Hyundai Equus Tuned By Mummbles Marketing for SEMA 2010

The last of the Equus trifecta from Hyundai to be shown at the upcoming SEMA Show has been unveiled in rendering glory recently. In collaboration with Mummbles Marketing, the appropriately named "Elegant Equus" (though the company name struck us with an image of a dancing penguin) features a 450 horsepower, high performance engine and advanced technologies, "as it aims to be the envy of every high-power executive", according to Hyundai.

To capture the VIP luxury look as best as possible, Mummbles Marketing is determined to squeeze the most modifications and gadgets ever in a single Equus. The “Elegant Equus” will feature a plethora of engine, interior, exterior, brake, wheel and suspension modifications, as well as one-of-a-kind audio and video enhancements. Along with a turbo kit and carbon fiber accessories to enhance performance, Mummbles will install an Apple iPad to control certain aspects of the vehicle such as ride height, luxury curtains, stereo and windows.

Mummbles Marketing is teaming up with Legacy Innovations and S-Max to build and manufacture the turbo kit for the Equus and will also be working with Infinity, Mobile Spec and Pyle for the custom audio and video parts on the vehicle.

Mechanically, Mummbles plans to customize the following:

• Legacy Innovations turbo kit
o SPA turbo
o S-Max wastegate
o S-Max blow-off valve
o S-Max front mount intercooler
o S-Max catch can
o Legacy Innovations OBD2 downpipe
o Legacy Innovations aluminum intercooler tubing
• Nitrous Express kit
• Magnaflow dual-exhaust system

Modifications to the brakes, wheels, tires and suspension include:

• Air Lift digital air suspension
o Air Lift extended air springs and struts (four)
o Five gallon tank
• Wilwood big brakes kit (front)
o Six piston brake calipers
o 14” slotted / drilled rotors
• Wilwood big brakes kit (rear)
o Six piston brake calipers
o 13” slotted / drilled rotors
• 22” x 9.5” Work Equip E10 wheels (front)
• 22” x 10.5” Work Equip E10 wheels (rear)
• Falken FK452 tires
o 245/30/22 front
o 265/30/22 rear

Interior upgrades will include:

• Four glow shift gauges
• Southeast Carbonworks hydro-coating interior kit
• Idealistic Designs custom leather interior (gunmental / burgundy)
o Seats, door panels, dash steering wheel and center consoles
• Black suede A, B, and C pillars
• Black suede headliner
• Junction Produce fusa / gintuna
• Junction Produce front door curtains
• Junction Produce rear door curtains
• Junction Produce rear curtains

Exterior modifications will include:

• BASF custom deep burgundy paint
• 717 Motoring five piece body kit
o Front bumper
o Side skirts
o Rear bumper (with carbon fiber insert)
o Rear wing
• Carbon fiber hood
• Carbon fiber roof overlay
• Carbon fiber trunk
• Carbon fiber B and C pillars overlay
• LightWurkz headlights (tinted)
• LightWurkz taillights (tinted)
• Tinted mirror signal

Mummbles Marketing will also upgrade the in-car entertainment features on the Equus, including:

• Two Apple iPads
• Apple wireless keyboard
• One 20” Pyle monitor
• Pyle DVD player
• Four 12” Infinity subwoofers
• Four Infinity Kappa Series amplifiers
• Infinity Kappa Series 5.25” components
• Three Infinity Kappa Series 6.5”
• JBL MS-8
• Mobile Spec wiring and accessories
• Optima battery
• Kinetik 80 amp power supply

[Source: Hyundai]

Hot News: 2013 Fiat-Abarth Roadster to Compete with Lotus Elise

Abarth is set to complete its revival as a stand-alone brand within the Fiat Group by launching a sports roadster in 2012 — and it won’t need to buy in a chassis from Lotus or KTM to bring the car to market.

The new model is the latest step in an Abarth revival programme begun three years ago with the Punto Abarth, and continued with the arrival of an Abarth 500 plus a comprehensive range of ‘Esseesse’ performance upgrades for small Fiat models.

