Fast 4 Speed

Aston Martin DBR9

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 05:26:07 PST

Aston Martin Racing has revealed further details of its all-new DBR9 that will spearhead the marque's return to international motor racing in 2005.

This new GT racing car, which is based on the latest Aston Martin production sports car, DB9, is being prepared by Aston Martin Racing's partners, Prodrive, based at Banbury, UK. Prodrive is responsible for the design, development and management of the DBR9 racing programme.

The first DBR9 is being prepared now and will compete during 2005 in selected international sports car events, including Le Mans 24 Hours. Three Aston Martin Racing Works teams will then be appointed to compete in major international sports cars series. These will be independent teams each racing two DBR9s with the full factory support of Aston Martin Racing. Aston Martin Racing will also make a very limited number of DBR9 racing cars available to selected customers. These cars will be prepared to the same specification as the Works cars.

"The design of DB9 lends itself to be translated perfectly into the DBR9 race car," said Jeremy Main, Aston Martin's Director of Product Development & Motorsport. "While DBR9 has been planned for outright performance, every surface sculpture and design detail has been developed to the same high standards as our road cars." Power for the DB9 comes from a 450bhp all-alloy, 48-valve, 6.0-litre V12 engine which gives it a top speed of more than 180mph (300kph). The DB9 is offered with a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. The DBR9 will naturally be far more powerful than the DB9.

Aston Martin unveils Centenary Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 05:18:02 PST

Billed by Aston Martin as the “ultimate GT car,” this bespoke version of the luxury coupe will be available worldwide, though only 100 vehicles will be built. The company has also announced that similar centenary editions of the V8 Vantage, DB9 and Rapide are in the offing.

The main appeal of the Centenary Edition Vanquish is aesthetic. The interior is dominated by black leather with silver stitching previously only available in the One-77 hypercar, and there’s special silver embroidery of the Aston Martin wings in the head restraints. Going further with the motif, there’s also solid sterling silver sill plaques individually numbered with an Aston Martin hallmark.

According to Aston Martin, the purchaser also gets a presentation box containing two glass keys with leather key pouches that match the interior leather, solid silver cuff links featuring the Aston Martin script, a solid silver Rollerball pen, a pair of Bang & Olufsen headphones and a silver polishing cloth to buff up the badges and plaques.

The company notes that some specification details will vary from market by market, but they’ll all enjoy a special Centenary Edition paint finish, which adds an average of 18 hours to the painting process that already takes more than 50 hours to complete. This bespoke process involves building up a graduated finish by adding special “tinters” to create the darker inner color and is applied by hand with a “special mini-jet spray gun.”

Aston Martin Design Director Marek Reichman said that the paint job was almost like a makeup chart. “The team has looked closely at the individual contour lines of each of the cars to determine not only the right colors and shades, but also to create a template by which the paint changes from dark to light and where the graduated effect sits.”

Even without the special paint job and the silver cuff links the Vanquish isn't anything to sneeze at. The body is of bonded aluminum, magnesium alloy and carbon fiber composites and the engine is a 48-valve 5.9 liter V12 with independent quad variable camshaft timing punching 565 bhp (421 kW) and 457 ft lb (620 Nm) of torque. It does 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.1 seconds, on the way to a maximum speed of 183 mph (295 km/h). There’s also a six-speed touchtronic 2 automatic gearbox, limited-slip differential, and electronically controlled rack and pinion power-assisted steering.

The suspension is a lightweight aluminum front subframe with hollow castings and front independent double wishbone incorporating anti-dive geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers. In the rear, there are independent double wishbones with anti-squat and anti-lift geometry. These are backed up by a three-stage adjustable adaptive damping system with normal, sport and track modes and ventilated carbon ceramic disc brakes front and rear with an anti-lock braking system.

The Centenary Edition Vanquish is now available for orders. The price has not been mentioned, but when the company is handing out goodie bags with sterling silver accessories in them, it is definitely not going to be cheap.

The video below is Aston Martin's introduction to the Centenary Edition Vanquish.

Mercedes-Benz new entry level CLA-Class

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 05:30:01 PST

Mercedes is touting its new CLA-Class as "a real Mercedes. But not as you know it." The new mid-size four-door coupe is designed to bring the three points into a new demographic of garages, broadening Mercedes' appeal to a younger generation of buyer. The CLA is essentially a baby CLS, which Mercedes says is Germany's best-selling luxury car. The four-door, based on last year's Concept Style Coupe, was revealed at a preview event on the night before this year's North American International Auto Show.

"We aim to reach new target groups with the CLA – including those who never wanted to drive a Mercedes," said Dr Joachim Schmidt, executive vice president Mercedes-Benz cars, sales and marketing, in a statement.

Mercedes pins those hopes on sporty styling that it refers to as "rebel" and "avant-garde." Like the Style Coupe concept, the CLA has a sporty flair defined by a sloped profile and interplay between concave and convex surfaces. Three distinct lines carved across the flanks team together to give the car a sophisticated, dynamic look.

Meanwhile, the rear quarter and its subtle haunches are designed to convey a sense of power to the eye, letting you know the CLA is ready to burst forward when rallied into action. The panoramic sunroof that connects front and rear windshields is available as an option.

The CLA-Class's flowing curves pay off with a drag coefficient of 0.23, which Mercedes says is the lowest of any series-production vehicle. Those airflow characteristics should ensure that the 208-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder will be able to deliver riveting performance while getting the most out of the gas in the tank. The engine is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and available with a 4MATIC permanent all-wheel-drive system.

Mercedes uses a combination of McPherson strut suspension up front, independent multi-link suspension in back, electromechanical power steering, and flexible decoupling of the rear axle sub-frame to give the youthful CLA buyer a ride that should be lively and spry.

The CLA-Class comes standard with safety assistance systems, including the Attention Assist drowsiness detection and radar-based Collision Prevention Assist with adaptive Brake Assist. Other technologies like Blind Spot Assist and Lane Keeping Assist can be added optionally.

The CLA supports the connected lifestyle with Mercedes' mbrace2 connectivity platform that connects to the cloud for apps and concierge services. The car will also include Mercedes' new Apple Siri integration. A 5.8-inch display and Bluetooth come standard, and the optional 7-inch display with the Multimedia package brings the COMAND system with hard-drive navigation, voice control, an SD card slot, an in-dash 6-disc CD/DVD changer, a 10 GB music register, a rear-view camera and SiriusXM Traffic & Weather.

The CLA will become the entry point for the Mercedes-Benz brand when it goes on sale in September 2013 (4MATIC version in 2014), and Mercedes describes the price point as "unexpected." It will reveal just how unexpected in a Super Bowl commercial next month.

Hennessey Venom GT sets new production car acceleration world record

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 05:23:34 PST

American tuning house Hennessey Performance Engineering is crowing after its own production car, the Hennessey Venom GT, set a new Guinness World Record for the world’s fastest accelerating production car. To claim the record, the vehicle completed two runs in opposite directions within one hour of each other that averaged out to a time of 13.63 seconds to go from 0-300 km/h (186.4 mph).

The acceleration runs were piloted by John Kiewicz and conducted southeast of Houston, Texas, on an 8,000 foot-long runway at Ellington Airport on January 10, 2013. The first run, with the assistance of a 6 km/h (4 mph) tailwind, saw the supercar accelerate from 0-300 km/h in 13.18 seconds, while on the second run into a 10 km/h (6 mph) headwind the car took 14.08 seconds to reach the same speed.

This averages out to 13.63 seconds, which was more than enough to claim the world record from the Koenigsegg Agera, which held the previous record of 14.53 seconds.

Powered by a 7.0-liter (427 cubic inch) V8 producing 1,244 hp and 1,155 lb-ft of torque, the record-breaking two-seater, real-wheel-drive vehicle is street-legal and tips the scales at just 1,244 kg (2,743 lb) – or to put it another way, the vehicle boasts a power-to-weight ratio of one horsepower per kilogram of curb weight.

The Venom GT also set a new unofficial acceleration record of 0-200 mph (322 km/h) in 14.51 seconds that bested the Koenigsegg Agera R’s record of 17.68 seconds by 3.17 seconds and shamed the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, which takes 22.2 seconds to hit the 200 mph mark. However, this record remains unofficial because Guinness only recognizes runs made in km/h.

With Hennessey only planning to build 29 Venom GTs, and one third of these having already been sold, such stomach churning acceleration will only be experienced by a select few who can also spare the car’s US$1.2 million asking price.

Video of the Guinness World Record-setting runs can be seen below.

KTM's 1290 Superduke R prototype

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 05:45:57 PST

The most exciting exhibit at either Intermot or EICMA was the first showing of the KTM 1290 Superduke R prototype – a super-lightweight, trellis-framed naked bike powered by a 1290cc version of the proven RC8R V-twin, complete with drive-by-wire, lots of (disengageable) electronic rider assistance, lashings of carbon fiber, new prototype WP suspension at both ends and the promise of a production version within 12 months.

The excitement is based not so much on what is known about the new prototype, but what the bike is based on. The RC8 R engine upon which the bike is developed, produces 129 kW (173 hp) of power and torque of 120 Nm (88.5 lb.ft) in its 1190cc form, with rumors suggesting the new bike will have somewhere between 180 and 200 horsepower by the time it hits showrooms.

Whatsmore, thanks to the removal of everything that's not entirely necessary, the chrome molybdenum trellis frame and the carbon fiber everything else, this bike can be expected to be much lighter than the RC8 R which already tips the scales at 200 kg with a full tank and all lubricants.

Hence the new 1290 Superduke R built with "ready to race" KTM ethos is undoubtedly going to be in the same category of power and weight as the best-of-breed Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R, BMW S1000RR and Ducati Panigale 1199.

Indeed, it just might be lighter than the Panigale with a better power to weight ratio than anything else, and it will come complete WITHOUT a praying-mantis-doing-yoga riding position.

The last few weeks have seen a number of teaser images emanate from KTM, with even a recording of the bike's snarling engine having been released before we saw it in the flesh.

KTM must feel that it is on a roll at present, having just won the inaugural Moto3 title and with its smaller sporty Duke's gaining traction around the developing world thanks to the relationship with India's Bajaj Auto, the third largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world.

The Weirdest Ride For Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 05:49:33 PST

With more than 1,200 cars to sell over six days, the Barrett-Jackson auctions in Scottsdale, Ariz., has become the world's largest bazaar for car collectors. Unlike most collector auctions, the vast majority of vehicles at Barrett-Jackson roll on the auction stage with no reserve price, drawing thousands of potential bidders looking for a deal — as well as sellers who hope the exposure can give their prized set of wheels a maximum price, even if those wheels come attached to a Yugo convertible. Here's the oddest machines that will cross the Barrett-Jackson stage next week.

Mike Joy, the collector car analyst who narrates SPEED TV's coverage of the auctions starting Jan. 17, has seen a fleet of weirdness roll across the stage over the years, and has a theory about the kind of crowd they attract.

“Who else has one? That’s the questions your trying to answer for," Joy says. "There are many collectors with an eclectic taste leaning toward ‘one of a kind’ or ‘the last one left,’ or ‘you don’t see those every day.’ These types of cars inject a little bit of humor into the auction, and they are fun for everybody to see – whether you would like to take one home or not.”

Take the model above, a pristine 1990 Yugo CV Cabrio with just 351 miles; even its auction catalog entry references the "poor workmanship" Yugos were famous for. "The Yugo convertible was probably the answer to a question that no one had asked," Joy says. "So, this vehicle is going to be very rare, near new, and it will be an absolute steal because you would hope only one more person would show up that would want to buy this car.”

Motorized Yellow Submarine

More of a tribute than properly licensed Beatles memorabilia, this piece combines the grandeur of toy submarines with the seagoing ability of a one-cylinder go-kart, although one that plays Beatles songs at speed. "It’s a great piece of whimsy," Joy says. "There’s really nothing in the description about its powerplant, its handling prowess or anything like that, so this is a parade car similar to the little cars you might see the Shriners drive – something that somebody can have some fun with.”

1989 Dodge Shelby CSX, 18 miles

Apparently twice a month for two decades, except in winter, the owner of this 1989 Dodge Shelby Shadow CSX would start it up, drive it 100 yards, then promptly shut it off. It will be driven further than that onto the Barrett-Jackson auction block with 18 miles, in mint running condition. Assuming it's a 1989 CSX-VNT, it's one of only 500 made, and one of far fewer with its rare variable vane turbo and composite wheels intact, impressive technology even though it only made 175 hp. Two years ago, a similar Shelby Shadow with 7,622 miles sold for $7,975, so this Shadow's final price will demonstrate the value of Shelby's name. Joy says it's perfect for the Dodge dealer who wants to complete his garage of performance models; I say it's the fixie bike of hipster ironic vehicle collecting.

1965 Amphicar 770 Convertible

Having seen an Amphicar in action, I can vouch that what looks like an ungainly and stumpy ride on dry land transforms into the coolest craft upon the waves. The first truly submersible car/boat requires massive upkeep to stay in driving/floating condition, and with only 3,878 built, the surviving examples have become sought-after collector cars.

"They aren’t horrible to drive, but the truth is, they weren’t a very good car and they weren’t a very good boat," says Joy. "However, they could be used as either and they have a small, somewhat twisted, yet very avid following.”

How avid? Last March, a similar Amphicar drew $63,000 at auction, from someone who clearly saw the price as buying two kinds of classics in one.

1957 BMW Isetta Convertible

Once made famous as Steve Urkel's ride of choice, BMW's diminutive four-wheeler ranks among the more hotly contested classic minicars around, with mint-condition examples running close to $50,000.

"The taxi theme is kind of interesting because these are only two-seaters to begin with, and the only door is in the front," Joy said, adding "this car will probably sell for more than it would cost to buy a brand new New York City taxi today."

1981 Zimmer 2-Door Coupe

It's too bad Ricardo Montalbán isn't still around to introduce the 1981 Zimmer, the rich Corinthian leather of motoring, inasmuch as it's a made-up thing (from fiberglass panels bolted to the body of a Ford Granada) that sounds super classy. Zimmer calls its cars "neo-classics," not kits, and will build a new one from a modern Ford Mustang for $133,000. Copies such as this one typically run anywhere from $16,000 to $25,000.

Tricycle Helicopter

I wish the builder of this toy chopper from a kid's fairground ride had shared the same amount of imagination as the Yellow Submarine crew and done this as a proper tribute to Airwolf.

2003 Harley-Davidson Softtail Deuce in a box

When Peter Fonda rode a Harley in "Easy Rider," he never imagined that one day someone would pay homage to the spirit of freedom he embodied by buying a 100th Anniversary Edition Harley and immediately putting it back in its shipping container. The target market for this will be the same guy who drove his Dodge Shelby Shadow a mile a year.

