On the outside the Jaguar XKR-S Convertible gets more aggressive visual package with unique bumpers, twin nacelles, carbon fibre splitter and lower spoiler in the front. On the top, there’s a triple-lined fabric roof that can be automatically raised or lowered in about 20 second time at a speed up to 15mph. Extended side sills accentuate the car’s ground-hugging contours, and a unique rear wing with a carbon fiber inlay and distinctive rear apron with a carbon fiber rear diffuser balances front and rear lift. Overall the car looks spectacular, hood up or down.

As the fabric roof comes down, one can see the sporty interiors of the Jaguar XKR-S Convertible. Exclusive to the XKR-S models, this one too gets carbon-leather trimmed Jaguar Performance seats with integrated head rests, racing harness cut-outs with increased side bolster support to hold driver and passenger securely during high speed cornering as well as 16 way adjustable heated seats. The three-spoke leather-wrapped heated steering wheel is equipped with multifunction keys and Jaguar-marked stainless steel pedals.

The Jaguar XKR-S convertible is powered by 5.0 Liter supercharged V8 engine producing 550 hp and 502 lb-ft of torque between 2500-5500 rpm. Also the V engine gets twin intercooler which makes it 20 percent more efficient thermodynamically than its predecessor. The car hits 62 mph at 4.4 seconds while 100 mph is reached in 8.7 seconds. The top speed is limited to 186 mph (300 km/hr), which is same as that of the RS- Coupe.

Being one of the most powerful car from Jaguar, one should not expect it to be cheap. As this Jaguar XKR-S costs a mammoth £103,000. Some of the cars competing against this one can be Aston Martin Vantage, Ferrari 458 Spider, and 2013 Corvette 427.

Exterior

No doubt the SLK 350 is a beautiful car. The upright grille with its single, horizontal division boldly shows the SLK’s resemblance to the SLS AMG. In fact, the proportions of the headlamp and grille, the layout and the overall effect of the fascia point to the admirable combination of retro styling and modern-day design language of Mercedes Benz. At the rear end the SLK 350 has stylish clusters of LEDs that make for a decent set of tail-lights, muscular wheel arches and a typically Mercedes boot-lid.

Interior

The beauty of the car is not restricted to the exterior alone. Get inside and one of the most pleasant cabins welcomes you. The air-conditioner vents are straight from the SLS AMG and so are most of the controls for the multimedia system. The instrument console, which takes a number of cues from the SLS, is a much subtler version of the big brother. Also there’s new introduction in the SLK 350 – the ‘Magic Sky Control’ panoramic vario-roof in the Mercedes language. Well, it is basically a sunroof equipped with a switch to control the transparency of its glass.

Engine

The SLK 350 is powered by a new generation 3.5L V6 engine which delivers more power, richer torque, cleaner emissions and greater efficiency. With 300 PS of peak power and 370 Nm of torque the car can accelerate from 0-100 km/hr in just 6.93 seconds. The engine is coupled to a 7 speed automatic transmission which is more responsive and efficient than the previous models, and with paddle shifters one can control gear changes without taking a hand from the 3-spoke steering wheel.

Price

The SLK 350 roadster model costs about $54,800.

Exterior

The exterior of the 2012 BMW Z4 doesn’t have much of the changes from its previous models. However reports state that the new Z4 will have some of the design elements used in the CS Concept revealed in the year 2007.  The BMW Z4 is a two seater roadster with a classic look and features a modern two-piece power retractable hardtop. The car carries the same large upright kidney grille of BMW, dual round headlights, wide air intake which is all typical for a BMW brand. The steering of the BMW Z4 has a rack and pinion arrangement with electric assistance. Safety features include 6 airbags and 2 seat belts. Front Suspension is made independent with wishbone suspension, while the rear suspension is also independent but with multi-link suspension. All these features make the car look elegant that blends the sportiness of a coupe, as well as giving the enjoyment of convertible.

