This summer a new example of Toyota‘s hybrid know-how is coming to town…or Europe. It’s the Prius+ – Europe’s first full hybrid seven-seat MPV. Two trim levels will be available, the base T4 and T Spirit.
One can imagine for example, that in the UK, the sub-100 g/km of CO2 T4 version will be hugely popular as this will be the only MPV out on the streets with zero road tax and it can go in and out of London without paying a congestion charge. The T Spirit, which is kind of more equipped (17-inch wheels, 8, instead of 6, JBL speakrs, leather seats) spews out 101 g/km. Official figures for the fuel economy equal to 68.9mpg for the T4 and 64.2mpg for the T Spirit.
A pack of li-ion batteries lays within the center console so that no passenger or luggage space is compromised. Five separate folding rear seats are provided and with all of these in place there is 200 litres of luggage space. Remove the third row and you get 505 liters.
Both of the models get various goodies such as rear-view camera, Smart Entry and Start, climate control, electric windows and heated folding mirrors, panoramic roof with aoutmatic shade, rain sensing wipers, LED daytime running lights and more.
Quite a bundle considering the projected starting price of $41,578 for the T4. The T Spirit stands at $46,814 and it does not sound like a bargain.
Here it is. After countless, uninspiring teasers, the latest Nissan Altima finally shows up to the world. And you know what? On paper it sounds pretty good. There’s a lot to work here with but the main points are that it is lighter, more economical then ever, torquey and abundantly equipped.
At the engine bay, there isn’t much going on. Sure, the Altima comes with a choice between a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder and a 3.5-liter V6 power plan but neither of these engines are mind blowingly innovative. Rather, they are proven. Carryovers from previous generations. The 2.5 unit, being a bit lighter now and having a cleverer valve timing, produces 7 hp more. That makes an overall power output of 182 hp and just as much lb-ft of torque. The advanced, award-winning VQ35DE 3.5-liter V6 remains rated at 270 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.
So, on what ground do the Nissan people claim that an Altima will do 38 mpg (provided that it’s the 2.5…on a highway…with proper conditions). That’s the highest economy figure they have to work with but it does make sense. While the engines have not been specifically calibrated to sip fuel, the Xtronic CVT helps the Altima do just that. With friction inside reduced by 40 percent, this shiny new gearbox has also an extended gear ratio range and logic control…whatever that means. The important thing is that with it, the 2.5 Altima achieves 27 mpg city, 38 mpg highway and 31 mpg average while the 3.5 V6 gets 22 mpg city, 30 mpg highway and 25 mpg average – class-leading they say.
The body of the 2013 Altima might also be responsible for that frugal state of mind. We know for a fact that it is 80 pounds lighter (despite the whole car being bigger) than the previous one. It’s stiffer too thanks to the use of ultra high strength steel, the addition of a larger front tower strut brace and the new rear structural support built into the rear pass-through/parcel shelf. Not that anyone’s going to take a mid-sized saloon like the Altima to a track but it’s good to know this.
Nissan Altima Sedan (2013)
Still, with a multi-link rear suspension, one does get a deserved sense of security. ZF SACHS designed shock absorbers provide comfort and stability at the same time. There’s a thing called Active Understeer Control which, when turning, can use the car’s Traction Control System to brake the inside front wheel so that to prevent the car from going in to a tree. Electronic Hydraulic Power-Assisted Steering ensures that wonderful mechanical responsiveness combined with an electronic efficiency. There’s some standard stuff as well – ABS, Electronic Brake force Distribution etc.
Wheels and tires come in different sizes for both the 2.5 and the 3.5 setups. The former one can get the 16-inch steel rims that come with full covers and 215/60R16 tires or the 17-inch aluminum-alloys wrapped in 215/55R17 V-rated all-rounders. 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with 235/45R18 V-rated all-season tires come as standard on the 3.5-liter V6.
Depending on the trim level pick (there are seven of them), your Altima can be packed full of smart technologies, safety features and driver aids that are supposed to make your life easier. Take for example the Blind Spot Warning, the Lane Departure Warning and the Moving Object Detection systems. They all use the same rear-mounted camera you get with the optional Technology Package. A 7.0-inch touch navigation/interactive multimedia system also comes as an option. The windshield wipers are smart and so are the headlights. The seats are ergonomically designed using NASA derived methods and when filling up the tires at a station, the Altima will honk its horn to tell you when the ideal pressure is achieved – you clever Herbie you.
So there you go. If you happen to live somewhere near the New York metropolitan area, hop by to the Jacob Javits Center in NY City. Public access will be granted from tomorrow.
News from the German tuner house SpeedART. It’s an update on their SP91-R project. As we all know by now, the subject is the latest 911/991 Carrera S (Porsche is sort of their turf) – fresh yet grunty, slippery and stylish it has all there is to have when it comes to performance customization.
When it comes to power, ECU upgrades and calibration are to be available for both the Carrera and Carrera S engines – that means a projected power increase of 25 hp and 20 Nm. On the other hand. the sport exhaust system, complete with sport-catalysts and manifolds, seems to do the trick. One can fit an optional sound switch function so that, at the very least, people can be fooled into thinking that 911 is even meaner and leaner. The tailpipes come in several different versions so that the owner is presented with as much flexibility of choice as possible. Hardcore enthusiasts will most definitely prefer the Titanium sport exhaust system which reduces the overall weight.
The suspension can be both street or racetrack friendly. It will harbour sports springs and sports absorbers with adjustable rebound and height. A separate air-lift module on the other hand will provide some clearance for that dragging SP91-R body kit when passing over a speed hump.
Yes, there will be a full body overhaul – front lip spoilers, diffusers, side skirts, rear wings… the lot. Everything is made to fit perfectly and seamlessly to the standard mounts.
For a complete look, the Carrera rolls on a set of specially designed modular LSC- FORGED 21-inch wheels – again light and agile, great for the overall performance.
Inside, what e find particularity fresh is the lime shades. The blue, contrasting stitching and the diamond patterns it forms, might be a bit too much but everything else is spot on – leather/Alcantra on the seats, dashboard etc. It’s a keeper.
What we have here, is a dictionary example of the phrase “publicity stunt”. “Dynomyte” Dave Seymour is the current owner of almost a century old relic, commonly known as a wall of death. Built in the 20s, this mini circuit/arena measures just 31-foot in diameter and has 16-foot high walls. It was, and still is made almost entirely out of wood. Recently, after a 3-year long refurbishment, “Dynomyte” Dave and his family, based in Cornwall, named this, the world’s oldest wall of death, the Demon Drome. And they did it rightfully so. As a team, Mr Seymour, his daughter Alabama and son Duke have mastered it to perfection. To see them all scattering inside on 1920s Indian Scout motorcycles won’t be such an uncommon sight. Endure blood clotting 4gs of gravitational force while while crossing your legs nonchalantly on a bike? No problem.
Do it in a car, and things get a bit more… complicated. This is where our slightly modified Mazda2 comes into play. The guys from Kent-based Jota Sport, responsible for the MX-5 GT trophy machine, fiddled…removed all the seats and installed a harness laden bucket sole seat so that “Dynomyte” Dave can remain behind the wheel even when things get a bit vertical. A Mazda official had also been present, because apparently, unplugging the 2’s electronic stability system and airbags is a complicated enough procedure.
Other “improvements” also account for the removal of the fog lights thus allowing more flexibility in the bumper area. Also the suspension has been beefened up as the car is supposed to take in much centrifugal force which normally will take its toll on a normal damping system.
So the Mazda2 is light, sturdy and, with the model’s flagship 1.5 liter, 105 hp Sport setup, is quite powerful and fit for the job
Enough preludes and smalltalk. See the dramatic culmination by yourselves.
P.S. – Mr Seymour’s son, Duke is not there at the middle just for show. His task is to skillfully give directions to his father during the stunt as we all cross our fingers that this ends well.
This Land RoverDiscovery 4 HSE Luxury Special Edition is currently being showcased in New York as it represents some of the best features of the brand.
