Car Makes – Page 866 – Automobiles Review

2012 Cadillac CTS Touring Edition

Cadillac is offering some great deals, concerning the performance elements of its V-series product line on standard 2012 CTS models. This is going to be made through the new Touring Package Sedan, Coupe and Wagon with a starting price of $2,065.

The new CTS Touring Packages feature Recaro seats, microfiber suede inserts on the seats and steering wheel, high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps, a performance-tuned suspension, a V-series aerodynamic spoiler and performance wheel packages.

Furthermore CTS Sedan and Sport Wagon both will be offered with a 3.0L or optional 3.6L engine, plus Direct Injection V-6 units. At the same time, for the CTS Coupe there will be the standard 3.6L engine. However each engine now will have its own Touring Package available. The 3.0L V-6 Touring Package price starts at $2,065 and includes 18-inch pearl nickel finish wheels, dual exhaust, dark finish grille, HID headlamps and fog lamps, V-Series aerodynamic center high mounted stop lamp (except Sport Wagon), suede seat inserts, steering wheel and shifter, midnight Sapele wood trim and metal pedals. Next, the 3.6L V-6 Touring Package option retails at $2,810 and features Recaro performance seating, suede-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, midnight Sapele wood trim and metal pedals, dark finish grille, V-Series aerodynamic center high mounted stop lamp (except Sport Wagon), 19-inch polished wheels with either summer tire performance package or all season tire package.

Thanks to the 318 horsepower (234 kW) coming from the 3.6L direct injection V-6 engine, the CTS accelerates from 0-100 km/h in only 6.3 seconds. Moreover it comes with the optional all-wheel-drive and FE3 performance suspension designed for agile cornering and braking. Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters for the electronically controlled 6-speed automatic transmission are also included in the FE3 performance package. Other new CTS features for 2012 include standard Bluetooth connectivity, optional RainSense Wipers and Side Blind Zone Alert (Coupe). To match every individual taste, Cadillac will offer the car three new colors: Opulent Blue Metallic, Black Diamond Tri-Coat and Mocha Steel Metallic.

Suggested retail prices including destination charges for the 2012 models start at $36,790 for the CTS Sedan, $39,590 for the CTS Coupe and $39,890 for the CTS Sport Wagon.

Source: Cadillac

December 23, 2011

2012 HYUNDAI SONATA HYBRID – PRICE $25 850

Hyundai Motor America has just announced the pricing for the 2012MY Sonata Hybrid, which is featuring the Hybrid Blue Drive technology. The 2012MY Sonata Hybrid will come equipped with standard Blue Link® telematics. The latter provides a host of features accessible through multiple applications. For example you can use it in the car, on your smartphone, or over the web. In addition new for 2012MY is an optional Leather Package which includes leather seating surfaces, leather steering wheel and shift knob, heated front and rear seats, and auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink® and compass. More importantly all 2012MY Sonata Hybrid models deliver a segment-leading 40-mpg highway fuel economy rating, which is higher than any other mid-size sedan, hybrid or non-hybrid! In details, in city driving, Sonata Hybrid delivers 35 mpg, yielding a 37 mpg combined city/highway rating from the EPA.

The Sonata Hybrid MSRP costs $25 850. In this price is excluded $760 freight cost, but includes the following standard equipment: 2.4L Atkinson Cycle 4-cylinder hybrid engine, Hybrid starter-generator (HSG), permanent magnet high-power density motor, 270V lithium polymer battery, 6-speed automatic transmission w/ SHIFTRONIC®, electronic stability control with traction control system, ABS with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, front active head restraints, front and front seat side and curtain airbags, 16-inch Eco-spoke alloy wheels, headlight LED accents, LED taillights, front fog lights, side mirror-mounted turn signal indicators, tinted chrome front grille, bodyside molding tinted chrome inserts, chrome exterior door handles, proximity entry with push-button start, remote keyless entry, alarm and immobilizer, electroluminescent instrument cluster (Supervision), 4.2-inch TFT multi-function trip computer with hybrid technology display, Steering Wheel Mounted Cruise, Audio & Phone Controls, dual automatic temperature control, floor console mounted rear vents, power driver seat with lumbar support, chrome interior door handles, leatherette interior door panel inserts, tilt and telescopic steering wheel with cruise and audio controls, metalgrain interior accents, AM/FM/SiriusXM/CD/MP3 with iPod®/USB & Aux input jacks, power windows, locks, heated mirrors, integrated Bluetooth® with phonebook transfer, Hyundai Blue Link Telematics system, automatic light control, Virtual Engine Sound System (VESS), solar control glass.

