Auto News – Page 722 – Automobiles Review

Porsche Celebrates Fifty Years Of The Iconic 911 Model

The iconic Porsche 911 is celebrating 50 years being at the heart of the automotive industry as one of the most desirable cars. The model has served as an inspiration to car enthusiasts around the world since its debut as the 901 at the IAA International Automotive Show in Frankfurt, back in September 1963.

Furthermore, the emblematic 911 is considered as the central point of reference for all other Porsche series. This basically means that every Porsche is the most sporting automobile in its category, and each one carries a piece of the 911 philosophy.

Now, since 1963 over 820 000 Porsche 911’s have been built since 1963. Through these fifty years, seven generations have been created from this model. An example from each one of them will be present at the 2013 Festival of Speed.

What is more, thanks to the support of the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, and private collectors and enthusiasts, a number of significant editions of the 911 are set to be in action at the Goodwood. Further examples of significant Porsche competition cars including the 356, 908, 917 and 962 are also anticipated.

Another interesting fact, with which the brand is to celebrate the anniversary, is that the 1967 model 911 is going to be sent to Goodwood as part of a world tour. This particular model will it visit Pebble Beach, California, as well as China, France, and Australia.

In addition to all this, the Porsche Museum will be marking the “50 years of the Porsche 911” with a special exhibition from 4 June to 29 September. Morover, even Goodwood is honouring the versatile sports cars with a bespoke 911-inspired sculpture that promises to be a highly distinctive “art installation”.

Source: Porsche

February 25, 2013

Disco Volante Returns To Geneva [TEASER]

Touring Superleggera Disco Volante debuted last year at the Geneva Motor Show. Now a year later, the brand will showcase at the same show the first rolling unit of the Disco Volante Touring.

It will be a two seater grand tourer built on demand, and to be more precise it utilizes the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione frame, driveline and technology. In order to complete the whole engineering, development and manufacturing process, it took the team only ten months.

Many parts of the new body are made from carbon fibre, which not only adds aesthetics to the car, but also – structural value to the traditional hand-beaten aluminium panels. In fact, the touring Superleggera is one of the rare companies that offer the whole in-house productive cycle.

We aren’t one hundred percent sure, but it is rumored that the model will include a 4.7 liter V8 engine which generates 450 hp (331 kW) and has 470Nm (347 lb-ft) of torque. The unit will be probably mated to an electronically controlled six-speed sequential gearbox with paddle-shifters on the steering wheel.

More details around Disco Volante will be announced at the Show, where the official reveal of the car will take place.

Source: Touring Superleggera

February 25, 2013

2013 Volkswagen Golf VII Plug-in Hybrid – 1.5 liters per 100 km

Volkswagen has announced the new Golf Plug-in Hybrid, which is based on the 7^th generation of the hatchback. It is expected to hit the market in the beginning of the next year.

The Golf VII Plug-in Hybrid is powered by a 1.4 liter TFSI with 150HP (110 kW) and a 102HP (75 kW) electric motor coupled to a dual-clutch S-tronic 6-speed gearbox. The powertrain is the same as in Audi A3 e-Tron Plug-in Hybrid. The total power is 204HP (150 kW) and 350Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque.

0-100 km/h in 7.6 seconds and a staggering fuel consumption of 188 mpg UK (156.5 mpg US) – 1.5 liters / 100 km with CO2 emissions of 35 g/km. What is more, the Plug-in Hybrid Golf is capable of travelling up to 50 km (31 miles) in electric mode with speeds up to 130 km/h (81 mph).

February 22, 2013

2013 Mazda2 Venture Edition

Mazda has announced a new special edition Mazda2. The small hatchback is one of the best-selling models in the UK. Mazda Venture Edition will be offered for £13,295 OTR.

It is powered by a 1.3 liter petrol with 84HP (62 kW). It boasts a set of 16” Bright Finish alloy wheels, black mirror housings, rear parking sensors, dusk-sensing lights and rain-sensing wipers, new sporty seat trim with red stitching, two unique exterior colours (Zeal Red Mica and Meteor Grey Mica) and special ‘Venture Edition’ badges.

Among the standard equipment you will find a sports styling kit, front fog lamps, privacy glass and a rear bumper sports trim. Inside, there are front, side and curtain airbags, leather steering wheel with audio controls, CD radio with Auxiliary jack and four speakers, plus a TomTom^® navigation with a 5.8” touch screen, integrated Bluetooth^® hands-free kit, climate control air-conditioning and electric rear windows to create a genuine premium car ambience.

The model will be offered until the end of March 2013.

Source: Mazda

February 22, 2013

2013 Fiat 500L – Two New Engines

Fiat has announced their plans to offer two new engines for the iconic 500L. The “City Lounge”, as the car has been dubbed, is the result of a very special alchemy. It is a new city car concept that redefines the compact category for the modern family in an emotional vein by expanding on a few styling features of the 500 in unprecedented forms.

The first one is a 0.9 liter TwinAir Turbo with 105HP (74 kW) and 145Nm (107 lb-ft) of torque. 0-100 km/h in 12.3 seconds and a top speed of 180 km/h (112 mph). It returns astonishing fuel consumption of just 58.8 MPG UK – 4.8 liters / 100 km with CO2 emissions of 112 g/km.

Second is 1.6 liter MultiJet II Turbo-diesel again with 105HP (74 kW), but 320Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque. 0-100 km/h in 11.3 seconds and a top speed of 181 km/h (112 mph). It needs just 4.5 liters / 100 km – 62.7 MPG UK with CO2 emissions of 117 g.

Both engines will offered in the 500L from March, this year.

Source: Fiat

February 22, 2013

2013 Mazda MX-5 Venture Edition

A special edition Mazda MX-5 Venture will be available until the end of March 2013 in the UK. The roadster is priced from £18,895 for the 1.8 liter version.

The highlights include a set of new 17” Bright Finish alloy wheels, heated tan leather sports seats, tan leather door inserts and (on the soft-top model) a tan fabric roof. A choice of four exterior colours is offered – Brilliant Black, Copper Red Mica, Meteor Grey Mica and Stormy Blue Mica – plus Venture Edition badges.

The 1.8 liter delivers 126HP (93 kW), while the powerful 2.0 liter variant has 160HP (118 kW). Both are mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The 2.0 liter Venture Edition Roadster is priced from £22,295.

Source: Mazda

February 22, 2013

World Premiere For 2014 Citroen C3 At Geneva Motor Show

2014 Citroen C3 will make a world debut at the 83rd Geneva Motor Show next month. The C3 model was launched back in 2002 and since then it has achieved a major success in the automotive industry. Now the popular model comes with as fresh features that strengthen and enhance its appeal.

This Citroen is prepared for official market launch in early summer 2013. Here the “Créative Technologie” is featured as a panoramic Zenith windscreen, the efficient engines deliver CO2 emissions as low as 87g/km, and more personality is achieved through assertive styling, a revitalized front end and new tail lights.

First of all, the exterior of the new Citroen C3 has soft curves with dynamic taut lines. The front end is entirely restyled and creates a new ‘face’ with updated chevrons and bumper-mounted LED daytime running lights.

Additionally, expressive new tail light clusters matched together with new reflectors are set underneath the rear bumper. The range’s palette now comprises of nine colours thanks to the addition of the new Ink blue body paint.

Secondly, the interior is finely crafted with top-quality materials, including chrome detailing and a thermo-coated soft-touch dashboard. This can be emphasized through the new dashboard strips in matt black, a warm brown or Moondust grey, which coordinate with the new style upholstery. The instrument cluster is also backlit in white for a modern look.

Although the exterior dimensions of this vehicle are in general compact: 3.94m long and 1.71m wide – with a 10.8m turning circle, the new C3 offers a spacious and practical interior. For instance, it includes 300-litre boot which is among the largest in its class. The semi-high seats deliver easy access and give occupants a commanding view of their surroundings.

Furthermore, the unique Zenith windscreen included in the C3 provides greater visibility. In particular, it increases the upward field of vision for front passengers by 80° and when it is combined with ultra-slim pillars it gives a panoramic view of the road ahead. In addition, the screen will also offer to the occupants a solar protection at the top, which gradually merges into clear glass for an optimum field of vision.

What is more, the comfort of the driving experience is enhanced via the reversing camera and parking sensors. The convenience is increased via technology features such as an RD4 MP3 audio system, Connecting Box (Bluetooth hands-free kit, jack plug and USB socket), eMyWay navigation and a powerful HiFi System.

In terms of power, C3 has new-generation PureTech 3-cylinder petrol engines with a 1.0 or 1.2-litre capacity. Although lively and responsive to drive, they are also fuel and CO2 efficient. For example, the VTi 68 and VTi 82 PureTech engines achieve impressively low fuel consumption, between 62.8 and 65.7mpg, and CO2 emissions between 99 and 104g/km.

And in addition, 2014 Citroen C3 is to be offered with four diesel engines – HDi 70, e-HDi 70, HDi 90 and e-HDi 115. Three of them include micro-hybrid e-HDi technology with the Stop & Start system, thanks to which the C3 makes one of the best fuel efficiency and lowest CO2 emissions cars in its class.

Source: Citroen

February 22, 2013

2014 Audi A3 e-tron Delivers Efficiency And Innovation

2014 Audi A3 e-tron which will have a premiere in Geneva has an “electrified” drivetrain thanks to a plug-in hybrid technology. With 150 kW (204 hp) of system power and 350 Nm (258.15 lb-ft) of system torque, sporty performance is guaranteed.

Further details are that the car has a top speed of 222 km/h (137.94 mph), and sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 7.6 seconds. The five-door model consumes on average just 1.5 liters of fuel per 100 km and has CO2 emissions of 35 grams per km (56.33 g/mile).

When it operates in electric mode, the Audi A3 e-tron reaches a top speed of 130 km/h (80.78 mph) and has a maximum range of 50 km (31.07 miles). The combustion engine is a modified 1.4 TFSI that generates 110 kW (150 hp).

Moreover, a clutch links the TFSI to an electric motor with an output of 75 kW. The latter is integrated into a newly designed six-speed e-S tronic, which sends the power to the front wheels. It is important to mention that both motors work in cooperation. The electric one deliver a peak torque that starts from around 2000 rpm, and the TFSI’s maximum pulling power is available in a range from 1,750 to 4,000 rpm.

Of course, this Audi model can be driven with just the combustion engine, just the electric drive or in hybrid mode. In addition, the driver can choose to have both powerplants active at the same time (“boosting”). On the other hand when he or she lets up on the accelerator, they both deactivate temporarily (“gliding”) thus motor braking torque is eliminated and efficiency is enhanced.

Source: Audi

February 22, 2013

Launch Of The 1-litre Fuel Economy Volkswagen XL1

Volkswagen XL1 is releasing the most fuel efficient production car in its range of vehicles, which manifests into reality the 0.9 litre combined fuel consumption vision. This remarkable efficiency is due to its plug-in hybrid system.

This two-seater Volkswagen can also cover a distance of up to 50 km in all-electric mode and therefore delivers zero local emissions. The model is rebirth of a concept study and includes pure sports car design attributes such as low weight (795 kg), perfect aerodynamics (Cd 0.189) and a low centre of gravity (1,153 mm high).

This gives the XL1 the ability to run on the road at a constant speed of 100 km/h utilizing just 6.2 kW (8.4 hp). And in all-electric mode the car spends less than 0.1 kWh in covering a distance of over one kilometer.

