The engineers of tuning firm BRABUS have developed a new special auxiliary module for the electronic engine management system for the new Mercedes E 300 BLUETEC called the “BRABUS PowerXtra D6 BLUE”. While the kit boosts power output by 47 HP at the same time exhaust emissions stay below the permissible limits of EURO V by up to 65 percent. 1 Şubat 2008 Cuma
Mercedes-Benz E 300 BLUETEC 258HP by BRABUS
The engineers of tuning firm BRABUS have developed a new special auxiliary module for the electronic engine management system for the new Mercedes E 300 BLUETEC called the “BRABUS PowerXtra D6 BLUE”. While the kit boosts power output by 47 HP at the same time exhaust emissions stay below the permissible limits of EURO V by up to 65 percent. 
BMW to Introduce EfficientDynamics Concept Car in Geneva
The Bavarian carmaker’s Geneva Motor Show stand will host the worldwide debut of an eco-friendly concept car that has never been seen before. There are no pictures or details on the car and the only thing that BMW says is that the new will showcase the outlook and future direction of its EfficientDynamics programme -feel free to speculate. For those of you wondering what “EfficientDynamics” stands for, its BMW’s way of characterizing the concept (or the overall technologies used) to overcome the apparent conflict of interests between better performance and greater fuel economy plus low emissions.
Mazda Carol Hot-Rod Wannabe
You’ve gotta give plenty of credits to the Japanese students of the Shizuoka Professional College of Automobile Technology for building this cool and Mazda Carol Hot-Rod wannabe. The students combined the body and interior of a 60’s Mazda Carol (rear-engined) with the all-wheel-drive powertrain and chassis of a mid 80’s Suzuki Jimny / Samurai. Too bad that they decided to retain the Suzuki’s puny 23 HP strong 0.5-liter engine unit.
Suzuki to Unveil V8-Powered Kizashi 3 Concept in NY?
According to a report from the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Suzuki is planning to unveil a third iteration of its Kizashi mid-size sedan concept in 2008 Cuda Concept Design Proposition
Looks like the one-off, custom made 2008 Cuda coupe that made its appearance at last year’s SEMA Show (see video here) has enliven the interest in the Plymouth Barracuda. This computer generated rendering is the work of Rafael Reston, a digital designer from Honda Civic Monster Truck!
We’re pretty sure that this monsterized Honda Civic hatch was made by those crazy folks from the discontinued “Red & Green” comdey show –who else would use duck tape as a means of body management… Not so sure however that the Civic actually moves, but it definitely made us laugh for about 3.7 seconds!
Update: 2008 London Motor Show Poster In High-Resolution
We received a significant number of e-mails last night from our readers asking us for higher resolution versions of the 2008 London Motor Show poster that we first showed you yesterday –see here. Although we tried to send as many e-mails as we could, we reckon that it’s just better to let you download wallpaper versions of the picture straight from our blog. The image above is 800x600, but if you follow the jump, we’ve added the most common PC/Laptop wallpaper sizes along with one that’s 1800x1350.
Geneva Preview: 2008 Renault Twingo RS
European consumers searching for an affordable hot hatch will soon be able to add one more car to their list as Renault today took the wraps off the long-awaited Twingo RenaultSport (RS for short). Inspired from the Twingo Concept that was unveiled at the 2006 Paris Motor Show, the Twingo RS car slots into the Renaultsport range alongside its bigger sister cars, Clio and Megane RS. Official: Isuzu Abandons North American Passenger Vehicle Market
We had been hearing various rumours about Isuzu leaving the North American market the past few months, but now its officially-official; as from January 31, 2009, Isuzu will stop distributing new passenger vehicles in Volkswagen Tiguan Goes On Sale in The UK
The German carmaker’s first compact SUV is available from today at Volkswagen Retailers across the Nissan Navara Outlaw: Limited Edition Version Launched in Australia
Nissan Geneva Preview: Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Officially Revealed
Unless you’re not one of our regular viewers, we don’t have anything more to say about the facelifted Mercedes-Benz SL-Class than what we’ve already told you in our previous posts. However, just for the sake of any newbies, here are the most significant changes: redesigned front end with new bi-xenon lights, bumper and grille, restyled rear bumper, seats with AIRSCARF neck-level heating, optionally available direct-steer system, new-look steering wheel, restyled instrument cluster and modified COMAND system.2008 Dodge Challenger: Production Versions Spotter at Roush
One of readers sent us this picture earlier today featuring a pair of production Dodge Challengers sitting in front of the workplace of Ford Tuning specialist, Roush. We’re not jumping to any hasty conclusions but if anything else, the fact that the two Challengers where spotted there, does raise a few questions.
Facelifted: Renault Samsung releases SM7 "New Art"
For 2008, Renault Samsung made subtle tweaks on its flagship sedan, the SM7. Based on the Nissan Teana, the SM7 has been a strong seller to the luxury buyers in its domestic market. The facelifted model also gains a new name, dubbed the SM7 New Art. The naming scheme is similar to the lower-priced SM5 New Impression, which was facelifted for 2007. The SM7 New Art made its premiere at an unveiling event at the Seoul Grand Hilton Hotel.3 years after the company's premium sedan went on sale, the SM7 New Art was developed in a span of 2 years, raking over 100 billion Won or an estimated $106.5 million in U.S. currency. The SM7 New Art packs the award-winning Neo VQ35 engine, but only produces a meager 217 horsepower. It is mated to a Steptronic 5-speed automatic transmission. A few of the changes made to exterior of the SM7 include a redesigned front fascia, redesigned taillights, and new wheels. The interior packs a premium BOSE audio system.
The sales of the SM7 New Art have commenced on January 3rd following the official unveiling event. The SM7 New Art SE starts at a base price of 27 million Won ($28,757 USD), while the range-topping RE35 trim starts at 41 million Won ($43,668 USD). The automaker tsrgets to sell 2000 units per month in Korea.
BMW announces 320i M Sport Edition for S. Korea
BMW has announced the release of the 320i M Sport Edition for the South Korean market today. Marketed as a limited-production model, only 300 units of the car will be sold by May 2008.
Based on the entry-level 320i, the M Sport Edition adds many sporty touches including the M Aerodynamic Package. The package consists of front, rear, and side skirts, 17" M alloy wheels, two-tone black and gray leather sport seats and aluminum-trimmed interior. The M Sport Edition also adds an M Sport steering wheel and a sport-tuned M Sport Suspension. Powertrain output remains the same as the conventional 320i, equipped with a 2.0L 4-cylinder that produces 156 horsepower.
The M Sport Edition adds no extra amenities, but the 320i it's based on is already packed with copious features such as six standard airbags and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC). Other features include Park Distance Control (PDC), run-flat tires, bi-xenon headlamps, automatic climate control, cruise control, MP3 CD player, and power heated seats for the driver and front passenger. Also, a limited edition model does not leave the lot without the glitzy badges to indicate so. In this case, the 320i M Sport Edition will feature M Sport badges including one plastered under to push start ignition button.
The 320i M Sport Edition will be only available in three colors: Titanium Silver, Black Sapphire, and Le Mans Blue. It will be priced at 47.4 million Won, approximately $50 484 in U.S. currency.
Ford Korea achieves record sales since brand's launch
While the Ford we Americans are familiar of are continuously slumping, Ford Korea has posted record sales of its cars in South Korea since its inaugural launch in 1997. In 2007, the brand has sold 2022 units of various Ford and Lincoln cars in the line-up. The last record was set in 1997, the year of the brand's launch, with 1810 units sold. Five new models were also launched in 2007 including the Lincoln MKX, MKZ, Ford Explorer Sport Trac, Escape, and New Taurus. Over at the Lincoln department, the brand announced a 350% increase in total sales from 2006, showcasing the brand's recent mass appeal in the market.The brand's best-selling model, the Ford Five Hundred, achieved a total sales number of 435 units in 2006. The successor to the Five Hundred, renamed the New Taurus, has seen respectable sales of 352 units since its launch in August 2007. Creating a storm in the compact SUV market, the Ford Escape saw an increase of 62% in sales from 2006 with 308 units sold.
The current Ford Korea line-up has seen substantial popularity as of recent, catering to the various tastes from the New Taurus for the premium crowd to the Mustang for the enthusiasts. Other offerings include the Explorer, Explorer Sport Trac, Escape, Lincoln MKZ, MKX, and Town Car. The recent surge of popularity will likely only increase with the anticipated introductions of new cars for 2008 such as the Ford Mondeo and S-MAX. Ford Korea has set a higher sales target for the new year of 3000 units, a 50% jump from the past year and a number they will most likely achieve.
