Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series

After the spy photos of the last month, here is the video of the future Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series in action on the road and the curves of the Nürburgring. The movie, lasting over two minutes, saw the German sports engaged in high-speed testing on the track and lets you enjoy the unmistakable sound of the eight-cylinder AMG. The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series debut in 2013 and will be available only in Europe.

Monster performance. Beyond the aesthetics, which will obviously be consistent with other Mercedes AMG Black Series range, the SLS will presumably rely on the future of 6,208 cm3 V8 in PowerStep 600 horsepower. The increased propulsive units should allow the German sports shooting from 0 to 100 km / h in 3.5 seconds and touch 320 km top speed times.
The frame. The images show clear evidence with the enlargement of the wheel arches, a distinguishing feature of all models of the Black Series. The changes are extended to shield bumpers and fender skirts connection. In the pictures you can see brake discs and calipers plus, a sure sign of an increase in overall performance.

Engine. Under the hood is presumably of 6,208 cm3 V8 in a 600 horsepower version, which should allow the seductive German coupe to accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in just 3.5 seconds and reach a top speed of over 320 km time. According to our information, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series debut in 2013 and will be available only in Europe.

KIA Rio 2012 The basic version has all the essential

Everything is ready for the market launch of the new 2012 Kia Rio, that after the German catwalk in Frankfurt, will arrive on the roads from September 17 at the Open House scheduled the Korean manufacturer.

Dynamic and engaging the car will certainly breach between the younger clientele, always hungry for technology, and is ready to contend for market share in direct competition in its segment. Ford Fiesta, Renault Clio and Fiat Grande Punto will have to pay attention to this Korean pepper, both in design and updated mechanical live up to its ambitions.

The fourth-generation sports sporty lines, enhanced by generous headlights, tail and sides of the tall grille evocative family feeling of the manufacturer. More spacious, thanks to the increase in length of 55 mm, width 25 and lower than 15 mm, for a truly sporty trim, the car offers a wider plank. On board we find a 3-spoke steering wheel with multifunction controls, seats and details of the profile wrapping premium vehicle.

The engine range is rich. Under the skin of the 5-door version, which will be joined later also the configuration of three, a throbbing 1.2-liter gasoline engine 85 hp power and 120 Nm of torque and the 1.1 diesel three-cylinder 70 bhp and 170 Nm of torque and more powerful 1.4 liter, 90 hp and 220 Nm of torque. The two units are offered in conjunction with the 6-speed transmission.
The catalog of engines in 2012 will add a second 1.4-liter gasoline engine with a power of 109 hp and 136 Nm of torque.

The equipment is full of interesting and unusual equipment, aiming to conquer the 5-star Euro NCAP rating on the security front. On board there are six airbags (front, side and curtain), electronic stability control, emergency brake assist, and Hill Start Assist for uphill and downhill maneuvers.
And more: four-disc brakes (front ones are ventilated), LED daytime running lights, trip computer, power steering, MP3 radio with steering wheel controls and aux and USB, manual air conditioning and electrically operated door mirrors.
More refined versions of the EX, which adds the front armrest, door handles and exterior mirrors in body color and chrome radiator grille. Conclude the pack the chrome trim in the cockpit, the 16-inch alloy wheels, steering wheel and shift knob in leather, fog lights and tinted rear glass.

Also competitive prices. Covered by manufacturer’s warranty for seven years or 150 thousand miles, the Kia Rio has list prices ranging from 11,790 euros needed to buy the petrol version and 15,950 euros in the construction of the LX version 1.4 Diesel EX Plus With the incentive of manufacturer amounted to 1,800 euros, the new Kia Rio is available in promotion from 9,990 euros.

Do not pay for the fact that he left behind in the first half of the year recording a nice +20% over the same period of 2010, the Kia tamp firmly on the accelerator and is about to jump out to conquer new market shares. At the turn of the year will end the heir of the cee’d, while a few months later, in the spring of 2012, the Korean house will take root in the segment D.

Uncirculated First, however, the spotlight on another new, very important for the Italian market: the Kia Rio 2012, which gives an output on the catwalk in Frankfurt, before ending up almost simultaneously, in the windows of dealers for The doors open on 17 and 18 September. Of its predecessor, the new generation retains the name right in practice, being built on a platform with a new and designed with a modern and sporty, light years away from that a little ‘austerity of the outgoing Rio.

Kia Rio 2012 captures the look, the family feeling affermatosi evolving since the style is passed under the guidance of Peter Schreyer. Then respond “Present!” appeal to the grille in the nose of the tiger (tiger nose, or, to put it into English), as well as the wide lower air intake that debuted last Picanto. The other distinguishing marks are the shoulder line and the wedge-shaped rib that marks the side creating an interplay of concave and convex surfaces. Round and round, however, the best profile of the Rio 2012 seems to back. Side B has as its protagonists large LED lights and a small rear window angle to the tail gives a look almost coupe, aided by the small spoiler that acts as a chorus on the entire range.

