Review: 2012 Chevrolet Volt, can you live with it everyday?

 
Here it is, the 2012 Chevrolet Volt, the most advanced automobile achievement currently on American roads and a breakthrough in automotive technology – but that’s not what I’m setting up to rave about. I was lucky enough to have the Chevrolet Volt on two separate occasions – the first where I was very disciplined and had it charged and ready to go every morning and the second where I fueled up as I would with a conventional model.
Instead of getting all technical on you guys and talking about how great the Volt is in terms of being an innovative automobile (which it definitely is), I’m going to focus more on whether or not the Volt is a great car that you can live with on a daily basis.
To answer the question addressed in the title before I even begin my review – Yes, you can live with the Chevrolet Volt everyday. So I guess that presents the real question, which is… should you?
But first… I’ll give you all the details.

2012 Chevrolet Volt Specifications:

• Style: Sedan.
• Drive Type: Front-wheel-drive.
• Seating Capacity: 4.
• Base Price: $39,995.
• Price As Tested: $44,575.
• Engine: Electric Drive Unit makes 149-hp and 274 lb-ft of torque; Onboard generator/engine makes 1.4L internal combustion engine with 83 hp.
• 0 to 60 mph: 9.3 seconds.
• Top Speed: 100 mph.
• Electric Range: 35 miles.
• Combined Total Range: 379 miles.
• Charge Time: 4 hours on 240 volts and 10-12 hours on a standard 120-volt outlet.
• Curb Weight: 3,781 lbs.
• Fuel-economy (city/highway): 95/93 MPGe (city/highway) in electric mode; 35/40 mpg in gas mode. 
•  
• Exterior:

The Chevrolet Volt isn’t the best looking car around but it definitely is more attractive than other ‘green’ vehicles currently on the road. GM says that that its aerodynamicists developed the shape of the Volt in a wind tunnel, which helped them design and engineer the most aerodynamic vehicle in Chevrolet’s history. The lines of the body overcome air resistance and contribute an estimated 8 miles of extra electric range and about 50 miles of extended fuel range.
While all these specs may entertain the automotive geeks, for the average car buyer, the most pertinent point here is that the Volt is designed to visually stand out from the rest but still remains unexciting.

Interior:

The Chevrolet Volt’s interior is innovative on a level you would expect from Apple, and one of the most advanced that can be found in cars today.
Some of the high points apart from the usual suspects are the two 7-inch, high-resolution full-color screens, the first of which resides where the gauge cluster is found, giving the driver some reconfiguration options. The other display is in the center stack and has a touch screen with control switches.  Chevy MyLink, navigation with audio storage hard drive, rearview camera, and a premium trim package are all available options, as well.

Performance:

Time to run through the specs. The 2012 Chevrolet Volt is powered by 16-kWh, ‘T’-shaped lithium-ion battery that powers the electric drive unit, which allows it to drive 35 to 40 miles on battery power alone. The system puts out 149-hp and a maximum torque of 273 lb-ft, allowing the Volt to go from 0-60 mph in about 9 seconds, and hit a top speed of 100 mph.
The Chevrolet Volt also carries an 84-hp 1.4-liter 4-clyinder engine that allows the 5-door, FWD sedan to travel additional miles while averaging a fuel-economy of 50 mpg. A fully charged battery and full tank of gas will allow you to drive the Volt for a total of 379 miles (depending on you how you drive but you’ll probably never hit that figure in real-world situations).
To reach full-charge the Volt can take about 4 hours to recharge on 240 volts, and about 10-12 hours on a standard 120-volt outlet.
The 2012 Chevrolet Volt gets an EPA estimated 93 miles per ’gallon-equivalent’ when driving under electric power only, 37 mpg when in gasoline mode. Over the long term it is estimated to get 60 miles per gallon in combined gasoline-powered and electric-powered driving.
All those facts are coming from General Motors, but now I will give you my take on the Volt as a daily driver in the week I was driving with it fully charged everyday and the other where it was never charged.

Week 1 – Fully charged everyday:

• I picked up the Chevrolet Volt from New York City and drove it home a total distance of 45 miles. The Volt lost its all-electric mode about 25 miles into the trip since we were blasting the radio and playing around with the climate and audio controls.
• I plugged in the Volt every single night when returning home from work. Each night, the Volt took about 11-12 hours to reach full charge.
• My trip to work totals 10.5 miles. Factoring in my use of electronics (iPhone charging, playing with the climate control) and somewhat aggressive acceleration – the Volt would last me 20 to 25 miles (which is about 15 to 10 miles below GM’s figure) before the 1.4 liter 4-cylinder engine came into play. However, once the range-extender does come on, it is quite noisy in the cabin due to the humming from the engine bay area.
• When in full electric mode, the Volt is quite zippy. The electric mode offers smooth and quick acceleration letting you enjoy the overall comfortable ride of the car (no matter which mode you’re in).
• In electric-mode, the climate control is quite disappointing. With the hot sun beating down, the Volt’s air-conditioning in electric-mode took forever to cool the cabin.
• Driving a total of 30-35 miles a day and charging the Volt every single night before going to bed, the Volt said that I was averaging a combined 110 mpg – not bad at all.
• I never filled up the Volt once during my first week-long affair with the new Chevy.

Week 2 – Never charging the Volt:

• During my second week with the Volt, I picked up the car once again from New York City, where it was fully gassed and fully charged. Again on the way back home, the Volt’s all-electric mode lasted 25-27 miles before the range-extended engine kicked on.
• This week, I never plugged in the Volt overnight, kept it in sport mode, and drove it with a sense of urgency going to and from work. I figured I would drive the Volt as a busy individual that didn’t have time to bother with charging the car or maintaining a schedule of the car’s mileage and fuel-economy.
• This time around, the climate control system was working perfectly fine, keeping the interior at a comfortable temperature.
• The noise from the engine bay was really annoying and got louder the more aggressive I got with the accelerator.
• I filled up the Volt about twice this week, and averaged a fuel-economy of 29.1 mpg.

