Dacia-Duster-2013

Dacia Duster 2013 Prices reviews and details in UK: The Renault Group’s Dacia brand continues its pre-launch activities in Britain with the announcement of pre-ordering for the Duster compact SUV. The company said that as soon as it announces pricing and specifications for the Duster SUV on June 28, it will begin accepting pre-orders online with a £100 deposit.

The Romanian budget brand said the Duster’s range will start from less than £10,000 (€12,150 or US$16,000) for the front-wheel drive models, while 4×4 versions available from less than £12,500 (€15,150 or US$19,900).

The right-hand drive variant of Dacia’s SUV will be built at the new Renault-Nissan Alliance factory in India, with the first model to begin arriving in UK dealerships in January of 2013.

Dacia has not yet confirmed the UK engine range but in Europe, the Duster is available with a choice of three powerplants for both the 4×2 and 4×4 versions including a 110hp 1.6-liter petrol unit and a 1.6-liter turbo diesel with 85HP or 110HP.

Aside from the Duster, Dacia will also offer the Sandero supermini in the UK with prices to start from less than £7,000.

Photos of  Dacia Duster 2013:

2012-Kia-K9-Sedan

2012 Kia K9 Sedan details: With the K9′s domestic market launch drawing nearer, Kia has published a new trio of photos as well as the first official television ads for its new full-size, rear-wheel-drive sedan.

Two of the new photos provide us our first glimpse at the luxury model’s interior including the instrument panel and part of the steering wheel as well as Kia’s very BMW-like automatic transmission shifter and parking brake button and infotainment system control knob.

Kia says that the K9 will be equipped with an array of technological and safety features such as a latest generation, full-color heads-up display, full adaptive LED headlamps and a large 12.3-inches LCD screen for the infotainment system.

Furthermore, Kia revealed that the K9 will launch in South Korea this summer with two engine options, a 3.3-liter V6 rated at 296HP (300PS) and a 3.8-liter V6 producing 329HP (334PS).

More details are to be released in the coming weeks. In the meantime, head down to watch Kia’s four new commercials for the K9.

Photos of  2012 Kia K9 Sedan:

2013-Mercedes-Citan-Van

Mercedes-Benz Citan Van 2013 details: Mercedes-Benz has lifted the curtains off its new Renault Kangoo-based Citan delivery van several months ahead of its first public outing at the 2012 IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover this September.

The Citan is the first project to come out of the partnership between Mercedes-Benz’s parent company Daimler and the Renault-Nissan Alliance, which was formed in 2010. The new Mercedes van will be produced at Renault’s factory in Maubeuge, France, where the automaker assembles the Kangoo.

The production version of the Citan is much less Mercedes and far more Renault that what the German company’s teaser sketches initially suggested.

On the outside, the Mercedes van gains a similar front end to the latest A-Class with bespoke hood, front fender and bumper designs. Inside, whereas the German firm’s renderings showed a unique interior with two deeply set instrument gauges and SLK-like round air vents, the production Citan’s dashboard features a more utilitarian design that keep’s the Kangoo’s instrument panel.

The front-wheel drive Citan will be available in three different lengths: compact at 3.94 m (155.1-inches), Long at 4.32 m (170-inches) and Extra-Long at 4.71 m (185.4-inches). There will also be three separate models including a panel van, a crew bus and a passenger version called Mixto.

The choice of engines at launch will include three turbocharged diesels with direct-injection and a standard particulate filter with outputs ranging from 74hp (75PS) to 109hp (110PS), and a supercharged petrol engine generating 113hp (114 PS).

A BlueEFFICIENCY package that includes an ECO start/stop function, battery and generator management, plus low rolling resistance tires will be standard on the petrol model and optional on the diesel variants.

Five- or six speed (depending on the engine) manual transmissions will transfer power to the front wheels.

Mercedes said that all Citans will be equipped with an Adaptive Electronic Stability Program that takes the vehicle load into consideration, as standard.

The new Citan will reach European dealerships before the end of the year. The company said it has no plans to offer the compact van in the United States.

All photos of  Mercedes-Benz Citan Van 2013:

2013-BMW-X1-FL

2013 BMW X1: After the first photos, we now have official details and U.S. pricing for the facelifted 2013 BMW X1, which debut at the New York Auto Show and reach dealerships across the country this fall (and not in the summer, as BMW originally stated).

The X1 will be offered in the States for the first time since its introduction in 2009. It will be available in three models, the rear-wheel drive X1 sDrive28i priced at $31,545, and the all-wheel drive X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, priced at $33,245 and $39,345 respectively, with all prices including an $895 Destination and Handling fee.

In comparison, the 2012 X3 xDrive28i that’s propelled by a 240hp 3.0-liter naturally aspirated-six starts at $37,995, while the 300hp xDrive35i at $43,595, again including an $895 destination and handling fee.

