Articles tagged with "Automotive"
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Toyota introduce iPod integration kit
September 4, 2007 Toyota has released an iPod integration kit which provides a direct link between your car’s audio system and an Apple iPod. The connection is housed inside the glovebox of the car, providing a simple plug and play option from iPod to stereo that also act as a charger. The iPod can then be completely controlled by using the car’s audio head unit, or (where fitted) the controls on the steering wheel. The integration kit can be installed into any current Toyota and Lexus model, and is compatible with most versions of iPod. (read more...)
Peugeot 308 SW Prologue Concept
September 2, 2007 Peugeot will provide a preview of the new 308 at the Frankfurt International Motorshow under the guise of the 308 SW Prologue. Equipped with an additive-enhanced diesel particulate filter system (DPFS), that reduces CO2 emissions, the 308 SW Prologue combines the strengths of the new 308 hatchback with innovative SW features like the new “wrap-around” rear end which allows for the installation of a third row of seats and improves rear vision. (read more...)
Volvo to unveil new safety technology at Frankfurt Motor Show
August 29, 2007 World-first driver alertness technology that includes automated lane departure warnings and a new collision warning system with auto braking will be among the innovations unveiled by Volvo at the Frankfurt Motor Show. (read more...)
Hydrogen powered Ford Fusion 999 tops 207 miles per hour
After a year of construction and ten years of research, the fuel-cell powered Ford Fusion 999 has scorched across the Salt Flats of Utah at the Bonneville Speed Week, clocking an incredible 207.297 miles per hour and giving Ford the mantle of the world’s first automaker to set a land speed record for a production-based fuel cell powered car. (read more...)
Porsche Cayman S “Design Edition 1” unveiled
August 15, 2007 Porsche has announced that the Cayman S “Porsche Design Edition 1” will be available from November. The limited-edition special series of the 295bhp mid-engined coupé will see just 777 released worldwide and keeping in line with the purist nature of the vehicle, the choice of color has been made simple – it's black or black. (read more...)
New Bentley Continental GT Speed breaks 200mph
August 2, 2007 Three times the speed limit’s just not enough for some. These tortured souls are left to seek purely numeric goals from their car’s speedometer and 200mph is a lofty target to achieve in a street car – particularly if you wish to attain such speeds in style. Bentley’s exclusive Continental GT maxed out at a tantalizing, but for some ultimately disappointing, 198mph, and now the company has atoned for their sins with the creation of the new Continental GT Speed. Fifty extra horsepower bring it up to 600bhp, making it the most powerful production car Bentley has ever built and nosing its top speed up to 202mph. The GT Speed retains all the luxury and decadence of its predecessor, while adding a harder performance edge. (read more...)
All-new five-door MINI Clubman a technophile’s dream
August 2, 2007 Mini seems very keen to pack all the technology it can into the newest addition to its range – the Mini Cooper Clubman. Almost but not quite a Mini wagon, the Clubman seats five in relative comfort, with a backwards-opening barn door behind the passenger door opening out to give your friends some sense of dignity as they climb into the back seats. The Clubman also features run-flat tyres, smart regenerative braking and a clever fuel-saving system that automatically stops the engine when you’re sitting at the lights in neutral with the clutch out, firing it back to life in an instant the minute you put the clutch down. Twin rear doors, each with its own windscreen wiper, finally give the Mini a decent carrying capacity, but the extra space doesn’t get in the way of the model’s famous go-kart style handling. Safety-wise, the cabin is packed with airbags from all directions, ABS, Electronic Brake Distribution, Cornering Brake Control, Stability Control and a hill assist system that stops the Clubman from rolling backwards on hill starts. A technophile’s delight, the car even provides a real-time analysis of what gear you should be in for maximum fuel efficiency. Dear Mini designers, it appears you’ve left out the kitchen sink… (read more...)
Classic car lovers rejoice: the MG and Austin Healey are back
June 28, 2007 Great news for lovers of classic sports cars as two iconic brands rise from the ashes. The well-loved and historic MG marque made a welcome return to the spotlight last weekend as the first car produced by its new Chinese owners was unveiled at Silverstone's 2007 MG Car Club gathering. Nanjing also announced an agreement with Healey Automobile Consultants to take over and revive the Austin Healey, another famous sportster that has been out of production for over 35 years. With MG production starting later this year, Nanjing is receiving strong interest in global dealer partnerships from a number of major brands, so it won't be long until these famous names are back on a street near you. (read more...)
