Hot Cars

Mercedes-Benz CL-Class Wins “Golden Steering Wheel Award 2006”

The “Golden Steering Wheel 2006”, presented by the German Sunday newspaper “Bild am Sonntag”, and one of the most coveted automotive honours in Europe, has been won by the new CL-Class. Almost a third of all readers of Germany’s largest-circulation Sunday paper voted for the CL-Class as the best new arrival in the coupé category, putting it in first place by a clear margin. The award was presented last night in Berlin to Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of DaimlerChrysler AG and Head of the Mercedes Car Group.

The new Mercedes-Benz CL-Class came onto the market this autumn, and the award of the Golden Steering Wheel marks the culmination of a tradition of extraordinary Mercedes-Benz coupés that dates back more than 50 years. Just like its predecessors, the new CL-Class is the embodiment of automotive elegance and exclusiveness, combining as it does exceptional design and equipment levels with superior comfort, exemplary safety and pioneering technology, in a manner unrivalled by any other automotive manufacturer in the world.

This leading-edge coupé is fitted as standard with the new PRE-SAFE® Brake, for example, which anticipates an impending collision and takes automatic action to brake the vehicle. Its comprehensive standard equipment package also includes further Mercedes innovations such as the ABC (Active Body Control) active suspension system, the Intelligent Light System and PRE-SAFE® anticipatory occupant protection.

Its range of powerful engines ensure that the new luxury coupé, described by ‘Bild am Sonntag’ as a “Titan among coupés“, is as much at home on country roads as on the motorway. The CL 500’s eight-cylinder engine produces 285 kW/388 hp, while the sophisticated 12-cylinder biturbo under the bonnet of the new CL 600 develops 380 kW/517 hp to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.6 seconds.

With 16 awards to its credit, Mercedes-Benz is one of the most successful automo-tive brands to compete for the “Golden Steering Wheel” award since its inception by ‘Bild am Sonntag’ in 1976. The new CL-Class follows hot on the heels of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which was awarded the “Golden Steering Wheel” last year as the best new arrival in the luxury class.

2007 Saturn Sky By Gravana Tuning

Working in conjunction with GM Design, Gravana Tuning – a highly regarded supplier of aftermarket accessories – has pushed the Saturn Sky to the stratosphere with a highly customized concept. The Gravana Tuning Turbo Saturn Sky delivers even more of what roadster buyers want: all-around performance and “stop-dead-in-your-tracks” design.

By adding a Hahn Racecraft 16G intercooled stage 3 turbocharger to the Sky’s 2.4L Ecotec engine, the Sky returns 348 horsepower and 341 lb-ft of torque. Road-hugging handling is enhanced by an adjustable coil-over-shock suspension system that can lower the vehicle by as much as 3 inches – without changing the spring rate. Body roll is virtually non-existent with the addition of 25 mm front and 28 mm rear stabilizer bars. Massive 14-inch drilled and slotted front brake rotors, with four-piston calipers, provide additional stopping power, while a number of functional design elements serve to deliver more cool air into the engine and to extract heat from it.

Outside, the Gravana Tuning Turbo Saturn Sky complements the sleek, crisp and modern lines of the production vehicle, further enhancing its bold, cutting-edge design. Unique front and rear fascias, bodyside panels and rear center exit exhaust – not to mention the OZ Superleggera III 19-inch wheels and Goodyear Eagle F1 tires – give this special Sky a longer, lower, and sleek presence on the road.

Inside, the Gravana Tuning Turbo Saturn Sky features a carbon fiber console and dash inserts. The seat and door panels are finished in Katzkin leather and suede. Seven Boston Acoustics premium speakers and a Visteon eight-channel DSP 360-watt amplifier provide optimal aural enjoyment and complete the interior upgrade.

