2011 Honda Fit EV Concept electric car

The Fit EV is designed to meet the daily driving needs of the average metropolitan commuter and utilizes the same 5-passenger layout found in the popular Fit hatchback. When the Fit EV production model is introduced, it will be powered by a lithium-ion battery and coaxial electric motor.

The high-density motor, derived from the FCX Clarity fuel cell electric vehicle, delivers excellent efficiency and power while remaining quiet at high speeds. 
The Fit EV will have a top speed of 90 mph.

The Fit EV will achieve an estimated 100-mile driving range per charge using the US EPA LA4* city cycle (70 miles when applying EPA’s adjustment factor). Driving range can be maximized by use of an innovative 3-mode electric drive system, adapted from the 2011 Honda CR-Z sport hybrid. The system allows the driver to select between Econ, Normal, and Sport to instantly and seamlessly change the driving experience to maximize efficiency or improve acceleration. While in Econ mode, practical driving range can increase by as much as 17 percent, compared to driving in Normal mode, and up to 25 percent compared to driving in Sport mode. Acceleration improves significantly when in Sport mode, generating performance similar to a vehicle equipped with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine.

In addition to the 3-mode E-Drive system, the Fit EV will include several interactive coaching systems to assist the driver in maximizing battery range.

A special meter display advises the driver when to shut off air conditioning and other accessories to conserve battery power.

To help the driver deal with the electric vehicle ownership experience, the Fit EV will have a standard connectivity system that allows the driver to stay connected through a smartphone and personal computer, or the Honda-exclusive interactive remote, while away from the vehicle. The pocket-friendly, interactive remote provides connectivity to the vehicle without the need for an internet connection or mobile phone signal. Through the connectivity system, drivers will be able to remotely view the vehicle’s state of charge, initiate charging and activate the air conditioning, even while connected to the grid, to reduce the drain on the battery at start-up. The mobile application and website also offers the ability to set charging notifications and alerts to optimize utility rates, and provides 24-hour roadside assistance, along with a public charging station locator. The Fit EV will come equipped with a standard Honda Satellite Linked Navigation System™ that includes a public charging-station locator capability.

The Fit EV is designed to be easy and convenient to charge. Battery recharging can be accomplished in less than 12 hours when using a conventional 120-volt outlet, and less than six hours when using a 240-volt outlet.

The Fit EV Concept displayed at the Los Angeles Auto Show features an exclusive Deep Clear Blue Pearl exterior color and distinctive five-spoke aluminum-alloy wheels with blue inserts. The Concept has unique LED headlights, a chrome front fascia, aerodynamic bumper, clear LED taillights and EV decals. Inside, the Fit EV Concept is outfitted in an eco-friendly gray bio-fabric on the seating surfaces.

Displayed alongside the Fit EV Concept at the show is a prototype Honda charging stand. To begin charging, the driver swipes a card in front of the screen and then connects the charger to the vehicle. The Honda charging stand provides a glimpse at the future of an electric-charging infrastructure that is easy to use and intuitive for consumers.

2012 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

The history of the 612 Scaglietti started in 2004 when Ferrari chose it as a successor for the smaller 456 M. It was designed as a 4 seater gran tourer with adequate space in the rear seats for adults. But, if we’re going to be honest, the 612 Scaglietti features the most out-dated design in all of the current Ferrari line-up.

Thankfully, Ferrariis coming to the rescue with a successor to the Scaglietti. This new model will be unveiled next March at the Geneva Motor Show with sales beginning in the summer of 2011. Prices are said to be in the 300,000 euro area.

Ferrari has already confirmed that the next 612 model will feature lots of modifications, including a gasoline-hybrid technology which is a system Ferrari developed from the KERS system it currently uses in Formula One race cars. This system was already previewed by the 599 GTB Fiorano HY-KERS concept unveiled earlier this year.

Exterior and Interior

While the prototypes caught testing all over the world looked almost identical to the current 612 Scaglietti, the next model will adopt a totally new look. It will combine design elements from both the 458 Italia and the Vettura Laboratorio HY-KERS. The sports car will get a strong front, curved hood, and wider wheelbase.

The Engine

 

The current 612 Scaglietti is powered by a 5,748 cc V12 engine that delivers 530 HP and 588 Nm of torque. But the next model will adopt a hybrid drive train that will combine a V12 front engine that delivers a total of 550 HP with a 100-HP electric motor at the rear. This new system will help improve fuel consumption by at least 35%.

We expect to see the same dual-clutch 7-speed F1 transmission as in the Vettura Laboratorio HY-KERS concept.

The Competition

The next Ferrari 612 Scaglietti takes on models like the Aston Martin DBS, which is also about to enter its second generation. The new Bentley Continental GT will also have a few reasons to fear the 612.

When Can I Get One?

The new Ferrari 612 Scaglietti will make its world debut in March 2011 at the Geneva Motor Show. Sales will begin in the summer of 2011; expect a price of around 300,000 euro, or $410,00 at the current exchange rates.

New Car: 2011 Opel/Vauxhall Antara

Vauxhall’s Antara is looking sharp. These are the first pictures of the facelifted version of the firm’s SUV, which goes on sale next month.

To bring the Antara up to date, Vauxhall has added the firm’s new front grille and Griffin logo, as sported by the Corsa facelift, while SE models get fog lights mounted in leaf-shaped bezels.

New 19-inch alloys and tweaked rear light clusters complete the cosmetic modifications on the outside, while the interior gets extra storage, new trim materials and improved instruments.

Under the bonnet, the SUV gets a new 2.2-litre diesel engine, up from the current, single 148bhp 2.0-litre oil burner. The engine is available in two states of tune, 161bhp or 181bhp, but while power has increased, Vauxhall claims the unit is cleaner than before, although official emissions data hasn't yet been confirmed.

