Posted by Jim on 2011/11/02 under Peugeot | 
Peugeot plans to launch a stylish hatchback which will have the handling and performance similar to the famous 205 GTI. Looking back in their last two decades of history and also springing from the popularity of the DS3 range by Citroen, Peugeot will likely give the new Peugeot 208 set to roll out next summer its powerful 4-cylinder turbogcharged powerplant.
The new Peugeot GTI will be getting the RC badge in France and will most likely enter the market after the 5-door and 3-door mainstream models hit the showrooms by June of 2012. Most likely there will be two trims for this car. Both will be using the well received 1.6L twin cam engine with turbo that is currently under the hood of the Mini Cooper and the DS3 of Citroen. This engine is built thru a collaboration of BMW and Peugeot-Citroen in their plant in France.
The GTI is expected to get the 154 horsepower version of the engine. The mainstream release might have a sticker price starting at £18,000. A possible GTI Racing version priced at around £23,000 will be getting a more potent 204 horsepower engine.
The fastest Peugeot 208 is set to have an acceleration from 0 to 60 miles an hour in under 7 seconds with a top speed of more than 140 mph. These numbers might just hint that the GTI will be fitted with the Clio Cup of Renault which has been gaining grounds in the UK market without a good competition.
The new car will be making use of the smallest platform being used by the mainstream cars of Peugeot and Citroen at the moment. Comparing the 5-door version with the 3-door variant, the latter will have a sportier, more aggressive look because of its unique design for its doors, rear pillar, and roof.
The release of the 208 shows the intention of the car manufacturer to drop the over aggressive design lines used for the 207 and the 206. The 208 makes use of a more elegant and prettier shape that spotlights the cars lightness and compactness. The 208′s shape was inspired by the concept car SR-1 roadster and the 205 hatchback of the 1980s.
Posted by Tom K. on 2011/08/21 under Jeep |
Vilner is a Bulgarian design company that recently finished another project for the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The model has also undergone a retuning by American tuning company Hennessey who raked up its power output to a staggering 600 horsepower.
The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT600 now has a beautiful interior accent that includes the installation of premium Alcantara leather in red and black plus ornamental red seams for trimmings. The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT600’s has also been improved with more comfortable grip as per the request of a particular client. The steering wheel has also been given the Alcantara leather treatment in red and black leather.
The revamped unit is powered by Hennessey’s Vortech power plant which is a turbocharged 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine at 600 horsepower.
The Bulgarian design company has also improved the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT600’s exterior design with redesigned external headlights. There is also the addition of LED day lights and brand new headlamps to make the unit more ferocious than ever.
Vilner’s Facebook fan page shows a series of the Bulgarian design company’s past and recent projects. Go and search for them on Facebook to get the latest photos of the newly revamped, badass 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT600.
The design company has yet to release official word on the Vilner-2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT600 along with other specifications for engine figures and other exterior/interior details. So stay tuned for more detail about this badass Vilner creation.
Posted by Tom K. on 2011/07/29 under Volkswagen |
When the 7th generation Volkswagen Golf kick starts its sale season this year, VW fans will get to see a more casual look on the new model. The Volkswagen hatchback has always been the European brand’s fundamental model car. However, the carmaker is decided to give the basic hatchback a new look by lowering its roofline and driving position. These changes are expected to improve the driving experience as well.
The 7th generation Volkswagen Golf or the Mk7 Golf will also received a redesigned windscreen to steer the design direction towards new heights. These changes are planned to be able to distinguish the Golf’s different versions from each other. So far, there’s the three-door Golf, the five-door Golf and the Golf Plus units that have elevated roofs. It has also been expressed the next generation Volkswagen Golf Plus will look more like a mini- multi-purpose vehicle in a five-seat platform. While the designs for the Golf Mk7 reeks of more sporty influence compared to the five-door version, the former still could not compete with the Vauxhall Astra GTC.
Volkswagen has also developed a new steering wheel technology called the Mechanical Active which will most likely debut with the new Golf models along with tweaks and upgrades in the car’s interiors.
The 7th generation Volkswagen Golf or Mk7 Golf reeks of the brand’s Modularer Querbaukasten architecture or simply MQB platform. The new model is set to debut towards the end of 2012 or in early 2013 according to press reports.
Posted by Tom K. on 2010/06/21 under Nissan |
A few years from now, we might be seeing a significant number of electric vehicles to hit the market and cruise on the road. Certain standards are starting to come up like concerns about charging these rides, measuring their range, and the likes. Another feature being put on spotlight is the need for these EVs to have a sound signature contrary to earlier EV fanatics boasting about their silent operation.
Safety regulators are pushing for the electric vehicles to emit a certain sound that will somehow alert other people that they are approaching or passing by. Nissan begins a study which will involve 500 individuals from government agencies, customers, and media to test the Leaf in their testing grounds in Oppama, Japan.
