CARS

McLaren MP4-12C vs. Factory Five GTM

2012-06-06T09:37:00.000+03:00

We deviate a little from our feature on cars suitable for kenyan roads to bring you this special feature on the new innovation by Mclaren motors.enjoy........... Ah, the McLaren MP4-12C. It's McLaren's first in-house road car since the legendary F1. And while the 12C is far less expensive than the F1, its base price is still $229,400. The car we drove tallied $270,690 and options can push the sticker beyond $300,000. For that, you get an undeniably exquisite machine constructed by the pedigreed craftsman of some of the world's best race cars. You get dihedral doors that open by sliding your hand along the bodywork. You get a twin-turbo, flat-plane-crank 3.8-liter V8 that howls out 592 horsepower and hurtles the car to 60 mph in about 3 seconds. And you get an ingenious suspension design that uses cross-linked hydraulic chambers in place of conventional shock absorbers, delivering both a shockingly supple ride and race-car roll control. In short, the MP4-12C is a lot of car for the money. But it's still a lot of money. So what do you do if you want top-tier supercar performance and dramatic mid-engine styling, but you only have $50,000 to spend? Enter the Factory Five GTM. With a 420 horsepower GM LS3 V8 propelling only 2,400 pounds, this is one of the few cars that would hound an MP4-12C on the track. (A 505-horsepower LS7 is also available, but frankly the LS3 seems pretty adequate.) You do have to be handy with a wrench, since the GTM is a component car. But GTM owner Gary Cheney has built 13 Factory Five cars, including three GTMs, and not only does he still have all his fingers, he insists that the building process is part of the fun. This particular GTM is set up for track duty, but it was surprisingly usable on the street, with deliciously communicative speed-sensitive power steering and Corvette Z06 brakes that are hugely overqualified for a 2,400 car. Plus, look at the thing. It just looks like it belongs in the supercar club. However, $50,000 is still a considerable sum. Wouldn't it be great if you could have a screaming-fast, reliable, exotic-looking mid-engine sports car for something more like $15,000? Without spoiling the ending, we have a solution for that, too.

Lexus RX300

2012-05-29T17:55:00.001+03:00

we at cars go on with our review of cars suitable for kenyan roads. Performance The RX300 has a 201bhp 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine mates to a five-speed automatic gearbox with Tiptronic-style controls. It's more than powerful enough for safe overtaking, but performance was improved significantly with the introduction of the RX350 in 2006. Refined and more frugal, the newer engine makes the RX a little more satisfying to drive and 0-62mph takes 7.8 seconds while economy is 25mpg. The RX400h is quite different. It features a 3.3 litre V6 and an electric motor to power the front wheels, plus a second electric motor to power the back wheels. A clever system allows it to run whichever combination is most suitable and will shut down its petrol engine whenever it can to save fuel. This makes it utterly silent when stationary or moving at slow to medium speeds. A CVT gearbox keeps the engine revs down too, so it's very refined, but make no mistake it's quick with a 0-62mph time of 7.6 seconds and superb in gear pace. The performance has been optimised to deliver its best at motorway speeds. Car reviews Handling There's a choice of conventional coil springs or air suspension (in the top-of-the-range SE-L), which you can adjust, depending on the road conditions. The RX has permanent four-wheel drive and the traction control system decides whether to supply power to the front or rear wheels. It's not as tall as many 4x4s, but doesn't feel that nimble, with considerable body roll when cornering briskly while the steering lacks feel. However, ride comfort is exceptional and the RX is superb on the motorway. The RX400h model feels little different on the road, although under hard acceleration it can feel like a front-wheel-drive car as the rear electric motor can only deliver a small amount of the total available power. today we've looked at its perfomance and handling and concluded it is a suitable car for any kenyan driver.

