mercedes-benz concept

mercedes-benz concept

The Mercedes-Benz GLK-class is just about on sale and the German luxury automaker is bringing four concept variants of its new 'ute to the SEMA show. First up is a GLK modified by famous tuner Brabus. Called the Widestar, it started life as a GLK300 BlueTec and now sports a widebody kit with a redesigned front and rear and big fender flares to reign in the custom Brabus wheels. It also features a special edition interior from Brabus.
Second is the RENNtech Rally Racer. It was inspired by cars that tackle the Pike's Peak hill climb in the unlimited class. This GLK is fitted with RENNtech's first hybrid powertrain to improve acceleration off the line and exiting corners.
Third, a GLK by Boulevard Customs. This shop decided to turn their vehicle into a street machine, giving it a widebody kit hanging over massive 26-in. wheels. Inside the Urban Whip, passengers are treated to a custom interior and a hugely powerful sound system.
Last, the Legendary Motorcars Company has gone the opposite way with their GLK, instead creating an off-roader called the Four Corners Rock Crawler. The vehicle features a unique winching system for bringing skateboarders and wakeboarders up to speed so that they can grind down the vehicle's special side rails.

mercedes-benz concept

mercedes-benz concept

mercedes-benz concept

2012 Audi R8 GT Spyder

2012 Audi R8 GT Spyder

Even lighter, even more powerful, even more captivating: The Audi R8 GT Spyder delivers breathtaking performance. The open-top flagship version of the high-performance sports car develops 412 kW (560 hp) and - thanks to Audi ultra - has trimmed a full 85 kilograms (187.39 lb) from an already low weight. The Audi R8 GT Spyder accelerates from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 3.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 317 km/h (196.97 mph).

One year ago, Audi unveiled the R8 GT in coupe form as the new flagship model of the R8 model line. It wasn't long before all 333 units in the limited series were sold out. Now the open-top version of the high-performance sports car is being launched, with production again capped at 333 units. Each car sports a tag with its individual number on the gear lever knob.

The Audi ultra lightweight technology is the key to the Audi R8 GT Spyder's weight of just 1,640 kilograms (3,615.58 lb). That's 85 kilograms (187.39 lb) less than its technical basis, the R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI quattro. The Audi Space Frame (ASF) body, consisting of cast nodes, extruded sections and aluminum panels, accounts for just 214 kilograms (471.79 lb) of the total weight. The body is assembled predominantly by hand in the R8 workshop at the Neckarsulm plant. Final assembly of the car takes place in the same way.
The engine frame is made of ultra-light magnesium; the long cover over the soft-top compartment and the large side panels at the rear are made of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP). CFRP is also used for the modified front spoiler, the fixed rear spoiler and the new rear bumper. Together, these components provide a weight saving of 5.5 kilograms (12.13 lb).

Visual modifications accentuate the styling of the Audi R8 GT Spyder. These include add-on parts in contrasting titanium gray, a front splitter with a dual lip, flics at the sides of the front bumper, red GT badges, round exhaust tailpipes, an enlarged diffuser and dark LED tail lights in a clear-glass design. Audi offers an optional windshield frame in matt CFRP.

Audi engineers also trimmed weight from the technical components in the area of the transmission, wheels and brakes. In the interior, the bucket seats alone, with their chassis of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP), saved 31.5 kilograms (69.45 lb) of weight.

In classic Audi fashion, the Audi R8 GT Spyder features a lightweight fabric soft top that is extremely quiet and fully suitable for highway cruising. Its electrohydraulic drive brings it up or down in 19 seconds, even at speeds up to 50 km/h (31.07 mph). The extendible glass rear window is nestled in the bulkhead, separate from the soft top. Integrated in the bulkhead is a rollover protection system comprising two pretensioned plates.

Prodigious power: the drivetrain

The performance offered by the new top-of-the-line model in the R8 family is formidable. The 5.2-liter V10 with an aluminum crankcase draws its fuel from an FSI direct injection system. Dry-sump lubrication ensures a reliable supply of oil even under maximum lateral or straight-line acceleration.

With its modified electronic management, the long-stroke engine produces 540 Nm (398.28 lb-ft) of torque at 6,500 rpm, and its peak output is 412 kW (560 hp). Each unit of horsepower has only 2.93 kilograms (6.46 lb) to move.

The Audi R8 GT Spyder catapults from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 3.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 317 km/h (196.97 mph). In every situation, the engine impresses with its thrust and bite - and that unmistakable sound of an Audi ten-cylinder.

