Auto News – Page 498 – Automobiles Review

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

Jaguar Confirms F-TYPE Project 7 For Production

2014 Jaguar F-TYPE Project 7 is the latest version of the highly acclaimed F-TYPE sports car range. It production version is going to debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed tomorrow. This is the first Jaguar performance vehicle delivered by the Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Operations team. An interesting and very exciting fact is that the car won’t stay in a “concept” form but it is readied for production. Of course, it will be an exclusive, limited-edition run of only 250 units.

F-TYPE Project 7 has a distinctive roadster body, which we have already seen in the concept on which the car is based: Jaguar Project 7 Concept Car. The exterior pays homage to the iconic three-time Le Mans winning D-type model. The latter is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. And the number “7” in car’s name pays tribute to the seven wins that the D-type has made at Le Mans.

Project 7 is the most focused,fastest and powerful production off an F-TYPE that Jaguar has ever built. It is powered by 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine, which delivers 575 hp (423 kW) and 680 Nm (502 lb-ft) of torque. When these figures are combined with the fact that the aluminium-bodied car weighs just 1585kg, the result is an acceleration time of 3.9 seconds for the 0-100 km/h sprint. The top speed is electronically-limited and is of 186mph (300km/h).

The aforementioned horsepower is send to the rear wheels through an eight-speed Quickshift transmission and second generation Electronic Active Differential (EAD). Carbon Ceramic Matrix (CCM) brakes have been also fitted. The Torque Vectoring by Braking (TVbB) works in conjunction with the EAD and enables extremely precise handling.

Furthermore, there are also bespoke carbon-fibre aerodynamic elements as well as one-of-a-kind suspension. The result is extremely engaging driving experience. Other key design elements that can’t be seen in the concept include D-type-inspired fairing behind the driver’s head, shorter windshield, new front bumper, carbon-fibre front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser and adjustable rear spoiler.

Unlike the concept, which is a single-seater, the F-TYPE Project 7 has been transformed into a two-seater and comes with rollover hoops for both driver and passenger.

2014 Jaguar F-TYPE Project 7 Technical Specifications:

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
Engine capacity (cc)	5000
Cylinders	8
Valves per cylinder	4
Compression ratio	9.5:1
Bore/stroke (mm)	92.5/93.0
Bore/stroke (inches)	3.64/3.66
Transmission	8-speed ‘Quickshift’ ZF 8HP70
PERFORMANCE
0-60mph (sec)	3.8
0-100km/h (sec)	3.9
Top speed (mph)	186, electronically limited
Top speed (km/h)	300, electronically limited
Power (PS@rpm)	575@6500
Power (kW@rpm)	423@6500
Torque (lb ft@rpm)	502@2500-5500
Torque (Nm@rpm)	680@2500-5500
Wheels	20-inch ‘Storm’ alloy, in gloss black
Tyres – size	255/30/20 (front) 295/30/20 (rear)
Tyres – make Standard: Optional:	Pirelli P Zero Continental ForceContact
DIMENSIONS
Length (mm)	4519
Length (in)	178
Width excl (mm)	1923
Width excl (in)	75.7
Height (mm, without roof)	1277
Height (in, without roof)	50.3
Wheelbase (mm)	2622
Wheelbase (in)	103.2
Fuel tank capacity (litres)	72
Fuel tank capacity (gallons)	15.8
Weight (kg)	1585
Weight (lbs)	3495

Source: Jaguar

June 25, 2014

Alfa Romeo MiTo By Marshall Concept Car

Alfa Romeo MiTo By Marshall is a concept which is a result of the collaboration between the Italian car company and the legendary music brand Marshall Amplification. The car is unique and is inspired by the look and feel of Marshall’s iconic amplifier equipment. It even features a powerful Marshall JVM 50w amp head that runs two 12 inch 75w speakers, all of which is installed in the boot! The model has its public debut yesterday – at the screening of Dave Grohl’s [Foo Fighters, Nirvana] Sound City documentary at Olympic Studios. The car will be also exhibited at various automotive and music events through the year.

