Tsvetan Varbanov – Page 25 – Automobiles Review

Volskwagen Polo WRC Street at Wörthersee

It’s been a tradition for over 30 years now – a convention within the convention – The “GTI Meeting at Wörthersee”…. for Volkswagen people. This year a concept “warm” hatch is making an appearance – It’s the Polo WRC Street. And calling it warm is a massive understatement. Surely however, the GTI festival won’t be a party of one. Lot’s of other exciting appearances will be made as almost all of Europe rolls into Austria for the event.

Literally taken from the track and put on the streets, the Polo WRC Concept is due to become a reality in 2013. It’s mad looks contribute to it’s appeal – a rear spoiler, a diffuser, a sporty and lowered suspension and a bunch of R-WRC logos. It’s not exactly a real WRC car (it wouldn’t be road legal) but it is out there – we are talking 220 spine-snapping PS from a 2.0-liter TSI engine. Want one for sure.

What is the real deal however is the Polo R-WRC – a road-going prototype of the actual FIA World Rally Championship. It’s pretty serious about taking on its WRC rivals next year. At it’s core a 1.6 TSI engine pumps out the 300 PS (that’s the championship limit).

Other notable appearances at the GTI Meeting will be the Golf GTI Cabriolet – a 210 PS open-top with a DSG transmission as an option and an XDS electronic differential lock on the front axle.

If you happen to be there, be on the look out for a Volkswagen Golf “GTI Black Dynamic” design concept as well. It’s been styled by a bunch of young men and women for the… young men and women – black and red motives, a low ride, a 1,800 Watt sound system with nine speakers and subsequently hardly any space for luggage.

The last of the best would be a Golf GTI “White Concept” and as you might imagine, it is white in color. Inside however, again we get that Black Dynamic gene of red and black (it really is a classic this combo). Some contrasting stitches here and there, on the fine Nappa leather, GTI logos. It’s more of a visual feast than anything else.

Source: Volkswagen

May 17, 2012

Lumma Porsche Cayenne CLR 558 GT and Trailer

Last year Lumma gave to the world an overhauled Porsche Cayenne known as the CLR 558 GT. It looked, and still does, like it’s been fed with steroids throughout it’s whole life: a chubby aerodynamic kit, a hunkered down stance and some extra muscle under the hood. Now, why not have something that goes along with it? It’s the Lumma Sport Trailer… really?

Let’s start with the workhorse first, just to refresh our memory. With some powertrain witchcraft, Lumma have managed to pump the power, of the otherwise unassuming 240 hp, 6-cylinder diesel Cayenne, to 276 horsepowe and 630 Nm of torque. Subsequently, the CLR 558 GT can be quite sonorous, especially with the four, 90 mm tail pipes that stick out the back. Under the wheel arches one would find 10×22 and 12×22-inch Lumma sport wheels while inside, extensive use of Alcantra and carbon fiber is rather visible. Add to that some crafty stitching work, wood veneers and aluminum here and there and you get a premium cabin which would suit perfectly to someone who goes, let’s say, water skiing every Sunday.

That’s why Lumma have decided to also offer you a trailer. It has “Sports” in it’s name supposedly because of the lightweight construction that incorporates aluminum, carbon fiber and plastic. And how about those wheels? They look like the offspring of the bigger ones. Cute. According to Lumma, it is also fairly flexible (in the practical sense) – Jet skis, quad bikes, Ski-Doos, you name it, Lumma will make room for it. The design ques are obviously taken directly from the Lumma CLR 558 GT so one wouldn’t look too awkward while driving around in town with the whole set. There are even options for it. Integrated electric winches, retractable ramps and a fully customizable exterior design can all be negotiated.

Lumma Porsche Cayenne CLR 558 GT and Sport Trailer

Source: Lumma Design

May 17, 2012

Mansory Ferrari 458 Spider Monaco Edition

Hot news from Mansory, the Swiss after-market tuning house: A Ferrari 458 Spider (yes, another one), described as the Monaco Edition. Only three will ever be made and according to Mansory, all will be superior to the production ones in terms of looks and performance.