The Audi R8 GT Spyder comes standard with an automated six-speed R tronic transmission with two fully automatic modes. In the additional manual mode, the driver can shift gears using the paddles on the steering wheel or by flicking the joystick. At high load and revs, gear changes take only one-tenth of a second. The launch control program manages the starting sprint with high engine speed and precision-control of the tire slip.

The quattro permanent all-wheel drive has a strong rear-wheel bias, granted by the axle load distribution. If the situation calls for it, the system sends additional torque to the front axle. In tandem with the limited slip differential at the rear, it provides an added measure of traction, stability and cornering speed, giving it a strong lead over the rear-wheel-drive competition.

The suspension, too, is unrivaled in its performance. Aluminum double wishbones locate the wheels, and the rack-and-pinion power steering provides intimate contact with the road. Taut tuning lowers the body by approximately 10 millimeters (0.39 in). The open high-performance sports car has 19-inch wheels, with 235/35 tires up front and 295/30 tires at the rear. The large, lightweight carbon-fiber ceramic brake discs decelerate the car with supreme ease. The ESP stabilization program has a sport mode and can also be deactivated entirely.

Pure comfort: the interior and equipment

Great attention to detail is evident in the materials and workmanship inside the car. The salient aspect of the controls is their logically structured design. The open two-seater offers a roomy interior, and its front end can accommodate up to 100 liters (3.53 cu. ft) of cargo. The rear bulkhead houses three storage compartments.

The interior is black and can be adorned with stitching in a choice of titanium gray or crimson for added refinement. Alcantara upholstery comes standard - on the sport steering wheel and windshield frame, too.

Audi also offers leather in Fine Nappa quality. Numerous details - including white dials and R8 GT logos - provide classy accents. The distinctive R8 "monoposto," a large arch encircling the driver's cockpit, is made of matt CFRP.

Audi ultra requires no sacrifice on the part of Audi R8 GT Spyder owners. The standard equipment includes LED headlights, LED tail lights, an automatic air conditioning system, the navigation system plus, an alarm system and the driver information system with a built-in laptimer.

Audi also offers a sophisticated sound system from Bang & Olufsen and a Bluetooth interface including a seatbelt microphone for carrying on a phone conversation conveniently. Options specific to the R8 GT include bucket seats with a carbon-fiber composite chassis, matt CFRP applications and embroidered logos on the seat upholstery.

The Audi R8 GT Spyder will have a base price in Germany of 207,800 euros.

2012 Audi R8 GT Spyder

2012 Audi R8 GT Spyder

2012 Ford Taurus Interceptor Stealth Concept

2012 Ford Taurus Interceptor Stealth Concept

We first laid eyes on the Taurus-based 2012 Ford Police Interceptor back in March, but the automaker is apparently playing with ways the car could potentially fly under the radar. The new Police Interceptor Stealth concept, unveiled at the 2010 Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas, mixes the appearance of a sport sedan with the specialized equipment of a police cruiser.
According to Ford designer Melvin Betancourt, the SEMA show car draws the majority of its inspiration from the legendary Lockheed Martin SR-71 Blackbird. Although we doubt the Taurus-based cop car was fitted with ramjet engines and is capable of reaching supersonic speeds at the fringes of our atmosphere, the Interceptor Stealth concept does sport a similar look: black paint, black wheels, black grille inserts, and deep-tinted window glass all around.
2012 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor Stealth Concept Side View
 Sounds neat, but seeing as the Stealth was destined for SEMA, Betancourt's team decided to add a little pizzazz. The Interceptor's suspension was lowered by one inch, while stock Taurus taillight assemblies have been smoked to blend in with the paint job. The stock 18-inch steel wheels have been replaced with giant 22-inch rims, which feature staggered rim sections and chrome accents, not entirely unlike wheels offered on the outgoing Crown Victoria Police Interceptor.
"The center of the wheel is glossy black, and the rim is chrome," Betancourt said. "So we have that racy, hot rod look, but at the same time we're building a sinister, stealthy, 'Don't mess with me' feeling."
2012 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor Stealth Concept Side View
The stealth theme continues within the Interceptor itself. Along with the black seating, headliner, and pillar trim, Police-spec radios and computers -- equipment Ford worked so hard to integrate into its new Interceptor -- have been hidden within a modified Taurus center console. Additionally, the Stealth concept also receives a locking gun compartment within the glove box.
Although we enjoy the notion of a slammed, bad-to-the-bone Taurus SHO, we'd be a little intimidated to see an Interceptor Stealth popping up in our rearview mirror. Ford hasn't officially announced any undercover versions of the production Police Interceptor, but it wouldn't take much -- a Taurus grille and a SHO emblem, perhaps? -- to make the ultimate unmarked patrol car.

