Automotive
Triple World Rally Championship celebration for Ford
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February 6, 2006 Ford has many reasons to celebrate overnight for Marcus Gronholm's win in the Uddeholm Swedish Rally in Karlstad; it was Ford’s 50th win in the World Rally Championship, Gronholm’s 20th WRC win (moving him to equal fifth on the all-time list) and it happened on his 38th birthday. The Finn admitted that he isn't so interested in his age anymore but his second win of the season in the Focus WRC06 was the primary reason to celebrate, having dominated the event and led from the first stage. However, of more interest to Ford its lead in the drivers championship and the manufacturers championship. It was a particularly sweet victory for Ford as despite its long and illustrious rally history (the Zodiac, Zephyr, Falcon, Anglia, Cortina, ad infinitum), the last time the marque won in Sweden was in 1978, with Bjorn Waldegard at the wheel of the Escort RS1800, when the WRC was just five years old. Gronholm’s win, and the exclusion of the third of the big three competitors in WRC, Subaru’s Petter Solberg, the bookies have now firmed Gronholm to 2.25 (5/4) clear second favourite for the drivers championship, though current world champion Sebastien Loeb remains odds-on favourite for the title at 1.70 (approx. 6/4 on). Solberg has now drifted to 8.00 (7/1) and Subaru’s Australian prodigy Chris Atkinson is fourth favourite at a staggering 80/1. Clearly the championship is a three-horse-race after just two events of the 16 event series.
Renault Altica sporty estate concept car
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February 4, 2006 Renault has taken the wraps off its latest concept car, Altica, a sporty estate car with a spacious interior. Described by Renault's Senior Vice President, Corporate Design, Patrick le Quement, as “a successful balance between flowing and sporty lines,” the Altica is designed to combine the practicality of an estate car, the sports appeal of a coupe and a high standard of travelling comfort. The interior of the car is where most of the advanced concepts are employed, with a suspended drive station held in place by four profiled rods that hint at the world of Formula 1. Similarly, the seats are fixed, and the drive station and pedal assembly adjust to match the driver's physique via a motorized mechanism. Altica's sports pedigree is reinforced by its scissor doors, the form of which ensures easy access to this low vehicle.
Toyota mini SUV Urban Cruiser concept
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February 4, 2006 Toyota is set to show a concept it is billing as an Urban Cruiser at this month’s Geneva Auto Show. The futuristic mini SUV is a design exercise by ED2, Toyota’s European design studio with the concept car drawing heavily on Toyota’s heritage in Sports Utility Vehicles but also adding its own dynamic flair and rugged originality. The Urban Cruiser will also feature a fresh interior style inspired by trendy furniture.
PSA Peugeot Citroen unveils Peugeot 307 and the Citroen C4 Hybride HDi cars offering 3.4 l/100 km (83 mpg)
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February 3, 2006 PSA Peugeot Citroen has unveiled two demonstrator vehicles featuring a diesel-electric hybrid powertrain: the Peugeot 307 and the Citroen C4 Hybride HDi. Average diesel consumption for these two cars is 3.4 litres per 100 kilometres (83 mpg) with 90 grams of CO2 emitted per kilometre - a record for compact cars. This is some 25% better than a similar vehicle equipped with a petrol hybrid system, or as much as a litre per 100 kilometres (20 mpg) in combined urban and motorway driving. PSA Peugeot Citroen’s Hybrid HDi technology comprises a 1.6-litre HDi diesel engine, a particulate filter system (DPFS), the latest generation Stop & Start system, an electric motor, inverter, high-voltage battery pack and dedicated control electronics. The cars are also equipped with an electronically managed manual gearbox.
