lb-ft with individual throttle bodies. The monstrous Ford Mustang has 6-speed Sadev SC90-24 all-wheel drive transmission with a hydraulic handbrake system as well as custom ASD Motorsports-designed geometry and elements. The outstanding (yet in a way too ornate) 1965 widebody Ford Mustang is created by Ken Block, Hoonigan and RTR. There is ASD Motorsports full tubular chassis, ASD Motorsports custom roll-cage, door bars and front/rear suspension mounts and, finally, RTR carbon fiber body panel. The muscle car benefits from fifteen52 three-piece R40 18- x10.5-inch wheels with Pirelli Trofeo R, 295/30R18 tires that are modified with custom Ken Block compound.In the video we see Ken’s 1965 Mustang powerfully exiting a cloud of emitted fumes. And as it exits, it looks like a carnivore that is ready to eat on your flesh. Figuratively speaking of course. Screams down the streets of LA, the Mustang covers every corner with such precision and acuteness that would make the edge of a knife feel as soft as butter.This is definitely a performance which will either make your heart beat ten times faster or will make it stop in a gasp of amazement (Or might just make you wonder what the hell?!).If you still have not watched the video, just click on the link bellow.httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qanlirrRWs

November 19, 2014

Toyota Mirai Achieves Maximum Power Well Above 100kW

Only couple of days ago Toyota announced its ground-breaking Toyota Mirai Fuel Cell Car without giving too much information about it. Now we already have the specific characteristics of the car so you will know what to expect out of it.

First of all, Toyota Mirai indicates the beginning of a new era of vehicles. Since it is all about better future in a clean world and environment, the car uses hydrogen to produce electric power which results in delivering better environmental performance. Still though the convenience and the ultimate driving pleasure are not sacrificed. Drivers still receive the best possible efficiency and quality.

The new Toyota uses the Toyota Fuel Cell System (TFCS) that combines fuel cell and hybrid technologies. It includes Toyota’s new proprietary fuel cell stack and high-pressure hydrogen tanks. The TFCS is more energy efficient than internal combustion engines and emits no CO₂ or pollutants.

Moreover, the hydrogen-powered sedan’s stack has a maximum power output of 153 bhp (114kW) and a maximum torque of 335 Nm (247 ft-lbf). The 3D fine mesh flow channels enhance the efficiency of the car’s electricity generation and ensure uniform generation on the cell surfaces. As a result, this provides the FC stack with compact dimensions, excellent performance and a world-leading power output density estimated at 3.1kW/L. The electric motor is driven by Nickel-metal hydride battery.

The exterior of the Toyota Mirai emphasis on its individuality and sophistication. Even the headlights present high-tech luxury. They gain ultra-thin profile and an in-line arrangement of four LED lights, along with visible heat sinks and other optical components. The trapezoidal shape of the rear profile extends from the license plate surround and continues to the bottom corners of the bumper and out towards the 17-inch aluminium wheels.

Inside the car encompasses a full capacity of balanced style and quietness. The sound absorbing systems and noise-reducing glass for the windscreen and door windows add to the electric motor which works with impressive quietness. The front seats use an integrated cover/seat foaming process to ensure better body fit and hold. Furthermore, the central meter cluster placed on the top of the instrument panel has a speedometer and a multi-information display presented on a high-definition 4.2-inch liquid crystal TFT screen. Customers can choose from three different interior colors, including Warm White.

Source: Toyota

November 19, 2014

Volkswagen Reveals New Golf R Estate at LA Auto Show

The big-booted version of Volkswagen’s superhatch VW Golf R is finally unveiled. It will make its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, 2014. This is the first time when the Golf R model has been developed in an estate bodystyle.

Just like its hatchback predecessor, the new Golf R Estate takes its power from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged TSI petrol engine that is able to produce up to 300 ps from 5,500 to 6,200 rpm and 380 Nm of maximum torque available from just 1,800 rpm to 5,500 rpm. It is transmitted via a standard six-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DSG) to the permanent 4MOTION all-wheel drive. This is a certain recipe for maximum traction, excellent performance and active safety.

But how powerful is it? The manufacturer quotes a 0-50 mph, taking just 3.8 seconds, and 0-62 mph of 5.1 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph. Nevertheless, on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), the Golf R Estate consumes only 7.0 l/100 km or 40.4 mpg which is equal to average CO₂ emissions of 163 g/km.

