2012 Centennial Edition Corvette "Racing-Inspired" + More : )
#1
04-09-2011, 07:49 AM
2012 Centennial Edition Corvette "Racing-Inspired" + More : )
April 7, 2011 by Davey G. Johnson
Louis Chevrolet was only actually involved with the company that bears his name for four years. At odds with Billy Durant, he sold his stake to the once-and-future GM honcho and ultimately died broke. Having nearly suffered the same ignominious fate itself, GM’s decided to celebrate its association with the man who gave the populist division its name in the form of an appearance package available on any 2012 Corvette.
Only available in Carbon Flash Metallic, the Centennial Edition adds matte decals (including a begoggled Louis inside the number 100 on the B pillar), a Hot Wheels-esque red line stripe around the wheels (18s and 19s on the base ‘Vette and Grand Sport, 19s and 20s on the Z06 and ZR1), red brake calipers, and red interior stitching. Many Corvette models already come with Magnetic Ride Control, but for those that don’t, the Centennial Edition package will add it, too.
Almost predictably, Chevy’s auctioning off the first Centennial Edition at the Barrett-Jackson Palm Beach Auction. The hundredth 2012 ‘Vette off the line (resulting in a centenary VIN tag), it’ll be a Z06 optioned up with Brembo ceramic brakes and a roof, front splitter and rocker panels made of carbon fiber. Proceeds will benefit the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer.
I really like `it & I hope the owner's of the MCF buys me one
4-Sure...Member's do you like it ?
Last edited by Space; 04-10-2011 at 08:36 AM.
#2
04-09-2011, 07:55 AM
2012 Chevrolet Malibu - Spied
Expect a little more sizzle for Chevy’s mid-size hit.
BY JARED GALL, PHOTOGRAPHY BY CARPIX, BRENDA PRIDDY & CO. AND THE MANUFACTURER
March 2011
Pages: 1 Photos
Chevrolet Malibu
Top Competitors
Update: Spy photographers have finally caught a few close-up shots of the next Malibu, including its masked front fascia. Check out the latest pictures and updated text below.
Chevrolet’s current Malibu was a huge success when the company needed it, winning a place on our 2008 10Best list and proving that the bow-tie brand could build more than monster SUVs and pickup trucks. Now that the compact Cruze, even smaller Aveo, and minute Spark are all in or on their way to production, the Malibu is up for a little refresh.
The current car is sleek enough, but the overall design isn’t particularly elaborate. The 2012 model will change that with a bit more rake to the beltline, echoed by a faint crease in the body side. The nose and tail will see a great deal of change, with huge front-lighting arrays marking a more-chiseled nose. The hood appears to sit on a taller terrace, bearing a stronger resemblance to that of the Buick LaCrosse than to the current car’s. In the tail, we see additional ornamentation around the trunk, which is recessed deeper into the surrounding sheetmetal and plastic. The top of the decklid appears to taper into a sort of flat, ducktail shape, reminiscent of the more-controversial BMW designs of the last decade.
While it won’t look worlds different, the new Malibu will be comprehensively altered beneath the skin. It will join the Buick Regal and LaCrosse on GM’s new Epsilon II platform, an evolution of the current car’s Epsilon I bones. It will be slightly wider and a little taller, alleviating our primary concerns about the interior. Materials used inside the car supposedly will be vastly improved, although we hope the money to do so didn’t come out of the design budget—the stylish cockpit is one of our favorite things about the current car. We expect Chevy will offer a Malibu with the pseudo-hybrid eAssist powertrain to boost the sedan’s fuel economy ratings. And expect to see the HiPer strut system unveiled on the 2010 Buick LaCrosse find its way into top Malibu trim levels.
No doubt there is plenty more for the spies to catch as they stalk the Malibu, and they have plenty of time left to do so: The car’s introduction probably won’t happen until the 2012 Detroit auto show. Stay tuned for more info.
Expect a little more sizzle for Chevy’s mid-size hit.
BY JARED GALL, PHOTOGRAPHY BY CARPIX, BRENDA PRIDDY & CO. AND THE MANUFACTURER
March 2011
Pages: 1 Photos
Chevrolet MalibuTop Competitors
Update: Spy photographers have finally caught a few close-up shots of the next Malibu, including its masked front fascia. Check out the latest pictures and updated text below.
Chevrolet’s current Malibu was a huge success when the company needed it, winning a place on our 2008 10Best list and proving that the bow-tie brand could build more than monster SUVs and pickup trucks. Now that the compact Cruze, even smaller Aveo, and minute Spark are all in or on their way to production, the Malibu is up for a little refresh.
The current car is sleek enough, but the overall design isn’t particularly elaborate. The 2012 model will change that with a bit more rake to the beltline, echoed by a faint crease in the body side. The nose and tail will see a great deal of change, with huge front-lighting arrays marking a more-chiseled nose. The hood appears to sit on a taller terrace, bearing a stronger resemblance to that of the Buick LaCrosse than to the current car’s. In the tail, we see additional ornamentation around the trunk, which is recessed deeper into the surrounding sheetmetal and plastic. The top of the decklid appears to taper into a sort of flat, ducktail shape, reminiscent of the more-controversial BMW designs of the last decade.
While it won’t look worlds different, the new Malibu will be comprehensively altered beneath the skin. It will join the Buick Regal and LaCrosse on GM’s new Epsilon II platform, an evolution of the current car’s Epsilon I bones. It will be slightly wider and a little taller, alleviating our primary concerns about the interior. Materials used inside the car supposedly will be vastly improved, although we hope the money to do so didn’t come out of the design budget—the stylish cockpit is one of our favorite things about the current car. We expect Chevy will offer a Malibu with the pseudo-hybrid eAssist powertrain to boost the sedan’s fuel economy ratings. And expect to see the HiPer strut system unveiled on the 2010 Buick LaCrosse find its way into top Malibu trim levels.
No doubt there is plenty more for the spies to catch as they stalk the Malibu, and they have plenty of time left to do so: The car’s introduction probably won’t happen until the 2012 Detroit auto show. Stay tuned for more info.
#3
04-09-2011, 08:01 AM
V6 Dodge, Can your Monte Beat it ?
2011 Dodge Challenger SE V6 - Short Take Road Test
Can your Monte Carlo beat it ? Let us know
The Pentastar V-6 makes for a stronger, quicker base Challenger, but this pony is still most comfortable at a trot.
BY ERIK JOHNSON, PHOTOGRAPHY BY PATRICK M. HOEY AND THE MANUFACTURER
April 2011
Pages: 1 Photos
Highs and Lows
Highs: Quicker than before; nicer inside; ride, brakes, and steering get a dose of refinement.
Lows: Still slower and more ponderous than other ponies, cabin remains dour, five-speed transmission.
Visit Our Buyer's Guide »
Dodge Challenger
News & Reviews
Downloads
Specifications
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 2-door coupe
PRICE AS TESTED: $31,800 (base price: $25,495)
ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection
Displacement: 220 cu in, 3604 cc
Power (SAE net): 305 hp @ 6350 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 268 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 5-speed automatic with manumatic shifting
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 116.0 in Length: 197.7 in
Width: 75.7 in Height: 57.1 in
Curb weight: 3958 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 6.4 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 17.1 sec
Zero to 130 mph: 39.2 sec
Street start, 5–60 mph: 6.8 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 14.9 sec @ 94 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 137 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 163 ft
FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 18/27 mpg
C/D observed: 20 mpg
What Is It?
It’s Dodge’s portly and nostalgia-slathered muscle pony, now with nicer interior materials and a new base engine: the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6. That means 305 hp instead of the old 3.5-liter V-6’s 250, as well as a modest torque increase of 18 lb-ft to 268. Dodge Challenger 2011: The Freshening also gives star turns to newly standard auto climate control, keyless entry and start, side airbags, and 18-inch wheels, plus reworked front and rear suspension setups and a revised brake system. (Oh, and the chrome fuel flap is standard this year, too.) The $1500 Super Sport Group (SSG) is new and includes a shorter rear-axle ratio, sportier suspension and steering calibrations, uprated brakes, stickier tires, and 20-inch wheels. Our test car was equipped with this package, which first requires the $2000 Rallye bundle (some luxury and audio items and fog lamps).
Delving deeper into the chassis tweaks, the suspension overhaul means new shocks, springs, and bushings across the range. Dodge has dialed in more negative camber at all four corners and installed larger anti-roll bars at the front and rear. The brakes on all Challengers have a shorter pedal travel, and the SSG’s upgrades bring larger and thicker front discs and thicker and vented rear discs.
How Does It Drive?
Better. The SSG brakes improved pedal feel and cut a whopping 21 feet from the 70-to-0-mph stopping distance of a V-6 Challenger we previously tested. The steering in our car was more informative than before and had less slop. The revised suspension had diminished impact harshness, imparted more eagerness on turn-in, and improved straight-line stability.
But the car is still a huge porky porkster—3958 pounds in this case, about 150 more than a V-6 Camaro and 430 more than a V-6 Mustang—so most of what the chassis has to do is mitigate mass. There’s only so much the engineers could do to improve transient response and ride quality. Even though the Challenger changes direction more readily, the overriding impression is that the car would rather continue in a straight line, thank you very much. This is probably about as good as the base Challenger is going to get without dropping a few hundred pounds.
How Does It Stack Up?
Although better to drive, the Challenger is still topped by the Camaro, which is itself roundly trumped by the agile and satisfying Mustang. The base Challenger was really underpowered before, and with 55 extra ponies, it’s, well, still underpowered. True, the car’s 6.4-second 0-to-60 sprint isn’t bad for something weighing two tons and motivated by six cylinders—and it’s an improvement of more than a second over the previous model—but the 2011 Challenger V-6 trails the Camaro V-6 (312 hp) to 60 mph by 0.5 second and the six-cylinder Mustang (305 hp) by 1.0 second. At 4800 rpm, the torque peaks 1000 revs higher than before.
At least the engine is smoother, and intake whoosh is now accompanied by an actual feeling of progress. The Pentastar is, however, mated to a bummer of a gearbox: Chrysler’s WA580 five-speed automatic. Not only is the standard transmission generally sluggish to respond, but this particular example also exhibited slurred, confused shifts and hard gear engagement when going to full throttle. The expected upgrade to a ZF-designed eight-speed auto can’t come soon enough.
The 2011 Challenger’s cabin is crafted using more upscale materials, but it’s still so damn black that the only immediately noticeable change is the new steering wheel, because it’s smack in your face. The tiny exterior door handles still annoy, as does the terrible visibility, the latter a knock shared by the Camaro. We understand if you don’t dig the straight-up retro styling, but the Challenger still pulls a lot of eyeballs, even outfitted as plainly as our test example.
What’s the Cost?
The Challenger starts at $25,495, and ours crossed the finish line with a price of $31,800. Besides the Rallye and Super Sport packages, the Monroney was plumped by the $695 Electronics Convenience Group, the $1565 Sound Group II, and a $545 navigation system. A fully spec’d V-6 Challenger will crest the $36,000 mark, which is ludicrous when a manual-transmission R/T with a 372-hp Hemi starts at just over $30,000 (and isn’t far behind in fuel economy). But price is largely irrelevant in the pony/muscle segment. Your pick boils down to styling preference—super-throwback or sorta-throwback—and brand allegiance.
We’ll make a last-ditch appeal anyway. If you want to cruise—and only cruise—by all means, buy this. People like the way it looks, and it’s comfortable. But if you really love to drive, you should visit a Ford dealership. The Mustang V-6 starts at less than $23,000 (and under $25,000 with the performance goodies), is far more enjoyable in every situation, and is available with a manual. If that doesn’t win you over, well, at least your car will be the most faithfully retro of the bunch.
Can your Monte Carlo beat it ? Let us know
The Pentastar V-6 makes for a stronger, quicker base Challenger, but this pony is still most comfortable at a trot.
BY ERIK JOHNSON, PHOTOGRAPHY BY PATRICK M. HOEY AND THE MANUFACTURER
April 2011
Pages: 1 Photos
Highs and Lows Highs: Quicker than before; nicer inside; ride, brakes, and steering get a dose of refinement.
Lows: Still slower and more ponderous than other ponies, cabin remains dour, five-speed transmission.
Visit Our Buyer's Guide »
Dodge Challenger
News & Reviews
- 2011 Dodge Challenger Official Photos and Info - Auto Shows
- 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 - Short Take Road Test
- 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 - Official Photos and Info
- 2010 Dodge Challenger SE V6 - Short Take Road Test
- Dodge Challenger by Petty’s Garage for SEMA - Auto Shows
- Dodge Challenger by SpeedFactory for SEMA - Auto Shows
- Dodge Challenger 1320 - Auto Shows
- 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T Manual - Short Take Road Test
- XV Challenger - Video
Downloads
Specifications
VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 2-door coupe
PRICE AS TESTED: $31,800 (base price: $25,495)
ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection
Displacement: 220 cu in, 3604 cc
Power (SAE net): 305 hp @ 6350 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 268 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 5-speed automatic with manumatic shifting
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 116.0 in Length: 197.7 in
Width: 75.7 in Height: 57.1 in
Curb weight: 3958 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 6.4 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 17.1 sec
Zero to 130 mph: 39.2 sec
Street start, 5–60 mph: 6.8 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 14.9 sec @ 94 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 137 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 163 ft
FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 18/27 mpg
C/D observed: 20 mpg
What Is It?
It’s Dodge’s portly and nostalgia-slathered muscle pony, now with nicer interior materials and a new base engine: the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6. That means 305 hp instead of the old 3.5-liter V-6’s 250, as well as a modest torque increase of 18 lb-ft to 268. Dodge Challenger 2011: The Freshening also gives star turns to newly standard auto climate control, keyless entry and start, side airbags, and 18-inch wheels, plus reworked front and rear suspension setups and a revised brake system. (Oh, and the chrome fuel flap is standard this year, too.) The $1500 Super Sport Group (SSG) is new and includes a shorter rear-axle ratio, sportier suspension and steering calibrations, uprated brakes, stickier tires, and 20-inch wheels. Our test car was equipped with this package, which first requires the $2000 Rallye bundle (some luxury and audio items and fog lamps).
Delving deeper into the chassis tweaks, the suspension overhaul means new shocks, springs, and bushings across the range. Dodge has dialed in more negative camber at all four corners and installed larger anti-roll bars at the front and rear. The brakes on all Challengers have a shorter pedal travel, and the SSG’s upgrades bring larger and thicker front discs and thicker and vented rear discs.
How Does It Drive?
Better. The SSG brakes improved pedal feel and cut a whopping 21 feet from the 70-to-0-mph stopping distance of a V-6 Challenger we previously tested. The steering in our car was more informative than before and had less slop. The revised suspension had diminished impact harshness, imparted more eagerness on turn-in, and improved straight-line stability.
But the car is still a huge porky porkster—3958 pounds in this case, about 150 more than a V-6 Camaro and 430 more than a V-6 Mustang—so most of what the chassis has to do is mitigate mass. There’s only so much the engineers could do to improve transient response and ride quality. Even though the Challenger changes direction more readily, the overriding impression is that the car would rather continue in a straight line, thank you very much. This is probably about as good as the base Challenger is going to get without dropping a few hundred pounds.
How Does It Stack Up?
Although better to drive, the Challenger is still topped by the Camaro, which is itself roundly trumped by the agile and satisfying Mustang. The base Challenger was really underpowered before, and with 55 extra ponies, it’s, well, still underpowered. True, the car’s 6.4-second 0-to-60 sprint isn’t bad for something weighing two tons and motivated by six cylinders—and it’s an improvement of more than a second over the previous model—but the 2011 Challenger V-6 trails the Camaro V-6 (312 hp) to 60 mph by 0.5 second and the six-cylinder Mustang (305 hp) by 1.0 second. At 4800 rpm, the torque peaks 1000 revs higher than before.
At least the engine is smoother, and intake whoosh is now accompanied by an actual feeling of progress. The Pentastar is, however, mated to a bummer of a gearbox: Chrysler’s WA580 five-speed automatic. Not only is the standard transmission generally sluggish to respond, but this particular example also exhibited slurred, confused shifts and hard gear engagement when going to full throttle. The expected upgrade to a ZF-designed eight-speed auto can’t come soon enough.
The 2011 Challenger’s cabin is crafted using more upscale materials, but it’s still so damn black that the only immediately noticeable change is the new steering wheel, because it’s smack in your face. The tiny exterior door handles still annoy, as does the terrible visibility, the latter a knock shared by the Camaro. We understand if you don’t dig the straight-up retro styling, but the Challenger still pulls a lot of eyeballs, even outfitted as plainly as our test example.
What’s the Cost?
The Challenger starts at $25,495, and ours crossed the finish line with a price of $31,800. Besides the Rallye and Super Sport packages, the Monroney was plumped by the $695 Electronics Convenience Group, the $1565 Sound Group II, and a $545 navigation system. A fully spec’d V-6 Challenger will crest the $36,000 mark, which is ludicrous when a manual-transmission R/T with a 372-hp Hemi starts at just over $30,000 (and isn’t far behind in fuel economy). But price is largely irrelevant in the pony/muscle segment. Your pick boils down to styling preference—super-throwback or sorta-throwback—and brand allegiance.
We’ll make a last-ditch appeal anyway. If you want to cruise—and only cruise—by all means, buy this. People like the way it looks, and it’s comfortable. But if you really love to drive, you should visit a Ford dealership. The Mustang V-6 starts at less than $23,000 (and under $25,000 with the performance goodies), is far more enjoyable in every situation, and is available with a manual. If that doesn’t win you over, well, at least your car will be the most faithfully retro of the bunch.
#4
04-09-2011, 08:58 AM
Mustang comes with a whopping 800 hp<~ Hope U own a Gas Station
I like it, but starting price is $80 K An upgrade package gives the new Shelby Super Snake a truly epic amount of power. » Price may surprise you
Last edited by Space; 04-09-2011 at 09:16 AM.
#5
04-09-2011, 09:18 AM
..I'd rather have a `Vette 
, but the below is pretty nice ==============================================
Pure poison - 590kW Shelby GT500April 7 2011 at 10:39am
Comment on this story
.The 2012 Shelby GT500 Super Snake will spit out 590kW. 2011 model shown.
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- King Cobra ready to strike
- Watch Cobra, Ferrari in $400,000 drag
- Click above 2 watch the race
- It's the ultimate drag race - big-inch, 1960's American muscle against a European supercar. Dan Bilzerian, the owner of this seriously venomous 1965 427 Shelby Cobra, bet his friend Tom Goldstein $400 000 (no, Cyril, that's not a misprint - it's about R2.75 million!) that the "super snake" would eat Goldstein's brand new Ferrari 458 Italia over a standing quarter-mile. We pick up the action at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and, to find out who won, you'll have to watch the video.
Shelby American president John Luft said: “Shelby has a rich history at the New York auto show - the first Shelby car was introduced there in 1962, as well as the 1968 and 2008 Shelby GT500KR's and the 2006 Shelby Hertz GT-H.
“This year, we're returning with one of the most powerful and important Shelbys ever built.”
And yet the Super Snake isn't even a model in its own right; it's an aftermarket engine and suspension package, developed at the drag strip and on countless laps of Las Vegas Motor Speedway that, to quote Luft again, “turns the Ford Shelby GT500 into a world-class supercar”.
Hmm… Porsche, Ferrari and Aston Martin might have something to say about that.
The kitted GT500 is one of very few cars that's rated at more than 550kW while running on the octane-deficient feline urine that passes for petrol in the US (they call it gas because all it does for imported cars is to make them fart) and it's also street-legal in all 50 states.
The Ford Shelby GT500 costs less than $100 000 - complete with Super Snake kit - and is street legal in all 50 states..
But what will give the Euroflash aristocracy pause for thought is that from May 1 American performance junkies will be able to go visit Shelby American's new “Build-One” car-building programme at Shelby American Inc. and spec up their own unique Ford Shelby GT500 - complete with the Super Snake package - for less than $100 000 (R670 000).
Sadly, there's no provision on the site for right-hand drive conversions so we're unlikely to see a Super Snake in South Africa.
Last edited by Space; 04-09-2011 at 09:42 AM.
#7
04-09-2011, 09:53 AM
LoL `Todd,
Yes I think if we want one of the above, we are going to have to steal one 4-Sure : ) I could buy a nice house @ those prices..
I would like to drive one 4-Real....They are all dreams 2 me unless I win the `Lotto
#8
04-10-2011, 07:05 AM
For some reason, I like the below ConCept by MB
Maybe because it's Spacy
Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class - 2011 New York Auto Show Preview
A mini Mercedes with maximum style.
By Nick Kurczewski
April 6, 2011
Photos » Videos »
The Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class is not only making its global debut during both the New York and Shanghai auto shows, the hunkered down little two-door hatchback is also tasked with pushing the German automaker’s previously staid-looking family vehicle into a bold new direction. Gone are the upright and dull lines of the present A-Class. The Concept A-Class now adopts the look of a sport hatchback.
To be honest, we never lost much sleep over the fact that the front-drive A-Class never quite made it to U.S. shores.Having gone through two generations since being introduced back in 1997, the current A-Class remains a safe and solid choice in the family-friendly small MPV market. Available in Europe in either two or four-door format, the A-Class is offered with a wide array of small displacement 4-cylinder gas and diesel-powered engines.
Goodbye Boxy A-Class
Mercedes-Benz says the Concept A-Class previews “a new compact class era” for the automaker. That means jettisoning the micro-minivan design of the current car for something entirely more athletic and sport-oriented. A long hood and slim side windows give the Concept A-Class, which retains its front-drive layout, a powerful stance. The front fascia is brimming with details, such as handsome mesh grills, flowing headlights and a large (but very classy) three-pointed star emblem.
Strangely, some other design flourishes of the Concept A-Class appear borrowed from the competition. When seen in profile, the side character lines recall the BMW Z4 Roadster. And the rear of this Mercedes concept also seems to bear more than a passing resemblance to thecurrent Volkswagen Scirocco. Mercedes-Benz says the Concept A-Class borrows heavily from its own F800 Style concept, shown during the 2009 Geneva Auto Show.
Efficient and High-Tech
Powering the Concept A-Class is a turbo-charged and direct-injected 210-bhp 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. Coupled with a new dual clutch transmission, the BlueEFFICIENCY engine is said to offer “high performance” with “minimal emissions.” Fuel efficiency will also play an important role with the engineering of this powertrain, though Mercedes has not yet offered any official mpg figures.
Mercedes has also fitted the Concept A-Class with a collision avoidance system, which visually and audibly alerts the driver to a possible collision. A Brake Assist system applies full braking force as soon as the driver “forcefully” presses the brake pedal. Inside, the design of the dashboard is said to be modeled after an aircraft wing and is covered by a translucent fabric. The aviation theme is carried over to the instrument panel’s deep-set red dials, which are meant to invoke the look of a jet engine’s afterburners.
The outlandish cabin architecture probably won’t make it to production, but the muscular new design of the Concept A-Class hints at a much stronger identity for the next generation of the small MPV. The fact that Mercedes-Benz is showing the concept at the 2011 New York Auto Show also bodes well for its chances of arriving stateside.
BEST OF THE 2011 New York Auto Show PreviewNew York Auto Show
More 2011 New York Auto Show Coverage >>
Maybe because it's Spacy
Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class - 2011 New York Auto Show Preview
A mini Mercedes with maximum style.
By Nick Kurczewski
April 6, 2011
Photos » Videos »
The Mercedes-Benz Concept A-Class is not only making its global debut during both the New York and Shanghai auto shows, the hunkered down little two-door hatchback is also tasked with pushing the German automaker’s previously staid-looking family vehicle into a bold new direction. Gone are the upright and dull lines of the present A-Class. The Concept A-Class now adopts the look of a sport hatchback.
To be honest, we never lost much sleep over the fact that the front-drive A-Class never quite made it to U.S. shores.Having gone through two generations since being introduced back in 1997, the current A-Class remains a safe and solid choice in the family-friendly small MPV market. Available in Europe in either two or four-door format, the A-Class is offered with a wide array of small displacement 4-cylinder gas and diesel-powered engines.
Goodbye Boxy A-Class
Mercedes-Benz says the Concept A-Class previews “a new compact class era” for the automaker. That means jettisoning the micro-minivan design of the current car for something entirely more athletic and sport-oriented. A long hood and slim side windows give the Concept A-Class, which retains its front-drive layout, a powerful stance. The front fascia is brimming with details, such as handsome mesh grills, flowing headlights and a large (but very classy) three-pointed star emblem.
Strangely, some other design flourishes of the Concept A-Class appear borrowed from the competition. When seen in profile, the side character lines recall the BMW Z4 Roadster. And the rear of this Mercedes concept also seems to bear more than a passing resemblance to thecurrent Volkswagen Scirocco. Mercedes-Benz says the Concept A-Class borrows heavily from its own F800 Style concept, shown during the 2009 Geneva Auto Show.
Efficient and High-Tech
Powering the Concept A-Class is a turbo-charged and direct-injected 210-bhp 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. Coupled with a new dual clutch transmission, the BlueEFFICIENCY engine is said to offer “high performance” with “minimal emissions.” Fuel efficiency will also play an important role with the engineering of this powertrain, though Mercedes has not yet offered any official mpg figures.
Mercedes has also fitted the Concept A-Class with a collision avoidance system, which visually and audibly alerts the driver to a possible collision. A Brake Assist system applies full braking force as soon as the driver “forcefully” presses the brake pedal. Inside, the design of the dashboard is said to be modeled after an aircraft wing and is covered by a translucent fabric. The aviation theme is carried over to the instrument panel’s deep-set red dials, which are meant to invoke the look of a jet engine’s afterburners.
The outlandish cabin architecture probably won’t make it to production, but the muscular new design of the Concept A-Class hints at a much stronger identity for the next generation of the small MPV. The fact that Mercedes-Benz is showing the concept at the 2011 New York Auto Show also bodes well for its chances of arriving stateside.
BEST OF THE 2011 New York Auto Show PreviewNew York Auto Show
More 2011 New York Auto Show Coverage >>
Last edited by Space; 04-10-2011 at 07:07 AM.
#9
04-10-2011, 07:14 AM
I also like the below New Coupe by Subaru "the FT-86 STI
and it's has a more realistic price @ around $25K
What do you think of it ? Let us know `ok
First Look: Subaru FT-86 STI Coupe - Spy Shots
A glimpse of what Subaru’s version of the compact rear-drive sports car will look like.
By Sam Mitani / Illustration copyright Brenda Priddy & Company
April 5, 2011
Best Spy Shots >>
Spied! Subaru FT-86 STI Coupe >>
Subaru Boxer-Powered, RWD Sports Car Development >>
At the Geneva show last month, Subaru presented a display showing the drivetrain of its future sports car that the company developed alongside Toyota. While Toyota unveiled the production model of this car called the FT-86, Subaru has yet to stick an official name to its version or show an official picture of the car. For now, Subaru is referring to its compact sports car as the Boxer Sports Car. So what did we learn from the image that Subaru produced at Geneva?
First of all, the Subaru sports car may well be a bit smaller than the Toyota FT-86, measuring about 165 in. from front to rear bumper. Also, the car will look significantly different from the “boy racer”-inspired looks of the Toyota. According to Subaru officials, their car will have completely different front and rear-end styling: so it’s safe to predict that it will be more mature-looking than the Toyota, attracting older buyers and conforming to the company’s premium brand image.
Under the Hood
As for the mechanical components of the car, they should be similar to those of the Toyota FT-86. Under the hood will be a naturally-aspirated 1995-cc flat-4 that will produce 200 bhp and 150 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine will come mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox that will route engine power to the rear wheels. This will result in the lightweight car going from zero to 60 mph in about 6 seconds or less. While the Toyota FT-86 will be rear-wheel-drive, the Subaru version will most likely come with all-wheel-drive. Don’t rule out the introduction of an STI model down the line, one with a significant power increase via forced induction.
As for other thing we learned from Subaru’s display, we can conclude that the car will come with the same basic front and rear suspension setup as the Impreza, use a shortened version of Impreza’s drive shaft and incorporate the Impreza STI’s rear differential.
The Subaru Boxer sports car is expected to make its debut late this year or in early 2012, so don’t be surprised to see it at the Tokyo Motor Show this fall. Price is expected to be in the neighborhood of $25,000.
and it's has a more realistic price @ around $25K
What do you think of it ? Let us know `ok
First Look: Subaru FT-86 STI Coupe - Spy Shots
A glimpse of what Subaru’s version of the compact rear-drive sports car will look like.
By Sam Mitani / Illustration copyright Brenda Priddy & Company
April 5, 2011
Best Spy Shots >> Spied! Subaru FT-86 STI Coupe >>
Subaru Boxer-Powered, RWD Sports Car Development >>
At the Geneva show last month, Subaru presented a display showing the drivetrain of its future sports car that the company developed alongside Toyota. While Toyota unveiled the production model of this car called the FT-86, Subaru has yet to stick an official name to its version or show an official picture of the car. For now, Subaru is referring to its compact sports car as the Boxer Sports Car. So what did we learn from the image that Subaru produced at Geneva?
First of all, the Subaru sports car may well be a bit smaller than the Toyota FT-86, measuring about 165 in. from front to rear bumper. Also, the car will look significantly different from the “boy racer”-inspired looks of the Toyota. According to Subaru officials, their car will have completely different front and rear-end styling: so it’s safe to predict that it will be more mature-looking than the Toyota, attracting older buyers and conforming to the company’s premium brand image.
Under the Hood
As for the mechanical components of the car, they should be similar to those of the Toyota FT-86. Under the hood will be a naturally-aspirated 1995-cc flat-4 that will produce 200 bhp and 150 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine will come mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox that will route engine power to the rear wheels. This will result in the lightweight car going from zero to 60 mph in about 6 seconds or less. While the Toyota FT-86 will be rear-wheel-drive, the Subaru version will most likely come with all-wheel-drive. Don’t rule out the introduction of an STI model down the line, one with a significant power increase via forced induction.
As for other thing we learned from Subaru’s display, we can conclude that the car will come with the same basic front and rear suspension setup as the Impreza, use a shortened version of Impreza’s drive shaft and incorporate the Impreza STI’s rear differential.
The Subaru Boxer sports car is expected to make its debut late this year or in early 2012, so don’t be surprised to see it at the Tokyo Motor Show this fall. Price is expected to be in the neighborhood of $25,000.
Last edited by Space; 04-10-2011 at 07:26 AM.
#10
04-10-2011, 07:46 AM
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