Geneva Motor Show: KTM X-Bow GT

KTM will unveil the X-BOW GT at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show next week.

The GT is based on the X-Bow R, power will likely be provided by a turbocharged 2.0-liter petrol engine that develops 240 HP (177 kW) and 310 Nm (229 lb-ft) of torque. The X-Bow GT will be able to hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than 3.9 seconds.

Full specs, including prices, will be revealed at the Geneva show, but KTM has revealed that the front and side screens can be heated, and a wiper with a screen wash system is available as an option.

2013 Geneva: SsangYong SIV-1 concept

Ssangyong will unveil the new concept car the SsangYong SIV-1 concept at the Geneva Motor Show. There's no word on performance specifications, but the model reportedly measures 4500mm long, 1880mm wide and 1640mm tall with a wheelbase that spans 2700mm.

The front fascia features an exquisite set of headlamps with two types of LEDs and then some more LED garnish on the front bumper. The sporty styling is carried till the rear with tailgate-mounted spoiler, a dual exhaust system and angular taillights.

The four bucket seats independent, not shown in the two images teaser, is accompanied by modern and dynamic exterior lines already anticipated the concept XIV-2 and E-XIV. Among other gifts promised by SIV-1 Concept SsangYong there are “safety and comfort in all driving conditions.”

Joe Flacco Named Super Bowl MVP and Wins a 2014 Corvette Stingray【Video】

Joe Flacco won a whole lot more than just a Super Bowl championship after leading the Baltimore Ravens to their second title in team history. Chevy was the official sponsor of the Super Bowl XLVII MVP Award and presented Flacco with the keys to a 2014 Chevy Corvette Stingray.

The bright red 2014 Corvette C7 appeared on the field at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans after the game, and while many sports fans overlooked the new Chevrolet sports car, it caught the eye of many auto enthusiasts who were at the big game. And Flacco is about to receive a lot more than the new Corvette after taking home the world title and MVP honors.

The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is the most powerful standard model ever with an estimated 450 horsepower (335 kW and 450 lb.-ft. of torque (610 Nm). It is also the most capable standard model ever - able to accelerate from 0-60 in less than four seconds and achieve more than 1g in cornering grip.

Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco will receive his 2014 Corvette Stingray once production starts. Of course, his will be the second unit, with the first promised to Rick Hendrick, the current owner of the American NASCAR team Hendrick Motorsports, who paid $1.1 million for the privilege at a Barrett Jackson auction recently.




Press Release

Super Bowl XLVII MVP Takes Home Chevrolet Corvette Stingray

Presented by local Chevrolet dealer who rebounded after Hurricane Katrina

NEW ORLEANS – The honor of awarding the Super Bowl XLVII MVP Award was given to Rick Flick of New Orleans’ Banner Chevrolet, who knows a thing or two about comebacks. Banner Chevrolet, a part of Flick’s family for 40 years, was wiped out by Hurricane Katrina and was the first business to reopen in New Orleans East after the devastating 2005 storm. On behalf of Chevrolet, the official sponsor of the Super Bowl XLVII MVP Award, Flick presented quarterback Joe Flacco with a 2014 Corvette Stingray on Monday in recognition of his effort in leading the Baltimore Ravens’ to a 34-31 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night.

“Banner Chevrolet and the entire city of New Orleans have been through so much since the storm, we felt this was a small gesture to bring the comeback story full circle,” said Alan Batey, GM vice president of U.S. Sales, Service and Marketing. “With the Super Bowl in his backyard, we couldn’t think of a better guy to have the honor of awarding the MVP with his Corvette Stingray.”

Banner Chevrolet was of the largest losses ever recorded for a dealership in the United States and recently completed a massive multimillion-dollar renovation with state-of-the-art technology. Banner is the only Chevrolet dealer in Orleans Parrish.

“We lost our entire inventory of 650 new Chevrolets and 120 pre-owned vehicles during Katrina,” Flick said. “I’m happy we are still a vital part of this community today and I can be here to represent the people of Chevrolet and its dealerships as we celebrate the Super Bowl MVP.”

