Victor Ivanov – Page 238 – Automobiles Review

Renault FRENDZY Concept

Renault FRENDZY Concept car boasts unique style with its original and innovative stance and strange design.

The exterior features no glazing or centre pillar, just one conventional door and one sliding side door which incorporates a 37” widescreen display. The driver’s side, complete with side windows, still no centre pillar, but with centre opening doors, represents the world of the family.

“FRENDZY is the fourth vehicle to illustrate Renault’s new design strategy, a series which started with DeZir. It takes an original and innovative stance on the world of light commercial vehicles – a key part of Renault’s activities”, commented Laurens van den Acker, Senior Vice President, Design Renault.

“FRENDZY is the must-have vehicle for flexibility and versatility. It is efficient and modern as a work tool, yet sporting and warmly welcoming for the family”, added Axel Breun, Design Director, Concept and Show Cars.

The interior features interesting cockpit designed around the theme of a futuristic “work bench” featuring a structure which appears to be made from molten metal. Green light emanating from the dashboard brings this smooth and organic architecture to life.

“Our research into materials centred on the area where the technology of industry meets the cosy softness of the family nest. This modern combination of wood and metal picks up on Renault’s strategic design values of simplicity, sensuousness and warmth.”, said Antoine Génin, Design Director, Interior and Colour/Materials.

The extras are a lot, but the most interesting is the BlackBerry®PlayBook™ tablet recently launched by Research In Motion (RIM), plugged into the dashboard, which is ultra-portable -7” touchscreen, 425g in weight, measuring 130mm x 194mm x 10mm. It supports Adobe® Flash®, HD multimedia, advanced security features and out-of-the-box enterprise support.

Dimensions (mm)

Length	4,091
Width	1,872 (excluding mirrors) 2,172 (including mirrors)
Height	1,743
Ground clearance (laden)	200
Wheelbase	2,691
Front track	1,640
Rear track	1,640
Load capacity (litres)	2,250

Technical data

Motor	Electric
Power (kW /hp)	44 / 60
CO₂ emissions (g/km)	0 (in road use)
Batteries	Lithium – ion
Peak torque (Nm)	226
Top speed (kph)	130
Transmission	Direct drive, with reverse
Tyres	Concept 205/45 R19
Kerb weight (kg)	1,420

Partners

Body construction	ProtoStyle
Tyres	Michelin
Mobile interface	Research In Motion (RIM)
Optics	Gaggione
Sound	IRCAM

Source: Renault

July 7, 2011

2012 Range Rover Sport

2012 Range Rover Sport comes with improved fuel economy and an increase in power. The well-known 3.0-litre SDV6 diesel engine is boosted to 256HP, while the CO₂ emissions have been reduced to 230g/km

The SUV also comes with new ZF 8HP70, 8-speed automatic gearbox, combining smooth shifting and improved fuel economy. It now returns 32.1 mpg (7.3 liters per 100 km). Range Rover Sport SDV6 comes equipped with the Drive Select rotary gear shift and steering wheel-mounted paddle shift.

Still, if you like the performance – the 5.0 LR-V8 Supercharged (510hp and 625Nm) brings supreme driving pleasure and 0 to 60 mph in under 6.0 seconds.

The 2012 Range also boasts next generation 7” touch-screen system with optional Dual View technology, allowing the driver to view the navigation display whilst the passenger watches TV or a DVD whilst listening on WhiteFire^TM headphones.

Hi-ICE and Premium audio systems, offering a staggering 825W of power through 17 speakers on the Premium Harmon Kardon LOGIC 7.

“The enhancements to the 2012 Range Rover Sport will ensure this car retains its position as one of the most economical and dynamic high performance SUVs on the market today. With greater levels of diesel engine efficiency, lower fuel emissions and exciting new features, the Range Rover Sport continues to live up to its reputation for power and refinement,” commented Colin Green, Land Rover UK Managing Director.

