Maserati will unveil at the Frankfurt Motor Show the Convertible version of its successful GT sports car. Called GranCabrio is Maserati’s first four-seater convertible. Sales will begin in March of 2010.
The GranCabrio is powered by a 4.7 liter V8 engine that delivers 433bhp at 7000rpm and 362lb ft at 4750rpm and is the convertible with the longest wheelbase on the market. The GrandCabrio is slated to run 0-60mph around the 5-second mark and carry speeds of up to 180 mph.
The GranCabrio represents the very essence of Maserati in terms of open-top cars. It’s a Maserati in the purest sense of the word: from the unmistakable style by Pininfarina to the spacious interior, from the craftsmanship of each detail to the driving pleasure and performance. The Maserati GranCabrio enriches all five senses in a shared open-air experience, without sacrificing comfort and performance.
Updated 02/09/10: Maserati revealed a new image gallery of the Maserati GranCabrio and also a series of video of the car on the road. Check them out!
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The Swedish automaker Volvo officially unveiled the S60 luxury sedan that will make its world debut in March at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Production will start early this summer at the Volvo Cars plant in Ghent, Belgium. "The all-new Volvo S60 is sculpted to move you. It looks and drives like no other Volvo before and the car’s technology will help you to be safer and more confident behind the wheel," according to Stephen Odell, President and CEO of Volvo Cars.
The new 2011 Volvo S60 will be available with a variety of diesel and gas burning power plants spanning the range from an economical 115 HP DRIVe version to a high performance T6 turbocharged mill producing a maximum output of 304 HP and 324.5 lb-ft of torque, the S60 can sprint from 0 to 60 MPH in just 6.5 seconds and reach a top speed limited to 155 MPH. The 2011 S60 will be offered with a long list of safety technologies, including: City Safety, Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake, Corner Traction Control for tighter cornering and Advanced Stability Control. After all it is a Volvo.
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Even if it hasn’t received a face lift since 2004, the Mitsubishi Galant has undergone a few changes for the 2010 model year. The new car will only be offered in ES and SE trim levels, each powered by a 2.4 Liter four cylinder engine that delivers a maximum output of 160 HP mated to a 4 speed automatic transmission. Mitsubishi has discontinued the Sport Edition, Sport V6, and Ralliart versions for 2010, but prices for the remaining models start at $21,599 for the ES and goes up to $23,999 for the SE version.
The 2010 Galant features a silver painted mesh front grill, color matched door handles and power side mirrors, rear window defroster and an antenna integrated into the rear glass. The SE model is distinguished by a set of 18 inch alloy wheels, body colored rear spoiler and chrome exhaust tips. Standard equipment includes: anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), traction control (TCL), Active Stability Control (ASC), dual stage front airbags, front seat mounted side impact airbags and side front and rear curtain airbags.
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Last year at the New York Auto Show Kia showed off the Koup, which had obvious design links to the Forte but was still good enough to make our top 10 concept cars of 2008. This week was back in New York Kia to show off the production version of the Forte Koup, and we’re happy to report it hasn’t changer much from the concept.
The idea for the car is simple: a sleeker coupe look for the sharp Forte sedan. That also means the engine lineup won’t change from the sedan. The Koup will be available with either a 156 hp 2.0-liter or 173 hp 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. Both engines are mated to either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission.
So what makes this car so special? Well, although Kia has not released pricing for the Forte Koup, we’re operating under the assumption that it will be in line with the rest of Kia’s budget-minded lineup. That means a car that looks better than a Honda Civic coupe (opinions vary) with plenty of money left over. The after-market is going to have a field day with this one.
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The German tuning firm that specializes in all things VW, JE Design, has just unveiled a new body kit for the compact Volkswagen Polo. The exterior upgrades consist of a bolder front spoiler complete with a carbon fiber front lip and LED driving lights, lower hanging side skirts with vents in the back and a carbon fiber rear diffuser that frames the stainless steel twin tip exhaust on the outside. While the interior features a host of leather wrapped items like the steering wheel, gear shifter and emergency brake boot while adding creature comforts like two stage seat warmers and quilted suede inserts as well as color matching accent stitching.
As far as performance is concerned, JE starts out by dropping the Polo by 35 mm with a set of sport springs, but tuning enthusaists looking for more versatility will be happy to know that they also offer a set of KW coilovers for the little Polo which allow the chassis to go up to 65 mm lower than standard. The JE Design Polo rolls around on a set of either 17 inch rims that measure seven inches across or a set of 18x7.5 inch wheels finished in shadow silver or matte black with a color matched lip to create one very unique Polo.
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The American automaker Ford has revealed the first details about the 2011 Shelby GT500, the top of the line, high performance Mustang set to make its world debut in just a few days at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show. The new GT500 will be offered as both a coupe and convertible, with new items for 2011 being the SVT Performance Package, standard HID (high-intensity discharge) headlamps, integrated spotter mirror and fold down rear headrests.
The aforementioned SVT Performance Package is made up of a new set of staggered lightweight 19 inch forged aluminum wheels up front and 20 inch rollers at the rear wrapped in Goodyear Eagle F1 Super Car tires. Meanwhile power comes from an all new aluminum 5.4 Liter supercharged V8, derived from the unit inside the Ford GT super car, that produces 550 HP and 510 lb-ft of torque. The engine weighs in at 102 pounds less than the previous model, meaning that the entire package offers a better power to weight ratio and fuel economy as well, returning 15 MPG around town and as much as 23 MPG on the highway.
