Nuts n Screws

2008-05-31T20:06:00.001+05:30

SUZUKI ZUK CONCEPT

Hitting it big with the aftermarket crowd, the sport bike-inspired Suzuki Zuk offers features designed to please any car enthusiast. The 300-horsepower Zuk, designed for ultimate performance, features a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system, excellent stability and precise handling for sharp turns. Also appealing to aftermarket fans is the blue metallic paint that accents the exterior “lighted” ground effects. Mirrors, spoiler, exhaust and racing-styled seats also help give the Zuk its motorcycle-inspired finishing touches.

2008-05-31T20:05:00.001+05:30

SUZUKI DUNE CONCEPT

The "Dune" Grand Vitara is designed for off-road enthusiasts who demand off-road capabilities. Well-equipped with 26 inches of ground clearance and a towing capacity of 3,000 lbs., the "Dune" provides enough muscle to add a huge dose of exhilaration to any weekend. The exterior features flared fenders and integrated cladding and running boards, all dressed in lightening yellow paint to match the color scheme of Suzuki ATVs. Roomy on the inside, the five-passenger "Dune" features a rear off-road gear storage and "mobile garage" workstation, ideal for last-minute adjustments. The "Dune" also offers a built-in GPS and navigation system.

2008-05-31T20:03:00.000+05:30

SUZUKI BASECAMP

Based on the XL7, the Suzuki BaseCamp offers cutting-edge design and technology to fulfill the needs of outdoor enthusiasts. The BaseCamp’s exterior is blanketed with liquid metal body paint and finished with titanium cladding around the perimeter of the vehicle. Sitting atop the roof is a custom rack system that offers ample storage and a dual slot bike rack, complete with two Santa Cruz mountain bikes. A modern canopy with a carbon fiber frame can be attached to the roof rack, keeping adventurers dry in inclement weather or protecting against the sun, while creating a welcoming ambiance for visitors. Moving inside through the unique gull wing passenger side door reveals a warm, modern interior room and attachable peninsula bar work station with full media connectivity, including Wi-Fi Internet access, Bluetooth integration and iPod/MP3 capabilities.

2008-05-31T19:59:00.000+05:30

TOYOTA FT-HS

The FT-HS Concept is designed to showcase Toyota's leadership in hybrid powertrain technology. Underhood is a next-generation performance hybrid system built around Toyota's punchy 3.5-liter V-6 and capable of delivering approximately 400 horses. Performance targets include a 0-to-60-mph time in the 4.0-second range. Toyota says the FT-HS is a vision for a 21st-century sports car: a sports car that's eco-friendly and fun to drive, as fast as a Ferrari, yet as fuel-efficient as a four-cylinder compact.

Styled at Toyota's Calty facility in Irvine, Calif., the sharp edges at the corners of the car are designed to manage airflow and the full undertray with rear venturis works with the unique combination taillight/rear wing to provide a measure of downforce. At the rear, floating C-pillars direct airflow into vents to cool the hybrid system's battery pack.

2008-05-31T19:58:00.000+05:30

TOYOTA FINE-T

This compact, four-seat fuel-cell concept exploits an advanced powertrain to deliver high maneuverability via a four-wheel drive-by-wire steering system. The Toyota Fine-T Concept can spin on its own axis, or edge into tight parking spaces, and is driven by compact electric motors mounted within each wheel. The motors are powered by Toyota's latest generation fuel cell stack mounted beneath the flat floor. The fuel cell takes its hydrogen from a high-pressure tank also situated under the floor. Large gull-wing doors on either side reveal the roomy interior, and the driver's seat rotates outward at the press of a button to make access easier. As with the Fine-X, the Fine-T utilizes plant-based, carbon-neutral materials for interior elements like door trim, suede-like ceiling material, seat nets, and floor mats. Although Toyota is seriously evaluating fuel cells, company sources admit the technology is not likely to be viable until sometime in the next decade, primarily because of problems producing and storing hydrogen.

2008-05-31T19:56:00.000+05:30

TOYOTA F3R

The automotive world continues to look for a hip minivan. Toyota's latest try is the F3R, or Freedom 3-Row Concept. Hybrid powered - of course, it's a Toyota, and the company can do anything with a hybrid powertrain. The F3R has six side doors. The front two are conventional, and the rear four are pillar-free suicide doors with a reinforcement ring, like the Honda Element. They open to reveal a "lounge interior," with three conventional rows of seats that can be arranged into a kind of big oval couch, like those family room "pits" popular in the '90s. The driver's seat reclines and swivels, but the system is designed so that you can't drive the minivan when the seats are configured like this. Even if the driver's seat is in place, the second row can't be reclined while driving because it makes seatbelt use tough. There are two track-mounted video screens and a three-tier instrument panel, the upper strip with a mode for driving and a mode for the lounge. The main floor is covered in a kind of mid-century style recyclable rubber (the front seat area uses recyclable bamboo and the textured seats, set up "stadium style" in their driving configuration, are of a nice supple non-leather material. Toyota describes the styling as a wedged-shaped profile with a high beltline.

2008-05-31T19:54:00.001+05:30

TOYOTA A-BAT

Toyota returns to its compact-truck roots with its latest concept vehicle, the A-BAT (Advanced Breakthrough Aero Truck). The A-BAT uses a hybrid powertrain reported to provide modern versatility, roominess, and style for a new kind of buyer.

"Driving from the suburbs to the city is a way of life for many people," says Kevin Hunter, president, Calty Design Research, Inc. "We've taken Toyota's truck heritage to a different level by envisioning a vehicle capable of maneuvering the suburbs as well as dirt roads. This compact truck is as comfortable for long commutes as it is for road trips. It can accommodate outdoor toys and home-improvement supplies. Plus, customers benefit from the hybrid powertrain's low emissions and fuel economy."

2008-05-27T16:00:00.000+05:30

Spycam: Cadillac CTS Wagon

The wagon variant of the Cadillac CTS has been caught testing ahead of its likely debut at the Paris Show in October, where it will probably be shown with the new 250hp, 406lb ft 2.9-liter V-6 turbo-diesel that will be critical for CTS' success in the European market.

The CTS wagon will be produced along side the sedan and coupe versions at the Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in Michigan starting in the spring of 2009. Production volume is expected to be around 10,000-12,000 vehicles, with the majority destined for Europe.

The CTS wagon has been the subject of huge debate within GM. Execs with a North American focus couldn't see the point of doing a wagon because volumes would be small; more global oriented execs realized a wagon had a lot more acceptance in Europe, and would help grow (with the Coupe) perception of the CTS as a family of vehicles.

In the U.S., the CTS will help the upcoming Lambda-based crossover -- which will not, despite reports to the contrary, be called the BRX -- fill the void left by the moribund SRX, which gets the axe in the first half of 2009.

Approving the development of the CTS wagon was a critical step in the globalization of GM, and of the Cadillac brand.

2008-05-27T15:59:00.000+05:30

Spycam: Lincoln Navigator with new 4.4-liter diesel

The only sign that this mule isn't a run-of-the-mill Lincoln Navigator is dual exhaust coming out the passenger side of the Ford SUV, a fairly clear indication that Ford's new 4.4-liter diesel engine is lurking under the Navigator's hood. Eariler today an F-150 mule was also caught prowling around, also with the diesel on board.

Details of the 4.4-liter V-8, which will also appear in many of the expected places such as the F-150, Super Duty, and E-Series large vans, were leaked earlier this month after a recent Ford dealer meeeting. The engine is closely related to the 3.6-liter turbodiesel installed in European Jaguars and Land Rovers and is being designed in-house to be built at the automaker's Chihuahua, Mexico engine plant.

Compared to the current 5.4-liter V-8 found in many of Ford's larger vehicles, the new diesel is said to achieve nine percent more horsepower, 15 percent more lb-ft. of torque, and 20 percent better fuel economy, respectively. The automaker says 0 to 60 times in the two engines will be about the same. In addition, Ford is developing a urea injection system along the lines of Mercedes' Bluetec diesels to keep the new 4.4-liter running clean.

The diesel variant of the Navigator should arrive shortly after its expected freshening for 2010, either as a late-introduction 2010 model or as a 2011. It should also make its way into its Expedition sibling about the same time.

2008-05-27T15:56:00.001+05:30

Scoop! 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt

Under the camo is Chevy's all new Cobalt sedan, scheduled to debut as a 2010 model. Codenamed GMX071, the next-gen Cobalt will begin production at GM's Lordstown plant in July or August of next year. A coupe version will also be available.

These pix reveal a contemporary new design direction for the Cobalt. The now-familiar two-tier Chevy grille dominates the front end, and the bodyside is delineated by a sharp boneline rising to the rear below a twisting concave surface that hints of current BMW 5-series. The trunk is well hidden, but the logical extension of the bodyside treatment suggests a raised central section and mild shoulders over rear wheel openings.

But what's more important is what's under the skin: The new Cobalt is one of the first cars to come off GM's new global compact vehicle architecture, which will also underpin the next gen Saturn Astra and the Chevy Volt. More than just new hardware, the global compact vehicle architecture represents a new approach to product development for GM.

The global compact vehicle architecture will replace five GM small car architectures worldwide by 2014, generating huge cost savings in materials and product development. One of the key attributes of the architecture is its high degree of dimensional flexibility, which allows GM to build vehicles as diverse as coupes and crossovers on the same assembly lines using many of the same parts.

Not only will the global compact vehicle architecture enable GM to get more products to market more rapidly -- company insiders hint more than 30 new models will be launched worldwide off the architecture in just four years -- but it allows easier sharing of powertrains and other advanced technologies.

Which is good news for GM. With gas prices continuing to rise and the subsequent boom in small car sales, the Cobalt is likely to be even more of a major player in the U.S. market than originally planned. GM now has the ability to rapidly expand the Cobalt range to include hatchbacks and crossovers if customers demand, and easily install diesel engines and other gas-saving technologies such as electric power steering.

2008-05-27T15:50:00.000+05:30

Spycam: Porsche small SUV

The Porsche Cayenne's yet-unnamed baby brother was caught for the first time running laps around the Nurburgring and, to use Porsche's slogan for the Cayenne GTS, the bloodlines are unmistakable.

The styling clearly draws on the Cayenne, showing similar cues at the front and rear end. But the new Porsche is actually based on the upcoming Audi Q5, with which it shares its architecture.

Base engine will likely be the Cayenne's 3.6-liter V-6, with a V-8 likely for higher-end models as the Q5 architecture has enough room for one under the hood. As with the Cayenne, Porsche is likely to offer an off-road pack, with extra under-body protection. Air suspension may be also an option.

When placed side by side with the Q5, the similarity between the two SUVs becomes quite apparent. The middle sections of both cars are nearly identical despite vastly different in the front and rear-end styling.

The most noticeable difference comes from the Porsche's flatter roof, which creates its sharply-raked D-pillar and sloped rear window. Other, more subtle differences include the increased arc of the rear-door cutline and the placement of the rear-view mirrors. These are mounted onto the doors just below the greenhouse rather than between the front side window and A-pillar.

The small Porsche 'ute will likely arrive after the Panamera sedan, likely sometime during the 2011 model year.

2008-05-27T15:48:00.000+05:30

Spycam: 2009 Acura TL

The 2009 Acura TL is still months away from its debut in the fall, but the magic 8ball is already saying "outlook not so good" for the latest Acura to get a redesign based on these recent spyshots.

Looking pretty inoffensive from the front, the 2009 TL bears shape and proportions similar to those of the current Nissan Maxima. Though the camouflage bra hides the front end well, it does reveal the shape of Acura's now-signature "dynamic power plenum" grille and headlight styling that look to be close to the mug found on the 2009 TSX.

Things take a turn for the ugly in the rear, however. Acura decided that the trapezoidal shape of its new grille would work great in the rear as well as it does in the front and superimposed it on the trunk lid and part of the rear fascia. The unconventional trapezoidal shape not only makes for a small trunk opening, it's disproportionate to the relatively small taillights.

The presence of large dual exhausts is a telltale sign that a V-6 lurks under the hood. Rumors leaked out of a recent dealer meeting suggest the present TL's 3.2-liter six will be dropped, with the 3.5-liter in the TL Type-S becoming the base engine in either front or all-wheel-drive configurations, with an available, range-topping 3.7-liter with 300 horsepower and AWD becoming the new Type-S engine option.

We'll know much more leading up to the new TL's auto show debut, which should take place at either this November's Los Angeles auto show or the 2009 Detroit show.

2008-05-27T15:45:00.000+05:30

First Look: Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro Concept

Audi likes to use the Lake Worther Tour, held annually in southern Austria at the end of May, as a place to show off some fresh ideas. Last year, the automaker brought out the radically styled TT Clubsport Concept. Bowing this year is the A3

Clubsport Concept, a rehash of the not-for-U.S. A3 three-door that would drive any Eurotuner green, or perhaps red, with envy.

First up is the business end. Under the hood is a clean, Euro 5-compliant 2.0L four-cylinder turbodiesel pumping out 224 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque, which propels the hatch to 62 mph in 6.6 seconds on to a top speed of 149 mph. The gearbox is a six-speed manual, and power is sent to all four wheels via Audi's famous quattro all-wheel-drive system.

Stopping power at the front comes courtesy of potent six-piston calipers gripping lightweight, carbon-carbide 14-inch discs. Strangely enough, however, Audi couldn't be bothered to upgrade the rear brakes, which are straight from the production model. At least the brakes aren't drums.

Audi also equipped with A3 Clubsport with a stiff sport suspension that reduces the ride height by 1.42 inches and fitted it with the automaker's drive select driving dynamics system and magnetic ride adaptive damper control to maximize handling when necessary and ride comfort when not.

Visually, the car's goal is simple: Get attention. This it accomplishes well, for better or worse. The white-and-red paint scheme is eye catching, especially the No. 8 on the side. It's also hard to miss the giant front grille that brings memories of the Q7 V12 TDI Concept from the 2007 Detroit Auto Show or the massive honeycombs in the lower fascia. The rear fascia features two giant exhaust pipes that Audi says generate a "sonorous soundtrack," and there's a DTM-style spoiler mounted on the rear window. Rounding out the exterior changes are flared doors and quarter panels, Xenon headlights with LED running lights, bolt-on wheelarch extensions, and 20-inch, 10-spoke wheels.

The interior didn't undergo the same radical transformation as the exterior. The most notable changes over the standard A3 are the racing-style sport bucket seats, TDI Power-badged illuminated door sills, aluminum shiftgate, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel. The door panels and floormats also have been redesigned.

The result is that the A3 Clubsport weighs in at 3252 lb, is 0.63 in. longer than a standard 166.85-in.-long three-door A3, sits 1.42 in. lower with a height of 54.53 in., and boasts a wider track -- 61.73/61.14 in. front/rear, increases of 1.34 and 1.81 in., respectively. And it would fit in perfectly parked at a funny angle at a late-night enthusiast meet.

2008-05-27T15:39:00.000+05:30

Chicago 2008: Acura reveals 2009 RL with more style, more power, more...

click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Acura RL

Here in Chicago this morning, Acura unveiled the redesigned 2009 edition of its flagship RL sport sedan. One of the main criticisms of the current RL has been the anonymous face and rather bland overall styling. For '09, Acura has re-skinned the RL in an attempt to give it a more aggressive look with crisper contour lines and a much more prominent grille. According to Honda Sales EVP Dick Colliver, the face being shown on this car will spread to the rest of the lineup as the TL and TSX sedans are redesigned later this year. In spite of the sharpened focus, the overall profile of the exterior remains largely the same as the current model, which is not a bad thing. The handsome and functional interior is pretty much carried over, as well.

Under the skin, the new RL gets a new 3.7L V-6 with an upgraded VTEC valve-timing system boosting the output up to 300 hp and 271lb-ft. The Super Handling-All Wheel Drive system has also been revised with faster responses to changing conditions at each individual wheel to help improve the handling. One of the coolest features of the current RL and other Acuras is the AcuraLink system that can call up real-time traffic data to show you where there are accidents or road work in your vicinity. For 2009, the traffic data has been integrated into the nav system allowing it to automatically re-route you around congestion. We can't wait to try out that one during road construction season this summer.

2008-05-27T15:34:00.000+05:30

2008 Acura MDX

The first iteration of the Acura MDX--an SUV equally utilitarian and reliable--competed with the Mercedes-Benz ML and the Lexus RX300, but the newest generation of the MDX aims straight at the BMW X5 and the Porsche Cayenne. Cargo capacity and off-road capability are no longer the key metrics when contesting market share with those lithe Germans. To instill the same level of driving excitement in the MDX as is found in its new competitors, Acura's engineers headed to Germany's Nurburgring, which is prized for its ability to expose chinks in a car's driving dynamics.

The new MDX's exterior styling underwent a similarly rigorous workout. According to Frank Paluch, the chief engineer of both the original and second-generation MDX models, the goal was to provide a "stealth family package," which the design team accomplished by lowering the visual center of the vehicle, what they call the C-line, and angling the D-pillar sharply forward to camouflage the third-row seating. Paluch adds, "The vehicle looks smaller, but it's wider, longer, and lower." Until we spend time behind the wheel, we cannot say if the MDX can hang with the fast crowd--but at least it's wearing all the right clothes. Acura is being coy about powertrain performance, but Paluch says they have aimed for best-in-class V-6 performance. When asked if that translates to 300 hp, he remarks, "that's a difficult goal."

Although the vehicle is only a concept and in fact has no interior or powertrain, we expect that Acura will retain 99 percent of its exterior styling for the production model, which goes on sale this fall.

2008-05-11T09:22:00.000+05:30

Suzuki SXBox Concept: Really Freakyyyyyy...

The Suzuki SXBox is designed for ultimate video game enthusiasts. While the high-flow intake, cat-back exhaust, sport suspension and wheel and tire package add to the performance, the real upgrades are featured on the small car’s ultra-high-tech interior. The SXBox is outfitted with a dashboard-integrated Xbox 360 gaming console, coupled with a digital projection system to display enthusiasts’ game of choice on the interior of the vehicle’s retractable hood. A second Xbox 360 video game system powers two separate LCD display screens in the seat backs of the SXBox to provide gaming excitement for rear passengers. The SXBox’s multi-speaker surround sound system with wide frequency response and thundering bass provides an intense atmosphere of video game stimulation. For gamers who prefer to stand and play, the SXBox concept is also equipped with a 30-inch retractable rear projection screen in the cargo area.

2008-05-11T09:21:00.000+05:30

Suzuki HIP-HOP Concept:

Built in conjunction with SiTV, an English-language Latino cable network, the "Hip Hop" Grand Vitara offers innovative design, style and technology to appeal to hip hop music enthusiasts. Designed to be the ultimate mobile recording studio, the "Hip Hop" Grand Vitara features:
• 20-inch custom painted wheels and tires
• Custom interior
• Gull wing window features slide out audio mixing equipment, including telescoping microphone boom, drum machine and digital recorder
• In-dash touch screen video monitor
• 20-inch video screen in back door panel
• Nokia 770 Internet tablet
• Rear exterior mounted speakers and spare tire mounted subwoofer
• Chrome antenna housing, exhaust and mirrors

2008-05-11T09:19:00.000+05:30

Suzuki Reggaeton Concept:

Showcasing the latest in personalized car styling trends, the "Reggaeton" Grand Vitara offers innovative design and technology to appeal to urban teens and young adults. Built in conjunction with SiTV, an English-language Latino cable network, the project vehicle reflects Reggaeton dance music, a combination of Reggae with a Latin dance beat. Designed to be a fully operational DJ station, the "Reggaeton" Grand Vitara features:
• 20-inch custom painted wheels and tires
• Custom interior painted trim on speaker rings and door panels
• Vinyl-wrapped exterior, featuring a map of the three hottest Reggaeton locations (Miami, New York, San Juan, Puerto Rico)
• Rear swing-arm DJ recording table with double iPod mixer
• In-dash touch screen video monitor with DVD player
• Vinyl-wrapped rear spare tire cover of Liz Hernandez of Power 106
• Interior LED lights and under car glow lights
• Lowered suspension

2008-05-11T09:17:00.000+05:30

Hummer H3T:

This baby Hummer brings the brand's defining cubist styling and rugged abilities down to a more affordable and garage-friendly size. Riding on a 118.6-inch wheelbase and measuring 74.5 inches wide, the H3T embodies the classic Hummer proportions - wide stance, low roofline, and wheels at the corners. Pushed outward, the 34-inch tires and 11.5 inches of ground clearance give the H3T a staggering 51-degree approach angle and a 50-degree departure angle. For rigidity, the cab and 5.5-foot bed are engineered as a single structure. Power for this concept comes from a turbocharged Vortec 3500 I-5 engine producing 350-horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. Other notables include side access doors for cargo bed, power-operated fabric sunroof, extensive use of aluminum trim, hose-out rubber floor, Nike-inspired interior materials, and docking stations for portable MP3 player and GPS units.

2008-05-11T09:16:00.000+05:30

Ford Mustang GT-R Concept:

Officially the Mustang GT-R is a concept car, but it was developed and built by Saleen Specialty Vehicles in Troy, Michigan, to be capable of competing as a racecar. It also aims to show grass-roots racers that they can take a stock Mustang (85 percent of the GT-R's body structure is unchanged), and build a competitive vehicle at a reasonable price using parts from the Ford Racing catalogue, like the 440-hp 5.0-liter "Cammer" crate engine that retails for $14,995 and can be tuned to over 500 hp. That power is routed through a Ford Racing TTC-T56 six-speed transmission, a custom metal matrix composite aluminum driveshaft, and into a race-spec 4.56:1 differential. Big Brembo brakes, 20-inch Pirelli racing slicks, and competition suspension (retaining the live rear axle) round out the package. Carbon fiber is used for the hood, grille surround, and underbody belly pan, and the orange paint is meant to evoke the Grabber Orange 1970 Mustang Boss 302 Trans-Am racecars.

2008-05-11T09:13:00.000+05:30

Suzuki Flix Concept:

Built by the Carlab of Orange, Calif., and based on the 2007 XL7, the Flix offers film and entertainment enthusiasts the ultimate mobile movie experience. The Flix's ultra-rich, super-clean and modern exterior accentuates the redesigned body of the all-new XL7. The concept is dressed in midnight black paint with platinum accents and deep crimson "theater red" perimeter LED linear emitters encircling the lower valence of the midsize SUV.

In addition to its eye-catching exterior appearance, the Flix is outfitted with an unprecedented in-vehicle movie system. After parking at the optimal film-viewing destination, Flix's clamshell roof can be opened, revealing a maximum-size moonroof that serves as a 60-inch movie screen. Additionally, the XL7 concept's front roof panel vents, giving way to a high-density digital projection system to display a family's movie of choice. For those who prefer the traditional drive-in movie experience, Flix's projection system can be positioned to display movies nearly anywhere - the side of a building, a billboard or almost any wall.

The interior look of the Flix resembles a contemporary private screening room, dressed in plush materials to evoke elegance and sophistication. The XL7 concept features four individual bucket seats that pivot 180 degrees to view the elevated giant screen. The Flix also is equipped with a next-generation, high-definition DVD player with integrated hard drive for maximum AV storage, a professional THX/SDS-theater quality sound system, pivoting quarter window speakers and red door/floor strip lighting to further enhance the in-vehicle movie experience.

2008-05-11T09:11:00.000+05:30

Chrysler ME Four_Twelve Concept:

Chrysler execs were beaming as they unveiled the company's first-ever mid-engine super car – the ME Four-Twelve. Conceived as a follow-up to the Viper-powered Tomahawk motorcycle, the ME took less than a year to create, from concept to functional show car. The name comes from the powertrain, a quad-turbo V-12 developed by Mercedes' performance arm, AMG. The 6.0-liter engine produces 850 hp at 5750 rpm and 850 lb-ft of torque, translating to 142 hp per liter. This massive Hemi-embarrassing output is managed by a seven-speed Ricardo double-clutch transmission developed specifically for this car. Weighing just 2880 lbs, the carbon-fiber-bodied ME Four-Twelve reportedly can go 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds and blaze the quarter-mile in 10.6 seconds at 142.0 mph. Calculated top speed is 248 mph.

2008-05-11T09:08:00.000+05:30

Chevy Camaro Convertible concept:

Chevy will reportedly launch the Camaro coupe in late 2008 as a 2009 model with the Camaro Convertible coming in spring of 2009. Expect thicker sills and tunnels and added cross-bracing to give the convertible's unibody coupe-like stiffness. The convertible concept has charcoal SS stripes over a lustrous Hugger orange paint job—the stripes are so dark they appear black under certain light. The vehicle has last year's ram-air 6.0-liter LS2 engine, rated 400 horsepower and with Active Displacement Management. Built on the next-generation Holden/Zeta architecture, the car has independent rear suspension. It's likely the base engine will be the DOHC 3.6-liter V-6, not the 3.9-liter pushrod V-6. The best news: size the tires down to a "normal" 18 or 19 inches, and you're looking at the convertible you're likely to find in dealerships in 2009.

2008-05-11T09:07:00.000+05:30

Cadiallc Concept:

The Cadillac Sixteen has the super-sleek, nearly over-the-top Cruella DeVille styling that still has us reeling. The concept showcases a 13.6-liter, 90-degree V-16, an all-aluminum pushrod engine with 16-8-4 cylinder cutoffs. General Motors says the XV16 is good for 1000 horses, 1000 lb-ft. and 20 mpg on the highway cycle. The hood opens gullwing-style, like the hood on Caddy's first V-16 in 1930. The aluminum-steel chassis employs high-arm SLA suspension up front and independent semi-trailing arm suspension in the rear. Fortunately, four-wheel steering enhances the Cadillac Sixteen's maneuverability. The front and rear brakes are six-piston calipers with 16-inch rotors. At 223.3-in. long, with a 140-in. wheelbase and an overall height of less than 54 in., this car has the looks and proportions (along with the power) to put competitors back on the boat.

2008-05-11T09:03:00.000+05:30

Mazda Furai Concept:

Inspired by the fact that, on any given weekend, there are more Mazda and Mazda-powered cars road-raced in the United States than any other brand, the Mazda Furai is the sort of car that could only come from a company that incorporates the "Soul of a Sports Car" into everything it builds, but with an eye toward the future and the environment through the use of ethanol (E100) produced by British Petroleum (BP).

Furai takes Mazda's unique Nagare (Japanese for "flow") design language a step further as it is translated into a concept car based on an American Le Mans Series (ALMS) racing car. The car utilizes the Courage C65 chassis the company campaigned in the ALMS series only two seasons ago, and the 450-hp 3-rotor rotary engine that distinguishes it from anything else on the track.

"Furai purposely blurs boundaries that have traditionally distinguished street cars from track cars. Historically, there has been a gap between single-purpose racecars and street-legal models — commonly called supercars — that emulate the real racers on the road. Furai bridges that gap like no car has ever done before," remarked Franz von Holzhausen, Mazda's North American director of design.

2008-05-11T09:01:00.000+05:30

Dodge M80 Concept truck was introduced as a stylish, low-cost, four-wheel-drive vehicle to accommodate the ever-changing lifestyles of America’s youth. The M80 takes many of its retro design cues from 1939 and 1941 work trucks and features simple, chiseled lines, short overhangs, fender vent vanes, a cross-hair grille and push-button door handles. Styling is also enhanced by 20-inch wheels and oversized dual exhaust pipes. Storage is not a problem, thanks to plastic side-storage lockers, a center console that converts to a removable cooler, wide storage bins behind the seats as well as a cab that features a full-width “flipper” glass to carry gear that's too long for the pickup bed. The no-frills interior is rugged and durable and purposely lacks audio, visual and navigation toys so owners can personalize it with their own electronic entertainment devices. The interior also features an abundance of Detonator Yellow body-color sheet-metal panels enhanced by satin-silver hard plastic covers, a simple instrument cluster and classic ball-and-socket-style air vents. Even the removable seats are covered in a water-repelling Neoprene trim. The M80 is equipped with Chrysler group’s 3.7-liter, V6 engine capable of unleashing 210 ponies, plus four-wheel drive for go-anywhere capabilities.

2008-05-11T08:57:00.000+05:30

All New Chevy:

In the land of the Silicon Chip, IPOs and emerging technology, the 2008 Silicon Valley International Auto Show (produced by Motor Trend Auto Shows) plays host to more than 400 cars, trucks, crossovers and sport/utility vehicles. Just a short flight from Los Angeles brought me to San Jose and the McEnry Convention Center.

Technology meets the Automobile at this show. In addition to new (or redesigned) 2008 models such as the Nissan Rogue, Honda Accord, Subaru Impreza and Ford Shelby GT500, this show is about Hybrids, clean emission vehicles and technology to make Hybrids more efficient. This is Silicon Valley after all (known for the inception of the silicon chip which powers most all computers).

The Chevy stand showcases the Malibu Hybrid and full-size Tahoe Hybrid. Cadillac has the Escalade Hybrid on the turntable for all to see. The Ford Escape Hybrid drew attention as did the Edge with Microsoft's Sync Technology. The Ford Flex stood high on display as an alternative to family-oriented minivan and sport utility vehicles.

For those looking for the exotics, down the hall and on full display is a Bugatti Veyron (not to be confused with my rental car in self-parking...)

The show kicked off with the Charity preview, to benefit Community Against Substance Abuse (CASA) and the Valley Medical Center (VMC) foundation.

Rain and cold greeted me San Jose, but snow and sleet await journalists bound for the North American International Auto Show next week in Detroit. Motor Trend will be there in force with Angus and his team leading the charge.

Still at the Silicon Valley International Auto Show the activities are continuing to build. Off to the Aftermarket Alley and Toyota Trucks Off-Road On-Site Adventure next.

2008-05-11T08:50:00.001+05:30

BMW twin-turbo inline-six crowned "International engine of the year" for the second year in a row

BMW's twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six has been named the 2008 International Engine of the Year by a panel of 65 automotive journalists from 32 countries (including MT's own Frank Markus) convened by Engine Technology International Magazine.

Twelve awards are handed out in total. The judges heavily favored forced-induction engines, with just four of the winning engines being naturally aspirated, one of those being a hybrid

BMW took home five other awards, including a second award for the 3.0-liter TT I-6 for best engine displacing 2.5 to 3.0-liters. The Bavarians' other awards were for best engine displacing over 4.0-liters for the M5's 5.0-liter V-10, best engine displacing 3.0 to 4.0-liters for the M3's 4.0-liter V-8, best engine displacing 1.4 to 1.6-liters for the Mini Cooper S' 1.6-liter turbo (jointly developed with Peugeot), and best new engine for the European-market 2.0-liter twin-turbo diesel inline-four found in the 123d.

Toyota finished second with two awards, one for green engine of the year for the Prius' Hybrid Synergy Drive and one for best engine under 1.0-liters in displacement for its European market 1.0-liter four. Volkswagen also picked up a pair of awards. The first was for best engine displacing 1.0 to 1.4-liters for its European-market 1.4-liter twincharger four, the second for best engine displacing 1.8 to 2.0-liters for its widely-used 2.0-liter turbo four.

The remaining two awards were split between Porsche (best performance engine for its 3.6-liter turbo six) and Subaru (best engine displacing 2.0 to 2.5-liters for its 2.5-liter turbo four).

A list of winners is below:

2008 International Engine of the Year Awards Winners

Best New Engine of 2008
BMW 2-liter Diesel Twin-Turbo (123d)

Green Engine of the Year
Toyota 1.5-liter Hybrid Synergy Drive (Prius)

Best Performance Engine
Porsche 3.6-liter Turbo (911 Turbo, 911 GT2)

Sub 1-liter
Toyota 1-liter (Aygo, Yaris, Peugeot 107, Citron C1, Subaru Justy)

1-liter to 1.4-liter
Volkswagen 1.4-liter TSI Twincharger (Golf, Touran, Tiguan, Jetta)

1.4-liter to 1.8-liter
BMW-PSA 1.6-liter Turbo (MINI Cooper S, Clubman, Peugeot 207, 308)

1.8-liter to 2-liter
Volkswagen/Audi 2-liter Turbo (A3, A4 Cabrio, A6, TT, Eos, Jetta, Golf GTi, Seat Altea, Leon, Skoda Octavia)

2-liter to 2.5-liter
Subaru 2.5-liter Turbo (Forester, Impreza, Outback, Legacy)

2.5-liter to 3-liter
BMW 3-liter Twin-Turbo (135, 335, X6)

3-liter to 4-liter
BMW 4-liter V8 (M3)

Above 4-liter
BMW 5-liter V10 (M5, M6)

2008-05-11T08:45:00.000+05:30

Spycam: Porsche small SUV

The Porsche Cayenne's yet-unnamed baby brother was caught for the first time running laps around the Nurburgring and, to use Porsche's slogan for the Cayenne GTS, the bloodlines are unmistakable.

The styling clearly draws on the Cayenne, showing similar cues at the front and rear end. But the new Porsche is actually based on the upcoming Audi Q5, with which it shares its architecture.

The small Porsche 'ute will likely arrive after the Panamera sedan, likely sometime during the 2011 model year.

2008-05-11T08:43:00.001+05:30

Last Mitsubishi 380 Sells for $100,000:

Mitsubishi Motors Australia Ltd. sells the last 380 sedan to be built Down Under for A$100,000 ($93,964), more than triple its retail cost.

The John Hughes Mitsubishi dealership in Perth, Western Australia, put in the winning bid, which earned it not only the car but also say in the charity that will get the proceeds from the sale.

The auction price compares with a price of A$34,490 ($32,410) for the base model at launch. That later was cut to A$27,990 ($26,300).

Mitsubishi Australia ended production of the 380 last month, closing its assembly plant outside Adelaide.

The auction of the silver Platinum sedan was conducted by Mitsubishi Australia CEO and President Robert McEniry and included bids by telephone and the Internet.

“The final Mitsubishi 380 sedan has been very keenly sought, with enquiries from all over Australia,” McEniry tells reporters.

Perth dealer gets last of Australian 380s.
“So it was decided the only fair and equitable way to dispose of the vehicle was through our dealer auctions, to allow interested parties an opportunity to secure the vehicle. This is a fitting result for such a fantastic and well-built car.”

With the auction, Mitsubishi Australia decided the fate of the last four 380s built. Earlier, one was given to the Royal Flying Doctor Service, one to Vision Australia and one to the National Motor Museum.

2008-05-11T08:39:00.001+05:30

2009 Audi TTS First Drive:

First Impressions:
Not quite a Porsche Cayman, but a proper sports car at last. The TT has come of age.

Featured Specs

265-horspower 2.0-liter turbo
Six-speed dual-clutch transmission
All-wheel drive
18-inch wheels

The Style Icon Is a Sports Car at Last

Not so long ago, Audi was happy to pose as the style leader. What the cars lacked in driving finesse, they made up for in haute couture. They were the automotive equivalent of Paris Hilton's dog — a neat accessory, but not much good at walking.

And no car epitomized this image more than the original 1998 Audi TT. It looked iconic, but its Bauhaus-inspired looks wrote a check that its VW Golf-derived chassis couldn't cash.

But in recent years, Audi has sought to change this image with the second-generation TT that was launched two years ago, a more focused driver's tool. Now this car has become the first TT to wear Audi's "S" badge. On sale here this November as both a coupe and a roadster, the 2009 Audi TTS is powered by a 265-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and it's meant to go toe-to-toe with the BMW Z4 3.0, Mercedes SLK350 and even (whisper it) the Porsche Cayman and Boxster.

We went to Germany to find out if the TT really has made the leap from poser's poodle to serious performance car.

Adding the Street Cred
The more purposeful appearance of the second-generation TT has always been likely to lend itself to a body kit more readily than the finely drawn lines of the original TT. The 2009 Audi TTS gains a front spoiler and a rear aero diffuser, plus prominent rocker skirts and special 18-inch cast-aluminum wheels. It's detailed with quad tailpipes, LED daytime driving lights and the aluminum outside mirrors that are the trademark of Audi's S models.

This is a comprehensive package that clearly differentiates the 2009 Audi TTS from its lesser TT siblings, and we like the way the integrated look keeps the effort from looking like it has been inspired by the aftermarket. On the road, the TTS looks like a scaled-down, slightly friendlier version of the R8 supercar — a resemblance that's surely no coincidence.

Inside the TTS cabin, you'll find the familiar TT architecture. There are a couple of S-type features, such as instruments with white numerals on gray faces, but there's otherwise little to differentiate this car from the standard TT. You get the same mix of understated design, beautiful materials and immaculate build quality. For those in the front, the TTS is a splendid place to be, although the coupe's rear seats are best left to small children or desperate friends.

The Important Bits
Hiding under the TTS's hood is a retuned version of the Volkswagen Group's familiar 2.0-liter TFSI engine. Featuring turbocharging and direct fuel injection, it offers 265 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, while 258 pound-feet of torque are on tap from 2,500 to 5,000 rpm. The engine block, cylinder head, connecting rods and the pistons have all been upgraded to withstand the power increase.

This output is not dissimilar to the TT V6's 247 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, but the nature of the power delivery is very different. The boost pressure starts to reach its 17.4-psi peak around 2,500 rpm, from which point there's a thrilling jab of thrust. The TTS feels rapid and the subjective impressions are echoed by the stopwatch.

Helped by the traction afforded by all-wheel drive, the TTS coupe will scurry to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, while forward progress ends at 155 mph. It delivers its thrust with a growl that's not displeasing, but don't expect this four-pot engine to match the thrilling sound afforded by the 3.0-liter inline-6 of the BMW Z4 or the 3.0-liter horizontally opposed six of a Porsche Cayman, and even the 3.5-liter V6 of the Mercedes-Benz SLK350 sounds better.

Nevertheless, Audi's cause is also helped by the S tronic dual-clutch gearbox, which is standard equipment. The dual-clutch remains a peerless combination of automatic operation and a crisp, mechanical connection between the engine and the wheels. The S tronic offers automatic operation in Drive and Sport modes, while you can shift for yourself in manual mode. It's eerily smooth to the point where it almost feels too good. Thanks to even quicker gearchanges, the S tronic feels more like a computer game than a mechanical act.

Firmer Footing
As before, the standard TT suspension continues with its front MacPherson struts and four-link rear suspension, but the ride height has been lowered 10mm (0.39 inch). More important might be Audi's first use of magnetorheological dampers. You can choose between standard and Sport settings for the damping action (electric voltage changes the characteristics of the special damping fluid with its magnetic particles). The latter results in a far more aggressive calibration of these fast-acting units, but since Audi is going for a sports car setup, the ride quality in the Sport mode will be acceptable, though we think it might feel a little too firm on U.S. roads. Fortunately, the standard damping setting is never uncomfortable.

The TTS coupe weighs 3,120 pounds, but this doesn't seem like much for a sports car these days. It's light, nimble and responsive in a way that no TT has been before. While the steering, with its electrically boosted rack-and-pinion, lacks the ultimate feel of a Porsche helm, it has an intimate relationship with the front wheels. The disc brakes feature sport-rated pads and they have a firm, positive feel.

Overall, the TTS feels like it's been built with care and precision. It's more failsafe and less adjustable than the rear-wheel-drive BMW Z4, with the kind of character that some enthusiasts might be quick to label disappointing, but the traction benefits of the standard all-wheel-drive powertrain should not be underestimated, especially in the wet. If you do get carried away, gentle understeer is the net result.

Sports Car or Not?
We should not go too far here. The 2009 Audi TTS is a good drive and genuinely entertaining, but it's not a Porsche Cayman. It still feels like a sporting version of a mainstream car and not a bespoke alternative honed by people who dedicate their every waking moment to the minutiae of control feel. If you want a TT to rival a Porsche, you might have to wait for the yet-to-be-confirmed TTRS.

The 2009 Audi TTS will be cheaper than the Cayman, though, when it goes on sale in the U.S. in late November. It's around 10 percent more expensive than the V6 TT in Europe and we'd expect it to follow suit here. At this price, the TTS is a tempting proposition. It looks good, has a beautifully resolved interior and will be a nice thing to own.

At long last, Audi has given the TT an injection of much needed testosterone. The poser's poodle has got some bite.

2008-05-11T08:35:00.000+05:30

MAZDA NAGARE CONCEPT: CAPTURING THE EMOTION OF MOTION
IN NEW SURFACE LANGUAGE

LOS ANGELES – After presenting three ground-breaking concept vehicles during the 2005-2006 global auto show season – Sassou at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show, Senku at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show and Kabura at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show – Mazda's global design team wasn't about to rest on its laurels. To keep energy levels brimming, and to begin the process of evolving Mazda's design and surface language for future Zoom-Zoom vehicles, Mazda's design division has invented a new surface language called Nagare for introduction at this year's Greater Los Angeles International Auto Show.

NAGARE: (pronounced "na-ga-reh") Japanese for 'flow'
and the embodiment of motion.

