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"Let’s put that in perspective: racing an old VW Golf or Honda Civic once a month costs as much as buying a Nissan GT-R or Porsche Cayman S on a five-year loan."
Yikes! (But so worth it!) A primer on the true costs of getting started in club racing, here at Speed:Sports:Life. Enjoy!
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Somehow, it seems appropriate that “Weird Al” Yankovic is the first celebrity mention for the Model S, the family car that Tesla hopes to release in 2011.
“Just put a deposit down on a Tesla Model S. Yay, I get a new car in… 3 to 5 years!” wrote the composer of “Another One Rides the Bus,” “Eat It” and other modern classics wrote on his Twitter feed.
The Tesla Roadster, the $109,000 sports car, has already long been a status symbol among the elite. Owners include Dustin Hoffman, George Clooney, Sergey Brin and Sam Perry. (Sam let Oprah cry on him after the Obama election, so he’s sort of a drive-by celebrity, like Squeaky Fromme, but what the hell.)
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Remember how the Rabbit Cup cars of the early '80s would lift an inside rear wheel in tight corners? How the first imported '83 Volkswagen GTIs would dance around that tight road course in the commercials set to "Kleine GTI," the German version of the Ronnie and the Daytonas song? Sure, the original Rabbit GTI's live rear axle is long gone. Still, there's something in the character of the GTI that suggests an affordable, yet well-balanced hot hatch -- the original hot hatch -- that leaps about corners with an attitude defying and yet celebrating its front-wheel-drive.
Volkswagen's Mark V GTI recaptured that spirit, despite its independent rear suspension, after two generations of hot hatches that were well-mannered in their benign understeer too the point of feeling overweight and uninteresting. Good news, hot hatch fans. The Mark VI GTI on-sale this fall as a 2010 model, just like its immediate predecessor, does not feel overweight and it's not the least bit boring. While VW says it has reworked its front strut/rear multi-link suspension, it feels pretty much just like its predecessor, with much of the Mark V carried over but with new sheetmetal and a more refined interior. Mark V to Mark VI GTI, and its Golf basis are much like the difference between C5 and C6 Corvette. Dimensions are virtually unchanged, though all the sheetmetal below the daylight opening is new and slightly more angular, with wider taillamps and the right-side dual tailpipe moved to the right side of the underbody to make the GTI look lower and wider...Continued
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SYDNEY (Hollywood Reporter) - Eric Bana's directorial debut "Love the Beast," documenting a quarter-century love affair with his 1974 Ford Falcon coupe, could easily be dismissed as a vanity project. Except that the immensely likable Australian actor seems incapable of conceit.
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Everytime I see a new Challenger on the road I give it a thumbs up, it's such a great looking car . You just want to get in one and mash the pedal at every straightaway you see. Seeing one in modified form though is something I have yet to see so until then there is Mr. Leno's take on the new SRT-8 Challenger by Hurst.
Click here for Jay Leno's Garage Video
Hat tip to Luxvelocity
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It appears as though GE Capital (GE) has invested in Tesla Motors, according to a leaked Car and Driver interview with CEO, Elon Musk.
We've raised around $40 million, and a bit of news that hasn't come out yet [is] General Electric is investing in Tesla. [GE Capital] will be the second-largest investor in this round, after me. Our business plan that we presented to investors gets us to profitability by the middle of this year, even if some negative stuff happens.
Coming hot on the heels of the unveling of Tesla's well-received Model S, this more good news for the struggling electric car company, but it doesn't mean the company is out of the woods at all.
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Some bright spark has come up with a great idea for disused petrol stations – turn them into electric car charging centres!
That’s the plan of US firm Evoasis, which says the first of its sites could be open in London before the end of the year. But it told Auto Express that it’s also in talks with supermarket chain Tesco, with a view to adding charging points to its filling stations across the country.
Evoasis confirmed its first site is likely to be built near a major train station in the capital, such as Euston or Waterloo, while other earmarked locations include Canary Wharf and the centre of Soho. The firm claims that limited space could be overcome by installing a vertical parking system, which could be fitted to the side of a building.
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Hyundai is moving into the hybrid business quickly, with its first petrol-electric model expected to debut in South Korea this July and the U.S. by next year. Now, the carmaker’s American chief, John Krafcik, has revealed that management is considering building a more advanced plug-in hybrid sports car.
If given the go ahead, the vehicle would be based around the upcoming Blue-Will concept planned for next month’s Seoul Motor Show but no timeline has been suggested.
