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Sunday, 9 December 2012

Lamborghini Perdigón Design Concept by Ondrej Jirec is Razor Sharp, But is it Too Much?

Ever since Lamborghini unleashed the limited-run Reventon Coupe and Roadster specials back in 2008 and 2009 respectively, the famed Italian automaker turned a fresh page on the styling front using razor sharp lines inspired by jet fighters for its production and concept models such as the Aventador and the Sesto Elemento.

Many design students have adopted the same design philosophy when it comes to creating their own concept drawings for future Lamborghini models, including Ondrej Jirec, a final year Transport Design student at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.

Jirec's conceptual proposal is called the Lamborghini Perdigón and it is named after a famous fighting bull from 1894, whose…head currently resides at the plaza Museum in Madrid.

While our first guess would be that the Perdigón looks like a Gallardo replacement in terms of size, it is said to have been designed as a hypercar to compete against the likes of the Bugatti Veyron.

The sharp angles and polygonal surfaces of the body of the concept are inspired by the F117 Nighthawk and F22 Raptor jet fighters, while a standout design feature is the large air intake with a visible fan positioned just below the windscreen and which kind of brings to mind the Batmobile from the Tim Burton movies.

A full gallery of the Perdigón Concept follows below the break.

Articles Source : Carscoop

Wednesday, 5 December 2012

2010 Pontiac G8 Sport Truck

The 2010 Pontiac G8 sport truck blurs the line between cars and trucks and is creating an all-new segment in the North American car market. This dramatically different vehicle blends the sporty handling of a performance coupe with the cargo capabilities of a light truck.

Based on the all-new Pontiac G8 performance sedan, the newest member of the G8 family has a longer wheelbase and a cargo bed suitable for either work or recreation. The Pontiac G8 sport truck significantly stretches Pontiac's commitment to style and performance and is expected to arrive in dealers' showrooms in late 2009.

2010 Pontiac G8 Sport Truck

"Pontiac has never shied away from offering segment-defining vehicles, going back to the original GTO," said Jim Bunnell, Buick-Pontiac-GMC general manager. "There's simply nothing else like the Pontiac G8 sport truck on the road today, and we definitely believe that there are customers who will be excited by its distinctive design, performance and cargo capabilities."

Consumer named

Another unique aspect of this new vehicle is the fact that it will be named by a consumer. Consumers can visit http://www.pontiac.com/namethiscar and submit their name ideas. "As an important part of the G8 family, we know that 'sport truck' doesn't fully describe the vehicle's ability to blur the lines between sports car and truck," said Craig Bierley, Pontiac marketing director. "Because its fans will surely be as unique as the vehicle itself, we're giving them a voice in selecting a name that reflects its appeal." The winning entry will be announced April 15, 2008.

Design

The Pontiac G8 sport truck maintains the same sporty exterior design as its namesake sedan. Flared fenders wrap around the 18-inch wheels and give it a wide, confident stance. The roofline has a coupe-like profile that reflects the vehicle's performance pedigree.

The doors, roof and exterior panels aft of the B-pillars are unique from the G8 sedan. One-piece outer body panels give the vehicle a sleek appearance. Wrap-around taillamps and fully concealed tailgate hinges add to the sculpted look. A color-coordinated, soft tonneau cover conceals and protects items in the cargo bed from the weather.

Performance

The sport truck draws its strength from the same powerful 6.0L V-8 engine used in the G8 GT. It puts out 361 horsepower (270 kW) and 385 lb.-ft. (522 Nm) of torque. The combination of a six-speed automatic transmission and Active Fuel Management technology provides both car-like fuel economy and an unexpected 0-to-60 time of 5.4 seconds.

While these performance numbers are respectable by sports car standards, the Pontiac G8 sport truck offers flexibility unlike that of a sports car. A 73.9-inch (1878 mm) cargo bed has 42.7 cubic feet (1208 L) of cargo space and a durable composite bed liner. It also can carry a payload of more than 1,074 pounds (488 kg) and tow a 3,500-pound (1,600 kg) trailer.

Structure

The Pontiac G8 sport truck is based on the same rear-wheel-drive architecture as the G8 performance sedan. However, the sport truck's body structure was reinforced in key areas to support its cargo and towing duties. More than 60 new components were added to strengthen the structure. Compared to the sedan, the 118.5-inch (3,009 mm) wheelbase is approximately four inches longer and the overall length is six inches longer.

Suspension and wheels

A four-wheel independent suspension with electronic stability control delivers confident handling, whether loaded with weekend home-improvement supplies or towing a pair of personal watercraft to the lake.

The steering box is located ahead of the front axle line for a quick, direct feel. The sport truck's front stabilizer bar is one mm larger than the sedan, and the rear suspension has been enhanced to support payloads without adversely affecting handling.

The Pontiac G8 sport truck rides on 18-inch machine-faced aluminum wheels with a P245/45R18 summer performance tire. All-season tires are available. An optional Sports Package includes 19-inch machine-faced aluminum wheels with P245/40R19 summer performance tires.

Brakes and steering

The sport truck shares the G8 GT's four-wheel disc brake system, featuring 12.64-inch front and 12.76-inch rear rotors. Front rotor thickness is 1.0 inch, while the rear rotors are 0.87-inch thick. Twin-piston, front alloy calipers and vented rotors and single-piston, alloy rear calipers with vented rotors are standard, as is ABS.

Comfort and convenience

Given its heritage, it's not surprising that the Pontiac G8 sport truck offers many of the same creature comforts as the G8 GT, such as:

Air conditioning with electronic dual-zone climate control
Cruise control
Driver Information Center
Bluetooth connectivity
Tilt/telescoping steering wheel with DIC and radio controls
Power windows/locks/mirrors
Remote keyless entry and remote start
Theft-deterrent alarm system

Fully-bolstered, four-way adjustable cloth seats are standard. Heated, six-way leather seats are available. They can be customized with two-tone, black-and-red inserts and a coordinating gauge cluster.

Behind the seats is a surprisingly large interior cargo area with more than 8.5 cubic feet (245 liters) of storage space. There are two covered storage compartments beneath the load floor and a pair of cargo nets.

Sound system

The Pontiac G8 sport truck's 230-watt Blaupunkt AM/FM/six-disc CD changer has an MP3 input and five speakers. The 6.5-inch audio display controls both the sound and climate control systems.

Safety and security

A full list of safety features are standard, including:

StabiliTrak electronic vehicle stability system
Tire pressure monitoring system
Dual-stage frontal air bags with a passenger sensing system
Head-curtain side air bags
Side thorax air bags
Three-point safety belts in all seating positions
Safety belt pretensioners
OnStar

Articles Source : NetcarShow

Monday, 3 December 2012

2012 Lotus Evora GX

Later in the 2012 season the Evora will race under the Rolex Series’ GT rules as GX rules begin in 2013. With the Evora GX, the driving experience is even more pure, and the beefy body kit is even more aggressive.

2012 Lotus Evora GX

Like the GTC, carbon-fibre doors, roof and engine cover have replaced the SMC and RTM composite panels of the previous evolution GT4 Enduro, and Plexiglass replaces the polycarbonate windows in order to trim yet more weight off what is already a very light car. At 1,150kg, it tips the scales at just 10kg over the weight of the GTC model, despite being fitted with the much thicker US-spec roll cage.

There’s also a new fuel filler system, Continental tyres, and yellow headlamps in order to tick all the race series specific boxes. The 4-litre V6 continues to pump out 440bhp and 440Nm of torque, linked to an XTRAC six-speed sequential paddle-shift. The GX is priced at $335,000.00 and will be built to order.

Articles Soerce : Lincah

Chrysler Logo

Chrysler Group LLC is an American-based automaker, owned by Italian manufacturer Fiat, since 2009.

Chrysler Logo

Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925. Its core brands today are: Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, SRT, Fiat, and Mopar vehicles and products. The Company is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, a Detroit suburb.

Chrysler Logo

On June 10, 2009, Chrysler LLC emerged from a Chapter 11 reorganization ovefrseen by the U.S. government. It became Chrysler Group LLC, in alliance with and owned by the Italian automaker Fiat. Initially holding a 20% interest in Chrysler Group, Fiat's stake was increased to 58.5% (fully diluted) following acquisition of the equity interests held by the U.S. Treasury (6% on June 3, 2011) and Canada (1.5% on July 21, 2011) The stake was further increased to 61.8% in July 2012.

Articles Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysler

Chevrolet Logo

Chevrolet also known as Chevy, is an American brand of vehicle produced by General Motors (GM). Chevrolet was founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted General Motors founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911. In 1918 it was acquired by General Motors.

Chevrolet Logo

Chevrolet was positioned by Alfred Sloan to sell mainstream vehicles to compete with Henry Ford's Model T in the 1920s, with "Chevrolet" or "Chevy" being synonymous with GM. In North America, Chevrolet produces and sells a wide range of vehicles, from subcompact automobiles to medium-duty commercial trucks, whereas in Europe, the brand name is used mainly for automobiles produced in Korea by General Motors.

Chevrolet Logo

History

On November 3, 1911, Swiss race car driver and automotive engineer Louis Chevrolet co-founded the Chevrolet Motor Car Company in Detroit with William C. Durant and investment partners William Little (maker of the Little automobile) and Dr. Edwin R. Campbell (son-in-law of Durant) and in 1912 R. S. McLaughlin GEO of General Motors in Canada.

Chevrolet Logo

Durant was ousted from the management of General Motors in 1910 for five years. He took over the Flint Wagon Works, incorporating the Mason and Little companies. As head of Buick Motor Company prior to founding GM, Durant had hired Louis Chevrolet to drive Buicks in promotional races. Durant planned to use Chevrolet's reputation as a racer as the foundation for his new automobile company.

Chevrolet Logo

Actual design work for the first Chevy, the costly Series C Classic Six, was drawn up by Etienne Planche, following instructions from Louis. The first C prototype was ready months before Chevrolet was actually incorporated.

Chevrolet Logo

Chevrolet first used the "bowtie emblem" logo in 1914. It may have been designed from wallpaper Durant once saw in a French hotel room. More recent research by historian Ken Kaufmann presents a case that the logo is based on a logo of the "Coalettes" coal company. Others claim that the design was a stylized Swiss cross, in tribute to the homeland of Chevrolet's parents.

Chevrolet Logo

Louis Chevrolet had differences with Durant over design and in 1915 sold Durant his share in the company. By 1916, Chevrolet was profitable enough with successful sales of the cheaper Series 490 to allow Durant to repurchase a controlling interest in General Motors. After the deal was completed in 1917, Durant became president of General Motors, and Chevrolet was merged into GM as a separate division. In 1917, Chevrolet's factories were located at New York City; Tarrytown, N.Y.; Flint, Michigan; Toledo, Ohio; St. Louis, Missouri; Oakland, California; Fort Worth, Texas, and Oshawa, Ontario. In the 1918 model year, Chevrolet introduced the Series D, a V8-powered model in four-passenger roadster and five-passenger tourer models.

Chevrolet Logo

Chevrolet continued into the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s competing with Ford, and after the Chrysler Corporation formed Plymouth in 1928, Plymouth, Ford, and Chevrolet were known as the "Low-priced three". In 1933 Chevrolet launched the Standard Six, which was advertised in the United States as the cheapest six-cylinder car on sale.

Chevrolet Logo

Chevrolet had a great influence on the American automobile market during the 1950s and 1960s. In 1953 it produced the Corvette, a two-seater sports car with a fibreglass body. In 1957 Chevy introduced its first fuel-injected engine, the Rochester Ramjet option on Corvette and passenger cars, priced at $484. In 1960 it introduced the Corvair, with a rear-mounted air-cooled engine. In 1963 one out of every ten cars sold in the United States was a Chevrolet.

Chevrolet Logo

The basic Chevrolet small-block V-8 design has remained in continuous production since its debut in 1955, longer than any other mass-produced engine in the world, although current versions share few if any parts interchangeable with the original. Descendants of the basic small-block OHV V-8 design platform in production today have been much modified with advances such as aluminium block and heads, electronic engine management, and sequential port fuel injection. Depending on the vehicle type, Chevrolet V-8s are built in displacements from 4.3 to 9.4 litres with outputs ranging from 111.394 horsepower (83.066 kW) to 994 horsepower (741 kW) as installed at the factory. The engine design has also been used over the years in GM products built and sold under the Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick, Hummer, Opel (Germany), and Holden (Australia) nameplates.

The Chevrolet division is currently recovering from the economic downturn of 2007–2010. After sales of General Motors vehicles plummeted and when the U.S Government bailed out the company, GM began developing more fuel efficient cars and trucks in order to compete with foreign automakers. In late 2010 General Motors began production of the plug-in electric Chevrolet Volt (and related Opel/Vauxhall Ampera), which later was announced as the 2012 North American Car of the Year, European Car of the Year and World Green Car of the Year.

Articles Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet

Cadillac Logo

Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors (GM). Cadillac currently sells vehicles in 37 countries, with its primary market being North America. In 2011, Cadillac's U.S. sales were 152,389. Globally, Cadillac's next largest market is China, where the SRX model is its largest seller.

Cadillac Logo

Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest automobile brands in the world. Depending on how one chooses to measure, Cadillac is arguably older than Buick. Cadillac was founded in 1902 by Henry Leland, a master mechanic and entrepreneur, who named the company after his ancestor, Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac, the founder of the city of Detroit. The company's crest is based on a coat of arms that Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac had created at the time of his marriage in Quebec in 1687. General Motors purchased the company in 1909 and within six years, Cadillac had laid the foundation for the modern mass production of automobiles by demonstrating the complete interchangeability of its precision parts while simultaneously establishing itself as America's premier luxury car. Cadillac introduced technological advances, including full electrical systems, the clashless manual transmission and the steel roof. The brand developed three engines, one of which (the V8 engine) set the standard for the American automotive industry. Cadillac is the first American car to win the prestigious Dewar Trophy from the Royal Automobile Club of England, having successfully demonstrated the interchangeability of its component parts during a reliability test in 1908; this spawned the firm's slogan "Standard of the World." It won that trophy a second time, in 1912, for incorporating electric starting and lighting in a production automobile.

Articles Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadillac

Monday, 24 September 2012

Revisiting the McLaren Enigma

About a year ago I wrote an editorial that absorbed and explored the fallout of 2011’s biggest automotive test: McLaren MP4-12C versus Ferrari 458 Italia, and why the quantifiably superior former was comprehensively defeated by the esoteric latter. More sense of occasion, better noise, more emotion, better looking – it’s exactly the subjective sort of criteria that cars shouldn’t have verdicts based upon – and yet the Ferraris’ victory seemed to make perfect sense.

After all, in Britain, we’re always harder on our own. We have a self-deprecating irony which far outweighs any petty hostilities he hold against foreign nations, no matter how xenophobic the media sometimes portrays us. That the international press agreed was hardly a stop-press shock, however.

So why then, as a twenty-something lad who hasn't a hope in hell of getting his hands on a supercar in the near future, do I crave a drive in the MP4-12C over any other car, past or present? It’s seems curious, inexcusable even., In the face of the true greats, like the Ferrari F40 and E30 BMW M3, or one of the cars of the moment (Toyota GT86, Fisker Karma) that I’d choose to spend my fantasy ten minutes wheeltime in the unloved, supposedly clinical 12C.

I think it’d because cars maintain interest, for me, when they remain controversial. A mkI Ford Focus is still an enigma, still relevant, because there are those who proclaim it an all-time benchmark, and those who rate its front differential abilities as a liability, impeding it on the very roads it should have breakfasted on. Likewise the E60 BMW M5, a car blessed with a magnificent V10 engine, but now condemned to do-you-dare bargain status, thanks to its Flintoff-shaming thirst and mood swing-prone transmission. As likely to provoke furious debate as they are a spontaneous Sunday morning drive, these are the cars that, like it or not, still matter. Even though they’re outdated.

The MP4-12C then. At the root of my fascination is the almost rehearsed two-pronged approach I’d have to experiencing it: the drive, and the understanding. The driving is simple: educate myself on the adaptive modes for powertrain and chassis, sample the twin-turbo engine, and bend my head around the concept of its Active Chassis Control as the hydraulic talent tackles bends itself. Meanwhile: does the car excite, entertain, and leave an impression, beyond its numbers? To see if the MP4-12C got under my skin as an experience, as a sensation, rather than simply a very rapid motor vehicle, is the crux of its charm – the charm that so many branded it desperately free of.

Interesting debate, the wider ‘technology in cars’ one. The obvious Ferrari rival is too loaded to the gunwales with systems to keep the driver safe, comfortable, and allow him to drive the Maranello machine faster than contemporary GT racing cars of the previous decade.

So, the presence of technology itself is not the factor that decides if a car can be successful. It does move at such a relentless space though – faster even than the cars whose potential it unlocks, that it dates those cars quickly, long before inclement weather and frayed seat bolsters ever could. That means the new generation of supercars, 12C included, will be irrelevant sooner than say, the 512 Boxer or Enzo were.

One might argue the lightweight, meticulous F1 never really crossed that threshold – it’s still a zenith even today. Having said that, at a cool £640,000 when new, perhaps it never became relevant in the first place.

On the one hand, a young lad lusting after a drive in a super sports car is nothing original or surprising. But desiring a taste of a car’s abilities and putting them in context is the core reason any of us want to be a motoring hack, or simply like cars at all. Roll on the second opinion.