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Archive for the ‘Future Car Previews’ Category

Ferrari 458 Italia will succssfully replace the famed F430, and yet brand new from the company. Engine displacement would be 4.5 liters, and number of cylinders is eight, they chose the name Italia because the company thinks the car shows it’s motherland’s talent and passion. And F1 champion Michael Schumacher also helped in developmenting 458 for the project.

Horsepower of 570

The 458 would have a 4,5 litter direct-injected V-8 giving 570 hp at 9000 rpm and 398lb-ft torque at 6000rpm. the increase from F430 is of 87 hp and 55 1b-ft of torque. Diameter of the wheels is 20 inches, and the rubber is developed to 235/35 up front and 295-35 at back. This configuration would make the 458 getting to 0-62 mph in lesss than 3.4 seconds. Top speed of 458 is said to be 202 mph.

Chassis of 458 is made of aluminum and lifted by control arms up front with multilinks in back. Ferrari company says they would make the steering ratio even better than F430, with 2 more inches of wheelbase, 0.6 more inch of length. The 458 is of 178.2 inches long, 76.3 inches wide, and 47.8 inches tall. Thought 458 would weight same distribution of F430, it would have just 42 percent heft at front axle, and 58 percent in back.

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How is Audi R8 Spider different from the previous regular vihicles?

First of all let’s talk about roof… With R8 there’s a folding soft-top, which could hide between seats and mid-mounted engine, the whole deck at back side is to clasp from the back and cover the fabric hood.

The bracing on the open-top of R8 Spider will increase no less than 100kg to the kerbweight, by our evaluations. Visual changes could be the replaced fuel filler cap, with no distinctive side blades.

It’s said that the R8 Spider would only have V10 engine of 518bhp/391lb ft 5.2 liter, but in fact the car remains with V8′s alloys and twin oval exhausts.

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E-class series are almost done, The third and last model is going to be exhibitedat Frankfurt auto show next month, which is called T (indicating “touring”) model, and it would join the sedan and couple field. It’s said that Mercedes’ platform stragegy is kind of confusing, and there’s nothing suprising added to the lineup for E-class wagon. E-class was first added at 1977 frankfurt show, followed with the standard Mercedes and spiritual predecessor. The model’s somehow expensive but luxurious, and made the beginning for all other T models to come through, it’s somewhat similar to sedan in touch and feel, and with all good parts of a four-door model could have.

Sedan style seems better for the wagon

In style aspect, the 2011 E-class wagon is just close to the sedan, which is unusual, different from all other T models, looks more like the four-door cars. The back side windows are similar to the coupe style, whereas the roofline’s still high, which allows the cargo hold to include 69 cubic feet if the back seats folded down. Further more, Mercedes even provides a sport package and AMG wheels. Engines are excellent, from 168-hp, four-cylinder turbo-diesel, to 382-hp gasoline V-8.

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August 2009

The new Buick crossover with 2 direct-injected engines, will be released in 2010,  and a different plug-in hybrid version would come up in 2011. It’s new because it’s not named yet actually, seems it’s mainly based on the Saturn Vue. Learning from bankruptcy story of GM, Buick has found a way to work things out, for the two-mode plug-in archirecture.

For the first time apperance in 2010, the crossover will use 2.4-liter 4-cylinder and 3.0-liter V-6 engines GM’s, which would be used for 2010 Buick LaCrosse, Chevy equinox, and GMC Terrain as well.

Buick launchs the plug-in hybrid crossover one year later than the promise. It’ll use front-wheel-drive, two-mode hybrid system, with a direct-injected, 3.6-liter V-6 engine of GM’s. The versions of crossover before, were able to drive 10+ miles alone with electrical power. The battery of 8 killowatt per hour, is from the same supplier of the Chevy Volt which is coming up, and it could be charged completely in 5 hours, by a standard wall plug, this would also help increasing the crossover’s range and fuel economy.

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August 2009

BMW just announces details of the 2010 ActiveHybrid X6 officially, mentioning it’s the most powerful hybrid car in the world, just their own words though, maybe it can’t be so true.

However, the hybrid X6 is still appreciatable, which is with engine of 400-hp, 450-lb-ft twin-turbo V-8, from X6 xDrive50i, attacted with 2 electrical motors: one gives 91 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque and the other creates 86 hp and 206 lb-ft. It’s called ‘ActiveHybrid’, seems this is a suitable name, since other versions would seem sedentary, compared with the upcoming X6, which has combined system power of 80 hp and 575 lb-ft of torque. The X6 would run a 0-60 time in 5.4 seconds, this is 20 percent increase in fuel economy of European cycle, and this speed is only 1/10 behind BMW’s 5.3 second claim about the nonhybrid V-8 X6. It seems hybrid with more power would be slower, this is because of the weight of the equipment. Top speed of the car is 130mph.

One of the things in X6 which is different from the other

The X6 has the same honor as BMW ActiveHybrid 7 as BMW’s first-every hrbrids, but they don’t have so many things in common.  Both X6 and X7 use 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8, systems are actually different though. The X7 uses a mild hybrid system with Daimler, plus 1 electrical motor. And the X6 has 2 electrical motors, and it’s a full hybrid which could be operating on electrical power alone, for 37mph or 1.6 miles.

