MINI will unveil the world’s fastest small premium cabriolet at the Geneva International Motor Show on 03 March 2009. The MINI John Cooper Works Convertible will take centre stage at the event and is on sale in the UK from 28 March 2009, priced at £23,470 OTR. (more…)
Category: Car Makes
Car Makes
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MINI John Cooper Works Convertible
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Chevrolet Spark: World Premiere at Geneva Auto Show
The all-new Chevrolet Spark, making its world premiere at the Geneva auto show in March, is a small car designed to make a big statement. (more…)
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New 2010 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150: Tough Truck With Cool Attitude
The 2010 Ford Harley-Davidson™ F-150 delivers a new standard of “custom cool,” combining the smooth handling and legendary durability of America’s best-selling truck with the authentic styling of Harley-Davidson, the industry leader in motorcycles.
This marks the 14th Harley-Davidson edition of an F-Series truck and latest in a line of Ford Harley-Davidson F-Series models dating back to 2000, which aim to appeal to customers who appreciate quality and unique details only this kind of collaboration can bring.
“Our successful co-branding, unmatched in the industry, offers customers true specialized truck luxury,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of Global Product Development. “Just like with our other associations, we’ve linked with an industry leader to offer the best
of the best.”The successful collaboration between these two icons of the open road has produced eight F-150 models, as well as six Super Duty F-250, F-350, and in 2009, the first Harley-Davidson F-450 edition truck. The 2010 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 is the first Harley-Davidson edition vehicle built off the award-winning new 2009 Ford F-150.
“This truck builds on the legacy of toughness that’s been the hallmark of the Ford F-Series brand,” said Matt O’Leary, chief engineer. “Now we’re giving customers more of everything they love with the best F-150 and the boldest Harley-Davidson F-150 ever – featuring a fully differentiated design, all-wheel-drive capability, 22-inch wheels and a knock-out interior.”
The exterior of the 2010 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 offers a bold front fascia and six-bar shaped billet style grille and boasts specialized forged aluminum and Harley-Davidson® chrome badging. The truck will have a lowered appearance because of a fully integrated deployable running board.
Also standard are 22-inch low-profile performance tires – the largest in the F-Series lineup – and Euroflange forged wheels with a polished and painted center wheel cap. The paint selection is classic Harley-Davidson – Tuxedo Black and the first Ford application of Lava, a deep maroon with three-color metal flake.
The interior is customized to appeal to the truck buyer who appreciates the attention to detail for which both Ford and Harley-Davidson are renowned.
“There’s a real tie-in between the truck’s interior and exterior designs,” said Patrick Schiavone, Design director. “It’s very much like how some customized Harley-Davidson motorcycles have a prominent theme that runs through them. That’s how we tie it in with custom bikes.”
Also impressive are the seats and console lid, which features hand-made cloisonné badges; the console has a limited-edition serialization plate.
“These handmade badges continue our theme of premium Harley-Davidson offerings,” said Schiavone. “Probably the only place that most people have seen hand-made cloisonné is on premium Harley-Davidson motorcycles. It’s really high craftsmanship, and people will recognize it as another connection between the two brands.”
Linkage is apparent even in the smallest details, such as adornments on the seats.
“The theme of the seat was designed to resemble a Harley® biker jacket,” Schiavone said. “We even used authentic materials you’d find on Harley-Davidson MotorClothes® brand apparel.”
The seat backs feature ribbed leather treatments, engraved Harley-Davidson button snaps and even zippered map pockets featuring zippers from Harley jackets.
It is important to the Ford Design team that the truck remain genuine to enthusiasts of Harley-Davidson, customers who traditionally are as loyal to their motorcycles as F-150 owners are to their trucks.
That’s why the team meets regularly with Harley-Davidson designers and travels to motorcycle events throughout the year – including Daytona Bike Week, Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and Harley-Davidson dealer meetings – to talk to current and potential customers. The team wants to be sure that when Harley-Davidson owners or enthusiasts need a truck, this is the truck they choose.
“We talk to everyone we can; we find out what the customer values,” O’Leary said. “We look at what they like, what they want, and what they wish they had, and we go from there.”
“No one understands their customers better than Harley-Davidson and Ford,” said Joanne Bischmann, vice president – Licensing, Harley-Davidson Motor Company. “We’re proud to share the spirit of Harley-Davidson authenticity in a unique interpretation of America’s favorite truck, the F-Series.”
