Lidia Todorova – Page 181 – Automobiles Review

Mopar Shows Dodge Dart Pro Stock Ready For NHRA Gatornationals

Dodge Dart is Mopar’s latest Pro Stock class vehicle, which made its public debut at the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Gatornationals this weekend. The model was developed on a virtual platform with the utilization of production-based technologies and many techniques typically used in the development of the street vehicles.

This Mopar enhanced Dart was then tested and validated with the aerodynamic wind tunnel, and eventually has made its first test runs at Bradenton Motorsports Park. This made the car perfectly ready to arrive in Gainesville for the third national event on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag racing season.

In fact, two Dodge Dart cars made their competition debut this weekend. With its new Dart, Mopar is proving for another time its motorsports credentials. In addition, the HEMI- powered Dodge Dart also carries the “Magneti Marelli Quality Auto Parts Offered by Mopar” label in order to celebrate the partnership between Mopar and Magneti Marelli.

GEN II 426 Race HEMI ‘Elephant’ paint scheme was also revealed on Hagan’s DSR Dodge Charger R/T in order to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Mopar’s commitment to professional motorsports competition. Since the beginning, the brand has achieved numerous accomplishment of breaking many speed and performance barriers.

Source: Dodge

March 17, 2014

Kahn Land Rover Defender 2.2 TDCI SW 90 Chelsea Wide Track Edition

The latest addition in the garage of the luxury tuning experts at A. Kahn Design is the refined Land Rover Defender 2.2 TDCI SW 90 Chelsea Wide Track Edition. The vehicle looks amazing and is characterized by fine detailing, one-off design, cutting-edge technologies and volcanic black satin livery.

The individuality of the vehicle is achieved through the addition of a styling package which comprises of front and rear wide wings with integrated vents and bolt apertures, Kahn six speed automatic gearbox conversion, extended wheel arches, Chelsea Truck Company Spare wheel cover, side vents and bonnet vents with mesh stainless steel.

What adds to the exclusivity of this model is the 20 inch Kahn Mondial wheels that are decided in volcanic black with diamond cut finish. Furthermore, the exterior package of this Land Rover adds the front X-Lander grille with two headlamp surrounds.

Inside is continued the individual approach of the design via hand crafted body hugging seats in quilted and perforated leather, billet and leather steering wheel, Harris tweed inserts and sharp instrumentation.

Source: A. Kahn Design

March 17, 2014

Nissan Teases New Sedan Concept With First Image

Auto China 2014 will begin on 20th of April in Beijing, where Nissan will make a debut of a new sedan concept. At the show, the visitors will also see the BladeGlider concept, making its Chinese debut, a special Teana model, celebrating its 10th anniversary in China, and many innovations, including the Autonomous Drive car. In addition, the all-new X-Trail and the new NV200 Xtronic transmission, are also expected to be presented at the show.

Last week Nissan only announced that it is going to make the world premiere of the new sedan concept vehicle. Now the brand is releasing the first teaser image of the brand new model and we are expecting more news to come in the forthcoming days ahead of the show. At Auto Shanghai 2013, the brand revealed Friend-ME concept, and from what we can see from the teaser, we can surely tell that the new sedan concept will be its evolution.

Friend-ME has provocative design and connectivity features. What was striking in it’s the vehicle’s interior design was the one-off centre console that stretched from the dash to between the rear seats. The new sedan concept was specifically created for the Chinese digital lifestyle and it comes to express Nissan’s passion and focus in the world’s most dynamic auto market.

Another debut in China will make the BladeGlider concept and if you have seen it, you can undoubtedly tell it is unique. It has one-of-a-kind center seat driver position, it is highly aerodynamic, and delivers road-hugging agility and hyper-efficiency.

Teana 10th Anniversary Special Edition model will commemorate the 10th birthday of the model being present at the Chinese market. On the other hand the X-Trail will also be shown, and will be equipped with wide range of convenient features such as large console box for gear and flexible seating, spinal support seats, Active Trace Control and 4x4i drive system, with Hill Start Assist, Advance Hill Descent Control and Yaw Moment Control.

Source: Nissan

March 17, 2014

DMC Ferrari Berlinetta F12 SPIA Spotted In Hong Kong

The luxury tuning experts at DMC are now gaining popularity in China, and the proof for this is that a DMC Ferrari Berlinetta F12 SPIA was recently spotted in Hong Kong and captured by the photo wizard Linus Lam.

The DMC F12 SPIA has unique white exterior, which makes perfect contrast to the DMC carbon fiber kit which was installed at a later time. In fact, the refinement gives the Ferrari even more aggressive look and improved aerodynamics.

To go into details, the front diffuser was substituted with a prominent new lip splitter. The latter extends the car and also enhances its road stability. Next, the front hood was entirely replaced with a carbon fiber version. An optional roof scoop is also visible here and it definitely contributes towards DMC’s F12 bolder appearance.

What is more, the extended side skirts add to improved road stability, because they utilize a pair of diffuser plates. They also feature flaps which go in harmony with those found on the front diffuser. The trunk has received a 599XX spoiler wing, which goes well along with the newly designed rear diffuser.

Inside, the package is finalized with an interior refinement. DMC has used here Italy’s finest leathers and carbon finer. Plenty of buttons and trims and a redesigned steering wheel are also present.

Source: DMC

March 14, 2014

Datsun Teases New Production Model For Russia [VIDEO]

The first Datsun production car designed specifically for the Russian market is going to be unveiled on 4th of April in Moscow. Ahead of the debut of the car, the brand has released an animated sketch-video which gives very good hints of its exterior characteristics.

The launch of the brand in Russia is significant for the global expansion of the brand. Whats I more, it is the first time in company’s history, that the Datsun has been officially introduced to Russia.

There hasn’t been much revealed about the car, except for a promised engaging driving experience, peace of mind ownership and accessibility at the right and transparent price, with a competitive Total Cost of Ownership. The car was designed in Japan, while its manufacturing was carried out locally by an international team of engineers.

The name of the vehicle, as well as more details around it will be officially released after the debut. Take a look below to get an idea of new Datsun’s car design.

httpv://youtu.be/CEU8n_DnNIQ

Video Source: YouTube

Source: Datsun

March 14, 2014

Kamui Kobayashi Drives Caterham Seven 620R At Silverstone [VIDEO]

Caterham just released an interesting video, showing its new F1 Team boy – Kamui Kobayashi. In the video you can see how the racer warmed up for the first Grand Prix of the season in Australia by making his first ever drive of the Caterham Seven 620R.

Just as a reminder, the 620R is the most powerful “Seven” built by the brand. It is capable of producing 310 hp (228 kW) and has a top speed of 155 mph. The acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h is rated here less than 2.8 seconds.

The video below documents how Kobayashi is making his first Seven drive, but what is more important it also captures the thoughts on the iconic British sportscar. And from what we are hearing, the car certainly made an impression on the 27-year old, who dubbed the 620R as “pure car”.

He also disclosed that it took him only one corner, to understand the car straight away. The racer was also impressed by the power of the 620R, being the closest thing to a race car (but street legal) that he has ever driven. See for yourselves:

httpv://youtu.be/ho8otFpsGYA

Video Source: YouTube

Source: Caterham

March 14, 2014

New MINI Cooper Hatch Shows Contemporary Evolution Of Classic Design

The iconic MINI Hatch has been built up completely anew from the ground up. Although it keeps its emblematic design cues, every component has been back to the drawing board with the aim to enhance its function, performance and style.

The result is that the new MINI includes major improvements in technology, engine efficiency and power delivery, driving dynamics, quality and personalisation. Next to the fact that the new hatch is quieter than the outgoing model, it is also more spacious and safer than before.

The dimensions of the new model are the following: 3,821mm length (MINI Cooper S is 3,850mm), 1,727mm width and 1,414mm height. In general, this makes it 98mm longer, 44mm wider and 7mm taller than its predecessor. The wheelbase has been extended by 28mm, while the track width has been enlarged at the front by 42mm and at the rear by 34mm.

The traditional exterior design of the car has been kept, we can still see a slightly refined the hexagonal contour of the radiator grille, circular headlights, ‘side scuttle’ indicator surrounds, upright rear light clusters and black lower body edging. What is new here: the LED headlamps and tail-lights, surrounded by an LED daylight driving ring.

As mentioned, the interior is spacious than before due to the larger dimensions. In addition, the horizontal structure of the cockpit is linked to circular and elliptical details. At its heart is the instrument cluster on the steering column. Speed, revs and fuel level are displayed on vertically arranged circular dials. A 8.8 inch TFT display is also positioned on the dashboard.

Controller or MINI Touch Controller, fitted in the centre console work together with the MINI Visual Boost Radio or the MINI Navigation System. LED lighting around the new central instrument provides visual feedback to the current driving situations.

In terms of engines, MINI has features an entirely new powertrains, each featuring MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology: three-cylinder petrol, four-cylinder petrol and three-cylinder diesel engine. Details are listed in the table below:

Engine		MINI One Hatch	MINI One D Hatch	MINI Cooper Hatch	MINI Cooper D Hatch	MINI Cooper S Hatch
Type/no. of cylinders/valves		in-line / 3 / 4	in-line / 3 / 4	in-line / 3 / 4	in-line / 3 / 4	in-line / 4 / 4
Capacity	cc	1198	1496	1499	1496	1998
Bore/stroke	mm	78.0 / 83.6	78 / 83.	82.0 / 94.6	84.0 / 90.0	82.0 / 94.6
Compression	:1	11	16.5	11.0	16.5	11.0
Output	kW/hp	75 / 102	70 / 95	100 / 136	85 / 116	141 / 192
at engine speed	rpm	4250 – 6000	4000	4500 – 6000	4000	4700 – 6000
Torque (with overboost)	Nm	180	220	220)	270	280
at engine speed	rpm	1400-4000	1750 – 2250	1250 – 4000	1750	1250 – 4750

As a standard, the units are fitted with the six-speed manual transmission, while six-speed automatic and six-speed sports automatic transmissions come as an option.

MINI Hatch will also sport an optimized suspension, which has been enhanced via a new single-joint spring strut axle at the front and a multi-link axle at the rear. All improvements are made with the aim to intensify MINI’s ‘go-kart’ handling responses. Also new to the car is the optional Variable Damper Control.

MINI Cooper Hatch and MINI Cooper D Hatch ride on 15-inch forged light alloy wheels, while the MINI Cooper S Hatch is fitted with 16-inch light alloy wheels as standard. Debuting on the hatch are the following technologies: the optional MINI Head-Up-Display, Driving Assistant option with collision and pedestrian warning system, a rear view camera and parking assistant, ABS anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution (EBD), cornering brake control (CBC) with brake assistant, the driving stability control system (DSC), drive-off assistant, brake dry function, fading brake support and dynamic traction control (DTC).

