Until now the V12-diesel-powered Audi R8 has haunted the motorshows, but hasn’t revealed more details yet. Here is the sound of the V12 TDI.
The German news magazine, Der Spiegel has recorded the V12 engines and is offering to listen to the music form the inside, the outside, in acceleration, and at normal pace. It’s still possible to hear the traditional diesel’s noise, but high revs are still impressive.
Leaked pictures and details about the 7-seater Qashqai have emerged on the Internet
Dubbed Qashqai+2, the new derived model will be launched at the next London Motor Show in July. In order to fit two seats in the luggage compartment, Nissan designers have lengthened the roofline and redesigned the rear profile of the crossover model. The rear doors have also been redesigned and features a square window.
At 4,526 mm long, the Qashqai+2 is 211 mm longer than the normal Qashqai while the wheelbase has been lengthened by 135 mm. At 1,643 mm the Qashqai+2 is 38 mm higher increasing the headroom for rear passengers by 16 mm for the second row of seats and 10 mm for the third seat row. Nissan claims that third row of foldable seats can fit children or adults up to 5.2 ft tall. When the third seat row is folded away, the boot reaches a 500-litre capacity. As a result of these changes, the Qashqai is 22 lbs heavier than the five-seater model.
The Qashqai+2 will ba available with petrol and diesel engines. The entry level will be powred by a 115bhp 1.6-litre unit followed by a 140bhp 2.0-litre engine. The diesel engines will be the 106bhp 1.5-litre unit and the new 150bhp 2.0-litre both outsourced from Renault. While the two smaller engines will be only available with front-wheel drive, the 2.0-litre diesel and petrol models will also come with a four-wheel drive transmission.
According to company sources, Mercedes is interested in buying a stake in the British carmaker Aston Martin.
Neither Mercedes nor Aston Martin have confirmed the rumour but the news comes after Aston Martin has been reported to be interested in the German carmaker’s hybrid technologies. Mercedes will certainly get attention from the Kuwait-based Investment Dar which bought a stake in Aston Martin last year. As soon as the deal was signed the investment firm had said it wanted to sell its stake.
Buying a stake in Aston Martin would enable Mercedes to buy a place in the luxury segment at a time when Maybach’s future is shadowed. After the SLR production ends at the end of the year, Mercedes will separate from McLaren. For Aston Martin, the situation has been less than easy since its split with Ford. if the British marque wants to survive, it will likely need the support of a bigger manufacture to share at least the cost of compliance with the stricter emission regulation which appear in the world.
Source: Autocar
According to rumours, Skoda is working on a Superb Estate which might have spotted in Northern Europe.
At first glance, the photographed estate looks like a normal Octavia model, but a close look reveals a lengthened wheelbase. Company sources have reported that the recently launched Skoda Superb will be added an estate variant due to hit the showrooms in 2010, nearly two years after the saloon. The Superb Estate will likely get its engine range from the saloon from the 138bhp 1.4-litre TSI to the 276bhp 3.6-litre V6 for the petrol units and from 113bhp to 168bhp for the TDI family.
The Superb estate will be Skoda’s first attempt to take on the established Volvo estates. In the Volkswagen Group, Skoda has to compete with the Swedish carmaker. Until now, the current range wasn’t able to compete as Skoda’s lineup features smaller models than that of Volvo. The future estate might change the order.
Click here to see all the spyshots
Source: Worldcarfans
Citroen has unveiled the facelifted C2 four years after its launch. The revamped supermini comes with minor styling changes and a new diesel engine which should be just enough to maintain its sales.
The C2 belongs to the former generation of Citroen models and doesn’t feature an appealing design like the C4 or the new C5. However, the French carmaker decided to give it a slight facelift which includes a new front bumper and a new radiator grille with wider and bigger chevrons. One will need a trained eye to spot the the C2 before and after the facelift.
A new engine has been added to the range in some countries. The 1.6-litre HDI engine delivers a power output of 110 Hp at 4,000 rpm and maximum torque of 177 lb ft at 1,750 rpm. Citroen claims the C2 1.6-litre HDI achieves 53MPG and emits 119 g CO2 per km.
Unveiled as a Passat CC, the Volkswagen four-door coupé will finally drop the Passat moniker to be simply called CC. By dropping the Passat link, Volkswagen hopes the CC will move upmarket and sit between the Passat and the future Phaeton.
Volkswagen wants to convince us that its four-door coupé is not a Passat in a attempt to position the CC as an all-new car and as a premium model at at time when the company suffers from a fierce struggle on for the pie of the saloon market.
Halfway between a saloon and a coupé, the latest variant of the Passat is an attempt at convincing us that another concept of travel exists: a separate luggage compartment, a lowered centre of gravity and above all a sleek shape in contrast with the current trend which promotes van-shaped vehicles with high driving positions and tailgates.
The CC distinguishes itself from the Passat by a curve that runs from the A pillar to the aft. This flat curve is emphasised by the chromed arc bordering the windows. The CC also features familiar styling cues from the CLS such as the line running from the front wheel arch to the rear of the car, and the door handles. the design of the CC is appealing and compared to its lacklustre sister, the new CC looks sportier and more elegant. However, the overall design looks a bit outdated as it reminds us the CLS, of course, but also the old Peugeot 607. Oddly, the three cars have been designed at a time when Murat Günak was working in those companies.
