Cars Maintenance

Suzuki SX4: Spy Shots. The new Suzuki SX4 is already in the last phase of testing on the open road through the spectacular and magical Sierra Nevada, some prototypes usual step in the different tests of altitude. Of course, tells about his body with a thick camouflage, making it difficult to clearly see the new forms that have the old compact minivan converted now made in Japan. Very soon begin production at its plant in Hungary, around January 2013. So there is really little, to see the model in our dealerships Nippon. Suzuki SX4, hunted by our land ...

Testing in Sierra Nevada
The conversion of compact 'all road' a minivan, has been most surprising ... The truth is, that under the great amount of camouflage, really appreciate a few details. But the prototype Suzuki, and enjoy the final stage of development where open wheel road, and we bring all the spy photos courtesy of autoblog.com

In this case, was for Sierra Nevada, Granada in Spain, where firms set to test their new mules in the different tests in altitude and the mountain Granada holds the altitude record in the Iberian Peninsula. As such, the new Range Rover or Peugeot 3008 and 5008 e-HDi.

This thick camouflage, warily keeps the exterior design of the new Suzuki SX4. We can look shyly, something of the grille, which could be an intercooler ... also something in the mirror ... And in the photo spy in the cab, we see a dashboard of the most conservative, as the Nippon brand, which has this model made in full, will not risk a minivan to a very important segment for the same.

As for his mechanics, could incorporate both a turbo diesel engine, a supercharged gasoline engine turbo, but as we know, the new trend of manufacturers is to mount new small-displacement engines and turbo.

A little history ...
Back in 2006, Fiat and Suzuki jointly created a new model for the segment C, known as the Sedici and SX4, which was virtually identical in design, but fully equal in the mechanical and performance based, with versions of front wheel drive and all, being born in the same assembly in Hungary for the European and Asian markets.

Subsequently, the alliance that kept the Italian group and the manufacturer Nippon broke when the latter chose to link to Volkswagen for the relief of this model. Although this agreement was not effective, as Suzuki breached some rules of the New Covenant, as acquiring small displacement diesel engines to its former partner Fiat’s is that the loves of the past always come back...

Start of production
for this reason, the second generation of the Suzuki SX4 has been developed, as I said before, completely and without external agreements by the Japanese label, which will remain in its Hungarian factory Esztergorn, develop all their new models.

The start of production is expected in January next year, with an average annual production of 61,581 units, so that its presentation at the Paris Motor Show is a more than safe.

Volkswagen Golf 2013: Official launch on 4 September. As you approach the end of the year, multiply the news about new releases and presentations of the 2013 versions of many models. One of the most anticipated is the Volkswagen Golf 2013, a car that will know its seventh generation this coming September. A car is one of the great protagonists of the Paris Motor Show 2012, but it will not wait for the conclusion of the Paris event to be disclosed to the public, but it will have its official launch a few weeks before, exactly the September 4 at the Museum of Modern Art in Berlin.

A presentation in a unique and unusual for a car, although it is true that the Volkswagen Golf is not a car either. Not surprisingly, we discuss a model that has been going 38 years without interruption in the market, a path that is difficult today to imagine many other compact cars and cities. A life that gives a clear indication of the wide acceptance that has always had the audience in many different parts of the planet. This success has become a classic, and continues to be, year after year, one of the best selling models.

A seventh generation of a conservative
The Volkswagen Golf 2013 is the first of the seventh generation of this compact German, a new generation that will bring, let alone, great revolutions. In fact, we could consider it almost like some back to the classical canons, those who have helped to keep this model from the top of its target audience. A model that retrieves the most recognizable face of the new Volkswagen, a piece that, with certain modifications, can be found in the Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid 2013 for example.

The seventh generation of the Volkswagen Golf holds significant similarities with the appearance that we know of the latest Volkswagen Polo. It's almost as if, rather than draw on the Golf for the development of Polo, as expected, on this occasion was the Pole who has served as a reference in the new line of Volkswagen Golf. This assumption can confirm in the next few days, when in the days prior to this presentation, let see some official images of the new model.

Presentation in the midst of modern art
A very original framework and rare for the submission of a car is the Volkswagen has chosen the official coming-out of the seventh generation Golf. The Museum of Modern Art in Berlin will be the setting for this exclusive event, which can only come with the relevant invitation; we will know all the details of Volkswagen Golf 2013 that will take place on September 4 in the German capital.

Less than months both are unearthed the secrets of the new version of the Volkswagen Golf, a car will hit dealerships later this year 2012.

Volvo S80 puts the spotlight as a Limited Edition. Twenty percent aggregation only Volvo was not enough. The Swedish brand delivers the S80 D4 thus as richly equipped Limited Edition. The special version is also available with gasoline, but it does not benefit from a lower addition.

Volvo equips the S80 Limited Edition with lots of options that the comfort and safety of the car increase. Standard safety features include dual Xenon headlights with adaptive cornering lights, rain sensor, headlamp cleaning system and Park Assist Rear. In addition, the Swede on additional equipment like a navigation system with hard disk and voice and steering wheel controls and the High Performance Multimedia system that a 7-inch color screen, a DVD player, eight speakers, a USB port and Bluetooth audio streaming covers. Also assembles the manufacturer standard leather upholstery and heated front seats in the luxury S80.

20 percent aggregation
Volvo S80 delivers the Limited Edition as T4 with a 180 hp turbo engine and D4 as a five-cylinder turbo diesel engine with 163 horsepower. The latter is so efficient that the model has about 20% addition. Both engines are also combined with a standard six-speed manual, but can optionally be connected to an automatic. In the case of the T4 is that the Power Shift dual clutch transmission and the D4 assemble the Volvo Geartronic transmission. The surcharge amounts to € 2.800, - and € 3.300, -.

Immediately to order
the prices of the Volvo S80 Limited Edition are available for a minimum of € 41.995, - for the T4 and from € 43.995, - for the D4. The implementation is available immediately for order.

Volkswagen Golf GTI Carbon Edition: Possible concept in process. The seventh generation of the Volkswagen Golf continues to be talking about. After a couple of months speculating about their appearance, engines and features, now that it has been presented, starting time evolutions. One of the most interesting is this possible concept Volkswagen Golf GTI Carbon Edition, which try, through a drastic weight reduction for greater speed, responsiveness and sportier performance. A line, seeing where the shots are going in the supercar segment, may be the most appropriate.

It is curious, however, that, just a week after his presentation and without being given their decision public contact in the Paris Motor Show 2012, is already talking about what might be in the future, rather than now further exploit the Volkswagen Golf VII. However, as news of a compact made with carbon fiber could not be overlooked in the motoring world.

Less weight
that is the ultimate goal, the achievement you want to achieve with this carbon fiber manufacture of structural elements, a development already in supercars like the Lamborghini Aventador and the Mazda MX-5 GT, which dominates the material. With this type of construction the Volkswagen Golf GTI Carbon Edition could achieve a reduction of up to 200 kilograms, down with clear implications for their behavior in terms of speed, versatility and use of engine power.

With these figures, the Volkswagen Golf GTI Carbon Edition could achieve spectacular increases in their numbers of acceleration (from 0 to 100 km / h in under six seconds) and top speed compared to Golf GTI we already know. All with the same 2.0 liter engine powered 225 hp on incorporating the sportier version of the Volkswagen Golf range. Thus, would have a material advantage are compared to Audi RS3 Sportback for example, one car with over 300 horsepower, but with a more typical weight of a sedan than a compact.

A clear line of evolution
With this proposal, Volkswagen is positioned in the usual trade-off between an increase in engine power or a reduction of vehicle weight to achieve the highest possible sporting behavior. While manufacturers like Bugatti bid to achieve the most potent engine, a huge number of CV unusable except in very particular conditions, the Volkswagen Golf GTI Carbon Edition prefer releasing ballast to bring these sporty performance to any user who is do with the vehicle, without having to deal with a closed circuit.

Which of the two lines is correct? It seems clear that if we speak of vehicles for private use on public roads, the second option is the more interesting and that's what you want to accomplish with this Volkswagen concept car that seems to have begun development work.

Toyota has announced the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid will go on sale in the first half of 2012, priced at less than £31,000.

With the Toyota Prius retaining its 1.8-litre petrol engine, the enhanced hybrid drive train is set to deliver exceptional fuel economy and emissions without any of the all-electric alternatives’ range anxiety, while undercutting the forthcoming Vauxhall Ampera by £3,000.

The exact efficiency figures are yet to be officially homologated, but Toyota is confident the Toyota Prius Plug-in will return 134.5mpg on the EU combined testing cycle while emitting just 49g/km CO2.

This gives the Toyota Prius Plug-in an electric-only range of over 14 miles – compared to the current car’s 1.5 mile electric max – while the continuing presence of the petrol engine means you should always be able to find somewhere to refuel.

Toyota Prius Hybrid’s combination of 1.8-litre petrol engine and battery power, plus its full recharge time of an hour and a half, should help hurdle the major EV consumer barrier of range anxiety and flat-battery-panic. The latest in the line of best-selling Toyota Prius cars can cover up to 14 miles in pure EV mode. Usefully, both from a consumer and PR perspective; Toyota are actually testing their economy claims with the new Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid being assessed in real-world demonstration programmed with 200 prototype Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles in Europe – 20 of them in London. Businesses will save on fleet costs thanks to a 100 per cent write-down allowance and lower National Insurance contributions. Power to the (electric) people!

The pricing is competitive compared to the latest EV models on the market, but Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid offers more flexible performance, thanks to its powertrain which combines an electric motor, a lithium-ion battery and a petrol engine. The convenience and efficiency of Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid extends to the system for recharging the lithium-ion battery. Prior to official homologation, Toyota predicts Prius Plug-in Hybrid will emit 49g/km of carbon dioxide and achieve 134.5mpg combined cycle fuel economy. Ewan Shepherd, General Manager Toyota/Lexus Fleet Services said: “Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid will be an exciting and valuable addition to what is already an industry-leading Toyota range that delivers significant financial benefits to companies and company car drivers with advanced and highly efficient models such as Toyota Prius and the British-built Auris Hybrid.”

The advantages of the Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid are being measured in real-world demonstration programmed with 200 prototypes Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) in Europe – 20 of them in London.