2012 Porsche Cayenne

2012 Porsche Cayenne Diesel by Kahn Design

Kahn Design is keeping busy releasing a new tuning program every week. So far, they have been focusing on Land Rover models, but this week’s package du jour is for the Porsche Cayenne 3.0 Diesel.

Kahn started by adding a very cool aerodynamic package which includes vented front and rear wide wheel arches with integrated front and rear air dams, a lower boot lid spoiler, and exterior Kahn enamel wing shields. The door handles are finished in matte black, while the brake calipers are finished in liquid gold. They have also opted to put in LED daytime running lights for the front wheel arch vents and privacy tinted glass. The final element of the exterior package is a new set of 22" Kahn RS wheels finished in a color chosen by the customer. There is also a sports lowering module which provides the car with a sportier appearance.

For the interior, the package adds black and carbon quilted and perforated leather with ivory contrast stitching, a black and carbon quilted leather center glovebox, a red and cream colored speedo and rev counter facia, and balck charcoal finish floor mats.

gallery:2013 Porsche Cayenne Diesel

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gallery:2012 Porsche Cayenne Diesel by Kahn Design

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2013 Mercedes GL-Class

The Mercedes GL-Class entered production in 2006 and six years later, is still rolling around in its first generation. However, for 2013, Mercedes is launching a new generation of the SUV, with an improved exterior look and new, more fuel efficient engines. The new GL-Class made its world debut at the 2012 New York Auto Show and will go on sale in the U.S. in September 2012.

The new GL-Class has a more powerful and sporty appearance, thanks to its new upright radiator grille with a central star and new headlamps with LED technology. The daytime running lamps also feature LED technology and are integrated in a chrome insert in the bumper, while chrome insertions have been placed under the radiator grille.

The new GL-Class will be offered in three models: GL350 BlueTEC, GL450, and GL550. The base version is powered by a 240 HP V6, while the other two models are powered by V8 engines, with 362 HP and 429 HP.

UPDATE 04/05/2012: This review has been updated with the official details and images of the Mercedes GL-Class.

Exterior

The new Mercedes GL measures 5120 mm in length, 2141 mm in width, and 1850 mm in height. The SUV has received a new upright radiator grille with central star and new headlamps with LED lights. The daytime running lamps also feature LED technology and are integrated in a chrome insert in the bumper, and beneath the radiator grille the generously sized chrome-look underguard completes the self-confident appearance of the front end.

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2013 Acura RLX

Much like the Accord has been for sister company, Honda, the Acura RL has been the flagship sedan for the luxury automaker for what seems like forever. Acura has just made it official that the RL’s 16-year run at the top of its lineup will end in 2013, but its replacement will bear a similar name, RLX. In a press release, Acura announced that the RLX will make its anticipated debut on April 4th at 1:50 p.m. at the 2012 New York Auto Show.

As with most Honda Motor Co. releases, Acura has remained very quiet on this upcoming release, so the facts and specifications are not yet known. We do know that it will bear Acura’s new Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system, an electric four-wheel drive system similar to that of theNSX Concept. This new RLX will include an all-new V-6 engine, per Inside Line’s report. Acura claims that the Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system and V-6 engine will give the RLX V-8-like acceleration with a four-cylinder’s fuel efficiency.

Also reported is that the 2013 RLX will include a seven-speed transmission, which replaces the six-speed transmission on the 2012 RL. None of the aforementioned reports have been corroborated by Acura, so it remains just speculation. Don’t be surprised if the new RLX actually ends up being a slightly larger and redesigned version of its predecessor.

Regardless of speculation, the RLX is arriving in a crowded market that is overflowing with redesigned and restyled vehicles. Its main competition will come from the 2013 Lexus ES and the new 2013 Toyota yet-to-be-revealed sedan, both of which we will learn more about at the N.Y. Auto Show.

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2013 Porsche Panamera

Spy Shots: 2013 Porsche Panamera gets a New Face

Oh the Porsche Panamera. Love it or hate it, it is here to stay and our spy photographers have confirmed that with some new images showing a minor facelift for the sports sedan. The new Porsche Panamera should be showing its new face in time for the 2013 model year and is apparently taking some design cues from the new Porsche 911/991 to dazzle the crowd.

The term facelift is rather appropriate for the future Panamera because as of right now, the vehicle’s "face" is exactly what has received some changes. These images show Porsche’s attempt to hide the new headlights, bumpers, and rearlights that will be showcased on the future Panamera. The front end looks to have taken a page from the new 911’s book, but the rear end is still holding on to the old design...for now. We expect that prototypes displaying the full changes for the facelift will arrive shortly.

As for the engine lineup, we anticipate the current line to carry over, maybe with some performance enhancements for good measure. This will mean a 3.6-liter V6 engine that may be slightly more powerful than the 300hp at 6,200rpm and 295 lb-ft of torque at 3,750rpm it currently delivers. Direct fuel injection, dry-sump lubrication, and “VarioCam Plus” will also carry over, as will the 7-speed PDK transmission.

gallery:2013 Porsche Panamera

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BMW reveals 2012 6 Series M Sport and diesel models

2012 BMW 6 Series variants - Click above for high-res image gallery

BMW is expanding its 6 Series line. The automaker has just announced information on the 2012 640d Coupe and 640d Convertible. The two-door oil-burners aren't expected to make it Stateside, and that's a pity, as they make use of a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight six with 313 horsepower and a hefty 464 pound-feet of torque. All that twist helps the coupe hit 60 mph in around 5.5 seconds while returning 51.4 mpg on the Imperial scale. BMW is also offering the 6 Series with xDrive for the first time as well, but only on 650i models. Thankfully, buyers can expect to see the all-wheel-drive coupe in North American dealers later this year.

If chugging along with a diesel under your hood isn't quite your speed, you'll be happy to know that BMW is also offering a 6 Series M Sport for 2012. The package includes special aerodynamic additions as well as LED fog lamps and 19-inch, double-spoke aluminum alloy wheels. Inside, sport seats are trimmed in Alcantara and leather as well as an M Sport steering wheel. We think the more aggressive M Sport look helps mitigate the 6 Series' somewhat unfortunate nose... what say you? Check it out in the gallery, hit the jump to read the official verbiage and then weigh in with your thoughts in Comments.

Gallery:2012 BMW 6 Series

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SOURCE:BMW

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2012 Fisker Karma First Drive

Back in 2007, we cautiously admired the choice by Henrik Fisker and longtime business partner Bernhard Koehler to completely change their business model. Instead of rebuilding BMW and Mercedes convertibles through Fisker Coachbuild, the partners instead dove headfirst into the eyebrow-raising Fisker Automotive, a company that would be dedicated to building electric cars of its own design.

After the usual ups and downs of an automotive startup, Fisker showed up at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show with its eye-popping Karma sedan concept. Now, three years later, we're in Southern California to drive the first pre-production examples of what will be the 2012 Fisker Karma EVer (i.e. electric vehicle extended range).

Eco, Eco, Eco... 
The Fisker Karma grabbed the "Eco" label early and ran with it. It's a big reason why the company was able to attract a substantial amount of private investment, not to mention a cool $529 million from the Department of Energy. Much of the latter was earmarked to fund Fisker's purchase of GM's former Delaware plant that built the Kappa-architecture roadsters and will, by the end of 2011, be building units of the lower-priced Fisker Nina.

Every single supplier and associate Fisker Automotive deals with is, in one way or many, a green-obsessed company. These include the free-range sustainable Scottish leathers used in the EcoSport to the wood trims sourced from existing sunken and fallen Michigan timber to the optional metal-flake metallic paints that get their sparkle from recycled material.

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Official: 2012 Range Rover Evoque officially priced from $43,995* with 28 HWY MPG

2012 Range Rover Evoque – Click above for high-res image gallery

Land Rover has slapped a sticker on its all-new 2012 Range Rover Evoque, and when sales begin this fall, $43,995 (not including destination) will get you behind the wheel of LR's smallest, most efficient 'ute.

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Bugatti Altess Concept by Amadou Ndiaye Pulls Double Duty

These days, everything needs to have more than one purpose. Our cell phones double as date books and mini-computers for access to our emails, our televisions sets now have the ability to become a fully-stocked video rental shop, and even our refrigerators can come with digital calendars and photo albums. With all of our technology expanding their range of use, it seemed only natural for industrial designer, Amadou Ndiaye, from Montreal, Canada to come up with a Bugatti concept that served its own dual purpose as well.

The Bugatti Altess Concept is more than just a car; it’s actually two cars in one. The first variation of the vehicle is a fully enclosed grand tourer that, with a few adjustments, can be transformed into a hardcore gentleman’s racer where the driver and passenger sit in the open air with only a small windscreen for protection. This transformation is achieved by removing the hood, roof, windows, and rear quarter panels and replacing them with a lightweight single-piece panel that allows to the sun to stream right in. A discreet spine bisects the car to keep it intact during the removal and addition of parts. The design for the concept was inspired by the 1930s Bugatti Atlantic, which was considered the most beautiful pre-war vehicle.

The process for transformation is kind of cool, as is having both a coupe and a roadster in one model, but as for seeing it in production form, that’s just not going to happen.

gallery:1933 - 1938 Bugatti 57sc Atlantic Coupe

 

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gallery:Bugatti Altess Concept by Amadou Ndiaye Pulls (...)

 

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Source:Diseno Art

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