First Drive: 2007 Honda Civic GX

Previews

Greenie spendthrifts wanted: A heavier, slower Civic with a smaller trunk. Oh, yeah, and it costs 50 percent more.

Never mind that we in Michigan are just emerging from our igloos after a long cold winter. The world is heating up, the ice caps are melting, and when that melt is complete, we’ll all be living high in the mountains in houses on stilts to stay dry. Forty days and 40 nights the waters will rage, and when the ice caps refreeze, we’ll all be fighting over who called first dibs on those last two pigs for our celebratory barbecues, since the unicorns were already eaten by sharks.

There are people who would argue that that sinister little creation, the automobile, is responsible for it all. We blame Al Gore, China, sweatshops, and greenie celebrities who flit about in private jets. Those who want to make a difference drive hybrids, while those who researched their decision drive diesels. Those who are truly enlightened and want to make a difference, however, seek something higher, lighter, more ethereal. They find natural gas.

For the most part, the hunt is conducted outside of new-car showrooms, although the game is no longer found in the back-yard sheds of neighborhood madmen or the workshops of “some guy my uncle’s caterer’s yoga instructor knows,” but in experienced shops that sometimes charge twice the list price of the customer’s 1989 Toyota Corolla to convert it to natural-gas propulsion.

The Only Natural-Gas-Powered Vehicle Available to New-Car Buyers in the U.S.

Natural-gas seekers in California and New York, however, can simply stroll into a Honda dealership, plunk down $25,185 for a new Civic GX sedan—a premium of $8780 over a $16,405 base Civic DX automatic—and whoosh out of the showroom on a massive tide of self-empowerment and an itty-bitty ripple of torque: 103 pound-feet, to be exact.

Originally conceived as a parking-enforcement cruiser in L.A. back in 1998, the GX was strictly a fleet vehicle meant to do its small part to reduce pollution. Emissions from natural-gas-burning engines are a fraction of those of similarly sized gasoline units, the GX being recognized by the EPA as the cleanest-burning engine it had ever tested when introduced. Today, when the EPA’s Tier 2 Bin 5 standards are causing a panic among auto execs, the Civic GX easily skips past Bin 5 and is the only vehicle to meet the lofty Tier 2 Bin 2 standards. If this talk of tiers and bins makes no sense, just be impressed by the fact that the GX is so clean it is the only vehicle in its emissions class. In 2005, Honda saw fit to finally offer the Civic GX directly to the public in California. New York citizens have only been able to buy the car since October 2006.


A Few Compromises and A Gas Station in Your Garage

It Ain’t Magic—The Greenie Car Comes with a Few Compromises

Why only California and New York? Because that pricing premium and the torque output—15 percent below the base car’s 128 pound-feet—are just the beginning of the compromises to be made in the name of lower emissions and a head seat at the greenie table. The car’s trunk shrinks from a reasonable 12 cubic feet in dinosaur-fueled form to just 6 cubic feet with the tanks for the compressed natural gas (CNG) taking up residence behind the back seats. If that were all the luggage space we needed, we’d be driving a Lamborghini Murciélago, thank you.

In addition to taking up more space, those CNG tanks weigh a lot. At 2904 pounds, the GX is 204 pounds heavier than a similar base DX model. With 27 fewer horsepower—113—than the gasoline-powered car and the added weight of a body stuffed in the minuscule trunk, the GX is a slug. The last Civic sedan we tested with a gasoline-burning 1.8-liter did go from 0 to 60 in 7.7 seconds. Figure the greenie at right around 10 seconds with a brisk tailwind.

But the Civic GX is not about cargo carrying, and it’s certainly not about performance. It’s about compressed natural gas. Compressed to 3600 psi, the natural gas fueling the GX is served up in gallon gasoline equivalents (GGE)—the amount of CNG that holds as much energy as a gallon of gasoline. If your home is heated with natural gas, you pay by the CCF, which is 100 cubic feet of natural gas at 60 degrees Fahrenheit and 14.7 psi, also called a therm. Prices in California are currently 75 to 80 cents per therm. A GGE is about 1.25 therm and costs on average about $2.24 in the Golden State, or about $1.30 more per GGE than it would cost if we could refuel at home.

A Gas Station in Your Garage, but without the Stink of Gas or Mechanics

Aha! Home refueling is possible, for a price. For about $3500 (plus $1000 to $2000 for installation), CNG junkies can refuel natural-gas-powered vehicles at home. A Toronto-based company—Fuelmaker—sells a device called Phill that can be installed in the garage and will refuel CNG vehicles from the home’s natural-gas line. The catch is that Philling up a full tank takes much longer.

Refueling at a commercial station takes only a couple minutes longer than refueling a regular gasoline-powered car. Pumps use a slip-collar fitting that will be immediately familiar to anyone who has ever used an air compressor. It’s just bigger. Once the hose is locked onto the car’s fuel-fill nozzle, flipping a lever on the side of the collar starts the flow.

Phill, essentially an air compressor drawing natural gas instead of air and without a storage tank to compress air into, simply uses the fuel tank of the GX as its tank. It will take up to 20 hours to fill a completely empty fuel tank. An overnight fill (eight hours) will give owners enough fuel for about 100 miles of driving. Even on a full 3600-psi tank, the Civic GX will only make it about 250 miles.


How Far is Too Far to Recoup the Costs?

How Far Is Too Far to Recoup the Costs?

At $2.24 per GGE and the equivalent of 30.1 mpg—what we averaged on our drive—each of those miles costs only 7.3 cents, compared with 9.5 cents per mile (using current California prices) in a regular-gas-powered Civic LX getting the 33 mpg we recorded in our Sensible Shoes comparo [December 2006]. If saving 2.2 cents per mile doesn’t seem worth it to you, consider that, in addition, buyers in California are eligible for a $4000 federal tax credit for purchase of the Civic GX, bringing the premium paid for the vehicle down to, um, only $4780. At 2.2 cents saved per mile, it would take only 217,272 miles of driving to recoup that difference. If any vehicle is likely to survive that long, certainly a Honda Civic is a good candidate, although we know of no extreme long-term-reliability evaluations done on natural-gas-fueled cars.

During those 271,272 miles, the Civic GX will be eligible for a single-occupant HOV (carpool) lane permit, a priceless commodity on California’s gnarled freeways, as well as free parking at meters in L.A., Santa Monica, and San Jose. (If you can find an open meter, that is.)

Add in $5000 or so for Phill, subtract an additional $1000 tax credit for that purchase, and figure a saving of $2.21 per gallon—1 GGE is $0.94 (1.25 CCF at 75 cents per) versus $3.15 for a gallon of regular—and it would take 137,187 miles to regain that cost. Obviously, paying more than $8000 extra for a Civic is not a financially driven choice but an environmentally driven one. Countless polar bears may have already been saved by GX pilots, but countless is never enough when it could be more.

BY JARED GALL
caranddriver.com

First Drive: 2007 Hyundai Veracruz Limited

Previews

A Lexus-like seven-seat SUV that should continue to convert Hyundai skeptics.

Plop down into the driver’s seat of the Hyundai Veracruz, and you’ll find yourself in the middle of a quiet, comfortable, content-rich revelation. With a smooth, competent powertrain and luxury touches everywhere you look, it’s not hard to convince yourself that you’re behind the wheel of a Lexus. That’s hardly a shock, of course, given that Hyundai chose the Lexus RX350 as the benchmark for its seven-passenger Veracruz, which is now the largest SUV in Hyundai’s lineup.

A Smokin’ Deal

We tested an upscale front-wheel-drive Limited model, but all-wheel drive is available on any trim level for a $1700 premium. Ours was $33,120, with the only extra a set of floor mats for $125. Those luxury touches we mentioned? Mood lighting, heated leather seats, a six-CD Infinity stereo, a power liftgate, a sunroof, and auto-dimming rearview and side mirrors are all standard. Granted, many of those items are optional on lesser trim levels, but even the base Veracruz includes second-row climate controls, satellite radio, six airbags, and defroster-equipped side mirrors for $26,995, $100 less than an entry-level Honda Pilot and $500 or so less than a similarly outfitted Toyota Highlander. (A base Highlander costs some $1500 less than a Veracruz but doesn’t include a V-6 or third-row seating.) Should you feel particularly self-indulgent, available packages will add anything from a rear-seat DVD entertainment system to an upgraded, 605-watt stereo to power-adjustable pedals to hands-free keyless entry.

Refined and Smooth: Hyundai Hallmarks?

A 3.8-liter, 24-valve V-6 is the only engine for the Veracruz, no matter which trim level you choose—GLS, SE, or Limited. Its 260 horsepower provides acceleration that we can’t call particularly fast or ridiculously slow. Figure on about eight seconds for the 0-to-60-mph benchmark. But power delivery is very linear, and there’s a respectable 257 pound-feet of torque. The big Hyundai is quiet, too. Very little engine noise makes it into the cabin, and at idle, the Veracruz is so quiet and vibration-free that, if you’re like us, you’ll need to double-check that you’ve twisted the key before slipping into gear. Fuel-economy ratings are 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, on par with the Pilot and Highlander. As refined as the V-6 is, the best part of the drivetrain is perhaps the Aisin-sourced six-speed automatic, Hyundai’s first. Upshifts are hiccup-free and quick, and the box operates so seamlessly, you hardly know it’s there. There’s a manumatic shifting feature, although tipping the lever toward the passenger side to activate it rather than toward the driver seems backward.

The strut-front and multilink-rear suspension delivers a plush, comfortable ride, especially on the freeway, and we found body control to be exemplary. Sure, there’s some lean when you pitch the Veracruz into a corner with any aggression, but it’s taken care of so quickly that you hardly care. This is certainly no bobbing oceanliner, and there’s little of the rear-end wiggle that usually accompanies soft-riding vehicles with a high center of gravity. The steering has luxury-grade heft but unfortunately is as dead as Orson Welles; you’d be better off looking for feedback from a room full of mimes than from this rack. The brakes are nothing special, although at least there’s no dead zone in initial pedal travel—when you call on the brakes, you get brakes.


Rolling In Style

The cabin of the Veracruz is beautifully trimmed using top-shelf materials, and the buttons and the switchgear are all relatively substantial. Fit and finish is excellent, but we will admit to finding a few ergonomic mistakes. Besides the foot-operated parking brake, which is positioned to rip out chunks of shin at will, the ashtray takes up far too much of the center console and the seats—all seven of them—could use longer bottom cushions. This is not to say, however, that inside a Veracruz isn’t a good place to be. Despite the too-short cushions, the seats are comfy enough for long trips, and we appreciate the iPod hookup, which is neatly located behind a flip-down door on the dash. Hyundai even thoughtfully provides a short 1/8-inch-to-1/8-inch connection cable and a spot to stash it.

Second-row passengers ride on a sliding and reclining 60/40-split bench, and it’s nearly as comfortable as the front row. Getting into and out of the two-person third row is a simple task, with only one hand required to move the middle row out of the way. Average-size folks will be relatively comfortable back there even with the middle seats pushed all the way back in their travel; unfortunately, you sit so low and the windows are so high that you feel like you’ve fallen into a hole. The cargo area features a shallow, snap-shut bin under the floor, but there’s scant room to be had until you fold the third row. Once those seats are flat, though, the cargo area will hold 40 cubic feet of stuff.

Boring—but It Won't Matter

The Veracruz is quite good, and its interior is astonishingly well-appointed, but an unfortunate side effect of Hyundai’s devotion to the Toyota/Lexus creed is that the Veracruz is also unmistakably boring. It’s not as fun to drive as even the Pilot, never mind something more sporting like the Mazda CX-9. So there’s little about this new Hyundai that will attract enthusiasts, but with its low price and loads of standard equipment, the Veracruz shouldn’t fail to find plenty of buyers. And besides, being boring hasn’t really held back a certain goliath from Japan, has it?

BY ERIK JOHNSON
caranddriver.com

Nissan unveils 2007 NISMO 350Z

PRESS RELEASE:

2007 Nissan NISMO 350Z Continues Tradition of Performance, With GT Racing Machine Style and Features

The new 2007 Nissan NISMO 350Z, which makes its North American debut at the 2007 New York International Auto Show, features an extensively developed list of unique equipment – including a special body package and improved handling equipment. This new model, the fifth in the 2007 350Z Coupe lineup, goes on sale at Nissan dealers nationwide in July 2007. NISMO is the premier supplier of high-performance aftermarket parts and accessories for Nissan vehicles worldwide.

The most striking visual feature of this special vehicle is the NISMO aerodynamics package with an aggressive front fascia with chin spoiler, side skirts, a larger rear fascia with functional air diffuser and rear wing. The NISMO 350Z also features the use of special mass dampers between the left- and right-side frame members. Additional performance enhancements include a specially tuned independent multi-link suspension, Brembo brakes, NISMO-branded tuned exhaust and NISMO-branded gunmetal gray RAYS super lightweight 5-spoke forged-alloy wheels (18x9-inch front, 19x10-inch rear) with Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tires.

Inside, NISMO 350Z includes unique black cloth seats with red inserts, red stitching throughout the interior and special NISMO white and gray gauge faces. All NISMO Z"s receive a serialized NISMO-etched aluminum plaque mounted on the center console.

The NISMO 350Z includes a full complement of 350Z standard features, including the new VQ35HR 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 306 horsepower and 268 lb-ft of torque, close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission, Traction Control System (TCS) and Viscous Limited-Slip Differential (VLSD).

2008 Hummer H2

(from General Motors Press Release) 2008 HUMMER H2 DELIVERS GREATER CAPABILITY AND COMFORT, RETAINS ICONIC DESIGN

All-new interior features refined, premium appointments, all-new instrument panel and all-new, more comfortable seats with a full third row

New standard safety features include new electronic stability control system with rollover mitigation technology, panic brake assist and roof rail head curtain side air bags with rollover sensing system

All-new 6.2L V-8 and six-speed automatic combination delivers more power and efficiency

Towing capacity increased to 8,000 pounds (3,629 kg)

NEW YORK – HUMMER announced the 2008 H2, with a completely redesigned, more refined interior that combines luxury with HUMMER’s legendary ruggedness; enhanced safety features and a more powerful engine that is coupled with a new, six-speed automatic transmission. The new powertrain combination improves efficiency when compared with previous models.

“The 2008 HUMMER H2 represents a major step in the evolution of this iconic vehicle,” said Martin Walsh, HUMMER general manager. “From performance to comfort to safety and overall refinement, the new H2 lineup delivers more of what customers expect from HUMMER; they will be especially impressed with the new, more refined interior.”

HUMMER revealed the 2008 H2 at the New York Auto Show. The powertrain, interior and exterior changes also are included on the H2 SUT. The ’08 H2 and H2 SUT go on sale later this year.

The new powertrain combination consists of a 6.2L all-aluminum small-block V-8 engine, rated at 393 horsepower (293 kW)* – an increase of about 20 percent over the previous engine – and a Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission. Performance-optimizing engine technologies, such as variable valve timing, and the six-speed’s wide gear ratios, including a “tall” overdrive gear, enable the improved performance and efficiency over previous models.

“This is one of those rare instances where enhanced performance is matched with improved efficiency,” said Walsh. “More power in the H2 helps make highway maneuvers, such as entering from a freeway on-ramp, feel effortless while simultaneously bolstering towing capability.”

All-new, luxury-appointed interior

While drivers will feel the ’08 H2’s improved performance on the road, they’ll appreciate it more while experiencing it in the all-new interior. It features a completely redesigned instrument panel, new seats – including a full third-row seat for two passengers– new door trim panels, new controls, new rear-seat heating/air conditioning system, new rear-seat overhead DVD entertainment system and a new family of premium radios.

“The new interior delivers a refined, premium feel while maintaining HUMMER’s trademark ruggedness,” said Dennis Burke, interior designer. “Everything from the flushness of the controls to the feel of the materials exudes craftsmanship in the H2’s new interior, while the fine details, like leather seat piping, create a consistent, premium interior design style across the entire HUMMER family.”

Seats in the H2 have a new, chiseled appearance and offer improved comfort. In fact, HUMMER engineers focused on every detail to improve interior comfort. For example, the front seat safety belts are now mounted to the vehicle’s B-pillars rather than to the seats themselves. This change enabled engineers uncompromised comfort tuning for the seats. Front seat safety belt pretensioners are new, too, and are standard.

Complementing the new seats are new door trim panels and an all-new instrument panel and six-gauge instrument cluster that features a more refined appearance and better tolerances. In fact, the new interior is designed with interior gap tolerances of one millimeter or less. Soft-touch materials and new, more tactile controls enhance the feeling of craftsmanship. A new center stack houses the climate controls and a new family of GM radios – including a standard premium Bose audio system and an available surround sound system. The instrument panel also features new vents that enhance heating or cooling comfort throughout the vehicle – particularly for the second- and third-row seats.

Numerous available comfort and convenience features are either new or carried over into the ’08 H2, such as a new rear-seat overhead DVD entertainment system, a navigation system, a rear-view camera system and heated windshield washer fluid. OnStar and XM Satellite Radio are standard.

The ’08 H2 also offers a remote starting system that enables the vehicle’s interior to be heated or cooled prior to driving.

Driving experience

The heart of the ’08 H2 is a new, 6.2L V-8 engine that uses variable valve timing technology to maximize performance and fuel efficiency. It is rated at 393 horsepower (293 kW)* and 415 lb.-ft. of torque (574 Nm)*. The engine also features lightweight materials, including an aluminum cylinder block, which helps reduce the vehicle’s overall mass.

The 6.2L V-8’s technologically advanced features also help it meet new federal emissions standards a year before mandatory implementation.

A new six-speed Hydra-Matic 6L80 RWD electronically controlled automatic transmission backs the 6.2L engine. The six-speed automatic has a wide, 6.04:1 overall ratio – including two overdrive gears – that helps deliver an excellent balance of performance and fuel economy. Also, the 6L80 has a “tap up/tap down” capability that allows the driver to manually select upshifts and downshifts with a button on the column shifter.

The new powertrain combination helps the 2008 H2 and H2 SUT deliver an additional 1,500 pounds (680 kg) in towing capacity – an increase from 6,500 pounds (2,948 kg) to 8,000 pounds (3,629 kg). A host of additional powertrain revisions also contributes to the H2’s improved performance and efficiency, including:

Larger-capacity cooling system complements larger, more powerful engine

Electric engine cooling fans reduce “drag” on engine, enabling more horsepower

Regulated voltage control maximizes fuel economy by charging electrical components only when necessary

New LAN electrical architecture is more efficient and uses less electrical energy

Standard 3.73 rear axle ratio

Off-road acumen also was enhanced with the new powertrain system. The 6L80 transmission’s tap up/tap down feature provides more control on grades and it offers automatic grade braking. It also improves the off-road crawl ratio to approximately 39:1 – an improvement of about 20 percent.

The transfer case is improved in the ’08 H2; it is stronger with improved performance. A new traction control system also is standard, which helps ensure sure-footed traction in most driving conditions.

Driving performance off the road or on is enhanced by a revised steering gear that has a quicker ratio and improved on-center returnability. The driving experience also is quieter and more refined, thanks to new, tuned air intake and exhaust systems.

Safety standard

Complementing the H2 lineup’s performance and comfort changes are enhancements to the safety system. They include several new standard features:

Roof rail head curtain side air bags for first-, second- and third-row passengers with rollover sensing system

Safety belt pretensioners (first-row seats)

Electronic stability control system with rollover mitigation technology

New traction control system

Tire pressure monitoring system

Also new is a panic brake assist feature – the first application for a full-size GM truck or SUV – which detects emergency braking situations and maintains maximum brake pressure to help stop the vehicle more quickly and with more control. It is a standard feature on all H2 models. Also, the standard OnStar system now offers the optional Turn-By-Turn navigation system. Additional optional features that contribute to a safer driving experience include HUMMER’s Rear Vision System – a rearview camera system – and a navigation system.

Exterior enhancements

All 2008 H2 models are distinguished from previous models with functional changes that maintain HUMMER’s instantly recognizable design identify. The iconic, seven-slot grille features larger openings and the lower grille also is enlarged, accommodating the cooling needs of the more powerful 6.2L V-8 engines. The lower bumpers on ’08 models are painted silver (previous models had black lower bumpers).

The soul of a HUMMER

While the ‘08 H2 is offered with a new powertrain and interior, its foundation remains the same: a fully welded ladder-type frame that features a modular, three-piece design incorporating a number of hydroformed components. This design delivers outstanding strength, stiffness and dimensional accuracy.

The H2 has short overhangs for radical approach and departure angles, and exceptional ground clearance for minimal impact on trails. Standard 17-inch wheels, heavy-duty independent front suspension and a five-link rear suspension provide superior handling, carrying and towing capability. The solid rear axle ensures durable sure-footedness, particularly in tight, off-road situations. Also standard is underbody protection and rocker protection. These elements help the H2 deliver on HUMMER’s mantra of capability, including traveling through streams 24 inches (508 mm) deep, climbing 16-inch (406-mm) steps and rocks and paddling through deep sand or snow.

A new, four-channel anti-lock braking/traction control system (ABS/TCS) provides optimum control on slippery surfaces. In addition, the ABS can detect and adjust its braking capabilities to rough off-road surfaces like gravel and potholes. The TCS also includes the ability to gain traction through a single wheel, if necessary, and more wheel slip in a second traction control mode for sand and desert racing conditions.

A self-leveling rear air spring suspension system is available for extreme off-road and towing requirements.

H2 SUT – maximum utility and fun

Like the H2, the H2 SUT carries passengers and cargo, but does so with a twist: an open cargo bed enables convenient storage of larger items. When cargo requires more space, a 4-foot by 6-foot (122-cm by 244-cm) pickup bed can be created by powering the rear window into the Midgate, then folding forward the Midgate and rear seat. With four passengers on board, the bulkhead at the rear of the SUT’s passenger compartment remains upright, still providing ample cargo-carrying capacity.

Practicality aside, the H2 SUT also offers an open, invigorating driving experience. At the push of a single button, the driver can lower all four side windows and the rear window. Using a separate switch, the standard sunroof can also be opened, giving SUT a truly open-air feeling.

Volkswagen has just built its 25 millionth Golf !

Volkswagen has just built its 25 millionth Golf, surpassing sales of even the company's perennial favourite, the Beetle.

The Golf has easily exceeded the 21 million Beetles sold and it's done it in a mere 33 years, compared to the Beetle's five decades in production.

With these figures in mind, it won't be long before the vehicle passes the Ford F-150 pick-up in the sales charts. The Ford has found 26 million customers, but sales are slowing.

The 25 millionth Golf was a 1.4 TSi model fitted with a DSG gearbox.

However, the VW still has some way to go to catch the world's best-selling car, the Toyota Corolla, which has a tally of more than 35 million over its 40-year lifespan.

source: topgear

Toyota Increases 2007 Tundra Incentives to $3,000

TORRANCE, Calif. — Toyota Motor Corp., which has traditionally been sparing with its incentives, has added a nationwide $1,000 trade-in incentive through April 30 for buyers of its 2007 Tundra pickup. The offer comes on top of other discounts worth as much as $2,000 per Tundra, depending on the model.

The Tundra CrewMax model has no incentives, however.

The latest Tundra incentive is aimed squarely at buyers who owe more on their existing vehicle loans than their car or truck is worth. The new incentive can only be applied to help a buyer with a vehicle trade-in allowance. In addition, dealers have the discretion to use the incentive as they see fit. They do not have to use the entire amount.

Toyota is pulling out all the stops to win American buyers to the Tundra as competitors offer discounts as high as $5,000 per truck.

The 2007 Toyota Tundra ranges in price from $22,935 for a base 4x2 regular-cab model with a 236-horsepower 4.0-liter V6 to $42,495 for a CrewMax model with a 381-hp 5.7-liter V8. Prices include a $645 destination charge.

Chevrolet Trax

DETROIT — Next week at the New York auto show, Chevrolet will pull the wraps off three new Korea-designed minicar concepts — and will ask Web viewers to vote for their favorite.

To be officially unveiled April 4 at the auto show are three design concepts based on General Motors' global minicar platform, including a tiny crossover called Chevrolet Trax. The minicar platform was engineered in Korea by GM Daewoo, and all three minicar concepts were created at the automaker's design studio in Incheon.

Chevy says the concepts are intended to appeal to "young car buyers in urban markets." After April 4, Web users can vote for their favorite at www.vote4chevrolet.com. The division says it will use the results to help it determine U.S. market interest in the minicar segment, as well as to learn which design appeals the most to potential buyers in the States.

The four-door Trax is powered by a 1.0-liter engine, with an orange exterior paint scheme.

source: insideline

2007 Land Rover Defender

GAYDON, England — Land Rover has updated its long-lived Defender for its 60th birthday, but there are still no plans to bring the iconic off-roader back to the U.S. market.

The 2007 Defender, which gets numerous enhancements inside and out, goes on sale in mid-April in the U.K., priced from $36,667 for the basic Defender 90 pickup. The range-topping Defender 130 will reach British dealers in July, priced from $44,475.

Among the highlights for 2007 are a new 2.4-liter common-rail diesel engine, a six-speed gearbox, a fully integrated front fascia, new seating and improved heating and air-conditioning.

Land Rover says it still sells 6,000 Defenders a year in Britain, its largest market. U.K. dealers already have taken 800 orders for the new model, which can be ordered in one of 14 different body styles, including pickup, soft top, crew cab and station wagon.

source: insideline

Chrysler Announces Pricing on 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible

• With a starting U.S. Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price of $26,145 (including $675 destination), the all-new 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible is priced $645 below the comparable outgoing model with $2,965 more standard content
• Chrysler Sebring Convertible delivers open-air freedom with elegant coupe styling and functionality of a year-round car
• Designed and engineered to deliver all-season driving comfort
• Model line-up offers a broad range of powerful and fuel-efficient powertrain and feature combinations

Chrysler is raising the roof on the convertible segment, introducing the all-new 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible. With a starting U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of $26,145 (including $675 destination), the Chrysler Sebring Convertible is priced $645 below the comparable outgoing model with $2,965 more content, including standard side seat-mounted air bags for head and thorax protection, four-wheel disc anti-lock brakes, tire-pressure monitoring system, automatic latching convertible top, standard hard tonneau cover, AM/FM stereo with six- disc CD player, six-way power driver and passenger seats and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel.

This completely redesigned Sebring Convertible is built on the company's new D-segment platform and offers what no other convertible on the road can: Chrysler's sleek and elegant design, exhilarating performance with excellent fuel efficiency, a spacious interior that comfortably seats four adults and enough room in the trunk to hold two golf bags, even when the top is dropped.

"America's favorite convertible is now better than ever," said George Murphy, Senior Vice President-Global Marketing, Chrysler Group. "The all-new 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible offers the unprecedented combination of unmistakable road presence, agile performance, innovative technologies, as well as plenty of room for people and gear. In fact, the all-new Sebring Convertible is the only retractable hard top in the segment that can pass the two-golf-bag test. The sky's the limit on what this vehicle can accomplish in the marketplace."

The all-new 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible is the only four-passenger convertible to offer three automatically latching convertible top options: vinyl, cloth and a first for this new 2008 Sebring Convertible, a body-color painted steel retractable hard top, all of which can be retracted with a push of a button on the key fob. Top that with a standard power hard tonneau cover on all models, and top up or down, Sebring Convertible provides the benefits of a coupe and the true open-air freedom of a convertible, all at a surprisingly affordable price.

The Chrysler Sebring Convertible has long held the honor of America's favorite convertible, solidly leading the segment for the past decade. In fact, Sebring Convertible has earned the title of best-selling convertible in the United States for seven of the past 11 years. The 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible is poised to reign supreme when it becomes available in U.S. dealerships in the second quarter of 2007 and in global volume markets in the second half of 2007.

2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Model Lineup

The 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible is available in the United States in three models: Chrysler Sebring Convertible, Chrysler Sebring Convertible Touring and Chrysler Sebring Convertible Limited.

2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible

With a starting U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $26,145 (including $675 destination), the Chrysler Sebring Convertible model features a standard 2.4-liter World Engine that produces 173 horsepower (129 kW) and 166 lb.-ft. (225 N*m) of torque coupled with a four-speed automatic transmission. Other standard equipment includes side seat-mounted head and thorax air bags, four-wheel disc anti-lock brakes (ABS), Tire Pressure Monitoring system, automatic latching vinyl convertible top, hard tonneau, remote keyless entry, tilt/telescoping steering column, power windows with express down feature, power locks and mirrors, AM/FM radio with six-disc CD player and DVD/MP3 connectivity and play capability and six speakers, six-way power driver seat with driver adjustable lumbar, six-way power adjustable passenger seat, visor mirrors, floor mats, passenger seat back map pocket, an electroluminescent cluster with outside temperature display, Chrysler signature analog clock in the instrument panel, rear window defroster, speed control, locking glove box, sliding front center armrest, an upper and lower bin in the center console and a second power outlet.

On the exterior, the Chrysler Sebring Convertible model features standard heated power mirrors, quad headlamps with off-time delay, bright beltline molding and 16-inch tires with wheel covers.

Available options on the Sebring Convertible model include remote start with auto down windows, automatic retracting top that retracts with the press of a button on the key fob, automatic window down on the key fob, remote start, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, UConnect Hands-free Communication System with automatic-dimming rearview mirror, daytime running lamps, Smoker's Group, engine block heater, cast-aluminum wheels and a Travel Convenience Group (which includes YES Essentials(R) premium seat fabric, cabin air filtration system and theft alarm).

2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Touring

The 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Touring has a starting U.S. MSRP of $28,745 (including $675 destination). In addition to the standard features on the Chrysler Sebring Convertible model, the 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Touring model includes a standard 2.7-liter V-6 Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) engine that produces 189 horsepower (141 kW) and 191 lb.-ft. (259 N*m) of torque, paired with a four-speed automatic transaxle. Additional standard equipment includes YES Essentials stain-resistant seat fabric, Electronic Vehicle Information Center, Tire Pressure Monitoring display, travel computer, Satin Silver accents and chrome interior door handles.

Standard exterior equipment on the Chrysler Sebring Convertible Touring includes a Touring badge, heated body-color exterior mirrors, automatic headlamps and 17-inch tires with aluminum wheels.

Available options on the Chrysler Sebring Convertible Touring model, beyond the options available on the Sebring Convertible model, include a cloth or retractable hard top convertible top, a MyGIG(TM) navigation/entertainment/infotainment system, an Electronic Convenience Group (which includes heated/cooled cupholder, remote start, single-zone automatic temperature control, automatic headlamps, cabin air filtration system, universal garage door opener, automatic-dimming rear-view mirror and security alarm) and a Special Touring Group (which includes 18-inch tires and aluminum wheels, cloth convertible top, windscreen, leather/chrome shift knob, leather- wrapped steering wheel, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, leather trimmed and heated seats and fog lamps).

2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Limited

The 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Limited model has a starting U.S. MSRP of $32,345 (including $675 destination). In addition to the standard features on the Chrysler Sebring Convertible and Sebring Convertible Touring models, the Chrysler Sebring Convertible Limited features a standard 3.5-liter V-6 engine that produces 235 horsepower (175 kW) and 232 lb.-ft. (232 N*m) of torque coupled with a new six-speed automatic transaxle that comes standard with Auto Stick.

Additional standard features include a cloth convertible top, leather- trimmed seats, leather shifter knob, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, tortoise shell accents on the steering wheel, instrument panel and doors, chrome exterior door handles, Satin Silver door handles and PRNDL bezel, premium Boston Acoustics sound system, cabin air filtration system, bright sill scuff pad, automatic-dimming rearview mirror and theft alarm.

Standard exterior equipment on the Chrysler Sebring Convertible Limited model includes a Limited badge, fog lamps and 18-inch tires with aluminum wheels.

