Lidia Todorova – Page 122 – Automobiles Review

Maserati Quattroporte GTS and Ghibli get Minor Updates for L.A. Auto Show

Maserati Quattroporte GTS and the Alfieri 2+2 Concept are going to take the center stage at the forthcoming Los Angeles Auto Show. This year, the luxury company is celebrating its 100th Anniversary. For this occasion the bran is introducing the stunning Alfieri 2+2 Concept. This car and entire model year 2015 lineup will be shown in California at the event on 21^st of November. Another debut, this time a local one, will be making the refreshed Maserati Quattroporte GTS, which is brand’s flagship sedan. At the show there will also be a special vintage Maserati display.

Alfieri Concept was shown earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show. It embodies the stylistic and racing heritage of Maserati, but at the same time it is exotic, sleek and is in “2+2” configuration.

The redesigned 2015 Quattroporte gets some new exterior and interior styling features for its S Q4 and GTS versions. The GTS is more powerful because of the 523 hp twin-turbo V8 engine. New detail accents are the lower bodywork color-matched to its body, the refreshed trident badge and red accented wheel center caps. Optional features here include contrast stitching, red leather upholstery and Black Piano Lacquered trim and Wifi hotspot.

Maserati Centennial Editions of the GranTurismo MC coupe and convertible will be also at the show. More importantly they also get some minor updates for MY2015. They are available in three new tri-coated paint colors: Rosso Magma, Blu Inchiostro and Grigio Pietra. Other highlights are the special centennial center caps, lightweight carbon finishes and stripe design on the seats.

Ghibli can’t be left behind. It also features new enhancements for the next model year. Precisely, it gets standard navigation and Bluetooth, brake caliper finish and contrast stitching.

Source: Maserati

November 14, 2014

2015 Suzuki Celerio is Ready to Conquer the City

2015 Suzuki Celerio which was shown earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show goes on sale from February next year. It will be seen in the streets of Europe with its elevated driving position, interior space and big luggage capacity of 254L. The main goal of the design of this car was to ensure that there is enough space within a compact body of just 3,600mm length and width of 1,600mm. The height is of 1,530mm. The wheelbase on which the car sits measures 2,425mm.

Going further to the standard specifications, we must say that this Suzuki go a really nice treatment. The range will include six airbags, including driver, passenger, side and curtain, ESP, air conditioning, alloy wheels, DAB Radio, CD Tuner, USB and Bluetooth connectivity.

However, there are no details on the grading structure of the car. It will be announced by the end of the year. Another benefit that the Celerio offers are the low CO2 emissions of 99g/km and fuel consumption of 65.7mpg on the EC combined cycle.

In fact, Suzuki is preparing new Dualjet engine with even higher fuel economy and CO2 emissions, which will fall to just 84g/km, which will be introduced in the summer of 2015. At that time the company will also introduce the newly developed Auto Gear Shift (AGS), which includes Intelligent Shift Control Actuator positioned at the top of the transmission that operates the gearshift and clutch automatically.

What we haven’t told is that the Celerio will be available in six colours. Five of them will be with metallic finish and one in a solid colour.

Source: Suzuki

November 14, 2014

SS Customs and Tesla Create One-Off TeslaVets to Celebrate Veterans Day

SS Customs told us that this current project we are presenting to you is on of their most favourite. It is called TeslaVets project and it is based on the superb Tesla Model S. The custom design of the car was created in house with the Tesla’s collaboration. The reason: both companies are honoring Veterans Day (11th of November) and those who have supported their country. And this is a great expression of a heartfelt “Thank you”.

In July, the electric car manufacturer released information that it has a goal of becoming the top employer for veterans in the United States. In fact, already about five percent of the staff are veterans, and there is this tendency of additional 600 people to be hired in the near future.

The California-based company has just unveiled the tuned car via its official Facebook page via a bunch of pictures. As we see they show a Model S, dressed up in a special wrap. Of course, it was all done by the specialists at SS Customs. The Camo vinyl wrap was hand cut and then hand applied.

To match the perfect new exterior appearance of the vehicle, the tuners decided to add one off powder coated green 21 inch Model S wheels and Yakima roof basket on whispbars with full Armed Forces regalia. Note also the yellow tinted headlights and the typical military equipment mounted on the custom-made roof rack.

Tesla Model S is the most successful electric vehicle with a rear wheel drive. It is powered by a liquid-cooled powertrain, which includes the battery, motor, drive inverter, and gear box. The total power is rated at 416 hp (310 kW) an 600 Nm (443 lb-ft) of torque, while the range of the car is around 450 km.

