American Car Breaks World Speed Record

SSC Ultimate Aero
view slideshow >For the first time since 1967, the Guinness World Record for “Fastest Production Car” belongs to an American automobile. Guinness has officially confirmed that Shelby Supercars’ Ultimate Aero hit 256.19 miles per hour on a remote highway in Washington last month.

A local 71-year-old car enthusiast named Chuck Bigelow drove the Ultimate Aero to the new world record

The Ultimate Aero shattered the record previously held by the Swedish Koenigsegg CCR by 15 mph. Bugatti claims that its Veyron 16.4 has hit 253.52 mph, but the number is unofficial and not recognized by Guinness.
The 2,750-pound Ultimate Aero was able to topple the record thanks to a twin-turbocharged V8 engine turning out 1183 horsepower and 1094 pound-feet of torque. Highly developed aerodynamics to help keep the vehicle stable at extremely high speeds. The Ultimate Aero is exceedingly low to the ground — so low that there’s a switch in the cabin that lifts the front of the car four inches to help it better navigate uneven surfaces. (The Ferrari Enzo has a similar feature.)
Jerod Shelby said that the Ultimate Aero was in development for six years and was explicitly designed with the “Fastest Production Car” record in mind. “As a smaller U.S.-based manufacturer, the difficulty is to gain credibility and legitimize your product," he said." Six years ago we knew that the best way to do this would be to go for the speed record in order to put ourselves on the map."
To qualify for Guinness' production car speed record, the Ultimate Aero had to be fueled by pump gasoline (as opposed to extra-high-octane fuel used in race cars), plus meet all Department of Transportation safety regulations and Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards.

SSC Ultimate Aero
view slideshow >
Guinness requires cars competing for the record to make two passes over the same course within one hour. They then average the speeds achieved on both runs. The Ultimate Aero’s driver, Bigelow, hit 257.45 mph on his first pass, then 254.92 on the way back.
The temporarily closed highway on which the Ultimate Aero was tested was a relatively short course that may have prevented it from achieving its true potential, as wind tunnel testing has shown the Ultimate Aero to be stable up to 273 mph. SSC hopes to someday test the Ultimate Aero out on a Volkswagen-owned test track in Ehra-Lessien, Germany, where the Koenigsegg and Bugatti were able to make their marks on a 5.6-mile straightaway

They company has sold seven of the $579,000 Ultimate Aeros out of a production run of 50. The car went on sale this year.

The last American car to break Guinness' production-car speed record was the Ford GT40, thirty years ago.

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General Motors Recalls 944,000 Vehicles

A problem with the windshield wiper-fluid system in various GM vehicles could lead to a fire

General Motors is recalling 944,000 vehicles because of a problem with a windshield wiper fluid system that could lead to a fire.

More than 850,000 sport utility vehicles, trucks and passenger cars in the United States and nearly 100,000 vehicles in Canada, Mexico and the Middle East are involved in the recall, the company said.
GM said it includes the 2008 Buick Enclave, 2006-2008 Buick Lucerne, 2006-2008 Cadillac DTS, 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade ESV, 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade EXT, 2007-2008 Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Tahoe and Suburban, 2007-2008 GMC Acadia, Sierra, Yukon and Yukon XL, 2006-2008 Hummer H2 and 2007-2008 Saturn Outlook.
The recall involves vehicles with a heated washer fluid system. A short circuit in the system could cause electrical features to malfunction, which could lead to an odor, smoke or potentially a fire.
GM spokeswoman Carolyn Markey said there have been nine reports of fires and three of them have been linked to the system. There have been no accidents or injuries connected to the defect, she said.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation last February into 2007 Yukon and Tahoe vehicles over potential engine compartment fires. In June, the highway safety agency upgraded its investigation into about 2.7 million 2007-2008 GM trucks and SUVs and reported allegations of 41 engine fires.
Dealers will install a wire harness with an in-line fuse to fix the problem free of charge, GM said.

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Sharpest Cat Since the E-Type: 2009 Jaguar XF Supercharged

Jack Kennedy lived in the White House and Alan Shepard was preparing to become America’s first man in space when England rolled out a missile of its own, a land-bound two-door wearing a monocoque so fetching, no less an authority than Enzo Ferrari dubbed it the most beautiful car he’d ever seen.

Jaguar called it the E-Type. And from that launch day in 1961 through the fourteen years of production that followed, the E-Type not only defined the Jaguar brand -- sexy, aristocratic, sporty, suave -- it set a standard for elegance and style that perhaps no other automobile before or since has matched.Then Jaguar dropped the sexy ball. Like a film star who trades the gym and the tofu for the La-Z-Boy and the Big Macs, Jaguar almost callously abandoned its well-earned place in the style spotlight. The 1975 XJ-S was a dubious E-Type follow-up, the E’s cigar-like purity stomped on by flying buttresses. By 1986 the lithe XJ sedan had ballooned into the blocky XJ40. Outright disasters like the “baby” X-Type followed.

Of late Jaguar has struggled back into shape. The XJ sedan has returned to fashionable form, and the two-door XK delivers a thoroughly rewarding sports/GT experience. But it’s Jaguar’s newest model, the XF four-door, that most recalls the flair and sex appeal of Jag’s E-Type era.We’ve now got a new, top-level XF Supercharged in our long-term test fleet; I’m saddled with the not-so-difficult chore of official chaperone. And now that I’ve rolled a good chunk of miles under its wheels, I’m even more taken by the new Jag than I was after a preview drive at the car’s launch. You want some of that old-time romance and sex appeal in your driving? The XF beckons.
What stands out most about this new Jaguar? It’s true to itself, plays it own game. Jaguar hasn’t tried to emulate BMW or Mercedes-Benz or Audi. Ian Callum’s design looks fresh, its grille a nod to the ’68 XJ but its lines otherwise as modern and distinctive as anything in its class. The XF cockpit doesn’t sport a clone of iDrive or COMAND or MMI, either; Jaguar uses a simple touchscreen.

Would BMW or Mercedes build a car with a heartbeat? Not likely. The XF’s red starter button flickers to life -- seemingly beating -- when you enter; press it, and the hidden dashboard vents twirl open as the circular transmission selector rises up from center console. It’s intentionally showy, perhaps an unnecessary drum roll of pizzazz, but Jaguar pulls it off. Right away, the XF feels different. Special.

The powertrain lives up to the flourish of the opening act. The base car boasts a none-too-shabby 300 horsepower from its naturally aspirated, DOHC 4.2-liter V-8, but in blown and intercooled form the 4.2 gushes with the excess we do so adore. Output climbs to 420 giddy ponies, enough to blast the XF to 60 mph in well under five seconds. (Not that anyone buying a $63,000 automobile would care, but EPA city/highway is a very decent 15/23 mpg.) The V-8 mates to the brilliant ZF six-speed automatic that also serves in other Jags, Astons, and Land Rovers; rotate the gear selector into Sport mode and you’ve got full manual shifts on tap via tidy paddle tabs behind the steering wheel.
Jaguar rightfully earned a reputation long ago for chassis finesse, and the XF draws deep from the well of corporate history. Chief engineer Mike Cross has fashioned a handling marvel, the XF alive with steering feel, tire grip, and chassis balance. Squeeze on the throttle mid-corner and the XF gooses its rear-end to the outside as the front tires bite harder to the inside. Fourteen-inch front binders inside the 20-inch alloys let you carry speed deep into the braking zone. A rigid composite undertray helps the chassis shrug off cornering stresses.
Yes, your passengers were suckered aboard by the lure of all that luscious leather, aluminum, and wood (not to mention, a 440-watt Bowers & Wilkins audio system that has them attempting to stand while applauding), but now they’re furiously fumbling for the grab handles while their tea and crumpets do a Shake ‘n Bake inside the cabin. A stripped-bare sports car couldn’t make much better time on a mountain road than this otherwise pampering XF Supercharged.

That’s the thing: The XF Supercharged runs like hell when you’re in the mood, and when you’re not it’s all elegance and serve-you-well. The standard CATS adaptive suspension tightens up to pull off those extraordinary moves in the squigglies but creams off the impacts at cruise. Ventilated, heated and cooled front seats are standard. Your iPod syncs up fully to the audio system via a standard audio interface. At night the cabin becomes a nightclub, pumping tunes from the B&W woofers and soaked in the cool sheen of phosphor-blue gauge and halo lighting.
The XF Supercharged revives every hallmark from Jaguar’s storied past. From its easy saunter to its fury when you’re charging to its flair for making a grand entrance, the XF Supercharged stands to go down as a landmark model in the company’s history, like the E-Type transmitting to automotive rivals a steely communique from Coventry, England.In this case, it’s saying, “Jaguar is Jaguar again.”

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Britney Spears – Drives a Mercedes SLR McLaren and a CLK.

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Paris Hilton – Owns a Mercedes Benz SLR

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Samuel Jackson drives a Maybach 57 S

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Pierce Brosnan ride

aston martin vanquish s

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Mercedes build jeep chrookee engine

Mercedes-benz builds the torquey 3.0-liter common-rail turbodiesel that's under the hood of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD. You're going to hear MORE about that when the sport/utility goes on sale in the first quarter of 2007-Chrysler Group won't be shy about the DaimlerChrysler connection.

We got a limited drive in the Grand Cherokee CRD and can report it's a much better Jeep diesel than the discontinued Liberty CRD, which Chrysler says sold beyond expectations. The Liberty's turbodiesel was an ancient four that won't meet stringent new NOx standards. The Grand Cherokee's Benz diesel is a quiet, smooth V-6 that comes to the States first this fall in the Mercedes E320CDI.

