Car News
2012 Audi S8
The four ringed automaker has officially unveiled the S8 variation of their flagship sedan, the Audi A8.
With the public premiere scheduled to take place at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, the 2012 Audi S8 comes with a series of sportier, yet discrete styling touches that include a new chrome grille, a reshaped front apron and front lip, a new rear bumper designed to accommodate the four exhaust pipes plus 20 inch alloys wrapped in tires size 265/40.
Inside the 2012 Audi S8 the automaker has also added a series of sportier looking elements, and this includes the sport seats and the sports steering wheel, but as you can imagine, the most important aspect about this new model is under the bonnet. That is where the company’s engineers have fitted a 4.0-litre TFSI twin-turbo V8 featuring direct-injection and tuned to produce 520 HP and 650 Nm (479,42 lb-ft) of torque between 1,700 and 5,500 rpm.
Ford Evos Concept
The Blue Oval has unveiled the Ford Evos Concept, a car which showcases the automaker’s “first truly global design language” and which will be seen in the flesh at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. Developed by the a global team the car is part of the automaker’s One Ford product plan, and its new design language will serve as inspiration for the next generation models, with the first production car inspired by the Evos expected to be revealed in 2012.
Shaped as a dramatic four-door, four-seat fastabck the Ford Evos Concept measures 4,5 m in lenght, 1,97 m in width and 1.36 m in height (wheelbase of 2,74 m) and spins its wheels thanks to a state-of-the-art lithium-ion plug-in hybrid system.
Frankfurt 2011: Alfa Romeo 4C Concept
Even though previous reports mentioned the fact that the Italians from Alfa Romeo will bring a new version of the 4C Concept at this year’s IAA Show, the Milano based company announced that the only true difference between the Frankfurt bound concept and the car seen in Geneva last March will be its Fluid Metal exterior colour.
Expected to go on sale in 2013, the 4C Concept represents an ambassador for the DNA Technology, and once the greenline for production will be given, the car will feature numerous technological elements that will underline its compact supercar abilities and will distinguish it as a true Alfa Romeo.
2012 Fiat Punto
The 2012 Fiat Punto will premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show in about two weeks, and at the beginning of next year, the new generation hatchback will already go on sale.
Visually the 2012 MY Punto remains almost unchanged, as it only brings a series of new exterior colours, body matching bumpers, newly designed 15 inch alloys and new seating upholsteries, but it terms of mechanics, this facelift version marks the introduction of the 85 HP 0.9 TwinAir turbo engine and the evolution of the 85 HP 1.3 Multijet.
Abarth Punto SuperSport
Apart from the 695 Competizione and the 500 Cabrio Italia, Abarth will also premiere the Punto SuperSport in Frankfurt next month.
Characterised by the same Grigio Campovolo two-tone livery as the 695 Competizione enriched by a matte black paintwork across the roof and the bonnet, the Abarth Punto SuperSport has also been equipped with black mirrors covers, 18 inch 12-spoke design alloys also painted in black and contrasting red brake callipers.
Abarth 695 Competizione
A second Abarth enhanced model which will premiere at the 2011 IAA in Frankfurt in September will be the 695 Competizione, a car based on the Abarth 500 Assetto Corse which will bring various race derived features on a model that is street legal.
The Abarth 695 Competizione comes in an exclusive Grigio Competizione Opaco livery and is powered by a 1.4-litre 16-valve Turbo T-Jet engine tuned to produce 180 HP via an electromechanical gearbox controlled via steering wheel mounted paddle shifters.
Abarth 500 Cabrio Italia
Abarth will premiere the 500 Cabrio Italia based on the Fiat 500C at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show.
This new unique model from Abarth will be limited to only 150 exemplars, all of which will feature a 1.4-litre Turbo T-Jet engine under the bonnet, rated at 160 horsepower (118 kW) and 230 Nm of torque in Sport Mode.
Thanks to its 1,368 cc 4-cylinder four-valve engine fitted with an IHI turbocharger, the Abarth 500 Cabrio Italia can reach a top speed of 211 kmph and also sprint from nought to 100 Km/h (0 to 62 mph) in 7.4 seconds. The Sport button inside the car is responsible for regulating the engine’s overboost function and also for controlling the turbo boost pressure and the steering wheel resistance at high speeds.
2012 Fiat Panda
The Italian automaker will bring the 2012 Fiat Panda at this year’s 64th edition Frankfurt Motor Show, and has already published and initial set of photos and details referring to the new mini model.
Measuring 3,650 mm in length, 1,640 mm in width and 1,550 mm in height, the automaker says the 2012 Fiat Panda is “easier to move, park, have the right amount of space and modulate it to your liking, feel at ease and relate with others.”
2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Facelift
The 2012 Genesis Coupe could be unveiled at the North American International Auto Show, so stay tuned for official details.
Photos with the 2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe appeared online yesterday thanks to a forum member at Gencoupe who immortalized the facelift version with his cell phone while the car was being transported on a ship.
As you can clearly see the 2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe comes with a totally new front fascia which resembles the one on the Veloster and which includes a more prominent grille, redesigned headlamps and fog lights and a revamped bumper. The car is also spotted wearing two bonnet vents, more aggressive looking alloys wheels, door mirrors with incorporated turn signals and taillights featuring LEDs.
McLaren Launches Special Operations Bespoke Services
British automaker McLaren has just announced the launch of a new division called Special Operations responsible for delivering bespoke projects based on the company’s sports cars.
The first example of what the McLaren Special Operations division is all about was presented at this years Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and we’re talking about a special MP4-12C model featuring a Volcano Orange body finish and a range of bespoke carbon fiber upgrades.