Automobiles Review – Page 546 – Car News, Car Reviews, Auto Shows, Car Photos, Car Videos

Inked Gumpert Apollo by Tattooist Aleksy Marcinow

This Inked Gumpert Apollo is one of world’s first tattooed cars. The customization has been done by the London Supercar workshop in collaboration with the London-based tattooist Aleksy Marcinow (Black Onyx Tattoo Studio). He has inked the car with a totally unique Japenese-inspired design. Those who are willing to see the car will have this opportunity at the Gumball 3000 rally on Regent Street in London on 8th of June.

The tattooist have studied fine art and wanted to compliment the curves of one of the fastest cars on the planet. Aleksy took inspiration for the car’s tattoo design from Japanese art and irezumi – an area he is currently exploring. He revealed that he has never tattooed a car before, but it got many similarities to the human body.

London Motor Museum has been home to the only Gumpert Apollo since 2010. The newly inked car will race along with an additional 10 luxury supercars at the event. Gumpert Apollo is powered by a 4.2 liter bi-turbo V8 engine constructed by Audi. The horsepower is estimated at 650 hp (478 kW). If these 650 hp are not enough, then there is a Sport variant with 700 hp (515 kw). And more importantly – they are completely street legal.

Source: London Motor Museum

June 5, 2014

2014 Peugeot 108 Release Date Announced

2014 Peugeot 108 was introduced in February and now is ready to go on sale, starting 1st of July. It has an assertive exterior styling, playful character and the choice of a top. Yes, this means that the 108 will be also offered in cabrio variant, which has an electric fabric roof. Inside, the occupants will enjoy a contemporary and connectivity-oriented interior, plus a huge range of equipment. The car’s ‘nose’ is dominated by the redesigned “floating grille”, which is flanked by advanced bi-focal projector lamp headlights.

From bumper to bumper, the new 108 is measured at 3,470 mm. This means that it is 40 mm longer than its predecessor – the Peugeot 107. Nevertheless, the overall width remains the same (1,630 mm), while the maximum roof height is 10mm lower (1,460 mm).

At the rear we see the “lion claw” and the lightweight all-glass hatch. A sporty roof spoiler is standard and houses the high-level brake light. This design feature helps improve car’s aerodynamic performance. 108 is available in three and five-door body styles.

Inside, the interior features high-end materials, 7-inch touch-screen, vibrant mix of a black upper dash, contrasting with gloss black, white, aikinite (bronze) and body colour elements. A multi-function steering wheel is standard on all but the Access trim. Integrated headrests remain a feature of the two front seats, while driver’s seat is now height-adjustable on and on three-door models both front seats gain a memory function.

The engine range features the 1.0 liter e-VTi – 68 hp (51 kW) coupled with the 5-speed manual gearbox or an automatic one upon request, as well as the 1.2 liter PureTech VTi with 82 hp (61 kW).

Source: Peugeot

June 5, 2014

Nissan Teases New Pick-Up [VIDEO]

Nissan’s new pickup was teased yesterday via company’s official Twitter page. The picture that was released didn’t reveal much, except for that the vehicle will debut on June 11. Today, Nissan has published a video, which adds a little more to the scarce details we got. First of all, next to the “due date”, the video announces that the car has been tested in real-world conditions, and has gone through more than 1,000,000 kilometers. In addition, more that 40,000 tests for proven quality have been conducted. The company is also promising a tougher engineering as well as smarter design.

If we look carefully, the video probably suggests that the pick-up is most likely to be the new Frontier. The teaser image as well as the video focuses on truck’s grille and LED running lights; and they are typically made in Nissan’s design. There are also visible some roof rails on top.

