Next Generation 240SX / Silvia Previewed in Nissan’s GT 2012 Meeting?

This rendering, featuring the next generation 240SX / Silvia, allegedly made its appearance on a video screen along with the first official picture of the 2011 370Z during the Nissan GT 2012 meeting a few weeks ago. We don't want to seem negative, but the profile of this vehicle with the small quarter window at the back looks like it belongs to a four-door sedan and not to a coupe. What do you think?

On the other hand, the scanned images from the Japanese magazine 'Best Car' clearly depict an artist's impression on the next gen 240SX/Silvia that will supposedly be powered a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot developing 225 PS. Best Car also speculates that Nissan's affordable rear-wheel-drive coupe will be based on the Japanese carmaker's FM platform measuring approximately 4,350 mm in length and 1,750 mm in width. -More pics after the jump




Via: 7Tune

2009 BMW 7-Series to be Unveiled on July 7?

The bimmer loving gang at the BMWblog not only got their hands on a series of scoop pictures on the new BMW 7-Series but they also support that the Bavarians will take the wraps off their top-of-the-line sedan on July 7, 2008. What do we think? Well, here at Auto Cars 2011 we do know for sure that the 7-Series will make its public debut at the Paris Auto Show in October. We also know from our experience that BMW usually lets out initial details and pictures of its new models a couple of months prior to their public premieres, so it is possible.

As for the scoop images, they reveal that BMW’s new flagship sedan won’t have anything in common in terms of design with the heavily criticized current model. Instead, the new 7er looks a bit more like a larger 5-Series. Same goes for the interior which marks –finally- the return of the driver orientated centre console.

Under the hood, the folks at BMWblog support that the new 7er will be equipped with twin-turbocharged V8 and V12 engines matted to an eight-speed automatic transmission. –More pictures after the jump






Via: BMWblog & Germancarzone

2009 Cadillac XLR: Facelift Model Now With Faux Air Vents

There aren’t many Cadillac XLRs around and we highly doubt that the MY2009 and its new faux side vents will help change that. The revised model, that will only be available in the top-end Platinum (320HP 4.6L V8) and XLR-V (443Hp 4.4L V8) guises, is distinguished by a few minor aesthetic enhancements that include the new front fascia, new rear fascia, new side fender vents and the V-Spec hood with the raised centre that is now standard on all XLRs.

Inside, changes in the '09 XLR lineup are limited to Alcantara headliners, new instrument cluster trim rings and graphics, new wood grain and metal trims, and the Bluetooth connectivity for the OnStar 8.0 system. The 2009 XLR is expected to arrive in Cadillac dealerships this summer.

Toyota Launches New Fuel-Cell Hybrid Vehicle with 515 miles Autonomy

Continuing its focus on the development of eco-friendly vehicles, Toyota has launched an improved version of its fuel cell hybrid vehicle (FCHV) in Japan that travels more than double the distance of its predecessor model, increasing the maximum cruising range from 205 miles (330 km) to 515 miles (828 km). The FCHV-adv’s fuel efficiency was increased by 25% through improving fuel cell unit performance, enhancing the regenerative brake system and reducing energy consumed by the auxiliary system. -Continued

Further changes include incorporating degradation control for the electrode catalyst and improving fuel cell durability while Toyota’s engineers also focused on improving low-temperature start issues typically associated with fuel cell vehicles. As a result, the FCHV-adv can start and operate in cold regions at temperatures as low as –30 degrees Celsius, thus allowing the vehicle to be used in a wider variety of conditions and climates.

Vehicle Specifications


Vehicle

TOYOTA FCHV-adv

TOYOTA FCHV

Overall length/width/height (mm)

4,735/1,815/1,685

4,735/1,815/1,685

Weight (kg)

1,880

1,880

Seating capacity

5

5

Maximum cruising range (km)*
10-15 test cycle/JC08 test cycle

Approx. 830/Approx. 760

Approx. 330
(10-15 test cycle)

Maximum speed (km/h)

155

155

Fuel cell

Name

Toyota FC Stack

Toyota FC Stack

Type

Polymer electrolyte

Polymer electrolyte

Output (kW)

90

90

Motor

Type

Permanent magnet

Permanent magnet

Maximum output in kW (ps)

