Carlsson Press Release
Carlsson, the automobile manufacturer specialised on Mercedes Benz models, invigorates the eight-cylinder with significantly more performance. Although the cubic capacity with 6,208 cc has not been changed, the refined power engine renders up to 600 hp (441 kW) instead of the serial 525 hp (386 kW) with the AMG.
Also the maximum torque rises from 630 Newton metres at 5,200 rpm to 705 at 5,100 rpm. With the Carlsson refinement, the sprint from zero to a hundred only takes 4.1 seconds and is therefore half a second faster than the AMG-model. The acceleration is electronically limited at respectable 325 km/h instead of 250 km/h.
C-Tronic Suspension – Intelligent Lowering
Moreover, the best road holding is guaranteed by the electronic lowering kit C-Tronic Suspension by Carlsson combined with the ABC-sports running gear by AMG. This enables to lower the roadster up to 30 millimetres. The high-performance brake system Carlsson Carbon Composite takes over the negative acceleration. At the front axle, 6-piston callipers carve into the 398x36 millimetre carbon composite brake discs. At the rear axle, two 4-piston callipers grab the 330x35 millimetre brake discs and stop the forged Carlsson 1/16 Ultra Light wheels sized 9.5x20 inches at the front and 11x20 inches at the back within the shortest time. As far as the last centimetres to the road are concerned, Carlsson chose the high- performance Dunlop SP SportMaxx with 255/30 ZR20 at the front- and 305/25 ZR20 at the rear axle.
Apart from alterations for the varnish, engine and running gear, Carlsson also equipped the CK63 RS with a new interior. The seat sides, the inner lining of the doors and the cockpit hood scoop are made of charcoal-coloured ultra suede. The light ornamental seam renders an elegant contrast on these component parts. The soft velour car mats and the headrests are adorned with the prancing Carlsson horse. The driver enters the cock-pit by opening the gull-wing RS doors and by stepping over the door sill protectors with the illuminated manufacturer logo.
With the CK 63 RS, Carlsson once more affirms its expertise as an exclusive manufacturer of high-quality Mercedes automobiles. The new model is offered for 272,500 euros including VAT.
For more information about the Carlsson CK63 RS on the basis of the SL 63 AMG and all refining possibilities for the entire Mercedes Benz range from A- to S-class and Smart, please visit the Carlsson website.
Source: Carlsson Press Releases
2009 Carlsson Mercedes-Benz CK63 RS - 6.2L V12 with 600 hp & 520 lb-ft
2009 BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo - Ultimate Driving Machine
BMW Press Release
The BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo is the production-destined rendition of the Progressive Activity Sedan (PAS) development idea. For the first time, this concept car combines the looks and appearance of a sporty BMW Sedan, a modern Sports Activity Vehicle, and a classic Gran Turismo. Perhaps the most outstanding feature of the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo is its combination of stylish quality, luxurious comfort, and remarkable convenience.
As the name indicates, the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo is the ideal car for long journeys while still offering a dynamic driving experience in everyday traffic or short jaunts. The design of the body presents the character of a BMW dedicated to sporting performance.
A brilliant concept for modern mobility
The BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo conveys modern mobility by focusing on the requirements of a discerning driver who appreciates first-class ambience and enjoys all the benefits of a flexible interior.
The interior of the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo combines spaciousness, personal luxury, and an exquisite choice of materials to provide a first-class experience. The entryways allow ergonomically ideal access to all seats, the driver-oriented design of the cockpit, in typical BMW fashion, suggests sporty performance, and the slightly elevated seating position promotes good outward visibility.
Unique design in the rear provides a modern, generous atmosphere. With the rear seats adjustable fore-aft by up to 4”, both legroom and the seat angle may be set to the preferences of the passengers. Headroom is virtually the same as in the BMW X5, giving driver and passengers a genuinely comfortable experience.
Luxury, comfort, and impressive usefulness
With the rear seats slid aft, legroom will be roughly the same as in the BMW 7 Series and luggage capacity amounts to 15.1 cubic feet. With the rear seats moved forward and the rear bulkhead partition opened, luggage capacity increases to almost 20 cubic feet. Even in this position, legroom in the rear still meets the demands for a full-size sedan.
Optimum visibility thanks to the elevated seating position. In the front seats, both driver and passenger benefit from a slightly elevated seating position. This “semi-command” seating position offers an optimum outward view, much like in the BMW SAV models.