Vehicle Highlights

Powertrain

- 2.4L Ecotec ported/tuned engine
- Hahn Racecraft 16G intercooled stage 3 turbo
- 348 horsepower
- 341 lb-ft of torque
- Gravana Custom 3-inch downpipe and center exit exhaust
- Spec stage 3 clutch kit
- Spec billet aluminum flywheel

Suspension

- Gravana damping and height-adjustable coil-over-shock suspension
- Gravana front and rear stabilizer bars

Wheels/Tires

- OZ Superleggera III wheels: 19- x 8.5-in front / 19- x 9.5-in rear
- Goodyear Eagle F1 tires: 245/40 R19 (front); 285/35 R19 (rear)
- Fit and installation by Tire Rack

Brakes

- Gravana-Wilwood big brake kit
- Gravana stainless steel brake lines

Exterior

- Gravana/GM Design body kit
- Gravana/GM Design rear center exit exhaust tips
- Gravana carbon fiber functional hood vent inserts
- Gravana carbon fiber rear deck lid
- VDI vertical door kit

Interior

- Gravana carbon fiber console and dash components
- Katzkin leather and suede seat covers and door panels

Audio

- Seven Boston Acoustics premium speakers with tweeters and subwoofers
- Eight-channel Visteon DSP 360-watt amplifier
- Installation performed by J&G Customs

2008 Volvo C30

In cooperation with Volvo Cars North America, Heico Sportiv has created a versatile version of Volvo’s new compact C30 model before the model hits the streets in North America.

The Volvo C30 T5 by Heico Sportiv was designed to appeal to urban driving enthusiasts who are just as passionate about their cars as they are about their time outdoors. With project partner Burton Snowboards in mind, Heico created a C30 concept that is at home in the city, as well as the switchbacks on the backcountry roads to the slopes.

The 2.5-liter turbocharged engine was upgraded to 300 bhp to achieve a refined, sporty feel on road. Equipped with all-wheel-drive, the C30 also promises excellent traction off-road. Adapting the electronic Haldex AWD system to the C30’s electronic system was a strong challenge for Heico Sportiv engineers, but the system was fitted with perfect results. This goal was reached after weeks of detailed work.

Along with the AWD system, a specially designed and engineered suspension offers an additional 1 inch of ride clearance, and specially produced TOYO tires with a unique Heico tread pattern offer spectacular off-road performance. The tires, mounted on Heico’s iconic Volutionz V. 8X18″ sport-alloy wheels, raise the fun quotient even higher. After all, these tires are based on Toyo’s R888 semi-slick performance tire. The Heico Sportiv sport suspension kit, carbon fiber strut tower bar, and 4-caliper high performance braking system (320mm front rotors) help make the C30 a true all-around performer.

The C30 concept car shows as well as it performs. The Heico C30’s styling pays homage to the “XC-style” of the Volvo XC70 and XC90 models, paralleling some of the design features of both cars. The aggressive front end is dominated by the Heico Sportiv front grill and front bumper plate, which comes in handy while going off-road. Accentuated ducts in the front bumper allow more cool air to the engine and brakes, as well as accommodating high-performance fog lamps.

The rear bumper quotes the front, although in addition the middle section features four Heico sport tips on the high performance exhaust system (76mm each). These two components are complemented by specially designed side skirts and fender flares to round out the overall look. Making perhaps the most impact of all is the 7-stage “Heico ICE” camo paint scheme, an evocative, creative statement of outdoor winter activity and cutting-edge style.

Featuring a ported and polished head, modified turbocharger, specially designed intercooler, electronic water injection, sport exhaust system, and custom ECU, the power of the 218 bhp T5 engine was modified to produce 300 bhp. Torque was increased to 310 lb-ft. Accordingly, the strong Swede runs the 0-60 mph distance in 5.5 sec. As with other U.S. Volvo models, the top speed is electronically limited to 130 mph. The five cylinder Volvo exhaust note: always there, but never disturbing. Thanks to a specially developed downpipe, race catalyst, sound pipe, and sport silencer with chrome exhaust tips, an incredible exhaust tone is achieved.

The interior is well thought out and hand-crafted to a world class standard. The two-tone leather in “Alpha Gray” and “Sapphire Black” dominates the cabin. The silver stitching in particular makes a very special detail that accents the carefully crafted hides. Specially contoured front and rear seating, along with specially designed two-tone door panels highlight the full-leather dashboard and headliner in rich “lugano leather”, a real treat for the senses.

The center console houses specially developed integrated cradles for the highly desirable iPOD Nano and the Motorola GPS-enabled “Q” phone. The bespoke feeling is completed with aluminum design features on the pedals, shift knob, center console, handbrake, and door pins.

The New Fiat Bravo

On 29 January 2007, the new Fiat Bravo will be presented to the international media in Rome, going on sale throughout mainland Europe during the following weeks. It will become available in the UK next summer.

The new Bravo is built in Fiat Auto’s Piedimonte S. Germano plant (Frosinone), and is aimed at becoming a benchmark in the most important segment of the European market. To achieve this goal, the Fiat Bravo has been designed and developed to embody both beauty and substance.

Developed by the Fiat Style Centre, the exterior design of the model is unmistakably Italian, all of which is part of the development of the brand’s visual identity.

The new Bravo arouses emotions at first glance, and it welcomes occupants with a passenger compartment in which they will appreciate the quality of materials used and the care dedicated to the smallest details.

The new Fiat Bravo combines a compact five-door body with a remarkable amount of interior space: it is 434 centimetres long, 179 cm wide and 149 cm high, with a wheelbase of 2.6 metres, and a loading capacity of 400 litres that tops its class.

The Fiat Bravo also aims to be a car of substance, thanks to a wide range of technological features, and quality standards worthy of a higher class where safety, comfort and driving enjoyment are concerned.

The Fiat Bravo is an agile car that is entertaining to drive in every situation, thanks in part to the wide choice of engines, which include the popular turbodiesel 1.9 MultiJets (120 and 150 bhp), the 90 bhp 1.4, and a new family of turbocharged T-JET petrol engines (120 and 150 bhp 1.4 Turbo) that will be making their debut, combining low fuel consumption with outstanding performance.

Heico Hops Up The New 2007 Volvo XC90

As a result of the Volvo facelift, HEICO SPORTIV has re-designed its body-kit for the Volvo XC90 from model year 2007 on. A quantum leap forward in this case is the material quality: all components are made of highly flexible, easy to prepare PU-RIM plastic, the same material used on the OE bumper parts.

The front skirt comes in a three-piece construction. The center section features new air intakes and the side sections house new HEICO fog lamps. The fogs can be upgraded to a “cornering lamp”, which incorporates a yaw sensor which triggers the lamp on the inside of the turn to illuminate at an increased angle, providing better visibility when turning. The sporty design elements match the overall design of the XC90 and are mounted onto the original bumper surfaces.

The three-piece rear skirt is also constructed in PU-RIM. The center diffuser section was designed to accommodate the HEICO twin-outlet exhaust system. Between the exhaust tips a mesh grill accents the look. The bumper end caps echo the styling of the front bumper spoiler, and accentuate the powerful lines of the rear of the XC90.

The center section of the rear exhaust is also available is a separate piece for those customers interested in fitting the HEICO twin-outlet sport exhaust system on the 2007 and on cars. This part is ready-to-paint, and clips into the OE location using the existing install points.

HEICO SPORTIV is the leading tuner worldwide for the premium Volvo brand. The company, located in Weiterstadt, is certified by ISO 9001:2000. National distribution is via Volvo dealer network and internationally by 38 export partners.

2007 Anteros XTM Roadster

The Anteros XTM is a limited production 2-seat convertible sports car featuring 400 to 600 horsepower, a carbon fiber composite body with a fine leather & wood interior, and state-of-the-art technology throughout.

Anteros takes its name from the ancient god of Passion. It is a passionate expression of Automotive Fine Art. Anteros Founders, John Rothman, and son, David Rothman, commissioned a team of talented designers and fabricators to create a brutally elegant car that seamlessly blends both contemporary and classic sports car DNA into a stunning artistic sculptural statement.

Anteros uses the base engineering of the C6 platform as a foundation to create this rolling sculpture in carbon fiber and luxury leather. With pricing between $125,000 and $135,000, the ANTEROS XTM will be manufactured on a semi-custom build-to-order basis.

Anteros Marketing, a California based coachbuilder, also has under development the Anteros XTS Targa featuring a removable hardtop. Their future plans are to release the Anteros XTR Hardtop based on the ZO6 platform that will feature horsepower of 505 to 655 HP.