It's Here: USDM 2009 Hyundai Genesis
As Detroit approaches the door closer than ever, Hyundai has released the first official images and details regarding the automaker's attempt to revitalize the brand's image. After waiting nearly 3 years in front of our computers for the release of arguably the most anticipated car for 2008, Hyundai knocked on our door with a bonanza of surprises (that's car-language for features) that got us going already. The Genesis, Hyundai's first rear-wheel drive luxury sedan, mainly targets the potential Chrysler 300 and Pontiac G8 customers. Set to be first unveiled at the North American International Autoshow in Detroit, Hyundai claims the Genesis will be priced a dash under the $30K mark when it goes on sale this summer.Starting off our round-up with the design, we can definitely figure that Hyundai placed a few design benchmarks like the Lexus LS460 for the front and the BMW 5-Series at the rear. The side...well we've seen the kink in tons of other cars before so we won't put the Genesis in the spotlight. However, all in all, Hyundai has managed to combine the elements into an elegant solution that isn't too tawdry or flashy. In addition to that, Hyundai has gone badge-less with the front grille indicating that they knew a prominent slanted H at the front would hurt sale
Hyundai rolls out more images of USDM Genesis
If you're looking for information regarding Hyundai's new flagship sedan, I suggest reading the article below this one. However, if that's old news, the new high-resolution images Hyundai released this morning should be satisfying. These press shots give us a better glimpse of the Genesis, which will reveal itself to the world at the upcoming Detroit Autoshow next week. The Genesis is available in three different powertrain configurations: 3.3L 264hp V6, 3.8L 290hp V6, and a 4.6L 368hp V8. If you're interested, follow the jump to view a 30-image high-resolution gallery provided by NetCarShow.com.
Montreal 2008: Hyundai unveils 2009 Elantra Touring
The first time we were laid eyes on the 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring was at the SEMA show last year. Adorned with a bizzare paint coat and a few other accessories, the new five-door variant of the automaker's compact Elantra did not receive much attention from the press or the public. Badged as the i30 CW in Europe, Hyundai hopes to cross-shop the consumers who would otherwise look at the Toyota Matrix, Dodge Caliber, and Mazda3.The production Elantra Touring, without the exterior eyesores, was unveiled for the first time at the 2008 Montreal International Autoshow today. Hyundai also celebrated its 25 years of selling cars in Canada at the launch. Acting as the indirect replacement of the Elantra Hatchback, the Elantra Touring boasts many class-leading features such as standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and the largest interior volume in its class. It will be powered by the same engine that propels its four-door variant, a 2.0L 141 horsepower 4-cylinder engine. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, while a four-speed automatic is optional. The Elantra Touring also features a sport-tuned suspension (purely namesake), and a standard USB port alongside an AUX port. Other options include a leather-trimmed interior, and 17-inch alloy wheels.
The Elantra Touring will reach showrooms in spring of 2008 as a 2009 model. Pricing should be announced closer to its launch date
GMDAT releases 2009 Tosca Premium 6
The competitive midsize sedan market in South Korea has recently seen a slew of new cars released. The Hyundai Sonata Transform and the Renault Samsung SM5 New Impression are important examples. Hopping on the bandwagon is the 2009 GM Daewoo Tosca Premium 6. Beneath the long badge are subtle mechanical and visual changes. The main highlight of the changes is the standard 6-speed Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. Engineered in cooperation with GM Powertrain's Transmission Engineering Center located in Ypsilanti, Michigan and GM Daewoo, the new transmission promises to deliver significantly improved mileage and performance.Other changes made to the Tosca include a redesigned set of taillights, the addition of a rear garnish, and redesigned 16-inch and 17-inch alloy wheels. New gauges, available Electronic Stability Control (ESC), a USB port, switch-blade style keys, and adjustable rear-seat head restraints also make the cut. Last but not least, the formerly optional "Aero Pack" (a bodykit consisting of front, side, rear sideskirts, and muffler trimming) is now standard across the range.
Officially going on sale today, the Tosca Premium 6 will have a base starting price of 17.26 million Won ($18,086 USD) for the L6 2.0L trim. The range-topping L6 2.5L will start at 26.62 million Won ($27,894 USD).
Infiniti starts sales of EX35 in S. Korea
President of Nissan Korea, Greg Phillips, introduced the EX35 crossover for the South Korean market today. The EX35 joins the Q45, M, G35, G37 Coupe, and the FX as the latest model in the automaker's Korean line-up.The EX35 packs the award-winning VQ35 series 3.5L VQ35HR engine that produces an impressive 302 horsepower. The EX35 features a number of class-leading technologies such as the acclaimed Around View Monitor and Welcome Lighting System. Other features include power folding 2nd-row seats, 11-speaker BOSE Premium audio system, Intelligent Key, and push start/stop button. Safety is also a priority at Infiniti and it is evident with a number of safety features including 8 standard airbags and Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The EX35 also boasts a Top Safety Pick award from IIHS in the mid-size sport-utility category.
The EX35 officially goes on sale today, across Infiniti's 4 flagship stores in South Korea. It will have a starting price of 54.7 million Won ($57,319 USD)
Kia debuting possible Spectra successor concept car in New York
The current Spectra has been on sale since 2004, and has sold considerably well since its release. The Spectra, along with its 5-door sibling Spectra5, was refreshed for MY2007. Now, according to Ward's Auto, Kia Motors America will be debuting an all-new preview concept at the 2008 New York International Autoshow in March.Len Hunt, President of KMA, told reporters that the new concept car will be based on the Spectra. Hunt also hinted that the new car, along with the production Soul, will enter the U.S. market in early 2009. We suspect the mystery concept car is the long-awaited replacement of the Spectra. The timeframe is bang-on and testing prototypes were appearing more frequently in the recent months.
Kia has set its eyes on Toyota's youth brand, Scion, with these two vehicles. Hunt stated that the two models will rival the Scion xA and the xB. From this, we can confirm that the Soul's main competition is the xB. Hunt also hinted of a possible compact sports coupe, based on Hyundai's Veloster Concept, for release in the near future.
Ssangyong to unveil Chairman W in mid-March
Ssangyong's current flagship sedan, the Chairman, had received negative reviews from the press and past owners. When you couple the fact that the car sits on Mercedes-Benz's aging W124 platform, and its mediocre and derivative styling, the Chairman really offers no advantages over its rivals.The automaker has issued a statement regarding the release date of the anticipated Chairman-replacement today. To be badged as the Chairman W (pictured above), the car will feature an industry-first (South Korean) 5.0L V8 that is speculated to produce over 350 horsepower. Another industry-first accomplishment Ssangyong offers in the car is a Mercedes-Benz sourced 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission. The Chairman W will sit on an all-new platform. Spec-wise, the Chairman W has beaten the Hyundai Genesis in a number of areas already. However, to every seemingly-great deal, there is always a catch. Ssangyong plans to break the 100 million Won mark ($105 000 USD) for a loaded model, which means the Chairman W will compete with more high-end vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the Audi A8.
The Chairman W will become the most expensive Korean-produced vehicle with its 100 million Won price tag. Currently, the one that holds the record is the Hyundai Equus 4.5L Limousine. It stickers for 90.78 million Won. Other outstanding features the car is equipped with include 4-Tronic 4-wheel drive system, Harman-Kardon premium audio system, ten airbags, and Active Cruise Control.
Even though the bounty of features are appealing to the least, we wonder how the Chairman W will actually fare in the heated luxury-car segment when it goes on sale in March. The Chairman marque has already gained considerable status in its domestic market. However, it is the first time Ssangyong has extrapolated into the segment long dominated by the likes of Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Will they be able to pull it off? We think Ssangyong will trek through treacherous grounds ahead. What do you think? Tell us via commenting after the jump.
Spied: 2010 Kia Spectra (TD)
Caught here winter-testing, the higher frequency of the appearances of the car indicates a nearing release. The anticipated successor to Kia's compact offering will sit on the same platform as its cousin, the Hyundai Elantra. Judging by how large the current Elantra became over its predecessor, we expect the new Spectra to be plagued with the same effect. Also, if we're not mistaken, the new Spectra is one of the first vehicles in the Kia line-up to be fully designed by Peter Schreyer.The front shots show elongated headlights and a dropping grille, similar to the Hyundai Sonata or the Acura TSX. As we move to the side, we can definitely sense its Elantra DNA with evidences like the thick C-pillar and the overall wedginess of the design. The windshield rake is considerably sleek, which is a notable design element we've seen here. The back gives off a hatchback scent, with the short trunk overhang and the steep rear window.
We have second to none confirmed information regarding what engines the new Spectra will be available with. Considering the Elantra still uses the 2.0L Beta 138 horsepower 4-cylinder, it won't be surprising if Kia takes that route as well. It also won't be surprising if Kia decides to inject some needed oomph and offer more powerful engines.
Expect to see a precursor concept of the TD Spectra at the upcoming New York International Autoshow in March. The car will go on sale in early 2009 as a 2010 model. There is no word whether a five-door variant will be offered as of yet, but it is very likely Kia will release one.
Mitsubishi to enter South Korea in September
Daewoo Auto Group, responsible for the sales of Saab and Cadillac alongside GM Daewoo in South Korea, has announced the official date Mitsubishi will officially enter the Korean market today. To launch in September, Daewoo plans to price the cars low enough to compete head-to-head with domestic brands such as Hyundai and Kia. As of now, import cars all have tariff premiums plastered on their price tags.Mitsubishi Korea's inaugural line-up will consist of the Lancer, Lancer Evolution, Eclipse, Outlander, and Pajero (formerly Montero in U.S.). Daewoo officials stated, "Import cars in the Korean market are sold at ridiculous prices, but Mitsubishi will be the first to break the barrier."
Mitsubishi's main rival as of now is Honda. However, that will change as other prominent Japanese automakers are scheduled to enter the heated market too. Nissan plans to release details any day now on its inaugural launch in September. Toyota is also slated to enter the market later in the year. From there, the competition between the first to fourth ranking Japanese automakers will only heat up. But is it enough to give the shivers (or sweats) to the dominating domestic brands?
[Source: Dong-A Ilbo]
Triumph Recreates Vintage Steve McQueen T-Shirt
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