Archive for February, 2009
507HP BMW Alpina B7: leaked image!
What you see above is a leaked image of the F01 BMW 7 Series-based Alpina B7 which is set to make its Geneva debut in a couple of days. Thanks to the Alpina exterior treatment, the B7 looks wider and lower, which gives it a more aggressive stance.
The BMW tuner will release more details regarding the up-rated luxury sedan along with its launch, but thus far we already know that the B7 is powered by a tuned 4.4 liter V8 with twin turbos which enables the Alpina to hit the 100 km/h mark in 4.7 seconds and to hit a top speed of 278 km/h.
This is thanks to a total 507HP and 700Nm of torque under the hood of the high performance 7 Series, which is very much considered as an M7, but without the stamp from M GmbH.
Nissan GTR to race in the SuperGT GT500 series for the 2009 season
Nissan has announced that the Nismo-tuned R35 Nissan GTR will participate in the GT500 class of the SuperGT series. The Japanese auto maker revealed that the GTR which is destined for the race track, features an improved air-cooling system and a paddle-shift transmission, as well as shortened overhangs to reduce downforce.
A total of four teams will utilize the GTR including Team Nismo, Hasemi Motor Sport, Team Impul as well as Kondo Racing. Hasemi and Konda racing will have their GTR’s wheels wrapped with Michelin and Yokohama tires while the other two teams will utilize Bridgestone tires.
Nissan also revealed that R35 Nissan GTR will also participate as a non-championship FIA GT entry in four races in 2009 to help improve performance and competitiveness of the platform. The auto maker will partner with Gigawave MotorSport and has hired GT500 racer Michael Krumm from Nismo and Darren Turner from Gigawave to race the GTR during the season.
No details were released regarding the performance, but rumors are circulating that Nissan will drop in a 4.5 liter V8 power plant that should be good for about 570HP and 640Nm of torque.
New Toyota iQ with 1.33 liter dual VVT-i engine to make Geneva debut
Japanese auto maker; Toyota has announced that it will present the new Toyota iQ featuring a 1.33 liter engine at the Geneva Motor Show. The 1.33 liter power plant is able to produce 99HP, which is an increase of 32HP over the outgoing 1.0 liter engine.
Instead of a 5 speed manual, the new engine which features a dual VVT-i system is coupled with a 6 speed manual as standard, while there is also an option to upgrade to Toyota’s Multidrive CVT transmission. With the 6 speed manual, it can deliver 58.9 miles to the gallon while with the CVT, fuel consumption figure is rated at 55.4 miles to the gallon. Both engine/transmission combinations produce 113 grams and 120 grams of emissions respectively, per kilometer.
The new power also features Toyota’s Optimal Drive technology as well as an engine Stop & Start system to further enhance fuel efficiency. The new 1.33 Toyota iQ will be available in European showrooms by June this year. The popular city car also recently received a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating.
Top up your EZ-Link cards via credit card or GIRO!
EZ-Link Pte. Ltd. has revealed that its CEPAS-compliant card users will be able to reload via credit card as well as via the Auto GIRO facility. Top up via credit card will be offered from April 16th next month while top up via GIRO will initiate from August 27th.
This comes after the company announced that the EZ-Links can be recharged at ATM as well as AXS stations. Thus far, a total of 2 million EZ-Links cards have been replaced with the new CEPAS-compliant ones.
Bentley increasing prices in the UK
Bentley will be increasing prices of UK models by 5% as the Sterling falls against the Euro and from the start of April 2009. Orders received after March 31st will be increased by the stated percentage.
“A 5% price increase at a time of reduced demand and therefore reduced production may seem counter-intuitive”, said McCullough, “but Sterling has depreciated by over 18% against the Euro over the last 12 months. It has therefore proved increasingly difficult to absorb the negative effect of these increased costs on our business,” said Stuart McCullough, Board Member For Sales & Marketing.
“Sales to the Euro-zone provide us with a natural hedge against our Euro denominated costs, so we are able to avoid any price increases in other European markets.”
New prices of Bentley models are as follows.
UK Prices Applying From April 2009 RRP inc. 15% vat
Continental GT £123,800
Continental GT Speed £141,300
Continental Flying Spur £120,700
Continental Flying Spur Speed £137,000
Continental GTC £136,200
Continental GTC Speed £153,400
Arnage R £173,100
Arnage T £183,100
Arnage Final Series £200,400
Arnage RL £201,400
Azure T £245,000
Brooklands £236,400
Other markets will not be affected by the price increase.
