BMW Zagato Coupe

BMW has made a habit of unveiling a new and usually daring concept car at the Concorso d'Eleganza, a classic car gathering for Europe's crustiest upper crust on the shores of Italy's Lake Como. Here, first seen in Yahoo! Autos' Motoramic, are live shots of its latest, the BMW Zagato Coupe, a first-time pairing with the Zagato design house that suggests what could be.

The Zagato name conjures images of fleet Alfa Romeos and Aston Martins among collectors, and the family has managed to maintain an independent business building limited-edition automotive bodywork while most competitors were either sold to corporations or went out of business. While BMW has called on Italian designers in the past to breathe new life into its cars -- namely in the '70s and '80s, with models such as the original M1 -- it has never worked with Zagato.

Built mostly by hand, the BMW Zagato isn't meant to suggest a production car and the two companies have no plans to build more -- but the one they did bolt together isn't a designer's dream confined to the turntable, but a coupe that can be legally driven. There's several features that hearken more to Zagatos past than any BMW, especially the glass rear hatch and faint double-bubble  roof common to all racing Zagatos, but the overall effect suggests a upper-class successor to the Z4 coupe.

Previous BMW show cars like the 328 Homage and GINA concept were never meant for production, and some BMW execs say the Zagato isn't either. Yet why build a road-ready, realistic concept only to confine it to an Italian lakeside resort once a year?

Exteririor BMW Zagato Coupe

 

Interirior BMW Zagato Coupe

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New 2013 Chevrolet Corvette C7

New 2013 Chevrolet Corvette C7,We know more about the next Vette than we did just a few months ago. Gone are thoughts of a split rear window, a turbocharged V-6, or a midengine design. It now appears that the C7 will debut at this coming winter's North American auto show in Detroit with a 5.5-liter V-8 that still uses pushrods. However, thanks to direct injection and higher compression, it's reasonable to expect the new Corvette to put out 440 hp, so it could match or best the outgoing 6.0-liter. 

The car will be visually arresting for certain. Inspiration will come at least in part from the present Camaro. One sure bet—GM will finally, praise heaven, give its $50,000 Ferrari slayer an interior that's gorgeous, and with seats that hold the driver comfortably on track day.

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New 2014 Porsche Macan

2014 Porsche Macan,Porsche loyalists, look away. You might cry foul over this latest VW Group tie-up with Porsche, but Porsche can't hear you over the ka-ching of all those dollars, euros, yen, and yuan. 

We actually have high hopes for the Audi Q5–based Macan. The reason: The Q5 could be much more capable than it is, but while we don't foresee Audi bringing us an R-edition Q5, we can believe Porsche would go there. 

At first, we expect Porsche to go for improved handling, the way it built the Cayenne to be a more capable high-speed machine than the VW Touareg. AWD will be a given, as will two Audi-derived engines, the 237-hp 2.0-liter turbo four and the 288-hp V-6. Rumors suggest that a manual gearbox could be possible, but we're betting on a seven-speed auto, though there's still hope it could come in a dual-clutch arrangement.

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New McLaren P12 Coming in 2013

The new February 2012 issue of AUTOBLITZ Magazine leads on our exclusive inside story on the new McLaren P12 - Woking's spiritual successor to the F1.

We'll see the new hypercar within the next 12 months, but CAR has compiled a scoop dossier on the P12. Buy the new February issue to see the full set of three artist's impressions, compiled with the help of sources within McLaren who have seen the clay styling buck.

McLaren P12: the artist's impressions

The P12 looks 'like something out of iRobot,' according to our insider – way more dramatic than the supercar-by-numbers MP4-12C.

This is McLaren design chief Frank Stephenson's first clean-sheet design; he could only influence minor details on the 12C, like the front bumper. Hence the double-bubble roof and a canopy-style glasshouse which is said to dominate the front of the P12.

The tech powering the 800bhp McLaren P12

Our eight-page magazine feature reveals plenty of detail about the new McLaren supercar, codenamed P12. It follows in the footsteps of the P11, the project codename which begat the MP4-12C (and also comprehensively scooped by AUTOBLITZ Magazine – four years before it went on sale!).

