MaxRacer-AutoBlog-For the Car Enthusiasts.: November 2006

11/29/2006

Giugiaro's Mustang hotness revealed!

The powertrain upgrades deliver an estimated 500 horsepower, complete with a boost level of 11 psi from the Ford Racing supercharger. A high-efficiency Ford Racing aluminum radiator provides increased cooling capability to accompany the extra 200 horsepower provided under hood.
Under the car, the FR500C-inspired chassis tuning is accomplished with a tailored Ford Racing Handling Pack. This package, available through Ford Racing for the Mustang GT, adds new Dynamic-tuned dampers, lowering springs and anti-sway bars. The changes give the car a lower stance while sharpening handling response. The car rides approximately 1.5 inches lower than the production Mustang GT.

"The Mustang by Giugiaro drives as good as it looks," said Fabrizio Giugiaro. "After taking it to the limits on streets outside of Turin, I can honestly say this car was well worth the 30,000 hours of blood, sweat and tears that we invested to create a modern performance classic."

2009 Chevrolet Camaro Concept

The car is 186.2 inches long and rides on a 110.5-inch wheelbase. The wheels are 21s at the front and 22s at the rear, shod with monster 275/30 front and 305/30 rear tires, which should be able to corral the 400 horses from the LS2 6.0-liter V-8 engine powering through a six-speed manual transmission. The show car has a cobbled together chassis with an all-independent suspension, but if it makes it into production, it will use the so-called Zeta Lite architecture that will be shared with Holden in Australia. The good news for GM is that the architecture--while hardly cutting edge--is far more sophisticated than the live-axle Mustang. Insiders say that a $20,000 base model production car could use an inexpensive V-8 (the LS2 would come in a costlier model), so a V-6 version would be offered only to make the car easier to insure. The real car would have smaller wheels, but the overall diameter of the tires wouldn't be much changed. GM vice-chairman and product czar Bob Lutz apparently loves it and joked on the show stand "all I have to do is persuade this man"--referring to GM CEO Rick Wagoner--"to pay for it."

LA Auto Show: Honda Re-Re-REMIX Concept

Honda's press conference at the 2006 LA Auto Show saw the debut of the REMIX Concept, a purely hypothetical three-door Honda hatch that thinks it's a fighter plane (check out the wraparound cockpit-like windshield and roof-scoop). This little silver bullet reminded us a bit of the Volvo C30 in shape, and it's obvious from Honda's press release that the car's purpose is one and the same: fun to drive and practical to boot. The concept is said to be powered by a four-cylinder motor and swaps cogs with a six-speed transmission. A sport suspension and big brakes are also part of this theorethical equation. Though many see the REMIX and instantly think of a CRX successor, it doesn't sound like that's what Honda's thinking. Then again, a concept's chances for production are directly related to the reaction it invokes from a crowd, so if the REMIX is received well, you never know.

11/28/2006

1050bhp Veyron rival

Americans traditionally favour muscle-cars over supercars, but the new Aero SC/8T built by Washington-based SSC (for Shelby Super Car, although Carroll Shelby has nothing to do with the project) seeks to combine elements of the two. It mates a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 engine producing a claimed 1050bhp with a Lambo-style scissor-doored bodyshell.

Limited to just 25 examples, the Aero has a much-modified GM-derived V8, force-fed by a single supercharger with twin intercoolers. Even in its basic guise this engine is claimed to produce 908bhp at 6600rpm and 771lb ft of torque at 5800rpm, while an upgrade to 'Ultimate' spec takes it beyond the magic four-figure power output.

Extensive use of carbonfibre for the bodywork and titanium for some of the mechanical components keeps weight down to 1233kg for the Aero and 1179kg for the Ultimate. Unsurprisingly, then, performance is claimed to be pretty brisk - 0-60mph in 2.9sec and a top speed of 250mph+, figures to rival the Bugatti Veyron, featured elsewhere in this issue.

