Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Motors, displaying the Nano in New Delhi on Thursday. (Photo by Money Sharma/European Pressphoto Association)
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Tata Nano: The World’s Cheapest Car
Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Motors, displaying the Nano in New Delhi on Thursday. (Photo by Money Sharma/European Pressphoto Association)
Tata Nano: The World’s Cheapest Car
Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Motors, displaying the Nano in New Delhi on Thursday. (Photo by Money Sharma/European Pressphoto Association)
BMW 5-series 2010
Could this really be the new 
When you think of luxury executive saloons, one car always comes to mind, the BMW 5-series. A class leader since its inception, the 5-series remains a crucial car to BMW. With the current E60 5-series introduced back in 2004, BMW is preparing the sixth-generation model to be revealed in 2010. It will be a tough job for the designers as well as the thousands of engineers working across BMW’s development centers to renew the current model, a car that already resides at the edge of the technical front line. The new design is critical for BMW’s design manager Adrian van Hooydonk and his team, who have to create an exterior that radiates the brand’s distinctive design values and at the same time feels new and fresh. Using information from various sources, these renderings were compiled by our partners over at Sweden’s Auto Motor and Sport and their illustrator Radovan Varicak, giving us a preview of what the final version will look like. The front-end will likely feature a more upright kidney grille in order to comply with stronger pedestrian protection laws, while the headlights won’t be stretched out like on the current model. BMW’s characteristic interaction between convex and concave shapes will still be emphasized, and will be clearly indicated in the engine hood’s lines.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Techco unleashes 600 horsepower Corvette supercharger system
We recently got the chance to get behind the wheel of Techco's demo Corvette for a short drive, and were simply amazed at the dual nature of the car. From the outside it appears to simply be a stock Corvette - it looks stock, sounds stock, and even drives stock if you lay off the throttle. A unique drive system helps to keep things quiet, muting the sound of the supercharger. Get on the gas, though, and the blown LS3 propels the Corvette past legal speeds in the blink of an eye. With a package price of just $8,500 and an optional 10 psi kit, it's a pretty good bargain as well.
Designed and engineered by the same team that created the Series VI supercharger for the Saleen Mustangs, the Techco Corvette supercharger displaces 3.0 liters and features a standalone 8-rib drive system, patented dual A-Frame Intercooler system, high-volume fuel rails with 54 lb/hr injectors, and more. Corvette owners will also be pleased to hear it fits underneath the stock hood.
If you haven't heard much about Techco, you soon will. The Anaheim-based aftermarket company launched a bevy of performance products for the Chrysler LX platform and Ford Mustang earlier this year, and recently stuffed its reverse-revolution twin-screw supercharger system underneath the hood of a brand new C6 Corvette. The result? 600 horsepower and 535 lb-ft torque at just six pounds of boost.
PRESS RELEASE:
Anaheim, CA, June 15, 2009 – Techco, "The Technology Company," has released a new Reverse-Revolution Twin-Screw Supercharger kit for all 2005-Current (C6) Corvettes equipped with the LS2, LS3 or LS7 V8s.
The unique Techco supercharger features reverse rotor lobes to allow front inlet induction for a shorter, more direct passage of air into the supercharger, resulting in cooler air and higher volumetric efficiency. This revolutionary supercharger, designed, engineered and manufactured in-house by Techco's talented team, made its debut in a supercharger kit for Dodge/Chrysler 5.7-liter and 6.1-liter V8s last year, followed by an application for Ford Mustang 4.6-liter 3-valve V8s in February 2009.
Like the Ford and Dodge/Chrysler designs, the Techco supercharger kit for the Corvette combines a large displacement blower with an ingenious dual-stage intercooler system featuring single-pass coolant flow. The Techco supercharger's 3.0-liter's of displacement is the largest among all Corvette twin-screws, pumping approximately 50 percent more air into each cylinder during every intake stroke. This highly efficient design produces the most horsepower and torque per psi of boost pressure (6 psi) of any supercharger on the market today, approximately 600 bhp/535 lb-ft versus the stock Corvette V8's 430 bhp/424 lb-ft.
And it fits neatly and cleanly under the stock Corvette hood. No other twin-screw or Roots supercharger can make that claim.
"The ground-up design is advanced in every way," says Techco Chief Engineer Bill Tally. "From the in-house manufacturing of our Reverse Revolution rotor screws; front intake system; long, high-flow runners; stand-alone 8-rib drive system; and our patented dual AFrame Intercooler system, no area of the supercharger was overlooked or taken for granted. This is a complete rethink and a clean sheet design that will take the industry by storm," Tally continued.
"Our TECHCO Twin-Screw Supercharger Kit for the Corvette is the culmination of everything we've learned in design and development since we first began supercharging V8 engines more than a decade ago," adds John Spruill, Vice President of Engineering. "With our large 3.0-liter displacement supercharger, the throttle response on-boost is amazing. It's a real blast to drive!"
What makes the Techco 3.0-liter Reverse-Revolution Twin-Screw Supercharger so revolutionary is the unique design (patent pending), which optimizes airflow efficiency throughout. Incoming air is fed into the front of the supercharger, not the back like conventional designs. This ensures that the incoming air has minimal turns, eliminating restrictions, before entering into the supercharger housing. Additionally, without the need for a complex inlet tube, the largest possible orifice size is maintained, maximizing airflow efficiencies. The air then flows into the lobes of the Reverse-Revolution asymmetric multi��lobe compressor screws, where it is compressed, not merely moved, as in other forms of supercharging. The compressed air then flows into the intercooler housing, which contains two intercoolers, mounted in an A-frame configuration to ensure the airflow is evenly distributed to each runner bank. The patent pending Twin Intercooler design results in higher cooling capacity and greater thermal efficiencies as the cooling water only has to pass through the intercoolers once, keeping the charge air cool. A further benefit of the front Inlet Design is the additional package space above the supercharger that is used for long high flow Intake Runners, which increases lowend torque. The resulting design of the Techco Reverse��Revolution Twin-Screw Supercharger allows air to move through the supercharger quickly and efficiently, without significant heat buildup, and at the highest resulting airflow volume and air density at low boost output. The performance result is maximized horsepower and torque output.
And for extreme power-hungry enthusiasts, Techco is also offering Optional Boost Upgrade Kits (starting at 10 psi), which offer increased power output from 650 bhp on up.
Price $8,500 (Optional Polished Upgrade: $10,000)
Autocar first to get a crack at wheeltime in the Lexus LF-A. Sort of.
Toyota has never publicly confirmed whether it will actually produce the LF-A, although britain's Autocar now reports that the super-Lexus will go on sale in October at a price estimated at £250,000, or nearly half a million dollars.
It seems as if Lexus has been working on the LF-A supercar forever. Or at least six years. It's been shown in three different concept forms, including a convertible, at auto shows since 2005 and it has twice participated in the Nürburgring 24.
Like the race car, the road car will weigh 1500kg – the rollcage and racing kit weight the same as a road car interior. That means 550bhp and 1500kg, which means 366.6bhp per tonne, only a fraction less than the 373bhp per tonne of the Ferrari 599. So it’s quick, then, with a capital Q.
Down the back straight it feels a) very, very quick beyond 5000rpm, b) sounds absolutely fantastic at 8300rpm, and c) accelerates so violently towards the still soaking wet horizon that it’s not long before I bale out and brush the brakes, at which point it becomes equally obvious how well it stops.
The V10 apparently really comes to life above 5,000 rpm. If (and that's a really big if) the LF-A is produced, it might only be a limited run of 500 units. Given Toyota's losses and the current economic environment, it's anyone's guess whether it'll happen, but we may find out at the Tokyo Motor Show this fall. Hat tip to RDS
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2009 German grand prix qualifying results [SPOILER]
At his 132nd attempt, Mark Webber secured his maiden pole position on Saturday, beating Rubens Barrichello to the best time in a chaotic weather-affected qualifying session in Germany.
"It was very, very chaotic so to deliver a time when it counted was very important to me," said the 32-year-old Red Bull driver.
His teammate Sebastian Vettel, 3.5 points ahead of him in the drivers' championship, qualified just fifth.
Read full story from worldcarfans
Friday, July 10, 2009
You Had Your Chance: Chrysler says Viper program is no longer for sale
The future of the Dodge Viper has been in question since the summer of 2008, when it was reported Chrysler was considering selling the rights to their halo sports car instead of killing it all together. Initially, there seemed to be plenty of interested parties, including Roush and Saleen, but the dwindling economy led to just one lowball offer from Michigan-based Devon Motor Works. Even after the Viper's production facility re-opened last month, it was still assumed that the 600 horsepower sports car would up for grabs. Not anymore.
