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Lexus unveils a sport pack for the IS 250
Lexus tries to spice up the IS saloon and unveils a new sport pack called SR for the IS 250 model that takes inspiration from the IS F.
The IS 250 SR is designed to deliver some of the sporting allure of the IS F and offers combined customer value of more than £3,500 for less than £1,000. This sporty addition to the IS range comes with a full body kit and 17in 10-spoke alloy wheels on the outside. Aluminium scuff plates and pedals add subtle visual enhancements on the inside. Heated front seats are also fitted as standard.
Standard equipment includes 10 airbags, climate control, cruise control, smart keyless entry and engine start and sequenced LED interior lighting. Owners can specify five-spoke 18-inch Tsuki rims.
Powered by a 204bhp 2.5-litre V6 petrol engine, the IS 250 SR will accelerate from rest to 62mph in 8.1 seconds and reach a top speed in excess of 140mph.
Three exterior colours are available: Velvet Black and Cadoxton Slate and Argento Ice metallic finishes. All are available with the same interior treatment, a Worcester Black interior fabric trim. The IS 250 SR costs £24,990 with the manual gearbox and £25,800 for the automatic version.
May 15, 2008
First picture of the Nissan Cube
Here is the first clear picture of the Nissan Cube dues to launched in October of this year.
The next-generation Nissan Cube deserves our attention as the Japanese carmaker will export in the US and in Europe. It will be 3,750 mm long, 1,695 mm wide, 1,650 mm high and will feature 2,430 mm wheelbase. The exterior styling takes its inspiration from the Pivo 2 concept car seen last year at the Tokyo Motor Show.
The third-generation Cube will be powered by the topping-engine of the current model, a 1.5-litre petrol unit delivering 108bhp.
May 14, 2008
Ferrari unveils an all-new model, the California
The Italian marque took the wraps off an all new model called California which is powered by a V8 engine.
The new California is Ferrari’s serious attempt to compete with Aston Martin and Bentley on the growing GT market segment. Instead of two bodystyles, coupé and convertible, for the British models, the California will be a tow-in-one featuring a metallic folding roof.
The California is powered by a 4.3-litre V8 engine features direct fuel injection and a "flat" crankshaft. Normally aspirated, it delivers 453bhp at 7500rpm. The V8 unit is hooked up to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission. Ferrari claims the California runs the 0-62mph in less than 4.0 seconds.
The Ferrari California is also equipped with the exclusive F1-Trac traction control system which made its debut on the 599 GTB Fiorano and has been further honed to suit the typical driving conditions expected for this new GT according to the carmaker. Brembo brakes features carbon-ceramic material disks as standard.
The new model will be unveiled at the next Paris Motor Show.
May 14, 2008
spyshots: facelifted Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Here are some spyshots of the facelifted S-Class due to be launched next year.
With the forthcoming E-Class and SLC supercar, one does forget that the S-Class will be four years old next year, a good age to be facelifted in a car lifecycle. The revamped flagship will likely be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
The facelifted S-Class will feature a modified fascia with a more sculpted front bumper and new fog lamps which features LED lights. The spyshots reveal that the mirrors will also be redesigned, while the rear end will feature minor changes, mainly a revised bumper.
Secrecy surrounds the technical changes at this early stage.
Click here to see the pictures
May 14, 2008
Chrysler kills rebadge of Dodge Journey to work on small car
As Petrol-Head reported in a previous post, Chryler is reshuffling its portfolio in an attempt to distinguish its brand from each other. The Dodge Journey won’t sport the Chrysler label.
After stopping the production of four models, the troubled Chrysler continues on modifying its plans in an attempt to cut cost. The Chrysler-branded Dodge Journey has been cancelled to free resources. The American group wants its engineers to focus on the future compact model developed in collaboration with Nissan and expected to be launched in 2010.
The forthcoming lineup looks rather empty in terms of new models and dealers will have to be patient until 2010 when the company unveils the redesigned 300 saloon, the Jeep Grand Cherokee in addition to the compact models. Future will tell if Chrysler took the right decisions.
May 14, 2008
Audi to feature eight-speed automatic gearbox on top models
Audi has plan to feature a new eight-speed automatic gearbox on its lineup-topping models from next year.
