Ferrari 612 GTO Design Concept by Sasha Selipanov

We acknowledge that a fair number of independent design concepts found on the web are of mediocre quality, but every once in a while we stumble upon an study that has us really sitting up and taking notice. The Ferrari 612 GTO concept by Sasha Selipanov of Berlin, Germany is one of them.

A pure conceptual study for a top-end Ferrari, possibly a future generation of the 612 Scaglietti, Selipanov design proposal appears to borrow bits and pieces from certain supercars like the Aston Martin One-77 as well as Maranello's own 458 Italia and the classic 250 GTO, mixed with some unique styling cues.

The overall result, thanks in part to the high-quality renderings, is eye-catching, to say the least. What do you think about the Ferrari 612 GTO concept? Have your say in the comments below.

Toyota RAV4 and Lexus RX Prototypes

Electric car partners Toyota Motor Corp. and Tesla Motors will develop battery-powered prototypes of the Japanese automaker's Toyota RAV4 and Lexus RX crossovers according to a news report from Businessweek citing "a person familiar with the matter". Toyota declined to confirm the models.

Earlier this month, a Tesla executive announced that the maker of the electric Roadster will deliver two EV prototypes to Toyota by the end of July, without providing any specific details about the cars.

The unnamed insider added that while Toyota also plans to test an all-electric Corolla, the two SUV models "are better suited to the weight of Tesla's battery pack".

"We anticipate range and acceleration exceeding that of other announced electric vehicles of this class," Elon Musk, chief executive officer of Tesla, said today in an e-mailed message to the news agency.

Toyota partnered up with Tesla in May 2010. As part of the deal, Tesla acquired Toyota's joint-venture NUMMI plant in California to build its Model S and other vehicles, while Toyota bought a US$50 million stake in electric-car producer.

Daimler AG, the company that owns Mercedes-Benz, also invested about US$50 million in Tesla in May 2009, however, the German company reduced its 10 per cent stake in the electric carmaker to around 5 per cent by selling part of the investment to Aabar Investments PJSC, Daimler's largest shareholder.

New Luxury Volvo V60 Sports Wagon: 2011 S60 gets Practical

Revealed ahead of its Paris Motor Show debut, the all-new Volvo V60 is the estate version of the recently launched 2011 S60 sedan. Aimed almost squarely at European buyers as Volvo projects that "no less than 90 percent" of the annual V60 production of 50,000 cars will find a home in Europe, the sporty-looking estate model will go on sale this fall.


Volvo describes the low slung V60 as a sports wagon with a coupe-like roofline. "The typical sports wagon customer is an S60 buyer who would like some extra space and flexibility, but without the slightest compromise on sporty design and exciting driving properties," says Volvo Cars President and CEO Stephen Odell.

However, Volvo's focus on looks come with a cost as the V60's boot space is a mere 430 liters with the rear seats up. That's compared to 460lt of the BMW 3-Series Touring, 485lt of the Mercedes C-Class Estate and 490lt of the Audi A4 Avant. The car will come equipped with a 40/20/40-split rear seat and the fold-flat front passenger seat.

Volvo has no problem admitting that the V60 isn't going to satisfy traditional estate buyers.

"From the design viewpoint the focus was on making the car as close to a coupe as possible, while retaining that handy extra space at the rear," say Örjan Sterner, head of exterior design for the new Volvo V60. "Our sports wagon does not aim to compete with the traditional estate car. For the customer who wants a lot of load space, there is our V70 or XC70."

Being a "sports wagon", Volvo claims the V60's handling and dynamics match those of the S60. The estate model will be offered with a choice of two chassis set ups, the standard in Europe dynamic chassis and the touring chassis. The difference between the two chassis concerns the dampers and the front and rear subframes, with the touring variant featuring a somewhat softer setting.

In addition to the two standard chassis, all variants of the V60 can be specified with the optional FOUR-C (Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept) active chassis, while there are also AWD versions of the V60.

The V60's engine lineup mirrors that in the S60 sedan and includes a variety of petrol and diesel units. There are five gasoline units, spanning from the 150HP 1.6-liter turbo to the flagship 304HP 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six that propels the V60 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 6.6 seconds while returning a combined fuel consumption of 10.2lt/100km (23mpg US or 27.7mpg UK).

The diesel lineup includes three engines, a 1.6-liter with 115HP, a 2.0-liter with 163HP and a 2.4-liter with 205-horsepower.

The new V60 will come equipped with a raft of safety features such as Advanced Stability Control, a new Corner Traction Control, which is a further refinement of the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) system and Pedestrian Detection system.

