LA Show 2011 Highlights: 2013 Jaguar XKR-S Convertible

The new Jaguar XKR-S convertible is being billed as “the most powerful and fastest open-topped GT model” that the company has ever built. The Jaguar XKR-S convertible has made its public debut at the Los Angeles motor show today and joins the XKR-S coupé at the top of the XK range. Although it weighs 1800kg, the XKR-S can sprint to 62mph in just 4.2sec and has a (limited) top speed of 186mph.

The cabrio has the same aerodynamic changes as the coupé, including the new nose, revised sills and prominent rear wing. The interior has the same carbonfibre trim, too.

Like the XKR-S coupe, it uses a 5.0-litre V8 fitted with a Roots-type twin-vortex supercharger and breathes through twin intercoolers. It develops 542bhp and 502lb ft of torque, up 38bhp and 40lb ft on the XKR’s engine, and drives the rear wheels through an active differential.

Jaguar says the car is also the stiffest in its class (at 16,500Nm per degree), which has allowed it to carry over the uprated suspension system used on the coupé.

The new aluminium front steering knuckle, revised steering, stiffer springs and dampers, and revised rear suspension geometry is re-utilised, although the cabrio’s rear damper mounts have been further stiffened to offset the lack of a roof structure.

Mike Cross, head of vehicle integrity and Jaguar’s chassis guru, said, “Because the XK was designed as a convertible, it has great structural integrity. This allowed us to apply the XKR-S coupé’s sporting suspension settings to create a convertible with no compromises.”

Jaguar predicts the price will be about £103,000.

Thanks to: Autocar

LA Show 2011 Highlights: 2012 Volkswagen Passat CC

A facelifted version of the Volkswagen CC has been unveiled at the Los Angeles motor show. Volkswagen wants the revised CC to take a significant step upmarket. The car features new front and rear styling and an extended range of standard equipment.

The new version will be known in Europe as the VW CC, dropping the Passat monicker. In making that move, VW in Europe has followed the lead of its US marketing department in a bid to raise the car’s appeal.

“The CC is a premium, design-led desirable car and that doesn't sit comfortably with the more utilitarian Passat models,” an insider told Autocar. “The models are separated on price, so separating them by name made sense. Many in the company wish we had never emphasised the CC association.”

A choice of three direct-injection petrol engines will be offered, producing 158bhp, 208bhp and 295bhp. The first two will have an option of a dual clutch gearbox and the most powerful variant will have the dual clutch ‘box as standard, and all-wheel drive. All petrol engines have battery regeneration functionality.

Diesel options include 138bhp and 168bhp units, both of which are equipped with stop-start and battery regeneration. The 138bhp variant will return 60.1mpg and 125 g/km when mated to a manual six-speed gearbox, with the DSG-equipped car will offer 53.3mpg.

The new version will be known in Europe as the VW CC, dropping the Passat monicker. In making that move, VW in Europe has followed the lead of its US marketing department in a bid to raise the car’s appeal.

“The CC is a premium, design-led desirable car and that doesn't sit comfortably with the more utilitarian Passat models,” an insider told Autocar. “The models are separated on price, so separating them by name made sense. Many in the company wish we had never emphasised the CC association.”

A choice of three direct-injection petrol engines will be offered, producing 158bhp, 208bhp and 295bhp. The first two will have an option of a dual clutch gearbox and the most powerful variant will have the dual clutch ‘box as standard, and all-wheel drive. All petrol engines have battery regeneration functionality.

Diesel options include 138bhp and 168bhp units, both of which are equipped with stop-start and battery regeneration. The 138bhp variant will return 60.1mpg and 125 g/km when mated to a manual six-speed gearbox, with the DSG-equipped car will offer 53.3mpg.

Thanks to: Autocar

LA Show 2011 Highlights: 2012 Volvo C70 Inscription

Volvo has revealed the new Volvo C70 Inscription edition, which the firm will show at the Los Angeles motor show. The new model is pitched by Volvo as the world's first four-seat convertible car with a three-piece folding hard top as standard and comes with 18-inch alloys, ‘Sovereign Hide’ upholstery and a leather-covered dashboard.

Inside, the new model also gets ‘Inscription’ embroidered on the front headrests, Inscription carpets and handbrake lever and aluminium inlays in the steering wheel, gear lever and centre stack.

Other features include high-gloss paint on the grille and chrome-rimmed LED daytime running lights.

Three exterior colours are offered - Black Stone, Black Sapphire and Ice White – and the C70 Inscription is available with Volvo’s 2.0-litre, five-cylinder 175bhp D4 or 148bhp D3 diesel engines.

Marketing vice president Doug Speck said: "The Inscription is based on our human-centric designed around you philosophy, offering those customers who love convertibles and coupés a beautifully detailed version with a lot of kerb appeal."

Prices start from £33,855 for the D3 SE Inscription, with first deliveries starting in February.

Thanks to: Autocar

LA Show 2011 Highlights: 2012 Porsche Panamera GTS

Porsche has launched a harder-edged GTS version of its Porsche Panamera sports saloon at this week’s Los Angeles motor show. Powered by a 424bhp, 383lb ft version of the naturally aspirated V8 motor (up some 30bhp and 15lb ft on the standard car), the Porsche Panamera GTS also gets lowered air suspension, larger brakes and Panamera Turbo styling tweaks.

In addition, a switchable Sound Symposer sound generator (which can feed engine noise into the cabin) makes its debut on the Panamera GTS. The model goes on sale in the UK next February, priced from £90,409.

Despite standard-issue all-wheel drive and a kerb weight of 1920kg, the new engine can propel the car from rest to 62mph in just 4.5sec and on to a top speed of 179mph. Combined fuel consumption is 25.9mpg and CO2 emissions are 256g/km. A seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission is standard equipment.

With the air suspension at its normal height, the GTS sits 10mm lower than regular Panameras and the damping is tauter than normal. It gets 19in Turbo wheels, larger Turbo brakes and 5mm spacers on the rear wheels, widening the track.

The GTS is also fitted with Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (active anti-roll bars), an electronically controlled diff lock and Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus, which varies torque distribution across the rear wheels through the limited-slip differential.

The Sport Chrono Plus package is standard, offering Normal, Sport and Sport Plus modes. In Sport Plus, the air suspension drops to its lowest setting and switches to a harder spring rate.

On the exterior, the GTS has the same front bumper as the Turbo model, the Turbo’s four-stage rear spoiler, xenon headlights and gloss black exterior detailing.

Thanks to: Autocar

BMW 335is

BMW 335is Convertible : 3.0-liter, inline 6-cylinder engine with TwinPower Turbo technology, 320 horsepower, Rear-wheel drive, 26 mpg hwy, Starting at $60,600.

BMW 335is Coupe : 3.0-liter, inline 6-cylinder engine with TwinPower Turbo technology, 320 horsepower, rear-wheel drive, 26 mpg hwy*, Starting at $51,900.

BMW 335is rear view

2012 Audi A6

2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG