New Ford Kuga

(I have recently tested the new Ford Kuga, here is the post)

Surprising news just came from the Ford. They released the photos of the face-lifted new Kuga that will be available next year. It was released in 2008 and after 4 years, that's a normal face-lift schedule. However, existing Kuga still looks fine! But technical features and interior could not keep with the competitors. This SUV segment has a very tough competition as it is one of the most profitable one. Each competitor introduces new technologies and features in this segment, then the competitors seems relatively out-dated. 

Like the existing model, it has a great design. In my opinion, existing Kuga is one of the best looking medium size SUV on market. And it won’t look old even in future, why? Because the existing Kuga has inspiration from the wild animals. You may see these parts especially on the bonnet and muscular structure. This new Kuga is a refined interpretation of the existing one. You can see this, when you look close. Ford did not change the main stream lines of the Kuga but revised it!

New Kuga will feature 2-lt 140 PS turbo diesel and 1,6-lt EcoBoost 175 PS petrol engine. I am expecting to see the new 1-lt EcoBoost petrol as well in future. There are not information about the gearbox but I am sure they will offer double clutch auto in whole engine range! Please do it!

Ford assumes that new all-wheel drive system will act at least 20 times faster than the present one. They also realised that Kuga does not offer a good off-road experience. Its all-wheel drive system reluctant to act on adverse terrain conditions. 

Coolest feature of the Kuga is the foot movement operated tailgate! I love this thing, it is available with Mercedes-Benz and BMW models. And it is really functional and creative, probably people like me break it down after playing too many times :)

And please Ford, dress up the models betters for the shooting! They still have the boring family atmosphere. Kuga is not boring!

For more photos: Cars & Life Facebook Page

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Ford

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Bentley SUV EXP 9F, Finally!!!

Finally, Bentley revealed the SUV EXP 9F (F stands for Falcon, it will be like a Falcon), which I was expecting for last half a decade. Since for very long time, I was expecting Bentley to make this move. An ultra-luxury SUV! Range Rover is the leader of the luxury SUV but in terms of luxury level, it is not at the same level of a Bentley. However, as there are no other alternatives Range Rover receives very high demand.

I think Bentley notice this niché market gap and decide to design an SUV under its brand. However, it is not that easy to conquer the Range Rover territory. The luxury must match with the existing models, it should have a state-of-art exterior and interior design, and it must be really powerful and fast.

According to photos released today, things did go well as except one thing, exterior design! Like many other people, I was really shocked with the design. It is an uplifted version of Mulsanne with a boot reminds me Range Rover Sport and Audi Q7! Actually, from some angles I find some similarities with Range Rover Sport. Honestly, I was expecting a better exterior. I don’t like to criticise design team but this car needs more revision before production. I can describe the design of EXP 9F as too conservative! The combination of sportiveness and tradition are not in the harmonic way as they achieved on Continental and Mulsanne.

This design will reduce the sales performance, of course no! The interior design is amazing, and it is a Bentley, and it is the first SUV offers 12-cylinder petrol engine. Many customers will not complain about the design that much, because they will buy the most power, ultra-luxury SUV on market. So, these notions are good enough to compensate the design disappointment. Still, I highly recommend Bentley to revise the design! I think many people think the same way.

About technical information. It will feature the both existing V8 4-lt twin-turbo and W12 6-lt twin-turbo petrol engines with 8-speed auto transmission. There are some rumours about a possible diesel engine from Audi but nothing official yet. The instrument panel is a combination of analogue and virtual. Driver can change the virtual TFT instrument panel in three modes that are selectable through driving modes; Comfort, Sport and Off-Road. Interior features a full glass panoramic roof, seating position 4+1. I really love the interior design, especially the centre console. It looks really amazing and I like the tailgate that can be opened totally. The rear tailgate is integrated to rear light, when it is opened the light goes down as well.

Unfortunately, there are no information about the off-road transfer box or any other information regarding to off-road performance.

Another interesting bit is the size of the wheels. They are 23-inch and 0,5-inch bigger than a truck’s wheel! The other interesting bit is the turbine look vents under the headlight. Also, we shouldn’t forget one thing, this is the Bentley’s first concept car. Their performance is fair enough!

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Bentley

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New Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Before I start, this is the best looking aggressive Mercedes-Benz on market and they finally did an amazing interior for A-Class!

Finally we have the press pictures of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class. Honestly, I was really willing to see the new A-Class, during last two models they did not change the design so much and kept with MPV styling. Eventually, this led some customers to avoid the A-Class and jump to Audi A3.

I think Mercedes-Benz thought the same and finally they totally get rid off the MPV styling and concentrate more on sportier look, in terms of numbers new A-Class is 18 cm lower than the previous one. HMPV cars are boring regardless of their engines; if a car is a MPV it is boring. Therefore, A-Class always perceived as a family car, not entertaining. On the other hand, being MPV provided a huge leg room and head room. I have never seen this amount of extra space at any car on this segment. It has so much space in both front and rear seats, I can’t even describe it. I hope that, this new model will not ruin this.

From the pictures, I can assume that new A-Class will have a younger audience and look really nice and sporty. Especially it looks better than the new B and ML from the back! And front look is very aggressive, it is obvious that Mercedes-Benz is looking forward to capture some of the Audi A3 customers. New A-Class will be offered in three options; Urban, Style and AMG Sport. These options are quite similar to new BMW 1 Series. Thus, it is very clear that A-Class is targeting the 1-Siers and A3!

Now the technical features of the A-Class; it offers diesel and petrol engines as you expected. A180 CDi (109 PS), A200 CDi (136 PS) and A220 CDi (170 PS) are the diesel engines. A180 (115 PS), A200 (156 PS) and A250 (211 PS) are the petrol engines. All these engines have the optional 7G-DCT double clutch auto transmission, this sounds perfect! Also, petrol engines are featuring a new technology called Camtronic. It does this; “CAMTRONIC is an innovation that will be celebrating its world premiere in the 1.6-litre engine: adjusting the valve lift on the intake side restricts the amount of fresh mixture used in the partial load range, so reducing consumption.”

With electronic gadgets, A-Class will be offered with Pre-Safe occupant protection system that can predict a possible crash and takes necessary safety measures. Such as, tighten the seat belts, closing the windows and sunroof, and straights up the seats if they are electrically controlled. It was first introduced in S-Class in 2002 and took ten years to be offered in A-Class. Also, Collision Prevention System is standard on A-Class as well (COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST system gives a visual and acoustic warning to alert a possibly distracted driver to identified obstacles, and prepares Brake Assist for the most precise braking response possible. This is initiated as soon as the driver steps firmly on the brake pedal)

In future A-Class will offer the 4-MATIC four-wheel drive system, until that time it will be front-wheel drive that destroys the joy. I really wish to see a rear-wheel drive A-Class like BMW 1 Series. I know it will be a bit pointless and expensive but I still want it!

And, these are the standard and optional safety gadgets;

ATTENTION ASSIST (standard)

Brake HOLD function (standard)

Hill-Start Assist (standard)

DISTRONIC PLUS

Adaptive Highbeam Assist

Blind Spot Assist and Lane Keeping Assist

Speed Limit Assist (speed limit sign recognition)

Active Parking Assist

LINGUATRONIC

Reversing camera

Lastly, please don’t take pictures with that blue, it looks really bad.

And I think A-Class deserves this song, 

For more photos: Cars & Life Facebook Page

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Mercedes

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Bentley Mulsanne Technology Centre

Recently Bentley announced Mulliner version for the Mulsanne and if this did not satisfy your needs and you still want more. There is a new option! Mulsanne iPad Edition, sorry new interior option. Bentley offers state-of-art technology centre at the rear seats of the Mulsanne. You have chance to order one roof mounted 15,6-inch LED screen, also you can two 8-inch screens mounted to front headrests. Still you want more? You can have two iPad with keyboards mounted on the picnic tables and if you find iPad too big, you may order an iPod Touch with a unique application to control everything inside the car.

Lastly, there are some old school technology such as Tibaldi fountain pen yacht inspired wood trim and champagne cooler with crystal flutes.

I don't mind about the screens or the Apple products, but I really like the yacht inspired wood trim, they should offer this for their whole car range.

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Bentley

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Brabus C Coupe

When you find the Bugatti Veyron over powered plus too expensive and, the new Ferrari F12berlinatta is not powerful enough for you. There is a solution to your dissatisfaction by Brabus. Brabus is an independent German company, which modifies the Mercedes-Benz cars. Actually, they turn Mercedes-Benz cars into monsters, this could be the best definition for the Brabus. Putting so much power and torque into a car that is supposed to be über comfortable is not a modification!

According to mercedes-benz-passion.com, Brabus will reveal Brabus Bullit Coupe at Geneva Motorshow. It will be based on the current C Coupe model and powered by a 6,3lt V12 engine with two turbo and producing 800PS plus 1420nm of torque. In order to keep the gearbox in one piece and not to place a gearbox from a truck, they limited the torque level to 1100nm. This remote control sized car with V12 can accelerate to 100 kph (62 mph) in 3,7 seconds and can keep going up to 370 kph (230 mph). Unfortunately, 100 kph acceleration is not that satisfying and it is due to huge amount of torque and being rear wheel driven.

In order to drive this car you need to sacrifice €500,000. I didn’t convert into other currencies, it is expensive at any currency on planet!

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mercedes-benz-passion.com

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Harvey Nichols Birmingham Fashion Show 2012 + Infiniti

On Saturday, I have attended the Harvey Nichols Birmingham Fashion Show 2012. Like previous years, it was amazing, from the organisation of the event to show sequences. Hopefully this year, I know how to take photos in a fashion show and which settings would be the best. However, I still need to learn more!

If you are looking for some style tips, photo gallery would definitely help you to have some inspiration for different combinations. There are some of the best bits from the show, and the rest is on Facebook Page!

I have habits from taking cars pictures but they are not ideal for taking pictures of models :) 

And this year, the event was sponsored by Infiniti, and there was FX35! I hope to see more car brands involved with fashion event. Please, next time let us know before the event ;)

The brands took place during the show are;

No Tomorrow | Diesel | Jimmy Choo | RayBan | Death by Zero | PRPS | Paul Smith | D&G | PRPS | Alexander McQueen | Prada | Dsquared | Ralph Lauren | Moncler | Carrera | Wild Fox | Rag and Bone | Mulberry | Alice and Olivia | Sam Edelman | Just Cavalli | Markus Lupfer | J-Brand | UGG | Christian Louboutin | 7 for All Mankind | Cambridge Satchel | Rag and Bone | Zoe Karssen | Jeffrey Campbell | Vivenne Westwood | True Religion | Dolce & Gabanna | Burberry | Belstaff | Tom Ford | Michael Kors | Jimmy Choo | Paige | Pinko | T by Alexander Wang | Gucci | Diesel | Nudie | Horiyoshi | Sam Edelman | Emporio Armani | YSL | By Malene Birger | Second Day | Helen Kiminski | McQ | Soludos | Missoni | Finders Keeprs | Hugo Boss | Sass and Bide | Deepa Gurnacani | Philip Armstrong

For more photos: Cars & Life Facebook Page

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Latest Videos of Ferrari F12berlinetta

This week was covered with the news from Ferrari, in whole mass-media and social media Ferrari F12berlinetta was the top topic. This is something very normal when Ferrari releases a new car and if it is a V12, it becomes more sensational!

And I would like to share the last videos uploaded by Ferrari for F12berlinetta.

Focus on Chassis

Focus on Design and Styling

The Final Sound Check on the Track


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Ferrari

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