Peugeot 308 RC-Z

Peugeot 308 RC-Z concept was introduced at the Frankfurt show back in 2007 and it will be mass produced by May 2010. This cool car is a front-wheel drive vehicle equipped with a Mini Cooper JCW 1.6 turbo unit that able to provide 218bhp. The concept and the mass produced car has a slight differences in the headlight design and the exterior body curve.

The interior of this unique car has a sophisticated design and a polycarbonate roof with twin bubbles to increase headroom. The cockpit is trimmed in leather, chrome, aluminum and black-lacquered plastic.

This Peugeot concept car power is provided by the same 1.6-litre 163kW/218hp direct injection four cylinder that can be found in the Mini Cooper. Peugeot 308 RC-Z is relatively lightweight and should be capable of decent turn of speed.

Bentley Supersports cars

Meet the fastest, most powerful and driver-focused Bentley in history. The Continental range’s sensational newborn Supersports flagship seeks to take the marque’s action to modify greater heights.

With a list of upgrades that should get any enthusiast’s pulse racing, the Supersports boasts a 621bhp 6.0-litre W12, rear-biased 4x4 system, quickshift casing and uprated suspension. Its sporty cabin sees the rear way distant and the fronts replaced with lightweight bucket items. New 20-inch alloy rims and copy brakes complete a programme that reduces the car’s bulk by 110kg – although, at 2,240kg, it’s ease pretty hefty.

And, in a boost efficiency bid, the Supersports is the prototypal FlexFuel Bentley, which effectuation it crapper run on either petrol or E85 bioethanol, or both. This approach, coupled with more radical developments, will be applied to the rest of the line-up over the next few years.

Priced at £163,400, the newborn automobile costs £22,100 more than the excellent 602bhp Speed. But is it worth the extra? Well, it certainly looks a million dollars. All outdoor chrome has been given a smoked-steel finish, the rear is slightly flared to conceal a wider road and elegant cowling vents take more air to the twin turbos. Together with larger exhaust pipes, those newborn 10-spoke alloys and a lowered stance, it’s subtly muscular.

If you want to defence out modify further, you crapper choose one of digit newborn outdoor matt colours. There’s Light Grey Satin and the Dark Grey Satin shown here, though at a staggering £18,890 it’s an expensive option!

Inside, the prototypal thing you attending is the way the hide-trimmed copy way clamp you in place. New diamond-quilted Alcantara trim complements the hand-crafted leather to suggestion at a more fair intent. The lack of rear way – replaced by a load area separated by a copy fibre beam – underlines this.

Fire up the big twin-turbo W12 and it settles into a stilly hum. The ride does seem a little stiffer, but at low measure the Supersports ease feels every inch a luxurious, refined Bentley. Even using the enrich gently, it’s possible to travel at great measure thanks to the W12’s 800Nm of torque, which arrives at a mere 1,700rpm. Flatten the accelerator and the automobile surges nervy in huge leaps, shrinking indifference with incredible ease and feeling modify more responsive than the Speed.

Acceleration is crushing, with 0-60mph taking 3.7 seconds and 0-100mph arriving in exclusive 8.9 seconds. Top measure is an awesome 204mph. Changes from the paddleshift automatic incase are swifter, too, punctuated by an appropriate exhaust fighting – but though there’s more engine noise, there’s not as much roar from the powerful W12 as you’d hope.

The copy brakes are deeply impressive as well, modify if the tone doesn’t feel particularly firm. And as soon as you invoke into a corner you crapper savor the player tautness and lightness that the newborn suspension set-up offers. For such a super car, the Bentley is remarkably wieldy on tight, twisty roads: the rear-biased four-wheel-drive grouping helps here, allowing added enrich adjustability. Yet the Supersports is at its best on comprehensive corners: it rattling flows, gripping hard and showing great poise and traction.

Despite every the changes, the ultimate Conti ease rides beautifully and cossets occupants meet as well as the Speed. And while Bentley does not describe the automobile as a GT – without four seats, it can’t be, says the concern – the model is ease a superb long-distance tourer. For most buyers, the Speed offers more than enough pace. But for those serendipitous enough to hit the funds, the Supersports is a desirable addition that might prove too hard to resist.

