Car Makes – Page 850 – Automobiles Review

2012 Smart ForTwo Price – € 10 275

Smart ForTwo has received a brand new facelift thus giving it striking new look, featuring an upgraded exterior and a fresh leather/fabric mix in the interior. It now has even more dynamic appearance, featuring a larger radiator grille with integrated logo, striking front aprons in a new design, horizontally arranged LED daytime driving lights, muscular side skirts and modified rear aprons. The chrome-coloured logo is now positioned straight on the black radiator grille. Moreover, the air inlets under the number plate have been combined into a single unit. The new, optionally available LED daytime driving lights are now arranged in horizontal fashion. There is also a choice of three new alloy wheels: the smart fortwo passion comes with a new 9-spoke alloy wheel; two additional alloy wheels fitted with wide tyres and featuring a 3-spoke and 3-twin-spoke design respectively round off the range. In addition, the choice of colours includes seven different options. , including matt anthracite for the first time.

Although the general focus here is on the exterior, there are changes inside the car as well: new, high-quality interior package in crystal grey, including a fresh leather/fabric combination for the seats, an imitation leather/fabric mix for the door trims and black imitation leather for the instrument panel in combination with a grey knee pad.Thee front grille and the rear trim strip are in silver, while the front spoiler, side skirts and rear apron are painted in the car’s exterior colour.

2012 smart fortwo will continue to be available as a coupé and cabrio version and with six engine and motor variants. The spectrum ranges from the environment-friendly electric power train in the fortwo electric drive and the efficient micro hybrid petrol engine through the powerful turbo petrol engine to the fuel-efficient cdi turbodiesel. Prices begin at € 10 275 for the smart fortwo 45 kW mhd pure.

Here is an overview of the engine range:

Model type	cc	Output kW/hp	Maximum torque	l/100 km	CO₂ g/km	0-100 km/h (s)	Top speed km/h	Purchase price in € (incl. 19% VAT)
smart fortwo 40 kW cdi	799	40/54	130 Nm	3.3 (3.3)	86 (87)	16.8	135	from 12 095
smart fortwo 45 kW mhd*	999	45/61	89 Nm	4.2 (4.3)	97 (98)	16.8	145	from 10 275
smart fortwo 52 kW mhd	999	52/71	92 Nm	4.2 (4.3)	97 (98)	13.7	145	from 10 835
smart fortwo 62 kW	999	62/84	120 Nm	4.9 (4.9)	114 (115)	10.7	145	from 12 885
smart fortwo 75 kW BRABUS	999	75/102	147 Nm	5.2	119	8.9	155	from 17 220
smart fortwo electric drive	–	35 kW constant 55 kW peak	130 Nm	–	–	< 13	> 120	under 19 000

The smart fortwo is available for ordering now. The first vehicles will reach dealers at the beginning of April.

Source: Smart

February 1, 2012

2012 Audi A6 Avant 3.0 BiTDI Quattro – Price £45 650

A lot after the astonishing success of BMW’s 3.0 liter twin-turbocharged diesel, Audi has announced their new BiTurbo TDI, which is now available for A6 Saloon and Avant and A7 Sportback models.

The manufacturer also announced the price list for these models – £43 810 OTR for 2012 Audi A6 Saloon with BiTurbo TDI, £45 650 OTR for A6 Avant with the same engine and £51 645 OTR for the premium A7 Sportback.

The new BiTDI 3.0 liter V6 delivers 313PS (230 kW) at 3900RPM and 650Nm (480 lb-ft) at just 1450RPM. This means 0 to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) – electronically limited. The combined cycle is 44.1 mpg and emissions of just 169 g/m CO2. The engine is mated to an 8-speed tiptronic automatic gearbox.

Other interesting highlight is the Sound actuator, which is positioned in the auxiliary channel of the exhaust system. The actuator system essentially consists of a speaker which imposes a defined oscillation pattern on the exhaust flow and transforms the typical TDI exhaust note into a more sonorous roar that is closer to the output of a high-performance petrol engine.

The mighty new BiTDI engine is available in conjunction with SE and S line specification in the A6 Saloon, A6 Avant and A7 Sportback. The forthcoming A6 Allroad Quattro, due to open for order in February, will also offer this exceptional unit.

Stand-out features common to all these models include satellite navigation linked to a 6.5-inch retractable colour monitor, Milano leather upholstery, the Audi drive select adaptive dynamics system controlling throttle response, transmission shift points and steering feel, the Audi parking system plus, light and rain sensors, cruise control and keyless go push-button engine ignition.

AUDI A6, A6 AVANT AND A7 SPORTBACK – UK OTR PRICING

MODEL	TRIM	PS	TRANSMISSION	CO₂ (g/km)	ECONOMY mpg (Combined)	OTR
A6 Saloon 3.0 BiTDI quattro	SE	313	8 sp Tiptronic	169	44.1	£43,810
A6 Saloon 3.0 BiTDI quattro	S line	313	8 sp Tiptronic	169	44.1	£46,160
A6 Avant 3.0 BiTDI quattro	SE	313	8 sp Tiptronic	169	44.1	£45,650
A6 Avant 3.0 BiTDI quattro	S line	313	8 sp Tiptronic	169	44.1	£48,000
A7 3.0 BiTDI quattro	SE	313	8 sp Tiptronic	169	44.1	£51,645
A7 3.0 BiTDI quattro	S line	313	8 sp Tiptronic	169	44.1	£53,435

Source: Audi

January 31, 2012

MTM Tweaks for Audi 4.2 TDI V8

Diesel engines – the workhorses of the automotive industry have been undergoing a status update for several years now. It’s not that unusual to find them in executive saloons, SUV’s and even performance cars. And when one thinks about it, what’s not to like about them? They burst with torque, run smoothly, remain loyal and reliable and are very economical. All these qualities even seem to intensify when we are talking about the magnificent Volkswagen AG TDI units.

German tuning company MTM are well aware of that but being a tuning company, they always see the potential of even more performance. Now their eyes are on the epic 4.2 TDI V8 that can be found in the Audi A8, Q7 and Touareg. The standard 350 bhp are far from insufficient but by applying an MTM special V-Cantronic, the company is able to get rid of the speed limiter and thus take the top speed up to 282 km/h. It’s a delicate procedure this and to whomever might be interested, it costs $1845 to do it (only on the A8). For a total of $2372 one can step it up a notch and amp the power to 410 bhp and 930 Nm of Torque on all vehicles with some MTM technology. Also, again only for the A8, there can be a combination of two Cantronics (an M and a V) which will break the torque barrier of 930 Nm and go even further.

To round things up, MTM are also offering different varieties of wheels, brakes, exhaust systems and chassis components which all give the A8, Q7 and the Touareg some extra character.

Source: MTM

January 31, 2012

2013 Dodge Viper SRT [teaser]

Street & Racing Technology would be teasing the new 2013 Dodge Viper on Facebook, but there is one condition – 10 000 likes before 1st February. It is pretty good advertising for Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge.

Still, the task wasn’t so hard and the page has even more likes, that’s why the teaser was released even earlier. It is hard to say anything about the car, because we can see only several lines, which are most likely from a hand drawn picture, instead of a real car.

The new 2013 Dodge Viper is expected to be at the 2012 New York Auto Show in April. Can’t way too see it’s real shape and more important – the performance characteristics.

Stay tuned!

Source: Chrysler

January 31, 2012

New Honda Civic Super Bowl Spot [VIDEO]

Evert tought what would it be to have an actual “brainstorm”. Well it seems that the people at Honda are having one on a daily basis and the results are quite dramatic. What made us think so is the new Honda Super Bowl 00.30 second spot about how a Civic is born.

