NSTAutomotive

The all-new 2017 Buick LaCrosse introduces the new face of Buick, influenced by the dramatic cues of the award-winning Avenir concept unveiled at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and inspired by a Buick concept from the mid-20th century.

The LaCrosse, which goes on sale in early summer 2016, features a new grille design with a large opening distinguished by the return of a three-color - red, silver and blue - Buick tri-shield insignia, accented by wing-shaped elements set against darkened waterfall grille bars inspired by the 1954 Wildcat II concept.

"The new LaCrosse is drop-dead gorgeous and signals the next phase of Buick's international momentum," said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Global Buick. "Its quietness, comfort and connectivity were developed to set new standards in the segment, supported by technologies not offered on competitors such as the Lexus ES."

Longer, lower and wider than the current model, the 2017 LaCrosse is built on a stronger yet lighter structure. It is about 300 pounds lighter than the current LaCrosse - largely due to the use of press-hardened, high-strength steels - which contribute to greater efficiency and more responsive handling.

The new LaCrosse's lower weight is also due in part to new lower mass sound-absorbing materials including a lightweight dissipative dash mat in place of heavier noise-blocking pads that result in a new threshold for Buick's signature QuietTuning.

The balance of the efficiency equation comes from a technologically advanced, second-generation 3.6L V-6 engine paired with a new eight-speed automatic transmission. Standard Stop/Start technology improves efficiency in stop-and-go driving.

Additional new and enhanced features include:

New five-link rear suspension and available HiPer Strut front suspension
Available electronically controlled Continuous Damping Control active suspension with selectable Touring and Sport modes
Driver-selectable Electronic Precision Shift
An available advanced, all-new dual-clutch all-wheel drive system
Efficiency-enhancing low-drag disc brakes with Duralife rotors
Electric power steering system with Lead/Pull Compensation
Easier rear-seat entry/egress
More usable storage space
Technologies including available wireless charging, available Teen Driver and configurable, LED driver information center with 8-inch-diagonal color display
Perforated leather-appointed front seats with new lumbar massaging feature
IntelliLink with frameless 8-inch-diagonal color touchscreen featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and OnStar 4G LTE with Wi-Fi hotspot integration.
The 2017 LaCrosse also features extensive active and passive safety including:

Ten standard air bags - including two knee air bags for front passengers
Front Pedestrian Braking, which alerts drivers to and can automatically apply the brakes for pedestrians detected directly ahead in some driving conditions
Lane Keep Assist, which provides gentle steering wheel turns - and Lane Departure Warning alerts, if necessary - to help drivers avoid crashes due to unintentionally drifting out of their lane
Automatic Park Assist, which helps the driver parallel park/perpendicular park by automatically steering the vehicle into a detected parking space while the driver applies the brakes
Adaptive Cruise Control
Forward Automatic Braking
Forward Collision Alert
Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert
Rear Vision Camera
Safety Alert Seat.
"We've blended sophisticated technologies and advanced safety systems to offer a more enjoyable and engaging driving experience," said Aldred. "It's a rewarding sedan for those who seek luxurious appointments, style and quality."

New face of Buick

The new LaCrosse's expressive exterior design creates a new proportion for a more dramatic road presence. The front wheels have been pulled forward and the wheelbase stretched 2.7 inches (65 mm), while the overall length is only 0.6-inch longer (15 mm). The dynamic proportion is further enhanced by a roofline that's 1.6 inches (40 mm) lower than the current model.

The longer wheelbase is matched by wheels pushed outward 1.3 inches (33 mm) in the front and 1.1 inches (28 mm) in the rear, while the car's width has grown only 0.4-inch (10 mm), creating a wheels-at-corners stance intended to convey road confidence.

"It's a sleeker design that looks confident and purposeful," said Holt Ware, exterior design director. "Stretching the wheelbase, lowering the roofline and making it slightly wider creates a dramatic effect that is enhanced by the design's supporting elements such as the swept headlamps."

The signature sweepspear body-side design element has been reinterpreted in a modern fashion, enhancing the car's sculpture. The split design gives the body side a greater perception of depth, while picking up additional body lines for an elegant, uninterrupted flow from the front fenders to the rear.

