Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary, 2013

 

 

•  Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary, 2013

As a two-door Wrangler or four-door Wrangler Unlimited, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition is the most capable Wrangler ever produced. Based on the Rubicon model, it is available with a standard six-speed manual or available five-speed automatic transmission mated to a Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 engine producing 285 horsepower and 260 ft.-lbs. of torque. The Jeep part-time four-wheel-drive system has electronic-locking front and rear Dana 44 axles that receive power through a Rock-Trac transfer case with a "4-Low" ratio of 4:1. A 4.10 axle ratio front and rear is also standard as are Tru-Lok locking differentials. With a six-speed manual transmission, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition has an impressive crawl ratio of 73.1:1 that makes it a breeze to negotiate any obstacle.

The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition has many exclusive features that make it distinctive, as well as the most off-road capable Wrangler in history. A one-half inch increase in ride height versus the standard Rubicon model provides the BF Goodrich KM2 265/70R17 tires more room to claw at rugged terrain. The tires are mounted on 17-inch Rubicon aluminum wheels painted satin black with polished faces and a red Jeep Wrangler "icon" logo on the outside lip.

Black front and rear steel off-road bumpers toughen up the exterior, with the front bumper featuring removable end caps and a winch-capable design. These removable end caps help the Wrangler climb obstacles without hindrance, and reduce the damage potential to the bumper system. A dual-intake Power Dome hood helps aid in engine cooling and gives Wrangler a more menacing appearance. Red tow hooks adorn the front and rear, and Mopar rock rails give added protection from trail damage. Mopar also supplies the black fuel filler door and tail lamp guards. "10th Anniversary" badging on the fenders and a red-silhouette "Rubicon" decal on the sides of the hood add the finishing touches on the exterior.

The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition comes standard with a Premium Sunrider soft top and is available with a black three-piece Freedom hard top or body-color hard top. Available exterior colors for the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition are Billet Silver, White and 10th Anniversary Edition-exclusive Anvil.

The interior has many special touches as well. Striking red leather seats with "Rubicon 10th Anniversary" embroidered into the front seat backs grab attention at first glance. Red stitching adorns the leather-wrapped steering wheel and the center console. A unique gauge cluster features a "10th Anniversary" signature and also features a premium Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) with various read-outs such as oil pressure, oil temperature and tire pressure. The passenger grab handle includes a "Rubicon 10th Anniversary" badge and features Quick Silver accents that are also found on the vent rings, steering wheel spokes and door pulls.

The final design touches include Mopar slush mats, unique axle locker and sway-bar disconnect switches and a plaque mounted in the dash tray that features the vehicle's technical data, such as axle type and ratio, tire size, transfer case crawl ratio and manufacturer location.

Heritage
For more than seven decades, Jeep® vehicles have defined the benchmark in rugged capability and utility. The most recognized of these vehicles has long been and still is the Jeep Wrangler, which has always provided an unmatched level of freedom resulting from the ability to traverse any trail, anywhere.

Ten years ago, for the 2003 model year, Jeep dramatically raised the bar in off-road capability with the introduction of the Wrangler Rubicon model. Named after one of the most grueling off-road trails in the world, the Rubicon models were the most extreme Wranglers ever produced. The 2005 model year saw the introduction of the Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited that brought more utility to the Rubicon's quickly established off-road credentials. Over the last 10 years, the Wrangler Rubicon has won numerous prestigious awards including Four Wheeler magazine's "4x4 of the Decade" honor for its unmatched level of all-around capabilities.

Fast forward to the 2013 model year, with Jeep Wrangler setting sales records and the wildly popular Jeep Wrangler Rubicon turning 10 years young. To celebrate, Jeep is introducing a new, limited-production 2013 Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition. It is the most capable factory-produced Jeep Wrangler ever, packed with equipment die-hard off-road enthusiasts love.

"The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition is a tribute to 10 years of Wrangler Rubicon history, and to the Jeep brand's most passionate enthusiasts," said Mike Manley, President and CEO - Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "This Wrangler Rubicon is for them. It is a unique vehicle that we expect will long be sought after, a Wrangler that offers an unprecedented level of capability once only attainable by long hours of custom aftermarket preparation crafted in the garages of the most avid Jeep enthusiasts in the world.

The 2013 Jeep Wrangler Rubicion 10th Anniversary edition will arrive in showrooms in the spring of 2013.

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Kia Carens, 2013

 

 

 

 

• Kia Carens, 2013

The all-new Kia Carens is a completely fresh model from the ground up, and its sleek and sculpted design marks a dramatic shift away from the more utilitarian look of its predecessor.

It builds on the functionality and versatility of the original Kia Carens, with a spacious five or five-plus-two seating layout, a generously proportioned luggage bay and numerous stowage spaces, but wraps this family-friendly adaptability in more purposeful sheet metal.

"I wanted to give the new Carens a sleeker look and feel, to create a design that envelops its functionality and versatility in something altogether more athletic and dynamic," says Peter Schreyer, Kia's Chief Design Officer.

"This new-found visual dynamism is important - this car needs to look appealing and attractive - but during its design and development stages, we never lost sight of the fact that its packaging flexibility and adaptability are why people buy these cars," explains Schreyer.

Both Schreyer and Gregory Guillaume, Kia's Chief Designer Europe, are candid when discussing the design of the Kia Carens. "A vehicle like the Carens is probably one of the hardest of all to get right because we are very tightly constrained by the car's functionality," says Guillaume. "That packaging versatility cannot in any way be compromised by the design of the car because to do so would eradicate the car's raison d'être."

Schreyer and Guillaume's team created subtle styling cues to enhance the Kia Carens' elegant and balanced proportions and deliver an air of sophistication and refinement.

As an example Schreyer singles out the understated chrome strip that runs from the base of the windscreen, along the lower level of windows and curls up to meet the C-pillar. "This not only adds a premium feel to the clean-cut exterior, but also creates a visual link with the new Sportage, which features the same design motif," he explains.

One of Schreyer's design goals was improved visibility - a key element for safe driving, particularly in congested urban areas. "The base of the windscreen is very low and this works with the front quarter windows and the low and wide sweeping dashboard design to deliver excellent visibility," explains Schreyer. The panoramic glass roof that floods the cabin with light further enhances this sense of spaciousness.

Similarly, the Kia Carens design team worked hard on ensuring the front and rear overhangs were kept as short as possible to boost manoeuvrability when parking and negotiating city traffic.

Neat touches abound - the integrated roof rails, the sleek rear spoiler, the three-way split second-row seats that feature individual fore and aft adjustment, and Kia's tactile new steering wheel.

"With its nigh-perfect balance of proportion, style and functionality, the distinctive new Carens marks yet another successful and stylish step for Kia's global design team," says Schreyer proudly. "There's a design honesty here - the Kia Carens is neither over-dressed nor does it feature contrived design elements. It's a car cleanly and elegantly defined by its functionality."

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Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk, 2013

 

 

•  Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk, 2013

The Jeep announces the production version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk first seen as a concept at the 2012 Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk is evidence that even the most awarded SUV ever, and the most capable Grand Cherokee ever, can get even better.

The 2013 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk is available with a V-6 or V-8 engine and includes the following capability-enhancing equipment:

• 18-inch Goodyear Silent Armor all-terrain tires with Kevlar reinforcement
• Solid steel rock rail body protection
• Quadra-Lift air suspension, with nearly 11 inches of ground clearance
• Selec-Terrain traction control system with five settings: Snow, Rock, Sand/Mud, Sport and Auto
• A Rear Electronic Limited-slip Differential (ELSD, V-8) that can transfer up to 100% of engine's torque to one rear wheel in order to keep the Jeep moving forward even in the most extreme situations
• Quadra-Track II or Quadra-Drive II (V-8) with a two-speed transfer case to help conquer the toughest obstacles

The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk is easily recognized with new signature red Trailhawk and Trail Rated badging and tow hooks, black-surround headlamps and a unique gray on the grille surround, side mirrors, rear light bar, 4x4 badge and five-spoke 18-inch aluminum wheels. A black hood decal with a red accent stripe helps reduce glare from the sun which can help the driver in extreme off-road situations.

Trailhawk-specific interior touches include black leather and performance suede seats with red accent stitching and Mopar slush floor mats front and rear.

The 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk is available in Bright White, Brilliant Black, Mineral Gray, Maximum Steel and Deep Cherry Red.

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Infiniti FX Vettel Edition, 2013

 

 

 

 Infiniti FX Vettel Edition, 2013

Combining exclusivity with exceptional levels of dynamism, the Infiniti FX Vettel Edition is a production car with a unique position in the global automotive market: it was inspired by, and developed in conjunction with, the reigning Formula One World Champion.

The most powerful and expensive Infiniti ever made is the realisation of Sebastian Vettel's wish for an FX with even more focus and ability than standard, and endowed with a bespoke aerodynamic, aesthetic and technical nature that draws on Formula One practices. Crucially, the car had to achieve all the while keeping all driving elements in balance, preserving the sports car DNA at the heart of every FX.

The money-can't-buy experiences may include VIP invitations to exclusive events, high performance driver training with star drivers, sessions in an F1 simulator, passenger rides in a three-seater F1 car, unique test drives and what promise to be memorable handover celebrations when the first cars are delivered, starting March 2013. Owners are able to track the production status of their cars on complimentary bespoke iPads - also useful for recording every highlight of their Infiniti FX Vettel Edition journey as the excitement unfolds.

Each Infiniti FX Vettel Edition is powered by a naturally-aspirated 420PS 5.0-litre V8 engine which offers balanced high performance throughout the speed range of up to 250 km/h (limited) and an acceleration time from zero to 100 km/h of 5.6 seconds.

Lighter and more aerodynamic, with more downforce at high speeds, the Infiniti FX Vettel Edition uses the same standard of carbon-fibre as the Infiniti-partnered Red Bull Racing Formula One cars, and an Alcantara®-trimmed cabin to Sebastian Vettel's design.

The BACKGROUND
Sitting at the summit of Infiniti's range, the strictly-limited production crossover represents the fulfilment of Sebastian Vettel's dream to turn his "company car" - an Infiniti FX50 S Premium - into an even more rewarding sports crossover with an extra emphasis on performance and handling, and with looks that take their cue from the world of Formula One.

Sebastian's idea came to life at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011 when in a classic motor industry "back of the envelope" moment he and Shiro Nakamura, Infiniti's Senior Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, sketched out the basis for what would become the Infiniti FX Vettel Edition.

Just six months later at the Frankfurt Motor Show of 2011 the FX Vettel concept had its world premiere to universal approval. It had been six months when Shiro Nakamura and Sebastian Vettel collaborated closely, defining the key changes that would mark the transformation from an already powerful and sporting SUV to a sports car SUV that could deliver everything the reigning Formula One World Champion wanted in a road car.

The production version was confirmed at the Geneva Motor Show in 2012 - just 12 months after the first discussions. And showing how right those early ideas were, the production version is about 95% identical to the concept.

Infiniti is working with CRD (Car Research & Development, a member of the Brabus Group) in Germany to assemble the 150 Vettel Edition models. The first pre-production car made its dynamic debut, driven by Sebastian Vettel, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK in June. Since then Infiniti has made six more pilot models for testing and development work, prior to full production commencing in February 2013.

The first car is promised for the hands of the double World Champion; customer deliveries are due to begin in March 2013.

The DESIGN
Exterior design merges the already dynamic form of the FX50 with elements of Sebastian Vettel's other company car, the Red Bull Racing RB8. F1-grade carbon-fibre replaces standard body sections to create the new look, one defined at the front by an entire new under-bumper section.

Inspired by the design of the RB8's front wing profile, the multi-layer spoiler saves weight, reduces drag and smoothes the airflow under the car, playing a key role in helping to balance downforce. Designed by Shiro Nakamura, the spoiler section presents perhaps the most cohesive example yet of how F1 design elements can enhance a production road car.

Carbon blades are fitted inside the Infiniti's signature double-arch grille, and carbon shells, profiled with the aerodynamic efficiency of a cycle racing helmet, are fitted over the mirrors. Carbon side skirts are installed, visually complementing the car's 20mm lower ride height, while the wheelarch mouldings are body colour instead of black. Uniquely in the European markets where it will be sold, the Vettel Edition is the only FX not to have roof rails.

Head-on, the Infiniti FX Vettel Edition presents a lower and even more purposeful stance, offering a new visual signature that is defined by a row of LED daytime running lights seamlessly incorporated in the new spoiler section. The lights include new LED foglights - the smallest ever homologated, and among the most powerful.

At the rear the (optional) roof wing is made of carbon-fibre and mounted on milled alloy supports, the wing's profile shaped for maximum aerodynamic efficiency. Ditto the rear diffuser, which defines the car's look from the rear with twin exhaust pipes flanking one of the Infiniti FX Vettel Edition's most evocative features: the rear foglight in the form of an F1 car's centre rain light. Attention to detail means it is clear-lensed and made up of 15 red LEDs, all exactly like an F1 car's light. Alas, regulations mean it is not allowed to flash…

All the body-shaping work has been inspired by the aerodynamics of the Red Bull Racing F1 car. With the carbon body additions including rear spoiler, the car boasts 30% more downforce than the standard car, as well as a reduction in drag of 5%.