Both the sDrive28i and xDrive28i are powered by BMW’s new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine delivering 240-horses, while the xDrive35i gets a 3.0-liter turbocharged six with 300hp.

Regardless of the engine choice, all X1′s get an automatic gearbox and a Brake Energy Regeneration system, while the 2.0L turbo models also feature a Start and Stop system as standard.

Changes brought by the facelift include some minor styling tweaks up front and at the rear along with new colors and trims for the interior.

All photos of  2013 BMW X1:

2013-Toyota-Venza

2013 Toyota Venza: Among the many refreshed models heading to the New York Auto Show this week for their first public appearance is the 2013 Toyota Venza.

The Japanese firm’s mid-size crossover gets some subtle exterior revisions, including a less complicated front grille, new headlamp fixtures with LED daytime running lights on higher trim models, a redesigned front bumper with a restyled lower grille, and new tail lamp graphics.

Completing the changes on the outside are the new 19-inch wheel designs and three fresh exterior colors named, Attitude Black, Cypress Pearl, and Cosmic Gray Mica.

The interior is upgraded with new standard features, including the addition of a blind spot mirror and outer mirror turn signals with puddle lamps on the base LE, and Toyota’s Entune multimedia system on the XLE and Limited grades.

For 2013, the Venza continues to be offered with two powerplants, a 2.7-liter four-cylinder unit producing 181hp and returning 23mpg combined (FWD), and a 3.5-liter V6 with 268hp rated at 22mpg (FWD). All-wheel drive is offered as an option on both models.

Look all photos of  2013 Toyota Venza:

2013-Nissan-Altima-Sedan

2013 Nissan Altima Sedan: We’re not sure if Nissan was planning to reveal its next-gen Altima sedan ahead of the car’s world premiere at the New York Auto Show on Wednesday, April 4, but either way, a first batch of pictures along with preliminary specs and prices were unloaded online today.

The new Altima sports a sleeker and crispier design than its predecessor, evidently inspired from the larger Maxima. The mid-size sedan’s interior is also new, but appears to be less exciting than the exterior in terms of styling.

“The safe thing to do would be to follow other automakers’ paths, conservatively evolving the Altima so as not to upset the existing owner base. But that would not be in keeping with Nissan’s ‘Innovation for All’ philosophy,” commented Brian Carolin, Vice President of Nissan N.A.

“We took our most successful model and changed nearly everything – the look, the feel, the driving experience and, of course, the technology down to even the headlights and windshield wipers.”

The fifth generation Altima keeps the same wheelbase as the outgoing Altima, but features a wider front and rear track (+1.4 inches).

It will reach U.S. dealerships this summer with a choice of two engines, a tweaked version of the 2.5-liter QR25 four-cylinder unit producing 182hp (+7hp) and a peak torque of 180 lb-ft, and 3.5-liter V6 VQ35DE, which remains rated at 270 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque.

A redesigned Xtronic CVT with new control logic and expanded gear ratio coverage transfers power to the front wheels on both models.

Nissan says that targeted fuel economy for the Altima 2.5L/CVT is 27 mpg city, 38 mpg highway and 31 mpg combined, and for the 3.5L V6/CVT Altima, 22 mpg city, 30 mpg highway and 25 mpg combined.

Later on, the Japanese automaker will add a hybrid model to the range, which combines a new 2.5-liter supercharged gasoline engine with a compact-size CVT package incorporating a single electric motor and two clutches with energy being stored in a lithium-ion battery.

Prices for the 2013 Nissan Altima sedan start at $21,500 for the base 4-cylinder model rising to $30,080 for the top V6 variant.

2013 Nissan Altima Sedan Prices:

Altima Sedan 2.5 CVT $21,500 USD
Altima Sedan 2.5 S CVT $22,500 USD
Altima Sedan 2.5 SV CVT $24,100 USD
Altima Sedan 2.5 SL CVT $28,050 USD
Altima Sedan 3.5 S CVT $25,360 USD
Altima Sedan 3.5 SV CVT $27,780 USD
Altima Sedan 3.5 SL CVT $30,080 USD

Look all photos of  2013 Nissan Altima Sedan:

2013-Porsche-Cayenne-Diesel

2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel: While already available in Europe, Porsche is getting ready to launch a diesel-powered version of the Cayenne SUV for the first time in the States.

The Cayenne Diesel will make its North American premiere at this week’s New York International Auto Show before it go on sale in the U.S. this September at a base MSRP price of $55,750, not including a $975 destination charge (*).

Power comes from an Audi-sourced 3.0-liter V6 turbocharged diesel engine, churning out 240–ponies and a hefty 406 lb. ft. of torque from as low as 1,750 rpm. The V6 is linked to an 8-speed Tiptronic S transmission and a permanent all-wheel drive system, with the Stuttgart-based automaker claiming a towing capacity of 7,716 lbs (3,500 kg).

