Archive for September, 2010
Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Concept at 2010 Paris Motor Show
Posted on 30. Sep, 2010 by admin.
- Looks like: Bruce Wayne’s daily driver
- Defining characteristics: Ultra-lightweight design, stealth bomber exterior looks
- Ridiculous features: The most extensive use of carbon-fiber construction we’ve seen from Lamborghini
- Chance of being mass-produced: As is, none; but the concept’s philosophy will likely trickle into future Lamborghinis
The Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Concept car has similar shapes to the company's Reventon, but its looks aren’t the concept’s show-stopping feature: It’s all about engineering.
The Sesto Elemento uses carbon-fiber construction extensively. The entire front frame, exterior panels, wheel rims, drive shaft and major components of the suspension are comprised of carbon fiber. Going along with that, the tailpipes and brake discs are made out of glass-ceramic material. All this gives the concept an extremely light 2,202-pound curb weight, and when combined with its 570-horsepower V-10 powertrain, it gives this sports car concept a zero-to-62 mph time of 2.5 seconds, which would make this as fast as or faster than a Bugatti Veyron and McLaren F1.
All that carbon fiber and ceramic doesn’t come cheap, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see this thing costing as much as a Bugatti or McLaren, but most likely this car will never be made in this form.
According to Lamborghini, “Every future Lamborghini will be touched by the spirit of the Sesto Elemento,” which doesn’t sound like a production green-light. Instead expect these even sharper Lamborghini lines to be the norm for all Lambos.
A few more images are below, where you can see if this is the direction Lamborghini should be going. Click on them for larger versions.
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2010 Paris Auto Show: 2013 Lotus Elan
Posted on 30. Sep, 2010 by admin.
If the new Esprit we posted about earlier is too extreme for you–or perhaps just a little too pricey–then the similarly styled yet tamer 2013 Lotus Elan may be the car for you. It, too, features a front engine and rear-wheel drive layout but comes with a tamer forced induction 4.0-liter V-6 as opposed to the Esprit’s V-8. Also shared with…
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Follow MotorAuthority: With A Daily Newsletter, And New RSS Feeds
Posted on 30. Sep, 2010 by admin.
Are you a MotorAuthority addict? Chances are you’re the type who wants to get your auto news by the minute, but there are plenty of other things—yes, like driving—that demand your attention. So when you return to your browser you want an instant recap of everything you’ve missed, right? For that, you’re in luck. In addition to…
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2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible: Teased, Priced At $30k
Posted on 30. Sep, 2010 by admin.
The Chevrolet Camaro Convertible is going to arrive a little bit earlier than we expected. Chevy showrooms will see their first drop-top Camaros in February—likely just in time to see the buzz build up to summer—and it’s a 2011 model. Pricing was also revealed: $30,000, including an $850 destination charge. That’s about $2,000 higher…
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2010 Paris Auto Show: 2013 Lotus Esprit
Posted on 30. Sep, 2010 by admin.
For Lotus fans, the next few years should prove to be very interesting as the company pushes ahead with its five-year plan to update its model lineup, including successors to the Elise and Esprit. Sales of the Evora are going strong, and at this week’s 2010 Paris Auto Show the company is showcasing no less than six new production-intent…
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Jaguar C-X75 Concept at 2010 Paris Motor Show
Posted on 30. Sep, 2010 by admin.
- Looks like: The Jaguar F-Type Concept and the Ferrari California
- Defining characteristics: It’s a plug-in electric vehicle that can accelerate to 205 mph
- Ridiculous features: Do you have eyes?
- Chance of being mass-produced: Doubtful
If you’re waiting for Jaguar to finally show an updated XK or the rumored entry-level sedan, you’ll have to wait a bit longer, as the company decided to pull a 180 and instead show us this new electric supercar concept called the Jaguar C-X75.
The Jaguar C-X75 is a series hybrid, in the same vein as the Chevrolet Volt. But instead of having one electric motor like in the Volt, this model has four – one in each wheel – that can deliver 780 horsepower and a near-instantaneous 1,180 pounds-feet of torque. All that power allows the concept to accelerate from zero to 62 mph in a blistering 3.4 seconds.
Keep in mind that this kitty can be plugged in, giving the vehicle a 68-mile electric range – with a six-hour charge – and a total cruising range of 560 miles. Probably the oddest part of this concept is that it sports two jetlike small gas turbines to recharge the batteries. The engines were co-developed with a jet engine company and are supposed to recharge the concept’s lithium-ion batteries quickly.
Needless to say, all this cutting-edge technology makes the possibility of a production C-X75 close to impossible. Then again, stranger things have happened. Expect to see the concept’s neo-retro styling cues on future generations of Jag vehicles.
A few more images are below. Click on them for larger versions.
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Chevrolet Challenges Ford to a Heavy-Duty Towing Showdown!
Posted on 30. Sep, 2010 by admin.
Chevrolet says power claims on paper aren’t everything. And to prove it, GM’s bow tie brand has issued a challenge to Ford to a high-altitude, heavy-duty towing and brake test in the Colorado Rockies.
Ford currently has the most powerful diesel engine available in the HD segment. The 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 was recently boosted to an incredible 400 horsepower and 800 pounds-feet of torque, taking the title away from GM’s 6.6-liter Duramax V-8, which is rated at 397 hp and 765 pounds-feet.
