2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Gets Priced, Surprisingly Less

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the automaker’s purest expression of luxury, and now we know just how much owning this luxury will cost. The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S550 is powered by a 4.7-liter twin-turbocharged V-8, good for 455 hp, and most surprisingly the S550 will start at more than $2,000 less than the previous model, at $93,825. The new model is slightly more fuel efficient, and offers more power over the previous engine too, rated at 429 hp. The move may be in part to make the 2014 S-Class more competitive with its German rivals, the Audi A8L and BMWLi, which are priced a few thousand dollar below the new model.

The 2014 Mercedes S-Class is the first automobile to not contain a single light bulb, employing a full complement of LED lights. What was perhaps most surprising to us when we drove the 2014 S550 earlier this summer, was how advanced the autonomous driving features were. As part of Mercedes-Benz’s Intelligent Drive and safety suite of technologies, the S-Class can drive itself—brake, accelerate, and steer as needed—for intervals of 10 seconds at a time. A $2,800 Driver Assistance package will equip the new S550 with this ability. The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S550 4Matic is scheduled to hit dealers in November, and will carry a $3,000 premium for the all-wheel-drive capability. The 4Matic model will start at $96,825. The performance-heightened 2014 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG 4Matic will command a $140,425 price of entry, but will add a much beefier 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8, rated at 577 hp, and include several features that are optional on the S-Class.
Source: Mercedes-Benz

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Mercedes-Benz Plans to Join Autonomous Car Race with Self-Driving Technology

Mercedes-Benz is publicly stating it would like to have a self-driving, autonomous car produced this decade. Building on the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive suite of advanced safety technologies that include semi-autonomous driving capability, the automaker is hoping to develop a fully autonomous driving vehicle.
At the launch of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Mercedes engineers indicated that the technology wasn’t the issue, but rather legislation that would hold autonomous driving from reaching its full potential. In the meantime, the automaker is continuing to develop its technology, which many automakers such as Nissan, Toyota, and tech giant Google have done. Other automakers have also already displayed small facets of the technology, such as Audi, and Volvo’s self-park demonstrations. It appears Mercedes will look to produce the car much sooner than the timeline we first heard at the CES Consumer Electronics Show in 2012.

In our road test of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S550, we tinkered with some of these systems currently available on the S-Class, as well as the 2014 E-Class. Using sensors, radar, and radio cameras, these cars are already capable of keeping the vehicle in its lane, braking and accelerating as needed, and maintaining a set distance. Both models are capable of braking in the event of an impending accident to help reduce the impact of the collision, and in some cases prevent the accident or injury altogether. The catch? The systems are meant to act as a safety aid, and the autonomous driving features currently work for up to 10 seconds at a time, before the driver must resume control.
Mercedes recently completed a test run of about 62 miles (100 km) using its self-driving technology. The route was the one Bertha Benz, the wife of Mercedes-Benz founder Carl Benz, first drove 100 years ago, and was the first over land drive. To learn more about this technology and Mercedes-Benz’s test, you can watch the video below.

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Audi TDI Rally: We Drive the 2014 Audi A6, A7, Q5 Diesel Model

In the U.S., gasoline-powered vehicles reign, but Audi is part of a growing contingent of automakers leading the case for diesel-powered vehicles in America. Diesel cars are expected to account for six to eight percent of the U.S. market by 2015, with that number expected to grow to more than 10 percent by 2025, when automakers are expected to have more fuel efficient fleets under government regulations.

 

At a recent panel we attended with authorities in the field, Nicole Barranco, the Volkswagen Group’s government relations manager, said 24 percent of all VW and Audi models currently sold are diesel vehicles. What makes this figure impressive, according to Barranco, is that diesel does not receive preferential treatment by the government. In Europe and many parts of the world, diesel technology is widely accepted as a valid way to achieve high fuel-efficiency, and is often preferred over traditional gasoline powered cars. But America has favored hybrid technology, often offering incentives, tax credits, and preferential treatment such as HOV lane access in some places. Diesel, by contrast, receives a six-cent federal tax, and buyers are not offered incentives.
Audi, for its part, has been aggressively expanding its diesel lineup, and offering more cars with its TDI turbo-diesel engines. We recently got to sample the 2014 Audi A6 TDI, A7 TDI, and 2014 Audi Q5 TDI crossover.  Aesthetically, the cars are identical, with TDI badges being one obvious exception. But the performance characteristics are different, and you’ll go further on a gallon of diesel than a gallon of gas. A lot further. The 2014 Audi A7 comes with a 3.0-liter supercharged engine, one capable of producing 310 hp. The 2014 Audi  A7 TDI also uses a 3.0-liter V-6–this one a turbo-diesel–and achieves 240 hp, but an astonishing amount of low-end power. The result is a car that doesn’t necessarily feel as quick as the 3.0T gasoline car, but for the slightly tapered back performance, offers an

