Nice Auto

Rabu, 09 April 2014

New Car Ferrari 599 GTO

We've seen the spy shots. We've even seen the options list. Now Ferrari has officially taken the wraps off its new performance benchmark, the 599 GTO, ahead of the car's official debut later this month at the Beijing Motor Show.

Sort of a street-legal stepping point between the production 599 GTB Fiorano and the track-only 599XX, the 599 GTO evokes the famous Gran Turismo Omologato designation made famous by the legendary 250 GTO of the 1960s and the muscle-bound 288 GTO of the 1980s. That's quite a legacy to follow, so it's a good thing the 599 GTO brings the goods.

Output from the 6.0-liter V12 – itself derived from the Enzo's engine – is up from 612 horsepower to 661, with torque up a modest 9 lb-ft to 457. Coupled with a 195 kilogram (430 lb) weight reduction program – now tipping the scales at 1495 kg (3295 lbs), the leaner and meaner 599 can sprint to 62 miles per hour from a standstill in a scant (and very specific) 3.35 seconds, with a top speed in excess of 208 mph, while lapping the Fiorano test track from which its donor's name is derived in a blitzing 1 minute, 24 seconds. That's faster than the Enzo, people.

The GTO is also treated to more aerodynamic bodywork, including a new front splitter, side sills, diffuser and rear spoiler. The vented hood is new as well, as are the ten-spoke, 20-inch rims with F1-derived wheel donuts aiding aero efficiency.

Piquing your interest yet? Don't get too excited. As the new flagship in Ferrari's range, the 599 GTO is reported to fetch a price tag approaching £300,000 overseas (equivalent to nearly $460k). Only 599 examples will be offered, which is still more than the Enzo whose performance it eclipses. Follow the jump for the official press release, and check out the images in the gallery for a closer look.

Panoz Abruzzi 'Spirit of Le Mans'

After the initial teaser image of the Panoz Abruzzi - which was published at the start of May 2010, Panoz has unleashed three more pictures which the reveal the car in greater detail, and from all angles, except inside and under the hood.

Panoz have yet to reveal the full details of the drivetrain, and so far the only facts are a 600 hp power output and a torque figure of 590 ft-lbs (800Nm). As you'd expect from such a car, all the power is sent to the rear wheels.

While Panoz have kept quiet about the Abruzzi's exact power source, they've previously relied on Ford-sourced engines for their other models. So there's a good chance they'll return to Ford for their latest model, especially as the Abruzzi just looks a bit like a tarted up and revised Panoz Esperante. Despite the swoops, curves and classic proportions, the Abruzzi has ended up looking a bit weird. It's different, I'll give it that, but its no beauty queen.

The rear wheel arches start off with a graceful arc which somehow turns into a sharp point that give the car the appearance of having a weighty and drooping rear overhang. And up front the double-decker spoiler is pretty cool looking, but at the same time it looks a bit amateurish.

There's no faulting the high-tech construction however, and all the Abruzzi's body panels are formed from lightweight carbon fiber. 81 Abruzzi's are scheduled to be built. The number corresponds to the number of Le Mans 24 Hour races which have been held since the first race in 1923. The Panoz Abruzzi has been approved for roads in Europe, the Middle East, South America and certain countries in Asia. Surprisingly North America, the company's home, is left out.

Kamis, 03 Juni 2010

Spy Shots: 2011 BMW 6-Series Convertible

If you are a BMW fan, you have some good news coming. Their 6-Series Coupe and Convertible will be revealed in 2011 and will not be radical like they are usually. The cars will look more sober and less controversial, and hence might appeal to a varied degree of people. The prototype was fitted with the usual and traditional canvas top.

However, that doesn’t mean BMW will keep the same design when the real one is launched. The convertible can seat 4 people and both the cars will come with 4 gasoline units and 6 cylinder turbo diesel which make things run very powerfully. The cars would come with an upgraded 3.0 litre petrol unit and also a 326HP 3.0 litre turbo charge. The car will in the end produce more than 500HP.

Looks like we have a winner here and it sure would be a pleasure to drive this car when we want to. There is no mention about the price ands being BMW, the price would definitely be close to the upper mark. The car is expected in early 2011 and it sure will attract a lot of attention. Both the models may look less controversial, but they also look rather funky.

On-track testing underway for Automotive X-Prize

The pick of the world's most fuel efficient vehicles are lining-up at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn this week for stage one of the $10 million Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE.

The field now stands at 36 vehicles from 28 teams, with automakers, universities, inventors and one high school vying to see how their 100 MPG (or energy equivalent) cars stack-up against the competition. Electric and gasoline powered machines make up the bulk of the list, but entrants also include biodiesel, E85, hydrogen and even one hybrid steam powered vehicle.