About the F-150
On the new F-150, there’s a wealth of content complementing its unique appearance. The 2010 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 is equipped with a 5.4-liter three-valve engine, which is rated up to 320 horsepower and 390 ft.-lbs. of torque and mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with a sport-tuned exhaust and a top speed of 115 mph.The truck is available with 4×2 or an optional all-wheel drive, which features settings of 4×2, AWD and 4×4 high, unique to the Harley-Davidson edition on the F-150 platform. All 2010 Ford Harley-Davidson F-150 models will be SuperCrews.
The F-150 is new inside and out. The Ford truck team adopted a holistic, 360-degree approach to revamping the vehicle – from its segment-first features to the tough new exterior, a more spacious, flexible and refined interior and an unparalleled choice of cab styles and trim levels.
The improvements are just as dramatic beneath the sheet metal. They include a new high-strength, lighter-weight chassis that delivers even more horsepower, unsurpassed fuel economy and class-leading towing and payload capacity.
The new design has garnered an impressive array of awards:
* F-Series is the best selling vehicle in America for 27 consecutive years; best-selling truck for 32 consecutive years
* Motor Trend 2009 Truck of the Year Award™
* Top honors as “Truck of Texas” as well as “Best Luxury Pickup” for the 2009 F-150 King Ranch from Texas Auto Writers Association
* 2009 North American Truck of the Year
* “Best Overall Half-Ton Pickup” from PickupTrucks.com
* 2009 Best Redesigned Vehicle from Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com
* “Automotive Excellence” award in the Workhorse Category from Popular Mechanics
* Motor Trend’s Truck Trend Top 5 Trucks from Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) for 2009 Ford F-150 Heavy Duty DeWalt Contractor Concept
* Detroit Free Press Truck of the Year
* Detroit News Truck of the Year
* Best Truck by Florida Monthly
* Playboy’s 2009 Best Pickup
* “Accessory-Friendly Truck” Design Award from SEMA
* America’s Safest Full-size Pickup with 5-star frontal and 5-star side-impact crash-test ratings, the highest possible scores, in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests.
* “Top Safety Pick” from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for its standard safety technology: Safety Canopy side curtain air bags and AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control
* “Residual Value” award from Automotive Leasing Guide (ALG) for retaining the highest percentage of its original price among 2009 full-size light duty pickups at the end of a conventional three-year lease, based on ALG projections
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Hyundai To Reveal Suv Concept At Geneva Motor Show
Hyundai is to unveil an all-new concept car at this year’s Salon International de L’Automobile in Geneva on March 3rd. This innovative concept portrays a dramatic new look for compact SUVs and was styled at the company’s European Design headquarters in Rüsselsheim, Germany. (more…) -
Audi Tradition Displays the Family Silver
Audi Tradition’s annual programme for 2009 is centred on the Audi centenary. More than 50 events have been planned. (more…) -
Lexus Announces Pricing for All-New 2010 RX 350
Lexus today announced the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the all-new 2010 RX 350 luxury utility vehicle. (more…) -
LEGACY CONCEPT in Geneva
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, today announced that it will exhibit the LEGACY CONCEPT as an European premiere at the 79th Geneva International Motor Show slated for March in Geneva, Switzerland (Press days: March 3 and 4; Open to the public from March 5 through 15). (more…) -
Audi sets 2009 model-year prices for all-new Q5 crossover
Audi set the base price for its all-new and segment-redefining 2009 Audi Q5 crossover vehicle at $37,200. The Audi Q5 will begin to arrive in U.S. dealerships next week and will be offered in three equipment levels. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price for the 2009 model-year Audi Q5 Premium starts at $37,200. Pricing for the Audi Q5 Premium Plus starts at $41,500, and the Audi Q5 Prestige starts at $48,200. Prices do not include a destination charge of $825, taxes, title or dealer charges.
With the new Q5, Audi will have its first crossover vehicle for luxury car buyers who otherwise might have considered buying the Lexus RX, the BMW X3 or the Mercedes-Benz GLK.
The launch of this new vehicle allows Audi its first opportunity to surpass those, and other, contenders in the popular luxury crossover vehicle segment. The new Audi Q5, with its combination of head-turning exterior and interior design, comprehensive safety features expected of a premium luxury vehicle, technological innovation and responsive Audi performance, more than achieves that goal.
