Fiat Announces UK Pricing for New Punto EVO

The facelifted Grande Punto, which has been renamed to Punto EVO, will begin arriving in Fiat’s 170-strong UK dealer network in January 2010 with prices ranging from £10,995 for the base 1.4 8v Active to £15,295 the highly specified Eleganza 1.3 Multijet, the automaker announced today.

The Punto EVO will be available with a choice of four Euro 5 engines, all fitted with Start&Stop as standard, and five different trim levels – Active, Dynamic, GP, Eleganza and Sporting.

The engine range includes two petrols, a 1.4-liter with 105HP and a 1.4-liter Multiair unit with 135HP, plus two 1.3 MultiJet diesels with 75HP and 95HP.

The entry-level Active model includes ABS anti-lock brakes with EBD, driver, passenger and knee airbags, radio/CD/MP3 player, power steering, electric mirrors and Blue&Me infotainment.

The Dynamic trim level adds side and window airbags, leather steering wheel and air conditioning, while the Eleganza models get alloy wheels, cruise control and rear parking sensors as standard. The GP specification includes rear spoiler, dark tinted headlights and foglights, while the Sportingf features sports seats, cruise control, side skirts, air conditioning, sports suspension and 17-inch alloy wheels as standard.

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Ford Displays Customized 2011 Fiestas at Los Angeles Auto Show

Together with the standard variants of the new 2011 Fiesta, Ford also reveled four ticked-out versions of its North American-spec subcompact car aimed at customization enthusiasts at the Los Angeles International Auto Show today. The modded Fiestas featured an array of styling goodies such as body-side tattoo graphics, body kits and alloy wheels.

“We expect the Fiesta will be wildly popular among people who like to personalize their vehicles because of its affordability, great driving dynamics and award-winning design,” said Ford Designer Melvin Betancourt. “We’ll offer these customers a variety of appearance and performance accessories to choose from so they really can make their Fiesta their own.”

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Chinese Tuner Builds Ferrari Enzo Wannabe Replica Based on Geely Coupe

You’d expect that a Ferrari replica from China, a country where the automotive industry has turned European and Japanese car cloning into a science, would at least be presentable. Because what you are seeing pictured above is just a computer-generated image of what the tuner hoped his modified Geely coupe would resemble. If your taste buds (and stomach) can handle it, click through to see the end result…

Via: Gaibar

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Hamann Presents Insane Fiat 500 Largo with 265HP at 2009 Frankfurt Show

The Fiat 500 Abarth has certainly caught the attention of the tuning world in Europe. Making its world premiere at the ’09 IAA in Frankfurt, the Hamann Largo is one of the most impressive tuning proposals for the Fiat 500 Abarth yet, putting to shame the official 180HP+ Ferrari-badged Abarth 695 special with its heavily modified 1.4-liter turbocharged engine that makes a jaw-dropping 265 horsepower at 5,630 rpm and 348Nm pr 257 lb-ft of torque at 4,200 rpm. Pretty impressive if you consider that the base model makes a mere 135HP and 206Nm.

Hamann has yet to disclose performance figures, but we reckon that 265 ponies in a car the size and weight of the Fiat 500 should a spectacle worth seeing – don’t know about driving though…

A sport exhaust system that includes an end muffler with four pipes, a pre-muffler with a metal catalyser and a sport manifold along with a high-performance brake system with internally ventilated brake discs and 4-piston callipers up front and optional 257mm discs at the rear, as well as a sport suspension that lowers the car’s centre of gravity by up to 60 mm complete the list of performance mods.

True to Hamann’s nature, the Largo features an aggressively styled bodykit with new fender extensions that broaden the car body by 30mm at the front and 35mm at the back, beefy side skirts, front and rear aprons and a diffuser at the back.

The Largo rides on 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in high-performance sport tires measuring 215/35 ZR18 or optionally, 225/35 ZR18.

As for the interior, changes include but are not limited to, an aluminium pedal set, a door mat set and embroidered logos. Pricing and more details are to be announced at a later date.

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Hartge Unleashes New Aero Kit for BMW X5 SUV

Another day, another bodykit from German tuning firm and BMW specialist, Hartge that has released a new styling package for the X5 SUV. The tasty kit comes with a front spoiler and rear skirt, as well as left and right two-piece side skirts. Owners can opt for the available stainless steel rear silencer while Hartge also offers a sport suspension kit and the company’s multispoke alloy wheels. Hartge did not disclose prices for the aero kit. Check out more photos of the neatly beefed-up X5 after the jump

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Conflict of Interest? Heico Sportiv Tunes the eco-friendly 2010 Volvo C30 1.6D DRIVe

How much sense does it make to offer a performance package for an eco-friendly diesel car model that has been specifically designed to deliver maximum fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions? Not much if you ask us but anyways… This here is Heico Sportiv’s tuning package for the recently unveiled 2010 Volvo C30 1.6D DRIVe.

In factory form, the new Volvo C30 1.6D DRIVe is powered by a 1.6-liter diesel with 109HP and 240Nm of torque. Combined with a wide range of fuel saving technologies such as start/stop system with brake-energy recovery and aerodynamically optimized components, this C30 returns an average fuel economy of 3.9 liters/100 km or 60.3mpg US.

Heico Sportiv’s package includes new software for the diesel unit’s ECU that increases output to 125HP and 280Nm. As a result, the tuned C30 1.6D DRIVe sprints from standstill to 100 km/h in 9.2 seconds, beating the series-production model by 2.1 seconds while achieving a top speed of 200 km/h (124mph), 10 km/h more than the series version. The tuner did not release any fuel economy figures for the model.

Also available is a sport suspension that lowers the vehicle’s ride height by about 30mm.

The Volvo tuning specialist gives the C30′s exterior a new look with a front spoiler that replaces the original lower base section of the bumper and a rear apron with an integrated diffuser housing quad tailpipes. Five or ten-spoke alloy wheels in sizes 18- and 19-inch that are available in various colors complete the looks.

The interior can also be decked out with numerous applications in aluminum or leather, such as the door pin set, shift stick grip, parking brake handle, pedal set and foot rest.

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2011 Chevrolet Caprice Police Car Revealed: Based on Australian Holden Caprice, LWB Version of Pontiac G8

Looks like Bob Lutz was right after all when back in July he said that the Pontiac G8 would live on as the Chevrolet Caprice – even though shortly after he hastily took his words back. Apparently, what Lutz meant to say was that the G8 would live on as a law enforcement car as GM revealed the all-new Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle (PPV) at the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police convention, in Denver, Colorado.

Set to join the ranks of law enforcement departments across North America in 2011, the new Caprice is essentially a remasked version of the Australian Holden Caprice and Statesman models which in turn are more luxurious, long wheelbase versions of the Holden Commodore and its American counterpart, the Pontiac G8 that will soon be discontinued.

And just to confuse you a bit more, the Holden Caprice and its Statesman twin are already sold in the Middle East as the Chevrolet Caprice.

As with the Commodore and the G8, the Chevrolet Caprice PPV is based on GM’s Zeta RWD platform that also underpins the new Chevy Camaro. It uses the longest wheelbase of the architecture that measures 118.5 inches (3,010 mm) in length along with a four-wheel independent suspension

At launch, the Chevy Caprice PPV will be offered exclusively with a GM 6.0-liter V8 with fuel-saving Active Fuel Management technology and E85 capability but GM said that in the 2012 model year, a smaller displacement V6 engine will also be offered.

The Caprice PPV’s V8 churns out an estimated 355 horsepower (265 kW) and 384 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission that is specially calibrated for police duty. The Detroit automaker said that the Caprice V8 can sprint from zero to 60mph (96km/h) in under 6.0 seconds.

Additional police car-specific powertrain and vehicle system features include: a high-output alternator, engine oil, transmission and power steering coolers, 18-inch steel wheels with bolt-on center caps, larger four-wheel disc brakes with heavy-duty brake pads, heavy-duty suspension components, police-calibrated stability control system and driver information center in the instrument cluster with selectable speed tracking feature.

According to GM, the Caprice PPV can also be equipped with special equipment packages such as spotlights; lockouts for the power windows and locks; and an “undercover” street-appearance package (9C3).

“The new Chevrolet Caprice police car is the right tool at the right time for law enforcement,” said Jim Campbell, general manager for GM Fleet and Commercial Operations. “We asked for a lot of feedback from our police customers, which helped us develop a vehicle that is superior to the Crown Victoria in key areas.”

General Motors pointed out that the new Caprice PPV will not replace the Chevy Impala that will continue to offered in police outfit along with the Tahoe.

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GM Seals Deal to Sell Hummer to China’s Sichuan Tengzhong

General Motors officially announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Hummer unit to China’s Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co., Ltd. The sale comes only four months after GM announced that it entered talks with the Chinese heavy equipment maker. Sichuan Tengzhong will purchase Hummer through an investment entity, in which it will hold an 80 per cent stake, while Hong Kong investor Suolang Duoji, a private entrepreneur, will get the remaining 20 per cent stake.

“HUMMER is a strong global niche brand and this agreement signifies another important milestone in writing the next chapter for both GM and HUMMER,” said Fritz Henderson, GM President and CEO. “For HUMMER, the combination of its knowledgeable leadership team, vehicle design expertise and the capital financing of Tengzhong portend a successful future.”

Although GM did not disclose the financial terms of the agreement media reports claim that the sale price was around $150 million.

GM said that under the terms of the final agreement, the Chinese company will acquire the ownership of the HUMMER brand, trademark and tradenames, as well as specific IP license rights necessary for the manufacture of HUMMER vehicles.

Sichuan Tengzhong will also get manufacturing, key components and business services from GM during a transitional time period, which was not defined by the Detroit automaker. As an example, GM said that its Shreveport assembly plant would continue to contract assemble the H3 and H3T models while AM General’s Mishawaka assembly plant will continue to assemble the H2, both until June 2011, with an optional one year extension until June 2012.

“This transaction marks an exciting step for both Tengzhong and HUMMER, as we invest in a business that has significant opportunity in the U.S. and around the globe,” said Yang Yi, chief executive officer of Tengzhong. “We are excited about some of the initiatives already underway at HUMMER that we believe our investment will be able to accelerate, particularly related to the creation of the next generation of more fuel-efficient vehicles to meet not only future regulations but also customer expectations.”

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2011 Hyundai Sonata Makes N.A. Debut at LA Show, Gets 2.4L, 2.0L Turbo and Hybrid Powertrains

The much anticipated and talked about 2011 Hyundai Sonata made its North American premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The all-new mid-size sedan (although EPA classifies it as a large sedan) represents a dramatic departure from the previous generation Sonata models both in terms of design and technology.

Despite the fact that the sixth-generation Sonata is aimed price-wise at the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Chevy Malibu, its so-called ‘four-door coupe’ styling with the sleek roofline and sculptured body surfaces brings it closer to the likes of the VW Passat CC.

And even if the design is not to everyone’s taste, few will disagree that it offers the Sonata what the previous models lacked: personality.

The same can be said about the interior that’s distinguished by the swoopy lines of the dashboard and the deeply set gauges of the instrument panel.

At 189.8 in (4,820mm) long, 72.2 in. (1,835mm) wide and 57.9 in. (1,470mm) tall with a wheelbase of 110 in. (2,795mm), the new Sonata is slightly longer and wider but a tad lower than the current model.

Surprisingly, 2011 Sonata is 130 pounds lighter than the existing model thanks to several weight saving measures such as the increased use of aluminum in the four-wheel independent suspension system and the ultra-high-strength steel in the body.

Furthermore, according to Hyundai, the new Sonata is 25 percent stiffer in torsion and 19 percent stiffer in bending rigidity than its predecessor.

When the 2011 Sonata goes on sale in the States in January 2010, it will be offered with Hyundai’s newly developed Theta II GDI 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with direct injection that makes 198 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 184 lb-ft of torque at 4,250 rpm. In the SE trim, which includes a standard dual exhaust, the engine delivers 200 horsepower.

Power is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC manual control.

Hyundai estimates that the automatic version will get 23mpg in the city and 35mpg on the highway, beating all of its four-cylinder competitors in the U.S.the debut of the 2.4-liter version in the States

While there are no current plans for a V6 model in the States, in the second half of 2010, Hyundai will add a 2.0-liter Theta II turbocharged GDI four-cylinder engine and a 2.4-liter Hybrid Blue Drive model featuring the firm’s lithium polymer battery pack. The Korean automaker said that more details about these powertrains will be released at the 2010 New York Auto Show in April.

