RPMGO Car Blog |
- Saab 9-5 SportWagon Revealed
- Mercedes GLS In The Works
- Wetterauer Tuning For The Mini Countryman
- 2012 Mercedes SLK by Carlsson
- “Saudi Women taking the wheel” campaign in progress
- iPadd app for American Airlines Instead of Navigation Charts
- [press release] MINI John Cooper Works WRC ride in store for one lucky fan
| Posted: 20 Jun 2011 12:56 PM PDT  Saab 9-5 SportWagon The Swedish automaker SAAB revealed a few days ago the new 9-5 SportWagon model, set to go on sale in United Kingdom this fall, with a base price of 28,195 pounds for the 2.0 TiD Vector SE model that provides 160 hp. From the looks of the car, the new 9-5 SportWagon promises to be a serious load carrier, offering a boot capacity of 520 liters and if you put down the rear seats, the capacity grows to an impressive 1600 liters. Speaking of the seats in the back, they can be folded down onto the seat squabs and according to the company; the flat-sided load bay will be "over six feet long." As standard, you get a U-rail in the boot for securing your luggage and aluminum roof rails. The new generation of the model benefits from the start/stop technology as standard, which means that the CO2 output is down. For example, the entry-level model with the diesel engine and manual gearbox returns 125 g/km in the sedan version and 128 g/km in the estate variant. For 39,195 pounds, you can opt for the top-of-the-line 2.8 V6 turbo 4×4 SportWagon model that comes with an automatic 6-speed gearbox.  Saab 9-5 SportWagon As far as the Aero variant is concerned, SAAB has added DriveSense real-time damping control, along with variable effort hydraulic power steering as standard features. Inside the cabin, significant upgrades have been made as you now get even in the entry-level model DAB radio and satellite navigation. The Vector SE dashboard features a brushed metal effect finish instead of the rather dull black plastic that you can find on the 2011MY 9-5. Let's just hope that they'll sort out their financial problems and come up with more interesting models like this one. Source: SAAB via Autocar.co.uk Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Posted: 20 Jun 2011 12:41 PM PDT  2012 Mercedes M-Class If we were to believe our esteemed colleagues form AutoCar, the Germans over at Mercedes-Benz are working on a new model, dubbed GLS, which will rival what is in my opinion the ugliest car on the market nowadays, the BMW X6. Set to debut three years from now, the model will be based on the same unibody platform that was used for the recently introduced third generation of the M-Class as well as the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The new GLS model will drop the practicality of the 5-seat M-Class, opting for a more sporting 4-seat interior, borrowing some of the design cues that we can see in the sexy CLS model. For reasons that I cannot understand, BMW managed to sell a whopping 120,000 units of its awful X6 model since it was introduced back in 2009. The GLS will have to face some serious competition, not only from the X6, but also from the Audi Q6, which is scheduled for a 2016 release and the new generation of the Range Rover Sport, set to debut in 2013. Other leaked information would have to be that the all-new GLS will be powered by V6 3.5-liter and V8 gasoline engines, along with a V6 3.0-liter diesel. The German automaker is also working on a hybrid (diesel-electric) variant that will get many of its components from the E300 Hybrid which will be revealed this September at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It is safe to assume that an AMG version will also be launched, probably one featuring a V8 turbocharged 5.5-liter power unit if the rumors turn out to be true. The Mercedes GLS will be assembled at the firm's North American factory, located in Alabama, where they also make the M-Class. PS: I'll never understand why anyone would want an SUV with sporty lines. Source: Autocar.co.uk Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Wetterauer Tuning For The Mini Countryman Posted: 20 Jun 2011 12:24 PM PDT  Wetterauer Mini Countryman The German tuners over at Wetterauer have come up with a tuning for the All4 all-wheel-drive version of the Mini Countryman S, the one that provides 184 hp and a peak torque of 240 Nm. They managed to increase the output of the engine to 235 PS and 355 Nm of torque by adding a carbon air box, reprogramming the ECU and installing a bespoke exhaust system with 200 cells sports cat as well as matt colored ceramic end pipes.  Wetterauer Mini Countryman As you can see from these pictures, the car has a rather odd matt brown and carbon exterior finish. I have to admit that the wheels are pretty nice, measuring 8,5×18-inch. Developed by ATS, these rims are wrapped around Bridgestone Potenza tires.  Wetterauer Mini Countryman Another modification that they've made to the Countryman is installing H&R suspension springs in order to improve the handling capabilities of the car. As far as the interior cabin is concerned, the Countryman features an iPad multimedia dock and exquisite English leather upholstery. No word about the price yet, but we'll keep you updated once Wetterauer reveals a price list for this tuning program. Source: Wetterauer via ZerCustoms Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Posted: 20 Jun 2011 12:09 PM PDT  2012 Mercedes SLK by Carlsson To me, as far as the design is concerned, the recently introduced new generation of the Mercedes SLK is one of those cars that looks drop dead gorgeous right from the factory line so tuners should avoid messing up with the design. Performance improvements yes, design changes no. However, aftermarket specialists like Carlsson have managed to make me think about this a little bit more in depth as their upgrade program for the SLK makes the car even more beautiful than before, without changing too much. Design-wise, their aerodynamic kit features a new front spoiler lip that looks like it was created by Mercedes themselves, along with a rear apron insert that also looks like it was there right from the start. Other additions include the rear diffuser which looks kinda nice and stainless steel front grille inserts that probably look good only on a white SLK, like the one in these two pictures.  