The 2017 LaCrosse's body lines are reinforced by a longer "daylight opening" - the portion of the upper body between the A- and C-pillars. They're ringed with chrome, intended to add a tastefully restrained premium accent to the body side.

Other details blend form and function. Outside mirrors are mounted on pedestals on the doors rather than the corners of the front side windows. The design offers a greater field of view while the mirror housings were shaped in the wind tunnel to help reduce wind noise.

Aerodynamic considerations also drove the dynamic sweep of the decklid, which acts as a spoiler to make the most of airflow over the LaCrosse. Deflectors in front of the tires help reduce drag.

Additional exterior elements include:

Standard high-intensity discharge headlamps, LED signature lighting and ED taillamps are standard
Eighteen-inch wheels are standard and 20-inch wheels are available
Active grille shutters, which open and close automatically to control airflow, reducing aerodynamic drag and improving fuel efficiency.
Capless fuel filler on all models.
Seamless ambience, authentic craftsmanship

The new LaCrosse's interior is designed to offer an open and inviting space for passengers - one that is relaxing, luxurious and well-connected. Sculpturally beautiful form and premium materials complement technologies developed for effortless interfacing.

It is the first Buick with a single cockpit design aesthetic, characterized by a horizontal form that sweeps across the instrument panel and into the doors. It also incorporates a "floating" center console that positions the controller for the new Electronic Precision Shift high and close to the driver, while creating storage space below the console for items such as a handbag or tablet.

"There is fluidity in the interior forms - a seamless ambience that flows throughout the cabin," said Liz Wetzel, interior design director. "Like the exterior, there is sculptural beauty in the interior's functionality, complemented with high-quality, authentic materials and exceptional attention to detail."

That attention to detail includes soft materials for practically every touchpoint; French stitching on the seats, instrument panel and more, aluminum sill plates and wood decorative trim, depending on the model.

"There is a handcrafted essence that is inviting and rewarding," said Wetzel. "It is a clean environment designed to refresh and inspire."

New and enhanced available luxury features amplify the LaCrosse's comfort:

Three fashion-inspired interior trim choices: Jet Black, Dark Atmosphere and Shale, and Jet Black and Brandy
Contemporary Moon White ambient lighting
Eight-way-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with improved heating for quicker warm-up on cold mornings and a new massage feature
Perforated leather-appointed seats
Heated steering wheel with power tilting/telescoping steering column
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Power rear sunshade
Premium Bose® audio system.
It also offers greater, more practical storage space and easier access. The rear doors, for example, open wider and offer easier entry/egress. The trunk offers approximately 7 percent more storage space than the current model, and was configured to accommodate four golf bags.

Sophisticated, intuitive technologies - including phone integration

As one of the segment's most technologically advanced vehicles, the new LaCrosse offers a host of communication and convenience features designed for effortless connectivity.

The central technology is the latest edition of Buick IntelliLink, which is displayed in a new, frameless 8-inch-diagonal color touchscreen located at the center of an ergonomically optimized instrument panel. Along with the climate system and other features on the "center stack," it was designed with fewer buttons and controls for more intuitive use.

Phone integration technology is paired with IntelliLink and is designed to display phone features users would want while driving and put them on the 8-inch display via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The features allow customers to use select smartphone apps through the touchscreen interface. Many features can be controlled via voice commands through a button on the steering wheel, helping drivers keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.

Additional LaCrosse technology highlights include:

All-new Electronic Precision Shift - Rather than a traditional shifter, gears are chosen and engaged via a simple toggle pull. It provides smooth, precise and responsive shifting while enabling added storage in the center console.
Configurable, high-definition driver information center - Located in the center of the gauge cluster and flanked by round instrument binnacles, it has a large, 8-inch-diagonal full-color display.
Head-up display - This available feature offers four page views: speed, audio, navigation and performance. It also offers alerts for certain active safety features such as Lane Keep Assist and Forward Collision Alert.
Available Teen Driver Technology - It encourages safe driving habits for new drivers by muting the audio or any device paired with the vehicle when front-seat occupants aren't wearing their safety belts. It also provides audible and visual warnings when the vehicle is traveling over predetermined speeds - and offers a driving "report card" for parents.
Wireless charging - When equipped with this available feature, the phone storage slot in the center console enables inductive charging without plug-ins or cables.
Buick QuietTuning process

The new LaCrosse builds on the reputation of the current model to offer an even quieter driving experience.

Additional quieting features include:

New five-link rear suspension for greater isolation from road noise than the current four-link design
Active noise cancellation is standard on all models
Acoustic wheelhouse liners
Acoustic-laminated windshield and front side windows
Triple-sealed doors
Improved body noise-path sealing
Windshield wipers "park" below the hood line to reduce wind noise.

Next-generation powertrain

LaCrosse's all-new 3.6L V-6 engine with direct injection and dual overhead cams is the second generation of GM's DOHC V-6 engine family and incorporates new features such as Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) and Stop/Start technology.

The Active Fuel Management system temporarily deactivates two of the 3.6L's cylinders in light-load driving conditions to enhance fuel efficiency and seamlessly reactivates them when full power is needed.

With the efficiency-enhancing Stop/Start system, the engine shuts down in certain driving conditions such as at a stop light to reduce fuel consumption. It automatically restarts when the driver takes his or her foot off the brake pedal.

An all-new noise-reducing cam drive system contributes to the LaCrosse's benchmark quietness.

The 3.6L is General Motors-estimated at 305 horsepower (227 kW) and 268 lb-ft of torque (363 Nm); and it's matched with a new eight-speed automatic transmission.

Balanced, efficient driving experience

The 2017 LaCrosse offers enhanced capability with Buick's first twin-clutch all-wheel-drive system. It offers better performance during acceleration and cornering by splitting torque between the rear wheels for optimal performance and uses independent clutch actuation to determine and control the amount of torque sent to each rear wheel.

A new five-link rear suspension is the central component of the improved ride and handling characteristics. It helps reduces roll center motion, enables positive lateral control and promotes dynamic stability. In short, it helps keep the tires planted on all surfaces - and contributes to a quieter ride through greater isolation from road noise.

At the front, a MacPherson-strut suspension is standard and Buick's HiPer Strut suspension is used on front-wheel-drive models with 20-inch wheels. It helps reduce torque steer and maintain negative camber during cornering, improving maximum grip in all road conditions. It also improves the direct feel of the vehicle, while isolating undesirable feedback.

Available, electronically controlled Continuous Damping Control further optimizes ride comfort and handling capabilities over varying road surfaces and profiles. It's an active suspension system that can adjust damping every two milliseconds, with Touring and Sport damping modes selected by the driver through the Electronic Precision Shift.

Also contributing to LaCrosse's more-direct driving experience is an enhanced, rack-mounted electronic power steering system, which incorporates Lead-Pull Compensation, automatically adjusting the steering angle to account for factors like crowned roads or high crosswinds.

Additional chassis and driver control features on the 2017 LaCrosse include:

Low-drag four-wheel disc brakes with Duralife rotors, which offer up to double the service life of conventional rotors
Hill Start Assist with Automatic Vehicle Hold, which can hold the brakes up to five minutes, depending on conditions
Electronic park brake
Shear-type suspension mounts that offer greater ride, handling and noise isolation attributes.

Cadillac unveiled the first-ever 2017 Crossover Touring 5 (XT5) a comprehensively upgraded luxury crossover and the cornerstone of a new series of crossovers in the brand's ongoing expansion. The first-ever Cadillac XT5 premieres at the 2015 Dubai and Los Angeles auto shows and begins production in the U.S. and China in spring 2016.

Price starts $50,475

The first images of the New Bugatti Chiron! The Veyron successor takes over numerous optical bonds of the study Vision GT

Las Vegas - General Motors (GM) has launched the sixth generation of the Chevrolet Camaro COPO in the event the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) in 2015 which began on the 3rd and November 6 in Las Vegas, USA. Interestingly, the brand-new version made only 69 units.