Krafcik went on to reveal that any production car based on the Blue-Will should "be a dedicated hybrid like the Prius and Insight", but unlike those cars it shouldn't be boring. He also told Automotive News that such a car has a “very good possibility” of coming to North America.
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DETROIT - By Tuesday, General Motors Corp. will have to decide whether its struggling Hummer brand will die a quiet death or live on with a new owner.
The wounded automaker has told the federal government that it will make the decision to jettison or sell Hummer by the end of the first quarter as part of a plan to justify the government loans on which it is living.
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ADAC, Germany's and Europe's largest automobile club - something like the AAA in the USA- has released the latest crash test results for the Brilliance BS4 sedan and the outcome for BMW's Chinese partner is far from good. In fact, in the new crash test procedure that was performed under Euro NCAP's stricter rating scheme that takes into consideration safety systems such as electronic stability control (ESC) and seat belt reminders, the BS4 received a zero star rating. ADAC notes however that in the previous rating system, the BS4 would have been awarded with three stars. More Info
Complete YouTube video of crash test here: Crashtest Brilliance BS4
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Apparently, the recession is all in our heads. Hyundai motors has largely escaped the fate of its competitors in recent months, posting narrow sales losses or small sales gains each month while its competitors often saw sales slip by a third. Many analysts credit the automaker's unique Assurance Plus program for the success. The program allows buyers to return their new Hyundai, with no negative impact on their credit report, if they lose their income in the first year of ownership. In some circumstances, Hyundai will also make up to three payments on the buyer's behalf while the buyer searches for a new job.
So far, no one has taken advantage of the benefit.
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Acura announced it will debut a prototype of the all-new ZDX luxury four-door sport coupe at the New York International Auto Show.
The prototype features striking coupe-like styling with the added benefit of a commanding presence and flexible utility to define a new luxury category.
“The ZDX prototype is unlike anything you have ever seen before from Acura,” said Jeff Conrad, vice president, Acura sales. “The prototype showcases a new level of luxury, style and refinement for Acura and speaks volumes towards our commitment to advancing the brand.”
The production version of the ZDX prototype will bring a new level of prestige to the Acura lineup when it arrives at dealerships this fall and offer the latest advancements in performance, technology and safety.
The ZDX prototype will be introduced at the New York International Auto Show on April 8, 2009 at 11:00 am in the Acura booth.
Source: Honda/Acura
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BMW on Friday confirmed that it will debut a high-performance M version of the X6 crossover at the New York auto show in early April.
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It was recently made public by Hamann that they currently have a body kit for their tuning program for the 2009 BMW 7-Series.
No details are yet available except that the kit comes with 22 inch wheels. A rear boot spoiler, a rear roof spoiler, four tailpipes and new side skirts compose the visual components.
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General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner is about to resign after eight years as the Obama administration prepares to decide on the automaker's request for additional government rescue loans, two people familiar with the matter said.
A senior Obama administration official told NBC's John Yang that Wagoner, 56, was asked to step down by the White House.
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We just returned from a day in northern California testdriving the new Lexus RX 450h, and as you might expect, it's a rolling encyclopedia of new-car tech. We'll do our best to explain it all in thumbnails, but suffice to say, it's a capable and civilized alternative to your run-of-the-mill crossover rigs.
The heart of the RX is the time-proven Toyota 2GR 3.5L V-6 (a variant of which Lotus will be using next year on its GT4 Supersport race cars), which has been refined for this application with the addition of an EGR system for improved emissions and cooling, and an exhaust heat recovery system to aid in quicker heat-up times (i.e., cold-start conditions). The motor also runs an Atkinson-style combustion cycle (the power stroke is longer than the compression stroke), which helps to achieve greater fuel economy and thermal efficiencies at the expense of horsepower. How to remedy? In the RX's case, two ways.
First, the gas engine works in concert with Lexus Hybrid Drive, a battery-actuated hybrid system similar to Toyota's (Prius) Hybrid Synergy Drive. The Lexus system can be run for brief periods at high speeds as well as at idle (and during braking) to provide an extra power boost as needed, such as on steep inclines or for passing. In the new RX application, the battery can provide an extra 50 horses to the V-6's 245, resulting in 295 peak hp at 6,200 rpm. Second, the engine is mated to an electronic CVT transmission. We're not too keen on these "pointless" gearboxes, but we do know that they have fewer internals to break, are less expensive than a conventional slushbox, and can keep an engine revving in its "sweet spot" longer than fixed-gear transmissions. Add everything up and you arrive at an EPA-estimated 26 mpg on the highway, 28 city, from a V-6 powertrain that is amply powerful, frugal, and super-clean (SULEV-rated) in operation.
