Tesla Motors (NASDAQ: TSLA) unveiled its new Model S 70D Wednesday, an all-wheel drive electric car with a 0-60 time of 5.2 seconds and a 240 mile range at 65 mph.

This marks the removal of the Tesla Motors Model S as the company’s lowest end car, further enticing potential buyers. The car will mark a new chapter for the American car maker, ensuring its solid position as the leader in EV market is kept intact.

The new model comes with independently operational front and rear motors, allowing for superb traction and performance, combined with additional extras like the Autopilot hardware, navigation, blind spot detection and many other features. As with every Model S, the 70D will receive free over-the-air updates that add functionality and improve the driving experience for years to come. The updates received by Tesla Motors, available to current and future owners, may help providing additional range, potential new features and other items.

The new model will start at $75,000. In certain cases the Model S 70D will include additional fuel savings and incentives, which make the actual cost of owning Model S 70D about $55k over five years according to Tesla’s numbers (the average length of new car ownership). This is partly achievable, thanks to the Supercharging option included at no additional cost since the option is available included in the base price of this model shown.

The Tesla Model S 70D is available starting today. It is available in three new colors: Ocean Blue, Obsidian Black, and Warm Silver. The current color finishes are also available for ordering with this vehicle, giving would-be owners a nice selection overall.

The post Tesla Motors Releases The All-Wheel Drive Model S 70D appeared first on VR World.

Already in its second generation, the 2015 Jaguar XF simply improves upon perfection in a lot of ways, creating a unique bland of style and excellence in one vehicle. Dubbed by many as a true competitor to the BMW 5 Series (ETR: BMW), it certainly gives the Bavarian car maker and their highly touted and rather successful model a thing to worry about.

The refreshed model will launch in Winter 2015 where it will bring several improvements upon its predecessor. These mostly revolve around the newly introduced all-aluminum chassis, granting better rigidity, improved handling, lowered weight and improved fuel efficiency resulting from that. The car will remain a beautiful thing of British design overall. There aren’t significant changes employed with the exterior and interior design. The car was already perfect to begin with.

However, the car is a bit longer than the previous generation. The wheelbase of the upcoming Jaguar XF is increased by 2 inches (51mm) to 116.5 inches (2,960mm) overall- However, the vehicle’s overall diameters have shrunken by 0.3in (7mm) to 195in (4,954mm) long. This longer wheelbase delivers superior packaging that liberates an additional 0.6in (15mm) of rear legroom, 0.9in (24mm) of rear knee room and up to 1.1in (27mm) of rear headroom.

Engineers at Jaguar have put a great emphasis on handling. This is where the all-new Jaguar XF exceeds expectations of how a sedan should ride, handle and steer. Comfort and refinement have been taken to a higher level and combined with excellent agility and responsiveness. The light yet exceptionally stiff body with its combination of aluminum and advanced high-strength steels delivers a near-50:50 weight distribution. Double-wishbone front and Integral Link rear suspension systems provide the inherently high levels of stiffness needed for agile handling and steering precision with the compliance essential for first-class comfort and refinement. Advanced damper technologies — both passive and continuously-variable — improve ride quality and extend the breadth of dynamic capability of the XF.

“The all-new XF has to deliver both driver reward through agility and immediacy of response when it’s called for, and yet great ride composure and comfort too. The light and rigid aluminum intensive architecture of the all-new XF is a key enabler for us delivering those attributes, as it provides an optimal basis for finely tuning the ride and handling characteristics of the car. The result is that the new XF is as satisfying to drive quickly, as it is comfortable to be driven in.” Mike Cross, Chief Engineer of Vehicle Integrity, Jaguar is quoted as saying in a press release.

As far as the powerplant offered goes, the performance oriented owners now have the choice of the Jaguar free-revving 3.0-liter supercharged V6 engine in 340hp and 380hp ratings – equipped with either rear or all-wheel drive (AWD). The higher performance rated model is the Jaguar XF S which comes matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission, this model is capable of covering the 0-60mph sprint in 5.1 seconds on its way to an electronically-limited maximum speed of 155mph.

Additional performance, driving assistance and safety options, all matched with a bevvy of comfort oriented additions are available. The Jaguar XF is a worthy competitor to the BMW 5 Series, performing a role of the luxury daily driver and the high-performance monster equally good the same as its main competitor does. Overall, this is a viable alternative for people that want to pick and choose something different than the usual pickings in the business segment overall.

The post 2016 Jaguar XF Is A Gorgeous Showcase Of British Engenuity appeared first on VR World.

After several years of mediocre sales in the high-end segment, Cadillac (NYSE: GM) has revealed the long anticipated Cadillac CT6 model.

This marks its return to the top of the luxury sedan segment,  a comeback that many will gladly welcome. The luxury sedan brings back the much needed attention to the luxury car maker, ensuring their survival in the highly competitive business area of high-end car models.

“The CT6 is nothing less than an entirely new approach to premium luxury – and an approach only Cadillac can offer,” said Johan de Nysschen, president of Cadillac in a statement. “It is a bold endeavor with unmatched dynamism that reignites a passion for driving in large luxury vehicles. In short, it is prestige luxury reimagined.”

