New York: VW Up mini car 2012

New York, Volkswagen CEO Stefan Jacoby said the company might be shaking things "Up" again in the States. The on-again, off-again status of the Up! mini-car on these shores is apparently about to go on – again. While the Up! (likely to reintroduce the Lupo nameplate) won't see production until 2012 at the earliest, Jacoby is hinting that it could be on sale here when it debuts: "Up! could be in the future of the market here. In urban areas like New York, a car like Up! has a good chance."
Jacoby, among others, thinks that fuel efficiency will remain a big draw into the future, so cars like the Up! make a lot of sense for VW, returning an anticipated 50 mpg. And that's just in conventional internal-combustion engine configuration. Throw in some of VW's alternative-fuel technology, and that number could go up significantly. "We are looking at second-generation biofuels, electric cars, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and nanotechnology," Jacoby said. That doesn't mean VW thinks the end of the ICE is nigh. When the U.S. market starts to rebound at the end of 2009, Jacoby anticipates a total market of 13 million to 14 million vehicles, the vast majority ICEs.

We've already speculated that the Up! will be produced in India, and that we'll most likely get the roomier Space Up! microvan model rather than the smaller three-door hatch version. We're also hearing that the original Beetle-like rear-engine, rear-drive configuration will be swapped to front/front for production. Engine options are said to range from a 600cc turbo to a 1.2-liter three-cylinder, in gas and diesel forms. Mileage could be as high as 80 miles-per-gallon. If it has any of the driving dynamics that Volkswagen is known for, we can see this being a worthy rival for the Honda Fit and Fiat 500 in the fun little econo car class.

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new Holden Barina 2012 : specifications and Australian prices

The decision for consumers in the market for a light car will get even tougher in November when the all-new 2012 Holden Barina goes on sale in Australia.

The new five-door Holden Barina hatch will start from $15,990 before on-road costs, and the optional six-speed automatic transmission adds $2000 to the price, making it $17,990 before on-road costs.

A special price of $16,990 driveaway will apply to the five-speed manual Barina for the first few months of production.

Initially, these will be the only two variants available. The new Barina sedan will arrive in local showrooms a few months later around the beginning of 2012.

Until then, Holden will continue to sell run-out models of the outgoing Barina sedan alongside the new hatch, as well as run-out models of the outgoing Barina hatch, which is now badged as the Barina Classic, and priced from $14,490 driveaway.

The entire Barina range sits above the sub-light Barina Spark, which is currently available in two manual-only variants: the $12,490 CD and the $14,490 CDX.

At 4093mm long, 1735mm wide and 1517 tall, the new Barina hatch is 213mm longer, 65mm wider and 22mm taller than the model its replaces, making it one of the larger cars in the class.

The 1.6-litre petrol engine produces 85kW of power (at 6000rpm) and 155Nm of torque (at 4000rpm), up from the old model’s 77kW/145Nm output.

Combined cycle fuel consumption drops to from 7.2 to 6.8 litres/100km for the manual model and from 7.8 to 7.3 litres/100km for the automatic.

The new Barina has already been awarded the maximum five-star ANCAP crash test rating, and employs six airbags (dual front, side and curtains), electronic stability control, traction control, electronic brakeforce distribution and a number of other active and passive features.

The Barina will score 15-inch alloy wheels, and despite coming standard with a space saver spare, Holden will include a full-size steel spare on demand at no extra cost.

Measured with the space saver, the Barina offers 290 litres of boot space, which expands to 653 litres with the rear seats folded flat.

Standard features of the well-equipped solo model include ‘follow-me-home’ headlights, cruise control, Bluetooth phone connectivity and audio streaming, USB input with iPod integration, and steering wheel controls.

Seven paint colours will be offered from launch: black, white, grey, silver, red and two shades of blue.

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Volvo cars will soon 2020 to use engines with no more than four cylinders

Volvo cars will soon be downsizing, but not in overall dimensions. To meet tougher new emissions regulations not only in Europe but also the US and China, Volvo is developing a range of new three- and four-cylinder powerplants as part of a VEA (Volvo Environmental Architecture) scheme.

New engines will begin to power showroom models by 2013, replacing the existing five-cylinder petrol and diesel units as well as the more powerful six-cylinder engines offered in the more expensive models.

Volvo research and development boss Peter Mertens recently said in an Automotive News Europe report, “Before the end of the decade, all Volvo models will have engines with no more than four cylinders”, reaffirming the shift to smaller, more economical units.

Volvo customers won’t have to worry about the smaller engines not performing like the current six-cylinder crop though. Volvo assures those that the new powertrains will be just as powerful if not more powerful than the existing range. As well as being more powerful, with the help of new material and construction technologies, Volvo says it will be able to save up to 90kg in weight with the new units compared with the existing range. This will help to lower fuel consumption as well as amplify performance.

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New Lamborghini Aventador supercars

You might think that buying a 1:8 scale model of the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 is the closest you’ll ever get to affording Italy’s latest supercar.

That may generally be the case, but not so if you’ve got your heart set on this little black number.

What you’re looking at is the most expensive model car in the world. The price? Bidding will start at an auction in December at 3.5 million euros ($4.65 million), or 4.5 million ($6 million) outright for those who simply can’t wait.

At that price, it’s more than seven times the price of a real-life Lamborghini Aventador. So you could send this one straight to the poolroom, or fill your garage with a different Aventador for every day of the week.

(The model pictured is actually a less-valuable model of the car. The real one will be built to the individual preferences of the highest bidder.)

Produced by Robert Gulpin Engineering, the 1:8 Aventador holds three Guinness world records: the world’s most expensive and precious model car, the world’s most luxurious logo, and the world’s most secure showcase.

The body, doors and bonnet are made of carbon, and just like the real car, are formed in a high-temperature, high-pressure conclave oven. A thread of solid gold measuring one one-thousandth of a millimetre is wrapped around the carbon fibres.

The wheels, interior, seats, cockpit and steering wheel are cast from solid gold and platinum, with flawless high-carat gemstones spread throughout the cabin.

Just in case you were planning on taking it out of the box, the doors open and close, the wheels turn, and the engine has been recreated in every detail.

The model also comes with a second engine so its technology and craftsmanship can be appreciated in full, while a separate Lamborghini logo the size of the model and made of precious stones is also included.

Of the final price, 500,000 euros ($665,000) will be donated either to a children’s village in Sri Lanka or another charity agreed on by the owner and Lamborghini.

What would you pick: this model, or seven of the real thing? Feel free to let us know in the comments section below.

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