Hot Cars

The World’s First Designer Garage

Car manufacturer, Citroen, has unveiled the world’s first ‘designer garage’ for its new executive model, the C6. Penned exclusively by acclaimed architects, Neutral, the unique structure comes with a £112,330 price tag (£95,600 + VAT) - three times the cost of a range-topping C6.

With credits including the Munich football stadium, the Allianz Arena, to their name, Neutral partners, Tapio Spellman and Christian Grou, conceived the garage as a sculptural design to “envelop and present the C6 in a truly unique and independent environment”.

Drawing inspiration from the pronounced architectural forms of the Citroen C6 itself, the garage is formed by three solid strands, which create the ‘skeleton’ of the main building that stands 3m tall and covers 50m2.

Constructed out of light transmitting concrete with transparent sliding ‘doors’ to the sides, which allow the vehicle to enter from either the front or the rear, the building securely encloses the C6 in the traditional sense of a garage, but at the same time allows it to be displayed to the passer-by.

The transparent sliding plates have been constructed of reinforced, environmentally friendly polycarbonate sheets with coloured LCD layers in the sheets allowing for opacity when the car owner switches on the privacy mode.

Reflecting the technical finesse of the Citroen C6, the multi-functional garage not only makes a bold, spatial statement, its tectonic design provides the owner with a useable roof terrace and a unique ‘man-made landscape’ to adjoin their home.

According to Neutral’s Christian Grou, the garage “encourages a visual dialogue between the inside and outside, and between the car and its environment as a result of the use of materials of different transparencies.”

He adds: “The C6 is a truly individual statement, and one which deserves more than a run of the mill, brick and mortar garage.”

Mazda Unveils Upgraded RX-8 In Japan

Mazda has just announced that its RX-8 four-door sports car has received a few tweaks for the JDM market. As of today the automaker will be accepting orders for a new RX-8 with a six-speed automatic transmission that replaces the previous four-speed slushbox. The new cog swapper is available in the base RX-8 and Type E models, but not the Type S that is only available with a 6-speed manual.

The 6-speed AT RX-8 also gets the more powerful 6-port rotary engine that was previously used only in the RX-8 Type S. Finally, the RX-8 Type S and Type E models can be ordered with a Sand Beige Leather Package that spruces up the interior with Sand beige-colored leather upholstery and trim.

Volkswagen Reveals The Scirocco Concept

Volkswagen has revealed its Iroc sports car concept at a special event in Berlin. The Iroc marks the return of the Scirocco, Volkswagen’s iconic sports coupe, which made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show 33 years ago.

Even in color, with its Viper Green metallic paint, the Iroc harks back to the Scirocco, where this exact shade was available in the 1976 model range. The Iroc has distinctive dimensions, with a very long roof and steeply sloping rear, which not only gives it an aggressive and sporting appearance, it also liberates space in the back for two adults plus luggage.

In size, the Iroc is slightly longer (1.4 inch) than the Golf, measuring 165.4 inches and 2 inches wider at 70.2 inches. Its wheelbase is over 4 inches longer than that of the Golf at 104.5 inches; however with its squat coupe-like stance, it is 3 inches shorter at 54.6 inches. The Iroc has 19″ alloy wheels.

The design of the Iroc is distinctive and eye-catching. It uses a Volkswagen ‘face’ which is not yet common to other vehicles in the range, though the honeycomb-shaped structure of the radiator grille is undoubtedly a link to the GTI. Another notable feature is the lack of obvious A pillars, due to the wide windscreen which overlaps them at the front.

Inside, the Iroc has four seats, as well as a spacious boot of 300 liters, which can be increased if the rear seats are folded down. Despite this practicality, the Iroc has been clearly designed inside as a sports car, with features such as front bucket seats and integrated five-point seat belts with central buckle.

Most distinctive, however, are the gauges and controls in the Iroc’s cabin. Two large and newly-designed round instruments form the visual centre of the cockpit. The driver looks into two cylinders with twelve illuminated bars which create a three dimensional segmentation within the instruments.

Under the bonnet, the Iroc features Volkswagen’s ground-breaking TSI petrol technology, which uses a turbocharger and a supercharger to produce diesel-like consumption with impressive performance. Designed to maximize driving fun, the concept has a 210 bhp TSI engine, but a range of TSIs, starting from under 150 bhp, are also feasible.

The Scirocco was a huge success for Volkswagen, with over half a million examples of the Giugiaro-designed first generation produced.

SEAT Altea XL

SEAT is continuing to expand its range, this time with the launch of a new model that will round off the manufacturer’s offer in the target segment: the SEAT Altea XL. It boasts the same sporting and innovative style first showcased by its smaller sibling, but is now geared towards families looking first and foremost for a spacious interior and high luggage capacity partnered by a class-beating standard of safety.

The SEAT Altea XL measures 18.7 centimetres longer than the Altea, resulting in superior interior comfort and a larger boot capacity. Consequently, the 409-litre capacity of the Altea’s boot has increased to 532 litres in the Altea XL, while sliding the rear seats forwards by 14 centimetres expands the boot’s volume further to 635 litres, the largest in its class.

Compared to the Altea, the rear seats in the Altea XL can be moved back by an extra two centimetres, meaning additional legroom for passengers travelling in the rear. The fore-aft adjustment range of the rear seats has therefore been extended to 16 cm in the new Altea XL.

