Punta Secca (RG) - Italy

Petrol Station , after a test Drive – iPhone4

A new baby Porsche is born and i just could not be more happy and inspired about it !

Performance :  behind the seats are two flat-six engines with direct injection, thermal management and start/stop functionality. The base Boxster uses a 2.7-liter flat six, good for 265 horsepower (10 hp more than its predecessor) while the Boxster S is powered by a 3.4-liter six that produces 315 hp (an increase of 5 hp versus the 2012 model).

The standard Boxster will run to 60 miles per hour in 5.4 seconds with the seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission, while the Boxster S will do the same jaunt in just 4.7 seconds. A six-speed manual gearbox (what, no seven-speed?) is also available with either engine. Porsche will offer a Sport Chrono package that further enhances performance, adding things like dynamic transmission mounts and Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV).

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Peugeot has been very quick at reconsidering the design direction it took few years ago and just three years after the launch of its first generation 308 is introducing a radically redesigned generation that will soon make its predecessor a mistake to forget overnight.

To make sure the message is heard loud and clear the French maker will show the entire range in Geneva: the “Saloon” 5-door hatchback “Saloon” (?!), the Convertible Cabriolet (CC) and the Station Wagon. It will also be announcing that, come this autumn, the 308 will be the second model range to be available with a “micro-hybrid” diesel (1.6 litre HDI) with a second generation Stop & Start.

From launch Peugeot claims a fuel efficiency that cuts CO2 emission to 104 g/km, for the 308 hatch-back with the 112 HP 1.6 litre e-HDi FAP power-plant. This value, says Peugeot, is due to go further down to 98 when official tests are completed by summer this year. All together Peugeot has planned four gasoline engines with output ranging from 98 to 200 HP and four diesels (93 to 163 HP).

On average each model is 25 kg lighter and the most aerodynamic configuration reaches a drag coefficient of CX 0.28.

The new Peugeot 308s will go on sale starting in April.

The three models come with a new, more fluid and balanced look and a certain style. The design is positively more dynamic and elegant yet emotional.

The overall dimensions are virtually unchanged but, through a new design language, a less wide and aggressive “mouth”. The innovative wrap around, panoramic, glass at the rear that overlaps the rear quarter panel pillars grant  the Saloon a distinctive appearance.

On the SW, the contours of the robust lower panel and the rear lights allow for a wide boot aperture. The low load sill resulting from this design makes for easy loading and convenient access.

Refinement is the key word and details such as new Xenon headlamps with titanium coloured mask, the very fashionable LED lights and the GTi finish for the Saloon.

In the clear light of Cape Town’s wharf, the all-new BMW 650i Cabriolet proudly shows its beauty and style. The latest generation of open-air luxury on wheels is longer, lower and wider but with its soft and rounded shapes it looks more compact, light and agile.

Although a further bit heavier, on the road it is agile and easy. It just took me a little been longer than usual to adjust to it. First because in South Africa they drive, as we say, “on the wrong side of the road” and in addition the virtually 1.9 metres wide car was taken on roads not exactly as wide as they are in the U.S.A. However, by the end of the day I had greatly enjoyed the drive with the open rood as well as the ride in the rear seat with the superlative soft-top roof closed.

The ride proved that BMW designers and engineers achieved their goals in term of roominess and comfort for the driver and three passengers. Even at high speed the driver and myself could entertain a long conversation without shouting, and with the open roof we could do 160 km/h without being annoyed by the air floor contouring the car.

There is no question this new cabriolet is a wonderful piece of design and engineering on wheel, inside, out and under the front bonnet as well as under the body frame. Architecture, weight distribution, suspension and electronic are mixed to deliver an overall balance of very high standards despite the unavoidable compromises requested to a luxury automobile that must be right for a large number of markets and a very wide variety of drivers. From high-speed performance on German autobahns to Miami boulevards and the streets of Tokyo and London. In my opinion this car is perfect for Paris, Dubai and, yes, Cape Town.

The extended wheelbase (increased by as much as 74 mm.) that adds 75 mm. to the length of the 6 series cabriolet and a new design of the rear seats dramatically increase the roominess and comfort of this 2+2 cabriolet that, with some reserve, could even call itself a four-seater open-air cruiser.

The 4.4-litre eight-cylinder engine is really something. It effortlessly – also thanks to the 8-speed automatic transmission – delivers to the rear wheels as much as 300 kW/407 hp between 5,500 and 6,400 rpm, and puts its peak torque of 600 Newton metres (443 lb-ft) on tap between 1,750 and 4,500 rpm. This superlative engine, whose turbochargers are positioned in the V-shaped area between the cylinder banks, is a feast for the enthusiast driver and grant very safe overtaking.  It takes just 5 seconds to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph). The temporary top-of-the-range powertrain (to be surpassed by the M6 one day) also claim outstanding efficiency for a car in its class, with average fuel consumption of 10.7 litres per 100 kilometres in the EU test cycle (26.4 mpg imp) and CO2 emissions of 249 grams per kilometre. BMW also offers a 3.0-litre six-cylinder in-line engine with the new BMW 640i Convertible which TwinPower Turbo technology grants the “smaller” power unit 235 kW/320 hp at 5,800 rpm and maximum torque of 450 Newton metres (332 lb-ft) between 1,300 and 4,500 rpm. The performance remain very good: 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.7 seconds, electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph) and average fuel consumption at 7.9 litres per 100 kilometres (35.8 mpg imp), while CO2 emissions are down to a very acceptable 185 grams per kilometre.

