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Thursday, April 1, 2010
RPMGO.com (former Auto Unleashed) |
- Mercedes-Benz confirms C Class Coupe in 2011
- BMW reveals long-wheelbase 2011 5 Series exclusively for China
- Ford teams up with Microsoft for Hohm electric vehicle charging application
- 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid revealed, 209 HP and 37/39 MPG
- 2011 Scion tC presents itself in New York
- Daimler kicks off partnership with Renault
- 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid officially revealed in New York
- 2011 Scion iQ debuts in New York
- 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon shows off in NY
- 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport appears in New York without a V6 engine
| Mercedes-Benz confirms C Class Coupe in 2011 Posted: 01 Apr 2010 05:10 AM PDT  While outlining its plans for the Bremen plant, Mercedes-Benz has officially confirmed that a C Class Coupe model will join the estate and sedan lineup. As you may remember, there were some intense rumors a few months ago about a presumed coupe model based on the current C Class sedan, which would decrease in size in order to rival the BMW 1 Series. Now, it seems that such a car has been confirmed, and will be arriving with the facelift of the current C Class, at the beginning of 2011. The new car will replace the CLC hatchback, which disappointed in sales, and will fill in the gap left by the CLK model, which saw its production end in early 2010. Don’t go thinking it will be a completely unique model, as its relatively short life, of at most four years, means Mercedes won’t invest that much money. Also, because of this, a convertible edition, like what happened with the E Class Coupe that spawned the E Class Cabriolet, won’t appear. No other details are known as of yet, but be sure that Mercedes-Benz is preparing a sneak peek of the two-door model at one of the upcoming major European motor shows (our guess is Frankfurt). Source: Autocar Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| BMW reveals long-wheelbase 2011 5 Series exclusively for China Posted: 01 Apr 2010 04:49 AM PDT  BMW knows where the money’s at in these tough times, and has just presented an exclusive version of its 2011 5 Series sedan, manufactured in and built for China. The long-wheelbase 5 Series will be exclusive to the market, given the appeal and big number of customers such models have in the Asian country. It will be built at the Shenyang plant, where 5.5 extra inches will be added to the already big sedan. Three straight-six engine choices will be available, from 204 HP to 306 HP in the top-of-the-range 535Li. BMW boasts the features its limousines will have, including the EfficientDynamics technology, as well as the extra touch of elegance the elongated 5 Series will have over its competition. Source: BMW Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Ford teams up with Microsoft for Hohm electric vehicle charging application Posted: 01 Apr 2010 02:33 AM PDT  Ford is definitely embracing the future of the automotive industry, and has just announced during the 2010 New York Auto Show that it is partnering up once again with Microsoft (the first collaboration resulted in the SYNC infotainment system), and will use the Hohm cloud-based energy management system in order to control the charging of future Blue Oval Electric Vehicles.
Does this concept sound a bit too confusing? Well Hohm is a service currently in open beta stage, meaning you can sign up for free. It enables you to manage the electric energy in your own house. If you’ll buy a future EV, you’ll no doubt need to recharge it. This is where Hohm really comes into its own, and will alert you when the car has been fully charged, and other types of information, like when it is better to recharge the vehicle.  Ford and Microsoft also want to partner with electric companies, in order to better map out the grid, and even warn customers of impending repair work, so that they won’t be caught off guard. The first EV from Ford to support Hohm will be the 2012 Focus Electric model, seen above. Many other such vehicles will soon appear, including a Transit electric, and several undisclosed ones. The strain that the electric vehicles will put on the old power grid has always been a problem. Now, with Hohm and other services, things might be improved soon enough. Source: Ford Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid revealed, 209 HP and 37/39 MPG Posted: 01 Apr 2010 02:12 AM PDT  The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid didn’t surprise anyone at the 2010 New York Auto Show, as the South Korean carmaker teased the new model days before it was finally revealed. Now, the first US hybrid from Hyundai has been detailed, and we can say that the Ford Fusion and Toyota Camry Hybrid do have a few things to worry about. Starting with the powertrain, the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid uses the same 2.4-liter inline-four cylinder engine, now running on an optimized Atkinson cycle. Instead of opting for a CVT gearbox to couple the engine and the electric motor (which develops 30 kW or 40 