Automobiles Review

Author: Victor Ivanov

  • 2014 Seat Leon ST [video]

    Seat has published a video on Youtube with the recently introduced 2014 Leon ST, which is expected to hit the market later this year.

    After the introducing of Skoda Octavia Combi and Volkswagen Golf VII Variant, Seat responded with the Leon ST which seems to have the best design. Of course, all of them share same suspension, engines and some other technical issues. The 2014 Leon ST boasts 587-liter cargo capacity, which is the smallest, but it can be expanded to 1,470 liters once the rear seats are folded. This is more than enough even, if you have some large luggage.

    The engine range includes a 1.2 liter TSI with 86HP (63 kW) and 105HP (77 kW), a 1.8 liter TSI with 180HP (132 kW) for the FR model. The diesels are a 1.6 liter TDI with 90HP (66 kW) and an FR-exclusive 2.0 TDI producing 184 HP (135 kW).

    Seat UK has confirmed the Leon ST will be offered in a right-hand drive as well as a four-wheel drive variant with the 4Motion system borrowed from the Golf VII Variant 4Motion, of course.

    httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0udJ0jNa8nQ

    2014 Seat Leon ST
    2014 Seat Leon ST
    2014 Seat Leon ST
    2014 Seat Leon ST
    2014 Seat Leon ST
    2014 Seat Leon ST
    2014 Seat Leon ST
    2014 Seat Leon ST

    Source: Seat

  • Superchips Vauxhall Astra VXR GTC – 312HP and 475Nm

    Superchips has announced a tuning program for the powerful hot hatchback – Vauxhall Astra VXR GTC.

    Astra VXR GTC is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged direct injection engine – 280HP (206 kW) and 400Nm (296 lb-ft) of torque. 0-100 km/h in 6.0 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).

    Stage 1 includes an ECU remap – 23HP (17 kW) at 5,093 RPM and 61Nm (41 lb-ft) of torque. 0-100 km/h in 5.8 seconds. On the road the added punch translates into a sharper, even more exciting drive, with a crisper throttle response allied to greater urgency across the rev range. Priced at £455.00, the Superchips ECU remap for the March 2012 onwards Vauxhall Astra GTC VXR 2.0T is available now.

    Stage 2 is also available, with the calibration tailored to suit Astra GTC VXR 2.0T models fitted with a readily available free flowing aftermarket exhaust system and sports catalyst (sold separately through Superchips’ partner Thorney Motorsport). It boosts the engine with 32HP (24 kW) at 5,698 RPM and 75Nm (56 lb-ft) at 2,935 RPM.

    Customers can be assured that both Stage 1 and Stage 2 Superchips Vauxhall Astra GTC VXR 2.0T ECU remaps are covered by a full Customer Service Guarantee and an industry-leading 12 month / 30,000 supplementary vehicle warranty.

    2012 Vauxhall Astra VXR
    2012 Vauxhall Astra VXR
    2012 Vauxhall Astra VXR
    2012 Vauxhall Astra VXR
    2012 Vauxhall Astra VXR

    Source: Superchips

  • K-Tec Racing Renaultsport Twingo 163

    K-Tec Racing has announced a performance package for the Renaultsport Twingo 133.

    The 1.6 liter four-cylinder engine originally produces 133HP (98 kW) and 160Nm (118 lb-ft) of torque. K-Tec boosted it to 163HP (121 kW) and 192Nm (142  lb-ft) thanks to a high-performance tubular exhaust manifold and system as well as Cat Cams Stage 1 and an ECU re-map.

    The price for the full kit is £2,625 and comes with a 12-month warranty. Individual components are available on request. For example the full ‘163’ exhaust system and manifold can be supplied and fitted for £1187 including parts, labour and VAT, while the Cat Cams supplied and fitted with a new cambelt and ECU mapping is priced at £1439.

