Showing posts with label April Fools' Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label April Fools' Day. Show all posts

Sunday, November 7, 2010

2011 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Photos Leaked by EU Patent Office

The European trademark office has done it again; following the premature leaks of the 2010 Mazda3, Renault Megane Coupe and the 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster, the latest slip out from the bureau concerns the first official photos of Mercedes-Benz' new B-Class hatch that will compete head on with the Audi A3 and VW Golf. According to our sources, the new B-Class will be unveiled sometime in 2010 with sales starting in Europe towards the end of the year and in the U.S. and other international markets, during the first half of 2011.

Mercedes-Benz officials have high hopes for the new B-Class that will spawn a whole range of models including a three-door hatchback, a small four-door coupe sedan in the likes of the CLS called BLS plus a small SUV model that will most likely be named BLK.

Power will come from a variety of naturally aspirated and turbocharged gasoline engines as well as 'uber' clean diesels including the range-topping 2.2-liter CDi with an output of 204-horsepower. There's also talk of a gasoline-hybrid variant but Mercedes-Benz has yet to confirm the rumors.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com



READ MORE - 2011 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Photos Leaked by EU Patent Office

Kia Release AFD Rally Package for Soul

Korean automaker Kia has announced the launch of a new aero kit for the Soul crossover. Aside from the aesthetic rewards, buyers will be happy to know that the aerodynamic doodads also reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions through a simple and low-cost system called Air Propulsion and Retardation Installation Line. The system is said to rely on microscopic sensors built into the bumpers which constantly monitor wind speed and deploy panels when the wind is sufficient to provide additional directional impetus according to the car's behavior.

Systems Manager Kuasimati Seoulitsou from Kia's Advanced Technorave Research Institute in Mabuk, said: "The big problem with most emission reduction systems is that they are expensive. We wanted to come up with an answer that didn't cost the earth and could be retrospectively applied to cars already on the road."

"Tests of this system at our Nong Dam facility have shown that during windy weather fuel consumption can be reduced by up to 25 per cent and emissions by anything up 40 per cent. Even in calm weather using the system simply under braking can result in reductions of 10 per cent and 15 per cent respectively," he added.

The new aero kit system will be available on all Souls ordered after midnight on March 31, 2011. Prices will be announced in a few hours.

READ MORE - Kia Release AFD Rally Package for Soul

April Fool's Day Spoiler No1: Hyundai's i10 Pope-Mobile

We were planning to show you Hyundai UKs April Fool's Day joke tomorrow, but since certain websites were in a hurry 'to break' the story a day earlier for reasons that we fail to understand, there's no point of holding onto it anymore. The Korean automaker's practical joke of the day involves the launch of a new i10 model that's "specifically targeted at the booming market among world and religious leaders." You can read the "fool" press release right after the jump.

Hyundai is proud to announce the launch of a new i10 model specifically targeted at the booming market among world and religious leaders.

The first demonstrator is due to be trialled by a German customer who currently resides in Italy.

The Korean manufacturer has identified that many global leaders are becoming concerned about the emissions from large limousines and adapted 4x4 vehicles which traditionally form the basis of all presidential, papal and prime ministerial transport.

In addition, the global financial crisis has made it necessary for political and faith leaders to adopt less ostentatious lifestyles, including more cost effective vehicular solutions.

As a result, Hyundai is to build a range of specially-adapted vehicles using the acclaimed i10 city car as their basis. Powered by the new 1.2-litre Kappa engine, the special i10s produce only 119g/km of CO2 and are easier to manoeuvre among large crowds of adoring subjects.

The first of this special range has just been completed by Hyundai's skilled coachbuilders. The roof of the i10 has been specially raised in order to accommodate the relevant VIP in either a standing or seated position, while the rear seats have been swapped for a single, electrically adjustable item from Hyundai's flagship Grandeur.

As a demonstration of the bespoke options available, all leather has been removed from the seat facings and the upholstery is made up of parts of a tapestry woven by monks from the Indian city of Utta Bullacs. The cloth was nicknamed 'holy sheet' by Hyundai's specialist trimmers.

Although details of the security package are confidential, this special i10 has features over and above the standard model's central locking. Part of this involves an innovative, lightweight composite armour built into the top of the car. This material, named Armour Protected Roof Integrated Lining®, was originally developed for use in offshore powerboat racing in Switzerland.

In order to meet recycling and sustainability targets, part of the armour is made from a fully organic material. The 'string' part of runner beans is actually lighter and stronger than Kevlar when woven into matting and encased in resin made from tree sap. The panels of Weave Bean™ add just 25g to the weight of the i10.

Hyundai's head of specialist vehicle conversions, Paul Legg, said "traditional personal movement solutions for global leaders are no longer seen as appropriate. The i10 is the perfect car for any ruler wanting to draw a line under excessive spending."

Other conversions currently being developed include a pink 32-foot stretched i10 limo being built for Ben Datroof, lead singer of top-selling Dutch boy band Pork Pie. The band's manager, Mick Etayk, said "The Hyundai will be particularly appropriate transport for Pork Pie. There are five boys in the band, so they'll have ten eyes in an i10!"

As with all Hyundai cars, the i10 special conversions are covered by a five year, manufacturer-backed warranty which is fully transferable to new owners after general elections, military coups and early evictions from reality TV programmes.

READ MORE - April Fool's Day Spoiler No1: Hyundai's i10 Pope-Mobile

Breaking News: Wagoner to Lead Chinese Company in Oldsmobile Revival

News reports are coming in from around China that GM's former CEO Rick Wagoner has accepted an offer from domestic automaker CLN Auto Company Inc. to take the reins of the Oldsmobile brand, the rights of which CLN Auto purchased from General Motors a few weeks ago. Details are still shady, but it looks like GM is so desperate for cash that it decided to sell the historic nameplate to the Chinese automaker. Unfortunately for Oldsmobile fans in North America and Europe, CLN Auto secured the use of the name solely for the domestic market.

Contrary to the U.S., just like Buick, Oldsmobile has a strong allure to Chinese buyers. The country's last emperor was a large fan of Oldsmobile owning more than a dozen cars. "They adore the image of American vehicles," said China Auto Resources CEO, Jiang Li, in a report. "They just can't seem to get enough of them, so it makes a lot of sense," he added. We'll have more on this developing story later on in the day.

READ MORE - Breaking News: Wagoner to Lead Chinese Company in Oldsmobile Revival
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...