2012 F&M Evantra

From Mazzanti Automobili in Italy comes the F&M Evantra, to be released in mid 2012. This limited supercar series will be produced at a rate of only five models per year.

The customization and production of each model for its client will be personally supervised by the car's builder, Luca Mazzanti.

Whats in a name…

The F&M Evantra derives its name from an ancient Etruscan goddess, and was formulated by Hungarian car designer Zsolt Tarnok. The Evantra is a mid-engine super car, meaning the engine is mounted nearer to the center of the vehicle. This engine layout more evenly distributes the engine weight on all four wheels, and makes the vehicle faster and easier to turn.

Exterior & Interior

The body style of the Evantra is a two seat coupe. The car buyer will decide how the body will be constructed from one of two different options. The first option is called PRO-BODY, and will use all composite materials for assembly.

The second option is called ONE-BODY, and will be an exclusively hand-crafted aluminum body which can be thoroughly personalized by the buyer. The engine and body will be combined on a light-weight steel chassis.

The outer lines of the Evantra have the popular symmetries of many mid-engine sports cars, and the profile curves are smooth and classically molded. Several stylish details, and a mixture of concave and convex surfaces, express a distinctly competitive nature bordering on hostility.

The doors open outward and upwards making for very easy entry and exit of the vehicle. All in all, the 2012 F&M Evantra supercar is a very beautiful and sleek rocket on wheels.

Performance

The Evantra features a mid-mounted 3.5-liter flat-6 engine. Customers can select from two different engine designs, a naturally aspirated engine rated at 397 horsepower, or a 595-hp twin-turbo version.

With a low curb weight of 2465 pounds, the 2012 F&M Evantra will be able to achieve acceleration speeds of 0-60 mph in less than 3.7 seconds according to Mazzanti.

Specifications

General Info

Vehicle Type: Coupe

Base Price: NA

Performance

Engine: Flat 6 – Natural & Turbo	Displacement: 3.5 Liter
Horsepower: 403 & 603 HP	Curb Weight: 2465 lbs (1118 kg)
0-60 mph: 3.7 seconds	Maximum Speed: NA

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Mercedes-Benz Classic Cars Past and Present Making the News

The much celebrated German luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz has always offered high quality motoring along with expertly engineered technical automotive design. Mercedes-Benz has always been competitive and had an active racing presence over the years, which has helped with the company's car development and design.

This can still be seen today, with Mercedes having a major role in many areas of motorsport around the world, including the high-profile Formula 1 World Championship and the DTM (or Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters - German Touring Car Masters) race championships, as well as world-renowned races like Le Mans.

Ultimately, Mercedes-Benz is always in pursuit of driving and motoring excellence and that's what can be found across their range of cars. Some of these classic Mercedes-Benz cars past and present are never far from the news and it is easy to see why this occurs.

Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing

Recently, an über rare 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing sold at an auction in Arizona for an amazing £2.95 million (or $4,620,000). This was a particularly rare Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, as it was only one of 29 built with aluminium bodies.

This special, alloy bodied 300 SL Gullwing represented cutting edge technical design at the time of its launch in the early 1950's, as this was a car you could buy in a showroom but was powerful and lightweight compared to its counterparts that were seen on the race track at that time. This was the car that won the Le Mans 24-hour race in 1952.

If you fancy purchasing a 300 SL Gullwing, you could always buy one of the less rare steel bodied models, as there were 1400 made during the time of its production from 1954 - 1957. In recent years, however, these famous Gullwing Mercedes cars have seen auction prices rising substantially and even a steel bodied 300 SL Gullwing will set you back well into a six figure sum.

SL-class Roadster 2012

Mercedes have just unveiled the all-new SL-class Roadster at the prestigious 2012 Detroit Motor Show. The new SL Roadster is a completely new design which features a chassis and body that is almost completely made from aluminium. This means the new SL-class model is up to 140kg lighter than its forerunner, with an added 20% increase of torsional strength. This is sure to improve the car's handling, plus making it quicker off the mark and ultimately faster to the electronically limited top speed of 155mph.

The S-Class

Once again, the S-Class Mercedes-Benz has won the prestigious 'Best Luxury Car' for an astounding seventh consecutive year at the recent 2012 What Car? awards in London. The S-Class managed to beat all of its rivals to the top award, as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class was chosen again for building a quality luxury car whilst retaining good value.

