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Gustavo

It’s official: the new VW Golf will start at 16,500 EUR

You have already seen the sixth generation of the VW Golf here, but now the German automaker has released interesting details on its bestseller. Maybe the best of the news it the starting price of the car: 16,500 EUR. It is a pity no new images have been released, so I will have to reuse the old ones:

Volkswagen Golf VI

As it was already expected, the new Golf, considered by Volkswagen the best of them all (and would the automaker say anything different, considering it is the one it will sell for at least the next six years?), will be sold in Europe soon after its public introduction, at the Paris Motor Show, in October. Later it will be sold in Africa, Asia, Australia and North America.

No word has been said on South America, probably because the company intends to produce the new Golf in Brazil and to export it to other countries from here. The reason is simple: it is too soon to announce that, considering the fourth generation, still produced in Brazil, has been recently modified to stand a few more years. Let’s hope them to be very few.

At least eight engines have already been confirmed for the new Golf: two 2-litre turbodiesels, generating 81 kW and 103 kW, two other turbodiesels, undefined, that develop 66 kW and 125 kW, and six petrol engines, producing 59 kW, 75 kW, 90 kW and 118 kW. The last two are the 1.4 TSI, while the first ones have not been revealed but the 75 kW will almost certainly be the 1.6-litre already in use in the currents Polo and Golf. The entry level engine may be a 1-litre or a 1.2-litre engine. All of them already meed Euro 5 standards.

The engines are more fuel efficient. Mated with six and seven-speed DSG transmissions, automated dual-clutch gearboxes, they can lower their fuel consumption in up to 28%. Volkswagen reached this number by comparing the previous 2-litre FSI engine that generated 112 kW and had a six-speed automatic transmission with the new 118 kW 1.4 TSI with a seven-speed DSG. Not exactly a fair comparison, but, for a Golf client, a very nice swap.

While it is cheaper to build, the MK VI Golf is also said to be quieter and more sophisticated than the previous one. Seven airbags (including one for the knees), WOKS head restraints, which avoid whiplash trauma (already used by Volvo for almost a decade), “automatic distance control” (ACC), “adaptive chassis control” (DCC), “park steering assistant”, a finer ESP system, a “seatbelt detection” for the back seats and standard daytime running lights are also offered for the new generation Golf.

I still do not have information on dimensions or weight, but I will keep you guys posted!

Source: Volkswagen

Bertone recovers and may produce BAT 11

Bertone fans, you can rejoice. The Italian design studio appears to be recovering from the family dispute it faced and only made its financial situation worse. Now, according to Detroit Free Press, it is considering the idea of opening new offices in the most important places for the car industry nowadays, such as China, India and Detroit. Besides that, Bertone may also run a limited series of the BAT 11:

Bertone BAT 11

Based on the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, BAT 11 was an exclusive model, but if it gets enough people willing to pay for it, there may be 25 to 50 of them around the world, what would not be such a bad idea. Let’s hope Bertone recovers producing or not this car. That name would be a bad idea to lose for good.

Bertone BAT 11

Bertone BAT 11

Bertone BAT 11

Bertone BAT 11

Bertone BAT 11

Bertone BAT 11

Source: Detroit Free Press via Autoblog

VW Golf VI pictures leak before official presentation

 

One of the most awaited presentations of the year has been done before the owner of the party decided to do it. As it always happens, official images of the new VW Golf VI have leaked a couple of days before its official presentation, scheduled for next Wednesday, occurs.

Volkswagen Golf VI

Although Volkswagen may only reveal the new car technical details on Wednesday, if it does at all (and does not save them for Paris), the engines will be a 1.6-litre TFSI generating 200 bhp, a 1.4-litre TSI producing 150 cv and a 1-litre or a 1.2-litre pumping out 75 bhp. Much simpler to build than the Golf V, the new generation hatchback keeps the previous platform, what may lead to a similar wheelbase. The GTI version will have 230 bhp, while the R32 is expected to offer its drivers 265 bhp under the right pedal.

Volkswagen Golf VI

Volkswagen Golf VI

Volkswagen Golf VI

Volkswagen Golf VI

Volkswagen Golf VI

Volkswagen Golf VI

Volkswagen Golf VI

Source: World Car Fans

Should Citroën rebuilt the 2CV in this body?

In 2008 Citroën 2CV celebrates its 60th birthday. In 2008 there will an edition of the Paris Motor Show. Citroën could take advantage of the two events and present its idea for a modern 2CV, as well as VW has done with the Coccinelle/Beetle, Fiat has done with the 500 and BMW has done with Mini. While we see no image of such a car, if there is any, David Portela has helped us figure out what it could look like:

Citroën 2CV

If this car was ever built, according to Portela, it would be 4.20 m long and would use a hybrid or flex powertrain in order to be environmentaly friendly. Whether his idea is adopted or not, the fact is most of us would love to see the 2CV back into the streets. Let’s see what Citroën has to tell us about that.