Inflatable roof-rack installs in minutes
June 25, 2007 We’ve recently encountered the inflatable washing machine, inflatable home theater and even the inflatable conveyor belt, but the HandiRack inflatable roof rack takes all the points for sheer practicality and widespread appeal. Able to carry up to 80kg, the cleverly designed roof rack can be installed in minutes and stashed away in the boot when not in use to ensure that your car's aerodynamics (and appearance) remain intact. (read more...)
The new BMW X5 4.8i M Sport
June 1, 2007 BMW’s ever-popular M Sport derivative is to be introduced to the new X5 range for the first time. The introduction of M Sport to the BMW X5 range has been eagerly awaited by buyers as 90 per cent of models sold to date have been ordered with “Sport” specification. On sale immediately in most countries, the new 355 bhp flagship offers customers a substantial level of sports-orientated standard equipment, a 0-100 km/h time of 6.5 seconds and a top speed of 150 mph. (read more...)
The World’s Fastest and Most Powerful Coupe - the BRABUS SV12 S Biturbo
May 17, 2007 The BRABUS S V12 S Biturbo coupe is not just the most powerful coupe in the world - it is also the fastest street-legal coupe. It’s vital performance statistics of 0 – 100 km/h in 4.0 seconds, 200 km/h after just 11.9 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 340 km/h are all without equal. Based on the latest Mercedes CL 600 model, the SV12 S Biturbo coupe can be ordered as a complete car starting at 178,980 Euros or can be built based on an existing current CL 600 model. The engine is based on the turbocharged Mercedes 600 twelve-cylinder engine and represents the most powerful street-legal V12 engine in the world producing 730 hp / 537 kW at 5,100 rpm. Just as extraordinary is the peak torque of 1,320 Nm at just 2,100 rpm, which is limited electronically to 1,100 Nm. The mods are extensive, starting with installing a special BRABUS crankshaft with longer stroke, combined with a bigger bore and correspondingly sized forged pistons, increases displacement from 5.5 to 6.3 liters. After that, the cylinder heads are precision-machined and four new camshafts are fitted, two new exhaust manifolds, two larger turbochargers, a high-efficiency intercooler and a high-performance exhaust system with metal catalysts and low back pressure. (read more...)
The Audi TT clubsport quattro study
May 17, 2007 The Audi TT clubsport quattro study reduces the TT Roadster to a purist driving machine that combines the performance of a sports car with a unique design language. It consequently remains a TT on the one hand, while at the same time demonstrating just what is possible with such a fascinating production vehicle. A powerful engine, state-of-the-art technology and numerous traits borrowed from the world of motorsport are the dominant features of the “study” which is now under consideration as a “small-series production model”. The car was unveiled at the Worthersee Tour, (better known as the “GTI Meet”), being held this week in the Carinthian Lakes region of Germany. (read more...)
Rhino Off-Road RTV set for mass production
May 11, 2007 We’ve written about Rhino Off-Road Industries several times now, basically because it’s a new class of off-road vehicle with the abilities of a mountain goat. For those who are similarly enamoured with the beast’s abilities, here’s some great news – the Rhino is destined for mass production. The company has shipped a fully outfitted Rhino Off-Road RTV-XT2 vehicle to its production partners in China, marking a key step in the process of mass production of the vehicle for distribution worldwide. For a rather extreme demonstration of what the Rhino is capable of in rock-crawling competition, see this video (WMV download). (read more...)
Toyota/Lexus dominate U.K. J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Awards
May 10, 2007 The Toyota Prius has earned many plaudits worldwide since its launch in 2004 but it’s unlikely to ever have a better 24 hours than those that have just passed. Yesterday, the hybrid family car won its fourth consecutive International Engine of the Year Award for the engine with the best fuel economy, and today it finished equal top of the 2007 J.D. Power and Associates customer satisfaction study. The independent study of thousands of UK motorists driving vehicles registered between September 2005 and August 2006 saw the Prius place equal first, alongside the Lexus IS, another Toyota group model. Given that the award is open to cars of any price, the latest accolade demonstrates the high esteem in which it is held by the most demanding of judges – owners. It was a good day for Toyota in general, as the company’s premium Lexus brand took out its seventh consecutive Gold Award for customer satisfaction, ranking top in three of the four key measures – vehicle quality/reliability, service satisfaction and vehicle appeal. Lexus has now claimed the coveted Gold Award every year since it became eligible for consideration. (read more...)
