AUTOLAND

New Aston Martin spied

2012-05-27T02:47:00.003-07:00

New Aston Martin supercar concept has been spied at Villa D’Este in Italy

The wraps are off the new Aston Martin supercar. This one-off concept was spied at the Villa D’Este Concours d’Elegance event on the shores of Lake Como in Italy, and it reveals just how the DBS replacement will look.

Entered in the Concorso d’Eleganza Design Award, the show car is basically the new production model with more glitzy wheels, bright red paint and a pronounced front splitter.

The rest of the shape takes cues from the £1.25 million One-77 hypercar with dramatic curves in the bodywork and pronounced rear haunches, while a rear spoiler that allows air to flow underneath has been added.

The AM310 – it has no name yet – could be badged a Vanguard or a Vanquish. Power comes from an uprated version of Aston’s 6.0-litre V12, while under the skin is the same VH platform as the current DB9 and DBS, albeit with revised suspension.

Aston celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2013, but this new model will go on sale before then, priced at around £190,000.

autoexpress.co.uk

AC Cars

2012-05-27T02:42:00.001-07:00

AC Cars Group Ltd. formerly known as Auto Carriers Ltd. is a British specialist automobile manufacturer and one of the oldest independent car marques founded in Britain. Since 2009 company was renamed AC Cars by Gullwing GmbH and has headquarters in Germany.

The first automobile from what would eventually become AC was presented at the Crystal Palace motor show in 1903; it was a 20 HP touring car and was displayed under the Weller name. The Weller Brothers of West Norwood, London, planned to produce an advanced 20 hp (15 kW) car. However, their financial backer and business manager John Portwine, a butcher, thought the car would be too expensive to produce and encouraged Weller to design and produce a little delivery three-wheeler. Weller did so, called it the Auto-Carrier, and a new company was founded and named Autocars and Accessories; production started in 1904. The vehicle caught on quickly and was a financial success. In 1907 a passenger version appeared, called the A.C. Sociable. It had a seat in place of the cargo box.

The company became Auto Carriers Ltd. in 1911 and moved to Ferry Works, Thames Ditton, Surrey - at this time they also began using the famed "AC" roundel logo. Their first four-wheeled car was produced in 1913; it was a sporty little two-seater with a gearbox on the rear axle. Only a few were built before production was interrupted by the first World War.

During the Great War, the Ferry Works factory produced shells and fuses for the war effort, although at least one vehicle was designed and built for the War Office. At the end of the First World War, AC Cars started making motor vehicles again, designing and building many successful cars at Ferry Works, as well as expanding into an old balloon factory on Thames Ditton High Street.

After the war, John Weller started on the design of a new overhead-cam 6-cylinder engine. The first versions of this design were running by 1919. The Weller engine would be produced until 1963; it is possibly the second-longest-lived production motor in history after the Volkswagen boxer. In 1921, Selwyn Edge (who had been with Napier & Son) bought shares in the company and was appointed governing director. He did not get along with Weller or Portwine, who resigned less than a year later. In 1922, the name changed again to AC Cars Ltd.

In customary fashion Edge sought publicity for the company through motoring competition. In 1921 Sammy Davis joined A.C. as a driver, competing in the Junior Car Club 200-mile (320 km) race, for cars up to 1,500 c.c., at Brooklands. In 1923 and 1924 J.A. Joyce won the Brighton Speed Trials driving an A.C. In May 1924, at Montlhéry, near Paris, T. G. Gillett broke the continuous 24-hour record in a 2-litre A.C., fitted with special streamlined bodywork, covering a distance of 1,949.3 miles. In 1926 the Honourable Victor Bruce, an AC employee, won the Monte Carlo Rally in his 2-litre AC. In 1927, Victor Bruce, with his wife Mildred (The Hon Mrs Victor Bruce), assisted by J.A. Joyce, set a 10-day endurance record at Montlhéry, driving an AC Six.

Selwyn Edge bought the company outright for £135,000 in 1927 and re-registered it as AC (Acedes) Ltd but sales, which had been falling, continued to decline. The company was caught by the crash of 1929 and went into voluntary liquidation. Production ceased for a time, and the company was sold to the Hurlock family who ran a successful haulage business. They wanted the High Street factory only as a warehouse (Ferry Works was not acquired), but allowed the service side of AC to continue.

A single car was made for William Hurlock in 1930. He liked it and agreed to restart very limited production, mainly using components left over from previous models. An agreement was reached with Standard to supply new chassis, the ancient three-speed transaxle was replaced by a modern four-speed gearbox (built in unit with the engine), and by 1932 a new range of cars was finally launched. Production continued on this small scale, averaging less than 100 vehicles per year, until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. The final pre-war car was delivered in June 1940, after which the factory was fully involved with war production.

Production of cars restarted in 1947 with the 2-Litre and with a large contract with the government to make fiberglass-bodied single seat invalid carriages with BSA engines. The 2-Litre used an updated version of the pre-war underslung chassis fitted with the AC straight-six and traditional ash-framed and aluminium-panelled saloon or convertible coachwork. The invalid carriages continued to be built until 1976 and were an important source of revenue to the company. They also built an aluminum-bodied three-wheeled microcar, the Petite.
In 1949, AC Cars also produced four trains, each consisting three power cars and four coaches, for the Southend Pier Railway in Essex. These remained in use until 1976.

In 1953 the firm began production of the AC Ace, a lightweight chassis designed by John Tojeiro with the venerable Weller-designed 2-Litre engine. Soon after, car dealer and racing driver Ken Rudd fitted his own competition Ace with a pre-war BMW-designed, Bristol-produced 135 bhp (101 kW) six-cylinder engine. This combination was put into production as the AC Ace-Bristol in 1957. In this form, the car raced at Le Mans in 1957 and 1958.
For 1954, a new aluminum-bodied closed coupe was unveiled at Earls Court, the AC Aceca. It was only slightly heavier than the convertible Ace, and because of better aerodynamics was actually slightly faster (128 mph (206 km/h) top speed). Only 328 Acecas were produced, and they were equipped with either of the Ace's engines. There was a demand from some customers for a larger four-seater car, for whom AC produced the Greyhound. This was built on a stretched Ace chassis with coil suspension all around and a 2.2-litre Bristol engine.

In 1961, Bristol stopped producing their own engines - and once again, Ken Rudd came to the rescue, suggesting that AC use a 6-cylinder engine from the Ford Zephyr. These engines when fitted with the Raymond Mays twelve-port alloy head and Weber carburetors could be made to produce a safe 170 bhp (127 kW) and a 125 mph (201 km/h) top speed. The AC Ace 2.6 (as it is latterly known today) is for many people the prettiest Ace of all - and undoubtedly the rarest, with only 37 such cars built. To fit the Zephyr engine, AC had to modify the frame, relocate the steering box and completely change the nose of the car. These changes are often mistakenly attributed to Carroll Shelby.
Today, Acecas are popular at historic racing events. Arch McNeill, a factory Morgan racer from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s told fellow Texan and Aceca owner Glenn Barnett that "the Morgan team spent two years campaigning to beat the factory AC Acecas and finally did in the late 1950s." Though more valuable than comparable AC or Shelby replicas, the Aceca is still a bargain when compared to a Shelby CSX Cobra, while maintaining similar performance.
The company also ventured briefly into railway rolling stock business, building five four-wheel railbuses for British Rail in 1958.

