What's New - January 2005
Mon, 03 Jan 2005
Three years after its debut BMW has announced the mid-life revision of the 7 Series, due for launch in spring 2005. The update includes exterior styling enhancements, interior fine-tuning, dynamic developments and a range of new engines. From the front, there is a new headlamp and bumper design, changes to the kidney grilles and enhancement of the power dome on the hood to give the car a more powerful face. The rear of the car has also been revised with modified tail lamps, bumper and a chrome strip running the width of the boot lid. These changes are aimed at narrowing the car from the rear view and ensuring it looks planted firmly on the road. In profile, bolder side sills emphasise the sportiness and dynamics of the car.
Inside, BMW's iDrive system has been subtly revised to make it more user friendly and to assist navigation with improved menu guidance to move between the eight areas of the Control Display. All cars now feature xenon headlamps and a headlamp cleaning system and, additionally, all models benefit from Brake Force Display, BMW's two-stage brake light system that alerts drivers travelling behind that the 7 Series is making an emergency stop.Bentley Continental Flying Spur
Bentley Motors have announced the arrival of the fastest four-door in the company's history, the Continental Flying Spur. Bred from the fastest four-seat coupe of its time, the 1957 Continental Flying Spur, it was developed in parallel with the Continental Coupe.
"We were very conscious that the Continental Flying Spur had to make a sporting statement when people first saw it - after all it is a Bentley," says Bentley design chief Dirk van Braeckel. "That's actually more challenging with a four-door than a coupe, which will always look 'fast', so we spent a long time working on an appearance of potency while still retaining the presence and stature that customers expect from our cars. From the very beginning, Bentleys have been quite reserved when it comes to design," says van Braeckel. "The Continental Flying Spur embodies that Bentley ethos of understated elegance."
To go on sale in Spring 2005, the car is powered by a 6-litre, twin-turbocharged, 12-cylinder engine engineered and built at Bentley's factory in Crewe, and has a top speed in excess of 190mph and a 0-62mph (100km/h) time of around five seconds.Nissan Note
Nissan has announced the Japan-market launch of the Note compact car, which was previewed at the 2004 Paris Motor Show as the Tone concept . With a 'SHIFT_compact flexibility' tagline, the Note is said to offer a high level of driving performance and flexibility for a car of its size. Despite an overall length of 3,990 mm, the Note has a long wheelbase of 2,600 mm, resulting in a comfortable, roomy cabin with ample cargo space.
The exterior was executed around the themes of 'reassuring', 'enjoyable' and 'surprising'. Notable features of the exterior design include the Primera-style angular bodyside shoulder treatment, large headlamps and the distinctly shaped rear combination lamps, with unusual half-round reflectors.
The Note is fitted with a newly developed all-aluminum 1.5 liter 16-valve engine paired with Nissan's Xtronic continuously variable transmission.Fiat Croma
Fiat Auto's new Croma will make its first public appearance at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March, and will go on sale in Italy during June.
Designed by Giugiaro and built at Fiat Auto's Cassino factory, the name recalls the successful medium-large saloon that was on sale between 1985-1994, with over 450,000 sold during that period.
Engine options will comprise petrol and turbodiesel units including a new 2.4 MultiJet with 200 bhp. Key dimensions: length 4.75 m, width 1.77 m and height 1.60 m with a wheelbase of 2.70 m.
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