Aston Martin One-77 revealed

The Aston Martin One-77 supercar which is nearing completion and looking increasingly impressive. Most disappointing though, Aston Martin are only planning to produce 77 models of this incredible car, which means the demand for the car will far out-strip availability. This does give it a very rare collectors item feel, which no doubt adds to its value and should be hot on the list of many car collectors.

Big Power for Aston Martin One-77

The biggest draw point for the Aston Martin One-77 is its claim to house the worlds most powerful naturally aspirated engine. The engine is a 7.3 liter V12 and has been certified at 750bhp and 750Nm of torque, which are some seriously impressive stats.

Being an Aston Martin though, its not just impressive under the hood, the styling and exterior looks are equally mind-blowing. To ensure the Aston Martin One-77 retains the quality people have come to expect from the brand, the same rigorous tests have been conducted that are requirements for all other Aston Martin cars. These tests include exposing the car to extreme hot and cold and laps around the Nurburgring, the worlds most unforgiving test track.

The Aston Martin One-77 is nearing completion and deliveries are expected to begin in early 2011.

New Lexus CT 200h for Paris Motor Show

The new Lexus CT 200h is going to be on display at the Paris Motor Show which is just around the corner and it will be interesting to see how this vehicle holds up to others in its class. Lexus are not really renowned for compact cars and does seem to be strange venture for a luxury vehicle manufacturer but a lot will depend on the pricing of the vehicle.

New Lexus CT 200h enters compact hatchback territory

The new Lexus CT 200h is powered by Lexus Hybrid Drive and through software tuning and brand-specific engineering, the CT 200h has impressive fuel economy and still retains impressive performance. The total output measures in at 100kW (134hp) and completes 0-100km/h in just 9.8 seconds. Fuel efficiency is also rather impressive with a combined rating of just 42mpg.

The new Lexus CT 200h comes with a host of driving options, which probably goes from being useful to being confusing with too many options. Driving moods include: Dynamic and relaxing in conjunction with full hybrids EV, eco, normal and sport. Attention has been made to the drive comfort with a high structural rigidity, a low center of gravity and a lateral performance damper system, the drive feels smooth and has minimal body vibrations.

Design Features

Looks wise, the front and side of the CT 200h very closely resembles the BMW 1-series with its sharp lines which is strange considering that Lexus note the design creates a unique aura which was supposed to set it apart from its segment rivals. It does look good though and Lexus have made a vehicle that is pleasing on the eye. At least until you see the back of the car, which looks terrible. It looks frumpy and lacks the elegant style that is found on the rest of the vehicle.

Look for more information on the new Lexus CT 200h when it rolls out at the Paris Motor Show.

Porsche 911 Carrera GTS gets sportier

Porsche have released details on their updated Porsche 911 Carrera GTS ahead of the Paris Motor Show this October. Porsche have noted that the Carrera GTS is the best model they have released to date in the Carrera series, as there are notable improvements to performance, design and efficiency.

Sporty styling for new Porsche 911 Carrera GTS

The Porsche 911 Carrera GTS has some updates to the general styling, both inside and out. For starters the GTS comes with the wide Carrera 4 body found on the AWD models with a wider track and rear-wheel drive. Other changes come with the GTS using 19 center-mount RS Spyder wheels along with a SportDesign front apron with spoiler edge. The interior is mostly black with the center section of the sport-seats being covered in Black Alcantara as well as the rim of the steering wheel, the handbreak and the gear lever.

Performance

Under the hood the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS packs a 3.8 liter engine that produces 408hp which is 23hp more than the Carrera S. And while the torque output is the same as the Carrera S at 420Nm, it is available 200rpm earlier at 4200rpm. Improvements to the fuel efficiency in the GTS are thanks to the Porsche Intelligent Performance and PDK, enabling the Coupe GTS to clock in at 10.2liters/100km and a CO2 emission rate of 240g/km.

Most importantly though, the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS clocks in at 0.1 seconds quicker than the Carrera S in the 0-100km/h standing, coming in at just 4.2s. The top speed has also increased and tops out at 306km/h which is a whopping 4km/h better than the S, which is very good to know if you are ever racing your GTS vs the S model from robot to robot in Boksburg.

The Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Coupe and Cabriolet models go on sale in Germany in December of this year.

BMW M6 Coupe and Convertible end production

BMW has announced that they will be ending production of their M6 Convertible and M6 Coupe models which will join BMWs discontinued pile which is already occupied by the fourth generation M5. The BMW M6 Coupe was launched in 2005 and to date a total of 9087 units were produced, with the M6 convertible model released the following year in 2006 and a total of 5065 units produced.

