2012 BMW 1-Series Hatchback

We knew that the next generation of the BMW 1-Series was coming but we didn’t expect to see the compact hatchback making its appearance so early. These official photos along with the first details showed up on a German website called Motor Traffic, as BMW has not yet made an announcement.
Seen here in a five-door format, the new 1-Series evolves the current model’s styling with sharper and more prominent creases all around along with a much more pronounced front end that sports unusually large headlamps pushed to the far corners of the bumper literally hugging the wheel arches.
Unless you happen to own the current 1-Series, you’ll have a hard time discovering the styling differences. Upon a closer look, you may notice the larger center console with new switchgear and the new steering wheel design.
According to the leaked information, the new 1-Series rides on a 85mm (3.3-in.) longer platform that brings the total length of the car to 4,320mm (170-in.). The cargo area has increased by 30 liters, from 330 to 360 liters, while passengers should also feel more comfortable thanks to the longer platform.
Perhaps the most important news about the 2012 BMW 1-Series is the introduction of a brand new 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engine. The German website reported that new powerplant will be available on the 116i with an output of 136-horses and on the 118i with the same displacement but with 170-horses. Diesel options are said to include a 2.0-liter turbo diesel with 116HP, 143HP and 184HP.
The 1-Series is scheduled to premiere at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, but we expect to hear and see more from BMW within the next few days.

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Dacia Duster SUV New Hot Design

Following in the footsteps of Elia, German aftermarket specialists at Eibach and Giacuzzo Design teamed up to create a tuning package for the Dacia Duster SUV. The two companies opted for light modifications in order to stick to the basic character of the Duster and to make sure the price of the tuning package would remain affordable for the car's target group.
An expert in suspensions, Eibach fitted the car with its Pro-Kit Performance Springs, which lower the ride height by 30 mm to improve handling and provide a more aggressive stance. Giacuzzo Design then took over and fitted the Dacia with 20-inch Shark wheels made by Alutec. The rims are painted in black and white and are shod in wide Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires (245/35R20). The tuner takes great pride in the fact that the wheel-tire combination is one of the largest ever seen on the Duster. However, we're not convinced they are the right choice for this type of car, but tastes differ.
Moving on to the front end of the car, there's a bull bar made of polished stainless steel with the company claiming it's "constructed to provide optimum pedestrian protection". We can’t vouch for that, but it surely fits the car's off-road character. Similar bars are fitted to the rocket panels, while the lower part of the rear bumper has been modified to accommodate a double-end rear muffler made of polished stainless steel.

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Skoda’s Hot Fabia RS 2000 Concept

Not that the Skoda Fabia RS 2000 Conceptneeded any help to draw the attention of automotive fans at the Wörthersee show, but the Volkswagen Group was t enough to bring some very pretty faces (and bodies…) to the Czech firm’s stand. You can get a better look at the car and the girls in whichever order you prefer in our high resolution photo gallery right after the jump.

For those of you still with us, we’ll remind you that the Fabia RS 2000 Concept is an open-air version of the widened-up Fabia S2000 rally car sporting the same heavily modified 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine driving all four wheels.

If you managed to keep your eyes of the girls, you may have noticed some of the changes Skoda made to the exterior including the side windows, the bespoke cover behind the rear headrests and the black boot lid spoiler.

The concept’s interior was crafted after the normal Fabia RS (vRS in the UK) and features a set of bucket sports seats up front and more carbon fiber accents than a NASA parts cupboard.

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Ford’s Smallest Production Engine Ever

It took the Ford Motor Company a very long time to jump aboard the turbocharged engine bandwagon for mainstream, non-sport models, but now the Detroit automaker is going full speed ahead with the presentation of a full range of force-fed gasoline powerplants. Ford latest offering is a new 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine, the company’s first three-cylinder unit and its smallest production engine ever.
Designed by the engineering team at Ford’s Dunton Technical Centre in the U.K., the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine promises to deliver performance of a larger four-cylinder unit with even higher fuel economy. It employs all EcoBoost technologies, such as turbocharging, direct injection and twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT).
The Detroit automaker is not yet ready to talk numbers, but Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president of Global Product Development, said the new three-cylinder unit “will deliver horsepower and torque outputs equivalent to or better than most normally aspirated 1.6-liter gasoline engines”.
The new engine, which was first seen in the Ford Start concept mini at the Beijing Show in 2010, and more recently in the Ford B-MAX study at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, will be launched globally in Ford’s small cars and will be available in North America.
“Consumers are telling us they want to buy affordable vehicles that get many more miles per gallon,” said Kuzak. “Our new 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine will give consumers looking for hybrid-like fuel economy a new, more affordable choice.”
While Ford did not specify which models will get the tiny EcoBoost engine, it is believed that the Ka and the Fiesta will be among the first Ford models to be equipped with the petrol unit.
The company said full technical and application information for the new 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine will be released in September at the 2011 edition of the Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany.

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Audi A4 2.0 TFSI Convertible Tuned to 260HP

Even if it has been out of production for some years, the Audi A4 Convertible continues to command the attention of the tuning industry. Sport-Wheels, one of the lesser-known tuning companies in Germany, has presented a new take on the soft-top model with a package for the 2.0-liter TFSI version comprising both mechanical and cosmetic updates.
The tune starts from the A4's engine bay with a reprogrammed ECU and a custom sports exhaust system resulting in a 60 horsepower and 92Nm increase over the standard model for a total output of 260HP and 372Nm (274.4 lb-ft) of peak torque. The package also includes sportier suspension bits from KW .
On the outside, Sport-Wheels kept it simple by adding 20-inch Eta Beta Tettsut X-ceramic alloy rims shod in Dunlop Sport Maxx GT tires in the dimension of 245/30-20, and twin tailpipes on both corners of the rear bumper.

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Chevrolet Malibu 2013 New Design

The current Chevrolet Malibu made its appearance in Dubai not so long ago. And here we have the redesigned version already which has been unveiled as a 2013 model at the 2011 Shanghai International Motor Show.

The new 2013 Chevrolet Malibu appears bolder and the rear squared LED taillamp design is reminiscent of the Camaro. It features an electronically controlled and integrated active aero shutter system that automatically opens and closes airflow through the lower intake vents depending on the air intake requirements based on engine coolant temperature and speed.

Powered by a 2.5-litre Ecotec 4-cylinder “CVVT” engine with direct injection and mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the 2013 Malibu is expected to offer performance and fuel efficiency figures rivalling the best in segment with over 190 hp and 245 Nm of torque on tap. Riding on MacPherson struts in the front and multi-link suspensions in the rear and aided by a supposedly well-engineered chassis, the ride quality, as claimed by Chevrolet, is on par with the many of the well-known premium European marques.

The interior has been revised too. The new car, sporting a shorter wheelbase compared to the previous model, is wider and boasts more rear legroom and trunk space. Chevrolet claims that their all-new dual cockpit interior offers spaciousness and tranquility while sporting premium materials and obviously high levels of craftsmanship. Interior features include ambient mood lighting, available metallic, chrome or wood trims, and a MyLink infotainment and navigation system featuring a 7-inch touch-screen colour display, bluetooth connectivity and online radio services.

On the safety front, the Malibu is available with four-channel ABS, EBD, Brake assist, Corner Brake Control, Traction Control, Stability Control; Front, side, curtain and knee airbags for driver and front passenger, lane departure warning system, forward collission alert and rearview camera. The new car is also pedestrian protection-compliant.

Expect the new Malibu to hit Middle East shores sometime in late 2012. All other details, including performance, options and pricing packages for the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other markets, are currently unknown.

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