Options, beyond those available on the Sebring Convertible and Sebring Convertible Touring models, include a Luxury Group (which includes 18-inch tires and chrome-clad wheels, heated front seats and a windscreen) and an Electronic Convenience Group (which includes automatic headlamps, remote start, single-zone automatic temperature control, universal garage door opener and heated/cooled cupholder).

2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible Production

Production of the 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible began in the first quarter of 2007 at the newly refurbished Sterling Heights (Mich.) Assembly Plant. Sebring Convertible's new 173 horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder World Engine is built in the state-of-the art Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA) plant in Dundee, Mich. The 2.7-liter V-6 engine and the 3.5-liter V-6 engine are built at the Kenosha (Wis.) Engine Plant.

Source: Chrysler Group

Winner to be named at New York International Auto Show on April 5

The countdown continues! From an initial entry list of twenty-eight (28) new vehicles from all over the world, then a short list of ten finalists, the top three contenders for the third annual World Car of the Year awards were announced today by the international accounting firm KPMG. The winners of the 2007 WCOTY will be unveiled during Press Preview at the upcoming New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) on Thursday, April 5.

The 2007 World Car of the Year top three finalists are, in alphabetical order:

• Audi TT
• Lexus LS460
• MINI

To be eligible for a World Car award, the contender had to be in production, and sold, in at least five countries on two continents during 2006.

Vehicles are selected and voted on by an international jury panel comprised of 44 top-level automotive journalists from 22 countries around the world. Collectively, their opinions reach many millions of potential vehicle purchasers. Each juror has been appointed by the World Car Steering Committee on the basis of his or her expertise, experience, credibility, and influence. Each juror typically drives and evaluates new vehicles on a regular basis as part of their professional work.

The 2007 World Car of the Year will be declared on Thursday, April 5, 2007 during a press conference hosted by the New York International Auto Show.

"Announcing the annual World Car of the Year awards at the New York show in April is a fitting finale to the international auto show season that begins each fall with either the Paris or Frankfurt motor shows," said Gerry Malloy, co-chair, WCOTY.

Three additional winners for World Performance Car, World Green Car, and World Car Design of the Year will also be announced during the same press conference on April 5, 2007 in New York.

The Top Three finalists for the 2007 World Performance Car title are, in alphabetical order:

• Audi RS4
• BMW 335i
• Porsche 911 Turbo

To be eligible for the 2007 World Green Car award, a vehicle had to be all-new or substantially revised, in production, and for sale, in at least one major market during 2006. Either the vehicle or the green technology could be experimental or a prototype with near-future application (i.e. will go on the market soon) provided that it was released for individual or press fleet evaluations in quantities of ten or more during 2006.

The 44 member jury chose the following top three finalists for the 2007 World Green Car award:

• BMW Hydrogen 7
• Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec
• Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion

Cars eligible for the 2007 World Car Design of the Year award are taken from the list of World Car candidates.

The top three design finalists are, in alphabetical order:

• Audi TT
• Citroen C4 Picasso
• Fiat Grande Punto

The World Car of the Year Awards program is initiated by, organized by, and conducted by, automotive journalists from around the globe. A non-profit association guided by a steering committee of journalists from Asia, Europe, and North America administers the awards program.

Situated in the media, financial and advertising capital of the world, the New York International Auto Show hosts a wide range of important industry events as well as dozens of world and North American new vehicle introductions each year. The Show's annual Wall Street Awards Dinner recognizes leading automotive stock performers, while the Television Bureau of Advertising's Annual Spring Conference attracts more than 1,200 of the nation's leading broadcasting executives. Top international automotive journalists present the World Car of the Year Awards, and IAG Research hosts the IAG Automotive Advertising Awards. It all takes place in America's largest car market at America's largest-attended auto show.

Important Auto Show Dates:
Press Preview: April 4 & 5
Public Sneak Preview: April 6
Public Show Dates: April 6 - 15

Source: New York International Auto Show

Audi announces 2008 R8 U.S. pricing

Audi announced today pricing for the all-new 2008 R8 sports car. The R8 with a six-speed manual transmission will have a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $109,000 when it launches this fall in the United States. Models equipped with the six-speed R tronic automatic gearbox will start at $118,000.

The Audi R8 is the first mid-engine sports car Audi has ever produced. With a 420 hp V8 4.2L FSI engine and rear-biased quattro all-wheel drive system, the R8 has the performance capabilities unlike any Audi before it. With a zero to 60 mph time of 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 187 mph, the Audi R8 is the fastest Audi ever produced. The lightweight aluminum frame and body and 44:56 front-to-rear weight distribution give the R8 tremendous handling capabilities, with the balance expected of a mid-engine sports car.

Standard luxury features include Audi magnetic ride, automatic bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, LED taillights and LED engine compartment lighting. 19-inch alloy wheels, automatic climate control, power and heated leather/Alcantara sport seats, cruise control, Sirius satellite radio, and nine-speaker audio system. An optional Convenience Package includes Audi parking system advanced with rearview camera, Audi hill hold assist, a six-disc CD changer, HomeLink, Bluetooth® phone prep, auto dimming exterior mirrors, and a storage package.

Stand alone options on the Audi R8 include a 12-speaker, 465-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system, Alcantara headliner, Audi navigation plus, an upgraded Leather Package, and Enhanced Leather Package which includes a leather covered dash and interior trim pieces, metallic/pearl effect paint, carbon fiber sideblades, body color sideblades, and the previously mentioned R tronic automatic gearbox. These options allow R8 owners to personalize their sports car to make it an even more exclusive vehicle than it is right from the hand-assembly plant in Neckarsulm, Germany.

Audi’s history in America dates to 1969, when the brand was first introduced to the U.S. market. Today, a network of over 260 Audi dealers currently offers a line of premium vehicles that include the Audi A3 compact; the sporty A4 sedan, Avant and Cabriolet models; the high performance S4 sedan, Avant and Cabriolet models; the high-revving RS 4 sports sedan; the design-leading A6 sedan and Avant; the all-new Audi Q7 performance SUV; and the all-aluminum Audi A8; and the new V10-powered S6 and S8 performance sedans.

Audi A6 and A6 Avant: Attractive equipment packages

There are two new packages available for the Audi A6 and A6 Avant luxury-class models offering particularly popular equipment at attractive prices.

The business package and the business package plus each provide savings of up to 28 percent on the price of ordering the items they contain individually.

Safety and comfort are provided in equal measure by the business package: powerful xenon plus headlights, cruise control, the Audi parking system, the four-spoke leather multifunction steering wheel, front centre armrest, heated front seats and the lighting package are all included in the total price of €1,380 (for the 4.2 FSI quattro) or €1,950 (for four-cylinder and six-cylinder models).

The business package plus, costing €1,940 (4.2 FSI quattro) or €2,250 (four-cylinder and six-cylinder models) combines particularly exclusive equipment: in this package, A6 customers receive the navigation system with MMI basic plus, the driver information system with colour display, the Bluetooth mobile phone preparation including centre armrest and deluxe automatic air conditioning plus.

The saving made here is again almost 25 percent.

Ferrari at the Techno-Classica 2007

Ferrari will be represented at the Techno-Classica 2007 by a stand dedicated entirely to Ferrari Classiche, a specialist division set up in Maranello to provide owners of historic Prancing Horse cars with restoration, maintenance, and assistance services. The Ferrari Classiche division also issues Authenticity Certificates.

Based in the original old factory building, Ferrari Classiche opened its doors in the summer of 2006 and has since become a major player in the protection of the unique Ferrari heritage. In fact, it has already received 496 certification requests (308 of which have already been issued) and has restored a total of 84 at its workshop (this included 12 complete restorations).

Ferrari Classiche’s plans for the future include a wider presence across the world, starting with Europe and North America. In fact, the intention is to have a total of 17 Ferrari Classic Certification Centres opened by the end of the year.

Since Ferrari’s earliest days, its cars have enjoyed cult status and have been eagerly sought after by collectors the world over. This is why one of the main functions of the Ferrari Classiche Division is to issue Certificates of Authenticity to road-going Ferraris of 20 years old and over as well as to all Prancing Horse competition cars, including Formula 1 single-seaters, regardless of the year they were built. The certification document officially attests to the cars’ authenticity and also provides a further guarantee for buyers should the certified vehicles ever be sold on.

During the certification process, the cars undergo a very careful inspection in the Ferrari Classiche division in Maranello or at specially authorised centres throughout the world. Using Ferrari’s extensive historic archive, a special committee of experts known as COCER (Certification Committee) chaired by Vice president of Ferrari SpA, Piero Ferrari will evaluate the technical characteristics of each individual car put forward for certification. The technical examination of the car is the most important step in the process as it reveals whether the car is fully functioning, and whether its chassis, engine, gearbox, transmission, suspension, brakes, wheels, bodywork and interiors are original or at least comply with the original specifications.

If any non-original mechanical parts are discovered, the car may still be restored to its original authentic condition as Ferrari Classiche can, on request, supply spares conforming to the original specifications and manufactured using the original designs and specialist machinery either directly at Ferrari or by its official suppliers.

The manufacture and supply of original components is all a part of Ferrari Classiche’s renovation and maintenance work where the aim is always to save the Prancing Horse’s historic models.

The fact that Ferrari Classiche’s services provide exceptional satisfaction to our clients is clear from the fact that increasing numbers of owners opt to travel to the division headquarters in Maranello to pick up their restored cars personally. The long list of messages of appreciation for our dedicated technicians’ highly professional work, left by clients in the client comments book at Ferrari Classiche, also speaks for itself.

Ferrari will also be organising a wide range of activities and events for classic cars for 2007. The Shell Ferrari Historic Challenge Europe and North America will be staged once again. Last year there was an average of 80 cars participating during the 10 rounds held throughout the season. The weekend of March 31st to April 1st marks the start of the European series at Mugello as part of the 1st Mugello Historic Festival.

Ferrari will then pay homage to the Mille Miglia on 17th – 19th May with the original 315 S in which Piero Taruffi won the very last edition of the legendary Italian race in 1957.

The Ferrari Legend and Passion auction organised by RM Auctions in collaboration with Sotheby’s takes place on May 20th in Maranello and will feature some of the most famous Prancing Horse models of all time, including a 340 MM (1953) and a 275 GTB4 (1966) in addition to a wide selection of memorabilia.

The finale of the Ferrari 60 Relay, which will have visited five continents en route to Maranello, will include the Concours d’Elegance Ferrari 60 on Sunday 24th of June at the Fiorano Circuit.

A total of 80 Grand Tourers (12-cylinders up to the early 1970s and special series) and Sports Prototypes will be competing for the Best of Show and other awards.

This event will be preceded by the Ferrari 60 Classic Tour which is being held on Friday June 22nd and will take participants along the route traditionally used by the Prancing Horse’s test drivers. There will also be an official parade of the cars competing with a public vote on Saturday June 23rd, once again at the Fiorano Circuit.

Accubuilt Introducing New Chrysler Interior at New York City Event

Accubuilt, Inc. will host an event on April 5th to introduce the new Dark Slate Gray interior now available in its W.P. Chrysler Executive Series 300 long-wheelbase Chrysler model. The new interior also features premium leather Seat trim as well as genuine California Walnut wood accents throughout. All livery operators in the Metro NYC-NJ-CT area will be formally invited but the event is open to all livery operators, regardless of location.

The event will take place at the Marriott LaGuardia Airport and will be held from 9:00 a.m. until approximately 1:00 p.m.

“We'll have 300s available to ride and drive and will be offering heavy snacks and refreshments (including adult beverages from 11:00 a.m. on) to all attendees. Attendees can come anytime in that time span and stay as long or as little as they want,” Accubuilt says. Accubuilt will also pay attendee's parking charges at the Marriott.

Accubuilt President Don Cuzzocrea will personally host the event and Chrysler fleet sales and Chrysler Financial personnel are scheduled to attend as well. They will answer questions about the car, its no charge 4 year/150,000 DaimlerChrysler extended service contract that covers 800+ components, and financing.

Hyundai Tucson Xenith Limited Edition

As spring approaches Hyundai has added a new luxury special edition to its highly successful Tucson SUV range. The Tucson CDX already features a high level of standard equipment, such as; full leather interior, heated front seats, ABS with EBD, remote locking with alarm and air conditioning with climate control, to name a few.

The Hyundai Tucson Xenith is available in black or silver and is a 6-speed, 2.0 CRTD (Common rail turbo diesel) 4WD manual. The Tucson Xenith includes all the specification of the best-selling Tucson CDX model plus more than £3000 of added specification upgrades.

The New Hyundai Tucson Xenith includes:

• Colour coded side mouldings and bumpers
• Rear privacy glass
• Two tone leather and Alcantara upholstery
• Alcantara covered instrument cluster surround, gear gaiter, steering wheel, handbrake, armrest, door pull linings and door inserts
• Birds eye black maple wood effect trim on dashboard, console and door pulls
• Leather and alloy sports gear knob
• Luxury stainless steel embossed door entry guards
• Aluminium sports pedal trims
• 19” multi spoke alloy wheels with polished rims

Priced at £20,670 OTR this highly equipped model is in the showrooms now with the remit to provide customers with class leading value and exceptional specification.

As with all Hyundai vehicles a comprehensive support package goes hand in hand with any new purchase from the range. The package includes three-years’ RAC assistance cover, six year anti-perforation warranty and the industry leading, range-wide, five year unlimited mileage warranty.

Toyota Avensis refreshed for spring 2007

Toyota is introducing some feature changes for the Avensis range this spring, most notably upgrading the standard satellite navigation on T3-S, T4, T Spirit and T180 grades from a turn-by-turn to a full-map, touch-screen system.

Planning and following your route is made easier than ever thanks to enhanced graphics displayed on a 6.5-inch LCD monitor with 32,000-colour fine resolution map. Landmark buildings are shown in 3D effect and a city and motorway lane guidance function helps ensure you move to the right lane at the right time at complex intersections.

Programming is made simpler, too, with touch-screen controls and a voice recognition function for address searches.

Thanks to Traffic Message Channel (TMC) monitoring and Dynamic Route Guidance (DRG), the system obtains early alerts to any delays on a programmed route and will automatically offer the driver an alternative, if desired. It also provides an anticipated arrival time at your destination.

The more sophisticated navigation pack, available now, also provides a more versatile sound system, which can play MP3 and WMA digital music files stored on disc.

Further changes to the Toyota Avensis range include a new-design of alloy wheel for the T3-S and T3-X 1.8 VVT-i, 2.0 D-4D and 2.2 D-4D models, with wheel size on the D-4D versions increased from 16 to 17 inches.

A new fabric upholstery exclusive to the T3-x and T4 has been introduced, with a new stone leather interior newly available as an option on T Spirit models. For the exterior, Venetian Silver metallic joins the colour range available on T4, T Spirit and T180 grades, with Silver Steel metallic now offered on T2, T3-S and T3-X grades.

Chinese Flybo Electric Car Coming to America

EASTON, Pa. — Wuzheng North America, which recently made headlines by bringing in China-made pickup trucks, has made a deal with another Chinese company, to sell electric vehicles here.

The Jinan Flybo Motor Company's flagship is called the XFD-6000ZK. The name is almost longer than the vehicle, which measures 102.3 inches long on a 71-inch wheelbase and looks similar to the Smart from certain angles. Top speed is 45 mph (with the 25-mph limiter removed), and it has a range of 70 miles on a charge. Classified as a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV), the XFD-6000ZK is "100 percent legal for on-road use," the company says. It and two lower-end electric cars — yes, there are lower-end models — are powered by a 48V electric motor. MSRP on the XFD-6000ZK is $12,950. Complete details are available at the Flybo Web site.

Jinan Flybo Motor is a subsidiary of Shandong Pioneer of the China Qingqi Group, the oldest and biggest motorcycle manufacturer in China. Qingqi was the first local partner of Suzuki back in the 1980s.

2007 Callaway C16 Cabrio based on Chevrolet Corvette

(from Callaway Cars Press Release) CALLAWAY C16 CABRIO MAKES WORLD DEBUT AT 2007 NEW YORK AUTO SHOW

World-Class Supercar Performance, Now Available as Convertible

Callaway Cars today announced it will unveil the C16 Cabrio, the company’s convertible variant of the limited production C16 supercar, at the New York International Auto Show.

Callaway engineers integrated powertrain, brakes and suspension enhancements into the current Chevrolet Corvette platform, giving driving enthusiasts the opportunity to experience ultra-high performance levels in a convertible body style. Six-speed manual or paddle-shift automatic transmissions are available with either standard 560 or optional 616 horsepower engines.

The C16 Cabrio, like the C16 Coupe, was drawn and modeled by designer Paul Deutschman who has a twenty-year portfolio of Callaway designs. Architect of the “Callaway Look” – from its 254 mph Sledgehammer and Le Mans race cars to the current C16 models – Paul has created a stunning new design while retaining unmistakable Callaway lineage.

“With this car, we’ve maintained the C16’s class-leading performance, while creating a gorgeous ‘Cabrio’ version, based on one of the best sports car platforms available anywhere,” says company founder Reeves Callaway. “In true Callaway tradition, it incorporates our race-proven technologies, painstaking testing and validation efforts, and expert craftsmanship in an arresting and appealing style.”

The C16’s Callaway-supercharged 6.0L engine provides world-class power, producing 560 bhp at 6,200 rpm and 529 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm. The optional 616 HP Performance Package raises the bar to 616 bhp and 582 lb-ft of torque, propelling the paddle-shifted Cabrio from 0-to-60 in 3.5 seconds. Quarter-mile acceleration tests consistently record low 11-second elapsed times. Maximum speed of the C16 Cabrio is estimated at just over 200 mph. Equally impressive is its fuel efficiency rating of 18 city/28 highway. Callaway’s warranty covers the equipment for 5 years or 100,000 miles.

Inside the C16 cockpit, door sill panels, dash pad, and steering wheel are upgraded and carry signature Callaway badging. The optional “Deutschleder” package completely retools the interior in fine German leather and Alcantara, featuring seats manufactured for Callaway by Recaro. Clients choose exterior and interior colors to suit individual taste. Each C16 Cabrio is built to order, serialized and identified by its build plaque.

The handling precision of the C16 is courtesy of the newly developed Callaway/Eibach Multi-Pro coil-over suspension. This joint development effort produced an advanced spring/damper system, featuring 10-position compression and rebound adjustability, allowing the driver to customize settings for specific track or road conditions. The sophisticated design provides excellent response while avoiding racecar-like rough ride characteristics.

To bring the Callaway C16 Cabrio from 200+ mph to rest, and to help negotiate the tightest tracks, the C16 utilizes a StopTech brake system engineered to Callaway specifications including 6-piston front and 4-piston rear calipers gripping 355mm x 32 mm rotors.

Callaway/Dymag wheels weigh approximately half that of their aluminum counterparts, providing significantly reduced unsprung weight for improved acceleration, cornering and braking. These TUV- and DOT-certified wheels feature forged magnesium spiders surrounded by durable carbon fiber rims and measure 19” by 10” front and 20” by 12” rear. Another of Callaway’s technology partners, Yokohama Tire, developed their “AdvanSport” specifically for the C16 in 285/30ZR19 front and 325/25ZR20 rear sizes.

Pricing for the C16 Cabrio starts at $128,765 USD. Callaway C16 components are also available individually for 2005 - 2007 Corvettes through Callaway authorized retailers and installers.

Callaway C16 Cabrios are built by Callaway facilities in California, Connecticut, and Germany and are available to purchase exclusively through Callaway Cars’ authorized dealer network. For additional information on Callaway Cars, its automobiles and dealer locations, call 860-434-9002 or visit www.callawaycars.com

IL Insider: Chevy Mulls Reviving "Nomad" Name for New Crossover Vehicle

DETROIT — Industry sources tell Inside Line that a Lambda-based Chevrolet crossover vehicle in the works for the 2009 model year may be called "Nomad," reviving a storied nameplate that dates back to the 1950s.

The Nomad name would be resurrected and used on a new crossover that would be a sibling to the 2007 GMC Acadia. The upcoming Chevrolet crossover will be a seven-seater with unibody construction that will replace the slow-selling Chevrolet Uplander. Sources say Chevrolet is convinced that returning to retro names — although not to retro styling — is the way to win consumers. It's similar to a trend that is in vogue with other domestic manufacturers, including Ford, which recently revived the Taurus name.

Nomad originally was used on a Chevrolet station wagon, most notably in its two-door form that was on the market from 1955-'57. That landmark Chevrolet Nomad was styled more like a hardtop than a station wagon and could arguably be described as a kind of primitive "crossover." The Nomad design was an offshoot of a 1954 GM Motorama show car of the same name that was based on the Corvette. Chevrolet also revived the Nomad name on a 2004 concept vehicle off the Kappa platform that featured a removable rear roof panel and a folding tailgate.

2007 Callaway C16 based on Chevrolet Corvette

(from Callaway Cars Press Release) STUNNING CALLAWAY C16 MAKES WORLD DEBUT AT 2007 GREATER LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW

First Look at Callaway Cars’ Newest Statement of “Powerfully Engineered Automobiles”

Callaway Cars today unveiled its Callaway C16 – the 16th in an impressive lineup of exclusive, built-to-order Callaway automobiles. Based on the current Chevrolet Corvette platform, the C16 takes performance and style to the next level, with 616 supercharged bhp and 582 lb-ft of torque. The new sports car incorporates Callaway’s race-proven technologies, superlative craftsmanship and arresting style.

“The C16 says exactly what we want to say about the capabilities at Callaway Cars: It’s gorgeous, it has class-leading performance—and it’s a true daily driver based on one of the best sports car platforms ever made,” says company founder Reeves Callaway.

The C16 was drawn and modeled by designer Paul Deutschman, who has a twenty-year portfolio of Callaway designs. “He is the architect of the Callaway look—from the 254 mph Sledgehammer and our C4-based Le Mans race cars to the C7, the C12 and now the C16,” says Callaway. The car’s handcrafted bodywork replaces every panel of the standard body to achieve its integrated look. The C16 also attains a new level of manufacturing efficiency. “In making this car we went from CAD design straight to tooling, bypassing a full-sized model—a first for us,” says Callaway. “It’s tools like PTC’s Pro/ENGINEER software, our technology partner, that make such efficient car design possible.”

The Callaway supercharged 6.0-liter LS2 V8 produces an impressive 616 bhp at 6,200 rpm and develops 582 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm. The Callaway C16 does 0 to 60 in 3.3-seconds, and a quarter mile in 10.9 seconds. Top speed of the manual transmission coupe is 206 mph. Equally impressive is its fuel efficiency rating of 18 city/28 highway. It is emission compliant worldwide.

Yokohama “AdvanSport” 295/30ZR19 (front) and 345/25ZR20 (rear) tires complete the package. “The secret to this level of road-holding starts with the tire,” says Callaway. “As a specialist manufacturer, we are honored to have Yokohama as our exclusive tire partner, which gives us access to technology that results in our extraordinary performance numbers.”

The car’s excellent handling and ride feel are courtesy of the newly developed Callaway/Eibach Multi-Pro coil-over suspension. This advanced spring/damper system features ride height, corner weight, and pitch angle adjustability. The aluminum-bodied dampers feature 10-click-position compression and rebound adjustability and have remote mounted reservoirs, allowing the driver to control a range of ride stiffness settings for track or road.

Inside, the C16 cockpit is completely retooled in German leather and Alcantara. Also fitted are Recaro Pole Position seats with a choice of harnessing styles. Door sill panels, steering wheel and passenger dash area also carry signature Callaway badging. Each automobile is serialized and identified by its build plaque. C16s are built to order. Clients choose body color and interior appointments to individual taste.

The C16’s Callaway exhaust system is manufactured from stainless steel and features Callaway’s signature Double-D exhaust tip design. As demonstrated by the car’s horsepower throughput, the exhaust system is the least restrictive and is generally known as the best-sounding solution for C5- and C6-generation Corvettes.

To bring the Callaway C16 from 200+ mph to rest, Callaway 6-piston front and 4-piston rear calipers grip 355mm diameter rotors. Super-lightweight Callaway Dymag wheels, the lightest road wheel in the industry, are fitted in sizes 19-inch x 10 front and 20-inch x 12 rear. The Dymag wheel features a remarkable hybrid of forged magnesium centers surrounded by carbon fiber rims - another example of Callaway bringing their race experience to their road cars. Dymag has been supplying advanced road wheels to Callaway since 1986.

There are three transmission options on the Callaway C16: two 6-speed manual transmissions (one incorporating the Z51 Performance Package’s shorter ratios in the first four gears), or a 6-speed automatic with paddle shift. The Callaway C16 delivers the feeling of a fully integrated driver’s car, maintaining the company’s legendary hallmark of easy-to-drive, super high-performance road cars.

Callaway C16 automobiles are built by Callaway facilities in California, Connecticut, and Germany. The Callaway C16 is available exclusively through Callaway Cars’ authorized dealer network in North America, Callaway Competition in Leingarten, Germany, and CorvetteTotal, Bonstetten, Switzerland.

Pricing for a fully loaded C16 coupe is $126,685 USD.

All Callaway C16 components are available individually, for both new and currently owned Corvettes, through Callaway authorized retailers and installers.

Production Version of Ford Fairlane To Be Christened "Flex"

DEARBORN, Mich. — The Ford Motor Company will take the wraps off the boxy full-size crossover vehicle called Flex that it plans to launch next year at the upcoming New York auto show. The Flex is the production version of Ford's 2005 Fairlane concept.

The Flex is due to hit showrooms in late summer of 2008 as a 2009 model, although industry sources tell Inside Line that the company may try to get the vehicle to market sooner. The Flex will be built in Oakville, Ontario, and will range in price from $27,995 for a base model to about $40,000 for a top-of-the-line model. The Flex will use Ford's all-purpose 3.5-liter V6. Horsepower is expected to be around 265. The Flex is larger than the Ford Edge and shares a platform with the Five Hundred sedan.

A Lincoln version of the new crossover, with a 3.7-liter V6, is also in the works. It will differ from the Flex in terms of styling, with a much curvier exterior than its boxy counterpart. It also will be build in Oakville. Sources tell Inside Line that the automaker will likely stick with an alphanumeric nameplate, possibly MK-F.

It is not clear if the production version of the Flex will retain the Fairlane's signature center-opening clamshell doors.

Opel Tigra TwinTop Now Wears Mango Fashion

Opel and the Spanish fashion brand Mango have signed an agreement to launch a joint advertising campaign across Europe from this spring. The cooperation between the two firms promotes the two-seat Tigra TwinTop cabrio and the current Mango collection. “Every street is a catwalk, and that goes for people and their clothes as well as for cars,” says Olivier Danan, Director Marketing Communication for Opel, explaining the concept behind the cooperation. “Today more than ever before, cars are also considered chic accessories that have to fit an overall stylish look.”

Ever since its launch two and a half years ago, the Opel Tigra TwinTop has been mainly aimed towards stylish, trend-conscience young women. “Our target groups are the same as Mango’s, so it made good sense to jointly promote our products’ attractiveness,” said Olivier Danan.

The campaign includes different actions in each market, like contests, catwalk during a motor show with special ladies day, special day shopping in Paris or a sweepstake to win a shopping voucher.

For the advertising initiative, Opel will use models dressed in Mango fashions to promote the Tigra TwinTop both on the Internet, in newspapers and magazines. Other country-specific opportunities in Europe are also being explored.

The sporty two-seater with electro-hydraulic retractable steel roof is available in Germany from 17,983 euros. Buyers who wish to combine open-air driving in the Opel Tigra TwinTop with very low CO₂ emissions can choose the 1.3 CDTI ECOTEC engine, which emits just 124 g/km.

Mazda Ryuga Concept at the 2007 Shanghai International Motor Show

Mazda will showcase the Asian premiere of the Mazda Ryuga, the second concept car to arise from the "Nagare" (flow) design theme at the 2007 Shanghai International Motor Show to be held from Friday, April 20 through Saturday, April 28 2007.

Also on show will be the new generation Mazda2 (European spec) which made its world debut to great acclaim at the Geneva International Motor Show in early March 2007; the Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE equipped with Mazda's unique hydrogen rotary engine; the Mazda5 (known as the Mazda Premacy in Japan); and the Mazda CX-7. Including these reference exhibits, a total of 14 vehicles comprising 11 different models will be displayed to help spread Mazda's Zoom-Zoom brand message.

Officially titled Auto Shanghai 2007, the press days are April 20 and 21, and the public days are April 22 through 28.

Vehicles to be displayed

Concept vehicle	Mazda Ryuga
Reference vehicles	Mazda2
	Mazda5
	Mazda CX-7
	Mazda3 MPS
	Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE
Technical exhibits	MZR 2.3L DISI Turbo engine cut model
	RENESIS engine cut model
	RENESIS Hydrogen rotary engine cut model
Vehicles currently on sale in China	Mazda3 (sedan), Mazda6 (sedan, 5-door hatchback, wagon), Mazda RX-8

The Dangerous Ten

Jeremy Clarkson selected the ten most exciting/fastest cars he has ever thrown around a track...

10: Noble M12 GT0-3R 170mph

"In a world obsessed with image, you can’t beat a Porsche. But in a world obsessed with time, a Porsche is a library. A TVR is the internet. And the Noble is broadband"

9: Aston Martin V8 Vantage 175mph. £51,500.

"Thanks to heavy steering, heavy brakes and a heavy six-speed manual gearbox, they’ve made the syllabub-light body feel like a meat pie. The 911 is for nancy boy racing drivers. The Aston’s for gentleman thugs"

8: Chevrolet Corvette C6 180mph. £52,595.

"This car has a head-up display, just like you get in an F-16 fighter. It’s fantastic. Whole bus queues are hidden behind the digital speed read-out, which is going to make for some wonderful insurance claims"

7: Vauxhall Monaro VXR 185mph. £36,995.

"Think of it as an Aussie from the outback. Maybe he can’t quote Shakespeare. Maybe he’s never heard of Terence Conran. But he can smash all the teeth clean out of your mouth with a single punch. That's the Monaro"

6: Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder 190mph. £115,000.

"So why, you may be wondering, am I so fond of this car? I’ll tell you why. Because it’s got orange seats. And because it is so pretty. And because when you go above 3500rpm it makes a noise like a punctured sumo wrestler. And because you sit so far forwards you feel like you’re on the nose of some giant, snarling power-crazed animal"

5: Lamborghini Gallardo 192mph. £115,000

"It changes direction like a fly, grips like a barnacle and goes like a jet fighter on combat power. At one point I saw 175mph on the clock and there was plenty more where that came from"

4: BMW M5 204mph. £61,760.

"Eventually I relocated Bob Seger but unfortunately I was approaching a roundabout and the sat nav woman had decided I was an idiot. So she told me to go straight over and then repeated herself and then repeated it again. And by the time she’d shut up Bob had been replaced with a miserable sounding girl called Dildo"

3: Porsche Carrera GT 205mph. £330,000

"I’ve been in some pretty fast machinery over the years, but nothing prepared me for the neck-snapping, spleen-bursting, hammer blow explosion of power that came the first time I floored the Carrera’s throttle"

2: Koenigsegg CCX 250mph £368,700

"The noise is hard to explain. There’s a lot of it, and in some ways it sounds like an amplified version of that sound you make when you hit the brakes at 193mph. A sort of AAAAAAAARGH"
1: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 253mph £810,345

"On a recent drive across Europe I desperately wanted to reach the top speed but I ran out of road when the needle hit 240mph. Where, astonishingly, it felt planted. Totally and utterly rock steady. It felt sublime.

Not quiet, though. The engine sounds like Victorian plumbing — it looks like Victorian plumbing as well, to be honest — and the roar from the tyres was biblical. But it still felt brilliant. Utterly, stunningly, mind blowingly, jaw droppingly brilliant"

What would your top ten be?

