Here is another very interesting video by Dragtimesinfo posted on Youtube. This time, the Sport, Leicht, Rennsport” McLaren Mercedes-Benz is coming against two slightly tuned sports cars – Nissan GT-R and Aston Martin DBS Mansory.
The SLR is powered by an all-aluminium supercharged SOHC 5.4 liter V8 engine delivering whopping – 626HP (460 kW) at 6500RPM and 780Nm (580 lb-ft) of torque at just 3250RPM. The engine runs on just 0.9 bar of boost. The engine is mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission delivering all that power to the rear wheels. The curb weight is 1 768 kg (3,900 lb).
Performance– 3.8 seconds 0-100 km/h, 10.7 seconds 0-200 km/h and 0-300 in 30.6 seconds.
The price of the beast is $750 000.
How the mighty SLR copes with the tuned beasts? Check out in the video below.
ABT Sportsline has released their tuning program for the new Volkswagen T5 Multivan.
“The car can manage a lot of (shopping) baskets and is fast and agile despite its XXL size.”, said Dirk Nowitzki, the world’s famous basketball player.
The ABT T5 comes with complete aerodynamics package including a new front grille, a new front spoiler, a pair of modified side skirts and a new rear bumper.
All components are perfectly matched; rear skirt and rear spoiler form a harmonious unit in combination with the exhaust system with its two double tail pipes, typical for the ABT Sportsline premium brand.
Suspension is also revised in order to handle the additional power and to deliver more comfort in sporty driving.
The exterior is completed by a set of new 19” DR sport rims wrapped in performance low-profile tires.
There are also some performance packages for the whole range of engines: The 2.0 liter TDI with 84HP (62 kW) is boosted to 110HP (81 kW) and the 102HP (75 kW) version now delivers 130HP (96 kW). The powerful 140HP (103 kW) is boosted to 170HP (125 kW) and 400Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque.
Last is the powerful 2.0 liter turbocharged TSI petrol having 240HP (176 kW) and 400Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque. 0-100 km/h in 9.4 seconds, which is pretty fast for a VAN.
There was a lot of commotion before the release of the Altima. Now, after the debut, Nissan continue rambling about it. We’ve got it, it’s the most magnificent, outstanding, best-in-class sedan there is. At a certain point, we do understand them however. The Nissan Alitma was the second the second best-selling car in the U.S last year. Promoting it properly is making sure that it stays as the company’s bread and butter product.
“This new Altima builds on the fundamental reputation earned over four generations for quality and reliability — and adds class-leading levels of value, innovation, dynamic performance and premium style,” said Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn.
It would seem that most pride is taken when talking about the fuel economy. Nissan are adamant to put a stress on the 38 mpg highway efficiency figure. Again, provided that we are talking about the 2.5-liter, 182 hp baby engine.
Now here’s a video of Mr Carlos Ghosn himself, Nissan CEO, explaining some of the key ideas and features behind the fifth incarnation of the popular sedan:
httpv://youtu.be/GLm1zDFgsRw
The Nissan Altima goes on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide in June at a starting MSRP of $21,500
While Chrysler are reestablishing their presence on the Chinese market, Ferrari are merely marking their 20th anniversary there. But they too have a special edition in store – A “logma” themed Ferrari 458 Italia. Only 20 examples will be made and none of them will be sold outside China.
So what is “logma”? It’s an old Chinese idiom which means “the vigor and spirit of the legendary dragon-horse” (That was totally our guess). A dargon-horse – what are the chances? We have a prancing horse up and ready on any standard Italia you might think of. That’s why the livery needed for the logma special edition includes only the addition of a dragon. But what a dragon it is! Right there on the Marco Polo Red bonnet, enclosed in a black and gold racing stripe, twisty and windy as if it were a racing track.
The gold finished bendy winglets and rims do a fine job complementing the whole look which is sure remain in your field of view… especially if the driver inside isn’t brilliantly proficient in Chinese – the start button is all symbols. Gold embroidery decorates the car’s headrests and a plaque set into the dash lets you know that this is an Italia ‘20th Anniversary Special Edition’
On a side note, to mark the occasion, Ferrari are also setting up their first ever permanent brand exhibition outside of Maranello at the Italia Center of Shanghai World Expo Park. Think of it as a macro fair…that covers 900 square meters…and will remain open for 3 years. Besides the opportunity to marvel at various Ferrari icons, visitors will also have access to a selection of images and videos made especially for this exhibition.
Stick around as we might see this again, next week at the 2012 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition.
