BMW M6 by 3D Design

Fiat 500 Sportster by G-Tech

New Skoda Superb starts from 18,650 GBP in UK

Skoda Superb at 2015 Geneva Motor Show

Sales start from this summer

Skoda has confirmed
that the all-new Super will be available in the UK at 18,650 GBP.

The Czech company hasn't
announced the full pricing list for the model, but it will go on sale in the UK from the
summer of this year at a starting price of 18,650 GBP for the base model. Deliveries
are expected to start from September this year with the estate version set to join
the range a month later.

The "best Skoda ever"
is up to 75 kg (165 lbs) lighter than the previous Superb and will be offered
with a wide range of diesel and petrol engines. The entry-level powerplant is
the 1.4 TSI with 125 HP (92 kW) or
150 HP (110 kW), followed by the 1.8 TSI with 180 HP (132 kW). The range-topping
petrol unit is the 2.0 TSI that generates 220 HP (162 kW).

Diesel lineup includes
a 1.6 TDI with 120 HP (88 kW) and a more powerful 2.0 TDI, generating 150 HP
(110 kW) or 190 HP (140 kW). The new Superb will be available with a six-speed
manual gearbox or a dual-clutch DSG automatic transmission.

BMW M4 Coupe pampered with Pyrite Brown metallic Individual paint

BMW M4 Coupe Individual

Paint costs about $5,000

The BMW
M4 Coupe has received the Individual treatment bringing a couple of
cosmetic upgrades both inside and out.

It's dressed up in a Pyrite Brown metallic special color
from the Individual catalog and depending on the light it shows various
nuances. This high-end hue made its debut on the third generation X5 and has been available across the M3 & M4 lineup since last fall along with three other Individual paints called Citrin Black, Azurite Blue and Moonstone Metallic. Also noticeable is the carbon fiber reinforced
plastic (CFRP) along with a 19-inch set of five double-spoke 437 M forged alloy
wheels.

The rather unusual exterior paint scheme which by the way
costs around $5,000 is combined on the inside with a BMW Individual Sonoma
Beige Merino fine-grain leather trim and a BMW Individual Sycamore
Red-Brown fine wood trim adding some elegance to a sporty cabin of the high-performance coupe.

Koenigsegg developing a camshaft-less engine

Koenigsegg Regera

To be launched within "the next couple of years"

Following the news that
Koenigsegg could launch a four-door model within the next five years, now it
has emerged the Swedish supercar manufacturer is working on an engine with no
camshafts.

Again Top Gear reports an
engineering team of eight members has been developing this unit for the last
few years, while Christian von Koenigsegg has been toying with the idea for
almost 14 years. He says the project will be ready "within the next couple of
years".

"The way I see it, if
you view the engine as a piano, and the valves as keys, with a camshaft, you're
playing the piano with a broomstick", he told TG at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.
"The reason you have a four-valve cylinder head instead of a two-valve is so it
can breathe freely on high rpm for more power, but that's counteracting your
efforts at low rpm, because you get less speed through bigger ports and less
turbulence and poorer distribution."

"The first thing is to
shut off two valves", he continued. "Then if you get rid of the throttle body -
because you can throttle with the valves - you can open them a little or a lot,
you get better response than butterflies on an intake tract, because you're in
the combustion engine. Thirdly you can shut off cylinders completely like Audi
is doing, but you don't have to choose just two to do it. And fourth, you can
have any valve timing you want - a diesel-like character, or an F1-type
character because you have no restriction whatsoever in cam profile."

 Note: Koenigsegg Regera powertrain pictured.

Lamborghini Aventador Superveloce sprint test [video]

Runs to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds

German magazine Auto
Bild had the chance to conduct a sprint test with a near-production Lamborghini
Aventador Superveloce prototype.

Described by Lamborghini as being their most emotional production model ever made, the recently introduced Aventador SV has lost 50 kg
and gained 50 HP compared to the "regular" LP 700-4. As a result, the supercar from
Sant'Agata is now able to run the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in only 2.8 seconds,
thus making it 0.1s quicker than before.