The 2012 Kia Rio is not only change of image but also puts a few centimeters. The length increases by 55 mm, 4,045 mm touching part, the width increases by 25 mm, for a total of 172 cm and the height is actually the only voice in decline, with a -15 mm to 1,455 mm brings the roof ground. The step is lengthened by 7 cm, helping to increase the living space, while moving forward of the windscreen pillars of 156 mm gives more light inside.

DO RE MI The bridge has been designed without many ideas in her head, with a more sober style. Here, too, is not missing an original touch, with four buttons (for air conditioning, heated rear window and activation / exclusion of air circulation) that have a very successful, by way ‘of the player piano. The assemblies are well kept, while some have plastic that looks like a ‘cheap, a defect that is becoming more common in a time when cost containment is a must. Overall, however, the degree of finish is more than satisfactory.

Beneath the skin lies a brand new platform, represents a novelty as well as the four-cylinder petrol 1,200 called to equip also the Picanto and likely best-seller in the range of Kia Rio 2012. Credited with 85 hp at 6,000 rpm and 120 Nm at 4,000 rpm, allowing you to take from 0 to 100 in 13.1 seconds and reach 172 km / h with an average declared a 20 km / liter round round. In terms of consumption the sample is, however, another debutant, the little three-cylinder turbo-diesel CRDi 1.1 75 bhp and 170 Nm (constant between 1,500 to 2,750 rpm), who is satisfied on the card of a liter every 27.8 km. The other key figures speak of a 0-100 in 16.1 seconds and 158 km / h top. The offer closes another CRDi turbo diesel, this time from 90 to 220 Nm 1,400, for that one speaks of 14.1 seconds, 172 km / h and 24.4 km / liter.

Three trim levels are also. That “base” is called LX, and not just a decoy, made especially to advertise, saying “starting …” and that no interest to anyone then, bare as a lime tree in January. Its budget is in fact already complete, since it includes air conditioning, 6 airbags, electronic stability control and stereo. The next step is the EX version (+510 million), which also offers a front center armrest, and various details in the body color. At the top there is also the EX Plus (+ additional 1,500 euros), which also boasts alloy wheels 16 “(standard ones are 15″ steel), steering wheel and leather shift knob, fog lights, electric windows on all the doors and rear windows tinted.

As to prices, in theory, you should start by 11,790 of 1,200 euros to 15,950 euros to get LX 1.4 CRDi EX Plus the practice is different, however, since Kia has decided to launch a bid with an unconditional discount launch of 1,800 euros, which brings the first price at only 9,900 euros and the entrance fee for 1,100 to 11,590 euros CRDi. And these figures, the 2012 Kia Rio deserves a little thought.

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Great Wall Steed 5 2012

China gets closer, ever closer to Western tastes and needs of Europe. Style, Great Wall Motor has never been entrenched behind a great wall but it has always produced cars with a modern and very Western. What is missing in Chinese production is always the allure of good solid construction and technological perfection and glory of Germany, although we must not forget that many technological gems like the iPod are on specific products in China and western China are produced in vast bicycles that rust with the breath of a child and at the same time well-made carbon frames. China is not only one of the dolls sold in front of the flashing bar and the progress that the Chinese manufacturers do every day are often amazing. Even in cars, starting from the style.

The Great Wall Steed, pickup Spartan designed for work and hobbies bulky, is no less hard-nosed and comes with a frontal cut in the sport, with large black grille cut from the center plate, fog lights on the sides mustache at the bottom of the bumper and headlights sharp, almond-shaped stylized. Pushing the upper lip upward and making all the big black mouth, and has already thought Orciari dedicated kit, the Steed family member seems to be the Shanghai of the Cayenne. From the front line continues the classic, with its double cabin a little ‘square and the crate that ends in three-dimensional cut by modern lights. Traditional measures for a double cab, 5 meters by 1.80, and seven of which three basic colors (red, white and green) are also available with gray bumpers and strips on the wings.

The special effects end up with the front and inside the Great Wall Steed follows the cliché of most Japanese off-road a couple of generations ago, with teams such as the dashboard dashboard design tools from elementary and center console with no effort of imagination. The five seats are comfortable, there’s room without any problems for the legs of those who get behind, that does not meet either too difficult to catch on the small rear doors. Some punched the dashboard is well absorbed from plastics that do not have weaknesses. Weak but the plastic that forms the background to the commands of the center console and a little ‘dancer is the central tunnel.