Today, Chrysler announced that the Viper program is no longer for sale and that it will be continued to be produced past the end of the year at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant. There was no mention as to why the decision was made or what will happen beyond 2010, but for now, the Viper is safe. The official press release doesn't offer much information, but you check it out after the jump, along with a video from Chrysler discussing the decision and giving brief history of the Viper.
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2010 Tesla Roadster gets upgrades
While owners of the current Tesla Roadster get the benefit of driving their bad ass electric vehicle today, people who are on the list for a 2010 model will get a few benefits that make 2009 owners jealous. Tesla Motors Club member DrComputer wrote about "a conversation with Ted at corporate" that revealed some improvements to the new cars. A tipster sent in a similar list of upgrades.
The upgrades include:
* New power electronics module
* Better cooling for the power electronics
* Improved AC with variable speed fans
* Built in WiFi cards that connect the Roadster to the Internet (unless you turn the feature off) and gives Tesla the ability to interact with the car remotely. Also, this could open the door to mobile phone apps that talk to the car.
* Glove box locks when you lock the car (to leave it out with the top down)
Both sources mention the ability to switch vehicle performance modes – from Range to Standard or Performance (but not back to Range) – with the key instead of needing to change modes via the screen. There has been no official confirmation about these upgrades, but none of them would surprise us if they were true. Thanks to Dan for the tip!
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Mercedes Innovation: The Crumple Zone in 1952
It was an inventor Bela Barenyi who pioneered the idea that passengers were safer in a vehicle that was designed to easily absorb the energy from an impact and keep that energy away from the people inside the cabin.
It may be the Volvo name which is most associated with automotive safety in the consumer's mind, but it was, in fact, Mercedes-Benz which first developed the most basic tenet of passenger car safety - the so-called Crumple Zone.
Barenyi devised a system of placing the car's components in a certain configuration that kept the kinetic energy in the event of a crash away from a bubble protecting the car's occupants. Mercedes obtained a patent from Barenyi's invention way back in 1952 and the technology was first introduced into production cars in 1959 in the Mercedes-Benz 220, 220 S and 220 SE models.
For example, Barenyi arranged the steering column and other heavy components so that they would not form blocks that would heighten the impact on the cabin. The system was designed to have the car's body crumple around the cabin, absorbing the worst of the kinetic shock of impact.
The inventor/engineer Barenyi is credited with about 2,500 patents, more than half as many as the more famous inventor, Thomas Edison.
via:worldcarfans
Press Release
Patent No. DBP 854 157: The "Crumple Zone", Life-Saver of Thousands
* Mercedes-Benz engineering mastermind: Bela Barenyi and the invention of the crumple zone
* Rigid passenger cell, interior designed to reduce injury hazards in an accident: Mercedes-Benz 220, 220 S, 220 SE model year 1959
* "Terracruiser": Bela Barenyi's contribution to the company and other milestones
Stuttgart - Almost 60 years ago Mercedes-Benz presented what would become a common life-saving fixture on cars: the crumple zone.
On 23 January 1951, Daimler-Benz AG applied for patent number DBP 854 157, using the unadorned description of "Motor vehicles especially for the transportation of people". Concealed behind this was the invention of the deformable areas at the front and rear of a car that is still today generally referred to as "the crumple zone".
In the decades that followed, this patent revolutionised the entire automotive industry and became the decisive factor in "passive safety".
In more recent times, it has even been applied in railway locomotive and carriage design.
The ingenious mastermind of the idea was Bela Barenyi for whom the maxim of the time - "a safe car must not yield but be stable" - was completely inappropriate.
He was the first to discover that in a collision, kinetic energy must be absorbed through deformation in order for the occupants to be protected. He logically split the car body into three "boxes": a soft front section, a rigid passenger cell and a soft rear section.
The patent was granted on August 28, 1952.
Rigid passenger cell and interior designed to reduce injury hazards in an accident
On a global scale, Barenyi's safety bodywork made its debut in production cars in the first six-cylinder Mercedes-Benz 220, 220 S and 220 SE models of 1959, their most striking feature being distinctive tail fins.
