Mitsubishi Outlander

The Japanese car manufacturer came up with a design concept vehicle named Mitsubishi ASX which was exhibited at the 2001 North American International Auto Show. With a few modifications to this concept, the Japanese started manufacturing a 5-seater crossover SUV which was tagged as Mitsubishi Outlander. After gaining a lot of popularity in Japan, North America, Europe and Canada, Mitsubishi collaborated with Hindustan Motors and launched this SUV in October 2008 in India. Recently, in mid 2012, Mitsubishi Outlander was re-launched in India with 7 seating (2-3-2) capacity. The foldable third row of seats unfortunately has a very poor legroom which can accommodate only kids. The SUV is priced at 20.5 lakhs approximately and varies from city to city.

Exterior

The all new Mitsubishi Outlander is a perfect blend of eye-catching and sleek exterior. From the front, the SUV looks more sporty and aggressive than before. The bold black colored hexagonal meshed honeycomb front grille gives a jet fighter like appearance. The chrome plated Mitsubishi logo stands out at the center of this trapezoidal shaped front grille just above the horizontally placed number plate. Adaptive front lighting system in the form of halogen headlamp cluster with integrated turn indicators, air intake duct and pushed in round shaped fog lamps at either sides of lower portion of the thick front bumper and ridge on the bonnet, all add up to the sport look of this SUV.

From the side, the smooth aerodynamic shape, roof rails, 16” alloy wheels, dominant wheel fenders, stylish outside rear view mirrors with integrated turn indicators and anti-pinch power windows laminated with green windshield glasses, make the SUV one of the best looking in its segment. From the rear, the most prominent feature is the LED studded chromed tail lamps which significantly enhance its appearance from the rear. Other features on the rear include high mount LED stop integrated on the lower portion of the rear spoiler, dual exhaust pipe on the right (when viewed from rear), rear fog lamps on either sides of lower rear bumper and impressive windshield. Mitsubishi Outlander measures 4640 mm in length, 1800 mm in width and 1680 mm in height with a ground clearance of 215 mm.

Mitsubishi Outlander Colours

Mitsubishi Outlander comes with the following colour options:

• 
  
  
  Sparkling Gold


• 
  
  
  Chic Black


• 
  
  
  Vogue White


• 
  
  
  Runway Grey

Interior

Mitsubishi Outlander is not only attractive from outside, but also elegant from the inside. Everything from the rich dashboard and the stylish instrument panel to the premium beige colored leather seating upholstery and spacious interiors exudes the luxury of this SUV. Interior features like 3-spoke leather wrapped steering wheel mounted with audio controls, keyless entry, cruise control, paddle shifts, automatically adjustable driver seat and backrests, automatic door locking system, automatic headlamp turn off feature, front cup holder and bottle holder, remote folding rear seats, chrome plated inner door handles and Rockford Fosgate 710 watt music system with 6 CD changer and a USB port with Aux in add up to the comfort of this SUV.

Engine & Performance

The Mitsubishi Outlander is powered by a powerful 2.4 Litre, 16 valve MIVEC (Mitsubishi Innovative Valve Timing and Electronic Control System) petrol engine. This engine is capable of generating a power of 170 PS @ 6000 rpm and a torque of 226 Nm @ 4100 rpm. With an ECI-MULTI (Electronically controlled multi point fuel injection) fuel system, the vehicle gives a decent mileage of 8.2 km on city traffic and 11.3 km on highways. The engine is mated to INVECS-III CVT transmission system with 6 speed manual and 6 speed paddle shift.

Type	Displacement(cc)	Max Power (BHP/rpm)	Max Torque (Nm/rpm)
Petrol	2360	170/6000	226/4100

Safety

Mitsubishi Outlander is considered as the benchmark among the SUVs when it comes to safety and security. Handling in enhanced with the help of four disc brakes (2 of them ventilated discs), independent 4 wheel drive, McPherson suspension (front) and multi-link suspension (rear), mono tube dampers, coil springs, anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake distribution (EBD), active stability control (ASC) and engine immobilizer. Safety and security features include dual SRS airbags, pre-tensioners for the front seats, child protection rear door locks, security alarm with ultra sonic sensor, power and heated seats, reverse parking cameras, automatic climate control air conditioner, Reinforced Impact Safety Evolution (RISE) body design to ensure collision safety body, lightweight aluminum roof panels and rigid structure of the body.

Specifications

Features	Variant (Petrol)
Engine	2360cc, 4 Cylinder, 16 Valve
Transmission	Manual
Fuel Tank Capacity	60 L
Power	167.7 bhp @ 6000rpm
Mileage (City/Highway)	8.2/11.3 km

Price

Version	Ex-Showroom Price
Mitsubishi Outlander	Rs. 20,89,000

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe offers more saloon car-like refinement and handling characteristics while ushering in a new design language set to make an appearance on a number of firm’s future models. This new design in the car dubbed Storm Edge, is an evolution of the company’s now well known Fluidic Sculpture language that makes the car look more urban.  So whether you are planning to buy or not this SUV from Hyundai, the new Santa Fe does look handsome and suitably up market. Hyundai is doing its level best to bring in the new Santa Fe into the Indian market by 2013 and with a price tag of Rs 23-26 lakh for the current car, the Korean company is definitely looking forward for its success here.