The outline of the Great Wall Steed is the most classic, chassis, rigid rear axle with leaf springs front and rear wheel drive with switchable four-wheel drive version. The mechanical organs comes from the bank Mitsubishi, engine, gearbox and transmission. The engine is a 2.4 petrol four-cylinder 126 horsepower and 220 nM at 2500 rpm coupled to a five-speed manual transmission. In first gear, then with full rights and local government contributions, if available, is fitted with an LPG tank of 90 liters in addition to 70 of the petrol tank. The reported average consumption of gasoline mileage allow the order of 8.4 km / liter.

The Steed is available in two versions, two-or four-wheel drive. The choice of the type of traction takes a few seconds, can also be done at speed (moderate) by pressing a button on the dash that put the gear unit for changing, starting to get even on slopes of 30%. A pure off-road equipment with sizes from climber: ground clearance of 194mm, approach angle of 30 degrees, 24 degrees out and the only limit of 3.05 in the passage that, like the belly of a dachshund, limits the ‘angle to 17.5 degrees off.

Two-and four-wheel drive with the same setup, except for leather seats and includes exclusive 4×4 Steed, as a minimum complete, the air conditioning and fog lights, front airbags ABS with EBD (missing side and curtain), the closure with remote control to power windows, alloy wheels from 16 inches to the radio with cd. the price is interesting, granted the government’s 1500 euro of the cost Steed 16,500 and 19,000 euros, assisted by two year warranty and typed it in eighty dealerships in the country.

After the LPG and petrol versions, here is the Great Wall Steed 5 with turbo diesel engine. Will not arrive in dealerships until mid-July, but already now you can order. Fresh, moreover, of a cosmetic touch-up of the muzzle which raises the odds of this pick-up China, acceptable compromise quality / price for those looking for a versatile work.

FACELIFT The restyling has the merit of giving the car a cleaner look Steed 5: less masculine than before, but closer to that of the modern SUV. To achieve the GW designers have worked on the headlights and grille, which now sports a crescent shape and horizontal bars. The rest is done by a redesigned bumper with air intakes that incorporate fog lamps.

PRICES The most interesting, however, lies under the skin, where Steed has a 2.0 TDI with 150 hp and 320 Nm of torque at 1,800 rpm Euro 4 compliant, but which are not declared consumption. Combined with the new engine we are a six-speed manual transmission and – optional – the four-wheel drive. The difference between the two versions is of 2,250 euros: the Steed 5 4×4 Super Luxury costs 19,950 euros, while the 4×2 version opens the price of diesel at an altitude of 17,700 euros.

NOTHING include ESP as standard 16 “wheels, central locking, electrically adjustable mirrors, manual climate, radio and steering wheel controls. On the security front but there’s ABS, ESP. The layout of the 4×4 Super Luxury adds leather upholstery, while the navigator (950 euros), metallic paint (480 euros) and the plastic body are part of the list of options.

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Dacia Logan MCV 2012

One step at a time, Dacia goes toward the ambitious goal set by the parent company Renault have a range of six models by 2009. After the Logan sedan, the second is the tessellated mosaic in the station wagon variant, called MCV. The acronym stands for Multi Convivial Vehicle and the car takes largely on form and content of the prototype Steppe Concept seen last March in Geneva.

Compared to the latter, the Logan MCV in the closet left to look after the explorer clothing more to the point. The final production model says goodbye to the large plastic covers for the lower body, making a lot of crossover, instead of civilian clothes to dress. Some attention for a job does not fail over the top, as in many major markets are the dirt roads of Dacia on the agenda but the engineers have been working quietly Dacia, in pencil. At first glance, the MCV betrays his adventurous spirit with only a minimum ground clearance higher than normal (155 mm) and large side strips. It remains instead of kneeling to discover the rugged bulkhead that acts as a shield to the mechanical parts.

The long wheelbase and flat against the front is nearly identical to Logan’s four-door, with the exception of the air intake increased, the edges of the widened grille and new niches that house the fog lights. For the rest, however, the MCV brings with it many new features, starting from the roof raised, leading up to the maximum height of 1,640 mm, 1,674 also considering becoming a handrail. The other change concerns the obvious step, which elongates less than 270 mm, up to a total of 2,905 mm, and raises the total length to 4,450 mm. As always in a station wagon, the more important side is potestiore. Here, the Logan MCV sports, instead of the usual door, two cabinet doors with opening 1/3-2/3, which can rotate 180 ° on its hinges to maximize ease of loading. One feature, this, worthy of a pickup truck more than a station wagon vulgaris.

Dacia other hand, this is precisely the versatility of the flagship project. The cabin can accommodate up to seven adult passengers, riding a two-seater sofa to act as a third row. This case the luggage capacity is 200 liters, while in five the total volume up to 700 liters. Traveling alone, the pilot and his second hand can take up to 2,350 liters. In addition to exceptional loads, engineers have thought, however, even small demands of everyday life and have created a myriad of other small rooms scattered here and there to the cabin, others for a total of 54 liters.