It's not only lighter and quicker than before, but also 150
percent more aerodynamic and can generate a downforce 170 percent higher than
the Aventador also helped by the added rear wing. It gets unique 20-inch front
& 21-inch rear alloys shod in Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires and stops efficiently
thanks to standard carbon ceramic discs.

Lamborghini has already announced they will start selling
the 327,190 Aventador Superveloce by the end of this spring.

Audi says weak demand killed R8's V8 engine and manual gearbox

2015 Audi R8 at 2015 Geneva Motor Show

Lack of demand

quattro boss Heinz Hollerweger has shed some light
about the reasons as to why the second
generation Audi R8 won't get a V8 engine and a manual gearbox.

Speaking at the Geneva Motor Show, Hollerweger said "we
have no interest in a V8" mainly because the take rate for this version was low
in the first generation as many customers preferred to opt for the larger V10, a
situation which he admits has exceeded Audi's expectations.

For the same reason, there won't be a manual gearbox in the
new R8 as in Europe for example, the demand for a manual R8 was almost
inexistent. Hollerweger said the seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox enables
the supercar to be faster around the track and very few people have expressed
their interested in a manual variant of the new generation.

The second-gen R8 won't be V10-only as Audi has also
introduced a fully electric e-tron
variant and there are also rumors about a new entry-level model equipped
with a V6
engine while a TDI-powered
derivative could happen as well but these will arrive at a later date if
green-lighted for production.

GM exec says a Ford F-150 Raptor competitor is a low priority

2014 Chevrolet Silverado High Country 06.05.2013

General Motor's Executive Vice President of Global Product Development has downplayed the possibility of a Ford F-150 Raptor competitor.

Speaking to Edmunds, Mark Reuss said "We have a lot of priorities" but a Raptor competitor isn't one of them right now. 

While Reuss said we won't be seeing a Raptor competitor anytime soon, he hinted we could eventually see a production version of the Colorado ZR2 concept.  As a refresher, it featured a rugged front fascia with a revised grille, aluminum tow hooks and an integrated winch. The model also had a power dome hood, custom fender flares and 18-inch bead lock-style aluminum wheels with off-road tires.

Besides the styling tweaks, the truck was equipped with new front control arms, mono-tube coil-over shock absorbers and electronic-locking front and rear differentials. The truck also had skid plates and a two-inch lift.

Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf Now Available In Europe

Introduced a few months ago in Dubai, the Lagonda Taraf, Aston Martin's first production vehicle to wear the iconic name in nearly 30 years, made its European debut at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. The Taraf's European launch comes as a surprise, as the British initially announced the sedan would be available in the Middle East only. It turns out Aston Martin decided to broaden the Taraf's availability to mainland Europe, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Hong Kong, and Singapore at the request of Andy Palmer, who became the company's new CEO in 2014.

"Opening up the Lagonda Taraf to an increased number of customers around the world was a high priority for me as soon as I joined Aston Martin late last year. I wanted to be able to offer this exceptional saloon to the potential owners from around the globe who have been enquiring about it, and I'm very happy that we have been able to expand the Lagonda proposition," Palmer said in a statement.

Although Aston Martin has yet to announce when the sedan will go on sale, it did mention the Taraf has been re-engineered to become available with either left- or right-hand drive. Unfortunately, the Brits have no plans to bring it to the U.S. Only 200 examples will be made, with pricing expected to start from around the equivalent of $450,000. In fact, due to the highly bespoke nature of the car, the Taraf could fetch in excess of $600,000, which would make it pricier than a fully specced Rolls-Royce Phantom.
Continue reading to learn more about the Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf.

Aston Martin Lagonda Taraf Now Available In Europe originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 6 March 2015 10:00 EST.

read more

---

Jay Leno Drives RingBrothers' 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle "Recoil": Video

Powered by a 6.5-liter, big-block V-8 in its range-topping, SS396 trim, the 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle was one of the most well-remembered muscle cars of the 1960s. But although it was far from being as powerful as the LS6 454 of the early 1970s in standard form, there's at least one 1966 Chevelle that can put modern supercars to shame. It goes by the name "Recoil" and it was crafted by the folks over at RingBrothers, known for building some of the most spectacular restomods out there.