Under the direction of Mazda's new global design director, Laurens van den Acker, the challenge given to the team was to invent a novel means of registering motion in vehicles whether they're moving or still. Nagare achieves that goal while also signaling a fresh design direction for future Mazda vehicles.

Nagare is the first of a series of design concepts – some closer to actual production vehicles than others – that Mazda will showcase this global autoshow season, including Los Angeles, Detroit, Geneva and Tokyo.

Franz von Holzhausen, Mazda North American Operations' (MNAO) Director of Design, and the man responsible for leading the US-based design team which developed this vehicle, explains, "We're looking well down the road with Nagare. We want to suggest where Mazda design will be in 2020. To do that, we redefined basic proportions and the idea of driving without losing the emotional involvement. Mazda's driving spirit will be enhanced and intensified by Nagare.

"Mazda doesn't produce concept cars to spin its wheels, and while some are more forward-looking than others, we simply do not create pure flights of fantasy. We develop these ideas to demonstrate what we really intend to build and sell. It took soul-searching along with basic research to invent the new surface language we're calling Nagare. The dynamic qualities of Mazda products already do an excellent job of capturing the spirit of motion so our goal was to move our design language a major step beyond what we've already demonstrated with Sassou, Senku, and Kabura.

von Holzhausen continues, "We began by studying motion and the effect it has on natural surroundings: how wind shapes sand in the desert, how water moves across the ocean floor, and the look of lava flowing down a mountainside. Natural motion registers an impression in your brain and that's what we hoped to capture with the new Nagare surface language.

"Once we started sketching our ideas, we weren't surprised to find similar quests underway in other product design disciplines. We found examples of motion influencing the shape and surface of furniture, architecture, apparel, and artwork. Nagare undoubtedly proves our confidence in identifying a new and exciting visual language for Mazda as we lead the way in defining the interaction of motion and flow in automobile surfacing.

"We began by developing a surface or textural language that describes flow. The motion of the vehicle is defined by, and evident in, the texture of its interior and exterior surfaces. There is no right or wrong way to capture the impression of motion, so each of the concepts we present throughout this global show season will embody a different interpretation of our new surface language."

CONCEPT OF A CONCEPT
von Holzhausen describes Nagare as "a concept of a concept." It's intentionally a celebration of proportions and surface language that will evolve in subsequent designs planned for presentation at future autoshows this season. In other words, design first, engineering later at this point in the process, in contrast to the classic 'form-follows-function' approach.

Adds van den Acker, "It's important to start with the vision first: Nagare is sculpture on wheels, our vision of what Mazda automobiles could look like in 2020. The concept we'll present in Detroit is practical enough to produce in the next decade, while the model under development for Geneva will embody design ideas we expect to implement in the very near future."

PACKAGE
Like all Mazda products, Nagare has the soul of a sports car. Its shape is sleek and aerodynamically efficient, as you'd expect of an urban cruiser for the future. Wheels are positioned at the far corners of the envelope for quick steering response and agile maneuverability. There isn't an ounce of overhang wasted.

Access to the four-place interior is provided by two double-length doors that hinge forward and up like the wings of a butterfly. The driver is centrally located, like a single-seat sports racer, for optimum control and visibility. Since the driver is positioned under the highest portion of the roof, there's ample headroom with a comfortably reclined backrest. Innovative seating arrangements are a Mazda specialty, as witnessed by the successful RX-8 four-passenger sports car and the clever packaging in the upcoming CX-9 three-row, seven-passenger crossover sport-utility vehicle.

Nagare's rear compartment is a wrap-around lounge offering relaxed accommodations for three passengers. The central front seat and expansive door opening facilitate easy entry to the surprisingly roomy interior.

Recognizing that an advanced design concept needs an advanced powertrain, Nagare could conceivably be powered by a hydrogen-fueled rotary engine. Mazda's work on this advanced driveline technology is among the most advanced in the world, with hydrogen/gasoline-fueled rotaries powering RX-8s currently in service in Japan.
www.autocult.com.au/
SURFACE TEXTURE REGISTERING FLOW MOTION
Nagare's side surfaces provide a means of visualizing the air flowing along and over the car as it speeds through the atmosphere. Light and shadow combine to convey this feeling of motion even when the car is still. Similar hints of fluid flow are evident in the hood, wheel arches, LED head- and tail-lamp treatments. The same surface language plays throughout Nagare's interior; the instrument panel, center console, and door panels all appear to be influenced by flow.

Notes von Holzhausen of the vehicle, "Beauty is not a clean sheet of paper. Nagare's motion-influenced surface texture compliments its dynamic attributes. Because of Mazda's sporty essence, we never wrap our customers in boxes.

"Our new surface language is car-centric. After studying the architectural approach, which tends to be strictly rigid, and the organic approach, which is highly fluid, we created Nagare to straddle those two disciplines. It is fluid, graceful, and dynamic. But the message it registers on the beholder is flow-motion."

GLOBAL DESIGN EFFORT
To give Mazda products sold in far-flung global markets a common design theme, the three global design studios, located in Irvine, California, Frankfurt, Germany and Yokohama, Japan are inspired, guided, and encouraged by Laurens van den Acker, the firm's global design director, located at the company's headquarters in Hiroshima, Japan. Future concepts embracing the Nagare flow design discipline will evolve under van den Acker's oversight as this year's show season unfolds.

Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario, Canada, and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.

2008-05-04T08:05:00.000+05:30

Detroit Preview: Mitsubishi to unleash Concept-RA

click above image to view high-res gallery of the Mitsubishi Concept-RA

Performance enthusiasts have witnessed the devolution of the Mitsubishi Eclipse from the turbocharged, all-wheel-drive thrill ride it once was to the V6-powered, front-wheel-drive highway cruiser it is today. Perhaps the Concept-RA that Mitsubishi will unveil at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show in January heralds a return to that original Eclipse. The concept certainly has the look of those first-gen cars, with a low slung body and perfectly arching roof line. The rear even has a bit of Boxster to it. The fender flares and what we hope are functional extraction vents give purpose to the design, which is backed up by the use of lightweight materials and an eco-friendly though potent powerplant.

The Concept-RA is built on an aluminum space frame and most of its body panels, including the hood and fenders, are made from a recyclable plastic resin that's impact resistant. That brings the weight down so that the 2.2L four-cylinder turbodiesel doesn't have to work as hard to make the car go. The diesel features Mitsu's MIVEC valve timing technology, as well as direct injection and piezoelectric injectors. It requires no urea injection to meet our strict emissions standards for diesels, instead relying on a smorgasbord of traps, filters and catalytic converters. Despite its formidable green cred, the 2.2L mill produces just over 200 HP and 310 ft-lbs. of torque. Like the best Eclipses of old, it sends power to all four wheels, though through a more modern Twin Clutch SST transmission. Mitsubishi's Super All Wheel Control (S-AWC) also keeps the car planted by coordinating the efforts of a variety of systems, including the brakes, stability control, steering and damping.

The Concept-RA should to be one of the most exciting concepts in Detroit this year, not just because it looks sharp, but also because Mitsubishi took the time to fit it with a workable drivetrain and cutting edge powerplant that could make it to market. As for whether or not the Concept-RA has any official ties to the first-generation Eclipse, that was our own wishful thinking... but you can't deny the resemblance.

2008-05-04T08:02:00.001+05:30

2007 FPV Territory F6 X

FPV UNLEASHES THE F6 X

Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) today unleashed the highly anticipated FPV F6 X at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney.

The new F6 X is the first non Falcon-based vehicle introduced by FPV, which will extend the FPV brand into new markets and offer customers a unique opportunity in Australian performance motoring.

"FPV has always had the goal to extend the brand beyond Falcon-based product and I'm very pleased to be able to showcase the first new offering today," FPV General Manager Rod Barrett said.

"The new F6 X is designed for the family that enjoys performance vehicle motoring and appreciates a true sports luxury feel."

Derived from Ford's Territory vehicle family, the FPV F6 X is equipped with the class leading high-performance F6 270 Turbo 4.0-litre DOHC in-line six-cylinder engine, producing 270kW of power and 550Nm of torque, matched to the ZF six-speed automatic transmission and a full-time All-Wheel-Drive system.

The F6 X is fitted with a number of the advanced active and passive safety features, including Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Traction Control and four-channel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD).

Side curtain airbags and dual-stage driver and front passenger airbags are also fitted as standard equipment.

The braking performance of the F6 X is enhanced by the fitment of Brembo six-piston front calipers and a new FPV calibration for the ABS and DSC systems.

FPV engineers have re-tuned the ride and handling to produce a firmer sports feel, further enhancing the primary ride control of the vehicle.

Exclusive two-toned leather interior

The cabin of the F6 X includes a unique Shadow and Pumice two-tone seat trim, along with six-way power adjustment and three position memory for the driver's seat.

"The unique styling of the leather seats is a standout, eye-catching feature of the F6 X and contributes to the sports luxury feel that permeates the entire vehicle," said Barrett.

The two-tone treatment is continued through to the third row on the seven-seat variant.

The instrument cluster features the FPV logo, an engine speed red line and distinctive FPV blue illumination, while FPV scuff plates and alloy pedals add to the list of interior appointments.

Each vehicle comes with its own unique build plate mounted on the gear selector surround.

The premium Interior Command Centre (ICC), with dual zone automatic climate control and large colour screen, is finished in a unique Molten Metal accent colour, while the leather door trim inserts are finished in Pumice.

External accents stand out from the crowd

Unique F6 X exterior styling cues include a high-tech front mesh grille insert, as well as a rear spoiler and alloy running boards with a matching body colour surround.

The exterior design also features Molten Metal accents on the front skid plate, bonnet air scoop, door mirror scalps and rear skid plate, while 18-inch five-spoke alloys in an Alpine Silver finish are also exclusive to the F6 X.

Exterior paint colours on the F6 X include Winter White, Platinum Haze, Seduce, Dash, Nitro, Sensation, Ego and Silhouette.

The new FPV F6 X is due to go on sale in early 2008. Full pricing will be released closer to launch.

2008-05-04T07:53:00.000+05:30

New Limited Edition FPV BF MKII GT Cobra

The GT Cobra model is celebrating the famous 1-2 victory formation at the 1977 Bathurst 1000 race which led to the release of the Cobra XC hardtop, the following year. The new FPV GT Cobra combines the original XC Cobra’s bold styling with the latest in FPV engineering and performance.

FPV’s new Cobra range was revealed during a parade lap of Mount Panorama prior to the start of the 2007 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000. The GT Cobra not only provides great value for money but a genuine performance advantage with the addition of FPV’s R Spec handling package and a high performance V8 engine which produces 302kW of power.

Only 400 examples of the GT Cobra sedan and 100 examples of the Cobra ute will be built for both Australia and New Zealand, each with a unique build number badge and certificate of authenticity.

Key Features

The GT Cobra features a white exterior with blue racing stripes across the bonnet, roof and rear deck lid and is completed by the unique coiled snake Cobra badge on each front fender. Both variants will be powered by FPV’s high performance Boss 5.4-litre, quad-cam 32 valve V8 engine producing 302kW of power and 540Nm of torque. In addition, both models will feature unique 19-inch, 5 spoke alloy wheels with white accents and a machined-face finish, to complete the standout exterior package.

The GT Cobra will only be offered in white with blue striping in both manual (closed ratio six speed transmission with a high torque clutch) and automatic transmissions (ZF six speed transmission with sequential sports shift). The GT Cobra has a limited slip differential and will also include exclusive R Spec badging.

The interior of both the GT Cobra sedan and Cobra Ute is equally distinctive, with both variants fitted with leather seats as standard with each seat carrying the Cobra logo.

Additional Features

The GT Cobra will have a build number badge with series number from 1 to 400 and a GT Cobra Owner’s Certificate will form part of the owner’s gifts.

In addition to these unique features the GT Cobra also benefits from the following list of extra equipment:

• Improved volumetric efficiency of the engine above 3,750 rev/min.
This has been achieved by a new inlet camshaft profile to increase inlet valve lift and duration with changes to the valve and valve spring to accommodate the increased valve lift.

• Reduced exhaust pumping losses
The work required to pump exhaust gas out of the engine has been reduced by use of a new exhaust camshaft profile to increase the exhaust valve lift and duration. A new exhaust valve spring and valve is used to accommodate the increased valve lift.

• Improved combustion efficiency
Compression ratio has been increased from 10.5:1 to 10.8:1 improving scavenging of combustion gas. The required fuel specification is unchanged at 95 RON.

• Engine Calibration
The engine calibration has been extensively revised to provide the optimum engine operating conditions with the new components. Improvements have been made to improve accelerator response

GT Cobra Sedan - Specifications

FPV stainless steel fabricated exhaust manifolds. FPV high-flow dual exhaust system.

R Spec handling package incorporating revised suspension. FPV Performance independent double wishbone front suspension. Performance Control Blade Independent Rear Suspension (IRS).

Unique 5-spoke 19” x 8” alloy wheels with White accents and a machined face finish, fitted with Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 245/35ZR tyres.

Performance Brakes - 355 x 32mm cross drilled and slotted front rotors with Brembo 4 piston calipers and 328 x 26mm cross drilled rear rotors with red single piston calipers.

Optional Premium Brakes - 355 x 32mm cross drilled and slotted front rotors with Brembo 6 piston calipers and 330 x 28mm cross drilled rear rotors with Brembo 4 piston calipers.

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) - 4 channel with traction control. Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD).

Cobra Ute - Specifications

Boss 302 high performance 5.4L quad-cam 32 valve V8 engine. Maximum power (DIN) – 302kW @ 6000rpm. Maximum torque (DIN) – 540Nm @ 4750rpm.

FPV stainless steel fabricated exhaust manifolds. FPV high-flow dual exhaust system. Close ratio 6-speed manual transmission. No cost option ZF 6-speed high-torque automatic transmission with Sequential Sports Shift. Limited Slip Differential (LSD).

