Tsvetan Varbanov – Page 48 – Automobiles Review

Suzuki Grand Vitara SZ-T Limited

If you want an SUV for the sake of safety and mobility, get a Suzuki Grand Vitara. If you want exclusivity added to that get the new special edition SZ-T. Based on the widely popular 5-door 1.9 DdiS, this limited edition will hit the showrooms this week with only 500 units for sale.

Prices start at £22,315 if we count the metallic body finish (Quasar Grey, Silky Silver, Blueish Black Pearl, Phoenix Red Pearl and Nocturne Blue Pearl). The standard equipment list is pretty lengthy including the keyless entry and start. Visually we get a new front grille, new 18-inch wheels, Silver painted roof rails and Silver painted bonnet vents, turn signals embedded in the side-view mirrors, colour contrasting trimmings and a spare wheel mounted on the tailgate.

The engine remains the same 1.9 DDiS Euro 5 emission class with power up to 130 PS and 300 Nm of torque at your disposal at 2.000 rpm which gives great confidence when overtaking someone on the open road. In return you get absolutely respectable 41.5 mpg and 179g/km of carbon dioxide chum.

Do not for a minute think however, that the SZ-T has gone soft. It still is a torquey mountain goat that can tackle some rough terrains without breaking a sweat.

Source: Suzuki

January 6, 2012

Improving on Perfection With the Toyota Land Cruiser MY 2013

Land Cruiser, the ultra luxurious SUV from Toyota, has received some enhancements for the 2013 model year. Both the interior and the exterior have been revised and a bag full of features, formally optional, are now standard.

On the outside we get an updated front grille, headlights with HID low-beams, chromed side moldings and restyled side view mirrors and taillights. To further affirm the rigid image of the Cruiser, the front and rear fenders have also been enlarged. The A-pillars are specially filled with foam and the molding between the windscreen and the body is “bifacial”. Because of that wind noise is significantly reduced. A new Pearl White paint finish is available for the MY 2013, making a total of 7 color options. Under the chassis, guards extend throughout the engine bay and also behind the rear axle to provide extra protection from rocky terrains. The wheels that carry the Cruiser measure at 18 inches and are wrapped with P285/60 R18 heavy duty tires. The 13.4 inch ventilated brake disks are equally impressive with their four-piston brake calipers.

Inside small tweaks complement the overall redesign – a perforated leather trim on the ventilated front seats, an even more glossy wood grain finish and enhanced meter-cluster lighting. Additional technology includes a Multi-terrain Monitor which allows pretty much a 360-degree view around the vehicle, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, a heated steering wheel and even a DC 12V power socket at the end of the central console along with the 120 AC one back at the cargo deck. DVD screens behind the front seat headrests will pacify rear-seat passengers. Sixteen JBL speakers can tear shatter glass from a mile as Toyota’s Premium Hard Disk Drive (HDD) Navigation with Entune multimedia system can keep keep people occupied for hours should they decide to fiddle with it. The gauge instruments are accompanied by a screen showing gear selection, fuel economy, tire pressure, and cruising range. The center console on the other hand, houses a gate-type shifter with a sequential shift mode, a parking brake, a cooler box , a USB port and cup holders.

Power still comes from the state of the art 5.7-liter, 381 horsepower V8 DOHC. Peak torque is at 3.600 rpm, measuring up to 401 lb-ft. Toyota’s Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i) operates both intake and exhaust valves in such a way, so that power, fuel efficiency and emissions are fully optimized. For a more precise toque delivery, The Acoustic Control Induction System (ACIS) decides how long should a valve stay open, depending on rpm and throttle angle. The exhaust system, along with the exhaust manifolds, enjoys a stainless steel build. The six-speed automatic transmission handles the demanding job of processing ginormous amounts of power while remaining smooth and subtle.

Along with the ten airbags, there is also a handful of blisteringly complex array of systems that work together to keep all four wheels on the ground, ensure the safety of the biological unit inside (driver really), and deliver traction whenever and wherever needed. Just to give you a clue of what the Cruiser employes we can talk about the pre-collision detection system which can further restrain seat-belts should it detect a forthcoming impact.

This car truly is an off-road going palace riddled with luxury and technology and with prices starting at $68.000 it should be.

