Volvo to reveal the all-new Volvo V40 at Geneva

All New Volvo V40

Volvo Car Corporation will reveal the all-new Volvo V40 at a press conference at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show on March 6.


The all-new V40 is ready to overtake the competition in the Premium Hatchback class with sharpened features and characteristics from larger Volvos wrapped in a sleek, compact package.

"The all-new V40 is the first new model that is fully developed according to our human-centric, Designed Around You strategy. Charged with an outstanding set of high-tech features it definitely will give our toughest competitors a headache," says Stefan Jacoby, President and CEO of Volvo Car Corporation.

The all-new Volvo V40 is a modern, expressive car with a Scandinavian luxury look and feel, a high-quality aura and meticulous attention to detail. The new, fully graphic instrument cluster with personalised layout and information enhances the intuitive and uncomplicated driver experience.

"Thanks to input from customers all over the world our most compact V-range model features an outstanding blend of design, safety and versatility. The car is loaded with features that buyers of modern luxury cars want," explains Stefan Jacoby.

Class-leading driving dynamics 

The all-new V40 boasts class-leading driving dynamics thanks to focused attention to a number of vital areas. The chassis is designed to offer the agile, connected experience that creates true driving pleasure.
The engine range spans everything from Volvo Car Corporation's first diesel with CO2 emissions of just 94 g/km to the turbocharged T5 petrol engine with 254 hp and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds. All engine versions feature start-stop and braking energy regeneration, no matter whether they are fitted with a manual or automatic gearbox.

"The all-new V40 wraps you in a super-comfortable cockpit with outstanding ergonomics and technology that make you feel informed, focused and relaxed. This driver-centric approach is what modern Volvos are all about," says Stefan Jacoby.

Outstanding safety and support package

The all-new Volvo V40 features a class-leading safety and driver support package, including Volvo Car Corporation's groundbreaking Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake and several other new features.
Among the new features are a world-first pedestrian airbag, Lane Keeping Aid with haptic auto steering, and an ingenious Park Assist Pilot that makes parallel parking easy.

The City Safety low-speed collision avoidance system has been further developed and it now operates at speeds up to 50 km/h.

"The all-new V40 is the most intelligent and safe Volvo model so far. All its features are designed around the driver, helping him or her stay alert and well informed to avoid collisions and dangerous situations," says HÃ¥kan Abrahamsson, Vehicle Line Director C Cars & V40 Vehicle Programme Manager. He adds:
"With this class-leading safety package, including enhanced focus on pedestrian protection, the all-new V40 aims for a full star rating in the new, sharpened 2012 Euro NCAP safety tests."

Sales target 90,000 units

Volvo Car Corporation expects to sell 90,000 units per year of the all-new Volvo V40. A massive 85 percent of the total volume will go to European customers.

The car will be revealed at a press conference at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2012. Production of the all-new Volvo V40 starts in May 2012. The car will be built in Volvo Car Corporation's plant in Ghent, Belgium.

"The all-new V40 makes an instant impression with a dramatic design that stands out from the crowd. And what you see is what you get. The car boasts sharpened features and characteristics from larger Volvos - wrapped in a sleek, compact package. The car also has so many new features that it has an exceptional "density". It has pretty much everything," says HÃ¥kan Abrahamsson.


Images : 2012 Volvo V40


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Source : VOLVO]

Citroen DS4 Racing Concept : A hot-blooded concept car

Citroen DS4 Racing Concept

Citroën has sold more than 180,000 DS line models worldwide since launch. The adventure continues at the Geneva Motor Show with the reveal of the DS4 Racing Concept. As with the DS3 Racing, the engineers at Citroën Racing and the styling team have firmly stamped the DS4 with the image of the Brand’s racing department.


Making its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show, the DS4 Racing Concept features “100% Racing” attributes. The chassis is 35 mm lower than the regular model and track is 55 mm wider at the front and 75 mm wider at the back. The concept car also sports an air diffuser, a front bumper panel, a lower-body belt line and wing extensions. Citroën Racing has tweaked the 1.6-litre turbo engine to develop 256 bhp, or 160 bhp per litre – a record for a series-production car. This spectacular performance comes hand in hand with controlled CO2 emissions of 155 g/km. 

Images : Citroen DS4 Racing Concept


 

 

 

 

 

 

[Source : CITROEN]

The BMW 6 Series Coupe with xDrive and six-cylinder in-line diesel engine

2012 BMW 640d xDrive Coupe

MUNICH : February 24, 2012 - BMW is set to add another variant of the Coupe and Convertible to  the BMW 6 Series line-up with the arrival of the BMW 640d xDrive Coupe and Convertible in spring 2012. Intelligent all-wheel drive – making its debut in the BMW 6 Series – teams up with a six-cylinder in-line diesel engine featuring BMW TwinPower Turbo technology to take driving pleasure to another new level. The combination of a diesel engine and BMW xDrive all-wheel drive, which will also be found in the BMW 640d xDrive Convertible, gives the BMW 6 Series a spread of abilities none of its rivals can match.


The new BMW 640d xDrive Coupe accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 5.2 seconds. The 230 kW/313 hp diesel powerplant uses BMW TwinPower Turbo technology to ensure outstanding efficiency, and joins forces with the standard-fitted eight-speed Sports automatic gearbox to deliver exceptionally low fuel consumption and emissions. The xDrive system distributes the power generated by the engine precisely between the front and rear wheels as the situation demands. Pulling the strings behind the scenes is an electronic control unit which links xDrive up with the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) system to ensure unbeatable traction, maximum safety, top-class handling and optimum power development in all weather and road conditions. The average fuel consumption of the BMW 640d xDrive Coupe stands at 5.7 – 5.8 litres per 100 kilometres / 48.7 – 49.6 mpg imp (in the EU test cycle, depending on the tyre format), while CO2 emissions are 149 – 153 grams per kilometre.

Six-cylinder in-line diesel engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology in the BMW 6 Series.


The instantaneous responses and pulling power of the diesel unit fitted in the BMW 6 Series enable it to do everything required of an engine fitted in a car with a sharp sporting focus. The output characteristics, acoustic profile, low vibrations and efficiency of the six-cylinder unit offer clear evidence of BMW’s expertise in the development of diesel engines.

Rewinding a generation, the introduction – for the first time – of a diesel variant into the previous BMW 6 Series likewise lent an extra dimension to the range. The new BMW 6 Series adds further lustre to the alluring profile of the exclusive and sporty, yet also economical, premium-class Coupe by taking performance and efficiency to new heights and, for the first time, offering the additional benefits of xDrive.

The latest generation of the most powerful diesel engine boasts displacement of 3.0 litres, a low-weight all-aluminium crankcase and the latest development of BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. This package of technology comprises multi-stage turbocharging and common-rail direct injection whose piezo injectors work with maximum pressure of 2,000 bar. The car’s two-stage turbocharging generates instantaneous and forceful power delivery, while the injection system sprays the fuel into the cylinders in precisely measured quantities to ensure clean and efficient combustion.

Two-stage turbocharging with optimised efficiency.


The latest multi-stage turbocharging technology responds more precisely than ever to the demands of different driving situations. At low revs a smaller turbocharger is activated, its low moment of inertia allowing it to go to work extremely rapidly. The compressed air from this small charger is sent directly to the combustion chambers via a bypass line. As the air no longer flows through the large charger, loss-free development of charge pressure is assured. Only when the driver asks for more power do the electronics prompt the bypass unit to bring the larger turbo into play. Added to which, variable turbine geometry for the smaller of the two turbos optimises the effectiveness of the turbocharging system in responding to the power requirement at any one time.

The result is an ultra-fast response to every movement of the accelerator. The engine delivers its peak torque of 630 Newton metres (465 lb-ft) as low down as1,500 – 2,500 rpm, with maximum output generated at 4,400 rpm. Powerful acceleration from a standstill and dynamic mid-range sprints are therefore dispatched with equal ease. The eight-speed Sports automatic gearbox is tuned precisely to the performance characteristics of the engine, and so allows the driver to exploit its impressive torque – maintained across a high rev band – to the full, for a sporty yet smooth driving experience. By contrast, in ECO PRO mode (likewise standard) the power reserves of the sporty diesel engine play a prominent role in ensuring a relaxed and extremely efficient driving style at low engine speeds.



BMW EfficientDynamics package of technology and Driving Experience Control come as standard.


ECO PRO mode, which is activated via the standard-fitted Driving Experience Control switch, carries out adjustments to the engine management, accelerator mapping and the shift characteristics of the automatic transmission. In addition, the output of electrically operated functions such as the climate control system, as well as the seat and exterior mirror heating are carefully regulated to ensure extremely efficient energy management. Special displays inform the driver of the extra range, in kilometres, achieved as a result. The BMW EfficientDynamics technologies fitted as standard on board the BMW 640d xDrive Coupe also include Brake Energy Regeneration, the Auto Start-Stop function, need-based operation of ancillary units and active air flap control.