The optional Leather Package costs the additional $1500 and includes leather seating surfaces, heated front seats and rear seat bottom cushions, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink® and compass.

And if you add the amount of $5500, you will get the Unlimited Package which includes the Leather Package plus the additional extras such as panoramic sunroof with tilt and slide, 17-inch Eco-spoke alloy wheels with unique finish, navigation system with high-resolution touch-screen display, rear backup camera, Infinity® premium speakers, subwoofer and external amplifier (400-watt), HD Radio® Technology with multicasting, SiriusXM, NavTraffic, NavWeather and Sports & Stocks w/ 90-Day Trial, HVAC multi-mode button, Premium door sill plates, Glossy black door surround and outside mirror housing.

Source: HYUNDAI

December 23, 2011

Manhart BMW MH3 V8RS Clubsport

Manhart Racing has revealed the most brutal E92 3-Series, which you can imagine. After the previous project – MH3 V8R with 655PS (482 kW), the tuning company is ready with the new one – the MH3 V8 RS Clubsport.

Firstly, the exterior is entirely modified in order to get maximum downforce. The aerodynamics package includes a front spoiler, modified hood, a pair of side skirts, wheel arch extensions, trunk li, an enormous adjustable rear wing and a rear diffuser. All parts are made from carbon fiber for maximum strength and lightness.

The look is completed by enormous the ultra-light Concave One “Black Edition” forged wheels 9J x 20” with 255/30 ZR20 Continental Sport Contact 5 high performance tires on the front and 12J x 20” with 325/25 ZR20 tires on the rear. The stance is further improved by adjustable coilover suspension.

The interior boasts new seats from carbon fiber and a Wiechers roll cage. There is also a Manhart Racing display showing all data that the pilot needs.

The E92 M3 received the brutal engine from BMW X5 M – a 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged petrol with 555PS (408 kW). Still, the tuners decided that this is not enough power for a small 3-Series car and boosted the monster to whopping 750PS (551 kW) and 910Nm (671 lb-ft) of torque. So , they made the car really hard to drive. The engine is mated to a 6-speed M Sport automatic transmission sending all that power to a LSD from E60 M5. The weight of the car is 1590 kg (3505 lbs) meaning that it has power to weight ratio of 2.25 kg/hp.

Performance – 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds and a top speed of more than 350 km/h (217 mph).

Manhart Racing also took care about the brakes. They have installed MOVIT brake system with 6-piston calipers on the front with 396×34 mm discs and 4-piston calipers with 380×32 mm discs on the rear.

Undeniably, Manhart Racing have built a unique sports car.

Source: Manhart Racing

December 22, 2011

Tokyo Auto Salon 2012 with Ten Exciting Exhibitions

While there is much talk about the forthcoming NAIAS, few are aware about the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon which will also be held on January 13-15 at the Makuhari Messe exhibition hall in Chiba prefecture. The organizers (Autech Japan and Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd. A.K.A Nismo) promise an exciting event partly because of the showroom which is styled to look like a racetrack complete with spectator stands and everything and partly because, along with Nissan Motor Co., Ltd, they have a lot of debuts to make.

In the Nissan corner visitors will feast their eyes on the new edition of Nissan GT-R pure with something called “for TRACK PACK” which is mainly focused to attract motoring enthusiasts who carve the raw experience of a sports car burning rubber on a racing circuit.

A different stand will hold the Nissan Skyline 55th Limited Edition. It is an anniversary edition (55 years in the making) equipped with smooth aerodynamic body parts complete with LEDs and other S-tune elements. The lowered centre of gravity can only add to the sporty feeling of the birthday boy.

Nissan Skyline 55th Limited Edition (2012)

Over to the Nismo sector there will be two new concepts: The Juke Nismo Concept and the LEAF Nismo concept. They both feature a sporty and aggressive look thanks to the refreshing lowering design tweaks.

The Nismo Fairlady Z Version will also take part as the enhanced, more powerful, more fun-to-drive sister of the standard Fairlady Z.