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August 2009

Bentley didn’t show up its new Mulsanne at any auto show, but took it directly to the possible buyers. The new version comes back with the Mulsanne name and replaces Arnage, which is heavy and big.

However, it’s still possible to find out some contents from the Arnage (shown at the chrome latticework around the windows), Brooklands (C-pillar, taillamps), and the Continental Flying Spur. The body side grows up over the rear fender, so that the rear part doesn’t look so low, even though it has long overhang, which goes down to the rear bumper, and the twin exhaust tips. The wheels are with diameter of around 21 inches or more, wrapped into 365/40 series Pirelli P Zeros.

It’s said to be choice of driver.

Apparently, the new Mulsanne is so gauche as Rolls-Royce Phantom, not dull as the Maybach 57 either. Drik Van Braeckel spoke his words of “We wanted it to be the driver’s choice”, the night before the Concours. And regarding the windows and roofline, he said as if its elements’ words: “I’m a driver’s car.” But it’s just his words, we are not sure about it yet.

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August 2009

Frankfurt Auto Show doesn’t appear to be a sign of auto market slowdown, which shows out a pair of poster-worthy Porsche debutantes, and a couple of 450-plus-hp BMW hybrids, plus Maserati’s brand new model, the 433-hp 2010 GranCabrio.

The four-seat GranCabrio quits the trend of folding hardtops, which even influenced Ferrari, on base of the glorious GranTurismo. Its cloth top does help controling the weight, which generates a convertible coupe, the easier packaging just keeps the Italian coupe’s mouth-watering style.

Maserati still stays silent about its details, therefore we have no idea about the poundage added, currently the 4.7-liter V-8 from the GT’s S models is the only engine which is available. Initially the only transmission available will be the six-speed automatic one, we do hope to see an automated manual to be added shortly after the introduction though.

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September 2009

Porsche has got 17 permutations of 2010 911 already, and the 17th model would be at Frankfurt auto show of this year, which is a 911 Turbo coupe and cabrio, GT3 RS, and GT3 Cup, and it is the 911 Sport Classic, that is claimed to be special.

It took 3 years to develop the exclusive Porsche look, so many people make Porsche a dream to come true. Based on the Carrera S package, it uses 4S rear bodywork, which makes a wider track at back side. The double-dome roof is the most apparent beautiful change, which is called Doppeldomesgerufe. A sportdesign and unique lip appear at front, and a ducktail rear spoiler includs the 1973 Carrera RS 2.7. Wheels painted with black color as usual, in 19 inches, are designed according to the iconic Fuchs wheels which are somehow fimiliar to vintage-911 oglers. There are also some other changes, like black headlight-trim rings and black side-mirror brackets, which give the 911 sport concept and classic feel.

The arrera S’s 3.8-liter flat-six is included in mechanical part, attached with a six-speed manual gearbox, actually there’s no new invention out here, for the automated transmissions. But the engine is set with a new feature of six vacuum-controlled flaps, which makes upto 408 hp, from 385.

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September 2009

The second generation of C-Max, has lost the main concentration of 2006 designation. However, the vehicle is not losing all focus together, since it’ll be on the base of evolution from C1 architecture, which supports the current Europe market focus, Mazda 3, Mazda 5, or more. The new platform with modification will support the next generation focus as well, and it’s coming soon, which would enter the markets in both Europe and USA. The C-Max will appear in Europe market starts from June 2010.

Regarding style point, the C-Max doesn’t give any surprise who’s been seeing Ford’s theme of kinetic design lately, and actually it’s just directly following the Iosis max car we saw on the show this year in Geneva. However, for those who aren’t so familiar with language of styling, the vehicle might would surprise them, while seeing so many things staffed into a small body. Ford has made the C-Max somehow attractive, in spite of the One-box which hardly makes attractive vehicle at all, with the polygonal graphic contents, high waistline, and the big fat wheels which gives bulging feeling. Something more to be noticed is the two-row moonroof, which is not so common in this class of vehicle.

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The brand new 2010 Lexus IS C is changeable version of this Japanese car producer’s premium compact car. For Sedan version of the 2010 IS will be no much surprise in term of major changes which still in four models with three engines.

The latest Lexus IS C will two models with two engines. The IS 250 will be sedan design and changeable with a 204-hp 2.5 liter V6. The IS 250 also available with 4-wheel-drive and offered a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission.

The IS 350 will be changeable with 306-hp 3.5-liter V6 and the high-performance IS F comes a sedan with 416-hp 5.0-liter V8 along with specific sport suspension, tyres and trim. Rear-wheel drive is standard on all the IS models. The IS 350 and IS F will be automatic transmission only; a 6-speed on the 350 and 8-speed on the IS F.

Accessible safety features include ABS (Anti-skid Brake System), traction control, antiskid system, curtain side airbags (on sedans), front side airbags, and front knee airbags. Also available is Lexus’ Pre-Collision Safety System, which is special designed to automatically cinch seatbelts and apply brakes if an ineluctable crash is detected. Leather upholstery and a sunshine-roof are standard on sedans. Valuations of the 2010 Lexus IS C are based on preview trial run.

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