Mercedes C-class Coupe (2011)

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Mercedes C-class Coupe (2011) first pictures

By Tim Pollard

First Official Pictures

13 February 2011 00:01

Mercedes is expanding the C-class range further with this new C-class Coupe. Due to be shown at the 2011 Geneva motor show, the new two-door C apes the larger CLS in style, yet is tipped to cost from £30,000 when sales start in June 2011.

The C-class Coupe essentially slots in where the CLK left off. It's 41mm lower than the C saloon and, to these eyes, looks rather attractive all round.

In the UK the C-class Coupe comes as standard with the AMG Sports Package as standard, which means toughened-up AMG body kit and 18in AMG alloys.

So who'll buy the new Mercedes C-class Coupe?

It is pitched at 35- to 45-year-olds, says Merc. 'By extending the C-class portfolio, we are consciously targeting new customers,' says Dr Joachim Schmidt, head of sales and marketing. 'The new model is youthful, stylish and dynamic. What we are offering is an exceptionally sporty way to enter the world of the Mercedes-Benz coupe.'

The C-class Coupe is a four-seater, and the rear seats flop down to extend the boot at weekends.

Merc C-class Coupe engines

The C-class packs a range of hardware familiar from the existing C range. Interestingly, the C-class and E-class Coupe share much of their underpinnings.

Five direct-injection petrol and diesel engines will be offered:

Model	Cyls	cc	bhp	NM	0-62mph	Top speed	Economy	CO2
C220 CDI	4cyl	2143	170	400	8.1sec	231kph	53.2mpg	128g/km
C250 CDI	4cyl	2143	204	500	7.1sec	240kph	53.2mpg	128g//km
C180	4cyl	1796	156	250	8.8sec	223kph	40.3mpg	150g/km
C250	4cyl	1796	204	310	7.2sec	240kph	40.3mpg	152g/km
C350	V6	3498	306	370	6.0sec	250kph	40.3mpg	159g/km

 

Any other tricks?

Sure. Hhow about Merc's new Comand Online system, which has full onboard web access (while stationary). So nav offers Google Maps functionality and will record your route if requested.

Not enough tech? Then how about adaptive highbeam, drowsiness detector, speed limit readers, lane-keep assist and blindspot monitors. Driver optional?

Honda Civic Ti, Accord Facelift (2011)

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Honda Civic Ti, Accord Facelift (2011) at Geneva

By Sarah-Jayne Harrison

First Official Pictures

16 February 2011 11:56

The Honda Civic Type R might have died, but Honda today released pictures of its stylistic equal: the race-inspired but humdrum-powered Civic Ti. Honda says the new Civic Ti takes design cues from the Honda touring car and adds more than £3700 of extras to the 1.4 and 1.8 i-VTEC SE models.

Honda Civic Ti: what's included in the £3700 extras?

The five-door Civic is fitted with 17-inch 'Pro race' matt black wheels from Honda's BTCC racing partner, Team Dynamics. The broody black bodykit includes front spoiler, rear spoiler side inserts and rear body skirts - all contrasting the white pearl paintjob.

The Civic is nearing the end of its life - the new one lands at the end of 2011 - so it should come as no surprise there are goodies galore: there's a Pioneer navigation multimedia system covering 44 countries, a 3D touchscreen and hands-free telephone system. The entertainment system plays CDs, DVDs, iPods, iPhone and all USB devices.   

Only 500 Honda Civic Ti's will go on sale in March 2011, with prices starting at £15,995 for the 1.4 i-VTEC and £16,995 for the 1.8 variant.

Porsche Panamera S Hybrid (2011)

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Porsche Panamera S Hybrid (2011) first pictures

By Ben Pulman

First Official Pictures

16 February 2011 13:10

This is the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid, the cleanest, most fuel efficient Porsche ever. On the official combined fuel cycle it manages 159g/km and 41.5mpg, a big improvement on the Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid’s 34.3mpg and 193g/km, and comfortably ahead of the best non-hybrid Porsche, the PDK-equipped Cayman (31mpg and 214g/km CO2). The new Porsche Panamera S Hybrid will be unveiled at the 2011 Geneva motor show in March.

The Porsche Panamera S Hybrid manages 159g/km? That’s pretty impressive…

Yes, but there’s a catch. To achieve 159g/km and 41.5mpg you need to spec the optional lower rolling resistance Michelin tyres. Stick with the standard rubber and you’ll only manage 39.8mpg and 167g/km. In the CO2-obsessed UK the trick Michelin tyres will be standard, helping the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid best electrified rivals from Infiniti and Lexus. And although the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 and Mercedes S400 Hybrid aren’t available in Great Britain, this new Panamera boasts better figures than the pair of them too.

