Auto News – Page 959 – Automobiles Review

SsangYong Concept XUV 1

SsangYong has introduced the Concept XUV 1, which uses large glass areas along with carefully curved bodywork to look imposing without seeming to appear aggressive. Furthermore, the wraparound windscreen visually extends the glass area virtually uninterrupted to the large C-pillars, perfectly complemented by a full length glass roof.

The Concept XUV1 is a premium CUV – Crossover Utility Vehicle having unique interior design – 1+1+2 or 1+3 seating layouts. Of course, the vehicle offers plenty of inner space and has latest automotive technology, leading to the show car’s name: Concept XUV 1 is derived from Excellent User Interface Vehicle 1. All major cabin functions are controlled via mobile devices and smart instruments, while the coach style door offers easy access to the futuristic cabin.

All this versatility comes within the confines of a compact B segment sized vehicle, a sector which has experienced rapid growth in crossover models in recent years.

Definitely, the XUV 1 will be very interesting vehicle on the market and many will find themselves in it.

Source: SsangYong

August 19, 2011

Infiniti JX Concept

Infiniti JX Concept is exhibited at the 2011 Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, California. The vehicle is a new 7-passenger/3-row luxury crossover that joins the Infiniti lineup in spring 2012.

The JX Concept was unveiled by Senior Vice President and Chief Creative Officer Shiro Nakamura.

“The JX Concept advances the Infiniti design language, sharing design cues of the Infiniti Essence concept, yet interprets those elements in ways suitable to the needs of a family luxury crossover,” said Mr. Nakamura.

“From the dramatic front grille and headlight design to the crescent-cut D-pillar and greenhouse shape, the JX Concept shines as a fresh, bold alternative to the many flavors of vanilla currently dominating the three-row luxury crossover segment.”, he added.

The interior offers class-leading roominess, along with a 2-nd row seat design that tilts and slides forward providing exceptionally easy 3-rd row access. There are also a 14-speaker Bose Studio Surround system and Infiniti Connection Telematics.

The safety is granted by Blind Spot Intervention and Backup Collision Intervention.

Still, this is a concept and the production version will make its official debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show, this November. 2013 Infiniti JX is expected to hit the market in the spring of 2012.

Source: Infiniti

August 19, 2011

Cadillac Ciel Concept

Huge open-top¸ four-doors, elegant lines and enormous front hood? That’s right – Cadillac, but this time – Ciel Concept, which was introduced at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Of course, the picture needs a twin-turbo 3.6 liter V6 to be completed. The power is more than satisfying for a blast in the hair – 431PS (317 kW) and 583Nm (430 lb-ft) of torque. The all wheel-drive is present. However, we don’t like that. The open-tops need to be rear-wheel-drive… PERIOD!

The interior is awesome:

* Sloping bolsters on the seats that allow passengers to slide into the seats more comfortably
* A personal device storage area on the front of the console with inductive charging and Bluetooth connectivity
* A power-assisted transmission shifter that deploys as soon as the engine is started
* Lighting in the armrests that combines a natural light well for daytime driving and ambient lighting for nighttime drives
* Door storage areas that are inspired by premium fashion accessories and open with high-quality zippers
* Pull-out blankets are available for all three passengers and retract automatically
* All the seats have heating and cooling features, along with a drawer containing sun lotion, sun glasses and towels, as well as aromatherapy that is controlled from the rear armrest.

Finally, the Ciel Concept comes with carbon ceramic brake rotors behind the 22” rims. We are in love with this car and hopefully it will go in production. It just has to be seen on the road with four ladies inside it. Sexy!

Check out the specifications, below!

Cadillac Ciel Concept

Body style / driveline:
Four-door, four-passenger convertible with longitudinally mounted front engine and all-wheel drive
Wheelbase (in / mm): 125 / 3175
Length (in / mm): 203.7 / 5174
Width (in / mm): 77.5 / 1968
Height (in / mm): 50 / 1270

Engine type:
3.6L V-6 with twin turbochargers; DOHC, continuously variable valve timing and direct injection
Horsepower: 425PS (317kW)
Torque: 583Nm (430 lb-ft)

Transmission:
Hybrid with low-speed all-electric drive

Front suspension:
Independent SLA with monotube shock absorbers and stabilizer bar

Rear suspension:
Independent multilink with monotube shock absorbers and stabilizer bar

Brakes:
Four-wheel disc with ABS; vented front rotors with six-piston calipers and solid rear rotors with four-piston calipers

Wheel size and type:
9J x 22” aluminum with brushed nickel accents

Tire size:
265/35R22

August 19, 2011

KIA Four-door Sports Sedan Concept at Frankfurt Motor Show

Kia will exhibit a new powerful and dynamic four-door sports sedan concept at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. The interesting about the vehicle is that it comes with RWD… finally.