Elegant interior design accents the unique feeling of space
In the cockpit, the horizontally arranged, cascade-like surfaces finished in different materials strongly accentuate the width of BMW’s new concept car. The displays and controls are grouped according to their functions. Through its design, the instrument panel enhances the very good visibility provided by the elevated seating position, giving the driver a clear view from above of the control elements for the lights and the start/stop button on the middle level. Also important in this context, the horizontal orientation of the entire cockpit accentuates the generous character of the interior.
The trim bar stretching out as an arch through the entire width of the instrument panel continues into the door panels. The interaction of ascending and descending lines throughout the interior optically connects the front and rear seats. All lines and surfaces, finished with sophisticated materials, taper out behind the rear seats, and give the interior its comfortable and spacious character. The flow of lines, uninterrupted by the B-pillar, emphasises the length of the interior. Last but not least, the feeling of spaciousness is augmented by the center console, which extends all the way to the rear.
Special concept materials and colours within the interior
The colours and materials for the interior further enhance the impression of personal luxury and the interplay of surfaces and lines. All surfaces within the interior are finished in high-quality natural leather, the surfaces on the seats and the door armrests form a “comfort zone” in Glacier White leather. This creates the impression of a bright brand extending around the lower section of the instrument panel, the cool and elegant colour giving particular emphasis to the generous and luxurious feeling of space.
The bright surfaces in the comfort zone are surrounded by a dark, warm reddish brown, this special colour referred to as Copper Brown providing a smooth link to the exterior paintwork.
The impression of modern luxury is further enhanced through the use of authentic materials such as polished billet metal and ceramic elements. The quality of the interior finish is borne out particularly by the solid wood trim with metal inlays extending generously across the instrument panel.
Instrument cluster with colour display in black panel technology
The instrument cluster of the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo is a high-resolution colour display in black panel technology presenting the four round instruments in traditional sports car style, including status displays, navigation data, and information from the Check Control.
Introduced in the new BMW 7 Series, black panel technology ensures precise and sophisticated presentation of the instruments and displays. In Rest mode the entire panel forms a homogeneous black surface. When activated, the numbers on the circular instruments are generated electronically along with other symbols on the display.
The iDrive Control Display screen, arranged on the same plane as the instrument cluster, is integrated into the dashboard as a free-standing element. The Control Display forms one common design unit with the black panel and houses the controls for the audio system and climate. For optical purposes, this unit is separated by the horizontal trim bar with its central ventilation grid and a storage box. In the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo, the special look of black panel technology continues into the center console: dynamism in typical BMW style combined with the elegance of a Gran Turismo.
Exterior Dimensions
The body design of the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo ensures an exciting balance of innovation and tradition. The concept car stands out as a genuine BMW, as the overall look of the exterior clearly alludes to the extension of BMW’s model portfolio made by this unique automobile. Indeed, the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo enters new terrain in the history of The Ultimate Driving Machine.
In its exterior dimensions the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo fits perfectly between the BMW 7 Series and BMW’s various SAV models. Its length of 196.8" is second only within the BMW model range to the 7 Series, while the car’s height of 61.2" is exceeded only by BMW’s X models. The width is 74.8” and the wheelbase is 120.9”.
The characteristic look of the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo results from the car’s proportions - the long hood, long wheelbase, and the greenhouse moved aft bear out the athletic characteristics of a BMW. These features are combined with elements that highlight the qualities of the new concept; the large passenger cell bears testimony to the luxurious, versatile interior. The coupe-like roofline extends into the spoiler at the rear, and represents the sporting elegance of a Gran Turismo.
Paintwork in Fluid Cuprite, a new colour developed specifically for this concept car, again highlights the unique design of the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo. The extremely fine surface flair reminiscent of liquid metal impressively models the surfaces on the body through its powerful contours. And to provide an appropriate supplementary touch, the brake callipers and the inner surfaces on the exhaust gas tailpipes are finished in a new colour called Copper.
Front view with forward-pushing motion
The front view of the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo is characterised in particular by the strong presence of the low-slung BMW kidney grille, the large lower air intake, and BMW’s characteristic dual round headlights. The BMW kidney grille is slanted slightly forward, its upper edge marking the foremost point on the body. The kidney grille is further accentuated by surrounding surfaces.
All contour lines flowing along the engine compartment out of the fenders aim at the kidney grille at the front of the car. The air intake, in turn, is lower in the middle where it extends beneath the kidney grille. And last but not least the contours on the headlight units taper out smoothly towards the middle of the car.
