Automotive
Famous coachbuilding name returns with a new spin on mini luxury
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In the Swinging Sixties, the Mini was huge; as a fashion and personal statement by women who had been liberated from centuries of sexual oppression by the pill and as an automobile representing the second coming of the British automotive industry. Forty years ago, London coachbuilder Harold Radford made the original Mini a celebrity icon with his hand-crafted Radford Mini de Ville offering a distinctly up-market version of the diminutive machine - all four of the Beatles had Radford Minis, and Peter Sellers had a personal Radford Mini which was used in the film "The Pink Panther", buying a second one for Britt Ekland. Now Harold Radford Coachbuilders (London) is applying its coachbuilding skills and individual expression to the BMW Mini to create a stunning 265bhp, GBP30,000 version of the Mini Cooper S. Read More
File sharing DRM protection hinders progress of in-car digital audio
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November 29, 2005 Music industry measures to control the use of downloaded material are slowing development of in-car digital audio systems. A new report from leading automotive telematics consultants SBD reveals that Digital Rights Management (DRM) protection, designed to block unauthorised file sharing, can prevent downloaded tracks from being played back through a vehicle’s sound system. “Vehicle manufacturers have started to enable motorists to connect memory cards and USB flash drives to play their own digital music through their car’s audio system, but we expect quite a few are going to be disappointed as the limitations imposed by DRM become apparent,” said David Bell, SBD Managing Director. Read More
Ford 4-trac pick-up concept
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November 28, 2005 Ford has premiered an interesting concept pick-up truck at the Thailand International Motor Expo in Bangkok. The concept, dubbed 4-Trac, is a dynamic package that explores practical functionality, lifestyle and sporty uses for Ford pick-up trucks of the future. The concept takes a typical pick-up truck and adds a lot more sophistication, style and purpose. It’s a workhorse that offers off-road capability, rugged features and durable aluminum surfaces. At the same time, owners will be proud to use it as stylish transport for their active families and leisure time. The rear cargo area features six portable containers – inspired by offshore rescue boats – for carrying a variety of gear, including rescue equipment. Another innovative feature adding to 4-Trac versatility is a rear hatch that enables access from the cargo area directly into the cabin. Read More
BMW wins World Touring Car Championship and spins out a homologation special
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November 25, 2005 BMW won the 2005 FIA World Touring Car Championship for Manufacturers and its driver Andy Priaulx won the Driver’s Championship, securing back to back victories despite an 18-year gap between events - BMW won the first World Touring Car Championship in 1987, with the second (2005) Championship finishing last week in Macau, China. Co-incidental with the Championship wins, BMW has announced a limited edition performance-enhanced 3 Series Sedan to comply with FIA homologation regulations and to promote the 2005 victories and the 2006 efforts. The new BMW 320si Sedan is a limited edition of the 2006 BMW World Touring Car. It boats 127 kW and a host of race-bred features. Only 2,600 will be built. Read More
The world's first widely-available armoured passenger vehicle
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November 24, 2005 Our “Bloody Brilliant” Award for this week goes to Jaguar which has just announced a new Armoured XJ Long Wheelbase luxury saloon car. This is the first widely-available armoured passenger vehicle. The world can be a hostile and dangerous place with hundreds of war zones around the world at any given time, plus many countries where assassination and kidnapping are routine. Despite wars and organized criminal activity, life has to go on, and there are some people who feel the need to be transported in the manner befitting their station in life. An armouring industry has grown up around the 50 wars that are going on in the world, with various degrees of robustness ranging from the Donald Rumsfeld’s preferred choice of the Rhino Runner, to the Combat T-98 Armoured Luxury SUV.
