Audi Launches Sport Plus and Comfort Plus Packages for A8 Sedan

Since the next generation A8 isn't due for another year or so, Audi decided to spice up the interest in its luxury sedan by revealing two new special packages called Comfort Plus and Sport Plus. Offered exclusively with a new Panther Black, crystal effect paint, the Sport Plus package adds various goodies such as 20-inch "S design" alloy wheels in a dark steel finish, "adaptive light" with LED daytime running lights, sports seats in goa beige Valcona leather and heating for the front seats.

Furthermore, the center console, doors and lower dashboard are trimmed in black Fine Nappa leather. Depending on the engine version (how typically German...), the Sport Plus style package for the A8 costs between €2,100 and €9,600.

For those that prefer more luxurious appointments, there's the Comfort Plus package. Finished in Night Blue, pearl effect and fitted with 12-spoke, 19-inch forged alloy wheels, the A8 Comfort Plus gets seats upholstered in silk beige Valcona leather while full-leather trim for the center console, doors and dashboard is in silk beige Fine Nappa leather.

The equipment package also includes heating for the front and rear seats, and front seats with seat ventilation and massage function plus "adaptive light" system with LED daytime running lights. Price for the Comfort Plus style package costs between € 4,200 and €14,500, depending again on the engine version.

https://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2009/04/audi-launches-sport-plus-and-comfort.html

Breaking News: Wagoner to Lead Chinese Company in Oldsmobile Revival

News reports are coming in from around China that GM's former CEO Rick Wagoner has accepted an offer from domestic automaker CLN Auto Company Inc. to take the reins of the Oldsmobile brand, the rights of which CLN Auto purchased from General Motors a few weeks ago. Details are still shady, but it looks like GM is so desperate for cash that it decided to sell the historic nameplate to the Chinese automaker. Unfortunately for Oldsmobile fans in North America and Europe, CLN Auto secured the use of the name solely for the domestic market.

Contrary to the U.S., just like Buick, Oldsmobile has a strong allure to Chinese buyers. The country's last emperor was a large fan of Oldsmobile owning more than a dozen cars. "They adore the image of American vehicles," said China Auto Resources CEO, Jiang Li, in a report. "They just can't seem to get enough of them, so it makes a lot of sense," he added. We'll have more on this developing story later on in the day.

https://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2009/04/breaking-news-wagoner-to-lead-chinese.html

2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG: 27 High-Res Photos and Official Info

Stuttgart's BMW M5 and Audi RS6 rival was officially revealed today ahead of the sport saloon's world premiere at the New York Auto Show, open to the public April 10-19, 2009 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. At the heart of the new E63 AMG is a 6.3-liter V8 engine packing 525-horspower and a peak torque of 630Nm or for the U.S. spec model, 518HP and 465 lb.-ft. torque. The engine is hooked up to a new 7-speed automatic transmission and according to Merc, the E63 AMG accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h (62mph) in 4.5 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h or 155mph.

Not that anyone interested in the E63 AMG cares, but the German automaker claims that despite 11HP of additional output versus the preceding model, fuel consumption in the model has been reduced by around 12 percent to 12.6 lt/100km (18.6mpg US).

To improve handling, the 2010 E63 AMG is equipped with an electronically controlled damping system and a newly developed, dedicated front axle with a 56-millimetre wider track while the rear axle has more negative camber, optimized elastokinematics and a new subframe mounting.

Furthermore, the AMG sports saloon gets a different powering steering system, individual 3-stage ESP and a high-performance braking system with 360-millimetre, internally ventilated and perforated brake discs all-round. The E63 AMG rides on 18-inch light-alloy wheels shod in tire sizes of 255/40 R 18 at the front and 285/35 R 18 at the rear.

As for the car's looks, the AMG model is distinguished on the outside by a somewhat subtle bodykit that consists of a new front bumper, side skirts, a rear apron with an integrated diffuser and tinted headlamps. Likewise, the interior is updated with a new set of sport seats, an AMG steering wheel, revised instrument cluster and a sportier trim.

The market launch of the new E 63 AMG will commence worldwide in August 2009.

https://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2009/04/2010-mercedes-benz-e63-amg-27-high-res.html

Honda Pulls Out from 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show

With the auto industry feeling the pinch or rather the punch of the global financial crisis, carmakers are looking for ways to cut down expenses, and that includes their participation at auto shows. Now Honda has become the first major automaker to officially pull out of the forthcoming 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany this September. "Due to the unprecedented market downturn, Honda has come to a conclusion that the company will have to skip its participation to the Frankfurt motor show this year," the company said in a statement.

As part of its cost-cutting plan, Honda announced in December 2008 that it would withdraw from all Formula One activities while the automaker has also cut down on other 'expenses'. "Honda is trying to reduce every possible cost in various areas including manufacturing, sales and marketing activities to strengthen its business constitution to overcome the tough climate of today," the automaker said.

https://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2009/04/honda-pulls-out-from-2009-frankfurt.html

Kia Release AFD Rally Package for Soul

Korean automaker Kia has announced the launch of a new aero kit for the Soul crossover. Aside from the aesthetic rewards, buyers will be happy to know that the aerodynamic doodads also reduce fuel consumption and exhaust emissions through a simple and low-cost system called Air Propulsion and Retardation Installation Line. The system is said to rely on microscopic sensors built into the bumpers which constantly monitor wind speed and deploy panels when the wind is sufficient to provide additional directional impetus according to the car's behavior.

Systems Manager Kuasimati Seoulitsou from Kia's Advanced Technorave Research Institute in Mabuk, said: "The big problem with most emission reduction systems is that they are expensive. We wanted to come up with an answer that didn't cost the earth and could be retrospectively applied to cars already on the road."

"Tests of this system at our Nong Dam facility have shown that during windy weather fuel consumption can be reduced by up to 25 per cent and emissions by anything up 40 per cent. Even in calm weather using the system simply under braking can result in reductions of 10 per cent and 15 per cent respectively," he added.

The new aero kit system will be available on all Souls ordered after midnight on March 31, 2011. Prices will be announced in a few hours.

https://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2009/04/kia-release-afd-rally-package-for-soul.html

Spied: 2010 BMW X5 to Receive Subtle Facelift

As well as preparing the first-ever "M" version of the X5 that is due to be officially revealed towards the end of the week, BMW is also tweaking the rest of the range of its crossover model. If you're finding it hard to spot the cosmetic changes in our latest spy photos, we don't blame you as on the outside they are limited to the newly styled front and rear bumpers, the repositioned fog lights plus a different alloy wheel or two - or four if you want to take it literally.

Our Bavarian sources also told us that the 2010 X5 will also benefit from a few minor interior updates including the new trim, some ergonomic optimizations and the addition of some toys to the standard and options list.

In terms of mechanical revisions, it is said that BMW will add to the X5's range the latest version of its 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six engine that develops 326HP in the 740i (up from 306HP in the 335i and the X6 xDrive35i).

https://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2009/04/spied-2010-bmw-x5-to-receive-subtle.html

2011 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Photos Leaked by EU Patent Office

The European trademark office has done it again; following the premature leaks of the 2010 Mazda3, Renault Megane Coupe and the 2010 Nissan 370Z Roadster, the latest slip out from the bureau concerns the first official photos of Mercedes-Benz' new B-Class hatch that will compete head on with the Audi A3 and VW Golf. According to our sources, the new B-Class will be unveiled sometime in 2010 with sales starting in Europe towards the end of the year and in the U.S. and other international markets, during the first half of 2011.

Mercedes-Benz officials have high hopes for the new B-Class that will spawn a whole range of models including a three-door hatchback, a small four-door coupe sedan in the likes of the CLS called BLS plus a small SUV model that will most likely be named BLK.

Power will come from a variety of naturally aspirated and turbocharged gasoline engines as well as 'uber' clean diesels including the range-topping 2.2-liter CDi with an output of 204-horsepower. There's also talk of a gasoline-hybrid variant but Mercedes-Benz has yet to confirm the rumors.

https://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2009/04/2011-mercedes-benz-b-class-photos.html