Auto News – Page 974 – Automobiles Review

Peugeot RCZ Asphalt LE

Peugeot has announced a special edition RCZ Asphalt featuring matt Telluric grey bodywork.

There will be just 75 right-hand-drive Asphalt LEs, produced specially for the UK market. Peugeot RCZ Asphalt LE boasts high level specs over the top-of-the-range GT trim and powered by the accomplished 200BHP THP petrol engine.

The exterior boasts the exclusive Matt exterior Telluric grey paintwork with black roof, Asphalt badging, 19” Solstice black alloy wheels, complemented with matching black brake calipers.

The interior boasts Nappa leather trim, an Alcantara and leather steering wheel and gear stick, with bespoke Asphalt sill covers and floor mats.

Additional standard specification includes front and rear parking aid, auto lighting with approach and follow me home modes, Peugeot Connect Media Navigation and a top-of-the-range JBL sound system.

The RCZ Asphalt is priced at £29 995.

Source: Peugeot

June 29, 2011

2012 BMW X1 sDrive20d EfficientDynamics Edition

BMW has unveiled the X1 sDrive20d EfficientDynamics Edition, which will hit the market in the autumn of 2011. However, pricing information hasn’t been released.

X1 sDrive20d EfficientDynamics Edition is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder TwinPower Turbo diesel engine with 163 PS (120 kW) at 3250RPM and hefty 380Nm (280 lb-ft) of torque at just 1750RPM. Furthermore, the vehicle comes with an engine start/stop system, electric power steering, brake energy regeneration and low-rolling resistance tires mounted on aerodynamic light-alloy wheels. All this features help the cross-over to achieve an average fuel consumption of 4.5 L/100 km and CO2 emissions of 119 g/km. Not bad for a crossover.

BMW will also offer a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder TwinPower Turbo petrol engine with 184 PS (135 kW) at 500 RPM and 270 Nm (199 lb-ft) of torque at 1250RPM. It enables the BMW X1 sDrive20i to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds and the BMW X1 xDrive20i in 7.8 seconds. Last, but not least this engine averages 7.1 liters per 100km.

The standard stability control feature DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) has been supplemented on the rear-wheel drive diesel models by the dry braking and fading compensation functions. There is also a hill-start assistant. The BMW Individual roof rail system High Gloss Shadow Line will also be available in future as an individual option and thus not only in conjunction with the M Sport Package for the BMW X1. Moreover, the optional range of BMW ConnectedDrive features will be supplemented as from the autumn of 2011 by the Real-Time Traffic Information function.

2012 BMW X1 sDrive20d EfficientDynamics Edition

Source: BMW

June 28, 2011

Lexus IS 250C Limited Edition

Lexus has announced IS 250C coupe-convertible Limited Edition for the UK. The IS 250C is one of the most stylish coupe-convertibles on the market. It offers supreme luxury and unique style at decent price. Just a perfection … or not really! However, there will be only 50 units and each one comes with a numbered badge denoting its special status, discreetly fixed inside the glovebox.

2011 Lexus IS 250C Limited Edition boasts a distinctive black and red semi-aniline fine leather interior. It is based on the SE-L model, which means – 18” alloy wheels, eight-way electrically adjustable front seats with built-in ventilation and heating, cruise control, electric one-touch easy access to the rear seats, climate control that automatically adjusts temperature settings when the roof is down and cruise control.

The price for this pleasure is £39 990 OTR, which is a bit high. Still, this is a Limited edition model, so some day you will be able to sell it a bit higher, than the regular models.

Source: Lexus

June 28, 2011

2012 Renault Fluence Z.E. Price – £17 850

Renault has officially priced the new Fluence Z.E. (Zero Emission) for the UK. The car will hit the streets in 2012, but the manufacturer has already been accepting pre-reservations for it. The stylish five-seat, four-door Fluence Z.E. is priced from only £17 850.