Rossi shines in Formula One testing
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February 2, 2006 Italian MotoGP star Valentino Rossi is already a phenomenon and seems destined for an even greater share of the media’s attention over the coming year now that he has stepped into the limelight of the world’s biggest spectator event – Formula One. Yesterday he stepped out in his new capacity as an official Ferrari F1 test driver alongside team leader Michael Schumacher and amongst most of the major Formula One drivers on the same track – the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia, Spain. Driving a 2004 Ferrari F2004, Rossi finished eighth fastest of the 15 drivers, completing 53 laps, with a best time of 1.12.851. Schumacher covered a total of 71 laps, setting the third quickest time of the day at 1.11.814. Rossi was faster than a number of established F1 stars on the day, including Red Bull’s David Coulthard, Williams’ Mark Webber and Toyota’s Jarno Trulli. Rossi has been linked to a move to Formula One in 2007, with his Yamaha MotoGP contract expiring at the end of 2006. This article looks at the parallel careers of Rossi and the only person to have won both the F1 and MotoGP championship - John Surtees.
Fiat and Microsoft launch Blue&Me in-car communications & entertainment system
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February 2, 2006 Fiat and Microsoft will launch Blue&Me based on Windows Mobile for Automotive at the 2006 Geneva Motorshow later this month, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of in-car communication, infotainment and entertainment systems and providing all vehicles in the Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Fiat Commercial Vehicle ranges with a competitive advantage. Blue&Me will be the first product seen from the long-term strategic partnership inked in July 2004 with the objective of co-designing innovative automotive telematics systems. Blue&Me is an all-new system which will be software upgradeable and compatible with most mobile phones, digital media players and other mobile devices so they can be replaced without compromising compatibility with the car. The voice-activated system, the complete integration of steering wheel control buttons and information on the dashboard display will allow users to utilize any Bluetooth-based mobile phone. Thanks to a modern voice-recognition system, no preliminary voice training is needed, and even incoming SMS messages are read aloud to the driver. Among audio functions, it is possible to listen to music stored on a mobile phone, in the newest smart phones, and in MP3 readers or USB removable sticks via a USB port in the glove box.
Rotating Cylinder Valve (RCV) engine unveiled
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UK-based RCV Engines is best known globally for its range of model aircraft engines but the unveiling yesterday of a prototype 125cc Rotating Cylinder Valve (RCV) scooter engine could put it on the map in a far more significant way. The RCV engine is ideally suited to sub-250cc applications such as motorcycles, scooters and power tools where it offers 100PS/litre performance and manufacturing costs akin to those of a two-stroke, with the emission levels and fuel consumption of a four-stroke. International demand for small motorcycle engines is massive with the Chinese, Indian and Indonesian markets accounting for 22 million small capacity engines annually – traditionally, these have been two-stroke engines but with the advent of exhaust emission regulations the bulk of production is now represented by larger, more expensive and less powerful 4-strokes. The RCV engine offers a particularly attractive solution for this large and growing market sector and also has application in chain saws, leaf blowers, strimmers and the emerging Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) market. Better still, RCV engines run well on alternative fuels such as kerosene and bio-fuels and significant further potential remains for this engine concept in areas such as variable valve timing, variable compression ratio and supercharging which could improve already impressive performance to new heights.
The EDAG Biwak – the Beetle Estate Wagon inspired by the grunge movement
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February 2, 2006 EDAG Engineering + Design regularly comes up with interesting automotive concepts
and has once again surprised us with the Biwak concept it will display at the Geneva Motor Show later this month. Like the Porsche Chopster SUV it showed last year, the Biwak is a derivative concept based on an existing design, though this time, it's based on Volkswagen's iconic Beetle. In this case, the classic, half-rounded beetle shape has been converted into an estate silhouette, creating extra room for various new professional and leisure applications. Now if you think the exterior treatment is provocative, wait until you get to the rationale. The EDAG Biwak look is “inspired by the spirit of the grunge movement of the early 1990s.” EDAG describes the Biwak thus: a daring mix of materials in the interior and exterior, and patina instead of a high-gloss finish dominate the appearance of the avantgarde Beetle, which signals understatement and individuality for a new generation of vehicle owners. The vehicle will be unveiled at a press conference on March 1, 2006.
All-New Opel GT revives a classic sports car
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February 2, 2006 The classic slogan "Nur Fliegen ist schoner" ("Only flying is more exciting") went down in the history of advertising, and applied to a car which has become a classic - the Opel GT. Now the Opel brand is reviving the legend with a new sports car that echoes the successful concept of its predecessor. The new two-seat GT features an exciting design with sharply cut lines, rear-wheel drive and a potent four-cylinder turbo engine with gasoline direct injection. The new roadster will celebrate its world premiere at this year's Geneva Motor Show.
Volvo’s new S80 – luxury, V8 Power, AWD Poise
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February 1, 2006 Volvo's all-new S80 will be revealed to the public at the international motor show in Geneva on 28 February and is scheduled to arrive in European dealerships during June. Performance and power are entrenched priorities in the ultra-competitive luxury sedan segment, and Volvo Car's commitment to delivery these qualities yields an enthusiastic and refined combination of 235kW V8 power and all-wheel-drive performance.
ALFA'S 159 Sportwagon - showroom "shooting brake"
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February 1, 2006 Alfa Romeo is to produce a Sportwagon version of the all-new Alfa Romeo 159 sports sedan which will grace showrooms around the globe by the middle of this year. The new Sportwagon will debut at the Geneva International Motor Show later this month, providing a successor to the highly successful Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon. The Alfa 159 Sportwagon represents a very desirable all-purpose vehicle, combining Italian style with the performance and handling of a genuine sportscar, and the flexibility of use and versatility of space expected from a high class wagon – a showroom quality “shooting brake” with 195kW performance at a fraction the cost of the best-of-both-worlds functionality normally associated with such models.
The Alfa Romeo Spider is back!
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February 1, 2006 One of the most famous automotive names of all time, the Alfa Romeo Spider, will be re-born at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show (28 February to 12 March 2006) with the launch of the all-new Alfa Romeo Spider. Like its predecessors, the Giulietta Spider of the 1950s and the 1990s Alfa Romeo Spider, the new Alfa Romeo Spider is a unique blend of style, performance and, considering what it offers, affordability, with cutting edge solutions in terms of mechanical specifications, including for the first time a four wheel drive Alfa Spider.
Kia and Muller make it three from three on ice
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February 1, 2006 Yvan Muller and his Kia Rio took sufficient points in the final competitive round of the Andros Trophy in the French Alps to make it three out of three championship wins in successive years. The domination of France’s pre-eminent motorsport championship by Muller and the Rio was complete – despite Muller carrying more weight-penalty ballast as the twice-previous championship winner – and Muller comprehensively saw off last minute challenges from former F1 Grand Prix World Champion Alain Prost in a Toyota, Jean-Phillipe Dayraut in a BMW and Franck Lagorce in a Fiat.
Nissan Terranaut concept for explorers (with built-in computer console)
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February 1, 2006 Nissan Europe will present a bold concept at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show. The Nissan Terranaut is a 4x4 vehicle which is intended for explorers and those customers with a spirit of adventure who want to travel to the extreme corners of the globe. The Terranaut was conceived to serve as a mobile working environment for scientists, geologists, archaeologists or other adventurers who travel to the most challenging environments on the planet either for their work – or pleasure. Its cabin is designed to accommodate three people – a driver, a passenger and, in the rear, where a scientist or specialist is well served with a computer console, as well as communication and analysis equipment to support them in their work.
Renault F1 Team launches 2006 championship campaign in Monaco
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January 31, 2006 The Renault F1 Team today launched its 2006 world championship challenger, the R26, in Monaco with the promise of an aggressive defence of the team’s double 2005 world championship. In front of world-wide media and VIP guests in Monte-Carlo, the world champions officially launched the 2006 championship campaign with a clear objective: defending the world championship with an aggressive approach to the 2006 season. “In terms of performance objectives, there can be only one: to be fighting for the world championship in the final races,” explained Renault F1 Team President Patrick Faure. “We enter the year with an unchanged line-up in our management, our drivers and our technical team. Everybody at Viry and Enstone has been working to prepare a technical package capable of keeping us at the top. Complacency has no place at Renault. We are focused on repeating our successes.” Previous 2006 Formula One team launch reports can be found here: Ferrari's 248 F1, Toyota's TF-06, Honda's RA106 and Williams' F1 FW28.
