The most powerful version of Mercedes-Benz’s small hardtop roadster, the 2012 SLK 55 AMG, will receive its world premiere at this year’s edition of the Frankfurt Motor Show in mid-September, but the first photos of the V8-powered model have already sprung up on the German car site Autobild.
Visually, the AMG treatment adds a new aero kit with bespoke parts up front and at the back along with a smoked out lights and larger set of light alloy wheels finished in black. Inside, you’ll find a pair of sports seats and plenty of surfaces covered in stitched leather

And while this is the first time we get to see the new SLK 55 AMG in the flesh and without camouflage, Mercedes-Benz recently shared details on the roadster model’s mechanical hardware.

Power for the roadster comes from a new naturally-aspirated AMG 5.5-liter V8 engine that delivers 62 more horses and 30Nm more torque than the previous model’s eight-cylinder unit, at 422-horses and 540Nm in European-spec, and 415-horses at 6,800 rpm and 398 lb-ft at 4,500 rpm in North American-flavor.

The aluminum V8 engine also features the AMG Cylinder Management system that can shut off four-cylinders from 800 to 3,600 rpm to improve fuel efficiency.

A 7-speed AMG Speedshift automatic transmission featuring three modes (sport, manual and efficiency) transfers power to the rear wheels.

According to the Mercedes, the new SLK 55 AMG completes the standard 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in 4.6 seconds and reaches an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h (155mph).

The roadster returns a combined fuel consumption of 8.5 lt/100 km, which is 3.5lt or 30% less than that of the preceding model with the 360HP V8.

Jessica Stam, the chicly dressed femme fetale action character in motion. We’ve caught her in the climax of this suspenseful moment. Fast paced yet still poised. Very sleek and graphic yet raw and alluring. She is searching for her hero – the CONCEPT A-Class

The O2 London, 6 – 12 July experience the future of driving, the future of driving is here!
Take your seat in the new 100% electric Nissan LEAF and find out why the 2011 European Car of the Year is also going to be the car of tomorrow.

Rapid charge will provide 80% charge in just 30 minutes.

100% electric 5-seat family car

Up to 109 miles on a single charge

No exhaust emissions

Driving the LEAF could take you all the way to California.

After you’ve experienced the 100% electric Nissan LEAF, you’ll be entered into our fantastic prize draw. The prize is a 7-night VIP trip for two people to California staying in a luxury 4-star eco hotel.

As part of the trip you’ll also enjoy unrestricted VIP access to the 2012 AMGEN Tour of California professional cycle race – the USA’s version of the Tour de France.

Welcome to the Innovation Station

At Nissan we’re always focused on innovation and improvement. To give you some idea of the thinking that led us to create the new 100% electric Nissan LEAF, we’ve created the Innovation Station.

It’s packed with interactive games, virtual experiences, drive simulators, personalised gadgets and quizzes to test your knowledge – so there’s something for all ages to press, prod, play, design and enjoy.

Take a good look around, there’s a lot to learn about our vision for the future and we’re sure you’ll have a lot of fun doing it.

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Ask a member of staff for details, visit www.nissandrivingexperience.co.uk or call us on 020 8463 2384. Full terms and conditions are available at www.nissan.co.uk/leaf

With imagery of the brand new 1-Series hatchback making the internet rounds since Friday, it was only a matter of time before BMW came out with an official release and a full set of photos. The Bavarian firm’s entry-level model sports has grown in size and sports fresher –albeit, somewhat more controversial- looks, while also introducing a new generation of 1.6-liter turbocharged gasoline engines with up to 170HP.
For its debut, BMW chose to show the five-door hatchback model, but the range will eventually grow to include a three-door hatchback followed by the coupe, cabriolet and if the grapevine holds true, a longer and more spacious Gran Turismo version in the likes of the 3-Series GT we recently showed you in these spy shots.

The second iteration of the 1-Series codenamed F20 is built on the same platform architecture as the upcoming F30 3-Serie. The five-door hatch is 85 mm (3.3-in.) longer than its predecessor, at 4,324 mm (170.2-in.), while the wheelbase has widened by 30 mm to 2,690 mm (105.9-in). Furthermore, its overall width has increased by 17 mm to 1,765 mm (69.5-in) due to an increase in track of 51 mm at the front and 72 mm at the rear, whereas its height remains unchanged at 1,421 mm (55.9-in.). BMW says the rear passengers have 21mm more legroom, and the luggage compartment has expanded by 30 liters to 360 liters (12.7 cubic feet).

Crafted under the watch of BMW’s Chief designer Adrian van Hooydonk, the styling of the new 1er is an evolution of the outgoing model with sharper and more prominent creases and a dramatic front-end design with abnormally large headlamps stretching all the way to the wheel arches.

