Showing posts with label Diesel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diesel. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

BMW Creates New Performance Edition models to Celebrate Sponsorship of 2012 London Olympics


There are many ways to celebrate the sponsorship of an event like the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, but when it comes to automakers, the norm is the introduction of special edition models.

For BMW, the festivities over its sponsorship of the games begin with the UK launch of two new Performance Edition models based on the 1-Series hatchback and 3-Series sedan.

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Monday, July 11, 2011

New BMW 6-Series Four-Door GT Spied in Black


Here are some fresh spy shots of BMW’s new Mercedes CLS and Audi A7 Sportback adversary, the four-door version of the latest 6-Series, which was spotted testing in Europe.

The third iteration of the 6-Series after the two-door Coupe and Convertible models will most likely be called the 6-Series GT or the 6-Series Gran Coupé and will reach showrooms in the first half of 2012. BMW believes the four door model will overshadow the rest of the range and predicts that it will account for around half of all 6-Series sales.

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Mercedes-Benz Outlines the New 2012 B-Class Small MPV Ahead of Frankfurt Show


We’ll know all the ins and outs of the new 2012 B-Class in about two months time at the Frankfurt Motor Show, but Mercedes today provided us with the first official teaser photos and initial specifications of its small MPV that will go on sale in Europe in November.

While the shape and styling of the new B-Class won’t surprise anyone given the close proximity to the current model, there’s more than meets the eye about the Mercedes-Benz model.

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New Peugeot 508 RXH with AWD Diesel-Electric Hybrid Drivetrain Takes on Audi’s A4 Allroad Quattro


Only a week after we brought you spy shots of Peugeot’s high-riding 508 SW, and the French carmaker released the first official photos of the production model that will carry the RXH moniker, ahead of its world premiere at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in September of 2011.

The new nameplate isn’t the only thing that differentiates Peugeot’s new crossover from the rest of the brand’s Outdoor models as the 508 RXH comes with all-wheel drive, courtesy of the Hybrid4 diesel-electric hybrid drivetrain.

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Friday, July 8, 2011

Lumma Design Unleashes BMW X6 xDrive40d


The German tuners over at Lumma Design are taking yet another stab on the BMW X6, this time, on the most powerful diesel model, the xDrive40d that is equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six delivering 306-horses and 600Nm (442 lb-ft) of peak torque in factory tune.

After Lumma Design’s people get their way with the diesel unit by updating the software and adding a custom exhaust system, output is increased to a more hearty 340-horses and 670Nm (494 lb-ft).

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Thursday, July 7, 2011

Redesigned Chrysler Grand Voyager MPV Reaches UK Shores


Chrysler’s facelifted for the 2011 model year Town & Country has arrived in Britain as the revised Grand Voyager. Different name aside, the UK market model features the same styling revisions as its American counterpart, including a redesigned nose, LED tail lamps, new rear bumper and revised tailgate on the outside, and a restyled dashboard and steering wheel on the inside.

However, instead of the new 283HP 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, the Grand Voyager is offered exclusively with 2.8-litre CRD diesel engine producing 161bhp at 3800rpm and 265lb ft of torque.

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Wednesday, July 6, 2011

2012 Range Rover Sport Benefits from 8-Speed Auto and More Powerful Diesel


After the introduction of the updated Discovery 4, Land Rover released details on its 2012 Range Rover Sport that features similar mechanical changes and equipment upgrades for the new model year.

As with the Discover 4, the Range Rover Sport’s more powerful 3.0-liter SDV6 diesel engine receives a 10HP boost lifting output from 245-horses to 256HP and is now mated to Land Rover’s new ZF 8HP70, 8-speed automatic gearbox. As a result, CO2 emissions have been reduced from 243g/km to 230g/km while combined fuel economy has improved from 30.7mpg to 32.1mpg UK.

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Land Rover Updates Discovery 4 / LR4 for 2012MY, gets New 8-Speed Auto Transmission


The Land Rover Discovery 4, also known as the LR4 in North America, is entering the 2012 model year with some minor refinements, the most important of which is the introduction of a new ZF 8HP70, 8-speed automatic transmission on the 3.0-liter SDV6 diesel engine which also benefits from a power boost.

First fitted to the Range Rover TDV8 for 2011, the 8-speed auto helps improve fuel consumption to 8.8lt/100km (26.7mpg US or 32.1mpg UK) in the combined cycle and bring down CO2 emissions from 244g/km to 230g/km.

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Only for Europe: New Ford Fiesta Sport Special Edition


Building on the success of the European market Fiesta Sport + (called the 1600S in the UK and Sport S in Germany) that was launched this past February, Ford has unleashed a new Sport Special Edition that includes further enhancements inside and out.

The latest sporty Fiesta is available with two engine options, the most potent of which is the 1.6-liter Duratec Ti-VCT petrol unit delivering 134-horses and 160Nm torque at 4,250rpm.

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ABT Kicks Off 2012 VW Beetle Tuning Party with the Speedle


The 2012 VW Beetle tuning wars have began. Leaving aside the Beetle RS project with some very light styling modifications by the enthusiast website VWVortex that we showed you back in June, ABT Sportsline is the first mainstream tuning firm to take on the all-new 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, or as the company likes to call it, the Speedle.

The noted VW Group tuner said it is still working on the performance upgrades for the latest Beetle, which won’t arrive in customer hands until September, but it can give us an idea of what to expect based on its current offerings.

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Friday, July 1, 2011

BMW 5-Series Gains New 2.0-Liter Four-Cylinder Turbo Engines, 5-Series GT gets the M Sport Treatment


There’s a lot going on in Munich today as BMW has unleashed details on its new model year portfolio. Following the news on the 6-Series, more of which you can read in our previous post here, we bring you the updates to the 5-Series range that includes the four-door sedan, the Touring (station wagon) and the Gran Turismo liftback.

We’ll begin with the changes to the engine lineup of the 5-Series saloon and Touring models. Starting from this fall, European buyers will be able to order the 5-Series with BMW’s brand-new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine, which is offered in two forms producing 184HP and 270Nm (199 lb-ft) in the 520i and 245HP and 350Nm (258 lb-ft) in the 528i.

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BMW Updates New 6-Series with M Sport, Diesel and xDrive Variants


BMW is wasting no time in enhancing the range of its recently launched 6-Series Coupé and Convertible models. To sum up the changes, from this autumn (and depending on the market, of course) both body styles will be available with an M Sport package, a new diesel engine and for the first time in the 6-Series model’s history, the Bavarian firm’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system.

Starting with the M Sport option, the package includes an M aerodynamics kit with bespoke front and rear bumpers, LED foglamps, 19-inch M light-alloy wheels in double-spoke design, sports seats with Alcantara/leather upholstery and an M leather steering wheel.

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Thursday, June 30, 2011

AC Schnitzer Unwraps New BMW X3 Tuning Package


Available since autumn 2010, the second iteration of the BMW X3 continues to draw the attention of European tuners. Seen here in AC Schnitzer guise, the F25 X3 has been upgraded with a styling package and go-fast modifications.

For starters, AC Schnitzer has upped the performance on the 2.0-liter diesel-powered xDrive20d from 184-horses to 218HP, while the company is also working on a kit for the xDrive30d as well as the 6-cylinder 2.8i and 3.5i petrol models, which will be released later this year.

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Tuesday, June 28, 2011

New BMW 6-Series GT Four-Door Coupe Spied in the Wild


Not too long ago, we brought you official design sketches of the production version of last year’s BMW Gran Coupé Concept. Now, our man with the long lens has captured an actual prototype that is production ready with only a few splashes of BMW’s traditional swirly camouflage covering its sides and rear end.

