2009 New BMW 7 series

What a hard act to follow. The last all-new 7-series, the 2002 745Li, was welcomed into the automotive world with about as much warmth and adoration as a 41-pound newborn baby girl with sixteen middle fingers and a full beard. And it merited about as much media coverage. Incensed enthusiasts on Internet forums called for

BMW design director Chris Bangle's head. The BMW faithful stumbled around dealerships breathing into paper bags to allay attacks of hyperventilation. Somewhere, someone passed out at the mere sight of the bulbous trunk lid. OK, perhaps not. But even we shockproof editors at Automobile Magazine were perturbed by the styling.

European bureau chief Georg Kacher called the 745Li "a car that completely defies conventional thinking on interior and exterior design." Design editor Robert Cumberford chimed in, "Ugly? It certainly is not beautiful." BMW ignored us, and all the other critics of that 7-series (known within the company and by BMW geeks by its chassis code name, E65), and stood by the bold new look. "We felt that a radically different shape and a radically different ergonomic concept were compulsory to leapfrog the competition," said one BMW board member at the time.

How ironic. Back in 1994, in describing the then-new, third-generation 7-series, Cumberford maintained that he barely could tell it apart from its predecessor. "Apparently the middle-aged buyers," he wrote, "are thought not to want imaginative styling."

So who was right? BMW will happily point out that the ugly-duckling E65 matured into a beautiful white swan-becoming the best-selling 7-series of all time. Then again, BMW acknowledges that the 2006 face-lift, which diminished the E65's bizarre and polarizing looks, was the company's most successful midcycle freshening ever in generating additional sales. Read between the lines, and it looks like Cumberford's observation was correct.

Whether it was the face-lift or China's growing demand for premium large cars that was actually responsible for the E65's record sales, one thing is for sure: the 2009 750Li marks a return to a conservatively styled 7-series. The new 7 probably will never win any beauty pageants-at least not without a nose job to reduce those enormous nostrils-but it's not likely to invite the vehement criticism that the last one did. The styling is disappointing to those who expected BMW's new flagship sedan to look like the gorgeous, swoopy Concept CS that generated gasps at the 2007 Shanghai auto show. Worry not, CS fans-the 7's superconservative styling serves as a hint that a production CS is coming. In the meantime, let us say good-bye to the Bangle Butt and welcome back the handsome and understated 7-series.

Beginning this March, you'll have your choice of two 7s-the 750i and the long-wheelbase 750Li. Both cars, internally designated F01 and F02, respectively, are about an inch and a half longer and 80 pounds heavier than last year's 750i and 750Li. Although the numbers on the badge haven't changed, the V-8 under the hood has. Replacing last year's 360-hp, 4.8-liter V-8 is the 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged and direct-injected V-8 first seen in the X6. The force-fed V-8 produces 400 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque, making the 2009 750Li significantly more powerful than the 2008 750Li-and quicker than even the 6.0-liter, V-12-powered 760Li, which now has been dropped.

Source: automobilemag

Lotus ;Great Power And Great Price

The latest money saving advice comes from British sportscar maker Lotus, and is very simple – buy a Lotus and save money!

In the current financial climate the emphasis is on being smart with our money. A new breed of ‘Frugalists’ are turning to European price busting grocers Lidl and Aldi for their weekly shop in order to afford the annual pilgrimage to `the slopes’, and cash-smart homeowners are splashing out on expensive insulation or installing wood-burning stoves in order to make savings on their domestic energy costs. In every household across the country the message is evolving from a frantic ‘SAVE, SAVE, SAVE!’ to a more strategic ‘invest in cost efficient solutions’.

The Frugalist’s tip is, be smart with your money and preserve your lifestyle by spending more cleverly. With a cold winter ahead and a declining economic situation it’s easy to lose focus on the “living” part of life - imagine then, what a great revelation it is to learn that you could save money by driving a Lotus!

There’s no doubt about it, a Lotus is a prudent purchase in the sportscar market, but sometimes performance cars are subject to the criticism of society and have even been described as antisocial. However, it may help your conscience to learn that a Lotus is considered by most critics as a green choice. The efficient design of the Elise SC for example offers stunning looks and supercar performance, yet produces just 202 g/km of CO2, allowing the Lotus to remain in the standard £8.00 Congestion Charge bracket. Savings are not just limited to the confines of London though, with impressive fuel efficiency paying dividends in town and country, by focusing on light-weight technology Lotus has been able to use smaller, more efficient engines, whilst still achieving the sensational performance that Lotus customers expect.

Looking at the bigger picture of servicing and parts costs, Lotus uses tuned Toyota engines in its Elise range giving great reliability and avoiding costly repair bills that are associated with some exotic cars. Not surprisingly, economical running costs are one of the contributing factors to the continued demand for Lotus vehicles on the second-hand market. Figures from autotrader.co.uk for the entry-level Elise, the Elise S indicate that the model is retaining a fantastic 82% of its value after 12 months making it a better value proposition than its rivals the Honda S2000 GT and the Subaru Impreza WRX STi.

