2013 VW Golf GTI and Golf R Mk7

The next generation of the VW Golf which if not further delayed, will arrive towards the end of 2012 or early 2013, will be based on German firm’s cost-saving modular transverse architecture, more commonly known by its German abbreviation "MQB”.

The range-topping Golf models will use a new 2.0-liter TSI force-fed gasoline engine with more oomph producing somewhere around 220 to 230 horsepower on the GTI and close to 300-horses in the Golf R which will be equipped with VW’s 4Motion all-wheel drive system.
As for what the new Golf will look like, VW accidentally gave us our first look at a very early clay prototype of the Mk7 Golf featuring a sharper snout and more steeply raked windscreen through an official video back in 2009.

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Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 V6 Diesel Photos

Jeep claims that it has created the premium SUV market almost 20 years ago with the first generation of the Grand Cherokee (though Mercedes’ M-Class may actually have a better claim on the word “premium”, but whatever…). We’ve already seen the latest iteration of Jeep’s iconic 4x4, and we must admit that, on paper at least, it looks like a significant leap forward from its predecessors.

This is accomplished by being based on a new (Mercedes M-Class derived) platform which aims for much improved driving characteristics and cabin quality, while retaining the off-road capabilities that it has became famous for.

Now the Grand Cherokee is available in right-hand drive in the UK in two versions, Limited and Overland. Both are powered by a 237-bhp 3.0-litre CRD common-rail turbo diesel which offers improved fuel economy (Jeep claims up to 39/34 mpg (UK/US respectively), or 6,0 liters/100 km and a maximum range of 700 miles (1,125 km) – a sound choice given the oil prices in Europe and its buyers' dislike of fuel-guzzling SUVs.

Pricing for the new Grand Cherokee starts at £36,795 for the Limited edition, while the top-of-the-line Overland starts from £43,995. And then there’s, of course, the options list…

Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRD Equipment and pricing:

Limited (from £36,795)
Quadra-Trac II® 4WD system
3.0 CRD V6 237bhp
Thatcham Category 1 Alarm and Immobiliser
Selec-Terrain™ system
Bi-Xenon HID headlamps with headlamp washers and auto-levelling
Rain sensitive windscreen wipers
Air-conditioning with dual zone Automatic Temperature Control (ATC)
Media Centre with 6.5'' touch screen display and 30GB hard drive with 6700 song capacity
Keyless Enter-N-Go™
18” Alloy wheels
Fog lamps
Illuminated entry
Hill Descent Control
Hill Start Assist
Bright exhaust tailpipes
Uconnect Bluetooth with voice command
iPod® connector with remote USB port
ParkSense® front and rear park assist system
ParkView® rear back-up camera
Leather trimmed seats
Heated front and rear seats
Power 8-way driver and passenger seat memory
Power tilt / telescopic steering column
Alpine surround sound system (9 speakers and subwoofer)
Tyre pressure monitoring display
Power folding multi-function door mirrors

Limited - Options
Rear DVD with single sunroof
CommandView panoramic sunroof
Performance pack (20" wheels with 265/60 R20 performance tyres, performance brakes and sports suspension)
Navigation & Luxury pack (Uconnect navigation system, heated steering wheel and power liftgate)
Deep-tint sunscreen glass
Overland (from £43,995)
Compared to the Limited, the Overland version adds the following:
20” alloy wheels
Performance brakes with sports suspension
Cargo net
Door courtesy lamps
Premium Nappa leather trimmed seats with contrast stitching
Ventilated front seats
Leather covered dashboard
Dark wood interior trim inserts
Deep-tint sunscreen glass
Power liftgate
Heated steering wheel
Quadra-Lift™ air suspension
CommandView panoramic sunroof
Overland interior detailing
Uconnect navigation system
Blind-spot and rear cross path detection
Adaptive cruise control
Forward collision warning

Optional equipment pricing:
Rear DVD with single sunroof (Limited) £1,700 RRP
Rear DVD with single sunroof retrofit (Overland) £700 RRP
CommandView panoramic sunroof (Limited)£1,200 RRP
Performance pack (Limited) £2,000 RRP
Navigation & Luxury pack (Limited) £1,500 RRP
Deep-tint sunscreen glass (Limited) £350 RRP

PHOTO GALLERY

aguar XF 2.2 Diesel Photos

Jaguar is touting it’s new diesel-powered XF 2.2D saloon as the most fuel-efficient model in its history and to back its claims, the company set out to complete a journey from its factory at Castle Bromwich in Birmingham, UK, to Munich, Germany, on a single tank of fuel.

The British company manages to achieve its goal, with the four-cylinder XF covering a distance of 816 miles or 1,312 kilometers on 64 liters of diesel fuel, which gives an average fuel economy of 57mpg UK, equal to 4.9 lt/100km and 47.5 mpg US.

David Madgwick, an independent tester, accompanied by navigator Alexander Madgwick, drove the vehicle, which left Jaguar’s facilities with a little over 3,000-miles on the clock.

The crew was met in Munich by Chief Programme Engineer for the XF, Andy Whyman, who commented:

“The entire development team is very proud of what the new XF 2.2 has achieved – this not only proves the efficiency of the new model but underlines that performance and economy can be combined,” said Andy Whyman, Chief Programme Engineer for the XF.

The new Jaguar XF 2.2D is powered by an updated version of the Ford-sourced 2.2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine found in the Land Rover Freelander and the European-market Ford Mondeo.

It produces 190-horses and 332 lbs ft of torque allowing the XF to accelerate from naught to 62mph (100km/h)in 8.5-seconds before reaching a top speed of 140mph (225 km/h).

The four-pot is connected to a new eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox and, in a first for Jaguar, a Stop-Start system.

It will join the rest of the facelifted XF range in Europe this September.

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Porsche 911 with GM LS1 V8 Photos And Videos

By taking a kitbashed GM-sourced LS1 V8 engine and slotting it into an AWD Porsche 996, LS1tech forum member “1dirtyZ” has set out to create something truly unique. Sure, it’s unconventional and perhaps a little sacrilegious...but just look at the Porsche donor car.

It’s a wreck, the victim of a catastrophic engine fire. It has a ruined interior and a body that’s been damaged both by fire and rust. It would have spent the rest its days rotting away in a car wreckers yard if 1dirtyZ had not rescued it.

And even though this confabulation of All-American grunt and German precision engineering is not yet finished (it doesn’t have a rear bumper, for one), it certainly runs and can even be driven around a dirt race track. You can check out our gallery of in-progress images below and a handful of videos showing the V8-powered Porsche 911 running.

All it needs now is a name. Wheels dubbed the R35 Nissan GT-R Godzilla so should we maybe call this science-project-gone-wrong “Cloverfield”? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

PHOTO GALLERY