American luxury car manufacturer, Cadillac taking aggressive steps in anticipation of competition with other luxury brands such as Lexus and Mercedes.

Ford Performance proudly unveiled the 2016 Cobra Jet Mustang at the 2015 SEMA show in Las Vegas, marking the newest iteration of Cobra Jet as a limited-edition turnkey race car.

The latest generation Chevrolet Camaro  has entered into a production line. That is, the Camaro gets closer to the market.

Lexus present at the Tokyo Motor Show 2015 a new concept LF-CF, which seems to prefigure the replacement for the LS, in the guise of a large four-door coupe embedding a fuel cell.

Price, $67,200

Porsche announced the new Macan GTS. With more power, a reengineered suspension, unique GTS-specific exterior and interior appointments, and new connectivity options, the new Macan GTS provides an enthusiastic driving experience that enhances the current Macan range.

Acura finally shows a detailed view one of the latest Acura NSX Hybrid supercar. The Japanese manufacturer was sure going to start selling it in 2017.

Price. U$ 94,377
ALFA IS BACK! YES, ONCE again the clichéd headline is being wheeled out as one of the best-loved automotive brands (Alfa’s words, not ours) has revealed its new Giulia sedan. This is the car
the company hopes will take the fight to BMW’s 3 Series, Mercedes’ C-Class, Audi’s A4 and Jaguar’s XE in the executive sedan sector.

California - Maserati North American region reportedly will recall 984 units of sedan Maserati Quattroporte GTS V8 sedans 2014 model problem is, the cable in the battery and alternator problems that could potentially cause several problems including fire.

Jaguar C-X75 Bond Concept is the most advanced Jaguar ever created developed by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR SVO) & Williams Advanced Engineering, special for  Spectre, the 24th James Bond film, from Albert R. Broccoli's EON Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Price. $54,990
Like the Ranger that owes much of its popularity to looks that echo those of the rugged and purposeful US-based F-Series pick-up, so too will the Everest’s Bronco-esque lines find favour. Some 16 mm taller and 10 mm wider, the Everest is nevertheless 382 mm shorter than its bakkie
sibling; much of that saving has been shorn from the rear.

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton became Formula 1 world champion title of 2015. The achievement he gained after winning the Grand Prix race in the United States.

Most people thought, a lot of women prefer the cars with luxurious impression.  It is true because women have always wanted to be the center of attention. Perhaps these types of cars can be represent of woman's beauty.

British spy, James Bond, always getting the luxury and sexy cars, but he also always damage his cars, let say James Bond living in the real world, and how much the insurance costs to be incurred for the cars? Fantastic value for sure, of 1.5 million pounds.

Kwik Fit Insurance try to calculate the insurance of cars in the latest Bond movie, Spectre. In the film a rare car such as Aston Martin DB10  worth 600,000 pounds with insurance costs of 20,000 pounds sterling

Not to mention  Jaguar C-X75, Land Rover Defender and Range Rover Sport SVR. This car could have been damaged by Bond.

These three cars plus Aston Martin DB -10  the total of insurance costs nearly 1.5 million pounds or to be exact, 1,498,855 pounds.

Let's see the full infographic about Bond's car insurance by Kwik Fit Insurance below,

Price starts $23,975
ETA early 2016

Distinguished by a new, more contemporary front-end appearance, the 2016 GMC Terrain and Terrain Denali were introduced at the 2015 New York International Auto Show.

California - In an interview, Apple CEO Tim Cook did not speak at length about the iPhone and Mac computers. He instead focus on other things, cars. So if Apple finally really would have iCar?

No. Cook specifically did not mention Apple is developing a car, according to Engadget, Cook too reckless if something big like that out of his mouth, but according to Cook, there will be major changes in the automotive world.

"There will be massive changes in the industry that, when I saw a car, the software has become a very important part for cars in the future," Cook said.

 Autonomous driving is becoming more important. Where the current vehicle technology began to evolve from a traditional combustion engine transformed into an electric motor car.

In the short term, Apple, according to Cook has been providing solutions for the automotive industry. They call it Apple CarPlay. This application has been implanted in some car brands such as Ferrari and others.

"We want people when getting into their cars then get amazing experience as when using an iPhone," he said.

London - Jaguar is reportedly working on an electric SUV crossover. The car is expected to be a competitor American electric SUV, Tesla Model X.

2016 Cadillac refreshes the sharp V models and donated the siblings ATS-V and CTS-V even more power up to 649 hp .

Tony Roma  the head of Cadillac performance division would play something, then probably prefer a car quartet. Finally he could there do with the recent news of GM subsidiary make so many down. Because if the Americans crown in spring the series CTS and ATS with a V-model, they steal the rapid daughters of their German competitors belonging to Look: 470 hp in the middle or 649 hp in the upper class and a top speed 305-320 km / h - as the V stands not only for Vitesse, but at least in the quartet for "Victory".

An inside source with Cadillac revealed to Automobile Magazine that the company is planning a more powerful version of the CTS-V to stay one step ahead of the BMW M5 and Mercedes E63 AMG. The CTS-V currently outpaces those cars by about 80 horsepower, but more powerful versions of those super sedans are expected for 2017.

"The Cold War continues," the source said. "I don't know where it stops, but it's not at 640 hp, that's for sure."

The same basic engine that Cadillac uses in the CTS-V is tuned to produce 650 horsepower in the Chevrolet Corvette, so there is obviously room for improvement. And, as the Dodge Hellcat twins have proven, it's possible to extract more than 700 horsepower from a street-reliable V8.

It's not quite clear when the hopped-up Cadillac CTS-V might debut, but a mid-cycle refresh is likely planned for 2-3 years from now.

Minor setback or communications strategy? It is not known what prompted officials to unveil their new Mini Cabrio just before winter. In any case, they have taken precautions not only the presentation will be held at the Los Angeles, and it never rains in southern California, as everyone knows. But if, despite everything, the clouds were darkening the horizon, a new function should protect the interior of the Mini waves.

Ken Block introduces his new baby Gymkhana.  The drift-Star relies for the first time on a car with rear-wheel drive. A more than 30-year-old Ford Escort MK2 RS plays the leading role.

With its 605 hp, the Audi RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback performance were not exactly amorphous. The 605 bhp new version of their performance now make the station wagon and coupe the most powerful four-door market. Competition in the German premium cars is eternal, and Audi had taken a little late in some segments

The future of electric cars are increasingly bright make many technology companies involved participated to this field. Partnering with technology companies rechargeable electric car batteries ABB, Microsoft to build new fast-charging electric car platform.

With 140 thousand employees globally, ABB, based in Zurich, Switzerland, became one of the largest engineering companies in the world. Reportedly  ABB has been making fast-charging station for electric cars.

Microsoft recently aggressively encourage the use of cloud. This is consistent with the mission of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to create intelligence cloud platform that will focus on three main product.

"Today we live in an era of mobile-first, cloud-first. It is even visible in the global electric vehicle market,"“Our partnership with ABB aligns to one of our company ambitions to build the intelligent cloud platform, and we look forward to our technology and services becoming a differentiator for ABB’s solutions. said Executive Vice President of Business Development Microsoft Peggy Johnson.

With sexy brands such as Tesla betting on electric vehicles and Apple making early moves in the field, as well as long-established automotive firms such as BMW joining in, it’s clear that Electric Vehicle technology has a big future. Recent research from Navigant suggests that revenue generated from Electric car charging services is set to reach almost $3 billion by 2023, up from $150 million this year.

Collaborating with Microsoft, the software giant based in Redmond, Washington, USA will provide Azure cloud platform to ensure stability and management are claimed to be more sophisticated. This partnership was announced at the event trade show in Munich, Germany which is being held this week.

Aston Martin finally come into play on the electric car. In an event attended by the member of British Royal  Prince William's and Kate Middleton-President of China, Xi Jinping, Aston Martin showed off RapidE electric car concept.

Price $ 30.000
ETA: Q3 2016

October 21, 2015, for Back to the Future movie lovers, especially the second part, being the date of launch promotion sales of the Toyota Mirai fuel cell vehicle in the United States.

