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| Abarth’s Fiat 500 “Opening Edition” Posted: 08 Jul 2008 02:33 PM CDT  It is powered by a tweaked version of the standard 1.4 litre turbocharged engine, once capable of delivering 135 bhp in stock, now offering 160 bhp with a torque of 230Nm (170lb-ft). This engine, coupled with a 5-speed manual gearbox is capable of propelling this tiny car from 0 to 100 km/h 7,2 seconds and topping out at an impressive 211 km/h. But the performance changes don’t stop here, perforated disc brakes, stiffer suspension springs and brake pads, BMC sport air-filter and brand new 17 inch alloy rims come to complete the racing image of this 500. The interior hasn’t been left out either, tinted windows, leather trim and alluminiun badged make sure that you sense the difference inside.
Source: MotorAuthority  | ||||
| BMW M5 switching from V10 to twin-turbo V8 Posted: 08 Jul 2008 02:25 PM CDT  The engine, could be a tweaked version of the 4.4liter, twin-turbo engine presented on the X6, modified to 4.8 liters, an output of around 400hp and an improvement in torque. It seems that the success of their in-house-built twin-turbo engines, that currently power the 335i and the 535i has taken even the manufacturer by surprise in terms of efficiency, and has generated this turn-around. As big enthusiasts of the M5, we can’t say that this is a bad change, switching from the high-pitched, F1 “scream” of the V10 to a lower, baritone, rhythmical sound, since we can, surely, love them both as much.  | ||||
| Got 5 mil? Buy a one of a kind Maybach Excelero Posted: 08 Jul 2008 02:22 PM CDT  The V12 bi-turbo, 690-hp (0-100km/h in 4.4 seconds with a top speed of 350km/h) one of a kind Maybach Exelero is for sale. Before you hurry-up and order it be sure to have your bank stand-by for a 5 million Euros transfer. The automobile was comissioned, conceived and built for Fulda, the tyre manufacturer, as a rolling test mule and marketing tool for their highest performance products. It has been an iconic car since its uncovering in 2005, and it represents a reinterpretation for the 1930’s legendary sports-car. Home come it is now available for sale? Is Fulda selling it? No. As we found out, there’s an Austrian car dealership that ordered the car and never sold it, and are now offering it for the respective heart-stopping price. So, yes, you’d be owning a two-of a kind car, actually. Do you want to buy it? Better hurry up before the arabians hear about it and have it modified into a station-wagon.  | ||||
| Posted: 08 Jul 2008 10:57 AM CDT  Ford isn’t having a great time in terms of sales and profit lately so rumors are starting to appear that other car groups are bidding for its subsidiaries. Such is the case with Volvo, quite a few groups showing interest in the Scandinavian manufacturer like Renault, Shanghai Auto or Dongfeng Motors. But none of these firms seem to be as close to owning Volvo than Chinese producer Chery Auto. Chinese business magazine Caijing reports that Chery Auto has great interest in Volvo, wanting to incorporate their highly appreciated safety standards in their cars, chinese vehicles being always regarded by western buyers as unsafe and dangerous, crash tests showing a lot of poor results. Although they are reported as not having reached an agreement more so, official declarations of Chery Auto are dismissing their interest in the Swedish manufacturer, inside sources are saying that the Chinese producer is already taking an interest in banks and equity firms that will eventually back up their acquisition. Ford hasn’t publicly declared a price for Volvo, but some say that it will be around $4.4 billion.  | ||||
| Posted: 08 Jul 2008 10:49 AM CDT  The new Ford Focus RS was announced and will be available to the public in 2009. The public unveiling will be at the London Motor Show later this year. The Focus already looks great but all the visual modifications make it really hot. Widened body, new front and rear bumpers and a bunch of other mods complete the look but what’s under the hood is what’s important. And what’s under the hood, at least on paper, is pretty impressive. A turbocharged 2.5 liter 5 cylinder putting out 295 hp and 410 Nm. That’s a lot of power, a lot more than most hot-hatches, but it’s only going to the front wheels. Weight was apparently a big influence in not going for a 4 wheel drive but I’m guessing price was an even more important one. Ford assures us that they handled the handling with the help of a “special” suspension system and the limited-slip differential but that remains to be seen when the first road tests pop up. The Focus RS looks good on paper and if Ford can keep the price down it may have a winner in the, pretty crowded, hot hatch market. It certainly has the looks. Now if only Ford US was doing so well as it’s European division. But we know the Focus is making it’s way stateside and most likely the RS too. More photos after the jump.
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| Short crash test dummies history Posted: 08 Jul 2008 10:40 AM CDT  In the late 1940s the U.S. Air Force needed to study the safety of aircraft ejection seats. Before developing a safe way of doing this, they used real people. Colonel John Paul Stapp, an Air Force doctor, was among the first "human test dummies". He was propelled with rockets down a 2,000-foot railroad track and then brake instantly (during this time his body was subjected to 46.2 G). In 1966 the Congress enacted the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (which set vehicle safety standards that are effecting today). GM's biomechanical engineer Harold “Bud” Mertz, developed a dummy strong enough to resist multiple tests. By the late 1960s Mertz build "Hybrid I" crash test dummy with different dummy parts from Sierra and Alderson Research Laboratories. A few years later, in 1972, Hybrid II was introduced with a new shoulder, spine and knee responses improved. One year later Hybrid III crash test dummy appeared - the first family man. In his family there was a female, and ten, six, and three-year-old child dummies. After this dummy family it appeared SID (Side Impact Dummy – for rib, spine, and internal organ effects in side collisions), BioRID (design for effects of a rear impact), CRABI(a child dummy for seat belts and air bags tests) and THOR, one of the most advance crash test dummies with a human like spine, pelvis and a big number of sensors for the analysis of facial impact. Photos after the jump.  Thor Model Hybryd III family  SID Model  BioRID Model  | ||||
| Posted: 08 Jul 2008 10:26 AM CDT  Lundberg Survey Petroleum is a marketing and research company. This corporation regularly monitors retail gas prices. And the results says that we have a problem. A big problem! Will driving become a beautiful dream? We hope that we'll find a solution to win this fight. In the same time, it's a great business opportunity. And do you know why? Well, because the winners will assert the new rules of the game. The economic cars will be year after year in the great top of the business world: the client's mind. The gas price is only an impediment. Is an obstacle. But don't forget that little strokes fell great caks. In other words we have a chance. We can negotiate a good solution for our interests. Gooseberry isn't so black. That`s equivalent to we are the real kings in this world. And not the companies! We are the consumers! We must dictate our wishes. We must fight for our right to drive a car! Because they try to impress us. But we now what Marketing means. Is all about image here. "In the factory we make cosmetics; in the drugstore we sell hope." - Charles Revson  | ||||
| Posted: 08 Jul 2008 10:20 AM CDT  Rising gas prices continues to make “victims” and is turning to be a more and more pressing issue and Mercedes announced that it has plans to have all of their vehicles running hybrid by the end of 2015. That’s quite a plan to follow, for the next 7 years. Dr. Thomas Weber, member of the Daimler board of management, who’s in charge of Group Research and Mercedes-Benz Cars Development, has stated that the three-pointed star manufacturer has mapped out 20% fuel economy throughout their entire fleet in the following years. This will be achieved with “BlueEfficiency” technologies (such as: low-rolling-resistance tires, elimination of belt-driven accessories, small design tweaks and lighter body-parts) as well as the new start-stop technology, already available as an option on A and B class models. Dr. Weber, specifies that the start-stop technology has hardware implementation costs of around 250 Euros, and that he wants the respective component to be implemented throughout the fleet at similar costs, and make it base equipment. Also, he stated that another factor to be taken into consideration is customer’s education, and the company’s capabilities to convince that the technology is viable and efficient. Therefore the path has been chosen, the question remaining is how fast they can get there. More optimistic plans from Mercedes-Benz say, that, by 2015, they will be able to make gas/diesel optional on their vehicles. That is a very bald statement, and even if they only manage to get close to that goal, in the 7 years period, could prove to be a gigantic leap forward. Judging by technologies going through development by the Stuttgart Manufacturer, such as ethanol, electric, fuel cells, the DiesOtto technology on the F700, the electric Smarts being tested in London and the rumors according to which the F600 Hygenious may turn out a production version, we’d be tempted to say that their plans might be much more than just dreams. Taking into consideration that Mercedes-Benz has brought revolutionary technologies into day-to-day life in the last 20, or more, years, the expectancy level is high, and all of the industry, as well as customers, awaits new standard setting technologies brought on the production line.  | ||||
| Cobra strikes again: the Venom V8 Posted: 08 Jul 2008 10:13 AM CDT  The last creation of Jamie Martin designer is the Cobra Venom V8, a modern interpretation of the original model AC Shelby Cobra. Practically, the car’s look reveals the possible successor to the original 1960 Cobra, which, if it’ll be built, will be propelled by a Ford V8 engine. The specs suggested by Martin are a supercharged 4.6 liters Ford V8 powerplant which develops a maximum power of 524 HP and 569 Nm of torque at 3,500 rpm. These allow the car to reach a top speed of 345 km/h and go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds. The power is transmitted to the rear wheels through a manual Tremec 6 steps speed box, or an automatic one with 6 contact ratio, which can be manually activated from the flaps behind the steering wheel. The Venom’s underframe is made of aluminum and carbon fiber components and 17-inch wheels has Pirelli P-Zero tyres. Among other characteristics of this concept we mention xenon headlights and LEDs, technology for the tail lights.  | ||||
| Posted: 08 Jul 2008 10:06 AM CDT  Lotus announced that this year will market the most powerful and fast version of Lotus Exige coupe. The engine is from the model GT3 racing and will produce 271 HP. Powered by this engine, Lotus Exige will reach 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, and the top speed will be 250 km/h. Rear flap is considerably higher compared to that of the Exige’s standard car and offer much more down force and bridle the car in curves. After all handling is mainly trump card of this car. Will this bring back Lotus into everyone’s attention? We’re pretty skeptical but still, who knows.  |
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