One way to distinguish it from the common Discoveries is looking at the exterior – silver roof rails, silver capped mirrors, a silver grille surround and silver fender vents. That may be too much silver for you but Land Rover say every segment is a different shade of the color, and if they say so…anyways. The door handles are coordinated with the body color (Santorini Black) while the rear bumper has a stainless steel step. As a finishing touch, the Discovery lays on a set of 20-inch 10-spoked alloy wheels. If you happen to miss all of those details, there’s a badge on the tailgate that lets you know…that you have missed them.
Inside, a feast of leather, Ivory or Ebony, welcomes us. If the quantity is deemed insufficient, more Windsor leather can be added on top of the dashboard binnacle, the door top rolls, armrests and pull Dark Zebrano veneer can be found here and there and the floor mats have contrasting edges – thrilling.
It’s not all 19th century appeal though. If, let’s say, you want to burst the windshield open from the inside, try turning up the 825W Harman/Kardon® LOGIC7® Premium Audio system. At the back, 8-inch screens and wireless headphones will keep the kids preoccupied trough the medium of multimedia.
For power, the HSE Luxury uses the sturdy Land Rover 256PS SDV6 diesel engine that’s mated to a super-efficient ZF HP70 8-speed automatic gearbox. 0-60mph is done in 8.8 seconds and the top speed is at 112 mph.
The price one has to pay for this luxurious SUV is $90,490. Better start saving now. Sales start in July this year.
Introducing the latest product coming from Afzal Kahn – the Porsche Cayenne wide track edition. It’s called that way because of its…erm….width. It’s got some new body panels, exhaust pipes and some wheels.
First off we have these flaring front and rear wheel arches that have vents in them. LED lining for the front vents, a boot lid spoiler at the back, carbon fiber inserts on the front bumper and red brake calipers. For some extra flash, there’s an LED bed under the chassis that illuminates the road bellow.
The suspension hasn’t been left behind either – sports springs combined with 22” Kahn RS600 wheels achieve a meaner, leaner look for the Cayenne at the very least. As a rounding detail, a Kahn stainless steel quad exhaust system is added.
Inside a blend of quilted claret and perforated leather greets the passengers. The driver gazes at the speedometer and rev counter which are in contrasting red and cream and is engulfed by the Kahn style. As usual, choice is what makes the project so desirable. Everything can and will be custom made to fit the needs of picky customers.
This particular fashion statement is available for $123,805.
Official news from Fisker – the Atlantic concept/prototype as seen before its debut at the New York International Auto Show in a few days. It’s design is said to be drawn from nature and there’s some talk about crouching tigers and what not. But to be honest it doesn’t look much different from the Karma, does it? The good news is that it is also as clever as the Karma.
It will be a four-door saloon aimed at families who “want to drive an impactful, high-end vehicle while making a positive statement about responsibilities”. For a driving force, the Atlantic will be using Fisker’s second generation EVer drivetrain – a plug-in hybrid that’s being charged by a four-cylinder gasoline engine. No words on performance yet.
In terms of design feats, the Altantic’s glass roof is interesting. It has a ‘spider’ rigid construction designed to withstand great stresses which can come in handy for future safety tests. The door handles of the rear doors are hidden away within the C-pillars so that you or I can fool people into thinking “That’s a coupe we have here. The person inside must be cool and slim and smart”. The taillights are the only other distinctive feature that prevents me for confusing the Atlantic with a Karma – sleek streams of LED clusters. It actually looks kind of nice.
More information on this will be available within a few days probably.
Welcome, to the Audi A6 Allroad. It’s like that beefy relative of yours that’s always around when a pickle jar needs to be opened. The one that also has a degree in geology… anyways. What we have here is a quattro Avant that comes with smart, stop/starting, thermo-efficient engines, a light body and a sturdy look.
