2010 Saab 9-5

SAAB is confident that its new flagship vehicle will set it off to a new and exciting future.
The brand new 9-5 which has been spied a few times over recent months is now being prepared for Frankfurt Motor Show launch.

"This car is the start of a new era for our brand," says Jan-Åke Jonsson, SAAB Automobile's Managing Director. "We have created an advanced and very distinctive product by leveraging the power of our roots in key areas, such as progressive Scandinavian design, sporty driving and responsible performance. The new 9-5 delivers in all these respects, as will every future product from Saab."

Branded as the most technically advanced SAAB ever, the new 9-5 also looks less SAAB than previous models. Its design is inspired by the Aero X concept car with its low-slung stance, its muscular build, uncluttered lines and curvaceous shapes.

Technological features include keyless entry and starting - the ignition is still located between the front seats, adaptive headlights with Bi-xenon beams, head-up display on the windscreen, an adaptive chassis with real-time damping control and SAAB's XWD with eLSD.

Launch engines are a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel with 118kW (160hp), a 2.0-litre petrol turbo making 162kW (220hp) and a 2.8-litre V8 petrol producing 221kW (300hp) and peak torque of 400Nm. Soon after the launch a 1.6-litre petrol turbo with 132kW (180hp) will be unveiled. At the same time a 2.0-litre BioPower E85 engine is to debut as well. Mated with all these engines are 6-speed transmissions.

SAAB 9-5 passengers will be able to entertain themselves with a Harman Kardon surround sound audio system which is accessed through an 8-inch touch screen. For those who like to store their music in the car a 10GB hard drive is provided. USB and auxiliary ports are also available. Other options include a rear DVD player with its own screens and wireless headphones.

The new 9-5 starts selling in 2010.

source : www.worldcarfans.com

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Hyundai releases ix35 teaser - Debut in Frankfurt

The Frankfurt Motor Show will mark the end of the Tucson brand when Hyundai introduces the world to the new ix35 SUV. The Tucson has been a very successful vehicle for its makers, with a regular spot on the top 5 SUV brands list in Europe. Sales have even peaked at 63,000 for the continental market.

"SUVs have been a cornerstone of our success for many years and have helped to raise awareness of the Hyundai brand in Europe," says Allan Rushforth, Vice-President of Hyundai Motor Europe. "With Tucson in particular we have demonstrated our expertise in producing SUVs which not only meet consumer expectations but also help to shape the sector itself."

The ix35 will be Hyundai's first SUV to be produced in Europe from scratch, that is, from conception right up to final engineering. Its design style is inspired by the ix-onic Concept car from the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.

A second debut for the segment will be a heavily-revised Santa Fe which gets cosmetic and engineering upgrades. Power will come from the group's R turbo diesel engine.

Europe is clearly the choice destination for these two SUVs but other markets will also be able to source some models from the range. First deliveries should take place within the next six months.

Source : www.worldcarfans.com

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Ferrari 458 Italia spotted again on the road

Here is the new Ferrari 458 Italia spotted somewhere on the road, probably in Italy. Yes, these cellphone pics are a little low-res, but certainly we can, detective-like, spot some news here somewhere?

That landscape around the highway does indeed match the flatlands of the Padania, the area around the Po river of Italy. Definitely in the same neighborhood as Ferrari's Maranello headquarters in the Italian province of Emilia-Romagna. Okay, so we can guess that Ferrari is still keeping the 458 close to home.

What else?

Despite its initial media release, the 458 is masking itself with a convenient disguise. Hiding its design lines behind the black color of one model and the blushing yellow paint job of the other, each with white stripes and spots to obscure its features. Still, we can get a pretty good idea of what it will look like.

source : worldcarfans.com

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BMW 3 Series Coupe and Convertible Facelift Spy Photos

Just over a year ago BMW unveiled the facelifted 3 Series sedan. The time will soon come for the Coupe and the Convertible to show their faces in full too. But for now we must satisfy our curiosity with these spy pictures of both models doing final testing before their public debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Modifications include a new front bumper, headlamps, LED rear lights and a new rear bumper. Previous spy pictures showed only the front bumper in disguise but these snapped shots show the true changes. Both models will exhibit these changes when unveiled in September.

Since BMW has a habit of escorting a new product launch or update with a new engine or an upgraded one, our curiosity is running at full speed trying to figure out which new powerplant will accompany these cars. That information might leak out ahead of the show. If not then the wait will be a long one.

source : www.worldcarfans.com

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NCM 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport

A unique NCM 2010 Corvette Grand Sport Coupe is set to become some lucky person's collector's item when it goes into a raffle hat in early September. The National Corvette Museum is celebrating its 15th Anniversary and an Artic White Grand Sport Coupe should bring the proceedings some extra glamour.

The special car has features and markings such as a red stripe that outlines the bonnet graphics, a unique black bonnet treatment featuring Corvette Racing's Jake mascot ghost painted in the center bulge, chrome wheels, dual mode exhaust, black headlights and a ZR1 rear spoiler. The interior features a sound system with touch-screen navigation and red two-tone leather seats.

The 6-speed manual Corvette runs an LS3 6.2-litre cast aluminium V8 that makes 321kW (436hp) and 575Nm (424 lb-ft) of torque. It is capable of going from 0 - 60mph in four seconds and can achieve 26 miles per gallon in average fuel consumption.

All tickets will be sold at US$150 each for the entire haul of 2009. A tidy US$300,000 odd in revenue will be made if all the tickets are sold. The car itself has a US$55,720 factory price tag. The Corvette raffle will take place on the last day of the four-day celebrations on September 6th.

source :www.worldcarfans.com

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