The wheel design was chosen primarily for strength and light weight. Each of the forged alloy rims from BBS® weighs 3.5kg less than the standard car's wheels, making a significant positive impact on the car's unsprung weight - to the benefit of driving dynamics including steering behaviour and handling. Finely spoked and finished in black, the wheels are 21-inches, like the standard car's, and are shod with 265/45 tyres.

Each of the 150 models is distinguished by a trio of special Vettel badges, two on the flanks and one on the tailgate. Each badge comprises seven components which are put in place using a special template. The first was affixed at Tochigi in Japan in early October by Sebastian Vettel when he visited the FX production to see "his" car being made.

The INTERIOR
There is one Vettel badge on the inside: it is inlaid into a carbon-fibre panel on the centre console. Behind the cover is the glowing blue-rimmed push button that electrically opens the exhaust flaps - the vFX Vettel Edition driver's guarantee of V8 aural excitement.

Carbon covers the centre stack and is additionally used on the door trims and above the glovebox. The technical feel is enhanced by Alcantara® replacing the leather on the centre sections of the seats. The front seats, with 14-way electric adjustment (including adjustable thigh and backrest bolsters) offer the ideal cornering support such a car needs. Alcantara® is also used on the A and B pillars and the rooflining. The steering wheel and gear selector are swathed in leather. Purple stitching is used throughout - a uniquely Infiniti touch.

The enhancements are not at the expense of the FX's trademark luxury or standard features. With plenty of legroom for up to five people and a 410-litre boot, the FX Vettel Edition can double up as a limousine or load carrier when required - part of the reason Sebastian Vettel gives for the FX fitting his lifestyle so well. A power tailgate, with programmable height, is one of a number of recent additional features on all FX models.

PERFORMANCE AND HANDLING
The Infiniti FX Vettel Edition features mechanical changes that build on the responsiveness and handling of what is already a sporting machine without detracting from the innate balance of the whole - a key factor in guaranteeing the car's pure driving enjoyment. The Infiniti FX Vettel Edition dynamics have been optimized, not revolutionized.

The muscular 5.0-litre V8, featuring VVEL (variable valve lift and timing) - Infiniti's guarantee of power with maximum efficiency - develops 390PS in standard form, delivered to Infiniti's intelligent torque-sensing all-wheel drive system via a 7-speed adaptive shift automatic transmission with solid magnesium gearshift paddles. For the FX Vettel Edition, power is increased to 420PS thanks to changes that include a new exhaust system. Torque also benefits: up to 520Nm from an already impressive 500Nm.

The exhaust pipe with optimized flow features an exhaust flap system, operated from a button on the dashboard that boosts power and efficiency at the same time as enriching the drive with the highest calibre of V8 burble. The extra aural stimulation is noticed only when the engine is under load - or when in manual mode and the transmission blips the throttle for downchanges - and for normal cruising the car retains all the refinement of the standard model.

The new body profile and lowered stance bring aerodynamic improvements that work with suspension changes to endow an already agile and responsive car with a new higher level of ability at all speeds. Where grip, precision, balance and traction are concerned, the Infiniti FX Vettel Edition could be a sports car.

Sport springs and 20mm taken out of the ride height are the keys to unlocking the extra ability in the FM (front-midship) chassis with its near perfect weight distribution, low centre of gravity and features that include Continuous Damping Control (CDC) shock absorbers and, for agility with supreme high-speed stability, Rear Active Steering (RAS).

Proving the excellence of the FX50 in standard form, little else had to be changed to suit the more dynamic character of the FX Vettel Edition. In the braking department, ventilated discs and 4-piston opposed front/2-piston opposed rear callipers offer exceptional stopping power. In Vettel Edition form, the five-star EuroNCAP FX is naturally fitted with the whole suite of Infiniti's advanced electronic safety systems.

MANUFACTURE AND CRAFTSMANSHIP
Infiniti FX Vettel production is limited to 150 editions worldwide. Fifty cars are for Western Europe, 50 for Russia and 50 for the Middle East. Production is due to start on 1 February 2013 in a new assembly hall, currently under construction, in Bottrop, Germany. All the cars will be complete by mid June.

Each Infiniti FX Vettel Edition requires 320 man-hours to build by a team of 25 craftsmen, with all the work done by hand - with help from the occasional laser. That is used to perforate the Alcantara® so that the front seats' cooling function remains; only lasers provided the necessary accuracy. Further illustrating the exceptional attention to detail, special thread that is an exact match for Infiniti purple had to be imported from Japan for use in the car's distinctive stitching in the retrimmed cabin.

The Infiniti FX Vettel Edition body is transformed by 13 pieces of light but extremely strong carbon-fibre, the same grade and the result of the same "Prepreg"-carbonprocess as that used by the Red Bull Racing F1 team. Each piece is hand-crafted and finished with 12 coats before assembly.

The Infiniti FX Vettel Edition has been extensively tested in Japan and Germany. Infiniti engineers and the CRD development team have racked up 13,000 miles in each pre-production model, mostly on autobahns, including drives on test tracks like in Papenburg with its re-creation of many of the Hockenheim F1 circuit's corners. Each of the 150 cars will be subject to a intense final test drive before being approved for delivery.

VIP drive events continue to play an important role in the FX Vettel Edition program, consistent with Infiniti's ethos of hospitality. The most recent was at Le Castellet circuit in France where Sebastian Vettel demonstrated the car for an invited audience that included many of the people who have already put their names down to buy it. Many more such events are planned, all part of a money-can't-buy experience that ownership of the Infiniti FX Vettel Edition unlocks.

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Hyundai Santa Fe EU-Version, 2013

 

 

 

 

•  Hyundai Santa Fe EU-Version, 2013

The Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea's largest car manufacturer, has staged the world premiere of the all-new Santa Fe at the 2012 New York International Auto Show, held at the New York Jacob Javits Convention Center.

The popular D-segment SUV is re-styled inside and out, fitted with enhanced features and new technology, and powered by re-tuned engines with improved efficiency - ensuring that it will offer European buyers a visually-appealing, sophisticated lifestyle vehicle when it goes on sale in late summer.

Hyundai is keeping the name, Santa Fe, continuing the heritage of the car manufacturer's well-established SUV model as it enters its third generation. The Hyundai Santa Fe has achieved worldwide cumulative sales of almost 2,56 million units, and more than 350.000 in Europe, since its 2000 debut.

Hyundai expects the new-generation model to continue the company's strong performance in the SUV market, and to capture more than 5% share of its market segment in Europe during its first full year on sale in 2013.

Influenced by Hyundai's form language, Fluidic Sculpture, the third-generation Hyundai Santa Fe adopts its own design concept called 'Storm Edge', which captures the strong and dynamic images created by nature during the formation of a storm.