The Concept also features distinctive new design, sleek and muscular proportions with a sophisticated and elegant four-seater cockpit.

Kia will also bring the all-new Rio and a facelift version of the Kia Soul at the IAA Frankfurt, so there will be plenty to see at the stand in Hall 3.1, booth A21.

“No matter from which perspective you look at it – this concept car is roaring with energy and ready for take-off,” commented Peter Schreyer, Kia Motors Chief Design Officer, proudly.

“I believe the car is a strong statement from Kia: we are ready to fast forward to an all new chapter.”, he finished.

KIA Four-door Sports Sedan Concept FrontSide

Source: KIA

August 19, 2011

Nissan Juke Kuro Limited Edition

Nissan has announced the new special edition of Juke. The model has a very strange name – Kuro and only 600 units will be produced for the UK. In case, you have some doubts, “Kuro” means “black” in Japanese and the Juke will get a black pearl finish.

The special edition model is based on the top-of-the-range Tekna grade and comes with ten-spoke 17” alloys in gloss black, black door mirrors and door handles.

The Kuro is available with a choice of two metallic paint finishes which could complement the contents of any wardrobe: Pearl Black or Force Red.

The full range of Juke engine options is available with the Kuro, starting with a 1.6-litre petrol priced at £17 395. The powerful 190PS turbocharged DIG-T is available for £18,995.

The Kuro is available to order now, with customer deliveries expected to start on 1 October 2011.

Nissan Juke Kuro Limited Edition FrontSide

Source: Nissan

August 19, 2011

2012 Lexus GS 350

The new 2012 GS model from Lexus will hit the UK market in 2012. The car has been officially unveiled by the manufacturer at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

The exterior boasts spindle grille with trapezoidal contours integrated into the aggressive front bumper. There are also LED headlights and a rear diffuser housing a dual sport exhaust system.

The interior comes with redesigned seats frames and changes to the steering column. There are also some high-quality materials like leather upholstery, word trim and ambient lighting. Finally, Lexus has fitted a stylish analogue clock into the dashboard. The SAT NAV system includes 8” display and 12.3” on models with the Navigation package. The air-conditioning is special, too. It can save energy by using occupant-detection technology. The optional 835 WATTS 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system bring perfect sound quality.

2012 Lexus GS 350 is powered by a 3.5 liter V6, but the company didn’t release any specs. Later, there will be a 2.5 liter model, too and a 3.5 liter Hybrid.

Stay tuned for full information!

Source: Lexus

August 18, 2011

2012 BMW 528i and Z4 Pricing – $47 575 and $49 525

2012 BMW 528i will come with a TwinPower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The car is scheduled to hit the US market this fall.

The new “28i” replaces the 3.0 liter version, but it is not less powerful. It features a high-pressure direct-injection, VALVETRONIC and a single twin-scroll turbocharger. 2012 528i delivers 240PS (177 kW) at 5000RPM and the torque at 1250RPM is just brutal – 351Nm (260 lb-ft).

The 2012 528i is priced at $47 575. This is $2 505 more than the previous 2011 F10.

2012 BMW Z4 has a price tag of $49 525, which is $2 075 more than the 2011 model.

However, the new models offer better engine with lower fuel consumption and nice power coming from low RPM. The difference in the price is not so much and you’ll enjoy the new 2.0 liter TwinPower turbocharged four-cylinder power unit.

Source: BMW

August 18, 2011

Piecha Design Mercedes SL R230

Piecha Design has unveiled their tuning package for the famous Mercedes-Benz SL R230. The roadster is in its eleventh year of production, which means a lot. However, it need a little more style and the tuner specialists offer it.

The exterior package includes a new front bumper, LED daytime running lights, a restyled rear bumper with diffuser housing a four-tailpipe stainless steel sport exhaust system.

The ride is lowered by 30mm and sits on enormous 20” alloy wheels fitted with 255/30 R20 for the front, and 305/25 R20 for the rear.

Piecha also installed a power converter and a revised roof module. It allows the driver to open or close the roof at speeds up to 60 km/h.

