car ınsurance, cars & tuning

Jaguar has announced a new special edition 400 hp XJ R called the XJR Portfolio. This supercharged performance sedan continues the evolution of the design cues first seen on the Concept Eight show car which starred at the New York International Auto Show in 2004. The XKR Portfolio features similar design cues to the  the long-wheelbase XJ Super V8 Portfolio, including 20-inch polished wheels, side power vents and Satin American Walnut or aluminum trim. The XJR Portfolio’s interior is upholstered in Ivory, Champagne or Charcoal leather. The XJR Portfolio will be available in a choice of four colors  Liquid Silver, Midnight black, Ebony, and Blue Prism. In-car entertainment is provided by the 12-speaker Jaguar Alpine Premium sound system – including 320 watt amplifier, subwoofers and CD changer.

Apex Motorsport and Jaguar today revealed the XKR GT3 at the Autosport International Show in Britain. The Jaguar XKR GT3, featuring a 4.2 litre V8 supercharged engine, retains the aluminium body of its production cousin, but has had modifications made in line with the regulations. 
   The first car to be built by Apex Motorsport has already been sold to Stuart Scott, Managing Director of East Anglia’s most successful travel management company, Cambridge Business Travel.  Scott, who has most recently been racing in the British GT Cup, will be driving the Jaguar in a program of six events with a yet-to-be-named co-driver.

Honda today revealed the 2007 Honda Civic Type-R 3-Door Concept. The hatchback is described as a concept, but strongly hints at what the production car will look like when it reaches the market in 2007. The car is powered by a 200 horsepower 2.0-litre, DOHC i-VTEC unit, the same high-reving engine as used in the outgoing model.

Beginning August 1st, the 2007 Porsche Boxster and Boxster S will be given more power and torque. The 2.7-liter Boxster engine now develops an additional 5 bhp, bringing the total to 245 bhp (180 kW). Torque has increased to 273 Nm, available from 4,600 rpm. Fuel consumption is now 9.3 liters per 100 kilometers, a reduction of 0.3 l/100 km. The Boxster accelerates to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds and has a top speed of 258 km/h. With the optional six-speed gearbox, 260 km/h can be achieved. The Boxster S engine, which has been increased in size from 3.2 to 3.4 liters, develops 295 bhp (217 kW) at 6,250 rpm – 15 bhp more than its predecessor – and 340 Nm of torque. The Boxster S sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.4 seconds – a tenth of a second quicker than the previous model. This open sports car’s top speed has gone up by 4 km/h to 272 km/h. Its average fuel consumption is 10.6 liters per 100 kilometers.
Both flat-six engines are now equipped with VarioCam Plus valve control, with variable valve timing (VarioCam) and changeover valve lift (Plus). Inlet camshaft timing is adjusted by a vane-type actuator with a range of 40 degrees. The valve lift changeover mechanism uses two-position bucket-type tappets on the inlet side, actuated by an electrohydraulic valve.
 The bucket-type tappets consist of one tappet inside another; the two tappets can be locked together hydraulically by a pin. Thanks to this technical device, the Boxster and Boxster S engines have a characteristic that combines strong pulling power with high peak output at low fuel consumption.
The Boxster and Boxster S can be supplied with the revised Tiptronic S transmission, which has new hydraulics and electronics as well as variable shift programs. When combined with the Sport Chrono Package, the sporty characteristics of both these mid-engine roadsters can be experienced even more intensely: up- and downshifts are made only at engine speeds above 3000 rpm; downshifts for engine braking are subject to less delay and take place at higher engine speeds. In the manual-shift mode, up-shifts are not made automatically when the engine reaches its maximum rev limit.
On both Boxster models, access for servicing has been improved: the coolant and engine oil filler caps are now behind an easily accessible flap, so that better use can be made of the rear trunk. For the first time, the Boxster and Boxster S are available with the 19-inch turbo forged alloy two-tone wheels that were developed exclusively for the new 911 Turbo. For Boxster models they are offered as an option in sizes 8 J x 19 (front) and 9 ½ J x 19 (rear).
The basic price for the new Boxster is 37,700 euros. Including sales tax and country-specific requirements, it costs 43,935 euros in Germany. The Boxster S has a basic price of 45,600 euros. With sales tax and country-specific requirements added, this more powerful model costs 53,099 euros.

will be in Porsche showrooms from February 24, 2007.
The basic version of the SUV has a 40 hp power boost and is now driven by a 290 hp six-cylinder engine, with displacement increased from 3.2 to 3.6 liters. The torque of the Cayenne has climbed from 310 to 385 Nm.  Thanks to new direct gasoline injection and the introduction of VarioCam Plus valve control, the Cayenne S, now with an even bigger 4.8-liter, naturally aspirated V8 engine, produces a torque of 500 Nm (previously 420 Nm) and an output of 385 bhp, an increase of 45 bhp. The Cayenne Turbo gains 50 horsepower, now producing 500 horsepower and 700 Nm of torque. The Turbo can race from 0-62 mph in 5.1 seconds.
The Cayenne Turbo is fitted with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) with air suspension as standard. This variant can now be augmented with the new Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) roll stabilizer system. Porsche Stability Management (PSM), with its brake assist ********, advanced trailer stabilization system and off-road ABS, comes as standard on all Cayenne models.

