Victor Ivanov – Page 23 – Automobiles Review

Skoda CitiJet Concept at Goodwood

Skoda is going to present the CitiJet Concept at the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed (starting today). The small open-top car is designed and built by 16 apprentices under the guidance of Jozef Kaban, Head of Skoda Design, who challenged the team to build their dream car. Obviously, the dreams of the apprentices don’t include a powerful engine and epic sound from the exhaust system.

Skoda CitiJet is a striking cabriolet that combines a host of innovations and unique design features.

The exterior features distinctive two-tone metallic paintwork, 16” wheels and a hand-crafted rear spoiler. The interior boasts a red-stitched, leather-trimmed steering wheel, bespoke seat trim and a dashboard panel finished in white and red. Completing the interior package is a 300 watt sound system and music-reactive LED lighting.

No words about engine, but since the CitiJet is in the same segment as the Citigo, it will obviously get a 1.0 liter MPI petrol with either 60HP (44 kW) or 75HP (55 kW). The engine is available with either 5-speed manual or an automated-shift gearbox (ASG). The fuel consumption will be around 4.1 liters / 100 km with CO2 emissions of below 100 g/km.

As in previous years, Skoda will be the main attraction at the Forest Rally Stage. The brand’s legendary Fabia S2000 – the most successful rally car of the Super 2000 era – will be demonstrating its remarkable talents on the Skoda-supported 1.7-mile Forest Rally Stage.

Source: Skoda

June 26, 2014

2014 BMW M3 Sedan – 424 WHP [video]

It appears that the all-new 2014 BMW M3 Sedan and M4 Coupe are a lot underrated in terms of performance figures. Although BMW says that the new performance engine (S55B30) produces 431HP (317 kW) and 550Nm (406 lb-fT), the dyno runs prove something else.

2014 BMW M3 Sedan made several runs – 424HP (312 kW) and 574Nm (425 lb-ft), 422HP (310 kW) and 573Nm (424 lb-ft) and 419HP (308 kW)and 562Nm (416 lb-ft). On the first sight, everything looks good, but these measurements actually show the wheel-horsepower. Usually the RWD (rear-wheel drive cars) lose around 15 % of engine power, when its transmitted through gearbox, driveshaft and differential. In other words, the new M3 produces around 480HP (353 kW) and 648Nm (480 lb-ft) of torque, which is 50HP and nearly 100Nm more than the stated numbers.

We suspected that the new generation of M3 and M4 will be more powerful, but not that much. The original time for 0-100 km/h is just 4.3 seconds, which seems quite fast for a sports car with 431HP. BMW also said that the M5 F10 produces 560HP (412 kW), but according to a number of dyno tests, it develops a lot more.

Now the acceleration figures of the latest generation M3 make sense. Enjoy the video!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTB8BGQGmZQ

Source: Europeanautosource

June 25, 2014

Volvo Starts Production of S60 and V60 Polestar

Volvo has already started production of the new S60 and V60 Polestar in the Torslanda factory plant. The first cars have left on their way to customers around the world.

”We are very happy to see the first ever complete production cars from Polestar be built in the Volvo factory. It is a satisfying result of many hours of work by the people of Polestar and Volvo behind this,” said Henrik Fries, S/V60 Polestar Technical Project Manager.

”We are delighted to see the first cars leave the factory and it has been an exciting journey together with Polestar to see these cars from the drawing board until the actual finalized product being produced with us on the factory line,” added Magnus Hellsten, Vice President Car Manufacturing Europe at Volvo Cars.

A total of 750 cars will be produced of the S60 and V60 Polestar model this year, heading to customers in Canada, the Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the USA.

The new Volvo S60 and V60 Polestar features a thoroughly developed chassis with high performance dampers and brakes which in combination with four-wheel drive and a mighty turbocharged 6-cylinder engine creates a driver’s car for all year.

