Now under control of the Swedish super car manufacturerKoenigsegg, SAAB is currently enjoying a bit of a revitalization and in doing so took the wraps off of their latest generation 9-5 sedan at the 2009 Miami Auto Show. Although the new car made it’s international debut in Frankfurt, this 9-5 is still new to North America and the South Florida Show marks the car’s first appearance here in the U.S. The nose of the new 9-5 sedan is inspired by the Aero-X Concept featuring a deep grille flanked with curving, ice-block headlamp units. The entire greenhouse is presented as a ‘wraparound’ mono graphic, the disguised windshield and side pillars giving the cabin Saab’s signature cockpit look. Squint slightly, and the proportions of the windshield and roof become reminiscent of the classic 900 model. The new car comes with a variety of engine options, however here in the U.S. SAAB expects the 2.8 Liter turbocharged V6 engine that puts out approximately 300 HP to be the big seller.
Kicherer has revealed a new tuning package for the new E-Class with the AMG bodywork. The exterior package includes a carbon front spoiler for a plus in downforce on the front axle, a side skirt kit with integrated carbon tubes for better channeling of air stream on the flanks and a rear spoiler which is optionally available in carbon or also in matching car color.
The Kicherer E-Class sits on 20 inches RS-1 lightweight wheels and on the interior it gets self-developed ergonomic leather sports steering wheel on offer, as well as a foot mat set with exclusive leather border.
With the future Audi A7, the Ingolstadt company is preparing to fill the gap between the A6 and the A8, but also between sedan and Avant. A five-seter model, featuring Audi’s language design previewed by the Sportback Concept back in January, the A7 Sportback will be sold in three different version: the standard A7, a more powerful S7, and the top of the line RS7.
Under the hood of the future A7, Audi will use three different direct gasoline injection engines including a 2.8 Liter FSI and 3.0 Liter TFSI V6s as well as a 4.0 Liter TFSI V8. The alternatively fueled diesel options include a 2.7 Liter V6 and both turbocharged and twin-turbocharged versions of the existing 3.0 Liter TDI V6.
The S7 version will use the same naturally aspirated 5.2L V10 engine from the S6 that delivers 435 hp at 6,800 rpm and 398 lb.-ft of torque. The S7 will be capable of an estimated top speed of 185 mph (but most likely will be electronically limited to 155 mph).
The luxury tuners Alpina have just unveiled the BMW ALPINA B7 BiTurbo Limousine at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show. The high end BMW specialists Alpina are responsible for taking care of the lack of an M inspired version of BMW’s larger limousine. Based on the BMW7 Series, the Alpina B7 Biturbo combines exclusiveness, athleticism and comfort in perfect harmony to create a high performance luxury limousine. Committed to developing the best performing vehicles in the luxury market, BMW with ALPINA has created a special high performance version of BMW’s 7 Series luxury, the biturbo’s engine output has been raised to 507 HP thanks to the turbochargers. The suspension is electronically adjustable, ready for any situation and because it is an Alpina the vehicle rests on the signature 20 spoke 21 inch Alpina Classic wheel.
Besides bringing the updated Nissan GT-R to the Tokyo Motor Show, the Japanese luxury car maker has confirmed that Infiniti is preparing a "a stylish, compact, high performance four seat luxury model with zero emissions." that will be unveiled sometime in the near future. According to Nissan’s president Carlos Ghosn: "The world is eager to address concerns about global CO2 emissions, and we are proposing solutions to meet the environmental challenge. The solution is mass-marketed zero-emission mobility on a global scale."
Nissan’s latest EV, the Leaf, will go into production for the Japanese, United States and European markets starting in 2010 and will be followed by an electric version of the NV200 commercial van shortly thereafter.
The German tuning house speedART has just revealed a new performance package for Porsche’s newest four door sports car, the Panamera Turbo. The speedART kit consists of a series of slight aerodynamic modifications to the Panamera’s exterior and a free flowing exhaust system underneath that takes the new Porsche’s tone and turns it up a notch transforming the Porsche four seater sport sedan into a true screaming super car. The body kit is made up of a more aggressive chin spoiler and a set of lower hanging side skirts that make the turbocharged Porsche look as if it were scraping along the pavement. Although the new stainless steel exhaust only adds an additional 20 HP and 15 lb-ft of torque thanks to an increased diameter and a pair of high flow sport catalysts, the high performance pluming goes a long way towards making the Panamera into a beast of a different nature.
Considering Bob Lutz’s recent challenge to take on any and all four door sports car competitors with a Cadillac CTS-V, it got us thinking about what four wheeled machine would be the perfect choice to bring to the Monticello Motor Club on October 29. At first we figured that a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution with its Audi R8 super car like handling might be able to keep up with the supercharged Cadillac sedan, but whereas the EVO X is only packing about 300 HP, the CTS-V is putting down a total of 556 HP. The next obvious choice would be a twin turbocharged V8 powered Porsche Panamera, however those aren’t scheduled to arrive until next year.
That is when it hit us, what would be better than a 1000 HP all wheel drive Bugatti super car to take on the bad boy from Cadillac. While this rendering displays a GT spec Galiber ready for the grid at Le Mans with its oversized rear wing and quad turbocharged 16 cylinder engine poking through the openings in the hood, the standard Bugatti super sedan will make use of the same 8.0 Liter W16 that powers its big brother the Veyron. Although it might be harder to get your hands on a Galiber than Naomi Campbell’s backside, it just might be the perfect street legal four door to take on GM’s Vice Chairman, that is as long as the straightaways are long enough.
You would think that a car of this stature would not be subjected to this kind of harsh treatment.
Normally, destroying a Rolls-Royce Phantom is tantamount to an act of lunacy. But when you’re testing for the rigidity and sturdiness of an armored Phantom, ensuring that the armor is as good as advertised is more important than any price tag a car commands.
Mutec, a German coach builder that knows their way around armored cars, recently performed a ballistics test on an armored Phantom. We have to admit, it was kind of difficult to see such a luxurious – and expensive – vehicle end up like a shooting arcade game.
But then again, there’s no price tag for safety, right?
The Japanese automaker Toyota has just launched an all new rear wheel drive luxury sedan for its home market called the Mark X. Built on the same platform as the Lexus GS, the new four door is powered by a choice of two engines, the first being a 2.5 Liter V6 that delivers a maximum output of 203 HP and is 15% more efficient than government regulations require as well as a powerful 3.5 Liter V6 that puts down a total of 318 HP. No matter which power plant you choose, both engines can be mated to Toyota’s gas sipping ECT six speed automatic transmission complete with sporty paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel. The Mark X is good for a 0 to 60 MPH sprint of about 8.3 seconds and will return an average of 49.2 MPG.
For 2010, the Toyota Mark X features a widened front bumper opening, a sporty mesh grill, wraparound taillights and very thick C pillar giving the car a very muscular appearance. Keeping with the Mark X’s luxurious theme, the upscale sedan offers a spacious interior for up to five passengers and driver amenities like an ergonomic leather wrapped steering wheel and motorized lumbar support that combine quality and precision evoking a feeling of pure driving pleasure.
The Mark X is also loaded with high tech gadgets like an adaptive radar based cruise control system, equipped with a brake-control function that can maintain a fixed distance from the car in front, adaptive front lighting system, hill start assist control, HDD navigation system with map on demand and a digital T.V. tuner as well as the automaker’s intelligent parking assist system.
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