Audi A1 Sportback gets the Tuning Treatment from ABT Sportsline

After the three-door Audi A1, it's time for ABT Sportsline to show some tuning love to the five-door Sportback variant of Ingolstadt's premium supermini.
The German tuner offers a complete mix of cosmetic and performance enhancements, including a lite styling package as seen on the model in these pictures and which includes vents on the front fenders, side skirt décor parts, chrome tailpipes and a choice of 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels.
There are more parts available such as front lips, rear skirt inserts, a larger spoiler, and even a selection of wraps aptly named 'Aloha', 'Klecks' and 'High-voltage'.
Power upgrades include performance kits for the 1.4-liter TFSI, boosting the 120hp (122PS) version to 158hp (160PS), and the 182hp (185PS) model to 207hp (210PS) for a top speed close to 240km/h (149mph) and a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 6.6 seconds.

Peugeot Releases a Handful of New Photos of 301 Compact Sedan

Looking at the (evidently photoshoped) image posted above, you would be inclined to believe that Peugeot is marketing some sort of crossover model, which wouldn't hold true as the car you see here is nothing more than the French firm's mainstream 301 compact saloon.
Then why go into all that trouble to paste the 301 on a gravel path? Well, the answer to this question is Peugeot wants to convey the message that its new sedan is built tough and can handle the roughest of roads.

"From the start of the project, when the specification for the car was being drawn up, Peugeot’s engineers went out on long driving missions to build up mileage on the different sorts of roads that would be taken by the future 301 customers," says Peugeot.

"Roads with poor surfaces, hot climates, cold climates, humid climates… all of the possible situations have been tested and sometimes even with a customer at the wheel. In total, many tens of thousands of kilometres have been run in several continents," the French carmaker added.

Official: Volkswagen Presents Redesigned Gol Hatchback and Gol Voyage Sedan

While Volkswagen's European division is gearing up for the all-important world premiere of the brand-new Golf Mk7 at the Paris Motor Show, half way around the globe, the company's South American arm lifted the covers of the redesigned Gol hatchback and its sedan sibling named Voyage.
The Gol, which is the Portuguese and Spanish word for 'goal', is the best-selling car in South America since the mid-1980s, with more than 5 million units produced and sold in Brazil alone.

The mid-life facelift for both body styles brings Volkswagen's corporate face as seen on the latest Polo, Jetta and Passat models with a new grille, bumper and headlamp designs. At the back, there are new tail lamps and a restyled tail gate for the hatchback.

Changes inside are limited to the lighting and trim décor on the dashboard such as the chrome rings on the vents, the controls with improved feel and ergonomics plus upgrades to the car's equipment features.

Nissan to Build Next Generation Rogue Crossover in South Korea as well as in the U.S. [Updated]

As it turns out, Nissan will split production of the new Rogue crossover between its Smyrna plant in Tennessee, USA, (starting from next year), and the Renault Samsung Motors factory in Busan, South Korea, (beginning in 2014).
Analysts believe that Nissan will benefit from a weak Korean won and recent free trade deals.

The French-Japanese firm said it will invest US$160 million (€130 million) to add 80,000 units of the Nissan Rogue production in Korea and "increase cost competitiveness of a key industrial base". The vehicles will be shipped to North America and select Asian countries.

"Adding production in Korea shows a commitment across the Alliance to helping Renault Samsung Motors achieve its targets for cost competitiveness and growth," said Renault-Nissan Alliance CEO Carlos Ghosn.

"The Busan announcement represents a unique ‘win-win-win’ for Renault, Nissan and RSM, demonstrating the flexibility and power of the Alliance for all partners -- and I am counting on every RSM employee to contribute to the successful completion of this project," he added.

The Busan factory has a total capacity of 300,000 units per year but is expected to build only 180,000 vehicles in 2012.

Mercedes-Benz 1886 year, the first car from Charles Benz

The first-ever car (as well as the Daimler car), constructed in 1885 Charles Benz, the German inventor. On January, 29th, 1886 he took out the patent for the car, and on July, 3rd, 1886 on Ringshtrasse in Mannheim for the first time showed the car to general public. Benz managed to carry out old dream – to design and construct the first car. Benz’s car had three bicycle wheels. In movement it was resulted by means of the chain drive by the four-cycle gasoline engine located behind between wheels. The car has been patented in January, 1886, passed tests for roads, and in 1887 participated in the Parisian exhibition. Since 1888 Benz’s cars have been exposed on sale, but buyers were not. Position was rescued by Benz’s wife – Berta who and took earlier active part in work of the husband. As would tell now – made the advertising action. In August, 1888 Berta Benz together with sons of 15 and 13 years without the knowledge of Charles made on it a trip to the next city on distance of 106 km. On the way it was necessary to buy gasoline in drugstores (it was on sale there as cleaner), to replace the erased mouldings of a brake. Some times overcame liftings, pushing the car. On road people ran together crowds to take a look at such miracle. About this distant automobile race all Germany learn’t. And the press turned a close attention not only on travel, but also on Charles Benz’s car. From now on its way to glory and success also began.

Technical characteristics
On the car the one-cylinder internal combustion engine by a working volume of 954 cm ³ has been established. Real capacity of this car — 0,9 h.p. at 400 turns in a minute though in the patent for the invention 2/3 horse powers are specified at 250 turns. This engine had considerable weight (about 100 kg).Maximum speed is 13 kilometers per hour.
Proceeding from it we can understand that Mercedes-Benz is the most ancient mark on a planet.

