Lidia Todorova – Page 209 – Automobiles Review

2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class With On-Screen Debut [VIDEO]

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S550 is the first of the new-generation S-Class model line which hits the U.S. showrooms today. In addition, it makes an on-screen debut as a part of an integrated marketing launch.

The vehicle is undoubtedly a benchmark in the luxury sedans, but it also adds many exclusive features such as hot-stone massage and at the same time provides one of the most sophisticated accident-avoidance technologies.

The marketing campaign includes two TV spots. The first one is called “Four Words” and it explores the origins of the company’s storied tagline “The Best or Nothing”. The video goes back in time through the 127-year history of Mercedes-Benz, and begins with the Gottlieb Daimler’s garage, where the very first automobile was made.

The advertisement then reviews the historic Silver Arrow race cars inside the Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart, and more importantly, the ad conveys how those four simple words written by the founder have challenged Mercedes-Benz to “inspire, provoke and push”. The end of the ad shows the new 2014 S-Class as the logical development of the entire history and philosophy of the brand.

httpv://youtu.be/AHvwMA7h6bg

The second advertisement is named “Control” and it illustrates what makes the S-Class driving experience “a new era of innovation”. The video shows a nighttime drive through the city and introduces features such as hot stone massage, interior lighting available in seven colors and a cabin fragrance system.

2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a vehicle which brings new levels of luxury, technology and safety to market. The interior of the car includes heated armrests ionized air purification via the Air Balance Package, First Class rear-seat luxury and a Burmester sound system.

Its sophisticated exterior design is complemented by an intelligent suspension system, named Magic Body Control that sees the road ahead and adjusts the suspension accordingly. In terms of safety technologies, Mercedes-Benz offers more than 30 standard and optional active and passive features.

An example for one of them is the Driver Assistance Package, which includes the following: DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist, PRE-SAFE Brake, PRE-SAFE PLUS, BAS PLUS with Cross Traffic Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Blind Spot Protection. Other Intelligent Drive safety features include Attention Assist and Night View Assist Plus with human and animal detection.

2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class has a starting price of $92,900 USD.

httpv://youtu.be/lN16r051m0g

Video Source: YouTube

Source: Mercedes-Benz

October 16, 2013

2014 Acura ILX Hybrid Goes On Sale Today

2014 Acura ILX Hybrid is hitting the market today and gets upgrades via the new Technology Package included. It will be available throughout the dealerships across the United States with a base price of $28,900 USD.

As a matter of fact, the ILX is the only luxury model on the top ten list of Generation Y car shoppers according to J.D. Power and Associates. Now, the Hybrid version of the vehicle will offer to those interested excellent fuel efficiency as well.

The EPA fuel economy of this Acura model is estimated at 39 mpg city, 38 mpg highway and 38 mpg combined. The reason for these numbers lies in the 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an Integrated Motor Assist electric motor, which were coupled with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). The total output of both is 111 hp (82 kW) and the generated maximum torque is 172 Nm (127 lb-ft).

As a standard, 2014 ILX Hybrid features many luxury standard features such as Keyless Access System with smart entry and push-button start, Pandora interface and SMS text message function for easy connectivity, Bluetooth HandsFreeLink, a power moonroof and aluminium wheels.

On the other hand, the car is also offered with an optional Technology Package which adds on the top of the standard features the following: ELS Surround audio system, AcuraLink Satellite Communication System, Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition, AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic with Traffic Rerouting, AcuraLink Real-Time Weather with radar image maps and HomeLink.

Tim Level	MSRP	EPA Fuel Economy Ratings (city/highway/combined)
2014 Acura ILX Hybrid	$28,900	39/38/38
2014 Acura ILX Hybrid with Technology Package	$34,600	39/38/38

Source: Acura

October 16, 2013

DMC Shows The Maserati Gran Turismo Stradale SOVRANO

DMC is a luxury tuning company and what we have seen so far from it is extremely impressive. Its next project fits in this qualification as well. The specialists have worked on the transformation of the Maserati Gran Turismo and have strengthened the characteristics of the Trident.

For this purpose they have created a stunning package named “SOVRANO”, which enhances not only the styling of the car but also the performance. The photographs which you can view thoroughly below the post are made by the Chinese artist PRIMAGE and they definitely express the athleticism of this Maserati.

The car not only has the typical for the Stradale front bumper, but also includes the excitingly designed GT3 hood. The new rear fascia, delivered by DMC, comprises of a lightened carbon fiber diffusor and a lip spoiler. Both elements enhance the styling and the aerodynamic characteristics of the car.

Adding to them is the new set of seven-spoke sport wheels are decided in black to perfectly contrast vehicle’s white exterior color. What rounds-off the package is the custom made front DMC-badge.

