FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW 2011
Today i am going to show the latest in trend provided at the FRANKFURT AUTO SHOW 2011
the cars showcased in the one of the most awaited motor shows are following :
Previously, you could order an Aston Martin DBS Carbon Black Edition in any color you desired, so long as it was Carbon Black. For 2012, however, that's no longer the case: the new DBS Carbon Edition is essentially the same car, albeit it isn't tied to a paint palette that would make Henry Ford proud.
Two new hues -- Flame Orange and Ceramic Grey -- are now part of the Carbon Edition lineup, and along with the unique paint process that all Aston Martins undergo, the new colors are available with an optional satin lacquer finish that gives the paint job a silk-like appearance.
Gloss black 10-spoke diamond-turned wheels are complemented by standard black brake calipers, but if you're feeling more colorful, yellow, orange, red, or gray calipers can be had as an option. A black grille, carbon fiber mirror heads, carbon fiber taillight accents, and smoked rear taillight covers complete the carbon treatment to the exterior.
The well-detailed interior is a product of over 70 man-hours, with a quilted-leather headliner, and a "carbon weave" on the dashboard. The alloy paddle shifters on the steering wheel are tipped with carbon fiber bits, while special edition sill plaques appear on the door sills. As you may have expected, all the man-hours put into these special editions don't come cheap. The coupe starts at $287,576, while the Volante bumps it up to an eye-watering $302,576.
First Look: Audi A2 Concept
Like the original A2, which debuted in 2000, the new concept is diminutive in size. In fact, the concept is within half an inch of the original in all dimensions, and at 149.6 inches long, it’s almost a half-foot shorter than the new A1. Like the original, the A2 concept utilizes an aluminum space frame -- something that lent the first A2 a trim curb weight and a big price tag. The new concept wears a combination of aluminum panels and carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) to help keep weight down.
Powering the A2 concept is a transversely-mounted electric motor good for 116 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque sent through a single-speed transmission to the front wheels. Juice comes from a lithium-ion battery pack that stores a total of 31 kWh of energy, though only 24 kWh is available to move the vehicle. Audi claims a top speed of 93 mph and a 0 to 62 mph time of 9.3 seconds, thanks to the A2’s lightweight design and powerful electric motor. From McPherson struts and a rear torsion beam axle underpin the A2.
According to Audi, the setup should give the A2 a range of approximately 124 miles; with a full recharge taking a scant 1.5 hours on a 400-volt, three-phase charger or four hours on a standard 230-volt European outlet. Audi has also incorporated a contactless charging method for the A2 concept, so no plug is needed.
The interior has been designed to take advantage of the A2 concept’s sandwich-style flat floor. There is room for four, and each passenger scores his or her own bucket seat. A center console is cantilevered from those seats, and reportedly allows some flexibility when it comes to cargo -- Audi mentions it’s possible to stick an adult bicycle (with front wheel removed, of course) between the second-row seats.
Touch-sensitive surfaces control the car’s infotainment technology, and the steering wheel even has a touch-sensitive input area. A seven-inch LCD display mounted on the steering column serves as the gauge cluster. Designers attempted to push the eco-friendly envelope with the interior design, employing unusual recyclable materials throughout. The cargo cover is made from ribbed, recycled polyester, while the door panels are wrapped in a neoprene-feel polyurethane.
If you are in the market for a Ferrari convertible, but find the California lacking in aggression, fear not: the Italian automaker has official pulled the wraps off of the new 458 Spider.
Unlike the F430 Spider it effectively replaces, the 458 uses a rotating aluminum hard top, netting a claimed weight savings of around 55 pounds. Similar to the old 575M Superamerica, the roof rotates into the decklid to stow away and will do so in 14 seconds flat according to Ferrari. This kind of top design leaves the car's look mostly in tact, with a flatter roofline and a set of buttresses just aft of the seats.
Sales of the 458 Spider commence next year, with a top speed of 202 mph and a base price exceeding the $227,325 base price of the coupe.
First Look: Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale
For all the hype surrounding the new Aventador LP 700-4, you might have forgotten that Lamborghini still builds the Gallardo supercar. There is now yet another variant of the Gallardo, baptized LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale and unveiled to the public at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. The car’s suffix succinctly explains its purpose: Super Trofeo refers to the one-make European racing series featuring the Lamborghini Gallardo, while Stradale is Italian for road. This car, then, is a road-going Gallardo inspired by the Super Trofeo race cars.
Lamborghini says the 5.2-liter V-10 seen in this road car is almost identical to that used in the racer. It produces 562 hp at 8000 rpm and 398 lb-ft of torque at 6500 rpm. A six-speed e-gear automated manual transmission is standard, as is the Gallardo’s all-wheel-drive system. The transmission’s “Thrust Mode” raises engine revs to 5000 rpm for rapid standing-start launches. As to performance benchmarks, Lamborghini claims the Super Trofeo Stradale will reach 62 mph in 3.4 seconds, 124 mph in 10.4 seconds, and accomplish a top speed of 198.8 mph.
Outside is a body heavily inspired by the Super Trofeo racing cars. The Super Trofeo Stradale comes standard in a new Rosso Mars red paint that pays homage to early Italian race cars; Grigio Telese (gray) and Bianco Monocerus (white) are also available. The rear wing, engine cover, and front air intakes are all a contrasting matte black. The large carbon-fiber rear wing is identical to that of the race car, and produces three times more downforce than the spoiler on the regular Gallardo LP 560-4. Polished carbon fiber is employed for the side skirts, rear diffuser, mirror housings, and engine cover; the latter is fully removable thanks to special quick-release clamps.
BMW's first plug-in hybrid vehicle will focus not just in saving the earth, but also on satisfying its driver's need for speed. Like the Chevrolet Volt, the BMW i8 concept combines a traditional gasoline engine with an electric drivetrain. According to BMW, the i8 can be as fuel-efficient as the best hybrid cars, while still delivering sports car-like performance.
An electric motor drives the front wheels, while a traditional gasoline engine drives the rears. The i8 can thus act as a front-, rear-, or all-wheel-drive car depending on which power sources are running. An "energy tunnel" containing the battery and drivetrain electronics runs down the middle of the vehicle, connecting the two axles.
The electric motor and engine peak at a combined 349 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. That means the 0-to-62-mph sprint requires just 4.6 seconds. Top speed is electronically restricted to 155 mph. BMW says overall economy in European testing will be 2.7 liters per 100 kilometers, or 87 mpg. In real-world driving, the company expects the i8 to return mileage of 33 to 47 mpg. As gloating company executives note, no other production car can return the same combination of performance and economy.
The new 2012 Jeep Wrangler Arctic Edition, which debuts later this week at the Frankfurt Motor Show, will only be sold in Europe -- where, contrary to the SUV's new theme, Wrangler sales remain white hot.
Chrysler's official press release says the Wrangler Arctic was inspired by the terrain found in its namesake land, as it provides the grueling and demanding environments the Wrangler was engineered to conquer." Perhaps, but this go-anywhere, do-anything SUV isn't given any specialized equipment that facilitates sub-zero travel; instead, the Arctic is essentially a spiffy dress-up kit for the Wrangler Sahara and Wrangler Unlimited Sahara.
Along with the unique ice blue paint, the Arctic Wrangler receives a few cosmetic touches inspired by the mythical yeti -- in fact, the abominable snowman rears his head on the unique exterior badging, and leaves a footprint-shaped graphic on the driver's front fender. Other exterior revisions include unique black 17-inch wheels and a matching gas cap cribbed from Mopar's accessory catalog. Yeti touches continue within the Wrangler -- not only are the Arctic logos embroidered into the front seats (which also receive unique cloth inserts), but also on the tachometer.
Today i am going to show the latest in trend provided at the FRANKFURT AUTO SHOW 2011
the cars showcased in the one of the most awaited motor shows are following :
First Look: 2012 Aston Martin DBS Carbon Edition
Two new hues -- Flame Orange and Ceramic Grey -- are now part of the Carbon Edition lineup, and along with the unique paint process that all Aston Martins undergo, the new colors are available with an optional satin lacquer finish that gives the paint job a silk-like appearance.