The planned roadster’s shape will be all-new. Its proportions and transverse, mid-engined layout will be roughly similar to that of the Lotus Elise. Its cockpit is also believed to use the same layout as the Elise: a fixed rear window with a simple, lift-out roof panel.

However, speculation on the internet that the car will use the Lotus’s chassis, or even the ultra-expensive platform from the KTM X-Bow, are “wide of the mark”, according to Italian sources close to the project.

The styling will come from Abarth’s own in-house department, led by the recently appointed head of design at the firm, Rubén Wainberg. The move is intended to recall Abarth’s 1960s heyday, when a series of specially designed Abarth sports cars were built and raced, using mostly Fiat components.

Abarth is working on its own tubular spaceframe for the car, which will follow tradition by making good use of proven Fiat/Alfa modular suspension components, as well as advanced and lightweight engines such as the recently launched turbocharged 1.4-litre MultiAir, available with outputs as high as 170bhp. Fiat/Alfa is also on the point of launching its own six-speed, dual-clutch gearbox, and admits seven-speed versions are a possibility for the future.

The entry price for the Abarth roadster is tipped to be “affordable” at around £25,000. This also clearly negates any relationship with the X-Bow, which uses an all-carbonfibre chassis and an Audi engine and costs £50,000 to £80,000.

Though engineering and design are at an advanced stage, the Abarth project’s business case is still under review and awaiting sign-off from group supremo Sergio Marchionne. Despite the success of the Fiat 500, which draws much from Fiat history, Marchionne is famously unsentimental about projects he suspects will not generate healthy returns.

One sticking point may be the size of the investment required for a car that will command worldwide sales of no more than 5000 units. Lotus’s current Elise/Exige volume is half that.

One point in the new car’s favour is that Fiat will soon have an ideal plant ready for its manufacture, just outside Turin. The group recently acquired the Grugliasco manufacturing plant of the struggling Bertone coachbuilding firm (the design side has been retained by the Bertone family) and is currently rebuilding it for the manufacture of various low-volume models and variants.

Work is due to be completed next year; that would be perfect timing for a new Abarth sports car that would appear a further 12 months down the line.

Thanks to: Autocar

New Car: 2011 Citroen C3 Picasso Blackcherry

Citroen has popped its cherry! The French firm has just released details of a new limited edition special model which coincides with a number of updates to the supermini MPV range.

Called the BLACKCHERRY, the newcomer is based on the VTR+ model and is powered by the firm’s 1.6-litre HDI diesel engine. Modifications include cherry red and gloss black exterior and interior detailing to compliment the metallic black exterior paint. The C3 Picasso also gets body colour roof bars and 17-inch cherry red diamond-tipped alloy wheels.

Standard equipment includes air conditioning, cruise control with speed limiter, Citroen’s Connecting Box (USB socket and Bluetooth system), electrically adjustable door mirrors and front electric windows.

Changes to the rest of the C3 Picasso range include a new Euro 5-compliant HDi 110bhp engine and six-speed transmission. The new engine returns just under 59mpg, with CO2 emissions falling by 5g/km over the previous Euro 4 unit to 125g/km. The remaining engines in the Picasso line-up have been rehomologated to reach full Euro 5 levels, with tweaks delivering more miles for every gallon of fuel consumed.

The firm has also made Michelin’s low rolling resistance Energy Saver tyres standard kit across the range, while the Connecting Box is now fitted as standard on VTR+ and Exclusive trim levels. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

Hot News: Honda EV Concept to Debut at LA Show 2010

Honda has some electrifying news! The firm will whisk the dustsheet off what it describes as “an all-new Honda electric vehicle concept” at the LA motor show.

There are no further details as yet, but the car is significant, as the firm’s President and CEO Takanobu Ito will unveil the car, marking the first time a global Honda CEO has taken the stage during the Los Angeles Auto Show press days.