Tata announces Tata Nano launch date: March 23rd 2009!
Indian based auto maker which also owns Jaguar; Tata has revealed that it will launch the Tata Nano super mini at a special function in Mumbai on March 23rd 2009. According to the auto maker, the Tata Nano will be presented at dealerships beginning from the first week of April this year and that bookings can be made from the second week of the same month.
With a price tag of 1 lakh Indian Rupees which translates into US$1,986 or RM 7,300, the Nano which is expected to be powered by a 624cc two-cylinder gasoline engine is set to take on take on the used car market in India by storm thanks to a super affordable selling price.
That’s actually for the most basic model but at that price, its a no-brainer choice! With that price you don’t get a radio, power steering, power window, glovebox or air conditioning, but you do get 12 inch wheels with 3 lug nuts, drum brakes all-round and so on. However the above mentioned features as well as engine details are preliminary thus far.
We will bring you confirmed details regarding the super cheap, super mini along with its official launch in slightly less than a month. Continue reading to view another image of the rear. Read the rest of this entry.
Aston Martin DBS Volante Convertible revealed ahead of its Geneva unveiling
James Bond’s preferred sports car maker; Aston Martin, has revealed the Aston Martin DBS Volante Convertible ahead of its Geneva debut. The Volante which is marked as the 16th convertible made by the auto maker is powered by a 6.0 liter V12 that is good for 510HP and 570Nm of torque which can propel the sexy roadster to the 100 km/h mark in 4.3 seconds, all the way to a top speed of 307 km/h.
The fabric convertible top which is designed to present a DBS coupe silhouette takes about 14 seconds to operate, and can be performed at speeds of up to 48 km/h. Transmission wise, a 6 speed manual is standard while buyers can opt for the 6 speed ‘Touchtronic 2′ automatic transmission.
The Volante which measures 4721 mm in length, 1905 mm in width and 1280 mm in height with a wheelbase of 2740 mm features High Intensity Discharge (HID) head lights up front and LED tail lights at the back. Stopping power is provided by high performance carbon ceramic brakes, with ventilated carbon ceramic discs, 398 mm diameter with six-piston calipers up front and ventilated carbon ceramic discs, 360 mm diameter with four-piston calipers at the back.
To make it handle as good as it looks, Aston has fitted independent double wishbone incorporating anti-dive geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar with monotube adaptive dampers up front while the rear features independent double wishbones with anti-squat and anti-lift geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar, also with monotube adaptive dampers.
Safety features include dual-stage driver and passenger front airbags as well as side airbags, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) as well as traction control and a roll over protection system.
For spirited driving, there are two driving modes including “Sports” and “Track” modes. “Sports” mode engages a more aggressive gear shift strategy as gear changes feel sharper and more forceful, engine speed matching on downshifts is more aggressive and in full automatic mode, up shifts occur at higher engine speeds while the “Track” mode sets all dampers to their firmest positions.
Bentley unveils the biofuel-powered Bentley Continental Supersports
U.K based auto maker; Bentley has unwrapped the fastest and most powerful Bentley ever; the Continental Supersports which, apart from its record-breaking power for Bentley, it is also the first Bentley to carry the FlexFuel designation, meaning this sexy coupe does not only drink petrol, but it can also be fueled with biofuel or ethanol (E85)!
Mixed with both fuel types, the Supersports can sprint to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds, to a top speed of 329 km/h, thanks to its 60 liter turbocharged W12 which produces 621HP as well as earth shattering 800Nm of torque which is available from 1,700 revs and 5,600 revs.
Bentley also revealed no matter what the petrol/biofuel ratio is, the ECU will make certain that the above mentioned performance figures are always maintained, thanks to a number of sensors that monitor the mix ratio. The auto maker also mentioned that the petrol/biofuel mixture can help reduce emissions by up to 70%.
The Continental Supersport which is 110 kilograms lighter than the Continental GT Speed also features; up-rated front suspension with aluminium forward levers, stiffer bushes together with re-tuned anti roll bar and Servotronic steering for sharper turn-in, revised Continuous Damping Control (CDC), Advanced ESP, Standard-fit carbon-ceramic brakes, larger twin elliptical exhaust tailpipes and rear valance with discreet vertical divider and so on.
The Bentley Continental Supersport will make its official debut at the Geneva Motor Show next week. Continue reading to view an image gallery.