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The 2013 Nissan NV200 Cargo Van Makes Its North American Debut at the Chicago Auto Show, nissan nv200,nissan nv200 cargo,nv200 cargo,commercial cargo,cargo van,impressive fuel economy

The 2013 Nissan NV200 Cargo Van made its official North American debut at the 2012 Chicago auto show. This is despite the fact that the NV200 was previously seen in the streets of New York as one of the leading vehicle models used for as taxis in the city. Upon its debut at the 2012 Chicago auto show, Nissan announced that the event marks the launch of the NV200 as a dependable and utility-driven commercial cargo van.

According to Nissan, the NV200 is set to compete with the popular commercial vans in the US and the rest of the North American market such as the Ford Transit Connect and the Ram Cargo Van. Nissan is quite optimistic that the 2013 Nissan NV200 will be successful in taking on the challenges posed by its closest rivals on the commercial van segment since the company has spent a lot of time, effort, and resources to come up with what they are referring to as the van that was built with an appropriate size, optimized space for cargoes, and impressive fuel economy ratings.

In addition to this, Nissan proudly stated that the 2013 Nissan NV200 cargo van will be sold at a very affordable price. In fact, the company sees that the NV200 will surely become the cheapest commercial van since its price is relatively lower compared to its closest competitors. Given this strategy, a lot of car experts expect that the NV200 might possibly become a hit upon its release since a lot of car buyers who are in the market for commercial vans would surely prioritize a model that is cheaper and more fuel efficient.

Aside from its cheaper price and impressive fuel economy, the 2013 Nissan NV200 is also expected to emerge as a popular commercial cargo van model since it is offered in two trims. This includes the S and SV trims. The S-trim will available with standard equipments such as the power windows, AM/FM/CD stereo that is equipped with an auxiliary input, two speakers mounted on the vehicle's two front doors, 12-volt power outlet found on the instrument panel, and the underseat storage tray found on the passenger seat.

The SV-trim on the other hand is considered is considered as the more upscale version. It is equipped with the standard features found on the S-trim plus the other additional equipments such as the power door locks with automatic locking features, the heated outside mirrors, cruise control, and remote keyless entry that comes with two key fobs.

Finally, the 2013 Nissan NV200 cargo van provides about 123 cubic feet of cargo space and this makes the vehicle suited for loading more cargoes. Although this quite smaller compared to what its closest rivals provide, the dual sliding doors on its sides and the 40/60 split doors on the rear plus the low load floor makes the loading and unloading of cargoes more manageable.

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Frozen In Time - Classic Volvo Parts

From the cold north in Scandinavia, one car manufacturer stands out as the maker of cars that are synonymous with safety. Volvo, based in the Swedish city of Gothenburg, has, for over 80 years now, been building cars that not just last, but stand the test of time to an extent that would put many reputed car manufacturers to shame. With many cars still on the road with many hundreds of thousands of miles on the clock, some being several decades old, it's hard to find a fault in the build quality. And with the proper maintenance, they can keep running for many more years. Although the original lot were based on a simple design philosophy - of being safe and reliable cars above all else, always following the function over form methodology.

Now, after their stint with Ford and the lessons learned in that period, backed by a fresh conglomerate, Volvo has risen back to the fore with product offerings that stunned the automobile world. Models like the XC60 and the all-new S60 were quite the benchmark at their time of launch. Automobile manufacturers scurried to look into the new technologies that Volvo has brought to the fore on these car lines. Technology that included the laser-assisted automatic braking system, called "City Safety", and radar-based adaptive cruise control. However, Volvo purists, although happy that the company is venturing into earlier unvisited territory, are skeptical about modern Volvo models. They consider the deviation from their original design values rather shocking, and prefer to hold on to their classic models. And when it comes to maintaining these models, an altogether different concern arises.

Classic Volvo parts are now turning out to be quite a task to locate. If you have a classic 544, or an even older 210 in need of any parts, the chances of locating them at a Volvo dealer service center are not just slim, they take up quite a bit of time as well. Besides, with the kind of quality that Volvo genuine parts possess, it is an even greater task to come up with alternative solutions, and although several spare part websites offer options and claim to have several genuine parts, you may not find the exact part that you need at the time you need it. However, there is one site that has quite a bit of inventory.

If you visit some of these sites you will notice that one of them stand out when it comes to diversity of available parts. Look deeper and you find that the inventory contains solutions for several classic models from miscellaneous parts, accessories and literature, to more critical components of the engine, power train and various support systems. Considering the fact that Volvo original parts come with their inherent benefits of quality and durability, this website has everything you need for almost any classic Volvo car model out there. At present, they have an inventory stock for the PV 444 / 544 models and the Duett 445 / 210 lines, with more parts for other models like the 120, 140, 164 and even the 1800 coming in soon. All with one year warranty! They will soon host even racing and performance parts in their inventory, making it a one-stop-shop for all classic Volvo parts.

Only a classic Volvo owner will know the difficulties of sourcing genuine parts for their classic models, and rather than scour the internet for them, a website of this sort is definitely a boon to them!

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2025 Bugatti Aerolithe Concept,The Future in Mind, Features, Performance, Specifications

The 2025 Bugatti Aerolithe Concept is the work of Douglas Hogg, a Coventry graduate. The design draws its inspiration from the original Bugatti Aerolithe concept showcased at the 1935 Paris Motorshow.

The old Bugatti Aerolithe concept was also the inspiration of the Atlantic 57SC.

The Future in Mind

Designed 75 years after the original Aerolithe was launched in Paris, Douglas Hogg has introduced the modern interpretation of the design. The car looks quite futuristic, despite being based on a design that was made quarter of a century back. Hogg suggests that he has used a minimalistic approach in pure surfacing for the design and applied a principle of Ettore Bugatti for Automotive design.

The car design represents simplicity, elegance, and intelligence. The design follows a smooth flow, uncluttered by door handles, external mirrors or spoilers. It's in complete harmony with advanced aerodynamics.

The underbody aerodynamics are an important feature of the design that allows two air channels to traverse the entire length of the body, funneling air from the front of the body to the diffuser at the rear, producing enough down force in the process to keep the car glued to the tarmac at high speeds.

Features

Some of the key features of the design include aeronautics inspired split canopy doors, split windshield, pronounced windows, bullet proof windows, lightweight construction material and Bugatti's signature front grille.

Performance

The car is powered by a Microturbine-battery hybrid powertrain. Microturbines do not power the wheels directly and merely function as a generator to charge up the batteries on the run and acts as a range extender for an otherwise purely electric vehicle. A single fill of the tank can make this car run up to 800 miles.

The Bugatti Aerolithe design is a great concept that showcases the design elements that may inspire the cars of tomorrow. It's a great tribute to Ettore Bugatti, who was way ahead of his time when he launched the first Aerolithe.

Specifications

General Info

Vehicle Type: Super Sport Coupe

Est. Market Price: £ 900,000.00

Performance

Engine: Micro Turbine/Electric Hybrid	Electric Horsepower: 450 HP
Torque: 1500 lb-ft	Curb Weight: 3000 lbs (1361 kg)
0-60 mph: 2.7 seconds	Top Speed: 220 mph / 354 km/h

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2013 Acura ILX, 2013 acura ilx, acura ilx, acura ilx , 2012 chicago auto show, chicago auto show, chicago auto show 2012

As many of you already know, the current-gen Acura TSX is generally speaking a spiffed-up Euro-spec Honda Accord. The automaker hopes to pull off a similar stunt again -- this time by using the Honda Civic -- with its upcoming 2013 Acura ILX, which is making its official debut in production-spec trim at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show.
We first saw the ILX concept version a few months ago at the Detroit show, and liked it. Although the 2013 Acura ILX is based on the current-gen Honda Civic, the automaker went to great lengths to ensure the two wouldn't be Doppelgangers. And from what we can see, Acura succeeded. While the Civic's sheetmetal is staid, the ILX's is interesting and bold, befitting the compact luxury segment in which it will compete. And whether you hate it or love it, the corporate power plenum grille -- or beak, as it's often called -- remains.

The ILX will offer a diverse range of powertrains, including Acura's first application of Honda's Integrated Motor Assist hybrid system, a 1.5-liter, 110-hp gas engine supplemented by a 23-hp electric motor culled from the Civic Hybrid. Paired with a continuously variable transmission, the hybrid should deliver an EPA-estimated 35 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. The volume seller will likely be the 2.0-liter four-cylinder, which is rated at 150 hp and 140 lb-ft and mated to a five-speed auto (EPA estimated at 24/32 mpg city/highway). Sitting atop the range will be the 2.4-liter four-banger pulled from the Civic Si (along with its six-speed manual), rated at 201 hp and 170 lb-ft. Fuel economy is an EPA-estimated 20/29 mpg, city/highway.

On paper, the ILX has the goods for an engaging drive. In addition to MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link suspension at the rear, the ILX will feature Acura's new Amplitude Reactive Dampers, which automatically adjust for comfortable or more sporting driving. Also featured is Motion Adaptive Electric Power Steering, which Acura says offers a more direct steering feel.
Inside, the 2013 Acura ILX comes with features including standard Pandora Internet radio, push-button start, and an SMS text messaging function. Optional package are similar to what's offered for other Acura models. The Premium Package adds leather seating surfaces, heated front seats, premium sound, a rearview camera, and Active Sound Cancellation. The Tech Package adds navigation, real-time traffic and weather, and 15 gigs of music storage.
The ILX is scheduled to arrive in showrooms this spring. Pricing hasn't been announced, but we predict it will slot between the 2012 Buick Verano (just one of its targeted competitors) and the 2012 Acura TSX, which start at $23,470 and $30,695, respectively.