The initial launch version of Fluence Z.E., Prime Time, comes with a high level of equipment, including 16” alloy wheels, climate control, cruise control, ecoMeter and Carminat TomTom Live smart satellite navigation, together with charging sockets on both front wings.

2012 Renault Fluence Z.E. has 95HP (70 kW) and 226Nm of instant torque on tap. The range of Renault’s flagship Z.E. is up to 185 km (115 miles), depending on driving and road conditions, which is more than satisfying.

So, if you are Eco-friendly and you like French cars, this is the perfect choice for everyday driving.

Source: Renault

June 28, 2011

Oaktec Honda Insight Hybrid Rally Car

No, its not a bad joke. Actually, Oaktec Honda Insight Hybrid Rally Car is a 100 mpg automatic hybrid eco sports car, which has been banned from rallying for being too fast. We imagine the disappointment of the engineers…

The petrol-electric Honda Insight hybrid, which competes in the Formula 1000 rally championship, has been asked to withdraw following concerns from rival competitors that it has an unfair advantage, after dominating the 2011 series with two wins and a second place from the first three rounds.

Oaktec Honda Insight Hybrid Rally Car is powered by a tuned petrol-electric hybrid system, which easily achieves 100 mpg when driven slowly.

“It was a bit of a shock when I got the call as after six years of hard work we finally had our chance for a bit of glory. But I fully understand the perspective of the organisers and their wish not to spoil the sport for the other drivers. Formula 1000 is a great championship and they were really supportive by allowing us to compete with these new hybrid technologies in their rallies and we always agreed that if we had a clear advantage we would step aside. It’s a shame it had to happen mid-season but it’s the risk you face in going against the grain and trying something radical. If it fails, no one notices; if it’s successful, you have an unfair advantage. I think our project has made people realise that there is a real future for genuinely green technologies in motorsport and other leisure activities.”, said Oaktec boss Paul Andrews.

The tuned Honda hybrid system, Oaktec entered the rally car in a fuel economy competition and returned 82 mpg, beating the next best car, a small diesel, by over 17 mpg. Furthermore, the car is unique in motorsport because it uses a CVT automatic transmission developed by Bosch, who also sponsor the car.

You can see the Oaktec Honda Insight hybrid in action, along with other banned Group B rally cars, at Green-Car-Guide Live! at the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, 15-17 July 2011, in Cheshire.

Source: Honda

June 28, 2011

Chevron GR8 tested by Tim Schrick

Tim Schrick is testing Chevron GR8 Challenge Car at Donington Park circuit this week and he admitted – “I’ve fallen in love,”.

“I’ve fallen in love with this car. It’s so beautiful to drive. It’s such a nice car, and right up my street, as a racer. The grip levels are amazing. And the little car is so stable, with a stiff, direct and totally connected steering feeling. It feels very nimble, and it’s so loud and exciting inside, with a very, very nice sound from the Cosworth two-litre engine. You have 260bhp on tap and even here with these great cars on track, you can play with anyone, and not get beaten.”, said Tim Schrick, after his test in the GR8 Challenge Car.

“The car is so light, it’s amazing. It feels very, very stiff, which usually makes a car hard to find the limit in, but this is not the case with the Chevron, where it is very easy to know where the limit is and hold it there. It is a very, very fast car in the corners and offers really late, hard braking, with a really good feeling for the driver. The Hewland (JFR five-speed sequential) gearbox is so fast also, with an autoshift at 8,250rpm, so you waste no time at all between gears, up or down shifting. It’s just on it.”, he added.

“The Chevron GR8 is a real, true race car of course. Chevron has used the best partners for suspension, brakes, engine and have created an amazing chassis… making a perfect race car package. It is very affordable too, I think. The seating position is like a Formula car, with its laid back seat; sitting so very low in the small car. It’s so loud, fast and a lot of fun. I have fallen in love with this car. It’s such a beautiful car to drive.”, Mr. Schrick finished.

Chevron GR8 is powered by a Cosworth FVC 1790cc engine and comes with a Hewland FT200 gearbox. The price is £125 000 (+ VAT).

The Chevron GR8 is available in Challenge Car and GT specification, from just £55 000 and £70 000, respectively. And, for retro racers, the Chevron B19 Works Car is available from £80 000, plus engine and gearbox costs.

Source: Chevron Racing

June 28, 2011

2012 Jaguar XF 2.2 diesel

2012 Jaguar XF 2.2 diesel is the most fuel efficient model that the manufacturer has ever produced. The vehicle managed to complete an epic journey from the factory in which it was created at Castle Bromwich in Birmingham, to Munich – a distance of 816-miles – on a single tank of diesel. This is just a bit over 1312 km, really a staggering result.

The XF 2.2 diesel consumed just 64 litres of fuel to average a remarkable 57 mpg.

“The entire development team is very proud of what the new XF 2.2 has achieved – this not only proves the efficiency of the new model but underlines that performance and economy can be combined.”, said Andy Whyman, Chief Programme Engineer for the XF.

The all new 2.2 litre diesel develops 190PS and 500Nm of torque, which delivers good performance – 0 to 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 225 km/h (140 mph). The XF 2.2 emits just 149 g/km of CO₂. Further improving efficiency, the new 2.2-litre engine is linked to a new 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox and an innovative Stop-Start system.

2012 Jaguar XF 2.2 diesel will be launched in September and features a fresh new look, upgraded interiors and equipment as well as improvements in efficiency and refinement.

Price list will be available close to launch.

Source: Jaguar

June 28, 2011

Switzer Porsche Panamera Turbo

Switzer Performance has introduced a new tuning package for the luxurious sports saloon Porsche Panamera Turbo. The project name is P680 and as you may suggest, the number means the horsepower.Switzer Panamera P680 boosts the mighty 4.8 liter twin-turbo V8 up to 680HP (507 kW) and staggering 970Nm (716 lb-ft) of torque. The power improvement is significant, because the stock variant of the car produces “just” 500PS. So, Switzer Porsche Panamera Turbo will be capable to chase the new BMW M5. Still, M5 F10 is expected to have tuning packages as well, because of its brutal 560PS twin-turbo V8.Switzer Panamera P680 accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and the top speed is way over 200mph barrier – 346 km/h (215 mph). Nice!The price for this additional 189PS is not little – $22 000 as the performance package includes two new turbochargers, a custom intercooler and a revised ECU.

June 27, 2011

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee UK

Jeep has announced the new 2011 Grand Cherokee UK, which boasts superb material quality, improved fuel economy and nice off-road capabilities.

The all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee UK features new turbocharged 3.0 litre V6 CRD engine with 237BHP (177 kW) at 4000RPM and 550Nm (406 lb-ft) of torque between 1800 and 2800RPM. This means up to 10 per cent more power and eight per cent more torque than the engine it replaces.

The engine achieves staggering 8.3 litres per 100 km (34 mpg) on combined cycle and 218 g/km of CO2. From a retail perspective the improvement in CO₂ emissions represents a saving of £1 220 in current VED taxation over a five year period compared with the outgoing model.

The engine of course meets EURO5 regulations. The performance is perfect – 0-62mph in 8.2 seconds and a top speed of 203 km/h (126mph).

The Grand Cherokee range starts from £36 795 OTR with the 3.0 CRD V6 Limited, while the flagship Overland starts from £43 995 OTR.

Check out the trim levels and pricing, below!

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee UK:

All of the following equipment comes as standard on both trim levels:

Sentry Key^® Theft Deterrent System
Thatcham Category 1 Alarm and Immobiliser
Active head restraints
Advanced Multi-Stage front airbags
Side curtain airbags
Supplementary side airbags
Anti-lock 4-wheel disc brakes
Centre rear 3-point seat belt
Child seat upper tether anchorages
Electronic Stability Control
Enhanced Accident Response System
Traction Control
Front seat mounted side airbags
Laminated front door glass
Power locks
Rear fog lamps
Anti-sway damping system

The top-of-the-range Overland version possesses exclusive and state-of-the-art features, which are options on most of the Grand Cherokee’s rivals:

Uconnect navigation system with Media Centre 6.5” touch screen display and 30GB hard drive
Blind-spot and rear cross path detection (Overland only)
Adaptive cruise control (Overland only)
Forward collision warning (Overland only)
Quadra-Lift air suspension

Limited

This specification features a high degree of equipment in all areas: comfort, capability, in-car entertainment, technology, design and luxury:

Quadra-Trac II® 4WD system
3.0 CRD V6 237bhp
Thatcham Category 1 Alarm and Immobiliser
Selec-Terrain™ system
Bi-Xenon HID headlamps with headlamp washers and auto-levelling
Rain sensitive windscreen wipers
Air-conditioning with dual zone Automatic Temperature Control (ATC)
Media Centre with 6.5” touch screen display and 30GB hard drive with 6700 song capacity
Keyless Enter-N-Go™
18” Alloy wheels
Fog lamps
Illuminated entry
Hill Descent Control
Hill Start Assist
Bright exhaust tailpipes
Uconnect Bluetooth with voice command
iPod® connector with remote USB port
ParkSense® front and rear park assist system
ParkView® rear back-up camera
Leather trimmed seats
Heated front and rear seats
Power 8-way driver and passenger seat memory
Power tilt / telescopic steering column
Alpine surround sound system (9 speakers and subwoofer)
Tyre pressure monitoring display
Power folding multi-function door mirrors

Limited – Options

This trim level can be further enhanced with the following options:

Rear DVD with single sunroof
CommandView panoramic sunroof
Performance pack (20″ wheels with 265/60 R20 performance tyres, performance brakes and sports suspension)
Navigation & Luxury pack (Uconnect navigation system, heated steering wheel and power liftgate)
Deep-tint sunscreen glass

Overland

The standard equipment on the Overland reaches unparalleled levels for the segment, using the most refined materials together with advanced technological features. On top of the Limited specification, the Overland model adds the following items:

20” alloy wheels
Performance brakes with sports suspension
Cargo net
Door courtesy lamps
Premium Nappa leather trimmed seats with contrast stitching
Ventilated front seats
Leather covered dashboard
Dark wood interior trim inserts
Deep-tint sunscreen glass
Power liftgate
Heated steering wheel
Quadra-Lift™ air suspension
CommandView panoramic sunroof
Overland interior detailing
Uconnect navigation system
Blind-spot and rear cross path detection
Adaptive cruise control
Forward collision warning

Pricing

The Grand Cherokee range starts from £36 795 OTR with the 3.0 CRD V6 Limited, while the flagship Overland starts from £43 995 OTR. Optional special paint on all models comes at £670 RRP, while prices for the other options are as follows:

Rear DVD with single sunroof (Limited) £1,700 RRP
Rear DVD with single sunroof retrofit (Overland) £700 RRP
CommandView panoramic sunroof (Limited) £1,200 RRP
Performance pack (Limited) £2,000 RRP
Navigation & Luxury pack (Limited) £1,500 RRP
Deep-tint sunscreen glass (Limited) £350 RRP

Source: Chrysler UK

June 27, 2011

Bentley Continental GT Mulliner

Bentley Continental GT is now more exclusive with the new Mulliner Styling Specification including a range of nice options boosting the road presence of the luxurious coupe.

The new Mulliner Styling Specification’s Classic Pack includes a unique front bumper splitter, strakes integrated into the front intake grilles, side extension blades and a rear diffuser, all made from high-gloss, black carbon-fibre.

There are also carbon-fibre rear spoiler and door mirror cowls as well as huge black 21” Elegant alloy wheels and dark mesh front wing vents with black carbon-fibre bezels.

