Ford B-Max: Easy Door Access System highlighted in a video

Ford B-Max: Easy Door Access System highlighted in a video:

Ford releases a video showing how the innovative ‘Easy Door Access System’ of the upcoming B-Max, the new compact MPV from the Blue oval which will be unveiled at the next Geneva Motor Show (March 8-18). The final design of the model is very similar to the concept showcased last year at the same Geneva Motor Show, and this video gives us the opportunity to see how its brilliant 360-degrees Easy Door Access System works.

The Ford B-Max will be one of the first models to be equipped with the brand new 1.0-litre 3-cylinder EcoBoost unit, which will be available in power steps of 100 and 125 hp. The engine line-up of the model will also include a 1.6-litre 4-cylinder Duratorq TDCi unit producing 95 hp and capable of traveling for 25 km (15 miles) with just one litre of diesel, with 104 g/km of CO2 level. The model is expected to hit the market by the end of the year.

Source : Google Reader

Bentley Continental GT and GTC V8: more pictures

Bentley Continental GT and GTC V8: more pictures:

Bentley releases more official pictures of the new Continental GT and GTC V8, equippped with a brand new 8-cylinder engine that uses innovative solutions to deliver high performance as well as low fuel consumption and emissions. This 4.0-litre unit has been developed by Audi and produces an output of 507 hp and 660 Nm of peak torque that gets delivered to all four wheels through a 8-speed automatic transmission. The model reaches the 100 km/h (62 mph) mark in 4.6 seconds (4.8 seconds for the convertible variant) while top speed is 303 km/h (18 mph) for both versions.

The Bentley Continental V8 comes with standard 20″ alloys - although a 21″ option is also available - and uses the interesting “cylinder on demand” system, which automatically deactivates 4 cylinders when the cruising conditions do not require maximum power.

View the full Bentley Continental GT and GTC V8 photo gallery

Source : Google Reader

New Porsche Macan: first video teaser released

New Porsche Macan: first video teaser released:

Porsche releases an official video teaser dedicated to its new SUV model whose name has just been revealed: it will be called Macan, which means ‘Tiger’ in Indonesian language, an announcement that puts an end to the speculation that the car was going to be called ‘Cajun‘. The car will become the sixth model in Porsche’s line up and will be produced at Porsche’s plant in Lipsia, starting in 2013.

“The Macan combines all the characteristics of a sports car with the benefits of a SUV and is a genuine Porsche - said global sales and marketing chief, Mr. Bernhard Maier - The name of a new Porsche has to fit with the brand, sound good in very many languages and dialects and evoke positive associations.” The Macan will share its platform with the Audi Q5, along with most of its powertrains, and in the plans of the Stuttgart-based carmaker it will hopefully emulate the success of the Cayenne. The pictures below come from the last set of spy shots we received of this model a while ago, when it was still wearing a misleading Q5 bodywork.

Source : Google Reader

Peugeot 208 XY Concept

Peugeot 208 XY Concept:

Peugeot will show up at the next Geneva Motor Show with three important new models: the 4008, the 208 GTi Concept and this 208 XY Concept. The model comes with top notch materials and trims, and can be recognized by its purple leather finishing, crimson stitched leather on the dashboard, armrests and gear-lever, grey leather upholstery got the seats and also the exclusive leather steering wheel.

As for the exterior, the 208 XY comes with a special 16-layer crimson livery called “Pulsion” which, apparently, gives a different perception of the color depending on viewing distance and angle. Exclusive 2-tone 6-spoke alloys and the different grille (with 3 horizontal bars) also play their parts in making the XY looking quite different from the rest of the 208 line-up. The model is equipped with a 1.6-litre e-HDi diesel unit already featured in 208’s engine line-up, delivering 115 hp and mated with a 6-speed manual transmission. This unit is credited with only 99 g/km of CO2 emissions. Check out the official Press Release after the jump.

View the full Peugeot 208 XY Concept photo gallery

XY Concept: Urban chic
Powered by a 1.6-litre e-HDi engine, developing 115bhp and equipped with a 6-speed manual gearbox the XY Concept transports its occupants in a refined environment, with a Crimson colour treatment applied to exterior bodywork and the decorated interior.

Special ‘Pulsion’ paintwork means the XY Concept appears to constantly change, depending on the distance and the position from which it is viewed. This ability to transform is the result of an exclusive method, based on the very precise application of sixteen coats of paint and lacquer.

The passenger compartment is trimmed with crimson stitched leather on the dashboard, armrests, steering wheel rings, gear lever gaiter and sides, and with stripes on seat inserts and floor mats, while the panoramic glass roof is edge-trimmed in black leather.

Pearly grey leather pleated seats feature five metal rings, which pinch and tighten the material. This precision in the working of the material continues with an exclusive steering wheel in leather, with crimson micro-stripes with a chrome insert in the lower section. Bathed in the natural light provided by the panoramic glass roof, with white ambiance lighting, the finishing touches to the interior add a ‘gunmetal’ aesthetic treatment to the door crossbars, steering wheel decorations and vent trims.

The XY Concept rides on exclusive dual-effect 18″ alloy wheels complementing its ‘Pulsion’ colour and special detailing with coloured chrome decorating the panoramic glass roof trim. The lower window edge and the quarter panel are finished off with a special grille treatment with three horizontal chrome bars.

Source : Google Reader