Friday 29 February 2008

Volkswagen Scirocco



Here are first official pictures of new Scirocco which will be shown in Geneva.

Slovenian policemen drive VW Touareg



Slovenian police buys 25 new VW Touaregs 2.5 TDI .

Thursday 28 February 2008

Alfa Junior will be called Mito





The Mito will be Alfa Romeo’s smallest production car since the Alfasud, measuring slightly smaller in length than the popular Alfa 33 and Alfa 145 models. The Mito will share the same platform as the Fiat Grande Punto although with reworked suspension. Prices in Italy will start at around €15,000 including taxes for the entry-level 95bhp 1.4 petrol model with 5-speed transmission.

The Mito will also be offered with a 1.4 Multiair engine with 105bhp, accompanied with a 6-speed transmission, as well as the turbocharged 1.4 JTB (Multiair with turbocharger) offered in outputs between 135 and 165 bhp. The range-topping model, which could use the GTA badge, will most likely be fitted with a 1.8 Turbo engine producing 230bhp. There will also be a diesel offered, fitted with the excellent new 1.6 JTDM 120bhp unit.

The Alfa Romeo Junior(Mito) is currently in its final testing stages and a dealer presentation will be held 18th-19th March where the final car will be presented.

source: italiaspeed

Hot Rod Legend Boyd Coddington Dies at age 63



Boyd Coddington, a legend in hot rod building, passed away yesterday, at 6h20 am (local time), aged 63. The cause of death has not been disclosed so far. Coddington had been hospitalised twice recently. Reason for this are also not known, but, according to Jalopnik.com, Coddington’s company will soon release an official statement about the founder’s death.

Wednesday 27 February 2008

Tuesday 26 February 2008

Mitsubishi Lancer Prototype-S







Lancer Prototype-S goes into market with a 180kW/ 241 bhp and 343Nm 2.0-litre engine, same as the Evo X’s but weakened to rival the likes of Focus ST, Mazda3 MPS and Astra OPC. The more direct rival of course is the Impreza WRX.
The combination of its 4WD system, as well as the SST twin clutch gearbox should make this a dragster of note in this class of car.

Maserati GranTurismo S



Maserati GranTurismo S will bepowered by a 4.7L V8 engine that produces 440 horsepower, the S uses an electro-actuated gearbox with MC-Shift technology to create an unforgettable driving experience. The gearbox allows the GT S to shift in a one tenth of a second and enables the car to go from 0 to 100km/h in 4.9 seconds.

The GranTurismo S makes use of the high-performance brake system developed in collaboration with Brembo and introduced for the first time in the automotive field on the Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S. The system features front brake discs made with dual-cast technology – a dual casting of cast iron and aluminium, paired with aluminium mono-bloc 6-piston brake callipers, ensuring optimised braking performance.

On the exterior the Maserati GranTurismo S is characterised by a number of aesthetic modifications that, although discrete, are highly effective and make the car body appear sportier without abandoning the sleekness of the lines masterfully designed by Pininfarina.

The interior upholstered in Poltrona Frau leather and Alcantara reflects the sporty flair of the Maserati GranTurismo S; the figure-hugging front and rear seats are distinguished by their new dynamic design with horizontal piping on the seats and seatbacks.

Monday 25 February 2008

Will Army Touareg replace Hummer?






Here are a few pictures of VW Touareg Army edition

Toyota Urban Cruiser SPY PHOTOS






Toyota is now conducting extensive Euro testing on their Urban Cruiser, the small car first revealed in Geneva ’06. Smaller than the RAV-4, the Urban Cruiser is more a Jeep Compass rival than a Cherokee competitor, sitting lower than RAV and smaller as well. These are the first pics of the Urban Cruiser out breathing fresh air, not cooked up in some Japanese lab going through fuel-efficiency tests.


Source: worldcarfans

Friday 22 February 2008

Honda Civic FD2 Mugen RR





Specification:
Chassis: ABA-FD2
Chassis Reinforcement: carbon composite monocoque interior reinforcement
Transmission: 6 Speed manual
Dimension L/W/H: 4570mm/1780mm/ 1420mm
Wheel Base: 2700mm
Engine: K20A
Displacement: 2,152cc
Power: 256hp [191kw] @ 8200rpm
Torque: 173 ft-lb [235 N.M] @ 6000rpm
Brake: Aluminum 6 port Brembo caliper w/ slotted floating rotor (F:340mm/R:300mm)
Cooling Brake Duct: Front
Suspension: In-car adjustable dampers
Wheel: Forge 18x8J w/ 225/40-18 Re070 Tires
Front Seat: Recaro carbon composite semi-bucket seats

Wednesday 20 February 2008

Alfa Romeo GT 170 CV Multijet and Blackline III set for Geneva





The Alfa GT model offers an original style, rich in exciting features and performances. It represents an innovative conception of sporty style, into which comfort and elegance also converge. The best example of this stylistic equilibrium is the model on display in the Geneva showroom: the Special “Blackline III” range, fitted with the powerful 1.9 JTDM with 170 CV and the front self-locking Torsen® (called Q2) system.

