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Mercedes-Benz C-Class: New 4MATIC generation
2007-12-14 21:20:00
In the C-Class Mercedes -Benz is offering a new generation of all-wheel-drive 4MATIC, which improves on previous all-wheel technology with higher efficiency, lower weight and more compact design. These advantages versus its predecessor are reflected in even better traction and more efficient fuel consumption of up to 0.5 litres per 100 kilometres. The 4MATIC models are equipped with a seven-speed automatic gearbox as standard. 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 4MATIC Estate The newly developed Mercedes-Benz 4MATIC is permanently active and therefore operates with no reaction time, assisting the driver in unfavourable weather conditions such as rain, ice or snow. This enables him to manage critical situations with confidence. The centrepiece of the all-wheel system is a transfer case with a centre differential, which is integrated into the seven-speed automatic transmission. From here the drive torque is distributed to the front and rear axles in a 45:55 split. At just 60 to 70 kilograms (de...
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First Drive 2009 Nissan GT-R
2007-12-14 21:19:00
We're 20 feet from a production-spec 2009 Nissan GT-R at Sendai Highland Circuit, a raceway north of Tokyo. After years of staring at various concepts, prototypes and Nürburgring test mules of the GT-R, it's finally time to drive the finished product.An engineer waves us over after making his final checks, then hands us the keys with a smile so big you'd think he'd been knocking back Kirins since sunrise. We suspect he already knows what we came here to find out.Does the 2009 Nissan GT-R really deliver the performance of the Porsche 911 Turbo for half the price? Time to find out for ourselves.Getting Acquainted With GodzillaUnlike most supercars, the GT-R doesn't sit only 2 inches off the ground, so it's easy to slide into the driver seat. This is a Japanese-market car, so we're on the right-hand side, which makes everything feel awkward. The seat is firm and narrow, and the high center console gives the cabin a tight, cockpit-style feel.Start buttons aren't the novelty they...
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Suzuki A-Star Concept
2007-12-14 21:18:00
Suzuki has shown us the first shots of the Concept A-Star , its new baby city car with a definite Indian flavour.Due to be unveiled at the Dehli motor show in January, the Concept A-Star is a five-door hatch previewing Suzuki's forthcoming A-segment competitor.Designed in part by Suzuki's Indian partner Maruti, it'll go on sale in production form in both India and Europe during 2009, slotting below the Swift in the Suzuki line-up.For Maruti's first crack at a concept car, we reckon it's a fairly handsome effort, but it's not just the design that the Indian team has got involved in. The production version of the A-Star will be built solely in Maruti's Gargaon plant, and Suzuki expects to sell just shy of a million units a year by 2009. Expect to see a few around, in other words.Details on the A-Star are somewhat sketchy, but we know it'll be powered by a 1.0-litre aluminium petrol engine which is expected to produce less than 109g/km of CO2.Suzuki says it is considering a dies...
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Land Rover LRX Concept first official images
2007-12-14 21:17:00
Today Auto Motor und Sport published the first official images of the Land Rover LRX Concept that will be shown for the first time at the 2008 NAIAS in Detroit.The LRX is a two-door crossover with a coupè-like body that previews the future small Land Rover , which will be positioned under the Freelander. The production version is expected to make its debut in spring 2009.The car measures 435 cm in length and 155 in height, being shorter but, above all, quite a bit lower than the Freelander. The concept has aggressive air intakes, 20" rims and narrow head lights. In the side view there is a notably high belt line which creates along with the sloping roof profile a small glass surface, similar to a sports car one.The panoramic roof shows the futuristic interior, covered in two-tone leather and highlighted with polished aluminium trim. There are only four seats as the central tunnel is extended to the rear.The LRX is based on the Ford Focus platform and has a hybrid drive with the elect...