It's a worthy first diesel in a U.S.-market full-size SUV, good for off-roaders or those who need to tow up to 7400 pounds. Jeep will deliver each G.C. CRD with five-percent biodiesel from its Jefferson Avenue assembly plant in Detroit. It's not gas-engine smooth; you'll feel some shake in the steering wheel. But from inside, there's no smell and little noise to hint at the fuel you're using. Estimated EPA is 19/23 mpg.

The engine has to wind up past 2000 rpm for the turbo to do any serious work, so low-end torque isn't great, and with the diesel's early 4500-rpm redline, you run through the torque band and the five automatic gears quickly. It offers good sport/utility performance, which means it can get you into traffic easily, but it won't be mistaken for a performance vehicle. The engine makes 215 horsepower at 3800 rpm and 376 pound-feet at 1600 to 2800 rpm.

The Grand Cherokee has been on sale with a Mercedes turbodiesel in Europe since the 2005 model year, so import to the U.S. is a no-brainer. And if it does well here, the engine might find its way into other U.S. Chrysler products, including the 300. What's more, it looks like the first in an onslaught of European diesels in U.S.-market SUVs.

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George coloney tango 600

george coloney with his tango electric

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Brad pitt BMW hydrogen 7

brad pitt has a bmw hydrogen 7 and he likes it most

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Wearable motorcycle

The transportation program at the Art Center College of Design has produced legendary car designers, including BMW chief of design Chris Bangle and Henrik Fisker, the creator of the Fisker Karma electric supercar. But this year, after professor Bumsuk Lim’s inaugural motorcycle-design class, the buzz is all about bikes, especially Jake Loniak’s exoskeleton motorcycle concept Deus Ex Machina.

At Ease: Once the bike is parked, the rider can strap it on like a suit. Nick Kaloterakis; design © Jake Loniak at Art Center College of Design; no reproduction or redistribution without prior written consent

Actually, to call Deus a “motorcycle” is a bit of a stretch. It would stand vertically when parked, so that the rider can step in and strap the bike on like a full-body suit. A computer would interpret the rider’s body movements, translate those into directional commands for the motorcycle, and steer the bike using 36 pneumatic muscles (artificial muscles made by the German company Festo that inflate or deflate to change the direction). “It’s like riding two skateboards at once, but stable, because the machine supports the rider’s body,” Loniak explains. These two skateboards, however, would be powered by lithium-ion batteries and ultracapacitors and capable of hitting 75 mph. “I never envisioned this as a commuter,” he says. “This is a sport bike.”

WHAT’S NEXT

Deus exists only in a few deceptively realistic computer illustrations, but Loniak is confident that it can be built. “I believe a working prototype could be made, but it would take a great deal of time and engineering,” he says. The basic technology already exists; the Watertown, Massachusetts, start-up A123 is already selling the lithium-ion batteries Loniak wants to use, and a number of companies are developing ultracapacitors for electric cars and hybrids. “This isn’t fantasy,” he says. “It’s a green vehicle, and all of the numbers are based in the real world.”

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its Dodge electric

Not to be outdone by GM's Chevy Volt hoopla last week, Chrysler today revealed three prototypes from its own electric-car program earlier today on CNBC. Who knew Chrysler had an electric-car program? Practically no one. But the company calls it ENVI, pronounced "envy," and the first consumer product from the program could appear as early as 2010.

Each of the cars revealed are electric-drive vehicles, one of which is an all-electric sports car with more than just a visual connection to the Tesla Roadster. It's called the Dodge EV, and by the looks of it, Dodge has appropriated the body and chassis of the Lotus Europa, a mid-engine GT car not sold in the U.S. Chrysler isn't discussing where it got the rolling stock, but it is talking about the drive system. The two-passenger, rear-wheel-drive speedster is powered by a 200 kW (268 horsepower) electric motor, an advanced lithium-ion battery, and an integrated power controller. The electric-drive motor produces 480 pound-feet of torque, which can take the Dodge EV from zero to 60 mph in less than five seconds, on to a top speed of more than 120 mph.

The other two vehicles -- the Chrysler EV minivan and the Jeep EV Wrangler four-door -- share a similar powertrain setup as the Chevrolet Volt. That is, an electric motor drives the wheels and a small gas engine is assigned to charging the batteries as needed, and providing enough power to extend the cars' electric range. Like Chevrolet, Chrysler isn't calling these cars hybrids (though most engineers refer to such systems as "series hybrid") -- rather they're "range-extended electric vehicles."

Chrysler says it intends to bring at least one of the electric-drive vehicles to market by 2010 to consumers in North America, and later in Europe.

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Lamborghini - nokia cellphone

Nokia and Lamborghini have teamed up to create the limited edition Lamborghini Nokia 8800 Sirocco cellphone. Expect features like the 262k color TFT scratch-resistant display, a 2 megapixel camera, 128MB of internal memory, and Bluetooth connectivity to remain along with cosmetic changes like specially made Lamborghini ball bearings which are used in the slider mechanism. Additional bonuses include a range of Lamborghini themes and ring tones as well as a video documentary. This limited run will see just 500 handsets available worldwide, adding to its already sky high desirability.

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Lamborghini asus Laptop

“ASUS-Lamborghini VX1 is an extreme and spectacular expression of the ASUS and Lamborghini spirit that, with the look alone, exudes power, speed, strength and beauty. Enjoy revolutionary entertainment on the go - ASUS-Lamborghini VX1- with Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology”

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Bugatti veyron the Sequal four door sedan

Bugatti's next model will be a million-dollar sedan. Having relaunched the brand with the Veyron, a car that'll never make money, Bugatti's plan is to defray the immense cost of developing the W-16 engine, seven-speed DSG transmission, and all-wheel-drive system by reusing them in a front-engine platform.

Bugatti chairman Thomas Bscher says the new car will use a structure of mixed materials--aluminum and carbon composites. The Veyron has steel end frames, a carbon tub, and part-aluminum skin. Once Bugatti designs a new platform, it can spawn sedan, coupe, and convertible bodies.

The aerodynamics will be much easier to arrange because top speed will be limited. The turbos will be smaller for better engine response, reducing horsepower to about 950. To meet LEV2 requirements, the engine will switch to direct gasoline injection. Although some of the engineering can be scaled back because the top speed will be lower, it's unlikely the new car can be any lighter than the Veyron because of additional wheelbase and luxury equipment.

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Toyota IQ concept 2009

has developed an all-new, innovative compact-vehicle architecture. First seen on the new iQ, the tiny front-engine four-seat car that's barely a foot longer than a smart fortwo and goes on sale in Europe and Japan this winter, this architecture will form the basis for the next-generation Yaris, a seven-seat microvan, and a hybrid to challenge the CY 2009 Honda Insight.

The iQ's chief engineer, Hiroki Nakajima, says there are six major packaging innovations in the new range of cars:

• The differential has been moved to the front side of the engine, which is itself canted forward. This has the effect of moving the wheels forward and with them the driver's feet by nearly 5 in.


• A new steering rack is mounted high on the firewall. To accommodate this, an all-new wiper motor and mechanism had to be built.
• The fuel tank is a flat, book-thin reservoir under the rear passengers' feet.
• The climate-control unit has been made more compact (though not de-powered) and its blower moved from ahead of the passenger to above the unit. This allowed an asymmetric dash to be created, which lets the front passenger slide forward and donate more space to the one behind.
• The seatbacks have a strong perimeter frame but ultrathin centers, creating more rear-seat knee room.
• Repositioning the engine ancillaries around the suspension allows a turning radius of just 154 in.

All this was expensive, requiring numerous new components in place of the usual generics: differential, fuel pump and sender, wiper system, HVAC, seats, and door and window systems. It perhaps explains why it hasn't been done before and why Toyota will need to defray the commodity costs across several high-volume lines of cars.

That need for volume production is why the iQ is all-steel. It's heavy for its size at 1900 lb, because the crash structures are sized for a seven-seater and a weightier hybrid. There are 12 airbags in the iQ, including rear windshield bags because the rear passengers are so close to the back of the car.

In the 2011 Yaris, the packaging improvements will make for a spacious subcompact to take the fight to the Honda Fit. Toyota will have the iQ-derived small hybrid on sale about a year after the next-generation Prius makes its debut. The company intends to build a million hybrids a year from 2010.

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Make Faster calls with Lamborghini cell phone

Though automotive product tie-ins can be a mixed bag, with examples like Mercedes' Motorsport clothing collection, Audi's set of golf clubs, Pagani's high-end stereo, and the Ferrari-branded clock radio for $2995, car companies have leant their logos to thousands of products over the years. Now Lamborghini, which already has a popular merchandise line covering everything from clothes to laptop computers to (jokingly) sick bags, has put its stamp on a new must-have gadget -- a Windows smart phone.
Finished in yellow and black, the new Asus ZX1 smart phone measures 4.5 inches tall, 2.3 inches wide, and half an inch thick, and features Lamborghini script on its face. The device's back is stainless steel and carbon fiber, and includes the automaker's signature shield logo in its center. Running a version of Windows Mobile 6.1 with Asus' new "Glide" user interface, the phone includes a 2.5-inch touch screen interface and boasts some impressive multimedia capabilities. And with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, a MicroSD expansion slot, and two cameras on hand, the 3G device should be more than capable of handling any enterprise situation as well.Featuring both work and weekend modes that are fully customizable, the phone's UI also has a distinct Sant'Agata Bolognese theme, including meters that resemble boost gauges and a tachometer clock. No word on pricing at the moment, but considering that Lamborghini's current Nokia mobile sells for 1350 Euros, don't expect the new cutting-edge smart phone to come cheap. Then again if you have to go on a business trip and leave your LP640 in the garage, with the ZX1 in your pocket you can be reminded of its 631 horsepower every time you call home

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Lamborghini sprayed Plasma Coating on exhaust of Reventon

Lamborghini has equipped the F22 Raptor-inspired $1.4 million Reventon exotic car with a high-tech exhaust treatment by Zircotec originally developed for the nuclear industry. The Diamond Black plasma-sprayed coating functions as a thermal barrier, minimizing heat transfer from the tailpipes and protecting the hot Reventon bodywork from burning.
The special coating is more durable than paint, and, important on a car like the Reventon, works well from a style sense.