    2012 Twingo Renaultsport 133
    2012 Twingo Renaultsport 133

    Source: K-Tec Racing

  • Lamborghini Aventador Veneno

    Lambocars.com has published a Veneno-like body kit for the Lamborghini Aventador coupe and roadster.The manufacturer is going to build only 4 units of the Veneno – one to keep for the Lamborghini museum and the other three to sell to customers who were willing to spend $3,900,000 (€3 million).The Veneno-inspired body kit can be offered by tuning companies for those who own the regular Aventador. The package includes modified front and rear ends, a massive rear wing and a set of aggressive alloy wheels.The Lamborghini Aventador is expected to receive a more powerful SV version, which will probably bridge the gap between the standard model and the Veneno.LP700-4 is powered by a 6.5 liter V12 with 700HP (515 kW) and 690Nm (509 lb-ft). The engine is coupled to a 7-speed ISR gearbox specially supplied by Graziano Trasmissioni Group. The shift time is just 50 milliseconds. The power is put on the road through a Haldex AWD system. 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 350 km/h (217 mph).The price for Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster is €300,000.

  • 2014 Renault Clio RS Gordini [render]

    Forum-Clio has given some information about the upcoming Clio RS Gordini, which is expected to hit the market next year with a starting price of around €28,000.

    Renault Clio RS Gordini will be powered by a 1.6 liter turbocharged petrol with 230HP (169 kW) and 285Nm (210 lb-ft) of torque. This is 30HP and 51Nm more than the Clio RS. 0-100 km/h in 5.9 secondsa and a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). The Clio RS is much slower – 6.7 seconds to 100 km/h and 230 km/h (143 mph) – top speed. The main difference is the weight reduction of Gordini. It is lose around 25kg (55 lbs), so it will be 1,175kg (2,588 lbs).

    The exterior can be finished in Blue Gordini, Glacier White with blue stripes, Red Flame with platinum white stripes and Platinum Gray with Gordini blue stripes. Mirror caps will be either white or black, while inside it will have Recaro Sportster seats covered in black leather/Alcantara with white stitching and blue Gordini embroidered logo.

    Other highlights include alloy pedals, Gordini-branded floor mats, real carbon fiber inserts, R-Link with RS Monitor, black or blue seatbelts and black leather/Alcantara steering wheel.

    Source: forum-clio

  • 2014 Volkswagen Golf VII Variant 4Motion – EU Price

    Volkswagen has announced the new 2014 Golf Variant available with 4MOTION all-wheel drive system. With two powerful and equally economical engines and a towing capacity of up to 2,000 kg of the Golf Variant 4Motion is the perfect vehicle for high standards.

    The Golf Variant 1.6 TDI 4MOTION has 105HP (77 kW) and 250Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque. It is able to return 52.2 mpg US (4.5 liters / 100 km). The 2.0 liter TDI has 150HP (110 kW) and 320Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque. The average fuel consumption is 4.8 liters / 100 km (49 mpg US).

    The Golf Variant 1.6 TDI 4MOTION is available as a trend line from €24,400. The Golf Estate 4Motion Comfortline 2.0 TDI starts at €29,075.

    2014 Volkswagen Golf VII Variant
    2014 Volkswagen Golf VII Variant
    2014 Volkswagen Golf VII Variant
    2014 Volkswagen Golf VII Variant
    2014 Volkswagen Golf VII Variant
    2014 Volkswagen Golf VII Variant
    2014 Volkswagen Golf VII Variant
    2014 Volkswagen Golf VII Variant
    2014 Volkswagen Golf VII Variant
    2014 Volkswagen Golf VII Variant
    2014 Volkswagen Golf VII Variant
    2014 Volkswagen Golf VII Variant

    Source: Volkswagen

  • Cadillac 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 engine [video]

    Cadillac has published a video featuring the twin-turbo 3.6-liter V6 engine that will power the 2014 CTS Vsport and 2014 XTS Vsport models. The engine kicks turbo lag to the curb with a unique combination of smaller turbochargers, top-mounted throttle body and shorter air pathways.

