Japanese Used SUV

Mazda‘s tenacious two back to tackle Tassie

admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:13:03 +0000

The Mazda Motorsport team has confirmed that they will be returning for Targa Wrest Point, the second round of the Australian Tarmac Championship. After successful testing sessions, the rally will see both the Mazda3 MPS and the Mazda RX-8 SP competing over two gruelling days and 14 closed road stages around Hobart.

Victorian-based siblings, Brendan Reeves and Rhianon Smyth will be piloting Mazda’s turbo rotary RX-8 SP. In three previous championships, the siblings have been successful drivers of the Mazda3 MPS, but now step up to the more powerful RX-8 SP for the first time, a move which demonstrates Mazda’s faith in Reeves.

The dynamic brother and sister duo have competed together for Mazda in seven rallies and in their Mazda3 MPS have secured five first places.Reeves, who tested the RX-8 SP around Wakefield Park last month, was most enthusiastic about its performance, saying, “I am really excited to be driving the RX-8 SP at Targa Wrest Point. Although I have loved driving the Mazda3 MPS in previous rallies, it’s great to be able to step up to another challenge and get behind the wheel of the RX-8, a car which has the potential to take it to the main challengers in the Modern category.

Mazda Motorsport Manager, Allan Horsley, is confident that Reeves driving the RX-8 SP will do him proud. The RX-8 SP had some mixed fortunes in Targa’s last rally in the Targa High Country, but Horsley and his team have been working on it to refine and improve any limitations the rotary previously had. “We are cautiously optimistic that the RX-8 is in for a good run at this year’s Wrest Point, especially after seeing it come second outright at last year’s Wrest Point rally. I believe it should be on the pace again,” said Horsley.

Reeves will be competing in the Modern Category and will be amongst Jason White in his Lamborghini Gallardo, Jim Richards, driving his Porsche GT2 RS, and Tony Quinn in his new Nissan GT-R. Another Australian Motorsport power couple, Simon and Sue Evans, will be driving the Mazda3 MPS. Their carefully honed driving-navigation skills took out the Showroom category in the Targa High Country 2011 rally and they are now equal leaders in the Australian Tarmac Championship.

Source: http://www.mazda.com.au/community/news/2012/1/mazdas-tenacious-two-back-to-tackle-tassie

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Nissan Partners With National Auto Sport Association To Create New Spec Z Series

admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:58:37 +0000

Nissan North America and The National Auto Sport Association (NASA) are pleased to announce the creation of an all-new Spec Z series that will feature the Nissan 350Z®. The NASA Spec Z class will include all trim levels of the 2003-2008 year model Nissan 350Z in a single classification focused on close competition, parity and cost containment that will showcase driving ability and car setup skills.

NASA Spec Z will offer a comprehensive contingency prize program that will reward both Regional and National Championship competitors. Nissan Motorsports will provide significant support for the series, and their contingency prize program provides cash rewards up to $850 for the top three finishers at each regional competition weekend. Additionally, Nissan Motorsports will provide $6,500 in cash support to the top Spec Z finishers at the 2012 NASA Championships.

We are very excited about Spec Z,” said Jeremy Croiset, NASA Sponsorship Manager. “We have been working closely with Nissan Motorsports on the creation of Spec Z, and it will be an excellent series for anyone looking to step into a spec vehicle that’s fast and relatively inexpensive to build, maintain and race. With the fantastic contingency prize programs that are being provided for Spec Z, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more rewarding spec series to race in.

Ron Stukenberg, Senior Manager, Motorsports Marketing Communications, Nissan North America agrees, and adds, “NASA has a proven track record of growing classes from the ground up, so we are excited to be working with NASA on the new Spec Z series. We have a number of competitors already expressing interest in the series, so the potential for this series is very strong indeed.

Source: http://www.nissannews.com/pressrelease/3235//nissan-partners-national-auto-sport-association-create-new

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Introducing the All-new Hyundai Veloster - Cool Coupe or Smart Hatch

admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:20:12 +0000

Hyundai Motor Company’s all-new Veloster is now arriving in Australian showrooms and brings a unique, interesting and inspiring alternative to the Australian automotive market.The all-new Veloster exemplifies Hyundai’s brand philosophy “New Thinking. New Possibilities.”. The Veloster also exhibits Hyundai’s unique design language ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ showcasing a sleek and distinctive design in an innovative 2+1 door configuration that provides practicality and individuality.

The Veloster achieves the maximum 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Complete with a comprehensive suite of active safety technologies, Veloster comes standard with Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control System (TCS), Anti-skid Braking Systemn (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) & Brake Assist System (BAS). Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) is standard on DCT models.