In 1962 AC was approached by Carroll Shelby to use a small block Ford V8 engine in the Ace chassis, producing the AC Cobra. Shelby needed a car that could compete with the Chevrolet Corvette in US sports car racing. The resulting Cobra was a very powerful roadster, and it is commonly blamed for the introduction of the 70 mph (110 km/h) limit on British motorways. While this was a major factor in the decision, after a coupe version was caught doing 196 mph (315 km/h) during a test run, a then-recent spate of accidents under foggy conditions also helped the introduction of the limit.

At the end of the 1964 racing season, the Cobra was being outclassed in sports car racing by Ferrari. Carroll Shelby decided he needed a bigger engine. A big block Ford FE series 390 V8 was installed in a Cobra and the result was scary - the car was virtually undrivable. It was decided that a completely new chassis was needed. With the combined help of Ford’s computers and the experience of the AC engineers, the new MKIII was born with 4-inch (100 mm) main tubes instead of 3-inch (76 mm) for the chassis, huge cross-braced shock towers and coil springs all around. This, along with a bigger 427ci version of the FE, made the new AC Cobra MKIII an absolutely unbeatable 2,200 lb (1,000 kg) race car. Specifically, the engine that was installed in the car was Ford's famed 427 FE NASCAR "Side-Oiler" V8, a power-house engine developing 425 bhp (317 kW) in its mildest street version. Unfortunately, the car missed homologation for the 1965 season and was not raced by the Shelby team. However, it was raced successfully by many privateers and went on to win races all the way into the 1970s. The AC 427 Cobra, although a commercial failure when in production, has now become one of the most sought-after and replicated automobiles ever.
It was produced in two versions, a street model with a tamer motor, optional dual carburettors, a glove box and exhaust running under the car and a competition version with a stripped interior, no glove box, different instrument layout and revised suspension. The competition version also had a more powerful motor with only one carburetor, side exhausts, a roll bar and wider fenders to accommodate racing tires. At the end in 1966, Shelby was left with 31 unsold competition cars; he decided to sell them to the general public under the name of Cobra 427 S/C or Super Competition. Today these S/C cars are the most sought after models and can sell in excess of 1.5 million dollars.
Carroll Shelby sold the Cobra name to Ford in 1965 and went on to develop the famed racing Ford GT40.
Meanwhile, AC went on producing a milder version of the 427 MK III Cobra for the European market fitted with the small block Ford motor. The car was called the AC 289 and 27 were produced.

At the same time, the company realized they needed a grand tourer model that could appeal to wealthy customers. AC contacted the famed Italian coach builder Pietro Frua to design an appealing GT body that could be fitted on a MKIII Cobra chassis stretched by 6 inches (150 mm). The new car was shown at the 1965 Turin show. A few early models were fitted with the famed 427 Ford FE motors. In 1967 the long-stroked 428 motor became available and the car was known as the AC Frua. Built out of steel rather than AC's usual aluminum, the Frua is heavier than a Cobra at slightly under 3,000 lb (1,400 kg). That said, it is still a light and very fast automobile built on a racing chassis. The car was never fully developed and the cost of sending chassis from England to Italy and back for final assembly made it so expensive that only a few were produced. Production ended in 1973 after only 80 cars (29 convertibles and 51 coupes) were finished.
In 1970, a special version of the coupé was built. It was based on an extended bodyshell that Frua built for Monteverdi which was supposed to become the second Monteverdi 375/L. After the alliance of Monteverdi and Frua split off in Summer 1969, that bodyshell remained in the Frua works in Turin. A year or so later Frua changed some details on front and rear, including some semi-hidden headlamps which had been seen on the Iso Lele and the Iso Grifo, second series, before. The car was called AC 429; it remained a one-off. It still exists.

The 1970s were not a good period for luxury car manufacturers and Derek Hurlock went searching for a totally new smaller car. Mid-engined designs were in fashion at the time and in 1972 the Diablo, a prototype with an Austin Maxi engine and transaxle was built by privateers Peter Bohanna and Robin Stables. In much the same way as they had taken up the Tojeiro prototype and turned it into the Ace, AC acquired the rights and at the 1973 London Motor Show showed their own version, the mid-engined ME3000 with the 3.0-litre Ford Essex V6 engine installed transversely over a bespoke AC-designed gearbox. Development was virtually complete in 1976 when new Type Approval regulations were introduced. A prototype failed the 30 mph (48 km/h) crash test, and the chassis had to be redesigned. On the second attempt, the car passed with flying colours. This was a huge achievement for a tiny firm - Vauxhall had to make several attempts before the contemporary Chevette passed. For AC, such delays meant that the first production cars (now renamed 3000ME) were not delivered until 1979, by which time they were in direct competition with the Lotus Esprit. Although comfortable, brisk, nicely built and practical, AC's ambitions of selling 250 cars per year were a distant memory. After just 71 cars were sold, Hurlock called a halt to production as his health was suffering and the company was struggling in the teeth of a recession. In 1984 production stopped at Thames Ditton and the car and the AC name were licenced to a new company registered as AC (Scotland) plc run by David McDonald in a new factory in Hillington, Glasgow. Here, 30 cars were built, including a development car tested with Alfa Romeo's 2.5-litre V6 engine and a nearly complete Mark 2 prototype of the same. Regardless (or possibly because) of these developments, AC Scotland called in the receivers in 1985. After selling the historic High Street works for redevelopment, AC themselves soldiered on as a service operation in the '21st Century' works on Summer Road until the Hurlock family finally sold their holdings in 1986 to William West. After some complex machinations the company was split between property interests and the car brand; the former was renamed and the latter was acquired by Brian Angliss.

In 1982 Brian Angliss was running Autokraft, a Cobra restoration shop, parts supplier and replica manufacturer. To further such pursuits, he acquired some of the tooling from Thames Ditton and created the MKIV; the car had US-spec 5 mph (8.0 km/h) bumpers, a federalized motor, and a larger interior with modern switchgear. About 480 cars were produced in his factory at Brooklands. He also produced a lightweight model which was more in tune with the original Cobra spirit, though it could not be imported to the US due to Federal regulations.
Early cars were sold as the Autokraft MKIV but eventually Angliss acquired the rights to use the AC name. Derek Hurlock had been strongly protective of the name, but Angliss' high standards of craftsmanship won him over. When the Hurlock family finally sold up in 1986 Angliss fully acquired the AC trademark rights and set up a new AC company as a joint venture with Ford, who had also recently bought Aston Martin. A big conflict followed over the future direction for AC, but Angliss eventually won his independence as well as Ford's continuing and essential cooperation as an engine and parts supplier.

Also interested in aircraft, Angliss restored a Hawker Hurricane XIIB at Brooklands as well as acquiring two ex-Indian Air Force Hawker Tempest IIs as future projects. The Hurricane was registered as G-HURR and was destroyed in a fatal accident at the Shoreham air show in 2007.
Angliss looked for a new car to complement and perhaps replace the MKIV. At the 1993 London Motor Show, he introduced a new vehicle that he named the AC Ace. It was a modern automobile with a stainless steel chassis and an aluminum body, but was expensive to develop and build. The costs hit Angliss hard and he sold his large motor bike collection, vintage Bentley and other assets to try to make ends meet. The receivers were called in by 1996 after approximately 50 "new" Aces had been built.

In March 1996, largely due to the cost of developing the new Ace, Angliss' company went into receivership and was eventually sold to Pride Automotive in December 1996, who continued car production in Weybridge, Surrey under the name of AC Car Group Ltd. The AC trademarks and intellectual property were transferred to Acedes Holdings, LLC. Both the Cobra Mk IV and the Ace were made, and soon a 'CRS' version of the Mk IV was announced with a carbon fibre body shell, a 212 S/C version with Lotus twin turbo V8 power, as well as the AC Superblower with a supercharger Ford V8. Two or three closed Aceca coupe versions of the Ace were also made.

In 2003, Carroll Shelby International and AC Motor Holdings, Ltd. announced production of an authentic Shelby/AC Cobra, with the production vehicle arriving at dealers in July 2004. Initially, available models included Shelby AC 427 S/C Cobra and Shelby AC 289 FIA Cobra, which would be branded as the CSX 1000 and CSX 7500 Series, respectively. In February 2004 the first handcrafted aluminum body shell was built.
Due to rising costs in the UK, AC relocated to Malta in 2005 and started production of the carbon-fibre bodied AC MkV. Due to problems with the factory building, production ceased in 2007.
In 2007 AC announced a joint venture with Brooklands Motor Company (the spiritual successor of Autokraft) in Weybridge, Surrey, UK and confirmed plans for the continuation of the traditional AC designed tubular chassis and aluminium bodied models.
AC Heritage seem to be the owners of certain models, as their website lists 2, both of the original design. More importantly, because their models are made in the 'origin' country of where AC Cars started over a century ago, then the heritage of these cars are retained. Whereas, the model made in Germany wouldn't follow the heritage of company, an so wouldn't be an 'authentic' AC branded car, much like a Ferrari wouldn't be seen as a 'genuine' Ferrari if it were made in China. Their website reveals their adherence to the history of the company, i.e. http://www.accars.co.uk/

In April 2009, a joint venture in Germany was announced to manufacture the new AC MKVI. Following a supply deal with GM the AC MKVI had a totally new spaceframe chassis, 6.2 Litre V8 engine and 6-speed manual transmission, and new Corvette brakes, retaining the original shape in lightweight composite material with the moulds taken from an original AC MKIII body. Following extensive development the car went into series production in July 2011.
In 2010 AC announced a joint venture with the USA based company Iconic which resulted in the design of the ultimate 'Cobra' the 'Iconic AC Roadster'
Acedes Holdings, LLC is the current owner of AC Cars.

Abarth

2012-05-26T03:41:00.000-07:00

Abarth is an Italian racing car maker founded by Austrian-Italian Carlo Abarth in Turin in 1949. Its logo depicts a stylized scorpion on a red and yellow background.

Carlo Abarth began his well-known association with Fiat in 1952, building the Abarth 1500 Biposto upon Fiat mechanicals.

In the 1960s, Abarth & C. S.r.l was quite successful in hillclimbing and sports car racing, mainly in classes from 850cc up to 2000cc, competing with Porsche 904 and Ferrari Dino. Hans Herrmann was a factory driver from 1962 until 1965, winning the 500km Nürburgring in 1963 with Teddy Pilette

Later, Johann Abt, who would later go on to found Abt Sportsline, was promised by Carlo Abarth that he could drive a factory car for free if he won all the races he entered—which Abt nearly did, winning 29 of 30, the 30th being in second.

Along with its racing cars, Abarth produced high-performance exhaust pipes. Later, Abarth diversified in producing various tuning kits for road vehicles, mainly for Fiat. While there were many competitors in this segment, such as Giannini, Abarth has largely dominated the Italian tuning market since the sixties. Abarth was also associated in producing sports or racing cars with Porsche and Simca.

Abarth was sold to Fiat on July 31, 1971, and the racing team sold to Enzo Osella. Abarth became the racing department of Fiat, managed by famed engine designer Aurelio Lampredi. Some models built by Fiat or its subsidiaries Lancia and Autobianchi were co-branded Abarth, the most famous being the Autobianchi A112 Abarth, probably the most popular "boy racer" vehicle of its time on account of its lightness and low price. Abarth also prepared Fiat Group's rally cars like Fiat 124 Abarth and 131 Abarth. In the 80s Abarth name was mainly used to mark performance Fiats like Fiat Ritmo Abarth 130 TC. The name was almost forgotten in 1990s and in 2000s it was used like a trim/model level on FIAT cars, like the FIAT Stilo Abarth.

In 2007 Fiat Automobiles SpA relaunched the brand with the Grande Punto Abarth and the Grande Punto Abarth S2000. The brand is to be seen as a separate division to the main Fiat brand in a similar way that the Renault Sport brand is to the mainstream Renault. It is based in the Officine 83, part of the old Mirafiori engineering plant. The company CEO is Harald Wester.

After years of sports competing on the continent, competition organisers announced the launch of a new Abarth 500 GB series for 2010. The competition was to represent a new high profile sponsored race series, which was staged at Oulton Park, Cheshire, on 3–5 April 2010. Building on the success of its namesake Italian and European series, the GB competition brought together a plethora of driver-talent from across the UK. The GB series was developed by the competitors for the competitors; by the sponsors for the sponsors, and by the fans for the fans. All Abarth Assetto Corse (limited edition) cars are built in Turin, Italy, and are checked to the highest standards. They are also subject to a shakedown and test at the Fiat Group proving ground in Balocco.

New Range Rover spied

2012-05-18T01:54:00.002-07:00

The all-new Range Rover is losing its disguise and starting to take shape. These latest spy shots, taken near Land Rover’s HQ in Gaydon, Warwickshire, give us our best look yet at the luxurious 4x4 before it’s officially revealed in September.
Gone is the heavy cladding we saw on earlier prototypes, replaced with black and white stickers to obscure the styling, but the shape is clear to see. The overall dimensions are similar to the current car, but look closer and the details are all new.

A slightly narrower three-bar grille dominated the upright front end, along with several new air intakes and LED daytime running lights. The clamshell bonnet is more rounded than before, while the shoulder line rises gently to the rear. At the back, an extended roof spoiler and split tailgate can be seen.

Extensive use of aluminium for the bodywork will make this Range Rover significantly lighter and therefore more fuel efficient than its 2,810kg predecessor, but it will be even more spacious inside. The £120,000 Range Rover Ultimate tested the water for moving the Range Rover even further upmarket – and its success means the new car will be slightly more expensive but more luxurious than ever, too.

Engine choices will include tweaked versions of the current 4.4 TDV8 and 5.0-litre supercharged V8, as well as the new 375bhp supercharged V6 engine from the F-Type.

When we spoke to Land Rover design boss Jerry McGovern at the Beijing Motor Show he told us: “Next-generation versions of the Freelander, Discovery, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport will be far more recognisable as a family of vehicles.” So expect the Range Rover to set the tone for all new Land Rovers over the next few years.

autoexpress.co.uk

2012 Skoda Citigo Rally Concept

2012-05-17T04:50:00.001-07:00

Volkswagen-owned Skoda doesn’t get nearly the credit it deserves. Maybe it’s because under the VW umbrella, there are a lot more high-profile brands to choose from.

Nevertheless, the Czech automaker is still worthy of our attention, now more than ever, actually, considering they’re bringing a pretty radical rally car concept to the 2012 Worthersee show.

The vehicle, called the Citigo Rally Concept, is based on the three-door Citigo hatchback. As a rally designed vehicle, the Citigo Rally Concept comes with its fair share of rally-spec modifications, including a ventilated hood, an aggressive front bumper, extended side skirts, a huge rear spoiler, a center-mounted exhaust system, and last but certainly not least, a new set of 18" wheels with low-profile tires.