The greatest change in this new Alfa GT model is the adoption of a 1.9 JTDM propulsion, which supplies a maximum power of 170 CV (125 kW) at 3.750 rpm and a maximum torque coupling of 330 Nm (33,6 Kgm) at 2.000 rpm, which allows a top speed of 100 km/h in 8,2 seconds. A powerful and progressive engine, which will be available as of next June, and can also be fitted with a anti-particulate filter (DPF).

It's worth noting, that placed on the tunnel is a Sport button, with which you can vary the mapping of the accelerator pedal. You can chose between a more touristy mapping or a sportier one: the latter improves the car's response and renders the drive more exciting.

So much power, therefore, is confirmed by the external design which stands out due to the compact aggressive styling. The car is embellished with aesthetic touches like the 18” alloy wheels, the double chromed exhaust, and the satined effect for mirrors, grills and whiskers. Even in the interior the Alfa GT Serie Speciale “Blackline III” reveals a sporty charisma, as shown by the sporty pedals in aluminium and the serigraphed kick-panel. Furthermore, the black tones characterize the black leather seats with a central perforated insert and Alfa Romeo logo on the headrest, as well as the steering wheel and display panel in leather.

In addition, the model on display is differentiated by the front self-locking Torsen® (called Q2) system, which has all the merits of front-wheel traction, such as heightening the driving ease and pleasure and guaranteeing the advantages typical of an integrated traction. In detail, the system is mated to JTDM with 170 CV, so benefiting of the excellent weight/power ratio, thanks to the use of Common Rail technology. The benefit is also due to the predominant role that diesel motorizations have taken on in the field of sport engines. The “Q2” system combines perfectly the torque specifications and power of the 1.9 JTDM increasing yet further the already excellent performance levels of a vehicle with a normal differential.

This is how it works. The “Q2” system is based on a limited slip differential, the mechanical Torsen type. In particular, this differential has the job of permanently distributing torque between the front wheels in a dynamic manner, depending on the driving conditions and road surface. Mated to the exclusive front wishbone suspension, the system allow a particularly efficient tuning of the vehicle.

SOURCE: ITALIASPEED

Friday 15 February 2008

New Ford Fiesta will debut in Geneva





Ford’s new-generation global small car to be previewed at 2008 Geneva Motor Show. Its worldwide name is confirmed – Ford Fiesta.
New Fiesta is the first product of Ford’s new global product development process, with versions due for launch also in Asia and North America between 2008 and 2010.
European production of new Fiesta begins in fall 2008.

Wednesday 13 February 2008

Toyota Advances Brake Assist with Navigation Link



TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announced that its Brake Assist, which helps apply proper braking power, can now—as a world's first*1—coordinate with a vehicle's navigation system.

TMC's latest Brake Assist engages when a driver suddenly applies the brakes in response to stop-sign-proximity warnings provided by the navigation system through its display screen and aurally. The navigation system is able to provide the warnings by drawing on stop-sign information contained within its map data. The Brake Assist optimally adjusts the braking force based on both vehicle-position information (obtained using a rear-mounted camera) and the actual force with which the driver has applied the brakes. TMC hopes that this new technology, developed in conjunction with Aisin AW CO., Ltd., Zenrin Co., Ltd. and Toyota Mapmaster Incorporated, will help reduce collisions at intersections; it intends to offer it on vehicle models scheduled for launch in Japan in the near future.

The development of the navigation-linked Brake Assist follows TMC's development in June 2007 of the world's first system to employ car navigation-system map data to warn drivers both visually and aurally of stop signs ahead—a system TMC enhanced in September 2007 by adding an aural warning that is activated when the driver does not begin to decelerate upon nearing the stop line.

As a part of its efforts to realize sustainable mobility, TMC intends to strengthen its traffic safety initiatives in the future through: 1) the development of even safer vehicles and technologies based on TMC's Integrated Safety Management Concept*2, 2) participation in the creation of a safe traffic environment and 3) activities designed to educate people in traffic safety, thereby contributing to the complete elimination of traffic casualties, which can be viewed as the ultimate hope of a society that values mobility.

*1. As of January 2008, according to TMC survey.
*2. TMC's safety technology and vehicle development concept, aimed at realizing vehicles that do not cause accidents by combining safety technologies and systems to provide optimal driving support based on actual driving conditions