The spotlight however most likely will be on the Nismo LEAF RC – a full on sports car with a carbon fibre body based on the all-electric Nissan LEAF. Hopefully this car will prove that zero-emission vehicles have a future in motor sports.

Finally we have the Autech side of things starting with the. To start off there will be the MOTUL AUTECH GT-R which participated in the 2011 SUPER GT GT500. Back in 2011 it has actually won one of the five prizes that GT-R’s took home that year from the GT500 other representatives include.

The NV350 Caravan Rider is a customized Rider version of Nissan’s NV350 Caravan.

The Elgrand Rider High-performance Spec Black Line – Based on the already acclaimed Elgrand Rider distinguishable for its specific front grille. This Black Line edition encompasses some tweaks on the engine, suspension and body.

Serena Rider Performance Spec Black Line – Fine-tuned body and suspension give the Serena Rider great road manners and a solid stance both literally and metaphorically.

Last but not least we cannot omit mentioning the loads of Nissan/Nismo merchandise, parts and accessories that will be present there.

Source: Nissan

December 22, 2011

Cadillac Burning Rubber on The Nürburgring

The Nordschleife, the Northern Loop or quite simply the Nürburgring is the name of the notorious racing track based in Germany. Why notorious? Well, tragically many people have lost their lives along its corners. There is some silver lining to the story however, as it has also helped shape the automotive industry by providing grounds for testing, fine-tuning and refinement.
And now a Cadillac team of engineers along with Dave Mikels (energy and powertrain integration engineer) have traveled all the way from from Michigan to the Nürburgring ring to develop their future ATS luxury compact sedan.

Being Nürburgring-certified performance test drivers, Mikels and his team will test out their 270 horsepower 2.0L turbo four-cylinder and 3.6L V-6 engines, along with the second- generation Cadillac Magnetic Ride Control suspension. Here is what they had to say about the ring:

“There are places where you’re airborne, and then there are valleys where you’re in full compression. There are off-camber, on-camber turns. There’s no other place in the world where you can test for all of that, except here.”

After gathering a sufficient amount of data, the ATS development team can send it back to their Michigan factory for processing all in the name of improving the Cadillac’s track run.
More information on the ATS will be available on the 2012 NAIAS when it will be its first public debut.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbhVGY2CWgw

Source: Cadillac

December 22, 2011

Vorsteiner Bentley BR-10 [Teaser]

Brace yourselves! This is the latest teaser from Vorsteiner which features the 2012 Bentley Continental GT Coupe.It is said that Vorsteiner – a company with experience in modifying luxury performance vehicles – have applied a lightweight carbon fiber autoclave aerodynamic kit and some new wheels, exclusively forged for the Bentley. Other than that we can only wait for the full release on the Vorsteiner Bentley BR-10.

Source: Vorsteiner

December 22, 2011

Honda Crosstour with a Fresh Lineup

The Honda Crosstour will be available with a new 4-cylinder engine and two trim levels next month. It will be cheaper than it’s V6 predecessor and also more economical – the mpg has gone up with 3 and 2 points (EPA) respectively for urban and extra urban driving.

In terms of design, the Crosstour is a warehouse on 17′ wheels, wrapped around in a curvy, slippery body. Two new paint finishes, with matching door handles, will be available for these newcomers – Twilight Blue Metallic and Basque Red Pearl II. Inside, at the back there is an under-floor compartment which adds to the practicality and reversible cargo floor panels that can be used for transporting dirty items.

In the cabin, equipment is abundant. The Crosstour EX, which is the lower trim line, gets as standard auto-on/off headlights, USB audio interface and an electrochroming rearview mirror as well as back-up camera display with integrated guidelines. The list goes on as we get also projector-beam headlights, a moonroof, body-colored defrosting electric side mirrors, electronic front-door windows and air conditioning with second-row ventilation. Multimedia indulgences include a 360-watt AM/FM 6-disc audio system with seven speakers and a steering wheel with controls on it for the cruise, audio and phone systems. The EX-L (the higher trim line) gets all of that plus a leather interior, heated front seats, setting memory storage for the driver’s seat and side view mirrors’ position, dual-zone automatic climate control and an even better audio system with Kevlar® cone speakers and front aluminum dome-type tweeter speakers. Also available on the Crosstour EX-L is the Honda Satellite-linked Navigation System.

