World premiere in Geneva: The legendary Scirocco is back

Wolfsburg, Geneva, March 2008. It is back: 34 years after the world premiere of the first Scirocco at the Geneva Motor Show, Volkswagen is now presenting the Scirocco of the new era in the same venue. Now as before, the coupé embodies the fascinating strategy of putting a sports car on wheels that is fit for use every day of the year at absolutely affordable prices. That is precisely what the new Scirocco does: high-class technologies merge with low costs of ownership, dynamic driving characteristics merge with a high level of comfort, and a surprisingly spacious interior merges with an uncompromisingly sporty design.

Volkswagen Chief Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn: “In the Scirocco we will be bringing the kind of sports car into the showroom that people dream of. Yet it is a dream that an exceptionally large number of car drivers will be able to afford – despite all of the high-end technologies we have implemented.” The Scirocco will already be entering the market across Europe in late summer, and other countries will follow over the course of the next year.

Avant garde design of the Scirocco
A calling card of the ambitious global concept is the new sports car’s avant-garde design. The fact being that the lines of the Scirocco study presented in August 2006 have been transferred to the production car nearly unchanged. This includes the long wagon/coupé roof whose form here is unique, and which pays tribute to the C-pillar design of the first Scirocco, the car’s athletic side profile, its distinctive engine hood and the entire rear end with its extremely broad shoulder sections. Only the design of the radiator grille has been changed for a more stylish and timeless solution.

With a length of 4.26 meters, the Scirocco is on par with the Golf. However, it is built significantly lower to the ground (1.40 meter) and is nearly as wide as the Passat (1.81 meter). Four adults can be seated with plenty of space inside. Once they are all aboard, the Scirocco provides 292 liters of cargo capacity; when the two seatbacks of the rear individual sport seats are folded down, capacity increases to a considerable 755 liters. This contemporary Scirocco demonstrates unfettered everyday utility, and it can be clearly recommended as a sports car for every day of the year.

Avant-garde technology of the Scirocco
Providing for ample power on the Scirocco – which comes with ESP and sport chassis as standard equipment – are four TDI and TSI engines, all of them charged and therefore just
as torque-strong as they are economical and low in emissions. The three TSIs (gasoline direct-injection) output 90 kW / 122 PS, 118 kW / 160 PS and 147 kW / 200 PS. The Scirocco’s common rail engine (TDI) develops a power of 103 kW / 140 PS.

Further high-tech elements of the Scirocco: a 7-speed DSG and an “adaptive chassis control system”. Meanwhile, a large panorama vent sunroof – extending from the A pillars to the B pillars – provides for plenty of light in the interior. At the press of a button the transparent panorama roof is raised up to 39 millimeters. When the sun is too intense, a sunshade may be moved into place. But that is seldom likely to be necessary, since the glass of the panorama vent roof reflects 99 percent of UV radiation, 97 percent of infrared radiation (heat) and 80 percent of visible light.

The new Scirocco is one of the most attractive sports cars in the world when it comes to pricing. Nonetheless, the standard equipment package is super. Always there, for example, are 17-inch alloy wheels, height adjustable driver and front passenger seats and steering wheel, leather parking brake grip, sport seats, split folding rear seats, power windows, air conditioning, ESP, braking assistant, six airbags, speed-dependent power steering, and of course a sport chassis.

TECHART wins sport auto Tuner Grand Prix 2008

The sport auto Tuner Grand Prix in Hockenheim is the world’s biggest performance competition in the car tuning industry. With driver Jörg Hardt at the wheel, TECHART won the 2008 competition with its 700 PS / 515 kW TECHART GTstreet RS, produced in small series based on the Porsche GT2.

With a lap time of 1.06,811 minutes for the short course of the Hockenheim circuit, the TECHART driver Jörg Hardt won the GT class . TECHART’s overall victory at the sport auto Tuner Grand Prix 2008 again demonstrated the company’s unique positioning on the car enhancement market.

The specialists from Leonberg-Höfingen were able to draw on more than 20 years of experience when preparing the vehicle and modifying the Porsche vehicles from Zuffenhausen. In order to participate in the sport auto Tuner Grand Prix 2008, the black/white TECHART GTstreet RS was required to obtain certification to prove the vehicle’s road-worthiness. It was also required to meet the specific requirements set by editors of the sport auto magazine.

In addition to its powerful TECHART biturbo engine, with an output of 700 hp / 515 kW at 7,000 rpm and a maximum torque of 860 Nm at 4,500 revs, the height-adjustable sports suspension and tires were crucial to securing success in this competition.

The TECHART sports suspension was developed in combination with the TECHART engineers and with vehicle experts from Bilstein so as to be specially adapted to the short course at the Hockenheim circuit. Jörg Hardt, who is one of the most successful drivers in the Porsche Carrera Cup, was very enthusiastic about the vehicle: “The car was prepared to perfection”.