Overall:

So – let’s get back to my original questions – can you live with the Volt everyday? Yes, but should you?  Well, this really depends on the type of person you are.
If you’re an individual that is technologically advanced that must have the latest and greatest and has the patience to wait 10-12 hours while your car reaches full charge so you can save some cash at the pump – then yes, be our guest. But get ready to part ways with $39,995 (or $32,495 after some tax credits).
However, if you’re an individual that’s always on the go and won’t really keep up-to-date with recharging the Volt – basically if you fit my ways in week 2 – then there are other ‘green’ vehicles that will suit your lifestyle and save you some cash at the pump. Those vehicles are called hybrids.
Another angle to consider with this car is its competition. As for the competitors in its fuel-efficient compact-sedan segment, you’re looking at the $24,000, ever-popular Toyota Prius, which gets you an outstanding fuel economy rating of 51/48 city/hwy mpg. Looking at the competition in the car’s price range, for what you would shell out for the Volt you could also be taking home a somewhat fully loaded BMW 3-Series or an Audi A4. So, going green would really have to be your priority to sacrifice the performance that you would be giving up for the price tag, although most comparable compact-sedans fall short of the technology the added cost of the Volt includes.

First Drive: 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG is a mean grocery getter

 
During a time where things like carbon footprints and mpg ratings have taken over our automotive blogger brains, Mercedes-Benz reached out to me to come test-drive the new 2012 ML63 AMG in Santa Barbara. Eager to get away from the cold weather in the North East, I took them up on the offer and packed my bags for Cali.
As an owner of the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee, I’m the last one to worry about how I’m polluting mother nature. In fact, I’m the type that would blast ‘God’s Gonna Cut You Down’ by Johnny Cash and cruise with my windows down. Nevertheless, I always found high-performance SUVs to be quite pointless. An SUV is meant to be a cargo hauler, people carrier and a vehicle that’s capable to go off-roading. I never found cars like the BMW X6 M, Porsche Cayenne GTS or the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 to be wise purchases because if you wanted a sports car you could just purchase a sports coupe or even a high-performance sedan.
However, that all changed once I got behind the wheel of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG – and I’ll tell you why.

2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG Specifications:

• Style: SUV.
• Seating Capacity: 5.
• Base Price: $94,990.
• Engine: 5.5 liter V8 biturbo – 518-hp at 5,250 rpm / 516 lb-ft between 1,750 – 5,000 rpm.
• Transmission: AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7-speed automatic transmission.
• 0 to 60 mph: 4.7 seconds.
• Top Speed: 155 mph.
• Curb Weight: 5,170 lbs.
• Fuel-economy: 15/25 mpg (city/highway).

All Photos Copyright egmCarTech © Omar Rana.

Exterior:

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG is based on the new 2012 ML-Class, which I personally think is a very sophisticated looking SUV. Many on the egmCarTech team agree, and think Mercedes-Benz did a hell of a job redesigning its best-selling family hauler.
To spice up the ML-Class’ sophisticated looks for this AMG variant, AMG designers added a new radiator grille with louvers in high-gloss paint finish, larger cooling air intakes, and fitted the bottom with a new front skirt trimmed in a matte silver finish. The team also tailored the SUV with a grand set of AMG alloy wheels, and threw on an AMG rear skirt highlighted with a black diffuser. Two sets of chrome twin tailpipes that enhance the ML63 AMG’s 8-cylinder sound round out the refinement of the ‘standard’ ML-Class, all together transforming it into that of a high-performance SUV.

Interior:

Mercedes pulls together a comfortable interior that still maintains functionality with a sporty appeal.

The inside of the ML63 also gets the AMG treatment with sport seats, a beefy four-spoke AMG Performance steering wheel, aluminum steering-wheel mounted shift paddles, AMG badges and standard designo premium leather upholstery with contrast stitching. Of course, since you’re dropping over $94,000 for the ML63 AMG, you would expect it to be fitted with a substantial sum of standard features, and the AMG team delivers. The 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG comes standard with AMG sport pedals, AMG illuminated door sills, Harman/Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system, a 7-inch display with COMAND control, power lift gate, heated and cooled seats and much more.
Overall, Mercedes pulls together a comfortable interior that still maintains functionality with a sporty appeal.

Performance:

You can now back off of your screens and ease back into your seats, as we have arrived at the part you have all been waiting for. First, before I tell you how it feels to drive, I’ll fill you in on the specs. Power comes from a 5.5 liter V8 biturbo engine making 518-hp at 5,250 rpm with a maximum torque of 516 lb-ft between 1,750 – 5,000 rpm. That allows 0 to 60 mph to come in 4.7 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph. Pretty quick, huh? Well, you can make it faster – in case that’s not impressive enough – if you add on the AMG Performance Package, which bumps up power to 550-hp at 5,750 rpm and 560 lb-ft between 2,000 and 5,000 rpm. The package allows a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.6 seconds with a top speed of 174 mph.

With all the different driving modes, you can turn the 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG from a comfortable, smooth-riding SUV into a total beast that asks for more throttle and sharper turns.

