Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon U.S. pricing announced
Cadillac has announced the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon will be priced from $62,990.
Designed to tackle estates like the BMW M5 (in Europe) and Mercedes E63 AMG, the CTS-V features a bold front fascia, Brembo brakes, and 19-inch forged-aluminum wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires.
Inside, the cabin is nicely equipped with leather upholstery, heated front seats, GPS navigation, and a Bose audio system. Options include Recaro sports seats, Sapele wood trim, and a suede steering wheel / shifter.
Power is provided by a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine which produces 556 hp (415 kW / 564 PS) and 551 lb-ft (747 Nm) of torque. It enables the car to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds, which is pretty brisk considering the E63 AMG Estate takes 4.6 seconds to run from 0-62 mph.
Audi’s S Tronic dual-clutch gearbox headed for Bentley GT
Bentley has provided its Continental GT with a total refresh for the 2011 model year. The styling has been updated and the luxury coupe is expected to gain a second engine option. The traditional 6.0-liter W12 unit will still be available albeit with more power, but Bentley has also let slip that it will offer a new V8 engine. This eight-cylinder unit will apparently be a twin-turbocharged Audi engine which is potentially capable of 550 horsepower. Now, word from Autocar suggests that Bentley would like to pair that engine with Audi’s S tronic dual-clutch transmission.
The S tronic unit is currently employed throughout most of the Four-Ringed family lineup. Adding it to the Bentley will present an interesting challenge, however, due to the fact that the underbody of the Continental GT has a nice ZF six-speed automatic transmission-shaped hole. The ZF automatic is the gearbox used for the W12. Bentley’s engineers are now doing feasibility studies to see if they can get the dual-clutch gearbox to fit.
First Look: Jaguar C-X75 Concept
There’s a lot to the name of the Jaguar C-X75. The C stands for concept, X for experimental, and 75 for Jaguar’s 75th anniversary, which the storied British brand is celebrating this year. Too bad they didn’t sneak a T in there, for Turbine. Because this compact two-seat sports car debuting at the 2010 Paris show takes a unique approach to propulsion compared to the recent onslaught of eco-friendly supercars.
The highlight of the C-X75′s powertrain is a pair of micro-turbines that act as diesel-fed range extenders designed to help keep the car’s battery-powered EV motor turning the wheels. According to Jaguar, it’s the best of all worlds: the high-end performance enthusiast’s desire, but with fuel economy, emissions, and range that even the most frugal compact hybrid would struggle to match. The C-X75 also makes dramatic statements in the style, materials, ergonomics, and vehicle dynamics departments.
Jaguar HQ challenged the C-X75 project team to come up with a unique alternative propulsion approach. There would be no V-8 hybrid like the Porsche 918, or a pure EV like the Mercedes-Benz SLS E-Cell or Audi R8 E-Tron. Although C-X75′s approach is similar in scope to the Chevrolet Volt in that the concept can move under electric power alone, it’s the range-extending part that’s radically different.
Categories: Auto Review, Car Review, Jaguar Tags:
First Test: 2011 Saab 9-5 Aero Turbo 6 XWD
Back in February of this year, General Motors unloaded — um, sold — Swedish subsidiary Saab to Spyker Cars NV of the Netherlands, maker of such pricey, boutique sports cars as the $200,000-plus C8 Aileron and C8 Laviolette. The move marked a new chapter for Saab, which is now faced with separating itself from GM and creating a fresh identity that will no doubt lead to new partnerships. Recently, Saab and BMW announced a deal that will put versions of Mini’s turbocharged 1.6-liter I-4 in the next-generation 9-3. And what about the all-new 2011 Saan 9-5? Well, even though Saab’s flagship sedan is the first offering to be released under Spyker ownership, it was more or less a finished product by the time the Dutch took the reigns. In other words, if the Saab 9-5 were 30-minute brownies, they’d already been in the GM oven for 29 minutes, 59 seconds.
Categories: Auto Review, Car Review, Saab Tags: Saab
First Drive: 2012 BMW 1 Series M Coupe Prototype
Almost since the launch of BMW‘s pocket-size 1 Series, an BMW M version has been predicted. The tii concept car shown at the 2007 Tokyo motor show was the first harbinger, and the blogosphere has barely quieted down since. One of the biggest questions: What would they call it? Millennial enthusiasts might assume M1, but grownups associate that name with BMW’s first modern mid-engine supercar, so that name was a non-starter (it’s being reserved for something more fabulous than the lowest-priced M vehicle). Instead it will be dubbed 1 Series M Coupe. That name also draws a connection to this latest M’s true predecessor, the quirky two-seat Z3 and BMW Z4 M Coupes. Okay, it’s around a foot longer, seats four, and weighs a few hundred pounds more, but in its cheeky styling and narrow, nippy demeanor it passes the paternity test. BMW has not released many official details about the 1 M (it breaks cover officially in Detroit in January), but during a recent tech-day visit to Munich the engineers let us take a quickie test drive and either admitted to or winked and nudged at the following facts: 
Read more…
Categories: Auto Review, BMW, Car Review Tags: BMW
Hyundai previews ix20 subcompact ahead of Paris rollout
Hyundai’s “Fluidic Sculpture” design language may be doing wonders on North American-spec Sonatas and Tucsons, but this same design language will make its way across the automaker’s entire worldwide lineup over the next few years. We’ve seen it previewed in the next-generation Elantra and Accent, and now Hyundai has released some preview images of its new ix20 small MPV, set to debut at this year’s Paris Motor Show. At first glance, it looks like a teeny-tiny ground-bound Tucson. It’s cute, if a bit angry-looking.
We’ll have to wait until the Paris show opens up before we get the full details on the ix20. For now, Hyundai is only saying that its new MPV will offer class-leading fuel economy, low C02 emissions and the latest in active and passive safety technologies.
Categories: Auto Show, Hatchback, Hyundai, Paris Motor Show Tags: Hyundai
Don’t Call It S1: Audi shows off 185-hp A1 ahead of Paris debut
As if we needed another reason to salivate over the delicious little Audi A1. The Four Ring’d One has just announced that it will pull the sheets off of a new, hopped-up version of its tiniest hatch at this year’s Paris Motor Show. Here’s the important part: under the hood, there’s a 185-horsepower dual-charged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 185 lb-ft of torque. That’s right, this machine makes use of both a supercharger and a turbocharger, and as a result, Audi says that its new A1 1.4 TFSI can scoot to 60 mph in a quick 6.9 seconds.
By way of salting the wound even further, Audi says that the meanest of the A1 breed returns around 40 mpg U.S., effectively making the Honda CR-Z look both lethargic and overtly wasteful. A seven-speed DSG gearbox handles shifting duties and likely helps with that massive fuel economy number. Quattro all-wheel drive is still not available, however.
Categories: Audi, Auto Show, Hatchback, Paris Motor Show Tags: Audi
Paris 2010: 2011 Fiat Punto Evo Abarth EsseEsse is one fierce Scorpion
If you like the Fiat Punto, you’ll love the Punto Evo. And if you love the Evo, the Abarth Punto Evo will make you quiver. So we’re not exactly sure what this Abarth Punto Evo EsseEsse is going to do to you – you may just faint. First shown at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, the Abarth-tuned version of the Punto Evo debuted, offering a bit more oomph, more aggressive styling and even better handling and braking. At the 2010 Paris Motor Show, the Scorpion brand brought us even hotter versions of both, and we’re very glad it did.
Wearing a Campovolo Gray paint scheme with white accents – and carrying that EsseEsse tag – this Punto gets a slight boost in power and a variety of upgrades to match. Output is now a full 180 horsepower, which is enough for a 7.5-second dash to 62 miles per hour. Additionally, top speed rises to 134 miles per hour.
Categories: Auto Show, Fiat, Paris Motor Show Tags: Fiat
