Range Rover

Delta Motorsport, a British electric car company, has announced today that it enters the its Delta E4 Coupe in the Automotive X-PRIZE competition. The competition aims to find the most environmentally friendly car on the planet and the prize is $10m. To win the Delta E4 Coupe needs to get a range of 200 miles between charges and various other tests involving braking distances and usability. The Delta E4 Coupe also has to be ready to be mass produced.

The Delta E4 Coupe is a four-seater road car with zero emissions that can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 5 seconds. This is pretty serious performance. The top speed of the Delta E4 Coupe is over 100 mph.


Source:zercustoms



Press Release:


Delta Motorsport is the only all-British company and the only European contender in a competition to find the most environmentally friendly car on the planet. The Automotive

X-PRIZE competition has a $10m prize fund courtesy of American car insurance company, Progressive Insurance, and consequently the criteria for successful vehicles are tough. Electric cars, such as the E4 Coupe entered by Delta Motorsport, must be capable of 200 miles between charges and there will be tests of braking distances and usability. Crucially, the winning vehicle should be ready to be mass produced.

Delta Motorsport, based on the Silverstone Circuit Technology Park in Northamptonshire, has considerable experience in high technology engineering, motorsport and clean technology projects. It was founded in 2005 by Simon Dowson and Nick Carpenter – each of whom brought extensive automotive and motorsport design and engineering knowledge to the business.

Dowson says: "We became involved with the design of environmentally friendly vehicles because they share many of the engineering challenges associated with motorsport – maximum efficiency, light weight, good aerodynamics and so on. We worked with Oxford University on a lightweight, highly efficient electric motor and have completed several road haulage aerodynamic programmes to improve fuel efficiency."

With the E4 Coupe, Delta Motorsport has applied innovative thinking to the design and manufacture of a zero emission four-seater road car. Unlike most other electric vehicles, the performance of the E4 Coupe matches that of conventional cars. It accelerates from zero to 60mph in under five seconds (comparable to a Porsche 911 Turbo) and has a maximum speed well in excess of 100mph.

The first example will be completed in April and has been made possible by support from the East Midlands Development Agency with a grant for research and development of £235,000. When Delta Motorsport was invited to a reception at 10 Downing Street as one of 100 companies embracing the low carbon economy, Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, said: "Our transition to a low carbon economy will be a key driver of our future economic prosperity. Delta Motorsport is at theforefront of this transformation. Their innovation and expertise demonstrates why the UK is one of best places in the world for low carbon business."

As an indication of how tough the X-Prize competition is, none of the new generation of energy-efficient cars from major car manufacturers – such as the Ford Escape, Renault ZE or Nissan Leaf – will meet the criteria. This may explain why none of the original 41 teams and businesses entered are multi-nationals.

Nick Carpenter says: "Although there are some advantages in being part of a big company, there are many substantial disadvantages and large businesses just don't have the flexibility to get on and complete a project in a short timescale."

Indeed, Delta Motorsport will take the E4 Coupe from CAD screen to production in just 3 months. The design judging rounds of the X-prize competition have taken place and the Delta Motorsport E4 Coupe is one of the 28 entries which will take part in the safety inspections and dynamic evaluations at Michigan International Speedway at the end of April.

Further X-prize events will follow through the summer with entries being eliminated at each stage. The winners will be announced in September on the lawn of The White House, Washington D.C

The car will be unveiled to the UK media in May. Both Simon and Nick are available for interview.

If you would like to register to receive further information, media launch invitations and test drives, please contact Eventageous PR Ltd.

Cargraphic has revealed a tuning package for the Porsche Panamera Turbo that takes this five-door GT from a standard 368 kW (500 PS / 493 bhp) up to 405kW (550 PS / 542 bhp). Extra power was attained through a DME control unit and two sport air filters that allow more air for the turbo to use.


The tuner has kept Porsche's 7-speed PDK transmission and it places this power well on the road through the AWD system. Cargraphic says the car will go from 0 - 100km/h in under four seconds. We can't help but wonder if a possible official Panamera Turbo S would offer similar figures.


