WLTP shift forces Seat to detune Leon Cupra 300 to Leon Cupra 290

Goodbye Seat Leon Cupra 300 and say hello to the new Seat Leon Cupra 290. No thanks to a new global harmonized standard for determining the levels of fuel consumption as well as emissions, the new Leon Cupra has its power output downgraded from 300 PS (296 bhp) to 290 PS (286 bhp).

Starting September 2017, all new types of cars (new to market) registered sold in the market will have to be assessed and approved using the new Worldwide Harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) before gaining approval in Europe. Starting September 2018, all new cars will have to be tested using WLTP, and longer under the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) type approval tests. WLTP essentially replaces the NEDC.

There have always been discrepancies between lab tests and real world emissions. This is because while lab tests follow standardized and repeatable procedures, real world emissions are affected by a number of variables that can’t be considered in laboratories. These variables include the weather conditions, road types, road gradients, vehicle loads, traffic conditions and even vehicle maintenance conditions.

Before September 2017, NEDC had been the standard. Designed in the 1980s, NEDC has become outdated no thanks to several evolutions in vehicle technologies and driving conditions. This means that NEDC has become inapplicable, with fuel consumption and emissions test results usually showing gaps from real world numbers.

Compared to NEDC tests, WLTP tests are more realistic. WLTP is designed to provide a more realistic representation of conditions that drivers meet while driving. For instance, WLTP tests cover a greater range of driving situations, longer test distances and even ambient temperatures that are closer to the European average. Stricter car set-up and measurement conditions are also implemented and tests now cover optional equipment fitted in a car. With these configurations, WLTP is seen to dramatically reduce, if not eliminate, the gaps from real world fuel consumption and emissions.

Because of the shift from NEDC to WLTP, it is the new cars would have higher consumption and emission figures. This could be the primary reason why Seat has to detune 2.0-liter turbocharged engine of the Seat Leon Cupra from 300 PS to 290 PS. Lower power output usually result to lower consumption and emission numbers. To reflect the change in ouput, Seat is changing the name of the Leon Cupra 300 to Leon Cupra 290.

This power change is essentially a downgrade. Seat Leon Cupra fans and enthusiasts rejoiced in late 2016 when Seat announced that the facelifted car was to be upgraded from 290 PS to 300 PS, thereby giving birth to the Leon Cupra 300. But now, Leon Cupra 300 is no more, and Leon Cupra 290 is reborn.

BMW finally gives us an official teaser of the range topping M40i spec

Two years ago, on around January 2016 was the first time we saw spy shots of the BMW Z4. And today, we still have not seen the actual vehicle in production version, but at least there are spy shots of the roadster depicting a camouflaged prototype. It definitely is no ordinary test vehicle as we are looking at the Z4 M40i, which will be the crown jewel of the range taking into account a full fat Z4 M will not see the light of production day.

As usual, the automaker isn’t giving us that much information about the car, but what we do know is that the range topper is going to be given a newly developed inline six engine that they promise to be extremely powerful.

Aside from power, the M40i will feature a great deal of other goodies, including an M sports brake system, new front axle, a lower sports suspension with electronically controlled dampers, as well as a set of M lightweight alloy wheels shod in mixed tires. BMW engineers have also come up with an electronically controlled lock in the rear axle differential to ensure the Z4 will be a proper sports car.

Adjacent images were actually from the Autodrome de Miramas in the south of France where BMW is currently testing their near-production prototypes of the new Z4 by making last minute tweaks to the powertrain and suspension.

On the other hand, when you look at our own spy shots, despite the fact that the prototype is dipped in camouflage, we can tell that it is still in the higher spec version judging by its intricate front bumper with plenty of vents. Other signs that this is the amped up version include the blue brake calipers and the large dual exhaust tips.

We can never really have a good look of the car’s interior if the only photos we have are spy shots. But luckily, we could still kind of see the cabin’s design from the photos we saw last April. Pictured above, the Z4 had the company’s new digital instrument cluster and most likely the latest iDrive infotainment system as part of the Operating System 7.0 previewed a couple of months ago.

With all the sneak peeks we have gotten, there really is one thing left for us to see, and that is the production ready BMW Z4. Speaking of this, we can’t help but mention that we also cannot wait to see the Toyota Supra. Meanwhile, the Bavarians are getting ready for an important debut in the weeks to come, with the 8 Series Coupe to be reborn on June 15 at Le Mans. What do you guys think of the new BMW Z4?

PRESS RELEASE

The new BMW Z4: green light for pure driving pleasure.

Long bonnet, short overhangs, low centre of gravity, soft top: the sporty two-seater doing its laps at the BMW test centre in Miramas in the south of France is instantly recognisable as a purebred roadster. The new BMW Z4 is currently undergoing another particularly important stage of the process towards serial production maturity, in this case involving driving dynamics testing of a heavily disguised prototype. This will provide key insights into the performance properties of the new model, whose genuine roadster characteristics, pure driving pleasure and captivating sporty flair will soon go out on public roads.

Trials at the Autodrome de Miramas are focusing on fine-tuning of all drive and suspension systems – the basis for the sporty driving experience offered by the new BMW Z4. The most intense form of new dynamic roadster performance is embodied by the BMW Z4 M40i. A new, extremely powerful in-line 6-cylinder engine, a lowered sports suspension with electronically controlled dampers, a newly developed front axle, M light alloy wheels with mixed tyres, an M sports brake system and an electronically controlled lock in the rear axle differential create an overall package that sees the BMW M Performance model setting a whole new benchmark for driving pleasure in the roadster segment.

"The vehicle concept of the new BMW Z4 is geared consistently towards agility and driving dynamics," explains Jos van As, Head of Application Suspension. "The high level of body stiffness and the very rigid suspension attachment provide the perfect basis for a set-up that guarantees the performance qualities of a genuine sports car in terms of steering precision as well as longitudinal and transverse acceleration."

Like the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, the Miramas test centre offers perfect conditions for the new BMW Z4 to demonstrate its driving dynamics potential. Used by BMW to develop and test new models for more than 30 years, the centre comprises a long asphalt oval and a motorway ring road for high-speed tests as well as slalom, serpentine and circular tracks and a number of handling courses and circuits featuring highly diverse types of surface. These are currently being used for detailed analysis and optimisation of the roadster's acceleration, steering and brake response. For example, the final form of the adaptive M suspension as it interacts with the rear axle limited-slip differential is developed on a circuit that is also used for testing purposes by BMW Motorsport.

This intense testing process already indicates that the new version of the roadster concept will offer a tangible increase in sporty flair in the new BMW Z4. The new generation will particularly introduce effective enhancements in terms of agile handling, spontaneity and precision when changing direction and accelerating in dynamic style out of bends – without losing out in the comfort disciplines.

Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign is a half-Japanese, half-Italian Godzilla prototype

This car is certainly a Nissan GT-R, judging from a number of design cues typical of the legendary Godzilla of the automotive world. However, it looks distinctly different; it is as if this GT-R was released from its limits. A product of the collaboration between Nissan and Italdesign, the Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign is all set to be unveiled in metal in Europe in July 2018.

For now, GT-R fans and enthusiasts could feast on the video and images released by Nissan and Italdesign. This ultra-limited GT-R prototype commemorates the 50th anniversaries of both the Nissan GT-R and Italdesign.

Alfonso Albaisa, Nissan’s senior vice president for global design, remarked that the Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign celebrates two big moments that intersect at the same window of time -- 50 years of Italdesign shaping the auto world as well as 50 years of Nissan delivering excitement with the GT-R. He called Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign as a GT-R without limits.

This special GT-R prototype was developed, engineered and built by Italdesign. Nissan, in particular its teams at Nissan Design Europe in London and Nissan Design America, took care of the exterior and interior designs of this half-Japanese half-Italian Godzilla, which is wrapped in Liquid Kinetic Gray finish with distinctive Energetic Sigma Gold anniversary accents.

The Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign boasts of a front end which full width is accentuated a fully stretched golden inner element. Featuring a bonnet with a more pronounced power bulge, the GT-R50 is fitted with thin LED headlights stretching from the wheel arch to the lip just above the outer cooling intakes.

