Jaguar XKR175 Limited Edition debuts in Pebble Beach

Limited edition cars are always something special and the Jaguar XKR175 is no exception. With this Jaguar being limited to only 175 vehicles total, its very possible that the demand for the vehicle is going to exceed the minuscule amount they are producing. This exclusivity is at least displayed on the inside of the door sill plates noting what number your Jag is in the range from 0-175 to show off to your friends.

Exclusivity makes the Jaguar XKR175 extra special

The Limited Edition Jaguar XKR175 has a supercharged V8 under the hood which produces 510hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. The top speed has been electronically limited to 174mph or roughly 280km/h which is no doubt a lot faster than you would ever need to go. The new front air dam, side sills, rear diffuser and larger rear spoiler all combine to increase the aerodynamic properties of the Jaguar XKR175 and improve balance and create a reduction in lift at high speeds.

The luxury and styling look is completed by red brake calipers, 20 inch Kasuga allow wheels and a coating of Ultimate black paint on the exterior. The Limited Edition Jaguar XKR175 comes with a $104 500 price tag and is only available in the United States and Canada, so its exclusivity is further increased for South Africans.

2011 VW Touran on its way

The 2011 VW Touran has finally been released and it has become available in the UK, with the first deliveries arriving on the 22nd of September. That would hopefully mean it will be arriving in South Africa some time soon as well, as no one likes to wait too long for the next generation Volkswagen models to hit our shores. The 2011 VW Touran shows styling inspired by VW’s other mainstays, the Polo, Golf and Touareg, with this being most obvious in the front end. Which has retained the unmistakable Volkswagen grille, front bumper and lights found in most new VW models.

2011 VW Touran is big on space

As one can expect, the biggest selling point of the Touran is it’s space and amount of passengers that can climb aboard. The new Touran has 7 seats as standard, with the third row of seats able to fold down to increase the load-space even further.

The most impressive of the engine choices in the 2011 VW Touran is the 1.6 liter 105 PS diesel which can be specified with Volkswagen’s BlueMotion technology and start/stop which combine to make the new Touran the most efficient MPV they have ever produced. Also on the list of impressive new additions is a Park-assist, which helps the driver park in parallel parking bays as well as end-on spaces.

Further engine options will be available as time goes on and as always look out for further information on the 2011 VW Touran arriving in South Africa.

2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 Revealed

It has been announced that the updated 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 is set to hit dealerships in the United Kingdom at the end of September this year. The 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 comes with a few cosmetic upgrades, tweaks here and there and some improved technology.

New looks and tech for 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2

The exterior of the new 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 has seen some nice changes and comes with a new front bumper assembly, a new front grille finish, improved headlights and tail lamps, as well as updated alloy wheel styles and an additional three colour choices. The interior hasnt received as much love, with only subtle changes being made to the instrument dials and some options for seats styles. There are of course some options regarding the interior, including Windsor leather upholstery, an electric seat and premium carpet mats, which dont sound all that inspiring.

One of the more surprising aspects of the new 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 comes in the form of a 2WD derivative, which is quite a stretch for Land Rover. The 2WD option will be available in the United Kingdom in January 2011. Land Rover note that the market in Europe for 2WD SUVs comes to around 23% of the segment, and they intend to compete in this specialized segment. The biggest draw of this 2WD is obviously its fuel efficiency, and it comes in at just 47.2mpg combined and CO2 emissions of just 158g/km, making it the most efficient Land Rover ever.

Other options in the new 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 range include a new 2.2 liter diesel with manual transmission and Start/Stop technology as standard. The power has been increased as well as the fuel efficiency and overall performance compared to the previous Freelander range. With the top of the range 190PS Freelander SD4 completing 0-100km/h in just 8.7 seconds and a top speed of around 190km/h.

Look for more information on the 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 regarding a South African release at a later stage.

2011 Hyundai Elantra details released

Details of the 2011 Hyundai Elantra have been released. The Elantra, which is known in Korea as the Avante is already on sale and can be expected to hit overseas markets by the end of 2010. Previous generations of the Elantra have been a huge sales success for Hyundai and they hope to see continued success with the next generation, as Hyundai note the Elantra/Avante is one of their most important models.

Unique styling for 2011 Hyundai Elantra

These stats do refer to the Avante and could possibly change when the Elantra hits overseas markets. Looks-wise, 2011 Hyundai Elantra was designed with the term “Wind-craft” in mind. They mention that the term refers to the flowing movement of air and artistic sculpture used in the design of the front grille and swept-back headlamps. The design influence continues to the interior, which has a “wind-blown” shape for the center console and futuristic design elements throughout. Talking of the interior, the cabin space has been increased by 18 liters compared to the previous model.

Engine Capability

The 2011 Hyundai Elantra will be powered by a 4-cylinder 1.6 liter Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engine which helps the Elantra to complete the 0-100km/h in 10.4s. As always, fuel efficiency has been a huge concern for the manufacturer and in the 2011 model it has further been reduced, even though power has been improved thanks to the new GDI engine.

The fuel efficiency is further improved by the 6-speed automatic SHIFTRONIC gear box or a standard 6-speed manual. The fuel economy has been improved by 8% to 16.5km/l compared to the previous model Elantra and is now about 10% more fuel efficient than its nearest competitors.

Look for further details on a South African release date of the 2011 Hyundai Elantra.

Geely buys Volvo Cars from Ford

Known as one of the fastest growing car manufacturers in China, Geely Holding Group have completed the acquisition of Volvo Car Corporation from Ford Motor Company.In an agreement that took more than a year; Geely now own 100% of Volvo and have also brought aboard Stefan Jacoby as the president and CEO of Volvo, who was previously at Volkswagen Group of America.

Volvo joins Geely

Regarding the costs of the acquisition, Geely reportedly had to fork out an impressive 1.8 billion U.S. dollars which includes a 200 million U.S dollars note with the balance paid in cash. Geely got the financing for this mammoth amount from Chinese institutions, it’s own balance sheet and international capital market resources.

Volvo Cars will still retain their headquarters and manufacturing presence in Sweden and Belgium. As can be expected, as part of the agreement Ford will remain a close component and supply partner with Volvo, this is to ensure that both parties still maintain the continuity of their vehicles.

The new CEO and president of Volvo Cars, Stefan Jacoby had this to say regarding the acquisition:

“I am honoured to join a company with the prestige and growth potential of Volvo. Our employees, suppliers, dealers – and above all our customers – can be confident that Volvo will preserve its special status as the industry leader in vehicle safety and innovation – even as it pursues new market opportunities.“

Harley Davidson SuperLow Revealed

The Harley-Davidson SuperLow has been added to the lineup and it’s a bike they are calling “Pure riding fun!”. The Harley Davidson SuperLow seems to be aimed at simple riding enjoyment, without too much fuss and excess.

Comfort and Style define the Harley Davidson SuperLow

One of the main features emphasized with the SuperLow is ride-comfort. The solo seat is bucket-shaped and has soft fillers for support. The handlebars have been designed and shaped with a wide-flat bend for a natural feeling and the shocks offer 2.5 inches of wheel travel to further increase ride confort.

The steering-response is another feature Harley have looked at with the SuperLow. The front and back wheels are fitted with Michelin Scorcher 11 radial tires which have been designed to improve the handling on the Harley Davidson SuperLow. The tire and wheel design has reduced the mass of the bike and with the steering geometry implemented for the SuperLow, steering effort required has been reduced.

Some of the key features of the Harley Davidson SuperLow include:

Air-cooled evolution 883cc V-Twin engine

Black Split 5-Spoke with Machine rimmed wheels

39mm Showa fork with 4.1 inches travel

Mid-mount foot controls

This release is for the states and as always keep a look out for the local release.

New Mercedes-Benz CL 63 AMG details revealed

Details of the new Mercedes-Benz CL 63 AMG high performance Coupe have been released. There have been updates to the styling and look as well as a performance boost and a reduction in fuel consumption. As you can expect from Mercedes-Benz, the CL 63 AMG features state of the art technology and design to provide a truly unique and luxurious sports performance coupe.

New Mercedes-Benz CL 63 AMG packs a mighty punch

The CL 63 AMG packs a 5.5 liter V8 AMG biturbo engine that develops 400kW (554hp), however with the AMG Performance package the engine produces 420kW (571hp). This allows it to complete 0-100km/h in just 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 250km/h while the AMG Performance package shaves 0.1 seconds off the 0-100km/h mark and comes in with a top speed of 300km/h electronically limited.

As what seems to be the main concern for all vehicle manufacturers these days; the fuel economy in the new CL 63 AMG has been improved by 25% compared to the current model. Which is particularly impressive considering that is produces 14kW more power. The CO2 emission rate has been reduced by 29% as well and now clocks in at 244g per km.

Safety Features

As far as safety and driver assist features, the new Mercedes-Benz CL 63 AMG is no slouch. As optional extras you can include an Active Lane-keeping assistant which detects if the car has unintentionally crossed over a solid line to the right or left or a lane or bend. When this occurs, the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) kicks in and applies brakes to the wheels on the opposite side of the car to prevent it from straying out of the lane.

Also on the list of optional driver assist features is the Active Blind-spot assist. This feature uses radar technology to determine when it is not safe to move into an adjacent lane, when this occurs the system produces a red warning image on the exterior mirror on the relevant side. If the driver continues changing lanes the system will kick in and automatically apply to brakes to the wheels once again on the opposite side of the vehicle.

The new Mercedes-Benz CL 63 AMG will be launched in September this year in Europe and as always we await further details on a South African release.

Audi A7 Sportback in the mix

The Audi A7 Sportback is the latest offering from the legendary German auto-powerhouse. Audi describe the A7 as combining the “Sporty elegance of a coupe, the comfort of a sedan and the practicality of a station wagon”. Audi could have added “the rear-end of something quite bizarre” but it seems to fit well with the overall style of the car and it’s growing on me.

Plenty engine choice for new Audi A7 Sportback

Under the hood the Audi A7 Sportback will initially be released with four different V6 engines, two petrol and two TDI engines. The highest range engine in the lineup will generate 220kW (300hp) which is rather juicy. The 3.0 TDI generates 150kW (204hp) and has some impressive efficiency stats. With an average fuel consumption of just 5.3 liters per 100km and a CO2 emission rating of 139g per km, not too bad for it’s class.

Audi A7 Sportback is packed with features

As can be expected the Audi A7 Sportback comes with a host of safety systems and driver assists, including: Navigation system, pre-sense system, and lane assist. However, without doubt the most useful new driver assist feature comes in the form of a Park assist system. This system takes control of the steering when parallel parking, and does it for you. I can’t think of a more useful device to have on a new car.

Another useful component is the MMI operating system, control panel, offering the driver a host of functionality. Most impressive being the option for any important information to be projected in the form of a heads up display onto the windshield, so the driver never needs to take their eyes off the road.

The new Audi A7 Sportback is expected to hit dealerships in Europe in their fall, with an estimated base price tag of 51 600 Euros. We await further details for the South African release.

2011 Kia Sportage Launched

The all new 2011 Kia Sportage compact utility vehicle comes with some nice improvements over the current model. Including better performance, better fuel economy, comfort and convenience. There is also a full compliment of impressive options for anyone looking to spend a little more for the finer things in life.

2011 Kia Sportage is a creature of comfort

The 2011 Kia Sportage comes standard with a 2.4 liter 16-vale 4-cylinder engine that produces 176hp and improved fuel consumption. Which gives it more power and better fuel consumption than the previous 2.7 liter V6 Sportage mode.

Regarding the powertrain, the Sportage is available in both front wheel drive and Dynamax all wheel drive. Whats impressive about the AWD system is that it is constantly monitoring driving conditions and attempts to predict when to engage the AWD requirements. The system allocates 100% of the torque to the front wheels during normal driving conditions which helps lower fuel consumption. But when the system detects slippage from the tires, some of the torque is allocated to the rear-wheels to maintain forward momentum.

The 2011 Kia Sportage comes with many impressive safety features as one would expect. Also on the list of features are a number of extras, including: Panoramic sunroof, push-button start, rear camera display, LED day-time running lights and air-cooled drivers seat.

The 2011 Kia Sportage will be available later this month overseas, but as always we will await further details on a South African release date.

2011 Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG details revealed

The 2011 Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG comes with a number of improvements on the current model, as one would naturally expect. Some of the new features are optional and some of them not ground breaking, including an option to deck the interior out in nappa leather styling but there are obviously more serious and important changes.

Improved Fuel Consumption for 2011 Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG

The engine is a AMG 6.3 liter V8 but thanks to efforts from Mercedes-Benz, the fuel consumption in this newer model has been improved by almost 12%. Its output stands at 386kW (525 horse power) which matches the SL 63 AMG and is a somewhat subtle improvement over the previous model by 8kW. The new E 63 AMG completes 0-100km/h in just 4.5 seconds with a limited top speed of 250km/h, this performance is kept under control and at a comfortable temperature by an advanced high-performance water cooling system.

Regarding the fuel consumption, the new 2011 Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG comes in at just 12.6 liters per 100km. This reduction in fuel consumption is thanks to the following features: On-demand delivery of fuel and recuperation of breaking energy. The 7-speed sports transmission also contributes to the fuel saving and comes in 4 modes; Controlled efficiency, Sport, Sport Plus and Manual.

When it gets released it will come with the price tag of: 105 791 Euros for the saloon model and 108 409 Euros for the Estate model. We await further information on the price in South Africa.