The BMW X6 – the first Sports Activity Coupé with

2012-05-24T15:39:00.000+03:00

This car is now a common sight on our kenyan roads. Carz has decided to do a faeture on it to enable the average car lover to get its specs and see why it is suitable for the well to do kenyan.Its elegance will fascinate you, its agility will inspire you and its presence will impress you. The BMW X6 unites agility, performance and athletic design in a large BMW coupé with the versatility and raised seating position normally only found in an SAV. Once again BMW has defined a completely new vehicle concept. And if that isn't impressive enough, the BMW X6 also offers two world premieres: standard Dynamic Performance Control and the completely newly developed TwinPower Turbo V8 petrol engine with direct petrol injection – the most efficient engine in its class. It also features BMW EfficientDynamics, a technology package that provides increased driving dynamics with lower fuel consumption. The package includes technologies such as Brake Energy Regeneration, air vent control and intelligent lightweight construction. Experience a coupé like no other. The design of the BMW X6 fuses the elegance of a sport coupe with the off road potential of a 4x4 platform. The shape of the roof, which slopes down rapidly after the B-pillar and flows into the tail lends the X6 a sense of speed even when stationary. Carz Apart from the sloping roofline the X6 concept is rather ordinary, as is usually the case with concepts which are nearly production ready. The front end is similar to the BMW X5, but with a slightly more car-like appearance. The strong styling lines down either side, mixed with the mildly flared wheel arches give the X6 a purposeful stance. Towards the back the X6 has a stylish and attractive rear which again has a more car-like appearance than the other 4x4 offerings from BMW.Carz Carz Perfomance •Turbocharged •Engine: 3.0L in-line 6 DOHC with variable valve timing •Premium unleaded fuel •Fuel economy: EPA (08):, 16 MPG city, 23 MPG highway, 19 MPG combined and 428 mi. range •Gasoline direct fuel injection •22.5gallon fuel tank •Power (SAE): 300 hp @ 5,800 rpm; 300 ft lb of torque @ 1,300 rpm Carz Handling •ABS •3.154:1 axle ratio •Brake assist system •Cornering brake control •Ventilated four-wheel disc brakes •Electronic brake distribution •Electronic traction control (via ABS & engine management) •Immobilizer •Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) stability control •Independent front wishbone suspension with stabilizer bar and coil springs, independent rear multi-link suspension with stabilizer bar and coil springs Carz Exterior •Driver and passenger 3rd row windows •Body-color front and rear bumpers •Day time running lights •Driver and passenger power, heated ,body-color door mirrors, passenger power, heated ,body-color door mirrors •Power liftgate •Exterior dimensions: 192.0 in. overall length, 78.1 in. overall width, 66.5 in. overall height, 8.4 in. ground clearance, 115.5 in. wheelbase, 64.7 in. front track, 67.2 in. rear track and 42.0 ft. curb-to-curb turning circle •Electric foldable mirrors •Front fog lights •Bi-Xenon headlights with projector beam lenses •Luxury trim: alloy & leather on shifter, wood & leather on doors and wood/woodgrain on dashboard •Metallic paint •Rear side windows: on driver side and passenger side •Rear window defroster •Remote glass sunroof •Underbody protection for fuel tank, for transfer case and for engine •Weights: gross vehicle weight (lbs): 5,975, published curb weight (lbs): 4,784, gross trailer weight braked (lbs): 6,000 and payload allowance (lbs): 1,191 •Intermittent windshield wipers. Now go out and buy this car people.

Ian "nissi" munene.