The diesel-powered Cayenne completes the 0-60 mph (96km/h) acceleration in 7.2 seconds and can achieve a top speed of 135 mph (217km/h). Porsche estimates that its SUV model will return 20 mpg city, 28 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined.

The 2013 Cayenne Diesel will be joined by the all-new 2013 Boxster, which is expected to arrive in Porsche dealer showrooms later this summer at a base MSRP price of $49,500 for the Boxster and $60,900 for the Boxster S model, not including a $950 destination charge.

look all pictures of 2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel:

Renault-sporty-Clio-RS-200-2012

Renault  sporty Clio R.S. 200 hatch 2012: Only a few days before this year’s Formula 1 season kicks off with the inaugural Australian GP in Melbourne on Sunday, Renault released a special edition version of its sporty Clio R.S. 200 hatch to celebrate its F1 Constructors’ title with Red Bull Racing in 2011.

The Clio R.S. Red Bull Racing RB7 is a limited production model that will be marketed in five countries: France, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium and Austria.

Renault will begin accepting orders in these markets on March 14, with the car’s price in France set at €27,900 (US$36,660), or a little over €4,000 on top of the price of the regular Clio R.S. 200.

The limited edition Clio R.S. is painted in a matte black color contrasted by yellow accents on the F1-style blade, door mirror housings and the rear diffuser, while it also gets chequered-pattern roof decal and Red Bull Racing badging on the doors.

It rides on 18-inch black alloy wheels wrapped in the same Bridgestone RE050A tires fitted on the Mégane R.S.

Inside, Renault has color matched the Recaro bucket seats with the exterior theme, while other goods include the yellow accent trim on the sports steering wheel and the R.S. Monitor, which displays performance-related data such as 0-100km/h times and other information.

You won’t find any changes under the hood with the Clio R.S. Red Bull Racing RB7 using the regular model’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 200-horsepower (203PS).

Along with the special edition Clio, Renault also revealed four show cars decked out in the livery of the four teams that will be powered by Renault engines in 2012, namely Red Bull Racing, Lotus F1 Team, Caterham F1 Team and Williams F1 Team.

The four Megane models will be on display and used at the various events and sports demonstrations attended by Renault over 2012.

photos Renault sporty Clio R.S. 200 hatch 2012:

GMC-Terrain-Denali-2013

GMC 2013 Terrain: About three years ago, GMC launched the Terrain as its entry-level crossover model positioned right under the Acadia. Now it’s time for GM’s truck division to shake things up in the Terrain’s range with the presentation of the 2013 model ahead of its world premiere at the New York International Auto Show in April.

There are two things you need to know about the 2013 Terrain: the first is that GMC has replaced the current model’s 3.0-liter V6 with a newer 3.6-liter V6 unit, and the second, that it has introduced an upscale Denali variant into the Terrain’s lineup for the very first time.

Beginning with the new 3.6-liter V6 that will be available on both the regular Terrain and the luxed-up Terrain Denali, it produces 301-horsepower and 272 lb.-ft. (369 Nm) of torque, compared to 264hp and 222 lb-ft of the 3.0-liter V6.

Despite the increase in power and torque, GM says that it expects the new Terrain to deliver fuel economy equal to its predecessor (FWD: 17mpg city and 24mpg highway).

The 182hp 2.4-liter Ecotec four-cylinder engine continues unchanged for the 2013MY and will be offered on the Denali version as well. All-wheel drive is available as an option for both engines.

The Terrain will become the eighth model in GMC’s current lineup to be offered with the upscale Denali trim level.

“Denali is growing fast,” said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of GMC Marketing. “With seven different models, sales for this brand within a brand increased 79 percent from 2010 to 2011. With this in mind, the decision to create a more-upscale Terrain was an easy one.”

So what does the Denali grade bring to the 2013 Terrain? For starters, there’s an exterior package that adds bespoke 18-inch wheels for the 4-cylinder model and 19-inch for the V6, a chrome grille and satin chrome accents, different headlamp and taillight designs, plus body colored fascias and rocker panels.

Inside, the Denali models feature special soft touch Jet Black leather that lines the seats and door inserts and is contrasted by red accent stitching, which is also present on the dashboard, embossed Denali logos on the seats, mahogany wood trim accents on the dash and the steering wheel, plus eight-way power driver and passenger seat.

The Denali models come as standard with GMC’s new infotainment system featuring a reconfigurable home screen and a programmable power liftgate.

The 2013 GMC Terrain and Terrain Denali will go on sale later this year. Pricing has not yet been announced.

Photos of  2013 GMC Terrain:

Chrysler-300-Luxury-Edition-2012

Chrysler 300 Luxury Edition 2012 with 3.6-liter V6: Chrysler continues to expand its offerings for the new 300 sedan with the introduction of a new V6 option for the Luxury Edition, which will be available in addition to the range-topping 300C Luxury Series featuring a 363 horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine.

The 300 Luxury Edition is powered by the regular model’s 292HP 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine matched to a standard eight-speed automatic transmission and the choice of rear- or all-wheel drive.

As with the HEMI-powered Luxury Edition, the V6 model sports a slew of bespoke extras highlighted by the liberal use of leather throughout the interior.

Aside from the Black or two-tone Mochachino seats that are wrapped in Nappa leather and include 12-way power-adjustable front seats with two-mode ventilation and two-mode heated seats for both front and rear passengers, the Luxury model gets the same leather treatment for the dashboard, center console, door panels, armrest and steering wheel.

Furthermore, the interior package includes die-cast paddle shifters, Natural Pore Mocha wood trim in a matte finish, an infotainment and navigation system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, LED-illuminated instrument cluster with driver-selectable colors, power-adjustable steering wheel column and pedals, chrome door sills, dual heated/cooled cup holders, ambient lit foot well lighting, LED illuminated interior door handles and front and rear map pockets plus premium carpeted trunk mat.

On the outside, the Luxury package adds 20-inch polished face (RWD) or 19-inch (AWD) alloy wheels, plus platinum chrome fascia accents, exterior mirror caps and door handle accents.

Both the V6- and V8-powered Chrysler 300 Luxury Series models will go on sale next February.

The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (including $825 destination) of the 300 Luxury models is:

• Chrysler 300 Luxury Series (V6 RWD) $40,145
• Chrysler 300 Luxury Series (V6 AWD) $42,495
• Chrysler 300C Luxury Series (V8 RWD) $42,895
• Chrysler 300C Luxury Series (V8 AWD) $45,245

New photos of  Chrysler 300 Luxury Edition 2012:

Land-Cruiser-200-V8-2012

Toyota Land Cruiser 200 V8 Model 2012 with new price & previews: Toyota has officially revealed a refreshed version of its Land Cruiser 200 or V8 (not to be confused with the smaller Land Cruiser / Prado) in its home market of Japan, with most changes expected to pass on the global variant as well.

On the outside, the 2012 Land Cruiser 200 gains a boxier front bumper with new foglamps, redesigned headlamps with integrated LED strips on the lower side and a revamped front grille with chrome slats.

The new exterior mirrors with turning signals, along with the different tail lamp graphics and newly designed alloy wheels in sizes 18- and 20-in. complete the look.

Changes to the interior are limited to the graphics of the instrument panel, an improved TFT screen info placed between the two main gauges, and new colors and trim materials for the cabin.

On the technology front, Toyota has updated the Land Cruiser 200′s Multi-Terrain Select system, which provides the ability to alter the settings of the traction control and ABS for different driving conditions, as well as the “Craw Control” feature that acts a bit like a cruise control for low-speed off-roading on difficult terrain.

The 2012 Land Cruiser 200 will continue to be offered in Japan with a single engine option, a 4.6-liter V8 delivering 318PS at 5,600 rpm and 460Nm (339.2 lb-ft) of peak torque at 3,400 rpm, linked to an automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive system.

Local prices range from 4,400,000 yen (~US$56,500) for the five-passenger GX model to 6,300,000 yen (~US$80,900) for the top-of-the-line, eight-passenger ZX.

Along with the regular models, Toyota also offers two special packages for the JDM 2012 Land Cruiser 200, named “Luxury SUV” and “Urban Sports”, both of which add a number of bespoke styling elements inside and out.

Toyota didn’t say when it plans to introduce the facelifted Land Cruiser in other markets around the world, but buyers should expect to see it in dealerships sometime next year.

New photos of  Toyota Land Cruiser 200 V8 Model 2012:

BMW-M2-Dyno-2013

New BMW M5 F10 2013 with Twin-Turbo V8 Dyno: Manufacturer figures on vehicle performance are not always accurate. That’s why many road test editors prefer to verify the numbers on their own.

Some of them even go as far as dyno-testing to see not only if the output figures match those announced by the manufacturer, but also what is the actual power that is transferred to the road and how much is lost on its way from the engine to the wheels.

The first independent dyno test of the brand new 2013 BMW M5 was conducted by PP Performance on a MAHA LPS 3000 dyno and was published by BimmerPost.

Does the twin-turbo V8 powerhouse that nests under the hood of the F10 M5 match the 570HP and 680Nm (502 lb-ft) promised by BMW?

You can check out the video and the full spec sheet after the jump to find out, while we’ve also added a second clip with said M5 accelerating from 0-300 km/h (0-186 mph).