Four Days with the 2014 Bentley Continental GT Speed

For more than 50 years, from the time it was purchased out of receivership by Rolls-Royce in 1931 until 1989 when Volkswagen took over ownership of the brand, Bentley lived in the shadow of its sister company. While attempts have been made over the years to rekindle the spirit and magic imbued upon the marque by founder Walter Owen (WO) Bentley, it always seemed a bit of a compromise. Where Rolls Royce always was a luxury brand first, Bentley wandered back and forth between performance and luxury, never seeming to get the balance quite right.

Having just spent four days with a 2014 Bentley Continental GT Speed, however, I can unequivocally state that the balance is now perfect.

Everything about the GT Speed, from the styling to the engine to the 8-speed ZF transmission, adjustable suspension, high-performance tires, instrument cluster, and leather seats, is designed for just one thing: to help you drive fast confidently.

Walking up to the quickest Continental, I was struck by its size. While its beautifully sculpted exterior is imposing, it’s not big. The configuration of the W12 engine helps keep the hood at a reasonable length and thus the balance between the front and rear of the car is extraordinary. The 21-inch wheels and tires are pushed way out to the corners creating a powerful, confident stance and the blackened matrix grille hints at the sinister nature of the power that lies beneath its hood.

For 2014 the GT Speed’s 6.0L W12 twin turbo engine delivers 616 horsepower, which will be upped to 635 in the 2015 model. Insert the key and push the start button and the first thing you notice is the sound. It’s not a low rumble, but a growl that seems to be saying, “set me free.” Put the car in drive, tap the accelerator and the GT Speed moves easily away from a dead stop despite weighing nearly 5200 pounds thanks to the 590 foot pounds of torque delivered to all four of the coupe’s performance tires.

What surprised me most about the Bentley GT Speed is not that it is powerful, quick and fast. That’s to be expected with the massive engine that’s wedged between its front wheels. It’s surprising that it is so incredibly manageable. At low speeds the throttle is not overly sensitive and the steering at two and a half turns lock to lock, is light and quick. We had no trepidation nor trouble parallel parking it on a crowded Main Street at noon in Westport, Connecticut. But find a twisty bit of back road, switch the suspension from comfort to sport, give the throttle more of your right foot, and you’ll soon find what the Bentley was truly designed to do.

Pushing the accelerator to the floor elicits a delicious howl in the cabin, the kind of sound you expect from an engine this powerful. I found it to be the perfect soundtrack for an afternoon of high-speed touring on the backroads of New England.

One of the joys about having a car like this for a few days, rather than just test driving it at a press for a few hours, is that you really get a chance to know the car. In this case, I was able to play with the exceptionally adjustable seats to find a very comfortable driving position. It also doesn’t hurt that those seats included a massaging function that when activated, kneads the small of your lower back for up to ten minutes to help reduce the stress of the day. The leather is expertly cut and sewn, the optional quilting adding a level of detail that really made the interior feel special. The seats are both heated and cooled to keep you comfortable no matter what the conditions outside the cabin are. Given these features, front seat passengers will enjoy the ride in the Continental for hours on end. The rear seat, however, is another matter.

The Continental GT Speed is a classic 2+2. This means that while the back seats are well appointed, the legroom is such that no one over five feet tall will be able to enjoy their accoutrements for more than a few minutes before leg cramps set in.

Staying with the interior, I was taken by the Bentley’s understated and functional instrument cluster. Bentley designers clearly avoided the temptation to over-engineer the dash by adding all the possible bells and whistles. Keeping the focus where it should, on the large speedometer and tach, the dash also has a customizable center LED screen that simply and clearly presents information like fuel mileage, temperature and speed as well. The center stack is also clean, with an 8-inch touch screen monitor for audio, navigation and the backup camera and traditional buttons and knobs for the operation of the excellent HVAC system. It’s well designed and intuitive allowing the driver to focus on what really matters, driving.

That’s ultimately what the Continental GT Speed does best. The all-wheel drive system is set up with a 60/40 rear/front split in power which helps counter the understeer you’d expect from a car with such a heavy front end. Driving through tight corners at well over suggested speeds was a matter of course and I never once felt like the front end would push or wash out. This combination of power and grip also allows the car to launch itself from 0-60 in just a tick over four seconds and accelerate from 60 to 80 faster than you can say “God save the Queen.” All of that meant that my observed fuel economy was a thirsty 12.9 miles per gallon. But the smile it put on my face was worth the nearly hundred dollars it cost to refill the 24-gallon tank after my first two days of driving.