The Cadillac CT6 takes full advantage of new technologies, ensuring the driver is more involved with their surroundings, providing a better overall driving experience as well. These include such additions as active technologies, dedicated in providing a better feeling, but also a smoother ride for the passengers of this rather luxury model. The added powerplants are spearheaded by an all-new Cadillac Twin Turbo engine that rewards with stirring power on demand. Passengers are ensconced in the brand’s ultimate expression of comfort, luxury and connectivity.

The Cadillac 3.0L Twin Turbo engine offers an estimated 400 horsepower (298 kW) and 400 lb-ft of torque (543 Nm), making it among the most power-dense V-6 engines in the segment, at 133 horsepower (99 kW) per liter. Additionally, the industry’s first application of cylinder deactivation technology on a turbocharged V-6 engine, as well as an eight-speed automatic transmission allows for better fuel efficiency and better utilization of the engine’s power when needed and when the driving conditions don’t mandate all the power delivery.

Furthermore, the active-on-demand all-wheel drive featuring a continuously variable clutch that infinitely varies power delivery to the front wheels – up to 959 lb-ft (1,300 Nm) – to make the most of handling and stability in all conditions.

The CT6 features one of the industry’s most advanced automotive body structures, an aluminum-intensive architecture that incorporates 11 different materials to achieve strength, performance and efficiency thresholds practically unmatched among the world’s elite luxury performance sedans. This makes the Cadillac CT6 lighter, more efficient and it gives the luxury sedan better overall driving performance.

It is one of the world’s lightest and most agile full-size luxury performance sedans, with dimensions and spaciousness on par with BMW’s short-wheelbase 7-Series, but the approximate weight, agility and efficiency of the smaller Cadillac CTS – which is lighter than a BMW 5-Series. The CT6 is lighter than the BMW 5-Series, 6-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

“We reinvented the approach to structural underpinnings in the quest to develop a unique formula for the prestige luxury performance sedan,” said de Nysschen. “Melding that new approach with the dynamics conveyed in our other award-winning rear-driven sedans – including V-Series – results in something that has been lost in the segment: the exhilaration of a true driver’s car.”

Taking on the competition

Cadillac focused on three pillars that would coalesce to deliver the CT6’s dynamic experience – and do so with higher levels of presence, elegance and technological innovation to help elevate Cadillac around the world. “Luxury brands are built from the top down,” said Cadillac Chief Marketing Officer Uwe Ellinghaus. “Adding a dynamic, top-of-the-range car is central to Cadillac’s elevation and global growth.”

Active rear steering with the Active Chassis System contributes to greater low-speed agility and high-speed stability. In parking lots, the turning circle is only 37 feet (11.4 m), comparable with the CTS, which has a 114.6-inch wheelbase vs. the CT6’s 122.4-inch wheelbase. This will amount to better handling, more stability, but above all it will exert much better comfort levels for the driver and their passengers, ensuring that the car performs its main task – ferrying passengers on long distances – with ample comfort levels overall.

According to Cadillac, the new body structure is lighter than some of its competitors like the BMW 5-Series or Audi A6. That state-of-the-art architecture is the foundation for its benchmark-establishing agility and vault-like solidity and quietness. The rather profound engine found in the top model also provides more than enough power for any driver requiring more performance and better handling overall. In a nutshell, the Cadillac CT6 will certainly stir up things in the luxury sedan market.

The post Cadillac CT6: A Brand New Competitor In The Luxury Car Segment appeared first on VR World.

It was a successful year for Mercedes-Benz (ETR: DAI) in every way: Increasing sales, new models coming out and now, a few awards to go along and spice things up.

Mercedes-Benz has won three categories in the prestigious World Car Awards 2015. These were received by Christoph Horn, Head of Global Communication Passenger Cars Mercedes-Benz and Rob Moran, Director Mercedes-Benz USA Communications. They received the awards on behalf of the brand with the three pointed star at a ceremony held on the occasion of the New York International Auto Show.

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class established itself as a viable choice in the midsize luxury sedan market, further emphasized with the “World Car of the Year 2015 Award”. The S-Class Coupé was voted “World Luxury Car 2015″, while the Mercedes-AMG GT sports car picked up the award for “World Performance Car 2015″.

This year, Mercedes-Benz was the only manufacturer to make it into the final round of the awards with five vehicles. This commanding performance is unprecedented in the 11-year history of the “World Car of the Year” awards and serves to reflect the tremendous popularity of the Stuttgart-based brand among their customers. The international jury for these prestigious awards is made up of 75 renowned automotive journalists who were tasked with picking their favorites in several automotive categories for the awards shown there.

Mercedes-Benz has found success and praise with the jury in previous years too: in 2014 the S-Class won the category “World Luxury Car”. In 2012 the S 250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY was the winner in the category “World Green Car”, while the same award was taken back in 2007 by the E 320 BlueTEC. The highly successful start for the Stuttgart based car maker by all means marks the period where Mercedes-Benz introduced several new models, changed its design philosophy to some extent, showcased great talent in plugging gaping holes in the particular model ranges, all resulting in increased sales numbers as well.

The post Mercedes-Benz Wins Three Categories in the Prestigious ‘World Car Awards 2015′ appeared first on VR World.

The combination of classy looking projects and gorgeous women always brings the best in cars, no matter what. That’s the idea behind this Vorsteiner photoshoot. The shoot brings together the after-market wheels paired with a beautiful young model who rather profoundly fits as the potential owner of this gorgeous Riviera Blue Audi S3 seen here. The perfect appearance of a young woman joined together by one of the hottest small sedans on the market, this is a great way to finish off the week, wouldn’t you agree on that?

