Who said that station wagon models aren’t any fun? Edo Competition has released its newest tuning package that takes the Mercedes C63 AMG Station Wagon to new levels of awesome by increasing its output to a total of 600 HP. Top speed also gets a boost up to an impressive 211 mph.
The package includes a new high-performance exhaust system, exhaust headers, high-flow catalytic converters, new air filters, revised engine electronics, and a removal of the top speed governor. As a result, the engine will deliver a total of 600 HP and 501 lbs-ft of torque. Next to the modifications made to the engine, the tuner also added a high-performance exhaust system made entirely from stainless steel.
The Mercedes C63 AMG has also received a new set of 19" wheels combined with Michelin high-performance tires. The package continues on the interior where the tuner added leather, cloth, fine woods or lacquer, high-quality metal applications, and carbon fiber.
At the end of last year, BMW unveiled the new generation 3-Series, except that they did so only for the sedan version with the station wagon model soon to follow a few months later. And today, after we have caught the car testing for a few times, BMW has finally dropped the official details on the new 3-Series Station Wagon.
As expected, the station wagon version will feature the same design language as the sedan model, albeit with an extended rear for a better cargo room: the new model offers 495 liters of stowage room.
The new 3-Series Station Wagon will be offered in three different versions: 328i, 330d and 320d, all offered with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, Auto Start-Stop function and ECO PRO mode, eight-speed automatic gearbox. Power will range from 184 HP to 258 HP.
BMW will offer Sport Line, Luxury Line and Modern Line equipment packages, but an optional M Sport package will also be available from launch.
UPDATE 05/14/2012: This review has been updated with the official details, images and specs. Hit the jump to read more about the new 3-Series Station Wagon.
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The current generation Mercedes E-Class was unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show and since then, the model hasn’t remained many changes. That will all change in 2013 when Mercedes brings out the first facelift for the E-Class. This particular model was just caught testing for the first time with a bandaged up front end to hide some of the changes provided for it.
The facelift E-Class will get sleeker looking headlamps with LED Day driving lights integrated in the headlight unit instead of in the bumper. Both the front and rear bumpers will also be upgraded, while the rear lights will get new graphics but will still have the same shape. Another thing that will be changed - even if it’s not visible in these pictures - is the absence of the "Ponton" style rear fenders. Luckily for Mercedes, they just need to change the sheet metal on the rear doors in order to make the old design look fresh and new.
The car’s interior will also be updated with new materials, as well as improved Night Assistant, Dynamic Light Assistant, Intelligent Lane Assist, Magic Ride Control, and Head-Up Display.
In the past few months or so, Porsche has revealed that they are planning the production of a new model to be placed under the current Panamera. We’re not really sure why they are planning this, but it probably has something to do with the fact that the Panamera has been very well-received in spite of the huffs and puffs of Porsche fanatics wanting the company to stick to sports cars. Until now, rumors of this future Pajun (Panamera Junior) model will be offered only as a sedan, but now German magazine Autobild is reporting that Porsche will also be offering a Pajun station wagon and that both will arrive in 2017.
The future Pajun will be built on an entirely new platform and will be offered with a new range of engines: six-cylinder gasoline units with 320, 420, and 520 HP and a six-cylinder diesel engine with up to 313 HP. It will especially target models like the Mercedes E-Class.
The future Porsche Pajun will be priced at about €65,000, or about $85,000 at the current exchange rates.
The future Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake has stripped down to its skivvie, laying out all it has to offer with no camouflage in sight. For the first time, we can easily see the lines of the rear lights and the hatch opening. And judging by the fact that the car is almost completely bared, we expect to see it launched in the very near future.
The CLS Shooting Brake name is in fact an elegant way of calling this vehicle a station wagon version of the luxury CLS. This means that, except for the rear, the CLS Shooting Brake will feature the same design elements as the four-door coupe model and the same technology and engine lineup.
Expect to see a direct-injected 3.5-liter V6 engine under the hood, capable of producing 306 HP and 273 pound-feet of torque, as well as a 4.6-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine with 429 HP and 516 lb-ft of torque.
Volkswagen Europe is offering a R-Line treatment to the new Passat facelift. The package will be offered for both sedan and station wagon versions and prices will start from 30,225 euro ($39,600 at the current exchange rates) while the optional R-Line Design Package adds an extra 990 euro (about $1,300).
The new R-Line package will be distinguished by a new front bumper with larger cooling air vents, a R-Line logo in the grille and integrated fog lamps. The rear will get a diffuser be painted in "Gloss Black" and an elegant roof spoiler in body color. The car will sit on a new set of 17" "Mallory" alloy wheels (optional 18-inch) combined with a dynamically tuned sports suspension that can lower the car’s ride by 15 mm.
The interior adds sports seats in "Kyalami" design, decorative inserts in "titanium silver" on the dashboard, door panels and center console for extra sportiness. There is also a leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel and stainless steel pedals.
The extra R-Line Design Package will include: rear and roof spoiler in body color, newly designed side sills and R-Line logo on the radiator grille.
After a very long wait, Ford has finally unveiled the production version of the dramatic new Focus ST at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and they’ve also announced that, next to the standard five-door model, Europeans will also be getting a station wagon version. The Focus ST is Ford’s first truly global performance car and Ford promises it will combine power with fuel efficiency and an impressive handling characteristic.
For the new model, Ford has tuned the 2.0-liter Ford EcoBoost engine with a redesigned intake and a new exhaust system with a unique engine calibration for a total output of 250 HP. The engine was combined with a 6-speed manual transmission which has also been specially revised for the ST.
Ford has also announced that many of the design elements seen in the Focus ST will also be used in all the future ST models. These elements include the aggressively enhanced front and rear bumpers and the addition of a rear spoiler and sideskirts, plus a unique signature color.
UPDATE 05/01/2012: All hatchback performance enthusiasts are monitoring the upcoming release of the new Ford Focus ST salivating like a pack of dogs surrounding a meaty T-bone steak. There is good reason for this excitement, as this 2.0-liter turbocharged Focus pumps out a stout 247 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque, which is an astonishing 45 percent more horsepower and 83 percent more torque than the final model year of the Focus SVT (2004).
Well, the Ford Focus ST ordering books are now open and prices have been revealed. Let’s start with the base model Focus ST, which it is set at $23,700. The Ford Focus ST2 (group 201A) has a base MSRP of $26,205 minus a $120 discount and the ST3 (group 202A) has a base MSRP of $28,540 minus a $405 discount. Granted, this is all barring dealerships doing the ultimate screw-the-customer move and slapping a “Market-Based Markup” on the sticker price. Hit the jump for more pricing details!
Hit the jump to read more about the Ford Focus ST.
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It seems as if the new Ferrari FF will soon have a serious competitor from McLaren. The British company has tried to keep their future models as much of a secret as possible, but now AutoExpress has obtained the first details on a future shooting brake model set to arrive in 2014.
The new model will be based on the platform of the new MP4-12C supercar and will be similar in concept to the Ferrari FF. However, the British magazine reports that the Mclaren model will be significantly cheaper. While the FF is priced at about £230,000 ($366,000 at the current exchange rates) on the British market, the new McLaren model will be priced from about £150,000 (about $240,000).
The new McLaren Shooting Brake (not its actual name, at least as far as we know) will be a two-seater model, but with more boot space than the MP4-12C. Under the hood, expect to see the same 592 HP 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine as the sports car, meaning the future model will deliver impressive performance numbers.
Check out our rendering of what we’re calling the McLaren MP4-12C Shooting Brake and let us know what you think!
Audi is preparing to add a new RS model to its line-up as shown by these images of the future RS6 Avant. The sports-focused mid-sized vehicle was caught testing at the Nurburgring race track in Germany, donning some heavy camouflage. This just means that the mule that was testing previously has been tossed out and the production version is now making its testing rounds.
As previously reported, the Audi RS6 will be powered by the same 4.0 TFSI bi-turbo V8 as the S6, the S8, and even the new Bentley Continental GT V8. However, the final output is expected to be increased to the 500 HP area, so the RS6 should be a real monster.
The future Audi RS6 will also feature a wider track and more aggressive brakes, as well as a meaner overall look. The bad news is that Audi doesn’t plan on offering it as a sedan just yet, so station wagon haters will have to give in or wait that much longer.
In November 2011, Volkswagen displayed a concept called the Passat Alltrack at the Tokyo Motor Show with no plans of it coming to the U.S. In the auto industry, things tend to change quickly, as now Volkswagen has decided to display a concept car bearing just the Alltrack name at the 2012 New York Auto Show.
At this point, the Alltrack is strictly considered to be a concept, but it wouldn’t be completely outlandish to see it hit the market here soon, especially given the fact that VW no longer offers a wagon model in the U.S. The closest to a wagon that VW offers is the Tiguan, a crossover SUV, and the Routan, a minivan.
The Alltrack is reported to arrive with a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine that cranks out a respectable 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. Along with the TDI engine, the Alltrack will feature a six-speed, dual clutch automatic transmission and 4Motion AWD.
The Jetta Alltrack is a really good looking car, for a station wagon that is. The question that really arises is can a traditional station wagon not named “Volvo,” roam the streets of America anymore? Lately automakers are starting to move back into the wagon market, but most are “sport wagons,” including: Acura TSX Sport Wagon, Audi A3 Wagon, Cadillac CTS-V Wagon, and so on. Its most likely competition would be the BMW 3-Series Wagon and the upcoming Volvo V40.
The determining factor will be the response it gets at the auto show. If potential buyers start clamoring for it, you can expect VW to release it almost as quickly as they can produce them. We will continue to provide details on this potential new model, as VW releases them. One thing is for sure, we can all appreciate VW spelling “Track” the right way. Not “Trac,” “Trak,” “Trax,” or any other odd variation.
