Saturday, December 8, 2012

Volkswagen E-Bugster Concept, 2012

 
 
 
 
  •  Volkswagen E-Bugster Concept, 2012

The latest Beetle might be 'more power, less flower', but that doesn't mean that it's anything other than environmentally conscientious, and that's especially the case with the Volkswagen E-Bugster Concept, which is powered purely by electricity.

Revealed at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the two-seat VW E-Bugster Concept continues the latest Beetle's sporty theme. An electric motor provides 85 kWh of power, which can propel it from 0 to 60 mph in 10.9 seconds, and yet offer a range of at least 110 miles from the 28.3 kWh lithium-ion batteries. Even in a country as large as America, that's sufficient for the majority of commuters' needs, while if the E-Bugster needs a top-up, a fast-charging function allows complete recharging in just 35 minutes.

The quick charging is possible thanks to a new Combined Charging System that was developed in co-operation with Audi, BMW, Daimler, Porsche, Ford and General Motors/Opel. This allows charging via single-phase AC sources (for example a 120-Volt US or 230-Volt European domestic outlet) or via ultra-fast DC sources at specific charging stations. To succeed, this will require the development of a uniform industry standard for sockets and plugs and also for the charge controller, so that all charging types can be handled.

Of course, the Volkswagen E-Bugster doesn't charge only when plugged in: as soon as the driver's foot leaves the accelerator pedal kinetic energy is transformed into electricity and stored in the battery. Applying the brakes increases the intensity of regeneration, a function that is indicated to the driver in the instrument panel. Other instruments include driving range and battery state indicators, and a meter that shows how much energy the driver is requesting via the accelerator pedal.

At 4,278 mm long and 1,838 mm wide, the E-Bugster is the same length as a standard Beetle but 30 mm wider, while the new roof lowers the height by around 90 mm to 1,400 mm. This helps to give the Volkswagen E-Bugster its more dynamic and sporty look. The low, swept-back windscreen ensures maximum visibility, as does the wide rear screen, which shows that speedster-style vehicles need not be impractical.

Both front and rear bumpers have been substantially modified from those of the production Beetle. At the front, LED daytime running lights at the outer edges of the central air intake form a C-shape on the left that is mirrored on the right - a signature feature of Volkswagen's electric vehicle concepts. This is also true at the back, where reflectors take the place of LEDs. Beneath the flared wheel arches sit 20-inch alloy wheels that are adapted from the 18-inch 'Twister' alloys of the production car, with 235/35 tyres. Around the bottom edge of the side windows is a chrome strip that loops around the vehicle from A-pillar to A-pillar. From this chrome strip to the top of the VW E-Bugster's hard top the height is a low 400mm.

Inside, the two-seat interior reflects the E-Bugster's blend of high-tech and sportiness, with sports seats nestling either side of a continuous centre console, plus aluminium door handles and seatbelt guides.

Starting the Volkswagen E-Bugster Concept is pure theatre: upon pressing the Start button the interior is bathed in white light, then blue light. It starts with a light pulse in the instrument cluster, from where the light emanates in a millimetre-wide strip, coursing into the doors and around the air nozzles.

If the E-Bugster's name is familiar, it should be: it takes some inspiration from the Ragster concept that made its debut at the 2005 Detroit Show, and which itself inspired the current Beetle. The 'E' of the name signifies the vehicle's electric power, and the 'Bug' part of the name should need no explanation.
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Ford Escape, 2013

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  • Ford Escape, 2013

The all-new Ford Escape delivers the versatility and cargo capacity SUV customers expect with a sports-inspired design they desire.

The new SUV will be sold as the Ford Escape in North America and will be launched later wearing a Kuga badge in many markets around the world.

Function follows form as the sleeker design allows for cargo volume that surpasses the outgoing Ford Escape - with 68.1 cubic feet of space behind the first row and 34.3 cubic feet behind the second row. The new Kuga will be slightly longer than the current model, adding luggage space.

Escape's seats, Ford's latest, lose weight while adding customer convenience. The seat structure has shed nearly 3 pounds while the seats themselves have added more functionality - two-way power recline and two-way power lumbar support. These are in addition to the familiar six-way adjustability.

A sport seat, with higher bolsters and a distinct sew style.
The front head restraint offers four-way adjustability for the first time. Both the head restraints and rear seats have been upgraded to allow for easier folding and are made from soy-based foam.

Higher levels of craftsmanship
The closer customers get to the all-new Ford Escape, the more they will love it, says Peter Bejin, manager of Global Craftsmanship.

Improved materials and execution highlight the interior:
  •     A soft-touch instrument panel
  •     Wrapped, padded and stitched door armrests
  •     Deep padding on console armrests
  •     The soft upper roll on doors
  •     Elimination of exposed fasteners in glove box and sun visor pivots
  •     Available leather-trimmed sport seats with piping on bolster area and contrast stitching

Highlighting the new exterior color choices in North America is Ginger Ale, an earthy metallic tone slightly greener than ginger ale looks in a clear glass.

