Genesis 'New York Concept' sports sedan bows and wows in word debut

Genesis 'New York Concept' sport sedan debuts in New York

Genesis debuted what may just be the best-looking and most inspiring concept on the 2016 New York International Auto Show.

Appropriately named the New York Concept, this sports sedan from Hyundai’s upscale brand is perfectly suited for Manhattan with its athletic, distinct, and balanced design. Finished in modest metallic blue paint, this concept is more than just a hint at the future of Genesis design language.
With endless copycat designs across today’s automotive landscape, the New York Concept is a refreshingly unique take on the mid-sized sports sedan.

Intended to be powered by the company’s familiar 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo and paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the New York Concept is as much about efficiency as it is great design. Given that it’s a concept, it’s given Genesis designers the opportunities to push boundaries and the interior is a perfect example of that. There’s a 21-inch, 4K infotainment display, made by LG, that runs across much of the dash.

The exterior design details of the New York Concept make it a properly distinctive sports sedan. The shape of the grille, headlamps, and fascia give the sedan a distinctiveness not seen before and, if repeated on upcoming Genesis models, will give the brand a gorgeous and unique design language.


Source : ctvnews.ca

Porsche expects flat profits in 2016

Porsche's profit hot streak is expected to slow in 2016 as the Volkswagen Group brand is projecting flat earnings, although the financial performance is expected to remain strong overall.

The luxury automotive brand said Friday that its revenue would rise "slightly" but that earnings would "reach the same level" as 2015.

One factor dragging earnings is a multibillion-dollar investment in the Mission E ultra-luxury electric vehicle, which made a splash with critics and enthusiasts when it was revealed last year. The vehicle is viewed as Porsche's response to Tesla Motors' popular Model S electric sedan.

Though Porsche is part of the Volkswagen family of brands, which also includes Audi and several other luxury nameplates, Porsche has not suffered a noticeable blow from VW's emissions scandal.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulators have said certain models of the Porsche Cayenne contained software that was designed to cheat emissions standards, but the scandal is largely affecting the VW and Audi brands.

Porsche, in fact, reported $23.3 billion in sales for 2015, up 25% from a year earlier. It also reported an operating profit of $3.8 billion, also up 25%, with a pretax operating margin of 16%.

The brand sold more than 225,000 vehicles globally in 2015, up 19%.

Porsche CEO Oliver Blume, in a statement, called it “extraordinary results even by Porsche standards."

Still, Porsche declared that it is primarily focused on profit and not sales volume — which aligns with VW's shift away from volume in the wake of its emissions scandal.


Source : usatoday.com

This 2020 Ford Bronco design is outstanding, but it isn’t real

You can’t always get what you want.

You know that, I know that, and The Rolling Stones definitely knew that.

Today that old cliché could not be more applicable thanks to these incredible renderings of a 2020 Ford Bronco. We have these conceptual photos to marvel at thanks to Bronco6g.com, a Ford Bronco enthusiast website and forum apparently dedicated to get us all riled up for nothing.

That’s not a fair assessment, as the website does some great work covering the Ford brand, but they do have everyone buzzing today over a model that doesn’t exist. Ford is rumored to be bringing the Bronco out of retirement someday, and with these renderings and the current hoopla surrounding FX’s “The People vs. OJ Simpson” miniseries, it feels like there isn’t a better time than now to revive it.

The forum’s design features elements from the 2004 Bronco concept as well as elements from modern day Ford trucks and SUVs. “We think this design concept would represent a worthy successor to the storied Bronco nameplate,” the forum’s administrator said.

We couldn’t agree more, and we hope this concept is a sign of the real thing returning in the near future.




Source : nydailynews.com

850,000 VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI CARS RECALLED DUE TO TAKATA AIRBAGS

As if the emissions scandal wasn’t enough, Volkswagen AG now has to deal with the recall of 850,000 vehicles in North America (about 185,000 in Canada) due to defective airbag inflators made by Takata.

This recall comes well after those announced by other automakers. Why? According to The Detroit News, Volkswagen AG wrote a letter to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on February 9th saying the request to recall most VW and Audi vehicles may be overboard. As a matter of fact, their airbag inflators were made at Takata’s factory in Freiberg, Germany, and they have not experienced failures like those made in the U.S. and Mexico.

In the letter, Volkswagen AG said that both the Mexico and U.S. factories have had problems controlling humidity, which has been blamed for causing the inflator failures. For the NHTSA, though, it apparently makes no difference, so the German automaker has agreed to recall its vehicles.