Developments under the engine hood were equally revolutionary: the steering gear moved far to the rear and the auxiliary units were arranged in such a way so as not to form blocks with each other in the event of a collision, but rather to slip past one another, permitting more effective crumpling of the bodywork.
Inside this Mercedes, the most significant improvement was only to be detected after giving it a second look: for the first time ever, the interior was completely redesigned in order to reduce the injury hazard in an accident. Hard or sharp-edged controls were replaced by yielding, rounded or recessed units, combined with recessed door handles, a dashboard which yielded on impact, padded window ledges, window winders, armrests and sun visors and a steering wheel that featured a large padded boss. Under heavy impact, the rear-view mirror was released from its bracket.
In 1961, anchorage points for seat belts were fitted as standard in the "tail fin". Lap belts were available from 1957, and the first diagonal shoulder belts appeared in 1962. Round-shoulder tyres also made their debut on this car.
"Terracruiser": Bela Barenyi's contribution to the company and other milestones
In October 1948, engineer and inventor Bela Barenyi signed his new employment contract with Daimler-Benz AG, where he had worked previously between 1939 and 1946. He contributed his concept for a "car of the future for the two-to-three litre class", the "Terracruiser" as he called it, which had been in development for several years.
Striking at first glance on this design was the car's body, which was split into three sections, giving it a front end, a passenger compartment and a tail. The two outer sections were strictly separated by the passenger cell which itself was flexibly mounted in a "cradle position". This mounting was to absorb vibrations as well as offer protection in the event of a collision.
One other thing: to protect the driver as effectively as possible in a lateral crash, the driver's seat, including all instruments and controls, was arranged centrally in a complex "bridge".
The Terracruiser was designed as a three-box body with outstanding aerodynamic efficiency.
Barenyi developed a huge range of trailblazing safety elements alongside the Terracruiser. These include such essentials as the safety steering column, the steering wheel impact absorber, the "disappearing windscreen wiper" and, highly important for interior safety, the protective side moulding.
His modular design principle, which he developed so early on, has become relevant only recently.
By the end of his professional career, the restless Bela Barenyi was able to call 2,500 patents his own. To grasp the scale of his relentless pioneering work, famous US inventor, Thomas Edison, has just over half as many.
leaked: Mercedes SLS AMG Gullwing
Public unveiling in Frankfurt is only two months away. Judging by all of the recent leaks and releases, an official media release could happen very soon.
WCF sources state the images are genuine. Judging from the generic studio background and lack of computer touch-up work, they could be preview images for dealers or existing clientele. Additionally, the type of low resolution picture quality, even visible on the magazine cover version, suggests the source images are from a printed brochure or magazine and then captured using a mobile phone camera.
The leaks are starting to flow. Just within the past week we saw the latest spy photos of an SLS Gullwing in grey, more official "teaser" images were published, and today rumours of an SLS Gullwing electric vehicle is slated for 2015. But the day isn't over yet and another very legitimate looking image revealing the front and rear design details has surfaced.
Here we have two very different versions of the same grainy image. The first of which is clearly a magazine cover from Autobild with a bonus rear shot, and the second version from Autowerald.com in The Netherlands is the source image without the clutter.
via:worldcarfans
Thursday, July 9, 2009
California - Mini Cooper Crossover spotted Spy Photos
Based on the Mini Crossover Concept that debuted at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, the production version appears to have more in common with the standard Mini Cooper than the extra large Clubman model. While it does sport an extra pair of doors like the Clubman, these prototypes appear to feature rear lift gates that swing up rather than being split vertically down the center. And while ground clearance does appear to be up relative to a standard Mini, these long-wheelbase, four-door Coopers are far from being rock crawlers.
Mini has been caught testing its upcoming Cooper Crossover in the deserts of California, and these two prototypes, despite their psychedelic paint schemes, provide the most clear view yet of the small soft roader. What's of particular note is that these two prototypes do not share the same front end, perhaps because one is the naturally aspirated model and the other turbocharged. The trailing Cooper Crossover prototype features a more typical Mini grille with horizontal slats and a fog light at each corner. The prototype leading the pack, however, features a mesh grille and lower air intake with two inlets.
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Hertz announces Lotus Elise, Exige rentals available in Italy
You will now get another option if you are looking for a fast rental car in Italy. Hertz has inked a deal with Lotus to provide customers the opportunity to rent a Lotus Elise or Exige.