Dragon Master Semi Truck and Trailer

For the past decade, self-employed logger Dale Ison has commissioned artist Mickey Harris to create airbrushed tribute vehicles; if you've been to a regional car show, you've probably seen the "Heroes" Cadillac Escalade in its chromed, history-blending glory. Ison has put that Escalade up for sale at Barrett-Jackson this year, along with what ranks as the most over-the-top semi-tractor and trailer ever conceived. Dubbed "Dragon Master," the hand-painted murals took about 3,800 man-hours of work, and Ison has estimated the value of time and materials at $130,000. If there's anyone in the world who shares Ison's fervor for Kenworth-powered dragon fighting Norsemen on horseback, they'll probably have a bidding card at Barrett-Jackson

5 New Cars To Buy In 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 05:42:09 PST

The retail price of Lamborghini’s first production vehicle, the 350 GT, cost $13,900 when it debuted in 1964. That’s equivalent to roughly $103,000 today–much less than the $442,000 Aventador LP700-4 Roadster we saw debut in Los Angeles last month. Talk about refining the brand.

If you’re not of the Lamborghini persuasion, there are plenty of other options for hot new things on the market in 2013. Here’s a quick primer on five of them. And fret not, my dear penny-pinchers–they all cost much less than the Lambo.

BMW M6 Gran Coupe

BMW has downsized the new M6 – but the good news is that less means more. As with last year’s M5 super-saloon, the charismatic F1-derived 5.0-litre V10 has been replaced with a more mainstream 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8. In the process, though, fuel economy has been improved by 30 percent, and power increased by 10 percent to 552bhp. The new V8’s torque curve is also absolutely flat all the way from 1500 to 5750rpm, dishing up a muscular 502lb ft in the process – 118lb ft more than before.

Mercedes-Benz CLA45 AMG

Having already seen the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class sitting out in the open fully exposed, in what appear to be leaked press pictures and even some official "spy" shots straight from Mercedes-Benz, we weren't sure how much more of the car we could see before its debut at the Detroit Auto Show in a couple weeks.

Now we know... Indian Autos Blog now has some images of a diecast model showing a scaled-down look at the car in full production form, and while we don't know what company produced this model, it is very highly detailed.

While the recent alleged press shots show what appear to be either a thinly disguised concept car or the CLA45 AMG, these shots of the 1:18 scale diecast are likely are best shots yet of the car in its base form. Pay close attention to the less flashy fascias and wheels, and, more importantly, the detailed look at the inside of the car. Based on what we see on this model, most of the CLA-Class interior will be carried over from the A-Class hatchback, and, like the larger CLS-Class four-door coupe, it will have a four-passenger seating configuration.

Audi S8

We like the Audi A8. We really like it. There may be more accomplished limousines on the market, but none of them can match the A8’s style-led gravitas or its deeply imbued sense of quality. If you’re susceptible to its charms, it will glide up your motoring wish list with ease. Which brings us to the even more imposing hulk of Teutonic menace sat before us today, the Audi S8.Even the on-paper concept has a delicious ring to it.

Take the aforementioned glamour-limousine, spice it diligently with all the quality trappings of a go-faster Audi and then drop in a, um, Lamborghini Gallardo engine. Yes, that’s the killer blow. Our favourite limo is available with an entire stable of Italian supercar ponies jostling under its precisely fitting bonnet.

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster

To no surprise, the new Roadster version features a design language similar to the coupe version, except for the changes any open-top model requires. For example, the rear pillar has been redesigned to offer total support for the removable roof and a new engine hood that features a central "spinal column" with two pairs of hexagonal windows connected at the sides.

The new Aventador Roadster is being offered with a two-piece roof made entirely from carbon fiber that can be stored in the front luggage compartment.

Under the hood you will find the same 6.5 liter aspirated V12 that delivers a total of 700 horsepower and mated to an ISR 7-speed gearbox. The Roadster version will sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3 seconds and can hit a top speed of 217 mph.

In Europe the model can be already ordered and the price will start from 300,000 euro or about $380,000 at the current exchange rates.

Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible

The four-door Flying Spur and drop-top GTC were introduced in 2005. In 2009, the limited-edition 621bhp Supersports showed that Bentley was still capable of producing something resembling the most unlikely super-fast bruisers it was famous for.

Some will find it comforting to think of Bentley's implied heavyweight sporting elegance as an intransigent part of Britain's automotive landscape: as evocative as the thwack of willow on leather, the smell of a village pub or the peal of a church bell.

But, in truth, the company is no more resistant to the preoccupations of the 21st century than any other cultural benchmark. And so, like limited-overs cricket or gastropubs, Bentley has moved with the times and, with the considerable help of its German cheque writer, Volkswagen, introduced the green and pleasant version of the Continental GTC that it promised in 2008.

Of course, some things don't change. The continued fitment of the 6.0-litre W12 engine is proof of that. Bentley may have delivered the 40 per cent improvement in economy and emissions that it said it would, but that hefty reduction still permitted the fitment of a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine from Audi that produces 500bhp. The question is: are those 500 four-ringed geldings capable of mimicking Bentley shire horses aboard the mobile amphitheatre that is the GTC?

Top 10 Cars Of 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 04:03:01 PST

Porsche Boxster S

Porsche’s push me-pull me looks for the Boxster convertible have never quite worked, but with design ideas snatched from the fabulous Carrera GT there’s now an elegance and purposefulness with the new car that the previous generation lacked. For £45,384 the S version is a thrilling drive with 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds and superb cornering balance. Oh, and it’s £300,000 less than a collector’s item Carrera GT! (Porsche).

BMW M135i

Okay, it’s visually challenged from some angles despite a subtle bodykit, but this ‘junior’ M car is such fun to drive and one of the surprises of 2012. It always feels fast thanks to a 316bhp six-cylinder turbocharged engine and the rear-wheel drive handling balance is blissful. At £29,995 this pocket rocket is £10,000 less than Audi’s all-wheel drive RS3 (BMW).

Aston Martin DB9

Grand touring, in the grandest of manner, is what Aston Martin’s two-plus-two DB9 does best. The extra space of those two ‘kiddy’ seats means room to toss a couple of coats or bags. Divine looks and sharper driving dynamics are married with charismatic 517bhp V12 engine. Price £131,995 (Aston Martin).

Vauxhall Astra VXR

With a storming 276bhp from its turbocharged 2-litre engine Vauxhall’s VXR Astra doesn’t often stand still long enough for folk to admire its racy styling. The body comes from the attractive GTC Coupe but if that’s too subtle you can jazz things up with a big rear wing and huge 20in wheels. A clever limited slip differential helps the front tyres cope with the grin inducing power (Vauxhall).

Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series

Taking most family saloons to a race track would be a waste of time. Take a Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series and you’ll discover a data logging system so you can compare lap times and see where to save time in your 186mph supersaloon. Powered by a 510bhp V8 the £115,000 Black would suit Mr Incredible and family on their days off (Mercedes).

Chevrolet Camaro Convertible

Yes, there are faster cars, and better handling ones, and despite a rumbling 6.2 litre V8 engine, more powerful ones; but when it comes to personality mixed with style the 394bhp Chevrolet Camaro is a tough act to beat. Be even better with louder sports exhausts though. Only available as a left-hooker it lists at £42,325 (Chevrolet).

Ferrari F12 Berlinetta

No-one ever moaned their Ferrari 599GTB lacked power, but its F12 replacement has a titanic 6.3 litre V12 engine capable of delivering 730bhp – 119bhp more than the 599 – if the tyres can find enough grip. Looks hunched up when cornering. Hope the owners take some driving courses on how to pilot their £240,000 projectiles. And yes, I’d still rather have an F40 or an Enzo (Ferrari).

Range Rover

It’s the new Range Rover’s job to look good everywhere, from deserts to driveways, and though the press drives off-road were the tamest I’ve ever seen, and the car slid about on its fat tyres, it should still cope with anything owners throw at it. Lower weight aluminium body means the 3-litre diesel’s the motor to go for. ‘My’ car averaged 23.1mpg. Prices from £71,295 (Range Rover).

McLaren MP4 12C Spider

Near effortlessly fast so you’re never quite sure if it’s you or the on-board computers doing the driving if you’re pushing the grip envelope, but it’s great to have a world class British car in the hallowed echelons of convertible supercars. New for the £195,500 Spider is an upgraded 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8 engine with 616bhp instead of 592bhp (McLaren).

Toyota GT86

Proving lots of money doesn’t mean more fun when it comes to cars, my Car of the Year is Toyota’s GT86 Coupe for £25,000. It’s a real driver’s car that you have to work hard to make the most of its limited (186bhp) power and narrow tyres means you can feel as the grip gives out. In these days of motorised sofas the GT86 is what real motoring is all about (Toyota).

Mercedes-Benz E-Class revealed

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 03:46:51 PST

After four years in its present incarnation Mercedes-Benz has announced the new 2014 model year E-Class. Beloved of Chinese businessmen, Turkish cab drivers, Eurocrats and the discrete middle-classes the world over, the E-Class embodies Mercedes-Benz' brand values – comfort, practicality, technology, affordable luxury with a hint of sportiness, plus of course styling that suggests aspirations to higher levels of grandeur. For the 2014 model the exterior is a subtle break with the past whilst the underlying technology is a showcase for the future.

This is a conservative market sector and any changes must be sensitively applied. At first glance the vehicle looks to be no different but there are a number of significant changes. The standard “Luxury” version wears a familiar grill but the shape has been altered with the addition of sharper corners and a slightly more pronounced snout, in common with the rest of the range. For the “Sport” version an entirely new grill is fitted with an integral three-pointed star that mimics the SL and SLS sports cars.
The traditional double headlights have finally fused into one lens and there is a more pronounced front lip spoiler at the front. Full LED lights are available and the annoying always-on running lights persist. The Sport version gets the front splitter and rounded air intake treatment while an AMG styling pack is available for the full angular race car front end.

Along the side the stylized ‘Ponton’ wheel arch, that evoked cars of the fifties, has gone, to be replaced by a modern signature “slash” as seen on the new A and B classes. The side sill line has been lowered and the combined effect is to make vehicle look a little longer and less dumpy in the rear three-quarters. The Station Wagon body style in particular benefits from this change.
The rear of the vehicle was always an excellent form and the changes are simple tweaks to make it look a little wider.

The interior architecture will be home-from-home familiar to anybody who has been in a Mercedes in the past few years but there has been a little tidying in places plus the addition of additional trim pieces to harmonize and raise the perceived luxury to S-Class levels.

While the visual tweaks inside and out have been relatively subtle, the E-Class carries eleven newly-developed driver aid technologies under the banner of “Intelligent Drive.” The basis for all this is new state-of-the-art sensors and their associated algorithms. Mercedes-Benz has introduced the Stereo Multi-Purpose Camera which is located on the windshield near the rear-view mirror. This camera features two “eyes,” set at an angle of 45 degrees to produce a three-dimensional view of the area up to 55 yards (50 meters) in front of the vehicle and with an overall range of up to 550 yards (503 meters). The stereo camera gathers data for processing by various systems. They can detect vehicles driving in front, oncoming or crossing and evaluate this three-dimensional visual information to determine their speed and position. They can also identify pedestrians within a large field of vision.

Along with the Stereo Multi-Purpose Camera, Mercedes-Benz is also introducing a new version of the Multi-Mode Radar sensor system. COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST, a radar-based collision warning system with Adaptive Brake Assist is standard equipment on both the sedan and wagon. It helps to reduce significantly the risk of a rear-end collision. Also part of standard equipment is ATTENTION ASSIST, which now warns of inattentiveness and drowsiness across a wider range, and provides visual information on attention level and time driven since the last break.
Also available are a number of assistance systems that are either new or now feature significantly enhanced functionality:

DISTRONIC PLUS with Steering Assist can help the driver keep the vehicle centered in its lane and can semi-autonomously follow in-line traffic
For the first time, the Brake Assist system BAS PLUS with Cross-Traffic Assist is able to detect crossing traffic and pedestrians, and boost the braking power applied by the driver accordingly
The PRE-SAFE Brake can now detect pedestrians as well and initiate autonomous braking
PRE-SAFE PLUS can identify an imminent rear-end collision and then prompt the PRE-SAFE system to trigger occupant protection measures that reduce the forces exerted on passengers. If the vehicle is stationary, it can also prevent secondary accidents in the event of a rear-end collision by applying the brakes
Active Lane Keeping Assist can now detect when the adjacent lane is not clear, including the presence of oncoming traffic, overtaking vehicles, crash barriers etc. Under threat of a collision, even if the lane marking is not a solid line, the system can prevent the vehicle from leaving its lane unintentionally by applying the brakes on one side. This system pairs perfectly with Active Blind Spot Assist
Adaptive Highbeam Assist PLUS allows high beam to remain permanently switched on without dazzling traffic by masking out other vehicles in the beams' cone of light
Active Parking Assist enables automated parking with active steering and brake control in both parallel and perpendicular spaces
The Surround View Camera will cover all four sides of the vehicle and enable a 360-degree view including virtual bird's-eye perspective; a top view of the vehicle and its immediate surroundings. Dynamic guide lines help during parking and maneuvering

The following Petrol, diesel and hybrid engine models are offered plus 4-wheel drive:

E250 BlueTEC: 2.1-liter 4-cylinder turbodiesel: 190 hp
E350 Sedan: direct-injection 3.5-liter V6: 302 hp
E350 4MATIC Wagon: direct-injection 3.5-liter V6: 302 hp
E400 HYBRID Sedan: electric motor and direct-injection 3.5-liter V6: 27 hp + 302 hp
E550 4MATIC Sport Sedan: turbocharged direct-injection 5.5-liter V8: 402 hp.

Vehicles are on sale in early 2013. Prices will be announced at the Detroit auto show in January when the AMG E63 version will also be unveiled.

Brutal Mercedes-Benz AMG SLS Black Series revealed

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 21:34:56 PST

Due for its public debut at the upcoming Los Angeles motor show, Mercedes-Benz AMG has finally revealed images and details of the SLS Black Series. Ever since the gull-winged wonder was first released in 2010, enthusiasts and schoolboys have been anticipating the inevitable ultimate (road-going) version. It'll come as no surprise that the beast in question is wider, harder, faster, and completely awesome.

"The new SLS AMG Black Series is a perfect study in the one hundred percent transfer of technology and engineering from motorsport to road," says Ola Källenius, Chairman of Mercedes-AMG. "We have drawn inspiration from the worldwide success of the SLS AMG GT3 customer sport racing car on both a conceptual and a technological level. Boasting numerous lightweight components and fascinating dynamics, our fifth Black Series model guarantees pure, unadulterated 'Driving Performance.' The SLS AMG Black Series is the ultimate choice for fast laps and a highly emotional driving experience."

