2008 Ford Kuga crossover to debut in Frankfurt

This one is added to our huge list of European Fords that we want, but we don't get. I think we have enough to start a petition. Ford unveiled the Iosis-X Concept in Paris last fall, which was a preview of Ford's future crossover for the European folks. The Frankfurt Autoshow is right near our door and Ford released some teaser information along with an attractive sketch of the vehicle.

Named the 'Kuga', the crossover will sit on Ford's C1 platform, which also underpins the Ford Focus, Mazda3, Volvo S40, and the Land Rover LR2. The Kuga is Ford's attempt to combat the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and the Nissan Qashqai. The name, which distinctly sounds like a British pronounciation of Mercury's Cougar, clears any speculations made like the X-MAX. The design, which derives from the Iosis-X Concept, seems to have stayed intact in the concept to production transition.

The Kuga is slated to go on sale across Europe in early 2008. Folks in North America will have to deal with the Escape for quite a bit more, which still runs on rear drum brakes by the way. Continue reading to view the official tidbits from Ford. Mind you, it's German (we think Google needs to tweak the translator a bit more). Check out AmericanTrucks.com and their large selection of Truck Performance parts.

Kia Coupe to Enter Production in 2009, No Hatchback Version for the U.S.

The production version of the Kia coupe Concept that was previewed earlier this year at the New York Auto Show will go on sale in the States during the third quarter of 2009, according Lee Hyun-soon, president of Hyundai-Kia Motors' R&D division. Kia's first ever Coupe model will be based on the replacement for the Spectra, teaser shots of which have already appeared throughout the web.

The Spectra sedan, that may bear a different name, will be available in the U.S. by mid-2009. According to Lee, the Spectra hatchback will no longer be sold in the U.S. as the Korean automaker believes that the Coupe variant will easily outsell it.source:autonews.com

Bentley Zagato GTZ

What started life as a Bentley GT Speed has been taken and transformed by Zagato into something that has the style and presence to contend with the scion of the best luxury automobiles.

The Bentley, now named the GTZ Zagato, features extensive but subtle bodywork from the famed and legendary design house of Zagato Atelier, and was revealed to the world at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show.

The most obvious changes are the redesigned grill, hood, and overall front, and the paint. Especially the paint, as this car looks even more expensive and luxurious with its mute but metallic two-tone coat of dark green and gray. The back has also been redesigned, with a longer deck and exotic-looking slim, gray tail lights. And, of course, which Zagato creation would be complete without the trademark double-bubble roof? As for the interior, from what I gather, it is even more scrumptious than the GT Speed’s, with a Zagato designed interior redolent with leather, wood, and other exotic materials.

I’d like to give you some performance info, but I can’t, as there is none on this car. The best I can do is give you some estimates. If the GTZ Zagato keeps the technical and engineering aspects of the GT Speed, that means it will have a 6 liter W12 behemoth that produces 600 horses and 553 pound-feet torque, along with a 0-60 time of 4.3 seconds. Now, since Zagato usually tweaks the performance in their creations, expect a slightly better stats for all of the above, including a 200+ mph top speed.

Burberry Maserati Quattroporte spotted in Saudi Arabia

The unison of Italian manufacturer,Maserati and the British fashion house Burberry could never be this hideous. But some stinky rich loser in Saudi Arabia with awful taste has plastered his Maserati Quattroportein a Burberry plaid gift-wrap paper.


I thought that type of a print only went over fragrance cartons and Burberry handbags, but this dreadful magnum opus seeks to open new gates for future gruesome innovations. The Italian maker shouldn’t turn a blind eye to this horrid attempt at blemishing its scrupulously established reputation.Source: : luxurylaunches

2008 Hamann Porsche 911 Turbo Stallion

(from Hamann Press Release)


A thoroughbred stallion with 630 horse powers: The HAMANN STALLION based on the Porsche 911 Turbo.Like an Arabian stallion collecting its attention for a jump. Concentrated and full of dynamic body tension. This is how the silhouette of the super sports car called STALLION presents itself. But the latest development of the premium refiner HAMANN MOTORSPORT offers far more than a fascinating new aerodynamics concept. The efficiency boost to 630 hp and the HAMANN-sport chassis turn the STALLION into one of the most powerful and fastest sports car in the whole world.The core of the Stallion is its modified engine. The Hamman motor technicians enhance the 3.6 litres Boxer Biturbo motor from standard 480 hp / 353 kW to 630 hp / 463 kW at 6,300 rpm. The upgrade also includes two larger VNT (variable nozzle turbochargers), a sport air strainer, a stainless steel exhaust system with metal catalytic converters and a new motor management.

