Land Rover DC100 Concepts Gain a Red Hue for New Delhi Auto Expo

Given that since June 2008, Indian conglomerate Tata owns Land Rover, the presence of the British firm's DC100 concepts that preview a replacement for the iconic Defender at the 2012 New Delhi Auto Show was a certainty.

The Defender Concept 100 and Defender Concept 100 Sport, as the three-door hardtop and open-top versions are named respectively, are identical to the revised models launched at the 2011 Los Angeles Motor Show save for a couple of differences.

More specifically, they both sport a “Firenze Red” body color with a white roof for the fixed-top version and new-design alloy wheels, still at 20-inches in diameter and wrapped around in Cooper all-terrain tires.

Land Rover Director John Edwards commented: “Our ambition is to create an all new Defender for the global market that remains absolutely faithful to its original DNA: tough, versatile, durable and capable. At the same time, it will be developed for the 21st century and adaptable for the needs of future generations.”

Like the two previous versions that were displayed at last year’s Frankfurt and LA Motor Shows, both models are powered by 2.0-liter engines, the DC100 by a diesel and the DC100 by a gasoline engine that transmit power to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

The concepts also feature Land Rover’s Terrain Response system along with an array of new features, like sonar sensors that measure water depth and a 3D-mapping navigation system that can identify potential hazards and suggest alternative routes off road, and pedestrians and other obstacles in urban environment.

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Lancia Targets the Younger, Male Audience with New Ypsilon Black&Red

Lancia remember the days when young men's final objective of the audience with Flavia Coupe cars like the very well written and the play was born in the Delta HF Integrale series? Unfortunately, those days are finite.

Today, the Italian company trying to reach the same demographic with cutting models like the new Ypsilon, White and Red, which will debut next month at the Bologna Motor Show 2011.

In the words of Lancia, the new level of fit "is designed as an alternative target for a young man who prefers a technology-related content and audio sports."

The Black and Red Ypsilon is available with a choice of two engines, one petrol unit with 1.2-liter 69 horsepower or a 1.3-liter turbodiesel engine that produces 95 horsepower.

And 'only available in four exterior colors - Red Clay, Black Flame Volcano three-story red and bi-color red clay volcano black roof, and a two-tone theme within the black and red upholstery.

Machine comes standard with air conditioning, high-end Hi-Fi 360 ° Music System, 15 inch alloy wheels, height-adjustable driver's seat, the front electric windows, and a host of safety features including ABS + EBD, ESC (Electronic Stability Control) with ASR and Hill Holder, front and side airbags.

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Infiniti Pits Vettel in M35h Hybrid Against Webber in M37 at the Ring

Infiniti is stepping up the ante in its collaboration with the Red Bull Racing team by pitting the reigning Formula One World Champion, Sebastian Vettel, against his team-mate, Mark Webber, in a race with the firm's M37 and M35h saloons at the Nürburgring Nordschleife to mark the start of European sales of the hybrid model.

Sebastian Vettel drove the new M35h that mates a 306HP 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine to a dual-clutch transmission and a 68HP (50kW) electric motor for a combined system output of 364-ponies, resulting in a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 5.5 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).

His Red Bull Racing teammate Mark Webber participated in the race in Infiniti's M37 S Premium that comes equipped with a 320-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 for a 0-62 mph in 6.2 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).

While Infiniti won’t say who won the race around the 13 miles and 73 bends of the Nordschleife until the first press day of the Frankfurt Motor Show on September 13, the company notes that Webber was “blown away” by how responsive the M35h is, and that Vettel said the encounter between the two teammates was “good fun”.

Vettel, who is the Japanese firm's official Brand Ambassador, will be on hand at the Frankfurt auto show to reveal the new concept version of the FX50 that bears his name.

 

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Infiniti's Sebastian Vettel-Inspired FX50 Performance Concept Breaks Cover

When the doors open to the 64th IAA International Motor Show on September 13, Infiniti will premiere a new concept study that takes the firm's partnership with F1 racing team Red Bull to the next level.

The Infiniti FX50 Performance Concept was inspired by reigning Formula One World Champion and Red Bull driver, Sebastian Vettel. The 24-year old German, who is Infiniti's first ever Global Brand Ambassador, is said to have helped in the design of the FX50 study.

The Japanese company is keeping mum about the technical details of the FX50 Performance Concept, but the photo shows that it is based on the facelifted model featuring Infiniti's new corporate grille that we first saw earlier this month.

Unique elements to the concept include the redesigned front bumper with LED daytime lights incorporating a carbon fibre apron, the shape of which mimics the design of an F1 car's front wing.

Carbon fibre can also be found on the newly designed side skirts, the roof spoiler, and the rear bumper, while Infiniti did away with the roof rails. Also included are Vettel badges on the front fenders and newly styled alloy wheels shod in performance tires.

 

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Red Dot design award honors Rolls-Royce Ghost, others

Still thinking of the Rolls-Royce Ghost as a mini-me Phantom? Think again. The design is apparently standing on its own merits, and has won the praise of the Red Dot jury. Considered one of – if not the – definitive awards for superior design, the Red Dot is awarded every year to an array of products, from furniture and office supplies to electronics and passenger vehicles.
This year the award was given to a wide range of automobiles, including the Skoda Yeti and Superb Combi, BMW 5 Series andX1, Volkswagen Polo, Kia Venga, Mercedes E-Class Cabrioletand Opel Astra. The “best of the best” designation, however, was reserved for the Rolls-Royce – which follows the prize awarded to the Phantom Drophead Coupe two years ago – along with the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG and Peugeot RCZ.

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The new Ferrari Four from a different angle

Red may be the iconic color for Ferrari, but not all Ferraris look good in the company’s trademark scarlet shade. Especially the flagship four-seat GTs, like the outgoing 612 Scaglietti and the 456 GT that came before it. But just about every car looks best from the front 3/4 view. So it may have stricken some as a little odd that when Ferrari unveiled the new FF, it only released three initial shots: a front view, a rear view and the side profile… all in red.

Now it’s released a handful of additional photos, including three shots of the test mule drifting through snow banks from the launch video, plus the solitary three-quarter front/side view you see above in silver. Is it looking better? Worse?

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