Saturday, 22 March 2014

Exclusive: 2015 Hyundai Sonata LF Rear Picture - The Korean Car ...

Exclusive: 2015 Hyundai Sonata LF Rear <b>Picture</b> - The Korean <b>Car</b> <b>...</b>

Exclusive: 2015 Hyundai Sonata LF Rear <b>Picture</b> - The Korean <b>Car</b> <b>...</b>

Posted: 22 Mar 2014 05:03 AM PDT

2015-hyundai-sonata-rear-undisguided

Just less than two days before the all-new Hyundai Sonata Launch Event scheduled for March 24, 2014. Today and thanks to LFSonata Fan Club we can share the first 7th generation Sonata rear picture.

Remember that we shared recently new spy photos of the 2015 Sonata in a South Korean Plant and Service Manual pictures (In these manual pictures we can see some details of the new generation Sonata like that will include HID-Bi Function Headlights, new interior pictures, detailed taillights, steering wheel, infotainment systems with Blue Link 2.0, odemeter, dashboard design, etc…).

Plus other possible variant of the Sonata spied with strong camouflage, where spy photographers said that it was a 2.0 T-GDi 274 hp variant including the first time seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission DCT (debut at the Geneva Motor Show few weeks ago). That variant is expected to debut later.

There are only a few days for the official debut and you can follow it from here! Hyundai Sonata LF Launch Event

Until that, what do you think about these new spy shots and Sonata's rear design?

Nissan Juke facelift (2014) first official <b>pictures</b> <b>...</b> - <b>Car</b> Magazine

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 10:30 PM PST

By Ollie Kew

First Official Pictures

04 March 2014 06:30

This is the facelifted Nissan Juke. Chief among the visual changes to Nissan’s divisive-looking but best-selling crossover are reshaped LED running lights inspired by 2013’s Extrem concept car, a revised front bumper that look less like a wine rack, and revised tail lights.

There are also new alloy wheels and, as you can see, garish paint schemes, but the real headlines here lurk under Quasimodo’s skin.

What’s really new about the 2014 Nissan Juke?

The thirsty old 1.6-litre atmospheric engine has been binned. In its place, you now have a 1.2-litre turbo engine. Sounds like a raw deal, but this Renault-Nissan-developed engine is a much better ownership bet on paper.

It’s 2bhp down on the 1.6 (114bhp plays 116bhp), but torque is actually up from 116lb ft to 140lb ft. That should make the 1.2 feel stronger in the mid-range, and save fuel when cruising.

The 1.2 DIG-T engine is lighter than the 1.6 it pensions off, and has stop-start as standard. So, it wins the CO2 battle (126g/km beats 139g/km) and claimed fuel economy is better: 36.7mpg is well and truly trumped by the 1.2’s 51.4mpg official figure. The 1.5-litre diesel engine survives the facelift unchanged.

Anything else?

You can now spec a glass roof to brighten the cabin, and there’s updated tech in the form of moving object detection, blind-spot warning and lane-departure warning systems. Two-wheel drive Jukes now have a bigger boot: space is up 40% to 354 litres.

So, while the Juke’s facelift isn’t radical, the price changes for the British-built crossover shouldn’t sky-rocket either. And with 420,000 Jukes sold so far (almost 99,000 of which live in the UK), chances are the Juke didn’t need to change. What’s popular with buyers is good news for the British car industry â€" the Juke is built in Sunderland.

Tell us if you think the tweaks for the Juke went just far enough â€" or otherwise â€" in the article comments below.
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Thursday, 20 March 2014

Audi TT and TTS (2014) first official pictures ... - Car Magazine

Audi TT and TTS (2014) first official <b>pictures</b> <b>...</b> - <b>Car</b> Magazine

Audi TT and TTS (2014) first official <b>pictures</b> <b>...</b> - <b>Car</b> Magazine

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 11:00 AM PST

By Damion Smy

First Official Pictures

03 March 2014 19:00

This is the third-generation Audi TT that’s due in showrooms by the end of 2014. While it’s a more creased, hard-edged design, it still carries the crucial curves that set tongues wagging when the first TT rocked up in 1998.

What’ve they done to it?

It’s not as convincing as the original, is it? It’s a culmination of cues from the Audi Sport Quattro concept shown at the 2013 Frankfurt show, and the Audi Allroad Shooting Brake Concept that was displayed at the Detroit show in January. Audi has shown the regular TT and the more potent TT S model.

>> Click here to see the Audi Sport Quattro Concept

That angular version of the single-frame grille is like Hannibal Lecter’s mask on the classic TT silhouette: a bold garnish to the curvier, organic body design. Xenon LED headlamps as standard, with the Matrix Beam lamps currently offered on the A8 saloon optional.

Its 4.18m length is slightly shorter than the current car, but sits on a 37mm-longer wheelbase (2505mm), is 10mm narrower at 1832mm but is identical in height (1353 if you must know) yet sits 10mm lower on 18in alloys. Blending the current trend of sharper, trouser creased-styling with the original’s seductive curves hasn’t resulted in aching beauty, but the TT hallmarks remain: the crease over the front wheel, teardrop glasshouse and rounded-off tail. The badge is now on the bonnet, a la Audi R8, for the first time instead of its current position on the TT’s grille.

The design team, which includes the UK’s Steve Lewis, has incorporated more three-dimensional detailing, alluded to by (now former) Audi designer Wolfgang Egger at the 2013 Frankfurt motor show. That includes the sharp edges around the headlamps, as well as taillights protruding beyond the rear body curves.