Performance

0-100 km/h – 4.9 sec

0-200 km/h – 17.7 sec

Top speed 250 km/h (155 mph) – Electronically limited

Chassis

Polestar Öhlins shock absorber system

Polestar bespoke rims, 8J x 20″ ET53 with 245/35R20 tyres

Engine

6-cylinder inline T6 engine, 2953 cc

350HP (257 kW) at 5,700RPM

500 Nm (369 lb-ft) at 2,800RPM

Rev-limiter 6,500RPM

New twin-scroll Borg Warner turbo

New intercooler

Polestar 2.5” stainless full-flow exhaust system with twin 3.5” tail pipes

Weight

V60 Polestar: 1,822 kg (4,017 lbs)

Transmission

AWF21 automatic gearbox with paddle shift system

Polestar transmission calibration for faster gearshifts, launch control and curve-hold functionality

Polestar Haldex calibration for more rear torque dynamic distribution

Polestar calibrated stability control system

Brakes

Front: Polestar/Brembo 6 piston brake calipers

371 x 32 mm ventilated and floating Brembo discs

Rear: 302 x 22 mm ventilated discs

Source: Volvo

June 25, 2014

2015 Toyota Fuel Cell Sedan – Hydrogen is Here!

Toyota has today revealed the exterior design and the pricing of its hydrogen-powered Fuel Cell Sedan. The Concept was presented at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show and now the production version is fact. The four-door saloon will be introduced first in Japan, before next April. Preparations are in hand for launches in the US and European markets in the summer of 2015.

In Japan the Fuel Cell Sedan will be sold at Toyota and Toyopet dealerships, priced at approximately seven million yen (about $68,700 / €50,450 / £40,450). Initially sales will be limited to those parts of the country where a hydrogen refuelling infrastructure is under development. Prices for Europe and the USA have not yet been decided. Detailed information such as final prices, specifications and sales expectations will also be announced later.

The exterior features interesting slender headlights with LED technology as well as vertical DRLs (daytime running lights) incorporated in the front bumper. There is also a big lower grille and large air intakes. Other highlights include strange triangular tail lights and a red bar that runs across the rear’s width and incorporates the reverse lights.

2015 Toyota Fuel Cell Sedan will have a range of around 480 km (300 miles). Once the fuel is depleted, a complete fill will take only around three minutes, which is a little longer than ordinary refueling, but not bad at all. The performance will be decent – 0-100 km/h in 10.0 seconds.

Fuel cell vehicles contribute to the diversification of vehicle fuels. They emit no carbon dioxide or substances harmful to the environment when driven, but offer the convenience associated with petrol-powered vehicles. Toyota believes the technology has great potential in the development of vehicles that are kinder to the environment and ideal for helping deliver sustainable mobility.

Source: Toyota

June 25, 2014

Inden Design 2014 Mercedes-Benz C180 AMG Line

Inden Design has presented their latest tuning package for the new 2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sedan. The project is based particularly on the C180 AMG Line model and the premium car comes with both – styling and performance upgrades.

2014 Mercedes-Benz C180 AMG Line by Inden Design boasts a complete wrap provided by TTS. It covers the original black paint and gives the tuned vehicle a more distinctive presence. The original alloy wheels were replaced by a set of huge 20” five double-spoke rims fitted with 235/30 R20 Dunlop Sport Maxx tires.

The stance is further improved by a lowered suspension (-45mm). There is also a new stainless steel sports exhaust system with new tailpipes derived from the C63 AMG Black Series.

The 1.6 liter four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine is boosted to 200HP (147 kW) – an increase of 44HP (32 kW).

2014 Mercedes-Benz C180 AMG Line is priced at €47,800 and this particular tuned model can be had for just €49,900.

If this is not completely satisfying, customers can always opt for the Premium Package consisting of a panoramic glass sunroof, Keyless-Go, the ambient lighting system and the electric seat memory package. The Premium Plus Package adds the mighty Burmester surround sound system and COMAND Online.

Source: Inden Design

June 25, 2014

2014 Volkswagen Golf VII GTI by Caractere and JMS

Caractere Automobile and JMS has teamed up to prepare a special tuning program for Volkswagen Golf GTI and GTD models. Both come with a number of styling upgrades, but there is no information about performance packages.

The exterior of 2014 Volkswagen Golf GTI/GTD can be modified with a new lip spoiler with a built-in diffuser and air intake covers. It can be easily fitted to the standard front bumper with mounting materials. The price is €589. There is also a new pair of side skirts for another €420 as well as different rear diffusers starting from €303. The tuning specialists also offer a rear skirt set with a new muffler and diffuser – €1,184.

Other special features are a roof-mounted spoiler – €303 and a hatch blend cover – €232. Last, but not least is the set of new 19” Caractere CW1 alloy wheels fitted with 225/35 R19 tires. The pricing is available upon request.

The tuning package is also available for the normal versions of the new Golf VII, but the pricing is a bit different, because of further modifications in installation.