Toyota Prado

2012-04-18T17:52:00.000+03:00

Toyota recently announced the addition of a 3.0-litre turbo-Diesel engine to its ranks. What’s so good about that I hear you ask? Well this turbo-Diesel motor is capable of returning a 9.2-litre/100km fuel efficiency figure – which for a vehicle that weighs just under two-tones, that’s not a bad feat. With a 180-litre fuel tank (one of the biggest offered on an Australian production vehicle) the Toyota Landcruiser Prado Diesel is capable of traveling a solid 1656km on one tank of Diesel, that’s enough to get from Melbourne to Sydney and back again. I jumped into the GX base model for the week to see what the Prado was like around town and out bush. The interior is pretty simple, there are plenty of blank buttons for higher models and there isn’t much in the way of luxuries. On the same hand though, you don’t really buy a vehicle like the Prado for luxurious motoring. There is a heap of room both for front and rear seat passengers, along with a very large glove box and centre console for storing odds and ends. On road dynamics are far from spectacular, a higher centre of gravity, along with soft suspension certainly don’t help the fact. Toyota certainly didn’t try and hide the fact that there is a Diesel under the bonnet; the noise often overcomes that of trucks near by. Around town, the Prado is quite easy to drive. The steering is assisted enough for tight parking and the turbo lag is kept to a minimum. After a moment of hesitation, a boot full of throttle will exert the Prado’s full 410Nm of torque at just 1600rpm, whilst the maximum 127kW of power occurs at 3400rpm. Off road, the Prado is about as good as it gets. I took the Prado through some of the roughest territory on offer and it remained compliant the entire time. The plethora of torque available low in the rev range helps the Prado climb any hills it’s challenged with. There are four models on offer in the Prado range – the GX (being test driven), GXL, VX and Grande. They are priced at $46,290, $54,290, $67,290 and $74,290 respectively, with the Diesel engine on offer for a $1000 premium. In my opinion, optioning the Diesel engine is the smartest move, considering the extra torque and fuel efficiency on offer. Standard features in the GX model include: 17” steel wheels; power windows; power steering; 6-speaker sound system with single disc CD player; 3 seater for third row of seats; side steps; 6 cup holders; mud flaps; remote central locking; engine immobiliser and front driver and passenger SRS airbags. The GX has an optional “Option Pack” on offer which includes ABS brakes, cruise control and leather bound steering wheel at additional cost. I think it’s quite a concern that the GX model doesn’t come standard with ABS brakes, considering the size of the vehicle; it could become quite dangerous in the wet without the assistance of ABS. Aside from the lack of ABS as standard equipment, the new Toyota Landcruiser Prado is well equipped for a sub $50,000 vehicle. It performed nicely throughout the city and maintained composure off-road. Unless you’re planning to use this as a dedicated 4WD, I would head up in the product range to find one with a few more features, as the GX is pretty simple in terms of extras.

2012-Subaru forrester-S edition

2012-03-02T09:10:00.000+03:00

This is just an amazing addition to the subaru franchise.

Subaru forrester S-edition

2011-12-30T05:13:00.000+03:00

adriana lima

2011-12-30T05:11:00.000+03:00

beyonce

2011-12-30T05:08:00.000+03:00

Tyra Banks

2011-12-30T05:07:00.000+03:00

Hummer

2011-12-30T05:04:00.000+03:00

Chrysler 300c

2011-12-30T05:02:00.000+03:00

Chrysler 412

2011-12-30T05:01:00.000+03:00

Janice

2011-12-30T04:58:00.002+03:00

Rolls Royce Phantom

2011-12-30T04:57:00.000+03:00

Bugatti veyron

2011-12-30T04:55:00.000+03:00

Audi

2011-12-30T04:53:00.000+03:00

pamela anderson

2011-12-30T04:49:00.000+03:00

Range rover sport

2011-12-29T18:04:00.001+03:00

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Rolls Royce

2011-09-30T11:28:00.000+03:00

aston martin rapide picaston martin rapide pic

2011-09-08T19:56:00.000+03:00

image

Aston Martin Rapide

2011-09-08T19:51:00.000+03:00

Aston Martin's highly anticipated
model -- the Rapide -- is finally
here. The Rapide will list from
$199,950 in the United States,
and will become the British
luxury sportscar maker's only
four-door model.
It goes without saying the car
will compete with vehicles like
the Porsche Panamera. But the
Aston will likely be one of the
most expensive and exclusive
luxury sports sedans on the
market, with standard features
that include a Bang & Olufsen
Beosound audio system, heated
memory seats and Aston Martin's
Adaptive Damping Sytem.
The Rapide features a hand-built
6.0-liter V12 engine producing
470 horsepower with peak
power being delivered at 6,000
rpm and 443 pound-feet of peak
torque at 5,000 rpm. A
specifically tuned six-speed
Touchtronic 2 automatic
transmission allows the driver to
change gears automatically or
manually via the steering
column-mounted magnesium
paddles.
As one can see, the production
version is very similar to the
concept car, but does swap out
quad-air intakes for upper and
lower grilles. The rear of the car
has strong family ties to other
Aston Martin models, and sports
'smoked' rear taillights.
Continuing its series of firsts and
oddities for the brand, the
Rapide is the first ever Aston
Martin built outside of the United
Kingdom, thanks to a
partnership up with Magna
Steyr. Given a strong interest in
the Rapide, Aston Martin says it
will build between 1,000 and
2,000 units per year, up from an
original estimate of 500 or less.
Like Aston's other models, the
Rapide is built on the company's
VH (Vertical/Horizontal)
architecture -- the same that
underpins the DB9. The Rapide
will also borrow its twelve-
cylinder powerplant from the
DBS, DB9 and Vantage models --
although power will be increased
from 450 horsepower to 470.
Thanks in part to the modest
bump in power from the engine's
previous applications, the four-
door Rapide will sprint from
zero-to-60 mph in under five
seconds, on its way to a top
speed of 180 mph.
Continuing the successful brand
partnership between Bang &
Olufsen and Aston Martin, the
Rapide is fitted standard with
the 1000 watt BeoSound Rapide
- a bespoke sound system
tailored specifically to the Rapide.
It includes 15 speakers that
have been optimally located
throughout the cabin to deliver
the audiophile-level sound
quality.
While enjoying the BeoSound
Rapide audio system, passengers
and the driver alike will enjoy a
full grain leather interior,
accented with walnut trim, an
iridium silver finish for the outer
center console, and a graphite
inner center console finish.
Screens consist of Organic
Electroluminescent displays, along
with LED map and ambient
lighting.
Options include cooled front and
rear seats, a DVD entertainment
system complete with a 6-disc
player and two LCD screens,
along with a myriad of interior
finishes, such as: Eye Maple, Olive
Ash Burl, Double Apex Alloy and
matching wood door trim. Various
other interior and exterior
components can be customized
as well, ranging from wheels, to
brake caliper finish to Magnum
silver rear lamp infills.

