The World Car of the Year jury has announced the finalists. The winner will be announced at the New York Auto Show 2011, held on April 22.

The organizer of the “World Car of the Year” contest has announced the finalists of the 2011 edition. These are, in alphabetical order,  Audi A8, BMW 5 Series and Nissan Leaf. The three models are “fighting” to general, while the rest cars are “fighting” to categories like: ”World Green Car”, “World Performance Car” and “World Car Design of the Year”. At the “World Green Car” segment, Nissan Leaf will must to face for the first time, since its market debut, the Chevrolet Volt model. While the American model is not an electric car in the true sense of the word, the two models have a battle over a year.

World Car of the Year

The original list of models competing for this title was 39 nominees, chosen by 66 auto journalists from 24 countries. To be eligible for the 2011 “World Car of the Year” edition, a model must be available at least two continents and five countries from 2010 January 1 –  2011 May 30. For this reason, many popular models from America or Europe are not eligible for this award.

This is the list with the finalists from “World Car of the Year” arranged by categories and alphabetical order:

World Car of the Year

World Green Car

World Performance Car

World Car Design of the Year

No related posts.

Geneva Motor Show 2011 will be the host for the launch of the bulletproof version of A8. The Audi A8 L Security is able to withstand bullets, grenades or explosives.

The new Audi A8 gets new clothes at Geneva Motor Show 2011 and becomes a bulletproof model. The model’s official name is Audi A8 L Security, and just like you have imagined, besides the security features it has a longer wheelbase.

Unlike the production version that any Audi customer can buy from the dealerships, the bulletproof version comes with materials like reinforced steel, multi-stratified windows, and lots of safety elements which increase the car’s total weight with over 1.3 tones.

The third generation bulletproof Audi A8 has no significant changes in terms of aesthetics, except for the light signals. For the interior, A8 L Security features a system that freshes the air in case of chemical attack.

Under the hood, the new A8 L Security hides a 6.3-liter W12 engine developing 500 HP and 625 Nm. Despite the extra weight the performances of the bulletproof German model are interesting: 7.3 seconds for 0-100 kph and a top speed of 210 kph.

No related posts.

The Franco-Italian automaker, Bugatti, will quit developing supercars and will give birth to a sedan which will be based on the platform of Audi A8.

The supercar maker Bugatti has to respect the “team orders” given by the Volkswagen officials and give birth to a sedan. Anyway, rumor has it that starting 2013, the Molsehim automaker will have to stop developing the most powerful supercars in the world.

They will have to build a sedan that will be based on the platform of Audi A8. The decision dictated by the Volkswagen officials have been taken for Bugatti to score bigger production numbers. At the moment, the Franco-Italian automaker is the parent of the fastest car in the world. As you probably know, Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, a car that develops not less than 1,200 HP, have topped 268 mph.

No related posts.

Volkswagen has announced a new generation of the Phaeton model which will be presented on the US market and will be placed under Audi A8 and before Audi A6. Volkswagen said that the largest limousine of them will be commercialized in USA.

So, Volkswagen plans to compete in the  limousines segment with BMW, Mercedes or Lexus, but risking to reduce  sales of the Audi A8.  Incredibly, the Phaeton never really went out of production.  It’s still sold overseas, where it has done well.  In its second generation, the new Phaeton will reportedly be updated specifically for the U.S. market.

However, the goal is to triple sales of  VW  brand in the U.S., and Phaeton was necessary in this scheme. VW will not address to the luxury sedans customers , and will exploit a niche existed in this category. In other words, the VW Phaeton will address to the  customer who wants a car between the Passat and Audi A8 and the Phaeton is a perfect choice for this purpose.

Phaeton new platform was based on the Audi A6, and will embody an extended version of it. Expansion outside Europe is meant to provide life to the  V6, V8 or W12 engines . Diesel units will be equipped  V6 3.0-liter engine and most likely a V8  which will replace the current V10 5.0-liter  TDI engine.

No related posts.

Geely hopes that Volvo to be able to sell until 2015 approximately 600,000 units per year. For this, the Swedes will release C20, a rival for Audi A1 and the S90 sedan.

Although they promised that they will not influence the Volvo evolution, the new owners from Geely seem to express their own ideas on the Swedish models. Li Shu-Fu, the CEO of the Asian Group, said that he wants to contribute in coming next years to increase the Volvo sales, the Swedes being forced to extend their range if they want to count on the auto market.

