Civic Type-R teaser

Honda is determined to tease us for as long as possible with its forthcoming Civic Type-R.


This official picture shows off the hot hatch's aggressive looks, based on the newly released three-door Civic body.

The Type-R does away with the standard car's front foglights to use the spaces for air intakes to the hot hatch's 197bhp 2.0-litre engine.

There are also beefy side skirts to lower the car's stance and a large rear spoiler to give the Type-R a mean look.

The engine has the same 197bhp as its predecessor, but Honda tells us performance will be quicker for the new Type-R, thanks to improved mid-rev power and different gearing for the six-speed manual gearbox.

A GT trim will be offered for the Type-R to offer luxury goodies such as climate control and rain-sensing wipers.

For those who don't want the hard core Type-R, the Type-S has similar looks but comes with a 138bhp 1.8-litre petrol engine or Honda's 2.2-litre turbodiesel unit.

Performance may not be so vivid, but the steering has been sharpened up and the rear track widened by 20mm.

The Type-S and other three-door Civic models make their debut at the British motor show from July 20-30, but we'll have to wait until March 2007 for the Type-R.

© Source: original article on topgear.com

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Mercedes CL Class - more photos

We're still waiting for Mercedes-Benz to come out with the official press material for the new CL Class, but meanwhile photos and details keep emerging.

The top of the range coupe from Mercedes-Benz will be on European markets next autumn, and for the first time it will be longer than 5 meters: it is 5.07 meters long (+7.5 cm), 1.87 meters wide (+1,4 cm) and 1.42 meters high (+2 cm). The trunk has a capacity of 490 liters.

The CL is more of a luxury-oriented Coupe, as the photos of the interior show. Standard specifications are similar to those of the S-Class, including Active Body Control. As optionals one can have various radar-based gadgets, such as the Parking Guidance System (to measure parking spaces), Active Cruise Control (it adapts the cruise speed when vehicels in front slow-down or accelerate), Pre-Safe (brakes in case an obstacle is present) and the infrared night vision system.

Initially there will be two engine options, one a V8 the other a V12 (no V6, no diesel, at least for now). The "base" model is the CL 500, with the 5.5 liters V8 engine (388 ps / 530 Nm) that takes 5,4 seconds to go from 0-100 km/h, 5.9 seconds from 60-120 km/h. The average fuel consumption is 12.1 liters/100 km on the combine cycle.

Going up, the CL 600, with the 5.5 liters V12 bi-turbo engine (517 ps / 830 Nm), weighing 2.185 kg. It accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 4.6 seconds, from 60-120 km/h in 4.8 seconds, with an average fuel consumption of 14.3 liters/100 km on the combined cycle.

Top speed is 250 km/h for both models, electronically limited. Starting price in Europe wll be about 110.000 €.

© Source: original article on eurocarblog.com

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Ford lifts lid on Focus drop top

Ford is blowing the lid on the Focus with the arrival of the Coupe-Cabriolet model.

After much huffing and puffing about its Vignale concept, shown at the Paris Motor Show in 2004, we've been waiting for the Focus drop top.

We'll have to wait a little longer as the car does not go on sale in the UK until October, but we do get a first look at the Focus Coupe-Cabriolet's world premiere at the British Motor Show from July 20-30.

Italian design house Pininfarina has been closely involved with the design and the collaboration has resulted in sleek lines for the open top, with a unique rear end to accommodate the folding metal roof.

The interior has also come in for some re-working to distinguish it from lesser Focus models, but space has been preserved in the rear to seat four people.

Ford is claiming best in class practicality and cites 534 litres of luggage space with the roof up and 248-litres with the roof folded. Under the bonnet, engines are taken from the usual Focus staples.

The entry-level Coupe-Cabriolet will use a 1.6-litre petrol engine, with a two-litre petrol and 134bhp two-litre turbodiesel completing the line-up.

Ford is keeping schtum about prices, but we've been told they will be very competitive compared to a Vauxhall Astra TwinTop's.

© Source: original article on topgear.com

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