Car Makes – Page 640 – Automobiles Review

Cenit Verde Presents The SEAT Leon Verde Hybrid Electric Prototype

SEAT Leon Verde Hybrid Electric Prototype has just been unveiled. The environmental-friendly vehicle is based on the new Leon and is a culmination of a four-year research project called Cenit Verde, which translates as Green Zenith.

The project was headed by SEAT’s Technical Centre in Martorell and in addition was supported by the Spain’s Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. Next to the presented car today, the Cenit Verde project also includes the development of an innovative smart car charging system.

The latter aims to charge the car during those times, when the electricity grid is experiencing low demand. This saves the both money and reduces the strain on the energy grid. In this sense, the SEAT Leon Verde is an embodiment of the Cenit Verde project. The vehicle is powered by a 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine with 122 hp (90 kW) which is connected to a 102 hp (75 kW) electric motor.

The electric-only driving range of this SEAT on a full charge is 31 miles. When the battery is full battery and the 40-litre petrol tank is also full, the total range is estimated around 507 miles. The combined fuel consumption figure here is 176.6 mpg and the CO2 emissions are just 36 g/km.

Furthermore, the Leon Verde is equipped with advanced technologies. An instance is the Human-Machine Interface (HMI) which has been integrated into a smartphone app. This allows the driver to connect to the car via a wireless network with his or her smartphone and in turn this enables managing of the functions such as energy consumption, battery status, recharge management and estimated CO2 savings in electric mode.

What is more, the Driving Cycle Predictor analyses and memorizes the routines and driving style of the driver. This serves in terms of optimizing energy consumption and decreasing the CO2 emissions.

In the project as mentioned was also developed the ground-breaking system of tariff negotiation and smart energy management. It effectively allows the car to ‘interact’ with the electricity grid and this reduces the pressure on the grid and saves driver’s money.

The system operates by detecting when the overall energy consumption is low on the grid and points to charging during these times. In addition, if the car is left plugged into a power source between 7 pm and 7 am, the same system will only charge the car at times when it detects the overall demand has dropped, using a recharge manager.

The Leon Verde is charged via Lear 20 kW on-board charger, which allows two-way connection to the grid.

SEAT Leon Verde prototype is only in a research and development form. Unfortunately, there are no current plans to put the car into series production.

Source: SEAT

June 12, 2013

Bugatti Veyron vs Nissan Juke R [video]

Dragtimesinfo has published an epic battle between tuned Nissan Juke R and stock Bugatti Veyron.

The Veyron is one of the fastest super cars in the world. It is powered by a W16 8.0 liter quad-turbocharged engine with 1,001HP (736 kW) and 1,250Nm (922 lb-ft) of torque. 0-100 km/h in 2.5 seconds and 0-300 km/h in 16.7 seconds. ¼ mile in 10.2 seconds. That’s the factory’s data, but in the real world the situation is slightly different.

The Veyron in the video managed to cover ¼ mile in 11.276 seconds with 214 km/h terminal speed, which is over a second slower than the claimed time. Other interesting fact is the terminal speed at 1 mile – 309 km/h, which the Bugatti made in 27.067 seconds, instead of 18-19 seconds. Still, the Veyron is a winner in this match, just because of its aerodynamics.

On the other side, the Juke R Shpili Villi is having “just” 700HP, but it covered ¼ mile in 10.575 seconds with 212 km/h. The 1 mile time is 28.075 seconds with 285 km/h mainly because of its front drag area.

Enjoy the video, where the underpowered SUV almost won a drag race versus the ultra-expensive “supercar”.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTSbPB3nXDM

Source: Dragtimesinfo

June 12, 2013

Better Performance: Schmidt Revolution BMW 335i F30

Schmidt Revolution BMW 335i F30 delivers better performance. How? By the irreversible evidence of physics that the performance of the unit depends on the mass to be moved. And this is why the tuners have paid attention to the weight saving.

The first visible modification on this BMW is the new rims, which include RADINOX®-technology. The latter offers special stainless steel alloy material which is absolutely corrosion free. In addition it provides compressive strength in the cases of kerbing damage for instance.

To be more precise, this BMW 335i F30 three-piece 20-inch wheels are carrying the name Schmidt Revolution FS Line and are in sizes 8,5×20 and 10×20 inches at the front and rear respectively. They are fitted with Continental 5P tyres in size 235/35-20 and 265/30-20, on the front and rear axle.

Another tuning brand has been involved in this transformation and it is Lightweight, which has offered this BMW an improvement in performance in two levels. The first level enhances the power output to 336 hp (247 kW) and 460 Nm (338 lb-ft) of torque at 5.700 rpm. The second one – the level two, increases the power of this vehicle up to 365 hp (268 kW) and 480 Nm (353 lb-ft) of torque at 5.600.

Furthermore, the muffer made from titanium is also delivered by Leightweight. It includes two 80-mm-tail pipes for the adaptation to the series system and it also contributes to some additional visual accents. In order to optimize the driving dynamics, the specialists have given the car Bilstein-B12-chassis with stabilizers from Eibach.

Source: Miranda Media

June 12, 2013

Bentley Continental GT3 Project In Development

Bentley Continental GT3 Concept Racer was officially unveiled at the Paris Auto Salon last year. Since then engineers have been working on the Continental GT3 in preparation for Bentley’s highly anticipated return to the track.

For this project the brand has been working with the help of the experts at M-Sport Ltd1. Over the last six months the race-ready version of the Continental has been taking material shape.

More importantly, the model is powered by a race-configured and efficient 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine. The unit is mated with a six-speed sequential racing gearbox. In addition, the vehicle’s chassis system includes double wishbone suspension, four-way adjustable dampers and competition brakes.

In addition the Continental GT road car is more than 1000 kg lighter thanks to the removal of equipment and parts such as double glazing, over fifty ECUs and extensive electrical systems. What is more, some other replacements here include the substitution of the exquisitely trimmed Continental GT doors with their race versions. The latter weigh just 12% of the originals.

The doors, boot lid and bonnet are now hand-crafted in carbon fibre. On the other hand the emblematic silhouette of the road car is retained. The bodyshell itself benefits from a comprehensive FIA-specification roll cage.

At the same time, the carbon fibre racing seat has been trimmed and the racing steering wheel includes exclusive stitching. Bentley Continental GT3 will soon be ready to begin a test programme ahead of its race debut, when more details about the vehicle will be announced.

Source: Bentley

June 12, 2013

2013 Skoda Yeti Adventure Edition – UK Price £18,640

Skoda has released the pricing of the 2013 Yeti Adventure Edition. The Adventure Edition is based on the best-selling SE trim level but includes more than £2,250 worth of additional equipment at no extra cost.

The exterior comes in either Candy White or Brilliant Silver Metallic. It is distinguished by black accents, silver roof rails and 17” Matterhorn-style alloy wheels.

Inside, the special edition Adventure upholstery comes with striking silver stitching and tyre print design. In addition to SE trim equipment, Yeti Adventure includes Amundsen+ satellite navigation, DAB digital radio, Bluetooth connectivity and a multi-function steering wheel to control the audio system and telephone.

There are two version of the 2.0 liter TDI – 110HP (81 kW) in two-wheel drive models and 140 HP (103 kW) in all-wheel drive models. Both are paired exclusively to a manual transmission in the special edition.

The Yeti Adventure Edition will hit the market on July 22^nd and pricing starts at £18,640. Complete with 3 years’ free servicing, it’s available through Skoda Finance.

Adventure standard equipment includes:

17-inch ‘Matterhorn’ alloy wheels
Black roof with black door mirrors
Silver roof rails
Black side mouldings with chrome ledges
Unique ‘Adventure’ logo on C-pillar
Special ‘Adventure’ upholstery
Leathergearshift gaiter and handbrake grip
Textile floor mats
Amundsen+ satellite navigation with DAB digital radio
Multi-function steering wheel with controls for Bluetooth and radio
Striking silver stitching cabin detail
Bluetooth GSM II telephone preparation
Sunset glass
Metallic paint (FOC if selected)
Acoustic rear parking sensors
Cruise control
Dual-zone air conditioning
Maxi-dot trip computer
Front fog lights
Front centre armrest with storage compartment

Source: Skoda

June 11, 2013

Peugeot RCZ R Concept Makes International Debut At Goodwood

Peugeot RCZ R Concept is going to make its international debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on 12th of July. The car was previewed at this year’s Geneva Motor Show and in Paris in a matt black and copper livery that heralds the spiritual stance of a road-going RCZ R.

As a matter of fact, the RCZ R is the peak of the evolution of the original RCZ Concept, the production version of which was three-time class-winning Nürburgring race car. The latter was the inspiration behind the road-going RCZ R.

RCZ R uses 1.6-litre THP unit capable of developing 260 hp (191 kW). This number makes the vehicle the most powerful production Peugeot in brand’s history. In addition, its efficiency will be a benchmark with power/capacity of over 160hp/litre and with CO2 emissions at just 155g/km.

The concept also offers race-bred driving experience thanks to its bespoke suspension set-up, a specific and distinctive wheel design, combined with a Torsen®limited slip differential and masterful torque.

At Goodwood two red RCZ Rs will be showcased for the first time in public. As a matter of fact, this first look at the new Peugeot concept happens ahead of its official launch at the end of the year.

The French brand always aims at the production of vehicles which are compact, durable and have highly-efficient engines. This design strategy always results in the production of successful cars and competition vehicles, and culminates in brand’s most powerful road car – the Peugeot RCZ R Concept.

Source: Peugeot

June 11, 2013

BMW E46 M3 CSL – 10th Anniversary [video]

BMW has published a new video to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the famous E46 M3 CSL. The sports car is designed to be the ultimate driving machine… and it is!

Essentially, this is the lightweight version of the E46 M3 with some additional power, of course. The interior is a little stripped, there is a lighter rear window and some other lightweight components like a carbon fiber reinforced plastic roof, center console and trunk.

The curb weight is pretty decent 1,385 kg (3,054 lbs), which is over 110kg (243 lbs) less than a standard E46 M3. Remember that the CSL also comes with 19” alloy wheels with performance tires and improved braking and traction.

The heart of E46 M3 CSL is a 3.2 liter naturally aspirated I-6 with 360HP (265 kW) at 7,900RPM and 370Nm (270 lb-ft) of torque at 4,900RPM. The engine is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 308 km/h (191 mph). ¼ mile in 13.0 seconds with 170 km/h (106 mph). A lap around Nurburgring is done within 7 minutes and 50 seconds.

Totally 1,383 units were produced.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW1ID6Zd6Q0

Source: BMW

June 11, 2013

Debut Of Toyota Camatte57s Concept

Toyota Motor Corporation is planning to showcase a sporty open-top and family-oriented concept vehicle at the International Tokyo Toy Show 2013. The event will take place from 13th till 16th of June.

The concept car is named “Camatte57s” and through it the brand aims to bring parents and children closer together in their collaboration on building their ideal car. It also provides the opportunity of both parents and children to gather experience in the fun of driving, car customization and car enthusiasm.

When compared to the previous model – “Camatte” (exhibited last year), the new “Camatte57s” allows an even greater ease and range of customization possibilities. Some of its major features include detachable body panels that enable easy and extensive customization. To be more precise, the car’s body exterior comprises of 57 detachable small lightweight panels. This of course results in more opportunities of various design customizations.

Next, it is important to mention, that this car features an open-top roadster styling with compact and intimate interior. For instance, the roofless design always contributes for more liberating driving experience and enhancement in the visibility.

Furthermore, the seats are in a closely arranged triangular form: there is only one front seat and two rear seats. This puts highlight on the family intimacy and facilitate communication.

The third radical innovation in the design of the “Camatte57s” is that it can be driven even by children. For example, the acceleration and braking pedals and seats can be adjusted in such way that they can be operated by children. In this case, an adult seats in the rear-right seat and assists steering and braking.

Camatte57s Main Specifications

Length	3,000 mm
Width	1,440 mm
Height	1,000 mm
Wheelbase	1,800 mm
Seating capacity	3
Propulsion	Electric motor

Source: Toyota

June 11, 2013

2014 Jaguar XF 2.2 ECO Diesel – 163HP and 400Nm

Jaguar has announced the new 2014 XF 2.2-liter ECO diesel, which comes with improved fuel consumption at lower price.

The engine is available for the Saloon and Sportbrake versions. It delivers 163HP (120 kW) at 3,500RPM and 400Nm (295 lb-ft) at 2,000RPM. The fuel consumption is just 4.9 liters / 100 km – 57.7 mpg UK with CO2 emissions of 129 g/km. 0-100 km/h in 10.5 seconds and a top speed of 209 km/h (130 mph).

Aside from the revised engine, the Jaguar XF also benefits from an updated SAT NAV system which packs one-way road visualization, smart keyboard and more intuitive mapping.

“The 2014 XF with this revised engine calibration opens up the unique Jaguar ownership experience to a whole new segment. Cost-conscious drivers, business users and fleet managers will be able to enjoy the refinement, luxury and seductive design of a Jaguar while benefiting from its low emissions and high fuel efficiency.”, commented Jeremy Hicks, Managing Director of Jaguar Land Rover UK.

