Smart crash test

Smart-Crash-Test
Uploaded by thezapper

Renault to launch Alpine in 2010

Renault is developing an all-new Alpine sports car, a new report finds. Set to go on sale in the UK in 2010, the Alpine is said to be targeting the Mazda MX-5 and will steer clear of the Nissan 350Z's price point. The new Alpine will likely take some design cues from the 1960's A110.

While it remains unclear if the Alpine name will eventually spread to other models, it will make its comeback as a stand alone model. The model to be released in 2010 is heavily inspired by Renault's racing experience.

The two-seat Alpine is said to be powered by a turbocharged gasoline engine — although output is unknown — mounted mid-ship for optimal handling.

A Renault official confirmed the existence of such a car earlier this year. “We will introduce a small sports car and use our grand prix image to sell it. Formula One has a high level of safety and reliability. We want to produce a road model with the same qualities as our race entry.”

Alfa 147 Ducati Corse

Two versions of the brand-new Alfa 147 Ducati Corse will be on show at Bologna: a Special Series developed from the successful partnership between two great Italian names who have written memorable pages of the history of international racing. Only a limited number of the special series will be produced.

The Alfa 147 Ducati Corse has a new 1.9 JTDM engine (170 bhp) which accelerates from 0-100 kph in just 8 seconds, reaching a top speed of 215 Kph. The powerful 1.9 JTDM 170 bhp engine is paired with the “Q2” system (self-locking front differential) which significantly improves road-holding, traction and stability while reducing understeer during acceleration and intervention of electronic control systems. Specifically, the Torsen “Q2” system is responsible for the continuous dynamic distribution of torque between the front drive wheels, depending on driving conditions and road surface. The self-locking differential combined with the quadrilateral front suspension allows the Alfa 147 to achieve handling performance and road-holding that are among the best in its class.

On the tunnel inside the cockpit there is a sport button which varies the mapping of the accelerator pedal. The driver has the option of a “touristy” mapping or a more sporty configuration which enhances the car’s response and makes for an even more exciting drive.

The exterior of the Alfa 147 Ducati Corse has a lowered suspension and a distinctively “tough” look that combines the stylistic features of Alfa Romeo and Ducati Corse. The body shell comes in three colours: Giulietta red, micalized black and ice white – and on request can be customised with livery to accentuate the car’s dynamic styling. The embossed “Ducati Corse” logo and chrome frame is placed below the indicators and on the rear hatch.

The well-designed customisation is another distinctive feature of the new Alfa 147 Ducati Corse, such as the chromed exhaust, red brake calipers (optional), satin-finished grille and whiskers. Exclusive features on this version are the 18” alloys with specific finish and red edging, reminiscent of the world of road going bikes.

Other signs of the sporting connection can be found inside the car, such as the dark roof, black front dash and pillars, the specially designed seats upholstered in black fabric with red stitching and the Ducati Corse logo on the front head rests. The steering wheel, gear lever sleeve and hand brake cover also feature the red/black colour contrast. Inside the car there is also an aluminium pedal board, aluminium-effect gear lever knob, kick panel with the Ducati Corse logo, instrument panel with red background and the Ducati Corse logo that emphasises the car's sporty character.

The Alfa 147 Ducati Corse, the essence of the best in Italian car manufacturing, will be sold in Italy, the main European markets and also Japan and Australia. It is fitted with a wide range of extras as standard: the dual-zone automatic climate control system, stereo system with CD and mp3 player and controls on the steering wheel, Bose system with amplifier and subwoofer, rear spoiler and VDC system.

Source: italiaspeed

Another Audi R8 Crashed! Driver not wearing seat belt killed.

Very,very sad

Rumor : Nissan Silvia (240SX) Making a Comeback

The Nissan Silvia has been a drifters dream since 1989. Being rear-wheel-drive, light, and easy & cheap to upgrade makes it one of the best cars around for sliding around the track, even today.