Unique 5-spoke 19” x 8” alloy wheels with White accents and a machined face finish, fitted with Dunlop SP Sport Maxx 245/35ZR tyres.

Premium Brakes - 355 x 32mm cross drilled and slotted front rotors with Brembo 6 piston calipers and 328 x 26mm cross drilled rear rotors with red single piston calipers.

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) - 4 channel with traction control. Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD).

2008-05-03T20:53:00.000+05:30

OC Auto Show: Suzuki "Hip Hop" Grand Vitara

OMG, This was Suzuki's big news? Come on guys? Taking a Grand Vitara and letting some graffiti artists tag it isn't that impressive. But we know there are some of you who love this stuff, and the work was kind of cool, so here it is. In all fairness, Suzuki made sure we knew it wasn't just a paint job. Follow the jump for another pic and the stats on this rolling mix stand.

[Source: Suzuki]

Here's a rundown of features on the "Hip Hop" Grand Vitara:

20-inch customized painted wheels and tires
Customized interior
Gull wing window features slide out audio mixing equipment, including
telescoping microphone boom, drum machine and digital recorder
In-dash touch screen video monitor
20-inch video screen in back door panel
Nokia 770 Internet tablet
Rear exterior mounted speakers and spare tire mounted subwoofer
Chrome antenna housing, exhaust and mirrors

2008-05-03T20:49:00.001+05:30

2008 SAE Show: Engineer-a-Palooza returns to Detroit's Cobo Hall. We've got highlights.

In a desperate attempt to find yet another unique show theme evoking engineeringdom's war on global warming, organizers arrived at "A Climate for Change." Four days of symposia, round-tables, and technical-paper presentations took place in Cobo's meeting rooms and stage areas helping to edify those tasked with delivering a 35-mpg CAFE fleet, clean diesel engines, and the lighter, cleaner, more profitable vehicles we'll all be driving in the years to come. Out on the show floor, the manufacturers and suppliers of parts and services showed off their latest wares. We've got highlights.

BMW Hydrogen 7 Monofuel
We almost didn't stop to look at this one, as the hydrogen-burning 7 Series vehicles have been in operation for years (anybody watch the pres-Oscars red-carpet arrivals?). Those Hydrogen 7s were all bi-fuel, running on hydrogen or gasoline to enable them to maneuver between the few widely spaced hydrogen filling stations equipped to refuel a BMW (their connection is different from those used most other fuel-cell and hydrogen combustion cars). Naturally, running on hydrogen alone allows the compression ratio, valve timing, etc. to be optimized, resulting in better power, greater hydrogen-operation range, etc. But while emissions are so low that Argonne National Labs had to help design equipment to measure them, they're not zero. Trace NOx and CO are formed -- some of which BMW attributes to the V-12 engine's cleaning up of hydrocarbons in the atmosphere.

Toyota Prius Plug-Ins -- A123 Hymotion & Toyota's Own
Not one but two separate booths were promoting plug-in Prius hybrids. Battery supplier A123 will soon begin marketing a kit that mounts beneath the trunk floor, displacing the spare tire. The 5kW-hour L5 lithium-ion battery pack adds 185 pounds and piggybacks onto Toyota's power electronics. Because of the way the Hybrid Synergy Drive system works, the engine must be used at certain vehicle speeds, and most regenerated energy goes back into the stock nickel-metal-hydride battery, but the plug-in battery gradually discharges, increasing the amount of time the car can operate at low speeds in electric mode. At $10,000 installed, expect a distant payoff horizon. Meanwhile, Toyota showed a plug-in Prius of its own, with few details. It adds a second 6.5-amp-hour NiMH battery pack, adding 70-some pounds and permitting seven miles of EV operation (on the US LA#4 cycle) at a top speed of 62 mph.

Scuderi Split Cycle Engine
We profiled this oddball engine a while back, but to refresh your memory, the idea is to segregate the intake and compression strokes from the power and exhaust strokes in two separate cylinders, allowing each to be optimized for its purpose. The team on hand at SAE claims to have conducted preliminary tests that indicate the valvetrain is exceeding computer predictions and that full load performance is approaching 38 percent efficiency, with part-load results just under 30 percent. The engine is proving highly resistant to knock (because the air spends less time in a hot cylinder), and by firing after top-dead-center, so the piston is moving away as the gasses expand, very little NOx forms. By the end of the year a 1.0-liter two-cylinder proof of concept prototype should be up and running.

Prius Plaque

L5 Lithium-Ion Battery Pack

A123 Hymotion Battery

2008-05-03T20:47:00.000+05:30

First Look: 2009 Nissan Maxima

In 1989, Nissan introduced the third-generation Nissan Maxima -- arguably the most important model in the 32-year history of this car in the U.S. Why? Because of a little 4DSC sticker it plastered on the rear side windows.

Car geeks know this stands for Four-Door Sports Car -- a bold claim at the time, but one Nissan backed up with a sport-tuned suspension and a 190-horsepower V-6, mated to a five-speed manual. With our current crop of 260-horse Accords and Camrys that may not seem like much, but back then it was enough to get the Maxima SE whispered along with the likes of Benz and BMW.

Perhaps Merc and Bimmer comparisons are what Nissan is aiming for now, with its all-new, seventh-generation Maxima. The 2009 Maxima represents a return to the car's 4DSC heritage -- at least that's what Nissan marketers hope to invoke with the addition of the very same stickers on the rear windows.

Liquid Motion

At first glance, it seems clear the 2009 Maxima designers are a breed apart from the ones that birthed the avant garde, but feminanonymous 2004-2008 Maxima.

Nissan's new flagship sedan is built upon an all-new front-drive "D platform" that is shorter between the wheels and overall, yet boasts a wider front and rear track. Why then does it look larger and meaner? Because of a butched-up styling language that Nissan calls "liquid motion." Just look at the aggressive stance and wide, upright grille work. Then notice the broadly spaced, asymmetric head and taillamps and sculpted muscular lines down the sides and hood. No slab-sided antiseptic styling here; the 2009 Maxima channels the GT-R and Infiniti G35 to great effect.

Though the chassis and sheetmetal are new, performance will come from the standard 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve VQ-series V-6 engine that powered the previous-generation Maxima and nearly everything else in the Nissan fleet. This revised engine is now rated at 290 horsepower and 261 lb-ft of torque, an increase of 35 horsepower and nine lb-ft of torque over the 2008 Maxima engine. Will such impressive output make it a torque-steering beast? Nissan engineers say no and claim to have implemented appropriate countermeasures.

On the handling side, Nissan has outfitted the Maxima with aluminum intensive MacPherson strut suspension up front and a separate spring and shock multilink setup in the rear. There are various chassis reinforcements throughout the car, including a front strut tower brace and, for Sport/Premium package-equipped models, a rear seat panel that is said to improve torsional rigidity by 17 percent.

All 2009 Maximas come in two trim levels, 3.5 S and 3.5 SV, and are equipped with a revised version of the Nissan's standard Xtronic CVT with manual mode and available paddle shifters. A new "Ds mode" (drive sport) also has been added to the CVT for 2009. No official word yet, but you can bet a six-speed manual Maxima SE version is in the works if Nissan is bold enough to put the 4DSC sticker in the window.

2008-05-03T20:46:00.000+05:30

2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 vs. 2008 Ford Shelby GT500 Photo Gallery

Viva the American retro-car revolution. Three years ago, Ford struck first with its late-1960s-inspired gen-five Mustang and still had the segment all to itself when it released the reincarnated, high-output Shelby GT500 version for 2007. But Ford's solitary rule of the musclecar time machine is over. In six months, the Mustang's most feared rival, the Chevrolet Camaro, will return after seven years of reclusion in a suite high atop a Radisson near Warren, Michigan. Not that the assault against the Mustang's dominion will take even that long to commence: A third time traveler, Dodge's hotly awaited Challenger coupe, has already charged into the fray.

2008-05-03T20:44:00.001+05:30

2008 Beijing Auto Show: The good, the bad, and the ugly from China's booming auto industry

It's the wild, wild east at 2008 Beijing auto show

"Man," said GM design boss Ed Welburn, "this is the most exciting auto show I've been to in a long time. It's the wild, wild east." Welburn was on the Geely stand at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show, checking out the half-dozen or so concepts and all-new models rolled out just for this show by China's second largest domestic automaker. "They don't know what the rules are," he said, referring to some of the weirder designs, "but that's okay. There's a lot of creativity here."

Welburn, whose Buick Invicta concept, jointly designed in GM's Chinese and Detroit studios, is one of the star cars of Beijing, wasn't the only senior designer prowling the eight crowded, chaotic halls of the giant China International Exhibition Center - Ford's Martin Smith, Volvo's Steve Mattin and Audi's Walter de Silva were all spotted checking out the good, the bad, and the ugly from China's booming auto industry.

Booming? You bet. No fewer than 25 international brands are manufactured in China, including Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, as well as Toyota and Honda, Buick and Cadillac, Hyundai and Peugeot. In addition, there are at least 24 Chinese domestic brands, including Chery, Geely, Brilliance, BYD, Great Wall and FAW. Pure imports include all the top end luxury brands, including Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini. Sales of cars and SUVs in China last year reached 8.1 million vehicles, and will probably top 9.2 million this year, a growth rate of 14 percent. First quarter sales are up 21 percent compared with the same period in 2007.

No wonder automakers regard Beijing (and Shanghai - each is held in alternate years) as a "tier one" auto show, on par with Detroit, Geneva, Paris, Frankfurt, and Tokyo. This year's show featured 890 new cars and SUVs, spread over 180,000 square meters of display area. And it's a show that really does sell cars -- one VIP, a young Chinese entrepreneur, signed a contract to purchase the first Veyron to be sold in the country on the Bugatti stand Sunday morning. All three cars on the Bentley stand - a purple Continental GT Speed, a chestnut brown Continental Flying Spur, and a violet over black Arnage RL -- were sold even before the show opened.

World premieres at Beijing included Audi's Q5 SUV, which is expected to be a strong seller in China alongside the Q7. Nissan revealed a small 1.6-liter crossover, the Livina C-Gear, which is related to the Versa, and the production version of the Teana concept shown at Tokyo last year. The Teana, Nissan's flagship car in China, and shares the same architecture as the new Maxima. The top of the range version gets a 3.5-liter V-6 under the hood and a CVT transmission.

Volkswagen revealed two new Chinese-built sedans, Bora and Lavida, built on the PQ35 architecture (as used for Golf and Jetta). Why two remarkably similar Jetta-sized four doors, both powered by four cylinder engines and available with a six-speed Tiptronic automatic? The answer is the Bora is from the Shanghai Volkswagen joint venture company, while the Lavida is from the FAW Volkswagen joint venture company.

Nissan Livina

Nissan Teana

Volkswagen Bora

Volkswagen Lavida

2008-05-03T20:40:00.001+05:30

Paris Auto Show Coverage: 2007 Porsche 911 Targa Photo Gallery

Porsche's Targa has come a long way from its 1966 origins with its removable roof section above the front seats. As part of Porsche's proliferation of 911 models, there's two new Targas; the Targa 4 with the 911's standard 3.6-liter 325-horsepower six while the Targa 4S ups the ante with a 3-8-liter six with 355-horsepower. Both models features standard four-wheel-drive mated to a flare-fendered body with a power operated, retractable all-glass roof with a power-operated sunshade, offering owners a convertible experience without a retractable roof. The opening is a full five feet, with the glass sliding under the rear window which also hinges up for rear compartment access when the roof is in the closed position.

2008-05-03T20:39:00.000+05:30

Dodge Avenger Concept

Dodge is getting set to bust into the mid-size sedan race on a worldwide scale, and its new Avenger is likely going to be the car leading the charge.advertisement

Set to debut at the Paris motor show next week, Dodge's Avenger is being positioned as a global player in arena known as the D-segment across the pond. Stateside, vehicles such as Ford's Fusion and its Mazda6 cousin are likely market targets for the vehicle. Avenger is the sister car of the new Chrysler Sebring, which just started production last week. The Avenger concept to be shown at Paris is powered by a 2.0-turbodiesel engine, which likely won't make it to North American production but could make it to global markets, according to Dodge.Dodge Avenger Concept Front View

When the production Avenger hits U.S. streets sometime before mid-year 2007, it will probably share one or more of Sebring's 2.4-liter four-cylinder, 2.7-liter V-6 and 3.5-liter V-6 engine options.

Like Dodge's Caliber small car and its Nitro ute, Avenger has an angular, edged-out appearance that is defining the division's lineup. The concept's sport-themed package, with its 19-inch wheels, aggressive spoiler and other sport-themed touches, could possibly find themselves adorning an SRT version of the vehicle in the future.

2008-05-03T20:38:00.001+05:30

2008 Mecerdes-Benz McLaren 722 Edition

Mercedes has turned-up the dial on the already formidable Mercedes-McLaren SLR with its SLR McLaren 722 Edition for those looking for even more performance and exclusivity. The name harkens to the legendary victory achieved in 1955 by British racing icon Stirling Moss and his co-pilot Dennis Jenkinson at the Mille Miglia Italian endurance race behind the wheel of a Mercedes Benz 300 SLR with start number 722 (denoting the car's start time of 7.22 a.m.). Under the hood is a supercharged 5.5-liter V8 generating 650-hp, enabling the SLR 722 Edition to rocket from 0 to 0-62 mph in a true supercar time of 3.6 seconds. At present, Mercedes has no plans to bring the car to the U.S. market.

2008-05-03T20:29:00.000+05:30

2008 Beijing Show: The Top 10 Chinese Concepts

As the Chinese auto industry sharpens its skill set and exercises its financial muscle, it's rapidly moving away from being merely a provider of low cost cars and mass transportation. The homegrown concept car was a major feature of the 2008 Beijing auto show. Some were good; some not so good. But as GM design boss Ed Welburn observed: "They don't know the rules, but that's okay. There's a lot of creativity here."