Source: DMC

October 16, 2013

TEASER: Wald Black Bison Porsche Cayenne

Wald International has released two teaser images of their upcoming project called Wald Black Bison Porsche Cayenne. The vehicle is currently into development process and very scarce information has been released about it so far.

However, we can judge from these to pictures that this project is distinctive and individual. Obviously, the Black Bison kit is going to include a redesigned front bumper with integrated LED’s, a vented hood, a vented fender flare and probably there are also going to be present a set of black side skirts.

Wheel arch extensions with matching rocker panels should be also included next to a roof and tailgate spoilers, plus a rear diffuser and bumper package. What is more, we also expect to see a pair of exhaust finishers, lowered sports suspension, black door handles, and unique alloy wheels that are going to round-off the makeover package.

2013 Porsche Cayenne made a debut last year offering its customers a powertrain that delivers 420 hp (309 kW). In addition, the new Cayenne comes with lowered chassis and improved driving dynamics.

The power of this Porsche SUV comes from the V8 unit, coupled to an eight-speed Tiptronic S transmission with integrated Auto Start Stop function. This combination enables the Cayenne to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in only 5.4 seconds and achieve a top-track-speed of 162 mph. The car also includes an active All-Wheel-Drive system.

Source: Wald International

October 15, 2013

Hyundai JP Edition Genesis Coupe To Be Unveiled At SEMA

Hyundai is linking up again with the tuner John Pangilinan to create an exquisite custom-developed JP Edition Genesis Coupe in a striking Atlantis Blue exterior color. The designer is already known for selecting retina-bending color themes for his Hyundai SEMA concepts. The eye-catching coupe concept is going to make its debut at the 2013 SEMA show in Las Vegas which will take place between 5th and 8th of November.

Ragarding the concept vehicle, there has been made modifications on the powertrain in order that the car achieves most cost-effective power gains. The transformations included are an AEM cold air intake, ARK Performance exhaust, turbo downpipe, and friction-reducing Lucas Oil.

In addition, the perfect ride height and body-to-wheel balance is ensured by the installation of KW Variant 3 coil-overs, Whiteline sway bars, and an ARK Performance strut bar. This special Genesis Coupe will run on 19-inch MORR VS52 concave mono-forged wheels in mystic black, coupled with Toyo Proxes T1R 275/30 ZR19 tyres for the front and 315/25 ZR19 tyres for the rear.

The perfection of this tuning is further strengthened by the addition of Brembo Gran Turismo brake kit with oversized 15-inch calipers. Furthermore, the exterior is emphasized by an ultra-wide custom metal fender flares from TS Designs, designed by Jon Sibal.

The unique exterior color is achieved via a brilliant BASF Atlantic Blue Metallic paint applied by Auto Explosion, and complemented by custom graphics from S&A Design. For aero management, an APR carbon-fiber splitter and Seibon carbon-fiber side and rear lip kits have been fitted. But this is not all, custom headlights with V-LEDS have been also added and they were delivered by the Retrofit Source and Retrofit House.

The interior of this JP Edition is also exclusive. Pangilinan chose RECARO Cross Sportster seats with a custom Katzkin suede and smooth leather treatment. And in order to hold the driver and passenger in place, the designer have chose Takata Drift III harnesses fixed to a custom harness bar complete with a mounted GoPro Hero 3 video camera.

At last, Pangilinan also made the entertainment electronics a top priority. He had selected for this concept the following components: Alpine Electronics System built by BP Auto Sound, Alpine INE-W927HD head unit, Alpine SPR-60C component 2-way speaker system, two Alpine SWR-T10 10” thin subwoofers, Alpine MRX-M55 mono power amp, Alpine MRX-F35 4/3/2 channel power amp, Scosche Electronics, Accumat HyperFlex sound deadening, EFX Elite Series braided multi-core interconnects, EFX speaker wire, amp power kit and ground distribution block, Kinetik power supply and battery, V-LEDS lighting.

Source: Hyundai

October 15, 2013

Range Rover Hybrid Completes 2013 Silk Trail Expedition [VIDEO]

Three Range Rover Diesel Hybrid prototypes have completed their journey from Solihull, UK, to Mumbai, India. They have traversed 13 countries for over 53 days in order to be the first to finish the hybrid expedition named 2013 Silk Trail. This was one of the boldest driving adventures ever pursued by Land Rover.

The first reason for this was that along the route there were numerous hostile conditions such as asphalt roads riddled with vast and deep potholes, dusty desert trails in 43°C heat and miles of mud and gravel tracks and cattle trails. In addition, they had to cross many rivers; the drivers had to survive thin air of extremely high altitudes and the dense and erratic traffic of Chinese and Indian roads.

As a matter of fact, the 2013 Silk Trail Expedition is the last validation test for the Range Rover Hybrid before it goes in production. The exact route the machines had to undergo is the following: Solihull, UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China (including Tibet), Nepal and India.

