Auto News – Page 847 – Automobiles Review

2013 Nissan GT-R R35 – 10.87 seconds at 1/4 Mile with 201 km/h

You may say – “Oh, another GT-R in the 10 seconds… it’s not a big deal”, but you’ll be wrong. It is a real deal ,because this 2013 GT-R does 10.87 seconds at ? mile with 201 km/h (125 mph) terminal speed in stock variant. That’s right, nothing has been improved on this car and still it goes insanely fast.

The previous record for stock GT-R was slightly above 11 seconds on 1/4 mile, but this one is amazing. Furthermore, the 0 to 60 mph time is 2.7 seconds and the 60-130 mph in 8.89 seconds. All these figures are recorded by a special Racelogic VBOX measuring tool.

2013 Nissan GT-R R35 is powered by a VR38DETT engine – a 3.8 liter twin-turbocharged V6 with 550HP (400 kW) at 6400 RPM and 632Nm (466 lb-ft) of torque at 3200RPM. The top speed is 315 km/h (196 mph).

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilYkIC1oJ4o

Source: Dragtimes via Youtube

2013 Nissan GT-R Stock runs 10.87 @ 125 MPH Drag Racing 1/4 Mile

April 26, 2012

2012 Mercedes-Benz ML 250 [HD video]

The entry level ML 250 is powered by a 2.1 liter four-cylinder diesel with 204HP (150 kW) and 500Nm (369 lb-ft). It is mated to a 7G-Tronic automatic gearbox delivering the power to an all-wheel drive system.

The new M-Class has a selective damping suspension, while the Airmatic self-leveling air suspension and an Active Curve System with dynamic roll stabilization is available as an option. The SAV equipped with this is a real pleasure to drive.

The safety is at extemely high level – Night View Assist Plus including pedestrian recognition, Speed Limit Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Assist, Active Park Assist and Distronic Plus and some other intersting systems.

Although the big SUV weighs 2.2 tons, the performance is at decent level as well as the fuel consumption. Check out the video below to see the test.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaboGMXREJ8

2012 Mercedes-Benz M-Class:

	ML 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC	ML 300 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY 4MATIC (Predecessor)	ML 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC	ML 350 CDI 4MATIC (Predecessor)
Number of cylinders	4	6	6	6
Displacement cc	2143	2987	2987	2987
Rated ouput hp	204	204	258	231
Max torque Nm	500	500	620	540
NEDC combined mpg CO₂ / km	43.4 – 47.0 158	31.4 – 33.6 224	38.1 – 41.5 179	30.0 – 31.8 235-246
Acceleration 0 – 62 mph s	9.0	8.3	7.4	7.6
Top speed mph	130	130	139	136
Emissions standard	EU6	EU5	EU6	EU5

Source: Autocar co uk via Youtube

April 26, 2012

Nissan GT-R Track Pack – Less is More

If anything can put a smile on the face of a hardcore track day enthusiast, it’s going to be a Nissan GT-R. More so even if that GT-R happens to be a Track Pack edition. That’s the latest to come out from Nissan and it is design to shed precious seconds on the racing track. At the same time, it still has to be able to take you home trough the public roads – tricky. Most importantly, all is made by people from Nissan with the blessing of the car’s creator – Kazutoshi Mizuno.

Let’s start from the very foundation of the Track Pack – six-spoke RAYS alloy wheels that weigh 10 kg less than the ones found on a standard GT-R. Cooling ducts carved trough the front splitter reduce can reduce the operating temperature of the brake discs by as much as 100 degrees while on the run. Air is also channeled towards the back.

The suspension has been stiffened up which aids stability and rigidity. The Nissan engineers should know since the Track Pack GT-R has been developed on the premiss of the Nürbergring – the best place in the world to test out a track-focused vehicle. Now that ride home may not sound like much of a bargain but Nissan say that with the flick of a switch the dampers can start acting as if they had been filled with whipped cream.

Inside, one won’t find the rear seats nor the front ones in fact (the standard ones that is). You only get two sports seat wrapped in something called “magic cloth” – blue-on-grey fabric and leather that prevents you from slipping out upon experiencing the notorious GT-R lateral forces. If, by any chance you fail to notice all of those deviations, an emblem sits on the dashboard just to let you know that you are in fact, in a Track-Pack.

On the other hand, despite looking like a hardcore, medieval torture chamber, it still has a Bose audio system and a rear-view camera. Nobody has dared to fiddle with the oily bits as well, most probably because they are perfect already – 550PS power output, and a 0-62 time of just 2.8 seconds is pretty much self explanatory.

The Track Pack is only available in the UK and Japan, and is priced at £10,000 ($16,187) more than the standard £74,450 ($120,512) GT-R.

Source: Nissan

April 26, 2012

Honda Develops Technology to Detect the Potential for Traffic Congestion

Apparently Honda have figured out a way to keep us out of traffic jams. Actually, they want to prevent jams from happening in the first place. The plan is to introduce an already developed system, first of it’s kind according to Honda, which can “determine whether the driving pattern of the vehicle is likely to create traffic jams”. Well that’s easy – if the car is moving, you’re okay. If not, you’re stuck. After figuring out that the acceleration and deceleration of a single vehicle may influence the whole traffic stream, Honda and the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Tokyo started conducting tests. The initial results showed that with the system the voyaging vehicle’s average speed was increased by around 23% while the fuel efficiency was up by 8% when trailing. Public road testing is to be commenced next month in Italy and Indonesia.

So how does it work? Well, the system monitors the acceleration and deceleration patterns of the vehicle to determine whether the driver’s driving pattern is likely to create traffic congestion. If the car knows what’s going to happen next, maybe the driver can do something about it to prevent it. Information is being fed trough a color-coded display on the on-board terminal.

Even further than that, by connecting the on-board terminals to Honda’s cloud servers, the drive can be aware of and in sync with the driving patterns of vehicles by activating the ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control at the right time to maintain a constant distance from the other back ends.

Honda-congestion-prevenetion-medium — Honda congestion prevenetion principle

If this turns out to be a successful endeavor, finally we will see the fuel efficiency battle on two fronts – one is the stop/start function which is designed to relief the effects of congestion while this would be a preventative measure. The traffic does affect CO2 emissions, time and mileage. It also creates possible bumper-to-bumper accident risks.

Source: Honda

April 26, 2012

JNCAP Five Star Award for the Subaru Legacy

The Subaru Legacy’s appeal has grown as news came about a “JNCAP Five Star Award”. The acronym there stands for Japan New Car Assessment Program. It’s annually held by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the National Agency for Automotive Safety and Vicitim’s Aid. It’s basically a parallel to the Euro NCAP.

The five star award is usually given to the car that performs best in terms of safety performance. A segment from the test even includes an assessment of how safe are the pedestrian’s legs after a collision.

Here’s how the Legacy scored:

Full-wrap frontal collision test: Driver’s seat – Level 5 (highest rating)／Passenger’s seat – Level 5 (highest rating)

Offset frontal collision test: Driver’s seat – Level 5 (highest rating)／Rear seat – Level 4

Side collision test: Driver’s seat – Level 5 (highest rating)

Neck injury protection for rear-end collision performance test: Driver’s seat – Level 4 (highest rating)／Passenger’s seat – Level 4 (highest rating)

Pedestrian head protection performance tests: Level 5 (highest rating)

Pedestrian legs protection performance tests: Level 4 (highest rating)

This is not the first time a Legacy delights the JNCAP officials. In ’09/’10 it was proved to be the best Grand Prix safety car. 2 years before that, the Impreza held the same title. Also, in 2009, the Subaru Forester and Exiga were crowned “Ecvellent Cars”

So then, the Legacy is proving itself to be quite a character. Rigid enough to hold on to its paint work yet kind the fragile bones of the pedestrians. Not to mention all the clever gizmos inside that prevent it from crashing in the first place. And don’t worry about the weight of the thing. We are pretty sure that at the very least, the 2.5-liter boxer engine under the hood provides more than enough oomph.

Source: Subaru

April 26, 2012

2013 Volkswagen Lavida with a world debut

2013 Volkswagen Lavida is showcased for the first time at Auto China 2012. At the auto show it made its firs global appearance with its clean design and sharp body lines.

The styling of this Volkswagen vehicle fully incorporates powerful, contemporary and sporty design philosophy. The Lavida is going to be offered in three engine versions and four equipment lines.

The engine choices will be the 2.0-liter, 1.6-liter and a 1.4-liter turbo motor. The last one is able to develop 140 horsepower (103 kW).

In addition, all versions of this model will come with a front-wheel drive. The transmition included will be either the manual six-speed gear-box or Volkswagen’s famous seven-speed dual-clutch system.

In particular, the base version comes with standard safety features as ABS, ESP and front airbags. Of course, it also offers a timeless design, spaciousness and high-quality craftsmanship.

However, additional details on specification, price lease or official launch of the new model, haven’t been yet released.

More information is expected to come out prior to the launch of the 2013 Volkswagen Lavida, which will happen probably later this year.

Source: Volkswagen

April 26, 2012

2012 Ford Kuga: the stylish and spacious compact SUV

2012-Ford-Kuga-THUMB 2012 Ford Kuga compact SUV will bring more style and comfort to all its customers. In the development of the new model, a lot of research has been done in order to satisfy any taste.

In fact, this is Ford’s first global compact SUV and this is the reason why maybe so many efforts were put in its development. The effect is a blend of a compact car with spacious and comforting accommodation for every individual that’s in it.

The new Kuga includes specifically selected colour trim levels and in addition to this the vehicle design is centred all on customization. All this will undoubtedly result in the production of SUVs which will not only be need but also loved.

What is unique about this ford vehicle is that it is created having in mind the demands of the market in Europe, North America and Asia. Which makes it in fact one of a kind in terms of size and still able to incorporate Ford’s kinetic design in the exterior dimensions.

Furthermore, 2012 Ford Kuga will be launched in a global colour named Ginger Ale. Under this title “stays” a subtle green hue, which reflects active outdoor capabilities combined with rich, sophisticated tones. This will undoubtedly harmonise with the slick urban environment.

In addition to the new kinetic design of the Ford SUV is another highlight, which is its new spacious, high quality interior. In particular, in it are featured creative and practical technologies.

One of which for example is the hands-free automatic tailgate, which can be opened and closed simply by kicking a foot under the rear bumper.

Another interesting technology featured in the Kuga is Ford’s voice-activated in-car connectivity system SYNC. The latter includes Emergency Assistance, which enables SYNC to help occupants place a call to the emergency services directly in the event of an accident.

Next, to be highlighted is that Kuga’s boot-space has an enhanced capacity of 82-litres, while the rear seats fold flat at the touch of a button.

At last but not least, the engines that are going to be available are the 140 hp (103 kW) and 163 hp (120 kW) versions of Ford’s 2.0-litre TDCi diesel engine. Kuga will also offer the 1.6-litre EcoBoost petrol engine which is popular for its strong torque delivery and high fuel efficiency.

Source: Ford

April 26, 2012

Chrysler in the second stage of PHEV Minivan Project

Chrysler‘s plug-in hybrid minivan project steps in the second phase in which data-collection will be gathered. This will be accomplished through the completion of the demonstration fleet’s deployment.

Three plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles will be used in this project: Chrysler Town & Country minivans. All in all 25 examples of these will run around the American roads, making the project further possible.

The goal of Chrysler is to develop this unique technology and to bring it to real-world testing and evaluation.

The collection of the date will help in shedding the light on the opinion on customers. In addition, in this experiment, the hybrids will be subjected temperature extremes and variations of drive cycles.

Furthermore, Chrysler’s engineers are expected to retain two additional plug-in hybrid minivans. One of which will be tested in a short-duration test by Argonne National Laboratory.

In details, each plug-in hybrid Town & Country will include the E85-compatible 3.6L Pentastar engine. It n turn is mated to a front-wheel-drive with two-mode hybrid transmission.

Moreover, this engine is also propelled with the liquid-cooled 12.1 KWhr lithium-ion battery. Both engines produce a total output of 290 hp (213 kW) and a range of 700-miles.

The time for charging varies from two to four hours, and this happens at 220 volts with a “Level 2” charge cord unit. It takes the car eight to fifteen hours to charge at 110 volts with a “Level 1” charge unit.

Furthermore, there is a possible inclusion in the project of a fleet of plug-in hybrid Ram pickups. But this will happen probably at a later stage in terms of widening the project.

Source: Chrysler

April 26, 2012

BMW M3 E46 with 450hp by G-POWER

By today’s standards, it’s an antique. A ten-year old dinosaur. A car that uses coal for fuel. Okey, so we got a bit carried over here. It’s the BMW M3 E46 – a generation before the latest one. Don’t be deceived though. G-POWER, the guys who got their hands on it, say it is now more powerful than the current V8 powered M3.

The performance package installed is called the SK I „SPORTY DRIVE“ and if the figures they give are correct, the word “sporty” is a massive understatement – 450 hp and 460 Nm of torque. That’s a straight six engine we are talking about here. None of the pistons have been changed or altered in any way and the exhaust system is pretty standard. It’s not witchcraft either. No, those additional 107 bhp come from a humongous ASA T1-518 centrifugal supercharger – proper racing tech all the way. With it the venerable M3 can get to 200 km/h in 14,7 seconds (a massive improvement over the standard E46 – 18,1 seconds.). Compare that to the 200 km/h time of the E90 and you get a full second in favor of the G-POWERed predecessor.

One would imagine then, that a more iron fisted stopping power is required as a compliment to the supercharger. Something more up to date maybe. That’s why the package also includes a set of 370 mm front and 342 mm back brake disks that get clamped by calipers that nest up to six brake pistons per wheel. The heat from the significantly bigger pads will be dissipated more efficiently once you exit a corner.

And yes, you would be doing a lot corners. Especially with that new bound, rebound and height-adjustable G-POWER coil-over suspension. Just be careful not to destroy those Michelin Pilot Sport tires that can, and will have to, endure speeds of up to 300 km/h. Probably it would be best just to keep the M in a garage and occasionaly marvel at them, wrapped around 20-inch G-POWER “Sileverstone Diamond” alloy wheels – prime example of how a 450 hp monstrosity can stay light on its feet.

As an optional extra, one can go for the G-POWER sports rear muffler – OEM standard product quality and four 76 mm pipes sticking out from the back. A car like that needs the sound to match the performance.

Source: G-POWER

April 25, 2012

Lotus Evora GTE China Edition in Beijing

Lotus has exhibited the new Evora GTE China Limited Edition at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show.

The upgrades include more leather and carbon fiber applications for the interior. The car also comes with revised suspension. Only 118 units will be produced , making it all the more exclusive and collectable. Each car features a numbered plaque inside, marked with the China Limited Edition insignia.

The Evora GTE China Limited Edition is powered by the supercharged 3.5-liter V6 engine with 444HP (327 kW) connected to a sequential Automated Manual Transmission powering the rear wheels.

“As the top potential market for sports car brands, China is a vital part of the five-year revival plan we announced 18-months ago. We are committed to bringing our unique products, distinctive style and rich history to China to provide Chinese customers with diversified and personalized product choices.”, commented Dany Bahar, CEO, Group Lotus.

“Within six months of Lotus Cars’ entry into China, orders have exceeded our expectations, which has strengthened our confidence in developing the China market. At the same time, in accordance with the China market’s characteristics and customer requirements, we have developed the Lotus Evora GTE China Limited Edition which we are launching here in Beijing, together with the Evora IPS.”, Lichen Zhang, President & CEO, Lotus China finished.

Source: Lotus

April 25, 2012

Honda with Two New Concepts at Beijing

Honda showed up with two new concepts this year at the 2012 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition – pointers to the eventual mass production models which Honda will add to the market next year. It’s the Honda Concept C and Concept S. There are other specimens being showcased at the show as the Japanese automaker is launching a medium-sized campaign on the Chinese market

Concept C

Apparently C stands for several things – “Cool”, “Challenge” and “China”. That latter one makes sense as this middle-class sedan is specially developed for the Chinese market. It’s body shape is inspired by an image akin to a…you guessed it – a dragon! Its development was conducted both by Chinese and Japanese engineering teams. A mass-production model based on the Concept C is expected to come out trough the gates of Guangqi Honda Automobile Co., Ltd.

Concept S

Another “primarily for the Chinese market” intended product – The Honda Concept S stands behind “Stylishness”, “Smartness” and “Surprise” – is there a toy inside? We don’t know. What we do know however that there’s a hybrid powertrain under the hood. So it goes without saying, that it will be fun to drive and environmentally friendly… as it is with hybrids. The mass-production model is to hit the Chinese dealerships with the help of Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co., Ltd next year. But hey, a global release should follow shortly after that.

Currently at Beijing, there are also some familiar faces making their debut on Chinese soil – The Acura ILX and RDX will be available there as soon as this year’s fall. The Acura NSX Concept also shares the stand and the word is that after its launch in the U.S. within the next three years, China will get some piece of the action as well.

Honda’s joint ventures are now even gaining a certain degree of independence if we judge by last year’s release of the Li Nian – Guangqi Honda’s original brand. This year, Dongfeng followed the trend by introducing the CIIMO middle-class sedan.

Here’s what the President and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd Takanobu Ito had to say:

“What continues to drive Honda forward is our passion to take on new challenges with our technologies without being limited by what came before, and to create products that make our customers say, ‘I wanted this kind of car!’ We will concentrate this driving force here in China and build vehicles tailored to the needs of our Chinese customers. Toward this end, Honda and our joint venture companies will work together to further localize our development, production and parts sourcing in China.”

Source: Honda

April 25, 2012

ABT 2012 Volkswagen Beetle – style and power

ABT Sportsline has announced the new tuned Beetle, which comes with full exterior package as well as some performance modifications.

The 2.0 liter turbocharged petrol is boosted to 240HP (176 kW) – an increase of 40HP. The exhaust system includes two oval ABT rear mufflers. An ABT Beetle is an everyday athlete and makes driving a real pleasure. The design elements turn this unusual car into a cheeky and dynamic sports car before you have even started the engine.

The exterior features carbon-look highlighting the car’s charming individuality. The headlight covers make it look more aggressive. Rear light covers and a license plate insert lend the rear end more originality. The front spoiler signals that this beautiful sports car will never get off the ground.

There are also sets of ABT wheels in DR or CR designs. These wheels are available from 18’’ to 20’’ and also in conjunction with the right sport tyres. This visual unit is completed by the ABT brake system, which you can tell by its black painted callipers bearing the ABT Logo.

This turns the Beetle’s base into an eye-catcher, too.

Finally, ABT adds sport springs for better handling and stance.

Source: ABT

April 25, 2012

Category: Auto News