Depending on the model trim, the new Sonata will be offered with various goodies including a high-end Infinity audio system with a 400-watt amplifier and a touch screen navigation system.

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2011 Infiniti M56 with 420HP V8 and M37 with 330 V6 Rival BMW 5-Series and Mercedes E-Class

Infiniti has lifted the covers (once again…) off its new 2011 M sedans (sold as the Nissan Fuga in Japan) at a private event held in Beverly Hills on Monday. Designed to challenge the new BMW 5-Series, Lexus GS and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class -just to mention a few, the 2011 M sedan will be offered in the States initially with two gasoline-only powerplants with a hybrid version to follow shortly after.

The entry-level M37 features a 3.7-liter aluminum-alloy V6 which delivers 330 hp at 7,000 rpm and 270 lb-ft of torque at 5,200 rpm, representing an increases of 27 horsepower and 8 lb-ft of torque versus the previous 3.5-liter V6.

The range-topping M56 debuts a new 5.6-liter aluminum-alloy V8 that produces at 420 hp and 417 lb-ft of torque. That’s an increases of 95 horsepower and 81 lb-ft of torque over the previous M’s 4.5-liter V8.

The M37 and M56 are available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. For those that are looking for sharper handling, Infiniti offers a special Sport Package on the rear-wheel drive models that includes 4-wheel Active Steer (4WAS), sport-tuned suspension, Sport Brakes and 20-inch wheels and tires.

All 2011 Ms come standard with Infiniti’s 7-speed automatic transmission with Downshift Rev Matching and Adaptive Shift Control (ASC), while the RWD models with the Sport Package get solid magnesium paddle shifters as standard.

Infiniti has also announced a gasoline-electric hybrid version of the M sedan featuring a single electric motor/twin clutch arrangement with the first clutch installed between the naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 and the electric motor.

In terms of size, the new M’s wheelbase has remained unchanged at 114.2 inches, but the width has been increased by 2.0 inches (to 72.6 inches), the length increased by 0.6-inch (to 194.7 inches) and the overall height lowered by 0.4-inch (to 59.1 inches) over its predecessor.

Notable features include the Blind Spot Intervention (BSI) that helps the driver return the vehicle back toward the center of the lane, Active Trace Control, which adjusts engine torque and the control of braking at each of the four wheels to help enhance cornering performance and Double-piston Shock Absorbers that control damping force according to frequency of input from the road surface.

The M37 and M56 (RWD and AWD) will arrive in U.S. showrooms next spring with the M35 Hybrid expected to follow in the second quarter of 2011.

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Fiat Terminates Chrysler’s All-Electric Car Plans – What’s Going to Happen to the $73 Million Gov. Grants for the EV Test Fleet?

Just over a year ago, the Chrysler Group’s newly formed Envi division unveiled a series of production-based electric cars that it planned to put on sale. Fast forward a few months, Chrysler went in and out of bankruptcy, sealed a deal with the Fiat Group and then, in August 2009 under the leadership of its new CEO, Sergio Marchionne, secured a $73 million grant from the Obama administration for the manufacturing of 220 plug-in hybrid and electric pickup trucks and minivans in St. Louis and in Michigan. Well, guess what;

According to a news report from Reuters, as part of the Marchione’s recently announced five-year business plan to revitalize the Chrysler Group, Fiat has pulled the plug on the automaker’s Envi division as well as the development of the test fleet for which it had received the government grant.

Chrysler spokesman Nick Cappa told Reuters on Friday that Envi, which was responsible for the EV range, will be absorbed in the normal vehicle development program and its former chief Lou Rhodes will head an electric car division for both Fiat and Chrysler.

The group’s CEO Sergio Marchionne told reporters that for the time being and with the current technology available, he doesn’t believe much in EVs and that electric cars would represent just “one or two per cent” (less than 60,000 vehicles) of Chrysler’s sales by 2014.

“Until the (battery) storage gets resolved, I think electric vehicles are going to struggle,” Marchionne said.

As of yet, there’s no official word from Chrysler, but if the report from Reuters concerning the part about the scrapping of the 220 plug-in hybrids turns out to be true, one should wonder what’s going to (or what should) happen to the $73 million grant that the automaker received. Post your thoughts in the comment section below.

Via: Reuters

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