Automobiles Review – Page 351 – Car News, Car Reviews, Auto Shows, Car Photos, Car Videos

Maxi-Tuner MINI John Cooper Works is 260HP and 390NM Strong!

Maxi-Tuner MINI John Cooper Works is literally a supermini. It stands out with new exterior appearance and more power than ever. Based on the most powerful production MINI, the F56, this modified JCW has added numerous visual and performance upgrades. The package comprises of ‘MaxPower’ and ‘MaxSound’ kits and other additions to the exterior… but let’s see what has really happened here.

Exterior

The appearance of the Maxi-Tuner MINI John Cooper Works stands out due to some extra visual goodies. The car stands out as an extrovert due to its new front bumper with huge air intakes. The tuner also added sculpted side sills for more athletic appearance. At the rear we see a diffuser that frames its dual exhaust outlets.

Engine Uprated with MaxPower

The production version of the JCW F56 is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine, which is 231 hp (170 kW) and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) strong.

Thanks to the in-house made MaxPower plug and play auxiliary ECU with bespoke wiring harness, Maxi-Tuner achieved a power boost of 260 hp (191 kW) and a peak torque increase of up to 390 Nm (288 lb-ft). This is an addition of 29 hp and 70 Nm.

The bigger output also results in crisper e-gas throttle response, better driving dynamics and faster acceleration against the stopwatch. However, the intelligent control electronics in the MaxPower box do not change the factory diagnostic and service functions.

This means that the engine temperature reaches the factory limits, the system reverts to standard parameters, retarding the ignition to reduce power.

MaxSound

Maxi-Tuner MINI John Cooper Works is also fitted with custom MaxSound sport exhaust system. This one contributes to a louder voice to match the enhanced performance. It is made from high quality stainless steel and features sport exhaust features 70 mm tube diameters and a remote control for the flap system. At last, Maxi-Tuner left both tailpipes operating despite of the flap position.

Source: MaxiTuner

June 23, 2015

Audi RS6 Avant Received Visual and Performance Upgrades By SCHMIDT Revolution Team

avant There is good news for everyone, who wants to upgrade with light alloy rims. As the fans know, the people at Volker SCHMIDT GmbH company in the German city of Bad Segeber, known also as SCHMIDT Revolution will do the work. And they will do it with the famous German precision and attention to the detail. We all know, that the choice of the proper trims is one of the hardest thing, when it comes to upgrading a vehicle, but the SCHMIDT Revolution team knows how it is done. And the evidence is Audi RS6 Avant.

The Avant, that comes with third generation 4.0-liter Bi-Turbo Charger V8 engine and All-Wheel-Drive system now received a special attention. The SCHMIDT Revolution team chose a set of Gambit rims: the set comes with great features, that combined together improve the handling and the overall smooth feeling of driving. And of course, the wheels have that unique look, that everyone will like. In fact, the wheels set brings and a speed release, measured at 330 km/h (205 mph), thanks to the Vmax system.

avant

Furthermore, the design was made by BEST Cars and Bikes at Viersen, Germany. And the people from Lower Rhine were good enough to make additional performance upgrades, that include adding additional horsepower, that is now measured at 680 hp (500kW). They also installed and a special exhaust system, that brings extra 15 hp. How cool is that? And let’s not forget the wonderful artwork, that covers the body. Now the Avant really looks badass. Would you dare try it out?

avant

Source: Audi

June 22, 2015

Jeep Renegade is Ready to Serve the Police Force

Jeep Renegade received its latest color scheme! Now the car, available with a total of 9 colors received and its latest: blue and yellow stripes. Familiar? Yes, you guessed it. Now the Renegade will also serve the police.

The striking Renegade police car is a result of a partnership between Jeep’s Swindon-based dealership , T H White Fiat Group Brand Centre and Wiltshire Police. And now, T H White agreed to offer extended six month test drive. And at the end of the test period, Wiltshire Police plans to buy the vehicle. In fact, the Renegade itself is already fitted with full police graphics, lights, siren and the special Gable Cross Police Station, Swindon.