As for the fuel-economy? Remember, we left ‘green’ back in North East. The SUV gets 16 mpg combined, but the AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7-speed automatic transmission and engine deactivation helps increase fuel-efficiency through one of the three driving programs (C for Controlled Efficiency, Sport and Manual). Now, forget all those figures, because we have saved the best for last. What’s more important about this car then horsepower and luxury? It is the absolutely amazing drive. With all the different driving modes, you can turn the 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG from a comfortable, smooth-riding SUV into a total beast that asks for more throttle and sharper turns.
Still, the best thing about the Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG is that no matter what mode you’re in, the ride is comfortable and doesn’t hurt your buttocks. Most of its competitors try to hard to be a sports car and end up sacrificing comfort for it. The Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG finds the perfect balance for both driving conditions because it’s not trying to be a sports car – it’s just trying to be a luxury SUV that has all that power sitting under the hood when you want or need it. Otherwise, it’s a perfect everyday car that you can live with and go grocery shopping with or pick up the kids from soccer practice.

Overall:

So how much does all this awesomeness cost? Prices start at a whopping $94,990, and I’m pretty sure once you load it up it’ll cost you close to $100,000 before you drive it out of the dealership.
That brings be to my last and final point – the base 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 starts at just $48,990 – almost half the price tag than that of the AMG. The 402-hp ML550 even starts at almost $38,000 less.
Obviously, this model is not for the average car buyer. Yet, if you have the cash in your bank account and the need for speed, than the ML63 AMG is definitely a better buy than its competitors, standing out from the crowd with its impeccable drive and plush bundle of upgrades.

First Drive: 2013 Infiniti JX, the new luxury 7-seater on the block

 
If you found yourself at an Infiniti showroom seeking out a 7-passenger vehicle a couple of months ago, the dealer’s only option would be to give you a walk around of the monstrous QX. After being thoroughly impressed by the luxury that practically oozes out of the door jams, you may still find yourself put off by the SUV’s $60,000 sticker price. At this point, the only other option in this particular line up would be the 5-passenger FX, which would mean cutting out some necessary space.

Check out news on the Infiniti JX.
Speed up to present time, and you’ll find that Infiniti has squeezed a brand-new model right in between the massive QX and the sporty FX that the automaker has dubbed the JX. The 7-passenger JX is a luxury crossover built very ready to take on the competition. So, just how well does it stack up? Let’s have a look.

2013 Infiniti JX Specifications:

• Style: Crossover.
• Seating Capacity: 7.
• Base Price: $40,450.
• Engine: 3.5 liter V6 – 265-hp at 6,400 rpm / 248 lb-ft at 4,400 rpm.
• Transmission: CVT Transmission.
• 0 to 60 mph: 8 seconds.
• Top Speed: 121 mph.
• Towing Capacity: 3,500 lbs.
• Curb Weight: 4,280 lbs for FWD model, 4,419 for AWD model.
• Fuel-economy: 18/24 mpg (city/highway) for FWD, 18/23 mpg for AWD.
• Cool Facts: It has a total of 8 cupholders and 6 bottle holders, offers an innovative way to access the third-row, has Tri-Zone climate control, offers you access to Google Calendar and has its own real-life personal assistant.

All Photos Copyright egmCarTech © Omar Rana.

Exterior:

At first glance the 2013 Infiniti JX may appear somewhat bland, but if you spend a little time with it, the crossover begins to reveal some interesting design queues.
First and foremost, the Infiniti signature grille has been seamlessly blended into the ‘wave’ design of the hood. Moving along to the side stance, Infiniti strikes a sophisticated yet aggressive note with a sloping roofline. Around the rear of the crossover, the luxury automaker draws inspiration from the Essence concept, with the use of its crescent-shaped D-pillar.
As for how it literally measures up to the competition, the 2013 Infiniti JX measures 196.4 inches in length, 77.2 inches in width and 68.9 inches in height. That makes it 5.2 inches longer than the Acura MDX and 3.9 inches shorter. It also makes it 1.3 inches less in width than the MDX and 8.5 inches less than the Q7. In matters of height, it’s 0.7 inches taller than the Acura MDX and 0.5 inches taller than the Audi Q7.
My opinion on the Infiniti JX’s exterior? It certainly looks better than some of the eyesores out there in its segment.

Interior:

It doesn’t leave the third-row passengers feeling like they were the last to be picked for an elementary school kickball game.

Inside, the 2013 Infiniti JX absolutely outshines its competitors. The model offers a plush cabin with a lot of room, comfort and gadgetry. Best of all, it doesn’t leave the third-row passengers feeling like they were the last to be picked for an elementary school kickball game. Some nice technical features come standard, with a few better ones as options. Bose provides the sound system (which wasn’t really all that impressive), while dual 7-inch color monitors for the rear passengers provide the visual entertainment. Other technical features include Infiniti Connection with the Integrated Infiniti Personal Assistant (check out the video after this paragraph for an explanation), in-vehicle access to Google Calendar, XM NavTraffic and NavWeather, and a very cool display positioned in front of the driver that provides vehicle information. In addition, the model comes with a power moonroof with an optional second and third row moonroof, as well as heated front and second row seats, tri- not dual-, zone climate control and much more.
After all that, what is still most important about the Infiniti JX’s interior is the space it provides and how easy it is to access the third-row. First, the second-row seats move forward and back 5-inches, so if the third-row isn’t being used, second-row passengers can create some additional legroom for themselves. To access the third-row, Infiniti has devised a clever system that allows the second row seat cushion to flip up as the seat goes forward – when the operation is complete, the system creates a nice and large access to the third-row (check out the video for a demonstration to see how it works).
As for the space, when compared to its competitors, the Infiniti JX offers the best-in-class interior volume with 149.8 cubic-feet – that’s 8.0 cubic-feet more than the Acura MDX and 16.6 cubic feet more than the Audi Q7. That means it offers more cargo volume (15.8 cubic feet with third row seats up) and more legroom for second and third row passengers the most of its rivals.

Safety:

Believe me, in order to even add this section to a review it takes some real stand out qualities, and the JX packs some notable ones. The 2013 JX still offers all of the familiar safety technologies including Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Departure Prevention (LDP), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC), Advanced Air Bag System (AABS), Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Around View Monitor (AVM), Blind Spot Intervention (BSI), Blind Spot Warning (BSW), and Brake Assist (BA).
This time however, Infiniti is bringing some new safety features to the market, incorporating Distance Control Assist (DCA), Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA), which now work together to help slow down and stop the JX in traffic. Also, the new Backup Collision Intervention (BCI) and Moving Object Detection (MOD) help the driver identify and avoid collisions with objects while in backing up.

Performance:

It seems everyone I encountered at the JX drive event was completely disappointed with its power, or that it does not live up to Infiniti’s ‘Inspired Performance’ slogan. While I agree with the latter, I feel a bit different about the JX’s 3.5-liter V6 that makes 265-hp with a peak torque of 248 lb-ft.

Will the JX offer you and your passengers a comfortable ride from point A to point B? It absolutely will.

It is true, it isn’t that powerful, but I attribute that to the fact that it’s simply not a performance vehicle. Infiniti says it is targeting families of 4, and those in their 40’s, particularly women. Keeping that in mind, I also can’t remember the last time I saw someone drag-racing or drifting an Audi Q7 or Acura MDX, or any other family hauler for that matter. So what if 0 to 60 mph takes close to 8 seconds? So what if I can’t take an exit at 50 mph plus with a car full of my family members? Will the JX offer you and your passengers a comfortable ride from point A to point B? It absolutely will. Is it available in all-wheel-drive for cold weather states? Yes it is (it comes standard in front-wheel-drive and no, it’s not the end of the world that it isn’t rear-wheel-drive).
There is one performance factor I did not find favorable. I completely hate CVT transmissions and that’s exactly the transmission Infiniti picked for the 2013 JX. Nonetheless, they do offer their Infiniti Drive Mode Selector with Standard, Sport, Snow or Eco modes that ‘kind-of’ help to make driving a little more engaging.
What about the ever-important fuel-economy element? EPA ratings come in at 18/24 mpg (city/highway) for the front-wheel-drive model and 18/23 mpg for the all-wheel-drive model.

Overall:

Prices for the 2013 Infiniti JX start at $40,450 for the JX35 FWD and $41,550 for the JX35 AWD model. That’s about $2,000 less than the Acura MDX and $6,000 under the sticker price for the Audi Q7. Why is it priced so aggressively? Well, Infiniti expects the JX to be its second best-selling model after the G lineup so the company is doing all it can to beat out the current leaders in the segment.
So does Infiniti have a winner here? I positively believe so. It’s cheaper than its competitors, offers comfort for all 7-passengers, is packed with gadgets, and boasts some outstanding safety features. What more could one scouring the segment ask for?

Daimler, BYD to Make Electric Ca

International media reports on a deal between Daimler and BYD to make electric cars. Strangely, Chinese media reports nothing yet. It is 10:13 AM now in Beijing and all woke up. It might have to do more with the fact that parties still need government permission to start with their plans.
That permission is essential, as proved by the Hummer-misery in Januari. But in this case it is about electric cars which are, so most believe, not as bead for the bears and the bees as a Hummer. Permission therefore, is unlikely to be denied.
More on the Daimler-BYD deal in this excellent article from Wall Street journal:
“BEIJING—Germany’s Daimler AG and China’s BYD Co. set up a 50-50 joint venture Thursday to develop an all-electric car for the Chinese market, saying they believe China has the potential to be among the world’s largest markets for zero-emission vehicles.
Daimler, owner of luxury-car brand Mercedes-Benz, and BYD, one of China’s leading battery and auto makers, are expected to invest a total of 600 million yuan ($87.9 million) in the joint venture, Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co. The money is to be used as registered capital for the joint venture in the southern industrial city of Shenzhen.

BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu and Daimler Chairman Dieter Zetsche signed a contract in Beijing Thursday to finalize the agreement. “Our new joint venture is well positioned to make the most of the vast potential of electric mobility in China,” Mr. Zetsche said.
Daimler also said Thursday that it is aiming to sell at least 100,000 Mercedes-Benz vehicles in China this year, up from the 67,000 it sold in 2009. By 2015, Mercedes-Benz sales in China are likely to increase to 300,000 vehicles a year, the company said.
To strengthen and expand its presence in China, the German company said it plans to invest about €200 million, or about $244 million, to build a plant in Beijing to produce engines, which will be used to power vehicles it produces in China.
“For Daimler, this is a historic decision because this will be the first time ever that we’re going to produce engines for Mercedes-Benz cars outside of Germany,” Trevor Hale, a Beijing-based Daimler spokesman, said in an email message. The new engine plant will be jointly operated with Beijing Automotive Industry Holdings Co., Daimler’s main joint-venture partner in China.
According to a Daimler executive familiar with the BYD collaboration, the planned car is likely to be loosely based on the pure-electric propulsion system used in BYD’s e6, an all-electric battery car that the Chinese company began selling to taxi operators in Shenzhen earlier this year.
The car announced Thursday will be enhanced with Daimler’s vehicle-safety and other technologies.
Daimler engineers and designers recently established a base at a hotel near BYD’s headquarters in Shenzhen to work closely with their counterparts at the Chinese company, which is partially owned by Warren Buffett’s MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co., in order to come up with the joint venture’s first car for the new brand.
The Daimler executive familiar with the collaboration said Daimler and BYD might display a prototype of the jointly developed car as early as the Paris auto show in October.
One reason for the growing enthusiasm in China around all-electric cars and other heavily electrified vehicles, such as plug-in electric hybrids, is the belief that the Chinese government will start offering special incentives to support private buyers’ adoption of clean-energy cars.
Executives at Japan’s Nissan Motor Co., which plans to launch an all-electric compact car called the Leaf in the U.S., Europe and Japan in December, and in China next year, say they expect the Chinese government to set purchase incentives of as much as 60,000 yuan for electric cars. Chinese news reports have said incentives of about 50,000 yuan to 60,000 yuan are likely to be announced soon.
Still, even as auto executives such as BYD’s Mr. Wang urge the Chinese government to subsidize private purchases of all-electric battery cars, some Chinese government officials have pointed to reservations about providing consumer incentives to spur electric-car sales.
“Why do we need to provide subsidies and rebates for wealthy private buyers who would be the first in line to buy electric cars? That’s a question some of us in the government are asking,” said Chen Jianguo, a senior official at the National Development and Reform Commission, China’s main economic-planning agency, at a conference in Tianjin last year.
Yet, in anticipation of some type of policy support for private electric-car purchases, some auto makers are likely to launch electric cars in China over the next few years, creating competition for BYD and Daimler.
In addition to Nissan, Mitsubishi Motors Corp. of Japan also plans to launch all-electric cars in China by 2012, while Toyota Motor Corp. of Japan and General Motors Co. of the U.S. are gearing up to test-market plug-in hybrid electric cars in China soon.”