Ginger Ale leads an expansive palette of new exterior choices that includes Ruby Red, White Platinum Tricoat, Frosted Glass Metallic, Deep Impact Blue and Kodiak Brown, along with Tuxedo Black, Sterling Gray Metallic, Ingot Silver Metallic and Oxford White.

Striking interior
The muscular, defined exterior shape is complemented by a dynamic, well-appointed interior featuring new levels of craftsmanship and technology.
The interior design team especially considered the wealth of exclusive features no competitor can match when creating the all-new Ford Escape, led by available SYNC® with upgraded MyFord Touch® driver connect technology.

Interior environment choices include Charcoal Black on Charcoal Black or Charcoal Black on Medium Light Stone or Medium Dark Stone.

Advanced EcoBoost Engines
For the first time, the new Ford Escape will offer two different EcoBoost® engines. This award-winning Ford engine technology, which produces outstanding driving performance and expected fuel economy better than any competitor, is available in a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and for the first time in the U.S., a 1.6-liter four-cylinder.

Each new engine uses the core EcoBoost technologies of direct fuel injection and turbocharging and adds twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT). With these technologies, the 2.0-liter EcoBoost is projected to produce more torque than the larger V6 engine in Toyota's RAV4, and the 1.6-liter is projected to produce segment-leading fuel economy among compact SUVs and up to 5 mpg better than the outgoing Escape.

EcoBoost has been a popular choice among customers since the EcoBoost V6 was introduced in 2009 in the Ford Taurus SHO and Lincoln MKS.

EcoBoost engines are fundamental to the Ford strategy of providing technologically advanced, high-output, smaller-displacement powertrains that deliver exceptional fuel economy and uncompromised performance for millions of drivers around the world. By 2013, more than 90 percent of Ford's North American lineup will be available with EcoBoost technology. Ford holds more than 125 patents on its EcoBoost engine technology.

The 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder is projected to deliver 250 lb.-ft. of torque and 237 horsepower. The 1.6-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder is projected to deliver 177 lb.-ft. of torque and 173 horsepower.

Each new EcoBoost engine is mated to a specially calibrated six-speed SelectShift Automatic transmission, which is standard and allows drivers to manually control gear selection from a switch on the left-hand side of the shifter.

The gearbox features a new torque converter for improved driving feel, silky smooth shifts and great fuel economy. Engineers also installed revised gear ratios for a balanced driving feel in all situations. The new ratios complement the revised torque converter.

1.6-liter EcoBoost comes to North America
Also available for the first time in North America is Ford's 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine. Like its 2.0-liter stable mate, the 1.6-liter EcoBoost is projected to deliver better torque than current Toyota and Honda competitors and expected better fuel economy than both.
Efforts to improve unwanted noise on the 2.0-liter EcoBoost were carried over to the 1.6-liter EcoBoost, which adds an electronically controlled bypass valve.

This valve helps mitigate turbocharger tip-in and tip-out noises, resulting in a smoother sound out of the engine when the customer tips off the throttle. The valve smoothes out the sound by balancing the air pressure in the intake.

Lighter, more efficient 2.5-liter
The base engine for the all-new Ford Escape is an updated version of the 2.5-liter four-cylinder, which shares many components with the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine to save weight, improve quality and increase fuel economy.

Highlighting the improvements is the new lower-tension global front-end accessory drive belt. With the belt at a lower tension, friction in the entire system is reduced. Less friction reduces fuel consumption.
That improvement, combined with engine control changes and other advancements, contributes up to a 2 mpg improvement in fuel economy as well as better low-end torque for enhanced performance feel.

Also improving fuel economy is the Active Grille Shutter System, which helps reduce air resistance and is on all models with the 1.6-liter EcoBoost engine and the 2.5-liter four-cylinder.

The Active Grille Shutter System will open grille slats when extra engine cooling air is required, such as low-speed stop-and-go driving. When cruising on the highway at steady speeds, the grille slats automatically close to improve aerodynamics and fuel efficiency.
Active Grille Shutters already are used on the Ford Focus, Ford Taurus and Ford Edge in North America and will be added progressively to more vehicles.

Global powertrains
In markets outside of North America, where the newest SUV from Ford will wear a Kuga badge, a number of additional powertrains, including a new diesel engine, will be offered. More details will be provided when the new Kuga launches at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2012.

Recycled plastic bottles, scrap cotton find fresh start
A wide suite of environmentally responsible or recycled materials - including plastic bottles and cotton, to name a few - are found within the interior of the all-new Ford Escape.