There are four engine choices available – three diesels and a TFSI, all in the V6 category. That last one, the petrol, doesn’t make much sense. It’s 3.0-liter displacement accommodates 310PS and 440Nm of torque. It will get the A6 to 60 mph from a stand still in no more than 5.9 seconds and, supposedly, it will return around 31.7 mpg on the combined cycle. That sounds impressive by itself but when a 3.0-liter BiTDI engine is out there as an alternative, the choice is a no brainer really. “Bi” as in two turbochargers, this one has the same power output as the TFSI (313PS) and almost a third more torque – 650 Nm. 0 to 60 mph is done in 5.6 seconds and the economy amounts to 42.2mpg – better in every way really.
If it’s economy you’re after however, then the “standard” TDI is the engine for you – respectable power of 205PS and an economy figure of 46.3mpg with a CO2 output rate of 159 g/km – just bellow a taxation threshold in many countries. For those who won’t be comfortable even with that, there will always be a fourth option which is the mid-range TDI that has 40PS more than the base one and a healthy lump of torque that amounts to 580 Nm. The 60 mph run is done in 6.6 seconds and the cost of it won’t be much as the economy figures are the equally impressive 44.8 mpg.
Except for the BiTDI Allroads, a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission comes as standard. The BiTDI ones get the latest eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission.
Regardless of what you might choose, know that power will always go trough Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive that splits the incoming torque in a 40:60, front to back manner. Know also that, the engines will have the task to propel the lightest A6 generation so far – 70 kg less then the previous models.
Audi A6 Allroad Avant
To affirm itself as an Allroad, the A6 has to flare its wheel arches a bit. The side sills are kind of extended and there are front and rear stainless steel underbody guards that keep rocks out of the sump department.
It’s not all rough-and-tumble with the Allroad. Inside, there’s cleverness as well – a 6.5 inch display, sat nav, an electromechanical steering, Bluetooth and a drive selector that lets you choose how all the gizmos, as well as the adaptive suspension and the engine, work – Comfort, Dynamic, Automatic, Individual and Efficiency are the modes to chose from.
So, does it do better than the VW Passat Alltrack? As a bigger brother, it should so.
Working together, Jeep and Mopar have prepared themselves to tackle the annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah – an event that has already begun and will last until April the 8th. It is being held for the 46th time and is supposed to delight the hardcore off-road enthusiasts with lots of thrills, obstacles and challenges…bumpy challenges. Mopar, being already in the business for 75 years, is now creating a division that will exclusively deal with off-road vehicles:
“Mopar is tapping into a growing trend among extreme Jeep enthusiasts who want even more power and capability on the trail,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand. “This year, Mopar is pushing the envelope in this arena by offering our customers new Pro 60 portal axles and a new HEMI conversion kit, which we will showcase in these new vehicles. In addition, to further maximize our presence in the off-road market, we are creating a Mopar Off-Road division to develop Jeep Authentic Parts and Accessories.”
Roll in the subjects then:
The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Concept
The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Concept
If you are looking for something stacked full of technology, the Cherokee is the way to go. In essence those are features found in many other off-roaders but they, Jeep call them just makes you want to have them in particuliar: Quadra-Lift™ air suspension, Selec-Terrain™ traction control system, Jeep’s Quadra-Drive® II 4×4 layout and a rear Electronic Limited-slip Differential. There are also Adventure packages available and tow/recovery hooks that have been rigorously tested with twice the weight of the Cherokee itself.
However, one does not need to know all of that in order to be convinced about the off-roadishness of the Cherokee. The Trailhawk Concept’s 5-spoke alloy wheels come wrapped with four 18-inch Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor off-road tires – grippy on the back roads, quiet on the tarmac. Mopar rock rails further add to the off-road security.
Accessory wise, the Trailhawk showcases a Stone White bodywork with Mineral Grey and Red motives. Specifically, the grille surround, lower front applique, mirror caps and rear light bar join the wheels in Mineral Gray, while contrasting in eye-catching Red are the upper grille mesh, front and rear tow hooks, Jeep logos on wheel center caps and bolt holes in the alloy wheels.
Other minor changes include black headlamp surrounds, black exterior front and rear badging, Red “Trail Rated” badges on the front fenders and a unique “Trailhawk” badge on the rear tailgate.
2012 Jeep Wrangler Apache from Mopar
2012 Jeep Wrangler Apache from Mopar
The V8 6.4-liter HEMI engine is the highlight in this one. It’s been specially tweaked by Moper and it now delivers 470 horsepower and just as much lb-ft of torque. Initially, Chrysler Group’s W5A580 five-speed automatic transmission will have to cope with that mountain of power while later on a six-speed manual, taken from the 2012 Wrangler, will also be available.
Other performance parts on the Jeep Wrangler Apache are the Mopar Pro 60 5.13 front and rear axles, a 4.5-inch Stage 3 long arm lift kit and off-road bead-lock wheels. Aesthetic and functional modifications include high-clearance flat fenders, rock rails, front and rear half-door kits, a Stinger front bumper, a Warn 9.5ti XP winch, Katzkin leather seats, a locking center console box and a Mopar branded interior.
Jeep Mighty FC Concept
Jeep Mighty FC Concept
The Mighty FC Concept is basically a 2012 Jeep Rubicon that has had its cabin moved to the front and over the front axle. The wheelbase however, has also been extended and a drop-side cargo box has been custom made for it.
For stunning off-road feats, Moper have installed their latest Portal Axle set supervised by King coil-over assemblies (King shocks as well) and Teraflex control arms and track bars. The tires measure 40-inch each and devour the 17-inch beadlock wheels.
Other brands have pitched in the making of the Mighty as well – Hanson bumpers, a 16.5 Warn winch and stainless steel exhausts from Corsa.
Jeep J-12 Concept
Jeep J-12 Concept
The J-12 is a longer JK-8. The JK-8 is a previous project by Mopar that includes a pickup conversion kit for the Jeep Wrangler. For the base, they used a 2012 Wrangler Unlimited and by extending the frame by 18-inches, the tire could be moved under the bed floor thus making room for a six feet long cargo box. The vintage, Jeep Gladiator feel is courtesy to the custom hood and fenders.
In order to tackle rocky terrains, Mopar have fitted a three-inch suspension lift kit, as well as Teraflex sway bars controlling ARB air-locker equipped Dynatrac D-44 and D-60 axle assemblies. The 36-inch tires burrow deep into the ground, providing as much traction as possible.
The cabin follows a minimalist build with no carpets, and no bucket seats. You get a bed liner on the floor instead and a bench-like seating for two.
Mopar Accessorized 2012 Jeep Wrangler
Mopar Accessorized 2012 Jeep Wrangler
This one is simply a Wrangler, stacked with Mopar Accessories – a two-inch performance lift kit, 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler tires mounted on Classic five-hole wheels, front and rear off-road bumpers, a Warn 9.5ti XP winch, Mopar rock rails, Kicker dash 6.5-inch two-way speakers, Mopar all-weather mats and more.
Moreover, this particular one has a locking center console box, a rear cargo cubby cover, new windshield-mounted LED lamps, a new hard-top headliner and an “Add-A-Trunk” partition.
2012 Jeep Wrangler Traildozer Concept
2012 Jeep Wrangler Traildozer Concept
The Traildozer is a joint venture between Mopar, Jeep and the American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) engineering team. It has the same V8 6.4-liter HEMI that the Wrangler Apache uses (470 hp, 470 lb-ft of torque) but the gearbox is a Getrag 238 six-speed manual.
The ride is 3.5 inches higher than usual thanks to an AEV Dualsport RS suspension lift and thus it provides clearance for the 37-inch tires mounted on the Mopar Classic five-spoke wheels.
Other attributions by Mopar include a performance heat reduction hood, a half-door kit and a Mopar/Warn 9.5 Cti winch.
The Veyron Sang Noir is an official limited edition from Bugatti that utilizes some black paint for the exterior, has its carbon bits exposed and wears an orange upholstery. Other deviations from the standard include the design of the grille, the headlights (tinted) and the wheels – except that interior, the Noir sounds like a subtle job, no? Sadly however, while there are only 15 such in the world, one is currently being ruined by a vinyl company. Unless this car belongs to an energy drink company, this desecration cannot be justified.
The company responsible for this is known as Cam Shaft, based in Lower Rhine, Germany. Atrocities had begun even at the start of the restyling – chrome blue for a car that goes under the label Noir (Black). But we could have let that one slide. Black often can be a concept rather than something material. But then we get to the reflective foil “flash wires”. We see where they were going with this – wanting to make the Veyron angrier and scarier, more electric and so on. But it hasn’t worked. No, it looks more like a bad case of varicose veins. In addition the carbon fiber parts, the front and the headlights are covered with some sort of a paint protection film, which is fine by itself. However, the stated purpose of this film is a bit odd – reducing the likelihood of everyday road impacts at speeds of over 400 kmph. Because, leisurely driving up to the grocery store at 400 kmph is no doubt, an everyday issue.
While the services of Cam Shaft are said to be $2,667 on average, this one goes in the “five-figure region”.
P.S. – we are not entirely sure if Gemballa are somehow involved but the gallery certainly suggests so.
We have talked about this before – it’s a Scion iQ, custom made by SR Auto. This one however is a bit different, more complete, a finished product in fact. The project is called “Pryzm” and rightfully so. Being so boxy, the only thing that stands between it and a prism is that the latter does not roll on 17-inch Sparko wheels.
The ride is lower and a Premier 4509 kit decorates the exterior. That means that the front and rearbumpers, side skirts, front fenders, the hood, and the roof spoiler are all new. (in Scion terms that is pretty much the whole body)
It would seem however, that more effort has been made for the innterior. Although stock, the seats have had their foam trimmed in a way so that they now have an elevated side bolster. The upholstery boasts a red diamond stitched pattern over black suede. The rest is black leather with again red stitching. Even the door panels bare the a similar design.
There’s no word on any performance tweaks so one should expect the standard 1.3 liter petrol that kicks in 95 hp and 123 Nm of torque. The Pryzm iQ has already made its debut at the Open Road Scion even last week – it’s a sort of a Scion fans and owners convention that offers a forum on talks about new, old and tuned models of various kinds of Scions.
Stillen are adamant that their products are strictly functional. So the Stillen 370Zbumper should be no exception. It’s made from urethane and, according to the Stillen guys, it does what a bumper should do – channel air to all the right places, provide down force and cool the brakes. Then comes, as a secondary priority, the looks. Tiago’s Drift Hobby team seems to agree.
Tiago Drift Hobby is young team from Brasil, Sao Paulo that, as the name suggests, likes to go sideways on tracks amidst much smoke and tire smell. It’s a living… or a hobby. Either way, the front bumper on their rather purple car is in fact, the aforementioned Stillen product. There’s even a video out to as a testimonial – for a moment you see a bumperlees 370Z and then you don’t. As soon as everything is patched up (an easy fix as the bumper uses the stock mounts of the car), the boys throw the now finished Nissan on the track for some rubber squealing action.
This summer a new example of Toyota‘s hybrid know-how is coming to town…or Europe. It’s the Prius+ – Europe’s first full hybrid seven-seat MPV. Two trim levels will be available, the base T4 and T Spirit.
Here it is. After countless, uninspiring 
News from the German tuner house 
What we have here, is a dictionary example of the phrase “publicity stunt”. “Dynomyte” Dave Seymour is the current owner of almost a century old relic, commonly known as a wall of death. Built in the 20s, this mini circuit/arena measures just 31-foot in diameter and has 16-foot high walls. It was, and still is made almost entirely out of wood. Recently, after a 3-year long refurbishment, “Dynomyte” Dave and his family, based in Cornwall, named this, the world’s oldest wall of death, the Demon Drome. And they did it rightfully so. As a team, Mr Seymour, his daughter Alabama and son Duke have mastered it to perfection. To see them all scattering inside on 1920s Indian Scout motorcycles won’t be such an uncommon sight. Endure blood clotting 4gs of gravitational force while while crossing your legs nonchalantly on a bike? No problem.
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Stillen are adamant that their products are strictly functional. So the Stillen