Worldcarblog.com

Worldcarblog.com

Thursday, 07 March 2024 05:28

Debuted the new Maserati GranCabrio

The Italian manufacturer has presented another new model.

As stated by Maserati, the new GranTurismo represents a car "dedicated to drivers who demand the highest level of styling, performance, and comfort."

Today history is being made - this has been awaited for a long time Available in the Trofeo version with a 6-cylinder, 3-liter twin-turbo Nettuno engine with 542 HP, the new convertible is entirely manufactured in Italy and features specially designed components, as well as the finest materials for which Maserati is known, to further enhance the driving pleasure.

The roof, available in five different colors, is made of fabric and takes up very little space when automatically "folded" into the trunk in just 14 seconds, which can be done even when the car is moving at speeds of up to 50 km/h.

The new Maserati GranCabrio continues the successful story that has been going on for more than 60 years. Specifically, the convertible variant of Maserati's first sports car, the 3500 GT, was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 1959.

The manufacturer claims that in the case of the new GranCabrio, "attractive design and exclusive elements are perfectly integrated with top-notch technology."

Numerous features and amenities ensure better passenger comfort, such as a mechanism for heating the neck portion of the driver and passenger seats with three levels of intensity in standard equipment.

An optional wind protection accessory is available, which reduces turbulence within the passenger compartment and allows for enjoying the best vehicle aerodynamics.

The TX is Lexus's most family-friendly three-row to date.

Lexus's history with three-row SUVs is not especially heroic. The body-on-frame GX and LX have space but ride like trucks. The now-dead RX L drove better, but its diminutive third row had Porsche 911 levels of comfort. Lexus needed a better solution. Enter the 2024 Lexus TX. Sharing a platform with Toyota's Grand Highlander, it scratches the family-truckster itch better than any of its predecessors.

The TX comes in three flavors of powertrain. Sitting between the 275-hp turbo 2.4-liter and the 404-hp plug-in hybrid, the TX500h features an electric motor, a turbocharged 2.4-liter four, a six-speed automatic, and another motor that motivates the rear axle to provide all-wheel drive. The powertrain is good for 366 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. It parallels Toyota's Hybrid Max setup but nudges output up by four horsepower and six pound-feet.

The extra power helps shore up the 5119-pound TX500h's performance versus the 183-pound-lighter Grand Highlander Hybrid Max. The TX's 5.7-second 60-mph time and 14.5-second quarter-mile both are just fractionally behind the Grand Highlander's. And despite the TX500h wearing the F Sport badge, the adaptive dampers err toward softness, providing a much cushier ride. Lexus also fits larger 15.7-inch front brakes, and the TX's 174-foot stopping distance from 70 mph handily beats its sibling's 187-foot result. The Lexus's 0.85-g skidpad grip also eclipses the Toyota's 0.80-g effort.

HIGHS: Supple in all the right ways, fuel-miser powertrain, space to spare.
LOWS: Steep pricing, some silly interior ergonomics, angry face.
VERDICT: Finally, a three-row SUV worthy of the Lexus badge.

On our highway test, the TX achieved 26 mpg, 2 mpg below the EPA estimate but 2 mpg better than the Grand Highlander's result.

The softly lined cabin's high points include USB-C ports in all rows, the center console's sliding wireless charger and swappable cupholders, and a third row that can fit two actual adults. It's not perfect, though. Electronic door handles still feel strange to us, and we wish the temperature dials had detents for easier no-look adjustments. If only the cabin's demure design were shared by the front fascia, which looks like an angry cheese grater.

At $77,159 as tested, the TX500h is also priced aggressively. But you'd be hard-pressed to find a three-row utility vehicle that treats its occupants as well as this Lexus.

What's in a Name?

Did Lexus name its new three-row SUV after the Lone Star State it calls home? No, but no one minds if you think so. "The 'Lexus Texas' thing was a wordplay we couldn't pass up," a Toyota spokesperson told us, even if the actual origin is "a bit more vanilla." TX stands for "Thoughtful/Three-Row X-Over." A little less vanilla is the similarity to the name of actress Alexis Texas.

