Automobiles Review – Page 724 – Car News, Car Reviews, Auto Shows, Car Photos, Car Videos

TEASED: BMW Gran Lusso Coupé Pininfarina Concept

At the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2013 has happened something exceptional. BMW Group announced their collaboration with Pininfarina marked with the concept car BMW Pininfarina Gran Lusso Coupé, which will have its official reveal on 24th of May.

This car is the embodiment of sheer elegance. The design of the car is fresh and innovative and exudes pure creative impulses. Pininfarina design team contributed to the professionals at BMW with new ideas that eventually lead to a new automotive personality.

In fact, this car is typically a BMW but bears the refined imprint of Pininfarina – in short it offers elegance and exclusivity. What we are to expect of this model is the Italian design finesse. In fact, it offers generous surface design and taut contours that further highlight the elegance of the vehicle’s body.

On the other hand, BMW Gran Lusso Coupé Pininfarina Concept has the emblematic BMW proportions. This means that it offers a long wheelbase, stretched bonnet, short overhangs and a set-back greenhouse with smoothly sloping roofline. The end effect is that the aggressive stance and the authoritative dynamics of the car are further accentuated.

More importantly, both brands announced that they are going to equip this concept model with a V12 engine. Additional details will be announced near the official launch in only les than ten days. On the other hand, the interior of the car offers a blend of contemporary elegance and luxury, comfort and sportiness. The fluid geometry of the cabin and the classical BMW driver focus are lent a thoroughly new touch through the influence of Pininfarina.

Source: Pininfarina

May 15, 2013

North American Debut For 2014 Kia Cadenza K7

2014 Kia Cadenza K7 premium sedan has just been unveiled and it is the most technologically-advanced vehicle the brand has ever produced for the North American market. The model adds to the lineup of Kia vehicles with exclusive list of premium standard and optional equipment. 2014 Cadenza is expected to be at showrooms in the second quarter of this year.

The new model has a distinctive front fascia and swept C-pillars. Under its hood hides company’s most powerful V6 unit that delivers excitement during driving. The interior of the car includes premium features and is perfect for five persons where they can share the luxurious feel.

To go further into details, some of the standard features included in the Cadenza are the following: advanced navigation system with SiriusXM Traffic™ and UVO eServices, high resolution 8-inch touch screen, standard back-up camera and warning system, premium 550-watt Infinity® 12-speaker audio system, standard leather seat trim, dual-zone automatic climate control with rear seat ventilation, Smart Key keyless entry with push-button start, 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat and Bluetooth® wireless technology.

In addition, there are also two optional packages that are currently being offered: The Premium Package and the Technology Package. The first one features full-length panoramic sunroof with power retractable sunshade, HID headlamps with adaptive front lighting system (AFLS), 7-inch TFT LCD instrument cluster, premium Nappa leather seats, a memory enabled 12-way ventilated driver’s seat with seat cushion extension for unsurpassed comfort, heated front and rear outboard seats, heated steering wheel with power tilt and telescoping steering column power rear sunshade.

The Technology Package on the other hand adds sleek 19-inch alloy wheels, electric parking brake and Advanced Smart Cruise Control (ASCC), water repellant hydrophobic windshield, radar-based Blind Spot Detection system (BSD), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS).

The striking design of the new Kia Cadenza includes aggressive “Tiger Nose” front fascia, quad headlights flanking the grille. The lower fascia is wide and features chrome trim accents around the fog lights and grille. Of course, there are also included LED positioning lights and optional HID headlights.

The car has a long hood with is sculpted in such way that it meets the swept-back windshield. Classic chrome accents can be also seen at the lower portions of the doors as well as the rear fascia. This new Kia model runs on 19-inch alloy wheels when offered with the Technology Package.

Stepping further to the rear of the car, it includes standard LED taillights which are designed to cut across a large portion of the vehicle. The effect is that the vehicle appears to have a broader stance. The twin oval tail pipes accentuate the Cadenza’s sporty and elegant design.

How about the interior? Of course, the interior received a luxury treatment. First to be mentioned are the soft leather upholstery and tasteful accents of wood and chrome. Secondly, there are featured an ambient lighting and horizontally positioned switch gear.

An analog clock positioned between the center stack buttons leads to a more classical design approach. In addition, the center console is angled toward the driver for optimized control, and the large seven-inch high-resolution TFT LCD screen. As a standard there are also included Bluetooth, wood-trim door inserts, one-touch automatic up/down power front windows and power-folding heated outside mirrors with integrated turn signal indicators.