It’s said that with great power comes great responsibility. That is never more true then when behind the wheel of the GT Speed. In it you have a car capable of speeds of over 200 miles per hour, of driving comfortably for hours at triple digit speeds, of accelerating from stoplights in the blink of an eye. In short, this car requires a great degree of self-control and restraint on the driver’s part. Otherwise, one is likely to be writing checks to the local constabulary for significant sums on a regular basis. That’s something I was fortunately able to avoid in my four days with the Bentley Continental GT Speed. Had my test drive gone five, however, who knows?

2014 Bentley Continental GT Speed
6.0L W12 Twin Turbo Engine
616hp @6000rpm
590lb-ft. @1700rpm
8-Speed ZF Automatic Transmission with Paddle Shifters
Continuous All-wheel drive
Adjustable suspension
Speed tuned exhaust

Base Price: $217,000
Price as tested: $237,400 (includes $1,700 gas guzzler tax)

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Happy New Year 2014!!!

In Coming Year Enjoy every single moment. The good, bad, beautiful, ugly, inspiring, the not-so-glamorous moments. Happy New Year 2014!

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2014 Chevy Corvette Stingray

On Sunday night, at a well-attended ceremony at an old warehouse in a run-down section of Detroit, GM Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter and design director Tom Peters pulled the wraps off a 2014 Chevy Corvette Stingray. The seventh generation of the classic American sports car and the first new version since 2005 is the most powerful standard Corvette in history, the C7 boasts an estimated 450 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque.

“For 60 years, the Corvette has represented the state of the art in performance cars. To put it simply, this car is the reason I work at General Motors,” said Mark Reuss, North American president, as he stood on stage next to a fire-alarm red model, the tarp just pulled off. “It’s presence, the performance, the history and the heritage — everything it stands for — always raises the hair on the back of my neck.”

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Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4

Lamborghini is just about ready to release the successor to the aging Gallardo platform. Set to make its public debut next March at the Geneva Motor show will be the Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4.

The 610 in the Huracán’s name refers to the car’s horsepower. It produces the impressive number via a 5.2 V-10 engine.

But the Huracán is not just about power. The vehicle comes in at 3,140 pounds, and the V-10 engine is matched with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that will get you to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds. Need to go faster? How about 124 mph in just 10 seconds. The Huracán tops out at 202 mph.

The new Huracán takes many cues from the larger Aventador. It has a sleek, smooth design in the traditional wedge shape. And the head- and tail lights share a strong resemblance with the Aventador.

Other features include carbon-ceramic brakes, full LED headlamps, a reconfigurable 12.3-inch display serving as the instrument panel, and Nappa leather inside.

The Huracán, like other Lamborghini models, is named after a famous Spanish fighting bull. This one comes from the Conte de la Patilla line. Here’s what Lamborghini had to say about the bull:


“The fighting bull Huracán of the Spanish Conte de la Patilla breed was known for his outstanding courage and strong sense of attack. He fought in Alicante in August 1879, showing his unrelenting character and remaining defiant and invincible, thus entering into the legend of fighting bulls’ history.”

Lamborghini will build the Huracán LP 610-4 at its Sant’Agata Bolognese facility. The first cars should reach customers some time in the spring of 2014.

PRESS RELEASE

The new Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4: A new dimension in Luxury Super Sports Cars

- Innovative technology and absolute performance redefine the super sports car experience
- Pure and powerfully dynamic design language
- New V10 with 610 hp, acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 3.2 seconds, top speed of over 325 km/h
- From January 2014: private preview events for qualified prospects

Sant’Agata Bolognese, 20.12.2013 — A new era is beginning for Automobili Lamborghini and the luxury super sports car segment: with the brand new Huracán Lamborghini is not only presenting the successor to the iconic Gallardo, but is also redefining the benchmark for luxury super sports cars in this segment. With its pure and unique design, an innovative technology package, outstanding dynamics and excellent quality, the Huracán offers a super sports car experience on a whole new level. The Huracán combines absolute performance with easy-todrive road behavior and both luxurious and sport-oriented finish. With the Huracán, Lamborghini is taking a big step into the future, and enhancing the brand’s illustrious history with the next automotive legend.

Starting from January 2014 the Huracán will be the protagonist of over 130 private preview events in more than 60 cities throughout the world. The Lamborghini Huracán will make its world public debut at the Geneva Motorshow 2014.

Name

With a total volume of 14,022 cars produced, the Lamborghini Gallardo has been the most successful Lamborghini ever and, in its ten-year lifecycle, lifted the Lamborghini marque to a whole new level. Its successor, the new Huracán, has been developed from scratch down to the very last detail and, like the Gallardo and most other Lamborghini models, derives its name from the world of bullfighting. The fighting bull Huracán of the Spanish Conte de la Patilla breed was known for his outstanding courage and strong sense of attack. He fought in Alicante in August 1879, showing his unrelenting character and remaining defiant and invincible, thus entering into the legend of fighting bulls’ history.