New Luxury Peugeot 508 Officially Unveiled

The all-new Peugeot 508 has been officially revealed following the leakout of the first photos earlier today. Available in sedan and station wagon body styles, the 508 replaces two cars in Peugeot's range, the 407 and 607. The French marque's Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat contender will make its world debut at the Paris Motor Show in late September and go on sale early next year.

The 508 is the production version of the '5 by Peugeot' concept car seen in Geneva this past March, and according to Peugeot, it introduces the firm's new -and more subtle- design language as previewed on the SR1 Concept sports car. Expect to see the same type of grille finding its way on all future Peugeot models.

For the first time we get a look at the 508's interior, which according to the French carmaker, combines hi-tech features with the use of "high quality materials" both "visually and to the touch".

Based off the PSA Group's platform 3 that also underpins Citroen's C5 as well as the outgoing 407, the 508 sits between the 407 and 607 in terms of size. At 4.79 meters in length, the sedan variant of the 508 is about 100mm longer than the 407 saloon but 100mm shorter than the 607. The more practical Station Wagon model is slightly longer than the sedan measuring 4.81 meters in length.

Peugeot did not release many technical details on the 508, but it did confirm the availability of a HYbrid4 version after launch - most likely in mid 2011. This model will combine a turbo diesel engine mounted at the front of the car with an electric motor located at the rear, providing a combined output of 200-horsepower with all-wheel drive and emissions of 99g/km of CO2 or zero in electric mode.

The French automaker added that the 508 will be offered with a variety of diesel and petrol engines, all benefiting from the latest fuel-saving technologies such as a start and stop system.

The European market versions of the new 508 will be produced in Rennes in France, while Peugeot also revealed plans to build the car in China for the local market starting from next year.

New Luxury AMG variants for the new C-Coupe and the future A-Klasse

The newly appointed boss of AMG, Ola Kallenius, will continue the extensive AMG Performance 2015 programme, which started under former head Volker Mornhinweg. Among the key models to be launched during the 2010-2015 period, he suggested possible supersport versions for the upcoming C-Klasse Coupe and A-Klasse.


The future C-Coupe AMG will feature a 5.5 liters twin turbo V8 under its bonnet. This powerplant is prone to produce around 500 BHP, which instantly transform the car into a powerful BMW M3 fighter(as in the case of the outgoing CLK 63 AMG). The forthcoming A-Klasse lineup will include a small class coupe, tipped to be badged CLC. This new model will sport a rear-wheel-drive platform, developed using the MFA underpinnings as basis. But the CLC AMG version, expected to show up at the end of 2012, might go for an all-wheel-drive architecture instead, joined with a new 4-cylinder inline, twinturbocharged engine, that could be capable of achieving over 300 BHP.

New Active Brake Assist 2 system in the Mercedes-Benz Actros

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Stuttgart, Germany, Jul 15, 2010

- Active Brake Assist 2 also applies the brakes if stationary obstacles are detected in front of the vehicle
- Active Brake Assist: tried and tested over a total of more than three billion kilometres
- Radar-controlled system detects stationary obstacles
- Decisive advantage: effective from 0-89 km/h and robust under all weather and light conditions

The world's safest truck is now even safer: Mercedes-Benz is introducing second-generation Active Brake Assist for the heavy-duty Actros truck. This unique and multi-award-winning safety system now has even greater capability: whereas the first-generation system applied the brakes automatically if it detected a risk of a head-to-tail collision with a slow-moving obstacle in front of the vehicle, Active Brake Assist 2 is also activated if a stationary obstacle is detected. Active Brake Assist has already proven its worth in more than 14,000 trucks and over a total of more than three billion kilometres on Europe's roads.


Active Brake Assist: tried and tested over a total of more than three billion kilometres

Anti-lock braking system, acceleration skid control, disc brakes all round, electronically controlled braking system, high-pressure braking system, Brake Assist, Lane Assistant, roll control, proximity control – the list of safety technologies and systems that have celebrated their world premiere in Mercedes‑Benz trucks is a long one. One development highlight is the revolutionary Active Brake Assist system, which was introduced for the Mercedes-Benz Actros heavy-duty truck in 2006 and has since proven itself time and time again out on the road.

Many truck drivers have reported situations in which the safety system has prevented accidents. The experts are agreed: Active Brake Assist has saved lives – not only those of Actros drivers and occupants but also those of the people in the vehicles in front. Many insurance companies are also convinced that this system is good for their customers and, therefore, ultimately for themselves, prompting them to offer discounts on premiums for commercial vehicles equipped with this technology.