2011 Toyota 4runner

2011-08-31T00:49:00.000+03:00

Revamped inside and out, the
4Runner retains its body-on-
frame construction. That won't
make the new 4Runner the
greenest SUV on the block, but
it will make this SUV a formidable
off-road vehicle. In fact, Toyota
says the new 4Runner, which
proved itself in August on the
Rubicon Trail, is "more rugged
than ever."
The
heavily revised SUV is taller,
wider and longer, and has a
selection of new motors. The SUV
can be ordered with a 2.7-liter
four-cylinder engine featuring
VVT-i, available as part of the
4x2 SR5 model. The DOHC 16-
valve 2.7 makes 157 horsepower
and 178 pound-feet of torque. It
comes mated to a four-speed
automatic transmission with
2.80:1 first gear and 0.753
overdrive 4th. The 2.7 delivers
18 city/23 highway mpg.
A more powerful V6 maximizes
the truck's capabilities by
offering more power and torque.
The 4.0-liter engine offers 34
horsepower more than the prior
V6, and 10 horsepower more
than the optional V8 of the
previous generation. That comes
to a grand total of 270 hp and
278 lb-ft of torque. The V6
4Runner achieves an EPA-
estimated 19 mpg combined, an
improvement of more than five
percent. With the new 4.0-liter
engine, maximum towing capacity
is 5,000 pounds.
The SUV is availablein three
variations: the top-of-the-line
Limited, the base SR5, and the
off-road-oriented Trail grade.
SR5 and Trail 4x4 models have a
two-speed lever-operated, part-
time four-wheel-drive system
with neutral position, while the
4Runner Limited is equipped with
full-time, four-wheel-drive with a
locking center differential and
employs a three-mode, center
console-mounted switch. The new
4Runner is also equipped with a
stronger rear differential over
the previous model, thanks to a
gear ring that has increased in
size from 7.87 to 8.18 inches.
For improved on-road
performance, the Limited grade
comes standard with an X-REAS
suspension system that
automatically adjusts the
damping force of shocks when
driving over bumpy surfaces, or
when cornering.
To enhance grip, the A-TRAC
system is now standard
equipment on all 4x4 models. The
system can distribute driving
force to any one wheel in
contact with the ground, making
terrain irregularities and slippery
patches transparent to the
driver.
The Trail package offers Kinetic
Dynamic Suspension System
(KDSS) as an option. KDSS
improves terrain-following ability
by disconnecting stabilizer bars
to allow for more axle travel,
and better suspension
articulation in slow uneven
terrain.
Toyota's Crawl Control (CRAWL)
feature is standard on the Trail
grade. CRAWL is an adjustable
electro-mechanical system that
can be tuned to match the
terrain by selecting any of five
speed levels. The Trail grade also
features a Multi-Terrain Select
system which allows the 4x4
operator to dial in wheel slip
control to match the terrain.
All 4x4 models are standard-
equipped with Downhill Assist
Control (DAC), which is designed
to augment the low-speed
ascending ability of low-range by
holding the vehicle to a target
speed with no driver
intervention.
All V6 models come standard with
Hill-start Assist Control (HAC),
which provides additional control
for off-road driving by helping to
keep the vehicle stationary while
starting on a steep incline or
slippery surface.
The cabin has been redesign with
better materials and improved
aesthetics. Both leather and
cloth upholstery are available.
More cargo space is available
due to the fold-flat second-row
rear seats, which do not require
removal of the headrest for
rearrangement. For models with
three rows of seats, the third
row seats are split 50/50, and
they fold flat to allow the
seatback to become the floor of
the luggage compartment.
Another convenience feature is
an available pull-out cargo deck
that is capable of carrying up to
440 pounds of weight. The cargo
deck slides out to make loading
heavy items easier.
Pricing starts at $27,500 for the
base SR5 2WD with the four-
cylinder. A 4x2 SR5 V6 runs
$27,175 and the 4x4 SR5 V6 will
cost $30,915. The Trail model,
only available with four wheel
drive, will start from $35,700. A
base Limited 4x2 lists for
$37,765 with the 4x4 version
going for $39,800. The volume
leader, the SR5 4x4 with the V6,
is priced the same as the
outgoing 2009 despite the added
equipment.

