Car Sport 2011: Frankfurt Motor Show

Showing posts with label Frankfurt Motor Show. Show all posts

7/25/09

No New Facelift for Mazda RX-8 in Frankfurt, Reports Confused German Market Launch

As Homer Simpson would put it, D'oh! Many magazine and auto sites were quick to report the news that Mazda may (or is going to) introduce another facelift version of their RX-8 sports car at the forthcoming Frankfurt Show. And while we're accustomed to frequent facelifts from Japanese carmakers, problem is that Mazda presented the latest refreshed RX-8 at last year's Detroit Auto Show. Turns out that all the fuss was about the German market debut ("Deutschland-premiere") of what is sold in most markets as the updated RX-8 231HP with the R3 sport package. Non believers may check out the (translated) German press release after the jump.

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Translated German Press Release:

Six years after its debut, the Mazda RX-8 models now have a comprehensive revision. The amendments relate the exterior and interior design, modifications to the engine and chassis as well as new features. Germany celebrates its premiere, the new Mazda RX-8 in September 2009 at the IAA in Frankfurt. Effective immediately, the enhanced brand icon exclusively available in the Sports Equipment Line Line with 231 PS strong rotary engine at a price of 38,180 euros for all Mazda dealers ordered.

The great friends of this unique sports car may be primarily on the far-reaching improvements to the powertrain with the unique RENESIS-looking rotary engine, which otherwise only one generational change would be to find. The water-cooled engine with a maximum power of 170 KW/231 PS at 8,200 rpm was fairer to require mechanical oil pumps oil instead of a system with electromagnetically driven pump and an optimized sump. The rotary engine rotates through improved lubrication yet liberated high - up to 9000 revolutions per minute. Incidentally Peilstab wandered the motor side of the top cover to the engine block, which makes it easier to access and review of the oil levels easier.

For the first time Mazda uses an additional knock sensor for combustion control. This will knock the tendency is suppressed and effectively through an optimal adjustment of the Zündkennfeldes efficiency. The turbine-like engine power released reached on a new six-speed gearbox to the 30 percent now to torsion shaft. Originally for the third generation of the Mazda MX-5, was the gearbox in combination with the RENESIS rotary engine-reviewed and generally in all six passages translated are noticeably shorter than before. In practice, the modifications through improved acceleration and smoother passage levels and switching operations on all six forward gears felt. The acceleration from a standstill to 100 km / h completes the four-Coupé in 6.4 seconds, while the maximum speed of 234 km / h is.

The modifications to the drivetrain by Mazda has improved the chassis complements. As a perfect base of evolution of the RX-8 with a front-mid-engine rear wheel drive and serve additional body stiffening, altered handlebars and chassis settings, and optimized suspension geometry. Serially come Bilstein ® shock absorbers are used for a more consistent damping even under high load guarantee. For exceptional high stiffness at the front axle provides a new, trapezoidal strut brace. Together with other reinforcements succeeded the Mazda engineers, the torsion and bending stiffness of the RX-8-car by 5.4 percent and 8.7 percent increase.

A modified front subframe, which also has festigkeitsverbesserndem Urethanschaum filled, gives an even more natural and direct Lenkgefühl. A generally more stable handling, thanks to newly designed rear suspension geometry achieved. New forged and painted anthracite gray 19-inch lightweight metal rims with 225/40 R19 tires, Bridgestone (Potenza RE050A) set to direct steering and ensure an even more agile handling of the sports car.

The visual and functional performance benefit equally from the extensive changes to the exterior design, the modifications to the conventional RX-8-sports dress miss their effect on the viewer not. The front part is thanks to newly designed bumpers, revised headlamps and larger radiator openings even more dynamic. The Ölkühleröffnungen left and right of the equally magnified, pentagonal main air intake is almost twice as large as the previous model and reduce the peak temperature of the engine oil at full operation by an average of six degrees Celsius. The lateral overhangs on the lower bumper has been aerodynamically optimized and the aerodynamic hold at 0.30. And also the housing of the bright xenon headlight units were given a wider form and give the RX-8 now have a more technical look.

Revised front fender and re-shaped side blinker bezels suggest using the standard side skirts, sport fairings additional strength. The stern is in the rear of the new LED technology, two large exhaust tailpipes and a new spoiler modeled dominates. Even now fully integrated into the car color painted rear bumper gives the Mazda sports car a sporty appearance. As an external standard colors are the metallic colors Tornadorot, Nereusblau, Anubis Black, Silver and Pluto Arachneweiß choice.

Other important improvements was the Mazda RX-8 interior before. Although the basic layout has remained intact, but many detail changes make for a pleasant ambience and a simpler operation.

