David Beckham splashes out on a customised Camaro...

Following his return to the States after a 3-month long stint in the UK training with London based football team Tottenham, David Beckham was back in America this week, and spotted driving a new Chevrolet Camaro performance car.

The former England skipper was photographed leaving a training session at LA Galaxy this week behind the wheel of the archetypal American car. The Camaro 2011 is the latest addition to the Chevrolet line-up, with Beckham’s customised version likely to have cost in the region of $55,000.

The profile of the new Chevrolet Camaro received a boost after it was featured in the popular Transformer movies. A number of Chevrolet models including the Volt, Stingray, Trax and Chevy Beat all appeared in the Transformer movies, however the Camaro vehicle, dubbed Bumblebee in the films, was the lead car in the series of movies.

The Chevrolet Camaro is available in two engines sizes namely the V6 which has a 3.6 litre engine and 312bhp, and the V8 engine which boasts a 6.2 litre engine and gives an output of 400bhp.
Beckham recently sold his Porsche on eBay for just shy of $150,000 so the new Chevrolet maybe a replacement for his old sports car.

As well as the new Camaro, Becks also has a $300,000 Rolls Royce on his driveway, plus a $40,000 customised Jeep Wrangler.



KIS Cars - Vehicle Supply, Sourcing & Finance
Ph: 01277 725113  www.kiscars.co.uk

Source: Anita Kumar

NEW - 2013 Bugatti Veyron

 

It is somewhat surprising that information has unveiled the UK magazine AutoExpress on the cover of its latest issue.
In fact, according to some sources, it seems that Bugatti is developing a new version of the Veyron. Here is the French translation of the article in AutoExpress:

"One of the most stunning supercars in the world is about to go even faster! Auto Express has learned that the green light was given to the development of a new Bugatti Veyron faster and lighter. Although the VW group has lost money on each copy of the 300 cut, 150 Grand Sport 30 Super Sport and constructed over the past five years, the status of the Veyron as exceptional car is worth all the gold in the world. And our sources have revealed that the German company decided to build a new version. To confirm this, the chairman of VW, Martin Winterkorn, recently said "After 300 Bugatti, I think we would be unwise if we allow the brand is once again put to sleep"



KIS Cars - Vehicle Supply, Sourcing & Finance
Ph: 01277 725113 http://www.kiscars.co.uk/

Source: Sub5Zero/Auto Express

NEW! Jaguar XKR-S: when an XKR is not enough

For 2011, Jaguar is returning the XKR-S to the top of the XK range. CAR readers may recall the well regarded 2008 limited edition that last carried the badge. 

The XKR-S has an uprated version of the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 found in the standard XKR. Power moves up to 542bhp (from 510bhp), and torque swells to 501lb ft (up from 461lb ft). No further detail from Jaguar on how the power upgrade has been achieved, but they do mention an active sports exhaust system as part of the XKR-S package.

One fact Jaguar was keen to point out with this sneak preview was that the car has class-leading CO2 figures. Although at 'less than 300g/km' we wouldn't count on any love letters from Greenpeace along with your new XKR-S. 

What else is new on the Jag XKR-S?

As you may expect, there are upgrades to the suspension and Adaptive Dynamics traction/stability control.

The exterior has been suitably dressed for battle, with reprofiled extremities, alloy wheels and rear wing ensuring the XKR-S stands out from its stablemates. Not to mention providing Jaguar fans with a suitable counter-punch to Maserati's conceptually similar Granturismo MC Stradale.

More details on the XKR-S will emerge at the 2011 Geneva motor show. We'll be reporting live from Geneva on 1 March 2011, so stay tuned for all the latest news from the motor show.

KIS Cars – Vehicle Supply, Sourcing & Finance

Ph: 01277 725113

www.kiscars.co.uk

Source: Car Magazine

The Virage, Aston Martin's Brand New Supercar

The Virage, Aston Martin's Brand New Supercar

Aston Martin have just released the first details on the Virage and the Virage Volante. This may look like a facelifted DB9, but it’s actually a brand new model.

The Virage will apparently fill the gap between the DB9 and the DBS. It will be more performance orientated than the DB9, and more luxurious than the DBS.

It’s powered by a 6.0 V12 engine, producing 490 bhp. No word yet on 0-60 times or other performance stats.

Every Virage will come with Carbon Ceramic Matrix brakes as standard, which is an option that usually costs a few thousand pounds on rivals. These brakes will offer better stopping power and will be more fade resistant than conventional brakes.