Audi Q7

2011-08-31T00:35:00.000+03:00

The Q7 is Audi's first ever SUV
offering with a recent refresh
and a new engine lineup. The
large crossover provides seating
for seven and rides on
Volkswagen's 7L platform.
The design was originally based
on the Audi's Pikes Peak quattro
concept car, and mechanically
the Q7 is similar to both the
Volkswagen Touareg and Porsche
Cayenne.
The base Q7 engine features a
272 horsepower, 295 lb-ft of
torque supercharged 3.0-liter
V6, coupled with a 6-speed
Tiptronic automatic transmission.
This combo will take the Q7 from
a stop to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds
and is rated at 16 city and 22
highway miles per gallon.
For the S-line Q7, the 3.0 TFSI
engine is uprated to 333
horsepower and 325 lb-ft of
torque, but retains the same
fuel economy ratings.
Acceleration to 60 is hasted to
6.9 seconds.
The final engine option is a 3.0-
liter, 225 horsepower, 406
pound-feet of torque V6 turbo-
diesel, or TDI as Audi calls it. The
TDI offering will demand an extra
$4,000 and will boost fuel
efficiency to 17 mpg city, and 25
mpg highway while using the
same 6-speed Tiptronic
automatic and quattro AWD as
the other two engines. The TDI
comes in just slower than the
3.6-liter V6 with an 8.5 second
0-60 time.
Audi has also decided to change
its naming scheme around for its
trim levels, with Premium now
representing the base model,
Premium Plus as mid-grade and
Prestige as the top offering. If
customers opt for the gas-
powered Q7, they can also get
the S-line Prestige model.
Standard across the latest Q7
line you will find a plethora of
features, such as: Servotronic
speed-sensitive steering, eight-
speed Tiptronic automatic
transmission, electronic
differential lock, adaptive air
suspension, front and rear
vented disc brakes, anti-theft
alarm, heated windshield nozzles,
power tailgate, leather seats,
iPod, Blueooth and Sirius radio
connectivity and more.
but if that list isn't enough,
upgrading to the Premium Plus
trim level will add: parking
system with camera, auto-
dimming, power-adjustable and
power-folding heated exterior
mirrors with integrated LED turn
signals, xenon plus headlights
with automatic self-leveling and
integrated LED daytime running
lights, panarama sunroof, driver
memory, Multi Media Interface
system including navigation, voice
control system and an eight-
color driver information display.
To distinguish the two from the
outside, the Premium Plus also
gets more brightwork, including
chromed roof rails.
On the safety front, the three
SUVs come with ABS and EBD-
enhanced four-wheel ventilated
disc brakes, and Audi's Electronic
Stabilization Program. Regardless
of engine choice, the behemoths
are limited to 130 mph top
speeds. The Prestige trim comes
standard with upgraded brakes
for maximum stopping power.
Maximum towing capacity for the
V6 model is 5,500 pounds, with
the TDI and V8 both managing
6,600 lb burdens..

