Simona Alina
Filed in: Nissan | 2007 | Los Angeles Auto Show

Nissan OneOne was created by a design team made by: Bruce Campbell Doug Wilson, Robert Bauer, Bryan Thompson, Rie Arroba, Jeremy Malick, Laurie Tait, Matt Wilson, Soichi Maruyama.

In the year 2057 robots have become an integral part of our lives blurring the line between humans and machines. The Nissan OneOne is the ultimate pet; a friendly, helpful member of the family of the future. OneOne (pronounced “won-won,” an endearing Japanese description of a barking dog) takes care of every aspect of the family’s busy lives from retrieving dry cleaning and groceries, to tending to the children. Guided by a real time GPS network, OneOne can take the children safely to school, soccer practice and back home in time for dinner.

OneOne takes mobility to a new level. Using synthetic muscles in its “legs,” it propels itself along by skating, much like you would on a pair of rollerblades. From performance car to city car, it lies down for speed or stands up for better visibility, allowing for more nimble navigation and easier parking.

OneOne fulfills every need from dutiful pet to spirited sports car in a design that makes it a welcomed member of the family.

Source: Internal

Source: www.topspeed.com

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Simona Alina
Filed in: Porsche | 2007 | coupe | Frankfurt Auto Show | Porsche 911 | sports cars | Porsche GT2

  Article summary:
Page 1 :  Porsche 911 GT2

Page 2 :  Interior

Page 3 :  Design and Aerodynamics

Page 4 :  The Pinnacle in Sporting Performance

Page 5 :  New intake system with an innovative pressure (...)

Page 6 :  Engine and Transmission

Page 7 :  Suspension and Wheels

Page 8 :  Body and Safety


Porsche made official today the 911 GT2. Set to make its world debut in September at Frankfurt Motor Show, the GT2 is the most powerful 911 so far homologated for road use. Through its striking design with large air intakes at the front and the rear wing so characteristic of this very special model, the new 911 GT2 expresses the power and performance potential of the fastest-ever 911 right from the start even at a standstill.

The 911 GT2 will be available only with rear-wheel drive and a manual six-speed gearbox. It makes the 0 to 60 mph sprint in just 3.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 204 mph. It has an average fuel consumption of just 12.5 litres/100 km (equal to 22.6 mpg imp) in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), thus offering a level of fuel economy regarded as quite impossible in this performance class just a few years ago.

The power unit of the new 911 GT2 is based on the six-cylinder boxer engine of the 911 Turbo, with air supply by two exhaust gas turbochargers featuring variable turbine geometry (VTG). The 3.6-litre boxer engine achieves its maximum output of 530 bhp at 6500 rpm, with maximum torque of 680 Newton-metres maintained consistently between 2,200 and 4,500 rpm. With its unladen weight of 1,440 kg or 3,175 lb, finally, the 911 GT2 offers a power-to-weight ratio of just 2.72 kg/6.00 lb per horsepower.

The increase in engine power by 50 bhp over the ”regular“ power unit is provided in the new 911 GT2 by two turbochargers with a larger compressor wheel and a flow-optimised turbine housing raising turbocharger pressure to an even higher level. And for the first time Porsche’s engineers have combined the turbocharged engine with an expansion-type intake manifold – a genuine revolution on turbocharged power units.
The expansion intake manifold uses the principle of oscillating air in the intake manifold during the cooler expansion phase, keeping the temperature of the fuel/air mixture lower than in the 911 Turbo. This, in turn, means a significant increase in all-round efficiency, with fuel consumption down by up to 15 per cent under full load despite the increase in engine output.

The 911 GT2 offers new achievements also in terms of emission management and control: This is the first Porsche homologated for the road to feature a rear silencer and tailpipes made of titanium as standard equipment. This expensive material reduces weight by approximately 50 per cent versus a comparable component made of stainless steel to just 9 kg.

The new 911 GT2 comes as standard with PCCB brakes featuring brake discs made of a composite carbon fibre/ceramic compound ensuring maximum stopping power maintained with an extremely high level of consistency. A further advantage is that PCCB brakes reduce the weight of the unsprung masses versus comparable grey cast-iron discs by approximately 20 kg or 44 lb.

Yet another feature fitted as standard is the electronically controlled PASM Porsche Active Suspension Management. (PASM). The GT2 comes on 19-inch light-alloy wheels running at the front on 235/35 ZR 19, at the rear on 325/30 ZR 19 sports tyres.