Personalisation options include the wheels which start with the 19-inch IS-ONE type and go up to 22-inch forged wheels. They can even let buyers choose what colour these rims can be.
The kit is priced at €1,495 (US$2,045) including VAT.

via:world car fans


Press Release

Panamera Power-Pack

Cargraphic has already produced an increase in power to 550 hp for the turbo version of the four-door Porsche.

With its 4.8-litre V8 engine, the new Porsche Panamera offers enormous potential for power. However, even the turbo version reaches its limits at 368 kW/500 hp. But the Porsche specialists of Cargraphic in Germany are now showing what they're made of by achieving a ten per cent power upgrade.

With 404 kW/550 hp and a torque plus of 75 Nm, the acceleration is now just below the four-second mark. Even the speedometer needle gets a slight boost at top speed right around the 300 km/h mark. Thanks to the standard all-wheel drive and the efficient 7-speed PDK transmission, the extra power can be found exactly where it belongs: on the road.

Along with a DME control unit, the Cargraphic power kit includes a pair of sport air filters to allow the oxygen-hungry turbo to "breathe" even better. The price for the effective "speed package" developed in Landau is 1,495 euros (plus VAT). To make the special status of the Cargraphic Panamera even more prominent, the traditional company with a 25-year history can also happily provide various sets of attractive alloy wheels. There is something to suit all tastes and standards, ranging from the sporty 19" IS-ONE flow-forming wheel to the extravagant three-piece 22" GT, GT-R and I-10 forged wheels. This lets the customer really show their true colours - especially as they are free to choose the paintwork of their aluminium rims.

South Africa-based Optimal Energy has unveiled the all-electric Joule at the Geneva Motor Show.

The plug-in, zero-emission vehicle was first unveiled at the 2008 Paris Auto Show but missed its initial market launch deadline of 2010, with the date now set as early 2013.


Hand-built by Hi-Tech Automotive, the display vehicle is just one of 100 prototypes which will be made for testing, development, and marketing purposes. When the car enters full-scale production in late 2012, parts will be supplied by Germany's EDAG and South Korea's Energy Innovation Group (they will supply the batteries).


According to company CEO Kobus Meiring, "Optimal Energy is capitalizing on South Africa's technological prowess, its track record of building premium cars for the export market, the current sea change in transport technology brought about by climate change, pollution and energy security issues, and the immense progress in battery technology. Interest in Joule has been enormous both at a local and international level. Current market conditions are slowing down the traditional manufacturers' efforts while the market - especially for clean vehicles - is predicted to be in a strong upward swing from 2012 onwards."


Specifications include a high strength steel chassis, a regenerative braking system, and a 36 kWh tractio battery. The latter powers a transversely-mounted synchronous electric motor with 75 kW (101 hp / 102 PS) and 280 Nm (207 lb-ft) of torque. Connected to a single-speed reduction gearbox, the motor enables the Joule to accelerate from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in less than 15 seconds and hit a top speed of 135 km/h (84 mph). While it's not fast, the Joule will have a maximum range of 230 km (143 miles) based on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) or 300 km (186 miles) using the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS). When the battery is drained, owners simply plug the car into a single-phase 230v / 16A outlet.

via:world car fans

Press Release

JOULE - BORN ELECTRIC

Refined all-electric Joule debuts at the International Motor Show in Geneva Joule, the revolutionary electric vehicle from South African company Optimal Energy, is on display at the 80th International Motor Show in Geneva in a form tantalisingly close to the planned production version.

Designed by South African?born Keith Helfet, Joule has been developed from a static display model and engineering prototype into a pre-production prototype by Zagato's Total Design Centre, and Joule deservedly forms the centrepiece of a stand at Geneva shared by Optimal Energy and the iconic Milanese design house.

The Optimal Energy-Zagato-Helfet team has made a number of changes to Joule and the car shown in Geneva is somewhat different, especially at the rear, from the version first unveiled in Paris two years ago. This car was hand-built near Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Hi-Tech Automotive, which is responsible for building a marketing and test fleet of approximately 100 vehicles. These will double as research and development units, some of which will be on South African roads by the start of the Soccer World Cup in June.