Read More at FourWheeler.com
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Assistant editor David Zenlea brings the IS-F out to New York, where contributor Jamie Kitman and I will spend several weeks with the car. Zenlea, who already has logged plenty of miles in the bright blue Lexus, traveled on the day of a major wind storm, which he was unaware of until he stepped out of the car to refuel and the door flew back in his face.
Although Zenlea comes away with even more respect for the IS-F, citing its "effortless acceleration and bullet-train-like high-speed stability" (which can find you at 120 mph when you thought you were doing 80), he prefers the return trip in the BMW 135i, despite its somewhat less awesome speediness.
Zenlea joins several others in criticizing the responsiveness of the eight-speed automatic - which does, after all, have to swap down several cogs in answer to a booted throttle. The gearbox might seem more responsive if you could just quickly slap it down a few ratios with the shift paddles without first having to move the gear lever out of drive.
Coming out of the 135i, which isn't exactly the most plush-riding car you can name, it's still a notable change to get into the IS-F, which feels far more stiffly sprung. The IS-F has a very busy ride, even over what appears to be smooth pavement.
Read More inside Automobile Magazine
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These exclusive spy shots reveal a glimpse of the new Cadillac CTS Coupe undergoing testing in the US.
Despite the heavy camouflage, similarities with the concept revealed at the 2008 Detroit motor show are easily identifiable.
Primarily it seems to have maintained its unique integrated centre exhaust outlet, as well as a unique touch pad set-up in place of conventional door handles.
Read More at CarAdvice.com
DAWS concept - Click above for gallery |
Following a surprise appearance at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, General Motors announced the seven-seat Orlando concept would be making the transition to production model.
However, GM’s financial outlook has worsened since the Detroit show, forcing the Michigan-based automaker to indefinitely suspend the Orlando program.
The Orlando – which shares its Delta platform with the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze and Volt – was slated to begin rolling out GM’s Hamtramck plant just in time for the 2011 model year, but a UAW representative says those plans have been postponed indefinitely.
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The village of Schaumburg, Ill., installed a camera at Woodfield Mall last November to film cars that were running red lights, then used the footage to issue citations. Results were astonishing. The town issued $1 million in fines in just three months.
But drivers caught by the unforgiving enforcement -- which mainly snared those who didn't come to a full stop before turning right on red -- exploded in anger. Many vowed to stop shopping at the mall unless the camera was turned off. The village stopped monitoring right turns at the intersection in January.
Once a rarity, traffic cameras are filming away across the country. And they're not just focusing their sights on red-light runners. The latest technology includes cameras that keep tabs on highways to catch speeders in the act and infrared license-plate readers that nab ticket and tax scofflaws.
Drivers -- many accusing law enforcement of using spy tactics to trap unsuspecting citizens -- are fighting back with everything from pick axes to camera-blocking Santa Clauses
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Two issues came up enough in our time with the new 2009 A6 3.0T that we just have to address them both right up front. The first is likely a no-brainer for our community, but the letter "T" doesn't necessarily stand for "turbocharger." Decades of tradition may have you believing otherwise but, well, deal with it. Or walk away shaking your head in confusion, just as we've seen a number of people do in the past week. In Audi-speak, "T" is now simply an indicator of any forced induction--in this case that means a supercharger. Our second note: people hear the word "supercharger" and expect that the next step after buckling up is to secure their eyeballs to ensure they don't slide out through their ears under full acceleration. The 'charger's intent in the A6 is to bridge the gap between V6 economy and a V8 powerband, not to disfigure passengers. With that established, we can move on.
The changes for the '09 A6 aren't limited to the engine compartment or the addition of the new 3.0T model. The car also receives a number of subtle visual updates that keep Audi's segment leader modern and competitive. Like the A8, the A6 now wears a grille that isn't divided in half by an unattractive bumper bar, but instead uses one taller piece that pays homage to the legendary Auto Union Le Mans racers. We're told this generation of A6 was already close to being finalized when the move toward the single shield was adopted, so that's why it didn't happen until this mid-cycle refresh. It gives the front end an even more cohesive look, and the rest of the bumper too has been refined to give an aggressive, flowing appearance. That look is topped off by Audi's signature strips of LED driving lights, with six diodes residing in each headlight lens. They aren't as elegant as the shapelier units of the A5/S5 or R8, but they are distinctive....Continued
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This is no normal GT-R. It's Godzilla gone nuclear. Donning lightweight carbon-fiber body parts, no rear seats, GBP36,000-plus world-beating carbon-ceramic brakes, a high gear boost control, unique fixed Bilstein suspension, and ultra-high-performance 20-in. Rays rims and extra-grippy Bridgestone rubber, the new GT-R SpecV certainly looks a lot meaner than the stock GT-R. This coupe is without doubt the most radical roadgoing racer Japan has ever produced. Bar none.
