Simona Alina
Filed in: Mercedes | Spy Shots and Rendering | Mercedes SL-Class

The latest issue of the Autobild magazine features a few renderings of the future Mercedes SL-Class. And if it’s to consider that Autobild is al the time very close to the real car, we might have a pretty good idea of how the production car will look. Not bad at all!

The engines on the future SL will start from the V6 with 272 hp in the SL 350 and will go up to a V12 with 517 hp in the SL 600. The AMG version, SL 63 AMG will have an output of 525 hp. The SL 65 AMG will deliver around 612 hp.

Source:Caradisiac

Source: Future Mercedes SL-Class renderings

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

Out of Norway this morning news that car manufacturer Think Global has released its production version of an electric powered micro car dubbed City.

Once owned by Ford the Scandinavian company aims to produce up to 10,000 units annually from its Aurskog plant by 2009. The plug in units share some manufacturing operations with Porsche and use some big names in producing the vehicle including Robert Bosch, Continental, Autoliv and Tesla Motors.

With 2 + 2 seating similar to Smart and a top speed of 100km/h the City aims to offer practical, environmentally friendly motoring for urban areas with a range of up to 180km.

The vehicle takes ten hours to charge and can manage the sprint from stand still to 80km/h in a blistering 16 seconds. RHD versions are not yet in production meaning we may be spared for some time to come.

Source: Electric Norse of course

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

Sam Abuelsamid
Filed under: Diesel, UK

Here in the U.S. when fuel prices go up a few people buy smaller, more efficient vehicles. Most however just complain and demand that politicians do something about price gouging. Over in England, as fuel prices have continued to climb to over $8/gallon drivers are opting for more and more diesel engines. In November 2007, diesel market share hit an all-time high in the UK at 45.3 percent. It’s estimated that diesels will account for 40 percent of all new car sales at the end of the year.

[Source: What Car?]

Source: High fuel prices trigger record diesel market share in UK

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

Boy, is this the dumbest thing you’ve seen or what! We mean, as if going 219 Mph or 352 km/h with a Lamborghini Murcielago on a public road (Phoenix, Arizona’s Loop 202 freeway) isn’t stupid enough, this guy was also “smart” enough to film his “achievements” and upload the video on Youtube! Even though he removed the video after TV stations showed the story (see after the jump), an unidentified number of internet users copied the film and uploaded it on Youtube! -Continued

Via: Autoblog.nl

Source: 219 MPH – 352 KM/H On A Public Road With A Lamborghini Murcielago!

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

There was no doubt in our mind that the dam surrounding the all-new 2009 Forester would eventually break after Subaru first announced that they will unveil their new crossover on December 23, 2007 (see here). We’ve seen heaps of pics, photoshops and renderings (see all of them here), but this is the first time that we get to look at live images of the new Forester. Although the unknown “spy photographer” didn’t manage to snap Subaru’s new crossover in all its glory, these pictures give us a pretty good idea of what to expect. -Continued after the jump

Via: Nasioc

Source: 2009 Subaru Forester: Live Images Leak On The Web!

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

Auto Express was surprised to see the new sixth generation Volkswagen Golf after Martin Winterkorn delayed some of the German car manufacturer’s project and “demanded a thorough review of all future model plans” when he began to lead the company.

Spy photos by Auto Express showed significant changes on the Golf, which bears similarities with the forthcoming Scirocco. The changes include in the front, where a distinctive nose, new head lights and contoured bumper.

Auto Express also reports that, “The new approach extends to the sides of the body, where the hatch gets a sharp crease to highlight its rising waistline. Further back, chunky C-pillars give a typically solid Golf appearance, and at the back, there’s a near-vertical tailgate.”

Volkswagen also added a sporty feature to the Golf through a minimal rear overhang, together with larger headroom for rear passengers.

Different body styles will be offered, such as a three-door, estate and a load-lugger, which will be released in 2010.

Other reports say that the MkVI Golf has a new rear suspension, but details regarding its engine have not yet been confirmed. Only speculations of featuring Volkswagen’s 1.4-litre TSI petrol powerplant can only be done. This engine comes with “a choice of 120bhp and 148bhp turbocharged guises, while a 168bhp version is equipped with a turbochar¬ger and a supercharger. The hot hatch GTI model will feature an even more powerful 2.0-litre TSI motor,” as reported by Auto Express.

It is said that the Golf will make its debut at next September’s Paris Motor Show and will hit showrooms by 2009.

News from: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/213369/volkswagen_golf.html

Source: Golf spotting

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council on Friday ratified an immediate ten-year freeze on formula one engine development. Between next year and 2017, each team may only use a 2007-spec engine design that is to be “delivered (to the FIA) no later than 31 March 2008″, a statement announced.

At the third annual Motor Sport Business Forum in Monaco this week, FIA president Max Mosley explained the decision to freeze engines in formula one. “There is no need to develop an F1 engine any further. The engine runs at 19,000 rpm which is far faster than any comparable engine. It sounds good, it’s reliable and amazingly the six partially frozen engines of the current manufacturers are really evenly matched,” the Briton said in his keynote speech.

