Following the official pictures and details of the all-new 2013 BMW M6, here’s some more pics of this unbelievably handsome car for your viewing pleasure.

Before you start drooling all over it, however, let’s have a quick recap of what this car is all about. The new M6 is very good-looking, we’ve already said that a thousand times, but it’s also got substance.

The car is powered by a 4.4 liter bi-turbo v8, which in spite of its massive 560hp and maximum torque of 500 lb-ft (680 Nm), manages to average just below 10 liter/100 km in terms of fuel economy. That’s very impressive, especially when the car can do 0 to 100km/h in 4.2 seconds for the coupe and 4.3 seconds for the convertible.

The new M6 is also fitted with all kind of electronic and mechanical high-tech stuff to help you get the best of its power. It comes with a especially calibrated M seven-speed DSG transmission, and  the latest DSC system, plus an active M differential at the back.

All in all, a very perfect Grand tourer.

Before giving it a major overhaul, Lexus is preparing a substantial facelift for its RX luxury SUV.

And now thanks to some leaked Japanese brochure we can have an early look at what they’ve planned for it, in both normal and F Sport guises.

As you can clearly see in the pictures, the main feature of the new RX is the addition of the spindle grille, taken straight from the new GS. That is the look of all new Lexus models, of course, and it does give the SUV a fresh new look. It looks especially fine on the F sport version seen in black in the picture below.

The rest of the car, including the interior, does not seem to have changed much. But let’s wait for Lexus’ official words on that.

via: Lexusenthusiast

BMW is stepping up its downsizing game by putting a three-cylinder engine in the 3-series saloon.

Next couple of years is when you can expect to see a 3-cylinder 3er on the market, according to BMW’s head of engine development, Peter Nefischer. That’s the best they can do to keep the internal combustion engine without sullying it with hybrids and stuff.

At this point you might be thinking such car won’t move, but the 3-Cylinder engine BMW is proposing for the 3-series will come with all sort of features like turbochargers and fancy injectors to deliver satisfying performance. Otherwise, no body would fall for it just because it burns less fuel.

It’s unlikely for this model to get a hybrid system to help it, as BMW is reserving its hybrd technologies for six-cylinder petrol models.

via: Whatcar

]]> http://www.motorward.com/2012/02/bmw-3-series-to-get-3-cylinder-engine/feed/ 0 http://www.motorward.com/2012/02/kia-kh-flagship-sedan-sketches-released/ http://www.motorward.com/2012/02/kia-kh-flagship-sedan-sketches-released/#comments Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:41:32 +0000 Arman Barari http://www.motorward.com/?p=31172

Kia released the official sketches of its all-new flagship sedan, codenamed the KH, ahead of its launch in Korea later this year.

The KH is a luxury, rear-wheel-drive saloon, kind of like a Korean BMW 7 Series. On the face of it, it appears to cover all the bases as a proper luxury sedan, even though it’s design is not what you call European.

But then that’s understandable, because as of yet there’s no plan to launch it outside Korea. ItT is designed for the Korean domestic market and will go on sale in the first quarter of 2012. Still, the fact that Kia deiced to make a big, rear-drive saloon is great.

Features of the car’s design include large headlights with Kia’s signature grille dominating the front-end, large alloys, and a distinguished rear-end with chrome detailing. It also has a simple side character line to give a feeling of spaciousness while emphasizing the new model’s bold and dynamic image.

Soon-Nam Lee, Kia’s Director of the Overseas Marketing Group, says, “Our all-new flagship sedan integrates all of our key capabilities such as design, performance, high-tech features and infotainment into one striking model. “Although launch timings for overseas markets are yet to be confirmed, this all-new rear-wheel drive large sedan will definitely become the leading model of our line-up around the world, showcasing the best of the best of Kia.”

Rumors of the Bentley SUV are getting a bit old to be honest, but it seems the top brass has finally made up its mind.

Reports are strongly suggesting that Bentley’s long-awaited sport utility will be unveiled, at least in concept form, at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March. They are even suggesting ‘John o’ Groats’ as the name of the car. Bentley, apparently, has decided to name its cars after places in Britain.

