Mercedes SLK 250 CDI introduced
[Published at autoexpress.co.uk]First ever diesel SLK gets 204bhp and a headline-grabbing 500Nm of torque
These are the first official pictures of the all-new diesel Mercedes SLK Roadster. Available for the first time as an oil-burner, the new SLK 250 CDI gets a 2.2-litre, 204bhp four-cylinder engine with a healthy 500Nm of torque - making it the most powerful diesel in its class.
Official performance figures of 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 150mph are impressive, as is fuel consumption of 57mpg with CO2 emissions of 128g/km. The SLK also features stop-start as standard.
Externally the SLK is the same as the petrol variants, and retains the twin-exhaust system. The model is available with a ‘Magic sky control’ vario-roof, which allows the glass to be changed from dark to transparent at the touch of a button.
Lexus GS 450h teaser
[Published at autoexpress.co.uk] Pair of teaser shots confirm that a hybrid version of new GS and F Sport trim level will debut in Frankfurt
Following the unveiling of its all-new GS at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California, Lexus has released teaser images of the 2012 GS F Sport and 450h.
Debuting at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the 450h will be mostly unchanged from the current model, meaning around 300bhp from a combination of a 3.5-litre V6 engine and electric motor. There doesn't appear to be any major styling changes from the standard car that appeared at Pebble Beach, but the model will be distinguished by revised logos with blue accents, detailed in the grille badge.
Aiming for a sportier stance, the F Sport has a new front fascia, which is clearly visible in the teaser. It’s likely that 19-inch alloys will feature alongside a honeycomb grille in an attempt to rival sporty trim levels from its rivals – such as M Sport from BMW and S line from Audi.
Inside both cars will use the 12.3-inch split screen monitor that controls all the car's functions, with a mouse-like joystick navigating the menus. No pricing details have been released, but expect a small premium over today’s model, which starts at £45,000.
Seat Exeo facelift revealed
[Published at autoexpress.co.uk] New headlights, wheels and interior materials are added to the more efficient Exeo
Seat is turning up the heat with its new look Exeo range ahead of a Frankfurt Motor Show unveiling.
The refreshed Exeo features a revised face thanks to new bi-xenon headlights and LED daytime running lights. The styling enhancements also include new alloy wheel designs, with upgrades to interior materials aimed at creating a more premium feel.
Technical improvements have been made to the 2.0 TDI common rail powerplant, available with 118bhp to 168bhp, slashing emissions to as little as 129 g/km.
Economy is similarly improved, with the Exeo saloon now being capable of as much as 57.6 mpg on a combined cycle. Start/Stop technology will also feature on the Ecomotive model from 2012, with a CO2 figure of less than 120 g/km - enhance its appeal to both environmentally conscious private buyers and UK fleet managers alike.
Despite the suite of upgrades prices will stay the same - starting at £19,285.
Renault special editions
[Published at autoexpress.co.uk] Entry-level Pzaz set to offer customer savings of up to £1,600
Renault has launched two limited editions in the form of the value based Pzaz and technology focused I-Music.
The entry-level Pzaz kicks off at £6,795 for the Twingo 1.2-litre,thanks to a current £1,000 customer saving at participating dealers. With CD player, electric windows, sports front bumpers and remote central locking, three years’ servicing is available for £199 upfront.
Moving up in size the Clio Pzaz is available in three or five-door with prices starting at £7,995 for the 1.2-litre three door. Kit count includes AUX input, front side airbags and white interior touches.
Lastly the Mégane Pzaz is again powered by a 1.6-litre petrol, features 15-inch wheel trims, air conditioning and ESC for £9,995. Offering a customer saving of £1,600.
Renault has also brought back its desirable I-Music range. The mid-range model features air conditioning, alloy wheels, front fog lights, Bluetooth and MP3 connectivity across several models.
The 1.2-litre Clio I-Music is priced at just £159 per month on Renault Selections, with £159 deposit. Prices start at £11,405 for the three-door 1.2 16V, rising to £13,800 for the five-door 1.5 dCi.
