Automobiles Review – Page 695 – Car News, Car Reviews, Auto Shows, Car Photos, Car Videos

Luxury Treatment For The New Lexus RX 270 X Special Edition

Lexus has just launched an exclusive new special edition model, the new Lexus RX 270 X Special Edition. It is equipped with a range of innovative features, which one typically finds in the higher grade models.

The X Special Edition package will add to the already exquisite styling of the vehicle even more luxury and convenience enhancements. The styling elements include an appearance package with Sports Luxury grade front bumper, 19″ alloy wheels and limited edition “X” exterior badges.

Furthermore, in order to enhance the interior comfort of the occupants, Lexus have included in the special edition SUV heated front seats; Adaptive Front lighting System, which swivels the headlamps when travelling around tight bends to improve forward visibility and Illuminated scuff plates, which provide a premium look when entering the vehicle.

Some of the key technology features here are the Smart Key Card, which fits allows the driver to open the vehicle doors and start the engine if the Smart Key batteries are flat; Head Up Display –it displays key vehicle information on the windscreen; and Clearance and Back Sonar, which assists the driver when parking in tight spaces. In addition, there is added a luggage tray for stowing items and protecting cargo area trim.

The new vehicle is going to be offered in five exterior colours: White Pearl, Mercury Grey, Premium Silver, Starlight Black and Garnet Red, and two interior colours: Ivory and Black. There is an optional moonroof as well.

Lexus RX 270 X Special Edition will be produced in only 300 examples and its starting price will begin at $69 400.

Source: Lexus

July 11, 2013

Ram Introduces 2013 Black Express Model

2013 Ram 1500 Black Express delivers unmatched combination of style, performance, capability and value. At first glance it catches the attention with its unique all-black exterior, including the 20-inch black aluminum wheels.

In addition it its enhanced exterior look also contribute the black front fascia with fog lamps, black grille surround with black hex-link inserts, black rear bumper and black Ram‘s head badges on the grille and tailgate. The badging on the sides of the car has been removed to make its appearance even more masterful.

The Black Express will also offer to its driver bi-functional halogen projector headlamps with black bezels, 15 amber LEDs for park/turn/position lamp and three amber LEDs for the side marker. Next, the taillamps feature black finishes and are composed of 15 red LEDs with three red LEDs for the side markers.

This Ram 1500 will be powered by the same engine included in the model line-up – namely, the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine with Fuel Saver Technology. It is capable of delivering 395 horsepower (290 kW) and generating 555 Nm (410 lb.-ft.) of torque.

2013-Ram-1500-Black-Express-651-1

Standard features also include a 160-amp alternator, 26-gallon fuel tank, 3.55 rear-axle ratio, 700-amp maintenance-free battery, four- and seven-pin trailer wiring harness, multi-link coil rear suspension, heavy-duty front and rear shock absorbers, front and rear stabilizer bars, electric power steering, heavy-duty engine and transmission cooling, and a full-size spare tire.

On the other hand, the safety features included here are the following: advanced multistage front air bags, supplemental front-curtain and side air bags, anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes, electronic stability control, brake assist, rain brake support, ready alert braking, all-speed traction control, electronic roll mitigation, hill-start assist, trailer-sway control, height-adjustable shoulder belts, Sentry Key® theft deterrent system and a tire pressure monitoring warning lamp.

The vehicle is going to be offered by Dodge brand with two- or four-wheel-drive, including a choice of regular cab, quad cab or crew cab body styles. 2013 Ram 1500 Black Express has a starting price of US$ 26 955 and is currently available at dealerships.

Source: Ram Truck

July 11, 2013

BMW Concept Active Tourer Outdoor Revealed

BMW Concept Active Tourer Outdoor will be presented on the stage of OutDoor Friedrichshafen fair. The new vehicle offers another view on the the premium compact segment and shows how the interior space can be cleverly and practically used for sport and leisure purposes.