SSC already has dealers in the US, and while there aren't yet plans to export the car, the company is considering shipping its demo model to Europe to take on the existing supercar elite. For more information visit www.sscautos.com

252mph Bugatti Gets Green Light

At a private viewing prior to the Monaco GP, Bugatti quietly announced the production version of its EB 16.4 Veyron. There are some fundamental changes to the car. A dramatic rear spoiler, hidden in the trailing-edge of the Bugatti's tapering rump, flips up both at very high speeds and also when the car brakes heavily - helping avoid the sudden rear-end break-away that plagued the original, smooth-tail Audi TT.
The final version also has a tweaked frontal air intake layout to cope with cooling problems that have proved trickier to iron-out than originally imagined. There are now also vents cutting into the front wings and the leading edge of the doors, indicating the extent of the cooling difficulties.
Production starts later this year and a few years' worth of cars have already been sold. Price? Rumoured to be around ΂£700,000, depending on the ΂£/euro exchange rate.

Lancer Evo IX - now faster than a Carrera 4S

London, England - Mitsubishi UK has unveiled a new, more powerful version of the iconic Lancer Evolution IX supercar - it's a development of the FQ-340 and features a 270kW version of Mitsubishi’s two-litre turbo engine.

The car is available now in the UK at £35 504 (about R470 000) and, Subaru says, reaffirms the Evo's reputation as an everyday supercar that offers pace and practicality at an affordable price.

It will have its debut at the British auto show in London and join a three-car Lancer Evolution line-up consisting of the FQ-300, the FQ-320 and the FQ-340, all of which will continue in production.

Here comes Jag XF sports sedan

Jaguar's mid-sized S-Type will be dropped towards the end of 2007 and be replaced by an XF sports sedan being designed at the company's Product Development Centre at Whitley in central England.

The cars will be assembled at Jaguar’s Advanced Manufacturing Centre at nearby Castle Bromwich but Jaguar is not releasing images of the new car - yet.
"The Jaguar XF is a new sports sedan... daring and different," said Bibiana Boerio, MD of Jaguar Cars.

11/27/2006

1100bhp Cobra!

Like the scoop on its bonnet, everything about the Weineck Cobra 780CUI is big. The capacity of its normally aspirated V8 is 12.9 litres and it develops 1100bhp at 7000rpm and 1298lb ft of torque at 5600rpm. It's claimed to accelerate from 0-124mph (200kph) in 4.9sec and from 0-186mph (300kph) in 10sec.

Essentially a road-registered dragster with Cobra replica bodywork, the German-built Weineck features a carbonfibre body, tubular steel spaceframe, and suspension components fashioned from aluminium and titanium. Its four-speed manual, rear-drive transmission is rated for up to 1475lb ft of torque, and, curiously, it has power steering. The Weineck runs on 18in rims shod with 255/40 ZR18 tyres up front and 315/35 ZR18s astern.

Mercedes-Benz CL63 and CL65 AMG

AMG's interpretation of the new coupé will be equippped with the awesome 6.3-litre V8 returning 514 bhp

When the new Mercedes CL will make its debut at this year’s Paris Motor Show, AMG will show its interpretation of the new coupé, the CL 63 AMG, equipped with all kinds of luxury features plus the awesome 6.3-litre V8 returning 514 bhp – the same engine used for the CLS 63 which debuted just after the launch of the standard CLS two years ago.

Peugeot 407 Concept Car

This is effectively the new Peugeot 407 Coupe. Despite being called the Prologue Concept Car, it is very clearly related to the 407 saloon and is understated enough to make production. Designed in-house (the 406 was penned by Pininfarina) it has subtle gills at the front and a very discreetly integrated rear bootlid spoiler. Only the 19in wheels look slightly out of place. It is powered by a V6 HDi diesel linked to a six-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox, but the suspension is lifted directly from the standard 407 saloon.

1000bhp electric supercar

Student concept suggests nearly 300mph on batteries!
Created by three students at the International School of Design in France, this is the R-Zero concept. The work of Franck Levivier, Remi Marchand and Pierre-Olivier Wagner, it's their vision of the supercar of the future. The all-electric R-Zero uses lithium-ion batteries driving electric motors in each of the wheels. They produce the equivalent of 1091bhp – enough in a virtual world to propel the Audi-badged coupe from 0-60 in less than 3.0sec and on to a top speed of 286mph.

Lotus Exige

Exige gets 240bhp special Special edition Exige S revives 240R spec:

The Lotus Sport Cadena Race Team walked off with the 2006 British GT3 team prize and Lotus is celebrating with a special edition. Called the Exige S British GT Special Edition, in standard trim it’s pretty much an Exige S with stripes, stickers, lightweight alloys and fancy upholstery – yours for £35,995.