More importantly however is what is positioned under the hood of this premium vehicle. Namely – Kia’s most powerful V6 engine. The smooth-revving 3.3-liter uses gasoline direct injection (GDI) technology that enhances the performance and at the same time offers fantastic fuel efficiency.

The GDI powerplant generates 293 horsepower (215 kW) at 6,400 rpm and 345 Nm (255 lb.-ft.) of torque at 5,200 rpm. The advanced all-aluminum engine includes dual continuously variable valve timing for enhanced fuel economy and performance, a maintenance-free timing chain, a three-step variable induction system for enhanced torque, and is designed to run on regular unleaded gasoline.

This amount of power is transferred to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission that features a Sportmatic manual shift mode and paddle shifters flanking the leather and wood-wrapped steering wheel.

As a standard the Cadenza comes with sport-tuned fully independent suspension with a McPherson strut setup in front and a multilink rear design. In addition, it rides on standard 245/45R-18 tires. The afore mentioned 245/40R-19 tires are included with the Technology Package.

Source: Kia

May 15, 2013

BMW F10 M5 sets Guiness World Drift Record – 82.5 km

BMW M5 F10 Saloon managed to set Guiness World Record for longest sustained drift at the BMW Performance Center near Greenville, South Carolina on Saturday, May 11, 2013.

Behind the steering wheel was Johan Schwartz – Instructor at BMW Performance Center. The record-breaking attempt generated over $20,000 in charitable donations benefitting The BMW Charity Pro-Am.

The BMW M5 F10 covered 51.278 miles (82.5 km), which is a total of 322.5 laps around the 841-foot Performance Center skid pad.

The M-DCT transmission-equipped 2013 BMW M5 Sedan was an unmodified car from the BMW Performance Center school fleet which began the record attempt with a fresh set of Continental ContiSport ultra-high performance tires – sizes 255/30/20 front and 295/30/20 rear.

The M5 F10 is powered by a 4.4-liter V8 with 560PS (412 kW) at 5750RPM and 680Nm(502 lb-ft) at just 1500RPM. The engine has M TwinPower Turbo technology, twin-scroll turbochargers, high-precision direct fuel injection, VALVETRONIC variable valve control and a cross-bank exhaust manifold meaning an acceleration to 100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds, to 200 km/h in 13 seconds and top speed of 250 km/h (limited).

Source: BMW

May 14, 2013

Holden Special Vehicles Gen F – 585HP and 740Nm

Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) has announced the new Gen F line-up. It includes five different cars including the Maloo, Clubsport and Clubsport Tourer, Senator Signature and range-topping GTS.

The Gen F Series boasts an aggressive body kit, LED DRLs, ventilated front fenders and a four-tailpipe sports exhaust system. The GTS comes with new front and rear bumpers, a larger spoiler and a set of black alloy wheels fitted with low-profile tires.

The interior also has some sporty features – new seats, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and auxiliary gauges. There is also a carbon fiber trim, some gloss black accents and a set of alloy pedals.

HSV Gen F GTS is powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter LSA V8 engine with 585 HP (430 kW) and 740 Nm (546 lb-ft) of torque.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pThVsRJ4u9M

Source: Holden

May 14, 2013

Tesla Model S sales better than A8, 7er and S-class in the US

The Tesla Model S is appearing to be a huge hit in the US. The electric luxurious saloon managed to outsell Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Audi A8 and BMW 7-Series.Tesla Motors has delivered 4,750 units of the Model S during the first quarter of 2013. In the exact same period, Mercedes has delivered 3,077 S-Class cars, BMW – 2,338 7-Series and Audi with just 1,462 A8s.Because of the pricing ($69,900), Tesla Model S appears to be a very good deal. The other luxurious saloon are a lot more expensive – A8 ($73,095), 7-Series ($74,525) and S-Class whopping $93,255.The Tesla Model S is powered by a 416HP (310 kW) and 600Nm (443 lb-ft) of torque rear mounted electric motor. It is interesting that the electric motor has its full torque (600Nm) from the 1^st RPM. The car weighs 2105 kg (4640 lbs).

May 14, 2013

Manta Porsche 996 Turbo Transformed by OK-Chiptuning

The professionals at OK-Chiptuning decided to do something different on a Porsche 996 Turbo. First thing that grabs the attention here are the exterior colors that are in the color of the rainbow and impresses with its joyful character.

However, what is more important here is that the car has received a boost in power and now has an output of 650 hp (478 kW) and 750 Nm (554 lb-ft) maximum torque. This was achieved thanks to a charge air cooler that was installed in both K24-Turbolader and GT2-RS-. Thanks to it, it is achieved more intense intake for turbochargers. Also Sachs-Performance-clutch and an exhaust system with continuous 70-millimeter-tubes contribute to the seamless performance of this Porsche.