The power necessary to move all that technology around, comes from a 2.4 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC® engine that delivers 192 horsepower at 7,000 RPM and 162 lb-ft. of torque at 4,400 RPM. This is quite respectable considering the fact that the combined fuel economy stands at the affordable 24 mpg (EPA). One way to achieve such efficiency is to fit a clever 5-speed automatic gearbox with Grade Logic Control as standard to all trim lines. And that is just what Honda have done.

Safety has been addressed thanks to the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure that the Crosstour gets. The key is in the shell’s functional design which aids occupant protection and offers increased crash tolerance in frontal collisions. Other safety features on the Crosstour include Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®), anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, side curtain airbags with a rollover sensor, driver’s and front passenger’s side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS), dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, and active front seat head restraints.

The 2012 Honda Crosstour comes with a 3-year/36,000-mile new-car limited warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, and a 5-year/unlimited-mile corrosion limited warranty.

Source: Honda

December 22, 2011

2011 JM Cardesign Mini One R50

This Mini One R50 undeniably could win innumerable cups thank to its unique design. The latter is made by the talented creatives from JM Cardesign. The company from Bergheim is responsible for turning the mini from a serial car to a motorsport look show car. Moreover it has huge range of modifications and detail improvements!

First of all in the fascia of the MINI JM Cardesign integrated with the characteristic air inlet motor hood (which is usual for its big compressor brother Cooper S and its side indicator lights, including the red “S”). Furthermore a very special upgrade was made on the doors: with the LSD hinges installed by JM Cardesign, they now open upwards. In addition the company included as wee racing style side sills which are located below. Above the tail windscreen, there is a carbon tail wing of the series spear tip “John Cooper Works”. And as you can see, the car looks very similarly to a racing car form the mini cup. This effect is due to the many decals which were applied to the body.

Unfortunately, if you expect that with this car you can participate in racing competitions, well – you will be disappointed. This car is a show vehicle rather than a racing one. This means that the 1.6 litre four-cylinder motor was not changed, and still has an output of 90 HP (66 kW). However with its special exhaust system from the cat, the small motor will pretend successfully that it had at least twice its actual output.

Another detail which probably reminds you for the racetrack is the white-painted CR Kai light metal wheel rims from Work Wheels. The Bergheim tuner combined the 7.5×18-inch racing look one-part wheel rims with Dunlop rubbers in 215/35ZR18. And if you wonder whether there’s something improved behind the wheels, this time you will be content to hear that there are perforated Brembo braking discs that look decorative while also enhancing the deceleration performance. And the perfect road adhesion of the mini, was achieved by installing an H&R threaded chassis. Between the two front strut towers, a red Wiechers bar was installed to improve stiffness.

The interior of the One is also made in racing style. For instance there are two Recaro pole position shell seats, which are placed in the white Wiechers roll cage, securing passengers with 3.5 inch wide Schroth-4-point belts. To match the car body great parts of the dashboard cover were painted in the car’s colour and decorated with decals. In the current modification of the MINI the back seat was removed, and an original mini cup racing tank is placed behind the back of the roll cage. In addition, the mini was given a basic multimedia system in the form of a Clarion-Head unit with Flip-Monitor and connected reversing camera.

Source: JM CarDesign

December 22, 2011

2011 TOP 5 Tunings of Small Cars

We have seen this year some incredible tunings which have left a big impression in our mind. However, some of the greatest tunings were made on … the tiniest car segment. In this top 5 are presented some of the most remarkable tunings made on small cars such as Smart for two and Volkswagen Beetle. The selection is based on the overall outlook of the car, i.e. the tuned exterior, the improvements made to enhance its performance, and of course – on the interior.

SMART FORTWO DISCO BALL

Number five in our chart is for this incredible tuning of the Smart ForTwo electric vehicle. The car was transformed into a disco ball and it draws the immediate attention and admiration of the viewer. The show car is completely covered in reflective glass tiles from the roof to the tires. Of course the tuning wasn’t made purposeless, but the Smart was used in the art film Pixel City. The whole idea came from the experimental band Apparatjik. We should admit that it sounds and looks more than interesting. However, there was no tuning concerning the interior or the power of the car. For this reason we award this cute little fellow with the last place.