Ito has already made reference to Honda's electric car plans, stating in his mid-year speech that "Honda’s battery EV is scheduled to go on sale in Japan and the U.S. in 2012."

Honda will also reveal a plug-in hybrid platform which is designed to showcase the next-generation of the company’s hybrid technology. The hybrid system for mid-size to larger vehicles is currently under development. Vehicles equipped with this new system are scheduled to go on sale in 2012 in Japan and the U.S.

Both cars will be shown alongside Honda's FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell car (pictured). For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

Hot News: Volvo Begins Work on C30 Fuel Cell Electric

Volvo is looking to the future! The firm has announced its next step in the electrification of the car. Backed by the Swedish Energy Agency, Volvo will build two fuel cell range extender prototype chassis based on the Volvo C30 DRIVe Electric, to be ready for testing in everyday traffic in 2012.

Volvo boss Stefan Jacoby said, “This is an exciting expansion of our focus on electrification. Battery cost and size means that all-electric cars still have a relatively limited operating range. Fuel cells may be one way of extending the distance these cars can cover.”

The firm is working with Powercell Sweden to build a hydrogen range extender with a reformer, which breaks down petrol to create hydrogen gas. In the fuel cell, this hydrogen gas is converted into electrical energy, which is used to power the car’s electric motor. The only emissions are electricity, water and a small amount of carbon dioxide.

To test range extender, Volvo will fit the completed unit into two C30 DRIVe Electric models, testing of which should begin in 2012. This range extender is expected to increase the electric car’s operating range by up to 155 miles, giving a total of around 250 miles.

There is no word yet on when – or even if – this technology could make it to production. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

New Car: 2011 Dodge Avenger

The Avenger name is pretty sweet, evoking an image of speeding through an apocalyptic wasteland, charging toward a moment in time where revenge can finally, deliciously be exacted upon those who have wronged you. If you bought a 2008–2010 Avenger, of course, that group of offenders would include Dodge—the name was among the car’s few redeeming qualities. While it was an okay effort, delivering a modicum of sportiness and a dash of style, a low-buck interior and coarse powertrains ultimately doomed the car to also-ran status in the family-sedan segment, as well as a seventh out of seven showing in its only comparison test.

And so Chrysler has rejiggered the Avenger for 2011, tweaking the powertrain lineup and installing a wholly redone interior, while at the same time bridging the gap until an ostensibly better replacement arrives within a couple of years.

The boorish 2.4-liter four-cylinder remains the base engine, although it now mates to an automatic transmission with six gears instead of four, and Dodge says the engine itself has been “recalibrated.” As on its mechanical twin, the Chrysler 200 (née Sebring), the V-6 option is now the company’s 3.6-liter Pentastar, mated to a six-speed auto and churning out an eye-popping-for-the-class 283 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The previous 235-hp, 232-lb-ft, 3.5-liter V-6 has been tossed into the great abyss.

To correct some of its predecessor’s sloppy dynamics, the 2011 Avenger receives a heavily reworked suspension, with what Chrysler says is “completely rethought” geometry. Twenty-six of the 30 suspension bushings have been retuned or redesigned, and the tires are wider, resulting in a track that grows by one inch. Dodge promises less body roll, sharper and more communicative steering, and fewer rattles.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

New Car: 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan

Chrysler recently announced a small update for the 2011 Town & Country, and —predictably—Dodge’s Grand Caravan will mirror its sibling’s changes. For 2011, the Grand Caravan will receive a new crosshair front grille and a more sculpted front fascia. Around back are a redesigned bumper and a liftgate sporting sharper creases and new lettering.

Like the Town & Country—and most other Chrysler products—the Grand Caravan receives the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine. It’s tuned for 283 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, more power than was offered by the 3.3-, 3.8-, and 4.0-liter sixes that it replaces in the engine lineup. The only transmission choice is a six-speed automatic with a “Fuel Economizer” button that adjusts shift timing for reduced fuel consumption.