Source: SS Customs via Facebook

November 13, 2014

Scion iM Concept is an Edgy Auris Debuting in L.A.

Do you remember when Scion teased its future iM Concept. Well, the news (and pictures) we received, give more information on what we are to expect debuting at the Los Angeles Auto Show on 19th of November. The company told us that the iM concept vehicle is a reflection of the evolution of company’s design philosophy which aims to catch the attention of youthful customers. And we were right with the assumption that the car will be a sporty hatchback based on Toyota’s Auris.

Precisely, the concept is a five-door compact hatchback with sporty looks. It is obvious that these visual characteristics were inspired by the vehicles seen on the European touring car racing circuit. The concept has unique styling with edgy, geometric grille inserts, deep air intakes and fog lights.

Take a look at his incredible exterior color. We sincerely hope that when we see it in L.A. it will look as vibrant as on these renders. This custom-blended “Incrediblue” paint is complemented by matte silver and gunmetal accents.

In addition, the car features wide aerodynamics and a lower ride height. Having in mind that it Carries in its heart the performance spirit, it is no surprise that it rides on 19-inch forged alloy wheels and sporty performance tires. What complete the racecar-influenced design are the vented front rotors and 4-piston calipers which work with the adjustable height racing suspension.

Scion iM Concept is the first hatchback in brand’s history. There are no details on what engine will it include: whether it will use Auris turbocharged engine, or will there be any new surprises. So we have to wait until next Wednesday to get the whole picture.

Source: Scion

November 13, 2014

Q: QorosQloud Qubed Envisions Vehicle/Driver Relationship in 2029

Qoros is entering the LA Design Challenge with a Q: QorosQloud Qubed Concept. The special vehicle envisions what the advanced vehicle and driver connectivity in the year 2029 will be. In short, the competition challenges international automotive design teams to explore how technology will change vehicles to connect with human senses in the aforementioned year. The winner will be chosen via a Facebook vote on the LA Auto Show’s official page page.

Q: QorosQloud Qubed was designed by Jamie Barrett, Aditya Mahajan and Alex O’Brien. The vision for it is that it will learn from the driver over a period of time through the five senses. This basically means that there will be a strong and dynamic vehicle/driver relationship, which will grow over time.

What can the car learn? For instance if you were the driver, it could get to know your tastes such as music preferences and general interests. In addition, it could also learn your favourite restaurants, regular destinations, friends and family. And the best thing here is that Q will improve over time, because it will be learning more every single day.

Even more, Q is designed to bring about maximum safety by identifying when the driver is distracted or driving irresponsibly. When this happens the Qoros concept will quickly switch to an autonomous driving mode.

The vote will last until 20^th of November. One user can vote once every day for their favourite LA Auto Show Design Challenge entry.

Source: Qoros

November 13, 2014

Wimmer RST Infernal Trio Armada Generates up to 1,300 Horsepower

We haven’t heard from Wimmer RS probably since last year. Now, the tuning company from Solingen, Germany, returns with not one, but three powerful cars, based on X-BOW and called “Infernal Trio Armada”. More impressive is that these vehicles produce 1,300 horsepower. This result was achieved via chip tuning and other engine modifications. The first car is the X-BOW GT, which has an extended engine tuning with metal cat, modified turbo charger, optimized high compression pump, special air suction, and a very special Wimmer exhaust system. In addition, there are also a lot of internal hardware upgrades inside the powerplant.

There are also modified chassis components and giant Wimmer EVO 2-Carbon rear wings with adjustable flaps. In terms of numbers, the serial parameters of 285 hp (210 kW) and 420 Nm (310 lb-ft) of torque have been increased up to the diabolic 485 hp (357 kW) and 520 Nm (384 lb-ft).

The sprint from 0 to 60 mph is covered effortlessly in less than seconds, and the Vmax is 160 mph (255 km/h). Vehicle’s handling has been also optimized even. The road “bend robber” with its full carbon chassis is eye catcher par excellence.

The next second car is called X-BOW R, and it is slightly less powerful than the first one. It generates 455 hp (335 kW) with 500 Nm (368 lb-ft) of torque after the tuning, which is an increase with 155 hp and 100 Nm. The top speed is positioned at 154 mph (248 km/h). It also received some chassis and suspension modifications.

The third family member is the X-BOW RR, which brings along 370 hp (272 kW). Everything in it has been optimized and there is the option of a special Wimmer North loop setup featuring wheel load measuring.

