2014 Honda NSX launch

2014 Honda NSX launch |Shortly after Honda CEOs officially confirmed that the NSX would indeed have a new successor, people everywhere started the ’what if’ game, speculating on everything from the engine fitted under the hood to the design used on the vehicle. Thankfully, auto execs aren’t great about keeping secrets and Honda President Takanobu Ito has already chatted it up with Automotive News and stated that the future NSX won’t come with a V10 engine. The idea for an engine that size was actually dropped in 2008, then the company decided that the car should be environmentally friendly and still fun to drive.

Sources say the upcoming Honda NSX will be powered by a 3.5-litre V6 producing upwards of 300kW (one source says that a patent application has already been made by Honda for the engine). This would just about be enough for the NSX if it remains true to its form of being very light. But the car is also said to be powered with the help of an electric motor. These two motors will then power an all-wheel drive system – a first for the top-shelf Honda model.

As expected, this car will use Hondas proven four-wheel drive SH-AWD system, but to make the station ran out of hybrid vehicles can be higher at the Nurburgring results, SH-AWD system will be rear-wheel drive mode by to set.

Engineers will be the precursor of the Accord platform in the development of a mid-wheel-drive chassis, so that will reduce the number of R D costs. If Zheliang sports car would be allowed to produce, then the first to debut in 2014. But the point is still not sure, do not know whether the version sold in North America will continue to use the Acura Acuras trademark.

The SH-AWD system combines front-rear torque distribution control with independently regulated torque distribution to the left and right rear wheels to freely distribute the optimum amount of torque to all four wheels in accordance with driving conditions.

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8:53 AM | 0 komentar

Dubbed Dartz Prombron Iron L4P Ladies Only review

Dubbed Dartz Prombron Iron L4P Ladies Only review |Russian tuner Dartz never fails to impress when it comes to creations that blow your mind. So is the case with their latest project, which comes as the world’s first Safety Utility Car (SUC) created for ladies by... ladies. Dubbed Dartz Prombron Iron.Diamond or L4P Ladies.Only, the vehicle was presented at the recent Top Marques Monaco event.

Dartz, the Russian tuner that never fails to hit the news with its bespoke rides, played it dirty last time with the Rolls-Royce hood ornament. Now, at the Top Marques Monaco 2011, they have taken wraps off the ladies-specific three-door Kapsula Coupe dubbed the Dartz Prombron’ Iron.Diamond or L4P Ladies.Only. Dartz has planned to make only 10 copies of the armored SUV created for ladies by ladies, with the first one being already ordered by Princess Regina Abdurazakova from Kazakhstan.

The package comes complete with a luxury vibrator designed by automotive designer Viktor Poontoos, RussoBaltique vodka, and a kilo of RussoBaltique caviar. That sounds like a deal now.

Feature Dartz
1. Kapsula body.
2. As this car is created like personal ride for lady – 3 doors only. 2 front, and one passenger.
3. 300 mm shorter base – lady want elegant parking, but that’s not all for parking as….
4. World first, specialy for dartz created by legendary telefunken 8 cameras video system.
6. Telefunken-leibowitz car audio-video-tv system – two legendary audio-tv marks are together again! In dartz!
7. Two color ultrasoft vintage interior.
8. White gold eagle badge.
9. Minimum 5 skins you can choose for your car – snake skin, crocodile skin, whale skin, chess skin, your choise skin, buying one car – you get 5 colors! Availble only at dartz!

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8:27 AM | 0 komentar

2012 Kia Rio Sedan launch

2012 Kia Rio Sedan launch | At the 2011 Geneva Motor Show earlier this month, Kia unveiled the new 2012 Kia Rio hatchback, a sexy looking compact version of the old Rip that the brand has been selling for many years. Kia announced today that the sedan version of the new Kia Rio will make its debut a the 2011 New York Auto Show next month.

In Europe, the 2012 Kia Rio is available with four fuel-efficient engines with output ranging from 69-hp to 107-hp. Transmission choices include 5 or 6-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic.

The LX trim includes body-color door handles and side mirrors and 15-inch steel wheels with 185/65R15 tires, while the EX adds power door locks with keyless entry. Finally, the SX trim offers standard 17-inch wheels with 205/45R17 tires, fog lamps, LED daytime running and rear combinations lamps, dual chrome tip exhaust, outside heated mirrors with turn signal indicators and, unique for the Rio5, projector headlamps.

Interior highlights include a driver's seat height adjuster as standard on the LX trim, while moving to the EX trim includes standard power windows with automatic up/down on the driver's window, Bluetooth wireless technology connectivity with steering wheel-mounted voice activation controls, telescoping steering column, 60/40 split folding rear seats and leatherette door trim. The SX trim offers standard metal pedals, metal grain, a Supervision™ meter cluster, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, maplight with sunglasses holder, illuminated vanity mirrors, trip computer, cruise control, and more.

In other news, Kia also let slip that the KV7 concept from this year's Detroit Auto Show previews what's in store for the next-generation Sedona minivan. We hinted at this after a conversation with Michael Sprague, Kia's vice president of marketing, though it's still unclear exactly what elements from the KV7 will be incorporated into the next-gen Sedona. The concept focused on a more traditional conversion van setup rather than the family-centric Sedona that currently graces our streets.

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Ferrari 458 feature

Ferrari 458 feature After months of speculation and spy shots, Maranello has finally revealed the mid-engined V8 replacement for the Ferrari F430. The all-new Ferrari 458 Italia won't be shown in public until September's Frankfurt Motor Show, but the official details were released early this morning. A new direct-injected 4.5-liter V8 ups the ante underhood, pumping out 562 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque. The redline? A screaming 9,000 rpm. Eighty percent of the F458 Italia's torque is now available at a low 3,250 rpm, thanks in all likelihood to the new engine's 12.5:1 compression ratio.

First, the engine: a new 4.5-litre direct injection V8 putting out – ready for this? – 562bhp. That’s 79bhp more than the current F430, and 52bhp more than the Scuderia.

We’d heard rumours that the F430 replacement might gain turbochargers, but the 458 Italia remains defiantly naturally aspirated – in fact, at 127bhp per litre, Ferrari says it manages the highest specific output of any naturally aspirated engine ever. It’ll rev all the way up to 9,000rpm too, making it the highest-revving Ferrari of all time.

Maintaining the quest for lap-time perfection, Ferrari’s engineers have introduced a new braking system. While other sports-car manufacturers have developed carbon-ceramic discs, and brakes that imperceptibly apply themselves in wet weather to keep the discs dry, the 458 Italia goes one better. The moment the driver lifts their foot from the throttle, a function known as “prefill” has the pistons in the callipers move the brake pads into the slightest contact with the discs, doing away with the typical delay in brake application.

Further performance improvements come from the reprogrammed traction control and electronic differential. Ferrari claims that changes to these, combined with improved suspension, bring about a 32% increase in lateral acceleration when leaving corners.

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10:15 PM | 0 komentar

Volvo C30 Price list

Volvo C30 Price list made an announcement today that will likely please many UK fans of the brand. Specifically, the sports-coupe will start from just £14,995 on the road. The model can be specified with a host of options and accessories, from styling kits and tow bars to portable navigation systems and engine performance upgrades, thanks to the partnership with Polestar.

Feature The C30 is now offered with a choice of petrol and diesel engines ranging from the 2.0 petrol to the T5 (230PS) and D2 (115PS) to the D4 (177PS). The C30 also comes with varying levels of specification from the ES to the SE Lux, including the sports derived R-Design trim and Congestion Charge beating DRIVe fuel economy range producing just 99g/km of CO2.

