2010 Audi A8
Audi Press Release

Fascinating sportiness, innovative technology and superior comfort: Audi is bringing the next generation of the A8 to the starting line. The new flagship demonstrates the brand's clear Vorsprung durch Technik with its light aluminium body, its powerful and highly efficient engines, the improved MMI control system featuring a number of innovations and an elegant interior with a craftsman's level of fit and finish.

The A8 also sets new standards of efficiency. The fuel consumption of each of the engines available has been substantially reduced by as much as 22 percent. The 3.0 TDI with front-wheel drive to follow later emits only 159 grams of CO2 per kilometre (255.89 g/mile), and with 6.0 litres of fuel per 100 km (39.20 US mpg), it boasts the best fuel economy in the luxury segment.

"The new Audi A8 is the sportiest sedan in the segment," says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. "It combines numerous functions in a new and intelligent way. And it is unmatched in the stylistic elements and impression of the interior."

The new luxury sedan, to arrive at dealerships in early 2010, is a technical work of art combining sportiness and progressiveness. Its elegant and powerful body is an aluminium Audi Space Frame (ASF), weighing about 40 percent less than a comparable steel structure.

The new full LED headlights, which use light emitting diodes for all light functions, are a completely exclusive high-end solution on board the new A8.

They give the luxury sedan an unmistakable appearance even in daylight and even more so after the fall of darkness. The revolutionary optics used in these headlights mean a departure from the tubular light modules commonly used today. The full LED headlights herald a new chapter in the history of lighting technology.

The interior enchants with new, even lighter lines, uncompromising quality of fit and finish and extraordinary attention to the smallest of details. The comfort on board is first class – from new, emotionally charged ambient lighting to the luxurious adjustable rear seats.

The Audi A8 combines a new level of technical intelligence with exemplary and easy operation. When combined with the optional navigation system, its Multi Media Interface MMI includes a pioneering innovation: the MMI touch. This MMI touch system enables the driver to control many functions intuitively; for example, the navigation destination can be entered by tracing the letters on the pad with a finger.

MMI navigation plus is networked in a novel fashion with the advanced driver assistance and safety systems. It reads the road ahead in the navigation data and provides this information to the control units for the automatic transmission, the headlights and the intensely refined Audi adaptive cruise control with stop & go function.

The improved intelligence of these systems allows them to recognise complex scenarios and make anticipatory decisions to support the driver. In many situations, the new Audi pre sense safety system can mitigate accidents and their consequences. Other novel additions are a night vision assistant that highlights detected pedestrians and, coming in the course of 2010, a speed limit indicator.

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2010 RDX Racedesign Peugeot 207
RDX Racedesign Press Release

French automobiles are often disregarded in the tuning business. But RDX Racedesign attends to the Peugeot 207 and the 207 CC. In its usual quality, the specialist for body kits offers an entirely new robe for the compact car.

Already the RDX front spoiler confirms the perfect manufacture. Without any problem, the new component can be exchanged with the original front of all 207 models until its facelift in 2009. The price of 169 Euro including VAT includes the mounting material and the grid. Of course, the delivery includes a component part certificate by the German Technical Control Board (TÜV).

The RDX headlight blends are even easier to fit. With the enclosed assembly adhesive, the blends for only 49 Euro can be attached onto the serial lights. As the parts are already approved by the Technical Control Board, the RDX headlight blends do not have to be registered separately.

The rear apron attachment for all 207-models except the SW, is suitable for use with the serial exhaust, but also for one- and two-sided sport exhaust systems, as it is delivered without any cuts for the end pipes. Also the RDX rear apron attachment is already approved by the Technical Control Board and therefore does not have to be registered separately. The required mounting material and the grids are already included in the price of 169 Euro.

Also the RDX side skirts are already checked by the TÜV. They can be attached to all two- and three-door 207-models including the CC. Also here, the mounting material and grids are included in the price of 169 Euro.

The RDX roof spoiler is made for all 207-models except the CC and SW. For only 99 Euro this also includes the mounting material and the component part certificate by the Technical Control Board.

RDX Racedesign produces all parts in the high-quality material PU-ABS and in OEM-quality. This ensures best material stability as well as elasticity combined with light weight.

Also for the 207 body kit, RDX Racedesign offers its popular RDX package prices. If you opt for the front spoiler, the side skirts and the rear apron attachment, you will receive a 10-percent discount on the individual prices.

RDX Racedesign knows the quality of its own products and therefore gives a two-year-warranty for material- and production mistakes. Moreover, every customer is granted the right of withdrawal within 14 days if the components fail to please him.

Also, the international focus confirms the success of the body kit specialist RDX Racedesign. The web shop with all product descriptions is not only available in German, but also in English, French, Italian, Spanish and Dutch. RDX Racedesign delivers the component parts for the Peugeot 207 as well as all other mounting parts from its extensive programme at a favourable handling and shipping flat rate into more than thirty countries.

