Tsvetan Varbanov – Page 37 – Automobiles Review

Unica Lamborghini Teaser

Here’s a video from Lamborghini of two quite brisk headlights. It’s actually a teaser video from the Bologna company regarding the upcoming reveal of… something. Most likely, it’ll be called the the Lamborghini Unica. But, there’s a lot speculation going around. Some say it will be the Aventador J Speedster – a Spyder version/concept of the Aventador. Recently some photos have also been circulating the web showing a completely topless Aventador rendering.

In any case, if the the Unica/J Speedster has anything to do with the current Aventador LP 700-4, we should be expecting at the very least a V12, 6.5 liter engine developing 700 units of horsepower and nearly 700 Nm of torque. Hope you like windy weather.

A premiere at the Geneva Motor Show tomorrow will most likely substitute speculation with awe (we hope so). Obviously you can also follow the events on Twitter.

On a side note, Unica roughly translets from Italian into “the one and only” or ‘unique’ if you will.

httpv://youtu.be/LgRfGVDDswU

Source: Lamborghini via YouTube

March 5, 2012

LSD Doors for the BMW Z4

Fancy a unique feature on your BMW Z4? Well, add some character with Lamborghini Countach style doors. Spread those wings and turn heads as you go – its the LSD-door hinges offered by LSD. That type of upgrade is a first among BMW Roadsters with a foldable hardtop.

The standard door structure pretty much stays the same. It’s the hinges that make the difference. The package includes them and all the necessary wiring and mounting materials and accessories. The LSD door fittings are attached to the original mounting points of the dismantled original hinges. Adjustable, mechanical stops prevent the doors from opening too far or, when open, prevent the door from falling inwards or downwards. Thanks to the Guided Roller System (GRS), all of the processes can be executed precisely and safely.

All parts provided come with TUV certificates and, on the car, the doors fare just as good in crash tests. So the LSD solution for the Z4 turns out as a very clever and seamless way to add some spice to this iconic roadster. All and all, one has to pay $2.308 for that privilege.

Source: LSD

March 2, 2012

Mercedes Benz SLK by Carlsson

Another Carlsson gem at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show – the Carlsson Mercedes-Benz SLK will showcase all there is to showcase in exclusive accessories. The interior has been adorned with some Nappa leather, the exterior with some aerodynamic bits and pieces along with some wheels and there’s a performance upgrade for that extra punch.

Additional power comes from something called CB25 S. It’s a package for the SLK engine. Alongside a C-Tronic additional control unit from Carlsson’s Plug-and-Drive series, the kit also sees a new, larger intercooler. At the end of the day we have 176 kW (239 BHP) rushing out as apocalyptic thunder from the flow-optimized, stainless steel rear muffler.

Visually, the Carlsson SLK harbors an aerodynamic package similar to the one found in the AMG sports package. At the front there’s a Carlsson bumper with an RS lip spoiler made from carbon. Grille inserts made from electro-polished stainless steel replace the plastic honeycomb grille found in the front skirt of the series model. At the back we also have a new skirt insert along with the diffuser and a trunk lip spoiler. Thanks to a suspension tweak, the SLK sits lower by 30 mm on a set of Carlsson light metal alloy wheels measuring 8.5 x 19 inches at the front axle and 9.5 x 19 inches on the rear.

Inside a hand-stitched Nappa leather festival opens up as you step in. It’s called the Carlsson Signature Line and no matter what the temperature, the natural and exclusive material on the seats constantly assimilates to the temperature of your own body. In case you forget, Carlsson have scattered numerous reminders that this car is their child – Carlsson pedal overlays, Carlsson footrests, Carlsson door locking pins made from brushed aluminum, door sill panels and the glass wind deflector with the laser-printed Carlsson logo.

Source: Carlsson

March 2, 2012

Efficient Volvo Revolution

It would seem that Volvo is now turning to efficiency after mastering the art of safety. Preparing for the Geneva Motor Show, the company has innovated (also downsized) a great deal of its technological arsenal. Now, some of the economy figures coming from the Volvo C30, V60 Plug-in hybrid and even the latest Volvo V40 are stunning. The cars will still be safe though.

Within the Volvo fleet, overall four models will soon spew out less than 100 g/km of CO2. This spring the C30 will join the all-new V40 at 94 g/km. The other, D2 versions are the Volvo S40 and Volvo V50. They both have emissions of 99g/km. In addition, there are currently another four models with CO2 emissions below 120 g/km: the Volvo S60 (114 g/km), Volvo V60 (119 g/km), Volvo V70 (119 g/km) and Volvo S80 (119 g/km).

Later on this year Volvo will also start selling the V60 Plug-in hybrid that boasts a fuel economy of 1.9 liters/100km (49 g CO2 /km) when in Hybrid mode. Alternatively, it run on pure electricity for at least 50 km or it can utilize both engine and motor. That means a combination of power that measures up to 215+70 BHP and 440+200 Nm of torque.

“The V60 Plug-in Hybrid boosts our pole position in electrification. None of our competitors can offer customers an equally ingenious car. It elevates hybrid technology to an entirely new level,” says Stefan Jacoby. “It is the perfect choice for the uncompromising customer who wants minimum carbon dioxide emissions and maximum driving pleasure.”
“We have also established a strong partnership with Siemens in developing the next generation of pure electric cars after the Volvo C30 Electric,” continues Stefan Jacoby.

The most important car here however is the all-new V40 – Volvo’s first 5-door proper hatchback. It looks dynamic and from what we hear it is dynamic. With a D2 diesel setup, you only get 3.6 l/100 km and, as we said earlier, 94 g/km of CO2 emissions.

In 2013, Volvo is planning to launch a new 4 cylinder engine range that is based on a platform called VEA (Volvo Environmental Architecture). Both petrol and diesel engines will fall into that category and there will be something for everyone, assure us from Volvo.

“”It is time for the industry to stop counting cylinders. We will develop four-cylinder engines with higher performance than today’s six-cylinder units and lower fuel consumption than the current four-cylinder generation,” says Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research and Development at Volvo Car Corporation.

Source: Volvo

March 2, 2012

Brabus Smart Electric Drive and Smart ebike

Brabus have been known to the world as a company that produces mad, torque bursting Daimler cars (Mercedes-Benz cars mostly). But they also have 10 years of experience with the Smart label and this year at the Geneva Motor Show, the public will be presented with the Brabus Smart Fortwo electric drive and the Brabus Smart ebike – ideas for future sports mobility.

“Like all smart Brabus vehicles these two new models follow our philosophy of more style, more power and more exclusiveness”, says Bodo Buschmann, CEO of the Bottrop customiser Brabus. “In addition to classic Brabus customers they also appeal to smart electric drive customers who attach importance to environmental friendliness and also want even more sportiness and exclusiveness. Or to put it another way: we give the sporty soul a green heart.”

With the Brabus Fortwo electric drive, the company has further improved on its principles – maximum driving fun, now with zero emissions. The electric motor in the Brabus product is based on the standard forwto unit but with 60 kW of power it takes the lead among conventional Smarts. Torque is also up to 135 Nm and constantly available as expected from an EV. The ride has been lowered thanks to a Brabus suspension and with the addition of Brabus “Monoblock VII” alloy wheels measuring 16″ at the front and 17″ the sporty feel is almost complete. The thing that could have been left behind is the sound module – a device that produces fake engine noises is as useful as a smartphone Zippo application.

Other than that the exterior and interior is very pleasant. Those green and black motives on the finish and the trimmings make the Fortwo look like a training shoe… or an energy drink can. Dark Brabus headlamps add a dash of aggression while Brabus Xclusive aerodynamic body styling parts (a front spoiler and a special rear apron insert with double reflectors) complete the outside look. Inside, leather covers the seats and instrument and door panels. The dashboard and the hand-brake handle are custom made by Brabus (and so is the clock). A sports stearing wheel and gear lever leave the cockpit distinctive and compleate.

The Smart Brabus ebike also ticks out all the Brabus essentials for a successful project – more style, more power and more exclusiveness. An overall black frame with green leather handles and a green seat leaves the impression that the Fortwo and the ebike are related. Also in contrasting green are the pedals and the various nuts and bolts scattered all over the bike. A four-piston calliper is fixed upon the the front wheel disk while the wheels themselves have a unique four-spoke design made from carbon fiber. Other ways to tell that this isn’t your everyday Smart ebike is by looking at the Sport Contact tyres, weight-optimised cranks and pedals and the carbon seatpost.