But these vehicle manufacturers are boutique in comparison to the robust distribution network and global marketing resources of Jaguar. Our prediction is that Jaguar’s move will add serious global recognition to the company’s already prestigious brand. Jaguar’s just-announced Armoured XJ Long Wheelbase luxury saloon car is an armoured passenger vehicle with capabilities far beyond the needs of day to day transportation with added security, without compromising the ability of the car. Prices will start from GBP199,000. Read More
New “trybrid” car can run on three different energy sources - gas, electric and alcohol
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January 14, 2005 UPDATED IMAGE LIBRARY Pioneering automotive company ZAP may well be embroiled in a legal battle with Daimler Chrysler’s smart, but it has not slowed the expansion of its fleet of intriguing and economical cars. Amongst the cars which had their first public showing at the recent San Francisco International Auto Show were the WORLDCAR, Obvio! and XEBRA. The three-seater (side-by-side) Brazilian-made Obvio 012 and Obvio 828(main image) look to be the pick of the litter, powered by a Tritec 1.6 litre four cylinder motor (as used in the MINI) using flexible fuel technology that enables the engines to run on gasoline and alcohol or any combination plus an additional electric drive – effectively making it the world’s first “trybrid” automobile that can switch between three energy sources. Both cars bristle with the latest thinking, such as a survival cell, (a la smart), McPherson struts all round, four big disk brakes, an immobile carputer and a CVT (Constantly variable transmission). The engines are available in 115 bhp standard output, with tuned versions available all the way up to a brutal 250 bhp. Mainly constructed of composite materials to enable the lightest possible result (750 kg – the MINI weighs 1150 kg), the 012 looks to have all the ingredients for a top seller, looking great, offering startling performance and ecological cred at a time when we are seeing the "greening" of the American market. Read More
Ferrari design contest winners
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November 23, 2005 The winners of Ferrari's design contest "New Concepts of the Myth" have been announced. Organised by Ferrari in conjunction with Pininfarina to search for tomorrow's car designers, the contest winners have been drawn from three continents. Ferrari head Luca di Montezemolo and Sergio Pininfarina announced the winners of the contest to the 20 finalists whose models have previously been covered by Gizmag – the winning models were the Millechili, Fiorano, Tre Diviso and the Ascari. A complete gallery of all of the contestants can be found here.
The future of motoring - special edition
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November 22, 2005 As astounding as it may seem, given that the automotive industry really didn’t get going until 100 years ago, the world’s oldest car magazine, AutoCar, turns 110 this week. In celebrating its 110-year anniversary, the original car magazine has a special issue focusing on the the future of motoring. Autocar’s investigations suggest that the car could change more in the next 20 years than it has in the last 40. ‘Cars that drive themselves, see, park and avoid accidents would have been unthinkable even 20-years ago, but this technology is not that far from showrooms according to the magazine. The special issue goes on sale today, and will no doubt be a collectors item. Happy birthday to AutoCar. Read More
Limited Edition high performance MINI
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November 21, 2005 MINI boosts output and cuts weight to offer the world a limited edition super performance model dubbed MINI Cooper S with John Cooper Works GP Kit. Producing a feisty 160 kW (up 6 kW on the regular factory John Cooper Works Tuning Kit), the lightweight car was revealed to MINI enthusiasts at a global MINI festival called MINI United, held in Italy this weekend. Just 2,000 copies of this new model will be produced starting from July 2006. Read More
Combination 2-stroke and 4-stroke engine
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November 21, 2005 The 2/4SIGHT engine concept is based on an innovative combustion system combined with advanced valve train and control technologies, enabling automatic switching between two- and four- stroke operation. By matching the control strategy to make best use of the 2/4SIGHT engine’s capabilities, simulation studies have shown that the concept has the potential to deliver up to 30 per cent better fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emissions, compliance with Euro 4 and future emissions standards and attractive driving characteristics, with class leading torque delivery. A detailed 2.0 litre V6 gasoline engine design has now been completed which is intended to deliver levels of performance and driveability more usually associated with 3-4 litre V8. Ricardo and its partners intend to build and test the first concept demonstrator engine in mid 2006.