Furthermore, there is an AG-rim finishing for powder coating of the rims. The 19 inch rims are matched with an appropriate set of tyres in 235/35-19 or 305/30-19. In addition, in order to enhance the driving dynamics, KW-Coilover-Suspension of the version 3 is installed. There was also added a rear spoiler which was delivered by TechArt.

At last, in order to bring about the “crazy” exterior effect, OK-Chiptuning collaborated with Cam Shaft Premium Wrapping. The result is that the Manta-Porsche received a three-colour foliation.

Source: Miranda Media

May 14, 2013

2014 BMW F10 M5 Facelift [leak]

Here are some leak images of the Facelift version of BMW F10 M5.

The exterior boasts a new front grill with larger vertical ribs like those on the BMW M6. The headlights will be slightly different, too. There doesn’t appear to be any other updates to the exterior.

The interior upgrades are also minimal – a new slimmer steering wheel and a new touch-sensitive iDrive controller.

The engine is the same twin-turbocharged 4.4 liter V8 with 560HP (412 kW) and 680Nm (502 lb-ft) of torque. However, in order to get the BMW M5’s power closer to this in the new E 63 AMG S, the customers can opt for Competition package, which will boost the engine to 575HP (423 kW).

The suspension will be revised as well as the ///M Dynamic Mode and exclusive 20” alloy wheels.

The 2014 BMW F10 M5 is expected to hit the market in the end of this year with pricing starting from €103,300.

Source: Bimmertoday

May 14, 2013

Lamborghini Egoista On Stage [VIDEO]

Lamborghini Egoista is already a fact! After its official reveal yesterday, there are already present videos of the exclusive event. Of course, you can view them below and get inspired by the unique design of the car as well as by its powerful “voice”.

The model was especially designed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lamborghini ad it shows the philosophy that the brand incorporates – passion for innovation and alternative solutions. This new supercar is designed for or only one person who will fully express their personality.

The 600 horsepower (441 kW) of Egoista are coming from its 5.2-liter V10 engine, promising to bring about one of a kind driving experience. On the other hand, in terms of exterior design – the model stands out again. It is a single-seater vehicle, which pushes all the pure driving pleasure, performance and style of Lamborghini beyond their limits.

Lamborghini Egoista has all the necessities that are typical for a vehicle produced by the brand. What is more – it takes them a step further with a promise to deliver pure emotion to the driver.

httpv://youtu.be/wvOIA-Qk-64

httpv://youtu.be/QJY8BHncVA4

Video Source: YouTube

May 14, 2013

Nissan 370Z NISMO To Participate In 2013 Gumball 3000 Rally

Nissan is teaming up with French publishing house L’Ecurie and INTERSECTION Magazine for a special event. The brand is going to take part in the 2013 Gumball 3000 Rally. It is a non-competitive, pan-European parade in which we can see some of the most exquisite cars.

In fact, 2013 Gumball 3000 Rally is a road trip that performance car enthusiasts dream of. It is going to be a week-long, 3000-mile (5000km) driving adventure which will “go” through 13 countries. The start is in Copenhagen on 18th of May 18 and the rally will run until 25th of May, concluding in Monaco at the Formula 1 Grand Prix De Monaco 2013.

In this event, we will be pleased to see the new Nissan 370Z NISMO in action. Gumball will provide the best platform to bring NISMO’s digital age performance to the streets of Europe.

Nissan team behind this car has been entered as car 56. This number is of a great importance for Nissan.

The reason for this is that it has occupied ‘Garage 56’ at the Le Mans 24hr race in 2012 with the Nissan DeltaWing. Now, the brand returns to Garage 56 with an all-new race car that embodies electric technology.

To be more precise, the Nissan 370Z NISMO has debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March and it is going to be seen in the showrooms later this year. This special Nismo is powered by a 350 hp (257 kW) six-cylinder engine. The car also includes bespoke chassis tuned to deliver a sharper and more engaging driving experience. Nissan 370Z NISMO accelerates effortlessly from 0 to 100 km/h in only 5.2 seconds.

As you can see, the exterior of the car is adorned by a special camouflage livery designed specifically for the event. The vehicle that is to participate in the event will be driven by Patrice Meignan and Jeremy ‘Jey’ Taltaud. Both of them are contributors to INTERSECTION Magazine and will be reporting on the rally via all major social media channels.

Source: Nissan

May 14, 2013

2014 Acura ILX Provides More Content And Value

2014 Acura ILX luxury sports sedan will go on sale this week and more importantly it will offer to its customers a wide range of new standard features. In fact, the ILX offers increased value on a luxury scale with eight new standard features that improve the visual characteristics, interior ambience overall driving enjoyment of the car.

This updated Acura model gets upgraded 17-inch alloy wheels on which it runs effortlessly. I addition, the interior receives new leather seating surfaces and leatherette door liners, an eight-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats and a Multi-Angle Rearview Camera.

What is more, the occupants will have the opportunity to enjoy the ride even more thanks to the new audio-system subwoofer and an Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) system. These features come as a standard on the 2014 ILX.

Furthermore, under the hood of the vehicle can be found one of either two advanced powertrains: the standard 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine that generates 150 horsepower (110 kW and the 2.4-liter engine generating 201 horsepower (148 kW).

The first unit is paired with a Sequential SportShift 5-speed automatic transmission. It shows has an EPA city/highway/combined fuel economy rating of 24/35/28 mpg. The second unit is matched with a close-ratio, six-speed manual transmission, earning an EPA city/highway/combined fuel economy rating of 22/31/25 mpg.

Another interesting fact here is that the ILX uses 59 percent high strength steel (HSS) in its body structure in order to optimize protection and chassis rigidity. The chassis uses an advanced MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension system and Acura signature Amplitude Reactive Dampers. All these features offer superior ride comfort and precise handling. Additionally, the Motion Adaptive Electric Power Steering (EPS) is utilized for excellent steering feel and improved fuel efficiency.

The coupe inside offers smart, spacious and sporty interior thanks to the number of convenient features including a standard Keyless Access System with smart entry and pushbutton start, along with Pandora® interface and SMS text message function for easy connectivity. As before, a Premium Package and Technology Package are both available.

Acura is one of the brands that have leadership in terms of safety. Here, the 2014 ILX has a wide range of standard active and passive safety features such as for example the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure.

TRIM	MSRP	EPA MPG(city/highway/combined)
2014 ILX 5-Speed Automatic	$26,900	24/35/28
2014 ILX 5-Speed Automatic w/ Premium Package	$29,200	24/35/28
2014 ILX 5-Speed Automatic w/Technology Package	$31,600	24/35/28
2014 ILX 6-Speed Manual with Premium Package	$29,200	22/31/25

Source: Acura

May 14, 2013

Piecha Design Mercedes-Benz CLA

Piecha Design has revealed their latest project based on the all-new Mercedes-Benz CLA 250. The small Coupe comes only with styling upgrades.

The CLA 250 boasts sport exterior kit including a new front lip spoiler, a new diffuser, a matte silver air splitters for the bumper and a four-pipe sports exhaust system with 90mm pipes. There is also a set of new ten-spoke alloy wheels fitted with low-profile tires.

Mercedes-Benz CLA 250 is powered by a four-cylinder 2.0 liter turbocharged petrol engine with 211HP (155 kW) and 350Nm (259 lb-ft) of torque. The average fuel consumption is around 45.6 mpg with CO2 emissions of 142 g/km. 0-100 km/h in 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 240 km/h (149 mph). The engine is connected to a 7-speed DCT gearbox.

Source: Piecha Design

May 13, 2013

2013 Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG S – 585HP and 800 Nm

Mercedes-Benz has presented a or high performance boost in the shape of the top-of-the-range E 63 AMG S Model.

The engine is the new 5.5 liter twin-turbo V8, but with 585HP (430 kW) and 800Nm (593 lb-ft) of torque. 0-100 km/h in 4.1 seconds (Saloon) and 4.2 seconds (Estate). The top speed is electronically limited to 300 km/h (186 mph). The E 63 AMG S Saloon is able to do 28.5 mpg with 232 g/km of CO2, while the Estate achieves 28.3 combined mpg with 234 g/km CO2.

The E 63 AMG S comes with rear axle limited-slip differential lock as standard, enhanced exterior including a high-gloss black front apron with silver-shadow splitter, side sill panels and rear trim strip with silver-shadow inserts, an AMG spoiler in body colour, 19” AMG alloy wheels painted in Titanium matt grey, red brake calipers, and ‘S’ labelling on the boot lid.

The interior boasts black Nappa leather upholstery with grey contrast stitching, silver seat belts, an AMG emblem in the headrests, an electric rear roller blind for the Saloon, AMG door sills with white LED illumination, and an AMG instrument cluster with red applications and S Model badging.

There is a choice of 7 standard metallic paints and one non-metallic paint in Polar White.

The E 63 AMG S Model Saloon is priced from £83,740 and the Estate from £85,530. Both will be available from June, this year.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

May 13, 2013

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