Range Rover

The Honda Indy Racing Car project was sponsored by Honda and and the Indy Racing League. The vehicle's designer, Yutian Li, is a graduate of the Transportation Design course at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan. Yutian also holds a bachelors degree in vehicle engineering and a masters in industrial design from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.


The overall shape of the Honda Indy Racing Car was inspired by modern architecture - but more specifically Zaha Hadid's work which is greatly influenced by topological patterns found in nature and has a high degree of fluidity and continuity. Yutian applied this theme to vehicle design by using a combination of blended surfaces, and crossing/overlapping shapes in order to bring a whole new look to the future Indy Car Series.



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In a nutshell, SEMA, in cooperation with Chevrolet, eBay Motors and Hurst Performance Vehicles, announced that it will auction a special pre-production HURST/Camaro prior to the 2009 SEMA Show. The proceeds are to benefit the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund, a program that fosters industry leadership by supporting the education of students pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket.

This very special HURST/Camaro is serial #3 and is the first HURST/Camaro to be offered to the public. This 445 Horsepower beauty is finished in Hurst's best bad-boy colors; brilliant black with honest-to-goodness real painted silver and red stripes. Hurst hardware could pass for art; especially the massive 20" polished forged aluminum HURST T-2 wheels, a Hurst Billet/Plus short-throw shifter with a special red anodized HARD-DRIVE® billet pistol-grip shift handle, a Hurst AIR-SPEED® rear deck spoiler. The Eibach suspension and Magnaflow stainless performance exhaust system deliver more attitude and performance to match the looks of this stellar performance machine. The interior has a personalized HURST/Camaro dash plaque and logo embroidered floor mats. Signatures from the Hurst Executive Team, Linda Vaughn and "Doc" Watson will be on the car and documentation is provided to complete the car's provenance guaranteeing that it is truly one-of-a-kind.


The winning bidder gets:

HURST/CAMARO EQUIPMENT AND FEATURES

* HURST Billet/Plus HARD-DRIVE™ with red anodized aluminum shift handle
* HURST 20" polished forged wheels with black and red center cap "H" logos
* BFG KDW Performance tires
* HURST AIR-SPEED™ Rear Deck Spoiler
* HURST Exterior logo graphics: red and black "H" logos
* HURST Silver and Red body graphics
* HURST/Magnaflow stainless steel exhaust system
* HURST/Eibach Suspension
* HURST embroidered logo Floor mats
* HURST/CAMARO personalized "SEMA Special" interior identification badge
* Certificate of Authenticity confirming that this is serial #3 HURST/Camaro
* Vehicle signatures from the Hurst Executive Team, Linda Vaughn and "Doc" Watson
* HURST logo car cover


SEMA EXPERIENCE FOR TWO INCLUDES:

Two (2) passes to the 2009 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, November 3 - 6
Two (2) passes to the 2009 SEMA Show Banquet on November 5
Two (2) passes to the 2009 SEMA Show eBay Party at the Bellagio on November 4
Two (2) nights at the Las Vegas Hilton during the SEMA Show
An American Airlines flight voucher worth $1000
Transportation to and from the airport, hotel and SEMA Show
Two (2) SEMA Show t-shirts
A photo opportunity with industry celebrity and former spokes model for Hurst Shifter, Linda Vaughn
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Since Audi postponed a number of their new product launches, thanks to the global recession, the RS 5 has had to bide its time and clock up extra test miles. Hopefully that makes it an even sharper road hog than originally planned.


WCF reader Alex Ayats was lucky enough to be driving behind a matt black 2010 Audi RS 5 Coupe out in Barcelona. Some visible features include the two massive tailpipes, a rear diffuser, rear LED lights and low profile tyres. A brief sneak peak through the windows reveals two front sports seats similar to those of the RS 6.