HSE Luxury Pack

A Luxury Pack is also available on the 3.0 SDV6 HSE bringing equipment levels close to that of Supercharged models. The pack includes contrast stitching on selected upholstery, 20″ alloy wheels, Premium ICE, extended leather pack, HSE Luxury badge, heated steering wheel and adaptive cruise control. The Luxury Pack costs £3 065 – pretty decent value.

The 2012 Model year Range Rover Sport is on-sale in the UK from October and available from £48 795 on the road.

Check out the table, below!

2012 Range Rover Sport

2012 Range Rover Sport:

	5.0 LR-V8 SC	3.0 LR-SDV6 256hp
Height mm (in)	1784 (70.2)	1784 (70.2)
Width mm (in)	2158 (85.0)	2158 (85.0)
Length mm (in)	4972 (195.7)	4972 (195.7)
Wheelbase mm (in)	2745 (108)	2745 (108)
Turning Circle m (ft)	11.9 (39.04)	11.9 (39.04)
Drag coefficient Cd	0.38	0.37
EU Kerb Weight kg (lb)	2590-2679 (5710-5906)	2535-2670 (5589-5886)
Front suspension	Air sprung Independent double wishbone	Air sprung Independent double wishbone
Rear suspension	Air sprung Independent double wishbone	Air sprung Independent double wishbone
Brakes Front	6 piston sliding calliper, 380mm ventilated disc	4 piston sliding calliper, 360mm ventilated disc
Steering	Speed proportional rack & pinion	Speed proportional rack & pinion
Four Wheel-Drive system	Full time 4 wheel drive with std locking centre differential & Terrain Response^TM	Full time 4 wheel drive with std locking centre differential & Terrain Response^TM
Engine type	Longitudinal V8, 32 valve, four OHC, supercharged	Longitudinal V6, 24 valve, four OHC, direct injection diesel, parallel sequential turbochargers
Displacement cc (cu in)	4999 (305.1)	2993 (182.6)
Bore/stroke mm (in)	92.5×93 (3.64×3.66)	84×90 (3.30×3.54)
Compression ratio	9.5:1	16.1:1
Max power hp (kW)	510 (375)@6000-6500rpm	256 (188)@4000rpm
Max Torque Nm (lbft)	625 (461)@2500-5500rpm	600 (443)@2000rpm
Fuel consumption EU urban/extra urban/combined (mpg-L/100km)	13.0/26.3/19.0 – 21.8/10.7/14.9	28.8/34.9/32.1 – 9.8/8.1/8.8
Emissions	EU5	EU5
CO₂ g/km	348	230
Transmission	ZF 6HP28 6-speed auto	ZF 8HP70 8-speed auto
Fuel tank capacity litres/imp gals/US gals	88.1/19.4/23.3	84.1/18.5/22.2
Range (EU), miles (km)	367(590)	603 (914)*
0-60mph (sec)	5.9	8.5
0-100kph (sec)	6.2	8.9
Top speed mph (km/h)	140 (225)	124 (200)

Source: Land Rover

July 7, 2011

2011 Ford Fiesta Sport Special Edition

Ford will sell a new special edition Fiesta Sport in Europe. The vehicle will offer dynamic style and strong performance at decent price.

The three-door hatchback comes with an aerodynamic package consisting of a new front and rear bumpers, a pair of modified side skirts, a dual sport exhaust system with deep sound and a set of 17” Panther Black alloy wheels.

The interior boasts heated leather sports seats with silver contrast stitching, air conditioning with automatic temperature control as well as a leather handbrake and gear knob, alloy metal pedals, gloss black instrument bezels, bespoke floor mats and silver scuff plates.

Ford Fiesta Sport is powered by a 1.6-liter Ti-VCT with 134PS (99 kW) and 160Nm (118 lb-ft) of torque. 0 to 100 km/h in 8.7 seconds and a top speed of 195 km/h (122 mph). There is also a 1.6-liter Duratorq TDCi with 95PS (70 kW), which returns whopping 68.9mpg (4.1 liters per 100 km) and CO2 emissions of 107 g/km.

