2013 Lincoln MKS hits the Hollywood spotlight

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and for Lincoln, that all-important first stride is represented by the 2013 MKS. The big Lincoln sedan has been given a mid-cycle refresh that includes upgraded power, a newly refined suspension and a restyled beak, all of which are on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The newly redesigned front end of the MKS is likely to gather the most attention when it hits the streets in spring, as Lincoln designers have added more and thinner elements to the grille. Lincoln has also tweaked front and rear fenders, added a new hood and fresh HID headlights along with new LED taillamps.

Engineers would likely argue that the mechanical changes for 2013 are even more significant, as the MKS benefits from a host of suspension tweaks and more power. The 3.7-liter V6 now boasts 300 horsepower, 26 more than the 2012 model. Despite this welcome infusion of grunt, Lincoln tells us that this big sedan now gets three more miles per gallon. A base V6 MKS will achieve an estimated 19 miles per gallon in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. The EcoBoost 3.5-liter engine will continue to output 355 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque.

The ride and handling of the MKS should benefit from Lincoln's new Continuously Controlled Damping, which can enact changes at a hair-raising clip of 20 times per second. The MKS will also feature Lincoln Drive Control, which gives the driver the ability to switch from Normal, Sport and Comfort driving modes at the press of a button. And speaking of switchgear, the 2013 MKS will feature available MyLincoln Touch, which has been tweaked for quicker performance and improved ease of use.

The new face of the MKS is more attractive in person than it is in photos, but we get the feeling that the more telling changes for the Lincoln brand will present themselves when the 2013 MKZ arrives at the Detroit Auto Show in January. If Ford really hopes to gain traction with its luxury marque once again, a much more thorough product rethink is clearly in order. Hit the jump to read over the Lincoln press release.

650i BMW coming to Vietnam

After 5 months of inventory, 650i BMW with first generation devices M Sport package arrived in Saigon.

Sports car brand new car sold in the U.S. Germany from May 7/2011 and there is also the time of both the coupe and convertible are built M Sport package equipment. Vehicles using LED fog lights, alloy wheels 19 inch double-spoke aluminum, leather sports seats and steering wheel, Alcantara and leather.

Surround sound system Bang & Olufsen brand and was particularly developed for each version, with Acoustic Lens technology with a capacity of 1,200 watt amplifier and 16 speakers on a coupe, or 1,000 watts power amplifier and 12 speakers on the roof ceiling.

650i BMW equipped with a 4.4 liter V8 Twin Turbo with maximum capacity of 400 horsepower at 5500 rpm machine cycles / min to 6400 r / min. Equipped with automatic transmission 8 levels (optional), Series 6 can accelerate from 0 to 100km / h in 4.9 seconds.

BMW interior is extensively improved and easier to use. An HD monitor is 10.2 inches in the middle front dash is connected to the system alerts the system changing lanes, intelligent camera system supports vehicle traffic observed when the night, both sides of the camera vehicle and rear, parking assist system. Vehicles are also equipped with advanced safety technology of the German carmaker.

Five Offbeat Cars Coming in 2011

Strange experiments are happening in the auto industry.

Companies are cross-pollinating different types of vehicles to create new breeds, and the results are sometimes perplexing.

For example, Nissan has turned its pudgy Murano into a convertible. Meanwhile, Range Rover is trying to show some concern for the environment by offering its smallest, most car-like SUV ever, the Evoque.

Both the Murano and Evoque are considered “crossovers,” which by definition are a mixed bag to begin with: They blend attributes of SUVs, wagons and minivans. So it seems these new variations represent the next level of crossing over.

The line between different kinds of cars is also getting hazier, driven in part by a focus on making smaller cars more appealing. Both Hyundai and Scion are launching compact cars that stray from the norm in terms of seating and overall packaging. The intention is to make them more practical and thus appeal to a wider audience.

Of the new vehicles coming in 2011, here are five that don’t quite fit typical moulds.

Ferrari FF

Graft the rear end of a station wagon onto a sports car and you get the Ferrari FF.

The FF is supposed to be Ferrari’s most practical model, a supercar the whole family can enjoy. It has four seats and a decently sized trunk, which is why the rear end is designed the way it is.

It will also be the first Ferrari ever to have all-wheel drive. The name “FF” is an acronym that stands for “four seats” and “four-wheel drive.” This car replaces the 612 Scaglietti, which until it ceased production at the end of 2010 was Ferrari’s largest model and the only one with a back seat.

The Ferrari FF’s V12 engine puts out 660 horespower and is good for 0 to 62 mph in 3.7 seconds, Ferrari says.

Actually, the FF’s body style is not without precedent — it’s just obscure. Lamborghini’s Espada from the late 1960s and ’70s had a roof that stretched back like a wagon’s to accommodate a rear seat and trunk. A more recent example is the BMW Z3 Coupe, which — unlike the Ferrari and Lambo — only had two seats.

Here’s a piece of trivia: This type of sporty, stubby wagon is called a “shooting brake” in Europe.

Hyundai Veloster

Hyundai wants this little hatchback to be as cool as a Mini Cooper but more affordable and practical.

While styling and cool factor are subjective, it does have a larger interior and trunk than the Mini.

What makes it odd is that it has one door on the driver side and two doors on the passenger side. The idea was to keep the shape of a sporty two-door, but to add a rear door on the passenger side for easier access to the back seat.

Hyundai used motorcycles as a design inspiration: The car’s wraparound windshield resembles a helmet visor, and the center console is in the shape of a motorcycle’s gas tank.

A 138-hp four-cylinder engine should make the lightweight Veloster pretty peppy. Hyundai expects it to get 40 mpg on the highway. The car goes on sale this summer.

Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet

This bulky convertible SUV-type thing comes across much better in person than in photos. It will appeal to yuppies who like drop-tops but don’t care for sports cars and the compromises they bring in comfort and convenience.

Nissan is setting modest sales targets for the Murano CrossCabriolet, which shows the company is being realistic about its potential.

Several of the journalists who saw the Murano CrossCabriolet on display at an event in December thought Nissan was crazy for creating it. One even said he wouldn’t be caught behind the wheel and so wouldn’t be test driving it. A Nissan rep at the same event said consumers have responded positively to it.

Say what you will of the design, in person the car looks and feels high end, with a well appointed interior and power-folding fabric top. The trunk and back seat had to be shrunk, and the rear doors are gone to accommodate the convertible roof. Other than that, the specs are similar to a regular Murano.

Range Rover Evoque Coupe

The Evoque is Range Rover’s first vehicle aimed at environmentally conscious young drivers; and for a company that has only ever built large, expensive, gas-guzzling SUVs with go-anywhere capability, it’s a huge deal.

In fact, the only reason (or at least the main reason) the Evoque isn’t a car, is because Range Rover refuses to build anything but SUVs for fear of tainting its image. Rightly so.

The Evoque is Range Rover’s smallest, lightest SUV ever. Depending on how it’s configured, it can weigh up to 728 pounds less than the U.S. version of the Land Rover LR2, currently the company’s smallest SUV. Plastic front fenders and an aluminum hood and roof help keep weight down. Opting for front-wheel drive — a first on a Range Rover, and something that would’ve been unthinkable five years ago — instead of the standard four-wheel drive saves 165 pounds.

Its silhouette and overall styling are intentionally car-like — particularly on the two-door model — and much sleeker than the company’s blocky SUVs. The Evoque has been tuned to drive like a sporty luxury sedan on the road. Its four-cylinder engine is small for a Range Rover, so it’s turbocharged to produce a lot of power for its size (240 hp).

Four-door and two-door versions of the Evoque go on sale this fall. Land Rover expects “well equipped” models to sell for around $45,000.

Scion iQ

The Scion iQ is like a mash-up between a Scion xD and a Smart Fortwo.

From the outside, it appears to be a two seater, but there’s actually room in back for one adult and a child. Scion calls it “3 + 1” seating.

That’s because the rear seats aren’t symmetrical — the one on the right is larger than the one on the left. The idea is that the front occupant can move forward to make more room for an adult in back, while a truncated seat behind the driver can accommodate a kid.

It’s a creative use of space and the sort of thing we’re probably going to see more of as cars inevitably get smaller.

The Scion iQ is powered by a tiny four-cylinder engine that produces around 90 hp. As if to preempt any questions around safety, Scion is touting 10 airbags on the iQ, including one that covers the rear window, which the company says is a first.

Scion’s parent company Toyota already sells the iQ in other markets. It goes on sale in the United States this spring.