All models count climate control with pollen filters, electric windows and a CD/radio as standard. Our SE Sport test car – the third of four trim levels – also featured cruise control, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, 18-inch alloys and a bodykit as standard. Sadly no models in the range have a spare wheel, relying on tyre foam and a compressor to get the driver home.

Although the biggest design change occurs at the front, rear also sports the same line in the new and detailed. Contours are wavier and more dynamic than ever before. Black plastic panels have been replaced with the body color lower down, at the same or contrasting colors, in order to establish a closer visual contact between the car and the road surface.

Model tested: Volvo C30 2.0 SE Sport
On the road price: £19,995
Price range: £14,750 – £23,795
Date tested: April 2007
Road tester: Stuart Milne

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8:25 AM | 0 komentar

Veritas RS III Roadster Hybrid feature

The Veritas RS III Roadster Hybrid Feature unleashed the beastly Veritas RS III Roadster just over a year ago, and now the tiny sports car manufacturer is adding hybrid drive to its V10-powered retro sled – right before it releases a full electric version and a coupe.

The Veritas RS III Roadster Hybrid looks exactly like it's petrol-powered counterpart, right down to its BMW-sourced 507-horsepower V10, dual cockpit and carbon fiber/kevlar shell. What's different is the addition of a 105 kW motor mounted between the front axles, netting a total of over 600 hp. The lithium ion battery pack and electric motor tacks on an around 500 pounds, bringing the curb weight to a still svelte 2,821 pounds. But despite the extra weight, Vermot AG claims that the 0-62 mph time is actually down to 3.1 seconds (from 3.2) and tops out at 205 mph (10 mph down from the original).

What that means is that you will still get to enjoy the sound and feel of the 507-horsepower BMW-built V10 engine in the standard RSIII, but with a little extra punch from an electric motor. Unfortunately, the lithium ion battery pack and electric motor adds an extra 500 pounds (226 kg), bringing the curb weight to a still svelte 2,821 pounds (1,280 kg).

Despite the extra weight, the Veritas RS III Roadster Hybrid is a little faster to 62 mph (100 km/h) than the standard car it is based on, while also offering a top speed of 205 mph (330 km/h).

More importantly, car's lithium-ion battery will allow the plug-in hybrid to travel up to 50 km (31 miles) on electricity alone. Furthermore, since the electric motor powers the front wheels, the RSIII has a de facto all-wheel drive system which should ensure safe and predictable handling.

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8:13 AM | 0 komentar

Toyota Prius C review

Toyota Prius C launched at Detroit Auto Show 2011, If the new Prius V sacrificed some fuel economy for volume, the Prius C concept does exactly the opposite: It's smaller than the regular Prius hybrid, but fuel economy should be better. In fact, Toyota claims that it will be - when the production version is made in 2012 - the most fuel-efficient car on the market except for plug-ins. Read on for more info and photos.

The Prius C concept is designed with younger and more urban drivers in mind. It's a bit more "hip" than the regular Prius (or what passes for hip at Toyota... oh boy), and it should be more affordable. And since it kept the hatch configuration, it should be pretty IKEA-friendly.Ford India is sure on a success wagon thanks to its magic small car priced at Rs 3,49,900 to Rs 5,29,900 which competes with the well established cars in the hatchback segment.

The Prius C Hybrid Concept borrows a lot of the futuristic lines of the next generation Prius, expected to make its market debut next year. According to Toyota official press release, Prius C is wanted to be the small alternative of the line-up, meant to win the public with its low fuel consumption. More precisely, Toyota Prius C is a model focusing on the young customers of the Japanese brand, caring for both a nice-looking and fun car.

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8:02 AM | 0 komentar

Ford Figo Feature

Ford Figo Feature need to see this vehicle’s real power and decided to go for a second long drive. The first long drive was to Nizambad from Hyderabad to attend a marriage and as the road was really very smooth, and any vehicle will have smooth ride and you would never get to know how comfortable is the new ford figo.
Ford Figo Born and raised in India, the model quickly managed to get to the hearts and minds of Indians, without hurting their pockets all that much. The model managed to sell 25,000 vehicles in 100 days and 50,000 in six months. There seems it will be no stopping it.