Featuring sophisticated and refined lines, which are in harmony with its bold and voluminous surfaces, New Generation Santa Fe presents a more masculine, more aggressive and more characterful SUV appearance than its predecessor.

Three powertrain options available to European buyers, including a new, super-efficient, Euro 6 compliant 2,0-litre 'R' VGT diesel engine. Producing 150ps, this powerplant emits just 155g/km of CO2. The 2,2-litre diesel unit has been tuned for greater efficiency, making it one of the cleanest offerings in the segment with CO2 emissions of only 145 g/km.

To ensure the newcomer is best suited to the tastes of European drivers, extensive development work has been completed for the European-specification model. This includes modifications to the steering, suspension and brakes, as well as changes to the car's set-up to aid to high-speed stability and towing ability.

As with all newly-launched models in Europe, the New Generation Santa Fe will come with Hyundai's industry-best customer care package, Five Year Triple Care - comprising a five-year unlimited warranty, five years of roadside assistance, and five years of vehicle health checks.

Senior Vice President and COO of Hyundai Motor Europe, Allan Rushforth, commented, "The original Santa Fe has maintained strong sales year-on-year across Europe, thanks to its combination of quality, practicality and value. Now, New Generation Santa Fe retains the earlier model's key strengths - practicality, roominess and dependability - while also offering consumers much more.

"With its fresh exterior styling, more efficient engines, greater comfort and improved quality, New Generation Santa Fe is a truly attractive proposition that will build on the successes of the previous model by broadening its emotional appeal."

The company expects the New Generation Hyundai Santa Fe to appeal to new consumers from a wider demographic range - including some owners of premium-brand SUVs.

STYLING & DESIGN
With its modern, urban style, the New Generation Santa Fe looks strong, dynamic and refined, with the vehicle's body shape making a clear promise that this vehicle is safe and practical, but also sophisticated.

The new model's designers drew inspiration from the shapes created by nature during the formation of a storm - a creative approach referred to as 'Storm Edge'. Evidence of the significance of Santa Fe to Hyundai's product portfolio, it is the first model to have its own interpretation of the Fluidic Sculpture design language which has modernised the appearance of the Hyundai range in recent years.

In line with the full Hyundai product range, the latest Hyundai Santa Fe features the hexagonal-shaped grille, finished on Santa Fe in sophisticated dark chrome. Large, tear-drop headlights above the bumper are matched in shape by fog lights below. The deep, two-tone underbody offers generous ground clearance, and the silver underbody panel visible at the front smoothes the vehicle's aerodynamics and provides reassuring under-floor protection.

Longer, lower and wider than its predecessor, with the same 2700 mm wheelbase, the New Generation Santa Fe has a stronger presence. The conventional two-box SUV architecture is spaciously accommodating but, more than that, the new body shape also suggests great strength, with an imposing front-end and muscular upper flanks. The vehicle's profile is complemented by the dark chrome finish of the alloy wheels - now offered as factory equipment up to 19-inch in diameter, for the first time on a Hyundai SUV. The deep doors cover the side sills, ensuring the sills stay clean and that dirt is not transferred to occupants' clothes on entry or exit.

A dynamic stance is achieved by the lowered roofline, swept-back windshield, upswept lower edges to the rear side windows, and rakish rear windshield angle.

A sharp crease in the new Hyundai Santa Fe's side panels sweeps along the car from the front wheel arches to the trunk, setting the level of the front and rear door handles and sharply defining the upper edge of the wrap-around tail-lamps. Above the lamps, the rear windshield is set beneath a small roof-level spoiler, further enhancing the dynamic stance of the new Santa Fe. Twin tailpipes and a hexagonal mesh set into the lower sections of the front and rear bumpers, add a sporty finishing touch.

Both the front and rear wheel arches are deep-set, so that the tyres are visible almost to their uppermost edges, the swelling of the bodywork over the wheels adding to the car's muscular sense of purpose.

COMFORT & CONVENIENCE
New Generation Hyundai Santa Fe come with a host of intelligent features that enhance the comfort and convenience of driver and passengers, providing a stress-free experience for all occupants.

To improve the driving experience, Hyundai has fitted the third-generation Santa Fe with driver aids, such as radar-controlled, adaptive cruise control. Light- and rain-detecting lights and wipers, which turn on when the conditions require, allow the driver to concentrate fully on the road ahead.

New Generation Santa Fe  fitted with the Smart Parking Assist System to help drivers access even the tightest of spaces.

To improve comfort, the front seats are electronically powered and the driver's seat has a memory function to adapt to different drivers' preferred positions. The second row of seats slides and folds with a one-touch control, giving passengers quick and easy access to the optional third-row seats (where fitted).

Front- and second-row legroom have been increased - by 38mm and 45mm respectively - over the last-generation car, while a long, wide, single-frame panoramic sunroof allows high levels of natural light into the cabin. Luggage space in the trunk has been increased by 37mm in depth over the previous generation model, yielding a class-best luggage capacity of 534 litres with the front five seats upright.

When reversing, the tailgate-mounted camera automatically displays a clear, convex view of the area behind the car on the 7-inch screen. The wide-angle view is low enough to enable the driver to avoid low obstacles and small pedestrians.

An optional 220 Volt power socket can provide direct power to appliances including laptops, printers and vacuum cleaners. Located in the trunk, the socket can power equipment rated up to 200 Watts without a specific invertor.

The new Hyundai Santa Fe also has intelligent design features such as puddle lamps fitted within the exterior mirrors to illuminate the ground alongside the vehicle, and privacy glass for comfort and security.

ENGINES
The New Generation Santa Fe's powertrain line-up has been developed to suit the demands of European customers, with three engines at launch covering 80% of demand in the region's D-SUV segment. Delivering a broad spread of power and torque, the three engines offer drivers performance across multiple terrains, without compromising class-leading fuel efficiency and emissions.

The powertrain line-up features one petrol and two diesel engines, with outputs between 150ps and 200ps. All of these engines combine excellent power with improved efficiency and class-leading emissions figures.

The range-topping diesel engine remains Hyundai's 2,2-litre 'R' diesel engine featuring a variable geometry turbo (VGT). This all-aluminium, powerplant generates 200ps and 431Nm of torque, and Hyundai's engineers have reduced the CO2 emissions to 145 g/km - among the lowest in the segment.

With the powerful engine, the new Santa Fe delivers strong performance, accelerating from 0 to 100 kph in 9,4 seconds (manual transmission, 2WD).

Hyundai offer a smaller, 2,0-litre 'R' diesel engine with VGT which completes the diesel line-up. Developing 150ps and delivering 382Nm of torque, this refined powerplant emits just 155g/km of CO2 emissions when applied to the Hyundai Santa Fe.