When viewed from the side, the Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign reveals signature GT-R “samurai blade” cooling outlets. Located behind the front wheels and extending from the bottom of the doors to the shoulder line, this samurai blade features a gold inlay. Now lower by 54 mm, the roofline sports a lower center section, with the raised outer portions lend the roof profile a more muscular appearance. The side view is completed by custom wheels measuring 21 x 10 inches on the front and 21 x 10.5 inches at the rear, as shod with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires (255/35 R21 front and 285/30 R21 rear).

On the rear, the Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign features muscular flares , with shoulder line tapering around the base of the rear window. The rear window line – now descending longer and deeper than on the standard GT-R – features more gold elements, making it look like a separate modular element at the rear. The In addition, the twin round taillights seems to be floating, featuring thin light rings and hollow centers. The rear end is also marked by a massive adjustable rear wing, as mounted with two uprights.

Meanwhile, the interior of the Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign features two different carbon fiber finishes across the instrument panel, door linings and center console. The seats are wrapped in black Alcantara and fine black Italian leather. The central hub and spokes of the bespoke steering wheel are made from carbon fiber, while its flat bottom rim features Alcantara trim. Gold accents are found instrument panel, race car-inspired switchgear and doors.

Serving as the heart of the Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign is a hand-assembled 3.8-liter V6 VR38DETT engine that delivers 720 PS of max output and 780 Nm of peak torque. This massive power is sent to the wheels through a reinforced dual-clutch sequential six-speed rear transaxle, as complemented by stronger differentials and drive shafts.

The Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign sits on a revised suspension system that features the Bilstein DampTronic I continuously adjustable damping system. Braking power, meanwhile, is taken care of by Brembo six-piston front and four-piston rear brakes with bright red, clearly visible calipers.

PRESS RELEASE

Nissan and Italdesign to unveil ultra-limited GT-R prototype

Nissan and Italdesign have created a new prototype vehicle – the Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign – in their first-ever collaboration.

Based on a production 2018 Nissan GT-R NISMO model, the unique car commemorates the 50th anniversaries of both the GT-R and Italdesign and will make its debut in Europe next month.

“How often do you get to ask, ‘What if we created a GT-R without limits,’ and then actually get to build it?” said Alfonso Albaisa, Nissan’s senior vice president for global design. “This is a rare window in time when two big moments intersect: 50 years of Italdesign shaping the automotive world and 50 years of Nissan generating excitement through our iconic GT-R. So to celebrate this convergence, Nissan and Italdesign created this custom GT-R to mark 50 years of engineering leadership.”

Italdesign developed, engineered and built the car. The distinctive, crisp exterior and interior designs were created by the teams at Nissan Design Europe in London and Nissan Design America.

Design at its best

Starting at the front, the Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign features a distinct golden inner element that stretches across almost the full width of the vehicle. The hood has a more pronounced power bulge, and the thin LED headlights stretch from the wheel arch to the lip above the outer cooling intakes.

Dominating the side view, the distinctive roofline has been lowered by 54 millimeters and features a lower center section, while the slightly raised outer portions give the roof profile a muscular look. The signature GT-R “samurai blade” cooling outlets behind the front wheels have gained more prominence with a gold inlay and extends from the bottom of the doors to the shoulder line.

The rear highlights the car’s wide track with taut, muscular flares around the wheels. The shoulder line tapers around the base of the rear window and draws toward the center of the trunk lid. In a dramatic fashion, the rear window line descends longer and deeper than on the standard car. Combined with more gold elements, it appears as a separate modular element of the rear structure.

The GT-R’s twin round taillights have been reimagined as a separate “floating” feature with thin light rings and hollow centers, mounted so as to join the outer buttress and the central portion of the trunk structure. A large, adjustable rear wing, mounted with two uprights, completes the overall look. Custom wheels – 21 x 10 inches in front and 21 x 10.5 inches at the rear – accentuate the car’s bold stance. The exterior is finished in Liquid Kinetic Gray paint with distinctive Energetic Sigma Gold anniversary accents.

Inside, the Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign reflects its modern, high-performance pedigree. Two different carbon fiber finishes are extensively used across the center console, instrument panel and door linings, along with black Alcantara® and fine black Italian leather on the seats. Gold accents echo the exterior treatment across the instrument panel, doors and the futuristic race car-inspired switchgear. The bespoke steering wheel’s central hub and spokes are made of carbon fiber, while the rim features a flat bottom and matching Alcantara trim.