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If you can remember Mopar’s muscle car color palette from the 1970s you should be familiar with shades like Plum Crazy Purple, Sassy Grass Green and Moulin Rouge; then the special edition 40th anniversary Furious Fuchsia Challenger will be right up your alley. Available as both an R/T and SRT8 model, the pink pearl Challenger will go on sale starting at $35,140 for an R/T model and goes all the way up to $45,150 for an SRT8.
The Dodge Challenger R/T Classic Furious Fuchsia wears a pair of Matte Black or Bright White side stripes running the length of the vehicle, just like in the olden days, however despite the name, the 20 inch polished aluminum heritage wheels wrapped in all season performance tires are straight out of the 21st century. Meanwhile the R/T has a classic egg crate style grill up front and a body color rear spoiler out back. The SRT8 version adds all new Pearl White leather SRT performance seats with Furious Fuchsia accents as well as a set of 20 inch SRT forged aluminum wheels finished in Satin Black and retro inspired chromed quad exhaust tips out back. Collectors will be most proud of the identification plaque on the dash indicating their car’s authenticity as one of 400 Furious Fuchsia Challengers.
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We’ve seen Jaguar’s modern day interpretation of the classic E-type sports car before, and although it looked a lot like the latest member of the Top Speed test fleet, she was a feline of a completely different nature. That is because our Liquid Silver Jaguar XK convertible is powered by the now Indian automaker’s all new 5.0 Liter V8 that makes a total of 385 HP and 380 lb-ft of torque propelling the drop top sports coupe from 0 to 60 MPH in only 5.2 seconds while returning as much as 22 MPG on the highway.
Whereas last year’s model felt a bit tame; the new XK, even in naturally aspirated form, is packing enough power under the hood to satisfy more than a few desperate housewives. Much of the 2010 XK’s exterior remains the same, the only update for the new year are a pair of thin slits that serve as air intakes on either side of the front bumper as opposed to the previous model’s round fog lights while the new car’s lower air dam has been squared off with a few 90 degree angles. Starting up front the Jaguar’s familiar fish eye headlights frame the E-Type inspired retro round opening in the front bumper and the XK’s blistered wheel arches house a set of multi spoke Caravela alloys measuring 19 inches in diameter. While out back our feline retains its familiar round rear end.
On the inside the Jaguar XK is finished like a fine English sports car. Pieced together with high quality materials ranging from Burl Walnut veneer to the polished aluminum cup holders and seat controls, suede on the A pillar and soft Ivory/Oyster leather that covers the seats, dash and door panels. Every item that you can touch takes the XK one step beyond what you would expect from ordinary automobiles. One fun touch for driving enthusiasts is that the perforated leather wrapped front seats have multiple power adjustments, allowing the driver to inflate a pair of adjustable hip bolsters that inflate to keep them in place during spirited driving. On the other hand our XK came with the same complicated touch screen navigation system that controls everything from climate control to the satellite radio. At an even $89,000 our 2010 XK is a perfect example of just how luxurious a base model Jaguar can be.
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Only a few hours ago we told you about the Japanese premium automaker’s plans to release a razor sharp Special Edition Subaru WRX STI complete with a host of suspension parts from the track tuned Spec C model. Well now the all wheel drive automaker is telling us that they are also bringing a more luxurious Limited Edition of the slightly less powerful WRX to the L.A. Auto Show.
Although it’s not an STI with its more mundane 265 HP 2.5 Liter turbocharged flat four, however with its symmetrical all wheel drive system and refined interior this is much like the leather wrapped Limited model that Subaru sold back in 2007. Based on the 2010 Impreza WRX, the Limited Edition adds a leather interior, moonroof and SIRIUS Satellite Radio over the already well equipped WRX Premium. Wow, it looks like Subaru is finally giving their customers what they want, if scandinavian flicks and embarrassing cars more than three times as expensive at the track then you can have your all out Special Edition STI and if you just want to have a smile on your face every time you get out of your Impreza and also relax in leather, then this Limited Edition WRX is for you.
Updated 02/08/10: Subaru announced prices for the Impreza WRX Limited Edition: the 4-door WRX Limited will be priced at $28,495 while the 5-door model will be priced at $28,995.
Porsche will unveil the most powerful version of the 911 Turbo in March at the Geneva Motor Show. The new Turbo S will be available in both coupe and convertible versions, starting May 2010 and prices for Germany will start at 173,241 euro for the coupe and at 184.546 euro for the convertible.
The 911 Turbo S comes with an increase of 30 hp (to a total of 530hp) thanks to a six-cylinder boxer boosted by two exhaust gas turbochargers with variable turbine geometry. As a result the sprint from 0 to 60 mph is made 3.3 seconds and from 0 to 124 mph in 10.8 seconds. Top speed goes up to 195 mph.
Standard equipment includes: Dynamic Bending Lights, 19-inch wheels in RS Spyder design with central locking, a three-spoke sports steering wheel with gearshift paddles, adaptive sports seats, cruise control, a CD/DVD changer and exclusive twin-tone leather upholstery in Black/Crema or Black/Titanium Blue additionally underlines the outstanding class and calibre of this first Turbo S in five years.
Press release after the jump.
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