Sadly, in Nissan’s quest to become more practical and family-oriented, they discontinued the 240SX in 1998 after only two generations. Fortunately, Nissan has recently been focusing a little bit less on their SUVs and trucks, and starting to make room for some coupes (maybe Larry Dominique - VP of Product Planning at Nissan - took my advice to heart when I wouldn’t leave him alone about coupes at the Chicago Auto Show.The GT-R was recently unveiled, they started selling the beautiful Altima Coupe, made a few modifications to the 350Z, and now…they’re bringing back the Nissan Silvia!

While we’re not too sure of the details, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn and Nissan’s COO Toshiyuki Shiga have supposedly confirmed the 240SX’s return. The legendary front-engined rear-wheel-drive sports coupe is estimated to cost between $18,500 and $23,000 when it’s released as a 2010 model.

I’m hoping we get a turbocharged version of Nissan’s 200 horsepower 2.5L 4-cylinder engine from the Sentra SE-R V-Spec for the power. Nissan: if you’re listening, please stay away from the CVT for this one. Stick with a tuned version of the six-speed manual from the 350Z and offer a standard auto transmission, maybe with manual shift mode

1018-HP Koenigsegg CCXR

Koenigsegg has released some full-on shots of the production CCXR -- probably a new one, and not the 1-of-a-kind CCXR crashed by Top Gear. The biofuel-powered car has a twin supercharged 4.8-liter V8, and will put out 1,018-HP at 7,200 RPM, and you'll get 740 lb-ft of torque out of it.

And if you want to break those numbers down, you'll get from the stoplight to 60 in 2.9 seconds, and the good Swedes claim you can take it past 248 MPH. However, in order to make any use of those numbers you need to first get past this one: €1,575,000, plus taxes and fees, to take it home. Check out the gallery of pics below, and check out the full specs on the car after the jump.

Top 15 most expensive cars by Bussines week

Most expensive cars - Top 15

1. $9.3 million - 1962 Ferrari 330 TRI/LM
2. $5.7 million - 1953 Ferrari 340/375 MM
3. $5.5 million - 1966 Shelby Cobra
4. $4,950,000 - 1959 Ferrari 250 GT
5. $4,510,000 - 1931 Bentley 4_-Liter
6. $4,455,000 - 1959 Ferrari 250 GT
7. $4,400,000 - 1935 Duesenberg SJ
8. $3,740,000 - 1933 Delage D8S
9. $3,564,000 - 1970 Ferrari 512S
10. $3,520,000 - 1884 DeDion, Bouton et Trepardoux
11. $3,267,000 - 1966 Ferrari 206 SP Dino
12. $3,118,500 - 1953 Ferrari 340 MM
13. $2,970,000 - 1912 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Double Pullman
14. $2,821,500 - 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Competizione
15. $2,819,000 - 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Corto

Victorious azzuri coach Roberto Donadoni collects a 500

At the Centro Sportivo Milanello Fiat has delivered a 500 to the Italian national football coach Roberto Donadoni in celebration of the Azzurri's qualification for next summer's European Soccer Championships which came last weekend following a hard-fought win away in Scotland. Donadoni's 500 is a 100 CV 1.4 16v Sport version.

Italy's qualification for next year's European Championships came last Saturday thanks to the will and determination of a united group of football players, a real team that knew what they wanted. A team that won for the first time in Scotland, that made practically no mistakes; with the coach Donadoni making all the right substitutions at the right time; with Toni scoring the 1-0 goal after one minute and ten seconds and with Panucci scoring the 2-1 goal, scoring the goal of a lifetime.

Source: italiaspeed

Toyota Sequoia

Toyota's redesigned Sequoia full-sized SUV rides on a new chassis and fresh looks inside and out.

Joining the 4.7-liter, 276-hp V8 and five-speed automatic transmission combo is the 5.7-liter, 381-hp V8 also found in the Tundra pickup, with a six-speed automatic gearbox. The six-speed's torque converter allows for lock-up in fourth, fifth and sixth gears. A tow package with rear axle 4.3:1 ratio that replaces the standard 3.909:1 enables the Sequoia to tow 10,000 pounds.