Smart ForTwo Disco Ball

Exterior:	[rating:6/6]
Interior:	[rating:1/6]
Performance:	[rating:1/6]

ABT VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

This place goes for ABT’s Beetle. The power of this car is boosted up to 240PS (176 kW). And the styling package consists of a new front bumper, a rear diffuser with oval exhaust pipes and a pair of side skirts. In addition there are also headlight brows and some nice graphics.

There’s nothing done in the interior and for this reason the tuning gets the number 4 in the chart.

ABT Volkswagen Beetle

Exterior:	[rating:4/6]
Interior:	[rating:2/6]
Performance:	[rating:4/6]

VILNER SMART FOTTWO SQUARE STYLE

Here we have another Smart ForTwo. However this version of the car was completely transformed both inside and outside by the Vilner Tuning Company. Vilner used orange foil with patterns of stitching for the exterior with full chrome panles and orange soft for the alloy wheels, mirrors and other details. The interior boasts new two-tone leather upholstery, new trim for the dashboard, roof and door panels. In addition ForTwo also received special floor mats. Having all this in mind, undeniably the Vilner Smart ForTwo is a real eye-catcher!

Vilner Smart FotTwo Square Style

Exterior:	[rating:5/6]
Interior:	[rating:6/6]
Performance:	[rating:1/6]

ROMEO FERRARIS CINQUONE STRADALE

The second place goes to the version of Romeo Ferraris Abarth 500 Cinquone Stradale race car. The small vehicle has the same exterior as the race car, which includes an aerodynamics package consisting of new bonnet with two air scoops for engine cooling, new front bumper with a big central air intake, integrated wide body fenders and skirts and finally a new rear bumper with central exhaust tips. The power is enhanced up to 300PS (220 kW), which is just 60PS (44 kW) less than the race car. The interior boosts are a complete roll bar, and a lot of carbon fiber as well as carbon race seats with OMP 4-point seatbelts.

Romeo Ferraris Cinquone Stradale

Exterior:	[rating:3/6]
Interior:	[rating:4/6]
Performance:	[rating:6/6]

COVEREFX MINI COOPER WORKS

This astonishing and at the same time extremely different conversion of Mini Cooper Works was made by CoverEFX, the well known Germany-based tuner. The upgrades here are in both performance and styling. At first sight this adorable Mini Cooper Works immediately draws the attention. The exterior here consists of fully foil-finished body in black leather style. Moreover, as you can see, there are added thousands of hand glued small gold elements. The “Mini” is backed by sleek 17-inch OZ LM Wave lightweight alloys in the same black/gold style fitted with Toyo R888 84W tires in the dimensions 205/40 R17. The tuners have also modified the performance of the car which boosts the power to to 252 horsepower and 382 Nm

In the terms of power, CoverEFX is offering two stages of performance boosting for the MINI Cooper Works: Stage 1 features an ECU remap to 252 horsepower (185 kW) and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft.). In addition there is mounted a 2.5-inch exhaust unit with Milltek downpipe, sports catalyst and extra large sports air filter.

Unfortunately there is nothing done to improve the interior. Nonetheless the CoverEFX MINI stands out as a true masterpiece, with own individuality and impact, and this is the reason it wins the first place in our chart.

Stay tuned for next weeks 2011 TOP 10 Tunings!

CoverEFX MINI Cooper Works

Exterior:	[rating:6/6]
Interior:	[rating:3/6]
Performance:	[rating:5/6]

December 22, 2011

Jeep Launches 2012 ‘Jeep Arctic Yeti Dig’ Sweepstakes

Exciting news from the Jeep_® brand! It would like to send one lucky person home from the “2012 Winter X Games 16” with a new 2012 Jeep Wrangler Arctic edition! The brand kicked off the “Jeep Arctic Yeti Dig” sweepstakes on the Jeep Facebook page, Twitter and blog sites. The details are that six sweepstakes participants will be randomly selected to attend the Winter X games and on 27^th of January. They will dig in a giant pile of snow to find the “Jeep Yeti.” The first to find it will win an all-new Jeep Wrangler Arctic. The perfect present, isn’t it? The sweepstakes runs through 3^d of January!