The Super Bowl MVP receives the Pete Rozelle Trophy, a silver trophy made by Tiffany & Co., and the Corvette Stingray.

The 2014 Corvette Stingray is the most powerful standard model ever, with an estimated 450 horsepower (335 kW) and 450 lb.-ft. of torque (610 Nm). It is also the most capable standard model ever, able to accelerate from 0-60 in less than four seconds and achieve more than 1g in cornering grip. It is expected to be the most fuel-efficient Corvette, exceeding the EPA-estimated 26 mpg of the current model.

Toyota i-Road Concept

Toyota has revealed its Toyota i-Road Concept at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

According to Toyota, the Apple-esque named concept is a “compact, fun and emissions-free personal mobility concept, designed to offer quick and efficient urban transport for two people.”

The i-Road has a good chance of becoming a production car, under a different shape and name, which might go against the VW Up! and its Czech and Spanish brothers.

2013 Renault Kangoo【Video】

Renault has announced the new facelifted version of Kangoo Van. Brand new to the car body of Kangoo Express 2013 includes front, a new bumper, wider and with the “logo” Renault, larger and vertical and at the rear the shape of groups are Optical.

The revised Kangoo has a bolder front-end, with new light clusters and a different grille design but the improvements should also mean lower running costs for fleet operators.

The Renault Kangoo Van ZE features the logo behind the socket of the charger, the batteries need 6 to 9 hours to charge fully through simple household outlet. And also get the pedestrian alert sound system, which operates at speeds up to 30 km/h.

There are also further changes in the shape of the door mirrors. Worth noting is the unusual configuration with three front seats, an option not available for Kangoo ZE Maxi Maxi ZE of 5 seats. Inside the side panels and door panels have changed while maintaining the ability to completely break down the rear seats and provide maximum load capacity.




Press Release

• The New Year sees Renault, Europe’s number one van manufacturer; renew its compact van line-up (Kangoo Van was the best-selling model in its class in 2012, with a market share of 17.4 per cent). Significant changes have been made to Kangoo Van, which now features Renault’s new styling identity, following the introduction of a new front bumper. In the cabin, the dashboard has been revised in order to heighten the impression of quality.
• Kangoo Van Z.E. is even more clearly identifiable as an electric vehicle. Europe’s leading electric van comes with a new specific front bumper which incorporates the flap for the battery charger behind the bigger, blue-tinted, more vertically-positioned logo.
• The new Kangoo line-up features best-in- class engines for fuel efficiency. The dCi 75 and dCi 90 diesel engines are available with Stop&Start.
• New equipment includes ESC with Hill Start Assist and Grip Xtend, plus, the connected in-dash Renault R-Link multimedia system.
• Renault’s range of small vans is made exclusively at the firm’s MCA de Maubeuge plant in France.

Since its launch in 2008, the second-generation Kangoo Van has already found favour with more than 400,000 business customers. Renault’s compact van, which tops the European market, returns in strength this year with the release of a brand new Phase 2 version which covers the entire range, from Kangoo Van, and Kangoo Maxi, to Kangoo Van Z.E. and Kangoo Maxi Z.E.

The changes are immediately apparent, including the introduction of a new front end which incorporates the styling cues of Renault’s new design language, with a more prominent, vertically positioned logo. The new design highlights its robustness and modernity.

New door mirrors and headlights blend more harmoniously with the vehicle’s overall lines and the cabin, too, benefits from a new design in the form of a superior quality centre console and new steering wheel.

New Kangoo Van range

The Kangoo Van range offers two wheelbase lengths, three versions of the popular 1.5-litre dCi diesel engine (75, 90 and 110hp) and a choice of two- or five-seat versions of the Kangoo Maxi. The five seat “Crew” version features a rear seat that can be tipped forward to accommodate particularly long loads.

Class-leading fuel consumption

The latest Kangoo line-up builds on the strengths of its predecessor, especially when it comes it fuel-efficiency. The line-up includes a choice of responsive, yet economical powerplants, two of which return the lowest fuel consumption in their segment. The dCi 75 Stop&Start and dCi 90 Stop&Start engines boast NEDC combined-cycle fuel consumption of just 4.3 litres/100km or 65.7mpg (equivalent to 112g/km of CO2).