The Veloster’s commanding exterior is echoed with a powerful and poised interior environment. Inside, the centre stack fascia and controls resemble a sport bike fuel tank with air vents inspired by motorcycle tailpipes and a floor console mirroring the seat of a bike. The interior is finished with modern metallic-look accents around the centre console, door handles, air vents and gear stick.

The Hyundai Veloster will be available in two trim levels (Veloster and Veloster +) and powered by an efficient 1.6-litre four-cylinder GDI petrol engine, generating 103kW. The Veloster is available with the option of a six-speed manual gearbox or Hyundai’s first double clutch transmission both achieving an estimated combined fuel economy of just 6.4 litres per 100km.

Source: http://www.hyundai.com.au/About-Hyundai/news/Articles/Introducing-the-All-new-Hyundai-Veloster-Cool-Coupe-or-Smart-Hatch

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2012 Mazda Mx-5 Miata Special Edition Makes North American Debut In Chicago

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:15:06 +0000

IRVINE, Calif. - Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) will unveil its 2012 MX-5 Miata Special Edition at the upcoming 2012 Chicago Auto Show. The limited-run model features a black-only Power Retractable Hard Top (PRHT) - the first time a non-body-colored hard top is available in North America - as well as other exclusivities such as two new exterior colors, new 17-inch black gunmetal alloy wheels, black exterior accents, black heated leather seats and piano black interior finishes.

The MX-5 Miata is the world’s best-selling two-seat roadster with more than 900,000 produced, and made its global debut at the Chicago Auto Show in 1989. The MX-5 Special Edition continues the sports car’s history of being a dynamically-engineered, enthusiast-approved roadster whose price doesn’t discriminate and whose luxuries are not stripped.

Available with either the six-speed manual transmission with short-throw shifter or six-speed Sport automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, the Special Edition model is based off the Grand Touring model. Both Premium and Suspension packages will be standard on the MX-5 Special Edition.

Turbo2 - Unveiled at the SEMA Show held in Las Vegas this past November, this concept is the brainchild of The Autobarn, which owns two Mazda dealerships in the Greater Chicago area. Here, a “Zoom-Zoom Concentrated” Mazda2 is outfitted with an extra-strength component in the form of a MAZDASPEED3 MZR 2.3-liter Direct Injection Spark Ignition (DISI) turbo engine. Consider the Turbo2 a subcompact cat that doesn’t purr - it growls.

Star Mazda Championship Open-Wheel Race Car - The Star Mazda Championship presented by Goodyear is a major part of the Mazda Road to Indy. Rising motorsports stars from around the world compete for prizes valued at $1.5 million, including a scholarship to move up and compete in the 2013 Firestone Indy Lights series.

Source: http://www.mazdausamedia.com/content/2012-mazda-mx-5-miata-special-edition-makes-north-american-debut-chicago

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The Mercedes-Benz Citan the new urban delivery van from the star brand

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:19:15 +0000

Stuttgart/Sindelfingen – Mercedes-Benz’ new urban delivery van is called Citan. The name was revealed during a symposium on brand competence and city logistics, which was held at the Mercedes-Benz Design Center in Sindelfingen. The name Citan combines the words “city” and “titan,” thus making it clear that the vehicle is a first-rate specialist for city logistics — one that was specifically developed to meet the tough challenges faced in day-to-day operations.

With the introduction of the new urban delivery vehicle, Mercedes-Benz is adding another production series to its family of vans. The Citan is supplementing the Vario (6.0 to 8.2 tons), Sprinter (3.0 to 5.0 tons), and Vito (2.77 to 3.2 tons) to broaden the range of products in the lower weight classes of the van market, where it will significantly boost sales.

Whereas the small vans segment was still a niche market in the mid-1990s, it has now grown to around 700,000 units in Europe. Mercedes-Benz Vans plans to gain a market share of four to five percent in this segment. Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, is convinced that the Citan will be a big success.

We will take advantage of the trend toward city vans, which our brand will be able to exploit thanks to its attractively priced vehicles and the high quality of our products and services,” says Mornhinweg. “Our typical Mercedes-Benz reliability, 24/7 service, and, last but not least, our great brand image are key selling points as far as our commercial customers are concerned.

Due to its large number of variants, the new urban delivery van with the star is suited for a broad range of commercial applications. Not only will the Citan be offered as a panel van, a crewbus, and a mixed-use vehicle; it will also be available in a variety of lengths and weights.

Source: http://media.daimler.com/dcmedia/0-921-1459149-1-1459160-1-0-0-0-0-0-11700-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-0.html

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Lexus Introduces 2013 LX 570 Luxury Utility Vehicle at North American International Auto Show

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:02:13 +0000

DETROIT, Mich – Sporting a new Lexus spindle grille, new 20-inch alloy wheel design and upgraded interior for the 2013 model year, the eight-passenger LX 570 continues to deliver on challenging off-road adventures as well as luxurious daily driving.

The 2013 LX 570 gets a new look at both the front and rear. New LED daytime running lights complement new headlamp design and new larger fog lamp bezels. Taillamps are also updated, while the rear license plate surround gets a revised look and the tow hitch cover is more integrated. Both front and rear bumpers are refreshed, and the rear bumper protector is enhanced by a chrome accent.

The spacious, eight-passenger cabin of the LX 570 receives a number of upgrades and changes. The driver’s seat gets a new Easy Access system, which makes entering and exiting the vehicle easier. The steering wheel and driver’s seat automatically retract when the ignition is turned off. Front seats also feature improved cooling, and a 120-volt power outlet has been added to the middle row.

The LX 570’s 5.7-litre V8 delivers the punch and towing power demanded in this segment. The powerplant produces 383 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and peak torque of 403 lb.-ft at 3,600 rpm. Crucial to LX customers who tow with their vehicles, 90 percent of peak torque is available at just 2,200 rpm.

The LX 570 is equipped with an electronically-controlled six-speed automatic transmission that estimates road conditions and predicts the driver’s intention in order to select the appropriate gear ratio for the vehicle’s speed and the driving conditions. A sequential shift mode allows the driver to select gears manually. Even at very low speeds, such as trail driving, the transmission operates smoothly and imperceptibly.

Source: http://www.lexus.ca/lexus/experience/en/home/whatsnew/whatsnew_news.jsp#2013-LX-Unveiled

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Maruti Suzuki unveils the all new compact, powerful, highly fuel efficient Swift DZire

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:56:38 +0000

New Delhi - Car market leader Maruti Suzuki India Limited, unveiled its much awaited next generation all new compact sedan, Swift DZire.The new Swift DZire is wider, taller, has a larger wheel base and is yet compact as compared to the existing Swift DZire. The new Swift DZire is more fuel efficient by almost 7 per cent in Petrol and 8 per cent in Diesel.

The Company along with its vendors has invested over Rs. 230 Crores towards this full model change for the new Swift DZire, This is over and above the Rs 550 Crores invested towards new Swift launched earlier in this fiscal.

At the launch, Shinzo Nakanishi, Managing Director and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India said, “This second new model in our portfolio within six months, demonstrates our faith and confidence in the Indian market. It is also an indicator of our ability to offer new models regularly in shorter time spans. Our engineers have brought in interesting modifications including an Automatic Transmission in the new Swift DZire to meet the aspirations of a young city family”.

Swift DZire is a category leader with over 39 per cent market share in the entry sedan segment. Clocking monthly sales of around 10,000 units, the company expects the new Swift DZire with the full model change to strengthen the entry sedan portfolio and sell much larger numbers. 32 young Maruti Suzuki engineers have smartly integrated over 150 changes on the new Swift DZire.

The front fascia now sports a uniquely designed bumper and grill, carries Suzuki’s characteristic U-Line theme, powerful fog lamps, and character lines on bonnet. Other modifications on the exteriors include ORVM mounted turn signal indicators, characteristic vertical lamps, motion theme alloy wheels and a wrap around cabin wind screen. The rear looks sportier with rear positioned antenna, integrated spoiler and trapezoidal tail lamps. The strong shoulder line and U-line theme is carried from the front for visual continuity.

Source: http://www.marutisuzuki.com/Maruti-Suzuki-unveils-the-new-Swift-DZire.aspx

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Two Chrysler Group Vehicles Honored by Winding Road Magazine

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:03:02 +0000

In case you didn’t know, this is awards season for the entertainment industry – the Golden Globes were handed out last weekend, and the Academy Award nominations will be announced Tuesday – and it appears awards season also extends to the auto industry. Two of Chrysler Group LLC’s latest products have received major recognition from a high-octane publication and its online outlet.

The all-new 2012 Jeep® Grand Cherokee SRT8® and the new 2012 Dodge Charger earned Winding Road’s “Best Car of the Year Awards,” an annual honor that recognizes the best driver’s vehicles in the market.

SRT and Dodge are two brands that stand to make 2012 a banner year for driving enthusiasts,” said Seyth Miersma, Editor-In-Chief – Winding Road. “The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 manages to be one of the most brutally fast and easy-to-live-with super-SUVs we’ve ever tested. Meanwhile, the 2012 Dodge Charger offers more in terms of style, performance, and space than most of the vanilla-flavored competition could dream of. With completely different form factors, price points and audiences, the commonality between these two Best Cars is the way in which they can make their drivers grin.

Winner of “Best Utility Award,” the all-new 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8® offers a unique blend of head-turning SRT performance with legendary Jeep capability and utility, luxury and refinement, and innovative advanced technologies. It’s the most powerful Jeep vehicle ever with all-new 6.4-liter HEMI® V-8 that delivers 470 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque. A new active valve exhaust system allows standard Fuel Saver Technology to engage over a wider rpm range for a 13-percent improvement in highway fuel efficiency and a 450-mile range.

Earning the “Best Everyman Sedan Award,” the 2012 Dodge Charger delivers world-class levels of quietness and handling performance, state-of-the-art technologies and premium materials once limited to elite European sport sedans.

Source: http://blog.chryslergroupllc.com/blog.do?id=1676&p=entry

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Victory Of Jaguar And Land Rover In The Most Authoritative Award In Germany

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:09:53 +0000

Russia, Moscow - Jaguar and Land Rover celebrated the victory in several categories the award “Best Car 2012″ by the magazine Auto Motor und Sport. Jaguar XF has won the category “Best Foreign midsize car,” the fourth consecutive year, while Land Rover has taken the first five places in the category of “Foreign SUVs.

” Every year, readers of the most popular German car magazine Auto Motor und Sport choose the best car in ten categories. This year, readers from other countries could also cast their votes for more than 300 models. As a result, the turnout of more than 116,000 readers 19 magazines from 16 countries.

New Range Rover Evoque was on top in the category of “Foreign SUVs,” received 20.7% of all votes in this class. The reason for this success Range Rover Evoque have exceptional design and outstanding off-road performance. next four places in the category of “Foreign SUVs” took the model: Range Rover - 2nd place, Range Rover Sport - 3rd place, Defender - 4th place Discovery 4 - 5 th place.

Jaguar XF has won in its category with a clear advantage in 45.8% of the vote, improving your last year’s result. In Germany, the XF became the best selling foreign car in the premium in 2011 and the most popular model Jaguar.

Source: http://www.landrover.com/ru/ru/lr/about-land-rover/news/auto-motor-und-sport-favorites/

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TMC to Launch Compact Sports Car ‘86′ in Japan in April

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:34:42 +0000

Toyota City, Japan — Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) will launch the “86″1 compact rear-wheel-drive sports car, which was exhibited at the 42nd Tokyo Motor Show 2011 as a production prototype, on April 6 throughout Japan. In step with the launch of the 86, TMC will open “Area 86″2 specialty shops, where car enthusiasts can get together to talk about automobiles and where shop specialists can support car-owner activities aimed at helping give sports-car culture local roots.

The 86 was developed as a unique rear-wheel-drive vehicle, with intuitive handling, that embodies the essence of driving enjoyment and features the world’s first3 horizontally opposed D-4S (direct injection four-stroke gasoline engine, superior version) engine installed front mid-ship. Adoption of a package consisting of the world’s only4 horizontally opposed engine coupled to an ultra-low-center-of-gravity (460 mm) rear-wheel-drive system offers fun driving at a level unprecedented in earlier sports cars.

The newly developed horizontally opposed D-4S engine provides a maximum output of 200 horsepower (PS), and the synergistic effect of an aerodynamically superior form and light weight (1,190 kg, RC grade), result in fuel efficiency of 13.4 km/L under the JC08 test cycle outlined by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

The line-up includes the standard G grade; the luxury GT grade, which includes projector-type discharge headlights, 17-inch aluminum wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, shift knob and parking brake lever, and an aluminum pedal; the GT “Limited” grade, which adds seat coverings made of leather and Alcantara®5 (and heated driver and front-passenger seats), and a rear spoiler; as well as the RC grade, which is suitably customizable for serving as a base vehicle for racing. Seven body colors to accentuate the elegantly aesthetic beauty of the vehicle and a choice of either black or red for the interior are available.

In step with the launch of the 86, TMC will set up 283 Area 86 shops at dealer locations throughout Japan, where specialists will provide comprehensive, expert advice and services to car enthusiasts. Designed as a place where sports-car enthusiasts can gather, Area 86 shops will exhibit the 86, provide it for test-driving, and distribute information related to sports cars, with the aim of becoming places where people can be immersed in the fun of automobiles.

Source: http://www2.toyota.co.jp/en/news/12/02/0202.html