Finished in BASF Sand Storm paint complemented by exposed carbon-fiber surfaces and racing stripes, the Chevelle "Recoil" boasts a supercharged, fuel-injected Wegner Motorsports LS7 V-8 powerplant that sends a massive 980 horsepower to the rear 20-inch wheels. Its race-ready interior is inspired by fighter jets and features more carbon-fiber than most modern-day sports cars. Voted Best in Show at the 2014 SEMA Show, the Chevelle "Recoil" just made a trip to Jay Leno's Garage for a proper introduction that only a passionate gearhead like Leno can deliver.

Jay also invited James and Mike Ring, the masterminds behind RingBrothers, to tell the story behind their latest project, which, as it turns out, was very close to being name "Contraband" rather than "Recoil." Find out more about and watch Jay Leno put the insanely powerful Chevelle through its paces in the video above. Make sure you pump up the volume from the 18-minute mark onward for some amazing supercharged V-8 noise.

Jay Leno Drives RingBrothers' 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle "Recoil": Video originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 6 March 2015 11:00 EST.

read more

---

2018 Maserati GranTurismo On Schedule; GranCabrio To Be Axed

With the Alfieri set to be unveiled in 2016, Maserati is also working on a successor to the GranTurismo, which will surprisingly not feature a GranCabrio version anymore. The information comes straight from Maserati CEO Harald Wester, who recently spoke with Car Magazine about the matter at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. On schedule to be launched sometime in 2018, the next GranTurismo will likely share its architecture with the Ghibli and Quattroporte, but will only come with rear-wheel-drive, unlike the optionally AWD sedans.

"The convertible will be discontinued. The Americans love it, but one major market alone simply does not generate enough volume. The new coupe will be a fully focused driver's car - nimble, agile, responsive and stuffed with serious V8 power, not to mention a cascade of low-end torque." Wester told Car Magazine. With Maserati all about sales volume after launching the successful Ghibli and Quattroporte, it's no wonder that Wester wants to keep the momentum going.

It's probable that the new GranTurismo will be equipped with a version of the twin-turbocharged, 3.8-liter V-8 currently used in the Quattroporte GTS, likely paired exclusively with an eight-speed automatic transmission from ZF - especially seeing that the manual transmission has gone the way of the dodo with companies like Ferrari. Don't fret about Harald Wester's decision though, as Maserati will not remain without a convertible in its lineup. The upcoming Alfieri is set to spawn an open-top version of its own, even though that model will be slightly smaller than the current GranCabrio.

Continue reading to learn more about the next Maserati GranTurismo.

2018 Maserati GranTurismo On Schedule; GranCabrio To Be Axed originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 6 March 2015 18:00 EST.

read more

---

Furious 7 Crazy Extended Clip: Video

If you are in the mood for watching a whole bunch of modified cars with people in them get launched from a flying plane, then you are in for a treat. The extended look at the upcoming Furious 7 is about as bonkers as it gets, since it shows the obviously CGI-based scene of cars skydiving in an Arabian desert. Scheduled to debut in cinemas on April 3rd, the seventh installment of the Fast & Furious franchise was supposed to come out in 2014, but was delayed after leading man Paul Walker was tragically killed in a car crash at the end of 2013.

Apart from Walker, who in most scenes will be doubled using CGI and two of his brothers as stand-ins, Furious 7 will feature a recurring cast while also introducing Jason Statham as a villain. This may be a spoiler for some, but in order to keep the franchise going it is expected that the Brian O'Connor character may be killed off in the movie, albeit there is no hint of that in the footage above - or is there?

Directed by James Wan, who until now was only known for horror flicks like The Conjuring, Insidious and the first three Saw movies, Furious 7 is said to have a budget of a quarter of a billion dollars, making it the most expensive movie of the entire franchise.