“The Fiesta boasts a rich sporting heritage and the combination of the free-revving 1.6-litre Duratec Ti-VCT petrol engine and dynamic, contemporary styling inside and out means the Fiesta Sport Special Edition is a worthy addition to Ford’s roll-call of performance models,” commented Roelant de Waard, Vice President, Marketing, Sales & Service, Ford of Europe.

“Of course, the option of a 1.6-litre Duratorq-powered version also means customers not requiring such high performance can still enjoy a sporty character with improved economy, while reaping the benefits of the Fiesta Sport Special Edition’s great looks and excellent equipment levels.”, he added.

Available in most markets across Europe – including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands and Switzerland – the Fiesta Sport Special Edition is the latest addition to the current Fiesta line-up, which has sold more than one million examples since going on sale in late 2008.

Source: Ford

July 7, 2011

ABT 2012 Volkswagen Beetle

ABT has introduced a styling and a performance packages for the latest 2012 Beetle. Still, these are just two renderings, but the car will look exactly the same.

There will be performance mods for the 1.2TSI boosted to 140PS (103 kW), the 1.4TSI will have 210PS (154 kW) and the top-of-range 2.0TFSI will have 240PS (176 kW). The 1.6TDI will gain additional 20PS (15 kW) and the bigger 2.0TDI will have 170PS (125 kW), instead of 140PS (103 kW).

The styling package consists of a new front bumper, a rear diffuser with oval exhaust pipes and a pair of side skirts. There will be also headlight brows and some nice graphics.

The stance is improved by installing a set of lowering springs.

The car stands on Abt DR wheels fitted with low profile tires.

Everything is good, but still we think that the modified Beetle looks rather sad, mainly because of the ridiculous headlight brows. We hope that ABT will reconsider some touches and make the small city car better.

Source: Abt Sportsline

July 6, 2011

Mazda MX-5 Karai Special Edition

Mazda has introduced a new limited edition MX-5. Karai will be available exclusively for the German market. Mazda MX-5 Karai will be produced in just 165 units and the price is €30 000.

MX-5 Karai boasts Metis Green Metallic paint finish. The limited edition is based on the top-of-range sport-line package. It comes with black leather and Alcantara Recaro sports seats, electric folding roof and nice 17” alloy wheels finished in matte black fitted with low profile tires.

The interior features silver trim elements and black steering wheel trim. There are also some black elements outside – front grill, fog light surrounds and mirrors housings.

The limited edition MX-5 Karai includes sport mufflers, a lowering spring kit and an iPod and USB adapter and an exclusive floor mats.

All customers will also get a special Sinn chronograph in a matching green-black color design.

Mazda MX-5 is one of the most appreciated roadsters in the world. There are over 800 000 units sold worldwide, so the new special edition will further boost the interest of the fans.

Source: Mazda

July 6, 2011

Bentley Continental SuperSports Convertible at the 2011 GoodWood

Bentley took a part at the Goodwood Festival of Speed with the impressive Continental Supersports convertible, which recently has set a new world ice-speed record.

Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible is powered by a 6.0 litre W12 with some upgrades like a new air intake, bigger intercooler and a sport exhaust system. The result is 640PS (471 kW) and 800Nm (590 lb-ft). The engine is mated to a Quickshift 6-speed automatic gearbox. 0 to 100 km/h in 4 seconds, flat and top speed of 325 km/h (202 mph).

“Driving this very special Bentley Continental in front of the packed Goodwood grandstands was a special experience for me,” said Juha Kankunnen, four-time world rally champion.

“Driving on a frozen sea was a unique challenge and only a few Bentley engineers and my support crew were there to witness the new world record. So it was a pleasure to provide a glimpse of the capabilities of this Bentley to a huge audience of motorsport enthusiasts on a beautiful summer’s day.”, he added.