Other options that will come as standard include heated seats, Bi-Xenon lights, sat-nav and a 700W Dolby Pro Logic sound system.

Aston Martin are keen to focus on just how much hand-craftsmanship goes into their cars. For the Virage, 200 man hours are spent on hand crafting it, 70 of those on the interior alone.

Verdict

We will be very interested to see what the reviews for this car are like. The DB9 was always criticised slightly for being too soft, hopefully the Virage will solve those issues.

The biggest downside with this car is that it looks so similar to the DB9. That’s no insult by any means, the DB9 is a stunning car, but we’d bet the average man on the street would struggle to tell the difference.

We can’t help think the DB9 won’t be around for much longer. Prices for the Virage haven’t yet been announced, but it’s obvious it will sit between the DB9 which costs £125,000 and the DBS which costs £175,000. It’s hard to see many customers choosing a DB9 over this fresh-faced, more modern, Virage.

 

KIS Cars Verdict

Why? We struggle to see the Market Gap here too? Surely the only reason could be that AML are going to drop the DB9 shortly after...

 

 

KIS Cars – Vehicle Supply, Sourcing & Finance

Ph: 01277 725113

www.kiscars.co.uk

Source: James Hind

BMW Announce New ‘i’ Sub-Brand

BMW are planning to release a new line up of models which will be build under the ‘i’ sub-brand. The idea of the i brand is to create a range of sustainable vehicles and ‘mobility solutions’ (which aren’t scooters for old people, which is what we initially thought they were!).

BMW i will be focused on sustainable premium mobility and will launch with two models, the BMW i3 and BMW i8.

The BMW i3 will be a small 4-seat electric car designed for urban areas. The i8 will be a sports car which they claim will have the fuel economy and CO2 emissions of a small car.

BMW hope these ‘car-related mobility services’ will make better use of existing parking spaces and encourage car-sharing.

Verdict

The problem with BMW's current product line-up is that a major part of the brand’s focus is on driving enjoyment. By creating this i sub-brand, it means they can have a different set of principles, such as sustainability, and not have to focus as much on the fun to drive aspect.

It’ll be interesting to see just how different the cars they reveal will look from the current BMW range, but the sustainable-motoring sector is clearly one that will grow in the future, particularly for the premium market, where there is currently very little competition.

KIS Cars – Vehicle Supply, Sourcing & Finance

Ph: 01277 725113

www.kiscars.co.uk

The Fastest Camaro Ever... 2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1

Well, we now have a Camaro that’s enough to make some Corvette owners jealous. It’s the all-new 2012 Camaro ZL1. Chevy introduced the Camaro at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show today, and it’s calling it the “fastest and most technologically advanced Camaro ever built.” Mighty impressive words to describe a car that’s already a classic.

While specs are still not finalized, Chevy predicts that the ZL1 will pull 550 ponies and 550 lb-ft of torque out of its all-aluminum, 6.2-liter LSA V8 engine. That output will be directed to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission and will make the ZL1 the fastest Camaro ever built.


KIS Cars - Vehicle Supply, Sourcing & Finance
Ph: 01277 725113  www.kiscars.co.uk

Source: Sub5Zero

2011 Audi A7 ABT Performance Package

ABT has revealed a performance upgrade for the 2011 Audi A7 Sportback. The front spoiler and the rear skirt set with the distinctive 4-pipe exhaust unit underline the fact that ABT has placed special emphasis on “sport” with the new A7 Sportback. Both petrol and diesel engines have been upgraded.“For us the A7 is a car whose optical qualities also must be reflected in its driving performance”, explains Christian Abt. The General Manager of the traditional Bavarian company, who is responsible for technical developments, stresses that the A7 has to meet and the high demands of its owner, both as a premium road vehicle and as a sporting machine. This applies to both the 3.0 TFSI and the 3.0 TDI. “We think that the diesel engine suits the A7 perfectly, as it combines torque and unbridled power with the highest possible economy”, says Christian Abt.

With ABT POWER the series standard 245 bhp is increased to a powerful 282 bhp. The torque also rises from 332 lb-ft to an impressive 370 lb-ft. The big turbo diesel runs even more powerfully with ABT POWER S: this is because the “in-house” turbo charger from ABT SPORTSLINE is applied and the Sportback therefore brings 310 bhp onto the road. With its powerful torque of 450 lb-ft the machine is both superior and offers high-torque and quick acceleration in every situation. The ABT A7 becomes a real sports car with a petrol engine: thanks to ABT POWER the six cylinders now offer 410 bhp, compared to the series-standard 300 bhp.
ABT offers designer light alloy wheels in the sizes 19 to 21 inch to suit the extravagant Coupé limousine with the practical tailgate. The alloys are, of course, also available in combination with high-performance tyres, so that nothing else stands in the way of driving enjoyment. In combination with the lowering of the air suspension thanks to ABT Level Control, the ABT A7 now sticks to the road even more. Impressive performance, elegance and extravagance now have a new name – ABT A7.