During the initial unscored "Shakedown Stage" (April 26-May 7) the vehicles will undergo official safety checks before hitting the track for final testing, giving teams the opportunity to iron-out any last minute bugs.

Things will really start to get interesting in stage 2 - the Knockout Qualifying Stage - which takes place on June 23 and 24 ahead of the finals in late July. Three weeks of Validation Testing will then take place at the Argonne National Laboratory outside of Chicago before winners are announced in September.

As well as being able to achieve more than 100mpg or energy equivalent (MPGe), the vehicles must be marketable and able to meet price, size, capability, safety and performance demands in the real world. Entrants are divided into two classes - Mainstream vehicles, which must carry four or more passengers, have four or more wheels, and offer a 200-mile range, and Alternative vehicles, which must carry two or more passengers and allow for a 100 mile range. Public days are scheduled for June 25 and July 23 along with an Open House event at MIS next month which is yet to be finalized.

Senin, 31 Mei 2010

Electric supercar circles Greater London twice on a single charge

UK students have driven an electric car around Greater London twice on a single charge. Using a specially modified electric Radical SRZERO supercar, the Racing Green Endurance (RGE) team from Imperial College completed two laps of the M25 motorway in the wee hours of Friday morning, covering a total distance of 250 miles (400km). The feat is a lead up to an attempt later this year at becoming the first EV to conquer the longest road on Earth - the Pan American Highway.

Built on a Radical Sportscars SR8 chassis and using two lightweight motors designed and built by an Imperial spinout company - EVO Electrics, the 1100 kg SRZERO boasts the specs to back up its "electric supercar" label: a top speed of 200kmh, 0-100 kmh in 7s, a full charge in 6 hours and a 200 mile / 400+ km range. The open-top SRZERO must have been quite a sight as its balaclava wearing drivers steered it around the ring road in the middle of the night. The first lap was completed at 55 mph using 42% of the total energy and ramped up to 60 mph the second time around.

In July the Imperial College team plans to take on the Pan American highway, aiming to cover more than 16,000 miles (26,000 km) through 14 countries from the northern tip of Alaska to the southern tip of South America. This epic trip is designed to both change public perception of electric cars and evaluate the capabilities of electric vehicles over long distances.

The Tesla roadster previously held the M25 record, having completed one lap of the M25 on a single charge. The Roadster also traveled 313 miles on a single charge last year on the empty roads of the Australian outback and is currently embarked on its own long range testing odyssey in which it will travel 22,000 miles through Europe, Asia and North America.

Sabtu, 29 Mei 2010

Congress to introduce bills to provide $11 billion for plug-in vehicle deployment

A pair of identical bills, the "Electric Drive Vehicle Deployment Acts," are expected to be introduced in the U.S. Congress today that would provide up to $11 billion in additional funding to spur deployment of electric vehicles (EVs). The hope is to get up to 4 million EVs on the road by 2017, a very audacious goal. The money would primarily go to about five to eight regions that are considered electric-vehicle friendly, which presumably means places like California, New York and some other southern states with significant urban populations.

The funds would be earmarked for additional purchase subsidies for EVs as well as installation of charging infrastructure. The latter may prove to be the more important issue in the near term as limited-range EVs will be mostly used in urban areas where users often don't have a garage. The bills in the House of Representatives and Senate have both Democratic and Republican co-sponsors and may stand a better chance of passage following the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

SOURCE:greenautoblog

Concept Cars: Volkswagen Kai-Nalu

The Volkswagen Kai-Nalu is a concept vehicle which was created by Josep Ferriol, a Spanish designer and graduate of the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia. The Kai-Nalu was created as part of his final year thesis.

The Volkswagen Kai-Nalu is a futuristic sports car concept that features a unique design which is composed of two distinctly different elements. Inspired by the waves of the Mediterranean sea as they smash into the shoreline and rocks near where Ferriol lives, the Kai-Nalu features a flowing glass upper section - which is designed to mimic the sea, and angular, jagged bodywork underneath - which represents the rocks of the coastline.

The mixture of the two differing shapes and textures is designed to present a dynamic and forceful appearance - much like the waves themselves. The Kai-Nalu's styling is quite controversial, and it isn't going to be to everyone's taste. However in a world where many sportscar and supercar concepts follow the same predictable formula, the Volkswagen Kai-Nalu is refreshingly bold and different.

Other highlights of the concept include highly stylized wheels which were inspired by the appearance of bicycle wheels. The VW logo in the center is balanced and mounted on a bearing so it always remains upright. The clear roof, windows, and upper bodywork also provides a glimpse of the vehicle's electric drivetrain, which features two seperate motors, one is mounted up front and the other at the rear to help balance out weight distribution.