If last year, the Scandinavians have delivered 335,000 cars at worldwide, in 2011 the new owners hoped to reach an annual sales figure of 400,000 units, based on the intake and the income expansion on the Chinese market.

The Geely president plans not stop here. Li Shu-Fu wants an annual sales figure of 600,000 units until 2015, but to achieving this goal is need of fresh forces. Volvo can count on the new Volvo S60 and V60, but will need a competitor in the small segment where there are already Audi A1, Mini and maybe in the future, Saab 92.

The model name will be C20 and will be promoted as the safest small class competitor, a balance between security and premium features. Volvo will use also by a top model, the admiral ship S90, already anticipated by the specialty press. The model will compete with cars like Mercedes S-Class and Audi A8, also relying on the safety and comfort.

On the Offroad segment, Volvo remains only with XC60, barely after a few years is scheduled a compact SUV, called XC30.

No related posts.

Volvo’s range might enrich in the near future with a full-size luxury car, named S90, ready to endanger the supremacy of the German models, BMW 7-Series and Mercedes S-Class.

Geely has big plans for Volvo, the Chinese wanting to seriously increase the Scandinavian’s products offer. The first step this way will be made in the F-segment, designed to the full-size luxury sedans, currently in full growth on the Chinese market.

The decision to build a model bigger than S80 came somewhat logical, after Volkswagen announced the new generation Phaeton, and Citroen started the development of DS9. If the project gets the green light, it will give birth to a S90, a name already used in the past to mark the evolution of the 760 and 960 sedans.

It seems that the development of a rival for the luxury sedans on the market became a priority for Geely, who wishes that Volvo return in force on the premium segment, where the annual sales target is 380,000 units. A rival for Audi A8, Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7-Series would surely bring a positive image capital for the Swedish brand, which would so attract more customers on the North Amercian and Chinese markets.

In the coming future, the Chinese will focus in the current S60 and S80, designed to fight with Mercedes C-Class and E-Class, BMW 3-Series and 5-Series, Audi A4 and A6. According to Geely President, Li-Shu Fu, without the D, E, and F segment sedans, Volvo would not be able to withstand the premium class rivals like Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

No related posts.

Audi A8 returns in luxury limousines segment and is ready to set new standards in its class by Long version. Moreover, besides the latest pictures, the admiral ship of the Ingolstadt automaker exposes for the first time the price tag.

New Audi A8 L impress since its first appearance and command respect in front of its rivals. Both the length and the wheelbase grew with 5 inches over the standard version, the Long version measuring 207 inches in length. The classic design combined with elegant lines give it a powerful look to the German limousine, the carefully sculpted shapes and the impressive sizes stealing your eyes immediately.

For those who wants a royal treatment, Audi can equip the interior with individual rear seats, electrically adjustable and equipped with heating, ventilation and massage. Moreover, the future customers may opt for a center console that stretches the entire cockpit, refrigerator, multimedia system, tables in the backs of chairs, the Bang & Olufsen audio system and not only.

Regarding the range of engines, the German limousine can be equipped with two TDI units or three gasoline engines. In the first case may opt for a V6 3.0-liter TDI engine with 250 HP or a V8 4.2-liter TDI engine with 350 HP, while in the gasoline situation the battle is fought between a V6 3.0-liter TFSI engine with 290 HP and a V8 4.2-liter FSI engine with 372 HP. The top of the range is the unfailing W12, which develops 500 HP from a cylindric capacity of 6.3-liters.

New Audi A8 L will go on sale before the end of this year, the base price will be between $100,000 and $180,000.

No related posts.

Audi launched its newest model. Audi A7 Sportback combine the elegance of a coupe, the comfort of a sedan and the practicality of a wagon in a single car.

Audi has officially unveiled the production version of the new A7 Sportback in a conference held in Munich in the evening of Monday, July 26. By the new launching, Audi completes the models range and its nomenclature from A1 to A8, the only model remaining not presented to the modern version is A2.

Besides the new A7 filled the space between the A8 and A6 in terms of size, the design and the customer expectations and going over the idea that A7 borrows heavily from the architecture and structural elements of the recently launch – A8, new Audi model is the answer it gives so-called “coupes-sedans” like the Mercedes CLS, Maserati Quattroporte GT or BMW 5 Series. Moreover, in future performance versions S7 and RS7, new Audi model will compete successfully with arguments against the Porsche Panamera, the group “cousin” of the new German model.