The 161bhp unit comes in front-wheel drive with a six-speed manual transmission only or all-wheel drive with either a manual or six-speed auto gearboxes. The 181bhp engine is four-wheel drive only, but buyers can choose manual or automatic transmissions. All cars benefit from revised spring and damper settings.

Prices for the new Antara start from £19,995, a saving of £2,835 on the outgoing base version.For more details click here.

Thanks to: Auto Express

Peugeot Shine Sport car concept is designed like sports car Lamborghini style

Although designed pugnacious style of a Lamborghini or a Ferrari sports car, the car was dubbed the Shine Peugeot continues to reflect a typical European design. Dent body dynamic nuance France.

The design is rounder and lower its ground clearance reminiscent of the Bugatti Veyron. Depannyanya made aggressive snout that resembles the shape of an eagle beak and eyes of LED lights to add elegance.

Although pure racing, Peugeot Shine was still able to carry four passengers with a mechanism for opening and closing the doors like a Lamborghini, the difference between front and rear doors open in opposite directions.

Behind a long glass and ramps designed to follow body contours. On the tail there is a matching tiny spoiler with a single muffler right in the middle of the rear bumper. Rim kroom nuanced and dark colors make the Peugeot Shine looks more manly.

And its unique, 3-dimensional design is a project from a designer named Piotr Czyzewski Poland. Men who worked for a company making this yacht also often make design cars, shoes to watches.

2012 SSC Ultimate Aero II

Exterior Design

The outgoing Ultimate Aero was very generic in its looks. The body, like the rest of the car, was designed by company owner Jerod Shelby (no relation to muscle car legend Carroll Shelby). He admits that the need for slippery aerodynamics governed the outcome of the final product and being an engineer by trade, design wasn’t his greatest strength. Enter Italian American designer Jason Castriota who, in the beginning, had reservations about taking on the project. We couldn’t really blame him after looking at his impressive resume. He has penned cars for the very best in the industry: Ferrari, Pininfarina, Rolls Royce, and Bertone to name but a few. The last thing his career needed was to design a car destined for failure for a small company with more hopes than money or brains. After a visiting the facility and getting to know the staff and more importantly, their ideals and the car, he took the plunge and created what you see before you.

 

The outcome is breathtaking, especially once you peel the body work away to reveal how technically challenging it was to overcome the dreaded forces of nature at 200+mph, whilst packaging the required mechanical components. It is the ultimate example of form meeting function, to create a harmonious whole. We like the black teardrop shaped canopy that sits on top of the white exterior, creating a stunning contrast of power and beauty. The shape is classic and pivotal, and has a very low drag co-efficient. The car features dihedral stabilizers or wings that have been borrowed from the realm of aviation. The term “flying buttress” might be construed as a being a bit naughty, but they are actually wings that help support the structure of the car. In this case, they are those bits on the side of the SSC Aero II, which channel air towards the engine intakes – a Castriota design signature.

 

The front looks intimidating and purposeful with its low slung nose and carbon fiber headlights. Looking closely, you’ll notice venting for the carbon brakes and a cohesive front splitter that generates enough downforce to keep the nose planted at speed. There is no hood or luggage space, or any kind of compromise with this car. The side profile is sleek and sexy – there are no door handles or side repeaters and the car barely stands over a meter tall. Massive lower recesses house air intakes in front of the rear wheel arches and feed the ravenous engine and cooling radiators with much-needed cold air, while doing its bit to balance the look. It checks all the hypercar boxes and then some. Elements of the first Aero are maintained, most notably the party piece doors and simple-spoked wheel design. The latter being the first ever one piece carbon fiber wheels ever fitted to a car. They are products of Australian company, Carbon Revolution, and the 19" fronts weigh just 5.8kg each.

 

The entire body and chassis, save for front and rear impact zones, are all made from carbon fiber - further emphasizing lightness as key. This is not necessarily for top speed, but more for everyday driving and handling. All mid-engined cars require apertures in the bodywork to help get rid of heat – they usually take the form of slats or louvers but since this car is anything but, it features circular cut outs in various diameters to expel heat and generate pub controversy. Moving to the other-worldly rear, dynamics take over, with aesthetics playing second fiddle. The entire under floor of the car is sealed leading up to the rear which functions as the mother of all diffusers, complete with F1-style exhaust. From this angle, it does bear slight resemblance to an R8 and by slight, we mean slight – the proportions and shapes are similar. Between the rear stabilizers is a hydraulically operated air brake – ala Bugatti Veyron and Merc SLR that comes into play at higher-than-allowed speeds. Dimension wise, the Aero II is slightly more narrow than before to comply with FIA GT regulations, should they decide to race it.

 

Interior

The interior remains a bit of a mystery – probably because it isn’t 100% finished yet - but we could have a guess as to what to expect. There will be room for two with all the necessary creature comforts like seatbelts and aircon. We wouldn’t bet on heated and electric massaging seats just yet. Judging from the old model, whose interior was pretty sloppy, the new car’s interior has to be better and get the basics right. We believe the design will be based around a large central LCD display and have better quality finishes – after all this car does cost a smidgen under $1 million.

 

Performance

Do you really have to ask? The numbers on paper are staggering enough – even before getting to actual performance times and stats. The proposed record breaker is powered by a quad-cam, twin-turbo V8 displacing 6.8 liters. The engine, like all the other mechanical parts, are all developed in-house by SSC themselves. The new powerplant shares a lot with the old 6.2 liter item – the block and its innards are the same design, so are the dimensions and location of its 10 radiators. Changes come in the form of a four-valves-per-cylinder overhead cam (OHC) setup as opposed to push rods and new SSC spec turbochargers. The new setup is good for a colossal 1350HP and will rev to 9000RPM! Zero to 62mph will arrive in around 2.8 seconds and SSC claims a top speed of, wait for it, 275mph! The in gear acceleration figures are not known as of yet, but you can be sure they will be absolutely mind blowing. Thank goodness the new car will feature traction control, ABS with servo assistance, and Brembo carbon ceramic stoppers. We can’t even begin to imagine letting that kind of power loose on public roads without fear of being apprehended by the long arm of the law while experiencing acceleration that will rip your face off. This thing should sound the way it goes – an all turbo whoosh and snarling, angry V8.

Because it’s RWD rather than 4WD like our friend the Veyron, it’s lighter...much lighter. The Aero II weighs 1200kgs, a full 638kgs lighter than the comparatively pudgy Bugatti – and it produces more power. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that the power to weight ratio is over 1000HP per tonne, putting it in the league of the Caparo T1. Where the Bugatti is luxurious, refined, and civilized to drive, the Aero II is raucous, unforgiving, and about as scary as a getting a shave from Edward Scissorhands.

Suspension remains as the same coilover setup and so does the triple plate carbon clutch. Whether it’s as good at going round corners as it is in a straight line still remains to be seen. One thing is for certain though, it will set your trousers on fire every time you use the pedal on the right.

Competition

In short, there is none other competition except for the Veyron SS and it costs $2.4 million, more than twice the price of the $970,000 Aero II. You could also buy a Koenigsegg Agera, but the price is unconfirmed and so is the top speed. The cars should be closely pegged, but we guess it depends on personal preference and if you’re into the whole “mine’s bigger than yours” thing. Let’s hope the Aero II will not squeak, rattle, or fall apart like so many other cars made by small firms in small numbers. The first cars will be delivered to their proud new owners around the last quarter of 2011.

Only time will tell whether SSC will bring the top speed crown back to the US.

 

Porsche 911

EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR

Among the additions Vorsteiner installed on the 911’s exterior include a VRT front bumper cover with spoiler attachment carbon fiber, a VRT rear bumper with diffuser carbon fiber for the LED tail lights, a VRT intercooler shrouds carbon fiber, a VRT aero engine lid with wing blade carbon fiber, a VRT sport roof replacement carbon fiber, an upgraded Porsche LED taillights, carbon fiber side mirror housings, and a custom clear bra protection on a number of parts including the bumper, hood, fenders, door and mirrors.

In the interior, there’s plenty more Vorsteiner additions, including a thicker sport steering wheel with red deviated stitching, sport aluminum pedals with heel toe extensions, sport aluminum floor boards, carbon fiber on the center console, rear ash tray, and seat belt trim, and plenty of Alcantara to go around including in the set inserts, as well as embossed in the arm rest, chrono pod, and hand brake with red deviated stitching. Finally, there are also Volrsteiner-embroidered floor mats with red piping in the front and rear.

PERFORMANCE

The Vorsteiner VRT 911 Coupe is powered by a horizontally opposed 3.6-liter V6 engine that produces 460 horsepower and 480 lb/ft of torque mated to a six-speed manual transmission with dual mass flywheel.

To further boost its performance, Vorsteiner also included a stainless steel exhaust system, performance intercoolers, a GIAC custom sport tuning programming & device switch unit,

 and a KW hydraulic lift coilover system that raises the 911’s front end by one inch.

PRICING

The standard retail price for a newly outfitted 911 Turbo Coupe goes for $132,705, but seeing as this car already has some mileage to it – about 8,500 miles – the asking price has been dropped to $99,500. It might still be a high asking price for a slightly used Vorsteiner VRT 911 Turbo Coupe, although if you really think about it, all the modifications total to a price tag of $57,815.

 

2007 Porsche 911 Turbo Competition

A number of tuning firms have already put the 911 under the proverbial tuning phase and there always seems to be a healthy competition from tuning firms to develop the most awesome 911 on the street. Firms like 9ff, TechArt, Sportec, and even Misha, have taken their turns upping the ante on the 911. There are differences in power, of course, with 9ff arguably producing the most powerful modded Porsches on the planet. All this, of course, still remains a subjective matter depending on what your preferences are. If you’re looking for a performance upgrade, 9ff is a good one to consider. If you’re looking for styling upgrades, Misha’s work with the 911 Turbo is a work of art. And if you’re looking for the whole package, Vorsteiner’s VRT 911 Turbo Coupe is about as good a modded 911 as you can find.

2007 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe by Vorsteiner

The Porsche 911 is a favorite among auto tuners for a number of reasons. First, it’s fast. Second, it’s fast. And third, well, it’s fast. Apart from being fast, the 911 has and will always be Porsche’s signature sports car and fans of the brand always seem to have an insatiable appetite for the 911, especially when it’s been given an aftermarket treatment.

German firm, Vorsteiner, knows the Porsche and the 911 all too well, having done a number of aftermarket projects on the brand and the model in the past. This particular project is a 2007 model that is being sold with a pretty generous discount. We’re not going to reveal how much the price is until after the jump, but if you’re looking for a tuned-up Porsche done by an authority in aftermarket projects for the Stuttgart brand, you won’t find anybody else better than Vorsteiner.

New Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept Car 2010

Ford Focus Race Car Series

Ford Focus Race Car Series

2010 Ford Focus Race Car Concept is form the base for the Blue Oval’s next global touring race car. This car has showed its world premiere at LA Auto Show on a week ago.

Ford Focus Race Car Concept powered by a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the new racing model will get its first shot on the tarmac at the 2011 British Touring Car Championship.