Rival: Aston Martin DBS
For nearly the same price tag you crapper hit James Bond’s consort car. Stunning looks and a gorgeous cabin combine well with a powerful 6.0-litre V12 engine which offers dead storming performance.

New Nearly 200bhp turns Abarth into a firebreather

THE Abarth 500 has absent noesis crazy! With its snarling 133bhp 1.4-litre turbo engine, the tuned baby already has quite a reputation.

Buyers can take noesis to 158bhp with Abarth’s Esseesse upgrade – but for German tuner Karl Schnorr Kraftfahrzeuge, that’s still not enough.

It has additional a large turbo, a sports exhaust and remapped the ECU to provide an incredible 198bhp.

Visual upgrades include the red 17-inch alloys you see here, as well as lowered support for improved handling.

But the noesis output isn’t the exclusive figure that’s risen – so has the price.

To turn your Abarth 500 into a Karl Schnorr firebreather will ordered you backwards nearly £4,500 on crowning of the £13,605 itemize price.

Aston Martin V-12 Vantage 2010

In A meanwhile,Aston Martin module return to the Nurburgring for the fourth year in a row to contend in the 24-hour endurance race. This year the newborn V12 Vantage module be joining the yellow V8 Vantage - nicknamed 'Rose' - on the grid.

The ADAC Nurburgring 24-hour race attracts a difference of entrants from works backed teams (including Aston Martin, VW and Audi) to private entries in anything from Porsche 911 GT3s and BMW M3 GTS to more modest machinery. The strangest entry in last year's race was probably the Opel Astra Caravan, which finished ahead of a Lamborghini Gallardo!

This year Aston Martin module enter a V12 Vantage, unvoluntary by Chief Executive Dr Ulrich Bez along with members of Aston's engineering team. The automobile is described as existence 'near standard specification', which means about 510bhp from a 6.0-litre V12. Changes include reduced weight, which necessitates re-tuned suspension and Pirelli has provided slick tyres for the race.

Aston Martin unveiled the production edition of its most potent and focused automobile at Geneva. This new automobile combines the V-8 Vantage's compact 2-seat dimensions with the noesis of the company's 5.9-liter V-12—to the tune of 510 bhp and 420 lb.-ft. of torque. Aston is predicting a 190 indication top speed, along with 0–62 indication (100 km/h) dispatched in a insufficient 4.2 seconds. Although the V-12 engine weighs 220 lb. more than the standard car's V-8, carbon-ceramic brakes, lighter imitative aluminium wheels, lightweight inner rear quarter panels and optional lightweight seats have resulted in the overall edge coefficient that's exclusive 110 lb. heavier than its V-8 sibling's. And the coefficient distribution is near perfect, at 51/49 front/rear.

Skoda Octavia RS 2010

The facelifted Skoda Octavia RS has a redesigned front mask with an RS logo and bold headlamps that, for the first time in the RS version, can be fitted with xenon units combined with an adaptive front lighting module. Besides a wider and bolder induction aperture, the car's innovated bumper boasts a further two innovations: fog lamps with the Corner function and LED lamps for daytime lighting. The covers of integrated tailgate lamps have been redesigned to look more attractive, other innovations include, for example, a new metallic paint (Anthracite) and 18" Neptune wheels. The sports-tuned chassis has been lowered to 127 mm, the car's weight reduced by 20 kg in the petrol version and 15 kg in the diesel one. Significantly reduced air resistance has a positive impact upon the car's overall performance. The maximum speed is higher, and the car's responsiveness and acceleration have also been improved.

Skoda Octavia Scout 2010

The Scout band has congenital a abiding position in Škoda's archetypal portfolio. Bigger than the Roomster Scout and the Fabia Scout, the Skoda Octavia Scout is the flagship of this archetypal line. The new agent has been facelifted to toe the band with the added models of the Skoda Octavia portfolio, including a redesigned radiator affectation and adventurous headlamps. Fitted with fog lights with the Corner function, the massive advanced bonanza underlines the vehicle's off-road appearance. Adventurous careful anatomy elements are in accord with a new brownish acrylic (Rosso Brunello).