"The Zircotec coating was the only coating that satisfied all our requirements," said Luca Meschiari, Head of Exhausts at Lamborghini. "[It] offers significantly better performance than any other solution we have seen."The coating has been used in Formula 1, World Rally, and classic cars, and seems like a fitting functional upgrade to the top Lamborghini.The above photo of the Lamborghini Reventon is from Motor Trend's wallpaper gallery.

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BMW might have sent the X7 to the gallows due to high gas prices, but that's not stopping the German automaker from seeking to capitalize on the popularity of the X6 with a smaller variant. According to CAR magazine, BMW has a small "sports activity coupe" in the works based on the upcoming X1, which itself is based on the 1 Series.
But wait, there's more! It's believed that the X2 will be a two-door 'ute instead of a four-door. It's been years since a two-door SUV of any size has been sighted in a dealer showroom rather than the used-car lot, though the two-door layout will give the sports-activity coupe moniker more legitimacy. At least that's if BMW had planned on using that term for it. According to CAR, the proposed marketing speak slogan for the X2 will be "sports activity runabout." That sound you just heard were thousands of groans in unison. On the plus side, a possible "coupe" variant of the X3 that was to be called the X4 got the axe along with the X7, per the British magazine.Should the X2 get the green light, which is expected to be decided next year, it would arrive sometime in 2011, possibly as a 2012 model. Like the X1, it will be equipped with BMW's xDrive AWD system and will share powertrains with the 1 Series. It's expected to cost a few thousand more than a comparably equipped X1, which will run slightly higher than a 1 Series. Expect the starting point to be in the mid-$30,000s.

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New Alpina d3,burns more rubber ,less gas

The German tuner Alpina has been creating BMWs with an extra level of performance and luxury since 1965, forging such a close relationship with the Munich automaker that its cars are sold in BMW dealerships and covered by factory warranties. But unlike tuners that improve a car by shoving the biggest engine they can find under its hood, Alpina has always looked to power-to-weight ratios and tweaking existing equipment to gain extra speed. Keeping with this philosophy, the automaker is introducing a new model that emphasizes both speed and efficiency -- the D3 Bi-Turbo Coupe.
Working with the diesel mill originally found in the European-market 123d, Alpina's adjustments only manage to boost output by 10 horsepower (from 204 to 214), but are good for a whopping 37 lb-ft. of additional torque, making 332 lb-ft. in total. With the powerplant installed in BMW's larger 3 Series coupe, the D3 Bi-Turbo can reach 62 mph in 6.9 seconds and manage a 152-mph top speed -- admittedly not supercar fast, but unlike other Alpinas this car is meant to strike a balance between performance and fuel economy, an increasingly important issue given the rising cost of gas. Despite the added power, with a combined 52.3 mpg (for the manual transmission model) the D3 suffers only a two mpg penalty against the smaller 1 Series diesel coupe. A comparable 330d coupe from BMW makes 231 horsepower and 369 lb-ft. of torque from its diesel, but with Alpina's goal of "added lightness" both cars have a similar power to weight ratio, and the 330d is only .3 seconds faster to 62 mph (at 6.6 seconds). In addition with the 330d managing just 43.5 mpg on the EU combined cycle, the Alpina gets an impressive 8.8 more miles per gallon with little more than a slight penalty in speed. Though some Alpina-tuned cars are available in the U.S. (in very small numbers), unfortunately the D3 Bi-Turbo won't be one of them. A limited number of cars will be produced, with only 100 going to the UK market. However as more American drivers begin to value good fuel-economy as much as raw power, the time could soon be right for a tuner that can perform at the pump as well as the track.

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BMW CEO confirm new electric compact car mini crossover

BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer has finally confirmed that the Munich-based automaker is developing an all-new ultra compact city car said to adhere to the forthcoming stringent emissions standards in the U.S. and Europe. Initial speculation pegs the car to be at dealerships by 2012.
As first reported by Autocar back in April, BMW engineers were said to have been testing advanced electric vehicle technologies under the "Project i" initiative as a result of California's 2012 emission regulations. The laws mandate that automakers must produce zero emission vehicles capable of at least a 200 mile range. Engineers were said to have even mulled the idea of producing a limited run of electric powered Mini Coopers to test the California ZEV waters."It'll be a car with a completely new look, with two engines available. One will be a very efficient combustion engine and the other will be a purely electric model," Reithofer stated to German publication Die Zeit.It is unclear if the "mega city" compact car will be badged a BMW or Mini when it hits the streets in a few years time. Rumor has it, CEO Reithofer and team are even considering the creation of a new "green" brand to launch the car under.