Furious 7 Crazy Extended Clip: Video originally appeared on topspeed.com on Saturday, 7 March 2015 06:00 EST.

read more

---

Geneva 2015: Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Porsche has come at full force to the 2015 Geneva International Motor Show. Porsche has not only brought along the fastest Cayman they have ever made, they have also brought along the brand new 991-generation 911 GT3 RS for the track enthusiasts. The technology and performance that Porsche has thrown at the GT3 RS are simply staggering.

Porsche only reserves the "RS" designation for the most hardcore, yet street legal, cars that they make. The 911 GT3 is already a car that has won the hearts of journalists and enthusiasts alike due to the high levels of performance and technology associated with a sophisticated race car yet it still retains the feel of a fairly analog car. This new "RS" version takes the tried and true recipe of adding power and reducing weight that should create an even more visceral and potent car for the track.

Here are the bits that make the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS interesting. The engine is a new naturally aspirated 4.0L flat six that develops 493 hp and 354 ft-lb of torque. Porsche claims that their new track weapon will do the 0-100 km/h sprint in 3.3 seconds, 0-200 km/h in just 10.9 seconds, and on to a top speed of 320 km/h. Those are astonishing performance figures for a car with less than 500 hp. As to be expected, the only transmission that is offered is Porsche's ultra-fast PDK dual clutch as it is in the regular GT3. If you insist on a manual, consider the Cayman GT4 instead. For the rest of the world, this is probably the best iteration of the 991 generation 911s.

Although 25 kg may not sound like much, Porsche has managed to cut back on the weight that matters. The roof is made of magnesium sheet metal, which saves them 1kg over a roof made of carbon fiber. This brings the center of gravity that much lower to the ground. The fenders, front lid, and bumpers are all made of carbon fiber. However, Porsche says they have invested some of that weight back in by putting a wider track with wider tires, bigger brakes, a half-cage, and bigger rims. Add this with the fact that the new GT3 RS has double the downforce of a regular GT3 with about the same Cd and this means that the GT3 RS will have more mechanical grip at the disposal of the driver. The proof is in the pudding: The new GT3 RS managed a 7 minute 20 second lap time around the Nurburgring.

Porsche says that the first deliveries will come around summer time, and the RS will carry a 50,000 euro premium over the GT3. Here is a first look video of the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS live from the 2015 Geneva International Motor Show, you know, just in case you were thinking of putting a deposit on one.

Geneva 2015: Lamborghini Aventador SV

With 690 horsepower and all wheel drive, the Lamborghini Aventador is already one of the fastest cars on for sale on the market today. But for those few insane enough that feel like the Aventador is too slow for them, Lamborghini has something for you. Debuting at the 2015 Geneva International Motor Show, the Lamborghini Aventador LP750-4 SuperVeloce, otherwise known as the Aventador SV, is a car for the crazy speed freaks out there in the world.

The SuperVeloce moniker is only reserved for the ultimate version of Lamborghini's V12 exotics. There have been 3 SVs before the Aventador: The Miura SV, The Diablo SV, and the Murcielago SV. Each one was magical in it's own right. Now it's the Aventador's time to shine in SV guise, which is much more than a simple refresh. The Aventador SV receives a reworked version of the regular Aventador's 6.5L V12, here making 740 hp and 508 ft-lb of torque. That a healthy 50 hp is a result of fine tuning the variable valve timing and variable intake system, as well as a new lightweight exhaust sytem that reduces backpressure. The engine also now revs up to a screaming 8,500 RPM vs 8,250 RPM. However, the engine isn't the only upgrade the SV gets. Lamborghini has also given the Aventador SV's push-rod suspension set-up new magnetorheological dampers, as well as a revised electo-mechanical variable ratio steering system that is optimized for agility at low speeds and stability at high speeds.

