2011 Renault Megane RS

Europe has always been the fashion frontrunner. Their clothes, colognes and architecture leave the rest of the world in the dust. Countries from around the globe attempt to mimic Europe’s ideas, but with little success.

So it’s not surprising that Europe continues to pump out the hottest, most audacious vehicles on the planet, like the Renault Megane R.S.

The Renault Megane R.S. looks like a cross between a race car and a family vehicle. Known as “hot hatches” (shortened from hot hatchback), these sleek, compact speedsters are daring on the road and decorative in the driveway.

Originally modeled after family-orientated body types, the Renault Megane R.S. has become as common on the racetrack as it is in the suburbs. Striking features make it recognizable everywhere. It has the signature black roof, innovative rear lip spoiler and customized decals. The car sits atop 19-inch Gloss Black STEEV wheels with original red piping. Colors come in Etoilé Black, Glacier White and Cassiopée Grey.

What passes for “special” in most parts of the world is simply normal in Europe. The Renault Megane R.S.’s sporty cabin is achieved with Recaro bucket seats in fabric or leather and a central display system with advanced electronics and communications.

The Renault Megane R.S. features leather upholstery, front carpet mats and a powerful 4x15W RDS radio with 6 speakers and MP3 capability.

Despite its small class, the Renault Megane R.S. boasts unusual power. Its supercharged 254 hp engine has a peak torque of 360 Nm. The car can unload at 0-60 mph in 6.3 s (0–100 km/h in 6.5 s), reaching a top speed of 149 mph (240 km/h).

With a car this pedal-friendly, safety is paramount. The Renault Megane R.S. features 8 airbags, xenon headlights, Anti-lock Breaking System (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Brembo brake discs, the same ones used in Porsches. The Renault Megane R.S. has an MSRP starting price of $51,120. Car lovers often have to choose between being stylish and being sensible. With the 2011 Renault Megane R.S., the choice has been made for them.

2012 BMW M5

The new 2012 BMW M5 without a doubt carries on the legacy of its predecessors in true M fashion. It’s new, upgraded power plant is a twin-turbo V8 engine with a cross-bank exhaust manifold, and fully variable VALVETRONIC valve control. It puts out 560 hp at 6,000 – 7,000 rpm 502 lb-ft of torque sweeping from 1,500 to 5,750 rpm. That massive thrust launches the driver to 60 from a standstill in 4.4 seconds.

Average fuel consumption is approximately 28.5 mpg with CO2 emissions at about 232 g/km. BMW’s engineers have managed to increase power by 10%, torque by 30%, while reducing overall fuel consumption by over 30% compared to the previous M5 model.

This efficiency and improved performance is vastly due to the newly designed V8 engine, coupled with a smooth 7-speed M Double Clutch Transmission and auto start-stop system. The M5 also employs a slew of technologies designed to make the car as driver-friendly as possible. Electronically controlled dampers, compound brakes, stability control with “M Dynamic Mode”, and Servotronic steering specific to M models are just a few features employed in balancing the M5’s power and making it a safe, but thrilling drive.

The M5’s stance is that famous M-series combination of elegant and aggressive. It looks sharper and more poised than the previous model; with a gaping front fascia and lightly flared side skirts, the car’s solid stance and aggressive looks speak volumes about what it can do.

Brawn meets brains in this vehicle through BMW’s iDrive control module. One of its two trademark silver control knobs is seated adjacent to the shift panel, the other is in the rear of the cabin. The front iDrive controller gives the driver access to air conditioning, music, suspension settings, navigation, and BMW Assist, while the rear module allows passengers to use entertainment, climate controls, and GPS. BMW’s iDrive is nothing short of brilliant in its ability to connect driver and car.

While the 2012 BMW M5 is a far cry from all of its previous models, it flawlessly continues the M-series tradition of class, elegance, ingenuity, and perhaps most importantly, stunning performance.

2012 Audi A6

The 2012 Audi A6 has been totally redesigned for 2012, resulting in it resembling a slightly smaller version of the popular A8 sedan from the outside. The make-over does not stop with cosmetics. Inside and out, the engineers left almost nothing on this mid-size, luxury sedan untouched.

The hybrid steel and aluminum unibody underwent significant changes, enabling the new model to weigh less than 3,500 pounds. This lighter weight improves the ride and handling. The wheelbase has been increased nearly three inches, giving the interior added roominess. Exterior options include 20 inch wheels and tires and LED headlamps.

A front-wheel drive chassis and an efficient CVT transmission are paired with a 2.0 liter, 4-cylinder with 211 horsepower engine. The more powerful 2.0 TFSI® and 3.0 TFSI engines are available as options. The award-winning 3.0 TFSI engine comes with quattro drive and a 7-speed, S-tronic, dual-clutch transmission.

