NewCar2070: August 2011

Saturday, August 27, 2011

BMW M3 GTS goes to the ‘Ring 24hr

There were mullets aplenty, dodgy tattoos - including an otherwise attractive young lady who had Opel's ‘blitzen' logo on her back - and if you stood far enough away the drifting smoke made the place look like something from (I)Apocalypse Now(I). No doubt about it, the Nürburgring is not for the faint of heart. Or the faint of hair.

At last, the new Porsche 911 is here. This all-new, 991-spec Porsche 911 will be unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show next month, and although you may feel like you've seen it already, that's only because a few pictures leaked out last week.

The new Ferrari 458 Spider is an obvious, and inevitable, extension of the 458 Italia sports car range. Ferrari has always offered a fresh-air alternative to the junior V8 and we all knew it was coming.

But the lack of surprise didn't stop the tongues drooling and eyes goggling when we clapped eyes on the new 458 Spider ahead of its debut at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show.

This is the new 2012 Mercedes B-class, the first in a new family of small Mercs. It presages the new A-class – due later in 2012 – and a suite of new compact models, including a coupe and an off-roader.

So take note of the new B-class. The hardware you see here will pop up across future small Mercedes.

2013 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution XI

The Evo-loving world was in shambles after Mitsubishi Global Product Director, Gayu Eusegi, announced that the company would be killing off the all-wheel-drive turbocharged Lancer Evolution. The Evo is one of the best models Mitsubishi has ever offered and fans everywhere were shocked that the company would take such extreme measures.

The king is dead, long live the king! Mercedes SLR is out of production for quite some time now, but the fact it was a great car is beyond doubt. As a proof is the fact that even now, when Mercedes stopped producing it, tuners are still offering lots of attention

Mercedes has gone to great lengths to improve their washed up hatchback model and although we are still waiting for the debut of the next generation A-Class, our spy photographers have already captured images of what looks to be its AMG version. This car is no SLK55 AMG, but certain AMG modifications have found their way to the compact A-Class to make it bigger and better.

Earlier today we reported that John Krafcik, CEO of Hyundai Motor America, tweeted that the base price of the 2012 Veloster will be $17,300. At the time we didn't know whether that price included destination or not. Now all our questions have been answered as Hyundai has just released full pricing details for its funky new hatchback.

The most American vehicle for 2012 probably isn't going to be a Ford, or General Motors product, or even a Chrysler or Jeep. It's most likely going to be the 2012 Toyota Camry.

That's according to the federal government's annual U.S./Canadian parts-content figures, as posted on new-car window stickers and required by theAmerican Automobile Labeling Act (AALA).

The Cadillac Escalade is perhaps a little too successful in its mission of flaunting wealth.

Cadillac's big SUV is a magnet for thieves; it has ten times the overall theft losses of the typical 2008 to 2010 model-year vehicle, and it's more than six times as likely to be targeted by thieves.

A few months ago, Aston Martin introduced the V12 Zagato Concept to the world, a supercar that was born from the creative minds of Aston Martin and Italian coachbuilder, Zagato. The overwhelming popularity of the concept prompted the folks over at Aston to expedite the release of the production car and lo and behold, we’re a few weeks away from seeing the road-ready version of the supercar at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.

After seven years of high end luxury and sales, the Quattroporte is changing it up just a bit to please a greater chunk of the luxury sedan market. One of the major changes befalling Maserati’s flagship model is the addition of a younger brother. The baby Quattroporte will be arriving in the middle of 2012 and is rumored to be priced at $68,000.

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Aesthetically, you won’t see a whole lot of difference between this diesel-powered M5 and the gas version, but in the interest of fairness, it’s only right to talk about what’s in store if you make this purchase. Suffice to say, the new M5 appears a lot more dynamic and stylish than its 5-Series counterpart, thanks to the addition of M-specific design features.

New Renault Clio revealed

Daring to look at, better to drive and cheaper to run – that’s the newRenault Clio. And Auto Express has all the details on the supermini that’s got the FordFiestain its sights.

The Clio isRenault’s best-selling model, and this fourth generation will be the first production car developed from the ground up by new design director, Laurens van den Acker.