KIS Cars – Vehicle Supply, Sourcing & Finance
Ph: 01277 725113

www.kiscars.co.uk

Smart ForSpeed concept revealed before Geneva debut

Smart ForSpeed concept revealed before Geneva debut

Not every future Smart model is in trouble of vanishing – some will never see the light of production. To wit, Daimler's minicar maker is bringing an all-electric, roofless version of the Smart ForTwo to the Geneva Motor Show, and the Forspeed concept looks surprisingly similar to the the Smart Speedster we got a peek at a few weeks ago.

Overall, the Forspeed echos the Smart Crossblade that was made in limited numbers in the early 2000s. Just to emphasize that the Forspeed is a pure concept, it comes equipped with some interesting taillights, no external door handles and since it's sans-roof, there's a toneau cover that can either coat the entire interior or just the passenger side if you get caught in the rain.

The Forspeed's 41-hp electric motor can yawn the car all the way up to 37 miles per hour in 5.5 seconds and provide a top speed of 75 mph. That's not excatly "speedy" as the name implys, but the boost button you see on the dash offers another seven ponies. More important is the ED part of the clumsy "ForspeED" name; it refers to the Electric Drive powertrain that we also find in the Fortwo ED. At least the concept hits 37 mph a second sooner than the standard Fortwo ED.

The range for the Forspeed is estimated to be 85 miles, with an 80-percent charge possible in 45 minutes. This is most likley under DC fast charging conditions, but we're not sure. We'll make sure to get more info when we're on the ground in Geneva.

New Celeb Car - Paris Hilton, Lexus LFA

New Celeb Car - Paris Hilton, Lexus LFA

The Lexus LFA has entered production officially. Celebrity and world-famous heir Paris Hilton has received a very cool gift from her boyfriend for her 30th birthday: a yellow Lexus LFA. While the official price of the LFA is still a bit in doubt - this is clearly an expensive gift!

I suspect a bit of name-dropping may well have been the order of the day here for a VERY early Car. In one of the pictures you can also see her pink Bentley Continental GT... Chances are she'll make her LFA pink too!

Source: David Chandler, Alex Smolik

2011 Mercedes Benz CLS 63 AMG

Since vehicles that do not completely use fossil fuel are still yet to be introduced, the next best thing is fuel injected vehicles that make the most of every drop of fuel. One of these vehicles is the Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG. This car combines amazing design, high-end performance and great fuel efficiency.

It has a good well-thought out exterior that helps in seeing what the car is really capable of. Meaning that not only does it looks good, but it performs even better. The Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG has about 557hp and has a fuel consumption of 9.9 liters per 100km, this shows an improvement of 32% compared to its previous models. In addition to its fuel efficiency are its safety programs namely the Active Blind Spot Assist and the Active Lane Keeping Assist.
The former warns the driver if there is danger of an accident if the car itself is about to change lanes. The second one activates when the driver unintentionally drifts over a line to the left or right of a lane, this system brakes the opposite wheels therefore stopping the car from crossing the line. Overall, this car is a lot of different packages in one.



Available to Order now: For details Ph:01277 725113 or info@kiscars.co.uk

Source: Supercars

NEW 2011 BMW 1 Series 'M'

2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe

From the long standing manufacturer of outstanding and powerful cars comes the new BMW 1 Series M Coupe for 2011, boasting excellent combination of agility, lightness and the latest technological innovations in car performance that can be also be used in the everyday setting.



The 2011 BMW 1M Coupe features an in-line, 6-cylinder engine with the M Twin Power Turbo with a 3.0-litre capacity.  This is specifically designed to deliver superior and efficient car performance with maximum engine output of 250 kW and an improved gear transmission.

It also comes fitted with the variable M differential lock that responds to rotation speed changes in the rear wheels to enable rapid redirection of drive torque for optimal traction and maximum propulsion on any road surface, and a dynamic stability control system that includes mechanisms such as the antilock brake and anti-slip control function systems to improve driving stability and lessen slips and accidents.