2014 MINI Cooper Hatches will be available in dealerships from tomorrow.

Source: MINI

March 14, 2014

If Koenigsegg One:1 Was Driven By Dubai Police

Dubai Police is probably the luckiest police department in the world because it is famous for driving some of the most expensive, exclusive and fastest cars in the world. In their fleet we have already seen Mercedes-Benz G-Class tuned by Brabus, Chevrolet Camaro SS, Aston-Martins and Lamborghinis. It was even speculated that a Bugatti has joined the exclusive line-up of Dubai police vehicles, however – soon proven wrong by A. Kahn Design.What we have found over Facebook recently is an interesting render which shows how a Koenigsegg One:1 would look like if it has been attributed to this famous department. It is made by the creative digital artist and photographer Santapanter (real name is Teun Verwijmeren).Dubai Police One:1 features unique exterior treatment – it is dressed in white, but has green and black accents all over its body. Carbon fiber is visible almost everywhere: on the top-cover, hood, rear wing, side sills, front and rear bumpers, rearview mirrors. Even the five-spoke wheels were made of this material.Koenigsegg One:1 was unveiled one week ahead of Geneva Auto Show, where it made is official premiere. It is world’s fastest production car, generating 1,341 horsepower (986 kW) and 1,371 Nm (1,011 lb-ft) of torque at 6,000RPM thanks to its 5.0 liter twin-turbocharged V8 aluminum engine.This almost unbelievable amount of power is transmitted on the road through a dual-clutch seven-speed gearbox, which sends it to an electronic differential at the rear wheels. If you wonder about its top speed – well, it is 440 km/h (273 mph). The car covers the sprint from 0 to 400 km/h in just 20.0 seconds. And definitely this makes it perfect for the police department in Dubai.

March 13, 2014

A-Team Racing Transforms 1978 Ford Mustang II [VIDEO]

The presented 1978 Ford Mustang II was transformed in unique way by the tuning specialists at A-Team Racing. The car has some powerful looks, isn’t it? It is dressed in Ford’s Kona Blue exterior paint finish, but what makes this project one-of-a-kind is its Triton V-10 engine.

Dubbed as Evolution II, this Mustang is driven by an all-custom-made Triton V-10 powertrain, which features custom manifold, intake and custom-made valve covers on the top of the powertrain. The unit is mated to a Z06 6-speed transaxle.

Obviously, the work on the vehicle did not stop here. The tuners included equipment features such as 3” Magnaflow exhaust, unique Race Mesh grille, Dakota Digital gauges, brand new billet window cranks and door handles.

In general, the car has widened proportions. For instance, in order to accommodate the larger engine, the front wheels were moved with 12-inches forward, while at the rear A-Team Racing used Mustang GT fenders cover the large Toyo tires.

In contrast to the striking blue exterior paint stand the ten-spoke wheels in black, which were also fitted with 6 piston front and 4 piston rear brakes. What rounds out this project are the tail lights that were taken from 1976 Toyota Clica GT.

httpv://youtu.be/PGoZlICY_6Q

Video Source: YouTube

Source: A-Team Racing

March 13, 2014

2014 Ford Explorer Gets Five Stars From NHTSA [VIDEO]

2014 Ford Explorer was awarded with five stars by NHTSA or in other words gets the top marks in the federal government’s new car safety rating program. In fact, model’s both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive have achieved the five-star score under the New Car Assessment Program.

This top safety rating was given to the vehicles due to its advanced safety equipment, which includes second-row inflatable safety belts that improved comfort and protection for passengers. This advanced restraint system was created with the aim to reduce head, neck and chest injuries for second-row passengers.

In addition, what also helped for the achievement were the features such as AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control, Safety Canopy side air curtain technology for all three rows, and dual-stage airbags for driver and front passenger. 2014 Ford Explorer comes as a standard with a tire pressure monitoring system and SOS Post-Crash Alert System.

The new explorer is offered with three engine variants featuring the 3.5L Ti-VCT V6, 2.0L I-4 EcoBoost and 3.5L V6 EcoBoost units. The powertrains are matched with 6-Speed SelectShift Automatic transmission. Only the 2.0L I-4 Ecoboost gets a 6-Speed Automatic gearshift. Front Wheel Drive system comes as a standard here, while Ford is also offering the optional Intelligent 4WD with Terrain Management, which requires the V6 engine.