Design

The new Huracán revolutionizes the design language of the Gallardo and is pure in its lines: precise technology and top level craftsmanship meet an audacious design with sharp edges, monolithic and sculptured volumes and precise surfaces. The starting point is the silhouette of the Huracán, born out of the desire of creating an automobile, whose profile is defined by only one line that merges the front with the cockpit and the rear of the car. The lateral windows come together to create a hexagonal form inserted like a glass jewel in the car’s profile.

Also by night is the Huracán unmistakably a Lamborghini. Not only are the main headlamps equipped with full LED illumination, but all other light functions also feature state-of-the-art LED technology as a standard feature for the first time in the segment.

Interior

The interior is dominated by an innovative cockpit. A 12.3 inch full-color TFT instrument panel delivers all car information to the driver, from rev counter to navigation maps and infotainment functions, and can be configured by the driver in different setups. Fine Nappa leather and Alcantara distinguish the interior, with several color combinations offered to ensure broad individualization options. The design of dashboard and central tunnel underline a new lightness in the interior. Superb craftsmanship guarantees the highest quality and sense of luxury throughout.

Chassis and powertrain

Systematic lightweight design and Automobili Lamborghini’s extensive expertise in carbon fiber come together in the Huracán’s new hybrid chassis — an integrated structure of carbon and aluminum elements. With a dry weight of 1,422 kg it enables not only the excellent power-to-weight ratio of just 2.33 kilograms per horse power, but also guarantees race-car precision with outstanding stiffness.

The new 5.2 liter V10 engine delivers a maximum power of 448 kW / 610 HP at 8,250 rpm and a maximum torque of 560 Nm at 6.500 rpm. In the new ”Iniezione Diretta Stratificata” (IDS), direct and indirect gasoline injections are smartly combined. This results in more power and torque with lower fuel consumption and emissions compared with the Gallardo V10 engine. The top speed of over 325 km/h and the acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds and to 200 km/h in 9.9 seconds only partially describe the dynamic experience at the wheel of the Huracán. Also thanks to the Stop & Start technology, the combined EU consumption figure has been further reduced to 12.5 liters per 100 km (290 g/km CO2 emissions). The engine complies with EU6 emissions regulation.

Driving dynamics

The power of the V10 engine is brought to the road via the new 7-speed dualclutch transmission ”Lamborghini Doppia Frizione” (LDF) and fully electronically controlled four-wheel drive system. The different driving modes of the Huracán can be selected via a driving dynamics selector switch in the steering wheel – from traction-oriented on the road to extreme performance on the race track, with three setups of the dynamics system: STRADA, SPORT and CORSA. The different modes ensure extensive modification in road behavior of the Huracán. In particular they influence the set-ups of several systems, such as the gearbox and engine behavior, the sound, the four-wheel-drive system and electronic stability control. The Huracán’s carbon-ceramic brakes are a standard feature for consistently superb braking performance. The ”Lamborghini Dynamic Steering” variable steering ratio system and magneto-rheologic suspension damper control are both available as options for further customization of the Huracán’s dynamic behavior. They are also calibrated via the three different dynamic set-ups.

The Huracán is produced at the Automobili Lamborghini headquarters in Sant’Agata Bolognese on an entirely newly-equipped production line. Delivery to the first customers is planned for spring 2014.

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Crowdfunded full-sized Lego Hot Rod runs on air

Legos stand the test of time. Anyone who is a parent realizes it when they sit down with their child (or grandchild) and start creating a fort or house or car out of the famous colored interlocking bricks. It’s still fun. So it’s no surprise that some of us take our Lego obsession a little too seriously. That leads us to Australian Steve Sammartino and his 20-year old Romanian technology partner, Raul Oaida.

The two men started the “Super Awesome Micro Project,” which raised enough cash (between $500-1000) to acquire over half-a-million Lego bricks to construct a full-sized Lego car. The two built the car in Romania before moving it to Australia.

The car has a 256-piston, air-powered Lego radial engine, capable going up to 18 mph. The only non-Lego parts are the gauges, while rims and tires.

Kudos to Sammartino, Oaida and the “Super Awesome Micro Project” – it really is pretty super and pretty awesome.

