http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1055
Alfa’s keenly anticipated 147 hatchback replacement will no longer be called Milano, thanks to some good, old-fashioned labour mobilisation.
Everything was perfect in anticipation of the 147 replacement’s debut at the Bologna motor show next month. The dealer brochures and press material was allegedly ready and littered with the Milano name in classically stylish Italian fonts.
Now Alfa’s hand has been forced by a bunch of unhappy workers.
The Italian brand is set to shut down all operations in Milan by the end of this year (despite being founded 99 years ago in the city).
Only 232 employees (primarily designers and engineers) are still awaiting redeployment to the company’s Turin facilities. They are not the problem...
Former Alfa employees, who worked at the Milan facility (especially pre-2000 when they still built cars there) are where the issue arises.
These blue collar workers think it’s quite rich of management to name a new car after a city where they pulled the plug on a production facility that had a real sense of historic significance.
Fearing an Italian socialist backlash, Alfa’s management has decided to play it safe by delaying the on-line unveiling of the 147 replacement (it was supposed to happen last Friday).
The new car is now expected to revive Alfa's Giulietta badge.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mercedes GL-Class Facelift by Brabus
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1056
The BRABUS GL-Class Widestar kit is now available. The kit, created for the facelifted Mercedes-Benz GL, affects both petrol and diesel-powered models. BRABUS exterior touches include integrated LED daytime running lights, auxiliary high beams, fog lamps, large air dams and a front apron.
Also fitted is a roof spoiler, a new rear apron and custom-tailored wide fenders. Performance and sounds are enhanced by the rear diffuser and a BRABUS stainless-steel quad sport exhaust system with matching tailpipes. A wide range of wheels are offered including three-piece BRABUS Monoblock E Platinum Edition wheels sized 11Jx23. The Pirelli or Yokohama tyres can be specified up to size 305/30 R 23. A special AIRMATIC module can lower the suspension by 30mm for improved handling and looks.
BRABUS kits are usually accompanied by performance boosts and this GL-Class is no exception. The petrol V8-powered models see an engine displacement increase of up to 6.1-litres while power is hiked to 340kW. Peak torque goes up to 615Nm. The vehicles are now capable of a 0 - 100km/h sprint time of 6 seconds and a top speed of 255km/h.
Diesel models get the BRABUS ECO PowerXtra tuning kits resulting in the GL 350 CDI receiving 200kW and 590Nm at 1,600rpm. The bigger-engined GL 450 CDI now puts out 257kW and 800Nm of torque, giving it a 0 - 100km/h acceleration time of 7.1 seconds and a top speed of 240km/h.
The interior is enhanced through materials such as carbon fibre, Mastik leather and Alcantara, a 7-inch LCD screen at the back of each front seat, a DVD player and an on-board personal computer with a fast Internet connection.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Volkswagen Polo Wins 2010 European Car of the Year
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1057
Volkswagen's Polo was officially chosen as the 2010 European Car of the Year, narrowly beating the Toyota iQ for the award. Of the seven cars on the list, two are German, two are French, one is Czech, one is Japanese, and one is technically American.
The Polo pulled in 59 votes, of which 25 put the car in first place. Toyota's iQ scored 20 first place nods, and 58 total votes. The also-rans include the Opel/Vauxhall Astra, Skoda Yeti, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Peugeot 3008, and the Citroen C3 Picasso.
VW's supermini is 7.5 percent lighter than the previous model, and has a five-star safety rating. Despite the lighter weight, it has a larger boot, and bigger body. The car comes with six different engine options up to the 76kW 1.2-liter TSI petrol.
The award was handed down by a panel of senior journalists. Participating reporters and editors come from seven different European magazines.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wimmer RS Program for F430 Scuderia 16M Spider
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1058
German tuners Wimmer RS, short for Rennsporttechnik Solingen, have developed a package for the Ferrari 430 Scuderia 16M Spider. Featuring what appears to be modified bumpers and rear diffuser, the package is being shown off to potential buyers and fans at the Essen Motor Show in Germany this week.
The Ferrari 430 Wimmer RS uses sport valves, and a new engine control system as part of a Power Packet. When combined with the two sport-tuned catalytic converters, the car gets a 28kW boost leading to a faster, 321 km/h top speed. The car improves its 0-100 km/h time to just 3.84 seconds, hitting 200 km/h in 11.03 seconds. 300 km/h is achieved just shy of 35 seconds.
The system also includes a remote control that allows the driver to choose between two settings to modify the car's sound. Also at the push of a button, the car's KW Hydraulic Lift System raises the car by as much as 45 mm, making speedbumps and ramps less of an issue.