2014 Volkswagen Golf VII GTI is powered by a 2.0 liter turbocharged petrol with 220HP (162 kW) and 350Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque. It is connected to a 6-speed manual gearbox. 0-100 km/h in 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 246 km/h (153 mph). There is also GTI Performance package boosting the engine with 10HP more. In this case, it will do 0-100 km/h in 6.4 seconds and 250 km/h (155 mph).

Source: Caractere

June 25, 2014

2015 Ford Edge – Full Details [videos]

Ford has officially unveiled the second generation of the successful Edge model. 2015 Ford Edge is scheduled to hit the market in the beginning of the next year. It boasts superb refinement, a lot of new features and technologies as well as improved exterior and interior.

The new Edge is built on the company’s global midsize vehicle platform. In other words, it has the same architecture as the latest Fusion and Mondeo, and draws most of its styling cues from the recently presented Edge Concept car. The 2^nd generation Edge looks a lot different compared to its predecessor.

“The original Edge was our first entry into the world of crossover utilities – a technologically advanced vehicle that was the perfect blend of sedan comfort and efficiency with SUV functionality,” commented Raj Nair, group vice president, Global Product Development.

“Now, we are building on that success, and building on the emotional appeal of the vehicle by offering more of the technology our customers want in a package that meets the highest expectations for quality and craftsmanship.”, he added.

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

The engine range in North America will include a four-cylinder 2.0 liter EcoBoost – 245HP (183 kW) and 357Nm (270 lb-ft) of torque; a 2.7 liter EcoBoost V6 with over 300HP (224 kW) and a naturally aspirated 3.5 liter V6 power unit. All engines are mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission featuring a SelectShift manual mode.

Some of the interesting extras include an adaptive electric steering, active park assist system, adaptive cruise control along with a 180-degree camera, front and rear parking sensors and heated and ventilated front seats. There are also several active safety systems like blind spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert, curve control system, inflatable rear seatbelts and an active glovebox knee airbag presented in the 2015 Ford Mustang.

The interior boasts a revised center stack, an 8” LCD display with support for SYNC and MyFord Touch. There is a huge Panoramic Vista Roof – 47.7”, which is the largest in the industry.

2015 Edge will be available in four trim levels: SE, SEL, Sport and Titanium.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7OlBoMTRsI

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZvml_dEIX4

Source: Ford

June 25, 2014

Renault Megane and Scenic – Limited Special Editions

Renault has presented several Limited Special Edition models including Megane Hatchback, Coupe and Sports Tourer as well as Scenic and Grand Scenic. All of them come with a number of nice extras including panoramic sunroof, tinted windows and tailgate.

The new versions boast around £1,000 worth of extra equipment, for half the price, when compared to the already well-equipped Dynamique TomTom varieties on which they are based.

Some of the extras include rear parking sensors, special Limited upholstery, badging and kickplates, and electrically operated and folding door mirrors in gloss black.

The engine range includes three petrol and two diesel engines – a 1.6 liter VVT 110, 1.2 liter Energy TCe 115 and Energy TCe 130 (Scenic only), or the dCi 110 and Energy 1.6 liter dCi 130.

Prices for Megane start at £18,250 OTR (on the road) and the Scenic range starts from £19,865. Ordering is open now, with first deliveries in September.

The options list includes 17” Pragma alloy wheels for £310 and R-Link (Scenic £200, £300 on Megane with upgraded Western European mapping).

Making the offers even more enticing is the availability of the French brand’s 4+ after sales care package, worth at least £1,000. The award-winning package offers impressive peace of mind with a four year/100,000 miles warranty and roadside assistance.

Source: Renault

June 24, 2014

BMW 2-Series M2 [render images]

X-Tomi Design has published two render images of the upcoming 2016 BMW 2-Series M2. The performance coupe is expected to go in production in the end of 2015, when it will replace the top-of-range M235i model.The pictures published by X-Tomi look pretty much production ready. The most important feature – the engine will be a 3.0 liter six-cylinder with around 380HP (279 kW) and 500Nm (370 lb-ft) of torque. 0-100 km/h in around 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) – electronically limited. The engine will be connected to an 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox. We hope to see a 6-speed manual version as well.2014 BMW 2-Series Coupe is 4,432 mm long; 1,774 mm wide; 1,418 mm high and has a 2,690 mm wheelbase. The boot space is 390 litres, which is 20 litres more than 1-Series Coupe. The BMW 2-Series Coupe also boasts more efficient aerodynamics than both the BMW 1-Series and its predecessor, as reflected in a Cd of 0.29. The curb weight is 1,470 kg (3,241 lbs).We expected the new M2 to be slightly more heavy because of the beefier brakes and additional body strengthening.Stay tuned!