BMW dominates the 2007 “Engine Oscars”
May 9, 2007 BMW’s 3-litre twin turbo engine was today crowned International Engine of the Year 2007 at the ninth annual International Engine of the Year Awards, which were presented at Engine Expo in Stuttgart, Germany. In an award independently judged by a jury of 62 motoring journalists from 30 countries, BMW has always fared well, but this year it has excelled itself, taking the prestigious crown for the third consecutive year and taking seven of the 12 awards on offer with its 2.5-litre inline six and 5-litre V10 also winning gongs. Of the remaining awards, Volkswagen’s 1.4-litre turbocharged and supercharged TSI unit triumphed for a second year in the 1-litre to 1.4-litre class, with its larger sibling, the 2-litre turbo developed by Audi and housed in the Golf GTi and Audi A3, topping the 1.8-litre to 2-litre category. Toyota meanwhile saw its 1.5-litre hybrid that powers the Prius named Best Fuel Economy engine and its 1-litre 3-cylinder from the Aygo and Yaris take the honours in the Sub 1-litre category. Porsche won its first IEOY award taking the 3-litre to 4-litre category for its 3.6-litre Turbo. (read more...)
U.S. Army’s first all-composite, armor-ready truck cab
May 8, 2007 TPI Composites (TPI) has unveiled its new light-weight, all-composite truck cab. The cab was designed for the U.S. Army’s tactical wheeled vehicle fleet and addresses serious vehicle issues by being lighter in weight, highly durable, and strong enough to carry the heaviest of armor and mine blast protection. TPI’s lightweight, all-composite cab allows soldiers to carry more protective armor, ammunition, and equipment because it weighs hundreds of pounds less than cabs constructed with conventional materials. (read more...)
The 1955 Dodge La Femme
May 8, 2007 It’s the earliest example of automotive marketing to women we have seen (correspondence here please) – it’s the 1955 Dodge La Femme complete with a Sapphire White and Heather Rose color scheme. Half a century later, women buy half of all new cars, yet it was a very bold and ultimately unsuccessful (only 2500 were made) marketing initiative aimed at was thought to be a promising new niche market. The La Femme was basically a Dodge Custom Royal Lancer with a feminine paint palette and a special gold “La Femme” script on the fenders. The vehicle’s interior was graced with special tapestry upholstery bearing pink rosebuds on a pale pink background and pale pink vinyl trim. A rectangular purse matching the car’s interior was a standard La Femme feature, stowed in a special compartment built into the back of the passenger seat. Each purse came complete with matching compact lipstick and cigarette cases, a lighter and purse. Also standard was a raincoat, rain bonnet and umbrella in the rosebud pattern that was stored in a compartment behind the driver’s seat. Hey, this would sell in droves today!! (read more...)
New 911 Turbo Cabriolet
May 7, 2007 Porsche today continued its two decade tradition of soft top 911 turbos when it released details of a new 911 Turbo Cabriolet which will go on sale on September 8. The US$172,000 2+2 convertible is powered by a biturbo 3.6 liter engine with Variable Turbine Geometry (VTG) producing 480 bhp (353 kW). Porsche’s new optional “Sport Chrono Turbo Package” includes an overboost function, enabling the standard Cabriolet’s 620 Nm torque figure to be pushed to 680 Nm intermittently. Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) gives the Turbo Cabriolet diverse driving modes while offering an extremely high level of driving safety. Porsche Stability Management (PSM) and the all-wheel drive Porsche Traction Management (PTM) systems also optimise grip and performance. (read more...)
Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster: An open-air adventure for all the senses
May 5, 2007 Mercedes-Benz has opened up a new dimension in refinement for open-top super sports cars with the news that it will release a roadster version of its SLR McLaren super sports car in September. Using carbon fibre technologies developed from its Formula 1 cars, the roadster will be endowed with a high degree of safety as well as extreme torsional stiffness at the same high level as the coupe version. Performance will also be identical to that of the coupe, with a maximum speed of 332 km/h and an AMG V8 compressor engine delivering 460 kW/626 bhp. Developed and built at the McLaren Formula 1 complex in Woking (UK), the company refined the aeroacoustics of the new car in the team’s wind tunnel to ensure conversation is still possible at well over 200 km/h with the top down. (read more...)
No prisoners: the 725 horsepower Ford Shelby GT500 Super Snake
May 1, 2007 Shelby and Ford have joined forces again to produce a mega-muscle car with one simple goal: "to blow the doors off most anything on the planet." They're claiming up to 725 horsepower from the Super Snake, which is over a hundred more ponies than the top-of-the line Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorino, and probably almost enough power for a trip down to the shops. This car, friends, is an absolute bad-ass. (read more...)