This Audi (ETR: NSU) S3 comes equipped with a set of Vorsteiner FlowForged V-FF 103 wheels. These are sized 19×8.5 in the front and rear. The squared combination works well with the Quattro all-wheel drive employed within this Audi S3, perfectly complementing the high-performance nature of this vehicle. The Mystic Black finish, this is what accentuates these contemporary style wheels just right.

As Vorsteiner describes it: “The comfortable V-FF 103’s featured on the 2015 Audi S3 symbolizes the thrill of a lifetime.” We couldn’t agree more. A lot of class, a beautiful showcase of modern lines with the Audi S3 combined with a stunning young woman, all makes for a perfect photoshoot. Take a look at the media gallery right below for further wallpaper sized images.

The post Check Out This Gorgeous Riviera Blue Audi S3 With Vorsteiner Wheels appeared first on VR World.

With the 2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 (ETR: DAI) and 2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 S sedans now available on the market, Mercedes has released pricing for these two models.

The base model starts at MSRP of $63,900 and the more powerful model comes with a price of $71,900 without destination and other fees included. Both of these cars offer plenty of performance, but also great design, powerful engines, amazing interior and a full range of class-leading safety technologies.

Both models will arrive in the United States market as of April 2015. The cars are powered by the all-new M177 V8 bi-turbo engine that comes with an output of 469 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque for the C63, while the C63 S has an output of 503 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. This will provide the luxury high-performance models with enough power to provide exciting driving scenarios and a lot of performance oriented motoring as well. With the 2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 you get an acceleration from 0-62mph in just 4.0 seconds, while the more powerful 2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 S model will do the same in mere 3.9 seconds.

The 2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 is the best selling AMG model currently available. The sheer performance combined with the great design and well-known Mercedes-Benz interior luxury items all make for a great option to buyers that would like to have both a performance and luxury sedan, all in one vehicle. Please take a look at the media gallery below for some additional images of these models.

The post The Pricing For 2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 Revealed appeared first on VR World.

Considered by many to be one of the most important automotive events, the New York International Auto Show always brings us a bevy of new models, concepts and general information from world’s most popular car brands.

The 2015 New York International Auto Show kicked off earlier this week, where we had one of our friends, a highly talented automotive photographer Cristian Guamanzara, visiting the NYIAS and taking a couple of interesting shots from the event itself.

Plenty more from the 2015 New York International Auto Show is coming up later today, with detailed information about several new models and concepts being released, all covered on our site in detail.  Take a look at the media gallery below the jump and feast your eyes on some rather exciting vehicles from one of the important annual events from the automotive industry.

2015 New York International Auto Show gallery

The post 2015 New York International Auto Show Gallery appeared first on VR World.

Gogoro, the Taiwan-based electric scooter startup that counts HTC’s (TPE: 2498) Cher Wang as investor, has generated a lot of buzz since its unveiling at CES in January. Now those interested in buying one of Gogoro’s electric scooters will have the chance to demo one at a retail experience zone opening up later this week in Taipei’s Xinyi shopping district.

Gogoro is targeting a summer launch in Metro Taipei, which consists of Taipei and New Taipei City. Gogoro’s scooters differ from traditional electric scooters: you can’t plug them in. Instead, riders take the scooters to a battery swapping center when they need a fresh battery. Gogoro owners need to subscribe to a monthly plan, and the company promises that there will be dozens of stations around the city and each station is said to be roughly the size of an ATM.

Battery swapping plans for electric vehicles are in many ways the ultimate cure for range anxiety, but they have been met with challenges due to the complexity of replacing a battery in most electric vehicles. However, this isn’t the case with Gogoro as the 20-pound battery can be replaced in a matter of seconds.

To ensure that its scooters arrive bug-free, Gogoro is launching a pilot program in April. 100 riders will be given the chance to try out the scooters over the course of two months. The company is hoping that the beta testers will log 100,000 collective hours during the pilot program.

Pricing has yet to be announced.

The problem with electric scooters

The Metro Taipei area has the highest density of scooters in the world, and scooters are the biggest single contributor to air pollution in the city.

But as VR World reported in February a combination of bad public policy and misplaced subsidy programs have stopped the hindered the adoption rate of the electric two-wheeled vehicles.

But all of this can change with Gogoro. While the Taiwanese government might have failed to put in place proper subsidy programs to encourage adoption, the local Taipei city government might fill this vacuum and do it instead. But if Gogoro can launch this scooter at a competitive price, and convince consumer that its battery swapping network is solid, it might not need the help of the government in the first place.  

The post Gogoro Opening Retail Store in Taipei Ahead of Summer Launch appeared first on VR World.

Uber has been no friend of authorities since its launch. The ride-sharing company has always billed itself as a technology or information company, not a Taxi firm, in order to bypass regulations regarding commercial driver licensing. But according to a report from German language publication Wirtschafts Woche, this will soon be changing.

According to the report, Uber will be providing its drivers in Europe with commercial driver licenses and will be going through the proper steps to license itself as a taxi and chauffeur service.

“We will also pay the €150 to €200 it would cost our partners to have the Chamber of Commerce license them as taxi companies,” Fabien Nestmann, Uber’s chief in Germany is quoted as saying.

It’s not clear if the costs will be passed on to riders.