But Chevy still says the Duramax will outperform the Power Stroke in an apples-to-apples towing comparison.
“Numbers on paper are fine. Let's go work these trucks in the mountains, and may the best truck win,” Chevrolet Silverado Marketing Manager Tony Truelove said.
Truelove and Rick Spina, vehicle line executive for GM full-size trucks, want identically configured trucks to tackle a multiple-mile ascent in the Rocky Mountains to find out which truck will finish the lengthy climb first pulling a heavy trailer. Then, they want to turn around and measure which truck has the superior exhaust brake by measuring the amount of foot brake application required by the driver to slow the truck down.
An exhaust brake saves on brake and transmission wear by creating back pressure to engine brake the truck. It also reduces the potential for brake fade during long descents, increasing both downhill safety while towing as well as overall wheel brake life.
But Ford is declining this challenge.
“We challenge our trucks against the competition in grueling prove-out tests continually, and the customer gives us the results — sales leadership year after year,” Ford Trucks spokeswoman Anne Marie Gattari said.
Chevrolet is moving forward with a Chevrolet Silverado HD vs. Ford Super Duty showdown and has asked PickupTrucks.com to oversee the comparison along with the guys from Diesel Power Magazine. The Chevy truck team intends to obtain the Super Duty trucks from a third party, and we’ll be there as an impartial judge to verify the configurations and measure truck performance up and down the grades.
“We encourage independent testing of our vehicles as it helps truck customers learn more about each manufacturer's products,” said Spina. “It also helps us understand how our trucks stack up and get a full perspective on the truck landscape —to learn who's doing what and why they're doing it. We see competition as making us stronger!”
The final details are still coming together. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more news about this challenge.
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5-Door Land Rover Range Rover Evoque: First Look
Posted on 30. Sep, 2010 by admin.
Today at the Paris Motor Show Land Rover decided to spill the beans on an additional body style for the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque. The five-door model should be more practical for many car shoppers than the three-door SUV we’ve seen earlier. We know little about the five-door model; the automaker said it will divulge more information at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show.
The three-door Evoque is sized and priced to compete with the Audi Q5 and Infiniti EX35. It will debut in fall 2011.
We’ll keep you posted when more information is made available. Click below to view an enlargeable photo.
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Reader Review of the Week: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi
Posted on 30. Sep, 2010 by admin.
Perfectionist of Centennial, Colo., seems like a pretty tough cookie to win over if you’re an automaker in the midsize car segment. This reader tested nearly everything in the midsize marketplace – the Subaru Legacy, Hyundai Sonata, Ford Fusion and Chevy Malibu – but ended up going with the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi. After putting more than 1,000 miles on the odometer Perfectionist says “nothing compares” to his new Kizashi. Continue reading below to find out why, and then write your own review here.
“I just could not buy anything else after driving this car. At first I was afraid I wouldn't find anything I liked as much as my last car (2005 Hyundai Sonata), but boy, was I wrong. Obviously, I test drove the new 2011 Sonata and also the comparable 2011 Subaru Legacy and a 2010 Chevy Malibu and Ford Fusion (I tried to go American). I stumbled upon the Suzuki Kizashi while at the Subaru dealer. I had never even thought of looking at Suzuki. Something willed me there, I guess, because I saw it, drove it and could not get it out of my mind. I drove the others and the Kizashi beat them all. The layout of the controls on the steering wheel is perfect. Everything is in the right spot and on the correct side. The paddle shifters do not even require you to be in manual mode to use them. It is so awesome. I got to try the auto rain-sensing wipers the other day and they worked well, too. The two-tone dash styling is sharp and classy. Not gaudy like the black and tan in the new Sonata. Yuk. I got the SLS all-wheel drive, which has leather seats that are so comfortable. The Rockford Fosgate sound system is great. I have been averaging 25-29 mpg while using the air conditioning. Oh yeah, and the dual auto climate control is standard! Hyundai wanted you to buy the Limited edition to get that feature.
“The doors close solidly. It is smooth and quiet on the highway, and the interior quality is the best. I couldn't believe when I compared it to the comparable interior in the Fusion. That was just shoddy.
“I only have 1,006 miles on my Kizashi, but nothing compares. I am so glad I picked this car. I like it more every time I drive it. The continuously variable automatic transmission is my first and sounds weird if you're not used to it. The Subaru sounded worse, and the Sonata just felt like it was trying way too hard to accelerate. Now I forget it, turn on the awesome sound system and just zoom around. It turns on a nickel. (A dime is really too small.)
“I haven't had any paint chips so far like many other reviews I have read. I read those reviews and blogs before I bought this car, too, but even that wasn't enough to make me buy something else. I have the beautiful Deep Sea Blue paint color. The third day I had it I put a clear bra on one-third of the hood (I would have it on any car I bought). I also always buy touch-up paint for any car I own.”
2010|Suzuki|Kizashi
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Fireball Run Day 7: The High Gear Handoff
Posted on 30. Sep, 2010 by admin.
Yesterday was my last day on the Fireball Run. Today High Gear freelancer Tim Healey takes over my seat in the Camaro alongside Joel to head for the finish line in Galena, Illinois and I sit in the Kansas City airport. I wish I didn’t have to leave, but the keyboard calls with a French accent as the Paris Auto Show is already underway. The places…