Learn to drive the Maserati Way
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January 31, 2006 Having a high performance automobile is not much use if you aren’t a high performance driver – indeed, it might get you into a whole lot of trouble and has been known to be fatal. Which all adds up to a fantastic excuse to attend the Maserati 2006 Master GT driving course. The Maserati Master GT courses are based at the Paletti de Varano de'Melegari Autodromo in the mountains near Parma in Italy and have exclusive use of this demanding and road-like circuit, and its wide range of facilities that can provide artificial rain, low grip surfaces to mimic snow and ice and full telemetry facilities so that drivers can examine in the classroom exactly what they were doing behind the wheel while on the track. All cars are provided and the full Maserati range is on offer including the Coupe, GranSport, GranSport Spyder and the Quattroporte, all in manual and Cambiocorsa sequential manual gearbox versions. The team of ten instructors is lead by Ivan Capelli, a veteran of nearly 100 F1 Grand Prix starts during his motorsport career.
Concept-EZ MIEV showcases the flexibility of in-wheel electric motors
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March 1, 2006 Mitsubishi finally rolled back the curtain on the Mitsubishi Concept-EZ MIEV 4WD mono-box concept at the 76th Geneva International Motor Show today. The Concept-EZ1 MIEV2 showcases the company's MIEV concept for next-generation electric vehicles that employs in-wheel motors and a high energy-density lithium-ion battery system as core technologies. In the absence of a centerline powertrain, the vehicle interior is far more flexible than a traditional auto design and can be reconfigured into different seating arrangements, having a lounge mode (a conference room-like space with the seats arranged in a circle), a transport mode (cavernous luggage space with the rear seats stowed under the floor) and a driving mode (with spacious and comfortable seating for five adults).
New technology makes stronger pistons
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January 28, 2006 The internal combustion engine by another name is a heat pump and the hotter it gets in said engine’s combustion chamber, the more efficient and powerful the little sucker becomes. As any aspiring engine tuner will tell you, pistons have a habit of complaining (cracking, melting and worse) when things get very hot in there, so the petrol-heads amongst us should be downright grateful to developments over the last quarter century in the field of ceramics. We realized how far things had come when we heard about Federal-Mogul’s new line of high-strength high-performance pistons with a ceramic piston-head coating that withstands combustion temperatures of up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and delivers three times the surface hardness of hard-anodized coatings.
The launch of the Williams F1 FW28
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January 27, 2006 The WilliamsF1 team launched its 2006 season race car, the FW28, at the team headquarters near Oxford this afternoon. The FW28 is a manifestly purposeful race car, its defining visual cue being the aggressive barbed sting on the back of the engine cover. The car is both a response to circumstance, including the shifting technical regulations and the new primary partnerships the team has forged with engine supplier Cosworth and tyre company Bridgestone, as well as being its own clear statement of intent. Clearly the biggest transition is the shift away from 3.0l V10 motive power in favour of a 2.4l V8, and in Williams’ case, the new partnership with Cosworth. With the associated power losses all teams will encounter, all Formula One designers have been tackling a demand for higher aerodynamic efficiency to help compensate. In the case of the FW28, this became a fundamental design parameter for the car and is reflected in many ways across the aerodynamic strategy of the car, visible particularly in the design of the rear wing with its decambered tips. The target in this area was to maintain downforce while shedding drag at the wing tips.