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New Bently Arnage and Flying Spur

Now is the time to spend as much money as you want on a new Bentley. That's right, no budget for this week's You're Buying WOT.
Independent of price, would you rather drive a Bentley Arnage Final Series with its historical charm or roll down Rodeo Drive in the faster Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed?

Both cars have at least 500 hp and high-end Naim sound systems, but only the Continental Flying Spur Speed accelerates from 0-60 mph in under five seconds and has a top speed of 200 mph. Then again, the Arnage was first introduced before Volkswagen took control of Bentley. Will that guide your decision?Or perhaps you'd rather roll in a older, classic Bentley saloon -- if that's the case, be sure to let us know which one.Last week, we spent $23,944 on new or used sporty cars. For those picking a new car, the Chevrolet Cobalt SS received quite a few votes while the 2006 Pontiac GTO was the choice for many who went the used car route.

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Gm unveils its Chrysler Peaops electric car

Along with an electric sports car, minivan and Jeep, today Chrysler also unveiled a new all-electric car from their GEM subsidiary called the Peapod. The Peapod is first of a new generation of GEM electric vehicles that will be more user-friendly and more efficient.

"We have evolved the GEM design language to better reflect its eco-friendly performance and its upbeat, positive image," said Peter Arnell, Chrysler's Chief Innovation Officer who led the design process. "These vehicles use no gasoline and emit no pollutants. So whether it's a trip around the neighborhood or the drive to school or work, the GEM Peapod is the ideal way to contribute to a greener planet, and a healthy lifestyle."

Unlike some past GEM vehicles, the Peapod is fully enclosed and designed to be more aerodynamic. Chrysler hasn't released any details about the Peapod's range or any new battery technology it may incorporate, but it's likely it will be an improvement over previous models. Chrysler has released some information about the driver comforts, though. The Peapod will have a built-in interface in the dash for your iPod or iPhone and will interface with the iPhone for hands-free calling. The seats will be made from a mesh material to allow better air circulation and will be made from eco-friendly and recycled materials.

GEM hopes to have the Peapod into production in 2009, and will follow it with more new models. For now, future plans include an electric light-duty commercial truck and a large city electric car with more range and performance, both of which GEM hopes to get into production next year along with the Peapod.

Chrysler also announced today that the GEM name will be changed from Global Electric Motors to GreenEcoMobility, in what appears to be an obvious marketing stunt to cash in on environmentally-friendly buzzwords.

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Mercedes benz Concept Fascination

Mercedes-Benz builds the world’s most desirable coupés – a claim which the Stuttgart-based car maker is underlining at the 2008 Paris Motor Show with its ConceptFASCINATION design study. This unique vehicle, whose innovative and unconventional proportions interpret the emotional appeal of a coupé in a new way, represents an exciting and intelligent combination of sporty and elegant design with stylish practicality. Wood, aluminium and smoked glass give a particularly exclusive look and feel to the luggage compartment which incorporates a refrigerated compartment and a humidor as well as offering a large load space. These attributes embody the two objectives of ConceptFASCINATION – to provide a high level of practical usability and to create a coupé which appeals to the heart with fast, thrilling lines. In developing this design study, Mercedes-Benz has given fresh impetus to the long-established (although now rarely seen) ''shooting brake'', a vehicle category with its own distinctive charisma. Freed from the constraints of a specifications book, the designers have created an automotive sculpture with great aesthetic appeal which once again demonstrates Mercedes-Benz’s high level of design expertise. ConceptFASCINATION is a unique jewel of compelling automotive design which is distinguished by its irresistibly dynamic lines yet still offers the benefits of a large luggage compartment. A particularly notable feature of the design is that the practical load space develops organically from the exciting and elegant lines of this lifestyle coupé, giving it its special charisma. Inside, the tone is set by fine, exceptional materials hand-crafted to the highest standard. Absolute perfection and attention to detail make this design study an incomparable gem which conveys at one and the same time a sense of sporty forward movement and elegance, savoir-vivre and exclusivity of the highest level.

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GOOD Wood Motor Circuit 60th anniversary

This weekend over 100,000 people gathered to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Goodwood Motor Circuit and the 10th anniversary of the Revival meeting. This unique event, with a period atmosphere, gives those of us who were too young the opportunity to see what racing was like in the 1950s and 60s. For those who were there it brings back great memories. Racing Dentist Tony Brooks was honoured together with many other of the Legends that competed at the British track back in the day. Off track entertainment was supplied by a recreation of the Earls Court Motorshow and Airplane displays. What really mattered was the on track activity, which consisted of fifteen hotly contested races. They were headlined by a race into the sunset on Saturday evening and the Tourist Trophy Celebration on Sunday with a grid with an estimated value of over $150 million. To pilot the historic racing cars the owners were often joined by the stars of the past and the present like Sir Stirling Moss, Derek Bell, Henri Pescarolo, Martin Brundle and Jean-Marc Gounon. The high speed track is not for the faint of heart and the racing was hard, but fair.