Just as the size of the BMW kidney grille demonstrates the engine’s need for cooling air, the power dome in the middle of the engine compartment lid emphasises the sheer muscle of the engine itself. The outer flanks of the hood facing downward form a cascade-like contour together with the widely flared wheel arches, giving the front view of the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo a wide and powerful look.
The frontal impression is further enhanced by the foglamps positioned at the outer edges of the lower air intake, while the aluminium bars separating the two outer elements on the air intake and extending beyond the foglamps further enhance the look of width at the front.
Dual round headlights typical of BMW; new LED corona rings
The dual round headlights typical of a BMW come with new contour lines and a new technology for the daytime running lights on the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo. Slanted to a distinctive angle and extending far into the fenders, the headlight units are highlighted by surrounding bars, the headlights themselves cylindrical in shape bordering at the top on a matte headlight cover. This emphasises the unique look of the front end, with its clear, penetrating focus. Apart from the turn signals, the new LED corona rings for the daytime running lights generate bright, even light.
Side-view: coupe-like roofline and waistline emphasising the sleek elegance of the car
Appropriate lines along the side create the harmonious symbiosis of the front end, the side view and the rear section on the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo. The dominating feature from the side is the character line of a BMW extending from the outer edge of the headlights and moving back at the same level as the door handles along the entire length of the car, rising up slightly in the process and continuing into the contours of the rear light clusters.
The equally striking sill-line continues into the upper edge around the air intake at the front and the contour in the rear diffuser, this interplay of the waistline and the sill-line making the car look lower and more crouched down on the ground and emphasising the dynamic wedge of the body.
The unusual presence of a coupe-like roofline adds character to the car’s design and is a visual expression of the features and qualities the car has to offer. With its sporting flair, the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo leaves a positive impression through its spacious and generous interior.
The BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo comes with frameless doors, a feature of particularly sporting cars now to be admired for the first time on a 4-door BMW.
The door cutout bars are another special feature, forming one unit across both entry areas and thus corresponding with the overall harmonious flair conveyed by the door panels inside the car.
Large, flared wheel arches symbolise the sporting potential of the car: The BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo showcases 21-inch light-alloy wheels offering excitement and elegance through their unique multi-spoke design. Yet another feature of particularly sporting cars the short overhang, which keeps the fenders low and long. This effect is further intensified by the horizontal lines of the car borne out by the waistline as well as the joint and contour line on the engine compartment.
The “Hofmeister kink” re-interpreted in modern style
The design of the side windows also presents a re-interpretation of a classic BMW feature: on the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo the window surrounds are one-piece, this three-dimensional shape giving the aluminium frame a sophisticated and dynamic look around the famous “Hofmeister kink”. The exterior mirrors also represent a new design element, with the mirror base forming part of the foot of the A-pillars and thus blending harmoniously with the fender of the car.
The BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo offers a new rendition of the “Hofmeister kink.” In this case the inner radius of the “kink” is particularly large, the outer radius strikingly small. This creates an exciting contrast to the roofline moving down smoothly and gently to the rear.
Powerful rear design
The design of the rear end offers a striking impression of this unique concept with its exceptional strengths and features. The two outer roofline as well as the shoulder lines merge into the spoiler on the tailgate, giving the rear in its fastback style a surrounding line while adding a compact touch to the car.
The rear view of the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo is split by horizontal lines highlighting the width and powerful stance of the car. The rear reaches its full width around the wheel arches, with exhaust tailpipes positioned far to the outside also directing the eyes to the wheels. The distinctive light edge in the lower part of the bumper adds a further touch, while a diffuser finished in black marks the gap between the rear valence and the road.
Impressive versatility: two tailgates in one
With the rear panel of the car appearing to start directly beneath the rear light clusters in order to convey a sporting impression, the low loading sill on the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo is not visible at first sight.
Another innovation crucial to the mission of the car is only recognisable when opening the rear hatch: To stow luggage, the bi-modal trunk may be opened in traditional fashion or the entire hatch may be opened to load larger objects. When only the lower section is opened, one loads the luggage compartment as in a sedan, benefiting in the process from the low loading sill. Using the trunk in this way keeps the interior of the vehicle from being disturbed by outside climate effects.