Concept cars move to the forefront of collectables
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January 27, 2006 Collecting rare automobiles has long been one of the more rewarding forms of investment as it has the added bonus of owning and driving a fine automobile while your asset appreciates. As the successful baby boomer generation begins to retire and cash in decades of endeavour, this appreciation of fine automobilia and the wonderful camaraderie which surrounds the collector scene is driving prices ever higher … and with it, a new star has emerged among automotive collectables - the concept car. Concept vehicles are vehicles with an instant and easily verifiable history – in the same way that cars owned by celebrities fetch a higher price, the concept car is usually created as a one-off, by a team of experts as a showcase of future technology (the first car with … electric windows, fuel injection, ad infinitum) and hence it has its own celebrity status, having been the focal point of massive media promotion at a major public event. Last week’s Barrett-Jackson Auction was a prime example – it attracted record attendance, broke numerous world records, had total sales of more than US$100 million and saw US $4,320,000 paid for a General Motors Futureliner concept bus, US$3,024,000 for a 1954 Pontiac Bonneville Special concept car and US$648,000 for Shelby Cobra GT500 Concept car just nine months old.
Honda unveils new F1 challenger
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January 25, 2006 The Honda Racing F1 Team unveiled its challenger for the 2006 Formula One season in Spain this morning with the new driver line-up of Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello. This marked an important milestone for Honda as it is the first Formula One car launched by a Honda works team since 1968. Two identical RA106 race cars were delivered to the launch to enable Button and Barrichello to begin testing at the same time. The RA106 sported its new base canvas of Honda Racing White, a colour which has been synonymous with the Honda motorsport identity since the company’s F1 debut in 1964. The rest of the livery has the more familiar feel of the Lucky Strike brand, which remains as title sponsor for the 2006 season. The new cars and their RA806E engines are the product of a single, unified team which combines the resources of the Honda Racing F1 Team Operations Centre in Brackley, England, Honda Racing Development’s engine base in Bracknell, England, and Honda R&D in Tochigi, Japan.
Ferrari's new 248 F1 - not the end of an era says di Montezemolo
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January 25, 2006 To say Ferrari had a bad year in racing in 2005 is an understatement. Going into the year with six consecutive constructors titles and five consecutive drivers titles, Ferrari finished a distant third in the constructors championship and Schumacher’s claim on being best ever slipped when he too finished a third with Alonso more than doubling his points haul. Ferrari's President, Luca di Montezemolo was very clear in his pronouncement as the 2006 Ferrari F1 machinery and staff were introduced to the media at Autodrome Mugello yesterday: "After having lost two titles at the last round, in 1997 and 1998, and six consecutive world crowns, I don't want the 2005 results to seem like the end of an era. We have lived through some incredible years. Last year we suffered a little from the successive rule changes but now we are looking ahead. We want to get back to winning ways.” Accordingly, Ferrari showed a completely new car.
Innovative rear-midship car layout vastly increases interior space
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January 24, 2006 Mitsubishi today launched its new "i" minicar model throughout Japan. Developed as an innovative premium small car, the “i” utilizes a newly developed platform with an original rear-midship layout that mounts the engine forward of the rear axle line to maximize the available interior space. With no engine at the front, the front wheels can be placed as far forward as possible, enabling a wheelbase of 2550 mm (substantially longer than any minicar to date). The long wheelbase and placement of the tires at the four corners provide generous, compact car levels of interior and luggage space that boast a combined length of 2,075 mm.
Toyota discloses unprecedented details of F1 development
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January 23, 2006 There are just two environments akin to the acute excellence required to compete successfully at Formula One level – a space launch and the battlefield. All three areas are so close to the edge of human understanding that the technology developed in their pursuit often filters down to consumer products and introduces a better way. Panasonic Toyota Racing officially kicked off its 2006 Formula 1 campaign with a special event at the Toyota manufacturing facility in Valenciennes, France earlier this month, at the same time as disclosing an unprecedented amount of information about the Toyota production process and how it has been applied to the former art, and now decidedly scientific process of Formula One. Incredibly, the company has applied knowledge developed in manufacturing production cars to improve its Formula One competitiveness . If you’re into car racing or manufacturing, this is a “must” read!