So, here are the 10 best Chinese concept cars of the show.

The Scorpio is a long, low coupe study by CH Auto, a design house headquartered a few miles from the show venue on the outskirts of Beijing. CH Auto is sort of like a fledgling Chinese ItalDesign, a full-service shop that can take a concept from sketch to fully finished model.

This rakish coupe is one of a suite of concepts on the BAIC stand. BAIC, which builds Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Chrylser 300Cs for the Chinese market as a joint venture partner and has its own line of Jeep-based products, plans to move into the car market with its own-brand models. This strong coupe borrows from Bentley Continental GT and Aston Martin DB9.

Companion car to BAIC's coupe concept, this sedan takes design cues from vehicles as diverse as Mercedes-Benz CLS (trunk), Dodge Charger (C-pillar and rear fender haunch), and BMW 5 Series (that complex body section that twists from a horizontal surface over the rear fender to a concave feature through the front door).

Apparently based on Honda bits, this handsome four-door coupe will reportedly hit the road in 2010 as an all-new Chinese branded model from GAC, the company that currently builds the Accord in a joint venture with Honda. It looks way better than the Accord.

Companion vehicle to the GAC four door is this very nice coupe-convertible. Again apparently based on Accord bits -- and again way better looking that the original Honda -- it's also scheduled to make its debut in 2010.

Sivax is a Japanese-based design and prototype-build outfit that's set up a shop in Guangzhou. The beautifully finished Izana is a bold, rear-drive sport coupe with scissor doors and a classy interior.

IAT Beijing was established in 2002 in close cooperation with Japan design and development firm International Application Technology. IAT is the largest and most comprehensive independent auto design company in China, working on powertrain and body design as well as protoype builds. The Cross Wind is a crossover coupe with more than a hint of Audi TT around the rear fenders.

FAW, or First Auto Works, is the daddy of China's automakers. Its Red Flag cars were once the sole preserve of senior Communist party apparatchiks, but the company now wants to make it a premium cvilian brand. It already has a Toyota Majesta-based Red Flag sedan, the HQ3, in production and is now clearly looking at an upscale SUV to go with it.

Ambitious Geely stole much of the preshow thunder by releasing pictures of its GT -- the Geely Tiger. This long, low coupe is certainly dramatic, though the front-end styling is somewhat heavy handed. More significant, the car rolls on a front-engine, rear-drive platform that Geely hints will underpin a range of future upscale models.

The GAC A-HEV is a hybrid electric vehicle crossover concept first seen at the Guangzhou International Auto Show last last year. No plans for production, but Guangzhou's bus-making subsidiary has done a deal on Eaton hybrid buses, and it has a joint-venture manufacturing arrangment with Honda, so the technology is clearly available to the company.

2008-05-02T12:55:00.000+05:30

Mitsubishi Concept-RA

How might the new slant-nosed face of Mitsubishi translate onto a coupe like, say for argument, the new Eclipse? About like this Concept RA. Terrific looking in the flesh, the two-seat concept's cockpit is thrust forward as though the engine were mid-mounted. But to leave no doubt about where to look for the engine, it shows through what is not a hood. Fluid fill caps are also in view in the blackened hood area. The engine is part of the story, too, as it makes the Concept RA the second high-performance diesel sports car unveiled today. This 2.4-liter DOHC 16-valve engine with MIVEC variable valve timing produces 201 hp and an impressive 310 pound-feet of torque--plenty to keep all four wheels scrabbling at the pavement via the Evo's Super All-Wheel Control system. Some more pie-in-the-sky features are the Concept RA's aluminum space frame, recycled plastic body panels, scissor doors, and wild dash. Gotta sell the sizzle with the steak.

2008-05-02T12:54:00.000+05:30

Mazda Furai Concept

Designer Franz von Holzhausen says it's supposed to look like streamers fluttering in the wind. It's the fifth concept in Mazda's Nagare (flow) series and the visual realization of zoom zoom. If you say so, Franz.

Furai's a concept that's breathtakingly simple on paper, yet fiendishly complicated in execution: "Let's take a full race chassis and drop a concept-car body on top."

Of course, there's more to it than that -- you need an engine, in this case a 458-horsepower, triple-rotor race-ready unit running on pure ethanol (E100) -- the first rotary to do so. Mazda refers to the rotary/ethanol combo as sustainable zoom zoom.

2008-05-02T12:53:00.001+05:30

Jeep Renegade Concept

The 2008 Jeep Renegade Concept clearly has sport on its mind. With a chopped-down, speedster-style windscreen, roll bar, convertible body style, and a hose-out, water-friendly interior, the Renegade Concept has been designed with a go-anywhere attitude. And of course, its lithium-ion battery combined with a small-displacement Bluetec diesel engine ensures that it stays true to the eco-theme. Emphasis has also been placed on light weight with the extensive use of aluminum in the concept's construction. A range of 40 miles on pure electric power and combined electric/diesel fuel economy of 110 mpg are impressive figures -- that is if they are actually attainable in a production version.

More on the Jeep Renegade Concept:

2008-05-02T12:49:00.000+05:30

2009 Audi A4 Avant

Audi says the new A4 Avant is nearly five inches longer than its predecessor, though the Avant's body is said to be 10 percent lighter this time around -- not to mention more rigid. The increase in size is noticeable, but not quite as much as it should be, thanks to flat D-posts and a short front overhang, both working to minimize the Avant's size, visually. Audi gives a cargo capacity of an impressive 50.5 cubic inches with the 60/40 split rear seats folded flat. The suspension too, has been completely revised with new aluminum construction and a new design.

The 2009 Audi A4 Avant will receive just one engine option at its U.S. launch, a turbocharged four-cylinder unit, details of which have not yet been released. It's the same base-level engine that the 2009 A4 sedan will receive alongside the optional 265-horsepower 3.2-liter FSI V-6. We're expecting that the V-6 will make its way into the U.S.-spec Avant's engine bay at some point in the future, as it will be an option from the get-go for European customers. As for the four-cylinder unit, expect an all-new 2.0T with slightly more than 200 horsepower and an optional DSG dual-clutch transmission alongside a standard six-speed manual. Audi claims 0-to-62-mph times in the 6.4-second range and a top speed of over 155 mph with the V-6 installed.

2008-05-02T12:28:00.000+05:30

Lamborghini Reventon

The Reventon is named for a fighting bull that beat (read, "gored") a famous bullfighter in 1943. One million Euros (about $1,378,840) was the price of entry for the carbon fiber bodied Lamborgini -- was, because all 20 have already been sold -- which is based on the Murcielago LP640. Power comes from a 650-horsepower 6.5-liter V-12 which will find a top speed of about 211 mph. In the cockpit, the Reventon will use three liquid crystal displays and an advanced three-mode G-Force-Meter. Each car will be painted in a green/gray color that shares its name with the car that goes without a conventional shine and is complemented by custom wheels featuring carbon fins that are screwed onto black aluminium spokes.

2008-05-02T12:23:00.000+05:30

BMW Concept X6

After being spied several times recently, BMW took the wraps off its Concept X6 at Frankfurt, which the automaker is calling a "Sports Activity Coupe." While BMW has not revealed any technical details about the X5-based X6, it is more than likely that it will receive the same 3.0-liter inline-six and 4.8-liter V-8 powertrains as the X5. Debuting on the X6 will be BMW's Dynamic Performance Control, an advanced chassis control system that combines traction and stability control with BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive system to help optimize handling by routing power to the wheels that need it the most.Alongside the Concept X6, BMW will be unveiling its first hybrid vehicle that uses the new two-mode hybrid system that was developed by BMW, GM, and DaimlerChrysler. Called the Concept X6 ActiveHybrid, it is distinguished from its conventionally-powered brethren by restyled front and rear fascias. Like other cars with the technology, the X6 Active Hybrid uses two electric motors coupled to a traditional gasoline engine with a transmission based on an electrical continuously variable transmission. Expect to see production versions of the model sometime next year.

2008-05-02T12:21:00.000+05:30

50 Cent Pontiac G8

Pontiac's partnership with rapper 50 Cent rolls into SEMA with the 50 Cent/Unique Automotive Edition Pontiac G8. The special G8 uses the LSX 427 engine -- which produces more than 500 horsepower -- from GM Performance Parts and shares some components with the 7.0-liter LS7 engine found in the Corvette Z06. An all-new Spies Hecker Torch Red exterior paint job accented with a bold Ebony graphic that mimics the shape of Pontiac's "dart" insignia; the graphic runs over the top of the car, starting at a point on the front fascia.

2008-05-02T12:20:00.001+05:30

Chevrolet Camaro Bumblebee

Making an appearance and drawing a sizeable crowd on the show floor was the bright yellow Camaro that portrayed Bumblebee in the movie "Transformers." The bright yellow car is all but unchanged from the well-known Camaro Concept other than a set of new wheels. The Camaro is scheduled to go into production in late 2008, with sales beginning early in 2009.

2008-05-02T12:16:00.001+05:30

Dodge ZEO Concept

Dodge has designed its ZEO Concept as a sports wagon, featuring "2+2" seating that gives room for four passengers. Powered with what sound like the same 200kw lithium-ion batteries as the chrysler ecoVoyager, the vehicle is electric only and boasts a range of at least 250 miles. Built for the enthusiast, the ZEO is obviously trying to show that eco-friendly doesn't need to be dull. Now that the magnum be discontinued, could this car carry on the muscle-wagon theme for the 21st century?

2008-05-02T12:15:00.001+05:30

Maybach Landaulet

Apart from the top, the Landaulet's exterior is covered in paint called "Antigua White." The car also features 20-inch wheels designed specifically for the study. Inside, passengers are treated to a white compartment accented by piano-black lacquer or black granite with gold inclusions. Contrasting that is the driver's compartment, which is upholstered in black leather typical of chauffer-driven cars. As with the passenger area, the trim in driver's compartment is accented with piano-black lacquer. The two sections are separated by a partition equipped with a modern glass panel that can go opaque at the press of a button through the use of an embedded liquid-crystal membrane.

2008-05-02T12:11:00.000+05:30

2009 Volkswagen Routan

After a multiyear hiatus, Volkswagen is back in the van game with its all-new Routan seven-passenger minivan -- a vehicle the value-conscious German automaker has based around European standards in design, handling, and build-quality.

The result is all very German Town & Country, which shouldn't be surprising, considering the Routan also is based on Chrysler's premier people-mover. In fact, the VW Routan will even be built at the same Windsor, Ontario, plant as its Chrysler cousins. Not to say, of course, that Volkswagen hasn't done its best to add some Wolfsburgesque touches to the quintessential American minivan. The front end of the Routan is unmistakably VW, with a grille and front fascia that could come from no other automotive family. Other distinctly Volkswagen elements include the headlamps, taillamps, and side mirrors. Mask up the front and remove a few lights, however, and what you're left with -- at least on the outside -- is pure T&C.

2008-05-02T12:08:00.000+05:30

YES! Roadster 3.2

Fans of small, lightweight roadsters will soon have a new option to consider thanks to boutique German automaker Funke & Will AG, who announced at Chicago that it will be bringing its YES! Roadster 3.2 stateside this summer. The YES! is powered by an Audi-sourced, 3.2-liter V-6 that comes in normally-aspirated (255 horsepower) or turbo (355 horsepower with an optional upgrade to 411 horsepower) configurations. Performance numbers are impressive for the 1962-pound (2050 for the turbo model) car, with Funke & Will claiming a blistering 0-62 mph time of 3.9 seconds and 175 mph top speed for the turbo model. Shifting for the rear drive roadster is handled through a six-speed manual tranny, with a five-speed automatic available for the base car. The YES! also features a double wishbone suspension front and rear and is stopped via ventilated discs with four piston calipers all around. All of this performance won't come cheap, the base car starts at $77,995 and the turbo $97,995, and the option list is long and expensive. But with only 50 of the cars scheduled to come to the U.S. this year, prospective buyers will be getting an exclusive and fairly cool looking drop top to rip around on the track as well as the open road.

2008-05-02T12:06:00.000+05:30

2009 Hummer H3T

The production H3T will come with the same tiedown system and bedliner style as found in the new full-size GM pickups, and for those who like to carry ATVs and other loads, the bed measures 48 inches between the wheelwells. It also has top-access bedrail cargo bins on each side for added storage and a bed extender to accommodate longer cargo needs. The trucks we're driving are equipped with the Adventure option package, which includes 33-inch Bridgestone Dueler A/Ts and an electric-locking front differential-both of which are invaluable on this trail.

More on the 2009 Hummer H3T:
First Drive: 2009 Hummer H3T prototype

2008-05-02T12:04:00.000+05:30

Bentley Zagato GTZ

You'd think that having spent at least $200,000 on a Bentley Continental GT Speed, most folks would be satisfied. And you'd be right. But if you don't want to drive just any Bentley continental GT Speed, Andrea Zagato has a deal for you. For an extra $340,000 to $370,000 -- yes, that's extra, on top of the MSRP -- Zagato will give your GT Speed a brand new body.

Zagato worked closely with Bentley to ensure no loss of quality or driveability. While every body panel is new, the car retains much of the Conti's original structure under the skin. The windshield and A-pillars are carryover items because it made no sense for Zagato to attempt to develop seals that matched the originals in terms of their ability to suppress windnoise.

2008-05-02T12:02:00.000+05:30

Renault Laguna GT

Powering the new Laguna GT will be either a 2.0-liter turbo four that makes 205 horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque or a 2.0-liter turbodiesel that makes 180 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Additionally, the Laguna GT is equipped with bigger brakes, 12.9 inch discs up front and 11.8 inch discs in the rear and four-wheel steering using a chassis called Active Drive.

Visually, the Laguna GT is separated from the standard Laguna with 18-inch alloy wheels, larger front grille and air intakes, smoked taillights, and black-background headlamps in addition to the obligatory GT badging. Inside, the Laguna GT is fitted with leather/alcantara sports seats, aluminum pedals and shift knob, and a GT steering wheel.

2008-05-02T11:58:00.001+05:30

Seat Bocanegra Concept

While VW's Scirocco has been grabbing the headlines at Geneva, another brand in the Volkswagen portfolio, Spain's Seat, has introduced a sharp-looking coupe of its own called the Bocanegra concept. Bocanegra, a revival of a dormant Seat model name, derives its moniker from its blacked-out front clip, which looks fairly menacing. The hot hatch uses VW's 1.4-liter TSI engine that's been twin-turbocharged. Mated to the engine is VW's new seven-speed DSG gearbox, an engine-transmission combination that would likely work well for the coupe should it make it to production. Bocanegra also features a panoramic glass roof, concept-style 19-inch rims shod with low profile tires and cool head and taillight clusters. To us, Bocanegra's Spanish flair, dynamic lines and unique front end add up to a vehicle that has more character than its Scirocco cousin.

2008-05-02T11:52:00.000+05:30

Alfa Romeo Brera/Brera Spider

Most of the updates made on the Brera and Spider for 2008 are found on the inside, with the only notable exterior updates being the addition of 18-inch wheels and a new color called Ice White. Inside, Alfa has fitted the two models with new front seats designed to be both sportier and more ergonomic, a new navigation system with a better interface, and rearranged climate control dials. There are also minor color scheme changes throughout the interior, including the addition of metallic-painted inserts on the dash and door panels and addition of several lightweight parts to the chassis -- the brake calipers and suspension brackets are now made of aluminum and the wheels are of a lightweight alloy, which reduces total weight by several pounds.

The real news here is the new Electronic Q2 system that makes its debut on the 2008 Brera and Spider. Instead of the mechanical Q2 system found on many Alfas, which uses a Torsen limited-slip differential, the Electronic Q2 system uses the brakes to shift torque from one side of the car to the other to help maintain traction. In front-drive models, the system is linked to the front wheels. In all-wheel drive models, its linked to the rear wheels, where, according to Alfa, it has similar benefits to a fitting the car with a central Torsen and self-locking rear differentials.

2008-05-02T11:51:00.001+05:30

Fiat 500 Abarth edition

Thanks to the designers at Fiat Group Automobiles Style Centre, the Fiat 500 Abarth has been recreated in the memory of the original 1960s hot-rodded econocar.

The new car will be powered by a four-cylinder turbo engine that produces 135 horsepower, an improvement of 35 horses over the base Fiat 500. The engine creates 132 lb-ft of torque in "Normal" mode and 152 lb-ft in "Sport" mode, though nothing was said about the method of switching between these two modes. A six-speed manual gearbox is fitted and 0 to 62 mph dashes will be churned out in around 8.2 seconds, according to Fiat.

2008-05-02T11:49:00.000+05:30

Webasto LigHT Concept

Webasto, the German automotive supplier of aftermarket heaters, ventilation systems, sunroofs, and convertible tops, has released images and information on its 2008 Geneva Motor Show-bound LigHT (Light Hybrid Top) concept car. The vehicle's prominent feature is its frameless polyurethane folding roof, installed on a vehicle designed by the Istituto Europeo di Design to recall the classic Fiat 124 Spider (although we see some Fiat Dino Spider in there as well).

The convertible roof folds flat when stowed, sitting completely level with the car's body lines for both aerodynamic and aesthetic purposes. The concept will also feature Webasto's new Liquid Heat Generator (LHG), an auxiliary heating system that generates warmth using turbulence in the engine's coolant.

2008-05-02T11:48:00.000+05:30

2009 Citroen C5 Tourer

Citroen has moved slightly upmarket with its new 2008 C5 Tourer. A five-door hatch, the new C5 Tourer is based on the recently released C5 sedan - itself being based on a shorted range-topping C6 platform. A host of engines are available for the C5 Tourer, including a 215 horsepower, 3.0-liter V-6 gasoline unit and a 208 horsepower 2.7-liter V-6 diesel mill. A number of technological gizmos can be found on 2008 C5s including a lane departure warning system and the latest version of Citroen's trademark self-leveling hydraulic suspension.

2008-05-02T11:47:00.000+05:30

Peugeot 308 SW

Peugeot's 308 SW debuts with two new transmissions: an electronically controlled six speed and a traditional manual. The top-of-the-line engine of the bold wagon -- developed by PSA Peugeot Citroen and the BMW Group -- is a 1.6-liter 175 horsepower engine that moves it from 0 to 62 mph in 8.3 seconds.

2008-04-28T13:08:00.001+05:30

Future: Aston Martin Rapide Concept

Ulrich Bez has thrown down the gauntlet to his former employer Porsche with this gorgeous four door concept, the Aston Martin Rapide. The rakish Rapide takes aim at Porsche's planned front engine, V-8-powered Panamera four-door, due 2009. Because it's based on the versatile VH architecture that underpins the current DB9 and Vantage, it could beat its Stuttgart rival into production by at least a year.

Aston Martin is no stranger to four-door cars, having unveiled its first in 1927 and worked on an experimental four-door, the Atom, in the 1940s. Just over 630 of the striking, William Towns-designed Lagonda four-doors were built by Aston between 1978 and 1989, and the company later built a number of special bodied four-door V-8 and Virage models for wealthy customers such as the Sultan of Brunei.

My, You're Fast
6.0-liter V-12 from the DB9 has been uprated to 480 horses; brakes are carbon.

Hello, Gorgeous
Although obviously based on the svelte DB9, the Rapide's shapely silhouette is the work of new Aston design director Marek Reichmann, who started working on sketches of the car last summer. The Rapide is nearly a foot longer than the DB9, but just 1.6 inches taller and 308 pounds heavier.

Smart, Too
Bluetooth technology allows rear passengers to use sat nav.

A Bit Showy
The champagne, glasses, and chess set are pure concept-car show biz. But the wide-opening hatchback allows room for up to three golf bags or four sets of skis. "If there's a space, then you should also offer accessibility, otherwise you're not being honest," says Dr. Bez.

But A Great Personality
Polycarbonate roof ensures low-slung interior feels light and airy. All four doors feature Aston's trademark "swan wing" articulation, opening upwards at an angle of 12 degrees to clear high curbs. Bez insisted the Rapide kept the elegant proportions of the coupes: "If we couldn't have achieved that, we wouldn't have made the car."

2008-04-28T13:01:00.000+05:30

Audi Cross Cabriolet quattro concept hints at 2009 Q5

By Todd Lassa

Think that Audi can tackle the BMW X3 with a convertible? Nah, Audi doesn't either. But its Los Angeles show concept, the Cross Cabriolet, looks to be a hint at the five-door 2009 Q5.

Like this concept, the Q5 will ride on the A4/S5's longitudinal-engine, "transmission-forward" platform. Concept engine is a 240-horsepower, 369 pound-foot longitudinally mounted six-cylinder turbodiesel with an ultra-low emission system that Audi says will meet the European Union's 2014 standards. U.S.-spec Q5s will probably launch with the 3.2-liter V-6. The Cross Cab is shown with a full-time quattro system and electronic ride adjustment.

At 181.2 inches long and 75.2 inches wide, it's about the size of the A5/S5 coupe, so if you imagine it lowered by a good ten inches, you're also looking at a vague hint of the 2010 A5/S5 convertible. Overall height of the concept is 64.2 inches, on the low side of small crossover ride heights. Gee-whiz features include Google Earth software for the navigation system, which has a high-resolution display and 3-dimensional maps. It comes with an internet connection so that drivers can tune in on traffic, weather and air-quality information.

With the '09 Q5 and the smaller Q3, previewed by the Cross Coupe quattro at the Shanghai show earlier this year, Audi plans to triple its crossover SUV lineup within a few short years.

2008-04-28T13:00:00.000+05:30

2009 Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder

Rightfully praised for its nimble, capable handling by virtue of the mid-mounted position of its flat-six heart, the Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder bumps output to a full 303 horsepower (eight more than the standard Boxster S) by optimizing the sports exhaust system for every last pony. Spacers push the 19-inch SportDesign wheels to the edges of their wells, while Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) is fitted as standard.

More on the 2009 Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder:
Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder: Porsche pays homage to its past, again

2008-04-28T12:58:00.000+05:30

Buick Riviera Concept

The Riviera was designed in China by the Shanghai-based Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center, a joint venture between GM and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation. It was designed to accommodate a new hybrid system that goes on sale in some Chinese-market Buicks shortly before the Beijing Olympics this summer. However, the Espilon platform-based car's primary purpose is to serve as showcase for Buick's new design direction, elements which, such as the "waterfall" grille can already been seen in the Enclave crossover.

The Riviera was received well in China and GM is undoubtedly eager to see what North America thinks and a production model is not out of the realm of possibility. Expect much of the Riviera (and Enclave) in the next-generation LaCrosse and Lucerne as GM tries to build on the popularity of the Enclave and revitalize the brand.

More on the Buick Riviera Concept:

Made in China: Buick Riviera concept coming to Detroit

2007 Shanghai Auto Show: Buick Riviera Concept Gallery

2008-04-28T12:55:00.000+05:30

2009 BMW X6

BMW's X6, the German automaker's curiously styled four-seat "sports-activity-coupe" crossover, is more than just a new vehicle in a segment made up by BMW's marketing department. The X6 is also a launch pad of sorts for a number of advanced technologies that'll undoubtedly be diffused throughout the rest of the automaker's lineup.

The X6 will come in two variants. The xDrive35i is powered by the now familiar 300-horse, 3.0-liter twin turbo inline-six. But the big stuff what's under the xDrive50i's hood -- a new to the BMW lineup 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8. Both engine variants are mated to a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters, and as the names imply, come standard with BMW's xDrive all-wheel-drive system that sends 40 percent of the power to the front wheels and 60 percent to the rear under normal driving conditions.

The new V-8 is rated at 400 horses and 450 lb-ft of torque, making it the most powerful engine ever available in a BMW sport/ute, easily topping the X5's 350-horsepower, 4.8-liter naturally aspirated V-8. Engine torque reaches its peak at 1800 rpm and stays there until 4500 rpm, which makes the M3's rev-happy V-8 -- with its 295 lb-ft of torque -- seem puny by comparison. BMW says the engine will propel the X6 from 0 to 60 in just 5.3 seconds -- an impressive number for a vehicle likely to weigh well over two tons and just 0.4 second slower than the 500-horsepower Porsche Cayenne Turbo. Top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph on 20-inch-wheel-equipped models.

More on the 2009 BMW X6:

First Look: 2009 BMW X6

2009 BMW X6 Photo Gallery

2008-04-28T12:53:00.000+05:30

Ferrari F430 Spider Bio Fuel

These days, even hardcore performance cars are scrambing to get into the green scene. At the Los Angeles Auto Show, we saw the Pratt & Miller Corvette C6RS, an E85 capable 600 horsepower supercar. At Detroit, Ferrari has taken the leap as well with its F430 Spider Bio Fuel.

Powered by a 4.3-liter V8 running on E85 ethanol, Ferrari says this eco-friendly Italian stallion produces 10 more horsepower than the standard version (that's a total of 500 horses) and gives a four percent increase in torque. Emissions have decreased too - down five percent in CO2. To prepare its bread and butter V8 for E85 duty, recalibration of the engine's CPU was in order, as was modification to the fuel feed system. Ferrari says its goal is to cut its lineup's total emissions by 40 percent, come 2012.

2008-04-27T18:18:00.000+05:30

Saleen S5S Raptor Concept

When the Saleen S7 was released years ago, it bent the norm for what a supercar was in terms of looks, performance, and cost. Today, Saleen announced the S5S Raptor - a concept supercar that stays true to the original theme of high performance with low cost, but takes it a step further. Powered by a 5.0-liter Saleen V-8 capable of churning out 650 horsepower and 630 lb-ft of torque, the Raptor S5S - once a running prototype is built - should be capable of 0 to 60 mph runs in just 3.2 seconds, according to the manufacturer. In addition, the Raptor S5S will run on E85 ethanol, leading to Saleen's catch phrase of "mean and clean." The Saleen S5S Raptor concept's chassis will feature all-aluminum construction for light weight and rigidity, while the bodywork will be made from composite material for the same reason.

Saleen has not yet decided if the Raptor S5S will enter production, but that may hinge on public reaction at the New York show. That means if you want to see this supercar on local roads, it might be a good idea to let Saleen know.

2008-04-27T18:15:00.001+05:30

2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Asked the question, "Why do a ZR1?" Corvette Vehicle Line executive Tom Wallace shoots back, "Because we can. We have the technology inside General Motors to do a car that can go up against any supercar from around the world," he continues, punctuating the thought with this threat: "I can't wait to take on any Porsche with this car, and we're going to be right in there with the Ferrari [599s] and Lamborghini [Murcielagos]." Whoa, ease off the Red Bull, Tom. This is a just a souped-up C6 Corvette, right? Or did you slip a mid-engine V-12 in without the blogosphere noticing?

An hour with chief engineer Tadge Juechter reveals that this is indeed a Z06 upgraded with the best tech in GM's arsenal. A ZR1 was never part of the original C6 plan, but, at an early program review, the Z06's proposed aluminum frame, carbon-fiber parts, and LS7 engine so impressed CEO Rick Wagoner that he reportedly wondered aloud, "Geez, if that's what you can do with $60,000, I wonder what a $100,000 Corvette would look like?" With no more formal authorization than that, Juechter's posse launched a skunkworks effort dubbed "Blue Devil" -- a nod to the boss's Duke alma mater.They started with turbochargers for efficiency's sake, but switched to supercharging when Eaton unveiled its latest four-lobe Roots-type blower. This new unit boasts thermal efficiency of nearly 76 percent (up from some 60 in the best three-lobe blowers) -- near turbo efficiency with no lag.