Ford Focus Race Car Series

 

Ford collaborated with various race teams from around the world in order to make sure that the new car meets rules governing circuit racing in the United States and beyond for the creation of the Focus racer.

The Race Car Concept has been upgraded with AST performance dampers, sport sway bars provided by Ford Racing and enormous, 320 mm front brakes, for extreme stopping power. Hoosier race tires wrap around the 18-inch Anthracite alloy wheels.

Interior for racer includes a roll cage and a Recaro racing seat with a six-point safety harness, alongside a fire suppression system. The AIM MXL Pista dashboard has a digital layout and features, among other data, a tachometer, rev counter and gear position indicator.

Ford Focus Race Car Series

 

 

New Car: 2012 Opel/Vauxhall Corsa

You don’t need an eagle eye to spot the facelifted Corsa! A mid-life makeover has brought the Vauxhall supermini’s styling into line with its Insignia and Astra stablemates – and the new nose is dominated by the Luton company’s distinctive ‘eagle eye’ headlights.

The revamp is the work of chief exterior designer Niels Loeb. As well as the new headlamps – which incorporate a set of LED daytime running lights, and are similar to the units debuted on the latest Meriva – Loeb has given the FordFiestarival a fresh chrome grille and restyled front bumper with a wider air intake.

There are also five new exterior colour options, including striking Lime Green and Chilli Orange pearlescent paint. Completing the visual changes are fresh 16-inch alloys on SE and SXi models, while the range-topping VXR now gets 18-inch rims inspired by the 20-inch wheels on the larger Insignia VXR.

The cabin has been lifted with new upholstery shades and different colour door trims, centre console and handles. Vauxhall will also offer its new Touch and Connect multimedia system, which features a CD player, USB and auxiliary inputs, as well as Bluetooth compatibility and a five-inch touchscreen display for the sat-nav.

The cosmetic upgrades complement the numerous mechanical changes already introduced to the Corsa range. These include the addition of stop-start to the latest ecoFLEX engines.

The bargain of the facelifted range is the £9,995 entry-level three-door 1.0 ecoFLEX, which is effectively £200 cheaper than its predecessor when you take into consideration the 4 January VAT increase. Prices for all other models rise by 2.5 per cent courtesy of the Treasury, but Vauxhall’s own increases are only between around £60 and £75. The first cars will be delivered in February. For more details click here.

Thanks to: Auto Express

Unofficial Picture: 2012 Suzuki SX-4 Sedan

These are some recent pictures of the face-lifted Suzuki SX4, recently surfaced on a Chinese website.

The images show an overall refresh to the current SX4 styling; there is a new chromed-lined grill on the front. The headlamps are slightly re-styled which makes the front gives a little more shaper stance. The front bumper is also all new. On the rear, there are extensive changes to the boot lid, restyled tail-lamps which now look similar to the newly-launched Kizashi saloon.

There is not much information on engines but we can expect an inclusion of a diesel motor in future.

Thanks to: Autocar India

Hot News: Honda Brio

Honda’s all-new small car will be christened the Brio. Showcased at the Auto Expo in Delhi earlier this year, Honda’s small car concept (codenamed 2CV), will compete against arch rival Toyota’s small car Etios.

Honda will showcase a prototype of the Brio, which will be very close to the production version, at the 27th Thailand International Motor Expo, starting November 30, 2010. Based on a completely new platform, the Brio will be an entry level compact car that will be four meters long with an engine similar or smaller to the 1.2-litre motor of the Jazz. Honda is working on a 3-cylinder version of the same motor, but without the VTEC technology.

Expected for an early 2011 launch, the ‘2CV’ will boast of cutting-edge technology that would help return good fuel economy. Honda is hopeful of producing a car that will be the most economical car in its segment. While Honda has completely denied a diesel engine for its small car, the company has hinted towards a Hybrid version of the '2CV', following feasibility reports.

Interior packaging on the car is expected to be in line with the Jazz, so expect it to be high on comfort and space. If Honda could price the Brio competitively – unlike the Jazz – it could have a winner in its hands. Fitted with safety features like ABS and Airbags, Honda wants to tactfully price the Brio and has set a price target of under Rs 5lakh. Let's hope they achieve it!

Thanks to: Autocar India

Sneak Peek: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle

Oprah Winfrey teased her audience Monday with a full-size silhouette of the 2012 Volkswagen New Beetle's profile design and told the 275 men and women in her Chicago studio they would each get one of the cars when it goes on sale in the autumn of 2011.

No, the car behind the curtain doesn't tell you half of what the spy shots say, though it's no less than what "The Oprah Winfrey Show"'s audience got to see. Oprah says she drives a New Beetle. VW is giving away 275 to Monday's audience, including taxes and fees.

Devotees of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" broadcast in the nascent days of the original VW Type 1 Bug in the U.S. will recognize the simple, elegant white lines on a black background, like those used for that show's opening credits. Unlike the 1999-11 New Beetle, the new one isn't quite as rotund as the famous suspense film director. VW confirms what spy shots have revealed; that the next Beetle will be a little bit more sleek, losing some of the curve in its greenhouse.

That curve served as a distinct, easily recognized look for the New Beetle, though it meant ample front-seat headroom at the expense of rear-seat headroom.

Beyond that, VW revealed precious little information about the '12 New Beetle. It will be available with the 2.0-liter turbo four and Volkswagen's new 2.0-liter turbodiesel engine. The company won't say whether there again will be a loss-leader base model, with, for example the 2.5-liter I-5 or even the iron-block 2.0-liter four that has reappeared in the value-priced version of the 2011 Jetta.

VW will launch a cabrio after the Beetle coupe's fall '11 on-sale date, probably no earlier than spring of '12. And VW plans to vastly expand its list of accessories and custom options, jumping on the Mini/Fiat 500 bandwagon. Volkswagen will have a full reveal of the design next spring. VW hasn't decided whether to introduce it at the New York International Auto Show.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

Hot News: Lamborghini to Produce Sesto Elemento

The wild and wicked Lamborghini Sesto Elemento is a concept and nothing more, correct? Perhaps not. Although the Italian sports car manufacturer insisted at the time that its 2010 Paris Motor Show star was simply a display of the company's future technologies, executives now suggest the firm could build a few examples to enjoy on a closed course.

In a recent interview with Autocar, Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann suggested the company is considering building the concept for its truly well-heeled clientele, noting the firm does not want to "produce and show cars just for a museum.

"It will, however, produce cars simply for the race track -- and that may be precisely what happens to the Sesto Elemento. In order to build the car exactly as shown in Paris, along with avoiding the requisite airbag installation and crash testing required to certify a car for sale in virtually every market around the globe, the Sesto Elemento may be offered to customers strictly as a race vehicle.

Certainly, the car could have an advantage on the track. As its name suggests, the Sesto Elemento contains plenty of the sixth element on the Periodic Table: carbon. The vast majority of the car is constructed from carbon fiber composites, allowing the vehicle to tip the scales at roughly 2200 pounds. The Sesto Elemento also utilized a new material Lamborghini dubs forged carbon-fiber, a non-continuous, fiber-reinforced composite that is shaped at cold temperatures and under extreme pressure, and is capable of holding up to increased strain.

The light curb weight, coupled with the 570-horsepower 5.2-liter V-10 cribbed from the Gallardo Superleggera, will likely render the Sesto Elemento a veritable rocket. We imagine the car will sell out just as quickly as it accelerates, despite an estimated base price of nearly $1.4 million. If the program is approved, Winkelmann suggests no more than 20 examples will ever be built.

Thanks to: Motor Trend

Spied: 2012 Chrysler 200 Convertible

Just last week, we took our first turn behind the wheel of the heavily reworked 2011 Chrysler 200 sedan. The former Chrysler Sebring underwent a very quick 12-month transformation, with nearly everything but the roof and the doors being replaced or redesigned. So we can give pretty solid predictions of what is hiding beneath the camouflage in these spy shots of the 200 convertible.

On the droptop 200, expect to see the same reworked front end, including the new grille, hood, fenders, fascia, and headlights housing LED accents. The rear should receive the same treatment as the sedan, with LED taillights bridged by an attractive chrome strip. We caught this mule wearing a cloth convertible top, but because the car keeps the same overall structure as the Sebring—and the two tops use the same mechanism with different skins—we expect to see the folding hardtop return as an option.

We’re trying to avoid sounding like a broken record, but in this case, it’s impossible. Like the sedan, the 200 convertible will welcome the new Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 deploying its 283 hp through a six-speed automatic transmission. (Also like the sedan, it should retain the base 2.4-liter four, which is to be avoided.) To improve on the old Sebring’s atrocious ride and handling, we’re anticipating a similar approach to that which has greatly livened the sedan: lowered suspension with stiffer bushings, higher spring rates, and thicker anti-roll bars, as well as quicker steering. The interior will be greatly improved; like many other new Chryslers, the 200 will get a new one-piece, soft-touch dash pad accented by other high-quality plastics and chrome dressings.

We can say from firsthand experience that the 200 sedan is much improved over the car it replaces, and we’re looking forward to seeing those changes make their way to the 200 droptop. The convertible should debut early in 2011 and, if pricing stays in line with the sedan’s, expect a slight increase from the 2010 models, which started around $28,500. Considering the tremendous improvements to the car, it should be a fair deal.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

New Car: 2011 Audi RS3

Over a year ago, we speculated about the possibility of Audi bringing to market a screaming, top-of-the-line RS3. It would be a hot hatch to beat them all: Subaru Impreza WRX STI, VW GTI, Mazdaspeed 3, you name it.

Now, the RS3 has been officially confirmed, and it will hit dealerships this spring—but, alas, not in the U.S. Here, the most powerful A3 remains the 2.0T, with its 200-hp TFSI engine. We don't even get the 265-hp S3.

The powerplant in the RS3 is the single-turbocharged, 2.5-liter inline-five also found in theTT RS. Derived from the simple and inexpensive 170-hp engine available in the U.S.-market VW Golf and Jetta, it is basically an EA113 four-cylinder with an extra cylinder. But Audi left nothing unchanged in the RS overhaul. Direct injection, 17 psi of boost, an intercooler, and various tweaks inside the engine allowed Audi to double the 2.5’s power output, twisting it up to 340 hp. Maximum torque is 332 lb-ft, available from 1600 to 5300 rpm; the engine redlines at 6800 rpm. The firing order creates a unique roar that sounds a lot like the original, 1980s Quattro, which is exactly what Audi engineers had in mind and is one of the things we love about the TT RS. Performance should be outstanding, with Audi claiming a 0-to-62-mph sprint of just 4.6 seconds and a top speed governed at 155 or 174 mph. Quattro all-wheel drive is standard.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

2011 Jaguar C-X75 is one of the electric car concept at this year's most impressive

British luxury car manufacturer, Jaguar has just introduced the C-X75, which became one of the electric car concept, the most impressive in this year. on the carpet Los Angeles Auto Show 2011. The vehicle is supported by a system that includes four electric motors and two micro gas turbine engines.

This concept car uses four electric motors powered 195-horsepower at each wheel. So that when calculated, will appear power of 780 hp. As for torque, this car is able to issue a power up to 1600 Nm, which is then channeled to the wheel drive system, all-wheel-drive.