Overall, with its efficient, high-powered interiors, luxurious sports car design and a vast selection of optional modifications and support equipment, the 2011 BMW 1 M is a lightweight car that packs a lot of power and speed.



KIS Cars - The UK's leading Independant Vehicle Consultants
Ph: 01277 725113  http://www.kiscars.co.uk/

Source: Supercars

BMW - X5 and X6... New 5 Seats Options for Spring 2011

BMW - X5 and X6... New 5 Seats Options for Spring 2011. Superior handling, commanding traction and characteristic styling are key contributors to the stand-out position the BMW X5 and BMW X6 models enjoy among the premium all-wheel-drive vehicles of their segment. Spring 2011 sees the introduction of specific additions to the range of special options to ratchet up the appeal even further. Among other features, new 20-inch light-alloy wheel rims are available for both models, while the choice of BMW ConnectedDrive technology has been augmented by the innovative BMW Apps feature. Meanwhile, a three-seater rear seat option making its debut in April 2011 adds greater flexibility to the usage of the interior of the BMW X6 Sports Activity Coupé, which started out as a four-seater model.
The new rear-seat variant is available for all BMW X6 models with the exception of the BMW ActiveHybrid X6, and can also be ordered for the BMW X6 M. The extra seat replaces the storage unit in the rear centre of the four-seater model. The five-seater Sports Activity Coupé is also optionally available in Nevada and Exclusive Nappa leather as well as BMW Individual Merino leather, encompassing the entire colour range. Another novelty is the operation of the standard eight-speed Sport automatic transmission. In future, the BMW X6 will feature shift paddles on the steering wheel whose operating logic follows the principle familiar from BMW M cars: for manual shifting of the eight-speed Sport automatic transmission, the right paddle is used for upshifts and the left for downshifts.

For the BMW X5 and BMW X6 alike, the choice of alloy wheels has been extended by a further option that positively enhances both the car’s dynamic cornering behaviour and its appearance. The 20-inch wheels in Y-spoke design and with a Black high gloss finish are combined with mixed tyres measuring 275/40 R 20 at the front and 315/35 R 20 at the rear. From spring 2011, Comfort Access – likewise available for both models – will include vicinity lighting integrated in the exterior door handles. In addition to automatic unlocking and activation of the ignition, this feature provides effective illumination of the car’s surroundings as soon as the electronic control of Comfort Access has recognised the car key carried by the driver.

Following directly on from the market launch, the extended range of BMW ConnectedDrive services also becomes available for the BMW X5 and the BMW X6. In future both models will be able to avail themselves of the BMW Apps special option. This feature enables owners of an Apple iPhone to stay in touch with the online services Facebook and Twitter while in the car, as well as receive radio stations from all over the world, irrespective of the car’s location, thanks to a web radio function. In addition to the current BMW ConnectedDrive application, customers will have a range of functions and apps available for free download at the Apple App Store.

With these latest innovations, BMW is systematically pursuing its ongoing product optimisation for these two models built at its US plant in Spartanburg. Most recently, last year’s market launch of the new BMW X5 and the comprehensive upgrading of the BMW X6′s drive technology gave a further boost to BMW’s success in this competitive environment. As well as the continued rise in BMW X5 sales in 2010, global growth in demand for the BMW X6 is also feeding the exceptional market success of the BMW X models. In just three years, more than 110,000 units of these Sports Activity Coupés have already been sold, 46,404 of them in 2010 alone. The BMW X5 posted worldwide sales of 102,178 units in the last business year.

Source: Autospirit

New 2013 Mercedes S Class... Spy Photos

New 2013 Mercedes S Class Spy Photos! Spy photographers have managed to catch several new pictures.
Caught undergoing testing in southern Germany, the prototype is covered in a blanket of camouflage which hides many of the key styling details. While this is unfortunate, we can get a glimpse of the larger grille and CLS-inspired headlights with LED indicators. Furthermore, the car looks slightly larger than its predecessor and will likely have a design influenced by the F700 concept.

As previously reported, the new S-Class may be available exclusively with hybrid engines. Nothing is official, but Mercedes believes this will ensure the model is compliant with rising fuel economy and emission standards. Regardless of whether or not the hybrid-only lineup is approved, the next-generation model will be available as a plug-in hybrid.  It will likely feature the same powertrain as the S 500 Vision concept which should enable it to average 78 mpg (3.0 L/100km).

Source: Autospirit

Welcome the New KIS Cars News Blog...

Welcome the New KIS Cars News Blog...