Browsing:
Since the first images of the concept were revealed back in October, Mazda has officially unveiled its new Takeri concept at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show in the Big Sight expo hall.
Built to preview the next generation Mazda6, The Takeri is the “most-evolved Form of Mazda’s New ‘KODO – Soul of Motion’ Design Theme and Breakthrough Skyactiv Technology”. The Takeri is a four-door coupe with a strong and prominent hexagonal-shaped grille, 20 inch alloy wheels and measures 4, 850mm in length, 1, 870mm in width and has a height of 1, 430mm.
The clean interior showcases elegant leather seats, metallic trim and a fully equipped infotainment centre.
Ahead of its official debut at the Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota has unveiled its new Fun-Vii concept car. The skin of the bullet shaped car for the “not too distant future” serves as a massive display that can change its colour and display graphics, images, and custom messages for other drivers and bystanders. The skin can be changed using a specialised app and have its interior adjusted as well – the three-seat cabin has a continuous display which spans from the dashboard to the floor. Overall the vehicle measures 4,020mm long, 1,745mm wide and 1,415mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,750mm.
Intervehicle connectivity can detect potentially hazardous situations like making the driver aware of a car in its blind spot or one that is about to break suddenly. The system can also link with surrounding vehicles to locate friends.
As if this isn’t enough, Toyota also envisions that the car will be connected to the internet which has the advantage of bringing information to the driver and providing entertainment content to the driver and the passengers on board.
source: Cnet
Chrysler has decided to recall a total number of 340 vehicles consisting of Dodge Journeys and Fiat 500s built between the 24 and 26 October of this year. The recall is as a result of contaminated brake fluid that was put in during the vehicles’ assembly. According to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, these vehicles “may experience a degradation of the sealing components within the brake system.” The consequences of this incident could lead to the loss of breaking ability and result in a crash.
To resolve the problem, Chrysler will be replacing, free of charge of course, any vehicle components that would have come in contact with the contaminated hydraulic fluid. The official safety recall is expected to begin in December.
source: Autoblog
According to Mercedes-Benz, the German auto manufacturer has recently announced the closure of Maybach.
Daimler’s upmarket division that was resurrected in 2002 to compete against BMW’s Rolls-Royce and VW’s Bentley subsidiaries, failed to meet sales expectations with its 57 and 62 core models. The decision was also facilitated by the breaking down of the deal with Aston Martin to aid in the development in future Maybachs. The Maybach brand never took off in the way Mercedes hoped and sales never rose anywhere near four figures.
Lexus handed its already fast IS F over to the go-fast team at Toyota Racing Development and produced the IS F Circuit Club Sport where the sport sedan received a variety of mechanical and aero adjustments and improvements. Lexus first unveiled the concept at the 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon, with some further details following on this year.
The exterior of the vehicle has been fitted with a new carbon fibre front spoiler, rear diffuser and hood, also made from the light-weight material. Along with its large rear wing, the luxury bruiser also comes equipped with lightweight forged aluminum wheels while a choice of magnesium rollers are also available. To improve handling, Toyota offers various solutions for the suspension including stabilizers and different shocks, better brake pads and a titanium muffler.
Here is one of the very first spy shots of the new Jaguar XF Sportbrake, partly in camouflage, coming in 2012. The Sportbrake, the official name of which was only confirmed today, was seen being taken for a test drive around Jaguar’s R&D base in Coventry.
This wagon shape was not in the original design plans as an XF derivative and so product planners have had a considerable task in converting the four-door saloon into an executive estate.
The interior is expected to have the usual fold-down rear seats, more rear headroom and executive toys such as electric boot operation.
Despite poor sales of just 13, 850 units up until October in 2011, dropping from 23, 000 units sold in 2010, Nissan will continue selling its quirky Cube in North America. The Cube, with a 1.8-litre engine, was released in 2009 as a competitor to the equally boxy Scion xB.
Nissan North America sales boss Brian Carolin told Autoweek at the Los Angeles Auto Show in is defence that “It’s a niche product that has found its place in the market and that it benefited particularly when gas prices were spiking earlier this year, and we were struggling to get a supply of it. We had a lot of demand for it.”
Poor sales could be attributed to production challenges following the Japan earthquake back in March of this year.
Nissan is currently offering no incentives on the Cube.
source: Autoweek
The new 2012 rear wheel drive Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder has been unveiled. As an entry level Gallardo the LP 550-2 Spyder is currently the cheapest open-top model on the market. It combines open-air driving with the 5,204cc V10′s 550bhp directed to the rear wheels, instead of all four.
With 550 horsepower the Spyder jumps to 62mph in just 4.2 seconds with a top speed of 198mph. Performance is boosted by the loss of four-wheel drive, bringing dry kerb weight down to 1520kg.