The new Active Brake Assist 2 system sets yet another milestone. Whereas the first-generation safety system only initiated emergency braking if there was a risk of a head-to-tail collision with a vehicle in front, Active Brake Assist 2 also applies the brakes if stationary obstacles are detected, for instance a suddenly encountered traffic tailback on the motorway. Daimler Trucks has therefore taken a further step towards realising its vision of accident-free driving, as part of its "Shaping Future Transportation" global initiative.

Radar-controlled system detects stationary obstacles

The radar used by the Active Brake Assist 2 system scans an area of 1-200 m in the lane ahead of the truck whilst continuously determining the distance to a vehicle in front or a stationary obstacle as well as the difference in speed between the two vehicles. If, based on the current driving style, an accident is unavoidable, the driver initially receives visual warnings in the form of a red triangle which lights up and an audible alarm. If the situation gets any worse, the system responds by applying the brakes.

The warning concept is designed to allow drivers to diffuse critical situations themselves; that's because braking initiated by Active Brake Assist 2 with 50% of the maximum braking power gives drivers the time that is needed to avoid an accident themselves.

Decisive advantage: effective from 0-89 km/h and robust under all weather and light conditions

Active Brake Assist 2 offers decisive advantages over other systems currently under development. The tried-and-tested radar technology operates robustly under all weather and light conditions, for instance. What's more, Active Brake Assist is effective across a truck's entire speed range – from 0 km/h or slow driving at brisk walking pace to motorway speeds of up to 89 km/h (when the speed limiter is activated).

Although Active Brake Assist 2 cannot always prevent accidents, the automatic application of the brakes does reduce the collision speed and, therefore, mitigates the consequences of accidents substantially.

Active Brake Assist 2 will replace the previous system at the turn of the year. As in the past, Mercedes-Benz will be doing all it can to ensure that Active Brake Assist 2 is installed in as many trucks as possible by offering packages incorporating this and other safety systems at attractive prices.

Active Brake Assist 2 is celebrating its premiere in the Mercedes-Benz Actros in late September at the International Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover.

How BMW HID Kit Can Change Your Car

BMW is a German automobile manufacturing company that started its operations in 1916. BMW stands for Bavarian Motor Works. BMW is a company reputed for its luxurious vehicles. As far as performance is concerned, it carries goodwill in the market. It is one of the best-engineered vehicles with high quality body and machine parts. The manufacturer of this brand also makes different parts that might be useful as aftermarket parts and BMW HID kits are one of them.

The main purpose of these BMW HID kits is to provide safety measures to the car and help the vehicle appear attractive. This makes sure about the fulfillment of requirement and demands of the car owner. BMW bulbs that are sold separately are most popular in the market because of their advanced quality.

The power and durability are also key concerns of the manufacturers. BMW HID kits can give bright light in the darkest road. It can illuminate long distances for visibility at night. The set up of these kits is in such a way that it can be useful in any kind of weather. BMW headlights show the way even in stormy and mild foggy weather. The other advantage is that these kits are available in almost all automobile accessory stores.

These days, BMW HID Kit have created a craze among people. The manufacturers started to install them from the mid-nineties and since then they have become a ready option for the car.

The latest model of this HID kit is the 6 series Hid (04-09) that is giving good service to the latest models. Another model is the Z4 Hid Kit (02-09), which is applicable for the latest designed models and have a high illuminating power. There are various colors of HID kits available such as crystal white, crystal blue, aqua blue, purple white and bright white. This gives the buyer an opportunity to match the color of HID according to the color of the car. Manufacturing team works thoroughly to make sure that there is no compromise with the quality and the looks of BMW kits

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dylan_Benjamins

Types of BMW 7 Series Headlights

Finding the right accessories for the luxury cars is always a great task. You do not want to compromise on some cheap products and then get your self-entangled with some major problem with the main unit. You have better chances of finding the different types of BMW 7 series Headlights in the online stores. There are numerous online automobile stores, which sell all types of accessories for every kind of car on road.

So if you want to look into the options of different types of BMW 7 series headlights, you can easily search in the search engine and browse through the different stores and identify the best headlight for the brand new BMW 7 series. Whether it is to replace the old headlight or get new models, it is all there reflected online with images. Therefore, you can choose the best headlight and add to your cart.

If in case you do not trust such online shopping modules visit your neighborhood store and find the right BMW 7 series headlight right away. Some loyal customers of BMW will never go in for any other accessories other than the brand. Well, in that case their search ends with the company store. Some of the companies which provide good headlights for all makes of cars are, angel eye headlights, halo headlights, and LED headlights to name a few. Getting the best headlight will ensure better visibility while driving nighttime. This is very important, as it is very risky to drive at night with poor visibility or less luminous headlights. Finding the best BMW 7 series headlights is easy as you have to just name the vehicle and the stores have them all.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Faisal_Farrukh

BMW X5-A 7 Seater Cars Study

7 Seater Cars: BMW's First Entry

BMW has been a well known car manufacturer since ages. But the year when BMW entered the industry of 7 seater SUV was in 1999. BMW launched the X5, which was the first 7 seater car from BMW. Back in those years, the SUVs were more often used for the on road purposes compared the usage pattern of these days. Thus BMW manufactured a car that had more purpose on the road than off road on terrain. BMW also took care that the car had the best on road performance and handling, and to date it remains one of the best cars. By the looks of the car you can easily tell that it is a stretched sedan with the chassis combined. This 7 seater car was first brought in Spartanburg of South Carolina.

Change in the BMW's X5

Initially in 1999 when the car was brought to the market, it could seat only 5 people, and you must be wondering why I called it a 7 seater car? It has a reason; Around in 2005-06 BMW noticed that there was more craze for the larger cars which could go off road on the terrains too. Thus in 2007 BMW redesigned the X5 to make it look similar to the generation 5 cars. It was in this year they introduced third row with 2 more people.

The Current BMW X5

Currently the BMW X5 comes in 3 different tags, and they are xDrive35d, xDrive 30i, xDrive48i, and all of them mainly differ in their engines. For example the 35d has 425 pound feet torque and 265hp power capability with turbocharged diesel engine.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sameer_A_M

The BMW 5 Series Sedan - New Upcoming Series in the Month of June

BMW cars have always been an important symbol of class and fame that has regularly pulled the attention of car lovers from all across the world. In fact, since the launch of its first car model, every car has always received tremendous response and been constantly known for its superior performance and elegant design. Featured with world-class features and giving tough competition to other car manufactures, every car model of BMW series has made four-wheel lover crazy when it comes to choose or buy a BMW modeled car. This season, BMW is all geared up to introduce the brand new BMW 5 series Sedan in the Australian car market.

The new model is bigger and better and has got all those essential features that may drive you crazy. The new 5 Series is 58mm longer while its width is up 14mm (1464mm) and the wheelbase is 80mm longer at 2968mm. Its exterior look is totally dynamic and has the longest wheelbase in the BMW series segment, a sleek engine compartment lid, short overhangs front and rear and refined roofline. In fact, the most artistic look of this new series is its BMW kidney grille that is slightly inclined forward and on the prominently chiseled engine compartment lid. This provides the car with a classy and elegant side view that is beyond compare.

Talking in context of its interior, the dynamics and grace are represented in one flowing movement from the instrument panel to the door. The interior of the BMW 5 series Sedan has got the perfect look and incomparable style. All of the high-quality control elements are ergonomically positioned for a perfect fit. It has got the clear orientation in the cockpit that guarantees a strictly unique driving and travelling experience.

Moreover, the new 5 Series has also got new suspension architecture and a vast range of hi-tech options. In fact, the new Sedan series is making its debut in the auto market with one eight-cylinder and three six-cylinder petrol engines as well as two six-cylinder diesels. However, all of the engines have more power and torque. The High Precision Injection in the BMW 535i have the efficiency to deliver maximum output of 225 kW/306 hp. The two straight-six power units in the BMW 528i feature High Precision Injection that can develop output of 190 kW/258 hp.

Apart from this, talking in terms of its performance, the new BMW 5 Series Sedan will be available with a new eight-speed automatic transmission. The new generation BMW 5 series sedan also features an all-wheel drive optional, denoted by an "x" followed the numeric model name. It also has Park Distance Control and an around view monitor system, similar to Infiniti's Around View Monitor.

In addition, the new series has also got Active Roll Stabilisation, which will help in maintaining a level ride nearly under all driving conditions. And to complement this Active Roll Stabilisation, the car is also featured with Active Steering, which uses electronic steering to increase and improve the stability controls acting on the wheel brakes and power. This new model has a class of its own that one should not neglect.

For years, every BMW series car has been one of the most renowned luxurious car models worldwide. Now with the introduction of yet another new model you can anticipate even better performance. The introduction of this brand new BMW 5 series Sedan will open up the latest chapter in automotive industry. Without doubt, it is going to be a truly next impressive story of BMW success.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amit_Kothial