Also installed are also gas turbines that can spin to 80,000 rpm, so that generate power of 188 hp to charge the battery and extend the car cruising range up to 560 miles without stopping.

With that much power, able to create a vehicle to do a sprint from 0 to 100 km / h in just 3.4 seconds, and offers the highest speed up to 330 km / hour.

C-X75, designed to celebrate 75 years of the marque, and gives a glimpse into the future of Jaguar and its commitment to producing beautiful cars, and fast. Jaguar itself is considering plans to produce C-X75 in the near future. But for information about prices , is unknown.

New Porsche 911 GT3 Cup White Series

New Porsche 911 GT3 Cup White Series

The 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race car is the latest edition of the best-selling racing car of all time, having been built in a production series of more than 1,400 units since 1998. It for costs £94,600 plus VAT and deliveries to customers will begin in early 2011.

The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race car is designed by the same team based in Weissach, near Stuttgart, Germany, responsible for the iconic Porsche 911 GT3 and RS road cars. This race car tips the scales at 1,200 kg, resulting in even sharper performance on the circuit.

This car is based for the first time on the 911 GT3 RS road car, this is the first Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car to feature the 44-millimetre (1.73″) wider body at the rear, which provides increased space for even larger wheels and slick tyres. Wider front wheel arches also clearly show that the front wheels/tyres are likewise bigger which, combined with other evolutionary changes, has enabled the dynamic performance of the latest car to reach new heights.

At the back car there are rear wing is extended in width from 1.46 to 1.70 metres (57.5 to 66.9″) and now mounted higher up. The rear bumper valance with its distinctive air vent openings and LED technology rear lights, in turn, come straight from the GT3 RS road car.

The front axle rides on three-piece light-alloy rims measuring 9.5 J x 18 (previously 9 J x 18) and running on 24/64-18 Michelin racing tyres. The width of the three-piece light-alloy rims on the rear axle have increased by one inch, and now measure 12 J x 18 with 27/68-18 tyres.

The latest interior include cockpit for the specific needs of the race driver, vent in the upper part of the front lid, the controls for the Info Display are now positioned directly on the steering wheel for as control a variety of functions including the pit-lane speed limiter, windscreen wipers, and lights.

New Porsche 911 GT3 Cup White Series

Saleen S7 Twin Turbo

Running costs and Maintenance of electric cars

This can be attributed most of the costs of  operating an electric car for maintenance and replacement of the battery because the electric car only about 5 moving parts in the engine, compared with gasoline-powered vehicle that contains hundreds of spare parts in the engine, internal combustion electric cars and batteries expensive that must be replaced, but otherwise incur maintenance costs very low .. Especially in the case of the designs of Li current list.

To calculate the cost per kilometer of electric cars and so it is necessary to assign monetary value of the resulting wear on the battery. This can be difficult due to the fact that it will have the capacity of a little less each time they are charged and this is only to be at the end of his life when he decides his performance that he is no longer acceptable. Until then, the 'end of life battery is not completely worthless as it can be intentional or recycled or used as a reserve.

Since the battery monitor from many individual cells that do not necessarily wear evenly periodically replace the worst of these can be set to keep the car.

It is expected that the car Tesla battery pack is too large to the last seven years with exemplary leadership and the cost of U.S. $ 12,000 when the day before the purchase. Driving 40 miles (64 kilometers) per day for seven years or 102,200 miles (164,500 km) leads to battery consumption, cost the United States $ 0.1174 for every 1 mile (1.6 km) or the United States $ 4.70 for each 40 miles (64 km). The company provides the best place to another compared to the costs it expects to meet its contractual obligations to deliver the batteries as well as clean electricity to recharge the batteries at a total cost of $ 0.08 per 1 mile (1.6 km) in 2010, the United States $ 0.04 per kilometer by 2015 and U.S. United $ 0.02 per kilometer by 2020. 40 miles (64 km) of driving the United States will cost $ 3.20 at the beginning and the fall more than once for up to $ 0.80.

In 2010 the U.S. government estimated that the battery with 100 miles (160 km) range will cost about U.S. $ 33,000. There is still concern about the durability and longevity of the battery.

April estimated the cost of coca will be operating 5 Year U.S. $ 1.800 compared to U.S. $ 6,000 car for gasoline. The documentary film Who Killed the Electric Car? A comparison between the parts that require replacement in gasoline powered cars and EV1s, with garages stating that they provide for electric cars in every 5000 miles (8000 km), and rotate the tires and fill the windshield washer fluid and bring them back again.

LA Show 2010 Highlights: 2011 Nissan Quest

When Nissan desperately craved a minivan to sell in the 1990s, it partnered with Ford to rebadge the Mercury Villager as the original Quest, an arrangement that lasted for another generation. The Villager was killed in the early 2000s, so Nissan then struck out on its own to create the funky third-gen Quest on the bones of the Altima sedan, but sales were terrible, generating rumors that the company would pull out of the segment altogether. A fourth Quest wasin the cards, though, and to bring the van to life, Nissan found another partner: itself—specifically, the Japanese mother ship.

Indeed, the 2011 Nissan Quest is twinned with the Japanese-market Elgrand, a strategy that allows the automaker to hedge its bets against picky U.S. shoppers; if we don’t buy the thing, production ostensibly can be re-allotted to Japan. (That’s where this new Quest will be built, unlike the previous model, which was assembled in Canton, Mississippi.) It’s a strategy that makes sense, but might need to be enacted sooner rather than later: Innovative styling isn’t typically among minivan buyers’ highest priorities, and this new Quest is as bizarre-looking as its slow-selling predecessor. That said, we like this van’s samurai-helmet-meets-the-suburbs look, and its wraparound glass and slabby body sides create some visual drama—at least as much as you can expect from a minivan, anyway. The new model’s styling is based on that of theForum concept, which was penned in the U.S.