“The Mulliner Styling Specification, with its sharper lines and darker, lower appearance subtly underscores the extrovert, flamboyant nature of our new Coupe. It delivers a more personalised, sportive interpretation of a luxurious, refined GT.”, commented Raul Pires, Bentley’s head of exterior design.

A series of high performance V-Max tests and wind tunnel appraisals were undertaken to ensure that the handling and performance credentials of the new Continental GT are not compromised by the addition of the Mulliner Styling Specification

The Classic Pack is available to order from June 2011 onwards and the optional design features can be ordered from authorised Bentley dealers from Autumn 2011.

“To ensure complete peace of mind for our customers, the Mulliner Styling Specification is underpinned by the Company’s exhaustive aerodynamic and durability testing programme and is backed by a full Bentley warranty.”, finished Steve O’Hara, Aftersales Director.

Source: Bentley

June 27, 2011

2012 Buick LaCrosse 3.6 liter V6

The era of the slow low revving huge American engines faded. GM has introduced a new engine, which will be installed in the 2012 Buick LaCrosse. It is a more powerful and fuel-efficient version of the 3.6 liter V6, which will be a no-additional-cost alternative on select trim levels to the standard 2.4L four-cylinder engine with eAssist.

The new aluminum-block 3.6 liter V6 with direct-injection and variable valve timing develops 303PS (223 kW) and 358Nm (264 lb-ft) of torque. All that power is delivered to the front wheels. Still, it returns 17 mpg in city and 27 mpg on highway, which is around 13.8 liters and 8.7 liters per 100 km.

“The changes we’ve made to the 3.6L V-6 represent greater refinements to an already well-balanced package,” commented Tom Sutter, global V-6 chief engineer.

“We are using the latest designs, lighter-weight components and enhancements to improve the engine’s performance, efficiency and durability.”, he added.

“Thanks to increased use of lightweight components and other enhancements, the new 3.6L V-6 offers 2012 LaCrosse buyers improved acceleration with no hit to fuel efficiency,” said Doug Osterhoff, LaCrosse product marketing manager.

“This new engine is an attractive option on the car that’s been widely hailed as one of the most attractive luxury sedans on the road today.”, he finished.

Source: GM

June 24, 2011

Lexus LS 600h Landaulet

Lexus LS 600h Landaulet will be the wedding car of is Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco and Carlene Wittstock in Monte Carlo on 2 July. The car features a one-piece transparent polycarbonate roof, full hybrid powertrain and unique comfort.

The car is built by Belgian coachbuilder Carat Duchatelet, working closely with Lexus engineers based in Brussels. The project took more than 2 000 hours to complete, with a focus on maintaining the levels of quality and technological sophistication that are fundamental to every Lexus, and preserving the performance, safety and dynamic attributes of the original LS 600h L.

Lexus LS 600h Landaulet was finished in an elegant Midnight Blue livery, applied by hand using several coats of a bespoke, water-based paint, adding to the car’s environmental credentials.

The biggest feature is the transparent roof, which was real challenge in both design, as a large, single piece with no reinforcements or pillars, and in manufacturing. Lexus co-operated with a French company that specialises in supplying similar components to the aerospace industry, such as helicopter windscreens and fighter jet canopies to make this part.

The roof is a single, lightweight polycarbonate shell that is 8mm thick and weighs just 26kg. Fixed to the body of the Lexus through two intermediary parts, it allows a perfect view in and out of the car.

The final stage of the conversion, re-assembly and finishing took a team of 10 specialists working with Lexus engineers more than two weeks to complete, to ensure the highest quality levels were achieved.

On the day of the wedding the LS 600h Landaulet will be used by the royal couple to tour the principality after the marriage ceremony. For most of this distance the car will operate in its fully electric mode, with zero tailpipe emissions. This is very important, but we don’t want to know, how much emission are made during the preparation of this vehicle.

After the celebrations the car will be displayed at the Media Centre and later the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco.

Source: Lexus

June 24, 2011

Category: Auto News