Uber’s new strategy

For a company of its valuation (which is said to be near $40 billion), Uber’s compliance with local laws regarding taxis and chauffeur services is practically non-existent. One would be hard-pressed to find a company of similar, or any size, that takes the same approach with regulators.  Uber’s libertarian approach to ride sharing and taxi services has its fans, but will ultimately fall on deaf ears with authorities. Though the law may be imperfect, Uber needs to comply with it — it can then lobby lawmakers to perfect it.

No doubt Uber is under pressure from its investors to become compliant with local laws. Investors don’t want to see their $40 billion company become outlawed in major markets around the world, and Uber’s lack of compliance is hindering it from raising its next $40 billion.

While the company will ultimately lose face given its disruptive nature, throughout the year it’s expected that it will take steps to be compliant in the markets where it operates around the world. Uber drivers — the little guys — are the ones that are under the most pressure. They are the ones given the tickets for operating an unlawful taxi service. If Uber wants to keep its personnel and hire new ones it will have to take steps to work with authorities to become compliant.

The post A Whole New Uber? Company Says It Will Comply With Taxi Laws in Germany appeared first on VR World.

Improved aerodynamics, hybrid drive and many other new details is what’s making the Audi (ETR: NSU) R18 E-Tron such an interesting vehicle. It’s ready for the 2015 Le Mans season, where Audi will certainly have more to say in a tough race against its competitors.

“The possibilities of the revolutionary regulations that have been in effect for LMP sports cars since 2014 are far from having been fully used. The rules harbor so much potential that there is room for future developments,” said Jörg Zander, Audi Sport’s new Head of Engineering, in a press release. “We expect that the technological progress resulting from the fierce competitive pressure exerted by four automobile manufacturers that are now involved will significantly improve lap times this season – while concurrently reducing fuel consumption.”

Even though the new Audi R18 e-tron looks similar to its predecessor, the racing prototype clearly differs both visually, performance wise and most importantly, technically. The fresh look results from a new way of conducting airflow around and through the front end, in the area of the sidepods and at the rear of the LMP1 prototype. Large air inlets in the front wheel arches reduce aerodynamic drag of the body and have led to an all-new design of the headlights. The lighting units feature Matrix LED technology combined with Audi Laserlight – two innovations that improve active safety in road traffic and that Audi customers can now order for their production models as well.

Audi has maintained the central safety aspect coming from the monocoque construction of the car, the hood together with the front wing and wheel arches is a completely redone design overall. A completely new crash test has been performed and it resulted in an element that incorporates the new crash structure ready for the 2015 season. Sidepods with new radiator configurations for cooling the engine and hybrid system further optimize the aerodynamic drag thanks to the modified airflow through the sidepods on the exterior

This year, Audi is again preparing two body versions for the various tracks on the FIA WEC calendar. In combination with an optimized chassis and in close cooperation with tire partner Michelin, Audi has further improved the performance potential of its sports prototype this way.

As a hybrid pioneer, Audi is taking the next step in recovering more energy through the vehicle as well. Audi is the only manufacturer to date that has won the Le Mans 24 Hours with hybrid sports cars. It is worth noting that, from 2012, the German motorsport team backed by the factory from Ingolstadt in every aspect, has not been beaten on the 24 hour race. This means that the hybrid system employed proved itself on one of the most daunting racing events out there.

During braking, energy is recovered which the system subsequently feeds back to the front axle on acceleration. The electrical machine that performs this task now delivers an output of more than 200 kW (272 hp), which is a significant increase compared to last year. Therefore, Audi has increased the capacity of the energy storage system as well. The encapsulated flywheel energy storage system that sits in the cockpit alongside the driver can store up to 700 kilojoules of energy that it subsequently returns to the electrical machine – which is about 17% more than in 2014.

Alongside the performance increase, Audi has made great strides to keep the weight down as the car weighs at a minimum of only 870 kilograms – notably in what is currently the world’s most complex racing category. This helps the hybrid, but overall, it results in a restriction for the internal combustion engine due to the rules applied in this racing series. According to the sporting regulations the fuel-energy amount has to be further reduced if the engineers opt for higher hybrid output. As a result, the R18 e-tron quattro has to make do with 2.5% less diesel fuel per lap than in 2014.

Furthermore, rectifying this but not made because of this issue, Audi has further developed the four-liter V6 TDI engine by performing a lot of detailed work to achieve the optimized consumption levels. Power output levels have been increased. The most efficient power-plant in the field now delivers 410 kW (558 hp). Apply this to the lightweight vehicle, add the overall improved fuel efficiency and this is a perfect solution for a race like this. In 2006, Audi’s TDI engine debuted at Le Mans, followed by eight victories until 2014. While lap times continually improved, fuel consumption decreased by 38 percent during this period.

As a result, the youngest generation of the R18 emphasizes the purpose which motorsport serves at Audi in many fields. Ever since the first Audi quattro was fielded in 1980, the brand has consistently been using circuit racing and rallying for the development of forward-thinking technologies that are subsequently used in production – from quattro four-wheel drive to TFSI gasoline direct injection, to the further development of TDI engines, through to innovations such as Matrix LED light and Audi Laserlight.

At the Geneva Motor Show in March, Audi unveiled two other innovations with a reference to motorsport. For the first time, the brand showcased a hybrid model – the Q7 – that combines the e-tron quattro principle with a TDI engine. And the new R8* is the first model featuring the Audi Space Frame as a multi-material construction. In addition to aluminum, the frame includes a component made of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP), a material that has long become a staple in racing.

