July 6th, 2010 by Car and SUV
Citroën is preparing to make a deeper move into the amateur rally circuit with its new DS3 R3, homologated for the FIA’s new Group R3T regulations. For those who have the money and are looking to get into rallying with a serious piece of kit, this might be the machine for them.
The French carmaker claims it’s “versatile, high performance and yet affordably-priced, DS3 R3 is set to become the new leader in its category,” about the rally-prepped DS3 that will be available in both in kit and ready-to-race versions.
The body design is almost identical to the production model, with a steel body shell reinforced by a welded, multi-point roll cage. In terms of power the DS3 R3 Rally car comes with an upgraded 1.6-litre turbocharged inline-four producing 210bhp and 350Nm of torque.
As with the Citroen’s higher-strength C4 WRC, the DS3 R3 is equipped with a six-speed sequential transmission (which marks a first for customer rally cars), the company claims the box allows for gear changes to be made twice as quickly over a traditional manual.
The suspension is variable and clever being redesigned and upgraded to make full use of the Group R regulations, allowing for a wide variety of setup options. Tubular wishbones are attached to a revised front subframe while the rear hubs are removable to allow for independent toe and camber adjustments. Rally-spec alloy wheels and an upgraded braking system are also part of the package.
July 6th, 2010 by Car and SUV
Mercedes has filmed and released a video of David Coulthard taking a spin in the new SLS AMG E-Cell electric vehicle.
The now retired Formula One driver seems genuinely surprised by the acceleration, calling it “instant, but smooth” and “way, way more than I expected.” The car certainly moves alright and handles a slalom impressively – thanks to its low center of gravity.
The E-Cell has a lithium-ion battery pack which provides power to four electric motors. Together the motors produce a combined 392 kW (526 bhp) and 880 Nm, enabling the SLS AMG E-Cell to accelerate from 0-100 kph in just 4.0 seconds.
Check out the video below it’s worth a look. Read the full story »
July 6th, 2010 by Car and SUV
Extreme Fitness BMW parking failure. Must be the worst parking job ever!
July 5th, 2010 by Car and SUV
The Nissan Juke, baby brother to the Qashqai and Murano, is on the verge of launching in Europe and could be making its way here to NZ.
It follows in the wheeltracks of Murano and the successful Qashqai & Qashqai+2. Like its bigger brothers, Juke is a distinctive combination of SUV and sporty style. Conceived to inject some masculinity and dynamism into the small car market.
“It takes the best elements of an SUV and sports car and combines them,” says Vincent Wijnen, Nissan’s European Vice President for Marketing. “It’s roomy yet compact, robust yet dynamic and practical yet playful.”
From a design standpoint, the lower portion of Juke is SUV. It combines chunky 17-inch wheels, wide tyres, extended ground clearance and a robust stance with a top portion that’s high waisted, 
has slim visor-like side glass graphics and a coupé-style falling roofline. The coupé effect is further underlined by the rear doors which have their handles hidden in the frame of the door.
Juke was created at the London-based Nissan Design Europe (NDE) and refined at Nissan’s Design Centre (NDC) in Japan. Its unique shape was first seen in the Qazana show car shown at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, its lines are carried over virtually intact from the Qazana.
In terms of handling the Juke’s compact dimensions and wide track means it has competent handling characteristics along and enhanced levels of refinement. Juke is based on the Renault-Nissan Alliance B-Platform, which has been updated for this application.
Read the full story »
July 5th, 2010 by Car and SUV
Production of the current model Bugatti Veyron is shifting into its final stages, but the Veyron is far from fading away. Buggatti has created what is likely to be the ultimate version of its world-beating hypercar – the Super Sports. Bugatti took the first Super Sports and its official test driver Pierre Henri Raphanel and went to Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessian high-speed oval to see just what it could do. With representatives of the Guinness book of records and German Technical Inspection Agency (TÜV) in attendance, Raphanel completed passes around the big oval in both directions.
With output boosted up from a lowly 1,001 horsepower to 1,200 horsepower, torque increased to 1,106 pound-feet and a reworked and improved aerodynamic kit, the Super Sports completed two high speed runs for an average break-neck speed of 431.07 km/h and a new world record for a production car.
The first five production Super Sports will be finished the same black and orange finish as the record car and all production models will be electronically limited to only 415 km/h to protect the tyres and the wealthy fat cats behind the wheel. The Veyron Super Sports will have its debut at the Pebble Beach in August.
Check out some images of the mean machine in the gallery below. Read the full story »
July 5th, 2010 by Car and SUV
It’s the end of the line for one of the most iconic modern American sports cars as the very last current-generation Dodge Viper rolled away from the firm’s Conner Avenue plant in Detroit.
The final 2010 Dodge Viper is a bit special too, being a fully customized coupe model for Viper-crazy-lady D’Ann Rauh, who along with her husband Wayne from Arp, Texas, own more than 40 Dodge Vipers. That’s a lot of Vipers and the couple officially own the largest personal collection of Vipers in the world.
The landmark Viper is finished in a custom bronzed gold exterior paint supplied by House of Kolor, while unique interior features include various leather appointments and unique trim. The one of a kind package is finished off by dark graphite five-spoke forged-aluminum wheels.
Production of the V10-powered Dodge Viper began back in 1992. A next generation model has been rumored but is still to be officially confirmed.
To see a news item video of the final Viper rolling out click on the link below. Read the full story »
July 5th, 2010 by Car and SUV
Shell Helix Ultra Transparent Car
July 2nd, 2010 by Car and SUV
Take a quick look at a cars for sale section in any magazine or website and in the description of many small hatchbacks you’ll find the phrase ‘peppy’. But what does it really mean to be peppy? The dictionary would have you believe that peppy means “full of or characterized by energy and high spirits” and that’s probably correct but to save on words it could just have a photo of the new VW Polo TSI. What makes the second Polo variant available in NZ so lively is a new engine that’s low on 
displacement but very high on pep. Car and SUV took a closer look at the little Polo to solve the riddle of how less can really be more.
When the new Mk V Polo first touched down in NZ it was sold exclusively with a 1.4-litre 63kW engine, now it’s being offered with an all-new 1.2-litre unit. The new engine carries a $3k premium over the larger 1.4 motor but it’s money well spent because it must be the peppiest 4-cylinder in town. Using turbocharging to produce 77kW of power and a healthy 175Nm of torque the new engine is responsive and engaging. It suffers very little turbo lag and offers maximum torque from low in the rev range (1500 to 3500rpm) so it doesn’t need to be pushed hard. The TSI Polo will dash to 100kph in well under 10 seconds and has the mid-range punch to match much larger engines. But Grandmothers shouldn’t be scared off, the engine is well mannered at slower speeds and is never fierce on boost. With the pint-size engine and lightweight body the Polo also returns an impressive fuel economy of just 5.3l/100km combined.
With no manual option available in NZ the Polo TSI is fitted exclusively with a 7-speed DSG gearbox. It’s a modern piece of kit that changes seamlessly and gives a high-tech edge to the overall driving experience. Having seven ratios gives the smart gearbox a flexibility to either work through them rapidly keeping the Polo in its peak power band or focus on economy and get into a higher gear early. There is a sports mode available that keeps the engine in a lower gear and changes up later. There is 
also a sequential changing option on the gearshift for manual changes but steering wheel paddles are not available, even as optional equipment.
Read the full story »
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