Mitsubishi releases Lancer Evolution X high-performance 4WD sedan
April 26 , 2007 Mitsubishi's rally-inspired, high-performance 4WD sedan will carry the name "LANCER EVOLUTION X". The development concept for the all-new Lancer Evolution X2 specifies a "new-generation high-performance 4WD global sedan that allows all levels of driver to enjoy the car's speed and handling with ease and in safety". The new model features Mitsubishi's S-AWC3 (Super All Wheel Control ) traction and handling system, that integrates the control of drive torque and braking management with the four-wheel drive system to help realize highly responsive and intuitive handling in addition to outstanding vehicle attitude stability. (read more...)
Audi Cross Coupe quattro - compact performance SUV concept
April 26, 2007 One of the stars of the Shanghai Motor Show is a new Audi Cross Coupé quattro concept that defines a new segment in the field of crossover vehicles. The Audi Cross Coupé quattro combines the design and dynamism of a compact premium sports car with the spaciousness and versatility of a four-seat sport utility vehicle (SUV). Innovative technical solutions show new ways of achieving efficiency, driving pleasure and comfort, on all roads, under all conditions. (read more...)
Pimp my Roller – automotive jewellery for the Rolls Royce Phantom
April 24, 2007 Personalising one’s ride, be it a a V8 muscle car or an elegant roller, appears to be a growing trend, so just in case you have a Rolls Royce Phantom or similar ilk auto in the garage and feel the need to show your individuality, there’s the STRUT Collection – a premier brand of high quality triple-chromed grilles, wheels, and automotive jewelery designed for luxury automobiles and SUVs. STRUT recently introduced the new Knightsbridge Collection with its new architectural grille design for the Phantom. The distinctive grille design embodies the classic lines of the original Rolls grille with finely detailed, handcrafted, and highly polished bracelet style links giving a designer jewelery appearance crowned with the STRUT signature crest. Accessories include side vents, exhaust tips and a rear STRUT shield. All STRUT automotive jewelery collections are handcrafted from 316L stainless steel, then triple-chromed for superior durability and lustre that will withstand even the harshest outdoor elements. The price of giving jewelery to your automotive mistress is GBP 25,000. (read more...)
E-Flex Hydrogen Fuel Cell continues move toward electric drive automobiles
April 21, 2007 The number of significant announcements coming out of the Shanghai Motor Show underlines the growing importance of the Chinese Auto market on the world stage, and fittingly, given that the Chinese Government seems far more committed to sustainable personal transport than its American equivalent, the star of the show in technological terms was the next iteration of the General Motors’ E-Flex electric architecture, configured with the company’s newest, most efficient hydrogen fuel cell system to date. This second variant of the E-Flex system uses GM's new fifth-generation fuel cell propulsion technology and a lithium-ion battery to provide up to 300 miles (483 km) of electric driving. The fuel cell E-Flex is a true Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) and operates all-electric from both hydrogen fuel cell-generated electricity and grid electricity. It is plug-in capable, adding up to 20 additional miles (34 km) each time it is charged, further reducing trips to the refueling station. (read more...)
Very original XK120 Jaguar
April 21, 2007 Duncan Hamilton was one of Britain's foremost racing drivers and his racing autobiography 'Touch Wood!' became a classic publication. The larger-than-life Hamilton drove Formula One and Two Grand Prix cars for Lago-Talbot, Maserati, HWM and Gordini, and “works” sports cars for Jaguar and Ferrari. His company, which sells elite sports cars (the company has sold more than 60 genuine F1 cars plus thousands of roadgoing exoticars of the highest ilk) has been in operation for over 50 years, and operates to an equally elite clientele. This week the company has a very original Jaguar XK120 Roadster for sale – the XK120 debuted as a concept and test bed car at the 1948 London Motor Show as a test bed and show vehicle to highlight the new Jaguar XK engine. The car caused a sensation, which persuaded William Lyons to put it into production as a standard model. The first 240 cars manufactured had hand built aluminum bodies on an ash frame before moving to mass production in order to meet the demand – the production version had a steel pressed body with alloy doors, bonnet, and trunk skin. The car on offer is as original today as when it the sixth steel body XK120 off the production line, and comes with a full history. See inside for some great period imagery of the XK120 and siblings. (read more...)
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