The trick to achieving these figures is a 329bhp supercharged and direct-injected 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine, mated to a 34kW electric motor and a nickel metal hydride (NiMh) battery. The total output for the system is 374bhp, the engine and motor can work alone or in tandem, and the motor acts as a generator and starter motor as well.

In electric-only mode the hybrid Panamera has a range of 1.24 miles and reach 53mph, and it can ‘sail’ with the engine off and disengaged at speeds of up to 103mph. The Panamera S Hybrid is rear-wheel drive, and features the eight-speed automatic from the Cayenne, rather than the PDK gearbox that’s used in other versions of Porsche’s limo.

UK sales start in June 2011, and the Porsche Panamera S Hybrid will cost £86,227, £8774 more than the 394bhp, 26.9mpg and 247g/km V8-engined Panamera S.

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Land Rover Range_e concept hybrid (2011)

By Mark Hamilton

First Official Pictures

18 February 2011 12:13

Land Rover will show off the new Range_e diesel-electric hybrid prototype for the first time at the 2011 Geneva motor show.

Haven't we seen the hybrid Range_e before?

Yes and no. CAR readers may be familiar with this modified Range Rover Sport, which was reported here in May 2010. However, this is the first time we've seen a working prototype of the Range_e in public; it presages a production hybrid due in 2013.

By mating Land Rover’s existing TDV6 diesel engine and upcoming ZF eight-speed automatic transmission with a plug-in parallel hybrid drive module, the Range_e boasts a most un-Land Rover-like CO2 rating of  89g/km. For comparison, a regular Range Sport TDV6 musters 243g/km of CO2, while the petrol-electric Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid manages 193g/km.

A pure EV mode in the Range_e offers a claimed 20 miles of zero-emissions motoring at speeds up to 70mph, allowing mums a quieter school-run and providing a handy rationalisation to use against eco-zealous guests at dinner parties. Top speed of the Range_e is 120mph, and Land Rover claim a rather rangey 690 miles between refuelling stops for the diesel-electric prototype.

Rolls-Royce 102EX concept car (2011)

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Rolls-Royce 102EX concept car (2011) first pictures

By Tim Pollard

First Official Pictures

20 February 2011 09:37

Rolls-Royce has confirmed it will show its first electric car at the 2011 Geneva motor show. The 102EX is the latest in a line of concept cars – EX stands for experimental – which history suggests should go on to influence production cars.

The Rolls-Royce 102EX is known internally as the Phantom Experimental Electric and is being used to judge reaction to a battery-powered Roller among owners clubs and media.

Engineers are using the pilot project to test the real-world range of a heavy electric Rolls-Royce, to judge the refinement of an EV drivetrain appropriate to a Rolls-Royce and to monitor the batteries’ performance in cold weather.

Rolls-Royce 102EX: the electric Rolls

CAR broke the story about Rolls preparing electric cars back in 2008. As part of the BMW empire, Rolls-Royce is planning alternative powertrains just as much as Mini is.

The two extremes of the BMW range might seem like chalk and cheese, but this joint approach makes sense. Your typical Rolls-Royce owner might not be quite as fussed by fuel prices as a Cooper owner, but their environmental conscience may be just as wholesome. It makes a lot of sense for a CEO or aristo not to flaunt consumption in these straitened times.

Rolls-Royce CEO speaks

‘We have engineered the world’s first battery electric vehicle for the ultra-luxury segment,’ said CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös. ‘With this vehicle, we begin an exploration into alternative drivetrains, seeking clarity on which alternative technologies may be suitable to drive Rolls-Royce motor cars of the future.’

This afternoon, parent firm BMW will make a further announcement on the future of its ‘Project i’ cars. The company is planning a sub-brand for its future electric vehicles, such as the Megacity Vehicle.

Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport (2011)

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Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport (2011): first pictures

By Mark Hamilton

First Official Pictures

21 February 2011 11:33

Another Geneva motor show, another Maserati variant. Maser has released details of the new Grancabrio Sport, a go-faster version of the 2009 Grancabrio drop-top GT.

Must be motor show season, then?

Too right! Maserati generally releases a subtly fettled new edition of existing models prior to major European motor shows, and with the 2011 Geneva motor show just a fortnight away... welcome to the Grancabrio Sport.

Maserati Grancabrio Sport: the lowdown

Maserati claims it's reduced fuel consumption by 6% over the standard 4.7-litre V8 by means of 'Maserati’s Friction Reduction Program', which also improves responsiveness of the engine. No further details of how this is actually achieved will be released ahead of Geneva, but power and torque are similar to the Granturismo MC Stradale (442bhp, 376lb/ft).

