Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Frankfurt: Volkswagen E-Up!

Volkswagen E-Up! Concept

Cute little city car, here we come! That’s the first thought when you see Volkswagen’s new zero emissions E-Up! concept. The company has high hopes for the car and has described it the “Beetle of the 21st Century”.

Tipping the scales at a releatively light 1085 kilograms the E-Up! has one basic fundamental right, low weight. When you consider the car’s Lithium-ion battery is a hefty 240kg that’s actually some achievement.

With an electrical charging point hidden behind the bonnet mounted VW emblem the 60kW/210Nm powered E-Up! can be recharged in around 5 hours. To ease the load on the engine, the car’s eletrical system is powered, in part, by the car’s solar roof panels. Even the interior sun visors are fitted with solar cells that can supplement power generation by flipping them out towards the sun. Those Germans think of everything!

It seems marketers can too, given they came up with the label Human Machine Interface (HMI) for the car’s interior controls. In addition to the expected monitoring of available charge remaining and usual heating and lighting controls, the HMI has some pretty nifty features, including remote capability that allows the use of an iPhone to commence recharging. Ideal for taking advantage of off-peak electricity charges.

At just 3.19 metres in length, the E-Up! uses flexible seating arrangements to maximise its practicality. Volkswagen describes the E-Up! as being a 3+1 seater. Mainly because the passenger’s seat sits a couple of inches further forward, offering more rear seat legroom behind the front passenger. The seating position behind the driver is best suited to a small child, or it could be used as extra cargo space.

Volkswagen expects the E-Up! to be ready for launch in 2013. Heaps more after the jump.

Volkswagen E-Up! Concept

Volkswagen E-Up! Concept

Volkswagen E-Up! Concept

Volkswagen E-Up! Concept

Monday, September 14, 2009

2010 Honda CR-V European version

2010 Honda CR-V
2010 Honda CR-V

Honda CR-V comes with a new look, a new diesel engine, and an automatic gearbox for diesel models. Its unique “car-like” handling characteristics have made the model very popular and the refined 2010 Honda CR-V is sure to be a hit too. It will feature a distinctive new front bumper and grille, a revised rear bumper, and color-coded bumpers on EX grades.

Providing for an even more premium finish are the newly designed 17-inch (SE) and 18-inch (ES and EX) alloy wheels and upgraded fabrics and plastics inside. A new audio console design has also been introduced, while improved sound deadening around the engine and cabin makes the CR-V an even quieter and more relaxing car to drive. Continued after the jump!


The CR-V will be powered by a new diesel engine, the same 2.2-litre i-DTEC which debuted in the latest Accord in 2008. It produces 150PS at 4000rpm (up 10PS) and torque of 350Nm at 2000rpm (up 10Nm). From the launch in 2010, the smooth and refined diesel automatic transmission will be available on all CR-V model grades.

All engines in the CR-V line-up are designed to meet Euro 5 legislation. The SUV segment active safety systems — the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) — continue to be available. Three new paint colors are available for the 2010 CR-V – Premium White Pearl, Urban Titanium and Alabaster Silver.

2010 Honda CR-V

Vw L1 Concept - Frankfurt Motor Show

Volkswagen 250 MPG car

vw_il.jpg

Vw L1 Concept
Vw L1 Concept


This is the latest concept from the German manufacturer dubbed Vw L1 Concept, the so-called 1-litre car because it is capable to travel 100km on one litre of fuel. The new two-seater is programmed to make its official debut at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show but leaked photos appeared on the internet before the official event. Apparently, the car is powered by a 29bhp two-cylinder diesel linked to a seven-speed DSG gearbox and weighs around 380kg. With these numbers the car is capable to show a fuel consumption of just 1.2 litres per 100km (189.6mpg). Of course, the idea is not new… Volkswagen originally shows the one-litre concept back in 2002 but due to the fact that the materials were to expensive to build it, the production was abandoned.

Supercar Sports Zenvo ST1 From Danish

Danish boutique automaker Zenvo Automotive had exactly one goal in mind when it designed the ST1 hyper-exotic: build “a real supercar with excessive power.”

supercar-sports-zenvo-st1-a

By any measure, it succeeded. The startup’s first car purportedly produces a mind-boggling 1,104 horsepower, easily besting the Bugatti Veyron but falling just shy of the Shelby Supercars Ultimate Aero. But anything the ST1 lacks in horsepower against the Aero, it more than makes up for in sheer audacity.
Simply put, the Zenvo ST1 redefines excessive.

supercar-sports-zenvo-st1-b

Everything about the car is blatantly, wonderfully over the top, from its turbocharged and supercharged 7.0-liter V-8 to the acres of carbon fiber that cover its race-spec chassis. Options include ceramic brakes (a wise investment), carbon-fiber wheels and a four-point roll cage.

supercar-sports-zenvo-st1-c

Top speed is limited to 233 mph, which isn’t enough to earn the ST1 a spot in the top five fastest cars but will let you cover the length of Denmark in just under an hour. Besides, it isn’t top speed that makes super exotics so much fun, it’s acceleration, something the ST1 has in abundance. The car reportedly will hit 62 mph in three seconds flat and get you to 124 mph in under nine.

supercar-sports-zenvo-st1-d

Zenvo started work on the ST1 four years ago and says it will go into production next year. That seems about as likely as Chrysler surviving past Christmas, but the 15 people rich enough to get one won’t mind waiting around.

supercar-sports-zenvo-st1-e

Sunday, September 13, 2009

2009 Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar

2009 Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar


2009 Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar



The Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar has been developed from the award-winning Evora road car and is built to FIA regulations and safety standards.

The Type 124 (pronounced One Twenty Four) Endurance Racecar is the next step in the evolution of the Evora. The car will make its 24 hour racing debut at the ADAC Nürburgring 24 Hours which provides a great test for the Evora's performance, efficiency and durability under tough and demanding endurance race conditions.

At the heart of the Lotus Evora are fundamental racecar elements: mid-engine layout, high-tech and super-stiff extruded and bonded aluminium chassis and very strong lightweight forged aluminium wishbones. All these elements mean that it is a natural evolution from the road going Lotus Evora to a competitive endurance racecar.

From the outset the design team had intentions to take the Evora racing and the chassis was designed with this in mind. Endurance races are the perfect events to showcase the efficiency, handling and durability characteristics that have been fundamental to the concept of the Evora.

The Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar has a race-tuned version of the mid-mounted Toyota V6 engine, with power increased to over 400 ps (depending on race regulations). Vehicle mass is expected to be reduced by up to 200 kg, bringing the weight of the racecar to less than 1200 kg (depending on race regulations).

Further changes for the Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar include a six speed sequential paddle shift racing gearbox, full FIA specification roll cage, FIA-compliant 120 litre ATL fuel system, FIA fire extinguisher system, competition carbon fibre rear wing, diffuser and front splitter.

The racecar is fitted with AP Racing 6 piston callipers front and rear, with a race-tuned Bosch ABS system, 4-way adjustable dampers and adjustable anti-roll bars. The racecar runs on 18" rims shod with Pirelli racing slicks and the wheels widths have been increased over the roadcar to 9 ½ J on the front and 11 J on the rear.

The aerodynamically efficient Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar body design, made from lightweight composite and carbon fibre panels, remains predominantly unchanged from the road car, with the only modifications being to the lower sections of the front and rear clamshells and the side sills.

Luke Bennett, Director of Lotus Cars Limited, said, "Motorsport has been in our blood ever since our founder, Colin Chapman, built the first Lotus back in 1948. We are proud of our motorsport history, which includes victories in Formula One, Le Mans, saloon car, rally car and sportscar racing around the world; more recently, we won the British GT3 Championship in 2006 with the Lotus Exige. The Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar is from the same unique stable and we expect it to be a competitive racecar when we enter various endurance races next year."

Roger Becker, Vehicle Engineering Director for Group Lotus Plc said, "Every Lotus car is designed to be at home on the race track as well as the road, and the Evora is no different. Designed primarily as an everyday road car, the Evora's lightweight and stiff structure, its aerodynamics and performance means that it is perfectly suited to taming race tracks around the world, and we are looking forward to seeing the new Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar line up on the grid for the 2010 season."

The racecar is expected to compete in a number of endurance races in 2010/ 2011 forming part of a factory-supported race program. The races that are targeted are: The 2010 ADAC Nürburgring 24 Hours (Nürburgring Nordschleife, Germany) in May 2010, Merdeka Millennium 12 Hours (Sepang, Malaysia) in August 2010, BritCar 24 Hours (Silverstone, UK) in October 2010 and the Dubai 24 Hours (Dubai Autodrome, UAE) January 2011.
2009 Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar

2011 McLaren MP4-12C successor to the mighty McLaren F1

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

McLaren has officially unveiled the highly anticipated 2011 MP4-12C.

Set to become the first "modern" McLaren, the car features dynamic styling that was purposely designed to be timeless and relevant for years to come. While the end result looks kind of generic from certain angles, McLaren points out that virtually every aspect was designed to be fully functional. Obviously the car features a little McLaren magic, but that's mostly limited to the F1-inspired dihedral doors and air scoops that resemble the McLaren logo. Out back, the car features LED taillights and unique center-mounted dual exhaust tips.

Inside, the MP4-12C boasts a luxurious cabin with a slim center console (with an "Active Dynamics" control panel), a 7-inch touch screen, and attractive sport seats. Other design features include a low cowl for improved visibility, a button-less sports steering wheel, and door-mounted climate control knobs.

Power comes from a mid-mounted 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, which produces around 600 bhp and 600 Nm of torque. Thanks to a dry sump and a flat plane crankshaft, the engine can be placed extremely low in the chassis for a low center of gravity and improved handling. Backed up by a seven-speed "Seamless Shift" dual clutch gearbox (with normal, sport and high performance modes), the MP4-12C promises to deliver "new standards for power and performance in its sector."

While the company failed to provide performance data, they stated that they focused on "useable measures such as in-gear acceleration times, braking performance, the efficiency of power delivery, and achieving the lowest possible fuel consumption and CO2 emissions."

As you would expect, McLaren drew heavily on their racing knowledge when developing the MP4-12C. For example, the car rides on an 80 kg (176 lbs) one-piece carbon fiber chassis - dubbed the Carbon MonoCell - which was specially designed to be lightweight, strong, and durable. The supercar also features an advanced Brake Steer system, which helps to cancel out understeer when entering corners as well as providing improved traction on the way out. Other performance features include forged aluminum brake hubs, an Airbrake system and a Pre-Cog transmission function that "primes" the gearbox for the next shift.

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

2010 Ford Grand C-Max leaked ahead of Frankfurt debut

2010 Ford Grand C-Max (Leaked)

2010 Ford Grand C-Max leaked ahead of Frankfurt debut
Joining the 2010 Ford C-Max at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show next week will be the new 2010 Ford Grand C-Max, a larger, seven-seater version of the minivan. Images of the larger C-Max were leaked on to the web earlier today.

Design wise, the Grand C-Max looks very similar to the regular C-Max but longer. Power will come from the same 1.6L 4-cylinder Ford EcoBoost with direct injection. No output figures have been released but as mentioned before, the 4-cylinder EcoBoost originally made its debut in the Lincoln C Concept producing 180-hp.

http://www.egmcartech.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/ford_grand_cmax_leak_images_006.jpg