Opel baby-Antara

According to AutoBild, the new compact sport utility vehicle, which will be placed below the Antara in Opel's model lineup, is being developed in Korea by General Motors Daewoo, where most of Chevrolet's European models are manufactured.

Opel baby-Antara

This smaller SUV will carry a lot of the technology available on the recently launched Chevrolet Sonic (the US-spec model), which itself is based on the Aveo (Europe). Taking this into consideration, most likely one of the engines that will be available for this baby-Antara is going to be a 1.4-liter turbocharged unit that develops 138 hp (103 kW / 140 PS) and 148 lb.-ft (200 Nm) of torque, linked to a 6-speed manual gearbox.

Opel baby-Antara

We'll let you know once more info is released.

Source: AutoBild via WorldCarFans

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Opel’s Baby-Antara Spied & Rendered

BMW ConnectedDrive Concept

Next month at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, the German automaker BMW will reveal the ConnectedDrive Concept car. It will be a two-seat roadster and will set the grounds for potential current and future in-car technologies designed in order to improve comfort, infotainment and most important, safety.

BMW ConnectedDrive Concept

This crossover employs a layering principal in its design and takes the EfficientDynamics language to an entire new level. The high level of comfort is guaranteed by the extended wheelbase and the electro-mechanical retracting doors which we've first seen in the Z1 concept. Out in the back you'll notice the two generous air outlets, the L-design of the rear lights and their outside edge of the rear position. The concept rolls on beautiful 20-inch rims that have a 3D design.

BMW ConnectedDrive Concept

The cabin of the ConnectedDrive Concept is at least to say, unusual. BMW decided to split it into two sections – one for the driver and the other one, you've guessed it, for the passenger. The sections are separated by the long center console and the reason behind this concept is to offer focused attention on the road.

BMW ConnectedDrive Concept

More divisions are available with the three levels of technology we've mentioned in the first paragraph: technology-comfort, infotainment and safety which are distinguished by fiber optics finished in various colors. The first layer was designed for safety and is finished in a red pattern which flows to the front of the car to represent safety-specific info and the driver's focus on the road. The second layer was designed for the aforementioned infotainment system and is finished in a "blue ribbon of light" that stretches into the section of the passenger. The final layer, a green one, represents comfort and it was conceived to focus on the interaction of the car with the surroundings. The emphasis is on the outside of the car, starting and ending with the two antennas.

2011 BMW Vision ConnectedDrive Concept

The German automaker did not reveal what is under the hood of the ConnectedDrive Concept. However, we do know that the official details will be published on March 1^st. Stay tuned to find out more about this exquisite concept.

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Geneva Preview – BMW ConnectedDrive Concept

Ram Tradesman

This week at the 2011 ChicagoAuto Show, the new Ram Tradesman was launched, a pickup truck based on the 1500 model. Under the hood there is a powerful HEMI engine that produces 390 hp and 407 lb.-ft of torque and is capable of doing 20 mpg on the highway, not very much but it goes with the territory.

Ram Tradesman

The Ram Tradesman is available with a Class IV trailer and offers a substantial towing capacity of 10,450 lbs. The model will be available for sale with either a regular cab, a regular cab short-bed measuring 6 ft., 4 inches or a long bed, measuring 8 ft. It will be on sale in both two-wheel-drive and four-wheel drive configurations.

Ram Tradesman

As standard, the Ram Tradesman features a 17-inch steel spare wheel and full-size spare tire, 160-amp alternator and either a 26- or 32-gallon gas tank. In addition, it packs front & rear heavy-duty shock absorbers, a locking tailgate, halogen headlamps, front & rear stabilizer bars, cargo bed lamp and a bright chrome grille.

Ram Tradesman

The Ram Tradesman pickup truck will go on sale in the second quarter of this year and will have a starting price of $22,780.

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Chicago 2011 – Ram Tradesman

Piecha Mercedes ML

I never was a huge fan of SUVs but if I had to buy one it would have to be the ML. The tuners from Piecha Design decided to roll out their upgrade program for the latest generation of this German SUV which can also be installed on the GL-Class X164 due to the fact that these two models are very similar.

Piecha Mercedes ML

The Mercedes ML now rolls on some imposing wheels, measuring 10×22-inch in the front and 11.5×22-inch out in the back. This set of wheels will set you back 6,000 Euros. Other changes include an H&R coilover suspension, which lowers the ML by 35 mm in the front and 50 mm at the rear axle – its price tag is 385 Euros.

Piecha Mercedes ML

As far as the performance of the car is concerned, the engineers installed a Power Converter Intermedia RC (357 Euros) which improves the acceleration as well as the reaction time of the accelerator pedal at low speeds.