Specifications

2024 Lexus TX500h F Sport Performance Luxury AWD
Vehicle Type: front-engine, front- and rear-motor, all-wheel-drive, 6-passenger, 4-door wagon

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $72,650/$77,159
Options: Technology package (peripheral monitor camera, head-up display, remote park assist, digital rearview mirror, interior rearview mirror, garage door opener), $2380; Convenience package (pre-collision system, lane-keeping assist, rear and rear side monitor, digital entry key), $895; 120V/1500-watt power outlet, $560; rear hatch cargo lamps, $399; side puddle lamps, $175; Cold Area package (wiper/window/windshield deicer), $100

POWERTRAIN
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 2.4-liter inline-4, 271 hp, 339 lb-ft + 2 AC motors, 85 and 101 hp, 215 and 124 lb-ft (combined output: 366 hp, 406 lb-ft; 1.4-kWh nickel-metal hydride battery pack)
Transmissions: 6-speed automatic/direct-drive

CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 15.7-in vented disc/13.3-in vented disc
Tires: Continental CrossContact LX20
255/45R-22 107V M+S Extra Load

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 116.1 in
Length: 203.5 in
Width: 78.4 in
Height: 70.1 in
Passenger Volume, F/M/R: 60/54/39 ft3
Cargo Volume, Behind F/M/R: 97/57/20 ft3
Curb Weight: 5119 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 5.7 sec
1/4-Mile: 14.5 sec @ 95 mph
100 mph: 16.2 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.4 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 6.3 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 2.7 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 4.0 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 116 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 174 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.85 g

C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 23 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 26 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 440 mi

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 27/27/28 mpg

Source: caranddriver.com

Tesla cut prices several times last year to stay competitive in the market, and that tactic paid off.

In 2023, Tesla recorded a 40% increase in sales, i.e. it had a total of 1.8 million units sold, and the total revenue is 19% higher compared to the previous year, CEO Elon Musk said.

He stated that revenues slowed down towards the end of the year, but also that significantly weaker growth is expected in 2024.

As Musk stated, Chinese brands represent a serious challenge. He warned that if market restrictions are not introduced, "Chinese competition can destroy most car companies", as reported by CNN.

In support of Musk's call for market restrictions is the fact that BYD overtook Tesla in terms of sales in the fourth quarter, so it is no wonder that the billionaire reacts this way.

Additionally, it's not just Tesla that is lowering prices to stay competitive, Chinese manufacturers are also doing it, so it's up to European brands to see how they can stay relevant in the battle for customers.

A billion people around the world live in areas without electricity. Toyota also supplies vehicles to those regions, so electric cars alone cannot provide transportation for everyone.

Toyota will never switch to electric cars only – hybrids and hydrogen will play an important role in the future.

"Regardless of the progress of electric cars, I think they will still have a market share of 30 percent," says Toyota president Akio Toyoda.

After speaking at the Tokyo Motor Show, when asked how he sees Toyota's future plans with electric cars and hydrogen, Toyoda stated that the answer would take four hours, but still decided to answer in four minutes, writes Revijahak.

Many manufacturers and countries are currently working to switch to electric cars only, and the EU will ban the sale of electric cars by 2035. Toyota has completely different ambitions and plans.

"A billion people around the world live in areas without electricity. In the case of Toyota, we also supply vehicles to those regions, so electric cars alone cannot provide transportation for everyone," said Akio Toyoda.

Hybrids have so far been the most successful technology for reducing CO2 emissions. He says that Japan is the only developed country that, thanks to hybrids, managed to reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 23 percent and that the media is to blame for hiding this information.

"Toyota will therefore produce about 30 percent of electric cars out of about 10 million cars produced annually," claims Toyoda. -

"The remaining 70 percent will be hybrids, fuel cell cars and hydrogen," Toyoda concluded.

Thursday, 25 January 2024 04:35

Opel is reviving the Frontera

The new Frontera will feature a spacious cabin, which should attract customers looking for a compact family vehicle.

 The name Frontera is already familiar to car enthusiasts and fans of the Opel brand. The off-road vehicle based on the Isuzu MU gained great popularity in the 1990s, primarily due to its off-road capabilities.

Opel has now announced the return of the Frontera name, or rather the model that they will introduce to the market this year. The German manufacturer states that it will be an SUV that will be available with electric drive from the start of sales.

The Opel Frontera will have plenty of space in the cabin, which should attract customers looking for a compact family vehicle. In addition to electric versions, petrol engines and plug-in hybrids are also expected.