The all-new Ford Escape contains even more sustainable materials than its predecessor. Materials that are recycled, renewable and reduce impact on the environment:
  •     Carpeting made from either post-consumer or post-industrial materials. An example of a post-consumer material is plastic that's been recycled, like from beverage bottles. The source for polyester carpeting is about one-third post-consumer and two-thirds post-industrial
  •     About 25 20-ounce plastic bottles total are in the carpeting
  •     Soy foam in the seats and head restraints
  •     Powertrain undershields made from 100 percent recycled plastics
  •     More than 10 pounds of scrap cotton recycled from jeans, sweaters, T-shirts and other items otherwise sent to a landfill is used in sound-absorption material
  •     Climate control gaskets made from recycled tires
  •     Industry-first use of microcellular (MuCell) technology in the injection molding process of the instrument panel, reducing weight by 1 pound and contributing to improved fuel economy. This technology injects microscopic cells to reduce weight without sacrificing dimensional integrity
  •     Tailpipe trims are made from polished stainless steel instead of more common and less environmentally friendly chromium-plated trims

Wide use of more environmentally friendly, recycled and recyclable materials complements the projected best-in-class fuel economy of the all-new Ford Escape, further bolstering the vehicle's environmentally responsible credentials. The all-new Ford Escape meets the USCAR Vehicle Recycling Partnership goal that 85 percent of the vehicle is recyclable.

Soy-based foam added to head restraints
The expansion of using soy-based foam continues in the all-new Escape. In addition to bio-foam content in the seat cushions and backs, new for Escape is head restraint foam that is 5 percent soy-based.

The carpet material is made from either post-consumer (plastic that's been recycled; for example, from beverage bottles) or post-industrial (scraps from companies that make clothing, for example) sources. In the new Ford Escape, the source for the polyester carpeting is about one-third post-consumer and two-thirds post-industrial.

Ford engineers calculate that about 25 20-ounce plastic bottles will be used in the production of the carpet of each new Escape in North America. At current sales levels, that is more than 4 million recycled plastic bottles each year.

Safety
The all-new Ford Escape combines the safety features and technologies customers really want, including a high-strength steel body and an even smarter new airbag system that no other automaker offers.

The new Ford Escape adds about four times as much advanced high-strength steel and ultra-high-strength steel as the outgoing vehicle. Nearly one-third of the steel in the all-new unibody Escape is composed of advanced high-strength and ultra-high-strength steel, helping better protect occupants in the event of a crash.

The new Escape also features an enhanced Personal Safety System™ with new safety belt technologies and seven airbags.

The Personal Safety System is a network of components that work together to tailor the activation of the front airbags during frontal collisions. The restraint control module (RCM) translates information collected by the front crash sensors, front outboard safety belt buckle switch, driver-seat track position and passenger-seat weight sensor and judges how fast the vehicle is decelerating, and if the driver and/or passenger are buckled.

With this information, the RCM activates the safety belt pretensioners and determines how the dual-stage front airbags will deploy.

New for the next Ford Escape are pretensioners at the front outboard anchor points and crash-locking tongues. These technologies help pull the belt tight over the hips in a fraction of a second during more severe crashes.

The new side airbags deploy lower in the pelvis area in addition to the chest and incorporate new venting technology, which Escape brings exclusively to the small SUV segment.
The side airbag's venting technology takes into account the size of the occupant, varying the pressure so smaller occupants withstand a lower pressure.

The tunnel vent is lined up with the shoulder area of the occupant. On larger passengers, the shoulder engages the vent and keeps it from venting so the gas stays inside the airbag. On smaller passengers, the effect is just the opposite: Because the occupant's shoulder is below the vent, the gas vents out of the airbag.

The driver's airbag uses a reconfigured curve-shaped tether system that pulls in the lower section to create a pocket to help lessen the impact of the airbag on the driver's chest and ribs in frontal crashes. Deploying at the same time is a driver's knee airbag - offered on Ford Escape for the first time.

The new Ford Escape also includes the familiar Safety Canopy System, which combines side curtain airbags and a rollover sensor to help provide protection for outboard passengers during side impacts.

Inflators for the airbags are located near the roof rail between the side pillars, while side-impact sensors are located on each side of the vehicle. The rollover sensor detects a potential rollover and triggers the Safety Canopy System. The airbags stay inflated for up to six seconds to help reduce injuries from multiple impacts or rollovers.

Technology
The all-new Ford Escape might be the most helpful vehicle ever produced by Ford. Using the most hands-free technology ever offered in a Ford, the new Escape helps customers load or unload gear through the rear hatch without fumbling for a key, stay connected, parallel park and avoid a collision in a parking lot.

Plus, on the road, the all-new Ford-engineered Intelligent 4WD System helps deliver outstanding handling and excellent traction off-road when drivers want to leave the pavement.

Additionally, exclusive technologies that no competitor can match to automatically slow the vehicle when cornering too fast (Curve Control) or help accelerate through a turn (Torque Vectoring Control) are joined together for the first time in an SUV in the new Ford Escape.

Getting a kick out of new smart technology
Leading the clever, segment-first customer-focused features for the all-new Ford Escape is the available hands-free power liftgate. A slight kicking motion under the center of the rear bumper activates the system, then unlocks and raises the liftgate.

This allows quick, easy and convenient access to the cargo area without setting down packages or digging out keys to open the rear hatch. The same process closes the hatch as well.

The hands-free liftgate builds off Ford's Intelligent Access with push-button start, which allows customers to unlock and start their vehicles without ever having to take out the key. When the key fob is in their possession - kept in a pocket, coat, purse or briefcase - a simple pull on the door handle unlocks the vehicle. Once inside, the driver simply holds down the brake pedal and presses the power button to start the vehicle.

For the hands-free power liftgate, two sensors integrated into the Intelligent Access system are located in the rear bumper. One detects the driver's shin, and the other detects the kicking motion to enable the hands-free power liftgate.

The combination of the system detecting the key fob and the shin and leg motion is necessary to unlock and open the liftgate, safeguarding against any accidental opening.

Additionally, the liftgate height can be programmed or adjusted manually to meet specific customer needs. The liftgate opens from about 4 feet to a maximum of about 7 feet above the ground.

New version of SYNC with MyFord Touch
The latest version of SYNC with MyFord Touch driver connect technology for new Escape makes it easier to manage information, control features and adjust settings.

Now, the key corner screens - Phone, Navigation, Entertainment and Climate - are labeled as such in addition to their color codes. Icons have a new look that better specifies the functionality or feature.

MyFord Touch includes a standard 4-inch screen in the instrument cluster on all Ford Escape series models. An 8-inch screen in the center stack is standard on SEL and Titanium models. All-new Escape also features the latest version of SYNC:
  •     Hands-free, voice-activated calling via a Bluetooth-connected mobile phone
  •     Hands-free, voice-activated control of a USB-connected digital music player
  •     911 Assist, the automated emergency calling service that is free for the life of the vehicle
  •     Vehicle Health Report, the on-demand diagnostic and maintenance information service

Standard with MyFord Touch is a SYNC Services subscription, which expands voice-controlled features to include a cloud-based network of services. These include turn-by-turn directions, traffic reports and business search information with available live operator assistance, if needed.

My Ford Touch is available with navigation systems and with Sony-branded audio with 10 speakers and a Sony-designed electronic finish panel.

New parking technology package
Available for the first time for Ford Escape is a parking technology package that can help take the anxiety out of parallel parking and help avoid accidents. Included in the package are:
    Active park assist
    Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with cross-traffic alert
    Rain-sensing wipers
    Front park assist
    Rear park assist
    Rear view camera

Ford's active park assist system helps make parallel parking stress-free. With the simple press of a button and enabled by the EPAS (electric power-assisted steering) system, active park assist will detect an available parallel parking space using 10 sensors and automatically steer the vehicle into the space, without the driver having to touch the steering wheel. The driver controls the accelerator, gearshift and brakes.

The sensor-based technology of active park assist parks on grades, in tighter spaces, closer to the curb, and is faster and more accurate than competitors' camera-based systems. The new Escape can parallel park into a space of less than 18 feet long - the vehicle's length (a little less than 15 feet) plus 3 feet.

BLIS with cross-traffic alert helps drivers change lanes or back out of a parking space with more confidence. BLIS alerts when a vehicle is detected entering a blind spot, and cross-traffic alert warns of traffic detected approaching from the sides, such as backing out of a parking space.

On-road driving experience dramatically improved
Advanced Ford-developed software behind the new Ford Escape's Intelligent 4WD System pre-emptively reassesses conditions about 20 times faster than it takes to blink an eye, readjusting the power split to give the driver the precise blend of handling and traction at all times.

Using advanced software and sensors, the system gathers data from 25 external signals, including wheel speed, accelerator pedal position and steering wheel angle, to deliver outstanding driving performance in both wet and dry conditions as well as excellent off-road traction.

Greater confidence when entering and driving through turns is enabled by the technologies Torque Vectoring Control and Curve Control, which are available together for the first time in an SUV in the all-new Ford Escape.

The system always pre-emptively splits the torque produced by the powertrain between the front and rear axles. Splitting the torque offers several benefits to the driver. First, it transfers the power, which means that when a driver corners hard, the vehicle will better follow the intended steering path. For example, if the vehicle is understeering - the tendency to go straight when cornering - the system will automatically split more torque to the rear wheels to help counteract that effect and provide more neutral steering.

Second, and new to this all-new SUV, are feedback sensors and software that calculate, based on the driver's steering angle, where the driver wants to go versus where the vehicle is heading, and make the appropriate split.