Exterior

Looking at the car one can come to know that the designers at Hyundai have used the natural things to shape the car. The curving roof and pillar silhouettes give the impression of a cumulus cloud crest while the strong character lines on the flanks are meant to imitate the wind. Also the sharper elements like the headlamps, angular front valance and prominent single-frame grille allude to lightning. The front end of the car is marked with a striking hexagonal grille as well as LED accent lighting. The sides gets the attention via a sleek design LED Side Repeater, body colour side mirrors with power adjusting and heating option to defrost quickly in cold weather, 19 inch Euroflange alloy wheels as well as the distinctive side lines that enhance the aerodynamic profile of the vehicle.

On the top there’s panoramic sunroof which provides exceptional openness for more sun, fresh air & better view to both the front as well as rear passengers. Finally the rear is marked with twin tip chrome tailpipe with bold aesthetic styling and rear parking assist sensors that helps during parking and reverse driving situations.

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Colours

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe comes with the following colour options:

• 
  
  
  Moonstone Silver


• 
  
  
  Marlin Blue


• 
  
  
  Juniper Green


• 
  
  
  Carbo Bronze


• 
  
  
  Titanium Silver


• 
  
  
  Serrano Red


• 
  
  
  Twilight Black

Interior

The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe is longer, lower and wider than its predecessor the result of which being appreciable increase in head, shoulder and legroom as well as a luggage compartment. The interior definitely shows how much attention has the designers at Hyundai given to every detail in the car including the ergonomically flowing two-tone front dashboard having standard steering wheel mounted with Bluetooth, audio and cruise controls. The car also features sophisticated styling with sedan-level of comfort by providing some of the premium features like heated front seats, heated steering wheels, panoramic sunroof, cooled front seats and 12 way power adjustable driver seat with power lumbar support. Some of the other features includes CD/MP3/USB/aux-in audio systems across the range, keyless start-up, manual and automatic air-conditioning with second/third row ventilation where applicable, electric parking brake on GLS models, optional reverse camera, cruise control, auto lights and wipers, electric windows and mirrors.

Engine & Performance

The new 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe will have two diesel engine options. The first and the more powerful one being the all new 2.0L V6 turbocharged GDI engine producing a massive 264 hp & 269lb-ft of torque. This engine also has an improved fuel efficiency of 9.1L/100km. The second being the 2.4L engine with enhanced GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) Technology producing a max power output of 190 hp & torque of max 181 lb-ft. Both these engines are mated to a six-speed transmission with SHIFTRONIC® manual control and also at the same time been well tested in Hyundai Sonata.

Type	Displacement(cc)	Max Power (BHP/rpm)	Max Torque (Nm/rpm)
Diesel	2359	190/6300	181/4250
Diesel	1998	264/6000	269/1750

Safety

The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe is equipped with tons of active & passive safety features. Standard on all models being the 7 airbags and high tensile strength steel chassis structure. Other safety feature includes state of art braking system comprising of Anti lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Brake Assist (BA) and Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) with Traction Control System (TCS) to ensure braking is done properly even in adverse road conditions, Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) and backup camera. All these features have helped the vehicle achieve a five-star EuroNCAP crash rating.

Specifications

Features	2.4 Litre version	2 Litre version
Engine	2359 cc	1998 cc
Transmission	Automatic	Automatic
Fuel Tank Capacity	66 L	66 L
Power	190 bhp @ 6300rpm	181 bhp @ 4250rpm
Mileage (City/Highway)	10.1 km	11.0 km

Price and Competition

The new Santa Fe will be priced around Rs 24-25 lakhs in India and would be competing against some of the recently made popular vehicles like the Renault Koleos, and the new Chevrolet Captiva.

Mercedes Benz G Class

The new Mercedes Benz G class is a modern day equivalent of a big, furry all-terrain animal. Launched first in the year 1979, this vehicle was primarily meant for tough, off-road terrains. Since then the vehicle has been regularly modified to meet the customer requirements. But after around three decades the German auto giant has finally brought in the vehicle some major changes that has definitely given momentum in its sales figures. With a comprehensive amount of facelift, apart from the new and luxurious interiors, some careful modifications on exterior, new safety features, as well as new engine, this cross counrty vehicle has got even more attractive proportion.

Exterior

The all new exclusive Mercedes Benz G class is a visionary classic among the off-road vehicles thanks to its superb style and breath taking looks. Starting from the front the vehicle gets a sturdy look with a clearly dominant Benz logo fixed to the grilles as well a new type of LED daytime running lights seen below the headlamps. On the sides the new G class gets 19 inch alloy wheels which adds touch to the already expensive looks the vehicle has. Apart from all this the vehicle gets a twin tailpipe exhaust system, radiator grille having chrome coating, flared wheel arches, new radiator grilles with twin slats, new bumpers with clearly visible large air intakes and red brake callipers. Even with all these new improvements the high-class style, functionality, reliability and quality of the vehicle still remains unchanged.

