Autocars: October 2010

Sunday 31 October 2010

2011 Honda Civic Type R Euro Launched in Japan, Limited to 1,500 Units

Honda has introduced a new model year version of its British-built Civic Type R Euro in Japan. The 2011MY batch will be the last of this model series to make its way to Japan as production of the current generation three-door Civic Type R has been terminated in Europe because its 2.0-litre VTEC engine does not meet the Euro V emissions regulations.

Having few things to do this weekend, I decided to crash a Toyota event. It was the 2010 Toyota Experience, which will eventually cover 17 Romanian cities and is meant to promote the Japanese manufacturer's European line-up, from the cute-and-cuddly iQ to the rough-and-tough Hilux truck and the more stylish Land Cruiser. Video after break.

Honda to Debut Electric Concept Model and New Plug-in Hybrid Platform at LA Show

Last week, we told you about some of the new cars and concept models heading to the LA Auto Show in mid-November. Now we have news of Honda's plans for the motor show. The Japanese automaker said it will host the world premiere of an all-new electric vehicle concept as well as a plug-in hybrid platform showcasing the next-generation of Honda hybrid technology.

2010 Volkswagen Passat facelifted

The B6 Passat was heavily facelifted by Klaus Bischoff and Walter de Silva, and was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in September 2010 and although designated "B7" the car is not an all-new model.

The facelift resulted in every external body panel being changed, except for the roof and glasshouse, with the most prominent change being to the grille and headights, which mirror the style first shown on the Mk3 Scirocco. The height and width dimensions are unchanged from the B6 Passat, while length increases by 4 mm. New features include a fatigue detections system and an automatic ‚Äúcity emergency braking‚Äù system.

It should arrive at dealerships in mid-November 2010.
The interior featured minor detail changes from the B6, although the basic dashboard design remain unchanged.
A long-wheelbase version of the Passat will be built in China by FAW-VW in 2011.

2010 Volkswagen Passat

2010 Volkswagen Passat

All Review videos and more of:• Infiniti• Mitsubishi• Aston Martin• Isuzu• Nissan• Audi• Jaguar • Pontiac• Bentley• Jeep• Porsche• BMW• Kia• Rolls Royce• Buick• Lamborghini• Saab• Cadillac• Land Rover• Saturn• Chevrolet• Lexus• Scion• Chrysler• Lincoln• Smart• Dodge• Lotus• Subaru• Ferrari• Maserati• Suzuki• Ford• Maybach• Tesla• GMC• Mazda• Toyota• Honda• Mercedes-Benz• Volkswagen• HUMMER• Mercury• Volvo• Hyundai• MINI.and MORE....

Swissauto 40Hp Kart: It doesn’t get any purer than this

Supercars are nice, no doubt about it, but few people can really afford them. The price is high, upkeep is high, taxes are high and any mistake, even one that ends in a mild fender-bender is still going to cost you an arm and a leg. A bit too much then, for some weekend fun.

Fortunately, there is a cheaper alternative and, might I add, at least as fun as owning a supercar. A kart. This is driving at its purest form and if you ever saw a kart race with Ayrton Senna or Michael Schumacher in it you'll know what I'm talking about.

Hitting the SEMA Show floors next week will be an array of customized Lexus hybrid models. The Japanese firm's lineup in Las Vegas will include the RX 450h SUV tuned by Paul Tolson, a race-spec GS 450h sedan, the VIP Auto Salon-prepped HS 250h sedan and two modified LS 600h L limos.

Lexus will also show off the CT 200h F-Sport concept fitted with 18-inch wheels shod in Pirelli P-Zero Nero 225/40 tires, a big brake kit with cross drilled rotors and an adjustable sport suspension. Full details and pictures after the break.

Classic car ads are always nice, because they were made in times when people weren't so wound up and actually had the time to read something. So, there's plenty of information in them, some of which is quite entertaining today, almost thirty years later.

This here ad depicts the E28 BMW 5-Series, built between 1981 and 1988, claiming that it's both a sports car and luxury sedan.

Here we go again: Bulgarian Vilner luxifies the Camaro with impressive results

Vilner, who recently took it upon themselves to redo the interior of a Hennessey SRT600 Grand Cherokee, has now unleashed their interior-modifying skills on the new Camaro. Thank God, because it most definitely needs some fancy-pants stuff like this on the inside in order to take on the Mustang.

For this project, Vilner took a Silver Ice V6 Camaro and then added its own special magic to the seats, dash, ceiling, and all the rest. Instead of the common black plastic and leather found in most Camaros, Vilner's pony car wears "nubuck, aged nappa, and chrome" in its passenger compartment.

There's a redesigned steering wheel with better grips, too. Yeah, that's nice, but I'm still staring at all the leather. Why? Because it looks like a million bucks.

If we are to believe a report from Britain's Car magazine, Audi is planning to introduce a mid-engined sports car called the R5. Said to be positioned between the more mainstream TT and the flagship R8, the R5 is believed to be based on the VW Group's forthcoming MiMo (as in "MittelMotor") mid-engine sports car platform, which will also be used on future Porsche and VW models.

2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid sales will begin by the end of 2010. The Sonata Hybrid drivetrain combines a 2.4-liter engine with six-speed automatic transmission, and a 30kW electric motor and lightweight lithium polymer batteries to produce a full gasoline-electric hybrid with 37 miles per US gallon (6.4 L/100 km; 44 mpg-imp) in the city and 39 miles per US gallon (6.0 L/100 km; 47 mpg-imp) on the highway. This powertrain will be share by the 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid

2011 Hyundai Sonata

2011 Hyundai Sonata

2010 Volkswagen Golf popular car

The Golf has been very popular with British buyers since its introduction in 1974. By March 2009, nearly 1,500,000 had been sold in Britain, making it the eighth most popular car ever sold there .
Upon the release of the Mk1 Golf in the mid 1970s in Australia, interest from prospective buyers was much higher than anticipated and most had to be placed on a waiting list. Some Golfs were shipped whole, whilst others were shipped in separate parts, which were then assembled in Australia at the VW Clayton plant in Melbourne. Buyers who requested certain colours such as red, had to wait longer until their colour was shipped. Some of these buyers chose to take a different colour temporarily until their requested colour became available, some waiting for their colour for up to 12 months.

2010 Volkswagen Golf