The post Audi is Starting the 2015 Season With a Thoroughly Revised R18 E-Tron Quattro appeared first on VR World.

With the advent of electric vehicles, a rather profound issue has risen along the way:  range anxiety. The fear of loosing your energy while in some god forsaken place, isn’t something one should take lightly. There have been plenty of solutions proposed, but until now, the question hasn’t been answered in a way that warrants freedom, ease of use and safety all in one rather convenient package.

Star Engines is an innovative start-up that revolutionizes the combustion engine. Inspired by the Wankel engine, the engineers of Star Engine completely redesigned the combustion engine basics. This results in a – patented – small size, low weight 3D rotary engine with an unequaled performance. The principle opens a world of applications. Star Engines is open to explore partnership and dealership opportunities.

The solution to range anxiety is a small product that allows you to charge your vehicle with ease. Called the JERR.E it resembles a gas can and it is simple to use: this transportable generator allows you to utilize it’s new technology to generate electricity to power your vehicle.It comes with an internal combustion engine as the source of power, so it can be readily used where ever you find a gas station. Yes, a bit odd to be dependent on that source of power. On the other hand, this is the most elegant solution we’ve encountered thus far.

While the exact specifications (rate of charging, fuel consumption etc.) has remained unknown, we’ll surely be getting that information as we’ve requested that from the company itself. The JERR.E has been debuted thanks to a BMW i8 that is the car they are using to demonstrate the charging aspect of this product. Showcased in a beautiful photoshoot done by Gijs Speirings, this will show you how well the product is designed and how profoundly perfect it fits alongside such a futuristic designed vehicle.

The post This Range Extender In The Shape of a Jerrycan Could End Range Anxiety appeared first on VR World.

The newest  iPhone has been one of Apple’s (NASDAQ: APPL) best-selling smartphones yet. We didn’t have to wait long for fully customized Apple iPhone 6 models to come out. This one, coming from Vorsteiner features a pure gold outer skin created by Gold & CO London. The fully functional mobile device now features a highly luxurious exterior added, allowing the owners in the higher income ranges to even further adhere to their personal choices and requests.

Working with several prominent luxury companies, the London based customizer has created some rather stunning showcases of their work (remember the modified BMW F82 M4 we wrote about a few weeks earlier). This, done for a high-performance and high-quality aftermarket aero parts company Vorsteiner, features the same level of expertise and allure as their other work. Gold & Co. London’s 2014 iPhone 6 range is available for order in multiple finishes ranging from 24kt Gold, rose gold, black gold, Platinum and carbon fiber.

The iPhone does look remarkable with the golden exterior, but some may find it over-the-top in certain ways. Regardless of personal opinions, the phone seen here is a clear-cut example of where the world of luxury hand-held devices is going and we’ll be there to report these to you right away. Check out the media gallery showcasing this device right below.

The post Vorsteiner Launches Gold Plated Apple iPhone 6 appeared first on VR World.

The 2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid was named a 10 Most Fuel-Efficient Car Under $25,000 by Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com.

The site in question is one of the highly regarded sources of information about car quality and impressions on world’s widest selection of vehicles. They offer pricing information for new and used cars. Also, they are the source of a wide range of guides, helping customers deal with nagging problems in purchasing a used vehicle as well. With this in mind, naming the The 2015 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid a 10 Most Fuel-Efficient Car Under $25,000 by the same source, poses a great deal of praise for the Korean car maker, specially in the eco-friendly field of such vehicles.

The 2015 Hyundai Sonara Hybrid offers an industry-exclusive Hybrid Lifetime Battery Warranty, and a EPA-estimated 40 mpg highway rating. The car saw no increase in pricing, compared to the 2014 model. Practical, yet efficient, it is a rather interesting choice for families who want to keep their fuel bills as low as possible. But overall, the car offers the practicality needed in the segment as well.

“The Sonata Hybrid not only provides consumers value with class-leading technology and design, but also alleviates price pain at the pump,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president of corporate and product planning, Hyundai Motor America in a statement. “Hyundai is committed to be a leader in alternative fuel vehicles and to increase our green footprint across our lineup.”

The 2015 Sonata Hybrid features an electric motor coupled to the 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine. The vehicle uses all-electric mode during optimal moments such as driving on a highway, while keeping the gasoline engine idle until circumstances are necessary for it to be included int he power delivery. This means that the car can save the additional power for acceleration and heavier climbs for example, while keeping the steady, comforting and event free highway runs on EV power alone, saving fuel in the process and providing improved efficiency and saving money for their owners.

“The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid offers all the upscale feel and luxury features of the conventionally powered Sonata, but with the added benefits of a transparent hybrid drive system that delivers exceptional fuel economy,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director, KBB.com. “The fact that the model also offers an exceptionally long warranty is the cherry atop the sundae.”

The post Hyundai’s 2015 Sonata Hybrid Named a Top 10 Most Fuel-Efficient Car Under $25,000 appeared first on VR World.

There are several high-profile companies developing high-performance and high-quality aftermarket products in the automotive world. Vorsteiner, being one of them, recently revamped its Flow Forged wheel line.

These wheels are highly coveted in the automotive world, as they bring the lightweight configuration with the less impacting price tag – a perfect choice for performance vehicle owners. The selection of possible applications, alongside the available finishes, make for a great deal of choices when it comes to these wheels overall.

