New Vauxhall Insignia BiTurbo with 195HP Diesel Returns 57.6mpg UK

A new and more powerful four-cylinder diesel engine has landed under the hood of the Vauxhall Insignia (sold under the Opel nameplate in the rest of Europe and as the Buick Regal in North America). The 2.0-liter unit delivers an output of 195PS (198bhp) at 4,000 rpm and a healthy peak torque of 400Nm (295 lb-ft) between 1,750 and 2,500 rpm.

The new diesel engine is based on the existing 2.0 CDTi used on several Vauxhall / Opel models such as the Insignia, Astra and new Zafira Tourer range but in the Insignia BiTurbo, it gains twin-sequential turbochargers boosting output by 35PS and peak torque by 50Nm.

The smaller turbo is used at lower engine speeds to abolish ‘lag’, providing up to 350Nm (258 lb-ft) of torque from 1500rpm, while in the mid-range, both turbochargers work together allowing for a maximum torque of 400Nm between 1750-2500rpm. From 3,000rpm and on, all gases flow directly to the larger turbo.

The added power reduces the 0-60mph time by nearly one second to 8.2 seconds for the Insignia FWD Hatch.

Despite the improved performance numbers, the BiTurbo model is actually more fuel-efficient than the single turbo version thanks to a suite of eco features that include standard Start/Stop system, with the FWD Hatch returning a combined 57.6mpg UK (48mpg US or 4.9lt/100km), 2.2mpg better than the single-turbo 2.0 CDTi 160PS model.

The new Insignia BiTurbo is available with a choice of five-door Hatch and Sports Tourer bodies in SRi, SRi Vx-line and Elite trims, with UK prices starting from £27,120 OTR.

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Alfa Romeo Giulietta by Maserati to be Used

cars forum
http://variousfriends.com/viewforum.php?f=4Collaborations between two companies that belong in the same group is a common practice. However, platform or parts sharing, or even badge engineering, is not the only form of a partnership.

In 2008, Ferrari chose a limited edition of the Fiat 500 as a courtesy car for its customers. Now, two more brands of the Fiat group have emulated the Ferrari-Fiat move. Maserati has chosen Alfa Romeo's C-segment hatchback, the Giulietta, as a courtesy car for its clients in Europe.

The car, which will be produced in a strictly limited number of 100 units, is based on the top-of-the-line Quadrifoglio Verde that’s powered by a 235HP turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder petrol engine.

The “Giulietta for Maserati” special will be distinguished on the outside by 18-inch alloy wheels that Alfa says are “enhanced by diamond tooling” and larger brakes with red calipers.

In the cabin, Maserati owners who will use the Giulietta as a courtesy car will find “Maserati Brown” Venere leather upholstery, brushed aluminum inserts along with an “Alfa Romeo for Maserati” plaque on the dashboard and aluminum door sill plates with the names “Giulietta” and “Maserati” engraved on them.cars forum
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Standard features include bi-xenon headlights with AFS function, a navigation system with a pop-up display, a Blue&Me hands-free system with steering wheel-mounted controls, Bluetooth, USB and AUX-IN connectivity and dual-zone automatic climate control.

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New 2013 Dodge Dart Compact Sedan Based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta

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The Chrysler Group has resurrected the Dart nameplate from the 1960s for its new Dodge compact sedan model that will receive its world premiere at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in the second week of January.

The new Dart is the first Chrysler Group vehicle to be based upon a Fiat architecture as it makes use of a modified version of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta hatchback's platform named Compact U.S. Wide (CUSW), which has been lengthened and widened to improve interior space.

The Detroit automaker says that 68 percent of the Dart's body is composed of high-strength steel, resulting in a "very strong and rigid structurecars forum
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".

Powering the 2013 Dodge Dart will be three four-cylinder gasoline powerplants including a new Tigershark 2.0-liter unit, a 1.4-liter MultiAir Intercooled Turbo engine that will most likely be shared with the Fiat Abarth 500 in the U.S., and a new Tigershark 2.4-liter MultiAir engine.

The MultiAir technology on the 1.4L Turbo and the 2.4L units that allows for direct and dynamic control of air intake and combustion is said to result up to a 15 percent increase in low engine rpm torque, a 7.5 percent improvement in fuel economy and a 10 percent reduction in C02 emissions.

We only get a glimpse of the exterior styling of the new Ford Focus- and VW Jetta-sized Dart, but it's obvious that the design with the split-crosshair grille and the full-width LED ‘racetrack’ tail lamps was inspired by the Charger.

The new Dart sedan will be manufactured at the Chrysler Group’s Belvidere Assembly Plant in Belvidere, Illinois.

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Scion Releases Footage from FR-S Presentation in Los Angeles

Last week, Scion lifted the curtains on the third and final (unless Lexus and Daihatsu have other plans…) iteration of the 2+2 rear-wheel drive coupe developed by Toyota and Subaru, the North American market FR-S.

For those of you that missed the presentation in Los Angeles, Scion has released official coverage from November 30th's launch event that includes an introduction by the firm's Vice President, Jack Holl.

The Scion FR-S is a carbon copy of the Toyota 86 featuring the same body and 200-horsepower 2.0-liter engine matched to 6-speed manual or automatic transmissions.

It will go on sale in the United States and Canada next summer with prices to be announced closer to the sales date. However, Toyota has said that it aims to keep prices low enough "to attract recent college graduates".

Ferrari Celebrates 60 Years of Formula 1 Wins with “60F1” Limited Edition of 599 GTB

Scuderia Ferrari is the only team that has been present in Formula 1 since its conception in 1950. On July 14 1951, it scored its first-ever F1 victory at the British Grand Prix held at Silverstone with a 375 F1 driven by Froilan Gonzalez.

Six decades later, on July 10 2011, Fernando Alonso won Ferrari’s sole Grand Prix in the 2011 F1 season. To celebrate the event, Ferrari has launched the “60 Years of Victories in Formula 1” [60F1] package for the 599 GTB Fiorano equipped with the HGTE handling package.

Clients who opt for this special edition of the 599 can choose from a list of exterior and interior modifications that are part of Ferrari’s Tailor-Made program, which was launched today in Maranello by Ferrari CEO Luca di Montezemolo and creative consultant for the Tailor-Made program, Lapo Elkan.

The bodywork of the 60F1 is available in three liveries. The first one is the 375 F1, which is the same darker red color used by the Scuderia for its first F1 cars. The second is the Ferrari 150o Italia, inspired by this year’s F1 car with white strips on the front bumper, mudguards, A-posts and buttresses, and the colors of the Italian flag painted on the rear. The third model is the 150o Italia 2, which is almost identical to the previous scheme but without most of the white-painted parts.

All three versions get the Scuderia Ferrari shield on the front wheel arches painted as in the competition cars, 20-inch diamond-finish forged alloy wheels and a satin-finish aluminum fuel cap.

The interior gets seats made by Sabelt in the European version and Recaro in the North American model upholstered in Alcantara (like the rest of the cabin), with extra-grip Superfabric material in areas that come in greatest contact with the driver’s body, the Scuderia Shield stitched on the headrests and red and blue four-point safety belts.

The 599’s dashboard is trimmed in a new light and durable material named Alutex that is made from metallic fibers and fiberglass, and has a matte finish to prevent glare.

Finally, a special silver plaque that commemorates the 60 years of Scuderia Ferrari wins in Formula 1 and features the signatures of both Froilan Gonzalez and Fernando Alonso decorates the dashboard.

Story References: Ferrari via Insideline

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