Ferrari Wins two 2013 International Engine of the Year Awards

By: GTspirit.com

Ferrari’s incredible performance, production engines continue to rake in the accolades with the company’s flagship 6.2-litre V12 engine from the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta taking home two awards at the 2013 International Engine of the Year Awards.

458 Italia awarded the best engine of 2013

F12 Berlinetta also awarded the best engine of 2013

In 2011 and 2012, the 4.5-litre V8 engine which revs to an insane 9,000rpm in the Ferrari 458 Italia came home with awards for the Best Performance Engine and the best engine Above 4.0-litre and the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta’s 6.2-litre V12 was recently awarded for the 2013 edition of the event. This just goes to show that when it comes to performance engines, no-one can do it better than Ferrari.

Mercedes-Benz unveils Concept car

Bruce Mbingeleli

What are German car manufactures known best for: “Innovation” when it comes to future cars. Mercedes-Benz BlueZero concept is Mercs attempt to alternative fuel efficiency; the BlueZero was firstly introduced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The vehicle is a flexible concept that has the ability to accommodate three variants share the future alternative fuels; electric, hybrid and hydrogen fueled. The vehicles feature a single architecture that accommodates three variants which have different electric power-train configurations, each of which are fully developed and ready to be tested for road usage. Its electric drive system gives each variant the same performance specifications for acceleration when reaching top speeds.

The BlueZero’s electric drive modular design accelerates from 0-100 km/h in under eleven seconds and its top speed is electronically governed to a maximum of 150km/h in the interest optimal range and energy efficiency, its peak torque is a maximum of 320Nm and it achieves this with a 1-litre turbo petrol engine, the vehicle is installed with a power generator.

The unique and distinctive Mercedes design idiom displayed by the body highlights the progressive nature of concept BlueZero is mind-blowing. The elegant front is dominated by the radiator grille with its centrally located star. Aerodynamics of the BlueZero is partly due to the closed front apron according to the brochure, the design means that cooling air intakes are not required.

Mercedes-Benz S63 & S65 AMG

The elegant V8 S63 AMG

Bruce Mbingeleli

The Mercedes-Bens S63 AMG and the S65 AMG are the class power of the top-line in the S models, are even appealing; thanks to a subtle yet extremely effective fine-turning measures the two performance saloons are even more striking and priceless than ever before. The updated technology is aimed at ensuring a more dynamic driving experience as well as optimum active and passive safety.

Exclusivity and dynamism combined with effortless superiority and state of the art technology both of the S-class models from Mercedes-AMG embody all of these characteristics and more will leave you breathless. The S63 AMG pushes 386kW of maximum power sharing the same DNA as the C63 AMG V8 engine developing 630Nm of maximum torque, capable of reaching speeds from 0-100km/h in just 4.6 seconds. The S65 AMG meanwhile demonstrates even greater superiority, it’s equipped with an AMG 6.0- litre Biturbo V12 engine delivering maximum power of 450kW and a maximum torque of 100Nm, acceleration from 0-100km/h is just 4.4 seconds. Both saloons are electronically limited to 250km/h, despite that no changes have been made to the engine data and performance values, it has still been possible to reduce fuel consumptions and C02 emissions by up to three percent.



S65 AMG fitted with a V12 Biturbo engine



Contributing to the even more exceptional status of the models is the new more pronounced arrow-shaped radiator grille featuring twin chrome-plate louvers in the case of the S65 AMG. The new front apron incorporates striking, AMG-specific LED daytime driving lights and two transverse air outlets on each side. Further striking features include the “6.3 AMG” or “V12 Biturbo” lettering on the front wings and the redesigned exterior mirrors.

Side sill panels emphasize the elegant line of the front apron through to the rear of the vehicle, where the new car apron features yet another highlight of perfection, the centre section of the diffuser insert is now painted in the same colour as vehicle body. The rear lamps with 52 LED’s in the form of a double “C” also give the S class an unmistakable appearance from behind. A distinctive element of both these models comes from within the guise of the sports exhausts with two chromed twin tailpipes, featuring a V12 design in the case of the S65 AMG. Visual aspects which distinguish the V8 from the V12 model also include the attractive AMG light alloy wheels. The S63 AMG rolls in 19-inch multi-spoke wheels painted titanium grey with a high-sheen finish. The S65 AMG on the other hand comes with 20-inch forged wheels painted titanium grey with a mirror finish.

Land Rover Defender DC100 Concept

Bruce Mbingeleli

The new Land Rover DC100 concept car, was revealed at the Frankfurt motor show in 2011.

Lander Rover has announced two version concept vehicles at the Frankfurt, a three-door estate off road powered by a diesel engine and a more leisure orientated two door sport version with no roof powered by a petrol engine for the Land Rover defender, the iconic go-anywhere vehicle, it’s named DC100 and DC100 Sport the two concept showcase the direction and thinking behind the on-going development of the new Land Rover Defender and production is expected in 2015.

The DC100 and DC100 Sport capture the flexibility, adaptability and versatility; it’s an expression of leisure fun to travel in. Like the iconic 90 it’s relatively compact, though the show car is much wider than its predecessor. Judging from its width it makes more recognizable from the outside, the wheel-at-each corner stance seems more pronounced in the fixed roof model though some doubters liken the shape of the DC100 to the Skoda Yeti, it’s really unmistakably a Land Rover when you’re standing or looking at it. Inside and outside the DC100 has far more glitz from the funky door handles to the trendy yet sophisticated interior. The backseats are built into bulkhead and the bases appear have that flow of a stadium seats. Shiny aluminium and bright grab handles surround the auto gearlever and centre display while there are silver-finished details on the transmission tunnel and door handles. Covered in high-quality cloth and plastics are used on the seats and doors. Its shape added that modern look and boldness.

The DC100’s engine fires a meaty sound, this vehicle has a DNA of a Range Rover Sport under it, 375kW supercharged V8 has an aggressive rumble that gives it the character of a Monster truck.

BMW X4 Concept makes its debut…

Bruce Mbingeleli

The BMW X4 is making its world premiere at the Auto China Show 2013, also known as the Shanghai Auto Show. The show is scheduled from April 20-29 2013.

The BMW X4 is a new compact crossover Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), a production ready concept which will share the same powertrains with the X3, including a variety of four cylinder and six cylinder engines in both petrol and diesel format. Under the hood, the X4 will most likely feature past BMW engine options, such as a 176kW 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a 220kW 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six. In America, it will be featured as an all-wheel drive with less powertrains petrol and turbocharged engines for overseas consumers according to the brochure.

The X4 crossover is a smaller version of the X6, even though this is a concept the production model of the X4 is going to be similar, it already looks like a BMW, sharing the distinctive BMW grill and muscular lines. The production model should also feature the full LED headlights and taillights. The vehicle measures 4.648mm in length, 1,915mm in width and 1,622mm in height. It bears the same length and wheelbase as the X3, but is 53mm lower and 34mm wider than the X3. When it comes to styling nothing much has changed as it has identical exterior features as the all the X models and a few from the F30.

Aston Martin Centenary Edition

The iconic British car maker’s Century Edition the Vanquish.

Bruce Mbingeleli

Aston Martin celebrates 100 year of its historic venture and with this, it manufactured a set of genuine Centenary Edition models that will be some rather with interesting features.

The Centenary Editions make over will make just hundred units of each of its model lines, V8 Vanquish, Vantage, DB9 and Rapide.

Pricing is not yet available, but if you ask me these vehicles will cost you an arm and leg. But if you can afford the Centenary Edition models are available to order now from either of Aston Martin’s dealerships in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

“A rich and illustrious heritage marks Aston Martin out as an automotive marque like no other. The story of this historic company is the story of consistent excellence, expertise and the utilisation of the latest in engineering and design technology - a story expressed best in the story of our cars”.

Aston Martin

The vehicles’ exterior features solid sterling silver Aston Martin wings badges with tailored enamel inlay and a special Aston Martin hallmark, with a unique graduated paint finish which adds 18 hours to the paint process according to the brochure.

The interior features deep soft black leather with contrasting stitching and a special embroidery of the Aston Martin wings in the head restraints and solid sterling silver sill plaques individually numbered with an Aston Martin hallmark.

Audi Reveals R8 facelift, with new 7-speed S Troinc V10 Plus Edition

Bruce Mbingeleli

Audi’s lifted the covers off the 2013 model year R8 facelift in advance of its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show in September.

The R8 benefits from some minor cosmic tweaks both inside and out, the addition of a 7-speed S tronic dual clutch transmission that replaces the 6-speed automatic R tronic the all-new range-topping and lighter V10 Plus model with 410Kw, which is available solely in Coupe guise.

Both model base the 4.2-liter V8 with 316kW and 430Nm of torque and the 5.2-litre V10 rated at 380kW and 530Nm remained unchanged, according to Audi the 7-speed S tronic will reduce C02 emissions by up to 22 grams/km and decrease the sprint from zero to 100km/h by three-tenth of a second very impressive. Fingers show that, the R8 V8 Coupe with S tronic accelerates from rest to 100km/h in 4.3 seconds with a top speed of 300km/h, while the V10 with S tronic completes its sprint in just 3.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 314km/h.

The new addition to the range the V10 Plus, which is essentially a replacement to the 412 GT models, this production has been limited to 333 units for each body style. The V10 Plus Edition..

This limited edition will comes with bucket seats with glass fibre reinforced plastic (GFRP) chassis, with specially tuned springs and shock absorbers different camber values on the front axle and standard magnetic ride adaptive damping.

Sales are expected to start in the first quarter of 2013 in the U.S.A