As you may know, the Audi S5 Coupé uses the 3.0L Supercharged V6 TFSI engine producing 329 horsepower in its standard configuration for this vehicle. It is a further development of the highly popular engine. This powerplant is already found in the S5 Cabriolet and Sportback, which is also shared with the 2010 Audi S4 3.0 TFSI quattro sedan and avant. This engine is a development of the same powerplant done for the Audi S5 Coupé, where Audi left out the naturally aspirated V8 powerplant previously installed. This is done to accommodate strict emission regulations, but also combat the high fuel consumption of that particular engine as well.

The other major change (compared to the V6 TFSI engine found in the Sedan and Avant) under the bonnet is the introduction of stop-start technology for better fuel efficiency. According to the official info from Audi, owners can expect to achieve an average fuel economy of 8.9 litres/100 km (compared to the current 12.6 litres/100 km in the V8 coupe and 10.7 litres/100 km in the Cabriolet).

The Audi S5 we have in front of us has been equipped with a set of Vorsteiner V-FF 104 wheels. This is a limited run wheel lineup, dedicated to fulfill the needs of high-performance builds like this one here. These wheels are sized 20×10 front and rear respectively. They come with a Mercury Silver finish. The five-spoke design is clean, works wonders for the exterior of the Audi S5, but it also produces a rather impressive performance upgrade, thanks to their lightweight construction and design.

The post Vorsteiner’s After-Market Wheels Showcased on the Audi S5 appeared first on VR World.

Earlier this month we reported on Porsche (ETR: PAH3) delivering an impressive amount of vehicle in the first three months of this year a few days earlier.

Now, the German car maker is providing us with an insight into their record breaking year in terms of deliveries, revenue, and profit in the 2014 fiscal year. Porsche delivered 189,849 vehicles during the 2014 year advancing further than compared to their previous time frames, adding to the company’s success overall. The deliveries were up by 17% compared to previous year if we are exact, a rather impressive showcase for the car maker.

With the deliveries projecting record breaking numbers, revenue rose by one-fifth to $18.1 billion (€17.2 billion). The operating profit grew by just over 5% to $2.8 billion (€2.7 billion). Porsche currently hires 22,401 employees, yet another new peak for the car company as well. In the previous year, the figure was 19,456 employees, showing an annual increase of 15%.

At the annual press conference of Porsche in Stuttgart on Friday, Matthias Müller, Chairman of the Executive Board, stressed that the sports car manufacturer has reached essential objectives of the “Strategy 2018″ ahead of schedule.

“Porsche has developed very successfully and is now better positioned than ever”, said Müller. “A crucial cornerstone for this success is the Macan. By the end of the year, we had delivered our new five-door sports car nearly 45,000 times.”

With the Macan, Porsche has also won over many new customers: worldwide, three out of four Macan customers have opted for a vehicle of the Porsche brand for the first time.

The Porsche chairman took special pride in the success of the plug-in hybrid models. Müller referred not only to the 918 Spyder super sports car, but also to the fact that Porsche Porsche was the only brand in the world that could offer its customers three plug-in models in the premium segment. With that in mind, it’s rather important to emphasize that the Porsche 918 Spyder super sports car was sold out in 2014 and no more orders can be placed for that model. The three plug-in hybrid models are the 918 Spyder, Cayenne S E-Hybrid, and the Panamera S E-Hybrid.

Lutz Meschke, Member of the Executive Board Finance and IT at Porsche AG, emphasized in Stuttgart that the excellent performance of Porsche is also reflected in the financial situation of the company.

“In 2014, we were able to completely reduce our net debt while simultaneously financing our growth – two years before the originally envisaged target date,” he said.

In tangible terms, the net liquidity of the automotive business area – i.e. the gross liquidity less financial liabilities and excluding the financial services business in each case – improved from negative 899 million euros as of December 31, 2013 to positive 195 million euros as of December 31, 2014.

Müller and Meschke were optimistic in terms of the current fiscal year.

“We assume that sales and deliveries in the ongoing year will continue to rise”, stated the Chief Financial Officer.

The company also wants to safeguard the profitability through continuous productivity and process improvements as well as through stringent cost management. It remains to be seen how the market will react in 2015. as the other manufacturers are joining the plug-in hybrid premium model competition – this will be specially evident by the entry of some rather efficient, albeit performance oriented models from the other German car manufacturers as well.

The post Porsche Achieves New Records In Revenue And Profit appeared first on VR World.

While many will consider the Chevrolet Camaro a remnant of the past, the highly successful modern day muscle car is destroying that backward thinking all over the place. Equipped with either a V6 or V8 engine, this daring muscle car looks and resembles a perfect intro into a lifestyle many cherish. The Camaro (NYSE: GM) , in its fifth generation, has been a darling of the automotive world.

Its parent company, Chevrolet, was been founded in 1911 in Detroit. It is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 115 countries and selling around 4.8 million cars and trucks a year. The Camaro, albeit a big part of its success, still is only a small part of it in general. This generation of the Chevrolet Camaro went on sale in August 2009. Camaro sales passed Mustang in 2010, to become America’s best-selling performance car – a title Camaro has retained for five consecutive years. In the process, the Camaro has helped build the Chevrolet family – with 63% of retail buyers new to GM.

“The fifth-generation Camaro has clearly resonated with both long-time Camaro fans, and first time performance-car buyers,” said Todd Christensen, Camaro marketing manager, in a press release. “That sets the bar high for the next chapter of the car’s history.”