With 500 watts the electric motor is twice as powerful as that on the Smart ebike. Because of all the carbon fiber components, the ebike is also 10 percent lighter. The assistance from the motor is regulated by four level with the forth one being the highest. Ultimately the ebike is capable of speeds of up to 45 km/h – a road legal bike!

Source: Smart

March 2, 2012

MTM Volkswagen T500 and Audi Q3 at Geneva

MTM are going to be at Geneva and do they have a treat for us or what? Two treats in fact. The world these days is mad about SUV’s and MTM is listening carefully. That is why at the show, the custom house will feature an MTM Q3 2.0 TFSI Quattro baby SUV and … a not-much-of-an-SUV MTM T 500 2.5 TFSI 4motion which is, and there is no other way of saying this, basically a VW T5 van. But things start looking a bit different when closing in. The company has really made an effort in bringing the sport back to utility.

Both of these MTMs are patriotically painted in bold black, red and gold and the idea is to celebrate the kickoff of the European Football Championship season – “If you want to play in the top league, you better drive in the top league”, comments the MTM owner Roland Mayer.

We do not know what exactly happens underneath the hood, but MTM say that the power in the Q3 has been pumped from 170 bhp to 310 bhp. Another claim is that it only needs 6.1 seconds to get to the 100 km/h threshold and that the top speed is just bellow 250 km/h. The company also offers some exhaust pipes and a diffuser to complement all that power. Equally impressive are the four MTM Bimoto 20″ wheels, each wrapped in a 255/35 ZR 20 tire.

The MTM T 500 2.5 TFSI 4motion gets its power from a straight five that develops 472 bhp at 6,900 rpm. Alsp, at 4,100 rpm, the unit racks up a torque of 625 Nm which calls for an overhauled transmission. Top speed stands at 280 km/h (in a van!). Some reassuring tweaks on the suspension are also provided – 6-piston calipers at the front grab hold of the giant disks whenever needed, a KW Street Comfort coilover suspension tweaked by MTM is also there to keep you on the road. As a roundup, we have four 9×20 inch MTM Bimoto rims with 275/35 ZR 20 Michelin SuperSport tires on them.

Whichever of the two you might fancy, it will be ideal for a trip to the European Football Championship. Two PSUVs suited for true football fans.

Source: MTM

March 2, 2012

JE Design Porsche Panamera 970

JE Design have been working on a Porsche recently and this is the end result – the JE Design Panamera 970. Judging by the pictures, we can’t decide whether they have made an ugly car even uglier or not. We do know however, that the power is up and when thundering down the road, bystanders do not pay attention to small details like aesthetics, right?

Performance upgrades for both, the Panamera Diesel and Panamera Turbo are available. The former is rather subtle but the one for the petrol restores the balance. The 3.0-liter, 250 horsepower diesel gets an ECU tweak that translates into an additional package of ponies (50 more) and some more torque (from 550 Nm to 650 Nm). That newfound power sheds .2 seconds off the 0 to 60 time which now stands at 6.5 seconds. On the flip side, the 4.8 bi-turbo petrol Panamera already has a dramatically more powerful engine – 500 horsepower in total to be exact. Add the ECU upgrade to that and you get 600. Torque is up from 700 to 850 Nm and the result is a 3.8 second 60 mph sprint. It all sounds like engine abuse but actually the packages are TUV certified and the owners get a one-year warranty with the option to extend it even further.

To match the performance, some aerodynamic OEM bits and pieces have been bolted on the outside. A new front bumper now channels more airflow into the intercooler and has some rather ostentatious LED daytime running lights. The sideskirts have a strange hollow design that culminates in rear air inlets. At the back, a rear spoiler is there to stay while the rear bumper has an integrated diffuser and an air outlet. All fits perfectly with the standard exhaust system but probably it wouldn’t hurt anyone to go with the JE Design cat-back exhaust system that has controllable valves on the petrol Panamera. Each of the four oval pipes at the back end are 100 mm in diameter.

The standard “Porsche Active Suspension Management” system tells the dampers how to behave has been preserved, but now an air-suspension from JE Design hunkers down the Panamera even lower. From 20 to 30 mm lower to be more precise. At the very least. with that lowered stance, the “Pandora” 9 and 10,5 x 22 wheels fill the wheel arches even more impressively. Tires, front and back – 265/295 wide and 30/25 thin, complete the overall JE Design feel.