Affected models include:

Audi A3 (2005-2013)

Audi A4 (2006-2009)

Audi A5 (2010-2011)

Audi Q5 (2009-2012)

Volkswagen CC (2009-2014)

Volkswagen EOS (2012-2014)

Volkswagen Golf (2010-2014)

Volkswagen Jetta (2010-2014)

Volkswagen Routan (2009)

Source : http://www.auto123.com

How to Drift a Car with Hand Brake: A Beginner Lesson

What is Drifting Exactly?

Drifting is a driving technique and motor sport where the driver intentionally oversteers the car, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels through corners while preserving vehicle control and a high exit speed.

Before I begin to show you how to drift, you need to be aware of several things:

~ Drifting is considered dangerous and is illegal on public streets.

~ There will be some potential mechanical breakdown to your car if you drift too many times without proper maintenance on the car.

~ Always practice only where you are permitted to. I recommend finding a local event where there are experienced drifters who can instruct you so you don't get caught by the police like I did. :)


~ Drifting works better with rear-wheel-drive cars with LSD (Limited Slip Differential)

Hand Brake Drifting

There are several techniques that can help you initiate your drift. The hand brake (or ebrake) technique is usually the easiest and most common way to start off with. All beginners will have to get familiar with this technique first. If you are scared at first, you should also practice this technique until you are not afraid of the car sliding. Here are a few exercises to get you started. After your car starts to slide, the rest is all about your steering and gas pedal control.


180 Degree Turn

In an empty lot, set up a cone in the middle. Drive up to the cone and rip the handbrake when you are almost at the cone in an attempt to do a 180 turn. Practice until you are no more and no less than 180 degrees from where you started. Remember to practice both left and right 180 degrees.

90 Degree Turn

This exercise is very similar to the 180 degree turn, but this requires controlling how hard your rip the ebrake. Practice until you are no more and no less than 90 degrees from where you started. Make sure to keep your car going after the drift.

360 Degree Turn (Donut)

Now, this exercise focuses more on acceleration and handbrake control together. You start the same way you would to do a 180. Once your car start to drift, you need to tap on your gas pedal to give a little more spin to your rear tires so your drift can keep going. This is often a little hard for a beginner, because too much gas will cause your car to oversteer too quickly, and too little gas will not make your car keep sliding. You need to get a feel for how your car is reacting and keep modulating the gas pedal in order to maintain a nice 360 degree turn around the cone. Keep trying until you can reliably turn around the cone without hitting it or straying too far from the cone. Practice in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions

After you have mastered all three exercises, you should be very comfortable drifting around all kinds of corners with the ebrake technique. Remember that gas and steering control play very important parts in drifting, and practice makes perfect. If you happen to spin out your car or lose control, don't be disappointed; just learn from your mistake.



Source : http://hubpages.com

Volkswagen managers were notified about diesel probe in May 2014: sources

A high-ranking employee warned senior Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) managers in May 2014 that U.S. regulators might examine car engine software as part of an investigation into pollution levels, two sources familiar with the matter said on Sunday.

The warning came in the form of a letter, which was sent more than a year before the German carmaker's public admission that its cars had been equipped with software to manipulate emission test results, the sources said, raising questions about how much senior managers knew about the scandal.

The U.S. Justice Department is suing the company for up to $46 billion for alleged violations of environmental law while regulators and prosecutors are looking to establish what role, if any, had been played by senior managers, including former Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn.

Volkswagen admitted in September 2015 to cheating pollution tests but has maintained that only a small number of employees were to blame and that there was no indication that board members were involved.

German newspaper Bild am Sonntag was first to report the existence of an internal letter warning senior managers about the investigation.

Citing documents from VW's own investigation of the scandal, Bild am Sonntag said that an employee known internally as "Winterkorn's fireman" had notified superiors about the probe.

"It can be assumed that the authorities will investigate VW systems to establish whether Volkswagen has implemented test-recognition software," the newspaper said, citing the letter uncovered as part of an investigation by Jones Day, a law firm conducting the company's internal investigation.

Two people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Sunday that they had knowledge of the Volkswagen letter but that it is not certain that Winterkorn, who resigned shortly after the scandal surfaced, had seen the letter.

The letter was sent from the carmaker's product quality and safety department, one of the sources said.

A VW spokesman said that the company does not comment on ongoing investigations, adding that it would report on its internal inquiry in the second half of April.