If you have further questions about the delivery programme, please do not hesitate to contact the experts by phone or e-mail. For more information about the RDX Racedesign products, please visit the web site www.rdx-racedesign.com or visit one of the specialised dealers.

2010 Peugeot SR1 Concept
Peugeot Press Release

Peugeot combines emotion with the pursuit of perfection

Through the Peugeot SR1, the Marque reveals the stylistic design trends for its future models. The concept car embodies the new world of Peugeot, reflected by the new Lion badge which adorns its body. Dynamic, balanced, sensual, with an exclusive high-tech interior, this "dream car" explores and reinterprets the theme of the "Grand Touring Car".

The use of HYbrid4 technology allows the Peugeot SR1 to offer an engineering specification in keeping with its styling: 230 kW (313 bhp) with emissions of only 119 g/km of CO2 (0 in electric mode), 4 wheel drive and steering.... for an ideal blend of excitement and efficiency.

Styling that predicts the future
Elegance, purity, dynamism, allure, controlled power. these ideas find their fullest expression with the Peugeot SR1, the dream car par excellence. More than ever, the aesthetic traits of this concept show the general design trends of the Marque's future products, renewing Peugeot's strong stylistic identity.

In short, this concept car creates a new design language.

The Peugeot SR1 is a vehicle with timeless, ideal proportions, revisiting the great traditions of grand touring cars of the past: a large bonnet, flowing wings and a very low centre of gravity. The design of the body gives the car a new balance: a sculpted bonnet, sweeping sides and a chiselled rear design. At the side the styling lines merge into the side windows and the front windscreen, emphasizing the design of the bonnet.

This overall effect blends easily with the design detailing: the design of the lights and the air intakes, the shape of the door mirrors. these elements merge seamlessly with the vehicle's carbon "skin". In parallel, some features ("full LED" internal headlamp functions, radiator grille contour); stand out, as if suspended.

The hard top echoes the feel of this intense, high-tech assembly: It uses preformed profile technology derived from the world of sailing. It blends with the body, creating the illusion of a Coupé. The SR1, however, radiates the same visual strength, with or without the hard top.

Finally, the SR1 displays the new Peugeot Lion badge. Redesigned, finely worked and sculpted, it mirrors perfectly the perception of the vehicle as a whole.

Overall the Peugeot SR1 concept car gives the impression it has been carved from a solid block of material, monolithic, protective, sculptural and dynamic. At every moment it makes a great play on contrasts: purity and technological sophistication, authenticity and advanced technologies, expressiveness and understatement. making it a car that is quite simply desirable!

A modern and exclusive "2+1" interior
The interior, too, promotes the idea of contrast. While the driver's seat and all controls are dedicated to out-and-out enjoyment for the driver, the passenger compartment is designed to provide optimum versatility and new sensations for all its occupants.

There is room in the vehicle for three people as the third rear seat nestles in the middle, behind the two front seats. Entry to this seat is facilitated by the centre console, which can slide forward to improve access.

The interior ambience blends colours and materials, with strong references to "a past motoring era" combined with "the latest advanced technology". Inside the vehicle, patinated leather and different grained wood are examples of the use of authentic and natural materials, warm, sensual and charged with history, that blend seamlessly with, "high tech" materials such as nickel and satin-finished chrome.

The construction of the fascia panel, optimised to perfection, gives a visual prominence to certain mechanical components such as the steering column and a number of peripheral controls. Similarly, the instrumentation combines analogue and digital read-outs, giving clear emphasis to every item of information conveyed to the driver. This is the case for instantaneous fuel consumption and vehicle range, displayed on two glass crystal gauges directly in front of the driver.

Another technological innovation is the creation of an exclusive wristwatch, designed in partnership with Bell&Ross. This timepiece, with milled inserts of solid aluminium, slots perfectly into a dedicated housing on the fascia panel.

Every component and every detail has, therefore, benefited from meticulous attention, both in terms of design and manufacture, to guarantee perfection and an unrivalled refinement of perceived quality.

Technologies at the service of movement
The SR1 concept also blends styles in terms of its technical characteristics. For example, it incorporates HYbrid4 technology, which will be launched in the Peugeot 3008 in 2011. In the SR1, at the front, a 1.6 litre THP petrol engine with a power of 160 kW (218 bhp), is combined with a rear electric motor developing 70 kW (95 bhp). In electric only mode, the car becomes a ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle), while its combined cycle fuel consumption is only 4.9 litres/100 km or 119 g/km of CO2.

When the two power trains operate simultaneously, the SR1 develops a potential maximum power of 230 kW (313 bhp) and also benefits from 4-wheel drive.

Using HYbrid4 technology, which will eventually become available on different models in the Peugeot range, the SR1 concept offers convincing proof that driving pleasure can be combined with environmental friendliness.

The vehicle's dynamic efficiency is further enhanced by the use of a rigid, lightweight structure comprising of a one-piece body and a tubular chassis onto which are mounted the mechanical components and suspension. Exploiting the best of existing technology to offer road holding worthy of this exceptional concept, the suspension consists of double wishbones with drop links both at the front and the rear. For even greater driving precision, the SR1 benefits from the adoption of 4-wheel steering. The turning angle of the rear wheels is controlled as a function of the vehicle speed, via motorised links on the rear wishbones, giving the vehicle superb agility under all circumstances.

The Peugeot SR1 concept car will be unveiled to the general public at the next Geneva Motor Show, in March.

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2010 Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept
GM Media Release

Cadillac unveiled the XTS Platinum Concept at the 2010 North American International Auto Show, suggesting a new paradigm for the luxury sedan of the future. The concept showcases Cadillac's emerging top-of-the-line Platinum series of models, emphasising new expressions of luxury and technological features, including a plug-in hybrid propulsion system.

The XTS Platinum Concept was designed from the inside out, re-imagining the luxury sedan as a personal headquarters, built for efficiency, luxury and connectivity. The concept introduces a new approach to in-car electronics that improves the form and function of the car's entertainment, navigation and information systems.

"The XTS Platinum concept is the next expression of Cadillac's Art and Science execution philosophy, reflecting our drive to deliver the latest innovations in the most artful manner," said Bryan Nesbitt, Cadillac general manager. "We envisioned this concept as an automotive personal headquarters, using advanced technology to enable new levels of connectivity and luxury."

The XTS Platinum Concept uses Cadillac's 3.6L V6 Direct Injection gas engine, paired with a plug-in hybrid system. The plug-in technology enables the battery to fully charge from a standard electrical outlet, enabling pure electric propulsion in many driving situations, especially urban commutes in which fuel efficiency may double that of a conventional hybrid.

Traditional luxury sedans were defined by elegant interiors and Cadillac's XTS Platinum Concept propels that formula into the future. It delivers new approaches to luxury within a design that combines fine craftsmanship with customer-driven innovation. Like the current Platinum Edition products, such as Escalade Platinum and the STS and DTS Platinum sedans, the interior is based on hand cut-and-sewn materials. The XTS Platinum Concept injects more contemporary forms and themes into the interior design, including the use of Organic Light-Emitting Diode (O-LED) displays in place of traditional gauges and screens.

The concept previews a new integration philosophy guiding the development of future models with respect to in-car electronics. The intent is to progress Cadillac's intuitive in-car electronics systems, typified by the deployable touch-screen navigation system that has been highly acclaimed in the brand's CTS and SRX product lines. The XTS Platinum Concept previews this strategy via the minimisation of traditional buttons and switches. Designers blended the display screens into a flowing instrument panel. They call it a "dead front" design, because the panels appear black until the car is turned on and the screens illuminate. The instrument panel itself reflects the XTS Platinum's other focus – uncompromising luxury and attention to detail on the interior.

"The Platinum distinction in Cadillac means the fullest extent of luxury and technology and we've tried to reach even further with this concept," said Clay Dean, Cadillac design director. "Just as the technology pushes the boundaries of what a Cadillac can offer, so do the details that make the XTS Platinum Concept an uncompromising experience."

The interior takes inspiration from nature, specifically the intricate layers of petals that combine to form an orchid. Cadillac designers translated that into a layered and detailed interior. Light cream is the cabin's primary colour and is contrasted with darker elements, such as the steering wheel and an overhead console motif that runs the length of interior's roof. The console is made of a richly finished wood and houses lighting features.

Premium leather seats include a new style of automotive suede, with a laser-etched pattern. The patterned material adorns the centre sections of the seats and accents the door trim. Thoughtfully detailed stitching is used throughout the interior, including the seats, instrument panel and door panels. Passengers in the spacious rear compartment of the XTS Platinum Concept also have access to the car's connectivity feature, along with a range of infotainment choices.

"We never lost sight of the fact that a large luxury sedan needs to be spacious and accommodating," said Dean. "Passengers will find generous headroom, legroom and knee space, along with the technology elements that make the drive more productive."

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2010 MG TF LE500
MG Press Release

The TF LE500 comes with a host of features like hard top, rear parking sensors, leather seats and air conditioning as standard, providing a very high level of specification at an extremely competitive price.

With numerous technical and cosmetic innovations, the LE500 comes with a higher performing engine, a new interior, revamped exterior styling and updated suspension, drive train and braking systems. Whilst maintaining the fundamental look and feel of the immensely popular TF, the LE500 has been extensively re-engineered and is hand built at Longbridge.

Gary Hagen, Director of Sales and Marketing said "The TF LE500 already represents great value for money and now the recent reduction in VAT makes it an extremely compelling proposition for customers".

Technical Specifications
Engine: 1.8 litre four-cylinder
Aspiration: Natural
Maximum Power: 135 hp (100 kW)
Maximum Torque: -
Transmission: -
Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive