2011- November in a nutshell

November-, there were two motor shows - the LA Motor show and the Toyko motor show- and showed you exciting new metal in the shape of the Subaru BRZ STI (LA), as well as a plethora of wacky Tokyo concepts, the Daihatsu D-X being no exception. Towards the end of the month, yet another blow was dealt to Saab, this time Saab GB, which took a decision to go into administartion.

Merry Christmas

Thank you for reading this blog and we all wish you a merry christmas and a happy new year!!!!!

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Car heaven

2011- October in a nutshell

October- The icon that was the Honda NSX made the headlines this month with plans to re-make the Japanese supercar legend. Peugeot also had an icon, the 208GTI, which was revealed this month. Bentely also confirimed that it would be putting it's 12 cylinder engine in to a new luxury SUV. The big talk of the month was the new sixth-generation BMW 3 series.



Peugeot 208 GTI



The new 3-Series

2011- September in a nutshell

September- When one of the most important motor shows comes to Frankfurt something's going to happen. This year it was the turn of the amazing Jauguar C-X16 (named so because it is Ian Callum's 16th Jaguar design). The motor show also included the public unveling of the Porsche 911, the VW up! and the ST ariants of the Ford Focus and Fiesta. You could hardly miss the Maserati Kubang SUV. And the least pratical british car (probably!) was revealed, the BAC Mono.

The new Porsche 911

Maserati Kubang

BAC Mono

Jaguar C-X16



2011- August in a nutshell

August- A quiet month for carmakers this August. The BMW i3 and i8 electric cars were revealed. Audi's two seat city car was revealed followed by the Ferrari 458 Spider and the Land Rover DC100 concept.


Ferrari 458 Spider



Land Rover DC100

2011- July in a nutshell

July- The month started with the Goodwood festival of speed. It was one of the highlights of the motorsport season. And it was followed, seven days later, by another: a British F1 grand prix to savour, with Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso reminding us of the talents that made him a world champion. The new 991 generation 911 was revealed and the VW Beetle was revealed as well.


VW Beetle

Porsche 911 (991)



2011- June in a nutshell

June- The last gasp of the 997 generation of the Porsche 911 was the GT3RS 4.0. It was a track focused car to make the 997 generation 911 go off with a bang. Volkswagen unvelied a Golf R Cabriolet at the Wortheese tuning festival in Austria. BMW revealed that it would invest £500million in it's facility in Oxford.


Golf R Cabriolet

Porsche 911 GT3RS 4.0



2011- May in a nutshell



Lamborghini Aventador

May- May started with the biggest supercar of the year, the Lamborghini Aventador. Then the good news for supercar fans kept on coming with the announcement that the Jaguar CX-75 will make production. To top it all off, Zagato announced that it would make a limited run of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage Zagato.


Jaguar CX-75

V12 Zagato

2011- April in a nutshell

April- If you want conformation of how quick the car industry goes, here it is. Just weeks after the first drives in the Evoque, it's rival the golf-based Q3 arrives. You may remember we wrote about it long ago. This wasn't as big as when BMW launched it's 320d Efficient Dynamics to beat the Lexus CT200h. Also BMW's M division shows us it can make one of the best drivers cars with the 1M.



BMW 1M



Audi Q3

2011- March in a nutshell

March- the month of the Geneva Motor show. Alfa Romeo showed it's 4C Concept and also there was the production version of the Ferrari FF Shooting Brake, the 1100bhp mad Koeinisegg Agera R, the Morgan Three Wheeler and down to earth with the 88mpg Kia Rio and the Skoda VisionD Concept car.



Alfa 4C

Morgan Three Wheeler

Koeinisegg Agera R

2011- February in a nutshell



Smart Forspeed Roadster

February- The shortest month of the year was all about Electric vehicles, either half or fully electric. The Tesela Model S saloon, Smart Forspeed Roadster, tests of the Fisker Karma. And biggest of all the Range Rover Evoque. The british brand Aston Martin also restarted it's Virage, set between the DB9 and the DBS.


The Evoque

2011- January in a nutshell



Pagani Huayra

January- The Detroit Motor show started off the year with the Porsche 918 RSR. By the end of January Ferrari had unveiled its FF, the four seat, four wheel drive shooting brake. Down to earth now and Ford unveiled its long-awaited Focus. Pagani  also unveiled it's V12, 700hp successor to the Zonda, the Huayra.

Ferrari FF

918 RSR





Lexus LF-LC concept

The Lexus LF-LC sports car concept has been leaked ahead of its Detroit motor show debut next month. Lexus has confirmed the images are genuine and says the concept “takes the new Lexus design direction one step further”. The LF-LC previews a luxurious new 2+2 coupe that Lexus is known to be considering for production. The futuristic styling of the car evolves the L-Finesse design language for Lexus’s production cars, seen in its latest more aggressive guise on the new Lexus GS and to make it onto next year’s new Lexus IS.

Audi A1 Quattro- revealed

Audi is poised to take the supermini class by storm with a limited-production, 252bhp, four-wheel-drive A1. The A1 quattro not only aims to land a knockout blow on the likes of the Renault Clio Cup and Ford Fiesta ST, but it will also eclipse hot hatches such as the Renault Mégane 250 and Ford Focus ST. It will even have the straight-line performance to match Audi’s own S3.

Chevrolet Aveo hot hatch revealed

General Motors will enter the hot hatch ranks in 2012 with the launch of this new Chevrolet Sonic RS. The model will make its debut at the Detroit motor show next month, but GM has yet to officially confirm whether the model will make it the UK as a Chevrolet Aveo RS. A company source said if a decision was taken to launch the car in the UK, its likely on sale date would be 2013. Powering the five-door Sonic RS is a turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol engine producing 136bhp and 147lb ft. Transmission options include a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic, although GM has revealed no performance figures for either set-up.

Donkervoot D8 GTO revealed

Donkervoort has revealed the latest addition to its track-focused range, the Donkervoort D8 GTO. The open-topped Donkervoort D8 GTO features the same 2.5-litre, five-cylinder engine as used in the Audi TT RS, with power increased to 395bhp and maximum torque of 331lb ft delivered at 1600rpm. The D8 GTO weighs about 700kg and has a 0-60mph time of around three seconds and a top speed of 158mph.

Saab- A Brief History

This looks like the end for Saab. So here is the brief history of Saab

1937- Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget is founded to manufacture military aircraft in the industrial town of Trollhättan.
1945- Saab diversifies into cars. During the next two years, prototypes 92.001 (known as the Ursaab) and 92.002 commence testing.
1949- Production of the 92 starts. It is powered by a 764cc, twin cylinder, two-stroke engine, driving the front wheels.
1955- Saab 93 replaces the 92. It has a 748cc three-cylinder engine, developing 33bhp, and new frontal styling and suspension.
1959- Saab’s first station wagon, the Saab 95, is launched. The engine is enlarged to 841cc and features a fold-down, rear-facing third row of seats, making it a seven-seater.
1960- The Saab 96 saloon is unveiled. Saab Great Britain Ltd is established.
1966- Saab's first four-stroke engine, a Ford-built V4, is introduced in the Saab 96 and 95. The old two-stroke engine is taken out of production when the V4 becomes a success.
1967- The Saab 99 saloon is premiered in Stockholm. It is the first all-new model since the Saab 92-96. Power is provided by a 1.7-litre four-cylinder engine developed for Saab by Ricardo and built by Triumph in England.
1968- Saab merges with truck company Scania
1974- The Saab 99 range of two and four-door saloons is expanded with the launch of a three-door hatchback, marketed as ‘Combi Coupé’, which lives on in various guises until 2002.
1976- The one-millionth Saab car comes off the line at Trollhättan. A five-door 99 appears and Saab creates a sensation by revealing an innovative turbocharged engine will be installed in the 99 in 1977.
1978- The Saab 900, an evolution of the 99, goes on sale. Production of the Saab 95 ceases. Saab concludes a collaboration agreement with Fiat/Lancia. The two firms co-develop the Type Four chassis, which produces the Alfa Romeo 164, Fiat Croma, Saab 9000 and Lancia Thema.
1984- The Saab 9000 five-door luxury car is revealed. It is only the third all-new model to come from Saab. Annual Saab production exceeds 100,000 cars for the first time.
1986- The Saab 900 Convertible goes on sale. The following year, total Saab production passes the two million mark.
1993- An all-new, second generation Saab 900 is launched. Technical features include an automatic clutch system. Saab also offers a V6 engine for the first time.
1997- Saab celebrates its 50th anniversary as a car maker and launches the new Saab 9-5, a four-door saloon to replace the 9000.
2002- The all-new Saab 9-3 Sport Saloon is launched to the world's press at Stockholm in July. It is Saab's first compact, premium saloon.
2003- The Saab 9-3 Convertible is unveiled at Geneva Motor Show in March. Saab declares its intention to enter the compact wagon segment by unveiling the Saab 9-3 Sport-Hatch Concept.
2005- Saab enters the premium, compact estate segment with the Saab 9-3 SportWagon. The four millionth Saab rolls off the production line at Trollhättan.
2011- In April, Saab chiefs admit they are searching for some ‘short and medium term funding’ after halting the car production line due to lack of cash to pay component suppliers. Production halts again in June, and Saab enters reorganisation in September. The company filed for bankruptcy on 19th December

Saab 99

Saab 900SE Turbo

Saab 92

Goodbye Saab

Reviewed- Mariokart 7

Mariokart 7 is the latest of the series and is better than ever. More tracks. More items. More characters. The series has just got better. The graphics are amazing, especially in 3D. You can now fly and drive underwater. There are also new karts. One of the new items, the Lucky 7 is amazing. Most of the items you can get flies around you, ready for you to fire them off to your opponents.

RATINGS
Good- Lots of new content
Bad- Not much
Rating- 9.5/10



Tokyo Motor Show: Suzuki Swift EV

Suzuki has revealed details of its new Suzuki Swift EV hybrid range extender, unveiled at the Tokyo motor show today. The new concept uses a plug-in hybrid range extender system, which would offer up to 18 miles on electricity alone before the small capacity petrol motor will kick in to charge the lithium-ion batteries. The benefit of having a shorter range is that the Swift takes just 90 minutes for a full recharge of a 200V supply.



Tokyo Motor Show: Suzuki Regina

The new Suzuki Regina concept, revealed at the Tokyo motor show is the Suzuki’s idea of a new, global small car. It has a low weight and aerodynamics, the Suzuki Regina concept uses an 800cc turbocharged petrol motor, a new CVT transmission, brake regeneration and auto stop-start to achieve its impressive 75mpg claimed combined economy figure.





Tokyo Motor Show- VW Cross Coupe

Powering the Cross Coupé is a petrol-electric hybrid system capable of providing drive to either the front wheels or all four wheels via a seven-speed double clutch gearbox, depending on the driving conditions. It combines Volkswagen’s familiar turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder direct injection TSI petrol engine producing 148bhp and 155lb ft of torque with a pair of brushless electric motors.





Revealed- 5 door Audi A1

Audi has unveiled the promised five-door version of its A1 supermini, and plans to have it in UK showrooms early in 2012. At launch, the Sportback will be offered with the same four-level engine with which the three-door began with. The entry-level Sportback 1.2 SE five-door costs £13,980.



RWD Gallardo Spyder

The Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Spyder uses much the same technology as the Balboni. Acceleration from 0-62mph is 4.9secs and the top speed is 198mph. It will cost £158,797.60 when it comes out in Spring 2012

  

LA Motor Show- Ford Flex

Ford US’s seven-seat, three-row Flex crossover is also the world’s first production car to get inflatable, airbag, rear seat belts. There are two 3.5-litre V6 engines: 285bhp and a 355bhp Ecoboost, both connected to a six-speed Selectshift transmission that offers manual or automatic operation.



LA Motor Show- Camaro ZL1 Convertible

The 2013 model year Camaro ZL1 Convertible is fast – its supercharged 6.2-litre V8 puts out a peak 572bhp and 556lb ft of torque, beating the of the Ford Shelby GT500 Convertible. Performance figures haven't been released yet, the Coupe version of the Camaro ZL1 cover 0-60mph in 3.9sec and has a top speed of 184mph. The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible will be available in the US in the summer of next year. Pricing has yet to be announced.



LA Motor Show- Fiat 500 Abarth US Version

 The 500 Abarth has a turbocharged, twin-intercooled 1.4-litre MultiAir engine that delivers about 158bhp at 5500rpm and 170lb ft at 2500-4000rpm and is connected to a five-speed manual transmission. Exterior styling includes a rear splitter and new nose section.

LA Motor Show- Ford Kuga

The new SUV’s styling closely follows the European-designed Vertrek concept unveiled in Detroit at the beginning of the year. Although a new Mondeo is due next year, the Kuga will probably be Ford’s most important launch of 2012. It replaces the Escape in the US.

LA Motor Show- Jaguar XKR-S Convertible

The new Jaguar XKR-S convertible is being said as the most powerful and fastest open-topped GT model that the company has ever built. The Jaguar XKR-S convertible makes its public debut at the LA Motor Show. It joins the XKR-S at the top of the range.  It can hit 62mph in just 4.2sec and has a limited top speed of 186mph. Jaguar predicts the price will be around £103,000.

LA Motor Show- 2013 Mustang GT500

The figures of 650bhp and 600lb ft from the 5.8-litre supercharged unit make it the most powerful production V8 engine on the planet. The clutch, transmission and axle have all been upgraded and the Ford Shelby GT500 also gets a new carbonfibre driveshaft, cross-drilled block and heads and updated camshaft profiles. Other tweaks include a new downforce-generating front grille, a redesigned splitter that is designed to make the car feel more planted at speeds of 160mph-plus and a new quad exhaust system. Its top speed is around 200mph. The price of the new Ford Shelby GT500 hasn’t been set, although the current version is available on import to the UK for between £40-50,000.

Revealed- Mercedes ML63 AMG

This is the new, 518bhp Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG, which will go on sale in the UK next spring after its world debut at this week's Los Angeles motor show. It is powered by AMG's new twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8 engine. Compared with its predecessor's normally aspirated 6.2-litre V8, the 5.5 brings a gain of 15bhp and a 51lb ft hike in torque to 516lb ft, delivered from just 1750rpm.  Economy and CO2 emissions are 23.9mpg and 276g/km.