Showing posts with label PromoVids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PromoVids. Show all posts
Thursday, January 12, 2012
The new Porsche Boxster: Spirit, declared.
2013 Porsche Boxster: Lighter, more muscular, more distinctive and more fuel-efficient
The new Boxster benefits not only from an increased wheelbase but also shorter overhangs, while the windscreen has been shifted forward. The passengers are enclosed by the completely redesigned, fully electric top, which now dispenses with a convertible top compartment lid. The interior concept offers the occupants more space and reflects the new Porsche outline with a raked center console, which, originating with the Carrera GT ensures improved ergonomics in all models.
The new sports car generation makes its debut in the classic Porsche pairing of Boxster and Boxster S. Both models are powered by flat-six engines with direct fuel injection, the efficiency of which is further enhanced by electrical system recuperation, thermal management and start/stop function. The base model's new power unit delivers 265 hp from a 2.7 liter displacement – ten hp more than its larger displacement predecessor.
Technically, it is now based on the 3.4-liter engine of the Boxster S. This now delivers 315 hp, which is five hp more than before. Both models feature a manual six-speed gearbox as standard with the seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) available as an option. Both sports cars achieve their best fuel consumption and acceleration performance with the PDK. With gear changes without interruption to the power flow, the Boxster sprints from zero to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, the Boxster S in 4.7 seconds.
To enhance driving dynamics yet further, Porsche offers the Sport Chrono Package as an optional extra for the Boxster, featuring dynamic transmission mounts for the first time. Also new in the Boxster is Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) with a mechanical rear axle differential lock.
The new Boxster models are expected in U.S. showrooms in early summer 2012. The basic list price iwill be $49,500 for the Boxster and $60,900 for the Boxster S, not including a $950 destination charge.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Toyota NS4 Concept Vids
Toyota engineers were challenged to design a new mid-sized concept for potential global market introduction by 2015. The NS4 concept is a dedicated plug-in hybrid, separate from the Prius family, designed with future mobility requirements in mind.
Traditional vehicle development cycles average four years, but this is rapidly changing in the digital age. Vehicles have become another communication hub in the connected-consumers lifestyle and automakers must integrate the latest technologies into their product offerings. In fact, connected vehicles are the third-fastest growing technological device, behind smartphones and tablets.
Toyota has formed special alliances with technology leaders such as Microsoft, Intel and Salesforce to explore the creation of seamless vehicle interfaces with emerging technologies. These alliances will help ensure Toyota is at the forefront of this emerging sector of the automotive market.
The NS4 concept's Human-Machine Interface (HMI) provides a user interface built around a multi-touch screen with the look and feel of a smartphone. The simple, intuitive operation conveys information quickly while minimizing distractions and maximizing driver awareness. The multimedia and vehicle-controls enhancement also will direct air conditioning, audio, battery-charge and navigation functions. The HMI system is even capable of "learning" driver preferences and habits to anticipate driver responses in specific environments and situations. This concept represents a truly connected vehicle, offering the latest technology in a responsible and convenient package.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Encore Takes the Stage
2013 Buick Encore Takes the Stage
All-new luxury crossover is versatile, efficient and continues brand's growth
Buick today introduced the all-new 2013 Encore - a luxury small crossover that delivers Buick's signature style, interior acoustic refinement and collection of luxury amenities in a maneuverable, versatile and efficient package.
The Encore is on display at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit through Jan. 22, and goes on sale in early 2013.
"Buick Encore is a great-looking, smart choice for those who want luxury crossover amenities in a more maneuverable and agile vehicle," said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick Marketing. "It represents a luxury alternative for a new audience of Buick customers, and delivers features and flexibility not typically found in vehicles of its size today."
Buick models continue to gain in popularity, with two consecutive years of higher retail sales. The Encore joins Verano - Buick's third all-new sedan in three years - to round out the brand's lineup and continues the momentum established by the Enclave crossover almost five years ago.
With room for five and up to 48.4 cubic feet (1,372 liters) of storage space with the rear seat folded, the Encore offers substantial cargo capacity along with the confident, higher driving position, all-wheel-drive capability and contemporary styling of a crossover. In fact, its cargo space compares favorably against similar-sized international competitors:
Rear Seat in Place
Rear Seat Folded
Buick Encore
18.8 cu. ft. / 533 liters
48.4 cu. ft. / 1,372 liters
BMW X1
16.9 cu. ft. / 480 liters
47.4 cu. ft. / 1,350 liters
Audi Q3
16.2 cu. ft. / 460 liters
48.2 cu. ft. / 1,365 liters
Additional features include 10 standard air bags and an Ecotec 1.4L turbo four-cylinder/six-speed automatic powertrain, along with standard and available technologies such as Buick's voice-activated IntelliLink - which uses Bluetooth or a USB to connect the driver's smartphone to a high-resolution, full-color seven-inch LCD display radio.