Under the bonnet lurks a rumoured 330kW (449hp) of power from a 4.2-litre V8 engine. It would be placed under the care of quattro AWD and a standard 6-speed manual or a 7-speed R Tronic. As with recent versions of quattro most torque should head rearwards under certain driving conditions.

The RS 5 will debut at an international motor show within the next few months, with first sales scheduled for July 2010.
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The video is certainly a major upgrade from the last batch of videos out of MINI, featuring a creepy yet attractive pair of twins somehow advertising the upcoming MINI Coupe and Roadster, unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.


Mini, celebrating its 50th birthday, has since become a Bavarian company. While the John Cooper Works convertible Messrs. Hopkirk and Aaltonen take for a spin has three times the horsepower of their original race cars and would out-accelerate a Lamborghini Miura, you do wonder whether it could race against more powerful machines like its diminutive predecessor (not).


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The driving performance of the RS6 from MSK is on the level of a high performance sports car. Extreme sportiness was at primary focus during the conversion of the RS6. Hence there was not only the engine power to be increased but also the visual appearance to be improved.


The Audi RS6 from MFK hides the enormous power behind a harmonious series outfit. Huge spoiler and Airbrush finishing you do not get from MFK. Through big vents on the left and right side in the front the athlete sucks enough air for the optimized gearing. After a software change through MFK there are 520 hp at the RS6 command.


The aluminium rims from Schmidt Revolution are called CC-Line "Satin Black". The 3-part rims are size 10,5x20" and have been equipped with extremely big tires. MFK decided for high performance tires from Dunlop size 285/25-20. The wheelset guaranties secure running characteristics at high speed. Responsible for this is the high polished and extreme solid RADINOX outer ring made of stainless steel. Using wide base tires the RS6 rushes toward a targeted point at the horizon as if glued to the street.


In addition MFK offers a subtle sports exhaust system with 100 cells cat and Y-branch pipe for 5.999,00 Euro. Therewith the RS6 from Bad Kreuznach is not just as convenient as a light truck, but fast and fancy.
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This video was on-board a BMW M1 while it was lapping the Silverstone GP circuit. The BMW M1 is being driven by Sean McInerney. The BMW M1 was developed by the German carmaker in collaboration with Lamborghini and was sold to the public between 1978 and 1981 for homologation purposes. The BMW M1 was mid-engine and was powered by a 3.5-liter 6-cylinder gasoline engine developing 273 hp in the street version and 850 hp in a turbocharged version for the track. The company built only 456 BMW M1 units which makes it one of the rarest models of the brand.

Suzuki wanted me to drive the Kizashi so badly they flew me to North Carolina and fed me salt-and-pepper shrimp fried with the shells on and provided me with 1 GB of files on an 8 GB Sony Walkman.


On paper, the new Kizashi isn't overwhelmingly impressive, offering a 2.4-liter DOHC four-cylinder engine putting out 185 HP and 170 lb-ft of torque, good for a 0-60 MPH time of just 7.5 seconds, on par with the Accord EX and faster by 0.7 seconds than the Mazda6. Mileage ranges from, at best, 23/31 MPG with the CVT in FWD configuration and just 20/29 in manual FWD mode with the 17-inch or greater-sized wheels.


In a strange twist, the newest Kizashi attempts to be the best value by mimicking the formula abandoned by most automakers. As sedans like the Camry, Altima and Accord have gained in popularity they've increased in terms of size and decreased in terms of enjoyable driving. Even the Mazda6, once nimble and small, has swollen to giant proportions and shed some of its original appeal. The Kizashi is much smaller, 183.1 inches in length, or about ten inches shorter than a Mazda6.