    Air flow routing volume is reduced by more than 60 % when compared with a conventional design that features a chassis-mounted heat exchanger. The water-to-air cooler system achieves more than 80 % cooling efficiency with only about 1 psi (7 kPa) flow restriction at peak power
    for fast torque production.

    The 3.6 twin-turbo V6 produces 420HP (313 kW) and 583Nm (430 lb-ft) of torque in the CTS Vsport, while the XTS Vsport will have 410HP (305 kW) and 500Nm (369 lb-ft).

    Both models will hit the market this fall and CTS VSport will be priced from $59,995, while the XTS VSport will be sold for $63,020.

    httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiHy4xWzDOc

    2014 Cadillac CTS
    2014 Cadillac CTS
    2014 Cadillac CTS
    2014 Cadillac CTS
    2014 Cadillac CTS
    2014 Cadillac CTS
    2014 Cadillac CTS
    2014 Cadillac CTS

    Source: Cadillac

  • 2014 Nissan 370Z Coupe and Roadster – US Price

    Nissan USA has announced the pricing for 370Z Coupe, 370Z NISMO and 370Z Roadster. The 370Z Coupe comes with reduced price with $3,130. The M.S.R.P. reductions on 370Z Coupe increase its competitiveness in the growing sports car marketplace.

    This spring, Nissan repositioned the price on seven core models with an aim to broaden the reach of customer consideration during online shopping and research. Prices for the revised 2014 370Z NISMO and 2014 370Z Roadster remain at 2013 model year levels.

    The 2014 370Z NISMO boasts new exterior and interior accents. Enhancements include new dark gray coloring for the front and rear fascias, lower side sills, side mirrors and NISMO rear spoiler, with each element (except side sills) featuring NISMO-style red pinstripe accents. Interior enhancements include the addition of a new steering wheel with Alcantara® appointments and red accents and a red NISMO tachometer. The 370Z NISMO continues to offer 350-horsepower 3.7-liter V6, close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission, sport-tuned suspension and brakes and 19” forged aluminum-alloy wheels.

    Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices* (MSRP) for the 2014 Nissan 370Z Coupe include:

    370Z Coupe 6MT

    $29,990 USD
    370Z Coupe 7AT

    $31,290 USD
    370Z Coupe Touring 6MT

    $35,270 USD
    370Z Coupe Touring 7AT

    $36,570 USD
    370Z Coupe NISMO

    $43,020 USD

    Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices* (MSRP) for the 2014 Nissan 370Z Roadster include:

    370Z Roadster 7AT $41,470 USD
    370Z Roadster Touring 6MT $44,170 USD
    370Z Roadster Touring 7AT $45,470 USD

    Destination and Handling $790.

    Source: Nissan

  • Mercedes-Benz S500 Plug-in Hybrid Confirmed for 2014

    Mercedes-Benz has confirmed the S 500 Plug-in Hybrid for 2014. The luxurious saloon demonstrates how luxury and sustainability can be combined at a previously unprecedented level.

    The S 500 Plug-in Hybrid will set new standards in the luxury class with a fuel consumption of less than 4 liters per 100 km. While the S 400 Hybrid meets the criteria for efficiency class A, the S 300 BlueTEC Hybrid is the only luxury saloon to be classified as A+. The S 500 Plug-in Hybrid is going to feature an electric motor, an 8.7 kWh battery and a six-cylinder petrol engine that develops 333 HP (245 kW) and 480 Nm (354 lb-ft) of torque.

    The Mercedes-Benz hybrid system is modular and scalable in design, and can be applied to numerous model series. In the coming years, in line with the timing of new model introductions, there will be numerous new hybrid models. The modular hybrid system also shows its strengths in conjunction with the different drive systems. In-line four-cylinder engines (petrol and diesel) can be hybridised just as well as e.g. a V6 petrol engine.