With 179 mm of bright acme and able anatomy protection, the car is able-bodied geared for off-road driving. The all-wheel drive arrangement includes the fourth-generation Haldex clamp able to alteration as abundant as 85 % of the torque to a distinct wheel. Two able engines - petrol 1.8 TSI/118 kW (EU 5) and agent 2.0 TDI PD DPF/103 kW (EU 4) - accumulated with a six-speed automated manual accommodate satisfactory achievement levels.

Skoda Superb Combi 4x4 (2010)

Available with 1.8 TSI 160bhp and 3.6 V6 260bhp petrol engines as well as the 2.0 TDI CR 170bhp diesel, the Škoda Superb Combi 4x4 can tackle the sort of slippery conditions that would leave its two-wheel drive competitors stranded. The system transfers torque to whichever wheels have the most traction by taking signals from the ABS sensors, greatly increasing driving safety in the type of snowy and icy conditions that have gripped the UK this winter.

But the Škoda Superb Combi 4x4's capabilities aren't limited to wintery conditions. In the summer months the 4x4 technology will ensure that pulling trailers and caravans is easier, safer and more enjoyable than ever. And because drive to the rear wheels is disengaged when not needed, there's little adverse effect on fuel consumption.

2005 Volvo V50 SV

The V50 is the station wagon version of the Volvo S40 compact near-luxury car / small family car, produced by the Swedish automaker Volvo Cars.

It is based on the Volvo P1 platform shared with the Mazda Mazda3, and the new European Ford Focus. Ford Motor Company's Premier Automotive Group assembles the V50 at the Volvo factory in Ghent, Belgium. Volvo Cars Special Vehicle also produced a concept car based on the V50, the V50 SV, whose engine produces 340 hp (179 kW), and debuted at the 2004 Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association tradeshow in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII MR 2005

The Lancer Evolution (colloquially known as the "EVO") is Mitsubishi's flagship sports car. Based only on the unibody of the domesticated Lancer sedan, the Evo is a rally inspired, turbocharged, all wheel drive, durable, and finely tuned automobile. The number designation of the model is most commonly a roman numeral. Evolution models prior to version V were the officially approved models for Mitsubishi's efforts in the World Rally Championship's Group A class and SCCA Pro Rally Championship. In order to follow these rules, the Evolution is based on the same platform as the Lancer. However, it is much more powerful than the Lancer, with the unibody being the only major part in common between the two. Nine street versions of the Evolution have been produced from 1993 up to today. Evolution versions VI, VII, VIII and IX did not need to meet WRC homologation requirements.

2007 Suzuki SX4 US Version

American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) today announced a specially designed U.S. version of the all-new Suzuki SX4 vehicle is slated to hit dealer showrooms in the United States next year. Production of the European version of the SX4 in Eastern Europe also was announced today.

The all-new SX4 features a versatile, rigid five-door design, an available all-wheel-drive system, and for the U.S. market, a sophisticated fuel-sipping 2.0-liter DOHC engine.

Cadillac CTS Coupe First Drive 2011

Our equation for calculating the desirability of a two-door coupe based on a sedan platform is pretty simple: Does the two-door version offer enough additional visual appeal to offset the loss in practicality that is the inevitable result of the loss of two doors, rear-seat space and trunk capacity? This is the basic question we sought to answer in our first opportunity to drive the 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe.


But first, let us give you a couple examples of how this math works, one on each end of the practicality-versus-beauty scale.

Despite using many of the same building blocks, there's a world of difference between the desirability of an Audi A4 sedan and an Audi A5 coupe. Safe to say that in the minds and eyes of those around our office, the A5's beauty more than offsets its loss of capacity.

Once upon a time, when two-door versions of sedans were more commonplace, there were both four-door and two-door versions of the Dodge Aries K-car. Now, the decision between those two might be just as easy as between the Audis, but the result would be different.

You Look...Fabulous!
Unless you happen to be viewing the coupe from the front, there's no mistaking it for the sedan with which it shares almost all of its mechanical systems. Sure, it shares a certain Cadillac-style angularity, but the coupe is a shocking thing to behold on the road. In the grand scheme of things, the greater the differentiation between the sedan and the coupe, the better. And to the eyes of most on our staff, the coupe is unusually handsome.

It does not follow the basic silhouette of the classic coupe — that smooth-and-sexy style executed so nicely on the A5 and the BMW 3 Series coupes. It looks, well, it must be said, like a hatchback of sorts. The angle of the backlight and trunk lid is so similar that from several paces away, it's not obvious that the CTS Coupe even has a trunk in the conventional sense.

The arrangement means that the rear flanks of the coupe cover an unusual amount of square footage. Some love it; some dislike it intensely, but everyone can agree that it's going to look its best when wearing very, very large wheels. Our pre-production test car wore the optional 19-inch wheels that come with the Summer Tire package. We wouldn't go any smaller. The base-level car wears 18s.

And for a brand that's still climbing out of the doldrums of its recent history, polarizing, unconventional styling isn't a bad thing. Then again, unconventional styling can be much less, um, attractive. We're looking directly at you, BMW 6 Series coupe.

We're buying wholeheartedly the shapes of the CTS Coupe's rear, yes, even the showy, chrome-rimmed exhaust outlets in the rear bumper cover. And we flat love the vertical taillights with their sharp peaks and the thorny-looking center brake light/spoiler. To offset all these vertical emphasis, Cadillac gave the coupe a wider rear track than the sedan (by about an inch).

Another uncommonly attractive detail is the inset touchpads that replace the sedan's conventional door handles. They allow for an uninterrupted flow along the car's flank, and their angular shape nicely suits this origami car.

For us, then, the CTS Coupe scores high on the design side of the coupe-vs.-sedan equation. And because it's American (built in Lansing, Michigan, it is), you can refer to it as a "coop," and not the pretentious European "coo-pay."

Audi R8 V10 Spyder Priced for UK

Audi UK has announced prices for the R8 V10 Spyder. The topless German model with a fully automatic lightweight fabric roof is to retail for £111,955 OTR for the manual and £117,155 OTR for the robotic R tronic. Power still comes from the 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V10 engine putting out a solid 525PS. It is good for a sprint time of 4.1 seconds from 0 - 62mph and tops off at 197mph.

At the same time the company said that a British LM-spec R8 will compete in the FIA GT3 European Championship. The R8 LMS is based on the road-going coupe version, and two examples have been sold to the new racing outfit United Autosports. This is the first British team to run an Audi R8 LMS car.

It features a lightweight carbon fibre body and a race-spec gearbox. The interior has been completely stripped of its luxury trim. Having debuted in 2009 and going on to win 23 races, the R8 is now considered a bargain buy that has justified its £267,000 ‘list price'.

Mercedes-Benz C55 AMG 2004

The second generation C-Class was introduced in 2000, with an even sportier look than the previous generations, with a steeper frontend and shorter rearend. The sedan debuted with a range of straight-four and V6 petrol engines and straight-four and straight-five Diesels. The V6s were versions of the previous model with increased displacement, to 2.6 L and 3.2 L, this one with 218 PS (160 kW/215 hp). The Diesels now featured common rail direct injection and variable geometry turbochargers. Six-speed manual gearboxes were now standard for nearly the entire range (except the C 320 and C 270 CDI). For the first time, the number designations were no longer equivalent to the engine displacement, more specifically in the C 180 (2.0 L), C 240 (2.6 L) and C 200 CDI (2.2 L).

Mercedes-Benz SL600 (2003 )

The SL55 AMG version was released in 2002 with a supercharged 5.4 L (5439 cc) Mercedes-AMG V8. This car produced 493 hp (367 kW) at 6,100 rpm and could run to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.7 seconds.