The Skyhook adaptive dampers and suspension have received another set of tweaks for sportier handling; the ZF six-speed automatic is upgraded to a variant of the MC Sport Auto software from the Quattroporte Sport GT S (a car not short of motor show refreshing itself).

Outside, there is some mild tweaking of the Grancabrio Sport's grille and headlights (now in black) and the front bumper and side-skirts.  And get this. There's a new shade of red too: Rosso Trionfale, said to be inspired by the national racing colours worn by the legendary Maserati 250F Formula 1 car of the 1950s. 

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BMW i: the new electric car sub-brand launched

By Mark Hamilton

First Official Pictures

21 February 2011 14:19

I spy something... beginning with i. That'll be the name for BMW's new sub-brand for its forthcoming electric vehicles (both pure EV and hybrid), announced today.

Think of i as BMW M - a sub brand for the internet-savvy, eco-conscious, city-dwelling new premium car buyer. BMW's new sub-brand was launched with a live-streaming web conference from the BMW Welt complex in Munich on 21 February 2011.

BMW i: the new BMW sub-brand

As with the M-cars that BMW traditionalists know and love, BMW i will produce i-cars.  If you're sensing a lawsuit from Apple's i-fixated management, then remember that BMW has previous form in this area, with the once-controversial i-drive multimedia interface system, introduced with the E65 7-series (think Bangled-bimmer Mk. 1) in 2002. 

The new sub-brand will feature a specific i logo, the new cut-out stylised letter i pictured here. There will be a blue graphic in place of the double-kidney grille, which is no longer required for airflow. It's telling that EVs will still - stylistically at least - hark back to the internal combustion age. 

Other brand identifiers? The BMW roundel features an additional blue ring around the perimeter to signify the i sub-brand. A halo for the new brand?

Meet the first BMW i-cars: BMW i3 and i8

The i3 is the name for the the production Mega City Vehicle, due in 2013. It's a small EV hatchback featuring the LifeDrive architechture.  Think aluminium chassis mated to a carbon-fibre passenger cell.  The use of lightweight materials is designed to mitigate the weight of battery packs in the alternative powertrains of the new i-cars. The i8 is a production sports car in the mould of the Vision Efficient Dynamics concept car, and features an evolution of that vehicle's hybrid powertrain. Both vehicles have been teased in concept sketches shown here. Design chief Adrian van Hooydonk introduced the new design philosophy, which emphasises aerodynamics, light weight and the new 'streamflow' c-pillar, as shown on the Vision EfficientDynamics concept.  But details remain literally sketchy until closer to the release of the vehicles.

BMW is investing 400 million Euros in its Leipzig plant to make it home of the i3 and i8 with 800 new jobs to be created as the plant ramps-up to the 2013 on-sale date. 

Skoda's Cheeky Print Ad on Automatic Ambient Lighting

This is one of those print adverts that you may not be sure what is being promoted upon a first glance but you'll definitely remember once you get it and start smiling.

The ad is for the European market Skoda Superb, a spacious mid-size saloon (available as an Estate as well) based on a stretched version of the VW Passat's platform, and it highlights the saloon's automatic ambient lighting positioned under the doors and exterior rear-view mirrors by showing a middle-age man wearing red heels and fence net stockings.

Here's what the ad reads:

Get in and out safely thanks to automatic ambient lighting.
Ambient lighting under the door and exterior rear-view mirror means you will never unexpectedly step into a muddy puddle in your best shoes. It is only one of the exceptional extras that make this Skoda limousine so unique. Like the fuel-efficient engine and green A-label. So your Superb is also remarkably clean.
And don’t be taken aback if people suddenly start watching you. An automobile with this level of luxury just naturally attracts attention. Particularly when it is available from prices starting at €24.990- The Skoda Superb, the limousine from Skoda.

Johnny Walker's Very, Very Long Promotional Audi Q7 Limousine

For some reason unknown to us, the Audi Q7 SUV has become an increasingly popular choice amongst stretch-limousine builders and promoters alike – especially after the demise of General Motors' Hummer brand.

You can find insanely stretched Q7s anywhere from the glamorous and glitzy Las Vegas Strip to the peaceful and scenic Greek coastal town of Nafpaktos, where these pictures were shot by Carscoop reader Christos P.

As you can see from the pictures, this particular Procrustean edition of Ingolstadt's flagship crossover is a promotional…vessel for the Johnny Walker whiskey brand.

Kudos to Chris P. for the shots!

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