Smart fortwo electric drive, 2013

 

 

 

 

•  Smart fortwo electric drive, 2013

12 June 2012 - the date marks the starting signal for the first real alternative to the usual refuelling stops. With the launch of the new smart fortwo electric drive, in future smart customers can enjoy even more fun at the wheel of an attractively priced vehicle that has the familiar compact dimensions - as a coupé or a cabriolet. The most important feature distinguishing it from its siblings with conventional engines is the fact that it does not produce any emissions on the road. With its 55kW electric motor the smart fortwo electric drive accelerates from 0-60 km/h in 4.8 seconds, and with a maximum speed of 125 km/h driving pleasure is also guaranteed on urban motorways. The 17.6 kWh battery enables the urban two-seater to travel approximately 145 kilometres in city traffic without producing any local emissions. The new sale&care model makes opting into electric mobility particularly attractive: it offers customers an opportunity to buy, finance or lease the vehicle at an attractive price and to rent the battery for a monthly fee.

Extensive experience and customer feedback from various electric mobility projects were integrated in the further development of the smart fortwo electric drive. Ever since 1998 the smart has been revolutionising urban mobility like no vehicle before it. Compact, agile, environmentally friendly and stylish - it has evolved from a practical small car to a lifestyle product and has long become a familiar sight on the roads of cities around the world.

From the summer the smart fortwo electric drive will start winning wide-ranging buyers in more than 30 international countries for its innovative and forward-looking drive concept.

The new model is fitted with a 55 kW magneto-electric motor - the first product from the EM-motive joint venture founded together with Bosch - ensuring that it is as agile and lively as ever.

With torque of 130 Newton metres it accelerates powerfully from 0 to 60 km/h in 4.8 seconds, and thanks to better acceleration in the higher speed range it can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 11.5 seconds as it has much more tractive power than its predecessor.

It makes for speedy driving and overtaking. The battery-electric two-seater smart fortwo now has a higher top speed of 125 km/h, as well. That is putting it on a par with the combustion-engined smart - also on the motorway.

A battery from the joint venture "Deutsche ACCUmotive" with Evonik Industries is fitted in the new smart fortwo electric drive for the first time. With capacity of 17.6 kWh the lithium-ion battery enables 145 kilometres of pollutant-free driving fun. In addition to the higher battery capacity clear improvements have been made to the efficiency of the drive system, resulting in a greater range. When completely empty it takes a maximum of seven hours to fully charge the battery at a household socket or charging station on the electricity systems of most countries i.e. overnight.

Quick charging in less than one hour
For the feasibility of quick charging it is possible to optionally equip the car with a quick-charging function. The 22 kW on-board charger enables a completely empty battery to be fully charged in less than an hour. A power cable is needed for this which is used to connect the vehicle to a public quick-charging station or a "wallbox" at home or work.

smart will offer this in future in cooperation with SPX, one of the world's leading suppliers of technology solutions in the fields of energy and automotive as a global installation and service partner, and with KEBA, a specialist for innovative E-charging infrastructure and wallboxes. If a customer decides to install a wallbox at home or work the smart Sales department will contact SPX. SPX will examine the local conditions, make an individual offer, and after a purchase decision, arrange for installation of the wallbox from KEBA. The wallbox is standardised and can of course also be used to charge vehicles from other manufacturers, for example if there is a mixed fleet.

There are two different types of wallbox: Basic and Connected. Both variants can be used for the quick charging of a single vehicle, or several vehicles one after the other. For private customers who want to charge up quickly and easily at home, a Basic wallbox is the perfect solution. It provides quick charging up to 22 kW and can be used both indoors and outdoors. The Connected wallbox also provides internet connectivity once linked up to the customer's web connection.

Furthermore, the Connectivity Plus system is an ideal solution for fleet customers. It enables up to 16 Connected wallboxes to be linked up to the "fleet server". This fleet server then enables several vehicles to be charged at once, all controlled intelligently and automatically. For example, certain vehicles can be given priority or a load limitation can be set. SmartCharging is also possible: economical charging and charging with green electricity (if the utility company provides the relevant data). This is financially advantageous to customers as they always have full control over their charging. The relevant charging cables are of course also available from SPX.

Attractive introduction to electric mobility
The smart fortwo electric drive makes opting into electric mobility very attractive with a new marketing concept. With the sale&care model customers can buy, lease or finance the vehicle at an attractive price and rent the battery. The rental costs include regular maintenance and, if necessary, quick battery replacement. smart also has a solution for all those who want to buy the entire vehicle.

In Germany the price for the vehicle with the sale&care model is €18,910 inc. VAT for the coupé and €22,000 for the cabrio. As well as this there is the standard battery rental charge of €65 including VAT in all sale&care markets. In view of the low operating costs electric driving is therefore a very attractive form of individual mobility.

National promotion programmes in many countries and various mobility benefits such as the use of special lanes or exemption from city congestion charges are further advantages of electric driving. With the attractive sale&care package and the significant technological advancement of the smart fortwo electric drive smart offers its customers affordable driving pleasure in daily use based on the environmentally friendly drive.

smart also has an attractive offer for customers who want to buy or lease the complete vehicle with the battery: including VAT the new smart fortwo electric drive costs €23,680 as a coupé and €26,770 as a cabrio.

Since the International Motor Show in Frankfurt anyone interested has been able to register on www.smart.com with no obligation to receive all the latest news on the new electric smart. In some markets, including Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the UK customers have been able to make advance reservations for a vehicle online - and these customers will be among the first owners of the new smart fortwo electric drive. A four-figure number of reservations has already been received - and a five-figure number of people have even registered on the smart website.

Fill up on renewable energies
Electric vehicles cut down greenhouse gases on a sustained basis, especially when they are powered by renewably generated electricity. This is why the company is supplying as much additional energy generated by wind power to the German grid as is needed to run all new electric smarts sold in Germany - thus supporting the ambitious climate targets of the EU. The energy needed for this is supplied by a new wind power plant on the A9 motorway, which Daimler has acquired in order to supply additional power generated from a completely renewable source to the grid on time for the launch of the new electric smart. Within the framework of this initiative Daimler is deliberately not taking up support measures from the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). With nominal output of 2.3 megawatts per year the onshore wind energy plant type Enercon E82 will generate enough green electricity to run the approximately 2,500 smart fortwo electric drives initially sold in Germany. Any power required over and above this could also be covered with electricity from wind power, without EEG funding.

A fresh green and even more colours
With a larger radiator grille featuring the electric drive logo, stylish LED daytime driving lights below the headlamps, wider door sills and several modifications to the rear the new model is much more dynamic than its predecessor. The new E-smart comes in all smart colours and colour combinations that are also available for the diesel and petrol models.

