Tag: XF

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New Maserati Ghibli Photos are Here

Maserati Ghibli photos were released to internet a few hours ago. What is Maserati Ghibli? Ghibli will be the new competitor of Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5-Series, Jaguar XF, Audi A6. And Ghibli setting a new standard on the market even before revealed to public. Ghibli brings the Italian touch to this segment. It may not offer the same state-of-art technology like Germans but definitely fills the Italian feeling on the market.

Exterior design of Ghibli resembles with the Quattroporte but there is nothing wrong with that! Maserati Quattroporte is also one of the sexiest cars on the planet. Moreover, design of Ghibli represents the harmony of feminine curves with muscular look. Thus, Ghibli will have a unique identity.

Maserati Ghibli will be powered by two 3-lt petrol and a 3-lt diesel engines. Diesel may sound a contradiction for Maserati but in order to increase market share and become more competitive, diesel is a must! Engines are coupled with 8-speed automatic gearbox and Q4 four-wheel drive option will be available.

 
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Maserati
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Cars

Jaguar XF, XJ with All-Wheel Drive

Jaguar XF and XJ are now available with all-wheel drive option, revealed at Pebble Beach. Jaguar was the only company does not offer all-wheel drive option in premium segment despite the engagement with Land Rover. Now it is available with XF and XJ but only with 3-lt V6 petrol engine (340 PS) and this leads no proper market share in emerging markets, where the customers have more tendencies on diesels.
Honestly, within in existing petrol prices level and increasing demand to diesel vehicles, Jaguar should have offered the all-wheel drive option with diesel engines. Thus, Jaguar could have more competitive power.
Jaguar’s all-wheel drive can split the torque 50/50 among front and rear, 8-speed automatic gearbox with auto start/stop is available.
Hope to see all-wheel drive rest of the engine range.

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Jaguar
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Cars

Tesla Model S: Luxury Electric Car

Tesla Model S is recently revealed to public. Unlike previous Tesla Model based on Lotus, Model S is manufactured by Tesla with their own design concept. As you know that Tesla is a premium electric car manufacturer, unlike Fisker there is no on-board generator to charge the batteries. In Tesla you need to charge the car by plugging into electric socket.
Let’s go backs to Model S. From the rear there are similarities with Jaguar XF, and creates the foor-door coupe look. And from the front, Model S is really unique and does not look like an electric car. One of most appealing features of Tesla Model S is the 50/50 weight balance that usually features by sports car manufactures. This weight balance provides perfect handling and being lack of heavy engine and gearbox, Tesla Model S will offer a very unique driving experience.
The shocking feature of Tesla Model S is the air suspensions. You neither read wrong nor I made a typo, Model S features air suspensions to improve comfort. Yes, air suspensions do improve the comfort but you need power to control them; especially for raising the vehicle. And power is the main issue of electric cars. When the road is demanding and Model S needs to adjust the air suspension more than usual, you will reduce range and also raising the vehicle will reduce the range as well. Therefore, I really wish to see an objective test for the air suspensions in Tesla Model S’s impact on the range.
Tesla Model S also offers electric power steering wheel. As you understand, it is powered by electricity and Model S is powered by electricity, so another extra weight on the range.
With Model S, you have four different battery options like four different engine options. Model S can be ordered with 40 kWh , 60 kWh, 85 kWh and 85 kWh Performance batteries. I have never seen this before on an electric car, great marketing job!

40kWh: 256 km – 160 mls range; 6,5 sec (0-96 kph – 0-62 mph acceleration); 176 kph – 110 mph top speed

60kWh: 368 km – 230 mls range; 5,9 sec (0-96 kph – 0-62 mph acceleration); 192 kph – 120 mph top speed


80kWh: 480 km – 230 mls range; 5,6 sec (0-96 kph – 0-62 mph acceleration); 200 kph – 125 mph top speed


80kWh Performance: 480 km – 230 mls range; 4,4 sec (0-96 kph – 0-62 mph acceleration); 208 kph – 130 mph top speed

Interior quality of Tesla Model S is amazing, it is a real premium car. However, touch screen user interface may not be that good whilst driving the car. The problem of touch screen is, there is no feedback from the buttons and driver can easily be distracted by this. Volkswagen mentioned about this problem of touch screens and they try to categorise user interface into physical buttons and touch screen. And I support this. However, I didn’t try Model S yet!
Overall, Tesla Model S is an extremely well made electric car but, due to lack of on-board generator, power consuming air suspension, lack of charging station and long hours are charging are the main handicaps of electric cars. If you are travelling in city, Model S will satisfy your demands but it is quite risky to take longer journeys. In order to drive lingers journeys with electric cars, the battery technology must be improved and this will lead vanish the bias on electric cars and also charging hours should be shorter. Otherwise, electric cars will stay as a niche market. It will not go bankrupted but only small part of the population will benefit from electric cars. If you live in Monaco, Tesla Model S is a perfect car, but if you are planning to travel between Hamburg and München, I am not hat sure. Again, go have a test drive and make your own judgement.

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Tesla

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Cars

Jaguar Land Rover PR Event March 2012

Last week I had chance to attend Jaguar Land Rover’s press event to see their vehicle range. I previously heard about this event but, never had chance to attend. Hopefully, last week I managed it!
It started quite well from beginning, while I was walking down to the event I saw the camouflaged new Range Rover. Unfortunately, I was sleepy and not prepared to take a photo. Anyway, there were 24 different Land Rover and Jaguar vehicles. They provided different engine sizes in the whole range. Some of the engine option may not be seen on the streets! Such as Range Rover Supercharged! People prefer to buy diesel, instead of this petrol burner.
Being in a place with lots of cars is like being a chocolate factory when you are kid! I arrived to event as early as possible to avoid any congestion, like a kid runs to chocolate factory. And hopefully it wasn’t that crowded.
I will be writing more about the event and the car in following posts!
And I would like to thank all Land Rover and Jaguar PR team for their great hospitality.
Here is the list of the vehicles. Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Evoque, Land Rover Discovery 4, Land Rover Defender, and Jaguar XF, XK, XKR, XKR-S, XJ, XJ L.
Next time, I will take better videos and more detailed photos.
For more photos: Cars & Life Facebook Page

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Cars

Audi A What

As we all know that cars do not have the technology to be in stealth mode. Especially luxury brands, it is nearly impossible to ignore them. I am sure that, if it is possible to have stealth mode in cars, it won’t work with luxury brands. They are theoretically and practically impossible to ignore. They are designed for this; they have to show their price, reflect the wealth of the customer and diversify their selves from the other cars at any condition.
Unfortunately, this theory does not work with new Audi “A What?” model. Audi did not reveal a new model called “A What”. Actually new A6 is the A What? New Audi A6 is nearly impossible to be identified at anytime and mostly at night! Last week I saw a new A6 and I wasn’t sure whether it is the new one or not.
It looks the same as A4, similar to A8 but you can diversify by their size (Hopefully!). Front look is a photocopy of A4, it does not look big and it does not look really different from the previous model. I know it offers lots of new technologies and nice interior but exterior is not that good. I was expecting to see something really sensational but it is just a interpretation of A4 and old A6, that’s all.
Mercedes E Class, BMW 5 Series and Jaguar XF look much much better than the new A6. And this proofs that, Audi targets to a new market! People who want to own luxury cars but do not wish to be spotted! Here it is the new Audi A6, the best way to go stealth mode.
Karl Lagerfeld has a bag, which say “Karl who?” Because many people gives that reaction, when you say his name. And he found a very nice solution to this. I think A6 should have a package like this, A What Package with matte black, black wheel, black leather and extreme matte black car cover!

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Me, Audi and Karl Lagerfeld