Fair enough Ola. The uprated AMG 6.3-liter V8 engine generates a power output of 622 hp and 468 lb-ft of torque making the SLS AMG Black Series the most powerful AMG high-performance automobile with a combustion engine. Only the planned SLS AMG Electric Drive with a maximum output of 740 hp has more power.

The vehicle accelerates to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds, and onward to a top speed of 196 mph (315 km/h). The additional 39 hp of power compared to the 583 hp delivered by the SLS AMG GT is courtesy of the following enhancements:

Increase in maximum engine speed from 7,200 to 8,000 rpm
Fully revised high-speed valve train with modified camshafts, adapted cam geometry and optimized bucket tappets featuring a special coating that is typically used on race vehicles
Modification of the intake air ducting: de-throttling and adaptation to match the new maximum engine speed
Adaptation of the engine mapping and increase in peak pressure

The AMG V8 engine in the SLS AMG Black Series also has an additional specialized mounting system. A gas-filled strut braces the eight-cylinder engine against the body, effectively eliminating undesired load shifts during highly-dynamic race-track driving (i.e. behaving like a loony).

With a curb weight of 3,417 pounds (1550 kg), the Black Series is not only 154 pounds lighter than the regular SLS, but unsurprisingly also attains the best power/weight ratio by far of all AMG Black Series vehicles to date. Numerous body parts, such as the hood, the rear panel behind the AMG sports bucket seats, the diagonal braces on the underbody and the torque tube between engine and transmission are made entirely from carbon-fiber. In contrast to its 58.6-pound counterpart with a sand-cast aluminum housing, the carbon-fiber torque tube weighs just 29.3 pounds. Carbon fiber components also replace a number of parts of the aluminum spaceframe, while a lithium-ion battery takes on the role of the conventional starter battery, saving an amazing 17.6 pounds – why don’t all cars have them?

Naturally the suspension has been modified for greater rigidity and a new lighter wheel design saves another 8.8 pounds of unsprung weight per corner.

Of course none of this engineering is of any use if the machine doesn’t look the part. The aforementioned wheels now carry 10.8 inch (front) and 12.8 inch (rear) wide sports tires that fill the widened arches. Front, rear and side skirts and a rear diffuser, all in a signature Black Series design style signal the vehicles intent. The package features extensive use of carbon fiber on the front splitter, side sills and rear skirt. The enlarged air intakes with carbon fiber “flics” also ensure optimum airflow into the cooling modules at the front. The rear wheel arches feature massive air-flow oulets.

As on the SLS AMG GT3 racer, the carbon-fiber hood features a central air outlet. Aside from effectively dissipating engine heat, this outlet also increases downforce at the front axle. The wing-like cross-fin and the star recessed into the radiator grille are finished in high-gloss black to match the exterior mirrors and the fins on the hood. The carbon-fiber insert on the sides with air outlet and a black fin is also reminiscent of the GT3; this feature helps reduce the temperature in the engine compartment.

If all of this isn’t quite extreme enough for you then you can option a massive carbon rear wing plus additional carbon flics at the front fro increased downforce, as the cars in the photos are wearing. Just the thing for the weekly shop.

It’s clear that a huge amount of real engineering development has been carried out over the past year to create what will be AMG’s flagship vehicle. It’s quite likely that many of these cars will be purchased simply as toys for posing, but its nice to know that you really are purchasing the closest thing to a GT3 racer for the road that will undoubtedly be a complete hoot on a track.

Luxury Cars Take Over London

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 05:18:14 PDT

London is a center for finance, media, fashion and culture and as such, it has long been thought of as a destination where one can go to flash their cash!

However, even for London’s usual high standards, in the past few weeks the English capital city has seen more than its fair share of luxury cars thanks to an influx of visitors from the rich Arab states.

The UK leg of the annual excursion by rich luxury car owners from various Arab states is known as The Season. An array of brightly colored, personalized luxury sports cars have been spotted by residents and visitors and has left many bemused by the spectacle.

The exclusive neighborhoods of Kensington and Knightsbridge are where many of the high end luxury cars have been seen and others have been photographed outside the swanky Mayfair hotel The Dorchester.

Some of these luxury sports cars have included a Bugatti Veyron, a Koenigsegg Agera, a Lamborghini Aventador and a Rolls-Royce Phantom.

A Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe sprayed all-over pink was spotted with an Abu Dhabi number plate and a bright yellow Ferrari 599 from Saudi Arabia has also been seen. An Iraqi registered Mercedes 4×4 has been a common sighting and many Londoners have been left surprised at the sudden increase in luxury cars on their roads.

Resident Matt Rogers said: “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing when I walked past the Dorchester hotel this morning and I saw all of these beautiful cars in one place! I have never been lucky enough to see a Bugatti Veyron before and I saw two parked together followed by one driving past me all in the space of two minutes.”

Unfortunately, some of the drivers had a blatant disregard for the rules of the road in London and one man from Bahrain was caught powersliding his Nissan GT-R into busy traffic; just a few feet from a host of pedestrians. Two Ferrari F430 cars (one from Dubai and one from Saudi Arabia) were spotted being clamped for illegal parking.

However, there were plenty of harmless posers as well and everyone seemed to enjoy the spectacle from those who were driving around the streets of London in their luxury cars down to those who were lucky enough to watch them!

McLaren 12C Can-Am Edition concept to debut at Pebble beach

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 05:48:17 PDT

McLaren’s new race manufacturing arm, McLaren GT, is set to make its presence felt at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance by rolling out its 12C Can-Am Edition racing concept. Based on the 12C GT3 race car, the one-off design study is finished in McLaren Orange and satin black, with its U.S. appearance marking the first time a 12C racing variant has ventured outside Europe.

As a concept car and therefore not subject to any of the regular racing regulations, the McLaren team was freed up in their attempt to create “the ultimate track car.” With the benefit of some engine calibration and an optimized cooling system, the 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that is found in the 12C GT3 has been upped from a de-tuned 500 hp to 630 hp, making it the most powerful 12C variant ever shown.

The 12C Can-Am Edition concept also shares the same 75 kg (165 lb) carbon fiber MonoCell chassis used in both the 12C GT3 and the 12C road car and boasts an overall dry weight of 1,200 kg (2,645.5 lb). Carbon fiber can also be found on the side radiator vanes, wing mirrors and engine cover, as well as in various components of an optimized aerodynamic package.

This package includes carbon fiber front splitter, dive planes and rear wing, which is held in place by polished aluminum mounts. A carbon fiber diffuser is also fitted beneath the two-tone rear bumper to enhance the performance of the aerodynamic package, which McLaren says offers an increase in down-force of 30 percent.

The carbon fiber also extends to the vehicle’s interior with detailing throughout the cabin, across the dashboard and sill panels. There are two black race seats with six-point harnesses and the same steering wheel derived from Lewis Hamilton’s MP4-24 Formula 1 car that is found in the 12C GT3. A full race-specification rollcage and an integrated AC system, which is now mandatory in a growing number of race series, are also on board.

McLaren one-off X1 surfaces at Pebble Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 05:30:20 PDT

The Pebble Beach Concours at Monterey is used to seeing the weird and wonderful creations of bespoke vehicle design and craftsmanship, but one of the most surprising entrants this year was from the McLaren Special Operations team. The vehicle, known as the X1 Concept, is an extraordinary mixture of McLaren MP12C road car and an entirely new bodyshell crafted in a style that wouldn't look out of place in a 1930s comic book. Before you imagine that McLaren has hit the crazy button, a little explanation is in order.

McLaren only benchmarks itself against one other company: Ferrari; and for several years Ferrari have been running a very successful bespoke vehicle creation service. (The latest car to have been completed being Eric Clapton’s unique toy.)

McLaren announced its own Special Operations customization team at last year’s Pebble Beach and over 15 percent of all MP12C purchases are now customized in some manner. The idea had been brewing for some time before that though. Three years ago, before the MP12C was even publicly announced, a wealthy individual who already possessed an F1 and an SLR, approached McLaren to create a unique car based on the upcoming 12C.

Paul Mackenzie, now head of McLaren SO, and Design Director Frank Stephenson went to see the gentleman to start to explore the sort of car he wanted.

"The key qualities the client desired were 'timeless and classical elegance.' Which was some challenge," said Stephenson.

Inspirational cars included a 1961 Facel Vega (actually one of my personal favorites), a 1953 Chrysler D'Elegance Ghia, a 1959 Buick Electra, a 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K and a 1971 Citroën SM. There were various examples of architecture – including the Guggenheim museums in New York and Bilbao – plus a Jaeger LeCoultre art deco clock, an Airstream trailer, a Thomas Mann Montblanc pen, a grand piano – and an eggplant. "The client liked the shiny texture of the finish," notes Stephenson. There was also a black-and-white photo of Audrey Hepburn.

After a design competition that included designers from outside of McLaren and even the automotive industry, a scheme was chosen from McLaren’s own Hong Yeo, a recent Royal College of Art graduate from Korea.

"X1 embodies the McLaren value that every part has to have a purpose," said Yeo. "No details are simply visual cues, every one has a purpose. Although I like to think the wide body combined with pontoon style rear fenders will ensure the car glides when it's moving just like a superhero's cape...'

The fixed points of engineering for the vehicle were the 12C’s unique "mono-cell" carbon-fiber passenger tub and glasshouse, and of course the 625 hp twin-turbo V8 engine and drive chain. Everything else is completely bespoke; body, lights, wheels, mirrors, trim, and the construction took over two years in total. A full on-road development program was required since the car would be homologated for road use. A Computational Fluid Dynamics program and 625 miles of track test driving was also required to ensure stability at high speed.

All body panels of the X1 are made from carbon, and are finished in a rich piano black, as specified by the owner. Body sides are lacquered visual carbon fiber. "The black paint has no metallic or color tints and is one of the most challenging colors to paint, but the finish is absolutely exquisite and befits the car perfectly," adds Stephenson.

Components were tooled exclusively for the car. They even include unique head- and taillights, inspired by the McLaren Speed Marque logo. The brightwork is machined from solid aluminum, and a nickel finish is then applied. The McLaren logo in the nose is specially machined from solid aluminum then nickel plated. Wheels are also unique to the X1, and are diamond turned with a tinted lacquer to complement the exterior nickel-plated brightwork.

The brightwork itself is all machined from solid aluminum, and then nickel finished to give the same hue throughout. Even the McLaren Speed Marque badge in the nose is machined from solid aluminum, then nickel plated.

The same brightwork is used for the over-the-shoulder rails (as specified by the owner), at the base of the windscreen and the back of the glasshouse, and for the "eyebrows" over the bespoke headlights. The McLaren Airbrake rear wing is also machined from solid aluminum and nickel plated, to complement the rest of the brightwork.

Perhaps the most unusual styling feature is the enclosed rear wheels, an upshot of the owner's desire to have a car reflecting "timeless elegance." The wheels are accessed by carbon panels using, as Stephenson explains, "some of the most gorgeous hinges you've ever seen."

The unique body of the X-1 means some dimensions have changed over the 12C. The X1 is 4 inches (10 cm) longer and about 7.5 inches (19 cm) wider but the height is unchanged and overall weight remains the same at 1400 kg (3,080 pounds) due to the extensive use of carbon-fiber.

While the basic architecture of the interior did not change, personalization includes bespoke Harissa Red McLaren Nappa leather used for the seats, door and roof trim, and switchgear with machined nickel-coated, aluminum bezels. The carbon interior trim has a titanium weave, to give a 3D-like effect. Special tufted carpet covers the floor.

It would be wrong to comment on the success or otherwise of the final design. It is after all one man’s vision and if he is happy then that’s all that really matters. For McLaren it shows two things; the inherent flexibility of the 12C’s mono-cell construction and the Special Operations team’s ability to create just about anything you want around it.

Radial Engine Bike Built by Jesse James

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 05:23:51 PDT

This radial engine motorcycle was built by Jesse James at West Coast Choppers. For those who don’t know, radial engines were used in the past to power aircraft. The engine, 7 cylinder – 110 hp, was manufactured by Rotec Engineering in Australia and was purchased by the owner of the bike, Russell Ballentine from Kansas, who had the crazy idea of building bikes with aircraft engines (he even owns the patent). Ballentine asked mechanic Mike Redpath to modify the engine, bought more parts, and then brought it to Jesse James to build a prototype. The finished bike was painted in green but I also found photos before the paint job.

Credits: http://blog.leatherup.com

Cool Custom Motorcycle Helmets That Actually Exist

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 05:19:54 PDT

Helmets are a must when riding a motorcycle, but that doesn't mean you have to stick with the same old boring designs you find in stores. Here are ten weird and cool examples to get you inspired, or at least scouring the internet for your next purchase.

10. Halo Helmet

9. Gundam Helmet

8. Predator Helmet

7. Rocketeer Helmet

6. LEGO

5. Stormtrooper

4. Master Chief

3. The Hulk

2. Twisted Metal

1. Bobba Fett

The History of Harley: Over 100 Years of Motorcycle Greatness

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 04:48:16 PDT

If you’re a motorcyclist, you know that the name “Harley Davidson” simply can’t be touched by other names in the business. Harley Davison started out as a pipe dream nearly 110 years ago now, and it’s spent the past century becoming perhaps the most prestigious motorcycle company across the entire globe. Over the course of the past century, Harley Davidson has produced some of the most beloved motorcycles in history. This house name continues to faithfully roll out new, beautiful bikes, all under the same dedication to craft and quality that the original Harley and Davidson stood by. From huge bikes to smaller one, everyone has their own personal Harley preference—and whatever model you love most, you know you’re riding a roaring piece of high quality machinery. You love your Harley, but you may not know the history behind the business. From humble beginnings—Harley’s design of an engine to fit on a bicycle— to big earnings, Harley Davidson has left a rich legacy in the US and all over the world. The following timeline chronicles just a few of the great moments in time for the big business of Harley Davidson.

Credits: http://www.motorcycleinsurance.com

Student-designed Roskva electric motorcycle launched

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 06:45:03 PDT

Five Norwegian engineering students from the University of Life Sciences in Oslo have come together to design and build an electric motorcycle that's a little different from the rest of the field. Rather than construct the vehicle around a steel or aluminum frame (like the Brutus we covered last year, for instance), the Roskva bike features a carbon fiber monocoque frame that reportedly weighs less than 25 kg (55 pounds). Carbon fiber is also the material of choice for the wheels, single-sided swingarm and enclosed driveshaft.

The final Roskva design renderings were released in May 2012, after which Erik Olsvik (26), Hans Ola Krog (24), Lars J. Norberg (25), Odd Arne Skjong (team leader - 23) and Espen Kultorp (24) got to work building the first operational prototype. The electric motorcycle was officially launched at Oslo's Aker Brygge earlier this month.