The new colour fresh green is a particularly visible manifestation of electric driving fun. The electric drive design package comprises crystal white bodypanels and white alloy rims, tridion cell and mirror caps painted in electric green and numerous green accents in the interior, which form an attractive contrast to the black seats.

Those looking to give their vehicle an even more exclusive touch can choose from the range of options offered by smart BRABUS tailor made - with an even greater choice of colours and materials.

Perfectly equipped
As to be expected the new smart fortwo electric drive features extensive equipment. A highlight is the fully automatic air conditioning with pollen filter and pre-entry climate control. When it is connected to the power supply the vehicle can be automatically pre-cooled or pre-heated as required for a programmed departure time. A new feature is the possibility to start the pre-entry climate control via the internet or a smartphone at any time. The standard equipment furthermore includes electric windows, a leather steering wheel, leather gear knob, the audio system basic, power steering, 9-spoke alloy wheels and a luggage compartment cover. In addition to the standard solid roof, a glass roof and a cabrio version are available. The trip computer - also a standard feature in the electric smart - shows journey information including the remaining range. And like the predecessor model the two round instruments show the battery state-of-charge and the energy used and recuperated. In addition, the smart fortwo electric drive can be equipped with a navigation system and a 3-spoke leather steering wheel.

Clever app for infotainment with smartphones
smart is the first car brand to develop its own drive app for the iPhone®. Together with the smart kit and cradle for the iPhone® the cult phone becomes a multimedia trip computer that is optimised for the smart fortwo in terms of function and design. The smart drive app for the iPhone has all the important features needed whilst driving: phone calls via hands-free system, your own extensive music collection, internet radio and a clever navigation system with a special smart touch. There are also smart extras - for example the Car Finder that will guide you back to wherever you parked your car.

The new smart drive app for the iPhone is simple to operate, for example thanks to extra-large buttons. The new app therefore makes urban mobility even easier and more fun - the declared objective of the smart philosophy.

Two new elements developed by smart make the two-seater car and the iPhone a perfect team:

• The smart cradle for the iPhone with control unit and microphone serves as a stylish and functional holder. It charges the iPhone and also functions as a hands-free system using the loudspeakers of the smart radio for sound output and automatically muting it when phone calls are made
• The smart drive app for the iPhone is the world's first drive app on the market to be developed by a car brand. It combines all the features needed on the road in a single app. All the functions are extremely easy to use thanks to extra-large buttons and extra-large letters

Always know how far you can go: connected services
The smart drive app for the iPhone can be supplemented with further functions tailored to the smart fortwo electric drive. However, the current state-of-charge or the SmartCharging charge configuration can also be conveniently controlled and managed via a web portal from a home computer or with any modern smartphone.

The Vehicle Homepage offers every smart fortwo electric drive customer a chance to visualise the range on an interactive map with 3D views.

All the destinations that can be reached with the current battery charge are displayed. The public charging stations within reach can also be seen at a glance. If a desired destination is further away than the available range the Vehicle Homepage can be used to quickly check how long the battery still needs to be charged for to reach it. Among other factors, the depiction of the range considers the topography and the route profile. The intuitive graphic depiction that can be combined with 3D views and satellite images is an attractive feature. Furthermore, the vehicle itself can also become active: information on the charge status and range can be sent by email or Twitter messages for example. The driver is notified as soon as the desired range can be reached with the current charge.

Intelligent charging
The smart fortwo electric drive can be connected to the internet at home via a standard powerline adapter (Homeplug AV) for SmartCharging. After entering the planned departure time in the vehicle or the web portal the vehicle will be fully charged in a battery-saving and economical way. The smart fortwo electric drive also makes charging at public stations easy. With Plug&Charge the vehicle identifies itself as soon as it is plugged into a compatible charging point and the charging process is settled automatically.

"Electric history at smart"
With the start of the first electrically driven test fleet in 2007 in London smart also took on a pioneering role in the area of electric mobility when 100 smart fortwo electric drives took to the roads of the British capital - with great success.

With the introduction of the second generation in 2009 the smart fortwo electric drive was ready to take to the roads. The electrically driven avant-gardiste from Stuttgart was introduced in 18 markets. The objective was to gather as much experience as possible about how customers use and charge electric vehicles. The huge demand exceeded all expectations. Instead of the planned 1000 vehicles more than 2000 smart fortwo electric drives were produced in Hambach. This means that smart has one of the largest fleets of electrically driven vehicles on the roads worldwide and a trove of customer experience and wishes that have been input in the new smart fortwo electric drive.

A higher top speed and better acceleration at speeds above 60 km/h were right at the top of the customers' list of priorities. However, contrary to prevailing opinion the range wasn't the crucial point from the perspective of the test customers. The vast majority of users confirmed the results of surveys which say that people drive approximately 30 to 40 kilometres per day on average in urban areas and they expressed great satisfaction with the range of their smart.

Technical specifications
    Electric motor: Magneto-electric synchronous motor from EM-motive
    Continuous output: 35 kW
    Maximum output: 55 kW
    Max. torque: 130 Nm
    Battery: Lithium-ion battery from Deutsche ACCUmotive
    Battery capacity: 17.6 kWh
    Maximum speed: > 120 km/h
    Acceleration
        0-60 km/h: 4.8 s
        0-100 km/h: 11.5 s
    Range (NEDC): 145 km
    Charging time (0-100%)
        domestic socket: 7h (without wallbox), 6h (with wallbox)
        400V: Less than 1h

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Mini Clubvan, 2013

 

 

 

 

•  Mini Clubvan, 2013

The personality and hallmark driving fun of the MINI brand is coming to a whole new group of customers with the launch of the new MINI Clubvan.

Making its global premiere at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the world's first premium compact delivery van has five doors, but only two seats. That means outstanding levels of practicality and storage, making it the perfect new member of the team for any business with an eye for style.

Key to the Clubvan's appeal is its spacious load bay. It extends from the wide-opening double doors at the back of the vehicle to a sturdy internal bulkhead immediately behind the driver and passenger seats. That's made from a solid aluminium lower section with a steel mesh upper, and stowed cargo can also be accessed through the two rear doors or via the Clubdoor on the driver's side.

The blocked-out rear side windows are body-coloured and feature interior polycarbonate reinforcement. Combined with tinted glass in the rear doors, it means the load compartment is both secure and concealed from prying eyes.

Inside, the cargo area stretches back 115 cm and, even at its narrowest point just behind the rear doors, is 102 cm wide. With the bulkhead to protect the driver and/or passenger, it can be loaded right to the roof which measures 84cm at its highest point. That means 860 litres of space and a maximum payload capacity of 500 kg.