The Renegade

The car comes with 1.6 Diesel Sport engine, that provides the best-in-class off-road ability and world-class dynamics and performance. The inside comes with numerous functional details, especially crafted from high-quality materials. There are also numerous colors, used in the cabin, which makes it cozy, but yet functional. Surely, the latest addition to the police force will offer incredible functionality and performance. But, if I have to be honest, I don’t want to be a passenger in this particular Renegade unit. It drives well, but after all it will bring me in only one spot: the police station.

renegade

Source: Jeep

June 22, 2015

Land Cruiser Will Come With New Engine And Additional Gadgets

Toyota Land Cruiser will get some more upgrades and goodies this summer. And one of the most important change is the engine. Yes, the Land Cruiser now comes with fresh and redesigned powerplants and confidently will defend its position as one of the best vehicles on the market today. Furthermore, all the models in the lineup received some more goodies. So, let’s check out what is happening here.

The 2.8 D-4D engine

The three- and five-door Land Cruiser models will be geared with the special 2.8-Liter D-4D unit, that will bring better torque, dynamics and reduced CO2emissions. The engine is paired with a new six-speed automatic transmission, which now allows the engine to produce extra 30Nm between 1,400 and 2,400rpm.

Land Cruiser and its further specifications

With the introduction of the new engine Toyota team offers and some more goodies. For example, the Active grade models now come with DAB digital radio and Toyota Touch 2 with Go, that brings precise navigation system. Customers can also pay for leather seats and heated seats. And for the five-door models there is a special automatic air-conditioner. Furthermore, the Icon model brings and additional tweaks, like the 3D city mapping and text-to-speech function.

land cruiser

Additional packs

Land Cruiser now is offered with the optional Safety Pack, that brings the SUV with Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Crash System, Lane Changing Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Blind Spot Monitor and Multi-Terrain Monitor. There is also a Protection Pack, that offers side mouldings, rear bumper protection and a boot liner for all the five-door models.

land cruiser

So, the more, the better.It seems, that Toyota really wants to keep its place as one of the best car brands. And the team makes it successfully.

June 22, 2015

Mercedes-Benz G 500 4×42 Prepares for Mass Production!

G500 4×42 proved to be highly popular and now it is set to enter mass production. As you know, in the G-class fairytale, the G 500 4×42 sets a benchmark with all the incredible features and technological tweaks. The vehicle comes with a technical package, that includes the AWD system, 4-liter V8 engine with twin turbocharging technology and an output of 422 hp (310 kW). In fact, all the models in the G-class have been upgraded and now come with the latest generation of engines, that meet the strict standards of Euro6.

Get ready for an off road experience with the G 500

g500

Furthermore, the G 500 is now geared with chassis with a dual spring struts, which mean smooth drive and adjustable damping. And the large 22-inch wheels ensures dynamics, never seen before within the G-Class. In fact, the whole construction of the vehicle makes you feel like you are in a rally vehicle and not in a cross-country car. The interior, on the other side, welcomes you to a cozy saloon, that is now refreshed and even more comfortable.

And with the all-wheel drive system and with the off-road settings come even more goodies. The portal axles were created for improved versatility. And unlike the conventional rigid axles, the wheels are situated further below on the axle heads, thanks to the special portal transmission. The result? The G500 4×42 now comes with ground clearance increases up to 450 millimeters and the fording depth with 1000 millimeters.

The vehicle is definitely ready for an off-road affair. But are you ready?

g500

Source: Mercedes-Benz

June 22, 2015

2016 Dodge Viper Can be Ordered in 50 Million Different Variants!

2016 Dodge Viper is now more exclusive than ever because of the simple fact that literally every customer can make it according to their tastes. How will this happen? Dodge is now offering matte-finish exterior paint finishes across its entire color palette. This simple extra makes the Viper with a choice of more than 50 million unique configurations. They are made up from the more than 16,000 unique paint color options and more than 48,000 unique stripe combinations!

The first ever used color option is the one-off metallic matte, which can be seen applied on the 2016 Dodge Viper ACR on the picture above. Precisely, there are 8,000 new matte finish options to choose from. All of them will give each “1 of 1” Viper an even more unique exterior appearance.

Hand-Painted Process

Everything happens via hand-painted process. This helps enabling flexibility to deliver industry-first custom paint options that offer personalization and durability. Each Viper has an extremely high quality level paint finish. The process of hand-painting actually takes between 145 to 160 hours.

