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- 2011 BMW X3 officially revealed, photos and videos included
- Ferrari 458 Italia Challenge race car officially revealed
- Top Gear’s James May achieves 259.11 mph in the Bugatty Veyron Super Sport
- Mini Countryman gets even more details and specs
- Chevrolet Volt gets 8-year/100,000 mile warranty for its battery pack, won’t be rated at 230 mpg
- Citroen to produce the Survolt and Metropolis concepts
- Video: Range Rover Evoque to parade through cities in camouflage
- Audi reveals A7 teaser website, quickly shuts it down
- 2011 Ford Fiesta US shipments delayed due to hurricane and storms
| 2011 BMW X3 officially revealed, photos and videos included Posted: 15 Jul 2010 03:01 AM PDT  It’s been a long time coming, but the next generation 2011 BMW X3 (F25) has been officially revealed to the public, ahead of its debut at the Paris Motor Show this fall. As you can see above and in the photo gallery below, the new X3 is quite different from the outgoing model, but still has the same overall function-over-form design. The front fascia has been thoroughly overhauled, with new headlamps, a larger and straighter kidney grille, plus an aluminum-style lower air dam, reminiscent of the new X1. Looking from the side though, we can see a slight arch, starting from above the front wheel arch and continuing to the rear of the car, highlighting the increased size of the new X3. The taillights have also been restyled, and boast the same LED technology as the bigger 2011 X5. On the inside, all of the new features that were available for its larger brothers, the X5 and X6, are now present. The center console boasts the same iDrive joystick, which lets you control the information displayed on the massive 8.8-inch LCD screen. Aluminum accents decorate the steering wheel, and can be extended to the rest of the interior, with special options. The space on the inside has also been increased, boasting a capacity of 19 cubic feet (538 liters) in the boot, and 56.6 cubic feet (1,600 liters) if the rear seats are folded. From an engine standpoint, you will be able to enjoy the newest units from the BMW range on the 2011 X3. For Americans, two versions will be available, both powered by gasoline. The xDrive28i will develop 240 HP and 230 lb-ft of torque from the 3.0-liter inline-six, while the xDrive35i will output 300 HP and 300 lb-ft of torque from the new single-turbo N55 3.0-liter engine. The former will sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 6.7 seconds, while the latter will achieve it in 5.5 seconds. Europeans, on the other hand, will get the xDrive20d instead of the 28i. As its name suggests, it will use a 2.0-liter diesel engine capable of 184 HP and 280 lb-ft of torque. All engines will be available with BMW’s new eight-speed automatic gearbox, or, for the 20d, with a six-speed manual. All X3 models will have three settings, Normal, Sport and Sport+, each offering a different experience. Power is split 40/60 with a bias to the rear, but using the new Performance Control technology, it can shift as much as 80% of power to the rear. Overall, the new 2011 BMW X3 definitely brings some much needed change and will once again be a serious competitor on the luxury crossover market. What do you think? Check out the photo gallery below, hit the jump to see a few videos and then share your thoughts about the new BMW X3. Photo Gallery: 2011 BMW X3
Source: BMW Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Ferrari 458 Italia Challenge race car officially revealed Posted: 15 Jul 2010 02:12 AM PDT  It was pretty much common sense that after the launch of the Ferrari 458 Italia, the Italian supercar manufacturer would reveal a track-ready race car version of the model, tentatively named the 458 Italia Challenge. Now, the announcement has been made official, and a single picture of the competition-spec 458 has been revealed. As you can see above, the 458 Italia Challenge definitely boasts every type of race equipment you can thing of. From the lightweight body kit and thinner panels to the lowered suspension by 30mm, 19-inch wheels and the Pirelli competition tires, the new model is ready to hit the track. The Ferrari 458 Italia Challenge keeps the same 570 HP output, from its 4.5-liter V8 engine, but is also equipped with an optimized gearbox and the F1-Trac traction control system, which can change settings to accommodate for various race conditions. The new 458 Italia Challenge is set to join the 430 Challenge model in the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli in the 2011 season. Source: Ferrari Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Top Gear’s James May achieves 259.11 mph in the Bugatty Veyron Super Sport Posted: 15 Jul 2010 01:41 AM PDT  The automotive industry was plunged into a state of shock when the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport model was revealed, alongside its newest performance, breaking the world’s fastest production car speed record, achieving 267 mph. Soon afterwards, Top Gear magazine did hint that it had something to do with the performance and with the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport. Now, as a preview for the August issue of the magazine, Top Gear has officially revealed that James May, a presenter of the famous car show, had a very impressive run in the new Bugatti. According to the mag, May, nicknamed Captain Slow, reached 259.11 mph in the Veyron Super Sport. This isn’t the first time May pushed a Bugatti to its limit, as he reached 253 mph a few years ago, in a standard Veyron model. If you want to check out the complete story, then you have to wait for the Top Gear August issue to hit the stands wherever you live. Source: Top Gear Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Mini Countryman gets even more details and specs Posted: 15 Jul 2010 01:27 AM PDT  The Mini Countryman has been officially revealed at the beginning of the year, after much teasing and foreshadowing, with the Mini Crossover and Beachcomber concepts. Now, the British brand has revealed some more details about its new and rather large model. It will be available in three variants, One, Cooper and Cooper S. They will be available with either a six-speed manual or an automatic gearbox, and if you want the special ALL4 all-wheel drive system, then you’re going to have to spring for the higher-priced Cooper S or D versions. The gasoline-powered Countryman will develop 98 HP in the One version, 122 HP in the standard Cooper spec, or 184 HP, in the turbocharged Cooper S version. The car will use the already popular 1.6-liter engine, developed by BMW in partnership with PSA Peugeot Citroen. The Countryman Cooper S is capable of doing 0 to 62 mph in 7.6 seconds, in front-wheel drive, manual mode. Add a few more tenths for the ALL4 or automatic versions. Europeans will also receive diesel versions of the Countryman, unlike North Americans. The 1.6-liter turbodiesel is capable of either 90 HP, in the One D, or 112 HP, in the Cooper D. The latter is capable of going from 0 to 62 in 10.5 seconds. Even though the Countryman is marketed as a more aggressive and go-anywhere model, its ground clearance will be around 6 inches, so don’t go tackling any off-road trails in it. Source: Mini Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Chevrolet Volt gets 8-year/100,000 mile warranty for its battery pack, won’t be rated at 230 mpg Posted: 15 Jul 2010 12:59 AM PDT  General Motors has just revealed a few more details about the new Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle. It seems that the car, when it will appear on select markets at the end of the year, will boast an 8-year/100,000 mile warranty for its battery pack. This isn’t from the generosity of the GM’s heart though, as the EPA considers the battery pack, which powers the electric motors, to be part of an emissions control system, just like its range-extending 1.4-liter gasoline engine. As such, it must endure the same warranty as a catalytic converter, for example. Still, GM is confident that the battery pack will serve its purpose well. In the final car, it will weigh 400 pounds and output around 110 kilowatts. Almost all of its components are built by GM, so the company has control over its price. Volt fanboys will be disappointed though, as the EPA has announced that it will test the car’s fuel average once more, with a new set of standards. As you may remember, using preliminary standards for extended-range electric vehicles, the Chevrolet Volt was rated at a whopping 230 mpg a few years ago. Expect the Chevrolet Volt to arrive at the end of the year in select territories across the US, and later on, in 2011, in other parts of the world. Source: Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Citroen to produce the Survolt and Metropolis concepts Posted: 15 Jul 2010 12:38 AM PDT  Citroen has just revealed that even though the fate of the stunning GTbyCitroen (Citroen GT) concept is still up in the air, the company will invest in bringing the Survolt electric sportscar and the Metropolis limousine concepts to production. According to Autocar’s source, the Survolt, which has already seen action last weekend at the Le Mans Classic race, will be available as a limited production model in the future. Its performance figures, 248 HP with 738 lb-ft of torque, together with the zero emissions rating thanks to the electric powertrain, would definitely make it popular. Meanwhile, even though it hasn’t had much success with the C6 limousine, Citroen will produce the Metropolis concept which was revealed at the beginning of the year. It will be incorporated into the new DS line, presumably with the DS9 badge, according to that same source. This is definitely great news for the French company, as it will no doubt augment the growth it has been seeing in recent years. Add in the already successful DS line, thanks to the DS3, and we might see big things coming from Citroen in the future. Source: Autocar Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Video: Range Rover Evoque to parade through cities in camouflage Posted: 15 Jul 2010 12:02 AM PDT  Land Rover will begin a new stage for its Range Rover division with the future launch of the new Evoque model. As such, it knows that a different type of marketing is required, in order to really attract the rich urban inhabitants it is targeting. In order to combine both this and the real-life city testing that needs to be done by the Evoque, the British SUV manufacturer has announced that a fleet of 10 Evoque prototypes will parade through the streets of famous cities all around the world.  Better yet, these prototypes will use a certain kind of camouflage. No, not the groovy funkadelic one from the Mini Countryman, but the actual maps of the cities through which they will be driven. As such, each car will have its own specific ‘livery’, if you can call it that way, as well as a ‘Hello’ message, written in the language of that specific country. If you live in New York, Paris, Shanghai, Sydney, Sao Paolo, Milan, Madrid, London, Berlin or Moscow, then keep an eye out in the following months to see these new Range Rover Evoque models. If not, then you can hit the jump and check them out in a special video. Source: Land Rover Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Audi reveals A7 teaser website, quickly shuts it down Posted: 14 Jul 2010 11:46 PM PDT  After showcasing the Sportback concept all over the world, Audi has finally decided to launch a teaser website for its newest model, the A7. As most of you probably know already, the A7 will be Audi’s push into the new four-door coupe segment, targeting the likes of the Mercedes-Benz CLS or the future production version of the BMW Gran Coupe concept. Sadly, the teaser website doesn’t actually hint at anything we didn’t know already, showcasing just a few brief outlines, reminiscent of the Audi Sportback concept. Still, it seems that the Audi Netherlands division jumped the gun a bit, as after just a few hours of being online, the site was shut down and is now inaccessible. This is rather peculiar, as the A7 is set to be revealed in the following months, either at the Moscow Motor Show or at the Paris Motor Show, and will hit the market in November of this year. Luckily, the splash page of the website is up above. Source: Audi Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| 2011 Ford Fiesta US shipments delayed due to hurricane and storms Posted: 14 Jul 2010 11:30 PM PDT  One of the biggest products this year for Ford is definitely the 2011 Fiesta, which will pave the way for the B segment to once again attract American customers. Sadly, things aren’t off to the best of starts, as the Blue Oval has just announced that the first shipments of the new Fiesta from its Mexico City plant will be delayed. It seems that both hurricane Alex, which struck Norther Mexico late last month, and tropical storm Bonnie, which hit afterwards, have caused serious damage to the railroad network around the Mexican capital. As such, the trains carrying the 2011 Fiesta models have been re-routed, but the new distances are much greater. Ford is currently letting dealerships know when the cars will arrive, but until the railroads are fixed, things will be off to a slow start for the little Fiesta. Source: Automotive News via Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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