The BRABUS Sport Program for the New C-Clas

PRESS RELEASE:
The BRABUS Sport Program for the New C-Class

Concurrent with the market introduction of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class BRABUS presents an exclusive sport program for the new sedan.

Highlights of the product lineup are the BRABUS 4.0 displacement engine with 332 hp / 244 kW for the V6 gasoline models, an elegant aerodynamic-enhancement program, light-alloy wheels with 20-inch diameter and corresponding suspensions, plus numerous individual interior options.

BRABUS is world-renowned for its powerful yet clean-burning displacement engines,
lubricated exclusively with ARAL motor oil. All tuning components and conversions are backed by the one-of-a-kind BRABUS Tuning Warranty? of three years up to 100,000 kilometers (see BRABUS warranty conditions as of June 2003).

For the new C 280 and C 350 models BRABUS offers its BRABUS 4.0 engine. By installing a special crankshaft and larger pistons displacement is increased to 4.0 liters. Additionally the four-valve cylinder heads are optimized for gas flow, and fitted with special camshafts. The conversion further includes a stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system with metal catalysts, and newly programmed engine electronics.

The impressive results of the conversion are a maximum power output of 332 hp / 244 kW and a peak torque of 420 Nm at 4,200 rpm. Thus equipped, the four-door delivers excellent performance: Just 5.9 seconds pass from 0 - 100 km/h, top speed is 275 km/h in combination with the BRABUS Vmax-Unit.

For the CDI models of the new C-Class BRABUS offers its PowerXtra performance kits. The list starts with the D2 (III) kit that increases power output of the C 200 CDI by 39 hp / 28.7 hp, and bumps peak torque to 385 Nm. The C 220 CDI with BRABUS D3 (III) kit delivers 195 hp / 143 kW of power and 450 Nm of peak torque. For the top-of-the-line turbodiesel model C 320 CDI there is the D6 (III) power kit. It delivers 48 hp / 35.3 kW of additional power and a peak torque of 590 Nm, turning the new C-Class into one of the world's sportiest diesel- powered cars with a 0 ? 100 km/h time of just 6.9 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h.

BRABUS stainless-steel quad sport exhaust systems are available for all engine variants.

More dynamics for the new C-Class also come from custom-tailored BRABUS tire/wheel
combinations with diameters of 17, 18, 19 and 20 inches and corresponding BRABUS sport
suspensions, lowering kits and sport sway bars. The largest wheels for the new C-Class are
BRABUS Monoblock VI, E and S light-alloy wheels in size 9Jx20 front and back, fitted with
tires is sizes 235/30 ZR 20 in front and 265/25 ZR 20 on the rear axle.

BRABUS high-performance brake systems are available for the W 204 model series in two
versions and offer maximum stopping power and endurance.

The BRABUS design team also went into the wind tunnel to develop aerodynamic-
enhancement components that not only look great but also offer maximum aerodynamic
efficiency. All parts are manufactured from high-quality PUR-Rim in OEM quality.

The sporty styled BRABUS front spoiler lends the C-Class a more characteristic appearance
with its generously dimensioned air inlets for improved supply of cooling air for radiators and
front brakes. It also minimizes lift on the front axle, thus improving directional stability at high
speeds. Four integrated auxiliary headlights further optimize active safety. BRABUS offers a
three-piece rear spoiler that serves as its aerodynamic counterpart in the rear.

Strikingly styled BRABUS rocker panels create perfect aerodynamic transitions between front
and rear wheel arches. The panels are optionally available with integrated LED entrance
lights. For the outside mirrors BRABUS offers custom-tailored carbon-fiber covers.

The new BRABUS rear apron with one cutout left and right for the sport exhaust rounds out
the exclusive appearance.

BRABUS also enjoys a great reputation worldwide for exclusive interior design: For the new
C-Class the company-own upholstery shop handcrafts exclusive interiors from especially soft
and breathable BRABUS Mastik leather and Alcantara with utmost precision. The BRABUS
program also includes a wide array of individual accessories for the interior. The lineup
ranges from an ergonomically shaped sport steering wheel to aluminum foot pedals and 330-
km/h speedometer to stainless-steel door sills with illuminated BRABUS logo to precious-
wood and carbon-fiber trim sets.

Citroen's code cracker: C2 Code special edition

Citroën has taken its lively 125bhp C2 1.6i 16V VTS supermini and enhanced it with a luxurious full leather interior, sporty exterior styling touches and an exclusive paint job to create the new, high performance C2 Code special edition – all for a cracking £10,545.

Sporting a unique athletic look, complete with a full-length roof stripe, a chrome exhaust pipe and Smart 16” alloys, Citroën’s C2 Code stands out from the crowd whether dressed in the striking new iron grey pearlescent paint work or a dynamic black look. What is more, the cost of these colours is included in the price.

On the inside the C2 Code really sets itself apart from other small hot hatches – the sports-style, bolstered seats and door panels are coated with a rich new leather trim, while the front occupants benefit from the added luxury of heated seats. A sparkling aluminum gear knob hints at the performance credentials of this hot hatch, whilst added practicality is provided by the independently sliding and folding split rear Seat design.

The quick and refined 1.6i 16V engine reinforces the sporty vibe. A 0 to 62mph time of a little over eight seconds and a top speed of 126mph combine with a frugal 41mpg on the combined cycle and a recommended retail price of just £10,545 to give the Citroën C2 Code one of the best pound v performance ratios on the road.

Despite its lower list price, and the addition of those Smart interior and exterior touches, the C2 Code offers the same standard equipment as the VTS, which last year accounted for around 15% of all C2 sales. The kit list includes air conditioning, electric one-touch front windows, ESP, four airbags, an anti-theft alarm and fog lights.

All-new Infiniti G37 coupe debuts at New York Auto Show

The all-new 2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe, which makes its world debut at the 2007 New York International Auto Show, combines the exhilarating performance, stunning styling and modern, sporty interior of the original Infiniti G Coupe and accelerates each to new levels. Among the key enhancements to the new second-generation G Coupe are a larger, more powerful 3.7-litre V6 engine, available advanced 4-Wheel Active Steer system, a dramatic new exterior design and a refined interior with intuitive, integrated technology. The Infiniti G37 Coupe joins the recently introduced, all-new 2007 Infiniti G35 Sedan in Infiniti showrooms nationwide in August.

“The new Infiniti G35 Sedan, which has been named to both Car and Driver’s ‘10 Best Cars’ and
Automobile magazine’s ‘All-Stars’ list, has set the stage for the introduction of the new Infiniti G37 Coupe,” said Mark Igo, vice president and general manager, Infiniti Division. “The new Coupe builds on the styling, performance and interior enhancements of the G Sedan, adding the dynamic style, sporty atmosphere and expressive driving character expected of a class-leading luxury sport coupe. The line starts here.”

Exhilarating Performance From a New Engine Design

Leading the enhancements to the 2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe is the first-ever application of the new 3.7-litre V6 engine with VVEL (for Variable Valve Event and Lift).

Estimated at 330 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque, the new “VQ37VHR” contains approximately 35 percent new and unique parts from the new VQ35HR engine introduced in the 2007 Infiniti G35 Sedan just last year. Both the Coupe’s VQ37VHR and the Sedan’s VQ35HR engines are based on the award-winning VQ engine series, named one of the “Ten Best Engines” by Ward’s Auto World magazine for 13 consecutive years.

Along with utilising a larger displacement than the previous 3.5-litre powerplant, the Infiniti G37 Coupe’s new VVEL system combines hydraulic-controlled variable valve timing and electronically controlled variable valve lift on the intake side to help improve performance and response. The VVEL system is also expected to improve emissions and fuel efficiency. The VVEL intake camshafts, featuring continuously variable lift control teamed with the Continuously Variable Valve Timing Control System (CVTCS), allow for a 7,500 rpm redline.

The engine also features increased cylinder block height (from the previous 3.5-litre design), ladder frame construction for greater rigidity, large crank journal and pin diameters, asymmetric piston skirts, twin knock sensors, an electronically controlled “drive-by-wire” throttle system, molybdenum coated lightweight pistons, Iridium spark plugs and a symmetric twin air intake system.

A new, specially tuned dual exhaust system has been designed with equal length exhaust manifolds and low muffler exhaust backpressure to help improve engine breathing. Both intake and exhaust enhance driving pleasure with their authentic performance notes.

Rated at an estimated 330 horsepower, the new engine is not only considerably more powerful than the previous generation G Coupe (rated at 275 hp with 5AT, 293 hp with 6MT), but is expected to offer increased fuel mileage and reduced emissions levels. Overall vehicle fuel economy improvements are estimated to be nearly one mpg better than the G35 Sedan and nearly two mpg better than the previous generation G35 Coupe (actual EPA mileage estimates and emission information to be announced at a later date).

“The new 3.7-litre V6 is a true powerhouse – becoming more enjoyable as you drive it,” said Igo. “And, this powerplant also features Infiniti’s trademark “Swell” acceleration – introduced on the new G Sedan last year – with special tuning that builds horsepower almost continually to the redline like a building wave.”

The Infiniti G37 Coupe engine is backed by a choice of an upgraded electronically controlled 5-speed automatic transmission with manual mode, downshift rev matching, DS mode and ASC (Adaptive Shift Control) that allows for quicker shifts in sporty driving situations and available genuine magnesium paddle shifters; or a newly revised, lightweight 6-speed manual transmission.

Performance Platform and Suspension

Developed at test circuits throughout Europe – including the famed Nürburgring – the G37 Coupe was conceived as a performance thoroughbred. Handling and ride performance increases come from the G37 Coupe’s enhanced FM (Front Mid-ship) platform, which has been stiffened 36% from the previous generation, is lower in overall height and has a wider front and rear track width.

The G37 Coupe’s 4-wheel independent suspension design features lightweight aluminium components and large front and rear stabiliser bars, increased spring rates and optimised suspension damping.

The front suspension is a double-wishbone design, with a single pivot lower wishbone and a long upper link. The multi-link rear suspension separates the shock absorbers and springs, locating the shock absorber inline with the wheel centre. These designs help minimise alignment changes and reduce suspension friction for nimble handling and smooth riding characteristics.

Steering is provided by a twin-orifice vehicle-speed-sensing design, which provides optimum steering effort at both high and low vehicle speeds. Standard on all G37 Coupes is Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), which assists in enhancing vehicle stability under a variety of driving conditions.

Also available on the new G37 Coupe is Infiniti’s exclusive 4-Wheel Active Steer system (4WAS), with unique chassis configuration that features automatically variable front steering ratios and rear suspension geometry that adjusts to steering input and vehicle speed via motor-driven controls. The system’s electronic control unit calculates the desired vehicle dynamics from a series of sensors, including vehicle speed and steering angle, and separately directs both the front and rear actuators to change steering gear ratios and rear geometry by moving both the front steering gear and rear suspension lower links – thus providing sports car-like agility and secure stability.

Braking performance is provided by standard 4-wheel vented discs with 4-channel, 4-sensor Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA). The standard G37 Coupe adopts the “sport” braking system of the recently introduced G35 Sedan. The G37 Coupe Journey with Sport Package and G37 Coupe Sport 6MT are further enhanced with aluminium four-piston callipers (front)/two-piston callipers (rear) embossed with Infiniti lettering and large ventilated rotors – 14.0-inch front and 13.8-inch rear.

Also available on G37 Coupe is Infiniti’s Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) with Preview Braking, which provides a precise following distance from the vehicle ahead. It also identifies sudden braking situations with laser sensors to determine distance and relative speed of the vehicle ahead in the same lane and “pre-pressurises” the Brake Assist system before the driver steps on the brake pedal.

A new 18-inch wheel and tyre package is standard on G37 Coupe, featuring a “split 5-spoke” 18x8-inch aluminium-alloy wheel design with P225/50VR18 all-season tyres. A new 10-spoke 19-inch wheel and tyre package, with lightweight cast aluminium wheels and high performance tyres, is also available. A Tyre Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) is standard on all 2008 G37 Coupes.

To enhance the already high level of dynamic performance, the G37 Coupe 6MT and G37 Coupe Journey with Sport Package come standard with unique sport suspension, a Viscous Limited Slip Differential (VLSD) and a new wheel and tyre package with 19x8.5-inch front wheels with 225/45WR19 front tyres and 19x9-inch rear wheels with 245/40WR19 rear tyres.

Seductive Styling

The G37 Coupe’s advanced performance systems are wrapped in an all-new seductive skin, giving the vehicle a kinetic feeling with emotional surface expression, sweeping character lines and tight panel gap lines.

“Compared with its predecessor, the G37 Coupe is longer, lower and wider – indicative of the power and technology of the vehicle,” said Igo.

Exterior highlights include flowing front fender curves, a wave-style hood, expressive front fascia with Infiniti’s signature double-arch grille and L-shaped High-Intensity Discharge (HID) bi-xenon headlights with integrated fog lamps. As with the new G35 Sedan, Infiniti developed a specialised production process for headlight installation to impart tight build tolerances and an exacting fit of the complex front fascia. The aluminium hood is secured by dual latches located at the two front corners to ensure an excellent fit.

The strong side character line and side sills integrate with the large wheel wells and the 18- or 19-inch performance-oriented wheel and tyre packages to transmit an added sense of power and vibrancy.

The rear of the G Coupe features broad rear fenders, flowing into the large LED taillights – an Infiniti trademark, refined rear bumper, integrated RearView Monitor camera (when equipped), rear underbody air diffusers and large dual exhaust outlets with chrome finishers.

An available rear spoiler gives the G37 Coupe zero rear lift, matching the standard zero-lift front aerodynamics.

The G37 Coupe Sport 6MT models and G37 Journey with Sport Package add an enhanced performance look, with a unique front fascia, special side sills and standard 19-inch aluminium-alloy wheels with high performance tyres.

Eight exterior colours, including two all-new colours, are offered.

Sophisticated, Luxurious Interior

The 2008 G37 Coupe interior design features sophisticated craftsmanship, with a cockpit-oriented front driver and passenger area, Infiniti signature “double wave” instrument panel design featuring the Infiniti-signature analogue clock and dramatic, full-length centre console with a leather and aluminium-clad shifter. Special aluminium-alloy interior trim, inspired by elegant, handmade Japanese Washi paper, is located across the instrument panel, on the centre console and on the door panels. Genuine African Rosewood trim is also available.

The instrument panel features Infiniti electroluminescent instrumentation with white-and-violet illumination and integrated multi-function information drive computer (average fuel consumption, real-time fuel economy, average speed, elapsed time, running distance, distance to empty, outside air temperature, warning displays, odometer and automatic transmission shift indicator) display.

Drivers grip a double hand-stitched leather-covered steering wheel, designed for maximum comfort and usability with wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls. Available genuine magnesium paddle shifters for the 5-speed automatic transmission fall readily to hand and add control (G37 Coupe Journey with Sport Package only).

The 8-way power driver and 4-way front passenger seats (8-way on G37 Coupe Journey, G37 Coupe Journey with Sport Package and G37 Coupe Sport 6MT model) are appointed with Infiniti’s exclusive premium leather and feature 2-way adjustable head restraints and a unique rear-seat access system, whereby the front seats will move forward automatically at the touch of a button to allow passengers into the rear seat.

The G37 Coupe Journey with Sport Package and G37 Coupe Sport 6MT add special 14-way sport-styled seats with thigh extensions and power adjustable torso and thigh bolsters for the driver, unique steering wheel stitching and high-grip aluminium pedals.

Technological and convenience features abound in the new G37 Coupe. Standard is the Infiniti Intelligent Key with push button ignition, Remote Keyless Entry system, a tilt/telescoping steering column with increased travel, illuminated glove compartment and automatic temperature control.

Also standard is a 6-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with mp3 playback capability, Radio Data System (RDS) and centre console-mounted auxiliary input, as well as a 7-inch colour display.

Available is an 11-speaker Infiniti “Studio on Wheels”™ by Bose®, combining a 3-way front door speaker array using 10-inch woofers with an audiophile-quality head unit incorporating double oversampling 24-bit 96KHz Burr Brown® Digital Analogue Converters (DAC). Also available is a Bluetooth® hands-free phone system, new touch screen Infiniti Navigation System with available XM® NavTraffic™ real-time traffic information (subscription required), voice activation for navigation, audio and HVAC functions, and a 9.3-gigabyte Music Box hard drive with compact flash drive slot.

Three interior colour combinations are offered – Wheat, Graphite and Stone.

Safety Performance and Technology

Available on the new G37 Coupe is an Adaptive Front lighting System (AFS), which automatically controls the headlight lighting pattern according to steering angle and vehicle speed to help provide better visibility at night.

Standard on all G37 Coupes is an Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual-stage supplemental air bags with Seat belt sensors and occupant classification sensor, front-seat side-impact supplemental air bags and roof-mounted side-impact curtain air bags for front- and rear-seat occupant head protection.

Also standard are 3-point ALR/ELR Seat belts (driver’s side ELR only) and front Seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters and adjustable upper anchors, driver and front-passenger knee bolsters, front Seat Active Head Restraints and the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) system. Available as part of the Technology Package are brake-operated pre-crash Seat belts with motion sensor on the brake pedal.

The G37 Coupe features Zone Body Construction with front and rear crushable zones to help disperse crash energy around the passenger compartment. For occupant safety, the engine is designed to move under the occupant compartment in a high-speed frontal collision, while a breakaway construction of the propeller shaft (connected with the engine-drop function) and the double-wall construction of the bulkhead helps to minimise cabin deformation, especially in the lower leg area. In addition, the brake pedal is designed to collapse to help reduce lower leg injuries in a severe crash.

Three Well-Equipped Models

The 2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe is available in three models: G37 Coupe, G37 Coupe Journey and G37 Coupe Sport 6MT. In addition to the long list of standard features on all three models, several options and packages are available.

These include the Premium Package, with a power sliding glass moonroof, 11-speaker Infiniti “Studio on Wheels”™ by Bose® audio system with iPod connection, memory system (driver’s seat, steering wheel and outside mirrors) with synchronisation, power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, anti-glare rearview mirror with compass and HomeLink© Universal Transceiver, Bluetooth® hands-free phone system, and heated front seats and door mirrors.

Also offered is the Sport Package (available on G37 Journey model and standard on G37 Coupe Sport 6MT), which includes 19-inch wheels and tyres, Viscous Limited-Slip Differential (VLSD), sport-tuned suspension, sport brakes, unique front fascia and side sills, sport-styled seats and steering wheel stitching, aluminium pedals and paddle shifters (G37 Coupe Journey only).

The Infiniti Navigation Package adds an advanced navigation system with touch-screen capability, available XM® NavTraffic™ real-time traffic information (subscription required), voice activation for navigation, audio and HVAC functions and a 9.3-gigabyte Music Box hard drive with compact flash drive slot, and RearView Monitor. The Technology Package includes Infiniti Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) with Preview Braking, Adaptive Front lighting System (AFS) and, available for the first time on G Coupe, a “Pre-Crash Seatbelt” system.

Also available is the Infiniti 4-Wheel Active Steer system; Performance Wheel and Tyre Package with 19-inch high performance tyres featuring lightweight cast aluminium-alloy wheels; Moonroof; Rear Spoiler; and African Rosewood interior trim.

“When the original G Coupe was introduced, it proved to the world that exhilarating sport coupe performance doesn’t have to come in a machine-like box,” said Igo. “This new G37 Coupe, which we’re proudly showing for the first time anywhere in New York, is pure G and pure Infiniti – and ready to take centre position on the world automotive stage.”

Hyundai Reveals Concept Genesis Ahead Of NY Debut

Hyundai has just let loose with some advanced images and details of its big New York debut, the Concept Genesis.

A near-production rear-drive large sedan concept, the Genesis looks to extend the brand’s upward trajectory to an even higher pricepoint. Powered by the company’s new Tau 4.6-liter DOHC 32-valve V-8, the company promises that when a production version of the Genesis hits in 2008, it will start at “well under $30,000.”

Hyundai says the CG has a 53:47 weight distribution, and is 12-to-14 percent stiffer in torsional rigidity than a BMW 5-series or Mercedes-Benz E-class, all while being lower in weight. Mounted to it is a six-speed ZF automatic gearbox, complete with manual shifting inputs. So-equipped, Hyundai says the 300+ horsepower V-8 Genesis will run to 60 miles-per-hour in “well under” six seconds.

HYUNDAI TO UNVEIL CONCEPT GENESIS PREMIUM SPORTS SEDAN

Rear-Wheel Drive and V-8 Engine Promise World Class Dynamics and Refinement
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., March 26, 2007 / PRNewswire / – Hyundai will present the world debut of Concept Genesis during a press conference at the New York International Auto Show on April 4. The concept car heralds the future architecture and design of a rear-wheel drive premium sports sedan scheduled to grace the Hyundai lineup in 2008.
“Concept Genesis extends our product range into new territories from a performance, design and packaging perspective,” said Steve Wilhite, chief operating officer, Hyundai Motor America. “When it arrives in 2008 it will catapult Hyundai into competition against some potent rivals, and Genesis is up for the challenge.”

Concept Genesis rides on a prototype of Hyundai’s all-new rear-wheel drive platform, signaling the brand’s desire to broaden its appeal to discerning driving enthusiasts. Concept Genesis is powered by Hyundai’s newly developed Tau DOHC 32-valve V-8 powertrain. Concept Genesis marks the beginning of premium performance for the Hyundai brand.

“Concept Genesis is a manifestation of Hyundai’s extraordinary desire to deliver world-class products across all model segments,” said John Krafcik, vice president, Product Development and Strategic Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “With Genesis, we’ve got a unique product position — an all-new, highly capable, rear-wheel drive platform; a high-performance powertrain; and premium, progressive design - all at a price starting well under $30,000.”

NEW REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE ARCHITECTURE IS A FIRST FOR THE U.S.

Concept Genesis features a rear-wheel-drive architecture, its first application in a U.S. Hyundai model. Rear-wheel drive provides a 53:47 front/rear weight distribution for optimal handling as well as more refined steering characteristics. Concept Genesis’ premium handling and steering performance is further controlled by Electronic Stability Control (ESC), the industry’s most important new safety technology. Hyundai leads all popular car brands in the standard application of ESC, with more than 70 percent of 2007 Hyundai sales volume featuring this life-saving technology as standard equipment. ESC continually analyzes road speed, steering input, throttle position, lateral yaw rate and other factors. An onboard microprocessor determines if the vehicle is starting to understeer or oversteer, and can brake appropriate wheels and reduce engine power to keep the vehicle safely on course.

Utilizing ultra high-tensile steel in critical areas in the unibody provides Concept Genesis with a 12-14 percent higher dynamic torsional rigidity and a lower body-in-white weight than the BMW 5-series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. This stiffer, lighter, larger body provides a terrific foundation for world-class dynamics and lowering noise levels inside the vehicle.

TAU V-8 POWERTRAIN

Adding to the Concept Genesis’ performance factor is the all-new Tau 4.6-liter V8 engine mated to a ZF 6-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC® manual control and a limited-slip differential. The Tau delivers well over 300 horsepower to fit the demands of performance-oriented consumers. This powertrain combination will launch Genesis to 60 miles per hour in well under six seconds. The Tau engine is built with flexibility for the future. Future Tau variants may offer larger displacement, forced induction options and other technology enhancements.

INNOVATIVE AND SOPHISTICATED SPORT-TUNED SUSPENSION

Genesis features a suspension design that is among the most sophisticated and refined anywhere, at any price. The front five-link suspension features upper and lower arms linking the front wheels to the chassis. This artfully articulated arrangement creates a virtual king pin axis which dramatically reduces unwanted kickback through the steering wheel as well as improving responsiveness. The five-link independent rear suspension is equally sophisticated, enabling precise suspension geometry for an incredible level of ride and handling prowess. The capabilities of the advanced front and rear-suspension are maximized through driver selectable dynamic settings allowing tailored ride and handling characteristics according to need … or desire.

MODERN DESIGN

Genesis’ design is a progressive interpretation of the modern rear-wheel drive sports sedan. To match its dynamic powertrain capabilities, Genesis combines strong, sculpted forms which integrate precise details, natural materials and innovative lighting to provide a well-crafted, premium design aesthetic.

SAFETY FEATURES

Maintaining Hyundai’s emphasis on delivering leading safety technology, Concept Genesis boasts world class active and passive safety features to both prevent accidents, and maximize the well being of its occupants in the event of a collision. The Genesis continues the Hyundai tradition of standardizing key life-saving active safety technology such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with traction control, eight airbags and active headrests.
Concept Genesis is brought to a halt by large four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD). The 12.6-inch front rotors have single-piston floating calipers and the rear brakes feature 12.4-inch rotors with single-pistons.

TECHNOLOGY

• Advanced adaptive cruise control • Navigation with backup camera
• Electronic Stability Control • Electric parking brake
• Eight airbags • Bluetooth technology
• Heat / cool seats • USB / Auxiliary input jack
• High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps with adaptive leveling • HD Radio™ Receiver
• Push-button start • XM Satellite Radio®
• Infinity® Discrete Surround Audio System
GENESIS PREMIUM SPORTS SEDAN SPECIFICATIONS
• Configuration: FR Engine RWD Sport Sedan • Top speed: 130 mph (restricted)
• Wheelbase: 2935 mm / 115.6 inches • Recommended fuel: Unleaded
• Overall length: 5005 mm / 197.0 inches • Transmission type: ZF 6-speed automatic with SHIFTRONIC manual control
• Overall width: 1863 mm / 73.3 inches • Suspension: Front multi-link (5-link) / Rear
multi-link (5-link)
• Overall height: 1490 mm / 58.7 inches • Stabilizer bar (front/rear): 26 mm/18 mm
• Track, f/r: 1575 mm / 62.0 inches, 1580 mm / 62.2 inches • Weight distribution front to rear: 53:47
• Wheels: 20-inch multi-spoke • Brakes: Power-assisted 4-wheel disc
• Engine type: V8 • Front brake diameter (mm / in): 320 / 12.6 ventilated disc
• Estimated horsepower: Well over 300HP • Rear brake diameter (mm / in): 314 / 12.4 solid disc
• Estimated torque: Over 300 lb. ft • Steering type: Speed-sensing rack-and-pinion
• Displacement: 4,627 cc • Steering ratio: 14.86
• Block material: High pressure die casting aluminum block
• Cylinder head material: Aluminum
• Valvetrain: Dual Over Head Cam (DOHC)
• Valve timing: Continuous variable valve timing
• Variable induction system
• Fuel delivery: Multi-port fuel injection
• Bore & stroke: 92 x 87
• Estimated 0-60 mph: well under 6.0 seconds

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 750 dealerships nationwide.

source: windingroad.com

Alar 777

Called the Alar 777, this is the warped creation of Argentinian Jean Ferci.

It's based on the Lamborghini Diablo - a platform that Ferci has previously used to create the barely more attractive Coatl and the Eros GT-1.

The Alar 777 gets a tuned version of the Diablo's V12, which produces more than 700bhp. That's enough for a reported top speed of 223mph.

It's due to be officially unveiled at the Buenos Aires motor show at the end of this month. Ferci says it will go on sale in South America under the Lamborghini badge soon after.

But here's the rub. Lamborghini has categorically denied that the Alar 777 is officially authorised in any shape or form. The Italian manufacturer has also stressed that no licence agreement exists to use the Lamborghini marque in South America.

Curiouser and curiouser. We'll have to wait until after the Buenos Aires show to discover the fall-out from this saga.

But in the meantime we have to wonder: would Lambo have been happier to put its name to the Alar 777 if it didn't look like a particularly remorseful hammerhead shark that's been beaten with a big sack of bricks?

source: topgear

2007 Peraves MonoTracer

(from Peraves Press Release) The last car on earth

Ferry Porsche once remarked that the last car to be built on earth would surely be a sports car. By that he meant that products of limited usefulness will still be bought even when things are getting tight and that there’s no substitute for real fun – unless it’s more of the same. Driving the MonoTracer is like flying two feet off the ground. And fast, very fast indeed, if need be. But even more important for today’s drivers, “MonoTracing” within legal speed limits also has its pleasures. The world simply looks friendlier from the cockpit.

Small-series shortcomings?

We quote Porsche and talk about the 911 because we are all fans of this iconic sports car. So too are many of our clients. How many prototypes of the 911 were ever built by Porsche? Frankly, we don’t know. What we do know, however, is that we’ve built 90 MonoTracer prototypes called ECOMOBILE. They have notched up more than 12 million kilometers over the last 20 years. With 10 such vehicles we criss-crossed the USA in 1996 from Atlanta to Montana and back, 11,000 kms in 3 weeks, from the burning heat of the Arizona desert to the icy heights of the Rocky Mountains, and all without a single technical problem.

Bugs in the teeth and the Porsche 911 syndrome

We’re well aware that words alone are unlikely to convince a true biker of the advantages of cabin motorcycles; nor will they convert a dyed-in-the-wool 911 driver. Sports cars and motorcycles both have their fans, and rightly so. The only way to win them over is to belt them into the back seat of our machine and take them for a spin, taunting the cars and superbikes at every bend in the road. They will soon see the MonoTracer for what it is – the perfect combination of a sporty touring motorcycle and a real “lean machine” sports car. In short, it’s the ideal vehicle for year-round fun.

The Angle of Dangle

The best motorcycle tires for highway use on the market today allow a lean angle of about 55 degrees. Out of every 100 superbike owners in the GSX-R, Fireblade, Ninja, K1200S, R1 and 999R league maybe 20 have ever leaned their machines beyond 40 degrees. A maximum of 5 will regularly tip more than 45 degrees. And most of those sporty riders will limit their angle of lean by excessive “hanging off”, thus also limiting their speed in the curve. The MonoTracer with its “knee” (the retracted stabilizer tire) skimming the road, can lean to about 52 degrees and it has a turning circle and corner speed otherwise only achievable on a top-of-the-range sports bike. Of course, dry and clean roads are an essential requirement for such antics. If the surface is right there is no danger. And the drive is spectacular.

Expanding the concept of driving – for whom?

The MonoTracer is aimed at an international clientele and customers will obviously have to be fairly well-heeled. For their 52,500 Euros (basic price without VAT) they could also buy a Cayman, SLK or Z4, but those machines all lack the exclusivity guaranteed by an annual production of only 100 vehicles. And with the MonoTracer you also get the performance of a 911 combined with the unrivalled exhilaration of a superbike’s angles of lean thrown in for free! Many of our clients have an academic education, 911-experience, a pilot’s license and have driven or ridden the original 21 kilometre Nurburgring race track for real, not just on the Playstation. All of them are past or current motorcycle enthusiasts. Many are over 40, the age when rheumatism can start to set in. Most have to be at work on Monday, without suffering from the aches and pains of a weekend’s racing. With the MonoTracer they use the same vehicle for commuting to the office as they do for getting their kicks at the weekend.

Switzerland – Land of the MonoTracer

Nowhere will you find more radar speed traps than in the MonoTracer’s home country, here in Switzerland. The number of high-tech firms with mutually useful skills also seems to be higher than anywhere else. A mere 3000 years since the invention of the wheel and after 120 years of conventional cars and motorcycles, this environment has helped to create a third and truly different class of vehicle: the cabin motorcycle. There have been some 50 such vehicles on Switzerland’s roads for 20 years now in the form of the Ecomobile and they have become a familiar sight here. With the advent of the MonoTracer, a truly modern design of cabin two wheeler has now been added to the mix.

Design & More

For decades the first rule for excellent design has been “form follows function“. The cabin motorcycle was born with this maxim as part of its genetic make-up. For the MonoTracer rather more emphasis was placed on things like surface finish, detail workmanship, selection of materials, joint tolerances etc. so that it can bear comparison with the best models from major manufacturers of both two and four wheeled vehicles. To achieve that goal the MonoTracer has been developed with the help of suppliers to the very biggest players in the vehicle market.

Facts & Figures

Vehicle body & structure
Self-supporting composite-monocoque made from glass, kevlar and carbon weave
bonded with epoxy-resin and reinforced with strong aluminium crash and roll bars. Engine frame, steering head and stabilizer axles made from aircraft grade alloy steel. Front suspension Marzocchi 50mm USD-fork, rear Monolever shaft swingarm.
Gull-wing- door with integrated sunroof, opening to the left.
Glazing made from tinted PMMA in aviation quality.
200 liter baggage compartment

Mechanics
4 cylinder in-line BMW K-engine 1171cc, 16 valves, liquid cooling.
Dry reinforced single plate clutch. Sequential PG-gearbox with 4 forward speeds and
electrically locked reverse, shifted by push-button selector on left handlebar. Automatic clutch optional.
Reinforced BMW shaft drive. 3 x 320mm brake discs with 4-piston-hydraulic callipers, fully integrated electronic
ABS. Ceramic brake discs and brake pads, ASP anti spin control optional.
Computer-supervised electrically operated stabilizer servo system,
with a deployment time of less than half a second (Semi-automatic, hydraulically operated “softmode” system optional).

Equipment + Accessories
Contoured seats with 3-point automatic safety belts.
Interior lining in high-tech material with sound-absorbing padding.
Heating + ventilation system with ample flow and intake air filter.
Full air-conditioning optional.
GPS-RDS-4LSP-audio-system.
“Tempomat” cruise control, Bi-Xenon-lights, CD-players optional.

Operation
Motorcycle-type handlebars with extra functions. Clutch pedal, gear and stabilizer switches on left, integrated brake operation by right foot pedal, auxiliary brake lever and conventional throttle on right hand.

Technical Specifications :

Dry weight: 460-485 kgs. (1014-1069 lbs.) depending on options chosen
Maximum load: 685 kgs. (1510 lbs.)
50 liter (14 US gallon) fuel tank
Dimensions: Length = 3.65m (12 ft.), Width = 1.25 m (4 ft. 1”) with Stabilizers up, 1.40m (4 ft. 7”) with Stabilizers down, Height = 1.52m (5 ft.)
Service interval: 25,000 km / 15,000 miles or annually (whichever comes first)
Engine power output 96 kW / 130 HP at 8750 rpm, max. torque 117 Nm at 6750 rpm
Motronic-controlled injection and 3-way catalytic converter.
Acceleration 0-100 kph (0-62 mph) = 5.7 sec.
Top speed in excess of 250 kph. (155 mph)
Stopping distance: 100kph-0 = 43 meters (141 ft.)
Turning circle between walls 8.5 meters (28 ft.) Fuel consumption (ISO 7118):
4.15 liters/100km at constant 90 kph (57 mpg at constant 56 mph)
5.05 liters/100km at constant 120 kph (47 mpg at constant 75 mph)

Basic price ex factory 52,500 Euros (+ local VAT)
2 year warranty on whole machine; in addition, there is a 25 year warranty on the composite body and metal framework

Ssangyong Ramps Up Expansion in Korea and Abroad

SEOUL — Ssangyong Motor, one of South Korea's smallest car companies and a former affiliate of Mercedes-Benz, hopes to improve its fortunes at home and abroad with an injection of capital from Chinese parent Shanghai Auto, which controls 51 percent of Ssangyong.

Under the direction of Phil Murtaugh, former president of General Motors China and now an executive vice president of SAIC, SUV specialist Ssangyong is planning to expand into passenger cars. Currently, it builds a three-generation-old version of the Mercedes E-Class called the Chairman.

Murtaugh's game plan for Ssangyong calls for the company to boost annual production to 300,000 units a year, plus 30,000 kits, by 2010. The company also reportedly has plans to set up a joint assembly operation in China with SAIC at about the same time.

Murtaugh told the Korean press that Ssangyong aims to pass Daewoo as the third-largest seller in Korea. Daewoo, an affiliate of GM, exports most of the vehicles that it assembles in Korea.

Ssangyong's most recognizable model in Korea is the Rexton, a brawny-looking SUV that is exported around the globe.

Murtaugh said SAIC and Ssangyong are jointly developing 30 new models on five new platforms over the next five years, as well as three gasoline and two diesel engines. Among the new models, he added, Ssangyong plans to launch five new passenger cars in Korea. However, it has no plans to sell SAIC's Roewe 750 sedan, an update of the old Rover 75.

Before SAIC acquired a controlling interest, the Korean automaker had discussed, then abandoned, plans to export its SUVs to the United States.

New BMW M3 Concept

Come on BMW, just give us the full gen on the new M3.

We've had the M3 Concept (pictured here) and we have to wait 'til the Frankfurt show in September before the M3 proper is unveiled.

Even then, we'll still have to wait a couple of months before the first M3 touches down in the UK.
Still, BMW has released a few details of the next M3's 4.0-litre V8 engine.

It will be lighter than the old car's 3.2-litre straight six, and it'll whack out 414bhp and 295lb ft of torque.

That's pretty much on a par with the Audi RS4, but Mercedes is working away on a C63 AMG version of the next C-Class that should have 474bhp and 464lb ft to wipe the smile from the faces of its German rivals.

But BMW should win the battle of whose engine revs highest because the M3 V8 redlines at 8,300rpm. We can't wait to hear that noise.

source: topgear

See BMW videos

Changa'n CV11 Minivan

CHONGQING, China — Chang'an Motor, the Chinese partner of Ford and Suzuki, has introduced the CV11 minivan, the latest in a series of homegrown designs.

The seven-passenger van is powered by a twin-cam 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Prices will be announced in the coming week. Designed in Italy by IDEA, the CV11 was first displayed in concept form at the 2003 Shanghai Auto Show.

Chang'an joins a growing list of Chinese automakers developing their own products both for domestic and export markets.

Chang'an last year assembled more than 700,000 vehicles, about half in partnership with Ford and Suzuki. It has ambitious export plans. The company, a former affiliate of the People's Liberation Army, said it plans to export 100,000 vehicles a year by 2010, and has set its sights — as have many of its counterparts — on eventually marketing vehicles in the United States.

Ferrari Period Photos

Ferrari Period Photos

Ferrari 500 F2

Ferrari 156 F1

Ferrari 330 P4

Ferrari 312 T

Ferrari 250 GTO

Ferrari 400 Superamerica

Ferrari 250 California

Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta

Ferrari 365 GTB4

Ferrari 312 P

Ferrari F1 2000

See Ferrari videos

Green light

The eco-pioneers at Axon obviously like a challenge.

If we were to choose a donor vehicle to strip down to its bare bones in the name of improved economy, we'd plump for something with plenty of excess fat around the edges.

But Axon has taken the chainsaw to a Caterham Super 7, already one of the most stripped-down roadsters around.

And this is what's left: the Axon Eco-M, due to make its debut at the Sexy Green Car Show at the Eden Project in Cornwall next week.

Axon has done away with the roof and windscreen, and replaced traditional components with recycled carbon fibre to reduce weight.

Combined with what Axon is describing as 'eco-driving techniques', the Eco-M should enjoy a 20 per cent improvement in fuel economy over the standard 7 Classic.

Statistics on increased hair volume, bug-swallowing and facial frostbite are currently unavailable.

source: topgear

Honda CR-V to Mexico

GUADALAJARA, Mexico — To help meet growing demand in the U.S. market, Honda Motor will assemble the CR-V in Mexico beginning this fall.

Honda's Guadalajara plant expects to build 50,000 CR-Vs in 2008, according to the industry publication Automotive News, half of which will be sold in Mexico and the other half exported to the U.S. and Latin America.

The Guadalajara plant has been assembling the Accord sedan, but it will be phased out to make room for the CR-V, which is also built in East Liberty, Ohio.

CR-V sales in the U.S. jumped 42 percent in the first two months of 2007, to nearly 28,000 units.

See Honda videos

First Drive: 2007 Lamborghini Gallardo

Previews

SWM seeks long-term relationship. Willing to pay, prefer Italian, will not import from Thailand.

Sorry, ZZ Top, but despite those three letters clustered together in the name, superleggera does not translate to anything directly relating to a woman’s stems. Indirectly, though, you could make the argument. In English, superleggera means “superlight.” What it means is that this newest Gallardo, like the Ferrari F430 Challenge Stradale, leans out a few pounds and packs on a (very) little bit more muscle, giving the car indeed a touch more leg to stretch.

Although European-spec Gallardo Superleggeras are lighter by the equivalent of a portly passenger (220 pounds), cars bound for the U.S. lose a trimmer sidekick and come in only 150 pounds lighter than more-pedestrian Gallardos. This is due to our side-impact standards, which mandate that Lamborghini leave the side airbags in the seats. We’ll still get one-piece carbon-fiber sport seats, but with pinhead cushions packed and waiting in the wings. Europeans get four-point harnesses; we make do with plain old three-point belts.

The New Black: Carbon Fiber

Elsewhere in the interior, carbon fiber covers the center tunnel and the door panels, and anything that was once leather is now Alcantara. The interior door panels are sheets of carbon fiber with an Alcantara pull strap for closing. Very utilitarian and purposeful, but we’d be horrified if we were paying for it. Stitching color-matched to the exterior adorns the seats and the dash, and the same color peeks through a perforated strip of the headliner over each occupant’s head. Unique gauges look cool at first glance, but on closer inspection, they might be off the clearance rack at Murray’s. Their tiny, swollen text is completely illegible, further compounding the problem we had driving Euro-spec cars with km/h speedometers on American roads. Uncertain of our speed, our default behavior was to assume we were going too slowly, squish the now pedal, and zoom away. Actually, it worked out just fine.

Carbon fiber is also used to shave weight outside. The underbody tray, the rear diffuser, the engine cover, the side skirts, and the side mirrors are all replaced with carbon-fiber copies. Polycarbonate takes the place of the glass in the rear window and engine cover. Revised intake and exhaust systems play on both sides of the power-to-weight equation, cutting weight and increasing power 10 horsepower, to 523. The new exhaust system gives the Gallardo a little extra snarl, but inside, the change is magnified by the hard door panels and the loss of 12 pounds of sound-deadening material. The result is an even more stirring aural enlightenment than in the regular car.

Driving Impressions

Ridin’ the Little Bull

But what’s it like to drive, man? It’s a Lamborghini. It’s exactly what everyone dreams it’s like. It’s fast, it’s loud, it’s tighter inside than an airplane bathroom and just about as difficult to see out of, but you’d ride in it all day and forgo sleep to do it all night if only the PR folks wouldn’t demand the keys back and your driver’s license weren’t in greater and greater peril with each and every firing of those 10 cylinders just behind your head.

Lamborghini claims a 3.8-second 0-to-60-mph shuffle, and from our drive, we don’t doubt it. Stay on it long enough, and you’ll end up at the same 195 mph as the base Gallardo. Ten extra horses don’t win any additional aerodynamic battles at that speed. Lamborghini’s paddle-shifted e-gear, a $10,000 option on base cars, is standard equipment in the Superleggera. A traditional six-speed manual is a no-cost option that actually costs $700 because that model gets 1 mpg worse on the EPA’s city test, which in turn nets a higher gas-guzzler tax. Impractical as it is, we love the look, feel, and sound of a gated shifter; e-gear, on the other hand, seems to shift slowly even in sport mode, which doesn’t quicken the shifts so much as it adds violence to a slow shift.

Our drive of the car started at a resort in Paradise Valley, Arizona, and made a beeline through metro traffic straight to Phoenix International Raceway. On the way to the track, we suddenly found ourselves entering a long tunnel with an open lane in front of us. We had to. There was simply no fighting it. The sun was warm, the windows were down, and children somewhere were laughing.

So we popped the left paddle a few times to drop the car into second. Under braking, e-gear will throw downshifts as recklessly as a rookie rev-matcher, zinging the tach above seven grand and perilously close to redline, but this time was not one of those extreme circumstances. With rev room left in second, we wound the car up and into third, and then just a little into fourth, the 8000-rpm hallelujah reverberating off the walls around us. Goosebumps rose on our arms, our own mortality seeming not to matter when life is lived this well. Drivers around us wept openly, calling estranged spouses and children to plead forgiveness. These things happen in a Lamborghini. Then we went to the track and things got really fun.

On The Track and Price

Ridin' the Little Bull in the Ring

Many moons ago, when some of us were young and others were merely less old, a Car and Driver staffer deemed it appropriate to demolish a Diablo prototype against a track wall in Italy. Lamborghini doesn’t just turn journalists loose on a track in its cars anymore. In Phoenix, we and our fellow scribes were instructed to play follow the leader with a Lamborghini test driver who had apparently been told that about 70 to 80 percent was plenty fast enough for us hacks. So we graciously took the back spot in a four-car conga line and dogged it until the rest of the group was far ahead, and then we played catch-up.

Catching up goes quickly in the Gallardo Superleggera, and gaps we thought we’d never close only took—at the most—about three-quarters of a mile. The base car already generates exhilarating g-loads in all directions; the last one we tested pulled a full 1.00 g on the skidpad and screeched to a halt from 70 mph in just 158 feet, figures that put it at the head of the pack in our "Lords of Envy" comparison test. To preserve the Gallardo’s drivability and keep the car from riding too hard (something Ferrari would never do with the Challenge Stradale, a strict track-oriented beast), Lamborghini actually loosened up the suspension on the Superleggera. Even though the Superleggera is lighter, Lambo claims it will pull the same 1.00 g as the base car and stop in only two fewer feet from 62 mph. Given the weight difference and the strong feel of the brakes, we think that’s a conservative guess.

The brakes felt so strong, in fact, that they threatened to pitch the car into a spin in a straight line when fully applied. And thus, we found the Superleggera’s greatest flaw. The balance of the car seems to be upset slightly by the weight loss, like a voluptuous woman who goes on a diet and ends up just skinny. In PIR’s longer corners, the car remained reassuringly neutral but was a little twitchier and displayed a new readiness to wander into oversteer if provoked. Then again, despite being as appalled as anyone at Tokyo Drift, we would never say we don’t enjoy a little smoky drama in the corners.

Raise Your Hand If You Want One!

Everyone who wanted to get a little sideways in a 2007 Gallardo Superleggera has already spoken, and the full lot of ’07s is already sold out at $220,300 apiece, a premium of $45,300 over the base Gallardo. If that seems too high, then you really don’t want to buy a Superleggera in Thailand, where it will cost you 25,416,000 baht, or roughly $760,000 in U.S. skins. But Bangkok is so much fun.

BY JARED GALL
caranddriver.com

Top-End Cadillac XLS Reportedly Coming, and It'll Get a Brand-New V12

DETROIT — General Motors has given the green light to an ambitious new V12 engine project. It seems to pave the way for the introduction of a high-end Cadillac model inspired by the stunning Sixteen concept revealed to rave reviews back in 2003, according to well-placed Inside Line sources.

Exact details remain scarce, but IL has obtained information confirming that the new V12 combines two of GM's 60-degree 3.6-liter V6 engines together on a single crankshaft. The modular layout is designed to allow it to be manufactured on existing production lines. Among the features it has been conceived to carry into production later this decade are direct injection, cylinder deactivation and the very latest in exhaust-gas recirculation technology.

The range-topping sedan is set to receive the XLS name, for which GM has held the trademark for some time. It is conceived to rival the Mercedes-Benz S-Class on performance, comfort, safety and features, and is the brainchild of the company's outspoken production boss, Bob Lutz. He reportedly considers the model essential to expanding the brand's identity and providing it with a more international flavor as Cadillac seeks to gain ground in key world markets.

The new Cadillac is tentatively due to be revealed in 2009 prior to the start of North American sales the following year. The basis for the new car is a stretched version of GM's new rear-wheel-drive Zeta platform that is found beneath the new Pontiac G8 and the upcoming Chevrolet Camaro. Along with the new V12, the upmarket Cadillac is also set to receive an as-yet unspecified V8 engine.

Commenting on the V12 engine project while visiting England for the introduction of the right-hand-drive Hummer H3 late last week, Lutz said development work is ongoing at General Motors' Holden subsidiary in Australia, adding that it had been earmarked for a new Cadillac model.

One-of-a-Kind 2007 Roush Stage 3 BlackJack Mustang Convertible Set for Auction

LIVONIA, Mich. — For once, the number 13 is going to be very lucky. A one-of-a-kind 2007 Roush Stage 3 BlackJack Mustang convertible — dubbed Number 13 — will be auctioned off during the March 24 Celebrity Fight Night in Phoenix. The event honors legendary boxer Muhammad Ali.

Roush Performance, in partnership with Sanderson Ford of Glendale, Arizona, is donating the only convertible in the BlackJack stable for the event. As part of the package, the winner gets to have dinner with Jack Roush during the November NASCAR races at Phoenix International Raceway.

The BlackJack convertible hews faithfully to the black-on-black theme of the coupe model. It features the same V8 with a ROUSHcharger system that ups the horsepower to 430, with 400 pound-feet of torque. The car also features a Roush Stage 3 suspension package.

Exterior cues include a matte black 21-inch stripe across the center of the black paint and a seven-piece Roush aerobody kit. Interior upgrades include charcoal leather seating with an embroidered Stage 3 BlackJack logo, white electroluminescent gauges, a billet aluminum pedal kit and a short-throw shifter with black shifter ball. The car comes standard with the Roush carbon-fiber design dash trim kit and embroidered floor mats.

Money raised from the auction of the car benefits such organizations as the National Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence and the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at the Barrow Neurological Institute.

Street marketing

Forget cheesy TV ads: the classic days of Papa, Nicole and that other one are well and truly over.

No, the new marketing fad in the automotive world is what Top Gear has dubbed the 'fictional but quite funky lateral viral campaign'. OK, so maybe the name needs a little work, but there's definitely a trend a' starting.

Before Christmas, Nissan heralded the launch of its Qashqai with the Qashqai games site, showing the SUV/hatch thingy diving improbably off skate ramps and the like.

And Fiat has gone all web-friendly in the build-up to the unveiling of the new 500, too.

And now, with the new Cooper just released in the States, it's Mini's turn to get in on the act with the fantastic www.defminirecords.com.

Following hot on the heels of Mini's spoof Hammer and Coop movie preview, it features rap, country and punk-rock acts extolling the virtues of the Cooper's safety equipment. Of course, it's all completely fictitious, but brilliantly well done nonetheless, with impressively catchy tunes.
Our favourite? Spoof boy band N-CAP with 'So Many Stars'. Inspired.

source: topgear

2007 Toyota Tundra Misses Perfect Score in Crash Tests

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Toyota's redesigned 2007 Tundra pickup truck did not get the top rating for frontal crash safety that rival domestic trucks achieved, according to new tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The lower safety rating is widely regarded as a major misstep for Toyota, which has said the Tundra launch is its most important U.S. launch ever. The Tundra earned four stars in head-on collision tests by the federal government, one short of a perfect five-star rating. Big pickups from General Motors and Ford earned five stars.

2007 Riley Enterprises XR-3

(from Riley Enterprises Press Release) The XR-3 Hybrid is a super-fuel-efficient two-passenger plug-in hybrid that achieves 125 mpg on diesel power alone, 225 mpg on combined diesel and electric power, and performance like a conventional automobile. The design of the XR-3 Hybrid focuses on existing technologies and a vehicle “personality” that makes conserving energy a fun driving experience. It showcases the design ideas explored in Robert Q. Riley’s book, Alternative Cars in the 21st Century.

At just 1300 pounds, this high-performance design combines lightening-fast acceleration, a maximum speed of 85 mph, and fuel economy of 125- to over 200-mpg.

Its clam-shell canopy and three-wheel platform boldly differentiates the XR-3 from conventional passenger cars. The vehicle’s hybrid power system, diesel engine, and low curb weight are the main ingredients of its super-high fuel economy and excellent performance. Acceleration equal to that of a conventional car and a maximum speed of 85 mph make the XR-3 Hybrid equally at home on freeways and surface streets.

Advanced safety features of a production XR-3 Hybrid will include occupant protection and crash avoidance systems. Enabling technologies already exist, and nothing new has to be invented.
Plans will be available so readers can build a duplicate of the XR-3 Hybrid prototype, or convert their own car into a significantly more fuel-efficient vehicle. Readers will understand the factors that influence fuel economy, and learn how to make any car achieve greater fuel economy. The XR-3 Hybrid gives enthusiasts and experimenters the opportunity to significantly reduce their transportation expenses and have fun doing it. On a broader level, the vehicle is a highly visible example of the kinds of vehicles that could help reduce personal mobility energy on a global scale.

Styling Makes an Implied Promise

The driving experience is defined by the vehicle’s layout and styling – it's “theme" or "personality.” The vehicle theme says: “This is what I am and this is what I do." It’s a statement that’s on a visual level, and it’s maintained throughout the ambiance of the vehicle. Mechanical design simply supports that statement. “Once we decide on the basic architecture of the vehicle, styling is the first thing that’s done,” says Riley. “It’s the most intangible quality of the design, but it provides a visual marker for what we are trying to achieve through mechanical design. Styling makes an implied promise, and then it’s up to the mechanical designers to deliver on that promise.”

The Technology of Fuel Economy

The vehicle’s performance and fuel economy comes from a combination of two fundamental design factors. First, it’s essential to keep the vehicle as light as possible in order to reduce the amount of mechanical "work" that has to be done. The method of getting rid of unwanted mass while still keeping the car’s mechanical benefits demands good design and modern materials. Once the amount of "work" has been minimized, then the other part of the equation is to do the remaining "work" as efficiently as possible. And that’s where the hybrid power system comes in. So the fundamental approach is very simple. The key is in the execution.

New types of products that rely more on vehicle packaging and market positioning could play an important role in reducing global energy demand. Significantly downsized vehicles - smaller, lighter, highly fuel-efficient personal mobility products - could help turn the tide against escalating energy demand and open new markets in the process.

Consumer Perceptions and Choices

Everyone understands that small, super-efficient cars would help the environment and reduce imported oil. But industry has been slow to see marketing opportunities and create products of this category that capture the imagination of consumers. The XR-3 Hybrid is designed to explore vehicle packaging and styling, with an eye toward creating a new design theme and market positioning for alternative personal transportation products. We call it a “Personal Mobility Vehicle.”

To paraphrase the lead quote from John Locke, the ideas and images in the minds of designers invisibly guide them toward particular design options. A product’s “character” naturally emerges from the collective mind-set of its designers. Consumer appeal of any alternative mobility product depends on the ideas and images in the minds of its creators, not on the core idea of saving energy and emissions through size/mass reduction. In order to enjoy success in a consumer market, significantly different vehicle types - Personal Mobility Vehicles - must be rendered in ways that create new appeals of their own. And energy savings and emissions reduction must be positioned as secondary benefits. Or stated differently, a consumer vehicle’s environmental benefits can be an effective motivator only in terms of providing a rationale for a purchase that is, in fact, based largely on the product’s emotional appeal.

The XR-3 focuses on the power of “design” to influence consumer perceptions and choices. It points to a new category of personal mobility products that are neither automobiles nor motorcycles.

The Power of Design

The idea that vehicle theme or personality - vehicle “design” - has the power to influence global energy demand goes against conventional thinking. Consider, however, that in the 1990s vehicle personality influenced automobile energy intensity in the negative with lifestyle vehicles that pushed energy use upward. The popularity of SUVs is a good example of how an "image" can influence choices, and those choices can lead to significantly higher fuel consumption.** Hardly anyone buys an SUV to go trailblazing. Consumers are turned on to the personality of SUVs, the vehicle theme, and they buy them to drive around the city. New-car average fuel economy has plunged in recent years, mainly because of the power of design to shift purchasing choices toward trucks. As of year 2000, light trucks accounted for roughly half of all new car sales. This same dynamic can work in the reverse.

**It might be argued that greater utility, rather than vehicle design, is responsible for the popularity of SUVs. But consider that station wagons and panel trucks have been around almost since the inception of the automobile. And it was only when carmakers connected with consumers through “design” that trucks began to replace family sedans in the personal mobility market.

Advanced Safety Systems

Extremely small and lightweight vehicles operating in an environment with high-mass vehicles present inherent safety challenges due to the large transfer of energy to the smaller vehicle during a crash. Although small-car occupant protection is technically feasible, crash avoidance is the superior approach. According to NHTSA, the emphasis in highway safety is expected to shift away from crash survival and toward crash avoidance by year 2020. But the technology for crash avoidance already exists. Crash avoidance capability will become standard equipment on production vehicles like the XR-3.

Plug-In Hybrid Architecture

The XR-3 is designed as a “plug-in hybrid.” This makes it possible to drive on battery power alone on trips of about 40 miles. In other words, on short trips you never have to turn on the diesel engine. And when both the diesel and the battery-electric systems are used together, and the car is driven conservatively, fuel economy increases to over 200-mpg. Fuel economy is about 125-mpg on diesel power alone.

Today’s hybrids are called “mild hybrids” or “charge-maintaining hybrids”. They use the electric system to help with acceleration. You can drive on battery power alone, but only for a short distance – around the block, for example. The battery pack is typically used to provide bursts of power for brief periods of acceleration. The combustion engine then recharges the battery between periods of acceleration. But fuel economy suffers while the battery is being recharged. That’s why today’s hybrids do not provide much advantage in fuel economy over a well-designed conventional car.

In order to get the full benefits of a hybrid power system, you have to switch to a plug-in hybrid architecture like the XR-3. Plug-ins will be the next generation of hybrid vehicles. A plug-in hybrid simply means that part or all of the vehicle’s energy is taken from the grid system where it is cleaner and less costly to produce. Most of the world’s automakers are now working on plug-in hybrids.

Virtually Unlimited Options for the Builder

The plug-in power system architecture also allows much greater flexibility in power system choices. With a mild hybrid, like the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius (also called “charge-maintaining hybrids”), proper control of the power system depends on the fact that the subsystems - the internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric systems - are selected in advance and controlled by a computer. The computer, however, has to be programmed for the specific output characteristics of the two systems. Any modification in either of the power systems (electric or ICE) causes a mismatch with the control system. The computer control system cannot, on its own, account for changes in the power system. So whenever a change is made, the computer has to be reprogrammed to account for the change.

With a plug-in hybrid system, configured like the system in the XR-3, you are free to add a larger or smaller ICE, or even switch to a gasoline engine, without having to reprogram the control system. You can also build the car as a conventional ICE-powered car, or a full battery-electric car. So the options are greatly expanded with the plug-in hybrid power system.

With the XR-3, the two front wheels are powered by the ICE engine, and the single rear wheel is electric powered. The two power systems are not integrated within the vehicle. The connection between the ICE and the electric power systems is provided by the ground. Proper phase-in between the two power systems is handled by a simple throttle mechanism, and a dash-mounted switch to select between ICE power, electric power, and dual power modes. In the dual power mode, the XR-3 will have lots of burst power for outstanding acceleration. If you were to use this acceleration potential to its fullest, fuel economy would be reduced to something on the order of 150 mpg over a 70 mile trip. Fuel economy will vary according the particular components chosen for the power system, and how heavy you are on the throttle pedal. Performance figures quoted here are for a system configured just like the prototype. Plans will provide the information necessary for you to select different components if you want to.

Future Developments

The XR-3 is being developed as a plans-built vehicle. Body and chassis kits are slated to follow along after the release of the plans.

A kit, however, will be unnecessary. The XR-3 will be constructed using the same techniques used to build Tri-Magnum. Click on FRP/foam composite for a document that shows the composite system used to build the body for Tri-Magnum. The XR-3 body may be built of carbon fiber over foam or conventional fiberglass over foam. Both systems are designed for the home craftsman using virtually identical techniques.

About the Designer

Robert Q. Riley consults for corporate and private clients on new product design and product strategies. He promotes environmentally friendly technologies, and writes and speaks on the subject of alternative automobile design. He has chaired conference workshops and spoken at industry, scientific, and academic events, including the Global Energy Future symposium (Columbia University), the World Car Conference, and the Northwest Alternative Fuels Conference. He consulted on the Different Roads automobile exhibit at New York’s Museum of Modern Art, and was a panelist on the museum’s daylong symposium on the future of the automobile. He was one of the two U.S. technical consultants selected by Delcan Corporation to assist with Transport Canada’s Sustainable Transportation Technology Forecast.

Mr. Riley is the author of Alternative Cars in the 21st Century: A New Personal Transportation Paradigm (Society of Automotive Engineers, 1994), and Alternative Fuels for Spark-Ignition Engines (for a volume on Motor Gasoline in the series, Critical Reports on Applied Chemistry, Royal Society of Chemistry & Society of Chemical Industry, U.K., 1995). The Second Edition of Alternative Cars in the 21st Century, with a Forward by Dr. Paul MacCready, was published in 2003.

2007 Bertone Barchetta

(from Bertone Press Release) Bertone presents the Barchetta concept car in celebration of its 95th anniversary. Based on the floorpan and mechanicals of the Fiat Panda 100 HP, the Bertone Barchetta is an open-topped strictly two-seater sports car that calls to mind the Italian racing cars of the 1950s. In this case, the design explicitly cites the Fiat 500 with Barchetta bodywork created by the young Nuccio Bertone in 1947 as a one-off for his personal use in races.

The decision to celebrate the company’s 95th anniversary with a minimalist yet sophisticated model is perfectly in keeping with the Bertone philosophy. Since its very earliest days, the company has interpreted cars by Italian car makers with an elegant style that emphasises their personality and technological content, with an unparalleled passion for sportiness.

Bertone’s choice of the Fiat brand to celebrate its 95th anniversary was both natural and emotional. Natural because Fiat is the Italian brand par excellence. Emotional because the birth of Bertone as a coachbuilder of “special” vehicles is closely linked to the history of the Fiat brand. The historic relationship between the two companies has lasted for more than eighty years and has generated more than fifty highly successful models counting concept cars, one-offs and production cars, from the 850 Spider to the X1/9, from the Ritmo Cabrio to the Punto Cabrio.

Styling

The Bertone Barchetta is the product of innovative styling which still manages to evoke the historic traditions of the company. The compact, muscular body, with its high, taut waistline, is defined by two aluminium shells joined by a large glazed surface that crosses the doors and extends into the bonnet join line before spawning the low, wraparound windscreen.

The first impression is of a tensed body, characterised by fluid volumes and clean-cut lines, creating classic, dynamic proportions. The result is a car which, in keeping with the best Bertone traditions, is completely above fashion; if anything, it makes its own fashion statement with an uninhibited, futuristic style that projects the concept of the Barchetta – a historic icon in the legend of Italian motorsports – into the future with purposeful elegance and sophisticated irony.

The exterior

The upper shell is entirely hand beaten and polished by the master panel beaters still working for Bertone today. This single piece of aluminium extends like a cloak from the front tip of the bonnet to embrace the upper part of the sides and rear arches, terminating in the tail. In the side view, the aluminium sheet twists at the level of the rear wheelarch, creating a muscle that melts away into the tail volume. This is a typical Bertone styling cue, imbuing the car as a whole with a powerful sense of sporting aggressiveness.

The lower shell originates from a large sideskirt that tapers towards the rear wheelarch, contributing to the sloping effect of the side.

The decision to extend the glazing to the doors was taken for both functional and emotive reasons. Functionally, it improves visibility, whereas emotively, the solution emphasises the sensation of freedom that only open-topped driving can produce.

The rearward opening scissor doors, hinged around the rear wheelarch, are a Bertone patent. This is in keeping with the company’s historic attention to the specific issue of accessibility, interpreted always with surprising solutions, such as the cockpit canopy of the Testudo (1962), the double gull wings of the Marzal (1967), the hinged windscreen of the Stratos 0 (1970) and the large gate-like sliding doors of the Villa (2005).