The L-shape of the rear light clusters typical of a BMW is re-interpreted on the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo, with the two rows of light following a dynamic sweeping motion. The rear lights extend far into the side panel, emphasising the full width of the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo even at night.
The rear light clusters are connected by a chrome bar continuing from the waistline at the side into the line extending into the rear lights and thus accentuating the width of the rear end.
BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo: new momentum in a demanding market
With the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo, BMW is again demonstrating its ability to develop innovative vehicle concepts. The world’s most successful manufacturer of premium cars follows the challenges created by the need for up-to-date mobility solutions.
This new concept addresses a demanding driver group seeking to combine style, luxury, and impressive versatility with individual style, while meeting the demands and requirements of an active lifestyle. The BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo offers these qualities and reaches beyond BMW’s existing customer groups.
The BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo thus stands out as a modern interpretation of the Gran Turismo segment so rich in tradition, cars which at all times have combined athletic driving qualities with a truly comfortable interior.
Stylish elegance, luxurious spaciousness, and impressive versatility all come together in the BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo. Features never before combined in one car make the new concept a truly progressive innovation serving ideally to set new standards in the most demanding upper midrange segment.
Establishing a new vehicle segment in this process, BMW is continuing its successful development strategy. Qualities typical of the brand are again carried into a new market with an innovative concept. Hence, BMW is using all of its innovative power to give new customers that unique thrill of The Ultimate Driving Machine® and to continue the ongoing growth of BMW in a lasting, long-term process.
Source: BMW Press Releases
Nissan Tiida
NISSAN TIDA
Goodbye Pulsar, Hello Tiida.... Saying farewell to an old friend is hard to do at the best of times, yet Nissan is confident that the tempting Tiida can fill the hole left by the popular Pulsar by providing a number of changes, including a stylish new look and a copious interior space.
Is the Tiida aimed at the Pulsar audience? Probably not - most of them have bought the new Honda Civic or upgraded to a Golf. If we are to believe the marketing campaign, fans of the TV show "Sex and the City" will be flocking to the car, thanks to its sexy body and smooth ride. But even if we were to believe Kim Cattrall's seductive claims, would this be enough to entice Pulsar buyers back, let alone drivers who are being courted by a range of increasingly impressive small cars from across Asia and Europe?
The Tiida (tee-dah) is an all-new vehicle with zero heritage, so finding a customer base won't be easy for Nissan, and there are many both within the walls of this office and beyond who believe the Australian marketing campaign that involves the promiscuous 40-something character from the City Sex TV show is masking the car's flaws. But that's mere conjecture. Right here, I have a Tiida of my own for a week, and the truth of the matter is that the Tiida a is capable motor vehicle, whose few shortcomings don't affect its overall desirability. The rebuttal to this argument comes in the form of "It's good, but not the best".
With a strong 4-cylinder engine, good fit and finish and happy image (it was called the 'Sunny' in some markets, after all), the Nissan Pulsar set the stage for the under $20,000 small vehicle in the last decade, and was a familiar face on Australian roads for more than 25 years. Can we learn to love the Tiida as much as its popular forebear? Sure we can, but we may have to persevere for another decade or so before it's truly embraced, and it won't be the easiest of objective for Nissan to complete if it doesn't rethink its marketing from the current "It's so sexy you'll faint"campaign to something more facts based, with more practicality.
Make: Nissan |
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Max Power: 93kW @ 5200rpmNissan's new small car is available from $19,990 for either the sedan or the hatch, which is a good start, and just for the record the name Tiida comes from the word tide. Something about ebb and flow...
Anyway, the Tiida is not based on the same Nissan C platform as the Renault Mégane, but the Nissan B platform, and the reason they look fairly similar in size is because the Tiida's B platform has had the wheelbase stretched, and this accounts for the interior's roomy interior.
The Tiida surprised me with its cabin, which in my view is one of the better interiors at this price point. It's grey-black colour scheme sounds fairly drab on paper, but it just seem to work for some reason, and best of all, it's big and roomy, with a rear bench seat that will impress many small car buyers (though the lack of a lap-sash central rear seat-belt is a shortcoming). It's the kind of breed that can match its European class mates, cars from Peugeot, Ford and GM; the 307, Focus, and Astra.
It also passes my initial feel good test: does the steering wheel feel good? Yes. Does the dash layout look right? Yes. Do the dash plastics feel good? Yes. Does it have a decent sounding stereo system. Yes! Does it have an appropriate badge to complete the picture? No.
I don’t want to sound like a badge snob – but for mine the Tiida would be more likely to get a long term guernsey in my driveway if it had a more prestigious badge wrapped around it. The concept of badge identity had never been so highlighted to me before, as the Tiida offers good quality at a value for money price and it's got a certain style that worked for me. Although the overall quality and build falls short of a VW Golf, the new Tiida could quite easily pass around town wearing VW badges and attract a premium in the showroom, and people would still step inside and say "Love the German quality".
I know that Mr. Torr reviews vehicles from a more enthusiastic perspective than myself, judging cars on how they accelerate, whether they corners aptly and if they can do rolling burnouts in second gear -- and if he was reviewing this car he'd probably pan it because it's not a class leader in any of these areas. But I'm a different kind of driver, and though I can see that the car has some issues, drivers spend most of their time inside their cars looking out, and the Tiida doesn't disappoint with its interior.
The Tida drives well around town and on the highway, it's 1.8-litre engine offering the kind of flexibility that only a lightweight small car can offer. All manual models feature a 6-speed gearbox, which I reckon is great idea, as it gives you a bit more acceleration with shorter 1st and 2nd gears, while the final 6th gear helps the Tiida to post pleasing fuel consumption figures - under 7.6L/100km on the combined cycle.
Enthusiasts may not be so happy about the manual transmission's shift action; it's got a clunky, mechanised feel to gear shifts, and makes a bit of noise as well. For an extra $2000, you can opt for the 4-speed auto, but for those after an attractive car that will commute from A to B without slurping down gallons of fuel, the manual Tiida will make sense.
In general driving conditions, the Tiida handles well, with accurate speed-sensitive power steering and nice wheel to steer with. Some will complain of the somewhat stiff suspension that undermines the car's ride quality over rougher surfaces, but I didn't think it was any worse than the generally sporty combinations of ride and handling that are provided by its small car competitors these days. Grip in the wet was a little suspect, but for the most part the car handles well enough. It won't win any awards, but it's chassis helps give you a good level of control over car and engine.
One point I would like to make concerning highway driving is that without a cruise control, my foot got very tired. More so than other cars without a cruise control, which may correlate with the seating position. I think that it is the angle and positioning of the seat and subsequent foot placement that makes for a tiring hold on the accelerator. That said, I'd rather have a tired foot than a sloppy driving position, and I liked how the driver sits in a more elevated position, as this gives the driver greater visibility of the road ahead.
Did I mention that I liked the interior look and feel? The materials have a European feel – no doubt influenced by the Renault design group– and the 4-speaker CD sound system is fantastic, making driving the vehicle a continually pleasurable experience. Other standard features in the entry-level ST model include air conditioning, remote central locking, twin front airbags, power mirrors and cloth seats, all of which rate as decent value in the sub $20,000 new car marketplace.
The exterior styling of the vehicle is different, and bit hard to digest at first, but I think it works. It's got a touch of Honda Jazz - the tall body - and a hint of Renault Mégane in the radically-styled grille section, which is cleft in twain. Another benefit of the new sheet metal is that it gives the car fantastic aerodynamics, which also helps it attain that 7.6L/100km figure. It's 0.29 coefficient of drag ensures that it is a class leader in aerodynamics, and this also translates to reduces wind noise entering the cabin.
Overall: 3/5
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For mine, the Tiida is a four wombat scenario, but the Editor joined me for a few drives and said "this ain't a quad wombat car". Still, it's well priced, well built, and not bad to drive, and possesses an enviably large interior for such a little car. I really feel the car is a step up from the Pulsar in terms of both exterior and interior style, though because it's so young, it may take time for small car buyers to warm to it, and the competition isn't going to sit still during this 'getting to know you' period.
By my reckoning, you could ditch the badge, glue on an Italian or French badge, and charge another third of the price and you’d have a real European contender. And if you're not worried about badge value and not trying to best the neighbours or impress the boss, you could always buy two of them then. The Pulsar may be gone, and there may be animosity towards the Tiida because of this, but I think in time it could find a place in the hearts and minds of Australian small car drivers. Thank you for feeling good on the inside; thank you for your bold European looks.
It can be difficult saying goodbye to an old friend, but I think the Tiida is a good replacement vehicle for the Nissan Pulsar and with a new model update in the next 18 months or so, it could evolve into a real challenger for Toyota's Corolla, Holden's Astra and Ford's Focus as well.
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