Those hoping for the new Audi A6 to usher in a design revolution for the brand – a role the model

has been tasked with since the badge on its trunklid read '100' – will be disappointed. However, those who are beguiled by exquisite design resolution will find solace in this E-segment sedan.

While news of the latest Mini variant – a cross-coupe based on the Countryman – may have been met with skepticism, viewing the Paceman Concept first hand proves it to be one of the more impressive cars unveiled in Detroit.

The production-ready BMW 6-Series makes its world debut in convertible form, following on from the 6-Series Coupe Concept displayed last year in Paris.

Cadillac unveiled its Ciel concept—a 4-seat convertible powered by a turbocharged V-6 engine coupled to a hybrid system with a lithium-ion battery pack—today at Pebble Beach. The setting is no accident. According to Cadillac, the beauty of the California coastline inspired the design of the Ciel.

Just ask Porsche, Audi or BMW…it’s great to have your production cars bask in the warm afterglow of a successful competition effort. And Volvo’s feeling downright toasty recently, with Randy Pobst, Alex Figge and Andy Pilgrim starting to make a real dent in the SCCA Pirelli World Challenge Series, driving the K-PAX S60 that, as of the Mid-Ohio round, is clad with the new S60 bodywork. Or a reasonable facsimile thereof; it’s a race car, after all.

The 2013 Dodge Viper is about to become a little more civilized, though not at the expense of tire-smoking performance and testosterone-fueled design. If anything, the next-gen Viper is going to pack an even bigger punch than the models that have come before. Our spy photographers recently captured Viper prototypes with what appears to be a production-ready front fascia, grille and hood.

Drives_2012-Land-Rover-Range-Rover-Evoque_th1

The British make, Land Rover, is moving upscale with its new entry level Range Rover, the 2012 Evoque. As a result, in addition to carrying the more prestigious Range Rover badge, the Evoque will also cost more than the littlest Land Rover, the LR2, starting at $43,995 for the base 5-door, a considerable bump over the LR2’s sticker of $36,550. Still, this new baby Range Rover is about $4500 less than the Land Rover LR4 or $16,500 less than a Range Rover Sport while offering similar or better levels of performance and comfort

MONTEREY, Calif. -- Lexus today unveiled its next-generation GS 350 sport sedan, revealing the sheet-metal and interior design cues that will carry across the brand for the next several years.

The 2013 GS, which goes on sale in early 2012, will have only a V-6 or V-6 hybrid powertrain. There will not be a V-8 version available.

Lexus has offered a V-8 version on the previous two generations of the GS, but it only represented about 10 percent of all model sales.

The GS sedan has been seen as bland and bloated next to the BMW 5 series, Mercedes E class and Audi A6.

Kia said today it will unveil a new four door sports-sedan at the Frankfurt motor show next month.

The Korean automaker’s UK branch released several photos of the concept vehicle in a press release today. Kia said the still unnamed car will be rear-wheel-drive and seat four.

The sleekly designed car looks similar to the Hyundai Genesis, and may mean that Kia will build a production vehicle based on that platform. The 2012 Genesis features a 5.0-liter direct injection V-8 engine that produces 429 hp.

"I believe the car is a strong statement from Kia,” Kia’s Chief Design officer Peter Schreyer said of the concept vehicle in a statement. “We are ready to fast forward to an all new chapter."

Jaguar XE (2013) scooped filling up at a gas station

CAR's spies have caught the new Jaguar XE filling up at a gas station in the US. It's a sign that the XE sports car project is advancing quickly – we've already scooped it in the UK, and now Jaguar is busy conducting hot weather testing in America.

Tellingly, the XE caught in our spy photos today is filling up at a gasoline pump; our sources suggest that some of the UK prototypes were diesel powered.

For Audi, the Q suffix is like a licence to print money. The Q-boom began with the Q7, reached a new high with the Q5 and is about to go stratospheric with the Q3. But that is only the beginning: the coupe-like Q6 was given the nod earlier this year, the three-door Q4 is almost ready to be signed off, and the entry-level Q1 is allegedly only a formality.

Jaguar will launch its new XF estate in 2012. CAR's artist's impression reveals how the Jag XF wagon will look - and Jaguar sources promise it will be very much a sporting station wagon.