More on the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1:

First Look! 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Photo Gallery

2008-04-27T18:13:00.000+05:30

2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe

The Phantom Coupe is the production version of the EX101 concept Rolls-Royce unveiled at the 2006 Geneva show. While it's closely related to the extravagant softtop Phantom Drophead Coupe, the first new two-door hardtop Rolls since the 1975 Pininfarina-designed Carmargue is being pitched as the driver's Rolls. Both the Drophead and the Coupe are powered by the same 453-horse 6.75-liter V-12 as used in the Phantom sedan. And Rolls-Royce claims the Coupe's 0-60-mph sprint will take 5.6 seconds-exactly the same as the Drophead. Phantom Coupe does get a pair of rectangular exhaust outlets peeking out from under the rear bumper. There are also three different 21-inch wheels available, two of which are made from forged alloy. That's about as overtly sporty as things get.

More on the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe:First Look: 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe

2008-04-27T18:12:00.000+05:30

Koenigsegg CCX and CCXR Edition

If there's one thing the world could use, it's another limited-edition supercar with a seven-figure price tag. Well, that's what Koenigsegg thinks anyway. And it's kind of hard to argue after seeing pictures of their new CCX Edition and CCXR Edition models to debut at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show next week, what with their black carbon fiber bodies with red accents and carbon fiber wheels.

Oh, and then there's the power aspect. The CCX Edition gets a supercharged 4.8-liter V-8 pumping out 888 horsepower, while the bad-boy CCXR makes 1018 horses from the same displacement, but with a higher compression ratio and running on ethanol. Both cars are capable of the same 2.9 second 0 to 62 mph runs, according to Koenigsegg, likely as a result of limited traction off the line. The gap broadens at higher speeds, however, as the CCXR hits 124 mph in 8.9 seconds, 0.3 seconds faster than the CCX. The CCXR also boasts a top speed of 250 mph that is 5 mph faster than its lesser-powered sibling.

More on the Koenigsegg CCX and CCXR Edition:Koenigsegg thinks Geneva needs supercars, supplies two

2008-04-27T18:10:00.001+05:30

Mini John Cooper Works cars

At the core of both the Cooper Works cars is the Twin Scroll turbocharged, 1.6-liter four cylinder engine that pumps out 207 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque, in addition to an overboost function that can push torque to 207 lb-ft for short bursts. The unit, based on the engine that will power the cars participating in the MINI Challenge 2008, is good for 0-62 runs of 6.5 seconds in the Cooper and a couple of ticks slower in the heavier Clubman, with top speed limited to roughly 148 mph. Mated to the engine is a modified six-speed manual that also has racing roots and has been optimized to handle the engine's increased torque.

Both cars are fitted with the S sport suspension as standard equipment, but are also available with a race-ready upgrade featuring firmer damper characteristics and stronger, larger stabilizers both front and rear, along with an entire suspension that's been lowered by 10 millimeters.

More on the Mini John Cooper Works cars:Getting the Works: John Cooper Works versions of MINI Cooper and Clubman coming to Geneva show

2008-04-27T18:09:00.001+05:30

Frankfurt 2007: Mercedes Benz F700

click above image for high-res gallery of the Mercedes-Benz F700 Concept

After a bit of a song and dance routine, sans the song, Mercedes-Benz finally drove out its new F700 Concept at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. Looking something like an S-Class cross-bred with a Mazda RX-8, it still managed to wow the assembled horde. The debut itself was a wild enviro-mechanical fusion of dancers emulating trees and geckos that formed a vehicle out of their prop tree branches and then fit themselves inside. It was a clever way to show green and machine can coexist beautifully. Sitting next to Lewis Hamilton and all of the Mercedes brass made it an even more interesting experience.

The car itself is being described as a "magic carpet ride" by Mercedes folk. It's depicted as a future luxurious touring sedan with good performance and exceptionally low fuel consumption. Big and luxurious, the F700 is also the first car in the world that can recognize and predict road conditions to manage bumps using a new PRE-SCAN active suspension M-B is developing. It also features the new DIESOTTO powertrain. It's a 1.8-liter four that rivals the efficiency of a diesel but runs on gas. It also addresses the all-important CO2 emissions head-on, with a rating of just 127 grams per kilometer or about 44.3 mpg.

There's a huge gallery of live shots and official pics in the gallery below, plus the abridged press release after the jump.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2007: Mercedes-Benz F700 Concept

PRESS RELEASE:

Mercedes-Benz shows the future of the superior touring sedan

Stuttgart – With its F 700 research car, Mercedes-Benz redefines the idea of effortless, superior refinement: this concept for a future luxurious touring sedan shows how outstanding riding quality can be combined with high levels of environmental friendliness, and good performance with exceptionally low fuel consumption. Thus, the 5.17 meter long F 700 with its innovative and very spa-cious interior design enables an entirely new and exceedingly comfortable mode of travel. The F 700 is the world's first car that can anticipatively recognize the condition of the road and level out the uneven spots with its active PRE-SCAN suspension, further improving suspension comfort substantially. The forward-pointing DIESOTTO drive system introduced in the F 700, a four-cylinder with a displacement of only 1.8 liters, combines the strong points of the low-emission gasoline engine with the consumption benefits of the diesel drive. Its CO2 emissions of a mere 127 grams per kilometer correspond to con-sumption of only 5.3 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers (44.3 mpg), extremely low for a vehicle of this class.

This is made possible by a forward-looking drive concept, the heart of which is the "DIESOTTO" technology – an advancement of the internal combustion engine thought up by Mercedes-Benz. With its novel controlled auto ignition (CAI), direct fuel injection and turbocharging, it combines the high power of the spark-ignition engine with the exemplary torque and great fuel economy of a diesel. The drive system in the F 700, as four-cylinder featuring two-stage charging, attains the performance level of a current S-Class car with a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 gasoline engine or the 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel.

"Our goal is to make the gasoline-powered car just as economical in consumption as the diesel. The new DIESOTTO concept is a major step in that direction, combining the best properties of the spark-ignition engine and the diesel engine," says Dr. Thomas Weber, Board member of DaimlerChrysler AG responsible for Group Research & Mercedes Car Group Development.

The F 700 also sets standards in regard to road roar, tire vibration and suspension comfort. With two laser scanners the active PRE-SCAN suspension scans the roadway in front of the car. The hydraulically controlled active suspension proactively compensates for detected hindrances, enabling entirely new comfort characteristics –a "flying carpet" feeling.

Equally innovative is the operating concept "SERVO-HMI". The display is not only particularly gentle on the eyes; the number of controls also has been appreciably reduced and the menu structure has been made strikingly simple and self-explanatory. The driver can "discuss" more complex inputs, such as a destination for navigation purposes, in dialogue with an avatar, a virtual operating assistant.

The exterior design of the F 700 shows that with this concept an extraordinary amount of space has been created for the passengers. The very silhouette, charac-terized by the long wheelbase, is a clear indication of this. The design harmoniously joins together inspirations provided by nature with technical innovation. All the futuristic styling devices notwithstanding, the F 700 is perfectly compliant with the brand identity of Mercedes-Benz.

The interior concept interprets comfortable travel and well-being in a completely new way. With its REVERSE seat the F 700 breaks up the firmly established seat arrangement of conventional sedans and offers individual seating positions facing, or with one's back to, the direction of travel, always affording maximum spaciousness and supreme comfort.

The F 700 provides inspiring ideas for the technological future of Mercedes-Benz once again – like each of the research cars which preceded it.

2008-04-27T18:06:00.000+05:30

2009 Mercedes-Benz SL

The 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL features a revised exterior that trades the soft lines of the outgoing model for a crisply creased, more masculine presence that's finding its way onto the new generation of Benz models. The front section is completely new, its pronounced V-shaped nose and larger radiator grille accentuating forward thrust and wide stance, arguably the most dynamic visual elements of a sports car. The single-bar grille, side air outlets, and power domes in the hood link the new look to past SLs, but the steeply sloping front end and new bi-Xenon headlamp clusters, as well as larger side mirrors and new taillamps, help bring the SL into line with Mercedes's current design idiom.

It's a big step beyond the understated, almost Q-ship approach of the recent past, but, important when dealing with a company treasure, the 2009 avoids any radical break from the SL's evolutionary path.

More on the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class:
First Look: 2009 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG

2008-04-27T18:04:00.001+05:30

Maserati GranTurismo S

The most noteworthy difference between standard and S GranTurismos is found in the engine bay. The 4.7-liter V-8 is now up to the same specification found in the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, which means a full 440 horsepower is on tap, compared with the standard GranTurismo's 405 horses. An electro-actuated gearbox with Maserati's MC-Shift technology sends the power to the GranTurismo's rear wheels and is fitted to the rear transaxle, for optimal weight distribution. To cope with the added power, the same Brembo six-piston monoblock brakes found in the Quattroporte Sport GT S are found in Maserati's super coupe as well.

More on the Maserati GranTurismo S:Maserati will bring more powerful GranTurismo S to Geneva

2008-04-27T18:02:00.000+05:30

Audi Q7 V12 TDI Quattro

Audi's gone and done it. After cramming its V-12 TDI diesel powerhouse engine into concept versions of both the Q7 (2007 Detroit show) and R8 (2008 Detroit), the automaker has decided to forge ahead with a production version of the Q7 called the Audi Q7 V12 TDI quattro.

At the heart of the matter is Audi's amazing, twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter diesel producing an eye-popping 500 horsepower and 757 lb-ft of torque. Not surprisingly, all that power translates to 0-62 mph times around 5.5 seconds for the Q7 according to Audi, an impressive sprint for an SUV of its size. Top speed will be limited to 155 mph. Despite its sizzling performance, Audi says the V12 TDI is also fairly fuel efficient, achieving just short of 20 mpg in the Q7-equipped model.

More on the Audi Q7 V12 TDI Quattro:
Dynamic Diesel: Audi Q7 V12 TDI quattro headed for production

2008-04-27T18:01:00.000+05:30

2020 Vision: How To Make a 35mpg Car

Filed under: Green, The Big Picture, Mercedes-Benz, Sedans, Geneva Motor Show

One of the most significant cars at this year’s Geneva Show largely went unnoticed among the glittery concepts and new model launches. That’s because it looked just like a regular 2008 Mercedes-Benz C-class. But this particular C-class is worth a closer look, because it shows what it’s going to take for automakers to meet the 35mpg CAFE regulations coming in 2020.

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Using a combination of engineering strategies Mercedes-Benz bundles under the name BlueEFFICIENCY, this C-class gets a claimed 36.2mpg (U.S) on the standard combined European fuel consumption test, on regular gasoline. By comparison, the entry-level C300 currently sold here in the U.S returns 18mpg to 25mpg according to official EPA numbers.

That’s some improvement. But how exactly did Mercedes-Benz engineers get a C-class from 2008 to 2020?

First, they put it on a diet, shaving off between 40 and 70lb. A newly developed laminated windshield uses a noise-reducing plastic membrane bonded between two planes of glass, which means its overall thickness can be reduced, saving 2.6lb. The weight of the noise insulating material on the firewall has been reduced 20 percent. And new 16in forged alloy wheels save a total of 15.4lb.

Next, they attacked rolling resistance. Mercedes says rolling resistance – caused primarily by the deformation of the tire as it contacts the road surface – has a greater effect on fuel consumption than aerodynamic drag up to 60mph. New tires developed with Michelin reduce rolling resistance 17 percent, and are almost a pound lighter each than regular tires thanks to a new steel belt design.

Above 75mph aerodynamic drag accounts for about 50 percent of the total dynamic resistance a typical sedan must overcome. The regular C-class has a very competitive drag co-efficient of 0.27, but by adding smooth underbody cladding to reduce turbulence, partially blanking off the grille to reduce the airflow into the engine compartment, sealing the joins between the hood, headlights and bumpers, lowering the suspension half an inch, and ensuring the wheels and the mirrors were aerodynamically optimized, the engineers were able to improve the drag co-efficient seven percent, to 0.25.

To reduce friction losses the regular power steering assembly was fitted an additional valve that switches off the servo pump when it senses the car has been travelling in a straight line for a time. Mercedes says this small modification improves gas mileage by about two percent. A new taller final drive features improved bearings, forged gears and lightweight construction to reduce friction and cut engine revs while cruising.

The biggest change is under the hood. In place of the 228hp 3.0-liter V-6 we’re used to is a 1.6-liter turbocharged four that develops 154hp at 5200rpm. Max torque is 169lb-ft at 3000-4500rpm, compared with 220lb-ft from the V-6 at 2700rpm. Oh, and you need to shift the gears yourself – standard transmission is a six speed manual with an overdrive top gear. An indicator on the dash signals the optimum moment to shift gears to save gas.

So, the 35mpg car – a reasonably sized, gasoline powered 35mpg car, not a sub-compact – is certainly doable. But we’re going to have to make compromises. Say goodbye to big engines and performance (the BlueEFFICIENCY C180 Kompressor is about two seconds slower than the C300 to 60mph, according to Mercedes). Say goodbye to big wheels and tires – they add weight and increase rolling resistance. And you might have to get used to shifting gears again.

One thing is likely to stay the same, though – price. That’s right, by the time 2020 rolls around, don’t expect your 35mpg car to cost any less in comparative terms than the regular car you’re driving now. The additional cost of the lightweight materials and technologies, plus the engineering work required to achieve 35mpg, will be passed on to consumers. And in a market where every automaker will be selling cars with smaller engines and reduced performance do you really think they are going to charge you less for less?

Not a chance.