Top Gear faces Tesla

Electric car manufacturer Tesla has slapped the BBC with a lawsuit following a damning review of its Roadster sports car on Top Gear. The company says it was forced to take action after the BBC failed to respond to its complaints.

in 2008 the Top Gear team did a review of the Tesla electric sports car, by pitting it up against a petrol Lotus. Tesla is claiming that the race was rigged, by making it look like the Tesla ran out of power. The claimed ‘miles per charge’, if driven carefully, is 313 miles. Top Gear calculated that it would only last 55 miles around their race track. The BBC will be “vigorously defending” the claims.

According to Tesla, the show, presented by TV celebrity Jeremy Clarkson, misrepresented the Roadster by adding artificial sounds to make it seem as though the electric motor was dying, and claiming that the car's true range is only 55 miles per charge. Tesla claims the vehicle can travel 200 miles on a full charge.

Tesla points out that its test cars on the day never ran out of battery power as simulated on the show, and that its Roadster has been certified under UN ECE R101, the EU regulation for measuring electric vehicle range, at 211 miles. All ECE R101 tests are witnessed and certified by a neutral third party approved by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, in Tesla's case, the Department of Road Transport--Netherlands. Though Tesla admits aggressive driving will reduce mileage, it claims that Top Gear’s assessment is not representative of real-world range.

Tesla brings TWO roadsters to a neutral track right here in America, and their own crew of advisors/intermediaries yadda-yadda. Then Top Gear U.K. and Top Gear America come together and compete in a sort of scavenger hunt where they must maximize both speed, and range of two Tesla Roads. The losers have to drive something embarrassing, like say a Reliant Robin, for the next month around their home town.

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Aston Martin and Mercedes Benz

Aston Martin and Mercedes Benz have been exploring the possibility of working together to leverage the strength of one another. With volumes shrinking at the very high end of the automobile sector it makes sense for the top players to collaborate to keep the ultra luxury models commercially viable. There is news now that the two have signed a firm agreement to collaborate to the mutual benefit of both companies.

The Aston-built Maybach is reportedly set for unveiling this fall at the Frankfurt auto show. There’s also a chance, reportedly to be decided in the first half of this year, that Aston may look to Mercedes-Benz’s SLS platform as a basis for its next-generation sports cars, all of which are currently built on variations of its Ford-era VH platform, first introduced back in 2002.

The deal is not official, and in fact the reports were pooh-poohed early this week in Toronto by Joachim Schmidt, Mercedes global vice-president of sales and marketing, who said he had heard lots of reports of such an agreement, though he didn’t deny them either.

For its efforts Aston Martin will also be rewarded with access to the S-Class chassis to build a Rolls-Royce rivaling Lagonda sedan that would cost as much as $350,000. The British sports car maker may even use the chassis of the SLS to replace its current VH architecture, which is used for every model in Aston’s lineup.

The agreement has a long term view with the co-operation increasing where Aston Martin might develop a Lagonda on the S Class chassis to be positioned against Rolls Royce in the $350,000 price bracket. Aston Martin is using their VH architecture for all of their models in production and they might replace it with the SLS chassis. The Frankfurt Auto Show, this fall will see the first Maybach developed by Aston Martin.

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Rolls-Royce Phantom

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced that new Bespoke Phantoms have arrived in Abu Dhabi. The cars are based on two different motifs which are inspired by the city’s rich culture and natural landscape.

The four-door Phantom draws its inspiration from the stunning landscape of the Baynunah area in the western region of Abu Dhabi, UAE. With a history that dates back centuries, the region is renowned for the majesty of its sand dunes, captured through the interior and exterior styling of the car which incorporates shades of beige and brown, further complemented by a tan ever-flex roof.

Located under the long bonnet, the Phantom will have five modules of lithium ion cells weighing 640 kg - roughly equivalent to seven or eight adults - and with enough power to deliver a range of 125 miles.

The batteries can be 'quick charged’ in around eight hours or charged more slowly - leading to a longer battery life - over 20 hours.

Flawless leather is an absolute requirement for the interior of a Rolls-Royce. For this reason, our leather is sourced from bulls raised in pastures free of barbed wire, ensuring that there are fewer imperfections in the leather. Any other marks are carefully avoided by our skilled laser cutters. At least eight hides are used for an interior, and to ensure colour consistency, each hide comes from a batch dyed at the same time. The hides are drum-dyed rather than painted, ensuring that the colour permeates right through the leather.