Engines called to settle the Logan MCV range are four, three petrol and one diesel, all old friends of the organ bank of the Renault group. As for the former, opened a 1,400 dances from 75 hp and 112 Nm, followed closely by a 1,600 hp and 128 Nm from 90 crown jewel of the trio is finally a 1600 16 valve 105 hp and 148 Nm to who should make heavy use of this Dacia, the choice of 1,500 diesel dCi is almost inevitable, however. In this case the maximum power and torque, respectively, equal to 70 hp and 160 Nm, to tip the balance is the average distance declared, equal to some 18.9 km / liter. While all engines, there are five-speed manual transmissions.

So as it was for the Logan sedan, features announced are three basic, Ambiance and graduates. The first, restricted to only 1,400, is the extreme minimalism of his philosophy, with just the standard ABS, front airbags and engine immobilizer. L’Ambiance earns colored fascias, side protection bars, power steering, central locking, the sofa divisible and the recirculation function. The climate, however, remains an option, as well as for graduates, which provides among other things in addition to the fog lights, trip computer, electric windows and mirrors, remote central locking and adjustable driver’s seat height.

After a relatively short gestation period, the Logan MCV will arrive on the Romanian market as early October, while in Western Europe, including Italy, the first deliveries will start only in 2007. For the moment we do not know anything yet in terms of price while it is already certain that the warranty offered will be for three years or 100,000 km.

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Audi A6 Hybrid

Arrive in dealerships this spring. Classic shapes, aluminum and components under the hood of a hybrid powertrain

Here’s the new Audi A6, which will arrive in dealerships during the spring. It’s changed a lot both from the aesthetic that under the mechanical. That’s all the news.

Sporty. The shapes are classic saloon, but by the performance of the massive roof and you can see the setting that the sporty design team led by Wolfgang Egger, Head of Audi style, giving the car he wanted. Compared to the previous model, the new Audi A6 is not grown in size if not a few millimeters (length 4.92 m wide, 1.87 m wide and 1.46), yet has the presence of an A8.

Aluminium in abundance. Among the strengths of the new Audi A6 is a body composed of 20% of aluminum components, including doors, bonnet and the boot (which has a capacity of 530 liters) with a tailgate. This feature saves a lot of weight and at the same time to increase the torsional rigidity, thanks to their ultra-strength steels. The platform on which it is born has changed is the one that debuted A7 and that provides a sophisticated suspension layout, or multi-link front and rear quadrilateral.

The engine range. How is the entry level four-cylinder turbo diesel 2-liter, 177 hp capable of providing 380 Nm of torque at 1,750 rpm with fuel consumption of 4.9 l/100 km declared and emissions of 129 g / km CO2. Then there is the 3.0-liter TDI V6 to date declined to be two versions, 204 or 245 hp. The alternatives to the gasoline V6 2.8-liter naturally aspirated 204 bhp and the more powerful 3.0-liter turbocharged direct-injection 300 horsepower can propel the car up to 250 km / h. The real news is the hybrid version, which adopts a 2.0-liter turbo diesel with 211 hp in combination with an electric motor of 45 hp and an eight-speed automatic transmission.

View from inside. Completely redesigned the interior of the new Audi A6 offer many of the solutions available on high-end cars such as the A7 and A8 flagship. There is the new MMI system, which controls the media and the main board functions through a touch screen, and there’s the head-up display that projects information onto the windscreen, high-fidelity stereo system developed by Bang & Olufsen (on request) and the ability to connect to the internet via UMTS connection. The starting price of the new A6 should be around 40,000 euros.

There are still many months on arrival in the market, but the Audi A6 hybrid, a little ‘surprise, the machine has already made his first public road. It was in fact present in the guise guest star at the Audi A6 Avant and the test on this occasion it was also granted for a test, short but enough to test good for the various modes of operation.

The Audi A6 is equipped with basically the same hybrid coupled combustion engine – electric motor already seen the Q5 Hybrid, though here the transmission unit is simplified: there is therefore the four-wheel drive and power that you fetch only on front wheels . Under the hood, the protagonist of the scene is the two-liter TFSI gasoline direct injection and turbo capable of 211 of his hp and a torque of 350 Nm compared to the one mounted on the non-hybrid Audi, and has lost the alternator small changes of detail.

A luxury to be his shoulder, then there is an electric motor, rather than credited to a peak of 54 hp and 210 Nm, with a total power system of 245 hp, with torque of 480 Nm Overall This engine is powered by a lithium ion battery 1.3-kW compact, composed of 72 cells, with a volume of only 26 liters and a weight of 36.7 kg. The electric motor is placed between the heat-exchange. This is an 8-speed Tiptronic, no torque converter clutch and run through a bath of oil, along with all the mechanical, electronic control unit with a hybrid managers. And ‘her, as a conductor, who lord it over the two units, deciding whether to make them work individually or in unison.