In fact, this is a concept project which aims to deliver solutions which combine sporting aesthetics and style with sustainable drive technology, compact dimensions and functionality. In this BMW one can find an environmentally friendly plug-in hybrid drive system.

The latter brings together a combustion engine and an electric motor, which come to offer great power delivery and high efficiency. Furthermore, the compact dimensions are matched with sporty design and high levels of interior space. The variable rear compartment on the other hand was created in order to accommodate sports and leisure equipment.

To go further into details, the new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drive concept includes transversely mounted 1.5-litre petrol engine with front-wheel drive. It combines the advantages of an electric motor and the characteristics of a traditional combustion engine in order to deliver excellent results.

The exterior of the vehicle is made more exclusive with the Gold Race Orange exterior paintwork which highlights the sporting visual stance of this BMW Concept. In addition, throughout the interior are utilized easy-care, hard-wearing materials, such as MoonWhite and MoonRock Grey leather.

At last, there is also designed and included a special carrier system for two bicycles which in act is integrated into the interior. This and other clever details make the BMW Concept Active Tourer Outdoor the perfect vehicle for active recreational sports persons.

Source: BMW

July 11, 2013

DC Design Hyundai Elantra Black & Red

DC Design has revealed their latest project based on the new Hyundai Elantra. The car comes with a new look with a black & red theme. The manufacturer has already given the Nissan Sunny and Renault Duster a completely new look and now it is turn of Elantra.The exterior boasts a matte black paint job with red accents. There is also a redesigned front grille with new air intakes under the headlamps while the vents have a honeycomb mesh. Other upgrades include new fog lamps and the side skirts with DC badging. A set of attractive multi-spoke alloy wheels is also fitted. Last, but not least is the red diffuser with triangular exhaust tips.The interior continues with black & red theme – seats, door sills and pads, lower section of the dashboard and the center of the steering wheel have been wrapped in red.

July 10, 2013

2013 Mazda MX-5 Sport Graphite Limited Edition

Mazda has announced a new limited edition MX-5. The Sport Graphite Roadster Coupe comes with a number of styling upgrades making the car even more fun to drive and to watch.

Inspired by urban design, the new model’s exterior features eye-catching paint finishes that are unique to this model – Aquatic Blue Mica, Zeal Red Mica or Aluminium Silver Metallic – with a contrasting Meteor Grey retractable hard top roof to create a highly distinctive appearance.

There are two engines available – a 1.8 liter with 126HP (93 kW) and a powerful 2.0 liter with 160HP (118 kW).

The MX-5 Sport Graphite comes with a set of 17” dark gunmetal alloy wheels, black leather heated seats with unique grey stitching, 5.8” TomTom navigation system with integrated Bluetooth^® hands-free kit, glossy dark grey fashion bars, colour-co-ordinated retractable hard-top roof and door mirrors all in striking Meteor Grey, and limited edition badges on the exterior and interior.

There are also unique grey stitching extended to the leather steering wheel and handbrake; glossy dark grey steering wheel spokes and dashboard panel; an alloy pedal set; and MX-5 floor mats with unique grey piping (additional cost).

The standard equipment of MX-5 includes: stainless steel scuff plates, body-coloured door handles, side, driver and passenger airbags, CD radio with Auxiliary jack and six speakers, electric windows, electric adjustable mirrors with heating function and climate control air-conditioning. For optimum handling stability, all MX-5 models also feature Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and Traction Control System (TCS). While the 2-litre Roadster Coupe model is also equipped with a Limited Slip Differential (LSD), cruise control, auto-dimming rear view mirror and Bilstein suspension.

Source: Mazda

July 10, 2013

Citroen DS3 Cabrio Racing Concept

Citroen will unveil an all-new DS3 Cabrio Racing Concept at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

With custom-built excellence, radical choices and refinement in every detail, DS3 Cabrio Racing delivers the performance and sporting looks of a car tuned by the multi-WRC title winning team, Citroen Racing.

