Car Makes – Page 388 – Automobiles Review

Alfa Romeo Celebrates 60th Anniversary of Original 1954 Giulietta Sprint

2014 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint is an edition which is created with the aim to celebrate a key moment in Alfa Romeo’s heritage. Precisely, it is the 60th anniversary of the launch of the original and first 1954 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint. This was a car that achieved great success, looked stunningly beautiful and was relatively affordable. Back then, the vehicle was a result of company’s transition from a low-volume manufacturer to that of a successful “premium” car brand.

The new and the original Giulietta Sprint share many similar characteristics. For instance, the new version is also powered by an engine of less than 1,400cc in capacity. The difference here is that for the 2014 model year the unit was equipped with MultiAir valve management and an intercooled turbocharger.

These additions improve car’s power output to more than twice that of the original Sprint’s 1.3-litre twin-cam engine. To be more precise, the 1.4-litre TB MultiAir petrol engine generates 150 hp (110 kW) and 250 Nm (185 lb-ft) of torque.

The result is an acceleration time of 8.2 seconds for the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h. The top speed is positioned at 130 mph, while the fuel efficiency figures speak of 49.6 mpg (in the combined cycle). The CO2 emissions are estimated at just 131g/km.

To control these 150 hp, the 2014 Giulietta Sprint is equipped with 17-inch, five-hole design alloy wheels fitted with 225/45 R17 rubbers. As an anniversary edition, the car also gets some exclusive features. Such are the special badging on the front wings, sports rear bumper side skirts, sports rear diffuser with oversized exhaust trim and dark-tinted windows.

Inside, the designers added carbon-effect door panels and dashboard surround, new sports, leather-wrapped steering wheel with red stitching and new seats with cloth and Alcantara-upholstery, red stitching and “Sprint” logo embroidered into the headrests.

2014 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint will be available in the first months of next year. For the United Kingdom it will have a starting price of £20,490.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1.4 TP 150 HP S&S
ENGINE	Layout, cylinders, capacity	In-line transverse 4-cyl 1,368cc
	Bore × stroke	72×84mm
	Compression ratio	9.8:1
	Max power	150hp @ 5,500 rpm
	Peak torque	250Nm at 2,500 rpm
	Timing system (control)	Toothed belt, hydraulic tappets, MultiAir intake system
	Supply	MPFI turbo-charging, MultiAir direct valve control system, intercooler
	Stop&Start	Standard
	Fuel tank	60 litres
TRANSMISSION	Drive, Gearbox	Front, Manual six-speed
WEIGHTS	Kerb weight	1,290 kg
WEIGHTS	Max. towable braked/unbraked	500 / 1,300 kg
PERFORMANCE	Top speed	130 mph
PERFORMANCE	0-62 mph (1 person + 30 kg)	8.2 seconds
ECONOMY (1999/100/EC)	Urban cycle MPG	37.2 MPG (7.6 L/100km)
	Extra-urban cycle	61.4 MPG (4.6 L/100km)
	Combined cycle	49.6 MPG (5.7 L/100km)
EMISSIONS	CO2 (Certification)	131 g/km (Euro 6)

Source: Alfa Romeo

December 19, 2014

Spyker Cars Announces Bankruptcy

It is over for Spyker Cars. It appears that the luxury company from Netherlands had filed for bankruptcy earlier this month. The cause for this was that the committed bridge funding did unfortunately not reach the company in time. The CEO of Spyker said that this is a result of today’s events. The company was founded 15 years ago, when Muller set out to establish a super sports car business from scratch with a global distribution. And in fact, he and his team had great success in achieving this.

He also said that he will make everything possible to resurrect Spyker as soon as practically possible and pursue the goal to merge with a high performance electric aircraft manufacturer for the development of revolutionary electric Spykers with disruptive sustainable technology.

Spyker N.V. is a Dutch based automobile company that produces high-end sports cars. It was founded in 1999 by Victor Muller and Maarten de Bruijn. Since 2000 the company has been creating exclusive sports cars like the B6 Venator Spyder Concept and the C8 Aileron Spyder.

In the years between 2002 and 2006, Spyker built the C8 Double 12 S. The car was offered with five performance stages ranging from 400 hp (294 kW) to 620 hp (456 kW). From 2002 till 2007, Spyker built the C8 Spyder T which featured a powerplant capable of 525 horsepower (386 kW) and 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 4.0 seconds.

Almost ten years ago, in 2005, Maarten de Bruijn left the company, while a year later the company built the C12 La Turbie with the 500 hp (367 kW) V12 engine. Spyker bought out the Midland F1 team in 2006 entering the motorsport world.

The year after that the company from Netherlands collaborated with the Italian Zagato. The result is the C12 Zagato offering fast speeds, great looks and the trademark roof bubbles. Some consider this the most successful of all Spyker models up to date.