Gloss black 10-spoke diamond-turned wheels are complemented by standard black brake calipers, but if you're feeling more colorful, yellow, orange, red, or gray calipers can be had as an option. A black grille, carbon fiber mirror heads, carbon fiber taillight accents, and smoked rear taillight covers complete the carbon treatment to the exterior.
The well-detailed interior is a product of over 70 man-hours, with a quilted-leather headliner, and a "carbon weave" on the dashboard. The alloy paddle shifters on the steering wheel are tipped with carbon fiber bits, while special edition sill plaques appear on the door sills. As you may have expected, all the man-hours put into these special editions don't come cheap. The coupe starts at $287,576, while the Volante bumps it up to an eye-watering $302,576.
Along with the miniscule Urban Concepts, Audi is unwrapping the electric-powered A2 concept -- which previews a forthcoming subcompact model -- at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Like the original A2, which debuted in 2000, the new concept is diminutive in size. In fact, the concept is within half an inch of the original in all dimensions, and at 149.6 inches long, it’s almost a half-foot shorter than the new A1. Like the original, the A2 concept utilizes an aluminum space frame -- something that lent the first A2 a trim curb weight and a big price tag. The new concept wears a combination of aluminum panels and carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) to help keep weight down.
Powering the A2 concept is a transversely-mounted electric motor good for 116 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque sent through a single-speed transmission to the front wheels. Juice comes from a lithium-ion battery pack that stores a total of 31 kWh of energy, though only 24 kWh is available to move the vehicle. Audi claims a top speed of 93 mph and a 0 to 62 mph time of 9.3 seconds, thanks to the A2’s lightweight design and powerful electric motor. From McPherson struts and a rear torsion beam axle underpin the A2.
According to Audi, the setup should give the A2 a range of approximately 124 miles; with a full recharge taking a scant 1.5 hours on a 400-volt, three-phase charger or four hours on a standard 230-volt European outlet. Audi has also incorporated a contactless charging method for the A2 concept, so no plug is needed.
The interior has been designed to take advantage of the A2 concept’s sandwich-style flat floor. There is room for four, and each passenger scores his or her own bucket seat. A center console is cantilevered from those seats, and reportedly allows some flexibility when it comes to cargo -- Audi mentions it’s possible to stick an adult bicycle (with front wheel removed, of course) between the second-row seats.
Touch-sensitive surfaces control the car’s infotainment technology, and the steering wheel even has a touch-sensitive input area. A seven-inch LCD display mounted on the steering column serves as the gauge cluster. Designers attempted to push the eco-friendly envelope with the interior design, employing unusual recyclable materials throughout. The cargo cover is made from ribbed, recycled polyester, while the door panels are wrapped in a neoprene-feel polyurethane.
Audi has been known as an innovator in exterior lighting design, so it’s not too surprising to see the A2 concept toy with new ideas in this sector. High- and low-beam headlamps are LED-powered, while running lamps use thin LED fibers, which reportedly help frame the projector assembly itself. Taillights are also LED powered, and vary in brightness based upon visibility conditions. Interestingly, the fog taillight is illuminated with laser diodes -- reportedly brighter and more efficient than LED -- and project a red triangle onto the road surface behind the car.
Interestingly, the A2 also uses LED illumination to dress up its exterior. The character line can be illuminated in different manners, potentially allowing it to provide entry and exit lighting and to function as a turn signal repeater. During hard braking, it progressively glows red, providing yet another warning sign to other drivers of a potential emergency stop.
Exactly how much of this will translate into a production car remains to be seen. Audi has said a production version of the A2 should launch in 2013 as an electric vehicle. Gas and diesel-powered versions should subsequently follow, launching no later than 2015.
First Look: 2012 Ferrari 458 Spider
If you are in the market for a Ferrari convertible, but find the California lacking in aggression, fear not: the Italian automaker has official pulled the wraps off of the new 458 Spider.
Based on the 458 Italia, the Spider carries over the coupe's deviously grinning front fascia, 570-hp 4.5-liter V-8 engine, and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Unlike the F430 Spider it effectively replaces, the 458 uses a rotating aluminum hard top, netting a claimed weight savings of around 55 pounds. Similar to the old 575M Superamerica, the roof rotates into the decklid to stow away and will do so in 14 seconds flat according to Ferrari. This kind of top design leaves the car's look mostly in tact, with a flatter roofline and a set of buttresses just aft of the seats.
Sales of the 458 Spider commence next year, with a top speed of 202 mph and a base price exceeding the $227,325 base price of the coupe.First Look: Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale
For all the hype surrounding the new Aventador LP 700-4, you might have forgotten that Lamborghini still builds the Gallardo supercar. There is now yet another variant of the Gallardo, baptized LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale and unveiled to the public at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. The car’s suffix succinctly explains its purpose: Super Trofeo refers to the one-make European racing series featuring the Lamborghini Gallardo, while Stradale is Italian for road. This car, then, is a road-going Gallardo inspired by the Super Trofeo race cars.
Lamborghini says the 5.2-liter V-10 seen in this road car is almost identical to that used in the racer. It produces 562 hp at 8000 rpm and 398 lb-ft of torque at 6500 rpm. A six-speed e-gear automated manual transmission is standard, as is the Gallardo’s all-wheel-drive system. The transmission’s “Thrust Mode” raises engine revs to 5000 rpm for rapid standing-start launches. As to performance benchmarks, Lamborghini claims the Super Trofeo Stradale will reach 62 mph in 3.4 seconds, 124 mph in 10.4 seconds, and accomplish a top speed of 198.8 mph.
Outside is a body heavily inspired by the Super Trofeo racing cars. The Super Trofeo Stradale comes standard in a new Rosso Mars red paint that pays homage to early Italian race cars; Grigio Telese (gray) and Bianco Monocerus (white) are also available. The rear wing, engine cover, and front air intakes are all a contrasting matte black. The large carbon-fiber rear wing is identical to that of the race car, and produces three times more downforce than the spoiler on the regular Gallardo LP 560-4. Polished carbon fiber is employed for the side skirts, rear diffuser, mirror housings, and engine cover; the latter is fully removable thanks to special quick-release clamps.
Red and black dominate the Lamborghini’s cabin, with Rosso Mars-colored Alcantara used for the lower dashboard and seats, and black Alcantara covering the dash top and center console. The door panels, seats, and center console are made from carbon fiber as standard. Optionally, the parking-brake lever, door handles, glove-box handle, and other interior trim can be made from the lightweight material.
Using so much lightweight carbon fiber means the Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale weighs just 2954 pounds, a claimed 154 pounds lighter than the Gallardo LP 560-4. The lightweight, gloss-black 19-inch wheels apparently shave 28.6 pounds versus those on a standard Gallardo, and even the wheel bearings and bolts are made from titanium to shave a few more grams.
In keeping with its race-car roots, the Super Trofeo Stradale wears sticky Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires and massive brake discs measuring 14.4 inches front, 14.0 inches rear. Upgrading to carbon-ceramic brakes bumps up front disc diameter to 15.0 inches.
Buyers selecting options for the Lamborghini can go either for racy or convenient add-ons. The list includes a roll cage, four-point safety harnesses, and a fire extinguisher, as well as creature comforts like a navigation system, Bluetooth phone connection, security alarm, and a system to raise the front suspension for traversing driveways or speed bumps.
If this car sounds familiar, it’s because Lamborghini used essentially the same formula to craft the Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera and the Gallardo LP 570-4 Blancpain Edition. The three cars employ the same weight-saving strategy and 5.2-liter V-10, albeit with different visual designs. Even so, the Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale will be seriously special: Lamborghini plans to build just 150 copies.
First Look: BMW i8 Concept
BMW's first plug-in hybrid vehicle will focus not just in saving the earth, but also on satisfying its driver's need for speed. Like the Chevrolet Volt, the BMW i8 concept combines a traditional gasoline engine with an electric drivetrain. According to BMW, the i8 can be as fuel-efficient as the best hybrid cars, while still delivering sports car-like performance.
An electric motor drives the front wheels, while a traditional gasoline engine drives the rears. The i8 can thus act as a front-, rear-, or all-wheel-drive car depending on which power sources are running. An "energy tunnel" containing the battery and drivetrain electronics runs down the middle of the vehicle, connecting the two axles.
The electric motor and engine peak at a combined 349 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. That means the 0-to-62-mph sprint requires just 4.6 seconds. Top speed is electronically restricted to 155 mph. BMW says overall economy in European testing will be 2.7 liters per 100 kilometers, or 87 mpg. In real-world driving, the company expects the i8 to return mileage of 33 to 47 mpg. As gloating company executives note, no other production car can return the same combination of performance and economy.
The front-mounted electric motor is the same unit used in the i3 electric-car concept, but it is slightly modified to offer 128 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque. Because the i8 also has a gasoline engine, the electric motor's battery pack is significantly smaller than that in the i3. The i8 has an all-electric driving range of about 20 miles and can be fully charged in just under two hours. The electric motor can also recharge the battery, acting as a "through the road" hybrid system that can bolster the engine's output.
At the rear axle, a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine produces 220 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. BMW would only tell us that the engine is mated to an "automatic" transmission with "enough" speeds. It may be a traditional automatic or perhaps a dual-clutch unit. However, BMW doesn't think the transmission in the i8 is very important to discuss as the electric motor provides plenty of torque regardless of the gasoline engine's operating speed or gear.
Sports Car of the Future
The i8's styling is meant to reflect its sports-car intentions, with low-slung coupe design and doors that flip open butterfly-style. The i8's styling was heavily inspired by BMW's earlier EfficientDynamics concept. The doors and roof are totally transparent, a styling choice which looks fantastic and futuristic but is unlikely to reach production. The swooping roofline and aggressive front fascia seem much more likely to show up in your local BMW dealership.
The i8's styling is meant to reflect its sports-car intentions, with low-slung coupe design and doors that flip open butterfly-style. The i8's styling was heavily inspired by BMW's earlier EfficientDynamics concept. The doors and roof are totally transparent, a styling choice which looks fantastic and futuristic but is unlikely to reach production. The swooping roofline and aggressive front fascia seem much more likely to show up in your local BMW dealership.
The i8 wears BMW's trademark kidney grilles at the front, as well as LED headlights and a black plastic V-shaped element on the hood. The nose looks remarkably like that of the old BMW M1 or 8 Series, with the headlights and grille taking on a rectangular, pouty look. At the rear, silver plastic panels meet to form the "Stream Flow" line on the C-pillar, while a small diffuser cleans up air from beneath the car.
At 182.4 inches long and 77.0 inches wide, the i8 casts the same size shadow as a BMW M3 coupe. Yet at 50.4 inches tall, the i8 is only two inches taller than a Ferrari 458 Italia. The aluminum wheels measure 19 inches in diameter and will probably wear tires between 225 and 250 millimeters wide. Narrow wheels were chosen because they produce less drag and rolling resistance, and don't intrude as far into the cabin as the wider wheels used on normal sports cars.
First Look: 2012 Jeep Wrangler Arctic Edition
The new 2012 Jeep Wrangler Arctic Edition, which debuts later this week at the Frankfurt Motor Show, will only be sold in Europe -- where, contrary to the SUV's new theme, Wrangler sales remain white hot.
Chrysler's official press release says the Wrangler Arctic was inspired by the terrain found in its namesake land, as it provides the grueling and demanding environments the Wrangler was engineered to conquer." Perhaps, but this go-anywhere, do-anything SUV isn't given any specialized equipment that facilitates sub-zero travel; instead, the Arctic is essentially a spiffy dress-up kit for the Wrangler Sahara and Wrangler Unlimited Sahara.
Along with the unique ice blue paint, the Arctic Wrangler receives a few cosmetic touches inspired by the mythical yeti -- in fact, the abominable snowman rears his head on the unique exterior badging, and leaves a footprint-shaped graphic on the driver's front fender. Other exterior revisions include unique black 17-inch wheels and a matching gas cap cribbed from Mopar's accessory catalog. Yeti touches continue within the Wrangler -- not only are the Arctic logos embroidered into the front seats (which also receive unique cloth inserts), but also on the tachometer.
Arctic models are available in both two- and four-door form, and are available with either the gasoline-powered, 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 -- a new offering for 2012 -- or a 2.8-liter turbo-diesel I-4. Like the diesel engine, expect the entire Arctic Edition package to remain exclusive the European market.
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