BMW M6 coupe and convertible will be missed

With BMWs discontinuing of these two models, that also signals the end of production of the V10 high-rev engine. This 10 cylinder engine was very successful during its heyday and was chosen as the overall Engine of the year in 2005 and 2006. For the following 2 years after that, BMWs V10 placed first in the category of engines with over 4 liters displacement. The engine produces a maximum output of 7750 rpm and a maximum torque of 520Nm.

The BMW M6 Range gave racing enthusiasts a high performance vehicle that most importantly was road-legal. The M6 Coupe completed 0-100km/h in just 4.6 seconds with the M6 Convertible being only 0.2s slower, a true testament to the amazing performance of these vehicles. It is sad to see such a great vehicle end its production life but the vehicle will still live on in the used car market for a long time to come.

New Mercedes-Benz Vito details released

Details of the new Mercedes-Benz Vito have been released which improves on many aspects of what is already a decent van. While fuel economy is never really the biggest concern for someone buying a Vito, the current model certainly is thirsty for petrol so it is a relief to see that Mercedes-Benz have improved on the fuel economy.

New Mercedes-Benz Vito gets pretty face

Regarding the exterior and styling on the new Mercedes-Benz Vito, the biggest change comes with the face. Mercedes note that the changed face is a lot more striking and has styling elements from Mercs other line of passenger vehicles while still maintaining a commercial vehicle look. The front bumper now has a honey-comb look to fit the styling of the rest of the vehicle as well as new day-time running lights which come as standard.

Improved Fuel Economy

As mentioned previously, Mercedes has made a concerted effort to improve fuel economy in the new Vito as well as reducing its impact on the environment. CO2 emissions have been reduced by up to 15% and with the option to include BlueEFFICIENCY technology, the fuel efficiency and CO2 rating are both improved further. BlueEFFICIENCY technology is available as an option on the Vito panel van and comes as standard on the Vito crew bus.

The top of range diesel engine comes from the Vito 122 CDI, which is a V6 and produces 165kW (224hp) of power, which Mercedes-Benz note has less effect on the environment while still improving its performance. As always the top of the range petrol engine comes in a little stronger, the Vito 126s V6 engine produces 190kW (258hp) with improved performance and power.

New Citroen DS4 details released before debut

The new Citroen DS4 is the second model in the DS range, and Citroen is hoping the DS4 makes quite a splash when it gets released. The DS4 is aimed at practically and daily running around but Citroen do note that the DS4 can still fit the driving style of a number of different driver needs. With a coupe-like body style and 2+2 door styling, the new Citroen DS4 combines utility with practically, noted by three full size rear seats for carrying more passengers around town if needed.

Practical design for new Citroen DS4

Getting to the back seats is something of an interesting point though. The rear seats are accessed by the rear doors but the rear door handles have sneakily been hidden to blend in to shape of the car. While this does maintain a slightly sleeker look to the car overall, it is too minor to be justified and the DS4 ends up looking like a 2-door hatch.

Under the hood, the new Citroen DS4 will be available in five different engine types, including 3 petrol and 2 diesel models which include Citroens diesel Particulate Filtering System. The 1.6 liter petrol engine produces 147kW, 275Nm of torque at 1700rpm. Following most new nippy car models, the DS4 has low CO2 emissions, coming in at just 149g/km with many new technologies pulling their weight and reducing the fuel consumption by up to 15% in urban driving.

The new Citroen DS4 is going to debut at the Paris Motor show later this year and is looking to go on sale later in Europe in 2011.

Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 makes debut

Hybrid vehicles are slowly becoming a lot more popular these days and many of the worlds top vehicle manufacturers are getting on board and releasing their own interpretation of what a hybrid vehicle should be. Peugeot have come to the party with their Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 which is the worlds first full diesel hybrid road vehicle.

Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 shows hybrid power

The Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 uses a 2.0 liter 163 bhp HDi diesel engine along with a 37 bhp electric motor and Peugeot claim this combination is optimal for a hybrid vehicle. The Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 is able to switch from running on diesel to the electric motor automatically using a Start & Stop system. This system places the diesel engine on standby while it engages the electric motor and should there be a need, for example: more power required or low battery, the diesel engine can seamlessly kick in again.

The choice of running with a diesel engine over a conventional petrol engine, which is the norm for hybrid vehicles, was a no-brainer for Peugeot, as they claim the diesel is far more fuel efficient. And this is shown by the 3008 Hybrid4’s combined drive cycle fuel consumption of just 74.4mpg and as one would naturally expect from a hybrid, the effect on the environment is also reduced, with the CO2 emissions clocking at just 99g/km.

Choose your preferred driving mode

The Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 has 4 different operating modes which can be changed on the center console. The modes include:

Auto – Which controls the entire system automatically and maintains the vehicle for optimal driving and the best possible fuel efficiency .

ZEV – Which stands for “Zero Emission Vehicle” which sets the 3008 into only using the electric engine and thus naturally producing zero emissions.

