Saturday, May 31, 2008

2009 Ford Ka unofficially revealed

2009 Ford Ka

The Ford Ka has been a prime example that the Blue Oval can be successful at making little cars, even if they kind of look like basketball shoes. After 12 years of service, it's time to shake things up a bit. The next Ka shares mechanicals with the stylish Fiat 500, and after scoping the first unofficial pics from Auto Express, the Ford will be just as cute as its Italian sibling. Designers did manage to heavily differentiate the Ka from the 500, skipping the rounded lines in favor of edgier lines and details that reinforce Ford of Europe's styling language. Think micro-Fiesta, and you've got the picture.

Since it's for European consumption, it'll have no less than three powertrains from the get-go, with a 68 hp 1.2L, a 100 hp 1.4L, and a 1.3L, 50 mpg diesel. Rumor has it that a hotter Ka ST is on its way as well, with 150 hp coming from a turbocharged 1.4L engine. Interior refinement over the outgoing model comes courtesy of better materials and improved ergonomics.

2009 Ford Ka

We're still a few months away from the Ka's official unveiling at the Paris Auto Show in September, but we like what we see so far. Besides, if it's good enough for Bond, it'll be good enough for us. The Ka will be produced in Poland and it'll go on sale in Europe by the end of the year

Volkswagen Caddy Carrera Cup Edition 2.0TDI R

Volkswagen Caddy Carrera Cup Edition 2.0TDI R

The link between Volkswagen and Porsche is about to get stronger, but VW's Swedish contingent has already created a special edition to honor the alliance. The VW Caddy has lived a staid life as a popular work truck in Europe, but the Swedes apparently think it could be so much more. So it's releasing 250 Carrera Cup Edition Caddies outfitted with black, 17-inch wheels wrapped in 225/45 R17 rubber, a new body kit, red-on-white paint scheme with Porsche's signature "Carrera" text, two-tone leather sport seats, a leather steering wheel and shifter. The 2.0-liter TDI mill is putting out 140 hp and 236 lb.-ft. of torque and with a fire extinguisher mounted on the diamond-plate floor boards, we think we might have found the perfect track-day accomplice to join that GT3 RS we've been building in our dreams

New SCX Digital Chip

Here you can see the new #20320 SCX Digital chip (in the foreground) and the older 20240 SCX Digital chip in the background. The new chip looks smaller around the top side edges and then there's the obvious color difference and much more delicate looking arm on top that pushes down on the guide peg to change lanes. Then there's the tabs that stick out from the front of the chip that make contact with the guide. After having struggled to adjust the older design of power tabs these look much easier to straighten should they become just a bit bent from a heavy frontal hit.
And, why not a shot of the bottom of the chip...dunno what there is to see here that's notable but I thought I'd show it anyway.
You can keep up to date with what cars are compatible with the new chip on this thread on SCX WorldWide.com.

So far these cars will work with the new Digitization Kit #20320

#62510 Audi R10 "Biela" –Rojo
#62750 Audi R10 "Kristensen"-Amarillo
#62710 Peugeot 908 HDI FAP
#62810 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (997).

63370 Ford Fusion #16 (COT)
63390 Ford Fusion #17 (COT)
63410 Ford Fusion #99 (COT)

Carrera garage inserts - a great idea


Now this is cool! A German chap has designed inserts for Carrera's pit garages that give them a really nice level of detail. Check out the downloads at this link.

And you can read the discussion about these on this thread on Home Racing World.

La Vie En Rouge

La Vie En Rouge
La Vie En Rouge, originally uploaded by AlexCR_86.

banana mini

banana mini
banana-mini, originally uploaded by prajpix.

Friday, May 30, 2008

Audi R8 gets first full LED headlamps

Audi R8 LED headlamps

The innovative R8 supercar from Audi is now available for the first time with full LED headlamps. In addition to the standard Audi-signature 24-LED running lamps it's always had, this extremely expensive option (£3,590 converts to $7,100 USD) adds LED high and low beam headlamps and LED turn signals to the front fascia of the mid-engine sports car.


The latest craze in automotive lighting, LED bulbs don't utilize a filament like halogen lamps or gas plasma like HID lamps. Instead, they create light from the movement of current across a semi-conductor chip. They are smaller, more vibration resistant, and much more efficient than traditional bulbs. According to Audi, the light from the LEDs has been designed to closely resemble daylight and provides a greater contrast to be easier on the human eye. LED illumination is also designed to last the lifetime of the vehicle. Audi is no stranger to LED lighting - it first introduced a strip-shaped fog lamp at the Detroit Auto Show back in 2003.


[Source: Audi]

Ford confirms Fiesta hatchback for the U.S

Ford Fiesta

In a press release today officially announcing that the new Fiesta will be built at its Cuautitlán Assembly Plant in Mexico starting in 2010, Ford confirmed what we all expected: in addition to the Fiesta Sedan, it's going to build the Fiesta Hatchback for U.S. customers, as well. Previously, Ford has said it would only build the sedan version of the Fiesta for the U.S., perhaps believing that hatchbacks were still a hard sell in the U.S. Rising gas prices have erased most of the negative stigmas associated with hatchbacks, which are generally perceived to be both highly practical to own and fuel efficient to drive. Curiously enough, the Cuautitlán Assembly Plant that's being converted to build Fiestas used to build full-size F-150 trucks for the Mexican market. Now it will build small cars for all of North America.

Ford also announced that its Chihuahua Engine Plant in Mexico that currently makes four-cylinder engines will add diesel engines for light- and medium-duty trucks to its assembly lines, and that a brand new transmission plant will be built in Guanajuato in a joint-venture with Getrag. All told, Mexico will be getting a $3 billion investment from Ford and its suppliers, the largest ever automotive investment according to Ford, and around 4,500 new jobs will be created as a result.


PRESS RELEASE

FORD FIESTA PRODUCTION TO BEGIN IN EARLY 2010; EUROPEAN HATCHBACK ADDED FOR NORTH AMERICA

Ford Fiesta for North American customers will be produced at Ford's Cuautitlán Assembly Plant beginning in early 2010

Sporty European hatchback model added for North America, alongside popular sedan

Cuautitlán Assembly Plant transformed from large-truck to small-car production as part of Ford's manufacturing realignment and investment in smaller, fuel efficient vehicles

New diesel engine line at Chihuahua Engine Plant and a new joint venture transmission plant with Getrag in Guanajuato also planned
MEXICO CITY, May 30, 2008 – Ford Motor Company today announced the new Ford Fiesta small car for North America will be produced at the company's transformed Cuautitlán Assembly Plant beginning in early 2010 and a sporty European hatchback model is being added to the North American lineup alongside the popular sedan.

Transformation of the facility near Mexico City begins this year, as the plant is converted from its current production of F-Series pickups for the Mexican market to small cars for all of North America. The Chihuahua Engine Plant, which builds I-4 engines, also will assemble diesel engines for light- and medium-duty trucks in a variety of global markets. In addition, through a joint venture with Getrag (GFT), Ford will establish a new transmission plant in Guanajuato to support various Ford products. Company officials announced the trio of investments jointly with Mexico President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa.

The new multi-plant development effort represents a $3 billion U.S. investment, including the support of local suppliers. It is Mexico's largest ever automotive investment. The moves are expected to create approximately 4,500 Ford jobs. Together with all direct and indirect employment at suppliers, the moves affect 30,000 jobs in Mexico.

"Ford is absolutely committed to leveraging our global assets to accelerate the shift to more fuel-efficient small cars and powertrain technologies that people really want and value," said Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally, who was in Mexico for the announcement. "Our investments in these facilities in Mexico are part of our plan to further realign our manufacturing capacity in line with the introduction of more small cars and crossovers."

A small car concept called the Verve showcased the design direction for the new Fiesta when it debuted at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. Both sedan and hatchback models were displayed – with high praise from customers and the news media.