The process also means the leather remains much more supple, preventing cracking or squeaking and ensuring durability and longevity. All seats and interior panels are hand-stitched, using traditional upholstering techniques by those most skilled at their craft.

The natural beauty of the veneers in Ghost is brought to life by the skill of dedicated craftsmen and women. The natural burrs and grains are chosen for their intricacy and interest: veneer specialists choose only the finest logs from which these very thin cross sections are taken. Only veneer from one tree is used in any car. This ensures not only that the grain matches throughout the interior, but that each area ages and colours at the same pace. The parts are milled and sanded by hand before being coated with five layers of lacquer for protection and a mirror-like shine.

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Audi A1 Quattro prototype

Audi A1 Quattro Prototype was out for a run on snow and ice in Canada. The premium subcompact hatchback features Audi’s famous all-wheel-drive system, which is created to grant perfect traction even in severe road conditions.

The Quattro in A1 is based on that used in A3 and TT models. At its core is an electronically controlled, hydraulically actuated multi-plate clutch located in front of the rear axle for an optimized distribution of weight. Inside is a package of plates that rotate in an oil bath

From the outset, the A1 2.0-litre Quattro doesn’t appear much different from its smaller, less powerful siblings. It has all the usual cabin refinements and build quality we’ve come to expect from Audi, and the same, restrained exterior styling.

The difference comes when you take the wheel for the first time. Our car is a prototype, but the retains the A1’s impressive refinement at medium speeds. But just like a junior Golf GTI, once you accelerate hard, the A1 has a serious turn of speed and a vocal exhaust note to match, and all with the reassurance of four-wheel drive grip.

This means there will be a electro hydraulic multi-plate clutch system in the rear differential. Under normal driving conditions, most of the engine’s power will be transmitted through the front wheels until any slip is detected. In the case of front wheel slip, the rear clutch will actuate and power will be sent through to the rear wheels as well.

Further information on the Audi A1 Quattro is expected to be released in the next few months. We’ll keep you updated.

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Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer 1.4T

The Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer 1.4T is the new equivalent of what used to be called the Vauxhall Astra Estate. It's the load-lugger of the Astra family, in other words plain old 'estate' no longer hits the spot.

Too right it doesn't. This is one good looking family wagon, extending the sharp design of the latest Astra Hatch to impressive effect. And the sense of class outside resounds throughout the interior as well.

The long front doors, tapering glasshouse and rakish C-pillar lend a coupe sleekness, and it’s all without any impact on practicality. Adams explains that the curvy glass combines with little steps in the metalwork above it to trick your eye into thinking the roof is lower than it is. The wraparound rear window is a trompe l’oeil too – your mind takes the end of the C-pillar to be the end of the car, whereas the stowage space actually ends a couple of inches further back. The result is a car that looks as sleek as an Audi A4 estate, but carries more than both it and the boxy-but-good old Astra.

It rides beautifully, steers with consistent response and weighting and handles with an easy fluidity we hadn't really found in Astras to date. By contrast the non-SRi, fitted with optional 18in wheels, feels more fidgety despite softer suspension and loses the steering sweetness.

Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer 1.4 Turbo Sri
Price: £20,350; Top speed: 125mph; 0-62mph: 9.5sec; Economy: 46.3mp (combined); CO2: 144g/km; Engine type, cc: 4 cyls in line, 1364cc, 16V turbo petrol; Power: 138bhp at 4900rpm; Torque: 148lb ft at 1850-4900rpm; Gearbox 6spd manual

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BMW 120i Coupe

BMW 120i Coupe One of the fastest expanding model ranges German manufacturer BMW is currently offering on the Australian market, the 1 Series, will get some help in its quest for new sales heights with the introduction later this year of the 120i version.

To be priced at AU$47,400, the 120i will become, when it arrives in the country in May, the most affordable version of the 1 Series on the market. It will complete the range currently sold there and which comprises he 123d, 125i and 135i M Sport in the 1 Series Coup.

The 1-Series Coupe is a development of the three- and five-door hatchback variants. While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, few would argue that the two-door 1-Series Coupe appears ungainly. It has little sense of individuality or excitement. It certainly doesn’t turn heads like an Audi TT does. It is claimed to be a full four-seater though, which admittedly places it in between stylish coupes and top-end hatches; competitors also include the Audi A3, VW Golf R32, Volvo C30 and Mercedes C-Class Sports Coupe. There are three trim levels – ES, SE and M Sport – coupled, for the moment, with three engines. The 2.0-litre diesel comes in two states of tune, and there’s also a 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol. A 2.5-litre six-cylinder petrol will follow.

The BMW 120i Coupe Performance Unlimited Edition features a 2-litre engine with 170hp and a six speed automatic gearbox. On the exterior we have carbon mirror covers, a carbon rear spoiler, black grills, 18-inch wheels and the M Sport package (M Sport trims, seats, steering wheel). For the interior, goodies like aluminum pedals and door sills, leather handbrake and knob are in order. Two colour options are available, in the form of the Alpine White and the LeMans Blue.

The highly strung, bi-turbo engine sounds very obviously forced induction, with a whooshing rush of air dominating the soundtrack as the revs wind out. The yellow rev limit area starts at 7000rpm, slipping into the red by 7500rpm. We spend most of our time hovering around the red; it sounds exciting, with a light pop when the driver backs off.

Front-end grip feels very strong, but from where I’m sitting the rear feels agile enough if less willing to play than the uber-coaxable M3. It’s obviously difficult to say from the passenger seat, but my overall impression is of a clean, tidy, nimble handler.

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Audi Launching A8 L Security

Audi Launching the new exclusive model the Audi A8 L Security. The long-wheelbase high-security version of the A8 meets the strictest guidelines in force for civilian vehicles, with a host of special security features available in addition to its heavy armoring. At sales launch Audi will offer the W12 engine, with another unit to follow in 2012.

At 5.27 meters (17.29 ft) in length, the Audi A8 L Security is a large, representative luxury sedan, hardly distinguishable to the eye from the production version. The LED headlights, which use light-emitting diodes for all functions, lend a striking expression to its front. They are part of the standard package in the A8 L Security W12.

The A8 L Security has been officially certified by a German-government ballistics testing facility in Munich for compliance with the class VR 7 ballistic protection standard (tested as per BRV 2009 guidelines). The abbreviation BRV stands for Bullet Resistant Vehicles. The car's resistance to explosions was tested as per ERV 2010 guidelines (ERV = Explosion Resistant Vehicles). Class VR 7 ballistic protection imposes the strictest standards on civilian high-security sedans. The sheet metal and glazing in the passenger cell must withstand firing with NATO hard-core ammunition. In certain areas, the armoring on the Audi A8 L Security even complies with the criteria for class VR 9 and VR 10.

Integrated as a unitized component of the body, the high-security sedan's safety cell features a convergence of extremely tough, resistant materials - hot-formed armored steel, aramide fabric, ceramics, special alloyed aluminum and multilayer glass. Overlapping protective materials at the joints provide the utmost level of security throughout the occupant cell. The interior armoring weighs approximately 720 kilograms (1,587.33 lb).

The Audi A8 L Security features extremely tough, resistant materials that include hot-formed armored steel, aramide fabric, ceramics, special alloyed aluminum and multilayer glass. The interior armoring alone weighs approximately 720 kilograms (1,587 pounds). The aluminum side sills have solid steel sections built in that provide an increased protection against explosive weapons.
Handling the Audi A8 L Security will be the 19-inch forged wheels featuring a semipolished, two-tone finish and wrapped in specially sized 255/720 tires that have a high load index of 117. A multitude of other special features enhance the high security sedan.

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2012 Maserati Quattroporte

2012 Maserati Quattroporte The Quattroporte Sport GT S offers a full feature, Specifications Quattroporte Sport GT S, 4.7 liter V8 engine, with power increased to 323kW. Review Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S, with additional style elements from MC Line Sport package option is at the top of the range Quattroporte sporty and perfectly realize the character of Maserati luxury sports sedan.

The vehicle is scheduled for 2012, will loose 15 percent of weight and will have an fuel consumption improvement of 25 percent. The Italian car maker will use more efficient downsized V6 and V8 engines and an eight-speed transmission to achieve these figures.

First of all, it is the only car in its segment that truly offers sporty handling thanks to a suspension set-up which further enhances the Quattroporte’s already optimal dynamic balance. The new Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S is targeted at those customers who demand the unparalleled handling of a thoroughbred sports car even in a luxury saloon.
Secondly, it features the latest evolution of sporty automatic gear-shifting software, designed to win over committed and demanding drivers, seeking an exciting driving experience.

Last but not least, it is the only saloon in its segment with a sports exhaust which, by means of the “Sport” button, makes it possible to deploy the full power of the engine and produce a deeply enveloping and throaty exhaust note.
In the recreation appreciate the Quattroporte now much modified. This obviously has much smaller dimensions, new headlamps, a new air intake, black rims, a rear end almost hatch and sporty style.

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Audi launching Q3 scooped

Audi launching  Q3 scooped , the car that’s set to become the latest addition to Audi off-roader line-up, and this exclusive image shows precisely how the curvy and compact 4x4 is shaping up.

Joining the imposing Q7 and understated Q5, the Q3 is the car Audi fans have been waiting for to rival the forthcoming BMW X1 and MINI Crossman – taking Audi into an all-new market segment.

The insider also told us that the Q3 will be offered at launch with three powertrains, a 170PS 2.0-liter TFSI with a 6-speed manual gearbox and CO2 emissions of 172 gr/km; a 211PS 2.0-liter TFSI with an S Tronic transmission and CO2 emissions of 184 gr/km, and a 170PS 2.0-liter TDI diesel and an with an S Tronic transmission and CO2 emissions of 158 gr/km. More engine options will be added further down the line.

The Q3 will be based on the underpinning of the VW Tiguan, with the styling drawing heavily on the firm's 2007 Shanghai Motor Show Concept (pictured above). The new crossover model will slot beneath the larger Q7 and Q5 SUVs, targeting the BMW X1.

But although the heavy camouflage disguises the details, the profile does suggest that the show car’s steeply raked tailgate is being kept for production, making the Q3 more of a coupé crossover than a pure mini-SUV.

The new model will slot into Audi’s line-up beneath the Q5 and Q7. It’s around 4.4m long, 1.8m wide and 1.6m high — 20cm shorter and 7cm narrower than the Q5. The Q3 will be mechanically similar to the Volkswagen Tiguan, although Audi is likely to offer adaptive damping on its model.

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2011 Mazda3 Safety Pick

2011 Mazda3 Safety Pick

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) announced today that it has awarded its most coveted award, the Top Safety Pick, to yet another Japanese vehicle, the Mazda3. After subjecting the car to its series of crash tests, the organization found that the achieve a rating in all four tests conducted.

Reviewers are most impressed with the Mazda3’s performance, and say the 3’s refined engine and sophisticated suspension produce a fun and aggressive driving experience. The Mazda3 ranks with the top drivers in the class, the Mini Cooper, the Honda Fit and the Ford Fiesta, all of which the auto press regards for their great driving dynamics.

Reviewers praise the 2011 Mazda3’s interior almost as much as its performance. Mazda fitted the 3 with top-notch amenities and didn’t use cheap materials, making the interior one of the nicest in the class. The interior, however, does have a few quirks. In comparison to the competition, reviewers say the controls are not easy to use, and the navigation screen is small and hard to read.

2011 Mazda 3 lineup sees expanded feature availability on some models, and other versions get some new standard equipment. These compact cars come in 4-door sedan and 4-door hatchback body styles, all with front-wheel drive. The 3 is available in "i" and "s" versions. Mazda 3s with the "i" prefix are sedans only and are available in SV, Sport, and Touring trims.

Sport and Grand Touring trim levels are available on 3s with the "s" prefix. The s is offered as a sedan or hatchback. Also available is a high-performance MazdaSpeed 3 hatchback. Mazda 3 i versions have a 148-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. The "s" versions have a 167-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder. 2.0-liter models are paired with either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. 2.5-liter versions are mated to a 6-speed manual or 5-speed automatic. The MazdaSpeed 3 reprises its turbocharged 263-horsepower 2.3-liter 4-cylinder and mandatory 6-speed manual transmission.

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The Ferrari 340 Mexico Coupe

The Ferrari 340 Mexico Coupe  is one of three coupe models and the one Barchetta to be produced. They were built exclusively for the 1952 Carrera Panamericana race in Mexico – which was one of the most deadly races in the world. The word rare can be used in some fashion for nearly every Ferrari ever made because the entire company is built around creating unique performance oriented sports cars. Initially, Ferrari only sold road-going cars to pay for the company’s racing exploits and the founder despised having to do so.