Source: WIMMER Rennsporttechnik via Miranda Media

November 13, 2014

2015 Skoda Fabia Estate Goes on Sale

2015 Skoda Fabia Estate is the third generation of its kind and is currently going on sale in the United Kingdom. For this region there will be three trim grades and four engine options. The car will offer to its customers the convenience of 530-litre boot, maximum load volume of 1,395 litres and high equipment levels. The model was unveiled at this year’s Paris Motor Show in September and will debut on the market in spring 2015.

The Fabia Estate will be offered in three trim grades: S, SE and SE-L. The first, entry-level S, gets six airbags, DAB digital radio, Bluetooth, Stop/Start and electric front windows as standard. SE models builds on it and add manual air-conditioning, alloy wheels, Front assist, Arkamys surround sound package and Bolero radio with telephone control, Mirror Link, USB and SD card connections.

In addition, there are also available options for the SE trim: three-spoke leather steering wheel, height adjustable driver and passenger seat, Maxi-DOT trip computer and black roof rails. At the top of the range stands the Elegance model which adds 16-inch alloy wheels, climate control air-conditioning, Light assistant, cruise control and KESSY (keyless entry system).

Furthermore, the 2015 model is based on Skoda’s advanced MQB platform architecture. The result is impressive: 65kg reduction in weight and 17 per more efficiency. Despite this fact, the car has kept the 960mm loading floor.

The tailgate opens to 1,900 mm and is 1,028 mm wide, while the loading sill is only 611mm high. Passenger’s area is also wider by +21 mm, and longer by +8mm, and there’s more headroom for the driver and front seat passengers.

Orders for 2015 Skoda Fabia Estate will open in December. First deliveries are expected in March next year.

Source: Skoda

November 13, 2014

Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf Officially Unveiled in Dubai

Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf is currently being launched in Dubai, but don’t worry because Aston Martin is planning to release it outside the Middle East market. The super saloon is one of the finest of fast cars. It is based on company’s flexible VH architecture and is inspired by the highly sought-after William Towns-designed Lagonda of 1976. In addition, it includes wide range of the same cutting edge engineering techniques seen in modern Aston Martin sports. An instance is the use of carbon fibre body panels.

Of course, the car has been hand-built by the finest craftsmen and women at company’s manufacturing facilities in Gaydon, Warwickshire. Right there was the production of the One-77 hypercar. Just like its exclusive siblings, like the V12 Zagato and CC100 Speedster Concept, Lagonda has been created as a piece of automotive art.

Unfortunately, this is the entire information which we have received from Aston Martin. However, we suspect that the car is likely driven by a refined V12 6.0-liter engine, which produces more than 565 hp (415 kW) and mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. This means that we should expect a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time in 4 seconds or less and a top speed around 200 mph.

Aston Martin Lagonda super saloon was revealed in October. This was the time when the British company released the first officia images of the car. With this super saloon, the luxury brand is trying to revive the historic Lagonda nameplate.

Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf will be offered for sale by invitation only. Up until now there are no details revealed about the exact pricing.

Source: Aston Martin

November 12, 2014

You Must See It, Because this is the First Ever 2016 Cadillac ATS-V Coupe [VIDEO]

The first ever 2016 Cadillac ATS-V Coupe has just been previewed via an exclusive video, which was officially revealed by the company. The exclusive car will be unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show on 18th of November. As you can see, the footage does not show much except for the “burnout”. However, the rumors say that the ATS-V Coupe will adopt an aggressive front fascia with a carbon fiber front splitter.

Of course, there will be the typical for Cady mesh grille, which however will be slimmer. Some also say that there will be larger and lower intake.

As you can see from the video, the shoes of the coupe are black multi-spoke lightweight alloy wheels backed up by an exceptional braking system. And are we hearing the sound of four-tailpipe sports exhaust system?

There is no official data about the engine, however we expect to see the twin-turbo 3.6-liter V6 engine, which generates around 425 hp (313 kW).

Cadillac unveiled the 2015 ATS Sedan in July. It featured a new front fascia with a revised grille, high-intensity discharge headlamps, LED vertical light signature elements and Adaptive Forward Lighting. All models also feature LED technology for the taillamps and rear-center stop lamp.