Interior

No matter which road you are taking, rocky terrains or the smooth highways- the new Mercedes Benz G class offers comfort like no other SUV. The interior of this vehicle has been hand crafted to give it an impeccable look along with the cabin which is a showcase of modern-day luxury. Talking more on luxury this car get heated and active ventilated front seats, rear seas and a multifunction steering wheel, which is all hand-fitted in surplus amount of Premium leather. Other eye-catching features inside includes power folding mirrors, vivid freestanding colour LCD screen, Enhanced voice controls, hands free Bluetooth, 450-watt, 12-speaker Harman / kardon LOGIC7 surround sound system and a rear view camera all in order to give maximum comfort while making a journey in this car.

Engine & Performance

The G class is surprisingly competent, exhibiting a compliant ride. Thanks to its massive engine option that powers the vehicle. There are two engine options which comes with the Mercedes Benz G class. The first one being 5.5 litre V8 engine in G550 producing a maximum power of 382 HP and a max torque of 530 Nm. The second one being even more powerful which is a newly handcrafted 5.5 litre V8 engine in the G63 AMG producing a maximum  power of 536 HP and a maximum torque of 760 Nm. The G550 can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 6.0 seconds while the G63 AMG reaches 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds.  Both these types of engines are mated to a seven speed automatic transmission and 2 speed transfer case, to made the vehicle drive even in the most versatile conditions.

Type	Displacement(cc)	Max Power (BHP)	Max Torque (Nm)
G 550	5461	382	530
G 63 AMG	5461	536	760

Safety

The G alphabet in the name implies G-Guard which stands for protection and drives for your protection. The vehicle has a unique network of protective features hidden beneath its exterior which is almost identical to its serially produced counterparts. This includes high-tensile steel, ingenious designs, state of art ceramic composite materials, innovative technologies, special penetration-resistant and shatterproof glazing with specially reinforced body. In addition to all this the vehicle has been shot at, blown up and tested as per internationally recognized authorities and independent experts. This can ensure you that the new Mercedes Benz G class won’t let you down in case of any accidents or even an emergency.

Specifications

Features	Mercedes Benz G 550	Mercedes Benz G63 AMG
Engine	5461cc, 8 Cylinder	5461cc, 8 Cylinder
Transmission	Automatic	Automatic
Fuel Tank Capacity	96 L	96 L
Power	382 bhp	530 bhp
Mileage	9.7 km	7.7 km

Price

Version	Ex-Showroom Price
Mercedes Benz G 550	Rs. 1,32,90,000
Mercedes Benz G63 AMG	Rs. 1,50,00,000

Range Rover Evoque

The Range Rover Evoque is the production model of LRX concept vehicle which was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in January 2008. Such was the impact of this LRX concept that the British government granted 27 million to the Land Rover to manufacture this compact SUV at its Halewood assembly facility in Liverpool in March 2009. In India, the production started in July 2011 after collaborating with Jaguar under Tata Motors. After Freelander and Discovery, Evoque is the third Range Rover in the Indian market and comes in 2 body variants; 3-door and 5-door. The sporty and attractive SUV specifically targets the youth and the urban audience and stands apart from other vehicles in the over-crowded Indian roads. Land Rover has sold more than 90,000 units just within a year of its launch which proves that it is giving a tough competition to the existing high end SUVs like Audi Q5 and BMW X3 in India. The Evoque, with its many impressive features and looks is quite expensive, and ranges from 45 to 58 lakhs.

Exterior

One simply cannot resist the smart and sporty looks of Range Rover Evoque. From the front, the raised bonnet with embossed ridges and air vents, dual horizontally placed chrome plated hexagonal mesh front grille with the bold font Range Rover name above it, eye-catching devilish rounded Xenon lighting headlights with sparkling LED placed in stepped headlamp console, crystalline fog lamps placed in grooves on either sides of the wide and muscular front bumper, black matt brushed skid plate, large centrally placed air dam, rain sensing wiper incorporated on the large tinted windscreen and panoramic sunroof with sun-blinds, all add up to the lavish and sporty appearance of this SUV.

The sideline of this car is sleek, aerodynamic and sloping. The head lamps and tail lamps appear sharp and crispy when viewed from side. The sharp blend from bonnet to windshield, muscular shoulders, rising beltline, tapering roof, athletic 18-inch 7-spoked wheel aches with silver finish, rear spoiler, shining paint finish, wheel fenders and power-folding outside rear view mirrors (ORVMs) attract the most when Range Rover Evoque is viewed from the side. From the rear, tinted short and wide windshield, roof mounted sleek LED stoplights, sporty rounded shaped glittering headlamps, trapezoidal rear fog lamps and twin exhausts at either sides and black matt brushed skid plate, add up to the overall exterior looks of this compact SUV. Range Rover Evoque measures 4355 mm (3-door) and 4365 (5-door) mm in length, 1965 mm in width, 1605 mm (3-door) and 1665 mm (5-door) in height with a ground clearance of 215 mm.

Range Rover Evoque Colours

Range Rover Evoque comes with the following colour options:

• 
  
  
  Fuji White


• 
  
  
  Indus Silver


• 
  
  
  Santorini Black


• 
  
  
  Galway Green


• 
  
  
  Orkney Grey


• 
  
  
  Sumatra Black


• 
  
  
  Ipanema Sand


• 
  
  
  Firenze Red


• 
  
  
  Colima Lime


• 
  
  
  Buckingham Blue

Interior

The British car manufacturer does not make its cars for common people. It targets a specific audience, people who are rich and want their vehicles to stand apart in the crowd. The luxury of Range Rover Evoque continues when it comes to interiors also. The look and the feel of the expensive cabin are aesthetic and get the latest Terrain Response technology which changes the lighting inside the cabin with change in the terrain. The rich dual tone (black/metal) dashboard, generous use of leather and central console enhance the looks of this SUV. The central console docks a touch-operated crystal clear split-screen LCD presenting “floating” 3D vehicle data display, SatNav and dual view technology (two people can view two different things). The aluminum central console features a phone docking station which stretches the length of the cabin, separating the four seats. The instrument cluster gets attractive and sharp twin dials and are set deep in circular tunnel like housings and are adorned by bright chrome surrounds. Though the passenger sits low to get the sporty feel, the seats are very comfortable with adequate amount of legroom. Other features include leather upholstered seats, electrically adjustable driver’s seat, audio controls on adjustable steering wheel, integrated cup-holders, ample storage space, parking sensors, reverse parking cameras, air conditioning with dual zone automatic climate control, rear defogger, push button start feature and high quality Meridien sound system.

Engine & Performance

The Range Rover Evoque gets both diesel as well as petrol powered engines. The 2.2 litre 4 cylinder inline diesel engine named SD4 produces a maximum power of 190 bhp @ 3500 rpm and a max torque of 420 Nm @ 1750 rpm. On the other hand the 2.0 litre Si4 petrol engine produces a maximum power of 240 bhp @ 5500 rpm and a max torque of 340 Nm @ 1750 rpm. Both these engines are mated to a six speed automatic transmission which helps the vehicle improve fuel economy.

Type	Displacement(cc)	Max Power (BHP/rpm)	Max Torque (Nm/rpm)
Petrol	1999	240/5500	340/1750
Diesel	2179	190/3500	420/1750

Safety

When it comes to handling and safety, Range Rover Evoque is the best in its segment of cars. Some of the handling features include ABS with EBD technology, Electronic stability program, front ventilated and rear disc brakes, high quality suspension system, high profile tires, hill descent control, roll stability control and electric parking brake. The Terrain Response feature adapts the SUV’s engine and transmission to the terrain thereby increasing traction, control and comfort with the aid of four Terrain Response settings: General Driving, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud and Sand. Other safety features include front and rear parking sensors, fog lamps, 8 SRS airbags, and rear defogger.

Specifications

Features	Base Petrol Variant (Range Rover Evoque 2.0L Dynamic)	Base Diesel Variant (Range Rover Evoque 2.2L Pure)
Engine	1999cc, 4 Cylinder, 16 Valve	2179cc, 4 Cylinder, 16 Valve
Transmission	Automatic	Automatic
Fuel Tank Capacity	70 L	70 L
Power	236.7bhp @ 5500rpm	187.4bhp @ 3500rpm
Mileage (City/Highway)	4.2/7.4 km	4.7/8.14 km

Price

Version	Ex-Showroom Price
Range Rover Evoque 2.2L Pure (Diesel)	Rs. 45,00,000
Range Rover Evoque 2.2L Dynamic (Diesel)	Rs. 51,00,000
Range Rover Evoque 2.2L Prestige (Diesel)	Rs. 53,00,000
Range Rover Evoque 2.0L Dynamic (Petrol)	Rs. 58,00,000

World's Best Drag Race

The video features a drag race between 11 Supercars on an empty airstrip. Presented by Motortrend, this 1.5 million dollar amped up drag race is one of the spectacular in drag racing history.  Following are the cars with the specs:

SR. No.	Supercars	Horsepower (hp) / Torque (lb-ft)
1	BMW 1-Series M	335 / 369
2	Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca	444 / 380
3	Porsche 911 GT3 RS	450 / 317
4	Chevrolet Corvette Z06/Z07	505 / 470
5	Ferrari 458 Italia	557 / 398
6	Nissan GT-R	530 / 448
7	Audi R8 GT	560 / 398
8	Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG	563 / 479
9	Lexus LFA	552 / 354
10	Porsche Cayman R	330 / 273
11	Lotus Evora S	345 / 295

With such cars in the grid, it is practically impossible to decide which one will cut the finish line ribbon first. But after a breath-taking quarter mile race, the results are as follows:

Position	Supercars	Finish Time (sec)	Top Speed (mph)
1	Nissan GT-R	11.2	121.8
2	Ferrari 458 Italia	11.3	125.6
3	Audi R8 GT	11.5	125.1
4	Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG	11.7	124.1
5	Lexus LFA	11.9	123.7
6	Chevrolet Corvette Z06/Z07	11.9	122.5
7	Porsche 911 GT3 RS	11.9	120.7
8	Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca	12.4	115.0
9	Porsche Cayman R	12.7	111.0
10	BMW 1-Series M	12.8	110.2
11	Lotus Evora S	12.9	109.9

Such drag races are very rare as it require lot of effort, cost, teamwork and planning. But it finally pays off.