2012 Mercedes SLK by Carlsson Aside from making a few subtle design updates here and there, they've also installed a bespoke exhaust system that consists of a stainless steel sports silencer that has two pipes. In addition, the SLK now rides on 20-inch light alloy rims and the suspension lowering kit brings the sexy cabrio closer to the ground. As far as the inside is concerned, the guys over at Carlsson fitted the Mercedes SLK with aluminum pedals, elegant Nappa leather upholstery, along with various carbon, wood and Alcantara trim parts. They've made some modifications under the hood too, where the TGI engines can be fitted with a C-Tronic power kit that increases the output of the engine between 27 and 40 hp. I've always enjoyed subtle tuning programs and Carlsson has managed to come up with just that. Well done guys. Source: Carlsson via ZerCustoms Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| “Saudi Women taking the wheel” campaign in progress Posted: 20 Jun 2011 08:38 AM PDT
A few days ago we have written about the Online Campaign for Saudi Woman's "right to drive" , initiated by Manal al Sharif. For the moment, the campaign is in progress, and several videos and online reports already talk about dozens of women participating to the campaign so far. They all protest against the world's only gender-specific driving ban. The tragicomic situation is that during the first day of protest, police has stopped one of the cars and gave the woman driver a ticket for not having a license, even though she had two international driver licenses. Even if this seems to be a long-term struggle, Saudi women effort deserves to be appreciated. And maybe it will not take that much until they get the driving right in their country. So, do you stand for the campaign? [Source: Jalopnik] Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| iPadd app for American Airlines Instead of Navigation Charts Posted: 20 Jun 2011 07:45 AM PDT
Apparently, American Airlines is doing pretty well in keeping up with new gadgets and using them as much as possible. After installing Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablets as part of the package for First and Business Class, American Airlines will put the devices in the pilot cabin too. This only could happen with a little help from a new test program that will use an iPad and an iPad app which to provide navigational information and to replace the old paper navigation charts. Due to this technological change, the aircraft weight will be reduced with about 35 pounds and, implicitly, save over $1 million each year. The FAA will offer special permission for pilots to use this iPad app. What do you think about this idea? [Source: Appleinsider] Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| [press release] MINI John Cooper Works WRC ride in store for one lucky fan Posted: 20 Jun 2011 07:06 AM PDT
Munich. 17th June, 2011. The largest motoring garden party in the world, set in the heart of the British countryside, will be the idyllic setting for an outing of the MINI John Cooper Works WRC. This will be at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on the 1st – 3rd July and here a member of the public will get the once in a life time chance to be a passenger in one of these iconic cars while it is being driven at speed. The lucky person, who will sit beside works rally driver, Kris Meeke (GB), on Sunday morning while the car goes through the 1.67 mile loose-surface forest rally stage, will be the winner of a raffle to be held at the annual glittering ball on the Saturday night. Dr Kay Segler, Senior Vice President Brand Management MINI, commented: "When we were invited to be part of this event, which has a worldwide reputation for being one of the biggest on the motorsport calendar, we were delighted. The affection felt for MINI as a brand is amazing, and I am confident the fans at Goodwood will give it as enthusiastic a welcome as I watched it have on its World Rally Championship debut in Sardinia. We wanted to make it even more special, so we felt giving a prize that money could not buy would be a great start." Meeke will be driving the car on both the rally stage and up the 1.16 mile hillclimb on all three days. This event, which was founded in 1993 by the owner of Goodwood House, the Earl of March, has become a magnet for fans who come from far and wide to celebrate motorsport and all things automotive at their finest. The hillclimb, which is the main attraction, is very technical and challenging and rises over 300 feet from start to finish. This year?s theme is „Racing Revolutions – Quantum leaps that shaped motorsport?. Priceless machinery from around the world representing two and four wheeled motorsport will be on display for the 150,000 sell-out crowd to see at close quarters. The MINI WRC Team has been busy testing ahead of its next WRC outing on Rally Finland on 28th – 30th July. This is the second of six WRC events in 2011 that Meeke and co-driver Paul Nagle (IR) and Dani Sordo and co-driver Carlos del Barrio (ES) will take part in ahead of a full assault on the WRC in 2012. [Source: MINI, Photo] Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| You are subscribed to email updates from rpmGo.com To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
