2011 Volkswagen Beetle Ragster Concept Car Second Generation

Volkswagen to Launch the 2011 Beetle Based on the Beetle Ragster Concept car. Continued development of second generation of the Volkswagen Beetle that will be presented this year in November, as a concept car at the Salon in Los Angeles. Volkswagen is working on the second-generation of the new Beetle. The new car is expected to make a debut in concept form at the 2010 LA Motor Show later this year and will go on sale in 2011. A second generation Volkswagen Beetle will be launched next year, which would have more focus on driving dynamics rather than retro styling. The production version will debut at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011, and the year after arriving variant Cabriolet.
The Beetle will continue to be assembled in the plant in Puebla, Mexico, where it will be produced also the new Jetta. The two cars will share the new platform, characterized by a large step that will provide more cabin space for Beetle.

2011 Volkswagen Beetle Ragster Concept Car Second Generation

The second generation Volkswagen Beetle is a 2.0-liter engine producing 210 bhp (213 PS, 157 kW) could be seen on the car, more powerful than any engine currently sold on the vehicle. Also expected are 1.4-liter 160 bhp (162 PS, 119 kW) and 1.2-liter 105 bhp (106 PS, 78 kW) petrol engines. Diesel offerings could include 2.0-liter 140 bhp (142 PS, 104 kW) and 1.6-liter 105 bhp (106 PS, 78 kW) units. Customers in the US might get the chance to purchase the car with a five-cylinder 2.5-liter model cranking out 170 bhp (172 PS, 127 kW).
It is also said that the new car will have a heavily revamped interior. Engines will include the already existing 2.5-liter five-cylinder, a new 2.0-liter turbodiesel and a brand new hybrid version, powered by a 1.4-liter gasoline engine and a 27-horsepower electric motor. The engines will be mated with five and six speed manual transmissions and the new Volkswagen DSG dual-clutch gearbox.

2011 Chevrolet Volt Specifications and Review

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt makes its debut as General Motors' first plug-in gas/electric vehicle. It is slated to see limited production in calendar 2010, with launches in California, Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Washington, DC. Nationwide availability is slated for late-calendar 2011. GM calls this 4-passenger, 4-door hatchback

an "extended-range electric vehicle" in that it does not work like most hybrids. With many hybrids, their gasoline engines and battery-powered electric motors can provide power to the drive wheels. With Volt, the wheels are always driven by electricity, provided either by the onboard battery or gasoline engine that powers a generator. The car can plug in to a standard household outlet and charge overnight.

A high-output 240-volt charging station will be available that should cut charging time roughly in half. Chevy claims a range of 40 miles solely on a fully charged battery and about 340 miles when the gasoline engine is used. The gas engine is an 80-horsepower 1.4-liter 4-cylinder. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, front-side airbags, and driver and passenger knee airbags. Among the available features are a remote-charging and vehicle-control program that owners can download and run from Blackberry and Apple iPhone cell phones. A navigation system is standard, as is a hard drive for storing digital-music files. Leather upholstery, heated front seats, front- and rear-obstacle detection, and a rearview camera are optional. We have not yet tested the 2011 Chevrolet Volt.

2011 Porsche 918 Spyder hybrid Review

Officially it’s alone a concept, but there’s no agnosticism that activity XG10 -- or the 918 Spyder abstraction -- will pave the way for the abutting Porsche supercar. And what a supercar it is activity to be: in accession to the commonly aspirated, high-revving, 3.4-liter V-8 acceptable for added than 495 hp, the arresting 918 Spyder has three electric motors onboard that add addition 215 hp to the tally. Says Wolfgang Dürheimer, lath affiliate in allegation of R&D: “This car can lap the Nürburgring faster than the Carrera GT. At the aforementioned time, it averages 78 mpg [on the EU active cycle] aback apprenticed gently. Are we activity to body it? We will absolutely accompany some bare sales affairs to the Geneva show, but it’s too aboriginal to allocution pricing, assembly volumes, and timing.

"The cardinal aim is to authenticate that alike a supercar can be environmentally friendly. XG10 promises absolute active pleasure—and a bright conscience. This is a trendsetting and acceptable exceptional artefact that uses the affair of amusing acceptability to its advantage. And it reflects the bequest of Ferry Porsche, who was assertive that sports cars would never go out of fashion.”

