1/2/15

Shelby Launches 50th Anniversary Cobra 427


Starting Tuesday, January 13, interested customers will be able to put down their order for a limited edition of the Shelby Cobra 427 that celebrates the iconic car’s 50th anniversary.

There will only be 50 examples of the, um, 50th Anniversary 427, all with gold anniversary badges. They also come with a special CSX serial number (CSX4550-CSX4599) and a badge showing their number in this limited production run (1/50, 2/50 etc.).

Shelby’s anniversary Cobra will be offered with either an aluminum or a fiberglass body. The aluminum-bodied cars will be available in polished aluminum (with or without stripes) or Guardsman blue with Wimbledon white stripes, while the fiberglass ones will come only in the blue with white stripes paintjob.

Pricing for the fiberglass edition starts from US$117,995, while the aluminum will set you back US$179,995. Mind you, you will have to provide the engine and transmission yourself so you’d better increase that budget.











1/1/15

2017 Audi A7 Sportback


Marc Lichte joined Audi from VW earlier this year and has already completed the design work on the second-generation A7 Sportback model, expected to arrive in 2017.

Lichte spoke with Autocar magazine and confirmed that the new A7 will feature design elements that have already been seen in the recent Prologue concept at the Los Angeles Motor Show. However, the Prologue previews not just the 2017 A7 Sportback but also the 2016 A8 as well as the 2017 A6 - with all three designs having been already signed off for.

Out of the three models, the A7 will feature the most radical styling, according to Lichte, which is music to our ears since the A7 Sportback is already a very sleek looking car.

The 2017 Audi A7 Sportback will be based on the second-generation MLB platform, while its engine range will probably be hand picked from underneath the 2016 A8's hood.








2016 Audi Q7 Revealed


Audi has officially blown the covers off the second-gen Q7 luxury SUV that sheds a few hundred pounds and features a more chiseled, but overall familiar design.

Built on a modified version of Audi’s MLB platform, the new Q7 has undergone a drastic diet losing 325kg or 716.5 pounds over the previous model, with the 3.0 TDI tipping the scales at 1,995kg or 4,398.2 lbs.

Some 71kg or 156.5 lbs were cut from the body, with the aluminum doors alone accounting for 24kg or 52.9 lbs. The front fenders, hood and tailgate are also made from aluminum, while Audi says that over 100kg or 220.5 lbs were taken out of the chassis.

Even though the new Q7 is slightly shorter (-37mm or 1.5 in.) and narrower (-15mm or 0.6 in.) than its predecessor at 5,050mm long, 1,970mm wide and 1,740mm tall, riding on a 2,990mm wheelbase, Audi claims that the cabin is longer and offers more head room for passengers of both rows.

In particular, there is an additional 21mm (0.8 in) between the first and second rows of seats, while head room has increased by 41mm (1.6 in) and 23mm (0.9 in) for first and second row passengers respectively.

Things are less exciting when it comes to the Q7's exterior styling as the luxury SUV was penned under Ingolstadt's existing design language. It's far less bulbous than the previous model with more defined lines and a three-dimension single frame grille, but frankly, it looks a lot like a re-sized Q3.

The interior is a different story with Audi giving their top SUV a nicely designed and modern dashboard that can be optionally equipped with Audi's new 12.3-inch TFT instrument binnacle, similar to the one featured in the latest TT. Audi has also made efforts to de-clutter the dash and improve ergonomics.

As with the outgoing model, the new Q7 has three rows of seats. The second and third second row can be folded down and tipped up. With all seven seats occupied, the SUV has a boot capacity of 295 liters (10.4 cu ft), while in five-seater configuration, that figure climbs to 890 liters (31.4 cu ft) and in two-seat, a massive 2,075 liters (73.3 cu ft).

Naturally, Audi offers all sorts of standard and optional amenities including, but not limited to, a kick motion tailgate opener, the latest generation of the Audi MMI infotainment system with a 7-inch or 8.3-inch retractable display and a full touch surface, Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System and even Audi-branded tablets for the rear passengers.

In Europe, the new Q7 will launch with two V6 engines, the 272PS (268hp) and 600Nm (442.5 lb-ft) 3.0-liter diesel that reaches 100km/h (62mph) in 6.3 seconds, and the 333PS (328hp) and 440Nm (324.5 lb-ft) 3.0-liter supercharged petrol that completes the same sprint in 6.1 seconds. Both engines are hooked up to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Surprisingly, Audi will offer a 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder gasoline engine with 248hp (252PS) and 370Nm (272.9 lb-ft) of torque in select Asian markets and –wait for it- the USA.

There will also be a more frugal, but less powerful 3.0 TDI Ultra diesel engine with 215hp (218PS) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) of torque.

A plug-in hybrid version with quattro all-wheel drive will also join the range late 2015. Named the Q7 e-tron, it will pair a 3.0-liter turbo diesel V6 with an electric motor integrated into the 8-speed tiptronic transmission producing a combined 373PS (368hp) and 700Nm (516.3 lb-ft).

The lithium-ion batteries store 17.3 kWh of energy, enabling a range of up to 56 kilometers (34.8 mi) in pure electric mode.

According to Audi, the Q7 e‑tron accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 6.0 seconds, and from 0 to 60 km/h (37.3 mph) in 6.1 seconds on electric power alone. Top speed is 225 km/h (140mph).

When using both power sources, the Q7 e-tron returns a combined figure of 1.7l/100km (138.4 US mpg) – for a CO2 equivalent of less than 50 grams per kilometer (80.5 g/mi).

The Q7 will celebrate its world premiere at the Detroit Auto Show in January, where we will learn more about the North American model's specifications.















New Audi Q7 vs Volvo XC90


You asked for it, so here it is: a visual comparison between the two freshest arrivals in the large luxury SUV segment, the 2016 Audi Q7 and the 2015 Volvo XC90.

We'll give you a basic rundown of the two premium models before we let you go over the gallery and cast your vote on which one has your attention.

Audi presented the second-gen Q7 on Friday, ahead of a world premiere in Detroit in January, with highlights including a drastic reduction of 325 kg or 717 pounds in weight and new innovative tech features like the available full-TFT instrument panel.

Right now, the only confirmed engine for the U.S. is a new 248hp (252PS) 2.0-liter TFSI four-pot gasoline unit, while Europe will get a 3.0-liter TDI V6 diesel in 215hp (218PS) and 272PS (268hp) flavors, plus a 328hp (333PS) 3.0-liter TSI supercharged V6 gasoline and a plug-in hybrid combining a 3.0-liter diesel V6 and an electric motor delivering 368hp (373PS), when it goes on sale next year.

Volvo's long-overdue XC90 replacement had its first public outing at the 2014 Paris Motor Show in October, though it won't reach showrooms until spring of 2015. Like the Q7, it also sits on a new platform and has seating for seven in three-rows.

In the States, the new XC90 will be offered at launch exclusively with Volvo's new 316hp T6 2.0-liter turbo- and super-charged, inline-four gasoline engine linked to an 8-speed automatic and standard AWD with a starting MSRP of $48,900. Later on, Volvo will add a T8 plug-in hybrid variant that enhances the same four-cylinder unit with an electric motor for a combined output of around 400hp. Select markets around the world, including Europe, will get a pair of D5 turbo diesels with 190hp and 225hp.

In the coming months, both Audi and Volvo are expected to add more powertrain options to their respective lineups.

The two SUVs are very close in size, with the Q7 measuring 5,050mm long, 1,970mm wide and 1,740mm tall with a 2,990mm wheelbase, and the XC90, 4,950mm long 1,775mm tall 2,008 wide with a 2,984mm wheelbase.