"Customers responded very positively after seeing both the sedan and hatchback versions of the Verve small car concept," said Mark Fields, president of The Americas, Ford Motor Company. "We know the market is headed toward more small cars and crossovers. With our product and manufacturing flexibility, we will be able to offer both models and add production capacity."

The New Ford Fiesta

When it goes on sale in North America in 2010, the new Fiesta will be bold and sophisticated – to help it clearly stand out from other small cars on the road. Ford is building on decades of small car leadership in Europe as it develops the new Fiesta for North America to appeal to increasingly savvy customers who value technology, design and fuel efficiency.

Momentum in small-car sales is outpacing overall industry growth worldwide. Globally, small car sales have grown from 23 million units in 2002 to an estimated 38 million in 2012.

Driving the growth in the North American market is a group of young people aged 13 to 28 years – dubbed "Millennials." Today, this group stands 1.7 billion strong worldwide and will represent 28 percent of the total U.S. population by 2010.

The Fiesta is the first of Ford's new global family of small cars set to debut in Europe and Asia later this year and next year – and in North America early in 2010.

"We're looking at every aspect of what's defined Ford as a small-car leader in Europe and working to build on this expertise in driving dynamics and design across a global family of Ford cars that are as exciting to drive as they are to look at," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford's group vice president, Global Product Development. "The Fiesta is designed to set a new world standard for quality, design, fuel economy and comfort in the small car segment."

Ford in Mexico

With this investment, Ford – the first automaker to establish operations in Mexico – is building on a manufacturing presence of more than 80 years and an equally long tradition of supporting local communities.

"This opportunity to strengthen our business and the local industry has been made possible through support from the federal and state governments," said Louise Goeser, president and CEO, Ford of Mexico. "We look forward to working together to drive continued success in the future."

Ford officials made the announcements in a joint event featuring President Calderón as well as Governors Enrique Peña Nieto, José Reyes Baeza and Juan Manuel Oliva Ramírez.

The total investment is expected to increase Ford of Mexico's annual production to nearly 500,000 vehicles and 330,000 engines by 2012, with nearly 80 percent of the vehicles and most of the engines slated for the North American market.

Today, Cuautitlán Assembly Plant makes trucks for the Mexican market, ranging from the Ford F-150 to the F-550. To meet future demand, trucks for Mexico will be imported from the U.S., making room for a new generation of small cars that are stylish and fun to drive.

Ford also has stamping and assembly plants in Hermosillo, Sonora, where the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln MKZ sedans are built. These mid-size cars are sold throughout North America as well as Venezuela and Brazil and have won numerous quality awards.

"Our workers at the Hermosillo plant have been a key part in boosting Ford's overall quality," Fields said. "Ford vehicles are among the best in the business in terms of initial quality, and we intend to keep raising the bar with each new product we bring to market, including Fiesta."

Pagani to make five street legal versions of the Zonda R

Zonda R

Back in February, we opined the fact that the production Pagani Zonda R, a track-only carbon fiber supercar powered by a 750-horsepower V12 to go along with its 1.2 million euro price tag, didn't make the trek to Geneva. It seemed at the time that there just weren't enough orders for the vehicle for Pagani to be able to offer it. That issue could soon be rectified, if rumors floating around on the Teamspead forums prove accurate. It seems that five roadgoing versions of the Zonda R will be created, known as the Zonda Cinque, which, appropriately enough, means five in Italian. Could this version of the Zonda be what we've seen testing in spy shots these last few months? It's hard to say for certain, but we do detect the pairs of triple headlights on both the spied cars and the supposed image above of the Cinque. Draw your own conclusions, but we think there is always room for another carbon fiber supercar in our dream garages.

Schumacher driving a Ferrari 430 Scuderia

The world greatest champion,Michael Schumacher, is driving one of the most powerful and beautiful cars in the world: the Ferrari 430 Scuderia.

The film was shot at the Fiorano test track in what seems to be a day out with the F1 champion for the Ferrari customers.

How do you think would you feel with Schumacher at the wheel?


Maserati MC12 by Edo Competition

Following on from Edo Competition's Enzo Ferrari we reported on yesterday, we can now bring you the Maserati MC12. The famed supercar tuner has tackled the MC12 on numerous occasions in the past including the 755hp MC12 Corsa, 800hp MC12 XX and the 700hp MC12 R therefore it comes as no shock to see yet another version which it being labelled as just a plain old MC12 this time.

The factory MC12 is based on the same chassis as the Ferrari Enzo but due to the extra weight the Maserati version is carrying, performance figures come in slightly lower than the prancing horse version. Edo looks to change this in their version by reducing the MC12's dry weight by 100kg whilst boosting the engine output up to 700hp bringing the performance figures up to the same level as the Edo Enzo with a 0-100km/h time of 3.5seconds and a top speed of 370km/h.

The FXX once again provides the inspiration for the MC12, but whereas the Edo where clever enough to leave the Enzo styling alone, the MC12 does benefit from a few exterior modifcations including a new livery and headlight covers.

Full Specifications

Engine

  • Engine V12
  • Power est. 700 hp (514 kW) at 8200 rpm
  • Max. torque est. 715 Nm (527 ft-lb) at 5800 rpm

Performance

  • Top speed > 370 km/h (230 mph)
  • 0 – 100 km/h (0 – 62 mph) est. 3.5s
  • 0 – 200 km/h (0 – 124 mph) est. 9.5s
  • 0 – 300 km/h (0 – 186 mph) est. 22.0s

Features

  • Power increase of 70 horsepower thanks to new exhaust headers like on the Ferrari FXX, highflow catalytic converter, performance muffler, modified intake system, new carbon fiber airbox like on the Maserati MC12 Corsa, high-flow air filters and ECU recalibration
  • Stainless steel muffler with adjustable remote-controlled butterfly-valve, new exhaust tips
  • Exhaust sound level adjustable at the push of a button
  • High-performance ceramic composite brake system with 396 mm (15.6 in.) front rotors and 360 mm (14.2in.) rear rotors, special brake pads front and rear
  • Wheels can be custom-painted on request
  • Tire pressure monitoring system displaying air pressure and tire temperature for each wheel
  • Makrolon headlight covers
  • Appearance modifications, for example different exterior color
  • Sport suspension for the road with adjustable compression and rebound damping like on the FIA GT MC12. Nose lift functionality is retained.
  • Air intakes in carbon fiber
  • Weight reduction of 100 kg (220 lb)!!
  • Special lightweight wheels with Michelin tires: front: 10 x 19 with 265/35 ZR 19 and rear: 13 x 20 with 335/30 ZR 20
  • New high-performance clutch. Extremely lightweight. Two different friction compounds selectable (strada/pista)
  • New rear wing, adjustable
  • New transmission control unit. Same shift times as on the Maserati MC12 Corsa

Another Beauty of the future...

Chevrolet Camaro - Concept Car

Wheels to HEAVEN...

Wheels to HEAVEN...
Wheels to HEAVEN..., originally uploaded by FotoManiac73.

2008 Nissan GTR - disc brakes with blue calipers

2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8

2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8
2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8, originally uploaded by wan ashraff.

muscle car

Car design with photoshop

Car design with photoshop
Car CG by Photoshop_20080530, originally uploaded by BSVISION.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

BBC asked to fire Clarkson for admitting to 186 mph joyride in Veyron

Clarkson

Here's a news flash: Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear fame sometimes drives really fast. But it isn't a speeding ticket that has landed Mr. Clarkson in hot water, it's a recent admission during an interview at the Hay Festival in Powys, Wales that he drove the insanely fast Bugatti Veyron 186 mph on public roads. The overly honest answer to the question "what's the fastest you've ever driven" has public safety activists asking for Clarkson's curly locks on a platter. Mary Williams of Brake called the TV star "offensive and irresponsible," and said that the BBC should fire him.

While we're big fans of Clarkson, driving 186 on public roads is incredibly dangerous both to himself and for others on the road. And doesn't Clarkson have an airport runway for going as fast as he wants whenever he wants? Having said that, he obviously didn't get caught doing anything wrong, and hasn't had a speeding ticket in 20 years, so calls for his job are more or less annoying and wishful thinking

Ferrari releases more photos of the California, now with the top up!

Ferrari California

he gang in Maranello is continuing to dribble out more imagery of the new Ferrari California roadster, now with the car now making its first appearance with its hard top up. This blue GT can be seen in the gallery below with the top up, down and halfway in between. Thankfully, in spite of the 2+ designation (whatever that means) the car still maintains two-seater proportions, so it doesn't have a ridiculously long rear deck. There has been plenty of discussion in the comments about the virtues of the California's design details, but the overall proportions are definitely classic GT the folding hard top manages not to screw that up.

Ferrari California

Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo recently had his first crack at driving the new car at the company's Fiorano test track and unsurprisingly came away feeling quite effusive about the newcomer. In the bosses words, "The California is, like all of our models, the epitome of cutting-edge innovation." The new hard top can apparently change state in a mere 14 seconds. Hopefully it will also prove to be more reliable than some other such examples. It's going to be a long summer of teasing from Ferrari before the California makes its debut at the Paris Motor Show in October. In the meantime, Ferrari's latest

Ferrari California

PRESS RELEASE

New photographs of the Ferrari California with roof
closed

FERRARI PRESIDENT LUCA DI MONTEZEMOLO TEST-DRIVES THE NEW CALIFORNIA:
"I'M THRILLED. IT'S A GREAT FERRARI THAT DELIVERS UNIQUE
DRIVING PLEASURE"


Maranello, 29th May 2008 – The new Ferrari California, 2+ convertible, had a very special "test-driver" behind its
wheel the last few days as the Prancing Horse President Luca di Montezemolo put it through its paces over several laps at the Fiorano circuit.

"I am very satisfied indeed with the work that the women and men of Ferrari have done," declared Luca di
Montezemolo. "The California is an extraordinary car and I was delighted with the performance, comfort and driving pleasure it delivered. The California is, like all of our models, the epitome of cutting-edge innovation. Its
gearbox, suspensions and chassis are the most advanced possible.

This is the first dual-purpose Spider/Coupé with a retractable hard top that closes in just 14 seconds.
Despite its extraordinary performance, the California 2+ is also exceptionally easy to drive and has a space
behind the front seats that makes it supremely flexible in terms of usage."

The latest photographs of the new Pininfarina-styled retractable hard top convertible released today show it
with its top closed and in an Azzurro California livery. Azzurro California was the colour chosen for the

legendary 1960s spider's appearance at the New York Auto Show in 1962 and proved one of the firm favourites with owners of that model too.

Like the rest of the current Prancing Horse range, the Ferrari California has been aerodynamically designed to
deliver significant downforce values – 70 kg at 200 Km/h, in fact.

This is the first time too that the new 7-speed dual clutch has been used on a Ferrari car. This technology is
the fruit of in-depth gear shifting systems research by the Scuderia Ferrari. The system utilised on the Ferrari
California cuts the gear shifting time to zero and enhances to the utmost the car's performance in terms of
comfort and driveability.

Performance is further boosted by the new Launch Control button which when hit delivers blistering high
performance starts by ensuring correct torque delivery and preventing tyre spin during acceleration.

The car is 4560 mm in length, 1900 mm wide and has a wheel base of 2700 mm.

The luggage capacity of the Ferrari California provides further proof of the versatility of this latest addition
to the Prancing Horse range: when the roof is up, the boot has a 360-litre capacity and a 260-litre capacity
when it is down.

For the first time on a Prancing Horse car, the boot and cabin communicate directly, allowing a choice of luggage
configurations to be used.

Particular attention was also paid to fuel consumption levels which in the case of the ECE combined cycle is
13.2 l/100 km with CO2 emission levels of around 310 g/km.

220 MPG Supercar in the works

220 MPG Supercar

Tesla who?! Forget about it! Hybrid Technologies is working on a new supercar using a gas-electric hybrid engine and that is supposed to hit 220 mpg—minimum.

The car is designed for the Automotive X Prize and will be built in two different versions: a gas-electric hybrid entrant for the contest and an all-electric for production. The company will unveil a prototype version in September.

"We’re looking for this car basically to end up mainstream—not just built for a one-and-done," says project development engineer Ron Cerven. "The X Prize car is going to be the purchasable—obviously a higher-end car, but there might be something else from us in the X Prize."

The all-electric model is aiming for a 150- to 180-mi. range per charge. The future supercar (name is not known yet!) will have the same performances as a Corvette ZR1.

The production version will be unveiled in late 2009, or early 2010

Ninco's June releases







Audi PS TT by PPI

PPI and WCF have a little bit of history together. Back in 2004 when WCF was still operating as GermanCarFans.com, we were the first to give coverage to a small new tuning firm from Germany who's first product was based on the first generation Audi TT, known as the PPI RS TT. The RS TT went on to become a top seller and the foundation for the success of this Audi tuning specialist from Swabia, Germany. Over the past 4 years PPI has evolved with a suite of products covering the entire Audi range. Their latest product, which was first shown in Essen this past December, now follows up on this success story, with the second generation named, PS TT.

In addition to the lift-reducing body kit, one standout feature is the windscreen spoiler. Take it or leave it, the rest of the package is quite tasteful consisting of a front apron, side skirts and rear fascia with integrated carbon fiber rear fascia diffuser, and rear spoiler.

Performance kit I for the 2.0 liter turbo FSI engine bumps output up to 180 kW / 245 bhp at 5100
rp. and 366 Nm torque between 1800 and 5000 rpm. 100 km/h (62 mph)arrives in 6.3 seconds which is 0.3 second faster than the stock TT. The PS TT is capable of a limited top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).

Ferrari Enzo by Edo Competition

When a tuner is ready to get down and dirty with the likes of the Maserati MC12, Porsche Carrera GT and the Lamborghini Murcièlago LP640 it pretty much says there is no challenge too much. In the case of supercar tuner Edo Compeition they certainly have crossed every boundary you could possibly with exception to the mother of the all – the Enzo Ferrari.

We can well and truly say that this boundary has been crossed with a new tuning package which boosts power output to an estimated 700hp and 715Nm of torque which achieved with new exhaust headers similar to those found on the Ferrari FXX, a high-flow catalytic converter, performance muffler, modified intakes with a ram-air system, high-flow air filters and ECU recalibration.

The impressive systems continue through the transmission system which gets the same shift times as the Ferrari FXX helped by its new high performance clutch. It also features an adjustable sport suspension system coupled with lightweight 19'' front and 20'' rear wheels complete with a Tire pressure monitoring system.


The Edo Competition Enzo Ferrari launches from 0-100km/h in just 3.5 seconds, hitting 200km/h after 9.5 seconds and 300km/h at 22 seconds flat. Maximum speed lies at 370 km/h.

Porsche 911 Targa by VeloTech

Back in 2006 most Porsche fans were rubbing their hands in anticipation of the new Porsche 911 Targa but some were left disappointed to discover the 911 Targa only had a large sliding roof rather than an actual removable roof.

VeloTech of Paso Robles, California in the USA has the solution for roughly USD 10,000 and can transform your current 911 Convertible to be a true targa. The new carbon fiber roof can be partly removed to reveal the roll-cage / B pillar and wrap-around rear window. VeloTech, a Euro brand turbo-charger firm, announced at last year's SEMA show that if they can drop the price to USD 6,000 the demand will follow.

The targa came about after US government set some strict safety regulations in the 1960's about top-down driving which made it impossible car manufacturers to continue making traditional cloth-top convertibles. In due time manufacturers raised the safety of their soft-top convertibles to meet the new safety regulations resulting in the return of the cabrio.