Also aiding fuel economy are a half-inch reduction in the van’s ride height, lower-rolling-resistance tires, and a drag-reducing roof spoiler. Dodge hasn’t completed official EPA testing, but expects fuel economy will match or exceed the 16–17-mpg city and 23–25-mpg highway ratings of the previous engines even though the new V-6 is more powerful.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

Aston Martin One-77 2011 Collection

Aston Martin One-77
Aston Martin One-77
Aston Martin One-77
Aston Martin One-77
Aston Martin One-77

Aston Martin Vantage Gallery

Aston Martin Vantage
Aston Martin Vantage
Aston Martin Vantage
Aston Martin Vantage
Aston Martin Vantage

2012 Hyundai Veloster Spied in Sizzling Red For The First Time

What's a better way to start off the Thursday morning than feasting your eyes upon the first spy shots of a red 2012 Hyundai Veloster prototype? Caught at a service station lot in South Korea, this particular prototype gives us our first look at other colors that will be available in the palette besides the white that we've seen for too long now. Other than the new color, we can't see anything we haven't seen before.

Leave us your thoughts on the red Veloster in the comments section below!

Read more to view more spy shots of the red Veloster.

Hot News: Jaguar Looks for Chinese Partner

Jaguar is “in negotiations” with a possible partner in China, Tata boss Carl-Peter Forster has said.

The partnership would see Jaguar entering into a joint venture with a firm which would both manufacture and sell its vehicles. Forster said that the firm was in "good discussions" with an un-named Chinese car maker.

He also told journalists in China that the believed the firm "tremendous potential" around the world, but it was "not as strong as we should be, most notably in China". Forster believes the firm had been "somewhat under-managed" before Tata took ownership of Jaguar Land Rover from Ford.

PSA Peugeot Citroen has this week confirmed its own assault on the luxury car market in the China, while both Volkswagen and General Motors are among several manufacturers looking to increase capacity there.

Forster added that Tata has also received a lot of overseas interest in the Nano, although no export markets have been agreed. “We have a lot of interest, certainly more interest than we can satisfy,” he said.

Thanks to: Autocar

Hot News: 2014 Porsche Cajun

Meet the baby Porsche with added spice! Our exclusive images preview a new SUV coupé that’s set to join the firm’s ranks.

Due to be called the Cajun, it slots into the range below the Cayenne and will go head-to-head with the Range Rover Evoque and BMW X4, which we revealed in Issue 1,137.

The Cajun is the first car to be developed under Porsche’s new owner, VW. And as the Cayenne was created alongside the VW Touareg and Audi Q7, so this model will have much in common with Audi’s Q5.

It will be slightly lower and shorter than the Q5, but around 90mm wider, giving an imposing, sporty stance. And it will tip the scales at around 1,700kg.

In a bid to distance the Cajun further from other models in the family, Porsche will offer it only as a three-door initially. Engines will be sourced from Audi, with buyers getting a choice of two petrol units, two diesels and a petrol-electric hybrid.

Kicking off the range will be a pair of four-cylinder variants: a 237bhp 2.0-litre petrol turbo and a 188bhp 2.0-litre TDI. Top-spec cars will get either a 3.0-litre TFSI petrol V6, producing 328bhp, or 3.0 TDI with 237bhp and 550Nm of torque. Flagship Cajuns are expected to cover 0-62mph in less than six seconds.

A six-speed manual gearbox or seven-speed PDK twin-clutch auto will be offered, while the four-wheel-drive system is to be biased towards tarmac use, so off-road features will be limited to hill descent control and all-weather tyres. The hybrid model is based on Audi’s forthcoming green Q5, which features a 210bhp 2.0-litre petrol engine mated to a 47bhp electric motor, and gives a zero-emissions range of 1.8 miles.

Although the Cajun is heavily based on the Q5, Porsche will fit unique suspension, damper and braking set-ups. The firm will also recalibrate the stability control for a sportier drive, and offer Porsche Active Stability Management as an extra, to control the new dampers.

The Sports Chrono package will be an option, too. This brings a sports exhaust to increase engine power, as well as launch control on cars with the PDK gearbox. VW Group design chief Walter de’Silva has already expressed interest in working on Porsche’s new models, and aims to move away from the controversial design seen on the Panamera. But the Cajun will still be striking, with a low, swooping roofline and short overhangs.

Inside, the four-seater cabin promises more luxury than the Q5. The centre console will be set higher, to cocoon the driver and give the car a small and nimble feel. Plus, the Panamera-inspired dash design and switchgear, set to appear in the new Boxster and Cayman next year, will ensure the model looks like a true Porsche.

When it goes on sale in 2013, it will be priced between the Q5 and Cayenne, which start from £27,980 and £41,404 respectively. The entry-level Cajun is likely to be slightly more expensive than the base Evoque Pure, which will cost from around £30,000. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

Hot News: 2013 Volvo C30 5-Door

Watch out Volkswagen, Volvo is teeing up its Golf rival. The Swedish firm is set to launch a practical, five-door version of its C30 hatch. But creating the newcomer doesn’t merely involve grafting on an extra set of doors.

To compete with the best in the class, such as the Golf, Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra, the C30 will be given a complete design makeover. Its look will usher in a more distinctive Volvo styling language, which new chief executive Stefan Jacoby is keen to implement.

He is concerned that the marque’s DNA has become diluted by pursuing its German rivals too intently. Instead, the firm’s new cars will have a renewed emphasis on Scandinavian design, which means keeping things simple and elegant on the outside, while interiors remain minimalist but with more interesting choices of materials. Technology inspired by Apple’s latest products is likely to make its debut in the new car, too.

Jacoby believes the XC60 is the model that’s closest to what Volvo should be doing, so expect the new five-door to be heavily influenced by the look of the SUV, with a distinctive nose, sculpted flanks and L-shaped tail-lights.

The model, due in 2012, will also require an overhaul inside. While the current three-door C30 looks the part, its rear seats are very cramped. The new car’s passenger and luggage space will rival that of the class leaders.

The five-door project has been promoted to the top of Volvo’s priority list, forcing the brand to put development of a replacement for the XC90 SUV on hold. It’s hoped that the new car will re-establish Volvo as a more significant player in Europe, as hatchbacks are still not big sellers in the US.

The firm will also seek to use its new Chinese owner Geely to its advantage, rapidly expanding its presence in that market and building a new factory there. Volvo is also putting the finishing touches to its US strategy, with the ultimate goal of increasing sales from the current 335,000 per year to 800,000 in a decade’s time. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

New Car: 2011 Peugeot 207 Sportium

Peugeot has hatched a new special edition! Called the Sportium, the model is based on the 207 hatchback and comes with a choice of one petrol and one diesel engine.

The petrol unit is a 95bhp 1.4-litre four-cylinder which returns CO2 emissions of 137g/km, while the diesel is the 92bhp 1.6-litre four-cylinder which emits 113g/km and returns 65.7mpg.

The Sportium model picks up where the previous Millesim special edition left off, and benefits from a raft of standard equipment. All cars get air conditioning, front fog lights, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, 15-inch alloy wheels on petrol models and 16-inch on the diesels, and a Sportium interior pack with dark tinted rear window glass.

All 207 Sportium models also come with a free Nokia 5230 smart phone with Satellite Navigation and in car mounting kit.

The newcomer goes on sale in November, priced from £12,595. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

Spied Up Date: 2012 Mercedes SLS AMG Convertible

It wasn't exactly a well-kept secret, and now it's officially out: Mercedes-Benz "is working on an SLS roadster," the company confirms. Stuttgart has simultaneously leaked pictures of a prototype that seems to be production-ready.