XF MY14 ECO 2.2-litre diesel technical specification*

	XF 2.2 ECO Diesel
Engine	2.2-litre in-line 4cyl diesel
Capacity (cc)	2179
Peak Power (PS@rpm)	163@3500
Peak Torque (Nm@rpm)	400@2000-5500
Transmission	Eight-speed automatic
Intelligent Stop/Start	Yes
0-60mph (secs)	9.8
0-100km/h (secs)	10.5
Top Speed (mph \| km/h)	130 \| 209
Combined Economy Saloon (UK mpg)	57.7 w/ 17” tyre 55.4 w/ 20” tyre
CO₂ Emissions Saloon (g/km)	129 w/ 17” tyre 135 w/ 20” tyre

Source: Jaguar

June 11, 2013

Star On Wheels: XXX-Performance Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro

XXX-Performance is already familiar to the automotive world with their interpretation of the bright-green Audi R8. Now the tuning specialists are releasing their second project: an extravagant and exclusive wide body Audi R8.

To be more precise, the wide-body kit it was equipped with is the aggressive GT-X650 which features broad mudguard, stone deflectors and sill-board. Some of the unique elements in the kit include air inlets in the front and rear mudguards and huge openings of the exhaust pipe-end.

Optionally, for this project there are available attached parts such as external rear-view mirrors, roof scoops, side blades and rear diffusers made of carbon fibre. This Audi was entirely wrapped in blue CFC chrome wrapping.

Furthermore, the XXX-Performance has added Audi-Plus full LED headlamps and tail-lamps which also contribute towards the aggressive and sporty stance of the car. In addition, the H&R coilover kit was converted by the tuners from steel springs to air bellows. This simply results in lowering.

The transformed R8 runs on three-part GTR Forgiato forged wheels in the dimensions 9×20 inches and 13×20 respectively for the front and the rear. They are matched with barrel-type 235/30 and 325/25 Hankook tyres.

What is more, the tuning of this vehicle also includes performance-boosting. Via chip-tuning and carbon air-box and also other additional modifications, the V10 gets an end performance output of 650 hp (478 kW). The loudness of the acoustics of the exhaust system can be regulated with the utilization of a valve control system. When the valves are open, the V10 roars out loud.

Going further to the interior, this sportscar is wrapped in real leather and feature some carbon elements and high-grade Alcantara. For instance, with the latter material are covered the centre console, instrument panel, door sheathing and roof liner.

Source: XXX-Performance

June 11, 2013

2013 Nissan Juke 1.5 dCi – Improved Fuel Economy

Nissan has announced the new improved 2013 Juke 1.5 dCi coming with lower emissions, greater fuel economy, reduced noise and more torque.

The changes include revised piezo-electric fuel injection nozzles, low-inertia variable geometry turbocharger and more efficient air intake path. In addition, a closed-loop low-pressure exhaust gas recycling (EGR) system, in which the exhaust gas is cooled before being re-introduced to the intake system, has helped ensure the unit is compatible with forthcoming EURO 6 emission regulations. Other changes include a new thermostatically-controlled variable displacement oil pump which reduces internal friction by adapting automatically to the engine’s needs and oil viscosity.

The new diesel features low friction enhancements including diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings for the tappets and now also features Nissan’s automatic Start/Stop system. With highly efficient smart management technology the engine restarts within 0.5sec of the clutch being engaged. Reduced combustion noise further enhances the unit’s overall refinement.

Over the official combined cycle, the new Juke 1.5-litre dCi returns 67.3mpg as opposed to the previous unit’s 58.9mpg, a 14 % improvement. CO₂ emissions fall from 124g/km to 109g/km.

Fuel efficiency is also helped by the use of the Nissan Dynamic Control system, which enables the driver to select from three engine settings – Eco, Normal and Sport. This system now not only selects appropriate pedal sensitivity settings in Eco and Sport modes, but also limits maximum engine torque in Eco mode to 220Nm. In Normal and Sport, the full 260Nm is available. The unit’s overall power output remains at 110HP while performance figures (109mph maximum speed, 0-62mph in 11.2sec) are also unchanged. The new generation engine will be available across all Juke grades excluding the NISMO.

Source: Nissan

June 11, 2013

Vorsteiner Bentley Continental GT – Could Only be Described as Art

Vorsteiner has introduced their latest project based on the luxurious Bentley Continental GT.

Art is defined as the expression of human creative skill and imagination producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power. The latest tuning program for the Bentley Continental GT from Vorsteiner could only be described as art.

The exterior comes with a carbon fiber front bumper that improves downforce and engine cooling. There is also a pair of new carbon fiber side skirts and a new rear bumper with with air vents and an integrated diffuser with six aerodynamic fin extensions. Last, but not least is the carbon fiber rear spoiler completing the aerodynamics improvement.

The tuning company also offers different sets of 20”, 21” and 22” forged alloy wheels fitted with low-profile tires.

Source: Vorsteiner

June 11, 2013

Category: Car Makes