Tsvetan Varbanov – Page 14 – Automobiles Review

Jaguar F-Type to Debut in Paris

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Great news! The Jaguar F-Type – the first sportish car Jaguar have made in a long time – is coming at us this fall. We already saw it camouflaged at the 2012 Goodwood festival of speed but now, the aluminum 2-seater will be completely revealed at the Paris Motor Show on the 27th of September.

Curiously enough, the F-Type will be available as an open top only and there will be a choice in power – 340 PS or 380 PS. Both figures are coming from Jaguar’s all-new 3.0-liter supercharged V6. Then, there will be the derivative of the exciting supercharged 5.0-liter V8. For whichever version you go, you’ll always end up with an eight-speed gearbox that sends the power to the rear wheels. Oh… and a Stop/Start system as well.

The current prototypes are being thoroughly tested through hell and ice since the virtual testing yielded 300 and counting TB of data. More than 10-million CPU hours of processing had gone into the design analysis.

Said Ian Hoban, Jaguar’s Vehicle Line Director commented: “When you are working on a Jaguar sports car the expectations of the world are huge. We’re really pleased how the attributes have translated from the virtual simulation work we’ve done into the physical world.

“Now, we’re refining and adding those last few percentage points – that true element of honing which the Jaguar test team are delivering – which will turn a great sports car into an exceptional one.”

Source: Jaguar

August 11, 2012

Ferrari Enzo with HRE Wheels On

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The extremely rare Ferrari Enzo is back for a bit of glory thanks to the guys at HRE Wheels. Yes, a set of brand new wheels can do miracles, refreshing the look and adding some appeal and performance.

For this particular Enzo, HRE have gone for their P43SC Series – 1-piece monoblocks that utilize an aerospace-grade forged aluminum and side cuts plus backpad pocketing in the name of less unsprung mass and rotational inertia. They can come in both, 19 and 20-inch sizes.

The Ferrari Enzo is limited to only 400 examples and it has been around for a while (2002). Underneath its skin, there’s a 6.0-liter V12, naturally aspirated engine that develops 651 hp and 657 Nm of torque. The former comes to you at 7,800 rpm. Zero to sixty mph is done in the astonishing time of 3.1 seconds. Zero to a hundred mph – 6.6 seconds. The highest recorded speed in it stands at 221 mph. Time to see if a new pair of shoes does the trick of improving these figures. Ferrari-Enzo-HRE-Wheels-medium-2

Source: HRE Wheels

August 10, 2012

SR Auto Ferrari 458 Italia – Project Ice Blade

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This is one of those SR Auto project that actually make sense. “Ice Blade” they call it and it involves a no longer immaculate Ferrari 458 Italia. It has a full body kit that’s predominantly of carbon fiber, some new wheels and even a lowering suspension.

From top to bottom, the piano black roof complements the Novitec carbon fiber mirrors and carbon fiber door handles. The front lip spoiler and splitters too come in carbon fiber. Further back, there are the Novitec side skirts and at the back we get a carbon fiber diffuser and spoiler. Then we get to the wheels. A set of PUR 4OUR DEPTH dubbed “Davinci Red” – 21-inch at the front and 22-at the back. With their red lining, the white wheel arches feel rather complete, especially when we take into considoration the Basics lowering system that’s been shoved in as well.

That’s the SR Auto Ferrari 458 Italia Ice Blade in a nut shell. Does it work for you?

Source: SR Auto

August 9, 2012

A Special Audi RS5 For the Pikes Peak Climb

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Audi have released this image to the public in connection with the annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) that’s due next week – a 12 mile climb to the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado. Between the contenders and the 1,440 m altitude finish line weave more than 156 bends. Obviously, Audi plan to surprise us with whatever this quattro incarnation is.

The current road going RS5 is an impressive coupe enough – a 4.2-liter V8 FSI unit underneath its shell that produces 444 hp and 430 Nm of torque. A 7-speed “S tronic” dual clutch semi-automatic channels the power to all four wheels via the iconic and clever quattro AWD system that has been around since the 80s.

All of that raises the bar of expectation a lot. Audi have a history on the PPIHC (two records and a couple of gold and silver medals) and do not intend to throw it away. That’s why the also want us to watch this:

httpv://youtu.be/_B8fnteyMpU

Soruce: Audi

Video Source: Audi via YouTube

August 8, 2012

Conquer Knight XV – A Horsepowered Bunker

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What you are looking at is the Conquest Knight XV – a cannonless tank sort to speak, an almost six-tonned chunk of Canada, “the future of the ultra-luxurious, handcrafted fully armored SUV“. It’s bio fueled as well…right.

Six meters in length, this thing is actually a Ford deep down inside. A Ford F550 Super Duty platform that’s been heavily modified to be precise. That means that there’s a 6.8-liter V10 Ford petrol engine hidden somewhere which produces 326 hp and 462 lbs of torque. Mildly impressive. Maybe more torque would do. That’s where the turbocharged V8 Ford diesel engine comes into place as an alternative. The 6.7-liters of displacement in its case, generate merely 300 hp but the torque stands at 660 lbs. If at Conquest had managed to extract 6 lbs more, the final product would have been very symbolic. Either way, all of that power will come to good use as the Knight XV is properly armored – ballistic glass, a dose of aramid and ceramics composed opaque armor and a firewall as an option (that last thing won’t save you from internet hackers but it does provide protection in between the engine and the passenger compartment). Other components that might add a few kilos include the 238-liter fuel tank, the 5-speed TorqShift automatic gearbox, and maybe the MPT Continental tires that measure at 335/80 R20.