Thanks to the variable geometry turbocharger fitted to both diesel engines, New Generation Santa Fe offers 100% of torque from low revs - just 2.000 rpm - which makes the car well suited to both off-road terrains and dynamic on-road driving.

A 'Theta II' 2,4-litre GDI engine offer European customers a petrol alternative. Its maximum power (193ps) and modest CO2 emissions of 197 g/km again set the New Generation Hyundai Santa Fe apart as a segment leader.

TRANSMISSIONS
New Generation Santa Fe is available with six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions, which have been tuned to suit the power delivery of the three-strong engine line-up.

The 'Theta II' 2,4-litre GDI petrol and 2,2-litre 'R' VGT diesel engine are available with either the manual or automatic transmission. The 2,0-litre 'R' VGT engine is fitted with the six-speed manual as standard.

The six-speed transmissions feature high top-gear ratios and were chosen to reduce fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions when cruising at speed, while also enabling drivers to fully exploit the available performance on road or over rougher terrain.

The automatic transmission features two operating modes - fully automatic or 'Sport'. For city driving, fully automatic mode is ideal, while 'Sport' mode allows for clutch-less manual sequential gear changes for greater driver involvement. Although this transmission is a regular 'torque converter' automatic, it incorporates a unique 'flat' torque converter and an innovative layout makes it the most compact six-speed unit currently available anywhere in the world - weighing 12 kilos less and can boost fuel economy by up to 12%, compared to a conventional automatic.

When the 2WD 2,2-litre 'R' VGT diesel engine is mated to the six-speed manual transmission, it emits just 145 g/km of CO2.

RUNNING GEAR
The New Generation Hyundai Santa Fe offers impressive road holding, as well as genuine comfort on-road and off-road, providing a car-like ride in normal driving conditions but switching automatically to four-wheel-drive whenever it is needed.

Hyundai's FLEX STEER system is fitted to an SUV for the first time, providing three different settings for the steering to match customer preference and driving requirement. The selected mode - normal, sport and comfort - is displayed on the 4,2-inch LCD screen integrated into the instrument cluster.

The new Santa Fe's suspension has been precisely calibrated to provide a well damped ride and reassuring responsiveness to driver inputs. The MacPherson strut front suspension uses reverse L-shaped lower arms for accurate camber control and steering sensitivity. The front subframe mounting bushes are calibrated to reduce unwanted vibrations, while preserving a confidence-inspiring connection with the road surface.

Multi-link suspension is employed at the rear, with the trailing arm connected to a chassis cross-member to ensure optimum ride refinement without intruding on the trunk space. Self-leveling rear suspension is fitted as standard, preserving ride refinement and balanced handling even when carrying a full complement of passengers or a heavy cargo load.

All-wheel-drive is delivered by an on-demand system which overrides the usual front-wheel-drive only when truly necessary. When sensors detect a loss of grip at the front wheels, power is automatically redistributed between the front and rear axles. The default power distribution is 100% to the front wheels, with automatic and continuous variation when slippery conditions are encountered up to 50% front / 50% rear.

For especially slippery conditions, such as muddy off-roading or driving on snow or ice, four-wheel-drive can be selected with the push of the 'lock' button, delivering a 50/50 power split at speeds up to 40kph.

Supplementing the high levels of traction and grip, New Generation Hyundai Santa Fe is equipped with ABS (anti-lock braking), ESP (electronic stability programme), VSM (vehicle stability management), DBC (downhill brake control), plus hill-holding and HAC (hill-assist control).

Maximum towing capacity (for a fully laden vehicle) with a braked trailer is 2500 kg (manual transmission).

REFINEMENT
In creating the New Generation Santa Fe, Hyundai has retained the car's SUV heritage, but has also improved its on-road abilities.

A front subframe, which supports the engine, transmission and suspension, is mounted using specially designed bushes to minimise unwanted noise and vibrations reaching the cabin, while allowing the steering to provide excellent feedback to the driver in all conditions.

The all-new bodyshell of the third-generation Santa Fe uses the same technologies that were incorporated into the i40, which won the Euro Car Body award in 2011. A complex mixture of lightweight, high-strength steel and aluminium components increases bending strength and torsional rigidity compared to the previous model. The steel is sourced from the company's own plant - Hyundai Steel -in Korea.

Hyundai has optimised the powertrains in the third-generation Hyundai Santa Fe to be as refined as possible, using lighter materials, damped engine mounts and increased levels of sound insulation to create a quiet, cosseting interior.

These measures combine to reduce the NVH compared to the previous generation vehicle, making it a comfortable environment in which to travel - on or off road.

SAFETY
In line with the rest of Hyundai's European vehicle range, the New Generation Santa Fe will feature high-tech active and passive safety features to ensure exceptional occupant safety and improved protection for pedestrians.

Active safety systems give Santa Fe drivers the best chance of avoiding an accident. These include ABS (anti-lock braking system), ESP (electronic stability programme), VSM (vehicle stability management), DBC (downhill brake control) and a hill-holder system.

A lane-departure warning system alerts the driver should the car drift into the adjacent lane without the side indicator being activated. An audible chime is sounded in the cabin, to draw attention to the situation.

An automatic cruise control system uses radar to monitor traffic ahead and ensure that Santa Fe will not get too close to the car in front. This increases convenience for the driver and also reduces the chance of a collision.

Good driver visibility is a key factor for safety, and the New Generation Hyundai Santa Fe has several features that enhance day and night time vision. HID Xenon headlights offer high-intensity, far-reaching illumination of the road ahead, giving the driver the best possible vision. To further aid vision and safety, the headlights switch on automatically if conditions require them, and daytime running lights are fitted as standard.

In terms of passive safety, the New Generation Santa Fe is built using a lightweight, high-tensile steel and aluminium structure which provides excellent bodyshell rigidity and strength, protecting occupants in the event of a collision.

New Generation Santa Fe is fitted with seven airbags as standard, including driver, passenger, side, curtain and driver's knee units, providing exceptional levels of safety to buyers across the range.

With pedestrians in mind, Hyundai has equipped the new model with an active hood - the first such application in a Hyundai, and an important contributor to greater pedestrian safety in the event of a collision. Upon impact, the hood rises to reduce the force of the collision and, thus, reduce the risk of injury.

These features ensure new Hyundai Santa Fe has outstanding levels of safety, and reinforce Hyundai's commitment to providing its customers with class-leading cars in this crucial area. It is expected that, in line with recent Hyundai models, the New Generation Santa Fe will attain a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating - even meeting the demands of the new, more rigorous 2012 test procedure.