Source: Toyota

January 6, 2012

Lexus LF-LC Sports Coupe Concept New Pictures

We have had one or two teasers about the Lexus LF-LC but now, a week before its debut, two new official, real-life pictures are on the loose. We still cannot report on any technical data except that it will bring “driving performance and fuel efficiency” to the world because we are talking about a hybrid. Even the branding on the sides suggests so.

Other than that, it just looks amazing, and slippery, and sleek. The front grille is big enough to pass as an industrial fishing net while various air inlets (for cooling the brakes presumably) shyly peak out from the curves of the body. Inside the squiggly lines of the interior are overwhelming and so are the seats which look like leather coated battle droids borrowed from the set of Star Wars.

It’s nice to see Lexus trying to break away from their well established image of boring-luxury-Toyota-producers. With that futuristic piece of art they are sure to freshen up next week’s NAIAS in Detroit.

Source: Lexus

January 5, 2012

Nissan Cube Fresh in 2012 – Prices Announced

Nissan USA have now put a price tag on the funky 2012 Nissan Cube. Although it has been refined trough three generations, the Cube has preserved its lunacy with the vertically hinged hatch and asymmetrical, oddly pillared rear view window. And now there is a special 1.8 S Indigo edition on the market with added as standard the Nissan Satellite Navigation, a unique Black/Indigo cloth material for the seats, Nissan Intelligent Key® with Push Button Ignition, 15 inch split, six-spoke alloy wheels, a rear view camera and Rockford Fosgate sub woofer and amplifier and many more. New body colors are also available – Pearl White, Brilliant Silver, Gun Metallic, Cayenne Red and Bali Blue

Being based on Nissan’s B platform (Clio and Twingo among many others), the Cube gets its power from a 1.8-liter DOHC 4-cylinder engine which sends 122 hp trough an automatic Xtronic CVT gearbox. While the SL comes strictly with CVT, the S models have a 6-speed manual with CVT as an option. With the CVT the Cube is said to return 31mpg on a highway.

The interior is as roomy as possible with seating for five – two at the front and three fully-adjustable seats at the back. Asymmetry continues inside with the Fine Vision gauges and the “Water Drop” motives.

Here is a quick price list on all trimmings and their possible transmission combinations:

Model/Transmission

cube 1.8 M/T	$14,980 USD
cube 1.8 S M/T	$16,420 USD
cube 1.8 S CVT	$17,420 USD
cube 1.8 SL CVT	$18,520 USD

Source: Nissan

January 5, 2012

Pathfinder Concept Update – New Videos

We talked about this near the end of last year. It’s the Nissan Pathfinder Concept set to appear on the NAIAS 2012 in Detroit next week. Now, new videos have been posted to keep the excitement alive.

Design is the focus of the Pathfinder Concept, Nissan say – sleek and slippery exterior with a roomy and clever interior that has seating for seven and more-than-enough cargo space. The idea of it is to predispose us to the forthcoming next generation Pathfinder which is set to enter production in Autumn this year.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNtk5Vxc1IU

Source: Nissan

January 4, 2012

Mitsubishi Shogun SG4 Black Edition

The newest Mitsubishi Shogun (12MY) has been largely successful on the UK market since its launch so now the company has released a special edition to spice up the product range – Say hello to the Mitsubishi Shogun SG4, Black (long wheel-based)

It’s been on sale since the 1st of January with prices starting at £42,999 (£1,000 more than the standard SG4). The colour schemes for the Shogun Black are the ones which can be found on the standard SG4: Frost White, Cool Silver, Pearl Black, Orient Red and Granite Brown. However, for that extra one grand you get some exclusivity with a satin black styling kit (suddenly the term Black makes sense). It manifests itself in black 20 inch alloy wheels, a black roof, spoiler, wing mirrors, grille and headlight bezels. The door handles, fog light nests and side steps are all also in black.

Since it is based on the SG4, we still get the refined 3.2 Di-D diesel unit which develops 197bhp and some mesmerizing 441Nm of torque. So if, let’s say a mountain needs to be moved, the Shogun is up for the job. Then again, it has to be a reasonably small mountain (around 3.500kg or so) but still, an impressive towing capacity figure. The Di-D is clever too – thanks to low (lowest in its class, Mitsubishi say) carbon dioxide emissions, the engine goes easy on the environment and on the driver’s wallet if we think about road taxation.

Standard equipment is as bundled as it is in a normal SG4 – satnav, reversing camera, electric power steering, the Mitsubishi Active Stability and Traction Control (M-ASTC) and auto lights and wipers to name a few.

What makes the whole deal even more appealing is the 3 year warranty, mileage unlimited policy which Mitsubishi has on the Shogun. One should service a 12MY Shogun every 9000 miles or once a year (whichever comes first) and at the cost of £750, the first three services are from the house.

Source: Mitsubishi

January 4, 2012

2012 Citroen C3 Picasso Code

Citroen have decided to add a little “funk” to the functional Picasso C3 so welcome to the Picasso C3 Code special edition. Underneath it is basically a HDi 90 manual VTR+ trim with added spice.

Besides air conditioning, curtain airbags and cruise control which naturally accompany the VTR+, the Code has some visual touches such as :

Chrome lower bumper inserts
Black painted door handles with chrome inserts
Obsidian Black painted front & rear bumpers
Obsidian Black door mirrors
Longitudinal roof bars
Shiny black vent surrounds

Most distinguishing however are the 17 inch “Clover” alloy wheels which come in Polar White or Cherry Red, depending on the overall colour scheme of the C3. The body colours are Polar White, Thorium Grey, Cherry Red and Belle Ile Blue. The Polar White wheels are available with the latter two while the Cherry Red wheels come with the former two body colours.

The engine is as efficient as ever with 61.4mpg combined and with its sub-120g/km CO2 emissions is eligible for free VED in the first year of usage.

The overall coast of the Code stands at £15,695 which is just £300 more than the VTR+ trimline.

Source: Citroen

January 4, 2012

VMS M Sport 5 series

Vorsteiner have unveiled their latest project – V-MS for the BMW 5 series (F10) equipped with M Sport package. It involves an aerodynamic kit, new wheels and some exhaust system tweaks.

The aerodynamic kit consists of a front air splitter (designed to fit the M Sport bumper), a rear diffuser and a trunk lip spoiler – all in carbon fiber. These add-ons give a type of character to the 5 series while having a purposeful balancing role. A newly installed full cat back exhaust system ups the power by 12HP and enhances the output sound.

To round it up, the tuning house has also included a selection of 20 and 21 inch forged wheels. Feel free to browse around the gallery and see if you like it.

Source: Vorsteiner

January 3, 2012

Prior PD-R Aerodynamic Kit

Prior, the company that indulges in manufacturing perfect-fit aerodynamic kits for luxury performance cars and such, have a new offering – The Prior PD-R kit for the BMW 5 series (F10).

The company takes great interest in subtle elegance and this product is here to reinforce their stance. We have sleek sideskirts compatible with all F10 BMW’s, a sporty front bumper and a specially designed diffuser at the back. The latter two wont go on the M models but on any other specs they fit perfectly. The kit also includes all the nuts and bolts needed to seal the deal. Export only.

Source: Prior Design

January 3, 2012

The QX56 Powered Boat

A bunch of students from the Tennessee Technical Center in Nashville and the Nashville State Community College have successfully managed to extract a 400-horsepower 5.6-liter V8 from an unfortunate Infinity QX56. All they need to do now is to wait for a craftsman, a thousand miles away in Freeport, Maine, to complete his work on a completely stripped down Chris-Craft Holiday boat. So, what’s the connection in all of this? Well, these are stages of a project called Infiniti QX56-Powered Boat which is exactly what it sounds like: they are going to marry the Infinity engine to a renovated version of the 1962 boat.

This is not a pioneering case of a mechanical heart transplant. Chris-Craft boats have had a history with “Hotroding” (the process in which a powerful engine unit is coupled with a classic chassis). Previously, power plants such as the 431-cubic inch Lincoln marine engine or the 440-cubic inch Chrysler Hemi marine V8 one, have had the pleasure of propelling those iconic, mahogany vessels.

“The use of the powerful Infiniti QX56 V8 is fitting with the history of this particular craft,” explained George “Dodo” Brockman, owner of Freeport Boat Outlet, who is overseeing the build of the Infiniti boat project. The Infiniti V8 is actually lighter than all of the previous powerplants and won’t require any special bracing or hull modifications to fit it into the original engine bay.”