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2008 Honda Pilot Concept
2007-12-14 21:13:00
In a very brief release this morning, Honda confirmed its next-generation Pilot crossover will be shown as a concept at the upcoming Detroit auto show.Press releaseA prototype of the next-generation Honda Pilot will be unveiled at the January 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today. The prototype will convey design features of the more boldly-styled, next-generation Pilot and will emphasize authentic SUV styling, clever interior packaging and advanced technologies for safety, fuel efficiency and convenience.The current-generation Pilot offers versatile eight-passenger seating and all-weather, medium-duty off-road capabilities while earning a distinctive reputation in the midsize SUV class for its refined handling and ride comfort. Among its numerous accolades, the Honda Pilot has earned Car and Driver magazine's prestigious "5Best Truck" award for six straight years (2002 thru 2007).Additional Honda vehicles to...
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Ford Delivers First Escape Plug-In Hybrid To Southern California Edison
2007-12-12 05:05:00
First Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) delivered to Southern California Edison as part of unique partnership to advance commercialization of PHEVs ANAHEIM, Calif., Dec. 3 - Ford Motor Company?s first demonstration Escape Plug-In Hybrid is ready to roll on California roads. Ford today delivered the first of 20 research PHEVs to Southern California Edison to begin road testing as part of a unique partnership between the automaker and utility. Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid The Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid, a research vehicle using high voltage, lithium-ion batteries, can deliver up to 120 miles per gallon which would mean far fewer trips to the gas station. The vehicle uses common household current (120 volts) for charging. Full charge of the battery takes six to eight hours. When driven for the first 30 miles following a full charge, the Ford Escape PHEV can achieve up to 120 mpg when driven on surface streets. The vehicle is not range limited by the amount of charge available in the high...

GM Canada Receives Top Honours at the AJAC ?Best New? Vehicle Awards
2007-12-12 05:04:00
GM Canada was today honoured by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), which named 4 GM entries as the best new vehicle in their respective categories. The recognition results from recent back-to-back driving evaluations of over 60 new vehicles at the recent AJAC Test Fest evaluation - the foundation of the Canadian Car of the Year Awards (CCOTY) program. 2008 Saturn Astra XR Saturn Astra: Best New Small Car Saturn Vue: Best New CUV $35,000-$60,000 Buick Enclave: Best New CUV over $60,000 Chevrolet Silverado: Best New Pickup Truck Over 70 of Canada?s top automotive journalists judged this year?s competition which aims to provide consumers with sound, comparative information on new vehicles. ?We?re honoured by these awards from Canada?s top automotive journalists, which we think will help consumers appreciate the strides GM has made in terms of product design, technology, fuel efficiency and quality,? said Marc Comeau vice president of sales, service and m...
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Mercedes-Benz Sales Still On Target For Record-breaking 2007
2007-12-12 05:03:00
At 102,700 units, deliveries of Mercedes -Benz vehicles at highest level ever for the month of November Stuttgart -- Dec 06, 2007 -- Stuttgart ? Mercedes-Benz has set a new sales record for the period between January and November, with 1,079,400 units delivered (Jan.-Nov. 2006: 1,042,500 units). Sales rose by four percent compared to the same period of the previous year. By selling 102,700 passenger vehicles worldwide in November, Mercedes-Benz once again topped the high level set in November 2006 with 101,900 units sold. The Mercedes-Benz Cars division as a whole also established a new all-time high by selling a total of 1,169,900 units (Jan.-Nov. 2006: 1,147,600 units). In November alone, the division delivered 113,000 Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and smart passenger vehicles (Nov. 2006: 110,800 units). The new generation of the E-Class continues to be in great demand: since the beginning of 2007, Mercedes-Benz has sold more than 150,000 units of this premium sedan worldwide. The new C- ...
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Fresh Drive for Opel Monocab Range
2007-12-12 05:03:00
Opel?s model range at the Bologna Motor Show (December 7 ? 16, 2007) features no less than 17 seats and up to 4280 liters of load volume capacity. This is no illusion, but rather the combined characteristics of Opel?s three quick-change artists. The automaker from Rüsselsheim highlights its monocab designs ? body models where the hood and trunk are not visibly separate from the cabin ? which enable plenty of interior flexibility. Opel consistently sends a clear signal with these models? market success and innovative ideas. Opel monocab range The top attraction in Bologna is the world premiere of the new Zafira. The benchmark for fully variable seven-seaters in the compact monocab class, the new Zafira boasts fresh design accents and three additional engines with improved fuel economy. From February 2008, the European record of two million units sold since 1999 will be within reach. Opel?s new monocab highlights continue with the Italian premiere of the brand-new Agila. The flexib...