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All of that being said, one should not expect the Knight XV to be as sophisticated as a WWII bunker. Inside you still get air-conditioning, an Alpine media system along with navigation and Bluetooth, leather seating for 6, laptop stations, a dual screen rear console and Wilton Wool luxury carpeting. On the roof, there’s a rear-view camera, somewhere around the front, a night vision camera (the same goes for the back), tires that can take on severe AK-47 punishment and still roll at high speeds. And all of that is just a fragment of the standard equipment. The options list goes on – a flat screen TV with a satellite connection, an external listening device, an oxygen survival kit for the front and for the conference room at the back. The Knight XV even has smoke grenades on its sides and a black box should a crash occur between it and the moon.

Source: Conquest Vehicles

August 8, 2012

Lumma Go Through The Porsche Cayenne Range

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That is an orange Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid. You also need to know that the German aftermarket wizards at Lumma Design are behind it. So much for the sensibility and practicality of your average hybrid.

It’s unclear how they have done it, but the combined power here amounts to 450. That’s a 70 hp increase over the stock model. The three-tube exhaust system might have some to do with the whole boost scheme. Or maybe it is just for show, complementing the exposed carbon fiber bits and pieces on the largely orange body. The 9.5×20-inch Lumma Racing 3 wheels are orange as well and so is the CLR 1 carbon fiber hood which has helped to trim down the fat. There might just be some sensibility left here.

Luxury however gains the higher grounds inside – leather and Alcantra in an equally flamboyant orange trim. Aluminum pedals and Lumma Design embroidered carpet mats complete the look.

But the exclusivity does not stop there. There’s the Porsche Cayenne Diesel which is an even bigger contradiction – 280 hp of power, four tailpipes 90 mm each and a set of 22-inch CLR alloy wheels. The CLR 2 hood is all exposed carbon fiber and so are some bits and pieces from the inside. And don’t get us started on the mad brick-red shade that dominates the exterior and the seats, and the seat belts, and the instruments. Friends and family alike will openly express their bafflement as soon as they hear the clutter of a diesel engine inside – “I thought diesel is for grayish people!”

There’s one Lumma Porsche Cayenne however, that sounds entirely purposeful. It’s the Turbo. Black and loaded with 6 pieces of exhaust tips, this Lumma lovechild boasts 600 hp. Black 22-inch wheels plus a full body kit adorn the base of the SUV. All the while, the same CLR 2 hood seen on the diesel, is present here just to round things up.

Inside, the Turbo gets a beige trim that’s based on leather. Complementing the luxury feel are the silver accents here and there and the aluminum pedals.

Source: Lumma Design

August 8, 2012

Prior Design BMW 6-Series Aerodynamic-kit

Prior-Design-BMW-6-Series-medium Introducing the Prior Design aerodynamic kit for the new BMW 6-series. It’s largely unnoticeable, we admit, but the good news is that aftermarket shops are slowly starting to integrate the BMW F12/F13 series.

Yes, close to 3000 Euros ($3,719) is a lot of money for a bunch of plastics with a fancy name (Dura-Flex). You get a Prior Design PD6 front bumper, a PD6 rear bumper and two PD6 side skirts and that’s it. No options, no nothing.

The BMW itslef on the other hand may have more to offer. If we are talking about the top of the range 650i, we get 407 hp generated from BMW‘s N63 V8 engine. That means an acceleration from a stand still to 100 km/h in just under 5 seconds. The top speed is limited to 250 km/h while the max torque is 600 Nm at 1750-4500. All impressive figures that deserve a more thourough treatment from aftermarket dealers. Hopefully, we are getting there.

Source: Prior Design

August 8, 2012

Vorsteiner Adds to the Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG

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The sleek and exciting Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG just got a bit more interesting thanks to the guys at Vorsteiner. Yup, they are back with more carbon fiber than ever. Once glued to the 518 four-door coupe, this kit will represent Vorsteiner’s idea. for a higher state of elegance and performance.

The complete set consists of a front add-on spoiler, a hood grill replacement, fender grill replacements, side skirt panels, a rear lip spoiler (on the trunk) and a rear diffuser – all in carbon. For a more finished look, the Vorsteiner CLS 63 AMG also comes with a choice of 19, 20 and 21-inch forged aluminum wheels, some stainless or titanium sports exhaust pipes for that extra thunder and some custom embroidered floor and trunk mats,

The Mercedes-Benz CLS AMG 63 is the flagship of the range if we don’t count the lunatic one with the AMG performance package. It’s naturally aspirated V8 engine develops 518 hp and 700 Nm of torque. That means a time of 4.4 seconds on the zero to sixty run. That’s pretty impressive, when you consider that inside there’s seating for four, and climate control and a bag of other electric gizmos that add a humongous amount of weight. Will the Vorsteiner Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG fare better or has it been compromised with all those bits sticking out of it? A test drive might help form a decision.