Performance modifications are also expected to be part of the Citigo Rally Concept’s overall make-up. Skoda has yet to provide information on what kind of powertrain it’s going to have, but rest assured, we’ll be ready to provide all the necessary updates when the information becomes available.

topspeed.com

MINI GP II revealed

2012-05-12T06:01:00.004-07:00

The MINI John Cooper Works GP II is a final fling for the second-generation hatch – and while MINI has yet to reveal how much power the car has, it’s said the newcomer will lap the famous Nurburgring race track in Germany 19 seconds faster than 2006’s original GP, in eight minutes and 23 seconds.

Only 2,000 examples of the GP II will be produced, and the company is promising a better power-to-weight ratio than in any MINI before it. Plus, the bumpers are beefed-up front and rear, while side skirts and a unique roof spoiler are backed up by a bespoke underbody diffuser.

Racy red colour coding on the brake vents and bonnet intakes is repeated on the mirror caps. And if that’s not enough, there are GP graphics on the doors as well.

The newcomer should be one of the best-handling MINIs ever, too. The chassis has adjustable ‘race’ suspension, stiffened for improved cornering. A set of special alloys with stickier tyres will also help, while the stronger brakes will allow drivers to attack corners with more confidence.

The extreme feel continues inside. MINI has removed the rear seat – just as it did in the 2006 model – while up front is a set of sports seats that will hold the driver and passenger firmly in place.

Although we don’t know how much power the 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine will deliver, the previous MINI GP added around 8bhp to the regular JCW of the time.

If the new version follows suit – as is likely – that would mean at least 216bhp.And it would enable the GP II to eclipse the JCW’s 6.8-second 0-62mph sprint time.

However fast it can go, the MINI GP II is likely to cost around £25,000 when it arrives in dealers here later this month.

autoexpress.co.uk

Audi goes on a trademarking frenzy: Q6, Q8, R6, S2, S9, RS1, and RS8

2012-05-12T05:48:00.000-07:00

Audi is dead set on hitting their goal of 1.5 million annual sales and expanding in markets like China, Germany, and the United States by 2015. In order to achieve this, its lineup needs to stay fresh, so Audi has gone trademark crazy with Q6, Q8, R6, S2, S9, RS1, and RS8 names getting snagged.

As you can see, some of these name are rather familiar, like the Q6, RS1, and RS8. The other four names are completely new; we’ve never even heard rumors about them. Speculatively speaking, the S2 will be a sportier version of the upcoming A2, and the S9 name gives us hope for an A9 in the near future. As for the R6, it is believed to be the company’s new sports car that will be placed under the current R8. This vehicle was previously rumored to be called either the R4 or R5. Only time will tell if any one of these names will stick.

As for the Q8, it will be an SUV placed above the current Q7. It is set to become the largest and most luxurious SUV Audi has ever offered.

topspeed.com

Peugeot 208 R2

2012-05-05T04:50:00.003-07:00

With the all-new 208 supermini about to hit UK showrooms early next month, Peugeot has just announced they will be making a rally version of the supermini.

Finished in a black and white livery, the 208 R2 will be the first of three competition cars to be spawned from the 208 range. The car comes with a number of improvements over the 207 RC Rallye, which it will replace.

It will be powered by an industry-specified naturally-aspirated 1.6 VTi producing 185bhp and developed by Peugeot Sport. The firm says it's more focused on flexibility rather than peak power. A close collaboration with French engine tuning company Sodemo on the R2’s engine and the use of variable valve timing are to thank for the impressive output. That engine is hooked up to a five-speed sequential shift gearbox.

The 208’s project leader, Yann Goraguer says the steering has also been overhauled: “The use of a hydraulic system (instead of electric power steering) gives more accurate feedback, notably on loose surfaces” which will help when the going gets slippery.

The 208’s bodyshell has shed around 40kg in weight, which not only aids its fuel consumption and emissions, but actually lowers the cars’ centre of gravity. This works with its long wheelbase to enhance roadholding.

Safety has also been improved thanks to the strengthened body and a new multi-point welded roll cage.

Rally enthusiasts will see the R2’s debut at the French Tour de Corse, the fourth round of the 2012 intercontinental Rallye Challenge from the 10–12 May. The two other versions won’t be unveiled until later in the year.

Two kits will also be available to convert the asphalt version of the car to gravel trim, and vice versa.

Prices for gravel and asphalt versions of the 208 R2 will be approximately £35,000 in kit form, but you will have to pay around £16,200 more to buy one fully assembled.

autoexpress.co.uk

BMW X1 facelift

2012-05-02T23:41:00.002-07:00

The BMW X1 has been facelifted, and it gets a revised model line with a new range-topping model and a lower starting price.

Outside, the exterior sees minor changes, starting with a new headlight design that now has rings around the LED daytime running lights if you choose the optional xenon headlamps. There are also new foglamp surrounds, less black plastic around the lower edge of the X1’s body and a more pronounced rear underguard. There are also new alloy wheel designs and new colours.

The X1’s cabin now has a redesigned centre console that BMW says is more driver oriented. It also claims that the X1 has better surface quality and finishes than the current range.

Two new ‘BMW Lines’ have been added to the X1 range. All ‘xLine’ models come with extended bumpers and sideskirts, a silver painted grille and air intakes, plus 18-inch alloys. Inside, xLines have a sports leather steering wheel matched to unique colour choices, and ‘X’ embossed seats.

The second new line is Sport. This also gets larger bumpers and side skirts, plus a gloss-black grille and black chrome exhaust tips. Sport models also have exclusive alloy wheel designs, while sports seats trimmed in anthracite fabric with red accents are added inisde. The red detailing extends to the leather gearshift and sports steering wheel, with black gloss trim or an exclucive optional aluminium instead.

Entry-level X1s still comprise the rear-wheel-drive sDrive18d SE and 4x4 xDrive18d SE. Both get a 141bhp 2.0-litre diesel. It’s also offered in Sport, xLine and M Sport versions, and can be fitted with an optional six-speed automatic. Prices start at £24,660.

The rest of the range is available with an optional eight-speed automatic, starting with the sDrive20d SE and xDrive20d SE. These now have a 181bhp 2.0-litre diesel, up from 174bhp, which returns 58mpg and 129g/km of CO2 in the sDrive20d manual. Prices start at £26,090.

The efficiency leader is the sDrive20d EfficientDynamics, which is mechanically unchanged and offers 63mpg and 119g/km of CO2 from its 161bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel. Its price is unchanged, too, at £26,090.

Finally, the xDrive25d replaces the xDrive23d as the range-topper. It's only offered in xLine and M Sport trim and its 2.0-litre turbodiesel produces 214bhp and 540Nm of torque, up from the old car's 202bhp. A 0-62mph time of 6.8-seconds is half a second faster, while it achieves 48mpg and 154g/km of CO2 against the previous 47mpg and 158g/km of CO2. It’s priced from £32,860.

The new BMW X1 goes on sale in July.

autoexpress.co.uk

BMW Olympic fleet unveiled

2012-04-28T07:50:00.003-07:00

BMW has released details of its Olympic fleet for London 2012. The official unveiling in London showcased the more than 4,000-strong fleet of BMW and MINI cars, motorcycles and bicycles that will transport officials, media, volunteers and athletes during the games.