Beijing Auto at the Beijing Auto Show, the other concept cars

Beijing Auto was BIG at the Beijing Auto Show. Earlier on we saw the Saab-based C70G and the C90L concept. That however, wasn’t all, at all. There were three more concept cars, the C50E (pic), the C60F sedan and the C51X SUV. Beijing auto says all three stand on a new ‘M-trix’ platform that is derived from the old Saab 9-3 platform, but I am not so sure that is true…


Beijing Auto might be working on such a platform but the C50E seems to me based on the old Hyundai Elantra that is still being made in China by the Beijing-Hyundai joint venture. No matter, the C50E loox fine with a fat body-kit and four big exhaust pipes, sporty indeed.

The C60G is a bigger sedan that seems about the size of the Saab 9-3, except that is it not based on the Saab 9-3 but on a much older concept car, the Beijing Auto BE701EV, which in turn was based on the Chrysler Sebring that was made in China by the Beijing-Chrysler joint venture. No new concept car this C60G, just an update, but not a bad one.


The C51X is a mid-size crossover utility vehicle (CUV). Chinese media reported back in January that Beijing Auto was working on a new SUV based on the Saab 9-3. Those reports now seem correct. The C51X seems about the length of the 9-3 and the 9-3′s platform is designed for four-wheel drive. Engine could be the Saab 2.0 turbo or the 2.3 turbo.

A modern classic-thing, Bufori Geneva at the Beijing Auto Show

What do you do if you want to introduce a new and expensive luxury car brand to those wealthy Chinese buyers who are the new Kings of the World? First, you hire a nice booth on a big auto show. Second, you make sure your car is fit for the Chinese market. Third, you ask a shitload of money for it.


Bufori had a booth far outside the main exhibition hall that nobody could find, the mighty Bufori Geneva had the steering wheel on the wrong side (its from Malaysia…), and they didn’t want to tell me the price! All wrong…

Bufori is a somewhat mad Australian company that makes its cars in Malaysia. The company has big plans for China, it will open three new dealers this year in addition to its recently opened first store in Shanghai. They will sell the Geneva and the La Joya roadster. The Geneva is powered by a Chrysler-sourced 6.1 liter HEMI V8 with a very neat 430hp and 569nm.

Well, a looker it sure is! Bufori claims a 280km/h top speed and a 0-100 in 5.4 seconds. That seems very optimistic, the Geneva weighs 2450 kilo and is as aerodynamic as a bus. 430hp doesn’t seem enough for 280. Size: 5470/1910/1520, wheelbase is 3570.

This is the La Yoja with a pretty babe. The La Yoja is powered by a 170hp V6, weight is 1490kg, no claims for top speed. Clearly a toy this La Yoja car, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, people like toys. But what about the other toy on pic? Bigger:

2009-2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

Rumors about an open-top version of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 circulated for a long time now, but we were finally able to see the vehicle during its official launch at the Pebble Beach Lodge on August 16, 2008.

Called the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, the new Bugatti will be a roadster with a unique, removable roof. The open-top Grand Sport allows driver and passenger to feel even closer to the car’s breathtaking power. Those who consider the wind in their hair and the roar of a thoroughbred racing engine in their ears to be essential to true driving enjoyment will find their perfect motor car in this new Bugatti. Even with the top on the Grand Sport does not loose any of its fascination and conveys to the passenger a new exciting panoramic view.

Production began in Spring 2009.

Updated 01/27/2011: Bugatti came to the Qatar Motor Show for the first time ever and brought the 2009 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport along with them for the ride. It may be an old model, but it was the perfect occasion to reveal new images of the supercar, and to christen Bugatti’s first appearance. Hopefully they will grace us with their presence at future show! Check out the gallery to see the new pictures of the Grand Sport!

UPDATE 04/27/2012: Bugatti has unveiled a new video for their Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport showing the car in action with a closed roof. A second video presents the Blanc Noir version with an open roof. Enjoy!

Exterior and Interior

When developing the Veyron Grand Sport, Bugatti wanted to keep the same performance found in the coupe version while adding a whole new set of challenges. In response to customer demand, significant modifications have been made to the vehicle’s complex structure so as to enable open-top driving, thereby adding a new dimension to this high-performance sports car.

The new model will be recognized by a slightly higher windscreen, stylized daytime running lights, and a lightweight, transparent polycarbonate roof. The monocoque structure has been reinforced around the side skirts and the transmission tunnel. The B-pillars have been cross-stiffened using a carbon fiber support, and a central carbon plate has been positioned beneath the transmission tunnel to ensure the vehicle suffers from less torsional flexing than any other roadster.