The new 2012 Jeep Wrangler Arctic edition is the perfect vehicle in extreme winter conditions! Moreover the new Wrangler Arctic edition features a unique winter-themed exterior and interior design. And if you want to have this awesome winter vehicle, then you can do it without spending any money and a little bit of luck. Don’t procrastinate too long and participate in the ‘Jeep Arctic Yeti Dig’ at the ‘2012 Winter X Games 16’, then you might have one Wrangler Arctic of your own!

The new 2012 Jeep Wrangler Arctic is based on the Wrangler Sahara model. However the Arctic’s winter theme is immediately recognizable. There are several available models: Winter Chill, Bright Silver and Bright White. Furthermore the exterior features include a body-color hardtop and fender flares, “Arctic” badges on the front fenders, a “Yeti Footprint” decal over part of the driver’s side fender and hood, black hood decal and Mopar® black fuel filler door and tail lamp guards. Jeep Wrangler Arctic also offers an aggressive Wrangler Rubicon tire and wheel package. It includes the unique semi-gloss black 17-inch wheels shod with 32-inch tires. The interior of the vehicle consists of seats made from black Tectonic fabric with Polar White accents and orange accent stitching. In addition the front seats are heated and feature an “Arctic” logo in the seat back. Accent stitching can also be found on the steering wheel, arm rest and console lid. Door trim and nets are accented in orange, and all grab handles and dashboard vent rings are finished in Polar White trim. At last Mopar tread pattern slush mats with white “Jeep” lettering complete the final look of the Wrangler Arctic package.

Source: Jeep

December 22, 2011

2011 JE DESIGN Audi Q7 S-Line

The car-tuning manufacturer JE DESIGN is offering all Audi Q7 S-Line models of the Facelift generation an astonishing enhancement in exclusivity with a multipart bodywork kit and 22-inch alloy wheels. Thus the result is that is being provided more individuality and more prestige!

The JE DESIGN bodywork kit includes door trims and aligns harmoniously with the Audi Q7’s contours and more importantly – enhances the SUV’s design. The high-class wheel arches were glued to the bodywork. Therefore the vehicle is now widened by 30 millimeters per side at the front and 40 millimeters per side at the rear. The sporty look of the Audi Q7 S-Line comes as a result of the fender extensions on the rear axle with their vent holes. Additionally there are included front-spoiler corners, a PDC-suitable (Park Distance Control) rear-apron extension, and two JE DESIGN double-tailpipe covers, all of which are fashioned from highly polished stainless steel in an attractive diamond-shape design. Moreover there is a dynamic roof wing with side covers above the C pillars. It adds more emphasis to the sporty look of the JE DESIGN “Widebody”. And if you are interested of purchasing the complete styling package, including tailpipe covers, it is available directly from the tuning manufacturer with a starting price of 7,438 euros.

To make it more appealing, the designers made the wheel arches beneath the broad fenders filled out by single-part 10 x 22 inch SUV Select alloy wheel rims. To make it even more individual, the five-spoke design wheels are available in three different color schemes: matte-black, front silver matte / shadow silver, front polished / graphite matte, polished lip, and are fitted 295/30R22 tires. On the other hand there is also another option: the new JE DESIGN complete wheel set SCORPIO which is available in 10 x 22 inches. The set offers a completely new interpretation of the popular double-spoke design and is also available in the size 9 x 20 inches in matte-black with polished-silver rim flange. For both 22-inch complete wheel sets (which are available from 5,190 euros) JE DESIGN installs 30-millimeter-thick (front) and 40-millimeter-thick (rear) wheel spacers (409 euros) under the expansive wheel-arch extensions of the widebody kit. Furthermore the wheels can be made with a lowered suspension which will cost the additional 1,428 euros. To be more precise, an electronic adjustment of the Audi “adaptive air suspension” lowers the chassis by around 35 millimeters. It is of course still present the functionality of the smooth-adjustment damping system with its five different damping modes (“automatic, “comfort”, “dynamic”, “lift”, and “offroad”).