The front features LED lights and a closed, floating grille embossed in the metalwork. The rising bonnet line is interrupted by an air vent for the engine. The rear volume is framed by LED lights which point up the muscular width. At the centre of the tail volume is a small luggage compartment, with a cover trimmed in the same leather used for the interior.

The cabin

The cabin, delimited by the wraparound windscreen and rear roll bar and furnished with sophisticated minimalism and minute attention to detail, is directly inspired by the 1947 Fiat 500 Barchetta. The anatomic seats, upholstered in natural leather, are fixed and sculpted directly into the metalwork. A console area between the two seats includes a stowage tray and an iPod dock.

The adjustable dash is anchored to two exposed rails and painted in glossy white. The instruments are essential and easy to read, with a speedometer, gauges for water and oil temperature and a fuel gauge.

Air flow within the cabin is assisted by two centrally mounted exposed fans, covered by a protective grille The gearlever is machined from a solid billet of aluminium and is hand polished. As with competition ‘Barchetta’ models, the driving control mechanisms are all exposed.

Dimensions

Length: 3,585 mm
Width: 1,705 mm
Height: 1,090 mm
Wheelbase: 2,300 mm
Wheels: 20” alloys
Tyres: Pirelli 225/30 R20

Curvaceous 2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Infiniti has confirmed that it will take the wraps off the 2008 G37 coupe, which has the BMW 335i in its crosshairs, at the upcoming New York International Auto Show.

The G37 is longer, wider and shorter than its predecessor. The G37 ups the ante in the powertrain department over the 2007 Infiniti G35. It moves from a 3.5-liter engine rated at 293 horsepower when mated to a six-speed manual transmission, to the first application of the new VQ37VHR variable valve event and lift 3.7-liter V6. Infiniti says the 3.7-liter engine will produce an estimated 330 horses. In comparison, the 2007 BMW 335i's 3.0-liter six-cylinder makes 300 hp.

The G37 gets an optional four-wheel active steering system, bigger brakes and a new exterior. Infiniti points out that exterior design cues include "flowing front fender curves, a wave-style hood and L-shaped headlights."

Extras will include a navigation system with XM NavTraffic real-time traffic, a 9.3-gigabyte Music Box hard drive, a rearview monitor and an 11-speaker Infiniti Studio on Wheels by Bose.

Suzuki Grand Vitara 3-door diesel model

Customers opting for a diesel powered Suzuki Grand Vitara have until now been restricted in their choice to the larger 5-door bodystyle, but a new 3-door model joins the range from April, priced at a competitive £14,999 on-the-road.

Unlike its petrol-engined 3-door sibling, which is essentially a ‘soft roader’, the new 1.9 DDiS Grand Vitara adopts the drivetrain of the manual transmission 5-door models and supplements permanent four-wheel drive with a centre differential lock and a low range to ensure serious and outstanding off road capability. It can therefore tackle tough, muddy off-road conditions with ease, while the system’s four different modes are easily selected via a dash-mounted rotary switch.

Power output from the Renault-supplied intercooled and turbocharged engine is 129 PS, and a hefty 221 lb ft (300 Nm) of torque peaking at 2000 rpm delivers reassuring ability in both on and off-road driving situations. Such output doesn’t penalise fuel economy either, and the 1.9 DDiS 3 door Grand Vitara achieves 38.2 mpg on the combined cycle, while carbon dioxide emissions are 195 g/km.

In line with other Grand Vitara models, equipment levels are generous, and include climate control air conditioning, front electric windows, an integrated radio/CD player with steering wheel mounted audio controls, tinted glass, tilt adjustable steering, reclining rear seats, heated and folding door mirrors, immobiliser, alloys and front fogs. Outstanding safety credentials include front, side and curtain airbags for front Seat occupants, plus curtain airbags in the rear.

Thanks to a unique lightweight monocoque body combined with a stiff, built-in ladder frame, rigidity matches the most traditional of off roaders. In contrast to the 5-door model’s understated elegance, the 3-door with its ‘crouched’ muscular form projects a more sporty persona. A relatively long wheelbase has permitted a roomy cabin with front and rear legroom comparable to that of models from a higher segment.

The 1.9 DDiS 3-door joins a line-up comprising 1.6-litre VVT and VVT+ 3-door manual models; 2.0-litre 16v 5-door manual and automatic models; and 1.9 DDiS 5-door manual model.

New Vauxhall Tigra Exclusiv Red edition

With spring just around the corner, every driver dreams of catching some rays in a stylish and dynamic drop top. Now there is a way to get the most Exclusiv roadster on the street at a surprisingly affordable price.

The new Tigra Exclusiv Red edition is based on the Sport model, but features an extra £1,350 worth of goodies for no additional cost.

Perhaps Tigra Exclusiv Red’s most distinct feature is the bold interior. The two seats and door trim inserts are trimmed in scarlet leather, and the red treatment is even mirrored in the gear lever surround.

This is complemented with the usual classy fixtures you would expect from Tigra such as a leather covered steering wheel, alloy effect centre console and gear knob insert.

It’s not just the interior which gets the Exclusiv look. This special Tigra is available in three metallic or pearlescent colours, Metro Blue, Star Silver and Black Sapphire, each with the distinctive silver-finish targa roof bar. The Tigra Exclusiv Red also sits on uniquely-finished 17-inch alloy wheels.

As with all Tigras, it’s not just the sunny weather which makes the Exclusiv Red shine. The hard top roof raises up in just 20 seconds to make the car as snug and secure as a coupe, and the leather seats are heated to make open top driving even more comfortable during cooler months. If the sun gets too hot, then air conditioning is standard to make sure you can keep looking – and feeling – cool.

A choice of two petrol engines are available, a nippy 1.4-litre and a punchy 1.8-litre. Both are available now from Vauxhall retailers, with prices starting at £15,515.

Concept Cars at the 2007 New York International Auto Show

What will we be driving in 2010?

Perhaps one of these: Honda Accord Coupe, Dodge Demon, Ford Airstream, Chevy Volt, Lincoln MKR, Toyota FT-HS, Mazda Nagare, Kia Rondo SX, Mazda Hakaze, Suzuki Zuk, Chrysler Nassau, Jeep Trailhawk, Saab BioPower 100, Chevy Camaro, Ford Interceptor, Lexus LF or a Suzuki Flix

Lincoln MKR concept car

Bold design, technological innovation, ultra-luxury interiors and future fuels are the latest concept car trends that will be arriving at the 2007 New York International Automobile Show (NYIAS). The Show opens to the public on Friday, April 6th through April 15th at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan.

Concept cars are often radical in engine or design. Some use non-traditional, exotic, or expensive materials, ranging from paper to carbon fiber to refined alloys, while others have developed engines or new propulsion systems that blend different powertrains to create cars that are powerful but efficient.

With an emphasis on new styling, technology and the environment, this year's stunning new concept cars offer a glimpse into the future, and perhaps a look at what we might be driving in the years ahead.

Here are some of the exciting concept cars that will appear at the Show:

Honda Accord Coupe -- The Honda Accord Coupe Concept demonstrates the styling direction for the upcoming, eighth-generation Accord. A more powerful and lower-emissions V6 engine will provide higher fuel efficiency with the incorporation of Honda's next-generation Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) technology. The Honda Accord Coupe features Honda's ACE Body Structure which incorporates a front-end frame structure that helps absorb and disperse crash energy over a large area in a frontal impact.

Dodge Demon -- Designed as an attainable dream car, the 2.4-liter 172 hp Dodge Demon concept is a compact, nimble "roadster with an attitude," a balance of classic sports car proportion and simplicity blended with modern design and performance.

Ford Airstream -- The Ford Airstream Concept is influenced by Airstream's iconic design and the optimism for the future that Stanley Kubrick captured in his 1960s cult film 2001: A Space Odyssey. The concept is powered by a plug-in hydrogen hybrid fuel cell drivetrain that operates under electric power at all times.

Chevy Volt

Chevy Volt -- Unlike any previous electric vehicle Chevy Volt uses an innovative rechargeable electric drive system and range-extending power source. It can be configured to run on electricity, gasoline, E-85 or biodiesel. So you have at least a couple of options for the most efficient drive -- all made possible by GM's innovative E-Flex Propulsion System. Off-the-line torque is instantaneous, giving you responsive acceleration. Plus, this four- to five-passenger sport sedan still maintains the passenger and cargo capacities of a production car.

Lincoln MKR -- The Lincoln MKR concept is a dynamic premium four-door coupe that uses an all-new TwinForce(TM) 3.5-liter 415 bhp V-6 gasoline twin-turbo direct injection engine. Inside, the Lincoln MKR features 'guilt-free' luxury details including chemical free leather and renewable resources such as a reengineered oak instrument panel, mohair carpet and soy-based seat foam provide the Lincoln MKR concept a premium look and feel that's also environmentally friendly.

Toyota FT-HS -- Pairing a potent hybrid powertrain with essential sports car fundamentals, the Toyota FT-HS hybrid sports concept is a mid-priced sports car that integrates ecology and emotion. This two-plus-two concept is a front-engine, rear-drive sports car with a projected zero-to-60 acceleration in the four-second range. A powerful V6, 3.5L-engine is coupled with a 21st century sports hybrid system with a target power output of approximately 400-horsepower.

Mazda Nagare -- The Mazda Nagare concept features butterfly-wing doors, a hydrogen-powered fuel cell drivetrain and a novel one plus three seating arrangement -- the driver sits alone up front, with the rear given over to 'lounge-seating' for three. It is also a celebration of proportions and surface language that examines the movement of nature's elements.

Kia Rondo SX -- The Kia Rondo SX Concept is finished in a sophisticated four-stage metallic gray exterior color and features an aggressive front and rear fascias, sportier grille inserts and other exciting exterior details. Key front-end changes include a larger lower air intake, an integrated SX-styled front fascia, new brake cooling ducts as well as a restyled metal-mesh-insert front grille to match.

Mazda Hakaze -- The Mazda Hakaze is a four-seat coupe-style compact crossover SUV aimed at people in their thirties and forties who lead active, adventurous lifestyles. Outside, the side body panels are textured to give the impression of sand dunes rippled by the wind and the body shape creates a muscular and taut look. The rear part of its roof is removable which gives it a feel similar to a roadster.

Suzuki Zuk -- Inspired by Suzuki's championship-winning sportbikes and derived from the new Suzuki SX4 sport X-over (crossover), the Suzuki Zuk concept offers solid functionality both on the road and the track. The sporty Suzuki Zuk is powered by a 300-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged and intercooled engine with alcohol injection system, matched to a five-speed manual transmission.

Chrysler Nassau -- The Chrysler Nassau is a four-door, four-seat luxury coupe concept car. Though the arc of the roof resembles that of a coupe, the Chrysler Nassau concept is in fact a four-door hard top with front and rear side glass that retracts fully. Inside, the instrument panel features a personal control interface, and home theater-inspired entertainment. Gear selection is accomplished via a pod control mounted on the instrument panel.

Jeep Trailhawk -- The Jeep Trailhawk combines the core off-road features of the new four-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited with the refined sophistication of an all-new on-road open-air concept vehicle. The designers wanted to create a refined highway cruiser without sacrificing any of Jeep's legendary off-road capabilities.

Saab BioPower 100

Saab BioPower 100 -- The Saab BioPower 100 Concept showcases the first production-based turbo engine to be optimized for pure, eco-friendly bioethanol (E100) fuel. The result is a level of performance never seen before from a road car using this fuel: 300 horsepower with greatly reduced carbon dioxide emissions.

Chevy Camaro -- The Chevy Camaro convertible concept, wrapped in Hugger Orange pearl tri-coat paint with twin gunmetal gray sport stripes, blends a dramatic, forward-looking design that includes classic long hood/short deck proportions and a wide, wheels-at-the-corners stance. A torquey V-8 engine sends power to the rear wheels of the Chevy Camaro via a manual transmission.

Ford Interceptor

Ford Interceptor -- Powered by Ford Racing's 5.0-liter Cammer engine, the Ford Interceptor runs on E-85 ethanol, produces 400 horsepower while celebrating the best of American muscle with a four-door with the sporty elegance of 1960s sedans. It also incorporates Ford's patented four-point "belt and suspenders" design in the front and rear seats. In addition, inflatable safety belts are included for rear seat passengers.

Lexus LF -- A Sports Car Concept -- The new Lexus LF-A is a supercar with world-class performance that is uniquely Lexus. It is powered by a high-revving 500-plus horsepower V10 engine. Its front mid-engine placement, along with a rear-mounted transaxle and rear-mounted radiators, allows for excellent weight distribution. The horsepower, superior aerodynamics, and revised styling makes a top speed of 200 mph not only possible but probable.

Suzuki Flix -- The Suzuki Flix, based on the Suzuki XL7, is outfitted with an unprecedented in-vehicle movie system. After parking at the optimal film-viewing destination, Flix's clamshell roof opens, revealing a maximum-size moonroof that serves as a 40-inch movie screen. Additionally, the Suzuki 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, the Suzuki Flix's projection system can be positioned to display movies nearly anywhere.

Kicking off the springtime selling season, the 2007 New York International Auto Show will feature an impressive collection of cutting-edge design and remarkable innovation. More than four floors of displays from the world's automakers will feature the newest vehicles and futuristic concept cars. More than 1,000 cars and trucks will be on display at the Javits Center, filling 846,000 square feet of exhibit space. In addition, dozens of World and North American vehicle debuts are expected at the Show. NYIAS is owned and produced by the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association.

For more information, or to purchase tickets for the New York International Automobile Show online, visit: http://www.autoshowny.com/

Important Show Dates

Press Preview: April 4 & 5
Public Sneak Preview: April 6
Public Show Dates: April 6 - April 15

Source: New York International Automobile Show

2007 Volvo S80 Named 2007 AutoMundo Magazine Car of the Year

Volvo's all-new 2007 Volvo S80 has been named Automundo magazine's 2007 car of the year. It's the first Volvo to feature a powerful V8 engine with standard all-wheel drive. (Volvo Cars of North America, LLC)

AutoMundo, the nation's premier Spanish-language automotive enthusiast publication, today named the all-new Volvo S80 as its 2007 Car of the Year. The prestigious accolade which appears in the magazine's April issue, follows the 2007 Volvo S80's recent debut in the U.S. marketplace and echoes what others are saying about Volvo's first V8-powered luxury sedan.

The Volvo S80 was selected for its revolutionary design, dynamic and youthful driving attributes and Volvo's legendary safety systems. "The new 2007 Volvo S80 was really the obvious choice," commented Jorge Koechlin, President and Editor-in-Chief of AutoMundo. "As the company's first V8-powered car, it really breaks the mold of what AutoMundo has come to expect of Volvo's cars."

"The Volvo S80 is a true competitor to other European and Japanese luxury sedans," said Anne Belec, President and CEO of Volvo Cars North America. "This recognition by the editors of AutoMundo is significant, and reflects our belief that Volvo is worthy of consideration in this very competitive segment."

The all-new 2007 Volvo S80 went on sale in December with a starting price of $38,705 for the 235-horsepower inline-6 cylinder engine and $47,350 for the all-wheel-drive-equipped V8 with 311 horsepower. The S80 features a number of standard safety systems including SIPS (Side Impact Protection System), WHIPS (Whiplash Protection System) and anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution. It also features many driver-assistance systems such as Volvo's Blind Spot Information System (BLIS), Adaptive Cruise Control with Collision Warning and Ready Alert Brakes with Electronic Brake Support.

AutoMundo magazine is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary. Its mission is to publish a premium Spanish-language automotive magazine for the U.S. market with the most comprehensive editorial regarding all aspects of the automotive industry. AutoMundo strives to bring relevant, high-quality content to its Hispanic readers and car enthusiasts.

VCNA, part of the Volvo Car Corporation of Gothenburg, Sweden, provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to Volvo automobile retailers in the United States, and oversees Volvo operations in Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Volvo has been building cars with Safety in mind for nearly 80 years.

The 2007 Volvo Cars model line-up includes: the award-winning Volvo S40 and its wagon counterpart the Volvo V50; the award-winning Volvo XC90; the sporty Volvo S60 sedan -- including the award-winning performance sedan -- Volvo S60 R and the performance wagon version -- Volvo V70 R; the all-new flagship Volvo S80 luxury sedan; versatile Volvo V70 wagon and rugged Volvo XC70 (Cross Country); and, the new Volvo C70 convertible.


Source: Volvo Cars of North America, LLC

New 2007 Saleen S281 Ford Mustang and the New 2007 PJ/Saleen Special Edition Ford Mustang

Sibling Rivalry at Its Finest: NADAguides.com Test Drives Two Modified Ford Mustangs, Weighs in on the Side-by-Side Comparisons

NADAguides.com says the New 2007 Saleen S281 Ford Mustang "pins passengers to the back of their seats" when the supercharger kicks in. (PRNewsFoto/NADAguides.com)

Lead Auto Expert Mark Perleberg of NADAguides.com -- a leading vehicle pricing and information website -- recently test drove the 2007 Saleen S281 Ford Mustang and the 2007 PJ/Saleen Special Edition Ford Mustang in a week-long, side-by-side and back-to-back comparison. He weighs in on both cars' features and handling.

"Since 1984, Steve Saleen has been remanufacturing new stock Ford Mustangs with a flare that only a businessman with a racing background could pull off," said Perleberg. "Saleen has emerged as a leader in squeezing the most out of new stock Ford Mustang GTs, giving them near Super Car qualities at a relatively low price."

Perleberg says the 2007 S281 Ford Mustang features more of what all great performance cars need -- more horsepower! Up an additional 30HP from 2006, the S281 now musters up 465 ponies, and according to Perleberg, acceleration that keeps the car's passengers pinned to the back of their seats when the supercharger kicks in. Along with this power, the car features a race-craft suspension that virtually eliminates the loose rear end feeling you typically find in stock Mustangs, with a confidence the car will go anywhere you point it at high speeds. Perleberg says the 2007 Saleen S281 Ford Mustang also features a comfortable day- to-day ride for a car of this nature. Combined with a tail extension, body cladding and an upgraded interior in the mid-$50,000 price range, Perleberg says the 2007 Saleen S281 has all the makings of a Super Car with the roots of a Mustang.

Next up, Perleberg tested the 2007 PJ/Saleen Special Edition Ford Mustang, a high- performance 302 cubic inch V8-powered car with 370 horsepower and 370 ft-lb of torque.

"When Saleen made the announcement at the 2006 New York Auto Show that he'd partnered with legendary race car driver Parnelli Jones to build a PJ/Saleen Special Edition, my first thought was 'is this just an S281 with a retro-look paint and body scheme?'" said Perleberg. "The answer is 'absolutely not!'"

Perleberg says the 2007 PJ/Saleen Special Edition Ford Mustang is a modern-day rendition of the Boss 302 that raced in the SCCA Trans Am Series in the early 1970's, with less horsepower than its S281 sibling, but it feels quicker due to the normally aspirated engine with a torque that chimes in at 4,000 RPMs.

The New 2007 PJ/Saleen Special Edition Ford Mustang gives you "truckloads" of pull, according to NADAguides.com. (PRNewsFoto/NADAguides.com)

"The 2007 PJ/Saleen Special Edition Mustang gives you truckloads of pull when you mash the throttle down in any gear," said Perleberg. "Handling is confident and very predictable with a somewhat lighter feel than the S281."

According to Perleberg, the 14" brakes give the PJ/Saleen its true racecar heritage, with only 500 lucky individuals ever owning one of these instant classics.

So between these two cars, did Perleberg have a favorite?

"Picking my favorite would be like picking my favorite child," said Perleberg. "I loved them both for their strong qualities, and although genetically similar, they still have their own distinct personalities."

"Little boys of all ages will love these cars just like the high performance Mustangs of the late '60's," said Don Christy Jr., President and CEO, NADAguides.com. "It's really fun to see the Fastback Mustang styling of the past on the street today, with big horsepower and performance. I know fuel efficiency is at the top of everyone's minds, but not in this case. Big performance is key and Saleen continues down this really cool path."

Visit: http://www.saleen.com/index.html or people interested in researching the 2007 S281 Ford Mustang or the 2007 PJ/Saleen Special Edition Ford Mustang can visit NADAguides.com (http://www.nadaguides.com/) for more information. The website offers a 2007 car buying guide, car prices, car buying reviews, car quotes, used car appraisals and classic car appraisals, including a wealth of additional information to help consumers with their car buying research. In addition to 2007 new car specification and pricing information, NADAguides.com also features 2007 SUV prices, 2007 van prices, 2007 pickup truck prices and much more.

About NADAguides.com

N.A.D.A. Appraisal Guides (NADAguides.com) is the world's largest publisher of vehicle pricing and specification information for new and used cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs, as well as van conversions, limousines, classic and collectible cars, boats, RVs, motorcycles, snowmobiles, personal watercraft and manufactured housing. The company's consumer website, NADAguides.com (www.NADAguides.com), offers a variety of new and used vehicle services in addition to valuation information. Throughout its 74-year history, N.A.D.A. Appraisal Guides has earned the reputation as the recognized authority for vehicle valuations. Its website, NADAguides.com, is the most comprehensive vehicle information resource on the Internet today.

Source: NADAguides.com

JE DESIGN´s next aTTack! Audi TT now All Around Package

• 180 kW/244 PS and 355 Nm torque for 2,0 TFSI
• complete optical package, wheels in 20", 4-pipe stainless steel sports exhaust
• Sport springs, coilover suspension
• 20"-forged wheels
• In preparation: compressor-Kit for the 3,2 Liter V6 with 350 PS

Audi barely released the TT on the market and JE DESIGN already came up with modifications. Now out of Leingarten, Germany, one can receive "huge" helpings while going back for seconds. In addition to suspension and motor is a complete optical package including improved brakes, a 4-pipe stainless steel sports exhaust and 20" wheels.

JE DESIGN sets the the 2,0 Litre-TFSI motor under heavy pressure. Following alterations to the motor control system, the turbo gasoline-engine car has 180kW / 244HP at 5100 RPM (series produced: 147kW / 200HP). The series produced 280 Nm increases to 355 Nm providing measurably improved elasticity values. Aside from this the TT races a clean 247 km/h (series produced: 240 km/h). Naturally customers can expect better acceleration. The TT from JE DESIGN wins from 0-100 magical mark in just 6 seconds. In accordance, this motor meets all emission regulation requirements. Additionally JE DESIGN supplied parts provided for enhanced power have been approved through TÜV: German Technical Inspection Association. 244 horsepower is a okay, but JE DESIGN already has scheduled to bring in the next big hammer. The Leingarten based tuners are in preparation of a compressor kit for the 3.2 Liter-V6 that elicits a Porsche-killing 350HP.

Optics and Sound Tuning

To leave a stronger mark in the rear mirror of other cars, JE DESIGN provides the TT with distinctive features of a two-part front spoiler mounted on the left and right front. Perfectly matching and connecting this components is a spoiler lip in carbon-look, which also enhances a touch of motorsports. In back, JE DESIGN throws in a diffuser-insert in carbon-look for use in combination with a JE DESIGN 4-pipe stainless steel exhaust silencer which especially creates a sporty sound with the 3.2 Liter-V6 motor. It can be fitted to the 2.0 TFSI version as well. Naturally, the exhaust silencer is delivered with EC-approval. The diffuser-inserts come alternatively in a standard version finished in matching car or contrast colour.

A discreet rear spoiler lip for lift reduction rounds up the new rear view. All aerodynamic components are constructed per CAD guaranteeing precision fitting. The front spoiler part as well as rear spoiler lip are constructed of high quality PU material and the diffuser-insert is of ABS-plastic.

Suspension, Brakes and new Wheels

A lowering set of sport springs, available for front wheel drive and quattro-versions, relocates the TTs' centre of gravity by 30 mm downwards thereby improving the agility of this coupe. The lowering set can be used as well in vehicles with magnetic ride system (MRS). JE DESIGN makes even better driving performance for the TT-version possible through an adapted and adjustable coilover suspension.

Recommended for those who prefer an even brisker movement of the JE DESIGN-TT is a 4-piston sports brake system in size 330x28mm guaranteed for better deceleration. JE DESIGN offer includes ventilated brake disks, brake callipers, brackets, added-on parts, sport steelflex lining and TÜV parts approval.

Ultimately vehicle tuning amounts to new attractive wheels. JE DESIGN proposes as largest and naturally best looking option a 20" large, forged wheel in 8,5x20" ET 35 and in "Super polished" finish or optionally a complete wheel set with tires 245/30R20Y. An alternative offer is 10x18" (model "Visage") or 19" wheels with 245/35R19Y (model "Multi-spoke" in "Shadow Silver" or "Chrome-look") . Either way the TT is well "soled" with JE DESIGN.

Naturally this complete program is also available for the new Audi TT Roadster.

First Drive: 2007 Porsche 911 Targa 4S

Of cheese, Gertrude Stein, and the trademark sensations of Porsches.

Previews

Of cheese, Gertrude Stein, and the trademark sensations of Porsches.I had this $108,520 Porsche in full second-gear shriek, sending shock waffles down the barrier wall lining the entrance to an interstate, the wail scaring pigeons off overhead wires and waking up dogs, when it came to me: “Wow, you know what? Chinese don’t eat cheese!”

That happens any time I get into an eye-crossingly expensive and powerful sports car. Crazy revelations that have nothing to do with driving begin popping into my cerebrum, like playing head Pong. My head is warming up to the hunt for pithy witticisms to describe this stupendous sports car, but the wires are crossed, and what’s coming up is word salad.

Okay, calm down. Start at the beginning. The full name of this car is the Porsche 911 Targa 4S. Each morsel of word, each number in that grandiloquent name, adds significant numbers to the sticker price.

The journey to a Targa 4S begins with a rear-drive, 325-hp flat-six Porsche 911 Carrera ($73,260). Tack on a “4,” for four-wheel drive ($79,060), and then you’ll want the more powerful 355-hp engine that puts the S in 4S ($89,260), and now you’ve just overshot the sanity turnoff, so why not go all the way and get the two-sectioned, sliding-glass Targa roof ($96,760) that turns it into a hatchback? Or forget the whole thing and just buy that recently foreclosed house on the corner, outright.

Meanwhile, back on the interstate, somehow I’m almost at 90—how did that happen?—and begin nose giggling because there’s still a ton of juice under my right foot; even in the manual’s sixth gear, it will surge forward with the slightest pressure on the pedal, at which point it occurs to me that it was the intention of Alfred Hitchcock, the director of North by Northwest, to call that movie The Man in Lincoln’s Nose.

As usual, Porsche sent over this Targa 4S equipped with everything but the kitchen sink, pushing the price heavenward. The full-leather option means the layer of beef critter is extended over not just the seats but also the door panels and the dashboard and the armrests, and you go down for another $3365. The regular nine-speaker Bose music box has four more and costs $1390, the navigation system is $2070, the power-seat deal is $1550. And so it goes, right up to $108,520. No wonder I can’t think straight.

But what a car it is. The horizontally opposed 3.8-liter 355-horse “boxer” nosebleeder with double overhead cams and four valves per cylinder and variable valve timing is an engine that fully confirms the notion that German engineering is next to cleanliness and will get the car to 112 mph from a standstill in the time it took to count out Mike Tyson the last time he demonstrated why he most likely will no longer be able to afford one. Both events took 10 seconds (well, 10.2 in a Targa 4S that we tested in the May 2006 issue). Did you know that in his heyday Tyson spent something like $250,000 a year on pet food?

PASM, Acceleration, and Glass Roof

Power is delivered in this world, grasshopper, in different ways. Get careless in a Corvette Z06, where the power can be explosive, and you may experience a very bad moment involving the purest sort of fear when it appears you’re about to fly. Once a car that could turn squirrelly without much prompting, Porsche’s 911 delivers power today in a refined and fluid manner, like in the knockdown stream from a firehose, with the chassis all buttoned-down and behaving itself under duress, thanks to its “active suspension management” system and stability control. This technology during raucous driving makes the driver feel as if he were fully in command and doing a fine job, too. Just one noteworthy example of this refinement is that those clever Germans will let no more than 40 percent of the engine’s horsepressure out of the bag at the front wheels, so the 4S feels very much like a rear-drive car, and you don’t get a sudden dungload of oversteer, if you’re not veering crazily. This is probably not the time, but I heard on the radio that someone proposed a biography of Gertrude Stein to be titled “Alice, Get Your Gun.”

The Porsche is not as uproariously quick as that scandalous Z06, which lunges forward to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds—the 911 4S coupe we tested did it in 4.3 seconds—but Porsche gets there with a signature style and trademark driving sensations like no other, sort of the effect Cary Grant would make walking into the Dew Drop Inn in your town. Oooooh.

It’s all about sensations. It’s not a stretch to say the gears shifting in the palm of your hand feel somewhat like the bolt action of a very good rifle: schlick! schlunk! schlick! When you crank up that great engine’s howl, pedestrians don’t turn to see the Porsche itself—even Ruth Bader Ginsburg knows what a 911 looks like—but to see who’s inside it.

Make a note: The smallish fish in Hawaiian waters is the humuhumunukunukuapuaa.

Our calculations put the cost of the sliding roof—the Targa—at $7500. The two pieces of glass stretch five feet four inches front to back and in width are 37 inches. When the top is open, the hole above your head works out to 33 inches across and two feet deep. We measured it. There is also a power-operated shade between you and the glass; Porsche says the glass is made to shut out most ultraviolet sunlight. The Targa top, which is framed stylishly by two swaths of polished aluminum running down both sides of the roof, also results in a hatchback, the only one you’ll find in the 911 lineup, and it frees up eight cubic feet of usable space behind the front seats. (As in all 911s, the back seats here are more an idea than a reality.)

But unless you just got a seven-digit bonus for putting your John Hancock on a sheet of legal paper with the initials “NFL” at the top, it’s boggling to imagine owning this four-wheeled wonder. What, you put down 20 grand, and for three years you try to come up with $2500 a month? Who wants to even think about the price of insurance?

Which reminds me: In the Korean War, our less sophisticated F-86 fighters had a kill rate of 10 to 1 over the superior Soviet MiG-15s. We lost just 78 of ours; they lost 700-plus of theirs. Maybe our guys were just better pilots, or maybe it says something about the benefits of cheese.

source: caranddriver.com

See also Porsche videos

ECHO Stars Drive Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion as a Symbol of Environmental Protection

Volkswagen supports the German music prize award ceremony with a low-emission shuttle fleet of 50 VW Polo BlueMotion cars.

The environmentally-friendly Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion is on duty at the ECHO award ceremony. When the German music awards are presented in Berlin on March 25, 2007 artists including international top stars such as Simply Red will drive up to the red carpet in the extremely low-emission version of the Volkswagen Polo. Volkswagen is thus making a clear gesture in support of environmental protection.

Volkswagen is providing 50 VW Polo BlueMotions for the shuttle service at the ECHO award ceremony. The vehicles are an acknowledged pioneer in environmental compatibility and economy. With CO2 emissions of only 102 g/km, the Polo BlueMotion sets a new standard. Thanks to its low consumption of only 3.9 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers and a power output of 59kW/80hp, this particular Polo model has become a bestseller.

According to Stephan Grühsem, Head of Communications at Volkswagen AG: "We are confident that national and international guests at the ECHO award ceremony will welcome the opportunity to experience the advantages of the VW Polo BlueMotion – dynamics, low average fuel consumption and low emissions."

Gerd Gebhardt, Executive Producer of ECHO 2007, added: "We are 100% behind this exemplary action. After all, the future belongs to economical and environmentally-friendly cars!"

