Monthly Archives June 2014

Just like the E550 will be removed from Mercedes-Benz’s 2015 catalog, the same fate falls on the ML550 too.

The current ML550 is equipped with a twin-turbo V8 engine, good for 402hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. For the 2015 model year, only the ML63AMG will retain a V8 engine, the rest of the ML-class lineup will be equipped with several solely V6 engines.

The one on the ML400 (which replaces the ML550) will have the same engine in the 2015 C400, which is a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 with 329hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. Talking about power output, obviously this is a step down from the ML550; but the upside is better fuel efficiency and higher mpg.

Other changes will be the removal o...

The redesigned W205 Mercedes-Benz C Class has not be on sale in US at this moment (the expected date will be around end of August), so there is no US crash protection ratings at this moment.

However European test program Euro NCAP has fully tested the new C Class recently. Unlike IIHS, Euro NCAP does not provide detailed measure data to the car frame, it only provides a rating and points system to the public, so besides the similar result between the new W205 and older W204 generation, we can only judge their performance from the video.

Below are two comparisons between the new and old C class, one is the 64 kph (40 mph) frontal crash test; and another is the 29 kph (18 ...

Because of the high fuel prices, European customers always get more engine choice for the same car model, than people in the US side.

Recently, Audi has expanded its Ultra trim lineup of the A3 to more models, including the 4-door sedan and the convertible. Two transmissions are available: 6-speed manual, 7-speed S Tronic double-clutch transmission.

The heart of the Ultra trim is its super efficient engines, which includes the 1.4 TFSI gasoline turbo, good for 50mpg (EU standard); and also the 1.6 TDI diesel, which achieves 71.3mpg.

The gasoline engine is rated at 150ps and the diesel counterpart is 110ps...

We got this leaked dyno chart from Jalopnik, which clearly shows the output curve of the upcoming 2015 Corvette Z06.

Maximum output: 650hp @ 6400rpm
Maximum torque: 650 lb-ft @ 3600rpm

Although the chart does not show, according to GM, the engine is even able to supply a torque of 457 lb-ft at idle – that is a lot of muscle to move a car.

Update 06/06: below is the official power chart from GM.

Official press release:

2015 Corvette Z06 Rated at 650 Horsepower
Supercharged LT4 V-8 engine is the most powerful ever from Chevrolet

DETROIT – The all-new 2015 Corvette Z06 is the most powerful production car ever from General Motors and one of a few production cars available...

BMW officially released the redesigned 2015 X6 information, along with a lot of images. Below are some highlights:

2015 X6 sDrive35i (RWD) and xDrive35i (AWD)

• N55 3.0L TwinPower turbo I6 engine
• 300 hp @ 5800 rpm
• 300 lb-ft @ 1200-5000 rpm
• 0-60 in 6.0 seconds (0.3 seconds faster than 2014 model)

2015 X6 xDrive50i

• 4.4L TwinPower Turbo V8 (N63TU)
• 445 hp @ 5500-6000 rpm
• 480 lb-ft @ 2000-4500 rpm
• 0-60 in 4.8 seconds (0.4 seconds faster than predecessor)

All models: 8-speed transmission from ZF; xDrive model with torque vectoring feature; 33 – 55 lbs lighter than outgoing models; drag coefficient = 0.34.

Two package lines are available

xLine

• optical underbody protection el...