Mazda Anniversary Editions of Axela and Biante in Japan

The Mazda Axela 90th Anniversary Special Edition is based on the four Axela grades that come with i-stop. It will be the first Mazda in the Japanese market with the exclusive exterior body color, Gunmetal Blue Mica. The Mazda Biante i-stop Smart Edition, also launched to celebrate Mazda’s 90th birthday, is based on the 20CS model grade. Its features include i-stop, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and Mazda’s Advanced Keyless Entry System.

Main features of the Mazda Axela 90th Anniversary Special Edition

Mazda Axela 90th Anniversary Special Edition (Sport 20S)
Base models
Mazda Axela Sport 20C and 20S grades, Mazda Axela Sedan 20C and 20E (FWD) grades (all grades equipped with i-stop)
Special features
Special exterior body color, Gunmetal Blue Mica (new to models for the Japanese market)


Main features of the Mazda Biante i-stop Smart Edition

Mazda Biante 90th Anniversary Special Edition ‘i-stop Smart Edition’
Base model
Mazda Biante 20CS (FWD model)
Special features
i-stop
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system
Dual power sliding doors
Advanced keyless entry and start system (with answer-back function and automatic rear liftgate)


Manufacturer’s suggested retail prices of the 90th Anniversary special edition models

- A separate recycling fee is necessary in addition to the manufacturer’s suggested retail prices listed above. (Sport 20C: 13,190 yen, 20S: 13,740 yen, Sedan 20C: 12,670 yen, 20E: 13,220 yen)
- DISI: Direct Injection Spark Ignition

Mazda Biante 90th Anniversary Special Edition ‘i-stop Smart Edition’

- A separate recycling fee of 14,590 yen is necessary in addition to the manufacturer’s suggested retail prices listed above.

- The exterior body color range consists of six colors. If the special body color Crystal White Pearl Mica is selected, the price increases by 31,500 yen (including tax).

World Premiere at the Geneva Motor Show: Carlsson C25

* Limited Super-GT of the small series manufacturer Carlsson
* Edition includes only 25 cars and therefore ensures maximum exclusiveness
* Carlsson combines top performance with drivability
* Carlsson develops entirely own design vocabulary

Carlsson who are approved as an automobile manufacturer by the Federal German Motor Transport Authority, for the first time presents an own developed automobile at this year's Geneva Motor Show - the Carlsson C25. The concept of this Super-GT is based on the vision of combining maximum driving performance with an entirely new design and high exclusiveness. The result is a breathtaking and beautiful sports coupé with 753 hp in a limited edition of only 25 cars world-wide. Thereby, each automobile will be as individual as its future owner. "We exclusively make the cars to order and the delivery quantity for 2010 is already sold out", says CEO, Dipl. Ing. (FH) Markus Schuster.


With 753 hp and 1150 Newton metres in 3.7 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h

The performance data of the six litre V12 Bi-Turbo is impressive. The high-performance aggregate with a motor management optimisation patented by Carlsson renders 753 hp (554 kW) and allows fast acceleration as well as smooth travels at lower speeds. Also responsible for the perfect performance evolvement is the elaborately developed stainless steel exhaust system with ends in four edgy pipes at the back. The power catapults the C25 with a torque of 1320 Newton metres at 3750 r.p.m. which is electronically limited to 1,150 Newton metres from 0 to 100 km/h in only 3.7 seconds and achieves a maximum speed of 352 km/h.Perfect combination between top performance and maximum driveability

When developing the Carlsson C25, the engineers from Gut Wiesenhof have achieved creating a Super-GT for smooth everyday use despite its very high performance. "There are more than enough super sports car in this world which can only be safely driven on a race track", says Markus Schuster. "Therefore, we deliberately wanted to develop a car which is highly exclusive on the one hand and can be used for the daily journey to office on the other hand. Therefore, a Super-GT which can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in only 3.7 seconds and still offers a very pleasant driving comfort. All security-relevant regulations such as pedestrian protection, crash behaviour, ESP, ABS, Airbag systems are identical to large series editions with most modern standards."

This is also achieved by the intelligent lowering system C-Tronic® SUSPENSION® which automatically recognises the road characteristics and driving manners and constantly adjusts the suspension setting accordingly. This does not only result in a pleasant journey on long routes, but also guarantees that the nodding and rolling motions of the C25 are reduced to a minimum while driving fast curves. Therefore, the car reaches the perfect road holding characteristics in every situation and renders the feeling of absolute controllability.

Different than other automobiles from small series, the Carlsson C25 has not been solely made for its use at the racetrack. Nevertheless, the C25 achieves top results in acceleration and handling. Compared to the racing machines with MOT approval, the Carlsson C25 offers its driver smooth journeys on Alpine passes and also on city roads or not perfectly even surfaces.


Maximum exclusiveness is ensured by only one automobile per country

In addition to the extensive refinement, the Carlsson C25 offers the advantage that every Mercedes-Benz dealer can maintain the car. As the automobile is based on the latest Mercedes-Benz technology, it is not necessary to drive to a garage, which is specialised in the Carlsson C25. This gives the Carlsson C25 additional suitability for everyday use. Moreover, Carlsson will only deliver one automobile per country and therefore ensures absolute exclusiveness for its customers.


Carlsson creates a perfect symbiosis of design and function

The C25 emphasises this exquisite status with its self-reliant and unique design. The elongated vehicle front with the tapered lobe between the powerful shoulders craves ahead and the generously dimensioned air inlets in the typical Carlsson trapezoid form supply the engine with the necessary ventilation. The ultra-light and forged wheels 1/10 UL in the dimensions 9,5x20 and 12x20 inches have been especially designed for the C25 and are equipped with high performance tyres measuring 265/30 at the front and 325/25 at the rear live axle.

One wheel just weighs 11.2 kilograms and therefore is 40 percent lighter than custom light alloy wheels. Ventilation ducts in front and behind the wheel houses provide the Carlsson brake system with 405 millimetres large slotted race brake discs at the front and 380 millimetre race brake discs at the rear axle with cool air. With this, Carlsson achieves the perfect symbiosis between design and function. The elongated flat rear screen and the restrained tearing edge on the boot lit as well as the generously dimensioned double diffuser render the required downthrust and therefore the C25 does not need any extensible spoilers. In order to emphasise the uniqueness of the C25, Carlsson has also developed a new rear- and front lights design.


Carlsson interior optimised for the driver

The newly designed interior resembles the exterior as far as shape, colour and functionality are concerned. The characteristic trapezoid elements at the front and back are also found on the steering wheel. On the seats and the centre console the edged shape is used as well. The instruments clearly turn towards the driver, indicate the performance capability of the C25 and increase the ergonomics.

The generous use of real carbon, tanned buffalo leather and ultra-suede in special colours provides an evenly exclusive and user-friendly ambience. For driveability reasons, Carlsson deliberately refrains from race seats, race straps, rollover devices and extreme lowering.

With the C25, Carlsson confirms its reputation as being one of the most exclusive automobile manufacturers in the world. High technical competence, many years experience in automobile construction, an advanced sense for design and elegance and German art of engineering make the Carlsson C25 unique all over the world.
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Ferrari unveils new F10 for 2010 F1 season

Ferrari has unveiled its 2010 Formula 1 contender, named the F10, in a ceremony at its Maranello headquarters – with the team confident the car will prove a big step forward over last year’s model.

A couple of months ago, it looked like all the teams would get together under the auspices of the Formula One Teams Association to unveil their cars in one massive exposition concurrent with the Valencia test session, but that won't come to fruition. Several teams are expected to debut there still, while others are doing their own thing once again. And Ferrari is first among them.


Unveiled at the team's headquarters in Maranello, the new F10 is the chariot with which Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa will be contending for the championship against other top-rated challengers from Mercedes GP, McLaren and Red Bull, to say nothing of the other ten teams on the grid. The latest Prancing Horse – whose Santander-dominated red and white livery we saw a few days ago – is the product of several months of development, as the Scuderia stopped development of last year's car half-way through the season after realizing it was way off pace and concentrated on this year's car instead.


With nearly all the seats accounted for and the first group test at Valencia (scheduled for February 1) fast approaching, the time has come once again, boys and girls, for the unveiling of the 2010 F1 cars.
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Video: 2011 Porsche 911 Turbo US price

Porsche Icon Boasts 500 Horsepower, Delivers 25 mpg

ATLANTA - January 25, 2010 - Porsche Cars North America announced today that the 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo will arrive at its U.S. dealers this week and go on sale on January 30. This is only three months after the debut of the highly acclaimed Panamera, Porsche's first Gran Turismo and sports car for four.