2011 GoodWood - Bentley Continental SuperSports Convertible — 2011 GoodWood – Bentley Continental SuperSports Convertible

Source: Bentley

July 6, 2011

Twingo Renaultsport R2

RenaultSport has announced a special version of Twingo. R2 Trophy will run alongside the MSA British Rally Championship, following each event across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man from 2012.

The car is based on the 133HP Twingo Renaultsport and is aimed at budget conscious buyers, coming in the form of motorsport kits featuring all the required parts.

“Renault Sport Technologies intensifies its presence in UK rallying and the creation of a Trophy for Twingo in R1 and R2 categories makes me very happy. The remarkable road holding abilities of Twingo Renaultsport 133 will help young rally drivers to compete in a national championship, at an affordable price. This new trophy will reinforce the image of Renaultsport cars in the UK market which is extremely important for our brand and where Renault Sport Technologies has been enjoying a constant growth in the recent years.”, commented RENAULT Sport Technologies’ CEO, Patrice Ratti.

Source: Renault

July 6, 2011

2011 Infiniti M37S

Red Bull Racing driver Mark Webber began his preparations for the British Grand Prix early this week. He had some fun at the race track with a high performance Infiniti M37S.

Webber demonstrated the true performance of the road car, lapping at high speed in varying conditions. He also completed an in-depth interview looking ahead to this weekend. Last year, Mark took a memorable victory in Red Bull Racing’s home, so the expectations this year are huge.

Infiniti M37S is powered by a 3.7-litre V6 petrol with VVEL delivering 320ps (235 kW) at 7000RPM. The engine is mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission with manual mode & magnesium paddle shifts and all power is put on the road through the rear wheels. 0 to 100km/h takes 6.2 seconds.

2011 Infiniti M37S

2011 Infiniti M37S

Engine:
3.7-litre V6 petrol VVEL (Variable Valve Event & Lift)

Power:
235kw (320ps) at 7 000RPM

Transmission:
7-speed automatic transmission with manual mode & magnesium paddle shifts
Rear-wheel drive with four-wheel active steer (4WAS)

Performance:
0-100km/h: 6.2 seconds

Source: Infiniti

July 6, 2011

BMW 520d EfficientDynamics Edition

BMW will hit the market with the new 520d EfficientDynamics Edition, this autumn. The car is specially designed for drivers, who has to travel long distances and care about the planet as well as their comfort.

520d EDE is powered by a four-cylinder 2.0 liter turbo-charged diesel with 184PS (135 kW) and 380Nm (280 lb-ft) of torque available at very low engine speeds. If you think that a big saloon with four-cylinder engine is not something special, check this out! 0 to 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds and the top speed is 231 km/h (144 mph). The staggering about the car is its fuel consumption – 4.5 litres per 100 km (62.8 mpg) and CO2 emissions of 119 g/km. Nice, A?

The amazing result are thanks to an Auto Start-Stop, an Optimum Shift Indicator, Brake Energy Regeneration and active cooling flap control, plus a longer final drive ratio and special aero rims with “Streamline” styling.

The manufacturer will also introduce a new 2.0-liter petrol engine with TwinPower Turbo technology. The 2012 520i has the same power as the diesel 184PS (135 kW), but less torque – 270Nm (199 lb-ft). Still, the acceleration is way better – 7.9 seconds to 100 km/h and a top speed of 227 km/h (141 mph). The better acceleration comes with lower mileage – 41.5mpg (6.8 litres per 100 km) and CO2 emissions of 157 g/km.

The more powerful 528i has 245PS (180 kW) and 350Nm (258 lb-ft). 0 to 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).

Source: BMW

July 6, 2011

Volvo S60 Performance Project

Volvo Car Australia introduces S60 Performance Project, which is co-developed with Polestar and Heico.

The unique model is based on the T6 R-Design and has some upgrades like a sport exhaust system and 19” Heico alloy wheels fitted with Pirelli performance tires.

The tuned S60 is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter petrol engine with 330PS (242 kW) and 480Nm (354 lb-ft) of torque. These results are thanks to an ECU re-map, which boosts the engine with 25PS (18 kW) and 40Nm (29 lb-ft) over the factory power.

Like the R Design models the S60 Performance Project has been lowered by 15mm and features sports suspension that includes monotube damping at the rear, 15 per cent stiffer springs and the bushings that are 20 percent stiffer compared with the dynamic chassis in the regular S60 models.

The interior boasts sports seats with firmer side bolstering, leather clad three spoke steering wheel, dials with blue surrounds and aluminium ridged pedals.

Volvo Car Australia is currently evaluating S60 Performance Project. Depending on customer demand there may be the option to build the S60 show car in limited numbers.

“Volvo is not traditionally recognized for performance in Australia but that is changing,” comments Volvo Car Australia Managing Director Matt Braid.

Source: Volvo

July 5, 2011

2011 Chevrolet Volt Price – £28 545

Chevrolet has announced 2011 Volt for the UK market and the price is just £28 545. The car a range of 30 to 50 miles only on electricity and can achieve an impressive result of 127 mpg, which is 1.85 liters per 100 km.

Chevy Volt suffered a huge criticism, because of the ridiculous statements of GM. Firstly, they claimed that the car will go with only 1 liter per 100km (230mpg) and after that, Volt was named an EV (electric vehicle), but in fact it is a plug-in hybrid since the gasoline engine it carries turns on to help with acceleration.

2011 Chevrolet Volt is powered by an electric motor with maximum power of 150PS (111 kW) and 368Nm (273 lb-ft) of torque. The car has 16 kWh (10.4 kWh usable) lithium-ion battery pack and, when it is depleted, a small naturally aspirated 1.4 liter four-cylinder petrol engine with 80HP powers a 55kW generator to extend the Volt’s range.

Still, Volt is expected to have huge success, because of its efficiency and performance.

Source: Chevrolet

July 5, 2011

Sprint Series Toyota Celica GT4 – fastest at the 2011 GoodWood

The fastest car at the 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed is staggering Sprint Series Toyota Celica GT4, which took to course of 1.16 miles in just 48.07 seconds.

In fact, the Celica had to beat many famous racing cars, including recent Formula 1 cars. The car was driven and built by former British Rally Champion, Jonny Milner. M

The racing car is based on the sixth generation Celica. It is super-lightweight – 1 050kg. Furthermore, for better weight distribution, the driver’s position has moved back 30cm (12 inches) and the car’s centre of gravity has been lowered by raising the wheel arches and upper suspension mounts. A flat floor and rear diffuser add a degree of ground effect.

The engine is a 2.0 liter turbocharged from Corolla WRC – 700BHP at 5700RPM at 2bar boost and over 800BHP with nitrous oxide boost. Nice!

Super soft rallycross specification Michelin slick tyres also played an important role in getting all that horsepower to the ground.

Sprint Series Toyota Celica GT4 Technical Specs:

Engine type	Corolla WRC four-cylinder, 16-valve
Displacement (cc)	1,998
Turbocharger	Garrett GT35/42
Supercharger	Rotrex, belt-driven
Engine management	Motec
Compression ratio	9.7:1
Max. power (DIN hp @ rpm)	700 @ 5,700 at 2bar boost >800 with nitrous oxide boost
Fuel tank capacity (l)	15
Weight (kg)	1,050
Transmission	Mactrack 5-speed manual with Fensport triple-plate clutch
Suspension (front & rear)	Reiger Corolla WRC 3-way adjustable dampers,
Brakes	Front 343mm and rear 295mm Corolla WRC ventilated discs with Alcon callipers
Wheels	18in

Source: Toyota

July 5, 2011

Author: Victor Ivanov