Extensively customised with dynamic styling, DS3 Cabrio Racing features a bespoke Moondark matt textured grey paintwork with special gloss black 19” alloy wheels and Black Chrome inserts on the handles, boot trim and door mirrors.

The concept is DS through and through, with bold identity statements. The distinctive DS pattern appears both on the black canvas roof, in gloss weave with a high-tech carbon-fibre look, and is also engraved on the door mirror housings. Meanwhile the brake callipers, wheel hubs, doors with wide side strips and parts of the lettering and badge are coloured in dynamic Carmin red.

The interior boasts bucket seats with a DS watchstrap design in three types of fabric – Napa full-grain leather, DS-embossed leather and Alcantara – and special DS pearl top-stitching, featured in the Carmin shade for the first time, on the seats, dashboard and gearshift. The Carmin colour continues on the seat housings and dashboard, echoing the door side strips.

The engine is the same as in DS3 Racing – 1.6-litre THP – 207HP (153 kW) and 275Nm (204 lb-ft) of torque.

Source: Citroen

July 10, 2013

AC Schnitzer Enhances BMW M6 Coupe, Convertible and Gran Coupe [VIDEO]

The tuning specialist at AC Schnitzer has just released the enhanced versions of the new BMW M6 Coupe, Convertible and Gran Coupe. In the core of their works was the aim to deliver high performance, outstanding technology and that true motorsport feeling.

They have worked on the dynamics, sporting performance and power of these M Series. And therefore the M6 Coupé, the M6 Convertible and also the M6 Gran Coupé now benefit from more aerodynamics and performance.

To be more precise, the 620 horsepower (456 kW), the 790 Nm (583 lb-ft) and the outrageous top speed of 305 km/h all pay tribute to the letter M. The AC Schnitzer suspension spring kit offers better driving dynamics. In addition, this kit also provides an even more sporting look thanks to the lowering 15 mm at the front 15 mm and 25mm at the rear.

The aerodynamic components of AC Schnitzer give those BMW’s additional sportiness. For instance, the cars now include carbon front spoiler, chromed front grille, carbon rear diffuser and rear spoiler (Coupé only) that also provide maximum driving dynamics.

Furthermore, the rear skirt film, emblem film and type designations are also available and complete the power package in aesthetic terms. Next, the added sports rear silencer with twin chromed “Sport Trim“ tailpipes is available with and without flap control, in conjunction with the carbon rear diffuser.

Going inside the vehicles, one can find an elegant and at the same time motorsport atmosphere. This was made possible thanks to the “Black Line“ aluminium cover for BMW “i-Drive system controller“ (anodized black/matt), aluminium pedal set for left- and right-hand drive (anodized/matt), aluminium footrests (anodized/matt) and floor mats in velours.

In order to further enhance the aggressive on-road presence of the cars, they were equipped with wide, weight-optimised 20 or 21 inch wheels. Type VIII (one-piece/multipiece/forged), Type V (forged) and Type IV wheels are available in various designs to transfer the power to the road.

httpv://youtu.be/An48VaiOej0

httpv://youtu.be/U4m2Qoj7o3M

Basic vehicles

BMW M6 Coupé (F13)
BMW M6 Convertible (F12)
BMW M6 Gran Coupé (F06)

Engine

AC Schnitzer Performance upgrades from 412 kW/560 HP to 456 kW / 620 HP – in preparation
AC Schnitzer engine optics

Exhaust

AC Schnitzer twin sports rear silencer with chromed “Sports Trim“ tailtrims (right / left) and flap control
Export version also available

Suspension

AC Schnitzer spring kit, including lowering

Karosserie

AC Schnitzer carbon front spoiler
AC Schnitzer front grill, chromed
AC Schnitzer bonnet vents (export version)
AC Schnitzer design elements für Bonnet Vents (Export Version)
AC Schnitzer carbon rear diffusor
AC Schnitzer rear spoiler (for M6 Coupé)
AC Schnitzer rear skirt protection foil