2009 Volvo XC60

We got our first glimpse of the XC60 in concept guise at the 2007 Detroit show just over a year ago. The S40-based utility will make its production debut in Geneva next month.

The 2009 XC60 will be the brand's first foray into the increasingly crowded small premium crossover segment - it will join other alphanumeric utes like the BMW X3,Acura RDX, Land Rover, and the upcoming Mercedes GLK. Volvo hopes to appeal to current customers with the XC60 and sees it as the next step up for C30 buyers.

U.S.-bound XC60s will get motivation from Volvo's turbocharged inline-six T6 engine, which produces 281 hp. All-wheel drive will be standard.

The expected host of Volvo safety features is joined on the XC60 by a system called City Safe. When driving at low speeds the car will automatically apply the brakes if it senses an imminent collision. Volvo claims this is the first vehicle to offer such anti-rear-ending technology as standard. President and CEO Fredrik Arp even went as far as saying that this is "the safest Volvo ever."

The styling is a toned-down version of what we saw on the concept with a profile that Volvo describes as coupe-like (a la BMW's X6). The interior has the same Swedish cleanliness we're used to.

The XC60 should arrive in the U.S. in early 2009 and we'll give you more details once Volvo officially announces the vehicle in Geneva.

Source: automobilemag

Greencar Award Goes To....

Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Mickey Rourke, Frank Langella and Leonardo Di Caprio may be sitting on the edge of their seats after the announcement of the Golden Globe nominations for best actor but here at thegreencarwebsite.co.uk, it’s the race to be named ‘world green car of the year’ that has our attention.

In case you are feeling a sense of déjà vu, then yes, it is only one month since the last ‘green car of the year’ was announced - on that occasion it was the Volkswagen Jetta TDI that scooped the award at the LA Auto Show. This prize however, a sub-award of the annual World Car of the Year competition, is handed out by a juror of journalists around the world.

In 2006 the inaugural award went to the Honda Civic Hybrid, with the Mercedes-Benz E320 BlueTec and the BMW 118d winning in 2007 and 2008 respectively. In 2009 there are 20 cars up for the award, but one thing is for certain - it won’t be a double for the VW Jetta.

Yes the Jetta has been left off the list, as has the Toyota Prius. However, the misery for Toyota and VW is outweighed by the joy for Volvo, which has five potential winners included.

Here is a list of the nominees in full:

Audi Q7 3.0 TDI
BMW 335d BluePerformance
Chevrolet Tahoe / GMC Yukon Hybrid
Citroën C1
Fiat Palio Weekend Electric
Fiat Siena Tetrafuel model
Honda FCX Clarity
Mazda Hydrogen Rotary RX8
Mercedes-Benz ML/R/GL 320 BlueTEC
MINI Cooper D
MINI E
Mitsubishi iMiEV
Nissan X-Trail 20 GT
smart ed
Subaru Legacy/Outback PZEV
Tesla Electric Roadster
Toyota iQ
Volvo C30 1.6D DRIVe
Volvo S40 1.6D DRIVe
Volvo S80 2.5 FT (Flexifuel)
Volvo V50 1.6D DRIVe
Volvo V70 2.5 FT (Flexifuel)

source: thegreencarwebsite

Electric Car From Mitsubishi

During the past decade, development of alternative ways to move cars accelerated and this decade is seeing production models either going on sale or in the final phase of testing. Different manufacturers have focused on different approaches although some have also chosen a range of options since no one is sure which will actually be the right one.

For Mitsubishi Motor Corporation (MMC), electric vehicles or EVs have been a strong focus since the 1970s (although it has also explored other solutions), initially in response to air pollution. In fact, in 1971, the company already made its first EVs - around 150 electrically-powered variants of its Minicab and Minicar that were supplied to government agencies and power companies.

The early Mitsubishi EVs used lead-acid batteries (the same as what you have in your car’s engine bay) which were the only high-capacity storage batteries available then. However, lead and acid are poisonous so the future of such batteries for EVs was not there and when lithium-ion battery technology became available in the 1990s, this became the choice of most EV manufacturers.

MMC has positioned EVs as the pinnacle of its environmental technology and the culmination of its almost 40 years of development is the i-MiEV (or ‘i-meef’, as it is referred to), an electric variant of the innovative Mitsubishi i car. The i-car, which was displayed at the last KL International Motorshow, has a radical design and compact size that lead many to think it was an EV but it actually has a petrol engine.

The unique construction of the i-car, which has its engine mounted towards the back of the cabin and the fuel tank under the middle, was ideal for switching to an electric powertrain. In place of the 35-litre fuel tank, a flat lithium-ion 330V battery pack with a capacity of 16 kWh is under the floor and the hardware for the permanent magnet synchronous electric motor goes under and behind the rear seat. The battery pack is a heavy item and positioning it low and in the middle also benefits vehicle dynamics.