All that extra power is now lugging around less weight than before. Lamborghini says that the SV is about 50 kg, or 110 lbs, lighter than the regular Aventador. This was achieved with an even more extensive amount of carbon fiber in the construction and a stripped out interior. As standard, the SV does not even come with carpets, less noise deadening, and no radio, however Lamborghini will put back the radio in at no extra charge for customers. The result of adding extra power and making the car lighter can be seen in the performance numbers. The Aventador SV will do the 0-60 mph sprint in a scant 2.8 seconds all the way to a top speed of 217 mph.

Visually, Lamborghini has added on many carbon fiber aero bits to optimize airflow and increase downforce. The most dramatic is the new large fixed rear spoiler that replaces the smaller, electric spoiler on the standard car. The SV also receives new front and rear bumpers, a new front splitter, and a rear diffuser that aids in downforce. All in all Lamborghini reckons that the SV generates about 170% more downforce than the regular Aventador.

Here is a first look of the new Lamborghini Aventador SV live from the 2015 Geneva International Motor Show:

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Photo 1006

http://www.chevrolet.com/2013-malibu-mid-size-sedan.html. 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Specification Launched Price Deals Cheap

The post appeared first on Cars Review and Auto Pictures.

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Photo 1007

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20121001/carreviews/120939996. 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Specification Launched Price Deals Cheap

The post appeared first on Cars Review and Auto Pictures.

2013 Audi RS7 Photo 1005

http://www.someofcars.com/2013-audi-rs7-new/. 2013 Audi RS7 Specification Launched Price Deals Cheap

The post appeared first on Cars Review and Auto Pictures.

2013 Audi RS7 Photo 1006

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130729/carreviews/130729815. 2013 Audi RS7 Specification Launched Price Deals Cheap

The post appeared first on Cars Review and Auto Pictures.

Cadillac CTS Sedan Photo 1005

http://electronicpartygear.blogspot.com/2013/06/2014-cadillac-cts.html. Cadillac CTS Sedan Specification Launched Price Deals Cheap

The post appeared first on Cars Review and Auto Pictures.

Cadillac CTS Sedan Photo 1006

http://carinnews.com/2014-york-auto-show-photo-gallery/2014-hyundai-equus-rear-sedan. Cadillac CTS Sedan Specification Launched Price Deals Cheap

The post appeared first on Cars Review and Auto Pictures.

Mercedes-Benz GLK Photo 1002

http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1076387_2013-mercedes-benz-glk-class-first-drive. Mercedes-Benz GLK Specification Launched Price Deals Cheap

The post appeared first on Cars Review and Auto Pictures.

Mercedes-Benz GLK Photo 1003

http://www.cargurus.com/Cars/2012-Mercedes-Benz-GLK-Class-Overview-c23026. Mercedes-Benz GLK Specification Launched Price Deals Cheap

The post appeared first on Cars Review and Auto Pictures.

2012 Volkswagen Beetle by ABT

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Darth Vader by Wheels Boutique

Porsche 911 Turbo 997 by SR Autogroup

Volvo V40 Pirelli Special Edition by Heico Sportiv

2013 Range Rover Evoque RS250 Orkney Grey By Kahn Design

Lamborghini Aventador by DMC and Autoproject-D

Jeep Renegade Hard Steel concept unveiled for Geneva

Renegade Hard Steel Jeep Showcar

Comes with a matching trailer

Jeep has unveiled the Renegade Hard Steel concept, ahead of its debut at the Geneva Motor Show.

Based on the Renegade Trailhawk, the concept has a Brushed Steel exterior with a ventilated hood and matte black accents.  The crossover also has black mirror caps, a skid plate and a Mopar grille.  Other notable highlights include a raised suspension and 16-inch alloy wheels with BF Goodrich All-Terrain tires.

The concept also has a matching trailer with a WiFi hotspot and a massive touchscreen display that provides access to a number of online services including Deezer, TuneIn Radio, Reuters, Tom Tom LIVE, Facebook and Twitter.

Jeep declined to release interior pictures but said the model has Frau leather seats, Brushed Steel trim and light grey contrast stitching.

