Car NEWS log

When Chrysler introduced its Dodge Challenger SRT Wednesday at the Chicago Auto, it went straight into talking about power. The car was designed to outperform the classic 1970’s Dodge muscle car of the same name.

But after touting the Challenger’s 4.9 second 0-to-60 miles per hour speed, Chrysler vice chairman and president Jim Press reminded the audience of journalists and industry executives that Chrysler features a full line of more practical vehicles.

“This is a great car but its not all we’re building,” Press said. “We’ve got Journey crossover which gets 28 mpg, and the Durango hybrid (sport utility vehicle), those are our vegetables. We’ve got our Ram, which is our meat and potatoes. But you’ve got to have desert, don’t ya’? Trust me, (Challenger) is sweet.”

With a price tag of nearly $38,000, you could also say the 2009 Challenger is rich. However, this initial release is a limited edition and the vehicle’s next model will feature a wider range of prices, the company said.

The updated Challenger embraces its history as a drag-racing favorite, with electronic dashboard gauges that display the vehicle’s 0-60 speed, its quarter-mile driving time and measures the amount of gravitational force the driver is experiencing.

Chrysler’s executive vice president of product development, Frank Klegon, summed up the vehicle up by saying, Challenger is “built by gear heads for gear heads.”

The 2008 Volvo C30 that is available in two models this year: Version 1.0 and Version 2.0. No matter which model the consumer decides upon, they’ll end up with a sporty, sophisticated coupe that begs to be driven. Available in 17 different colors, drivers are sure to find a hue that matches their dream color.

Each car comes with a five-cylinder turbocharged engine that has variable all valve timing and 227 horsepower. Despite being so powerful for such a small car, it complies with even the most stringent emission standards, including California’s ULEV II.

That said, there are some significant differences between the C30 Version 1.0 and the C30 Version 2.0. For example, Version 1.0 comes with a high performance audio system, while Version 2.0 has a standard premium sound audio system, featuring 10 speakers made by Dynaudio (some of the best in its class). Also, Version 2.0 has a Sirius Satellite Radio with a six-month free subscription.

Besides those differences, the C30 Version 1.0 is delivered with a standard chassis, while its counterpart has a dynamic chassis. Both come with Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC). DSTC makes sure that the tires hang on to the road, even in slippery and otherwise less than perfect driving conditions. Drivers even have the flexibility of setting the system a specific way to make sure there’s plenty of traction in snowy conditions.

For an extra $675, ’08 Volvo C30 purchasers can add on a Climate Package. This package includes heated front seats, a rain sensing windshield and headlight washers. The latter come in handy during snowstorms when snow, slush and salt can build up and decrease the brightness of the headlights. Also, a cabin filter is offered, free of charge, which prevents common allergens like dust and pollen from entering the cabin through the ventilation system.

Challenger SRT8 live reveal in Chicago! Viva la revolution! After years of looking at spy photos, renderings and concept versions — the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 is here, for real. Powered by the 6.1-liter HEMI V8, this HEMI orange muscle car puts out 425 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque. for a total of 69.8 horsepower per liter. How fast is it? Good question. The performance “targets” were a 0-60 mph time in the low fives, a quarter-mile in less than 14 seconds, at least 0.88 g’s on the skidpad and a 60-0 mph stopping time of about 110 feet.

We’re busy covering the ins and outs of the Chicago auto show, but already we’re hearing of GM’s plans for the Geneva show next month. Although three world debuts are slated for the show, we only know a little about one – the concept for the next-generation Opel Meriva crossover.

(Click through for more on the upcoming concept)

All we’re offered at this point is an artist’s sketch, but we’re already seeing the connection between the Meriva and last year’s Flextreme concept. Opel claims much of the car references the sexy GTC concept, particularly the belt line and rear lamp assemblies, but the overall profile and glass shape stem directly from the Flextreme.

Although the Meriva will technically be shown as a concept, our guess is the production version would differ little from what we’ll see in Switzerland. We’ll bring you more on the Opel when WINDING ROAD sees the concept in person on March 4.

GM RELEASE

MERIVA CONCEPT TO MAKE GENEVA DEBUT

* Vision of GM’s future small monocab
* Design cues from other concepts including GTC Coupe and Flextreme
* Due to be unveiled on March 4th

Already Europe’s market leader in the monocab sector, with one in five pan-European sales being a Zafira, Meriva or Agila, Vauxhall and Opel are set to unveil their vision of the future at the Geneva Motor Show on March 4th.

The Meriva Concept draws styling cues previous GM styling studies to show how the company’s next generation small monocab could look, including the distinctive tick-shaped swage line and neat rear lamp clusters that typified the GTC Coupe and Flextreme models.

Another neat feature of the Meriva Concept is the shape of the glass area, which swoops down towards the B-Pillar – a feature that would allow rear seat passengers a better all-round view if it were offered on a production model.

The Meriva Concept is one of three GM world premieres set to appear at the show.

The go-one³ is a “Human Powered Vehicle” [HPV], complete with headlight, backlight and turn signals. By the end of this year these electrical conveniences will be expanded to include an optional 500 Watt electric assist motor. Designed by Michael Goretsky.
(more…)

Volvo recalls vehicles worldwide due to faulty airbags. Congress, Returning From Break, Has Much Work to Finish Before the. Where the road has two Hp toner lanes, two southbound lanes and a center turn lane. Your news when you want it. It will let Volvo drivers take advantage of subscription free high definition broadcasting, which is currently available on more than, U. (more…)

According to AutoExpress news, Jaguar funds for rehabilitation E-Type, and hoping against 911 and Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Two weeks later, the current Jaguar sales will be completed, then Tata’s first decision will be reached.

Jaguar in 2000 based on the F-Type concept car introduced a new E-Type is very close to the production version model, but this model was then the boss of Ford rejected. FoMoCo believe should be focused on the development of Jaguar’s new X-Type and diesel-powered.

Jaguar now chairman Geoff Polites confirmed in future models of plans contain many choices, many of whom are two-seat sports car.

With this decision spread like wildfire, imaginary map immediately online, including as follows speculation, the car will carry XF from a 4.2-liter supercharged engine, and a five liters of 500 supercharged engine. All engines will be equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission, and support the Stubbs-shift device.

There have been rumors that Toyota is working on a replacement for the discontinued Celica, but now there are more rumors that the next-gen Celica could be built by Subaru.

According to Japanese magazine Best Car Toyota is going to release two versions of the Celica that will borrow parts from Subaru, by 2011. The base GT version is going to be powered by a 2.0L Subaru 4-cylinder engine that produces 200 horsepower. The top of the line GT-Four version is going to be powered by the same 300 horsepower engine in the Japanese spec Impreza STI.

The next-generation Celica could also be offered in two-door and three-door configurations. A hybrid is also rumored.

Full Story: Motor Trend

BMW UK has announced additions to the 3 Series Convertible and 1 Series Coupé ranges. The new BMW 320d Convertible and 125i Coupé will receive their world debuts at the Geneva Motorshow in March alongside an EfficientDynamics concept car and a raft of other new models.

Highlight of the BMW stand at the Geneva Motorshow will be a concept car showcasing the outlook and future direction of BMW’s innovative EfficientDynamics programme. It will appear alongside the worldwide debut for the forthcoming BMW M3 Convertible with M Double Clutch Transmission. The new BMW X6 and 1 Series Convertible also make their European debuts.

The new BMW 320d Convertible

Following the announcement of the new BMW M3 Convertible at one extreme of the open-top car spectrum, BMW introduces the most frugal Convertible in the 3 Series range, the 320d. Available in both SE and M Sport guises, the new 320d uses the same 1,995 cc engine from other 320d models in the 3 Series range to offer 177hp and 350Nm of torque.

This single-turbocharged two-litre diesel engine propels the 320d Convertible from zero to 62mph in 8.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 139mph. EfficientDynamics plays a part in the car’s performance with stop-start technology on manual cars, a second-generation common-rail injection engine, and a Diesel Particulate Filter fitted as standard. These technologies ensure that the new 320d Convertible is BMW’s most frugal open-topped 3 Series, delivering an impressive 53.3mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions of just 140g/km.

The 320d SE Convertible is priced at £33,110 OTR with the M Sport model priced at £35,735 OTR. Both models go on sale in March 2008.

The new BMW 125i Coupé

The BMW 1 Series Coupé range has been strengthened with the addition of a fourth derivative. The six-cylinder 125i joins the twin-turbo 135i M Sport, the four-cylinder 120d, and the 123d that features the world’s most powerful four-cylinder diesel engine in a production car.

Generating 218hp from its 2,996 cc engine, the new 125i Coupé accelerates from zero to 62mph in 6.4 seconds and achieves a top speed of 152mph. EfficientDynamics ensures that this level of performance doesn’t compromise the car’s consumption and emissions with the two-door Coupé delivering 35.8mpg on the combined cycle and emitting 190g/km of CO2.

The new 125i Coupé SE costs £23,195 OTR while the M Sport derivative, with its 18-inch alloy wheels, sport seats and body styling, costs £25,050 OTR. The new BMW 125i Coupé goes on sale in March 2008.

Other Geneva Motorshow introductions

The new BMW M3 Convertible

The new BMW M3 Convertible is the fourth generation of BMW’s open-topped M3 and the first M car to feature a Retractable Hard-Top. It is also the first car to feature BMW’s new seven-speed M Double Clutch Transmission (M DCT) as an option. Changing gear using either paddles on the steering wheel or the gear lever, the new M DCT gearbox has the next gear pre-selected in readiness and changes gear in just a few milliseconds. The M DCT-equipped car also outperforms the manual gearbox car in terms of outright performance, economy and emissions.

The new M3 Convertible’s engine develops 420hp at 8,300rpm and 400Nm of torque at 3,900rpm from its 3,999cc V8-power unit. When equipped with its standard six-speed manual gearbox, this engine powers the car from zero to 62mph in 5.3 seconds and on to an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph. However, even with these supercar levels of performance, BMW’s EfficientDynamics programme ensures that economy is not compromised with the car delivering 21.9mpg on the combined cycle.

The new BMW X6

The new BMW X6 Sports Activity Coupé is the latest in BMW’s X family of Sports Activity models. It’s also the first time that BMW has combined the safety and convenience of the command driving position with the on-road performance of a sports car, all wrapped in a coupé body style.

In another BMW first, the entire model range is turbocharged with the X6 offering a quartet of forced induction power plants. The range flagship is an all-new twin-turbocharged V8, the X6 xDrive50i, producing 408hp. The configuration of the new V8 engine is unique too. It is the first engine in the world to locate twin-turbochargers and a catalytic converter within the vee of the engine.

The V8-engined car is joined by the 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged six-cylinder petrol-engined X6 xDrive35i producing 306hp.

The X6 will also offer two turbocharged diesel-powered derivatives. The BMW X6 xDrive30d is powered by a single-turbocharged six-cylinder diesel engine featuring third-generation common-rail fuel injection and producing 235hp. The BMW X6 xDrive35d uses an award-winning twin-turbocharged six-cylinder diesel engine to produce 286hp.

BMW specification enhancements

From March, all BMW 1 Series, 3 Series and X3 models receive floor mats and front seat ISOFIX child seat fixings as standard.

Purchasers of BMW 3 Series Saloon and Touring models now also benefit from navigation and visibility value-added packages. Media Package – Business offers customers Business navigation (complete with map and arrow view), Bluetooth mobile telephone connectivity and BMW’s ConnectedDrive Assist and Online for a package price of £1,645 (£2,115 on ES). This represents a significant saving of up to £635 compared to the individual option pricing.

Media Package – Professional upgrades Business navigation with Professional navigation (complete with its widescreen format and perspective map view), and adds Voice Control, all for a package price of £1,935 (£2,405 on ES), saving up to £745.

BMW 3 Series Saloon and Touring customers can also specify the Visibility Package. Ideal for motoring in the dark winter months, the package contains Adaptive Xenon headlights, Headlight washers, Rain sensor with automatic headlight activation and BMW’s innovative High-beam assistant. Priced from £605, this package saves the customer up to £270 compared to ordering the individual options.

Buyers of twin-turbo BMW 123d and 135i models can opt for an automatic gearbox with steering wheel-mounted paddles for £1,505.

Finally, prospective owners of 1 Series cars now have a significantly wider colour choice. Jet Black, Crimson Red, Monaco Blue metallic, Bluewater metallic, and Sparkling Graphite metallic are being introduced on Convertible models at its launch. Bluewater metallic will also be available on 1 Series Coupé, 3 and 5-door Hatch models, with Tahiti Green metallic also available on the Hatch.

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 8-passenger, 5-door wagonESTIMATED PRICE AS TESTED: $58,000 (base price: $56,285)

ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection Displacement: 346 cu in, 5663cc
Power (SAE net): 381 bhp @ 5600 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 401 lb-ft @ 3600 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic with manumatic shifting

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 122.0 in Length: 205.1 in Width: 79.9 in Height: 74.6 in Curb weight: 6100 lb

SULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 6.6 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 18.5 sec
Zero to 110 mph: 23.6 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 15.2 sec @ 92 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 184 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad*: 0.73 g

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 13/18 mpg
C/D observed: 12 mpg