Porsche today announced the 2007 Porsche 911 Targa (997), which, for the first time, will be sold with all-wheel-drive only. The Targa 4 is powered by the familiar flat-six engine, delivering 325 hp of power from 3.6 liters. It accelerates the car from 0 to 62 mph in 5.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 175 mph. The more powerful S variant features a 3.8-liter engine producing 355 bhp. This model sprints to 62 mph in 4.9 seconds, and has a top speed of 180 mph. Thanks to Porsche’s VarioCam Plus valve control system, the Targa 4 develops maximum torque of 370 Newton meters at 4,250 revolutions per minute. The equivalent for the S version is 400 Newton meters at 4,600 rpm. Power transmission is via a six-speed manual gearbox with short, precise shift strokes. Optionally, customers can choose Porsche's five-speed Tiptronic S automatic transmission. The basic euro-price for the 911 Targa 4 is 79,000 euros, or 87,900 euros for the 911 Targa 4S.

BMW today released official specs and photos of its new Z4 M roadster. The car is powered by the same 3.2-liter inline- six engine as the fourth-generation M3. The high-powered roadster is expected to premier at the Detroit auto show in January, with sales beginning by March or April. The M Roadster will also get modifications to the McPher-son strut front and multilink rear suspension found in the standard Z4. BMW has added aluminum parts to reduce the new car’s unsprung weight. Output per litre is 106 hp and the power-to-weight ratio is 4.1 kilos/hp. On the road this means acceleration to 62mph in 5.0 seconds, with the same short time of 5.0 seconds being required for intermediate acceleration in fourth gear from 80–120 km/h (50–75 mph). Top speed is limited electronically to 250 km/h or 155 mph. The Z4 M roadster will likely sell somewhere between $50,000 and $60,000.

The first official details of the 2007 Mercedes SL facelift have surfaced online. the car gets an updated grille, and freshened headlamps and taillights. The SL 350 gets an updated V6 engine, with 272 horsepower instead of 245. The SL500 gets a larger V8 with 388 horses, compared to the previous 306. The V12 SL600 gets a bump from 500 horsepower to 517 hp. The SL 55 also gets a boost from 500 to 517 horsepower, via a supercharged V8. The range-topping SL65 remains unchanged, with 612 horses on tap. The V6 model reaches 62 mph in 6.6 seconds, while the SL500 does 5.4 seconds. The SL600 and SL55 tie at 4.5 seconds, leaving potential buyers to choose between a naturally-aspriated or supercharged engine. Lastly, the SL65 continues to rocket to 62mph in around 4.2 seconds.

Land Rover today unveiled the the Range Rover Sport HST. The new HST will be based on the Supercharged specification with the additional equipment including: electric sunroof, an electronic active locking rear differential and privacy glass. The interior is distinguished by a unique hand polished lined oak trim. The exterior design is the work of the same Land Rover team that created the original Range Stormer. It includes new flush-fitting front and rear bumpers and a new larger open-mouth grille. The front lower air intake is deeper and new front fog lamps are mounted in the spoiler. The lower doors and lower rear boot are body-coloured, making the body sides appear deeper, accentuating the vehicles road-hugging qualities. A new tail spoiler is also fitted, and the special rectangular tail-pipes are close to those used on the original Range Stormer concept vehicle. Further visual impact is provided by the 20 inch Stormer alloy wheels, chromed aluminium side vents and body-coloured door mirror cappings, unique to this derivative. So far, only U.K. pricing of £63,000 has been announced.

Chrysler Group today announced the 2007 Dodge Nitro  the first mid-size sport-utility vehicle from the Dodge brand.The Dodge Nitro's styling delivers something extra; that little something mid-size buyers are still searching for  attitude, said George Murphy, Senior Vice President - Global Marketing.  In addition, the Dodge Nitro offers many features that are not typical of a mid-size SUV, such as two V-6 engines, 20-inch tires and chrome-clad aluminum wheels and a performance suspension. Engine choices include V6 engines at 210 and 255-horsepower.
Three models are available: Dodge Nitro, Dodge Nitro SLT and Dodge Nitro R/T.  Available on the Dodge Nitro and Dodge Nitro SLT is a 3.7-liter SOHC V-6 engine.  It produces 210 hp (157 kW) @ 5,200 rpm and 235 lb.-ft. (319 Nm) @ 4,000 rpm.  The Dodge Nitro R/T features a new 4.0-liter V-6 engine that delivers 255 hp (190 kW) @ 5,800 rpm and 275 lb.-ft. torque (360 Nm) @ 4,000 rpm.  Standard on the Dodge Nitro R/T and optional on the Nitro SLT is a new performance suspension and 20-inch tires and chrome-clad aluminum wheels, providing performance-oriented drivers with fun-to-drive handling and a firm ride.