The next seven year Spyker wrote history and released many exclusive cars, and it did that extremely well! We sincerely hope that this is not the end for the company, because we are sure that there is so much more to see from it!

Source: Spyker

December 19, 2014

Nissan Juke Nismo RS: UK Prices

The sportiest Nissan Juke NISMO RS ever has finally been revealed and it comes for the price of £21,995 OTR. The car arrives with a stronger body structure, more acute handling, more powerful brakes and refined performance dynamics.

Power is unleashed by the 1.6-litre DIG-T engine that produces 218 PS (160 kW). The maximum torque in two-wheel drive/manual transmission vehicles is 280Nm. Nevertheless, the 2WD models take advantage of a mechanical Limited Slip Differential (LSD) on the driven front wheels, when four-wheel drive models are equipped with a Torque Vectoring System as standard. Nissan’s Xtronic transmission with 250Nm of torque and standard-fit steering wheel-mounted paddle shifts are also available.

Additionally, other enhancements which are related to the improved engine performance include; strategic body strengthening that is set to increase torsional stiffness and a more powerful braking system. The latter has larger discs than the initial Nismo vehicle. The set of dynamic refinements is further complemented by revised springs and dampers.

Something else that outlines the car’s characteristics is the presence of the Safety Pack which includes: Xenon headlamps, Nissan’s Around View Monitor and Safety Shield, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning and Moving Object Detection.

The range of exterior colors offers a choice between Storm White, Pearl Black and Blade Silver.

Yet, if people find the price too expensive for their wallets, there is one solution: finding other Nissan Juke crossover models for less money. How can this happen? Well, it is easy. Websites such as Jennings Motor Group offer a great number of vehicles which are not only super affordable but have also preserved their high-quality characteristics and virtues.

Source: Nissan

December 18, 2014

Infiniti Lifts the Covers Off: Concept Vision Gran Turismo is Here [VIDEO]

Infiniti Concept Vision Gran Turismo was just fully revealed! The luxury company has removed the covers from the new vehicle, which will be included in the popular Gran Turismo 6 (GT6) game. The PlayStation3 users don’t have to wait further, because the concept car can be now downloaded. In addition, the supercar also exemplifies a vision of what a high performance Infiniti could look like in the future.

In fact, the model was created through close collaboration with the creators of the racing game. It is a project that started as a competition to “design a pure Infiniti GT car”. Of course, there was a winning model. It was born from the theme put forward by Infiniti’s Design team in Beijing.

Car’s shape is powerful, sensual and at the same time audacious.

As you can see, it is an instance of an ambitious racing vehicle. The development of Vision Gran Turismo started with hand sketching. It then proceeded with digital refinement and later – by hand sculpting refinement. Then it returned again to digital for final refinement.

Even more, the team actually went through examinations and calculations of technical features such as aerodynamics and engine performance. To be more precise, the front mid-ship / trans-axle powertrain allows for a finely distributed 45:55 front/rear weight balance. This actually allows users to enjoy rear drifting.

In terms of aerodynamics, the under-floor airflow control, front and back diffusers, and the one-of-a-kind rear spoiler enables the vehicle to achieve high performance without any sacrifices on the design of the body.

Video Source: YouTube

Source: Infiniti

December 18, 2014

Honda FCV Concept To Make NAIAS Debut in January

Honda FCV Concept will demonstrate its capabilities at the 2015 NAIAS this January. The vehicle will be making a North American debut showing-off the exterior and interior styling evolution. The next-generation zero emissions Honda fuel-cell vehicle is created with the aim to provide significant gains in terms of packaging, interior space and fuel efficiency. At the same time it is also destined to show real-world performance due to its driving range in excess of 300-miles!

Honda’s next fuel-cell vehicle is anticipated to launch in the U.S. following its introduction in Japan. This is scheduled to happen around March 2016. The new FCV Concept includes a low and wide aerodynamic body and impresses with its clean flowing lines.

Inside, the cabin strives to attain harmony between man and machine. This is achieved via the new powertrain packaging techniques that have delivered even greater passenger space. There is seating for up to five people.

FCV Concept uses electricity produced through the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen as a power source for its motor. In addition, the car is equipped with a 70 MPa high-pressure hydrogen storage tank that delivers a range that exceeds 700 km. The tank can be easily refilled in only three minutes.

We have seen the Honda FCV Concept making a world debut in Japan this November. After this, Honda announced that it will make an effort to support the wider introduction of fuel-cell vehicles. It will provide FirstElement Fuel with $13.8 million in financial assistance to build additional hydrogen refueling stations throughout the state of California.

In fact, in July 2002 the original FCX became the first EPA- and CARB-certified fuel-cell vehicle. Moreover, it was world’s first production fuel-cell vehicle introduced to the United States and Japan. In 2008 Honda was the first manufacturer to build a production fuel-cell vehicle. What is more, the company was also the first manufacturer to create a fuel-cell vehicle dealer network.

Source: Honda

December 18, 2014

Lexus Announcing new F-High-Performance Model. Could it be a GS F?

Lexus just teased with couple of images its addition to the F-high-performance range. This is the second vehicle that will be added to company’s growing stable of F cars. Earlier this year the luxury automaker unveiled the brand new RC F and announced that it will debut at 2015 Auto Show in Detroit. This is where we will also see the reveal of a new F model. In particular, it is scheduled for 13th of January, so don’t expect it earlier.

RC F is expected to be launched in February next year. It is powered by a 5.0-litre, 32-valve V8 engine. This unit was specifically created for the car. It is linked to a calibrated eight-speed Sports Direct Shift transmission thanks to which it can help the sports vehicle achieve an impressive 450 hp (330 kW) and 520 Nm (384 lb-ft).

Besides this information and the two photos, the Japanese brand did not disclose anything else. We are wondering whether this is a more extreme version of the RC F or a brand new one. Rumors suggest that the car is likely to be based on the GS line-up.

Judged by the pictures, the highly-probable GS F features new headlights and boomerang-shaped DRLs. There is also a more masculine front bumper and multi-spoke lightweight alloy wheels finished in black. Underneath them we see oversized brakes. We also see that Lexus added carbon-fiber bits.

Source: Lexus

December 18, 2014

2016 Toyota Tacoma to get new LED Running Lights?

The second teaser of 2016 Toyota Tacoma is here. We have seen already the back of the truck and now it is time to take a look at its front. The vehicle will be introduced officially at the North American International Auto Show on 12th of January. Probably this is when the full reveal will happen and we are not going to see anything else but teasers ahead of it. The new vehicle is expected to raise the bar again and take everything to a new level.

Details released by Toyota are extremely scarce. And although it is a single image shared, it tells a lot. First, the grille – it is hexagonal and outlined in chrome. Next – the intake is positioned below the grille and visually connects the fog lights.

We continue with the most exclusive element of the front design which is the lights. The truck received brand new headlights that obviously feature LED running lights.

In terms of performance we expect that the Japanese company is to set a new benchmark for midsize pickups. There is no information on powertrain but rumors say that it is a brand new one, specifically developed for the Tacoma. What we are sure of is that the new pickup-truck will have a 4×4 driving configuration.

We also assume that the new model will look like all the new midsize trucks, especially like the TRD Pro Series. Stay tuned, because Toyota has promised to release more information on the 2016 Tacoma very soon.

Source: Toyota

December 18, 2014

Hennessey Introduces VelociRaptor 600 Supercharged

Ford’s famous Raptor is appraised for its 411 horsepower (302 kW) and baja pre-runner capabilities. Not only is it one of the most popular truck models, but also the most capable 4×4’s ever built. Unfortunately, Ford has discontinued Raptor’s production, leaving a void in the market for 2015. The good news here is that the tuning company Hennessey Performance has created a special vehicle called the VelociRaptor 600 Supercharged.

This is actually an upgrade for Ford’s new aluminum-bodied pick-ups. As we can see, there are some new design tweaks, but what we can’t grasp from the pictures is that the vehicle has lost almost 700 pounds. This simply signifies of even greater level of performance.

Key to the 2015 VelociRaptor is its 600+ horsepower (441 kW). It was achieved via the Roots-type supercharger that packs 8 psi of boost. In addition, the 5.0L V8 breathes more deeply thanks to the high-flow air induction system and stainless-steel exhaust system.

There are also upgrades for the fuel injectors that help feed the supercharged V8. VelociRaptor 600 Supercharged package will also feature 33 inch BFGoodrich tires coupled with 17 inch Hennessey wheels. Other improvements include custom off-road coilover suspension, upgraded front and rear bumpers, front winch, LED light bars and Brembo brakes.

There will be only 500 units of the 2015 Hennessey VelociRaptor 600 Supercharged produced. The starting price is estimated at $73,500 USD.

Source: Hennessey Performance

December 17, 2014

Range Rover Sport SVR Tested to the Limit [VIDEO]

This year Range Rover Sport SVR has been crowned “The fastest Land Rover” ever produced, due to the blistering performance it shows. Land Rover has just released a film, which shows the adjustability, poise and body control of the model. The video can be viewed below. In it you will see how the Range Rover is put through its paces. The dramatic film shows how Mike Cross, the Chief Engineer at Jaguar Land Rover, demonstrates the aforementioned qualities of the vehicle. Oh, and we forgot to say that this Land Rover is not only the fastest ever produced in company’s line-up, but also the most powerful one.

