Jonny Lieberman gathers three luxury barges together for America’s Motor Trend: The Audi A7 Sportback, Jaguar’s XJ and the Mercedes-Benz CLS 550. Personally, we’d have replaced the Jaguar with a Porsche Panamera as it doesn’t really fit into the ‘four-door coupe’ segment that the other two do. Just sayin’… (more…)
Month: July 2011
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Motor Trend comparison: Audi A7 Vs Mercedes-Benz CLS Vs Jaguar XJ
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BMW Launches M3 DTM concept car
After releasing endless snippets of information, BMW Motorsport has finally débuted its stunning M3 DTM Concept Car. The beast had its cover removed by Dr. Klaus Draeger and Jens Marquardt at BMW Welt, the exhibition facility of the BMW AG, in Munich earlier tonight. Andy Priaulx and Augusto Farfus were also officially unveiled as the first two drivers confirmed as drivers for the 2012 season.For those (including us) of a certain age, the E30 M3 DTM car was nothing less than rolling pornography, and will remain as such. But checking out these E92 images, it’s safe to say that the new car looks equally desirable. Powered by a 480 hp V8 engine, 100 km/h (62 mph) appears in just 3 seconds, while top speed is around 300 km/h (186 mph).
[Source: BMW Motorsport]
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DTM: Audi banking on the A5 coupé in 2012
Audi will be switching its successful A4 DTM model for the A5 coupe from 2012. Based on the recently facelifted A5 model, the DTM car will be based around a carbon-fibre monocoque, combined with a steel tube cage, and get its power from a near-identical version of the 460 hp V8 unit curently being used in the 2011 A4 car.A prototype of the new A5 racer (codenamed R17) is being completed at Audi Sport in Ingolgstadt and will make its official debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September. Cool.
[Source: Audi Motorsport]
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Volkswagen Beetle production begins in Mexico
Production of the new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle began today in Puebla, Mexico. 300 guests were there to witness the arrival of the all-new Bug, including Felipe Calderón, the Mexican President and Dr. Guido Westerwelle, the Federal Foreign Minister.The Puebla plant also produces the Jetta model for North and South America, and Europe with the new Jetta volume model. As with its current production of the Golf Estate, the new Beetle is manufactured for the world market.
The 2012 Beetle will arrive in showrooms by Autumn this year with an MRSP starting price of $18,995 for the 170 hp 2.5L model.
[Source: Volkswagen]
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The Silver Arrows slide around Mercedes-Benz World
Here’s a cool video featuring the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows display team taking to the track at Brookland’s Mercedes-Benz World. It’s a nice example of tyre-shredding precision driving, carried out by a bunch of Stigalikes, in glorious-sounding CLS 63 AMG and E 63 AMG models. (more…) -
New Opel Combo revealed
Opel has just released its 2012 Combo model. Based on Fiat’s ‘International Van of the Year 2011,’ the Doblò van, the versatile Combo is available in a five or seven seat configuration, with steel or glass panels, and in a choice of two wheelbases – 2,755 mm or 3,105 mm, and even two roof heights – 1.85 m or 2.10 m.When the combo goes on sale this autumn, customers will have a wide range of engines to choose from, including four diesels: a 1.3 CDTI and 1.6 CDTI – both producing 90 hp, a 105 hp 1.6 CDTI and a range-topping 135 hp 2.0 CDTI.
There’s just one petrol option available – a 1.4 which develops 95 hp. Finally, an economical and eco-friendly CNG (compressed natural gas) version that pushes out 120 hp
The 1.3 CDTI and petrol models get a five-speed manual gearbox, while the more powerful diesels and the CNG car have six-gears. The 90 hp 1.6 CDTI can be ordered with the Easytronic automated five-speed manual. Start/Stop function can be specified on all models apart from the Easytronic-equipped cars and, unusually, the CNG model.
[Source: Opel]