Archive for December, 2009
Buy a full-sized Aston Martin to get your hands on the Cygnet
According to a report published by The New York Times, you will have to purchase a full-sized Aston Martin in order to be eligible to buy the Toyota iQ-based Cygnet. Apparently the company only plans to roll out 2,000 units and it may be exclusive for the UK market only with availability in the US out of the question.
Aston Martin recently confirmed that the Cygnet will go into production and the development work will still continue into next year. The company expects to put the super mini on sale by the end 2010 or beginning of 2011. So, with only 2,000 expected to be made and that you will have buy or have a ‘proper’ Aston Martin first, will you be interested in driving home an Aston Martin that is a Toyota underneath?
Audi to roll out five new models in 2010 and upgrade production facilities
Audi will have a very busy year ahead. Ingolstadt has announced that it will roll out the A1, A7, A8 and R8 Spyder in 2010, none of which are major surprises. The end of next year will also see the introduction of the Q5 Hybrid, the brand’s first full hybrid model. Besides that, Audi has laid out plans on how it will continue to invest in new products and technologies involving a total sum of 7.3 billion euros.
Of this, 5.9 billion euros will be devoted to new product development, further optimization of conventional drivelines and the development of electric and hybrid models. If plans flow smoothly, Audi will have 42 models in 2015, from the current 34.
Production facilities will be upgraded too. About 2.5 billion euros will be invested at Ingolstadt with 1.3 billion euros going to Neckarsulm. A new transmission and emissions center will be opened at the former, besides the installation of stamping tools for the upcoming Audi A1 and the manufacturing structures for A3 and A4 models. The investment focus in Neckarsulm will be on the A6, A7 und A8 models and new engine-function test rigs.
Audi is a company on a roll, not only in Singapore but in the Asia Pacific region, which saw a year-on-year growth rate of 25 per cent, with 176,400 cars sold in the first eleven months of 2009. In sluggish economic conditions, the four rings saw encouraging growth in Australia, India, China and South Korea, among other markets. It looks like the optimism behind next year’s product and investment blitz is set on strong foundations.
American-built, Noble M400-based 450hp Rossion Q1
What you see above is the Rossion Q1 sports car that that assembled by 1g Racing and Rossion Automotive. It looks a little familiar because the Q1 is based on the Noble M400 as Rossion acquired production rights from Noble back in 2007. Power is provided by a Ford-sourced 3.5 liter twin turbo V6 that can crank out a good dose of 450hp and 528Nm of torque.
That will take the Q1 to 100 km/h from a standstill in a mind-blowing 3.1 seconds and up to a top speed of 304 km/h. The powerplant is linked to a 6-speed good old manual transmission supplied by Getrag. The Q1 also has a Quaife limited-slip rear differential. The American-built car is also available in Europe via Bergamo’s Hybrid UKGARAGE. Look for more images after the jump. There is also a 2 minute 52 second-long promo video of the Rossion Q1. Read the rest of this entry.
2011 Ford Mustang GT with 412hp V8 officially revealed!
Ford has officially unveiled the 2011 Ford Mustang GT that is now offered with a 5.0 liter V8, good for 412hp and 530Nm of pulling power. The engine replaces the 4.6 liter 8-pot that was only capable of pumping out 315hp. The GT’s fuel economy is rated at 17 mpg (city) and 25 mpg (highway) when the engine is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
With a 6-speed manual, the pony car returns 16 mpg (city) and 24 mpg (highway). The new engine features dual overhead cams, four valves per cylinder and has Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) that improves power and reduces fuel consumption and emissions by advancing and retarding intake and exhaust cam timing independently of each other.
The 2011 Mustang GT also comes with EPS, beefier brakes as well as an improved lower control arm and stiffened stabiliser bushings for the car’s rear live axle. It also features among others, a revised instrument cluster as well as an improved standard equipment list. Continue reading to enjoy two videos as well as to view high-res images of the 2011 Ford Mustang GT. Read the rest of this entry.
Ralf Schumacher to follow brother’s foot steps in making F1 comeback?
Now that Michael Schumacher’s drive for the Mercedes GP has become official, the media is turning its attention to the other Schumacher brother. According to Germany’s Bild magazine, Michael’s younger brother Ralf is interested in making a return. Ralf Schumacher has 11 years of Formula 1 experience under his belt and he has won 6 times and visited the podium 27 times.