90 (122)

90 (122)

Maximum torque in
N-m (kg-m)

260 (26.5)

260 (26.5)

Fuel

Hydrogen

Hydrogen

Storage system

High-pressure storage tanks

High-pressure storage tanks

Maximum storage pressure (MPa)

70

35

Tank capacity (L)

156

148

Battery

Nickel-metal hydride

Nickel-metal hydride

GM Delivers First Chevy Malibu & Tahoe Hybrid Taxis to Dubai Goverment

Not that they're facing any problems with gas prices in Dubai -or with anything that involves money for that matter, but GM delivered its first hybrid vehicles in the Middle East to the Government of Dubai and the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The Chevrolet Tahoe & Malibu hybrids are part of project that involves a 12-month trial using eco-friendly vehicles as public taxis.

Terry Johnsson, President of GM’s Middle East Operations, said "When the Dubai Government decided to investigate the feasibility of alternative propulsion systems in the Middle East, GM moved very quickly to support them. Naturally, we are very pleased to be part of such an historic and important project."




Jaguar & Land Rover to Join ACEA from July 2008

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) announced today that it has accepted the application of the former Ford owned Jaguar - Land Rover to become a member of ACEA. Their membership will start in July 2008. The current ACEA members are BMW Group, DAF Trucks, DaimlerChrysler, FIAT, Ford of Europe, General Motors Europe, MAN Nutzfahrzeuge, Porsche, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Renault, Scania, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen and Volvo.

“We welcome Jaguar Land Rover in our midst and are convinced the company will make a valuable contribution to the work of our association”, said Ivan Hodac, Secretary General of ACEA. “We are looking forward to working in close partnership with the European automobile manufacturers concerning regulatory and other issues confronting our industry”, said David Smith, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover. “As the UK’s largest automotive employer, joining the European automotive association was an important step.”

Nissan to Save 21 Million Litres of Water in 2008 Barcelona Paint Shop

Thanks to a new water recycling system that was just installed in Nissan’s manufacturing plant in Barcelona, the Japanese carmaker will save 21.6 million litres of water in its paint shop in 2008. The savings equal to a 20 percent reduction in water consumption over 2007.

In the past, the water used to wash the bodies-in-white before painting was purified and sent to the city’s main sewerage system. Now, the water used to wash almost 900 new bodies each day is filtered on site and immediately re-used, reducing the quantity previously sent to be purified by a significant 4,000 litres per hour.

2008 STBEG (Soon-To-Be-Ex-Girlfriend) GPS System on Craigslist

Our friend Rick sent us this hysterical listing he found on Craigslist in Toronto. We have to admit though that we feel the guy’s pain. For his sake, hope that the 2008 STBEG GPS system looks a bit like the one pictured above… (Pic: Auto Cars 2011)

This is the 2008-STBEG model. (Soon-To-Be-Ex-Girlfriend):

5’11”, 130 lbs – fits nicely into the passenger seat.

In addition to telling you where you are supposed to go, it will also inform you that:
You missed a turn a block after you passed it
You are going too fast
You are going to slow
The radio is too loud
Your seatbelt is not fastened properly
You have no time to stop for a coffee
Your tie does not match your shirt
Will keep you informed while driving with slanderous gossip about your mutual friends
Keep track of and log every driving mistake you have ever made and reference them every time you make a remotely similar error.

And in case the program crashes, it also has a built in failsafe mechanism that will continually insist that you stop and ask for directions.

Link: Craigslist ,Thanks for the tip Rick!

Renault – Nissan Break Ground For New Indian Plant That Will Build The New Micra

Today, French carmaker Renault and its affiliate Nissan performed the ground breaking ceremony for their new passenger vehicle plant in Chennai, India, that’s expected to begin operations in 2011. The facility will have an annual production capacity of 400,000 and will produce vehicles for export and the local market for both Renault and Nissan, including the all-new Nissan Micra and the Renault/Dacia Logan. The 50:50 joint venture between Renault and Nissan, represents an investment of a minimum of €780 million / U.S. $1.1 billion.

Ford to Produce Just 45,000 Units of 2009 Mustang?

The 45th-anniversary MY2009 Mustang that’s arriving in dealerships as we speak will be produced in just 45,000 examples according to a report from Autoweek magazine. Ford officials have yet to confirm or deny the report.

Notably, and despite the hazy U.S. car market, Ford has managed to sell 44,160 Mustangs throughout the first five months of the year. And even though the number is significantly lower than the 64,560 Mustangs Ford pushed into the market the same period in 2007, 45k cars for the remaining 7 months of the year does sound pretty low.

Malaysian Government Raises Gas Prices by 40% and Diesel by 67% Overnight!

If you thought that a couple of cents raise in fuel prices is pretty annoying we wonder what you’d say if you woke up one morning and saw that prices at your pump increased by 40% overnight! Well, that’s exactly what happened in Malaysia yesterday as the government enforced an increase of 40% in gasoline prices and a whopping +67% in diesel fuel prices. As of Thursday, Malaysians pay $0.87 per liter or $3.30 a gallon for gasoline (from $0.61 and $2.32 respectively) and $3.04 per gallon (from $1.82) for diesel.

According to government officials, while subsidies kept fuel prices in Malaysia among the lowest in Southeast Asia, it could no longer afford funding them as it is expected to cost the treasury more than $14 billion this year.

Infiniti Announces Pricing on 2009 FX50 and FX35

The all-new second generation 2009 Infiniti FX crossover will go on sale June 24 at Infiniti dealers in the U.S. and Canada with prices set at $40,950 for the FX35 RWD, $42,350 for the FX35 AWD and at $56,700 for the FX50 AWD. Both FX35 variants are equipped with a 303 Hp 3.5- liter V6 while the top-end FX50 gets a new 390Hp 5.0-liter V8 unit. All FX models are paired with a new 7-speed automatic transmission featuring Adaptive Shift Control (ASC) and available solid magnesium paddle shifters.

Audi Launches Its First Golf Set Collection

Audi is bringing some “Vorsprung durch Technik” in the world of golf by producing its own golf accessories line, designed by the Audi Konzept Design team in Munich. According to the German automaker and now golfmaker, all products in the collection feature typical Audi characteristics in terms of form, color and materials. The Audi Golf Collection includes a cart bag, a travel cover, a trolley travel case, a sport bag, a show bag and a golf umbrella. Additionally, the range also includes Callaway HX Tour and Callaway Big Bertha golf balls, and the Clean Swing golf towel. -More pics after the jump






Mazda Introduces 2009 RX-8 in Canada with 8-Year /160k Warranty

Mazda Canada announced today that the first shipments of 2009 RX-8 are being released to dealers and will soon be in showrooms. Just like in the U.S., Canadians will be happy to know that Mazda is extending warranty coverage on the RX-8’s rotary engine to eight years/160,000 km (whichever comes first). The balance of the basic warranty remains at three years/80,000 km and the powertrain warranty remains at five years/100,000 km.

Moreover, Mazda is also extending this eight year/160,000 km warranty retroactively to all existing 2004-2008 model year RX-8s. You can check out all the details and pictures of the North American market 2009 RX-8 Facelifty by clicking here.

2009 Porsche 911 Facelift: More Power & Double-Clutch Gearbox

Following last night’s leak, Porsche has officially revealed the updated 2009 911 Carrera and Carrera S models that benefit from subtle design changes, more powerful engines with direct injection but most importantly, a new twin-clutch semi-automatic gearbox.

But let’s take things from the start. The new 997 can be identified by the new LED tail-lamps that bring to mind the Maserati Granturismo, the restyled air intakes up front, larger mirrors, LED day time driving lights and the newly-designed 18-inch and 19-inch wheels. Inside, minimal changes include the revised Porsche Communication Management (PCM) control system that features a simplified control panel and a larger 6.5-inch display with ‘touchscreen’ technology.

Now to the important changes. The 2009 Carrera and Carrera S models feature new engines that have been enhanced with direct injection that not only helps increase power, but it also reduces CO2 emissions by up to 15%. Maximum output of the 911 Carrera 3.6-litre is up by 20 Hp to 345 Hp while output of the Carrera S 3.8-litre power unit is up by 30 Hp to 385 Hp. Both versions of the 911 can be equipped for the first time with the Porsche’s all-new 7-speed double-clutch gearbox dubbed PDK that replaces the Porsche Tiptronic S automatic transmission. –Continued

According to Porsche, the Carrera goes from 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 4.7 sec and on to a top speed of 289 km/h (180 mph) while the Carrera S needs 4.5 sec for the 0 to 100 km/h sprint featuring a top speed of 302 km/h (188 mph).