Overall, leaves the cabin, thanks to improved processing and material quality impression of an even higher value. Newly designed, the designer about the center console of the RX-8 with different controls in piano-optics. Applications from the same material were included in the three-spoke leather sports steering wheel integrated, now also carries red decorative stitching. In the driver's field of view dominate the tachometer. What is new is the red variable speed range, depending on the engine temperature after a cold start the recommended maximum rotational displays.

Particular attention could be the interior designer to the front Gestühl responsible. New Recaro sport seats with a black cloth-leather cover and red seams offer improved ergonomics, thanks to a greatly improved lateral support in the shoulder and leg area.

Mazda has the RX-8 exclusively in the sport full-line version. First is the Wankel-athletes with a Bluetooth ® interface for mobile phones, which the uncomplicated operation of a mobile phone via the audio system, without the driver away from traffic. Also standard are now a light and rain sensor as well as an AUX input for various audio players on board. Another technology highlight was the RX-8 a specially tuned to the interior BOSE ® audio system with Audio Pilot ® noise compensation and Centerpoint ® surround sound. The sound system uses an eight-channel amplifier of the newest generation and has five speakers and four woofers for premium sound at any speed.

The modified Mazda RX-8 - At a Glance

• Two wheel RENESIS rotary engine with 2 x 654 cm3 chamber volume

• Maximum power of 170 kW/231 hp at 8,200 rpm and max. Torque of 211 Nm

• Second pair of knock sensor improves combustion efficiency

• New electronically controlled Öldosierpumpe for a more efficient lubrication

• New six-speed manual gearbox with shorter translation

• 30 percent of torsion shaft for more direct transmission

• Front-mid-engine design with rear wheel drive

• Optimum 50-50 weight distribution for superior handling characteristics

• Lock with limited slip differential at the rear axle for improved traction

• Increased Karosserieverwindungs and bending stiffness

• Improved steering and suspension vote

• Bilstein ® sports suspension with special tuning and Urethanschaum before filling the other guide frame

• Aerodynamics Package with a special front spoiler, side skirts, rear spoilers and fairings - Cd value 0.30

• New front design with oversized five-point-Main air inlet

• Larger Ölkühleröffnungen reduce oil spikes

• Complete in car color painted rear bumper with new design

• Enlarged stainless steel exhaust tailpipes of zweiflutigen

• Forged, dark gray 19-inch alloy wheels in the rotary engine optics

• New LED tail lights

• Higher processing and material quality in the interior

• Modified instrument display with a variable speed range red

• A new three-spoke leather sport steering wheel with red decorative stitching

• Recaro ® Sport seats (front) with black cloth leather coverings

• ABS, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and traction control

• Bluetooth ® handsfree for mobile phones

• On the inside coordinated BOSE ® audio system with nine speakers

2010 SAAB 9-5 Sedan: First Official Photos Hit the Web!

Carscoop reader Patrick sent us a collage with the first official photos of the all-new Saab 9-5 Sedan that is destined to make its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. We suspect that it won't be long before Saab comes out with an official release and a high-res gallery of its new executive sedan, so we'll keep this post short. In the meantime, just follow the jump to get a sneak peak of the new 9-5 and tell us your first thoughts on the exterior and interior styling of Saab's Mercedes-Benz E-Class rival.

Thanks for the photos Patrick! - Via: Autobilde

Kia Cee'd Facelift Unwrapped in New Spy Shots

The past few weeks we've seen numerous spy shots as well as an official teaser of the forthcoming Kia Cee'd facelift but these latest scoops that surfaced on Kia-World are by far the best as they reveal the refreshed hatchback in detail inside and out. This particular Cee'd that appears to have been bagged somewhere in ~~South Korea~~ Slovakia(?) is a higher grade version as it features a different treatment for the grille along with an additional front apron.

To sum up, the styling updates up front that include a new hood and bumper plus different head lamps and grille give Kia's C-segment hatchback a little more character while changes at the rear are less visible as they are limited to the subtly redesigned bumper and the reworked tail lamps. The new mirrors with integrated turning signals and the new alloy wheel designs round off the exterior changes.

As for the interior, the 2010MY Cee'd features a subtly redesigned center console with new controls and an upgraded audio system with Bluetooth connectivity plus a new steering wheel and revised gauges on the instrument panel.

The five-door Cee'd facelift will bow to the public for the first time at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Photos: Kia-World

VIDEO: Aston Martin Rapide Sports Sedan Filmed in Kuwait

You never know when or where you're going to stumble upon a prototype model these days. This time some folks spotted a thinly disguised Aston Martin Rapide test car on the roads of Kuwait. Apparently the British automaker was performing hot climate tests on its forthcoming four-door sports sedan that is planned to get its first public outing at the Frankfurt motor show in September.