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Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 Breaks Into The Movies
2007-12-12 05:02:00
Exactly one year after an all-new version of the Ford Mondeo was introduced to James Bond fans in the movie Casino Royale, another Ford vehicle is about to get some major screen time in a holiday blockbuster. Beginning Dec. 14, look for a 2007 Shelby Mustang GT500 ? in red with signature white stripes ? to chew up the scenery and the streets of New York City in I Am Legend, starring Will Smith. 2008 Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 "There is no doubt that the Shelby Mustang GT500 is the costar of the first part of this story," said Brian Daly of Ford Global Brand Entertainment (FGBE), which places Ford vehicles in movies, TV and other media. "Smith plays the sole survivor of an apocalypse who races around the deserted, gray, empty streets in this fantastic bright red Mustang. The sequences are incredible." And Daly isn't the only one who thinks so. The movie is already generating buzz on a Los Angeles Times auto blog, where automotive reporter Josh Hancock says, "The shots of the Mustang ...
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Premiere in Bologna: Family Portrait of Volkswagen's New Small Family
2007-12-12 05:02:00
Round the world in 14 weeks: before their group appearance at the 2007 Bologna Motor Show, Volkswagen sent the New Small Family on a whistle-stop tour around the world. Today it?s showdown in Italy as the three Up! concept vehicles are revealed side by side for the first time as ambassadors of a new range and as a family. Volkswagen concept cars: New Small Family Up! ? Two-door city specialist vehicle offering more space and fun for fourSpace Up! ? Four-door microvan with maximum variabilitySpace Up! Blue ? Zero emissions thanks to electric engine and fuel cells Volkswagen concept cars: New Small Family ?For both my team and for me, it was a dream to design these concept vehicles" confirmed Walter de Silva, Chief Designer of Volkswagen Group, at the start of the press conference, ?because these cars embody the emergence of a new era. Anyone looking at the New Small Family will immediately see how friendly and neat these Volkswagens are. Cars of this sort are fun. No explanation is n...
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GM Europe Sets All-Time Sales Record in 2007
2007-12-12 05:01:00
Sales of 2,004,172 units from January to November beat last year's total with a month to spare. Highlights:- GM Europe YTD share up 0.3 point, at 9.5 percent- GM Europe YTD sales 157,282 vehicles ahead of last year- YTD: Opel/Vauxhall grows 4 percent, Chevrolet up 32 percent General Motors (GM) Europe set a new all-time record, with sales of 2,004,172 vehicles from January to November 2007, beating last year's total with a month to spare. The resulting market share of 9.5 percent is 0.3 point above the same period last year and the highest since 1999. Chevrolet was the main driver of the sales results, with 32.4 percent growth in the January-November period. The brand sold 411,582 units, with a record market share of 1.9 percent. Opel/Vauxhall also delivered good results, with 4.1 percent growth and sales of 1,506,657 units in the period. "The all-time sales record clearly reflects the success of GM Europe's multi-brand strategy. This is a result of building strong brands, offeri...
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KBB.com Names 2008 Chevrolet Malibu Best Redesigned Vehicle
2007-12-12 05:00:00
2008 Chevrolet Malibu Redesign Beats Out 2008 Honda Accord Kelley Blue Book®, the leading provider of new and used vehicle information, announces the Chevrolet Malibu as the winner of the ?2008 Best Redesigned Vehicle ? award. According to the kbb.com editorial team, the newly redesigned 2008 Chevrolet Malibu is being honored for taking the important mid-size car category to a new level of overall refinement. Specifically, its stylish sheetmetal, attractive interior, well-sorted ride-and-handling characteristics and quiet ? all in a very affordable vehicle ? combined to produce a value equation that set it apart from the pack. More than 30 vehicles were redesigned for the 2008 model year. Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com editorial team reviewed the complete list to identify vehicles that demonstrated the greatest improvement relative to their predecessors and competitors. Factoring into the final decision were judgments on exterior and interior styling, technology, comfort and convenienc...