Additional enhancements are made in terms of performance. For example, the Q7 4.2 TDI tiptronic’s 250 kW (340 PS) standard series power is increased to up to 302 kW (410 PS). This is possible thanks to optimized programming of the control electronics, which this also increase the maximum torque to 895 NM (660 lb-ft). Hence, with its new power, the SUV accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in only 6.1 seconds! In addition for only 1,499 euros you can get the JE DESIGN new control-system software. For this price you will get one-year guarantee for the engine, turbocharger, transmission, and drive train, which can be extended by a further year for just 199 euros. However this is possible only if the Audi Q7 is not older than two years and has less than 100,000 kilometers on the clock.

The high-quality JE DESIGN accessories have received many awards in international specialist publications, are supplied with TÜV certificates, and can be entered easily into the vehicle documents. Following the performance enhancement, the Audi Q7 4.2 TDI meets statutory emissions requirements, ruling out any difficulties in the emissions test.

Source: Je DESIGN

December 22, 2011

2012 Mercedes-Benz E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID

Today we have very special and „ecological“ news from one of the most famous luxury brands. Mercedes-Benz launches hybrid offensive, starting with a world’s most economical luxury-class model. Mercedes-Benz is beginning a new chapter in its brand’s core segment, while at the same time making new standards for luxury-class business vehicles. Firstly, there is the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID, which will be available as a Saloon and Estate. More importantly it impresses with new record values concerning the efficiency. Its consumption levels are 4.2 l/100 km, thank to the impressive performance of the 4-cylinder diesel engine. The engine has 150 kW (204 hp) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft). In addition it works along with an electric motor producing 20 kW and 250 Nm. Hence this results in a coherent overall concept: the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID – the most economical luxury-class vehicle in the world!

On the other hand the V6-cylinder petrol engine in the E 400 HYBRID produces 225 kW (306 hp) and 370 Nm (273 lb-ft). Additionally it is enhanced by a further 20 kW and 250 Nm from the electric motor. The consumption figures based on the American CAFE standard are: City 24 mpg, Highway 31 mpg, Combined 27 mpg.

As usual and having in mind that the new vehicles are Mercedes-Benz brand, they offer great comfort for both passengers and driver. There is enough space in terms of the interior or luggage compartment. Moreover there are additional benefits to the intelligent modular hybrid concept, which represents a comprehensive enhancement of the Mercedes-Benz S 400 HYBRID. It has advanced to the position of clear market leader since 2009. In this hybrid model no changes to the vehicle body are required, and the hybrid module is both flexible and modular. Hence, this allows its use in other model series, and in addition to diesel and petrol variants there will also be right-hand drive variants.

The new hybrid models debut at the Detroit Motor Show, which will take place between 14^th and 22^d of January 2012. Their appearance on the market will be over the course of the year. An important detail here is that the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID is initially planned to be launched on the European market, while the E 400 HYBRID will be made available on the American market first, followed by other countries such as Japan and China later.

E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID at a glance:

Compact, intelligent and modular hybrid concept: no changes to the body of the base vehicle are necessary
Also available as an Estate
Space, safety and comfort remain unchanged
No compromises in terms of space, safety and comfort
Significant increase in comfort with start/stop operation; noiseless start, complete climatic comfort
Top marks for consumption in the luxury-class business vehicle segment: 4.2 litres/100 km, 109 g CO₂/km
Part of the intelligent downsizing strategy of Mercedes-Benz: increase in the engine output of the E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID with 150 kW + 20 kW electric motor/500 Nm + 250 Nm, compared with the E 250 CDI (150 kW/500 Nm), positioning it at the same level as the E 300 CDI (170 kW/540 Nm)
Fuel savings of around 15 percent compared with the E 250 CDI – even in actual road traffic conditions
Impressive hybrid driving experience (start/stop function, regenerative braking, boost effect, purely electric motoring and “sailing” function)

E 400 HYBRID at a glance:

Compact, intelligent and modular hybrid concept: no changes to the body of the base vehicle are necessary
No compromises in terms of space, safety and comfort
Significant increase in comfort with start/stop operation; noiseless start, complete climatic comfort
Consumption combined (CAFE): 27 mpg
Part of the intelligent downsizing strategy of Mercedes-Benz: increase in the engine output of the E 400 HYBRID by some 20 kW and 250 Nm thanks to the electric motor
Impressive hybrid driving experience (start/stop function, regenerative braking, boost effect, purely electric motoring and “sailing” function)

Source: Mercedes-Benz

December 22, 2011

Category: Car Makes