The P12 will use a similar carbon Monocell structure as the MP4-12C, but with less budgetary restraint – the P12 will cost a reputed €750,000 – there is even more carbon in the bodyshell and structure, to trim weight to the absolute minimum.

The MP4-12C's 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 will be used in the P12, but it will be paired with a KERS energy storage system to provide bursts of electric power for overtaking. Our story reveals how early styling mock-ups of the P12's cabin had F1-style pistol grip steering wheels with big red boost buttons to deploy the KERS overtaking boost.

Unlike the original F1, the P12 will have a two-seat cabin, this time; McLaren Automotive managing director Anthony Sherrif told CAR they experimented with a three-seat layout like before, but it messed with the dimensions too much.

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2013 Honda Fit EV 5-Door

The 2013 Honda Fit EV is an electric version of the automaker's subcompact Fit 5-door hatchback. It will be available to lease for $389 per month in California and Oregon in the summer of 2012, followed by selected East Coast markets in 2013. The lease payment includes scheduled maintenance and 24-hour roadside assistance.
 Exterior Features
Honda plans to lease no more than 1,100 Fit EVs during a 3-year planned production run. All of them will be painted in Reflection Blue Pearl, a color unique to this model. Additionally, the Fit EV is adorned with "EV" badges, identifying decals on the car's flanks, chrome front trim, clear-lens taillights, a rear spoiler, and 15-inch aluminum wheels that are specific to this model. The Fit EV also receives more aerodynamic front and rear bumper covers, according to Honda, as well as side skirts to improve airflow around the car and extend driving range.
Interior Features
Occupants sit higher in the Fit EV, because the battery is installed under the car's floor. Seats are upholstered in ecologically responsible bio-fabric, and the Fit EV's electronic gauge coloring changes between green, white and red depending on whether the car is operating in Econ, Normal or Sport modes.

A standard telematics system with smartphone and computer applications allow the owner to remotely keep tabs on the Fit EV's state of charge, initiate or terminate charging, pre-condition the car's cabin temperature using the air conditioner or heater, set charging alerts, and to program charging times for off-peak utility rate hours.

A navigation system is also standard, designed to help find the nearest charging stations, and the Fit EV's remote key fob allows for charging activation or termination as well as cabin pre-conditioning. The remote must be used within 100 feet of the vehicle.
Optional Features
Honda leases the 2013 Fit EV in a single state of specification. Options are not available, though dealers do offer a range of extra-cost accessories that may be added to the vehicle.
Under the Hood
The 2013 Honda Fit EV is equipped with a rechargeable 20-kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium-ion battery that is located under the car's floor. The battery powers a 92-kilowatt electric motor, which drives the front wheels through the Fit EV's 3-mode electric drive system featuring Econ, Normal and Sport settings. Honda says that when driven in Econ mode, driving range for the Fit EV increases 17% over Normal mode. In Sport mode, acceleration improves, the automaker states.
Using a 240-volt outlet, the Fit EV can be recharged in as little as 3 hours, according to Honda. The company does not provide timing when using a standard 120-volt household outlet. Typically, however, using a standard outlet doubles recharging time at a minimum.
Driving Range
Honda says the new 2013 Fit EV should offer a 76-mile driving range in combined city and highway driving. Used exclusively for city driving, the company claims the car can travel 123 miles between visits to the charging station.
Safety
Honda says the Fit EV's battery is encased in a steel jacket and "is designed to be non-reactive in any crash or puncture." In addition to these measures and Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure, the Fit EV is equipped with six air bags, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, and stability control.

