The future Mercedes G55 AMG was caught testing for the first time back in October and now spy photographers have been able to catch up with it yet again while it performed some winter testing in Sweden. Luckily, this prototype was dressed down enough to reveal a few more details on the exterior’s changes.
From these images we can see that the new G55 AMG will be graced with new side mirrors, a revised grille, a new front bumper with one integrated cooler, and some LED day driving lights integrated in the bottom of the headlight unit. The SUV will also get new wheels with a new design and an updated brake system. For the interior, Mercedes will offer a new instrument cluster, a new steering wheel, and a sat-nav screen on top of the dash as seen on the new B-Class.
Under the hood, the Mercedes G55 AMG will have a 5.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 with around 525 HP and 516 lb-ft of torque. Mercedes has promised it will work on improving the fuel consumption, but they can only do so much with this high-powered beast of a vehicle.
We already know that Mercedes is planning to offer a G55 AMG - we’ve got spy shots to prove it - but now new spy images suggest that the company is also working on an even more powerful G-Class: the G65 AMG. The bad news is that it will be limited to only 200 units, each carrying a price tag of € 250,000, or about $326,500 at the current exchange rates.
What makes this car really special is the engine found under the hood: a 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 with 612 HP and 737 lb-ft of peak torque - previously used in the S65 AMG. The model will be distinguished by two coolers in the front bumper, one placed at each side, and a more aggressive exterior design language. Mercedes does promise that the new G65 AMG will significantly improve on fuel consumption, but we’re guessing anyone willing to purchase this vehicle will still need their own oil field to be able to enjoy it at full speed.
The upcoming Mercedes G65 AMG is expected to make its world debut at either the Detroit Auto Show in January 2012 or at the Geneva Car Show in March 2012.
Jay-Z is known to be a car addict, even though he’s trashed luxury cars in the past, but the latest vehicle on his wish list is more for protection than luxury or sport. The well-known rapper is in the market for an armored Dartz Prombron, not to protect him against the onslaught of fans that undoubtedly shower him with attention on a daily basis, but more than likely to protect his bootylicious wife, Beyonce, and their unborn child.
The Prombron is an armored SUV created by eccentric Latvian car maker Dartz that offers protection against AK-47s and rocket launchers. We sure hope Jay-Z isn’t letting his family get anywhere near this kind of danger, but it looks like the expectant dad is leaving no stone unturned in protecting his family. This vehicle offers multiple protection levels and, for aesthetics, a range of interior and exterior trims.
A standard Prombron comes with ten interior treatments, including a choice of snake, crocodile, whale, skat, chameleon, or elephant skins, and different "standard" carbon fiber or matte trims. The car is equipped with eight cameras and comes void of a door behind the driver.
Safety is obviously a big concern for the rapper, but we’d protect our families in the same fashion if we could, and we don’t have millions of adoring fans crowding us or our spouses.
Nissan has announced the special edition X-Trail Platinum for the British market. It will be limited to only 200 units and will be priced at £29,180 ($45,700 at the current exchange rates) for the manual and £30,560 ($47,900) for the automatic version. The car is now available for orders.
The new X-Trail Platinum Edition will be distinguished by protection and style for both front and rear, with the fitment of additional protection plates located below the bumpers. The SUV has also received numerous chrome protections on the side steps and the door protection mouldings.
For the interior, Nissan is offering leather upholstery and electrically-adjustable and heated front seats. Of course, the list of standard technologies has also been enriched; the models get a sophisticated new touch screen communication unit features satellite navigation, iPod connectivity, Bluetooth, and a reversing camera, with the image transmitted onto a small screen incorporated into the rear view mirror.
The Nissan X-Trail Platinum Edition can be ordered with a 2.0dCi diesel engine and a choice of either manual or automatic transmissions.
With one little teaser note - "Who Needs Reindeer When You Have an 800 HP Twin Turbo Sleigh?" - Hennessey Performance has given us even more reason to love the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. The American tuning company went bananas on the HEMI-powered SUV, releasing a comprehensive tuning program that includes aerodynamic and performance upgrades that will leave your jaws on the floor.
Talking about the former, Hennessey dressed up the Grand Cherokee SRT8 with a new carbon fiber front splitter, a lowered suspension system, a new set of light alloy wheels with 15.1" Brembo brakes, and a custom leather interior with a new Alcantara steering wheel. Pretty good, right?
It gets better.
Known for being one of the best engine tuners in the country, Hennessey saw the enormous potential of the Grand Cherokee SRT8’s 6.4-liter HEMI V8 engine and decided that it could still get some more tweaking. And that’s precisely what they did. Additional modifications include an upgraded transmission system and torque converter upgrade, 15.1 inch Brembo brakes front and rear, a lowered sport suspension system, lighter alloy wheels, carbon fiber front splitter and a custom leather interior with Alcantara steering wheel. Thanks to an HPE800 Twin-Turbo engine package, an upgraded transmission system, and a torque converter upgrade, Hennessey managed to bring the output of the Grand Cherokee SRT8 from its ’regular’ 465 horsepower and 465 lb/ft of torque figures, all the way up to an eye-popping 805 horsepower and 823 lb/ft of torque. These numbers are good enough to drop the SUV’s 0-60 mph number from 4.8 seconds to a mentally disturbing 3.1 seconds and set the quarter mile at 10.9 at 130 mph.
Hennessey will only build 24 of these bad boys with the limited numbers reflecting the tuned-up SUV’s price tag: $235,000.
Can you say *gulp*?
