Wednesday, October 22, 2008

2007 Alfa Romeo 8c Competizione

Alfa 8C Competizione is directly derived from the concept car that aroused such admiration at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show and has benefited from the best technical and industrial know-how that the Alfa-Maserati Sports Centre can offer. The cooperative venture between both manufacturers was conducted with a view to ensuring integration between the Alfa Romeo design departments and the Maserati production departments.


The 8C Competizione is inspired by Alfa Romeo's glorious past, projecting its brand values of technology and emotion into the future. The historical allusions begin with the evocative name, recalling the great sporting tradition of Alfa Romeo. The 8C code was used to identify cars (racing and on-road) of the Thirties and Forties equipped with the revolutionary eight cylinder engine produced by the famous designer Vittorio Jano. The term 'Competizione' is intended as a homage to the '6C 2500 Competizione', a sports coupé driven in 1950 by the duo Fangio and Zanardi in the famous Mille Miglia race.

The name, '8C Competizione' is not an arbitrary invention but a distinctive mark of Alfa Romeo's own sporting history. A veritable legend that has arisen out of the innumerable victories won on circuits throughout the world through the skill of men and their passion for racing, engine research and advanced technology and a reawakened taste for new challenges.

The attractive shape created by the Alfa Romeo Style Centre makes this car with its two bucket seats unique in the Gran Turismo scenario. The designers have worked hard to ensure that the aerodynamic and performance demands have not altered the car's original concept.

The solutions introduced on the Alfa 8C to achieve the highest levels of aerodynamic efficiency are not limited to the shape. Air wraps around the car and follows its natural course, unhindered by corners and unevenness. The compact dimensions concentrate the aggression of a car designed to ensure maximum driving efficiency.

This car used 8 cylinder 4.7 engine together with brand new 90° V 8 cylinder unit with a cylinder capacity of 4691 cc that was designed with one aim in mind: to ensure extraordinary performance while still offering a smooth drive and being usable in all circumstances, from the track to city traffic.

The top engine performance figures may be summarised as a maximum power output of 450 bhp at 7000 rpm, a peak torque of 470 Nm at 4750 rpm and a top speed of 7500 rpm.

Harmonisation of the intake and exhaust geometry together with the introduction of continuous variable valve timing on the intake camshafts and optimisation of the combustion chamber and engine calibration means that 80% of torque is available from 2000 rpm.

The 6-speed gearbox with computerised speed selection by means of levers behind the steering wheel is designed to ensure ultra-slick gear shifts and may be used in Manual-Normal; Manual-Sport; Automatic-Normal; Automatic-Sport and Ice modes. The self-locking differential allows acceleration and stability to be managed with extraordinary efficiency in all situations.

The braking system offers perforated, ventilated discs with aluminium brake callipers to ensure prompt, effective braking even with heavy use. To ensure the car stays glued to the road, it is fitted with 20" tyres specially developed to ensure outstanding performance: 245/35 at the front and 285/35 at the rear, fitted on perforated rims in fluid moulded aluminium to ensure lightness and maximum brake ventilation efficiency.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

2008 Nissan Skyline GT-R

Japanese automakers are notoriously tight lipped about future products, but the veil of secrecy over the next-generation Nissan Skyline GT-R has been nothing short of amazing. Thus, at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show, there was a huge air of expectancy and a real buzz on the Nissan stand prior to the introduction of the Nissan GT-R Proto. In Japan, the Skyline is gear head manna, so the car had been written about, talked about, and fantasized about for months leading up to the show.

The show car rides on 255/40R-20 Bridgestone tires up front, with 285/35R-20s at the rear. It looks bigger and broader than the R34 Skyline GT-R, the last of the straight-six-powered, twin-turbo four-wheel-drive GT-Rs made between 1989 and 2002. Although the R34 fueled the modern GT-R cult, it was derived, like all Skylines, from a sedan. The new GT-R will be the first to stand alone as a model in its own right.

The production GT-R will have a front-mounted, twin-turbo, 3.8-liter V-6 engine that's a development of the 350Z's unit. Nissan's original plan to do a V-8 has been axed because the engine is too big and heavy to provide the dynamic balance the engineers want. The V-6 will reputedly produce 450 hp and 370 lb-ft of torque. The power will be sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed transmission. The all-wheel-drive system will feature a development of the GT-R's famed, torque-sensing, electronic ATTESA E-TS, matched to four-wheel steering.


Nissan is apparently aiming for a 0-to-60-mph time of 3.8 seconds, with a top speed north of 180 mph. Ironically, the new GT-R will mark the beginning of a new Japanese supercar race.

Whatever it's called, we reckon that, if it has the kind of searing performance and soul of the last generation, it will be worth its rumored $70,000 or so asking price.