BMW says that its Olympic fleet will average 64.5mpg and 116g/km of CO2, with 80 per cent of vehicles compliant with EU6 emissions standards. That betters LOCOG’s 54.2mpg and 120g/km requirements for the fleet, and Transport Director Richard George described BMW as a ‘one-stop shop solution’ for the needs of the Olympics.

The most prominent model in use will be the new 320d saloon, making up 1,550 of the overall fleet. The 320d will be used in the Olympic Torch Relay, as the supporting vehicles for cycling events and will carry 67 technical delegates to multiple venues throughout the Games.

There will be 700 BMW 520d transfer vehicles, 200 MINI Cooper D ‘on demand’ vehicles at walk-up taxi-rank style locations, including Heathrow Airport, 17 X3 xDrive20ds – which will also join the torch relay –and 10 X5 xDrive30ds chosen specifically for towing capabilities. There will also be 25 BMW motorcycles, including the F650GS and R1200GS, for cycling and other road-based events.

BMW has focused on showcasing its efficient and low emission vehicles during the Games, with electric vehicles included in the fleet. There will be 160 BMW 1 Series ActiveE, the electric version of the BMW 1 Series, which will transport athletes and broadcasters, as well as 40 MINI E electric vehicles. A further 20 5 Series ActiveHybrid saloons will fulfill a transfer and shuttle role.

The use of electric vehicles will showcase London’s electric charging infrastructure, with 120 new ‘high speed’ charge points installed at various locations to support them. The first is at former British Motor Show venue the ExCeL Centre in Docklands, which will host seven Olympic and six Paralympic events.

The BMW fleet will be serviced and stored in depots around London during the Games, with the cars being returned to BMW at the event’s conclusion.

autoexpress.co.uk

Peugeot 208 prices announced

2012-04-21T07:24:00.003-07:00

Peugeot has revealed full details and prices of the 208 range, starting from £9,995 for the three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol model in entry-level Access trim.

The basic petrol engine produces 67bhp and also boasts CO2 emissions of 99g/km. Standard equipment on the most basic Access cars still includes front electric windows, central locking and rear LED lights.

Further up the range Active models start from £11,695 and come fitted with 15-inch alloys, front fog-lights, a multi-colour touch screen and Bluetooth.
Feline models top the range and are fitted with sports seats, a panoramic sunroof, 17-inch alloys and a rear spoiler. Only the 1.6-litre petrol – both naturally-aspirated and turbocharged versions – and the 1.6-litre diesel are available.
There's also a limited edition Ice Velvet edition, which is available as a three-door model only and with the 1.6-litre petrol engine. Starting at a whopping £18,495 it gets a lengthy equipment list ranging from sat-nav and parking sensors to 17-inch alloys and tinted windows.
The highlights of the engine line-up are the 1.4-litre e-HDi diesel that boasts CO2 emissions as low as 87g/km and the turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol with 156bhp.

The Peugeot 208 goes on sale in the UK from the 28th June.

autoexpress.co.uk

Hyundai i20 prices announced

2012-04-21T07:19:00.002-07:00

Prices and specifications have been confirmed for the new Hyundai i20, which starts at £9,995. The facelifted model has sharper lines to bring it up to date with the rest of the Hyundai range, while improved economy and emissions are also on offer.

The big news is the all-new ‘Blue’ 74bhp 1.1 CRDi three-cylinder diesel. It’s the same engine fitted in the Kia Rio, but has been further refined to become the most efficient non-electric car on sale. With a six-speed manual, it produces 84g/km of CO2 and has an impressive combined fuel economy figure of 88.3mpg.

One more diesel and two petrol engines will also be offered. The 84bhp 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol is the smallest, delivering 57.6mpg and 114g/km of CO2, while the 99bhp 1.4-litre petrol returns 54.3mpg and 122g/km and the 89bhp 1.4 diesel has figures of 76.3mpg and 96g/km.

The i20 will be offered in four trim levels: Classic, Blue, Active and Style. The Classic has air-conditioning, remote central locking, electric front windows and six airbags standard. It also offers ESP, a height and reach adjustable steering column, trip computer and four-speaker CD player with USB and aux connectivity. It’s priced from £9,995 and is only available with the 1.2-litre petrol five-speed manual.

The Blue is based on the five-door Classic, but it loses the air-conditioning in favour of Intelligent Stop and Go (ISG) and low rolling-resistance tyres. It’s £11,795 and only comes with the 1.1-litre diesel six-speed manual.

Active spec starts from £10,945, and gets 15-inch alloys, front foglights and body-coloured mirrors and bumpers. Inside, there's a leather steering wheel and gearlever, Bluetooth connectivity with voice activation and electrically heated and folding mirrors. It's offered as a three-door 1.2-litre manual petrol or as a five-door with all four engines, with the 1.4 petrol also offered with an auto gearbox.

The flagship model is the Style, which starts at £12,345 and is offered solely as a five-door. It has 16-inch alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, auto lights and wipers, rear parking sensors, climate control and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror. It's offered with the 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre petrol engines, or the 1.4-litre diesel.

The Hyundai i20 goes on sale in May, with the 1.1 CRDi available in June.

autoexpress.co.uk

Mazda 6 Venture Edition

2012-04-14T01:18:00.000-07:00

The new Mazda 6 Venture Edition has been announced, hot on the heels of the Mazda 2 Venture Edition.

The special 6 is based on the TS model, but adds a sports grille, 17-inch gunmetal alloy wheels and privacy glass, while Dolphin Grey Mica paint is available exclusively to the Venture Edition.

Inside, there’s a TomTom satellite-navigation system, an integrated Bluetooth system, plus heated front seats with part-leather trim.

As it's based on the TS model, the Venture Edition also gets front, side and curtain airbags, parking sensors front and rear, auto wipers, a leather multifunction steering wheel and a six-speaker stereo with six-disc CD changer and Aux jack.

Only 257 Venture Edition models will be made, and it will be offered in either hatch or estate bodystyles. Two engines are available: a 161bhp 2.2-litre diesel which returns 53.5mpg and 140g/km of CO2, or a 153bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine returning 40.9mpg and 159g/km of CO2.

The Mazda 6 Venture Edition is on sale now from £21,000, with prices ranging from £340 to £480 over the equivalent TS model.

autoexpress.co.uk

Citroen DS9 concept

2012-04-13T08:10:00.001-07:00

The Citroen DS range has a bold new flagship, Numero 9. We revealed spy shots last month, but Citroen has now issued its own images and details of the car ahead of its Beijing Motor Show debut next week.

Officially the Numero 9 is still a concept, but Citroen has confirmed that it previews one of three new DS models, including a small saloon and an SUV initially aimed at the Chinese market.

Following the stunning DS5 was always going to be a tough task for Citroen’s designers, but the DS9 adopts an even more striking elongated shooting brake bodystyle. At the front, the wide grille flows into LED headlights, while a wafer-thin roof spoiler and turbine alloys add style and improve aerodynamic efficiency.

Although the new model will attempt to lure buyers away from the Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7 Series, its proportions are unique. At 4.9 metres, it’s the same length as a Porsche Panamera, but wider and much lower, with a longer wheelbase.

Under the skin is an advanced plug-in hybrid powertrain capable of returning 166mpg and with CO2 emissions of 39g/km. It uses a 225bhp 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine to drive the front wheels and a 70bhp electric motor, fuelled by a lithium-ion battery pack, for the rears.