Interior

AC Schnitzer aluminium Cover for
i-Drive system controller, “Black Line”
AC Schnitzer aluminium foot rest and pedals
AC Schnitzer floor mats, velours

Wheel/Tyre Sets:

Type IV Wheels, BiColor
- front: 9,0J x 20″ with tyres 265/35 R 20
- rear: 10,0J x 20″ with tyres 295/30 R 20
Type V Lightweight Wheels , BiColor
- front: 9,0J x 20″ with tyres 265/35 R 20
- rear: 10,0J x 20″ with tyres 295/30 R 20
Type VIII Wheels, BiColor black and silver
- front: 8,5J x 20″ with tyres 255/35 R 20
- rear: 10,0J x 20″ with tyres 285/30 R 20
Type VIII Rennsport-Schmiedefelgen, BiColor
- front: 9,0J x 21″ with tyres 255/30 R 21
- rear: 10,0J x 21″ with tyres 295/25 R 21
Type VIII Leichtbau-Schmiedefelgen, BiColor

- front: 9,0J x 21″ with tyres 255/30 R 21
- rear: 10,0J x 21″ with tyres 295/25 R 21

Videos Source: YouTube

Source: AC Schnitzer

July 10, 2013

First Images And Specification Details Of Peugeot RCZ R Revealed

After it has been teased with several sketches a month ago, now the Peugeot RCZ R is officially revealed and in addition it is going to make its public world premiere at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. The event will take place this weekend, where the super-performance version of the popular Sports Coupé will show its capabilities, innovation and design assets. RCZ R will make its formal debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2013 and will be on sale early in 2014.

The new Peugeot is equipped with a THP engine which generates 270 hp (199 kW) from its 1.6-litre displacement at 6000rpm and has a maximum torque of 330Nm at 1900rpm to 5500 rpm. The CO2 emissions are estimated at only 145g/km. In order to harness this considerable power, the RCZ R is equipped with a Torsen®differential to deliver enhanced grip efficiency and dynamic sensations.

With its 270 hp (199 kW), the RCZ R is in fact the most powerful production model in Peugeot history. The car is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in less than six-seconds. This is achieved by using the downsizing capacity of the engine, saving weight and ensuring aerodynamic improvement.

The weight saving was achieved through the development of specific components, and in that way the car is 17 kg lighter than the standard RCZ THP 200 hp model. The total kerb weight of the model is 1280 kg, and the power-to-weight ratio is 210.94 bhp / 1000kg.

In terms of exterior styling, the new Peugeot model is a true masterpiece. It has a matt black roof arches, its suspension is lowered by 10 mm and the alloy wheels are 19 inches in diameter. The alloys wheels have a two-tone diamond / black matt, technical and sporty finish with an ‘R’ monogram on the visible part of the alloy wheel. They are matched with new larger brakes, and the red calipers at the front are signed ‘Peugeot Sport’.

Furthermore, the integrated large fixed rear spoiler offers enhanced downforce and at the same time stretches the silhouette’s rear profile view. In addition, a specific rear diffuser meets the smooth effect that rounds-off the back of RCZ. It incorporates two symmetrically positioned chromed exhaust pipes, and a reworked exhaust system for performance and sound.

The car will be offered in four colours: Moroccan Red, Nera Black, Mercury Grey and Opal White. Additionally, there will be also available a wide range of custom made satin or gloss carbon roof treatments, decal designs and black mirror shells.

The equipment of the RCZ R features Xenon projector headlamps with washers, and full multimedia system WIP (World of Peugeot) Nav Plus as a standard.

In terms of interior, the RCZ R offers a cockpit of purpose, sporting and subtly elitist atmosphere. There are visible embossed sills, quality of detailing, red stitching on the dashboard, leather steering wheel, gear lever gaiter, door panels, armrests and seats.