Porsche 911 Turbo S goes up in flames

A Porsche 911 Turbo S has burst into flames in a Costco parking lot not far from the offices of Hot Rod Magazine.

Details are limited but the video was shot by Robert Radke who says the car started smoked and then became engulfed in flames.

As a refresher, the 911 Turbo S has a turbocharged 3.8-liter six-cylinder engine that produces 560 PS (412 kW) and up to 750 Nm (553 lb-ft) of torque with overboost.  It is connected to a 7-speed PDK transmission and an all-wheel drive system which enables the coupe to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in as little as 3.1 seconds before hitting a top speed of 318 km/h (197 mph).

Hit up the source link to see pictures of the aftermath

Arrivabene willing to 'provoke' Ecclestone

Maurizio Arrivabene (ITA) / XPB Maurizio Arrivabene is quickly climbing the ladder as arguably one of the most popular team bosses in formula one.



A former Philip Morris executive, and bearing a striking resemblance to the 'Marlboro man', the 57-year-old Italian emerged from the chaos of last year's Ferrari to put the fabled team firmly back on track.



And he is quickly endearing himself to the sport.



He put on an entertaining display recently during a press conference with international media, and at the final Barcelona test this weekend has given Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel's fans an unique insight.



"With people he does not know," Arrivabene said, "Kimi does not talk. But he can actually be very warm and profound.



"The next moment he can turn and walk away from you," he revealed, according to the blog of German F1 correspondent Ralf Bach.



"Seb is super-professional," Arrivabene continued.



"When I see him working in the box, I am sometimes emotional because it reminds me of another German I know.



"But his eye for detail has surprised me, and he writes down everything in his notebook," he is quoted by Bach's f1-insider.com.



"Anyway, it does not surprise me that Sebastian has won four titles. He is a hard worker and a great person. But please let's not forget that Kimi is the last Ferrari champion.



"For us, we have the perfect driver combination."



Arrivabene has also revealed that he is not afraid to deliberately "provoke" F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone.



Photos had emerged on social media of the Italian sitting in the grandstands during the Barcelona test alongside Ferrari reserve Esteban Gutierrez.



Arrivabene admitted the reason for his close encounter with the spectators was to let Ecclestone know he is no fan of a proposal to further limit access to F1's exclusive paddock.



"So we go to the people in the stands (instead)," he said.



"For such rumours to not be true, you have to set an example - exclusivity does not mean that you lock even more people out of the paddock."

Next-gen Renault Megane spied hiding all-new design under camouflage

2016 Renault Megane spy photo / S. Baldauf / SB-Medien

Fresh look for fourth-gen model

The all-new Renault Megane has been caught on camera
undergoing testing ahead of an official reveal likely scheduled for the second
half of the year.

Last time we saw the new
Megane testing north of the Arctic Circle and now a prototype was spotted
in southern Europe featuring a full body camouflage to hide an entirely new
design which already seems to be much sleeker despite the heavy disguise. The
fourth generation French hatchback will follow the latest design language seen
on the Clio, Captur and Espace which means it will have very few in common with
the outgoing model.

Underneath the skin it will also be substantially different
as the Renault Megane IV will make the switch to the CMF platform which has
also underpinned the Nissan Pulsar. Expect a significant weight loss along with
a vast engine lineup likely kicking off with the 1.2 TCe rated at 130 HP &
205 Nm. A larger 1.6 TCe sourced from the Clio RS will likely be on offer with
200 HP & 234 Nm along with a beefier version offered in the Espace where it
develops 200 HP & 260 Nm.

On the diesel side, expect the range to start with a 1.5 dCi
110 rated at 110 HP & 240 Nm followed by 1.6 dCi 130 with 130 HP & 320 Nm
and a 1.6 dCi 160 generating 160 HP & 380 Nm.

Chances are Renault will unveil the fourth generation Megane
in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Mercedes' gap almost 1 second per lap

Mercedes AMG F1 W06 / XPB As Mercedes' rival teams pack up their air freight for Melbourne, the extent of their awaiting challenge in 2015 is now crystal clear.