The doors of the new Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport are made of carbon fiber, and house an integrated longitudinal beam. In the event of an accident, this transfers the load from the A to the B-pillar, thereby dissipating impact energy. Furthermore, the two redesigned air intakes for the 16-cylinder mid-engine now feature 10-centimeter wide carbon-fiber elements to offer protection in the event of a roll.

Engine

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport is powered by the same 8 liter W16 engine that develops a total of 1 001 HP at 6 000 rpm and a peak torque of 1 250 NM from 2,200–5,500 rpm. Mated to a 7 Gear DSG transmission, the engine will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds and from 0 to 124 mph in 7.3 seconds. The Grand Sport is capable of hitting a top speed of 252 mph, but can only achieve 217 mph with the roof down.

Prices

The Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport is priced at 1.4 million euro, or $1,900,000 at the current exchange rates (taxes and transport excluded).

Competition

There are no other cars that deliver a total of 1001 HP, but there are other cars that deliver the same level of performance, but none of them are open-top models. The list includes the SSC Ultimate Aero, the Aston Martin One-77, and the Lamborghini Murciélago LP670-4 SuperVeloce.

The Ultimate Aero and the Veyron have been at war since battling the top speed record for the past few years. The Ultimate Aero is powered by a twin-turbo V8 engine that delivers 1287 HP and sprints the car to an impressive 270 mph, all while being much cheaper than the Veyron.

The One-77 is powered by a naturally aspirated 7.3-liter V12 engine that delivers 750 HP and can hit a top speed 220 mph. The LP670-4 SV is powered by a 6.5 liter V12 engine that delivers 670 HP and can hit a top speed of 212 mph.

Pamela Anderson launches Downforce1 racing team

Former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson is all set to add an extra dash of glamour to the racing world. The 44-year-old blonde bombshell has floated her own racing team called Downforce1 that will participate in the European Le Mans and International GT Open championship. Her ambitions don’t stop here. Anderson has lofty dreams of launching a team for NASCAR, America’s biggest motorsport series, by 2013.

"Fast cars and fast women go together," Anderson is quoted as saying by a UK tabloid. "Here we are surrounded by men, I love it."

Downforce1 was to kickoff its 2012 race campaign this weekend at the International GT Race in France but had to postpone its plans citing ‘technical issues’. The team will now race for the first time at the GT Open Series round at Portimao on April 28.

So what kind of racing credentials does Downforce1 bring? Anderson claims the team has over a decade of racing experience and was built up in just four months flat! It will compete using an Aston Martin GT2 adorning a white and blue livery, which according to Pam is her ‘signature colour’. Markus Fux, the team coordinator, chief marketing officer, and racer all rolled into one, has been named the lead driver of the team. Aside from a surname that leaves nothing to imagination, the Austrian is apparently the first from his country to drive in NASCAR.  

From racy outfits to racing overalls, Anderson will surely make race days something more to look forward to. “I'm thrilled to be a part of this incredible racing team - it will be a wild ride...” says Anderson on the team’s website.

Anderson is not the only female celebrity to have a racing team under her name. In 2010, socialite Paris Hilton co-founded the 125cc SuperMartxe Vip MotoGP team, which, by the way, came third at the 2011 championship. Will Pammie's team go boom or bust? Watch this space to stay abreast of any updates. Oh, and ignore the innuendos!  

Volkswagen up! is the 2012 World Car of the Year

Beating some really stiff competition and managing to unsettle some strong rivals, the Volkswagen up! has bagged the coveted 2012 World Car of the Year award. Contesting alongside the UP! were some more premium and exotic cars like the BMW 3 Series and the Porsche 911, but the small city car took the top honours, hinting at the rather dynamic shift in the auto world. The award has been handed to Volkswagen twice before, in 2009 for the Golf VI and in 2010 for the Polo and this year again the German conglomerate has once again taken home the prestigious award. The initial entry list for the award consisted of thirty four new cars from around the world, out of which, ten cars were short listed for the final dash eventually the up!, the BMW 3 Series and the Porsche 911 making it to the top three. "This award shows once again that in the up! our designers and engineers have created a vehicle that has been thought through in minute detail. A vehicle that sets standards in its class for efficient use of space, safety, motoring fun and environmental compatibility," remarks Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chariman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG. 

The World Car Awards jurors observed that, "The little Volkswagen up! has altered what we have come to expect from the citycar segment. Of note are the responsive steering, sophisticated suspension setup, new efficient engines and the quality of materials and finish. Never before in this economy segment have owners felt so premium. Look for every builder of citycars to up its game just to compete with the new VW". Speaking about the award, Oliver Stefani, the chief designer of the VW Up! said "the goal of this car was to make something small great, and we really got rewarded for it today." In its eighth year, the coveted World Car of the Year award was launched in 2004 and it boasts of some of the most illustrious jury members from around the world consisting of sixty four renowned automotive journalists from twenty five nations, including 

Mercedes-Benz S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY declared the 2012 World Green Car

Out of an entry list of 23 new vehicles from across the globe, ten cars were short listed from which three finalists were chosen for this year’s World Green Car Award. The Mercedes-Benz S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY, the Ford Focus Electric, and the Peugeot 3008 Hybrid made were the top three contenders for the award and the three-pointed star brand’s car took the top honours in the category.

The four-cylinder S-Class that is powered by a 2.1-litre diesel turbocharged motor producing 206PS of power and 500Nm of torque, which is commendable for the world’s cleanest engine. The start-stop system installed in the car helps it to restrict emission to just 149g/km of CO2.

For a car to be eligible as a nominee of the award, it had to be either an all new vehicle or substantially revised, into production and available for sale to the public in quantities of ten or more in at least one major market from January 1, 2011 to May 30th, 2012. Tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and use of a major advanced power plant technology with major focus at emission regulation were the factors on which the final judgment was made.

Vehicles were selected and short listed with the help of an international jury panel comprising of 64 auto-journos from 25 countries across the globe including ZigWheels Editor-in-Chief Adil Jal Darukhanawala, who has been on the jury for the past three consecutive years.

The awards was declared at a press conference hosted by Bridgestone Corporation at the New Yourk International Auto Show The Chevrolet Volt won the World Green car award last year, while the Volkswagen BlueMotion took the honor and the Honda FCX Clarity bagged the award in 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Range Rover Evoque bags 2012 World Car Design of the Year award

The Range Rover Evoque was crowned the 2012 World Car Design of the Year at the ongoing New York International Auto Show. The baby Land Rover charmed jurors from 64 countries, including our very own Editor-in-Chief Adil Jal Darukhanawala, to take top honours over 46 formidable contenders, including the Volkswagen up! and the Citroen DS5.

An ecstatic Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Design Director and Chief Creative Officer, who led the design team said: "We are honoured that the Range Rover Evoque has been named 2012 World Car Design of the Year. This prestigious accolade recognises the overwhelmingly positive response we've received to the Evoque's bold, dramatic design. It is a car that truly resonates on an emotional level".

The World Car Design of the Year award is meant to highlight new vehicles with innovation and style that push established boundaries. The Evoque’s victory then comes as no surprise. The stylish compact crossover had already won a ton of awards and accolades for its bold, radical yet dropdead gorgeous looks. In fact, so enamouring is its beauty that reports came in of people booking Evoques without as much as a test drive!

So how did the Evoque grab the top spot? To begin with, only cars which had been launched and available for sale in at least one major market from January 1, 2011 to May 30th, 2012, were eligible for the awards. In the next stage, a design panel consisting of five eminent design experts from across the world was asked to review each candidate, and then establish a short-list of recommendations for the jurors.

The experts had lots to say about the Evoque’s impressive design. "Land Rover once said the Range Rover Sport was born of the Range Stormer Concept which was much praised at the 2004 NAIA,” said Masatsugu Arimoto, Japan's foremost automotive design commentator. “But I think this new Evoque is the very evolution of the concept vehicle from design view point. The shoulder line is higher, the roof is lower and the overall proportion consequently becomes more distinctive and sportier than the Stormer. Taut lines and clean surfaces suggest designer's conviction to create simple yet emotional product. This must be one of the best examples of so called ‘less is more’ design norm.”

The 64 jurors then voted on the expert's recommendations in February and their ballots were tabulated by the international accounting firm KPMG.

Previous winners of the World Car Design of the Year award were the Aston Martin Rapide in 2011, the Chevrolet Camaro in 2010, the Fiat 500 in 2009, the Audi R8 in 2008, the Audi TT in 2007 and the Citroen C4 in 2006.

Porsche 911 wins 2012 World Performance Car of the Year award

Sports cars around the world achieve their true glory on racing circuits and amidst the cheer of a thousand fans. But when you’re a chosen candidate for the World Car Awards under this particular category the stakes get a lot higher and the anticipation of victory far more meaningful.


German sports car maker Porsche had very similar aspirations for its all new 911 coupe, which from an initial entry list of nineteen (19) new sports cars from all over the world, was shortlisted to a fleet of just ten, and finally narrowed down to one amongst three finalists, which included the horrifyingly quick 700PS Lamborghini Aventador and one the most technologically advanced supercars in the world today, namely the McLaren MP4-12C.


Amongst an international jury panel comprised of sixty-four (64) top-level automotive journalists from twenty-five (25) countries around the world was our very own Editor-in-Chief Adil Jal Darukhanawala, who happens to be in his third consecutive year on the World Car Awards panel.

Using their expertise, experience, credibility and influence, the jury with the support of carefully collated data by Prime Research International, the World Car Award’s research partner finally decided that the all-new Porsche 911 Carrera and Carrera S was the most deserving candidate for the World Performance Car of the Year award.


Thoroughly impressed by the 911’s leaps in innovation and risk-taking design choices, while at the same time maintaining and improving upon the driving thrills we look for in any Porsche two-door, the elite panel of experts declared the new 911 Carrera and Carrera S as winners of the 2012 World Performance Car of the Year award.

Elated at this prestigious recognition on a global stage, Detlev von Platen, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America, said "We are honored that the new Porsche 911 S Coupe was chosen by this distinguished group of jurors as the 2012 World Performance Car of the Year. The new 911 is more powerful, delivers extraordinary driving dynamics, is more fuel efficient than ever, and is still a pure Porsche. Winning the 2012 World Performance Car is excellent validation from a global team of world-class journalists for the work and dedication of everyone at Porsche."


This is the sixth out of seven times that Porsche has made it among the top three positions in the World Performance Car category; and prior to 2012, it was the Porsche Cayman S that had the honour of bagging the same award in 2006.


The new Porsche 911 Carrera now joins the rank among previous World Performance Car winners that include the Ferrari 458 Italia in 2011, the Audi R8 V10 in 2010, the Nissan GT-R in 2009, the Audi R8 in 2008, the Audi RS4 in 2007 and the Porsche Cayman S in 2006.

Nokia Drive GPS navigation system reviewed

Nokia’s latest range of mobile phones is certainly taking the market by storm. Called the Lumia series, these smart phones run the latest version of Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5, dubbed Mango. Sure, they have a long way to go in order to dent the vice grip Android devices and the iPhone have on the market, but the clean and simple interface of the these phones is sure to make them a hit. Apart from the streamlined user interface, these phones come with a plethora of brilliant software, one of which is the Nokia Drive navigation programme, which works in conjunction with Nokia Maps.


So we got a chance to “test drive” one of these new smart phones from Nokia, the Lumia 710 and put its navigation software through its paces. The first thing one needed to do was get updated maps for our locality. Nokia Maps has a maps download feature to download maps from their online service. This was easy enough. Choose India, then Maharashtra, wait for the 100-odd MB download to complete (which took 5-10mins over my home Wi-Fi connection), and viola! We were good to go.


So after getting into the car and trying to search for our destination, we encountered our first hiccup. It seems that Nokia’s system needs an active internet connection to search for places, even though it has all the maps built in. And since our test phone had an inactive SIM card, this was going to be a problem. Still, I managed to tether it over Wi-Fi to my Android phone, and then used my phone’s 3G service to get going. Another slight problem was that the Nokia service didn’t seem to have a very vast database of places in and around Pune, so we were stuck with navigating to only the more well-known ones. Luckily, our office buildings, Times House, on Fergusson College Road was listed.

Destination chosen, off we went and immediately realized how powerful the Nokia Drive navigation system was. Not only had it picked the best route, it also adjusted the route each time we tried to fool the system by taking an alternate path. Plus, the turn-by-turn voice directions (which can be customised with a variety of downloadable voices) were some of the best ones we’ve tested in any device so far.


Overall, the system is fairly accurate and the easy-to-use, intuitive touch based interface should make even the most ardent technophobes feel comfortable with it. If you have one of these, you’ll rarely feel the need for a dedicated navigation system.

MINI launches its Cooper and Countryman model range

MINI has just inaugurated its first fully exclusive showroom in the country where it will display its entire range of Cooper models starting from Rs 25.5 lakh for the basic hardtop version all the way up to Rs 30.7 lakh for the resplendent Cooper Convertible. The iconic brand’s first ever 5-door crossover SUV model, the Countryman S is also on offer and will be available in two trim levels, priced between Rs 32.80 lakh – Rs 35.90 lakh (ex-showroom).

MINI’s first exclusive showroom under Infinity Cars in Mumbai is located at Linking Road and will have a 5 car display, 24 hour specialty restaurant with music, a showroom concept that according to MINI should make for a very unique customer experience.


The MINI Cooper and convertible models on display produce a maximum of 122PS @ 6,000 rpm and 160Nm of torque at 4,250 rpm, whereas the turbocharged Cooper S (Read : Frist Drive) gets a solid boost all the way up to 184PS @ 5,500 rpm with an equally impressive 240 Nm of torque @ 1,600-5,000 rpm. All three models are engineered to hit the 190 km/hr plus mark with the sporty Cooper S quite capable of nudging the needle all the way up to 223 km/hr mark.

Although longer, taller and much heavier than its Cooper cousins, the Countryman S is a brilliantly sculpted design that produces the same power but churns out 20Nm torque higher than the Cooper hatch and convertible models. The entire range on sale India will be powered by efficient petrol engines and mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Speaking at the launch of its new range of MINI models in India, Dr. Andreas Schaaf, President, BMW Group India said, “With the launch of MINI, we have brought the world’s most exciting premium small car brand to India. MINI is more than just a car – it is a personality on wheels – a fashion statement – and a way of life. MINI expresses a whole generations approach to life – it is extrovert, open and full of zest in life. No other brand exhibits the attributes and essence of a modern urban lifestyle like MINI and there is no doubt that it is one of the world’s most emotional auto brands.”

The select MINI Cooper and Countryman S models will come to India as Completely-Built-Up (CBU) units. With India now becoming the 100th country in the world to get the mini brand, MINI India is bullish on its growth in 2012 and will establish two more exclusive outlets in the Indian market in the coming months; Deutsche Motoren and Bird Automotive in Delhi (NCR Region). But for now here are the ex-showroom prices of the new MINI cars that have made their way into India.

Porsche Cayenne GTS revealed

The new Porsche Cayenne GTS sports a 4.2-litre naturally aspirated, direct injection, V8 petrol engine from the Cayenne S that has been tweaked to deliver 426PS of power and 514Nm of torque.

The 2-tonne plus SUV goes from 0-100km/h in 5.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 259km/h. The Cayenne GTS gets Porsche’s eight-speed Tiptronic S gearbox and all-wheel drive system. Its chassis has been tuned for dynamic ability, which means a stiff ride that minimises body roll around corners.

The Cayenne GTS features Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) for tautness of the suspension. The ride height of the Cayenne GTS has been lowered by 24mm as compared to that of the Cayenne S. While the vehicle has been setup primarily for performance-oriented driving, its PASM system has three settings, namely, Comfort, Normal and Sport. On-board sensors monitor body movement, lateral acceleration, steering angle, brake pressure and engine torque. Based on the driving conditions the system automatically adjusts damping settings in a particular mode, enabling greater car control, comfort and safety.

Stopping power comes from internally ventilated discs all around featuring monobloc aluminium fixed callipers with six pistons for the front wheels and four pistons for the back wheels. Optional Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) technology is on offer for fade-free high performance braking.

On the outside, the GTS features wide air intakes in the bumpers, high gloss black window frames, bi-xenon headlamps, wider wheel arches, side skirts, unique twin-wing roof spoiler and sports exhaust system to enhance that savage soundtrack of its naturally aspirated performance engine. The vehicle also gets RS Spyder race inspired 20 inch wheels.

Inside, the Cayenne GTS gets bespoke interiors finished in alcantara and leather, eight-way adjustable sports bucket seats and sporty steering wheel with paddle shifters.

The Porsche Cayenne GTS will hit the UK market in July 2012 with an £67,147 (Rs. 54,82 lakh) price tag, though it’ll cost a lot more in India due to excise duty.