Ford Limited Edition For Europeans
Posted by bensto in Ford on 04 20th, 2008
The Ford automaker has launch a new limited edition of the new Ford Focus Coupe-Cabriolet called the Focus CC Black Magic only for europeans. Power comes from a range of Duratec gasoline and Duratorq diesel engines. The two Duratec engines include a 1.6L that produces 98hp and a 2.0L that produces 143hp. The 2.0L Duratorq TDCi engine produces an output of 134hp.
The Ford Black Magic Focus CC limited edition comes in Panther Black metallic paint scheme and rides on 17-inch black powder-coated alloy wheels. The car also includes a new sports suspension, tinted headlamps and foglamps and new front and rear bumpers. On the inside the car is equipped with black leather seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob, aluminum accents, an enhanced audio system, parking radar, power heated mirrors, a wind deflector and new floor mats.
The Black Magic Focus CC will see a limited production of 1,500 units and will go on sale in May with prices starting at $44,300.
read comments (0)2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1
Posted by bensto in Chevrolet on 04 17th, 2008
The 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is said to be ‘an American supercar that brings the technology and engineering refinement of carbon-fiber, ceramics and electronics together in a distinctive design.’
The 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 will be powered by the new LS9 supercharged 6.2L V8 engine which engineers are still messing around with to hit a target of 620 horsepower and approximately 595 lb-ft. of torque. The new Corvette ZR1 was built on the same aluminum-intensive chassis as the Corvette Z06 which features similar independent SLA front and rear suspensions, with aluminum upper and lower control arms. The ZR1, however, gets a new suspension tuning, which was optimized for the car’s steamroller-wide front and rear tires.
The 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 will only be available with two options including chrome wheels and a “luxury” package when it hits dealerships next summer. Pricing is expected to be around $100,000.
Audi Stopped A4 Hybrid for US
Posted by bensto in Audi on 04 12th, 2008
Last year, Audi had confirmed that the German automaker would be introducing an A4 hybrid variant in about 2.5 - 3 years. They confirm that the structural design of the A4 was already designed to easily incorporate a hybrid system.
After stoped the plans to bring a Q7 hybrid to the U.S. by 2009 due to the value of the dollar, it seems like the A4 hybrid will unfortunately follow the same fate.
“The cost of the hybrid system on both vehicles would not offset the anticipated sales of the hybrids” said communications director Jeff Kuhlman. As a result of estimated low-volume and the crappy exchange rates, the price would be too high to move the two hybrids out of the showroom.
Though, Audi is still planning on offering a 3.0L diesel V6, the same unit used in the Q7 and the Volkswagen Touareg. The engine has already been certified and makes business sense for Audi.
2010 BMW V Series
Posted by bensto in BMW on 04 9th, 2008
So many names used to illustrate the 2010 BMW V Series. Latest one getting thrown around the halls of BMW headquarters in Munich is “progressive activity sedan.” Judging by the looks of the new model could look as odd as its name.
BMW’s attempt to find some middle ground between its all-wheel-drive SUVs and its rear-wheel-drive sedans. Mercedes-Benz already took a shot at this segment with its R-Class wagon, but BMW insists that this new model is not a direct R-Class competitor.
As an alternative, the V Series (as it’s expected to be called) will seat only four or five passengers, but its high roof line will give it the feeling of a much larger vehicle inside. Luxury automakers have been trying to pin down the appeal of SUVs for years now, and it appears as though they’ve settled on spacious visibility as the main draw. The higher roof line is the result of the raised seating position that will give the V Series its SUV-like feel.
BMW’s original plans called for a vehicle built on the same chassis as the 5 Series sedan, but the prototype shown in our exclusive spy video appears to have larger dimensions that suggest it’s using 7 Series hardware. And like the 7 Series prototype we spotted months ago, this V Series prototype had quad exhaust pipes in back, so there’s a good chance it will offer BMW’s new turbocharged V8 under the hood as well.
One remarkable difference between the V Series and the upcoming 7 Series sedan is the design of the C-pillar. There is no Hofmeister kink on the V Series prototype, a design element that has defined BMWs for decades. This could be nothing more than clever camouflage, but it’s more likely the result of the need for a more radical design in back to achieve space conditions.