June 24, 2014

2014 Opel Astra GTC 1.6 CDTI – 136HP and 320Nm

Opel is now offering the new Astra GTC with the updated 1.6 liter CDTI diesel engine. It ensures a powerful and clean drive in the sporty compact coupe. The model is currently available on the market and priced from €24,390 (including VAT).

The 1.6 liter CDTI diesel replaces the 1.7 liter unit. The new power unit delivers more power (+7 HP and 20Nm) and boasts lower fuel consumption. The 1.6 liter CDTI produces 136HP (100 kW) and 320Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque. 0-100 km/h in 10.2 seconds and a top speed of 198 km/h (123 mph). Additionally the elasticity is drastically improved – 80 to 120 km/h in 8.9 seconds instead of the previous 10.5 seconds.

The fuel efficiency stands at 4.1 liters / 100 km (57.3 mpg US or 68.9 mpg UK) in combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 109 g/km.

The engine is connected to an improved 6-speed manual transmission and features a start/stop system. A host of enhancements to the transmission components and shifting mechanisms, as well as to integration in the vehicle, led to noticeable improvements in comfort.

Other power units in Astra GTC’s range include the high-performance diesel 2.0 BiTurbo CDTI with 195HP (143 kW) and 400Nm (296 lb-ft) of torque; the top-of-the-line OPC model with 2.0 liter turbocharged petrol – 280HP (206 kW) and 400Nm (296 lb-ft). There is also a powerful 1.6 liter ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo – 170HP (125 kW) and 260Nm (193 lb-ft).

June 24, 2014

DP Motorsport Porsche 911 (964) – A Modern Classic

A year ago, the tuning specialists – DP Motorsport has unveiled their tuning package for Porsche 964 RS. The model featured a lot of modern technologies and now another Porsche 911 964 is going to get the same treatment.

All petrol-heads know that driving an old-school Porsche is a real challenge, so DP Motorsport installed a lot of modern technologies to a regular Porsche 964. It was fitted with an antilock brake system, a power brake unit, power assisted steering wheel, a precise gearshift, an updated modern chassis, sliding sun-roof and most important – AC (air-conditioning) system. All systems are fitted with usual perfection.

The exterior boasts a complete aerodynamics package made from from fiberglass. The sports car is finished in a striking lime green paint with a matte black hood as well as several white dots for additional racing feeling. There is also a set of lightweight and forged Fuchs rims – 7J x 17 ET55 fitted with 205/50 ZR17 (front) and 255/50 ZR17 (rear) tires.

The interior features classic sport seats, four-point safety harness, a Momo sports steering wheel and a lime green revcounter. DP Motorsport also offers different variations such as light yellow, blood orange or sport classic gray.

DP Motorsport is offering different power packages for the Porsche 964 – from 290HP (213 kW) for the 3.6 liter engine and up to 330HP (243 kW) by increasing displacement to 3.8 liters.

Source: DP Motorsport

June 24, 2014

David Coulthard with Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series at Goodwood [video]

Mercedes-Benz has published an awesome video featuring David Coulthard behind the steering wheel of the impressive SLS AMG Black Series. The super-sports car tackled the famous 1.16-mile Goodwood Hill course.

Despite the sensational power of the SLS AMG Black Series, David goes easy through the course, which will host hundreds of racers and cars during the event. The course record was set in 1999 by Nick Heidfeld who managed to finish in just 41.6 seconds with McLaren MP4/13 Formula One car.

The SLS AMG Black series is powered by an uprated 6.2 liter AMG V8 with 631HP (464 kW) at 7,400RPM and 635Nm (470 lb-ft) of torque. 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 315 km/h (196 mph). The SLS-AMG Black Series is just 1,550 kg (3,417 lbs), so the power/weight ratio is 2.45 kg/hp.

Other special features include coil-over AMG RIDE CONTROL performance suspension, AMG ceramic high-performance composite brake system and the weight-optimized forged AMG light-alloy wheels with newly developed sports tyres. There is also an electronically controlled AMG rear-axle differential lock and the AMG SPEEDSHIFT DCT 7-speed sports transmission. Available as an option, AMG can fit the sports car with special Aerodynamics package.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbGjHZsXI5M

Source: Mercedes-Benz

June 24, 2014

Author: Victor Ivanov