The process begins with a base color coat. Then a clear finish is applied. After these two steps, every Viper body panel is sanded smooth by hand with 1,000 grit paper that allows polishing which is near mirror finish. For a matte finish, each body panel is also sanded for a second time. Then the matte clear paint is applied.

Stripes Across Viper’s Lineup

2016 Dodge Viper model comes always with stripes, regardless it is GT, GTC, GTS and ACR specification. Each of them can be fitted with optional ‘GTS’ stripes that run the length of the coupe from the front to rear fascia.

In addition, the SRT and GTC models get ‘SRT’ stripes. They begin from the clamshell hood and end on the rear. On the other hand, the special Viper GTC and ACR models come fitted with ACR center band and driver’s side stripe.

The stripes are also hand painted for at least an extra of 18 hours of work. The exterior stripes are offered in the following colors: Black Venom, Billet Silver, Bright White, Gunmetal Pearl and Adrenaline Red or from the custom “1 of 1” color palette.

As a matter of fact, each “1 of 1” GTC model Viper also comes equipped with unique instrument panel badge. It displays a name chosen by the customer and commemorates their exclusive design. The unique model also comes with satin chrome or satin black badging and fuel filler door.

At last, the “1 of 1” customization program is truly unique and it will guarantee that there are no two vehicles that are the same. The secret is that customers can’t order the same configuration, including color, in the same model year.

2016 Dodge Viper with matte finish can be ordered first in July.

Source: Dodge

June 22, 2015

Land Rover Defender Celebrates 70th Anniversary With Special Model

Land Rover celebrates its 67th year of production with a one-of-a-kind vehicle, that will also mark the two-millionth Series Land Rover and Defender in UK. With an unique design, created by a special team, the “Defender 2,000,000” is here to honor the almost of seventy years of Land Rover production in the Solihull plant, UK.

Furthermore, in December this year collectors and Defender fans will have the opportunity to get the vehicle, when it is auctioned by the prestigious and globally renowned auction house, Bonhams. But this is not all. The proceeds will be donated to Land Rover’s humanitarian and conservation partners: the well-known International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society (IFRC) and the Born Free Foundation. How cool is that?

The special Defender will be unveiled by Bonhams at 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed, 25-28 June. And after that there will be numerous more events, where the Defender will take place and at the end of the year, the special vehicle will be auctioned at a prestigious event, held at the Bonhams auction house in New Bond Street on Wednesday 16 December.

defender

The Defender 2,000,000 in details

The vehicle demonstrates numerous interesting features and distinctive touches. A map of Red Wharf Bay, the place, where the design for the original Land Rover was first drawn in the sand is engraved into the aluminum fender, which contrasts with the exterior Indus Silver satin paint. Furthermore, an unique “no 2,000,000” badge is placed on the rear of the Defender. The design is finally finished with Santorini Black wheels and wheel arches, roof, door hinges and grille.

defender

The inside of the Defender also received attention. The seats feature “Red Wharf Bay” graphic and of course the “no. 2,000,000” logos, stitched on the headrest. Furthermore there is a special aluminum plaque, signed by everyone, who took part in assembling the vehicle. And on the front and the rear, there is a special registration plate with the S90 HUE sign. This is a special reference to the first ever pre-production Land Rover registration, “HYE 166”

As you know, the production of the original Land Rover Series I started at the Lode Lane facility back in 1947 ahead of the launch at the Amsterdam Motor Show on 30 April 1948. Since these years two million units of the I, II, III and Defender series have been produced.

Source: Land Rover

June 22, 2015

2015 Honda Grace LX with Market Introduction in Japan

2015 Honda Grace LX is the newest addition in Grace’s line-up. The car will be exclusively distributed in Japan only and it is currently on sale across Japanese dealerships. Powered by gasoline, the compact sedan is an example of the perfect combination of a spacious cabin, fantastic exterior styling and improved interior. All of these characteristics are more likely to be found in an upper-middle-class sedan.

Engine

Under the hood of the 2015 Honda Grace LX is operating the 1.5-liter direct injection DOHC i-VTEC engine. It is powerful and at the same time delivers best driving experience. The unit is connected to a continuously variable transmission (CVT), thus realizing exhilarating driving as well as excellent fuel economy. The latter has been rated at 21.8km/liter.