The seats are wrapped in a mix of full grain Nappa leather and black Alcantara and branded with the monogram ‘R’. In addition, on the centre console a chrome plate with a red inscribed ‘R’ emerges from a certification plate of brushed aluminium with four visible screw fixings.

To go further into details, the exhaust system of this Peugeot has an enhanced Sound System linked to the draw of the intake. The result is an amplified sports character of the new RCZ R engine.

Source: Peugeot

July 10, 2013

Mercedes-Benz B180 Northern Lights Black Limited Edition

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled B180 Northern Lights Black Limited Edition. The luxurious manufacturer continues to release special edition vehicles for Japanese market. After the G550 Night Edition and C63 AMG Performance Studio Edition, Mercedes-Benz has announced this one.The B180 Northern Lights Black is limited to just 250 units with starting price of around $33,420.The special features include attractive purple exterior paint, bi-xenon headlights, folding mirrors and LED DRLs. There is also a leather steering wheel, heated front seats with memory function, active parking assist and Easy-Vario-Plus (both rear-seat cushion and front passenger seat are folded forward) which increases load capacity to the incredible 1995 liters

July 10, 2013

Most Efficient Sports Car: 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

It is officially announced that the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is the most fuel efficient sports car currently being offered on the market. The tests have shown that the Chevy delivers up to an EPA-estimated 17 miles per gallon in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.

This means that the Corvette Stingray is a true benchmark for modern performance cars thanks to the utilization of technologies which deliver more performance and more miles per gallon. The car is equipped with a seven-speed manual transmission which helps further enhance the fuel efficiency and reflects the average fuel economy.

The default “Tour” mode for instance delivers 28 mpg highway and on the other hand when the car is in a driver-selectable “Eco” mode, it delivers 30 mpg highway. In addition, in those Stingrays which come with the seven-speed manual transmission, the Eco mode enables Active Fuel Management, which disables four of the cylinders for enhanced fuel economy during light engine loads.

For those models which are equipped with the six-speed automatic, the Active Fuel Management is active in all drive modes until the person behind the wheel uses the manual-shift mode through the steering-wheel paddles.

Furthermore, it was announced that there is an 11 percent increase in the highway rating over the previous Corvette. Additionally, the 6.2L LT1 V-8 engine generates 455 horsepower (335 kW), which is a 6 percent increase over the previous versions of the car. The LT1 also delivers 460 horsepower (338 kW) with the available dual-mode exhaust.

What is typical for sports cars with more than 455 horsepower is that they offer significantly lower highway fuel economy estimates. An example is the Jaguar F-Type S which delivers 495 hp (364 kW) and 23 mpg highway while the Audi R8 V10 offers 510 hp (375 kW) and 19 mpg highway.

What is more, the sports cars that deliver more than 29 mpg highway based on EPA estimates usually offer less engine output. The example here is the Porsche Cayman that delivers 30 mpg and 275 hp (202 kW), and the BMW Z4 sDrive28 – with 34 mpg and 241 hp (177 kW).

2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe will go on sale this autumn, while its Convertible version will be launched on the market by the end of the year.

Source: Chevrolet

July 10, 2013

Jaguar Project 7 Concept Car To Debut At Goodwood [VIDEO]

Jaguar Project 7 Concept Car is going to debut at the 2013 Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend on 12th of July. This concept of Jaguar’s is based on the 2014 Jaguar F-TYPE. The name of the car – Projcet 7 comes to acknowledge the seven wins of the brand at the Le Mans achieved between 1951-1990. In addition its blue paintwork is reminiscent of the victorious Jaguar D-type cars of 1956/1957.

As a matter of fact, the concept is not a static one, but instead is a fully-functional, high-performance sports car. It has inherited the F-TYPE’s rigid all-aluminum architecture, and additionally it is equipped with 550 hp (405 kW) supercharged 5-liter Jaguar V8 engine.