The new 911 GT2 will be at the dealership in November 2007. The base price of the car in Germany is Euro 159,100.-, the market price including 19 per cent value-added tax Euro 189,496.

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Source: Internal

Source: www.topspeed.com

Xavier Navarro
Filed under: Etc., Transportation Alternatives, AutoblogGreen Exclusive

I need to replace my car. But, I have decided, more exactly, that I'm going carless. I currently have a car which has served me good. My late-1998 Seat Ibiza TDI Hit has reached 200,000 km on the odometer. The car has been a constant source of satisfaction. Since the TDi engines appeared in Audi in 1989, they have delivered excellent mileage, emissions and reliability. Most of the diesel craze that Europeans live in is a direct influence of that technology. However, after 9 years of good service, my car has started to show severe signs of wear and tear.

I was born and raised and am currently living in Barcelona, Spain. As with most major European cities, Barcelona has a decent network of public transport, although we locals consider it dramatically insufficient and outdated. It's also a permanent focus for political debate among different administrations and the press prints pages and pages about it.

So why rely on this for my transportation? Find out after the jump.
I can normally commute to work using public transport, although I don't live in the city center. A 10-trip ticket card costs now 6.90 EUR and it lasts the whole work week, although my average use is 5 to 6 cards per month. My distance to work is about 15 miles. Transport is heavily subsidized by local and regional governments, partly through a tax created a few years ago on top of the property tax that finances the Metro Area Transport Corporation (Àrea Metropolitana del Transport).

I tried to commute with my car to work. I thought I could save time. While it takes me about 60 minutes to get from my house, get on the local shuttle, get on the commuter train and walk from the station to work, it can take me anywhere from 20 to 90 minutes to use the car, thanks to traffic jams. Also, there is no free parking around my work (well, there is, but I gotta get there two hours before the building where I work opens to snag a spot). At current prices, a parking space near my work costs about 120 EUR per month and fuel expenses per month would also reach easily that figure. Add my yearly insurance (400 EUR) and the Road Tax (150 EUR), general maintenance bills (oil, filter changes) and that I have to change the tires. That is adding at least a prevision of 1,000 to 1,500 EUR per year. I must admit, too, that my occasional parking fines have totalled 600 EUR in the past year.

So I decided to analyse how much I use my car. Turns out it's around 400 km per month. I attend classes outside the city once or twice a week and I use my car for leisure as well. That's not too much. So I decided to dump my car (well, it's being used by my brother as a trade-in for his) and start using a car sharing scheme. My local provider is Avancar.

My savings seem obvious from the very beginning. I had considered buying a used vehicle instead of a new one, which would be into the 6,000 to 9,000 EUR range. This would have given me access to a variety of models but due to the nature of the local used car market, the best option would be a compact sedan, like a Ford Focus or a Renault Mégane. If you wondered, I can get a 4-year old Smart for that figure but their maintenance cost is very high. I also thought of buying a motorcycle for about the same price, but the numbers would be similar with slightly less gas spent and more insurance costs.

Financing the purchase with a loan (I'm a person with very modest earnings), I would have to face 24 months of 343 Euros per month, plus the additional previsions of insurance, road tax, repairs and maintenance (I'm really succeeding in getting fewer fines, believe me) which total 2,000 additional EUR per year

So in two years time, the expected time until the car needs major repairs or maintenance, the car cost would reach a monthly cost of 500 EUR - if I don't use it to commute. Using it for commuting, it would top 650 EUR. Once the car is paid, the costs would be in the range of 100 to 150 EUR which is what I have been spending so far.

With the car sharing scheme I'll be paying from 10 to 100 euros when I need the car, totaling 120 to 400 EUR per month - and I haven't got to think about parking space, gas costs, insurance or maintenance. I don't have to check if my car is up to date regarding antipollution rules, because it will at most be two years old

For longer rentals, I can also use a low-cost car rental service. A Smart would cost me 110 EUR for a 4-day weekend with full insurance and unlimited mileage and I recently hired a large van to help a friend moving totaling 42 EUR for a whole day (although I had to pay for the gas and the tolls) at Pepecar. Note that this system of low-cost rental depends a lot on how early you make the reservation.

Nevertheless. The graphic shows my actual costs estimates. It includes purchase price, gasoline, maintenance, insurance, road tax and tolls. I'll be keeping a record on AutoblogGreen of my car-free lifestyle, and welcome your advice, comments and questions. How many of you have ditched the car-ownership model?

Check the pic below for my total study.

Gallery: CarSharing vs. Owning

Source: www.autobloggreen.com