The footage also gives a clear idea of pick-up’s off-road capabilities and tough personality. For a moment, the video also shows a glimpse inside, were we can see an information display in the instrument cluster. Take a look at the video below and stay tuned for more details!

httpv://youtu.be/vH4AcFkYzHs

Video Source: YouTube

Source: Nissan via Twitter; YouTube

June 5, 2014

2015 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG [render]

Roadmag has published a nice render picture of the upcoming 2015 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. The performance saloon is expected to make official debut in the end of this year. The look is much similar to the one published by Khalil B in the end of 2013. The rendered C63 AMG comes with an aggressive body kit, big wheels, lowered suspension and of course the typical quad exhaust system.The engine in 2015 C63 AMG will be a newly-developed 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8 with around 480HP (358 kW). Mercedes-Benz has recently announced and S model for the all-new S63 AMG, which gives even more power and performance upgrades. So, we can expect and S model for the new C63 AMG as well. It will probably boost the engine to 500HP and will add bigger brakes. The engine will be mated to the well-known 7G-MCT SpeedShift automatic gearbox. 4Matic all-wheel drive is expected, too.The interior will feature sport lather seats, a new steering wheel and a lot of carbon fiber elements. AMG logo will be all around – on the dashboard, floor mats and head rests.2015 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Sedan will be followed by Estate, Coupe and Convertible models.

June 5, 2014

Ford Performance Vehicles GT-F [teaser]

Ford Performance Vehicles has published an additional teaser image of the upcoming GT-F model. After announcing earlier this month that the final FPV model would have the most powerful and advanced engine ever built by FPV.

Only 500 units will be produced for the Australian market while an additional 50 units are heading to New Zealand. All of them will get a 5.0 liter supercharged V8 with 477HP (351 kW) and 570Nm (420 lb-ft) of torque. There is also a GT RSPEC’s suspension and a set of 19” alloy wheels fitted with 275/35 R19 Dunlop Sport Maxx tires.

The performance saloon is priced at $77,990 AUD, while the FPV V8 Pursuit Ute is $52,990 AUD. The Pursuit Ute will have the same power unit, but with 428HP (315 kW) and 545Nm (402 lb-ft).

“We could probably have got a lot of money for the car on the open market but we are absolutely about rewarding loyalty, to the brand and to the dealership,” Sunshine Ford General Sales Manager, Ross Tanner, commented.

Sales of both models will start in the end of this month and the full details will be unveiled on June 10^th. FPV is going to be disbanded by October 2016 as Ford has announced to terminate production in the Land Down Under.

Source: FPV

June 5, 2014

2015 Subaru WRX STI – Lap Record at the Isle of Man

2015 Subaru WRX STI managed to set a new lap record at the Isle of Man TT Road Course. Behind the steering wheel was the British rally champion Mark Higgins setting a new record of 19 minutes 26 seconds in a production version of the newly launched high-performance saloon.

Higgins finished the 60.82 km (37.8 miles) course with an average speed of 187.44 km/h (116.47 mph). The slashed over 30 seconds from the previous record of 19 minutes and 56.7 seconds with a 2010 WRX STI.

2015 Subaru WRX STI is powered by a 2.5 liter four-cylinder engine – 305HP (227 kW) and 393Nm (290 lb-ft) of torque. It is connected to a 6-speed manual transmission and a symmetrical all-wheel drive system.

“It was quite a lap we did today and I am really happy to have another record in the bank. The chassis on this new car is so much better it really allowed me to pick up time in each sector in the more technical parts of the course. I lost time on the second part of the track, overshooting my braking point at Sign Post corner. I actually hand-braked the turn in the end, so I feel we can definitely do better.”, commented Higgins.

Source: Subaru

June 5, 2014

Pogea Racing Fiat 500 Abarth

Pogea Racing has unveiled their latest tuning package for the playful Fiat 500 Abarth. The tuning specialists offer two power stages, a set of big wheels and some styling elements.

Stage I includes an ECU re-map and boosts the 1.4 liter turbocharged engine to 163HP (120 kW) and 275Nm (202 lb-ft) of torque. This is an increase of 28HP and 95Nm. 0-100 km/h in 7 seconds and a top speed of over 210 km/h (130 mph). The price for Stage I is €819.

Stage II increases the power of the tiny engine to over 170HP (125 kW) at 4,900RPM and 285Nm (210 lb-ft) of torque at 3,100RPM. 0-100 km/h in 6.6 seconds and a top speed of 226 km/h (140 mph). The price is €919.

Styling upgrades include a set of 18” alloy wheels fitted with low-profile tires – 215/35 R18. Pogea Racing offers front spoiler, splitters and intakes, bonnet, NACA profiles, Trofeo air intake, mirror caps, roof spoilers, wings, side skirts and rear spoiler in carbon fibre or composite fibre glass. Pricing is available upon request.