Monday, October 20, 2008

2008 Bugatti Veyron Sang Noir

Less than a month after the reveal of the limited edition Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès at the Geneva Motor Show comes another highly exclusive version of one of the fastest and most desirable supercars on the planet, the Bugatti Veyron Sang Noir. The new edition is dedicated to the original Bugatti Atlantique 57S of the 1930s and features a number of new styling elements, namely an all-black exterior with unpainted carbon-fiber panels.

2008 Bugatti Veyron Sang Noir2008 Bugatti Veyron Sang NoirOther details include aluminum on the side-mirrors and grille surround, blacked out headlights, new alloy wheels with black powder-coated elements and a custom tan-colored leather and Alcantara interior. The Sang Noir, which translates to ‘Black Blood,’ is loosely based on the previous Pur Sang edition of which only five cars were built. No word yet on pricing and volume details for the new model.

2008 Bugatti Veyron Sang NoirThe Veyron features a W16 engine—16 cylinders in 4 banks of 4 cylinders, or the equivalent of two narrow-angle V8 engines mated in a "W" configuration. Each cylinder has 4 valves for a total of 64, but the narrow V8 configuration allows two camshafts to drive two banks of cylinders so only 4 camshafts are needed. The engine is fed by four turbochargers and displaces 8.0 L (7,993 cc/488 in³) with a square 86 mm by 86 mm (3.4 in. × 3.4 in.) bore and stroke.2008 Bugatti Veyron Sang NoirThe Veyron has the greatest acceleration of any production car to date, reaching 60 mph (97 km/h) from a standstill in 2.46 seconds. It reaches 100 km/h (62 mph) in approximately 2.5 seconds, which equates to an average acceleration of around 1.18 g. The car is greatly aided in achieving such times by the presence of a four-wheel drive system that permits the transmission of such great amounts of power in the initial stages of acceleration.

The Veyron consumes more fuel than any other production car, using 40.4 L/100 km (6.99 mpg imp/5.82 mpg US) in city driving and 24.1 L/100 km (11.7 mpg imp/9.76 mpg US) in combined cycle. At full throttle, it uses more than 115 L/100 km (2.46 mpg imp/2.05 mpg US), which would empty its 100 L (22 imp gal/26 US gal) fuel tank in just 12 minutes 46 seconds.

There will be only 15 Sang Noir car will be built and offered in Europe, the Middle East and the United States.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

2009 Ford Focus RS

The legendary Ford RS performance car brand is returning in the shape of the exciting new Ford Focus RS, which first previewed on July 22 at the 2008 London International Motor Show.

( Download 2009 Ford Focus RS Wallpaper )

2009 Ford Focus RS
2009 Ford Focus RSThe new Focus RS will go on sale in early 2009 and is being created by a small team of dedicated engineers, under the direction of Jost Capito, Ford of Europe's Vehicle Line Director for Performance Vehicles.

For performance road car enthusiasts, the new model will mark a welcome return for the Ford RS badge. This will be the second Focus model to carry the RS mantle and promises another exciting chapter in an exciting 40-year story that began in Germany in the late 1960s and gained momentum across Europe with the launch of the 1970 Escort RS1600.

The vehicle is finished in a special bright green paint with inlaid metallic flake, a striking, modern interpretation of the 1970s Le Mans Green of the Escort RS1600 era.
2009 Ford Focus RS2009 Ford Focus RS

At the heart of the all-new Focus RS is a specially developed, turbocharged version of the Duratec 2.5-litre 5-cylinder engine. Significantly revised for high performance, this powerplant is targeting an impressive power output of 300PS and over 410Nm of torque, contributing to an excellent power-to-weight ratio.

Such significant increases are not simply the result of altering engine management or boost pressure: starting with the Duratec 2.5-litre block, Ford RS engineers developed unique camshafts, a revised cylinder head and gasket and revised intake and exhaust manifold system for the car.

Although the car is still in development, prior to its launch in early 2009, early performance testing indicates a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) time of under six seconds.The '09 Focus RS is powered by a turbocharged Duratec 2.5L five-cylinder producing about 300 horsepower and 325 ft-lbs of torque and can reach 62 mph in less than six seconds on its way to a top speed of 162 mph.

Brakes also have been uprated, with 336mm ventilated front discs and 300mm rear discs generating vice-like stopping power on road or track. Large calipers peek out from behind unique 19-inch wheels, wrapped in 235/35 low profile Continental tyres.

A special version of Ford's ESP system has also been developed for Focus RS, designed to allow a very sporty driving style before activating. Intensive work to refine the natural handling abilities of the car has allowed the ESP system to carry a full de-activation option for enthusiast drivers and especially for track use.
2009 Ford Focus RS

Saturday, October 18, 2008

2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4

Lamborghini’s facelifted Gallardo making its worldwide premiere in 2008 Geneva and features a series of styling and mechanical updates including a more powerful V10 engine. Design-wise, the all-wheel-drive coupe from Sant’Agata stands out thanks to the more aggressively styled front and rear-ends that give the Gallardo LP560-4 a menacing new look.The new car's name follows Lamborghini tradition and is in a similar format to that of its big brother, the Murcielago LP640. LP stands for Longitudinale Posteriore, the position of the engine - longitudinally mid-mounted. 560 is its metric horsepower count, and Lamborghini chose to insert the "-4" as a reminder that the Gallardo is a full-time four-wheel-drive machine.