Citroen has said the petrol engine is interchangeable with a diesel, stirring speculation that a UK version is on the way.

Charging the batteries takes 3.5 hours from a standard socket, giving an electric-only range of more than 30 miles. A boost function allows the petrol engine and electric motor to work together to their maximum potential, producing a total of 295bhp, and taking the car from 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds.

autoexpress.co.uk

2017 Lamborghini SUV

2012-04-13T00:26:00.003-07:00

Rumors about a possible Lamborghini SUV have been circulating for a very long time, with the first whispers beginning back in 2007. Since then, Lamborghini has denied plans for the monster mobile numerous times, but after Bentley confirmed the addition of an SUV to their line-up, Lamborghini started drinking from the rumor pool for ideas. Now plans for a Lamborghini SUV are in full force, joining the Aventador and Gallardo on the list of Lamborghini’s newest models and nixing the thought of production version of the Estoque.

Lamborghini will unveil a concept version of their upcoming SUV at the end of April at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show, but new reports are stating that the production version won;t be following it in the near future. Lamborghini CEO has confirmed that a production version won’t go on sale until late in 2017. This is actual a rather strange move considering Bentley is preparing to unveil their production version of the EXP 9 F SUV concept in the next three years.

The production version of the Lamborghini SUV will be powered by a revamped version of the Gallardo’s V10 gasoline unit. No other details have been offered, but we’ll hang out for the concept version to get more details.

"We definitely need a third line in the mid- and long term," said CEO Stephan Winkelmann to a German paper. "An SUV would be the first Lamborghini for everyday use, not just for the race track or weekends. We would have the opportunity to win new customers. It usually takes 48 months until an all-new vehicle arrives at dealers, so the new Lamborghini would not be available to buy before 2017."

Initial details on the future Lamborghini SUV suggest that it will be built on a modified version of the Porsche Cayenne and that it will atually be a hybrid model combining a V12 engine with an electric motor. The V12 will deliver a total of 600 HP, while the electric motor will offer an all-electric drive range of 15 miles. This may sound like an insignificant number, but this is a much bigger Lamborghini than we’re accustomed to from the automaker. It will be about 4400 lbs and will be capable of a top speed of about 175-180 mph.

The fact that the Lamborghini SUV will be built on a modified Cayenne platform was confirmed by previous spy shots of a couple of strange and simple Porsche SUVs: The first prototype tested was huge compared to the next generation Cayenne that will be smaller and sportier than the current generation. The second shows off widened fenders and a lowered front-end not found on a regular SUV.

The Lamborghini SUV will be a serious competitor for the upcoming Bentley SUV which will be powered by a next generation W12 engine delivering up to 600 HP. For markets like Europe, Bentley will also offer a 6.0-liter V12 TDI engine with an output of about 500 HP.

History

Lamborghini Cheetah

No, the Cheetah is not back from the era when Lamborghini made tractors. No, it is just the company’s first attempt to build an off-road vehicle. It was built on contract for the American firm Mobility Technology International, which were contacted by the U.S. military to design and built an all-terrain vehicle. The Cheetah was built in San José, California. After initial construction, the prototype was sent to Sant’Agata so Lamborghini could put on the finishing touches. The final result was unveiled at the 1977 Geneva Auto Show.

Cheetah was powered by a 5.9L Chrysler engine, rear mounted, with a 3 speed automatic transmission. Maximum power was 180 hp.

The Cheetah was designed to carry four armed people and a driver. A fiberglass body was used, but the Cheetah was far too heavy for the underpowered engine, so overall performance was very poor. This engine was waterproofed and the radiator was protected by an infrared detection system.

The prototype was destroyed during testing by the US military.

Lamborghini LM001

The LM001 was the second off-road vehicle designed by Lamborghini. It was unveiled at the 1981 Geneva Auto Show.

The only difference between Cheetah and the LM001 was that the last one was powered by a 180 hp 5.9L AMC built V8, with the intention of offering the V12 from the Countach for production models.

But the LM001 didn’t have the success the company expected (the placement of the engine in the rear gave unfavorable handling characteristics when accelerating) so it was limited to only one unit.

Lamborghini LMA002

After the failure of the Cheetah and the LM001, Lamborghini decided to move the engine to the front. The first prototype build like this was the LMA002 presented at the 1982 Geneva Auto Show.

It was powered by a 332 bhp (248 kW) V12 engine from the Countach. The front-engine made space for six people in the rear.

The LMA002 was the basis for the production version LM002.

Lamborghini LM002

The LM002 was built between 1986 and 1993. it is also known as "Rambo" and it was limited to approximately 300 units.

Powered by a 5167 cc V12 engine from the Countach with a maximum power of 450 hp, the LM-002 became an immediate success, probably because its military looks and huge power.

The LM-002 standard equipment included every luxury item available, leather seats, thick color-matched carpeting everywhere, air-conditioning, tinted power-windows, a stereo system mounted in a roof console and much more, but still some were sold each year to various armies around the world.

The military version of the LM002 omitted some of the luxuries, and featured additions like mounting points for machine guns.

The last 60 units of the series were called LM/American and was introduced at the 1992 Detroit Auto Show. The LM/American had special baging, stripes, upgraded interior, group effects, chrome front and rear bumpers and MSW / OZ Racing alloy wheels.

topspeed.com

2012 Infiniti LE

2012-04-07T03:37:00.001-07:00

Infiniti unveiled the new LE Concept at the 2012 New York Auto Show. The concept was built as a luxury version of the already very successful Nissan Leaf and previews a production version that is expected to reach Infiniti showrooms in near-similar form within the next two years as Infiniti’s first zero emission luxury sedan.

The concept was designed as a luxury car rather than an electric vehicle. It features the usual Infiniti design cues, such as its double-arch grille and crescent-cut rear-pillar, and is about the same size as the Infiniti G Sedan. This was done to illustrate that just because it’s an electric car, doesn’t mean that it has to be small.

"In a future that holds an increasing consumption of natural resources, we will advance our sustainable mobility leadership and expand our EV market penetration with new electric vehicles such as the Infiniti LE Concept," said Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn. "Infiniti is well positioned to deliver the objectives for a sustainable future, relying on our capable, hard-working and motivated team members around the world. We are a challenger."

Exterior

The new LE concept features design elements that we have already seen on concepts like the Infiniti Essence and the EMERG-E. These elements include a double-arch grille and crescent-cut rear-pillar, a strong shoulder line, high rear deck, rear aero diffuser, and aero side fin spoilers with integrated illumination.

At the front of the concept there is a large front grille with solid finisher and a charge port hidden under the illuminated center Infiniti emblem. The concept has also been equipped with LED headlights and taillights.

"The LE Concept exterior is shaped to maximize its aerodynamic efficiency, yet it doesn’t scream ‘electric vehicle.’ The design priorities are on visibility, hospitality and utility – and, of course, Infiniti-ness," said Poore. "The same can be said of the interior, which takes advantage of the low-noise drivetrain to provide the tranquil quietness of a living room, though one that offers far more exhilaration and mobility."

Interior

The interior of the Infiniti LE Concept features the company’s usual double-wave layout, which flows seamlessly from instrument panel to the center console and down the cabin sides. The entire car is highlighted by special soft LED Infiniti EV Blue lighting that flows in two waves from front to back. On the center cluster, there is an innovative connected twin display powered by an Intel Atom processor. The twin display will offer Infiniti LE drivers access to the kind of ride-oriented information needed by the driver.

