It's no secret that Lotus has monumental plans in the coming years, announcing no fewer than four new models at the 2010 Paris Motor Show that it says will gradually roll out over the next several years. But there's no denying that the British firm's current level of success was built on the excellence that is the Lotus Elise, Exige and, most recently, Evora.
That being the case, we're hoping that a report from Autocar in the UK is accurate and that Lotus has plans to overhaul the Exige and give the Evora a heavily updated interior before the Esprit goes into production in late 2012. We certainly wouldn't expect wholesale changes to either machine – engineering budgets are surely being diverted elsewhere – but a little something to keep its current models fresh in the eyes of consumers would go a long way towards bridging the gap between the present and the Ferrari-fighting future.
[Source: Autocar]
Report: Lotus to overhaul Exige, Evora ahead of Esprit production
Porsche 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid concept gets 78 mpg, hits 62 mph in 3.2 seconds
Here you go, have your cake and eat it too. Porsche is looking to prove that the best of both worlds don't have to be mutually exclusive with the 918 Spyder concept scheduled to debut tomorrow at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Looking a bit like a Carrera GT evolved, the 918 Spyder is powered by both a 500-horsepower V8 and a pair of electric motors (one for each axle) producing an additional 218 hp or 160kW. At full gallop, the concept can theoretically reach 62 mph in 3.2 seconds and nip 198 mph on the high end. On the flip side, Porsche says it can also achieve 78 miles per gallon and emit just 70 grams of CO2 per kilometer.
How does a supercar have such range? Well, the 918 Spyder concept is a parallel hybrid just like your mom's Prius (well not just like). That means the two powertrains, gas and electric, can operate together or separately to motivate the wheels into motion. There are no less than four modes that configure the powertrains for anything from maximum efficiency to maximum performance and everything in between. The E-Drive mode means pure electric power, and the car can reportedly last up to 16 miles on electrons alone. Next up is Hybrid mode, which is just what it sounds like and would probably be the mode for everyday around town driving. The Sport Hybrid mode again uses both powertrains, but tips the needle a bit more towards performance with most power reaching the rear wheels. Finally, the Race Hybrid mode means all systems are go for the lowest lap times possible (Porsche says it can do the Nordschleife in less than 7:30 minutes). There's an even a push-to-pass button (if only it were that easy) that adds a bit of E-boost on the straights and, of course, regenerative braking is present and accounted for.
[Source: Porsche]
First Drive: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport is a temple of Zen
Just like the last time, when we drove the Bugatti Veyron, it began with an e-mail from Bugatti's PR firm: "Give me a call when you have a moment." And then, again, just like the last time, there came the question: "We have a Grand Sport. Can you do something with it?" Let. Me. See.
And that's how we ended up spending a day with the roofless Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport on a reference-resetting trip from Los Angeles to San Diego and back. Although you'll read many words after the jump to describe it, we really only need one word, and we'd draw it out in the same kind of smiling stupor we get when the dentist pumps us full of happy gas: "Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh...."
The Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport is a violent, taunting, confounding and punctiliously engineered maelstrom. It is a handmade wonder built in a castle, and yet resembles a slightly squashed jelly bean. It has a $30,000 stereo, but it's too much work to actually listen to it. The 16-cylinder, quad-turbocharged engine with 1,001 horsepower and 922 lb-ft of torque is programmed not to let you damage it, but in just one afternoon, the leather-trimmed coachwork on the doors will be a mess of shoe marks. The car's brake rotors are chaperoned by 28 brake pistons, but using them forcefully is like begging someone to plow into the aforementioned engine. The car will cost you €1.6 million (roughly $2.24M USD), for which you get, as a soft top, an umbrella. That's right, an umbrella. Own it and you'll be master of the quickest accelerating production car in the world, and yet you'll probably never remember what that acceleration is like.
First Drive: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport is a temple of Zen
Just like the last time, when we drove the Bugatti Veyron, it began with an e-mail from Bugatti's PR firm: "Give me a call when you have a moment." And then, again, just like the last time, there came the question: "We have a Grand Sport. Can you do something with it?" Let. Me. See.
And that's how we ended up spending a day with the roofless Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport on a reference-resetting trip from Los Angeles to San Diego and back. Although you'll read many words after the jump to describe it, we really only need one word, and we'd draw it out in the same kind of smiling stupor we get when the dentist pumps us full of happy gas: "Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh...."
The Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport is a violent, taunting, confounding and punctiliously engineered maelstrom. It is a handmade wonder built in a castle, and yet resembles a slightly squashed jelly bean. It has a $30,000 stereo, but it's too much work to actually listen to it. The 16-cylinder, quad-turbocharged engine with 1,001 horsepower and 922 lb-ft of torque is programmed not to let you damage it, but in just one afternoon, the leather-trimmed coachwork on the doors will be a mess of shoe marks. The car's brake rotors are chaperoned by 28 brake pistons, but using them forcefully is like begging someone to plow into the aforementioned engine. The car will cost you €1.6 million (roughly $2.24M USD), for which you get, as a soft top, an umbrella. That's right, an umbrella. Own it and you'll be master of the quickest accelerating production car in the world, and yet you'll probably never remember what that acceleration is like.
Pics aplenty: 2010 Audi TT RS is ready for its closeup
Audi has released a plethora of new beautiful photographs of the Audi TT RS Coupe and Roadster, and it just makes us want them to change their mind about bringing the car to the United States even more. After all, what's not to love? The 2.5-liter turbocharged five-cylinder puts out 340 horsepower and 332 lb-ft torque running through a six-speed manual transmission and Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system.
It also comes with other goodies like a stiffer suspension, five-spoke 18-inch wheels, more aggressive exterior styling, Alcantara /leather sports seats, and more. Why wouldn't we want a TT that has all that?
A Pure Driving Machine developing 340 bhp
Audi is once again producing a five-cylinder engine – and a very special one at that. Arriving at dealerships this summer, the TT RS has a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with direct gasoline injection; it produces 250 kW (340 bhp) and 450 Nm (331.90 lb.-ft.) of torque. The blazing five-cylinder engine enables the TT RS to perform extraordinary feats. In conjunction with quattro permanent all-wheel drive and a high-performance chassis, the engine makes the compact Audi TT RS a top-notch sports car – available as a coupé or roadster.
Geneva Motor Show 2009 Preview: Aston Martin DBS Volante the ultimate in alfresco 12-cylinder motoring
Thanks to the embargo-breaking crew at World Car Fans, we can finally give up the details on the 2009 Aston Martin DBS Volante. The drop-top version of Bond's uber-Aston features a fabric roof that can be retracted in 14 seconds at speeds up to 30 mph and supposedly looks just as good with the top up as the top down. Motivation is provided by the same 6.0-liter V12 found in the standard DBS, putting out 510 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque to a rear-mounted six-speed manual or "Touchtronic" sequential gearbox. The run to 62 mph is dispatched in a scant 4.3 seconds on its way to a top speed of 191 mph. Aston says it was able to keep the weight down (the DBS Volante tips the scales at 3,990 pounds) through the use of a lightweight roof mechanism, along with a carbon fiber hood, front splitter and trunk lid. The standard carbon ceramic brakes – pulled directly from the fixed-roof DBS – reduce unsprung weight at all four corners and provide the neck-punishing stopping power you'd expect. We'll get our first look of the DBS Volante at the Geneva Motor Show next week, but in the meantime, get all the details in the press release below the fold.
Give this 550-hp V10 Hartge BMW Z4 a home
Here at Autoblog, we cherish the simple things in life. Like a cold beer on a hot afternoon, spending the holidays with family or stuffing an oversized engine into a little sportscar. It's a time-honored tradition, and this example is no less worthy than any that has come before.
Evidently unsatisfied with the S54B32 inline-six powering the top-of-the-line BMW Z4 M, one European enthusiast dropped in the 5.0-liter V10 from the BMW M5 and M6 into his little BMW Z4. But even the stock 507 horses from the high-revving ten wasn't enough for this Bimmerphile, so he went with Hartge's 550-hp version, complemented by the tuner's own 20-inch rims, but, worryingly, no sign of upgraded brakes to go with the 200+ extra horsepower. The converted roadster cost €170k new, but is now on the market for under €98k (tax in), or about $138,000 in American greenbacks. A hefty sum for sure, but can you really put a price on 0-60 in under 4?
Report: Mercedes Benz considering A-Class roadster for production
The 2009 Mercedes Benz A-Class was revealed earlier this year, and though it received a number of updates, the car is due for a complete redesign sometime in 2011. The next-generation Mercedes Benz A-Class range is expected to feature a number of body styles, but the latest word indicates a roadster could be joining the group as well.
Previous speculation on the next-gen A-Class family had only included mini-SUV, sports-hatch and four-door coupe models. Now a possible roadster, perhaps styled after the SLA Concept, is also thought to be in the works, reports AutoWeek. The car hasn't yet been confirmed, and even if it does make it to production, the car might not make it to North America. Weak sales and small margins could prohibit the car from finding a successful niche given its likely premium placement and pricing.
Lexus confirms 2010 RX SUV, IS Convertible and updated LS for L.A. Auto Show
The Los Angeles Auto Show will play host to the world premiere of the 2010 Lexus RX SUV, with the Japanese luxury brand confirming today that both the new RX 450h hybrid and RX 350 will be on show at next week’s event. You can check out previously leaked images of the 2010 Lexus RX SUVs here, which reveal a longer, wider, and taller model than the current version.
Recently revealed at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, the 2010 IS Convertible will also be making its North American debut in L.A. The IS 250C and IS 350C convertibles feature a lightweight aluminum three-panel roof, which means that they should be heavier and less rigid than their sedan counterparts. The IS 250C will come with a 2.5L 204hp (152kW) V6 engine mated to a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, while the IS 350C gets a 3.5L, 306hp (228kW) V6 with a six-speed automatic.
2008 Paris Motor Show: Ferrari California in the flesh
It's not every day that Ferrari unveils a new sportscar. And when it does, it's almost invariably billed as a successor to the one that came before, or a version of something already on the market. But the Ferrari California is an entirely different beast, expanding the Prancing Horse's line-up into a new segment, and it certainly looks the part when viewed up close. We'll have to reserve our judgment for the time being on the California's driving dynamics, but the Italians promise it'll keep up its end and then some with its new direct-inject, 460-hp version of the company's 4.3L V8. In the meantime, today was a big day for Ferrari, and we've got the pictures to prove it.
2008 BMW 650i Coupe and Convertible Preview
BMW 6 Series fans and enthusiasts will be pleased with the new 2008 650i Coupe and 650i Convertible, since it now comes with the new six-speed Sports Automatic Transmission as well as the six-speed manual transmission.
On the exterior, you can expect the standards like bi-xenon dual round headlights. New color options come in the metallic paint colors of Deep Sea Blue and Space Gray, and other options like the new light-alloy rims give the buyer a chance to enhance the already sporty elegance of the new BMW 6 Series to their liking. Since other car markers have been taking notice of BMW’s style and then subsequently copying it, BMW has given the rear deck lid and spoiler lip a more concave design to give the rear a more distinctive and dynamic look. In the front, the trademark kidney grill has been widened and integrated more with the lower spoiler in order to visually widen the stance of the car.
Inside, look for the new Chrome Pearl Grey Design as a nice finish on some controls and instruments. New colors for trim and upholstery like Saddle Brown will be also be optional. If you don’t like the standard aluminum trim, you can opt for trim made of trained maple wood or dark birch wood for a more elegant look. You can also go with the optional Pearl exclusive leather and add leather to the armrests, door grab handles, and the center console. Standards are the electrically adjustable seats for both driver and passenger as well as the three spots for seat position memory on the driver’s seat.
Journalists have been carping about the iDrive and BMW continues to refine it. The newest iDrive Controller (introduced in the new X5) comes with six programmable memory keys, meaning direct access to your favorite presets, phone numbers, and other features.
Under the hood is the 4.8-liter V8 engine (360hp at 6,300rpm and 360lb-ft of torque at 3,400rpm) that takes you from 0-60 MPH in 5.3 seconds in the manual Coupe and 0-60 MPH in 5.6 seconds in the Convertible. However, for all of you speed demons out there, engine management will shut you off at a top speed of 155 mph in both models. Varioserv steering assistance helps to provide efficient steering support and assistance based on the driver’s needs.
The 6 Series Convertible also comes with the optional, at no extra charge, six-speed Sports Automatic Transmission if you don’t want the six-speed manual. With the Sports Automatic Transmission, you move the lever from drive to the left to activate the manual gearshift mode. This means you can then shift with the paddles on the steering wheel or with the gear selector level. Press the Sports button that is behind the gear selector lever, and the results will be an even faster gear shift change.
Going a little too fast into a turn? BMW ’s Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) can help by applying the brakes to individual wheels as needed or can intervene via the engine management system in order to counteract such instances of over- or under-steer in corners. Automatic Stability Control helps keep the car from spinning on looser or slippery ground, and the Cornering Brake Control and Brake Assist also help the DSC in steering emergencies. For less experienced manual drivers who are still a little nervous about starting on a hill, the Start-Off Assistant will help you start smoothly without the use of the handbrake. It will also keep you from rolling back.
Driving while sleepy and not staying in your lane? The new Lane Departure Warning system will let you know by vibrating the steering wheel if you veer out of your lane. Night Vision will sense people and animals via thermal imaging up to almost 1,000 feet down the road and then show you an image on the central Control Display. These safety features plus the active headrests help insure the safety of the driver and passengers.
Overall, look for the 650i Coupe and Convertible to carry on the BMW legacy of fine Grand Touring abilities and style, while also incorporating touches of luxury.
Other BMW Cars
+ 2007 BMW Alpina B7
+ BMW X5 GETS IT RIGHT: Luxury SUV a big improvement from earlier generation
[source:http://www.roadfly.com/2008-bmw-650i-preview.html]
