Monthly Archives May 2014

We got news from our VW source that, the next generation of the Volkswagen Phaeton will be position similar to the Chrysler 300 and Ford Taurus.

This is a big change that can change your mindset that how you view today’s Phaeton. For your reference, the current Phaeton is sharing the same platform with the Bentley Continental GT, and is capable of holding a 12-cylinder engine in front of its front wheel and provide power to all of its four wheels.

If the new Phaeton is designed to compete with cars that are significantly cheaper than the current model’s price tag, we are almost sure that it will not be so close to the Bentley models as it does today...

The Mercedes-Benz’s response to the BMW X6 – the “MLC“, will be named the “ML Coupe” when it is announced in the next year.

Sources told us there are 3 trims planned for the US market at this moment: a V6 base model, a turbo V8 model and an AMG model.

The ML Coupe is sharing the same platform with the ML Class SUV, and will be built  at Mercedes’ Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant along with the ML class.

If you owns luxury cars, please do not be offended by the following content, because this is only an academic research and there is no definite conclusion that who must be what.

A 2012 study by Prof. Piff from the Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley indicates that, based on the 274 samples they acquired from Bay Area local road, they found that the higher the vehicle’s status (more luxury), the higher percentage among them that cut off other vehicles at the four-way intersection with stop signs on all sides, and also higher percentage that cut off pedestrians at a crosswalk.

Here is the paper that published on PNAS (Proceedings of the National Aca...

Maybe there is no such issue in US market at this moment, but at least 6 incidents were reported and verified in China region.

The most serious issue happened on a Chinese customer who bought the brand new Maserati Quattroporte (with the 3.0T engine) back in November, 2013. As of the incident, the car only has around 3,900 miles on it.

On 04/27/2014, that unfortunate Chinese owner drove the Quattroporte in rain for around 3 hours. Then next day the car completely died: it cannot be started and even the door cannot be opened too.

After inspection, Maserati mechanic found tons of water inside of the spare wheel area in the trunk...

Today Nissan announced the 2015 370Z Nismo in its ZDAYS event in North Carolina.

For those who does not want to go over the lengthy official press release, below are some super concentrated information.

New for 2015 Nismo model:

– 7-speed automatic transmission as an available option.

Key difference between the Nismo model and the standard 370Z:

– Upgraded engine to produce 350hp and 276 lb-ft of torque;
– Nismo-tuned suspension;
– Different exterior design (with special dual exhaust appearance)

Following is the press release

2015 NISSAN 370Z NISMO MAKES SURPRISE WORLD DEBUT AT NORTH CAROLINA “ZDAYZ” EVENT

• Refined 2015 Nissan 370Z NISMO makes global debut today at an...