Four-wheel drive mode – This mode combines both engines to power the vehicle, with the electric engine powering the rear wheels and the diesel engine powering the front wheels.

Sport – The sport mode, as can be expected enables quicker gear changes and higher engine speeds, once again with both the electric and diesel engine combining for improved performance.

The Peugeot 3008 Hybrid4 is being produced in France and can be expected to hit dealerships in Europe of Spring 2011. With the 3008 model already being available in South Africa, it should hopefully be a formality that the Hybrid4 version follows suit.

2011 Nissan Murano launched

The new 2011 Nissan Murano model for next year has seen the light of day and while there aren’t any ground-breaking changes there are some nice improvements. The 2011 Nissan Murano is set to be released in mid October in the US with a later release date expected in South Africa, check back for more details when they become available.

New features for 2011 Nissan Murano

Headlining the list of improvements for the new Nissan Murano are a number of interior goodies, including new center stack colours, power lumbar support for the drivers seat, rear-view monitor, auto-dimming rear-view mirror with compass and a heated steering wheel. These improvements are mostly for the SV model with the heated steering wheel being for the SL model. Regarding the in-car entertainment, the new Murano comes with an impressive audio setup, including: a Bose audi system with 9 speakers and dual subwoffers for the SL model.

The other most significant change, in what is a rather small list of changes, is the exterior styling of the 2011 Nissan Murano. Most notably the grille has been redesigned and accompanies wide front-headlights. Nissan note that the look of the new Murano has a “modern-art” feel and yet still retains a “Murano-ness”. I have no idea what that means though, other than it looks like Murano, which one would naturally expect from the next generation Murano. Still on the exterior, buyers will have one additional option regarding the exterior paint job in the form of “Graphite Blue”.

As standard, the 2011 Nissan Murano comes with a VQ-Series 3.5 liter DOHC V6 which produces 260 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque. The new Murano will be available in a total of 8 models, with the addition of a SV FWD and a SV AWD. Also on the list of standard features are; Vehicle Dynamic Control and Traction Control Systems.

While there is nothing too impressive with the list of changes, the Nissan Murano is already a good vehicle, so perhaps it didn’t need that much of a change.

2011 Jeep Wrangler Model in Production

Details of the 2011 Jeep Wrangler have been released and it’s as impressive as one could expect. There aren’t any sweeping changes but the subtle changes they have made all improve on what was already an impressive vehicle.

New features for 2011 Jeep Wrangler

The interior has received the most love, with new storage areas, redesigned instrument panels and a center stack that has also been revamped for easier usage. To help with visibility, the new 2011 Jeep Wrangler is fitted with heated power mirrors and much larger rear windows. Further improvements regarding the interior come in the form of improved functionality on the steering wheel. The driver is now able to control the radio, cruise-control and hands-free phone while still keeping his/her hands on the wheel.

The noise levels in 4×4 vehicles can often be one of the negative aspects but Jeep have attempted to combat this by working on the acoustics that should significantly reduce interior noise. So the driver is able to listen to whatever music that Jeep drivers listen to in perfect clarity, while navigating the arduous terrain of Sandton City.

The 2011 Jeep Wrangler has begun production and should be available in the near future in South Africa. When it arrives, it will be available in a number of new paint coats including: Detonator Yellow, Deep Cheery Red, Sahara Tan, Cosmos Blue and Bright White.

The latest from Pebble Beach: McLaren, Perana

With so many incredible new sports cars debuting at Pebble Beach Monterey, it can often be hard to highlight just one or two. Today we are focusing on the new McLaren MP4-12C and The Perana Z-One

The McLaren MP4-12C is making its North American debut at Pebble Beach and it is certainly causing quite a splash. Under the hood the McLaren MP4-12C is powered by a twin-turbo 3.8 liter V8 which has taken great leaps in being light, efficient and small in design.

More interesting though is the way it handles the gear-shifting. Much like its Formula 1 brethren, the MP4-12C changes gears using a rocker shift, which pivots in the center of the steering wheel and moves as the steering wheel moves. This is to ensure that even at full lock the driver can still shift gears by either pulling or pushing on the rocker.

The Perana Z-One is of particular interest to South African’s in that the vehicle is produced in Port Elizabeth. And this helped them to create a sports car that has unmatched performance and equipment at a price tag of under 50 000 pounds. Largely, one would assume, to lower labour and production costs compared to that of the US and Europe.

The Z-One boasts some impressive features, with a 6.2 liter V8 that produces 330kW and perfect 50/50 weight distribution for ideal car balance. The Z-One completes 0-100km/h in just under 4 seconds, which seems to be the required time for modern day super cars.

Being a home-grown Super car, it’s great to see the Perana attracting so much attention on an international stage and we are sure the car will continue turning heads for years to come.