As far as styling is concerned, the most significant modifications have been made at the rear of the vehicle where the lines have been softened to reflect the vehicle’s more family-orientated character. The large tail-light units, which are split between the hatch and the vehicle’s flanks, form a particularly eye-catching feature. The addition of two roof-rack rails reinforces the car’s family character yet further.

A number of functional new features can be found inside the SEAT Altea XL, including fold-down tables on the front seat backs, a power socket in the vehicle’s boot and a handy luggage cover. This last feature is premiering a brand new system: instead of the traditional fixed parcel shelf, a pull-out roller-type cover is fitted with a one-touch retracting action.

As a further demonstration of how the models from SEAT are embracing the very latest technologies, the new Altea XL is available with an optional connection for integrating a TomTom navigation system into the vehicle. This connection, which is located on the left of the dashboard, provides a sturdy mount for the portable navigation device, as well as allowing information to be interchanged with the vehicle and powering the device directly. The TomTom 710 navigation system, featuring customised maps with the locations of all SEAT dealerships in Europe, will be available from the SEAT accessories catalogue.

The Altea XL will be launched with a choice of two petrol models – the 102 hp 1.6 and the 2.0 FSI developing 150 hp (only available with the six-speed Tiptronic gearshift) – and three diesel engines: the 1.9 TDI with 105 hp, the 140 hp 2.0 TDI (with the six-speed DSG gearshift as an option) as well as the 170 hp 2.0 TDI. These engines can be combined with three different trim lines: Reference, Stylance and Sport-Up.

The new Altea XL will be built at the SEAT plant in Martorell, one of the most sophisticated and flexible manufacturing facilities in the whole of Europe which also produces the Ibiza, Córdoba, Altea, Toledo and León.

New 2007 Ford F-150 Comes With More Options

The Ford F-150 - the flagship American pickup truck - will enter the 2007 model year with two new body styles, 600 pounds greater towing capability, the best warranty and roadside assistance package of any full-size pickup truck and suggested retail prices that will be up to $1,400 lower, including destination charges.

By cab style, the average price reductions are $720 for Regular Cab models, $830 for SuperCabs and $949 for SuperCrews. Prices including destination will now begin at $19,120 for the F-150 XL Regular Cab 4×2 and range up to $39,565 for the F-150 Lariat King Ranch SuperCrew 4×4.

New models for 2007 include the Ford F-150 FX2 Sport, unveiled in April, which will begin at $29,470, and the Harley-Davidson SuperCrew, which will be unveiled at the 66th annual Sturgis Rally in Sturgis, SD – the largest gathering of motorcycle enthusiasts in the world.

The F-150 FX2 Sport features a dark billet grille, clear headlamps with platinum bezels and a sporty, deep front valance. The monochromatic paint scheme adds body color to exterior components such as the bumper fascias, side mirror caps and door handles. Unique 18-inch wheels and a chrome exhaust tip complete the exterior package. The interior features black captain’s chairs in cloth or leather, and a flow-through center console with a floor shifter.

Ford announced that the redesigned 2007 Ford Expedition would launch in September with suggested retail prices an average of $4,300 lower than 2006 models, and a starting price of only $29,995, including destination.

VW’s Diesel SUV Gets A New Filter

With the Touareg V10 TDI a series production off-road vehicle has reached the summit of Pikes Peak at 4,300 metres for the first time in the history of the legendary “Race to the Clouds”.

The competition, officially called “Pikes Peak International Hillclimbing Contest”, provided the sporting backdrop for the market launch of the Touareg V10 TDI in the USA. On 1st September, the sale of the high-end off-road vehicle, which is equipped with a diesel particulate filter as standard, will start in the USA.

The Touareg V10 TDI is the first turbo-diesel off-road vehicle in the US market with a particulate filter (DPF). Volkswagen is, in this way, once again setting a trend for drive technologies. In comparison to similarly equipped petrol engine vehicles, the 310 bhp Touareg V10 TDI is approximately 30 percent more efficient. As is the case in Europe, Volkswagen is seen as the leading manufacturer of diesel passenger vehicles in the USA. A total of twelve percent of all Volkswagens sold between New York and San Francisco already have the TDI logo, and this trend is increasing. In the TDI versions, the New Beetle and Golf are, according to the “U.S. Environmental Agency” (EPA) and the “U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)”, the most economical vehicles in their class on the US market.

The Touareg V10 TDI with diesel particulate filter will now augment the US off-road vehicle segment, which is dominated by petrol engine models, with a particularly fascinating, responsive, but also economic model. The three Touaregs participating in the “Race to the Clouds” were the same as the standard production model, with the exception of special safety equipment for the competition (roll-over cage, fire extinguisher, sports seats with five-point seat belts).

The three vehicles used diesel fuel with low sulphur content. Racing driver Mark Miller (who also drove at the Rallye Dakar 2006 for Volkswagen) was the fastest up the mountain: after 14 minutes and 8 seconds he saw the finish line and thus left many vehicles that had been built especially for the competition behind him. The other two Touareg V10 TDI vehicles were driven by Ryan Arciero and US racing legend Danny Sullivan.

The Touareg is an international success. In Germany, the Volkswagen off-road vehicle is available at prices as of 41,450 Euro (Touareg TDI with 128 kW / 174 bhp). The European version of the Touareg V10 TDI with 230 kW / 313 bhp costs 74,650 Euro.