Interior

Having increased the price of the vehicle to a base price of $49,525 or $1,200 more than last year’s model, the 2012 Z4 sDrive28i is equipped with a number of additional standard equipment, including Bluetooth and USB, alarm system, loading function, floor mats, etc. Other features includes the front air conditioning that’s manual, voice activated navigation system, driver and passenger heated front seats, ABS & driveline traction control, entertainment system with DVD, Front fog/driving lights..

Engine

The sDrive 28i version of the BMW Z4 will be powered by 4-cylinder turbocharged powerplant and will be producing an output of 255hp, however the sDrive 35i will be powered by the same 3.0 liter 6 cylinder inline engine that delivers a power of 300 hp. Accordind to BMW the new 2012 BMW Z4 can hit a speed of 60mp in just 5.6 seconds, which is 0.5 seconds quicker than the previous 6-cylinder engine powered car.

Price

The 2012 BMW Z4 comes in three varients: the sDrive28i which costs about $48,652, the sDrive35i priced at $55,150 and sDrive35is that costs about $59,065.

Competition

Some of the cars competing against the BMW Z4 are: Lotus Esprit, Porsche Boxster, Nissan 370Z, and Mercedes Benz SLK.

The car is equipped with groundbreaking luxury and crisp good looks. A sweeping hood, aft-set passenger compartment, long wheelbase and muscular profile represents the hallmark proportions of a BMW Convertible. The new BMW 650i Convertible combines these features with a classic soft-top roof with flying buttress design. The luxurious ambience of the interior is highlighted by a driver-oriented cockpit which wraps the front and rear passengers in a feeling of aesthetic security.

Engine

The 4.4-liter V-8 engine of the BMW 650i convertible develops a maximum power of 400 hp between 5,500 and 6,400 rpm, and produces a peak torque of 450 lb-ft between 1,750 and 4,500 rpm. This unique “reverse-flow” engine, whose turbochargers are positioned in the V-area between the cylinder banks, produces an instantaneous and sustained wave of power, making it an energetic delight for the enthusiast driver.

Performance

The new BMW 650i Convertible reaches from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds with the manual transmission (4.9 seconds with the 8-speed automatic), however the top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph. This engine also boasts extraordinary efficiency for a model in its output class.

Interior

BMW 650i Convertible is a 4-seater car with interiors that offers individually tailored seats for the driver, front passenger as well as the rear passengers. The car is covered with high-quality materials, carefully coordinated colors and meticulously formed surfaces which combine to produce an environment defined by luxury, sweeping style and Teutonic functionality. The driver oriented cockpit layout is the hallmark element of BMW’s interior design. The central section of the instrument panel, containing the iDrive system’s Central Display, the air vents and the controls for the audio system and air conditioning, are all slightly angled towards the driver.

Features
The new XE roadster is going to be built on all new aluminum platform and will be equipped with a V8 engine that should be able to produce 385 HP in naturally aspired version and 510 HP in the supercharged version. The upcoming jaguar XE will be made as a hybrid variant. The gas/electric vehicle will use a much more efficient lithium ion battery pack, as opposed the nickel based energy storage devices.

Specifications

• Engine 5.0L V8 DOHC 32-valve
• HP (hp@rpm) 385 @ 6500
• Torque (lb.ft@rpm) 380 @ 3500
• Drivetrain Rear-wheel drive
• Transmission 6-speed automatic with manual mode
• Brakes 4-wheel disc
• ABS Std
• Power Steering Std
• Front Suspension Independent
• Rear Suspension Independent
• Adjustable Steering Power tilt/telescopic
• Sunroof Power panoramic sunroof
• Length (mm) 5,123
• Width (mm) 2,110
• Height (mm) 1,447
• Wheelbase (mm) 3,032
• Curbweight (kg) 4,045
• Trunk Size (L) 430
• Fuel Tank Capacity (L) 82