Bold looks tend to turn off minivanites, but features and ease-of-use get them hot and bothered. As you’d expect, the Quest’s second and third rows fold to accommodate all the flat-pack furniture you can buy, but the chairs aren’t removable and don’t fold into the floor; instead, they fold forward to make a flat load surface, which Nissan notes allows constant access to the deep cargo well behind the third row. That well gets its own 60/40-split cover, too. Dodge, of course, offers the Stow ‘n Go second row, where the seats fold into the floor. In the Odyssey, the third row folds forward like the Quest’s, and must then be flipped back into the cargo well to create a flat load floor, which Nissan’s press materials imply is a terrible inconvenience.

But the Quest comes with its own inconveniences. Total passenger volume is about what you’d expect for the segment—all range from 160 to 170 cubic feet or so, depending on equipment—but the Quest’s non-removable seats eat up a fair chunk of cargo room when they’re flattened. At a maximum of 63.6 cubic feet behind the second row, it lags 20 to 30 cubes behind the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, and Dodge Grand Caravan. And its 108.4 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded trails the Odyssey by more than 40 cubic feet. (Admittedly, that Honda figure is with the seats pulled out, and only Toyota gives a figure for a folded, but installed, second row: 117.8 cubes.) The Quest is in line with its peers behind the third row, with 35.1 cubic feet available, though, and Nissan says that the step-in height through the sliding side doors is lower than on other minivans, which is a nice touch for both small kids and older folks.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

LA Show 2010 Highlights: 2012 Saab 9-4x

This is the new Saab 9-4X, a model crucial to the firm’s continued recovery under new owner Spyker.

The 9-4X will give Saab a much-needed presence in the US’s booming crossover SUV segment. The new model is a sister car to the Cadillac SRX, sharing a platform and GM’s Mexican production facility, and has made its debut at today’s Los Angeles motor show.

Saab is pitching it as “a fresh, alternative choice for independently minded crossover buyers” and is the firm’s “next-step in its renaissance as an independent car manufacturer”.

Its design remains truthful to the concept car of the same name first seen at the 2008 Detroit motor show. Sitting between the 9-3X jacked-up estate and 9-5 saloon, the 9-4X gets several of Saab’s signature design cues including the firm’s front grille and headlight design, wraparound windscreen and gently-sloping roof line.

Two direct-injection V6 petrol engines are offered from launch, a 261bhp 3.0-litre or a 296bhp 2.8-litre. The latter gets twin-turbocharging, while both units are mated to six-speed automatic gearboxes. The 2.8 unit is the only one available to UK buyers from launch, however. A diesel engine is likely to follow, but hasn’t been confirmed.

Dynamic features include Saab’s advanced XWD all-wheel drive system and DriveSense adaptive chassis control. The 9-4X is based on a new platform called Theta Premium that mixes components from GM’s Theta and Epsilon 2 platforms.

Saab CEO Jan Ake Jonsson said the 9-4X “significantly broadened the appeal of the Saab brand”. He added that the new car would help “win new customers for the bramd”.

It will reach North American showrooms from May 2011, with UK sales starting from late 2011. Prices have yet to be revealed.

Thanks to: Autocar

LA Show 2010 Highlights: 2011 Acura TSX

The favorite Acura of enthusiasts, the TSX, gets a very minor face lift for 2011, including a few mechanical enhancements to help fuel economy plus a Sport Wagon variation that will arrive in early 2011.

A new front fascia breaks up the lower grille with a smaller, sportier mouth, while the upper grille shrinks ever so slightly; Acura says the reshaped chin spoiler and new underbody aero panels aid slipperiness. The taillamps have been reworked, and new 17-inch wheels have been fitted to the 2.4-liter four-cylinder model.

Inside, Acura has revised the center console styling by replacing a few trim pieces for bits that look darker and slightly more expensive, and also added contrasting stitching on the seats. LEDs take over some interior lighting functions, too. The optional navigation system now depends on a 60-gigabyte hard drive with the ability to accept 15 gigs of personal music and photos. Cabin noise is turned down thanks to a new acoustic-glass windshield, thicker side glass, and more underfloor sound-deadening material.

Engineers attacked friction in the engines and managed to eke out a 1-mpg improvement from both the 2.4-liter four and 3.5-liter V-6 in both the city and highway cycles. The five-speed automatic’s shift mapping has been updated for better economy, as well, and that transmission also gets a fluid warmer to improve cold-weather shift quality and longevity. The fuel-economy figures now look like this: 22/31 for the 2.4 automatic and 21/29 for the 2.4 with the six-speed manual, and 19/28 for the auto-only 3.5-liter.

In early 2011, the TSX Sport Wagon arrives with just one powertrain option: the 2.4-liter four and five-speed automatic, with a 30-mpg highway rating. The six-speed manual may become available later, but not at launch, says Acura. The wagon will be available with the sedan’s interior and comfort options, including the hard-drive navigation and entertainment system.
Prices for the 2011 sedan rise by $300 across the board, to $30,470 for the manual 2.4-liter and $36,010 for the 3.5-liter V-6. Acura says wagon prices will be announced closer to its on-sale date. Whatever they end up charging, we’re just glad to see another wagon on the market.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

LA Show 2010 Highlights: 2012 Buick Regal GS

When the Buick Regal GS concept debuted at last January’s Detroit auto show, future production was as safe a bet as you’ll find in the automotive world. Sure enough, this past spring, GM confirmed that the GS would head to showrooms, but released no further details. Now, finally, we’ve got the skinny on the first real performance Buick in a long time.

Staying true to the recent trend, wherein a concept car is nothing more than a production-ready vehicle with really expensive paint and a few exaggerated styling cues, the 2012 Regal GS looks almost identical to the car we saw in Detroit. Basic differences boil down to smaller vertical air intakes on the front fascia, slightly different trapezoidal exhaust finishers in the rear, and Recaro-like front seats in place of the concept’s actual Recaros. But the satin-metallic trim; integrated rear spoiler; rocker panel extensions; Brembo front brake calipers; and big, 20-inch wheels all make the cut for production.

The same uprated direct-injected, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder found in the concept will be the production GS’s powerplant. It’s identical to the turbo 2.0 found in the Regal Turbo, but GM’s engineers have cranked up the boost and reduced backpressure with a larger exhaust, upping its output to (an estimated) 255 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, increases of 35 and 37. At launch, the GS will be offered solely with a six-speed manual transmission—Save the Manuals!—while a six-speed automatic will be available later. The concept was initially claimed to hit 60 mph in under six seconds, Buick is now tempering its expectations, saying the production car will hit the mile-a-minute mark in “less than seven seconds.” We recently tested an automatic-equipped, 220-hp Regal Turbo to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, and we predict the automatic GS will complete the sprint in 6.7 seconds or so.

While the concept sent power to all four wheels, the real GS will only drive its fronts. Admittedly, we were disappointed at this development, but at least the GS will employ the new HiPer Strut suspension system, which uses a modified MacPherson geometry up front to better maintain negative camber in cornering and reduce torque steer. We’ve sampled a Buick LaCrosse prototype with this system and found it rather impressive. The GS’s ostensibly tighter chassis also will include a 0.4-inch suspension drop all around and an adjustable driving-mode system like the Regal Turbo’s for tuning suspension settings and steering sensitivity. The system’s Standard and Sport programs are carried over, but the Turbo’s softest mode, Touring, is ditched in favor of a unique, super-sporty GS setting. Larger front brakes with Brembo four-piston calipers will hide behind the standard 19-inch wheels with all-season Goodyear Eagles; a 20-inch wheel of the same design wrapped in sticky Pirelli P Zero summer rubber is optional.

The interior of the GS will differ only slightly from those of lesser Regals, adding a special flat-bottomed steering wheel, metal pedals, more-heavily bolstered front seats, the satin-finished trim, and white lighting for the instrument panel when GS mode is engaged. The standard goodies list will include keyless entry and start, a 320-watt Harman/Kardon sound system, Bluetooth connectivity, backup sensors, and xenon headlights.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

LA Show 2010 Highlights: 2012 Buick LaCrosse eAssist

It’s been a very short time since the revampedBuick LaCrosse debuted, but it has already seen plenty of changes, including a reordered engine lineup and major suspension upgrades. For its third model year, the LaCrosse’s base engine—a 2.4-liter four-cylinder—will get some help from an upgraded transmission and an electric motor. Combined with the car’s aero-enhancing tweaks, GM says the electric motor could boost EPA-estimated fuel economy from 19 mpg city and 30 highway to 25/37. Oh, and did we mention it’ll be standard equipment?

A few years ago, GM sold mild hybrid versions of the Chevrolet Malibu and Saturn Aura that essentially replaced the alternator with an electric motor. This arrangement allowed the engine to turn off at stops—while keeping the accessories running—but couldn’t propel the car on electricity alone. The new setup, called eAssist, is fundamentally the same thing, but heavily upgraded. It uses a lithium-ion battery pack in place of the old nickel-metal hydride unit and delivers up to 15 hp of electrical assist, three times more than before. The boost in power should make eAssist more useful than the previous system. GM says it can cut fuel to the engine during deceleration, as opposed to the mild-hybrid setup that only cut fuel and shut the engine down when the car was stopped. Like the old system, the electric motor starts the gas engine when the driver takes his foot off the brake, but cannot propel the vehicle on its own.

The battery pack is located behind the rear seats and cooled by an electric fan that draws air from the cabin. The gas engine charges it, as does a regenerative-braking system that also has a function to keep the car from rolling back on inclines while the engine is off. The battery pack weighs about 65 pounds and reduces trunk space by 2.4 cubic feet, to 10.9, although it sits to one side and still allows for part of the rear seat to fold. Engineers say that the overall weight of the LaCrosse 2.4 will remain the same, as they have compensated for the added pounds in other areas, primarily by swapping the spare tire for an inflation kit.

The aforementioned aerodynamic tweaks also will help the LaCrosse reach those lofty fuel-economy estimates. The LaCrosse eAssist gets new aero-optimized underbody trays and active flaps behind the front fascia. These flaps close at higher speeds, reducing drag by forcing air to flow around the vehicle rather than get caught up in the engine compartment. Furthermore, eAssist will debut a new generation of the six-speed automatic transmission, with reduced internal friction and quicker shifts. Buick says that the additional power of the electric motor will reduce the need for downshifts, which we hope holds true—the busy transmission was our main complaint during our first drive of the four-cylinder LaCrosse. Finally, low-rolling-resistance Michelin tires will make their way onto the car. Inside, the only change will be the addition of an Eco gauge in the cluster.

Buick hasn’t given final pricing for the 2012 LaCrosse eAssist, saying only that the car will cost around $30,000. For reference, the 2011 2.4-liter started at $27,745. If GM’s fuel-economy claims prove true, Buick could have a cost-effective fuel-sipping hybrid-fighter on its hands when the eAssist goes on sale in the middle of next year.

Thanks to: Car and Driver