This date was used by Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd), Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) and Jennifer (Elisabeth Shue) to prevent the descent McFly made a mistake that will destroy their families. They travel through time with flying cars Delorean.

Toyota also take advantage of this day to introduce their future cars in America that is Mirai, a hydrogen car. As with Delorean, Mirai also use fuel produced from waste. So most of the fiction became reality.

Titled “Fueled by the Future,” the video debuted last night in California during an event attended by more than 300 new Toyota Mirai owners, Mirai dealers and special guests. The video is the last in the “Fueled By Everything” online video series demonstrating hydrogen fuel’s potential to be sourced from almost anything, including solar, wind and trash.

“A piece of the future is now a reality with the Toyota Mirai. Compared to some other technologies predicted in the film, like rehydrated pizza or self-tying shoes, this technology has the real potential to change the world,” actor Christopher Lloyd said.

The difference, if Delorean used by Doc and McFly can directly use the waste as fuel, meanwhile Toyota Mirai must convert the waste into hydrogen gas as fuel for cars. The gas is processed in a processing facility and then sent to the hydrogen gas filling stations.

Toyota also create various scenes BTTF with Mirai, starring Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd. Check out the video below:

BMW has presented he newly developed BMW M6 GT3 The racing version of the BMW M6 Coupe in Frankfurt IAA. BMW Motorsport has channelled its vast well of experience amassed since 2010
with the BMW M6 GT3’s predecessor, the BMW Z4 GT3, into the development of the new car.

Hunan - SUV Jeep, Cherokee will have a label 'Made in China'. Jeep Cherokee officially announced the production process results in a new plant in joint venture with a local company in Hunan Province, China.

Swedish automotive manufacturer, Volvo, promised to begin launching next electric car by 2019. The manufacturer calls in 2020, the number of electric cars has reached 10 percent of all car models are marketed.

Aston Martin is busy developing its answer to the Ferrari FXX-K and McLaren P1-GTR – the $2.3million, 600kW-plus, insane V12-engined Vulcan.

Price, U$D 2.7M
Ferrari FXX K research and development programme receives its world premiere at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. The laboratory-car is based on Maranello's first hybrid model and will grace the world's tracks from next year onwards. The K in its moniker is a reference to the "KERS" kinetic energy recovery system it adopts in maximising its track performance.

Aston Martin plans to develop electric cars. Unsparing, a British manufacturer  has the ambition that the electric car able to boost power of 800 to 1,000 horsepower.

Volvo has announced it's return to WTCC season at 2016. The Swedish manufacturer hopes to fight for the title, even if it's has little shone in the past.

Ford confirmed that will introduce a more powerful Focus RS, engine boost up to 350 horsepower promised would be felt by every driver.

In the beginning was the M1, an iconic supercar of the late seventies that impressed people while being a commercial flop. Then a nice Munich's sporting line, derived from 5 and 3 Series first, before spreading to numbers 6 and 4. Now, with the unprecedented M2, the saga is enriched with a M new chapter, one late the 1 Series M Coupe had no right to write because of homonymy with the ancestor. The latest creations of the Motorsport GmbH, the newcomer openly claims the legacy of the first M3, copiously with swollen wings and a body kit that give a raw look stripping. Elements that also evoke the ancestor 2002 turbo had a reputation for "widow-maker."

Price, $283,925

"Not everyone has the pleasure of driving a million dollars worth of Surrey’s best. With a few hours of allotted driving time and a full tank of gas, I hopped into one of McLaren’s finest supercars, the 650S Spider"…

Ferrari revealed the F12tdf  (Tour de France) which pays homage to the Tour de France, the legendary endurance road race that Ferrari dominated in the 1950s and '60s, particularly with the 1956 250 GT Berlinetta which won four consecutive editions in a row. It was a race that rewarded cars that combined maximum performance with the driveability and ease of use that enabled the competitors to race for hundreds of kilometres a day over fast, tortuous roads and on circuits. The F12tdf is the ultimate expression of the concept of an extreme road car that is equally at home on the track, and just 799 will be built.