A super-powerful wide body version with 330HP is already being tested, and will be launched soon.

Source: Pogea Racing

June 5, 2014

2015 MINI 5-door Hatchback

MINI has officially unveiled the first 5-door Hatchback model, which is expected to hit the market this fall. The more practical 5-door body style which compared to the regular model has a 72 mm longer wheelbase (2,567 mm) is going to increase rear legroom and foot space by 72 mm while headroom has increased by 15 mm.

The bigger MINI also provides 61 mm additional interior width at elbow height while the trunk capacity now stands at 278 liters, which is 67 liters more than the 3-door model. The rear seat can be folded down to create a cargo volume of 941 liters.

The engine range includes: a 3-cylinder 1.5-liter TwinPower Turbo – 136HP and 220Nm (230 Nm with power boost), a 3-cylinder 1.5-liter TwinPower Turbo diesel with 116HP and 270Nm in the Cooper D, a 4-cylinder 2.0-liter TwinPower turbo diesel with 170HP and 360Nm in the Cooper SD and a powerful 4-cylinder 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo with 192HP and 280Nm (300 Nm with power boost) in Cooper S.

Depending on the engine choice, MINI is offering a 6-speed manual gearbox, a 6-speed Steptronic transmission or a Steptronic sports unit.

The base model starts at just £15,900 in the UK, while the Cooper D has a price tag of £17,050, the Cooper S costs £19,255 and the Cooper SD is £20,050.

Source: MINI

June 5, 2014

2015 Audi A8 – US Price $77,400

Audi US has unveiled the pricing of the newly redesigned 2015 A8 model line. The luxury sedan boasts a wider stance and more dynamic look.

“As the flagship of the Audi brand, the A8 represents the best in Audi innovation, design and craftsmanship” said Scott Keogh, President, Audi of America.

“The A8 has been a strong contributor toward building our brand and the changes for the 2015 model year will continue to build upon that success.”, he added.

The ASF aluminum construction of the A8 and S8 models provides exceptional rigidity and performance while enabling excellent efficiency due to its lightweight characteristics. Completely redesigned LED headlights are now standard on the full model line and are complemented by powerful creases in the hood as well as a newly designed grille, bumper and splitter.

The interior of A8 offers 22-way front comfort seats with five different massage functions, as well as improved acoustic measures for a quieter cabin experience and optimized trunk packaging for increased space and usability.

Suggested retail pricing:
– 2015 Audi A8 3.0T: $77,400
– 2015 Audi A8 L 3.0T: $81,400
– 2015 Audi A8 L TDI: $85,100
– 2015 Audi A8 4.0T: $86,400
– 2015 Audi A8 L 4.0T: $90,400
– 2015 Audi S8 4.0T: $114,900
– 2015 Audi A8 L W12: $137,900

Prices above exclude destination charges, taxes, title, optional equipment and dealer charges. Dealer sets actual price.

Source: Audi

June 4, 2014

Ford Troller T4 Revealed In Brazil

Ford Troller T4 comes fully remodeled. This second generation vehicle is only a pre-production model, but it undoubtedly displays its personality marked by evolution, modern and attractive design, as well as robust and dynamic lines. Car’s design is based on Ford’s concept that was shown at the last Motor Show in Sao Paulo. Troller T4 has strong and spectacular visual muscular lines, while the quality of work is noticeable in the finish, the bodywork tweaks and details.

The body of the car features wide fenders integrated, central large-sized bonnet, wide doors with sills at floor height and 17 inch aluminum wheels. The front grille features LED taillights refer, while at its center is positioned the Troller logo.

The exterior paint finish is identified as “London Grey”. The contrast black color was used for parts like roof, bumpers, running boards, air outlet and accessories. The new Troller T4 comes standard with front guard and running boards integrated into the side of the body. The roof includes two paned windows, which provide excellent illumination of the cabin.

The all-terrain performance is the key purpose of the vehicle. This is achieved via aspects such as drivability and comfort, as well as the 3.2 liter diesel engine fitted with manual six-speed transmission. In fact, by far Troller has established itself over the years as the leading brand of off-road in Brazil. More information around the vehicle will be released near launch.

