Author: yoann besnard

Cadillac BLS Wagon

It would seem that Cadillac still has faith in the BLS despite the low sales figures in 2006. The carmaker revealed an estate variant dubbed Wagon last March that will be finally sold in November, just after an official launch at the Frankfurt motor show.
On the outside, the BLS Wagon is an appealing estate, thanks to its Cadillac stylistic vocabulary. The lines are sharp and its compact look gives it a sporty feel. Like the Saab 9-3 SportCombi from which it is cloned, the BLS Wagon has poor boot capacity with only 419 litres. With the rear seats folded down, the total amount of cargo space adds up to 1285 litres.

Under the hood the big changes are the new diesel engine already available on the Saab 9-3. The 1.9 litre engine is equipped with two turbos integrated as a single unit and a common rail fuel injection. It produces 180 hp/177 bhp and torque of 400 Nm/133 lb/ft. The other big news is the announcement of a bio-ethanol engine for 2008. In addition to these new engines, the BLS wagon keeps the current ones available on the saloon: the two 2.0 litres four-cylinder turbocharged units developing 175 hp/173 bhp and 210 hp/207 bhp and the 2.8 litres V-6 developing 255 hp/251 bhp.
The BLS Wgaon will offer 4 trim levels: Business, Elegance, Sport and Sport Luxury.
The first one offers 16-inch alloy wheels, Cadillac’s StabiliTrak electronic stability program, front, side and head curtain airbags, three-spoke leather steering wheel, cruise control, air conditioning and a seven-speaker audio system with CD player.
The second one adds wipers with rain sensors, eight-way power seats, dual-zone climate control, 17-inch alloy wheels and red walnut wood veneer trims.
The third one adds 18-inch wheels and lowered sports suspension. Inside the aluminum trim replaces the wood panels.
The fourth one, only available on the top 2.8 V6 and the 1.9 diesel engine, adds Bi-Xenon headlamps and heated and electrically adjustable leather seats with memory function.
July 4, 2007
Novitec Maserati Quattroporte

The tuning firm Novitec has turned its attention to the Maserati Quattroporte. Unlike some German counterparts that succeed in making their tuned cars uglier than the original model, Novitec shows some respect to the Italian design.

On probably the most beautiful saloon in the world, the German tuner made minor changes: the body remains unchanged except for the new 20-inch wheels, fitted with 245/35 and 285/30 Pirelli P-Zeros front and rear respectively. The Quattroporte is lowered by an improved suspension.
Under the hood, the changes to the 4.2-litre V8 have been limited to a revised ECU, increasing the power by 13 hp to reach 413hp/407bhp and the torque by 17 Nm/12 lb/ft to reach 468 Nm/345 lb/ft.
July 4, 2007
Volvo R-Design

It was reported here two weeks ago. Now it is official. Volvo is launching a new sport package that will be available on the C30, S40 and V50. With this package, Volvo allows the customer to tailor his car to his personal taste … Under the condition that his tastes are available in the package.

The customer will have the choice between 10 specific colours. Exterior changes include a satin matt-finish grille, coloured bumpers, lower side mouldings, rear or roof spoiler, satin matt-finish door mirror caps and five-spoke aluminium wheels (17 inches, 18 inches available as option).

The interior changes are more obvious with dual-colour and Vulcaflex seats. Vulcaflex is a material that tries to offer the best of leather and neoprene. It’s too smooth to be leather but not as rubbery or spongy as neoprene. It doesn’t sound terribly inviting but on a sunny day it won’t stick to you. The seats offer a contrast between black and cream. Other interior details include specific blue gauges, leather wheel with the R-Design logo, specially-designed aluminium trim on the dashboard and the inevitable aluminium pedals.
Available on the Sport and SE Sport trims on the C30 and S40, the prices start at £16,600/€27,350/$33,500. The V50 estate starts at £19,995/€29,650/$38,800.
Other photos
July 4, 2007
Porsche 911 GT2

Here are some new pictures of the most powerful 911 ever produced. To be revealed officially at the next Frankfurt motor show, the GT2 will also become the first 911 to have more than 500 hp/500 bhp.
Compared to the normal Turbo, the GT2 will discard the 4×4 drive train, saving about 100 kg. Its weight will also be reduced by lighter body panels and ceramic brakes discs. The most outstanding feature will be an all-titanium exhaust system.
While cutting its weight, the GT2 will also be given a power boost. Changes to the turbocharger will provide 530 hp/523 bhp, enabling the GT2 to run the 0-60mph in 3.7s and achieve a top speed over 190mph.
Obviously, the GT2 will be more expensive than the Turbo. Expect a price of about £135,000/€200,000/$272,000.
Click here to see all the pictures
July 4, 2007
Audi A3 convertible to be built in Hungary

The long-awaited open-top Audi A3 will join the Audi TT coupé and roadster on the assembly lines in Audi’s Hungarian factory. In a statement, Audi declared “”The Gyor (production) site (in western Hungary) has excelled in the production of premium vehicles during recent years … therefore it is optimally suited for the assembly of a new model.“
Commentators may say that the factory was elected thanks to the tax exemption given to Audi by the Hungarian government. Indeed in October 2006, Hungary set up a new solidarity tax – 4% – payable by all companies in order to reduce the public deficit from 10.1% to 3.2%. Unhappy with this development, Audi declared that it would stop investing in Hungary. As the first exporter in the country and employer of more than 5,000 people, the company’s statements tend to be considered as requests. After negotiations, the Hungarian government modified the law to please the German carmaker.
This is not the first tax exemption Audi has received as a sweetener from Hungary. When Audi decided to open a factory in the country, it was offered a profit tax exemption until 2011. Since then, it has invested 3 billion Euros and will invest one billion more to build the Audi A3 convertible.
Source: Reuters
Source photo: Auto, Motor und Sport
July 4, 2007
Alfa Romeo will produce the 8C Spider

According to the Italian magazine Quattroruote, Alfa Romeo will produce the magnificent 8C Spider that appeared for the first time at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Five hundred are scheduled to be built from 2008 and sold at €180,000/$245,000/£120,000.
Derived from the current 8C, the spider version will inherit the Ferrari/Maserati-derived 4.7-litre V8, which has an output of 450 hp/443 bhp.
Originally the spider version was not planned by the Italian carmaker but built upon the request of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance organizers. The latter intended to display the last G1 1921 and the incredible Bertone BAT concepts and thought that a modern Alfa car with the same pedigree would be an ideal addition to the set.
July 4, 2007
Spyshots: Mercedes SLC

These are the first pictures of the future Mercedes coupe based on the platform of the next-generation SL roadster. Dubbed “SLC”, the car would be powered by the 6.2 litre V8 engine that equips all top of the range AMGs. With an ouput of more than 500 bhp in current models, the SLC would be able to compete with BMW and Audi. The latter is planning to release a high-power V10 R8 coupe later in the year.
The SLC is also an attempt to get rid of the SLR whose sales are not meeting expectations according to some rumours. Unlike the SLR, the SLC is being developed by HWA. Quite unknown, HWA was founded by Hans-Werner Aufrecht who also co-founded 40 years ago. The company is in charge of Mercedes’ entry in DTM.
Click here to see all pictures
Source: Winding Road
June 22, 2007
Fiat comes back to Argentina… With Tata

As many other companies, Fiat left Argentina in 2002 due to the economic crisis. After 5 years the Italian carmaker is back but this time it will share the risks with the Indian giant Tata. Together they will invest $80,000,000 to upgrade the factory Fiat owns there. They plan to build 25,000 Tata pick ups each year that will be sold under the Fiat label in Central America, South America and maybe in Europe. In January 2008, the factory will also start to produce the Fiat Sienna sedan again.
This is not the first common project between both carmakers. Indeed they signed an agreement to set up a joint-venture in India in last July. The joint-venture will build 100,000 cars and 250,000 engines each year in its factory located in north India. The successful Fiat Grande Punto will be one of the Fiat assembled and sold in India.
June 21, 2007
18 green Mercedes for Frankfurt motorshow

The German carmaker would reveal up to 18 new green models at the next Frankfurt motorshow according to Auto, Motor und Sport.
Thanks to the British car magazine, Autocar, we know that Mercedes-Benz will show a hybrid version of the S-Class based on the Vision S350 Direct Hybrid concept car that was revealed at the same motorshow two years ago. In opposition to Lexus that put a V8 engine in its flagship, the LS600h, Mercedes-Benz would use the existing V6 3.5 litre 268 bhp at which a small electric engine would be added. Less powerful than the LS600h, the hybrid S-Class would have 300 bhp but would get a S400 or S450 label to justify an expensive price tag.
Mercedes-Benz will also display an incredible S-Class equipped with a smal 4 cylinders 2.2 litres engine. This Bluetec diesl engine produces 201 bhp and meets Euro6 requirements due in 2014. According to Auto, Motor und Sport, the Stuttgart’s brand would also show an E-Class equipped witht the same engine and a C-Class that would make more than 50 mpg.
The last surprise would come from a hydrogen powered concept car based on the B Class that would be produced at 150 units in 2010.
June 21, 2007
Roewe builds 10,000th Chinese KV6

The first awarded Chinese engine, the Roewe KV6, has been producced at 10,000 units since the end of January. For this occasion the Chinese invited the press at a party and announced it would produce 80,000 KV6 in its Bo Shan factory in 2007.

Launched in February, the 750 model is a big success thanks to a big advertsing campaign. In order to get one, the buyer must drop a deposit whose amount varies from 5% to 25% of the price tag and must be ready to wait from one one month to three months.
Recently, the 750 model got a good review from the British car magazine Auto Express and we can expect it to be sold in Europe in 2008.
June 21, 2007