It is a nice composition of CGI graphics, deep and serious narration and clever metaphors. The spark which can be seen as passion and innovation starts off from the basis of the factory and goes trough daring leaps, fears, challenges and obstacles until it culminates into the great reality that is the Civic. But lets not get too literary – Now in its ninth generation, the 2012 Civic is available from just $26 027 for the entry level (SE) 1.4-litre 100PS i-VTEC.

“We have timed the launch of the TV advert to coincide with the first cars arriving in showrooms to really maximise awareness. The advert is a synopsis of the unknown journey the engineers took to continuously improve the Civic and is brought to life in a dramatic reveal of the new model at the end.” commented Martin Moll, Head of Marketing, Honda (UK)

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhcpsWBZWNU&feature=channel_video_title

Source: Honda

January 31, 2012

Jaguar XJ220 20 Years Later

It has been 20 years since the first XJ220 rolled out from it’s own factory in Bloxham and even by today’s standards it still is a masterpiece. In 1992, the fastest one could go was 213 mph, in an XJ 220. That threshold is a challenge for today’s M5.

Originally conceived as a concept car, designed by Keith Helfet, the XJ220 was showcased on the 1988 British Motor Show. It was the kind of concept that nobody believed that it would be built but an year later production was given a green light and the TWR company was appointed as a partner.

The XJ engineers started off with some goals and then set on to build the car that can meet them. The ideas back then were visionary, daring and some even sounding impossible – it had to be light, it had to be RWD and it had to do 220 mph (hence the name XJ220). The obvious thing to do to reach such heights in velocity was to throw in a gigantic engine and let it do its job. However, fitting a V12 proved tricky (mechanically) and also because of the emissions regulation there was no way for this car to be street legal and that powerful if it were with 12 cylinders. The next best thing was turbocharging – two massive Garrett T3 turbines were bolted on the modest 3.5 L, V 6 engine and the end result was just mesmerizing: 550 PS and 475 lbs ft of torque surging trough a 5-speed gearbox and space devouring 345/35 Bridgestones. Other highlights included the AP racing twin-plate clutch and AP disc brakes with four-pot callipers. They were a bit of a handful for the ordinary everyday driver for one had to be fairly built to operate them but it all worked as charm nevertheless.

Jaguar XJ220 (1993) — Jaguar XJ220 (1992)

Despite the positive reaction of various critics and motoring enthusiasts, the XJ was a commercial failure. Production ceased in 1994, by which time only 275 cars had been built. The price was a bit too steep (740 861 U.S. Dollars) and undoubtedly it was hard to live with.

The point of this car however, was to prove how with the apt engineers of Jaguar, there are no boundaries. The silver car in attendance at the recent Jaguar Experience Day held at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon is chassis 004, one of 10 pre-production vehicles. This example was used for extensive tyre and high speed testing at Fort Stockton, Texas, in 1991. Andy Wallace achieved a maximum speed of 213 mph in the car during the testing process.

The XJ220 S was another daring project which was basically built from scrap (Le Mans spare parts really). It had single-piece carbon fibre front and rear clamshells, tweaked suspension and a claimed power of 700 PS. Inside the otherwise luxurious trim was sacrificed for the sake of Kevlar bucket seats and carbon fibre panels. It was a true sporting breed. And today it is a classic on top of that.

Source: Jaguar

January 31, 2012

SEAT Alhambra with the “Best imported MPV” award

The German trade magazine “Auto motor und sport” has hosted recently the awards for „The best cars in 2012“in Stuttgart. According to it the SEAT Alhambra is the “Best imported MPV”. Moreover the model wins this award for a second year in a row. Of course, to be highlighted here is that this multifunctional family car achieves the17.7 per cent of the reader’s votes in a clear-cut win. In addition more awards went for the brand SEAT. It is namely the SEAT Ibiza which got 10.1 per cent of the votes and hence got the third place in the category of imported small cars. This is the 36th edition of “The best cars” awards. In this year’s edition, more than 116,000 readers of “Auto motor und sport” participated in order to choose their favorites of 311 car models in ten categories. The award that the Alhambra got is an obvious sign for its outstanding quality and functionality. Moreover the SEAT Alhambra sustains its winning streak which started from the very start of its launch at the end of 2010. Additionally, it also was named the “Best MPV of the year” by the prestigious British trade magazine “What car?”, and even more: it also won the “AutoTrophy”, which is the readers’ award of the German “Auto Zeitung”. It also has to be highlighted the both awards are also for the second year in a row.