Unfortunately, it appears the press release may have been sent out a bit too soon. The vehicle does not appear on the Hertz "Fun Collection" web page, and our search for the vehicle in one of the Rome locations turned up empty.
via:worldcarfans
Press Release
Hire your dream - Lotus cars now available for rental with Hertz Italy
Lotus Cars Limited, the sportscar subsidiary of Group Lotus plc is delighted to announce a marketing co-operation agreement with the car hire company Hertz Italiana and to supply Lotus cars for its rental business in Italy.
Now driving enthusiasts, fans of the Lotus brand and those who want to drive cars from one of the finest sportscar marques in the world will be able to hire a Lotus Elise directly from Hertz Italiana S.p.A.
Lotus Elise SC sportscars will be available to hire from key Hertz centres throughout Italy from middle of July.
Mr. Michael J. Kimberley, Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus plc, commented, "I am delighted that Lotus Cars has entered into this agreement with Hertz, giving us the opportunity to make our stunning world class sportscars available to the rental market. The iconic and multi award winning Lotus Elise and the stunning Lotus Exige are the perfect fun rental cars for those who desire exclusive and high performance motoring."
Mr. Andrea Manni, director of the official Lotus dealer, ‘Lotus Rome' said, "For many, to drive a Lotus is to fulfill a lifelong dream and now, thanks to Lotus and Hertz Italiana S.p.A. this dream can be realised for a longer period than just a quick test drive at a Lotus dealer. We expect some drivers who hire an Elise or Exige from Hertz Italiana S.p.A to visit a Lotus dealership afterwards, as once you have experienced the exciting and adrenaline fueled capabilities of a Lotus, there is no turning back!"
Ing. Giuseppe Caminiti, Fleet Director for Hertz Italiana said: "We launched the Hertz Fun Collection last year to give our customers the possibility to drive the cars they have always dreamt of driving. The Lotus Elise SC is one of these dream cars and by including it in the Hertz's Fun Collection our customers have an opportunity to drive a real sportscar. We are honoured to be able to work with Lotus and are delighted that Lotus has created personalised versions of the Elise SC especially for Hertz."
To book a Lotus Elise car hire from Hertz, drivers are invited to contact Hertz on www.hertz.it or by calling the Hertz call center on +39-199-11-22-11.
Mystery Porsche Cayman shooting brake mule smells like a hoax?
We're not sure what to make of this viral video that popped up on the Top Gear website.? The video appears to portray a shooting brake version of the Porsche Cayman, but we are definitely skeptical.
Top Gear seems to think this car could be either a variant of the next Cayman, a turbo model, or a special edition.? We're not so sure.? Here's why:? If you take a hard look at the rear (around the :10 in the video), you see that the extension appears to have been tacked on at the rear.? Additionally, we would be surprised to see top-quality reflective mirror tinted glass used all the way around a test mule.? Our guess is that this prolongation was either physically built with some kind of cardboard or polystyrene foam and taped into place, or some crafty video editor extraordinaire digitally built the car frame-by-frame in Photoshop.
via:worldcarfans
Gemballa Mirage GT Matt Edition photos Revealed
This is the latest Mirage GT to come out of Porsche tuner, Gemballa’s garage. The Carrera GT may well have ceased production on May 6, 2006 but Gemballa are still finding enough interest in their Mirage kits to create a new one every now and again.
Essentially a Mirage GT Carbon Edition with a different paint job and blue Alcantara interior trimmings, the sinister looking supercar features a massive V10 engine with 670 horsepower and 630 Nm of torque. Performance stats include 0-100 km/h time of 3.7 seconds, a 0-200 km/h (124 mph) time of 9.7 seconds, and a top speed of 335 km/h (208 mph).
The exterior looks stunning as always with Mirage GT’s. The mix of matte black paintwork and silver accents really make the car stand out. The interior is less of a success though.
Although no official details have been released, expect the Matt Edition to be sold in extremely limited numbers with a price surpassing €300,000 ($419,012 USD).
As with most tuners, Gemballa have added a garish ‘one-off’ theme to the car. A mixture of black material, blue alcantara and a space age-looking silver material give it a strange new look that’s definitely an acquired taste! As you’d also expect, there’s plenty of carbon fibre in this car.
via:gtspirit