Joule's mantra is Born Electric. A key strength and differentiator of Optimal Energy is freedom from many of the constraints that affect traditional car companies. As virtually the only automotive manufacturer focused exclusively on electric cars for the mass market, everything Optimal Energy does is directed towards achieving that goal. Not only has this fresh approach led to the creation of a new kind of car, but it will ultimately also lead to a new way of buying a car and a new kind of customer ownership experience.

Full?scale production of Joule will begin at the end of 2012, with cars in showrooms by mid-2013. Key design goals for the finished product include a range of 230 kilometres based on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) or 300km using the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS), integration with existing charging infrastructure, a genuine freeway cruising capability, seating for five, a 4-star NCAP safety rating and a retail price of €24 300 in today's terms.

Optimal Energy has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with EDAG, a German automotive full service supplier, to industrialise the Joule. EDAG has built an outstanding reputation working with many well known carmakers over the past 40 years, and in partnering with EDAG, Optimal Energy is ensuring that the best of German automotive engineering will be integrated into the series production Joule.

Optimal Energy has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Energy Innovation Group (EIG), a South Korean lithium battery cell supplier, to explore the potential of setting up a manufacturing facility in South Africa, for the non?exclusive supply of cells to Optimal Energy. The Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC), as potential investor, is party to this Memorandum. The IDC is currently an investor in Optimal Energy.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) of South Africa has just announced its 2010 - 2013 Industrial Policy Action Plan, in which the commercialisation of South Africa's electric car is specifically addressed. This includes the provision of appropriate support to encourage local manufacture of EV's and related components, infrastructure roll-out for such EV's, creation of testing facilities, provision of demand stimulation mechanisms and public education on the use and benefits of alternative energy source vehicles.

These are major steps towards reaching Optimal Energy's vision of establishing and leading the electric vehicle industry in South Africa and expanding globally.

ABOUT OPTIMAL ENERGY

Optimal Energy is a 21st century mass market automotive company, manufacturing advanced fully-electric cars for global sale. The company is headquartered in Cape Town, South Africa and employs an international team of automotive experts. The company has tackled the future of motoring using a "green fields" approach, harnessing the latest technologies and attracting the best brains in both the automotive and electrical spheres.

Optimal Energy is privately owned, but thanks to its vision for personal transport in the future, it can count both the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC), as well as the Innovation Fund - the technology investment division of the South African Department of Science and Technology - as financial backers. Optimal Energy has mandated a consortium of advisors (International SPC, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Axelcium) to do financial optimisation and capital raising during the industrialisation phase.

The company is led by CEO Kobus Meiring, an expert in building large scale operations at world class standards and a visionary in the field of electric vehicles. Since his establishment of Optimal Energy in 2005, at a time when electric vehicles were not taken seriously, almost every manufacturer has joined the race to bring an electric vehicle to market. Meiring foresaw this trend and deliberately positioned Optimal Energy to be a leader in the race.

"Optimal Energy is capitalising on South Africa's technological prowess, its track record of building premium cars for the export market, the current sea change in transport technology brought about by climate change, pollution and energy security issues, and the immense progress in battery technology," comments Meiring. "Interest in Joule has been enormous both at a local and international level. Current market conditions are slowing down the traditional manufacturers' efforts while the market - especially for clean vehicles - is predicted to be in a strong upward swing from 2012 onwards."

Once production of Joule begins, Meiring estimates that Optimal Energy, which currently employs more than 100 highly-skilled permanent personnel, will increase headcount to around 2 300 employees, while a further 8 000 people will be employed in various related and support industries. "We are in the process of selecting a site for our first assembly and manufacturing plant. The location of the plant will be announced later this year," continues Meiring.

ABOUT JOULE

From the start Joule was conceived as a fully electric vehicle (EV), with all aspects of its design - from the styling to the safety features - reflecting this. Legendary ex-Jaguar stylist Keith Helfet came up with a shape that is a breakthrough in design and practicality yet has a drag coefficient that puts it at the forefront of aerodynamic efficiency. Joule will also boast a list of features that will make it exceptionally user?friendly, including clever packaging, an infotainment system, connectivity and navigation. All of these design features will make Joule the most practical and intelligent car that an urban motorist can own.