Source: SEAT

January 31, 2012

2012 Honda CR-V Commercial for Super Bowl XLVI [VIDEO]

More sneak peaks on exciting and creative commercials are revealed today. This time the spotlights are on the all-new 2012 Honda CR-V. In the advertisement is starring the award-winning actor Matthew Broderick. He acts in the campaign which promotes and supports the launch of the all-new Honda CR-V. It also encourages the active audience transitioning between their twenties and their thirties to conquer their aspirations by completing their own “Leap List.” It’s no secret that the CR- is a pillar vehicle in the Honda lineup, but the goal of the ad is to bring to it even more fun and youthfulness, which are inherent to the brand.

To go further into details, Broderick is playing himself while drawing on his well-known coming-of-age character, which the CR-V target audience grew up watching. More importantly, the commercial reminds viewers to go out and embrace life by doing whatever you want to do and not just the things included in the “have to” list.

"Matthew's Day Off" Super Bowl XLVI Commercial — “Matthew’s Day Off” Super Bowl XLVI Commercial

Below is included a pre-game release of almost 2 minutes and a half extended version of the video of the commercial, called “Matthew’s Day Off”.

Source: Honda

January 31, 2012

2012 Acura NSX Concept Commercial for Super Bowl XLVI

Exciting and interactive news about the brand Acura are now at hand because it will debut for the first time in its history with a commercial during the Super Bowl championship game. As we all are familiar this championship is being watched from more than 100 million viewers. In details it is going to be a sixty seconds commercial, and the “deal” in it is the featuring the iconic talent of Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno coupled with the highly anticipated Acura NSX supercar concept. And if you are eager now to view the ad, then you have to stay tuned during the third quarter of the championship, when it will be aired. Moreover the advertisement is expected to build even more attention around the concept car, which has achieved great success at the North American International Auto Show. This is the grand preparation for the future return of the legendary NSX to the Acura lineup.

This commercial is called “Transactions” and more importantly depicts the over-the-top antics of two actual top car collectors, Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno, in an unrelenting bid to be the first in line to take delivery on the first Acura NSX. The aim of the Acura is obviously to present the car as the ultimate “must have” sport car. In addition, the Super Bowl campaign includes a pre-game release of an extended version of “Transactions”, which you can view below. And at last, to remind all Acura fans, in the spring is going to be the launch of the highly expected all-new RDX crossover sport utility vehicle and the introduction of the all-new ILX luxury compact sedan.

Source: Acura

January 31, 2012

Subaru XV Price – from £21,295

The Subaru XV is getting even more close to assuming the position of one of the most value-for-money crossovers in the world. The office in the UK has released a list of specifications, trimmings and prices with the lowest one starting at £21,295 for the 1.6i S model (the base one).

The XV boasts a considerable amount of occupant safety (especially for children) while remaining stylish and practical without an effort. Two very important highlights give it away that it is a Subaru: A Boxer engine and a Symmetrical AWD. In other words we have a great centre of gravity and a brain that ensures the best possible grip under a variety of conditions.

Power comes from three Euro 5 power plants – 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol, and 2.0-litre diesel. The 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre petrol engines develop 114ps and 150ps respectively, while the 2.0-litre diesel produces 147ps and 350Nm. All those figures can go after that trough a six-speed manual or a CVT automatic gearbox, depending on customer choice

Null to sixty is done in 9.3 seconds with the 2.0 diesel. It gets even more impressive when we know that it offers a class-leading fuel economy of 50.4mpg on the combined cycle and emits 146g/km of CO2. The petrol units also go easy on the precious liquid as they benefit from Subaru’s Auto Start Stop System for non-diesels. Seamless cut out/kick off guaranteed.