The 1.6-litre Mégane I-Music costs £16,010, adds 17-inch alloys with hands-free keycard and is available at £229 per month with £229 deposit, based on 44 months. The range has also been extended to the Scénic, Starting at £17,115. Equipment includes 17” alloys, tinted windows with a monthly payment of £289, with only £289 deposit.
Aston V12 Zagato revealed
[Published at autoexpress.co.uk] First pictures of road-ready V12 Zagato released - 150 examples will be built at £330,000 each
The road going version of Aston’s new V12 Zagato is set to debut at Frankfurt, before going into limited production from the middle of next year, and these are the first official pictures.
Debuting 50 years after the introduction of the iconic DB4GT Zagato, the new hand-built V12 model is based on the V12 Vantage and features an aluminium and carbonfibre body. Powered by a six-litre V12 engine producing 510bhp and 570 Nm of torque, the race-bred machine was honed during endurance races at the Nürburgring with two prototypes.
Nicknamed ‘Zig’ and ‘Zag’ by Aston technicians, ‘Zig’ will appear in Frankfurt in full racing specification and features a full aerodynamic package including front splitter, dive planes, rear diffuser and spoiler. Converted back into a road-spec show car, ‘Zag’ indicates the look of finished customer cars.
The pair of Zagato racing machines will appear on Aston’s Frankfurt motor show stand, alongside the One-77 supercar and recently launched Virage and Vantage S. Following positive customer reaction, just 150 road-worthy examples will be produced at £330,000 each excluding VAT, which put the total on the road figure at just short of £400,000.
Audi A8 hybrid revealed
[Published at autoexpress.co.uk] Flagship saloon will be powered by a four-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor, returning 44mpg and 148g/km
The hybrid Audi A8 saloo has been revealed ahead of its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
The A8 Hybrid employs a four-cylinder 2.0-litre TFSI petrol engine with a powerful lithium-ion battery. Fitted for the first time in an Audi model at this level, the A8 produces 207bhp and 350 NM of torque from the petrol motor.
Along with the 40kw battery, total output on the hybrid A8 comes in at 241bhp with 427Nm of torque, which is delivered to the front wheels through a fast-shifting hybrid transmission.
Three drive modes are available: ‘EV’ gives priority to electric power, ‘D-mode’ is a combination of electric and petrol powered driving, while ‘S’ provides a livelier combination of both powertrains for increased performance.
It's exactly the same drivetrain used the Audi A6 Hybrid concept we drove this month.
The Audi A8 hybrid can drive at up to 62mph purely on electric power, and is capable of reaching 62mph in 7.7 seconds with CO2 emissions of 148g/km. Combined fuel economy is in excess of 44mpg, so still someway behind the firm's diesel offerings.
Visually, the hybrid A8 is almost identical to the standard car, with only subtle details such as its 18-inch or optional 19-inch aerodynamic alloy wheels, small hybrid badges and an exclusive Arctic Silver paint finish setting it apart.
Given the green light for series production beginning in 2012, and reaching the UK late next year, the A8 is one of the lightest saloons in its category thanks to its lightweight aluminium space frame chassis, but the added cost of the batteries and extra fuel-saving technology is likely to make it one of the more expensive models in the line-up.
Mercedes A-Class AMG spied
[Published at autoexpress.co.uk] We reveal the first shots of the A-Class AMG prototype, which will take on the Golf R and Focus ST when it arrives next year
Photos: Automedia 24th August 2011
The new Mercedes A-Class AMG is taking shape. These are the latest spy shots of the new flagship, caught testing under heavy camouflage in Germany. The prototype – likely to be dubbed the A25 AMG – is being benchmarked against the Volkswagen Golf R, with performance taking a serious priority.
Looking very similar to previous A-Class prototypes testing in Germany, the AMG variant is distinguished by bigger air intakes at the front, high-performance brakes, huge AMG alloy wheels and a sporty dual exhaust system.
While the concept A-Class was in sleek three-door form, our spy shots clearly show a more practical five-door version, suggesting that both bodystyles will be offered. The aggressive front end features headlights that feature LED running lights, and a deep front grille. In profile, a truncated rear, long bonnet and roof spoiler give it a dynamic stance and a look reminiscent of its biggest rival, the BMW 1-Series.