The load floor is completely flat for ease-of-use, and both it and the side walls are trimmed in high-quality upholstery. Above, an anthracite roof liner runs the full length of the vehicle. Six heavy duty attachment loops are recessed into the floor at the sides to help prevent cargo from moving around in transit, while multiple 12-volt sockets can be used to power electrical equipment.

In common with all MINIs, the Clubvan will offer owners outstanding driving dynamics. Featuring powertrain and chassis technology from the Clubman, it comes with powerful and efficient four-cylinder engines. Three versions will be available; the 72 kW/98 hp MINI One Clubvan, the 90 kW/122 hp MINI Cooper Clubvan and the 82 kW/112 hp MINI Cooper D Clubvan. All come with MINI's familiar front-wheel-drive set-up, Electric Power Steering, MacPherson strut front suspension, multi-link rear suspension and powerful brakes. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, but an optional six-speed automatic transmission is also available.

Also standard are MINIMALISM features including Auto Start/Stop, Shift Point Display, Brake Energy Regeneration and on-demand operation of ancillary units. These will help business users keep a tight rein on fuel consumption and offers exceptionally low running costs. For example, the MINI Cooper D Clubvan offers official combined fuel economy of 72.4 mpg, meanwhile CO2 emissions of just 103 g/km put the vehicle into an exceptionally low tax bracket.

Built in Britain at Plant Oxford, the Clubvan is true to the now-familiar MINI design language and features the same classic lines that have become the hallmark of the brand. Based on the Clubman platform, its exterior dimensions are identical to those of its sibling. It's 3,961 mm long, 1,683 mm wide and 1,426 mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,547 mm. The Clubvan is the seventh unique member of the MINI family, selling alongside the Clubman, Hatch, Convertible, Countryman, Coupe and Roadster.

It is the first commercial vehicle to be offered since the MINI brand was relaunched under BMW's ownership in 2001. Because of that classification business users can claim back their VAT.

The newcomer's heritage can be traced back to 1960, when the original Mini - launched a year earlier - was joined in showrooms by the Morris Mini Van. With an extra 10cm in the wheelbase, closed-off load compartment and split rear door, it offered exactly the sort of workhorse capability that urban commercial users of the time required.

The new Clubvan is bringing that tradition of MINI practicality right up to date, while adding the brand's modern values of outstanding driving performance, high standard specification and exceptional style. The Clubvan comes with much higher specification than any comparable van in the segment with items such as DAB radio, air-conditioning, electric windows, anti-theft alarm and side and head airbags included as standard.

The MINI Clubvan is available in four exterior colours - Pepper White, Ice Blue, British Racing Green metallic and Midnight Black metallic. The roof, rear side window area, C-pillars and exterior mirror caps are body-coloured on all versions. The standard 15-inch Delta-spoke alloy wheels, which are exclusive to the MINI Clubvan, can be replaced by alternative 15, 16 or 17-inch alloy wheel designs.

The inside, black seats with Cosmos fabric upholstery, a black interior colour scheme and Fine White Silver trim strips are standard. The specification has been carefully considered to be in keeping with the functional and practical character of the vehicle. However, the interior can be customised to suit individual requirements. Options include black sports seats, which are available in Ray Cloth/Leather, Punch Leather or Lounge Leather.

Like every other MINI, the Clubvan can be personalised from the brand's extensive range of optional extras. These enhance comfort, convenience, driving enjoyment, safety and practicality. Expected to prove popular are xenon headlights, black headlight shells, adaptive headlights, automatic climate control, park distance control, automatically dimming interior and exterior mirrors and a trailer hitch. The optional MINI navigation system, as well as MINI Connected, with the Google send to car service will keep the Clubvan heading in the right direction on its delivery runs.

The MINI Clubvan brings a new blend of sophistication and style to the business sector. Its blend of practicality and premium features means commercial customers could include caterers, event planners, small retail businesses or photographers. However, it will also appeal to some drivers with outdoor-based adventure hobbies such as cycling or mountaineering, where high-value equipment needs to be kept secure.

Retail prices, excluding VAT:
    MINI One Clubvan: £11,175
    MINI Cooper Clubvan: £12,475
    MINI Cooper D Clubvan: £13,600

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Fiat 500L, 2013

 

 

 

•  Fiat 500L, 2013

Precisely five years after the presentation of the Fiat 500 and 55 years after the début of the historic 500, the Fiat 500L will debut - again in Turin - on 4 July 2012. It is the new chapter of the Italian icon that follows the Abarth and Cabrio versions.

The Fiat 500L combines the iconic nature of the 500 style with the functionality of Fiat's design. Expanded on the concept of 'space efficiency', the new model defies the conventional distinctions owing to its MPV passenger space, the feel of a small SUV on the road and levels of efficiency typical of a compact car. By following this novel recipe, the Fiat 500L combines characteristics peculiar to different classes to offer a concept of distinctive and versatile first car that is an alternative to the traditional saloons of the B and C segments.

After more than 800,000 cars have been sold in 110 countries worldwide, today the 500 has grown up to accommodate new experiences and needs once more. If the 500 is the super-compact car perfect for young people and the city, the Fiat 500L is the first car of the 500 family able to contain the small pleasures and life's greatest emotions all together: children, friends, journeys, music and community.

The Fiat 500L is totally new in the way it expresses its styling individuality, communicates with the outside world and opens its doors to a new on-board experience. The letter 'L' sums up the three dimensions enclosed in the new Fiat solution: Large, meant as functionality and space; Light, when 'lightness' means user-friendly technology and eco-friendliness; and Loft, a trend-setting environment where one can live life to the fullest.

The Fiat 500L can be ordered in Italy and on the major European markets starting from July 2012. The commercial launch is scheduled in Italy with an Open Day on the first weekend in October, to then progressively expand to all the other markets. Altogether, during 2013 the Fiat 500L will go on sale in more than 100 countries around the world, including the United States.

Large: efficient space
After 800,000 cars have been sold in 110 countries worldwide, today the 500 has grown up to accommodate new experiences and needs once more. If the 500 is the super-compact car perfect for young people and the city, the Fiat 500L is the first car of the 500 family able to contain the small pleasures and life's greatest emotions all together: children, friends, journeys, music and community.

There is a core topic in Fiat's history which links different moments and experiences, a route along which personalities moved by a profound sensitivity and ability to interpret the car's evolution have given their contribution. An ongoing commitment in defining products sharing a vast wealth of technical and design experiences, above all aimed at protecting that distinctive "inventive aptitude" recognised as one of the reasons for the success of Italian design worldwide, can be traced from Dante Giacosa to the new path Fiat Design has undertaken.

A succession of "records", genuine cornerstones of the Fiat brand's identity, clearly emerge from the 600 Multipla of 1956 - with respect to which the 500L project is placed in dialectical terms due to the recovery of several "archetypal" elements under the aegis of its multifunctional use and its particular morphological root - to the 500 of 1957, the 127 of 1972, the Panda of 1980, the Uno of 1983 and the Multipla of 1998 so we can understand the most radical and innovative car tuning.

The Fiat 500L is the result of a path along which Fiat designers had to tackle issues of technological feasibility, brand strategies and studies that set out to understand in advance what relationship we will have with the car in the future. An approach that attempts to go beyond the form-function connection to focus attention on the user and his needs.

500 Style: the icon of Italian style is growing
Besides being comfortable and functional, the Fiat 500L is cool. It expresses the taste of Italian style with a distinctive look and interprets Fiat's unique ability to conceive and design cars which are innovative in substance and in form. Substance turns into the concept of "space-efficiency" that distinguishes all of the most innovative Fiats in history.

Just as the 600 Multipla was the forerunner of the concept of compact people carrier, the 500L is the new Fiat interpretation of the Simply More philosophy applied to the Multispace concept. The Fiat 500L reformulates the category of compact cars for the modern family in an emotional vein by developing some of the 500's stylistic details in unprecedented forms.

The recognisable features of the Fiat 500L, marked by a body design that excludes edges and taut lines to favour "gentler" forms, refers to a "placid", non-aggressive object that conveys charm and foretells a more harmonious layout for the urban landscape and environment.

When looking at the new 500L, we realize that the iconic nature, namely the force and personality of the car's design, forms a real matrix of the entire project. Developed within the context of the new Fiat B segment platform, the Fiat 500L is an innovative car that addresses a more diversified and broader customer base and that aims at setting higher standards in terms of available on-board space and comfort. The result is a highly functional car able to "converse" with the user and offer quality to appreciate over the years.

One of the Fiat 500L's peculiarities pursued since the earliest packaging planning stages is greater interior volume, obtained by the meticulous compacting of the mechanical elements shared by designers and engineers alike. If the general lines of the vehicle's architecture follows the "cab forward" principles, from which reduction of the body and bonnet section up front is derived to the benefit of more available interior space - especially at the height of the waistline and roof - it is above all the "empathetic" vocation of the 500L's design that exalts the overall vehicle ergonomics. The Fiat 500L also boasts an extensive view of the outside and the greatest brightness of its category as it has the largest roof of its segment - 1.5 square metres of glass surface - and its windscreen pillars have been cleverly divided and tapered to offer clear advantages in terms of active and passive safety as well.

The Color & Material area of Fiat Group Automobiles specifically carried out a study aimed at classifying possible reference scenarios for the Fiat 500L, conducted to give appropriate formulations back to the sensorial experience. This research has allowed technologies and production processes such as to further increase the quality level and value of the physical, tactile and visual properties of the materials, single details and finishes to be applied, in addition to a wide range of body, roof and rim paintwork colour options.

Efficiency: the best ratio between external dimensions and interior space in its segment
According to the latest research, 4.1 metres is the average length of cars sold in Europe. It is a standard size that allows you to travel and easily move around in traffic. What is the length of the Fiat 500L? 4 metres and 15 centimetres.

However its real competitive advantage is that with only 7 cm more than a Fiat Punto, the Fiat 500L easily accommodates five passengers 2 meters tall with their five suitcases, without ever compromising passenger room. Suffice it to say that the Fiat 500L boasts the best passenger volume index in the segment: with front and rear volumes combined, passengers have a space of 3.17 cubic metres available.

The new model is leader in its category in terms of ratio between external dimensions - 415 cm long, 178 cm wide, 166 cm high and 261 wheelbase - and interior space understood both as passenger compartment and luggage compartment, which boasts a capacity of almost 400 litres, which means being able to transport up to five roller suitcases. With the Cargo Magic Space system, the load platform can also be adjusted on three levels separating fragile objects from heavy ones, clean objects from dirty ones, bulky objects from small ones. The load compartment is also filled with pockets and hooks in order to transport any object in total safety and tidiness.

Versatility: 1,500 possible configurations to meet all needs
The Fiat 500L is Large also in terms of functionality, as demonstrated by the 1,500 configurations of interior space combined with the 22 compartments of different sizes and the dashboard, suitably studied to group the instrument panel and main controls of the audio and IT devices into two distinct but adjacent zones. It is a totally liveable passenger compartment, as some interior dimensions sizes demonstrate: for example, the maximum width of the front part is 1456 mm (measured at the shoulders) while the height, from seat to roof, is 1034 mm (in the rear part the measurements are 1387 mm and 993 mm, respectively).

The numerous adjustments of the seats also contribute to top-level on board comfort. They can be adjusted on every axis using 8 different modes, starting from that of the driver that offers, as standard, a longitudinal configuration and reclining backrest while, on request, it can be electrically heated and adjusted both in height and at the lumbar level. The front passenger seat, on the other hand, can be fitted with a folding table backrest. In this latter case, you can have a handy support surface both for common objects, such as a handbag or a laptop, and for unusual items. When the rear seats are also folded down using the Fold&Tumble function, the customer can obtain a flat loading surface for the entire length of the passenger compartment (2.4 metres), in this way being able to make maximum use of the interior space.

The rear seat ensures the same versatility. It has a 60/40 split folding backrest that can be adjusted longitudinally and separately in 12 positions, with the third central head restraint and armrest offered as optional.

Light: altruistic technology
Using the car means being able to rely on its functional performance and find in it all the material and immaterial components which can make approaching it easier. The progressive acceleration of recent years has pushed technology to become a not-to-be-missed element, and more and more often it relies on the functions offered by all types of devices as a reassuring and inseparable element for our psycho-physical wellbeing.

So 'L' also stands for Light meant as that 'lightness' feeling that improves and simplifies the quality of life, that innovation that is not an end in itself, but always to man's benefit. Besides, Fiat has always been a byword for innovative cars that offer sophisticated technological solutions which are nonetheless straightforward to use and satisfy both the concrete needs of everyday mobility as well as the growing social awareness toward the environment and safety. But 'lightness' is also an easy and immediate relationship with the network connection, navigation and infotainment systems the Fiat 500L offers, which use simplified "human-friendly" interfaces.

In short, the Fiat 500L is a generous car in terms of both contents and technology, easy to use and to enjoy. A simplicity that conceals a complex engineering process requiring hours and hours of design, tests and adjustments.

A "light" engine range
Today the car must be "light" for the environment and also for the wallet of its driver. For several years increasing sensitivity on the part of consumers toward the environmental aspects has been noticed. A new consumer has thus been born, one more eco-friendly and also more mindful to costs. Respect for the environment is an increasingly important factor that this type of customer considers when purchasing a car. Economic accessibility has just as significantly become a requirement that cannot to be ignored, both at the time of purchase and during everyday use.