The pilot can choose to travel in electric mode by pressing the button on the dashboard and EV in this way, if the battery is fully charged, can reach 100 km / h travel up to 3 km to 60 km / h. There is short to cross the tip of a tread center. In contrast, with the change in D is the unit to operate the relay between the motors to minimize power consumption. In S, however, or when you use the sequential, the chip puts the whip across the bay horse and especially to performance, which are similar to those at the end of a six-cylinder in most airspace: the Audi A6 Hybrid accelerates from 0 to 100 in 7.3 seconds touches 238 km / h. Consumption is almost compact, however, declared with an average of 6.4 liters per 100 km low, amounting to 15.6 km / liter abundant.

Do not forget that in issuing the electric motor acts as a generator and is responsible for charging on-board systems. The brakes are also lighter at rest on the brakes when slowing down it’s all for the benefit of the battery. Another trump card is the Audi A6 Hybrid Start & Stop system, which puts at rest stops in both engines, the increasing autonomy and reducing consumption.

To understand that what you did before is not any un’A6 there are not many clues. Externally, to distinguish the Audi A6 Hybrid are just the 17 “wheels with spokes arranged like the blades of a fan, small hybrid and written exclusively arctic silver hue, but it’s still a gray metal not so original. The differences are more noticeable when the driver’s seat, where you are in front of an instrument without a tachometer. In its place is the so-called PowerMeter, analog indicator that gives a measure of power flow and energy absorbed by the motor or instead intended to recharge the batteries. Information in this sense may also have the display in the middle of the dashboard or on the screen at the center of the dashboard, for example as an alternative to the navigation screens.

As a practice, even on audio A6 is the hybrid electric motor to take care of starting from zero, because winning is a inertia at the start of the most difficult tasks for an internal combustion engine. In D, the latter passes the command of the operations of the first 30 km / h, accelerating normally, but if you use the foot plush handover is a little ‘later. Conversely, bad kicking his right foot, pushing the two engines in a combined, provide raises very vivid.

The EV mode works just fine, in turn, ensuring a fair, however lively, though, knowing little charge available, you have used violence to try to expedite a decision. The instinct is to drive with utmost to make the most gentle way possible with the pistons on standby. Once you run out of office, the Audi A6 hybrid back to operate the internal combustion engine, but you have to say that recovering energy during braking is valid and the battery goes back into shape after all reasonable times. As for consumption, the test drive the Audi A6 Hybrid has not strayed far from the declared value, but we must start by saying that the test was conducted over a short path and tailored, with a good stretch in which the function EV use. A final decision can be given after a more thorough test.

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Brabus Mercedes-Benz SLK

Brabus has tackled the Mercedes-Benz SLK with a series of aesthetic and technical changes. The Brabus SLK stands for the shields specific bumpers, side skirts and a more pronounced spoiler on the tailgate, which would – according to the German tuner – also improve downforce at the rear.

Lowered. Wide choice of wheels, available in different designs and with diameters from 17 to 20 inches. Those are mounted on the sample photographed Brabus Monoblock F painted in Liquid Titanium colored 20-inch channel with 8.5-inch front and 9.5 rear. Tyres are 235/30 ZR 20 and respectively 275/25 ZR 20. Was adjusted, depending on the size of the wheels renewed, even trim, lowered by 30 mm.

Performance kit. Three, finally, the PowerStep planned: the first, the Brabus B20 Eco PowerXtra CGI based on the four-cylinder SLK 200 developing 184 horsepower that originally BlueEFFICIENCY and 270 Nm of maximum torque and increases the power of 26 hp and torque 30 Nm, and the second, the Brabus B25 Eco PowerXtra CGI operates on the mechanics of the SLK 250 BlueEFFICIENCY and brings the maximum power from 204 hp at an altitude of origin 226 hp at 5,500 rpm. With the installation of an intercooler, more generous dimensions and a calibrated wastegate – that is, with the kit Brabus B25S Eco PowerXtra CGI – you can earn another 10 hp. All performance kits meet the Euro 5 emission standards.

It will probably be only a matter of time: sooner or later will come from Brabus Mercedes SLK new generation of fire-breathing version, with an increased vitamin motorone. In the meantime, however, to pass the time, Germany has seen fit to launch a line of products to customize access versions of the discovery of Stuttgart, called Mercedes SLK Brabus Sport Program. In composing it are accessories of all kinds, simpering as the leather parts, or metal Alcantara for the interior or more of the substance.

As for the bodywork, the Brabus have developed a complete aerodynamics kit, which makes the Mercedes SLK most visible and aggressive. On either side of the front can be mounted trim package for the position lights and two additional spoiler, as well as make a big scene, reducing the lift. Skirts … maxi are ready to point out the side, while in queue signals the arrival of a new boot lid spoiler and a brand new speaker which can peep the four terminals of the sports exhaust.

