Auto News – Page 766 – Automobiles Review

2013 Lexus CT 200h Advance – The better choice!

Lexus has introduced the new 2013 CT 200h Advance, a model that comes with a prestige equipment specification at a high value price.

Practically, this model is just above the regular SE trim level. The CT 200h Advance has enhanced equipment list that includes a new integrated satellite navigation system, cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, a folding function for the electrically adjustable door mirrors, reversing camera, auto-dimming rear-view mirror with integrated parking monitor and metallic paint.

All these extras come at the superb price of just £500 above the regular SE – £24,495.

The model also features Tahara, which is a supple and durable new upholstery that is an attractive alternative to leather. It weighs half as much leather and is less harmful to the environment to make, generating 65% less CO₂ and no potentially damaging volatile organic compounds.

The Celestial Black paint is exclusive to the Advance. According to the colour chosen, the Tahara trim can be specified in black or tan.

In other respects the Advance mirrors the CT 200h SE specification, with premium features such as dual-zone climate control, push button start, Bluetooth, fog lights, rear privacy glass, 17” alloy wheels and a six-speaker audio system with USB port.

The CT 200h Advance can be specified with smaller, 16” alloy wheels at no extra cost. As an option, the car can be specified with front and rear PDC (park-distance control) and a DAB digital tuner.

Source: Lexus

November 7, 2012

Petrolicious: Mercedes-Benz 220SE and Family History [VIDEO]

A strange family tradition was inherited in Mark Markoff’s family, since his father – Don, had a very unusual and yet one of the best hobbies – to collect valuable cars. One such example is the 1960 Mercedes-Benz 220SE, which Don bought for the mother of Mark in 1963.

Back then the Mercedes was pricing was $3100 – an amount of money, which today we can barely imagine giving for a new car. Nevertheless, back in the days this was a lot of money and only a few could drive beauties like this convertible.

And this particular model is probably one of the most special ones in the collection of Don, because it is attached to so much family history and so many precious and unforgettable moments.

But behind the passion around expensive cars was something more profound – Don’s interest in how the Mercedes was created – handmade and with great deal of craftsmanship. In fact, in his opinion, the quality made it a life-time car carrying a life-time style.

But to go further into details the production f 220SE began in 1960, however first with the coupe model, which had its first appearance in February 1961. The convertible showed up few months later and was almost the same as the coupe version, however equipped with soft-top roof.

Under the hood of this cabrio was 2496 cm3 M129 engine, which was able to generate 150 horsepower (110 kW) at 5500 rpm. This made it very easy for the car to have an acceleration time of 12 seconds from standstill to 100 km/h, on its way to a top speed of 193 km/h (120 mph).

httpv://vimeo.com/52428288

Video Source: Vimeo

November 7, 2012

BMW is The Most Reliable Brand in the UK for 2012

BMW is the most reliable car company in the UK… and not only there. Still, this is according to a survey of the 50 largest contract hire and leasing companies in the country.

BMW has repeated its double victory in the 2011 FN50 survey coming top as most reliable car manufacturer as well as having three cars in the top 10 with first place taken by the 3-Series. Other premium models have also moved up – the VW Golf is one place higher and the third-place Audi A4 is five positions higher than in 2011.

The BMW 1-Series and Ford Focus scored equal points to achieve joint 8^th place, while the final place in the top 10 is taken by the BMW 5-Series, proving the latest version of the car is as reliable as its predecessor.

Tim Abbott, managing director at BMW UK commented:

“To have three of our biggest selling cars in the top ten is a fantastic achievement and our customers will take great heart from realising they not only drive a class-leading car in terms of efficiency and driving pleasure but also one that is the most reliable too”.

2012 Top 10 most reliable cars: (2011 position in brackets)
1 BMW 3 series (1)
2 Volkswagen Golf (3)
3 Audi A4 (8)
4 Honda Civic (-)
5 Honda Accord (2)
6 Mercedes-Benz C-Class (-)
7 Audi A3 (4)
8= BMW 1 Series (-)
8= Ford Focus (-)
10 BMW 5 Series (10)

2012 Top 10 most reliable car manufacturers: (2011 position in brackets)
1 BMW (1)
2 Audi (2)
3 Honda (3)
4 Volkswagen (4)
5 Toyota (5)
6 Ford (8)
7 Skoda (10)
8 Mercedes-Benz (7)
9 Nissan (6)
10 Volvo (-)

Source: BMW

November 7, 2012

Teaser: DMC Lamborghini Aventador Limited Edition

I am always happy to see a new coming project especially from luxury tuners such as DMC. They have just released a teaser image of their new undertake on the Lamborghini Aventador.

Unfortunately no other details have been unveiled yet. They will be disclosed few days before the official launch. In fact, I am sure that we are going to see something profound! Because this is the company which has become famous for their Lamborghini modifications sent.

Furthermore, this Limited Edition project will be probably based on the LP700 or LP900. The teaser doesn’t show a clear picture but focuses on the front bumper, which shows elements of Lamborghini‘s “J” Roadster that was shown in Geneva earlier this year.

The latest modification of DMC was DMC Lamborghini Aventador LP-900 Molto Veloce which is equipped with combination of aerodynamic Carbon Fiber parts including diffusers, lips, and spoilers, exhaust system of Titanium and have received a staggering 900 hp (662 kW) Engine Performance upgrade.

Source: DMC

November 7, 2012

Arden Range Rover AR7 Special Edition

Arden Range Rover AR7 Special Edition is the latest transformation by the Krefeld-based German specialist from Arden. They have put efforts on the premium Range Rover and made it look more individual and sportier than before. For this purpose they have equipped the famous SUV with their AR& Highlander premium kit.

As a matter of fact this is an aerodynamic package, which comprises of entirely redesigned front and rear aprons, side skirts as well as handcrafted stainless steel-grilles with the exclusive Arden mesh design.

Adding to this, the set is completed by the 22” sportline wheels with 295/35R22 tires or alternatively the 22”Dakar II wheel as well as sport mufflers. They ensure optimal handling and are matched with a high-performance brake system and an electronic suspension module.

Source: Arden

November 7, 2012

2012 Vauxhall Insignia VXR SuperSport Realizes Performance Potential

2012 Vauxhall Insignia VXR SuperSport is the high-performance replacement for the 325 hp (240 kW) Insignia VXR model. The new car generates more power and achieves great top speed. It does not include a speed-limiter which means that it car realize its true performance potential.

Some details however, are differentiating the SuperSport model from the VXR. The visual identifiers like blue ‘Brembo’ lettering on its front brake callipers and additional increments on its speedometer offer subtle hints about the car’s giant-slaying intent.

The new performance potential of the Insignia, combined with adaptive’s all-wheel-drive chassis deliver perfect driving enjoyment and haven’t been put to better utilization. In addition, this Vauxhall is fitted with HiPerStrut front suspension, which maintains negative camber, thus enhancing grip levels in wet and dry conditions.

This of course makes the SuperSport’s handling safe and rewarding for all enthusiast drivers. Next, Vauxhall’s adaptive damping system, named FlexRide comes here as a standard, and comes with a VXR setting for enhanced controllability at higher speeds.

More importantly is to mention where this car draws its power from. Well, the engine under the hood is the 2.8-litre V6 Turbo ECOTEC one, with a micro-alloy forged steel crank, classic 60-degree cylinder angle and die-cast alloy sump. In fact, these are the main features, one can find on many race engines.

This powerful unit produces up to 325 hp (240 kW) and uses a single, twin-scroll turbocharger and variable valve control for quick throttle response. Acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h is achieved in just 5.6 seconds.

Source: Vauxhall

November 7, 2012

2013 Maserati Quattroporte: The best of Italian design

Maserati has announced the new 2013 Quattroporte. The high-performance sports luxury saloon that reinterprets the design features of classic Maseratis in a contemporary design language.

It boasts generous size and has a design that is at once graceful and sinuous, fashioned to bring out the sporty nature of the car.

The interior is spectacular, but still stresses on the simplicity of lines and the full functionality of the on-board instrumentation. Functional elements are blended with soft quality surfaces made of prestigious woods and refined leathers.

The 2013 Quattroporte boasts nice refined technical solutions, an explicit attention to the most challenging targets in terms of performance, comfort, efficiency and safety. All these features are the key elements of the all-new Maserati Quattroporte.

The car will come with reworked chassis, weight reduction and ergonomic enhancement.

The result is the all-new Maserati Quattroporte, a luxury sports saloon that reaches new heights in terms of performance and handling, driving enjoyment as well as respect of the world we live in: the best performance ever in the long history of Maserati’s four-door flagship saloon is matched by the unprecedented success in the quest for a more fuel efficient automobile.

Source: Maserati

November 6, 2012

Desert Warrior 3 – Off-road Monster

The new Desert Warrior 3 off-road race car was delivered just ahead of Bonfire Night. The beast boasts nice satin black paint and some nice upgrades improving the performance. There were certainly fireworks as the team put the new car through its paces during a 2-day shakedown in Holland over the weekend.

Desert Warrior 3 is powered by a 3.0 litre diesel engine with 275HP (202kW) and 850Nm (630 lb-ft) of torque. The engine has FIA restrictor. The power is put on the road through 6-speed sequential gearbox.

The suspension includes 8 Reiger coilvers and the wheel/tyre set includes 16”Compomotive Atacama Rally Raid wheels fitted with BF Goodrich Desert Race G series.

The fuel tanks is 260 liters and the total weight of the race car is 1900kg.

Check out the full specs below!

Technical specifications:

Engine:	Diesel 3.0 litre 275 Hp / 850 Nm with FIA restrictor.
Transmission:	6-speed sequential gearbox
Dampers:	8 x Reiger coilovers.
Wheels:	16” Comp.omotive Atacama Rally Raid wheels
Tyres:	BF Goodrich Desert Race G series.
Fuel Tank:	260 Litres.
Length:	3.8 m.
Width:	2.0 m.
Height:	1.9 m.
Wheel Base:	2.8 m.
Weight:	1,900 Kg.

Special features:
CCV (Corner Control Valve). This is a Reiger patented system which detects whether you are on a straight or in a corner. In a corner it makes the compression damping of the outer wheel stiffer so that you have less roll. This allows you to run a softer anti-roll bar or even no anti roll bar because this system does take over a part of the anti-roll bar function.

RCV (Rebound Control Valve) This system is developed to gain more grip. It detects if the wheels are on the ground or not. If not, it softens the rebound damping so that the wheel drops quicker.

LCV (Lateral Control Valve) This Reiger-patented system detects, during compression, if this compression is caused by the wheel that is going up or the chassis that is going down. If the chassis is going down, because for instance you jump into a hole, it further stiffens the compression damping. This allows you to run a softer, more comfortable basic damper setup.

HPDP (Hydraulic Progressive Double Piston) This is a double piston system with a damper that has a speed-dependant characteristic. On an impact with high damper speed, the double piston damping will be stiffer than with a low damper speed. The double piston comes in earlier with a high damper speed than with a low damper speed.

Source: Land Rover

November 6, 2012

2012 Gran Turismo Top 3: Audi RS6, BMW M6 and Chrysler 300C SRT

The latest video from Dragtimesinfo includes some races from 2012 Gran Turismo Top 3. The fastest vehicles of 2012 in this class are Audi RS6, BMW M6 and Chrysler 300C SRT, of course tuned ones.

The first start is between the 300C SRT-8 Supercharger (NOS) with 880HP and a powerful 2012 Mercedes-Benz CL600 Kleemann Stage 2 with 700HP. The Mercedes made awesome start, but the Chrysler caught it quickly and finished the 1 mile race in just 28.086 seconds with 315.23 km/h.

The seconds start is between Porsche 911 Turbo (996) 9ff with 900HP and BMW M6 ESS (NOS) with 900HP. This time the Porsche won the race with 27.035 seconds and 310.61 km/h compared to the 27.978 seconds and 304.31 km/h for the BMW.

The last start is between Audi RS6 Sportmile 800 with 800HP and Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 SL with 570HP. The Audi obliterated the Lamborhigni. The time of the RS6 is 27.309 seconds with 304.05 km/h.

Check out the full video and comments below.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHqIwrcOF0k

November 6, 2012

Distinctive Styling: Oettinger Volkswagen Golf VII

Oettinger Volkswagen Golf VII has been equipped with new aerodynamic package which gives the newly announced Golf VII more sports presence and faster acceleration. The VII version of the iconic car was introduced exactly 2 months ago and it is more than a good surprise to know that the specialist from Oettinger have already done enhancements on it.

The improvement program, named “small solution” comprises of two piece front spoiler with a splitter, side skirts and a rear apron insert with diffuser. In addition, a powerful engine conversion has also been done.

In particular, the range between 260 and 360 hp for the GTI gets an increase of at least 30 hp for the two 2.0 TDI engine. The output of the 1.6 TDI engine can be increased from 90 to 110 hp and from 105 to 125 hp.

Furthermore, the tuning company will offer an explicitly motorsport orientated accessory programme for the Volkswagen. In particular it will include wheel arch extensions, sports exhausts, adjustable suspensions, intercoolers, air intakes with sport filters, limited slip differentials, uprated clutches and brakes.

The last highlight here is that the new ultra light Oettinger 10 spoke sports rim will also be featured in this tuning, however – later in 2013. Although developed especially for competition applications it will be applied to the Golf VII as well.

Source: Oettinger

November 6, 2012

D2Forged Audi TT-S XL3 Shows More Aggressive Stance

D2Forged Audi TT-S XL3 is another example of how a unique challenge can be conquered. The specialist from D2Forged Wheels had this custom wheel order where they had to bring out the true spirit of the popular Audi model.

The TT-S comes equipped with a powerful 2.0 liter TFSI engine, which helps the vehicle to generate 200 kW (272 hp). This catapults the Coupe with S tronic dual-clutch transmission from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in just 5.2 seconds and on up to a governed top speed of 250 km/h (155.34 mph). The maximum torque here is of 350 Nm (258.15 lb-ft) and it is constantly on tap from 2,500 up to 5,000 rpm.

The huge calipers, high offset, the complex AWD system and dual clutch transmission of this Audi model fit perfectly to the stance and improved dynamic performance, which D2Forged Wheels have additionally given it.

The first challenge here was to match the caliper size and high offset. Here the perfect choice was to give the car a XL Series of D2Forged Wheels as they provide a 1.0″ deeper lip compared to the classic FMS Series profile and also yields increased caliper clearance.

A staggered outer lip and more aggressive stance were achieved via wider rear tires on the AWD system. Final details are: 19×9.0″ – 2.0″ for the front lip and 19×9.0″ – 3.0″ for the rear lip.

Source: D2Forged

November 6, 2012

Prior-Design Gives Audi TT 8J New Aerodynamic-Kit

Prior-Design Audi TT 8J is one of the latest transformations from the talented tuners from Prior-Design. What they have done here is to enhance this astonishing Audi model with new Aerodynamic-kit and thus making it lighter, faster and more appealing to all those who are keen on unforgettable driving experiences.

To be more precise the complete aerodynamic package for TT 8J is made from DURA-FLEX. This is a high quality material, characterized by excellent surface structure. In addition it delivers sufficient flexibility and stability. Furthermore, it makes the aerodynamic parts easy paintable.

For the package to fit perfectly, the original series front grill must be adapted to the bumper. To go even further into details, the Aerodynamic-kit comprises of: Prior-Design Audi TT 8J front bumper, Prior-Design Audi TT 8J rear bumper, Prior-Design Audi TT 8J side skirts bumper, mounting material and included TÜV parts certificate.

Source: Prior-Design

November 6, 2012

Category: Auto News