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2015 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Unveiled

Meet the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The 2015 C-Class is a major makeover, inside and out. The result is a car that really stands out visually, especially when parked among BMWs and Audis, yet it does so with sufficient grace and subtlety to never be considered ostentatious. This top of the line luxury sedan is bigger, more comfortable and lighter than its predecessor. However, this elegant new model boasts of tons of new features, technology and the latest safety systems.

Inside, the car is full of state-of-the-art features that were only being showcased on the company’s flagship executive car, the S-Class several months ago. These include a satellite-controlled air conditioning and filtration system that automatically closes exterior filtering flaps when the car enters a tunnel. Then there’s the integrated armrest trackpad that allows the driver to swipe, tap and even write numbers and letters with a finger in order to enter information into the car’s infotainment center.

No pricing yet, but this 2015 luxe auto will be available next fall.

Press Release:

The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class
C-Class at its best

Stuttgart – The all-new C-Class heralds a new chapter in the Mercedes- Benz success story and sets new standards in the premium mid-range class. Thanks to an intelligent lightweight design concept boasting weight savings of up to 220 lbs, excellent aerodynamics and new, economical engines, the C-Class establishes new benchmarks in its class. A host of new assistance systems offer safety of the highest standard, while a new suspension, optionally air-sprung, provides for exemplary ride and driving comfort as well as nimble and agile handling. In terms of appearance the new C-Class adopts a progressive approach with its clear yet emotional design and its high-class interior. Many other innovations and interior touches underscore the sedan’s luxurious comfort and refined sportiness. In all, the perceived quality of the new C-Class feels like an “upgrade to a higher class of travel.”

The C-Class is the top-selling model series from Mercedes-Benz. Sales of the preceding model, which was launched in 2007, total over 2.4 million. The new C-Class offers sensuous and clear design and a host of technical innovations as well as a comprehensive scope of standard equipment and exemplary emission and fuel consumption values. The U.S. market launches with two C-Class models: C300 4MATIC with a 2.0L turbocharged direct-injection in-line fourcylinder engine with preliminary power figures of 235 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque and a C400 4MATIC with a 3.0L turbocharged direct-injection V6 at 329 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque.

“Mercedes at its best – that’s the new C-Class, which sets new standards for the mid-range segment on many fronts,” says Prof. Dr Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Group Research and Development. “It is characterised by an emotional yet clear design which is continued in the high-quality and modern interior. Its efficient and high-performance engineering provides the basis for a high standard of driving enjoyment.”

Ola Källenius, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars, adds: “The new C-Class embodies Mercedes-Benz’s claim ‘The best or nothing’ in uncompromising style. This is immediately apparent when encountering our new Saloon for the first time, as it creates the impression that one is sitting in a higher class of automobile. I am sure that our customers will be delighted by the high-class appeal and agility of the new C-Class.”

The C-Class has grown to take account of people’s increasing average height. With a 3 inch increase in the wheelbase (112 inches) compared with the previous model, the vehicle is 3.7 inches longer (184 inches) and 1.6 inches wider (71 inches). The resultant additional space benefits first and foremost the rear passengers, who now travel in even greater comfort. The new C-Class also increases its trunk capacity to 17 cubic feet.

Sensuous clarity and purist forms
On a visual level, the new C-Class represents a bold departure from its predecessor. Its striking, dynamic design exudes sensuous clarity and arouses emotions. Nature was a source of inspiration for the new sedan’s aesthetically sensuous lines and surfaces, whose harmony and dynamism create an immediate effect. The designers have created minimalist, purist forms for the C-Class which emphasize its intelligent technology and engineering. The clearly defined surfaces deliberately display a degree of tension, lending them a muscular and sensuous character. Precise lines and sculptural surfaces create lively light and shade effects.

As Gorden Wagener, Vice President Design Daimler AG, notes: “The new C-Class showcases automotive passion by way of a contemporary design idiom. Progressive and emotional highlights underscore the ground-breaking design style of the new C-Class and demonstrate sensual clarity. The new C-Class interprets modern luxury on a new level.”

In the side view a long hood, a passenger compartment set well back and short overhangs define the C-Class’s classic, well-balanced sedan proportions. Large wheels emphasize the rear and communicate a stylishly sporty character. There is a choice of two different faces: sporty with centrally positioned star or the classic sedan radiator grille featuring the Mercedes star on the hood. The fins of the radiator grille can be closed completely to optimize the vehicle’s Cd value, highlighting the status of this cultivated sedan in duly self-assured style. The new C-Class comes with H7 halogen headlamps as standard. In addition to the standard-fit headlamps, two energy-saving LED variants are available: a static system and a dynamic version with “LED Intelligent Light System.” The characteristic night design lends the new C-Class its very own distinctive look in the dark, too. The rear lamp and brake light in the tail lights feature LED technology in all headlamp versions.

