GPS*GPS

[VW Caddy Carrera Cup Edition 2.0TDI R/Carscoop]より引用:
The special edition version is equipped with VW’s 2.0-liter turbo diesel unit that develops 140 Hp accelerating the Caddy van from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 10.6 sec and on to a top speed of 186 km/h – 115 MPH. Carrera decals aside, the special Caddy gets a bodykit along with black colored 17-inch alloy wheels in 225/45 R17 tires.
Inside, the Caddy Carrera Cup Edition features bi-colored leather sport seats, a fire extinguisher under the passenger’s seat along with a sport leather steering wheel and gear knob. Prices in Swede are set at 250,000 Swedish Kronas which is approximately $34,200 USD or €22,000.

[Mini Crossman Concept to Debut at Paris Motor Show?/WorldCarFans]より引用:
Having already been confirmed by BMW, we know there will be a definitely be a brand new SUV variant added to the range. What we don't know is how long we are going to have to wait to see the styling and we are also yet to receive any firm confirmation of the name – although rumours circulating the internet suggest it will by the Crossman. Latest information that has now surfaced is that we are likely to see a concept version of the Mini SUV at the Paris Motor Show later this year.
There have been numerous sightings of what appears to be a mule for the new Mini SUV sporting the body of the Clubman riding curiously higher than we are used to on the regular production model. Unfortunately we are yet to see any true prototypes, therefore artists renderings (such as those seen in this article) are purely on guess work, although BMW has stated the SUV will retain the classic Mini styling clues.
The new SUV will share the same platform as the upcoming BMW X1 and reports even state that it will nly be offered in front-wheel drive as standard with the 4-wheel drive option also available - kinda wierd for an SUV don't you think?
Following the concept debut we would expect the full production model to follow early next year before it is launched in the Spring of 2009.

[ フォルクスワーゲン、三洋電機と高性能電池を開発/Volkswagen Interactive]より引用:

フォルクスワーゲン、三洋電機と高性能電池を開発

【ウォルフスブルグ、2008年5月28日】

フォルクスワーゲン グループは充電可能な電池技術において世界的リーダーである三洋電機株式会社と次世代高性能リチウム・イオン電池の開発提携について合意しました。
この提携について、フォルクスワーゲン グループ会長Dr.マルティン ヴィンターコルンは「フォルクスワーゲンは内燃機関のエネルギー効率の向上に加えて、電気駆動自動車の開発も今後ますます重視していきたい」と述べています。「将来のモビリティを確保するにあたり、エネルギー回生を含めたパワートレインの電気化の道を進むことは確実です。ただし、エネルギーを効率よく充電できる電池と、お客様のニーズを満たす走行性能は、この道を歩むには不可欠です。今回の提携はフォルクスワーゲンにとって重要な一歩として受け止めています」とさらに同会長がコメントしています。

排気ガスを発生させない純粋な電気駆動車両での移動は現在既に可能となっています。しかし、最高速度や走行距離に関する制約があるため、容量、大きさ、重量やコストが最適化された新型電池の開発は将来の電気自動車の効率向上に不可欠となっています。現在既に電子通信技術やノート型パソコンなどに採用され、高く評価されているリチウム・イオン技術には、今後クルマの電気駆動システムとして要求される条件を満たす可能性が十分にあります。

フォルクスワーゲンは今年3月にジュネーブ モーターショーにて「ゴルフTDIハイブリッド」コンセプトカーを発表し、最新のディーゼルエンジン、電気モーターおよび7速DSGを組み合わせたことから可能となる燃料消費の削減を証明しました。TDIエンジンと電気モーターの組み合わせによるこの高性能のフルハイブリッドカーは、内燃機関のみでの駆動モード、エンジンとモーターが役割分担するモード、あるいは純粋な電気駆動モードのいずれにおいても高性能と低燃費を両立させています。
また、アウディが昨年の東京モーターショーでお披露目したコンセプトカー「A1 project quattro （エーワン・プロジェクト・クワトロ）」は最新の電池技術を採用したことで100kmの走行距離を実現できます。リチウム・イオン技術を搭載した最初のフォルクスワーゲン グループによる生産車は2010年頃に実現される見込みです。

[VW GTI Performance and R36 Passat Variant at Wörthersee/Motor Authority]より引用:
The GTI Performance is the more extreme of the two, with scissor-style doors, a copper and black checkered-flag paint scheme, a full wide-body conversion and ground effects kit and a host of other tiny tweaks that complete the VW GTI’s transformation for quick hatch to exotic street racer. Even the interior is customized, with a unique 2+1 seating design, which places the rear occupant in the center of the car. Out back two oversized trapezoidal exhaust outlets and ample steel mesh work give the car a race-inspired look.
Huge brake ducts in front of the rear wheels, custom Recaro seats and lightweight multi-spoke alloy wheels wrapped in extremely low-profile rubber complete the aggressive, sporting look of the car.

[VW Presents The Scirocco GT24 At The GTI Meet 2008/WorldCarFans]より引用:
The competition version of Scirocco takes all its 325 bhp from a 2-litre four cylinder turbocharged direct injection engine, also able to deliver 340 Nm already at 2,100 rpm. The DSG transmission will also be on the GT24, a reference to the first race the car will face, the famous 24-Hour Nürburgring race, to take place next Saturday.

[ガリバー商法にはビックリです/笹本健次的ブログ生活]より引用:
紆余曲折の結果、一番高額の価格提示があったガリバーに決めたが、それからが、びっくりで、いざ契約となったら、“万が一、重大なトラブル、例えば、事故車であったとか、があった場合、請求をしないで済むように保険に入ってくれ”といってきた。この言葉には呆れ返った。それなら、なぜ査定をしたのか理解できないし、その時、チェックできなければ、それは買った人のリスクではないのか。また、そのような事態を避けたければ、買った側の費用で保険に入るべきで、売る側の費用負担ではないはずだと思う。さらに驚いたのは、“このような仕組みがあるのも、お客さんに高い値段を設定したいからです”とのこと。これは、語るに落ちていて、それなら、保険料分だけ引いた額を提示されたほうが、余程、客としては、気持ちが良いはずだ。

中古車は現状有姿が基本で、後でどうこう言うのは、ルール違反である。しかも、見抜けなかった責任を売り手に押し付けようというのは、到底信じられない。こうした見せ掛けの高値につられて、ガリバーに持ち込み、実際は、余計な費用が掛かり、いやな思いをしている人はかなりいるように思う。

巧妙なすり替えには要注意だ。

[Audi A5 Cabriolet: Preview/The German Car Blog]より引用:
We found an interesting preview of the upcoming Audi A5/S5 Cabriolet which will be introduced between end of 2008 and mid 2009, depending on the engine you are looking for. A V8 engine will arrive in 2011 in the Audi RS5 Cabriolet.

[Audi to launch Q7 hybrid this year/Motor Authority]より引用:
The new Q7 hybrid due at the end of the year will feature a 34kW electric motor sandwiched between a 280hp (206kW) 3.6L V6 FSI petrol engine and the vehicle’s torque converter. The electric motor provides an additional 285Nm (210lb-ft) of torque to the internal combustion engine’s 375Nm (277lb-ft). From standstill, the concept vehicle reaches 100km/h in 7.6 seconds and can accelerate from 60 to 120km/h in fifth gear in just under 12 seconds. Despite weighing 2,480kg, average fuel-consumption measures 24mpg (9.8L/100km). You can read up more about the car in our previous story by clicking here.

[Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro Concept with 221Hp Diesel Engine/Carscoop]より引用:
The Audi A3 TDI clubsport quattro
Engine
- Four-cylinder TDI with common-rail injection system
- Displacement of 1968 cc, output of 165 kW (224 hp) and torque of 450 Nm
(331.90 lb-ft)
- Optimized exhaust system
- 0 – 62mph in 6.6 seconds, top speed 149mph
Power transmission
- High-efficiency six-speed manual transmission with a lightweight casing, open gear lever gate made of aluminium
- quattro all-wheel drive with extremely fast-action multi-plate clutch
Chassis
- Four-link rear suspension for dynamic handling and good comfort
- Power steering with highly efficient electric drive
- Wheels measuring 9 J x 20, tyre size 265/30
- Six-piston brake calipers and ceramic discs at the front wheels
- Audi drive select driving dynamics system with Audi magnetic ride adaptive damper control
Body and interior
- Length 4,254 millimeters (167.48 inches), width 1,825 millimetres (71.85
inches), height 1,385 millimetres (54.53 inches)
- Motorsport-look design, large rear spoiler
- Racing bucket seats and extra aluminium components in interior

[Preview: 2009 Volkswagen Golf Mark VI family/Motor Authority]より引用:
Volkswagen’s sixth-generation Golf hatch is less than a year away and this new rendering gives us an early look at the final design of the car. It shows VW designers are keeping with the current model’s stylish yet conservative shape but are going with a more chiseled and edgy look.
There will be numerous engine choices for the Golf including a new 1.6L TSI engine developing 200hp as well as a high-performance 2.0L turbo version with 260hp in the GTI.

With climate change a major part of today’s current affairs VW has also announced a 30% more fuel-efficient version. This stems from the VW Polo BlueMotion released late last year. The BlueMotion models utilize slow-shift gear boxes that reduce fuel consumption as well as low-resistance tires to save extra fuel. The final addition will be a new diesel-hybrid model as previewed by the recent concept version, but its arrival is still several years away.

[Next-generation Audi A6 details emerge/Motor Authority]より引用
The Ingolstadt-based car maker has developed the Aluminum and Steel Spaceframe (ASF II) technology to provide a platform that weighs half as much as steel, but is half again as rigid, reports Car. ASF technology allows the chassis to be build from a conglomeration of bonded subframe members, modular nose and tail structures and a passenger cell made of aluminum with steel and foam reinforcements.
Pioneered in the TT, the ASF architecture is expected to become the standard method of construction for all future Audis, making the A6 the first of the new generation. The next A8 is expected to get the ASF II treatment as well, and the technology will trickle down the line-up from there. Weight savings is expected to be as much as 300kg on the next-gen Q7.
A full line of engines is expected for the A6, from a 2.8L V6 pushing 190hp to the top-end 4.2L V8 at 350hp, to the S6’s 5.2L, 420hp V10. Two diesel engines are also expected, a 2.7L V6 making 185hp and a 3.0L V6 with 238hp.

[Volkswagen Polo GT-Rocket Special Edition/Carscoop]より引用:
Available initially in, the GT-Rocket is a special edition version of the Volkswagen Polo hatch. Buyers can opt between four different colors –candy white, silver, black and the pictured metallic orange. Apart from the “GT-Rocket” decals, the special edition Polo features new black colored 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped around in 205/50 R17 tires, a roof spoiler, darkened headlamps and a sport suspension.
Inside, the Polo GT-Rocket gets a set of front passenger sports seats dressed in a two-tone color scheme with red stitching which is also featured on the steering wheel, gearshift knob and the handbrake lever. The Polo GT-Rocket can be combined with VW’s petrol engine range that develop between 80 and 105 Hp or with the company’s TDI diesel units that produce between 80 and 130 Hp. Prices in Germany start from 16,875 euros.

[2010 Audi A3 Rendering Hits the Spot/Carscoop]より引用:

This computer generated image depicting the next generation Audi A3 comes from a Greek car site named “Autotriti”. The artist has done quite a nice job with the rendering giving us a good indication to as what Audi is preparing for us with the 2010 A3 that will most probably be heavily inspired from the latest A4 and A5 Coupe models. Like the current generation A3, Audi's new premium subcompact is expected to come in three flavors: 3door and 5door hatchback, and a 2door convertible version.