Car News
Mitsubishi i-MiEV Prototype to Enter 2012 Pikes Peak Hill Climb
Mitsubishi Motors announced that it will compete in this year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with an all-electric prototype based on the i-MiEV model.
The Mitsubishi i-MiEV Prototype will be driven by Hiroshi Masuoka, someone who participated in the Dakar Rally 21 time and who won it consecutively in 2002 and 2003 in a Pajero and Pajero Evolution model respectively.
UK Only: BMW M3 Limited Edition 500
BMW announces a limited edition BMW M3 restricted to 500 exemplars for the UK. The car will come with enhanced specification and bespoke features and will be available in both Coupe and Convertible body styles.
Offered in Imola Red, Mineral White or Santorini Blue exterior colours the BMW M3 Limited Edition 500 will be distinguished from the rest of the range through the dark chrome finishes applied to the kidney grille surround, side gills and twin double exhaust pipes, plus its 19-inch light-alloy wheels also featuring a high-gloss finish.
smart BRABUS electric drive and ebike
German tuner Brabus is going to showcases its updated versions Smart fortwo electric drive and smart ebike in Geneva this year.
The smart BRABUS electric drive has an output og 60 kW and 135 Nm of torque (up from 55 kW) and features a sports suspension that positions the car with 10 mm closer to the asphalt. On the outside the small city car looks sportier due to new elements such as the new front spoiler and rear apron insert with double reflectors and its glossy black body and contrasting green painted tridion safety cell and mirror caps.
Four VW up! Concepts heading to Geneva
Volkswagen will bring four up! concepts at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show next week in order to show the versatility of their new compact city car.
The first is the Swiss up! concept which reflects the colours of the Swiss flag by featuring a tornado red paintwork, contrasting white mirror housings, a white dashboard, red bezels around the air vents and a leather band across the back of each front seat.
The second one is called winter up! and is based on the cross up! concept, first seen at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2011. In this case we are talking about a Pure White and Malibu Blue paint scheme, a raised ride height, underbody protection and snowboards on the roof. The winter up! features FWD along with ESP and and electronic differential lock that should help in slippery conditions.
Audi R18 e-tron quattro
Audi is presenting the R18 e-tron quattro, its new Le Mans prototype which will have its race debut at the Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) on May 5th.
The Audi R18 e-tron quattro is a four-wheel driven diesel hybrid which uses a kinetic energy recovery system on the front axle that feeds electricity into a flywheel accumulator before being retrieved back to the electric motors powering the front wheels, and a V6 TDI diesel plant delivering 510 HP (375 kW) to the rear wheels.
MTM Audi Q3 and Volkswagen T5
German tuner MTM has also announced its highlights for this year’s edition Geneva Motor Show. They plan on introducing two packages, one for the Audi Q3 and one the Volkswagen T5 van.
The MTM Audi Q3 will feature a power upgrade kit that increases the output on its 2.0-litre TFSI engine from 170 HP to 310 HP, so this way the small crossover’s performance figures improve to 6.1 seconds from 0 to 100 Kmph and a top speed of 250 Km/h.
MTM’s kit for the Audi Q3 costs 59,000 Euro and it also include a lowered suspension, a sports exhaust system, 20 inch Bimoto lightweight alloys and an optional foil wrap featuring Germany’s national colours.
2013 Buick Enclave Teaser
We have to change our focus from the 2012 Geneva Motor Show for one second and tell you about the 2013 Buick Enclave which will premiere at the New York Auto Show in April.
The North American automaker has released a teaser image through which it announced this redesigned model, and which offers a peak at what the luxury crossover’s new cabin will look like.
GM says that apart from a number of moder design updates, the 2013 Buick Enclave will also feature ‘industry-exclusive safety technology’, with the company promising to release full information in the following weeks.
G Power 2012 BMW M5 F10
G-Power released more photos and details referring to their Stage 1 tuning program for the 2012 BMW M5 F10.
The program adds 80 HP (59 kW) and 97 Nm of torque to the standard 560 HP and 680 Nm through revised engine electronics and an ASA supercharger which bring the M5’s 4.4-litre V8 to a total of 640 horses and 777 Nm of peak torque.
G Power says that unlike many tuners who simply push the output figures, their program is a well-balanced, high-quality package which also focuses on reducing stress on the transmission.
Hyundai i-oniq Concept: First Image
Here is the first official image with the Hyundai i-oniq, the concept that showcases new technology and design which will presented at the automaker’s stand in Geneva from March 6th.
The i-oniq will demonstrate Hyundai’s ‘New Thinking’ and is an electric sports hatchback featuring a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder engine that acts like a range extender which is linked to a lithium ion electric motor via a generator.
Through this setup the i-oniq produces 109 PS, and is able to cover 120 Km/h in electric mode, and up to 700 Km with assistance from the petrol engine. CO2 levels when the 1.0-litre engine is in use reach 45 grams per Km.
MANSORY McLaren MP4-12C
Numerous tuners will use the 2012 Geneva Motor Show as the place to expose their latest range of upgrades and accessories for many of today’s sports cars.
One such tuner is MANSORY who will bring their customised McLaren MP4-12C in the Swiss capital, a vehicle which is described as a work of art featuring an unique body package as well us boosted performance.
The list of body enhancements includes an ultralight bonnet with exposed carbon fiber sections, new aprons, wings, mirror housings also made out of carbon which widen the vehicle by 60 mm, newly designed side sills, plus a rear wing and rear diffuser which help increase downforce on the rear axle.