High-class interior with fine details
The Mercedes-Benz designers have styled the interior on a level which is rarely encountered even in higher vehicle categories. This applies to the carefully chosen high-class materials and their pleasant touch and feel as well as the precision of the finely crafted details. The interior also embodies a new design idiom which combines sensuousness and clarity perfectly with dynamic sportiness and contributes to the quality feel of the interior.

The driver and front passenger enjoy plenty of space and luxury in a discreet, modern guise on board the new C-Class. This gives rise to a feel-good atmosphere which is new to this class of vehicle – settling into your seat in the C-Class is akin to the uplifting feeling of being upgraded from economy to business class on an airplane.

The interior design demonstrates a bold new approach by Mercedes-Benz. Here the designers combine in accomplished style the architecture of Mercedes- Benz sports cars with a totally new center console featuring flowing lines. A large one-piece center console panel performs an elegant sweep from the center air vents to the armrest. These seamless clear-cut lines create a sense of open space and convey a thrillingly purist and modern feel. A centrally positioned free-standing central display is the main eye-catching feature across the center console – with a screen diagonal of 7 inches or 8.4 inches if Multimedia Package is selected.

Five round air vents lend the dashboard a sporty touch. With their metallic cool-touch effect they create a fascinating, tangible contrast to the warm look of the other materials – such as the wood in the center console or the leather on the dashboard. The “upgrade” feel duly continues with the controls. All switches feature a high-quality, three-dimensional design befitting a luxury vehicle and benefit from a clear layout.

The innovative touchpad in the handrest over the Controller on the center tunnel marks a further evolutionary step developed in-house at Mercedes-Benz. As on a smartphone, this provides for very simple and intuitive operation of all the head-unit functions using finger gestures. The touchpad also permits letters, numbers and special characters to be entered in handwriting – in any language. The user receives clear haptic feedback when operating the touchpad’s control surface, which is highly conducive to genuine intuitive use. A head-up display is also new to the C-Class. Like in a jet fighter, it displays important information directly in the driver’s field of vision on the front windscreen, thus providing for clear legibility and ensuring that the driver is distracted less from the road ahead. The system provides information on vehicle speed, speed limits and navigation instructions and displays messages from DISTRONIC PLUS.

Robust yet lightweight bodyshell
The body-in-white of the new C-Class provides an innovative basis for reduced weight, outstanding rigidity, including introduction rigidity for excellent handling, combined with optimum noise and vibration characteristics and a high level of crash safety. Thanks to intelligent and innovative lightweight construction, the aluminum hybrid body is around 154 lbs lighter than a conventional steel body. The vehicle’s overall weight is even reduced by around 220 lbs. As such, the new C-Class leads the “lightweight rankings” in its segment. This spawns numerous benefits: the lightweight construction of the new C-Class cuts fuel consumption by up to 20 percent without any loss of performance, while at the same time enabling a lower center of gravity, which in turn gives rise to the vehicle’s noticeably sporty and agile handling.

Mercedes-Benz achieves this feat of lightweight construction by various measures, including a completely new structural design and the use of an unusually high proportion of aluminum for a mass-produced range. The share of aluminum has risen compared with the successful predecessor from under 10 percent to almost 50 percent.

In keeping with Mercedes-Benz traditions, the body is designed for exemplary crash safety. As a result, the Sedan complies not only with all current national laws but also with all rating requirements, as well as meeting the more stringent internal Mercedes-Benz safety standards based on what actually happens during accidents.

A high-strength safety passenger compartment forms the core of this concept. It is surrounded by specifically configured and field-tested deformation zones which ensure maximum safety for the occupants by virtue of optimized force paths and a combination of aluminum castings and ultra-high-strength materials. An outer skin consisting almost completely of aluminum provides a protective shell for the body.

Leading the field in aerodynamics and quiet running
Low drag is crucial to achieving outstanding efficiency. From a speed of just under 43 mph, aerodynamic drag exceeds the sum total of all other driving resistance factors. As such, drag constitutes a major parameter in efforts to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The wind noise level, which was already very low in the preceding generation of the C-Class, has been lowered still further.

The engineers have also devoted painstaking attention to optimizing other potential sources of disturbance which may have an adverse effect on the driver’s and passengers’ well-being and concentration, even though they may not consciously notice the effects. NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) is the technical term for such nuisance factors. The specialists have optimized the noise characteristics of the interior blower, the power windows, the seat adjustment functions and many other actuation and operating noises, for example. As a result, the new C-Class occupies a benchmark position in its segment.