Battery
The Joule is powered by a 36 kWh tractio battery. The function of the battery is to provide the energy required to power the electric motor of the Joule. In order to fulfil this function, the battery controller manages the energy transfer during charge, dscharge and regeneration, a process that involves complex monitoring processes as well as sophisticated communication with other vehicle systems.

The traction battery consists of a number of modules, each module containing lithium-ion cells. These cells are at the forefront of battery technology and safety, and have a high specific energy density. This allows the Joule to achieve the desired range without the mass penalty of older technology batteries.

The battery pack is mounted onto battery trays which slot into the vehicle from below and which can be replaced within few minutes. These trays form an integral part of the structure, and their location serves to ensure a low centre of gravity which reflects in the Joule's handling characteristics.

The Joule range is 300 km according to the Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS) and 230 km using the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC).

Brakes
The all?wheel disc braking system provides excellent braking performance, including safety features such as ABS. Joule is also equipped with a regenerative braking system which, during deceleration, converts kinetic energy into electrical energy. This is used to recharge the traction battery, thus extending the range of the vehicle.

The regenerative braking system operates separately from the standard brakes and is actuated when the accelerator pedal is released. This allows virtual "single pedal driving", providing very easy and comfortable control of the car.

Exterior
With its simple, elegant lines and self-assured stance, Joule displays a timeless appeal, which sets it apart from the competition. Styling does not compromise the aerodynamics of the vehicle, and Joule's design is inherently aerodynamically efficient. This allows for maximisation of the vehicle range, especially important at high speeds. An on-going drag reduction program is in place to improve efficiency.

The thermal and reflective properties of the paint and windows are being optimised in order to reduce the energy required to cool and heat the vehicle.

Chassis
The design of the chassis ensures that the vehicle mass is kept to a minimum without compromising crash safety or handling characteristics. This has been achieved by making the battery tray an integral part of the chassis, maintaining stiffness and strength without adding mass.

The judicious use of high strength steels, provided by one of the world's greenest steel producers, also ensures that mass is reduced without sacrificing strength.

Motor
Propulsion is by means of a transversely-mounted synchronous permanent magnet motor providing 75 kW peak power and a peak torque of 280 Nm. The motor drives the front wheels through a 7.4:1 single speed reduction gearbox/differential unit.

Performance is brisk with a 0-60 km/h acceleration time of less than five seconds, 100 km/h coming up in under 15 seconds. Maximum speed is 135 km/h, making Joule perfectly suitable for highway driving.

Powertrain management
A uniquely integrated computer developed from EV?specific architecture controls all Joule's on-board systems and ensures - amongst other things - that the instant torque available on pull?away is properly managed to prevent wheel spin. An integrated, programmable on?board charger ensures that no external charging infrastructure is required and that charging can be synchronised with off-peak electricity.

Suspension
The Joule is essentially a city car, and its suspension and steering system reflect this. It is equipped with an electric power steering and has a turning circle of under 10 metres for exceptional manoeuvrability.

The front McPherson struts, combined with independent rear suspension, delivers a modern design with superior dynamics and handling. Wheels and tyres form an integral part of a vehicle's suspension and low rolling resistance tyres contribute to Joule's efficiency. Custom 16-inch light alloy rims are standard, reducing unsprung mass and contributing significantly to the Joule's handling characteristics.

Seating
The Joule is designed as a five-seater. The two front seats are equipped with adjustment for height, fore/aft and recline. They are separated by a central console which provides armrests and storage space.

The rear seat is moulded with three individual seat positions. The folding backrest allows luggage volume to be progressively increased when necessary, for maximum versatility. Joule has a luggage volume capacity of up to 700 litres, with seating flexibility similar to an MPV.

Solar panel
A photo-voltaic solar panel mounted on Joule's roof will be offered as an option. The energy generated by this panel may be used in various ways, internal environmental control being the most efficient.

Electricity generated in this manner could also be fed back into the traction battery or used to power ancillaries such as daytime running lamps or entertainment systems.

Home charging
The charging system has been designed to be intuitive, automatic and safe, allowing Joule to be simply plugged in and left to charge. Normal charging is from a single-phase 230v / 16A supply to a charge point located on the Joule.

The ability to integrate with existing charging infrastructures is of paramount importance, research is being done on how best to design a system that can integrate with current (and future) systems. Integration with modern "Smart Grid" electrical networks is being investigated, so as to optimise energy usage and provide Joule users with the most cost?effective charging options.

Refinement
Because an EV has minimal mechanical noise, and in Joule's case, almost no wind noise either, the suppression of interior and road noise is of vital importance. This is addressed in various ways, including careful tyre selection and suspension tuning.

Pedestrian safety is vital and Optimal Energy is investigating ways of warning
pedestrians of Joule's approach without generating intrusive noise.

Running costs
Joule is designed for ease of maintenance. With substantially fewer moving parts, there is considerably less wear and tear, and the regenerative braking system also reduces wear on the braking system. Likely service intervals will be 40 000 km or two years, the absence of oil as a lubricant further adding to Joule's environmental credentials while saving money.

With Joule's vehicle control system continuously monitoring the state of health of the vehicle, service information will be regularly downloaded and analysed, allowing a vehicle to be called or scheduled for repair or maintenance before failure occurs.

The design is also being optimised to reduce repair times and costs, as these have a significant effect on insurance costs. Attention is being given especially to the repair of damage sustained during city (low speed) use, as this is the environment where Joule will mostly operate. Not only is the pressed steel body designed to be easily recyclable and repairable, but special attention has been given to the extremities and corners to ensure they are as damage?resistant as possible.

Safety
Safety was paramount in the design of the Joule, and the design goal is a minimum Euro NCAP 4-star rating when it goes on sale. Airbags, ISOFIX child seat attachment points, stability control and anti-lock brakes, features ensuring the safety of the high voltage electrical systems: all are an integral part of the design

By this April the Audi R8 Evolution racing car will have been delivered to 20 teams planning on racing in various national and international racing series during 2010. These include the two 24-hour races at the Nürburgring and at Spa-Francorchamps. Audi has made a lot of changes to the 2009 cars, mostly aimed at making the experience as user-friendly and easy as possible.


"During our evolution project we primarily focused on service life and maintenance-friendliness," said Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "All the experience we gathered last season with the help of our partners has been fed into the evolution-version. We're convinced that we're handing over a reliable and easy to handle vehicle to our customers that embodies the high quality standards of the Audi brand."

Certain details of the chassis and suspension have been revised. The capacity of the engine’s cooling system has been improved even further so that the R8 LMS can also be used in extreme ambient temperatures without any problems. The complex electronics as well as the exhaust system have been optimized for use in racing. The newly developed six-speed racing transmission is particularly maintenance-friendly. It allows wearing parts to be inspected through an opening in the housing. The transmission does not have to be dismantled for this purpose.

United Autosports, an American-owned team based in Yorkshire, England, was the first to receive its two cars. The 2010 cars have already been sold out. Teams paid €298,000 per unit including VAT.
via:oneighturbo

Press Release

With the delivery of the first customer cars, Audi AG’S GT3 customer sport programme has reached the next phase. By mid-April, 20 Audi R8 LMS vehicles will have been handed over to the teams that are planning to run the GT3 race sportscar in various national and international racing series and in the two 24-hour races at the Nürburgring and at Spa-Francorchamps in the 2010 season.

After its successful 2009 debut year in which Audi Sport partners clinched three championship titles and 23 victories in 76 racing commitments, the Audi R8 LMS will now be handed over to customers for its second season, as planned. Last week, the American-owned United Autosports team that operates out of Yorkshire in England, was the first team to receive its two R8 LMS cars.

To offer customer teams a perfect a race car as possible, Audi Sport is making use of the opportunity offered by the GT3 regulations and will obtain FIA homologation of an evolution-version of the R8 LMS which features numerous technical improvements compared with last year’s model. The previous vehicles will be brought up to the current level by an update kit and teams can thus continue to run them.

"During our evolution project we primarily focused on service life and maintenance-friendliness," explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "All the experience we gathered last season with the help of our partners has been fed into the evolution-version. We’re convinced that we’re handing over a reliable and easy to handle vehicle to our customers that embodies the high quality standards of the Audi brand."

Certain details of the chassis and suspension have been revised. The capacity of the engine’s cooling system has been improved even further so that the R8 LMS can also be used in extreme ambient temperatures without any problems. The complex electronics as well as the exhaust system have been optimized for use in racing. The newly developed six-speed racing transmission is particularly maintenance-friendly. It allows wearing parts to be inspected through an opening in the housing. The transmission does not have to be dismantled for this purpose.

Over the past few months the evolution-version of the Audi R8 LMS was extensively tested on various race tracks and rigs and its durability proved in several endurance tests.

The final version of the Audi R8 LMS is available at a price of 298,000 Euros plus VAT. The annual production for 2010 is already sold out. The delivery of vehicles for the 2011 season will start at the end of this year.

Teams fielding the Audi R8 LMS in the 2010 season

ABT Sportsline (D): ADAC GT Masters, Nürburgring 24 Hours, VLN *
Audi race experience Team Joest (D): VLN *
Audi Sport Italia (I): Italian GT Championship
Black Falcon (D): VLN, 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, FIA European
GT3 Championship
Brinkmann Racing (D): International GT Open
Mark Eddy (AUS): Australian GT Championship **
ORECA (F): French GT Championship
Phoenix Racing (D): VLN, International GT Open, Nürburgring 24 Hours, Spa 24 Hours
Team Rosberg (D): ADAC GT Masters, FIA European GT3 Championship
United Autosports (USA/GB): FIA European GT3 Championship,
Spa 24 Hours, British GT Championship *
W Racing Team (B): Belcar, French GT Championship

Other teams in preparation

* Sporadic commitments
** 2009-spec R8 LMS

If you need further proof that the hybrid craze is sweeping across the automotive industry, consider that even Ferrari is planning to offer hybrid versions across its entire range of supercars within the next three to four years.

The announcement was made by Ferrari's chairman Luca di Montezemolo during the media presentation of the 'green' 599 GTB Fiorano Hybrid at this week's Geneva Motor Show.





more detail. ...

Saab Cars North America Announces Pricing on 2010 Model Year 9-3 Vehicles

- Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Prices reduced on all 2010 model year 9-3 variants - 2010 model year vehicles to begin arriving in showrooms Mid-March

DETROIT, March 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Saab Cars North America today announced that manufacturer's suggested retail pricing will be reduced for all 2010 model year 9-3 vehicles. These are the first 2010 model year Saab vehicles produced for the US market and closely follow the recent acquisition of Saab Automobile AB by Spyker Cars NV.

An exciting line-up of model year 2010 vehicles will arrive during the next few weeks to dealer showrooms across the United States. The manufacturer's suggested retail price for every 2010 model year 9-3 variant has been reduced anywhere from 4 to 12 percent compared to model year 2009.

"This pricing action allows Saab to be in-line with the market and maintains accessibility of Saab's rich Swedish heritage, innovation and responsible performance for our many loyal owners, enthusiasts and potential new customers," said Mike Colleran, President and COO, Saab Cars North America.


Topping the list for 2010 is an all-new 9-3X premium cross-over model. Powered by Saab's 2.0 liter turbocharged engine and available with either a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission, the 9-3X offers sporty performance without the typical penalty of high fuel consumption. The EPA fuel economy figures for the 9-3X are 20 mpg city/29 mpg highway for the manual transmission and 17 mpg city/27 mpg highway for the automatic transmission. Add in the standard cross-wheel drive (XWD) with electronic limited slip differential (eLSD) and raised chassis, the 9-3X delivers an all-road driving experience you can take with you no matter where your road leads. The 9-3X starts at $37,800 MSRP. All MSRP pricing includes destination and freight charges.

The 9-3 Sport Sedan is available in two trim levels, 2.0T and Aero, and both can be specified with either front wheel drive or with Saab's Cross-Wheel Drive (XWD) system. Sport Sedan starting prices range from $29,725 MSRP for the 2.0T to $38,940 MSRP for the Aero model. Both cars offer a host of standard equipment with the Aero adding sport-focused features such as 17" alloy wheels, more aggressive front fascia, interior trim with two-tone leather seats, thicker sport steering wheel, a sport tuned chassis, and dual bright exhaust tailpipes. OnStar with Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity is available on 2.0T models and comes standard on the Aero. A Bose six-CD audio system and XM Satellite Radio are also standard Aero content. Memory driver seat and rear park assist are available on Aero models in the optional Premium Package.