The open version of the SLS AMG, of course, loses not only its fixed top, but also its gullwing doors. The doors of the roadster version cut down deeper into the flanks and are operated with utterly conventional, Mercedes-sedan-style door handles, as opposed to the coupe’s pop-out pulls. In addition, the doors stretch farther forward than on the coupe, but the impression of an extremely long hood is still intact.

The photograph taken from above somewhat conceals the fact that the trunk lid is actually substantially taller, in order to cover the electrically operated convertible roof—and we don't believe there will be much space left for your luggage, either. Rollover protection is provided by two fixed roll hoops, and the seats don't look much different from those in the coupe. We doubt the leather-lined interior will be waterproof with the top down, despite the fact that the pictures were taken in the rain.

While AMG is starting to replace its high-revving, naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V-8 with the twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V-8 (as seen in the S- and CL-classes), we suspect that the SLS roadster will keep the crazy 563-hp 6.2, which produces 479 lb-ft of torque. It is not only a trademark engine for the SLS, it fits the character of this sports car exceedingly well—and, with the top down, you will be even better able to listen to this engine's awesome soundtrack. With structural reinforcements and the convertible-top mechanism no doubt adding weight, performance could drop slightly.

Does the SLS AMG need an open-top version, since it is really defined by its gullwing doors? Well, this roadster proves that Mercedes is truly paying homage to the original 300SL, code-named W198; the gullwing W198 came in 1954, followed by a roadster version in 1957. Unlike its historical role model, however, the SLS AMG won't be entirely replaced by the roadster version. Rather, it will be complemented by it, with both cars being sold alongside each other.

While the SLS AMG coupe comes in at $185,750, the SLS roadster might break the $200,000 barrier. Mercedes-Benz could get away with it, as people are still lining up to get the revived gullwing coupe, so there is certainly no reason to sell this new variant at discount prices.

There's no rush for the carmaker, either: We don't expect to see the final car sans cover and tape before the Frankfurt show in September 2011, likely as a 2012 model. It will then compete with the Audi R8 Spyder, the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, and the top-level variations of the Porsche 911 Turbo cabrio.

Thanks to: Car and Driver

Hyundai Announces Equus Pricing for Canada

Hyundai Canada has announced pricing for its all-new flagship luxury sedan, the Equus. Pricing starts at $62,999 for the Signature and $69,999 for the Ultimate.

The Equus is powered by a 385 horsepower 4.6-litre V8 with six-speed transmission and includes rear-wheel drive architecture, air suspension, and continuous damping control. Both trims feature adaptive cruise control, premium leather seats, natural wood trim, Alcantara suede headliner, 19-inch chrome alloy wheels and navigation system with rearview camera. In the Ultimate, rear-seat passengers can enjoy a cooled storage box, eight-inch movie display, and VIP seat with shiatsu massage function and extending leg rest.

All models include full concierge service within a predefined area, both during and after sale. Interested consumers can have an Equus driven to their homes or work by a specially-trained salesperson for a test drive. When the vehicle requires service, the local dealership will pick it up and leave a Genesis or other Equus in its place.

[Source: Hyundai Canada]

2012 Hyundai Azera/Grandeur Front and Rear Unmasked!

Courtesy of our South Korean friends over at Club HG, we have our very first good look at the front and rear fascias of the upcoming 2012 Hyundai Azera/Grandeur (code-named "HG"). Posted up mere hours ago on various Korean car enthusiast forums, these revealing shots have since been taken down without notice. But, we have fortunately secured these gems of spy shots in time for our readers to see today...READ MORE

Continue reading for the full article and the rear fascia spy shot.

The front fascia of the 2012 Hyundai Azera/Grandeur, finally unmasked for our viewing pleasures today, exudes an impression of and faint resemblance to its smaller sibling, the Sonata. We already had our glimpse of the headlight design a couple of weeks ago, but this is the first time we see the entire front design sans camouflage.

The highlight of today's round of spy shots, however, is the undisguised rear fascia of the 2012 Hyundai Azera/Grandeur. The Sonata resemblance is considerably less in the rear than in the front. The design comes off as a sleek evolution of the current Azera, with sharper and more chiseled lines that make up the new taillight design while keeping the horizontal red-reflector strip stretching across the trunk lid found in the current model.

