Category Car News

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...

Previously, auto makers in Germany usually source the high-strength-steel from local suppliers. Since the smelting technology and quality in China’s steel industry has made significant progress in the recent years, some German factories started to consider the benefit of buying steel materials from China, and they took action in last month.

On 05/24/2014, the first batch of S500MC high yield strength steel made by the Tangshan Iron and Steel Group Company (aka. TangSteel), weights 500-ton in total, was shipped to Germany customers.

The S500MC steel is defined in the European’s EN10149 standard: “EN 10149 – 2 : 1996   Specification for hot-rolled flat products made of high...

BMW will also publish the official image soon. The redesigned X6 borrows a lot of style elements from the new X5, including the grille, headlight housing and also the tail lights.

At least three models will be offered in US: the 300hp turbo I6 X6 xDrive35i, the 445hp turbo V8 X6 xDrive50i and also the range topping X6M (engine output unknown yet).