Porsche traditionally has emphasized efficiency, but the new flagship 911 gives a new meaning to its high-performance label. While its acceleration, braking and handling capabilities make it a true super sports car, it goes about its business with a thriftiness that is equally remarkable and by no means the norm in its class. With 20 more horsepower, and a 13 percent increase in fuel economy, the new 911 Turbo is indeed more powerful and more efficient.


"We are very excited to welcome the all-new 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo into the family," said Detlev von Platen, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. "More than ever, this supercar is a technological tour de force, and the seemingly unanimous accolades from the media support what we already believe; this is the best 911 Turbo ever."


The 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo features the first entirely new engine in its storied 35-year history. The new flat-six boxer engine now delivers 500 horsepower, 20 more than the previous power plant. Maximum torque is up by 15 to 516 lb. ft. when equipped with the optional Sport Chrono Package Turbo.


All of this means that the new 911 Turbo can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds when combined with the new, highly acclaimed Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) seven-speed dual clutch transmission. Top track speed is 194 mph for both the Coupe and the Cabriolet models and its EPA estimates are a best-in-class 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway for the new Coupe when equipped with the PDK transmission.


"The Porsche 911 Turbo has always represented the pinnacle of the 911 model line since it was first introduced in 1974," said von Platen. "Now, 35 years later, the Turbo is still considered the standard when looking for the perfect combination of supercar performance with everyday drivability."


The 2010 Turbo Coupe and Turbo Cabriolet prices are $132,800 and $143,800, respectively.
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Video: MINI E Drivers Delighted with Electric Vehicle Experience

UCDavis study shows participants enjoy driving MINI E. Feedback sets stage for next phase of BMW Group Mega-City Vehicle initiative
Woodcliff Lake, NJ - January 26, 2010 12:55pm EST... The BMW Group today announced at the Washington Auto Show the first results from a comprehensive study conducted in cooperation with the University of California (UC Davis) and consumers leasing MINI E electic vehicles as part of a year-long program to acquire real world use patterns. The MINI E program is the first large population field test of current generation electric vehicles and therefore sheds a realistic light on both the opportunities and challenges from this innovative new form of mobility.


The UC Davis study results of 57 drivers, combined with updates continually provided from the log books of all 450 users show the following:

• The range of about 100 miles is sufficient for most daily needs

• Charging at home provides enough energy for most daily driving

• Demand for additional charging is centered on the place of work, or where sufficient time is spent during the day (shopping centers, stadiums, etc.)

• Driving the MINI E is a delightful experience and there is no sacrifice of "real car" values

• Unmet demands focus on having enough space for four passengers and more cargo to stimulate even more use of an electric vehicle

"There's been a lot of conjecture about electric vehicle user demands and being the first to the market with obtaining ‘real world use' patterns, we're now able to shed some accurate light on this subject," said Rich Steinberg, Manager - EV Operations and Strategy for BMW of North America. "What they shared with us is that, for the most part, the MINI E suits their daily driving needs and that they really enjoy driving it. This makes us optimistic that electric vehicles have a role in the future of mobility in America by being a part of the overall vehicle mix."


More than 1,800 people and organizations applied to be part of this ground-breaking field trial of 450 MINI Es now on the road in the US. From that, 450 were selected based on specific criteria that included the amount and type of use in which they would engage, home suitability to installation of a fast charging system and desire to be engaged in a field trial that requires continual feedback.


MINI E drivers provide ongoing feedback that has already proven invaluable to the development work being done by the BMW Group's Project i on what is called a Mega-City Vehicle - the company's innovative program to develop a volume transportation solution to the demands of the world's biggest cities in the 21st century. This vehicle is scheduled to be introduced just before the mid-point of this decade.


The self-selected group of 57 that agreed to participate in the UC Davis survey is part of a more extensive research project. Feedback from this program shows that the range of the MINI E enables drivers to use it for most daily driving needs. Reported range under normal circumstances varies between 70 - 100 miles with 45 percent reporting a typical range of 100 miles. MINI E drivers reported an average trip length of approximately 30 miles. Other studies have found that driver's in the US average about 40 miles per day1. This makes the range of the MINI E suitable for most daily driving needs.