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New Jaguars

Jaguar has patented the words C-XJ and C-XE. What this means for us looking through the British pussycat’s cage is that two new concepts will soon be unveiled to the public. The one is of course the new 2011 XJ big daddy leaper which has been extensively spied on a number of occasions already. The second one is XE. Lots of guesses on this one, but a likely candidate is a smaller XK, something of a Porsche Boxster or BMW Z4 rival perhaps? Or just a step below XK, say something to rival a 911 instead. The X would be Jaguar’s way of labeling its cars, and the E stems from the classic E-Type. Others contend that it’s the X-Type replacement. We know that Jaguar parent Tata is interested in ramping up models of the big cat in the coming ten years or so, and that the current fuel crisis is forcing all auto makers to look much more closely into cutting fuel consumption figures and CO2 emissions. Jaguar so needs a small car programme and this could be the sports car answer to that question. Such a car could conceivably be built in England, but don’t count India out. Although both Jag and Tata insist there are no immediate plans to manufacture on the sub continent, the agreement that stipulates this is not a closed one, and does in fact, expire in a few years’ time, which could pave the way for Jaguars and Land Rovers to be at least assembled from CKD (completely knocked-down) units cost-effectively in India.

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New BMW 7 series active Hybrid

BMW has released initial details for its 7-Series ActiveHybrid Concept which will make its world debut in Paris. Described as a mild hybrid, the 7-Series uses a small electric motor, developing 15 kW/20 hp and peak torque of 210 Newton-metres/155 lb-ft., integrated in the transmission housing essentially replacing the drag inducing auxiliary components such as the alternator and starter motor. Electrical energy is generated through Brake Energy Regeneration system and stored in a high-performance lithium-ion battery located in the luggage compartment. In this mild hybrid setup, the positioning of the electric motor in the transmission aids in the efficiency of the auto start/stop function.

Additionally, the energy yield produced by the electric motor through Brake Energy Regeneration alone exceeds normal standards by roughly ten times. Such electrical power output provides ample energy to run auxiliary components such as air condition and infotainment systems and not off the alternatorwhich draws energy directly from the combustion engine reducing its overall efficiency.

The engine is based on the N63 direct injection 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 unit already seen in the 750i and X6 xDrive50i producing 300 kW/407 hp, with peak torque of 600 Newton-metres or 442 lb-ft. In mild hybrid form, the result is 15 percent less fuel consumption and emissions (in the EU test cycle) versus a combustion engine only equivalent. BMW plans to start production of two models with ActiveHybrid technology in 2009.

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Lamborghini Urus Four door coupe concept set for paris motor show

Last week Lamborghini teased the world with a couple of small detail images of a mystery concept set to be unveiled. It is true most of us were left scratching our heads analysing what little evidence we were presented with, but the usually reliable folks over at autonews have confirmed with its inside sources that it will be a four door coupe. To top that off we can also reveal it will be called Urus (meaning large cattle) after Carspyshots user erzhik uncovered Lamborghini had registered the name with the trademark office.

The model will not only be a concept, but a preview of a production model that is in the pipeline, it represents a huge gamble for the supercar maker, diversifying their business model to compete in a formidable battle with the Aston Martin Rapide and Porsche Panamera.

The Gallardo and Murcielago model lines sport a rear engine setup, but this new four-door will place its engine at the front of the vehicle, just behind the front axle. It is believed the Gallardo's 5.0-liter V10 power unit may struggle to fit into the smaller engine bay meaning we may see a new engine unit with a smaller displacement introduced.

Lamborghini apparently plans to sell 3,000 units of the four-door coupe each year, a figure which would send their annual sales figures through the roof. In the first half of 2008, Lamborghini sold just 1,309 vehicles.

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Ultra Luxury Vehicles

These are the Top Ultra luxury Cars

bently arnage 2008 $221,990 - $263,990

Notable Features

• 450-hp V-8 in Arnage R and RL
• 500-hp V-8 in Arnage T
• Standard or extended-length models

Bently Azure 2008 $329,990
Notable Features

• Related to company's Arnage sedan
• 450-hp V-8
• Hydraulically operated fabric top
• Front and rear side-impact airbags

Bently continental flying spur 2008 $170,0000
Notable Features

• Four-door Continental GT
• Twin-turbo 552-hp W-12
• Six-speed automatic
• All-wheel drive
• New backup camera
• New leather interior

Bently continental flying spur 2009
Notable Features

• Twin-turbo 552-hp W-12
• Six-speed automatic
• High-performance Speed version
• Acoustic glass and other sound-absorbing materials
• New front-end design

Bently Continental gt 2008
Notable Features

• Pillarless-coupe styling
• Twin-turbo 552-hp W-12
• Six-speed automatic
• Contemporary looks with traditional hallmarks
• 
  

Bently Continental gtc 2008
Notable Features

• 552-hp, twin-turbo W-12
• Adjustable air suspension
• Pop-up roll bars
• Standard AWD
• Newly optional carbon-ceramic brakes

BMW 760 2008 $124,100
Notable Features

• Based on 750Li
• 438-hp, 6.0-liter V-12
• Six-speed automatic
• Heated/cooled reclining backseat
• Powered trunklid
• Optional night vision

BMW alpina B7 2008 $115,000
Notable Features

• BMW 750i modified by Alpina
• Supercharged 4.4-liter V-8
• 500 hp and 516 lbs.-ft. of torque
• Six-speed automatic
• Heated backseat

Maybach type 57 2008 $340,000-380,000
Notable Features

• 550 hp (Type 57)
• Available 604 hp (Type 57 S)
• Five-speed automatic
• Reclining rear seats
• 10 airbags

Maybach type 62 2008 $ 392,500-431,000
Notable Features

• 550 hp (Type 62)
• Available 604 hp (Type 62 S)
• Five-speed automatic
• Extended-length body
• Fully reclining rear seats
• 10 airbags

Rolls-Royce Phantom 2009

Full details on the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom are still to come, but for now Cars.com will provide details on the 2009 Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe. Rolls-Royce introduced its latest Phantom Drophead Coupe — aka convertible — to rave reviews from the automotive elite last year. The big, brutish, brush-steel-finished coach led to big sales for Rolls-Royce. So what did the British carmaker do to follow it up? Meet the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe.

Rolls-Royce Drophead coupe 2008 $407,000
Notable Features

• Convertible version of Phantom sedan
• 453-hp V-12
• Seats four
• Front-opening doors

Rolls-Royce Phantom VI 2008 $ 340,000-401,000

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Inside the low-roofed cabin, the LP560-4's attempt to violate Newton's second law is a comprehensive assault on the senses. Getting kicked in the ass a split second before being shot from a cannon is probably the closest approximation. The only thing missing is the taste of cordite upon the lips.
Click on any of the links beneath the images within this article to choose which wallpaper sizes you want to park on your computer screen. Once the large images are open, right-click or click and hold on the image to save the file to your desktop.

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Never Crash your car

Blinding rain. Careening traffic. Distracted drivers. There are lots of reasons why car crashes are America's leading cause of accidental death. And one way that most accidents could be prevented: with cars that predict a coming collision-and take action to stop it.
The key to the crash-free future is vehicle-to-vehicle communication, or V2V. Some advances that would make V2V possible are already on the way. Increasingly sophisticated GPS will soon allow you to pinpoint your vehicle´s precise location at any given moment, and stability-control systems that track your car´s speed and direction are even now feeding such information to onboard computers. The primary remaining challenge is finding the means to communicate that data to cars in your projected path.
To encourage the development of V2V, the Federal Communications Commission has cleared the 5.9-gigahertz band for dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) among cars, other cars, and roadside transceivers. Volkswagen´s Electronics Research Laboratory-which helped build the autonomous VW Touareg that won last year´s Darpa Grand Challenge robotic race-recently fitted two Jettas and two Audi A3s with DSRC units and used V2V to successfully run them, platoon-style, through San Francisco. "The technology is doable right now," says Carsten Bergmann, a VW lab manager. (Of course, getting the right data to the right car at the right time calls for fiendishly complicated threat-detection algorithms that are far easier with four cars than with hundreds of them.)
General Motors has gone one better than VW with a demonstration DSRC-equipped Cadillac CTS that stops itself to avoid accidents. Its enhanced stability-control system predicts where it´s headed-like, into the rear end of another DSRC car stopped in the middle of the road-and prompts the onboard computer to apply the brakes without any input from the driver. The effect is very cool. It´s also a little spooky, and many doubt that live-free-or-die Americans will ever sign off on fully autonomous vehicles.
Luckily, engineer Tomiji Sugimoto and his team at Honda R&D are working on a human-machine interface that will keep drivers in the loop. Head-up displays are a no-brainer. But Honda is also developing what's called haptic feedback, such as shaking steering wheels and pedals that vibrate. "We're talking about a system that acts like a backseat driver," Sugimoto says. Except it's a backseat driver that's always right.

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Mitsubishi Evolution FQ 330

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Fuel guage

This the fuel consumption meter in Acura rdx the sleek beautiful SUV this guage tells u the increase and decrease in fuel gradually and the the driver to make the most of fuel in different terrains.

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A Ferrari Killing.............. volksWagen?

It sounds preposterous, and it is—just look at this thing! This striking Volkswagen GTI concept features a host of performance upgrades and some dramatic design modifications to accommodate them. Most notable are the flared wheel wells to house the really big tires, necessary to manage the 650 horsepower being delivered by a six-liter W-12 engine. Zero-to-60 in 3.7 seconds. Top speed: 202 mph. Ferrari F430: dusted

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