You might be not familiar with the fact that Superchips is the official Volkswagen Racing Tuning Partner in the United Kingdom for more than ten years now. For this reason the company has upgraded a model from the Polo Line-up, boosting its performance with ECU remap.
The result is the Superchips ECU Volkswagen Polo GTI 1.4 TSI Twincharge.
Being a standard Polo model, this VW delivers an excellent combination of light weight, small size and an economical, 1.4-litre, direct injection, petrol turbo / supercharged twincharge engine. More importantly this engine delivers the 180 hp (132 kW).
However, now this clasic Volkswagen Polo GTI 180PS 1.4 TSI Twincharge has better performance due to the exceptional tuning from the Superchips specialists.
In particular, the Buckingham based electronics experts have named this tuning package “ECU remap”. In general, the Superchips ECU remap gives the Volkswagen Polo GTI 1.4 TSI twincharge a healthy torque boosted from 2400 rpm upwards, which in addition now offers a maximum gain of 35Nm at 4315 rpm.
Hence, the performance of the tuned car is now sportier, considerably livelier than the standard model, and significantly more responsive to the throttle.
Superchips ECU Volkswagen Polo GTI 1.4 TSI Twincharge
2013 Lexus LX 570 SUV now comes with updated exterior styling with signature spindle grille, new 20-inch alloy wheel design, bumpers and lights. In addition it includes a host of new comfort, convenience and driver assistance features.
Furthermore, the revised model line-up now comes with more competitive pricing than its predecessor.
The bold new face of the SUV now gives it more sporty stance and includes Lexus’ signature spindle grille.
Moreover, the new 2013 Lexus LX 570 SUV also rides on new 20-inch alloy wheels along with exterior and interior styling updates.
In addition, the exterior design is now equipped with new LED daytime running lights, which complement a new headlamp design and larger fog lamp surrounds.
Next, revised front and rear bumpers, tail lamps and a new discreet tow hitch cover are featured in the upgrades as well.
LX 570 is also to offer unmatchable comfort, convenience and safety features. One of which for instance is the new off-road Turn Assist. It adds more brake force to the inside rear wheel.
Additionally, adding to the off-road assistance is the new selectable Multi-Terrain Select function, which delivers the ideal combination of stability and traction control assistance over different surfaces.
Here the person behind the wheel can select from five types of terrain modes: rock, rock and dirt, mogul, loose rock, and mud and sand. By doing so, he or she will optimize vehicle’s performance in the specific condition.
The off-road and city driving, in addition, are made easier with the new Multi-Terrain Monitor, which utilizes four external wide-angle cameras. They monitor blind spots or areas of the vehicle obscured from view. The cameras’ vision is projected on the 8″ LCD centre console display.
A new multimedia display, housed between the speedometer and tachometer, displays the front wheel angles (steering), digital speed readout, turn-by-turn navigation and information relating to the Multi-Terrain Select function.
Next to be mentioned is the Crawl Control feature, which has also been upgraded. It now comes with number of preset speeds upgraded from three to five steps, for greater off-road control.
2013 Lexus LX 570‘s drivability has also been enhanced, thank to the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, which work in unison with LX 570’s six-speed sequential automatic transmission.
The interior of the vehicle also includes number of upgrades.
2013 Lexus LX 570 SUV Upgraded Interior
First, the centre cluster has been modified and now comes with reduced number of buttons for simpler operation.
Secondly, the driver seat has new Easy Access system. This system makes entering and exiting the vehicle easier by retracting the driver’s seat and steering wheel when the ignition is turned off.
And if you wonder about the front seats – they now feature improved ventilation, and a 220-volt power outlet, which has been added to the cargo area.
How about the instrument panel: it now has full colour, multi-information display, as well as one touch turn indicators. In addition, it is now with metallic finish. The same finish can now be recognized at the side air vents, along with a new metallic accent above the glove box.
And for the convenience and comfort of the back-seat passenger there is also featured a new dual rear seat entertainment system.
The interior is offered in two trim colours: ivory or black leather-accented one.
Of course, the exterior colours are also updated and now feature two new: Mercury Gray and Sleek Ecru.
2013 Lexus LX 570 SUV
There is no change however in the standard specification, and it still includes: Multi-Terrain Select and Display, Crawl Control, Adaptive Variable Suspension, cool-box, dual-screen rear seat entertainment, 20-inch alloy wheels, reversing camera, smart start and entry with Smart key, four-zone air-conditioning, daytime running lamps, 10 airbags, Mark Levinson 19-speaker audio, front and rear clearance sonar, BluetoothTMcapabilities.