At 4,796 mm long, 1,856 mm wide and 1,420 mm high, the CC is 31 mm longer, 36 mm wider but 50 mm lower than the classic Passat. Despite a lower roofline, the CC seems to be roomy enough for four passengers and their luggage as VW North America’s chief Stefan Jacoby showed it during the presentation at Detroit. Thanks to an appealing exterior styling and decent roominess, the CC would hold the aces if Volkswagen hadn’t failed with the interior styling whose overall atmosphere is too reminiscent of the saloon.
Unquestionably, the biggest drawback is the dashboard which is identical to the saloon’s. In an attempt to give an upmarket touch, the CC is available with a choice of three new leather steering wheels. They all will have three spokes like the topping Passat versions but the lowerspoke will feature a kind of dual spoke with an integrated metal application. Likewise designers tried to mix aluminium and wooden panels as seen on top of the range versions in France and Germany except that the CC offers an exclusive brushed aluminium panel.
The front sport seats are also identical to that of its contemporary saloon counterpart. The driver seat is electrically powered in six ways while both front seats can be powered in twelve ways as an option. The novelty comes from a climate function which ventilates the seat and seatback surfaces thanks to tiny fans. There is a choice of any colour you like for the ventilated seats as long as it’s black. Front passengers will also enjoy a large windowed sunroof.
In order to accommodate only two persons, The rear seats adopt a sporty shape with larger lateral support. In case you would still like to seats three persons, the central storage compartment will keep you of doing it. As in front, the storage has two beverage holders with a sliding cover to close them. Once again, Volkswagen has been over-srupulous in not providing a seamless transition from the front to the rear tunnel trim.
Under the bonnet, the CC will be available with a range of three petrol engines and two diesel units. The entry-level will be powered by the TSI 1.8-litre petrol unit which has an output of 158bhp, followed by the 197 bhp TSI 2.0-litre engine. The range will be topped by the 296 bhp FSi 3.6-litre unit. In Europe, Along the petrol engines, the CC will also come with diesel units, a 138bhp and a 168bhp, both with a displacement of 2.0-litre. If the petrol engines will be enough to battle on the American market, the lack of a powerful diesel engine for Europe might become a major weakness at a time when even French carmakers plan to release 265bhp diesel units.
Buick has taken the wraps off the new Excelle sold in China which will be officially unveiled on April 12th.
With this new generation, Buick took the opportunity to feature a unique front fascia sporting the corporate grille and a new rear end. The appearance also take sits styling cues form the Park Avenue sold in China and this time, the link with the Chevrolet Lacetti is blurred. On the inside, the dashborad gets a revamp. if the lower part remains the same, the upper part of the dashboard is all-new. Compared to the current generation, the Excelle moves upmarket thanks to less flashy wooden panels and a mix of black and beige colors. The central console gets a new stereo system while the LCD screen moves from the centre to the top of it.
Final specifications remain unknown although the Excelle will likely be powered by a 1.6-litre and 1.8-litre petrol engines.
Audi has announced that the eagerly-awaited Q5 will be unveiled on April 19th.
The Q5 will be one of the hottest SUV of this year and will compete with the BMW X3, the Mercedes GLK, and the Volvo XC60. Based on the MLP like the A4 and A5 models, the Q5 is expected to be powered by a wide range of engine. Both petrol and diesel will be available.
The new model will be Audi’s attempt to expand its SUV range which features only one model, the Q7. Later the company will launch a smaller SUV likely to be called Q3.
Toyota has unveiled one new Auris trim level, the SR that takes inspiration from the SR180 model and had upgraded the TR level.
The new SR trim level follows the lead of the flagship SR180 and offer the visual glitches usually found on a sporty version without the performances. The new SR gets lowered sports suspension and 17in alloy wheels, both from Toyota Motorsport, a Toyota Motorsport rear spoiler and dark-tinted privacy glass. The equipment includes nine airbags, climate control air conditioning, leather-trimmed steering wheel with audio controls, front fog lamps, six-speaker sound system and body colour-matched door handles and mirrors. The SR is available with two engines, a 1.6-litre Dual VVT-i petrol unit and a 2.0-litre D-4D 130 diesel unit. The SR starts at £14,495 with the three door variant.
The revised TR features five-spoke 16in alloy wheels, blue interior upholstery and introduces an automatic dual zone air conditioning. Like the new SR, the equipment also includes nine airbags, front fog lamps, leather-trimmed steering wheel with audio controls, six-speaker sound system and body colour-matched door handles and mirrors. The TR is available with 1.4 and 1.6 VVT-i petrol and 2.0 D-4D 130 diesel engines. The TR 1.4 VVT-i 3 door starts at £12,995.
BMW is renowned for building some of the best engines in the world and receives multiple awards every year for it. In a surprising move, the German carmaker might sell engines and components ot other carmakers.
Last year, BMW announced its will to increase its profitability. Among the planned measures, the carmaker decided to lay off more than 8,000 employees and entered in talks to share the platform of the next-generation Mini with other carmakers. But in an interview with Automotive News, BMW board member Friedrich Eichiner revealed that GM, Daimler and Fiat were interested in buying the company’s engines. BMW will decide by the end of the year because "it does not make sense to go on talking and talking forever," Eichiner told Automotive News.
The awarded engines like the M units won’t likely be on offer as BMW will want to keep the crown jewels. One doesn’t expect to see a Corvette powered the V10 petrol engine of the M5. However a Chevrolet Kalos powered by a BMW four cylinder engine might become a reality soon.