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Around 893,600 Audi Cars Sold in First 11 Months of 2007
2007-12-12 04:58:00
AUDI AG sold approximately 893,600 cars worldwide between January and November, a rise of 7.3 percent on the prior-year period (2006: 833,021).In November itself, more than 75,600 cars were handed over to their new owners (up 0.5 percent; 2006: 75,258). Audi enjoyed further growth particularly in the intensively competitive European markets. Sales in European countries outside Germany in November rose to around 28,950 cars (up 3.5 percent; 2006: 27,972). Audi achieved growth of 8.4 percent in these countries in the first eleven months of the year, with the total climbing to around 408,200 cars sold (2006: 376,607). The biggest individual market in the region was the UK, where sales increased by 31.4 percent to 6,981 units in November (2006: 5,311) and a total of 96,909 cars for the first eleven months of the year (up 17.4 percent; 2006: 82,555). In Spain, another strong market for the Ingolstadt-based brand, Audi improved its sales total by 9.0 percent to 4,383 cars in November (200...
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Ascari A10
2007-12-12 04:58:00
The Ascari A10 has smashed the Top Gear lap record.The Stig piloted the V8-engined, 625bhp supercar around our test track in just 1m 17.3, shaving three-tenths of a second off the previous record held by the Koenigsegg CCX with the Top Gear spoiler.With a claimed 0-60mph time of just 2.8 seconds and the ability to hit 100mph in under six seconds, the Ascari A10 was always going to be quick - but that lap time is simply astonishing.Best of all, the A10 is British built, in Ascari's Banbury factory - albeit around the German engine off the old BMW M5.If you reckon the A10 sounds like the sort of car that'd look good on your driveway, well, you'll need about £350,000 (and a very understanding partner) to make it happen. All that cash buys you a lot of carbon fibre, that amazing sequential 'box and, erm, not a lot else.A few weeks ago, the Caparo T1 lapped our track even quicker than the Ascari but was disqualified from the power laps board because it is unable to clear a speed bump...

Aston Affirms Bond Sticks With DBS
2007-12-12 04:57:00
Don't worry about old James Bond . Since he ditched his suits for a Speedo and took on a blond 'do, it's been rumored that he'd switch driving machines again--particularly since former Aston Martin owners at Ford have other vehicles they'd like to "prominently place" on movie screens everywhere.But for the new Bond movie in development--tagged only Bond 22 for now as a title is yet undecided--Daniel Craig will, once again, pilot an Aston DBS. Craig's first Bond flick, 2006's Casino Royale, saw him jet around in the Aston supercar for the first time, setting a Guinness record for "most cannon rolls in a car" at the same time. In that stunt, Aston reminds us, stuntman Adam Kirley rolled the DBS seven times for the cameras. (And we swore it was CGI!)Bond's former Astons include the DB5 from 1964's Goldfinger, which features ejector seats and rockets. More recently, the Vanquish appeared in DIe Another Day.The new Bond film isn't due until November of 2008, giving the community...
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Mitsubishi Upgrades Lancer, Outlander Four
2007-12-12 04:57:00
Mitsubishi will add another version of the "world engine" four-cylinder family to its Lancer and Outland er models.The new 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that will be installed in the compact sedan and crossover are essentially similar to the four-cylinders found in the Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass. Chrysler, Mitsubishi, and Hyundai are partners in the joint venture that designed and developed the engines.In its Mitsubishi installation, the new 2.4-liter four-cylinder makes 168 hp and 167 pound-feet of torque, and in both new models, it's coupled to a continuously variable transmission.In the 2009 Lancer GTS, which goes on sale in the spring, the new engine turns in 16 more horsepower than the entry-level 2.0-liter four. Fuel economy with the 2.4-liter and CVT is estimated at 21/27 mpg. The CVT is programmed with six fixed ratios and equipped with paddle shifters. A five-speed manual will also be available.The Lancer GTS also includes a sport suspension, 18-inch wheels, paddle shi...
