Alfa Romeo Gloria: Just a concept… for now!

Alfa Romeo has prepared another surprise for the fans of the Italian brand. In addition to sporting two-seater 4C, there will also be presented a new concept car at the Geneva auto show, a 4-door sedan, Alfa Romeo Gloria.

 

There have recently appeared details regarding plans of the Italian company for future. Believe it or not , they are about to launch 9 (NINE!) new models untill 2016. In addition to already announced Alfa 4C, which arrives in 2013, Alfa Romeo intends to launch another new car in 2014.

Some of future models, such as SUVs, sedan and wagon versions of the Alfa Romeo Giulia and large luxury sedan with rear-wheel drive are designed to push the sale of the Italian car brand in the U.S. market.

Alfa Romeo Concept Gloria, which is about to be presented in early March in Geneva, is designed  to attract European, North.American and Asian customers says the Italian manufacturer.

 

This new sedan should be  4700 mm long, width 1920 mm, 1320 mm high, while  its wheelbase is 2900 mm.

Although the Italian producers have not discovered details about the engine, people at Alfa say that Gloria is designed to run the most advanced V6 or V8 bi-turbo engines and power units which were introduced on the latest generation Maserati Quattroporte.

“Gloria concept was conceived as a symbol of elegance and prestige, with the idea to provide comfort and plenty of space both in the front and in the back seat.”

Nissan Pathfinder 4: The next generation

The fourth generation of the popular Pathfinder was recently presented.

 

Thoroughly revised, polished, it follows style of the new generation Nissan models, but also technically advanced new Pathfinder is ready to actively participate in market competition with other SUV models. Modern edition of the next-generation Pathfinder, brings several innovations in terms of looks, but also in the field of aerodynamics. Smoother body lines are significantly reduced air resistance, while reducing noise in the cabin area. Lower mass of the new generation Pathfinder (230 kg less than previous model) made this model one of the lightest in this class.

 

The design team predicted a more aggressive look, with resemblance to the larger Murano and Patrol most noticeable in the front of the vehicle. Unibody platform provided designers more freedom in designing the outer appearance, and the same decision was given significantly more interior space for passengers and luggage. Classic features of Nissan SUVs, such as robust and muscular appearance, were retained in the new model, along with several new stylistic details.

Chrome-plated grille and angled headlights are the addition of a classic design seen on other models, but the novelty of an integrated front and rear spoiler, as well as low-set windscreen. Sliding panoramic glass roof is made ​​up of two parts, which extend through the second and third rows of seats, and the large windows in the side creates a sense of spaciousness inside the vehicle.

 

The presence of new, modern, interior details, shows at first sight that much more attention was payed to the comfort of the passengers and their easier placement on all seven seats. Front seat passengers, have much more space compared to the previous generation. Advanced driver-assist display, located in the middle of the dashboard, next to the speedometer, through 4-inch color display,provides driver with important information about the vehicle and offers a choice of information shown. Another touch screen monitor is located in the middle of the center console, and provides easy interaction management and navigation systems and other devices in the vehicle.

 

Pathfinder started with the North American sales, but not in the European market. At the moment there is only a petrol engine. During the 2013. the Nissan will offer customers an improved version of the 2.5 liter diesel engine. The new gasoline engine offered, is a 3.5-liter DOHC V6 with 260 hp and the CVT transmission. The new gasoline engine replaced 4.0-liter engine. The average consumption is 9 liters per 100 km. There is also a version with front wheel drive only and a  version with all-wheel drive. It should start selling in the European market in spring 2013.

More information about Alfa Romeo 4C

There have appeared some new details about Alfa Romeo 4C, which should finally make it’s debut at this years Geneva Car Show.

A serial version of the Alfa Romeo 4C will be the design and dimensions of the faithful to the original concept from 2011. year. The only changes to the body include door mirrors and rear spoiler, which have been slightly different than on the original.

In the basic version of the car will be powered by a 1.7-liter four-cylinder turbo engine with 240 hp, which is taken from the Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde. With the use of carbon fiber in the chassis development, is expected to weight arround 850 pounds, which gives an excellent power-to-weight ratio.