The seats were inspired by the "Eriashi" (collar) of a Japanese kimono and are covered in a suede-and-mesh fabric with violet accents, and semi-aniline leather sides. The concept is fully loaded with elements such as the Infiniti Personal Assistant 24-hour concierge service, navigation, and POI search.

A unique feature in the Infiniti LE is that the batteries are placed under the compartment floor - a measure that was taken to increase interior space, provide a low vehicle center of gravity for enhanced handling, and maximize trunk room.

Electric Drivetrain

The Infiniti LE’s electric motor delivers a peak torque of 240 lb-ft that’s instantly available at all times. The electric system takes its power from laminated 24 kWh lithium-ion (Li-ion) design with a ChaDeMo DC50kW quick charger.

The LE was built on an e-platform with rigid-mounted battery frame and has been equipped with front independent strut/rear torsion beam suspension with double-piston shock absorbers.

"A luxury car for a new generation of sustainable luxury buyers must not compromise on performance. Buyers want ‘green,’ but won’t settle for any aspect of the driving experience being less than that of their current luxury vehicles," explained Poore. "For those who have never driven a modern EV, the immediate full-torque response when you step on the accelerator is amazing. It empowers you, without overpowering you – though the temptation is always there to leave drivers in the next lane behind."

When Can We Get One?

A production version of the LE concept is expected to be be unveiled within the next two years as Infiniti’s first zero emission luxury sedan.

Competition

There are plenty of electric vehicles to serve as viable competitors for the Infiniti LE, but the LE may be the first to combine an electric powertrain with an impressive level of luxury. The LE is a luxurious version of the Nissan Leaf - a model that shortly after its debut has become a very successful model.

topspeed.com

Koenigsegg Agera R hits 249 mph on Gran Turismo Nurburgring

2012-04-06T23:24:00.003-07:00

If you needed more proof as to how cool the new Koenigsegg Agera R is, here it is! During the recent Gran Turismo Events on the Nurburgring, the car was able to hit an impressive 401.6 km/h or 249 mph. According to the official statement: "when the awesome 1200 HP Koenigsegg Agera R passed the pit lane on Döttinger Höhe on Thursday everyone was amazed by the speed of the car."

And why shouldn’t they be; the Agera R used the whole 3.5 kilometer straight and hit an impressive 249 mph before braking at the bridge in Tiergarten.

The owner of the car, Bård Eker from Norway, said there were "no problems with stability under extreme speeds. The tarmac was a little bumpy while braking so It was quite exciting before the left turn."

Next to the Agera R, a total of 120 super cars attended the event, with the most popular being the Porsche GT3, the Ferrari 458, and the Lamborghini Gallardo.

topspeed.com

Suzuki Going High-Tech; Will include Pandora in 2013 Models

2012-04-06T07:46:00.003-07:00

When considering motorcycles, Suzuki is likely a brand that comes to mind. Their cars, on the other hand, nearly go unnoticed unless you are looking for specifically cheap transportation. They typically only account for a fraction of a percent of U.S. auto sales, but that fraction is a tight and very loyal market. Well, it looks like they are trying to dig themselves out of obscurity by adding high-end features to their vehicles.

Starting in the 2013 model year, nearly every Suzuki car, truck, and SUV will include a Garmin stereo system that will also include Pandora radio. With the internet taking over everything nowadays, it’s only expected that internet radio would make its way into more cars – heck, some cars now have a hard drive bigger than my desktop PC, seriously…

Pandora works a lot like satellite radio, as it is not broadcasted from terrestrial towers, but rather streamed through the internet. You can personalize your own station too, so there is no need to swap the station every time something you can’t stand comes blasting through the speakers.

There is no receiver or anything like that for Pandora radio, so this is really not costing Suzuki much, meaning the cost to you would be minimal, if anything. The Garmin radio connects to an iPhone, per Pandora, and the iPhone in turn receives the Pandora signal, broadcasting it through the radio. It makes us curious because Pandora radio also has an Android app, which means nearly any phone on the market can receive its signal. However, Pandora specifically mentions just the iPhone in its press release.

We are starting to wonder if iPhone and Garmin are maybe up to something, or did the Pandora rep just misspeak. For the sake of all Suzuki buyers that choose to use this service, we hope the latter is the truth. From our research, it looks like Garmin and Suzuki have apps for both Android and iPhone, so it was likely a mistake to just say “iPhone.”

Regardless of its connectivity, this is a step in the right direction towards Suzuki reeling in its direct competitors, Hyundai and Kia.

topspeed.com

Infiniti LE Concept will spawn production electric sedan within two years

2012-04-05T09:20:00.001-07:00

Yes, Infiniti has indeed made a habit of teasing the masses with exotic and eco-friendly concepts at some of the world's largest auto shows over the past few years, notably with the Emerg-E and Essence Concepts. But, unlike those rolling showcases, the automaker claims its latest reveal, known rather cryptically as the LE Concept, will hit dealerships within the next two years in nearly unchanged form.

According to Infiniti, the LE Concept boasts a 24kWh lithium-ion battery made up of 192 cells, positioned under the passenger compartment floor. For those keeping track, this sounds like the same battery used in the Nissan Leaf. The 100kw electric motor, however, is upsized for this application. The LE's 134 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque represent increases of 24 horses and 30 lb-ft over its less powerful sibling.

Infiniti is quick to point out that the LE Concept is not a small car. At 186.4 inches, its length is roughly the same as Infiniti's G sedan. Atop the EV platform sits a highly streamlined body, which pays dividends with a .25 coefficient of drag that ought to help the LE reach its estimated 100-mile range (the latter being the same as the Leaf).

Inside, Infiniti uses words and phrases like double-wave and "Hamon" (ripple) design to describe the LE's purposeful cabin. Ahead of the driver sits both analog and digital readouts showing speed, distance remaining and even the location of available EV chargers in the vicinity, all powered by an Intel Atom processor.

There's plenty of technology packed into the LE Concept, including what the automaker calls Infiniti Connection, which includes Infiniti's Personal Assistant 24-hour concierge service, navigation, and POI search. Also on the menu is a wireless charging system in addition to the standard DC 50 kW quick charger.
Infiniti Americas Vice President Ben Poore says the company expects the LE to "be the first home-based wireless charging system if adapted for the production version." Yes, we noticed the 'if,' too. Guess we'll have to wait and see about that bit. In any case, feel free to read all about the LE Concept in the press release below and to check out our high-res image galleries.

autoblog.com

Skoda Citigo prices announced

2012-04-05T06:49:00.002-07:00

Skoda Citigo prices have been announced, and it's going to be the most affordable version of the VW/SEAT/Skoda city car trio.

Starting at £7,630 for the three-door manual, the Citigo undercuts the Seat Mii by £215 and the entry-level up! by £365.

The entry-level Citigo S is fitted with the 54bhp version of the 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, and a five-speed manual gearbox. It comes with 14-inch steel wheels, head and thorax airbags, a CD player and Auxiliary input. The five-door version is priced from £7,980.

Next is the Citigo SE, which is the best-value pick of the range. It has body-coloured mirrors and door handles, remote central locking, electric front windows and air-conditioning. Safety is also improved with ESP standard on the SE. It starts from £8,530 for the three-door, with the five-door at £8,880.

The Elegance is the flagship of the Citigo range, and comes as standard with the firm’s GreenTec package, which is a £350-£410 option on other trim levels. This includes stop/start, regenerative braking, lower rolling resistance tyres and a reduced ride height. These tweaks mean the Elegance modelreturns 68.9mpg and emissions of 96g/km.