A sort of mini-supercomputer uses all the inputs from an array of sensors and data - such as lateral acceleration, driver demand and steering angle - and processes that information to get the vehicle to turn in the direction the driver wants it to go. The Ford system builds on the pre-emptive actions by adding and subtracting torque as needed through an electromagnetic clutch.

If, for example, the front of the vehicle is on ice and the rear is on pavement, the all-wheel-drive system can send all the torque the powertrain can produce to the rear, putting power where the driver needs it.

All of these adjustments, corrections and calculations are made every 16 milliseconds, which is about 20 times faster than the blink of an eye.

Both the brains (the control software) and the brawn (the rear axle) were developed in-house by Ford.

Upgraded braking system, new technologies add another level of confidence

Working in harmony with Ford's new Intelligent 4WD System is an enhanced version of Torque Vectoring Control, deployed for the first time with an all-wheel-drive vehicle.

Introduced on the new global Ford Focus but completely retuned and recalibrated for the new Escape, Torque Vectoring Control adds another level of confidence for the driver. In a situation when wheel slip is detected - losing grip on the inside wheel, for example - Torque Vectoring Control transfers torque across the axle to the outside wheel.

Torque Vectoring Control is engaged when the driver is on the accelerator, and uses sensors and software to calculate the vehicle's yaw motion, or its tendency to move left or right.

More typically found on high-performance cars, Torque Vectoring Control uses the vehicle's brakes to imitate the effect of a limited-slip differential, constantly balancing the distribution of engine torque between the front wheels during cornering, resulting in improved grip and steering and a reduced chance of understeer.

The system operates using the vehicle's stability control module and monitors the situation 100 times per second. As the vehicle accelerates through a corner, the system detects when the inside front wheel is starting to slip and applies an imperceptible amount of braking to the wheel. This prevents wheel spin and has the effect of transferring engine torque to the outside wheel, which has more grip, thus maintaining traction and steering control.

Unlike a traction control system that reduces engine power, Torque Vectoring Control's intervention is extremely subtle and may not even be noticeable to the driver.

Other helpful technologies added to the new Ford Escape include active park assist, hill start assist and emergency brake assist, complementing such core and familiar Escape technologies as Roll Stability Control™ and trailer sway control.

Brakes offer better control when cornering
The new braking system also helps keep the driver in control when cornering. Similar to the Curve Control feature introduced on the new Explorer, the new braking system in the Escape can apply automatic four-wheel braking to help the driver when cornering too quickly on a curve, and is always active.

The system will aid in cutting speed by reducing the engine torque and four-wheel braking, helping avoid crashes. Freeway off-ramps and on-ramps are common situations where vehicles may be going too fast for the curve. The system is fully automatic and capable of slowing the vehicle more quickly than most drivers can react - speeds can be reduced about 10 mph in about one second, allowing the vehicle to maintain its path.
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Friday, December 7, 2012

BMW 640d Coupe, 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
  • BMW 640d Coupe, 2012

Now in its third generation, the new BMW 6-Series Coupé takes the luxury 2+2 concept a step further by matching enhanced comfort and elegant design with sporting performance on a even higher level. The BMW 6-Series Coupé features a sweeping coupé roofline while the long bonnet, short over-hangs, set-back passenger compartment with Hofmeister kink, long wheelbase and flat waistline embody the typical proportions of a BMW coupé more than any other model.

Two exceptional BMW turbocharged petrol engines and a twin turbocharged diesel powerplant, a newly developed chassis and a host of class-leading driver assistance technology ensure that the new BMW 6-Series Coupé is full of substance, while interior space and comfort have been enhanced.

Design
The new BMW 6-Series Coupé features a long sweeping bonnet, set-back passenger compartment and flowing roof-line. Its now traditional BMW "shark nose", with a large, forward-slanted BMW kidney grille, broad air intakes, wide, contoured bonnet and muscular wheel arches, allude to the powerful engine beneath. Inspired by the movement of water, the fluid lines of the car combine with the subtly curved surfaces to create a look of athletic elegance, which together with the 74mm increase in length and 5mm lower height creates a powerful stance.

Character lines stretching the full length of the body define the side view of the BMW 6-Series Coupé. The long, flat bonnet elongates the silhouette while the roof sweeps down in one fluid line, combining with the main body effortlessly, in an elegant coupé fashion, while the frameless doors and chrome side window border emphasise the tight lines of the typically BMW Hofmeister kink.

From the rear, bulging wheel arches and horizontal lines highlight the wide track of the new BMW 6-Series Coupé, alluding to its sporting performance and impressive road holding. Two-part rear light clusters give the typical BMW L-shape lights a particularly sporty, dynamic edge. Inside the units, two LED-powered light strips create a striking night-time look. The rear indicators and brake lights also use LED units.

Longer, lower and wider, the new car is larger in every dimension than its predecessor except height, where it now stands half a centimetre closer to the ground. At 4,894mm in length, the new model is 74mm longer than its predecessor, while the wheelbase has stretched similarly, to 2,855mm. The car has also grown by 39mm in width, and now measures 1,894mm across, while 5mm have been shaved off its height.

As standard the new BMW 6-Series Coupé is equipped with xenon headlights that have BMW's familiar double corona look while high-quality chrome elements, such as the fog lamps consisting of a string of three LED units, on the outer edges of the front apron accentuate the width of the car.

Optional Adaptive LED Headlights are available for the first time and provide a bright white light, similar to natural daylight, with low beam and high beam LED light rings. Horizontal LED ribs are positioned in the centre of the light rings ensuring BMW's hallmark twin round headlight look is expressed in a strikingly fresh way. More than just style over substance, the Adaptive LED lights automatically pivot and adjust to the line of the corner depending on the car's speed, steering angle and yaw rate to provide the best visibility possible for the driver.

The interior: made to measure luxury for four
Despite its lower height, the new 2+2 BMW 6-Series Coupé offers greater headroom in both the front and the rear, and height adjustment of the driver and front passenger seats now cover a greater range too. The individual rear sets also provide passengers with additional shoulder and elbow room, making for more comfortable cruising.

The front passenger area is bordered by a surface curving elegantly from the armrest over the side edge of the centre console, upwards and outwards into the instrument panel and then horizontally into the door trim, surrounding the front passenger area with a feeling of exclusive security.

In tune with the rest of the car's optimised performance and greater comfort, the new BMW 6-Series Coupé is fitted with newly developed lightweight seats with an integrated seatbelt system and Easy Entry function to the rear passenger compartment: a brief tap of a switch automatically moves the seat as far forward as possible. Sports seats and Comfort seats can be fitted as an option too. The boot can accommodate 460 litres of luggage, equivalent to three 46-inch golf bags or two medium hard-shell cases and a flight case. To utilise the rear space further the rear seats can be specified with a through-loading ski hatch, allowing two pairs of skis to be transported with ease.

Drivetrain
The new BMW 6-Series Coupé is available with two petrol engines and one diesel engine: the 650i, 640i and 640d respectively.

The world's sportiest diesel engine is a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged in-line six-cylinder unit producing 313hp at 4,400rpm and 630Nm of torque from only 1,500rpm with the help of variable geometry turbocharging. The BMW 640d Coupé is capable of accelerating from zero to 62mph in 5.5seconds before topping out at an electronicallylimited top speed of 155mph.

It achieves this performance courtesy of sequential turbochargers, one smaller than the other, that provide a near continuous wave of torque from low revs. A complex arrangement of waste gates in the exhaust ensure the smooth transition from one turbo to another as the revs increase. The BMW 640d Coupé is fitted as standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission with Auto Start-Stop and active air flaps behind the kidney grille. Such engineering expertise is the reason why the model offers rapid performance but can still achieve 51.4mpg on the combined cycle and record CO2 emissions of 145g/km.

The 4.4-litre eight-cylinder engine in the new BMW 650i Coupé is unique in that the brace of turbochargers are positioned in the V-shaped area between the cylinder banks. This design results in more efficient packaging and greater engine efficiency. A maximum 407hp is developed between 5,500 and 6,400rpm, with peak torque of 600Nm available between 1,750 and 4,500rpm.

The new BMW 650i Coupé sprints from zero to 62mph in 4.9 seconds, with a top speed electronically limited to 155mph. For a model of such blistering performance and refinement, it is also extraordinarily efficient, with average combined fuel consumption of 26.6mpg and CO2 emissions of 246g/km.

The six-cylinder in-line engine in the new BMW 640i Coupé uses single turbocharger technology alongside petrol direct injection with VALVETRONIC fully variable valve control. This enables the 3.0-litre unit to develop a maximum 320hp at 5,800rpm and maximum torque of 450Nm between 1,300 and 4,500rpm. This engine propels the BMW 640i Coupé from zero to 62mph in 5.4 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

Perhaps even more remarkable are its efficiency figures. The BMW 640i Coupé achieves 36.2mpg on the combined cycle, while CO2 emissions are only 181g/km, proving that at BMW luxurious sporting performance does not come at the expense of economy. Indeed, this model, like the 640d, is fitted as standard with an automatic transmission that features Auto Start-Stop technology and an automatic active air flap control behind the car's kidney grille for optimum engine performance.

EfficientDynamics
Fuel saving technology called ECO PRO mode is offered on the 6-Series. By a touch of the Drive Dynamic Control button ECO PRO mode tweaks the engine management system, accelerator mapping and gear-shift characteristics to favour a relaxed, lowrevving driving style. At the same time, power usage for electronically operated functions such as climate control is regulated to ensure maximum efficiency. A display on the instrument cluster keeps the driver informed of the levels of energy efficiency being achieved to encourage an economical driving style.

As with all BMWs, the new 6-Series Coupé comes with a raft of BMW EfficientDynamics measures to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. In addition to the features highlighted on the 640i Coupé and 640d Coupé, all models have technology such as Brake Energy Regeneration, Electric Power Steering (EPS), the need-based operation of ancillary components and intelligent lightweight construction to ensure maximum efficiency as standard.

Transmission
An eight-speed Sport automatic gearbox is standard fitment on all three models, and its wide range of ratios offer a perfect balance of muscular, sprinting performance, refined high speed cruising and low speed efficiency.

Chassis
The newly developed chassis of the new BMW 6-Series Coupé comes as standard with Drive Dynamic Control, which allows drivers to choose how responsive they want the gearbox, steering and throttle to be, while the Adaptive Drive system is available as an option with electrically controlled dampers and anti-roll stabilisation.

Both the double wishbone front axle and the integral rear axle are made predominantly from aluminium. The chassis set-up is geared to the requirements of drivers looking for a sporting character, although the dampers also respond sensitively to bumps in the road surface under high lateral acceleration.

In addition to the standard electromechanical power steering, another unique feature in this segment is the optional Integral Active Steering system. This system combines Active Steering for the front axle with a steering rear axle, allowing the steering angle and power assistance to be controlled at both the front and the rear with the help of electric motors. This precisely harmonised system offers extraordinary agility in dynamic driving situations, while allowing for an impressively deft touch around twisty mountain passes and in city traffic.
Pricing and specification including M Sport for the first time

The new BMW 6-Series Coupé comes with the highest ever level of standard specification on a Six. Standard for the 640i Coupé and 640d Coupé are 18-inch light alloy wheels, while the 650i Coupé comes as standard with a 19-inch light alloy wheel. All derivatives feature Dakota leather upholstery, eight-speed Sport automatic transmission, electric seat adjustment with memory, BMW Professional Multimedia Navigation system, Xenon headlights, LED front fog lights and front and rear Park Distance Control to name but a few of the standard specification highlights.

The BMW 6-Series Coupé is now available in M Sport specification. The M Sport package adds the M aerodynamic bodystyling package, 19-inch M light alloy wheels, dark chrome exhaust tailpipes, High-gloss Shadowline exterior trim and black brake callipers. Inside Anthracite headlining, Aluminium Hexagon trim, Sport seats and M Sport multi-function leather rimmed steering wheel are fitted.

At the same time as M Sport and the 640d derivative come to the UK for the Coupé, the 6-Series Convertible can now also be specified with M Sport.

Optional equipment
Includes Surround-view, BMW Night Vision with pedestrian recognition, Parking Assist, Lane Change Warning System, Lane Departure Warning System, Speed Limit Display and, still unique in the segment, Head-up Display.

Most advanced audio system ever to grace a BMW offered
Exclusively developed as an option for the new BMW 6-Series, the Bang & Olufsen High-End Surround Sound System produces an exceptionally natural sound from 16 speakers distributed around the cabin. Jointly developed by the Danish audio specialists and BMW, the superb sound system, comprising of two bass speakers, seven mid-range speakers and seven tweeters, all with individual amplifiers, uses Dirac Dimensions technology to recreate the acoustics of a reference listening room. This allows all passengers to enjoy the same outstanding sound quality regardless of where they are sitting.

In addition a number of other options, exclusive to the premium luxury segment, can be specified such as Surround-view, BMW Night Vision with pedestrian recognition, Parking Assist, Lane Change Warning System, Lane Departure Warning System, and Speed Limit Display. The new BMW 6-Series Coupé is also the only car in its segment to be available with a Head-up Display. The latest generation Head-up Display system uses a broader palette of colours and three-dimensional graphics to create an even sharper image.

Prices (UK):
    BMW 650i SE Coupé: £67,340
    BMW 650i M Sport Coupé: £71,840
    BMW 640i SE Coupé: £59,565
    BMW 640i M Sport Coupé: £64,230
    BMW 640d SE Coupé: £62,080
    BMW 640d Coupé M Sport: £66,745
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Audi R8 GT Spyder, 2012

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  • Audi R8 GT Spyder, 2012

Lighter, even more powerful, even more captivating: The Audi R8 GT Spyder delivers breathtaking performance. The open-top flagship version of the high-performance sports car develops 412 kW (560 hp) and - thanks to Audi ultra - has trimmed a full 85 kilograms (187.39 lb) from an already low weight. The Audi R8 GT Spyder accelerates from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 3.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 317 km/h (196.97 mph).

Audi unveiled the R8 GT in coupe form as the new flagship model of the R8 model line, 1 year ago. It wasn't long before all 333 units in the limited series were sold out. Now the open-top version of the high-performance sports car is being launched, with production again capped at 333 units. Each car sports a tag with its individual number on the gear lever knob.

The Audi ultra lightweight technology is the key to the Audi R8 GT Spyder's weight of just 1,640 kilograms (3,615.58 lb). That's 85 kilograms (187.39 lb) less than its technical basis, the R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro. The Audi Space Frame (ASF) body, consisting of cast nodes, extruded sections and aluminum panels, accounts for just 214 kilograms (471.79 lb) of the total weight. The body is assembled predominantly by hand in the R8 workshop at the Neckarsulm plant. Final assembly of the car takes place in the same way.

The engine frame is made of ultra-light magnesium; the long cover over the soft-top compartment and the large side panels at the rear are made of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP). CFRP is also used for the modified front spoiler, the fixed rear spoiler and the new rear bumper. Together, these components provide a weight saving of 5.5 kilograms (12.13 lb).

Visual modifications accentuate the styling of the Audi R8 GT Spyder. These include add-on parts in contrasting titanium gray, a front splitter with a dual lip, flics at the sides of the front bumper, red GT badges, round exhaust tailpipes, an enlarged diffuser and dark LED tail lights in a clear-glass design. Audi offers an optional windshield frame in matt CFRP.

Audi engineers also trimmed weight from the technical components in the area of the transmission, wheels and brakes. In the interior, the bucket seats alone, with their chassis of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP), saved 31.5 kilograms (69.45 lb) of weight.

In classic Audi fashion, the Audi R8 GT Spyder features a lightweight fabric soft top that is extremely quiet and fully suitable for highway cruising. Its electrohydraulic drive brings it up or down in 19 seconds, even at speeds up to 50 km/h (31.07 mph). The extendible glass rear window is nestled in the bulkhead, separate from the soft top. Integrated in the bulkhead is a rollover protection system comprising two pretensioned plates.

Prodigious power: the drivetrain
The performance offered by the new top-of-the-line model in the R8 family is formidable. The 5.2-liter V10 with an aluminum crankcase draws its fuel from an FSI direct injection system. Dry-sump lubrication ensures a reliable supply of oil even under maximum lateral or straight-line acceleration.

With its modified electronic management, the long-stroke engine produces 540 Nm (398.28 lb-ft) of torque at 6,500 rpm, and its peak output is 412 kW (560 hp). Each unit of horsepower has only 2.93 kilograms (6.46 lb) to move.

The Audi R8 GT Spyder catapults from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 3.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 317 km/h (196.97 mph). In every situation, the engine impresses with its thrust and bite - and that unmistakable sound of an Audi ten-cylinder.

The Audi R8 GT Spyder comes standard with an automated six-speed R tronic transmission with two fully automatic modes. In the additional manual mode, the driver can shift gears using the paddles on the steering wheel or by flicking the joystick. At high load and revs, gear changes take only one-tenth of a second. The launch control program manages the starting sprint with high engine speed and precision-control of the tire slip.

The quattro permanent all-wheel drive has a strong rear-wheel bias, granted by the axle load distribution. If the situation calls for it, the system sends additional torque to the front axle. In tandem with the limited slip differential at the rear, it provides an added measure of traction, stability and cornering speed, giving it a strong lead over the rear-wheel-drive competition.

The suspension, too, is unrivaled in its performance. Aluminum double wishbones locate the wheels, and the rack-and-pinion power steering provides intimate contact with the road. Taut tuning lowers the body by approximately 10 millimeters (0.39 in). The open high-performance sports car has 19-inch wheels, with 235/35 tires up front and 295/30 tires at the rear. The large, lightweight carbon-fiber ceramic brake discs decelerate the car with supreme ease. The ESP stabilization program has a sport mode and can also be deactivated entirely.

Pure comfort: the interior and equipment
Great attention to detail is evident in the materials and workmanship inside the car. The salient aspect of the controls is their logically structured design. The open two-seater offers a roomy interior, and its front end can accommodate up to 100 liters (3.53 cu. ft) of cargo. The rear bulkhead houses three storage compartments.

The interior is black and can be adorned with stitching in a choice of titanium gray or crimson for added refinement. Alcantara upholstery comes standard - on the sport steering wheel and windshield frame, too.

Audi offers leather in Fine Nappa quality. Numerous details - including white dials and R8 GT logos - provide classy accents. The distinctive R8 "monoposto," a large arch encircling the driver's cockpit, is made of matt CFRP.

Audi ultra requires no sacrifice on the part of Audi R8 GT Spyder owners. The standard equipment includes LED headlights, LED tail lights, an automatic air conditioning system, the navigation system plus, an alarm system and the driver information system with a built-in laptimer.

Audi offers a sophisticated sound system from Bang & Olufsen and a Bluetooth interface including a seatbelt microphone for carrying on a phone conversation conveniently. Options specific to the R8 GT include bucket seats with a carbon-fiber composite chassis, matt CFRP applications and embroidered logos on the seat upholstery.

The Audi R8 GT Spyder will have a base price in Germany of 207,800 euros.
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