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Future Cars: 2013 Seat Leon Cupra R Visualized

With the first juicy details and photos of the all-new Seat Leon Mk3 out in the open, it's time to imagine what the range-topping Cupra / Cupra R model, likely to be presented next year, could look like.
The design made by Khalil Bouguerra suggests that Seat will adorn the Cupra model with a black finish for the grille surround, alloy wheels and mirror caps while also adding a new rear bumper with side vents, a diffuser and a centrally mounted single exhaust pipe.
We think that the real Cupra may also feature a different front bumper than the Leon FR upon which this CGI is based, along with side skirts and possibly a roof spoiler.
In it is current form, the Leon Cupra R features the VW Group's 2.0-liter TSI turbocharged inline-four with 261hp (265PS) driving the hatchback's front wheels. We wouldn't be surprised if its replacement made use of the same powertrain, perhaps tweaked to improve its green credentials and fuel economy numbers.
Photo Credits: Khalil Bouguerra

Volkswagen Charts its 2013MY Lineup, Announces New Beetle Convertible and Jetta Hybrid

It's that time of the year again when automakers provide details about their new model year lineups. For Volkswagen, the 2013MY brings new derivatives and changes to all vehicle ranges sold in the States except the Chrysler-based Routan minivan.
The new additions to the range are the next generation of the Beetle Convertible and a hybrid version of the Jetta.
Volkswagen tells us that the new iteration of the rag-topped Beetle, which has yet to be unveiled, will go on sale in the U.S. in late 2012. The German automaker added that it will "feature a fast-acting top that preserves the sleek lines of the coupe".
The convertible will be available with two gasoline units, a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated and a 2.0-liter turbocharged four, plus a 2.0-liter TDI Clean Diesel that will return an EPA estimated 41 mpg on the highway for the manual transmission model.
Moving on to the Jetta Hybrid that was revealed at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show in January, the sedan model goes on sale in late fall.
It features a 150hp 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine and a 20 kW (27hp) electric motor that deliver a combined output of 168hp (170PS). A standard seven-speed dual clutch DSG transmission drives the front wheels.
The German carmaker says that the new Jetta Hybrid will return an estimated combined fuel consumption of 45 mpg.
As for the rest of VW's passenger car lineup, depending on the model, there are new trim levels, adde

Ford C-MAX Energi Plug-in Hybrid to Deliver 550-Mile Range, More than 20 Miles on Electric Power

Once again, the Blue Oval is on a bragging spree specifically targeting Toyota, which we don't know whether it should feel complimented or aggrieved.
Today, Ford said it expects its new 2013 C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid minivan to achieve more than 20 miles (32 kilometers) of electric-only range, noting that's "nearly double the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid".
The automaker added that C-MAX Energi has an overall driving range of 550 miles (885 kilometers), which in theory will allow a driver to go from Sacramento to San Diego on a single tank of gasoline.
"With a maximum electric-only speed projected to top that of Prius plug-in, C-MAX Energi drivers might be able to reach wherever they’re going a little faster, too," Ford added in a cheeky statement.
The C-MAX Energi is said to deliver a fuel economy that is the equivalent of 95 miles per gallon (MPGe) combined city/highway.
"We are proud C-MAX Energi is the first plug-in hybrid that can deliver a 550-mile overall range and more than 20 miles of electric range as it gives customers great flexibility to commute to work, then take off for a road trip while passing many gas stations along the way," says John Davis, chief engineer for Ford’s compact cars and utility vehicles.

Suzuki Freshens Up Japanese Market Grand Vitara for the 2013MY

Along with the Toyota RAV4, the Suzuki Grand Vitara is one of the oldest mainstream models in the compact SUV segment having been in production in its current form since 2005.
In order to keep customer interest high, Suzuki has launched a new model year version of the domestic market Grand Vitara, which is called Escudo in Japan.
On the outside, the subtle facelift brings a newly designed front grille with twin-bars in the shape of wings, a tweaked bumper that gains black trim, black headlamp bezels and new alloy wheel styles, while Suzuki also discarded the spare rear wheel on the tailgate and moved the license plate holder.
The only changes to the interior are the new materials and colors for the seats and door panels.
There's also a new special edition model named "X-Adventure" that comes in a bespoke 'Bison Brown Pearl Metallic' finish, 18-inch wheels, a chrome front grille, privacy glass, a rear spoiler, additional standard equipment such as the sunroof and a suede interior with red accents on the seats, steering wheel and gear shifter.
Suzuki did not say if these changes will be applied on the Grand Vitara sold in markets outside of Japan.

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RQ-170 Sentinel USAF Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

RQ-170 Sentinel USAF Unmanned Aerial Vehicle The RQ-170 Sentinel is a low observable unmanned aircraft system (UAS) being developed, tested and fielded by the USAF. it'll offer reconnaissance and surveillance in support of the joint forces commander. The Air Force's RQ-170 program leverages the Lockheed Martin Advanced Development Programs (ADP) and government efforts to rapidly develop and produce a low observable UAS.

MQ-8B Fire Scout Navy Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

MQ-8B Fire Scout Navy Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Fire Scout is the Navy's vehicle take-off unmanned aerial vehicle (VTUAV), which is programmed to deploy aboard the Littoral Combat Ship and turn into operational in FY 09. through the summer of 2005 The fire Scout was re-designated from one RQ-8B to MQ-8B. This new designation, MQ, reflects the multi-mission functionality of these Fire Scout.

The Fire Scout UAS will provide day/night real time ISR and targeting as well as communication-relay and battlefield management capabilities to support core Littoral Combat Ship mission locations of ASW, MIW and ASUW for the Naval forces. The Navy is Obtaining the MQ-8B Fire Scout UAV to acomplish