Looks however are only half the story on the 2009 Gallardo LP560-4 as Lamborghini upgraded the 5.2-liter V10 engine that now develops 560 Hp at 8,000 rpm. The increase of 40 Hp compared with that of the previous Gallardo, and the approximate 20 kg or 44 lbs reduction in weight, improves the power weight ratio to 2.5 kg per Hp and thus enhances performance. According to Lambo, the LP560-4 accelerates from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.7 sec; its speed at 11.8 sec is 200 km/h (124 mph) while its top speed lies at 325 km/h or 202 mph. At the same time, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions have been reduced by 18 per cent.

Additionally, Lamborghini's engineers have also redesigned the four-wheel drive transmission and the suspension improving traction, handling and stability at high speeds.

Enjoy the video about this Lamborghini;

2009 Honda City

The all-new Honda City will make its European debut at the Istanbul Motor Show in October 2008.

2009 Honda City
The compact sedan is a radical departure from the previous generation car, with a totally new exterior style, featuring some visual elements of the stylish Accord. The restyled exterior is joined by a new 1.4 i-VTEC engine, which gives the Honda City significantly more power and better performance.

2009 Honda City
The new engine, which is also shared with the new Honda Jazz is fitted with Honda’s acclaimed i-VTEC system, which provides excellent performance and flexibility, without compromising fuel economy or emissions. The new engine gives the Honda City 100PS, a healthy 17 PS increase over the previous model. This extra power helps the new Honda City complete the benchmark 0-100 km/h in just 11.8 seconds for the manual version, an improvement of 1.6 seconds. The automatic version hits 100 in 14.7 seconds, almost half a second quicker than before.
2009 Honda City
The manual transmission for Honda City is a modified version of the current gearbox, with carbon synchromesh for smoother changes, improved refinement and a new set of optimised gear ratios. The Automatic transmission is all-new and adds the option to shift gears with steering wheel mounted paddles for the first time. With a sport mode, improved shift logic and ratios the new transmission better compliments the new car’s more powerful engine.

The all-new model has been further enhanced over its predecessor with a higher quality of materials, improved aesthetics and functionality. Increased storage capacity around the cabin including a bigger glove box improves practicality, while a new design of seats improves passenger and driver comfort.

2009 Honda City

The design changes are complimented by several improvements to the Noise Vibration and Harshness technologies applied to the car. A host of new features in the body, interior, suspension, engine and mountings have been included to bring further refinement to Honda’s newest sedan. The NVH enhancements allow customers to make the most of the new audio system which offers iPod connectivity and better sound quality.

2009 Ferrari California

Ferrari just released their 2009 Ferrari California. The California came at a time where Ferrari had stopped building racecars for the road, or road cars that you could race and just built outstanding and beautiful street cars. Now Ferrari is looking to rekindle that spirit with the new 2009 Ferrari California, a two-plus-two V8-powered grand tourer.

2009 Ferrari California
2009 Ferrari CaliforniaThe California takes the F430's 4.3-liter V8 engine and adds a new direct fuel-injection system that increases volumetric efficiency and power while reducing emissions and increasing fuel economy. The raw figures are 454 hp and 357 lb-ft of torque. Ferrari says it will top out at 193 mph and hit 62 mph in less than 4 seconds. And in case you're wondering, the California is rated to return NEDC combined-cycle fuel economy of 18 mpg (U.S.) and carbon-dioxide emissions of 305.6 g/km. Engine revisions include new cylinder heads to accommodate the central, six-hole fuel injectors and a bigger bore to ensure the optimum spray pattern over the oil-cooled pistons. Direct injection will be used on all forthcoming Ferrari engines to meet the company's self-imposed target of a 40 percent improvement in fuel consumption by 2012.

2009 Ferrari California
2009 Ferrari California
2009 Ferrari California
The seven times Formula 1 world champion, Michael Schumacher has been involved in the development of the latest Prancing Horse road car since its inception and has worked with Ferrari’s team of engineers, technicians and test-drivers on honing the car in general, but more specifically on optimising its performance parameters.

Michael Schumacher’s contribution to the development of the Ferrari California has resulted in a car that delivers extraordinary performance: it can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in under 4 seconds, delivering superb driving pleasure whilst still being exceptionally comfortable and versatile.

2009 Ferrari California
2009 Ferrari California

Enjoy the video by Micheal Schumacher as well..