Reduced fuel consumption and emissions is therefore an essential requirement for the success of a car. For this reason, the Fiat 500L at launch will propose three engines distinguished by their lower polluting emissions and CO2 levels, corresponding to a real economic benefit for the customer in his everyday use of the car: two petrol - 105 HP 0.9 Turbo TwinAir and 95 HP 1.4 l 16V Fire) engines and one turbodiesel engine, the 85 HP 1.3 MultiJet 2. Each with different qualities, all exploited to the full in combination with the 5- or 6-speed manual gearboxes of the petrol and diesel engines, respectively. Last but not least, all Fiat 500L engines have been meticulously set up, which required over 10,000 hours of simulation on the benches, naturally in addition to the road tests.

Standing out amongst the engines is the brand new 105 HP TwinAir, the new generation of the multi-award-winning Fiat two-cylinder engine distinguished by a sparkling personality and low fuel consumption values thanks to its low displacement and inclusion of a high-efficiency turbocharger. In particular, the Fiat 500L TwinAir was upgraded to 105 HP with the exhaust manifold integrated in the head to better cool the exhaust gas under power and to guarantee that part of the heat of the burnt gas is recovered while the engine is warming up, which otherwise would be emitted into the atmosphere. In this way the thermal transient is reduced and increases the time in which the engine runs at optimum temperature and fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are reduced, which total 112 grams per kilometre.

Furthermore, starting next year the 500L will be even 'lighter' due to the cleanest fuel available today: methane. The Turbo TwinAir Natural Power engine will debut in 2013 on the model. It combines - in a single engine - the cost-effectiveness and eco-friendliness of the methane fuel system with the Turbo TwinAir technology that ensures excellent fuel consumption, emissions and performance values

The reduction in fuel consumption and emissions involves the design and set-up of the entire vehicle. As proven by the over 3000 hours of controls on the body and underbody carried out at the Fiat Group Automobiles wind tunnel in Orbassano (Turin), one of Europe's largest: the final result is a CX of 0.30.

New 0.9 Turbo TwinAir - 105 HP
The new 105 HP 0.9 Turbo is the maximum evolution of the TwinAir family of engines that combine the concept of downsizing (reduction of displacement and weight) with sophisticated engineering such as supercharging through a turbocharger, the exhaust manifold integration in the cylinder head and the brand-new MultiAir 2 intake valve control system. The second generation of MultiAir further optimises the engine's thermo-dynamic efficiency by modulating the amount of exhaust gases recirculated in the combustion chamber (internal EGR) thanks to a brand-new design of the intake cam profile.

The exhaust manifold in the cylinder head instead reduces the temperature of the exhaust gases (which are directly cooled by the engine cooling system). This has a positive impact on fuel consumption because the enrichments otherwise necessary to keep down the maximum temperatures of the combustion gases are reduced in order to preserve correct turbocharger operation.

The small petrol engine with 2-cylinder architecture combined with a 6-speed manual gearbox develops 105 HP at 5,500 rpm with a maximum torque of 145 Nm at just 2,000 rpm. The value of the specific power is considerable - a good 120 HP/litre - a value comparable to the sportier engines.

As on the previous Turbo TwinAir applications, ECO mode is also available for the new Fiat 500L: in this condition the maximum torque delivered is limited to 120 Nm and the power to 98 HP, allowing the power unit to function in the operating range which permits maximum efficiency and thus minimum emissions.

The TwinAir engine is a little gem also because of the good level of comfort it offers. The agreeable and characteristic timbre of the two-cylinder engine has been optimised using the balancing countershaft and dual mass flywheel that minimise vibrations and shaking. Particular attention was also paid to improving the soundproofing by studying containment solutions to reduce the levels of noise perceived in the passenger compartment and to improve the articulation index.

The Fiat 500L 105 HP 0.9 Turbo TwinAir is very brilliant in its performance (top speed of 180 km/h and it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 12.3 seconds) and it is at the top of its class in fuel consumption and emissions in the homologation combined cycle at the same time (4.8 litres/100 km and 112 g/km of CO2).

1.3 16V MultiJet 2 - 85 HP
A genuine reference on the low displacement diesel engine scene, the 1.3 16V MultiJet 2 engine of the new Fiat 500L has been refined to further improve its brilliant performance and low fuel consumption. The adoption of a small refined variable geometry turbocharger, which allows the engine to deliver a higher torque at low speeds, makes it possible to match a 5-speed manual gearbox with long ratios (downspeeding concept) that without penalizing performance significantly contributes to curbing fuel consumption.

The heart of the new Fiat 500L with 1.3 16V MultiJet 2 engine is without a doubt the third generation Common Rail injection system that uses innovative injectors able to control the amount of diesel injected into the combustion chamber with utmost precision with a particularly quick and flexible injection sequence thanks to the balanced hydraulic servo valve. With these injectors, now strategies focused on optimising the increasingly advanced combustion can be achieved, such as the Injection Rate Shaping (IRS) system which involves two consecutive injections so close together in time as to generate a continuous and modulated fuel supply into the cylinders. With this method the combustion process is improved, all to the benefit of quieter operation and particulate and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.

The new Fiat 500L with 1.3 16V MultiJet 2 engine has also been fitted out with a number of measures aimed at reducing fuel consumption and emissions. These include the intelligent alternator that recovers energy during the release stage and stores it in the battery, optimisation of the engine cooling circuit with a new thermostat that reduces the warm-up time, the oil pump with variable displacement that adjusts the oil pressure in the most appropriate way, reducing the power absorbed by the pump. Naturally the Start&Stop system is a must, while engine and transmission use low viscosity lubricant oil to minimise friction.

The 1.3 16V MultiJet 2 engine of the new Fiat 500L develops 85 HP at 3,500 rpm with a maximum torque of 200 Nm at just 1,500 rpm. The maximum speed is 165 km/h, with acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 14.9 seconds. The new Fiat 500L 1.3 16V MultiJet 2 consumes just 4.2 litres/100 km with 110 g/km of CO2 emissions in the homologation combined cycle.

1.4 16V Fire - 95 HP
Solid and reliable, the 1.4 16V of the Fire family is the entry petrol engine of the new Fiat 500L. It delivers 95 HP at 6,000 rpm and reaches a maximum torque of 127 Nm at 4,500 rpm. Combined with a 6-speed manual gearbox, the engine has a 4-cylinder in-line configuration with a double overhead camshaft system that directly controls the valves.

