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Friday, December 12, 2008

Australia first super car?

HSV W427

INTRODUCING the first Australian built supercar, the HSV W427

Corvette power hits a new high with the astonishing new HSV W427

Quite possibly the fastest car to ever be producer in Australia, the HSV W427 is fitted with:

- The new American built LS7 7-litre V8

- It delivers in excess of 350kw power and 640 newton meters of torque

- A trick bimotal active exhaust system

- Four inter-one extractors

- A new high strength six speed manual gear box

- Six piston front brake callipers matched by massive four-wheel disc brakes

- HSV’s acclaimed magnetic ride control for a smooth ride backed up by the safety of a recalibrated ESP stability control system.

The W427 rides 20mm lower and uses twenty percent firmer springs so the handling and road holding should take the HSV on a whole new level. You’ll be able to pick it from lesser HSV’s by its Audi like blacked out grill, carbon-fibre rear spoiler, huge 20 inch allow wheels, and unique exhaust outlets.

Limited production numbers are forecast as HSV is still putting on the finishing touches to a model that some observers are already calling ‘Australia’s first Supercar’.

The W427 is a fitting way for HSV to celebrate it’s 20th anniversary in this year (2008)

HSV W427 side

HSV W427 front

HSV W427 back

HSV W427 wheel

HSV W427

HSV W427

HSV W427

HSV W427 dash

HSV W427 speedo

HSV W427 rear seats

HSV W427 engine

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Mitsubishi teams up with proton

Mitsubishi and Proton have previously worked in the past with Proton using Mitsubishi engines to power its cars, but last week the two companies signed another deal which will license Malaysia’s major automobile manufacturer, Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Sdn Bhd (PONSB) access to Mitsubishi technology and expertise for the development of an all new PROTON vehicle.

Mitsubishi teams up with Proton

Furthermore Proton will be allowed to manufacture a new Mitsubishi vehicle “based” product.

2009 BMW 3-series

The bellowing V8 engine is nudging 8400rpm as I click the paddle shift to engage sixth gear and the relentless acceleration continued as the speedo needle nudges 250km/h.

bmw-m3-sedan-028.jpg

- David Twomey

Then it’s a hard stab on the brakes, drop back two gears to fourth and turn into the flowing Turn One at Phillip Island Race Track – no I haven’t taken up V8 Supercar racing but the beast under my seat sounds and almost feels like it could give some of the local racers a good run for their money.

2009 BMW 3 Series revealed

BMW has today revealed to the automotive media the latest versions of its extremely popular 3 Series range, which offer new styling, new features and a new price point.

bmw-3-series-sedtouring-001.jpg

- David Twomey

At the reveal at Phillip Island Race Track in Victoria we didn’t get to drive the new 3 Series cars, which come in Sedan and Touring body styles but were treated to the opportunity to drive the iconic, and new to Australia BMW M3 Sedan – a First Steer from behind the wheel of that high-revving V8 will be available shortly.

BMW says the car that invented the luxury compact sports sedan segment in 1975 and which has dominated the class over five generations will now be even more popular with Australian buyers, thanks to the increase in standard specification for the entry model.

bmw-3-series-sedtouring-007.jpg

The new entry point is the 320i Executive, complete with Dakota leather trim, power front seats, light alloy wheels, active front headrests and standard six-speed automatic transmission. Priced from $54,500 plus dealer delivery and statutory charges it also offers further standard features including front fog lights, rain sensor, and rear Park Distance Control.

bmw-3-series-sedan-039.jpg

What BMW calls Professional Navigation System (standard on the 335i) has been taken to a new level with a new iDrive Controller and a completely new menu structure. It now comes with an 8.8-inch high-resolution colour monitor offering full screen mode for viewing maps; three- dimensional relief maps, DVD drive, and an integrated 80GB hard disc drive. This allows the storage of up to 8GB of audio files from CD or USB devices.

The iDrive also features eight favourite buttons, allowing drivers to take a short cut to their preferred settings.

bmw-3-series-touring-045.jpg

The full range of new BMW 3 Series models comprises the 320i Executive Sedan and Touring, 320d Executive Sedan, 323i Sedan and Touring, 325i Sedan, 335i Sedan and Touring. All but the 320d and 335i models are available with manual transmission (as a no cost option).

bmw-3-series-sedan-032.jpg

Thanks to its impressive combined fuel consumption of 6.0-litres per 100km, the new BMW 320d Executive escapes the Luxury Car Tax net, making it even better value for customers. Its four-cylinder engine boasts 130kW of power and 350Nm of torque, and epitomises the benefits of the BMW EfficientDynamics program.