At the design chapter new Audi A7 stays true to the Sportback concept shown at Detroit Motor Show in 2009. But the production version is slightly larger than the prototype, with a length of 193 inches, width 75 inches and a height of 56 inches. But the proportions remain the same, even if spectacular elements of the prototype, and panoramic roof, air intakes were aggressive and dynamic key elements instead of something more “earthly”.

Regarding the engines available for the German model, the customers will have four V6 units in the first phase, two gasoline units and two diesel units.

The range base is V6 3.0-liter TDI engine that develops 201 HP and combined with the multitronic transmission is able to consume only 44.3 mi/gal. The 0-60 mph acceleration is achieved in 8.1 seconds and maximum speed reached 145 mph.

As the name suggests us, the 3.0-liters TDI quattro comes in addition with four-wheel drive,the maximum power of this version is 241 HP/4000 rpm and the torque is 369 lb-ft/1400-3250 rpm. The best diesel on the A7 comes standard with S-Tronic automatic gearbox with seven reports and dual-clutch. A7 Sportback 3.0 TDI quattro accelerates from 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds and the top speed is 155 mph, while the consumption is announced only 39.2 mi/gal.

The petrol fans will have at the base of A7 Sportback a V6 FSI unit of 2.8-liter with 201 HP and 207 lb-ft which is also coupled to a S-Tronic gear box and, with quattro system, manages to sprint from 0-60 mph in 8.3 seconds and reach 146 mph. The announced consumption is 29.4 mi/gal.

Finally, those who wants to base on a powerful gasoline engine will have to resort to drive turbocharged 3.0 TFSI engine which developing 295 HP (less than does the same engine in the A5 Sportback range) and 325 lb-ft. The 0-60 mph acceleration takes place in 5.6 seconds, the top speed is 155 mph and the average consumption is 28,6 mi/gal.

Despite the emerging technologies that is crammed the German model, its own mass was reduced to just 3737 pounds by using aluminum components in the chassis construction. The model will be built at the German plant in Neckarsulm, Audi is expecting a sales volume of 40,000 units per a year. The model will be officially presented in August at the Moscow Motor Show, the debut on the Europe market is scheduled for this autumn.

No related posts.

The first pictures of the new Audi A7 Sportback have already appeared on the Internet, although the Germans tried to keep the secret until Monday evening, when the model is scheduled for the official launch.

Although Audi has tried to keep the secrets of the A7 Sportback new lines until tomorrow, when is scheduled the official presentation of the newest German model, the German sites were able to seize the first images of the Audi model that throws it on the market for fight with the coupe-sedans that have studded the industry in recent years.

The new Audi A7 keep many elements present on the Sportback Concept, the prototype that the German automaker introduced at the Auto Show in Detroit in 2009. The information about the new model is still limited, they will be presented tomorrow, but the German media announced that the production model will have a TFSI 3.0-liter engine that develops around 300 HP. It is also possible that the A7 have a TDI 3.0-liter engine, but also the new V8 diesel engine from the new Audi A8.

Subsequently, Audi will launch the sports versions of the new model. Thus, the future S7 will have an engine that will develops approximately 450 HP, and the future RS7 will have under the hood an unit with over 550 HP.

We give you more details on Monday evening, when Audi will issue a full press release relating to the new model.

No related posts.

Volkswagen announced that the next generation of Phaeton will be directed to the public from China and U.S.A, where the sales of the current model have not disappointed.

Although launched a facelift for its admiral ship recently, already working on next-generation Volkswagen Phaeton. It seems that the Germans have been deeply disappointed by the sales trends on the old continent, as for trying to model a shift to other markets as important.

More specifically, will develop a new Volkswagen Phaeton tailored to the needs of the public from China and United States and will abandon its ambition to fight with Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7 Series rivals in Europe.

“There’s no doubt that the Phaeton absolutely has to go back to the US,” said a insider. “This is being reflected in the next version. It will look much more like a car for America.” That’s likely to mean a slight increase in size and far more ostentatious styling than the current, ultra-conservative look.

For a rapid development of the new Phaeton, the German automaker consider several variants. The first would be to use the A6 platform, the wheelbase increased, sold in China. The second assumption would be even aluminum platform, found on the A8.

The launch on markets with open appetite for big gasoline  engines, would make the future Phaeton to adopt V6, V8 and W12 units. For those who prefer diesel, already famous Germans made available V6 engine and a future V8, replacing the current 5.0-liter V10 TDI. engine Will not miss any hybrid version based on the propulsion train recently introduced on the new generation of Touareg.

No related posts.