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2008 Audi S8 Review
2007-12-12 04:56:00
IntroductionThe S8 is a high-performance version of the standard-wheelbase A8 (as opposed to the longer "L" version), and sends its 450 horsepower to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission and Audi 's Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Car geeks may note that the V10's peak output isn't as high as it is in the high-strung Lambo Gallardo, as it has been tuned for a broader powerband that's better suited to a luxury car. No worries about performance -- this executive express can sprint to 60 mph in the mid-5-second range and will effortlessly run at autobahn speeds all day long.More than just a powerhouse engine, the S8's features list also includes a sport-tuned adjustable air suspension, 20-inch alloy wheels, upgraded brakes, unique styling tweaks (including distinctive front and rear fascias) and aggressively bolstered, multiadjustable front sport seats.The 2008 Audi S8 sits squarely in the middle of this group, not as overly sporty as the B7, though more so than t...
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2008 HUMMER HX Concept
2007-12-12 04:56:00
General Motors is known to have had its eye on the niche occupied by the Jeep Wrangler. And at the Detroit auto show next month, it may reveal more of its intentions to field a Wrangler competitor in the shape of the HUMMER HX concept.The HX Concept , shown in sketches at a GM press event today, also embodies some of the off-road hallmarks of the Toyota FJ Cruiser. BUT GM says the design of the new HX concept is all HUMMER, even though it's the work of three new designers.David Rojas, Min Young Kang, and Robert Jablonski are the artists GM assigned to envision a future off-road vehicle for the HUMMER brand. All three are graduates of the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. The vehicle would have to evince HUMMER's off-road credentials while passing muster with Carl Zipfel, the director of the brand's design studio.The resulting HX concept shares some elements with other HUMMER vehicles, like its flex-fuel-capable powertrain. But as the HX model is smaller and is a two-door ve...
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Bentley Motors Showcases the Art of Design and Craftsmanship at 2007 Art Ba
2007-12-12 04:55:00
AUBURN HILLS, MI: Bentley Motors , Inc., the world's leading manufacturer of handcrafted, personally commissioned luxury automobiles, announces a unique collaboration with leaders in the world of design during Art Basel Miami Beach 2007. Art Basel Miami Beach is the most important art show in the U.S., combining an international selection of top galleries with an exciting program of special exhibitions and crossover events bringing together the worlds of music, film, architecture and design.At an exclusive event hosted by Bentley Motors, renowned designers Dror Benshetrit, Cory Grosser, and Sami Hayek have been invited to showcase a selection of original artistic creations that have been influenced by Bentley design. A select audience of VIP's and art aficionados will be treated to a presentation of these creations at a private residence on Hibiscus Island. The creations are the result of a six-month long collaboration between the designers and Bentley Motors.In commenting on worki...
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2007 Hummer Racing
2007-12-12 04:55:00
HUMMER H3 Alpha and H3 first stock class vehicles to finish Baja.Racing legend Rod Hall earns 19th career win in 40th Anniversary raceDETROIT ? Team HUMMER once again demonstrated the inherent off-road capability of the HUMMER H3 as Rod, Josh and Chad Hall piloted their stock class H3 Alpha and H3 nearly 1,300 miles to become the first stock class vehicles to finish the 2007 SCORE International Baja 1000. The 2007 Baja 1000 marked the 40th anniversary of the grueling off-road race and covered 1,296.39 miles from Ensenada in Baja California to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Baja California Sur. It ran from November 13-15, 2007.Team HUMMER races in the SCORE International full and mini stock classes which feature production-based vehicles with stock frames, stock suspension designs and production-based engines. With 18 entries, the 2007 race boasted the most stock class vehicles in the history of the 1000 and included models from seven different automakers.As the only racer to have competed ...
