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Brazilian F1 champ Ayrton Senna was an utterly unique man-a rare blend of macho and tendeess, compassion and cunning. So it comes as no surprise that even decades after his death people are still p, ...ادامه مطلب

While we are waiting for the first official images and details of the new 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe, the Korean car maker has dropped a commercial revealing in it the SUV in its full glory. The new Santa, we have to say, looks better in the flesh than what we saw in the official sketches and preview photos.  In fact, 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe seems to have migrated from the average, affordable SUV category to the high-end, luxury class. The lines that make the the serious face of the new Santa Fe, the slim headlights, the sophisticated grille and the whole profile of the car which is entirety new and a lot less ‘generic’ than the previous models, they all point to the fact that with the new model Hyundai is after a different class of customers. [embedded content] And it’s not just the looks, either. As this rather funny commercial clearly shows, the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe is also packed with up-to-the-minute technologies. Some of this, like the system that monitors the rear traffic and locks the door if your child suddenly decided he or she has to jump onto the street, are not seen before, at least in the price range to which the Santa Fe belongs. You will also get the latest connectivi, ...ادامه مطلب

Visitors to this year’s Chicago Auto Show got their first glimpse at the new 2018 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid models. The latest version of the green Sonata offers a hard to beat blend of performance and efficiency, enough to cement the car’s position in the market as one of the top players.  Powering the 2018 Hyundai Sonata is a 2.0-liter Nu GDI four-cylinder engine coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission that houses a powerful 38 kW electric motor. The combined output of this system is a very respectable 193 horsepower, corresponding to an average fuel consumption of 39 mpg in the city, 45 mpg on the highway and 42 mpg combined. What’s more, this system offers 27 miles of electric driving (plug-in version) during which you can reach speeds up to 75 mph. Total range of the vehicle is 650 miles for hybrid and 590 miles for the plug-in. [embedded content] As for what sets the 2018 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid family apart from the previous model, the main highlights include revised front/rear fascia design, grille, hood, front fenders, rear deck lid, headlights/taillights, new 16 and 17 inch wheels, LED headlights with coering Dynamic Bending Light (DBL), and ins, ...ادامه مطلب

The highly anticipated 2018 VW Up! GTI is now available to order in the UK, all set to take the hot hatch market by storm. Granted, it is a supermini and not a hatchback. But the Up! GTI is so good at what it does, and at £13,750 it is so well-priced, it renders all those expensive, over-powered hot hatches out there silly.  I mean, if space is not really an issue for you, 2018 VW Up! GTI is a much better proposition than its own big brother, Golf GTI. And we know full well that the Golf is the king of all hot hatches. With the Up! GTI it is not about how much power you have. It’s the whole package. Yes, it only has a 999cc turbo engine with 115 PS and 200 Nm of torque. But on the upside it does 58.9 mpg and emits no more than to 110 g/km of CO2. And as for performance, 0 to 62 mph is dealt with in 8.8 seconds with a top speed of 122 mph. [embedded content] 2018 VW Up! GTI is all about the joy of driving, and a big part of that is the price. Yes, it is kind of expensive for a supermini, but it’s a bargain for what it offers. And because it is cheap, you can beat on it every day, drive it fast and hard, and not worry about breaking the bank. It is not in vain that Volkswagen com, ...ادامه مطلب

The official U.S. pricing for the all-new 2018 Hyundai Kona crossover has been announced, and as you would expect the value-for-money element is strong. This quirky little sport utility starts at just $19,500 for the base model, rising up to $28,700 for the fully-loaded model.  In America the 2018 Hyundai Kona is available with two engines and transmission choices. There is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with 147 horsepower and 132 lb.-ft. of torque paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, and a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder turbo (Limited and Ultimate trims only) with a seven-speed EcoShift dual-clutch transmission offering 175 horsepower and 195 lb.-ft. of torque. Both engines can be had with all-wheel-drive system. A well-chosen trim will also get you such advanced safety systems as Lane-Keeping Assist system, Blind-Spot Collision Waing, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Waing, Lane Change Assist, Parking Distance Waing and Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection. [embedded content] 2018 Hyundai Kona MSRP & Trims: Model Engine Transmission Drivetrain MSRP SE 2.0L 4-cyl. 6-Speed Automatic SHIFTRONIC® FWD $19,500 SE 2.0L 4-cyl. 6-Speed Automatic SHIFTRONIC® AWD $20, ...ادامه مطلب

The fourth generation of the popular Korean SUV Hyundai Santa Fe, which has a huge presence in pretty much every market in the world, will make its debut later this year at the Geneva Motor Show. The car maker has confirmed this, releasing a teaser image that shows the part of the silhouette of the new model.  While it is hard to infer anything worth noting from this image, we notice the shape of the head and tail lights have been modified. They seem to be slimmer and smarter than the current version, and brings to our mind at least the design of the latest generation Toyota RAV4. The current model is a bit too round and chubby to be honest and it is a welcome change if the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe is sharper and more angular. [embedded content] Size-wise, there does not appear to be any significant change in the new Hyundai Santa Fe. You will get five and later on a seven-seater version, and two and four-wheel-drive drivertrains. As for the engines, chances are the current lineup of 2.4-liter four-cylinder direct-injected engine with 185 horsepower and the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 240 horsepower to carry over to the new model. But whether the 290 horsepowe, ...ادامه مطلب