However, tick the box for the optional (£4995) GT Pack and what you zoom off in is essentially a revival of the 240R, itself a limited edition that Lotus claimed wouldn’t become a production car once its run of 50 was sold…

The GT Pack-equipped car boasts the 240R’s 243bhp output, adjustable Öhlins dampers, uprated springs and Accusump, then adds 308mm front discs with four-pot callipers. It costs £40,990 – three grand less than the 240R.

11/26/2006

Passat gets hot - 225kW under new 4R36 badge

Volkswagen is about to release its second and most potent 'R' model yet – the all-wheel drive Passat R36. It will join the Golf R32 as not only the fastest Passat sedan yet but also the fastest station wagon VW has built.

VW Germany says the R36 is the fastest production Passat yet built with a 0-100km/h time of 5.6seconds. The station wagon is only 0.2sec slower on launch but both will, VW says, reach an electronically limited 250km/h.

Mazda's baby MPS - 250km/h and 6.1sec 0-100!

Mazda says its Mazda3 MPS will be the fastest, best-handling, best-braking model in the Mazda3 range when it goes on sale in South Africa late in 2007 – in fact Mazda compares its handling and roadholding to the MPS, RX-8, MX-5 roadster and the recently launched Mazda6.

The Mazda3 MPS will be marketed as a single, fully specified model, the flagship for the range and for the Mazda brand in the C segment.

Pininfarina Offers To Design-Your-Own Super Car– For A Price

With the success of the James Glickenhaus-commissioned Ferrari P4/5 currently making the show circuit, Pininfarina is expanding its one-off business for wealthy customers who want to create their own dream car. According to Auto Express, the design firm says it now has seven Chinese clients who want something other than off-the-rack luxury and performance cars, and more could be on the way.

As the Glickenhaus is rumored to have cost around $4 million, this return to coachbuilding is hardly for everyone… but it surely enriches the automotive landscape.

Volvo C30 Concept

Volvo spokesmen insisted that the MINI Cooper wasn't a target when they penned the upcoming C30, but it's the first thing we thought of when we saw it, and we weren't alone. The smallest Volvo (reminiscent of 2001's Volvo Safety Concept Car) is likely to debut in production form at the Paris show this September, and we can only hope that there's an R version with the concept's 260-hp turbocharged five-cylinder engine.

ASTON MAR

2008 Cadillac CTS Sedan Spyshot

Cadillac's future version of its BMW 3-series competitor is undergoing testing for a 2007 unveiling at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. We make a note to say this is the sedan (CTS got its original name from an acronym based loosely around the idea of “Cadillac Touring Sedan”), but there are prototypes of a CTS-based coupe—either called CTS Coupe or CTC—alive and well within the secret halls of GM ’s design studios in Warren, Michigan. These shots of the CTS show us a revised and larger front grille opening, aggressive proportions and the car’s familiar C-pillar shape. Also note the lack of tack-on parking lot protectors on this prototype’s doors. If what we’re seeing here is a clear indication of production trim, Cadillac could have a winner on its hands.

2009 Audi A7 Spyshots

This computer-enhanced shot shows Audi’s upcoming A6-derived rival to the Mercedes-Benz CLS, expected to be called the A7. With the CLS receiving kudos for its coupe-like silhouette, it seems everyone is trying to make four doors look like two. Just as the CLS slots in between E- and S-class models, the A7 will be positioned between Audi’s A6 and A8 sedans in both size and price. The styling will be significantly more dramatic than any other Audi sedan, with a chopped roofline, an aggressive front-end design with a radical headlight treatment, and hidden rear door handles. Expect the A7 to debut sometime in 2008.

Bentley Continental GTC

The engine is a twin-turbo six-liter W-12 that generates 552 horsepower. The transmission is a six-speed ZF automatic with redundant shift paddles. Top speed, roof up, is 195 miles per hour. Top speed, roof down, is 190. Reaching sixty mph from zero is accomplished in 4.8 seconds, despite a curb weight of 5500 pounds. This is not a slow car. Both coupe and convertible are equipped with the largest disc brakes available on any car in the world, 16-inch diameter in the front, 13.2 inches in the rear. Like the virtually transparent all-wheel-drive system, the ZF automatic transmission is extremely sophisticated, and there is no advantage to be gained in using the manual-shift option.