In the footage below, you will also see how and hear Cross’ explanations of sophisticated drivetrain and advanced four-wheel drive chassis technology of the Sport SVR. They make it possible for the vehicle to deliver exceptional high speed handling characteristics. And all of this happens at the Rockingham circuit in the UK.

The SVR has been created by Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations team. It is driven by the V8 petrol engine that produces 550 horsepower (404 kW) and 680 Nm (501 lb-ft) of torque. Thanks to these “horses”, the car can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in only 4.5 seconds.

As this video shows how the Range Rover Sport SVR takes the level of performance in its stride. It displays great on-the-limit balance, even when its range of electronic traction and stability aids are turned off.

Source: Land Rover

December 17, 2014

Meet the 520 HP G-Power BMW M4!

G-Power has released a tuning program for the sixth generation BMW M3 and M4 series. The car depicted on the images below is the M4 F82 and it is driven by the 3.0 litres six-cylinder engine, which includes a “default” Biturbo charge that has served as the perfect basis for an additional power increase. Due to an optimization of the motor electronics, engine’s output has now grown to 520 hp (382 kW) at 5,500–7,300 Rpm. This is an increase of 89 hp (65 kW) in comparison to the production 431 hp (317 kW).

All of this was made possible due to the addition of the Bi-Tronik 5 V1 module to the original motor control unit. There is not only an increase of horses but also in Newton meters. They have grown from 550 Nm (406 lb-ft) to 700 Nm (517 lb-ft), thus giving the BMW noticeably powerful performance.

Due to this power therapy, the M4 reaches the 100 km/h in mere 3.9 seconds, while the 0-200 km/h acceleration sprint is covered in 11.8 seconds. The maximum speed was also raised and it now exceeds 325 km/h.

This added power needs more attention in terms of wheels. For this reason, the tuners at G-Power have decided to endow the vehicle with light-weight 20-inch Huricane RR forged wheel set made in-house. The wheels were then fitted with Michelin tyres in the size of 245/30ZR20 at the front and 285/25ZR20at the rear.

What has been left unmentioned is the new GM4-RS-threaded undercarriage. It optimizes the driving behavior because it is height- and pressure-adjustable.

Source: G-Power

December 17, 2014

Acura Shares First Glimpses at 2016 NSX Production Model [VIDEO]

As a huge fan of Honda the next news are extremely exciting for me! And it is not “a big deal” unless you have been waiting to see the production version of the highly anticipated 2016 Acura NSX supercar. Yes, that’s right! The successor of the legendary original NSX is scheduled to make its global debut on 12^th of January at the next edition of the North American International Auto Show. The model will not only include the styling cues of its predecessor but also will be a real example of the production car, which his slated to launch in 2015.

Acura has released four images giving not so vague idea of what we are to expect. In addition, there is also a new video called “My Way” which comes to promote the NSX. The 30-second teaser video shares an early glimpse of the production car and the sound of its three-motor, twin-turbocharged Sport Hybrid power unit. You can view the film below.

In addition, the Japanese company is promising that the NSX is destined to deliver a ‘new sports experience’. The new model will serve as the ultimate expression of Acura performance that is fueling a reenergized brand.

The NSX concept model was revealed for the first time at the same show in 2012. After three years of intensive development Acura is finally displaying the next-gen supercar. What we have also understood is that the team behind this project has developed a human-centered supercar that responds to the driver’s will and that builds upon the NSX heritage.

Source: Honda

December 17, 2014

RevoZport Releases Aero-Boost for CLA Shooting Brake

Fantastic news from RevoZport! The tuning company is continuing its success on the Mercedes-Benz A- and CLA-Class with the introduction of new package specifically developed for the CLA Shooting Brake that has been released recently. The packages will be called RZA-290 and RZA-450 just like those for the A and CLA models. The only difference is in the size of the vehicles.

First, the RZA-290 package was catered for the CLA 250 and CLA 200 models with AMG bodykit. There is an engine upgrade included, which improves the standard horsepower coming from the powerplant to 290 hp (213 kW).

Next, the RZA-450 is based on the AMG CLA 45 and includes an engine upgrade to 450 hp (330 kW). This improvement in horsepower was achieved with the help of ECU remapping, the new intake system, down pipe and a full titanium exhaust system.

There is also an aerokit that goes for the RZA-290. It comprises of the following: front splitter system and bumper canard, side skirt system and rear diffuser with ground effect system. The latter was designed to create higher downforce. Also something to note is that this new element of the package is made of carbon fiber composite.

The aero package for the RZA-450 for AMG CLA 45 adds a lot of carbon fiber. The material has been used for the design of the front splitter, bumper, side skirts and rear diffuser. We also have to mention the stainless steel down pipe and the titanium exhaust system.

RevoZport-Mercedes-Benz-CLA-Shooting-Brake-02

Source: RevoZport

December 17, 2014

Category: Car Makes