The features which are included in the entry model, the S, are just mind boggling – ABS, traction control, Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control (SVDC), front, side, curtain and knee airbags, 17-inch alloy wheels, daytime LED running lights and automatic air conditioning as standard. To step it up a notch, the SE adds cruise control, rear-view camera, Bluetooth functionality and USB/iPod connectivity to all the standard equipment while the SE Lux leather seats and satellite navigation, a start button, sunroof and keyless entry.

Source: Subaru

January 31, 2012

Hyundai with 5 Super Bowl Spots

Hyundai-spot-shadow Health and safety officials should be watching carefully because lo and behold, a Hyundai Genesis can perform CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation). See that and many more with the car company’s ad campaign which is set to take over the Super Bowl for a fifth year with five spots this time.

“Think Fast” is the name of the one we really liked. It features a Genesis Coupe R-Spec riding trough a generic wasteland with two individuals inside it – One venerable passenger who obviously knows a thing or two about success in business and a seemingly bored driver which is rather like a subordinate or a step son. Either way, Mr. Jenson (or Bob, the passenger) unwittingly suffers a heart failure much to the distress of the now in panic Anderson (driver). What follows is evident really. We just want to say that we really liked the idea of utilizing sudden bursts of torque to revitalize the human body. Then again, we also enjoyed watching that comedic duo being thrown around in the cabin as the seat belts obviously did their work just fine. So a point for Hyundai there. We also liked the safety annotation at the 0:15 second mark made to discourage people from actually trying out this stunt… unless they are professional drivers, on a closed road…. or at least with a medical degree.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd_IqOb7pW8

Other spots include some epic singing, motivational motives, manufacturing insights and cheetahs. One can see it all on Hyundai’s YouTube channel right here

Source: Hyundai

January 31, 2012

New Turbo 1.0 EcoBoost for Ford Focus

Ford-EcoBoost-Turbo thumbl 21st century tech thinking seems to be something along these lines: “smaller is better”. Just thing about the many product advertisement campaigns that use the words “slim” or “nano” or even just putting “lighter” as a quality. Ford are aware of that and have developed a new engine within the consumer-friendly EcoBoost range – a 1.0 Litre, 3-cylinder, turbocharged petrol unit that, on paper, is just as powerful as a standard 1.6 litre one. Yet the economy figures that go with the engine (that is to be placed in a Focus) are worthy enough to make any diesel engine in the world green with envy.

Around 200 engineers in the UK (At Dunton and Dagenham) were tasked to work on an engine that is remarkably frugal while delivering sharp and refined performance seen in all Fords so far. The end result is a small (“A4 sheet of paper” small) powertrain that goes into the 5-door Focus and delivers either 100PS or 125PS, depending on customer choice – the first one has a combined economy cycle of 58.9mpg and 109g/km of CO2 emissions. The 125PS however is the one to go for as it has a barely noticeable drop in the economy performance (56.5mpg) and yet it has more power to move around in the not-so-light Focus shell. Carbon emissions on that one are 114g/km. Peak toeque is170Nm (200Nm with overboost) and is available between 1,400 and 4,500rpm.

Graham Hoare, European executive powertrain director based at Dunton, said: “This is the third addition to our acclaimed EcoBoost engine family. Joining the 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre EcoBoost engines which span 150PS to 240PS, this 1.0-litre EcoBoost signals a new era of downsized, super frugal engines for the sub-130PS segment. During development our UK engineers focused on improving thermal efficiency and reducing friction of the engine’s internal moving parts, especially during warm-up.”

The new Ford Focus array consists of vehicles priced from £13,995 on the road. The EcoBoost engine is priced £250 (on the road) more than the 1.6-litre 125PS engine. The freshmen, single litre is also expected to feature in Ford C-MAX, Grand C-MAX and all-new Ford B-MAX later this year.

Source: Ford

January 30, 2012

Category: Car Makes