Pure performance plus

Underneath the new shape, the Nissan GT-R50 by Italdesign is all business. Drawing on Nissan’s GT3 racing experience, the NISMO organization enhanced the hand-assembled 3.8-liter V6 VR38DETT engine to produce an estimated 720ps and 780 Nm of torque.

Changes to the power plant include optimized twin high-flow, large-diameter GT3 competition-spec turbochargers and larger intercoolers; heavy-duty crankshaft, pistons, connecting rods and bearings; high-flow piston oil jets; revised camshaft profiles; higher-flow fuel injectors; and optimized ignition, intake and exhaust systems. A reinforced dual-clutch sequential six-speed rear transaxle and stronger differentials and drive shafts direct the power to the wheels.

A revised suspension has been developed, featuring the BILSTEIN DampTronic® I continuously adjustable damping system. For braking, the Brembo six-piston front and four-piston rear brakes feature bright red, clearly visible calipers. Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires, sized 255/35 R21 in the front and 285/30 R21 in the rear, add a level of grip needed to harness the engine’s power.

“Although this is not the next-generation GT-R, it is an exciting celebration of two anniversaries in a provocative and creative way – wrapping one of Nissan’s best engineering platforms and Japanese design with Italian coachbuilding,” said Albaisa

Ferrari SP38 gets rendered as a Spider

For those of you who follow news on Ferrari, we are pretty sure that you have seen the one of a kind SP38 nicknamed the “Deborah”, which simply is a 488 GTB that has gone through a number of cosmetic upgrades for it to look like a prettier coupe. But have you imagined a car like that, looking like a Spider? X-Tomi Design, and individual artist from Hungary decided to take out the car’s roof to imagine how the unique creation would look based on the 488 Spider.

The coupe’s lovely F40 inspired engine cover may be gone already, but the imaginary SP38 Spiderstill has everything they need to become a veritable showstopper, though there are zero chances of this to become a reality.

That’s because Ferrari has no plans of making an exact same model for another client, because the first client will probably not want a replica of his car. But instead, maybe the commissioned Deborah wants a matching Spider to go along with the Coupe. But don’t get us wrong because we are really just making up these scenarios in our minds.

Back in 2007, Ferrari’s Special Projects program allowed the Ferrari Design Center to work its magic on unique models. In fact, we have seen a number of interesting cars commissioned for the filthy rich with an affinity for the Prancing Horse. The SP38 is just one of the many examples of what the talented team has worked on in Maranello. We are also hoping for more and more of these special edition vehicles to complement the company’s regular lineup.

One day, the day will come when the forthcoming Ferrari SUV will receive the Special Projects treatment, so you cannot say that you weren’t warned. To be honest, we are actually curious to see how the FUV (Ferrari Utility Vehicle) is going to look like and whether a bespoke version of it will help us get used to the controversial concept of a Ferrari on stilts.

It was a few months ago when Ferrari revealed the SP38. It was the one off that was built with F40 inspiration, based on the 488 GTB. The moment the special owner got the keys to his supercar at the Fiorano track, the car was put through its paces right after the reveal event. In fact, when it was revealed, the model was also displayed for the public to see at the upcoming Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este late last month.

The interesting thing is that the automaker never provided us photos of the Ferrari SP38’s interior, but they say that it has a “full Tailor Made cabin trim” to finish off the custom touches of the one off vehicle.

Jon Olsson is selling his custom Rolls Royce Wraith

About a year ago, Swedish professional skier, Jon Olsson shared his bespoke Rolls-Royce Wraith, which he named “George”. The monster has an insane 810 horsepower under its hood, and now, he is selling it for a not so budget-friendly price.

The very first time we learnt about this was at The Netherland’s Auto Leitner, with its selling price of around $324,000 (275,000 euros). When looking at the car, it seems that nothing has changed as it remains to have the exterior upgrades and its heavily tuned engine.