PIECHA MP1 monoblock wheel rims:

9.5J x 20″ – 420 Euro (per piece)
11.0J x 20″ – 520 Euro (per piece)

The result: Good can still be improved! As usual, PIECHA Design presents a plethora of interesting tuning components for the R230-series SL, every single one of them matching the car body lines of the cult roadsters in unparalleled perfection.

Piecha Design Mercedes SL R230 FrontSide

Source: Piecha Design

August 18, 2011

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 CDI

Mercedes-Benz has announced the new 2012 SLK 250 CDI offering unique feelings at decent price and don’t mean the car. The roadster combines good performance and low fuel consumption.

The new SLK 250 CDI is powered by a 2.2 liter turbo-diesel with 204PS (150 kW) and 500Nm (369 lb-ft), which are enough to catapult the car to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds and another important discipline – 80 to 120 km/h is covered in 4.3 seconds. The top speed is 243 km/h. Great!

Still, the engine is not thirsty at all – 4.9 liters per 100 km on combined cycle and emissions as low as 128 g/km of CO2.

2012 SLK 250 CDI comes with 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission as standard.

The diesel SLK combines thoroughbred sports car performance with the fuel economy of a sub-compact. This guarantees great driving pleasure with great fuel efficiency.

It is available with a choice of three versions of the famous vario-roof. One of them is the panoramic vario-roof with MAGIC SKY CONTROL. This glass roof can be changed from dark to transparent at the touch of a button.

There are also three suspension versions available: a conventional steel suspension, a sports suspension with a stiffer spring and damper setup or a suspension with an electronically controlled, fully automatic damping system.

The latter is part of the Dynamic Handling package, which also includes the Direct-Steer system and the Torque Vectoring Brake developed by Mercedes-Benz for particularly agile and predictable handling characteristics.

Of course, all this style has a price and it is not low at all – €41 828. 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK 250 CDI hits the market from September 13.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

August 17, 2011

2011 Cadillac ELR

2011 Cadillac ELR will actually go on sale. The car is based on the Converj Concept, which was introduced back in the beginning of 2009.

The production vehicle will have electric motor with extended range. The Voltec powertrain consisting of a T-shaped lithium-ion battery, an electric motor and a four-cylinder engine will deliver nice moments behind the steering wheel.

“The concept generated instant enthusiasm,” said Don Butler, vice president-Cadillac Marketing.

“Like other milestone Cadillac models of the past, the ELR will offer something not otherwise present – the combination of electric propulsion with striking design and the fun of luxury coupe driving.”, he added.

“There’s no mistaking it for anything but a Cadillac, an aggressive, forward-leaning profile and proportion showcases a uniquely shaped, modern vision of a personal luxury 2+2,”, said Ed Welburn, GM vice president, Global Design.

Cadillac will reveal another new concept car on Thursday, Aug. 18, at a special event prior to the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Source: GM

August 17, 2011

Venom GT Price – $950 000

Venom GT will hit the US market, but you’d better hurry up, because Hennessey is planning to produce just five units annually. The car is exhibited at the McCall Motorworks Revival.

“We are very excited to have the opportunity to show the Venom GT to our friends and fellow enthusiasts at what has become one of the biggest and best car enthusiast events in the world,” says CEO, Don Goldman.

“Gordon McCall’s Motorworks Revival combines serious car enthusiasts, world-class cars and aircraft, all in one fantastic party.”, he added.

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) – theoretically of course.

“Twelve hundred horsepower combined with in a mid-engine chassis that weighs twelve hundred kilos (2,685 lbs) – no other road car and only a handful of race cars can match the power to weight ratio of the Venom GT,” added HPE president and founder, John Hennessey.

“It is a driver’s car, a supercar with a soul that will give you as much speed and performance as you dare ask of it”., he finished.

The price is as brutal as the car itself – $950 000.

Source: Hennessey

August 17, 2011

Audi Urban Concept Spyder

After the images of Audi Urban concept, the manufacturer has released some teasers of Spyder variant of innovative electric-powered concept. Both models will be exhibited at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show next month (September 17-25).

The concepts are featuring forward-urging lines, free-standing 21” wheels and protective surrounding plates incorporating strips of “blinking” LED lights . The Spyder comes with low, continuous window area and its doors that open upwards diagonally.

The interior is sporty, low-slung seats for two occupants. Each seat is made of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) offering maximum durability and low weight. Furthermore, the driver can adjust the steering wheel and pedals for his or her own driving position.

Two e-tron electric motors provide all power that the concepts need to catapult forward. A lithium-ion battery pack supplies the energy, which is enough for long city tours.

Source: Audi

August 17, 2011

Category: Auto News