Victor Ivanov – Page 233 – Automobiles Review

2013 Fiat 500 Abarth US

Fiat will hit the US market with 500 Abarth in the second half of 2012. The 2013 500 Abarth US will boast the same extras like the European version.

The small city car will be powered by a 1.4 liter turbocharged petrol engine with a hefty 135PS (99 kW) and 180Nm (130 lb-ft) of torque. 0 to 100 km/h takes 7.9 seconds and the top speed is 205 km/h (127 mph). The small engine emits just 155 g/km of CO2.

Abarth SS will be also available with 160PS (125 kW) and 206Nm (152 lb-ft) of torque. 0 to 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds and top speed of 211 km/h (131 mph).

However, the manufacturer didn’t announce any official price and configuration lists, but 500 Abarth US is expected to be priced at $19 000.

Source: Fiat USA via Twitter

July 26, 2011

Three McLaren MP4-12C GT3 race cars at Spa-Francorchamps

McLaren will take place at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit this weekend for Total 24 Hours of Spa. The manufacturers follows the successful race debut there in the British GT Championship early in July.

Totally ten racing drivers will pilot three McLaren MP4-12 Race cars in the first ever 24 hour race for this model.

The McLaren GT driver line-up for the Total 24 Hours of Spa includes CRS Racing Team Principal Andrew Kirkaldy and McLaren Automotive Chief Test driver Chris Goodwin. Both are Directors of the new McLaren GT company, which is led by McLaren Group CEO Martin Whitmarsh and includes McLaren Racing Head of Vehicle Engineering Mark Williams.

Check out the driver line-up, below!

McLaren MP4-12C GT3 drivers for Total 24 Hours of Spa:

Pro-Cup category

Car 58 (McLaren GT):
Rob Bell – GB
Chris Goodwin – GB
Tim Mullen – GB

Car 59 (McLaren GT):
Andrew Kirkaldy – GB
Álvaro Parente – POR
Oliver Turvey – GB

Pro-Am Cup category

Car 60 (McLaren GT and VonRyan Racing):
Adam Christodoulou – GB
Glynn Geddie – GB
Phil Quaife – GB
Roger Wills – NZL

Source: McLaren

July 26, 2011

Wald Jaguar XJ X350 Black Bison Edition

Wald International has announced another tuned car from the Black Bison series. This time it is Jaguar XJ X350 Sports Line.

The aerodynamics body kit includes a redesigned front bumper, a pair of side skirts, a new rear bumper, a boot lid lip spoiler, a roof spoiler, fender panel and mirror covers with LED indicators. The car looks really stunning and a lot different from the old school style of Jag.

Wald Jaguar XJ X350 Black Bison Edition stands on enormous Renovatio R12 wheels in dimensions 9J x 21” at the front and 10.5J x 21” at the rear fitted with 255/30 R21 and 295/25R21 tires, respectively.

Finally, the tuner installed a DTM TW240 sports muffler, which gives deeper sound and good looks.

There is no information about the price list.

Wald Jaguar XJ X350 Black Bison Edition Front

Source: Wald International

July 26, 2011

Mazda MX-5 Sport Black Limited Edition Roadster Coupe

Mazda has announced MX-5 Sport Black Limited Edition Roadster Coupe following the success of the 850kg MX-5 GT race car.

Available from mid-July, the Mazda MX-5 Sport Black is distinguished by unique paint finishes and an enhanced specification, offering more for a lower price than the car it’s based on.

The exterior boasts a Brilliant Black powered retractable hard-top, this is in contrast with the choice of bodywork colours – Spirited Green metallic, Crystal White Pearlescent and Velocity Red mica. There is also a set of dark gun metal 17” alloy wheels.

The interior comes with black leather upholstery with contrasting “sand” colour stitching, Piano Black steering wheel and deco panel, and unique “Black Limited Edition” exterior badging, uniquely numbered interior plaque and Limited Edition floor mats.

The MX-5 Sport Black features as standard climate control AC, a premium Bose audio system, an integrated hands-free Bluetooth system, cruise control and front fog lights.

Only 500 unit of MX-5 Sport Black Limited Edition Roadster Coupe will be produced. The price tag is £22 995 (OTR).

Mazda MX-5 Sport Black Limited Edition Roadster Coupe

Source: Mazda

July 26, 2011

Carlsson Mercedes-Benz S-Class W221

Carlsson has announced the new tuning program for the Mercedes S Class type W221. It includes both performance and styling packages.

The Carlsson Mercedes S600 L is powered by V12 bi-turbo engine tuned to 600PS (441 kW) and 1024Nm of torque. The result is thanks to an ECU re-map, a sports air filter and a sport exhaust system. 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds and top speed of 320 km/h (199 mph).

Carlsson also offers tuning programs for all engine of the flagship, including V6,V 8, and V12 cylinder power units, together with the diesel models. The most powerful Carlsson Mercedes S63 AMG boasts whopping 685PS (504 kW).

The aerodynamics package includes a front spoiler lip featuring the tuner’s logo, electro-polished stainless steel front grille inserts, side skirts, a rear apron and spoiler.

The Mercedes S Class from Carlsson stands on the C-Tronic SUSPENSION that lowers the ride height by 30 mm and 20” light alloy wheels fitted with high-performance Dunlop tires.

The interior boasts leather upholstery and illuminated door sills.

Source: Carlsson

July 25, 2011

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Grand Edition W221

Mercedes-Benz has announced the new 2012 S Class Grand Edition W221. The W221 Grand Edition is created to celebrate the 60 years that passed since the model first entered the market.

The car was developed by the AMG PERFORMANCE STUDIO and comes with a new aerodynamics package. The body kit features a new front spoiler with integrated LED daytime running lights and a lower air intake, a pair of new side skirts, a rear apron and a re-styled rear bumper.

The interior boasts a lot of individual options as well as a leather steering wheel, stainless-steel pedals and various wood styling inserts.

2012 Mercedes-Benz Grand Edition S Class stands on 19” AMG wheels with a double five-spoke design. Behined them, there are 350 mm brake discs with 8-piston calipers up front and 6-piston calipers at the rear.

Grand Edition S Class is available with S250 CDI delivering 204PS (150 kW), S350 BlueTEC with 258PS (190 kW) and S350 BlueEFFICIENCY boasting 306PS (225 kW).

Price list is not announced, yet.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class Grand Edition W221

Source: Mercedes-Benz

July 25, 2011

2012 RUF CTR3

RUF has introduced a new third generation CTR 3 coming with a number upgrades. 2012 RUF CTR3 boasts a longer wheelbase and a new mid-engine position.

The mid-engine design provides exceptional balance and agile handling, while the longer wheelbase provides better driving stability at high speeds. The body of the CTR 3 is a completely new development which is not based on any existing mid-engine concept.

2012 RUF CTR3 is powered by a twin-turbo 3.8 liter flat-six with whopping 750PS (552 kW) at 7100RPM and 960Nm (708 lb-ft) of torque at just 4000RPM. This is an improvement with 50PS (37 kW) and over the first CTR3.

The engine is mated to a sequential-shift 6-speed transmission, which is transversely mounted and has a new design, too. It can manage torque up to 855 ft/lbs. A shift indicator on the dashboard shows the gear in use. A limited slip differential is provided to maximize the traction. The performance is “acceptable” – 3.2 seconds to 100 km/h, 9.6 seconds to 200 km/h and top speed of 380 km/h (236 mph).

The brake system includes 6-piston fixed light alloy calipers and ventilated, cross drilled ceramic composite discs. Each brake disc is 380 mm in diameter. A specially designed Bosch anti-lock braking system is standard.

2012 RUF CTR3 stands on forged aluminum wheels fitted with 255/35/ZR19 tires at the front and enormous 335/30/ZR20 at the rear. The dimensions of the alloys are 8.5J x 19” and 12.5J x 20”, respectively.

The interior boasts aluminum gearshift lever for the sequential shift transmission, 260 mph (418 km/h) speedometer, leather and Alcantara.

The weight of the car is just 1400kg (3 086 lbs).

2012 RUF CTR3:

Power
750BHP (552 kW)
at 7 100 rpm

max. Torque
960Nm
at 4 000 rpm

Displacement
3 746 cm³

Performance
0-100 kmh (0-62 mph) – 3.2 seconds
0-200 kmh (0-125 mph) – 9.6 seconds

Top speed
380km/h (236 mph) – dependent on the gear ratios

Fuel consumption:
urban – 20,0 l /100km
highway – 9,9 l /100km
combined – 13,5 l /100km
CO 2 emissions – 311 g/km

Source: RUF

July 25, 2011

Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupe Black Series

Mercedes-Benz has announced the most powerful and brutal C-class, ever. The C 63 AMG Coupe Black Series boasts 517PS (380 kW) and 620Nm (460lb–ft) of torque. This is a 29PS more than a C 63 AMG equipped with performance package.

The performance is breath-taking: 0 to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds and top speed somewhere beyond 300 km/h (without speed limiter). Furthermore, the 6.2 liter naturally aspirated V8 need just 12.2 litres per 100 km on combined cycle and emits 286 g/km of CO2. So, you can have an economical super sports car. Great!

The engine is mated to the well-known AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed sports transmission, which has four modes. The double-declutching function and RACE START promise maximum motoring pleasure and a high degree of variability.

“AMG has its roots in international motorsport. The new C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series is the best proof there is for the permanent transfer of technology from the race track to the road. The numerous successes in the DTM, the customer sports range featuring the SLS AMG GT3 and our commitment to Formula 1, where we have been providing the Official F1^TM Safety Car and the Official F1^TM Medical Car for the past 15 years, continuously spur on our engineers and technicians. The C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series embodies the new AMG brand claim, Driving Performance, like no other AMG model,” said Ola Källenius, the CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupe Black Series Front

The C 63 AMG Black Series comes with a greater track width and with enormous tires – 255/35 R 19 and 285/30 R 19 mounted on 9.0J x 19” and 9.5J x 19” wheels, respectively. The alloys are finished in titanium grey.

The 3-stage ESP offers the ideal solution for all driving situations: via the ESP button the driver can choose from the “ESP ON”, “Sport Handling Mode” and “ESP OFF” stages.

The ABS system has been completely retuned and the AMG high-performance braking system has also been redeveloped. At the front axle you’ll get 390 x 36 millimetres brake rotors and integral discs at the rear axle 360 x 26 mm. Red-painted 6-piston fixed callipers at the front and 4-piston fixed callipers at the rear reliably decelerate the perforated, fade-resistant brake discs, which are ventilated all round.

The interior matches to the exterior – black with red highlight elements, displaying the functional atmosphere of a true racing vehicle, whilst at the same time positively glowing with high quality and lovingly crafted details. The steering wheel is wrapped in Nappa leather and features aluminium shift paddles for manual gear changes. There are also red seat belts and red contrasting topstitching on the steering wheel, on the seats, door centre panels, armrests on the doors, the centre console and on the shift lever gaiter add some interesting highlights. An exclusive “Black Series” logo adorns the trim on the dashboard, which sports a high-gloss black piano-lacquer look.

Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupe Black Series Interior

2012 Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Coupe Black Series:

	C 63 AMG Coupé Black Series
Displacement	6208 cc
Bore x stroke	102.2 x 94.6 mm
Compression ratio	11.3 : 1
Output	380 kW (517 hp) at 6800 rpm at 6800/min
Max. torque	620 Nm at 500 rpm
Engine weight (dry)	196 kg
Fuel consumption, NEDC combined	12.2 l/100 km*
CO₂emissions	286 g/km*
Acceleration 0-100 km/h	4.2 s*

The standard specification includes:

AMG door sills in stainless steel, brushed, with AMG logo
AMG sports pedals in brushed stainless steel, with rubber studs
Audio 20 CD radio with double tuner, colour display, Bluetooth^® interface, hands-free function, USB interface and eight loudspeakers
Automatic climate control

Optional extras include:

AMG Exterior Carbon-Fibre package (cross strut in front apron, exterior mirror housing, inserts on the side sill panel, diffuser insert and spoiler lip in genuine carbon fibre)
AMG light-alloy wheels featuring forging technology, painted in matt black with a high-sheen finish on the rim flange, with 255/35 R 19 and 285/30 R 19 tyres
AMG carbon-fibre trim
Fire extinguisher
Intelligent Light System ILS
KEYLESS-GO
Tinted side/rear windows

Source: Mercedes

July 25, 2011

2012 Honda CR-V Concept [First image]

Honda has released a first image of the new CR-V Concept. This is the fourth-generation CR-V, which is set to go on sale in the United States by the end of 2011, and in Europe in Autumn 2012.

2012 Honda CR-V boasts a distinctive and bold styling direction including a more aggressive stance with deeper sculpting of the body lines and a bolder front fascia. The lower front bumper wraps smartly upward to convey SUV capability, while the overall lower front bumper design now integrates more smoothly into the fascia for improved aerodynamics.

The new CR-V will have more powerful and efficient engines and better equipment.

The CR-V is one of the top-selling SUVs, sold in more than 160 countries throughout Europe, Asia, North America, South America and Africa.

The car will be exhibited at the Orange County International Auto Show in Anaheim, California, in September 2011.

