Luxury Cars

The 4 door Aston Martin Rapide has had one of the longest gestation periods of any car in recent memory. It first came upon the scene almost four years after its concept debuted at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show. The initial reaction of everyone who saw it was a simple “Build it now!!!”

The Rapide will be completed with Aston Martin’s hand built 6.0-liter V12 engine that puts out 477HP at 6,000 rpm and 443 lbft of peak torque at 5000 rpm.

All that power and torque goes to the tarmac via rear wheels through Aston’s six-speed ‘Touchtronic 2? automatic transmission. Although a slush-box it does allow the driver to change gears automatically or manually via the steering column-mounted paddles made of magnesium. There’s no performance stats yet, but the word from Frankfurt is that 0-100km/h should happen in a little over 5,0 seconds. The Aston Martin Rapide features what the company terms four ’swan wing’ doors that open slightly upwards. Read more…

Jaguar XFR – comes with a supercharged V8 engine delivering 510HP and a more aggressive design in and out with details that hint but do not shout at the car’s performance.

In the middle of the new XFR we find an all new 5.0-litre AJ-V8 Gen III engine fitted with a sixth-generation, Roots-type twin vortex system (TVS) supercharger. It produces an output of 510HP between 6,000-6,500 rpm and 625Nm (461 lb.ft) of torque from 2,500-5,500 rpm. Compared to its supercharged 4.2-litre V8 predecessor, power has increased by 23 percent and torque has increased by 12 percent. Read more…

Gas in a sense, every word: Three of the Volkswagen Scirocco GT24 version powered by a gasoline engine with 315 PS TSI. Two other VW Scirocco GT24 cars carry more CNG label, designating compressed natural gas, because the TSI is fired with clean combusting natural gas – an exception in car racing. The 300 PS Volkswagen Scirocco GT24-CNG cars have very low emissions. After the victory and put the seal on the Dakar Rally with the Race Touareg powered by a fuel-efficient TDI (direct-injection diesel), Volkswagen is now going on the issues of sustainable development in the Volkswagen Scirocco GT24 also – and emphasize – on the race course.

VW Scirocco R – from car racing to the street: This is not a Scirocco’s first race of this type. This has been rung up Volkswagen based on the areas of opportunity as far back as the 1970s. And in 2008, experts like Carlos Sainz and Hans-Joachim Stuck rocketed two VW Scirocco GT24 car to a double victory in the classroom. In 2009, will be even more interesting. Because for the first time, this event provides an opportunity to take a good look at the street car racing in the form of new, R. Volkswagen Scirocco first production car will be produced this year, later, with a six-speed transmission or – as in race car Volkswagen Scirocco – with the optional DSG 6-speed transmission your feet. Always aboard equipment as standard on all-wheel drive vehicle in front: of course the XDS electronic horizontal on the front axle to achieve optimal performance traction; system was introduced for the first time the new Volkswagen Golf GTI. Read more…

It took part at the Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz is presenting the “2LOOK Edition”. This is variant, mainly for youngsters, is only available in 2 colours; glossy black or lustrous white. This styling touch is harmoniously complemented by a two-tone interior with high-grade materials in dramatic black-and-white contrasts. The attraction of opposites – this is the concept with which the new Mercedes-Benz SLK “2LOOK Edition” special model will enter the new open-top season.

The intentional limitation to a black-and-white colour scheme both inside and out lends this successful two-seater with a vario-roof an exclusive, dramatic appearance and ensures a decidedly eye-catching presence. The SLK 2LOOKEdition is painted in a choice of either calcite white or black as standard. On request the SLK 2LOOKEdition is also available in exclusive obsidian black metallic or the special finish designo mystic white, which is limited to 300 vehicles worldwide. Read more…

This model, first introduced in 2002 replaced the long-standing Jeep Cherokee. Although the redesign six years later has left many Jeep fans wondering what was actually changed, the classic Jeep styling remains intact and newer, boxier look may prove hard to beat in the next generation. Here we go!

These 2 versions (Sport and the Limited Liberty) now come standard with the noisy 3.7-Liter SOHC V6 engine. The engine produces 210 hp and 235 ft-lb of torque and is thirsty for the class at 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway for the 2WD models and 15 mpg city and 21 mpg on the highway for 4WD models. The 9.2 seconds to go 0 to 60 mpg seems sluggish for the vehicle class as well compared to the 8.5 seconds of the Hyundai Santa Fe and the 7.7 of the Nissan XTerra. Read more…

Designed by three junior designers. It is for youthful, open-air entry-level-size Hummer.

It has a convertible body with removable roof panels and modular rear roof assembly.
Plus, it also consist of removable fender flares and doors. It maintain it’s 4WD specs,, aeronautically inspired interior with functional, lightweight design elements.
Others, 3.6L SIDI V-6 E85 FlexFuel engine with six-speed automatic transmission.. WOW!

The Hummer HX concept challenges the hierarchy of the trail! Hummer displayed the nimble, reconfigurable off-roader at the 2008 North American International Auto Show. More compact than a Hummer H3 – 81 inches (2,057 mm) wide, with a 103-inch wheelbase (2,616-mm) – the HX concept is an open-air, two-door off-road vehicle that packs the off-road acumen for which Hummer has become legendary, along with an easily convertible body that acclimates to varied trail conditions, cargo needs or passenger whims. Its design is based on the ideas developed by a trio of young designers who are new to the Hummer studio. ”The HX is Hummer’s vision an agile, trail-ready, open-air vehicle that fits the lifestyles of everyone who needs or wants to drive off road,” said Martin Walsh, Hummer general manager. “Of course, it carries exceptional off-road capability and the distinctive styling for which all Hummer s are known.”
The HX offers an open-air driving experience via a pair of removable roof panels above the driver and front passenger, and a modular, removable rear roof assembly. With the roof panels and roof assembly removed, the HX is transformed into a true convertible. Easy removal of the roof panels and rear-roof assembly enables quick conversion from a closed vehicle to an open one. The HX also was designed with several roof assemblies, allowing this versatile vehicle to be configured as an SUT (with the roof assembly removed), a stylish slant-back or a traditional, wagon-like design that offers a bit more cargo space. Read more…

After many months of speculation and anticipation, the reincarnated Chevy Camaro makes its debut for 2010.

“Compromised visibility, a few ergonomic gaffes, marginal interior materials quality.”

It is not only lives up to the hype but also redefines what a muscle car can be. The traditional stereotype goes something like this — the affordable base model looks fast but goes slow due to a lumpy V6, while the V8-powered model will do apocalyptic burnouts in the high school parking lot but can’t corner to save its (or your) life. The latest Dodge Challenger comes uncomfortably close to this archetype, and the Ford Mustang is at least guilty on the V6 front. But this new Camaro, well, it’s an altogether different beast.

It is an excellent performance-car value whether it’s equipped with the base direct-injected V6 or the optional V8. The V6-powered base Camaro can sprint to 60 mph in 6.0 seconds, thanks to 300 horsepower, yet it costs the same as competitors like the considerably slower Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T. Heck, even the V6′s fuel economy is impressive compared to its competition. The V8-powered Camaro SS with the manual transmission dispenses with 60 mph in a blistering 5.0 seconds — 426 hp will do that for you — yet it’s considerably cheaper than cars like the BMW 135i and Challenger SRT8 and outperforms the slightly more affordable Mustang GT. The Camaro handles smartly, too, with even the base car surpassing the rarefied 68 mph mark on our slalom course.

“Extraordinary acceleration with either engine, capable handling, excellent value, head-turning looks, unique interior design, good fuel economy.” Read more…

The 2009 Toyota Venza is an exception to the crossover vehicle rules. The name combines “venture” and “Monza,” an Italian racetrack.

Venza can be considered as the big, bloated Highlander seven-seater and the sportier five-seat RAV4. It’s like the combination of all Toyotas; part Camry, part Highlander, partly its own creation. Venza looks tightly integrated and pretty interesting from some angles, particularly the side view. It’s a boxy crossover, yes—but the multibar grille and fast silhouette make it far more attractive than the plainer Ford Edge and less controversial than the Nissan Murano. The Venza’s interior takes a middle path as well, with an unconventionally shaped center stack of controls dividing driver and front passenger. Big, clear gauges and optional mahogany-grained trim dress it up better than its competition.

The Toyota parts bin also donates most of the Venza’s running gear. Engines include a 182-horsepower 2.7-liter four-cylinder, teamed to a six-speed automatic and an optional all-wheel-drive system that splits power between front and rear wheels. This base Venza strains a bit to provide uphill and passing performance, but putters anonymously in most other conditions, though with a bit more engine noise than expected. The 268-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 is substantially smoother and more powerful, but comes with its own slight penalty: Fuel economy in front-drive V-6 Venzas is 19/26 mpg, compared to the 21/29 mpg delivered by the four-cylinder version.

Read more…