First seen at the 2006 Detroit auto show as a prototype model, the production Rapide is almost identical to the 196.9-inch-long concept study. Due to go on sale in the beginning of 2010, the Rapide is powered by a 6.0-liter V12 engine which is rated at 480HP, and linked to a six-speed ZF automatic transmission with Aston's Touchtronic control.

Via: es.Autoblog

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Convertible: New Spy Shots Leave Little to the Imagination

Hot on the heels of the new 2010 Mercedes E-Class Coupe comes its convertible brethren that was spied by our scoopsters in Germany essentially undisguised as the only parts of the car that remain undercover are the badges and the lights. Even though many of its rivals including the BMW 3-Series Cabriolet and the Lexus IS C offer folding metal hard tops, the topless E-Class sticks with the traditional canvas roof top which has its advantages in terms of weight- and cost-savings.

Our latest scoop photos reveal that with the exception of some necessary styling changes at rear to accommodate the soft top, the Convertible is identical to its coupe counterpart.

While our man with the long-lens didn't manage to get close enough to the prototype to snap a picture or two of the interior, don't bank on seeing anything different than the Coupe's cabin and dashboard layout.

As is the case with the E-Class Sedan and Coupe, the CLK Convertible's replacement will come in several performance flavors. Customers will most likely have the same five engine choices as in the E-Class Coupe that include two diesels, a 204HP 2.2-liter four-pot and a 231HP 3.0-liter V6, and three petrol units, a 204HP 1.8-liter turbocharged-four, a 292HP 3.5-liter V6 and a range-topping 5.5-liter V8 churning out 388HP.

The four-seater E-Class Convertible will make its debut either at the 2009 Frankfurt Show or at a major international auto show early next year with the first examples of the car planned to arrive at Mercedes showrooms sometime during the first half of 2010.

The wait is finally over for the all-new A5 Sportback as Audi unleashed a full photo gallery of its high-anticipated five-door coupe which will be formally introduced this fall at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The German firm claims that new member of the A5 family "combines the best of various vehicle genres such as the emotion and elegance of a coupe, the comfort of a sedan and the practicality of a station wagon." Of course most will see a five-door, liftback version of the A5 Coupe with a sleek roofline, but still, we must admit that our first reaction on the Sportback's styling is positive.

Aside from the low-slung roofline and the rear hatch, the Sportback also boasts a unique C-Pillar design with a dramatic kink as well as frameless doors.

Without doubt, the A5 Sportback looks even better with the optional S-Line sport package that combines a tauter suspension setup and lowered body with larger alloy wheels, specific bumpers, distinctive features on the side air intakes, on the diffuser and on the tailpipes along with color keyed side sill trims.

Moving on to the interior, Audi's styling experiments pretty much come to an end with the new door trims and the four-seat layout as the dashboard is no different than the one found in the rest of the A4 and A5 family.

Even though the Sportback is 36mm (1.42 in) lower than the A4 Sedan, the German automaker supports that the four-seater model offers comparable headroom and legroom space with the more conventionally styled A4.

Furthermore, Audi says that the Sportback's compartment volume of 480 liters (16.95 cu ft) is nearly as much as the A4 Avant, and it can increase to 980 liters (34.61 cu ft) with the rear seats folded down.

There are no surprises under the hood as the Sportback will roll into European showrooms in September with a similar engine lineup to the A4 and A5 models. The initial range will consist of three gasoline units, a 2.0 TSI with 180HP and 211HP and a 265HP 3.0 FSI V6, and three diesels, a 2.0 TDI with 170HP, a 2.7-liter TDI delivering 190HP and a 3.0- V6 TDI that makes 240HP.

All models are equipped with a recuperation system that recovers energy during braking and deceleration and stores it temporarily in the battery while the three gasoline and the top diesel variants are offered with Audi's quattro permanent all-wheel drive system.

Audi said that the A5 Sportback's range will be enhanced with three more engines by mid-2010, one of which will surely be the new 3.0-liter supercharged V6 TFSI that develops 290HP in the A6 and 333HP in the S4 Sedan and Avant models.

In Germany, prices for the A5 Sportback range from €33,650 for the 180HP 2.0 TSI to €47,950 for the 3.0 TDI.

For the time being, Audi claims that the A5 Sportback won't be heading to the United States, but something tells us that the automaker may change its plans in the very near future.

Audi A5 Sportback Prices at Launch (Germany)

2.0 TDI with 6-speed manual transmission - €36,050

2.7 TDI with 6-speed manual transmission -€39,300

3.0 TDI quattro with 7-speed S tronic - €47,950

2.0 TFSI (132 kW / 180 hp) with 6-speed manual transmission - €33,650

2.0 TFSI (155 kW / 211 hp) quattro with 7-speed S tronic - €42,150

3.2 FSI quattro with S tronic - €47,000