MASERATI
DODGE VIPER
FORD SPORT
Volkswagen Jetta TSI
Monday, January 3, 2011
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Honda Legend/Acura RL
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The V6 model is rumoured to be close to an end-of-production run, but Honda chief executive officer, Takanobu Ito says the car is “a necessary model for the U.S” and points out that it has a “small but strong fan base in Japan".
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Honda sports car. Designer Jason Wilbur
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Toyota to revise design language
Smaller cars will be made to look bigger, rather than vice versa, yet, there will still be differences between ranges to differentiate them, with product groups such as SUVs and sports models obtaining their own look.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Hyundai planning i40 coupe for 2012
While details are scares, a Hyundai source has revealed the car will borrow heavily from the wild iFlow HED-7 concept car. The forthcoming i40 coupe will complete directly with Volkswagen’s Passat CC and Ford’s future Mondeo coupe. However, when it comes to prices, the i40 coupe will cost roughly £4,530 ($6,960/€5,370) less.
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| 2011 Hyundai i45 (Australia) |
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Bmw Hybrid Sports Cars
German luxury automaker BMW joins the growing list of manufacturers offering gasoline-electric hybrid models with this fall's introduction of the 2010 X6 ActiveHybrid.
The hybrid version of BMW's luxury “sports activity coupe” will be displayed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in mid-September, then will begin arriving at U.S. dealerships in the fourth quarter, the company announced this week.
It's the first BMW to receive a gasoline-electric combination drive system, but as with the high-end hybrids previously rolled out by Japanese rival Lexus, the X6 will use the technology more as a performance enhancer than as a way to boost fuel economy.
The X6 hybrid will come with a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 engine that cranks out 400 horsepower and 450 foot-pounds of torque on its own. It will be assisted by two electric motors, one providing 91 horsepower and the other 86, that, when working with the gasoline engine, will give the X6 a total output of 480 horsepower and 575 foot-pounds of torque.
There is a fuel-economy advantage of about 20 percent over a gasoline-only powertrain with the same performance, BMW says.
It is the first hybrid drive system in a sports activity coupe — the name given to this new genre of vehicle that offers a strange combination of coupelike styling with SUV practicality. It has four passenger doors and a rear hatch that allows for the loading of cargo as in a traditional sport utility vehicle. It's the SUV for people who swore they never would drive an SUV.
BMW says its ActiveHybrid technology “provides a glimpse into the future, achieving outstanding driving dynamics with equally impressive efficiency.”
The X6 “melds both of these qualities to offer a truly unique driving experience,” the company said, and is designed to combine “the combustion engine with electric motors to create a powertrain with new levels of dynamic performance and efficiency.”
Like many of the newer so-called two-mode hybrids, the X6 will be capable of driving on electric power alone for short distances — up to 1.6 miles — at speeds up to 37 mph, the automaker said. Above that speed, the gasoline engine will kick in automatically.
Top speed will be limited electronically to 130 mph, but the X6 hybrid, with help from those electric motors, will be able to go from zero to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds, BMW says.
No EPA ratings have been announced yet; they “will be available closer to the market introduction,” the company said.
Power is transmitted to the drive wheels through a seven-speed automatic transmission that can be shifted manually. The car also will have BMW's xDrive all-wheel-drive system, designed to send power as necessary to front or rear axles, or a mixture of the two as road conditions warrant.
The electric motors are powered by a nickel-metal-hydride battery pack under the floor of the cargo area, but it does not take space away from the luggage compartment — the hybrid model has the same cargo capacity as the gasoline-only X6.
A reinforced steel casing surrounds the battery pack, which is positioned just above the rear axle to keep it as safe as possible in the event of a collision. The hybrid system's electronic controller constantly monitors the battery pack, and if there is any malfunction or a crash occurs, the computer deactivates the system for safety.
NiMH batteries are the standard now for hybrid vehicles, but most automakers are developing lithium-ion battery packs for their hybrid and pure-electric cars of the near future.
