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Lexus Launches 2007 With New RX 350 Limited Edition

Lexus ushers in 2007 with a new addition to its RX range, the RX 350 Limited Edition. This special version of Lexus’s luxury SUV benefits from a higher specification at a price that represents exceptional customer value.

The Limited Edition is positioned in the RX range between the entry-level RX 350 and the RX 350 SE, offering a generous number of extra equipment features. These have a combined value of more than £3,500, but the Limited Edition has an on-the-road price only £2,500 more than the RX 350.

Special features of the Limited Edition include perforated leather upholstery, heated front seats that are eight-way electrically adjustable, a 40:20:40 split-folding rear seat, 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels and metallic paint.

These items are in addition to a standard specification that includes cruise control, eight-speaker sound system with in-dash six-CD autochanger, five-speed automatic transmission, leather trimmed steering wheel with audio controls, High Intensity Discharge headlights, rear dark-tinted privacy glass, climate control air conditioning, speed-sensitive power steering and a suite of nine cabin airbags, including a driver’s knee airbag.

The Limited Edition is also available with the option of the Lexus Multimedia system, which comprises DVD satellite navigation with dynamic route guidance; voice controls for audio, communications, ventilation and navigation functions; Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free mobile phone use; a Park Assist Monitor; 11-speaker Mark Levinson premium audio system with six-disc DVD autochanger and MP3/WMA compatibility; and an Electro Multi-Vision screen with touch-screen controls. This option package is not available on the entry-level RX 350 model.

Lexus’s bespoke in-car entertainment package is also available as an option, comprising a DVD player with twin monitors mounted neatly in the back of the front seat head restraints. Rear seat passengers can enjoy movies on the move, CDs, music from MP3 files, or, with the benefit of additional connectors (not supplied by Lexus), computer games. Infra red headsets are provided which allow passengers in the front to continue listening to the vehicle’s audio system undisturbed.

The RX 350 Limited Edition is available in Platinum Ice, Aleutian Grey and Brechin Slate metallic paint finishes with a choice of Oakham Ivory or Pembroke Black leather interiors. Power is from Lexus’s 272bhp (276 DIN hp) 3.5-litre V6 Dual VVT-i petrol engine, which gives nought to 62mph acceleration in 7.8 seconds and 25.2mpg combined cycle fuel consumption.

Chrysler To Launch 300C SRT-8 Estate In Right Hand

Chrysler will start 2007 with a bang by launching the Touring version of the sensational 425 horsepower 300C SRT-8.

The SRT-8 Touring boasts the same 6.1-litre HEMI V8 engine as the SRT-8 saloon and delivers the same impressive levels of performance - 0 to 60 in 5.0 seconds and a top speed of 168mph.

Peter Lambert, Managing Director for Chrysler Group in the UK said: “Chrysler Group’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) division has taken the already great looking 300C Touring and added their unique blend of performance car handling and braking, performance-orientated exterior and interior together with the HEMI engine to create the stunning Chrysler 300C Touring SRT-8.”

The SRT-8 features a body kit designed to reduce lift and drag, unique air intake ducts that help cool the front brakes, two large diameter exhaust tail pipes and five spoke 20-inch forged aluminium wheels.

A racing-style Brembo braking system together with tuned Bilstein dampers, specially tailored spring rates and suspension bushings and larger-diameter anti-roll bars, together with 13mm lower ride height and a re-tuned ESP system all help deliver outstanding ride and handling.

Peter Lambert added: “The 300C range has enjoyed massive success in the UK this year and while the diesel version of both the saloon and Touring has proved to be the most popular, there will always be a place for a car like the HEMI-powered 300C SRT-8 with driving enthusiasts here in the UK.”

The Chrysler 300C Touring SRT-8 will be available in right-hand drive and will launch in February 2007, priced at £40,990.

2008 Nissan Altima Coupe

The Nissan Altima is a car on the move. With its next generation design for the 2007 model year, Nissan’s best-selling vehicle in the United States is poised for even greater success as it establishes segment leadership in style, design, performance and innovation. The next-generation Altima Coupe will go on sale as a 2008 model in summer 2007.

The Altima Coupe, which made its debut in the shadows of Hollywood at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show, fills a desire among target customers for a more personal expression of style, individuality and fashionable appearance.

The Altima Coupe’s unique exterior design is intended to stand out in a crowd of sedan-based two-door models with magnetic, perfectly proportioned styling with a shorter wheelbase, shorter overall length and lower height than the Altima Sedan.

The Altima Coupe, as part of the fourth-generation Altima design, utilizes Nissan’s all-new, highly acclaimed “D” platform with increased body rigidity and a redesigned suspension. This new platform was developed with the objective of making Altima one of the best performing large front-wheel drive vehicles available globally.

The rear multi-link independent suspension design separates the rear shocks and springs for reduced friction and the shocks are in line with the center of the rear wheels, providing better damping and less harshness. Front and rear stabilizer bars are standard. The Altima suspension has been specially tuned for use with the Altima Coupe.

The new Altima Coupe is offered with a choice of two engines and two transmissions. The 3.5-liter 24-valve DOHC V6 is the “next generation” version of the 12-time Ward’s “10 Best Engines” award-winning VQ-series V6. For use in the Altima Coupe, it is rated at 270 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque and offers strong acceleration and refined sound quality. The V6 features reduced friction, improved cylinder head cooling and new twin knock sensors.

