Car Reviews: 07/28/09

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Mercedes to give A-Class a sporty touch

Mercedes is planning to pep-up the cheaper A-Class segment with a sporty convertible and possibly a small Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), Germany's auto-motor-sport magazine reports. With an open-top version Mercedes would target a younger clientele for the A-Class which has become a popular small car among older motorists in Germany.

Images of an open-top A-Class published by auto-motor-sport reveal a car that is a clear departure from the box-shape with narrow lines and front design similar to the SL Roadsters.

Other new A-Class models in the planning are a three and five-door version and a four-door coupe, the magazine reports in its latest edition.

Mercedes SLS AMG super sports car Hybrid

Affalterbach, Germany - Mercedes-AMG, the sports car subsidiary of the German premium car manufacturer, is developing a super sports car with zero-emission drive with four electric motors providing a combined peak output of 392 kW. The electric engines are positioned near the wheels, substantially reducing the mass compared to wheel-hub motors, with one transmission per axle transmitting the power.

During the pilot phase the SLS AMG would incorporate a liquid-cooled high-voltage lithium-ion battery of modular design with an energy content of 48 kWh and a capacity of 40 Ah. The 400-volt battery is charged by energy recuperation during braking.

AMG lists acceleration from zero to 100 km/h at four seconds, putting it at the same performance level as the SLS AMG with a 6.3-litre V8 engine with an output of 420 kW/571 hp.

"We wanted to redefine the super sports car. For us, it is not just about responsibility. We attach just as much importance to excitement and classic AMG performance," says Mercedes-AMG CEO Volker Mornhinweg,.

The purely electric drive system was born when the new swing-wing model was developed. The sports car is ideally packaged for the integration of zero-emission technology.

The four electric motors and the two transmissions can be positioned near the wheels and very low down in the vehicle. The same applies to the modular high-current battery, whose modules are located in front of the firewall, in the centre tunnel and behind the seats.

Auto club backs commercial vehicles event

The Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE), has expressed its endorsement for the region’s first specialised trade event for commercial vehicles.

Iran Khodro Diesel to Build bus Plant in Syria

Flanked by Syrian Minister of Industry Fuad Issa al-Jouni, the Iranian Minister of Industries and Mines Ali-Akbar Mehrabian talking to reporters after the 8th session of Iran-Syria Industrial Committee said, “The establishment of bus and commercial car plant by Iran Khodro Diesel in Syria is among the articles of the agreement Iran and Syria signed.”

"IKCO is a distinct company not only within Iran but in the region as well and a large number of Russian companies desire to develop ties with this Industrial Group," Oleg V. Akulinichev, the general director of the Russian-Iranian Business Council said

Iran plans to build 400 more compressed natural gas (CNG) stations by the end of the current Iranian year (ends March 20, 2010) to reduce gasoline consumption. Oil Minister Gholamhossein Nozari said 880 CNG stations are currently providing gas to dual-fuel cars in the country, IRNA wrote.

Iran to develop dual-fuel NG-diesel engines

Iranian diesel engine manufacturing company, DESA, is designing an advanced dual-fuel engine that runs on a blend of natural gas (NG) and diesel fuel.