In addition to its overall victory, TECHART Automobildesign also clocked up an additional success in the Cabrio category: Jörg Hardt drove the 580 PS / 441 kW TECHART GTstreet Cabriolet to success in the Cabriolet class with a lap time of 1:10,382 minutes.

Given the tropical temperatures of the Whitsun weekend at the Hockenheim motodrome, it was crucial to use the perfect kind of tire. TECHART’s technology partner, Michelin, contributed its high performance tires Michelin Sport Cup Plus to it.
The light single-component TECHART formula III light metal wheel rims, sized 8.5Jx20 at the front and 12Jx20 at the back, were fitted with Michelin tires in the size 245/30 ZR 20 for the front axle and 315/25 ZR 20 for the back.

Subtle but Significant: Nissan Updates its 2010 Sedan Lineup Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/auto_news/112_0910_2010_nissan_sedan_updates/index.

If you have a really keen eye, then you'll probably notice the subtle exterior updates to Nissan's line of 2010 sedans -- the Altima, Maxima, Sentra, and Versa. For the average bystander, though, these four-doors will scoot past with little reaction. Perhaps a, "Hmm, there's something different about that Nissan," but not much more. Ditto for the freshened interiors, all of which get minor tweaks, mostly with the electronics (audio and nav) and gauge clusters. Not that these changes aren't welcome and noteworthy, mind you; they've all been implemented to improve aesthetics and functionality, and to that end, they all succeed. Below is a rundown of the subtle but significant updates to Nissan's 2010 sedans.

ALTIMA
Nissan's cash cow -- the Altima is the brand's global sales leader - receives the most prominent exterior modifications, notably a new hood with a "power bulge," a restyled grille and front bumper, and fresh 16- and 17-inch wheel designs. The coupe gets similar updates but also adds projector beam headlights to the mix. For shift-it-yourself enthusiasts, the coupe is now the only Altima available with a manual transmission; all sedans come with exclusively with a CVT. Engines -- a 2.5-liter 175-horsepower four-cylinder, a 3.5-liter 270-horse V-6, and a 2.5-liter 158-horse four-cylinder plus 40-horsepower electric motor (198 horsepower combined) -- are carryover. For added safety, VDC is standard across the board.

Inside, both sedan and coupe receive updated gauges, a standard 4.3-inch color audio display, and a USB port with iPod connectivity. Nissan's next-gen navigation system, with a 6.5-inch monitor, Zagat restaurant guide, XM NavTraffic and NavWeather, and Bluetooth streaming audio, is available as an option. A la the Europeans, Nissan is even offering a handsome dark-red leather interior for the coupe. Pricing: Sedan -- 2.5 ($21,620), 2.5 S ($22,560), 3.5 SR ($25,240); Coupe -- 2.5 S 6M ($23,160), 2.5 S CVT ($23,660), 3.5 SR 6M ($30,320), 3.5 SR CVT ($27,990); Hybrid -- $27,500.

MAXIMA
Given that it's only a year old the 3.5-liter 290-horse V-6 Maxima enters 2010 with the fewest changes, the most significant of which is an optional next-gen nav system with a seven-inch screen, back-up camera, and 2GB hard drive. Bluetooth and USB/iPod connectivity are now standard, and there are new wheel finishes. Pricing: 3.5 S ($31,180), 3.5 SV ($33,900).

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/auto_news/112_0910_2010_nissan_sedan_updates/index.html#ixzz0XNomxdRh

2010 Honda Civic: Overview

The 2010 Honda Civic sees no major changes after a modest freshening for 2009. These compact cars come in 4-door sedan and 2-door coupe body styles. A gas/electric Hybrid sedan is also offered, along with a sedan that runs on compressed natural gas (CNG). Sedans and coupes come in DX, LX, EX, EX-L, and sporty Si trims. Sedans also come in DX-VP and LX-S trims. DX, DX-VP, LX, LX-S, EX, and EX-L have a 140-hp 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine. Si versions have a 197-hp 2.0-liter four. The Hybrid combines a gas engine and an electric motor for 110 hp. The gas engine shuts off at a stop and restarts again when the driver releases his or her foot from the brake pedal. Hybrids require no plug-in charging. Available for sale in California and New York and to fleets is the Civic GX, which uses a 113-hp 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine that runs on CNG. All 140-hp Civics come with a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. GX models are automatic only. Si has a mandatory 6-speed manual. Hybrids use a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front side airbags. Leather upholstery with heated front seats are standard on the EX-L and available on the Hybrid. A navigation system with voice activation and wireless cell-phone link are available on EX, EX-L, Si, and Hybrid.