The engine range here starts from the 2.5 liter four-cylinder with 202 hp (151 kW) and 259 Nm (191 lb-ft) of torque and the 2.0 liter turbocharged petrol with 272 hp (203 kW) and 400 Nm (203 kW), to the 3.6 liter V6 – 321 hp (239 kW) and 373 Nm (275 lb-ft).

httpv://youtu.be/w_IpVwJXXEk

Video Source: YouTube

Source: Cadillac

November 12, 2014

Aston Martin Produces One-Off DB9 Volante Morning Frost

Aston Martin DB9 Volante Morning Frost is unique and was made by company’s Q customization division. If you still can’t believe it, this car is so exclusive that it will be produced in only one example. The one-off exterior is finished in white color, called Morning Frost, and features blue satin carbon fiber accents, and we must say it looks pretty nice. The same blue color has also been used for the soft top.

There is also a special mesh grille and even more special and elegant 10-spoke alloy wheels. The two-tone design scheme continues inside in the cabin. There we see the combination of Pearl White and Spectral Blue leather seats. The latter leather is used also for the air vents, while Cobalt Blue is used for the fascia trim.

DB9 Volante Morning Frost will be driven by 6.0-liter V12 engine. The unit produces 510 hp (375 kW) and 620 Nm (458 lb-ft) of maximum torque, and is coupled with a Touchtronic 2 six-speed transmission. The transmission helps the car accelerate effortlessly from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds.

DB9 is the iconic heart of the Aston Martin model range. It combines an intoxicating blend of elegance and engineering, refinement and technology. DB9 is also the latest progeny of the most illustrious automotive bloodline in the world.

Aston Martin’s newest DB9 has been commissioned by Aston Martin Dallas. Honestly, this sports car is definitely one of the most eye-catching DB9 Volantes we’ve ever seen. What do you think?

Source: Aston Martin

November 12, 2014

McLaren to Call its next Sports Series Black Swan?

No, don’t worry. There is absolutely no chance for McLaren to call its new vehicle Black Swan. Instead, it will be probably dubbed McLaren P13 Sports Series, and more importantly, the company has just officially released a first teaser image of the front of the upcoming racing machine. “Black swan moments” is only a metaphor, which means that something is going against ordinary belief and expectations.

And this is what we can expect from the future P13. From the image we see that the vehicle is currently undergoing testing. Nevertheless, the teaser image above does not show much of the car. In fact, it shows it partially and covered with camouflage.

Although it somewhat resembles a Ferrari, the car definitely looks like a contemporary McLaren. You can see the thin LED headlights as well as ten-spoke alloy wheels. Wing mirrors are also there and they are mounted to the doors, and this is what is similar between the P13 and P1, and different between the first and the 650S model.

This car is being developed and released into production before the Acura NSX makes an official appearance. This means that the McLaren will definitely offer a better car Acura. In addition, McLaren Sports Series is set to take on the admirers of the Audi R8 or the Porsche 911 GT3.

P13 will be based on a carbon fiber monocoque and will be powered by a V8 engine. The rumors say that the unit will be a modified 3.8-liter twin-turbo, and just like the P1 it will be coupled to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Last thing to mention is that the car will be a two-seater.

Source: McLaren via Facebook

November 12, 2014

Eclipse Reveals new Lexus LF-C2 Concept [TEASER]

A beautiful picture of Lexus LF-C2 Concept was just revealed. Unfortunately, what we can clearly see is only the eclipse. The car stays under the veil of darkness and slightly lightened up by the moon. It will be premiered at the Los Angeles Auto Show on 19th of November. Lexus revealed that the new concept model is “open-air” and has kept the other details in secret. Next to the physical event, the concept will be given a simultaneous on-line global reveal through a 72-hour social media campaign.

What we can also see from the teaser picture is that the vehicle has a tight windscreen, a very elegant rear deck as well as an integrated trunk spoiler. Whether the model will be a two seater, we can’t say for sure, but it surely does look like this. Note also the protruding nose of the car.

There is also another question and it is: will this roadster be an updated convertible version of previously shown concept with a hard-top on. Just like the unique LF-LC concept, which we haven’t seen for a while.

As a reminder, Lexus LF-LC Blue Concept is a sports coupe concept in lustrous Opal Blue finish. It combines advanced technologies and materials with an organic design. The car pioneered in the use of lightweight carbon fibre and the next generation of Lexus’s industry-leading full hybrid powertrain. The “marriage” between carbon fibre and aluminium alloy materials used here results in light body mass.

Another advantage is that these details provide great platform for the next generation Lexus Hybrid Drive system – Advanced Lexus Hybrid Drive. It features a new, high-energy battery pack designed to generate greater power from a unit that is smaller than those used in Lexus’s current full hybrid model range. The full petrol-electric system is able to produce a maximum 500 hp (372kW) and this means that this is more power than any other Lexus hybrid.

Source: Lexus

November 12, 2014

Author: Lidia Todorova