If the machine you see in the photos appears to be squatting on the ground for the teamwork done by circles and dall’assetto. As for the former, those photos are over 20 “with 8.5 channel from the front and 9.5 rear for the catalog but it also offers other, with assorted designs, and the diameter by 17″. The sports suspension springs that lower leverage but the car is 30 mm while maintaining the standard shock absorbers.

The Brabus Mercedes SLK Sports pogram not neglect even the engines, devoting his attention to the supercharged four-cylinder that serve as entry level. For them, there are electronic control units Brabus Eco PowerXtra CGI, which are assembled in less than an hour at any authorized workshop and promise an increase in performance in strict compliance with the Euro 5 standard. That call gives the SLK 200 B20 increases power and torque of 26 hp and 30 Nm, while the B25 takes the SLK 250 to deliver about 230 hp from the original 204. On this version, replacing the intercooler with a plus and add a special electronic wastegate, the horses become 240 and, under the influence of doping dell’overboost, the torque rises to 370 Nm, for a time of 6.2 seconds in 0-100 and a peak of 248 km / h.

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Volkswagen Beetle 2012

Once upon a time the Beetle. What we drove in Berlin today is much more of a reinterpretation of a retro car time. The Beetle car was true of the third millennium, modern, non-elite and the price, almost identical to that of a Golf, is there to prove it. A car for the people, therefore, like its predecessor. A nation of fans, of course, able to look at, appreciate and love a car like this. It is because this beetle leaves its mark, no doubt. It works by Walter De Silva, Klaus Bischoff, respectively responsible for the design of the Volkswagen Group, that have reshaped from a blank sheet of paper.

Reinterpreted. Muzzle inspired, as always, sympathetic. Stand the round headlights with LED lights that make them look eye. The profile is almost equal to that of the first Beetle, with the more upright windshield and back from the last series. Below the doors there are two straps, modern-day interpretation of the sill of a time. But the real treat are the fenders, large, bulky, made separately from the rest of the body.

Sporty driving position. Inside the car can still be found the spirit of the past. The short dash and vertical, painted the same color as the body releases the design, sets the tone and brightness to any interior. Cabin that is anything but small. In front there is plenty of room, but behind it is not bad at all. The driving position is sporty with the steering wheel is small enough and vertical (cut down version of the TSI with 200 horses tested by us) and the well-contoured seat that holds good in every situation.

Historical quotes. The instrumentation is formed by the large circular speedometer, which incorporates a multifunction display, tachometer and fuel gauge and the half-moon shaped cut, so to speak style, Porsche 911, a tribute to Walter de Silva said in Ferdinand Porsche, creator of the first Beetle .

Engine. The 2-liter supercharged four-cylinder, derived from the Golf GTI, pulls well. He has so much torque in the low response delay (turbo lag) practically non-existent, and pulls out a pretty grim when it is pushed to the limit speed. Coupled with the dual clutch DSG six-speed transmission, ensures a good ride comfort when you go up and a nice sporty verve when driving. The House says a top speed of 223 km / h and a 0 100 km / h in only 7.5 s. To be sure the DSG is not exactly fast, but still fits well with the spirit of this sporty Beetle.

Rims monster. Equipped with sports suspension, wheels with even 19-inch (turbocharged version of Black and White), the car seems very well planted on its wheels. The steering has a good load, and is sufficiently fast and accurate. Well the brakes at least we could see in this first brief reality check. Recall that the Beetle, as well as 2-liter turbo engine with 200 horsepower we tested (price Euro 28,050), is also proposed with an interesting 1.2 supercharged 105 hp (price Euro 19,700), to be followed by the 1.6 turbo diesel and 2.0 liters.

Close to the recent past to bind to double strand to the remote. And ‘this is the strategy chosen by the leaders for the new generation of Volkswagen Beetle, which, to cut down even more sharply with his predecessor, even name changes. In Italy, therefore, fished out the legendary “Beetle”, which was dubbed by popular acclaim, while abroad could be the turn of the various Coccinelle Käfer, Fusca, and so on, which brought the German entire curves in history to sell over 21.5 million pieces.

MIXED It is not just a matter of marketing or label. The machine actually is inspired by the ancestor, far more than did the model launched in the second half of the nineties. Volkswagen Beetle (who call it bad: the car will be female but also the “beetle” is much better …) it says goodbye to the New Beetle and curved toy lines dusts off more serious and tense. The present form is less feminine and more unisex, with a touch of sportiness that, depending on the outfit and accessories, can be enhanced as desired. Measures also provide a glimpse of this metamorphosis, 4,278 mm long, 1,808 wide and 1,486 high, the machine gets longer (+152 mm), widening (+84 mm) and lower (-12 mm) and is the most planted on the road.