[youtube width="465" height="335"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm_TXu5Ekrw[/youtube]

The Greatest RC Car Chase Ever

The video features a police pursuit sequence of Remote Control (RC) cars. The video is developed by NFS: Most Wanted (2012) team as a part of a promotional activity prior to its release. Four RC vehicles: Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, Porsche 911 Carrera S, Ford Mustang and Nissan GTR are controlled by top RC car drivers. These cars are in pursuit by the three RC Chevrolet Corvette Police Interceptors and a helicopter. Nissan GTR dodges one police car by jumping through the billboard whereas the red Ford Mustang forces a police car to crash against a fruit cart. In the final climax scene of the movie, the Mustang jumps over the helicopter with the help of a raised surface. The video simply depicts the miniature version of real cop car chase and has been executed flawlessly.

[youtube width="465" height="335"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEROVWDp3n0[/youtube]

Lamborghini Gallardo LP56-4 RC Drift

This video exhibits exceptional drifting skills of a Remote Controlled Lamborghini Gallardo LP56-4. This yellow body-colored (with black vinyl) car flaunts red underglow neon lights.  The drifting is carried out in an indoor facility which is actually a miniature version of a drift track with sharp and multiple turns, street lighting, car parking areas and a tunnel which provides a realistic feel to the whole circuit. High-speed video cameras have been used to capture the speed of the car and show it at a slower rate, so that the viewer can actually see the front wheels turning in the opposite direction as that of the turn, which is responsible for drifting, of course with the handbrake in use.  The best part of the video is towards to the end when the Gallardo is made to turn nearly 360 degrees to slide park around the fence, and then exactly adjacent to the remote controlled BMW M3.

[youtube width="465" height="335"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN4U9uU-ykM[/youtube]

Need For Speed "The Run_ Escape The Police"

Need for Speed: The Run (NFS: The Run) is the eighteenth installment in the NFS game franchise series and last installment in the third generation NFS games. Developed by EA Black Box and published by Electronic Arts, The Run thrives on an exhilarating plot, thrilling gameplay and extraordinary graphics. Jack Rourke is valiant mechanic who runs a garage in San Francisco, but is in debt from a mafia gang. He hears of a racing event called “The Run” which is a cross-country race from San Francisco to New York City involving 210 street racers and has prize money of $25,000,000. If he wins this, he gets a clean slate and an improved life.

This particular video features the final escape scene from Las Vegas where the player (Jack Rourke) has to fight with the cops after being arrested. While being handcuffed, a distraction on the road helps the player to fight the cop and flee. As the cops and the police dog chase him, the player has to dodge them. The game not only offers high class racing, but also involves players controlling the action sequence. Towards the end of this video, the player has to dodge a few cars on the street and a truck trailor before finally escaping Las Vegas.

[youtube width="465" height="335"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2J933w-l-w[/youtube]

Need for Speed™ Most Wanted 2012 Trailer

The video features the official announcement trailer for Need for Speed Most Wanted 2012. Developed by Criterion games and published by Electronic Arts, it is the nineteenth title in the NFS game franchise. The game is just released in early November, 2012 on X360, PS3, PC, PS Vita and iOS. The creators have kept the basic features and gameplay same as the original Most Wanted (2005) with some minor changes here and there, which immensely enhance gameplay and graphics. The city is changed from Rockport (in MW 2005) to Fairhaven. Instead of 15 blacklist racers (in MW 2005), there are now 10 racers. One not only needs to outrun the cop and rivals, but also outsmart your friends in the Autolog feature which is actually competition-between-friends feature. Due to the new cross-compatibility social system called Cloudcompete, players are allowed to use the same profile through different devices and format, which basically strings together the game across various platforms.

The trailer features five gamer vehicles; Aston Martin V12 Vantage, Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4, Porsche 911 Carrera S, Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 and Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. It also features Dodge Charger SRT-8 Police Interceptor as police vehicles.

[youtube width="465" height="335"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-Imb_hTVmw[/youtube]

Best Car Drift on Subaru

This video features the “Gymkhana Two Project” in which the professional rally driver; Ken Block demonstrates his extraordinary drifting skills in Subaru Impreza WRX Sti hatchback. Many breathtaking stunts are performed which include sharp turns while drifting, close touch turns, close passing between objects, drifting over water balloons, drifting inside a closed facility, drifting over tube lights and many more. At 2:05 – 2:10, one can see how he accurately finishes off the drift near the edge. One of the best feature of the video is at 3:10 – 3:35, where Ken drift around a person shooting a paint ball at him. Towards the end, Ken performs a spectacular stunt passing below a trailor which explodes at the same time. High speed videography is used to enhance the stunt effects.