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Honda Civic Coupe, 2013

 

 

•  Honda Civic Coupe, 2013

The top-selling and award-winning Honda Civic returns for 2013, with a host of design upgrades and a bevy of new standard features, while still maintaining the efficiency and value that has made the Honda Civic an automotive icon for the past 40 years. The 2013 Honda Civic Sedan receives all-new front and rear exterior styling, along with extensive interior styling upgrades on all models. Retuned steering and suspension sharpen the Civic's handling, while extensive body and chassis upgrades improve the ride comfort and interior quietness.

Every 2013 Civic model is equipped with a suite of class-leading standard features. Standard equipment on every Honda Civic includes Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, Bluetooth® Audio, rearview camera, color i-MID display, USB/iPod® connection, Pandora® Interface, an SMS text feature, steering wheel audio controls, exterior temperature gauge and sliding center-console armrest. Even with hundreds of dollars of standard features added, the 2013 Civic arrives with only a modest $160 increase in MSRP across the lineup, with pricing for the exceptionally well-equipped 2013 Civic LX Sedan beginning at $18,165.

New safety technologies built into the 2013 Honda Civic include the application of the next-gen Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ II (ACE™ II) body structure, which includes additional front end structures designed to help increase occupant protection by dispersing crash energy in narrow overlap frontal crashes, and should help the Civic obtain a top rating in the new small-offset crash test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Also new are Smart Vent™ side airbags, side curtain airbags with a rollover sensor and the availability of Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) systems, which make their compact-class debut in the 2013 Honda Civic Hybrid.

Featuring the widest array of powertrain choices available in the segment, the Honda Civic lineup is designed to meet the diverse needs of today's compact-vehicle buyer. The 2013 Honda Civic Sedan and Coupe will be available in LX, EX, EX-L and Si models, with the Civic Hybrid, Civic Natural Gas and Civic HF also available in sedan form. The entry model Civic DX has been discontinued for 2013.

Powertrains
The 2013 Honda Civic lineup includes sedan and coupe models with a conventional gasoline engine and "Si" performance models. Civic also offers a high fuel efficiency "HF," hybrid and exclusive natural gas alternative-fuel sedans.

Heavily revised for the ninth-gen Civic introduction for model year 2012, the Civic's all-aluminum, 140-horsepower, i-VTEC® 1.8-liter 16-valve four-cylinder engine is unchanged for 2013, continuing to provide exceptional responsiveness, refinement, and fuel efficiency. Providing 128 lb-ft of torque at 4300 rpm, the Honda mill is paired with either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. In the Honda Civic Sedan and Coupe, this powertrain has earned an EPA fuel-economy rating of 28/39/32 mpg city/hwy/combined when equipped with the automatic transmission. In the Civic HF Sedan, those figures climb to 29/41/33 mpg.

Now available in 37 states, the 2013 Honda Civic Natural Gas continues as the only mass produced natural gas sedan available in the U.S. In the Civic Natural Gas, the 1.8-liter engine produces 110 horsepower, and earns an EPA fuel economy rating of 27/38/31 mpg2 (city/hwy/combined). The 2013 Civic Hybrid features a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine equipped with Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA®) system, which when coupled with its Lithium-Ion battery pack, produces 110 horsepower and 127 lb-ft of torque. Paired to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), the Honda Civic Hybrid earns a city/hwy/combined EPA rating of 44/44/44 mpg. The Civic Sedan and Coupe, Civic Natural Gas and Civic Hybrid models all feature Honda's ECO Assist™ technology, which with the push of the green, dash-mounted "ECON" button, can help drivers operate the vehicle more efficiently.

Along with strong fuel efficiency, the Civic lineup also offers strong performance. The 2013 Civic Si Sedan and Si Coupe models are equipped with an all-aluminum, 201-horsepower, i-VTEC® 2.4-liter DOHC 16-valve engine paired to a 6-speed manual transmission. Even though it provides 170 lb-ft of torque and offers exhilarating performance, the Honda Civic Si has a remarkable 31 mpg EPA highway fuel economy rating.

The Body
The Honda Civic has received a host of changes that far exceed the typical mid-model refresh. The front and rear styling of the 2013 Honda Civic Sedan has been completely altered for a more youthful and premium feel, including sheet metal changes that include an all-new hood and trunk lid. Up front, a new open-mouth lower bumper with a horizontal chrome accent and a sportier, black honeycomb mesh grille is anchored by new integrated fog lights on EX-L and above trims. The grille is flanked by new clear-lens corner lights to provide a more premium look. The 2013 Civic's more sculpted front end flows into a new taller, more deeply faceted hood.

In back, a new rear bumper design and new rear trunk lid are capped by a clean, horizontal chrome trim piece. The all-new design of the jewel-like taillights now carries into the trunk face, providing a more finished and upscale look. The rear bumper features integrated reflector treatments and a new lower diffuser panel finished with a honeycomb mesh vent. While the expressive exterior styling of the 2013 Honda Civic Coupe remains unchanged, restyled wheels on all models help sharpen the look of the 2013 Civic.

Constructed of 55-pecent high-strength steel, the 2013 Honda Civic's body minimizes weight and maximizes strength for greater rigidity. The 2013 Civic's body has seen a host of changes to the front floor, side sill, A-pillar, upper wheel housing and front bumper extension. This addition of high-strength steel is expected to pay refinement dividends and provide a stiffer structure for the numerous chassis updates for the 2013 Civic. In addition, the Civic's new structure is designed to help it excel in the new Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) small overlap crash test.

The Chassis
Under the skin, the 2013 Honda Civic has had significant alterations aimed at enhancing handling refinement and noise isolation. A reworked Electronic Power Steering (EPS) setup reduces friction and provides a quicker ratio, while stiffer wheels, stiffer front springs and a thicker front stabilizer bar with new Teflon-lined mounting bushings are designed for more fluid suspension action and a flatter, more responsive cornering attitude.

The rear suspension also receives a thicker stabilizer bar, increased spring rate, new Teflon-lined stabilizer-bar bushings, and reworked suspension bushings to increase both bump- and roll-motion stiffness. With its retuned MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension, handling linearity, responsiveness and overall vehicle composure have been increased, while at the same time improving ride quality and the characteristic Honda fun-to-drive feel. For 2013, front brake-rotor diameter on automatic-equipped Civic LX, EX and EX-L Sedans and Coupes jumps 20 mm from 262 to 282 mm for improved stopping performance.

A large range of new noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) countermeasures work together to reduce road, engine and wind noise in the 2013 Civic's interior. This includes a stiffer front subframe, new thicker windshield and front door glass, and additional soundproofing material in the dash, floor, doors, and rear tray to help reduce unwanted road noise, and provide a more serene ride and quieter cabin.

The Interior
Inside, extensive refinements in design and construction gives the entire 2013 Honda Civic lineup a more premium feel, with an all-new tricot headliner, new soft-touch materials on the instrument panel and upper door treatment, and revised textures and panel junctions throughout the instrument panel and center console. Subtle silver accents in the interior lend a higher-quality look, along with door panel and seat fabric upgrades. Providing a more upscale environment, black carpeting and a trunk lid finisher are now standard on all Civic models. For the first time, Civic is available in both cloth and leather with an all-black interior.