Remarkably, the Camaro continues to gain momentum, even as the fifth-generation Camaro nears the end of production this year. In 2014, Camaro total sales increased 7.1% for its second-best year of sales since its introduction. What will its successor bring, still remains to be seen. But as the car industry takes a turn to the green and eco-friendly motoring, the Chevrolet Camaro may well be on its path to glory, still touting a pure bred muscle car V8 engine – with some possible hybrid technology employed.

The post Fifth-Generation Chevrolet Camaro Approaches 500,000 US Sales appeared first on VR World.

Due to recent popular customer demand, Volvo (STO: VOLV-B) has expanded its offering of the Volvo S60 and V60 Polestar to a renewed production of 750 cars in 2015 that expands to 13 countries around the world. This means that the positive response from customers, yielded a welcome increase in both production and overall interest for the high-performance versions of Volvo’s popular mid-size models.

After customer demand exceeded expectations in 2014, the Volvo S60 and V60 Polestar gets a renewed production of 750 cars in 2015 and expands to 13 countries around the world. This means, that even with a yield as low as this, the cars will be rather important for the brand overall, specially in those limited numbers making these a coveted piece of automotive world.

”We are delighted to see the positive response from customers all over the world on our very first production car. This marks another important milestone for Polestar,” said Christian Dahl, CEO of Polestar, in a statement.

Volvo’s Polestar versions of the V60 and S60 were sold to customers in eight different countries last year. The further expansion is set to come to the Middle East for 2015, a region showing strong interest for Polestar. The new countries to get the MY16 Volvo S60 and V60 Polestar include Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

“The Volvo S60 and V60 Polestar are selling faster than we expected, and we have, as a result decided to expand into new markets. Polestar remains an integral performance brand partner and this is a clear sign of confidence in the potential of this partnership,” said Anders H. Gustavsson, Vice President Special Products at Volvo Car Group.

The Volvo S60 and V60 Polestar are designed to carry Polestar’s engineering philosophy to deliver an engaging, precise and confident driving experience in all weathers, on all roads and in all seasons. The well-known attention to perfection by the Sweden based car maker, all make sure for a positive impact on customers, the experience they have with these vehicles, but most importantly, on the overall appeal of the car brand entirely.

”I have just returned from racing in Australia where I spent a lot of time behind the wheel of my Volvo S60 Polestar. First thing when I got back to Sweden, I picked up my Volvo V60 Polestar and drove it 1200 kilometres from Polestar to my home in the north of Sweden. I have lived with it in the harsh and hot conditions of Australia, as well as the cold and snowy Sweden and it delivers a great driving experience as well as driver confidence wherever you go,” said Robert Dahlgren, Polestar racing and development driver.

Marking this successful Polestar model range is a photoshoot made in a beautiful scenery by one of the world’s most skilled automotive photographers. As Dejan Sokolovski brings us his view of the Volvo Polestar S60 and V60 in this gorgeous set of images, we can only imagine the thrills, excitement and fun one could have in this scenery, driving these Volvo’s around. Take a look at the media gallery below to find some further images from this photoshoot right there.

The post Demand for Volvo’s Polestar Exceeds Customer Expectations in 2014 appeared first on VR World.

This year has started great for a few car manufacturers — especially Porsche (ETR: PAH3). The company said it delivered more than 14,800 cars to new customers worldwide in February 2015, and delivered 30,900 cars in the first two months of the year, marking a rather successful start worldwide. It’s clear that the new model lines of the famed Porsche 911 had something to do with it, but Porsche has seen steady growth for the past few years as well.

“Porsche was again successful in February, throughout the world, with figures higher than last year’s”, said Bernhard Maier, Member of the Executive Board Sales and Marketing of Porsche AG. “For 2015, we expect further momentum through the systematic expansion of our product range – at the moment, this refers to the two sportiest derivatives of the model range: the Cayman GT4 and the 911 GT3 RS.”

Both vehicles celebrated their world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show last week.

On the German home market, Porsche made more than 2,000 deliveries in February 2015, an increase of nearly 40% compared to the same month last year. In Europe, last year’s figure was surpassed by almost one-half: the sports car maker delivered exactly 4,848 vehicles to customers there. Deliveries in Finland, Sweden, Belgium, Switzerland and Italy have more than doubled in each of these countries.

The share of the new Cayenne S E-hybrid is very high all across Europe: just fewer than 15% of the Cayenne models are equipped with plug-in-hybrid technology. In the United States, the monthly result was slowed slightly on account of strikes in several harbours and the inclement weather. For the first two months of the ongoing year, by contrast, the American market showed a growth of 13%.

With the markets eager to obtain the new Porsche cars, there is seemingly a lot more sales to be done for the German car maker. Overall, we are glad to see that Porsche is putting an emphasis on plug-in-hybrid technology. This is happening both with their ultra performance sports cars, as well as the more laid back, luxury sedans and SUVs like the Panamera and Cayenne respectively. It will be interesting to watch how the other German three go and react to these, specially with their M Department, AMG and RS divisions which compete directly with Porsche in this matter. Generally, Porsche is on a fast track to becoming one of the best car makers out there.

The post Porsche Delivers More Than 14,800 New Cars To Customers Worldwide In February appeared first on VR World.

After the announcement a few weeks earlier, Bugatti has released the the Bugatti Grand Sport Vitesse “La Finale” — The final Bugatti Veyron to be produced — at the Geneva Motor Show.