Source: Vorsteiner

August 7, 2012

Volkswagen Passat CC by KBR Motorsport

KBM-Volkswagen-Passat-CC-medium Usually, when you need some extra character on the road, you turn to aftermarket designers like A. Kahn or tuning houses that resemble Gemballa or Prior. They will be more than happy to put a bumper or two on your gone-souless Mercedes or Porsche. But then, you can do this with your car…provided that you are not ashamed to drive around with “SWAT” written on your side.

Here SWAT actually stands for “Special Wagons And Tuning” which is the parent company of KBR Motorsport and they are responsible for this camouflaged Volkswagen Passat CC. It’s not likely to blend in with it, is it? Luckily, for every drop of insanity here, there’s some sense that compensates. Take the aftermarket 3rd grade coilover suspension – it lowers the four-door coupe neatly so that, at the very least, the 9 x 20-inch R12 Nero wheels gain as much visual prominence as possible. The tire size on all fours stands at 225/30ZR20. There’s some artillery involved as well – an exhaust system that includes a racing catalyst and a 76 mm single tailpipe. That jumps the power of the Passat to 280 hp.

And that camouflage thing, is not really a paint job. It’s more of a foil job done by the guys at CoverEFX. And that pretty much wraps it up – the KBR Motorsport Volkswagen Passat CC Now-you-see-me-now-you-do style.

Source: KBR Motorsport

August 3, 2012

Fiat 500 Abarth Refreshes Range

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A new line of Abarth Fiats is underway. Two new models, the 595 Turismo and the 595 Competizione, will diversify the Italian skunk work’s portfolio.

Both cars will employ the same 1.4 liter T-Jet engine that’s been boosted to 160 bhp, both will have the same two options – a manual and an MTA (Manual Transmission Automated) semi-automatic gearbox and both will come with an upgraded set of dampers.

Some more cosmetic features will be shared as well. Think tinted windows at the back, Xenon headlights, 17-inch wheels and red brake calipers. The Abarth 595 Turismo will be more long haul oriented (as the name suggests) so it will come with automatic climate control, leather seats, Alutex pedals, footrest and door kick-plates, “bespoke” floor mats and machined aluminum fuel and oil filler caps.

The Abarth 595 Competizione gets cross-drilled front and rear disc brakes a Monza exhaust upgrade and aluminum pedals.

Additionally, the 140 bhp Abarth 500 will remain in the family as the entry-level Fiat but with now more equipment as standard. Air conditioning, front fog lights, rear parking sensors and a leather gear lever surround included – £13,975 ($21,824) for the manual. The Turismo and Competizione start from £17,725 ($27,681) and £18,725 ($29,242) respectively.

Source: Abarth

August 2, 2012

Audi A4 B8 by JMS

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JMS don’t usually go over the top. Maybe they do put a bumper here and there, throw in some big wheels and a lowering suspension kit but that’s about it. This time though, they have taken home an Audi A4 B8 (2008-2011) and have went… again quite subtle with it actually.

There’s a glued/screwed lip spoiler at the front (S-line excluded) and an apron at the back which has two housings for the left and right exhaust system. That’s right, a stainless steel duplex Eisenmann exhaust system with 4 oval tips – sound and fury. If we don’t consider the KW coilover kit, the added parts lower the car by just 10 mm at the front and 20 mm at the back.

Nevertheless, we do get a version 3 KW kit which has the capability to lower the Audi by up to 50 mm at the front and 40 mm at the back. That lower stance will most probably complement the four 8,5 x 20 Ghost wheels wrapped around with 245/30 at the front and 245/20 tires.

So it sounds like much work, but looking at the JMS Audi A4 (looking at it’s subtlety) one can’t really notice.

Source: JMS

August 1, 2012

KW coilovers Variant 3+ for Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG

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KW Automotive have come up with a Variant 3+ “inox-line” coilover kit for the Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG. It offers enthusiastic drivers some space for experimenting with the firmness and rebound etc. Hopefully, the KW customers will be entitled to an AMG-superior performance as an end result.

Even if you plan to replace the stock wheels, the driving behavior can be optimally adapted since the adjustment wheels are integrated in the damper housing, so no separate tools are required. The rebound settings are essentially 16 clicks which can be made within the engine bay. On the other end of the piston rod, adjustments of the compression can be made by choosing between 12 clicks. Thus one can control body roll without affecting the rebound damping. Needless to say that thanks to a dirt-resistant trapezoid thread on the stainless steel strut, one can lower the SLK 55 AMG Roadster within a TUV approved range (from 5 to 25 mm). The back can go from 15 to 35 mm.

The Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG is the latest from the iconic Mercedes roadster range. It’s also the most powerful history-wise. Under the hood there hides a 5.5 AMG 416 hp V8 engine that’s good for a 0–100 km/h run in just 4.6 seconds. With the KW coilover, you get that extra flexibility with which you can find your style of driving best.

Source: KW Automotive

August 1, 2012

Author: Tsvetan Varbanov