extra 10 (yes, ten) mpg on the highway, upping mpg figures from 28 to 38 mpg. And the gains are beyond significant in the city, too. The gasoline powered A7 is rated at 18 mpg city, while the A7 TDI achieves a much better 24 mpg city. Those figures also go for the mechanically identical A6 and A6 TDI offered with those same engines.
Diesel engines generally add about a $2,500 premium to the price, sometimes more depending on packaging, but that’s still less than the usual $5k premium on most hybrid vehicles. And with respect to crossovers, the 2014 Audi Q5 TDI we drove may have been the greatest beneficiary. The amount of low-end power you get with the turbo-diesel engine makes the Q5 a blast to drive, and is more practical for a crossover than a luxury sport-sedan. And with government regulations demanding ever more efficient fleets, we expect to see more diesels on offer, and an increased presence on the road.

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Watch this Nissan GT-R Nismo attack the 'Ring

Following yesterday's spy photos of the Nissan GT-R Nismo at the Nürburgring, we've been informed that some intrepid spies have captured video of Super Godzilla lapping the track. We aren't sure which turn the first clip is showing, but the second and third are almost certainly the tough right-hander known as Bergwerk.

Like the current GT-R, the Nismo, even with what might be a new exhaust system, isn't a vehicle that sounds particularly good in a flyby. It's more of just an intense whooshing noise. Take a look at the full video from RSR Nürburgring down below.

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Evo grabs Ford's Fiesta R5 rally car by the scruff

 Evo and host Henry Catchpole were thinking of excuses reasons to borrow the bonkers Ford Fiesta R5 rally car for a day or two, when it struck them: the car is street legal. With access to the R5, some of the world's most beautiful driving roads in the English Lake Country nearby, and a handy video crewing hanging around, the plan seemed to write itself.

Based on the resulting video, it was a good plan. Without spoiling the video for you – something we can't really do in text as the best part is listening to the rally car run – Catchpole finds the Fiesta to be sublimely quick and massively satisfying. Even taking the car for a spin on a pseudo rally stage, after leaving the English countryside, does nothing but add to his assessment of the beastly little Ford. Scroll on below to see for yourself, and enjoy the ride.

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Translogic gets inside look at Terrafugia Transition flying car

It was only a month ago when Terrafugia took its Transition flying car (or driving plane, as CEO Carl Dietrich says) to the EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for some exposure and its first public flight demonstration. We know the flight was a success, but Translogic was also there to get an inside look at the street-legal flying machine and capture it on video.

Dietrich says that the toughest part of building the Transition was to engineer a single solution to satisfy both Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations. But the resultant vehicle raises the level of safety of personal aircraft through the use of automotive safety features, is better for the environment than traditional airplanes and will make use of the network of 5,000-plus public-use airports, "our nation's largest underutilized transportation resource," Dietrich states.

Be sure to watch the video below to find out what the future holds for flying cars - including Terrafugia's next flying car/driving plane project, the gas-electric hybrid TF-X.

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Leaked – Production-spec BMW i8 shows its interior!

While some of you may have just watched the BMW i8 teaser video, a couple of images of the hybrid supercar have leaked on the internet. These are the first official production-spec images of the i8 and one of these images lifts the veil on the interior.

Sci-fi interiors? You bet!

While the gearshifter, iDrive controller and the Start/Stop button may seem to have come from any other BMW in the range, the rest of the interior looks really sci-fi! Check out those door handles and aircon vents especially, which really look the part. The instrument console is an all-digital setup which bodes well given the i8′s audience is bound to like geeky.
Power for the i8 comes from a 3-cylinder 1.5-liter petrol engine which produces 231bhp and 320Nm of torque. An electric motor adds a further 131bhp and 250Nm of torque. And thanks to the combined power output of 362bhp and 570Nm, the i8 can do 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds while the top-speed is limited to 250km/h in hybrid mode and 120km/h in electric mode.

The i8 makes green look sexy!

With the average fuel economy rated at 40km/l and the tailpipe emitting a mere 59g of CO2 per km, the i8 is sure to have Hollywood celebrities queuing up for it.
The i8 receives its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, with the press day exactly a week away.
[Images from - Autowp.ru]

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Indonesia – New Toyota Fortuner facelift launched

While the BMW 1 Series and the Hyundai Grand i10 were launched in India, the Toyota Fortuner received a mild update in Indonesia today.

The facelift changes very subtly with LED lights and a dual tone bumper introduced to the front.

PT Toyota Astra Motor, the Indonesian subsidy of Toyota, has unveiled an updated version of the Fortuner and have also introduced a refreshed TRD Sportivo kit for the SUV. Regular Fortuners now get a couple of LED strips which act as daytime running lights and they’re located on the bumper itself.

[Head to YouTube if you're unable to watch the video above.]
The TRD Sportivo edition, one of the better selling and high-margin variants, receives more revisions as you can see from these images. While the regular Fortuner gets a chrome grille, the TRD gets a black colored grille. The bumpers feature skirts and the design of the alloy wheels is also different. A new entertainment system with a DVD player has also been included.
There are no engine upgrades as such and the Fortuner in Indonesia continues with its 2.7-liter petrol and 2.5-liter diesel engine (what we see in the Innova). Two gearbox options are on offer – a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic. While India does not get a petrol, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) sells a more powerful 3.0-liter diesel and the 4-speed auto box was updated to a 5-speed automatic transmission early this year.

This is the Fortuner TRD which gets a more thorough makeover. The grille and the alloys are also new.

The updated Fortuner now starts at 396 million Rupiah (INR 24.16 lakhs) and ends at 478.55 million Rupiah (INR 29.19 lakhs). The prices have been increased by 700,000 Rupiah (INR 4,270) for the base model and 4.8 million Rupiah (INR 29,000) for the top-end model.
Unlike the Innova facelift that was recently launched in Indonesia, the update for the Fortuner is not that extensive. Nevertheless, the next generation Fortuner is not due until 2016 and we could expect another minor refresh prior to that.

Refreshed Toyota Fortuner in Indonesia – Image Gallery

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Japan – M5-rivaling Lexus GS F spotted undisguised

Best Car Magazine has allegedly caught a prototype of the Lexus GS F, a BMW M5 rival from Japan that Lexus hasn’t hinted on or confirmed yet. According to news reports, the GS F is secretly being tested and would be available in the market next year.

The GS F would rival the likes of the BMW M5 and the Mercedes E63 AMG.

Lexus’s performance F sub-brand is similar to what M is to BMW or AMG is to Mercedes. The performance arm has thus far only introduced the LFA supercar and the IS F sedan, besides F Sport-branded accessories for the LS, GS and IS carlines.
Best Car magazine’s images reveal both the front and rear of the blue test mule, that’s nearly free of any camouflage. Tellingly, its just the badges that have been masked with tape. Even then, the unmistakable ‘F’ badge can be made out under the black tape in the rear-end image.

A host of carbon fiber parts and air vents behind the front wheel arches distinguish the F from the GS.

The GS F is distinguished from the standard GS through bodywork such as a carbon fibre boot lid, carbon fiber lip spoiler and quad exhaust tips.

‘F’ is Lexus’ performance division, similar to what AMG is to Mercedes-Benz.

The front-end differs from the regular model through angular air intakes flanked by carbon fiber skirts, and louvers behind the front wheel arches. The side mirrors, door handles and wheels wear matching grey livery.

The Lexus GS F would get a higher spec version of the GS’s engine.

Speculating on the powertrain, the GS F would receive a 5.0-liter V8 engine which would produce 465PS.
The GS sedan lineup is populated with three variants – GS350, GS350 F Sport, and the GS450h hybrid – and the GS F is likely to be the fourth.
[Source - Best Car Magazine via LexusEnthusiast.com]

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Australia – 2014 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport facelift launched

Mitsubishi Australia has launched the 2014 Pajero Sport (known locally as the Mitsubishi Challenger) facelift. The updated SUV sees a few cosmetic changes and interior revisions.

Note the redesigned grille, air inlet and foglight enclosure.

Current Pajero Sport’s frontal image added for comparison.

The 2014 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport gets an updated grille and front bumper along with new skid plates and a differently designed alloy wheels. New cloth seat fabrics find their way inside while the center console gets a touchscreen system with navigation. Other feature additions include park assist and Isofix seats.
Interestingly, Mitsubishi Australia has made the Pajero Sport a 5-seater! That’s right, the 2014 model loses out the third row of seats and becomes a strict 5-seater SUV.
Would Mitsubishi India incorporate this dreadful change for the Indian model when its due for a facelift? We sure hope not.

Apart from redesigned alloy wheels, there aren’t any changes to the side and the rear of the Pajero Sport facelift.

The rear of the current Pajero Sport.

The base and top-end variants of the Pajero Sport have also been deleted from the lineup. All variants offered now are only 4WD models. Mitsubishi Australia will focus only on models that make sense and that highlight the Challenger’s strengths.

Touchscreen system is 6.1-inches wide in base models and 7.0-inches wide in higher models.

The faux wood trim surrounds on the dashboard are of a darker shade on the Indian model.

Given that its going to be nearly two years since the Pajero Sport was launched in India, we would certainly expect to see the facelift arrive next year, along with the next generation Outlander the company is working to bring.

2014 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport/Challenger Brochure

2014 Mitsubishi Challenger (Pajero Sport) Brochure

 

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Ford Mondeo Vignale Concept to make its debut at Frankfurt

Ford will debut a more upmarket variant of the Mondeo called the Vignale at the Frankfurt Motor Show next week.

The Vignale Concept gets a more premium interior and exterior bits.

The Ford Vignale Concept based on the Mondeo shows Ford’s intention to cater to premium customers with an existing product. According to Roelant de Waard, head of sales at Ford Europe, the Vignale cars will be targeted at “time-poor, independent thinkers who want to be made to feel special.”
The Mondeo Vignale Concept gets a premium interior and exterior. We will know more about the Vignale Concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

Apart from offering an upmarket product, Ford also wants to provide its Vignale customers with a better showroom experience. The sub-brand will have a dedicated lounge, contact persons at the dealerships and there are even a number of exclusive concierge style services for prospective customers.
The Mondeo Vignale will be the first model in this line and is expected to be followed by the next iterations of the S-Max and the Edge. The concept is differentiated from the regular Mondeo by means of a chrome finished grille, new ornately appointed front bumper with chrome secondary air dam meshes and LED foglights.

Unique 20″ alloy wheels, chrome door handles and wing mirror caps are other noteworthy features. The car doesn’t use the Mondeo badge anywhere. The interior is benefited by generous helpings of leather.
The Vignale variant will be instated into the all-new Mondeo range which is due for 2015. The sub-brand will be positioned above the regular car’s top end Titanium X variant.

Ford Mondeo Vignale Concept Image Gallery

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VW India to export Vento to Mexico

Economic Times reports that VW India, the Indian subsidiary of the German car maker, will soon export the VW Vento to Mexico. The company plans to export 25,000 to 30,000 units of the Vento in the coming 12-18 months. Export to Mexico is expected to make up for 20-25% of the Chakan plant’s overall production.

VW India already exports to over 30 markets in both LHD and RHD configurations. The made-in-India Vento (also known as the Polo Sedan in some markets) is exported to markets such as the Middle East and Malaysia already.
Mahesh Kodumudi, president and MD of Volkswagen India said -

The primary intent for setting up the Pune plant was to cater to the domestic Indian market. However, with economic growth stalling, domestic demand for automobiles has weakened at a record pace. Besides, with the rupee plunging, we are forced to re-think our strategy. We are increasingly exploring more and more export markets. Currently, we are exporting CBUs and parts & components to over 30 countries with exports to many more countries in the pipeline.

VW India plans to increase the local content from 70% to 80-95% in the coming years.

Given that the weak rupee is not really helping, VW India is also working on increasing localization from the current 70% to 85-90% in the next few years. Mr. Kodumudi said -

We are vigorously pushing forward activities related to increasing the extent and depth of local manufacturing of parts and components.

[Source - Economic Times]

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