What’s new apart from the look?

This is the first sportscar built on the VW Group MQB platform â€" VW’s high-tech, much imitated modular architecture that enables cars to be lengthened, lightened, tightened and powered by just about whatever fuel customers may want. For TT Gen III, that means the aluminium spaceframe body is a core feature, like before, and is wrapped around more ultra- and high-strength steel underpinnings. That means it’s 50kg lighter than the current car, thanks to form-hardening of its metallic cocktail, with the 2.0-litre TFSI model now carrying 1230kg.

And inside?

This is brilliant â€" that new digital dash cluster that was shown at the Consumer Electronics Show back in January. From the new sports seats (that are 5kg lighter), the simple, clean and sophisticated cabin has binned the central screen to show all functions in front of the driver in a single display. The 12.3in ‘Audi Virtual Cockpit’ display is customisable and boasts stunning 3D-effect graphics, positioned behind that stunning flat-bottom three-spoke steering wheel. Again, it’s straight out of the Sport Quattro Concept and is to that shown on the VW T-Roc concept that will also be at the Geneva motor show. Oh, and there’s a 13-litre increase in boot size…

>> Click here for more on the Audi TT cabin

What’s powering the new TT?

The engines will be largely carry-over, with the four-cylinder 2.0-litre engine offered in 227bhp for the TT that gives it a 0-62mph time of 6.0sec. Choose the six-speed S-tronic instead of the six-speed manual and add Quattro all-wheel drive, and it’s 5.3sec. Want more? You’ll need the 306bhp TT S that can run from 0-62mph in 4.7sec.

If that’s not enough, you may want to wait for the snarling five-pot TT RS with as much as 400bhp from its 2.5-litre, and a 0-62mph time in as little as 4.0sec. It should arrive in 2015 when the seven-speed S-tronic transmission lands, as initially the TT will use a six-speed manual or six-speed dual clutch gearbox. The third-gen Audi TT will be in UK showrooms before the end of 2014.

The 2.0-litre diesel carries on, too, with 184bhp and 67.2mpg for 110g/km CO2. The biggest difference will be the availability of the diesel with front-wheel drive, as it’s currently quattro-only.

The Audi TT arrives in UK showrooms in late 2014 and should start at £25,000.
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Wednesday, 19 March 2014

Top ten pictures from the 2014 Australian Grand Prix - F1 Fanatic

Top ten <b>pictures</b> from the 2014 Australian Grand Prix - F1 Fanatic

Top ten <b>pictures</b> from the 2014 Australian Grand Prix - F1 Fanatic

Posted: 18 Mar 2014 06:03 AM PDT

Ten of the best pictures which tell the story of the Australian Grand Prix weekend.

Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso

Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso, Albert Park, 2014

Daniil Kvyat had an outstanding though not error-free first weekend for Toro Rosso. Having accompanied team mate Jean-Eric Vergne into Q3 he went off in the dying moments of the rain-hit session damaging his car. But he drove a clean race and in doing so became F1′s youngest points scorer of all time.

Caterham

Caterham, Albert Park, 2014

A Caterham mechanic is illuminated by the rear light on the CT05 as he starts the engine. The team endured a horrendous Friday, managing just three laps. Final practice on Saturday was a considerable improvement an in qualifying Kamui Kobayashi got his car into Q2.

Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull

Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull, Albert Park, 2014

Daniel Ricciardo uses every last millimetre of tarmac at turn 15 during the dry final practice session. A superb first weekend on home ground with Red Bull saw him qualify on the front row and deliver second place in the race. But he was thrown out of the results for a technical infringement.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, Albert Park, 2014

Lewis Hamilton mastered the wet conditions in qualifying to claim pole position. Here the ERS indicator lights glow on the cars behind him as he waits to join the track.

Start, Albert Park, Melbourne

Start, Albert Park, Melbourne, 2014

But Hamilton's race went wrong before the start as his engine failed to fire properly. While team mate Nico Rosberg dodged past into the lead, McLaren's Kevin Magnussen almost lost control of his car in front of Fernando Alonso.

Kamui Kobayashi, Caterham

Kamui Kobayashi, Caterham, Albert Park, 2014

A failure in the braking system on Kobayashi's car sent him skidding out of control into the first corner at the start. He bounced off Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari then ploughed into Felipe Massa's Williams.

Kimi Raikkonen, Valtteri Bottas

Kimi Raikkonen, Valtteri Bottas, Albert Park, 2014

Raikkonen went wheel-to-wheel with the other Williams of Valtteri Bottas twice during the race. Bottas demonstrated the speed of the Williams by passing the Ferrari twice, while Raikkonen was also coping with electronic problems.

"Nico Hulkenberg, Fernando Alonso

Nico Hulkenberg, Force India, Albert Park, 2014

On his fourth attempt Nico Hulkenberg finally made it beyond the first lap of the Australian Grand Prix. He did so in impressive style, holding Fernando Alonso at bay for more than half the race before losing out at the final round of pit stops.

Kevin Magnussen, McLaren

Kevin Magnussen, McLaren, Albert Park, 2014

McLaren mechanics cheer Magnussen who brought his car home on the podium in his first ever race. With Jenson Button finishing behind him and both later being promoted by Ricciardo's retirement, McLaren took the lead in the constructors' championship.

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, Albert Park, 2014

Rosberg got his season off to a winning start and based on Mercedes' daunting performance we may see him and Hamilton spraying a lot more champagne in the coming races.

More Australian Grand Prix pictures

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2014 Australian Grand Prix

Browse all 2014 Australian Grand Prix articles

Images © McLaren/LAT, Mercedes/Hoch Zwei, Daimler/Hoch Zwei, Red Bull/Getty, Force India, Caterham/LAT, Pirelli
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Tuesday, 18 March 2014

BMW X4 (2014) first official pictures | Automotive ... - Car Magazine

BMW X4 (2014) first official <b>pictures</b> | Automotive <b>...</b> - <b>Car</b> Magazine

BMW X4 (2014) first official <b>pictures</b> | Automotive <b>...</b> - <b>Car</b> Magazine

Posted: 06 Mar 2014 02:00 AM PST

By Ollie Kew

First Official Pictures

06 March 2014 10:00

This is the new BMW X4. BMW’s latest niche-buster was previewed as a close-to-production concept in April 2013, but now you’re looking at the showroom-ready X4 that’ll reach UK dealerships in July 2014.

Is the BMW X4 just a shrunken X6?

In effect, yes. BMW is applying its purist-riling but commercially successful SAC (Sports Activity Coupe) template to the BMW X3 to create the new X4, just as the last-gen X5 begat the sloping-roofed X6.

The dimensions of the X4 follow suit: it’s 14mm longer than an X3 and 36mm lower overall. BMW’s tried to hint at a sporting character inside the car too: the driver and front seat passenger sit 20mm lower than they would in an X3 â€" the rear-seat passengers lower still, by 28mm.

Unlike the bigger, pricier X6, which remains a four-seater unless the owner ticks a three-abreast bench option, the X4 can seat five people as standard. However, the roofline’s highest point is directly above the driver’s head â€" rear passenger headroom is likely to be at a premium.

There’s a cargo capacity penalty too. Open the X4’s motorised tailgate and you find a 500-litre boot, expanded to 1440 litres with the rear seats dropped. The frumpier X3 boasts 550 litres with all five seats up, and 1600 in van-mode.

Is the X4 more expensive than an X3?

Yes â€" you pay lots more for less practicality. The X4 starts at £36,590 for the entry-level model, a 187bhp/295lb ft 2.0-litre diesel with all-wheel drive and a six-speed manual gearbox. That’s a £3600 premium over an equivalent X3.

Why am I being charged more for less car?

BMW claims the X4’s dynamics put the X3 so far in the shade that the space trade-off is worth it. The proof of that pudding will come in the form of two rumoured M Performance flagships: the X4 M40i and X4 M40d.

Yet coupes aren’t just sold on smiles-per-mile (even ‘four-door’ ones) â€" they’re bought for their looks too â€" and that’s where the X4 is more controversial. Seen here in M Sport guise, it’s a divisive design: distinctive and controversial in equal measure. Tell us your thoughts about the new BMW X4’s looks in the comments.

Which other engines can I have in my X4?

It’s diesel only for the UK, like the X3 range. Top of the heap is the six-cylinder X4 xDrive35d, good for 309bhp, 465lb ft, and 0-62mph in 5.2sec. BMW claims this X4, which will hit 153mph flat out, can achieve up to 47.1mpg.

Sitting in the middle of the range is the six-pot X4 xDrive30d. Power is down to 255bhp and 413lb ft, but it’s only 0.8mpg more frugal than the flagship model, according to BMW’s figures. Both of the six-cylinder diesel engines are mated with an eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard.

Anything else?

Amongst the enormous options list, there’s the choice of 17in ‘aero-wheels’ for the X4 xDrive20d and xDrive30d. While they won’t make your 4x4-coupe fly, BMW claims that their low-drag design, when twinned with low-friction tyres, cuts CO2 emissions by a 7g/km. That takes the least powerful X4 to 129g/km, making it cleaner than a Mini Cooper S with a manual gearbox (133g/km). Not bad for a big, bluff family SUV.

Standard X4 equipment includes speed-sensitive steering, 18in alloys, parking sensors and Xenon headlights. Heated front seats, BMW’s ‘Business Media’ infotainment package and split folding rear seats feature on all models too, plus that automatic tailgate.

>> Is the BMW X4 now the smart SUV choice, or just a nonsensical niche? The floor is open for your comments
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Monday, 17 March 2014

Toyota Aygo (2014) first official pictures | Automotive ... - Car Magazine

Toyota Aygo (2014) first official <b>pictures</b> | Automotive <b>...</b> - <b>Car</b> Magazine

Toyota Aygo (2014) first official <b>pictures</b> | Automotive <b>...</b> - <b>Car</b> Magazine

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 11:45 PM PST

By Ollie Kew

First Official Pictures

04 March 2014 07:45

The new Toyota Aygo is chasing a new level of customization, like the Peugeot 108 and the Citroen C1 that it shares it platform and mechanicals with.

Like it? The bold face of the Aygo is shows off the brash new hatch that’s chasing a younger audience that its French counterparts, with an interchangeable ‘X’ face that, side strakes and rear diffuser. The intention, says Toyota, is to give the Aygo a wide strong stance, a level of personalization all while maintaining its lithe, city friendly dimensions â€" what it calls ‘evolution of Aygoness’. Yup.

Why has Toyota put so much effort into the look of the Aygo?