In the second quarter of next year BMW will also introduce the 330d, offering its new 3.0-litre diesel engine, at 520Nm the highest torque engine in the 3 Series range, with even more torque than the high-revving V8-engined M3.

bmw-3-series-sedan-020.jpg

BMW spokesman Toni Andreevski also pointed out today that the engine in the 330d was not only complaint with Euro5 emission standards but would also comply with the yet to be legislated Euro6 standards.

“We know what those standards will be, even though the laws have not yet been passed, and the engine is so far ahead it will comply with them when they do eventually become law,” he said.

bmw-3-series-touring-013.jpg

He added that the 330d would benefit from a $5400 lower price under the Luxury Car Tax rules for its lower than 7.0L/100km fuel consumption.

Although pricing won’t be announced until closer to its launch CarAdvice believes the 330d will sell for under $100,000.

bmw-3-series-sedan-034.jpg

The key features of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan and Touring range are a redesigned front facia panel, new bonnet with power bulge, redesigned side profile and door mirrors, new tail light cluster and a wider track (up to 24mm depending on models).

bmw-3-series-touring-036.jpg

Since the introduction of the E90 generation in May 2005, more than 25,000 cars have been delivered in Australia, more than the previous generation over a similar time frame.

bmw-3-series-touring-039.jpg

Globally, the E90 has been the most successful BMW 3 Series yet with more than 1.75-million delivered; an increase of 300,000 cars compared with the same period of the E46 generation’s life.

“The BMW 3 Series is the most successful luxury compact sport sedan in the world and we have further improved the offering to the market with the new cars,” said Tom Noble, General Manager, Marketing, BMW Group Australia.

“The range is extremely well equipped from the start, at a very attractive price point below the Luxury Car Tax threshold.

“The high-performing 320d Executive resists LCT thanks to its super efficient diesel engine that is the most powerful in its class and the fastest accelerating.

bmw-3-series-touring-033.jpg

As well as the BMW M Sport Package, which will be available on the 3 Series the company also announced today that a BMW Performance package will be available early in 2009.

Details of the new package, already offered on the 1 Series, are yet to be confirmed but BMW says it will be a stepping-stone between the standard and the M3 cars.

bmw-3-series-sedan-027.jpg

At the same time the 335i will get a version of the double clutch seven-speed transmission, similar to that currently offered on the M3 range.

The car will no longer be available with a conventional automatic gearbox, although a manual six-speed gearbox will be offered.

bmw-m3-sedan-068.jpg

The new double-clutch gearbox will cost owners an extra $3500 but BMW believes buyers of this high-performance model will appreciate the technology.

Pricing of the new BMW 3 Series Sedan and Touring range
Sedan
320i Executive $54,500
320d Executive $57,500
323i $63,200
325i $75,900
335i $107,300
Touring
320i Executive $57,700
323i $67,400
335i $111,700

British Police Evolution

Swaying from the standard police issue diesel hatchback which the British public have become accustomed to, the South Yorkshire Police department has acquired its third consecutive Mitsubishi Evolution pursuit vehicle.

British Police complete Evolution trilogy

The Evolution X will serve as a Road Crime unit alongside the previous Evolution VIII and IX generation currently in service, dealing in cases involving drug dealers and grand theft auto.

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is a favoured pursuit vehicle due to its effortless handling and performance which minimises the risk of accidents.

British Police complete Evolution trilogyBritish Police complete Evolution trilogy

With a trilogy of all-paw pursuit cars on offer, the South Yorkshire Police prefer to ‘hunt’ in packs of three, which, Inspector Slack explained is often enough of a deterrent that high-speed chases are avoided.

The sight of three Evolutions in the rear mirror creates such a strong visual impact that the vehicle being pursued will often simply give up the chase and pull over, knowing they won’t be able to out-run the RCU.

British Police complete Evolution trilogy

The cars also boast the latest in Police hardware and software, with an onboard Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system allowing officers to check who the vehicle is registered to and if there is anything remotely suspicious about the vehicle.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Mercedes to use BMW engines

With BMW cleaning up International Engine of the Year awards in several categories, and for several years, it makes sense to profit from its experience in this field.

BMW’s head of development, Klaus Draeger, has been reported as saying that BMW is moving forward with plans to sell its engines to Mercedes, as well as other brands.

“We are ready in principle to sell our engines to a competitor. And yes, we are talking openly with Mercedes about several possibilities,” Draeger said.

Aston Martin was also another name specifically mentioned in discussion. BMW’s V12 is said to be one of the first engines to make the transition across brands.

If the components are the right price, it would make sense for Merc (and others) to take on the engines and concentrate on other areas of its cars.

Citroen to use BMW engines


Peugeot has been using a range of BMW-sourced four-cylinder engines in its cars for years and now sister brand Citroen has confirmed its new models will also get the British-built engines. The engines come in several different flavours, including turbo and naturally aspirated versions, and range from 1.4 to 1.6L in displacement.

Peugeot uses the engines to power its 207 and 308 models but Citroen hasn’t confirmed which of its cars will use the BMW engines. According to WhatCar?, the new engines will likely debut in the Citroen C5 by the end of the decade. In the Mini, the engines produce outputs of 120,150 and 175hp, and includes direct-injection and variable valve timing technologies.

The key reason for the move is to allow Citroen to take advantage of BMW’s EfficientDynamics engine stop-start technology, which the French carmaker hopes to eventually roll out across its entire lineup. The system Citroen plans to use will be the same as the current design in the Mini, where the engine cuts out while stationary and restarts when the driver selects first gear.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

BMW 5-series PAS 2010


BMW will stir up a hornet's nest of controversy in 2009 when it launches the strange, niche-bending 5-series PAS. We don't yet know the full name of Munich's latest model, but we understand it will keep the 5-series badge and add a new moniker – like the Touring tag for BMW's estates.

What does PAS stand for? It's the working title of the new BMW 5-series spin-off and signifies this is the Progressive Activity Sedan. Read into that title what you will: CAR's view is that it mixes the best bits of saloons, estates and MPVs.

BMW PAS: Jack of all trades, master of none?

We're still struggling to see where the PAS fits in to BM's range, but we'll give Munich the benefit of the doubt until we see it. And this car will excel in many areas: those unusual proportions will afford a colossal amount of passenger space, the rear legroom said to exceed that available in the 7-series. Perfect for lanky basketball players, then.

And the PAS will mix in a high degree of practicality in other ways. It will be the first BMW to use a double-hinged boot like the Skoda Superb's, operating in saloon boot or hatchback modes.

Honda Withdraws from Formula 1 racing

Honda Withdraws from Formula 1 racing


As the auto industry faces ever-increasing obstacles both in the United States and abroad, the repercussions are now beginning to affect various manufacturers’ motorsport programs. On the heels of Audi’s withdrawal from the 2009 American Le Mans Series comes news of Honda pulling out of Formula 1 for next year and putting its team up for sale in the process.

Alluding to the deteriorating global auto industry—and more specifically the problems facing the United States market—Honda’s President and CEO Takeo Fukui stated in a press release that in order for Honda to best protect its core interests, it must counter the negative influences. Having not seen a grand prix victory since 2006—and following B-team Super Aguri’s withdrawal from F1 earlier this year under similar circumstances—Honda’s decision to pull out of the 2009 season comes as little surprise.

Considering the team’s consistent finishes in the rear of the pack for 2008—beating out only Force India and Super Aguri in constructor-championship points—Honda Racing’s dropout should have little effect on the 2009 season.

2009 Nissan GT-R

A 21st-century supercar, at a $120,000 discount


The 2009 Nissan GT-R is the sports-car value of the year, if not the decade—a car under 80 grand whose performance matches that of a $200,000 supercar. Engineers scrutinized every component to squeeze out more performance while saving weight and money. Inside the twin-turbo, 3.8-liter V6’s aluminum engine block, the walls surrounding the pistons receive a coating that dissipates heat better than the typical, heavier cast-iron linings. The engine produces 480 horsepower and hurls the GT-R from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds—quicker than a Lamborghini Gallardo. The GT-R tops out at 193 mph, making it one of the fastest cars on the road, and you don’t have to be a professional driver to tap its potential. A twin-clutch system, rare in a car at this price, handles gearshifts, and an adjustable shock-absorber system can stiffen up so that the GT-R feels like a Ferrari F430. Finally, the videogame-inspired control panel displays arcana like steering angle and brake-pedal pressure, giving the driver more detailed information and more control than any other car. Now that Nissan has proven that it can be done, expect more accessible, technology-rich supercars in the years ahead. $77,000; nissanusa.com

The pricey, small-batch lithium-ion powered Mini E has arrived. And it looks and drives like, well, a really quiet Mini Cooper


Regenerative braking, the process through which an electric car grabs otherwise wasted energy from the brakes as the car glides to a halt, is a brilliant bit of engineering for efficiency—take energy that's otherwise only good for burning up brake pads, and turn it into electricity that charges the battery.

It may also make the uninitiated driver want to vomit. This is what my handler told me as she guided me toward a fleet of Mini Es—electric Mini Coopers—parked in the basement of the L.A. Convention Center in downtown Los Angeles. See, regenerative braking starts to slow the car as soon as you let off the gas, as the braking system harvests the energy emitted by the decelerating vehicle. The experience can be unsettling at first—it can trick you into thinking you've been driving with the parking brake on. You might end up lunging unexpectedly forward in your seat as the regen takes over, until you learn to let this magical automatic braking system do its thing. It takes a little practice to learn to smooth the transition between speeding up and slowing down, between starting and stopping. Until then, Mini's publicist told me, you might feel as if you need to pull over and grab some ginger ale.

But in my drive around LA in the Mini E, it took only a couple miles in the car to learn when to cede stopping power to the regenerative braking. By then I'd also gotten used to the other notable difference between this car and its gas-driven brethren—the eerie silence of a pure electric vehicle (the only sound is that of the tires rolling along the pavement). The Mini E is no glorified golf cart. It's a little slow off the line, but once you get moving acceleration is impressive. On one traffic-free straightaway I hit the accelerator and realized I'd been underestimating this car: My head snapped back as the car launched ahead. The route Mini planned for me didn't include any freeway driving, probably because I'd just end up sitting in traffic, but the car has a top speed of 95 mph. In other words, the Mini E drives pretty much like a normal Mini Cooper.

It looks pretty much identical to the standard Mini Cooper, too, but there are interesting differences. What used to be the backseat is now filled with lithium-ion batteries supplied by AC Propulsion. (That company supplied the entire powertrain—batteries, motor, power electronics and all.) Behind the steering wheel you'll find a battery-charge gauge. The cars are numbered. They come with a custom charger that churns out 240 watts at 50 amps, which means you can charge the car fully in two to three hours.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Audi dynamic steering


With its harmonic drive gearing—a compact, three-piece gearset previously used in lunar rovers—the 2009 Audi A4 modifies the steering ratio in response to the car’s speed. When you’re parking, one turn of the wheel covers the full range of motion. At highway speeds, the same range takes four turns. The system can also detect any potentially dangerous motion and help you correct it; if electronic sensors determine that you’re going too wide into a sharp turn, they will tighten up the steering ratio so you can get back on course with a smaller movement of the wheel. The system works three times as fast as other electronic stabilization systems. audi.com

BMW speed limiter display on 7 series


Combining images of signs taken by a camera on the rearview mirror with navigation-system data about your route, the latest European BMW 7 Series figures out your current speed limit and displays it on the instrument cluster and projects it on the windshield. The technology, developed with Siemens VDO, could arrive in the U.S. in the next year or two. bmw.com

Ford cap-less fuel technology

Concerns about fuel theft and spillage have made the gas cap a standard feature. Ford replaces it with a spring-loaded interior lid that closes off if anyone tries to put a nonstandard fuel-pump nozzle in the hole. The system, which rolled out this year, seals tighter than a typical fuel cap, too, reducing evaporative emissions. ford.com

Honda first hydrogen production car FCX clarity

Highways filled with hydrogen cars are still decades away, but that doesn’t diminish the achievement of rolling the first fuel-cell car off a mass-production line. To open up interior space, Honda developed its own fuel cell, a 100-kilowatt stack that packs substantially more energy into a 65 percent smaller space than other designs and squeezes neatly into the tunnel between the front seats. And by working through several generations of concept cars, Honda has gotten the once-experimental FCX to look and drive just like a gas-powered car. It even has a 280-mile range. The big difference: Nothing comes out of the tailpipe but water vapor. Three-year lease for $600 a month; honda.com

How It Works
Inside the fuel cell:
[1] Hydrogen and air flow from top to bottom in Honda’s fuel cell through wave-shaped channels [2]. Along the way, an electrolyte surface transforms the hydrogen into water and electrons. The cooling system [3] runs horizontally through the channels to keep the cell from overheating.

Beyond gasoline
The 45.7-gallon tank in the rear of the car stores compressed hydrogen, which the fuel cell between the front seats converts into electricity and water.