Mercedes Bens S65 AMG, AMG Vision Gran Turismo and the SLS AMG GT Final edition at the #LAAutoshow 2013.

The Mercedes Benz presentation at the Los Angeles auto show this year was high energy with the release of some fine automobiles.

The 2015 S65AMG is powered by a twin turbocharged V12 putting out 621hp and 738 lb-ft of torque and is the 3rd generation of S65's from AMG. The S65 will have 2 more gears than it's predecessor with the AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7G-TRONIC transmission, complete with ECO start/stop function.

Just like the recently launched S63, the S65 will feature a lithium-ion battery which offers advantages over your ordinary every day auto battery. It is more compact and is unaffected by super cold temperatures. The lithium-ion battery replaces both the starter and backup battery, carving over 44 pounds of weight. The S63 and S65 are the first volume produced vehicles to use such a battery.

The S65 will go from 0-60mph in about 4.2 seconds, making int fast, but not as fast as the twin turbo V8 S63 4 matic, which will do the same slightly slower than a McLaren F1 at 3.9 seconds.

 S63 AMG

AMG Vision Gran Turismo

This show car which is showcased in the upcoming 6th rendition of the Gran Turismo game and was developed at the request of Kazunori Yamauchi, President of Polyphony Digital Inc which produces the GT game. It is powered by a twin turbo AMG V8 with 577hp and 590 lb-ft of torque, has large wheels and very low profile tires and is complete with no less than 8 exhaust pipes. The car weighs 3053 pounds giving it an unrivaled 5.2 lbs per hp.

 

 

If you want to drive the AMG Vision Gran Turismo, buy Gran Turismo 6 and crank up the Playstation.

SLS AMG GT FINAL EDITION

350 of these final edition models of the SLS in either gullwing coupe, or roadster will be produced as of March 2014. The vehicle will be powered by a 6.3 liter AMG V8 pumping out 583 HP and 479 lb-ft of torque. This final edition will race from 0-60 MPH in 3.6 seconds, utalizing the 7 spees AMG speedshift DCT transmission. A the name states, this will be the final edition of the iconic SLS, but we were told that AMG is working on something new and special which we will see in the next couple of years.

 

AMG has ambitious goals and is expecting to expand to 30 models and sales of 30,000 vehicles worldwide by 2017. Mercedes Benz is also expecting to release 30 new products over the next 7 years. Exciting times.

Mercedes Benz GLA45 AMG at the 2013 Los Angeles auto show.

Mercedes Benz AMG division had the world release for the GLA45 AMG 4matic at the 2013 Los Angeles auto show.

The 355hp turbocharged 2.0 liter 4 cylinder engine with 332 ft-lb of torque, will be the most powerful 4 cylinder engine available worldwide in a production vehicle when it becomes available next year. The vehicle looks to be designed for the younger and showoff market as the large wing on the back panel and loud exhaust certainly announce that you have arrived. The concept vehicle in LA has 21 inch wheels and the AMG speedshift DCT 7 speed sports transmission and will do 0-60mph in less than 5 seconds with low fuel consumption.

The GLA will slot in below the GLK SUV and will surely take a hit out of the BMW X1 market. The interior is classy and will appeal to a large audience, especially in LA.

 

Technology at the #LAAutoshow 2013

This is the first post by guest blogger Glenn Perkins

 

If it’s November, that means there will be a thrilling conclusion to the Formula 1 season. It also means that the Los Angeles Auto Show is town, an event that has grown exponentially in size and has become an annual tradition for families, friends and anyone interested in the latest automotive styles, technology and trends. It’s also a great excuse to get out of the house and see some cool cars!

This year’s iteration of the show included an industry-only event called The Connected Car Expo which, as its name implies, focuses on in-car technology, i.e. the features that will assist the driver (driverless  cars, self-parking cars, voice and data systems, on-board apps) all while providing underway connectivity.  The CCE provided a forum for key automotive and tech personalities to pool resources and share their knowledge in ways that will shape the future of transportation.  Panelists and guest speakers include highly influential personalities from Honda, Ford, BMW, Google, NHSTA, Stanford University Faculty and others.