Source : http://www.reuters.com

EPA proposal would restrict road to race car conversions

Recently proposed EPA automobile emissions rules could put the brakes on the popular pursuit of converting road cars into race cars for professional and amateur use, says a major automotive trade organization.

The Specialty Equipment Market Association, more commonly known as SEMA, raised the alarm after coming across a passage in the federal agency’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles - Phase 2 proposal that reads:

“Certified motor vehicles and motor vehicle engines and their emission control devices must remain in their certified configuration even if they are used solely for competition or if they become non-road vehicles or engines.”

According to SEMA, which represents the aftermarket parts and custom car industry, this passage means just what it says: Cars and trucks originally built and sold for street use would not be exempt from emissions rules if they are converted into competition vehicles

And the EPA agrees.

An agency spokeswoman told Fox News that the proposal essentially restates what the EPA already considers to be the law

“People may use EPA-certified motor vehicles for competition, but to protect public health from air pollution, the Clean Air Act has – since its inception – specifically prohibited tampering with or defeating the emission control systems on those vehicles,” she said.

She added that the updated rule “clarifies the distinction between motor vehicles and nonroad vehicles such as dirt bikes and snowmobiles. Unlike motor vehicles – which include cars, light trucks, and highway motorcycles – nonroad vehicles may, under certain circumstances, be modified for use in competitive events in ways that would otherwise be prohibited by the Clean Air Act.”

However, in a statement released to the media, SEMA CEO Chris Kersting argued that “this proposed regulation represents overreaching by the agency, runs contrary to the law and defies decades of racing activity where EPA has acknowledged and allowed conversion of vehicles. Congress did not intend the original Clean Air Act to extend to vehicles modified for racing and has re-enforced that intent on more than one occasion.”

The EPA has not yet discussed how or if it plans to actively police the updated rules.

Race car builders often modify or remove the emissions systems from street legal vehicles to improve their performance. Many purpose-built race cars, including NASCAR Sprint Cup cars and factory drag racers like the Ford Mustang Cobra Jet, are not required to have certified emissions control systems, and the proposed rules do not appear to affect their status.

SEMA Vice President of Governmental Affairs Steve McDonald says the organization wasn’t properly notified of the proposal and originally missed it due to its inclusion in what it considers to be an unrelated rules package, but that it plans to oppose any changes to the status quo through all legal means.

The public comment period on the proposal, which is primarily concerned with the fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions of large commercial vehicles, has ended. The EPA is currently reviewing submissions and expects to publish a final rule in July.


Source : http://www.foxnews.com

Upcoming Cars That Will Make You Lose Your Mind

FERRARI LAFERRARI

Over the years, car technology and design have gone a long way. These upcoming cars are faster and more opulent than ever. Design wise, they look like something pulled straight from the future. These cars are destined to be the fastest in history.

Is there any other brand more envied than Ferrari? The Italian automaker is known for making opulent sports cars that are fast and powerful. Their 2015 LaFerrari is no different. Design wise, it is kept the basic Ferrari features. It has aerodynamic curves and shape we all love. Underneath the hood, Ferrari packs a 788 horsepower, 6.2 liter V12 engine and an electric motor that produces additional 147 horsepower. In total, the LaFerrari has 949 horsepower. All that power can get you from 0 to over 124 MPH in less than 7 seconds. With a maximum speed of over 217 MPH, LaFerrari is a monster on the road. Unfortunately, the price of this exotic car is around $1.35 million. In addition, only 499 models are being made, making it an incredibly rare.

ASTON MARTIN V8 VANTAGE GT

Anyone who has seen a James Bond movie knows the iconic Aston Martin line. In 2015, this carmaker is releasing a new coupe with a 4.7 liter V8 engine that provides 430 horsepower. It can reach 60 MPH in just over 4 seconds. The power is delivered by a 6 speed manual transmission. While this isn’t the first of Aston Martin’s Vantage line, this rendition has more power and better handling. As usual, Aston Martin didn’t skimp on the design. The exterior features a sleek design with a pop of dramatic color on the trim. It’s something that can’t be missed on the road. Surprisingly, this model is more affordable than other Aston Martin cars. However, it’ll still cost around $103,000.

Source : http://www.carophile.org

Honda builds prototype Civic turbo w/ manual trans

Honda invited me to come and drive the new, stylish Civic Coupe this week, in San Diego, California. Unfortunately, driving impressions from that event are embargoed for another few weeks, so you’ll have to wait to read about how the car goes down the road.