Gronholm scores debut win for Ford in Rallye Monte Carlo
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January 22, 2006 New Ford driver Marcus Gronholm claimed victory on his debut in the new Ford Focus RS World Rally Car on the Rallye Monte Carlo today. The BP-Ford World Rally Team triumphed on the legendary Monaco-based event, the opening round of the FIA World Rally Championship, after three-days of demanding competition in treacherous ice and snow in the French Alps. Behind Gronholm, Sebastien Loeb (Citroen) completed a tremendous recovery to finish second after crashing on the opening day. The Frenchman overhauled Toni Gardemeister (Peugeot) on the final stage over the Col de Turini to lead home the Finn by 21.3sec. Gardemeister pulled clear of Manfred Stohl’s Peugeot to claim a comfortable podium with Subaru team-mates Stephane Sarrazin and Chris Atkinson completing the top six. It was Atkinson’s first Monte Carlo Rally and he ran as high as second outright during the event – a remarkable feat and one that augers well for the future of the young driver in only his first full season.
Start-up plans 330 MPG hybrid for under US$20,000
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January 19, 2006 Accelerated Composites is a Carlsbad-based startup that aims to disrupt the car design status quo by developing a low cost, 330 MPG hybrid car to be manufactured in Southern California and sell for under US$20,000. The company’s two-seat passenger car is constructed from lightweight composite materials and is extremely light, which according to the company, will enable the diesel/electric hybrid to post 330 MPG fuel efficiency in normal city and highway driving and demonstrate acceleration and handling similar to that of a Honda Insight. Dubbed the Aptera, the vehicle achieves these remarkable numbers through the use of cutting-edge materials, manufacturing methods, the lowest drag coefficient of any production car and a maverick design mantra.
Mitsubishi Colt CZC Premiere at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show
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January 18, 2006 Two years after the launch of the Colt hatchback and a year after the introduction of the Colt coupe, Mitsubishi will unveil the third variant of the European Colt family at the 76th Geneva Motor Show: the sporty Colt CZC coupe-cabriolet. Designed in close collaboration between Mitsubishi, Mitsubishi Design Europe and legendary Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina, the 2006 Colt CZC echoes Mitsubishi Motors’ first ever show car, the Colt 600 Convertible, unveiled at the 1962 Tokyo Motor Show.
BMW Sauber F1 rolls out in Valencia
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January 18, 2006 BMW officially entered Formula One in its own right yesterday with the unveiling of the BMW Sauber F1.06 before more than 500 journalists and guests in the futuristic Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (CAC) in Valencia (Spain). BMW purchased a majority shareholding in the Sauber Formula One team which became official on January 1. Without doubt the most interesting aspects of the F1 launch season is not the champagne and parties, but the information released by the various camps on their technical development. This year in particular, the reduction of engines from 3.0 litre V10 to 2.4 litre V8 will pose some interesting technical challenges, as explained by BMW at the launch.
Ferrari FXX wins the "most functional design" at NAIAS
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January 17, 2006 Many words have been used to describe Ferrari's products over the years, and these words are usually words such as exquisite, awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping, inspirational, epic, and a host of other superlatives. Rarely however, is a Ferrari described as functional, but that is exactly the word which has been used not only to describe
Ferrari's most extreme car, the Ferrari FXX, but it has also won the prestigious Eyeson Design Award as the best example of functional design at the 2006 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS, AKA Detroit Motor Show). Seventeen of the most renowned international designers, including Chris Bangle from BMW, Willy G Davidson, head of styling at Harley-Davidson and Shiro Nakamura, from Nissan, sat on the panel.
Auto industry moving to embrace new technologies
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January 14, 2006 Automakers selling cars in North America have stepped up their position when it comes to entertainment and telematics features according to survey of the vehicles on display at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. Of the 264 autos at the 2006 NAIAS, 154 models support MP3 music playback while over 200 models support satellite radio.
Prodrive creates the P2 sports car
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January 13, 2006 Prodrive has unveiled the P2, a unique two-seater sports car with some exciting credentials. The P2 uses a modified 344 bhp, 575 Nm, Subaru Impreza STi engine and all wheel drivetrain, which incorporates innovative ALS (Anti-Lag System) and ATD (Active Torque Dynamics). If you haven’t heard of Prodrive, it’s probably because you don’t read the fine print. The company has won more than 100 international rallies and six World Rally Championship titles for Subaru, the British Touring Car Championship five times (with BMW, Alfa Romeo and Ford) and is also involved in numerous other international racing series, including managing the BAR F1 team. Prodrive also consults and develops road cars, such as the NARO and Tango, and has developed numerous cars for the likes of Aston Martin, Ferrari, Ford, General Motors, Subaru, Range Rover et al and despite the obvious focus on performance, the P2 has all the comforts of a luxury car, with a six speaker stereo system, power assisted steering and electric windows. The company’s Motorsport involvement becomes obvious when viewing the specifications of the P2 though, as it weighs just 1100 kg and has a power to weight ratio of more than 350 bhp/tonne, reaches 100 km/h in under four seconds and tops out at 280 km/h. The jury is out on whether the P2 will be produced in quantity, but with an anticipated UKP40,000 price tag, we expect the queue would be quite lengthy for a car of such remarkable real-world ability.
New MINI production model announced - inspired by Traveller Concept
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January 12, 2006 BMW will be enhancing the MINI family with a further model. The new MINI model will offer increased interior space and increased functionality in order to appeal to the distinctively experience-oriented and active MINI customer. The new car will take its inspiration from the MINI Detroit design concept shown at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) this week. Although it has yet to be defined which of the unique ideas and design features presented on the concept will be implemented for series production, Dr. Michael Ganal in his speech at the NAIAS stated a time frame of three years for the realization of the new MINI model.
MBR 3-seat supercar
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January 12, 2006 The F1-inspired three-seater MBR supercar will make one of its rare public appearances at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham (UK) this week. The 550bhp V8-engined Exigence Of Speed combines the latest in aerospace and motor sport technologies, with a lightweight, high-strength composite monocoque chassis and body panels assisting in keeping the kerb weight below 1000 kg without compromising structural rigidity. The Mecachrome V8 engine and six-speed gearbox are mid-mounted longitudinally for optimum weight distribution, and its 550 bhp give the supercar a power-to-weight ratio of 0.5bhp per kg. The double-wishbone unequal length suspension features inboard spring/damper units activated by pushrod as on modern racing cars for best in-class handling characteristics. The final pre-production car and first rolling prototype is planned to be unveiled before the end of 2006 and an assault on the Le Mans 24 Hour race is planned for 2007.
Mitsubishi Introduces "Attainable Exotic" 2007 Eclipse Spyder
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January 11, 2006 Mitsubishi unveiled the all-new 2007 Eclipse Spyder at the North American International Auto Show this week and in so doing, promised a showroom floor (due in April) model of modest price and exotic capability. Based on the fourth-generation Eclipse coupe introduced in 2005, the GT specification Eclipse Spyder combines 260-horsepower, 3.8-liter V6 performance with a convertible top and outstanding value. The 2007 Eclipse Spyder arrives in Mitsubishi dealerships in April.
Mitsubishi unveils hybrid MIEV 4WD sport compact concept
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January 10, 2006 Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) used the NAIAS to unveil the Concept-CT yesterday, a groundbreaking concept for a hybrid-powered small car that may influence future development of Mitsubishi models. The key to the Concept-CT's roomy packaging, performance potential and fuel efficiency is the Mitsubishi In-wheel Electric Vehicle (MIEV) hybrid powertrain, which employs an electric motor in each of the vehicle's four wheels. The ultra-compact four-door hatchback combines practicality, fun-to-drive performance and low fuel consumption.