XG10 stands for X1, Geneva 2010. X1 is the cipher name of the 918 Spyder, which is alone one adaptation of many. Potential variations accommodate a 918 coupe, an electric 918, and a 918 RS/RSR. This car can be either two- or four-wheel drive, accept constituent electric or gasoline power, appear with an accessible top or a anchored roof, and be either a racer or a artery machine. Its abiogenetic change dates aback to the 1997 Porsche GT1, which was a Le Mans–winning 911 on steroids. That car triggered activity LMP 2000 (Porsche’s agitative Le Mans improvement car), which was apoplectic at the eleventh hour by then-chairman Wendelin Wiedeking, who was consistently added of a numbers man than a car guy.

Thankfully, Wiedeking and his controller, Holger Härter, accustomed Dürheimer to aces up the LMP pieces and catechumen them into the street-legal Carrera GT, which was launched in 2003 and begin 1250 takers. In 2006, Porsche confused on to anatomy the base of the acknowledged RS Spyder. Four years later, we’re witnessing the admission of XG10, which still uses several Carrera GT elements, such as the advanced abeyance and the advanced structure. For 2011, assembly are already admiration LMP1, a chase adaptation of the 918 Spyder, which would accede with planned hybrid-friendly Le Mans regulations

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS Spy Shots

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS Leaked Ahead of World Premiere. 17 August 2010. We've accepted it was advancing for some time now, and photos assuming it about undisguised

Surprise, abruptness – Mercedes-Benz is alive on an AMG adaptation of its next-generation CLS-Class auto sedan. Our spies afresh bent this ancestor out and about, and beneath all of that cladding is what we brainstorm to be an badly attractive, steroid-enhanced adaptation of the new CLS body. We'll booty one in black, please.

Shapely curve aside, the best important allotment of any AMG car is what's beneath the hood, and the CLS AMG will absolutely backpack wallop. Apprehend Benz's new 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 to be beneath the bonnet, as this will rapidly become accepted blueprint for Benz's V8-powered AMG cars. We've already apprehend about this comminute in the new S63 and CL63, so apprehend the CLS to accompany about 540 application and 590 pound-feet of torque to the table, admitting we accept that an upgraded achievement amalgamation will be available, accretion these achievement numbers

F1 2010 E3 Gameplay is too realistic

Wanna play the latest E3 Gameplay from f1 2010,Codemasters' F1 2010 doesn't appear to be getting the same kind of press as Gran Turismo 5 or even DiRT 3, but a recently released in-game video could change that. The upcoming Formula 1 game is scheduled to hit stores in September, complete with damn-near photo-realistic gaming action that has us drooling. And we're not talking about those fanciful panning, aerial beauty shots that you see in some of the theatrical-looking promos for games. This is actual in-car, live racing footage. In the rain. Hit the jump to experience F1 2010 from the virtual cockpit of a Mercedes-Benz Formula 1 car.

check the video preview on youtube

2011 Audi Sports Car R8 GT

INGOLSTADT, Germany, May 1, 2010 Audi presents a limited-production version of it R8 high-performance sports car, the R8 GT, even more powerful, lighter and faster. The output of its 5.2-liter V10 has been increased to 412 kW (560 hp); vehicle weight has been reduced by roughly 100 kilograms (220.46 lb). The R8 GT accelerates from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 3.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 320 km/h (198.84 mph).

The R8 high-performance sports car has been a winner from the very beginning. This applies to both the production models, winners of the “World Performance Car” Award in 2008 (R8) and in 2010 (R8 V10), and to the race car, the R8 LMS, which won 23 races in its first season and claimed three championships. The genes of the race version are now coming to the street – in the R8 GT. The exclusive series is limited to 333 units. Each R8 GT has a badge with its production number on the shift lever knob.

The extremely high strength of the body is the basis for the high-performance sports car’s precise handling, and it also offers good vibration comfort and first-rate crash safety.

The engineers also fought to shave every possible gram of weight from the technical components of R8. They shaved one kilogram (2.20 lb) from the power brake system, four kilograms (8.82 lb) from the aluminum caps of the brake discs and 9.4 kilograms (20.72 lb) from the battery. The engineers also found 2.3 kilograms (5.07 lb) in the air intake module and 2.8 kilograms (6.17 lb) in the insulation of the engine compartment.

The modified V10, whose cylinder head covers are painted red, gives the Audi R8 GT breathtaking performance. The R8 GT sprints from a standing start to highway speed in 3.6 seconds, and from zero to 200 km/h (124.27 mph) in 10.8 seconds. And the thrust does not let up until the top speed of 320 km/h (198.84 mph) is reached.

Changes to the engine electronics coaxed an additional 26 kW from the ten-cylinder, which now produces 412 kW (560 hp) from a displacement of 5,204 cc. The torque curve peaks at 540 Nm (398.28 lb-ft) at 6,500 rpm, 10 Nm (7.38 lb-ft) more than in the production version. The V10 has a specific power output of 79.2 kW (107.6 hp) per liter displacement. Its power-to-weight ratio is 3.70 kilograms (8.16 lb) per kW or 2.72 kilograms (6.00 lb) per hp. The engine redlines at 8,700 rpm.

The normally aspirated engine consumes an average of 13.7 liters of fuel per 100 km (17.17 US mpg) – very good fuel economy given the tremendous power. The FSI gasoline direct injection system injects the fuel into the combustion chambers at up to 120 bar of pressure. The turbulent mixture cools the cylinder walls, enabling a compression ratio of 12.5:1. A variable intake manifold and the continuous adjustment of the chain-driven camshafts ensure that the combustion chambers are fully filled. Flaps in the intake ports facilitate the formation of the mixture by inducing a tumbling motion in the inflowing air.

2011 Audi Sports Car R8 GT

The 19-inch forged wheels are 8.5 J x 19 up front and 11 J x 19 at the rear, and are shod with size 235/35 and 295/30 tires, respectively. Audi will mount 305/30 tires together with optional wheels on the rear axle upon request. Cup tires, which offer the ultimate in performance on dry roads, are available for racing enthusiasts. At Audi, reducing weight means increasing performance and efficiency, but not sacrifice. The 2011 Audi R8 GT, which Audi sells in Germany for €193,000, comes with an automatic climate control system and power windows, a navigation system with MMI operating logic and a powerful sound system.

2011 Jeep Wrangler Specification Review

The Chrysler Group has launched for the 2011 Jeep Wrangler Specification Review model year, Jeep Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited 4x4s. Highlights include a much-needed redesign of the interior with improved materials (or so the company claims) and a fresh styling, plus an all-new body-color hard top for the Sahara model and equipment upgrades that include a USB slot for the audio system.

Prices and availability for the 2011 Wrangler will be announced at a later date (though, Jeep said production began earlier this week at the firm's Toledo plant in Ohio). Until then, follow the break for a comprehensive high-res image gallery and the official press release.

Skoda New 1.6 TDI Superb Range

New skoda 1.6 TDI Superb Range.The VW Group's new 1.6 TDI turbo diesel lists of the European market Skoda Superb saloon and Estate / Combi (station wagon) models, where it will replace the 1.9 TDI.

equipped with smaller displacement 1.6-liter four-cylinder diesel unit produces the same output figures as the 1.9 TDI with 105-horsepower and 250Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque, it promises to offer improved diesel mileage and lower CO2 emissions.

the fuel consumption has been improved by 6.9mpg UK to 45.6mpg UK (6.2lt/100km or 38mpg US) for the saloon, and 5.6mpg UK to 44.8mpg UK (6.3lt/100km or 37.3mpg US) for the Estate, while emissions have been reduced by 19g/km and 20g/km respectively.
In the UK, the 1.6 TDI CR comes with a five-speed manual gearbox and is available in S and SE trim levels with prices starting at £17,480. check the latest photo of Skoda New 1.6 TDI Superb Range

2011 Infiniti Cars M35h Sports Sedan The "Driver's" Hybrid

The “driver’s hybrid” from Infiniti, the M35h sports sedan, will introduce world-first steering and braking technologies when it goes on sale in the USA and Europe in 2011. The company calls the M35h a "driver's hybrid," with innovations in both steering and braking technologies designed to blend fuel efficiency with driving feel. As the first in-house hybrid from Nissan/Infiniti, the M35h is pretty unassuming. Indeed, although the test cars we drove in Japan were covered with decals advertising their gasoline-electricness, small “hybrid” badges on the production models’ front fenders will be the biggest powertrain giveaway once the cars arrive stateside next spring.

The Infiniti’s single electric motor is located between the engine and automatic transmission, in place of a conventional torque converter. The 67-hp motor is connected to the crankshaft via a wet-plate clutch. This allows the M to use its 1.3-kWh, 340-volt lithium-ion battery pack for electric-only propulsion at speeds up to about 60 mph as long as the driver keeps throttle application below 20 percent.

The 2011 Infiniti sports sedan M35h uses a 3.5-litre petrol V6 and a 68 PS (50 kW) electric motor for propulsion while power is put to the ground via a seven-speed automatic gearbox. The brakes are similarly designed primarily to suit sports sedan buyers’ needs, but at the same time contributing to the lower carbon footprint of the M35h, low CO2 champion of Infiniti’s all-new M Line sports sedan line-up.

Central to this is its one motor/two clutch system. The first clutch is installed between the naturally-aspirated 3.5-litre V6 and the electric motor, which is embedded within the automatic transmission. The electronically controlled clutch allows the full decoupling of the V6 when the car is in electric drive and power regeneration modes. Decoupling the V6 reduces mechanical drag and boosts the efficiency of the electric motor.

Aided by an exceptionally fast charge/discharge response from the lithium-ion battery pack, the result is a hybrid that’s electrically powered for more of the time, and at higher speeds, than conventional hybrids.

Infiniti’s sports sedan first hybrid, the M35h is the low CO2 star of the all-new M Line which also includes petrol and diesel models and which is the first M ever to be sold in all of Infiniti’s 34 world markets.

 2011 Infiniti Cars M35h Sports Sedan The "Driver's" Hybrid

Among the Infiniti M’s many other claims to fame are the world-first Blind Spot Intervention (BSI), state-of-the-art Forest Air climate control and Active Noise Control, while comfort and luxury are taken care of with double-piston dampers and the availability of semi-aniline leather in the spacious cabin.

Extensive details regarding these two innovations are available in the press release and Inifiniti said it will sell the M35h sports sedan on all of their 34 world markets. M35h sports sedan sales start in spring 2011, depending on market.

2011 Ford Edge begins shipping to dealers as model hits 400,000 units

It goes without saying, but we're going to go ahead and say it anyway: Crossovers are so hot right now. According to data compiled by Ford, the CUV industry has expanded 220 percent since 2006, which is the year the Blue Oval introduced the world to the Edge, its main player in the hotly contested market.

Ford also contends that the over 400,000 Edge CUVs have sold since late 2006, making it the best-selling mid-size crossover over that period of time. Don't expect that growth to slow down any time soon, either, as Ford projects the CUV segment will increase another few percentage points in 2011. In fact, the market for CUVs will grow to be as large as that of full-size pickup trucks.

In order to meet the increased demand it expects for CUVs, Ford has sharpened its Edge (sorry, couldn't resist) for the 2011 model year. Of special note are the two new drivetrain choices that join the standard 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 2.0-liter EcoBoost with 285 horsepower and a 3.5-horsepower 3.7 Ti-VCT V6 in the newly beefed-up Edge Sport.

The House that Henry Built is also quick to point out that its next-gen Edge will come with a full suite of technology options, including Sync and MyFord Touch. So, will all of this added goodness equal a worthwhile improvement to the hot-selling previous-generation Edge?

General Motors and SAIC to jointly develop small engine and dual clutch transmission

General Motors has reached an agreement with one of its primary Chinese partners, Shanghai Automotive Industries Corp. (SAIC), on the joint development of powertrains for small vehicles.

GM and SAIC will develop and produce a family of four-cylinder engines ranging from 1.0- to 1.5-liters with direct injection and turbocharging. The GTDI engines should cut fuel consumption by around 20 percent compared to similarly-sized engines with equivalent output.