    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
    2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

    Source: Mercedes-Benz

  • Jenson Button drives McLaren P1 at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed

    McLaren has published a video with Formula One World Champion – Jenson Button driving the P1 at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

    Button also had a chance to drive the McLaren M8D Can-Am race car which he described as a “proper beast” that’s “so different from what we race these days.”

    McLaren P1 is powered by a modified 3.8 liter twin-turbo V8 with 727HP (535 kW). The engine is combined with a KERS electric motor with 176HP (129 kW). The total power is 916HP (674 kW) at 7,500RPM and 900Nm (664 lb-ft) of torque. 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 6.9 seconds, 0-300 km/h in 17.0 seconds.

    The hybrid powertrain is connected to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. he electric motor can be used to power the car on its own, with an all-electric range of up to 20 km (12 miles) at an average speed of 50 km/h.

    The P1 also features a set of ultra-lightweight alloy wheels fitted with P-Zero Corsa tyres. Behind them, there is a specially developed carbon-ceramic brake system from Akebono.

    httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyKvgzO7Okk

    McLaren P1
    McLaren P1
    McLaren P1
    McLaren P1
    McLaren P1
    McLaren P1
    McLaren P1

    Source: McLaren

  • Acura NSX Prototype at Mid-Ohio Raceway

    Acura has published the first picture of a NSX prototype undergoing testing. The sports car debuted at the North American International Auto Show earlier this year. While the picture isn’t of the highest quality, it suggests the production model will have new headlights, larger mirrors and restyled air intakes.

    The pre-production prototype will be shown at the Mid-Ohio Indy 200 on August 4th. Acura is seeking to get maximum publicity out of the event, so the car will lap the circuit live on NBC.

    The NSX will be produced at Acura‘s Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio. It will be powered by a mid-mounted V6 engine and a Sport Hybrid Super Handling All Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system that has 2 electric motors that power the front wheels as well as another motor that is integrated into the dual-clutch transmission.

    Source: Acura

  • ABT Audi AS6-R Avant – 600HP and 750Nm

    ABT Sportsline has announced their latest project called AS6-R based on the performance touring – Audi S6 Avant. The AS6-R boasts styling and performance upgrades. It combines lifestyle and dynamics with the characteristics of a real family estate car.

    The exterior boasts a complete aerodynamics package including carbon fiber air intake surroundings, carbon fiber mirror covers and new front fender vents. There is also a pair of revised side skirts, new rear bumper and a carbon fiber rear spoiler. Upon request, the AS6-R will be fitted with a stainless steel sports exhaust system with nice deep sound and a set of enormous ABT DR gun-metal sport-type wheels – 9J x 21” fitted with 265/30 ZR21 tires.

    The twin-turbocharged 4.0 liter V8 engine is boosted to 600HP (441 kW) and 750Nm (553 lb-ft) of torque. This is an increase of 180HP (132 kW) and 200Nm (147 lb-ft). The result is thanks to bigger turbochargers, optimized cooling and a reworked exhaust system. 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, 0-200 km/h in 12.9 seconds and a top speed of 310 km/h (192 mph), which is actually pretty good for an estate car.

    ABT AS6-R:

    ABT ENGINE TECHNOLOGY

    • Engine: 4.0 TFSI, 3.993 cc capacity, V8
    • Performance tuning: ABT POWER S
    • Performance: 600 HP/441 kW (standard: 420 HP/309 kW)

    ABT AERODYNAMICS

    • ABT front skirt attachment in Carbon
    • ABT mirror covers in Carbon
    • ABT side skirt attachments in Carbon
    • ABT rear spoiler in Carbon
    • ABT rear skirt set
    • ABT fender inserts
    • ABT WHEELS DR 21″ – Available also as complete set of wheels with sports tires

    ABT EXHAUST TECHNOLOGY

    • ABT 4-pipe stainless steel exhaust system

    Source: ABT