The engine was potent, but still lacking. Lampredi was tasked with developing a new engine, incomparable in size, and directed at moving Ferrari’s next era of Grand Prix racing machines. Lampredi’s objective was to emanate a powerful, nonetheless fuel effective engine that could keep with the competition. The Alfa Romeo engines were providing major competition, and Lampredi questioned if the horsepower outlay could attain the total Alfa Romeo was producing. Better fuel-efficiency, along with improved tire wear, were two ways Lampredi was anticipating to most appropriate the Alfa’s.

The Lampredi written 3.3-liter engine was ready by early 1950. Due to its size and configuration, it would finally turn well known as the ‘long-block’ engine. It was assembled from a light-alloy metal, two valves per cylinder, singular up above camshaft

Ferrari therefore never built a road going version of the 340 Mexico Coupe and it had gone on to win the racing event it had participated in. RM Auctions now have this car on sale and it comes

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The Alfa Romeo 4C GTA Concept

The Alfa Romeo 4C GTA Concept  certainly proved to be one heck of a model after its debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, and the fact that Alfa Romeo already confirmed its production in 2012 was just music to our ears. What’s makes this bit of news even more entertaining is that Alfa is also planning a Spyder version of the 4C GTA, which is set to be revealed in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The car will follow after classic models like the Duetto Spider (which inspired the above concept car) and be based on a modified version of the KTM X-Bow chassis. Thanks to that light-weight frame, Alfa is looking to keep weight to just 1,784 lbs (a solid 200 lbs lighter than a Lotus Elise). Here we should point out that GTA, stands for Gran Turismo Alleggerita, which is Italian for Lightened Grand Touring.

Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione has been very expensive for many worshipers of Alfa Romeo. For his spider model only worth about 213,000 euros. 8C Competizione is produced during 2007-2008 with a total production of 1,000 units.

The 4C GTA concept is powered by a 4-cylinder 1750 Turbo Petrol engine that delivers an impressive 200 HP and is mated to an automatic twin dry clutch transmission. With this type of power sitting under the hood, the concept will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in under 5 seconds, while top speed is electronically limited to 155mph.

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Mustang Boss 302 First Drive

Mustang Boss 302 First Drive was unveiled back in 1969. It was the only time the 302 was approved for production and would be the only time until 42 years later. Now, the Boss man returns in the base form of a 2011 Mustang GT. Ford is not only bringing out a Boss, but they are also revealing a special edition Boss 302 Laguna Seca model, named for the track where Parnelli Jones won the 1970 Trans-Am season opener in a Boss 302.

The 2012 Mustang Boss lured me to Laguna Seca this week, with the promise of a first drive and the simultaneous threat of looping one, live for those in-car cameras. Laguna's a fairly easy track to learn, but this Mustang's stoked up with 444 horsepower and a 7400-rpm redline.

The 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 uses the same 5.0L V8 from the 2011 GT but to achieve the high-rpm horsepower to make it competitive on the track, Ford added a new intake, revised camshafts and a more aggressive control calibration. All that results in 440-hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. Power is transmitted to the wheels through a race inspired short-throw, close-ratio six-speed manual transmission handles gear change duties.

Prices for the 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302 have been leaked and according to The Mustang Source, the base Boss 302 will start at $40,995 while the limited edition Boss 302 Laguna Seca will start at $47,990. Options include Recaro Seats for $1,995 and a Torsen differential for $475, Boss Accessory Pack for $475, $495 for Yellow Blaze TriCoat paint and $35 for an Engine block heater.

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News Ugly Bugatti Veyron launched facebook

News Ugly Bugatti Veyron launched facebook ust the good feeling you get when the entire fan list of a Facebook page tells you that your creation is, by far, the ugliest thing they ever did see. A will paint the exterior of the Veyron in 59 different colours, and there are four different design options: single tone and three dual-tone looks. (Henry Ford would be spinning in his grave if he knew about this.)

The interior can also be optioned in 19 different colours, and again there are four different combinations depending on the degree you like your colours splashed around.

These tools are called configurators and allow you, depending on the manufacturer who operates it, choose everything from the exterior color of the car to the fabric on the seats. Simple and useful.

Somebody with a thing for Bugatti Veyron (we have no idea if it's a good or a bad thing) decided to unleash the possibilities of such a configurator in the hands of the people that otherwise would have never had the curiosity of configuring a car they will never own (and that includes us). Bugatti configurator, come up with your own displeasing color combination on the super car, post it on the respective Facebook page and cross your fingers in the hopes yours will be the ugliest.

Dennis castigation he considered intentionally do McLaren ahead of the launch of the MP4-12C which will be sold to the public early next year. Dennis considers nEWS McLaren car is more environmentally friendly, lighter and stronger than all its competitors.

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2011 Maybach 62 special protection

2011 Maybach 62 special protection Gamestands out for its unbridled levels in luxury, performance and limitless personalization. And when it comes to passenger protection, we pushed the boundaries even further, reaching a very high level of safety with a factory-made solution.

A Maybach Guard is the answer to the needs of Heads of State or businessmen, looking for discreet protection aboard their saloons during their journeys. This occurs without missing the luxurious environment the passengers are used to enjoy.
Mercedes Guard models, the new Maybach Guard is based on the concept of integrated special protection. This means that the protective features such as those used for the doors, rear wall, side panels, roof lining and firewall are not retrofitted to a finished vehicle as an afterthought, but are instead integrated into the bodyshell in a dedicated manufacturing environment.

The state-of-the-art Maybach "Manufaktur" is ideally suited to this process. It is here that highly skilled specialists with unrivalled technical know-how carefully integrate special-protection features into the vehicles as they are built.

No changes have been made to the drive train, suspension or breaking-system and the car handles effortlessly at all times. Maybach also makes the bold claim that its Guard armored car is the only one in the world that can reach a speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 5.7 seconds.

The Guard model is also said to be virtually indistinguishable to the naked eye from an unprotected Maybach 62, so if you want to know what it looks like, check out the recently revised model range in the gallery below. Official announcement in the press release

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1928 Ford Model A Hukster Van

1928 Ford Model A Hukster Van  combinations of body styling that adorned Ford's late twenties model A chassis. Introduced in 1927, a four-year model run saw well over 4.5 million of these cars produced. Coupes, trucks, wagons, phaetons, roadsters, sedans.the permutations are endless. The bare chassis was supplied with a 201ci 'L-Head' 4-cylinder motor matched to a 3-speed manual transmission and assisted in Ford recovering its market share after several GM products had eroded the previous Model T's advantage.

Ford Model A Hukster In long-term possession of the vendor, this Model A van was used as a daily driver for some nine years where it earned its keep as a unique promotional vehicle. Since the vendor's retirement two years ago it has been in storage, however on the 200km drive to the Shannons showroom, it performed faultlessly. The vendor has gone to great lengths to maintain the Model A's authenticity, giving it the appearance and charisma of a tradesman's vehicle from another era.

The event saw some very unique models being auctioned and a fair share of surprises. For instance, a not-so-classic 1960 Fiat Bambino 500 Coupe sold for AU$31,500, while a Ford Model A 'Hukster' Van, a few decades older than the 500 (1928), barely managed to snatch AU$16,500.

Meaning, of course, that vintage cars didn't manage to impress very much either, with only a couple more making some type of impression on the audience. A restored 1929 Chrysler Buckboard Utility sold for AU$24,500, while a 1928 Rugby Roadster Utility only snatched AU$14,000.

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2011 BMW Z4 White Flame

2011 BMW Z4 White Flame Modern minimalist design is an important influence in the tuning aesthetic at MWDesign Technik. Each vehicle is a unique project that can be expressed through layers of texture with materials, color and specific custom parts.

BMW Z4 “White Flame” project is a follow up to the highly successful black and lime green “Slingshot” project that was featured in many prestigious publications including Performance BMW magazine. We wanted our next project to be totally different while being clean, complex and exciting at the same time.

A long time friend and client of ours liked our golf club inspired concept of the Slingshot Z4 project and requested that we base his brand new 2011 Alpine White/Coral Red Z4 off the unreleased at the time Taylormade R-11 golf club. The white/red/grey theme couldn’t be more perfect for this integration of design elements between the car and club.

The intermittent color blocked pinstripe theme was run from the nose of the vehicle, closely following the bold character lines of E89 Z4. Our friends at Blitzgear carefully laid two silver pinstripes in a near intersecting style, highlighting the two main character bulges on the side of the car. This had to be carefully planned out as pinstripes often go terribly wrong

2011 MWDesign BMW Z4 White Flame Edition red/black sport striping continued onto the large 20×9F / 20×10.5R Forgestar F10 wheels with classically styled stepped lips. A neutral painted silver face, carbon fiber center cap and polished outer lip was selected to match the factory silver and chrome kidney grills.

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Mazda MX-5 Spring Edition

The Mazda MX-5The best-selling two-seat automobile in a world, a Geneva Motor Show (3-13 March) this year is presented in a special singular book MX-5 Spring 2011. Compared to MX-5 customary Special Edition Spring 2011 has special facilities including a Leather and dual new colors for a body: Sparkling Black and Dolphin Grey.Official details are yet to be released, but judging by these photos, the styling treatment includes a new front bumper with massive air intakes that incorporates vertical LED daytime lights and carbon fiber inserts.

The Mazda MX-5 Spring Edition will be available with a softtop or a retractable hardtop, depending on where you live. It will be powered by a 1.8 liter engine for all countries in Europe, but will come with a special 2.0 liter, hardtop version for the British market.

Externally, the MX-5 is enriched by numerous chrome details like the mouth front of the front, door handles and the two-roll bar anti roll-over, also gains a new set of alloy wheels with 17 inch beams. The aluminum used for the body is also taken from the refined interior, including instruments, pedals, steering wheel and some details of the console benefited from the lighter material.

Series are also the two sports seats upholstered in gray leather and refined with the heater, then completes the hi-fi with CD-MP3 player and Bluetooth. The Mazda MX-5 Spring Edition will be available in two classic petrol engines from 1.8 liters and 2.0 liters, coupled with rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission or an alternative to a six-speed sequential automatic transmission ever.

The Mazda MX-5 Special Edition Spring 2011 is available with petrol engine 1.8-liter 126 hp in Italy, while the 160 hp 2.0-liter engine is exclusive to the UK. All engines are mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. Exclusive for the Italian market is the version with canvas roof, While the body with hard top will not be marketed. Completing the special display front strut bar, aluminum sports pedals, the system with Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control and Bose stereo.

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2011 BMW 7-Series F01 by Mansory

BMW 7-Series F01 by Mansory arrived at the Geneva Motor Show with vehicles such as the Siracusa and the Cormeum, two heavily modified sports cars based on the Ferrari 458 Italia and the Mercedes SLS AMG. However, what they didn’t display was their upcoming tuning package based on the new generation BMW 7-Series. The most powerful 7-series available - the 760Li to be exact.

Official details are yet to be released, but judging by these photos, the styling treatment includes a new front bumper with massive air intakes that incorporates vertical LED daytime lights and carbon fiber inserts.

The iconic BMW kidney grille also receives carbon fiber inserts giving the car a more unique “nose”. Furthermore, the tuner replaces the vertical orientation of the kidney grille bars to an horizontal approach.

Mansory also offers front and rear spoilers for the new tuning package, components made of carbon fiber same as the revised grille. Mostly, this is what we can tell you about the exterior tweaks. Unfortunately, we can’t relate to the interior improvements as the Swiss tuner decided to keep the mystery for a while.
At the back, there's a new bumper with a rear diffuser and horizontal quad tail pipes plus discrete boot lid and roof spoilers. The new alloy wheels complete the exterior look, while Mansory has also fiddled around with the BMW's interior.

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2011 Alfa Romeo 4C GTA Concept

Alfa Romeo 4C GTA Concept With only a teaser image to go on days before the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, everyone was thrilled to see Alfa Romeo unveil the 4C GTA Concept. According to Alfa Romeo, the 4C GTA is "a compact supercar" which represents the true essence of a sports car and is in line with the brand’s values: performance, Italian style, and technical excellence aimed at maximum driving pleasure in total safety."

The Alfa Romeo 4C’s exterior length is for about 4 meters and 2.4 meters on wheelbase also uses carbon fiber base material that makes this GTA Concept very dynamic and agile but still use the fuel efficiency principle. The sporty impression is getting felt inside from the front side of this coupe, that takes the concept of “V” structure. This could be its trademark. The Red Lava color and unique wheels design makes the Alfa Romeo 4C look more fierce and very sporty. The comfort two seater become part of the Alfa Romeo 4C Cabin.