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Piecha Mercedes ML Launched

Volkswagen Golf24

The German automaker Volkswagen will be taking the Golf24 to this year's Nurburgring 24-hour race. Under the hood of this Golf the engineers installed a 5-cylinder 2.4-liter turbo engine that produces 440 hp (324 kW) and 540 Nm.

Volkswagen Golf24

Other important modifications in comparison with the standard production model would have to be the permanent four-wheel drive and the sequential 6-speed gearbox with paddle shifters.

The race will be organized in June, and until then, this Golf24 will be thoroughly tested. Its racing debut will occur in the Endurance Championship on the famous Nurburgring-Nordschleife circuit.

Volkswagen Golf24

We'll let you know how fast this Golf on track is once it starts participating in some official races.

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Volkswagen Preparing Golf24 For Nurburgring Race

ABT Audi A7

One of the sexiest cars in the last years is the Audi A7. The tuners over at ABT Sportsline considered that there is still room for improvement and came up with a tuning program for the car which includes both a power boost and aesthetics changes.

ABT Audi A7

As far as the engine is concerned, the 3.0 TDI is now available with two upgraded power levels: the first one delivers 282 hp (207 kW) and 500 Nm of torque; while the other outputs 310 hp (228 kW) and 610 Nm of torque.

If you like the 3.0 TFSI petrol engine, ABT can increase its power to 410 hp (302 kW) from the standard 300 hp (221 kW).

ABT Audi A7

I like that they didn't messed with the look of the car and they made only discreet modifications. The new front spoiler fits in very nicely with the lines of the car while the side skirts and the rear skirt look like they've been designed by Audi themselves. That new 4-pipe exhaust unit gives the A7 a more muscular look. In addition, ABT is offering a couple of 19- and 21-inch rims in many designs.

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ABT Audi A7 Revealed

Renault Captur Concept

Renault's Captur Concept has been unveiled yesterday, ahead of its public debut at Geneva Auto Show next month. You would probably expect that this concept is either a hybrid or an all-electric vehicle – you'd be wrong as it is powered by a conventional diesel engine, a 1.6-liter dCi Twin-Turbo that produces 160 hp (118 kW) and 380 Nm of torque. The engine is mated to the Efficient Dual Clutch (EDC) transmission. It still is quite eco-friendly as its CO2 emissions stand at only 99 g / km.

Renault Captur Concept

Essentially, this concept from Renault is a crossover, measuring 4,233 mm in length, 1,950 mm in width and 1,586 mm in height, while the wheelbase is 2,624 mm. According to the French automaker, the Captur will do the 0-62 mph sprint in 8 seconds, onto a top speed of 210 km/h. The concept benefits from the new RX2 system which will improve traction at low speeds. This RX2 system is in fact an all-new mechanical self-locking differential that has the possibility to send all or part of the torque to the wheels that have the most traction.

Renault Captur Concept

The guys over at Renault didn't say if this concept will transform into a production model. We'll have more information after its official debut at Geneva next month. Until then, check out this video of the Captur:

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Geneva Preview – Renault Captur Concept

2009 Hummer H2

Today I'm starting a new series of articles on rpmGO, dedicated to the cars that I don't like for various reasons. I thought that I should start big and tell you why I never liked the Hummer H2. Simply put, the H2 is one of the ugliest cars ever made and a real gas guzzler due to its massive 8500 lbs weight.

If you didn't know, the Hummer H2 has the chassis of the Chevy Tahoe and a body quite similar with the original Hummer, meaning that this is in fact a Chevy Tahoe in a real bad disguise. I've mentioned that the car is a gas guzzler. Due to its weight, it didn't have to meet the US government federal fuel efficiency regulations. More than that, the manufacturer didn't even have to publish its fuel economy. According to some owners, the H2 will do only 10 mpg for normal use!

Aside from the fact that you'll have to visit the gas station quite often, the Hummer (all of the models) is a real polluter. The H2 produces 3.4 metric tons of carbon emissions in a typical year which is almost double in comparison to the Chevrolet Malibu sedan.

2009 Hummer H2

Another thing that I hate about the car (and probably the most) is the fact that it has those raised bumpers which most likely would prove to be fatal in a frontal collision with another car. I can't even image what would happen if it hit someone on the street.

Last but not least, the Hummer H2 was one of those cars that benefited from tax loopholes. What I'm trying to say is that under the laws applicable when it was made, business owners could have deducted almost 50% the cost of an H2. Those people in the highest tax bracket had the possibility to save up to $10,000 if they got the H2.

2009 Hummer H2

Although I'm a big fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger and I grew up with his movies, he was the one that convinced AM General to make a street-legal version of the Gulf War Humvee (High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle). The rest of the story you already know it – three awful cars. Thank God that General Motors killed the Hummer brand.

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Why I Don't Like The Hummer H2