As for the details, well they are scarce at the moment. But you can be sure it is based on the Audi Q7′s platform and will have the same sort of off-road capability. It will also get same W12 engine as the Continental – to have a distinguishing feature over the competition – and will probably get the new V8 as well when it’s set for market launch.

With the Maserati Kubang and Lamborghini SUV in the picture, it’s time for Bentley to hustle and out with it, if they’re going to make the car or not.

via: Autoweek

Opel is treating is European customers with a special “Kaleidoscope” edition of the Corsa hatchback.

Available for both three or five-door Corsa models, this package consists of visual upgrades and extra equipments.

Visually, it gets two upmarket metallic exterior colors: pepperdust and technical grey, plus a glossy black roof, black mirror housings and a black grille bracket. these little details add up to give this version of Corsa a distinctive look.

The Kaleidoscope theme is best seen inside the cabin, where you get silver or aztek gold stitching for the upholstery, and Top Tec material coating which makes the seats easy to clean and maintain. Other features include colored air vent rings with matching door inserts in either curry or matt chrome give bold accents to the interior as well as a new stealth-black colored center console and denim fabric inside the door panels.

As for the equipments, the 15,425 euro Opel Corsa Kaleidoscope is fitted as standard with:

• Aluminum accelerator pedal
• 17” alloy wheels
• Solar Protect tinted heat protection glazing
• Leather steering wheel
• Chrome exhaust pipes
• Stereo-CD-Radio with aux input and steering wheel remote control

]]> http://www.motorward.com/2012/02/opel-corsa-kaleidoscope-special-edition/feed/ 0 http://www.motorward.com/2012/02/abt-geneva-motor-show-lineup-announced/ http://www.motorward.com/2012/02/abt-geneva-motor-show-lineup-announced/#comments Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:51:13 +0000 Arman Barari http://www.motorward.com/?p=31162

ABT, German tuner of VW Group vehicles, announced its Geneva-bound lineup of cars, and it includes cars from Audi and Volkswagen.

The VWs ABT is bringing to Geneva include the new 2012 Beetle, which judging by the teaser image comes with a rather thorough package consisting of carbon fiber accents and red garnish all over it. They will also introduce new 20-inch wheels and performance upgrades for the 2.0 liter TFSI model.

Then there’s the new VW up! which has been given a treatment. We;re quite keen to see what they’ve come up with for the little up! It must have been tricky, given the size of the car.

Highlights of the Audi lineup include packages for the Q3 and A6. Apart from the usual visual upgrades that are sure to come, these cars will each get a decent bump in power as well. The Q3′s 2.0 liter TSI engine will pack a 270hp punch, while the A6′s meaty turbodiesel V6 will get a boost to 360hp.

More details closer to 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

The new episode of Mercedes AMG series chronicling the production of Mercedes SLS GT3 race car takes us inside the car, literally, and show us the process of fitting the seat to the driver’s specifications.

That might sound like a mundane thing to you, but it is one of the most crucial parts of developing a good race car. The driving position is hugely important, but more than that they have to make sure the driver can get in and out of the car easily and quickly, what with that thick roll bar in the way.

That makes the difference between winning and losing in an endurance race.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3. The racing version of the SLS AMG has been conceived as a customer sport vehicle for participation in race series based on FIA GT3 regulations. Meticulous lightweight construction and optimized chassis, brakes and aerodynamics deliver uncompromising dynamics. It is a very well engineered car, which is why it cost roughly 400,000 Euro.

As defined in the FIA GT3 regulations, the AMG 6.3 liter V8 engine is virtually identical to that of the series production vehicle. Thanks to its low weight, the acceleration figures for the GT3 – 3.7 seconds for the sprint from 0 to 60 mph – are considerably below the already excellent figures for the series production vehicle. Depending on gear ratio, the top speed is more than 186 mph.

BMW decided to reveal the new M6 coupe and cabrio over the weekend, so it’d have all the media’s attention to itself.

Set for debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, the new 2013 BMW M6 is such a stunner. Based on the current 6 Series, which is one of the best looking coupes in the market, the M6 gets the usual M treatment of added power and style, but you have to say, it is the most tastefully done M car possibly ever.

It is a very perfect car and really hard to fault. The new M6 makes Mercedes job harder with the new SL63 AMG. It has to be something unbelievably good to match this M6, and even if it is, we’re not sure it’ll look just as good as the Bimmer.

In both coupe and convertible form, the new M6 boasts a magnificent design which is the result of some subtle, yet effective, changes over the normal models.

They include three-section, strikingly modelled lower air intake with aerodynamically optimised flaps; new M kidney grille with black double slats; flared wheel arches; hallmark M gills with integrated direction indicator bars; aerodynamically optimised exterior mirrors and side skirts; BMW Individual High-gloss Shadow Line; exposed reflectors below the rear lights; aerodynamically optimised rear apron with diffuser between the right and left-hand pair of twin exhaust tailpipes; 19-inch (standard) or   20-inch (optional) forged M light-alloy wheels, each with a distinctive interpretation of the familiar M double-spoke design.

The design manages to be elegant and sporty, and that’s a hard trick to pull.

We also love what they’ve done to the interior. It is still very BMWish with lots of button and a rather unfathomable iDrive system, but the new steering wheel that harks back to the old Bimmers, and the carbon fiber package, make it such a nice place to be in.

Other features of the M6 cabin includes: M gear selector and car set-up controls on the model-specific centre console; exclusive M sports seats with integrated belt system (optional: M multifunction seats); Merino leather upholstery with extended features; exclusive carbon-fibre interior trim strips; illuminated door sill finishers with model lettering; M-specific instrument cluster with black-panel technology; 2-zone automatic climate control with extended features, ambient lighting.

As for the engine, the new M6 gets the same 4.4 liter biturbo V8 as in the BMW M5 F10. It makes 412 kW/560 hp at 6,000 – 7,000 rpm and maximum torque: 680 Newton metres (502 lb-ft) from 1,500 rpm; maximum engine speed: 7,200 rpm. Performance is, as you’d expect, awesome. Check out these numbers:

Acceleration: 0–100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.2 seconds (BMW M6 Coupe) or 4.3 seconds (BMW M6 Convertible); 0–200 km/h (124 mph) in 12.6 (13.1) seconds; electronically governed top speed: 250 km/h (155 mph) or 305 km/h (189 mph) with M Driver’s Package.

That’s, to all intents and purposes, super car performance. Yet, the fuel economy is a very respectable 9.9 litres per 100 km / 28.5 mpg imp (BMW M6 Coupe) and 10.3 litres per 100 km / 27.4 mpg imp (BMW M6 Convertible). That’s because the M6 comes with Auto Start-Stop function and further Efficient Dynamics technology as standard.

The car features a special M-calibrated seven-speed M Double Clutch Transmission with Drivelogic; Launch Control and Low Speed Assistance; and an active M differential. What’s more, it features M-specific Dynamic Damper Control as standard; DSC stability control incl. M Dynamic Mode and M Servotronic steering.

I know they sound like a bunch of meaningless acronyms to most of you, but if you’ve ever driven an M car with those system, you’d know they make a huge difference in the feel and performance of the car.

With all the attention paid to the new M6′s performance and technicality, you might imagine BMW has skimped on luxury and comfort. Not so. The car comes with every luxury amenities the standard 6-series is blessed with, and then some.

The list includes adaptive LED Headlights fitted as standard, extensive range of BMW ConnectedDrive features, some unmatched by any rival: BMW Head-Up Display with M-specific information, High Beam Assistant, BMW Night Vision with pedestrian recognition, Lane Change Warning, Lane Departure Warning, rear-view camera, Surround View, Speed Limit Info, internet access, extended integration of smartphones and music players, Real-Time Traffic Information and apps for receiving web radio and using Facebook and Twitter.

There is also an options list by which you can spec up your car further. It offers Comfort Access, active seats, heated steering wheel, doors with Soft Close Automatic function, Navigation system Professional, Bang & Olufsen High- End Surround Sound System.

Italian design house Bertone released sketches of its new concept car to be unveiled at the 2012 Geneva Motor show.

Dubbed the Nuccio, this fancy looking thing is part of the company’s plans to mark its 100th Anniversary in style. The car is a tribute to Nuccio Bertone who founded the Stile Bertone, the special design branch of the company, and separated it from the coachbuilding business.

Details of the car are scarce at the moment, but the sketches show a massive, futuristic concept car with a very muscular look and amazing details. After its debut at the Geneva show, the Nuccio Concept will be heading to Beijing for the Chinese motor show, and after that it will be back home to go on display at Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile in Turin.

via CarBodyDesign

Subaru announced its lineup for the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, and it includes the 5-door hatchback version of the fourth-gen Impreza.

Sure it’s not the coolest or more desirable hatchback today, but it does have some redeeming features, chief among which is the superior quality and reliability. What’s more i benefits from Subaru’s acclaimed Symmetrical AWD (All-Wheel Drive) system with the Horizontally-Opposed Boxer engine technologies.

It’s available in Europe with a 1.6-litre petrol engine.

Subaru will also be showing its BRZ sportscar at the Geneva show, introducing its Pure Handling Delight to the Europeans. This year Subaru is also celebrating the 40th anniversary of its core technology “Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (SAWD)”.

On this Occasion Subaru will create and showcase various items at the Subaru booth: they include a special logo embodying “Responsive handling of the driver’s intents”, which is a value of SAWD and graphics illustrating the history of Subaru’s SAWD. Also visitors will experience the benefit of SAWD uniqueness through the 3D virtual game.

To launch the new Continental GT V8 in Germany, Bentley came up with an unnecessarily showy but undeniably impressive plan.

They took the car high up in the skies with a chopper an put it on a sky lounge on top of a skyscraper. 300 VIP guests then emerged to celebrate the car’s flying debut in Munich. This elaborate plan is sure put the new Bentley in the headlines, attract more attention to it.

The new Bentley Continental GT V8 is powered by a 4.0 liter engine developing maximum power of 500 bhp (507 PS/373 kW) at 6000 rpm and an extraordinary peak torque of 660 Nm (487 lb ft).  Combined with a new close-ratio 8-speed automatic transmission, this translates into a sub-5 second acceleration time for the 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) sprint and a top speed of over 180 mph (290 km/h). At the same time, the new V8 Continental models achieve outstanding levels of fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions for the luxury performance sector and are capable of travelling over 500 miles (800 km) on a single tank of fuel.

As we reported last month Caterham is going to run its own karting championship from 2013, and to sort it out they’ve hired a 20-year old girl.

It’s Laura Tillett, karting ace and the first British female to compete in the ‘KF1’ World Championship, the karting equivalent of Formula One. She’s definitely the lady for the job.

Tillett is well-known name in the British motorpsort scene, as they are the maker of Tillett Racing Seats and the world’s leading supplier of race seats, rib protection and karting accessories.

Laura will spearhead the Caterham kart series project in development and testing. The karting proect will complement Caterham F1 team and Caterham Motorsport’s existing 25 years of experience running low-cost, high-value one-make racing series.

Caterham Motorsport Manager, Simon Lambert, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Laura on board. Kart racing is clearly in her family’s blood and her expert knowledge of the karting world will be invaluable in helping us set up what will be a uniquely accessible championship.

“Laura will be working on every aspect of our planned karting series, from race formats to technical specifications and from race venues to organisational know-how.”

Toyota 86 (Subaru BRZ) was conceived as a cheap and cheerful sportscar, but some people might still find its Japanese price of around $25K bit too steep.

Good news! There’s a sub-entry level version of the car on sale in Japanese Domestic Market, which will cost a few thousands less than that. It is for those who want an 86 just as a driver’s car, those who appreciate just what a damn good car it is, and can live without the amenities the normal car comes with.

These discount versions do not benefit from air conditioning, audio system, door lamps, leather upholstery, aluminum pedals and trims, and door and trunk lights.

It’s worse for the Toyota version. To make it cheap Toyota won’t paint bumpers, side mirrors and rear spoiler. Neither 86 and BRZ discount get fog lamps and alloys. They come with 16-inch steel wheels. Other things you lose in your quest to save a few grands include ventilated discs and the LSD diff. You get a mechanical unit instead.

These cars are currently only offered in Japan.

If you wondering why the new 2013 Nissan 370Z is pretty much the same car ad last year, that could be because Nissan do not know what to with it. Here they’re asking Facebook fans to weigh in and give them ideas.

It’s not for a new 370Z, mind you. It’s the Project 370Z campaign whose goal is to create the ultimate tricked-out Nissan 370Z with ideas that Nissan Z enthusiasts think are best.

What you do is log on facebook.com/nissanperformance and vote on potential modifications and follow along with the progress online. The finished product will be revealed as a one-off 370Z at the annual “ZDayZ” event.

Project 370Z will be built in several phases – power, handling/brakes, interior and exterior.  Fan Likes, Comments and Wall Posts will be reviewed over the course of each voting session and the part or accessory with the most fan support will be chosen for the build. For example, in the initial Power Phase, fans might vote between a turbocharger or supercharger for the factory 3.7-liter V6.  Phase 2 may include suspension and braking system, since the finished vehicle is expected to see substantial track time.

“Car companies build project vehicles all the time, but we thought it’d be interesting to harness the power of social media to reach out to Z® enthusiasts – the people who are doing this to their own cars everyday,” said Jon Brancheau, vice president, Nissan Marketing, NNA.  “Together we’ll create a vehicle that expands on the already outstanding performance and style of the Nissan 370Z with a balance of street and track ready modifications.  Then we’ll share the finished project at upcoming Z® car enthusiast gatherings around the country.”

This weird sketch you see above shows the silhouette of the Toyota FT-Bh, the Japanese car maker’s concept car for this year’s Geneva Motor Show.

FT-bh is an ultra-lightweight, full hybrid city car study. It is supposed to simple and ingenious, which is why Toyota steered clear of using high-end expensive materials in making it. They say it uses only materials that are already commonplace in the auto industry.

Toyota has also avoided complex manufacturing processes for this concept. Simplifying will make things more efficient.

The FT-bh is only part of Toyota’s Geneva offensive this year. They will also bring along the Yaris hybrid in its production-ready form, and the GT 86 sports car.

Toyota’s NS4 and FCV-R concepts are also being shown in Europe for the first time. NS4 is a next-generation plug-in hybrid vehicle, designed to address customer demand for added value from hybrid motoring, together with advanced design and a more involving drive. FCV-R represents Toyota’s next step towards mass production of hydrogen-powered vehicles, paving the way for the launch of a saloon-type fuel cell vehicle by 2015.

The strange but interesting Toyota Fun-Vii will also be present in Geneva, but it’s renamed to ‘diji’. The car is basically a smartphone with wheels.

You may remember a few weeks ago Afzal Kahn promised to revamp the Aston Martin Cygnet and turn it into something wonderful. Here’s his first take on the car.

The changes Kahn Design has made to the car are very nice and elegant. We like the vented bonnet like that of the V12 Vantage, the chrome bars in the grille and the bumper, the side skirts, flared arches, the stainless steel quad exhaust system with cross hair feature, and of course, those RS 17” front and 18” rear wheels.

The finish for the wheels are optional and you can have them in the colour of your choice and fit all original centre caps. The exterior of this Cygnet is finished in a superb imperial blue. The car also benefits from Kahn lowering module and brake calipers.

As always, the interior treatment is bespoke and virtually limitless in terms of materials and colors you can choose. Kahn’s lifestyle department has also designed a wrist watch to perfect your style whilst driving this unique Cygnet!

Factory fitted option – Aston Martin Cygnet

Bag
Umbrella
First Aid Kit
Rear Parking Sensors
Bright Finish Upper and Lower Grille
Mirror Cap in Body Colour
Tailgate Finisher
Mesh in Magnum Silver
Tailgate Spoiler
Satellite Navigation

Kahn GMT Pure watch specification:

Pure white Face
Stainless Steel Case
50M Water Resistant
Quartz Movement
Date function
Black Leather Strap with contrast white stitching
World time zones with all major world cities
Kahn Inscription
40MM Diameter
Swiss Made

BMW USA revealed pricing of the new 6-Series Gran Coupe for the American market, where it starts at $76,895.

That is the base price for the 640i model, and includes a $895 Destination and Handling Charge.

BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe launches in the States with the 6-cylinder 640i, but later in the year the V8-powered 650i will be joining the range, and a bit later than that, the super sport M6 Gran Coupe. There will also be xDrive four-wheel-drive versions of the car available.

The 640 might be a 6-cylinder, but it’s quite a car. The lavish four-door coupe is powered by the N55 3.0 liter 6-cylinder engine with 225 kW/315 hp at 5,800 to 6,000 rpm and high peak torque of 330 lb-ft. It has a 0 to 62 mph (0-100km/h) sprint time of just 5.4 seconds. Top speed is electronically governed at 155 mph (250 km/h). Fuel consumption in the EU test cycle is rated at 7.8 l/100km (30.1 mpg). EPA fuel economy ratings will be available closer to the on-sale date in the USA.

]]> http://www.motorward.com/2012/02/bmw-6-series-gran-coupe-priced-at-76895/feed/ 0 http://www.motorward.com/2012/02/ford-b-max-easy-access-door-system-explained/ http://www.motorward.com/2012/02/ford-b-max-easy-access-door-system-explained/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:37:34 +0000 Arman Barari http://www.motorward.com/?p=31122

The new Ford B-MAX comes with a new and ingenious easy access door system which provides access for passengers and luggage.

The system integrates the central body pillars into the doors to create 1.5-metre wide unobstructed openings on either side of the car. As you see in the picture above, the omission of the B-pillar has a profound effect on the ease of access.

Removing the pillar was a challenge for the designers and engineers, so they moved the high-strength body-structure from the central body pillars and integrated it directly into the doors to ensure excellent crash protection, particularly in the event of a side impact. What’s more, ultra-high-strength steels has been used in key parts of the body and doors, providing five times more rigidity than normal steel.

Ford says it’s a been dream for many years achieving such design with no comprise on safety. The process involved intense testing and analysis at every stage. More than 1,000 detailed computer simulations were conducted over three years to optimize side impact crash performance; each simulation taking 24 hours to complete and using the equivalent computer-power of eight high-end PCs.

“We engineered the body to keep all the benefits of the new door concept, while making the structure strong, stiff and light,” said Darren Palmer, Product Development Quality Director, Ford of Europe. “Creating a strong, stable body is great for handling. The B-MAX is just as stiff as the latest Fiesta, and will be just as fun to drive too.”

“The door concept means you can load really large items, more than 2.3 meters long, through the side doors,” said Ernst Reim, Chief Interior Designer, Ford of Europe. “This makes a trip to the furniture store, or even a day at the beach with your surfboard, more realistic.”

]]> http://www.motorward.com/2012/02/ford-b-max-easy-access-door-system-explained/feed/ 0 http://www.motorward.com/2012/02/audi-tt-rs-plus-unveiled-with-360hp/ http://www.motorward.com/2012/02/audi-tt-rs-plus-unveiled-with-360hp/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:16:45 +0000 Arman Barari http://www.motorward.com/?p=31115

Before retiring the current generation of Audi TT and replacing it with a new model, Ingolstadt is giving its pretty boy one last fighting chance.

And it’s armed to the teeth for this fight. The new version of the Audi TT-RS called simply the TT RS Plus comes with 15 more horses, and also gets a more dramatic look.

The car has the same 2.5 liter turbocharged five-cylinder, but it now makes 265 kW (360 hp) and 465 Nm (342.97 lb-ft) of torque. In terms of performance, those figures  translate into a 0 to 100km/h sprint time of 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 280km/h (173.98 mph).

While the quattro AWD system is standard, you can choose between a manual six-speed transmission and the seven-speed S tronic. The latter comes with a launch control function. The S tronic model also have an average fuel consumption of just 8.5 liters of fuel per 100 km (27.67 US mpg), which is astonishing given the performance (Roadster does 8.6 liter/100km).

Visually, the car is distinguished with matt aluminum-look finish grille, carbon fiber side mirrors, dual-branch sport exhaust system with black tailpipes, and Carbon design package for the engine compartment.

The new 19-inch cast wheels five-arm “Rotor” design wheels are also interesting. They are finished in black with contrasting red rim flanges, and wrapped with 255/35 tires.

As for the pricing, the TT RS plus Coupe will cost (in Germany) 60,650 EUR for the manual and 62,800 EUR for the DSG version. Those figures for the Roadster are 63,500 EUR and 65,650 EUR respectively.