But the Civic Coupe wasn’t the only piece of news that Honda brought to Cali for us. Far from it. Available for very short driving tests was a prototype version of a Civic sedan, powered by the new 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, and managed by a six-speed manual transmission. (Hat tip to Michael Schlee of Autoguide for the picture of the car

For those of you not up on this 10th Generation Civic, that’s a combination we didn’t expect to come to life. Currently the sedan can only be equipped with a manual transmission if you opt for the most-basic version, and only with the naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine. Every turbo trim comes with the CVT, an acceptable unit for most drivers, but a real buzzkill for Honda enthusiasts looking to exploit the new car’s excellent handling profile.
Now, Honda didn’t give any detail about the prototype; not when the turbo/manual combo might be offered for sale, not if it’ll come with the coupe and/or the sedan, and not which trim levels it might appear on. But just the fact that it exists in the world is pretty good news for three-pedal enthusiasts. The 1.5T is a really fantastic engine; giving it a transmission worthy of your favorite driving roads really opens up Civic to another category of buyer, I think.
Expect to hear more about the Honda transmission excitement as plans get firmed up.


Source : http://www.worldcarfans.com

SEMA readies for 2017 Honda Ridgeline Pickup aftermarket.

It looks like SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) is anxious to accessorize your 2017 Honda Ridgeline, or at the least, measure it.
Photo courtesy of Patrick Rall Torque News “SEMA eNews” announced Thursday an invitational SEMA Garage “Measuring Session” for the all new, and yet to be released, 2017 Honda Ridgeline Pickup. This marks the start of what will arguably be the most exciting and dynamic Ridgeline debut since the inception of the unibody pickup back in March 2005 as a 2006 year model.


Source : http://www.torquenews.com

LAUNCH NEWS: Honda Civic Type-R is fun, but R-eally costly

THE Honda Civic Type R has spent years in development. In fact, it has taken so long to come to market that the new Civic will be in SA later this year. So has it been worth the wait?

The battle in the hot hatch market shows no sign of abating. In terms of sales the Volkswagen Golf GTi reigns supreme, although whether it is the best remains a matter of personal preference. The iconic GTi goes up against major rivals such as the Audi S3, Ford Focus ST, Renault Megane RS and even outsiders such as the Peugeot 308 GT and Subaru WRX STi.

Take things up a notch and you have the Audi RS3, Mercedes A45 AMG and the VW Golf R as well as the forthcoming Ford Focus RS. Things are hot in this segment of the market.

Traditionally the Type-R has been right in the thick of the GTi battle. It has been pitched against its rivals in comparison shootouts the world over, but the new one has tried to drop a gear and move beyond the melee.

At R586,400 it is not cheap and chances are the price tag is going to prevent anyone trading in their GTi for one. They might not even trade in their Golf R and at this price many will want to wait and see what price the Focus RS lands at. But the Type-R comes with plenty of power, plenty of heritage and plenty of aerodynamic appendages — if you like that sort of thing.

The first R-badge appeared in 1965 on a Honda race car and since then it has adorned such petrolhead favourites as the Civic Type-R, the Integra Type-R and the very rare NSX-R. The new one aims to continue to be a sought after race car for the road with its 2l direct injection turbocharged engine that pumps out 228kW and 400Nm of torque. Honda is claiming a 0-100km/h time of 5.7 seconds and a top end of 270km/h.

The power figures place it higher than the Golf R and other upper rivals, falling short only when compared to the more expensive Merc and RS3.

However, all that development time has resulted in a hot hatch that is almost perfect. Every one of those appendages works hard to reduce drag and improve downforce; nothing is cosmetic. Where the styling of the GTi and ST is subtle, the Type-R shouts "get out of my way!" It has race car DNA and race car looks, something which helped it take the British Touring Car Championship title in 2015.

It boasts a VTEC engine with variable valve timing and lift as well as electronic control. It has a torque plateau of 400Nm between 2,000 and 5,000r/min which ensured rapid response from the turbo on the Killarney racetrack. Of course, it lacks the high revving nature of models like the S2000 and former Type-R but that happens when you go the turbo route.

It has a helical limited slip differential combined with plenty of other electronic wizardry to keep things in check in the corners. You also get dual axis strut front suspension that is claimed to reduce torque steer by 55%. There is all-wheel adaptive damping which keeps the car flat in the corners and apparently also prevents the nose from crashing when you go over a speed bump in spite of the car being 25mm lower than the standard Civic.

You also get Brembo brakes to scrub off speed and an 18% more rigid body.