[youtube width="465" height="335"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6tzBgVhR40[/youtube]

Ferrari 458 Italia vs Others Drag Race

The video features a straight 1 mile drag race wherein Ferrari 458 Italia races with three other cars independently. The first race is between Ferrari 456 Italia (570 HP) and Audi RS6 (750 HP). Ferrari beats Audi by 0.2 seconds with a top speed of 292.68 km/hr. Ferrari, then races with Nissan GTR MK.1 (600 HP) in the second drag race wherein Nissan wins by a huge margin of 0.8 seconds at top speed of 289.98 km/hr. In the third and the final drag race, Ferrari competes against Chevrolet Corvette (750 HP). Though Ferrari gains huge acceleration at the start and is ahead of Corvette, but after about half a mile Corvette’s powerful engine helps it to finish the line first with a top speed of 310.73 km/hr beating Ferrari by huge margin of a second.

[youtube width="465" height="335"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe67DRzOctc[/youtube]

Best drift ever (BMW M3)

The video features a long drift sequence of BMW M3 on the famous drift track in Weeze, Germany. The yellow M3 with black and white “Flexaforte” vinyl is driven by a drift expert, Berend van Berkel on an early morning. The track is wet due to fog and previous rain, which makes it difficult to control and handle the car. Berend has done an excellent job with the drifting and also keeping up with the front car which has cameraman Rob vd Spank. In the background, many cars can be seen drifting on the circuit. The final drift starting at 02:25 is the most spectacular one.

[youtube width="465" height="335"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZvx6KjILsc[/youtube]

Acura NSX Concept

The Acura NSX Concept is a successor to the two decades old original Acura NSX launched by Honda. The new Acura Concept was first revealed at the 2012 Detroit Auto show and it highlights the effort put by the company designers & engineers to test the boundaries between evolution & revolution. With the introduction of a next generation hybrid powertrain in this supercar, Acura once again wants to prove that ultra-high performance is at the core of their DNA.

Exterior

As soon as one sees the Acura NSX Concept, he or she can immediately come to know that every part in the car has been assembled manually by craftsmen at Acura. The sheetmetal used for packing this high end car will definitely make the heads turn. Inspite of having borrowed Audi R8’s general dimensions and style which includes the wide track, cabin pushed close to front axle etc, this Acura concept definitely has a visual identity of its own. On the front the thin LED headlamps dominates the upper half of the grille. To the sides the panels are relatively clean except for the character line that neatly folds into the roofline itself. And finally the rear side gets a thin line of LED that wraps into the fenders covering the entire rear width, which effectively serves as both brake lights as well as centre mounted stop light.

Interior

Just as the exterior of the car can make any one turn their heads, the luxury inside the car also makes everyone mind-boggled. Though many details on the interiors are yet to be known, it has been known for sure that the Acura NSX Concept gets a waterfall instrument panel having a twin cockpit theme that was originally used in the NSX.

Engine & Performance

The Acura NSX Concept will be powered by a 3.5 liter direct injection mid-mounted V6 engine producing atleast 308 hp of maximum power and a torque of 266 lb-ft.  The concept will also utilize a new hybrid form of Super Handling-AWD (SH-AWD) system, which would drive the rear wheels by means of a seven speed dual clutch gearbox. And unlike the current SH-AWD system, the new system will send power to the front wheels by a pair of electric motors. Each motor is assigned to a wheel, and the system has the ability to accelerate the outer wheel during turns, creating a yaw and hence improving the car’s ability to turn in and rotate.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZWPRICK0_w[/youtube]

Conclusion

As of now it’s still unclear whether the company will use the same architecture of the Acura NSX Concept or perhaps share its platform with some other vehicle when it comes to production. According to officials the development program of this vehicle is still in its initial stages, but the company has promised that the production version will roll out of the company’s plant in Ohio within the next three years.

Citroen Numero 9 Concept

Among the various concept cars displayed at the Paris Motor Show 2012, Citroen Numero 9 Concept was one of the eye catchy concepts. This sleek looking concept can be considered as the company’s continuous effort to push the Citroen DS lineup higher in the market. The Numero 9 is also a reflection to the various design elements to be found in three brand new DS models soon to be launched in the market. These include a C-segment compact sedan, a midsized D-segment sedan and an SUV. Launched earlier at the 2012 Being Auto Show this car is definitely an effort to bring back the French auto company from its hard hit crisis.

Exterior

The Citroen Numero 9 concept features a shooting brake design while at the same time maintains the tradition & sophistication of the current DS models. The main highlighting feature on the exterior design is the new front-end identity with a grille that’s sculpted in 3-D and LED-headlights which end in daytime running lights. Also the other interesting feature in this vehicle is the new floating roof which has a chrome trim below it with clear DS marking on it. The concept is painted in black and gets an impressive set of 21 inch wheels. Other setup on the exterior includes a rear spoiler that reinforces the fastback effect, windscreen pillars that allows air flow around the cabin and turbine shaped wheels rims which increases the air flow around the wheel arches hence reducing both turbulence as well as fuel consumption. Overall the vehicle measures 4.9 m in length, 1.94 m in width and 1.27m in height.