So the QX56 V8 is more of an evolution than everything else. However you don’t just yank out a V8 from a car and strap it to a boat without tweaking it beforehand. After removal the engine had to be sent at Bracket Marine in Westbrook, Maine for a trial with its future ZF/Hurth marine transmission. Then Alabama was the place where new, water-cooled exhaust manifolds were fitted and also a closed cooling system was adapted. One stop still remains to be done – Its back at Infinity’s for a close inspection to see if everything is up to standards. Hopefully by the time the engine is fully ready to install, the restoration process of the Chris-Craft Holiday boat will have been completed with an all new, rot-free, frame patched together by mahogany plates. Other genes from the Infinity QX56 will also be transferred on to the boat – leather upholstery, NavWeather™ provided by XM® and a speaker and sub-woofer system all complete the luxurious package that will be the Chris-Craft QX56.

Source: Infiniti

December 29, 2011

All-in-one Chrysler 300 on it’s way

What Chrysler is going to try and do with the new 300 series is to blend style and luxury with affordability and refinement. Sales are expected to start during the first quarter of 2012 with a base price of $40,145.

Two trimmings will be offered when showrooms open up to costumers: the Chrysler 300 and the Chrysler 300 C. Both of these cars can be equipped with either an AWD system or RWD. The more economical and less powerful 300 pumps out 292 horsepower from a 3.6 liter Pentastar V6 while the 300C makes use of a 5.7 HEMI V8 which delivers 363 hp. The latter, Chrysler say, goes easy on the petrol as it employes their Fuel Saver Technology. However, the Pentastar is the one to ask about fuel-efficiency – 23mpg combined (21 for the AWD version). A figure, according to the company, yet unsurpassed in the luxury class.

The company is also proud of it’s state-of-the-art 8-speed automatic gearbox which is a first in a “domestic luxury sedan”. More yet shorter gear rations means smoother power delivery and a lively throttle response. The AWD segment is clever too as it makes use of all the wheels only when needed while normally the front axle is disengaged from the drivetrain. Transition from RWD to AWD is automatic and barely noticeable. All those factors, the transmission, the drive system, the Pentastar V6, work together to achieve a more powerful and a 17 percent more economic vehicle compared to the previous V6 300.

Visually platinum-chrome touches ornament the fascias, door handles and mirror caps. The grille is also platinum-chrome with lining of the same material. Four polished face, pocket painted, 20 inch wheels (19 inch on the AWD models) bare the weight of the 300 for a completed look.

Now that Chrysler is closely associated with Fiat, the 2012 model 300 has had the pleasure to bare an essence otherwise reserved for Italian exotic vehicles. A more detailed description of the interior offers terms like Mochachino and Nappa which sounds very classy and expensive. Basically the wheel, the dashboard brow, the center console and the instrument panel all participate in a lavish leather feast which continues further back where the black/two toned seats are also wrapped in leather to go with the door and center console arm rests (You guessed it. They are all leather as well). Add to that a chrome lining to the wheel and Natural Pore Mocha wood panels here and there and things get really executive.

The number of gadgets inside is high. Just to name a few we have heated/ventilated seats, die-cast paddle shifters, touchscreen navigation, electrically adjustable steering column and seats with a memorizing function, LEDs everywhere and an electrochromic rear view mirror.

Interested? Well here is a quick price list on all four specifications:

Chrysler 300 Luxury Series (RWD) $40,145
Chrysler 300 Luxury Series (AWD) $42,495
Chrysler 300C Luxury Series (RWD) $42,895
Chrysler 300C Luxury Series (AWD) $45,245

Source: Chrysler

December 28, 2011

Mercedes S 250 CDI and ML 250 Green Winners for 2011

Since 1997, every year the ÖkoTrend institute has been awarding and ranking thousands of cars based on data which involves the subject’s environmental impact, efficiency, manufacture, logistics and recycling. All and all there are 12 categories in which cars may fall in to.

This year the “Luxury” and “SUV” categories are headed by the S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY and ML 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC respectively. The cars are going home with an “AUTO TEST WINNERS in GREEN!” award from the specialist publication AUTO TEST.

The vehicles maybe different but the engine is the same: a 2.1 liter, turbocharged, four-cylinder diesel unit with direct injection. Power comes in the form of 204bhp but what’s really impressive is the torque – 500 newton metres. For the cars to get to 60mph from a stand still it takes 8.2 seconds for the CDI and 9.0 seconds for the ML.

Nimble as they are, the ML’s combined consumption and emissions do not exceed 6.0 liters per 100km and 158 g/km respectively while the S-klasse gets an even lower number of 5.7 liters per 100km and 149 g/km of CO2 emissions (again combined).

Source: Daimler

December 28, 2011

Author: Tsvetan Varbanov