2011 BMW 5-Series Sedan Long-Wheelbase (LWB)

Bmw has just revealed, in premier, his new long-wheelbase 2011 5-Series Sedan, a project developed exclusively for the Chinese market. The new model presents new looks and design lines at high standards, which could please even the most pretentious drivers. Its new design lines shows elegance combined with a sporty style given by a very expressive front end and individual design features along the roofline. The special design is underlined also by the daytime driving lights provided with LED light rings together with optional xenon headlights.

The new BMW Sedan means also one of the most advanced drivetrain and suspension technology, being powered by a range of 3 straight-6 power engines developing between 150 kW/204 hp and 225 kW/306 hp maximum output.

In terms of driving experience, the car presents a unique feature represented by a mixture of a double wishbone front axle and the integral rear axle tailored to each individual model. At the interior, the new long-wheelbase sedan is featured with high comfort rear seat bench and special original options such as four-zone automatic air conditioning, rear-seat entertainment, a cooling box as well as electrically adjustable sunblinds on the rear side windows and a folding table integrated in the backrest of the front passenger’s seat.

The new model benefits of the Efficient Dynamics technology which helps in fuel economy and emission management due to the presence of an eight-speed automatic transmission making an additional contribution to the car’s efficiency just like EPS Electric Power Steering.

New York Auto Show: 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport

American Suzuki Motor Corp. (ASMC) introduced today at the 2010 New York Auto Show the new 2011 Kizashi Sport, offered only for the Kizashi GTS and SLS trim levels. Based on the recently introduced 2010 Kizashi (pronounced “Kee-Zah-Shee”), the new 2011 Kizashi Sport features a new muscular front fascia with chrome accents and lower grille, new side sills, a lower body side molding with chrome accents, a trunk spoiler, custom light weight 18-inch alloy wheels and a 10mm lower ride height in order to obtain better aerodynamics as well as a lower center of gravity.

Inside, the new car features a steering wheel with perforated leather grip and contrasting stitching on the leather seats, a new shifter boot and emergency brake boot, sport seats and driver-centric cockpit.

The new 2010 Kizashi Sport will go on sale in the United States in August and the pricing is set to be announced closer to the launch date.

“We’ve been thrilled with an enthusiastic reaction to the 2010 Kizashi, and we look forward to offering sport sedan buyers the newest iteration of our stylish sport sedan later this year,” said Koichi Suzuki, executive vice president American Suzuki Automotive Operations.

“The Kizashi Sport provides us with an opportunity to build on the sport sedan’s short-term accomplishments and further engage driving enthusiasts looking for an affordable alternative to luxury performance vehicles.”

New York Auto Show: 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

Lincoln unveiled today at the 2010 New York Auto Show the brand new 2011 MKZ Hybrid sedan, a new car which promises to be the most-fuel efficient luxury sedan in America! This is also firm’s first hybrid vehicle and is expected to deliver at least 41 miles per gallon in the city when it will go on sale this fall. This means that the new MKZ Hybrid will be ahead of its competition a.k.a. 2010 Lexus HS 250h by 6 mpg due to the 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle I-4 hybrid engine, named one of Ward’s 2010 “10 Best Engines.” As you expected, the MKZ Hybrid carries also an electric motor and has a total output of 191 hp.

Plus, the pure electric mode on the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid extends to 47 mph – compared with the Lexus HS 250h battery-only mode, which reaches just 25 mph (take that Lexus!). Inside, we find new features and technologies that are either not offered on the Lexus HS 250h or are available only at an extra cost.

These are the SmartGauge with EcoGuide known as the successful interactive technology provides real-time information to help drivers maximize fuel efficiency but also the Lincoln SYNC (Lincoln-exclusive voice-activated communications and entertainment system), 10-way power passenger seat, power driver memory seat settings, heated and cooled front seats, genuine wood trim, reverse sensing system, keyless entry keypad, easy fuel capless fuel-filter, personal safety system, MyKey, integrated spotter mirrors and acoustic laminated windshield.

“Today’s luxury customers do not want to make sacrifices. Lincoln has found a way to deliver a luxury sedan with the comforts they expect, the technology they want and the environmental responsibility society demands,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president, Global Product Development.

2010 Nissan LEAF EV

Nissan Motor Co. is selling the Leaf electric vehicle from 3.76 million yen ($40,640) in Japan while for the North American market the car will be priced at $32,780 MSRP ($2,200 charger not included in the price). It is quite pricey but Nissan is hoping that government subsidies would significantly cut the cost to consumers in order to make it appeal to the masses. To give you some perspective of how this model compares to its rivals – the Leaf is still about 1 million yen ($10,810) less expensive than Mitsubishi Motors Corp.’s i-MiEV electric car. Still, it costs much higher than the Prius, Toyota Motor Corp.’s top-selling gasoline-electric hybrid.

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has revealed that the Leaf will be priced similarly to a high-spec version of a diesel-powered compact car. In Europe, the Leaf is priced at about 35,000 euros ($47,200) to 40,000 euros ($54,000) depending on the brand. The Leaf is set to go on sale in Europe and the US later this year.

Expectations from analysts had been for Nissan to price the Leaf from $25,000 and $30,000 in the US. However, US consumers who buy electric vehicles like the Leaf and the upcoming Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid from General Motors Co. qualify for a $7,500 tax credit. At a news conference on Tuesday, Toshiyuki Shiga, chief operating officer of Nissan, said that having zero emissions is the “most important” aspect in its cars.

He pointed out that the sales point that he wishes to emphasize is that hybrid vehicles still do use up gasoline. For the year ending in March 2011, Nissan has a target to sell 6,000 Leaf cars, its first mass-volume all-electric model, in Japan. Orders will start to be taken in Japan starting April 1. Deliveries will begin in December. When deducting Japanese government subsidies, Nissan expects the net cost to consumers to purchase a new Leaf would be close to 2.99 million yen ($32,373).

2010 Renault Megane GT Line

The Renault Megane line-up gets a boost with the entry of the GT range. Developed by Renaultsport, this range is available for the Hatch, Coupe, Sport Tourer and Coupe-Cabriolet versions of the New Megane. From this range, customers can expect a sports chassis setting, new GT-design front and rear bumpers, 18-inch wheels, Renaultsport 250-specification seats with specific GT upholstery and additional lateral support. This range also gets Renaultsport’s 250-style steering wheel, aluminum pedal set and a dark charcoal interior trim with polished carbon highlights, rear parking sensors and bespoke badging on the grille and boot lid.

The GT versions fill the slot between the Privilege trim and Renaultsport models. Two engines are available: a TCe 180 petrol engine and the powerful, high-torque dCi 160 diesel powerplant. Those who prefer the GT look but with a smaller engine and price can opt for the GT-Line option pack fitted to the Dynamique trim level for only £1,290. The features include a sports chassis, 17- inch alloy wheels, GT front and rear bumpers, anthracite door mirrors and the Renaultsport 250-specification seats with specific GT upholstery and extra lateral support.

For these new versions, nine body colors are available. Malta Blue is exclusive for the GT and GT Line versions of the Megane range. Cayenne Orange, Glacier White and Mercury are exclusive for the Megane Hatch, Coupe and Sport Tourer. Pearlescent White and Royal Blue are intended solely for the Megane Coupe-Cabriolet. However, all four body styles are available in Ruby Red, Pearlescent Black and Eclipse dark grey.

Optional equipment includes metallic paint (£405), Malta Blue or Cayenne Orange i.d. paint (£495), extra-tinted rear windows (£205), dual-zone climate control (£410), heated front seats (£305), electric panoramic sunroof (£615), leather upholstery (£920), bi-xenon headlamps (£665), Carminat TomTom satellite navigation (£460) and the Arkamys 3D sound radio with multifunctional TunePoint (£360).

Mercedes-Benz CLS F800 Style Concepts coming to Beijing Auto Show

The upcoming Mercedes-Benz CLS estate, which is inspired by the classic shooting brake format, will be unveiled in concept car form at the Beijing Motor Show. The new wagon is a modern version of the shooting brake and even as this car is billed as a concept, it is believed to be very close to the production version. Production plans for the new car will be announced soon by Mercedes-Benz.

It will have a £50,000 price tag and will go on sale in the UK in 2012. This CLS estate is included in a diversification plan for the Mercedes-Benz line-up. The carmaker has prepared a range of niche cars, which are adapted from more mainstream models, intended to attract a younger set of customers. The CLS estate isn’t so much a load-hauler as it is a style icon. This car is an alternative to the BMW 5-Series GT and the upcoming Audi A7 – that both have a conventional hatchback.

A Mercedes-Benz insider states that the traditional rules have not been followed and that instead, the established fragments are becoming fragmented. It’s obvious that the estate has similar front-end looks as the new CLS saloon; however, when you look at the B-pillar rearwards, it actually has its own individual styling.

Hennessey Venom GT Supercar

This is the Hennessey Venom GT, set to run in public for the first time at the 2010 Goodwood Festival of Speed. The Venom GT is a supercar based on the Lotus Elise and is capable of delivering 262mph and 1000bhp. We can see that not much of the original Lotus could still be observed on this model. There is an entirely new rear subframe assembly that’s necessary to fit the V8 and six-speed gearbox into the small car. A facility in Silverstone, England, finished the adjustments to the Elise chassis before Hennessey Performance in Texas did the rest of the changes. Powering the Venom GT is a twin-turbocharged version of the Corvette LS9 engine.

This car will be available in three tuning packages. The base model posted 725bhp and 741lb ft of torque. Hennessey develop twin-turbocharged motors — one producing 1000bhp and 900lb ft of twist while the other has an output of 1200bhp and 1100lb ft. These engines are mated to a six-speed Ricardo gearbox with a programmable traction control system. Hennessey has yet to release information on how fast the car can get 60mph, but it claims that all variants can accelerate to this speed in “under three seconds.”

The company also claimed that these cars can go faster than 200mph. To control the Venom GT is a set of 15-inch carbon rotors with six-piston calipers up front and 14-inch carbon rotors with four-pot calipers at the rear. Only 10 cars will be built each year. Hennessey reports that it has already sold four units. Each buyer gets a one-day course on driving the car.