Invited to drive the black beast at the Sendai Highland Raceway, development home of the GT-R in Japan, we rode north from Tokyo on the bullet train for two hours.
Arriving at the raceway, chief engineer Kazutoshi Mizuno greeted us with an animated konichiwa and hurried us into the briefing room for the lowdown on his baby.
Pumping out 478 hp, the SpecV's 3.8L V-6 twin turbo only gets 5 extra horses over the 2008 R35 model. While Mizuno claims the car will do 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 sec and the quarter mile in under 11.5, even with a revised VDC unit that he asks you to "leave on," he tells us his aim was not to add power but to take the car's handling to the next level. And, to tell the truth, the car feels no slower, if not marginally quicker out of the blocks with the VDC on...Continued
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American consumers aren’t buying many vehicles at all, let alone the small cars and hybrids that are clogging dealer lots and creating big inventories for the ailing industry. That S.U.V. in the garage isn’t the costly liability it was last year, when gas prices hit $4 a gallon. (For a prescient view of such a pendulum swing, see this August 2008 analysis by our colleague Andrew C. Revkin at Dot Earth.)
But the American auto industry, under pressure, has invested heavily in the small-car and hybrid market. So it should probably not be a surprise that auto industry leaders like Alan Mulally of Ford have called for higher gas taxes, an idea Detroit once abhorred.
Putting aside the political difficulties of raising gas taxes during a recession, should government act to give consumers strong incentives to drive less and accept fuel-efficient cars for the long haul?...Continued
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In effort to increase total sales volume, BMW hopes to attract more women to dealerships with its latest, 2009 BMW Z4, Automotive News reports. Without citing official numbers, BMW spokesperson Friedbert Holz estimated men presently make up 80 to 90 percent of total Z4 sales.
According to Holz, the new design should appeal more to females. "The design of the new Z4 is not as masculine as it was before," he said. "It is more floating and round." Details
Chick car or not, we kind of like it. The way we'd describe it is, "It's certainly more elegant than the previous Z4, but at the expense of being less sporty." Which as BMW obviously sees it, is not a bad thing. Guess we (performance-enthusiasts) can't have our cake and eat it too. As Motor Trend put it during their review, "...It's a clear signal that BMW isn't aiming the Z4 at purists, anymore, and that the car has become something else. The two-seat roadster has gained six inches in overall length, has a wider track, a standard two-piece electrohydraulically raised and lowered (in 20 seconds) aluminum top and its first iDrive control, with an 8.8-in. display screen..." But it sure is a looker, and it's all BMW.
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Granted, Volvo’s XC60 SUV is more known for its kid-carrying ability than its tuning potential, but that hasn’t deterred tuning company Heico Sportiv from developing its own range of go-faster parts for the high-riding Volvo.
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It used to be that Japanese car companies were just copy machines: They seldom came up with anything original, preferring to replicate (while refining) someone else's idea. That hasn't been the case for decades, but there's no doubt Infiniti keeps a close eye on what BMW does. If a sporty, well-appointed, front-engine, rear-drive, retractable hardtop coupe with a lusty six-cylinder engine is good for BMW, it must be good for Infiniti['s G37 convertible]. Turns out, it is.
The G37 Convertible is only the second drop-top in the brand's history. No mere chop job this, as the body panels and chassis components aft of the A-pillar are new for this application. The top is built by Germany's Karmann, an outfit known for this kind of thing. Its opening-and-closing act takes about 30 seconds either way, and the interior headliner covers every bit of the top's frame and mechanism. The strange proportions common to retractables built on coupe architecture don't afflict the G; it's nicely balanced from any angle, and overall length increases by a mere quarter inch. Infiniti offers a removable windblocker that reduces buffeting and noise levels substantially. It's possible to drive without this component in place, but you wouldn't want to (unless you have guests who need to ride in back, which can't be done with the blocker installed). The blocker also covers the back-seat area, giving the car a bit of a roadster look. It's a shame Infiniti has the nerve to charge extra for it on a car that will average around $50K. Hidden rollover-protection bars snap into position with the onset of impending doom....Continued
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Noted for its sleek, stylish and almost stealthy modifications of Mercedes Benz vehicles, Brabus occupies a special place in the German tuner scene.
Apparently that place is very special because the performance workshops is one of the first tuning firms to develop a complete upgrade package for the new 2010 E-Class.
