Cadillac Ciel Concept 2011

The Cadillac Ciel Concept - pronounced "C-L," the French translation for sky - is a four-seat convertible that opens a new chapter in Cadillac's design and product ascent, pushing the brand's Art & Science philosophy into a new stratum. Ciel is a new expression of Cadillac's historical grandeur, as well as a celebration of open-air motoring.


"Large, expressive luxury is innate to Cadillac and the Ciel recalls that heritage, while suggesting where the brand can go in the future," said Clay Dean, global design director for Cadillac. "Authentic luxury is driven by experiences, not just products, and Ciel is about the experience of the journey."


The spacious and elegant Cadillac Ciel Concept is a grand gesture that explores themes driving Cadillac's explorations into range-topping flagship luxury. It is powered by a twin-turbocharged version of the 3.6-liter Direct Injection V-6 engine, paired with a hybrid system using lithium-ion battery technology.

Coastal inspiration

Driving California's Highway 1 in an open car while the sun sets, from Big Sur north to Monterey, is the type of journey the Ciel team envisioned during its design.

"The Ciel is about the romance of the drive," said Dean. "It emulates the great touring cars seen on the greens at Pebble Beach, but with a modern flair that projects Cadillac's vision for the future."

The four-door Cadillac Ciel Concept embraces the social aspects of a recreational journey, with generous room for two couples. It evokes the spirit of the classics with a long, low proportion. The doors are French-style, with the rear doors hinged at the rear - there is no B-pillar - to reveal a sweeping view of the dramatic interior. Distinguishing fender lines run from nose to tail, and nickel-plated bright work accents the body lines, enhancing the visual length of the car and honoring Cadillac touring cars of the past.

Bentley Continental GT 2012

For Crewe's design and engineering teams, the new Bentley Continental GT coupe is an opportunity to set a bold and exciting direction for one of Bentley's most revered names - the Continental. The seminal and highly successful Bentley Continental GT introduced in 2003 represented the first step in Bentley's renaissance and defined a whole new market segment. It was a luxury GT offering excellent usability that remained true to the Bentley grand touring spirit.

Now the new Continental GT 4-seat coupe builds on the success of its iconic predecessor, capturing that GT spirit but with even higher standards of design, engineering, luxury, craftsmanship, dynamic performance, everyday practicality and refinement.



A beautifully sculptured new body gives the Bentley Continental GT coupe an even crisper, more defined appearance. The contemporary interior offers new levels of cabin design, comfort and hand-crafted luxury. The seats, for example, provide even greater support and rear leg-room; a sweeping dashboard even more style and modernity. The new touchscreen infotainment system features state-of-the-art navigation, Google Maps and entertainment while the latest Balanced Mode Radiator speaker technology and Dirac Dimensions™ digital sound processing deliver enhanced audio quality.

Bentley's acclaimed 6-litre, 12-cylinder, twin-turbocharged powertrain now has a raised power output of 575PS (567bhp/423kW) and 700Nm (516lb ft) of torque and this is mated to a new Quickshift transmission which enables double downshifts. Thanks to advanced FlexFuel technology it can also run on both standard unleaded petrol (gasoline) and sustainable bioethanol (up to E85) or any mix of the two.

Honda CR-Z Mugen RR Concept 2011

Mugen of Japan has built a Honda CR-Z Mugen RR design concept to demonstrate Mugen's capabilities in terms of function, style, performance and agility. The Honda CR-Z Mugen RR was produced by M-TEC in Japan for show purposes only and there are currently no plans for further production.

The Honda CR-Z Mugen RR has been created with many bespoke prototype parts, several of which are created in carbon fibre, including the bonnet, passenger doors and rear tailgate. Other features unique to the car include a full length carbon-fibre underbody, a twin central-exit exhaust, vented front bumpers and race-developed suspension. Orange 4-piston monobloc brake calipers and forged 18-inch alloy wheels both complement the vibrant Valencia Orange Pearl exterior paint work.

Inside the car, the seats are clad in Mugen-branded colour-coded leather/Alcantara. The addition of a race-developed information screen has the ability to record chassis and engine data as well as housing a Satellite navigation and audio system. This high tech kit will monitor the car over two laps to "learn" a circuit and then record lap data and vehicle tracking using GPS.


The design concept was unveiled for its world debut at the beginning of July 2011 in the Moving Motor Show area at Goodwood Festival of Speed and complements the high-performance Honda CR-Z Mugen, which was designed and built by Mugen Euro based in the UK.

Porsche Panamera Turbo S 2012

The new Porsche Panamera Turbo S is raising the bar for sporting four-door luxury cars. The new addition to the Gran Turismo range offers a unique combination of performance and efficiency, driving dynamics and comfort. The 4.8-litre, V8 twin-turbocharged engine delivers 550 hp (410 kW), an increase of ten per cent or 50 hp (37 kW) more than the Panamera Turbo. Torque also increases from 700 to 750 Nm and in the "Sport" and "Sport Plus" mode of the standard Sport Chrono Package Turbo - and during kick-down in normal mode - the eight cylinder engine delivers 800 Nm courtesy of the over-boost function.

This uprated engine delivers record sprint times for the new top of the range Panamera. When using the Launch Control function, 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) is reached in 3.8 seconds, with a top speed of 191 mph (306 km/h) possible. However, despite the increased performance, fuel consumption of the Porsche Panamera Turbo S remains at the moderate level of the Panamera Turbo at 24.6mpg Combined on the NEDC - an example of Porsche Intelligent Performance.




The increased performance compared with the Panamera Turbo can be attributed to two main enhancements. Improved turbochargers with titanium-aluminium turbine wheels and modified engine control management. The use of the innovative titanium-aluminium alloy reduces the weight of the turbine and compressor wheel. This results in a lower moment of inertia, and thus improved and more responsive acceleration.

Mercedes-Benz SLK250 CDI 2012

For the first time, Mercedes-Benz is offering the sporty SLK Roadster with a diesel engine. The 150 kW (204 hp) four-cylinder power unit puts the two-seater at the top of its class in numerous respects. With a fuel consumption of 4.9 litres per 100 kilometres, it is the most economical roadster in its segment. Thanks to its enormous torque of 500 newton metres it accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds, and delivers a top figure for acceleration from 80 to 120 km/h. The result is superior driving enjoyment both on winding country roads and on long motorway stretches. Like the other models in the latest SLK family, which was presented in January 2011, it combines lively sportiness with high-quality appointments and excellent comfort.


Diesel drive and roadster excitement do not go together - or so a common misconception would have it. Mercedes-Benz impressively demonstrates the contrary with the new Mercedes-Benz SLK250 CDI. Its four-cylinder diesel engine with a displacement of 2143 cc generates an output of 150 kW (204 hp) and 500 newton metres of torque - as much as a petrol engine with twice the displacement would normally generate. This makes the new Mercedes-Benz SLK250 CDI the most powerful diesel model in its class, and gives the roadster the potential for extremely sporty performance.



Equipped with the standard 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission (a six-speed manual transmission will follow in the second quarter of 2012), the diesel SLK sprints from zero to 100km/h in 6.7 seconds and achieves a top speed of 243 km/h. Moreover, the flexibility of the Mercedes-Benz SLK250 CDI is nothing short of phenomenal. Thanks to its enormous diesel torque it accelerates from 80 to 120 km/h in just 4.3 seconds - easily the best figure in this class, making for safe and effortless overtaking

Infiniti FX35 2012

The Infiniti FX, Infiniti's iconic performance crossover, enters the 2012 model year with big news - a revised front grille and front fascia design, revised meter illumination, standard heated front seats on all models and the addition of the new Limited Edition Infiniti FX35 AWD model.

Based upon the Infiniti FX35 All-Wheel Drive model, the Limited Edition features an available exclusive Iridium Blue exterior color, 21-inch 10-spoke aluminum-alloy graphite finish wheels with P265/45R21 V-rated all-season tires, dark tinted headlights with Adaptive Front lighting System (AFS) and auto-leveling, and dark tinted side air vents and lower door trim. Other Limited Edition features include aluminum roof rails and roof rail crossbars with graphite finish, aluminum pedals, graphite floor mats with unique blue piping, Infiniti Hard Drive Navigation System, Around View® Monitor (AVM) and much more.


Other 2012 enhancements include a new exterior color, Graphite Shadow (replaces Platinum Graphite), a new 20-inch wheel design for the FX35 Deluxe Touring Package, and a shift of the quilted leather climate-controlled front seats to the FX35 Deluxe Touring Package from the Premium Package.

One of those rare vehicles that is equally intriguing whether in motion or standing still, the Infiniti FX is again available with a choice of a 390-horsepower 5.0-liter 32-valve DOHC V8 engine with VVEL (Variable Valve Event & Lift) or with a 303-horsepower 3.5-liter 24-valve DOHC V6 engine. Both engines are paired with a standard 7-speed automatic transmission featuring Adaptive Shift Control (ASC).

Brabus Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class 2012

A sporty designer suit, custom-tailored wheels with diameters of up to 20 inches complete with corresponding suspension options, performance tuning for all engines and exclusive interior design: Brabus now offers an extensive customization program for the new Mercedes SLK.


Sporty-elegant Brabus aerodynamic-enhancement components give the roadster an even more thrilling appearance. The two Brabus front spoiler lips that attach on the left and right side of the production apron and the striking bezels for the daytime running lights lend the SLK a more striking nose. But that's not all: the spoilers also reduce lift on the front axle which particularly benefits directional stability at high speeds.

The Brabus side sill attachments emphasize the sporty lateral lines of the car and seem to make the rear fenders wider visually. The rear of the car receives some added sporty character with the Brabus diffuser and the Brabus rear spoiler on the trunk lid. The diffuser is integrated with utmost precision into the production bumper and features a centrally mounted rear reflector. These aerodynamic-enhancement components also serve more than just a visual function; they reduce lift in the rear as well.

A major contribution to the sporty appearance of the new SLK from Bottrop likewise comes from the Brabus Monoblock wheels, which are available in various one-piece or multi-piece designs with diameters ranging from 17 to 20 inches.

Mazda CX-5 2013

Mazda Motor Corporation will hold the world premiere of the all-new Mazda CX-5 compact crossover SUV at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show (September 13-25, 2011). The Mazda CX-5 is the first of a new generation of Mazda products that will adopt the full range of Mazda's breakthrough SKYACTIV Technology and new design theme, 'KODO - Soul of Motion'.

The Mazda CX-5 evolves Mazda's hallmark fun-to-drive character and will be progressively introduced to global markets from early 2012. Developed around the full range of SKYACTIV Technology — including all-new Mazda gasoline and diesel engines, manual and automatic transmissions, body and chassis — the Mazda CX-5 delivers precise response and a high-quality ride matched with outstanding environmental and safety performance.

The engine line-up for the European specification CX-5 will include Mazda's SKYACTIV-G 2.0 gasoline engine and SKYACTIV-D 2.2 diesel engine available in Standard Power and High Power versions. Each engine has a record-breaking compression ratio of 14:1 for ideal efficiency. Mazda focused on achieving exceptional environmental performance for a compact SUV and targeted CO2 emissions of less than 120g/km for the SKYACTIV-D 2.2 engine model.

The Mazda CX-5 is also the first production model to showcase Mazda's new design theme, 'KODO - Soul of Motion', which was previewed with the Mazda Shinari and Mazda Minagi concept cars. Unique themes of KODO design include a prominent new front view with a bolder family face and dynamic styling that conveys a strong sense of vitality and agility.

Jaguar XJ 2012

The choice of engines has been enlarged for the 2012 Jaguar XJ range with the fitment of a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine (market specific). All engines are coupled to a shift-by-wire, six-speed automatic transmission controlled by the JaguarDrive Selector or steering wheel-mounted paddles.

On the long-wheelbase Portfolio derivative a new ‘Executive Pack’ transforms the rear of the Jaguar XJ into a high-speed mobile office space with the provision of fold-down laptop trays and an electric rear sunblind for increased privacy. The package also includes upgraded carpeting, combination wood and leather steering wheel, gloss wood veneer choices and chrome mirror housings.


The 2012 Jaguar XJ interior available with the Premium Luxury and Portfolio trim levels the Jet/Ivory option features ivory seating with contrast jet stitching, piping and upper surfaces while the headlining is available in either colour, according to customer preference.


All Jaguar XJ variants are now available with an Illumination Package derived from that offered as standard on the Supersport model. This comprises illuminated treadplates, boot latch and front and rear air vents.