The 2013 Honda Civic provides a host of new class-leading standard features, including Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, Bluetooth® Audio, rearview camera, color i-MID display, Pandora® Interface, USB/iPod® interface, SMS text message function, steering wheel audio controls, exterior temperature gauge and a sliding finished center armrest. Available on Honda Civic EX, EX-L, Hybrid and Natural Gas models, the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with voice recognition now includes a multi-view rearview camera and provides routing and guidance to individual addresses and more than 7-million points of interest within the continental United States. With its 16-GB flash memory system, it offers fast route calculation and includes FM traffic, a subscription-free service that alerts drivers to traffic conditions.

Safety
Named a "2012 Top Safety Pick" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Civic returns for 2013 with a re-engineered Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ II (ACE™ II) body structure. The changes that went into the ACE II body structure were designed to help increase the protection provided to vehicle occupants in a frontal collision, including the addition of front end structures to help disperse crash energy in narrow overlap frontal crashes. These changes should also help the Civic obtain top marks in the new Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) small overlap frontal crash test.

Honda Civic features Honda's new Smart Vent™ front seat side airbag construction that recently debuted in the 2013 Honda Accord. The new Smart Vent™ airbag design helps mitigate the risk of excessive side airbag deployment force, while eliminating the need for the prior Honda Civic's Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS). The elimination of OPDS allows improved heating of the seatback on Civic EX-L models. Additionally, the 2013 Civic is equipped with a side curtain airbag with rollover sensors, nearly two years ahead of regulatory requirements.

A first in the compact segment, the 2013 Honda Civic Hybrid provide standard Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) systems. FCW is designed to detect a possible collision with another vehicle or object ahead and provide visible and audible alerts to the driver. LDW provides visible and audible alerts if the driver begins to drift out of a detected lane without using the turn indicator.

The 2013 Honda Civic's additional safety technologies include standard dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, an anti-lock braking system (ABS), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with traction control, a tire pressure monitoring system, and a pedestrian injury mitigation design in the front of the vehicle.

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GTA Spano, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

• GTA Spano, 2013

GTA Motor officially launched the production version of GTA Spano at the 2012 Geneva International Motor Show.

The main innovations included in this car compared to the prototype version, which debuted a year before at the same Swiss trade fair, lie in its exterior design.

Production model introduces new components, such as front and side air intakes, a front bonnet, rear-view mirrors and a door-opening system. At the rear, we find lots of innovative aspects, such as a new large-sized diffuser, which confer it a more modern and aggressive look, among others technical innovations.

A limited edition of 99 GTA Spano models will be produced. The car accelerates from 0 to 100 Km/h in 2.9 seconds and has a top speed of over 350 km/h. Its chassis has been created by combining carbon fibres, titanium and Kevlar, which has become a reference in the automobile sector thanks to its great rigidity and its lightness. GTA Spano has its own V10 engine, which is longitudinally positioned at the rear with 820 HP and a torque of 960 nm.

Project
After 15 years of top automobile motorsport, five years ago GTA Motor decided to go one step forward and make director Domingo Ochoa's dream come true; build a supersports car that combines all the automobile technology with perfect sportsmanship, elegance and exclusivity.

So with more than 30 year's experience in the automobile sector, Ochoa set the basis to accomplish his project, a leading Spanish supersports car in an attempt to combine the select and reduced club of handcrafted constructors.

The technological experience and the development of applied innovations became the basic factor behind this project, and contributed revolutionary technical solutions in the automobile sector. GTA intends to convert this technological transfer into a launching point for a new pioneering automobile industry in Spain.

Designed by GTA Motor's engineering director, Valencian-born Sento Pallardó, GTA Spano boasts the most advanced technology, innovative aesthetics, researched aerodynamics and a good number of solutions for the future, all of which are capable of competing with international prestigious brands in terms of both image and performance.

As a sign of its exclusivity, only 99 models of this extraordinary supersports car will be built to order and several world patents have been obtained. Indeed it is a car that is the beginning of an industry which leads to job creation and to also transfer the resulting technology to other sectors of society.

The Exterior Design
GTA Motor's design department, directed by Sento Pallardó, has strived to create a unique automobile that resembles no other car in any way. In this way, a preliminary design has evolved until the present-day, which has succeeded in combining sportsmanship, elegance and exclusivity in a single concept. In other words, a very different style to that which currently exists on the international automobile scene.

One of GTA Spano's main distinguishing features lies in its lateral view, where doors fit perfectly into air intakes which, apart from performing an aerodynamic function, refrigerate elements such as oil coolers, power-assisted steering and brakes, among others. Its design is original and unprecedented, which is yet another distinguishing mark of Concept. As in all true sportscars, the doors have not doorframes.

Access to the interior is accomplished by pressing the GTA logotype, rendering it a more elegant design without traditional handles.

Its frontal view affords it with a strong personality along with its two large lateral air intakes and its convex bonnet, completed with an aerodynamic streamlining zone to facilitate the air flow, thus providing it an athletic look.

At the rear, the design department has attempted to create the best way to channel the air that flows under the car. The resulting effect is a rear design with plenty of character, marked by the use of glass with its small openings that perform a refrigeration function for the engine. The wing fits perfectly into the design with under air channelling, while the two air intakes and the twin exhaust system emphasise the vehicle's sport character. There is a rear barrel to channel air and to improve the aerodynamic load.

The wing mirrors have been designed as a framework with a carbon fibre finish and a wing-like arm, built in aeronautical mechanised aluminium.

The large glazed surface affords the vehicle a strong quality, another of its distinguishing features. The vehicle has a patented interior lighting and liquid crystal shading system, and the degree of light required inside may be regulated. Its completely novel sun visors are set into the glass and boast the same technology.

Its electrically-operated windows have been made according to state-of-the-art technology, in such a way that tracks are maintenance-free and work-problem free at various temperatures.

The wheels, 19" at the front and 20" at the rear, are characterised by their angular shape. They have been designed specifically and exclusively for this car model, with offers a continuousness effect with the chassis. There is a flat exterior part that perfoms an aerodynamic function, offering greater resistance and involving less weight.

Interior Design
The interior design has been achieved with high-quality materials such as leather and carbon fibre. There is ample space; indeed a person over 2 meters high can be comfortably seated inside. Its panoramic glass roof enhances the sense of spaciousness and also improves luminosity inside.

The dashboard has been designed to transmit the car's values; although it has a sporting look, it is also elegant to give an impression of luxury and comfort.

