Nissan unveils 2017 Nismo GT-R

Few drivers could consider the Nissan GT-R to be a soft, slow and shy automobile in need of enhancement.

But that hasn't stopped Nissan from turning up the wick on its performance car hero, transforming its latest performance car into the faster, sharper and wilder GT-R Nismo coupe.

The 2017 Nissan GT-R Nismo sees a 22kW jump over the standard variant

Starting with the freshly updated 2017 GT-R, Nissan engineers reworked the big unit's 3.8-litre engine so that it produces 441kW of power - 22kW more than the standard model. Most of the Nismo's power advantage stems from larger turbochargers borrowed from the Bathurst 12 Hour-winning GT-R GT3, though it also has a big-bore exhaust system that plays a fruity tune.

Naturally, the GT-R Nismo drives all four wheels through the same six-speed dual-clutch transmission as the regular model.

The Nismo treatment also includes a more aerodynamic bodykit with lashings of carbon fibre that help create genuine downforce, as well as revised suspension components that sync with the car's driver-adjustable Bilstein DampTronic shock absorbers.

On the inside, special carbon fibre seats feature black and red trim, while the new car's redesigned steering wheel benefits from suede trim.

Nissan Australia has not committed to offering Nismo products in Australia. The manufacturer previously said it would prefer to introduce a family of Nismo products, such as the Juke hatchback, 370Z sports car and GT-R supercar as at the same time rather than drip-feeding individual models.

A spokesman for Nissan Australia says the brand is still not in a position to confirm Nismo products or the GT-R Nismo for the local market.

2016 Audi TTS sure footed sports car fun

The Audi TT exterior design is one that can be considered a bit polarizing, either you like it or you don’t. In most cases the design has been a winner with sports car enthusiasts. With a full redesign for model year 2016 the TT has become a bit more aggressive with, as usual for Audi vehicles, a big touch of elegance. Select the TTS and you get an even bigger helping of all of this.

The 2016 TTS gets a big bump in its sport car-ness with 292 horsepower a sizable increase over the regular TT, that’s a welcome 72-hp more. The compact 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine also exhibits 280 lb-ft. of torque. Putting performance at your finger tips, or should I say your right foot.

Of course, Audi engineers never just stop at horsepower they add suspension mods that increase handling abilities and that only starts at lowering the whole package. The TTS is also fitted with Audi’s magnetic ride four-mode adjustable suspension system that heightens the handling abilities and ride comfort.

A bevy of “S” trim items make the TTS stand out with just enough pizzazz to make the owner of a normal TT pine with envy. Front and rear sport fascias and side sills along with “S” mirrors and the requisite quad exhaust tips. The TTS also receives an unobtrusive adaptive rear spoiler. An Audi must are the LED headlights and taillights which have become an Audi signature look.

When owning a modern day sports car one must have an adaptive driver’s sport seat. The TTS has one that will not only cuddle you in comfort it will keep you firmly planted where you belong during more sporting drives. Not only is the driver seat adjustable in all the normal manner it has power adjustable side bolsters so that nearly all drivers of varying sizes can find just the perfect hold on their body.

An added feature that is perhaps this side too far on the side of video gameness is what Audi calls its “virtual cockpit.” Incorporating video graphics and color palette, the system takes the place of a typical display screen mounted center dash. While this puts everything right in front of the driver in the instrument panel it takes any relevance from the passenger, everything is controlled by the driver. Though there remains an MMI control knob on the center console there is little the passenger can do without having the ability to see what they are manipulating. As a driver, I sure don’t want my passenger haphazardly changing what I see on the IP. From the driver viewpoint all the information is easy to read.

Bottom line here with the Audi TTS is it is a driver’s car and even though a manual transmission isn’t in the picture Audi makes one of the best manual mode automatics on the market. With steering wheel mounted paddle shifters the TTS makes one nearly forget about a truly manual gearbox.

In true Audi fashion, power to the road is transferred via the quattro all-wheel drive system one that has seen arduous testing during international competition on racetracks around the world. If there is one all-wheel drive system that can be considered the pinnacle in the world it would be Audi’s quattro system.

Audi tells us that the exterior and interior design cues are influenced by Audi’s supercar the R8. We can see the influence but must be truthful and say there is little that can substitute for the massive power and aggressively good looks of the amazing R8.