Interior

The Citroen Numero 9 concept will no doubt have unique onboard comfort with generous spacing which we can come to know from its exterior dimensions itself. Providing plenty room for the front as well as rear passengers, the vehicle also has three glass areas in the roof which creates a friendly welcoming ambience inside the cabin. More details on the interiors are yet to be released.

Engine & Performance

Just like most of the present generation concept cars the Citron Numero 9 concept too is powered by both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor powered by batteries. So the main power generating source among the two is the 1.6 litre THP petrol engine that generates 225 PS of peak power and a max torque of 275 Nm. Backing this is an electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery. This one generates a maximum power of 70 PS. The power from the IC engine goes to the front wheels while that from the electric motor goes to the rear wheels. Performance vice this concept vehicle can accelerate from 0-100 Km/hr in just 5.4 seconds while reaching a top speed of 244 km/hr (152 mph).

Conclusion

The Numero 9 is presently just a concept. However many of the ideas & technologies shown in this car can be implemented in today’s hybrid cars making it more fun and safe to drive.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHhFy7dfDgM[/youtube]

Mahindra XUV 500

After conducting an extensive research in the global markets, the Indian auto giant Mahindra & Mahindra came up with its fifth UV product being sturdiest and finest design ever, Mahindra XUV 500. Manufactured and assembled at Chakan and Nashik plant in Maharashtra, this Sports Utility Vehicle was launched in the Indian market in September 2011. It will be marketed in South Africa by 2013. Mahindra XUV 500 is the first Indian SUV to incorporate the monocoque chassis design, which means that its body and chassis are one piece as contrary to the conventional design which consists of frame covered with metal sheets. This design not only decreased the weight of the XUV 500, but also improved the safety during impact conditions. Ranging between 12 – 14.5 lakhs, the impressive exterior styling, advanced comfort features and carefully-calibrated hype has translated into 35000 XUV 500s sold within one year in India.

Exterior

Mahindra XUV 500 has exteriors to die for. Its killing jungle cat-like looks has created an impact on the young generation and is definitely the talk among the Indian auto market. Mahindra has successfully resembled this machine like the Cheetah, which was the initial design plan. From the front, dominant upper-jaw shaped chrome plated front grille with honeycomb mesh endorsing the patented Mahindra logo, headlamp cluster with twin rounded headlamps with integrated side indicators and horizontally placed daytime running lights below the headlights, long trapezoidal shaped air dam with integrated recessed fog lamps at either ends and the sleek V-shaped ridge on the long bonnet, all add up to the looks of the pouncing Cheetah.

From the side, the bold and sharp lines expending from the headlamps to the tail lamps, streamlined roof rails, dominant front and rear wheel fenders, arc-shaped ridge above the rear wheel fender, outside rear view mirror with integrated turn indicator and parking light, five spoke 17-inch alloy wheels and paw shaped door handles aggravate to the Cheetah theme of the XUV. From the rear, large boot with curved ridges, stylish vertically arranged three sectioned tail lamps, roof mounted stop lamp, rear wiper on the rear window, stop warning indicators, twin exhausts and spare wheel placed at the bottom of the boot add up to the exteriors. Mahindra XUV 500 measures 4585 mm in length, 1890 mm in width and 1785 mm in height with a ground clearance of 200 mm.

Mahindra XUV 500 Colours

Mahindra XUV 500 comes with the following colour options:

• 
  
  
  Amazon Green


• 
  
  
  Moon Dust Silver


• 
  
  
  Tuscan Red


• 
  
  
  Black


• 
  
  
  Opulent Purple


• 
  
  
  Dolphin Grey


• 
  
  
  Satin White

Interior

When it comes to interiors, Mahindra XUV 500 has the best to offer in its segment. This seven seater SUV offers wide range of interior features which include dual tone dashboard having four stylish AC vents; long central console featuring 6-inch touchscreen with voice activated monochrome colored display, AC and audio controls; cruise controls and audio controls mounted on the four spoke athletic tilt and telescopic adjustable steering wheel; dual tone interiors with high quality fabric leather upholstery; automatic temperature control HVAC and illuminated door handles. Also incorporated are the wide range of comfort features like remote central locking, remote operated tail gate, mHawk engine to reduce noise and vibration, reading lamps and mobile charging points all inside the SUV, height adjustable lumbar supported front seats, spacious glove box, sunglass holder and tinted solar reflecting glass on front windshield.

Engine & Performance

The Mahindra XUV 500 is powered by a massive 2179cc mHawk engine which delivers an impressive max output of 140 bhp @ 3750 rpm and a max torque of 330Nm @ 1600-2800 rpm. This engine gets the fifth generation variable geometry turbocharger as well as direct injection technology which ensures that the vehicle gets an instantaneous acceleration, making the XUV jump from 0-60 km/hr in just 5.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 175km/hr. The transmission for this vehicle is a six-speed manual gearbox as of now, however an automatic version may come up on the international edition. And when it comes to mileage the vehicle inspite of giving all this power gives you an excellent efficiency of 15.1 kmpl as per ARAI.

Type	Displacement(cc)	Max Power (BHP/rpm)	Max Torque (Nm/rpm)
Diesel	2179	140/3750	330/1600-2800

Safety

Mahindra have not compromised even a bit when it comes to the safety of Mahindra XUV 500. The XUV underwent a thorough and stringent dynamic testing in Australia, South Africa, Sweden, China, USA and Europe. Some of the primary handling and safety features include monocoque design for spacious, safe and robust cabin, independent McPherson suspension for the front wheels and Multilink suspension for rear wheels, electronic stability program (ESP), hill hold and hill descent controls, rollover mitigation, anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronic brake distribution (EBD). Other safety and security features include dual airbags for driver and front passenger, side and curtain airbags, tubeless tires, Intellipark system, digital immobilizer, NexTrac (electronically controlled torque management system), smart wipers automatically responsive to the rain and smart headlamps which turn on automatically in dark.

Specifications

Features	Base Variant (W6 2D)	Top Variant (W8 4D)
Engine	2179 cc, 4 Cylinder, 16 Valve	2179 cc, 4 Cylinder 8 Valve
Transmission	Manual	Manual
Fuel Tank Capacity	70 L	70 L
Power	140 bhp @ 3750rpm	140 bhp @ 3750rpm
Mileage (City/Highway)	12.0/15.1 km	12.0/15.1 km

*The top variant (W8 4D) features DVD player, ORVM with turn indicators, alloy wheels, electric folding rear view mirror, leather seats, leather steering, front side airbag, seat belt warning, stability control system and engine check warning

Price

Version	Ex-Showroom Price
Mahindra XUV 500 W6 2WD	Rs. 11,85,569
Mahindra XUV 500 W8 2WD	Rs. 13,38,162
Mahindra XUV 500 W8 4WD	Rs. 14,47,761

Audi Crosslane Coupe

The German automobile giant has revealed its futuristic Audi Crosslane Coupe concept at the 2012 Paris Motor Show held last month. Although this car came as a surprise from Audi; it has definitely managed to pull attention from every concept car lovers. This new concept from Audi is a fusion of a coupe, a convertible and a crossover model. Even though this car will be smaller than the Q3 crossover, it is most likely to be badged Q2 when it makes to the production version. Also the Crosslane Coupe will be the first of three sportier crossover model the company will introduce following which would be Q4 and the Q6.

Exterior

The Audi Crosslane Coupe concept is an entirely new blend of technology, engineering and design, which the company looks forward to implement in its future Q models also. From the front one can see that the concept gets a muscular power dome on the bonnet along with new type of dashing LED headlamps as well as dominating single frame grille and smooth surfaced air vents. From the sides the vehicle does get a bit of attention as well as coupe like characteristics because of its big wheel arches as well as the flat C-pillar and big doors. Finally onto the rear the tail lamps definitely have a trademark Audi design with aluminium rear diffuser that gives a bit of sporty touch to the vehicle. Overall the Crosslane coupe concept does have a distinct futuristic look which has already impressed a lot of visitors at the Paris Motor Show.

This compact Audi crosslane coupe concept is made out of three materials namely aluminium, CFRP (carbon fibre reinforced polymer) and GFRP (glass fibre reinforced polymer) which along with the multi-material spaceframe gives the vehicle new record in terms of weight, cost and energy usage in a life cycle assessment. The 2+2 seater crosslane concept measures 4.21 metres in length, 1.88 metres in width and 1.51 metres in height.

Interior

Just like the exterior, the inside of this concept is made of sharp angles and trapezoidal openings. Starting from the dashboard, this one has a very clearly tuned one towards the driver just like that of any other sports cars and the instrument cluster on it gets bright screen colour instead of traditional type. The 2+2 seats gets soft semi-aniline and velvet leather in tan and black colour that provides a well balanced ambience to the occupants. There are services like “Escape Manager” which is kind of new online service inside the car that helps the passengers to review and comment on the routes they are travelling on as well as send photos and videos recorded on the road. Apart from all these the crosslane has an interesting movable trunk space that can be pushed forward or backward to easily allow access from inside the cabin and open up space for two rear seats.

Engine & Performance

The Audi Crosslane Coupe concept is definitely one step above all the present Hybrid vehicles, thanks to the dual mode power-trian which it has. This helps the coupe to use electricity in combination with the petrol engine especially when the car is cruising at high speeds. So the main power generating source for this car is the 1.5 litre turbocharged three cylinder petrol engine that develops a power of 130 PS and a torque of 200 Nm. In addition to that there are two electric motors, the first one being  EM1 which basically acts as a starter and alternator while the second one is EM2 which powers the vehicle to a total of 177 PS of power and a torque of  250 Nm. The total power system in the vehicle helps it to sprint from 0-62 mph in 8.6 seconds time while gaining a maximum speed of 113 mph.

Conclusion

It is definite that the even numbered Q models will be sportier than their siblings which are odd-numbered. Though it’s not clear but it can be expected that the production version of Audi Crosslane Coupe concept would arrive by year 2015, and at that time it would competiting against rivals like BMW’s Mini countryman and Paceman Duo.