On the technology front there is nothing missing in the menu offered by BMW either as standard or optional equipment, not to mention the potential for personalisation available at the BMW Individual sub-brand. The list of opportunities proposed by the marketing guru is so long that I shall let BMW dealers’ sale-person take you through the luxury tour of amenities.

Back to design, once again this speaks for itself in the 650i, as Adrian van Hooydonk stressed in his presentation, yet I like to voice my enthusiasm for the brilliant balance between harmony and elegance on one side and the style and character of this major evolution of BMW’s modern vision of its luxury cabriolet.

The surface is nice and clean, fluid and elegant, classic and yet modern, aristocratic but emotional. The design language is elegant and consequent all the way through.

The facia design may split opinions with its “strongly driver oriented” approach and in the car I drove, the colour combination of the upholstery further emphasized the feeling that the front passenger is confined in a small niche. This is just an impression; the space for the passenger legs is all right and he has nothing to complain. Yet, he may feel to be in business-class whereas the driver is in first, and, confirms Adrian, this was intentional and long debated.

The new cabriolet has been developed from a proposal penned by Nader Faghihzadeh, who proved he is as talented when it comes to exterior design as for interior design. Indeed he also has to his credit the interior design of the latest 7 series.

However, this new Cabriolet comes from far away and from a unique team of designers by thename of Chris Bangle, Adrian van Hooydonk (respectively director of the BMW Design group and head of BMW design when the car was developed) and Anders Warming, head of exterior design and now of head of BMW design.

If the new Cabriolet is so attractive and somodern and emotional in its classic elegance it is because its predecessor was advanced and somewhat provocative. When the project was launched, the design approach need not to move further forward but could afford to focus on dramatically improving the breed. The new overall dimensions are the key, and winning factor, perfectly complemented by the sensitivity for shapes, volumes, shadows and highlights that deliver that perfect balance between elegance and sensuality that best competitors have not been able to achieve so far.

Is everything absolutely perfect in the BMW 650i? Well, almost. Journalists tend to feel they have dine their job all right if they do not find out something is wrong or missing and I am not an exception. First I was annoyed to incidentally push the “open roof” bottom place on the central console in a position that make the unwanted action inevitable if you rest your “inner” arm on the console itself, which everybody driving in relaxed mood tends to do.

At high speeds and in “sport” setting the steering fell and precision is wonderful but at low speed and on straight lines the feel of the steering wheel is vague and nervous, especially if the 650i us fitted with big and fat 19 inches wheel and the road is not a billiard floor. Visibility at rear, even with the roof open is absolutely critical and makes the camera a must.

First test drives of the beautiful 2011 BMW 650i cabriolet are going on in South Africa. You may have a look at our photo gallery now and come back from a report from Cape Town within a day or two.

Photo Gallery BMW 2011 650i Cabriolet

After “inventing” the convertible-coupé for their first generation SLK, first launched in 1996, Mercedes-Benz is keen to maintain their leadership in the speciality and further develop the “air and light” unique atmosphere inside their cosy Roadster. The third generation is being launched this year. With orders collected starting January 17^th. In Germany the starting price is € 38,675.00 for the SLK 200 BlueEFFICIENCY (€ 44,256.10 for the SLK 250 BlueEFFICIENCY).  Although not cheap the new Mercedes-Benz SLK is probably the most affordable convertible-coupé of this class.

The 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLK is the first production “coupé” to introduce a glass roof with variable transparency – from “almost clear light” to a “dark blue” light at the touch a button – through photo chromatic technology. A technology that can be applied to any glass surface and that is likely to be applied furthermore in the coming years. Mercedes-Benz calls their roof by the name of “Magic Sky Control”, with typical marketing-communication overtones.

“The new SLK embodies the role of the trend-setter like no other car”, says Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars. “I am convinced that with its passionate design, its high-quality interior and its modesty at the filling station it will continue to provide an enormous amount of fun on the road in future, too, consolidating its status as a cult roadster.”

Next, the company stresses the frog leap in fuel efficiency, claiming performance that are up to 25% better with the introduction of start/stop engine management for their four and six cylinder engines and a better air drag coefficient down from 0.32 to 0.30.

ICONIC DESIGN.

According to the company, the designers have tailor-made a body for the new SLK, which emphasises its classic roadster proportions and puts them in the spotlight to thrilling effect. Behind the long bonnet is a compact passenger compartment positioned far back, and a short tail end. The SLK will tempt potential customers with the key attributes that characterise all the classic roadsters from Mercedes-Benz and that have also made many of them automotive icons of the brand.

The first feature to catch the eye is an upright radiator grille that stands proud and confident in the wind and bears the new Mercedes-Benz brand look. It facilitates the long and well-proportioned bonnet and with its rearward light catching contours it already hints at the roadster’s dynamic qualities. The wide radiator grille bears the Mercedes-Benz star in a prominent central position and displays a powerfully contoured fin, chromed at the front. The clearly defined headlamps complete the look for the new SLK’s face, which resembles that of the legendary 190 SL from the 1950s, which is regarded by many as being the original “SLK”.

The ventilation grilles in the front wings with a chromed fin are reminiscent of the famous Mercedes-Benz roadsters of the 1950s. In the new SLK they form the perfect starting point for a feature line, which flows to the muscular rear wing, using light and shadow to add style and timeless aesthetics to the sides. Meanwhile the upper edge of the wide headlamps – which boast all-LED technology for the first time – also appears to flow into the feature line.

Designers also intentionally created a close visual link with the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG “gull-wing model” and the new CLS.

Mercedes-Benz 2011 SLK photo library