The prevalent feature of the instrument panel is an LCD screen, which can be personalised according to the customer's requirements and provides the driver with all the necessary information. It includes every button required to adjust the high front bodywork, the rear wing and also the glass roof opacity system.

The steering wheel is made out of carbon fibre and leather, another typical sporting feature of this vehicle. A joystick is located behind the steering wheel to operate lights, wipers and indicators.

Its Recaro seats, made totally out of leather, are another feature of its sport design and are perfectly held. They display the brand's anagrams, thus affording the vehicle more exclusivity. The seats also have an electrical adjustment system with heating and refrigeration.

One of GTA Spano's innovations is that there is no central rear-view mirror; instead there is a rear camera that projects onto the LCD screen and is aptly located on the dashboard. It also has a wide-angle camera to facilitate parking manoeuvres which automatically connects after activating the rear gear. Interior lights also use LED technology.

The dashboard has a large state-of-the-art 7" LCD screen with several functions such as navigation, radio with MP3 CD, an iPod port and Bluetooth for mobile phones.

GTA has two boots; a 100-litre front one and a 200-litre rear one; which are not inconsiderable for a vehicle of such characteristics. The front boot has a reverse opening system to make the task of loading luggage easier.

There are also two glove compartments, one located in the central compartment and the other on the front passenger's side. It is possible to refrigerate them and they also include a drinks holder.

GTA Spano has also incorporated practical compartments into both doors. The interior colour range varies according to the customer's preferences.

Equipment
Quality and elegance are the main characteristics of the GTA interior design, which is also fully equipped.

•     Sport seats
•     Electronically-regulating seats, with a heating and refrigeration system
•     Leather trimmings with GTA anagrams
•     ABS
•     Wheel-driving control
•     An active suspension control system that programmes the height of suspension
•     Electronic system with powerful control
•     Exclusive digital dashboard
•     Xenon
•     Navigator
•     CD charger with MP3
•     iPod Connection
•     Bluetooh
•     Electronically-regulating windows
•     Air conditioning
•     19" wheels at the front and 20" at the rear
•     Exclusively designed 255/35 tyres at the front and 335/30 at the rear
•     Carbon ceramic manufactured AP Racing brakes system with 6 piston callipers
•     Self-regulation rear wing
•     LED Technology
•     Electrically-regulated exterior rear view
•     Steering wheel with three carbon-made spokes
•     Central locking
•     Electrical handbrake
•     Glass roof with patented lighting and opaqueness system
•     Electrical sun visors
•     Angular camera for parking manoeuvres
•     Laminated windscreen and non-frost glass
•     Anti-theft alarm and GPS location system
•     Central locking with distance control
•     Remote-controlled boot opening
•     Reverse boot-opening trunk that makes placing luggage inside easier
•     Exclusively designed suitcases with personalised GTA anagrams

The Engine
GTA has developed a special engine for this car, and has opted for a V10, 8.3 litre engine placed in a longitudinal rear position. It has 820 HP and 960 Nm torque.

GTA's technicians have worked hard to enhance the compressor so that GTA achieves amazing performances at a top speed of over 350 km/h with acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in under three seconds. These figures place it directly among the five fastest cars commercialised in the world. The precision of the engine's control unit helps the engine to offer and increase in power progressively under all circumstances.

GTA Spano also has an electronic power control system, supplied according to the customer's wishes, which regulates power from a minimum of 450 cv to maximum power.

The gearbox is available in two options, all of which have seven gears: automatically sequential 7 speed with a paddle shift steering wheel or manual sequential.

Chassis and dynamic performance
The chassis has been one of aspects on which special emphasis has been placed during the construction of GTA Spano. The most state-of-the-art technologies have been applied to the automobile world, thus making Spano not only one of the few cars in the world with aeronautical components, but also a reference on the automobile scene.

The chassis has been built completely out of carbon fibre, titanium and Kevlar, whose rigidity is four times greater than that of today's presently commercialised supersport cars, which offers the best level of safety. With this technology, the weight of the monocoque is only 56 kg, while total weight is 1350 kg, with all the liquids and the most convenient equipment on board.

Thanks to its special chassis outline and the materials used, GTA has great traction capacity and is easy to drive, unlike what one might think of a car whose power is 820 hp. In this case, it offers a turning circle of 10.8 meters to assist driving, with very impressive manoeuvrability.

To bring this huge potential to a standstill, GTA's braking system includes 380 mm-diameter carbon ceramic ventilated disc brakes and 6-piston callipers supplied by AP Racing, with pneumatic assistance and ABS. GTA Spano also has a sophisticated traction control system.

The tyres are manufactured exclusively for this car by Pirelli: 255/35 on a 19" front wheel and 335/30 on a 20" rear wheel. GTA Spano also offers self-adjusting shock absorbers which are capable of raising the car by up to 8 cm to avoid potholes and regular speed bumps on roads, and to facilitate access to garages. It also has twin trapezium suspension, which enables all kinds of adjustments.

Distribution
GTA has come to distribution agreements with the most important companies on the world automobile scene. GTA has previous agreements in countries such as China, United Arab Emirates, USA, Russia, Germany, Italy, and New Zealand. Nowadays, GTA Motor continues negotiating with other countries to increase and consolidate its distribution chain.

GTA's maintenance and after-sales service exclusivity are defined by firms with ample experience which fulfil all the requirements expected by GTA. In short, it has sought maximum quality in all the brand's actions with no discrimination per geographical area.

Technical data
    ENGINE
        Position: Central rear longitudinal
        Number of cylinders: V10, supercharged
        Displacement: 8,300 cm3
        Maximum power: 820 hp @ 6300 rpm
        Torque: 960 Nm

    CHASSIS AND BODYWORK
        Structural monocoque made from titanium honeycomb, carbon fibre and Kevlar
        Carbon fibre bodywork
        Weight: 1350 kg
        Fuel tank capacity: 100 l
        Boot
            front: 100 l
            rear: 200 l

    DIMENSIONS
        Length: 4.60 m
        Width: 1.98 m
        Height: 1.18 m
        Wheelbase: 2.80 m

    TRANSMISSION
        Traction: Rear wheel drive
        Gearbox: sequential 7-speed with paddle shift (automatic or manual mode)

    SUSPENSION
        Double wishbone configuration
        Wheels
            front: 19x9,5
            rear: 20x12
        Tyres: Pirelli P Zero
            front: 255/35 ZR19
            rear: 335/30 ZR20
        Multi-self-adjusting shock absorbers
        Electrical vehicle height adjustment
        Electronically-regulated wing

    BRAKES
        AP Racing Carbon-ceramic brake system
        Forced ventilation system
        A 6-piston calliper
        ABS system

    PERFORMANCE
        Top Speed: over 350 km/h
        0-100 km/h: 2.9 seconds

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