The luxurious Audi heritage is obvious in the interior of the vehicle. Massaging seats, top-of-the-line Bang & Olufsen audio system, and ambient lighting are all available along with your choice of wood veneer or metallic trim.

Technology includes a Multi Media Interface Plus with a touch pad, enabling it to perform character recognition tasks. This provides users with another means of text input for phone, navigation and audio system functions by allowing them to spell words with just a fingertip stroke. The MMI is powered with an updatable computer chip. A cellular data plan will be available, capable of connecting up to eight devices to its WiFi signal.

This technology is of great benefit to the optional navigation system. The standard graphical navigation map can be enhanced with overlays of Google Earth maps, route instructions and traffic information in real time. It is also capable of 3D graphics modes.

Other hi-tech systems that will be available on the 2012 Audi A6 are:

• Active lane assist
• Side assist
• Park assist
• Adaptive cruise control
• Adaptive air suspension
• Adaptive headlamps
• Dynamic steering
• Night vision and pre-sense safety

Overall, the 2012 Audi A6 combines classic styling, impressive performance and cutting-edge technology in a spacious, comfortable vehicle.

Mercedes Benz A Class Concept

It’s been sometime since the boffins at Mercedes have done something a little well, out of character, now it seems they have been keeping themselves busy with the Mercedes Benz A Class and thinking long and hard about how the next generation may look, and the results look pretty impressive.

The A Class concept, shown in the image above, is apparently set to be unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show in April, and if in the flesh it looks anything like it does in the concept sketch then its going to a pretty major jump for the A Class, and a pretty substantial change to the target market which Mercedes is trying to appeal to.

Current A Class buyers are not especially young, not especially into sports motoring, and definitely not into having their car’s hi-fi playing at full volume as they cruise at 15mph through the local shopping district, the concept we see here though would seem to appeal to exactly those type of buyers.

If their production model does look as the sketch suggests then it’s hard to think of a model from any manufacturer that has made such a complete turnaround in terms of their target demographic, indeed its incredibly hard to imagine any driver who would choose a current A Class model as ever picking up something that looks like the concept we being shown.

All that aside though, the sketch looks mouthwateringly enticing, and we cant wait to see the car itself, and while we feel sorry for the average A Class buyer who will need to scratch their head for a while thinking about what other model they can buy instead, we cant help but applaud such a move from Mercedes to make such a dramatic change, it’s brave, and the way we see it, a real step forward.

Volkswagen XL1

Recently unveiled at the Qatar Motor Show the above is the Volkswagen XL1 Concept, design to travel incredible distances on little fuel thanks to its lightweight and highly developed aerodynamic properties.

Keeping the weight down is accomplished, among other things, by the use of a carbon fibre body using some new techniques to reduce weight and increase strength, the car stands at 795kg, which is incredibly light for a modern car of these proportions.

The car runs from a lithium-ion battery pack supplying a 20kw electric motor that is designed to be charged from a standard household socket, the battery power alone provides around 20 miles of driving. Once the battery power is exhausted, the XL1′s tiny 48 horsepower 0.8 litre (yes… zero point eight!) TDI engine takes over responsibility for propelling the car.

To provide some feeling that the car really is designed to go a long way on little the fuel, the fuel tank holds a measly 2.64 gallons, giving the the car a max range of 341 miles when used with a full charge. Overall CO2 output is obviously low too, producing only 24 grams per kilometer, compared to the best current low CO2 models available which produce around 80-100 grams per kilometer.

While the XL1 is not destined for production, its clear Volkswagen is working towards a production car with these kind of efficiency figures, which while not impossible, is going to be hard to achieve for sometime due to the cost involved in producing lightweight, and strong, body shells. Nobody is going to pay $50k+ for a slow, small, city runaround, and right now that is the problem Volkswagen, and all other manufacturers face, how to produce these efficiency figures in a sensibly priced car.

Volkswagen XL1 - Interior

Smart Roadster

During the early days of the Smart car there was a limited run version of the car called the Crossblade that was basically a Smart car without any of the usual items required to keep you safe from the elements, such as doors and a roof. The Crossblade was produced only briefly, with 2000 cars being built before production ceased, and seemingly with it the chance of Smart having any form of open top Smart from which to enjoy the sunshine (or rain depending on your preference).

The vehicle you see pictured above is not the Crossblade, as fans of the icon will know, what it is is a trademarked design drawing produced by Smart and seemingly a vision of a future version of their fun little runaround, but with the unmistakable feel of a Mercedes (Smarts parent company) roadster, what more could you want for a summertime trip to the local store?

We don’t know when, or indeed if, Smart will actually produce this roadster or some variation of it, but its intriguing the designs have been trademarked and would certainly suggest production is at least a possibility. It also seems possible that a concept of the Smart Roadster may make an appearance at one of this years big auto shows, given the timing of the trademarks was in November 2010, so don’t be surprised to see it appear in some form sooner rather than later.