bologna motor show – rpmGo.com

DR1 S

This week during the Bologna Motor Show, we’ve seen some attractive cars like the A-Class Concept from Mercedes-Benz, but we’ve also noticed this awful DR1 S. The local automaker DR brought the “hot” S version of the DR1 model which is wearing a special livery with white stripes on the roof and hood. It also features a more powerful braking system and rides on 15-inch alloys.

DR1 S

We don’t like it because it looks a lot like an Indian or a Chinese car, and this is a truly unpleasant surprise coming from an Italian automaker because as you all know, the Italians really know how to make gorgeous cars. Anyway, inside the cabin it has aluminum pedals and a carbon look, while the engine is a tiny 4-cylinder 1.3-liter that develops 88 hp and a peak torque of 117 Nm.

DR1 S

The DR1 S is already on sale and can be ordered in one of the available colors: Red Passion, Black Ink and Elegant Grey. Deliveries will start in March next year and the car costs 8,800 Euros. DR will launch in September 2012 a more powerful version of the car, named the DR1 SR, which will feature a 100 hp engine. Exciting, right?

Source: DR via gallerycar.net

Post tags: Tags: bologna motor show, cars we hate, dr, dr1, dr1 s, other car makers

This year’s of the Bologna Motor Show opened its doors on December 3^rd and it will end tomorrow. This is the 36^th edition of the show where various automakers have brought their latest models, out of which we’ve picked the following five as our favorites.

05. Lancia Thema

We know that the Lancia Thema is essentially a rebadged version of the Chrysler 300 but we really like how it looks, especially on the inside. If you’re tired of German cars, this can be a nice alternative, plus it’s also cheaper. The car will be available with a choice of three engines: a V6 3.6-liter gasoline engine, and two V6 3.0-liter turbodiesels with different outputs. The gasoline unit churns 286 hp and allows the car to do the 0-62 mph sprint in 7.9 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 240 km/h. Fuel consumption is rated at 9.4 liters / 100 km.

04. Renault Zoe

Renault says that the Zoe concept measures 4.1 meters long which makes it a little bit larger than the current generation Clio. It has LED headlights and a dark grille which makes it look kind of cool. The car is powered by an 80 hp (60 kW) electric motor that has a torque of 222 Nm available right away. It can sprint to 62 mph in a respectable 8.1 seconds and it is expected to cost about 25,000 Euros. In order to save space, the French automaker has installed the lithium-ion battery pack inside the chassis so the cabin can accommodate up to four adults and there is also enough room for a decent boot.

03. Abarth Punto Scorpione

Abarth brought a lot of special editions of the Fiat 500 for the 2011 Geneva Motor Show but we really liked this Punto Scorpione which is based on the hot esseesse model. It has the same 1.4-liter turbocharged MultiAir engine that generates 180 hp, allowing the car to hit 62 mph from 0 in 7.5 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 134 mph (216 km/h). The car is wearing a special two-tone Nero Scorpione livery which is enhanced by the matte black paintwork for the roof and the bonnet. The alloy wheels are painted in black while the Brembo brake calipers have a yellow finish. Inside, Abarth has installed bucket seats, a leather steering wheel, aluminum kick plate and an accent trim.

02. Ferrari 599XX Evolution

We already talked in a previous article about the Evolution package for the Ferrari 599XX. The output of the car’s V12 6.3-liter engine has been raised to 740 hp @ 7,000 rpm and a peak torque of 516 lb.-ft. Aside from the additional power; this exclusive car has lost 77 lbs (35 kg) in weight and has a shorter final gear ratio which allows for faster acceleration on medium high speed tracks. The Italian automaker said that the car has two flaps on the rear wing that electronically open and close in order to adjust downforce over the rear axle.

01. Mercedes-Benz A-Class Concept

We’ve seen it before, but it has remained just as amazing. The A-Class Concept from Mercedes-Benz is one of the most beautiful cars showed in Bologna this year. The car is powered by a 2.0-liter direct-injection, turbocharged 4-cylinder BlueEfficiency engine that produces 210 hp. When the production version will be out, the car will be fitted as standard with a manual transmission, while a 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox will be optional.

Photos: inautonews.com

Post tags: Tags: Abarth Punto Scorpione, bologna motor show, Ferrari 599XX Evolution, lancia thema, Mercedes-Benz A-Class Concept, renault zoe

With the occasion of this year’s edition of the Bologna Motor Show, Abarth brought three new versions of the Fiat 500: 595 Turismo, 595 Competizione and 695 Assetto Corse.

The Abarth 595 is available in both Turismo and Competizione versions – with the former offering more comfort and style, while the latter is targeted to performance enthusiasts. Both cars are motivated by a 1.4-liter engine that churns 158 hp and a peak torque of 170 lb.-ft, good enough for a 0-62 mph sprint in 7.4 seconds.

This power unit features and over-boost function that can modulate the amount of available turbo boost and it’s activated through a sport button located on the steering wheel. Both cars also feature the Torque Transfer Control system that can improve the transfer of torque to the driven wheels.

These two cars come with aluminum finished pedals, a leather steering wheel, aluminum gearbox trim surround and kick plate. The Turismo version features an automated manual transmission, while the Competizione adopts a 5-speed manual gearbox. Both cars ride on 17-inch titanium-colored alloys that have Brembo brake calipers painted in yellow.

There are two customization kits available for the 595 Turismo and the 595 Competizione. The first one brings perforated self-ventilated front & rear brakes, while the second package brings adjustable shock absorbers as well as shorter springs for lowering the car’s ride height.

Abarth also unveiled the 695 Assetto Corse which offers 202 hp, making it the hottest version of the Fiat 500. Although it is road legal, the car has been developed for track use and brings a FIA-spec safety kit (with a roll-bar), and the engine is linked to a sequential gearbox.

Source: Fiat via Autocar

Post tags: Tags: abarth, abarth 595 competizione, abarth 595 turismo, abarth 695 assetto corse, bologna motor show

After the five-door sedan was unveiled in L.A., the Japanese carmaker recently announced that the five-door hatchback version of the new Mazda3 will make its world debut on December 3, during the Bologna Motor Show in Italy. The new hatchback has the same styling and mechanic characteristics of its sedan brother, while the engine range was specially targeted at the more demanding European customers, including Mazda’s new 2.2 liter turbodiesel, which is compliant with Euro 5 standards and which, according to the manufacturer, offers improved fuel economy and lowered CO2 emissions. More details about the car will be made available at the press conference from Bologna, so stay tuned as we’ll let you know once we get more info.

Photo Gallery: The new Mazda3 hatchback