Few words that best put the notion of the importance of this vehicle into anyone introduced to the automotive world. On the other hand, this also means that the technologically advanced vehicle will soon (probably naturally) see a successor. A car that we, as anybody else interested in highly developed technical things that go fast, will definitely be eagerly awaiting.

“The Bugatti Veyron has shown that our engineers are capable of achieving a previously unimagined level of technical excellence, thereby opening up whole new dimensions in the automotive sector,” said Wolfgang Dürheimer, President of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S, in a press release. “The Veyron is justifiably at the head of the field.”

“As the most powerful and fastest production supercar in the world, the Veyron is a true benchmark,” continued Dürheimer. “With a world record speed of 431.072 km/h, it has become an icon of longitudinal dynamics.”

When announced, the Bugatti Veyron stunned the world. It represented one of the greatest technical and engineering challenges ever overcome in the automotive history. At the time, Bugatti developers were faced with four key specifications: the car had to transfer more than 1,000 horsepower onto the road, achieve a top speed in excess of 400 km/h, accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in less than three seconds and – the biggest challenge of all – still be suitable for ‘driving to the opera’ in comfort and style. The perfect gentleman’s supercar, if we might add there. Generally, the car was a huge success – even though the company lost money on each sold unit. Nontheless, it was a perfect opportunity to bring back a brand that was once notable for luxury, speed and attraction.

The last Bugatti Veyron marks the end of an era by all means. The future model will probably see some sort of a hybrid coming up. With the timeframe for the release of its successor still a bit blurry, we can only guess on the matter for the time being. On the other hand, we will be able to admire this piece of technological marvel for years to come, thanks to many owners who decided to put their money into owning one of the world’s best fashion and technology statements, providing us petrolheads with something to cherish entirely.

“Alongside the certainty of owning the world’s fastest production sports car with a high degree of individual exclusivity, Bugatti customers appreciate that, by purchasing a Veyron, they become part of the history of an automobile brand that is steeped in tradition,” said the Bugatti President. “Many vehicles therefore find their way into private collections and are purchased as an investment by automotive connoisseurs.”

When it came to equipping the 450 Veyron sports cars, Bugatti did everything to fulfil customers’ wishes. For example, the body finish featuring clear-lacquered exposed carbon fibre was particularly popular. Bugatti currently supplies this finish in eight colours – more than any other manufacturer and in a quality that no other company can achieve. In addition, the French luxury brand offers over 100 different colours for the painted finishes on the carbon fibre bodies. The vehicles also feature a wide range of luxurious materials that were uncommon in the automotive field, such as porcelain, crystal, special types of leather and wood, gold and platinum. Each Bugatti configured by a customer is unique. Including options, the average price of the vehicles recently sold is $2.43 million (€2.3 million).

It goes without saying that Bugatti is already working on the sequel to its recent success story, with development of its next model well underway. “With the next Bugatti model, we are aiming to consolidate and expand the market-leading position we have established with the Veyron,” the Bugatti President explained. “Our challenge is to make the best even better.”

We can only hope it doesn’t mean SUV’s, people carriers and other, somewhat silly ways and paths taken by other high-performance premium manufacturers – ensuring that Bugatti sticks with making statements. Not just cars alltogether.

The post The Bugatti Grand Sport Vitesse ‘La Finale’ Showcased To The Public appeared first on VR World.

A new report says that Tesla Motors (NASDAQ: TSLA)  will cut jobs in China.

The highly touted technology company that produces one of the world’s most popular electric cars is about to lose 180 employees in the Middle Kingdom. Tesla currently has 600 employees in China, where the stated number of jobs to be cut is a rather high 30% of the employee numbers posted in China overall.

According to various sources, Tesla Motors aims to restructure and tighten its position in that particular market with this move. The goal is to provide a boost in sales. But overall, the market will be the deciding factor in China for the American company. Tesla Motors makes nice sales in its respective niche overall. We can say that Tesla is the leader when it comes to electric car sales, but this may come to an end in the future years as well. Globally, they saw some other heavier competitors like BMW (ETR: BMW), Cadillac  (NYSE: GM) and others joining in the fight for electric vehicle supremacy. This is naturally providing the car maker with plenty to worry in the forthcoming months as well.

Earlier this year, Tesla China has already seen turnover in its leadership. First, its President Veronica Wu left in December, while its vice president of communications, June Jin, resigned last month. This would be worry some for some bigger companies, let alone a rather small one (by comparison to other big car makers). Tesla Motors is in a rather difficult day in age with sales numbers growing slow on certain markets, specially China as one of the biggest sources of income for several larger car manufacturers.

China is a difficult country for Tesla (and other car makers) overall. The local car production companies are subsidized by the government, there is no clear charging infrastructure set in place, and overall, the cars Tesla Motors imports to China cost more. This is all due to local import taxes, added and set to protect the domestic car industry.

One of the solutions would be to produce the car on site or in the country itself, providing Tesla Motors with the same leveled playing field as the other Chinese manufacturers. While the future seems bleak for Tesla in China for now, there is light at the end of the tunnel for the car maker over there. The overall effort the Chinese government is inputting in making the country pollution free and depending less on gasoline consumption and import, might well be the beacon of light for the car maker going forward in the future.

The post Tesla Motors Will Cut Jobs In China appeared first on VR World.