Among things they will be evaluating will be the “approaching sound”” that will be installed on the Leaf and the Fuga hybrid. The Japanese carmaker is looking into using a sound for their EVs which will sweep through frequencies so practically everyone can hear it. The sound will also differ if it is accelerating or slowing down.
You can click on the video below to have an idea of what we are talking about.
Posted by Jim on 2010/05/15 under General Motors |
This just might be a sign that the General is back in the game, all thanks to its four top selling models. To name, they are the Chevrolet, GMC, Buick and Cadillac. GM’s April sales shot up by 19.7%, while its annual sales are also up by an even more impressive 31%.
According to reports, the Detroit-based car manufacturer gave a lot of the credit to the recent release of the Buick’s Lacrosse, Chevrolet’s Equinox/Camaro, Cadillac’s SRX and the GMC’s Terrain. GM showed a report of their retail sales for the year, and it looks like the credit has been given to the four rightful champions.
However, minus these figures, General Motor’s overall performance isn’t so impressive anymore when you take into account the Saab, Pontiac, Hummer, and Saturn. These brands have either been sold or discontinued. The GM’s year-to-date sales went up only by 12.9%. To its defense, though, GM U.S. Sales Operations VP Steve Carlisle reverted the attention back to the company’s more successful brands.
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Posted by Jim on 2010/02/28 under BMW |
After the unveiling of the refreshed 2011 BMW X5, the German carmaker recently announced that it is giving the luxury SUV an M Sports Package. The upgrade will include a kit to improve the visuals of both the interiors and the body. The chassis of the car will also be tuned to improve performance.
The exterior of the X5 M Sports Package will give the SUV color coded bumpers with fog lights, new side moldings, and extended arches to accommodate a 19 and 20 inch set of rims with V spokes.
The upgrade kit will also give the car a new set of special tailpipes. The 6-cylinder variant will have the trapezoidal tailpipes used by the regular X5 xDrive50i.
BMW also adds an M Aerodynamics kit, door sills, and roof rails in chrome. The designers also installed Park Distance Control and the Side View technology on the bumpers of the X5.
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Posted by Jim on 2009/09/06 under McLaren |
If packaging of your perfume, shoes, or everyday cereals catches our eyes, there must be some magic that comes with their design. In the car industry, Gordon Murray is perfecting the science and art of packaging some speed, some cargo, and passengers all into one clean cut and efficient vehicle.
Murray says what he is working on is a step ahead of the McLaren F1 which has been praised for its beauty, performance, and uniqueness. It has a three seat set up with the driver in the middle.
The renowned designer looks beyond how supercars are made today. He is aiming for a new breed of supercars which will outclass the ones that we have today.
The new supercar can meet head on the likes of Lamborghini and Ferrari which both delve on speed and power. Murray believes that the focus of the two car makers will be the very reason for the new supercar to outperform them. He might have a point with the likes of The Camaro, Mustang, and 370Z having capabilities which may be beyond their street needs, and being qualified as “just” sports cars.
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Posted by Jim on 2009/07/21 under Audi |
Even before the new gen of Audi cars reach dealerships, the car maker have announced the sticker prices of the 2010 Audi Q5, Audi A5, and the Audi A4. They have done this in anticipation of the high demand for the new cars. The prices are up a bit commensurate to the slight updates made to the models.
The A5 gets the four-cylinder TFSI to replace the six-cylinder 3.2L power plant at entry level. The new trims downs the starting price by $4,700 to flat $36,000 compared to the 2009 model’s $40,700. There is also an option worth $1200 to upgrade for a tiptronic transmission available for all2.0T A5s. The manual 3.2L engine was dropped from the line up.
Aside from the powertrain changes the new Audi A5 will have a new MMI system, Prestige and Premium Plus will have LED rear lights, and new rims for the Premim trim entry level car. The S5 also gets an option to upgrade the rims.
The 2010 Q5 sets its Premium model price at $37,350; Premium Plus at $41,400; and the Prestige tagged at $48,850. These models now have an option to have Natural Brown and Fine Grain Ash inlays, 20-inch S-Line rims, stand alone package for a Bang & Olufsen entertainment sound system, and several other tweaks inside out.
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Posted by Jim on 2009/06/24 under Citroën |
The GTbyConcept rolls down the streets of London and wins everyone who sees it over. The supercar was first revealed during the Paris Motor Show in 2008.
Citroen produced a limited volume of the car a few months after the France run. The GTbyConcept is set to grace the most prestigious motoring events this summer. Its last appearance will be on July 3 to 5 at the celebration of the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the U.K.
The GTbyConcept is the product of collaboration between Citroen and the creators of the Gran Turismo series of games. The partnership turned the futuristic one meter high and 5 meter long futuristic car a reality.
During its London tour, GTbyConcept cruised along the Regent Street, around the Trafalgar Square, and past the Mall near the Buckingham Palace.
The supercar will participate in the climb hill event of the Supercar Run when it joins the Goodwod Festival of Speed. The affair invites the most fascinating cars (including quite a few exotics) to participate in the 1.16 mile race.
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