The FIA on Friday also announced that teams may only use one wind tunnel in 2008 and beyond, and banned 24 hour use of such facilities. The number of team personnel at races is also to be capped. (GMM)

Source: FIA ratifies ten-year F1 engine freeze

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

Anthony Kodack
Filed in: Suzuki | Suzuki Hayabusa | Tuners

American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), in partnership with Lifted Research Group, better known as L-R-G, and 2Wheel Tuner magazine, today unveiled a fully customized 2008 Hayabusa sportbike at the Cycle World International Motorcycle Show (IMS) at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, Calif. Designed by L-R-G and built by Nick Anglada of Custom Sportbike Concepts (CSC) of Winter Garden, Fla., the L-R-G Hayabusa blends the panache of one of the hottest urban brands in fashion with the iconic personality of Suzuki’s fastest production motorcycle. The L-R-G Hayabusa will be on display at the Suzuki booth through Sunday, Dec. 9 and featured on the January 2008 cover of 2Wheel Tuner.

“Beyond its well-deserved reputation for best-in-class performance, the popularity of the Suzuki Hayabusa can be attributed to the way it has long been embraced by the many facets of popular culture, including fashion, style, music and entertainment,” said Glenn Hansen, communications manager, ASMC, Motorcycle/ATV Division. “Suzuki’s relationship with L-R-G provides us with a not-to-be-missed opportunity to vividly illustrate our iconic sportbike’s storied connection to urban culture.”

Custom L-R-G Hayabusa 2008

The exterior look of the Hayabusa has been modified to catch the attention of both motorcycle enthusiasts and fashion aficionados. The L-R-G Hayabusa offers a unique Pearl White Powder paint scheme accented by Gator Customs-crafted lighted and see-through panels to help expose the custom engine and chassis work of the sportbike. Appropriately tattooed, the lifestyle-inspired motorcycle features a number of striking L-R-G-branded accents, including a custom windscreen with L-R-G pattern by Sportech, stator cover with CNC engraved L-R-G logo and engraved Voodoo exhaust, all contributing to the sportbike’s eye-catching appearance. The custom Hayabusa also sports a laser engraved L-R-G patterned seat, combining style and overall riding comfort.

The L-R-G Hayabusa inherits the rear fairing from a 2007 GSX-R1000 sportbike and receives a new tubular subframe and single-sided Gregg’s Customs swingarm, sure to draw even more attention to the custom sportbike. Other chassis modifications include a revalved front and rear suspension by Race Tech and Eibach 900-lb. rear springs.

Custom L-R-G Hayabusa 2008

The custom Hayabusa is outfitted with 18×8.5-inch (rear) and 17×4-inch (front) MHT clear wheels produced by CSC, and 240/40ZR17 (rear) and 120/70ZR17 (front) Pirelli Diablo tires. The Suzuki sportbike’s stopping power is enhanced by steel braided brake and clutch lines, four-piston radial mount brake calipers and brake and clutch radial mount master cylinders from Beringer Brakes. 

Custom pieces adapted to fit the L-R-G Hayabusa include grips by MOMO, fully adjustable lowering links, steering stem nut cover, swingarm axle covers, rear brake reservoir, custom oil filler cap and custom ignition switch cover by Ransom Machine Works. Additional enhancements include a custom battery, mirror eliminator plates, custom gauges and chrome bolts and accent pieces by CSC. The L-R-G Hayabusa also comes equipped with a rearview camera system by Ant Systems.

Following its debut at the Cycle World IMS in Long Beach, the L-R-G Hayabusa will be displayed at the Cycle World IMS in New York from December 28-30. In 2008, the custom sportbike will be displayed at several urban, lifestyle-oriented events, including the MAGIC Fashion and Apparel Trade Show in Las Vegas, Feb. 12-15. 

Custom L-R-G Hayabusa 2008

About American Suzuki

The Motorcycle/ATV Division of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), Brea, Calif., was founded in 1963 by Suzuki Motor Corporation. ASMC markets motorcycles and ATVs via an extensive dealer network throughout 49 states. ASMC’s parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), based in Hamamatsu, Japan, is a diversified worldwide manufacturer of motorcycles, ATVs, scooters, automobiles and marine engines. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, it has 120 distributors in 191 countries.

Source:Suzuki

Source: Suzuki debuts custom L-R-G Hayabusa

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

Xavier Navarro
Filed under: Natural Gas, Opel

FuelMarker Corporation, makers of the Phill home CNG refuelling station, has announced that it is going to be on sale in the Netherlands. While Germans have quite a large network of public CNG fuelling stations, Netherland’s infrastructure is more limited.

Phill is being introduced in the country as part of GM’s new marketing initiative of its natural gas version of the Opel Combo and Zafira: the first 50 buyers will get a Phill fuelling charging station at home for free.

Phill is now commercially available in Italy, France, Poland, the Czech Republic, Finland and the United States (check here for a video). Future plans include making the station available in Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Barbados, the U.K., Australia, Lithuania, and Pakistan.

Related:

• Stockholm mandates dispensing of CNG at all gas stations
• Video: natural gas Honda Civic re-fueling
• Frankfurt Preview: GM starts letting out details on Opel ecoFlex models

[Source: Opel via NGV]

Source: Phill expands markets for home CNG fuelling stations

Bookmark it:

Continue reading...

Dec 08, 2007

If it has wheels, Carl Edwards will race it. He is game for anything, anytime — even a lawn mower race on the infield.

He has always had that passion, and it finally paid off this season when Edwards won the Busch Series title for his first Nascar championship. Edwards, who was to collect $2.4 million at Friday night’s awards dinner, earned it with four victories and a cushy 618-point margin over the runner-up David Reutimann.

Read the full story

Source: Edwards Find Success in Racing Two Circuits

Bookmark it: