2011 Kia Magentis / Optima

Kia has released the first pictures of the 2011 Magentis (aka Optima / Lorentz), ahead of its debut at the New York Auto Show.

Looking more aggressive than its predecessor, the Magentis was styled by Kia's European design team in Frankfurt, Germany. The car features a sharply raked roofline, flared wheel arches, LED daytime running lights, front fender vents, and projector headlights.

According to Gregory Guillaume, Kia's Chief European Designer, "We started with a clean sheet and worked to achieve an exterior design with a European feeling and stance." He also added, "This new model embodies Kia's confident new design direction. It's a global car with individual appeal."

While Kia declined to release interior pictures, they stated the cabin has a "newfound poise and presence" with class-leading luxury equipment.

Look for redesigned Magentis to go on sale in America this fall, while European sales are scheduled to begin in Spring 2011.

source : www.worldcarfans.com

Read More

2011 BMW 5-Series Touring

BMW has unveiled the 2011 5-Series Touring, ahead of its official debut at the Leipzig Motor Show.

Set to go on sale in September (in the UK), the 5-Series wagon features Dakota leather upholstery, matt aluminum roof rails, Park Distance Control, and Bluetooth connectivity. More importantly, the wagon has a luggage capacity of 560 liters (19.8 cubic feet) - 60 liters (2.1 cubic feet) more than the outgoing model. When the rear seats are folded down, the boot expands to hold a massive 1,670 liters (59.0 cubic feet). Should you need more room, BMW offers the Extended Storage package. It features more upright rear seatbacks, which adds 30 liters (1 cubic foot) of cargo capacity by minimizing "wasted space" behind the rear seats.

At launch, four different engines will be available. The 520d (£30,380) has a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine with 181 bhp (135 kW / 184 PS) and 380 Nm (280 lb-ft) of torque. It accelerates from 0-62 mph in 8.3 seconds, before topping out at 138 mph (222 km/h). Featuring an engine Start/Stop system, the 520d has a combined fuel consumption of 54.3 mpg-imp (5.2l /100km) and a CO2 emissions rating of 137g/km.

Powered by a straight-six turbodiesel engine, with 242 bhp (180 kW / 245 PS) and 540 Nm (398 lb-ft) of torque, the 530d (£39,400) accelerates from 0-62 mph in 6.4 seconds and has an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h). Thanks to upgraded piezo-injectors, it emits 165 g/km while averaging a combined 44.8 mpg-imp (6.3l /100km).

On the petrol side, BMW offers the 523i and the 535i. The 523i (£33,585) features a naturally-aspirated engine with 201 bhp (150 kW / 204 PS) and 270 Nm (199 lb-ft) of torque. It enables the wagon to accelerate from 0-62 mph in 8.2 seconds, before reaching an electronically-limited 155 mph (250 km/h). Expect to average a combined 36.2 mpgimp (7.8l /100km), while emitting 183 grams of CO2 per kilometer.

The 535i (£39,650) has a turbocharged 3.0-liter engine with 302 bhp (225 kW / 306 PS) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque. It runs from 0-62 mph in 6.0 seconds and has an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h). With the optional eight-speed automatic transmission (a six-speed manual is standard on all models), the 535i consumes a combined 33.2 mpg-imp (8.5l /100km) and emits 197 g/km.

Options include Adaptive Drive, Park Assist, Active Steering, Surround View, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Change Warning, Speed Limit Info, and two rear entertainment packages.

source :www.worldcarfans.com

Read More

Audi RS7 Concept Artist Design

This isan artist's imagining of a possible Audi RS7.

This RS7 rendering sees the car with a rear-mounted engine, with design elements much like the current (real) Audi R8, including the contrast in color between the engine bonnet and the rest of the body.

But here the contrast becomes more defined, with a stark black covering the rear engine bay and extending to the rear of the body, covering the rear wheel wells too.

The horizontal design lines resonate Lamborghini, just like the R8 does, but also provide a larger curve over the front wheel wells adding a more organic touch to the RS7.

The front face comes with a very distinctive double-gaping mouth, with minimalist LED headlamps and two small, round lights at the center.

The scissor/gullwing doors are another special feature, borrowed from some Lambo models as well.

This design study is a creation of Adriano Mudri, and Austrian industrial designer with a degree from the University of Applied Sciences in Graz, Austria. Mudri has also worked a 10-month stint as an exterior designer for Magna Steyr.

source: www.worldcarfans.com

Read More