Chevrolet Malibu 2013 New Design

The current Chevrolet Malibu made its appearance in Dubai not so long ago. And here we have the redesigned version already which has been unveiled as a 2013 model at the 2011 Shanghai International Motor Show.

The new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu appears bolder and the rear squared LED taillamp design is reminiscent of the Camaro. It features an electronically controlled and integrated active aero shutter system that automatically opens and closes airflow through the lower intake vents depending on the air intake requirements based on engine coolant temperature and speed.

Powered by a 2.5-litre Ecotec 4-cylinder “CVVT” engine with direct injection and mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the 2013 Malibu is expected to offer performance and fuel efficiency figures rivalling the best in segment with over 190 hp and 245 Nm of torque on tap. Riding on MacPherson struts in the front and multi-link suspensions in the rear and aided by a supposedly well-engineered chassis, the ride quality, as claimed by Chevrolet, is on par with the many of the well-known premium European marques.

The interior has been revised too. The new car, sporting a shorter wheelbase compared to the previous model, is wider and boasts more rear legroom and trunk space. Chevrolet claims that their all-new dual cockpit interior offers spaciousness and tranquility while sporting premium materials and obviously high levels of craftsmanship. Interior features include ambient mood lighting, available metallic, chrome or wood trims, and a MyLink infotainment and navigation system featuring a 7-inch touch-screen colour display, bluetooth connectivity and online radio services.

On the safety front, the Malibu is available with four-channel ABS, EBD, Brake assist, Corner Brake Control, Traction Control, Stability Control; Front, side, curtain and knee airbags for driver and front passenger, lane departure warning system, forward collission alert and rearview camera. The new car is also pedestrian protection-compliant.

Expect the new Malibu to hit Middle East shores sometime in late 2012. All other details, including performance, options and pricing packages for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other markets, are currently unknown.

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Audi A1 clubsport quattro Concept

Every year, fans of the Volkswagen Group get together at the Wörthersee festival, held in Reifnitz, Austria, to share their passion about cars. The show is so big that the VW Group’s brands spare no money to develop dedicated one-off models for the event. Audi’s star attraction at this year’s Worthersee Tour (June 1 to 4, 2011), which celebrates its 30th anniversary, is the ludicrous A1 clubsport Quattro.
The one-off show car is a rally-inspired A1 hatch that uses a heavily modified version of the 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder petrol engine found in the TT RS and the RS3 Sportback. The five-pot normally produces 340-horsepower and 450 Nm (331.90 lb-ft), but thanks to the systematic tuning of the turbocharger, intercooler, induction tract and the exhaust, output has been boosted to 503-horsepower and 660 Nm (487 lb-ft) of torque.
Power is transferred to all-four wheels through a six-speed manual transmission and quattro permanent all-wheel drive system, both sourced from the TT RS and enhanced by Audi’s engineers.
Weighing in at 1,390 kilograms (3,064 pounds), the A1 clubsport quattro can go from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in 3.7 seconds, and from 0 to 200km/h (124mph) in just 10.9 seconds. The 50-70mph (80-112km/h) overtaking can be completed in fourth gear in 2.4 seconds. The car’s top speed is electronically governed at 250km/h or 155mph.
Audi’s engineers also equipped the special A1 with a high-performance braking system that includes six-piston callipers that grab perforated carbon fibre-ceramic discs up front and large steel discs at the rear. The car rides on 255/30 low-profile tires mounted on bespoke 19-inch alloy wheels and an adjustable coilover sports suspension.
On the outside, the A1 clubsport quattro is finished in a Glacier White matte paint finish contrasted by high-gloss black roof arches with the roof itself made of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP). The front wings, the doors and the rear side panels of car have been widened by a total of 60 millimeters (2.3-in.), while it also sports a new front bumper and grille assembly, a vented hood, side exhaust outlets, a large roof wing, a bespoke rear bumper with a diffuser and unique mirrors.

Inside, Audi decided to eliminate the rear seats and use the space to place a large crossbar to further stiffen the body as well as two racing helmets. There are two lightweight bucket seats sourced from the Audi R8 GT that feature a carbon fibre chassis and four-point belts. Many areas are covered with exposed, matte-finished carbon fiber while Audi reduced the car’s weight by removing several features such as the infotainment system. In addition, simple loops replace the handles on the doors, the glove box and the covers of the storage compartments.
While Audi has no current plans to introduce a production version of the show car, the A1 clubsport quattro is believed to hint at an upcoming high-performance version sporting either the S1 or RS1 badge.
Along with its physical debut at the Wörthersee fest, the Audi A1 clubsport quattro will also make a brief online appearance in the Need for Speed World where it will be offered to all players as a free in-game rental car from June 1 – 4.
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Tesla Model X Roadster

Plugging intο the future. In a filing with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Cοmmissiοn, Tesla announced plans tο end Roadster prοductiοn in December. While this is a tad peculiar, since the Mοdel S will nοt be launched until mid-2012, Tesla is cοnfident that they can survive οn selling the remaining inventory οf Roadsters during their year and a half lοng production hiatus.

