Daily Archives: February 25, 2016
Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe Finally Arrives
The Mercedes-AMG C43 Coupe is back 19 years after it introduced the second AMG-tuned C-class that brought the V8 flag with 306 bhp 4.3-litre V8. It can go 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds.
However, that was in 1997. This year, Mercedes comes back with the C43 badge, featuring a warmed-over C-Class Coupe that is second fiddle to the full-fat C63.
Officially called the Mercedes-AMG C43 4MATIC Coupe, this super machine uses a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 that can produce 362 bhp and 384 lb-ft of torque through a nine-speed automatic transmission. Its four-wheel drive runs 0-62 mph in 4.7 seconds, just 0.8 seconds slower than the 503 bhp C63 S Coupe, with a top speed of 155 mph.
The Mercedes-AMG C43 4MATIC Coupe shares its engine with the Mercedes GLE450 AMG Coupe, but is still boasts of a distinct individuality as it was imbued full Mercedes-AMG status.
It might not be the C63, but it can definitely handle itself well.
The 4MATIC all-wheel drive system has a rear-biased 31:69 torque distribution, three-stage adaptive dampers like the C63’s, and “Dynamic Select” drive modes such as Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus and Individual.
Expect the front axle to have new steering knuckles with the brakes at a bigger 360mm at the front and 320mm at the rear. This is significantly a step up from the standard C-Class Coupe.
Outside, the “C63-lite” badge is replaced with the “BITURBO-4MATIC” lettering on the flanks. The bodywork, on the other hand, is pimped with exhaust pipes and boot lip spoiler.
The C43 will start to drop in early April with an estimated price of £47,000, which is £20,000 cheaper than its brother. For those who are willing and able to shell out that much money, April is your chance to do so.
2017 Mercedes-AMG C43 4MATIC Coupe Photos
Check out some photos of the 2017 Mercedes-AMG C43 4MATIC Coupe in the gallery below, which were provided by Daimler:
Arash AF8 Cassini To Launch At The 2016 Geneva Motor Show
Over the weekend, British supercar marque Arash announced that it is bringing an updated version of its AF10 flagship at the Geneva Motor Show next month. But the drivetrain that packs a reported V-8 and four electric motors for a combined power of 2,000 horsepower has a price tag of at least $1,584,500, so only super millionaires can get their hands on it.
Fortunately, Arash has another gift for car enthusiasts all over the world based on a report from Motor Authority. It is bringing a more attainable car with the AF8 Cassini, an evolution of the first AF8 we saw back in 2014. This one will cost approximately $239,500.
In terms of mechanical package, it hasn’t changed much, but the AF8 Cassini has a more sleek-looking rear than the AF8.
It also features a tubular steel chassis with carbon fiber reinforcements and crash structures and a 7.0-liter LS7 V-8 sourced from General Motors Company. It has a maximum peak of 550 horsepower, and peak torque of 476 pound-feet. Via its six-speed manual transmission, its drive is to the rear wheels.
This means the Arash AF8 Cassini can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5. It also has a top speed of 200 mph.
The interior has all the makings of a modern supercar—a carbon fiber and leather trim, a touchscreen infotainment system, a heated windscreen, and air-conditioning, of course. But if none of these trimmings suit your taste, you can get the stripped-out version made for track use. That way, you can customize the interior of this supercar according to your liking and personality.
The 2016 Geneva Motor Show is set to open its doors on March 1. This means we all have about a week to consume all the details about the various supercars that would be launched there. The Arash AF8 Cassini, with its super engine and gorgeous exterior and interior detailing could steal the show easily.
2017 Kia Sportage Debuts in Frankfurt
Kia Motors dropped the new fourth generation Sportage compact crossover in Frankfurt, Germany. It was launched with a redesigned exterior, an updated interior, and cutting edge technology and driving options.
What the new Kia Sportage offers is efficiency, practicality and performance in a single package. As you know, compact crossovers tend to be a jack-of-all-trade kind of vehicles, and the Sportage is no different. For the 2017 edition, Kia promised to upgrade every factor imaginable from its third generation Sportage.
The Sportage was first introduced in the early 1990s and since then, it has become quite a legend in Kia as it defined its range of compact crossovers.
For the fourth generation, the Kia Sportage will resemble a “fighter jet,” thanks to Kia’s chief designer, Peter Schreyer, the same guy who helped create the Audi TT. Kia’s design studios in Germany, Korea and California all contributed to the overall external look of the new Sportage.
Inside, the Sportage has a more refined and sleek look. The dashboard interface, which also featured a seven-inch touchscreen, is more driver-friendly now with all the buttons and switches angled towards the seat. There are two color schemes available—dark and light gray two-tone, and black and canyon beige two-tone.
The Sportage’s top-of-the-line will most likely include a turbocharged 1.6-liter T-GDI direct injection gas unit, which can produce 130 horsepower and 119 pound-feet of torque. Then, there’s also the option of a 1.7-liter CRDi diesel that can produce 113 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque.
The newest feature for the 2017 Sportage is the seven-speed double-clutch transmission, as well as a revamped suspension that promises a better drive and ride.
Kia has just announced the new prices for the 2017 Kia Sportage, which will go on sale later this spring. You can get your hands on this new compact crossover for a range of $22,990 to $34,000, depending on the trim version, according to TopSpeed, which is also the source of the images below.
