Category: Auto News

Auto news – automobile industry news. Articles about all the latest car models and concepts. Breaking news, uncovered secrets.

  • Avoiding winter car accidents: How safe is your car?

    Volvo C30 ElectricAdverse weather conditions can make driving in winter a risky business.

    Ice on the roads causes skids and slippage, snowstorms impair vision and sub-zero temperatures can make your car become temperamental. You should always leave plenty of time to make any journeys and drive more slowly than usual in winter.

    Leave plenty of space between you and other cars around you in case either you or they hit a patch of ice and skid. Be sure to check your car over frequently as you don’t want to be the cause of an accident.

    All cars must be fitted with seatbelts in the front by law, and most will have them in the back too. If you have children or frequent passengers, be sure your car has a proper shoulder belt in the middle of the back seat rather than just a lap belt.

    Airbags will cushion the impact of a collision but can be dangerous to children under 12 so always seat them in the back where possible.

    If you are planning on buying a new car this winter look for one with additional safety features such as ABS, all-wheel drive and electronic stability control. Generally heavier cars are safer for the occupants than lighter ones so it can be worth upgrading if you have a family.

    If you do still find yourself skidding remember to ease off on the pedals and steer gently into the skid to slow it down.

    In poor weather it is vital to pay attention not only to your own driving but also to anticipate what other cars may do. Don’t ever get too close to another car if the roads are icy as you or they could easily skid and cause a collision.

    Be especially wary of anyone driving at speed and remember that just because you drive safely doesn’t mean you are safe from other drivers.

    Don’t let festive high spirits tempt you into having just one more drink for the road. Drink driving is dangerous at any time of year, but you especially need all your wits about you when the roads are iced over.

    If you do find yourself a victim of someone else’s careless driving this winter and suffer whiplash or any other medical injury, my recommendation is to contact a leading medical solicitor .

  • Car buying trends 2012

    2014 Ford FiestaWith less than a month remaining of 2012, the motoring industry is starting to reflect on what cars have proved to be the most popular with consumers looking for something new or used.  Whether customers want something new or a used Audi from VCARS.co.uk, in these austere times, they want value for money, and the fact that many new cars that have sold well are smaller, more efficient models shows how much people want to drive on the cheap.

    Some of the most popular new cars sold in 2012 are small city cars and superminis. The Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa are two good examples. Given their size, they cost less to buy, but they tend to offer drivers much more in terms of savings than a lower price tag. Smaller cars use less petrol, which at a time when fuel is becoming more expensive by the day is very useful. Meanwhile, small cars also tend to cost less in terms of tax.

    As well as smaller new cars, used cars are also growing in popularity. As companies like VCARS sell used cars at great prices, the temptation for motorists who don’t mind buying second-hand is great to say the least. You could get a car that has everything you could ask for – great fuel economy, plenty of space, comfort and equipment plus a smooth ride for a fraction of the price of a new model.

    If the economy improves over the course of 2013, there’s a chance that more people will be buying new. However, any new models that are bought are likely to be more fuel-efficient. Hybrids and electric cars are likely to grow in popularity, especially if the price of petrol and diesel continues to increase at its current rate. However, with many drivers with their eyes on the pennies, they’re likely to continue to buy thriftily.

  • Audi R8 China Edition – Malibu Blue or Suzuka Grey

    Audi has presented the 2012 R8 China Edition. The car will be sold exclusively in China and it will feature some nice upgrades.

    The exterior will be finished only in Malibu Blue or Suzuka Grey. The R8 China Edition will also have contrasting side blades, a carbon fiber rear wing and gloss black 19” alloy wheels fitted with performance tires.

    The interior boasts leather and Alcantara sport seats, an Alcantara steering wheel and body color accents. There are also a lot of carbon fiber elements like side mouldings. Each R8 China Edition will have an individually-serial numbered aluminum gear knob.

    2012 Audi R8 China Edition is powered by the same 5.2 liter V10 from Gallardo – 525HP (386 kW) and 530Nm (391 lb-ft) of torque. It is mated to a R-tronic automatic transmission and the power is put on the road through quattro all-wheel drive system. 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) – electronically limited.

    Only 80 units will be produced.

    Source: Audi

  • 2013 Volkswagen eco Up! – Price €12,950

    Volkswagen has announced the new 2013 eco Up!, which will join the range of small cars by the manufacturer. It is available as 3- or 5-door hatchback and the prices start from €12,950 in Germany and it will be eligible for rebates in excess of €1,000.

    The new eco Up! is powered by a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine that has been specially modified to run on natural gas. The engine has 68HP (50 kW) and 90Nm (66 lb-ft) of torque. 0-100 km/h in 16.3 seconds and a top speed of 164 km/h (102 mph). However, this car is not about performance, it is about savings and going cheap. Furthermore, the new eco Up! has an engine start/stop system, regenerative brakes and low-rolling resistance tires. This means an average 2.9 kg of natural gas/100 km and have CO2 emissions of 79 g/km.

    Volkswagen estimates the cost of traveling 100 km (62 miles) in Germany would only be about €3 using natural gas. This is a perfect value for money and still you have air conditioning, navigation system and power windows. In other words, there is enough comfort in this small car and awesome fuel consumption.

    The car has three fuel tanks: two for natural gas and one for petrol. The overall range is 600 km (373 miles) – 380km on CNG and around 220km on petrol.

    Volkswagen also offers five natural gas powered vehicles in various classes: the Caddy 2.0 EcoFuel, the extended Caddy Maxi 2.0 EcoFuel (109 HP), the Touran 1.4 TSI EcoFuel, the Passat and Passat Estate 1.4 TSI EcoFuel (150 HP).

    In the upcoming year, the new Golf will also debut in an EcoFuel version. In this vehicle, Volkswagen is offering one of the world’s most versatile natural gas vehicle programmes.

    Source: Volkswagen

  • BMW E92 M3 DTM Champion Edition – Price €99,000

    BMW M GmbH is celebrating returning to the DTM with E92 M3 DTM Champion Edition. This happens after almost 20 years away, and the results in its comeback year exceeded all expectations. Canadian driver Bruno Spengler won the drivers’ title, BMW Team Schnitzer finished in top spot in the team standings, and BMW claimed the manufacturers’ honours.

    This special-edition model is available exclusively in Frozen Black metallic, while the carbon flaps and gurney, various dark chrome elements, matt black wheels and sections of the race car’s livery also betray its close links with the triumphant BMW M3 DTM. The theme is continued by the BMW M stripe design over the CFRP roof and boot lid, BMW M logo to the rear of the front wheel arches and decals in the rear side windows.

    The interior boasts door sill strips replicate Spengler’s helmet design and the carbon-fibre interior trim strip bears the newly crowned champion’s signature and the car’s serial number. The special-edition model also contains various exclusive interior additions, such as the Alcantara steering wheel, handbrake lever embroidered with “M Power” lettering, and extended black Novillo leather trim with features in contrasting Palladium Silver.

    The sports car is powered by the famous 4.0 liter hi-revving V8 – 420HP (309 kW) and 400Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque. It is connected to an M DCT (M Double Clutch Transmission). 0-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) – electronically limited.

    The special edition M3 will hit the market in February, 2013. Only 54 units will be built and the pricing starts at €99,000.

    Source: BMW

  • SR Auto Ferrari 458 Italia Reaches China

    SR-Auto-Ferrari-458-Italia-THUMBUndeniably one of the most desirable cars in the world is the famous Italian one called Ferrari. Enthusiasts from all around the world appreciate the iconic brand regardless of their timezone, culture or ethnicity.

    What we have today is a breath-taking tuning on the Ferrari 458 Italia. The car’s naturally-aspirated, direct-injection 4.5 litre V8 engine produces 578 horsepower (425 kW) at 540 Nm (398 lb-ft) of torque. This makes it effortless for it to reach a maximum speed of 320 km/h (198 mph).

    Another important number here is the acceleration time which this Ferrari has for the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h and it is under 3.4 seconds. In fact, the engine it utilizes was nominated as the 2011 International Engine of the Year for its engineering excellence in terms of driveability, performance, economy and refinement.

    The power of the 458 Spider is transferred to the road by Ferrari’s class-leading dual-clutch F1 paddle-shift transmission through the sophisticated E-Diff, itself integrated with the F1-Trac traction control and high-performance ABS for maximum handling dynamics.

    A very special client of the tuning company SR Auto coming all the way from China expressed his wish to modify his Ferrari 458. And it was immediately equipped with PUR 4OUR Monoblock Wheels in sizes 21×9 +38 for the front and 21×12.5 +56 for the rear. All are “dressed” in Modern Black color.

    Source: SR Auto

  • Facelifted: Rieger BMW 1er Coupe

    Rieger-BMW-1er-Coupe-THUMBRieger BMW 1er Coupe has new looks and the responsibility for this is only attributed to the German tuning company Rieger. The team developed an aerodynamic bodykit with a powerful upgrade for the already sporty bavarian.

    Originally, the BMW model generates 326PS (240 kW) from its 3.0 liter twin-turbo six-cylinder engine. The power unit is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

    But going straight to the point, the Rieger bodykit consist on a front bumper with splitter, side skirts and a rear skirt, which are available in ABS/Carbon-Look. All RIEGER prarts are delivered with mounting equipment and MOT certificates.

    In addition, in terms of suspension optimization, Rieger chose the familiar KW coilover suspension kit. An optimum grip is provided by the 19 inch BBS CH-R wheels with Hankook S1-Evo tyres.

    Source: Rieger

  • SchwabenFolia Volkswagen Golf VI R With Invisibility Cloak

    SchwabenFolia-Volkswagen-Golf-VI-R-THUMBAnother tuning of Volswagen Golf VI R worth seeing is the SchwabenFolia Volkswagen Golf VI R. This time the people who made the transformation are those from car foiling company SchwabenFolia.

    First of al they have increased the power of the Volkswagen, which originally generated 270 hp (199 kW) and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque, and now is enhanced with the additional 60 hp to now 330 hp (243 kW).

    A significant share of this power increase also has the customized handmade exhaust system with a 90 mm tube from turbo by F-Town Street Machines. In particular, the exhaust has two Capristo exhaust valves, which are controlled by the MFA XP in the speedometer. The system has a name which is Atomic Warbird and produces the impressive 130 dB.

    Moreover, the vehicle is further equipped with the adaptive electric chassis control DCC, and it has been brought closer to the ground thanks to an H & R lowering. What catches the attention the most are the CH wheels in the dimension of 8×19 inches in powder Dormant Fire Red High Gloss with 235/35-19 Dunlop tires. Eventually, SchwabenFolia wrapped the car with foil in Urban Taupe Matt Metallic by PWF (Platinum Wrapping Film).

    Source: Miranda Media

  • Electrified: Cam Shaft Volkswagen Golf VI R

    Cam-Shaft-Volkswagen-Golf-VI-R-THUMBCam Shaft Volkswagen Golf VI R originally came from the factory with its 4-cylinder engine along with an exhaust turbocharger, which generated up to 270 hp (199 kW) as well as 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque.

    The specialist from Cam Shaft has transformed this Volkswagen into an artistic object. First, they have cooperated with the firm MTB-vehicle engineering which tuned the engine’s performance and it is now increased to 325 hp (240 kW) and 430 Nm (317 lb-ft) of torque. They have done this with their own software optimization level 2.

    Secondly, platinum spark plugs and a downpipe including Sportkat make their essential contribution to the furious forward thrust of the power machine. Next, F2000 brake discs by Tarox and sport brake pads serve perfectly in powerful and effective way.

    Furthermore, the springs by H & R and the Ultraleggera rims by OZ with adequate tires are those who connect the vehicle to the road. And at last, the foil called Electric Orange by BRUXSAFOL, brings about the last detail here, which makes this a special type of camouflage design stretching from the A-pillar towards the vehicle rear.

    Source: Miranda Media

  • Hennessey Venom GT: 0-370 km/h [video]

    Hennessey has released a new clip, where their Venom GT does 370 km/h. The acceleration is sensational. The small car is way faster than Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport.

    Venom GT is based on Lotus Exige, but with enormous twin-turbo 6.2 liter V8 with whopping 1217PS (895 kW) and 1564Nm (1155 lb-ft). The engine is mated to a 6-speed Ricardo manual gearbox. The car weighs just 1220kg (2585 lbs), so the performance is more like a level 5 twister. 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 443 km/h (275 mph). 0-200 km/h in 7.96 seconds and 0-300 km/h in 13.5 seconds.

    The price is $950 000. Not bad for a tuned Exige.

    httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=turV3v9RYeU

    Source: HPEdesign via Youtube

  • 2013 Maserati Quattroporte – 409HP and 550Nm

    Maserati has finally revealed full information about the new 2013 Quattroporte. It will be available with two petrol engines.

    The first is a V6 twin-turbocharged direct-injected 3.0 liter with 409HP (301 kW) and 550Nm (406 lb-ft) at 5,500RPM of torque at 1,750RPM. 0-100 km/h in 5.1 seconds and a top speed of 285 km/h (177 mph). The more powerful V8 twin-turbocharged direct-injected 3.8 liter delivers 530HP (390 kW) at 6,500RPM and 650Nm (479 lb-ft) of torque at 2,000RPM or 710Nm with overboost function. 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 309 km/h (191 mph).

    Both engines will be manufactured by Ferrari and coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The power is put on the road through RWD for the V8 model and AWD for the V6 variant. Under normal driving this all-wheel drive system sends 100% of power to the rear axle, but if necessary it can transfer up to half of that to the front wheels.

    The new Quattroporte is now just 1860 kg (4,101 lbs) with V6 and 1900 kg (4189 lbs) with V8 engine.

    The car is riding on an all-new Skyhook suspension featuring front control arms, adjustable dampers and a rear multilink. It benefits from a speed-sensitive hydraulic steering system developed by TRW.

    Price list will be soon available.

    Source: Maserati

  • BMW 4-Series Coupe Concept – F32

    BMW has finally released some pictures of the new 4-Series Coupe Concept. As we know, several BMW Concepts were released without any changes neither exterior nor interior. The 4-Series Coupe Concept will be the new F32 in BMW’s model range. The car is expected to go on sale next year as 2014 model.

    The two-door version of 3-Series Saloon (the F30) is much more aggressive. It features new headlights, sloping roof and low rear end. The sleek and sporty design immediately catches the eye. We thought that the old 3-Series coupe – the E92 is one of the best looking cars in the world, but this is even better. Hopefully, BMW doesn’t ruin it with major changes.

    The interior is pretty nice, too. Of course, considering that is the top-of-range model – Sport leather individual seats, sport individual steering wheel, SAT NAV and iDrive, two-zone climate control and many more.

    There is no information about the engines, but according to history they will be exactly the same like in the F30.

    Stay tuned for full information!

    Source: BMW