Equipped with the seven-speed PDK, the Carrera accelerates in 4.5 sec from 0-100 km/h, another 0.2 sec faster than with a manual six-speed gearbox. Moreover, if you combine the PDK with Porsche’s optional Sport Chrono Plus package that includes launch Control, the 911 Carrera can accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.3 second. With the PDK, the Carrera also features a better average fuel economy of 9.8 litres/100 km, equal to 28.8 mpg imp or 24 mpg US.

The German sports carmaker has also equipped the Carrera and Carrera S models with the enhanced Porsche Stability Management (PSM) system featured previously on the Carrera 4 and Turbo models. Finally, the 2009 911 Carrera also gets larger 330mm diameter brake discs front and rear.

Base prices in Europe start at 69,600 for the Carrera. The Carrera Cabriolet and Carrera S both retail at 78,000 and the Carrera S Cabriolet is entering the market at 88,000.

2009 Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG Facelift with 507Hp

Quite possibly the most controversial 4x4 vehicle in the market has received a few subtle changes for the MY2009. Thanks to the integration of a new engine control unit, output of the G55 AMG’s supercharged 5.5-litre V8 engine has been nudged up from 500hp 507hp, with maximum torque remaining at 700 Nm. Performance remains unchanged however with the G55 AMG accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 5.5 sec and peaking at an electronically limited top speed of 210 km/h (131mph). -Continued

Other mechanical changes include the new and more powerful control unit of the Electronic Stability Program (ESP), which now incorporates a transverse acceleration control. In addition, the new G55 AMG now comes with a hill-start assist.

The 2009 G55 AMG’s appearance has been freshened up wit a reworked radiator grille and new 19-inch AMG light-alloy wheels painted in titanium grey and equipped with 275/55 R 19 tires.

Finally, Mercedes-Benz has added a new silver-coloured designo emblem on the front backrests of the seats that are now climatised for the first time in the model’s history. Drivers of the 2009 G55 AMG also benefit from a new telematics system developed by Mercedes.

Available exclusively in five-door form, the 2009 G55 AMG will go on sale this September at a price of €121,618 -$190,000. Just like a bottle of wine, the older the G-Class gets, the pricier it becomes...






2009 Porsche 911 Facelift – First Official Images

Someone has just let out the first official images and details on the 2009 Porsche 911 that bears the codename Phase 2. Changes on the outside are relatively subtle and they include the Maserati GranTurismo inspired tail-lamps, redesigned front and rear bumpers, newly styled 18 and 19-inch alloy wheels and a set of LED daylights up front.

In typical Porsche style, the 997 Phase 2 features a series of mechanical upgrades, the most notable being the revised engine line-up and the addition of an all-new 7-speed dual-clutch sequential-manual transmission with launch control that Porsche calls “PDK. -Continued

In the 911 Carrera, the 3.6-liter 6-cylinder engine gets an extra 20Hp rising output to 345Hp while the Carrera S gets a 30Hp bump to 385Hp. In terms of performance, the Carrera goes from naught to 100 km/h (62mph) in 4.7 sec and on to a top speed of 289 km/h (180 mph) while the Carrera S needs 4.5 sec for the 0 to 100 km/h sprint featuring a top speed of 302 km/h (188 mph).

Via: Le Blog Auto

Suzuki SX4 WRC Replica: Limited Edition Version

Looks can definitely be deceiving as this special edition version of the Suzuki SX4 proves. Although Suzuki Germany’s SX4 WRC looks just like the World Rally Championship race car, take out the stickers, the subtle bodykit and the white 16-inch alloys and your left with a normal SX4 equipped with a stock 107Hp 1.6-liter engine and faux carbon fiber trim in the interior. Of course you can brag about owning one of only 500 units that will be produced, but we gather that won’t earn you street cred. The SX4 WRC is available in Germany for €19,500. -Pics after the jump





Via: WFC