And because it's a Buick, QuietTuning is standard on the Encore, which also features Buick's first use of active noise cancellation technology.
Contemporary design offers versatile spaciousness
In keeping with the global design language that has come to symbolize the brand, the Encore's sculpted and elegant styling traits - including sweeping character lines - make it instantly identifiable as a contemporary Buick. Signature cues include a waterfall grille, chrome accents and surrounds, portholes on the hood and painted lower panels, similar to the Enclave.
"The Encore brings Buick's timeless, sculptural design to the crossover segment in a way that blends elegance, efficiency and utility," said David Lyon, executive director of design. "There's confidence in its athletic stance and elemental beauty in its rich details."
Blue-accented projector-beam headlamps and detailed taillamps enhance the premium appearance; and 18-inch, five-spoke painted aluminum wheels are standard. Seven-spoke chrome wheels are available.
Inside, the Encore's organic styling carries over to a flowing instrument panel that wraps naturally into the door panels. A prominent central instrument panel houses the large, full-color, seven-inch LCD display for the IntelliLink voice-activated radio system. It also features displays for the SiriusXM satellite radio, as well as available navigation and rear camera systems.
A contemporary mix of dark and light tones distinguishes the cabin, which is accented with ice blue ambient lighting, select use of bright trim and wood-grain trim. Premium seats featuring high-density foam for greater comfort on long drives are trimmed with either a contemporary cloth/leatherette motif or available leather. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are available. The rear seat features a fold-down armrest with cup holders.
More of the Encore's comfort and luxury features - standard and available - include:
Remote vehicle start
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Rainsense wipers
Bose premium sound system
Heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls
Six-way, power-adjustable driver's seat with power lumbar adjustment and driver memory.
Encore also features plenty of storage capacity and storage compartments. It offers 18.8 cubic feet (533 liters) of storage behind the split-folding rear seat and 48.4 cubic feet (1,372 liters) with the rear seat folded. With the rear seat in place, there's room for at least six full grocery bags and with the rear seat folded, there's room for golf clubs and overnight bags for a weekend getaway. Even the front passenger seat folds flat to extend the cargo length and accommodate long items that would not normally fit in a vehicle of this size.
Nine exterior colors and three interior color combinations will be offered.
QuietTuning gets ‘active'
QuietTuning is the process of defining Buick quality, sound and vibration characteristics and designing and refining the vehicle following a three-point strategy of reducing sounds at their source, blocking sounds from entering the cabin and absorbing any remaining sounds.
For the Encore, specific content was applied to achieve 40 sound benchmarks for refinement, including Buick's first application of active noise cancellation. With it, ceiling-mounted microphones detect engine noise, the frequencies of which are processed by a computer that directs counteracting sound waves through the audio system's speakers and subwoofer.
Additional standard QuietTuning features include:
Acoustically treated headliner with a tuned gap between it and the high-strength-steel roof panel
Sound-absorbing materials used in the cabin, under the hood and in the wheel house liners
HydraMatic 6T40 six-speed transmission with neutral gear disengagement
Quiet-tuned 18-inch Continental tires
Aero-optimized outside mirrors
Ultra-quiet engine alternator
Acoustic-laminated windshield and thicker 5mm side window glass
Foam baffle insulation at the opening of body structure cavities.
‘One-tire' philosophy sharpens ride and handling characteristics
The new Encore is built on a global small-crossover platform and engineered with a "one-tire" philosophy. Everything is optimized around a single 18-inch tire specification, designed for more precise suspension tuning, driving refinement, quietness and a feeling of control.
The Encore's 100.6-inch (2,555 mm) wheelbase and wide stance - 60.6-inch (1,540 mm) front and rear tracks - contribute to a more confident-feeling driving experience, while a strong structure enables greater suspension precision and a quieter ride. Tuned engine, including two hydraulic mounts, are tailored to the engine's inherent torque axis to disrupt the transmission of vibration and noise. This configuration also helps control the transfer of momentum, resulting in improved dynamic balance.
