Latest New Car Information and Car Exporting News

10/25/2012 - Nicolas Popov wrote:

Porsche Panamera Platinum Edition arriving in early 2013

Porsche has been steadily bolstering its Panamera line since the car was first introduced adding models like the V6, Hybrid and GTS, and starting next year, it is adding a new model to the mix, the Panamera Platinum Edition. The 2013 Porsche Panamera Platinum Edition goes on sale on January 5, and it is only offered on the V6 models with a starting price of $80,500 for rear-wheel-drive and $84,600 for the all-wheel-drive Panamera 4 version; neither of these prices includes the $975 destination charge.

In terms of visual changes, the Platinum Edition gets unique platinum silver metallic inserts on the lower grille, rear diffuser and on the bottom edges of the door mirrors for a subtle differentiation from the base Panamera. Similarly, the interior adds a few styling upgrades as well with a new black-on-beige coloring throughout the cabin, a sport steering wheel and metallic door sill plates inscribed with "Platinum Edition."

Both versions of this new package represent a premium of more than $4,000 over a Panamera V6, but with this higher price comes plenty of equipment that are options on the base car. The Platinum Edition's standard features include the 19-inch Turbo alloy wheels (normally a $1,950 option), the Bose Audio system (a $1,990 option) and most of the equipment found in the $5,680 Premium Package, including the active bi-Xenon headlights and heated seats for all four passenger

10/23/2012 - Nicolas Popov wrote:

Volkswagen reveals Taigun concept

Volkswagen has revealed its intention to join the burgeoning compact SUV ranks with the Taigun concept revealed at the Sao Paulo motor show in Brazil.

The four-seat Taigun previews the look and mechanical layout for a new Volkswagen model to be positioned and priced below the popular Tiguan. The new SUV will be launched toward the middle of the decade as a rival to vehicles such as the Mini Countryman, Nissan Juke and Chevrolet Trax.

By showing the Taigun two years before its planned market introduction, Volkswagen hopes to receive valuable feedback from potential customers. The Taigun is set to provide the basis for a new family of vehicles, including similar-sized offerings from Seat, Skoda and possibly Audi.

10/22/2012 - Nicolas Popov wrote:

2013 Audi S8

The previous generation of the Audi S8 was a bit odd among the full-size performance sedan crowd, though it was odd in a way we liked. Power came from a high-revving 5.2-liter V-10 whose design was derived from the unit in the Lamborghini Gallardo supercar, and its rating was an impressive--for the time--450 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque.

Subtle “V10” badging on its fenders were enough to tell onlookers there was serious performance residing within the svelte luxo barge, and the symphony emanating from under the hood gave owners a feeling they were driving something truly special.

Driving the latest 2013 Audi S8, you can’t help but feel a sense of loss. There’s still the aluminum construction and standard quattro all-wheel drive, the latter of which comes with a new Sport Differential to vary torque between the rear wheels, but now the choice of powerplant is a force-fed V-8 instead of a sweet naturally-aspirated V-10.

This is a similar setup found in rivals like the Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG and Jaguar XJ Supersport, and a slightly detuned version is also fitted to the new 2013 S6 and 2013 S7. In fact, you’ll even find it in Bentley’s new V-8 models and you can bet it’ll appear in a Porsche model or two eventually.

10/21/2012 - Nicolas Popov wrote:

2014 Aston Martin Vanquish

The Aston Martin Vanquish, coming next spring as a 2014 model, replaces the DBS in Aston's lineup. It wears an all-carbon body and a new V12 boasting 565 hp and 457 lb ft of torque. The powerplant is an all-new block and head with variable-valve timing, new fuel pump, bigger throttle bodies and a bigger intake manifold.

As for the exterior styling, it was inspired by the mighty One-77. Aston CEO Ulrich Bez calls the Vanquish “the best car we've ever done.”

The car looks quite a bit more muscular than the DBS, with a more assertive front end and more sculpted body. The interior is new and is a huge improvement over previous Astons—and build quality is way up. The center console has the latest touch-sensitive switchgear and has a cleaner look. Headroom and legroom are up.

What's it like to drive?

Well, with that much power, you'd guess it drives well—and you'd be right. The V12 sounds glorious; the power is prodigious. With the torque peak lower in the band, the power is more accessible in everyday driving. Aston says the car will hit 60 mph in about 4.0 seconds with a 183-mph top speed. There's just a ton of grip, improved with a launch-control program you engage from the cockpit via a button. Weight distribution is roughly 50/50, thanks to most of the weight being between the axles, and the new steering rack provided spot-on feel with the right amount of weight.

The ride/handling mix has been tuned a bit more toward a grand-touring car than an all-out performance sports car, and the whole driving experience is one of effortless performance. The suspension is independent double wishbone, with coil springs front and rear. It's adjustable, with normal, firm and track modes, but we liked the normal setting better. Overall, Bez says the car drives well enough to “make me smile.”

There's no manual transmission available, and that might cause some heartburn, but we thoroughly enjoyed the ZF six-speed automatic. At lower speeds it was smooth, just like a normal automatic. Jumping on the throttle once the road opened up, it gave off crisp, quick shifts. Paddles are mounted on the steering column if you still want to shift yourself. Our two cents: We didn't miss a manual transmission.

10/17/2012 - Nicolas Popov wrote:

2013 Lexus LS Sedan Models Priced

Lexus has redesigned its flagship LS sedan for the 2013 model year to be more luxurious and more refined than the model it replaces. Unfortunately, these changes (and the strong Japanese yen versus the weak U.S. dollar) mean that prices on Lexus’ premier luxury sedan are going up.

The entry-level Lexus LS 460 now starts at $72,885 in rear-drive form, rising to $75,830 for the all-wheel drive version (both including a destination charge of $895). Compare that to $68,525 and $70,830 for the respective 2012 versions, and you see that the price increase is indeed a noticeable one.

Opt for the longer-wheelbase LS 460L, and you’ll see a similar jump in pricing. Including destination charge, the rear-drive model starts at $79,185 for 2013, compared to $74,070 in 2012. The all-wheel-drive version rises to $82,670 for 2013, versus a starting price of $76,375 last year.

The new-for-2013 LS 460 F-Sport will come to market with a price of $82,885 in rear-drive, or priced from $$85,780 when equipped with all-wheel-drive.

10/15/2012 - Nicolas Popov wrote:

2013 Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder Revealed

Following the debut of the facelifted 2013 Lamborghini Gallardo coupe range at last month’s 2012 Paris Auto Show, the first images and details for the 2013 Gallardo Spyder have now hit the Web. They reveal the same aggressive look that we saw on the coupe, plus a few unique elements.

So far we only have images of the Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder, though like the latest Gallardo coupe range, expect to see the hardcore LP 570-4 Spyder Performante and rear-wheel drive LP 550-2 Spyder also make a return.

While the front of the Gallardo LP 560-4 Spyder gets the same treatment seen on the coupe, the rear gets slightly more aggressive touches. It features a single trapezoidal shape, polished exhaust tips, and a wide-stretching diffuser with six individual fins. The wheels are also new, in this case 19-inch Apollo style with a matte black finish.

A Style Package is also available and offers high-gloss black paintwork on the underside of the front spoiler, front and rear grilles, and the transverse element of the rear trim to give an even more powerful look. Buyers of the more extreme LP 570-4 Spyder Performante, meanwhile, can opt for the new Edizione Tecnica option, which adds various color options for the exterior and cabin.

No changes have been made to the powertrains, unfortunately, which means outputs still range from 542 horsepower to 562 horsepower.

10/11/2012 - Nicolas Popov wrote:

2013 Nissan Pathfinder headed to dealers with $28,270* starting price

The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder will be arriving in showrooms by the end of this month, and the good news for potential buyers is that the new model will have a lower price than the vehicle it replaces. Nissan has priced the 2013 Pathfinder at $28,270 – $1,020 less than the 2012 model – which does not include the destination charge (*) that tacks on an extra $825 to the bottom line.

For this base price, buyers get the Pathfinder S, and from there, Nissan has shaken up the trim levels a little for the new body style. The SV is still the next step up (and usually represents the volume model for Nissan) starting at $32,640, marking a $1,110 price drop from 2012. The SL and Platinum trim levels are new for 2013, and these models start at $34,470 and $39,170, respectively. Nissan has yet to announce the specific content that comes with each trim level, but all versions of the new Pathfinder are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 routed to the front wheels through Nissan's latest Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT); four-wheel drive is available across the lineup as a $1,600 option.

Speaking of options, Nissan announced a few of the options for the new Pathfinder, but it has yet to release what each option adds. Some of the standout options include the $2,650 SL Premium Package on the SL models only, the $1,850 dual DVD entertainment system for all but the base model and the $2,300 Platinum Premium Package which likely adds every imaginable option into what should be an already decked-out Pathfinder Platinum.

10/10/2012 - Nicolas Popov wrote:

Range Rover Evoque gets new base model, lower starting price for 2013

Land Rover has reworked the option sheet for the 2013 Range Rover Evoque with a new base model and a lower entry price. Buyers on (more of) a budget can slide into the Evoque Pure, which lands at $41,995 and is only available in five-door configuration. That's a reduction of around $2,000 compared to the 2012 model.

The lower MSRP comes with an aluminum roof instead of the gorgeous panoramic laminated glass panel of higher trims, though it can be painted in a contrasting color. Even so, buyers can still look forward to a cabin swaddled in leather and synthetic suede. All trims now have the option of a Park Assist feature and designers have reworked the old grille to include a new black-field Land Rover logo.

Land Rover has also taken some time to update the Evoque's navigation system. Off Road Navigation is now standard on every model equipped with nav, and features info like topographic lines, latitude, longitude, elevation and waypoint functionality. All handy in the rare event your Evoque abandons the beaten path.

10/09/2012 - Nicolas Popov wrote:

Electric Drive To Be Sole Mercedes-Benz B Class Model In U.S.

While Mercedes-Benz has confirmed the regular A Class and B Class models won’t be offered in the U.S., there’s a chance an electric version of the B Class, previewed recently at the 2012 Paris Auto Show, might just arrive. In fact, there are reports claiming the electric B Class, whose official name is B Class Electric Drive, has already been confirmed for local sale.

As early as January officials at Mercedes-Benz were suggesting that a version of the B Class with an alternative powertrain will be sold in the U.S. At the time, Mercedes-Benz was trialing an extended-range electric drivetrain in the sub-compact MPV.

However, by July, it was tipped that Mercedes-Benz would work together with Tesla and develop a pure electric setup for the car. Mercedes’ parent company Daimler is a shareholder of Tesla and the two firms have already collaborated on electric car projects in the past.

Additionally, an all-electric powertrain would mean Mercedes could avoid costly emissions testing in the U.S. (and also meet regulatory demands in some states that require a certain level of electric car sales). That’s why the electric model is expected to be the only B Class variant offered in the U.S., but that's not the only reason.

10/08/2012 - Nicolas Popov wrote:

2013 Dodge Dart Aero fuel miser priced from $19,295

Hitting at least 40 miles per gallon is practically a necessity to compete in the compact car segment these days, and the 2013 Dodge Dart has hit this mark with the all-new Aero package. The Dart Aero is Dodge's fuel economy package for the car that starts at $19,295 (not including the $795 destination charge), and while Hyundai has been saving the asterisks since 2010, many other automakers use a similar method to get that magic 40-mpg rating onto the Monroney label.

The Dart Aero receives Fiat's 1.4-liter MultiAir Turbo I4 and numerous other changes to hit up to 41 mpg highway with the manual transmission which is an improvement of 2 mpg alone over Chrysler's initial estimates for the car. Opting for the new dual dry clutch transmission will drop the highway number to an even 40 mpg – cars with either transmission are rated at 28 mpg city and 32 mpg combined. These are significant gains over initial Dart models with the 2.0-liter engine that were rated at up to 25 mpg city/36 mpg highway/29 mpg combined. This new engine also delivers the same 160 horsepower as the base engine, but it adds an extra 36 pound-feet of torque rated at 184 lb-ft.

Other than the new engine and the advanced DDCT gearbox, the Dart Aero was able to deliver such an improvement in fuel economy courtesy of a lower profile, active grille shutters, underbody aero kit and low-rolling resistance tires.

Compared to the base 2013 Dart, the Aero package is a $3,300 premium, but cars like the Focus SFE, Civic HF, Cruze Eco, Mazda3 Skyactiv and Jetta TDI all charge a premium for playing in the 40-mpg sandbox. Included in this higher price, the Dart Aero comes standard with some of the Dart's unique features like the 8.4-inch media center, the Dart's seven-inch TFT gauge cluster and one of the car's most stylish elements, the LED "racetrack" taillights.

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