Tag Archives: debut

i8.

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There are very few automobiles which capture my attention, new or old, these days.  My interest in automobiles has faded aside from a few select cars which i’m always chasing.  i am, however, BLOWN AWAY by this car.  the fact that it is a production car that looks like a concept.  The fact that is totally a current car embedded with current technologies capturing the spirit of ‘new’ and ‘fresh’ without copying anything else before it.  The fact that it’s the first hybrid sports car that is somewhat attainable  (still expensive though…at $135k USA price).  But most of all I love this car because it pushes and opens an envelope into the current times.  No retro here.  No celebration of the past.  The BMW i8 is a celebration of the future.

If i had the money…i’d order this and drive it every day!!

Forget 0-60 times (4.4 seconds here), forget curb weight (3200+ pounds here), forget cost for a second, forget the badge, forget the insane aero design features— this car is a pioneer and a real innovation in this realm.  It’s rare in these generic modern times of automotive engineering that we see a true beginning, but i have a feeling the i8 is the first of many coming in this realm.

(I don’t count cars like the Porsche 918, because of price and uber-exclusivity)

Live photos from Frankfurt (courtesy of greenCarReports)

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promo photos from BMW in Black:

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Videos:

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Audi S3 Sedan: undecided.

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The jury is out.  I really still don’t know what i think of this new 2015 Audi S3 Sedan which debut’d last week in NYC.  Let me just tell you that I actually have a deposit down to be one of the first US buyers for an S3 Sedan (a deposit i put down last year when the S3 Sportback was first introduced) —-however i am fairly disappointed in the S3 Sedan itself.  The design is nowhere near as interesting as the Concept or as I was hoping.  It is a beautifully spec’d package with 300hp, 0-60 in 4.7s, quattro, and some beautifully trimmed interior and exterior bits—but somehow i feel like Audi has entered a ‘comfort zone’…in which designing a car has become too easy for them.

Don’t get me wrong.  It is a good looking car.  I’m certain it’s a fantastic car, as most Audis are.  I just wish it was a Sportback….OR that it was a bit more unique.  OR I wish that it didn’t look like ‘Audi-by-the-numbers’.

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Promo Video:

NYC debut photos from: MT

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CLA.

Well i’ve been pretty anxiously awaiting the new Mercedes Benz CLA, as i’m excited about the ‘next phase’ of Euro compact sedans and hatchbacks entering the deprived US market.  I was expecting a lot out of the CLA design, as the Concept sort of blew me away last year.  I wasn’t disappointed.  In black…..this thing looks spectacular.   Can I leave the 4 rings to go be the 3 pointed star?  hmm….

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oh and would you look at that interior! it matches my Fitzroy Chronograph watch! dig it lots.

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src:  mercedes-benz

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4 Coupe – real pics.

Here are some actual pics of that BMW 4-series Coupe I posted about yesterday—-courtesy of the finest magazines in the world,  Intersection

It looks great.  First 3-series….uhh..4-series  i’ve liked in a looooong time!

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A110-50 in detail and production Alpine coming to 2012 Paris Auto Show.

I fell hard for the Renault Alpine A110-50 Concept  introduced on May 25th at the Monaco Grand Prix.  Here are some fantastic close-up detail shots of the concept, confirming that the level of detail is just beautiful on it.  From the success of the concept, it appears we are going to see some sort of a production Alpine concept at the Paris Auto Show in the Autumn.  I’m really not sure how finished of a product we may see—however i’m quite confident based on people i’ve spoken to that there will be something on display at the Paris show resembling a production Alpine, at least in concept form.

50 years ago, Jean Redele introduced the production Alpine A110 at the 1962 Paris Auto Show.  Renault is going to do something similar with a production, street-version of the A110-50.  As usual, IEDEI will be ahead of the game when it comes to publishing news about it!

Click to enlarge these brilliant photos by one day one tone:

oh and WHERE CAN I GET THIS BAG!?

src: oneDayOneTone

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introducing: the Alpine A110-50!

In all its glory.  I only have one word i can say right now: WANT

I am severely biased towards anything Alpine….but honestly lately i’ve REALLY been getting into ‘futuristic’ cars meeting ‘vintage’ in their philosophy…..and THIS is just brilliant.  Magical, even.  Renault read my mind.

big thanks to my friend Jon for tipping me about these photos!  Unfortunately they are low-resolution; however i’m sure there will be plenty of high-res pics after tomorrow.  Tomorrow there should be a lot more information about the technical specs, such as exact engine (400hp V6?)—but what we can confirm is that it is mid-engined.

src:  autosblog.com.ar (via carstyling.ru)

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Alpine Zar/A110-50 design pretty much confirmed (+ video teaser)

So while i stand by my statement that the previous A110-50/Zar photo was indeed a photoshop, it appears the design itself is pretty much how the ‘new’ Alpine concept is going to look! (big thank you to Neo Luxembourg for these tips!)

this photo was published by Renault themselves!

And then there’s this photo of a bloke working on a clay model, which looks basically exactly like the photoshopped picture!  This was published on Figaro and the photo is on Worldscoop HERE:

additionally, Renault have released a 30 second video clip ‘teaser’….which I am not able to embed on this site, however you can watch it here!

http://d.yimg.com/nl/autos/site/player.html#vid=29371440&lang=fr-FR

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Return of ALPINE: Friday May 25th as the “Zar” concept

UPDATE! Apparently the neu Alpine will be unveiled as the “Zar” concept.  (thank you GentlemanScooper)

According to the excellent and interesting Renaud Roubaudi, the details are that Renault will debut a NEW Alpine 2 days before the 2012 Monaco Grand Prix! Details as follows:

(translated from french)

“I confirm that the new Alpine Renault will be officially unveiled in Monaco Friday, May 25, the surrounding of 13h30/14 h and a World Champion Formula 1. After doing some laps on the circuit, the Alpine will park in front of the barge moored in the Red Bull Monaco harbor which will be held the press conference. Carlos Tavares, Executive Vice President of Operations for Renault, Laurens van den Acker, Design Director of Renault and Alain Prost, Renault Ambassador , will present all three. And POA that will immortalize this memorable day on video …”

2 days before that update, Renaud Roubadi also posted this:

“New Renault Alpine to be unveiled as a concept Monaco Friday, May 25, two days before the Grand Prix Formula 1.Renault officially announces the presentation of an iconic car turns 50, but make no mistake, this is the Alpine 2012 which made a big comeback. We also learn in the press release it develops 400 hp and it will do some laps. Nice publicity stunt for global fallout this revival. We expect everyone to discover the beautiful design. Neo retro or new style? ”

400hp? that sounds weird.  It better NOT be a GT-R or a 370z rebadged.

Is it true?  I hope so and i hope not.  I’m scared to see what Renault have planned for this ‘resurrection’…..my info has suggested it will be a lightweight sports car, possibly electric or gas/electric hybrid.    All i know is that if it is a 370z with new badges, there is an 80% chance I will have a seizure from disappointment.   Either way, a debut in Monaco sounds like a pretty flashy debut for a new Alpine, but with the A110’s grand history of Monte Carlo rally—-it seems somewhat suitable I must say!

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BMW 328 Hommage.

Interesting—-i loved the Mille Miglia concept a few years ago—this continues the look back on history.  I don’t feel it is particularly a nice design, however I like certain features which kick back to the past like the leather straps and the ‘bucktooth’ kidney grille in the front.  BMW, design-wise, have become a shell of their former self in the past 10-15 years, in my opinion—-and I don’t think it will hurt them at all to look at their historical past for inspiration.  Here’s hoping they bring the proper design cues which made them so glorious from the 60s through early 90s back.

This car weighs just around 1700+ pounds! Lightweight engineering, that is something to love.

FULL PRESS RELEASE HERE (registration required)

https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/pressclub/p/pcgl/pressDetail.html?outputChannelId=6&id=T0109493EN&left_menu_item=node__2317&status=published

(IEDEI sepia tuned photos)

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intro: 2012 VW Beetle.

I TOLD YOU all the blogs were wrong about the styling of the 2012 Beetle….funny how people argued that was how it was going to look….

It looks much better than I ever expected.  I have never liked the Beetle—-never liked the original, never liked the ‘new’ Beetle of the late 90s.  But they seem to have really thought this out well and have properly modernized an icon.  I am sure it is going to sell like a free diamond.

more pics and info here:

http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publish/article_2913.shtml

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video debut: Audi RS5.

First video footage of the Audi RS5. Very cool when the urQuattro joins it.

Quattroholic

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new Corrado? NO. new Jetta Coupe? YES.

While not as exciting as the idea of a ‘new’ Corrado, the Jetta Coupe images coming out are showing it to be a pretty damn attractive little coupe.  Definitely looks a bit like a baby Audi A5, which is definitely not a bad thing!

All in all, i think this is gonna be mad popular with Vdubbers everywhere. Nice one, VW.

more pics and info here:

http://blogs.eurotuner.com/6610166/editorials/vw-compact-coupe-debuts-in-detroit/index.html

CLICK TO GET HI-RES

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Audi introduces the D4 A8.

Audi has just introduced the new A8 in Miami at some art festival (can’t be arsed to look up which one!). On first impressions, the car looks GREAT.   MORE INFO AFTER THE PICTURES.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FULL PDF PRESS RELEASE —–>>> PDF

Drivetrain Highlights:
• Optimized 4.2 FSI V8 specifications:
o FSI direct injection
o Audi Valvelift System (AVS) variable intake valve lift
o 8-speed transmission for improved fuel economy, responsiveness and driving comfort
o 372 hp (D3 A8 had 350 hp)
o 328 lb-ft (D3 A8 had 325 lb-ft torque)
o 0-100km/h (62 mph) in 5.7 seconds
o 15% improvement in fuel consumption estimated vs. current A8 (EPA figures TBD)
o quattro ® AWD – latest generation with asymmetric rear-biased torque split (40/60)

(inches) LENGTH WIDTH HEIGHT WHEELBASE
2011 all-new Audi A8 (NWB) 202.0 76.7 57.5 117.8
2004-2010 Audi A8/S8 (NWB) 199.3 74.6 56.9 115.9
2004-2010 Audi A8 (LWB) 204.4 74.6 57.3 121.0
BMW 7 Series (NWB) 199.7 74.9 58.2 120.9
BMW 7 Series (LWB) 205.2 74.9 58.3 126.4
Lexus LS (NWB) 199.2 73.8 58.1 116.9
Lexus LS (LWB) 203.9 73.8 58.1 121.7
Mercedes-Benz S Class (LWB only in USA) 205.1 73.7 58.0 124.6


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Audi E-Tron Concept = 3rd Generation TT/R4?

So if you look at the pictures of the new Audi E-Tron concept, the car looks MUCH smaller than an R8.  It’s been described by some media as ‘wider and shorter than a Boxster”.  So is this the much rumoured debut of the Audi R4?

IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS!


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Photos: Left Lane News

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