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New BMW Z4 Roadster for 2013

2013 BMW Z4

An updated version of the BMW Z4 Roadster has been announced for production in 2013. While the four cylinder sDrive28i, and the six cylinder sDrive35i and sDrive35is see power increases, there will also be a new entry level car aimed at the european market.

The BMW Z4 sDrive18i uses a 156 horsepower version of the twin-scroll turbocharged 2 litre engine. The result is a still model that comes in £2100 GBP below the Z4 sDrive20i at £27,610 and the same sporting looks. The 0-62 mph time comes in at a still respectable 7.9 seconds with a top speed of 137 mph. The combined fuel economy of 41.5 mpg and CO2 emissions of 159 g/kg are identical to the other 4 cylinder models.

The new 2013 BMW Z4 updates also include LED daytime running lights and Xenon headlamps, new Mineral Grey, Glacier Silver and Valencia Orange colours, and two new wheel styles. The popular roadster will continue to offer its two piece retractable hardtop that raises or lowers in 20 seconds at speeds up to 20mph.

2013 BMW Z4 interior

A ‘Pure Traction Design’ package is also offered. This is a specific design style with Valencia Orange paintwork with an optional black roof (as pictured). The sport seats are trimmed in in black leather and Alcantara with contrasting orange stitching and the interior is finished with anthracite headlining and unique metal weave trim inserts. The Pure Traction Design package will be available for any of the roadsters within the 2013 BMW Z4 range.

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VW Golf R Cabriolet video

VW Golf R Cabriolet

Volkswagen have released a video of their up-coming performance model the VW Golf R Cabriolet. The video tells us a little about the 270 horsepower convertible (pictured) which looks much like the concept previously released. As usual for a Volkswagen the styling is understated but we spotted aerodynamic side skirts and twin exhaust tail pipes, LED daytime running lights and a new sporty front bumper panel. It also has large diameter Talladega-style alloy wheels.

Plenty of R badges feature front and rear, on the brake callipers and even embroidered into the leather seats. While official specifications are yet to be released, the VW Golf R Cabriolet is expected to use a turbocharged 2 litre petrol engine to develop 270 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. This should be good for a 0-100 km/h in under 6 seconds and a limited 155 mph top speed.

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Beijing Auto B40 the Chinese answer to the Jeep Wrangler

Beijing Auto B40

Convertible cars have yet to make a serious impact in the Chinese motor industry however Beijing Auto had their latest drop-top off-roader on display at this months Auto Guangzhou show. The Beijing Auto B40 is a two door 4×4 and a modernised interpretation of the classic Jeep Wrangler. When it goes to market in February it will be priced from 120.000 yuan with power from a four cylinder petrol engine. The roof is made up of removable hard panels around a fixed roll over bar.

The version pictured is stripped down off-roading version however the most popular version is likely to be a rather slicker road focused model. The Beijing Auto B40 is aimed at young adventurous people and with the low price and chunky looks should prove popular with the Chinese market.

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Porsche Art Car on Display in Miami

Romeo Britto Porsche 911 Cabriolet

While BMW may be the official automotive sponsor of this year’s Art Basel Festival and the more usual patron of brightly decorated art cars, this latest work adorns the body panels of the latest Porsche 911 Cabriolet. Brazilian ‘neo-pop’ artist Romeo Britto was commissioned by Champion Motorsport, a Porsche dealer from Pompano Beach, Florida to produce the work for the 2012 Miami Beach art festival.

This is not the first art car by Miami based Romeo Britton who has also worked on cars from Audi, Volvo, BMW/Mini and Bentley. The 911 Cabrio was displayed at the art show before being driven around Miami to showcase the artwork.

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Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster Revealed

Lamborghini Aventador Roadster

Lamborghini call it the new benchmark in the world of open-top luxury super sports cars. The Aventador Roadster is certainly a stunning looking car and Lamborghini have clearly gone their own way in convertible roof design of their range-topping super car. While Ferrari and McLaren have both revealed similar folding hardtops for their mid-engined performance convertibles the Aventador Roadster has a simple, manually removable two-piece roof panel.

At the cost of convenience the latest convertible Lamborghini‘s removable hardtop offers a simpler alternative at a considerably lower weight. The 6kg carbon fibre roof can be stowed away in the front luggage compartment so if the weather should turn on you the roof can be put back in place in a few seconds.

As a result of the weight saving the Lamborghini Aventador Roadster can achieve the same 217mph top speed as the coupe and only looses 1/10th second off the 0-62mph time which comes in at just 3 seconds. This comes thanks to the 6.5 litre V12 engine sending 700 horsepower through an ISR 7-speed gearbox to all four wheels.

Lamborghini Aventador Roadster

Despite the monstrous engine Lamborghini makes a nod to economy with the Aventador Roadster’s engine using a cylinder deactivation system when the engine is working at low capacity, while a Stop & Start system can be used to cut power when the big V12 is idle. Restarts are aided thanks to high-performance capacitors, known as supercaps, to kick the engine into life.

Prices for the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster start at €300,000 Euros including taxes.

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Bugatti’s Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse Gris Rafale

Bugatti Grand Sport Vitesse Rafale

With each Bugatti Veyron being built bespoke with almost unlimited options it becomes difficult for the customer to know what to choose. The answer was to do it for them and they have now made a habit of building one off special edition cars with unique colour schemes and finishes. The Gris Rafale Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse is just such a car and has been designed specifically for the South American market.

300 Bugatti Veyron’s have been built so far of which just 40 have been the convertible Grand Sport. Each has had a unique specification and the Gris Rafale is no exception. The name of the car which is French for ‘Grey Burst’ is a good description with pale grey coachwork finished with distinctive blue carbon fibre details. The interior is the reverse of this scheme swathed in ‘lake blue’ hide with light grey stitching.

The Bugatti’s Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse Gris Rafale will be on display at the São Paulo Motor Show 2012. This car is priced at 1.9 million Euros, but if you can’t lay your hands on that kind of cash the base price of the Vitesse comes in at 1.69 million Euros (without tax and transportation).

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