Home »
Geneva 2012: new Mercedes A-Class

Staying close to the stunning design of the Concept A-Class seen at the Shanghai motor show last year, the new car apparently sits 18cm closer to the ground than its dowdy predecessor. That bold face and sweeping lines lend it a very aggressive, coupe-ish feel, and Merc has promised us a "high-quality" interior to match.

The new A-Class will get two petrol engines - a 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre - producing 115bhp, 156bhp and 211bhp, the latter badged as A 250. The 1.6-litre four-pot will also debut Merc's new ‘Camtronic' system, which adjusts the valve lift on the intake side to restrict the amount of fresh mixture used under partial load.
The diesel engines come in the shape of the A 180 producing 109bhp, the A 200 with 136bhp and the 2.2-litre A 220 with 170bhp and 258lb ft of torque. All engines come with start/stop as standard, and you can opt for a six-speed manual or Merc's 7G-DCT dual-clutch auto.

More details and trim levels to follow closer to its launch date, but here's one more thing to nibble on.

tags: , ,
Cristiano Ronaldo stopped in the streets of Madrid after a breakdown in his Lamborghini Aventador

tags: , , , ,
Honda Civic Type R is back

Hot hatch Honda legend is set to return – and the new Civic Type R will have a turbo engine

The next Honda Civic Type R will not only be the fastest version yet – it’s tipped to be Honda’s first-ever turbo road car. And our sources in Japan say tuning expert Mugen is already well underway with development.

The Type R has already achieved cult status in the UK – Europe’s biggest hot hatch market – thanks to its combination of a high-revving naturally aspirated engine and aggressive styling. But in order to meet emissions regulations, this latest model will tweak the formula slightly.

Instead of the previous 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine, it will use a 2.0-litre turbo designed to comply with Euro V emissions regulations. A similar engine will feature in Honda’s 2012 British Touring Car Championship challenger.

Adding a turbo will give more torque lower in the rev range, so a higher gear can be used more often to boost efficiency. Stop-start is also likely to be fitted.

Honda will increase the Type R’s output – but not by much. A figure of 210bhp would allow a 0-62mph time of less than 6.5 seconds and a top speed approaching 150mph.

Based on the new Civic seen at last month’s Frankfurt Motor Show, the Type R gets the standard car’s front grille, slim headlights and LED daytime running lights, although most of the bodywork will be uprated.

A front end with large mesh air intakes, a lower chin spoiler and chunky side skirts will boost the visual impact, while a rear diffuser and extended spoiler  aim to increase stability at high speeds. Also helping the car’s balance in corners is the standard Civic’s longer, wider chassis; this should also improve ride comfort and grip.

In a break from tradition that matches the turbocharged Ford Focus ST – a key competitor for the Type R – Honda will offer the car as a five-door only. Prices are expected to start from around £23,000 when it arrives in 2013.

tags: , ,
Ferrari F12 Berlinetta Revealed

The Ferrari F12 Berlinetta has been officially unveiled ahead of the Geneva Motor Show.

The replacement for the 599 has a number of improvements over the outgoing model. Horsepower gets a massive bump, from 611 to 730; 509 lb-ft of torque is on tap, with 80 percent available at just 2,500 rpm. Curb weight drops from 3,722 pounds to 3,362 pounds, 56 percent of which rests over the rear axle. The F12 has a drag coefficient of 0.299 and stronger downforce compared with the 599, and structural rigidity improves by 20 percent. The all-new aluminum chassis was designed by Scaglietti and incorporates a dozen alloys. Basically, it's everything you want in a next-step Ferrari: stronger, stiffer, lighter and more powerful.

Also, it's gorgeous. The F12 Berlinetta, a styling collaboration between Pininfarina and Ferrari's in-house styling team, is lower and shorter compared with the 599, with a long hood, prominent headlights, the same slick grille seen on the FF and a sweeping, muscular frame.
As expected, the F12 is based on a mid-front-engine configuration with a transaxle layout. The 599's 6-speed automated manual transmission is out, replaced by an F1-style dual-clutch gearbox. The naturally aspirated 6.3-liter V12 engine -- cylinders are banked at 65 degrees -- help push the F12 to a top speed of 211 mph and can blast the car from standstill to 60 mph in just 3.1 seconds. Its time around the Fiorano circuit, at 1:23, is faster than any other Ferrari of the road-going variety.

tags: , ,
Fiat 500 Abarth ad with Charlie Sheen

tags: , , ,