When considering the present state of automotive in-car technology, and its rapid integration, much remains to be sorted out.

To illustrate that point, panel discussions included such topics as “Infotainment Standard Time - One for All or Every Automaker for Themselves? “  This ongoing dialog is essential to reaching consensus and streamlining the whole idea of in-car tech with features that will enhance the driving experience. At this point, the Manufacturers seem to be at a crossroads, with some favoring a universal system that will support all smart phone platforms versus others that have made a sizable investment in proprietary in-dash systems that work well with just a handful of consumer electronic devices, useful to some but a customer satisfaction disaster to others. This area of study is still a work in progress.

The panel discussion titled “Connected Car Critical Dialogue: Overcoming the Distracted Driving Roadblock” addressed the current obsession with gadgets and social media in particular, which has a reached a critical point where drivers want to compress time and space and perform more tasks while driving. With technology being far more advanced than social mores; texting, sending e-mails and talking on the phone have increasingly put the public at risk and more stringent measures need to be taken to eliminate this behavior.

There were several panel discussions neatly dove-tailing with each other, with much consideration being given to the future of transportation. The underlying themes of both the L. A. Auto Show and Connected Car Expo complement each other well. While the CCE brings together the knowledge of an industry; innovators and influence's that will chart the future course of an industry and consumers, the Auto Show educates and assures show goers as to how automobiles are designed and manufactured to the highest quality while maintaining the latest in ‘green’ standards, with the latest technology. Public relations and marketing efforts heighten the all-important emotional reactions and affiliation needs in an effort to forge a connection with the consumer. You will hear words like ‘branding’ and ‘conquest sales’ bandied about, but this is where the rubber meets to road, in the literal sense. 

The 2013 L.A. Auto Show and CCE are a strong reminder that we are living in an exciting time; a golden age of innovation and automotive design and the Industry has the pedal to the metal.

The Los Angeles Auto Show will be open from Nov 22 to Dec 1. Visit laautoshow.com for more information and enjoy the show.

2015 Subaru WRX released and Legacy Concept at 2013 #LAAutoshow

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd released the 2015 Subaru WRX at the #LAAutoshow to a large crowd of interested press and brought the Legacy Concept with them as well. The popular pocket rocket which is renowned and loved around the world for it's ability to rally, drift and handle, has a new boxer 4 cylinder engine pumping out 268 hp from it's direct injected block and 258 ft lbs of torque. 80% of the bodywork on this vehicle is unique to the 2015 Subaru WRX which is on a new chassis and has a 1 incl longer wheel base. The WRX has symmetrical all wheel drive, a large boost gauge display screen, tidy interior and promises to be the best handling WRX ever. This is until they bring out the STI hot rod version at a later date.

The Legacy Concept is handsome and reminiscent of a GM design. The Legacy will also have symmetrical AWD and we hope to see this model on the showroom floor as a competitor to the Mazda 6 and mid size sedans asap.

World premiere of Porsche Macan and US premiere of Porsche 918 Spyder at 2103 #LAAutoshow

Porsche always has a very nice stand at the #LAAutoshow and this year they outdid themselves with the world premiere of the Macan and US premiere of the 918 Spyder. I was not overly excitable when I heard about the just released Macan, thinking it may be to much of a Q5 lookalike, until I saw it in person. I was wrong. The #PorscheMacan has been designed very well, is pleasing to the eye and is going to be a popular addition to the Porsche stable setting the benchmark for the compact SUV market.

 Both the Macan S and the Macan Turbo are powered by twin-turbo V6  engines.

 

For the US market, the Macan S will have a base price of $49,900, will come with all wheel drive and 7 speed Porsche Doppelkupplung PDK transmission and a 3.0 liter, 340hp engine with 339 lb-ft of torque. With the optional sport chrono package, you will be able to blast from 0-60 mph in 5.0 seconds to a top speed of 156 mph. Not bad for the base model.

 

The Macan Turbo with a base price of $72,300 will have the Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), adaptive sports seats,  Leather package, navigation and BOSE surround sound in addition to the S and will also have the PDK transmission. The engine is 3.6 liter with an output of 400hp at 6000rpm. 406 ft-lbs of torque and the optional sport chrono package propel the Macan Turbo to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, with a top speed of 164 mph.

 

Both the S and Turbo have 19 inch wheels, so I am not sure how you'll be able to go hay bailing in the Macan ( not sure you can get a tow package anyway ) , but it will certainly be a street warrior.

918 Spyder

The US premiere of the electric hybrid 918 was at Los Angeles. The 918 is to be built in limited numbers and will quickly be snapped up by collectors and speculators. This race hybrid has, 4 wheel drive, a 4.6 liter V8 which revs to 9150rpm and has 608 HP and 2 electric engines with a combined output of 887 hp. The 918 Spyder with all engines ago will launch to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds and is capable of a 0-60 mph run of 7 seconds in full electric mode. The 918 Spyder also is capable of a sub 7 minute run on the Nurburgring, which puts it in the legendary category. Look for it at a charging station near you.

2013 Los Angeles auto show BMW

The Autoreports team went to the 2013 Los Angeles auto show today. We attended international releases from BMW, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, Subaru, Jaguar and Range Rover.

Below are details of today's vehicle launches.

BMW

X4: Like the GT, X5 and X6 this new BMW will be made in Spartanburg South Carolina and will start production summer 2014. BMW produces the largest number of vehicles made and exported from the USA in this segment. The X4 was released exclusively today.

i8: A lightweight, high performance plug in hybrid. The i8 which is expected to list for approximately $128,000 when it heads to US dealerships when summer comes in 2014. i8 is powered by a turbocharged 3 cylinder petrol engine, plus an electric engine. It is expected to go from 0-62 mph (100 kph) in 4.4 seconds while getting 94e MPH on the European cycle. The fuel tank will take you 300 miles in style. The i8 is made of carbon fiber by BMW from their plant at Moses Lake in Washington State, which is powered by renewable energy in hydro power. The i8 is a very good looking vehicle in person.

 

4 Series convertible: This new convertible by BMW has increased track, wheelbase and stance over it's predecessor. The 4 series has a 3 piece retractable hardtop and for the first time is available with optional xdrive four wheel drive. An option for folks who like in colder climates is a neck warmer. This new BMW convertible will be available soon.

i3: This vehicle will take LA by storm by those who like to produce a low carbon footprint, when it starts flowing into showrooms shortly. It is simple and looks small, but has plenty of room for 4 folks and a good amount of luggage. This car also looks better in person, at least from the front.

Formula 1 2013 and 2014

So Sebastian Vettel with Red Bull has wrapped up his 4th F1 championship, joining Alain Prost and surpassing Jack Brabham, Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet, Sir Jackie Stewart and Aryton Senna who all won 3.

The 26 year old, shall he win a 5th, will tie Juan Manuel Fangio and will be two short of all time champion Michael Schumacher who blitzed to 7 championships over his 20 year career in F1.

Red Bull has quite the team. They have mastermind designer Adrian Newey, who seems to have the Midas touch when it comes to creating a winning car, youngest championship winning team boss Christian Horner and of course the access to the all important funds to make the team go. Red Bull Racing had income of $285.4 million and expenses of $284.4 million in 2011. The revenue came from prize money ($88.8 million), sponsors ($59.7 million), and the remainder from Red Bull. Expenses included $112.8 million in research and development and $82.7 million in salaries for 605 employees.

Vettel's current team mate Australian Mark Webber is retiring at the end of the year to go racing Porsche's. His replacement is fellow Ozzie Daniel Ricciardo who is being promoted from Red Bull's feeder team Torro Rosso.

For 2014 the engines in the pinnacle of motorsport are going from the current 2.4 liter naturally aspirated v8's to a 1.6 liter turbocharged v6 which should shake the field up and make 2014 a very exciting year.

Rumor is the Mercedes has the engine to beat....Time will tell.

Kimi Raikkonen is leaving Lotus and retuning to Ferrari for 2014 to replace Felipe Massa who is going to Williams. It was rumored earlier in the year that Nico Hulkenburg who is a great driver was off to Ferrari, but Kimi who won his championship with Ferrari in 2007 beat him to the seat. Nick Hulkenburg is tipped to be favorite to replace Kimi at Lotus, if the team can get their budget together.

Full run down of the 2014 season and who goes where is here.

We have the final race of 2013 this coming weekend in Brazil....... I wonder if Sebastian can make it nine wins in a row, of if Mark Webber will retire with a win?

Los Angeles International Auto Show 2013

We are off to the LA Auto show with our camera's and note pads. We will be reporting back to you with all of the latest information and worldwide vehicle debut's as they happen. Watch www.autoreports.blogspot.com for the latest information as it happens this week.

2013 Holden HSV Gen-F GTS

Holden will be responsible for producing the most powerful vehicle in Australian history when the 2013 HSV ( Holden Special Vehicles ) GTS hits the showroom floors this September.

The GTS will be powered by General Motors LSA 6.2 liter V8 supercharged engine that has been in the Cadillac CTS-V and Chevrolet Camaro ZL-1 for the last few years. It will put out about 430kw, or 576 hp and should be capable or low 4, high 3 second 0-60 MPH runs. The engine produces a lot or torque and has been known to shred tires in the wrong ( or right ) hands. Magnetic ride suspension which is a GM invention and adopted by amongst others Ferrari, will be on the GTS, so it will also be a brilliant handler.

The 2014 Cadillac CTS has just been released and I suspect that the CTS-V which is in the works may well be powered by a twin turbo V8 with even more hp that the HSV. Time will tell.

 2014 Cadillac CTS

Well done HSV and GM. Onwards an upward.

Corvette Stingray 2014

The 2014 Corvette Stingray is one sexy vehicle. GM appears to have struck a home run with the C7.

Due to be released at the end of 2013, the standard engine will be a 6.2 liter V8 producing about 450hp allowing the Stingray to sprint from 0-60mph in less than 4 seconds.

The Stingray will be released as a coupe and a convertible, both looking very Ferrari like, which isn't a bad thing in my opinion.

Both will be available as either a 6 speed automatic, OR a 7 speed manual, taking a page from the Porsche playbook. A 50/50 weight distribution is something reminiscent of a BMW and the engineers at Chevrolet have spent some quality time in creating a classy cockpit that has more of a European flair than previous versions of the Corvette which were sometime a bit bland.

Magnetic selective ride will be available with the Z51 performance package allowing for crisp handling creating a recipe that will bring the Corvette Stingray back into the desirable sports car category.

Who's telling what sort of power the Z06 and ZR-1 will produce..... Supercar.

China F1 preview

Looks like Ferrari and Massa have made some progress for the China F1 which will be held this weekend.

After the excitement of the Malaysian F1 with hearing problems and insolence from some of the drivers, I am looking forward to watching some serious rivalry unfold this weekend.

Keep an eye on Kimi also.

2014 Cadillac CTS

The 2014 Cadillac CTS has been released at the New York Auto show. This good looking vehicle manufactured by General Motors will be equipped with either a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 272 bhp, or a naturally-aspirated 3.6-liter V6 with 321 bhp, or my favorite for the time being,  a twin turbo V6 with 420 bhp. The V6 turbo is likely to propel the new Cadillac to 60 MPH form 0 in 4.5-4.7 seconds.

The CTS-V will be released at a later date and will most likely be powered by a turbo or supercharged V8 in excess of 560hp, possibly 600+.

 The 2014 Cadillac CTS will be of similar size to a BMW 5 series, which I suspect is the benchmark for this vehicle.

Good work GM.

Photo's and info from worldcarfans.com

Cadillac looking to expand their lineup :-)

According to this write up, Cadillac is looking to become a global player again and launch new models including a BMW 1 series competitor and a flagship model.

I hope that the new CTS-V based on the yet to be released 2014 CTS includes a station wagon.Time will tell???