All posts by Francis Mitterrand

News

2023 DS 7

French carmaker DS has unveiled a new version of the DS 7. The new version brings a refreshed design, new technologies and a powerful plug-in hybrid drivetrain.

The new DS 7, depending on the market, will be offered with a petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid engine. The offer remains a BlueHDi diesel engine with 130 hp (96 kW). The base model is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine combined with an electric motor with a total power of 225 hp (165 kW), which is supplied to the front wheels. There are also more powerful all-wheel drive models, the DS 7 E-Tense 4×4 360 with 300 hp (221 kW) and the DS 7 360 with 355 hp (261 kW) reaching 62 mph in just 5.6 seconds. All three models are equipped with a 14.2 kWh battery. The car will be offered with new 18, 19, 20 and 21 inch rims, as well as an optional dark exterior design.

The refreshed design brings new lights with three optical elements that have 84 matrix LED matrix technology. There are also LED daytime running lights consisting of 33 LEDs each, and they are covered with a transparent polycarbonate surface in the color of the body. The front grille has also been redesigned with a new mesh design, reminiscent of that of the DS 4. The new DS Automobiles inscription on the tailgate has replaced the old DS 7 Crossback.

Inside, there were no major changes. The center console features a standard 12-inch screen with a new infotainment system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay function, as well as a night vision system. Most of the new models from Stellantis got a new shift-by-wire button, but the DS kept the “old school” solution.

Sales of the new DS 7 begin in September, and DS Automobiles has already started receiving bookings.

Source: DS Automobiles

EV, News

2023 VW ID. Aero

After ID.4 and ID.5, hatchback ID.3 and van ID. Buzz, Volkswagen has introduced its new electric model, the ID. Aero. It will be produced in China only for the Chinese market. Next year, Volkswagen will also unveil a version for the European and American markets, which will be produced at the Emden plant, Germany.

The all-electric luxury sedan is Volkswagen’s response to rivals, the Tesla Model 3 and BMW i4. In fact, the goal of VW is to attract the attention of the upper class of Chinese families with this model. The medium-sized premium sedan has a longer wheelbase and provides plenty of space inside.

The design of the front of the car is something that has not been seen on conventional VW models. Thin LED Matrix lights and a light line that extends the entire length, while the back is a wide light element like the one on the Audi Sportback. The extent to which Volkswagen designers took care of the design is also shown by the air resistance coefficient of 0.23.

VW did not disclose performance data, but said it would ID. Aero have a range of 385 miles (620 km). It will be built on the same MEB platform for electric cars as other models from the VW ID family. When it comes to propulsion it is assumed that it will use the same electric motors available in other VW electric vehicles. It is equipped with a 77 kWh battery and a set of 22 inch wheels.

Source: Volkswagen

News, Tuning

6XTM – Audi RS6 Avant with widebody kit

The Audi RS6 Avant is a station wagon with outstanding performance, but there are always those who think they can make any car better, depending on tastes. So the German tuner G&B Design decided to present the 6XTM, an upgraded station wagon with a more aggressive look.

The tuner has prepared a new body kit for the Audi RS6 Avant, which includes specially made parts that increase the size of the car by eight centimeters. New engine hood, new front grille, lip spoiler, sills, rear apron, rear spoiler, side extensions and more, are just some of the parts that make the look of the caravan more aggressive. Also, there is a new set of Jager rims measuring 21×12, and the tuner named its creation 6XTM.

G&B Design did not change the performance of the RS6 Avant. The car is still powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with 591 hp (435 kW) at 6250 rpm and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque. That’s quite enough for a family car, which reaches 62 mph in 3.7 seconds with a top speed of 156 mph (251 km / h). Power is transmitted to all wheels via 8-speed automatic transmission.

Source: G&B Design