JE Panamera 970 — JE Design Panamera 970

Source: JE Design

March 2, 2012

GS Exclusive Maserati 4200 Evo

This is a Maserati 4200 GT Cambiocorsa dipped in the orange blood of a Lamborghini Gallardo. That is how G&S Exclusive, a company based in Albstadt, southern Germany, chose to customize their version of the 4200 called the “Evo”. They also added some styling and restyling in a rather surprising way.

A lower, new front bumper houses a standard Maserati Coupe GranTurismo grille. To assure us of their respect towards the Maserati brand, G&S Exclusive have also retained the trident emblem, fog lights, parking lights and blinkers. The hood however, has been replaced with a new, more curvy one. Despite being called the “Evo”, this Maserati actually has the back end of a 3200 GT, the car that was replaced by the 4200 back in 2001. According to G&S, many people expressed discontent from the new hind of the 4200 which was deemed characterless and less sophisticated. This one here also has a completely new rear bumper with a flamboyant diffuser. Alternatively, one can go for the defuserless version of that bumper but then, the car might lose its overall road-scraping feel. A pair of G&S sideskirts complete the Evo‘s exterior kit.

Two 85 millimetre double-ended exhaust pipes stick out from the cutaways of the rear bumper. That is how we know that the G&S people have fitted a Capristo exhaust system (EDS & MSD) with valve control, back pressure control and remote control functionality. Our guess is however, that one can figure this one out by simply hearing the amplified rumble of the V8 that comes out from the back. If you are planning to take this car out of Germany, than you can also go for the main exhaust silencer replacement pipes option. Other than that, Germany’s officials (TÜV) wont have it.

The car’s suspension has been chucked out and a new KW Variant 3 sports setup has been introduced. That means compression and rebound adjustment functionality (optionally with added hydraulic height adjustment). Needless to say that two pairs of 20 inch OZ “Ultraleggera” (ultralight) adorn the 4200 GT Evo from the outside – 8.5 x 20 and 10 x 20 front and back respectively. Dunlops, wrapped around the sporty designed wheels, size up to 235/30ZR20 on the leading axle and 275/25ZR20 on the driving axle. As an alternative, G&S offers three-part OZ Granturismo light alloy wheels with forged wheel stars in the same size mentioned above. In order to fit such monstrous size figures under the wheel arches (there are 20mm wheel spacers on each wheel!), the mud guards had to be extended by 10 mm on both front sides and 20 mm both of the rear sides.

Source: G&S Exclusive

February 29, 2012

Volkswagen Up! BlueMotion

One of Volkswagen‘s most practical and fuel-sipping cars is now available with the best possible efficiency setup. Introducing the Up! BlueMotion with two engine variants. However, to prevent the scales from tipping over too much to the “blue” side of things, the company has also introduced two exciting new options – A panoramic sliding sunroof and a thing called the “leatherette pack”

First stop, the engines. We have two 1.0 liter engines that develop 60 bhp and 75 bhp respectively. They already sound frugal enough but now with the introduction of the BlueMotion package it is claimed that they both have a combined fuel consumption of 4,1 l/100 km and 4,2 l/100km. Really? A tenth of a liter more overall consumption for the prize of 15 horsepowers? Who is going to buy the less-powerful version? It’s the same story with the CO2 emissions – 96 g (60 PS) and 98 g (75 PS).

The BlueMotion technology manifests itself through the presence of a Stop/Start function, a battery regeneration system and also, both of the cars are more slippery by being 15 mm lower than usual. It’s not rocket science, I’ll have to admit. But the combination of all these tweaks gives an astonishing end result. And the price for this whole BluePackage is only 400 euros ($537).

The panoramic sliding sunroof on the other side, with its electric adjust ability and overall flexibility allows some fresh air to come in and clear your head from all those economy figures. It is a playful, ambiance inducing feature that costs an additional sum of 880 euros ($1183). In the mean time, the leatherette package provides a leather steering wheel, hand brake lever and gear shift grip also in leather and heated front seats in leather look with white decorative stitching – 760 euros ($1022) if one has the move up! trim line or above.

Source: Volkswagen

February 29, 2012

Kia with an All-new K9 Flagship Sedan in Korea

Kia promised a flagship sedan and they gave a flagship sedan… to Korea. These are the first images of the K9, which is set to go on sale some time this year. And yes, it will be actually called the K9 in Korea while the naming of the batch of cars that are going to go on sale overseas is yet to be done. Euorope won’t get any of that action though.