To help drivers reduce their fuel consumption further still, the latest-generation engines available for Kangoo come with a gear shift indicator as standard equipment, as well as an ECO mode that can achieve fuel savings of up to 10 per cent by acting on engine torque, the gear shift indications and accelerator pedal mapping.

The result is lower running costs and TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) savings, two fundamental considerations for business owners. Costs have been further reduced by longer engine servicing intervals for core versions (every two years or 25,000 miles, instead of every two years or 18,600 miles previously).

An impression of quality that expresses New Kangoo’s inherent robustness

During the development of New Kangoo Van, significant attention was paid to improving the impression of quality. A thorough review process lasting several months was implemented with a view to identifying those areas which permit the van’s strength to be instantly recognisable. The areas to benefit from attention include:

• Spot weld finishes,
• Crimping quality of door panels (cleaner, more consistent finish),
• Precision in the application of body sealants,
• Enhanced acoustics (sound proofing, aerodynamics, engines).

Innovative equipment: Renault R-Link, ESC with Hill Start Assist and Grip Xtend

New Kangoo Van benefits from a connected multimedia system thanks to the introduction of R-Link (optional, or standard equipment for ‘Sport’ versions). This system incorporates the in-dash TomTom® LIVE navigation previously available for Phase 1 Kangoo, plus numerous new functions, such as advance warning of hazardous zones and the ability to download applications like the reading out of e-mails. The range of radios has evolved, too, with a choice of three solutions. All radios come with USB and Bluetooth connectivity, while the next level up is equipped with a CD player. The premium radio integrates with the Renault R-Link system.

Also available is new-generation ESC combined with Hill Start Assist, plus Grip for improved traction in difficult conditions. It goes without saying that New Kangoo Van continues to be available with the many innovations that have forged its reputation, including the sliding rear roof flap.

New Kangoo: made exclusively at Renault’s Maubeuge plant

All New Kangoos will be made exclusively at Renault’s MCA de Maubeuge facilities in France. This factory is notably acclaimed for its ability to cover a wide range of vehicles and options (63 versions of Kangoo[1], 21 engines/motors, the Mercedes Citan, 200 colours), as well as for its uncompromising quality inspection procedures. The factory has made more than 4.9 million vehicles since 1971, including almost three million small vans and ludospace derivatives.

The Maubeuge plant also houses a Renault Tech facility. Kangoo Vans can consequently be converted on site as they come off the line, allowing business customers to take delivery of quality, tailor-built vehicles directly.

A more assertive ‘electric’ look for Kangoo Van Z.E., Europe’s number one compact electric van

Like the whole Kangoo Van range, New Kangoo Van Z.E. comes with a new front end which features the brand’s latest styling identity. The differences between the electric and internal combustion-engined versions have been accentuated. New Kangoo Van Z.E. comes with a blue-tinted logo, for instance, and blue rear light trim extensions, as well as new black headlight masks.

The socket for New Kangoo Van Z.E.’s battery charger is now located behind the logo, at the front. By plugging in the cable provided, owners can benefit from a complete charge in between six and nine hours using a Wall Box at their home or at a roadside charging station.

Another specific feature is the Z.E. Voice function which emits a sound to warn pedestrians of the vehicle’s approach. This system is activated at speeds of between 1 and 19mph (no sound at a standstill). Meanwhile, in order to benefit from off-peak electricity rates, owners can programme the charging of New Kangoo Van Z.E.’s battery remotely using their computer or smartphone thanks to the ‘My Z.E. inter@ctive’ pack.

Unanimously acclaimed by the media, New Kangoo Van Z.E. has secured a long list of awards – including “International Van of the Year 2011”. It has also been endorsed by its early customers who have been swift to praise its driveability and battery charging capacity. The model stands out as Europe’s best-selling electric LCV with almost 7,000 vehicles sold to date, including 4,000 in France.