We are all aware of this unit, the 1396cc inline four Duratorq from the Fiesta, Fusion and Ikon. This third generation common rail diesel engine with drive by wire technology and an aluminium block produces a peak power of 68 bhp@4000 rpm and peak torque of 16.2 kgm@2000 rpm. Jointly developed with PSA Peugeot Citroen, this engine is best known for its refinement and good bottom-end torque. Now manufactured in India, Ford have managed to bring down the cost of the engine and pass it on to the end user, the one who will buy a Figo especially!

In the relatively lighter Figo, the differences are limited to minor changes to the ECU tuning and final gear ratio. That, however doesn't change some things. Because the Figo is built to a cost, there is more clatter that pervades through the cabin. Give the car some poke and it doesn't seem to settle down until you are somewhere in the mid-range and started to move up the gears. There is also some turbo lag to live with, which isn't easy to dismiss off at first but when put back to back with say the Fiat Punto diesel it doesn't feel all that bad. Yet it makes the Swift diesel feel like the best of the lot, although in isolation the Swift diesel too shows some lag.

Ford India has tripled its sales for the last month by registering an increase of 188 per cent when compared with the last year's sales of the same time. Ford India, for February 2011 the American auto giant rolled out 9,293 cars which was only 3,223 cars for the last year in the same time.

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7:54 AM | 0 komentar

2011 Nissan Quest SL review

2011 Nissan Quest SL review The all-new fourth generation Nissan Quest, which is set to go on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide in early 2011, is about to take on the toughest job on the planet: parenting. More than just another new Quest, it’s an entirely new take on the minivan – with bold styling, an extensive list of family friendly innovations and amenities a family can enjoy together.

The New Facade
The Quest's bold grille and thick front bumper seem to mimic those of its competitors, even as they blend into the sculpted side of the minivan. While there are seven colors with which buyers can differentiate their family hauler, apparently, there's only so much style even the best team can apply to the shape of a boxy minivan — and look what happened the last time Nissan tried to think outside the box with the Quest in 2004.

Depending on which direction the 2011 Nissan Quest is pointed, it can resemble either the more angular 2011 Honda Odyssey or the more flowing 2011 Toyota Sienna. The more we drove the Nissan Quest, we kept coming back to this same "right in the middle" assessment when compared to the headline-grabbing Odyssey and Sienna minivans.

Alas, this Quest has an unhappy conclusion due to one very significant flaw: the powertrain. We've all done plenty of complaining about the VQ V-6 -- apparently not enough, as it's not yet been replaced by something modern and refined. In this application, it sounds pained as it struggles against the Quest's 4500 pounds. Worse, the CVT automatic pins the engine in its most abrasive range. I can't imagine tolerating this noise when the competition from Honda, Toyota, and Chrysler (Chrysler!) has made a priority of engineering quiet, smooth engines and better transmissions.

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8:22 PM | 0 komentar

Jaguar XKR-S Review

Jaguar XKR-S Every time we cover an auto show, the experience turns into a training camp for our brains, with the left hemisphere shouting at our photographers to move on to the next car once the job is done and the right one being amazed at the beauty/complexity of different four-wheeled creatures. This year’s Geneva event was no exception to this and there is one battle that we particularly remember.