httpv://youtu.be/S-yQM3uInyQ

2014 Ford Explorer Specifications:

Fuel Economy and Engine Highlights
Engine Type	3.5L Ti-VCT V6	2.0L I-4 EcoBoost®	3.5L V6 EcoBoost®
EPA-Estimated Ratings (Actual mileage will vary)	17 city / 24 hwy / 20 combined (FWD) 17 city / 23 hwy / 19 combined (4WD)	20 city / 28 hwy / 23 combined	16 city/ 22 hwy /18 combined
Vehicle Highlights
Max Seating Capacity	7
Drive Type	Front Wheel Drive (standard) Optional Intelligent 4WD System with Terrain Management System (requires V6)
Transmission	6-Speed SelectShift Automatic® 6-Speed Automatic (2.0L Ecoboost®)
Wheelbase	112.6″
Maximum Towing Capacity	5000 lbs.
Wheels available	17″ steel with wheel covers 18″ painted aluminum 20″ painted aluminum 20″ polished aluminum 20″ machined aluminum with painted pockets
Engine Specifications
	3.5L V6	2.0L EcoBoost I4	3.5L EcoBoost V6
Drive type	Front-Wheel Drive (std.) / Intelligent 4WD (opt.)	Front-Wheel Drive	Intelligent 4WD
Engine type	3.5L Twin independent Variable Camshaft Timing (TiVCT) V6	2.0L Turbocharged, Direct Injection Ti-VCT Ecoboost I4	3.5L Twin Turbocharged, Direct Injection Ecoboost V6
Transmission	6-speed SelectShift Automatic	6-speed automatic	6-speed SelectShift Automatic
Final drive ratio	3.39 (FWD) / 3.65 (4WD)	3.36	3.16
Horsepower (net @ rpm)	290 @ 6500	240 @ 5500	365 @ 5500
Torque (lb.-ft @ rpm)	255 @ 4000	270 @ 3000	350 @ 3500
Compression ratio	10.8: 1	9.3: 1	10.0: 1
Valve lifters	Direct acting mechanical bucket	Direct acting mechanical bucket	Direct acting mechanical bucket
Induction System	Naturally aspirated	Turbocharged	Twin Turbocharged
Fuel delivery	Sequential multi-port electronic fuel injection	Direct Injection	Direct Injection
Exhaust	Quasi dual exhaust with chrome tips	Quasi dual exhaust with chrome tips	Quasi dual exhaust with chrome tips
Engine block type	Cast aluminum	Cast aluminum	Cast aluminum
Cylinder head material	Cast aluminum	Cast aluminum	Cast aluminum
EPA-Estimated Ratings FWD (Actual mileage will vary)	17 city / 24 hwy / 20 combined	20 city/28 hwy/23 combined	–
EPA-Estimated Ratings Four Wheel Drive (Actual mileage will vary)	17 city / 23 hwy / 19 combined	–	16 city/22 hwy/18 combined
Chassis Specifications
Front suspension	MacPherson strut front suspension with 32mm front stabilizer bar
Front shocks	Gas-pressurized twin tube
Rear suspension	Multi-link independent rear suspension with 22mm rear stabilizer bar
Rear shocks	Gas-pressurized twin tube
Brakes	Power 4-wheel disc with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
Base Curb Weight	4534 lbs
Steering	Electronic Power-As
Towing Specifications
Optional Class III Trailer Tow Package	–	–	–
Configuration	Axle Ratio	GCWR	Max Loaded Trailer Weight
3.5L TiVCT V6 FWD	3.39	9980	5000
3.5L TiVCT V6 4WD	3.65	10160	5000
2.0L TiVCT I4 FWD	3.36	6830	2000
3.5L EcoBoost V6 4WD	3.16	10400	5000

Video Source: YouTube

Source: Ford

March 13, 2014

2014 Dodge Journey SE Gets V6 Engine And AWD

2014 Dodge Journey SE V-6 AWD is offering a seven-passenger seating. As visible from the name, the model will be equipped with Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 engine and all-wheel drive (AWD) and will be based on Journey’s SE trim level.

Furthermore, this Dodge will be equipped with wide variety of features that come as a standard. Precisely, they include 17-inch wheels, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), seven airbags, 4.3-inch touchscreen Uconnect Media Center, Keyless Enter ‘n Go with push-button start, power windows, power door locks, power heated mirrors, remote keyless entry, tilt-and-telescoping steering column, cruise control, deep-tint sunscreen glass, black side roof rails and LED tail lamps.

As mentioned, the vehicle will be driven by the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine, which produces 283 horsepower (208 kW) and 352 Nm (260 lb.-ft.) of torque and is coupled with a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission. Despite this amount of power, the unit is also capable of delivering up to 24 mpg on the highway in AWD Journey models.

The next exclusive feature here worth mentioning is Journey’s all-wheel drive system, which is ideal for drivers who want extra grip or extra traction. The AWD works on demand, driving only the front wheels until power to the rear wheels is needed in order to maximize fuel efficiency.

All-wheel drive also is activated on dry pavement between speeds of 25 and 65 mph. This of course, enhances handling during performance driving. Additionally, this system provides added traction on snow, ice and other low-traction surfaces without having to be switched on and off.

When the car is driven faster than 25 mph, Dodge Journey’s all-wheel-drive system sends torque to the rear wheels when cornering with the throttle open to make the car turn more easily. At help here also comes the electronically controlled coupling (ECC). At speeds greater than 53 mph, the torque to the rear wheels is minimal (in cases of normal driving conditions) and provides better fuel economy.

What is more, the new Journey model is equipped with standard electronic stability control (ESC) and all-speed traction control. Vehicle’s AWD and ECC work together with the ESC and traction control systems, allowing the ESC system to use the ECC to help gain control of the vehicle. Also standard here are the four-wheel anti-lock brakes and electronic-roll mitigation.

2014 Dodge Journey SE V-6 AWD is currently available in dealerships.

Source: Dodge

March 13, 2014

2014 Fiat 500 1957 Edition Goes On Sale

2014 Fiat 500 1957 Edition was unveiled in November last year and now the model is ready to go on sale around the United States. The car was designed and manufactured in order to celebrate the iconic 1957 Nuova 500 Cinquecento. It combines therefore the emblematic Italian design and vintage styling with modern technology.

The car is equipped with a sptort-tuned suspension for improved handling, and also sports 16” forged aluminum wheels with a retro body color design, throwback “FIAT” badging and a “Marrone” brown and “Avorio” ivory leather interior.

The model is to be offered in three classic exterior colors: “Bianco” white, “Verde Chiaro” light green and “Celeste” light blue. Another tone featured in the exterior design and contributing towards two-tone look is the “Bianco” painted roof and mirror caps, when the car is covered with the last two exterior paint schemes. This Fiat is based on the 2014 Fiat 500 Lounge.

Inside, the 1957 Edition’s vintage look is achieved by the utilization of an “Avorio” ivory interior environment contrasted by premium “Marrone” brown leather seats. “Avorio” accent stitching can be found on the seatbacks and seat cushions.

“Grigio” grey door panels deliver the pwerfect contrast inside and also include “Avorio” inner panel, while “Marrone” door armrests and shift boot are decided in the same color as the leather seats.

“Avorio” is also the color for the leather-wrapped steering wheel, which additionally has been hand-stitched with “Marrone” leather on the inner ring. On it can be also seen the retro “FIAT” badge.

This limited edition model is powered by the 1.4-liter MultiAir engine, mated to a five-speed manual transmission. This means that the car is also extremely fuel efficient and delivers an EPA estimated 31 miles per gallon (mpg) city and 40 mpg highway. As an option, Fiat offers to fit the engine with six-speed automatic transmission.

2014 Fiat 500 1957 Edition will be available at dealerships later this spring and will have a starting price of $20 400 USD.

Source: Fiat

March 12, 2014

Author: Lidia Todorova