Auto News – Page 912 – Automobiles Review

2012 FIAT 500 Abarth – Price $22 000

Great news for all who love the brand FIAT! Today the company announced U.S. pricing for its new 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth. The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), however without included destination in it, is starting form $22 000. Fiat 500 Abarth will now bring to the US years of traditions and success made on the European roadways and racetracks: world-class performance and precision, purposeful and aggressive styling, high power-to-weight ratio and limited production volume.
This race-inspired Fiat 500 Abarth comes standard with many performance features. First of all, there is included the all-new 1.4-liter MultiAir® Turbo engine, which delivers 160 horsepower (119 kW) and 170 lb.-ft. (230 N•m) of torque. Moreover Abarth comes with tuned suspension, brake systems and dual exhaust, turbo-boost gauge with integrated LED shift light and 16-inch aluminum wheels! In addition driver and passenger performance seats include one-piece design with large side bolsters, racing-harness pass-through and accent stitching. The Fiat 500 Abarth also comes standard with BLUE&ME™ Handsfree Communication, Bose premium audio system and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls.

Included in the price of each 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth is the opportunity for new owners to attend a segment-exclusive driving experience. At no additional charge, they can visit the Abarth Driving Experience, which is an entire day of full-throttle training, guided by professional instructors from the Richard Petty Driving Experience. All this is made in order to ensure fun and top-level instruction in a safe and structured setting.

Source: Fiat

January 13, 2012

2012 Vilner Infiniti EX37 – The Modern Crossover with Оld School Interior

For the first time this year we have news from the tuning company VILNER. Now, those excellent tuners have prepared for us a modification of the interior of the Infinity EX37 which will leave us speechless! While making the luxury interior, Vilner has used high-quality, expensive, and mostly unpopular materials.

For example take a look at the seats, the doors, the lower part of the panel, the hoods and the gearshift – they all have been “dressed” in aniline leather, which is incomparably mild and pleasant to touch. Furthermore the material is extremely fine and more importantly there is no chemical treatment or dying on t! And just see the design of the seats – doesn’t it astonish you! It is definitely something you can’t see everyday. At their upper part the bands made from aniline leather create oval forms. And in contrast in the middle and the lower part they are vertical and wider. An accent here is made by the engraved with the “Vilner”’s logo asymmetrically positioned band (made from the same material), which can also be seen at the muff of the gearshift (which is also engraved with the logo). An interesting fact, used in the tuning here, is that through the exploitation of this leather as a result there is a beautiful patina. This undeniably adds more to the Old School character of the interior.

To go further into details, the needlework is light and bright. In contrast the ceiling and the console of the steering wheel are made from a high-quality nabuck – Аmaretta®. It also has those distinguished details made from the fine bands VideoFlex Film Extra®. Can you imagine that even the rearview mirror is fashionably dressed in Аmaretta®? If you can’t, well – see the pictures below!

The steering wheel is transformed by hand again in high-quality Napa in order to deliver more comfort, ergonomics and aggressive looks. In addition the luxury image of the vehicle is complemented by the chrome-plated parts of the steering wheel, the buttons for seats management, the ceiling handles, the protectors on the doors speakers and the plafond.

Wait, the great news isn’t over! The Audio system included in this tuning is the one which won the first place on “EMMA Balkan Sound & Tuning 2011” in the class of the “Advanced 7 channels”. In details, it includes the original Infiniti player, the processor „AudiSon” and the „Ground Zero” amplifier and speakers!

Moreover the coupe of the vehicle is additionally made noiseless in order to improve the overall comfort experience of the passengers and the driver, and of course – to deliver even greater sound experience.

Obviously for Studio Vilner every detail is of utmost importance. Hence, the perfect needlework and luxury materials have the most significant place in the creation of the interior. Well done Vilner! A great start of the year for you!

Source: Vilner

January 13, 2012

Hennessey Cadillac vs Nissan GT-R – Interesting Outcome [Video]

Hennessey is a Texas tuning shop famous for creating Texas-sized horsepower numbers and for modifying super cars that will steal a Bugatti Veyron’s lunch money.” – TopGear USA

Ever wondered what it feels like to thunder down the road in a 6000 lbs fortress? Well, here is a video of a Cadillac Escalade humiliating a Nissan GT-R on a street drag race. Impossible, right? Not if Hennessey have something to do about it. The seemingly standard SUV actually has an HPE1000 Twin Turbo Upgrade on its drivetrain which boosts up the power up to the nuclear 1000 bhp. The company have replaced almost all there is to replace on the engine including the cylinder heads, the camshaft, intake manifolds, catalytic converters air filters etc. They have also fiddled with fuel management system, bolted on two ball bearing turbochargers and after much Dyno tuning and road testing, this is the result: A 60 mph sprint in 3.3 seconds and if you dare to keep your foot down for 11.3 second, you’ll get to 124 miles per hour (provided that it is run on 93 octane fuel).

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXpV8_LXrCM

Head-to-head, on paper, the Nissan is the underdog here: A “mere” V-6, 520 hp, 3.8 Liter engine. But let us not forget that the GT-R is a Nurburgring veteran and should not be ashamed of anything. In real life, it will pass trough the Escalade as soon as the first corner comes around. The point of that drag race really, is to show Hennessey flexing their muscle – A proof of how capable they are when it comes to extracting power from machinery.

Source: Hennessey

January 12, 2012

Cambiano Concept by Pininfarina – Beauty Has a Name

While the Detroit NAIAS is running its course, there seems to be a lot of hubbub around the 2012 Geneva Motor Show which is due to start in March this year. Here we have a teaser of Pininfarina‘s future concept, the “luxury environmentally friendly sport sedan”. It will be revealed at their show stand in Geneva and undoubtedly, it will be gorgeous.

Named after Pininfarina‘s home town, the Cambiano is said to have been consciously constructed with a selection of efficient materials and powered by a an eco-friendly power plant.

Pininfarina is a design company which has given the automotive industry some of the finest aesthetically charged profiles out there. The Ferrari 458 Italia, the Enzo, Alfa Romeo GTV, Jaguar XJ6, Alfa Romeo Spider and many, many more – all love children of the Pininfarina company. And this year the small town of Cambiano has two anniversaries to celebrate: 30 years with the Styling Centre (called, back in1982, the “Pininfarina Studi e Ricerche/Pininfarina Study and Research”) and 10 years of development with the Engineering Center which serves to prove that finely crafted technology and design go hand-in-hand. We personally hope to see many more anniversaries to come for Pininfarina as they bring beauty to the eye with every single project.

Pininfirina Cambiano Concept — Pininfarina Cambiano Concept

Source: Pininfarina

January 12, 2012

Tesla Roadster 2012 Limited Availability

Tesla Motors is saying goodbye to their all-electric Roadster with style. A last revision of the sports car will be available in Europe, Asia and Australia.

Exclusivity in the last Tesla Roadster can be found within a range of new body colors – Cosmic Black, Galactic Gray and Magma Orange come with coordinated interior shades. It will also perform better in snowy conditions due to a provided snow cover and improvements on the motor and inverter systems. Because of that update the driver inside will also enjoy improved air conditioning. Other minor tweaks include xenon headlights, soundproofing and better connectivity (in Tesla terms that means that one will be able to plug in their car in almost any socket common for that region).

With a bit over 2000 Roadster units sold, do you think Tesla Motors is gathering pace towards a change in the automotive world and if so, is it for the better?

Source: Tesla Motors

January 12, 2012

2012 Porsche Boxster Price – £37 589

Porsche has revealed the price list for the new 2012 Boxster , which starts at “just” £37 589 and the price goes all the way up to £45 384 for the top-of-range S model.

The new Boxster has completely different design, an all-new lightweight body, new flat-six engines with direct petrol injection, a completely revised chassis. All this promises a good ride, but something is missing…

The 2012 Boxster also has lower curb weight, a longer wheelbase, widened track and larger wheels, which means superb handling and up to 15% greater fuel efficiency.

The engine range includes a new 2.7 liter with 265PS (195 kW) and a 3.4 liter flat-six powering Boxster S with 315PS (232 kW). Both models feature a manual 6-speed gearbox as standard, with the 7-speed dual-clutch Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) available as an option. Fuel consumption for the Porsche Boxster with PDK is 36.7mpg, and 35.3mpg for the Boxster S. The performance is amazing – 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and 5.0 seconds flat for the S model.

To enhance the driving dynamics further, the Sport Chrono Package option is offered on the Boxster, featuring Dynamic Transmission Mounts for the first time. Also new in the Boxster is the option of Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) with a mechanical rear limited slip differential.

The standard equipment includes an Alcantara interior, 18” alloy wheels, Auto stop/start and Sports mode, remote control hood operation, audio CD with 7-inch colour touch-screen control, a universal audio interface offering MP3 connectivity and a 3-year warranty.