The K9 will be the first ever RWD Kia sedan and is said to be the ultimate in 2012 design, performance and technology. At the domestic market, the “K” range consists of K5 (widely known as the Optima) and K7 (Cadenza – not seen in Europe again).

One would be surprised for how many thing can the “K” in the range stand for – Kia, obviously, but also Korea and Kratos, apparently – it means dominion, rule and power (from Greek). Some also call it the “Kinetic” which is rather self explanatory.

So then, many names to live up to. Hopefully, the K9 holds something more than a mere “high-tech luxury sedan image”. So far we know that it has a “tiger-nose-radiator grille” and LED headlights at the front, simple lines throughout the body and LED again formations at the back, complemented by some chrome and some mufflers embedded in the rear bumper.

Source: Kia

February 29, 2012

All-New Ford Fiesta PowerShift Automatic in India

Ford are going to delight the Indian market with a Fiesta that has a state of the art PowerShift automatic gearbox – a dual clutch system that helps with frugality and bets on efficiency and reliability. Ford are in fact so proud of it that they have placed a ‘seal-for-life‘ on it, rendering maintenance unnecessary… or impossible. Anyway. Ford argue that one does not need to change the fluids inside for 10 years or 240 000 km. A 2 year/100 000 km warranty is also provided.

The box can be found in two Fiesta trims – Style and Titanium+. The former will be generously equipped with enough technology such as auto AC, a leather steering wheel and some fog lights. The Titanium+ gets all of that plus leather seats, alloy wheels, park assist and electronically folding wing mirrors.

Power will come from an India special 1.5 L Ti-VCT engine unit that is fully compliant with the country’s emission standards. Working together with the lightweight (no torque-converters and oil sumps inside) PowerShift box, that engine will return around 38 mpg – A class leading fuel economy (the Fiesta in India is a sedan).

Other pearls of the Fiesta include the driver aids and safety features. It’s got Cruise Control, Hill-Assist and Grade-Assist (auto descent from a hill on a constant, comfortable speed), ABS, dual airbags and a thing called Creep Function. That sounds a bit disturbing but actually what it is, is a system that allows the car to move slowly without much effort from the driver when in traffic jam.

The car is sound, soundproof, rigid, compact yet spacious, technologically advanced and now, with the addition of the PowerShift automatic, it is also very easy to live with. Ideal for everyday life in India? Why not?

Source: Ford

February 28, 2012

Volvo V40 Premiere at 2012 Geneva Motor Show

Good news from Vovlo – the Swedish company that brings us everyday road safety and stability. At the 2012 Geneva Motor Show a new model will be revealed. Called the V40, it will be targeting a niche that goes under the category of “Premium hatchback”. What that basically means is that the V40 is expected to pock some big boy heat underneath a practical and sensible body.

When it comes to engine choice, one can go subtle and sensible. I am talking about Volvo’s first sub-100g/km CO2 diesel engine. Alternatively a turbocharged T5 unit will offer top of the range performance in terms of speed – 254hp good for a sprint from 0 to 60mph in a time of 6.7 seconds. Or anything in between will do just as fine No matter what engine and transmission, the cars will always carry a stop/start module and a brake energy recharging system.

Being Swedish, the V40 can’t roll out of the factory without ticking some safety technology features. The car is constantly aware of pedestrians and will automatically stop if it has to. The second line of pedestrian safety is the pedestrian airbag. A Lane Keeping Aid will keep you from veering in other people’s way while a City Safety low-speed collision detector will prevent bumps and crashes actually that occur within the 31mph range.

“The all-new V40 is the most intelligent and safe Volvo model so far. All its features are designed around the driver, helping him or her stay alert and well informed to avoid collisions and dangerous situations,” says Håkan Abrahamsson, Vehicle Line Director C Cars & V40 Vehicle Programme Manager. He adds: “With this class-leading safety package, including enhanced focus on pedestrian protection, the all-new V40 aims for a full star rating in the new, sharpened 2012 Euro NCAP safety tests.”

The company hopes to sell 90,000 V40 vehicles per year with as much as 85% of them going to the European markets. The debut is set for the Geneva Motor Show next week while sales are expected to start in May.

Source: Volvo

February 28, 2012

Author: Tsvetan Varbanov