The 9-3 SportCombi offers a sedan-like driving experience with the added cargo carrying flexibility so many drivers desire. Standard equipment and available options on the front-wheel drive SportCombi are the same as the 9-3 Sport Sedan. SportCombi starting prices range from $31,155 MSRP for the 2.0T to $37,845 MSRP for the Aero model.

The stylish 9-3 Convertible model prices range from $40,815 MSRP for the 2.0T to $46,730 MSRP for the Aero. The convertible offers a special edition package with leather steering wheel, Xenon headlamps and XM Satellite Radio for $695.

Exciting new colors, including glacier silver metallic and arctic white, are available for all body styles.

"Saab Cars North America is committed to bringing customers options they need to enhance their active lifestyles by providing appealing design, sporty driving attributes, reliability and safety--all at an affordable price," said Colleran.

For more information and a listing of Saab dealerships, please visit the website: www.saabusa.com.

About Saab: Saab entered the auto business in 1949 with the first model 92. Its aerodynamic shape and advanced technology drew from the company's roots as an aircraft maker, and helped create what was to become a loyal and passionate customer base. GM acquired a 50 percent stake in Saab in 1990, and acquired the balance of Saab in 2000. As part of its strategy to focus on its four strongest brands in the U.S., GM began seeking a buyer for Saab in January 2009, a concerted effort that led to Spyker Cars NV purchasing Saab Automobile AB from General Motors on February 23, 2010.
Source:Saab;Photos autoblog

Last week in The Wall Street Journal, writer Ben Austen publised an article in which he ruminates on why no one appears to be racing the Detroit Three's neo-muscle offerings - the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger. That the piece succeeds overwhelmingly at, however, is highlighting the myopia of America's mainstream press when it comes to motorsports. Many people in media seem to be completely unaware that there are forms of automotive competition other than NASCAR, because the cars the WSJ article focuses on most assuredly are involved in active competition.

NASCAR may be the big dog in terms of the number of races, sponsor participation, and even people at the track. But by no means is anything about modern stock car racing in any way relevant. A more important question might be why automakers continue pour hundreds of millions of dollars into NASCAR every year, but we'll leave that for another day.


All three of the current crop of pony cars compete in a wide variety of racing, from drags to ovals and road courses. Ford in particular has offered turnkey Mustang race cars for several years, and they've been very successful in a number of classes, including the NASCAR-owned Grand-Am series. In fact, fans watching the 2010 Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge will see Mustangs, Camaros, and at least one Dodge Challenger slugging it out on a regular basis.


Pratt & Miller racing currently runs a program in which it converts Grand-Am Pontiac GXP.Rs to Camaro bodies. Dodge Challengers can be found at many drag strips (along with innumerable Mustangs and Camaros). And let's not forget that NASCAR is running Challenger- and Mustang-branded stockers in a few Nationwide Series races this year as part of its own "Car of Tomorrow" program.

Admittedly, it would be nice to see a revival on the level of the old Trans Am series, with all three of these machines running in force, but journalists like Mr. Austen would do well to remove the NASCAR blinders before summarily dismissing the modern pony cars as being absent from today's racing scene. It's just not so.
Source:autoblog

The Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid ESF Safety Prototype made its debut last fall, and we brought you the official details on the car then, but this week TheCarConnection's John Voelcker got to spend some time with the car in the high-tech safety-featured flesh.


One of the most unique aspects of the latest ESF Safety prototype is its heavy use of inflatables--from inflatable door bars, to size-adaptive air bags to our favorite, though it's still years away from production, the "braking bag."


Functioning much like a typical in-cabin airbag, but wrapped in steel and rubber, the braking bag senses an emergency-stop situation and deploys to increase the amount of friction the car applies to the road, and also lifts the front of the car to reduce dive and improve the angle of impact with another car.


Catch the full roundup of the car's safety features over at TheCarConnection.


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