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Bose Media System Test Drive in Ferrari 612 Scaglietti Elegant Interface Li
2007-12-12 04:54:00
If imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, then Ford should be thrilled by the glut of Sync-like infotainment systems popping up all over the automotive landscape. Possibly the most noteworthy is the Bose Media System . Like Sync, the Media System offers a variety of entertainment features (mostly music playback), plus hands-free phone capability and satellite navigation. It also matches Ford with a user-friendly interface that seamlessly integrates all of its functionality without confusing the user. However, unlike Sync, which is priced for the masses, Bose?s infotainment is only available to the exclusive few who can afford the $300,000 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti.Taking a closer look, the Bose system has all of the typical electronic bells and whistles you?d expect, including AM, FM and XM satellite radio; a CD transport that supports multiple disk formats; iPod connectivity; a 30GB harddrive (15GB for music, the other half to run the interface and store maps); a USB port to u...
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Audi R8 Named Playboy Magazine's Car of the Year
2007-12-12 04:54:00
CHICAGO, IL -- Which cars will be turning heads on the street this year? According to Playboy's "2008 Cars of the Year ," a high-performance hybrid surges past competitors, a European import squeezes to the top, and a luxury carmaker provides one of the most fuel efficient and affordable vehicles on the road.The selected cars were chosen by an expert team of automotive writers who traveled the world and test drove every new model hitting the showroom floor this year. The vehicles were taken on the sharpest turns, most challenging curves, and the steepest hills to properly separate the superlative from the mediocre. The vehicles featured in Playboy's January issue (on newsstands and at http://www.playboydigital.com/ Friday, December 7) include:PLAYBOY'S 2008 CAR OF THE YEAR: Audi R8This mid engine sexpot boasts a 420 bhp, 4.2-liter V8, and hits zero to 60 in a sexy 4.4 secondsBEST LUXURY SPORTS COUPE: Maserati GranTurismoFeatures a 405 bhp, 4.2-liter double overhead cam V8 packs 33...
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A sexy minivan Nissan concept goes for it
2007-12-12 04:54:00
Is the battle for minivan buyers moving beyond the cupholder, nifty cargo bins and seating and into the modern media age?The lowly minivan is getting a radical makeover and communications upgrades in the form of the new Nissan Forum - a concept to be introduced at the North American International Auto Show next month. Minivan sales are dropping and some automakers are abandoning the segment altogether in favor of sexier crossovers. The slump has some automakers looking at real styling innovation and equipment upgrades to overcome the commodization of minivans by low-price Korean automakers, for example, analysts say.The Forum - created by Nissan designers in La Jolla, Calif., and Farmington Hills, Mich. - is designed to shuttle the digital family with a little more pizazz. Like other recent Nissans, this one comes with an all-glass roof.It's a change taken right out of the playbook of Acura, which gave the boxy MD-X crossover a radical makeover more suited for a starring role in a ...
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2008 Koenigseder Opel GT'Aime
2007-12-12 04:53:00
Desire for an affair?K?nigseder makes his own motor show - not in Essen - but with his work on Opel GT. Women finally know what they want: 300 sleek-tuned PS.The affair Koenigseder and Opel takes place.With aerodynamic accents - frontspoiler and rear wing - race wins over mass and causes exactly the tension which an affair consists of. They emphasize the soft silhouette on the one hand and power the dynamic character of the car on the other hand.A KW coilover suspension version 3 guarantees sporty driving and lap records through individual damper adjustmest - also due to the Yokohama tires.Las Vegas: 20" Giovanna Dalar rims remind of Elvis' best times with rivet belts and match the car like chalk and cheese. Two American giants meet at Konigseder. Why not earlier?The custom made Brembo brake system provides excellent deceleration and the 332mm brake discs with red 4 pistons calipers underline the exciting erotic style of this convertible.The climax of the affair - naturally - take...
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2008 Volkswagen New Beetle
2007-12-12 04:53:00
Driving off in iconic, head-turning vehicles like the 2008 New Beetle and New Beetle convertible just got easier with new option packages from Volkswagen .The New Beetle sedan now is available in a well-equipped base model ?S? as well as the ?SE? model with premium sound, heated front seats and heated windshield washer nozzles.The sedan also is available in Platinum Gray and Reflex Silver. New 16-inch alloy wheels are available on the ?S,? and 17-inch alloy wheels are available on the ?SE.? The 2008 New Beetle and New Beetle convertible are available at Volkswagen dealers now, with a starting price of $17,365 for the hard-top and $23,125 for the soft-top.As you would expect from Volkswagen, the interior of the car has been given thorough attention. The newest interpretation of the iconic interior includes a single-bezel instrument cluster housing a large, easy-to-read, 140 mile-per-hour speedometer and a smaller tachometer and fuel gauge. Chrome accents enhance the instrument cluster...
