Porsche unwraps 911 GT3 RS 4.0 and Panamera Hybrid configurators

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

Porsche has updated its site with configurators for the 2011 Panamera S Hybrid and the 2011 911 GT3 RS 4.0. That means you don’t have to leave the comfort of your chalet to make your next rear-engined track star or EV-assisted four-door autobahn shuttle.

Key options for the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 include Porsche’s carbon ceramic brakes, a front axle lifting system so you don’t scrape the splitter on speed bumps, lightweight headlamps and a lithium-ion battery that saves a few pounds over the standard unit. You can also delete the air conditioner and stereo in the interest of speed.

The Panamera gets the usual panorama of luxury appointments and go bits, too. Carbon ceramic brakes are an option as well, and, just like the 911, they cost north of $8,000. While the capillary-popping force the special clampers offer can be useful, we suspect most Panamera buyers would prefer to direct their Benjamins elsewhere.

The Panamera can be dolled up in any number of ways, with an interior option list that would embarrass Ikea. Ours would have to have the $1,000 Bose sound system, though we could live without the $5,000 Porsche Exclusive 25 Year package, which adds custom floor mats, body-color trim accents and embroidered logos to the Panamera’s living quarters.

You can play with both configurators now on Porsche’s website.

Porsche unwraps 911 GT3 RS 4.0 and Panamera Hybrid configurators originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 08 May 2011 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japan unwraps chocolate Smart ForTwo for Valentine’s Day

Filed under: Etc., Japan, Videos, Hatchback, Smart, Design/Style, Luxury

Chocolate Smart ForTwo by Q-Pot

Chocolate Smart ForTwo by Q-Pot – Click above to watch the video after the jump

In Japan, Christmas Eve is a romantic holiday during which couples eat special cakes. So what’s Valentine’s Day, then? An occasion for women to buy men chocolate, of course. Or chocolate cars, as the case may be.

Okay, so the Smart ForTwo you see above isn’t actually made of chocolate, it just looks that way. Specially prepared for the holiday by designer Tadaaki Wakamutsu of Japanese luxury jeweler/chocolatier Q-Pot, the unique Smart city car features a special chocolate-themed paint scheme. It’s priced at 2.36 million yen (equivalent to about $28k), which places it at a considerable premium over the standard Smart ForTwo’s 1.84 million yen MSRP ($22k) in Japan. Follow the jump to watch the video report, or head over to the Q-Pot website for a closer look.

[Source: Q-Pot via AP]

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Japan unwraps chocolate Smart ForTwo for Valentine’s Day originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 Jan 2011 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2010: Cadillac unwraps Urban Luxury Concept

Cadillac Urban Luxury Concept

Cadillac Urban Luxury Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

One could be excused for thinking that the definition of urban luxury might be the Cadillac Escalade, but apparently the hive mind at General Motors’ most luxurious division have other thoughts on the subject. In fact, it seems Cadillac is thinking the exact opposite. To wit, take a gander at the Urban Luxury Concept that’s being debuted at the 2010 LA Auto Show.

As would seem appropriate for a car intended for urban confines, this Caddy concept features rather small exterior dimensions, but the automaker claims that it’s large inside with seating for four occupants. Wheelbase comes in at a hair over 97 inches and overall length measures 151 inches. Width is listed at 68.1 inches and height at just under 57 inches.

Ingress and egress takes place through a pair of scissor doors that extend outward and rotate forward when opened – supposedly a boon for tight urban parking spaces. The rest of the exterior carries the brand’s Art and Science motif to new levels and could sort of be described as a Smart Fortwo or Aston Martin Cygnet drawn with nothing but a straight edge. We wouldn’t call it pretty, but striking would certainly be an apt descriptor.

Interior space is recovered by the lack of the expected gauges and control surfaces. Instead, we have projectors and a slew of capacitive touch screens that glow Tanzanite blueish-purple. There’s a hide-away right-hand touch pad and the back of the folding passenger seat converts into an Orbit Baby SmartHub.

Power comes from a 1.0-liter turbocharged three cylinder engine (perhaps the unit that was originally planned for the Chevy Volt?) that makes up part of a hybrid drivetrain. GM claims the system would provide a completely theoretical 56 miles per gallon in the city and 65 mpg on the highway.

To get the full story of the Urban Luxury Concept, you really need to take a look at our high-res image gallery below, and you’ll also find the complete press release after the break.

Gallery: LA 2010: Cadillac Urban Luxury Concept

LA 2010: Cadillac Urban Luxury ConceptLA 2010: Cadillac Urban Luxury ConceptLA 2010: Cadillac Urban Luxury ConceptLA 2010: Cadillac Urban Luxury ConceptLA 2010: Cadillac Urban Luxury Concept

[Source: Cadillac]

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LA 2010: Cadillac unwraps Urban Luxury Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 00:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paris Preview: BMW unwraps 6 Series Coupe Concept

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Paris Motor Show, BMW

BMW 6 Series Concept

BMW 6 Series Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Like so many “concepts” from BMW, the 6 Series Coupe bound for the Paris Motor Show is a concept in name alone. What you’re looking at is BMW’s next GT, and even a cursory glance proves that the Bangleization of BMW is officially over.

Set to be based on the 5 Series’ underpinnings and taking several cues from the Grand Coupe concept shown in Beijing, the next BMW 6 Series takes the brand’s new upright grille, frames it with a set of full-LED headlamps and than caps things off with a more contoured rump. We’re not going to pass judgement on the design until we see it in person, but like the last 6er, this new GT appears to be a love it or loathe it affair.

On the contrary, the interior is an airy, organic environment, complete with an asymmetrical center console tilted towards the driver, a new navigation display and a host of aluminum and leather accents that are several steps beyond what’s currently on offer from BMW. We’re particularly digging the redesigned steering wheel and the waterfall of material that connects the dash to the transmission tunnel.

BMW isn’t giving up specifics on dimensions or engines – this is a “concept” after all – but expect the 2012 BMW 6 Series to be slightly lower and marginally wider than the current model. Power will be supplied by BMW’s current array of naturally aspirated and turbocharged inline sixes, with the next M6 outputting over 550 horsepower from its twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8. The standard 6 should be in showroom early next year, with the M6 to arriving in late 2012 and the soft-top due out in late 2011.

Gallery: BMW 6 Series Concept

Source: BMW

Paris Preview: BMW unwraps 6 Series Coupe Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 Sep 2010 20:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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