Mercedes-Benz Launches Viano Avantgarde Edition 125 for Business People on the Go

The 125th anniversary of the world's oldest car maker brought a new version to the Mercedes-Benz Viano range called the Avantgarde Edition 125. Taking its place as the flagship version of the series, this Viano comes with a host of styling features including bespoke 19-inch wheels, chromed mirror housings, chrome trim on the front bumper, chromed side skirts and, finally, chrome trim on the tailgate. Exterior colors are restricted to obsidian black or brilliant silver.
Inside, the Viano Avantgarde Edition 25 can seat six passengers, two in the front and four at the back. The individual seats can be covered in “Lugano” leather or the new “Twin DINAMICA” microfiber surface. Mounted on rails, the rear seats can be moved in 25 mm steps and include height-adjustable head restraints and adjustable armrests. At the front, the instruments have a white scale illumination, while the sports pedals are from brushed stainless-steel.
There are two available V6 engines, a 3.0-liter diesel and a 3.5 liter gasoline unit. The first has an output of 224 horsepower and develops a healthy 440 Nm of torque (324.5 lb-ft), accelerating the 2 tonne minivan from 0 to 100 km/h in 9,1 seconds en route to a top speed of 201 km/h (125 mph). The gasoline engine puts out 258 hp and allows the Viano to complete the 0-100 km/h sprint in 10,4 seconds and achieve a top speed of 217 km/h (135 mph). Both versions are rear-wheel-drive and have automatic transmissions, while their suspension has been tuned for a sportier feel.
The diesel variant is equipped with BlueEfficiency technology, so average fuel consumption amounts to 8.5 - 8.6 liters/100 km, while CO2 emissions are 224 – 226 g/km. The Edition 125 will be available in two different lengths, compact and long with sales starting this spring.

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New Kia Picanto

The 2012 Kia Picanto mini made its global premiere alongside the also new Rio supermini at the Geneva Motor Show today. The South Korean firm's city car will be offered for the first time with a choice of 5-door and 3-door body styles, with Kia officials expecting the new three-door model to account for 33% of Picanto sales.
Like all recent Kia models, the new Picanto benefits from a far more expressive design inside and out compared to its predecessor. It also promises to offer more space inside as the overall vehicle length has increased by 60 mm, and the wheelbase has grown by 15 mm. These increases, along with the enhanced interior packaging, offer an additional 36mm legroom for the front passengers while trunk capacity has increased by 27 per cent to 200 liters.

Another novelty for the Picanto is the availability of eight different packages for the interior including two environment colors – ebony black and alpine gray, four different cloth options and two additional ‘premium’ trim packages.
In Europe, the Picanto will be offered with a 1.25-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine that produces 85HP and 121Nm of peak torque, and a 1.0-liter three-cylinder unit available in gasoline only (69HP and 95Nm) and LPG / Gasoline Bi-fuel (82HP and 94Nm) versions. The Bi-fuel model features a 35-liter LPG tank and a 10-liter gasoline tank, allowing owners to drive up to 150 km (93 miles) after the LPG has been used up.
All engines come with a standard 5-speed manual, while a 4-speed automatic transmission will be available as an option on the 1.25-liter 85HP engine.
Regular models in the new Picanto line-up will have a CO2 rating of 95 to 105 g/km, while fuel economy will range from 4.2 to 5.9 lt per 100 km (39.9 - 55.6 mpg US).
As with the Rio, all 2012 Picanto models wil also be available with Kia’s fuel-stretching Eco-Dynamics technologies (automatic stop-start – ISG, advanced alternator control, upgraded starter motor and low-rolling resistance tyres), cutting emissions to between 90 and 100 g/km and improving fuel economy to a range of 4.1 to 5.6 lt per 100 km (42.0 - 57.4 mpg US).

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Kansas Thieves Targeting....Jeep Wrangler Doors

We've heard of thieves stealing wheels, tires, GPS and audio systems from cars, but pinching off doors from Jeep Wranglers is something new. However, that's exactly what's happening in Overland Park in Kansas, as thieves are taking doors off Jeep Wrangles and selling them online. Local police told KMBC news that four such thefts took place in the past few weeks alone.
According to the report, because the Jeep Wrangler's doors are hinged on the outside of the vehicle, it's very easy to remove the bolts if the vehicle is unlocked. The Overland Park police suggested that owners should keep their cars locked [maybe a warning sticker similar to the one found on mirrors could help...] adding that there are special bolt kits that make it very difficult to remove the doors.

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