Thanks to the entire intake system with optimised fluid dynamics, the engine is distinguished by a particularly high volumetric efficiency throughout its operating range which makes for outstanding performance levels and, at the same time, economical fuel consumption.

The new Fiat 500L equipped with the 1.4 16V Fire engine reaches a top speed of 170 km/h with an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.8 seconds. Its fuel consumption in the homologation combined cycle is just 6.2 litres/100 km with CO2 emissions staying within 145 g/km.

UConnect: always connected in total safety
The Fiat 500L is the first car of the Fiat group to be fitted out with a multimedia device based on the new generation of UConnect, the new infotainment platform developed by Fiat Group Automobiles.

UConnect was designed with the aim of creating a multifunction system able to manage all of the main media content on the car, such as the radio, mobile phone, Media Player, iPod or smartphone and in the near future a navigation system. In this way the driver can simply, quickly and safely access them hands-free while keeping his eye on the road.

The new device is based on a 5" colour touchscreen, one of the largest of the segment, which lets the driver access all the main functions, from the analogue and digital radio (DAB) up to all the main multimedia resources (Media Player, iPod, iPhone, smartphone) that can be connected by USB port and AUX-IN connector.

The system also includes an advanced Bluetooth interface to access extra functions such as phone call management or reading received SMS text messages via text-to-speech technology, the innovative Audio Streaming system that reproduces music files and web radio stations directly from your smartphone in streaming via Bluetooth on the UConnect device.

The new radio is based on the Windows Embedded Automotive operating system and has an advance user interface with functions such as the previously mentioned text-to-speech, voice recognition (in 11 languages) and audio controls on the steering wheel so that the driver can access all of the main infotainment contents without taking his hands off the steering wheel.

The UConnect system also introduces the eco:Drive Live application for the first time on a car. Developed by Fiat Group, it helps the driver reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by monitoring his driving style in real time and giving tips so his driving is even more eco-friendly.

The system will soon introduce new functions such as the built-in navigation system developed in collaboration with TomTom. Moreover, the system will let the customer use a large number of apps on the on-board system via integration with his smartphone starting in 2013. In this way he can always be in touch with his friends on Facebook and Twitter or be updated on traffic, news and weather in real time.

The UConnect radio is designed to permit new software functions to be implemented and updates to be installed during the entire life cycle of the vehicle so that the system is always up to date and ready for future evolutions.

eco:Drive LIVE, the evolution of a Fiat invention

Light also is the simplicity of use of the on-board technology of the new car. An example?
The brand new eco:Drive LIVE, the latest development of the eco-friendly application developed by Fiat in 2009. eco:Drive LIVE analyses your driving style thanks to the data collected on the car and provides personalised suggestions in order to reduce up to 16% of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. One peculiarity of eco:Drive LIVE is the possibility to receive feedback about your style of driving in real time, thus attaining immediate fuel consumption and emission improvements. It is also possible to save the data of every journey on a compatible USB memory stick and smartphone to analyse your driving style on a PC and receive tailored driving lessons.

The analysis of the actual driving data made possible by this software demonstrates that constant and correct use of eco:Drive leads to a savings of almost 3 tons of CO2, 1,200 litres of petrol and about Euro 2,000 during the life cycle of a car.

This is one more concrete example of Fiat's commitment to responsible and sustainable mobility, the same stance that has made it the brand which has recorded the lowest level of CO2emissions by vehicles sold in Europe in 2011, with an average measurement of 118.2 g/km (4.9 g/km less than the 2010 average) for the fifth year running.

TomTom GO LIVE for the 500L, for driving with total peace of mind
To drive in city traffic with total peace of mind, the new 500L comes with, on request, the TomTom GO LIVE navigation system with dedicated customisation with the picture of the Fiat 500L on the start screen and in the icon along the route, in addition to signalling Fiat network service points.

TomTom GO LIVE for the Fiat 500L offers a safe driving experience as it is built into the dashboard and provides the most precise traffic information updated in real time. The setup for this navigation system is located in the middle of the dashboard and allows the totally safe installation of the specific mounting, in addition to guaranteeing power to the navigation device without external wiring.

TomTom GO LIVE for the Fiat 500L has a 4.3" display with iPhone type capacitive touchscreen; pre-uploaded and detailed maps of 45 countries (Europe); and it offers the Live TomTom services that permit the customer to receive traffic information in real time through HD Traffic, information on fixed and mobile speed detection systems (including the portals of the tutor system in Italy, in agreement with the legal restrictions in Europe, in France for example), TomTom Local Search, weather forecasts, and Quick GPS fix.

HD Traffic is the most important service that lets you receive real time detailed information on traffic with updates every two minutes. With this information you can plan your route with instantaneous updates based on traffic conditions. Optimised routes cut down fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and travel time.

TomTom GO LIVE for the Fiat 500L can be purchased in all the following countries: France, Italy, Germany, the UK, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Ireland, Austria and the Czech Republic. The LIVE services are offered free of charge for 1 year and include roaming and traffic information in the conditions previously mentioned.

Social connectivity functions developed exclusively for the Fiat 500L, such as Twitter, Trip Advisor and Expedia, are also available in a number of countries, including Italy, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. These services are included in the LIVE package.

Easy in the city, quiet on the motorway
Technology makes life simple on the 500L. Clean, safe and fun driving while being enveloped in ultimate comfort is also simple. That is certainly the merit of the new wide architecture that will be shared by the upcoming generations of models and that on the Fiat 500L was calibrated to guarantee top of class performance and comfort. For example, the body has a high level of torsional rigidity - 111,700 daNm/rad - that contributes to optimum control of the geometry.

The new 500L is a car that lets you experience relaxing moments and travel comfortably, also because of the layout of its suspensions - MacPherson up front, torsion beam in the rear - that have been updated to ensure control and comfort at top levels. More specifically, the front suspension with MacPherson architecture has a new anti-roll bar with extraordinary rolling rigidity made with hollow technology that provides increased performance and at the same time reduced weight. The front crossmember is also designed with high rigidity to achieve greater acoustic comfort and to integrate a third load line to improve energy absorption capacity in the case of collision.

One of the new innovations is adoption of a "split" type of shock absorber mounting that transmits the loads to the body through two different routes and therefore get better filtering of the road vibrations, improved acoustics and better efficiency of the shock absorber.

Lastly, the rear suspension has a newly designed torsion axle architecture with a high level of rolling rigidity. This feature lets us save on the weight of an anti-roll bar. Hydraulic bushes were also adopted to improve the car's level of comfort. Last but not least, the rear suspension of the Fiat 500L was further lightened in weight by adopting single tube shock absorbers.