The Driving Experience Control switch can also be used to call up SPORT, SPORT+ and COMFORT modes, and – if the optional Dynamic Damper Control or Adaptive Drive are selected – COMFORT+. As well as the accelerator progression, engine responses, power steering characteristics, intervention thresholds of the DSC stability control system and shift dynamics of the automatic transmission, this also allows the driver to adjust the damper settings and anti-roll control. Whichever mode he chooses, the driver is activating a pre-configured and coherent overall set-up which includes reproduction of the engine sound. Here, a sound module is used to enhance the engine’s natural acoustic components to suit the driving situation and the Driving Experience Control mode selected, and this soundtrack is then transferred into the interior. The system’s digital signal processing technology exchanges data directly with the engine management and adjusts its output to the engine’s revs, the amount of torque being produced and the car’s speed over the road. This gives the driver an impressively accurate impression of how hard the engine is currently working and of the power being unleashed, and provides an even clearer window into the car’s responses on the road.

Intelligent all-wheel drive raises driving pleasure another notch.


The introduction of the BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive system into the BMW 6 Series range adds another alluring dimension to the driving experience on board a top-class premium coupe.

The BMW 640d xDrive Coupe showcases the latest incarnation of the intelligent all-wheel-drive system. In addition to the variable transfer of power to the front and rear wheels, this technology also includes Performance Control, which divides drive between the right and left-hand rear wheels to suit the situation at hand.

In contrast to conventional all-wheel-drive systems, the electronically controlled BMW xDrive is set up not only to optimise traction on low-grip surfaces, but also to enhance dynamic performance through corners. The link-up of the all-wheel-drive system with the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) function within the
ICM (Integrated Chassis Management) system enables all situations on the road to be identified and evaluated to allow the necessary control interventions to be made at an early stage. These can be carried out by xDrive either on its own or in combination with Dynamic Stability Control or Performance Control. The power is distributed quickly and with great precision to where it is needed, ensuring that the driver enjoys the handling characteristics expected of a BMW – even under extremely dynamic cornering.

The xDrive system has been specially tuned for service in the BMW 6 Series, taking into account the car’s specific properties and characteristics. This bespoke set-up is underpinned by the principle of blending the traditional rear-wheel-drive qualities of BMW cars harmoniously with the benefits of distributing power between all four wheels. As with every all-wheel-drive BMW, 60 per cent of the engine’s power is sent to the rear axle in normal conditions and 40 per cent to the front wheels. This torque split can be adjusted in an instant to suit changing conditions.

Linking up to allow proactive analysis and precise interventions.


Identifying the risk of traction loss at a very early stage allows wheel spin to be prevented at one or more wheels by varying power distribution. xDrive can therefore be described as an “intelligent” all-wheel-drive system.

This proactive analysis of the driving situation takes into account the data from the engine management system and information on accelerator position, steering angle, wheel speeds and lateral acceleration stored in the ICM system. Based on this extensive information, xDrive is able to finely control the distribution of power between the front and rear wheels to ensure that engine output is fully utilised at all times. This allows xDrive to nip oversteer or understeer in the bud – unlike conventional all-wheel-drive systems, which only react when at least one wheel is already spinning. If the car is threatening to understeer, a greater proportion of drive power is immediately sent to the rear wheels.This makes for sharper turn-in on the entry to a corner; in other words, xDrive improves stability before the driver is even aware of the need. Similarly, the system’s proactive capabilities allow it to correct oversteer tendencies at the earliest possible stage by directing surplus power to the front wheels. That means the benefits of all-wheel drive can be enlisted even before traction loss actually occurs.

Intelligently varied power distribution also has benefits for ride comfort; due to the stabilising effect of xDrive, DSC now only needs to intervene in extreme situations. Only when optimal drive power distribution alone is insufficient to keep the vehicle on track does DSC intervene by reducing engine power and selectively braking individual wheels.




Electronic control enables extremely rapid reactions.


The xDrive system’s electronic control system allows the power split between the front and rear wheels to be altered almost instantly to suit changing driving conditions. It does this by adjusting the multi-plate clutch in the central transfer case, using a stepper motor. The higher the pressure on the clutch plates, the more power is transferred to the front wheels via a gear system. Conversely, when the clutch is completely open, all power goes to the rear wheels. The electronic control system is capable of varying the torque distribution in record-quick time: it takes just 100 milliseconds to fully open or fully close the clutch.

Performance Control improves these driving dynamics even further. Working with the xDrive control function, this electronic system uses precisely controlled braking and variable torque distribution to counteract the onset of understeer on low-traction surfaces and under particularly dynamic cornering, thereby improving agility. As soon as understeer is detected, the integrated electronic control functions of xDrive and DSC selectively brake the rear wheel on the inside of the corner. The resultant loss of propulsion is compensated for by an increase in drive power.

BMW xDrive now also destined for success in the BMW 6 Series.


BMW has offered its customers all-wheel-drive vehicles for more than 25 years. From the outset, BMW used the transfer of power to both axles not only to optimise traction on loose surfaces and in adverse weather conditions, but also to enhance dynamic performance through corners. Over the years,
all-wheel drive has developed from an option initially limited to selected models to a growth driver for the ongoing expansion of the model range.

The worldwide success of xDrive has also been aided by the introduction of the BMW X models. With the BMW X5, BMW X6, BMW X3 and BMW X1, the range now includes four models which set the benchmark in their segments in terms of agility and driving pleasure. In these models, as elsewhere in the BMW range, the all-wheel-drive system not only gives drivers a traction and stability advantage, but also plays a key role in delivering stand-out dynamic performance. Alongside the triumphant progress of the BMW X models, the number of all-wheel-drive variants in other model series has also grown consistently. Today, xDrive models can be found in the BMW 3 Series, BMW 5 Series, BMW 7 Series and now, for the first time, the BMW 6 Series range.

The new BMW 640d xDrive Coupe injects an extra dose of variety into the BMW 6 Series, and the intelligent all-wheel-drive system is also fitted in the BMW 650i xDrive Coupe. In this model, xDrive divides the power generated by a V8 engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology between the front and rear wheels. The power unit underneath the bonnet of the BMW 650i xDrive Coupe develops maximum output of 300 kW/407 hp and peak torque of 600 Newton metres (443 lb-ft), and again links up with the eight-speed Sports automatic gearbox. With the added benefits of xDrive on board, the car can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.8 seconds.

BMW 6 Series Coupe offers greater variety.


With three engine variants (bearing the BMW 640i, BMW 650i and BMW 640d badges), a choice between BMW’s traditional rear-wheel drive and intelligent all-wheel-drive technology, state-of-the-art chassis technology and an array of innovative and – in some cases – unique equipment features, BMW brings an exclusive product package to the premium luxury-class coupe table.

The new BMW 6 Series Coupe can also be equipped with a specially developed M Sport package. The aerodynamic, exterior and interior components designed in familiar M style clearly showcase the sports car character of the 6 Series Coupe. Equipment includes an M aerodynamics package with bespoke body components for the front end, side sills and rear apron, exhaust tailpipe embellishers in Chrome Dark, LED front fog lamps and 19-inch light-alloy wheels in M double-spoke design. 20-inch light-alloy wheels in M double-spoke design can also be ordered as an option. Inside, features such as M-specific Alcantara/leather sports seats in Anthracite with Blue contrast stitching, an M leather steering wheel with multifunction buttons and gearshift paddles, and Aluminium Hexagon interior trim strips all play their part in creating a full-blooded driving experience. The M Sport package also includes door sills bearing the M logo, as well as an M driver’s footrest.

The BMW 6 Series Coupe offers seating for four immersed in a luxurious ambience, while its 460-litre boot can accommodate three 46-inch golfbags or two medium-sized hard-shell suitcases plus a flight case. The comfort-enhancing equipment fitted as standard in the new BMW 6 Series Coupe includes 2-zone automatic climate control, a multifunction steering wheel, electric steering column adjustment, electrically adjustable and heated exterior mirrors, Cruise Control with braking function, a rain sensor with automatic headlight range control, a HiFi audio system and the control system iDrive with a freestanding Control Display in flatscreen design. Among the highlights on the options list are Adaptive LED Headlights and the Bang & Olufsen High End Surround Sound System.

A rich variety of driver assistance systems and mobility services from BMW ConnectedDrive also help to give the new BMW 6 Series Coupe its innovative character. Enhancing convenience during a journey, for example, are services such as a personal assistant who is at your service around the clock and searches for addresses, inputting them as destinations directly into the navigation system. The Real-Time Traffic Information function, meanwhile, transfers extraordinarily precise data and diversion recommendations to the navigation system.

Other supportive functions include Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, Speed Limit Info, a rear-view camera, Surround View and BMW Parking Assistant. The scope of in-car infotainment, meanwhile, enters a new dimension: the Apps option and BMW Connected application allows Apple iPhone owners to use Facebook, Twitter and the web radio function inside their BMW 6 Series Coupe. And the office functions enable calendar entries, for example, or e-mails on a smartphone to be shown in the vehicle display and read out to the driver. ConnectedDrive features also help to improve safety. The new-generation BMW Head-Up Display offers optimised display quality, with a full spectrum of colours now available for the graphics, allowing extremely realistic-looking symbols to be projected onto the windscreen. Other functions include Advanced Emergency Call with automatic position finding and accident severity detection, BMW Night Vision with pedestrian recognition, the Lane Change Warning System and the Lane Departure Warning System.


Images : 2012 BMW 640d xDrive Coupe


 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 

[Source : BMW]