In this way Alfa 4C should oppose other sports car with a centrally placed engine, such as the Porsche Cayman, which develops 275 hp and even with the more powerful Cayman S with 325 hp. Although the car has 85 hp more than 4C, it is about 50% heavier, which should contribute to Alfa’s model to be competitive in the run.

 

In Europe, Alfa 4C will cost between 56,000 and 64,000 euros. By comparison, the price of Porsche Cayman  amounts to 57,500 euros, while the Cayman S costs 71,230 euros.

Production of the Alfa Romeo 4C should be limited to 2,000 units per year, of which half would be made ​​convertible version, and the remaining 1000 model roadster. The plans include the production and stronger Stradale version with an engine that delivers 270 hp, but the racing version of the same power, intended solely run by racetracks. Both of these cars should appear 2014th year.

Lamborghini Aventador sold out!

Although the open-top Aventador was originally launched in December 2012, Lamborghini can proudly say that they have allready sold all vehicles untill mid-2014!

 

This means that everyone who wants to buy one of these “mean machines” will have to wait untill June 2014 to do so.

Lamborghini Aventador Roadster was introduced in late 2012. year, and the ceremonial presentation was held in late January 2013. in Miami.

The price of this car in Europe ranges from 300,000, net of tax.

For those who see this car for the first time here are some details. Aventador Roadster has a manually retractable roof that is made of carbon fiber and weighs only 6kg. To achieve such a low weight of the roof panel there has been used a special production technologies. Some even say it seems stronger than titanium!

 

Under the hood there is the same V12 engine, based on “common” Aventador, with start/stop system and unnecessary cylinder deactivation. There is also a seven-speed automatic transmission. It takes only 3 sec to reach 100 km/h. The bonnet is designed to look like a “backbone” car, adorned by two hexagonal windows. Doors open at recognizable “Lambo” style and are designed for frameless glass.

The front wheels on the Roadster are 20 inches in diameter, while the diameter of the rear wheels 21 inch. Weight in relation to Aventadora was reduced by 10 kilograms. Color, in which the  Lamborghini Aventador Roadster was presented, is called Azzuro Thetis andit was first used on the Miura Roadster, model of 1968. year.

 

Lamborghini Aventador Roadster will appear in the market in the summer 2013th

Citroen DSX: Another crossover from France

Yesterday we wrote about Renaults Captur. Well it appears that it is NOT the only crossover from France these days! It will have a serious competition in Citroens DSX!

Citroen will introduce this premium crossover concept, based on the DS5 at the Shanghai Motor Show in april 2013.

New Citroen DS family member will be about 4.7 meters long.

There will be gasoline and diesel units and diesel-electric hybrid powertrain. Customers would be offered a version with the front, but the drive to all four wheels.

In hybrid variant diesel engine would drive the front wheels, while the power of the electro motor will be transfered to the rear axle. In the versions with conventional engines, there would be available only front wheel drive.

Citroen DSX is about to be produced in China as early as 2014, while European production launched later during the year. Diesel-hybrid version in Europe consisting of HDi unit with 163 hp and an electric motor which develops 37 hp (27 kW), and the total output amounted to 200 hp, as in the Peugeot 3008 hybrid.

It is estimated that the initial price of the car in the European market will be set at 39,000 euros.

A Saab which could have changed everything

Saab’s sad story has been told so many times in recent years that one would think that there is no longer anything new to say. However, a new set of official photos of a vehicle, which was to some extent able to help, or even save the Swedish brand, Saab brings back into focus.

New screenshots of 9-3 variants of the middle class have been published by the Swedish media source from one of the former employees of Saab.

Car styling was reportedly completed under the guidance of chief design Saab, Jason Castriota. A five-door sedan and a convertible were intended to help Saab to overcome all the difficulties.

Naturally, the five-door version of styling attracts the eye with its drop-down rear deck which has its roots in the original 900 series models manufactured between 1978th and 1993. year. The rest of the car borrows styling features with the latest generation of larger models 9-5.

There was another, the fourth 9-3 photos of the new model, but the Swedish magazine states that these 3 released much closer to the final design of the car that was to have its premiere at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, but the Saab was eventually closed in 2011. In addition, 9-3 would be based on the new Swedish Phoenix platform.

What is now left of Saab is in the hands of the Sino-Japanese consortium which formed a new joint venture in the News (National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB).