Car News
2012 Land Rover Discovery 4
Apart from offering details on the updated Range Rover Sport, Land Rover has also started talking about the series of improvements that have been applied on the 2012 Discovery 4 (LR4 in North America).
Again we’re talking about a small boost in power for the 3.0 SDV6 diesel engine which went from 245 to 256 horses, and the addition of a new transmission (a new ZF 8HP70 automatic) which helps lower emissions and improves consumption. CO2 levels are now 230 g/Km instead of 244 g/Km, while the car is now able to return 32.1 mpg (UK rating) in a combined cycle.
2012 Range Rover Sport
Land Rover has started offering details regarding the 2012 Range Rover Sport, a model which comes with mechanical improvements as well as a number of technology upgrades.
The main change is that the 3.0-litre SDV6 diesel powering the 2012 Range Rover Sport has been increased to 256 HP (an additional 10 HP) and is now linked to a new ZF eight-speed automatic transmission with rotary gear shift selector and paddle shifters. Thanks to this new transmission CO2 emissions have dropped from 243 g/Km to 230 g/Km while fuel consumption has also improved from 30.7 mpg to 32.1 mpg (UK rating).
2011 Volkswagen Polo Match
Volkswagen wants to add even greater value for money on the new 2011 Polo by offering the new Match model which replaces the SE and Moda trim levels.
Packed with 650 GBP worth of equipment, the 2011 Volkswagen Polo Match price starts at 11,300 GBP for the 1.2-litre 60 PS manual version, and starting with the exterior, some of the hilights include 15-inch alloys, front fog lights and heat insulating tinted windows.
Video: Worst Driver in Netherlands
A TV show from Netherlands has managed to find the country’s worst driver. Instead of pressing the brakes and avoid hitting an obstacle, one guy, tasked with completing a simple obstacle course panics and floors the gas pedal.
He even takes his hands off the steering wheel and ends up hitting one of the show’s crew cars that was parked on the side. The two female passengers and the noob driver have escaped with just a few scratches, but as the video description says, there was a cameraman that suffered minor injuries.
Video: BMW 1 Series M Coupe vs Audi RS3 Sportback
AutoExpress wants to see how the old school BMW 1 Series M Coupe reacts in a drag race against its most direct competitor, the Audi RS3 Sportsback.
Unlike the BMW which uses a 6-speed manual gearbox to send power to the rear, the Audi RS3 comes with an all-wheel-drive quattro system and a dual clutch automatic transmission. The power level is the same for both cars, at 335 bhp and 450 Nm of torque, with the RS3 using a 2.5-litre 5-cylinder turbo while the 1 Series M Coupe is fitted with a 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six.
Twingo Renaultsport R1 and R2 Trophy
Renault is trying to exploit the fact that they are the only manufacturer that has a car homologated in each of FIA’s two-wheel drive classes by introducing the Twingo Renaultsport R1 and R2 Trophy.
These are two models featuring motorsport kits, which aim towards ‘budget conscious buyers’.
The Twingo Renaultsport R1 Trophy uses a 133 HP 1.6-litre engine and a gearbox identical to the ones found on the production model, but features ‘essential safety equipment’ and can participate on all regional, national and international rallies.
BB Volkswagen T5 2.0 TSI
Seigen based German tuners from B&B Automobiltechnik have presented their latest development : an extensive performance upgrade program for the Volkswagen T5 2.0 TSI.
The process of turning the BB Volkswagen T5 2.0 TSI into a machine that packs 320 HP and 495 Nm of torque began with revising the engine electronics, optimising the air induction and airflows, increasing the boost pressure and programming the new fuel injection map.
Volvo S60 Performance Project Revealed
After expressing their intention of creating a sports division, Volvo seems to once again confirm the news by revealing the S60 Performance Project, a car which is based on the S60 T6 R Design that was developed in collaboration with Polestar and the tuners from Heico.
The Volvo S60 Performance Project is fitted with a 3.0-litre turbo plant which features revised electronics and on which the power level has been increased from 300 HP and 440 Nm of torque to 325 HP and 480 Nm.
Audi Q3 RS Video
Audi has offered a nice surprise to journalists who gathered in Zurich, Switzerland for the European press launch of the 2012 Q3.
Besides bringing the standard model in various colours and motorisations, the German car maker has also brought a prototype version of the upcoming Audi Q3 RS. This sporty version of the newly launched compact crossover is powered by a 2.5-litre 5-cylinder turbocharged engine which delivers 300 HP to the car’s four-wheel-drive quattro system via a seven-speed dual-clutch S tronic transmission.
ABT 2012 Volkswagen Beetle
ABT Sportsline offers a preview of their upcoming tuning program involving the new generation 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, which they now call the Speedle.
Based on the idea that the new Beetle should be agile and fun to drive, ABT will offer power upgrades to all the engines currently offered on it and these include the 1.2-litre TSI which will be increased from 105 HP (77 kW) to 140 HP (103 kW), the 1.4-litre TSI which will pack 210 HP (154 kW) instead of 160 HP (118 kW) and the 2.0-litre turbo which will be rated at 210 HP (154 kW) instead of 200 HP (147 kW).