HP), Hyundai opted for a standard six-speed automatic gearbox, with the motor running instead of a torque converter. This means a total power output of 209 HP and 195 lb-ft of torque. Official fuel estimates aren’t available, but Hyundai is confident the Sonata Hybrid will do 37 mpg on the EPA combined city cycle and 39 on the highway. Also, the company revealed that the model can accelerate up to 62 mph running in pure EV mode. Two major factors contributed to the performance of the Sonata Hybrid. First off, the low weight. Besides the fact that the Sonata is already a light mid-size sedan, the hybrid model is the first to use a lithium-ion battery pack in the USA (the Volt will be the second). This means a curb weight 3,457 pounds. Secondly, the improved aerodynamics also play a big role. No doubt, you noticed the restyled front fascia of the Sonata Hybrid, as well as extensions to a few other body panels. This means that the drag coefficient has been reduced from 0.28 to 0.25. Overall, the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is looking pretty good as opposed to its competition. The last remaining unknown is the price, which will be revealed at a later time. Until then, check the car out in the photo gallery below. Photo Gallery: Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
Source: Hyundai Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| 2011 Scion tC presents itself in New York Posted: 01 Apr 2010 01:37 AM PDT  Besides showcasing the small 2011 iQ yesterday at the New York Auto Show, Scion also revealed the 2011 tC coupe model. This new generation promises to deliver a more aggressive package, designed to further attract even more the young audience. In order to do this, a new 2.5-liter inline-four cylinder engine has been fitted, with power increasing as well, to 180 HP and 173 lb-ft of torque. For those keeping count, it’s a 19 HP and 11 lb-ft improvement over the ratings of the older 2.4-liter engine. Expect a “sport-tuned” suspension system on the 2011 tC, as well as an electronically-assisted steering system. The aforementioned engine will be mated to either a six-speed automatic, with optional sequential shift, or a six-speed manual, replacing the older five-speed one. Scion expects the new tC to return a better fuel average, but no estimates were offered. Besides the more aggressive styling, future 2011 tC owners will also get 18-inch wheels, bigger brakes and a flat-bottom steering wheel. An optional rear wing, as well as sun roof are also available for an extra price. You can check out the new Scion tC in the photo gallery below and the special ScionDimension web page, where all the info about the new models are available. Also, you can become a fan of the brand on Facebook. While you’re at it though, don’t forget to fan our own website, in order to stay in touch with the most important news (if you don’t, go back living under that rock). Photo Gallery: 2011 Scion tC
Source: Scion Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Daimler kicks off partnership with Renault Posted: 01 Apr 2010 12:58 AM PDT  First off, no it isn’t an April Fools joke (as far as we know). Daimler has announced that it will be debuting a partnership between it and Renault in terms of platform and engine sharing for future models. As such, you’ll see quite a few components and new technologies be developed between brands like Mercedes-Benz, Smart, Renault or Nissan. It seems that Daimler has been shopping around for viable partnerships, and saw in Renault the best candidate. The research on which the two companies will collaborate are going to result in “billions of euros in annual savings for both sides.” The major focus of the new partnership is the Project Edison initiative, consisting of a small city car platform, capable of support the replacements for the Smart ForTwo and Smart ForFour. Besides the Daimler models, Renault is keen to base the electric Twizy and the next Twingo on the same platform. As its name suggests, it will also support, besides regular powertrains, electric ones. The rear-wheel drive platform will no doubt be manufactured at Renault’s Slovenian plant. Besides the work on the Edison platform, the two groups will also collaborate on future small engines, from 1.2 to 1.8-liters in capacity, set to appear under the bonnets of the future Mercedes-Benz A and B Classes, as well as the next Renault Clio or Megane models. Autocar is also speculating that if the two corporations play together nicely, Mercedes-Benz might share some of its V6 or V8 engines with Infiniti, as well as new transmissions. Either way, this is one interesting partnership which will give BMW and PSA Peugeot Citroen something to think about. Source: Autocar Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid officially revealed in New York Posted: 01 Apr 2010 12:26 AM PDT  Even though its existence was spilled days before the 2010 New York Auto Show began, the 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid was still eagerly awaited by quite a few people. Now, the official details are in, and we dare to say that the Lexus HS 250h has been bested by the Blue Oval’s luxury hybrid offer. Under the bonnet you’ll find the already tried-and-true 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine, coupled with an electric motor, resulting in a combined power output of 191 HP.  