Last week in Barcelona, as the winter testing season ended, the true superiority of the reigning champions' new W06 car was let out of the bag with fury.



Christian Horner, boss of the 2014 runner-up Red Bull, said some of the laptimes posted by Mercedes were "ominous" and even sometimes "depressing".



It is widely said in F1 circles that winter testing form is not reliable, and that teams routinely travel to Australia not knowing the true pecking order.



But, in modern times, that is no longer entirely true.



"We do know how the others are going," Mercedes' Nico Rosberg admitted, according to the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat.



"We have one guy who focuses solely on how fast the others are. We have data and graphs where we can see how the others are going," he added.



According to Auto Motor und Sport, that Mercedes 'guy' is James Vowles, who is in charge of sophisticated GPS-based simulation programmes that will be showing the Brackley team's lead and how far rivals Williams, Ferrari and Red Bull are behind.



Vowles admitted: "Mercedes knows almost as much about where Ferrari is as Ferrari does about itself. And vice versa."



Reportedly, Mercedes' programmes show that its genuine advantage over the next fastest car was a staggering eight tenths per lap in Barcelona.



And the aforementioned three chasers are apparently divided by just a single tenth.



Lotus' Romain Grosjean told RMC Sport: "I cannot tell you where we are because that is confidential, but I can clearly tell you that the best team is Mercedes.



"I think they are second in front of everyone at the moment, so they have done a pretty amazing job," the Frenchman added.



Williams' calculations appear similar, with technical boss Pat Symonds revealing that Mercedes' gap remains "pretty similar to what it was a year ago".



And Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel is quoted by the Spanish daily AS: "In two weeks we will know something more, but it is clear who will be on the front row of the grid.



"Our goal should be to be the next two places," added the German.



Mercedes' Rosberg agreed: "We will have good races at the start of the season.



"We are the favourites because we won the championship last year and now in the pre-season we have also been the fastest. We are very optimistic."

Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Special Edition 2015

Visit Aston Martin Vantage GT3 Special Edition 2015 for full details.

Cadillac XT5

The Cadillac brand has been on the mend as of late, following many years of sliding sales due to a lack of exciting cars. The brand built its V-Series lineup to attract a younger following, but the styling was too dated to garner much interest. Now with the new ATS and CTS, and the upcoming 2016 CT6 already in the fold, Cadillac has turned its attention to the SRX midsize crossover; more specifically, its replacement, the XT5.

With the SRX sliding nearly 6 percent in overall sales in 2014, the midsize crossover is in desperate need of an overhaul. Keeping true to his promise when he took over Cadillac, Johan de Nysschen will change the name of the SRX to the XT5 when the redesigned model arrives at dealers. With a new name, new look, and new engine lineup, can the XT5 help bring Cadillac back to the top of the luxury car heap?

Continue reading my full preview of the XT5 to find out.

Note: Current Cadillac SRX pictured here.

Cadillac XT5 originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 27 February 2015 15:00 EST.

read more

---

BMW M3 500 Horsepower Electric Superchargers

Even though the current BMW M3 has only been on the market for about a year, there are already talks about its successor, and a highly speculative report has appeared in that regard. According to known automotive insider Georg Kacher, who recently spilled some beans about the next BMW 3 Series in Automobile Magazine, the new M3 will deliver around 500 horsepower thanks to some pretty advanced technology solutions.

First of all, the engine is expected to remain a twin-turbocharged, inline-six, but with a difference. Its turbochargers may not be connected to the exhaust but take their power from electric motors, like on the Audi RS5 TDI Concept, leaving them to be called electric compressors or superchargers. Second of all, partially previewed by the BMW M4 MotoGP Safety Car, the next M3 may also have a water-injection system, increasing the engine's efficiency.

With the model about five years away, most speculations are obviously to be taken with a pinch of salt, but Georg Kacher has been known to provide accurate information before, and BMW did mention that the water-injection system may be used on a production model in the future. As far as the electric superchargers are concerned, we will just have to wait for Audi to introduce it first around 2016, and see how it goes. I have a feeling that this technology will do wonders in the BMW M3 or any other turbocharged sports car.

Continue reading to learn more about the next BMW M3.

BMW M3 500 Horsepower Electric Superchargers originally appeared on topspeed.com on Friday, 27 February 2015 16:00 EST.

read more

---

2015 Geneva International Motor Show

The Geneva International Motor Show is known as the auto show that focuses on exotics. In the past, it was the high-end brands that chose Geneva for their world debuts to show off their latest products. This year, the Geneva International Motor Show is gearing up to be one exciting show. With 2015 being the 85^th anniversary of the Geneva Motor Show, it will be open to the public from March 5^th 2015 to March 15^th. Expect the show to have many sports and exotic car debuts. Here are some notable cars that are going to be at the show:

Aston Martin Vulcan

Audi R8

Ferrari 488 GTB

Ford Focus RS

Koenigsegg Agera RS/Regera

McLaren P1 GTR

McLaren 675 LT/ Sport Series

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT3

Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Porsche Cayman GT4

The last ever production Bugatti Veyron "La Finale"

As you can see, there is no shortage of amazing cars that are expected to be there. While CarZi.com has given you the early scoop on some of these cars, expect to us to cover the hottest exotic cars when they officially debut at the show.

Last Bugatti Veyron to Debut at Geneva

10 years ago, Volkswagen Group's Bugatti brand debuted the Veyron 16.4 at the 2005 Geneva International Motor Show, which at the time was the fastest street-legal production car...in the world. Since that time, the Bugatti Veyron has seen many variations and special editions to keep interest in the hypercar as competitors caught up or even surpassed the speed of the original Bugatti Veyron. Now, Bugatti has just announced that after 450 cars produced, it will show off the last Veyron built at the 2015 Geneva International Motor Show.

Appropriately named "La Finale", the chassis #450 will be the 1200 horsepower open-topped Grand Sport Vitesse. Bugatti has confirmed that it has been sold to a customer in the Middle East and will showcase the car alongside chassis #1 at Geneva next month. "La Finale" will most definitely come with many badges and decals denoting it as the last Veyron so that the world will understand just how important this car is. It signifies the end of an era, and the beginning of a new one.

During the course of it's lifespan, the Bugatti Veyron has been both praised and criticized by journalists and the public alike. Praise has been given for the incredible feat of engineering and technical aspects of the car. As a reminder, when the Veyron debuted, there was nothing in the market that even came close to the numbers that surrounded the car. It has just over 1000 horsepower, a top speed of 407 km/h, a W16 engine with 4 (!) turbochargers attached to it, and 10 radiators to keep the engine nice and cool. Even with the competition being as aggressive as it is now, respect has to be given to Bugatti for making this car and selling it to the public. On the other hand, the Veyron has been given somewhat of a hard time for being too heavy to be a true driver's car. Even with 1000+ horsepower, it is hard to beat physics when you try to move 4,100 pounds around a corner. Moreover, with 16 cylinders and that much power, you expect the Veyron to sound like all hell's breaking loose. However, the turbochargers do alot to muffle that noise. Still even with those complaints, it is hard to fault the Veyron. Any car that can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 2.5 seconds, has a top speed of 400+ km/h, and is comfortable enough to use as a daily (not that anyone would), is a technical achievement on its own.

Bugatti has confirmed that a replacement will debut sometime next year. It is rumoured to have even more power, around 1500 hp, and use carbon fiber more extensively to shed some of that excess weight. Only time will tell if that car will go down in the history books like the Veyron, but for now let's take a moment to thank the engineers over at Bugatti for being as lunatic as they are brilliant and making one of the greatest vehicles of all time.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Photo 1008

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130910/carnews/130909949. Mercedes-Benz A-Class Specification Launched Price Deals Cheap

The post appeared first on Cars Review and Auto Pictures.