The Q7 is one of the most impressive models Audi has ever offered, and the V12 TDI is the most powerful version offered. These two facts about this SUV is why German tuner, Fostla, decided this would be the car to receive one of their tuning kits. Their latest package jumps the Q7’s output to an amazing 600 HP, as well as tweaks its look to match.
For 3500 euro ($4,500 at the current rates), Fostla will cover a customer’s Q7 in a cool PWF foil in diamond black matte, tint the front and back lights, and tone the discs to between 55% and 85%. For an extra 6000 euro ($7700 at the current rates), customers will get a new set of 11x23 inch matte powder coated side Mansory C5 wheels with 315/25R23 tires in combination with 15 mm front and 30 mm back track plates.
To take care of the Audi Q7’s standard 500 HP, Fostla tricked out the 6.0-liter V12 engine with an ECU upgrade to allow it to push out 600 HP and 737 lb-ft of torque. The 0-60 mph sprint will now be made in 5.5 seconds. This added bonus will set customers back an additional $4,500.
Chevrolet has announced it will unveil a new global SUV in September at the 2012 Paris Auto Show. The new model, called Trax, will be offered in more than 140 markets, with Mexico and Canada being the first ones privy to it. As of right now, there are no plans to introduce it in the U.S. market.
The future Trax will feature the same pioneering spirit and expressive design that defines each new Chevrolet, but it will be distinguished by a muscular exterior design and wide athletic stance. Chevrolet states that the interior will come with standards usually found in more expensive vehicles.
"The Trax provides Chevrolet an entry into a growing small SUV segment and delivers the flexibility, great fuel economy and car-like handling that urban explorers around the world require," said Mary Barra, GM senior vice president of Product Development. "After a record sales year in 2011 and a record first quarter, Chevrolet continues to meet customer needs by expanding its portfolio with strong new entries."
Remember the Audi Q3 Jinlong Yufeng Concept that was revealed at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show? Well, it turns out the German automaker has another Q3 concept SUV in the pipeline: the Red Track Concept.
Taken from its name, the Q3 Red Track Concept has been finished with a fiery piece of Energy Red color, an ironic color choice considering that the concept SUV is being pegged as a winter vehicle. How else do you explain the carbon fiber skis on its roof?
But more than just its supposed purpose, the Q3 Red Track Concept actually looks a whole lot like the Q3 Vail Concept, except that the former has some added aesthetic touches. Either way, the SUV looks all sorts of spicy in that aforementioned Energy Red color.
Too bad there’s been no official indication as to whether the Q3 Red Track Concept is bound for production. Whatever the case may be, expect to see the concept at the 2012 Wörthersee Tour, where it is expected to be one of the front and center models in Audi’s booth.
Find out more about the Audi Q3 Red Track Concept after the jump.
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Mercedes just dropped the G65 and G63 AMG models out on the market, but previous models are still getting some love from tuners. Los Angeles based tuner Icon 4x4 Design has gotten hold of a G55 AMG and provided it with an impressive upgrade package. The car has been specially customized for a famous celebrity, but the name of the celebrity is still unknown at this point.
Icon 4X4 Design only chose to update the exterior and interior of this luxury beast because they said that "the stock performance was fine for the customers needs." The tuner started by painting in an impressive 300SL matte silver, then replaced the stock plastics from the side trim, vents, and hood plastic before replacing the stock chrome grill. The tuner also added LED daytime lights, a monster Vision-X LED light bar, rack mounted reverse LED spot lights, and redesigned side market lights with guards.
The interior was also finished in matte silver to match the exterior, followed by Chilewich woven vinyl to replace the door panel inserts. All of the plastic was also removed. Next, the tuner added a pretty cool audio system with multiple amplifiers, a programable equilizer, bass, and improved stock speakers.
German tuner, Hofele Design, has earned a stellar reputation as one of the leading Porsche Cayenne tuners in the world. Their program for the Porsche SUV, called the "Cayster GT 670," has been developed for a number of model years for the Cayenne and we’re not the least bit surprised to find out that they’ve released an updated version for the 2012 model.
Made up of a comprehensive aerodynamic body kit to go with a performance program, the 2012 Cayster GT 670 is one Cayenne that has truly been modded to look more aggressive than a standard 2012 Cayenne looks.
The first part of the package is a 14-piece aero kit that includes a number of new "bolt-on" components, including a new front bumper with integrated LED lights, widened wheel arches, a new "PowerDome" hood, new side sills, a rear spoiler and roof wing, and a new rear bumper with its own diffuser. Rounding off the exterior changes are a new set of 20" or 22" alloy wheels that have been finished in either black or silver.
Inside, the German tuner fitted new two-tone "StarLight" leather seats with quilted accents and Hofele Design logos embroidered on the headrests.
As far as performance is concerned, Hofele Design has a number of modifications for both the Cayenne Diesel and Cayenne S Hybrid. For the former, the engine enhancements increased the output of the SUV from the standard 241 horsepower and 405 lb/ft of torque all the way up to 296 horsepower and 479 lb/ft of torque. Meanwhile, the latter gets an increased output of 474 horsepower and 543 lb/ft of torque, a significant improvement from the standard model’s 374 horsepower and 427 lb/ft of torque numbers.
Previous spy shots of the Porsche Macan were a little deceiving because the luxury SUV was well-hidden under the Audi Q5 body, but now we’re getting the real deal! Our spy photographers were able to catch the future baby SUV testing for the first time wearing its full body. Porsche tried to hide it under the usual array of camouflage, but it is clear that the future Macan will share design elements with its bigger brother, the Cayenne.
The Porsche Macan is based on the Audi Q5 platform, but it will come with an improved chassis, better brakes, and other wheels. Under the hood, Porsche will also be using engines borrowed from Audi in both petrol and diesel variants, but tuned to deliver better performance. A hybrid version is also expected and will combine a 210 HP 2.0 TFSI with a 44 HP electric motor. This system will help the Macan deliver a Co2 emissions of only 130 g/km - a target that needs to be hit by all manufacturers by 2015 according to the new European regulations.
Porsche has already confirmed that the new Macan will be produced in Leipzig starting 2013. The model will initially be offered in a four-door configuration, but a sportier looking two door version is also expected.
Audi currently offers a Q3, a Q5, and a Q7 SUV in their line-up, with a Q6 in the pipeline to serve as a competitor for the BMW X6. Now new rumors suggest that the company is already working on a new baby SUV that will be sportier than the five-door Q3.
The future Audi Q2 will be built on the MQB Group architecture and will be closer in design to the A1. Rumors say that the new Q2 will introduce advanced LED headlight technology never before seen in small cars and that Audi will offer customers the chance to personalize the Q2 in any way they see fit.
The Q2 will be a two-door SUV featuring a front-wheel drive system as standard, but quattro four-wheel drive will be offered for the most powerful versions. Under the hood, we will see the same engines as in the A1 including a 1.4-liter direct-injection four-cylinder turbo and an efficient 1.6-liter diesel engine.
A concept version of the Audi Q2 should debut in about a year’s time, with a production version set to arrive in 2014.
Two years ago, we were announcing that Toyota and Tesla Motors had entered an agreement that would net Tesla $60 million to design and manufacture an all-electric powertrain for the RAV4 SUV. Finally, after all of this time we have a debut date set. Unfortunately, it isn’t a showroom debut, but rather a showing of the final product.
Toyota has just has unveiled this new Tesla and Toyota collaboration to the U.S. at the International Electric Vehicle Symposium in LA on the May 7th at noon. The new RAV4 EV is powered by a 154 HP electric powertrain and has a driving range rating of approximately 100 miles and charging time of approximately six hours on a 240V/40A charger. It comes with two driving modes: Sport and Normal. In Sport version the car will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 7.0 seconds and will go up to 100 mph, while in Normal mode it will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 8.6 seconds with a maximum speed of 85 mph.
Compared to the standard RAV4, the new EV version will get a re-styled the front bumper, upper and lower grill, side mirrors, rear spoiler, and under body design to maximize air flow around the vehicle. The model will be offered in three exterior colors: Blizzard White Pearl, Shoreline Blue Pearl and Classic Silver Metallic combined with a unique "Neutron" fabric for the interior.
UPDATE 05/08/2012: The new Toyota RAV4 EV will go on sale in late Summer 2012 through select dealers at a starting price of $49,800.
Mini has a knack for developing vehicles that are as appealing to the market as donuts are to our boys in blue. This is evident in the fact that all of their models have been well-received by all, production as well as concept versions. Now, the company is adding another ace in the hole with a production version of the Paceman Concept unveiled at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. The model will be sold as a coupe version of the Countryman and has just been caught testing for the first time. The new Countryman Coupe will be making its world debut at the 2012 Paris Auto Show and will be sold on the US market as a 2014 model.
The Countryman Coupe will feature the same technologies and engines as the standard Countryman, which means it will get a 122 HP 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine for the standard model and a turbocharged variant with 184 HP for the S version. Customers will be able to choose between both a six-speed manual or an automatic transmission. We just hope that Mini will also bring out a JCW Countryman Coupe.
Volvo has brought onto the market the XC90 SUV back in 2003 and since then no major updates have been made. But for the 2013 model year the company has announced "the most significantly updated XC90 since its launch a decade ago."
For the 2013 model year the XC90 has received a bold new look along with an enhanced roster of standard features inside and out. Exterior changes include new body-color bumpers, side skirts and wheel arches and of course new LED daytime running lights for the R-Design models. The list of updates continues with a new bumper bar, silk matte mirrors and 18-inch "Thalia" alloy wheels. The interior gets sanded silver aluminum inlays, white instrumentation lighting and a leather strap on the tailgate.
No changes have been made under the hood though, as the American version gets the usual 3.2-liter in-line six-cylinder engine that delivers 240 HP and 236 lb.-ft. of torque.
The 2013 Volvo XC90 ha already been put on sale with pricing starting at $39,500.
Hit the jump to read more about the 2013 Volvo XC90.
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