Peugeot EX1 Concept Fastest at the Nurburgring

Nurburgring circuit in Germany is famous for its high difficulty level is often used as a testing and sophisticated cars for car enthusiasts. For electric-powered cars were also often tested in this circuit. Until now the highest speed record electric car while traveling on a round of laps on this circuit held by the MINI E, a MINI Cooper with electricity.

Electrically-powered MINI successfully broke the record the fastest in the range 10 minutes to complete one lap at the Nurburgring.

However, the record is now broken by the sport's concept of electric-powered Peugeot Concept namely EX1. So now the throne of "Electric King of the 'Ring' handed over to the EX1 Peugeot Concept, a concept model which presented a gift Peugeot celebration of the 200th birthday last year.

The new King Electric is successfully completed one lap in "The Ring" along the 20.8 miles in 9 minutes: 1.338 seconds.

Indeed, EX1 no match for the MINI Concept E Concept which is actually a concept model which is intended as an electric-powered commuter vehicle. While the EX1 is more to the model of open roof sports an electric motor powered by two 335 hp with 250 Nm of torque. While the MINI E uses an electric motor with a power unit of 201 hp with 220 Nm of torque.

Although both models have the concept of direction and purpose of development is different, but both have a slightly similar fate, two of them could not be mass produced. MINI E is actually more down to earth because of its design using the base production model.

But lately a British manufacturer had to cancel its production plans. EX1 Peugeot Concept, design a sports car with ultra futuristisnya that much different from today's sports car design, nor has any production plans in the near future in the form and figure like the concept.

New Chevy Corvette Plan C7

General Motors indicated would give birth to the next generation of supersport flagship model that is the Chevrolet Corvette in 2013. This was revealed when GM announced its readiness in the funds poured U.S. $ 131 million (Rp 1.13 trillion) in order to complete the production and assembly plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA.

Companies from the United states in this plant will still build the Corvette C6 or models that are still in circulation up to 2 years into the future. So the newest model or the new C7 Corvette will appear in 2013 from the same factory.

The factory in Bowling Green has long been producing Corvette, and since 1981 has been a lot of Corvettes that are enjoyed by consumers.

And what about the appearance of new Corvette? Many have assumed that the presence of C7 Corvette will be similar to the model Corvette Stingray concept that appears in the event the Chicago Auto Show 2009.

This increased surface because Chevy had revealed his plan implied that the latest-generation Corvette will bring back shades of 1963 with Sting Ray split window design.

It is estimated C7 Corvette body dimensions will be smaller and use a V8 engine as typically a Corvette. And, according to the times that demanded the preservation of nature, Chevy did not rule out this next-generation Corvette will have a hybrid variant as well.

Renault plans junior Evoque

Renault’s Captur, the small crossover concept unveiled at the recent Geneva motor show, will be developed into two showroom models, say company insiders.

The mainstream version will be a small five-door similar in size to the Nissan Juke, with which it will share a Renault-Nissan Alliance platform. The other will be a three-door version, possibly with some unique design features; think of the three-door Range Rover Evoque, but on a smaller scale.

See pics of the Renault Captur concept

The coupé version could be the first of its kind in this class and will provide Renault with an unusual model of similarly stylish appeal to the Mini Cooper and Citroën’s DS3, against which Renault currently offers little competition.

The production version of the five-door Captur should appear well within two years, and the three-door probably shortly after.

Read the full story on the Renault Captur concept

Renault’s next concept will be a van inspired by the theme of ‘work’, the next stage in the cycle of life that design chief Laurens van den Acker has employed to rekindle Renault’s design flair.

The small, fully glazed van will hint at the next-gen Kangoo. It will appear first at the Frankfurt show this autumn.

Bentley's latest ice special

Bentley has launched another special edition Bentley Continental Supersports convertible to commemorate the car’s ice land-speed record.

The ISR Mulliner option is limited to 100 units and is the “most potent and radically styled Bentley convertible ever,” according to the firm.

See official pics of the Bentley Continental Supersports ISR Mulliner

It’s available in three colours - Beluga, Quartzite and Arctica White - with special features including 'Supersports ISR' graphics and red-accented detailing along the car's body and red 20-inch 10-spoke alloys with a “diamond turned finish.” The air bonnet scoops, too, are finished with red accents.

Inside, the interior is lined in Alcantara, and features high-gloss carbon fibre with a red weave. Also included is an eight-inch touchscreen ‘infotainment’ system.

Read about Bentley's first commemorative ice-breaker Supersports

Power comes courtesy of the company’s six-litre, twin turbo-charged W12 engine, which produces 631bhp and 590lb ft of torque, giving the special Bentley a 0-60mph time of just 3.8sec.

BMW 1-series M safety car for the 2011 MotoGP season.

This hardcore track version of the new BMW 1-series M coupe is the new safety car for the 2011 MotoGP season.
The only thing for the one-off safety car that remains unchanged from the production model is the twin-turbo 335bhp straight-six engine. The car has undergone drastic weight saving, including a new carbonfibre bonnet with added large air vents, plus the use of polycarbonate for the side and rear windows. A lightweight titanium race exhaust is also fitted “for the benefit of the spectators”.

See the official pics of the BMW 1-series M safety car

Styling modifications include a large fixed rear wing to boost downforce, and an additional splitter at the front of the car.
The M coupe’s adjustable high-performance suspension set-up gets a new race set-up with independently adjustable dampers. It features new 19-inch wheels equipped with 255/35 tyres at the front and 285/30 tyres at the rear.
Read the full story on the new BMW 1-series M road car
Vehicle height and camber of the axles can also be altered to suit different circuit characteristics. A six-piston fixed-calliper racing brake system completes the dynamic changes.
Inside, the car gets a rollcage, two bucket racing seats, an Alcantara-clad M steering wheel and a fire extinguisher.
The BMW 1-series M coupe road car will go on sale in the UK in price, priced from around £38,000.

See also Collection of Sports Cars

BMW launches 'i' sub-brand

BMW has confirmed a new sub-brand called i, through which it intends to market a range of advanced standalone hybrid, range-extender and plug-in electric models.

Among the first cars to carry the new badge will be the i3 and i8, both of which are planned for introduction in 2013. “These cars have been designed specifically for their respective alternative drive systems. We’re using an innovative architecture to cancel out practically all the extra weight of the batteries,” revealed Klaus Draeger, head of BMW’s R&D operations.

The new architecture, which goes under the name LifeDrive, uses an aluminium chassis to house the driveline, with the passenger cell constructed from carbonfibre-reinforced plastic developed in partnership with US-based SG Carbon.

The two-plus-two i3, previously known under its internal working title MegaCity Vehicle, is BMW’s first production model to be conceived specifically for urban driving environment. It boasts an upright one-box silhouette revealed in an official sketch generated by BMW late last year.

The first i3 will be powered by an all-electric driveline similar to that found in the 1-series ActiveE, which uses a 170bhp electric motor in combination with a lithium ion battery pack for a claimed range of 100 miles. Other versions of the i3, including a range extender, are also under development.

The i8, previewed the Efficient Dynamics concept car first shown in 2009, will use a hybrid driveline likely to combine BMW’s upcoming 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with the same electric motor used by the i3.

The i3 and i8 will be produced on a dedicated line at BMW’s Leipzig factory, which is being lined up for €400m (£336m) of fresh investment.

Alfa Romeo has introduced a new diesel engine for its Giulietta range

The new second-gen MultiJet diesel engine, dubbed 2.0 JTDM-2, produces 138bhp and up to 258lb ft of torque in ‘dynamic’ mode, as opposed to 236lb ft in ‘normal.’

The company claims CO2 emissions of 119 g/km and a fuel economy figure of 62.8mpg, and says it will allow the Giulietta to hit a top speed of 127mph, with a 0-60mph sprint time of nine seconds. This, the company claims, is ‘the engine is designed for customers who appreciate excellent throttle response but are also concerned with fuel consumption and running costs.’

Compliant with Euro 5 regulations, the new unit features start-stop as standard and, according to Alfa Romeo, only needs servicing every 21,000 miles.

Prices for the new 138bhp diesel Giulietta start from £20,750 for the entry-level Lusso variant.

Lotus Evora 2013

Lotus is working at top speed on this revised Evora, designed to stimulate sluggish sales and bridge the styling gap between the current car and the new wave of Lotus models due to hit the market from 2013.

The most striking feature of the revised Evora — shown here in this grainy leaked image and believed to be heading for launch late this year as a 2012 model — is its much more aggressive radiator ‘mouth’. It is very reminiscent of the treatment already designed for later models by Lotus’s ex-Ferrari design boss, Donato Coco.

Coco believes the present Evora’s traditional Lotus mouth is “too weak” for a modern performance car. “Even many economy cars look more aggressive,” he says. The new treatment has a long heritage, too, he says, appearing first on the Lotus 18 single-seater at the beginning of the 1960s.

The 2012 Evora is believed also to have a revised interior with a higher level of standard equipment and a greater accent on quality, points of criticism with road testers and owners.

The Evora, which starts at £51,030 for the 276bhp two-seat version, suffered very sluggish sales to start with, but things have improved a little with the launch late last year of the £60,000, 345bhp Evora S, which uses a supercharged version of the standard car’s 276bhp Toyota-derived V6.

Lotus bosses are understood to be on the point of deciding whether they can afford to build a range of own-design V6 and V8 modular engines for future products, following uncertain reactions to the proposed use of Toyota engines in upmarket Lotus models.

“We have designed engines for clients,” said Lotus CEO Dany Bahar, “so why not for ourselves?” He admits, however, that the final decision will be all a matter of money.

BMW 650i Convertible Photo Gallery

BMW 650i Convertible
Price: £73,430; Top speed: 155mph (limited); 0-62mph: 5.0secs; Economy: 26.4mpg; CO2: 249g/km; Kerb weight: 1940kg; Engine: V8, 4395cc, twin-turbocharged petrol; Installation: front, longitudinal, RWD; Power: 401bhp at 5500rpm; Torque: 442lb ft at 1750rpm; Gearbox: 8-speed automatic

Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 TDI 140 DSG

Volkswagen's Jetta is back, and it's predicted to sell as hotly in the UK as ever... Estimated annual volume is all of 3000 units a year, equating roughly to Golf sales over a decent fortnight. The UK doesn't quite 'get' saloons like this one.

They get them in the States, where more than 120,000 Jettas will sell a year. It's also cheap (there): it's built in Mexico, where US models are fitted with torsion beam rear axles and hard interior trim. Euro variants are priced higher thanks to multi-linked rears, better trimmed insides and their Atlantic cruise. Still, £17k-£22k or so isn’t bad, given its size.

See pics of the Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 TDI in action

Ah yes, the Jetta's size. VW says it bridges the gap between the Golf and Passat. Yet, at 4.64m long it's a good 45cm longer than a Golf, and just 12cm shorter than a Passat. Its boot holds 510 litres (Golf only 350, Passat 545) and there's ample room for adults to sit behind adults in the cabin.

The Jetta is longer even than a BMW 3-Series, leaving it in a peculiar hinterland, especially for those compiling company car lists, entitled 'what the heck is it?'

That solving nothing, let's move on.

What's it like?
Not at all bad. Competitive in its class? Definitely, if you can define its competitors. The meat of the Jetta range finishes where the Passat's gets going, so it undercuts its nearest obvious rival, Volvo's S40, which it also betters.

In terms of interior quality the Jetta's at Golf, perhaps just sub-Golf, levels rather than Passat ones, but in terms of dynamism and involvement it's closer to its larger sibling. Which means it's… fine. Its electrically-assisted steering is responsive and well weighted, it rides respectably, turns adequately.

Our test car was equipped with the ubiquitous 2.0-litre TDI unit developing the same 138bhp you'll find throughout the VW range, and noise levels are low. Very low, in fact. The six-speed optional DSG transmission (a six-speed manual is standard) is fine, too – at its worst during low-speed manoeuvring.

All of which makes the Jetta a car with some reasonably compelling characteristics.

Should I buy one?
Maybe. Tell me you were thinking of buying one, and I'd think that was a decent enough idea.

Yet, tell me you wanted a family-sized Volkswagen, and it wouldn't occur to me to recommend a Jetta over a Golf. Plus ça change.


Volkswagen Jetta 2.0TDI 140 DSG
Price: £21,000 (est); Top speed: 136mph; 0-62mph: 9.5sec; Economy: 53.3mpg; Co2: 138g/km; Kerb weight: 1411kg; Engine: 4cyls in line, turbodiesel; Power:138bhp at 4200rpm; Torque: 236lb ft at 1750-2500rpm; Gearbox: 6-spd dual-clutch auto

Volvo V70 T4 SE

Volvo has joined the ranks of manufacturers replacing big capacity petrol engines with smaller ones of equal power output but improved economy. In fact this new 1.6-litre turbocharged motor (dubbed T4 and unrelated to the company's previous 1.6 petrol engine) is a revised, 178bhp version of Ford's Ecoboost unit, which we're testing here in a six-speed manual V70, complete with standard stop-start.

See pics of the Volvo V70 T4 SE in action

What's it like?
In practice this proves to be a truly likeable combination. The engine produces its maximum torque of 177lb ft from 1600rpm, and an overboost function ups that to 199lb ft when required, so even though the engine does need working it feels pleasantly relaxed in doing so. It revs smoothly and freely, responds well even at higher speeds and most importantly it is very refined when kept in the usefully broad power band. The manual gearbox is also satisfyingly precise to use, and works extremely well with this T4 motor.

Beyond the revelations of this new engine the V70 still suffers from most of the general gripes that we have aired before, but this model certainly improves upon the underwhelming drive. The steering is rather lifeless, the chassis never feels particularly sharp and the ride is too lumpy over typical b-roads, but the lighter, more responsive engine helps the V70 flow down the road in a more rewarding fashion than any diesel model.

A claimed combined economy figure of 40.4mpg is pretty respectable, as is the CO2 figure of 164g/km, though for those looking for the lowest running costs the diesels are of course the better options.

Should I buy one?
If this were a decent sum cheaper than those more frugal diesel models it would be the best model in the range, because it is certainly one of the most pleasant to drive. But it is not, and if you have forgotten the existence of the Skoda Superb and are buying a V70 you will likely sweep your gaze down the price list, see that the 161bhp D3 turbodiesel is actually £30 cheaper than the equivalent T4 and that will be the end of that.

Still, with this in mind there's likely to be more than a few T4s cluttering up showrooms, so if you can get a good deal then don't overlook the dusty V70 in the corner. On the right wheels and without sat-nav, it would be a remarkably easy car to live with.


Volvo V70 T4 SE
Price: £29,585; Top speed: 134mph; 0-62mph: 8.7sec; Economy: 40.4mpg; Co2: 164g/km; Kerb weight: 1641kg; Engine type: 4cyl,1595cc, turbocharged; Power: 178bhp at 5700rpm; Torque: 177lb ft at 1600rpm-5000rpm (199lb ft on overboost); Gearbox: 6spd manual

Ford Focus 1.6 Ecoboost 180 review

Ford Focus 1.6 Ecoboost (180bhp)
Price: NA; 0-62mph: 7.9sec; Top speed: 138mph; Co2: 139g/km; Economy: 47.1mpg (combined); Kerbweight: 1333kg; Engine: 4cyls in line, 1596cc, turbocharged; Installation: Front, transverse, fwd; Power: 180bhp at 5700rpm; Torque: 199lbft (overboost) at 1900-4000rpm; Gearbox: 6-spd manual