The German left Formula 1 at the end of the 2007 season. His last drove for Toyota with Jarno Trulli who will now drive for Lotus F1. Ralf also raced for Jordan and Williams. After leaving the sport he took part in the DTM series with Mercedes. According to the source, Ralf was offered a seat in one of the new teams but turned the offer down. Ralf said that he wants a challenge and that his come back is not motivated by money.
“I feel that my desires to race in Formula 1 are still there. There must be a challenge, it is not about money but what we can achieve with the team,” he said. “I know that my reputation suffered during my time at Toyota but I left that behind me. I know what I can do and I feel ready to do it again,” he added. There are still a few seats available for the 2010 season and Ralf may fill one of them up.
Honda HSV-010 GT starts pre-season testing at Suzuka – full gallery and video here!
UPDATE: Awesome 11 minute-long video of the HSV-010 GT added.
It was very stingy of Honda Racing to release only one image and a short announcement of its HSV-010 GT race car. But thanks to the eagle eyes from Motors Blog of Japan, we now get a better view of Honda’s replacement for the long serving NSX in the Super GT series.
The Motors Blog report states that four units of the HSV were running around Suzuka, three were shod with Bridgestone tyres and one with Dunlops. They speculated that drivers doing the testing were Loic Duval, Yuji Ide, Takuya Izawa and Yuki Nakayama, probably from their helmet designs. These four wheelmen drive for Honda backed GT500 teams namely Nakajima Racing (Epson NSX), Team Kunimitsu (Raybrig NSX) and Autobacs Racing Team Aguri (Arta NSX), so it’s probably Honda Racing gaining driver feedback for last minute tweaks before the season starts in March, on this track.
The HSV-010, which should have been the “new NSX” before the project got cancelled, looks really good in the pics. Here’s hoping that it will give the Nissan GT-R and Toyota Soarer a run for their money in 2010!
More pics and a video after the jump!
Source Read the rest of this entry.
Daihatsu reveals the Tanto Exe compact MPV
Not to be confused with a Windows application, the Tanto Exe is a flagship variant of the Tanto compact MPV by Daihatsu. Compared to the Tanto, the Exe version features a reduced weight (by about 60 kilograms) which contributes to better fuel efficiency. It is also treated to different design cues here and there. There is also a range topping CUSTOM version with, among others, a large front bumper, side stone guard, and plated front grill.
The Tanto Exe with a wheelbase of 2490 mm features a 58hp KF-VE 3-cylinder engine (twin cam, DVVT) that is mated to a CVT transmission. In the X “Special”, X, G, CUSTOM X and CUSTOM G trim levels, the Tanto Exe delivers 21.5 kilometers with a liter of fuel (10-15 Japanese test cycle). Exhaust emissions is 75% lower than the 2005 standards hence buyers can enjoy a 50% tax reduction in Japan.
The L, S and CUSTOM S trim levels feature the same engine but with a 4-speed automatic transmission. Instead of 2WD system, these models feature a 4WD configuration. Fuel consumption is rated at 18.2 km/l. The top of the line CUSTOM RS, available in both 2WD and 4WD forms is powered by a 64hp KF-DET 3-cylinder turbocharged unit (twin-cam) paired with a CVT. This version delivers 19 kilometers with a liter of fuel.
The Tanto Exe also comes with ABS, EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution) and Brake Assist as standard (optional for Tanto Exe L). There are also dual-stage SRS airbags for the driver’s and passenger’s seat. Daihatsu plans to sell 4,000 units monthly in Japan as prices range from 1.076 million yen to 1.268 million yen for Tanto Exe and from 1.286 million yen to 1.610 million yen for Tanto Exe CUSTOM.
Toyota’s Hybrid Concept is a subcompact and production slated for 2011?
The Detroit News has reported that Toyota’s upcoming Hybrid Concept (teased above) is a subcompact hybrid, which isn’t a surprise actually. Although the teaser images did not reveal a lot, but its enough to indicate a small body dimension. However Detroit News did reveal that the hybrid will go into production in 2011 in Japan and that it could reach the US the following year.
The rest of world should be getting it probably around the same time. The concept will be unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show happening next month and rumor has it that it will use the word Prius in its model name to capitalize on the success of the Toyota Prius. Look for another teaser image after the jump.
Source. Read the rest of this entry.