What is more, the expedition followed the legendary Silk Road trading routes that first connected Asia with Europe more than 2,500 years ago. Even some of the overnight halts were made in tents at many of the same staging posts visited all those years ago by Silk Road merchants, missionaries and mercenaries.

Another highlight for this expedition is that the Hybrids pioneered a mountainous route never previously completed by a vehicle from outside China – the Xinjiang-Tibet highway. What is specific about it is that it is positioned at heights of over 5,300 metres above sea level.

This means that the Land Rover team had to spend seven consecutive days at altitudes between 11,000 and 17,648 feet (3,350 and 5,379 metres). In fact, at such heights, the levels of oxygen in the air are reduced from the 21 percent found at sea-level to as little as 10 percent and this makes the movement for humans and internal combustion engines more difficult.

Despite these conditions, the Range Rover convoy continued to make good progress, because it benifited from the electric motor’s instant torque at 0 rpm. Other rough conditions were the muddy roads that they were literally impassable to other types of vehicle.

Another advantage as a result of this expedition is that the Land Rover development engineers closely monitored the data loggers fitted to each car. In this way they have sent back more than 300 gigabytes of detailed technical records to their engineering team at Gaydon in the UK.

httpv://youtu.be/Etj2V5qwMlo

Video Source: YouTube

Source: Land Rover

October 15, 2013

2014 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor SE Named Off-Road Truck Of Texas

2014 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Special Edition was revealed in the beginning of April this year and only several months later it is receiving one of its numerous-to-come-awards. This special edition Ford was named by Texas Auto Writers Association as the “Off-Road Truck of Texas.”

From Thursday through Saturday, TAWA members put trucks through rigorous testing at Knibbe Ranch near San Antonio, where they have pushed the Raptor to the limit on one of the most rugged off-road courses in Texas. Of course, the Raptor showed that it was the most capable off-road pickup in America, as well as America’s favorite.

The vehicle was introduced back in 2009. Since then the F-150 SVT Raptor continues to find new fans and achieve sales success, ad more importantly an evidence for this is that it has an increased sale rate of up 14 percent only for this year.

The Special Edition –of the model was the latest variant of the truck which has exclusive interior and exterior upgrades which additionally differentiate its appearance. One of the highlights featured in the Raptor are its functional design cues and segment-exclusive suspension technology.

In addition, the Raptor SE is seven inches wider than a base F-150. The length was added in order to make room for the additional suspension components that enable its off-road capabilities. To be more precise, what gives the vehicle 11.2 inches of front suspension and 12.1 inches at the rear are the internal triple-bypass shocks by FOX Racing Shox.

Moreover, an electronic locking rear differential and Torsen limited-slip front differential provide excellent capability for rock crawling and other low-speed off-road activities. Industry-exclusive beadlock-capable wheels come as an option, however they help increase grip in low-traction conditions, along with high-intensity discharge headlamps for improved visibility. SYNC with MyFord Touch is another available feature which delivers more connectivity.

SVT Raptor is powered by the 6.2-liter V8 engine which is capable of generating 411 horsepower (325 kW) and 588 Nm (434 lb.-ft.) of torque. The unit is coupled with an electronic six-speed SelectShift Automatic transmission with tow/haul mode.

Source: Ford

October 15, 2013

Vorsteiner McLaren MP4-VX In Miami

Vorsteiner McLaren MP4-VX is an extreme and breath-taking tuning which we have already seen. However, the tuning brand has surprised us with the release of brand new photosession for the sporty McLaren that was exclusively taken in of world’s famous cities – Miami.

Of course, you will find the outspoken images below the post and enjoy seeing this supersports car being captured in front of the U.S. city. Just as a reminder, Vorsteiner have equipped the MP4 with a new front bumper with integrated spoiler, which enhances the aerodynamics of the front end.

The pieces were created to keep functionality without the compromise quality, aesthetics, or performance. In fact, the styling of these components takes the MP4-12C a step closer to race car. There are also two available options being offered: the Carbon Fiber Aero Front Spoiler Replacement and the PDC Sensor Opening.

Side sill extension blades were also added that were made of Autoclaved Pre-Preg Carbon Fiber structure in order to give them better stiffness, aerospace strength and durability. Additionally as an available feature there are the 2×2 Carbon Fiber Pre-Preg with 4 Stage UV Inhibiting Clear Lacquer Coating.

At last, the rear bumper of the vehicle comes with newly designed diffuser. This element was engineered to stabilize the additional down force provided by the front and side elements. Other available options here are the PDC Sensor Opening, European License Plate Bracket Holder, Rear Diffuser with Dual Tunnels Replacement.