Many households in the study have replaced the primary vehicle of one driver with the MINI E. One-third of the participants have reported driving the MINI E even more than the household vehicle it replaced. The lack of a back seat and a usable trunk, rather than range, is most often the reason the MINI E is not chosen for a particular outing.
Drivers have also reported that driving the MINI E is fun. Most adapted quickly to the characteristics of the Brake Energy Regeneration function and like the feeling of control it gives them in being able to proactively extend the range of their MINI E by how they drive. Brake Energy Regeneration captures energy ordinarily lost on deceleration and coverts it into electrical energy to recharge the batteries. All drivers in the US study said they enjoy using one pedal to accelerate and decelerate. Many reported that once they became acustomed to the BER function, they enjoyed driving their conventional vehicles less.


The study found that keeping the MINI E charged did not pose a problem. Recharging in the US requires four - five hours and, while it wasn't always necessary based on their driving needs, about half of the drivers in the study report recharging daily as a matter of routine. Additional recharging away from their home charging station by-and-large proved unnecessary.


This first field-trial has provided Project i with invaluable insight as it prepares for its second field trial with the BMW ActiveE. The electric drivetrain developed for the BMW ActiveE will be used in the BMW Group's first Mega-City Vehicle. The newly developed and more compact lithium-ion battery pack in the BMW ActiveE vehicle features liquid heating and cooling in order to provide a more consistent and predicatable driving range. Smartphone apps will enable the user to remotely check the available range of the BMW ActiveE's battery. The apps will also enable the driver to begin heating or cooling the interior of the BMW ActiveE and thus the battery while still connected to the grid. This will allow the battery to function at its optimal operating temperature without affecting the range of the car.


The field trial for the BMW ActiveE will begin in 2011. As announced at the North American International Auto Show earlier this month, lease extensions will be offered to a number of MINI E drivers who wish to continue their electric driving experience until the BMW ActiveE becomes available.until the BMW ActiveE becomes available.
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Maserati chooses the Alfa Romeo MiTo for its European service network

One hundred Alfa Romeo MiTos, produced exclusively for Maserati's service network will soon be circulating on roads throughout Europe. For Maserati, the Alfa Romeo MiTo is the perfect "Courtesy Car" for customers who clearly appreciate Italian style and unique products.

The special MiTos will be marked out by their Maserati Ocean Blue body colour, and will be equipped with the most powerful engine in the entire MiTo range - the very lively, 170 HP, 1.4 MultiAir Turbo petrol engine.


In addition to their special body colour, the MiTos will feature another two exclusive details: a ‘Limited Edition' plate on the air conditioning system and special aluminium kick plates bearing the words "Alfa Romeo for Maserati".

All one hundred cars will feature be generously equipped: Frau leather seats, automatic dual zone air conditioning, a leather steering wheel with radio and telephone controls, a map-based Radionavigation unit with maps covering the whole of Europe, the Blue&Me hands-free system with USB port, and bi-xenon headlights.


The MiTo for Maserati will also stand out due to its exceptional sporting performance. It is fitted as standard with 18 inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, a sporty rear bumper and aluminium pedal unit. They will also be fitted as standard with Dynamic Suspension, the advanced electronic control system that varies suspension configuration actively and continuously according to road conditions and driver input, ensuring lightning-quick cornering and amazing sensitivity.


Thanks to this special initiative with Alfa Romeo, Maserati's European service network will be able to offer its customers a very special car, completely in line with Maserati philosophy, according to which even the smallest detail is meticulously and attentively chosen.
via:world car fans

2010 Chevy Camaro Convertible Arrives in Middle East

We're still more than a year away from the launch of the convertible version of the new Chevy Camaro, yet a luxury car dealership in Abu Dhabi called 'Princesscar' has put on sale what they describe to be the first drop top example of GM's muscle car to arrive in the Middle East.


However, since the odds of GM having supplied the Middle Eastern dealer with the yet to be revealed in production guise Camaro SS Convertible are less than the probabilities of discovering alien life in our solar system, we'll just assume that this example was built by an independent coachbuilder like NCE or Drop Top Customs.



Source:carscoop