2012 Ford Taurus Interceptor Stealth Concept

2012 Ford Taurus Interceptor Stealth Concept

2012 Ford Taurus Interceptor Stealth Concept

2012 Ford Focus ST

2012 Ford Focus ST

Early this year, Ford made a splash at the 2010 Detroit auto show with its next-generation Ford Focus, although some performance enthusiasts were disappointed with the specifications released at the time. Surely the brand that built the mighty Focus RS wouldn't leave enthusiasts out in the cold, would it? At the upcoming Paris motor show later this month, Ford will throw them a bone with the next-generation Focus ST.
Essentially a middle ground between the pedestrian Focus and the unhinged Focus RS, the Focus ST has traditionally offered more power and a sportier look and drive than your average Focus, without the incivility and price tag of the RS. Ford, to its credit, sees no reason to alter this formula. It will show an "early preview" of the next-generation ST, the first car born from the company's new global Performance Vehicles strategy, in Paris ahead of the car's global launch at the end of 2011 or early 2012.
For now, Ford calls it the "range-topping" Focus, a nod to the retirement of the current Focus RS, whose successor is not yet confirmed. All Ford will tell us at this time is that the Focus ST will come equipped with the most powerful version of the new EcoBoost turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, providing roughly 250 horsepower to the front wheels. Our eyes tell us that this car will deliver the power via a six-speed manual transmission, though it's possible Ford could offer its PowerShift dual-clutch automatic as well.
Assuming the new Focus ST follows the same path as the car it's replacing, don't expect too many more mechanical changes. While it's possible Ford could include the Focus RS' RevoKnuckle front suspension (a variation on the traditional MacPherson strut that reduces torque steer), it's more likely that the car will use MacPherson struts to keep costs down. Given the power output, a limited-slip differential would be a nice feature, but isn't guaranteed. Both the front struts and the rear "Control Blade" multi-link suspension will likely be re-tuned for a stiffer, sportier ride. Ford promises "an intoxicating cocktail of exhilarating performance and handling accompanied by an addictive sound."
Differentiations between the standard Focus and Focus ST won't be hidden under the skin. Ford has torn apart and reworked the front and rear of the Focus to create a distinct Focus ST. A hatchback body will likely be the only variant based on previous ST models, so the car you see here will likely be very similar to the car that arrives at dealers.
Ford has done the most work in front, where it has completely revamped the car's sheetmetal. A revised hood offers deeper strakes around the reshaped headlights and the rows of LEDs that form the driving lights. Below is a gaping grille with blacked-out vertical elements and a small ST badge. Further below, an aggressive splitter hides repositioned fog lights at its outermost edges. In all, the look is vaguely reminiscent of a modern Aston Martin.
Ford's also been busy at the other end of the car. Up top, the standard hatchback's small spoiler has been replaced with a larger, more aggressive piece to match the car's new muscular look. Below it, the taillights have been slightly revised and the beefy rear bumper is all new. It features a futuristic center exhaust tip flanked by diffusers integrated into the bumper.
Around the sides, Ford has given the car sharper lines and bulked up the fender flares for a sportier appearance. The new look is finished off with a set of large five-spoke wheels similar to those seen on a standard Focus, but with thinner spokes to show off the big, body-color brakes, finished in gold with low-profile tires.
The whole car is coated in a new metallic orange paint Ford calls Tangerine Scream that carries over to the all-black interior, where it can be found accenting the bolsters and headrests on the black leather seats and in the accent stitching on the seats, arm rest, shifter boot, steering wheel, door panels, and dash. It's complemented by blacked-out trim on the dash and steering wheel and carbon-fiber trim on the center stack. Brushed metallic accents can be found on the shift knob, steering wheel, and door handles. Finally, Ford has fitted a set of auxiliary gauges to the top of the center stack showing the oil pressure, oil temperature, and turbo boost pressure.
2012 Ford Focus ST Front View
So far, we like what we see, but we're left with a lot of questions. While the Focus ST is a safe bet for European markets, Ford has said nothing official yet about a U.S.-spec car, although we fully expect this ST to come to the U.S. at some point, especially given the "One Ford" mantra that is now in full swing. With rival GM reportedly working on a 260-horsepower version of the Chevrolet Cruze to replace the old Cobalt SS, a Focus ST makes sense here, at least to us enthusiasts. Ford also hasn't announced pricing for this model yet, but it will likely carry a significant premium over a standard five-door Focus.
We should learn more about the new 2012 Ford Focus ST when it makes its debut at the Paris show September 30-October 1, where it will share the stage with all three variants of the standard Focus: sedan, hatchback, and wagon, together for the first time. Stay tuned for our complete show coverage live from the floor of the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.

2012 Ford Focus ST

2012 Ford Focus ST

2012 Ford Focus ST