Precisely, the engine injects fuel directly into the cylinder. This is how it also produces a maximum output of 132 hp (97kW) and achieves excellent fuel efficiency.

Exterior

Next to all of the benefits of the premium exterior, Grace LX now features the option of a new color, “Premium Crystal Red Metallic”. It mixes clear luster with a deep color tone, and will be available to all vehicles in the Grace line-up.

2015 Honda Grace LX is fitted with automatic retractable mirrors. What does automatic here mean? Basically the mirrors automatically retract or protract in conjunction with locking or unlocking of the doors.

Interior

To the goodies usually found in Grace’s lineup, there are also features that further improve occupant’s comfort. For instance, Honda added fully automatic air-conditioning unit with rear air outlets that adopts Plasmacluster technology.

The cabin also benefits from Honda Smart Key System, genuine leather-wrapped steering wheel and rotating front passenger seat. An exclusively-designed easy-to-get on/off seat was also adopted.

Source: Honda

June 22, 2015

Singer Porsche 911 Targa with Global Debut at Goodwood

Singer Porsche 911 Targa is being teased before it is fully revealed at the Goodwood festival of speed. The customer-owned Porsche 911 has been specifically made with a Targa top. This little fact makes the car truly stand out. What adds to the appeal of this Singer’s project is that the Porsche 911 is actually an oldy restored by the tuner and fully optimized.

In addition, at the event, which is taking place this weekend, the premiere of the Targa top 911 will be accompanied by a restored Porsche 911 coupe. Both vehicles will show-off the creative possibilities of the California-based modification house. As you might already figured it out, the Singer vehicle design (SVD) offers outstanding expertise in the vibrant world of classic automobile restoration.

SVD is actually a company which aims of bringing the newest evolution of premier restoration services to a new plateau. At the Goodwood festival of speed, visitors will have the opportunity of seeing this approach of adding nostalgic luxury with a modern-day twist.

What is more, this philosophy will be taken into action with the motorsport participation of the Porsche 911 Coupe in the legendary Hillclimb. The car will be driven by the famous Porsche aficionados Chris Harris and Mario Franchitti up the Hillclimb.

Singer Porsche 911 Targa in Details

Singer Porsche 911 Targa Grille

Although there are no official details on the engine, but only a picture, reports say that the custom Targa Grey Porsche 911 will be powered by a flat-six 4.0-liter engine built by Ed Pink Racing. It will be producing 390 hp (287 kW) and will be mated to a six-speed manual transmission, which sends the horses to the rear wheels.

The custom made foldable Targa soft top, will be also accompanied by Fuchs-style wheels. Other exclusive styling features in this project are the nickel roll hoop and the “Targa” gold badges. Behind the wheels, there will be contrasting orange brake calipers accompanied by Öhlins suspension. The interior will be made harmonious to the contrasting calipers, featuring orange leather and suede.

Singer Porsche 911 Targa will be revealed this Thursday at the Goodwood.

Source: Singer Vehicle Design via Facebook

June 22, 2015

Prior-Design Ferrari 458 Italia “WOWs” at Top Marques Monaco

Prior-Design Ferrari 458 Italia is a car to admire. It was specifically created to catch the attention of the visitors at Top Marques Monaco. And under the expertise of Prior-Design specialists I am sure it will definitely do so. As a matter of fact, this is the standout member of the tuning company’s “Monaco-Line-up”, shining strong in its new aero body kit.

Custom Exterior

This beautiful mat grey Ferrari features a number of exterior changes which make it truly unique. They are all announced as the PD458 aerodynamic kit. But what does this package include and how does it change the super sports car?

The first step in the modification process of the Prior-Design Ferrari 458 Italia was to change the front bumper with new one and to add to it spoiler lip. The designers also agreed on adding Cup-Wings and an all-new bonnet.

What is more, the new side skirts smoothen the air flow along the flanks of the car. At the rear, there is a new bumper with diffuser and tailgate spoiler. This creates more downforce over the rear axle and also reduces drag by minimising turbulence from the airflow separation.

