jeudi 15 septembre 2016
vendredi 9 septembre 2016
The 2017 Bentley Flying Spur W12 S is the company’s first sedan to break the 200 miles per hour
Bentley’s sport-tuned midsize luxury sedan gets more power and other tweaks.
Bentley is undoubtedly known for making some fast cars. But surprisingly, none of its sedans ever cracked the 200 mile-per-hour top speed barrier. This is even with the ridiculous twin-turbo W12 engines from Volkswagen or the legendary 6.75-liter V8s from Bentley’s classic years.
But this all changed recently thanks to the introduction of the latest 2017 Bentley Flying Spur W12 S. With a claimed top speed of 202 miles per hour, the Flying Spur W12 S takes the title as Bentley’s first sedan to crack the 200 mile-per-hour barrier.
How does it do it? More power, of course.
The power bump comes from massaging a total of 626hp and 605 pound-feet of torque, up from 616hp and 590 lb-ft. The extra oomph also allows the Flying Spur W12 S to accelerate slightly quicker than the standard model.
More power isn’t the only addition however as Bentley sport-tuned the suspension and steering for improved handling and increased responsiveness. The stability control is also modified for less intrusiveness to permit more wheel slip.
Bentley promises the W12 S is more agile. Though we’re still not sure how agile a huge luxurious land yacht with sporting pretentious can get.
Modifications to the interior and exterior are added to help differentiate the W12 S from the non-S model. Similar to other sporty treatments, the W12 S gets shadowed trim and black-painted bits for the headlights and taillights. The grille also loses its bling factory by getting a black paint job too.
Oh yea, and lots of W12 S badges are placed throughout.
Bentley says deliveries for the Flying Spur W12 S commence at the end of this year. Pricing will be announced closer to that time.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: Bentley
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Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2cePGB6
The Chinese-built Volvo S90 Long-Wheelbase might sell in US and Europe
Unconfirmed by Volvo’s European and American divisions, but a Volvo China executive apparently broke the news in Chengdu.
Volvo’s in the middle of launching its new S90 flagship luxury sedan. At first availability, Volvo will sell the S90 in short-wheelbase form and in T5 and T6 form. A top-spec T8 plug-in hybrid model will join the lineup, along with the long-roof V90 shortly thereafter.
Now, AutomotiveNews reports the long-wheelbase, Chinese-built S90 will sell stateside and in Europe. The news came from
The confirmation supposedly came from Volvo China’s sales head, Yuan Xiaolin, at a press conference during the 2016 Chengdu Auto Show.
Xiaolin said Volvo established plans to export the long-wheelbase, Chinese-built S90 at a press conference.
The long S90 however wouldn’t be the first Chinese-built Volvo sold in the US since we already get the Chinese-made S60 L.
When prodding Volvo Europe or Volvo Cars US about the topic, neither of the regional offices responded to AN’s inquiry.
The S90’s initial production kicked off at Volvo’s main plant in Torslanda, Sweden. With the S90 due to hit the Chinese market later this year, Volvo already planned to build the S90 in China for that market to keep costs down. Volvo committed to catering to the Chinese market by building an elongated version.
Wealthy Chinese customers openly express love for long cars to be chauffeured in as a symbol of economic status.
Next to the S60 L, the soon-to-be S90 L, Volvo builds the first generation XC90 in Daqing as a “legacy” model due to that specific model’s high demand in China.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: AutomotiveNews
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Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2ceqZF8
jeudi 8 septembre 2016
Report: Rolls-Royce insists you don’t call its new SUV, an SUV
Rolls-Royce’s first four-wheel drive vehicle will be “a high-sided” one.
So I’m here, talking about SUVs again. But the specific one in discussion is due in the near future. And it comes from a very unlikely producer of SUVs.
That company is Rolls-Royce, an automaker known for some of the world’s most luxurious coupes, convertibles, and sedans. Crossovers and SUVs, not so much.
But crossover SUVs are the hottest thing sales wise and it was only a matter of time until the super luxurious automakers produced their own. Bentley started the trend with the Bentayga and with Rolls-Royce as its leading competitor, Rolls realized they couldn’t let Bentley take all the action.