DISTINGUISHING MARKS Beetle In particular the signs are many, from the shape of the pavilion, which starts with the windshield up, remains flat over the cockpit and then descends gradually on the tail. The pillar does not draw a bubble like the Beetle, but the outgoing stretches a little ‘over the rear passengers, to give more room to cut their heads with a coupe anyway. Another element of continuity with the past are the wings of flesh, connected by a bumper in the middle that makes the running board to the sill of ancient memory.

FRONT AND BACK The Volkswagen Beetle keeps the muzzle unmistakable expression, even if the hood is given to stretching and the look is more sullen and grim than the wild-eyed and a little ‘ditzy progenitor. To break a little ‘with tradition is instead the B-side, with a decidedly modern-style lights and especially with a spoiler at the base of the rear window to reiterate, if he had not yet understood, that in addition to ants, even the Beetle in Their small, sometimes catch fire ….

Nostalgia ‘s “Operation Nostalgia” continues inside, where the Beetle once again finished a bridge by a horizontal band that can be colored or with the outside-like carbon. In front of the passenger space is a little old-style cassette (below, in a classic, there is a second), while holding forth in front of the pilot instrumentation with three indicators. Other information may come from the trio of small to place any additional instruments on the console, as well as the navigation display, optional on all versions. The set fulfills the sight, touch and the new Volkswagen is not excited, everything is mounted with the usual painstaking care, the controls are of excellent quality but the plastics are rigidine as a reminder of the proletarian origin of the machine.

Cinquini If aesthetics is placed in between the past, present and future engines hosted on one platform cousin of the Golf and Jetta are all of the latest generation, turbocharged and direct fuel injection. At the launch, which is scheduled for November, with a classic open weekend on 19 and 20, will open the dance two petrol units: the small 1.2 TSI 105 hp and 200 hp 2.0 TSI lending, coupled with dual-clutch gearbox DSG. The offer will be completed in the months following the entry in the list of the 1.4 TSI with 160 hp and two turbodiesel engines, the 1.6 TDI with 105 hp (variation in fuel-saving BlueMotion technology) and two-liter TDI with 140 hp. For all these engines, BlueMotion aside, it is possible to mount the optional dual-clutch DSG automatic gearbox.

BLACK & WHITE In Italy there are two versions already well set up, while our borders remain out of the Beetle based, rather than minimalist sold in Germany for example. Our entry level will therefore be the Design, already standard front armrest, alloy wheels 16 “, air conditioning, cruise control, fog lights, stereo with CD/MP3 player and steering wheel covered in leather. At the top there will be instead Sports standards, among other things, 18 “wheels, automatic air-conditioning, parking sensors front and rear sport seats and multifunction steering wheel. In the launch phase and only about 2.0 TSI DSG are also provided two packages called Black and White Turbo Turbo. As you might guess, play on black and white (in contrast with mirrors) and fitted 19 “wheels, interior details in the body color and chrome exterior elements, in addition to the logo turbo.

FROM 19,700 EURO Needless to say, the Beetle can be customized at will. Twelve body colors, any alternative to leather upholstery fabrics, a variety of circles ranging from 16 “to 19″ and various gadgets allow you to sew on the machine, a little ‘as with other neo-classical, the Fiat 500 and the Mini. If you let yourself get carried away the bill may rise by up to much as the price Volkswagen Beetle at this time starts from 19,700 euros of the 1.2 TSI to Design and reaches 28,050 euros of the 2.0 TSI Sport DSG. Compared to some competition, we are not even on exorbitant levels but I would have liked to see a variant economic, naked, able to restore meaning to the equation = Volkswagen people’s car.

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Fiat 500 First Edition

Fiat has unveiled yesterday in Shanghai, the 500 First Edition, special version for the Chinese market in just one hundred numbered copies.

Work of art. It is a sort of “art car”: the sides of the body have been customized by five different graphic motifs designed by four young Chinese designers. This limited edition anticipates the official launch in the country of 500 “normal”, scheduled for September 15, for which bookings have already started. As part of the initiative was also organized a contest that allows users to order a Fiat 500 in the next two months to replace the car with a First Edition.

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Pearl White. Building on the 500 Lounge, this limited edition is distinguished by body color pearl white, red leather interior and a special ID badge placed on the door pillar. Under the hood hides the gasoline engine combined with MultiAir 1.4-liter six-speed automatic transmission. The designs on the sides of the car symbolize the link between Italy and China, with interpretations of great visual impact.

500C and 500 by Gucci. “Next year – anticipated Sistino Lorenzo, executive vice president of International Operations of the Fiat Group – will launch the convertible model 500C and 500 special series by Gucci. The Fiat 500, Fiat is the first step in this large market. By the end of 2012, in fact, we will present the new sedan is produced entirely in China, factory in Changsha, together with our partners in the GAC “.

One hundred sixteenth century to celebrate the new Turin-Beijing route from the imminent landing of the Fiat 500 in China, scheduled for 15 September. They have a special livery, these First Edition Fiat 500, designed by young Chinese designers, but also and above all, a special meaning, because it will lead the marketing of the production version of the Cinquino. Who will order the 500 in China (the standard) from July 12 to September 15 will participate in fact, automatically, in a contest at the end of which, if checked, the customer may decide to replace their car with a special edition of this series limited.

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There are five graphics designed specifically for the Fiat 500 First Edition. What may look like just some examples of the supermini cartoonizzate our local versions, but in fact each of these creative young author went dredge special graphic elements of the Chinese cultural tradition – or, more generally, Asian – reinterpreted in a contemporary design with a that would marry well with the shapes of the sixteenth century. Sixteenth century that, for the rest, here sporting a pearl white tri-layer body, covered with red leather interior and classic columns on the ID badge, without license from the technical point of view: the heart, the award-winning 101 hp and 1.4 Multiair 133 Nm of torque, it remains the most exemplary.

The Fiat 500 was presented First Edition, previewed yesterday in Shanghai, but the date for which the Lingotto started the countdown is another: that of 15 September. Only then will start selling the Cinquino under the Great Wall, with a fixed price for access to 190,000 yuan (20,800 euros) and a list that includes all three trim levels: Sport, Pop and Lounge. Follow in the coming months, throwing the discovery of the variant (the 500C) and 500 by the fashionable Gucci.

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Volkswagen Beetle 2012 by ABT

The official statement came from the general manager of ABT, Hans-Jürgen Abt, who will keep the intention of emphasizing the seriousness of which the car has enjoyed for over 50 years, said: “We tried to give the car look naughty, characterized by the presence of both a front and rear spoilers. The result was very fun car to drive, especially on windy streets of Bavaria. “

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More sports, more masculine or, as another point of view, more mature. They’ve heard all sorts about the new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle that debuted last exhibition in Shanghai. We will try the 25 and 26 of this month and only then – as good followers of St. Thomas – really understand how much there is truth in all these claims and because the substance is then hand in hand with the evolution of style.

In any case, aside from photos, there are other clues that show how the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle page faces from the past. One of these is the interest shown in him tuners, tuning kits are ready to submit before it reaches the machine market. Such a thing had not seen for the first Beetle: on the other hand, with his easygoing air chubby and was not very believable as the compact tuttopepe.

It is a certain stage the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle by ABT gives a foretaste of the potential of the new born in Wolfsburg tuning key. The car strikes primarily to the special livery, with the central longitudinal black stripes and criss-crossed by orange fillets. The rest is done by the circles colored 19 “, an aerodynamic kit that puts in bold throughout the lower part of the body and the lower stance.

To keep the promises made by the grim look that give the new headlights mounted on the eyelids, then think about the mechanics. The entire range passes under the clutches of ABT, with the small 1,200 IST sees the power increase from 105 to 140 hp, while its bigger brother, the 1,400 TSI, we speak of a metamorphosis from 160 to 210 hp. The two-liter gasoline is no less and earn forty horses, with a new high of around 240 hp. Restorative care does not save even the 1.6 and 2.0 TDI turbo diesel, with power increases of 20 and 30 hp.

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According to reports, the work of ABT will be addressed in particular to strengthen the performance of currently available engines in the range. There will, however, aesthetic touches like appendages on the headlights and a livery.

As for the petrol engines, in fact, the 1.2 TSI engine with 105 hp will be increased up to 140, the 1.4 TSI will grow from 160 to 201 hp and the 2.0-liter turbocharged Volkswagen, now capable of delivering 200 hp, should instead reach 230-240 hp. Diesel in the department, finally, the 1.6 TDI offering 125 hp instead of 105 and the 2.0 TDI has 170 hp instead of the current 140.

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Audi Q7 Black & White by Project Kahn

The largest SUV from Audi, the Audi Q7 impressive, now has a version made ​​by Black & White Tuner Project Kahn.

This work anticipates processing on the same time, the German carmaker, which he plans to launch a limited edition in 555 copies of the Q7.

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The work has focused on aesthetics and the tuner inside, but the engine remained the same as the starting model. The modified construction is completed, in addition to the striking design changes from the original alloy wheels 22 “RSX with red and white stripes.

“The philosophy of Afzal Kahn – explains the tuner in a statement – has always been to combine mechanical perfection and outer beauty. The design of the Audi Q7 Black & White by Project Kahn follows this philosophy, as each cosmetic surgery helps to improve engine performance. As one of the UK design company, we recognize the importance of maintaining the original themes of modern luxury vehicles, but causing them to evolve a dynamic new look. ”

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