New Ford Fiesta Sport Edition with Chassis Upgrades Launched in Europe

Ford is spicing up the new Fiesta's European range with the introduction of a new Sport trim level that will be available on the three-door models equipped with the 96HP 1.4-liter and 120HP 1.6-liter gasoline engines as well as with the 90HP 1.6-liter TDCi turbo diesel. Unlike most proposals of the sort where changes are limited to cosmetics and enhanced equipment levels, the Sport model actually benefits from a series of chassis upgrades that promise to further improve handling.

These include a nine millimeter lowered sports suspension with stiffer springs and new shocks, a modified steering wheel system and the addition of an electronic stability programme (ESP) that can be switched off completely.

Visually, the three-door Fiesta Sport is distinguished by a different lower grille treatment, dark headlamps, front apron, chunky side skirts, a rear apron with an integrated diffuser and new 16-inch alloys wrapped in beefier sport tires.

Inside, buyers can opt between two different trim colors (anthracite or blue) with special features including the front sport seats, leather sport steering wheel and gearshift knob and the enhanced equipment that includes a height-adjustable driver's seat, an on-board computer, electric windows and locks, and air conditioning.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

Lotus Evora Sports Coupe: Updated Photo Gallery, New Details

With the delivery of the first examples of the all-new Lotus Evora in Europe only weeks away in early June, we thought we'd update our album of the mid-engined British sports coupe with the latest batch of photos that include static shots as well as images from the building process. Initially, the sports car will be offered with a mid-mounted, Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter V6 rated at 276 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 252 lbs-ft or 342Nm of torque at 4,700 rpm.

Toyota has also provided the vehicle with a six-speed manual gearbox that sends power to the rear wheels. Buyers can also opt for close ratio version of the stick shift while an automatic transmission is planned for the near future.

Lotus claims that with the six-speed manual the Evora can sprint from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in just over 5 seconds and has a top speed in excess of 260 km/h or 162mph. Thanks to its lightweight construction, the Evora boasts a relatively low fuel consumption figure for this type of vehicle with an average of 8.7 liters/100 km which is the U.S. equivalent of 28.1mpg.

As well as being sold in a 2+2 configuration, the car will also be available as a two-seater, the space in the rear being allocated to luggage storage. The British sports carmaker has also revealed that it is planning to introduce other derivatives of the Evora in the next few years including a convertible and more hardcore versions. In North America, the Evora will arrive in the beginning of 2010.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

VIDEO: 2010 Corvette Grand Sport Walkaround and Talkaround

Last week, GM took the wraps off the new 2010 Corvette Grand Sport model in front of a crowd of 'Vette owners and devotees. The folks over from Corvetteblogger participated at the event and shot a couple of live videos of the Grand Sport that you can check out after the jump. Available in both Coupe and Convertible forms, the new Grand Sport model pays homage to the 1963 racing model. Among other features, it comes with wider fenders that house chunkier alloy wheels and a race-spec suspension with revised shock, stabilizer bar and spring specifications.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

All-Electric Citroen C1 ev'ie Launched in Britain

A new, pure electric version of Citroen's C1 minicar has gone on sale in the U.K. Dubbed C1 ev'ie, the zero-emission four-seater is the work of Electric Car Corporation Plc. (EEC), a British firm that converts standard C1s into electric-powered vehicles. The only difference between Citroen's standard C1 and EEC's plug-in C1 ev'ie concerns the replacement of the combustion engine with a 30kw electric motor that is powered by a set of lithium-ion batteries positioned under the bonnet as well as in the place where the fuel tank used to be.

The C1 ev'ie can reach a top speed of 60mph (96km/h) and has a range between 60 and 75 miles (100 - 120km) on a full charge. According to EEC's claims, the C1 ev'ie can be fully charged in 6-7 hours from a domestic 13 amp socket at a cost of around 90p (about a US$1.20).

ECC said that it expects to produce around 500 C1 ev'ies over the next 12 months, rising to between 2,000 and 4,000 units in 2010, dependent upon "demand and government support".

Available in both three-door and five-door trims, the C1 ev'ie is priced at a steep £16,850 or about the equivalent of $25,000 U.S. That's more than double the price of the standard C1 with a 68HP 1.0-liter engine that returns an average of 62.8mpg UK (52.3mpg US or 4.5lt/100km) and has an OTR of £7,795 or with Citroen UK's existing offer, £6,395.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com