The Sound Foundation Polo "First Act" celebrates its world premiere at the ECHO awards. This exclusive model from the house of "Volkswagen Individual" captures its audience with the same economical consumption and unadulterated driving pleasure as the bestselling Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion. Guitarists will be delighted by a 70 watt amplifier fitted under the glove compartment.

Source: Volkswagen

Five Service Centers Say Yes to ACDelco's "HHR U Gonna Win?" Promotion, Win 2007 Chevrolet HHRs

2007 Chevrolet HHR

Recently, ACDelco asked its Total Service Support (TSS) automotive service centers: "HHR U Gonna Win?" Five service center owners said "yes" and now each is the proud owner of a 2007 Chevrolet HHR.

ACDelco launched "HHR U Gonna Win?" last fall at its National Sales Convention in Las Vegas; the promotion ran November 1 - December 31, 2006. Independent Service Centers (ISCs) that participate in ACDelco's TSS program were eligible to enter.

ACDelco TSS shops received an entry to win a 2007 Chevrolet HHR for each pre-determined volume of ACDelco automotive parts purchases they made; ACDelco awarded one HHR in each of its five U.S. regions. Additionally, ACDelco TSS shops received a framed, limited-edition Sam Bass poster featuring ACDelco's 10 years in NASCAR® Busch® Series racing for purchasing a certain volume of ACDelco parts.

"The Chevrolet HHR's bold design has made it a top market choice. And, technicians and consumers alike turn to ACDelco for our quality parts for almost all vehicle makes and models," said John Eck, ACDelco merchandising and promotions manager. "Pairing our popular products in the ACDelco 'HHR U Gonna Win?' promotion was a great way to reward shop owners for selling quality ACDelco parts."

ACDelco congratulates the following winners:

* Jay Billingsley, owner, Billingsley Amoco, 1725 South Franklin Street, Decatur, Ill.
* David Chau, owner, Alameda Auto Care, 2405 Eagle Avenue, Alameda, Calif.
* Tim Hamby, owner, Hamby's, Inc., 5790 Dahlonega Highway, Cumming, Ga.
* Costa Kouzounis, owner, Demo's Automotive Center, 2438 Tangley Street, Houston, Texas
* Jerald Schultz, owner, Schultz's Vestal Service Center, Inc., 320 Front Street, Vestal, N.Y.

ACDelco's TSS program is uniquely positioned in the industry. It offers exclusive access to a wealth of tools, training and benefits to enhance nearly every aspect of an ISC's business.

In addition to training, ACDelco's TSS program benefits include:

* Association with the ACDelco brand and image and corporate commitment
* World-class products and powerful e-Business tools
* Award-winning advertising
* The opportunity to participate in various exclusive promotions and programs

ISCs interested in ACDelco's TSS program are encouraged to visit www.acdelcotechconnect.com or call 1-800-ACDelco.

ACDelco markets quality parts for Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Nissan, Honda, GM and most vehicles on the road today. To find an ACDelco parts retailer near you, log on to www.acdelco.com or call 1-800-ACDelco.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader for 76 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 284,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 33 countries. In 2006, nearly 9.1 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn and Vauxhall. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services.

More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com


Source: General Motors Corp.

2006 Ferrari 612 Carrozzeria Scaglietti

(from Ferrari Press Release) FERRARI 612 SCAGLIETTI AS DESIGNED BY WALLPAPER* NOW DELIVERED TO FERRARI COLLECTOR

* Bespoke Ferrari 612 Scaglietti HGTC as designed by the award-winning magazine delivered to Ferrari owner by Charles Hurst Ferrari, Belfast
* Unique demonstration of Ferraris Carrozzeria Scaglietti Personalisation Programme which allows customers to create their dream Ferrari

After a series of exhibitions throughout the Ferrari Dealer Network in the UK, the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti which was designed by the award-winning Wallpaper* magazine on behalf of a Ferrari collector and shown at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the exclusive Salon Priv in July 2006 has been delivered to its owner, Mr Paul Hill, by Ferraris Charles Hurst dealership in Belfast.

Wallpaper*, the leading magazine for design, interiors, fashion and travel, was invited to design a stylish and sophisticated Ferrari 612 Scaglietti which reflected the desire for a unique Ferrari which defines luxury and taste. Through the unlimited possibilities available in Ferraris bespoke Carrozzeria Scaglietti Personalisation Programme, the car was specified in a stunning but subtle two-tone paint scheme, with two complementary colours Nero and Blu Pozzi which are also silhouetted in the interior of the car, which has Nero and Blu Scuro leather Daytona seats with Blu stitching.

In addition to the Handling GTC package and F1 gearbox, the car features some truly bespoke elements: dedicated branding on the aluminium kickplates, discrete branding on the leather of the glovebox lid, and a custom-made leather pocket for the magazines new City Guides. In the tradition of all bespoke luxury goods, the price remains between Ferrari and the customer.

Special Edition Ron Fellows Corvette Z06 To Hit Showrooms in June

DETROIT — The special-edition 2007 Ron Fellows ALMS GT1 Champion Corvette Z06 will hit U.S. showrooms in June with a sticker price of $77,500, including an $825 destination charge. A top-of-the-line model with OnStar and a navigation system will be priced at $79,945.

The car pays homage to the Canadian racer who scored Corvette Racing's first victory in 2000 and went on to become a three-time American Le Mans Series GT1 champion, a 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner and an overall winner in the Rolex 24 at Daytona with Corvette Racing. That's why Chevy incorporated the Canadian maple leaf on the vehicle's exterior. Travis Parman, Chevrolet spokesman, pointed out that this is the first time a Z06 has been available in white for the past two generations of the car. Of course, the vehicle's Arctic White paint with red fender stripe riffs off the colors of the Canadian flag.

The car is powered by a 512-horsepower LS7 V8 linked to a six-speed transmission. It has a top speed of 199 mph and sprints from zero to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds.

GM will build just 399 units of the special Vette. Guitar maker Paul Reed Smith, a Corvette racing sponsor, has also created a one-of-a-kind guitar that is a companion to the car. It is valued at $10,000.

Chevy Cobalt Has Healthiest Interior, According to New Study

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Chevrolet Cobalt earned top honors on Tuesday as the vehicle with the healthiest interior air space, according to the Ecology Center, an environmental group based here. The vehicles with the worst interior air quality included the Chevy Aveo, Nissan Versa, Scion xB and Suzuki Forenza.

The group has a full list of its results at its Web site. Many cars and trucks did well in the tests, including the Chrysler PT Cruiser, Honda Odyssey and Volvo V50. The Cobalt had the lowest level of toxic chemicals in its interior, but other Chevy products did not fare as well. The Aveo, Express van and Silverado placed in the bottom 10, according to the guide.

The group checked different interior parts, including steering wheels and seats, for chemicals that have been linked to everything from allergies to birth defects.

2007 Currency Motor Cars BMW M5

(from Currency Motor Cars Release) The World’s Only Turbocharged V10 M5

Currency Motor Cars is proud to introduce the first of an unprecedented line of supercars. This flagship model is an ingeniously modified 2006 BMW M5 that can reach a top speed of 240 mph. This makes it the fastest, most powerful luxury 4-door sedan on the planet. CMC co-founder, Ron Cash, has brilliantly outfitted BMW’s compression V-10 engine with twin-turbo chargers and a custom inter-cooler system to kick out an astonishing 800+ horses. No one in the world has been able to achieve this...until now. This is the only car of its kind. The mind-boggling power of this vehicle is complimented by the exquisite alterations of it's interior. The leather in the steering wheel, arm rests and dash is the same as the leather in the seats. Fully aniline dyed Florida alligator in black. Only the finest suede and leathers have been used, much like the old Delahaye and Bugatti roadsters in the 1930's. This custom interior is all meticulously hand stitched, designed and installed by Judy Amic-Angelo, one of the the most respected product designers in the country.

MAKE: BMW
MODEL: M5 E60
YEAR: 06 / 07
COLOR: Black
WEIGHT: 1830 kg
VEHICLE TYPE: 4-Door Sedan
PRICE: $350,000
ENGINE TYPE: High Compression V-10
COMPRESSION RATIO: 12.0:1
DISPLACEMENT: 4.999 cc
MAX POWER (bph): 810 hp
MAX TOURQUE (lp-ft): 733
VALVETRAIN: Four (4) valves per cylinder
TRANSMISSION: 7-Speed SMGIII
SUSPENSION: Koni struts and dampers, H&R Coilover springs, lowered by 1.5”
BRAKES (front / rear): Fourteen inch (14”) rotors
WHEELS: Asanti 120, 3-piece forged wheels (20-inch diameter)
TIRES: Pirelli P-Zero Nero
0 – 60: 3.6 Seconds
TOP SPEED: 240 MPH (est)
TURBOS: Custom CMC twin turbo design
INTERCOOLER: Custom CMC inter-cooled system (hand-crafted)
PRICE: $350,000 (USD)

Jaguar C-Type Coupe Replica

This C-Type Coupe looks like a barn find prototype that Jaguar experimented with in the 1950s.

The only thing is, Jaguar never built a coupe version of the C-Type, so replica builder Proteus has come up with one.

Looking every inch the classic road racing machine, the Proteus C-Type Coupe will be unveiled at this weekend's International Historic Motorsport Show at Stoneleigh Park.

The car on display will be a half-scale model, but the company says that if public reaction is positive, it will add the Coupe to its existing open-top C-Type replica range.

The show will also mark the launch of Proteus under its new owner Enduro, which has also built C-Type replicas.

Now, Proteus will concentrate on building the cars, and Enduro on supplying parts.

source: topgear

2006 Ford Mustang FR500-GT: Photos

2006 Ford Mustang FR500-GT photos:

2007 Ford 75th Anniversary Deuce

(from Detroit Street Rods Press Release) Detroit Street Rods, LLC (DSR), a management company formed by ABS Partners, LLC and Dearborn Deuce, LLC, announced today that the company was awarding the paint and assembly of Ford’s 75th Anniversary Deuce roadsters to Saleen Incorporated’s Troy, Michigan production facility. Saleen recently painted and assembled the classic Ford GT sports car at this facility.

Last fall, Ford announced plans to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the 1932 Ford, noted for the advanced styling by Edsel Ford, Henry’s son, and the performance of the first mass-produced V8 engine, the Ford “flathead.” Although in production for only a single model year, the Deuce has become an American icon as the quintessential hot rod. In addition to numerous celebrations and events planned for the coming year, Ford officially licensed DSR to produce 100 Deuce roadsters to commemorate the anniversary.

The Ford 75th Anniversary Deuce is based on the highly acclaimed and award-winning Dearborn Deuce TM roadster that combines the beauty of Ford’s original highboy design with contemporary technology.

The first Anniversary Deuce was actually built for Edsel Ford II, Edsel’s grandson, and gifted to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to sell at January’s Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., where the roadster brought $330,000 for the charity. Fred Blum, DSR’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, expects Anniversary Deuces to roll down the Saleen assembly line by April 1 and that’s “no April Fools joke.”

The remaining 99 Ford 75th Anniversary Deuces, including ten Edsel Ford II-signature models, are currently being sold through Ford Racing Performance and select Ford dealers starting at $165,000.
Contact Blum at 336-215-6553 (Fred@DetroitStreetRods.com) for more sales and product information

Current solutions

After all the brouhaha about Lotus building a crossover and the number of twitchy moustaches that set off, we can reveal that the company has indeed been involved with developing a crossover.

But this one won't be wearing a Lotus badge and nor will it use a normal internal combustion engine.

ZAP is the company behind the ZAP-X Crossover and it was they who commissioned Lotus to help advance its electric drive system.

The vehicle will use individual electric motors in the hubs of each individual wheels to give it four-wheel drive and also the ability to tailor the amount of power each wheel receives.

Combined together, the four electric motors produce the equivalent of 644bhp, so the ZAP-X is set to be one of the swiftest crossovers out here, with the firm predicting a top speed of 155mph and 0-62mph in 4.8 secs.

Lotus has also been involved with developing the lightweight aluminium structure for the car, while ZAP is working on a new type of battery that should be able to be fully charged in 10 minutes and allow up to 350 miles between charges.

No word on prices or a launch date yet, but expect the ZAP-X Crossover not to hit showrooms before 2009.

source: topgear

Cleanova System for Fiat Doblo Turns Little Car 100 Percent Electric

PARIS — Dassault-Heuliez of France has developed a system called Cleanova II that turned a Fiat Doblo into a 100 percent electric vehicle. The system combines an electric motor from the Quebec company TM4 with lithium-ion batteries. The Doblo with this system was displayed at the Geneva auto show earlier this month.

The Cleanova II system has also been tested on the Renault Kangoo, notably by the French post office, and the company now plans to put it into production. Vehicles equipped with the Cleanova II system would cost somewhere around $10,000 extra, according to a report by the French electric-vehicle organization AVEM. Dassault-Heuliez says it projects production of about 1,000 electric-powered vehicles, which will be built by the Heuliez factory in Deux-Sèvres, France — 400 of which would be Doblos and 600 Kangoos. At least for the near future, however, the company plans only to sell them to businesses and municipalities.

The New Fiat 500

New Fiat 500

On July 4, 1957, in Turin, Fiat presented the Nuova Fiat 500, a real icon of our times, with which Fiat concluded a revival that had begun straight after the Second World War. On July 4, 2007, exactly 50 years later, again in Turin, Fiat will present the new Fiat 500 which will be marketed immediately after the launch. And the new car will conclude an equally important cycle of revival for Fiat Automobiles SpA.

Developed by the Fiat Style Centre and manufactured in the plant in Tychy (Poland), the new 500 is a 3-door model with very compact measurements: it is 355 cm long, 165 cm wide, 149 cm tall and has a wheelbase of 230 cm.

The car is extremely entertaining to drive, due to its three engines: a 75 bhp 1.3 16v Multijet turbodiesel unit and two petrol engines, the 69 bhp 1.2 8v and the 100 bhp 1.4 16v, all of which are available with five or six speed mechanical gearboxes.

The model confirms Fiat Automobiles SpA’s undisputed leadership in this category - a result of its extraordinary heritage of technical, design and human experience accumulated in over a century - and it takes a quality leap forward in terms of comfort and safety, technology and equipment for this segment.

New Fiat 500

The new Fiat 500 is the most up-to-date solution for the motorist who ‘enjoys’ his car in complete freedom, appreciates it for day-to-day use, but also wishes to drive a car that is entertaining and practical, environmentally-friendly and accessible, but also appealing and full of fun.

New Fiat 500

Source: Fiat

Ford Awards 50 2007 Ford Edges in 50 States on ABC's 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition'

• - ABC's hit show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" partners with Ford on "Edge across America."
• - Ford to award a precedent-setting 50 2007 Ford Edges, with one grand prize winner receiving an additional "Extreme Garage Makeover."

Ford Edge Across America Promotion with Paige Hemmis from ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"

ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and Ford will "Edge Across America" in a promotion that provides one deserving family in each of the 50 states a new 2007 Ford Edge, America's hottest crossover vehicle, and one grand prize winner an Extreme Garage Makeover to go with their Ford Edge. In addition, in the episode airing Sunday, April 8, (8:00 p.m. ET), The Jones family from Mississippi will be the first family to receive a new Ford Edge and an Extreme Garage Makeover.

The "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" design team took on the task of remaking a house in each of the 50 states over the next two seasons. Inspired by this idea, Ford is further spreading goodwill by soliciting inspirational stories from viewers and delivering a new Ford Edge, to a recipient in each state.

"This partnership with Ford extends the wish fulfillment aspect of 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' to an even greater level," said Michael Benson, executive vice president, Marketing, ABC Entertainment. "Awarding 50 deserving viewers with a new Ford Edge, demonstrates the quality and commitment of Ford and captures the spirit of the show."

"Ford is continually inspired by the emotional connection that this show has with its viewers," said Ed Molchany, Ford Brand communications manager. "They not only remake homes, they remake lives. Since our Edge owners appreciate strong design, style and technology, it is the perfect brand to highlight on 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.'"

In addition to giving away the 50 crossover vehicles from Ford, one lucky winner will be named the grand prize winner and will receive an "Extreme Garage Makeover," courtesy of Ford.

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" design team members Paige Hemmis and Eduardo Xol will also be featured in the ads promoting "Edge Across America." The ad campaign will show a series of 2007 Ford Edges driving through a garage while Paige and Eduardo check off their many destinations that the cars are going to across the country.

Go to www.EdgeAcrossAmerica.com for complete rules and prize restrictions.

The promotion runs through May 20 with links at http://www.abc.com/ or http://www.edgeacrossamerica.com/

About Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

Now it its fourth season, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" airs Sundays 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. Each episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" is self- contained and features a race against time on a project that would ordinarily take at least four months to complete, involving a team of designers, contractors and several hundred workers who all have just seven days to totally rebuild an entire house - every single room, plus the exterior and landscaping. The design team includes team leader and carpenter Ty Pennington, Paul DiMeo (carpentry/attitude), Paige Hemmis (carpentry/nut & bolts), Michael Moloney (interiors/glamour), Ed Sanders (construction), Preston Sharp (exteriors/big ideas), Tracy Hutson (shopping/style), Tanya McQueen (interiors), Eduardo Xol (landscaping) and new designer John Littlefield (nuts & bolts). "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. David Goldberg is president of Endemol USA. The series is executive-produced by Denise Cramsey.

About the 2007 Ford Edge

Bold American design distinguishes the 2007 Ford Edge in the red-hot crossover utility vehicle market - along with a dynamic driving character and innovative features. Equipped with an all-new 265-horsepower V-6 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission, the Ford Edge will deliver performance, quietness and fuel efficiency. The 2007 Ford Edge has impressive EPA estimated fuel economy of 25 mpg on the highway.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With more than 280,000 employees and more than 100 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo, Aston Martin and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company.

For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit http://www.fordvehicles.com/

Source: Ford Motor Company

First Drive: 2007 Ford Shelby GT

The best Mustang? Perhaps. But paying $10,530 more than for a stock Mustang GT seems all wrong for $2700 worth of bolt-on parts.


Previews

Among the Shelby GT’s top traits, claims the press release, is that “production is limited in volume, assuring its exclusivity.” What it doesn’t explain is that sales volumes have a way of staying small when a special-edition model costs 40 percent more than the model it’s based on and boosts horsepower by just six percent. On top of that, there’s the 500-hp supercharged Shelby GT500 that costs only six grand more than the Shelby GT. But either way, there shouldn’t be a problem moving the claimed limit of 10,000 Shelby GTs (pretty much a version of the rental-only GT-H that you can now purchase new) per year, especially considering how much attention the GT received during our recent drive.

The $36,970 Shelby GT—ours was $38,970 with an uplevel stereo, leather seats, and the interior upgrade package—starts life as a regular Mustang GT, built in the Flat Rock, Michigan, assembly plant, and is then shipped to the Shelby factory in Las Vegas for the $10,530 transformation to Shelby GT. When it comes out the other side, the 4.6-liter V-8 makes 319 horsepower, a gain of 19 ponies over a Mustang GT. Extra hardware includes a cold-air intake; a slightly more aggressive engine-computer tune—necessitating premium fuel—a high-flow exhaust; a welcome inch-and-a-half drop with stiffer shocks, springs, and anti-roll bars front and rear; and a short-throw Hurst shifter for the five-speed manual (a five-speed automatic is optional). Probably no Shelby owner cares that EPA fuel-economy ratings drop from 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway for a Mustang GT to 16/23 for the Shelby GT. The Shelby wears the Mustang GT’s optional 18-inch wheels and P235/50ZR-18 BFGoodrich g-Force T/A all-season tires. Cosmetically, GTs come in your choice of white or black (all rental GT-Hs are black), with silver stripes. The GT wears the GT-H’s brushed aluminum grille, and the hood gets a fake, riveted-on scoop. Thankfully, there’s no rear spoiler.

Potential buyers should know that the Shelby GT is more expensive than an Audi TT or Nissan 350Z and that all the upgrades (not including the stripes and hood scoop, which we don’t necessarily consider upgrades, anyway) are available from Ford Racing Performance Parts for a total of $2656.

Driving Impressions and Smoky Burnouts

No amount of wheel time behind teenager-owned Civics could have prepared us for the GT’s short shifter. The cue-ball-topped Hurst lever literally takes inches out of the shifter’s movement and, of course, raises the shift effort substantially. Until you learn to act as though you’re trying to break it, the shifter will feel clunky, and even then it doesn’t seem to save much in the way of shift times, particularly the second-to-third and fourth-to-fifth gearchanges.

The lowered suspension seems like a good change—and the GT certainly looks better when parked—as we chuck it into the first couple of corners. It’s far more buttoned down, with less body roll. Just don’t drive it on a really rough section of pavement; trust us, we tried that. Over moderate bumps, the GT’s ride is firmer than we’d like and gets uncomfortable after about a two-hour stint. Then we hit a murderous stretch of potholed two-lane, where any semblance of a pleasing ride-and-handling balance fell apart. More than once we wondered if we were going to stay in our lane, or even on the road, as the front and rear axles seemed to be bobbing and wiggling completely out of sync with each other, while the quick-off-center steering gives only a rough estimate as to where the car is pointed. Not that a regular Mustang would have faired all that much better, but the experience still left us yearning for something (anything) more refined. A Mazda RX-8, perhaps? A BMW 328i? Not only are those two infinitely better to drive, but they’re also cheaper than a Shelby GT.

Keep the Shelby GT in its natural environment—running quarter-mile times—and it’s far happier. The free-breathing V-8 sounds fantastic but doesn’t feel any stronger. The Shelby will do burnouts for weeks, and it's easy to controll and slide around like a hero. Just don’t take it to a “real” track, i.e., a road course, where the Shelby’s brakes (same as the Mustang GT’s) fade away after about one lap.

Why are people so gung-ho about this latest Shelby? We can’t explain it, nor can we remember the last time we were driving something that attracted this much attention. And if you think the base price is astronomical—we do—these GTs are selling on eBay for as much as $50,000.

Is this author just too young to understand?

BY DAVE VANDERWERP
www.caranddriver.com

2007 Toyota Tundra Makes a Strong Debut in the Large Pickup Segment, While Domestic Models Hold Their Own

Initial trading patterns for the all-new 2007 Toyota Tundra suggest a strong start for this model in the domestic-dominated large pickup segment, according to real-time retail transaction data from the Power Information Network (PIN), a division of J.D. Power and Associates.

Since the all-new 2007 Toyota Tundra large pickup was launched in early February, owner loyalty for this model, which represents the percentage of Toyota Tundra owners who traded for another Tundra, is 53 percent (February only) -- more than twice the January rate of its predecessor and more than 20 percentage points higher than in February of 2006. Additionally, trading from the Toyota Tundra to each of the mainstream domestic large pickups (Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ford F-150, Ram 1500) dropped considerably in February when compared with January, while trading in the reverse direction increased.

Nevertheless, owners of domestic large pickups remained relatively loyal to their vehicles. According to PIN data, both the Silverado 1500 and F-150 experienced owner loyalty increases of 4 percentage points when comparing transactions in February to those in January, while the Ram's owner loyalty remained steady. (Loyalty for the Titan is not included since it has only been on the market for three and one-fourth years.)

The combination of increased Tundra loyalty and steady domestic model loyalty raised the large pickup segment share of industry from 12.4 percent in January to 14.4 percent in February.

"It's still early, and owner loyalty is just one measure of marketplace success, but so far the Toyota Tundra seems to be gaining strength in the segment," said Tom Libby, senior director of industry analysis at PIN. "This is an interesting scenario because the impressive strength of the Toyota juggernaut is being pitted against the domestics' long-time stronghold."

The Toyota Tundra's owner loyalty rose in February even though it sold at a higher average retail transaction price than any of its direct competitors. The actual retail transaction price for the all-new 2007 Toyota Tundra in February was $33,182 -- almost $900 more than the Ford F-150 ($32,312) and $1,450 more than the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ($31,727). The Dodge Ram 1500 ($25,564) and the Titan ($27,664) both sold at prices considerably below the competition.

Four of five large pickup models sold with loans that included an annual percentage rate (APR) between 9 and 11 percent, while the Ford F-150's APR was far below the competition at slightly more than 7 percent. The monthly payment for these models, purchased with a 72-month loan, ranged from $558 to $603.

"New products and stable fuel prices will drive a strong rebound in the large pickup segment in 2007, increasing from 13.5 percent of the total sales market in 2006 to 14.2 percent," said Jeff Schuster, executive director of automotive intelligence at J.D. Power and Associates. "Toyota dove head first into a very competitive segment with a solid entry, and although the model lineup is not yet as robust as the competition, we expect the Toyota Tundra to nearly double in volume from 124,508 in 2006 to 210,000 in 2007."

PIN data also indicates that while the national transaction price for the 2007 Toyota Tundra was the highest in the competitive set, the Tundra did not sell at the highest price in every region of the country. Specifically, the Toyota Tundra commanded the highest transaction price in the Midwest, Southwest and West, but its price was second highest in the Northeast (after the F-150) and third in the Southeast (after the Silverado 1500 and F-150). Additionally, the Toyota Tundra's price ranged from a high of $34,394 in the West to a low of $32,796 in the Southwest. Transaction prices in the Southwest for each of the five large pickup models were lower than in any other region, reflecting the fierce competition in large pickups in this particular part of the country.

About Power Information Network (PIN)

PIN's automotive solutions are based on the collection and analysis of daily new- and used-vehicle retail transaction information from more than 10,000 automotive dealership franchises in North America. PIN's industry-leading automotive solutions incorporate consumer demand and sales information to improve business for automotive dealers, manufacturers, lenders, and other companies in the industry. Additional information is available at www.powerinfonet.com

About J.D. Power and Associates

Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is an ISO 9001-registered global marketing information services firm operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, training and customer satisfaction. The firm's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies:

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP) is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2006 were $6.3 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/

No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power and Associates. www.jdpower.com/corporate

Source: Power Information Network

Wolfsburg Edition Volkswagen Passat Now Available in Showrooms

Wolfsburg Edition Volkswagen Passat. (PRNewsFoto/VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC.)

Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced today that the Wolfsburg Edition Volkswagen Passat is now available at dealers. Volkswagen will produce approximately 6,000 of these special edition models.

Throughout its history, Volkswagen has offered special edition models for a variety of reasons. At times they were offered to celebrate a milestone or special event, such as the Bicentennial VW Beetle that commemorated our country's 200th birthday. At other times they were offered to further accent a specific model's image, such as the currently available Fahrenheit GTI. More often, special edition models have been offered to deliver an even greater value to the customer-something Volkswagen has consistently achieved with the Wolfsburg Editions.

The Wolfsburg Edition VW Passat continues the tradition of offering value priced special editions. This edition features a 2.0L, 200-horsepower turbo- charged engine with a standard six-speed automatic Tiptronic(R) transmission. Each special edition Passat sedan includes unique "Wolfsburg Edition" badging on the driver and passenger front quarter panels. The Wolfsburg Edition Passat also features 17-inch alloy wheels, a four-spoke leather wrapped multi- function steering wheel, leather wrapped gearshift knob and boot, 12-way full power adjustable driver seat, six-disc in-dash CD changer with MP3 capability, heated front seats, power sunroof, fog lights, heated windshield washer nozzles and Sirius(TM) satellite radio.

Like the rest of the Volkswagen Passat model line, the Wolfsburg Edition also hosts a plethora of safety features. Including no less than six airbags-all standard, and for additional safety two rear side airbags are available as an option. The Wolfsburg Edition Passat also comes with an array of vehicle control safety features. These features include a four-wheel ABS anti-lock braking system with four-wheel disc brakes and Brake Assist. The ABS system includes a brake-wiping feature that keeps the brakes clean and dry. An Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP) is also standard. Volkswagen uses ESP with Anti- Slip Regulation and Electronic Differential Locking for even greater effect. The Wolfsburg Edition Passat also comes standard with an electro-mechanical (electrically assisted) power steering system.

This special edition VW Passat offers greater value at $26,990 when compared to a similarly equipped non Wolfsburg Edition Passat.

The Wolfsburg Edition Volkswagen Passat, like all new Volkswagens, comes with a 24- hour Roadside Assistance for four years with unlimited mileage, and new vehicle warranty, including:

* Five-year/60,000 mile (whichever occurs first) Powertrain Limited Warranty
* Four-year/50,000 mile (whichever occurs first) New Vehicle Limited Warranty with wear and tear items and adjustments excluded after the initial 12 months/12,000 miles
* 12-year unlimited distance Limited Warranty against corrosion perforation.


Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the VW Rabbit, VW New Beetle, VW New Beetle convertible, VW GTI, VW Jetta, VW GLI, VW Passat, VW Passat wagon, VW Eos, and VW Touareg through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers.

Visit Volkswagen of America online at http://vw.com/

Tiptronic(R) is a registered trademark of Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG. Sirius(TM) is a registered trademark of Sirius Satellite Radio, Inc. All other trademarks used in this document are the property of their respective owners.


Source: Volkswagen of America, Inc.

2008 Ford Escape Has Perfect Touch

2008 Ford Escape

Turn on the radio, adjust the air conditioning, set a destination in your navigation unit or simply move the seat forward in the all-new 2008 Ford Escape, and you'll notice a subtle something -- a certain harmony in the feel and function of every switch, knob and button.

The 2008 Ford Escape is the first Ford Motor Company product to have total integrated component switch-feel harmony, which is quite an accomplishment given that, like most vehicles, many of the compact utility's interior controls are produced by different suppliers.

How important is switch-feel? The truth is that switch-feel is an integral part of interior quality. "If we are to deliver a vehicle interior that is perceived as of the highest quality, we have to get the feel and the harmony of the switches right," says Yifan Chen, Technical Leader, Vehicle Design Research & Advanced Engineering. Chen leads a Ford project on Perceptual Design, a relatively new discipline that attempts to correlate operating feel of mechanical human-machine interfaces to customer perceived quality.

Thanks to Chen and his team, Ford has developed industry-first and industry-exclusive switch-feel measurement and playback systems, plus a host of psychophysical and statistical engineering tools for developing best-in-class switch-feel quality. These technologies allow engineers and designers to test different switch-feel parameters and develop specifications for switch-feel that are more in line with customer expectations.

"When a customer sits down in a vehicle, one of the first things they do is touch the switches. In fact, one of the main decision makers for high-end vehicles is how the switches feel," says Barbara Wilson, component feel SME for Ford's EESE Interior Harmony Group. "For customers, switch-feel -- does the switch wobble, how much force is needed to turn it or push it -- helps define the perceived quality of the entire vehicle."

Ford first applied its innovative switch-feel technologies to the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ (formerly Lincoln Zephyr) vehicle programs for 2005, greatly improving these products' climate control and window lift switches. Since then, the technology has been applied to other important touch zones, including shifter feel. Ford's improved shifter feel debuted on the all-new 2007 Ford Edge last year.

When designing the 2008 Ford Escape's all-new interior, Ford's interior design team collaborated with Wilson to ensure that the vehicle's cabin and all its components work together harmoniously in terms of not only touch, but appearance, lighting and sound as well. "We have amazing harmony in this vehicle," says Product Design Engineer Allan Fisher. "The center stack, for example, appears as one module, yet it contains components from two different suppliers."

2008 Ford Escape

Rather than the traditional brick design for the radio and climate control, the 2008 Ford Escape features dials and buttons that actually poke through the center stack, which required extra attention from a design and switch-feel perspective. "We paid close attention to where things were placed, making sure button height was perfect, that they didn't over-travel or stick and that they all feel the same and require the same amount of torque to operate. From an ergonomic standpoint we know customers are going to love it," says Fisher.

Complete switch-feel harmony in a vehicle is no small feat. In addition to considering multiple suppliers, there are multiple types of switches ranging from small and large rotary switches to straight push and rocker buttons. Some are low-current switches, such as the climate control's mode selector, while others are high-current, such as the fan speed -- creating wide variances in the amount of force needed to operate the switch.

By establishing a unified set of customer-correlated switch-feel specifications, Ford is now able to work with many different switch suppliers and ensure consistency in delivered switch-feel quality. The Escape's interior team, for instance, worked with multiple suppliers to ensure that all of the vehicle's switches fell within a comprehensive set of numerical switch-feel targets. "Every switch you touch in the Escape is now within our specification and provides the best feel for the customer," says Tanmoy Joshi, product design engineer. "It's like night and day. The old dinosaur feel, where you needed a lot of torque, a lot of friction or energy, to operate a specific switch has disappeared. Now, feel and force are more consistent."

Along with improved switch-feel, the 2008 Ford Escape offers other interior refinements that boost the compact utility's high-quality appearance and overall appeal to customers. A top-of-the-dash display, for example, puts much of the vehicle's information at eye level, making it easier to reference when driving. In addition, the Escape features the first use of Ford's signature Ice Blue interior lighting, which presents a cool, crisp, easy-on-the-eyes light for night driving. The center console is large enough to hold a laptop computer and has two removable bins that can be hung from the front passenger side or rear of the console to create unique storage options.

According to Dave Mangham, a product design engineer on the Ford Escape team, the interior switch-feel specifications used for the 2008 Ford Escape have created "a living document," that is now being refined and applied to current and future vehicle programs across Ford Motor Company brands. "As we launch new vehicles and refresh vehicles, we will use the same process and specifications so customers will experience a sense of interior harmony for switch-feel as well as color and sound -- no matter what Ford product they drive."

Source: Ford Motor Company

Automotive Industry Trends - Dutch Flying Car Company Takes Off

The PAL-V is a solution to increasing congestion in cities, highways and skyways. (Image: PAL-V Europe)

After many years pioneering with well-known parties such as the Dutch Aerospace Laboratory (NLR) creating a flying and driving vehicle, John Bakker formed a management team and recruited employees to start PAL-V Europe. Investors have been found to back the start-up, and currently initiatives are being taken towards securing more investors to speed up market launch.

Bakker invested 6 years developing a vehicle concept that can fly and drive: PAL-V (Personal Air and Land Vehicle). A dream Henry Ford already had building the first car. This will be a revolution in door to door mobility soon. In countries with underdeveloped infrastructure it means safe, faster transportation but also in developed countries people save lots of time.

The market response is huge: already 2 million website hits. Daily mails from people wanting to buy one. Professional applications like surveillance, mobility for aid organisations, post war aid, for private use bringing faster transportation or just big fun.

On the ground, the slim, aerodynamic 3-wheel vehicle is comfortable as a luxury car. It has the agility of a motorbike, thanks to its patented 'tilting' system. The rotor and propeller are folded away until PAL-V is ready to fly.

Airborne, it flies under the 4,000 feet floor of commercial air space. With land and air space reaching capacity, this is the last free space.

PAL-V is highly fuel-efficient, powered by an environmentally certified car engine. It runs on petrol but it also runs on biodiesel or bio-ethanol. It reaches speeds up to 200 km/h both on land and in the air.

Soon private flying will no longer be the exclusive domain of executives and celebrities. If infrastructure does not exist or congestion/obstacles block the destination - fly. If the weather is too bad to fly - drive. Driving and flying combined costing little more than an executive saloon car.

The concept is combining two proven technologies. It fits within the new certification regulations that exist since 2005 in the US and Europe.

Next to Bakker the management team now consists of Robert Dingemanse who has championed several successful product launches/business start-ups at Philips and Jim Emanuels/Tacstone, specialised in starting up new businesses. This team has the right skills/experience to turn the concept into a business success.

Source: PAL-V

2007 Bugatti Veyron

(from Bugatti Press Release) Over 60 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 delivered worldwide

Geneva 6th March 2007 _ by the end of February Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. will have delivered 60 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 to date. As a result, the planned production volume has been exceeded.

After the start of production of the Bugatti Veyron in Alsatian Molsheim at the end of 2005 and the delivery of the first vehicle in March 2006, Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. has reached the planned 50 units for the fi rst production year. This is interesting to note, because the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is a completely new model and thus has not been able to rely on already existing components.

In December 2003, the responsibility for Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. went to Dr. Thomas Bscher, the new president of the company. Dr. Wolfgang Schreiber was appointed as technical director and manager of Bugatti Engineering. The entire Bugatti project was then completely reassessed and a new schedule for the completion date of the super sports car was decided. The objectives established in this process have all been achieved since then.

Production of the Bugatti Veyron has been limited to a maximum of 300 units. The number of units for the fi rst production year has amounted to – as announced – 50 vehicles. Today, Bugatti is already able to increase the annual production volume and thus is able to reduce the customer waiting time.

Promising order entry

“In 2007 we are planning to increase the production of the Bugatti Veyron”, said Dr. Thomas Bscher at the International Geneva Motor Show, “because the order entry for the Veyron is getting close to a 140 and we wouldn’t want our customers to have to wait longer for their Bugatti.”

“It is not unexpected”, continued Dr Bscher, “that most of the orders come from the US; traditionally the most important market for luxury vehicles. 30% of the 140 contracts received up to now with a down payment of EUR 300,000, which is the condition for the production of the vehicle to start, come from the United States. This means that that is where – on a country basis – up to now most of the Bugatti Veyron have been delivered.

In Europe, the majority of the demand comes from England and Germany, which are the two most important markets for luxury cars outside the US. Naturally, the Bugatti Veyron super sports car has also created interest in the Middle Eastern countries and deliveries to Arab countries underline the pleasant sales trend of this unique vehicle.

A worldwide network of contract partners

Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. highly values supporting the vehicles sold with a worldwide organisation of Bugatti bases. Within a year, a network of Bugatti sales and service partners has been developed – now covering 26 locations. Consistent with the sales figures, the USA is also top in this area with nine contact points. Five on the west coast, one in Florida and the traditional areas in the east with three partners sharing the responsibility. Also in Europe, the important luxury car markets such as Germany, England, France, Monaco, Benelux, Austria, Italy, Spain and Switzerland are already covered.

It goes without saying that the uniqueness of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 has also not gone unnoticed in the so-called new markets. Thus, increasing demand can be seen in China and Russia. As Bugatti has set itself the goal of delivering only to areas where the company is also represented by competent contact partners, these enquiries will be treated with a certain level of caution until the development of the sales and service organisation.

Old and new in Geneva

Today, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 already has its place in car history as an undisputed classic. It embodies every-thing that is technologically and technically possible in automobile construction on a level which is absolutely unreached and will remain so for some time.

But also the Veyron models itself on the heritage and the value of the brand. « Art – form – technique » the legacy of the company founder is as significant today as in 1931 when the Type 55 was created and one of these Type 55 models is shown at this year‘s International Geneva Motor Show on the Bugatti stand. Thus, the link between the “thoroughbred” of the 30s and the “pur sang” of the 21st century will be highlighted in an impressive way.

The Type 55 Roadster

In 1931, the Type 55 replaced the Type 43 super sport tour car with a Grand Prix motor. The Type 55 Bugatti now used the 2.3 litre Grand Prix motor with a compressor from the Type 51 and the very stiff chassis of the Type 47 designed for a 16 cylinder motor. Thus it brought together different ingredients to make one of the best Bugatti vehicles. The brakes and tyres of the Type 55 were identical to those of the Type 51. The draft of the lovely two-seater roadster body offered by the factory stemmed from Jean Bugatti. Apart from the roadster also the so-called “Faux Cabriolet” was offered by the factory, a coupй whose design also came from Jean. In total 38 chassis of the Type 55 were manufactured between 1931 and 1935, 13 of them had the famous roadster body shown here.

The acceleration of the Type 55 was amazing. From 0 to 100km/h in under 10 seconds. Whilst steering and road holding around bends convinced, many drivers wished for a gearbox like the Grand Prix one instead of the sluggish Type 49 gear box. In 1933, a test journalist wrote the following about the Type 55 in “Autocar”: “One doesn’t expect an engine of this type to run noiselessly. Whilst the exhaust noise of the car is noticeable but tolerable, there are a lot of mechanical noises that are caused by the gear box and the closely toothed wheels of the camshaft drive system. At high speed these individual noises turn into a wild, impressive howl. Road holding and handling are so excellent that one can zip around bends with the car. As it doesn’t swerve one feels completely safe. For a car of this type the suspension can be called comfortable…. Some experience has to be used on the gear box, the first and second gear slightly “hang” at high engine speed otherwise they can be changed quickly”.

More than any other Bugatti, the elegant Type 55 is a wolf in sheep‘s clothing.

An international car

The new Veyron is an impressive platform of top end automotive technology and – loyal to Bugatti’s heritage « nothing is too expensive, nothing is too beautiful » – only the best parts and materials in the trade are used in the production process. And the Veyron is a truly international car. One of the key- and most sophisticated parts, the 7 speed-sequential-DSG-double-clutch-gearbox, is made by motor sport specialists Ricardo in the UK, the unique 16 cylinder-8.0-litre-engine comes from the Volkswagen engine plant in Salzgitter in Germany.

The tyres – the first production tyres in the industry homologated for speeds above 400 km/h – are a joint development with Michelin. The carbon fibre mono coque is built by ATR in Italy, the front- and rear-structure in forged aluminium by Heggemann in Germany and the bespoke carbon-ceramic brakes by AP Racing in Great Britain. The paintwork is German, the leather Austrian, the windscreen is manufactured in Finland, and so it goes on.

50 years down the road, a car make once again

Today, nearly 50 years later to the day, the production of Bugatti automobiles in Molsheim is resuming, making Molsheim once again the hub of the Bugatti world. As a centre for reminiscence, this picturesque, small city near Strasbourg has never lost its signifi cance.

The area’s ‘Enthusiasts Bugatti Alsace’, together with their friends in the various Bugatti clubs throughout the entire world, are in large measure responsible for keeping the brand alive over the decades – even in the absence of the product itself. This is an experience, which various other prestigious automobile brands with melodious names have not shared.

It is in this fact that the strength of the Bugatti brand values is expressed most clearly. The admiration for ‘art on wheels’, the cool achievement of the aesthetic tenacity of Ettore Bugatti, who was a man who was fi rst and foremost an artist, not a technician. The grandeur of the victories in the glorious years of dirt-encrusted heroes on the racecourses of this world and, not least, the suitability of these racing cars for everyday driving – the latter is what made Bugatti cars accessible to a broader clientele. The prestige of inspired design and the exclusiveness of individual models that helped catapult certain Bugatti models into the astronomical price classes.
In 1956, the final attempts had failed, in the wake of the death of the company’s founder in 1947 – preceded in death in 1939 by his son Jean, with whom he collaborated – to keep the substantially weakened company alive. After 47 years’ production, in the course of which 7,950 Bugatti’s of models 13 through 251 had been manufactured, the gates to the Bugatti factory in Molsheim were forced to close.

Power hungry: Callaway C16

Callaway is to Corvette what AMG is to Mercedes: both reside at the very fast end of the spectrum.

For its latest Corvette project, Callaway has chosen the New York International Auto Show in April to take the wraps off its C16 convertible.

Not happy with the Z06 'Vette's 505bhp, Callaway has upped this to 560bhp to realise 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds and nudge top speed over the 200mph mark.

Still not satisfied with this? Then why not order the performance pack that further increases power to 616bhp.

Each Callaway C16 gets a gentle restyle to distinguish it from a standard Corvette, so look out for the different rear lights, upgraded interior trim and numbered plaque.

The Callaway conversion costs around £40,000 on top of the price of a Corvette base car and the performance pack adds a further £6,000 or so, which seems like good value to us.

source: topgear

Volkswagen - Eight Months Before the Volkswagen Tiguan Is Launched, It Can Already Be Experienced Virtually

Interactively step by step from a concept car to a production vehicle

Eight months before its launch, the Volkswagen Tiguan can already be experienced virtually

Wolfsburg, 20 March 2007 - A website featuring high-quality animations, real driving scenes and exclusive download features puts Volkswagen’s new offroad vehicle on computer screens in almost 50 countries eight months ahead of its launch.

Users can get to know the Volkswagen Tiguan world and move around it interactively. As the launch of the Volkswagen Touareg’s little brother approaches, more and more information about the real production vehicle will be revealed and the website content will become increasingly spectacular.

At www.volkswagen.de/tiguan potential customers can follow the development of the Volkswagen Tiguan in five layers from show car to production vehicle at the so-called Tiguan Base – a virtual building.

One special highlight will come in June, three months before the official world premiere of the Volkswagen Tiguan at the Frankfurt Motor Show, when the production model is revealed exclusively to Tiguan Base users. Then you will be able to go on a virtual test drive with your own configuration of the sports utility vehicle (SUV).

Layer one has already been added: In a 3D animation, you get a 360-degree view of the show car from the L.A. Motor Show and can take a close look at the vehicle details. One special feature in this phase is the interactive e-card: The show car can be placed against your own background allowing, for example, you to add it to a picture of your house.

Eight months before its launch, the Volkswagen Tiguan can already be experienced virtually

An information service will keep you updated via e-mail and inform you about the most important content. Also, when you are out, you won’t lose touch with the Volkswagen Tiguan. You can download information on the car using your mobile phone via a WAP portal.

This extensive Volkswagen Tiguan website can be used in almost 50 countries in the local language. You can reach the Tiguan Base via your country’s Volkswagen website. Users in each participating country will be entered in a draw to win an exclusive trip to the world premiere of the Volkswagen Tiguan at the Frankfurt Motor Show. 65,000 people have already registered on the Tiguan Base.

From the very start, Volkswagen wanted to get potential customers involved with the Volkswagen Tiguan. Readers of AutoBild magazine were asked to think up a name and came up with the invented name that is formed from tiger and iguana. Over 350,000 readers from all over Europe took part in this campaign alone.

Source: Volkswagen

"International" Hummer H3

MANCHESTER, U.K. — It's a watershed moment for one of the most iconic American brands. General Motors on Monday took the wraps off a prototype right-hand-drive Hummer H3, which signals the Detroit brand's commitment to making serious inroads into foreign markets.

The automaker said the right-hand-drive H3 will be built in South Africa and will be rolled out to right-hand-drive markets including South Africa, Australia and Japan starting this summer. Pricing for the right-hand-drive H3 will be announced later, GM said.

"We are determined to build on the brand's unique recognition in Europe and especially here in the U.K.," said GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz at the opening of a new Hummer showroom here.

Hummer reported that its sales grew nearly 34 percent globally in 2006 with 82,000 vehicles delivered, compared with 61,000 in 2005.

The H3 is powered by a 3.7-liter inline-5 that makes 242 horsepower and 242 pound-feet of torque. It is linked to either a four-speed automatic transmission or a five-speed manual transmission.

Mercedes-Benz Launches Integrated Marketing Campaign for the New Mercedes-Benz C-Class: "C-for Yourself"

For the market launch, Mercedes-Benz focuses on personal driving experiences

• * Innovative tools such as exclusive driving events and a Mobile Marketing Special support traditional advertising measures
• * Online campaign with a new 360-degree soft configurator, a host and interactive films
• * TV commercial with new brand ambassador Fernando Alonso
  

Like most of the other communication measures, the television commercial features a white Mercedes-Benz C-Class Avantgarde model equipped with the AMG sports package.

Mercedes-Benz is starting a comprehensive integrated marketing campaign for the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class, which will be introduced to the market on March 31, 2007. Using the slogan “C-for Yourself,” the brand with the star is conducting a variety of communication activities via several channels to support the sales launch of its highest-volume model series. The primary goal of the campaign is to convince customers around the world of the advantages of the versatile product concept behind the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan, including two distinct front-end designs and outstanding comfort, agility and safety.

“Our objective for this campaign is to motivate customers to experience for themselves the superior driving culture offered by the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class,” says Dr. Olaf Göttgens, Vice President Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars. “All communication measures for the C-Class are therefore geared toward direct contact with our customers and potential buyers. Along with our tried advertising methods, we will also be focusing strongly on various forms of direct communi-cation for the C-Class, to be implemented at exclusive driving events. These measures will be accompanied by a C-Class Mobile Marketing Special, a presen-tation within Second Life and interactive films on the Internet — innovative platforms that will enable us to reach existing and potential customers of our brand in a targeted manner.”

The integrated campaign for the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class was developed by BBDO France – following a pitch conducted with several markets - and is adapted to the requirements of the international markets. In Germany, the new lead agency Jung von Matt is carrying out the campaign for Mercedes-Benz with the slogan “C-for Yourself.”

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class campaign will move into high gear on April 2, 2007, with the launch of advertisements in magazines and newspapers with high circulations. Like most of the other communication measures, the print ads, which invite customers to test-drive the sedan, feature a white Mercedes-Benz C-Class Avantgarde model equipped with the AMG sports package. A 30-/40-second television commercial, to be broadcast on all public and commercial stations in Germany with high circulations, will feature the current Formula 1 world champion race car driver Fernando Alonso enthusiastically describing the outstanding handling qualities of the new C-Class. At the end of the commercial, Alonso, who drives for the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 team, symbolically hands over the keys to a new C-Class to the audience at home, thus inviting them to test-drive the vehicle and see what the sedan has to offer. This theme of handing over the keys is repeated as a motivating element in many components of the campaign.

In the German market, the primary Mercedes-Benz C-Class campaign will be supplemented by extensive retail marketing measures, radio commercials, outdoor ads and stadium advertising at soccer matches of the German national team.

Multimedia 360-degree soft configurator, interactive films and video podcast on the Internet

A particularly extensive and entertaining element of the international campaign is the online presentation at www.mercedes-benz.com/c-class. On the site, which Mercedes-Benz also advertises by banners on the Internet, customers and anyone else interested in the Mercedes-Benz C-Class can view the vehicle as displayed against realistic backdrops and then configure it and study the results from various perspectives. The software allows users to select according to their personal tastes any combination of the model’s equipment lines, numerous color options, different types of light-alloy wheels, interior designs and selected optional features. The website also features an interactive assistant who guides users through the new 360-degree soft configurator. Several interactive films are available as well that show various individuals describing the most important details of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class as they take the vehicle out for a drive.

For anyone interested in the vehicle’s development, a specially produced video podcast (www.mercedes-benz.com/podcast) documents the creation of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class in four episodes. Finally, the Mercedes-Benz Museum website (www.mercedes-benz.com/museum) takes visitors on a multimedia journey through the successful history of Mercedes-Benz’ best-selling model series ever.

Focus on direct communication: Customers experience safety, comfort and agility of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class at numerous driving events

With the new C-Class campaign, Mercedes-Benz continues to address existing and potential customers in the spirit of its core brand value of “Appreciation.” Direct communication is therefore a key element of a package of measures geared toward very personalized interaction with customers. To this end, customer events like the “Exclusive Driving Experience” in Barcelona and various partnership agreements with European hotel chains in popular vacation regions will offer customers and potential buyers the opportunity to individually test-drive the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class in a relaxed atmosphere.

The “Exclusive Driving Experience” (April 1-3, 2007) will allow some 80 consumers from all over Europe to experience the C-Class in an especially attractive environment. In Barcelona participants at the event will be able to enjoy the exciting flair of the Catalonian capital. They will also take part in a slalom competition with production vehicles that will enable them to discover for themselves the outstanding comfort and agility of the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class, as well as its safety features, which are unique in this segment. Participants will also visit the Circuit de Catalunya, where they will be able to drive an offroad course and go for “taxi rides” in a C-Class DTM model with Mercedes-Benz DTM drivers Bruno Spengler, Mathias Lauda and Bernd Schneider. On the evening of April 1, 2007, the guests in Barcelona will attend the Laureus Welcome Party for the Laureus World Sports Awards. King Juan Carlos of Spain and founding partner Mercedes-Benz are the patrons of the event, which honors top international athletes on April 2, 2007.

Vacationers who stay at selected Robinson Club Resorts and Westin Hotels & Resorts facilities in Germany, Austria, Scotland, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece between May and September 2007 can expect a completely new driving experience, as they will have the opportunity to test-drive the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class in a relaxing atmosphere. Their drives will take them across beautiful and exciting routes as they learn to appreciate the superior quality and agility of the new model. Mercedes-Benz will also be offering people at premium shopping malls, such as the one in Metzingen, Germany, the opportunity to take spontaneous test drives during April and May 2007. And — as was the case with the successful introduction of the new-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class in the summer of 2006 — customers interested in the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class will be able to experience it at selected non-automotive trade fairs that cover the areas of lifestyle, design and interior decorating such as „Maison & Objets“ in Paris, France (September 7-11, 2007).

The new model will also be demonstrating its superior culture of driving at the German Touring Car Masters series (DTM), starting on April 22, 2007. This year’s DTM features four AMG Mercedes C-Class vehicles from the new model series. The C-Class with its former models is already the most successful vehicle in the DTM today. Fans who attend DTM races at Hockenheimring and Lausitzring as well as DTM and the Formula 1 races at Nürburgring will be able to experience the new C-Class up close by riding in the DTM racing taxi or participating in driver-safety training sessions and various test drives.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Mobile Special

For the first time ever, Mercedes-Benz offers an innovative Mobile Special to attract the attention of customers and potential buyers while they are on the move. Special mobile client software can be called up either by text messaging (SMS) a number assigned to each country (for example in Germany, via an SMS marked “cklasse” to 88044) or directly from the Mercedes-Benz website in the participating markets. Those who access the software receive images of the new C-Class’ interior and exterior, and are also provided with technical data. They can then utilize the soft configurator to put together their dream car on the basis of various model versions, colors and wheel rims. The Mobile Special also contains the dates of C-Class events and invitations to them, as well as films, photos and engine sounds that can be downloaded. Mercedes-Benz is advertising the Special on Vodafone Live and other mobile portals. Beginning in mid-March, ten white C-Class models will travel across Europe, starting in Bremen, Germany, and then moving through the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy and France to Barcelona for the Laureus World Sports Awards. The white sedans will highlight the Mobile Special in numerous cities during their European tour. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class Mobile Special is available as a Java application that runs on more than 30 of the most commonly used mobile terminals, and in a simpler WAP-version for cell phones that are not Java-enabled.

Virtual Mercedes-Benz C-Class also available in the online world of Second Life

Since the Mercedes-Benz C-Class does not only generate excitement in real life, the new Avantgarde model with the AMG package has started to become available on March 16, 2007, in Mercedes-Benz’ virtual representation at Second Life (www.secondlife.com — coordinates 128.128.11). All residents of this online world can purchase a virtual model of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class for 1,500 Linden Dollars (approx. four Euros) or virtually test-drive it on a challenging track. Tens of thousands of people from all over the world have visited the Mercedes-Benz island since its opening on February 20, 2007, and the site is one of the most frequently visited corporate presentations in Second Life (www.mercedes-benz.com/secondlife).


Source: DaimlerChrysler

Ford Motors Showcases World's First Drivable Fuel Cell Hybrid Electric Vehicle with Plug-In Capability

• * The Ford Edge with HySeries Drive™ is the world’s first drivable fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle with plug-in capability.
• * Ford’s flexible powertrain architecture enables the use of new fuel and propulsion technologies as they develop without redesigning the vehicle and its control systems.
• * The HySeries Drive technology is able to operate using a fuel cell, small gasoline or diesel engine connected to an electric generator to make electricity.

Ford Edge HySERIES Plug-In Hybrid

Ford Motor Company [NYSE: F] today will showcase the world’s first drivable fuel cell hybrid electric plug-in vehicle at the Kansas City Assembly Plant during a visit by U.S. President George W. Bush.

The vehicle combines an onboard hydrogen fuel cell generator with lithium-ion batteries to deliver more than 41 mpg with zero emissions. It is built on a flexible powertrain architecture that will enable Ford to use new fuel and propulsion technologies as they develop without redesigning the vehicle.

The new HySeries Drive™ powertrain featured in a Ford Edge uses a real-world version of the powerplant envisioned in the Ford Airstream concept unveiled in January at the 2007 North American International Auto Show (NYIAS) in Detroit. The HySeries Drive powertrain delivers a combined city/highway gasoline equivalent fuel economy rating of 41 mpg. For those who drive less than 50 miles each day, the average jumps to more than 80 mpg.

The plug-in hybrid is powered by a 336-volt lithium-ion battery pack at all times. The vehicle drives the first 25 miles each day on stored electricity alone, after which the fuel cell begins operating to keep the battery pack charged. This provides another 200 miles of range for a total of 225 miles with zero emissions. Individual experiences will vary widely and can stretch out the time between fill-ups to more than 400 miles: drivers with modest daily needs would need to refuel only rarely, drivers who travel less than 50 miles each day will see fuel economy well over 80 mpg, while those with long daily commutes will see somewhat lower numbers as the fuel cell must run a larger fraction of the time.

The Ford Edge with HySeries Drive can travel at speeds of up to 85 mph. An on-board charger (110/220 VAC) can refresh the battery pack when a standard home outlet is available, making the concept a true plug-in hybrid.

When the battery pack is depleted to approximately 40 percent, the hydrogen fuel cell – supplied by Ford partner Ballard – automatically turns on and begins generating electricity to recharge the batteries. Like a conventional automobile, the Ford Edge with HySeries Drive will go until it runs out of fuel – in this case via a 350-bar hydrogen tank that supplies 4.5 kg of useable hydrogen.

The HySeries Drive name is derived from the powertrain’s structure: a hydrogen fuel-cell-powered series hybrid drivetrain. This highly innovative approach reduces the size, weight, cost and complexity of a conventional fuel cell system by more than 50 percent. It also promises to more than double the lifetime of the fuel cell stack.

Ford Edge HySERIES Plug-In Hybrid engine

This flexible powertrain architecture enables the use of new fuel and propulsion technologies as they develop and become available without the need to redesign the vehicle and its control systems.

Certainly, many significant technical hurdles need to be overcome before a vehicle such as the Edge with HySeries Drive can become a reality. Fuel cell vehicles remain expensive, costing millions of dollars each. And the single biggest hurdle to plug-ins remains the cost of lithium-ion batteries. Much work also needs to be done to make fuel cells more durable and to create a hydrogen infrastructure.

Hydrogen Part of a Broader Effort At Ford

Research into hydrogen, including the Ford Edge with HySeries Drive, is part of Ford’s overall effort to address the challenges of climate change and energy independence. Ford is moving ahead with a range of technology solutions simultaneously, including vehicles such as the Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid, hydrogen fuel cells, hydrogen internal combustion engines, ethanol, clean diesel and refinements to gasoline fueled engines and advanced transmissions. Some of the technology, such as that seen in Ford’s lineup of hybrid vehicles, represents near-term approaches. Other technology, including hydrogen fell cells, must be viewed as a long-term option.

Ford began working on hydrogen technology in the early 1990s. Ford’s first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, released in 2001, was based on a lightweight aluminum sedan body, which also was used in the development of the company’s first hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine.

The company currently has a fleet of 30 hydrogen-powered Focus fuel cell vehicles on the road as part of a worldwide, seven-city program to conduct real-world testing of fuel cell technology. The fleet has accumulated more than 300,000 miles since its inception. With this fleet on the road, a great deal of information that can be integrated into future fuel cell vehicle propulsion systems is being generated in different local environmental conditions.

Having the fleet outside the confines of Ford Motor Company also has allowed the team to gain valuable feedback on servicing vehicles in the field. As a hydrogen infrastructure is developed and implemented for the fleet at each location, lessons learned are being generated to ensure that the customer and hydrogen fueling interface is seamless and customer friendly.


Source: Ford Motor Company

Magna Steyr MILA Future Concept

MILA Future - an automotive sculpture with four roof configurations

At the 2007 Geneva Motor Show, MAGNA STEYR is presenting MILA Future, an automotive sculpture that is reduced to a forward-looking design and fully functional roof system. This unique system can be used to show four different roof configurations on one vehicle - a world first.

If a roadster has a retractable hard top (RHT), its back does not usually lend itself to classic coupé lines. When the roof is closed, the trunk volume is generally satisfactory, but when open the storage space may be reduced by up to half. Many of the retractable tops common today require a rear deck cover that opens in the opposite direction to travel to accommodate the roof - making additional motors necessary. MILA Future offers a variety of innovative ideas and demonstrates the development team's creative potential at MAGNA STEYR and MAGNA Car Top Systems in a number of interesting details.

MILA Future: the world is adaptable, but always open - four variants in one vehicle

MILA Future coupé:
A characteristic of classic coupés is the flowing silhouette towards the rear. It gives the vehicle an elegant, dynamic appearance that the target group on the market regards as its distinctive feature. In addition to attractive styling, other benefits include fully utilizable trunk volume and protection against wind and weather for the passengers.

MILA Future landaulet:
Landaulets were horse-drawn carriages that had double soft folding tops for driving half open. Thanks to the special design of roof, deck lid and rear window, the Mila Future can be driven in a similarly romantic mode - the rear window is lowered completely, but the roof itself remains in place over the passengers protecting them against direct sunlight. On country roads you therefore feel in touch with your surroundings and if driving faster the airflow is reduced to a pleasant level.

MILA Future roadster:
When the roof is down and the rear window lowered, you can experience real roadster feeling. Compared with conventional solutions, however, the remaining trunk space is 20% larger. This additional volume is created by leaving the B and C pillars on the deck lid as styling elements, which means that the space is not required in the trunk area. The result is a new, exciting appearance and makes this type of vehicle unmistakable on the roads. At the same time, it provides adequate rollover protection - so the typical bars behind the seats are not required.

MILA Future copster:
A combination of coupé and roadster, this variant keeps the roof in the trunk with the rear window in the coupé position. It also serves as a permanent wind deflector and does not require manual mounting. This configuration gives you a sense of safety in the interior without having to sacrifice the open-air feeling.

BRABUS Wins Title As 'Most Popular Tuning Brand' for the Second Consecutive Time

BRABUS Wins Title As 'Most Popular Tuning Brand' for the Second Consecutive Time

BEST BRAND 2006 and BEST BRAND 2007: For the second time in a row the readers of Germany's leading automotive publication 'auto motor und sport' have voted BRABUS the best and most popular tuning brand.

A grand total of 100,782 readers participated in the poll that saw BRABUS repeat last year's victory by an even wider margin: 56.1 percent (2006: 55 percent) of participants listed BRABUS as the tuning company with the most convincing products, thus making it BEST BRAND 2007 in the 'Tuning' category.

"Winning this award a second time and winning it again convincingly is yet more confirmation that we at BRABUS develop, build and market excellent products," says BRABUS CEO Bodo Buschmann. "But winning this award is also obligation for my team and me to keep working hard on continuously exceeding the high expectations placed on us by our friends and customers."

Saturn Aura Green Line: the Lowest Priced Hybrid Certified for Tax Credit

Saturn announced that the new 2007 Saturn Aura Green Line hybrid’s MSRP will start at $22,695 (including destination charge), making it the lowest-priced hybrid on the market for 2007.

In addition to its value-focused price, the Internal Revenue Service has certified that Saturn Aura Green Line buyers will qualify for a tax credit of $1,300.

“The Saturn Aura Green Line is a great value among the hybrids in the mid-size car segment,”
said Saturn General Manager Jill Lajdziak. “With a starting sticker price over $2,000 less than any mid-sized hybrid sedan and a $1,300 tax credit, it makes true hybrid fuel savings available to more people than ever before.”

The Saturn Aura Green Line’s EPA fuel economy rating of 28 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway represents up to a 30 percent improvement in EPA combined fuel economy compared to the non-hybrid Aura XE model (depending on driving conditions).

The Saturn Aura is assembled at the General Motors Fairfax Plant in Kansas City , Kan. , and Green Line hybrid models are beginning to arrive at Saturn retail facilities.