It’s a similar story inside as the styling is more evolutionary than revolutionary. Aside from the larger center console with fresh switchgear and the new steering wheel design, BMW claims it boasts higher-grade materials and more attention to detail. As an option, the company offers its latest iDrive system that includes a retractable screen on top of the dashboard.

The big news lies under the hood as BMW finally introduced its long awaited, smaller displacement, turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine. The 1.6-liter unit with TwinPower Turbo and direct injection technology will be available at first in two states of tune delivering 136-horses and 220Nm (162.3 lb-ft) in the 116i and 170-horses and 250Nm (184.4 lb-ft) in the 118i.

For diesel fans, the junior rear-wheel drive BMW offers a redesigned 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder delivering 116HP in the 116d, 143HP in the 118d and 184HP in the 120d. BMW said it will also launch a 116d EfficientDynamics Edition, with a 116HP 1.6 litre diesel engine and additional fuel-saving technologies that will keep CO2 emissions over the EU testing cycle down to just 99 g/km.

Further down the line, the Bavarian automaker’s freshly launched 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with around 240-horses will most likely make it in the 128i replacing the current 130i that comes with a 3.0-liter straight six pushing out 258HP. BMW has not yet said if it will offer a straight-six engine on the new 1-Series.

A six-speed manual gearbox is standard on all models with BMW’s new 8-speed automatic transmission being offered as an option replacing the current six-speed auto.

Model versions:

BMW 118i: Four-cylinder in-line petrol engine with
BMW TwinPower Turbo technology package, consisting of twin-scroll turbocharger, High Precision Injection, VALVETRONIC and Double-VANOS variable valve control,

Capacity: 1, 598 cc, output: 125 kW/170 hp at 4,800 rpm,
Maximum torque: 250 Nm at 1,500 – 4,500 rpm,
Acceleration 0 – 100 km/h (62mph): 7.4 seconds,
Maximum speed: 225 km/h – 140mph
Combined-cycle fuel consumption*: 5.8 – 5.9 litres/100 kilometres,
CO2 emissions*: 134 – 137 g/km, emissions standard: EU5.

BMW 116i: Four-cylinder in-line petrol engine with
BMW TwinPower Turbo technology package, consisting of twin-scroll turbocharger, High Precision Injection, VALVETRONIC and Double-VANOS variable valve control,

Capacity: 1,598 cc, output: 100 kW/136 hp at 4, 400 rpm,
Maximum torque: 220 Nm at 1,350 – 4, 300 rpm,
Acceleration 0 – 100 km/h (62mph): 8.5 seconds,
Maximum speed: 210 km/h -130mph,
Combined-cycle fuel consumption*: 5.5 – 5.7 litres/100 kilometres,
CO2 emissions*: 129 – 132 g/km, emissions standard: EU5.

BMW 120d: Four-cylinder in-line diesel engine with
BMW TwinPower Turbo technology package, consisting of variable-geometry turbocharger, common-rail magnetic-valve direct injection
(max. injection pressure: 1,800 bar),

Capacity: 1,955 cc, output: 135 kW/184 hp at 4, 000 rpm,
Maximum torque: 380 Nm at 1,750 – 2, 750 rpm,
Acceleration 0 – 100 km/h (62mph): 7.2 seconds,
Maximum speed: 228 km/h – 142mph,
Combined-cycle fuel consumption*: 4.5 – 4.6 litres/100 kilometres,
CO2 emissions*: 119 – 122 g/km, emissions standard: EU5.

BMW 118d: Four-cylinder in-line diesel engine with
BMW TwinPower Turbo technology package, consisting of variable-geometry turbocharger, common-rail, magnetic-valve direct injection (max. injection pressure: 1,600 bar),

Capacity: 1,955 cc, output: 105 kW/143 hp at 4,000 rpm,
Max. torque: 320 Nm at 1,750 – 2, 500 rpm,
Acceleration 0 – 100 km/h (62mph): 8.9 seconds,
Maximum speed: 212 km/h – 132mph
Combined-cycle fuel consumption*: 4.4 – 4.5 litres/100 kilometres,
CO2 emissions*: 115 – 118 g/km, emissions standard: EU5.

BMW 116d: Four-cylinder in-line diesel engine with
BMW TwinPower Turbo technology package, consisting of variable-geometry turbocharger with common-rail, magnetic-valve direct injection (max. injection pressure: 1,600 bar),
Capacity: 1,955 cc, output: 85 kW/116 hp at 4,000 rpm,

Maximum torque: 260 Nm at 1,750 – 2,500 rpm,
Acceleration 0 – 100 km/h (62mph): 10.3 seconds,
Maximum speed: 200 km/h – 124mph
Combined-cycle fuel consumption*: 4.3 – 4.5 litres/100 kilometres,
CO2 emissions*: 114 – 117 g/km, emissions standard: EU5.
* EU test figures, variations due to differences in the tyres fitted