Considering that this car was conceived and designed only as a coupe (making its debut in concept form at the Frankfurt auto show in 2003), the 8C’s Spiderfication comes off superbly. Like a slightly shorter and curvier-than-average supermodel, there’s not a bad line to be found — and plenty of sinuous shapes to appreciate. Carbon-fiber body work bolts and bonds to a steel and aluminum tubular chassis. There’s additional bracing to compensate for the structural strength given up by the loss of its lid. While structural rigidity suffers by nearly 30 percent, the coupe was so strong to begin with that the Spider is a mostly body wiggle-free machine. Alfa bagged the notion of a retractable hardtop, citing high development costs, design compromises in the rear-deck area, and the more coachbuilt nature of a rich-looking soft top. Good call. Weight goes up by about 200 pounds.

The interior of the 8C Spider deserves special attention; it was built in carbon and aluminum which gives it very high touch. The attention to detail stands out; the seats are built in very refined and beautifully finished leather with red stitching. In addition, the controls built in aluminum, making them extremely solid feel.

Under the hood is the Ferrari-designed-and-built 4.7-liter V-8 offered in all current Maseratis. It’s backed by the same six-speed autoclutch manual transaxle that Maserati used to call Cambiocorsa. The car has a power of 450 horses at 7000 revs, its 354-pound-feet torque peak shows up at 4750, and redline is 7500 rpm. The engine sits fully aft of the front axle, and the trans is forward of the rear diff, so the weight of the powertrain is carried inside the wheelbase. Weight balance is 50/50. The biggest functional difference is that the Alfa Romeo 8C Spider gets standard carbon-ceramic brake rotors, something not available — optional or otherwise — on the coupe. Another unique feature is the light yet strong composite windshield frame.

Specifications

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door roadster

BASE PRICE: $301,600

ENGINE TYPE: DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection

Displacement: 286 cu in, 4691cc
Power (SAE net): 444 bhp @ 7000 rpm
Torque (SAE net): 354 lb-ft @ 4750 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automated manual

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 104.1 in Length: 172.5 in Width: 74.6 in Height: 53.9 in Curb weight: 3700 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST):
Zero to 60 mph: 4.4 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 9.7 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 12.9 sec
Top speed (drag limited): 181 mph
PROJECTED FUEL ECONOMY (C/D EST):
EPA city/highway driving: 12/17 mpg

The M3 Convertible gets it excellent driving potential from the 4.0L new 8-cylinder power unit churning out 420 hp. The car offers a wide range of paint finishes and wheels to choose. The seductive convertible costs Rs. 76,50,000 lakh.

This car is a thrilling combination of racing car technology and exhilarating open-top driving. The BMW M3 Convertible offers first-class, open-air driving all year round with a retractable hardtop that can be opened and closed in just 22 seconds. Also awaiting your command: the V8 high-rev engine with up to 8400 rpm which is transferred by the double-clutch transmission M DKG Drivelogic to the M differential lock and then to the rear wheels without the slightest disruption to tractive force. And a chassis that has mastered the ultimate test on the Nürburgring’s legendary Nordschleife. For efficiency without any waste the BMW M3 Convertible is equipped with an Auto Start Stop function, a BMW EfficientDynamics technology that switches off the engine when the vehicle comes to a standstill.

Specifications

The Porsche Boxster Spyder review shows that the car comes equipped with 3387cc, 6-cylinder petrol engine. This engine can deliver power of 320 bhp at 7200 rpm along with peak torque of 369 Nm at 4750 rpm. The length of the car is 4329mm and its width is 1801mm while its height is 1292mm.

The car can accommodate 2 individuals and has front ventilated and rear disk brake system. The engine is mated with 6-speed manual gearbox. The kerb weight of the car is 1355 kgs and it has a fuel tank limit of 65 litres. The car also has all new sport suspension and provides excellent stability to the car.

The car is expected to deliver mileage of around 5 km/litre in the city while the mileage on the highway will be around 8 km/litre.

]]> http://automaniac.in/porsche-boxster-spyder/feed/ 1