This is a crucial car for Toyota â€" 65% of Aygo buyers go on to purchase another Toyota, so it’s an entrée to what the brand can offer. And of course, it has to entice buyers not just from the C1 and 108, but cars like the VW Up. ‘Astro Boy was one of the main inspirations in the design concept of the new the Aygo,’ says chief designer, Nakamura-san. ‘He is drawn in a simple way but is very recognisable.’

You won’t mistake the Aygo for the C1 or 108. The Aygo’s newfound level of customisation starts with that in-ya-face X, which dominates the nose and crosses the A-pillar to give the Aygo a wider stance. At the rear, there’s an interchangable diffuser-type panel, too, with high vertical lights adding to that muscled-up, larger presence. Interchangeable side strakes are on offered, as well, combined with contrasting paint for the alloy wheels and unique colour combos for your own, um, Aygoness.

Looks slightly bigger

The new Aygo is a mere 25mm longer than before, but it’s still only 3455mm long. ‘We don’t want to just keep growing the car,’ says Aygo’s UK product manager, Alan Barratt. There’s still an emphasis on passenger space, though. Instead of the fold-back roof on the 108 and C1, Toyota’s added some muscle: spot that double-bubble roof. ‘The idea of the double bubble is to allow the roof lining to follow the roof and give the maximum interior space with a small exterior dimensions,' Aygo chief designer, Nakamura. The overall theme is of a geometric exterior being pressured by an organic interior â€" think of an egg pushing out of a tissue box, and that’s what Nakamura means.

What about the interior?

Inside, then, the cabin’s been decluttered for a more spacious feeling. ‘We reexamined the basic proportions of the interior, and tried to keep the number of components to a minimum,’ Nakamura says, with the centre cluster, for instance, moved inward by 50mm for a greater sense of openness. You can also customise the inside, too, with the smartphone-like ease of clicking on and clicking off the dash garnish, the gear lever surrounds and more of the ‘playfulness’ Toyota says is part of the Aygo theme in the graphics: for instance, Nakamura points out that the digital temp gauge will ice up when its cold, or show steam in hot weather. Cute.

Haven’t we heard all of this before, from the Mini and the Vauxhall Adam?

Sure, says Toyota, but there’s a crucial difference: the execution. With rivals, says Toyota, customers rarely get their first choice. ‘Our retailers are telling is that people are coming in and wanting to customize their cars,’ says Barratt. ‘The issue is price and the issue is availability. If you can fix those things… the right products, the right choices and it’s affordable, we think we’ve cracked it.’

To ‘crack it’, Toyota will offer customization in only one trim line, called ‘X-play’, and keep up to 15,000 cars in an inventory once they’ve left the Czech factory in which they’re built. Peugeot and Citroen won’t do the same for 108 and C1. Further Aygo customization can be done at the dealer, suggests Barratt.

What about under all that colour and bravado?

Two three-cylinder 1.0-litre engines will be offered at launch, in 68bhp guise, with a five-speed manual or five-speed auto transmission. Toyota hasn’t release mpg figures, but based on the French cars’ there should be an Aygo that claims better-than 65.7mpg and around 82g/km of CO2.

The Aygo is expected to have a slightly higher list price than the C1 and 108, yet that’s will still only around £9000 when it hits showrooms in mid 2014.

Nissan Juke facelift (2014) first official <b>pictures</b> <b>...</b> - <b>Car</b> Magazine

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 10:30 PM PST

By Ollie Kew

First Official Pictures

04 March 2014 06:30

This is the facelifted Nissan Juke. Chief among the visual changes to Nissan’s divisive-looking but best-selling crossover are reshaped LED running lights inspired by 2013’s Extrem concept car, a revised front bumper that look less like a wine rack, and revised tail lights.

There are also new alloy wheels and, as you can see, garish paint schemes, but the real headlines here lurk under Quasimodo’s skin.

What’s really new about the 2014 Nissan Juke?

The thirsty old 1.6-litre atmospheric engine has been binned. In its place, you now have a 1.2-litre turbo engine. Sounds like a raw deal, but this Renault-Nissan-developed engine is a much better ownership bet on paper.

It’s 2bhp down on the 1.6 (114bhp plays 116bhp), but torque is actually up from 116lb ft to 140lb ft. That should make the 1.2 feel stronger in the mid-range, and save fuel when cruising.

The 1.2 DIG-T engine is lighter than the 1.6 it pensions off, and has stop-start as standard. So, it wins the CO2 battle (126g/km beats 139g/km) and claimed fuel economy is better: 36.7mpg is well and truly trumped by the 1.2’s 51.4mpg official figure. The 1.5-litre diesel engine survives the facelift unchanged.

Anything else?

You can now spec a glass roof to brighten the cabin, and there’s updated tech in the form of moving object detection, blind-spot warning and lane-departure warning systems. Two-wheel drive Jukes now have a bigger boot: space is up 40% to 354 litres.

So, while the Juke’s facelift isn’t radical, the price changes for the British-built crossover shouldn’t sky-rocket either. And with 420,000 Jukes sold so far (almost 99,000 of which live in the UK), chances are the Juke didn’t need to change. What’s popular with buyers is good news for the British car industry â€" the Juke is built in Sunderland.

Tell us if you think the tweaks for the Juke went just far enough â€" or otherwise â€" in the article comments below.

Koenigsegg One:1 (2014) first official <b>pictures</b> <b>...</b> - <b>Car</b> Magazine

Posted: 28 Feb 2014 06:00 AM PST

By Ollie Kew

First Official Pictures

28 February 2014 14:00

Stand well back. This is the Koengisegg One:1, and it may well need a team of lion-tamers to restrain it from leaping clean off its Geneva motor show stand and picking a fight with the McLaren P1, LaFerrari and Porsche 918. You’re looking at, according to Koenigsegg, the new fastest road car in the world.

Pull the other one. How fast is this Koenigsegg?

The Swedish supercar maker, which is celebrating its 20th birthday this year, calculates the One:1 will achieve 273mph flat out. The really terrifying bit is that the top speed is dictated by the limits of the Michelin tyres, not the drivetrain. Flipping, and indeed, heck.

What does the weird ‘One:1’ name mean?

It’s the car’s power to weight ratio: something of a holy grail for car engineers. The all-carbonfibre One:1 weighs 1341kg â€" around 50kg less than a ‘dry’ McLaren P1, and about the same as a fuelled LaFerrari.

Yet it develops a faintly ludicrous 1329bhp â€" or 1341PS, in new money. That’s right: this car has one horsepower per one kilogram. Hence the One:1 name, and the fact it’s not far off being of capable of time travel.

I bet it’s a part-electric hybrid to get that sort of power

Not so. Unlike McLaren, Ferrari and Porsche’s latest supercars, the Koenigsegg One:1 is no hybrid. All of its power is developed by a mid-mounted 5.0-litre V8, boosted by two variable geometry turbochargers. That’s an engine half the size of a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport’s W16, with half the turbo count, producing an extra 143bhp.

The engine has been bored out slightly from its application in the 1124bhp Koenigsegg Agera R (which weighs 70kg more than the One:1), and boost has been wound up by 0.4bar, to 1.8bar. The engine is happy to burn regular super-unleaded, FIA-certified race fuel, or (in a cheeky nod to the new-found eco-consciousness of modern supercars) E85 bioethanol, says Koenigsegg.

Power is sent to the rear wheels only, via a seven-speed paddleshift gearbox and an electronic rear differential.

Give me some more performance figures!

To get your head around just how fast the Koenigsegg One:1 is, consider that instead of quoting a 0-62mph time for the car, Koenigsegg has only revealed one acceleration stat: the car’s 0-250mph time. It’s 20 seconds â€" three seconds faster than a Porsche 918 Spyder can crawl to 186mph. Impressed yet?

No? Then take note of the One:1’s unmissable aero package. Amusingly, Koenigsegg claims that top speed was not the main pursuit with the One:1 (then why did you give it over 1300bhp, guys?) Instead, like the McLaren P1, the One:1 is designed to be the ultimate track weapon.

You’d have to be mad to drive this thing on track!

We agree, but Koenigsegg’s engineers don’t. The standard One:1’s Agera R body has sprouted new canard winglets up front, and a huge adaptive rear wing, which flattens itself under hard acceleration for less drag, and pops up when you brake or corner for more downforce.

Koengisegg reckons the entire car conjures up 610kg of downforce at 273mph. McLaren will no doubt smugly remind you that its own P1 needs only a pedestrian 150mph to be showing on its speedo before it creates 650kg of extra mass. Nevertheless, the One:1 still generates a purported 2G in a fast bend.

Enhancing the One:1’s racetrack credentials are carbon-ceramic disc brakes measuring 397mm up front (and 40mm in width!), gripped by six-piston calipers. The rears are 380mm across, and have four-pot grabbers.

They live behind lightweight carbonfibre wheels, and can haul the One:1 from 248mph to rest in 10 seconds. Or pull you up from 62mph in a scant 28 metres â€" 45m less than the UK Highway Code requires.

Wow. Can I buy one?

No, you’re too late, even if you’ve got the requisite $2m lying around. Only six One:1s will be produced by Koenigsegg, and all are spoken for, with four reportedly snapped up by Chinese enthusiasts.

With LaFerrari and McLaren P1 sold out as well, it’s over to the 270mph Hennessey Venom GT or Porsche 918 Spyder super-hybrid if you’re a lottery winner in need of modern hypercar kicks.


 
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Tuesday, 11 March 2014

Mazda Hazumi pictures and eyes-on: Mazda 2 concept car has ...

Mazda Hazumi <b>pictures</b> and eyes-on: Mazda 2 concept <b>car</b> has <b>...</b>

Mazda Hazumi <b>pictures</b> and eyes-on: Mazda 2 concept <b>car</b> has <b>...</b>

Posted: 07 Mar 2014 11:15 AM PST

If there's a prize for car with the coolest name from this year's Geneva Motor Show then we think it would have to go to the Mazda Hazumi concept. Although, really, it's less concept and borderline reality and what you're currently feasting your eyes on will be the Mazda 2.

And it looks rather lovely. It's got that distinct Japanese style about it that oozes cool and, in this instance looks like an Alfa Romeo 4C has had a facelift. Maybe it's the red paint and strong lighting, or perhaps it's that curvaceous "smile" tucked in among the Transformer-esque front grille.

We were only able to see the Hazumi from afar rather than get inside, but from what we can see this 5-door super-mini has all the guts it needs to take on the likes of a sporty Ford Fiesta. Mazda has squeezed in plenty of details that caught our attention: the dual exhaust to the rear and those 18-inch alloy really set off the low-slung chassis.

Under the hood there's a new 1.5L Skyactiv-D diesel engine able to deliver CO2 emissions under 90g/km - an key element in the UK to keep its tax on par with the likes of the 88g/km Ford Fiesta or Focus.