Gallery:

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2013 Volkswagen Beetle TDI, 2013 volkswagen beetle diesel tdi, volkswagen beetle diesel tdi, volkswagen beetle diesel tdi 2012, 2012 chicago auto show, chicago auto show

Volkswagen has made it clear it intends to broaden the appeal of its new VW Beetle and, with the return of a diesel model, it now has three powertrains for prospective buyers to choose from.
The 2013 Volkswagen Beetle TDI, which is bowing at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, will hit dealerships this summer. The Beetle TDI uses the same mill found in the Jetta and Golf, VW's 2.0-liter turbocharged, direct-injection inline-four rated at 140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. Transmission choices include a six-speed manual or dual-clutch automatic, both of which send power to the front wheels. Fuel economy estimates have been set at 29/39 mpg city/highway, slightly below the 30/42 mpg rated Golf and Jetta TDIs.

Exterior differentiation between the TDI and other Beetles is extremely slight. The TDI is fitted with chrome trim along the tops of the doors, unique 17-inch alloy wheels, and TDI badging on the trunklid. Inside, the only difference is the addition of oil temperature and turbo boost gauges. A stopwatch mounted on the dashboard above the center stack also found on the Turbo model is also available.
A diesel engine was offered in the last-generation Beetle from 1998 to 2006. The new engine features a number of improvements over the old 1.9-liter turbo four, including a common-rail design, reduced noise, vibration, and harshness, and an intake manifold that features active flap valves that better maintains optimal air flow. Thanks to a particulate filter, gas exhaust recirculation, and three different catalytic converters (for oxidation, nitrogen oxides, and hydrogen sulfide) the Beetle TDI will meet emission standards in all 50 states.

The Beetle TDI will get a three-level trim lineup similar to the 2.5-liter and 2.0-liter Turbo model: TDI base, TDI with sunroof, and TDI with sunroof, sound, and navigation. Standard on the base TDI is an eight-speaker sound system, interior and exterior chrome package, and Bluetooth phone connectivity. Stepping up to the sunroof model nets a tilting and sliding power sunroof along with a full-color touch-screen radio head unit. Top spec models come standard with the RNS 315 navigation system and a Fender premium audio system. Every Beetle has electronic stability control, driver and front passenger airbags, and front and rear side curtain airbags as standard.
There is roughly a $5000-plus premium for the diesel variants of the Passat, Golf, and Jetta, so expect the 2013 Beetle TDI to start somewhere in the mid-$20,000 range. Volkswagen will release full pricing details closer to the car's debut this summer.

Gallery:

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2012 Fiat 500 Abarth [w/video], 2012 FIAT 500, 2012 fiat 500 abarth, fiat 500 abarth, fiat 500 abarth 2012, 2012 fiat 500 abarth first test, 2012 fiat 500 abarth test, 2012 fiat 500 abarth specs

Covering the automotive business is rife with surprises. Case in point: On a recent trip to the stunning Algarve region of Portugal to test Continental Tire's new ContiEcoContact 5 (verdict: they're very good), we had the chance to sample a bit of forbidden fruit.

In the process of learning about the German company's doughnut-making capabilities (which included a journeyman's seminar on velocity-excited short- and long-chain polymers, the CEC5's three-percent fuel economy bump and improved wet-braking capabilities), one test car fitted with Continental's new rubber was a EU-spec 2011 Fiat 500 Abarth.

Knowing that the factory-fettled 500 is headed our way in two year's time, we snagged the keys to see if Italy's hottest hatch was ready to bring the pain to the John Cooper Works-infused offerings from Mini.

The 500 Abarth (pronounced "aah-bart" by the cognoscenti) is to the 500 as the Mini Cooper S JCW is to the plain Cooper. The association between the tuner Abarth and Fiat began in 1952 and has resulted in dozens of high-performance variants that add guts to the Fiat line-up.

According to the North American PR people at Chrysler, we'll be getting an American version of the 500 Abarth at the end of 2012 as a 2013 model. And it can't come soon enough.

Before diving into the experience at the magnificent Autodromo Internacional do Algarve (a.k.a. the Portimao Circuit) in Faro, Portugal, note this important caveat: The Abarth you're looking at isn't exactly like America's Abarth.

Here's why: According to Chrysler and Fiat engineers, our built-in-Mexico 500 Abarth will meet tougher U.S. crash standards. The European Union doesn't require that vehicles meet a rear crash standard, and the U.S.-spec 500 Abarth will ride over a superior rear axle design based on the one developed for the so-called NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) 500 and run with a more powerful turbo engine featuring Fiat's Multiair valvetrain.

The NAFTA 500 Abarth's 1.4-liter turbo engine (to be produced by Chrysler in Trenton, Michigan) is expected to produce 175 horsepower; slightly more than the EU-produced 1.4-turbo with Multiair currently makes in the Alfa Romeo MiTo and Giulietta.

The 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth may be small -- smaller than even a Mini Cooper -- but it's a heavy car.

With a curb weight of about 2500 pounds, the 500 Abarth isn't pound-heavy -- it's heritage-heavy. Just look at all the stylized scorpion badges. The 500 Abarth has eight of those badges on its exterior alone, if you count the wheel centers, and all of them remind you of one thing: a reputation for performance that's as large as the 500 is small.
This is the car the most fervent Fiat fans have been waiting for, ardently avoiding local dealers for fear of cracking and buying a regular 500. It certainly looks the part, especially our tester, turned out in Rosso paint and the optional gunmetal-colored 17-inch wheels, red brake calipers peeking out from behind the spokes. The rear valance has the requisite vents to match the restyled front air dam, with inlet and exit ducts for the twin intercoolers mounted just forward of the front wheels. The interior gets a restyled shiftknob and a chunky, flat-bottomed steering wheel. And those Abarth badges...well, they do the intended deed.
Open the hood and you're greeted with a red plastic engine cover that isn't quite long enough to hide the most significant revision to the little 1.4-liter Multiair engine: the small Garrett turbocharger that puts 160 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque on tap. As in the good old days, the heart of any Abarth is the engine, and this one pushes out nearly 60 percent more hp than the standard car. While the engine is somewhat different from the European version despite its identical horsepower to the premium esseesse (Italian for SS) model, the transmission is the same -- a five-speed manual unique to the Abarth (an automatic is not available).

The engine fires with a throaty burble, the din exiting via twin chromed exhaust tips -- a far cry from the normal car's mild rasp. Setting off, a mash of the throttle sends the boost gauge twirling and the Abarth leaps forward, picking up steam north of 4000 rpm and revving strongly to redline. Torque steer, a valid concern with high-output front drivers, is virtually nil in a straight line, thanks in part to an active locking differential that's tied into the new three-mode electronic stability control program. At the dragstrip, we recorded a 0-60-mph time of 6.8 seconds -- 3 seconds faster than the 500 Sport -- and a 15.3-second quarter-mile run with a trap speed of 89.8 mph. The last Mini Cooper S we tested (the Cooper is a primary 500 competitor despite its slightly larger scale) was roughly half a second quicker to 60 mph, but a full second quicker to the quarter mile. A standard Cooper was just over 1 second slower in both categories.
Like the Abarths that have come before it, the 500 Abarth has been tuned to be a well-rounded sport coupe. Engineers tweaked the 500's front MacPherson strut design and added Koni dampers and shorter coil springs that are stiffer by 40/20 percent front/rear.

Abarth also added its own front control arms, beefier anti-roll bars front and rear, and reinforced the rear axle and coiled spring mounts. An Abarth tweak to the electronic power steering makes it 10 percent quicker and improves road feel compared with the 500 Sport's. Front brake disc diameter is increased by an inch to 11.1 inches, and our tester's optional alloys were wrapped in sticky 205/40R17 Pirelli PZero Nero rubber.
With the new setup, the 500 Abarth's grip is impressive and the car stays much flatter, though the chassis seems a little less playful than before. Where the 500 Sport can be coaxed into generally neutral behavior with a throttle lift here, a dab of the brakes there, the Abarth seemed intent on understeering its way around our figure-eight course. While the Abarth was unquestionably more capable, we can't wholeheartedly say it was more fun to throw into a turn.

We were also disappointed with the driving position -- as in the normal 500, the seats are too tall and unsupportive for spirited driving, and the steering wheel is too far away in relation to the pedal placement. It's the classic Italian long-armed, short-legged driving position we thought died in the '80s. A telescoping steering column, not available in the 500, is needed to overcome it.
Pricing is yet to be announced for the 500 Abarth, but we're told to expect a number in the low $20,000 range when it hits showrooms in March. As a complete package, the Abarth is a solid choice for those who want a hot hatch that stands out from the Coopers and GTIs of the world. For those dyed-in-the-wool Fiat and Abarth fans, it will be the only choice.

More images:

Video:
Fiat 500 Abarth Hot Lap

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