The projected fuel average is an extremely impressive 41 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway. Also, the MKZ Hybrid can go on full electric power at speeds of up to 47 mph. Besides the impressive eco stats, expect plenty of premium features on the inside of the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, from the SYNC-powered infotainment system, to the heated and cooled seats, the MyKey system and, of course, the SmartGauge with EcoGuide technology, which informs the driver of the performance and capacity of the hybrid powertrain. All in all, if you like your hybrids with a touch of luxury, then you should definitely check out the 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid at the 2010 New York Auto Show, and in dealerships later this year. Source: Lincoln Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| 2011 Scion iQ debuts in New York Posted: 01 Apr 2010 12:08 AM PDT  Yesterday was the first day of the 2010 New York Auto Show, and as you could expect, it was filled with interesting announcements. One of the first came from Toyota’s youth-oriented brand, Scion, which revealed the 2011 iQ city car. As you may know, the Toyota iQ has been around for quite some time, but is just now reaching US shores, badges as a Scion. The visual style hasn’t been changed all that much, and besides the new badge, it is quite similar to its European and Japanese brothers. Busting rumors that it might appear as a hybrid, the Scion iQ will only be powered by a 1.3-liter gasoline engine of undisclosed performance (we’re betting around 90-100 HP). No other details were given, but it’s a safe bet that in terms of fuel average it will be upper 30s, and will also get a CVT gearbox. Lots of safety features, including 10 airbags, will be included in the small city car, and you can certainly expect Toyota to market it aggressively towards the younger crowd. Expect the 2011 Scion iQ to debut in dealerships this fall. Until then, check out the photo gallery below and the special ScionDimension web page, where all the info about the new models are available. Also, you can become a fan of the brand on Facebook. While you’re at it though, don’t forget to fan our own website, in order to stay in touch with the most important news (if you don’t, go back living under that rock). Photo Gallery: 2011 Scion iQ
Source: Scion Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon shows off in NY Posted: 31 Mar 2010 11:48 PM PDT  American wagon lovers are definitely being catered for at the 2010 New York Auto Show, not only through the magnificent Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon, but also with the 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon model, which has just premiered in the Big Apple. As everyone expected, the car is basically a rebadged version of the European Honda Accord Touring, with just a prettier interior and, quite possibly, a jacked up price. The new wagon will be powered by the same 2.4-liter inline-four cylinder unit found on the TSX sedan, and will only be available with a five-speed automatic gearbox.  No word on fuel estimates, although Acura is expecting something in the 30 mpg range. Also, the 2011 TSX Sport Wagon will only be available as a front-wheel drive model, as the AWD technology is exclusive to the sedan.  You can check out the 2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon at the NY Auto Show, and expect it to hit dealerships this fall. Source: Acura Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport appears in New York without a V6 engine Posted: 31 Mar 2010 11:24 PM PDT  The Suzuki Kizashi is getting pretty popular in the USA, so many people were eagerly awaiting the Sport variant, which up until recently was rumored to be powered by a big V6 engine, courtesy of the company’s partnership with GM. Sadly, as we revealed at the beginning of the year, Volkswagen has acquired a stake in the Japanese carmaker, prompting GM to cut any ties, including the delivery of the V6 units. This means that at the 2010 New York Auto Show, the 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport has been revealed with a regular 185 HP 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine.  It’s by no means slow, but we were expecting something more adequate, especially given the chases with angry snowmen. As such, the Sport edition will only impact the suspension, which is harder and lower, and the styling, both on the inside and on the outside. For the interior new trim options are available, as well as black leather options for the steering wheel or gear knob. On the outside, extensions were added to the front bumper, the rocker panels and a series of chrome accents were also thrown in. Overall, while not exactly what we expect, the 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport will deliver an enhanced feeling. Source: Suzuki Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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