The electric motor may be small and light and produce only 47 kW but when it comes to torque, it sure packs a punch! As the chart show, 180 Nm is available from start to what would be the equivalent of a third of the rpm range of the 660 cc turbocharged engine of the i-car. In comparison, the petrol engine’s torque curve starts much lower down and never gets anywhere near 180 Nm. But that’s a normal characteristic for a petrol engine and a small one can only deliver so much torque.

Driving range on a full charge is the big issue for EVs and one which has been of concern to consumers. If you have to keep recharging to drive long distances, then it’s not going to be much fun and furthermore, will there be recharging stations available? Extending the range has been a major challenge but as battery technology has advanced, this has slowly improved and the i-MiEV has a claimed 160 kms using the Japanese 10-15 mode (an industry standard for fuel consumption measurement) at an average speed of 22.7 km/h. That suggests the car is pretty much an urban commuter rather than for intercity travel. A top speed of 130 km/h is possible but that also means the battery ‘juice’ will drain faster and range will be reduced. There is regenerative charging which captures ‘wasted' energy during braking and coasting to recharge the battery but this is not significant.

Until recent years, EVs have required special charging stations, a fact that was very discouraging since consumer acceptance of such vehicles would be dependent on the assurance of an extensive network of stations – an infrastructure which would be costly and take a long time to establish. The i-MiEV eliminates this issue by having a plug-in recharging system where the car can be hooked up to a household power socket (like the one you have powering your computer) and fully charged within 7 to 14 hours, depending on whether it’s a 200V or 100V supply. There’s also the option of a quick-charging system (which requires a 3-phase 50 kW/200V supply) that will have the battery pack 80% charged within 30 minutes.

Source:Motor trader

2009 Honda City

The Honda City is a subcompact car manufactured by the Japanese manufacturer Honda since 1981 for the Asian market.

Since 2002, the City is also known as the Honda Fit Aria. It is a subcompact sedan that uses Honda's Global Small Car platform, which is also used by the Fit/Jazz (a five-door hatchback), the Airwave (a wagon version of the Fit Aria/City), the Mobilio, and the Mobilio Spike. One of the characteristics shared by the Fit/Jazz, City/Fit Aria, and Airwave, is the location of the fuel tank. Rather than placing it under the rear seats, it is located under the front seats, thereby freeing up valuable room in the back.

Source:Japanese Sport Car

New Daihatsu 2009 Concept Car

Introducing a concept model that shows the future shape of an open sports car, conceived by Daihatsu as a car for adults who want to feel the wind as they drive.

The OFC-1 expresses the feel of a liberating, transparent canopy cockpit, and the familiarity of a flowing, smooth teardrop silhouette. Moreover, a glass top with liquid crystal sunshade used for the electromotive canopy-top open roof offers a free and liberating open-air feeling, regardless of the weather.

The 3-piece electromotive open roof completes operation in less than ten seconds and preserves independent trunk space even when the roof is open to improve the convenience of compact convertibles and allow enough trunk storage space for two adults to take an overnight trip.

In addition, a rear spoiler melded into the body, plus the 17-inch alloy wheels, express powerful running performance.

The interior is an expression of the sports mind compressed into a compact space. In addition to the expression of a mechanical image function in the meter center cluster, the high-contrast interior color arrangement serves to orchestrate a progressive, high-quality and sporty interior space.

For running performance, the powertrain technology combines a high-performance turbo engine together with CVT with 7-speed paddle shift to achieve the highest level of both fuel consumption performance and environmental performance for vehicles in its class.

To commensurate with the underside of a sports car, the vehicle is equipped with 4 wheel disc brakes, electronic modulated suspension and stabilizers which improves roll stiffness thus producing a high performing spinning system together with the adoption of the 165/50R17 sport tires.

Dimensions and weight:

• Overall length: 3395mm
• Overall width: 1475mm
• Overall height: 1290mm
• Wheel base: 2230mm
• Track front: 1300mm
• Track rear: 1290mm
• Minimum road clearance: 130mm
• Kerb weight: 820kg
• Seating capacity: 2 persons

Engine

• Type: petrol, 3 cylinder DCHC, 12-valve, intercooler turbo transverse
• Displacement: 658cc
• Bore x Stroke: 63 x 70.4mm
• Max output: 47 kW at 6000 rpm
• Max torque: 103 Nm at 3000 rpm
• Fuel supply system: Electric fuel injection
• Compression ratio: 9.0

Suspension:

• Front: MacPherson Strut, coil spring
• Rear: Torsion beam, coil spring

Steering: Rack and pinion

Brakes front and rear: ventilated disc brake

Tire size front and rear: 165/50R17

Fuel consumption (EU combined mode): 4.6 liter / 100 km

CO2 Emissions (EU combined mode): 100.9 g/km

Source: Daihatsu

New Yamaha 150cc Naked Bike

The FZ16 is the first 150 cc bike in India to feature tubeles tyres both in the front and the rear. It also has a full digital (even the tachometer is now digital) speedometer console. The 140 mm wide Rear Tyre is an impossibly FAT one and is the largest rear tyre on not just for its segment but for any production motorcycle in India. The Rear Tyres are also Tubeless Radials which helps in reducing the weight

Even the inner tubes of the front fork are of 41 mm dia and are possibly the largest on any current production motorcycle again in India. The bulky looking fuel tank of the FZ16 is actually a three piece unit with plastic resin covers as its outer covering.

The FZ16 is the second bike in India to feature a monoshock suspension at its rear. The silencer of the FZ16 is a short and stubby looking unit which according to YAMAHA helps in centralization of the bike's mass and therefore aids in handling.

The rated power of the FZ16 is 14 Ps max power which puts it in the same league as the Pulsar 150 DTSi and the Hero Honda Hunk/CBZ Xtreme. But it is the Torque of the FZ16 (14 Nm @ 6000 RPM) which is a bit higher compared to its current 150 cc competition. Looking at the Power/Torque figures the FZ16 seems to be an ideal City Bike.

The FZ currently is available in three colors.

• Black


• Red


• Orange

Engine

• Engine type: Air-cooled, 4-stroke, SOHC, 2-valve


• Displacement: 153.0 cm3


• Bore & Stroke: 58.0 × 57.9mm


• Compression ratio: 9.5:1


• Maximum output: 14PS / 7500 rpm


• Maximum torque: 14 N.m / 6000 rpm


• Starting: Electric starter


• Lubrication type: Wet sump


• Carburetor type: BS26


• Clutch type: Constant mesh wet multiplate


• Ignition type: CDI


• Primary/secondary reduction ratio: 3.409 / 2.857


• Transmission type: Return type 5-speed

Source:2wheelsindia

New Daihatsu Tanto

Daihatsu Launches Fully Redesigned Mini Vehicle TANTO

DAIHATSU MOTOR CO., LTD. (Daihatsu) announced the nationwide launch in Japan of the fully redesigned mini vehicle TANTO1 on December 17.

The TANTO was created in November 2003 as a vehicle with surprising roominess for its size and one that is fun for the entire family. The TANTO gained support among drivers with children for its spaciousness and convenience and pioneered a new mini vehicle genre. Sales have been extremely good, averaging about 8,000 vehicles per month.

The current redesign seeks to transform the surprisingly expansive interior into a highly inspiring space. In addition to enhancing core performance attributes such as high safety performance and excellent fuel efficiency, Daihatsu achieved three significant advances in the unreserved pursuit of the TANTO DNA—expansiveness and convenience:

1) The surprising expansive interior was evolved even further to achieve an exceptionally large space, the largest of any mini vehicle.2
2) The center pillar was removed and a powered sliding door installed (world's first on a mini vehicle)
3) to create a amazing feeling of openness and provide for extreme ease of boarding and exiting.
4) Extraordinary utility was created through outstanding convenience in a wide variety of situations in response to calls from mothers with young children.

Two models with unique characteristics are available: the TANTO, which maximizes functional value for families with children that enjoy spending time together, and the TANTO CUSTOM, which seeksaesthetic value that is sure to the captivate the sensibilities of both men and women who place an emphasis on individuality.



The new models also offer the following features:

- The interior and exterior designs of both the TANTO and TANTO CUSTOM have been uniquely coordinated.
- The TANTO has been completely updated, including the platform and the engine, and safety, driving and environmental performance have been further enhanced.

1. TANTO: Italian word meaning "plenty"
2. As of December, 2007, measured by Daihatsu. (Interior length x interior width x interior height.)
3. As of December, 2007, measured by Daihatsu.

Plans call for sales of 8,000 units per month in Japan. The manufacturer's suggested retail prices range from 1,030,000 yen to 1,655,000 yen (excluding consumption tax).

Source:Daihatsu Press Release

Naza Carnival 2008

The Naza Group of Companies will again be holding its Naza Carnival 2008 this weekend (November 15 & 16) and it’s a great opportunity to get that car or motorcycle you’ve been thinking off – at special prices which will be valid during the event.

The Naza Auto Mall in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, is perhaps the only place in Malaysia where there is the widest variety of makes and models of cars and motorcycles under one roof. Furthermore, Naza also offers customers the freedom to personalise their vehicle with a range of options, many of which are from reputable after-market companies.

On top of that, all cars sold by Naza come with nationwide warranty for both brand new and pre-owned units. Naza’s extended warranty program provides peace of mind to the customers as it is said to be a program no other competitors (especially pre-owned dealers) offers.

During the Naza Carnival 2008, which is on from 10 am to 10 pm daily, there will be a lot of activities for visitors of all ages. The activities include colouring contests, premium giveaways by Naza GT Queens, Bike Beauty competitions, live band performances , Harley-Davidson parade, CICAKMAN appearance and a performance by Adam (AF2).

And just by visiting the event, you could win one of three Naza Blitz motorcycles too. All you have to do is fill out the “Visit & Win” contest form and who knows, you may be the lucky one.

According to Dato’ SM Zulkifli SM Amin, Executive Vice-President (Operations), other companies within the Naza Group involved in properties, hotels and financing will also be participating in the Naza Carnival 2008 and will have special offers over the weekend.

Program Schedule
Saturday - November 15 2008
All day program activities:
- Photo booth with Aston Martin DB9 & Ducati 1098
- Walking Table Games
- Henna Tattoo
- Sand Art
- Clowns
- “Visit & Win” NAZA Blitz contest
10.00am – Event start, Colouring contest registration
11.30am – Colouring contest for kids
12.00pm – Premium giveaway by Naza GT Queens.
12.30pm – Magic Show on stage
1.00pm – Colouring contest results
1.30pm – GTR Beauty Bike Competition
2.00pm – Live Band on stage
2.30pm – Game Show on stage
3.00pm – Harley-Davidson Parade
3.30pm – CICAKMAN appearance
4.00pm – Performance by Adam (AF)
5.00pm – Live Band on stage

Sunday - November 16 2008
All day program:
- Photo booth with Aston Martin DB9 & Ducati 1098
- Walking Table Games
- Henna Tattoo
- Sand Art
- Clowns
- “Visit & Win” NAZA Blitz contest
10.00am – Event start, Colouring contest registration
10.30am – Open Bike Beauty Competition
11.30am – Colouring contest for kids
12.00pm – Premium giveaway by Naza GT Queens
12.30pm – Magic Show on stage
1.00pm – Colouring contest results
1.30pm – Live Band on stage
2.00pm – Blade Beauty Bike Competition
2.30pm – Game Show on stage
3.00pm – Ferrari 599 Product Presentation
3.30pm – CICAKMAN appearance
4.30pm – Ferrari F430 Product Presentation
5.00pm – Live Band on stage

Source:Motor Trader

Proton to provide 225,930 rear seatbelts free

Proton will fit rear centre lap seatbelts for 225,930 units of cars which it manufactured between 2004 and 2008. The seatbelts will be supplied to owners free of charge and installed at designated service centres nationwide.

"As a responsible car manufacturer, Proton supports the government's move [to make rear seatbelt usage compulsory from January 1 2009] and believes that it should not burden the car buyers to pay for the extra seat belt," said Proton’s MD, Dato' Syed Zainal Abidin bin Syed Mohamed Tahir. He added that the exercise would cost the company about RM7.3 million and it was being done as part of the company's corporate social responsibility initiatives.

The affected models, which did not come with the centre seat belt are the previous generation of the Proton Saga/Iswara manufactured between 2004 and 2008 (144,000 units), and the Gen2 manufactured between 2004 and June 2008 (81,930 units).

The retrofit exercise will commence on December 1 2008 for Peninsular Malaysia and on January 1 2009 for Sabah and Sarawak. Assuming every one of the 225,930 owners claims his or her seatbelt, the exercise is expected to take about 13 months to complete. All Proton Edar and Edaran Otomobil Nasional Berhad (EON) service centres as well as all authorised Proton service dealers nationwide will be able to undertake the retrofitting. Retrofitting work will take approximately 20 minutes per car.

Dato' Syed Zainal Abidin advised car owners not to rush to the service centres as the installation will only be done upon prior appointment. To make an appointment, customers are required to call the nearest service centre. For information on service centre locations and contact details, customers may call the Proton i.care at 1300-880-888 (toll-free) for assistance. Alternatively, customers may also register for an appointment via Proton Edar's official website at www.proton-edar.com.my. Upon online registration, personnel from the nearest service centre will contact the customer to confirm an appointment date and time at the nearest service branch. Customers are also advised to write down their car chassis number and the preferred colour, before making an appointment either by phone or online registration.

Source:Motor trader

Hummer With 2++ inch Wooden Rim

We've seen it supercharged and even converted to remote control, but we've never seen a HUMMER H3 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hummer_H3 like this. Officially it's called art, but the phrases 'automotive travesty' and 'left-field promotional opportunity' also spring to mind in regard to British artist Matthew Harrison's latest project - a H3 with the standard 16-inch alloys dropped in favor of ‘Wild West’ wooden wagon wheels. The head-turning installation will be parked opposite the Royal Academy of Arts http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_art_schools in London as part of the Zoo Art Fair http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arts_festival 2008 which runs from 17-20 October. The strange thing is - it kind of suits.

Source:Gizmag

Electric Car For 2

October 7, 2008 The Chinese were largely noticeable by their absence at the Paris Show this year but there may well have been a Chinese vehicle of significance – it’s a very cute electric city http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_City%2C_Washington car named the “Chika”.

Chika is the work of well known Chinese car http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobile_industry_in_China stylist http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hairdresser Li Shi Guang Ming, who is working on a range of original designs for China http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China Automobile . The designer believes the Chika represents the first steps toward an original Chinese automotive design language – and this could help China Automobile quickly shake off the “bootleg” image.

Source:Gizmag

VW hasn’t created a range-topper; they’ve created an all-out Armageddon which will bulldoze everything in its path. The R50 has three tonnes of pure terror and an engine that will rival a super car’s. Yep, that means it’s in the running with the likes of BMW, Porsche, Mercedes and Audi. Even LandRover fans will be making eyes at the R50, after all it is a spectacular piece of design and its diesel engine is one of the most powerful in the world. With 552lb ft of tug it can tow items thirty times its weight, it accelerates from 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 146mph.
Much like ice-cream though, you can have too much of a good thing as we discovered after a morning of trying to unstick its back-end. With the Continuous Damping Control activated, the handling didn’t falter but the same couldn’t be said for our stomachs. It’s a wholly unnatural experience heaving a mammoth 4x4 around tight bends and staging a traffic-light shoot-out in just 0.2 of a second slower than a Golf R32 hot hatch but surprisingly enough the R50 is very compliant. It stays right on course and ends up where you want it to. The brakes were also a test of guts; they worked fine but they didn’t let you know that until you’d properly stamped on them.
Now some would say that all these hyper-performing, fuel guzzling pimp-mobiles are quite unnecessary but so is cutting your hair and wearing clothes and most of us still do that. Sure, you wouldn’t buy an R-50 to make a political statement, you’d buy it because it’s the best you can afford and it makes you feel good. Well it does until someone points out the 22.4mpg figure which drops to 14mpg around town and then you’ve got the 333g/km emissions which will mean you have to fork out £400 a year in tax.

The upside is that while others are cashing in on their 1-litre run-arounds with no air-con and cramped leg space, you will be cruising around in luxury. VW’s new range-topper adds even more goodies to the previous Altitude V10 TDi flagship which include 21-inch Omanyt ten-spoke alloys, a body-coloured roof spoiler, a re-styled bumper and oval tailpipes trims. After-market style wheel arch extensions are also in force alongside blue brake callipers. The radiator grille then gets a matt chrome finish as well as there being louvers and honeycomb-style inserts in the airdams.
Standard equipment extends to Nappa leather sports seats, ‘R’ logos on the pedals, heated outer rear seats and a ski sack and net partition built in to the luggage quarters. Bi-Xenon headlights which can curve their lighting to see around bends are also included within the £61,990 package and there’s no excuse for getting lost with that DVD touchscreen Sat Nav. Okay so it hasn’t got a droptop (VW have to leave something to West Coast customs) but it does have 2Zone climate control so you’re Armani whites will be staying crisp and smelling good.

Source:Covercar

Range Stormer

Land Rover made history at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, by unveiling its first ever concept show car, the Range Stormer.

The Range Stormer is a high performance, sports tourer SUV concept car, which showcases a future design direction for Land Rover. It also previews a new production model that will enter a fresh market segment for the company and will be an additional model line in the Land Rover portfolio.
Commenting on the new concept, Land Rover's managing director Matthew Taylor, said: "The supercharged V8 Range Stormer gives a taste of our forthcoming new entrant in the booming high performance SUV segment. The production vehicle that follows will share many of its styling and technical innovations. It is very much conceived to be an on-road, performance machine, as well as class-leading off-road like all Land Rovers."

Geoff Upex, design director at Land Rover, added: "The challenge was to translate fundamental Land Rover design values into a concept for a high performance machine that looks powerful, muscular and edgy. We certainly want to challenge established views of our vehicles, but the Range Stormer is still clearly an authentic Land Rover."

Future technologies previewed with the concept include an all-new platform that will be the basis for future full-size Land Rover models. This advanced, integrated platform, unique to Land Rover, will provide the underpinnings for the production vehicle inspired by the Range Stormer.

Another major innovation showcased is Terrain Response. This smart and simple-to-use new Land Rover technology delivers the best possible on- and off-road composure and control by optimising the entire vehicle set-up, including suspension, powertrain, throttle response and traction control.

The driver simply selects the appropriate Terrain Response setting from the six available and the vehicle does the rest, using technology that offers a choice of settings from 'dynamic' for high speed work to 'deep ruts' for extreme off-roading.

Matthew Taylor concluded: "You'll be seeing an increasing amount of innovative technology in future Land Rovers. But technology that makes the driver's task simpler not more complicated, such as Terrain Response." The Range Stormer was completed with the support of suppliers Alps (electronic systems), Hella (interior and exterior lights), Alcoa (22" forged alloy wheels) and Goodyear (custom made tyres).

source:press release range rover

KLEEMAN AMG Merc

The KLEEMANN GTK features carbon fibre body panels as well as many existing high performance KLEEMANN products, such as Kompressor system, alloy wheels, brakes and suspension. These products have been developed and tested since 2004 in a Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG; the GTK is structurally based on the SLK.

"When we chose to base the GTK on the Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG, we wanted to offer exclusive sportscar design with the built-in everyday reliability, safety and comfort of the Mercedes-Benz cars. That way we could focus on developing specific elements making the car`s design and performance unique for KLEEMANN." says technical director Claus Ankjaer

"In the creation of the GTK we faced several new challenges, and the experience we gained from solving these challenges, enable us to develop and manufacture even more sophisticated and reliable performance solutions for existing and future Mercedes-Benz car models." Mr. Ankjaer adds.

Featuring the normally aspirated SLK 55 AMG engine fitted with a complete KLEEMANN Kompressor system, the GTK boasts 540 HP of power and 700 Nm of torque. This power is transferred to the road through a 7-speed automatic gearbox, a KLEEMANN limited slip differential and ultra low profile Toyo T1-R tires on 20" KLEEMANN alloy rims designed specifically for the GTK, giving the driver maximum performance and control on the road. Being a safe, reliable and everyday usable sportscar reflects the Comfort Power slogan of KLEEMANN, and sets the GTK apart from many other race bred sportscars.

The raw performance data for the GTK places it at the very front of the competition. The 0-100 km/h acceleration is achieved in only 3.7 seconds and the GTK continues the brutal acceleration right up to the electronically limited top speed of 300 km/h. The high performance KLEEMANN brake system featuring 380 mm. vented discs with 8 piston fixed aluminium callipers front and 345 mm. vented discs with 4 piston fixed aluminium callipers rear ensure fast and secure stopping power from any speed.KLEEMANN is currently not planning production of the GTK

Source:cover car

Monster Bike 13 tonne of weight

January 30, 2008 Almost thirty feet (9 metres) long, ten feet (3 metres) high and weighing as much as a school bus, the name emblazoned along the side of this menacing two-wheeled beast says it all - it's the "Monster Motorbike from Hell". Designed and built in Perth, Australia, by stunt driver Ray Baumann where it's been wowing fans with its car and caravan crushing capabilities, the Monster Motorbike is powered by a Detroit Diesel truck engine and six-speed Allison automatic and uses a two-speed Eaton differential from a road train to drive a massive chain on each side of the one-metre wide rear wheel.

Taken from a Caterpillar 80 tonne front end loader, the wheels and tyres alone are almost 10 feet (3 metres) high.

Weighing in at 13.6 tonnes (picture 10 family cars or a school bus), the Monster Motorbike is heading to Australia's east coast where it's sure to be a star attraction at the Melbourne Motor Show beginning in late February.

Baumann, a road train driver turned record setting stunt-jumper, spent three years developing the Monster with a small team of collaborators.

"We did stunt driving for quite a few years, broke a few records and broke my back a few times, so this is a way of taking a bit more care," he said.

source: gizmag

Car Sale Carnival At Bukit Jalil

THE Kuala Lumpur and Selangor car dealers including credit companies association will organise a two-day car sales carnival at the Bukit Jalil Stadium.
Touted to be the largest carnival in South East Asia, more than 3,000 cars will be on display in the event to be held on Apr 26 and 27 from 12noon to 10pm.
Its president Khoo Kah Jin said some 300 dealers are expected to take part. He said a panel of financial institutions, insurance companies, JPJ and Puspakom would set up counters to facilitate necessary working papers pertaining to inspection procedures and road tax.
“We expect a projected 30% sales from this carnival,” he told a press conference at the association's office recently. There would also free door-gifts and lucky draws for visitors, he added.
Other than the display of cars, there would also be booths selling car accessories and interested folks could also trade in their cars.
Organised by the Federation of Motor and Credit Companies Association of Malaysia, entry to the fair is free.

Source:The Star Tuesday March 11, 2008

New Replacement Model For Proton Perdana??!!

Sneak Preview For New Proton Car

Is it new car??or just new replacement like Satria Neo and Savvy..just wait and see

Source:Zack Bike Shop

TH!NK Electric Compact Car

Actually the TH!NK electric city car doesn’t seem to fit the hippy world at all. It may be a bit edgy and certainly more tidily than most people are used to being a two-seater but it is kind of cool. Having parked it against a Graffiti painted wall, the Norwegian company obviously have young streetwise people in their marketing catchment, however it will hardly reform the Wandsworth gang culture at £14,000 a piece! Today’s swampy characters are unlikely to turn up to demonstrations in them either as eco-heroism doesn’t tend to pay a lot, not at grass roots level any way. It’s more likely that the TH!NK cars will go to Chelsea’s Daddy’s girls who find the private jet to difficult to land in urban areas.
Okay so they won’t all go to rich fashion victims who want to show they ‘care’ about the world, plenty of single young professionals will also see it as an easy way to do their bit. Then there’s the arts buffs that will get it and will love it. Honestly, what’s not to love about it? It’s got a cute, radical image which will create the same kind of buzz as the Mercedes Smart car. You can also charge it up over night in the comfort of your own home and you’ll never get points on your licence for speeding because it physically won’t go that fast! Alright, that’s a lie; it will do close to 70mph if you really rev the guts out of it and you can whiz through the capital at peak times for free. Unlike being on a bike you won’t be arriving to work in a sweaty, nervous heap after almost being squished by a big scary lorry.
That’s another reason why quadricycles weren’t that appealing- they are still quite a jump from our warm, covered, safe and secure hide outs. The TH!NK models are refreshing as they can really call themselves cars and to prove it they’ve got power steering, central locking, a 4kW electric heater and electric windows and mirrors as standard. Airbags, ABS and 3-point harness seatbelts are all part and parcel too. You’ll have to pay extra for the air con and full length sunroof. Also on the options list are an electrically heated windscreen, Radio CD with MP3, USB, Bluetooth, a navigation & multimedia system, alloy wheels a roof rack and two additional seats for children.
Its performance leaves a lot to be desired (0-50mph in 16 seconds) but then you’re not exactly going to be hurtling along in built-up areas. A full battery will last you 124 miles in urban traffic and you can charge it via a domestic electricity socket. It will take ten hours to complete the charge and over 10,000 miles you’ll pay a surplus of around £125 to the electricity board. Just think if you owned a Rolls Royce, you’d pay that to fill up two tanks. If it’s as cheap to service and proves reliable that’s us sold! Just look out on Norwegian forums as they’re the guinea pigs – we don’t get our TH!NK until the latter part of this year.
Once ordered we can sleep well at night knowing that its production didn’t melt any glacias. Disposing of it won’t give you any pangs of guilt either, who knows you may even get some bits back, disguised as other household objects. Waste not, want not my friends as everything from the body, dash and fabrics to the supports, air ducts, adhesives and fixings are all recyclable. That’s worth a get to heaven green card even if all you did was sign on the dotted line.

Source:TH!NK (covercars)

Ford Kuga Zetec

Just like the Ford Kuga which is quite literally a car and a half but that extra half is a bit of a silent partner especially when it comes to polluting by-products. It’s been stretched and re-enforced but there’s no wasted mass to lug around. It carries the same drivetrain as its Focus cousin and it uses its 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine to good measure. C02 emissions fall short of 170g/km and its fuel consumption is 44.1mpg, not bad for a crossover vehicle that can also sprint from zero to 62mph in 10.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 112mph. Soft Off-roading is also in its repertoire of skills so you can take the kids out on your very own squirrel and pheasant safari in the fields behind your house. Not quite Longleat but if it involves mud, apparent danger and getting you out of the study for the afternoon, they’ll love it.

For the majority of the time though the Kuga behaves as a front wheel drive car allowing it to plough on through suburban traffic. It’s only when there’s a loss of traction that the torque gets shared between each axel and as this country’s weather is always catching us out, the back-up of 4WD is a real perk. But with its stretched proportions and heavier 4x4 equipment the worry is that you’d get a numbed sensation when handling the Kuga. Fortunately Ford’s engineers have fiddled around with the steering so as to give the Crossover vehicle natural and effortless manoeuvring.

Although most buyers will be more than happy to snap up the rather efficient diesel engine (which will be the only one on offer from the Kuga’s on sale date in June), performance is always a strong selling point so later on in the year the not so green 200bhp 2.5-litre petrol engine from the Focus ST will join it. There’s also two trim levels available in the UK; Zetec and Titanium, the former gives you a blue or orange trim with colour coded mono-stripped seats while the latter is defined by a glossy black finish and half-leather trim as well as cruise control, automatic headlamps and wipers, blue tinted glass and dual-zone climate control.

The new Kuga has the added sparkle of the new Ford generation with plenty of irregular dips, bulges and softer more malleable looking strokes to outline the headlamps and the curvature of the roof line. It was inspired by the Iosis X concept which was unveiled at the Paris Motor show in 2006. The production model has a less artistic interior than we would have hoped but can’t be faulted for its quality. Functionality had to be high on Ford’s list too what with so many other compact SUV’s offering solutions like fold flat seats, sockets for DVDs and laptops and split tailgates – the Kuga has all of these. There’s space for five adults and because the rear seats split 60/40 you can have up to 1,355 litres when they’re not in use.

The Ford Kuga will be just what middle England families are looking for and is sure to be another blanket success; it’s got just enough of everything you need from a compact SUV but none of the wasteful stigma.

Source:Ford