The enhancement pack now offers: Lexus Pre-Collision safety System+, Active Cruise control+, rear seat heaters, ventilated front seats, paddle shift and the inclusion of mahogany wood grain-look interior trim, including on the steering wheel.
Recent gas prices causing you headache? The trip between the petrol stations seems too short? Well, if you insist to sticking to a mid-sized saloon, the ChevroletMalibu Eco might be the car for you. They say it can do 965 km of highway on a single tank of fuel. This is just another example of how a combination of simple yet clever technologies can help bring noticeable relief to your wallet.
Let’s not beat around the bush – The Malibu Eco achieves an EPA-estimated 25 miles per gallon city and 37 mpg highway fuel economy. Numbers would not have been so high if it wasn’t for the all-electric power steering. It’s cleaner, more efficient and smarter than any other hydraulic setup in the world. Thanks to it, Malibu owners can save up to 12 gallons annually, or about 120 gallons in a 10-year life. At $4 per gallon, that saves about $50 per year or $500 in 10 years say Chevrolet.
The Malibu’s power steering is not constantly operational. Instead, it kicks in only when you need it to do so. If you are going down the highway, the only thing it does is to slightly compensate outside factors that may cause directional shifts (think of uneven roads or crosswinds). Wherever you are, the feedback comes with reduced vibrations and, in some of the cars, responsiveness can be adjusted trough two settings – “comfort” and “sport”.
Chevrolet Malibu Eco (2013)
But an electric power steering is not something groundbreaking and it’s going to take more than that for the Eco, to stand up to its name. This is where GM’s fuel-saving eAssist technology comes into place. It shuts of fuel supply to the engine when the car is decelerating. While in fuel shut-off mode, the motor-generator unit continues spinning along with the engine should the accelerator pedal be pressed again. Thus, a smooth and immediate response is ensured. The system also manages to salvage up to 15kW of power that would normally be lost upon breaking, and recharges the Li-ion battery of the Malibu.
At the moment, the Eco version of it is priced at $25,595 but, with a little more patience, we will see the arrival of an all-new, greener 2.5L Ecotec engine to all Malibu models. Not before summer this. Then, sometime later, a new turbo model will be available.
We all know the Focus ST, right? It’s not that every market offers it but with the pace Ford has taken up, that problem would soon be a thing of the past. The latest debut for the ST would be the 2012 Beijing Auto Show. Soon, this stunning hothatch will be a reality on the Chinese streets.
“The ST will be the performance flagship of our new Focus range, and we are excited to provide our enthusiast customers the opportunity to see it Beijing,” said Nigel Harris, vice president, Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford Motor China. “The ST represents an ultimate expression of Focus driving quality and performance.”
So, no compromises. Simply pure and exhilarating performance, top of the line handling, growling sounds and an aggressive design – true ST experience. Ford are hoping that by the end of 2012, their latest Focus model range will be available to all global markets. A 250 hp rated, 2.0 EcoBoost engine is to delight anyone in the world, who would fancy some blistering performance and eardrum bursting sounds.
“The Focus ST will be a serious driving machine, and our design and engineering teams have developed a purposeful exterior combined with a cockpit that blends sporting function with impressive comfort,” said Harris.
The high-performance SUV 2013 Porsche Cayenne GTS is to make a world debut in Beijing. The vehicle delivers 420 hp (309 kW) and now comes with lowered chassis and improved driving dynamics.
The brand will finally unveil the second-generation Cayenne GTS at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in just two weeks. The popular SUV’s design is based on the Cayenne S. However this new model comes with 20 additional horsepower, a 20 mm lower ride height and a lower final drive ratio which equals improved driving dynamics.
The power of the 420 hp comes from the V8 engine (an active All-Wheel-Drive system) coupled to an eight-speed Tiptronic S transmission with integrated Auto Start Stop function. This is unique combination, indeed, because it enables the Cayenne GTS to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in only 5.4 seconds and achieve a top-track-speed of 162 mph.
The exterior of the car is no less than unique as well. The 2013 Porsche Cayenne GTS can be effortlessly recognized by its high-gloss black trim, prominent side skirts and wider wheel arches as well as the hood and front fascia from the Cayenne Turbo.
2013 Porsche Cayenne GTS
In addition, this SUV rides on 20-inch RS Spyder wheels with a one-of-a-kind offset for the GTS. They come as a standard. What comes also as a standard is the sport exhaust system with matte black twin tailpipes.
Furthermore, two new colors are available for the Cayenne GTS: Peridot Metallic and Carmine Red.