The Boxster S adds 19” alloy wheels, partial leather interior and Bi-Xenon headlights.

On paper everything is just perfect, but the new style is not typical for Porsche, so many of the fans will not be so happy. Will the technology beat the spirit?

2012 Porsche Boxster S — 2012 Porsche Boxster

Source: Porsche

January 12, 2012

Seat Expands in China

Today the brand SEAT has just made its first step to expansion in China. This was made through shipping of the first 250 vehicles. They will be marketed in China in the beginning of the spring this year! The presence of SEAT in this new market, the bran is setting up a new sea link. The latter will operate on a monthly basis between the ports of Barcelona and Guangzhou and Tianjin. More importantly, thank to this first vehicle transport link between Spain and China, SEAT will export around 4,000 vehicles in 2012.

Today’s event was marked also by the presence of the Catalan government Ministers – Lluis Recoder, for Territory and Sustainability, and Francesc Xavier Mena, for Business and Employment, as well as José Alberto Carbonell, Director General of the Port, and Ramón Paredes, Vice-president for Governmental and Institutional Relations at SEAT and the Volkswagen Group in Spain.

Source: SEAT

January 12, 2012

2013 Lincoln MKS and Lincoln MKT

Brand new technologies, which have been developed on the Lincoln MKS and MKT, will now offer more power, more fuel efficiency an even more engaging driving experience. These full-size luxury sedan and crossover are coming in the spring of this year. Moreover they will deliver now more refined and exciting driving experience.

First of all the new 2013 Lincoln MKS has a significantly updated interior. In addition to that there are several luxury-class options that have to be considered. For instance there is available the Lincoln Drive Control. This is an automatic system which delivers an ideal balance of a smooth ride with confident handling. This is due to the intuitive respond of the system to the driver’s commands and the road itself. Moreover Lincoln Drive Control enables drivers to purposefully change the on-road personality of the MKS. For example the handling performance, ride firmness, throttle response, shift schedule, steering response and traction control/electronic stability control parameters can be shifted automatically when the gear selector is moved from Drive to Sport. Drivers can further personalize the Continuously Controlled Damping (CCD) suspension settings, including selecting the smoother-riding Comfort setting, with the help of the MyLincoln Touch^™. Furthermore Lincoln MKS is the only vehicle in its segment which has Continuously Controlled Damping. More importantly it comes as standard equipment. By monitoring suspension settings up to 500 times per second, the real-time system adjusts the suspension 20 times per second to deliver more controlled handling with a smoother ride. Another reason to purchase the new 2013 Lincoln MKS is its standard 3.7-liter V6 engine, which delivers more projected horsepower (300 horsepower (220 kW) versus 274 horsepower (201 kW)). In addition it is coupled with improved fuel economy – projected 19 mpg city/28 mpg highway, a 3-mpg highway improvement versus today’s car. There is also an optional EcoBoost^™ 3.5-liter V6 also produces more horsepower, 365 (268 kW) vs. 355 (261 kW). Further optimizations in the new model feature collision warning technologies. We are having in mind here the new Lane Keeping Alert and new Lane Keeping Aid technologies which help warn drivers of potentially dangerous conditions and help them avoid common accidents. At last in the new MKS in included an expanded SYNC^® functionality. It now includes standard Operator Assist and local Wi-Fi^® hotspot capabilities for laptops and tablets.

The second vehicle presented by Lincoln brand today is the new 2013 Lincoln MKT. The new model offers most of the same improvements added to the MKS: Lincoln Drive Control, CCD, more power and improved fuel economy. However, the MKT includes some specific features. First, we have inflatable second-row outboard safety belts. Rear seat passengers can be more vulnerable to head, chest and neck injuries. Hence the available inflatable second-row, outboard safety belts spread impact forces across more than five times the area of conventional safety belts. The effect is the reduction of the pressure on the chest while at the same time helping to control head and neck motion and helping reduce the risk of injuries. Additionally there is a standard collection of driver assist technologies: an array of six airbags, anti-lock brakes, traction control and AdvanceTrac^® with RSC^® Roll Stability Control^™. Adding to them is the Curve Control, which helps drivers maintain control in the MKT when taking a curve too quickly.