The engine will be used in GM and SAIC vehicles in China and around the world, and to go along with the new engine, the partners will also develop a small dual-clutch transmission that should provide a 10 percent boost in efficiency over current six-speed torque converter automatics. Work on the engine and transmission will occur at GM's powertrain engineering center in Pontiac, MI and the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center in Shanghai.

GM has yet to announced when the new powertrains will debut in production, but mid-2011 is a safe bet.

[Source: General Motors]

2010 New Lancia Stratos

This is new 2010 Lancia Stratos. it has given in to the frenzy it's caused and posed pretty for the camera. Not only that but we have details too, like how it's got a Ferrari V8, ceramic brakes and a cost-is-no-object development budget.

are you really curious with new Lancia Stratos, Well, this baby's got it all, the compact size, the clamshell openings, a tight, race-oriented cockpit and Ferrari power. A few things have changed though. Gone are the pop-up head lights, a victim of the times more than anything, and rather than a V6 mounted midship, instead there's a V8. The only one out there these days is the 4.5-liter from the 458, but who knows what could be lurking in there.

New Dacia Duster SUV from Elia

The German tuning house Revealed named Elia car, of all things related to the Renault-Nissan Alliance, has just launched two styling packages and an performance kit for Dacia's low-cost Duster small SUV AWD 4x4.

Named "Adventure Kit", the first package adds a bull-bar to the front end and new protective side bars. The second package is more comprehensive and includes either 16-inch alloy wheels (18-inch rims are available as an option), LED daytime running lights up front, side skirts and a chrome piece for the tail pipe.

On the performance front, there's a tuning kit that recalibrates the 1.5-liter turbo diesel's engine's ECU lifting output to 122HP. New Revealed Dacia Duster SUV

Leaked! 2011 Mercedes-Benz CLS peeks out before official debut

Whoops! The men and women in Stuttgart weren't planning to unveil the new Mercedes-Benz CLS just yet, but the crew from eMercedesBenz snagged these leaked images showing the new four-door coupe in all its production-ready glory.

As expected, the new CLS takes a lot of its styling cues from Benz's Shooting Break concept (they're name, not ours) notably the upright grille and more aggressive front fascia. The sectioned-off headlamp design has also remained intact, and from these photo-realistic renderings, it looks like someone shot the CLS in the eyes with lemon juice. Still, we're eager to see how this mix of LEDs looks out on the road at dusk. The CLS also uses the more shapely rear hips of the Shooting Break concept, rounding out the revised rear end. It's certainly more stylish than the outgoing CLS, which says a lot.

Inside, the CLS continues to use its four-seat arrangement with a center console that extends the full length of the cabin, and we fully expect the overall refinement to fall somewhere between the E-Class and S-Class sedans. Plush stuff, we're sure.

When the CLS launches, eMercedesBenz reports that a new 3.5-liter direct-injected V6 will be offered, as well as a twin-turbocharged 4.6-liter V8 good for around 430 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. Of course, an AMG version won't be far behind with the all-new 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 underhood.

Now that these leaked shots have hit the web, don't be surprised if the official images and details are published in the very near future

[Source: eMercedesBenz]

2012 Saab 9-4X confirmed for LA debut in November

We've been expecting this announcement to come sooner or later, though we didn't exactly count on it coming from the LA Auto Show's own Twitter page. But there it is anyway, straight from the horse's mouth: "Saab has confirmed that the 9-4X Crossover will make its world debut at the LA Auto Show this Nov."

We're also expecting some sort of official word that the new crossover 'ute, which will share its Theta Premium underpinnings with the Cadillac SRX, should hit the market sometime in the spring of 2011... perhaps around April.

While we're on the subject of expectations, we'd also imagine that Saab will offer its premium crossover with the same powerplants as the recently released 9-5, which means we could see a 2.0-liter turbocharged four and a 2.8-liter turbocharged six, both likely mated with a six-speed automatic transmission and available all-wheel drive. We'll apparently find out for sure soon enough.


[Source: LA Auto Show's Twitter]

2011 Aston Martin Sports Cars DB9

The Aston Martin company has revealed their new 2011 Aston Martin sport car DB9 with new styling and some engineering and equipment upgrades. 28 June 2010, Gaydon, Warwickshire: In the most significant programme of upgrades since its world debut in 2003, Aston Martin’s sport car DB9 range has received a complete package of styling, engineering and equipment enhancements. “Improving upon what many consider to be one of the most beautiful sports cars in the world is a delicate exercise,” says Aston Martin.

The Aston Martin designers gave new 2011 sport car DB9 subtle enhancements in appearance including a new front bumper, new grille, a reshaped lower intake that now features a hexagonal mesh, new headlight bezels, re-styled sills, silver brake calipers, 20-spoke diamond turned alloy wheels and clear rear light lenses.

Performance comes courtesy of Aston Martin’s sport car celebrated 6.0-litre V12 engine, which develops an unchanged 470bhp and 442lb ft of torque. Mated to a choice of six-speed ‘Touchtronic’ paddle-shift automatic or six-speed H-pattern manual transmissions, the DB9 offers an intoxicating blend of effortless pace and sporting character. A top speed of 190mph and the ability to hit 60mph in just 4.6sec seal its credentials as the definitive 2+2 Grand Tourer.

Ian Minards, Aston Martin’s Product Development Director said, “The DB9 was the first sport car built at Gaydon adopting the VH architecture. It has evolved every year since, with significant changes including a power upgrade and successive reductions in CO2 emissions. The latest package of improvements goes further than ever, highlighting the DB9’s qualities as a true sporting GT and underlining its role as the backbone car of our range.”

The Aston Martin DB9 sport car is available as either Coupe or Volante (convertible) with rear mid-mounted six-speed manual gearbox as standard or optional ‘Touchtronic 2’ six-speed automatic transmission. Production of the revised DB9 is already underway, with deliveries commencing in July. Prices start from £122,445 for the DB9 Coupe and £131,445 for the DB9 Volante.

 2011 Aston Martin Sports Cars DB9

2011 Infiniti Cars IPL G Coupe With New Performance

Nissan's luxury division has unveiled the 2011 Infiniti IPL G Coupe, with new performance coupe, and for those that want to see the car in the flesh should attend the 60th edition Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The first production vehicle from this group, the 348-horsepower 2011 Infiniti Performance Line G Coupe. It joins the Infiniti line of performance luxury vehicles at Infiniti retailers nationwide in December. Infiniti is heading down the road already strafed by the likes of BMW's M division, Mercedes-Benz' AMG sub-brand, and Audi's S and RS offspring, with a new performance badge dubbed IPL.

The IPL G Coupe's enhanced performance comes from the synergetic effects of three technology areas – engine tuning, dynamic tuning and sound quality/acceleration feel tuning. Engine performance modifications were selected not only for increased horsepower and torque levels, but also for acceleration feel and exhaust sound without compromising fuel economy or noise standards.

The IPL G Coupe's advanced VQ37HR 3.7-liter V6 engine management system has been recalibrated through air-fuel mixture and ignition timing optimization, raising the maximum horsepower output point to 7,400 rpm (from 7,000 rpm). To obtain a natural acceleration feel, the torque curve from low revs to the maximum torque point (5,200 rpm) was tuned for linearity. As a result of both the exhaust system and engine management changes, the IPL G Coupe generates 348 horsepower – an increase of 18 horsepower over the non-IPL models – and 276 lb-ft of torque (+6 lb-ft).

For better handling and road grip the 2011 Infiniti IPL G Coupe also comes with a stiffer suspension, upgraded brakes with ventilated discs on all 4-wheels plus aluminum-alloy 4-piston brake calipers at the front and 2-piston opposed rear calipers.

"When you drive the IPL G Coupe, the first thing you notice is the surge in sound and acceleration feel. The inspiring swell of sound is in complete harmony with the acceleration feel as engine speed increases," said Poore. "The sound is clean and inspiring, adding to the fun-to-drive sensation provided by the 348 horsepower under the hood.

2011 Infiniti Cars IPL G Coupe With New Performance

The closest G to the IPL in today’s lineup is the G37 Sport, which comes similarly equipped to the new IPL G Coupe and starts at $41,275 with a manual transmission. The IPL has more standard features and the more powerful engine, which leads us to believe that it will wear a price tag just north of $46,000 when it goes on sale in December.