Source: Vorsteiner

October 14, 2013

Toyota Sharpens 2014 Prado Range

Toyota LandCruiser Prado which was unveiled more than a month ago is retaining its best-seller status ahead thanks to its advanced model upgrade as well as being one of the most popular large SUVs around the globe.

The refreshed Prado will be sold exclusively as a five-door wagon due to customers’ preference for this body style. Other exclusively preferable features in this Toyota model are its off-road and towing capabilities.

The new Prado also benefits from expanded driver guidance and technical support features. The facelifted model has a bolder exterior, a more refined interior, added safety and even sharper handling.

Other exterior highlights include new structural elements from its unique design heritage, an evolution of the classic Prado grille and a vertical, two-step construction which additionally undelines vehicle’s rugged appearance.

The interior of the model adds a comprehensive range of features, new switchgear and instrumentation with enhanced trim and ornamentation, improved second and third row seat designs with new fabrics, and new interior color schemes. 2014 Toyota LandCruiser Prado will be powered by either a 4.0-litre petrol or a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine.

Source: Toyota

October 14, 2013

Kahn Makes New Ivory Black Interior For 2013 Range Rover Vogue

The tuning specialists at A. Kahn Design are famous with the fact that they create interiors for the vehicles which are exquisite, captivating, and luxurious, and in addition are made with precision and craftsmanship.

Another example for this is the luxurious executive interior package which the designers have prepared for the 2013 Range Rover Vogue. It is decided in sumptuous and generous ivory and black stripe, which creates immediately an ambience that invites the driver to step inside and escape the every-day-life, thus experiencing an original sense of style and comfort.

The front and the back seats as well as the steering wheel have been wrapped in black and ivory leather. The stitching was decided in white color so that it makes the perfect contrast with the black part of the interior, but at the same time – when applied on the ivory – soothes the senses and creates additional comfort.

Every thought around the coupe is focused primarily on the occupant’s experience with the advantage of supreme ergonomic comfort. Of course, this new inner side of the Range Rover perfectly matches its aggressive and masculine outer side.

Source: A. Kahn Design

October 14, 2013

2014 Cadillac ELR Sales to Begin in January

Cadillac has announced that the sales of the 2014 Cadillac ELR electrified luxury coupe will start in January next year. The new model will be offer provocative design and extended range electric vehicle technology.

The latter is capable of providing of total range in excess of 300 miles. In addition, the brand has specially trained and certified the dealerships in order to sell and service the 2014 ELR. Even more, customers of the ELR can take advantage of their own ELR Concierge Representative, who is trained to deliver information on battery care, home charging, service scheduling, news and updates.

2014 ELR comes standard with Cadillac Shield, which includes Remote Vehicle Diagnostics, a Premium Care Maintenance program and 24/7 roadside assistance. Other standard technologies in the model are the Cadillac CUE with Navigation that comes with eightinch touch screen, light-emitting diode, or LED, front and rear exterior lighting, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, the Safety Alert Seat and the exclusive Regen on Demand feature that allows the driver to temporarily regenerate energy from the vehicle’s momentum via steering-wheel paddles.

Furthermore, this Cadillac’s interior delivers only luxury and features handcrafted leather complemented by authentic wood grain and chrome trim. What propels the vehicle is a combination of pure electric drive and an efficient 1.4L gasoline-powered electric generator.

Along the centerline of the vehicle, between the front and rear wheels, is positioned the T-shaped 16.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. This allows optimal weight distribution. What is more, the pack supplies energy to an advanced electric drive unit to propel the vehicle.

The ELR also offers unique driving features such as four driving modes: Tour, Sport, Mountain and Hold mode. 2014 Cadillac ELR has a starting price of $75 995.

Source: Cadillac

October 14, 2013

MarkDesign Envisions Unique Ferrari Concept

Ferrari Millenio is a design study of a futuristic electric vehicle. The unique machine’s design was created by MarkDesign and discovered by us via Facebook.

To be more precise, the super-vehicle is envisioned to be powered by two engines. It is a two-seat supercar, with very lightweight construction. The structure of this Ferrari Concept comprises of several pieces proportionally designed and well combined in one.

As a matter of fact, this supersports car delivers the illusion of very complex assembling process. For instance, the front lights look like they are floating and that they are not attached. Here is also envisioned a silicon layer that can be additionally added as a protection.

The designer has definitely drawn inspiration the architecture field – partly by Ferrari’s world park in Abu Dhabi, which is characterized by a sophisticated interplay between different surfaces and materials utilized.

MarkDesign has undoubtedly used an artistic approach which is based on different shapes, optical illusions and variety forms. And given the fact that they were combined in a balanced and proportioned way, they definitely end up creating a stunning visual presence.

Source: MarkDesign via Facebook

October 11, 2013

Author: Lidia Todorova