The SL55 AMG was updated for 2007 with a 510 hp (380 kW)/531 ft·lbf (720 N·m) version of the same engine. The new model has only slight visual differentiators, the most noticeable is the three-slat grille rather than the four-slat version used previously. It should be 0.2 seconds quicker to 100 km/h. Although the top speed remains limited to 250 km/h (155 mph), Mercedes-Benz will now allow the governor to be eliminated, increasing maximum speed to 300 km/h (186 mph).

Mazda RX-8 2003

The new Mazda RX-8 is truly a sports car like no other, with a revolutionary concept — a twin rotary engine sports car, an exterior design that is pure emotion, along with four doors and room for up to four adults. No other model bearing the five- point grille exemplifies Zoom-Zoom as clearly as this. The new Mazda RX-8 is indicative of the future of sports car technology at Mazda — sporty and functional, but never boring.

Mazda MazdaSpeed MX5

The Mazda MX-5 is a popular sports car built by Mazda in Hiroshima, Japan, since 1989. It is known as MX-5 Miata (or popularly just Miata) in North America, MX-5 in Oceania and Europe, and Roadster (under the Eunos marque until 1996) in Japan. The MX-5 is one of the world's best-selling sports cars, with 748,904 cars sold until the end of 2005. Beginning with the third-generation 2006 model, Mazda consolidated worldwide (excluding Japan) marketing using the MX-5 name, though enthusiasts in the USA (and the company itself) still refer to it as Miata, a name that means "reward" in Old High German.

Chevrolet Corvette C5 2003

The Chevrolet Corvette C5 is a sports car which started in 1997 and ended with the 2004 model year. It is the fifth generation of Chevrolet Corvettes built and marketed by Chevrolet.

The C5 was a radical change from the previous generation. The car now had a hydroformed box frame, the transmission was moved to the rear of the car to form an integrated rear-mounted transaxle assembly and is connected to the engine via a torque tube. The 4L60E automatic transmission carried on, but the manual was replaced by the Borg-Warner T-56. Gone were the squeaks and rattles of the C4, and in replacement was an incredibly strong frame that would last for at least two more generations. The new C5 was better in every aspect than the C4 it replaced.

Sedan Hyundai Accent 2004

The Hyundai Accent (sold in some regions as the Verna) is a subcompact car produced in South Korea, India, Pakistan, and Turkey. It replaced the Excel in the company's lineup.

The Accent is produced for the Chinese market by the Dongfeng Yueda Kia Automobile Company, a joint venture with a Hyundai subsidiary, Kia. In Mexico, the Accent is marketed by DaimlerChrysler as the Dodge Attitude, previously Verna by Dodge. In Venezuela, DaimlerChrysler markets the Brisa de Dodge, which is based on an older Accent model. The Brisa is assembled by Mitsubishi Motors at its plant in Barcelona, Venezuela. Since 2002, the Accent had been the longest-running subcompact sold in North America. In Puerto Rico its was renamed to a Hyundai Brio.

SUV Hyundai Tucson V6 2005

The Hyundai Tucson (also called the JM) is a compact crossover SUV launched in 2005 by the Korean automaker Hyundai. It shares its Elantra-based platform with the redesigned 2005 Kia Sportage.

Powertrains are a 2.0 L I4 with a five-speed, front-drive manual transmission or optional four-speed automatic transmission with "sport shift" manual shifting capability or a 2.7 L V6 available with the automatic only. Four wheel drive is optional with a Borg-Warner torque controller system. In some markets, the Tucson is also available with a 2.0 L diesel engine equipped with common rail technology.

HUMMER H3 2010 REVIEW

2010 HUMMER H3 4dr SUV 4WD (3.7L 5cyl 5M)
National Base Price
MSRP $33,390 Invoice $31,053

What's New for 2010
For 2010, the Hummer H3 sees only minimal changes the lower portion of the front bumper is now dark gray instead of silver, the 5.3-liter V8 adopts flexible-fuel capability and the H3X package is renamed the Appearance package.