Source: Honda

July 25, 2011

Eisenmann Sport Exhaust System for the BMW 1-Series M Coupe

Eisenmann now offers a complete sport exhaust system with 4-pipe end for the BMW 1M coupe – E82. The tuning company crafts the entire exhaust system for the BMW by hand.

The new sport exhaust system offers optimized flow characteristics, sporty sound and of course, more power. A comparison measurement with the original exhaust system demonstrated a performance increase by 10PS (7 kW).

The entire exhaust system includes of a middle silencer and rear muffler. It is made of high-quality stainless steel for which Eisenmann guarantees the best quality.

The exhaust system’s world premiere will be celebrated at the IAA (International Motor Show) in Frankfurt, Germany, from September 15th to 25th, 2011.

However, the complete system is immediately available to buy. The middle silencer is available from Eisenmann with EC approval for 535.50 EURO, including VAT. The rear muffler with four tailpipes in a diameter of 83 millimetres costs 1309 Euro.

Eisenmann Sport Exhaust System BMW 1-Series M Coupe

Source: Eisenmann

July 25, 2011

2012 Scion iQ

Toyota USA has introduced the new 2012 Scion iQ, which boasts 11 Airbags and Star Safety SystemTM, Bluetooth and HD RadioTM Technology as standard.

“Scion prides itself on being an innovative brand with a lineup of iconic vehicles that set automotive trends,” commented Jack Hollis, vice president of Scion.

“The iQ is the fourth vehicle in the family, and it will define the premium micro-subcompact segment as the choice for new urbanites who want clever transportation without a sacrifice in style or new features.”, he added.

The car is practically a rebadged Toyota iQ. It also comes with a 1.3 liter VVT-i, four-cylinder engine with 95PS (70 kW) and 121 Nm (89 lb-ft) of torque. The engine is mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) that helps deliver smooth acceleration and excellent fuel efficiency. The iQ is rated an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV-II) and achieves an EPA-estimated combined fuel economy rating of 37 mpg.

2012 Scion iQ is priced at $15 265. It is covered by a 3-year/36 000-mile comprehensive warranty and a 5-year/60 000-mile powertrain warranty.

Source: Toyota USA

July 22, 2011

A New 5.5 liter V8 engine – made by AMG

Mercedes-AMG has developed a new 5.5-litre V8 engine, which will first be introduced in the upcoming 2012 SLK 55 AMG. Thanks to a fuel saving of around 30% compared to the existing AMG 5.5-litre V8 engine, the naturally aspirated, high-revving eight-cylinder demonstrates the great innovative strength of AMG.

The engine is based on the M157 unit, which is a 5.5 liter twin-trubo V8, which was introduced by the company, last year.

The new M152 boasts 422PS (310 kW) and 540 Nm (398 lb-ft) of torque.

The fuel consumption of 8.5 litres per 100 kilometres – combined cycle is 3.5 litres less than that of the preceding model. This is thanks to a cylinder shut-off system that can reduce the V8 to a four-cylinder which has just 230 Nm (170 lb-ft) of torque.

“Top performer for fuel economy and maximum output: with the new 310 kW (422 hp) AMG 5.5-litre V8 engine we have once again created a real masterpiece. The M152 sets an outstanding example for efficiency, while demonstrating the creativity and expertise of our engineers, who took their inspiration from Formula 1 when developing the cylinder shut-off system. This makes the new, naturally aspirated eight-cylinder the perfect power unit for the new SLK 55 AMG, which will celebrate its premiere at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt/Main in the autumn,” commented Ola Källenius, Chairman of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

“Thanks to the innovative AMG Cylinder Management system and other high-tech components, our newly developed AMG M152 naturally aspirated eight-cylinder engine achieves the fuel economy of a four-cylinder with the muscular power delivery and emotional sound experience of a V8. A sports car engine with technology taken from Formula 1 – I am convinced that the new SLK 55 AMG will meet the high expectations of all sports car fans,” said Friedrich Eichler, head of powertrain development at Mercedes-AMG GmbH.

AMG M152 5.5-litre V8 engine:

Displacement
5461 cc
Bore x stroke
98.0 x 90.5 mm
Compression ratio
12.6 : 1
Output
310 kW (422 hp) at 6800 rpm
Max. torque
540 Nm at 4500 rpm
Engine weight (dry)
187 kg
Power/weight ratio
0.44 kg/hp
*provisional figures

Source: Mercedes-Benz

July 22, 2011

Author: Victor Ivanov