Now that the Swedish automaker Saab is under Koenigsegg’s ownership, their future looks very bright. Maybe by accident (or not!) a document revealing the future Saab’s line-up has surfaced on the internet. It shows all the models to be launched by 2017, and it looks very promising we might add (but we were still hopping to see a production version for the Aero-X).
In 2010 Saab will debut the next generation 9-5, followed by the 9-4X. In 2011 we will see the station wagon version for the 9-5 and a first for Saab, start/stop technology. In 2012 they will bring the new generation 9-3 and the new mini 9-1. In 2013 a crossover vehicle based on the 9-5 Sportcombi will come to life and a new 9-3 Convertible.
2015 looks to be a very promising year for the Swedish company: they plan to bring back the Sonett brand from the 1960s and 1970s, and also a new model placed above the retro comeback, by SAAB will bring out a new generation of the 9-5.
Even if the German automaker has just launched the new Mercedes Benz E-Class, and it is a big hit in the new car market. Since appearing in showrooms this past spring, the luxury automaker has moved 40,000 of the redesigned four door full size sedan. Starting this fall, Mercedes will be adding another variant of the popular new E-Class into the marketplace, and this time it will be an avant, meaning that we should see something at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show.
Like the sedan, the new wagon will be offered with a range of four, six and eight cylinder power plants producing anywhere from an economical 136 HP to a very menacing 525 HP. When the leaves change colors the Mercedes lineup will include a few diesel powered versions like the E 250 CDI making 204 HP and 368 lb-ft of torque, the E 220 CDI pumping out 170 HP and the E 200 CDI that makes up the lower end of the power range. The most powerful of the alternatively fueled versions will be the E 350 CDI with a maximum output of 231 HP. The gas burning lineup consists of the E 200 CGI with 184 HP, the E 250 CGI cranking out 292 HP; both equipped with the newly developed 1.8 Liter four cylinder engine while the range topping E500 will send 388 to the ground.
Infiniti launched the 2008 EX37, the world’s first compact coupe crossover. Based on the Infiniti FM platform, EX37 shares much of its hardware with both the G37 and G37 Coupe. As a result, it enjoys the same high levels of handling precision and balance as well as similar levels of performance, refinement, build quality and equipment.
The EX37 is powered by a new 3.7-litre version of VQ engine family. Regularly honoured in independent awards the world over, the twin cam 24 valve V6 produces over 310PS and an impressive over 350Nm of torque.
EX37 is available with a new seven-speed automatic transmission while the suspension design - double wishbone set up at the front and multi-link arrangement at the rear - delivers the ideal blend between sporting handling and superior ride comfort.
As you might have expected, Abarth, the tuning arm of FIAT has announced plans to build a factory tuned version of the freshly launched Fiat 500C. Even if the 500 city car will be less expensive, it will compete head to head with compact sports cars like the John Cooper Works Mini.
The Abarth 500C will be with a choice of two engines. The first is a 1.4 Liter Turbo-Jet making 133 HP, 15 HP more than the Mini, as well as an Esseesse model cranking out with 157 HP. Either way it is more than enough grunt to give the 500C some much needed get up and go.
Like for the coupe version, Abarth version will wear a bodykit that consists of redesigned front and rear bumper, restyled hood, lower hanging side skirts, a roof spoiler and rear diffuser. The side mirrors are dressed up with red painted covers and a pair of polished exhaust pipes sticks out from underneath the new diffuser. The factory tuned Abarth 500C will also be offered with a set of larger 16 inch rims or the optional 17 in alloys. The way that the small car market is looking, it may not be too long before we can buy one of these striped little hot hatches from Abarth.
It was on July 20, 1969 when the NASA astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin first stepped out of their Apollo 11 lunar capsule and onto that desolate wasteland becoming the first men on the moon, more importantly, they became the first men to drive on the crater ridden surface.
This historic anniversary of man reaching out into the galaxy fits perfectly with the special edition MOONLANDER based on the European Chevrolet Captiva prepared by the German manufacturer, fahrmitgas.de. Not only does the Rödermark based company create unique limited edition vehicles, they are also the largest LPG supplier for Chevrolet, so it is only fitting that the MOONLANDER can run on either gasoline or autogas, more commonly referred to as liquid petrolium gas; the fuel has the added benefits of a more affordable cost and lower emissions.
The first version of the MOONLANDER will be offered with a 2.4 Liter four cylinder that sends 136 HP to the front wheels while the upscale MOONLANDER 3.2 has a powerful V6 combined with an all wheel drive unit that sends the 230 HP wherever the Captiva needs it most. The exterior of the MOONLANDER is covered with a unique Universe White/Orbiter Black color scheme that is reminiscent of the original Saturn V rocket. The Captivas also feature "MANNED MISSION LUNAR VEHICLE" decals and the names of the Apollo 11 crewmembers on the silver-mirrored rear side windows.
Continued with press release after the jump.> More
There are a host of things you can find under a body of water and while they range from the absolutely meaningless to the downright priceless, the possibilities of what you can find underwater are endless.
In the Swiss city of Ascona, a diving club that goes by the name, Centro sport subacquei salvataggio Ascona (CSSS), went on a routine dive on the Verbano Lake last July 5 found something that none of them were expecting, a Brescia Bugatti.
Nobody knows how the classic car ended up 50m deep on the lake or how long it’s been there. Nevertheless, the team of divers who found it are scheduled to bring the century-old vehicle back up to dry land. Whether or not there’s still value on the submerged vehicle remains to be seen, but we’re quite sure that the question of whether it still works or not has been answered a long time ago.
Citroen has recently revealed the C-Cactus concept a couple of years ago at the 2007 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Due to this funky looking compact car’s warm reception from the public, the French automaker is seriously considering turning the concept car into full fledged production vehicle.
The C-Cactus is powered by a 70 HP HDi diesel engine combined with a particulate filter to clean the noxious gasses and an electric motor for additional propulsion, to the tune of 30 HP. The C-Cactus consumes slightly over 69 miles per gallon of diesel over a combined driving cycle; while emitting a very Euro important 78 g/km of CO2. If the U.S. can ever learn to accept the benefits of clean diesel technology we too could benefit from these efficient little machines.
The American automaker Dodge has announced that its models might be sold wearing Alfa Romeo badges in Europe. Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said that all Dodge models might be sold as Alfa Romeos in Europe, and all Alfa Romeo models as Dodges in the U.S. The cross breeding of cutures would certainly make for an interesting lineup. It makes sense after all, if an automaker is going to invest the amount of money it takes to produce a vehicle, why limit yourself to just one market.
According to Marchionne: "Dodge is the American muscle car, while Alfa Romeo is the European muscle car. How we dovetail these two brands is very important. The level of competition between these two brands is tremendous because they are both going after the same customer." The man from across the Atlantic had some pretty bold words to say, but it would be nice to have Vipers allowed in the Targa Florio.
Audi is offering new entry-level engines for both the Audi Q5 and Audi A4 Allroad. The Q5 gets the 2.0 TDI and the 2.0-liter TFSI, both in conjunction with the 6-speed manual transmission. The diesel engine is also available for the A4 Allroad.
Both engines are in-line four-cylinder engines with direct injection, with the diesel version developing 143 hp and the gasoline one 180 hp.
There is no sight as beautiful as a group of Italian super cars lining up on the grid all wearing enormous GT wings. While we all wish to be in the driving shoes of the individuals who are lucky enough to have the opportunity to compete in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo. Check out the video for more of a behind the scenes look at what it takes to get the cars ready off track and competitive on it.
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