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2012 New York auto show

All Show Car in USA,The 2012 Detroit auto show was so busy that the near lack of debuts at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show may have given everyone a false sense that no new cars were coming to the 2012 New York auto show. Not true. Apparently, the Chicago auto show was just the eye of the storm as automakers unleashed a deluge of cool new vehicles that they've been holding back for the Big Apple. More than 20 new vehicles debuted at the show today, with more headed on our way on Day 2. Learn about all the models you may have missed below:

• New Mazda Takeri Concept at the 2012 New York Auto Show
• New 2013 Cadillac SRX at the 2012 New York Auto Show
• New 2013 Volkswagen Alltrack Concept at the 2012 New York Auto 
• Land RoverNew 2013 Range Rover Evoque Convertible Concept at the 2012 New York Auto Show
• New 2013 BMW X1 at the 2012 New York Auto Show
• New Fisker Atlantic Concept at the 2012 New York Auto Show
• New 2013 Porsche Boxster at the 2012 New York Auto Show
• New 2013 SRT Viper at the 2012 New York Auto Show
• New 2013 Jaguar F-Type Sports Car at the 2012 New York Auto Show

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New 2013 Jaguar F-Type Sports Car at the 2012 New York Auto Show

The F-Type is expected to be shorter than the brand's familiar XK sports car, which is available as a coupe or a convertible. It will also have room for just two people, whereas the XK has seating for four (though the two rear seats are mostly for show).

Jaguar only offered a teaser image of the F-Type's taillight, but it says the production car will be unveiled before year's end.

Powertrain details weren't released, but Jaguar says the F-Type will offer a range of engines including a new powerplant family. The XK features a 5.0- liter V-8 engine that can be normally aspirated or supercharged.

The C-X16 concept's blend of aggressive styling cues and graceful proportions was a winning combination that should make for a stunning production car. The possibility that this sibling to the $85,000-plus XK could have a lower starting price only enhances its appeal.

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New 2013 SRT Viper at the 2012 New York Auto Show

The SRT Viper fits the bill with a radical new take on its iconic design, but this Viper only returns to the market thanks to Chrysler merger with Fiat and studying that brand's own muscle car, the Alfa Romeo 8c.


2012 New York Auto Show


Italian heritage in a sports car can't be a bad thing, but first let's focus on what makes this American car great: 640 horsepower through a normally aspirated V-10 engine with 600 pound-feet of torque. Those numbers almost make you forget that it's still the same basic engine as the last Viper, which was phased out in 2010.


Zero to 60 mph times for the new model weren't listed in the press materials, but the previous-generation Viper had a remarkable 3.8-second figure. We expect the 2013 SRT version to top it.


That's due in part to the added horsepower and torque — torque is up from 560 pounds-feet and Chrysler says it's the most torque from any naturally aspirated engine — as well as weight savings.


This snake's skin — sorry — is made out of lighter-weight materials with carbon fiber making up the roof for the first time and the rest of the body and chassis using materials like aluminum, magnesium as well as carbon fiber to keep weight to a minimum. The base Viper's weight is 3,354 pounds and lightens to 3,297 with an SRT Track Package. That's 105 pounds lighter than the previous model.


There will also be a Viper GTS for owners who are serious about taking it on the track.


What no one will likely be marveling at is the six-speed manual transmission. It's a Tremec TR6060, which is used in other high-powered cars like the Chevy Corvette ZR1, and it's not known for the smoothest or lightest of shifts. It's often used in these applications because it can handle all that power, but automakers like Nissan, with its GT-R, have foregone the manual transmission altogether to make their cars even faster.


Not being able to shift a new Viper yourself with a stick and left pedal would likely turn off the loyal Viper owner community, but the Viper does have cruise control ... for the first time.


Tires are vitally important to keeping this beast on the road while owners try to shift through the gears. Pirelli P-Zero tires are standard, with P295/30ZR18 in front and P355/30ZR19 in the back. Maybe this will inspire Chevy and other muscle-car makers putting 20-inch wheels on as many trims as possible. The Rattler wheels are available in either polished aluminum or painted Hyper Black or low-gloss black. Who's not picking one of the black options?


The interior will likely be welcome by previous owners who were treated to the most bargain basement of surroundings as the Viper aged. At what will likely be near six-digit prices, the interior should be covered in leather, and the SRT team says it is with accent stitching standard, too. The seats focus on racing so we expect they won't be too comfortable, but the company says it is the most spacious interior of the line.


There's also a 7-inch digital gauge cluster that is fully customizable. In the center stack, there's a standard 8.4-inch touch-screen with two available levels of multimedia options as we've seen in other Chrysler vehicles with the Uconnect system. There will also be a range of Harmon Kardon stereos from which to choose.


The SRT Viper is a special vehicle with only one distinct purpose: Go fast. Secondarily, it may be to look menacing. It seems it will achieve both.

Interior New 2013 SRT Viper

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New 2013 Porsche Boxster at the 2012 New York Auto Show

The classic low-slung roadster shape carries over to the 2013 model year, but all-new styling introduces a design theme with more creases and sharper edges, particularly along the sides of the car leading to the scalloped intakes and over the rear wheels.


2012 New York Auto Show 


The headlight assemblies have a more vertical shape than before, but they don't dramatically alter the front end. In back, Porsche elegantly integrates the rear spoiler with the taillights.

New 2013 Porsche Boxster ,The Boxster also gets a redesigned interior that follows in the footsteps of other recent Porsches by adopting upscale materials befitting the car’s premium price. (The new Boxster starts at $49,500 plus destination.) The padded dashboard looks good, and a slimmer version of Porsche's button-centric center console separates the bucket seats.

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New Fisker Atlantic Concept at the 2012 New York Auto Show

Fisker Automotive, the company behind the Karma range-extended electric car, has finally given shape and a name to the more affordable car heretofore known as Project Nina: The Atlantic appeared on the eve of the 2012 New York auto show as a concept. The company's co-founder and designer Henrik Fisker said the model is 90% into its development cycle. If the Karma is any indication, the real thing will look almost exactly like this concept, though Fisker says the interior will be changed substantially.

2012 New York Auto Show 

From its front-end design to its 22-inch wheels, the Atlantic is an obvious Karma sibling, though the company says it doesn't share the $102,000 luxury car's platform. Lighter and roughly the size of an Audi A6, the Atlantic is meant to be more affordable and mass-marketable, though the company is mum on a timetable and pricing. Originally, Project Nina was expected to go on sale in 2013 priced at around $50,000 to $60,000, a reasonable range to compete with the Tesla Model S, for which competitor Tesla has similar goals.

Fisker has revealed little about this model's drivetrain except to say it mirrors the Karma in principle; it's a series hybrid that provides a limited electric-only range before a gas-powered generator fires up to keep the car going. The rear-wheel-drive car also adds an all-wheel-drive option. Fisker says this second-generation powertrain will drive its generator with a four-cylinder gas engine from BMW.

While this four-door is noticeably smaller than the Karma, the roofline is higher, and "spider" cross-bracing leaves only a glass roof above the rear passengers for more headroom. Its backseat is said to be roomier, and the battery pack that runs through the middle of the cabin appears to be a bit lower. The trunk is also larger, and the rear seats fold forward — a rarity among hybrid and battery-powered sedans.

Though it's been knocked down a couple of times by high-profile setbacks, Fisker seems to be adept at getting back up. Battery supplier A123 Systems has taken responsibility — and is footing the bill — for a recall to replace the battery packs on 2012 models, a few of which have failed completely. In March, due to Project Nina delays, the U.S. Department of Energy froze payments to Fisker from a $529 million loan. Then, just days before the Atlantic concept's introduction, the company announced having raised $392 million in private funding. Now Fisker is re-evaluating whether the Atlantic will be built at a former GM plant in Wilmington, Del. "We're still looking at Wilmington as our primary choice right now," said Fisker's recently appointed CEO Tom LaSorda. "I always look for other options."

See more Galeri :

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New 2013 BMW X1 at the 2012 New York Auto Show

The X1 has been on sale for years in Europe; it gets updated for its U.S. introduction and it will arrive in dealerships this fall. Two models will be available: all-wheel drive xDrive35i versions will use a 3.0-liter 300-horsepower twin-turbocharged 6-cylinder and rear-wheel drive sDrive28i and all-wheel drive xDrive28i models get a 2.0-liter 240-hp twin-turbocharged four-cylinder. The latter engine features stop/start and regenerative braking systems to optimize fuel economy. EPA numbers haven’t been announced yet.