The exterior of MiTo By Marshall sports the iconic gold panel finish of Marshall’s equipment. The color can be seen on the grille, front and rear headlight surrounds, door mirror covers, door handles, side door trim and lower bumper trim. There are Marshall badges on each rear pillar as well as Jim Marshall’s signature above the side indicators. The rear windscreen includes #LIVEFORMUSIC graphic.

The interior is spectacular and it features a lot of carbon fiber. Just take a look at the pics. Of course, the Marshall styling is continued inside through tread plates on the door sills, a distinctive white piping around the dashboard’s centre console and the iconic gold panel finish on the Alfa D.N.A. Selector surround.

The gear knob has been replaced by a classic Shure SH55 microphone. All seats have been upholstered with the same materials used on Marshall’s amplifiers. This includes grille cloth on the seat centres and white piping around the inner seat contours. There is close-matching leather on the seat sides, Marshall logos on each front seat as well as special floor mats.

In the boot, the 50 Watt JVM205H amp delivers a two channel preamp: clean/crunch and overdrive. The two independent channels both have three modes, which means that the JVM205H is tonally very versatile. Furthermore, the amp head features two studio quality digital reverbs, two master volumes, and Stompware foot switchable memory, FX loop and master settings.

Alfa Romeo MiTo By Marshall Concept vehicle is built upon the 2014 MiTo Distinctive. It is powered by a 1.6 JTDM-2 120 hp (88 kW) engine. Other touches that were left unmentioned are the 18 inch alloy wheels, red brake calipers, aluminium sports pedals, chrome exhaust pipes and the Uconnect 5 inch colour touch screen infotainment system.

Source: Alfa Romeo

June 25, 2014

Range Rover Sport SVR Is The Fastest Land Rover

Range Rover Sport SVR is to make an official public debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed on 27th of June. The vehicle will be the first one to wear the new SVR designation. The latter will be also worn by all future high performance models. Below we have added a gallery with a camouflaged prototype this Land Rover. And if you have more imagination, then the wait till the debut is no longer valid for you. At the famous Hill Range Rover Sport SVR will give spectators a chance to experience its sights and sounds. Of course, it will be positioned in the ‘First Glance’ category and will perform a series of runs up the famous Hill course.

The British company has announced also that the car will be powered by a 550 horsepower engine. The new model is at its last stage of testing and will go on sale in 2015. The performance of the SVR will extend the capabilities of the Range Rover Sport. This means that it will be the fastest, most agile and most responsive Land Rover ever built.

Land Rover promises that the SVR will be an example of engineering integrity, robustness and attention to detail. The vehicle was created by the Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations team. It will be built alongside existing models and will be sold through the Land Rover retailer network. An interesting fact is that up to date more that 500 000 Range Rover Sport models have been sold.

Source: Land Rover

June 25, 2014

Honda Civic Type R Is Back! [VIDEO]

Honda Civic Type R receives a new teaser campaign. The company has released already the firs video of it, which you can watch below. Honda says that this is a ‘racing car for the road’ and in fact that the new model promises to be the most extreme Type R ever built. It will boast bold and aggressive styling characteristics that are to embody the great performance characteristics of Type R. The campaign is based on the theme of ‘R-rated’. The sixty second film released as a start of the teaser campaign is ‘Disruption’.

It starts showing a sunny day on a suburban street, where family is packing a picnic into the boot of their car. The atmosphere is happy and jolly, including the music. Suddenly, the picture distorts and pixelates and the Honda R-Rated advisory flickers up on screen. Then we see the Honda R-rated advisory notice appear. What happens next … just see the video!

All in all, the Type R is probably is very extreme: it definitely pushes boundaries. This of course, encompasses the spirit of Civic Type R perfectly, and “Disruption” sets the energy and adrenaline levels very high.

At the base of the new campaign is the slogan ‘We R Back’. The new Honda Civic Type R will be launched in Europe in 2015. Type R Concept model makes its UK debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend.

httpv://youtu.be/i2KNFWW-PV4

Video Source: YouTube

Source: Honda

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

Category: Auto News