Smaller than the 8C it essentially succeeds, the 4C doesn't shed the excitement factor, just concentrates it into a more compact shape. In fact, at less than eight feet long, it doesn't get much more concentrated than this. Or much lighter: carbon fiber and aluminum construction helps keep the weight down to below 850 kilograms (1873 lbs). The 1750cc, direct-injection turbo four from the Giulietta QV mounted amidship drives just over 200 horsepower via Alfa's TCT dual-clutch transmission to the rear wheels for a 0-60 time in the fours; and speed being relative to size, we

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Renault Fluence ZE

Renault Fluence ZE has unveiled the final production versions of two new all-electric cars, one of which will be the foundation of the Better Place network in Israel.
Prospective customers are now able to visit Renault’s website to reserve the Fluence Z.E. sedan and Kangoo Z.E. van, both of which have a 100 mile range and will be available in 2011.

The sedan’s design is defined by taut and fluid lines with the Renault logo, foglamp surrounds, and headlamp brows. The design extend to the lower part of the headlamp mask which is painted in a blue-hued color. The Renault Fluence Z.E.’s interior is based on the same layout as the internal combustion-engined version.

Only the rev-counter has been replaced by a bespoke instrument panel which displays data concerning the remaining range and battery charge. The decorative trim of the uncluttered dashboard is picked out in a color that is exclusive to the model, while the center console includes the displays "forward", "reverse", "neutral" and "parking" which are the different positions for the transmission control lever
Back to the vehicle itself, the Fluence ZE. Prime Time, as the first batches of the model will be known, will be offered in Denmark for 205,000 DKK (EUR27,490) including VAT. Renault's partner will also be offering five fixed-price packages for those who plan buy the vehicles, based on kilometers driven.

For those who clock more than 40.000 kilometers per year, Better Place offers a package of “all you can drive kilometers” for 2.995 DKK (EUR399) per month. For those who drive less than 20.000 kilometers per year, the monthly price ranges from 1.495 DKK (EUR199) to 1.895 DKK (EUR249).

Specifications
• Vehicle type:Family saloon
• Overall length:4,748 mm
• Width:1,813 mm
• Motor output:70 kW(95hp)
• Torque:226 Nm
• Top speed:84 mph
• Range:100 miles (NEDC Combined cycle)
• Number of seats: 5
• Gross vehicle weight :1,543 kg
• Boot size:317 L
• Transmission:automatic
• Battery type/positioning:Lithium-ion/rear vertical

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2008 Jeep Liberty

The Jeep Liberty Sport has been redesigned for 2008 to look even more macho than its predecessor. The longer, wider, squarer (and cheaper) Liberty gets an imposing front profile, some notable cabin tech options including Chrysler's MyGig system, and an available Sky Slider roof giving all passengers an open-top driving experience. While the Liberty Sport comes with two four-wheel drive options, our test car was the entry-level, two-wheel drive model, meaning that our weeklong review with the car was strictly confined to the road.

The small-mid-size Dodge Nitro SUV launched about a year ago on an updated Jeep Liberty platform. Jeep has been busy launching its smaller, four-cylinder-only cute utes, the Compass and Patriot. So finally, now, the stalwart Liberty gets the same updates as benefit the Nitro. And it gets a more macho-looking Jeep seven-slat grille, replacing the more rounded, friendly-looking grille that ironically has been applied to the iconic, macho Wrangler.

Jeep fans don't have to worry that the Liberty has gone completely soft. (That's what the Compass is for, after all.) The Liberty still has a solid rear axle and two available "Trail Rated" 4WD systems -- Command-Trac and the updated Selec-Trac II -- as well as hill-descent and hill-start assist technologies. Carrying over from last year is the Liberty's 3.7-liter V6. It's again rated at 210 horsepower, though fuel economy has been improved slightly.

We think the 2008 Jeep Liberty is still a good choice for people planning on using their small or midsize SUV for towing or occasional recreational use. Its low price and simplified trim level structure could also be draws. However, for true off-road ability, the Hummer H3, Nissan Xterra and Toyota FJ Cruiser (not to mention Jeep's own Wrangler Unlimited) are vastly superior.

"The all-new 2008 Jeep Liberty stands out from the competition by offering customers classic Jeep design, two four-wheel-drive systems, refined on-road ride and handling, cargo and utility, as well as features that are not typically found on vehicles in the mid-size SUV segment," said George Murphy, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing, Chrysler Group, at the time of the launch. Let’s see if this will hold true for the next generation.

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