2010 HUMMER H3 Vehicle Overview

Powertrains and Performance
All 2010 Hummer H3 models are equipped with full-time four-wheel drive and a two-speed transfer case. The standard engine is a 3.7-liter inline five-cylinder that generates 239 horsepower and 241 pound-feet of torque, backed by a standard five-speed manual transmission or optional four-speed automatic. Acceleration is lackluster thanks to the H3's nearly 5,000-pound weight, and the maximum towing capacity is rated at a modest 4,500 pounds. EPA estimated fuel economy checks in at 14 mpg city/18 mpg highway and 15 mpg combined with either transmission.

The Alpha model picks up the pace with a 5.3-liter V8 cranking out 300 horses and, more importantly, 320 lb-ft of mass-moving torque mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. Overall performance is noticeably improved, with 0-60 sprints in the 8-second range, and maximum towing capacity shoots up to 6,000 pounds. As expected, estimated fuel mileage suffers further, rating 13 mpg city/16 mpg highway and 14 mpg combined.

Interior Design and Special Features
The H3's cabin is handsome in a utilitarian kind of way, but a bit plain when compared to the Hummer H3's bold exterior design. The available leather seating livens things up a bit with a two-tone color scheme and contrasting piping. Build quality is acceptable, though most rivals offer finer appointments. Also, stereo and climate interfaces aren't as user-friendly as those found in other GM vehicles.

The seats are comfortable, though outward visibility is compromised for shorter drivers and passengers due to the H3's high beltline and low-profile window design. Rear-seat occupants have plenty of room to stretch out once inside, but ingress and egress through the smallish door openings can be a challenge, and taller individuals may find headroom somewhat tight. Cargo capacity lags behind some rivals, at just 63 cubic feet with the seats folded. The cargo-floor liftover is also quite high, but easily accessed though the side-hinged rear door.

Driving Impressions
The standard inline-5 generally manages to keep up with traffic when tooling around town, but the 2010 Hummer H3's near-5,000-pound mass causes it to strain when faced with steeper inclines and high-speed passing situations. The Alpha's burly V8 solves this problem, of course, and is accompanied by a muscular exhaust note and improved throttle response at all speeds.

Off the road, the junior Hummer comes into its element and can overcome just about any terrain you encounter, owing to 9 inches of ground clearance, ample wheel travel, standard skid plates and impressive approach and departure angles. Given this off-road capability, the H3 performs admirably on pavement, with decent stability at speed. The ride is surprisingly smooth and belies the H3's tough-truck nature.

GMC Yukon Hybrid Review 2010

MSRP: From $ 51,185

Powertrains and Performance
The 2010 GMC Yukon Hybrid is available with rear-wheel or four-wheel drive. Both models utilize a 6.0-liter V8 engine coupled to a pair of 60-kilowatt electric motors located inside what GM calls an electrically variable transmission. Together, they produce 332 horsepower and 367 pound-feet of torque. The system can accelerate the Yukon up to speeds of approximately 25 mph using electricity only, while the V8's cylinder-deactivation system helps reduce fuel consumption at higher speeds. Regenerative braking replenishes the batteries by capturing energy normally lost when you come to a stop.

Fuel economy ratings stand at 21 mpg city/22 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined for rear-wheel-drive Yukon Hybrids, with 4WD versions earning identical numbers except combined, which is just 1 mpg less. Maximum towing capacity for a properly equipped 4WD model is 6,000 pounds.


Driving Impressions
It's not a stretch to say that driving the 2010 GMC Yukon Hybrid feels like being behind the wheel of a 5,600-pound Prius. There's the same eerie quiet when accelerating and braking, as the gas engine shuts off to let the electric motors do their thing. Although it's a tad strange, the result is a quiet cabin, while transitions between gas and electric modes, and eight- and four-cylinder mode, are either undetectable or easy to ignore.

Although the Hybrid is the most powerful Yukon available, it's also the heaviest, so don't expect particularly brisk acceleration. Also, the transmission isn't what we'd call responsive; there can be a notable delay when you ask for full power. Handling is about what you'd expect -- safe but ponderous. Most crossovers are notably more carlike from behind the wheel. The Yukon's cabin remains fairly quiet at speed, though, and the ride is relatively smooth for a truck-based SUV.