During the formative stages of the development process, the team was considering maximizing aerodynamics by enclosing the whole of the front of the motorcycle (including the front wheel) inside a bullet-shaped fairing, but this looks to have now been abandoned in favor of a more minimal design with a beak-like, pointed affair.

Within the lightweight frame, which has been strengthened to take the weight of the whole motorcycle, sit 414 individual lithium iron phosphate cells in series for a total capacity of 6 kWh. The batteries power two Lynch D135RAGS electric motors from the LEM200 series that deliver 80 Nm (59 ft lbs) of torque and peak power of 96.6 horsepower.

An onboard Kelly controller on each of the two motors can handle a voltage of 120 volts and 600 amps at peak. All of which is claimed to give the bike a top speed of 180 km/h (110 mph), a range of 100 km (62 miles) and a zero to 60 mph (96.5 km/h) time of just three to four seconds.

Elsewhere, the Roskva electric motorcycle features a telescopic front fork with 120 mm (4.7 inches) of travel, Krarm integrated rear suspension, regenerative rear braking and dual disc brakes at the front.

The immediate future will see the team testing and tweaking the prototype Roskva in the steady move toward commercial availability.

"We will not be able (or willing) to sell any bikes before additional tests and revisions have been performed," Skjong told us. "It will also require additional safety testing. The prototype is not road legal, but it has been constructed with current and future regulations in mind."

Rolls-Royce celebrates Charles Stewart Rolls

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 05:15:05 PDT

We’re used to “special editions” from auto manufacturers trying to lift sales with a lick of paint and some fancy decals, but when Rolls-Royce does a special edition it’s a much more cerebral and artisanal endeavor as befits the mindset of its customers. The Phantom Coupe Aviator recently shown at Pebble Beach is a subtle but rather lovely limited edition inspired by the Rolls-Royce engined Supermarine aircraft of the 1930s; a precursor to the iconic Spitfire and from a time when cars and aircraft engines were actually made by the same company.

"Our founding forefather Charles Stewart Rolls was a pioneer who pushed the boundaries of motoring and aviation to the limit," said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Rolls-Royce CEO. "With our exclusive Phantom Coupé Aviator Collection we celebrate this great British hero, presenting a car which hints at experiments in early flight married to the best engineering, modern design and exquisitely crafted materials.”

The only exterior clue is the striking grey metallic paint which is given a contrasting matte finish on the hood, windshield surround and grill surround. The interior however is a riot of detailing – it includes a hand-crafted mahogany lower dash with Sapele contrasts underneath a matte grey stainless steel fascia with custom matte black dials, and an aviation standard mechanical clock.

The transmission tunnel cover is in anodized aluminum with exposed torx fixings and swage lines that echo the oil cooling veins on the Supermarine fuselage side. These highlights are repeated on collection car armrests. The tunnel incorporates two extraordinary polished aluminum cup holders that look like they should be in a jewelery shop.

The leather-lined glove compartment includes an embossed Charles Rolls quote following his first flight with the Wright Brothers in 1908: "The power of flight is as a fresh gift from the Creator, the greatest treasure yet given to man." Deep. A center console chrome plaque describes Rolls – only the second man in Britain to hold a pilot's license – simply as Pioneer Aviator, below a representation of his signature. The floor mats are in leather with machined aluminum protective bullet rods.

All very tasteful, and the marketing narrative just about holds together. Only 35 examples will be made, so get your order in quick. Price? Don’t be silly; get your people to talk to their people.

Source: http://www.gizmag.com/rolls-royce-phantom-coupe-aviator/23853/

Pimped Ferrari comes in gold

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 06:39:12 PDT

the Golden Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano by Hamann sets the road ablaze. Finished in gold, the Ferrari features a new bodykit, subtle Hamann spoilers, an extra 53 HP, new wheels and hp. Indeed, this highly pimped gilded Ferrari would have been a miss where the royals roam.

£420,000 chrome SLR McLaren

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 06:38:00 PDT

Last year, a chromed out Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren was spotted on the roads of Dubai and lately, one super-shiny SLR McLaren has been seen in Manchester, England. The guy behind the wheel was El Hadji Diouf, who plays for Blackburn Rovers Football Club, an English Premier League football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. He has spent a whopping £420,000 (US $636,750) on the blinged-up Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren. The playmaker is an avid car collector and has been seen previously driving Range Rovers, Lincoln Navigators and Cadillac Escalades. Anyway, he is not the only football player to have owned this chromed beauty. Arsenal defender William Gallas and former Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele also own the same-styled car that can do 0-60mph in 3.6 seconds before reaching a top speed of 207mph.

Pimped up Bentley Gold for Bling-Lovers

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 06:36:29 PDT

ASI, the Japanese tuner specialized in Bentleys, has released the photos of their latest project - the ASI Bentley Continental GTR Gold. The ASI Bentley Continental GTR Gold is powered by the production 6.0 liter W12 engine that is tuned to deliver 800 hp. For the $800,000 price tag on the ASI Bentley Continental GTR Gold they offer a dry carbon bonnet, boot lid and rear wing, a 1800mm+ wide body kit. The ASI Bentley Continental GTR Gold features hand painted, original Japanese art by Nakamura Tetsuei.

Su Zhongyang’s Ivory Carving Car

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 06:32:16 PDT

We have seen the cars studded with diamonds and plated with gold and now, celebrated Folk art master Su Zhongyang has created a stunning ivory carving masterpiece. His Jiu Jiu Xiang Long ivory carving car is adorned with 99 fortunate dragons. The car is 4.5 meters long, 1.81 meters wide and 1.9 meters high and weighs 2 tons. Most parts of the ivory car are festooned with colossal ivory and yak bone. If ivory only doesn’t impress you that much, the masterpiece is adorned with gold and diamonds too. The incredible ivory carving car is valued at US $2.7 million.

Honda bursts onto the electric motorcycle racing scene at IOM

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 04:16:19 PDT

Electric motorcycle racing became a lot more interesting today when the TT Zero race at the Isle of Man was run and the top three riders all finished at average speeds of more than 100 mph.

The win went to the Segway MotoCzysz team with Michael Rutter (pictured below) producing a lap of 104.56 mph but the extra strong showing of a 102.215 mph lap on the Mugen (Honda) ridden by John McGuinness indicates the electric bike racing scene is going to become very competitive in the near future. Honda rarely fails when it sets its mind to something, and it is the world's largest manufacturer of motorcycles and the current MotoGP champion.

John McGuinness when interviewed after the race, revealed some interesting information. He said he'd ridden most of the race at 50% power but towards the end he was told that he could use 60% power. "So I turned it up to 60% and didn't it go then," he said, indicating that a LOT more power was available for shorter circuits.

For Michael Czysz (pictured), it was his team's third straight IOM TT win and it must have brought mixed feelings. On one hand his work has created the stand-out team in international competition in the pioneering period of the sport, but he now faces, Segway's involvement not withstand, a company that knows the racing business better than any.

Czysz has developed exquisite technology that can rightfully claim to be world beating as of this moment, but Honda is clearly coming after the mantle of the world's fastest EV producer, and it brings with it a full hand of knowledge in a wide range of relevant technologies, and enough money to get the job done, whatever that takes.

Mugen is unquestionably a surrogate Honda team.

Mugen is a company owned by Hirotoshi Honda, the son of Honda founder Soichiro, and currently the largest shareholder of Honda Motor Company. It is a company that has never actually been owned by Honda, but over the last four decades it has worked for no other manufacturer, and certainly does a lot of the bleeding edge performance tuning and race engineering for Honda.

If Team Segway MotoCzysz and German Team Muench (below) have been the big boys on the block for the last few years, they most certainly are no longer, and they face a formidable foe.

It's the beginning of what we expect will be an interesting battle as the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer seeks to dominate electric motorcycle racing as it has done gasoline motorcycle racing

Mugen alone is formidable, being a large, very focussed organisation which acts as Honda's bleeding edge in many forms of motorsport, though not previously on two wheels.

It is a very well funded, race-hardened organisation that has built engines and entire cars for major races series across the globe for decades, including eight years as an engine supplier in Formula One for the likes of Jordan, Ligier, Prost and Lotus during the 1990s.

Its engines have four F1 wins to their credit. It's organizational capacity is also bleeding edge. As McGuinness indicated after his second-placed ride, "they didn't just turn up here, they've been here before", and he also indicated obvious respect that the bike worked straight out of the box and ran flawlessly.

Just how closely related the motorcycle we saw on Honda's stand in the Tokyo Motor Show last November is to the Mugen is anybody's guess.

There are some similarities between the two machines, but the sideplates on the Mugen are obviously there to stop people from seeing inside so we may never know what has been borrowed and from where.

Indeed, Honda's omnidirectional wheel as first seen in the U3-X might yet turn out to be one of the engineering breakthroughs of the century, so there's obviously a lot of work being done in different corners of the company on electric motors and controllers.

Honda has known it would be going electric motorcycle racing for at least a decade, and it jealously guards its motorcycle racing heritage. That's why it spends hundreds of millions on its superbike and MotoGP racing efforts and employs Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa to ride Honda motorcycles and win world championships.

It is the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer and the moment we have waited for since Azhar Hussain kicked off TTX four years ago is finally here.

Four new concepts at GTI Worthersee

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Mon, 21 May 2012 06:18:30 PDT

It's where the company trotted out its now legendary Golf GTI W12-650 concept in 2007. The concept involved taking the 650 bhp bi-turbo 5,998 cc W12 engine used in the Volkswagen Phaeton and squeezing it into a Golf GTI three-door bodyshell to create the fastest Golf on the planet. The sprint from standstill to 62 mph took just 3.7 seconds and it had a maximum speed of 201.8 mph.

This year it showed five new cars: the Golf GTI Cabriolet (which had debuted at Geneva International Motor Show), plus four completely new concept cars in the form of the Polo R-WRC, Polo WRC Street, Golf GTI Black Dynamic and Golf GTI White Concept.

Golf GTI Cabriolet

Though the Golf GTI Cabriolet had already been shown at the Geneva International Motor Show in March, the Wörthersee event offers a chance to get much closer to the car, to engage with Volkswagen experts on the features and benefits of the car, and in many cases to see it driven and to even drive such exclusive cars.

Polo WRC Street

The Polo WRC Street concept car is visually unique with its rear spoiler, diffuser, sports suspension and an inscription with R-WRC logos. Under the bonnet, a 220 PS 2.0-liter TSI engine produces exceptional performance.

Polo R-WRC - "the hottest Polo ever"

The Polo R WRC is from the workshops of Volkswagen Motorsport and is a road-going prototype for the FIA World Rally Championship. It was dubbed the “hottest Polo ever” by Volkswagen Head of Development Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg during the presentation, and will be competing in WRC races from next year.

The engine of the WRC prototype is a 1.6-litre TSI engine with around 300 PS power output The car has a 0 to 100 km/h time of 4.1 seconds.

Golf GTI Black Dynamic

The GTI Black Dynamic is the work of nine Volkswagen apprentices and features an 1,800-watt sound system with nine loudspeakers, which takes up the entire trunk.

Golf GTI White Concept

The Golf GTI White Concept design study features ‘Oryx White matt’ paintwork with a vehicle interior in black/red contrast. In addition to the sports seats in Nappa leather, red contrasting stitching adorns numerous details such as the steering wheel, handbrake lever and door armrests.

A door sill trim – with the GTI logo and honeycomb pattern in White Matt and Aluminium – go to complete the unique appearance of the Golf GTI ‘Concept White’.

Ducati Panigale 1199

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Lyle Julia) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 03:56:50 PDT

Ducati has released a series of photos of its revolutionary Panigale 1199 superbike without its clothes on, showing exactly how the bike is held together in the absence of a traditional frame. But while the monocoque chassis is pretty fascinating to look at in the flesh, what strikes us most is just how incredibly compact the bike is - every component has been squeezed into the tiniest possible space. In fact, you can't even see clean through the bike at any point until you reach the rear hugger. This is mass centralization and weight shaving taken to a whole new level.

The Panigale's monocoque chassis

Gone is the traditional Ducati trellis frame that usually wraps around the engine. The Panigale is famously the first production bike to abandon an ordinary frame altogether. One chunky piece up front joins the main front end headstem bearing races to the top radiator and the front and rear cylinder heads.

A pair of boomerang-shaped supports hold the seat and tail unit up off the engine's rear cylinder, and a similar boomerang shaped mount hangs the swingarm off the crankcase. The rear shock sits slightly beyond horizontal, attached to the side of the rear cylinder. The engine doesn't sit in a frame; the engine more or less *is* the frame.

The lack of space

You'd have trouble fitting a credit card into any spot on the 1199. Look at the exhaust tubing, there's barely a cubic centimeter to spare. The top portion of the chassis also houses the airbox. The traditional Ducati L-twin has been angled back 6 degrees to let the front wheel fit in front of the radiators.

The subframe

The Panigale's subframe and seat unit look absolutely tiny with the fairings off, but it's worth noting that the boomerang brackets that hold the subframe to the cylinder and crankcase seem to be designed to allow access to the rear cylinder head. It's unclear from the photos where the battery box sits, but it looks as though simply removing the tank and seat unit will get you through to the top end for those fiddly desmodromic valve adjustments. Good luck with the front cylinder though - that's a radiator-off job. Which means tank off, side fairings off, overflow bottle off, and you'll also have to remove the plastic doodad that bolts to the top fairings on the left hand side. Servicing the Panigale will be a bit of a mission.

Heat dispersion

One of the biggest problems that arises when you pack a lot of engine into a tiny amount of space is that there's very little airflow over the surface of each component to keep temperature in check.

The Panigale seems to have more or less surrendered to this fact - the ultra-compact design seems almost to shield the cylinders from any cooling airflow they might receive. And there's going to be heat - a lot of it. Remember, that 1199cc engine develops a whopping 195 horsepower at 14,200 rpm - a ludicrously high rev limit for a twin. It's the very definition of high performance. So here's hoping the engineers at Ducati have found a better heat management solution than the potato-baking Aprilia RSV4 ships with.

What about a streetfighter?

Whenever a new sportsbike hits the market, nakedbike fans like me start dribbling over the prospect of another high performance, balls-out streetbike with road-focused ergonomics and less nancy plastic covering up the sexy metal underneath.

But while the Panigale is certain to spawn some sort of nakedbike, maybe a Streetfighter 1199, it's hard to see how Ducati will get around the fact that this bike is … kind of ugly with its clothes off. The lack of a frame takes away one of the key design elements when you're looking at nakedbikes, and the engine area is so visually cluttered with componentry that you lose the aesthetic effect of a dirty big engine swinging in the breeze as well.

The best I can imagine Ducati coming up with is some sort of semi-faired street version - probably with even more plastic on it than the Tuono V4. I can't see the streetfighter crowd getting too excited about this layout - it's all function and no form. Then again, perhaps I underestimate their ingenuity. We'll have to wait and see.