The sDrive28i and xDrive35i will be offered exclusively in the U.S. market. The BMW X1 sDrive28i starts at $31,545, the X1 xDrive28i at $33,245 and the X1 xDrive35i at $39,345. All prices exclude an $895 destination fee.

Exterior New 2013 BMW X1

Interior New 2013 BMW X1

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Land RoverNew 2013 Range Rover Evoque Convertible Concept at the 2012 New York Auto Show

Fresh from its debut last month at the Geneva International Auto Show, the Range Rover Evoque convertible concept makes its U.S. entrance in New York.

2012 New York Auto Show

The convertible is based on the coupe version of the new-for-2012 Range Rover Evoque compact SUV, the smallest in the automaker's lineup. The concept seats four and features a power-retractable soft-top and a rollover protection system. The concept rides on 21-inch Titan silver wheels, and the exterior is finished in metallic Causeway Grey paint. Specifications weren't available, but Land Rover says "the new convertible body style has been achieved with minimal changes to weight and torsional rigidity."

The inside is trimmed in lunar- and ivory-colored leather with sport seats featuring contrast stitching. An 8-inch dual-view touch-screen and a Meridian stereo are other cabin highlights. Access to the cargo area is through a drop-down tailgate rather than the traditional model's hatch.

Land Rover says the convertible is just as off-road ready as its fixed-roof counterparts, thanks to its four-wheel-drive hardware, including the Terrain Response system and surround-view camera.

Don't expect to see this on the streets anytime soon. Land Rover said the convertible concept is a design and engineering study with no plans to produce it at this time.

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New 2013 Volkswagen Alltrack Concept at the 2012 New York Auto Show

Volkswagen's luxury brand, Audi, has a history of building off-road-ready wagons with its Allroad line; VW follows suit with the debut of the Alltrack concept. The car is based on the Passat Alltrack sold in Europe, but Volkswagen says the concept is only meant to gauge reaction and not intended for the U.S.

2012 New York Auto Show

Despite plastic cladding around the wheel openings and revised bumper styling, the Alltrack remains more wagon than crossover in appearance. To improve the car's off-road potential, Volkswagen has increased its ground clearance by 1.2 inches, added steel skidplates to protect the underbelly and fitted the car with an off-road-driving program for the 4Motion all-wheel-drive system.

Available at speeds up to 18 mph, the off-road program modifies the intervention threshold for the antilock brakes, shortens the reaction time of the electronic differential locks to limit wheelspin, and reduces the sensitivity of the gas pedal for better control at low speeds.

Power comes from a familiar source: Volkswagen's turbocharged 2.0-liter diesel engine. The four-cylinder makes 140 horsepower and 236 pounds-feet of torque and teams with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

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New 2013 Cadillac SRX at the 2012 New York Auto Show

Cadillac is showing off its changes to the SRX crossover at the New York International Auto Show. The SRX was last redesigned for the 2009 model year, and it gets some exterior tweaks and new interior goodies for 2013.

2012 New York Auto Show 

Outside, there's a new design for the upper and lower grilles, front fender vents with LED "light pipes," plus new colors and 20-inch chrome and polished aluminum wheel designs.

Inside, Cadillac is adding its CUE system, which is Cadillac's version of Chevrolet's MyLink or Buick/GMC's IntelliLink system. CUE, which stands for Cadillac User Experience, will give owners access to hands-free texting, navigation and traffic updates, and Pandora or Stitcher applications when a smartphone is tethered to the system. Other interior upgrades include two additional USB ports, an SD card slot, an auxiliary input jack and a 12-volt power outlet. The SRX's steering wheel, shift knob and instrument cluster also get updated designs. HD radio is newly standard.

Also new are Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Cadillac's Safety Alert Seat systemand adaptive cruise control. For 2013, Cadillac has added active noise cancellation, which uses microphones to detect and suppress ambient noise for a quieter ride.

The SRX is still powered by the 308-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 and is available in front- or all-wheel drive. No word yet on prices; it goes on sale this fall.

Exterior New 2013 Cadillac SRX 

Interior New 2013 Cadillac SRX 

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