A MacPherson strut front suspension is used with coil springs, a large stabilizer bar and side-load-compensated front strut modules. The rear suspension incorporates a compound crank (torsion beam) design, with a double-wall, tubular V-shape beam profile with gas-charged twin-tube shocks. It combines all the advantages of a conventional torsion beam axle, including minimal space requirements, with low weight and consistent camber control. Urethane spring isolators are used to dampen noise.
The Encore also features a column-mounted, variable-effort electric power steering system. It contributes to a 36.7-foot (11.2 meters) turning diameter, while also saving fuel compared to an engine-driven power steering pump.
Safety technology helps protect occupants
Encore is designed with technologies - including radar-based features - to help avoid crashes and protect occupants in case one occurs. Technologies that help avoid them include:
Standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control
Four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and electronic brake force distribution
Cornering brake control and brake assist
Available all-wheel-drive system that seamlessly shifts power to the rear wheels when required for better
traction and handling
Available forward collision alert and lane departure warning
Available front and rear park assist
Available rear vision camera.
When it comes to occupant protection, the Encore's body structure forms a protective cage around the passenger compartment. Sixty-three percent of the underbody structure is comprised of high-strength steels, while 57 percent of the upper body uses high-strength steels, including ultra-high-strength steel. That protection is complemented with 10 standard air bags, which include:
Driver and front passenger frontal air bags
Driver and front passenger knee air bags
Front and rear thorax air bags (all outboard positions)
Side curtain air bags for front and rear outboard passengers.
Encore's suite of safety features is rounded out with exclusive OnStar technology, which includes the Advanced Crash Response System, emergency assistance and more.
Ecotec turbo engine drives efficiency
The Buick Encore is powered by an efficient, power-dense Ecotec 1.4L turbocharged four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission. It generates an estimated 140 horsepower (103 kW) and 148 lb.-ft. of torque (200 Nm) between 1,850 rpm and 4,900 rpm. The wide rpm range for the maximum torque - a specific trait of turbocharged engines - helps it deliver a better driving experience and performance.
The 1.4L's turbocharger is integrated within the exhaust manifold, for reduced weight and greater packaging flexibility. A reinforced crankshaft and forged connecting rods deliver additional strength to support the engine's pressurized power and torque over a wide rpm band.
Several of the engine's features contribute to the Encore's overall fuel efficiency, including:
A high-efficiency alternator
Regulated voltage control
Electronically controlled returnless fuel system
Deceleration fuel cut-off.
They complement other vehicle-wide systems and components that also help improve efficiency, including low-rolling-resistance tires, electric power steering, neutral idle feature and optimized aerodynamics.
A Hydra-Matic 6T40 six-speed automatic transmission backs the Ecotec 1.4L turbo engine. It is part of a family of six-speed front and all-wheel drive transaxles developed for small cars and crossovers. It has a unique design, with the planetary gearsets positioned on the same axis as the engine crankshaft centerline, making the entire powertrain unit shorter fore-to-aft. This design enables a shorter overall vehicle length, increased interior space, enhanced safety crush zones and lower weight.
The Hydra-Matic 6T40 offers a "steep" first gear and a "tall" overdrive top gear to achieve a wide ratio spread of 6.14:1. This allows the Encore to achieve robust acceleration, as well as fuel efficiency and lower engine noise at highway cruising speeds. A neutral-gear disengagement feature helps enhance smoothness and efficiency.
The Buick Encore will begin arriving at U.S. Buick dealerships in the first quarter of 2013.
E-Bugster Concept
The E-Bugster concept car was revealed at the 2012 North American International Auto Show. The name "E-Bugster" is a combination of "E" for electric, "Bug," the American nickname for the Beetle, and "speedster," which typically describes an open-top two-seater.
Monday, January 9, 2012
2013 Cadillac ATS - Driving Scenes
Cadillac today introduced the 2013 ATS, an all-new compact luxury sports sedan intended to challenge the world's best premium cars. Developed on an all-new, lightweight vehicle architecture, Cadillac's entry into the world's most significant luxury car segment goes on sale this summer.
A broad lineup of engines -- including two four-cylinders and a V-6 for North America -- delivers strong power to the ATS and capitalizes on the car's lightweight structure to complement its performance with efficiency. The optional engines include an all-new 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder rated at 270 horsepower (201 kW) and Cadillac's award-winning 3.6L V-6, estimated at 320 horsepower (238 kW).
At 135hp/L, the new 2.0T is one of the most power-dense engines in the industry, topping engines from European competitors. ATS will offer both manual and automatic transmission options, along with rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive configurations.
The ATS will deliver peak highway fuel economy of more than 30 mpg.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Saturday, December 31, 2011
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