March 11th, 2010
Shteph
Michelin’s new Pilot Sport 3 has just been unveiled sometime last month, and the PS3 will replace the PS2 as well as the Pilot Exalto – a new merged line-up.
Here’s some of the ‘features’ of the new PS3:
- Green Power Compound – a rubber formula that includes silica particles that is designed for good wet grip. Silica helps reduce heat build up.
- Anti Surf System – a specially shaped shoulder that evacuates large volumes of water. It reduces risk of hydroplaning.
- Programmed Distortion Tyre – improves steering precision while at the same time increasing tread life. It keeps the rubber tread at an optimal temperature in all circumstances. At low speeds, the tread heats up quickly to attain the level of flexibility required for good traction. At high speeds, it stiffens to prevent excessive temperature build-up. Read the rest of this entry »
March 11th, 2010
Shteph
Infiniti has just released four new G Anniversary Editions, built in commemoration of the Nissan luxury division’s 20th anniversary. Just 350 G Sedans and 200 each for the Coupe and Convertible will be available, scheduled to go on sale in mid-April in the US.
The Anniversary Editions are based on the high-spec “Journey” or AWD variants of the cars, which comes with a 328 bhp/365 Nm 3.7-litre V6 engine and 7-speed automatic transmission, Sport Package and 4-Wheel Active Steer (except Sedan AWD). The Convertible is offered with climate-controlled seats.
Read the rest of this entry »
March 11th, 2010
Shteph
Should we cry for goodbye over Ralliart or is Mitsu’s divion just having a spring break?
Mitsubishi’s Ralliart is one of the more famous performance divisions, thanks to the brand’s rally winning exploits and the Lancer Evolution series’ cult following. So it’s sad news to hear that Ralliart is the latest to succumb to the changed environment the automotive world had to face ever since the global financial crisis hit. It is winding down operations.
“The business circumstance surrounding our company radically became worse and so, this time we have reached the conclusion that we Ralliart Inc, would scale down our business activities as of the end of March 2010,” according to Ralliart Inc’s president Masao Taguchi, in a “farewell letter” to customers, which you can read for yourself after the jump.
Mitsubishi’s quit the WRC in 2005, and more recently abandoned its Dakar Rally exploits last year, including all rally raid events. Mitsubishi is the most successful manufacturer in the Dakar, with 12 wins in 26 appearances, including a record seven back-to-back victories from 2001 to 2007. With this latest development, Ralliart will no longer lend support to motorsport customers and privateers. Also put to a stop is the planning, development and selling of Ralliart products.
Read the rest of this entry »
March 9th, 2010
Shteph
The Audi A8 is the newest limo on the block and this is the A8 hybrid which aims to be the greenest in the segment. Shown at the Geneva show for the first time, the A8 hybrid’s drivetrain consists of two propulsion units – a 2.0 TFSI internal combustion engine and an electric motor – that develop a total output of 245 bhp and 480 Nm of torque. This enables a 7.6-second 0-100 km/h time and a top speed of 235 km/h, done in Transporter style coolness.
A hydraulically operated wet clutch links the TFSI with the electric motor (with 45 bhp and 211 Nm), which makes available its grunt from standstill. In the boot lies the Audi’s lithium-ion battery pack, which still leaves 400 litres of luggage space. Subsystems that operate on engine power in a regular car have been modified to run entirely on electric power in the A8 hybrid, such as the air-con compressor, electromechanical steering system and brake booster, all managed by a “pulse control inverter” system. All these will appear in the Audi Q5 hybrid, to be introduced later this year.
Read the rest of this entry »
March 9th, 2010
Shteph
Dacia announced the Duster prices for Romania, which are from 10.500 euro (VAT included) for the 4×2 version, and from 12.300 euros (VAT included) for the 4×4 version. The prices can reach 15.600 euros for the top version powered by an 1.5 liters diesel engine with 110 HP.
You can order the Dacia Duster starting from March and the deliveries will begin in April. Read the rest of this entry »
March 9th, 2010
Shteph
Seeing the Audi A1 and A1 e-tron concept at this year’s Geneva Motor Show provides proof that the quad-ring automaker is putting a much larger focus on its small car offerings. With that in mind, new rumors are cropping up about a possible successor to the A2 – the quirky little hatch that never went to the U.S. and only had minor success in Europe.
“There’s clearly room for another product and another concept between the A3 and A1,” Audi CEO Rupert Stadler told AutoWeek during the Geneva Motor Show. The new A2 would likely be A1-based and use an electric powertrain, possibly sourced from the A1 e-tron concept. European media has reported that the A2 successor is expected to debut by 2014, and no word has been given about a possible U.S.-spec version. However, with Audi keeping the A1 away from American soil, it’s likely that the A2 would be a Europe-only affair, as well.
March 9th, 2010
admin
Car-puccino is an interesting project developed by the team from BBC1’s “Bang Goes the Theory” science program.
It sounds like an interesting concept that might drastically change the way we look at fuel, but in reality, this coffee-powered vehicle isn’t cost-effective at all. The appropriately named car-puccino was created using a 1988 Volkswagen Scirocco, chosen for its resemblance to the legendary DeLorean, used in “Back to the Future”.
Car-puccino will make a 210 mile journey, from Manchester to London, powered only by coffee. Very dry coffee will be placed in the cylinder at the back, heated at 700 degrees Celsius, until it breaks down into hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The gas is then transported to the engine, where it burns, pushing the vehicle along.
Read the rest of this entry »
March 8th, 2010
Shteph
Hyundai was the big kahuna sponsoring last night’s Oscar broadcast, but in a shocking upset, Mercedes may have walked off with the trophy for best performance by an automaker. Sure, the ad announcing the debut of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 hybrid was bland, and it didn’t say much of anything about the car, but it showed beyond a shadow of a doubt that Mercedes knows its target market like the back of its hand. Read the rest of this entry »
March 8th, 2010
Shteph
The Chevrolet Corvette has held the title of “America’s sportscar” for more than six decades now, but General Motors is going global for the design of the next-generation two-seater. GM has requested Corvette design studies from 10 of its global design studios.
Although the Detroit automaker has yet to make a decision on the design direction of the next Vette, it is considering several global design studies. Ed Welburn, GM’s head of global design, offered the challenge to 10 of GM’s design studios last year. Read the rest of this entry »
March 8th, 2010
Shteph
The Hyundai i-flow is one of the significant concept cars at Geneva, not just because it looks dramatic, but because under that heavily sculpted skin is a range of latest tech that could appear in Hyundai’s next generation of cars. Powering the i-flow is the company’s first diesel-electric hybrid powertrain consisting of a U2 1.7-litre oil burner with two-stage turbocharging and Hyundai’s lithium ion-polymer battery. Coupled to a six-speed, dual-clutch transmission, the drivetrain is capable of 33.3 km/l and a low CO2 output of 85g/km.
The i-flow is also a test bed for new energy harvesting ideas, ranging from a flexible solar panel roofing to a thermo-electric generator developed in partnership with leading chemical company BASF. One such idea is thermal engine encapsulation, which ensures that the engine reaches optimum operating temperature more quickly by retaining heat when the car is idle. Hyundai says that this translates into fuel savings and emissions cuts of 5% during summer and up to 9% in winter. The thermo-electric generator meanwhile recaptures energy from hot exhaust gases and converts it to electrical energy to help power auxiliary systems.
Designed at Hyundai’s European studio in Russelsheim, the i-flow sports the firm’s “fluidic sculpture” design language. With an overall length of 4,780 mm and a 2,800 mm wheelbase, the i-flow is a Honda Accord sized D-segment contender that is set to hit the market in 2011. It remains to be seen how much of the i-flow’s styling is retained for production, but things look promising with the recent Korean realisation that advanced design is as important as making competent cars. Read the rest of this entry »
March 7th, 2010
Shteph
With a lot of help from its parent company, the Renault-Nissan Alliance, Romania’s low-cost Dacia brand is picking up the pace with the launch of its sixth model, the Duster that was officially presented at the Geneva Motor Show this week.
The compact off-roader uses the firm’s low-cost Logan platform that has spawned several car and small-van models over the past few years. At 4.31 meters long and 1.82 meters wide, the generic but somewhat tough-looking Duster is similar in size to the recently facelifted Nissan Qashqai crossover.
Dacia says that the Duster can comfortably seat up to five adults offering both front and rear occupants the same amount of space as the Logan saloon while the SUV’s boot has a capacity of up to 475 liters (depending on version). Read the rest of this entry »
March 7th, 2010
Shteph
If you want to own a race car and on top of that to be a BMW and if you have 298,000 Euros to spare, then your dream is about to become true, cause now you can have your very own BMW Z4 GT3 race car. This dream car is powering by the M3’s 4.0-liter V8, which is managed by a different ECU and is mated to an uprated six-speed sequential gearbox.
This enables the engine to be capable of producing 480bhp. Standard equipment includes anti-lock brakes and race wheels. Air conditioning is offered as an option. The BMW Z4 GT3 race car is eligible for international and national championships that run in accordance with GT3 regulations, including the FIA GT3 European Championship, International GT Open and the ADAC GT Masters. It is also eligible for a variety of 24-hour endurance races.
March 6th, 2010
Shteph
Porsche 918 Spyder concept was something unexpected to be revealed in Geneva. The Stuttgart based sportscar maker, now under the Volkswagen umbrella, was very protective of its “sports car for the 21st century”, sports car which is a superlative at almost every aspect: 500 bhp V8 with 9,200 rpm redline, 0-100 km/h in 3.2 seconds, faster around Nurburgring than the Carrera GT, capable of 33.3 km/l. As you can see from the pictures, they erected a barrier, well guarded by big Germans so that no one could get too close to the show stopper.
March 6th, 2010
Shteph
After a two year absence from the international scene, Bertone returns with a bang by unveiling one of the most memorable cars of this year’s Geneva show – the Pandion concept, as a tribute to Alfa Romeo’s 100-year anniversary and also a proposal for the future look of the brand.
The first car penned by Mike Robinson in his new role as Design and Brand Director at Bertone, the Pandion is named after the Pandion Haliaetus, a scientific name for the Osprey sea hawk. And it’s this bird’s wings that inspired the Pandion’s most striking feature – those spectacular doors that open upwards to the air. They incorporate the car’s front and rear fenders and stand exactly 90 degrees straight from the centre of the rear wheels. In the event of a rollover, the doors are designed to fall off for easy exit, says Bertone. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in 
Tags: 
