Car News
2012 BMW 1 Series M Sport
Shortly after the unveiling of the second generation 1 Series, BMW has started showing a set of initial photos with the 2012 1 Series M Package on its German website.
There are no major changes to what we’ve seen on previously equipped M Package models, with the set of exterior enhancements comprising of sportier looking bumpers, newly designed alloys, and a re-tuned suspension.
2012 Opel Astra GTC
Opel (Vauxhall in the UK) has unveiled their sporty new mid-zise coupe, the 2012 Astra GTC which in the UK is already availble for order starting from today.
Expected to premiere at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK next month, and at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show in September, the 2012 Opel Astra GTC features a driver focused chassis layout and a wheelbase measuring 2,695 mm (10 mm more than the regular Astra).
Nissan 370Z GT Edition Review Video
Autoexpress has tested the Nissan 370Z GT Edition on both public roads and on track, and in this following review video we get to find out what they think about this limited series model, introduced to celebrate 40 years since the Japanese automaker has first started selling Z models in the United Kingdom.
Carrying a 35,000 GBP price tag attached to it, the Nissan 370Z GT Edition comes with a pair of grey GT stripes on the sides and darkened 19 inch forged alloys, plus a retuned suspension and a 7-speed automatic transmission which now features the snow mode, designed to help during icy days in the winter.
MINI Coupe Specifications
BMW decided to release specification and additional photos with the upcoming MINI Coupe, even though there’s still plenty of time left until the official unveiling will take place at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
Even though the coupe’s rear section and the roof are still wrapped up in ‘mistery’ due to swirly, black and white camo, BMW says this new two-seater model from MINI will feature an integral roof spoiler and and an active rear spoiler, in addition to already visible features like sporty looking bumpers, side sills and wheel arches.
2012 BMW 1 Series Officially Unveiled
The German car maker is updating its entry level model range by introducing the 2012 BMW 1 Series, officially unveiled through an extensive photo gallery and complete details and specs, during the weekend.
Built on the same platform as the next generation 3 Series, the 2012 BMW 1 Series F20 has gained in size, with a body that is 85 mm longer than the previous generation, a 30 mm longer wheelbase, 51 mm wider at the front and 72 mm wider at the rear, and with a luggage compartment that expanded from 330 to 360 litres (1,200 litres with the rear seats folded).
Audi R8 GT Spyder
After presenting us with a few sketches almost two months ago, the Ingolstadt based automaker has officially lifted the cover off the Audi R8 GT Spyder today.
With a 5.2-litre FSI V10 engine beneath its Space Frame body (ASF), the Audi R8 GT Spyder produces 560 horsepower (412 kW) and 540 Nm (398 lb-ft) of torque, all of which offer propulsion to a car that weights 85 Kg less than the R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI Quattro due to the usage of body parts made from carbon fiber.
The Audi R8 GT Spyder tips the scale at 1,640 Kg (3,615 lb), and for the official specifications released today we get informed that the car can rocket from 0 to 100 Km/h (0 to 62 mph) in just 3.8 seconds and also reach a top speed of 317 Km/h (196.9 mph).
Skoda Fabia vRS 2000 Convertible Concept
More news involving convertible concepts presented by automakers which belong to the VW Group at this year’s 30th annual Worthersee Festival.
This time its all about the Skoda Fabia vRS 2000, a concept created especially for the jubilee meeting at Worthersee, which joins the Audi A1 Clubsport Quattro, the Golf GTI Edition 35 and the various Golf Convertible iterations which have already been covered by CarSession in our previous posts.
Developed with a single goal in mind, which is ‘dynamism and the joy of sporty driving’ the automaker has unfortunately kept mechanical details for the Skoda Fabia vRS 2000 Convertible Concept undisclosed, and judging by its architecture, one thing that would certainly be interesting to know, is what kind of measures have been taken in order to maintain the car’s structural rigidity.
Volkswagen Golf GTI Cabriolet at Worthersee 2011
A second concept, apart from the Golf R Cabriolet, showcased by VW at this year’s Worthersee meet in southern Austria is the Golf GTI Cabriolet, although in this instance the automaker remained silent as far as technical details.
We have a feeling thought that the Volkswagen Golf GTI Cabriolet uses the same 2.0-litre TFSI as the hard top hatch version, which means it has a total output of 210 horsepower. That is in case they didn’t go with the detuned 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo from the Golf R that has also been used in the Golf GTI Edition 35 which packs 235 HP.
Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet at Worthersee 2011
The Volkswagen Golf R Cabriolet is among one of the concepts brought by the German automaker at Worthersee 2011.
Based on the recently launched Cabriolet version Golf, the R Cabriolet extracts power from a 4-cylinder 2.0-litre turbo engine (the same as the one on the Golf R hatch) and develops 270 HP and 350 Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque starting from 2500 rotations.
Maserati Quattroporte tuned by MR Car Design
The tuners from MR Car Design, with their headquarters in Erftstadt, Germany have mildly upgraded the Maserati Quattroporte, offering a bit more power and a series of new components for the Italian luxury saloon, that has been on the market since 2003.
Visual enhancements are resumed to tinted windows plus a new set of 22 inch rims from Vossen which use 15 mm spacers on the rear axles and are equipped with high performance tires, size 245/30R22 at the front and 295/25R22 at the rear. In connection with the new H&R set of springs which lower the ride high by 20 to 30 mm, the Maserati Quattroporte is expected to handle better, while the dynamic pressure-optimized stainless steel exhaust system featuring 76 mm in diameter tailpipes enables the car to sound more aggressive.