BMW’s first ever attempt to rival the Mercedes CLS in the so-called four-door coupe segment will most likely carry either the 6-Series GT or 6-Series Gran Coupé moniker.

Whatever the name, the sporty looking sedan model will share its underpinnings with the new 6-Series and of course the latest 5-Series, which forms the basis for BMW’s flagship coupe and convertible models.

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BMW Turbocharges X1 SUV with New 2.0 liter Gasoline and Diesel Engines


BMW is extending its smallest SUV’s range by adding two new engines to the X1's line-up. The first unit, which will be available this autumn, is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine producing 184HP and 270 Nm (27,5 kgm) from 1,250-4,500 rpm.

The compact crossover will be available in both rear and four-wheel drive versions bearing the sDrive20i and xDrive20i designations respectively, and which accelerate from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 7.4 (sDrive) and 7.8 (xDrive) seconds.

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Monday, June 27, 2011

New Jaguar XF 2.2 Diesel Goes from Birmingham to Munich on One Tank of Fuel


Jaguar is touting it’s new diesel-powered XF 2.2D saloon as the most fuel-efficient model in its history and to back its claims, the company set out to complete a journey from its factory at Castle Bromwich in Birmingham, UK, to Munich, Germany, on a single tank of fuel.

The British company manages to achieve its goal, with the four-cylinder XF covering a distance of 816 miles or 1,312 kilometers on 64 liters of diesel fuel, which gives an average fuel economy of 57mpg UK, equal to 4.9 lt/100km and 47.5 mpg US.

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New Jeep Grand Cherokee Lands in the UK, Available Exclusively with 3.0 V6 Diesel


Jeep claims that it has created the premium SUV market almost 20 years ago with the first generation of the Grand Cherokee (though Mercedes’ M-Class may actually have a better claim on the word “premium”, but whatever…). We’ve already seen the latest iteration of Jeep’s iconic 4x4, and we must admit that, on paper at least, it looks like a significant leap forward from its predecessors. Read more »

Monday, June 20, 2011

New MINI Coupe Debuts in Production Trim: 65 High Res Photos and Pricing


No more hiding under conceptual suits and swirly camouflage for MINI’s all-new 2012 Coupé as the firm’s parent company, the BMW Group, officially lifted the veil off the production model on Monday. The sportiest-looking MINI to date is a coupe-flavored version of the hatchback with seating strictly for two.

The Coupé’s appearance was previewed by the 2009 concept car of the same name and is distinguished by the backwards “helmet roof” design and the more sharply raked A-pillars.

The first “three-box” MINI also sits 52mm or 2.05-inches lower than its three-door hatchback counterpart. Notably, it also features an active rear spoiler that extends automatically at 80 km/h (50 mph) to optimize airflow at highway speeds.

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Audi UK Launches More Frugal A1 TDI, Returns 74.3mpg with 99g/km of CO2


An updated version of the Audi A1 1.6 TDI with increased fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions has been introduced into the British market. The Ingolstadt firm’s engineers optimized the 1.6-liter turbo diesel’s fuel system and engine management software, and as a result, reduced CO2 output from 105g/km to 99g/km, and boosted its combined economy figure from 70.6mpg UK to 74.3mpg UK (equal to 3.8 lt/100 km and 61.9mpg US).

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Friday, June 17, 2011

Hofele-Design Rocks the New Volkswagen Touareg II with Royal GT 470


And the train of Volkswagen Touareg tuners continues to grow. The latest to join the German SUV’s tuning fan club is Hofele-Design with its new Royal GT 470. The upgrade package is comprehensive and includes modifications to the exterior, interior as well as the chassis and the available V6 diesel.

The tuning shop’s aero kit comprises of a new front apron with integrated LEDs on both corners, matching wheel arch extensions, side skirts and a rear apron housing a diffuser and a choice of two different sets of exhaust tail pipe designs. A hood scoop, Hofele-Design’s bespoke front grille and 20- or 22-inch alloy wheels complete the changes.

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