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2013 Toyota Prius C Unveiled: Compact 52-MPG-Plus Hybrid Hatchback

Автор: Car and life воскресенье, 27 ноября 2011 г.  at 00:18
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2013 Toyota Prius C, as shown at 2011 Tokyo Motor Show

Toyota is doubling down on its best-known model for gas mileage, the Prius hybrid.
It's already added two models to sit beside the 2012 Prius five-door hatchback, and now, the last new addition to the Prius lineup has been revealed.
The 2013 Toyota Prius C, the first compact Prius since the original 2000-2003 model, was unveiled today at the Tokyo Motor Show. It will make its formal U.S. debut at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show in January.
Toyota variously calls the Prius C a compact and a subcompact, though with continuous "bracket creep" as smaller cars get larger, its dimensions appear to split the difference.
The production version of the Prius C is quite different from the two concept cars that previewed it, but it's still recognizably a Prius hybrid.
52 mpg city ... or more
And Toyota says the Prius C will offer "the highest city mpg of any non-plug-in vehicle," which means higher than the mid-size Prius Liftback's EPA rating of 51 mpg.
The 2013 Toyota Prius C is meant to offer an entry-level Prius model for younger drivers, so its price should be lower than the current Prius II hatchback's sticker of $23,520 (plus destination). It's also aimed at buyers seeking sportier handling and driving dynamics.
Compared to the current mid-size 2012 Toyota Prius, it's 19 inches shorter, 2 inches narrower, almost 2 inches lower, and has a wheelbase nearly 6 inches shorter.
It's powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, coupled to the Hybrid Synergy Drive system with two electric motor-generators and a planetary gearset, which effectively gives it an electric continuously variable transmission (eCVT) for maximum efficiency. Toyota did not release power outputs.
Among the battery pack, eCVT transmission, and power electronics, the Prius C's hybrid system weighs almost 90 pounds less than the one in the larger Prius hatchback. Toyota did not specify whether it uses a lithium-ion or nickel-metal-hydride battery pack.
2013 Toyota Prius C, as shown at 2011 Tokyo Motor Show2013 Toyota Prius C, as shown at 2011 Tokyo Motor Show
The 2013 Prius C will feature lots of convenience features and in particular, Toyota says, premium electronics and infotainment systems.
Standard fittings include Bluetooth hands-free connectivity for mobile phones and music players, audio controls on the steering wheel, and nine airbags. It will offer Sirius XM satellite radio, voice recognition, streaming music, and both text-to-voice and voice-to-text abilities.
Entune too
There's also the new Toyota Entune multimedia system, which integrates entertainment, navigation, and information services that include live traffic data, weather reports, gasoline price and location, sports updates, and stock prices.
Drivers and passengers can use Toyota-approved apps, including Bing, OpenTable, and MovieTickets.com. Entune also includes access to Pandora and other streaming radio services,
The total feature set creates, according to its press release, a "less compromised compact-car experience"--though we're not sure what that says about the current Toyota Corolla.
Japanese model: "94 mpg"
In Japan, the Toyota Prius C will be known as the 'Aqua' rather than a Prius model. It is also said to achieve 94 mpg on the very different Japanese test cycle, but we'll wait for EPA ratings on the U.S. version before we draw any conclusions about its gas mileage in real-world usage here.
The car's lines were first leaked about a month ago, when a brochure for the Prius Aqua appeared on Japanese websites.
Toyota has shown two separate concepts for what became the production Prius C: The most recent was the Prius C concept shown at last January's Detroit Auto Show, which refined styling and packaging ideas that were first shown the year before in the FT-Ch concept from January 2010.
The 2013 Toyota Prius C is expected to go on sale during 2012. Toyota has not yet released any pricing information or trim levels.

Maybach is dead - Zetsche to close Merc's upmarket division

Автор: Car and life   at 00:13
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Daimler is to announce the closure of Maybach, marking the failure of its upmarket division resurrected to battle BMW's Rolls-Royce and VW's Bentley subsidiaries.
Chief exec Dieter Zetsche will tomorrow (Saturday 26 November) announce he's lost patience with Maybach in an interview with a weekend newspaper in Germany. No more Maybachs will be developed and stocks will deplete by later in 2012.

So Maybach's not been a success?

Far from it. Daimler has sold just 180 Maybachs year to date worldwide in 2011. The brand never took off in the way Mercedes hoped. Maybach sales never rose anywhere four figures.
As revealed by CAR, Daimler had talked to Britain's Aston Martin over possible collaborations to co-sponsor a next generation of Maybachs beyond today's 57 and 62.
But those talks came to nought. From this weekend, Maybach will officially be dead. The numbers simply didn't stack up to warrant investment in a new platform.

What next for posh Mercedes?

Sounds like Merc will develop a new suite of top-end models spun from the next S-class range. Our European editor Georg Kacher reports that Merc plans the following models:
. A LWB S-class
. An XLWB S-class aimed at US/China
. A hyper-smart Pullman rebodied S-class . New CL coupe . New CL four-seater convertible
Mid-cycle, it also plans a four-door coupe based on the S-class architecture, but this wouldn't land until 2016.

Georg Kacher on Maybach's failure

CAR's seasoned industry watcher said Maybach never stood a chance against the better known Rolls-Royce and Bentley brands.
'Maybach is by far the weakest brand in that segment and the 57 and 62 reflected Mercedes' design weaknesses at the time,' he said. 'They might have been aimed at Asia, but what about the rest of the world?
'They also used S-class underpinnings at least a generation out of date. It's no wonder they didn't sell - the modern Maybachs were never special enough.'
A spokeswoman at Merc declined to comment ahead of tomorrow's announcement.

Chevrolet Corvette Review

Автор: Car and life   at 21:22
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Often referred to as America's only true sports car, the Chevrolet Corvette is one of the world's best known and longest-running nameplates. Oddly, it had a rather humble beginning, starting life back in 1953 with a straight-6 engine and a two-speed automatic transmission. The first few years saw the fiberglass-bodied two-seater from Chevrolet earn praise for its handling but criticism for its relatively tame performance. (At the time, it was soundly outgunned by a variety of European sports cars in terms of performance.)




2008 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible

Thankfully, a V8 engine option debuted in 1955, and by the late '50s, the Chevy Corvette could hit 60 mph in less than 6 seconds. The intervening decades have seen the Corvette pass through multiple generations. Each decade has brought its own Corvette theme, including the muscle-bound '60s, the highly stylized '70s and the electronically aided '80s. More recently, the Corvette has improved enough in the refinement department that many finally consider it worthy to compete against the world's best.

Highlights of the Corvette's timeline include the '57 Fuelie (the nickname for the optional fuel-injected 283 V8), the '63 Sting Ray split-window coupe, the '65-'67 big blocks (427-cubic-inch V8s), the high-revving LT-1s of the early '70s, the ultra-high-performance ZR-1s of the early '90s and the fast yet user-friendly C5s (fifth generation) of the late '90s. Of course today's Corvette, an outright bargain when compared to sports cars from Europe, should be acknowledged as well. The current Corvette offers the performance of an all-out exotic at a third to a quarter of the price.

Current Chevrolet Corvette

Debuting in 2005, the current Chevrolet Corvette (known as the C6) is by far the best yet. As with past Vettes, a coupe and convertible are offered. Performance is exceptional, with the 0-60-mph sprint taking less than 5 seconds, the quarter-mile taking less than 13 and top speed in excess of 180 mph. That's for the standard Corvette. The Z06 version is even more thrilling, hitting 60 in the low 4s, the quarter in the low 12s and running on up to a top end approaching 200 mph. The standard Corvette comes with a 6.0-liter, 400-horsepower V8 coupled to either a six-speed manual or optional six-speed automatic. The Z06 comes with a 7.0-liter V8 with 505 hp mated to a six-speed manual.

The newest Chevrolet Corvette is equally impressive in terms of its improved build quality and increased daily driver usability. The cockpit boasts friendly ergonomics, supportive seats and excellent fit and finish. As before, the car's hatchback body style provides massive cargo capacity, which stands at 22 cubic feet in the coupe. A choice of three suspensions (standard, optional Magnetic Ride Control with Sport and Touring modes and track-ready Z51) for the regular Corvette mean there's a setup for everyone, from casual enthusiasts to hard-core apex clippers -- and all provide a fairly smooth ride. The Z06, in spite of its immense capabilities, is still docile enough to handle the daily commute without making the driver grit his teeth every time he faces stop-and-go traffic or a rough section of pavement.

In reviews from our editors and posted consumer commentary, the C6 garnered high marks and universal praise for its combination of strong performance, razor-sharp handling, comfortable ride, eye-catching style, affordability and relatively impressive fuel economy. Complaints were minor in comparison, centering on the manual transmission's clunky gearchanges, along with the cabin's mediocre cupholder and storage provisions, ho-hum interior materials and underwhelming Bose audio system.






Past Chevrolet Corvette Models

The previous Corvette (the C5) was built from 1997-2004 and marked the Corvette's transition from a capable but flawed (in terms of comfort and ergonomics) to world-class sports car. Easier to get in and out of than the C4, the C5 also boasted a new chassis that had nearly 50/50 weight distribution between the front and rear axles, a more compliant suspension, a much roomier cockpit with more supportive seats and a new "LS1" 5.7-liter V8 that made 345 hp. The transmission choices were a six-speed manual and four-speed automatic.

With a 0-60-mph time of fewer than 5 seconds and a top speed of around 175, there wasn't much that could touch this Vette short of a few big-dollar exotics from Europe. That first year saw just the hatchback body, whose styling drew barbs for its rather large hindquarters. But the benefit of the big butt was more than 20 cubic feet of cargo capacity under the rear hatch. A convertible joined the lineup for '98 and the following year brought a fixed-roof coupe. For 2001, the mighty Z06, a reincarnation of an earlier "Z06" performance package from the '60s, debuted, bringing 385 hp to an already impressive chassis. As if that weren't enough, the Z06 gained 20 hp the very next year.

Enthusiasts looking for a sports car they can live with day in and day out would be well advised to seriously consider a Chevy Corvette from this generation. Pros and cons are mostly similar to the current generation, and although the C5 has been criticized for spotty build quality, this Corvette still offers the most bang for the buck in the used sports car marketplace.

The fourth-generation Chevrolet Corvette, or C4, is the other model that non car-collectors will likely be interested in. It was available for the 1984-'96 model years. The flamboyant style of the previous generation was replaced with a leaner look, and a racetrack-ready suspension featuring lightweight alloy components debuted as well. First-year cars should be avoided, as the 5.7-liter V8 made just 205 hp with its troublesome "Crossfire Injection" setup, while the suspension was much too stiff for daily driver duty. Subsequent years saw the debut of a convertible, more power and suspension refinements. By 1990, the Corvette was a well-sorted sports car with precise handling and respectable performance from its 250-hp engine. That year also saw the debut of the ZR-1 supercar, which could run the quarter-mile in the low 13s and hit a top speed of around 175 mph, thanks to its 375-hp, 5.7-liter V8. For '92, the standard Corvette gained more power via the 300-hp LT1 V8. The ZR-1's output shot up to 405 hp for '93. The last year of this Corvette's generation saw the availability of a 330-hp version of the LT1 V8.

Although the C4 is regarded as desirable in terms of performance for the price, its awkward ingress/egress, cramped cockpit and stiff ride make it a weekend toy for all but the most ardent enthusiasts.

Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Pro-Am Title Battle Goes To The Wire As Season Concludes

Автор: Car and life   at 21:12
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The 2011 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Pro-Am Drivers’ title battle went to the last race of the 18-round season, illustrating the competitiveness of the one-make series. After the final chequered flag it was Switzerland’s Cédric Leimer taking the Pro Am title in Barcelona, Spain, on 30 October 2011, joining Autocarrozzeria Imperiale S.R.L. on the podium to take the teams’ title.

Talented gentleman driver C. Leimer went into the weekend as one of three title contenders, with Italy’s Matteo Zucchi and Austria’s Gerhard Tweraser also in contention, but a win and two second-place finishes saw C. Leimer crowned champion. 

Joining the season’s awards ceremony was Italian Fabio Babini, who secured the 2011 Pro Drivers’ title during the penultimate race weekend in Hockenheim. 

New faces for the finale included the FIA GT3 European Championship’s Bernard Delhez and Dimitri Enjalbert, who claimed victory in race one to start their Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo experience in style, as well as France’s Auto Hebdo journalist Romain Bernard, who earned a podium finish in race two alongside chief Lamborghini test driver Giorgio Sanna.

Former Indy Lights racer Carmen Jorda and Italian Superstars Series’ Francesca Linossi, joined the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo in Spain with the latter earning crucial points to confirm Autocarrozzeria Imperiale S.R.L. as Teams’ Champion.

“I’m very happy to be Pro-Am Champion,” said C. Leimer. “I’m really surprised to have won the title; at the beginning of the weekend I was hoping to finish second or third.

“I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet that I am the champion. I want to thank everyone at Autovitesse Garage R. Affolter for their support this season.”

Qualifying
Reiter’s Dutch duo of Peter Kox and Nico Pronk sealed pole position in qualifying, posting a fastest lap time of 1:52.789, while Zucchi boosted his chances of securing the Pro-Am title by taking second on the grid with Babini.

Round 16
The debutant pairing of Enjalbert and Delhez stunned the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo grid by taking victory in their first race with the series. Starting from sixth, Delhez climbed up to third by the beginning of the pit window.

Enjalbert assumed control and proceeed to move up to second behind C. Leimer, who led the race despite taking an early drive-through penalty. The French racer then overtook his Swiss counterpart two laps from the end of the race for victory, with pole-sitters Kox and Pronk taking third.

“It was a fantastic result, especially considering we haven’t raced together for about six months,” said Enjalbert. “Both Bernard and I love Lamborghini cars, so to have come here and won is a fantastic feeling.”

Round 17
In a spectacularly close finish, Autovitesse Garage R. Affolter’s C. Leimer secured race two victory by just 0.064s to overhaul Zucchi at the top of the Pro-Am Standings after the Italian retired due to damage sustained after contact with Simone Iacone in the #20.
The Swiss racer clinched the win from Gerhard Tweraser, bravely fending off the Austrian racer in the closing stages, while Sanna took third alongside Bernard.

“Wow, what a race!” exclaimed C. Leimer. “I could see the #22 go back to the paddock and I feel sorry for Zucchi as I had the same problem at Spa. But that’s racing!”

Round 18
Tweraser made up for the disappointment of missing out on title glory by winning the final race of the season. The Austrian overtook pole-sitter C. Leimer on lap eight, before his co-pilot Filip Sladecka took to the track.

Slovakian Sladecka went from strength to strength, holding off C. Leimer, who won the title courtesy of finishing ahead of third-placed pairing Zucchi and Babini.

“Unfortunately this victory is just a little bit too late,” said Tweraser. “We did what we could but our performance in race one cost us the championship, however I’m delighted to have fought for a title in my first season of sports car racing.”

The Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo will return in 2012 and 2013, with a sister series launching in Asia next year.

Ferrari 458 Spider wins "Best Cabrio 2011" in Auto Zeitung

Автор: Car and life   at 06:54
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Ferrari 458 Spider wins "Best Cabrio 2011" in Auto Zeitung

Maranello, 23 November 2011. The Ferrari 458 Spider has been awarded the title of “Best Imported Cabrio 2011” by the leading German magazine Auto Zeitung. 

The 458 Spider was selected ahead of a number of other international sports car models in the annual readers’ poll conducted by the magazine and the prestigious prize was handed over during the award ceremony held today in Düsseldorf. 

This is the second international award to have been won by the 458 Spider since its launch at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2011 and continues the critical acclaim for the 458 model that has already received over 35 awards in its short career.

BMW Z4 Review

Автор: Car and life   at 06:52
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The BMW Z4 is one of the more intriguing sports cars currently available. It's known for its engaging handling and steering, thrilling inline six-cylinder engine and distinctive styling. Although its stated horsepower ratings are equaled or surpassed by those of some less expensive machinery, the Z4 counters with a lighter curb weight and, in most cases, a more rewarding driving experience. Recent improvements have made the latest Z4 the best yet, and older models are still a very viable choice for a used sports car.




The BMW Z4 is built at the company's Spartanburg, South Carolina, facility, and has been in production since the 2003 model year. It's a successor to the original Z3 and is the company's only two-seat sports car. It features traditional characteristics such as a front-engine/rear-drive layout, a hunkered-down stance, a long hood and rearward positioning of driver and passenger. Another notable element is the car's chiseled exterior design, which BMW says is used to add tension to the car's shape.

The BMW Z4 is available as a roadster with a convertible top or a fixed-roof coupe. For the roadster, there are two trim levels: 3.0i and 3.0si. The Z4 3.0i comes with features such as 17-inch wheels, stability control, antilock brakes, power mirrors and windows, manually operated seats and vinyl upholstery. A 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine rated at 215 horsepower is standard, as is a six-speed manual transmission. A six-speed automatic is optional.

The Z4 3.0si features 18-inch wheels, a few upgraded interior features and a 255-hp 3.0-liter inline six. A few options are also available for both trim levels, including a Premium package with a power-operated top and a Sport package designed to improve the vehicle's handling capabilities. The Z4 Coupe is offered in the 3.0si trim only.

Even without the Sport package, the Z4 rewards drivers with an engaging driving experience. In Edmunds.com reviews of the BMW Z4, editors have praised the car's sharp reflexes and quick acceleration. The Coupe possesses a slight advantage in terms of handling due to its added body rigidity. For shoppers desiring even more performance, there's also an M-powered version of the Z4.

Because of a major update for 2006, Z4 models from this year and onwards are a better choice than earlier models, if price is no object. This update included the mid-year release of the coupe body style, the 215-hp and 255-hp engines, and the six-speed automatic. Other changes to the BMW sports car included a retuned standard suspension for better ride quality, a higher final-drive ratio for improved acceleration, new wheel designs, additional braking functionality for the stability control system, updated front and rear styling and minor interior trim updates.

From 2003-'05, BMW Z4 models were identified as either 2.5i or 3.0i. The 2.5i has a 2.5-liter, inline six-cylinder engine that makes 184 hp, while the 3.0i uses a 3.0-liter straight six that generates 225 hp. For transmissions, there is a five-speed manual (standard on the 2.5), a six-speed manual (standard on the 3.0), a five-speed automatic or, as on the M3, a six-speed Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG). There were a few minor changes made during this period in terms of feature content, but none of them were significant enough to make one model year more desirable than another.

Geneva debut of the uniquely powerful and versatile FF, Ferrari's first four-seater, four-wheel drive car

Автор: Car and life   at 06:44
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Geneva debut of the uniquely powerful and versatile FF, Ferrari's first four-seater, four-wheel drive car

Another record for the multi-award-winning 458 Italia: Best-in-class emissions of just 275 g/km 

Geneva, March 1st – The 81st Geneva International Motor Show will play host to the unveiling of two major new Prancing Horse innovations: the revolutionary FF, a four-wheel drive four-seater with a mid-front V12 that is the most powerful and versatile car Ferrari has ever built, and the 458 Italia sporting the HELE (High Emotions Low Emissions) System which cuts CO2 to just 275 g/km.

This new emissions figure represents a reduction of 15 per cent and is another remarkable achievement for the 458 Italia which has already received over 20 awards from the world’s most prestigious car magazines. The 458 Italia now boasts the lowest emissions of any sports car in its class on the market. 

The FF also makes its eagerly-waited debut at Geneva after the huge build-up of expectation and interest created by the client premiere at Maranello broadcast online by www.ferrari.com. 

The revolutionary FF offers a completely new take on the sporting Grand Tourer theme. It is not only the first Ferrari with four-wheel drive, but, more significantly, a model that hails a major break with the past, effortlessly melding extreme sports car performance with the versatility and usability of a genuine GT and boasting an extremely innovative design.

Every single area of the FF brims with innovation, not least its engine, the first GDI V12 to be coupled with the seven-speed F1 dual-clutch gearbox. The V12 unleashes a massive 660 CV at 8,000 rpm, and maximum torque of 683 Nm at 6,000 rpm with 500 Nm already available at just 1,000 rpm. This ensures the performance figures of an extreme sports car, with the 0-100 km/h sprint covered in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 335 km/h. Efficiency has been significantly boosted too, with fuel consumption now standing at just 15.4 litres per 100 km, and CO2 emissions at 360 g/km, a 25 per cent reduction compared to the previous V12s, thanks in part to the HELE (High Emotions- Low Emissions) System which incorporates Stop&Start technology.

Uniquely, the FF also guarantees this exceptional performance on terrain with very low grip coefficients, thanks to Ferrari’s own patented 4RM four-wheel drive system. Torque is still delivered by the rear wheels, but the PTU (Power Transfer Unit) ensures that as much as is required is also transferred to the front wheels when necessary on low grip surfaces. The FF intelligently distributes torque to each of the four wheels individually, thanks to the fact that all of the dynamic vehicle controls (E-Diff, F1-Trac and PTU) have been integrated into a single CPU.

Exceptional sporty driving is guaranteed by the FF’s transaxle architecture (mid-front engine with gearbox over the rear axle) and the positioning of 53% of weight to the rear of the car. Meticulous attention has been taken in lightening the engine (new castings), bodyshell (new aluminium alloys and production processes) and a host of other components. The interior has also been optimised through the use of high-tech materials such as magnesium for the seats. Third generation Brembo carbon-ceramic brakes are now lighter and longer-lasting, with virtually negligible wear during normal use on the road. All of these innovations have combined to produce an absolutely exceptional weight-power ratio of 2.7 kg/CV, a new benchmark for this kind of car.

Styled by Pininfarina, the FF’s lines effortlessly reflect its signature uncompromising balance of sportiness and versatility. It can comfortably accommodate four in its bodyhugging seats and spacious cabin. Its 450 litre boot can also be extended to 800 litres as the rear seats fold down independently. This means that the FF offers more luggage space not only than any other car in its category, but also many four-door saloons, too.

Everything aboard the FF is tailored specifically to the needs and tastes of its driver with a choice of six exclusive colours and the finest Frau aniline leathers specially treated to enhance their natural softness. The FF’s exceptional specification enhances in-car enjoyment for all four occupants. Features include a new rear-seat infotainment system with two screens for watching TV and DVD and a 1,280 Watt, 16-channel stereo system with Quantumlogic Surround Sound.

The three FFs on the stand are joined by a 458 Italia, the 599 GTB Fiorano with the sporting HGTE package, and a Ferrari California in an elegant Blu Tour De France finish. The Ferrari California is enjoying incredible sales success and is also the model subject to the widest range of personalisation requests in Ferrari’s line-up. The V8- engined convertible is, in fact, very popular in the special two-tone and three-layer paint option finishes, with additional original interior combinations of materials, colours and trim solutions. The extraordinary success of the Ferrari California testifies to its enduring and sophisticated appeal.
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