The latest E-Class, which sneaked onto the scene at the Detroit Motor Show, won't be delivered to European customers until May, and the U.S. will have to wait until the third quarter of the year, but Brabus has already had its hands on one long enough to develop a whole range of accessories.
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Finding it tough to curb your craving for V-8 power and prestige?
General Motors knows your pain. To man up the lame Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon for 2009, the General blessed the engine roster with a new 300-hp V-8. The result is a mini muscle truck available in two body styles, each with a sticker price of well below $30,000. Take your pick between an extended cab with rear jump seats accessed via rear-hinged half doors and a six-foot bed, or a real four-door crew cab with a rear bench seat and a five-foot bed.
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Yesterday it was reported that Cadillac has canned plans to bring a much-needed V6 turbodiesel to its European lineup. Today we learned that General Motors will halt Cadillac sales in more than half of its European markets. The move follows the collapse of its regional distributor, Kroymans.
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Spy photographer Brenda Priddy has just served up a fresh look at the Ferrari F450, the car set to replace the F430 in Ferrari's lineup later this year.
From this prototype, spotted being loaded into a hauler, we see that the styling us updated but not a radical departure from the F430.
The new model designation comes from an increase in displacement for the V8 to 4.5 liters.
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The new Golf GTD Volkswagen presents sporty new model at the AMI in Leipzig.
Wolfsburg/Leipzig, 27 March 2009 - Following the Polo, the BlueMotion initiative and the Golf GTI, Volkswagen is now spanning its next arrow in the bow: this time, the Golf GTD. With a powerful 125 kW (170 PS) TDI engine, it is aimed at diesel drivers who value the maximum in dynamics. The new GTD is extremely thrifty but at the same time extremely sporty. The GTD tag already has a tradition at Volkswagen: the first Golf GTD - the GTI among diesels - was built in 1982.
The new GTD is powerful and can boast of outstandingly low fuel consumption: the common-rail engine requires just 5.3 litres fuel per 100 kilometres. That corresponds to CO2 emissions of only 139 g/km. On the other hand, the car has a top speed of 222 km/h and accelerates to 100 km/h in 8.1 seconds.
Like the GTI, the GTD will also offer, in addition to the 6-speed manual gearbox, an optional 6-speed DSG - the most efficient automatic gearbox of our time, in the opinion of many experts. Equipped with sport suspension and 17-inch alloy "Seattle" wheels, the GTD demonstrates that it shares GTI DNA on one hand through its extremely agile handling and, on the other, through parallels in appearance and equipment. The exterior announces unequivocally that it the sportiest diesel-powered Golf. The designs of the front bumper, the radiator grille and the headlights are identical to those of the GTI. However, the typical horizontal red strips in the GTI's grille are chromed on the GTD.
Volkswagen's GT philosophy has shaped the interior as well: top-of-the line sport seats in black and white as standard; a three-spoke steering wheel flattened along the bottom edge, a brake handle with a leather gaiter as well as light-grey seams to accent the leather handle; and a black moulded headliner are just a few of the GTD's distinguishing features. The base price in Germany is 27,475.00 Euros.
Volkswagen will be presenting the new Golf GTD as well as the entire Volkswagen range in Hall 1 of the AMI in Leipzig through 5 April. The show is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Source: Volkswagen
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This is the Vulca S. You probably won't ever see one, let alone drive one, because it's more exclusive than a VIP room at the Pink Elephant and you need an AIG bonus to afford one.
The Vulca S is the first car entirely designed and built by Italian coachbuilders Faralli & Mazzanti. Just ten - that's right, ten - will be built, every one of them by hand over the course of 11 months. During that time, customers will stay at the coachbuilder's private villa in Tuscany so as to oversee every aspect of construction.
You know a car that rare will have some impressive hardware, and the Vulca - named for the Etruscan sculptor - does not disappoint.
According to F&M, the Vulca gets a 5.8-liter V10 producing 630 horsepower. F&M doesn't say who's making the engine, but BMW and Lamborghini make a ten-cylinder, though both displace less than 5.8 liters and so would have to be modified. Dodge makes one for the Viper, but it's a massive 8.4 liters. Motor Authority says the Vulca also could come with a V12 producing between 445 and 630 horsepower, depending upon how big an engine the customer orders.
Read More at Wired.com
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Toyota’s president Katsuaki Watanabe said today that the company will keep selling the current Prius model alongside the 2010 model year that arrive in Japan in May.
“They will have different engine sizes — 1.5 liters and 1.8 liters — and we figure there will be demand for the two to co-exist,” Katsuaki told reporters at the unveiling of the new Toyota Crown Majesta.