The hybrid system in the Saturn Aura combines sophisticated controls with a precise electric motor/generator mated to a 2.4-liter engine. The system delivers fuel economy gains by providing electric power assist during acceleration, through early fuel cut-off during deceleration with torque smoothing and by shutting the engine off at idle. The system also captures electrical energy through regenerative braking. The vehicle’s hybrid powertrain produces 164 horsepower (122 kW) at 6400 rpm and 159 lb.-ft. (215 Nm) of peak torque at 5000 rpm.

Saturn’s new hybrid sedan is based on the all-new Aura midsize sedan, which garnered the 2007 North American Car of the Year award. The Green Line features the same comprehensive safety package that earned Aura a full five stars in government frontal and side-impact crash tests, placing it among the safest vehicles available. (Visit safercar.gov for details.) Key standard features include dual-stage front, side head-curtain and front-seat thorax protection air bags; StabiliTrak electronic stability control; four-wheel disc brakes with ABS; and GM’s OnStar safety and security system.

The Saturn Aura Green Line is one of four hybrids that Saturn has announced. The 2007 Vue Green Line, which debuted last summer using the same hybrid technology as the Aura Green Line, provides the highest EPA estimated highway fuel economy of any SUV at 32 mpg.

In 2008, Saturn will offer the Vue Green Line with the first front-wheel-drive application of GM’s new, 2-mode hybrid system that is expected to deliver up to a 45-percent improvement in combined city and highway fuel economy compared with the non-hybrid Vue.

A plug-in hybrid that has the potential to achieve double the fuel efficiency of any current SUV, is also in development for the Vue. This hybrid SUV will use a modified version of GM’s 2-mode hybrid system and plug-in technology. A Lithium-ion battery pack, when ready, along with highly efficient electronics and powerful electric motors, will achieve even greater increases in fuel economy.

Complete information on the Aura Green Line and the rest of Saturn’s lineup can be found on the Web at www.saturn.com.

Opel Reveals Details on Performance-Oriented Corsa OPC

RUSSELSHEIM, Germany — The latest member of Opel's OPC lineup is the new Corsa OPC, a valiant little performer that is equipped with a 192-horsepower turbocharged engine and Recaro seats. Opel brass said they will begin to roll out the new Corsa model throughout Europe this month and noted that "Growth markets like Russia will also play a role." There are no plans to bring the compact three-door to the U.S., however.

The Corsa OPC goes from zero to 62 mph in 7.2 seconds and has a top speed of 140 mph. Maximum torque is pegged at 170 pound-feet, and the four-cylinder engine is linked to a standard six-speed transmission.

Exterior design cues include a roof spoiler, front and rear aprons with gills, and a triangular tailpipe. Cabin touches include a flat-bottomed leather sport steering wheel, aluminum pedals and piano black trim. The sport seats are a new joint development by Opel and Recaro. The Corsa OPC also gets 17-inch alloy wheels and variable-progressive steering. The chassis has been lowered by 0.6 inch compared with that of the base Corsa.

Electric Car Maker ZAP Releases Concept Drawings of New ZAP-X Crossover SUV

Electric car pioneer ZAP released design drawings of a new electric crossover SUV called ZAP-X engineered by Lotus. (PRNewsFoto/ZAP)

Electric car pioneer ZAP (BULLETIN BOARD: ZAAP) today unveiled concept drawings of the ZAP-X Crossover SUV on its website.

The images of the ZAP-X are also highlighted in the new issue of Popular Science, April 2007, in an article entitled "Who killed the gas guzzler?" including an interview with ZAP CEO Steve Schneider.

The Popular Science, April 2007 issue is on newsstands now as well as online at http://www.popsci.com/

The design sketches highlight the styling, performance and technology that ZAP plans to incorporate into the ZAP-X. The compact-SUV design will feature all-wheel drive with in-hub electric motors capable to deliver 644 horsepower and a top speed of 155mph. By combining a lightweight aluminum chassis, a new efficient drive system and advanced battery management system, the goal for the ZAP-X is to be able to achieve 350-mile range, with a rapid 10-minute recharging time.

Tecn drawing of the new ZAP-X electric crossover SUV engineered by Lotus. (ZAP)

"We believe that the ZAP-X will become the most advanced, most practical and most appealing flagship electric vehicle to date and will revolutionize the industry providing the driver with the enjoyment of a sports car and the practicality of an SUV," says ZAP CEO Steve Schneider.

ZAP currently markets an affordable city-speed electric car and truck called the XEBRA through its automotive distribution portal marketing. ZAP's authorized auto dealer network will offer sales, service and parts distribution for the lineup of vehicles being developed by ZAP and its strategic partners in Europe, Asia and South America.

About ZAP

ZAP has been a leader in advanced transportation technologies since 1994, delivering over 90,000 vehicles to consumers in more than 75 countries. At the forefront of fuel-efficient transportation with new technologies including energy efficient gas systems, hydrogen, electric, fuel cell, ethanol, hybrid and other innovative power systems, ZAP is developing a high-performance crossover SUV electric car concept called ZAP-X engineered by Lotus Engineering. The Company recently launched a new portable energy technology that manages power for mobile electronics, like cell phones and laptops. For more product, dealer and investor information, visit http://www.zapworld.com/

Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, continued acceptance of the Company's products, increased levels of competition for the Company, new products and technological changes, the Company's dependence upon third-party suppliers, intellectual property rights, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Source: ZAP

Autobeat | video - daily auto video!

AutoBeat Team have lauched Autobeat | video - Daily car videos and reviews, Street racing and RC car plane videos.

Mercedes-Benz launches integrated marketing campaign for the new C-Class

Mercedes-Benz is starting a comprehensive integrated marketing campaign for the new C-Class, which will be introduced to the market on March 31, 2007. Using the slogan “C-for Yourself,” the brand with the star is conducting a variety of communication activities via several channels to support the sales launch of its highest-volume model series.

The primary goal of the campaign is to convince customers around the world of the advantages of the versatile product
concept behind the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan, including two distinct front-end designs and outstanding comfort, agility and safety.

“Our objective for this campaign is to motivate customers to experience for themselves the superior driving culture offered by the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class,” says Dr. Olaf Göttgens, Vice President Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars. “All communication measures for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class are therefore geared toward direct contact with our customers and potential buyers. Along with our tried advertising methods, we will also be focusing strongly on various forms of direct communi-cation for the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, to be implemented at exclusive driving events. These measures will be accompanied by a Mercedes-Benz C-Class Mobile Marketing Special, a presen-tation within Second Life and interactive films on the Internet — innovative platforms that will enable us to reach existing and potential customers of our brand in a targeted manner.”

The integrated campaign for the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class was developed by BBDO France – following a pitch conducted with several markets - and is adapted to the requirements of the international markets. In Germany, the new lead agency Jung von Matt is carrying out the campaign for Mercedes-Benz with the slogan “C-for Yourself.”

The C-Class campaign will move into high gear on April 2, 2007, with the launch of advertisements in magazines and newspapers with high circulations. Like most of the other communication measures, the print ads, which invite customers to test-drive the sedan, feature a white C-Class Avantgarde model equipped with the AMG sports package. A 30-/40-second television commercial, to be broadcast on all public and commercial stations in Germany with high circulations, will feature the current Formula 1 world champion race car driver Fernando Alonso enthusiastically describing the outstanding handling qualities of the new C-Class. At the end of the commercial, Alonso, who drives for the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 team, symbolically hands over the keys to a new C-Class to the audience at home, thus inviting them to test-drive the vehicle and see what the sedan has to offer. This theme of handing over the keys is repeated as a motivating element in many components of the campaign. In the German market, the primary C-Class campaign will be supplemented by extensive retail marketing measures, radio commercials, outdoor ads and stadium advertising at soccer matches of the German national team.

Multimedia 360-degree soft configurator, interactive films and video podcast on the Internet

A particularly extensive and entertaining element of the international campaign is the online presentation at www.mercedes-benz.com/c-class. On the site, which Mercedes-Benz also advertises by banners on the Internet, customers and anyone else interested in the C-Class can view the vehicle as displayed against realistic backdrops and then configure it and study the results from various perspectives. The software allows users to select according to their personal tastes any combination of the model’s equipment lines, numerous color options, different types of light-alloy wheels, interior designs and selected optional features. The website also features an interactive assistant who guides users through the new 360-degree soft configurator. Several interactive films are available as well that show various individuals describing the most important details of the new C-Class as they take the vehicle out for a drive.

For anyone interested in the vehicle’s development, a specially produced video podcast (www.mercedes-benz.com/podcast) documents the creation of the C-Class in four episodes. Finally, the Mercedes-Benz Museum website (www.mercedes-benz.com/museum) takes visitors on a multimedia journey through the successful history of Mercedes-Benz’ best-selling model series ever.

Focus on direct communication: Customers experience safety, comfort and agility of the new C-Class at numerous driving events

With the new C-Class campaign, Mercedes-Benz continues to address existing and potential customers in the spirit of its core brand value of “Appreciation.” Direct communication is therefore a key element of a package of measures geared toward very personalized interaction with customers. To this end, customer events like the “Exclusive Driving Experience” in Barcelona and various partnership agreements with European hotel chains in popular vacation regions will offer customers and potential buyers the opportunity to individually test-drive the new C-Class in a relaxed atmosphere.

The “Exclusive Driving Experience” (April 1-3, 2007) will allow some 80 consumers from all over Europe to experience the C-Class in an especially attractive environment. In Barcelona participants at the event will be able to enjoy the exciting flair of the Catalonian capital. They will also take part in a slalom competition with production vehicles that will enable them to discover for themselves the outstanding comfort and agility of the new C-Class, as well as its safety features, which are unique in this segment. Participants will also visit the Circuit de Catalunya, where they will be able to drive an offroad course and go for “taxi rides” in a C-Class DTM model with Mercedes-Benz DTM drivers Bruno Spengler, Mathias Lauda and Bernd Schneider. On the evening of April 1, 2007, the guests in Barcelona will attend the Laureus Welcome Party for the Laureus World Sports Awards. King Juan Carlos of Spain and founding partner Mercedes-Benz are the patrons of the event, which honors top international athletes on April 2, 2007.

Vacationers who stay at selected Robinson Club Resorts and Westin Hotels & Resorts facilities in Germany, Austria, Scotland, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece between May and September 2007 can expect a completely new driving experience, as they will have the opportunity to test-drive the new C-Class in a relaxing atmosphere. Their drives will take them across beautiful and exciting routes as they learn to appreciate the superior quality and agility of the new model. Mercedes-Benz will also be offering people at premium shopping malls, such as the one in Metzingen, Germany, the opportunity to take spontaneous test drives during April and May 2007. And — as was the case with the successful introduction of the new-generation E-Class in the summer of 2006 — customers interested in the new C-Class will be able to experience it at selected non-automotive trade fairs that cover the areas of lifestyle, design and interior decorating such as „Maison & Objets“ in Paris, France (September 7-11, 2007).

The new model will also be demonstrating its superior culture of driving at the German Touring Car Masters series (DTM), starting on April 22, 2007. This year’s DTM features four AMG Mercedes C-Class vehicles from the new model series. The C-Class with its former models is already the most successful vehicle in the DTM today. Fans who attend DTM races at Hockenheimring and Lausitzring as well as DTM and the Formula 1 races at Nürburgring will be able to experience the new C-Class up close by riding in the DTM racing taxi or participating in driver-safety training sessions and various test drives.

C-Class Mobile Special

For the first time ever, Mercedes-Benz offers an innovative Mobile Special to attract the attention of customers and potential buyers while they are on the move. Special mobile client software can be called up either by text messaging (SMS) a number assigned to each country (for example in Germany, via an SMS marked “cklasse” to 88044) or directly from the Mercedes-Benz website in the participating markets. Those who access the software receive images of the new C-Class’ interior and exterior, and are also provided with technical data. They can then utilize the soft configurator to put together their dream car on the basis of various model versions, colors and wheel rims. The Mobile Special also contains the dates of C-Class events and invitations to them, as well as films, photos and engine sounds that can be downloaded. Mercedes-Benz is advertising the Special on Vodafone Live and other mobile portals. Beginning in mid-March, ten white C-Class models will travel across Europe, starting in Bremen, Germany, and then moving through the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy and France to Barcelona for the Laureus World Sports Awards. The white sedans will highlight the Mobile Special in numerous cities during their European tour. The C-Class Mobile Special is available as a Java application that runs on more than 30 of the most commonly used mobile terminals, and in a simpler WAP-version for cell phones that are not Java-enabled.
Virtual C-Class also available in the online world of Second Life

Since the C-Class does not only generate excitement in real life, the new Avantgarde model with the AMG package has started to become available on March 16, 2007, in Mercedes-Benz’ virtual representation at Second Life (www.secondlife.com — coordinates 128.128.11). All residents of this online world can purchase a virtual model of the C-Class for 1,500 Linden Dollars (approx. four Euros) or virtually test-drive it on a challenging track. Tens of thousands of people from all over the world have visited the Mercedes-Benz island since its opening on February 20, 2007, and the site is one of the most frequently visited corporate presentations in Second Life (www.mercedes-benz.com/secondlife).

Nissan Brings Yahoo! Gourmet To Drivers

Nissan and Yahoo Japan today jointly announced the start of a new service that allows drivers to access Yahoo! Gourmet online via the Nissan CARWINGS navigation system in Japan. The collaboration is the first time Yahoo Japan’s internet services has been made available on-board a vehicle. Nissan CARWINGS users become the first in Japan to receive navigation assistance to find restaurants and complete information including images, reviews by other
diners, and barcode coupons through Yahoo! Gourmet.

Since October 2006, Nissan has been offering an expanded range of services through its CARWINGS system, the world's first advanced integrated internet navigation service, designed to combine the adventure of discovery with timely and relevant information. By providing on-board Internet access, Yahoo Japan has been actively expanding its Yahoo Everywhere coverage to cellular phones, television and other media channels.

Nissan and Yahoo Japan are both able to enhance their services to customers by collaborating to bring wider Yahoo online access to drivers and passengers in their vehicles. Nissan has improved its internet navigation service to allow hi-quality delivery of images from Yahoo! Gourmet even including barcode coupons for restaurants.

New CARWINGS service

While the previous CARWINGS system had provided drivers with restaurant and dining information edited by its content providers, the new collaboration with Yahoo Japan brings greater added-value such as personal recommendations from Yahoo! Gourmet readers.

Nissan CARWINGS provides three new information channels for customers to search for their favorite restaurants.

BMW Confirms X6 Name for New Crossover

MUNICH, Germany — Twelve months after BMW confirmed it was planning to introduce a coupe-inspired SUV to complement the hugely successful X5, the upcoming model has an official name: X6.

In announcing the news to journalists at BMW's press conference in Munich this week, Chairman Norbert Reithofer also provided a major boost to BMW's burgeoning North American operations by confirming the X6 will be assembled alongside the mechanically identical X5 at the company's plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

The X6 production volume will be relatively small compared to the X5, say insiders, with initial estimates put at between 20,000 and 30,000 units annually.

Scheduled to make an appearance as a lightly veiled concept car next January at the North American International Auto Show, the X6 will ultimately go on sale across North America toward the end of 2008. Based on the second-generation X5's four-wheel-drive underpinnings, the new car is planned to receive its own unique four-door body, with a heavily sloping roof serving to differentiate it visually from its more upright sibling.

Engines are set to include carryover versions of BMW's inline six-cylinder and V8 gasoline units, with the likelihood of the German carmaker's excellent new twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder diesel appearing as well.

Lamborghini Diablo-Based Alar 777

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Jorge Antonio Fernandez Garcia is in the news again. The Argentinean sports-car lover who received special permission from Lamborghini in the 1990s to use the famous brand name will introduce a new model, the Alar 777, at a local show at the end of this month.

Garcia, who also uses the name Joan Ferci, introduced a highly modified Diablo in the late 1990s. Called the Coatl, it looked, er, special. Then came the Eros, and then silence.

For years Garcia/Ferci and Lamborghini Latinoamerica kept a low profile, but it seems they were still active.

Autoblog Argentina reports that the company will introduce its new Alar 777 at a Buenos Aires tuning show. It is yet again a modified Diablo, with outrageous styling and a V12 Lamborghini engine, tuned to 700 horsepower. Top speed is claimed to be 224 mph.

Hyundai Adds an Under-$25,000 Model to Azera Lineup

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. — In a bid to retain its image as one of the value leaders in the industry, Hyundai on Thursday rolled out a new bottom-of-the-line model for its Azera lineup. The Azera GLS carries a $24,895 sticker price, including a $660 destination charge, and features a 234-horsepower 3.3-liter DOHC V6. The Azera SE and Limited models are equipped with the 263-hp 3.8-liter DOHC V6.

The GLS is outfitted with a five-speed automatic transmission, like the SE and Limited models. It also gets standard electronic stability control with traction control, eight airbags, a six-speaker AM/FM/XM/CD audio system and power front seats. A power sunroof adds another $950 to the bottom line.

The Korean automaker has also boosted the price of the midrange Azera SE model by $800. The SE now comes with standard 17-inch wheels. The new price is $26,195, including a $660 shipping charge. The price of the top-of-the-line Azera Limited is unchanged at $27,995, including shipping.

The New Volkswagen CrossTouran: The Most Successful German Van Is Launched as a Cross Model

• SUV elements of the Volkswagen CrossTouran emphasize its lifestyle character
• Volkswagen CrossTouran starts with six engines; power range from 102 PS to 170 PS
• Only van in world with TSI engines, dual clutch transmission (DSG) and park steering assist (Park Assist)

Cross is beautiful - Volkswagen CrossTouran, Volkswagen CrossGolf and Volkswagen CrossPolo

Volkswagen brings third crossover model to market with Volkswagen CrossTouran.

Volkswagens with the supplemental “Cross” name are specialists in the variety of everyday life. Their bodies are striking, their interiors are fresh and their chassis are built high. The first model of this type was the Volkswagen CrossPolo in 2006, which is already a bestseller today. In January 2007, Volkswagen sent the second model of this species onto the market in the form of the Volkswagen CrossGolf. Just two months later, number 3 followed: The Volkswagen CrossTouran. An all-around talent with lifestyle character that is multi­variable, extremely spacious and cleverly designed.

* Volkswagen CrossTouran shows character. The new van is based on the Touran that was redesigned last fall. Like the Volkswagen CrossPolo and Volkswagen CrossGolf, the Volkswagen CrossTouran is characterized by robust guard strips, powerful wheel arches, modified bumpers and redesigned alloy wheels. In the front, 17-inch “Funplay” type wheels are equipped with size 215 tires, and in the rear with size 235 tires. In parallel, the vehicle’s track width was increased. Fitting into its powerful appearance: The chassis that was elevated by approx. 12 millimeters. Thanks to its roomy interior it comes highly recommended as an ideal companion for uncomplicated transport of mountain bikes, hang gliders, or any kind of sporting equipment. Aside from all of its practical aspects, the new van with its individual outfit represents an alternative for all those who like things sportier and earthier.

* The Volkswagen CrossTouran parks for you. A technological highlight of the model series, which is unique worldwide, is its optional park steering assist system called “Park Assist” (including the “Park Pilot” distance warning system in front and rear, and “Hill Hold Control” hill climb assist). The “Park Assist” system developed by Volkswagen performs parking nearly automatically. Its operation is intuitive, and it is activated by the press of a button.

The strong exterior of the new Volkswagen CrossTouran in detail

* Front end of the Volkswagen CrossTouran. The new Volkswagen CrossTouran is identified in front by details that include its “Matte chrome” insignia radiator grille, partially black headlamp housings, black guard strips, and bumper redesigned especially in its lower area with standard fog lamps. Distinctive: Black, textured trim covers in the spoiler area, similar to those found on SUVs.

* Silhouette of the Volkswagen CrossTouran. On its sides the Volkswagen CrossTouran is also marked by black body covers around the doors, rocker panels and fenders. The accent strips on the doors, sill panels and wheel arches, all produced from the same high-quality black grained plastic, provide effective protection against parking damage and emphasize its robust exterior. Like the add-on parts, the door handles are also sporty black. Also mounted on black brackets is the standard roof rail made of silver anodized metal.

* Rear end of the Volkswagen CrossTouran. In the rear area the Volkswagen CrossTouran has been individualized by taillights with dark bodies and a robust bumper design that fits in with the overall vehicle concept with its wrap-around black trim.

The newly designed interior of the new Volkswagen CrossTouran in detail

* Inside the Volkswagen CrossTouran reveals color. In the interior there are new fabrics, materials and colors such as the fresh “Orange”, designed exclusively for the new Cross Model. In combination with its standard highly variable and ergonomic interior, up to seven seats and up to 1,989 liters of cargo volume, the Volkswagen CrossTouran can be recommended as a vehicle capable of taking on nearly any challenge.

Overview of the engines of the Volkswagen CrossTouran

* Maximum power, minimum consumption I: TSI. The Volkswagen CrossTouran is driven by economic four-cylinder engines. They output between 75 kW / 102 PS and 125 kW / 170 PS. Highlights in the gasoline area are the direct-injecting TSI engines; turbocharger plus supercharger plus downsizing all lead to a ratio of power, torque and consumption that is unique worldwide. Both Volkswagen CrossTouran TSI engines are more economical than the 102 PS version, despite their greater power. Especially interesting here is a look at the 170 PS TSI that is shifted via the standard innovative dual clutch transmission DSG. At 7.8 liters fuel consumption per 100 kilometers the 206 km/h fast CrossTouran TSI betters the fuel consumption of the already economical base model by 0.5 liters per 100 kilometers.

* Maximum power, minimum consumption II: TDI. Just as powerful as they are economical are the three TDIs of the new Volkswagen CrossTouran, delivering power of 77 kW / 105 PS and 125 kW / 170 PS. They all have standard diesel particulate filter, consume between 6.2 and 7.0 liters fuel per 100 kilometers, and – like the two TSI versions – they can be paired with the DSG dual clutch transmission.


Note:
All data and equipment contained in this press release apply to models offered in Germany.They may differ in other countries. All information is subject to change or correction.

TDI, TSI, DSG and Twincharger are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG or other companies of the Volkswagen Group in Germany and other countries.

Source: Volkswagen Group

The new Toyota Yaris SR: sporting and refined

The Toyota Yaris SR 1.8 is a new flagship model for the Yaris range, bringing sports performance, style and refinement to a car that’s already a leader in terms of safety, equipment and comfort.

It is powered by a new 1.8-litre petrol engine with Dual VVT-i technology and benefits from sports-tuned steering and suspension, a striking body kit, 17-inch alloy wheels and a premium equipment specification that offers more in terms of comfort and convenience features than any of its segment rivals. Add to that Yaris’s class-leading safety performance, with a five-star Euro NCAP adult passenger safety rating and a unique-in-class standard-fit driver’s knee airbag and
you have a formidable all-round package.

Beyond the SR 1.8, Toyota is also introducing new SR versions of the Yaris, powered by the 1.3-litre VVT-i petrol and 1.4 D-4D 90 diesel engines. These combine sports styling and high equipment specification with highly competitive prices and ownership costs.

New 1.8-litre Dual VVT-i engine

The SR 1.8 is the first Toyota to be powered by the new 1.8 Dual VVT-i petrol engine, equipped with intelligent timing for both intake and exhaust valves to deliver smoother performance and greater efficiency. Maximum output of 131bhp (133 DIN hp) is achieved at 6,000rpm, with 173Nm of torque delivered at 4,400rpm. This gives nought to 62mph acceleration in 9.3 seconds, with combined cycle fuel economy of 39.2mpg. Carbon dioxide emissions are 170g/km, placing the SR 1.8 in Band E for Vehicle Excise Duty.

Sports chassis, suspension and steering

The SR 1.8’s chassis and suspension are tuned for good handling and ride comfort. The suspension has also been lowered for a more rewarding driving experience and the Electric Power Steering has been adjusted for quicker and more precise response to driver input. Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRC) are provided as standard, in addition to ABS, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA).

Design and equipment

The Yaris SR 1.8 is available in both three and five-door body styles. To complement its sportier performance, it features a rear roof spoiler, side skirts, chrome sports exhaust, LED tail lights and deeper front and rear bumpers, the front fitted with integrated fog lights. The interior is equipped with sports seats and an upholstery fabric that’s exclusive to the model. There’s also a leather trimmed steering wheel, chrome trim detailing and an amber-lit Optitron instrument display with analogue read-outs.

Building on the high specification of the existing Yaris T Spirit model, the SR 1.8 gains exclusive-design 17-inch alloy wheels, plus VSC with TRC and sports pedals. It also features climate control air conditioning with pollen filter, Smart Entry and Start system, six-speaker audio system with CD player and MP3/WMA file playing function (from disc), a reach and rake-adjustable steering column, electrically adjustable door mirrors and front fog lamps.

High equipment, high value SR grade models

The arrival of the SR 1.8 gives the Yaris a new sporty dimension and its impact is spreading further into the model range with the introduction of other new SR versions powered by Toyota’s 1.3-litre VVT-i petrol and 1.4-litre D-4D 90 diesel engines. Launched at the same time as the SR 1.8, these feature models enable customers to enjoy sports styling and high equipment specification with competitive on-the-road prices and ownership costs.

The SR 1.3 and 1.4 D-4D match the current T Spirit specification with the addition of turbine-style 15-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, chrome exhaust finisher, front scuff plates and brushed alloy gear knob. Other high quality features include the Smart Entry and Start system, climate control air conditioning and front fog lamps. In spite of all these extra features, the SR models are £615 cheaper than their T Spirit equivalents.

Prices

MODEL	OTR PRICE
SR 1.3 VVT-i three-door	£10,695
SR 1.3 VVT-i three-door M/M	£11,195
SR 1.3 VVT-i five-door	£11,195
SR 1.3 VVT-i five-door M/M	£11,695
SR 1.4 D-4D three-door	£11,665
SR 1.4 D-4D three-door M/M	£12,165
SR 1.4 D-4D five-door	£12,165
SR 1.4 D-4D five-door M/M	£12,665
SR 1.8 Dual VVT-i three-door	£12,995
SR 1.8 Dual VVT-i five-door	£13,495

World Car Of The Year Semi-Finalists Announced

Following up from the quarter-finalists announcement in January, now the 44 international judges that make up the World Car of the Year awards jury have let out their top-three lists in the categories Green Car, Car Design, Performance Car, and the overall World Car of the Year for the 2007 model year. The winners are to be announced at the awards ceremony held at the New York Auto Show on the morning of April 5.

2007 World Green Car finalists:
BMW Hydrogen 7
Mercedes-Benz E320 Bluetec
Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion

2007 World Car Design of the Year finalists:
Audi TT
Citroën C4 Picasso
Fiat Grande Punto

2007 World Performance Car finalists:
Audi RS4
BMW 335i
Porsche 911 Turbo

2007 World Car of the Year finalists:
Audi TT
Lexus LS460
MINI

via news.windingroad.com

VIDEO: Geneva 2007: Concept Cars (english)

The 77th Geneva Motor Show offered an amazing view into the future.

Bmw 3 Series Coupé wins Gold Medal for design

The BMW 3 Series Coupé has received a prestigious thumbs up in the influential 2007 “Industrie Forum Design iF Product Design Awards”, collecting an exclusive iF Gold Award.
The 3 Series Coupé follows in the wheel tracks of the E90 3 Series Sedan, which was judged a winner last year for outstanding excellence in design.

The BMW Group is also celebrating the recognition of its K 1200 GT and
F 800 S motorcycles, while four industrial designs by BMW Group’s Designworks USA also
picked up awards.

An international panel of judges selected the 3 Series Coupé for being one of the most outstanding examples this year of attractive and successful product design worldwide.

Products designed by BMW Group Designworks USA were also recognised. This very special subsidiary of the BMW Group has studios in Munich, Singapore, and is headquartered in Newbury Park near Los Angeles.

Designers at these three studios focus on the automobile and motorcycle, on information technology, industry and travel, objects and space, life and leisure time, as well as home and office.

In the iF Product Design Awards 2007, BMW Group Designworks USA won four iF Awards, for the interior equipment and fitting for the Embraer Phenom 300 private jet and the interior of John Deere's 850J Crawler in the Transportation category. It also won for designing a recycling unit for plastic bottles and aluminium cans as well as a vacuum cleaner made by the traditional Danish manufacturer Nilfisk.

In all, the Awards considered presentations from no less than 2,293 products from 35 countries.

The iF Label is renowned and acknowledged the world over as a symbol of comprehensive, up-to-date product quality in design. Present-ed once a year, this special Award gives leading designers, manufacturers and brands the unique opportunity to successfully face global, inter-disciplinary and therefore highly challenging competition.

In recent years the BMW Group has won a large number of prizes and awards. Numerous vehicles as well as accessories and lifestyle products marketed by BMW Group brands already wear the iF Label.

In the annual iF Product Design Award products are assessed in 12 categories ranging from Consumer Electronics and Telecommunications through Household/Living, Leisure Time/Lifestyle, Industry/Buildings, and Public Design/Interior Architecture all the way to Transportation and Packaging.

The criteria applied by the jury in presenting the award include the degree of innovation of a new product, its functionality, the visualisation of its purpose, safety, as well as the environmental compatibility of a new product.

A 160 CDI and B 200 CDI: Mercedes-Benz is awarded the prestigious Car Environment Certificate

The internationally renowned environmental institute Öko Trend has awarded its Car Environment Certificate to two Mercedes Benz models. Both the A 160 CDI and the B 200 CDI manufactured by the Stuttgart brand achieved top marks during an extensive and critical analysis by specialists at the independent institute.

The two Mercedes-Benz models concerned achieved well-above-average results in all areas. In the view of the institute, they not only achieve excellent values with respect to fuel consumption and exhaust/noise emissions, but also excel by virtue of environmentally friendly production, materials and logistics.

The Öko-Trend institute was full of praise for these impressive results: "The Mercedes A 160 CDI may be seen as one of the most eco-friendly vehicles with a conventional drive system," the experts found. "The development phase for this compact car was already based on a comprehensive environmental concept which takes the entire lifecycle of the vehicle into consideration. Numerous specific measures have reduced emissions during the production and operation of the new A-Class by approximately 17 percent compared to the preceding model. All in all, Mercedes has set new ecological standards for conventionally powered vehicles with the new A-Class." The A 160 CDI consumes 4.9 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres, which corresponds to a CO2 value of 128 grams.

According to the findings of Öko-Trend, the Mercedes-Benz B-Class is distinguished by "a high degree of variability and spaciousness, as well as convincing environmental credentials". The Öko-Trend institute had special praise for the power unit of the B 200 CDI: "The 140-hp diesel engine is equipped with a particulate filter as standard. Thanks to a high torque of 300 Nm, which is already available from 1600 rpm, this engine allows a relaxed style of driving and early upshifts. A fuel consumption of six litres per 100 km is feasible in practice. All in all, therefore, the Mercedes B 200 CDI achieves a very good environmental rating." The institute also emphasised the high ecological standards that generally apply at Mercedes-Benz.

The "Öko-Trend Institute for Environmental Research" founded by the Bergische University of Wuppertal has been publishing research reports about the eco-friendliness of car models since 1997. Last year the environmental specialists at this financially independent and neutral institute expanded their analytical activities, and began to issue their internationally renowned Öko-Trend Car Environment Certificate, which is only awarded to vehicles which meet particularly high environmental standards. In making their assessment, the specialists take not only vehicle-specific criteria such as fuel consumption and exhaust/noise emissions into account, but also environmental parameters relating to production, logistics, recyclability and the manufacturer’s environmental management systems. The certificate is only awarded to vehicles which achieve at least 90 percent of the maximum score in all assessment criteria.

To date only 15 car models worldwide have been awarded the Certificate, among them the recently certificated Mercedes-Benz model A 160 CDI in the compact class and the B 200 CDI in the compact van class.