Last year, Lexus launched the first production eight-speed automatic gearbox in the new LS460. BMW is expected to introduce a similar gearbox on the next-generation 7-Series. Audi will become the third carmaker to feature an eight-speed automatic gearbox on its models. According to company sources, the carmaker is currently testing the new gearbox on a few vehicles.
In an interview with Automotive News, CSM Worldwide said that the new automatic gearbox will featured on the A8 saloon, Q7 SUV and forthcoming A7 model. The new gearbox will help Audi to improve the fuel-efficiency of its top models as ZF claims the gearbox reduces fuel consumption by 14% thanks to longer gear ratio. The eight-speed gearbox can also be fitted with a stop-start system.
After the three major players adopted the eight-speed gearbox, Mercedes is the only one to use a seven-speed gearbox and has no plan to add an eighth gear event if it’s technically possible.
May 14, 2008
New Flexifuel engine for Volvo V70 and S80
Volvo offers a new Flexifuel engine on the V70 and S80.
The Volvo V70 and S80 are now also available with a five-cylinder, 2.5-litre turbocharged Flexifuel engine delivering a power output of 197bhp and a torque of 221 lb ft. The Flexifuel cars can run on E85 bioethanol or 95-octane unleaded petrol – or any mix of these two fuels. Due to its lower energy content, fuel consumption when running on E85 is 30-40 percent higher than when running on petrol. Fuel consumption (EU combined) for the new 2.5-litre Flexifuel version is 9.2 l/100 km (V70 and S80) with the manual gearbox and 10.2 l/100 km (V70) and 10.1 l/100 km (S80) with the automatic gearbox.
The power output might seem a bit low but Volvo justifies it requires extra power would require more fuel in the upper rev range – which in turn translates into considerably higher fuel consumption.
The 2.5-litre engine is the second Flexifuel unit to be featured on the top models. Both the Volvo S80 and V70 have also been available with a 2-litre four-cylinder, naturally aspirated Flexifuel engine since the end of 2007. The 2.0F produces 143bhp and 137 lb ft of torque.
The Flexifuel engines are also featured on the Volvo S40, V50 and C30. In total, the Swedish carmaker expects to sell around 20,000 Flexifuel cars this year.
May 14, 2008
Infiniti G37 convertible confirmed
Nissan will launch an Infiniti G37 convertible next year.
Along with the financial presentation for the fiscal year 2007, the Japanese carmaker indirectly revealed plans for next year. Its luxury brand will launch a convertible variant of the G37 coupé.
The G37 is an appealing coupé and without a doubt, the convertible will be a great offer compared to the German clique. Under the bonnet, the future convertible will likely feature the 330bhp 3.7-litre V6 engine.
May 14, 2008
Nissan to sell 200000 vehicles in India by 2012
Nissan has announced its ambition to sell 200,000 vehicles in India by 2012 relying on local expertise.
The Japanese carmaker has strong ambition on the Indian market. In addition to the ultra low cost car developed in collaboration with Renault and Bajaj Auto, Nissan wants to sell over 200,000 vehicles in India in the next four years. "In India, we have made a strategic decision to work with partners to speed our entry into the market and to leverage local expertise, building on Nissan’s proven track record of success with collaborative relationships," Nissan Motor Co Ltd President and CEO Carlos Ghosn today said in Tokyo, according to information available on the company’s website.
With its alliance partner Renault, Nissan is setting up a 400,000 capacity plant for passenger cars in Chennai, which is also the site of the alliance’s new technical center.
May 14, 2008
Spyker teams up with Lotus
The troubled Dutch carmaker has announced it has reached an agreement with Lotus to reduce costs by sharing technology.
The agreement includes a Parts and Platform Commonality Agreement (PPCA), a Parts and Accessories Supply Agreement and a Design and Engineering Agreement. Lotus will provide certain parts for the Spyker C8 Aileron and will help the Dutch carmaker to develop its future models.
Victor R. Muller, CEO of Spyker Cars said: “Our company has had a very fruitful cooperation with Lotus, developed over the past four years, relating to engineering services in respect of certain components of our cars, as well as in respect of worldwide certification. Spyker and Lotus have now come to the conclusion that they need to intensify their cooperation to the point that we intend to share parts and platforms, as well as an agreement on the supply of parts. Moreover, Lotus Engineering has become Spyker’s preferred subcontractor in respect of a number of engineering projects relating to the Spyker C8 Aileron and the Spyker D8 Peking-to-Paris.”
May 14, 2008