To recharge the battery pack while the vehicle is driving, either or both of the electric motors are spun by the vehicle's motion to convert them into generators when they're not being used to provide acceleration — just as in other hybrids. There is no plug-in option for recharging the X6's batteries from an outside power source.
Regenerative braking — which kicks in when the vehicle is decelerating — is used to recharge the batteries as well.
A continuously variable transmission provides two driving modes — one for stop-and-go driving at lower speeds, and the other for highway speeds.
BMW says that from startup and at low speeds, only one of the electric motors is activated. But when the driver pushes the accelerator harder to boost power and to increase acceleration, the second motor starts the gasoline engine. It also serves as a generator to provide power to the vehicle's accessories.
At highway speeds, the gasoline engine provides most of the power, the company says.
The transmission's three planetary gears and the two electric motors combine to give the vehicle “seven total effective gears,” BMW says, which is why the transmission is referred to as a seven-speed, even though it is a CVT.
The gasoline engine has direct fuel injection and is the same “reverse-flow” V-8 that BMW introduced earlier in the X6 xDrive50i.
It's the “world's first V-8 gasoline engine with two turbochargers in the V-section between the two rows of cylinders,” the company said, and is designed to develop power throughout its speed range.
“The spontaneous and direct response of this engine results from its compact configuration, which allows the shortest exhaust manifolds,” BMW said.
It's a clean-burning engine, meeting U.S. ULEV II standards (ultra low emissions vehicle). Unlike the V-8 in the regular X6, though, this engine has no traditional starter, alternator or drive belts for the air-conditioning compressor or hydraulic power steering and braking. All of that is operated by the electric motors, which is what allows those systems to continue functioning even when the vehicle is running on battery power alone.
The electronic power steering and power braking systems are fully operative when the car is running on battery power, as are all other safety features, including electronic stability control, antilock braking and the air bag systems.
Even the 12-volt components such as lights and entertainment systems get their power from the NiMH battery pack, through use of a step-down transformer.
The vehicle's Dynamic Traction Control is designed to give it “maximum traction and drive power on loose surfaces such as snow or sand,” BMW says.
The car comes with 20-inch light-alloy wheels with an aerodynamic design developed specifically for the hybrid.
Optional are 19-inch light-alloy wheels with all-season tires. Only run-flat tires are provided, which allow the vehicle to continue driving for short distances after a complete loss of air pressure. No spare tire is provided.
No prices have been announced yet for the hybrid, but gasoline-only versions of the four-passenger X6 range from $55,900 for the 300-horsepower, six-cylinder xDrive35i model to $66,650 for the 400-horsepower xDrive50i V-8 version.
Fuel economy estimates for the V-8 gasoline model are 12 mpg city/18 highway, and the six-cylinder is rated at 15 city/20 highway.
The hybrid version of BMW's luxury “sports activity coupe” will be displayed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in mid-September, then will begin arriving at U.S. dealerships in the fourth quarter, the company announced this week.
It's the first BMW to receive a gasoline-electric combination drive system, but as with the high-end hybrids previously rolled out by Japanese rival Lexus, the X6 will use the technology more as a performance enhancer than as a way to boost fuel economy.
The X6 hybrid will come with a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 engine that cranks out 400 horsepower and 450 foot-pounds of torque on its own. It will be assisted by two electric motors, one providing 91 horsepower and the other 86, that, when working with the gasoline engine, will give the X6 a total output of 480 horsepower and 575 foot-pounds of torque.
There is a fuel-economy advantage of about 20 percent over a gasoline-only powertrain with the same performance, BMW says.
It is the first hybrid drive system in a sports activity coupe — the name given to this new genre of vehicle that offers a strange combination of coupelike styling with SUV practicality. It has four passenger doors and a rear hatch that allows for the loading of cargo as in a traditional sport utility vehicle. It's the SUV for people who swore they never would drive an SUV.
BMW says its ActiveHybrid technology “provides a glimpse into the future, achieving outstanding driving dynamics with equally impressive efficiency.”
The X6 “melds both of these qualities to offer a truly unique driving experience,” the company said, and is designed to combine “the combustion engine with electric motors to create a powertrain with new levels of dynamic performance and efficiency.”
Like many of the newer so-called two-mode hybrids, the X6 will be capable of driving on electric power alone for short distances — up to 1.6 miles — at speeds up to 37 mph, the automaker said. Above that speed, the gasoline engine will kick in automatically.
Top speed will be limited electronically to 130 mph, but the X6 hybrid, with help from those electric motors, will be able to go from zero to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds, BMW says.
No EPA ratings have been announced yet; they “will be available closer to the market introduction,” the company said.
Power is transmitted to the drive wheels through a seven-speed automatic transmission that can be shifted manually. The car also will have BMW's xDrive all-wheel-drive system, designed to send power as necessary to front or rear axles, or a mixture of the two as road conditions warrant.
The electric motors are powered by a nickel-metal-hydride battery pack under the floor of the cargo area, but it does not take space away from the luggage compartment — the hybrid model has the same cargo capacity as the gasoline-only X6.
A reinforced steel casing surrounds the battery pack, which is positioned just above the rear axle to keep it as safe as possible in the event of a collision. The hybrid system's electronic controller constantly monitors the battery pack, and if there is any malfunction or a crash occurs, the computer deactivates the system for safety.
NiMH batteries are the standard now for hybrid vehicles, but most automakers are developing lithium-ion battery packs for their hybrid and pure-electric cars of the near future.
To recharge the battery pack while the vehicle is driving, either or both of the electric motors are spun by the vehicle's motion to convert them into generators when they're not being used to provide acceleration — just as in other hybrids. There is no plug-in option for recharging the X6's batteries from an outside power source.
Regenerative braking — which kicks in when the vehicle is decelerating — is used to recharge the batteries as well.
A continuously variable transmission provides two driving modes — one for stop-and-go driving at lower speeds, and the other for highway speeds.
BMW says that from startup and at low speeds, only one of the electric motors is activated. But when the driver pushes the accelerator harder to boost power and to increase acceleration, the second motor starts the gasoline engine. It also serves as a generator to provide power to the vehicle's accessories.
At highway speeds, the gasoline engine provides most of the power, the company says.
The transmission's three planetary gears and the two electric motors combine to give the vehicle “seven total effective gears,” BMW says, which is why the transmission is referred to as a seven-speed, even though it is a CVT.
The gasoline engine has direct fuel injection and is the same “reverse-flow” V-8 that BMW introduced earlier in the X6 xDrive50i.
It's the “world's first V-8 gasoline engine with two turbochargers in the V-section between the two rows of cylinders,” the company said, and is designed to develop power throughout its speed range.
“The spontaneous and direct response of this engine results from its compact configuration, which allows the shortest exhaust manifolds,” BMW said.
It's a clean-burning engine, meeting U.S. ULEV II standards (ultra low emissions vehicle). Unlike the V-8 in the regular X6, though, this engine has no traditional starter, alternator or drive belts for the air-conditioning compressor or hydraulic power steering and braking. All of that is operated by the electric motors, which is what allows those systems to continue functioning even when the vehicle is running on battery power alone.
The electronic power steering and power braking systems are fully operative when the car is running on battery power, as are all other safety features, including electronic stability control, antilock braking and the air bag systems.
Even the 12-volt components such as lights and entertainment systems get their power from the NiMH battery pack, through use of a step-down transformer.
The vehicle's Dynamic Traction Control is designed to give it “maximum traction and drive power on loose surfaces such as snow or sand,” BMW says.
The car comes with 20-inch light-alloy wheels with an aerodynamic design developed specifically for the hybrid.
Optional are 19-inch light-alloy wheels with all-season tires. Only run-flat tires are provided, which allow the vehicle to continue driving for short distances after a complete loss of air pressure. No spare tire is provided.
No prices have been announced yet for the hybrid, but gasoline-only versions of the four-passenger X6 range from $55,900 for the 300-horsepower, six-cylinder xDrive35i model to $66,650 for the 400-horsepower xDrive50i V-8 version.