All of this translates into something very, very special. Blasting out of the pits at Killarney, the turbo provided excellent response and the exhaust responded with a decent soundtrack. Put the car into R+ mode and everything sharpens up, including the electrical power steering which is one of the best I have experienced.

The six-speed manual gearbox is also superb, reminding me of the one in the S2000 with short shifts and a feeling that the stick is an extension of your arm. Turn-in was incredible with just a hint of typical front-wheel drive understeer and a clear feeling that the adaptive damping was keeping the car nice and level with the black stuff.

The brakes performed faultlessly and, while I only put in three laps, each one became faster as the set-up of the car inspired more confidence. This is one car that deserves to be taken out of the city and put on the track whenever you can.

How it behaves on the road is a little trickier to assess. There were no mountain passes to see how the Type-R behaved in the real world. Instead, it was long, sweeping roads around the Cape. Things got a little bumpy on occasion, but I put that down to the car being designed primarily for performance and not for comfort like the GTi is. On a short journey on Cape roads it was fine, but I imagine it could get uncomfortable at times.

The interior is beautiful, not in a luxurious kind of way, but in a general packaging way. Everything the driver really needs is easy to access and the bucket seats are supportive. The readouts showing items like G-forces, acceleration times and lap times will have their uses and it all provides that feeling that you are in something a bit special.

It might have taken years to get here, but it has been worth the wait. The Type-R is brilliant. The only problem is no-one at Honda warned us to start counting our pennies when development started, because that price tag is going to be hard for all but the true Type-R fans to accept.


Source : http://www.bdlive.co.za

2016 Auto Expo: New Renault Duster Easy-R AMT unveiled

Renault India has unveiled the face lifted Duster at the 2016 Auto Expo. It also introduced an AMT version, badged the Easy-R. The changes in the facelifted Renault Duster include a new twin slat chrome grille with a huge Renault logo. The bumper gets a new design. The air dam is larger with a plastic surround that extends below to form a bash plate.  New headlamps feature different sections for low and high beam. The new Renault Duster also gets LED tail lights, new ORVMS with integrated turn indicators and electrical adjust and fold able mirrors . The new roof rails are  beefier with the Duster branding on it. I also gets new five spoke, blacked out alloy wheels that look cool.

The AMT transmission will most likely be offered in the diesel version only. There was speculation that Renault would launch the Duster with a dual clutch transmission, however this doesn’t stand true. However, AMTs have been well received in the country since it offers the convenience of an automatic while offering the fuel efficiency of a manual.

Renault says that the new Duster has an evolved “T4 Electrical & Electronics” and new “CM010″engine compartment which is said to improve the safety quotient. The other new features include auto AC, cruise control and an updated media navigation system.

Renault hasn’t confirmed when the new Duster will go on sale or variant details. However, we expect it to be on sale in the first quarter of this year.


Source : http://overdrive.in/news

Comedians in cars acting like cats: Seinfeld chats with Will Ferrell in a Plymouth Road Runner

Jerry Seinfeld does is best Richard Petty impression with this 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird in this week's Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.
Every Thursday we recap the "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" webisode that premiered the night before. There are two weeks left this season, so be sure to check back next Thursday. This week's full episode is available at the bottom of this post.

Jerry Seinfeld has developed a reputation for getting big stars to come on his web series, 'Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee." Just the season he's landed legendary comedic actors like Steve Martin and Garry Shandling, and even President Barack Obama.


But this week's guest just my blow the rest out of the water. Seinfeld goes for a ride with none other than Will Ferrell

This week's car features a 1970 Road Runner Superbird with this 440-cubic inch six barrell engine, which is capable of hitting 200 mph.
Season seven, episode six shows starts with Seinfeld picking Ferrell up from a playground. After the two gown men sway back and forth a swing set for about 30 seconds, they set off to reunite with the second star of this week’s episode: a 1970 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird.


In some ways, the Superbird is like the antithesis of Ferrell. While his tall, straight-laced and sometimes stoic appearance masks the childlike-silliness and bizarre surrealism that he so masterfully wields in his comedy, this absurd car with a five-foot tall rear wing, cerulean blue paint job and cartoon Road Runner decals is a serious racer.

Will Ferrell and Jerry Seinfeld conduct a focus group to discuss this week's episode. The episode went much better than the focus group.
Plymouth designed this car specifically to woo famed race car driver Richard Petty. It features a 440-cubic inch Mopar Six-Pack engine capable of hitting 200 mph.