A new supercar and a new concept in motorsport entertainment
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November 20, 2005 We're not sure which is more significant - the fact that the Ascari KZ1 has proven itself to be a serious contender as one of the world's most desirable supercars, or the company's entrepreneurial move into motorsport entertainment. The Ascari KZ1 recently pushed the McLaren out of the elite top five fastest cars in BBC Top Gear's track tests, moving into exalted company as a supercar. But the company’s ambitions stretch far beyond that, with its Race Resort Ascari due for completion in 2006. Located near Marbella in the South of Spain, the resort will offer a world class racetrack, a luxury hotel, and an array of the world’s most exotic cars to drive – if they haven’t got it, any car you fancy can be arranged. So apart from building an aerodynamic GBP235,000 KZ1 with a super-light, super-strong carbon fibre monocoque car weighing just 1,330kg capable of exhilarating acceleration all the way to 200mph, the company has also created the first automotive resort for the mega wealthy. Big enough to hold a Formula 1 test team or a function with a difference and secluded enough to do it very elegantly. Our understanding is that many more automotive resorts will spring up around the world after this one as the demand for the facilities is already threatening to overwhelm their ability to supply. Read More
The turbocharger turns 100 years old this week
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November 18, 2005 The turbocharger , which has dominated the development of the internal combustion engine for the last 30 years, turned 100 years old this week. On 16 November 1905 Swiss engineer Dr. Alfred Buchi received patent No. 204630 from the Imperial Patent Office of the German Reich for a machine consisting of a compressor (turbine compressor), a piston engine, and a turbine in sequential arrangement. Porsche chose the occassion to introduce its very latest take on the turbocharger, this time with variable turbine geometry (VTG). This extensive article covers the development and major achievements of the turbocharger and the new VTG technology which realises even more efficiency, resulting in a significant improvement of engine flexibility and acceleration particularly at low engine speeds. In introducing the new 911 model some 31 years after it gave us the first series production sports car with an exhaust gas turbocharger (the 1974 Porsche 911 Turbo), Porsche will be presenting the world's first turbocharged gasoline engine with variable turbine geometry (VTG). The core features of VTG are the variable turbine blades guiding the flow of exhaust gas from the engine in exactly the direction required on to the turbine wheel of the exhaust gas turbocharger. The principle of variable turbine geometry thus combines the benefits of a small and large exhaust gas turbocharger all in one, with the combination ensuring both very good response and high torque at low engine speeds as well as superior output and high performance at high speeds. And the supreme level of torque is now maintained consistently throughout a much wider speed range. Read More
Audi names new supercar after R8 racer
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November 17, 2005 Audi has bestowed an extraordinary honour on its new sports car by naming it the R8. Presented at Frankfurt Motor Show two years ago as the “Le Mans quattro” concept, the new Audi sportscar will commence production in Q4, 2006 with a market launch scheduled for Q2, 2007. The mid-engined two-seater is powered by a five-litre V10 ‘biturbo’ engine with FSI direct fuel injection, developing 449 kW (610 bhp) at 6,800 rpm. Whilst it will immediately become one of the most desirable roadgoing cars in the world, it will carry a name of legendary motorsport achievement. Since its introduction in March, 2000, the R8 has won 61 races from 77 startsincluding the Le Mans 24 Hour five times and the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) six times in succession and has never had a single engine failure during a race. Read More
Formula One HANS device inspires Renault’s "Sleep Safe" head restraints
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November 16, 2005 Over the last decade, the chance of surviving a serious crash in the front seats of a car has risen dramatically. So much so, that 70% of adult deaths and injuries are now suffered by those seated in the rear and it's not just adults at risk as more often than not it's children that are traveling in the rear seat. Renault has unveiled several new initiatives to improve rear seat safety, including one inspired by its World Championship winning Formula One team. Read More
Road registerable driving simulator
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November 15, 2005 Major automotive shows are a never-ending source of innovation fodder, as manufacturers manifest the ideas they’ve been working on into concept cars and carefully monitor, segment and learn from the public’s reaction. The SEMA show in Las Vegas seems to go a step further, with some outrageous ideas taking on showroom form though they’re never likely to ever become more than limited edition customs – these cars are designed to showcase capabilities and though they often seem remarkably indulgent, sometimes, they strike a chord and a whole new automotive concept materialises. Such is the case with this open-air, fully-drivable speedster concept from Five Axis and Scion (one of Toyota’s spin-off brands). It is a drivable driving simulator. Drive it somewhere, flip the hood, which hinges forward to create a screen, then light up the headrest mounted Casio XJ-560 video projector to create a two-seat video game peripheral for the car’s internal Microsoft XBOX 360 video game system. More than two drivers can be accommodated as the perspex nacelles behind the headrests pop open to reveal two 19” Samsung LCD screens. Last year at SEMA, the same folks created the xB mobile DJ vehicle. Manufacturers have been circling the entertainment on wheels concept for several years, with another notable concept being Honda's Fuya Jo. Read More
SAAB launches 9-5 BioPower flex-fuel models
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November 14, 2005 , Saab Great Britain has announced that it is taking orders for the Saab 9-5 BioPower, a flex-fuel car whose fossil CO2 emission level can be reduced by as much as 70 per cent compared to a standard petrol-engined car. Saab BioPower technology means that the 9-5 model is capable of running on either a high-blend mixture of eco-friendly renewable energy source bioethanol and petrol (E85), or on pure petrol, without any adjustment required by the driver. Initially available with the 2.0t, 2-litre light-pressure turbo engine, UK prices for the Saab 9-5 BioPower begin at GBP21,651 on the road for the Saloon, and GBP22,851 for the Estate variant. A manual transmission will be available from launch, with an automatic variant to follow shortly after. First UK deliveries will commence in January 2006. The BioPower engine will be available in all 9-5 2.0t model ‘forms’; Linear, Linear Sport, Vector and Vector Sport, with a GBP600 price differential over the regular petrol models. The introduction of the Saab 9-5 BioPower into other countries will require more than just Saab’s good will though – an infrastructure will be necessary to supply fuel for the BioPower. Read More
Controlling the wheels - a potted history
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As the automobile has evolved over the last century, one problem has plagued the development for 75 years before it was resolved – a locked front wheel cannot steer so it is essential that the front, steering wheels do not lock in emergency braking maneuvers. From the moment this was realized, anti-lock brakes became the dream of all automotive engineers endeavoring to improve handling safety substantially and, above all, to retain the vehicle’s steerability during emergency braking. The automotive industry was just entering the era of mass production in 1920 when work began on anti-lock brakes but the road to success proved long and difficult. It was not before 1978 that ABS became available in large-scale production cars when Mercedes Benz developed the first-generation anti-lock braking system. Perhaps even more significant has been the rapid development of additional systems based on the knowledge gained in developing ABS. Building upon ABS, acceleration skid control (ASR, start of large-scale production in 1981) was developed to control the interplay of the longitudinal forces between tires and road surface not only under braking but, for the first time, also under acceleration by acting upon both the brakes and the engine torque. This was followed by the automatic locking differential (1985) and the innovative permanent four-wheel drive 4MATIC (1985). What all these systems have in common is the recording and limiting of wheel slip by means of advanced micro-electronics and hydraulics with the aim of improving the so-called longitudinal dynamics of a motor vehicle. The ABS signals are equally used by the Brake Assist (BAS, 1996), the revolutionary Electronic Stability Program (ESP, 1995) and the electrohydraulic Sensotronic Brake Control system (SBC, 2001). It’s an interesting read to see how the forces of human engenuity overcame the obstacles along the way. Read More
Intel partners with Venturi Fetish to make energy sharing possible
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November 11, 2005 A strategic alliance between manufacturers of microchips and automobiles seems unlikely yet Intel and French Sports Car builder Venturi announced a pooling of their talents and resources yesterday, which has seen WiMAX wireless data communication technology incorporated into the Fetish, the world’s first all-electric sports car. We’ve previously reported on the Fetish here, here, here and here, but the addition of WIMAX adds considerably to the futuristic vision of Venturi - by incorporating an Alvarion pre-WiMAX wireless connection box into the car, the car will be in constant contact with its owner who can charge, discharge, or check the status from wherever they may be. WIMAX will also enable the factory to remotely monitor vehicle operation, fine-tune the car and even update on-board software. The data communication capability of the Fetish is just the first step on the road towards optimised energy management though. Thanks to WiMAX technology, the future Venturi vehicle - a solar powered electric vehicle - will usher in a new era of electric power-sharing networks in an urban environment. Using WiMAX technology, the fleet of vehicles will be remote-managed and each vehicle will be able to communicate with the others. Through its ability to store power and use wireless communications, the future electric car will be able to communicate with other vehicles, either to sell energy or to buy it. It could even act as a reservoir of energy for the State. Read More
Ferrari Concepts on display
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November 10, 2005 The new Ferrari’s concepts of the myth are now a reality. The selection of the 20 best nominees for the Ferrari of the future, created by automotive design students of four of the most prestigious schools worldwide (Center for Creative Studies of Detroit, Coventry School of Art and Design, European Institute of Design of Turin and Tokyo Communication Arts), are currently being exhibited at the Galleria Ferrari in Maranello. The students have been challenging themselves in the production of scale 1:4 Ferrari models, innovative and fresh in style and functionality as well as in external and internal volumes, proposing stimulating alternatives to the internationally acclaimed shapes of the current and previous mid-engined eight cylinder cars and the front-engined twelve cylinder cars. Read More
Copper look at this - Ford 40 GT
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One of the most spectacular hot rods we’ve ever seen was on show on the Ford stand at SEMA last week. With a copper body based on a 1940 Ford Roadster, the car screamed handmade and classical workmanship. Scratch (dare we say that word with so much hand=beaten copper in sight?) the surface and you’ll find a chassis and powertrain based on the same Ford GT platform that underpinned the GTX-1 and GT, the Ford 40 GT is a very different way of using the 5.4 litre 550-horsepower supercharged V-8. The entire package is absolutely breathtaking and the story behind it is equally interesting with the copper hand-beaten at a former Soviet MIG fighter aircraft manufacturing facility in Poland and the assembly by Kirkham Motorsport which usually makes beautiful hand-sculpted cars from aluminium. Read More
What's got eight wheels, does 370 km/h and doesn't use gasoline? The Eliica!
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November 7, 2005 It’s not that long ago that we wrote up the eight wheeled KAZ (Keio Advanced Zero-Emission Vehicle) which set the world speed record for an electric car at 311km/h and we were mightily impressed. But things have moved quickly at Keio University and Professor Hiroshi Shimizu and the team have now developed the next generation of the KAZ, which is named the Eliica (Electric Lithium-Ion Car). Last year the Eliica reached a top speed of 370 km/h at the Nardo test track in Italy, and the team’s goal is to beat the top speed of the world’s fastest production car (the Bugatti Veyron) and build a limited run of 200 production units, therefore becoming not just the fastest electric car in the world, but the fastest production car.
Phiaro 3-wheeler prototype
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In summarizing the opportunities for different technologies, there are some that we just can’t figure out. Why for example, are three wheelers so spectacularly unsuccessful in the marketplace when they make so much sense? There have been one or two notable three-wheeled motorized conveyances in history that have achieved success on some level – the Morgan and Reliant and maybe the Asian three wheeler known as the TUK-TUK but nothing of genuine mass appeal. The advantages of a three-wheeler are so great (light weight, stability, high power-weight, great fuel economy, narrow road footprint, protection to occupants), that we expect far more commercial success from the layout, particularly as the last five years has seen a raft of stunning concepts float across our pages, but none of them has yet proven successful. Check out this stunning array of three wheelers – Magnet, Hermes, Life-Jet, Rider, Skipee, the 20CUP and most recently, Toyota’s I-Swing. Now there’s another exciting three wheeler to have reached proof-of-concept stage – The Phiaro P67b ETERNITY has three weheels, two seats (arranged in tandem), a 50kW 660cc motor and it banks into corners like a motorcycle. It was designed in close collaboration with Dutch manufacturer Carver. Read More
The Smartattak - 180bhp smart fortwo
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November 5, 2005 Make no mistake – the smart fortwo is a deceptive automobile. Drive it around town and it’ll minimise the damage to your bank balance and environmental footprint at the same time. But point it and squirt it and it becomes a go-kart, albeit a high rise one. The official Brabus-tuned version adds considerable horsepower, and with a healthy aftermarket of go-fast gear, you can stretch the 60 bhp three cylinder turbocharged Smart motor to around 100 bhp delivering awesome acceleration.So what happens when you take the 660cc motor and put a four cylinder 1000cc motorcycle racing engine into it? Like a 180 brake horsepower GSXR engine similar to that which Troy Corser used to win the 2005 World Superbike title in a canter. With three times the power to weight ratio pushing the smart around, it suddenly moves the bantamweight smart’s performance and handling into the class of a WRX Subaru or Mitsubishi Evo. With its heart transplanted, the smartuki shaves around 3 seconds off it’s quarter mile time (12.4 seconds), has a 0-100 km/h time in supercar territory, and tops out at 132mph. Read More
Bugatti Veyron 16.4 enters production
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November 3, 2005 One very significant event to slip under the radar in recent times has been the commencement of series production of what is now unquestionably the world’s fastest, most powerful and over-the-top production automobile ever to be produced – the technical specifications are unique in automobile industry: 987 bhp – 16-cylinder engine – 1,250 Nm at 2,200 rpm – top speed 407 km/h – four turbochargers – permanent four-wheel drive. Never before has such a concentration of technical innovations and top specifications been realised in a series vehicle. Production of this super sportscar began at the home of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. in Molsheim, near Strasbourg in France, a few weeks ago. We have previously covered the Veyron, the history of the world’s fastest production cars and Ettore Bugatti’s remarkable achievements here, here and here. Read More
It's a Volvo!
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November 2, 2005 It seemed an entirely appropriate exhibit for the Specialty Equipment Manufacturer Association's annual trade show set amidst the glittering lights and over-the-top excess of Las Vegas. Until we noticed the badge – it’s a Volvo. This hand-built hotrod is based entirely on Volvo components and a twin turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine from a car manufacturer more widely known for safety and functionality. Read More
Ford’s GTX-1 – the GT convertible
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November 1, 2005 The Ford GT, based on the four-times Le Mans winning GT40, is appearing in a convertible version at the SEMA Show today – the appropriately named Ford GTX1 uses the 1966 Sebring-winning Ford GTX1 roadster as its inspiration. One of the most innovative aspects of Ewing's GTX1 is its configurable roof. The roof system consists of four individual hard panels. The panels can be configured as a coupe, t-top, or full convertible. Additionally, the panels are painted in the same Valencia Yellow with Tungsten Silver stripes. So, when the car is configured as a coupe, it doesn't lose any of its design appeal. GTX1 drivers won't get caught in the rain because all four panels can be stored inside the vehicle for easy access. Read More
Blue Train Race 75th anniversary model
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November 1, 2005 It reads like a story from a “Boys Own Annual.” In 1930, devilishly handsome and independently wealthy playboy and international motor racer Woolf Barnato accepted a bet whilst cruising on the French Riviera to race the fabled "Blue Train" to London. "Le Train Bleue" was a national symbol of technological prowess for the French, being the quickest, most luxurious transport available at the time, traveling from Cannes to Calais, crossing the English Channel by ferry to its final destination at London's Victoria station. Barnato won the race in his custom 6.5 litre Bentley Speed Six, pulling up outside his London club four minutes before the train reached Calais, having had to cross France on two lane public roads and the ferry to Dover into the bargain. The details of the story follow, but the gist is that Bentley Motors and its coach building division Mulliner are celebrating the anniversary with a powerful, distinctive and luxurious grand tourer based on its flagship four-door saloon: the Arnage Blue Train Series. Read More
The Combat T-98 Armoured Luxury SUV
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October 31, 2005 What would you drive if you knew that the bad guys were coming after you? For many wealthy businessmen across the planet, assassination and kidnap are real possibilities. It’s why the American military built the Smartruck and Smartruck III, and why Labock built the Rhino Runner. Now there’s a new vehicle targeting this niche, designed to transport VIPs in luxury and safety both on- and off-road. The Combat T-98 is the fastest armoured 4WD in the world, and was built from the ground up to be the most capable non-military armoured luxury vehicle in the world. The 8.1 litre 340 bhp Vortec V8 can push the T-98 along at over 180 km/h, and in addition to sumptuous leather and woodgrain fittings, you can order almost any level of active safety feature, from gun ports to a full roof ring to carry a machine gun. In the protection area, you can specify an additional layer of ceramic armouring between the double steel layer monocoque chassis. Even the electric windows are 50mm thick and capable of stopping an armour-piercing bullet . Prices start at US$138,000 for the base model, and you can spend an extra US$100,000 just improving the grade of armour to anti-tank level. If the security of the occupants is paramount, this little baby will ensure they reach their destination in comfort, regardless of whom or what they encounter en route. Read More
Lexus readies LF-A supercar for sale
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October 29, 2005 It was only a matter of time before Toyota (aka Lexus) stepped into supercar territory, and the betting is that the Lexus LF-A will be the manufacturer’s first entry into the rarified 200+ mph marketplace. First shown earlier this year, the car was again on display in Tokyo last week where it was confirmed that the car will be powered by no less an engine than a V10, and follows on from Honda’s announcement that it will be powering its NSX replacement with a V10 too.
Further collaboration for Mitsubishi and smart
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October 29, 2005 In 1998 the Smart City Coupe was launched with its three-cylinder engines anticipating what is now just emerging as a downsizing trend in other makes of car: a small and economical engine employing a turbocharger (and charge air cooling) to boost it to the sort of power level which is expected of small cars today. Though old in terms of leading edge automotive concepts, smart’s three-cylinder petrol engine remains one of the most economical petrol-engines available today. But time stands still for no automotive manufacturer and with the smart’s ultra-short two-seater now sold in 36 countries (as the smart fortwo), there’s no doubt a huge and growing market exists and smart is currently developing the next-generation model for launch in 2007. Given that the smart was so far ahead of the pack last time, it will be interesting to see what the innovative company comes up with next time, and a huge clue was dropped yesterday Mitsubishi announced it had signed an agreement with smart to supply the turbo-charged engine it had developed for use in its i concept minicar. The smart fortwo and the new MMC i are pictured - the fortwo is on top. Read More
BMW's new Z4 M Roadster
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October 27. 2005 BMW will redefine the benchmark for two-seater soft-top sportscars when the much-anticipated Z4 M Roadster arrives early next year. The M version of the Z4 will use the 3.2-litre straight-six powerhouse previously seen in the E46 BMW M3 Coupe and Convertible. Voted the World’s Best Engine in its class five years in a row at the international “Engine Oscars”, the 252 kW and 365 Nm straight-six M3 engine rockets the two-seater Z4 M Roadster to 100 km/h in just 5.0 seconds, and on to an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h. Due to bow in at the Detroit Motor Show next January 2006, the ultra-sports version of the BMW Z4 Roadster has been long-awaited by keen open-top drivers. The Z4 M Roadster follows in the wheel tracks of the 1997 BMW Z3 M Roadster which became a sportting enthusiasts favourite for its dynamic performance, agility, and sportiness.
Another Citroen/Loeb World Record - winning every stage in a WRC event
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October 24, 2005 That's right - it's not a mistake. Sebastien Loeb won every stage of the Rally of France of the weekend. The 2005 World Rally Championship has already seen Loeb and his Citroen set world records for most wins in one season and most consecutive wins, but Loeb’s latest effort has added a new and quite extraordinary record at the weekend's (21-23 October 2005) Rally of France: the first time one driver has set the fastest time on every single stage in a World Championship Rally! Loeb made no secret of the fact that with his second world title in the bag, he wanted to win his home (French) event for the first time and he did it in a crushing manner. So crushing that it's hard to imagine it ever being repeated. Read More
The New Audi S8 (with special thanks to Lamborghini)
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October 25, 2005 Ask those who really know performance cars, for a list of the world’s most capable and desirable sporting saloons, and the Audi A8 would surely come close to the top of the list. At the time of its market launch three years ago, this large saloon shot straight to the top of the luxury segment thanks to its dynamic qualities. The brand with the four-ring emblem is now unveiling a sporty top model of the very highest calibre in the luxury segment: the new Audi S8. The Audi S8 is equipped with a new V10 engine that capitalises on the expertise of the super sports car Lamborghini Gallardo. The 10-cylinder power unit develops 450 bhp of power and 540 Nm of torque from a swept volume of 5.2 litres. The torque value is achieved at as low an engine speed as 3,500 rpm. As on the Le Mans winning R8, the most successful racing car in the world, FSI petrol direct injection assures superior power output in the Audi S8. This luxury saloon sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds, and is electronically governed at 250 km/h. It will be appearing on the market in the mid of 2006, with a price tag of EUR 97,600. Read More
The Ferrari GG - one hell of a 50th birthday present
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October 25, 2005 “To mark 50 years of activity in the world of car design, I decided to sculpture a Ferrari to the memory of that great adventure and enjoy it with my family” – so sayeth automotive fashionista Giorgetto Giugiaro who both commissioned and created a project that spilled over into stretching horizons, in that he became concurrently – for the first time ever –supplier and customer of the new car. Rather than being a spellbound step into tomorrow, the ultimate outcome of all this is an expression of today – a Ferrari graced by his initials, GG, followed by the digit 50 by way of epitomizing his debut into the world of car design in September 1955 –imbued by an imposing, unmistakable artistry capturing skyhigh ergonomics and outstanding space on board. Read More
VW shows a carbon fibre combination coupe, roadster and speedster at Tokyo
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October 25, 2005 Volkswagen presented a new prototype that could well make history as the most economical sports car of its time at this week's Tokyo Motor Show. Its basic data: average fuel consumption of 3.4 litres for 100 km, a top speed of 230 kph. Its name: EcoRacer. Thanks to its carbon-fibre (CFP) bodywork, this sports car with its centrally located engine weighs in at only 850 kilograms, and accelerates from 0 to 100 kph in just 6.3 seconds. Powered by a newly developed 100-kW turbo-charged diesel of the next generation, it offers a forward-looking synthesis of austere economy and impressive performance. 230 kph, 6.3 seconds, 3.4 litres – these vital statistics are as unusual as they are fascinating. But the objective of development was not to break records. With the EcoRacer, the intention was rather to create a research vehicle that united the elements of economy and performance under a very emotionally styled “roof”. Read More