In standard trim, the new A-Class will sport a turbocharged and direct injected 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with about 154bhp on tap, and an efficient 1.8-litre diesel available in two different states of tune. The AMG variant is expected to feature a highly tuned 2.0-litre twin-turbocharged petrol that should develop around 350bhp to be a true BMW 1-Series M Coupe and Audi RS3 rival.
With the standard A-Class likely to make its world debut at next months Frankfurt Motor Show, expect the AMG variant to follow early next year.
Video: Audi Urban concept
[Published at autoexpress.co.uk]
Tiny electric-powered two-seater teased ahead of Frankfurt
Following on from our exclusive shots, Audi has given a sneak peak of the Urban concept ahead of next month's Frankfurt Motor Show.
Branded E-tron, the footage confirms the Urban concept will be electric and suggests space for two adults inside, with the second seat set behind the driver's.
This video also gives a sense of its pint-sized scale and current Audi design language. Aerodynamics will play a high priority, with wraparound windscreen and stretched roofline in the aid of creating an extremely slippery shape.
No further details have been released, but the concept car looks sets to be a headline act at Frankfurt next month.
Next Golf GTI spied
[Published at autoexpress.co.uk]
Our spies catch new three-door VW Golf GTI and standard five-door models testing in the US
Photos: Automedia 24th August 2011
The new Volkswagen Golf GTI is on its way. These are the first images of the full-bodied Mk VII Golf, proving that it's on track for a 2012 launch.
Unlike previous spy pictures, these were taken in the US and give much more away in terms of design and detail. Looking lower and longer than the current Golf, this is the first time Volkswagen has used optical camouflage together with some extra black masking over the front and rear. This indicates the next Golf will get some big design changes.
Slated to ride on the new, more versatile MQB chassis platform, our pictures show two distinct prototypes: a three-door Golf GTI and a standard five-door version.
The prototypes left the garage together with a benchmarking Audi S3, indicating what we can expect in terms of performance from the GTI variant.
The three-door GTI pictured features big wheels and twin chrome exhausts. On the inside, it's likely tostick with the traditional hallmark features of the performance model withas sports seatsas well as the very latest sat-nav system.
A wide range of TSI supercharged and turbocharged editions will be offered, including a flagship 2.0-litre producing a storming 300bhp for the Golf R, and an efficient 65bhp 1.2-litre engine capable of returning 70mpg. Volkwagen is also planning a 100mpg plug-in hybrid, as well as an all-electric version, called the e_BlueMotion.
Diesel engines will include 1.6 and 2.0-litre TDI offerings. As standard, entry-level cars will drive the front wheels through a six speed manual gearbox, while flagship machines are tipped to offer the firm's seven-speed DSG semi-automatic gearbox. Four-wheel-drive will be available on the most powerful cars.
According to our reports, the new Golf is primed to appear at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2012, before going on sale in October.
Aston GT3 racer breaks cover
[Published at autoexpress.co.uk] First official pictures reveal Aston Martin's V12 Vantage GT3 racer
These are the first official shots of the striking Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3.
The Vantage GT3 features a modified version of the six-litre V12 that powers all Aston Martin's V12 road cars and form the basis of the firm's customer motorsport activities next year.
Enhancements in handling and performance are expected thanks to a shorter wheelbase and its engine mounted lower down than its DBRS9 predecessor.
The modular chassis is a light aluminium and composite structure, as featured in the manufacturer's road going models. This helps Aston Martin achieve a target dry-weight of just 1250kg.
Expected to produce around 600bhp and 500lb ft of torque, the car's dry-sumped engine will be mated to a semi-automatic Xtrac six-speed sequential paddleshift gearbox via a carbonfibre props haft.
The Vantage GT3 will be eligible for numerous events such as the British GT Championship, the FIA GT3 Championship, and the Nürburgring-based VLN endurance series.
Initial testing of the car begins in October, during which time the car will complete more than 6000 miles to ensure its on the pace for next season. Deliveries are expected to start in early 2012 with prices starting at £298,000.