Also available with the new Altima Coupe is a 2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve QR25 inline 4-cylinder, producing 175 horsepower (170 bhp CAL) and 180 lb-ft of torque (175 lb-ft CAL).

Both the 3.5-liter V6 and 2.5-liter 4-cylinder models are available with Nissan’s advanced Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) or 6-speed manual transmissions.

The Altima Coupe’s performance feeling is also enhanced by a driver-centered interior. Though sharing much of the design and features with the new Altima Sedan, the Coupe includes unique sport-style front seats with more side support, in-board release lever and front kangaroo pouches. All Altima Coupes also utilize a parking brake hand lever (versus foot release for Altima Sedans with CVT). The Coupe also includes a 60/40 split and flat
fold-down rear seat.

Like the Altima Sedan, the Altima Coupe’s instrument panel features a Fine Vision gauge display for enhanced readability and the L-shaped flow of the instrument panel to the center console adds to the driver-oriented cockpit feel.

The list of passenger amenities includes standard Intelligent Key with Push Button Ignition and available Bose-developed audio system with nine speakers, Bluetooth Hands-Free Phone System, satellite radio and dual-zone automatic temperature control.

Available technology features include a RearView Monitor, which utilizes a small camera to help show the view behind the vehicle when in reverse gear, and Nissan Navigation System with a 6.5-inch color monitor.

High-Performance Flagship For The Vauxhall Signum

The 2.8-litre turbo, available in Design or Elite trim, is available from only £23,050, and now comes with an uprated V6 powerplant, developing 250bhp and an impressive 350Nm of torque. The new unit gives it an incredible 0-60mph time of just 6.8 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 155mph for the manual version.

Design models feed the power to the road through a six-speed manual gearbox, while the more luxury-oriented Elite comes with a six-speed automatic transmission with Active Select facility.

Both models come with ESP-Plus as standard, while the Design gets lowered and uprated sports suspension.

As with all Signum models, standard equipment includes colour sat nav, 17-inch alloy wheels and electrically operated front and rear windows. The Design also has front fog lamps, dark-style head and tail lights, half-leather trim, automatic lighting control, rain-sensitive windscreen wipers and active head restraints, while Elite models get full leather trim and electronic climate control. To fit this equipment to some rivals would involve an expensive trip to the options list.

The new models join the range immediately, while buyers who don’t feel the need for 250bhp powerplant can still take advantage of Signum’s space, style and high levels of equipment with prices starting at just £18,150 for 1.8-litre Exclusiv.

Japan Beat: 12th-Generation Nissan Skyline

Nissan has launched its new Skyline sedan in Japan, the 12th generation of the Japan-market equivalent of the Infiniti G35.

A company official, acknowledging that minicars are riding the crest of popularity right now in Japan, said he hopes “a new wave [of sales] comes” for sedans with the new model.

The Skyline gets two new Nissan V6 engines, a 3.5-liter that makes 315 horsepower and a 2.5-liter that makes 225 hp, each mated to a five-speed automatic transmission with adaptive shift control. Sporty SP and P models have steering-column-mounted magnesium shift paddles that let the driver select a manual-shift mode. The SP and P models of the Skyline also have, as an option, “the world’s first four-wheel active steering system,” Nissan says.

The new Skyline is lower to the ground, slightly wider and has a sleek design described as “dynamic motion” by the company. There’s a new grille and headlamp design, as well as L-shaped taillights. Sport models of the new Skyline have their own front bumper and body-side sill spoiler.

Inside, there’s aluminum trim with a finish that, in true Nissan/Infiniti style, was “inspired by the texture of traditional Japanese rice paper called Washi,” and optional exotic-wood trim. Seats have been lowered by a little more than an inch for a sportier feeling for the driver.

2007 Volkswagen Passat R36 Sedan And Wagon

The Passat R36 will be available as a sedan or wagon. Either has a 300-horsepower version of the 3.6-liter narrow-angle six-cylinder, which is twenty more than it makes in the standard Passat 3.6.

The R36 comes standard with VW’s exclusive DSG twin-clutch transmission and 4Motion all-wheel drive, and is available in the same Deep Blue Pearl paint that made its debut on the GTI-based R32.

The R36 receives an exterior makeover with R-specific bumpers, darkened LED taillights, bi-xenon headlights, a rear spoiler, matte-chrome exclusive front grille, chrome side accents, and body-colored side skirts and fender flares. R36-exclusive eighteen-inch “Omanyt” wheels carry 235/40-18 tires, and the rear end is punctuated with twin chrome exhaust tips.

Inside, the instrument cluster, now lit in white instead of blue and red, is visible through an R steering wheel, the shift lever is alumized, and the “Engine Spin” R logo is repeated on the aluminum pedals and front door thresholds. Heated sports seats are fitted all-around, with the fronts 12-way electrically adjustable.

With no mention of any suspension or brake upgrades, the R36 is more of an appearance package than anything. This comes as a bit of a surprise, since the R32 was such a thoroughly integrated package built upon the GTI.