Some of the Wraith’s exterior upgrades include Olsson’s signature camouflage wrap, lowered suspension, and the plethora of LED lights. It sits on a set of 24 inch Forgiato matte black wheels fitted with Pirelli Pzero Nero 285/30 ZR24 tires. It also has a jet powered, carbon fiber surfboard that weighs 18 kilograms (40 pounds). We doubt that the surfboard is included in the package though.

Now, the exterior isn’t the only cool thing about the car, because the engine mods are worth mentioning as well. Absolute Motors fiddled and tweaked the Rolls-Royce Wraith’s 6.6 liter biturbo V12 engine, helping it produce 810 horsepower and 840 pound feet (1,138 Newton metres) of torque. Everything is connected to a loud QuickSilver Sports exhaust to complement the monstrous output and look.

When looking at the ad of the Wraith in Auto Leitner, the vehicle only has 8,078 miles (13,000 kilometers) on its odometer. And mind you, it still has the vending machine inside the cabin. But the real question here is that why is Olsson selling George? I mean, the car is still in good shape and its quite perfect for his lifestyle and is fitting for his collection of monstrous vehicles.

Whatever the reason for him selling the car is, the posting is still up. So if you are interested, you can check the Auto Leitner website and request for an appointment to see the Rolls Royce Wraith up close and personal.

Jon Olsson isn’t just known to be a professional skier, but he is also known in the automotive world because of his love for modified vehicles. His cars have a signature look, and that is the camo in the colour scheme of grey, white, and black.

Of course, the Rolls Royce Wraith is just one of his many six digit priced cars. He also has a supercharged Lamborghini Huracan which he revealed two years ago in the same camouflage print. The Huracan does not only have a bold appearance, but it is equipped with a beefy V10 that has over 800 horsepower (600 kilowatts) and 610 pound feet (826 Newton metres) of torque, that's able to sprint to 100-200 km/h task in just 5.3 seconds.

Aznom Automotive Atulux turns this Ram 1500 into a personal cafe

Nowadays, building luxurious pickup trucks isn’t unusual for automakers. One prime example is the Ford F-150 Limited that costs $62,000. But now, we welcome the arrival of the Atulux, short for All Terrain Utility Luxury by Italian automaker Aznom Automotive. For instance, the previous generation Ram 1500 pickup was converted into an opulent SUV. Though the SUV only fits two passengers in the back, they are surrounded with a posh cabin and they get a Nespresso coffee machine and a milk frother that rises from the center console, making it perfect for those who are addicted to caffeine.

Measuring nearly six meters (19.6 feet) long, the Atuluz still looks the same except that it has almost doubled in size. The extra room allowed the company to install an additional sunroof as well as a more accommodating passenger compartment. To keep it looking like a Ram 1500, Atulux maintains a lot of its design cues like the crosshair grille. At the back, the company fits a tiny truck that boasts a look similar to the recent Mercedes Maybach Ultimate Luxury Concept.

Mechanically, the SUV keeps the Ram’s original 5.7 liter V8 that gives an output of 396 horsepower (295 kilowatts) here. When converting, Aznom reinforces the frame and installs bigger brakes, alongside eight piston calipers in front. An air suspension also provides a supple ride, and additional sound proofing to give the passengers peace and silence.

Passengers of the Atulux will be sitting inside a cabin filled with full grain Nubuck leather upholsters, as well as the roof, while sections of the Alcantara provide another texture to the interior. It also has a nautical-inspired center console that is constructed out of steamed bleached oak. In the rear, there is a refrigerator that hides in the armrest between the seats where you can store cold milk for your coffee, or a couple of champagne bottles. There’s also a spot in the console that holds two crystal whiskey decanters. Long distance drives will never be boring as the Atulux is equipped with an Xbox One with the 17 inch LED displays mounted to the roof, together with a 10-speaker stereo with 1200 watts. Check out the video here to see how the on-board coffeemaker works.

In Europe, ultra luxurious vehicles that had been modified like this one are quite common. But oftentimes, we see models like the Mercedes Benz Sprinter as a base. Now that this Atulux Aznom example is based on a Ram 1500, the builders figure that this solution has a bit more off-road capability, which makes it perfect for braving the wilderness.

This particular modification done by Aznom has a price tag of 220,000 euros (approximately $263,130) before taxes