The design of the 2015 Golf R Estate is similar to that of the Golf hatchback up to the B-pillars. Yet, what really identifies and differentiates the car from the rest is the new R design bumper, a high-gloss black diffuser, four chrome-plated tailpipe trims, so-called ‘aero flaps’ on the D-pillars, cherry-red taillights and LED number plate illumination. There are also specific 18-inch ‘Cadiz’ alloy wheels and black-painted brake calipers with R logo which add finishing touches on the overall appearance. Optional 19-inch ‘Pretoria’ flow-formed wheels (exceptionally lightweight and sturdy) in motorsport design are available as well.

The interior of the Golf R Estate imitates the appeal of the hatchback version. It comes with Alcantara upholstery, R logos on the seats and steering wheel, a high level of standard equipment and blue highlights.

Source: Volkswagen

November 19, 2014

2015 Toyota Sienna Receives a SpongeBob Movie-themed Look

I will allow myself to use a quote from SpongeBob Squarepants himself: “hahahahahah” (I almost shed a tear here).

Toyota has once again teamed up with Nickelodeon studios to create a 2015 Sienna minivan that is inspired by the upcoming “SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water.” The car will have its official premiere at 2014 LA Auto Show this week. It is definitely unique, fun and unconventional. It is impossible to describe it in a different way. This Toyota is an absolute ice-breaker and can make everyone laugh. Or at least smile.

The SpongeBob Movie-themed 2015 Toyota Sienna will be rolled out on a cross-country promotional tour leading up to The SpongeBob Movie’s premiere on the 6^th of February, 2015. The tour will follow different family-friendly locations like some Bass Pro Shops across the US, Nickelodeon Suites Resort, Orlando, Fla.; Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America, Minneapolis, Minn.; the Chicago Auto Show, Chicago, Ill.; and, finally, the New York Auto Show, New York, NY.

This one-of-a-kind Toyota has a custom three-dimensional SpongeBob SquarePants exterior, complete with the character’s Superhero Incredibubble mask. For a full amazement, the latter blows real bubbles at the top of the car. The interior features seatings inspired by each of SpongeBob’s Bikini Bottom friends. There is also a wood-grain dashboard, a custom Captain’s steering wheel, a blue-sky head liner and a sand-inspired floor.

The initial 2015 Toyota Sienna made its debut earlier this year. The car comes with a number of improvements such as refreshed exterior styling packed with added safety, convenience, multi-media features and many more.

Source: Toyota

November 19, 2014

2015 Dodge Charger R/T Recognized with ALG Residual Value Award

The fancy 2015 Dodge Charger R/T has been praised with the prestigious Residual Value Award in the Fullsize Car category from ALG, the industry benchmark for residual values and depreciation data. This is really important for the automaker because that’s the Charger’s first Residual Value Award in the category mentioned above. The annual ALG Residual Value Awards acknowledge only vehicles that are stated to be able to maintain the highest percentage of their initial price after a conventional three-year period.

Over the years Dodge Charger has gained and preserved a position among the top vehicles which have continuingly been in the buyers’ spectrum of interest. It is also considered to prompt the development and the progression of the segment even further on.

That muscular persona is supported by Chrysler’s 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 engine that produces 370 hp (272 kW) and 535 Nm (395 lb-ft) of torque in R/T and R/T Road & Track models. The base engine continues to be the award-winning 3.6-liter V-6 that generates 292 horsepower (218 kW) at 6,350 rpm and 260 lb.-ft. (353 Nm) of torque at 4,800 rpm, and is rated at 31 mpg.

The award from ALG is, on the one hand, a signifier of how well the Charger manages to keep its value and, on the other hand, it honors the improvements that have been made on the 2015 models. Such improvements, of course, include a new attractive exterior, a standard new state-of-the-art eight-speed automatic transmission and several new models, such as the all-new powerful 707 horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat.

Source: Dodge

November 19, 2014

Enjoy a New Audio Experience with Spotify While Driving Your MINI

We are all well aware that the new MINI is one of the coolest ones in its range. We have seen it and we have read about it. Now there is even more to love about it due to the introduction of Spotify to the brand’s roster of third-party App integration. Get ready, MINI fans for you will be jazzed out with this additional extra on the car!

Undoubtedly, Spotify is the largest music streaming service in the world. It has more than 20 million songs available to be transmitted into customized individual playlists. For MINI drivers the access to this huge amount of tunes will be just one dashboard away from them. Using an App on their iPhone, people will be transported into a whole new audio experience while driving.

How exactly can this happen? Simply download the free Spotify App from the Apple App Store, plug in your iPhone to the MINI Connected system, and then you can browse around the impressive musical archives by reducing your search to a specific genre, artist, album or track. What is more, you are enabled to look into the newest album artwork on screen and create your own personalized playlists. This in-car access does not require any premium service subscription which really makes your life easier.

The only thing that is necessary is the vehicle to be equipped with the MINI Visual Boost Radio and MINI Connected or the MINI Media Pack. The integration of the App inside the vehicle’s operating system is dealt through the customer’s Apple iPhone.

Other apps which are available for MINI drivers include a great variety of services like Go-Pro, JustPark, Glympse, AUPEO!, Stitcher, Deezer, Audible, Napster, TuneIn and the Amazon Cloud Player. Furthermore, there are also the services built into the MINI Connected system such as a web radio and RSS news feeds as well as social media including Facebook, Twitter and foursquare. Some of the exclusive MINI online search and functions are comprised of Driving Excitement, Mission Control, Dynamic Music and MINIMALISM, as well as the new MINI Connected XL Journey Mate for interactive travel planning and support for Real Time Traffic Radar.

Source: MINI

November 18, 2014

2015 Bentley Grand Convertible Offers Redefined Luxury and Style

Can you imagine an ultimate luxury expression in a car? I can. And this is when I think of 2015 Bentley Grand Convertible. The car is truly elegant, sophisticated and distinguishable. It not only stands for class, it exhibits it so visibly that no one can argue against it. The Grand Convertible can really become The Grandest!

Under the bonnet, the 2015 Bentley Grand Convertible hides the well-known Bentley’s 6¾-litre twin-turbo V8 engine. It generates 530 hp (395 kW) and 1,100 Nm (811 lb.ft) of torque. With such power, the car has the passion of life and speed of hell. Almost. This powerful creation of Bentley is a representation of pure excellence. It conveys luxury and performance in an extraordinary manner which promises full sensory indulgence of open-air driving.

The impressive exterior of the car is exclaimed throughout a bespoke color. The saturated blue body of the Grand Convertible is complemented by silver “liquid metal” finish to the bonnet and windscreen frame. It is simply majestic! The car is as splendid on the inside as on the outside. Its interior comprises of 4 naturally tanned leather hides that are merged together with progressive-diamond quilting. The form of the pattern shifts and alters over the seats and doors. The cabin is spacious enough and provides room for four adults. Patches of bright blue are used again in order to underline the exclusiveness of the vehicle. There is entirely hand-crafted Sequin Blue thread which is cross-stitched through the linen-colored leather. Around the top of the doors there is a genuine Beluga leather which accentuates the elegance of this Bentley.

That, my fellas, is class. I’ll take two, please.

Source: Bentley

November 18, 2014

BRM V16 – A True Legend in Motor Racing History

Saturday, 6^th of December, 2014 is going to be remarkable for the automotive historic legend BRM V16 will be on display at the National Motor Museum. The motoring historian, Doug Nye, is going to be the guest speaker and will go through the history of the iconic vehicle and its importance and quite pivotal role in the story of British motor sporting progress. Also, Doug Nye will present and explain where the car stood in terms of the nation’s post-war social fabric.

The car was equipped with a supercharged 1.5-liter V-16 cylinder racing engine built by British Racing Motors. Its purpose was to compete in Formula One motor racing in 1947. The car was able to produce 600 bhp (450 kW) at 12,000 rpm.

It is true that seldom people are given the opportunity not just to learn something quite exciting about a definite automobile ‘antique’ but also to see it and have a direct contact with it. The BRM V16 was a product of one exceedingly notable, futuristic and nonconformist notion. That was, precisely, the idea of cooperative British motor industry project to build a world-beating Grand Prix racing car far back in 1945. Only the most imaginative, daring and creative minds could really think of something like this in those days.

Yet because of a significant under-funding and post war inflation, the BRM V16 had to be constructed using a very small and inadequate budget. Fortunately, it was saved by a sponsor, Alfred Owen of the Owen Organization. Due to his financial support and help the vehicle turned into a regular front-runner, but too late for the Grand Prix Formula.

Last but not least, the Type 15 took its maiden race victory in the Goodwood Trophy race in September 1950 and its last participation was in 2012 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Source: Beaulieu

November 18, 2014

Honda Presents Its All-new Fuel-cell Car: Honda FCV Concept

Obviously Honda wants to keep its position among the headliners by presenting its concept car titled Honda’s FCV Concept. The competition between Honda and Toyota to establish a revolutionary fuel cell technology promises some very good outcomes. If you remember, just yesterday Toyota presented its first ground-breaking environmentally-friendly Toyota ‘Mirai’ and only couple of hours later, Honda unveiled its all-new fuel-cell vehicle as well.

With its new development, Honda is seeking to establish or at least become closer to a CO₂ -free society. One of the main factors that prompts the manufacturer to continue its progress in this area is the fact that Honda sees hydrogen as a high-potential, next-generation energy carrier since hydrogen can be generated from various energy sources and is easy to store.

The recently-developed fuel-cell stack used on this concept car is 33% smaller than the previous fuel-cell stack. Nevertheless, it is able to achieve an output of more than 100 kW and output density as high as 3.1 kW/L which improves the overall performance by approximately 60% compared to the previous version of the fuel-cell stack.

The FCV Concept car is FCV is more than just environmentally responsible. The electricity that is produced through the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen is used by the car as a power source for the motor. Moreover, the Honda FCV Concept is equipped with a 70 MPa high-pressure hydrogen storage tank that provides a cruising range of more than 700 km. The tank can be easily refilled in only three minutes.

The all-new FCV production concept model is set to go on sale in Japan by the end of March 2016 and respectfully in the U.S. and Europe.

Source: Honda

November 18, 2014

Clocking up the Miles: Kimi and the F12 Berlinetta [VIDEO]

The most powerful Ferrari on the range product was pushed to the limits in a special F12berlinetta track day at Fiorano. Eleven journalists deriving from some of the world’s most significant motoring publications participated in the event. They were presented with the chance to run the miles in an attempt to test themselves as well as the car in an ultimate driving performance. The participants utilized the impressive 740 hp which were released by the mid-front V12 engine. Forming a spectacular show, they were able to depict a full range of excellent natural balance and sportiness which are embodied in the Ferrari.

Taking advantage of the wet track, the journalists experimented with the various Manettino settings to push the car’s performance in different grip levels. Yet, all of the dynamic controls were off when Scuderia Ferrari driver Kimi Räikkönen was behind the wheel and offered some useful instructions. As a result, the visitors enjoyed a unique experience thanks to the sensational presentation of the F12berlinetta. It managed to demonstrate not only record performance in the Prancing Horse range but it also delivered entertainment and fun.

Ferrari F12 Berlinetta is a car that unleashes super power and high-class presence. The sound of the car, as it starts off, gives you chills every time the gas is pressed. The curves and edges of the exterior are all well-crafted. The welcoming interior offers more than enough space which results in maximum comfort. The vehicle is equipped with an anti-theft satellite system, a rear parking camera, an electrically adjustable steering wheel, climate control, cruise control and temperature monitoring.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSjJ_Ai7gLk

Video Source: Ferrari via Youtube

Source: Ferrari

November 17, 2014

Toyota ‘Mirai’: A Vision From the Future

The confidence and enthusiasm with which the Toyota executives speak about alternative fuels and vehicles really exemplify their aspiration and ambition of achieving something ground-breaking that will set totally innovative benchmarks in the automobile market.

With the announcement of Toyota’s exceptional fuel cell vehicle titled ‘Mirai’, which translated from Japanese literally means ‘future’, the manufacturer plants a cardinal turning point for the automotive industry. With the launch of the car comes the promise of a safer, greener and easier world. The cutting-edge vehicle arrives with no compromises and it knows no boundaries. It has the cruising range of a normal saloon and can be refuelled in less than five minutes. The only emission that comes out is water vapor. The unconventional sedan with its bizarre look is the production version of the FCV Concept, which Toyota released at the Tokyo Motor Show last year.

The new Mirai represents a bold step into a more convenient future. It is absolutely environmentally-friendly car which can reduce our dependence on oil and decrease harm to the environment. The vehicle is said to run on hydrogen that can be produced from pretty much anything. Impressive as it is, Toyota Mirai has a fuel cell that creates so much electricity which can be enough to power a whole house.

Toyota’s new creation is purpose-built around a fuel-cell stack which transforms compressed hydrogen gas into electricity. In consequence, the electricity is congested in batteries and is further used to power a motor that spurs on the front wheels.

The car will cost the equivalent of around $69,000 in Japan. Despite the fact that the U.S. pricing has not been officially announced yet, there are suppositions that the price will be around $50,000.

Source: Toyota

November 17, 2014

Author: Katya Mikova