Bugatti Veyron

2011-07-14T02:07:00.000+03:00

Not just a super car that carries on
the name of racing driver Pierre
Veyron, who, while racing for the
original Bugatti car manufacturer,
won the 24 hours of Le Mans in
1939, Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is the
second fastest car in the world and
the most powerful, it can easily pass
as a super hero`s car like Batman. It
has the fastest acceleration speed,
reaching 60 mph in 2.6 seconds.
Endowed with a W16 engine-16
cylinders in 4 banks of 4 cylinders
fed by four turbochargers, a dual-
clutch DSG computer-controlled
manual transmission, the Veyron
has a length is 4462 mm (175.8 in) a
wide of 1998 mm (78.7 in) and
hight of 1206 mm (47.5 in).
Counting a sum of 10 radiators, for
the engine cooling system, for
transmission oil, a heat exchanger
for the air to liquid intercoolers, for
engine oil etc., the car has a power
to weight ratio of 529 bhp/tonne.
If we talk about performance we are
dazzled by this supercars power to
reach 200 and 300 km/h (124 and
186 mph) in 7.3 and respectively
16.7 seconds, wining for herself the
name of the quickest-accelerating
production car in history. If we
count the fact that the top speed of
Bugatti Veyron is 253.2 miles per
hour (407.5 km/h), a speed limited
electronically to prevent tire damage
(it can run even faster) we can
understand why this spectacular car
must consume 40.4 L/100 km (4.82
mpg) when it`s running at top
speed and in city driving 24.1 L/100
km.
A model driven by a superstar like
Tom Cruise, couldn`t name itself
cheap, raising the Bugatti Veyron to
a price tag of $1,700,000, a price
that measures up to it`s quality.
Many new designs has been
released since 2006, the color might
have changed, but the performance
and power remain the same..

Saleen S7

2011-07-14T01:56:00.000+03:00

When it went on sale in 2002,
the S7 was the only street-legal
car in the U.S. with more than
500 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of
torque. The media and S7
owners have raved about the
car and it has been recognized
by numerous automotive
magazines as the fastest
American car in the world.
But during the past three years
the automobile marketplace has
witnessed an explosion of
performance with models from
manufacturers including Ferrari,
Lamborghini, Mercedes-Benz,
Porsche and Chevrolet touting
power numbers above the once
magic 500 level. Saleen is not an
organization content to rest on
yesterday's 0-60 mph times or
quarter-mile speeds. So for 2005
it's ''all hail the S7 Twin Turbo!''
This is the first major change to
the S7 since its introduction, and
it is a BIG change as in 750
horsepower and 700 lb-ft of
torque, numbers the competition
will be chasing for a long while
we predict.
What's New for 2005
It was pretty obvious to Saleen
product planners during the late
1990s that horsepower and
torque numbers were trending
upwards, especially among the
purveyors of supercars. And
power figures that looked
spectacular at that time might
seem quite ordinary a few years
down the road. So Saleen
engineers have been planning for
thisday since they drew the
first line on a computer screen
for the original S7's 7-liter
engine.
Aerodynamics has also come
under scrutiny for 2005. Unless
you place the new S7 Twin Turbo
next toone of the original 2002
models, you probably won't
notice that the 2005 version has
a different diffuser/rear spoiler
package and reshaped front
fenders to enhance the S7s
already sleek, swoopy and
aerodynamic contours. For the
2005 S7 Twin Turbo, the
redesigned front and rear
diffusers, along with the new
rear spoiler, result in a 40
percent reduction in aero drag
and a 60 percent increase in
down force.
To complement the Twin Turbo's
enhanced straight-line
performance envelope The S7
chassis has also undergone a fair
amount of tweaking. Virtually
every suspension pickup point
has been changed, and the
suspension geometry has been
modified for less squat and dive
during acceleration and braking.
To further improve driving
comfort and ergonomics, the S7
Twin Turbo incorporates a
revised pedal box. The clutch and
throttle leverratios pedals have
been changed for lighter pedal
efforts. In addition, the three
pedals have been spaced farther
apart without impinging upon the
dead pedal.
Engine & Drivetrain
The new all-aluminum V8 engine
casting was engineered and
tooled by Saleen to displace
seven liters. Space age materials
and engineering are used
throughout, including stainless
steel valves, titanium retainers,
beryllium exhaust valve seats, an
aluminumthrottle body, Saleen-
designed aluminum CNC-machined
cylinder heads and stainless steel
exhaustsystem. The V8
incorporates a unique Saleen-
designed side-mounted water
pump, a belt-driven camshaft
drive and a Saleen-engineered
dry sump oil delivery system.
The engine's mid-chassis
placement optimizes weight
distribution and makes room for
an unusually tall engine that
allows for a very efficient
induction system. Air enters a
roof intake, passes through a
90-mm mass air meter and feeds
into a carbon fiber plenum. From
the plenum the air is routed to
the twin ball bearing turbos, is
pressurized to 5.5 psi max and
then passes through an oval-
bore throttle body into an
aluminum intake manifold with
eight individual runners.
To feed juice to this setup, the
injection system includes dual
electric fuel pumps and high-
capacity, return-less, 52 lb/hr
fuel injectors. Neatly engineered
and integrated into the S7's
stainless steel, dual, high-flow
exhaust system are two, twin-
ball-bearing, water-cooled
Saleen-Garrett turbos, featuring
44-mm wastegates. The four
exhaust pipes from each bank of
cylinders merge into a race-car-
like high-efficiency collector. In
addition, the exhaust
incorporates dual catalysts per
cylinder bank, EGR and those
aforementioned twin wastegates.
And because Saleen believes in
power and clean air, the emission
controlsystem features dual,
heated oxygen sensors per
cylinder bank and a high-volume
evaporative emission system
along with those four catalysts.
Oh, and for good measure and
clean air, the system is OBD-II
compliant.
One of the few internal changes
to the twin-turbo engine is a
swap from hydraulic to solid
lifters. This change allows the
engine to rev higher and harder.
Also, as is typical with
turbocharged engines, the
compression ratio has been
lowered. It drops from a very
high 12.0:1 in the previous
naturally aspirated V8 to a still
high 11.0:1. And for increased
durability, Saleen engineers also
added oil squirters to cool the
undersides of the pistons.
A new-generation six-speed
transaxle, with a unique Saleen
bell housing, transfers power to
the wheels. The clutch is an
organic/metallic 8.0-inch, twin-
plate unit with hydraulic
actuation.
Chassis, Suspension &
Brakes
A major improvement in ride is
achieved for 2005 with the use
of coil springs that are a dual-
stage design. The first spring has
alower rate than the single
springs fitted to the current S7,
resulting in softer ride during
normal street driving. But if you
remember your history, you
know that the S7 is a flat-
bottom, downforce car. The
faster you go, the more
downforce the S7 develops. In
the case of the S7’s new
dual-stage springs, the second
stiffer spring starts coming into
play at around 100 mph when
the car begins to develop
serious downforce.
Chassis tuning also includes
revised shock valving front and
rear. Saleen-engineered Brembo-
supplied lightweight aluminum six-
pistonmono-block calipers are
fitted front and rear. The
brakes are among the largest of
any production car with 15-inch
vented discs up front and 14-
inch vented discs at the rear.
Geometry changes, along with
new tires, result in about a 30
percent increase in mechanical
grip . . . which is substantial. In a
seeming contradiction to current
performance tire practice, the
2005 S7 Twin Turbo is fitted with
tallertires, 275/35R19s up front
and 335/30R20s at the rear.
While the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2
tires have higher aspect ratios,
they also lay tire patches that
are 1.5 inches wider at the rear.
Conclusion
None of the S7's major supercar
competitors, such as the Ferrari
Enzo, the McLaren F1 and the
Maserati MC12, are a match for
the S7 Twin Turbo's prodigious
horsepower and torque figures:
All are at least 100 bhp and
more than 200 lb-ft in arrears
of the S7. Chalk up another
victory for good old American V8
engine ingenuity.
It's also no contest when it
comes to price. The
Manufacturer's Suggested Retail
Price (MSRP) for the 2005 S7
Twin Turbo is $555,000. That's
$100,000 less than an Enzo
(which is out of production and
escalating in price) and nearly
$300,000 fewer dollars than the
Maserati. And you could have Her
andHis S7s for the price of the
McLaren F1!
Story by Saleen Inc, edited by
Supercars.netuam..