Facing reality and getting back in the driver’s seat of the TTS I can still get an adrenaline rush as the TTS turbo kicks and pushes me back in the seat as I head for the Northern California coast for a fun run along the rocky shore.

Delphin Vacuum Cleaner

Delphin Vacuum Cleaner Review 

Fantastic items are absolutely challenging come by. I’m certain that a lot of us have had the encounter of acquiring an item in hopes that it would certainly bring us some kind of ease – as well as undoubtedly while the item lasts, often its performance is short-term, by the way, making the dissatisfaction much more destructive.

That’s why today, I am providing my ideas on a Delphin Vacuum Cleaner my other half acquired years earlier. Years ago!? I recognize. Hey, if an item lasts that long, it certainly is entitled to an appropriate evaluation, and also I’ll describe why. Right here’s my Delphin vacuum cleaner review. You take a look at, regarding 6 years back, my better half acquired a vacuum cleaner from Delphin. This was till the current New Year where my partner as well as I chose to go shopping for brand-new house devices.

Normally, as we navigated along the alleys looking for that pink steam irons and also mocha cream coloured rice stove (Because my partner firmly insists that colour sychronisation is ‘Key’), I took certain notification to vacuum as well as much more especially to their cost. A lot of which sets you back regarding a quarter of the rate we spent for a Delphin vacuum cleaner.

Then I had an abrupt recollection of my previous encounter with vacuum prior to having a Delphin vacuum cleaner. I bear in mind those accessories which ended up being loosened with time, I remember the have to clear those troublesome paper bags, and also certainly those lightweight paper bags wore with time and also prior to I recognized it, I needed to purchase a brand-new vacuum cleaner merely considering that the bags just weren’t being made any longer.

Currently comes in the Delphin vacuum cleaner. 6 years.
My Delphin device has actually been doing faultlessly for 6 years and also it suction electrical is really powerful. And also I have actually listened to from some pals’ evaluation concerning their Delphin system going solid after 10 years also. It certain appeared like it was created for comfort as well as made to last. As of currently, I have a brand-new recognition for a 6 year old vacuum cleaner, my Delphin. It cleanses, leaves the bed as well as couch sensation fresh as well as also cleanses the air throughout those hazy durations we take a look at every year. I suggest, where else can you locate items which are created to last?

As we come close to the future, home home appliances progress to look sleeker and also much more advanced, yet does not have seriously in life-span. My reliable Delphin on the various other hand, never ever neglects to tidy up messes time after time after year. It’s a remarkable item which does exactly what it claims as well as for a long period of time ahead.

My reliable Delphin on the various other hand, never ever neglects to wash up messes year after year after year. It’s a remarkable item which does just what it states and also for a lengthy time to come.

High emissions levels found in more car models in Germany

Germany’s transport ministry has found 30 car models to have conspicuously high amounts of carbon emissions, and higher levels of fuel consumption than their manufacturers have indicated, according to media reports.

German weekly news magazine Spiegel reported Friday that the commission charged by the transport ministry to conduct exhaust measurements on diesel cars following Volkswagen’s Dieselgate scandal had raised red flags on the car models, and would now perform further tests on the models to substantiate its findings.

The Zafira model made by General Motors' (GM's) German subsidiary Opel was one of the cars found to violate emissions levels, Spiegel reported. But Opel said that its own tests conducted within production quality controls had shown no discrepancies in emissions.

But the Spiegel said its own research in cooperation with German broadcaster ARD and environmental NGO Deutsche Umwelthilfe showed that the Zafira emitted 16.5 percent more carbon dioxide than allowed under German emissions rules, and had a higher fuel consumption than it had indicated to authorities.

The magazine said courts had ordered recalls of cars caught in similar cases in the past for as little as a 10 percent difference in emissions.

According to German regulations, car companies have to backpay higher taxes upon proof that their CO2 emissions levels have not been properly indicated.

jd/uhe (Reuters, AFP)

New Peugeot 3008 revealed

The new Peugeot 3008 has been revealed, and will go on sale in the UK next January. This latest version of Peugeot's small SUV gets new styling, more safety technology and an upgraded interior, and will go up against rivals like the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and our Small SUV of the Year, the Nissan Qashqai

                             

What is it?

The 3008 was What Car?'s Car of the Year in 2010, so this latest model should be well received. It has much more of an SUV appearance than its predecessor, taking on a more aggressive and muscular look.

The new car’s dimensions make it the same length as key rivals like the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Renault Kadjar, and while the new 3008 sits higher off the ground than before, its overall height remains the same.

Thanks to clever packaging, though, the new 3008 offers more knee room and a bigger boot. The current 3008 already has a big boot, so expect this new model – which features a sliding floor to make loading easier and which you can sit on - to swallow a family-sized load of luggage without any trouble.

                           

What engines can I choose from?

Likely to be the best seller in the UK is Peugeot’s 1.6-litre diesel – it offers 118bhp and should return over 70mpg, and previous experience has found it to be a particularly flexible engine that’s easy to recommend. Higher-powered versions of that diesel engine are also available, as well as a larger 2.0-litre option, while petrol buyers can choose from a range of 1.2-litre and 1.6-litre engines.

Drivers can choose from five and six-speed manual gearboxes, and a six-speed automatic.

In order to appeal to keener drivers, Peugeot is also offering a new Driver Sport Pack for this latest model, which makes the throttle more responsive, and adds the option of steering wheel-mounted paddles for the automatic gearbox.

  

                           

What equipment does it come with?

We had few criticisms of the old 3008 - chiefly that while its interior offers the raised driving height and good visibility that buyers in this market love, its technology was off the pace with the rest of the market.

For this latest model, Peugeot has fitted its latest i-Cockpit layout. Essentially, i-Cockpit means more technology, and fewer buttons. That's why you'll find an 8.0in touchscreen in the center of the dashboard, alongside a larger 12.3in display right in front of the driver. That display is in place of conventional dials, and is similar to other systems offered by the likes of Audi and Volkswagen.

Drivers can choose between five driving modes, which in turn alter the 3008’s traction control settings. There’s Normal, Snow, Mud and Sand modes, and also one which turns the system off altogether.

Peugeot is really ramping up the amount of safety equipment available in its cars, and that’s why the new 3008 comes with the latest safety gear including Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), lane keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control and blind spot monitoring. There’s also a new 360-degree camera to help with parking.

The 3008 isn’t short on connectivity options, either, and drivers can control their phones through the car’s infotainment screen using the MirrorLink and Apple CarPlay apps. A wireless charging mat is also included.

How much does it cost?

The new 3008 is likely to cost from around £21,000 when sales begin early next year. That’s a small premium over today’s car, and makes the 3008 more expensive than rivals like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson, which are priced from £18,000 and £18,995 respectively.

It’s also significantly more expensive than our current Small SUV of the Year, the £18,545 Nissan Qashqai.

How good are its rivals?

Competition in the small SUV market is some of the toughest around. Both the Hyundai Tucson and the Kia Sportage are well regarded here, but it's the Nissan Qashqai that rules the roost. The new 3008 will have to be very good indeed to compete against those rivals.

Lighter, Faster, Meaner: Novitec’s Lamborghini Aventador SV

Do you find the “standard” factory-fresh Lamborghini Aventador just too blasé? Well, the folks at Novitec have made the car even more potent.

This tuning firm has cranked up the performance of this exotic Italian machine, squeezing a whopping 786 horsepower out of its 6.5-liter V12. In lesser versions of the car this engine is good for “just” 740 ponies.

How were they able to extract an extra 46 horses from it? Well, the main change was through computer tuning, though a more open exhaust arrangement didn’t hurt things, either. This system also helped shave 46 pounds off the car curb weight.

But it’s not just extra power, oh no. This car is the complete package. Novitec has gone carbon-fiber crazy, adding a new front splitter, hood-mounted air extractors, crazy looking rocker-panels and of course a gigantic rear wing just for good measure, all of which is constructed of this feather-weight material.

SEE ALSO: Lamborghini Huracan LP 580-2 Arrives with RWD

These aesthetic changes don’t simply make the Aventador look meaner, they also improve its wind-tunnel performance. Lift while driving at speed is reduced and stability improved. All told, this car can smash the 200-mile-an-hour barrier like a section of lead pipe through a plate-glass window.

Helping it roll along smoothly at those speeds are forged NL3 alloy wheels with a Y-spoke design. These rims are wrapped in Pirelli P-Zero tires for maximum grip. Additionally, the suspension has been lowered by around 1.3 inches.

So, how much does this specially modified Lamborghini go for? Well, the base price for an Aventador is around half-a-million bucks, but pricing for these Novitec enhancements have not been listed.

Audi Plans to Launch a New Electric Vehicle Model Every Year

The German automaker still sees potential with hydrogen fuel too.

Audi plans to introduce a new electric vehicle model every year beginning in 2018, as it races to catch-up to Tesla and other rivals in the luxury car market.

The new effort will begin with its first all-electric luxury-class SUV, which will be based on the Audi e-tron quattro concept car that debuted in September at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt.

Audi CEO Rupert Stadler laid out the plan at the car maker’s annual meeting on Thursday. His comments expanded on a commitment made last year by Audi of America president Scott Keogh that at least one quarter of all Audi cars sold in the U.S. by 2025 will have a plug.

“The first large series all electric car will go into production in 2018,” Stadler said. “And we’re thinking beyond that: as of 2018, we will launch an electric model every year.”

Audi’s electric vehicles won’t just show up in market niches, but also in high-volume segments such as its Q line of crossovers, wagons, and SUVs, he added.

Audi has historically focused on producing gas and diesel-powered vehicles along with a smattering of electric hybrids. Over the past year, it entered the U.S. electric car market with the 2016 A3 Sportback e-tron, a plug-in electric hybrid.

Audi’s shift to electric has been underway—at least internally—for several years. Of course, the diesel emissions scandal that erupted last year involving parent company Volkswagen likely accelerated its efforts.

Stadler, who acknowledged that hybrids and plug-in hybrids have been a transitional and bridging technology for the company, also pushed for a global rapid charging network to encourage the switch to electric vehicles. Just because Audi is pushing electric vehicles doesn’t mean its given up on other fuels like diesel, gas, and hydrogen.

“We see great potential in fuel-cell technology,” Stadler said, adding that his company’s h-tron quattro concept car operates on electric power with hydrogen as the energy source. “Audi has the leadership for this technology within the Volkswagen Group, and will bring it out of research and towards series development in the coming years.”

The German automaker still sees potential with hydrogen fuel too.

Audi plans to introduce a new electric vehicle model every year beginning in 2018, as it races to catch-up to Tesla and other rivals in the luxury car market.

The new effort will begin with its first all-electric luxury-class SUV, which will be based on the Audi e-tron quattro concept car that debuted in September at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt.

Audi CEO Rupert Stadler laid out the plan at the car maker’s annual meeting on Thursday. His comments expanded on a commitment made last year by Audi of America president Scott Keogh that at least one quarter of all Audi cars sold in the U.S. by 2025 will have a plug.

“The first large series all electric car will go into production in 2018,” Stadler said. “And we’re thinking beyond that: as of 2018, we will launch an electric model every year.”

Audi’s electric vehicles won’t just show up in market niches, but also in high-volume segments such as its Q line of crossovers, wagons, and SUVs, he added.

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Audi has historically focused on producing gas and diesel-powered vehicles along with a smattering of electric hybrids. Over the past year, it entered the U.S. electric car market with the 2016 A3 Sportback e-tron, a plug-in electric hybrid.

Audi’s shift to electric has been underway—at least internally—for several years. Of course, the diesel emissions scandal that erupted last year involving parent company Volkswagen likely accelerated its efforts.

Stadler, who acknowledged that hybrids and plug-in hybrids have been a transitional and bridging technology for the company, also pushed for a global rapid charging network to encourage the switch to electric vehicles. Just because Audi is pushing electric vehicles doesn’t mean its given up on other fuels like diesel, gas, and hydrogen.

“We see great potential in fuel-cell technology,” Stadler said, adding that his company’s h-tron quattro concept car operates on electric power with hydrogen as the energy source. “Audi has the leadership for this technology within the Volkswagen Group, and will bring it out of research and towards series development in the coming years.”

Earlier this year, Audi announced plans to reorganize its network of factories to make room for the all-electric SUV and accommodate its larger electric vehicle ambitions. Audi is moving production of its A1 subcompact hatchback to a plant in Martorell, Spain. The Audi Q3, which is currently produced in Spain, will be built in Győr, Hungary.

A factory in Brussels will also produce lithium-ion batteries that will be used by Audi and other VW brands. Audi said in January that the factory will “become a key plant for electric mobility at the Volkswagen Group.”