Optimized drive train
Smooth automatic gear shifting is provided by the 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission, which has undergone further development at Mercedes-Benz in the interests of enhanced environment-friendliness and driving pleasure.

The 4MATIC permanent all-wheel-drive system serves to improve traction and driving stability in the C-Class, too, while additionally underscoring the vehicle’s refined sportiness.

Suspension – sporty yet comfortable
The suspension on the new C-Class is a totally new development. It provides for nimble and agile handling that makes driving a great pleasure on winding roads while also offering the highest standard of ride comfort in the segment. A newly designed 4-link front axle plays a major part in the agile handling characteristics. Thanks to the 4-link principle, the front independent suspension is fully decoupled from the spring strut. The resultant favorable axle kinematics allow more grip and higher lateral stability. As a result, the suspension responds more sensitively to steering movements and allows a sporty, agile driving style. An optimized multi-link independent rear suspension with 5-link concept ensures unsurpassed wheel location qualities and supreme straightline stability.

The new C-Class Sedan is fitted as standard with a steel suspension. Two suspensions with selective damping systems are available:
- a comfortable yet sporty base suspension
- a sports suspension lowered by .6 inches as part of the optional Sport Package

First air suspension in this category
Alternatively, the new C-Class is the first vehicle in its segment that can be fitted with an air suspension (AIRMATIC) on the front and rear axles. Thanks to electronically controlled, continuous variable damping at the front and rear, it offers outstanding road roar and tire vibration characteristics even with the vehicle loaded. The driver can use the AGILITY SELECT switch to choose between the various characteristics: “Comfort”, “ECO”, “Sport” and “Sport+.” The additional “Individual” option enables drivers to configure their vehicle according to their own wishes. AIRMATIC also features all-round self-leveling for optimum ride comfort even when the vehicle is loaded.

The new C-Class also comes with an electric parking brake as standard. This brake is released automatically when the driver ends parking mode with the aim of moving off.

Steering with a sporty character
All models of the C-Class family will feature the electromechanical Direct Steer system as standard in future. This combines road-speed-dependent power assistance from the speed-sensitive power steering system with a steering ratio which varies according to the given steering angle. The power steering assistance provided by the rack and pinion steering gear is controlled on-demand, thereby contributing towards efficiency.

Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive: The intelligent car
It is the declared aim of Mercedes-Benz to make the highest standard of safety available to everyone. To this end, the new C-Class incorporates almost all of the new assistance systems with a host of enhanced functions which celebrated their world premiere in the S-Class and E-Class only a few months ago. The assistance systems enhance both comfort and safety. Mercedes-Benz calls this Intelligent Drive.

The new C-Class offers numerous innovative safety and assistance systems. It is fitted as standard with ATTENTION ASSIST, which can warn the driver of inattentiveness and drowsiness. On motorways, the COMAND system navigation function flags up nearby break options as stopovers, providing the system has been specified in the vehicle. The ATTENTION ASSIST function offers an adjustable level of sensitivity and can inform the driver in a separate view in the instrument cluster about their level of drowsiness and how long they have been driving since their last break.

In addition to Adaptive Brake Assist, which offers protection from collisions from speeds as low as 4 mph, standard-fit COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS also features an additional function: when a danger of collision persists and the driver fails to respond, the system is able to carry out autonomous braking at speeds of up to 124 mph, thereby reducing the severity of collisions with slower or stopping vehicles. The system also brakes in response to stationary vehicles at a speed of up to 31 mph, and is able to prevent rear-end collisions at speeds of up to 25 mph.

New assistance systems and existing assistance systems with a host of enhanced functions from the new S-Class and E-Class are also optionally available, combining data from various sensor technologies as part of the Intelligent Drive concept to enhance comfort and safety substantially:
- DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist is a semi-automatic traffic jam assistant which at speeds under 37 mph is able to follow the vehicle ahead even where lane markings are unclear or completely lacking, thus providing a safe and convenient means of following the flow of traffic.
- The BAS PLUS Brake Assist System can now also detect crossing traffic and boost the braking force if the driver fails to apply the brakes sufficiently; the PRE-SAFE® Brake can detect stationary vehicles as well as pedestrians, brake automatically if the driver fails to react, thus preventing accidents up to 31 mph and mitigating the severity of collisions at speeds of up to 45 mph. In flowing traffic the PRE-SAFE® Brake provides assistance according to the same mode of operation throughout the speed range from 4 to 124 mph.
- Enhanced Active Lane Keeping Assist can now also prevent the vehicle from unintentionally drifting out of lane when broken lane markings apply and a risk of a collision arises, e.g. as a result of vehicles overtaking at high speed, parallel traffic or even oncoming traffic, by applying the brakes on one side.

