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If you’ll look at the past months you’ll realize there’s nobody stopping the French! Another amazing model just left the factory! It’s the much anticipated Citroen DS4, a brand new model that strengthens the presence in the compact segment, mixing an attractive design, weird sizes and a interesting engine. The final product? A great car placed between the hatch’s and crossovers.

The officials from Citroen have released today the first official pictures and information related to the second representative of the Premium DS range . That’s right, the DS4 , a compact coupé-hathback that promises to revolutionize the market by offering a premium never seen before model.

We can call it a “deja-vu” remembering C3-DS3, as the new Citroen DS4 has its design inspired from the new Citroen C4, still with more of a “sporty” look by applying some interesting touches. Big surprise for those who claimed DS4 will be exclusively a Coupe: this French model has five doors, but only the front handles can be seen. The rear ones are well hidden. Where? We are still searching them. but if you manage to get your hands on this model before us, try searching them where Alfa Romeo / Seat has ‘em.

Another interesting surprise comes from the exterior dimensions of the Citroen DS4. Thus, although the length is clearly recommended for a compact (4.27 meters), height betrays a model much higher than a compact hatchback. Basically, DS4 is 1.53 meters in height, a value that fits this car perfectly between compact hatchbacks and… Nissan Qashqai for example. Citroen has built a compact car, adding a sporting line and tried to pull it into a compact crossover. Eventually, the name of the strange concept witch apparently inspired the Citroen DS4, the High Rider, has reflected in the final form of the French model.

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Now the interesting part, the power! Citroën is not coming with great surprises. Thus, French fans will have three petrol units to choose from (1.6 VTi 120 bhp, 1.6 THP 155 bhp and 1.6 THP 200 bhp) and two HDi diesel engines: one with 110 and one holding 160 hp.

Citroen has announced the release of production of the C3 Pluriel. The original cabriolet – is derived from the first generation of C3 – debuted on the market in summer of 2003 and leaves the stage after being produced in 109,682 copies, of which only about 30,000 in Italy, where was the market leader from 2004 to 2006.

Initially considered the spiritual heir of Méhari in these seven years the Citroen C3 Pluriel was able to carve a specific role in the market of small convertibles, despite direct competition from Peugeot 206 CC and 207 CC first then. Furthermore, the fabric roof has been in contrast with the rivals, all with roofs made of metal. Read the rest of this entry »

The new range of accessories M GmbH will be available from September for the BMW M3, X5 M, X6 M, 7 Series, 5 Series Sedan and Touring and from November for the new X3. For BMW X5 M and X6 M will be available a more complete package ConnectedDrive, while for the M3 the new package consists of M Performance rear spoiler and aerodynamic carbon front and handmade, shell mirrors in similcarbonio, aluminum pedals, interior carbon fiber design competition and sports silencer with chrome-nickel and titanium.

For the new BMW 5 Series Sedan and Touring, was developed the M Sports Package consisting of sports suspension, aerodynamics package, double-spoke wheels read 18 or 19 inches, sports seats in Alcantara and cloth, leather steering wheel, Sports gear knob, coating pavilion anthracite, aluminum interior trims Hexagon and rear spoiler, the latter only for the F10 sedan. Read the rest of this entry »

There are some small objects in this world with an amazing value. Objects that give the owner a title of supremacy and gratitude for all that he had accomplished. I’m talking about: Oscars, Emmys and all the other trophies anyone wants to have.  In our field all the car manufacturers fight over the title: Car of the Year, a category in which you can even be proud to be as a nominee. We have spoke about most of these cars on our website, even did a few test drives and we’re pleased to see some interesting models on this list that was released today by the organisers of European Car of the Year 2011 containing the top 35 cars that are fighting to claim this amazing title.

The best represented brands are Citroen and Nissan so it seems these manufacturers did a great job this year.

The most important European competition in the auto department will take place in the autumn of 2010. To become a nominee for Car of the Year, the model had to be launched in Europe during 2010 and also be available on at least two continents until mid 2011. Read the rest of this entry »

Nissan launches advertising campaign in the UK called “How to beat the Germans” to promote the 370Z and the GT-R by highlighting their “superior performance but at a lower cost than comparable direct to the German rivals” . So these days Audi TTS and Porsche Cayman are turning the streets of London with provocative writing on the side: “more expensive, slower and less powerful than a Nissan 370Z” (Audi) and “Dreaming of being as fast as a Nissan 370Z” (Porsche). The Japanese based these beliefs on the relationship between cost and capacity accelerative power, the Nissan 370Z which pose a clear advantage over rivals. This is also valid for the Nissan GT-R.

According to Steve McLennan, Nissan UK Marketing Director, “this campaign only serves to change the belief that German cars are the only point of reference when it comes to performance and quality. Read the rest of this entry »

BMW has released the first official pictures and videos of the new X3 Sports Activity Vehicle who was introduced in 2003 and sold over 600,000 copies so far. The second-generation X3 (project code F25) measuring 465 cm in length (+8.3 cm), 188 cm wide (+2.8 cm) and 171 cm in height (+1.2 cm), while step increases of 1.5 cm to reach 281 cm. Size should be attributed more to the new platform borrowed from the E90 3 Series, which has the xDrive all-wheel drive system (third generation) with distribution of torque between the two axles to 40/60 standard conditions, and up to 100 % in situations of low grip. In the course of 2011 will be further introduced the Performance Control system designed to transfer up to 80% of the total torque on the driven wheel outside the trajectory – while the inside is slowed down – in order to facilitate travel in curves. Read the rest of this entry »

A few pictures of the new mid-range model Peugeot 508 from the French manufacturer leaked on the Internet a few weeks before its official debut. Is this model inspired by the new Hyundai Sonata? Let’s see!

This version will also be presented at the upcoming Paris Motor Show and will be built in both sedan version – called GT, and as a Sportwagon. The Peugeot logo has been changed and the grid size was increased while the doors now have a much more “friendly” look.

According to first information, the model will make its debut with two THP petrol units and three HDi diesel units. The petrol entry-level will have a 1.6 liter THP with 155 hp, followed by a 2.0-liter unit that develops 200 hp. Subsequently, the French will introduce a new THP engine which will provide between 200 and 240 hp and is developed with BMW specialists. Diesel range starts from 1.6 HDI 110 hp unit and could go up to 2.0 with 140 hp. While the 508 sedan will be offered in a diesel-hybrid version, no information has been released for the 508 SW.

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All engines will meet Euro5 standards model, which means that engineers will use Peugeot 407’s engines without significant changes in advance. 2.2-liter diesel unit will be removed from the range, but its replacement was not announced. In the range of petrol engines, the model will have a 3.0-liter V6 unit that develops 240 bhp and a 1.6 liter turbo unit that will deliver 156 bhp.

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Chevrolet Volt will be available on dealers from October in Austin (Texas) and New York, U.S. metropolitan areas designated for the difference in climate and the usufruct different car. “We decided to sell the Volt in these two cities,” said Ed Whitacre, CEO General Motors, “for this feature in itself as vehicle designed to carry commuters also indicated for longer journeys.” Erev hybrid sales continued in New Jersey and Connecticut, in conjunction with the extension to Texas and New York, while the availability for the remaining 46 states will be complete within the next 12-28 months.

Whitacre has also stressed how the Chevrolet Volt will be produced at 10,000 units during 2011 and 30,000 in 2012, although he did estimate sales or prices. This has to except that the sedan will not produce any profit.