2018 Geneva Motor Show in March will see the debut of a semi-hot version of the new Kia Rio. If you were planning to buy one of these hatchbacks you better hold on a little longer and check out the Kia Rio GT-Line before making your decision. It launches in the spring and comes with some nice features.  The biggest highlight of the 2019 Kia Rio GT-Line is of course, its sporty design. As with other new GT-Line models, the Rio gets features such as gloss-black and chrome ‘tiger-nose’ grille, unique GT-Line 17-inch alloy wheels, and ‘ice-cube’ LED fog lamps. There is also twin exhaust tips, LED daytime running lights, chrome window trim, a gloss black roof spoiler and sill highlights. So what we have here is a little city runabout with the looks and attitude of a hot hatch. Inside the cabin you will find black synthetic leather and cloth seats with contrast grey stitching, ‘D-cut’ leather steering wheel, metallic trim surrounds on the door switches and gear lever, and carbon-look trims on the dashboard. It is a nice plays in which to enjoy the performance of Kia Rio GT-Line’s three-cylinder 1.0-litre T-GDi engine. It delivers 118 bhp , with 171 Nm of torque, and retus 60.1 mpg, ...ادامه مطلب

It was not exactly a secret that an extra-hot version of the 488 was in the works deep inside Ferrari factory in Maranello, especially since Porsche released their GT2 RS last year. Now the first complete picture of this beast has leaked and we get our first look at the new 2019 Ferrari 488 GTO. And in case you are in a hurry to know, it has 700 horsepower.  Ferrari 488 GTO is the successor to the 360 Challenge Stradale, the 430 Scuderia, and the 458 Speciale. But this one is apparently so good, they went ahead and gave it the venerated GTO badge. The name has not yet been confirmed officially, but a lot people are calling it that. So it is almost certainly the official name. Now, those three letters hark back to what is possibly the most glorious part of Ferrari’s history and perhaps the entire automotive culture. So the new boy had better be damn good, or Ferrari will get some serious stick from their hard-core fans. But of course it is gong to be awesome in every way, this 488 GTO, because it’s a new Ferrari. Sources tells us 2019 Ferrari 488 GTO is a hard and stiff race car built for the streets, so in that sense at least not much has changed since the Stradale days. Other , ...ادامه مطلب

Yes, it’s yet another tweaked version of an old model. But this Lotus Evora GT410 Sport is a good one, striking the right balance between performance and everyday usability. It is also one of the nicest looking Lotuses (or is it Loti?) of recent years. Whereas the GT430 is a tad on the rough side of things, the new Lotus Evora GT410 Sport is more practical, available in both 2 seat and 2+2 configurations, and with manual orautomatic transmissions. Power, as the name suggests, stands 410 horsepower, giving this 1,256 kg sports car a power-to-weight ratio of 326 hp per tonne. That translates to a 0 to 60 mph time of 3.9 seconds (manual gearbox 4.0 seconds) and a top speed of 190 mph or 305 km/h. While it does take balls of steel to do that kind of speed in a small and feather weight car, Lotus Evora GT410 Sport tries its best to protect you by first and foremost being an aerodynamically precise. It generates considerably more downforce than a standard Evora, compared to which it is also 98 kg lighter. Other notable features include touring suspension package available as a no cost option, featuring Bilstein non-adjustable dampers, with touring specification, and Michelin Pilot S, ...ادامه مطلب

Hyundai’s CES 2018 exhibit is all about technology features they will be incorporating into their future production models. But they have also brought along a concept car, Hyundai NEXO, which is the firm’s second-generation of commercialized fuel cell electric vehicle, headed for production and release in select markets very soon. A lot of people believe that the whole fuel cell thing probably has no future because the infrastructure needed to make it work is virtually non-existent. But Hyundai keeps working on improving their FCEVs, so they would be ready if, some day, these cars went mainstream. Hyundai NEXO is a much-improved product compared to its predecessor, the Tucson FCEV, with a range of 370 miles, 105 more than the Tucson. It’s also been tested more thoroughly and is just as versatile, says the company, as any gasoline-powered vehicle. [embedded content] Hyundai NEXO is faster, quieter and more efficient than the previous FCEVs and in a class of its own in terms of technology, packaging and safety. The electric motors and battery packs are getting smaller and smaller in every new version, meaning the car’s practicality improves and its light decreases. We have to say, ...ادامه مطلب

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas has become in recent years a battle ground for auto makers to show off their latest technologies. So it’s the appropriate place for Hyundai to reveal their next-generation Hyundai FCEV fuel cell Concept, revealed here in this visual preview.  If you don’t like the look of this thing, and who can blame you, don’t worry. This is not a concept to showcase the prowess of the design department, but rather that of the engineering fellas. The Hyundai FCEV Concept is the next-generation hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicle equipped with new Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) technologies. These tech stuff ought to the average CES goer really happy. Hyundai has always been at the forefront of the hydrogen fuel cell game, even in recent times where the outlook is the bleakest for this technology. Not only are they not giving up on the FCEV, the Korean car maker is investing in hydrogen-powered applications in the home via a section of the booth dedicated to the Hydrogen Life Vision. They must see something in this technology, or have some grand plan. Along with the Hyundai FCEV and Advanced Driver Assistance technologies, Hy, ...ادامه مطلب

Trying to step up their safety game in order to stay ahead of the competition, Hyundai has come up with a new safety feature. The world’s first Panorama Sunroof Airbag system has a simple job. It stops you getting tossed out of the car in the event of an accident that shatters the glass roof or when the car rolls over.   Come to think of it, this is a much needed safety feature and it’s interesting no other car maker had thought of it before. The Panorama Sunroof Airbag is a production of Hyundai Mobis, the Korean car maker’s parts and components arm, who has an affinity for advanced airbags. They made the fourth-generation advanced airbag and inter-passenger airbag systems. The way Hyundai’s Panorama Sunroof Airbag work is the same as the side curtain airbags that protects you from smashing into the glass. It is installed inside the sunroof, and deployed forward from the rear of the car, covering the entire roof surface of the vehicle in just 0.08 seconds using a gas inflation system. So not only does this airbag stops the passengers getting flung out of the car, it also reduces the risk of head injuries. This is most useful for the rear passengers, as they rarely fasten thei, ...ادامه مطلب

Whenever you tu on the news these days, all you hear is war and chaos and silly tweets by politicians. It makes you think the world is on the verge of collapse, and it very well may be. But that is only a matter of conce for us regulars, you see. The top one percent mind it not one bit, as seen by the spike in the number of hypercars they bought this year. Bugatti alone has delivered 70 Chirons, meeting their production plans as though they are making family sedans!  As the ultimate production super sports car, Bugatti Chiron is a must-have accessory for the billionaires the world over. We are prepare to bet next year’s salary not one of them ever uses the full potential of the 1,500 horsepower machine, but that is not the point of this car. The real purpose of the Chiron is to make you look good as pull up at your favorite restaurant or casino or gala event. Bugatti is in fact on its way to make a killing with the Chiron series, setting themselves the goal of selling 500 units, 300 of which has already been marked. That is about 1.5 billion dollars worth. [embedded content] As for who’s buying these Chirons and where, 43 percent of orders have come from Europe, 26 per, ...ادامه مطلب

Yep, that’s what they’re calling it. The latest WheelsAndMore Nissan GT-R is dubbed Crankzilla. The aging Samurai has been treated by the Germans to a number of refinements that make it better at what it is supposed to do, which is tickle your senses and astonish you with its awesome performance.  Looks-wise, WheelsAndMore Nissan GT-R steers clear of showy body kit, but makes up for it in orange wheels and graphics. The rims WaM has picked for the Crankzilla are a set of 3-piece F.I.W.E models measuring 9.5×21 inches on the front and 11.0×21 inches out back, wrapped with Continental  tires in sizes 255/35/21 and 295/30/21 respectively. The wheels’ contribution to the car’s style is further enhanced by height-adjustable lowering springs from KW which drop the ‘Zilla by as much as 30mm. WheelsAndMore Nissan GT-R also sounds a lot better than the standard model thanks to a valve flap exhaust system. It can optionally be ordered with catalytic converters. The extremely loud exhaust system is part of a performance package for the GT-R which is offered in five different settings to suit every need and budget: Stage I: Through optimized software and a F1 air filter kit Wheelsand, ...ادامه مطلب

Every year we are treated to a whole bunch of new 911 models, but only a handful of them are interesting enough to warrant a close inspection. The 2018 Porsche 911 GT3 Touring Package is certainly one of those, a wing-less, manual version of the GT3 built for purists. Here we take a close look at this superb machine in detailed pictures and videos.  The distinguishing feature of the Porsche 911 GT3 Touring Package is a variable rear spoiler like the 911 Carrera in place of the regular GT3 large fixed wing. Being a pure sort of 911, the car features a four-litre naturally aspirated engine with 500 horsepower and 460 Nm. Sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission, that power propel the Touring Package to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 316 km/h. [embedded content] Porsche 911 GT3 Touring Package exclusive features include PCCB ceramic brake, the lift system, LED headlights, all seat variants, the Chrono Package and the audio systems. It also gets rear wide arches and forged alloy wheels with central locking. At the front, 245/35 ZR 20 tyres are fitted on nine-inch wheels, while at the rear 305/30 ZR 20 tyres are mounted , ...ادامه مطلب