The power is transferred to the rear wheels via an eight-speed ZF transmission with “Quickshift” technology, and an active electronically controlled limited slip differential. Furthermore, the new racing concept also includes a free-flow exhaust system with a ceramic finish, 10mm lower ride height and a custom-calibrated spring/damper tune.

In the design of the Projct 7 it is visible that the engineers and designers tried to stay as close as possible to the F-TYPE’s two key design ‘heartlines’. The biggest change however is the new D-Type-inspired rear fairing section which embodies a rollover hoop and swoops down from behind the driver.

In order to make the car more aerodynamically enhanced, there were made some modifications such as carbon-fiber front air splitter, side skirts, large rear diffuser and a fixed rear spoiler with a 14-degree angle of attack. What are also made of carbon fiber are the side louvers and bonnet vents. The carbon elements and the aluminum mirrors draw inspiration from those on Jaguar’s C-X16 sports car concept, which inspired the F-TYPE.

Moreover, in this project, the windshield has been lowered, and at the same time a new front fascia design includes revised air intakes and headlights with gloss black surrounds. On the road, the car will run on 20-inch forged-alloy wheels with carbon-fiber inserts.

Going inside, the interior includes a composite bucket seat for the driver, which is 1.2 inches lower than the stock seat, and is gripped by a four-point racing harness. The passenger seat is replaced by a custom fabricated helmet holder, which carries a custom-designed Project 7 helmet in matching blue paint and graphics.

The seat and the inner part of the doors are made of quilted racing-style diamond pattern. There are also visible the carbon-fiber inserts on the console and shift lever, and the steering wheel is equipped with machined aluminum paddles.

httpv://youtu.be/_k0lxEETvgk

Jaguar Project 7 Concept Car Technical Specifications

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
Engine Capacity (cc)	5000
Cylinders	8
Valves per cylinder	4
Compression ratio	9.5:1
Bore/stroke (mm)	92.5/93.0
Bore/stroke (inches)	3.64/3.66
Transmission	Eight-speed ZF transmission with ‘Quickshift’ technology
PERFORMANCE
0-60mph (sec)	4.1
50-75mph (sec)	2.4
Top speed	186 MPH (electronically limited)
Power (HP@rpm)	550@6500
Torque (lb ft@rpm)	502@2500-5500
Wheels	20-inch “Blade” forged-alloy
Tires	Pirelli P Zero 255/30/20 (front) / 295/30/20 (rear)

Jaguar has won Le Mans seven times:

1951	C-Type	Peter Walker, Peter Whitehead
1953	C-Type	Tony Rolt, Duncan Hamilton
1955	D-Type	Mike Hawthorn, Ivor Bueb
1956	D-Type	Ron Flockhart, Ninian Sanderson
1957	D-Type	Ron Flockhart, Ivor Bueb
1988	XJR-9LM	Jan Lammers, Johnny Dumfries, Andy Wallace
1990	XJR-12	John Nielsen, Price Cobb, Martin Brundle

Video Source: YouTube

Source: Jaguar

July 10, 2013

ABT Audi RS6 Avant – 666HP and 830Nm

ABT has announced their tuning program for the new mighty Audi RS6 Avant. The performance family car accelerates 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and has a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).

However, ABT decided that is not enough and boosted the mighty 4.0 liter V8 TFSI to 666HP (490 kW) and 830Nm (612 lb-ft) of torque. This is an increase of 106HP and 130Nm. 0-100 km/h will be around 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 300 km/h (electronically limited).

The tuning company also offers carbon fiber mirror caps and a sports exhaust system. Other highlights include valve caps with Abt logo as well as and “entrance lights” which project the Abt onto the ground.

The interior boasts a set of black floor mats with a silver embroidered Abt logos.

Source: ABT

July 9, 2013

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