It seems that no carbon fibers were spared at the company’s grounds. That is rather evident by the fact that the Ferrari 458 Spider Monaco Editions are around 60 kg lighter than their standard counterparts. That said, we know that the front skirt has been completely replaced and that goes for the hood as well. At the same time, new side skirts boast big patches of exposed carbon that hide air-inlets for a “steadier” air-flow between the two axles and a greater intake for the engine. Finally, at the back a new bumper houses, again, a carbon diffuser which is supposed to work with the standard rear wing in the name of the holy grip.

By tinkering with the management system and adding a sports air-filter, the Swiss have managed to get the power output up to 590 hp and 560 Nm of torque – that’s almost 30 hp and 20 Nm of torque more than usual. Some performance figures: 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds, Top Speed 330 km/h.

For a moderate sense of security, the Monaco 458 also has a lower center of gravity (by around 20 mm). That’s courtesy to the set of sports shock absorbers combined with progressively wound lowering springs. As for wheels, Mansory have gone for their own forged product that comes in sizes 9×11 and 11×21. Wrapped around them are respectively Michelin PS2 tires in VA 245/35 ZR20 and HA 305/30 ZR21 sizes.

As for the interior, it’s the usual stuff – Alcantra, leather and carbon. However, one can go wrong with that formula and indeed here all seems a bit over the top – look at those diamond patterns on the seats and door covers! Does that particular one belong to a casino tycoon? The steering wheel is completely new and at the foot well, one would find a set of aluminum pedals.

Think it’s a keeper?

Mansory Ferrari 458 Spider Monaco Edition

Source: Mansory

May 17, 2012

G-Power Hurricane BMW M5 RRs

Back in 2010, G-Power created this monster of a thing. It had 800 hp, 780 Nm and held a high-speed record of 372 km/h which was previously owned again by G-Power. Apparently, a great interest has boomed from this and today G-Power are delivering their 100th BMW Hurricane M5 RR. So why not make it special? They have – it’s the Hurricane M5 RRs with even more power and spunk.

Based on the E60, this performance beast harbors a BI-Kompressor „Sporty Drive” system. In other words, two superchargers that are now even bigger than before – a move from ASA T1-313 to ASA T1-316 (clearly visible with that orange cover over them). For the optimum performance, further down the line, that compressed air is efficiently cooled by an intercooler prior to ignition. But it’s not just the lungs that had undergone an operation. The heart has been tweaked as well: All ten pistons (good old E60s were still produced with V10 engines) have been replaced with lighter, more durable and more balanced MAHLE ones. That includes the connecting rods and the piston pins – all heavy duty stuff. Add a little engine management fiddling and you get an end result of 830 hp that get conjured up within the 7,500 and 8,000 rpm range.

With the help of some peripherals like the G-POWER SPEEDFLOW exhaust system that incorporates two, back-pressure reducing racing catalysts and the buffed fuel injectors and pump, the Hurricane RRs is said to reach the 100 km/h threshold in just 4.3 seconds. By the time the stopwatch reaches 9.1, this light blue beast would be doing 200 km/h. Want to hear another bonkers claim? 300 km/h for 25,2 seconds from a standstill!

It should be good on the curves as well – a G-Power RS coilover suspension with nine settings for the compression and rebound can achieve miracles if one knows how to use it. Then there are the brakes which are expected to comply with the new found power – six-piston calipers at the front gripping 396 mm steel brake disks. At the back, you get the slightly less impressive 380 mm ones operated by four-piston calipers. You can get the carbon-ceramic set which will be significantly more expensive but essentially non-fading alternative.

It’s not all stop and go with this jubilee M5 though. The stainless steel muffler with deeptone technology and four 83 mm tail pipes will provide the much needed thunder to shatter glass. The alloy wheels, wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport tires, are equally impressive with their ten double-spoke design. Think in numbers: 255/35 ZR19 tires at the front and 305/30 ZR19 ones at the back.

Source: G-Power

May 16, 2012

Alfa 8C Competizione by Wheelsandmore

Few have dared to modify the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione partly because it’s such a rare find and partly because it’s such a masterful piece of art. Wheelsandmore however, quite ambitiously, have taken up the challenge to spice things up. But even they are cautious about it liking the “Senza-Cromo” (that’s how they called their project) to “delicate surgery.” The power is up, the suspension is new and the wheels are big – an ordinary formula for an extraordinary car. Applicable on the Alfa 8C Spider as well.

Let’s start with the figures first. With an ECU upgrade and a handcrafted, stainless steel exhaust system, Wheelsandmore have been able to increase the output from 450hp and 470 Nm to around 485 hp and 520 Nm. Because of the remote controlled valve flaps on the exhaust pipes, the 8C will even sound right, or at least distinctive.

What can be described as a handling upgrade is the brand new set of wheels – customizable 6Sporz² ultra light wheels (that can come in full carbon). At the front, they measure to 9.0×21-inches while at the back, we have two wider wheels – 12.5×21-inches – wrapped in 345/25/21 S1Evo tires from Hanook.

Improving on the ride (notoriously bad with the 8C) is the new suspension coilover kit – fully adjustable in terms of compression and rebound. Whether this will benefit your lap time or hurt your spine even more (or both actually), remains unknown.

As a finishing touch we have the paint job. It’s just that it isn’t paint. More like matte white foil. The red and black stripe though, we like that.

Wheelsandmore Alfa-Romeo 8C Competizione

Source: Wheelsandmore

May 16, 2012

Mercedes CL Black Edition V2 Aerodynamic Kit by Prior Design

Say hello to the Prior Design BlackEdition widebody aerodynamic kit for the Mercedes-Benz CL… version 2.0. Or as Prior would like to call it – V2. It fits all W216 coupes and to some extent, it acts as a development over the previous one.

Naturally, some of the components are shared with the first project while the new ones are designated by a “BlackEdtitionV2” label. Namely, we are talking about the front bumper which gets two air outlets at the sides and at the back we have a bit more change – the fins on the diffuser are now far more articulated and the rear bumper is also new. As for the other parts, it’s a bit of a de ja vu – a vented hood, flaring wheel arches interjoined by some side skirts and mesh grille inserts. Prior seem to have ditched the air-scoop thingy for which we thank them.

There’s one more thing that we get from the old one as well – the price. This Dura Flex fiber plastic luxury will set you back 12,900 Euros or $16,426. For that kind of money, you can almost by a Peugeot 408 in Russia – spicy. But hey, you do get mounting material and that’s a game changer, right?

Prior Design BlackEditionV2 Mercedes-Benz CL — Prior Design Black Edition V2 Mercedes-Benz CL

Source: Prior Design

May 16, 2012

Peugeot 408 Out in Russia

It was rather expected, but today, at a press conference, Peugeot launched the 408 Saloon on the Russian market. It will be made in Russia and sold under the price tag of 549,000 rubles which is roughly around 18,559 US dollars. The range will be moderately flexible with three trim levels: Access, Active and Allure.

The thing is, anything above the Access (the entry one) would be pretentious. As standard features, you get electronic brake force distribution, airbags for the front, central locking, heated door mirrors with power adjustment, an engine pan guard and ABS.

The whole power train range consists of 1.6 engines – one diesel and three petrol units. The pressure is on the diesel one as it is supposed to do 5 liters per 100 km on the mixed cycle and yet it has to develop 112 hp and 254 Nm at just 1750 rpm. The petrol ones range from 110 hp to 150 hp and have a figure of consumption at around 7.5 l per 100 km on average. A choice between a five-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmission will be available.