The only thing missing from this week’s episode is a Ferrell reprisal of his role as Ricky Bobby form the movie “Talladega Nights.” So no, you won’t see Ferrell in his tighty whities, thrashing about while being burned by imaginary flames, but you will see Seinfeld run some hot laps around a Southern California race track.


For a show about comedians who ride together in cars and chat over coffee, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee doesn’t always bring the funny. Amusing? Certainly. Insightful? Frequently. Witty? Almost always. But not necessarily laugh out loud funny


Source : http://www.nydailynews.com

Honda issues stop sale of 2016 Civic, announces 2.2 million recalls to replace Takata airbags

Honda has issued a stop-sale order and issued a recall for 34,000 2016 Honda Civics.
We're only four days into February but it's already been a tough year for Honda.


Just weeks after releasing the 2016 Civic, Honda had to implement a stop-sale order on the cars and issue a recall of 34,000 that had already been sold.
The problem: some of the engines are missing or have misset piston pin snap rings, which could cause the cars to stall or experience engine failure. Yikes.


Source : http://www.nydailynews.com

Porsche 911 will have a hybrid version by 2018

The current 911 lineup consist of a whopping 21 versions.
The Porsche 911 has it all. Excessive power and style, sleek design, and over 21 different versions, including turbocharged
So, what is it missing? The Porsche 911 does not come in hybrid form, yet.

News broke today that Porsche will have a plug-in hybrid version of the 911 sometime in 2018. This will be the fifth hybrid that the German automaker produces, joining the 918 Spyder, Panamera S E-Hybrid, Cayenne S E-Hybrid, and 911 S E-Hybrid in their electric lineup.

The move makes sense, as Porsche is owned by Volkswagen, who has pledged to create many more plug-in vehicles in the near future


Source : http://www.nydailynews.com

Acura NSX Super Bowl Ad features Van Halen

We first saw this stylish beauty at the Tokyo Motor Show in October, and it made a big statement.
The commercial in the discussion today is from Acura, and it is for their NSX sports car. We last saw this stylish beauty at the Tokyo Motor Show in October, and it made a big statement. Acura is clearly going for a similar statement on Super Bowl Sunday in this 30 second spot titled “What He Said.” The he in question is David Lee Roth, singing the iconic “Running with the Devil,” by one of the greatest rock bands of all time, Van Halen.


It is a hard rock song that should provide a big bang for Acura during the Super Bowl, which is exactly what you need to achieve when given only 30 seconds of the five hour affair that will be SB50. You can watch the full ad and rock out in the video at the top.

Source : http://www.nydailynews.com

All that Mercedes-Benz will showcase at Auto Expo 2016

The country's largest luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz India will showcase its global best-sellers such as GLC and S-Class Cabriolet at the upcoming Delhi Auto Expo. The lineup includes its first open-top luxury 4-seater S-Class Cabriolet, a highly customised Mercedes Maybach S 600 Guard and Mercedes AMG F1 W06 Hybrid.

The W06 Hybrid is Merc Petronas F1 team's FIA World Championship title winning car and is targeted at racing enthusiasts.

Announcing the Auto Expo line-up, Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director Roland Folger said, "This year Mercedes-Benz will showcase its range of 'winning' products and we are excited to unveil the much awaited GLC and the S-Class Cabriolet." Mercedes-Benz has clawed back to the top position in the domestic luxury car market after a 5-year hiatus, selling 13,502 units in 2015, and is on a bullish mode. Earlier this week, the company started off the new year with the launch of a new imported SUV AMG, priced at Rs 86.40 lakh. It will launch 11 more models this year. The 13th Delhi Auto Expo will be held from February 5 to 9 at the India Expo Mart in Greater Noida.

Source : http://www.moneycontrol.com

MERCEDES-BENZ AT DETROIT: The year of dreams

DETROIT — Mercedes-Benz says 2016 will be the year of dream cars, and when one looks at the product offerings revealed at the North American International Auto Show, it’s hard to disagree.
The models launching this year definitely have an aspirational quality to them.
The year just passed was a very good one for the Mercedes-Benz brand, with worldwide sales up 13.4 percent globally and 5.2 percent in North America in 2015.
It was a really good year for Canada in particular, where the company posted another record-breaking year with an overall sales increase of 9.8 percent and just under 40,000 total units sold.
With four new models on the way, the company aims to keep the momentum going in 2016.
Leading the way is the all-new 2017 E-Class mid-size sedan, which is due to begin arriving in North America this summer.
The car will launch with a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder gas engine rated at 241 horsepower and 273 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. Other powertrains will be announced closer to launch.
Dimensionally, the new E will grow a bit over the car it replaces, with a wheelbase 66 mm longer.

A sleek and athletic exterior design gives way to a high-tech interior that comes with a 12.3-inch hi-rez display and touch-sensitive control buttons on the steering wheel that respond to swiping movements, just like a smartphone or tablet.
Also on the way are a trio of drop-tops, two from Mercedes and one from Smart.
Making its world premiere, the 2017 Mercedes-AMG S 65 4MATIC Cabriolet is all about serious performance thanks to a 6.0-litre turbocharged V12 that produces 621 horsepower and 738 lb-ft. of torque and will go from 0-100 km/h in four seconds. A 7-speed automatic transmission is standard. Availability is expected to begin in late summer.
On other fronts, the long-running SLK roadster will become the SLC, 20 years after it first debuted.
The 2017 SLC300 features a 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder (241 hp / 273 lb-ft.), while the AMG SLC43 packs a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 (362 hp / 384 lb-ft.). Both come standard with a 9-speed automatic and will begin arriving in late spring.
Finally, the 2017 Smart fortwo cabriolet will arrive this summer powered by a 0.9-litre turbocharged 3-cylinder engine (89 hp / 100 lb-ft.) and a 6-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.


Source : http://www.thestar.com

Detroit Motor Show: Top five cars dazzle at NAIAS

DETROIT: Once again the Cobo Center in Detroit hosted this week the annual North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). The show is without doubt the largest auto show in North America and is also one of the oldest — starting in 1899. This year NAIAS will continue until January 24, opening its doors to the public after press, industry and charity previews.

This year is unique in introducing many practical production cars and fewer concept cars. Most of the concept cars were either showcasing new technologies such as the Audi h-tron or innovative design such as the VW Tiguan GTE Active Concept. Most concepts at NAIAS are expected to enter production in some form in the near future.

On display at NAIAS there was flair, style and excellence in abundance. New hybrid and plug-in hybrid were overshadowed with the lowest fuel cost in a decade. Yet, some model got media interest for their environmental credentials. 

Arab News monitored five major updates at NAIAS and many innovations. Most notable of these were the Lincoln Continental, the Lexus LC 500, the Audi h-tron quattro concept, the Buick Avista and the Mercedes-Benz E Class. Mercedes Benz also revealed several models that got visitors’ attention. Volvo too revealed a luxury model, the S90 which rivals the German premium sedans.

These vehicles showcase some of the highlights of NAIAS 2016:

• Lincoln Continental: Lincoln is a brand on the rise and its latest offering, the Continental, does not disappoint. While the underpinnings may share roots with other Ford vehicles, the turbo V-6 powertrain and interior are unique to the Continental — and that may give it enough separation from Ford brand vehicles to make it a success. Quiet, understated luxury is always what Lincoln has stood for. The car looks elegant and close to the concept which the company has previously displayed at the Dubai motor show. The new Continental is said to represent Lincoln’s new philosophy of “Quiet Luxury,” with intentions of offering a more pleasurable traveling experience instead of focus on performance.

• Lexus LC 500: Lexus has been accused in the past of lack of flair, of copying opposition and being too close to the parent company, Toyota. The concept car LF-LC unveiled at the 2012 auto shows changed all that and gave Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda an idea to silence critics. The LC 500 comes to imbue the brand with some excitement and enhance its sense of identity. Styling is close to the original LF-LC concept. Underneath that long snout sits the 5.0-liter naturally-aspirated V8 from the Lexus RC F and GS F. It produces the same 467 horsepower and 389 pound-feet of torque it does in those models, and is mated to a new 10-speed automatic transmission. That will get the LC 500 from 0 to 60 mph in under 4.5 seconds, Lexus says.

• Audi h-tron: This is a hydrogen-powered concept that beats Tesla for range of 372 miles. It has three fuel tanks hidden beneath the passenger and luggage compartments which can be replenished in just four minutes. The fuel cell has an output of up to 110 kW, supported by a lithium-ion battery which supplies a further 100 kW for short, temporary bursts of acceleration. During driving, this secondary power source slowly recharges every time the driver taps the brake. It boasts a top speed of 124 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in under seven seconds The fuel cell and the high-voltage battery power two electric motors, which are located on the front and rear axles for 90 kW and 140 kW of power respectively. Rounding out the car's green credentials are a heat pump for the interior air conditioning and a solar roof that generates up to 320 watts of power, or an extra 620 miles of driving each year.

• Buick Avista: This is a sparkling new coupe based on the same GM platform as the Chevy Camaro and offers up to 400 horsepower. The all-new Avista concept is Buick’s best effort yet, showing how a Buick can move right past "sporty" to become "seductive." Buick executive director of global design Bryan Nesbitt sums it up simply, "It was designed to capture the spirit of the perfect drive."

The Avista relies on a 400-hp twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 to make good on the subtle threats issued by its mean glare. The engine sends power to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The car has GM's Magnetic Ride Control, active fuel management (cylinder deactivation) and stop/start technologies. Inside, Buick covers the 2+2 layout with sweeping, uninterrupted lines that mimic the exterior. The concept wears a futuristic iteration of Buick's IntelliLink infotainment system, with touchscreen controls stretching across a wide instrument panel and down the center console.

• Mercedes-Benz E Class: One of the most relevant cars for Europe and the Middle East is the Mercedes-Benz E Class, which was unveiled at Detroit for launch in 2017. It looks like a scaled down S Class and is very strong on technology. The company describes it as “the most advanced vehicle the Mercedes-Benz product portfolio." Big features include Drive Pilot, a semi-autonomous system that can handle highway driving up to 130 miles per hour — and still up to 81 mph when road markers are unclear or non-existent.

Some of the NAIAS products on display are expected to filter down to regional markets during the year. These products promise higher levels of technology, clean driving and better designs. Consumers are likely to be spoilt for choice.

Source : http://www.arabnews.com

2017 Honda Ridgeline debuts at Detroit auto show looking like a regular truck

Ten years after the original Ridgeline debuted at the North American International Auto Show, the second-generation model made its debut at the 2016 edition of the Detroit-based event. And you know what? It doesn't look half bad, which combined with improved versions of features that made the original so innovative put Honda in a good position to move a good number of trucks.

Unlike its predecessor's polarizing styling, the new truck ditches the high and sloping side rails, and adopts a more traditional three-box design. From the A-pillar forward, the Ridgeline looks like a blown-up CR-V with no mistaking of the family resemblance when it comes to the grille. Again, that's not a bad thing considering Honda is selling CR-Vs and HR-Vs like hotcakes.

Like the midsize Pilot crossover SUV, the Ridgeline is based on Honda's global light truck platform. Being a unibody instead of a full-frame as in other mid-size pickups like the Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon twins, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma, Honda says the Ridgeline will deliver superior on-road ride comfort and NVH. The 3.5-liter V-6 and six-speed automatic transmission combo is also shared with the Pilot, though Honda has not released output information for the Ridgeline yet.

Unlike the original, the new Ridgeline will be offered with either front- or all-wheel-drive. The latter features torque vectoring capabilities, and different settings including Normal, Sand, Snow and Mud modes

Innovative features like the dual-action lift gate and in-bed trunk now with a fully flat floor returns. The bed itself has a 4-foot wide flat space between the rear wheel arches to enable owners to haul items like sheets of plywood and drywall flat. The composite, scratch-resistant bed also features an available 400-watt AC power outlet, a 540-watt in-bed audio system, and is standard with eight 350-pound tie-downs. The power source and audio system may come in handy the next time you throw a tailgate party.

Honda also points out that the new Ridgeline is a capable mid-size truck with an estimated payload capacity of nearly 1,600 pounds. Final figures will come at a later date.

Inside, the Ridgeline will offer leather trim, tri-zone climate controls, push button start, and a color TFT center display. An 8-inch Display Audio touschscreen infotainment system is available, and compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The rear 60/40-split seats can fold-up adding to the Ridgeline's cargo carrying capabilities inside the cabin.

Optional safety features include lane-departure warning that will beep when the car senses you drifting out of a lane, forward-collision warning to alert drivers of a potential crash, collision-mitigation braking that will slow the vehicle to reduce the severity of an unavoidable impact, road-departure mitigation that automatically dials in slight steering inputs to keep you in a lane, and lane-keeping assist.

All Ridgelines will come standard with a rearview camera system, while premium trims will offer Honda's LaneWatch system that displays the image of the vehicle's right side blind spot on the center screen or a blind-spot monitoring system.

A Honda spokesman said addition details on the 2017 Ridgeline will be releases as we get close to the on-sale date, which is currently planned for this spring.


Source : http://www.cnet.com