2013 Corvette Stingray concept

Corvette Stingray concept, which debuted at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show and had a starring role in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, on the surface looks as though it could provide some design and powertrain influence for the next C7 Corvette. However Tom Peters, designer of both the Stingray concept as well as the new Chevy Camaro, told Jalopnik's Ray Wert "It's not the C7, but that's not to say there aren't elements here that could translate into what the C7's about." Peters took the methodology used designing the Stingray concept and applied it to both the C6 Corvette as well as the new Chevy Camaro. That's why you'll see design elements from the Stingray concept in both the C6 Corvette (like the raking in the side coveys) and the Camaro.

Taking cues from art and the exterior, GM interior designer Micah Jones built a dual-cockpit design. On the steering wheel are two spherical balls. Right side controls shared functions like entertainment, climate control and navigation. The center console screen is a dramatic and expansive display with five settings controlled by a haptic touch screen—the same five you find on the wheel—Entertainment, Air, Home (laptop mode), Nav and Race modes.
for full review about 2013 Corvette Stingray concept read to the popularmechanics.com

New 2009 Porsche Boxster S

Porsche Boxster Model year 2009 upgrades start where they do for any enthusiast machine: in the engine bay. The previous base Boxster's 2.7L flat-six has given way to a new 2.9L unit. Power rises from 245 to 255 hp; the Cayman's 2.9 is rated at 265 hp. There's no displacement increase for the S versions; it remains 3.4L, but the powerplant is largely new and boasts direct fuel injection. It spools out 310 hp in the Boxster S and 320 in the Cayman S, increases of 15 and 25 hp respectively.


Porsche's in-house developed Doppelkupplungsgetriebe -- call it PDK for short -- is a seven-speed dual-clutch transaxle that's as modern as they come. It's really two separate transmissions, each with its own clutch. PDK allows control and responsiveness the old Tip S couldn't dream of and suffers none of the friction loss of a conventional automatic. It's available as an option on both Boxster and Cayman models.Boxster interior was rightly criticized as being too cheap and chintzy, something Porsche began working on early and has continued to upgrade. The '09 boasts a first-class cabin with a new center stack and new audio options. The optional (Porsche Communication Management) system incorporates a touch-sensitive monitor for the nav, audio, and other functions.

Naturally, you can connect your iPod, link your phone via Bluetooth, and even slip the SIM card out of your phone and right into a slot on the dash for full integration with the on-board system. Order up a Bose 10-speaker surround-sound speaker system if you like. New optional seats are now heated and cooled.

Boxster are minimal. New, larger front air intakes, rear diffuser, two tailpipes, new outside mirrors. You can see for yourself when the new Boxster and the new Cayman with the same improvements enter showrooms in March in the United States.The price increases will be fairly stiff,That could a minimum of $52,000 for the base model and $61,000 for the Boxter S.

New Leon Cupra R gets 265HP 2.0 TSI

Frankfurt Motor Show, being held from 17-27 September, will see Seat unveiling its most potent series production model to date, the new Leon Cupra R. Based on the 2009MY Leon Cupra facelift that was revealed at the Barcelona Show in April, the R replaces the standard model's 240-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-pot with a 265-horsepower direct injection 2.0 TSI.

It's not clear if the 2.0 TSI is the same engine found in the Audi S3, but Seat claims that the new four-banger features a new, high-pressure fuel pump injector to "satisfy its greater performance demands, while fully complying with strict EU5 emissions standards."S

The extra grunt allows the front-wheel drive only Leon Cupra R to slash the 0 to 100km/h (62mph) sprint from 6.4 seconds (standard Cupra) to 6.1 seconds and top speed climbs from 247 km/h (154mph) to 250 km/h (155mph). The standing kilometer takes 25.7 seconds while Seat announces a combined fuel economy of 8.1 lt / 100km or 29mpg US / 34.9mpg UK.

Aside from the 'R' logos on the central grille and at the lower right of the hatch, the right instrument dial and the remote control key, the range-topping Leon also gets 19 inch, five double-spoke wheels shod with 235/35 tyres. The larger wheel assembly allowed Seat's engineers to upgrade the braking system with 17 inch 345 x 30 mm discs at the front and 16 inch 286 x 12 mm at the rear.

Inside the Leon Cupra R gets a pair of racing-style bucket seats in grey alcantara upholstery, LED lighting on the instrument dials, a leather multi-functional steering wheel and an aluminum pedal arrangement.

Seat is expected to reveal further details including prices and the official launch of the Leon Cupra R date closer to the Frankfurt Show.

2011 Kia Sorento at its first U.S. Plant in Georgia

2011 Kia Sorento CUV will be produced at Kia's first U.S. plant in West Point, Georgia, making it the company's first domestically built vehicle, the Korean automaker announced today. The first examples of the new Sorento that has already been unveiled in its home market are scheduled to begin rolling off the assembly line before the end of the year.

"It will be a historic milestone when the first Sorento rolls off the assembly line at our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia later this year," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing, KMA. "Our first domestically built vehicle, the all-new Sorento will be built by team members who have undergone rigorous training and who have great pride in their newly learned skills."



The 2011 Kia Sorento gets seating for seven while it also features a unibody design rather than the previous model's body-on-frame setup.

Volkswagen and Porsche become an Integrated Automotive Group

VW announced today that Volkswagen and Porsche will become an Integrated Automotive Group as the Supervisory Board approved a comprehensive agreement. The agreement says that both the solid financial base of Volkswagen and Porsche's independence will be preserved. both companies hope this agreement will result in high growth, earnings and synergy potential accompanied by job security.



Volkswagen and Porsche will total sales of 6.4 million vehicles and more than 400,000 employees.Under this agreement, Volkswagen will take a 42.0 percent stake in Porsche AG by the end of 2009. this process will end with the complete merger of Porsche SE with Volkswagen.

Clarion NX509E Multimedia Car

The in-car electronics and multimedia specialist has launched today the new Clarion NX509E multimedia system. The Clarion NX509E promises to be as user friendly as possible despite the fact that it has the full spectrum of features. The Clarion NX509E is DVD-Video/DVD±R/DVD±RW/CD/CD-R/RW ready and is MP3/WMA/AAC compatible with ID3-TAG display. The new system is also able to play DivX videos.

The Clarion NX509E has direct iPod control via a rear USB connector and a fully-motorized 7-inch QVGA color touch-screen.

Press Release:

To utilise the many features on offer, Clarion’s NX509E incorporates 2-Zone technology, separating the in-car environment into two distinct zones, so that a DVD for example, can be shown in the back (with the addition of a suitable screen/screens), whilst the front seat passengers can listen to their favourite songs via CD, Radio, USB or iPod.

Clarion’s sophisticated NP509E navigation system is incorporated into the NX509E unit as standard, and offers the most up-to-date navigation experience. A rich POI database offers instant access to just about any point-of-interest in a surrounding area, including petrol stations, ATMs, leisure facilities and much more, whilst a ‘My POI’ feature allows you to add your own into a favourites file.

Encouraging safer driving, the NX509E’s navigation uses test-to-speech voice guidance to give clear and precise instructions, including road names, in much the same way they would be read out.

Bluetooth connectivity is an optional addition, via the BLT373 interface, allowing safe access to a number of mobile phone functions.

To enhance the home-entertainment feel of its in-car AVN unit, Clarion utilises a 24-bit D/A converter (usually found in expensive home audio systems) to cancel unwanted background noise, and create a clearer, more realistic audio reproduction.

Meanwhile, Magna Bass EX provides extra low-frequency impact (boosting bass by 10dB at 60 Hz), for a well-balanced sound reproduction, whilst the addition of BBE MP (Minimised Polynomial Non-Linear Saturation) enhances compressed music formats.

The NX509E sports the most sophisticated navigation graphics, with comprehensive digital elevation model data used to create a realistic 3D landscape at all levels of zoom, whilst clear lane and signpost information and RDS-TMC traffic information delivers real-time, free traffic information whenever required, to lessen the chance of getting lost or stuck in a ‘jam’.The Clarion NX509E price has not been announced yet.

Toyota confirms - again - plans to build production plug-in hybrid vehicles

Plug-in hybrids and lithium-ion batteries are the Next Big Things and Toyota, it would seem from the recent flurry of electric car news, might be losing its grip on first place in the hybrid/lithium-ion battery race.
Lithium-ion batteries developed in a joint project between Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Continental (who will make the batteries) are used in the 2009 Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHybrid as well as a BMW 7-Series hybrid concept car, and will be the sole power source for the pure electric Mini E. Of course, General Motors has the much ballyhooed 2010 Chevrolet Volt almost ready for primetime.

So has Toyota been resting on its Prius?

Not hardly, says Irv Miller, veep of Toyota’s American corporate communications. Says Miller, “Let me be clear about this: We believe strongly in the viability of plug-in hybrids in some applications, and in their use of lithium-ion batteries. We believe so strongly, in fact, that we plan to begin production of PHEVs late next year.”

Toyota has a joint venture (60 per cent owned by Toyota) with electronics giant Panasonic, which will begin production-line assembly of lithium-ion batteries developed entirely in-house.

Toyota, along with Advanced Power and Energy Program at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), began a test of plug-in hybrids equipped with nickel-metal-hydride (NmH) batteries to accumulate real-word data in late 2007. However, the NmH batteries, even in an oversized battery pack, gave only about seven miles of pure electric operation, and as such was not intended for general distribution.

While conceding that seven miles would be adequate for most weekend trips, Toyota still almost frustratedly cited the advantage of its current hybrid system as being independent of the extension cord.

So as announced by Katsuaki Watanabe, president of Toyota Motor Corp., at last year’s Detroit Auto Show, Toyota will build and deliver what he called "a significant fleet" of plug in hybrids to fleet users in the latter part of 2009.

Toyota will introduce the third generation of Prius at the Detroit auto show in January, and (purposefully?) leaked photos of it have been circulating the web and have been confirmed by Toyota as being accurate. Presumably at that time we’ll know, too, whether that plug-in hybrid will be in the form of a specially-equipped Prius.

What we won't know is when Toyota will offer a PHEV to the general public. Or will we? Stay tuned.

2009-2010 New Jaguar XFR

first reaction to the news the Jaguar XFR's all-new, supercharged 5.0L direct-injection V-8 develops 510 hp is a faintly disappointed "Oh..." It might outgun the 500-hp BMW M5 and the 507-hp Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, but it comes up short against Cadillac's mighty 556-hp CTS-V and Audi's head-banging 572-hp RS6. We're here to tell you, however, that sheer horsepower ain't everything. Just point the new XFR at your favorite stretch of gnarly two-lane, nail the gas, and you'll soon see what we mean.

The XFR is, of course, the new flagship car in an upgraded and expanded XF range for the 2010 model year. By now you will have noticed the entirely predictable exterior mods: a new front bumper fascia with large air intakes, deeper sills, a vented hood, new 20-in. alloy wheels, and quad tailpipes. Inside, the XFR retains the XF's cool and charismatic interior design, though Dark Oak veneer is the standard wood trim, complementing a unique dark mesh-aluminum dash panel. The XFR's front seats feature electrically adjustable bolsters for greater side support.

The big news is all under the skin: suspension tweaks that include magneto-rheological shocks, bigger brakes, an active differential, and the supercharged version of the all-new AJ-V8 Gen III engine.

The 5.0L Gen III has been designed in-house at Jaguar. The new engine is almost an inch shorter than the current 4.2L V-8, thanks to the relocation of the oil pump. The aluminum block is now a high-pressure die-cast item with cross-bolted main bearing caps. The four-valve cylinder heads are made from recycled aluminum, and the camshafts feature variable valve timing activated by the torque motions of the valves themselves instead of oil pressure, enabling the oil pump to be reduced in size. The engine features what Jaguar claims is an industry-first direct-injection system with centrally mounted, multihole, spray-guided injectors.

Honda Accord Type-S

European market Accord Type-S line-up with the addition of a petrol-engine model powered by the same 2.4-liter four-banger with 201 HP that we find in the other versions of the Accord, which by the way, is sold in the States as the Acura TSX. Up until now, the Accord Type S, which made its official debut at the Geneva Show earlier this year, was offered exclusively with Honda's 180-horsepower 2.2-liter turbo diesel.

Despite the promising logo, the Accord Type S does not feature any mechanical upgrades as changes are limited to a new aero kit with front and rear aprons, side skirts, smoke chrome finished grille and clear indicator covers along with newly styled 18-inch alloy wheels.

Complementing the suite of exterior changes, are aluminum sport pedals and footrest, sport seats in a combination of fabric and leather plus a aluminum and leather shift knob for the 6-speed manual gearbox (buyers can also opt for an automatic transmission).



In Germany, the Accord Type S 2.4 will be offered in a limited run of 900 units with prices starting from €32,000 (about $46,100 US at today's exchange rates).