Car Blog

Jaguar has revealed a stunning range-extended electric supercar concept car. The C-X75 has been designed to celebrate 75 years of the marque and provide a glimpse into the future of Jaguar and its commitment to producing beautiful, fast cars powered by sustainable means.

“The C-X75 is a tribute to the people who shaped the iconic Jaguars that are revered to this day. By making it an innovative test-bed for the technologies of tomorrow, it also ensures that our reputation for engineering excellence will continue for another 75 years and beyond.”

Mike O’Driscoll, Managing Director, Jaguar Cars

75 Years of Jaguar Design

The C-X75 hints at an exciting evolution of Jaguar’s design language while paying homage to some of its most admired cars of years gone by. Advanced design features such as a ground-breaking propulsion system and active aerodynamics allow for an elegantly simple fuselage section that remains stable at very high speeds.

The C-X75 is finished in Jetstream Silver, its designers staying true to the long-held Jaguar design philosophy of natural, flowing lines and simple, elegant forms. Where inspiration from the past was found is in the innovative engineering and functional design elements of cars like the 1950s C-Type and D-Type racers and unique 1966 XJ13 Le Mans prototype — a car described by Callum as “arguably the most beautiful Jaguar ever made.”

Shorter and lower than the current crop of supercars, its exterior design is about pure performance with a simple central fuselage surrounded by prominent wheel arches. Thanks to the packaging efficiencies provided by the absence of a conventional piston engine, the car’s designers had maximum freedom in placing the mechanical components and creating the most elegant engineering package available.

“The C-X75 is everything a Jaguar should be. It possesses remarkable poise and grace yet at the same time has the excitement and potency of a true supercar. You could argue this is as close to a pure art form as a concept car can get and we believe it is a worthy homage to 75 years of iconic Jaguar design.” Read the rest of this entry »

Audi announced U.S. manufacturer’s suggested retail prices for its all-new Audi A8 flagship luxury sedan, as well two 2011 Audi R8 V8 models coming in late 2010 and the updated Audi TT quattro Coupe and Roadster coming in early 2011.

Across its 2011 model-year U.S. lineup, Audi has lowered base prices as it introduced more efficient engine packages, left prices on some models unchanged from 2010 models or raised prices modestly.

“With this 2011 pricing strategy, Audi is determined to hit the sweet spot of performance, technology and value,” said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. “The model year ahead offers great promise for the Audi brand to build on its momentum story in the U.S.”

2011 Audi A8 | Pricing and highlights

The U.S. pricing for the all-new and technology-infused 2011 Audi A8 luxury performance sedan begins with an MSRP of $78,050 (excluding $875 destination charge, taxes, title, options, and dealer charges).

The starting price for the normal wheelbase version of the Audi flagship model includes a broad range of advanced features, such as an efficient 8-speed Tiptronic® transmission and the next-generation of the Audi MMI® system with the industry exclusive MMI touch technology. The touchpad feature with handwriting recognition allows motorists to conveniently enter multimedia, navigation and communications commands. The most luxurious Audi sedan comes with the brand’s signature quattro all-wheel-drive technology and aluminum ASF® construction.

Also available on the 2011 Audi A8 is the Bang & Olufsen® Advanced Sound System, which includes 19 speakers and 1400 watts of power for a sound quality designed for the most discriminating audiophiles. The Audi A8 Bang & Olufsen system is unique because it was included in the earliest stages of the high-end sedan’s development. Read the rest of this entry »

The hot new Ford Fiesta is defying conventional wisdom about hatchback cars in the American marketplace.

Ford sales figures show more than 60 percent of early Fiesta sales have been five-door hatchback models – a take rate that is bucking the national hatchback trend of just 8.3 percent in the 2009 model year, according to Wardsauto.com, a leading industry trade publication that tracks bodystyle trends.

The numbers also bolster Ford’s decision to offer the all-new Focus, to be shown in Paris on Sept. 30, in both hatch and sedan variants in the U.S. market. The addition of Focus will make Ford the only full-line vehicle manufacturer to offer both sedan and hatchback versions of its B- and C-car lineup in America.

“American car buyers have grown accustomed to the convenience of hatch bodystyles after years of owning SUVs and crossovers,” said George Pipas, Ford sales analyst. “Combined with a generation of younger drivers who have been exposed via the Internet to popular high-performance hatchback offerings in Europe and Asia, we may be seeing the beginning of a shift in buyer acceptance of hatchbacks.”

European buyers have long had an affinity for hatch bodystyles. Ford C-segment sales data, covering Focus-sized vehicles, show a whopping 99 percent of the total European market is dominated by vehicle configurations with a hatch.

As Ford continues to roll out global vehicle platforms like Fiesta and the next-generation Focus, the company is investing in flexible plant capacity. The flexibility will ensure Ford is able to react quickly to changing tastes, providing a vehicle mix – hatchback or sedan, base model or fully loaded – to serve varied consumer demands around the world. Read the rest of this entry »

The Smallest, Lightest, Most Fuel Efficient Range Rover Ever Produced

The all-new Range Rover Evoque will make its global public debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show on the 30th September 2010.

The Range Rover Evoque brings the acclaimed Land Rover’s LRX concept car into production reality, faithfully capturing the original design of this landmark coupe concept.

In keeping with the ethos of Range Rover, the Range Rover Evoque delivers premium levels of craftsmanship, luxury, performance and renowned Land Rover multi-terrain capability into a more compact package.

“These are exciting times for our business,” said CEO Dr Ralf Speth. “Not only will the Range Rover Evoque increase our worldwide market share, it helps to define a new segment for premium compact SUVs that are more sporting and stylish.” Read the rest of this entry »

3DX’s all new, never before seen Phantaglyph technology premiered in October’s issue of Maxim magazine to spotlight the Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid coupe ad campaign. In celebration of the monumental, multi-media campaign – Honda will display this unique integration at an all day block party in Times Square. As the first-ever 3D advertiser in Times Square, Honda will exhibit their 3D commercial from 10am-6pm on Thursday, Sept. 23 on the Clear Channel Spectacolor HD Screen.

Maxim’s first publication to include 3D technology debuted in the October issue with a 3D cover story, co-branded 3D glasses and a 3D print ad of the Honda CR-Z utilizing the Phantaglyph technology. The ad allows the CR-Z to appear more realistic – as if it were sitting on the page right in front of the viewer.

The unconventional nature of 3DX’s Phantaglyph technology appropriately highlights the dynamic duality of sport and hybrid, which are married in the Honda CR-Z. Both the strategy of the ad campaign and the progressively sleek car style seek to reach the 25 – 35 year old buyer that is definably tech-savvy and forward thinking.

Prior to Phantaglyph technology, Anaglyph technology was the sole 3D technology used in print and movie advertising. Shortcomings in the former such as restricted viewing process, limited depth available for objects, triple-vision blurring and true color imaging delusion have been remedied with Phantaglyphs™. Specific to the Maxim campaign, new Phantaglyphs™ don’t require viewers to hold the ad directly in front of their faces, rather the technology allows the Honda CR-Z image to lay flat on the table, while viewers watch the contents rise up from the page or delve deep into the surface.

During the 3D block party, Maxim models will be handing out the 3D Maxim issue containing the 3DX ad. 3D glasses will also be handed out along with CR-Z displays, including a large-scale floor Phantaglyph, photo booths with 3D backdrops and Sony racing simulators featuring the Gran Turismo 5 on PlayStation 3 (PS3) in Stereoscopic 3D. A special guest performance by N.E.R.D. will take place at 12:30pm.

“Owen and I are very excited to bring this new 3D technology to the consumer products market since the Phantaglyph allows for the appearance of true 3 dimensional objects so consumers can actually experience the brand.” – Ziggy Kormandel, CEO 3DX

The Audi A5 and A6 vehicles were recognized by the Motorist Choice Awards , the 5th annual automotive awards based on active consumers in the marketplace.

The result of more than 42,000 consumer surveys, the Motorist Choice Awards crowned the Audi A5 as the Best “Sexy Styling” Vehicle from a Premium Brand and the Audi A6 as the Best “Country Club” Vehicle from a Premium Brand.

“Many auto enthusiasts are passionate for Audi’s attractive and sleek, sexy designs. The Audi A5 definitely turned heads for its great style,” said George Peterson, President of AutoPacific.  ”The Audi A6, chosen as the Best ‘Country Club’ vehicle, was shown to truly represent its owners – well-to-do, educated, financially savvy and frequent travelers.”

The award-winning Audi A5 coupe features a sophisticated, yet striking design that commands road presence.  An elegantly appointed, driver-oriented cockpit combined with standard quattro all-wheel drive, an eight-speed tiptronic transmission, and an incredibly powerful yet efficient engine, makes the A5 is a true driver’s sports car.

With one of the most luxurious interiors available, according to U.S. News and World Report, the Audi A6 combines exceptional performance with an unmatched driving experience.  The elegant design of the A6 is defined by iconic touches such as the unique Singleframe® grille, striking LED daytime running lights and taillights, optional entertainment choices such as the BOSE® Surround Sound system, industry-leading safety features and the convenience of HomeLink and Bluetooth.

This year’s Motorist Choice Awards went beyond editorial reviews and performance test data to address the wants and needs of today’s motorists, like total cost of ownership, driving experience, fuel economy and resale value.  The awards included 15 new areas in which buyers might categorize their potential purchases, also including Best Cargo Hauler and Best Value Car. The exhaustive national value data and consumer lifestyle studies were performed by the consumer automotive analyst IntelliChoice and automotive market research firm AutoPacific.