As a well rounded saloon, the Peugeot 408 sounds like the perfect car for a reasonably large family in Russia. In fact, it’s big enough to pass as an executive vehicle. Why would they put an Allure trim otherwise?

Source: Peugeot

May 16, 2012

Chevrolet Debuts SUV in Paris

The 2012 Paris Motor Show, which will be held well into the second half of this year in September, is to become the venue for a new Chevrolet. We are talking about a compact SUV which will be an obvious competitor to the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. Say hello to the Chevrolet Trax.

What the company promises with the five-seater Trax is high value, quality, refinement and looks at a lower-than-usual prices. For now we have this render which supposedly exhibits “a musular exterior design and a wide aesthetic stance”. We can surely see it’s chunky, but athletic?

Susan Docherty, President and Managing Director of Chevrolet Europe commented: “Trax provides Chevrolet an entry into a growing small SUV segment and delivers the flexibility, great fuel economy and car-like handling that urban explorers require.”

The Trax will most probably hit the European markets sometime in the spring, next year. As much as 140 countries might get it.

Source: Chevrolet

May 14, 2012

Audi Q3 Red Track

News from Audi as a Q3 concept has appeared which suspiciously looks munch like the Vali Concept we saw earlier this year. At the very least, this new one is also red… If not even redder. So red in fact that Audi have called it the Red Track. It’s a themed contribution to the Wörthersee Tour that starts in May 16th – a populiar Volkswagen and Audi show.

As we said, red, or Energy Red, is the predominant theme in this one. We suspect that Audi dipped the whole Q3 Red Track in pant since even the cylinder head cover has traces of red on it. Inside, it’s pretty much the same story with added ultra-leather-nappa-aluminum-luxury. The uphostery boasts red piping with double seams and red stitching. Patches from it are made of red Velvet leather. Same segments can be found on the doors as well, despite them being generally in steel gray Nappa leather. The headlining is also gray, but made from Alcantra. The instrument panel is barraged with aluminum which sticks out nicely from the overall tone of the again Nappa material that covers it.

Enough about fabrics though as we feel an allergy coming. How about the more healthy aspects of the Red Track such as the engine – a good dose of 340 hp coming from a 2.5-liter, five-cylinder TFSI petrol unit – tremendous but then again, it should be as all of that goes to all the four wheels (permanently) trough a seven-speed S tronic transmission. In other words: zero to sixty mph in 5.4 seconds, top speed – 163 mph and naturally an upper edge on the uncharted territories. (why else would it flare it’s arches so flamboyantly?).

Obviously, when designing the Q3, the Audi engineers and masterminds had the Alps as an image in their heads. Overcoming the natural obstacles that mother nature has in store…. with flash lights and hot coffee. No, seriously. At the luggage compartment, on one of its side, there’s a station designated for storing and charging flashlights while a thermos canister can be found within the cup holder that’s in between the front two seats. Then there are the roof rails which look like completely ordinary (aluminum maybe) but Audi say they are specifically designed to carry a set of skis.

Source: Audi

May 14, 2012

MINI John Cooper Works GP

A GP designation on a MINI means that it has spawned from the depths of hell. Well, not really. It’s more like a job from John Cooper Works. The last time we saw a similar speed demon was in 2006 when a MINI Cooper S with a GP Kit by John Cooper Works (the performance subsidiary of MINI’s) with 136 hp-per-liter power ratio, lapped the Nurburgring in less than 8 min. 44 seconds. Today, we have a new one and the word is that it’s the fastest MINI ever built.

Because it still is in its trial period, things are quite hush-hush about it. All we know is that it has already went round the Nurburgring setting a time of 8min. 23 seconds. In other words – an almost 19 second improvement over the old one. The main suspects for that blisteringly quick lap are the aerodynamics, the chassis and the powertrain. Without a doubt, more air has been squeezed from the MINI’s twin-scroll turbo charger. Indeed, the character of the latest GP is quite revealing – literally. Look at that roof spoiler and that unapologetic diffuser. How about the front apron with the red air intakes which look like blood quenched fangs? Mean and functional.

