Hot Cars

Aston Martin DBS

Aston Martin has shown pictures of the next Bond car, the DBS. Based on the DB9, the DBS is more muscular and sits menacingly on polished 20” wheels. Additional inlets on the sill, hood and bumper also connect the car with the DBR9 racing car, their depth more powerfully planting the car on the road. The exterior is painted in unique ‘Casino Ice’, with details including nickel-finished headlamps as previously executed on the Rapide concept in Detroit.

Inside, seats are trimmed with quilted suede and contrast stitching, the same material mixed with carbon-fibre on the steering wheel. Sitting 25mm lower than the DB9, the DBS also weighs 300kg less with power pushed to over 500PS. It will make its screen debut in the remake of Casino Royale in November.

Renault Launches New Clio Renault Sport

The European market is blessed with a host of hot hatchbacks, and this latest addition ratchets the competition up a notch. Renault’s new Clio Renault Sport is distinguished by “Formula 1-inspired” aerodynamics, notably front fender extractor vents and a first-in-class functional rear diffuser. The latter generates about 88 pounds of downforce at highway speeds, maxing out at more than 150 pounds at high speed.

Power comes from an uprated version of Renault’s 2-liter, 16 valve engine, redlined at over 7,500 rpm. The normally-aspirated powerplant produces 197 hp and about 159 foot pounds of torque. A close-ratio 6-speed gearbox is new for this year’s model, and in combination, the revamped drivetrain is good for the 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint in 6.9 seconds.

Broader fenders are stretched over 215/45 tires running on 17-inch alloys. Brembo brakes on cross-drilled discs provide the stopping power.

New chassis upgrades include a 2-inch wider track front and rear, and a new-design “double axis” front strut suspension, which Renault claims is immune to the torque steer that plagues many high-performance MacPherson strut-type FWD cars. The new RS also gets a stiffer rear torsion beam suspension.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Mercedes-Benz has updated its E-Class midsize sedan for 2007, adding two new optional engines, styling changes, a PRE-SAFE system and an AMG performance variant. PRE-SAFE is arguably the most advanced collision-mitigation system on the market, and Mercedes claims that its optional Bluetec diesel engine is the cleanest available.

The V-6-powered E350 continues, and a new 5.5-liter V-8 changes the E500’s name to E550 for 2007. The diesel E320 CDI is now called the E320 Bluetec, to represent the engine’s new emission-control technology. The new E63 AMG replaces the E55 AMG.

Changes inside include a slightly different shift lever, a slightly different climate-control layout and a new steering wheel that does away with the rubbery touch-pad-style controls. Some previous options are standard for the first time: a moonroof, six-CD changer, Harman Kardon premium stereo and, in the wagon body style, a power liftgate.

2007 Volkswagen Eos Pricing Announced

Volkswagen has officially announced pricing for their all-new coupe-convertible, the Eos. The base model, powered by VW’s widely-used 2.0-liter turbo-four, will start at $27,990.

An upscale 250-hp, 3.2-liter V6 model will also be offered, starting at a rather lofty $36,850.

From our experiences, the 2.0-liter will be a perfectly adequate powerplant for this four-place sunshine cruiser. The main competitor for the Eos, the Pontiac G6, starts at $29,990, meaning that Volkswagen will undercut its domestic foe.
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2006 Lamborghini Murcielago

The 2006 Lamborghini Murcielago is 2-seater, 2-door coupe (with the now familiar gull-wing doors) based on the traditional Lamborghini layout: mid-mounted V12 engine, typical Lamborghini transmission with the gearbox mounted in front of the engine and the rear differential integrated into the engine unit, permanent four-wheel drive with central viscous coupler.

This layout, successfully employed by Lamborghini for more than 30 years, affords an optimal weight distribution (58% rear and 42% front) with conspicuous advantages for traction, braking and handling. The suspension design (independent double wishbones) represents the best possible solution for a high-performance GT and, again, is in keeping with Lamborghini tradition.

Ford ‘War Rooms’ Deflect Potshots At Pickups

DETROIT - Simulated Toyota and General Motors war rooms in Dearborn are part of Ford Motor Co.’s game plan to stay on top of the highly profitable full-sized pickup segment.

In those rooms, Ford is trying to foresee everything GM or Toyota might throw at its segment-leading F-series pickup when those competitors bring out their own redesigned models in the next year.

Through that war gaming, Ford intends to come up with ideas to improve the F series and “raise the bar” of competition, says Mark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas.
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