Features and Equipment

Four grades of interior package treatment are available, with even the base S offering a fair complement of standard equipment, including push button start, sport front seats, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, automatic dual-zone climate control, stability control and eight airbags. The SE adds a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT), larger tires on 17-inch alloy wheels, 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat with 3-position memory, cruise control and leather surfaces on the steering wheel, shift lever and parking brake lever.
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No SEMA show is complete without some classic American muscle and this year's aftermarket gathering in Las Vegas won't disappoint. One of the highlights at Chrysler's Mopar themed stand this year will be the Dodge Challenger 1320, a street-legal version of the Drag Pak Dodge Challenger racer. Named for the 1,320 feet on a quarter-mile drag strip, the modded Challenger features Mopar's 426 cubic-inch HEMI V-8 crate engine that produces an output of 556 HP and 540 lb.-ft. of peak torque.


The HEMI V8 drives the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox through a custom Dynatrac rear housing with Mopar Dana 60 internals and a selectable, ARB locking differential. The Challenger 1320 also gets a four-corner, adjustable coil-over suspension kit from Mopar that is said to improve handling.
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Avid Car Collector and Yenko Enthusiast Recaptures Yenko Magic with Possible New Yenko Models, Fresh Product Lines

Westminster, Calif. – (October 14, 2009) As the 45th Anniversary of the Yenko legacy draws near, General Marketing Capital Incorporated (GMCI) announced today its ownership of the classic trademark and its plans to revitalize the brand.

To jump start this effort, Yenko owner, enthusiast and GMCI CEO Jeff Leonard, is consulting with several notable limited production vehicle companies in the automotive industry on possible new Yenko project cars as well as upcoming Yenko product lines.


GMCI will also launch a brand-new online home for the Yenko brand in the upcoming weeks, where owners and enthusiasts can find information about upcoming cars and products, access historical information about the brand, register to be a part of the site's forums and much more.

"The muscle car era has made a huge comeback this year and we expect this trend to grow," said Leonard. "The Yenko name is very much a part of that magnificent history and we plan to resurge its magic and its historical significance. Through GMCI's efforts, Don Yenko's name will be kept alive with the highest degree of integrity and respect."

Growing up in Detroit in the shadow of the famous Woodward Avenue during the muscle era heyday, Leonard always had a keen interest in Detroit muscle culture. As a muscle car enthusiast and owner of an original 1968 Yenko Camaro, Leonard shares the enthusiasm and excitement of many towards owning a unique piece of Yenko history.


Originally, the 60s era Yenko car was a special order vehicle, available only through Don Yenko Chevrolet in Canonsburg, PA. Don Yenko used the Central Office Production Order (COPO) program, a program GM used for fleet vehicles like police cars, taxi cabs, etc. to special order the most powerful vehicles available.

Yenko modified his first vehicle, the Chevrolet Corvair, in 1965 for the Sports Car Club of America racing team. Yenko later went on to build the Yenko Super Camaro, Yenko Deuce, Yenko Chevelle, Yenko Super Nova, Yenko Vega Stinger and the Yenko Camaro Turbo Z among the fastest SCCA racing cars ever produced.
via:autoblog

Yesterday, we had an opportunity to chat with Chevrolet Volt chief engineer Andrew Farah as he rode through the hills of West Virginia during a development drive. On Tuesday, a fleet of eight pre-production (a.k.a. IVER) Volts set out from the company's Milford Proving Ground in Michigan on three day, 1,200 mile jaunt through Ohio, Pennsylvannia, Maryland, West Virginia and back. This event is known in General Motors' engineering process as a "65-Percent Drive" and as it implies it's one of a series of milestones on the road to production.


The 65% roughly corresponds to the minimum level of completeness of development of all the hardware, and more specifically, the software. At this point, many of the systems are in fact approaching 90-100% complete. Over the next several months, 70, 80, 90 and 100 percent drives will follow on the way to production launch a year from now. Read on to find out what we learned from Farah.
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Here are the pictures that show Audi is on a real charge when it comes to electric sports cars.

This is the preview of the new R4 – a production version of the stunning electric e-tron concept car, revealed at last month’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

The R4 is also likely to spawn petrol-engined versions, giving the R8 a much anticipated smaller brother coupé that sits above the TT in the range.

Wowing crowds with its zero emissions electric powertrain, the e-tron was a big hit at Frankfurt. But only now has Audi of America’s president Johan de Nysschen confirmed the Tesla Roadster rival will reach showrooms.

The project is likely to be helped by Audi’s joint venture with fellow VW Group firm, Porsche, which will see the R4 share a new chassis with the next-generation Boxster and Cayman.


This new sports car range will feature an electric version at the very top of the line-up, with petrol versions underneath.

As you can see from our illustrations, it will look striking. It mixes the compact, squat proportions of the e-tron concept car with amazing design cues such as those LED C-shaped headlights, along with a trademark Audi grille and scalloped sides. Seen here in targa-topped roadster trim, it will also be available as a coupé and a drop-top.

The new flagship will be powered by a development of the e-tron’s electric powertrain. There’s a lithium-ion battery pack with four electric motors, two on each axle, giving it a fresh take on Audi’s quattro four-wheel-drive theme.



These give an output of around 300bhp, as well as an incredible 4,500Nm of torque, delivering instant acceleration with 0-60mph in 4.8 seconds. Top speed is likely to jump from the concept’s 124mph to a more supercar-like 140mph – all with no tailpipe emissions.

As in the concept, the 470kg lithium-ion battery is placed in the middle of the car, where the engine would be. Once fully charged, it promises to deliver a range of about 155 miles.


Drive is biased towards the rear – just like the R8 – and the chassis is a new aluminium spaceframe set-up with plastic body panels to keep weight down to around 1,500kg.

De Nysschen said he expects to see prototypes on the road within two years, so showroom-ready versions could arrive in 2012. That gives Audi time to refine the electric powertrain and decide whether it wants to lease batteries to customers – as Renault is planning – or include them in the price of the car.

Further down the range, the R4 will feature several engines from the current TT line-up, including a 335bhp 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo. It’s likely to arrive within the next two years.
Source:Autoexpress

The McLaren LM5 concept features the same three-seat layout with a central drivers seat as the old F1. All three sports seats have an extremely slim profile to reduce weight and free up interior space, and instead of conventional safety belts all the seats feature racing-style four-point harnesses. The multifunction steering wheel features a central display for the tachometer.

The changes to the Tiguan will be mainly cosmetic, with a redesigned front grille and new bumpers, plus a more pedestrian-friendly reshaped bonnet. As the spy shots reveal, the rear of the Tiguan will remain unchanged.


The Volkswagen Tiguan has only been in production for a little over two years but a facelift for the compact SUV is planned. The changes are designed to bring the styling of the Tiguan in line with the rest of Volkswagen family. Other models getting the same corporate styling treatment include the Phaeton flagship sedan and the next-generation Touareg SUV.


The powertrain lineup will also likely be revitalized, with a range of more fuel-efficient engines introduced in line with more stringent fuel economy and emissions regulations. A hybrid variant may also be introduced, though its release wouldn’t be for several years still and possibly not until the launch of the second-generation of the model.
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With 20 extra horsepower motivating the lightened (by 55 pounds) all-wheel drive coupe, it should be noticeably quicker than its 2009 counterpart. How much quicker? Autocar is reporting that it's a full ten seconds faster around the Nurburgring Nordschleife than a 2009 Porsche 911 Turbo. That means the new Turbo just breaks into the 7:30s at 7m 39sec.


That still puts it behind the rival Nissan GT-R at 7:28 after former Formula One driver, Toshio Suzuki, went out and shaved more than a second off the car's previous best. Of course, Porsche still has a possible Turbo S model in the works and already produces a wicked 911 GT3 RS that can probably close the official gap between them and Godzilla.


With its new-for-2010 direct-injected, 3.8-liter turbocharged flat-six, the upgraded 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo has fired a shot across the bow of the world's supercar armada. Promising better performance, better fuel economy and better emissions, this tweaked 997 should hold the fort until the 998 appears in a couple of years.
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