We can only guess the size of the disc brakes and how many roll bars have been added, but at MINI, they assure us – the handling has been perfected to the tiniest detail. The tires have been made to outgrip even the harshest lateral forces and most probably the suspension is stiff as hell. (still a road legal car though).

Sales will commence later this year with a limited run of only 2,000 units. Our guess is, they will sell quickly. A MINI Cooper GP by John Cooper Works is the definition of small-car, hardcore fun.

Source: MINI

May 14, 2012

Kelleners Sport BMW 5 Series Touring

Tuning house Kelleners Sport from Germany have provided some neat accessories and tune ups for the latest BMW 5 Touring (F11). Think in terms of aerodynamic panels, engine tweaks, wheels and springs and some plumbing.

What’s funny about this project that the focus is on a Toruring (estate). Whenever you buy an estate, you label yourself as a sensible person. Whenever you buy panel kits for your car, you are a teenager that want’s to peel the tarmac off the road. For the sake of even more confusion, Kelleners offer a performance upgrade even for the 535d – the magnificent top-of-the-range diesel from BMW – 313 hp. and 630 Nm. of torque. With the upgrade those figures go up to 376 hp. and 756 Nm . It’s pure lunacy, we tell you.

The petrol 4.4-liter V8 Twin Turbo version (550i) gets its power up from 407 hp. to 490 hp. At the same time, the torque ends up at 720 Nm – 120 more than usual.

Visual treats include the lower lip spoiler and apron that boasts a deliciously meshed grille design. Some side skirts have also been thrown in and a rear diffuser as well. Those pipes that jut out from it measure at 90 millimeters in diameter, ensuring a noble, yer stomach churning acoustics.

The finished product sits on four Kelleners Sport Light alloy wheels that can come in two sets – 8.5 x19 and 9.5 x19-inch, and 9×20 and 10×20-inch. It’s worth also mentioning that this particular BMW is 30 mm lower than standard thanks to some sports springs which come in handy while in a corner but there is a slight chance that the family won’t enjoy the rest of the ride.

Source: Kelleners Sport

May 12, 2012

Citroen C1 Connexion Speacial Edition

Power to the people! Citroen are going to build a C1 which has been appointed by a committee… on Facebook. Yes, people were asked to submit their suggestions on what the Connexion (that’s how they called it) should be.

On Citroen UK’s wall… or timeline or whatever, a virtual “factory floor” allowed everyone to give their opinion about the special C1‘s features and looks. In the end, the one that got the most votes turned out to be a 3-door incarnation finished in Caladera Black body color and Scarlett Red (to us mortals: black and red) ornaments here and there – a classic sport’s motive. Flashy alloy wheels come pretty much as the obvious choice.

Underneath, the Connexion is a 1.0i C1 with 68 hp and a manual transmission. The equipment trim is based on the VTR one – air-conditioning, electric windows and…. LED daytime running lights (all was looking good up to now).

At the end of the day, Citroen collected more than 24,000 entries from which around 10,000 now have the chance to win the first, fresh from the bakery Citroen C1 Connexion.

Melina Kacherou-Carage, Head of Digital Marketing at Citroën UK, commented: “This project has really captured the enthusiasm of the Facebook community. We’ve had thousands of configurations, so much positive feedback and now the first images of C1 Connexion, which will be ready to go on sale later in the year. You liked it, now we’re making it.”

Most importantly, the whole campaign thing ended up as a win-win venture. During the process, the Citroen UK Facebook page mustered closely to 80,000 newly arrived fans. Besides, when it comers to ideas about future special editions, the company is set for life, isn’t it?

Now, as a follow-up, the public must come up with a badge for the model. Submissions close on the 18th of May 2012. Got any bright suggestions?

Source: Citroen

May 11, 2012

Author: Tsvetan Varbanov