Source: Ford

June 4, 2014

2015 Ford Transit – Performance and Efficiency

2015 Ford Transit - Rear View

Ford has unveiled full details about the all-new 2015 Transit, which delivers over 46 % better fuel economy than Ford E-Series and offers Ford van customers more choices and capability than ever.

2015 Ford Transit hits the US market and Canadian dealerships this summer and will replace the America’s best-selling van for 35 years, E-Series, first sold in 1961 as Ford Econoline.

“We are excited to serve our fleet and commercial customers in North America with the all-new Transit,” commented Kumar Galhotra, Ford vice president, Engineering.

“Transit is Built Ford Tough and represents One Ford at its best, building on lessons learned from our decades of leadership in the commercial vehicle markets in the United States and Europe.”, he added.

The engine range includes a 3.7 liter V6 engine as well as a 3.5 liter EcoBoost and a 3.2 liter Power Stroke diesel.

The 3.5 liter EcoBoost unit boasts 14 mpg US in city and 19 mpg US on the highway. The improved gas mileage translates to fuel savings as high as $1,700 annually, based on EPA data. The power is 310HP (228 kW) and 540Nm (400 lb-ft) of torque – best in class among full-size vans – making Transit an excellent choice for those whose work requires extra cargo-hauling capability.

2015 Ford Transit -infographic

The 3.7 liter V6 get a 14 mpg US in city and 19 mpg highway EPA-estimated rating. Fuel savings for customers could be as much as $650 a year, according to EPA estimates.

The 3.2 liter Power Stroke five-cylinder diesel engine provides 90 percent of its peak torque from 1,500RPM. Quick-start glow plugs offer fast startups at temperatures as low as 10 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. A variable geometry turbocharger helps deliver quick power.

	Horsepower (hp) at RPM	Torque (lbs.-ft.) at RPM
3.7L V6 with Ti-VCT	275 @ 6,000	260 @ 4,000
3.5L V6 EcoBoost	310 @ 5,500	400 @ 2,500
3.2L Power Stroke Five-Cylinder	185 @ 3,000	350 @ 1,500–2,500

Transit van delivers as much as 4,650 lbs of maximum payload capacity – more than competing vans from General Motors and Chrysler. Maximum payload increases at least 600 pounds across all sizes of Transit vans versus comparable E-Series vans. Transit delivers a maximum towing capacity of 7,500 lbs.

Towing and hauling are made easy by the standard 6-speed SelectShift automatic transmission. It features selectable tow/haul mode to compensate for grade and load, while also reducing gear hunting when towing or hauling heavy cargo.

A compressed natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas prep package is available on Transit when equipped with the 3.7 liter V6 engine.

Source: Ford

June 4, 2014

Ford Unveils Ultra-Lightweight Concept Fusion

Ford Lightweight Concept is a vehicle, which represents Ford’s ongoing research for future light-weight materials. The know-how is based on the experienced gained via the building of the new Ford F-150, which has shed up to 700 pounds through use of high-strength steel and aluminum alloys. In fact, for Ford Motor Company, light-weighting is a key component its Blueprint for Sustainability. The mixed-materials might be applied for future high-volume vehicles for better performance and efficiency as well as CO2 emissions.

Ford Lightweight Concept has reduced the weight of a 2013 Fusion to that of a Ford Fiesta. This means a 25 percent off the weight of the production car. The introduction and incorporation of lightweight materials into vehicle construction has helped reducing the weight of the car. In addition, this also contributes towards better fuel economy and less greenhouse gas emissions.

Along with other fuel-efficiency technologies, light-weighting is fundamental to Ford’s efforts to stabilize carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere at 450 parts per million. Ford’s Lightweight Concept utilizes many of the same advanced materials found in today’s lightweight electronic devices, including aluminum, chemically toughened glass and advanced lightweight plastics.

Advanced materials – aluminum, ultra-high-strength steels, magnesium and carbon fiber, were used for the entire design of the vehicle. This includes the powertrain, chassis, body, battery and interior elements, seats.

This program was lead together with Cosma International, which is a subsidiary of Magna International. Magna’s design and development of the multi-material body-in-white, closures and chassis components are a great contribution in the weight reduction of this concept vehicle. For more details take a look at the video below:

Source: Ford

June 4, 2014

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