Source: David Portela

North American designer unveils the new SLR Speedster

Most of you must have already seen spy photos of the new Mercedes-Benz SLR Speedster, a special series of the supercar the German company has created with the help of McLaren, but the North American designer Jon Sibal has gone beyond that. He has taken all wraps off of the car and managed to unveil it before Mercedes-Benz scheduled it to happen. And it is right below:

Mercedes-Benz SLR Speedster

The SLR Speedster will have only 75 units and is said to be one of the rawest vehicles ever built by Mercedes-Benz. It will be 200 kg lighter than the stock SLR and will reach a top speed of 351 km/h. A machine for speed and performance lovers. Like we all. What a pity all performance lovers do not earn enough to get one of the 75 units…

Source: Jon Sibal

Bugatti unveils its new roadster, the Grand Sport

 

What would happen if the most fantastic car ever built got a topless version? There is no need to be creative to answer that. Just look at the picture below and find out the new Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, the roadster version of the greatest automobile in history:

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

There could not be a better place for the official presentation than Pebble Beach, the sanctuary for classic cars, past or future ones. The world will see the car in aluminium and carbon-fibre next August 16, in the lawn in front of the Pebble Beach Lodge. The first Grand Sport will be auctioned at Gooding auction at the Equestrian Center, but it will only be delivered in the first quarter of 2009.

No technical information has been released so far, but the car should keep its amazing power even with the higher weight, added by the “innovative structural solutions” the car needed to keep the same body rigidity offered by the coupé. Slower or not, this car will surely be more expensive than the “regular” Veyron, a vehicle that already is the most expensive one for sale in the world, at 1 million EUR.

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

Source: Bugatti

Official image of the new Ford Ka leaks into the internet

 

You have already seen pictures of the new Ka here, but not as good as the one below:

Ford Ka

This is the first official image of the car, brought up by CarScoop. Based on Fiat 500, it will probably use the same engines, but with different calibrations for the 1.2-litre petrol unit and the 1.3 turbodiesel powerplant. The car’s official presentation is expected to take place at 2008 edition of the Paris Motors Show.

Source: CarScoop

Loremo, the super efficient car, will have a new face

 

Loremo is a German-based carmaker that has asked itself: why built a 1-ton vehicle to carry a 80-kg person most of the time? With that in mind, it has created its vehicle in LS and GT versions. Both are diesel powered and, weighing 450 kg, the cars manage to have incredible fuel economy figures. The first one reaches 66.7 km/l, accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 20 s and a maximum speed of 160 km/h. More interesting, the GT reaches 37 km/l, sprints from standstill to100 km/h in 9 s and tops 220 km/h.  All that for 11,000 euros and 15,000 euros, respectively. Expected to be launched next year, the car has received a new appearance, the one that you can see below:

Loremo

Besides being very light, Loremo has interesting safety solutions, such as the absence of regular doors. Its front and its back open to grant access to front and back passengers, which travel back to back, or else, the driver and the front passenger facing the road ahead and the back passengers facing the back window.

The engine of the car is placed among the front and the back passengers. Since the side of the car has no openings, its structure is stronger than in regular cars. Another benefit is the air resistance. Loremo’s cx is only 0.20.

Loremo

Loremo

Loremo

Loremo

Source: Loremo

FortuneSport Rt.S and Rt.R, the new USA supercars

Low weight vehicles equipped with a huge 6-litre V8. This recipe for supercars has once been used in De Tomaso Pantera, but it will get back to fashion with FortuneSport new creations, the Rt.S (S for Street) and the Rt.R (R for Racing). For now, all that can be seen of the new North American supercars is this drawing, created by the cars designer, Emre Husmen:

FortuneSport Rt.S

The development process of the cars will be something incredibly new. First of all, the Rt.S will only be available after the Rt.R, which will work as a development prototype for its street version. Late this fall the program for Rt.R will start. Sixty people will have the chance to take part of it, all of them necessarily with at least US$ 200,000 in their bank accounts.

At first, these people will have to pay FortuneSport US$ 20,000 in order to be part of the group. Later, they will have to travel to Atlanta in order to have the car fitted to their bodies, since the seats are integrated to the chassis. This will cost them US$ 80,000. At last, about three weeks later, the car will be ready to be driven at non-professional track-day events and other events promoted both by FortuneSport and Skip Barber Racing Schools. This is when the last installment, US$ 100,000, has to be paid to FortuneSport.

The program will take 3 to 5 years to complete. When it finishes, the US$ 200,000 will be totally refunded to FortuneSport clients, unless they want to keep the vehicles, which will weigh only 750 kg and be powered by 510 bhp engines. The vehicles that are returned to FortuneSport will go to the company’s museum or be used as mule prototypes for future product developments, as well as racing cars.  If most of them are returned, a good part of them will be destroyed.

The experience with Rt.R will allow the company to create the Rt.S, a car that will be heavier (900 kg) and less powerful (350 bhp), but will preserve its sport credentials. Teritius Fortune, founder of the enterprise, estimates it will be able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4 s and reach a top speed of 280 km/h. Built by Panoz Group, the car will cost US$ 85,000.

FortuneSport Rt.S

FortuneSport Rt.S

Source: FortuneSport