These are measures which certainly hit their target. The Hamman Stallion accelerates to 100 km/h in only 3.3 seconds and is therefore six tenth of a second faster than its serial counterpart. The new maximum speed tag is sensational. With its efficiency boost and the reduced air resistance by Hamman -Aerodynamics, the Stallion achieves a maximum speed of 359 km/h.

Only the most precious materials can be found in the interior. Stallion The Hamman upholsterers only use selected leather for covering the fittings and sport seats. Aluminum gear shift and aluminum pedals make the cockpit gleam in a noble look and perfectly match with the carbon parts of the interior set. Precisely applied embroideries of the Hamman logo in the floor mats and headrests set further creative accents. All of these features complement one another in a stylish symbioses of motor sports flair and lifestyle.
Source: seriouswheels

Super Car From 2008 Detroit Auto Show

Renegade Jeep


Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder


Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 roadster


Land Rover LRX concept


Lexus LF-A


Li Shi Guang Ming


Lincoln MKT


Mach5 Supercharged Race


General Motors vintage Corvette 1953


Mercedes GLK


Mercedes GLK


Mercedes GLK


Ford Verve


Ford Verve


Audi R8 V12 TDI

Video:Honda/Acura NSX Spy

We first caught sight of the full Honda/Acura NSX Prototype about 10 days a go, and ever since we have wanted to hear the beautiful melody of the front-engined V10 GT-R killer. Various amateur clips have been floating around youtube over the past few days, but only high quality content makes it onto WCF. Fortunately German magazine Auto Motor und Sport have met our high standards with the production of a spy video of the new NSX powering round Nurburgring. We highly advise watching all 3 minutes and 19 seconds of the video, but it is strongly recommended a clean pair of trousers is on hand – the sound of the engine is awesome!Read All







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benzs.blogspot Mugen Freed Hits the Web

All prospective owners are invited to improve the appearance of their cars using body-whale, lining at the rear view mirror and 16 - inch Alloy wheels. In addition, Honda Freed by Mugen invited sports silencer, special suspension, high-performance air filter and more effective braking system.



Just days after Honda revealed their new 8 passenger Freed model for the Japanese market, in-house tuning firm, Mugen, has already got a styling package and modest performance upgrades ready to go. Starting with the exterior, the typical add-ons include front and rear fascias, grille, side skirts, rear roof spoiler.


Mechanically, suspension gets lowered and stiffened, choice of silver or black chrome wheels 16-inch wheels, sport muffler, high-flow air filter and upgraded brake rotors and pads with stock caliper।
Company Mugen, an officially-tuning unit Honda, issued a set of accessories for the latest - Honda Freed.
via:worldcarfanstophondanews


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Audi A1 Cabriolet is out in the open

It’s mid-summer, and Audi is celebrating in style with this: the new A1 Cabriolet.

The German supermini first broke cover last October as the Metroproject Quattro – a concept designed to showcase both the A1 and Audi’s clever electric-hybrid powertrain.

Auto Express revealed sketches of the model in Issue 981, and ever since then, the baby Audi has been casting a shadow over the car that’s set to be its main rival: the MINI.

Audi has never been one to hold back its engineers when it comes to new challenges, and it sees the premium supermini class dominated by the baby BMW as a lucrative market.

So, with an eye on the biggest possible slice of the cake, the A1 will aim to steal sales from the popular Mini Convertible. Our exclusive pictures reveal exactly how the drop-top will look when it debuts at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2009, before hitting dealers the following year.

The roof mechanism is more sophisticated than that of the MINI. It’s a powered hood which folds down electrically and is swallowed into the boot, rather than sitting on top of the car behind the rear bulkhead.Read All

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Hungary's Eco-Green Car

From the unlikely origin of Hungary comes the Antro Solo, a green driving machine perfect for those who find the likes of the Prius a tad too plain.



Its resemblance to a vacuum cleaner aside, the gas-electric powered Solo incorporates a variety of exciting features, including solar power for short trips, a hardly-there weight of 270 kg (courtesy of carbon fiber and composite materials used in its construction), and pedals for manual battery charging under low-sunlight conditions.

It also boasts a top speed of 87 mph and an ultra-efficient fuel consumption rate of 100 mpg. Seating arrangements are similar to that of the McLaren F1, with the driver sandwiched between passengers on both sides. This eco-cruiser is expected to hit the streets in 2012.

2009 Nissan Armada Review

The most famous armada of all time was sent by King Phillip II of Spain to invade England and usurp the heretic Queen Elizabeth. This armada was enormous, formidable and a force to be feared. In the end, though, it vanished into the North Atlantic, a victim of smaller British ships, some unfortunate westerly gales and the scraggly Irish coast. Nissan hopes that its enormous, formidable 2009 Armada doesn't suffer a similar fate, although there are a few westerly gales brewing in the automotive marketplace as well.

Based on the Titan pickup, the Nissan Armada full-size SUV was introduced for 2004, a year that seemed to signal the tail end of the "to heck with fuel economy, big trucks for all!" period. It featured (and still does) several avant-garde styling elements, like its curved roof line, designed to set the Armada apart from its competitors. A refresh conducted last year gave the Armada a more pleasant cabin with smarter ergonomics and much nicer materials. In the top-level LE trim, the Nissan Armada is actually none too different from its Infiniti counterpart, the QX56.



Unlike most of its competitors, the 2009 Nissan Armada is only available with one engine, a 5.6-liter 317-horsepower V8. In addition to brisk acceleration around town and prodigious passing power, the 5.6 allows a 9,100-pound tow rating when properly equipped. We've driven the Armada with and without a trailer and were very impressed by its stamina when hitched up.

Of course, that type of power and the Armada's heavy, boxy body translate into poor fuel economy -- which is subpar even by full-size truck standards. In today's climate of high gas prices, an unstable economy and global warming concerns, Nissan's Armada is entering uncharted choppy waters. And like the Spanish Armada, the full-size Nissan has smaller models conquering its sales as buyers move away from thirsty, large SUVs.

Mind you, such vehicles will always be preferred for serious off-road and towing duties. Although a large crossover like GMC's Acadia is superior for simple people-hauling, it just can't handle the rigors of lugging a Bayliner. However, the Armada's newer rivals from Chevrolet/GMC and Toyota have similar heavy-duty capability and are superior offerings to boot, with a wider choice of engines and a more refined ride.
edmunds

2008 Geneva Motor Show : Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe

ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM COUPÉ

In 2006, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveiled 101EX, an experimental car hand-built to explore an exciting new design direction for a modern coupé. Wrapped in a sleek, rakish body, 101EX was an engineering-led study, showcasing the technical and architectural innovation inherent in the quintessential modern Rolls-Royce car. Both handsome and elegant, it encapsulated the essence of contemporary coupé style.

So positive was the worldwide reaction to 101EX that, in autumn 2007, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announced that a series model would go into production in the summer of 2008. This coupé would complete the Phantom family, standing alongside the Phantom, Phantom Extended Wheelbase and Phantom Drophead Coupé.

Revealed at the Salon International de l'Automobile, Geneva in March 2008, the Phantom Coupé is the third new model from Rolls-Royce Motor Cars since BMW Group became custodian of the marque in 1998.

The Coupé is the most driver-orientated model in the Phantom line. A number of subtle but significant modifications have been made that change its character. It is noticeably more dynamic, whilst still offering incredible levels of comfort a balance not easily achieved.

The Coupé marries cutting-edge technology with a beautifully proportioned, muscular body that exudes power and style. Utterly contemporary in appearance, it nonetheless incorporates timeless Rolls-Royce design cues such as the long bonnet, large-diameter wheels, short front and long rear overhangs and the classic dynamic, rising profile.

Pleasing to the touch and to the eye, every material used in the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé has been carefully selected to combine form with function. The cabin's sumptuous leather, rich wood grains and cool chrome accents create a driver environment unparalleled in luxury and comfort.

Designed to cover great distances with the minimum of fuss, the Coupé is a sublime choice for a transcontinental trip, its effortless power provided by the Phantom's 6.75-litre V12, producing a phenomenal 453 bhp and 720 Nm of torque. Agile, fast, long-legged and virtually silent, the Phantom Coupé allows both driver and passengers to emerge unruffled, even after an all-day run.

Bell Aurens Longnose, A Land Rover With Over 1,500 HP

What would a Land Rover look like if it had a 27-litre supercharged V12 engine, the Merlin, produced by Rolls-Royce to power an airplane, with over 1,500 hp? What if it also had an yatch like tail, like classic cars from the 1930’s, and were a roadster, or, even better, an off-roadster? You don’t have to force your imagination to figure it out, since Thomas Bell, the founder of Bell Aurens, has materialised this idea - called Longnose.

“The 12 cylinder is available on request - our preferred solutions are the Rover V8 4.6 or 5.0 or the double V8 as V16. They are closer to the original idea - nevertheless V12 have a similar tradition with cars of British origin and thus will be available on demand. The Merlin engine is an idea which is feasable, but has not yet been calculated. It is possible though - nevertheless it will remain a promotion car with, if at all, very restricted street legality”, Holger Kalvelage, spokesman for Bell Aurens, has told World Car Fans.Read All


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benzs.blog Audi Officially Announce New 3.0 TFSI Supercharged Engine

This is the new top version in Audi`s V6 engine range. The 3.0 TFSI develops 213 kW (290 hp) and a huge 420 Nm (309.78 lb-ft) of torque. It combines two state-of-the-art technologies in perfect style – gasoline direct injection and compressor supercharging. The hi-tech V6 will go into production later in the year.

The brand with the four rings has a long tradition of supercharged engines. The legendary Grand Prix racing cars built by Auto Union back in the 1930s already featured compressors, which coaxed as much as 440 kW (around 600 hp) out of the mighty 16-cylinder and 12-cylinder engines. From the late 1970s on, Audi focused its attention on the exhaust turbocharger, which helped it to a succession of noteworthy triumphs in the world of motor sport. It was at this time that Audi`s turbo engines began to enjoy resounding market success.

The compressor is now staging a comeback. It is the ideal supercharging technology for the new three-liter V6, the 3.0 TFSI; the T in Audi engine designations consequently no longer exclusively denotes turbo versions.

Extensive comparative tests revealed the mechanical supercharger to be superior to a biturbo concept for this engine. In conjunction with direct injection, its packaging, starting performance and dynamic response were far superior.

The compressor is so compact that it easily fits inside the 90-degree V of the cylinder banks, in place of the intake manifold. Because it is driven by the engine via poly-V belt, its full thrust is available from idle speed upwards, producing huge pulling power when driving off. The 3.0 TFSI delivers its maximum 420 Nm (309.78 lb-ft) at only 2,500 rpm and maintains this constantly until 4,850 rpm.Read All Article


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The VW golf twin Drive Plug-in type hybrid prototype revealed

In a German government project called “Fleet test: electric drive vehicles”, VW revealed yesterday a Golf prototype with a plug-in hybrid drive engine of the next generation called “TwinDrive”. The research project tests the efficient use of renewable energy sources in transportation with 20 test vehicles using TwinDrive technology.

The core objectives of the research project are not only to improve fuel economy but to also enable driving in urban areas by electrical power only using renewable energy. Therefore, the electric motors of the test fleet should only be driven by electricity generated from renewable energy sources (wind, water and solar power).

Initiated by the German government, the project has put together an alliance of eight Germany industry giants in collaboration. Assuming leadership of the project, “Volkswagen will be investing double-digit millions in advanced development of this technology,” according to VW Chairman, Prof. Dr. Winterkorn. The German Federal Ministry for the Environment is also committing millions of Euros for the large-scale study that runs until 2012.

Federal Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel states, “The test fleet test can make a significant contribution in unifying mobility and climate protection as a result of the close cooperation of partners from the automotive, battery and energy producing industries.” Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn reaffirmed, “For the first time ever, energy producers and consumers are merging to form an even more powerful alliance. If this fleet test is a success, that would be a positive signal for worldwide climate protection.”Read All Article




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