New Volkswagen CC to make debut at Los Angeles Auto show

Volkswagen has today released the first images of its new CC, which will be officially unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 16. If it looks familiar, don’t be surprised: over 270,000 people across the world have been won over by its predecessor the Passat CC’s blend of four-door practicality and sleek coupé-like styling.

At the front, the new radiator grille has strong horizontal lines that represent Volkswagen’s new design DNA, flanked by new bi-xenon headlights and topped with a reprofiled bonnet. The bumper is different, too, with a new extra air intake, and silver-coloured ‘winglets’ that frame the fog lights.
Along the side, the frameless doors are carried over from the previous model, but more sculpted sills, revised bumpers and the new bonnet add up to create a subtly updated silhouette.
The rear bumper has also been completely redesigned, with more emphasis on horizontal lines and a reworking of the characteristic chrome strip. The tail lights are new as well, not just in their more dramatic design, but in their use of LEDs. The numberplate lights are also now LED. As before, the Volkswagen logo doubles as the handle for the boot, and it can now optionally contain a rear-view camera.
There’s one last change at the rear, too: ‘Passat’ has been dropped from the name.
While the name may have changed, a comprehensive list of standard equipment remains and expands to include features such as the standard driver alert system, as found on the Passat, and front head restraints with four-way adjustment, to reduce the risk of whiplash. New options include High Beam Assist, which automatically controls dipping of the headlights; Side Assist, which monitors the vehicle’s blind spot; Lane Assist and adaptive cruise control with City Emergency Braking function; front climate seats with massage function; and an electrically deployed towbar.
From launch, the UK engine range will comprise 1.8-litre TSI 160 PS or 2.0-litre TSI 210 PS petrols and a 2.0-litre TDI common rail diesel with either 140 or 170 PS. All models with 170 PS or more also now get a standard XDS differential, an electronic cross-axle traction control system for improved traction and handling.
The CC will make its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show before going on sale in the US in early 2012. Retailers in the UK will start taking orders for the new car around the same time with first deliveries due in March. More details including pricing will be available nearer the launch date.

Brabus to Show 800 Horsepower CL600 Coupe in Dubai

Renowned Mercedes-Benz tuner Brabus will debut its latest and greatest creation at the 2011 Dubai International Motor Show – the Brabus 800 Coupe. Based on the full-size Mercedes CL600 personal coupe, the Brabus 800 Coupe has been heavily massaged at the tuner’s state-of-the-art shop.

Brabus engineers tore the CL600’s 5.5-liter V-12 apart and fitted it with a longer-stroke crankshaft and larger pistons sitting in enlarged cylinder bores. Displacement has grown to 6.3-liters. The cylinder heads have been massaged to optimize air flow and fuel mixture. The engine is finished with a set of special-grind camshafts.
The factory turbochargers have been replaced with two larger units on custom exhaust manifolds designed by Brabus engineers. The turbine housings are integrated into the custom exhaust manifolds. To most efficiently cool the intake charge, four water-to-air intercoolers are used. Intake air is picked up by carbon-fiber ram-air intake integrated into the hood. Spent gas is expelled through a high-performance stainless-steel exhaust system with high-flow catalytic converters.
The engine and turbo orchestration is controlled by a precision-tuned engine management system for maximum power and emissions compliance – the engine meets current EURO V standards. ARAL supplies the high-performance powertrain’s lubricants. The engine cranks out 800 horsepower at a low 5500 rpm and a massive 1047 pound-feet of torque at 2100 rpm. When fitted in the car, torque is electronically limited to 811 pound-feet.
The engine is backed by a beefed-up old-school five-speed automatic transmission that sends power to a Brabus high-performance limited-slip differential. The factory Mercedes vehicle stability systems remain, but can be switched off with the touch of a button.
So what is 800 horse and 811 pound-feet good for? Brabus claims the 800 Coupe will rip to 62 mph in just 3.9 seconds and to 124 mph in a mere 10.3. Top speed is governed at a ridiculous 217 mph.

The German tuner didn’t neglect its stopping ability either. The 800 Coupe has been fitted with vented and drilled 16-inch front rotors and 15-inch rear rotors squeezed by six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers, respectively. The Brabus high-performance brake system hides behind the tuner’s Monoblock wheels in a choice of 18- to 22-inch sizes. The car hunkers down on the rims thanks to the Brabus ride-height lowering module that is tuned for the extreme low-profile rubber and lowers the coupe one inch.

The car has been fitted with several aerodynamic aides including a front spoiler, rear deck-lid spoiler, and rear lower fascia insert that features a central reflector and cutouts for the quad exhaust tips. Body add-ons were tested in a wind tunnel.

The 800 Coupe is painted Diamond-White Metallic. Inside the luxury coupe’s white leather and black Alcantara have contrasting seams and diamond-pattern topstitching. A new ergonomic sport steering wheel join Brabus scuff plates with backlit logo, aluminum pedals, foot rest and shifter. Carbon-fiber pieces and “checkered flag” matte surfaces finish off the interior upgrades.

The Brabus 800 Coupe can be ordered complete or you can have you current-generation CL600 retrofitted with the complete treatment. The price for this upgrade was not officially announced, but you can expect a hefty premium over the “standard” CL 600’s approximately $160,000 sticker.
Source: BRABUS

2012 Audi A7 3.0 TFSI

Prestige is a beautiful car with stunning lines that had strangers walking up to me asking what it was. Guess those four big rings in the grille were missed by the admirers. And inside, the car is just as sweet, with supple leather, beautiful wood inlays and satin metal finishes. The car is stunning inside and out.

And there's nothing to quibble about with what's under the hood, either. The 3.0-liter supercharged V6 was packed with enough motivation to keep my commuting interesting. But this clearly is a cruiser rather than any sort of sports car. But that's OK, as this is one car that is just fine getting by on its great looks.

A couple of minor annoyances that we've seen before on Audis include a brake pedal that didn't engage until it was nearly to the floor. That's not a secure feeling when you need some instant stopping power. And at times, the throttle was touchy with an almost light-switch-like feel: either on or off. But overall, this car is a gem.

ART DIRECTOR TARA KLEIN: Where do I begin? The Audi A7 is a simply gorgeous car that breaks boundaries and oozes luxury. I was lucky enough to spend a weekend with this beauty and I came away impressed, to say the least.

First off, the streamlined nature of this car creates contours that disguise the typical sedanlike qualities. The rear is so tapered that at first glance, most would deem this a coupe. This seems to be a growing trend, and the A7 is one of the best at achieving this look. 

The interior puts just as much emphasis on form and function, resulting in a modern, impeccably designed cabin that is also inviting and easy to utilize. The mixture of the beige leather seats, wood trim, and black and silver accents separated by swooping lines create a dynamic yet clean layout. 

The trunk is button controlled and provides ample space for an average amount of storage. I moved some more boxes to my house this weekend, and the A7's capacity worked out just fine. Obviously this car isn't catered toward moving a large amount of stuff, but it easily accommodates everyday needs.

As far as technology goes, this A7 is chock-full of it. The hidden display that pops up when started features navigation with satellite imagery from Google Earth, which is a huge bonus for the directionally challenged such as myself. The front and rear sensors with notification graphics that pop up onscreen are also accommodating, as is the blind-spot assist and the backup camera. While driving a friend to our favorite flea market, she wondered why her seat felt chilled and was amazed by the seat-cooler function, as well as a slew of other bells and whistles housed in the A7--including the bold look of the LED running lights and the spiral-shaped taillights. 

To put it simply, this car handles extremely well. The rate of acceleration and braking was spot on, and passing in both expressway and two-lane situations was effortless. I encountered my parents' dirt roads this weekend, as well as many pockmarked rural Michigan paved roads, and I was slightly bummed with how this thing absorbed the bumps. Don't get me wrong, road blemishes were not met with violent reactions, but most, if not all of them were indeed felt. As I turned back onto smooth pavement, however, the ride quality quickly turned back to butter status.

Honestly, while writing this review, I had to take time to think of loads of positive descriptors and phrases to use to describe this car, and many of them don't do it justice. The A7 is not only a stunning car inside and out, it is inspiring and treads a modernized direction that I can only hope gives foresight into what we can see more of in years to come.