Other details are somewhat limited - this is a concept after all - so sit back and click through the gallery and adsorb what we think is a striking little car to look at. In many ways its a shame the concept name will die as we keep saying it with our best Japanese accent and think it's got a wonderful ring to it even from a Western tongue. Looks and sounds good to us.

BMW X4 (2014) first official <b>pictures</b> | Automotive <b>...</b> - <b>Car</b> Magazine

Posted: 06 Mar 2014 02:00 AM PST

By Ollie Kew

First Official Pictures

06 March 2014 10:00

This is the new BMW X4. BMW’s latest niche-buster was previewed as a close-to-production concept in April 2013, but now you’re looking at the showroom-ready X4 that’ll reach UK dealerships in July 2014.

Is the BMW X4 just a shrunken X6?

In effect, yes. BMW is applying its purist-riling but commercially successful SAC (Sports Activity Coupe) template to the BMW X3 to create the new X4, just as the last-gen X5 begat the sloping-roofed X6.

The dimensions of the X4 follow suit: it’s 14mm longer than an X3 and 36mm lower overall. BMW’s tried to hint at a sporting character inside the car too: the driver and front seat passenger sit 20mm lower than they would in an X3 â€" the rear-seat passengers lower still, by 28mm.

Unlike the bigger, pricier X6, which remains a four-seater unless the owner ticks a three-abreast bench option, the X4 can seat five people as standard. However, the roofline’s highest point is directly above the driver’s head â€" rear passenger headroom is likely to be at a premium.

There’s a cargo capacity penalty too. Open the X4’s motorised tailgate and you find a 500-litre boot, expanded to 1440 litres with the rear seats dropped. The frumpier X3 boasts 550 litres with all five seats up, and 1600 in van-mode.

Is the X4 more expensive than an X3?

Yes â€" you pay lots more for less practicality. The X4 starts at £36,590 for the entry-level model, a 187bhp/295lb ft 2.0-litre diesel with all-wheel drive and a six-speed manual gearbox. That’s a £3600 premium over an equivalent X3.

Why am I being charged more for less car?

BMW claims the X4’s dynamics put the X3 so far in the shade that the space trade-off is worth it. The proof of that pudding will come in the form of two rumoured M Performance flagships: the X4 M40i and X4 M40d.

Yet coupes aren’t just sold on smiles-per-mile (even ‘four-door’ ones) â€" they’re bought for their looks too â€" and that’s where the X4 is more controversial. Seen here in M Sport guise, it’s a divisive design: distinctive and controversial in equal measure. Tell us your thoughts about the new BMW X4’s looks in the comments.

Which other engines can I have in my X4?

It’s diesel only for the UK, like the X3 range. Top of the heap is the six-cylinder X4 xDrive35d, good for 309bhp, 465lb ft, and 0-62mph in 5.2sec. BMW claims this X4, which will hit 153mph flat out, can achieve up to 47.1mpg.

Sitting in the middle of the range is the six-pot X4 xDrive30d. Power is down to 255bhp and 413lb ft, but it’s only 0.8mpg more frugal than the flagship model, according to BMW’s figures. Both of the six-cylinder diesel engines are mated with an eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard.

Anything else?

Amongst the enormous options list, there’s the choice of 17in ‘aero-wheels’ for the X4 xDrive20d and xDrive30d. While they won’t make your 4x4-coupe fly, BMW claims that their low-drag design, when twinned with low-friction tyres, cuts CO2 emissions by a 7g/km. That takes the least powerful X4 to 129g/km, making it cleaner than a Mini Cooper S with a manual gearbox (133g/km). Not bad for a big, bluff family SUV.

Standard X4 equipment includes speed-sensitive steering, 18in alloys, parking sensors and Xenon headlights. Heated front seats, BMW’s ‘Business Media’ infotainment package and split folding rear seats feature on all models too, plus that automatic tailgate.

>> Is the BMW X4 now the smart SUV choice, or just a nonsensical niche? The floor is open for your comments

Porsche 919 Hybrid (2014) first official <b>pictures</b> <b>...</b> - <b>Car</b> Magazine

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 11:50 PM PST

By Ben Pulman

First Official Pictures

04 March 2014 07:50

This is the new Porsche 919 Hybrid, and it signals Porsche’s return to the world famous Le Mans 24-hour endurance race after an absence of 16 years. The 919 Hybrid was unveiled this morning at the 2014 Geneva motor show â€" and a switch from Red Bull Racing to Porsche means this is also Mark Webber’s new company car.

Porsche 919 Hybrid? So what’s the engine in the new Porsche race car?

You’d be safe taking a punt and guessing it’s not a diesel engine like arch-rivals Audi, but it’s not a naturally aspirated V8 petrol like the one that’ll feature in the new Toyota TS040 either. It’s not a flat-six either. No, the engine that powers the new Porsche 919 Hybrid is a turbocharged 2.0-litre V4. Yes, this is a four-cylinder Porsche race car…

Err… why?

Because new-for-214 rules for the Le Mans 24hrs â€" and the wider World Endurance Championship, of which the famous French race is now the marquee round â€" focus on energy consumption per lap. There are no engine regulations (hence the three different layouts used by Porsche, Audi and Toyota) but this year the amount of fuel that can be used each lap has been cut by around 30%.

Correspondingly, the amount of power that can come from the (mandatory) hybrid systems has increased dramatically. So Porsche (and Audi and Toyota) have each picked the solution they think will prove most fuel efficient â€" and fastest.

What else do we know about the Porsche 919 Hybrid?

That the racing won’t be slow. While the new Formula 1 regulations have a fuel limit per race, and thus Vettel and co won’t be running at maximum attack throughout, the LMP-H racers will be optimised to make the most of their fuel allowance per lap, and therefore be flat-out.

As for the powertrain, the innovative V4 engine revs to around 9000rpm, and its boosted by two hybrid systems, one using regenerative braking on the front axle, and the other using recovery of thermal energy from the exhaust gases. Both systems then feed into a single electric motor powering the front wheels (with the petrol engine driving the rear axle) and despite the electrified gubbins, a carbon monocoque helps the 919 weigh just 870kg.

The 2014 WEC season starts on April 20 at Silverstone, with Le Mans the third round of the championship on 14-15 June. And it’s not just the car that will be the star, as ex-Red Bull F1 driver (and long-time Porsche enthusiast) Mark Webber will be one of the six drivers competing in the two 919s that are being entered.

Did Porsche unveil anything else at the Geneva motor show?

Another track star. Besides the 919 Hybrid was the 2014 iteration of the 911 RSR race car, which won the GT category at Le Mans in 2013. For the new season double wishbones replace the road car-derived MacPherson strut front suspension, there’s a new six-speed paddle-shift gearbox too and detail revisions to the 470bhp 4.0-litre flat-six.

Plus more carbonfibre parts lower the centre of gravity, improve the weight distribution and cut weight, and those carbon body parts are also more aerodynamically efficient and feature a new ‘quick-change concept’ so they’re easier to replace in the pits after an on-track incident.

Toyota FV2 <b>pictures</b> and eyes-on: Tron-like concept &#39;<b>car</b>&#39; that you <b>...</b>

Posted: 07 Mar 2014 01:10 AM PST

You are looking at the Toyota FV2. We know, it's one of those things that'll make you cock your head to work out exactly what it is and what's supposed to go where. Originally announced at the Tokyo Motor Show, it's taken until the 2014 Geneva Motor Show for us to lay eyes on this futuristic concept.

Whereas some other "concept" cars are actually early renditions of next year's models, the FV2 goes all out to look like it's been extracted from the set of Tron. Either that or it's a hypersleep chamber on wheels. All very science fiction. Or not, as we're staring at it in the real world.

The FV2 - which stands for "Fun Vehicle 2" - represents Toyota's car design team being given free rein to delve into their minds and see what they come up with. And it's very Japanese, with a firm focus on the interaction between man and machine. There are no pedals and no steering wheel, instead the lean of the driver's body interacts to control the vehicle.

Giving the FV2 an extra lick of life it even has a "mood-based" mirrored exterior that constantly moves and shifts colours and patterns. All this does sound a bit like a Windows screen saver, and does look somewhat strange, but we like the science fiction sentiment - of a machine with feeling that can interact with its surroundings. The sign next to it on the show floor instructed onlookers to wave to get a response. We waved and quickly felt rather silly as nothing happened. Perhaps the we're just not fun enough for the FV2 to take notice. 

From one design oddity to another: the whole vehicle itself. The resulting three-wheeler design that Toyota has made is as far from a Robin Reliant as you could get. If Only Fools And Horses made a return in 100 years' time we don't think that Del Boy would come flying around the corner on one of those. There's no boot for starters, and it's a one man only vehicle too. Poor Rodney, eh?

Toyota showed off the FV2 in an unmanned but semi-functional format on the show floor. And while you are probably, as we also assumed, thinking that someone sits inside this vehicle low to the ground, you would be wrong. Instead the 99cm-tall device's front panel rises up to 178cms to be used in a standing, feet-to-the-floor way. Like a space-age Segway or something.

Our conclusion? It's completely whacky, but that's the vey reason we seem to love it. To us it looks implausible to the extreme, particularly as at 3m long and with a 2.4m-wide wheelbase it's not particularly small, so we don't think anything like this will rule the future of the roads. But we appreciate how it represents a deep dive into the human creative mind - even if it's more Tron than true.

Honda Civic Type R Concept (2014) first official <b>pictures</b> <b>...</b>

Posted: 03 Mar 2014 04:01 PM PST

By Ben Pulman

First Official Pictures

04 March 2014 00:01

This is the new Honda Civic Type R Concept, a styling preview of the near-300bhp hot hatch that will go into production in 2015.

In a back-to-front chain of events we actually drove a prototype version of the new Honda Civic Type R in 2013, but this concept has just been unveiled at the 2014 Geneva motor show. Though CAR actually had a sneak preview of the new Civic Type R Concept a few weeks ago…

What does the new Honda Civic Type R Concept show us?

That if Honda’s designers get their way the new Civic Type R will look like a race track refugee. ‘It’s as if a World Touring Car has come into your garage,’ chief designer Masaru Hasegawa told CAR. ‘It’s race car for the road, not a high-performance Civic.’

Compared to the prototype we tested in 2013 the design is more extreme, but more homogenous too. The front splitter, complete with its cut-outs exposing the wheels, is bigger and more aggressive, as is the huge double-decker rear wing with its integrated smoked LED tail lights.

How will the Civic Type R Concept morph into a production car?

If Hasegawa-san gets his way, nothing at all will change: ‘We need to see how much is feasible for production, but of course we want to keep everything.’

Of course cost implications will limit those dreams, and the reality is the hugely blistered wheelarches, which blend neatly with new doors skins, will probably prove beyond Honda’s budget for the Civic Type R. Expect a more tacked-on look for the ‘arches, akin to the prototype.

Whatever final form the wheelarch vents take, legislation requires some safety mesh in there too, so stones don’t fling unimpeded back towards other traffic, but Hasegawa-san wants every feature on the Type R to have a purpose. ‘Everything on the Type R will be functional,’ he promised CAR. So although the position of the bonnet vents may change, they will remain in some form because the engine requires them for cooling, and the four exhausts pipes will feature too, and won’t be overly stylised either.

Expect those 20in wheels to be downgraded to 19s for the production Civic Type R, though we’re told the former will be an option. And so might an exterior package featuring the exposed carbonfibre trim.

What’s under the bonnet of the new Honda Civic Type R to produce 300bhp?

The first turbocharged engine to ever power a Type R. Out goes the high-revving and naturally aspirated 2.0-litre VTEC engine that’s screamed away in the past two generations of Civic Type R; in comes an all-new turbocharged and direct-injected 2.0-litre four-cylinder.

Honda promises “a class-leading output of at least 276bhp” but despite the heady outputs of the BMW M135i and Mercedes A45 AMG, don’t expect the new Civic Type R to boast the full 300bhp. ‘The specific output is not one of our core values,’ Patrik Ponec, part of the advanced product planning team at Honda’s European R&D centre, told CAR. ‘Creating a high output turbocharged engine is relatively easy, but our aim is to retain the VTEC characteristics, so it’s high revving, with great responses and easy to control performance.’

That’s promising news for enthusiasts who were worried the new Civic Type R might have lost its unique character, and builds on our encouraging first impressions after a stint behind the wheel of a prototype in Japan in 2013. Click here to read that review of Honda’s Civic Type R prototype.

Will the Civic Type R need a proper LSD to deal with all that power going through the front wheels?

That’s what we’d have thought, but Ponec cautions otherwise: ‘We will need to consider how to deal with high performance at the front wheels, but the industry is moving away from mechanical systems to drive-by-wire and electronics…’

It remains to be seen which solution Honda will choose, but we do know the Civic Type R will come with a six-speed manual gearbox, and the interior will feature a set of sports sets in iconic Type R red trim (this concept doesn’t any an interior all)

Prices will start at under £30k, and sales will commence in spring 2015. With the Civic Type R, the new NSX, and a return to F1, 2015 will be quite a year for Honda.

Maserati Alfieri concept (2014) first official <b>pictures</b> <b>...</b> - <b>Car</b> Magazine

Posted: 04 Mar 2014 01:00 AM PST

By Ollie Kew

First Official Pictures

04 March 2014 09:00

This beauty is the Maserati Alfieri concept. It’s a 460bhp, V8-powered coupe that points to the styling of the next GranTurismo, and Maserati’s soon-to-swell range of sports cars.With Maserati in the midst of a massive expansion programme, we’re getting used to seeing Maserati SUV concepts and diesel saloon cars at motor shows. Refreshing to see Maser take on the Porsche 911 again, isn’t it?

Maserati Alfieri: the stunning design

Anyone else reckon the Maserati Alfieri owes the Jaguar F-type Coupe a paternity test? That raked rear screen, and the way in which it flows into the squat rear haunches: very Ian Callum. Very F-type, in other words. Still, you can never have too many pretty cars on the road…

The Alfieri concept car is made from carbonfibre, but Maserati insiders confirm that the production cars it will spawn (read: next GranTurismo, GranCabrio and so on) will be aluminium bodied, with some composite panels to conform to the weight-saving zeitgeist. Also included on the concept car are carbon-ceramic brakes straight from the hardcore GranTurismo MC Stradale.

An in-house design team has been entrusted with the Alfieri project, not Pininfarina. They were apparently inspired by the classic Maserati A6 GCS-53, and cues like the cab-back stance and exaggerated bonnet length have been carried over onto the Geneva concept car.

Take the all-aluminium wheels: they measure 20in up front, and 21in on the rear, yet their decorative designs are inspired by wire-spoke wheels from the 1950s. A modern design with retro garnish â€" that’s the crux of the Alfieri concept.

Underneath, the concept car sits on a GranTurimso MC Stradale chassis that’s had a whopping 240mm chopped out of the wheelbase. It should be agile then â€" and that points to a whole new era for sporting Maseratis. Click here for CAR’s complete scoop on those next-gen Masers.

Inside the Alfieri

It’s less production-ready than the outside, which frankly looks like a good-to-go Ghibli coupe. Inside the 2+2 Alfieri, Maserati has gone for minimalist modernism: it takes the button-free approach of the Ghibli to extremes, in the best concept car tradition.

The instrument panel uses TFT displays rather than analogue dials. The numbers rotate around the dials rather than a needle, with a magnifying-glass effect accentuating the current speed and RPM.  The screens complement a larger screen in the car’s dashboard.

Single aluminium billets have been milled to create the gear selector and trademark oval clock, and the pedals, gearshift paddles and steering wheel’s spokes are also aluminium. Meanwhile, the bucket front seats are inspired by 1950s racing bucket chairs. There’s one feature we hope remains resolutely a concept car flourish…

>> What’s your take on Maserati’s sports car future? Add your thoughts by clicking ‘Add your comment’ below
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