There was even a time when the weak and stupid British Leyland management thought seriously about renaming Jaguar the Large Car Division. Hmm. I can see that someone might buy a piece of farm equipment from the People’s Tractor Factory, but that’s mostly because they’d starve or be shot if they bought something else. I cannot see, however, why anyone would want to drive round in a Large Car Division XJ12 when they could have a, er, Bavarian Motor Works 735i instead.
Eventually, though, Jaguar’s management was sent off to live on plastic inconti-armchairs on the south coast, the workforce was given a clip round the ear by Mrs T and the company

The XKR is already a pretty wonderous piece to drive and look at, and this Metallic Smurf example looks nothing if not more imposing, thanks largely to the additional vents feeding the supercharged V8. Jaguar notes that this is the most powerful and fastest production sports car it's ever offered – and yes, it's headed for showrooms – with an 0-60 mph time of 4.2 seconds and a Vmax bumped out to 186 mph.

In addition to the engine and aero tweaks, the XKR-S' suspension has been reworked, there are new 16-way power sport seats with 'carbon-fibre effect' leather (we're pretty sure you're going to need to see this in person to appreciate it), and the whole shebang will be capped off with a price tag of around £97,000 on-the-road. That's around $158,000 U.S., but if it comes to the States, we'd expect it to be significantly less costly. Check out our live gallery below to check the XKR-S out in detail, then venture over to the jump to see Jaguar's full press release.

Jaguar XKR-S Specifications
Engine
Engine Type 32V Supercharged V8
Displacement 4,196 cc
Horsepower 420 bhp @ 6250 rpm
Torque 413 lb-ft. @ 4000 rpm
Compression Ratio 9:1
Bore X Stroke 86 x 90.3
Exterior
Curb Weight 2,080 kg
Ground Clearance 110 mm
Length 4791 mm
Width 1892 mm
Height 1312 mm
Wheelbase 2752 mm
Tires (F) Pirelli PZERO 255/35 ZR20
Tires (R) Pirelli PZERO 295/30 ZR20
Wheels (F) 9.0J x 20
Wheels (R) 10.5J x 20

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9:41 PM | 0 komentar

Artega SE Review

2011 Artega SE German automaker, Artega, unveiled their latest work, the Artega SE, at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, showing the promise of what a German electric sports car could look like, as well as giving the US-based Tesla and their pride and joy, the Roadster 2.5, something to think about.
The Artega SE is powered by two electric motors mounted on the rear axle, operating independently, with a total output of 280 kW (380 PS / 275 bhp). The Artega SE does the 0 to 100 km/h sprint in 4.3 seconds compared to the GT's 4.8. Top speed is over 250 km/h (155 mph).

Two electric motors on the rear axle with a total output of 280kW (380 horsepower) give the car its powerful thrust. These two operate independently, with each driving one of the rear wheels. The Artega SE accelerates from zero to 100km/h in just 4.3 seconds (4.8 seconds with a combustion engine). Unlike the combustion engine, the electric engines transmit their power linearly and immediately, with no delay. The maximum velocity is well over 250km/h.

Electricity comes from a 37 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack with a nominal voltage of 350 V. Range of the Artega SE is 300 km (186 miles) on the European test cycle (NEDC - New European Driving Cycle) but the automaker says a more "comfortable" driving style (read: realistic) achieves a range of 200 km (124 miles). A full charge of the batteries can be had in 90 minutes at a high-powered charging station.

The Artega SE is an electric version of the company’s initial offering, the Artega GT. The two cars sport the same body and aluminum spaceframe with the only notable difference being the powertrain fitted under its hood.

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8:33 AM | 0 komentar

2011 Dodge Grand Caravan Price

The 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan gets significant updates to make it more competitive. And not just on a price-tag basis either. The company says it’s committed to making its products as desirable as the Japanese, but still priced the way customers expect .

Dodge started with essentially the same box as before, but spent time tweaking the nose, headlights, lower fascia and fog lights to better mimic the cross-hair grille migrating to the rest of the line. The rear has a reshaped tailgate with new taillights, bumper and tailgate. It also gets a roof rack that hides the crossbars (like the Subaru Outback) to cut down on wind resistance if you don’t need them, while fresh 16- and 17-inch wheels add a little aggression.

One of the 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan’s niftiest features remains Chrysler’s Stow ’n Go seating system. It’s standard and enables the second-row buckets fold neatly into the floor, eliminating the need to remove them to create more cargo space. In the seats’ upright position, the floor wells become large covered storage bins. The three-passenger third-row bench seat folds into its own floor well – power operation is available for that – and folding both the second and third rows creates a long, flat load surface and some 140 cubic feet of cargo volume.

Base prices for the 2011 Grand Caravan are $1,120-$1,980 higher than for roughly comparable versions of the 2010 Grand Caravan. Attribute the increase in part to a different mix of standard equipment and the added cost of the more advanced Pentastar powertrain, and toss in a $15 hike in the destination fee.

Chrysler finally seems to have adjusted to this reality, making some major upgrades to its minivan lineup for 2011, including a complete overhaul of the engine, suspension and interior. After a week behind the wheel, we can enthusiastically endorse the new engine and suspension, and we liked the new interior a lot.

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9:39 AM | 0 komentar

2011 Tata Pixel Concept Feature

2011 Tata Pixel Concept is city car, it is presenting at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show. Pixel at just over three meters in lengths, Tata claims the Pixel is "the most package efficient four-seater in the world," being able to "comfortably accommodate four adults".

The Tata’s highlight of its the Zero Turn system, which enables maneuvering and parking in tight spaces. An Infinitely Variable Transmission (IVT) assists rotation of the outer rear wheel forwards and the inner rear wheel backwards during low-speed maneuvers, with the result being a turning circle radius of just 2.6 meters.

In keeping with the modern microcar trend, Tata claims that the Pixel will return more than 60 mpg and only releases 89 grams of C02 per kilometer. The efficiency comes by way of a 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbodiesel, which, though it isn't a full hybrid, employs stop-start technology and regenerative battery charging.
Powering the Tata Pixel is a 1.2-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine of unspecified output, which will enable the Indian concept to cover 100 Km on just 3.4-litres of fuel (69 US mpg) and have CO2 emission levels of 89 grams per Km.
Even though no exact dates have been specified, the Tata Pixel could be heading into production in the near future.

Lastly, for maximum maneuverability, the concept is equipped with a "Zero Turn toroidal traction-drive" system which gives the Pixel an impressive turning radius of just 2.6 meters (8.5 feet).

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9:29 AM | 0 komentar

Merdad 2011 Range Rover Sport Review

Merdad Collection has announced a brand new tuned Merdad Range Rover Sport. The British tuner has translated his signature design into the 2011 Range Rover Sport Models. The program includes exterior and interior refinements and wheel kits.
The exterior program comes with wider wheel arches, newly designed side skirts, rear and front bumpers conversions, new front and two side grills meshed, which includes the Merdad Lion crest in its centers. The bonnet with air vents and newly developed exhaust system with four end tips complement the program.

Meanwhile, the interior has the customary Merdad design touch that features two seats with a middle console on the rear compared to the standard three-seat layout on the rear. Other standard upgrades on the interior include a newly designed steering wheel, new racing pedals, racing dials, and door entrance panels. As is the case with Merdad, the tuning company also allows its customers to put the touches on the interior depending on their tastes and preferences.

The vehicle sits on new custom lightweight alloy rims, with the customers being able to choose between two models. We are talking about wheels that have been created for the aftermarket developer and come in a 22-inch size. The first one brings lightweight racing rims, while the latter includes three-piece concave rims that use a five-spoke design. Both can be seen in the adjacent images. If you ask us, they really seem to suit the kit’s overall styling cues.

As we are talking about a premium development, the interior is as important as the rest of the car. Merdad Collection is well aware of this and has paid special attention to the cabin. The real party can be found in the back, where the company has installed two seats and a center console. The list of interior mods also includes door sills, racing-inspired pedals, new instruments and a sports steering wheel.

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9:21 AM | 0 komentar