Despite being merely a bodystyle derivative of the XF saloon, the development of the XF estate is taking some time and we won't see it at a motor show this year.

The new 2012 BMW 3-series Touring has been spotted a year before it hits showrooms - and our new spy photos suggest the F31 3-series estate will be more spacious and practical than ever before.

Hyundai is planning a go-faster version of its oddball Veloster coupe - and our new spy photos suggest it will be a considerably harder, performance-oriented model.

Taken during hot-weather testing in the US, these new scoop shots reveal a Hyundai Veloster with a body kit and numerous technical changes.

Bentley is preparing to build a 4x4 SUV, the new CEO Wolfgang Durheimer confirmed tonight. Speaking at a select dinner in Crewe, the Bentley boss said the luxury car maker would build a crossover SUV as a priority.

But in a revealing address, Durheimer also spelled out plans for diesel Bentleys, hybrid Bentleys and a return to the race track for Britain's famous luxury car marque.

Mercedes has revealed the latest addition to its little roadster line-up – the SLK250 CDI. It’s the first time the Mercedes SLK has been offered with diesel power; the new oil-burning convertible will be officially unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show in September.

2012 VW Passat

first look videos :-

2012 VW Passat: All-new for 2012, the VW Passat offers a more spacious cabin but keeps the luxurious interior and affordable German engineering that car shoppers expect from Volkswagen. The mid-size sedan, which debuted at the 2011 North American International Auto Show, will be built in America at VW’s new Chattanooga assembly plant. New features include a TDI Clean Diesel engine option,

GM tests 0% financing through Wells Fargo

General Motors is testing 0 percent financing and other incentives supporting prime-risk new-vehicle auto loans through lending partner Wells Fargo.

The program, which started in May, involves about 50 dealerships, largely on the West Coast, a GM spokeswoman says.

Rick Josie,

DETROIT -- General Motors said today that it will sell a Cadillac coupe with plug-in technology similar to that of the Chevrolet Volt.

GM first showed the car, the Converj, as a concept at the 2009 Detroit auto show. The car will be called the Cadillac ELR.

The vehicle's development is "just under way, so details on performance, price and timing will be announced later," GM said.

The ELR will use propulsion technology similar to that of the Volt, which went on sale in late 2010.

DETROIT (Bloomberg) -- Mike Sussman is one of the buyers helping General Motors Co. come back in the small-car business. The 45-year-old systems analyst just traded in a Toyota Prius for a Chevrolet Cruze, seeking both high mileage and more pep.

"I was very, very leery about buying U.S., to be honest," said Sussman, who lives in Greensboro, N.C. "They got me with the mileage. It actually drives like a regular car. With a Prius, you always feel like you're driving a science experiment. It just doesn't have a lot of guts."

VW wants to take Bulli Microbus to production

Microbus will be sold around the world in different variants

VW wants to take the Bulli Microbus Concept it premiered at the Geneva show last week to production.
According to Autocar, VW's research and development chief Ulrich Hackenberg says that the Microbus is based on the MDS [Modular Design System] platform and will likely be made at VW's Pueblo plant in Mexico.

VW announced it will delay intro of its new mid-engine roadster until the Detroit Auto Show in January

It's been a long time since the VW Concept R debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show back in 2003. Not that this new roadster is necessarily based on that concept. But now, five years later VW announces they are ready with their new roadster, or not quite.
VW has pushed back the introduction of the model from the L.A. Auto Show taking place later this month to the Detroit show in January.

New Z series features Z4 Roadster with retractable hardtop, Z4 Coupe tuned for performance, and a Z2 hybrid

Reliable sources state that BMW will debut the new Z4 next month in both a roadster and coupe configuration.

The good: Fully loaded, the 2011 Kia Optima SX offers cabin appointments equaling those of much more expensive cars. The engine uses direct injection and a turbocharger to produce 274 horsepower. The Infinity audio system provides very satisfying music.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Friday, August 26, 2011

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Friday, August 19, 2011

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Microbus will be sold around the world in different variants

VW announced it will delay intro of its new mid-engine roadster until the Detroit Auto Show in January

New Z series features Z4 Roadster with retractable hardtop, Z4 Coupe tuned for performance, and a Z2 hybrid