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In most markets, the best Toyota sedan you could buy would be a Camry or Avalon but in Japan (and a few other select markets) you could step into one of several luxury flagship saloons based around Toyota’s Crown platform.
The Crown is sold in a variety of models including a hybrid version and the top-end Century and Majesta, and in its home market it’s held in a similar league to cars like the Mercedes Benz S-Class and BMW 7-series – at least in terms of technology.
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According to a new rumour, Lamborghini are preparing a Reventon Roadster to bid farewell to the Murcielago.
Lambo’s limited production Reventon was originally based on the Murcielago LP640.
If this is true, the Reventon Roadster would probably use a rag for its roof, and it would be even more exclusive than the coupe. It was said that there might only be 9 units built.
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We couldn’t be happier to hear this.
According to CARandDRIVER Volkswagen has decided to ditch the “Rabbit” nameplate when the six-generation version of the hatchback arrives later this year. That’s right - the 2009 Volkswagen Golf will keep its original, worldwide successful name when it hits U.S. shores.
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We’ve been hearing for some time now that BMW is working on a smaller roadster than the Z4 dubbed the BMW Z2.
According to AutoBild, BMW’s board and executives have given the Z2 project the green light of approval and a concept is apparently headed to the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show in September.
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If you thought typing a text message while dodging traffic at 65 mph was dangerous (it is), consider the perils of shaving your legs, reading a book or lifting weights while driving — all of which (and more) are happening on America's roads — every day.
odie Feigler was driving south on Interstate 405, heading from Santa Barbara, Calif., to San Diego for the weekend, when she got stuck in Friday rush-hour traffic near the Los Angeles International Airport. "The freeway was one big parking lot that inched along collectively," Feigler recollects. While this is nothing special (bumper-to-bumper traffic is a typical Southern California scene), what happened next is: "I glanced to my right and there was a woman with her left foot sticking out the driver's window painting her toe nails." Feigler couldn't believe it.
While this might seem like careless behavior, judging from the results of several recent studies on driving behavior, a self-administered pedicure behind the wheel may not be as unusual as you'd expect. Multitasking is on the rise and, increasingly, the car presents an opportunity to get things done — especially in cities where long commutes are common...Continued
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Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has confirmed further details about the production version of 200EX, the experimental car shown at the Geneva motor show early in March 2009.
Rolls-Royce CEO, Tom Purves announced the details at a press conference in New York where 200EX is currently being shown to potential customers on the first leg of a world tour.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Purves said, “There has been a great deal of interest in this car since we first talked about producing a new model series in the autumn of 2006 and the reaction 200EX received at its unveiling at Geneva was very positive. As we move another step closer to the start of production at Goodwood, it is exciting to be able to share some of the specific technical details with customers and the media.”
He continued, “RR4 will deliver an authentic Rolls-Royce experience to owners, so expect peerless comfort and build quality. However, we have consciously engineered this car to be more involving and dynamic for those owners around the world that will wish to drive it themselves.”
RR4 will be powered by a brand new 6.6 litre turbo charged V12 engine unique to Rolls-Royce. The engine will be combined with an 8-speed automatic ZF gearbox. This new drive-train will significantly improve fuel and CO2 efficiency over the already class leading Phantom series of cars. Engine power will be upwards of 500bhp.
Further details about RR4 will be released over the coming months.
Source: Rolls-Royce
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Spore. Beer Pong. Flight of the Conchords. Superpoking on Facebook. Any of these sound remotely familiar? If not, it's because you're old and unhip. These terms belong in the vernacular of a specific subset of the American populace.
Whether you call them Gen Y, Echo Boomers, or Millennials, they're the next generation of young drivers and car buyers-and they are different from you and me. They grew up not on Atari or Commodore64, nor even Nintendo or SEGA, but on PlayStation and Xbox. They Google, Yelp, and Twitter -- often while simultaneously LOLing on IM or downloading the latest iPhone apps. See? Unhip.
Toyota is not only a student of this generation, it's at the head of the class when it comes to identifying and codifying their existence. Toyota wrote the playbook back in 2004, when it launched the Scion brand and unleashed the xA and xB twins. Four years later, when Scion replaced the xA with xD and brought a larger, more powerful xB to market, it was regarded as the auto industry's most successful youth brand.
Naturally other auto manufacturers, like Kia and Nissan, took notice, particularly as the xB became the poster box of Scion's youth-targeted movement. So are their new boxy offerings CliffsNotes versions of the xB, merely clever cribbed summaries based on Scion source material? That's what we aim to find out.
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HERNDON, Va. (March 23, 2009) – Volkswagen of America, Inc. has announced the car sponsors for the 2009 Jetta TDI Cup series, in preparation for its season-opening SCCA Pro Racing sanctioned events at VIRginia International Raceway on April 25 and 26.
The sponsors include a variety of automotive, lifestyle and other companies.
“Given the challenging nature of the current economic climate for motorsports, we are extremely grateful to have the support of so many internationally respected companies, some of which are participating in our series for the first time,” said Clark Campbell, motorsports manager, Volkswagen of America, Inc. “Heading into our second season as a series, I’m encouraged by our sponsor growth and their belief that the Jetta TDI Cup can help them accomplish their business goals while we work together to develop young drivers into true racing professionals.”
Car sponsors for the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series include:
Pirelli – www.us.pirelli.com
With over 100 years of racing experience, Pirelli Motorsport is proud to be the exclusive tire supplier to the VW Jetta TDI Cup. Pirelli Tire North America designs, develops, manufactures and markets tires for passenger vehicles in both the original equipment and replacement markets as well as markets and distributes tires for motorcycles and motorsports. Located in Rome, Georgia, Pirelli’s Modular Integrated Robotized System (MIRS) employs state-of-the-art technology to manufacture tires for both export and domestic markets.
Bosch – www.bosch.com
As one of the largest North American automotive suppliers, Bosch develops, manufactures and supplies precision components and systems (including powertrain, body electronics and chassis support) for vehicle manufacturers worldwide. Since 1886, the company has helped to accelerate the progress of automotive technology through continued innovation.
ViON – www.vion.com
A small, veteran-owned corporation, ViON specializes in providing assured computing to high performance, enterprise-wide data centers throughout federal, state and local governments. Company solutions include disaster recovery to enterprise storage, server consolidation and business continuance, delivering the right data to the right people no matter what.
Castrol – www.castrol.com/us
BP Lubricants USA Inc. markets premium Castrol® lubricants directly to leading retailers, independent lube operators, service providers, OEMs and new car dealers. Company brands include: Castrol® GTX® – a premium conventional motor oil; Castrol® GTX® High-Mileage™ – designed for vehicles with over 75,000 miles; Castrol® SYNTEC® BLEND™ – with an added level of synthetic protection; Castrol® SYNTEC® – a premium full-synthetic motor oil; Castrol EDGE – a new, advanced full-synthetic motor oil. Additionally, the company provides a range of commercial transport lubricants.
Oakley – www.oakley.com
Created for world-class athletes who see the limits of possibility as just another challenge, Oakley products represent their commitment to excellence and a passion that refines what is possible for those who defy their own limits. Oakley has a presence in 110 countries offering a full array of market-leading products including premium sunglasses, goggles, prescription eyewear, apparel, footwear and accessories.
defNder – www.defnderneckbrace.com
The recently launched defNder Team Issue is a SFI 38.1 approved head and neck restraint. The defNder stands out amongst the competition by way of its excellent side protection with lateral tethers providing superior 30-degree impact protection. The comfort of the device is unbridled, with form-fit belts taking the pressure off of the driver’s collar bone and shoulders. In addition, the adjustable rear piece allows drivers to adjust between approximately 20- and 40-degrees, making it helpful when buying a unit without knowing exactly how it will fit in your racecar. It’s also particularly useful for drivers who pilot more than one car.
Aggreko – www.aggreko.com
As the world’s leading supplier of temporary power and temperature control solutions and oil-free compressed air systems, Aggreko helps customers in many different industries to improve and safeguard their operations by solving problems, creating opportunities and reducing risk.
Red Bull – www.redbullusa.com
HYPERFUELS – www.hiperfuels.com
HYPERFUELS features racing fuels from Sunoco, Shell Racing Solutions and SynDiesel. Fuels can be purchased in individual 5 and 55 gallon pre-sealed drums. Race fuel can also run in regular cars and can be stored for up to two years, providing a quick and stable fuel source. Racing oils sold at HYPERFUELS include Royal Purple and Synergyn. Race fuels and oils are available in containers eligible for ground shipping on FedEx and UPS throughout the USA.
Safety-Kleen – www.safety-kleen.com
Safety-Kleen is a privately held company based in Plano, TX and is the largest collector and re-refiner of used oil and provider of parts cleaning services in North America and is a leading provider of other environmental services. The company’s 4,500 employees serve more than 400,000 customer locations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. All of the Safety-Kleen employees and customers support the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup Series and encourage everyone to recycle.
About the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup
2009 marks the second season of competition for the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup. During the season, 30 young, up and coming drivers (between ages 16-26) will compete in ten events on eight road courses around North America in identical factory-prepared clean diesel Jetta TDI’s. Each driver competing in the series will earn a Pro Racing license from SCCA at the conclusion of the season. In addition, the series champion will win $100,000.
The Jetta TDI Cup car is powered by a 2.0-liter, 170 hp, four-cylinder turbo direct injection (TDI) clean diesel engine mated to a six-speed, double-clutch, automatic DSG transmission. The car is only slightly modified from stock with Pirelli racing tires, race suspension and brake components, drivers racing safety seat, FIA roll cage and an on-board fire extinguisher system. Other series associate sponsors include: Ringer Gloves, Jim Russell Racing School and Trellis Earth.
Follow the Volkswagen Jetta TDI Cup series action on: www.vwmotorsportusa.com
Volkswagen Online Newsroom: media.vw.com
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/JettaTDICup
Twitter: http://twitter.com/VWJettaTDICup
Source: Volkswagen
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Think you’ve seen it all when it comes to race cars and race tracks? If you’ve never witnessed full-size cars tearing it up on a tight, banked go kart track, you haven’t.
Yesterday, March 24th, I saw that. Actually, I even participated in the driving action myself. More on my racing adventures and impressions in a bit, but the main thing though is driving a sports car on such a small track isn’t hardly as comical or awkward as it sounds. It was quite fun and challenging in fact (and no one went off or wrecked their cars that evening, which is even better).
The go kart venue hosting these innovative events is Adams Motosport Park in Riverside, California. Originally, they catered to the drift crowd by simply letting drivers loose on their track at night to master the art of getting (and staying) sideways in their 240s and other rear-drive cars, but as of yesterday, have started doing “time-attack”-style grip driving events as well.
The Lowdown
Drifting is held every Thursday night from 6:00 to 9:00+ pm, and grip events every Tuesday, at the same time. Racers arrive an hour or so early to register and tech, and proceed to line-up in the pits. The general entry fee is $3.00 for all, and $20 per driver for each hour-long session (ride-along is $10) A driver can register for as many sessions as they want. Each session/run group has 20 or so cars, and are lead out by a pace car for two parade laps to familiarize drivers with the course. Once the racing is underway, one can expect 2 to 3 runs within a session, each of which consists of 3 laps. The laps are timed (on grip events), and there’s even a Japanese drift-style announcer who offers praise and the occasional snide remark on the action. (Yeah, in case you were wondering, there are plenty of spectators eyeing the action, so the pressure’s on.)
Rules and regulations for the events are typical track day fare - any properly maintained car with working lights and decent tires is game. A SNELL certified M95 or SA95 or newer helmet is required (you can rent one at the registration desk), and convertibles require a roll bar. Full list of requirements and details here
My impressions
First of all, I was driving a Mazda Miata (surprisingly the only one there), which compared to other cars is essentially a go kart, so my experience and views may be favorably biased. Even so, I think any car can have fun here, especially AWDs which can 4-wheel drift and power-out from the tight turns and cut a lot off of lap times.
There are 14 turns in the configuration I drove the track in, and all are quite
challenging (they’re comparable to corners found on tight canyon roads), and many of them are either banked or have berms, unlike autocross. In regards to autocross, I will add that the chances of wrecking and hitting something here are greater than in autocross, but if you keep it under control, you should be fine. (Note to drifters who want to show off: you’re mileage may vary. There are hittable dirt and tires walls.) As for the track's speed, depending on your car, you can expect to hit around 60mph on the front and back straights, and minimum speeds of around 20 in the tight stuff. Braking? Not too demanding - stock pads should suffice.
*Note: that's a semi truck on the road in the upper right, so you can see the track isn't that small.
About lap timing: apparently they either simply tell you or print up the slips at the registration desk, but by the time I went up there around 10:00pm, they were long closed. Some said I was taking better lines than most and was entertaining to watch, but I have no idea how I fared against others – I was simply enjoying myself and trying new ways to hustle my slightly understeering car around the bends (and scrubbing-in my brand new tires at the same time), so I doubt I was anything too special.
If you’re still not convinced of spending $20 for this much fun, check out this YouTube video of some drifting action here: Inland Drift: Drift Riverside 1 (Please excuse the annoying, random girl at the beginning who professes her love for drifters).
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and the company (I ran into quite a few people I knew from elsewhere) and the atmosphere was in general a nice blend of amped but laid-back. I’m looking forward to the next event, for sure. But that time, I’ll be driving competitively so watch out :).