The interior of the Cayenne GTS includes exclusive GTS eight-way adjustable front sports seats with Alcantara accents. What is more here is the new Sport Chrono package, which is now available to monitor the advanced performance offered by this amazing GTS model. A Sound Symposer channels genuine engine intake sounds into the cabin.
The 2013 Cayenne GTS will go on sale in the U.S. in August 2012, with a base price of $82 050.
More news for later this month’s 2012 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition. Chrysler is planning to reestablish itself as a brand on the Chinese market. To show off its determination, the company has plans to unleash these two mean looking fire-breathers as one of them, is to commemorate the year of the dragon. Which, as it turns out, is this year.
The Chrysler 300C is a design concept, compiled specifically with Chinese elements in mind. This is obviously some sort of a teasing game so not much to work with here. We see some sort of an elaborate grille job, some big wheels and a black bodywork. The interior seems to be alright, or at least all-white”. Symbols can be seen, embossed within the leather seats.
The other concept, a Jeep Warngler, is the more flamboyant of the two. It has a giant tattoo of a dragon on the front hood (and underneath as well), Chinese symbols on the fenders and hubcaps and some LED action at the front. All the while, goldish patterns serve as a contrast tool to the overall black finish and the engine cover reads “3.6 VVT”. So, we are betting on an aluminium, variable valve timed V6 that churns out 288 bhp and 359 Nm of torque.
The 2012 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition kicks off on the 23rd of April. Nothing more can be said until then.
Last week, Acura‘s advertisement campaign for their TL range, was honored with a Best Luxury Campaign award at the Nielsen Automotive Advertising Awards event held at the 2012 New York International Auto Show. The company’s agency of record, rp& (a division of RPA) took the credit thanks to their duo of commercials that feature two well known athletes: Detroit Lions football player Calvin Johnson and 2010 Olympic gold medal winning skier Ashleigh McIvor.
The to 0.30 minute spots do not actually feature the TL. Instead the message is conveyed trough metaphors of how an entity can be physically capable and brutish even while, at the same time, emitting style and refinement. The campaign’s motto says it all really: “aggression in its most elegant form.”
Those ads seem to be on to something here. Provided that we are talking about the TL SH-AWD (and not the FWD base one), we have 3.7-liter V6 that produces 305 hp and 373 Nm of torque. The SH stands for Super Handling and we suspect the multi-vectoring all wheel drive in the TL, might have something to do with that. While cruising, 90 % of the power goes to the front wheels. When one gives it the beans however, the tables turn – 70% to the back from which, 100 % can go to either rear wheel, depending on the circumstances.
Acura TL (2012)
The Nielsen Automotive Advertising Awards is the only survey that measures the effectiveness of car TV ads. The data comes from around 2.5 million viewers of national television. 24 networks were included and every single commercial that began airing in 2011 was included.
“2012 has been an exciting year for Acura with the launch of the all new Acura ILX and RDX, the long awaited NSX Concept and most recently, the RLX Concept, Acura’s new flagship sedan,” said Mike Accavitti, Vice President of National Marketing Operations. “We are honored to add Nielsen’s award to that list as we continually strive to create campaigns that further Acura’s brand philosophy of innovation and advancement.”
“Power is nothing without control”, this is very popular phrase in the world of motorsport and especially in drag racing, where the highly tuned cars have to be driven extremely carefully in order to get maximum traction and perfect times.
In this video by Dragtimesinfo, you’ll see a Honda NSX Twin Turbo prepared by Total Race with 700HP versus Porsche 911 Turbo S (997) Mk.2 Stock with just 530HP. However, the Porsche made a perfect start and set a terminal speed of 282.74 km/h in the first, which was more than enough to beat the mighty Honda.
In the second start, the NSX also had huge troubles with the launch, but after that it managed to get the needed traction and won.
Here is another very interesting video by Dragtimesinfo posted on Youtube. This time, the Sport, Leicht, Rennsport” McLaren Mercedes-Benz is coming against two slightly tuned sports cars – Nissan GT-R and Aston Martin DBS Mansory.
ABT Sportsline has released their tuning program for the new Volkswagen T5 Multivan.
There was a lot of commotion 
While 
Recent gas prices causing you headache? The trip between the petrol stations seems too short? Well, if you insist to sticking to a mid-sized saloon, the 
We all know the 
More news for later this month’s 2012 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition. 
Last week, 
“Power is nothing without control”, this is very popular phrase in the world of motorsport and especially in drag racing, where the highly tuned cars have to be driven extremely carefully in order to get maximum traction and perfect times.