The Elegance also comes with 14-inch alloy wheels, front foglamps, electric and heated mirrors, heated front seats and a leather trimmed steering wheel. It also comes with a portable touchscreen sat-nav unit that also acts as a trip computer.

It’s the only model to be offered with the more powerful 74PS version of the 1.0-litre, which adds another £390 to the list price. Automatic versions add between £205-565 to the price, with the five-door a £350 premium over the three-door.

The Skoda Citigo goes in sale in June.

autoexpress.co.uk

2013 Ram 1500 unveiled with eight-speed auto, start/stop, air suspension

2012-04-04T23:20:00.001-07:00

The Ram 1500 will receive a significant refresh for the 2013 model year, and the majority of the changes are indeed more than skin-deep. That's because the 2013 Ram will hit the showroom floor with a host of powertrain upgrades, including features that have never been offered on American pickup trucks until now.

Many of the Ram's new technologies speak to its fuel-saving nature, including an eight-speed automatic transmission for both six- and eight-cylinder models, stop-start, improved aerodynamics, electric power steering, grille shutters and an auto-adjusting air suspension. The air suspension is essentially a version of the setup used in the Jeep Grand Cherokee and features an Aero Mode, lowering the ride height by 1.2 inches to help cut through the wind more efficiently. Ram will also offer the Chrysler Group's 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 as the base powerplant, delivering 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque. For reference, Ford rates the 2012 F-150 pickup's naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V6 at 302 hp and 278 lb-ft.

Chrysler promises that the new 3.6 will improve fuel efficiency by "at least 20 percent" compared to the old 3.7-liter unit. Another 20 percent added to 20 miles per gallon on the highway and 14 mpg in the city equates to a class-leading 24 mpg highway and 17 mpg city.

Of course, V8 power is available, courtesy of Chrysler's tried-and-true 5.7-liter Hemi, which now delivers 395 hp and 407 lb-ft of torque. That's five more horsepower compared to the 2012 model, and that improvement comes courtesy of the new electronic power steering system. The most impressive part is that the Hemi-equipped model will also boast 20 percent better fuel economy, thanks largely to the fact that the eight-speed automatic is also fitted to this eight-pot mill. Chrysler will announce official fuel economy numbers closer to the Ram's on-sale date.

The Ram 1500 can achieve these substantial efficiency gains because of the aforementioned fuel-sipping technologies, but engineers have also cut considerable weight. The V6 powertrain is an amazing 76 pounds lighter than the outgoing 3.7-liter, and the TorqueFlite eight-speed and Hemi combine for a 30-pound reduction in the 5.7-liter model. Other weight savings come from an aluminum hood (26 pounds), chassis with more high-strength steel (up to 30 pounds), new floor cross-members in the bed (seven pounds), new front bumper (four pounds) and the electronic steering system (four pounds).

Additional improvements include upgraded exterior styling, a richer-looking cabin and a stiffer chassis that promises decreased noise, vibration and harshness. The Ram will also feature improved available infotainment tech, including an 8.4-inch navigation screen and a configurable seven-inch thin-film transistor screen that is standard on Sport, Laramie and Laramie Longhorn models.
autoblog.com

Audi A4 SuperAvant on way

2012-04-04T09:04:00.001-07:00

It seems record-breaking sales aren’t enough for Audi: the upmarket brand is on the hunt for yet another niche. Sources say Audi is closely investigating a more practical A4-based MPV crossover – and our exclusive pictures give the best idea yet of how it could look.

Dubbed ‘SuperAvant’, after Audi’s well known estate range, it will offer more interior space than the current A4 Avant while avoiding the handling and fuel efficiency compromises of a Q5-sized SUV.

It’ll also occupy a new class in the market, above premium mini-MPVs like the Mercedes B-Class. The SuperAvant will offer more space and versatility for a starting price of around £30,000.

Marking the car out is a raised roof that allows more headroom without ruining the looks. Inside, it’s set to be extremely flexible, with a wide variety of seating options similar to the Vauxhall Zafira or Ford Grand C-MAX.

The car will be powered by a range of efficient petrol and diesel engines, including some hybrids. Audi’s hope is that the SuperAvant will be the first of a family of similar cars that could stretch up to the A6 and down to the A3.

autoexpress.co.uk

2004-2009 Nissan 350Z by Senner Tuning

2012-04-03T22:07:00.003-07:00

The only Nissan sports car that us on everyone’s mind at the moment is the Nissan 370Z, so there’s a good chance that many have already forgotten about the old 350Z. Senner Tuning, however, has not and they have come up with a pretty cool upgrade package for the sports roadster.

The package includes a polished exterior package, as well as an impressive upgrade under the hood. All of these changes do come at a significant cost, though. The package is priced at 23,900 Euro, or about $32,000 at the current exchange rates.

The exterior of the Nissan 350Z starts off with a chrome package for the front and rear blinkers, and the Z-symbol. A new LED Z-symbol has also been added on the back lights, as well as a new set of 20" matte black polished wheels.

The most significant changes were made under the hood. Thanks to some changes to the compressor and the addition of a new exhaust system, the engine’s output has been increased from 280 HP to an amazing 411 HP. Peak torque also went up from 267 lb-ft up to 342 lb-ft. Nothing has been said about how these power upgrades affected performance times, but they have surely been increased from the standard 0-60 mph sprint time of 5.4 seconds and top speed of 155 mph.

topspeed.com

Infiniti G37 range updated

2012-04-03T08:41:00.002-07:00

Revisions have been made to the Infiniti G37 range with the introduction of the new G37x S four-wheel-drive saloon.

The sporty four-door (pictured) is now the only 4WD saloon in the range, and it costs £38,979. As is the norm with Infiniti, the standard equipment list is huge, and includes a seven-speed automatic gearbox, 18-inch black alloy wheels, a 10-speaker Bose stereo with music hard drive, touchscreen sat-nav and heated leather seats.
It slots in the middle of the revised G37 range, which starts at £34,909 for the G37 GT saloon. The GT Premium saloon costs £37,849, while the flagship four-door, the rear-wheel-drive G37 S Premium, costs £40,619.
The G37 Coupe and G37 Convertible remain unchanged, with prices ranging from £36,359 to £45,235.

autoexpress.co.uk

New VW Scirocco R Line

2012-04-03T08:37:00.001-07:00

The Volkswagen Scirocco has been updated to keep it ahead of the compact coupe pack.
There's extra kit across the range, and all cars now come with sat-nav, while entry-level models also get a multifunction steering wheel and 17-inch Long Beach alloys as standard. VW's Adaptive Chassis Control (ACC) is now offered as an option, too.

Go for GT spec, and you get ACC as standard, plus Nappa leather upholstery, heated front seats, two-zone climate control and 18-inch Interlagos alloys.
For an extra £1525, you can upgrade from GT spec to R Line trim. This new model line (pictured) adds a sharp new bodykit, 19-inch Lugano alloys, plus R Line-branded leather sports seats, leather steering wheel and aluminium pedals.
At the top of the range, the flagship Scirocco R now comes with Nappa leather and sat-nav as standard.
Mechanically the Scirocco remains unchanged. The new line-up is on sale now, and prices range from £19,650 for the entry-level 1.4 TSI 122PS, up to £30,575 for the Scirocco R.

autoexpress.co.uk