So now, Rolls-Royce is producing its own crossover SUV to compete with Bentley’s Bentayga. But Rolls insists that you don’t call it an SUV.
Codenamed Project Cullinan, Motoring in Australia reports the new crossover launches in the later part of 2018. It first received this name back in September of 2015.
Not a lot of technical news is available about the new Rolls. But a high-riding test mule based on the old Phantom with a giant wing spoiler and a murdered-out look was spotted recently. This obviously implies the new crossover should get its roots from the next-generation Phantom sedan. And the Phantom already gets its backbone from the BMW 7-Series.
Speaking with Rolls-Royce’s global product communications manager, Motoring also learned that a lot of the 7-Series’ technology will show up in the crossover.
“Project Cullinan will certainly be a very different experience of a Rolls-Royce. But it will also be a very different experience for the luxury customer,” Rolls-Royce’s Andrew Boyle told the outlet.
No word on what should sit under the hood of the Cullinan. But because it’s based off of the Phantom and the BMW 7-Series, chances of a BMW-sourced V12 isn’t out of the question. Already, the Phantom is powered by one, the same twin-turbo mill in the top-spec BMW 760Li.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: Motoring
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Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2c9xBm9
mercredi 7 septembre 2016
Upcoming Toyota Supra finally surfaces in spy shots
The mid-engined Corvette. The “entry-level” Ferrari. They’re white whales of the automotive industry, constantly teased but never delivered upon. And a new Toyota Supra has long been one of them. But it won’t be for much longer.
A follow up to the Mk IV Supra, which lasted from 1993 to 2002, has been rumored pretty much since immediately after the death of the previous model, but a recent partnership with BMW gave the anticipation some validity. Now we’re seeing those dealings come to fruition. These are indeed spy shots of the upcoming Toyota Supra, which will be a production cousin of the upcoming BMW Z5.
The Supra is looking like a beefed-up 86, particularly in the greenhouse and at the back, while the nose has clearly been given the FT-1 treatment. It’s an evolution of the design language that began with the Japanese automaker’s FT series of concepts, dating back nearly ten years at this point.
Unlike the relationship between the 86 and Subaru’s BRZ, or the Mazda MX-5 and the Fiat 124, the differences between the Toyota and BMW are purported to be much more pronounced. The platform was jointly developed by the two companies, though it seems that’s where the similarities end. A 400-hp, Lexus-sourced twin-turbocharged V6 has been bandied about for the Supra, while the Z5 will appropriately receive BMW’s own turbocharged inline four- and six-cylinder mills. Toyota previously confirmed they are preparing a hybrid powertrain that may be shared between the two companies.
Exciting as these images may be, the Supra and Z5 aren’t slated to release until 2018 at the earliest, which is a bit of a downer. Then again, the world has been waiting nearly a decade-and-a-half for a new Toyota flagship, and even longer here in the States. In fact, by the time we can drive the new Supra, 20 years will have passed since its predecessor was sold on our shores. Really, what’s another two?
— By: Adam Ismail
Source: AutoExpress
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Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2ckEnbL
2016 Paris Preview: These are the new Audi A5 and S5 Sportback
Seven years in the making, the A5 and S5 Sportback are A7 mini-me’s, or four-door versions of the A5 and S5 coupes…depending how you look at it.
Mercedes-Benz truly pioneered the popular four-door coupe trend to the point where Audi made its own competitor, the A7.
Subsequently, other rivals followed suit with mainstream automakers producing their own four-door coupe-like sedans. Eventually, they simply adopted the look entirely.
Because the formula ended up being one of the next biggest things to automotive sliced bread, car makers began making four-door coupes in all sorts of sizes too. BMW led the way with the 4-Series and 6-Series Gran Coupes. Mercedes introduced the CLA-Class.
Now, Audi has the new A5 and S5 Sportback. And the second-generation model was recently revealed ahead of its Paris debut.
You may also look at the A5 and S5 Sportback as four-door versions of the coupes.
Either way, both offer a greater amount of practicality than the their two-door brethren.
The exterior sports design cues inspired by the recent Prologue Concept from the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. The interior gains extra shoulder room and overall interior caring length, adding more space to accommodate more occupants. Thanks to the long, sloping roof, more trunk space is readily available.
With a body primarily made of aluminum and a wide variety of other “intelligent” materials, the A5 Sportback takes the title as the lightest in the segment. The result is a diet of around 33.1 pounds than the outgoing model.
The new Audi A5 engine choices range between two TFSI gasoline engines and three TDI versions. Figures start at 190 horsepower and top out at 286hp, with Audi claiming a reduction of fuel consumption by 22 percent with an increase of power by 17 percent overall.
Transmission choices include a six-speed manual, a seven-speed S ironic dual-clutch, or a traditional automatic with eight forward beers. Front-wheel drive is standard across the A5 line with quattro all-wheel drive optional in two variants. Quattro is standard for the 3.0 TDI version with 286hp.
The Audi S5 Sportback is the enthusiast’s choice with a 3.0-liter turbocharged, gasoline TFSI V6. It propels the S5 from 0-62 miles per hour in just 4.7 seconds. Quattro all-wheel drive and the eight-speed tiptronic are both standard.
The Audi A5 Sportback gets a new g-tron model with a 2.0L TFSI gasoline engine. But thanks to clever technology, it can run on either natural gas or traditional gas.
The new A5 and S5 Sportback hit German showrooms and other European countries at the beginning of 2017.
Prices begin at 37,800 EUR for the A5 and 62,500 EUR for the S5.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: Audi
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Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2c9D3HE
mardi 6 septembre 2016
Report: The Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV confirmed for LA debut
It marks Alfa Romeo’s first-ever attempt at making a crossover SUV.
Alfa Romeo’s in the middle of a massive product onslaught, churning out a new generation of cars. But to make things more difficult, Alfa is also in the middle of relaunching themselves in the US market. So the company’s hands are quite full.
Some of the new models include the recent Giulia compact sedan and the 4C sports coupe and roadster. These cars helped establish a new identity for Alfa Romeo. But next, the company needs to focus on turning a profit, meaning they need to make an SUV.
As we all know, crossover SUVs are huge breadwinners for automakers at nearly all ends of the spectrum because of how popular they are. Naturally, it only makes sense that Alfa Romeo grabs a piece of the action.
Participating in one of the most sought-after market segments in the world boosts chances for long-term financial sustainability.
Speaking with AutoExpress, Alfa Romeo confirmed the revealing of the SUV, called the Stelvio, at the Los Angeles Auto Show later in November.
Clues of the Stelvio first surfaced with various test mule and prototype spottings over the past several months. A coupe-like raked roofline is visible, complemented by curves that mimic the Giulia in a variety of ways.
Alfa wants the Stelvio to be a statement for “best-in-class” on-road handling, meaning the fun-to-drive factor should be relatively high. Based on the Giulia’s Giorgio platform, the Stelvio will feature much potential, especially since a Quadrifoglio Verde version is on the docket.
The normal Stelvios will utilize the same range of turbocharged gasoline and diesel four- and six-cylinder engines as the Giulia. The Quadrifoglio Verde however gets the same twin-turbocharged 2.9L V6 as the equal Giulia.
Alfa still has plans for both a larger and smaller crossover SUV than the Stelvio. This implies that the Stelvio should be more of a compact affair with competition from the BMW X3, the Audi Q5, and the Lexus NX, just to name a few. Expect a launch sometime in 2018 for the others.
Alfa Romeo lovers hoping for some alternative propulsion options won’t be left out either. Previous reports suggest Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles is investigating hybrid and electric powertrains. This leaves the possibility for some Stelvio hybrid or EV options, especially with competitors from Tesla and Lexus filling the void.
Huge plans are unfolding at Alfa, proving the company has a lot of work to do. But Alfa might be overwhelmed since the Stelvio is unfortunately already experiencing delays. Not surprising, since numerous delays already affected the global launch of the Giulia sedan and the US relaunch of the Alfa Romeo brand.
Either way, things seem to be falling into place with Alfa Romeo. Only time will tell how the company succeeds in the coming years.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: AutoExpress
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Source: egmCarTech http://bit.ly/2crDDPs