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2008 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe Aerokit
2007-12-12 04:53:00
Dr. Ing. h. c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, has developed a special Aerokit for the 911 Turbo Coupe . It includes a front spoiler lip and an entirely new engine cover design with fixed aerofoil.The characteristic front lip and the distinctive rear spoiler lend the typical turbo silhouette an even more dynamic appearance. The Porsche development center engineers in Weissach attached the greatest possible importance to aerodynamic functionality. The most important objective among the components refined in the wind tunnel was to improve the handling characteristics, given an unchanged drag coefficient of 0.31 compared with the production version.This ensures that the Aerokit?s optimized streamlining blends ideally with the 490 PS high performance Coupe?s harmonious overall design and enabled further reductions of the lift coefficients on the front and rear axles. This ensures an even more stable drive at high speed.The aerodynamically coordinated front and rear components may only be fitte...
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2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDi Test Drive Clean Diesel?s 50 MPG Meets Prius-Humb
2007-12-12 04:53:00
The new era of clean diesel in America will officially be ushered in by the new VW Jetta TDi when it goes on sale in a few months. Powered by a 2.0-liter four-banger that produces 140 hp and 236 lb.-ft. of torque, it will be the first automobile to meet the world?s most stringent emission control standards, California?s Tier II, Bin 5.Although it won?t be wearing the ?BlueTec? badge, the Jetta will be using emission-cleansing technologies developed under the cooperative formed by Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen to make it 50-state legal. Most BlueTec vehicles control NOx emissions?one of the biggest environmental hurdles facing diesels, along with particulate matter?by injecting a urea-based solution into the exhaust system upstream from the catalytic converter, where NOx is then converted into nitrogen and water. The Jetta will instead use a NOx-storage catalyst, which is basically a reservoir that temporarily holds the noxious emissions, like a particulate filter, until they ca...
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Full Test 2009 Nissan Murano LE
2007-12-12 04:52:00
As the 2009 Nissan Murano proves, Nissan figured out this whole crossover thing before the rest of us. It's pretty uncommon for a vehicle to actually gather increasing steam when it comes to sales as it gets older, but the Murano has done exactly that. Introduced as a 2004 model, sales of the Nissan Murano have climbed every year since then, reaching 81,000 units in 2006.Evolution, Not RevolutionNow that the Murano has developed a loyal following, Nissan has been careful to evolve, improve and upgrade the all-new 2009 Murano without compromising the things responsible for its success. As we see it, these things have been the Murano's untraditional exterior style, its ample second-row accommodations and its engaging driving dynamics.Good PerformanceAt the test track, the powerful 2009 Murano LE accelerates to 60 mph in 8 seconds flat, while its capable four-wheel disc brakes stop it from 60 mph in just 122 feet. These performance figures place it near the top of its class.When it c...
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Jeep Patriot Gets the Led Out
2007-12-12 04:52:00
How much would you pay for a pair of VIP tickets to see the one-off Led Zeppelin reunion gig in London on 10 December? If they included a champagne reception and access to the aftershow party as well, would you pay $70,000? Oh yes, and you get a limited edition Jeep Patriot as well.With just three days to go to one of the most eagerly anticipated gigs in rock history, RGVA, a U.K.-based vehicle branding company, is offering just seven of they exclusive 4x4s. Each is a 2.0-liter CRD Sport edition, with air conditioning, cruise control, two-tone leather, privacy glass, six-speed manual gearbox, remote central locking and a premium sound system.RGVA's sales and marketing boss Alison Smith said: "This is an exciting project to be involved with. It combines a rare chance to see one of the world's greatest bands, as well as a lasting souvenir of the event. We're really looking forward to seeing who the new lucky owners will be!"Demand for tickets to see Led Zeppelin reached incredible ...