"Lightness" on the Fiat 500L is also weighed in quantity of silence. The need to turn the interior into a muffled sitting room stems from this. External noise does not seep in and the motion of the car as it travels along the road is barely perceptible. To achieve this result, lots of time was spent in the anechoic room and on the proving grounds in over 10,000 hours of tests to reach an articulation index of 72%, a level at the top of its class.

Technological and protective
To guarantee the protection of the passengers, the new 500L combines a body designed according to the most modern criteria with active and passive safety content that ensures its optimum performance, so much so as to be at the top of its category.

Specifically, the new car has a safety cell structure complete with double pillars in front designed in line with current U.S. regulations as far as crash tests and dimensional specifications of the materials used are concerned.

The safety performance was designed by the designers and experts of the Fiat Safety Centre after examining all possible types of impact: front and side impacts, roll-over, pile-up and impacts with pedestrians. Various speeds at which impact may occur were also taken into consideration as well as different types of obstacles and different types of occupants with greatly varying physical characteristics.

The new 500L's standard equipment includes front and window airbags - side airbags and knee bags are available on request - front headlights with DRL (Daytime Running Lights) function and fog lights with the self-adaptive cornering function. The model also comes standard with ABS with BAS (Brake Assist System) and the sophisticated ESC (Electronic Stability Control) that intervenes in conditions close to the limit, when the car's stability is at risk, and helps the driver control it.

The Fiat 500L ESC is equipped with several very useful functions:

• ASR (Anti Slip Regulation) system, which optimises traction at any speed, with the help of the brakes and engine management, allowing the Fiat 500L to cope easily on low-grip road beds.
• Hill Holder, the system that helps the driver starting off uphill by keeping the brake locked for about 2 seconds, in this way making starting off easier without requiring the driver to press the brake pedal or use the handbrake.
• MSR (Motor Schleppmoment Regelung): when there is a brisk gear change in poor grip conditions, the MSR function intervenes, restoring engine torque and preventing the wheels from locking and slipping.
• DST (Driving Steering Torque): the system improves both driving safety and handling performance. The active electronic steering carries out corrections automatically and also controls oversteer over surfaces with low grip in all driving conditions.
• ERM (Electronic Rollover Mitigation) is the function which intervenes when a wheel leaves the road surface: in fact, whenever an extreme dynamic movement is detected, the ERM helps to restabilise the vehicle and returns control of the car to the driver.

Lastly, the brand-new "City Brake Control" system is worthy of a detailed look. Becoming available after the launch, the innovative device is capable of recognising obstacles in front of the car and of braking automatically when the driver fails to do so to avoid crashing into them. Depending on certain parameters (road surface conditions, dynamics and trajectory of the vehicle, position of the obstacles and condition of the tyres, etc.), the intervention of the LSCM system can avoid impact completely ("Collision Avoidance") or minimise the consequences of a possible impact ("Collision Mitigation").

The sophisticated device of the new 500L integrates three additional functions: Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Prefill and Brake Assist. The former, while respecting the driver's wishes and leaving full control of the car in his/her hands, is triggered by emergency braking after carefully assessing the position and speed of the obstacles, the speed of the vehicle (below 30 km/h), lateral acceleration, the steering angle and pressure on the accelerator pedal and its variation. The "Prefill" function instead prefills the braking system to provide a quicker response both when Automatic Emergency Braking intervenes and in the case the driver brakes. Brake Assist on the other hand recognises emergency situations and alters the brake pedal's response to achieve quicker braking in emergency situations.

In detail, the system works with a laser sensor installed in the windscreen, and it communicates with the ESC (Electronic Stability Control) system. Based on the same principle as those used in astronomy to measure distances between satellites, the laser sensor detects the presence of obstacles in front of the vehicle when certain alignment conditions be present: the overlapping of the car and obstacle must be more than 40% than the width of the vehicle, while the angle of impact must be less than 30° and the obstacle must have an adequate surface and reflecting properties.

The goal of the City Brake Control system is to guarantee maximum safety in all conditions of use, so in certain conditions (unfastened seat belts, icy road, reversing), different triggering logics are activated.

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Jaguar XF Black Pack, 2011

 

•  Jaguar XF Black Pack, 2011

The highly successful Jaguar XF sports saloon is now available with a dramatic new appearance pack for customers who want their Jaguar to make an even stronger visual impact.

The exclusive new Jaguar XF Black Pack brings an added sense of power and purpose to the sought-after XF range, and follows closely in the wheel tracks of a similar option on the XK sports car which has aroused huge interest since its launch earlier in 2010.

Featuring menacing dark-grey 20-inch Draco alloy wheels with diamond turned rims, a gloss black grille and gloss black window surrounds, the Jaguar XF Black Pack is available on XF Diesel S, the 5-litre naturally aspirated petrol and XFR models, with prices starting at £950.

The Black Pack gives the XF a highly distinctive, very modern and a slightly edgy appearance. Since the Black Pack and Speed Pack were launched on the XKR sports car at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, almost half of XKR coupe buyers have selected one or both options - double our original estimate - and the expectation the Black Pack  generate just as much excitement amongst XF customers.

To provide added exclusivity and to maximise the visual impact, Jaguar XF Black Pack vehicles can only be specified with a special colour palette chosen by Jaguar designers, including Polaris White, Spectrum Blue, Ultimate Black, Stratus Grey, Lunar Grey and Liquid Silver, plus Kyanite Blue and Salsa Red which are colours unique to the XFR.

For an even more dramatic effect, the Black Pack can be combined with the XF Aerodynamic Pack which was launched on XF Diesel S earlier in 2010. The pack includes a re-profiled front bumper, striking black mesh inserts for the grille and lower air intakes and the muscular side sills from the XFR.

Extending the XF Success Story

The expanding choice of exciting personalisation options is generating even more interest in the XF range, which has now sold more than 100,000 units worldwide since its launch in 2008, as well as receiving more than 60 international awards.

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Renault Koleos, 2012

 

 

 

•  Renault Koleos, 2012

A renewed version of Renault Koleos is to be released in late 2011. The chief changes concern the model's exterior styling and interior trim, plus appreciable CO2 and fuel consumption savings in the case of its diesel engines. The model reasserts its high-end status by building on the strengths that were widely acclaimed at the time of its launch in 2008, namely its remarkable comfort, versatility and modularity, as well as the speed with which owners are able to familiarise themselves with their new car.

Robust, more dynamic looks
The front end of Renault Koleos has been revised with a view to reasserting its forceful character. The air-intakes positioned either side of the Renault logo on the previous version have made way for an elegant chrome grille, while the dynamism of the model has been reinforced by new, slimmer headlights. The more modern door mirrors now incorporate LED indicators.

To view from the side  expresses the robustness associated with the world of 4x4 motoring thanks to cues such as high ground clearance, prominent wheel arches and new, modern, sporty wheels. The initial version's distinctive rear-end styling has been carried over, including the steeply-raked rear window which suggests forward movement and provides the model with a particularly original stance. New Renault Koleos will also be available in a new dynamic body colour: Cayenne Orange.

Careful attention has been paid to the quality and finish of the cabin. A selection of new upholsteries and trims have enhanced the original vehicle's elegance and refinement, while the dashboard and instrument lighting have evolved, too, with the introduction of a modern, more stylish speedometer housing and display.

CO2 emissions savings for a safe crossover which is at home on all types of road
Depending on market, new Renault Koleos can be ordered with the 150hp or 175hp version of the M9R diesel engine, or with the 170hp (TR25) petrol engine. All three deliver dynamic, high-quality performance under the bonnet of this crossover which measures 4.52m in length and 1.85m in width.

Work on the vehicle, engine and gearbox has produced appreciable CO2 emissions savings for the diesel versions of Koleos. The CO2 emissions of the 4x2 version powered by the dCi 150 engine are just 148g/km, which means it is no longer subject to the eco-surtax applicable in France. The emissions of the bigger dCi 175 engine have also been reduced to 166g/km.

The versatility of new Koleos means that it is as much in its element on city streets as it is on twisty country lanes. The Nissan-developed all-wheel drive transmission of the 4x4 version ensures genuine off-road ability, while the model's carefully-honed volumes, precise steering and stability ensure surefooted agile handling in and about town.

Meanwhile, Renault's expertise in the realm of active and passive safety saw the brand's crossover earn a five-star EuroNCAP crash test rating at the time of its launch thanks to features such as ESP, emergency brake assist, programmed structural deformation, six airbags and seat belt pretensioners.

Exemplary comfort and modularity, plus high-end technologies
New Renault Koleos boasts segment-leading cabin space and comfort, while the interior layout benefits from the extensive expertise of the MPV's pioneer. Everything has been thought through to make sure that all five occupants feel perfectly at ease, including segment-topping headroom and knee room in the front, and an excellent balance between elbow room and headroom for rear passengers.

Practical and modular. The interior of new Renault Koleos features stowage space of up to 70 litres. Access to the large boot (450dm3 VDA) is facilitated by the split-opening tailgate, the bottom section of which forms a robust bench when lowered. The 60/40-split rear bench seat is equipped with the Easy-Estate system, which means it can be folded in one quick movement to free up a flat floor and boot space of 1,380dm3 VDA. The panoramic opening roof makes the cabin even brighter and more enjoyable.

Technologies for enhanced comfort and safety. New Renault Koleos is available with a raft of useful, reassuring and user-friendly high-end features, including hands-free entry and ignition, an electronic parking brake, automatic headlight and windscreen wiper activation and a joystick-operated Carminat TomTom navigation system. The 4x4 versions of new Renault Koleos also incorporate Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control.

Use of the audio, navigation and dual-zone climate control systems is perfectly intuitive and their controls fall readily to hand. Meanwhile, careful attention has been paid to eliminating mechanical and road noise which means that occupants are able to fully appreciate the premium Bose® sound audio system which has been tailor-engineered to match the characteristics of the cabin.

Renault Koleos: an international calling and an image-building flagship for the brand
Renault Koleos is marketed in some 40 countries on five continents. It was the first vehicle to benefit from Alliance-wide input since it was designed by Renault, features Nissan technologies and is manufactured at the Renault Samsung Motors plant in Busan, South Korea. Thanks to this fruitful collaboration, it has emerged as a spearhead of the Renault range in several markets.

Renault's first crossover has carved out a place in what is a constantly expanding and fiercely competitive segment:

•     An international calling. Thanks toKoleos, Renault enjoys a real place in this growing, image-enhancing segment, notably in China and Latin America. More than 70 percent of Koleos sales were outside of Europe in 2010.
•     In Europe, where its strengths are readily recognised,Koleos has succeeded in defending its position. Indeed, sales have increased significantly over the first four months of 2011 with a 65 percent rise in Koleos registrations across Europe between January and April over the same period in 2010.

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Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport, 2013

 

 

 

•  Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport, 2013

The new Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport consolidates its presence on the convertible car market with completely revamped exteriors and a more powerful engine. The new front bumper, with redesigned profile to enhance aesthetics and functionality, new headlights, a new, even more powerful engine and an upgraded suspension system make the new Gran Cabrio Sport a point of reference in the convertible car market.

The Exterior
Already one of the most highly regarded in the world of sports cars, the Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport's bodywork has undergone a restyling which skilfully harmonises the characteristics of the Gran Turismo Sport.

One of the most evident new features of the Gran Cabrio Sport is the design for the front end with new light clusters. Though they maintain their external form, they now incorporate completely new technological characteristics, including LED Daytime Running Lights technology.

Interior
The steering wheel, with new design, is now more ergonomic and, in combination with the extended Trofeo-design paddles and light aluminium pedals, is better suited to sports driving thanks to a flattened rim and accentuated grip profile.

The new grey Eco Chrome materials for the interiors and the Poltrona Frau leather upholstery complete the existing characteristics, such as the steering wheel transmission paddles and the aluminium pedals.

Engine
The Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport, which comes with a modern V8 engine that has already become a classic, adopts the most recent innovations in the field of engineering to deliver greater power and torque.

Both the hardware and software of the engine have been improved significantly, improving its power by 10 HP and torque by 10 Nm, without adversely affecting consumption or emissions.

At 7,000 rpm, the Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport delivers 338 kW (460 HP) with a considerable torque of 520 Nm at 4,750 rpm.

Automatic transmission (MC Auto Shift)
The automatic six-speed ZF transmission with MC Auto Shift is perfectly capable of handling the exceptional performance of the powerful V8 and derives from the transmission of the Gran Turismo Sport. The automatic transmission is connected directly to the rear of the engine and transmits the torque to the same limited-slip differential through a two-piece articulated steel crankshaft.

The Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport with MC Auto Shift transmission can reach 100 km/h in just 5.0 seconds. Top speed is 285 km/h.

Chassis and suspension
The Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport was designed to combine peerless driving comfort for all occupants with optimum handling at high speeds.

Exceptional performance and road holding, as well as the handling of a great sports car, are qualities of the Gran Cabrio Sport that few other sports convertibles can boast.

The shock absorbers with Sport Skyhook system, the most recent development of the Maserati damping control system. The Sport Skyhook system constantly adjusts the Gran Cabrio Sport's shock absorbers, adapting them to the road conditions. With the aid of a new rear anti-roll bar which is 12% more rigid, the Sport Skyhook system allows the vertical rigidity of the Maserati Gran Cabrio Sport to be increased by 10% in Sport mode.

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