When you have a Volvo V60 that you’re looking to have tuned-up by an aftermarket tuning company, the first place you need to go to is Heico Sportiv. As the authorities in modified Volvos - they recently did one for the S60 luxury sedan - the auto tuning house has provided an array of packages for a number of Volvo models throughout the years. With the new 2011 Volvo V60 wagon, Heico Sportiv isn’t about to let up.
Scheduled to debut at the Essen Motor Show, Heico Sportiv gave the V60 an interior and exterior facelift that has effectively turned the V60 from plain and simple to sexy and aggressive-looking. Who would’ve thought that was possible with Volvos?
Heico Sportiv improved the V60 wagon’s exterior by introducing front spoilers made from flexible polyurethane plastic and mounted on the original bumpers, ensuring that the latest pedestrian protection guidelines are met. The same material can also be found in the rear skirt enfolding the left and right oval end-pipes of the quad outlet exhaust system. If you’re not satisfied with this, the tuning firm is also offering matching carbon or alternative stainless steel inlays and a dual-pipe exhaust variant that’s arranged in a ‘left-right’ arrangement.
The interior of the V60 gets high-grade leather on the car’s dashboard, door trims, and center console that’s complimented by aluminum add-ons on the pedal set, gear shit knob, and the footrest. Finishing off the package for the Volvo V60 is the inclusion of sport springs and a set of 18-20” VOLUTION sport wheels.
Welcome to the most beautiful wagon in the world. We know that might be hard to read as wagons are seldom thought of as beautiful, but with the new Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake, those thoughts might need some additional pondering.
Unlike the old wagons, or even the current ones for that matter, the CLS Shooting Brake takes some of the four-door coupe design elements and translates them for wagon use. It might seem like an odd concept at first, but perhaps it’s genius. Wagons have long provided practicality, but that hasn’t exactly helped them fly out the door now has it? So, instead of pushing cargo space, Mercedes will be pushing style and that seems to work well in the automotive market place, just look at those terrible creations from BMW called the X6 and the future X1. These two are as useless as just about everything, but they’re going to sell.
So, has Mercedes done the same thing with this CLS wagon?
Updated 10/27/2011: The upcoming CLS Shooting Brake has been caught testing wearing little camouflage and revealing a design language similar to the concept.
Updated 02/03/2012: The upcoming Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake has been caught testing again, this time during winter conditions. Enjoy!
As if the 457hp Mercedes C63 AMG needed more power. Along come Cargraphic with a simple but deadly recipe that results in a few more ponies from the already brutal 6.2l AMG V – up to 570hp of them to be exact.
We already know that as far as small fast German saloons go, the Merc is pretty much King of the Hill in terms of straight line performance. You would think, then, that someone would come along and introduce a handling package or two. But no, Cargraphic have answered the prayers of the power-hungry by piecing together an 113hp and 100Nm upgrade package that’s sure to tear up tarmac near you. This is accomplished just by fitting a new stainless steel header and exhaust system, and remapping the ECU. For what’s commonly known as stage 1 upgrade, that’s a huge gain, and its clever too – optional extra butterflies can be remotely controlled from the cabin to modulate the sonorous roar that we love. If you enjoy top notch performance with an acoustic understatement, you could also go for the race cats and stock headers. The parts are available individually or as a package, and the workmanship looks good too.
Marco Procaccini is no stranger to designing Alfa Romeo concepts, having done so with a number of Alfa concepts in the past. Now, the designer has a new study in the works called the Alfa Romeo Vittorio Jano Sports Wagon.
To be fair, the concept doesn’t completely blow our minds although it’s not to say that we don’t like it because we do, just not in a breathtaking kind of way.
Among the notable design elements Procaccini used on the Vittorio Jano Sports Wagon is a more aggressive front end that comes with LED running lights on the front bumper. We’re suckers for LED running lights so any car – concept or otherwise – that has these always gets a thumbs up from us. We also liked how Procaccini retained the inverted triangle front grille that Alfa Romeo has come to be known for. There’s something to be said about a concept design that still retains part of the brand’s roots, and Procaccini was aware enough to include that in his concept.
The Cadillac CTS-V Sports Wagon, the last model from the CTS family, will make its world debut at the New York Auto Show in just two days. Sales will begin in late 2010.
Like the sedan and coupe models, the CTS-V sports Wagon is powered by the same 6.2 liter supercharged V8 engine that delivers a total of 556 hp and 551 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine can be coupled to either a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic.
The new CTS-V Sports Wagon will be offered with Magnetic Ride Control, Brembo brakes, and Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 performance tires mounted on 19-inch forged aluminum wheels. The exterior will be distinguished by an aggressive front fascia, a unique grille, a raised center section of the aluminum hood, CHMSL-integrated roof spoiler and a pair of 3-inch (76 mm) chrome exhaust outlets.
Updated 10/05/2010: Cadillac today announced that the new CTS-V Sport Wagon will go on sale later this year at a price of $62,990. Option list will include: $3,400 Recaro heated and ventilated, high-performance driver and front-passenger seats; $800 19-inch, polished aluminum wheels; $600 midnight Sapele Wood trim package and $300 Suede steering wheel and shifter.