The question arises: which segment will the Frontera belong to? Given that Opel is launching the successor to the compact SUV Grandland this year, some media speculate that the Frontera will be an extended version of that vehicle. Similarly, the sister brand Peugeot does the same with the 3008 and 5008 models.

On the other hand, there are speculations that the new Frontera is the successor to the current Crossland model.

In any case, you can forget about the former Frontera with a classic steel chassis carrying a body with an engine. The new model will be a family SUV with a monocoque body, which will also have numerous functionalities, just a slightly different structure.

Wednesday, 24 January 2024 05:38

Production of the new Skoda Kodiaq begins

The Czech company has announced the serial production of the new generation of its largest SUV.

Skoda Auto will start serial production of the second generation of the Kodiaq, its flagship SUV model, at the factory in Kvasiny, Czech Republic. In preparing the factory for the new model, the company has made significant investments in the modernization of the production line.

By transferring the production of the new generation Superb from Kvasiny to Bratislava in Slovakia, the Czech car manufacturer has created additional capacity in Kvasiny for the production of successful SUV models Kodiaq and Karoq.

The new Kodiaq had its global premiere in October, and it will be available with petrol, diesel, and plug-in hybrid options with a large electric range.

The design could be described as a variation of the previous model but with many modernized details. Split headlights still exist, the side silhouette is now elongated, and the taillights have been modernized, now connected by a thin LED strip.

Overall, when it comes to design, Skoda has clearly played it safe as it is one of the brand's most important models, which has sold over 800,000 units to date.

The new Kodiaq is "stretched" to 4,758 mm (+61 mm compared to its predecessor), while the wheelbase remains the same (2,971 mm). The car is slightly narrower and lower than its predecessor.

The practicality is unmatched in this segment, and there is a trunk of 910 liters, which is 75 liters more than before. If you choose the model with seven seats, the trunk volume decreases to a still respectable 340 liters behind the third row.

As for the engines, there's something for everyone – it all starts with the 1.5 TSI using "light" hybrid technology and delivering 150 HP, as well as cylinder deactivation technology under lighter loads. The larger 2.0 TSI has 204 HP and comes with all-wheel drive, while the 1.5 TSI is offered only with front-wheel drive.

Those who still prefer a diesel engine can opt for the 2.0 TDI with 150 HP and front-wheel drive or with 193 HP and all-wheel drive. The transmission is a seven-speed automatic.

Finally, there is a plug-in hybrid with front-wheel drive and 204 HP, which can drive up to 100 km on electric power alone. The battery can be charged at alternating current chargers with a power of up to 11 kW and direct current chargers with 50 kW.

Inside, a significant novelty is the relocation of the gear lever to the steering column (all versions come with an automatic transmission).

The multimedia system is available in sizes of 10 or 13 inches, depending on the equipment package. Below the large screen are functional buttons that can be configured to adjust air conditioning, audio system, seat heating and cooling functions, and more.

The supercar with a V12 engine helped Lamborghini achieve a record year in terms of sales.

Lamborghini unveiled the successor to the Aventador in March of last year, and the first units of the new supercar were delivered to customers at the end of last year. Equipped with a V12 engine, the Revuelto has had an excellent start, as the Italian car manufacturer has just confirmed a long waiting list for the company's flagship product.

Lamborghini has released detailed sales results for the year 2023, in which the company managed to sell more than 10,000 cars in twelve months – a new record in the manufacturer's history. While this figure alone is impressive, even more interesting is the fact that the Revuelto is already sold out until the end of 2026.

Essentially, this means that customers ordering the electrified V12 supercar today will have to wait almost three years for their vehicle.

It is important to note that Lamborghini currently only sells the base Revuelto model. "Hardcore" variants and special editions will arrive later in the model's lifecycle, but this will not happen until demand for the base version remains high.

As a reminder, Lamborghini waited seven years after the debut of the Aventador to introduce the upgraded Aventador Super Veloce Jota LP770-4, so a similar timeframe can be expected for the Revuelto SVJ.

Lamborghini expects the Revuelto to play a key role in the brand's growth in the three most important markets. The United States remains the largest individual market for Lamborghini, followed by Germany and China.

The Urus was the company's best-selling product last year, followed by the Huracan.

The last 12 Aventadors were delivered to their new owners last year, and Lamborghini has yet to announce the first production and sales numbers for the Revuelto.

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