The numerous assistance systems also include
- Active Parking Assist, which enables automated parking with active steering and brake intervention in both parallel and end-on parking spaces,
- a 360° camera, which is able to show the vehicle and its surroundings from various perspectives, including a virtual bird’s eye view,
- Traffic Sign Assist with Wrong-Way Alert, which warns of speed limits and alerts the driver to no-overtaking zones and no-entry signs,

Airbags for safety
In addition to 3-point seat belts with pyrotechnical belt tensioning and belt force limitation for the driver, the front passenger and those in the outer rear seats, numerous airbags serve to protect the vehicle’s occupants in an accident. These include:
- Pelvis bags for driver and front passenger
- a newly developed window bag
- side bags for the outer rear seats
- a knee bag for the driver

The front passenger seat is fitted as standard with automatic child seat recognition, which dispenses with the previous transponder in favor of a weight mat. This enables any child seat to be used. The airbag is automatically deactivated when a child seat is fitted and reactivated once it has been removed.

Air conditioning: signals from space
Mercedes-Benz has undertaken systematic further development and substantial improvement of the air conditioning system in the new C-Class. This applies in particular to the control quality, performance, efficiency and air quality. The new C-Class is also the only vehicle in the segment to offer tunnel detection via satellite navigation. It uses the map information from the navigation system and the GPS location data to close the air recirculation flap automatically when the vehicle enters a tunnel, subsequently re-opening it when the vehicle emerges from the tunnel.

Another highlight contributing to a feel-good atmosphere is the AIR-BALANCE package with active fragrancing, air ionization and more efficient filtration than is available on the standard model.

Vibrant infotainment
A completely new multimedia generation offers intuitive operation in the new C-Class, featuring elaborate animations and visual effects which present all the functions in a clear and highly attractive manner. The new C-Class is also equipped with the unique Frontbass system. This avant-garde acoustic systems uses the space within the cross-member and side member in the body structure as a resonance chamber for the bass speakers to conjure up a listening experience almost on a par with a concert hall. A Burmester® surround sound system is optionally available.

The navigation system presents its contents in interactive mode. Its features include an animated compass, a “Drive Show” with information for passengers similar to the on-screen presentations on board airplanes and Google Maps displayed on the head unit.

In-car technology
COMAND not only offers a larger display with a resolution of 960 x 540 pixels and a special bonded glass cover such as is familiar from consumer devices like the iPhone or iPad.

The new C-Class will also include mbrace2 connected car technology, including the available option to have over twenty Mercedes-Benz Apps integrated into the COMAND system.

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Only 50 Bugatti Veyrons left for sale

Only 50 Bugatti Veyrons left for sale before the production of the iconic car draws to an end. 

When the Volkswagen group acquired the trademark rights of the former automaker Bugatti in 1998, it had a very ambitious plan in store to revive the iconic brand. Something unprecedented that’ll leave its mark in the history of automobiles. The attempt was to build the world’s most over-engineered car that’ll break all the previous records comfortably with a huge margin. Most of the industry specialists debunked the idea, but in 2005 the world got the best four wheeled automobile ever made in the history of mankind in the form of Bugatti Veyron. In 2005, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 not only snatched the record for being the fastest production car on the earth from the legendary McLaren F1 but also became the first to break into the 400kmph league. Eight years later, the luxury automaker owned by VW group today has announced it has sold its 400th Veyron and it’ll only build 50 more.

Out of the 400 Veyrons sold till date, 300 were Veyron 16.4 and 16.4 Super Sport coupes with the Super Sport currently holding the record of fastest production car ever made. The company only planned to make 300 of those, so new buyers can only buy the roadster versions, the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport and 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse. The 400th Veyron that was sold was the third and final example of the Jean-Pierre Wimille edition seen here in the pictures. The Wimille edition is the first in a series of six Legend specials that pay homage to Bugatti’s history. The rest of 50 Veyrons left to be made will take a little more than a year to leave the factory floors and then the legendary car will be etched in the history books forever as one of the most glorious engineering marvels to be ever made. Which urges us to ask, what’s next? We might never see a car that’ll be better or even similar to the Veyron. For every Veyron Bugatti makes, the company loses almost the same amount of money it makes from each sale and for that reason alone, the records set by the icon might stay put forever. 