Prior-Design Ferrari 458 Italia runs on in-house made alloy wheels that come in 9.0×21-inch at the front and 12.5×22-inch at the rear.

Engine Remap

Powering this Ferrari Italia is the mid-mounted 4.5 litre flat-plane crank V8 engine. In its standard form it produces 570 hp (420 kW). However, the engineers at Prior-Design decided to stand out and developed a Power-Package. It actually adds extra 45 horses, contributing for a total output of 615 hp (452 kW).

Next, to the engine software remap, the conversion also helps in the reduction of exhaust back-pressure thanks to the equal-length manifolds, 100-cell race-grade metal catalysts and a free-flow stainless steel sports silencer with sound valve control.

At last, Prior-Design has also revealed that this conversion has been extensively tested on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife track.

Source: Prior-Design

June 22, 2015

Morgan EV3 Concept is an Electric 3 Wheeler Debuting at Goodwood

Morgan EV3 Concept is an electric 3 wheeler, which is going to be introduced at Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend. The company has confirmed that it is going to show the prototype of the EV3 at the event. But before that it also released three pictures, to spread the word. In fact this concept is the second all-electric vehicle in company’s line-up.

Back in 2011, Morgan decided to reintroduce the standard Morgan 3 Wheeler. After that came out the electric Morgan Plus E, on which the current EV3 is based. Just like any other vehicle in the premium British company’s range, the Morgan EV3 Concept is absolutely hand made, making it bespoke to order.

Testing & Production

More importantly, as Morgan says, the EV3 is fun to drive and all that on the price of zero emissions. In addition, it was also revealed that the prototype is currently undertaking a full testing and development programme. We actually expect a production entrance by the end of 2016.

What’s Powering the EV3?

Although Morgan didn’t say much about the car, it at least confirmed that it is driven by a single rear electric motor, which produces 75kW (102 hp) of power. Addition to this is the total weight of the 3 Wheeler, which is 450kg. As a result, Morgan EV3 is expected to have an approximately 150 miles of range and producing zero emissions.

Source: Morgan

June 22, 2015

Jaguar XJR Responce Vehicles Will Debut at 2015 GFS

Jaguar brand is ready to showcase its commitment as Technical and Innovation Partner to the Bloodhound Project with the debut of the custom-built XJR Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV) at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, along with the recently debuted F-TYPE R AWD RRV.

Furthermore, one of the two XJR vehicles will be on the show and will also take a ride up the First Glance hill on Saturday 17 with the current land speed recod holder Andy Green behind the wheel.

Amd the two additions to the Bloodhound’s lineup are the latest creations of Jaguar Land Rover’s Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) and will be wrapped with special Jaguar Design Bloodhound SSC colors and graphics.

Furthermore, to accommodate the vital equipment in the XJR vehicles, the engineering teams removed the rear seats and fitted a special roll-cage along with an especially made housing to carry tools and supplies by the well-known British manufacturer Angloco. The additions include a foam misting cylinder, hydraulic pump and a motor.

This customization of the XJR vehicles will provide a wonderful solution to keep the high performance rates in every situation: now, the XJR comes with a 5.0-liter V8 550 hp (404 kW) supercharged petrol engine, that allows the vehicle to go from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 4.4 seconds. From this impressive start, the XJR can chase the top speed of 313 km/h (174 mph)

And the Jaguar RRVs for the Bloodhound SSC will be joined on the famous Goodwood Hill by the special F-Type Project 7, that comes with the incredible 340 hp (188 kW), 3.0-Liter Jaguar XE S, and the iconic XJ13, Group 44 E-type, Long Nose D-type, TWR XJS and the Broadspeed XJ12C.

httpv://youtu.be/9RS5ZCkQOhs

Source: Jaguar

June 19, 2015

Blog

Exterior

Engine Uprated with MaxPower

MaxSound

The Renegade

The 2.8 D-4D engine

Land Cruiser and its further specifications

Additional packs

Get ready for an off road experience with the G 500

Hand-Painted Process

Stripes Across Viper’s Lineup

The Defender 2,000,000 in details

Engine

Exterior

Interior

Singer Porsche 911 Targa in Details

Custom Exterior

Engine Remap

Testing & Production

What’s Powering the EV3?