The main attributes of this model are: high-tech lightweight design, perfect aerodynamics and a plug-in hybrid system. The latter comprises of a two-cylinder TDI engine (35 kW / 48 hp), E-motor (20 kW / 27 PS), 7-speed dual clutch gearbox (DSG) and lithium-ion battery. The XL1 is 3,888 mm long, 1,665 mm wide and just 1,153 mm tall.

They all contribute towards the CO2 emissions of just 21 g/km. The XL1 covers the acceleration sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.7 seconds on its way to the top speed of 160 km/h. Conceptually, the XL1 represents the third evolutionary stage of Volkswagen’s 1-litre car strategy.

Source: Volkswagen

February 22, 2013

2014 Volkswagen Golf GTD With Official Debut In Geneva

2014 Volkswagen Golf GTD will be officially revealed at the Geneva Motor Show on 5th of March. This historical model which made a revolution with its first appearance in 1982 is a compact hatchback with sporty tuning, and low diesel running costs.

Of course the 2014 GTD is based on the seventh generation Golf and consequently it combines performance with fuel-efficiency to make it a great long-distance touring car. The model is equipped with 2.0-litre common rail turbodiesel engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.

It generates 184 hp (135 kW) and 380 Nm (280 lb-ft) of torque from 1,750 rpm, and it consumes just one gallon of fuel every 67.3 miles, making for CO2 emissions of only 109 g/km. There is an optional gearbox – a six-speed DSG one, which has fuel consumption of 60.1 mpg (three-door: 119 g/km CO2; five-door: 122 g/km CO2).

The acceleration time for the GTD is 7.5 seconds for the sprint from 0 to 62 100 km/h. Furthermore, the Golf GTD comes with smoked LED rear lights with LED licence plate illumination, along with chrome dual tailpipes, 17-inch alloy wheels with 225/45 tyres, side skirts, a rear diffuser, sports suspension and a large roof spoiler.

Other distinctive GTD features are included in the interior: tartan sports seats, a black rooflining, sports steering wheel, stainless steel pedals, GTD-specific gear lever, trim strips and instrument cluster. There are also some interesting technology features such as: progressive steering, white ambience lighting, ‘Climatronic’ climate control, front and rear parking sensors and a winter pack.

2014 Volkswagen Golf GTD is available in Germany at an entry-level price of 29 350 euros.

Source: Volkswagen

February 22, 2013

Brabus Mercedes-Benz A200 CDI

Brabus has presented their tuning package for the new Mercedes-Benz A200 CDI. The small diesel-powered Mercedes comes with both – styling and performance upgrades.

Brabus A200 CDI is powered by a 1.8 liter four-cylinder diesel with 165HP (121 kW). This is an increase of 29HP, but nothing is mentioned about the torque, which is 300Nm (221 lb-ft) in stock variant. The new power is thanks to an ECU re-map.

The exterior boasts a new set of twin 10-spoke alloy wheels fitted with low-profile tires. There is also a twin dual-exhaust tail-pipes. The rims are finished in the same color as the body.

Nothing is mentioned about the prices.

Source: Brabus

February 21, 2013

Gemballa GT Spider based on McLaran 12C Convertible

Gemballa has introduced their latest project based on McLaren 12C Spider. The name of the project is GT Spider and it will be officially revealed at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

The sports car comes with a complete carbon fiber body kit including a new front bumper, a pair of modified side skirts and a new rear bumper. The car sits on GForged-One ultra-light alloy wheels fitted with performance tires. The dimensions are 20” at the front and 21” at the rear, and they can be finished in Black Magic or Gunmetal paint.

The interior boasts leather and Alcantara upholstery as well as a new instruments in different colors.

No words about performance modifications for the twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 engine that produces 625HP (460 kW). It is mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox. 0-100 km/h in 3.1 seconds and a top speed of 329 km/h (204 mph).

The styling package starts at €47,166.

Source: Gemballa

February 21, 2013

Category: Auto News