Of course all Lincoln vehicles feature a comprehensive warranty and complimentary maintenance package. It includes four-year, 50,000-mile complimentary maintenance with featured coverage for oil and filter changes, tire rotations and multipoint inspections for up to eight service visits for all 2011 model year and newer vehicles. Next there is also included four-year, 50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty; five-year, 60,000-mile safety restraint limited warranty; five-year, unlimited mileage corrosion limited warranty. And eventually there is the six-year, 70,000-mile powertrain limited warranty.

Both new models are expected to arrive at Lincoln dealers this spring.

Source: Lincoln

January 12, 2012

Invader N40 to be unveiled at 2012 Geneva International Motor Show

The new Invader N40 will be finally revealed by Invader Technologies at these years Geneva International Motor Show, which will start on 8^th of March. The new Invader N40 is the ultimate customization package for the latest model of Nissan Patrol. For more precision, the latter vehicle is an equally legendary rival of Toyota Land Cruiser. This full customization package includes wide body kit, with completely restyled front. The refreshed front includes INVADER signature LED lights, carbon fiber detailing and the adorable blackened headlights. This INVADER modification also comes complete with exhaust system. Moreover there are featured also 22” forged multi-piece wheels. In addition the interior of the vehicle is completely refined and refreshed with carbon fiber, highest-grade leather and alcantara finishing. Of course, as usual the N40 is offered with interior customization according to every individual choice and taste.

Source: Invader

January 12, 2012

2013 Dodge Dart with Mopar Accessories and Performance Parts

No surprise is that the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart will arrive in the showrooms later this year. However the great news is that it will offer more than 150 different accessories and performance parts all delivered by Mopar®, from which the customers can choose. The aim here is to deliver to the customers even more customization and personalization.

To have a glimpse over what is going to be offered by Mopar, we have made a selection of the most attention catching and performance parts for the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart. First, let’s begin with the Performance Styled Hood. This is a carbon fiber scooped hood, designed to give the vehicle an aggressive and sporty appearance. Next comes the Performance Braking Upgrade, which features upgraded calipers, rotors and performance pads to provide increased braking power. In the Unique Grille chrome aluminum, replaces production grille below the bumper to provide a unique appearance. Mopar also offers Grille Cross-hatch Insert – a carbon fiber-style finish, which attaches to Dodge cross hatch over grille area, perfect for enhancing the “tuner” image. Next are the 18-inch Wheels with a unique Mopar design, polished spokes and black-painted pockets. There is also Rear-air Diffuser. It is in Matte Black attached to the rear fascia to provide a unique look to the rear of the vehicle. It was designed to coordinate with Chin Spoiler. A Front Fascia Appliqué includes chrome-plated appliqué slides over front/center bumper area to provide a bright front-end appearance. In addition a Front Chin Spoiler, which is in Matte Black, attaches to front fascia to give more aggressive look to the front end. Of course there are also Side Sills, again in Matte Black, which are attached to side rocker panels to provide a sportier appearance. They have also been designed to coordinate with Front Chin Spoiler and Rear-air Diffuser. All that – only in order to provide unique appearance. The Rear Deck Lid Spoiler is also in Matte Black, and also attaches to rear deck lid for a sporty appearance. Furthermore there is a Chrome Fuel Door, which was made of chrome aluminum and replaces the production fuel door. In details it coordinates with Chrome Mirror Covers and stainless steel B-pillar appliqué. And these Chrome Mirror Covers are also chrome-plated. They replace the production mirror cover. Next, the B-Pillar Appliqué is made from polished stainless steel; it is attached to the b-pillar area and enhances the appearance of the vehicle. The Pedal Kit has the unique bright finish – it has to be attached to gas and brake pedals to enhance driver’s foot well appearance.

An important highlight to be mentioned here is that Moper also offers the unique Industry-first Wireless Charging. In details, battery-powered devices can be now charged with this new system. It also allows driver to set electronic devices in a specified charging zone and charge without wires. This is accomplished by creating a virtually invisible charging zone in the vehicle instrument panel or center stack. Energy is then transferred from the charging pad to the device battery, utilizing a compatible device-specific case. Moreover Mopar also offers Industry-first Wi-Fi. It allows owners to utilize electronic devices as far as 150 feet from the vehicle. In this way each passenger may separately access the Web on the go. On the other hand in the vehicle there is also mounted router which receives 3G broadband Internet.

Another impressive feature offered by Mopar in an Electronic Vehicle Tracking System (EVTS). This Mopar system is powered by Guidepoint Systems, the leader in GPS-enabled stolen-vehicle recovery systems. Unlike other vehicle-tracking systems, the Mopar EVTS offers.

Source: Dodge

January 12, 2012

2012 Mitsubishi ASX Price – £16 499

Mitsubishi UK has announced the price list for the new 2012 ASX. The new more stylish and more practical model boasts practicality and versatility. It offers long wheelbase, generous passenger space and flexible seating.

The engine range includes a 1.8-litre DiD with 116PS (85 kW) achieving 54.3mpg and 136g/km on combined cycle. There is also a 1.6-litre petrol engine managing 47.1mpg with CO2 emissions of 139g/km.

The new 2012 ASX comes with BS anti-lock braking, Active Stability Control, Traction Control, Electronic Brake Distribution, Brake Assist an Emergency Stop Signal System and 7 airbags as standard. It has achieved a 5 Star Euro NCAP rating

The ASX comes with three years unlimited mileage warranty, 12 year anti-corrosion perforation warranty, 3 year pan-European roadside, home and accident assistance. The pricing starts at £16 499 for 2012 ASX2 1.6 Petrol.

ASX2 1.6 Petrol	£16,499.00
ASX3 1.6 Petrol	£18,359.00
ASX4 1.6 Petrol	£20,505.00
ASX3 1.8 Diesel	£20,599.00
ASX4 Black 1.6 Petrol	£21,505.00
ASX3 1.8 Diesel 4WD	£22,749.00
ASX4 1.8 Diesel	£22,745.00
ASX4 Black 1.8 Diesel	£23,745.00
ASX4 1.8 Diesel 4WD	£24,895.00
ASX4 Black 1.8 Diesel 4WD	£25,895.00

Source: Mitsubishi

January 11, 2012

2012 Toyota Land Cruiser V8

The new Land Cruiser V8 is one of the best SUVs that you’ll be able to buy this year. It combines superb quality, performance, luxury and unmissable road presence. The 2012 Land Cruiser V8 is expected to hit the UK market later this year.

Outside, it boasts a new front bumper with integrated fog lights and a new grille that pairs chrome and silver-finished vertical bars across its width. The headlamps are also different and now incorporate LED daytime running lights and cylindrical high and low beam High Intensity Discharge bi-xenon headlights. The turn indicators extend outwards, increasing their visibility to the side.

As with the daytime running lights and door mirror turn indicators, power-saving LEDs are used for the rear lights, which have the added benefit of lighting up more quickly than conventional filament bulbs.
Inside, the mighty Land Cruiser has lighter interior colour scheme, matched with high-gloss wood grain trim elements and bright silver-finish details. The driver’s instrument binnacle has white Optitron dials that are backlit with blue illumination and a large, colour TFT multi-information display.

The front seats, upholstered in perforated leather, gain a cool air function in addition to built-in heaters, plus a position memory setting. Active headrests are also introduced to help prevent whiplash injury in a rear-end collision.
In the rear the 40:20:40 seats have a new manual sliding mechanism allowing each section to be moved through a 90mm range. The outer seat headrests have been made larger for extra support and comfort, and the centre seat can be folded forward to create an armrest.

The engine range includes a new 4.5 liter V8 turbodiesel (EURO 5) with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) and new G3 piezo injectors in the common rail injection system. The result is 286PS (200 kW) at 3600RPM and 650Nm (480 lb-ft) at just 1600RPM.

The raft of new handling features includes the world-first Turn Assist, which works in conjunction with Land Cruiser V8’s Crawl Control function, plus Multi-terrain Select (MTS), Multi-terrain Monitor and Tyre Angle Display.

Land Cruiser V8 will adopt Toyota Touch Pro, the most sophisticated version of Toyota’s new multimedia and navigation system. It features 8” touch-screen display showing the most relevant navigation, audio and air conditioning information Toyota Touch Pro uses a high-resolution, eight-inch touch screen interface with a home screen display showing the most relevant navigation, audio and air conditioning information.

Toyota Touch Pro can be combined with a 14-speaker JBL premium sound system with GreenEdge energy efficiency technology that reduces power usage by up to 80 per cent compared to conventional audio units.

UK specifications are still to be announced, but the list of items newly available for the model include a heated steering wheel, front seats with cooling and heating functions, a cooled box in the centre console, a powered upper tailgate section, bi-xenon headlamps and a 200V power outlet in the luggage compartment.

Source: Toyota

January 11, 2012

Category: Auto News