We love the convertible but prefer the coupe. Fast driving in an open car is great fun, but fast driving in a great GT coupe—like the Bentley Continental GT—is magic. Besides, with the money saved by buying the Continental GT coupe instead of the convertible, we could buy a mighty nice motorcycle

11/25/2006

Troubled TVR Readying 600bhp Typhoon?

For all of its apparent financial and employment wranglings as of late, TVR is reportedly set to launch a new 600 bhp supercar at the Geneva Motor Show next year. Dubbed “Typhoon,” the top-dog TVR will use a supercharged variant of the Speed Six engine, and the body will be made of carbon fiber.

The first-ever CAD-engineered TVR is expected to cost around £120,000 (upwards of $225,000), and the company has apparently opened up its order books alread

In the sneak peek photograph, the roomier Malibu cabin showcases Chevy’s classic dual cockpit design.

The new Malibu builds on the success of its current model, which garnered many awards such as the 2005 J.D. Power Initial Quality Award and the 2006 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety “Top Safety Picks” silver medal.

Chevrolet to unveil all-new 2008 Malibu in January

DETROIT, Mich. – Chevrolet confirmed today that the all-new 2008 Malibu will be unveiled in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit and released a sneak peek of one of the car’s available two-tone interiors, which demonstrates a new level of refinement in the extremely competitive mid-size car segment.

“The next-generation Chevrolet Malibu’s interior showcases the precision and detailed execution that will differentiate it among the mid-size car segment,” said Ed Peper, Chevrolet General Manager. “The 2008 Chevy Malibu will offer a number of striking and progressive interiors that use premium materials to demonstrate quality and value not seen before in this segment.”

Jeep sketches out TrailHawk concept for Detroit

The Los Angeles Auto Show hasn’t even come and gone, and the sneak-peaks are already afoot for Detroit’s North American International Auto Show.

To that end, we present this official rendering of the Jeep Trailhawk, a concept based on the new-for-2007 Wrangler. Not much information is available on the SUV, but DCX promises that it melds the core features of the venerable off-roader with the “sophistication of the Jeep Grand Cherokee.” The press blurb (after the jump) also says that the Trailhawk will bring with it “a new approach to open-air freedom,” so count on some sort of interesting removable roof mechanism. We’re not sure what to expect—perhaps Jeep is toying with an automatic folding hardtop?

GMC to abandon minivan segment?

According to the Detroit News, General Motors appears set to euthanize its minivan lineup.

The automaker’s current offerings in the segment, which include the Chevrolet Uplander, Buick Terraza and Saturn Relay, have been roundly criticized by pundits and met with lackluster sales. GM had plans to debut a new string of models as early as 2009, but they have apparently been axed.

GM is betting heavily that its new lineup of three-row crossovers, which includes the Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia, and Buick Enclave.

While not officially confirmed, this news comes on the heels of Ford’s decision to scrap their Freestar and Mercury Monterey twins, as well as conjecture that DaimlerChrysler has scuttled its next Pacifica.

Mclaren Viper? (SpyShots)

Do these prototypes indicate McLaren's involvement with the Viper project?
This is one group of prototypes that all our sources are stumped on. And there wasn't just one powertrain prototype here - there were at least four of these red-hot Vipers with a vinyl-covered camouflage hood and various wires and test gauges - but nothing could hide the huge vents on the hood, and we managed to get excellent views.

Sources are telling us NOT to expect a 2007 Viper - that model-year will be "skipped" and the '08 models will make an early appearance within the first quarter of 2007. And we do know that Dodge wants to expand the horsepower in the Vipers, but the 'what' and 'how' are currently just rumours. One rumour is that McLaren is involved with the Viper project and is tweaking a V10 to put out nearly 650-horsepower!

Mclaren Viper? (Spyshots)

Maserati gives Ferrari the blues...

Maserati is building a rival to Ferrari’s extreme FXX track car-and unlike the MC12 racer it’s based on, private buyers will be able to order one.
The only catch is the MC12 Corsa costs a Bugatti Veyron rivalling 1 million euros plus tax, and you will either have to be invited to buy one or convince its maker you are not just after one to turn a quick profit. Maserati expects to produce 12 of the Enzo-based track cars per year. It’s not road legal, and unlike the MC12 GT1 has not been homologated for racing...full article here

MaxRacer-AutoBlog-For the Car Enthusiasts.