[Source: Club HG (Korean)]

Yamaha YZF R125 To Launch In India

Now the most styles bike maker this year is Yamaha motors that launched the YZF R15, the FZ 16 and the 2 variants of the Gladiator! yes yamaha is suprb plans more with 2 new bikes and a set of new scooters coming this year. Now rumours are spilling that one of the 2 new bikes Yamaha would be launching is the YZF R125.

Full story: blograzy.com/2008/10/13/yamaha-yzf-r125-to-launch-in-india/

BMW to Launch Motorrad Bikes in India

The market for small bikes has been kept aside and interest for lifestyle bikes is expanding. This is proven by the sale of 93 bikes by Suzuki, 94 units by Yamaha in the Jan-Dec 2008 period. Mr. Atul Gupta, vice-president, marketing and sales Suzuki Motorcycle India said "We are regularly importing containers of our high-end bike Hayabusa and Intruder. Each container has up to 15 bikes and we are ordering new containers of bikes ever 1-2 months". He added that the company intends to sell 100 more high-end bikes costing up to Rs 12.5 lakh by the end of current fiscal.

Full Story: autoblogs.in/2009/08/bmw-motorrad-bikes-price-india.html

Spied: 2012 Hyundai Accent US-Spec Undisguised

The folks over at LeftLane News have obtained the first spy shots of the North American-spec 2012 Hyundai Accent today. Having seen images of the Korean-spec Accent and the Russian-spec Solaris already, the latest shots of the virtually identical North American model are mere deja-vu moments for us. Nonetheless, head over to LeftLane News to feast your eyes upon the first camoflauge-free images of the all-new Accent destined for North American showrooms early next year.

[Source: LeftLane News]

DUB Magazine Customizes 2011 Hyundai Equus for SEMA Show

Hyundai is evidently determined to prove the industry that its all-new flagship Equus sedan is more than just your average luxury car. Case in point: the DUB Edition Hyundai Equus, which the automaker has partnered up with the fabricators at DUB Magazine to present at the upcoming SEMA Show in Las Vegas. This is the second tuned version of the Equus after the folks at Rhys Millen Racing released details on their customized car for the tuner show...[READ MORE FOR FULL ARTICLE]

"We know that SEMA show-goers look forward to seeing the cool new cars like Equus and the unique ways we customize them," said Myles Kovacs, president and co-founder, DUB Magazine. "With this car we tried to give tuners an idea of what modifications can be done within the luxury segment."

The list of upgrades planned for the DUB Edition Equus includes a Trex DUB Design mesh grille, DUB Design custom body kit, tinted windows and tail lights, and a custom two-tone, gloss black-and-matte charcoal paint job. The Equus will also feature a lowered suspension riding on 24-inch TIS modular style 10 wheels with Pirelli Pzero Nero Tires.

Interior upgrades will include a new audio system with nine Infiniti Kappa Series speakers, KAPPA ONE mono and KAPPA FOUR four-channel amplifiers, custom leather and suede upholstery, an illuminated headliner and rear bucket seats.

This year's SEMA Show takes place from November 2nd to November 5th at the Las Vegas Convention Center in, not surprisingly, Las Vegas.

[Source: Hyundai]

Hot News: Chevrolet Plans Baby SUV

Chevrolet is set to enter the baby SUV market with an Aveo-based five seater.

Although designs have yet to be finalised, the new car is being designed and engineered by GM Dat in Korea and could launch as early as 2012.

At a sneak preview of the clay model of the car at the Korean R&D centre, GM execs confirmed that it will be built on a slightly stretched Aveo platform and could be offered in both four-wheel drive and front-drive guises.

GMDAT design director Taewon Kim confirmed that it will have the same family look as the new generation Chevy models, but that pains were being taken to vastly increase interior quality over the Aveo.

There will also be more attention paid to colour and trim than current Chevy models, but the new SUV will also carry over the company’s trademark ‘dual cockpit’ design, seen on the Cruze small saloon.

A sneak peak at an interior styling buck also showed that the company is planning to use some switchgear sourced from the Vauxhall Astra and Insignia. It will also use a new generation digital display that will also appear in other future Chevy models. However, Taewon Kim was quick to point out that this didn’t mean that future Chevys will go head-to-head with Opel models. ‘There have to be differences between Chevy and Opel’ he told Autocar ‘but because of Opel we don’t want to push Chevrolet down’.

The company also showed off an Aveo saloon, which is likely to be first seen at the Detroit show in January, although it hasn't been confirmed whether it will go on sale in the UK. The hot Aveo RS, first seen at this year's Detroit show, was also being displayed, although it still hasn't been confirmed whether it will make production, although GM insiders are confident that it will get the green light soon.

Thanks to: Autocar India

New Car: 2011 Citroen C5

It’s facelift time for Citroen’s Mondeo-rival. The revised C5 saloon and Tourer estate feature new front and rear lights, re-homologated engines and the introduction of Citroen’s new eTouch Emergency & Assistance System.

Design changes are limited to headlights which feature daytime LED running lights, and new taillights which have darker light clusters.

More significantly, the C5 range now benefits from a fully Euro 5 compliant engine line-up. Citroen has introduced a cleaner Euro 5 1.6-litre diesel to replace the Euro 4 version, and re-homologated the 1.6-litre THP petrol engine and the 3.0-litre V6 diesel.

Both engines now offer improved fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions - fuel economy increases from 39.8mpg to 42.2mpg and 38.2mpg to 39.2mpg respectively, while CO2 emissions are down 14g/km and 6g/km respectively.

All Exclusive models now feature Citroen’s eTouch Emergency & Assistance System as standard. This service automatically or manually makes emergency calls and allows manual assistance calls - using a built-in SIM card - for a rapid response in the event of an accident. The service is free and available 24-7.

All model upgrades apply to both Saloon and Tourer versions and are available from November 2010. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express

Renault Megane

Is This Even Legal?: 2012 Hyundai Veloster Interior Spied Inside the Cabin

The term "friends with benefits" has been taken to an entire new level with the latest release of spy shots of the 2012 Hyundai Veloster. A member over at a Chinese automotive forum today posted cell-phone shots of the interior of the upcoming Hyundai coupe taken sitting inside the test mule.

From what we can tell, the photographer of these images was probably allowed to take these images with the permission of a friend driving the prototype seen in one of the images. We don't need the help of Horatio Caine and his team to figure out that the driver likely works at Hyundai. And if what we observe is correct, a well deserved pink slip may be in order for that guy, if that whole fiasco between the clumsy Apple engineer who left an iPhone 4 prototype in a bar and Gizmodo is of any indication.

All the legal issues aside, we, as esteemed bystanders, now get a good glimpse of what to expect inside the cabin of the 2012 Hyundai Veloster. The shot of the car's cockpit shows the driver-oriented design of the car's interior. The gauges look a tad too plain-Jane, but hopefully Hyundai is already aware of this for the production-ready model.

READ MORE to view these spy shots yourself.

[Source: club.autohome.com.cn]

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Subaru Foresters 2011

The Subaru Forester is an all-wheel drive crossover station wagon manufactured since 1997 by Subaru, and is marketed as a Compact Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). Originally introduced to the United States in 1998, the Forester shared its platform with the Impreza up to the third generation and now features a hybrid platform of the Japanese Impreza wagon and the rear platform of the U.S.-spec Impreza sedan.The Forester was designed and built with four-wheel drive (AWD) as standard equipment. According to Japanese government regulations concerning exterior dimensions and engine displacement, the Forester is classified as a "compact".

Subaru Forester
Subaru Forester
Subaru Forester
Subaru Forester
Subaru Forester