The filing alsο revealed the company will intrοduce a Model X cοncept later this year. Details are limited, but the crοssover will incοrpοrate the functionality οf a minivan with the consumer appeal οf a sports-utility vehicle. If everything gοes according tο plan, Tesla will launch a production Mοdel X in 2014.
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Graf Weckerle-Tuned Ferrari 458 Italia

It seems that there is a tune for just about everyone and everything these days, from subtle to extreme, and all points in between. We do not know where exactly this Ferrari 458 Italia from German tuning firm Graf Weckerle fits in that spectrum, but those odd-looking alloy wheels are sure to catch the attention of every passerby.
Featuring a design that would be more suitable in an antique fireplace screen, the so-called “fleur-de-lis” 21-inch alloy wheels are a trademark of Graf Weckerle and are hand-assembled out of 184 individual pieces. The tune also includes hand-painted stripes, a sports exhaust system and an engine upgrade that both help push output to 600-horsepower, and a lowered suspension.

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Honda Civic 2012 Sedan and Coupe Designs in Europe

A peek through the European patent office files revealed images of Honda’s freshly launched in North America, 2012 Civic in both four-door sedan and two-door coupe guise. Given that the European market will get its own, bespoke version of the Civic, chances are that Honda simply wanted to cover its back like most of the competition just in case another automaker (we are looking towards you China) got any crazy ideas.
However, it is possible that Honda will offer the four-door saloon model in certain European countries to compete against the Volkswagen Jetta. With the exception of one version of the Civic sedan seen in this set of images and which features slightly modified taillights with additional strips that extend towards the license plate holder, there are no other differences compared to the North American Civic.
The European version of Honda’s compact model will make its world premiere at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in September. It will be available in five-door and three-door body styles, while the Japanese automaker has also confirmed the development of a smaller displacement turbo diesel engine that will fit right under the current 2.2-liter i-DTEC unit.

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Vorsteiner BMW M3 Details Revealed

American tuner dials up pοwer οn the aging E92 M3 tο 620 bhp (462 kW / 629 PS). Here's a new wide-body tuning kit fοr the nοt-sο-new-anymore BMW E92 M3 by American tuner Vοrsteiner. The M3 gets dialed up tο 620 bhp (462 kW / 629 PS) and is named the "Canday Cane" due to its red and white cοlοr scheme. That power upgrade cοmes cοurtesy οf the AA E9X M3 Supercharger Stage II kit as well as the titanium exhaust system supplied by Vorsteiner.

Carbon-fiber bοdy panels fitted tο the M3 here include the GTRS3 wide-body kit, a vented bonnet and bοοt lid. Wheels are the 20-inch V-309 fοrged rims wrapped in Michelin PS2 Sport Tires - 285/25/20 and 325/25/20, frοnt and back, respectively. There's alsο a KW coil-over kit fοr the suspension and a Brembο GTR brake system.
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Designer Imagines what a 2012 Fiat Dino Looks like

After the axing of the Fiat Coupe in 2000, the Italian brand's range was left without a coupe. And that's where British designer Peter Norris steps in with a new study that envisions a future sports car model for Fiat. However, this concept would not necessarily make a successor to the affordable Fiat Coupe, as the car carries a Pininfarina badge, thus hinting to a more luxurious model.
The study is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive luxury sports car that aims to embody the essence of the Italian thoroughbred. Judging from the drivetrain layout, this concept would be more of a successor to the 1960's RWD Fiat Dino rather than to the late 1990s FWD Fiat Coupe designed by Chris Bangle.
The coupe sports a sleek profile and a very low roofline, which make the wheels seem colossal. It also has an aggressive stance thanks to the massive wheelarches, while the front end brings to mind modern-day Aston Martins, especially the shape of the headlights and the upright bumper. The rear features C-shaped LED light units and central exhaust pipes that give the coupe an elegant look.
The designer explained that the project started as “a reboot of the Fiat Coupe”, representing a vision of a present day model. An ex-Fiat Coupe owner, Peter Norris changed his mind halfway through the project and switched to a luxury coupe, hence the Pininfarina badges on the car.
“I used to own a Fiat Coupe 16v Turbo, and whilst it frequently broke down and cost me a fortune in repair bills, I just didn’t have the heart to get rid of it. I still turn my head every time one drives past me,” Norris told Carbodydesign.
“The Pininfarina styling inside as much as outside just oozes with Italian flair and really was, and still is different to anything else on the road. Some people have referred to it as a 'baby Ferrari'. So I began sketching out ideas for a Fiat Coupe for 2012. After roughing out the body in 3d I changed my mind and decided that I wanted to build something that was more of a luxury rather than a budget sports car and wondered what a car designed by Pininfarina under its own badge might look like, and so it evolved from there,” Norris concluded.

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