Four-wheel-drive variants have a two-speed transfer case with a lockable limited-slip differential. Both front and rear differentials are larger and stronger than their predecessors.

Toyota promises the new Sequoia has improved ride quality, handling and stability thanks to a new suspension. An adjustable air suspension package and active variable suspension is also available. Larger 18-inch tires are now standard with 20-inch units available.

Spied: Audi A4 allroad

Audi A4 allroad is the all terrain version of new Audi compact sedan. The car looks really tough, with full plastic protection kit and off road suspension.

Probably Audi A4 allroad will hit the market only with the upcoming Avant version: this A4 allroad sedan should be only a test mule. Engines and transmission will be the same seen on new Audi A4 four door, but suspension may have electronic variable suspension like in the "bigger sister" Audi A6 allroad quattro.

Source: infomotori

Ford Kuga

We got our first look at the Ford Kuga in concept form at September's Frankfurt Motor Show and it looks like the production model won't be straying very far, stylewise. The Kuga should land in European Ford dealerships in spring 2008 powered by a variety of engines, including Ford's latest 2.0L turbodiesel. With the Escape bearing much more of a resemblance to Ford's truck lineup, if the team in Dearborn really wants the Mercury Mariner to be more upscale they would bring this design over as its replacement. Hell, just make this the new Escape and forget about Mercury. The Kuga will probably debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March alongside the Fiesta/Verve.

[Source: The Hollywood Extra]

Ford’s new Fiesta family

The wait is over... it’s the new Ford Fiesta – at the double! Our spies caught both three and five-door versions of the sleek new hatch being put through their paces for the first time. And they confirm how close the roadgoing car will be to Ford’s Verve concept, which debuted at the Frank­furt Motor Show earlier this year.

As you can see, its distinctive features include new Mondeo-style head­lamps and a large lower air intake, complete with chrome trim.

The sporty three-door also hints at the look of the hot ST model. Bigger alloy wheels, a rear spoiler and heavily profiled door sills help to provide it with a truly purposeful stance.

Inside, the Fiesta replacement will use high-quality soft-touch plastics, while a stylish layout sets it apart from rival superminis. Hi-tech features include a panoramic glass sunroof and the firm’s new Sync system. This has been developed with computer giant Microsoft. It will provide user-friendly connectivity for MP3 players and Bluetooth mobile phones.

However, uncertainty still hangs over the name of the new hatchback. Only last week, Auto Express reported on how the Fiesta badge was set to continue. But a spokesman for the blue oval denied the Verve name had been completely ruled out. “We haven’t decided yet – the jury is still out,” he claimed.

The all-new model shares its platform with the Mazda 2, which looks set to provide Ford’s supermini with some stiff in-house competition. The lightweight Mazda has already proved a big hit, but the Fiesta is expected to be even better to drive.

Ford has forged a reputation for producing vehicles with sparkling dynamics, and the new model is set to raise the standard. The firm’s engineers have tuned the car’s suspension to provide sharper handling and agility than the current Fiesta. The supermini will also be the first in a new generation of lightweight models.

Ford boss Allan Mulally spelled out the company’s plans to reduce the weight of future models at the Los Angeles Motor Show last week. The strategy will help the firm lower vehicle emissions across the line-up. And from 2012 to 2020, Ford aims to cut bet­ween 125kg and 375kg from its cars without compromising safety.

Renault Koleos

The Renault Koleos is a compact SUV which was first presented as a concept car at the 2006 Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris. Production is expected to start in 2008, and will also be performed by Renault subsidiary Samsung Motors in South Korea, as the Renault Samsung QMX.

Renault has some experience in the SUV market, after selling the Scénic RX4 and the Kangoo, but it has never produced a true SUV. A Koleos concept car was shown in the media as long ago as February 2000.
The Koleos's body design is based on the Renault Koleos and Renault Egeus concept cars. The engines selected for the Koleos haven’t been used in any car, but will be used in the Clio and Laguna. Some of the Koleos's future competitors like the Citroën C-Crosser and the Peugeot 4007 will also be presented by this time

Honda Fit named Japanese Car of the Year

The second-generation Honda Fit (a.k.a. Jazz in some markets outside the U.S.) has been named Japan's Car of the Year. Reuters reports that the little Honda hatchback beat out such heavyweights as the new Nissan Skyline (a.k.a. Infiniti G37 in the U.S.) and the new Subaru Impreza. Chosen by a 60-member panel comprised mainly of automotive journalists, the Car of the Year award in Japan has gone to Honda five times in the last 10 years. Last year's winner was the new Lexus LS sedan. You can check out the entire list of past winners here on Wikipedia. While we in the U.S. aren't able to purchase the new Fit yet, it's on sale in Japan and flying off the lot. Expected to sell around 12,000 units per month initially, Honda sold more than 20,000 in the car's first two weeks of availability. The new Fit's larger size and smoother looks should help it find a few more buyers in the U.S. as well when it goes on sale sometime next yea

Online voters name upcoming Alfa hatch "Furiosa"

Furiosa. That's what the new hatchback from Alfa Romeo will be called, by virtue of an international competition to choose the car's name.

The Italian automaker is getting farther away from the Alfa-numeric (pun intended) nomenclature and giving its models more emotive nameplates instead. The web contest offered online voters a choice of twelve names, and Furiosa got the most votes, beating out Agea, Enos, Everson, Fira, Milo, Mod, Nevo, Solea, Sparvo, Velvetta and Ventura. While some proposals had merit, some of the rejected names were a little cheesy (try to figure out which).

So we can stop calling it the Alfa Junior. The Furiosa is anticipated to make its debut at the Geneva show in March.

Fiat 500 officialy announced as CAR OF THE YEAR 2008

The international jury presiding over the Car of the Year award, made up of 58 specialist journalists from 22 European countries, has elected the Fiat 500 Car of the Year 2008 with 385 votes, ahead of the Mazda 2 (325 votes) and the Ford Mondeo (202).
In addition to winning the Car of the Year 2008 award outright, the super-compact Fiat distinguished itself by obtaining votes from most members of the jury: 57 out of 58 included it in their short-list, and 33 made it top in their personal rankings.

VIDEO: Nissan GT-R Gran Turismo in action

Online Videos by Veoh.com

Stoner tries out Alfa 8C Competizione at Balocco

Newly crowned MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner swapped his usual two wheels for four today as he got behind the wheel of the breathtaking Alfa 8C Competizione for a high speed test session around Alfa Romeo's private proving ground at Balocco.

The young Australian sensationally rode to the 2007 MotoGP title on a Ducati Desmosedici GP7 during his first season with the Italian factory team. Alfa Romeo meanwhile has been an 'Official Sponsor' of Ducati Corse in 2006 and 2007 (the MotoGP bikes carry Alfa Romeo decals and the carmaker supplies cars to the team), while Stoner himself drives an Alfa Brera 3.2 V6 which he recently collected from the Mirafiori Motor Village in Turin.

Stoner spent some time testing the sensational 4.7-litre V8 engined sportscar around the high speed straights and very demanding curves of Alfa Romeo's historic private test track at Balocco. He declared himself highly impressed by the Alfa Centre Stile-designed car which was styled to evoke memories of legendary Alfa Romeo cars: "Indeed extraordinary," he enthused. "The Alfa 8C Competition is the best automobile that I have ever tried."

First shown in concept form to rave reviews at the Frankfurt IAA in 2003, just 500 units of the Alfa 8C Competizione are now being built. The surprise announcement was made last summer and it was shown in final production format at the Paris Motor Show just over a year ago. The car's new 4691cc 90 degree V8 engine develops 450 CV at 7,000 rpm and 470 Nm of torque at 4,750 rpm and is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. It is being built at the Maserati factory in Modena.

Suzuki Makai

Concurrent with the arrival of the 2008 SX4 Sport production vehicle, Suzuki further expands its highly popular and media-acclaimed Suzuki LIVE Series (LIFE VEHICLES) – a line of brand-dedicated concept vehicles specially designed for life enthusiasts, adventurers and thrill-seekers.
With spirited colors and a playful design, Suzuki’s newest LIVE Series offering, the Makai concept, is based on the all-new 2008 SX4 Sport and has a dedicated open-car bodystyle for breezy fun-in-the-sun motoring – the perfect ingredient for an exhilarating driving experience. Fabricated and painted by Andry Specialty Vehicles of Torrance, Calif., the Makai’s potential is fully realized with its comprehensive list of imaginative, high-style features.

From the ground up, its large 19-inch CEC wheels, wide Michelin Pilot sport tires, four-wheel disc brakes with drilled and slotted rotors and Rotora calipers further enhance the Makai’s wide, aggressive stance. Adorned with multi-step sunset orange paint, custom body kit, styled exhaust, and LED taillights and running lamps, the Makai’s exterior is sure to turn curious heads.

Beachgoers and surf aficionados will enjoy the ride to the beach just as much as the beach itself with Makai’s custom surfboard mounting rack and dual matching sunset orange trimmed boards. A shaved windscreen and targa rear hoop further enhances the Makai’s sporty open-air look.

The Makai’s al fresco cabin is complete with custom interior components, including ventilated, suspended seats in all four positions, high output, beach party-themed VeaLink audio system with MTX speakers and components, dashboard-integrated Garmin® navigation system, Kinetik Power Cell battery, StreetWires audio/video install kit and cabling, Momo Sport steering wheel and color-keyed interior accent lighting.

Porsche 997 GT3 RS named 2007 EVO Car of the Year

EVO magazine has picked its Car of the Year Winner: the Porsche GT3 RS, which we're going to call The Orange Crush from now on. It only just beat out the Ferrari F430 Scuderia, and had only slightly more breathing between it and the third place Audi R8. Looking at the entire top ten list, two race-cars-for-the-street beat eight other cars with nifty little features like power windows and leather seats, which makes sense, but even cars like the 350Z and Mini Cooper S Works still made it on the list.

However, the most interesting result could be that the Honda Civic Type R came in sixth... one spot ahead of the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera. We have no idea what their exact criteria was, not having read the article, but it appears that at EVO, raging bulls should be a little more ... civic.

Nissan Murano

Here are two pictures of Nissan Murano which sales are set to start in early 2008 and the new Murano will be offered in front- and all-wheel-drive versions both of which will be equipped with Nissan’s 265 Hp, 3.5-liter V-6 and a continuously variable transmission.

2008 Toyota Land Cruiser

Here are some pictures of upcoming Land Cruiser

Alfa 159 GTA Spy Photos

Chunky alloy wheels and a revised front bumper pick the newcomer out from lesser models.

Its larger grille improves air flow to keep the uprated engine and brakes cool, while wire mesh gives it a more purposeful look. At the back, changes include a revised rear bumper, which houses four tell-tale exhaust pipes. They're likely to be fed off a tweaked version of the brand's 260bhp 3.2-litre V6 engine. With more power on tap, the GTA should storm from 0 to 100 km/h in six seconds.

Toyota Corolla Matrix

The new Matrix will arrive in showrooms early next year in three different versions: Standard, S and XRS. All come with front-wheel drive, but the S versions can also be ordered with all-wheel drive.

Two different engines will be offered. The first is a 132-horsepower, 1.8-liter four with 128 pound-feet of torque. Toyota estimates that with the standard five-speed manual, it will deliver 26/32 mpg. With a four-speed automatic, that drops to 25/31 mpg.The uplevel engine is a 2.4-liter four with variable valve timing and 158 horsepower

Standard safety equipment on all Matrix wagons includes dual front, side, and curtain airbags, along with active headrests and anti-lock brakes. Stability and traction control is standard on the top XRS model, optional on the other version