Fuel economy estimates for the V-8 gasoline model are 12 mpg city/18 highway, and the six-cylinder is rated at 15 city/20 highway.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
2011 Mercedes C-Class Coupe spied
These are the very first spy pictures of the forthcoming Mercedes C-Class coupe, returning to the R&D centre after doing some hot-weather testing in Germany. The C-Class coupe will replace the aging CLC in Mercedes range in 2011. The CLC will be axed once the C-Class coupe goes on sale.
Mercedes approved the C-Class coupe in March while outlining their plans to increase production at the Bremen plant, which will assemble the C-Class saloon, estate, coupe and GLK SUV from 2011.
The C-Class coupe will be the second 2dr based on the current C-Class, but the first to take the ‘C-Class coupe’ name into production. The coupe has been envisaged to replace the CLK, which was discontinued earlier this year after 12 years in production and two model generations. Unlike the E-Class coupe, however, the C-Class version will not be modified and offered in cabriolet guise.
“We did look at an open-top version but in the end the costs were too high given the short model life,” said an insider.
The forthcoming coupe will avoid a sole body-shell and distinct styling that made the CLK a success for a rather upright look that borrows heavily on the profile and detailing of the C-Class sedan.
“We went back and studied what made our coupes so popular in the past. If you look at some of the more successful two-door models Mercedes-Benz has produced, you can see a direct relationship between them and their four-door stablemates,” a source said.
Unlike its sedan & wagon siblings, the coupe will be short-lived. With development of the fourth-generation C-Class already in progress at Mercedes’ R&D centre by Stuttgart, the coupe will be intended to be sold for four years. It will then be replaced with a much more rounded and practical model that will likely draw lines of the CLS and possess a four-door layout.
The newcomer will go on sale in the UK in Spring 2011, alongside the revised C-Class saloon and wagon.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Dodge Rampage Concept
Dodge's Rampage concept seems to have everything that the typical Dodge truck buyer is looking for: massive size, a stylish yet aggressive look and a 5.7 liter HEMI engine. But Dodge says that it designed the Rampage to appeal to those "non-traditional" pick-up buyers.
Huh? This looks like a traditional (albeit very stylized) pick-up. What's so different about it? We'll tell ya...
Traditional truck guys are going to be shocked by this, but this Rampage is basically a truck-shaped car. Not only does the Rampage utilize unibody construction and have an independent rear suspension, it is - gasp - front wheel drive!!
Yes, this brawny and rugged Dodge is a front wheel drive car... er... truck. After reading the concept behind this concept, this drivetrain layout makes sense. You see, Dodge wanted to build a vehicle that possessed the utility of a truck but had the cabin comfort and room of a passenger car. Yeah, we know... that idea basically describes a minivan, but minivans aren't cool -- trucks are, and so Dodge went with the truck theme.
Actually... now that we think about it, this Rampage is a close cousin of the minivan. Take a look at how the doors of this thing open!
In case you couldn't tell from the picture above, the rear door slides backwards -- much like the back door of a minivan. Still, the interior of this Rampage is much cooler than that of most kid haulers. The interior of the Rampage is designed to be "rugged and athletic" (Dodge's words), so it uses a special urethane material for the seating surfaces and has a rubberized floor. Styling touches come courtesy of a raised center console/gauge cluster and exposed metal pieces.
Here's another nod to Dodge's minivan heritage: you know how Dodge touts its trademarked Stow 'n Go seating in its minivan commercials? Well, this Stow 'n Go system finds a home in the Rampage. Not only do the rear seats fold down into the floor, the front passenger seat does as well. You can fit a whole lotta crap in this thing!
Versatility is the key feature of the Rampage, as not only do all passenger seats fold flat to the floor, the "wall" that separates the cabin from the truck bed also folds flat, increasing useable cargo area even more. Not only that, but the rear lift gate can extend and fold down to a 117 degree angle, which transforms the rear gate into a ramp. It's as if this truck/minivan was designed to haul motorcycles or something...
As cool as this concept is, it's only a concept for now. Will Dodge ever build something like this? We doubt it. We don't think people would shell out serious cash for a front wheel drive HEMI-powered truck/minivan/crossover. If Dodge does decide to make one of these, however, we're first in line for the first test drive.
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