Wimmer RS' package is rounded out with 19-inch black BBS FI alloy wheels. High speed tires come from Dunlop. The Ferrari 430 Wimmer RS should be available soon.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Volkswagen Golf MkVI Body Kit by Caractere
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1059
Belgian automotive design company Caractere have updated their VW Golf body kit for the sixth-generation model: Golf MkVI.
The tuner exclusively redesigns models from under the Volkswagen Audi Group umbrella, is fully certified by Germany's TUV safety assurance board and designs for high quality and ease of product mounting onto the vehicle.
The Mark VI Golf is no exception, this time Caractere designers having gone to greater length at a more outlandish repackaging of the exterior. The Mark V wore similar aesthetic changes but the principal additions add a greater aggression via a more defined front end in both form and finish, a new mesh lower grille and more obviously-framed front fog lights.
At the rear, more visible dual chrome exhausts and a new, again more defined, mesh rear skirt complement a five twin-spoke alloy wheel design and a familiar side skirt package as well as a "sport" or "classic" roof spoiler. LED lights are also specifiable.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wald SPORTS LINE Black Bison Edition
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1060
Japan's very own Wald International, a tuner specializing in premium European and Japanese marques, recently debuted their styling kit for the Mercedes E-Class W212 at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, and have now sent us a full set of beauty shots.
Falling under Wald's SPORTS LINE Black Bison Edition range, the styling components consist of a front bumper, side skirts, rear bumper fascia with integrated diffuser, trunk spoiler, roof spoiler, sports fender ducts and exhaust system. Wheels are Wald's own Mahora series which are available in several different finishes in 19-, 20- and 21-inch. As seen in previous SPORTS LINE Black Bison Editions, the louvred design elements seen on the sides of the front and rear bumper fascias and side skirts seem to be a hallmark trait. Other standout characteristics include the double foglamps and the stacked oval tailpipes reminiscent of the Lexus IS-F.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All New 2011 Audi A8 Revealed
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1061
With much anticipation, Audi has unveiled the all-new fourth generation A8 full-size luxury sedan this evening in Miami. At a glance the A8 and its aluminum body structure features an updated MMI operating system with hand writing recognition touch pad, new driver assistance systems, full LED headlights and new technologies such as night vision assist with marking of detected pedestrians and Audi pre sense safety system.
The A8's core competitors include the Mercedes-Benz S Class and BMW 7 Series with the Lexus LS and Jaguar XJ described as secondary competitors. The 2011 A8 weighs about the same as the outgoing model despite being 8cm longer, 5cm wider and has more standard equipment (8-speed auto transmission, pre sense basic, keyless go, power trunk, etc.) versus competitors: 23kg less than S Class RWD, and more than 90.7kg less than S Class AWD; more than 91kg less than 7 Series RWD and more than 181.4kg less than 7 Series AWD.
“The new Audi A8 is the sportiest sedan in its segment,” says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. “It combines numerous functions in a new and intelligent way. And it’s unmatched in the stylistic elements and impression of the interior.”
Set to arrive at U.S. dealerships in late 2010, the initial engine offering is the well known 4.2 FSI V8 with 273 kW. The standard transmission is an all-new eight speed tiptronic coupled to the latest generation quattro all wheel drive as standard. 0-100km/h arrives in 5.7 seconds while Audi is claiming an estimated 15 percent improvement in fuel consumption versus the current A8 (EPA figures TBD).
A long wheel base variant will be revealed in 2010 in addition to the confirmation of a hybrid model on the way.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thunderstorm M3 with up to 368kW Presented by ATT
http://www.maxauto.co.za/CntView.aspx?CatID=26&CntID=1062
Autotechnik + Tuning or ATT has given the M3 Convertible a bit more fire under its belly. The car is already powerful with its standard 4.0-litre V8 pushing out 309kW. But in the tuning world enough is never enough.
By giving it a compressor system, optimising engine software and installing a new exhaust system with optimised dynamic pressure, ATT was able to extract an extra 59kW to make it an even 368kW. For extra enjoyment the tailpipes were apparently tuned to give out two different sounds.
Wheels fitted are 8,5x20 and 10x20 alloys while the matching tyres are Michelin Pilot Sport 2s measuring 245/30 ZR 20 and 285/25 ZR 20 front and rear respectively. Although generally praised as a very competent handler, ATT felt their M3 needed an extra dose of road-holding ability. So they included a KW coilover suspension system in the kit.
The interior can be ordered with a cabin largely made of carbon fibre or Swarovski crystals. ATT calls it the Thunderstorm M3 and with a name like that we cannot wait to see the performance figures.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment