Thursday, December 27, 2007

December 2007 Dream Car of the Month - C6 Corvette ZR1



Well, this car isn't even out yet but it made my list of dream cars. Originally, I had planned to feature the C6 Z06 as the car of the month, but with the official release of the ZR1, I figured this new, "ultimate corvette" deserved the spotlight. It really is a pretty impressive piece of machinery.

For those of you that don't know, or didn't happen to see my last post on the unveiling of the car, the upcoming 2009 Corvette ZR1 is poised to be the fastest most expensive Corvette ever made and possibly, the fastest American car ever produced. The details are still not final but the car is expected to have at least 620HP and 590TQ from the 6.2L LS9 supercharged V8. A final curb weight of around 3300lbs should ensure that the car will drop 0-60 times in the sub 4 second range and 1/4 mile times may dip into the 10s. Top speed should exceed 200mph. The brakes are the same as found on the Ferrari Enzo, only bigger, and the car will feature extensive use of carbon fiber. All this for around $100,000 which is no bargain until you consider that this car will be faster than many cars up to 10 times it's price. In that context, it's a downright bargain.

The car reportedly came about when GM's Rick Wagoner, who was very impressed with the C6 Z06, said something to the Corvette team to the effect of; If we can accomplish this in a $70,000 car, imagine what we could do in a $100,000 car. I guess the team took that as a green light to try and find out. The result is a car that will probably become one of the greatest sports cars ever produced in America. I just wish I had an extra $100K laying around.

Friday, December 21, 2007

MAZDA CX-9 2008

MAZDA CX-9 2008

in Indonesia, Mazda just launched SUV CX-7 him, now in his origin country (Japan) has had the concept CX-9.
This was the second SUV generation 7 passengers in 2008.




According to the Mazda source, CX-9 used several components from Ford Edge and Mazda 6 sedans that used the machine V6 3,700 cc (273 dk) with the automatic transmission 6-speed.

skoda 2 review


here is a little review of skoda
Performance Performance rating
The Fabia offers a wide range of engines. Choices include 59bhp and 68bhp 1.2s, an 84bhp 1.4 and a 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol engines. All engines come with a five-speed manual gearbox as standard, but the 1.6 allows you to specify a semi-automatic gearbox. There are also two versions of Skoda's 1.4-litre turbodiesel, giving either 68bhp or 79bhp, while a 103bhp 1.9-litre engine tops the diesel range.
Ride & handling Ride & handling rating






The Fabia is big by supermini standards, but it's dinky enough to excel in the city, and light controls. The Fabia rides comfortably, too, doing a good job of smoothing out patchy surfaces. It does lean a little through corners, and it's hampered by a vague gearshift, though.
Refinement Refinement rating -
A little wind noise builds up around the windscreen pillars as speed increases, but road and suspension noise rarely break the calm in the cabin. It's a shame the same can't be said of the engines; all the three-cylinder engines are noisy, especially at low speeds, but the real villain is the 1.9-litre diesel, which is loud and gruff compared with modern diesel engines.

renault concept cars


From dreamlife… renault will

Veritable distillations of ideas, with new and breathtaking lines, concept cars are the substance of which dreams are made.
The dreams of the public that suddenly glimpses the future.
The dreams of designers who let their imagination and creativity reign free, creating new horizons of possibility and inventing the cars of the future.



the renault motto


… to the future renault will

A dream made real through the uncommon status of concept cars. Freed from industrial constraints necessary for the production of vehicles on the assembly line, these one-of-a-kind prototypes are at the very heart of the Group’s strategy.
They express Renault’s anticipation of and response to the evolution in lifestyles.
They provide the public with the opportunity to experience new forms of expression and to test reactions.
Concept cars are precious accelerators of innovation.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

It's Official - 2009 Corvette ZR1 finally revealed!



If you've had enough of all the speculation and spy shots teasing you about the long rumored "Blue Devil" Corvette, well your Christmas gift has arrived. GM finally officially confirmed and released info on the upcoming 2009 Corvette ZR1 and it is an absolute beast!



Preliminary info from GM indicates that the car will feature a supercharged 6.2L V8 dubbed LS9. This powerplant will produce at least 620HP and 590TQ in a car that will weigh around 3200lbs. Due to the added weight of the supercharger setup, GM has employed extensive use of carbon fiber on the fenders, hood, and roof. The fiber on the roof is exposed and covered by a special clear coat which contains an additive costing $60,000 per gallon. The clear coat itself costs $2,000 per gallon and it makes the ZR1 the first car ever to have a carbon fiber clear coat that will last the life of the car. The new "Super Vette" will also use carbon ceramic brakes to slow it down from an expected top speed of over 200mph. The front rotors are larger than the ones used on the Enzo Ferrari. At about $100,000 it will be the cheapest car in the world with such brakes.



The price will of course put it in some serious territory as it will be, by far, the most expensive Corvette ever produced. That being said, it will definitely also be the fastest Corvette ever and maybe the fastest American production car ever. It will also give cars that are several times it's cost a very big scare and a serious run for the money. Just when I thought that the new Nissan GTR was the performance bargain of the century (relatively speaking), GM drops this bomb. What a great time to be a horsepower junkie.

If you crave any more info, all of the auto press is on top of this. Just do a search for 2009 ZR1 and you'll be busy all day.

Citroen Nemo




The Bologna Motor Show is coming and how every year the news will be very many. Here we talk about the concept that Citroen will present at the Motor Show, Citroen Nemo. Exactly, Citroen decided to call a model with the name of the famous fish of Walt Disney.

The plea was developed in cooperation with Fiat and Peugeot already presented to Roas Transport Show in Amsterdam.Ecco press release:
Completely Nemo! Nemo Concept illustrates the surprising closeness between Citroën Nemo clown fish and his namesake. Like the fish, Nemo Concept can be seen as a "piccoletto" among their fellow human beings. However, its size will translate into an advantage, especially in the way traffic.

ferrari spider



what is different ferrari and spiderman.The Ferrari F430 is a high-performance sports car produced by the Italian automaker Ferrari to succeed the 360.


It debuted at the 2004 Paris Motor Show.[2] European left-hand drive sales began in November 2004, but right-hand drive sales did not start until Spring 2005, and the United States did not get the F430 until Summer 2005.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

2009 Nissan GTR test numbers.

Finally, we are getting some hard performance numbers on the upcoming Nissan GTR. Many people seemed to doubt Nissans stated performance numbers and suspected that Nissan's test cars were modified in some way. Well, Edmunds Inside Line managed to get their hands on a privately owned new production model in Japan and then proceeded to beat on it for a while to see what it could do. The results are more than impressive.

The GTR they tested is pretty much identical to what the U.S. spec model will be and is owned by a Japanese journalist. Even though it had only 1,500km on the clock, they showed it no mercy. With the apparently secret launch control turned on, the GTR rockets to 60 in 3.3 seconds and covers the 1/4 mile in 11.6 at 120.9 mph. They claim it's the fastest car they've ever tested. Faster than the 911 Turbo, 600HP Viper and the Z06 Corvette.

Braking tests showed that the car can also stop from 60 in 104ft which is only 1ft longer than a 911 Turbo with the $8,800 ceramic brake option. This car is looking more and more like the performance bargain of the century right now. That title was held by the Corvette Z06 but the GTR is faster and about the same price. Unfortunately, I don't think Nissan will build enough of them to keep up and it will be almost impossible to find one for sticker price.

Check out the full Edmunds Inside Line article here.

Beauty and intelligence in formula


Beauty and intelligence is back in the Paddock in the shape of the 10 extraordinary ladies

Beauty and intelligence is back in the Paddock in the shape of the 10 extraordinary ladies invited by Red Bull to every GP to compete in the Formula Una Ladies Award

news Ferrari building new simulator


i read a news that Ferrari is hard at work on a new formula one simulator, according to reports in the Spanish press. The sports daily Marca claims that Marc Gene is at the forefront of the high-tech equipment's development, and that his test at Jerez this week was almost exclusively centred on collecting information for the simulator.



McLaren's top secret state-of-the-art simulator is known as being currently the best among F1 teams, and it took much of the credit for Lewis Hamilton's sensational rookie season in 2007. Red Bull was believed to be building a similar unit and software for its own factory.

But Marca believes that Ferrari's new simulator will be superior to all others in F1, following more than 18 months of development led by Felipe Massa's former race engineer Gabriele Delli Colli.

Gene, Ferrari's secondary test driver, commented that the simulator is already operating at an advanced level. “I haven't tested like this for nearly a year and I should be a lot more rusty,” the Spaniard said at Jerez earlier this week, “but I am only a half or second or so away from Räikkönen. This is thanks to the simulator, which allows you to keep pace. It is a very big help,” he added.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Bologna Motor Show



Affluenza of public record today at 32 ° Bologna Motor Show: full pavilions and Shell Arena packed in every order placed. In the morning the fair was visited by a guest exceptional: Emma Bonino, Minister of International Trade and European Policies.
After visiting the exhibition, the minister met with journalists in the press room: "I am very pleased to be here to express my appreciation for an event that every year manages to draw the attention of both the public. Visiting the pavilions I was genuinely impressed by the event plurisettorialità: from the State Police and of the Army to test drive, the engagement to road safety than to the ecology, with issues of great public interest brought all 'interest visitors. I saw a demonstration of great quality and I have also noticed an exhibition of products really refined from this point of view the Motor Show is spectacular. "



Great result of the public for the departure of the Memorial Bettega Piazza Verdi: This city has responded, noting the curious twenty cars in the caravan (eight participants in the "Bettega, the Subaru Impreza then that was the way to Memorial, four cars Historical and seven cars EcoCity participating in the Ecoparata) in the first place a few steps from Two Towers and then along the streets of Bologna, reserving applause several pilots.

In today took place two awards: ANIA Foundation and Police celebrated the winner of the competition on road safety "cHIC! Ken, do not laugh chickens" while the pavilion on 25 stand Peugeot Miss Italy and Miss Silvia Battisti Peugeot Stephanie Salvadori have awarded winners Peugeot Trophy Competition.

Several of the characters present world of entertainment today at the Show: Giorgia Palmas, Paola and Chiara, the Absolute Zero, Riccardo Fogli, Mark Martin, Nada, Formula Three and Francesco Ark, in addition to sports Andrea Zorzi and Fabio Galante.

That tomorrow will be the final day of the Motor Show 2007. Morning will be held the traditional presentation of My Special Car Show, Exhibition and Sports dell'Auto Special: 10.30 in the Hall Trio, Block B of the Service Center, will be presented the 6 th edition of the event, scheduled from 28 to March 30, 2008 in Rimini Fair.

An hour later, at 11.30, an exceptional event: Night Room, Center Services Block D, Aci Sports organizes the presentation of the Rally of Italy Sardinia, the Italian stage of the World Rally 2008.

As per tradition Shell Arena will be great protagonist of the final day of the Show. It will play the final stages of Barclaycard Bettega Memorial and the Bomb Boogie Xtreme Supermotard, but especially the scene will Freestyle-Rally Tribute to Colin Mc Rae: pilots engaged in "Bettega" will perform in a descent of the bridge Shell Arena to be concluded , in front of the stands, with a "number" at their discretion and will be judged by a jury exceptional campionissimi consists of rallysmo and motorsports world every time. One way to honour the memory of Colin Mc Rae, extraordinary champion recently disappeared, always a friend of Motor Show.

Even on the last day will be different the celebrity guests at the Show: Giancarlo Minardi, Gaetano Curreri, leader of the Stadium and a trio of beauties formed by Debora Salvalaggio, Giorgia Palmas and Camila Morais.

grand finale the 32 rd edition of the Motor Show

Once again the world dell'Automobile has made an appointment to Bologna at the 32 ^ edition of the Motor Show (scheduled from December 7 to 16) for the second consecutive year has as main sponsors Barclaycard. . There are more than 50 brand automobile, virtually 100% of the market operating in our country, a rich showcase of previews of absolute level: 95 new confirmed to date, 11 of which global and European 6. 343 exhibitors catalogue, of which 83 from 16 foreign countries.



Product news in the foreground, then, but much space was also given to 'deepening, with a packed schedule of meetings and press conferences, and culture, with different initiatives leaving the Fairgrounds and embrace the city of Bologna.
Come da tradizione, i visitatori hanno anche l’opportunità di provare in prima persona diverse vetture sulle 10 aree esterne dedicate: sono 14 le aziende impegnate nei test drive riservati al pubblico del Salone. According to tradition, visitors also have the opportunity to experience first-hand cars on 10 different outdoor areas dedicated are 14 companies involved in the test drive belonging to public exhibition.
Like every year, the Motor Show guarantees visitors moments of sport to four and two wheels to the highest levels.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Ferrari gadgets


1.Becker sat-nav


2.Meridian home entertainment system


3.Vertu mobile phone












Only the likes of Ferrari drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa could afford a mobile like this.

The Ascent Ferrari 1947 Limited Edition is being released to mark 60 years of Ferrari and cleverly, only 1947 of them have been made
Art.Engine speakers
They cost 18 grand but shoving the Ferrari logo on is sure to make them more attractive.

Which is useful, as they’re not that nice-looking.

Only 1000 of the tower systems have been made - sold in the UK through Sound Directions - and at 47inch tall, they are available in all the official Ferrari colours including Rosso Corsa and Nero.
4.Acer sat-nav

the Experience of Ferrari Thrill Driving

Teh chance is to get behind the wheel of one of the most famous sports cars in the world, the awesome Ferrari 355 Berlinetta.

Most of our customers are overwhelmed when they see the car they are about to drive for the first time. The supermodel lines, the smell of the hide, the crisp wail of the 380bhp V8 engine.

Add this to the feel of the famous click-clack gearbox and the mind blowing acceleration.



The experience includes a welcome, briefing in the car, a session driving a Ferrari 355, a certificate and a driver analysis form completed by your instructor. Itinerary :
Welcome, introduction and briefing in the car
A session driving a Ferrari 355 Berlinetta
A de-briefing session in which you get a driver analysis form completed by your instructor
A presentation certificate
A free 4x4 Off-Road passenger ride for spectators (Staffordshire venue only).

Duration :

Please allow approximately 1 hour at the venue for the Ferrari Thrill Experience.

Availability :

Courses are available in the morning and the afternoon on selected Saturdays and some weekdays from February to December.

Gift vouchers are valid for 12 months.

We endeavour to dispatch vouchers by first class post on the day of purchase when ordered before 3pm

Locations :

Stafforshire

Restrictions :

You must hold a full manual driving licence, be less than 6'6" and weigh less than 18 1/2 stone.

Spectators :

Spectators are encouraged to attend.

Need Four-Wheel Drive?


A four-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive vehicle is one in which the engine powers all four wheels either part of the time or all of the time. Most cars have two-wheel drive, which means either the front or back wheels are powered by the engine.

Four-wheel drive, which we'll refer to as 4WD, is optional on many SUVs and there are pluses and minuses to this pricey and complex feature.




If you already know the difference between driveline types, but are unsure as to which best suits your needs, you can read Four-Wheel Drive Demystified on the ForbesAutos.com/cars.com co-branded site to find out more.

As the chart below illustrates, SUVs with 4WD drive are more expensive than their two-wheel-drive counterparts.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

2009 Camaro Photos

Over the last couple of days there have been various posts on the net containing spy shots of 2009 Camaro mules testing in full camo. Today I found out that the site Camaro5 has posted what appears to be, a photo of a mostly uncovered 2009 Camaro that looks like it could be pretty close to the production version. The car's front an rear are still covered but the wheels and entire side of the car are not masked in any way.




The car seems to look very close to the original concept. Some minor changes are noted like the addition of normal side view mirrors, more reasonably sized wheels, and some toned down styling queues like the gills before the rear wheels. Other than that, it looks pretty cool. Can't wait.