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First look at 2015 BMW M3 and M4

Images of the 2015 BMW M3 and M4 have leaked – courtesy of Autocar UK. The M3 and M4 are, essentially, the same vehicle, with the M3 being a coupe and the M4 being a sedan. Both will sport the new M engine – the S55 B30. This is a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged in-line six-cylinder engine that produces 425 horsepower and 405 pound-feet of torque. Top speed is 155 mph.

The M3 and M4 will be offered with a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed M DCT dual-clutch transmission.

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Can the Bugatti Veyron drive in snow? (Watch)

A car with such exceptional potential as the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 *) calls for equally exceptional testing conditions:
Repeated switches from the high-speed circuit to city traffic and from the highway to the racetrack, steep uphill climbs and descents, and every possible curve radius. The internal tests required top speeds, full-throttle acceleration to up to 350 km/h, again and again, and repeated full brake maneuvers with a force of 1.3 g. The Bugatti test engineers drove more than 1,000 km per day, only interrupted by the necessary service breaks. And then there were the extensive test drives on the extremely tough Nürburgring Grand Prix circuit, and non-stop autobahn drives.

In addition to these internal tests, the Veyron 16.4 had to pass all official roadworthiness tests just like any other serial production vehicle for road traffic. Approval criteria included reliability, stability, fine-tuning of driveline, chassis, and transmission, as well as the overall condition of the car after 50,000 driven kilometers. This was rounded off by the thousands of hours the Veyron 16.4’s engine, drive train, brakes and chassis were inspected on numerous test benches.

Next, the Veyron was exposed to weeks of heat and cold tests at extreme temperatures ranging from -20°C (-4°F) to 50°C (122°F). The car and its inexhaustible four-wheel drive braved both the ice and snow of Northern Europe and the sizzling South African heat. Even in the snow, the Electronic Stability Program always detects the degree of road grip, adjusting the engine control systems accordingly. The active rear axle lock not only helps the car take fast turns, but also ensures non-slip acceleration even in the snow. One particularly memorable episode occurred when a heavy van with camera equipment got stuck in a Scandinavian snowdrift – to be pulled out by the Veyron, which mastered this task like a professional tow truck.

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2015 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

The GLA-Class compact SUV that Mercedes-Benz presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show this year and slated to hit dealerships in the spring, has gone into production at the Mercedes plant in Rastatt, Germany. The future crossover will be available in four versions, ranging in power from 136hp (GLA 200 CDI 4MATIC) to 211hp (GLA 250 4MATIC).

By 2020, Mercedes has a plan to be the number one luxury brand in the world. The new CLA-Class four-door coupe and GLA SUV are playing a major role in this. Dr. Dieter Zetsche Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars said, “The GLA is the next milestone in our Mercedes-Benz 2020 growth strategy.”

The most eco-friendly model in the line will be the Mercedes GLA 200 CDI, with its 136hp diesel engine and average CO2 emissions of 114g/km. The most powerful model, meanwhile, is the Mercedes GLA 250 4MATIC, which can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 6.5s and reach a top speed of 235km/h. The latter model’s fuel consumption averages out at 7.1L/100km, which translates into CO2 emissions of 151g/km.

The Mercedes GLA will have the latest version of Mercedes’s branded all-wheel drive system, 4MATIC, designed to distribute power effectively among the wheels. It also includes a collision-prevention system to avoid crashes at speeds of over 7km/h, a rear park assist feature, and the option to automatically cap the vehicle’s top speed at 200km/h.

The Mercedes GLA is the latest arrival in the increasingly competitive market for entry-level, compact SUVs or crossovers. The new Mercedes line will be competing with the BMW X1 and Audi Q3 lines, to name a few.

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McLaren MSO 12C Concept Car

From the super secret “McLaren Special Operations” (MSO) department comes this unique MSO concept car based on the McLaren MP4-12C. Officially labeled the MSO 12C Concept Car, it features a new hood, front wings, airbrake spoiler, and roof-mounted air scoop. The concept car also features new titanium pieces and additional carbon fiber trim for the interior. There’s no news on whether this will become officially available to customers. 

From McLaren:

McLaren Special Operations provides a bespoke engineering service to those wishing to make their McLaren even more distinctive. The MSO 12C Concept is packed full of bespoke features including a revised bonnet, front wing louvres, rear wing vents, a unique Airbrake and a new roof featuring an integrated snorkel channelling air to the engine. These revisions are all crafted in lightweight carbon fibre. Titanium wheel bolts, along with oil and water filler caps, shed further weight from the already light 12C. The interior gains more carbon fibre upgrades in the form of body colour switch packs and bezels. These are complemented by a new carbon fibre instrument cluster with integrated shift lights. The keen-eyed amongst you will also notice that the Light Weight Wheels have been diamond cut in a new design.

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