Auto For Speed

SEAT launched a strange new version of its smallest offering. The Ibiza van could be considered the fourth body style of the versatile model, whose range also includes the three-door Sports Coupe, the normal five-door hatchback and the Sports Tourer.

In the Spanish market, the Ibiza Van is available with two engine choices, a 1.2-liter three-cylinder unit with 70 horsepower or a 1.2-liter TDI CR with 75 hp. The diesel is especially frugal, consuming only 3.8 liters of fuel every 100 kilometers (61 mpg US) on the combined cycle. The engine also comes with green credentials, as it only emits 99 grams of CO2 every kilometer.

Read the rest of this entry »

The previous Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG was not a compelling reason to switch your personal allegiances to the three-pointed star. Its steering was numb, the interior underwhelming, and last and maybe least, it was inefficient. Luckily for enthusiasts, a switch has flipped at AMG in recent years. AMG models are now more focused on the automaker’s sporting mission than the luxurious musclecars of days past, and there’s new holistic approach to design.

Recently, Mercedes-Benz flew a group of journalists from the freezing cold of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit to sunny 75-degree San Diego, California, to experience the 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG. Not only is it a perfect location given the warm weather, beautiful scenery, and abundance of twisty roads, but California is the single largest market for AMG cars in the world. The United States takes 30 percent of all AMG cars produced, down from 50 percent pre-financial implosion. California makes up just over 40 percent of all U.S. sales.

Read the rest of this entry »

When an automaker’s resources are limited, logic suggests they be diverted to the product that will deliver the greatest return. So it’s not surprising that the all-new Grand Cherokee has gotten the lion’s share of Jeep’s attention, and its vastly improved sales results speak for themselves. For those models farther down the ladder, such as the 2011 Jeep Liberty, the changes are far less dramatic.

Updated significantly for the 2008 model year, the 2011 Liberty is but a mild mid-cycle refresh, despite the need for more drastic action. In fact, Jeep only lists four changes, one of which is a selection of new paint colors.

Read the rest of this entry »

A new edition of Smart is now available. It features enhancements to the latest new generation ForTwo and reaffirms the cdi model as the CO2 world champion for combustion engine vehicles.

The exterior boasts colour coded front and rear aprons, sideskirts and filler cap of the new passion. The paint is a combination of light green matt body panels. There are also LED daytime running lights, colour coded headlamp bezels, “lightshine” badging and the new pulse 3-double spoke alloys in an exclusive paint finish.

Read the rest of this entry »

Porsche has announced the 918 RSR, which was unveiled at the North American Auto Show in Detroit.

The car is a two-seat mid-engined Coupe featuring technologies from both 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car and 918 Spyder concept.

Porsche 918 RSR is powered by mighty V8 engine with 563HP at 10 300RPM. However, the sports car also has two electric motors on the front wheels with total power of 150kW (204HP). This means that 918 RSR has 767HP.

Read the rest of this entry »