“Luxury crossover vehicles appeal to a wide audience seeking both practicality and performance,” said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. “But monotony has developed in that segment – sameness we’re certain the Audi Q5 now disrupts with its array of distinctive styling cues and forward-thinking features.”
The Q5 indeed offers plenty of unique features that give it a balance of functionality, luxury and performance. The Q5 will be the only vehicle in its segment with three-zone climate control, which lets drivers and passengers select their own comfort levels. It is the only vehicle in its segment with 40/20/40 rear seats that recline and offer fore-aft adjustment for the comfort of passengers and for balancing cargo-carrying capabilities.
Audi is also equipping the Q5 with its signature LED tail lights as standard equipment, including running lights, brake lights and turn signals. The Audi Q5 will offer standard hitch preparation for 4,400-pounds of towing capacity, which puts it at the head of its class. Also standard are roof rails with aluminum cross bars that sync with the Audi ESP system to adapt accordingly.
Audi has a strong reputation for outstanding automotive interiors and that tradition carries through in the Q5 with standard twelve-way power front seats, leather seating surfaces throughout and genuine wood or brushed aluminum inlays. Available exclusive luxury touches on the Audi Q5 include the Bang & Olufsen Sound System and the exclusive Audi drive select system that allows motorists to choose among four distinctive driving configurations.
The Audi Q5 will be the first model sold in the U.S. with available MMI Navigation plus, the third generation of Audi’s acclaimed MMI (Multi-Media Interface) system, which manages entertainment, communications and navigational information.
The new MMI Navigation plus offers a high-capacity hard disk with 40 gigabytes of memory (including 10 GB for media storage), DVD drive and an automotive grade NVIDIA™ chip for graphics processing. The added processing power allows MMI Navigation plus to render 3D maps of the entire U.S., including branded points of interest, and detailed images of buildings while offering real-time traffic information. The system also features a new, larger screen that measures seven inches from corner to corner, a vocal command recognition system that understands complete words in a variety of languages and improved joystick controls.
The Audi Q5 is derived from the same Audi-exclusive platform first developed for the A4 model range. The versatility of that vehicle platform gives the Q5 the driving comfort and performance characteristics of a luxury performance automobile and the longest wheelbase in its class. The efficient engineering and design of the Q5 also translated into shorter front and rear overhangs for better weight distribution to help stability. Audi also widened the vehicle platform to increase shoulder room inside the Q5 and to optimize the driver’s seating position for a more commanding view of the road.
The Audi Q5 will also lead the segment of AWD, gasoline-powertrain crossover vehicles in fuel economy. According to the U.S. EPA, the Audi Q5 achieves 18 mpg city mileage and 20 mpg combined – both tops in the category – along with 23 mpg highway mileage.
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S Tronic Sports Transmission Now For Audi A4 And A5
Shifting into a higher gear in Audi A4 and A5 models could take as little as 0.2 seconds from this month as the latest performance-oriented S tronic twin-clutch automatic transmission makes the transition to 2.0 TFSI quattro versions of the acclaimed compact Saloon, Avant and Coupe. The new S tronic option adds £1,420 to the prices of A4 2.0 TFSI quattro and A5 2.0 TFSI quattro models, taking them to £27,170 OTR and £31,065 respectively.
Despite its rapidity, the latest incarnation of the twin-clutch gearbox also acts responsibly, maintaining fuel economy and CO2 output at the same level, or below, manual equivalents.
Launched to critical acclaim in the first generation TT, the advanced transmission added a new string to its bow during 2008 when it was further upgraded to enable installation in Audi models with longitudinal, ‘North-South’ engine installations. The new addition made its debut in the Q5 SUV, and soon after in the latest supercharged S4 Saloon and Avant.
Linked to an all-new engine
It now brings its lightning fast changes to the A4 2.0 TFSI quattro with its brand new turbo charged and directly injected FSI engine enhanced by Audi valvelift technology for improved engine ‘breathing’. In Saloon form, the A4 2.0 TFSI quattro S tronic can power to 62mph from rest in 6.5 seconds – a 0.1 second improvement over the manual version – reach a top speed of 150mph and return 38.2mpg according to the combined cycle test. In the A5 2.0 TFSI quattro S tronic, the sprint to 62mph can be completed 0.3 seconds more quickly than in the manual at 6.2 seconds, and a top speed of 150mph can be reached, while combined economy and CO2 output match the A4 at 38.2mpg and 172g/km.
These impressive economy figures are identical to manual A4 and A5 equivalents, and in terms of CO2 output the A5 S tronic actually shows a reduction versus the manual version’s 173g/km, highlighting the fact that in contrast to most automatic transmissions S tronic demands no compromise in return for added convenience.
Advanced electro-hydraulic controls and the alternate use of two clutches enable the S tronic gearbox to deliver lightning fast automatic or manual shifts via the gear lever or steering wheel-mounted paddle controls with no interruption of the engine’s power delivery across seven ratios.
The first of the two clutches serves the odd-numbered gears and reverse, and the second the even-numbered gears, so when the A4 or A5 are travelling in third gear, for instance, fourth is already pre-selected in anticipation. As soon as the shift command is given, the first clutch is disengaged and the second engaged in just a few hundredths of a second, virtually seamlessly.
The sporting credentials of both A4 and A5 2.0 TFSI quattro models can not only be enhanced by the new S tronic transmission, but also by the extra cost option of the Audi drive select adaptive dynamics system. With its influence over throttle response, transmission points, steering weighting and damper control Audi drive select delivers the sharpest possible response and the highest degree of poise in all situations.
New Executive SE and Executive S line models
In A4 models it is also now possible to further enhance appeal through highly cost effective specification upgrades following the introduction of new Executive SE and Executive S line trim lines. In addition to the SE equipment list, which among its highlights features 17-inch 7-arm alloy wheels, three-zone climate control, an Audi Concert CD audio system and automatic headlight and wiper operation, Executive SE specification brings an upgrade to 17-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels, an Audi Symphony audio system with six CD autochanger, cruise control and mobile phone preparation. The Executive SE trim line carries a premium of £635 over the SE model, representing a saving of £480 compared with the cost of adding each item individually.The more sporting S line option that is available at extra cost for all A4 Saloon and Avant models includes 18-inch alloy wheels, a unique S line front and rear bumper design, extended side skirts, xenon headlights flanked by distinctive LED daytime running lights and S line sports suspension lowered by 20mm. Inside, it adds leather and cloth combination sports seats, a 3-spoke S line sports steering wheel, matt brushed aluminium inlays and a perforated leather gear knob.
S line models can also be given the Executive treatment – the Executive S line models that are new for 2009 upgrade to Alcantara and leather combination sports seats, the Symphony audio system with CD changer, cruise control and mobile phone preparation. At £635, the Executive S line premium saves £650 over the cost of the individual items.
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Ferrari ‘Pontoon-Fender’ Testa Rossa Expected To Break World Auction Record
RM Auctions, in association with Sotheby’s, will present one of the most historically significant and valuable Ferrari racing cars ever offered at auction, the legendary 1957 Ferrari 250 TR (chassis no. 0714TR), when the famed Ferrari Leggenda e Passione event returns to Maranello, May 17, 2009. Held during the final stretch of the famous Mille Miglia retrospective, the exclusive annual event will offer an unprecedented collection of historic Ferraris for auction. (more…) -
New 500 Start&Stop Gets Started
A new option on the Fiat 500, which will give the popular city car even better fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures, has just been introduced.Called Fiat 500 Start&Stop, the new technology is based on the most successful 500 version – the 1.2 Lounge – and benefits from the combined expertise of automotive parts specialist Bosch and Fiat Powertrain Technologies. (more…)
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New Bravo Diesel 2.0 Multijet: More Power, Less Fuel, Lower Emissions
A stylish new fleet challenger from Fiat will allow company car drivers to enjoy increased power and performance, while maintaining impressive fuel economy and low tax bills.Fiat’s stylish mid-size Bravo hatchback is now available with a new 165bhp 2.0-litre 16v MultiJet engine, which will replace the current 1.9 MultiJet. The new engine is ‘greener’ than its predecessor, thanks to Euro V compliance and a diesel particulate filter that reduces CO2 emissions to just 139g/km – resulting in low 18 per cent Benefit in Kind tax bills for company car drivers. (more…)
