Auto Cars Benz

Abt Sportsline Announce Reworked Golf R32

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXyOjivbU1NqpXvOittci08y2Z7pwH_RdxXweOTLIAM__PlR9gatHzfzIbjN3f4NHd5LH_jWH7I508La_af4q7oQFOYsyHLEOg_xeYX6GjpG4ZKN1OQUCFgUforwXpHbZgyh9ocCGq-c0/s1600-h/9080325.008.Mini1L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181943132952608242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXyOjivbU1NqpXvOittci08y2Z7pwH_RdxXweOTLIAM__PlR9gatHzfzIbjN3f4NHd5LH_jWH7I508La_af4q7oQFOYsyHLEOg_xeYX6GjpG4ZKN1OQUCFgUforwXpHbZgyh9ocCGq-c0/s400/9080325.008.Mini1L.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> German tuner Abt Sportsline have gone to town on Volkswagen's fastest Golf model. The Abt R32 is the ultimate expression in performance for the everyday. Compact Golf dimensions and the R32's renowned sporting setup, the model is an 'ideal basis' for the tuner. "Whoever wants such a Golf wants an extremely fast compact car," says Hans-Juergen Abt. And it's evident the clientele won't go disappointed. Horsepower raises from a leisurely 250 hp in production form to a rather more Abt 370 hp, the 120 hp hike achieved via a modified motor management system and the introduction of an Abt compressor kit with supercharger and air cooling system. The upgrades power a hike in top speed to over 270 kph (or 168 mph), while acceleration to 100 kph or 62 mph decreases from 6.2 seconds in production form to just 5.0 seconds. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnAD4X0-JK2MqFRx1cj3DkFcjWCRTi68osnbGJGBINCD_FzyB5cgQsE0KsWMTybONFc9OJRdnQZtNRCn_Ok0f_RpySnVuXIGq5K-GVzcDYXu0RKqpprd_gnu6HORtl1M3mRb-_jZ8LS6b/s1600-h/9080325.008.Mini2L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181943004103589346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnAD4X0-JK2MqFRx1cj3DkFcjWCRTi68osnbGJGBINCD_FzyB5cgQsE0KsWMTybONFc9OJRdnQZtNRCn_Ok0f_RpySnVuXIGq5K-GVzcDYXu0RKqpprd_gnu6HORtl1M3mRb-_jZ8LS6b/s400/9080325.008.Mini2L.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> The same dynamic performance is delivered both on the Autobahn and on winding country roads thanks to Abt's sports suspension kit, 'perfectly harmonising' with all 370 horses of the Abt R32's V6 engine. An extraordinary vehicle is kitted out as such, primarily featuring 19-inch wheels and Abt decals but otherwise including only subtle bodykit modifications. A new side skirt and blackened once chrome dual exhaust pipes are the principle alterations. No details on any interior upgrades or kit release dates have been announced. <div class="bottomarea">Source: Abt Sportsline</div> Related entries: <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/02/caractere-styling-kit-for-new-vw-golf.html">Caractere Styling Kit for New VW Golf Variant</a> <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2007/11/new-volkswagen-golf-r32.html">New Volkswagen Golf R32</a> <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/02/caractere-styling-kit-for-audi-a5s5.html">Caractere Styling Kit for Audi A5/S5</a>

Abt Sportsline Announce Reworked Golf R32

German tuner Abt Sportsline have gone to town on Volkswagen's fastest Golf model. The Abt R32 is the ultimate expression in performance for the everyday. Compact Golf dimensions and the R32's renowned sporting setup, the model is an 'ideal basis' for the tuner. "Whoever wants such a Golf wants an ex…

26Mar2008

Renault Laguna GT: In Detail

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprRKhu999H4WiI4T92Y6EvibtcLw6NJpXfVbhw092RK4DrF_9n8kDb3LTJFznTlrND4YBRTVL2GSiSvnAKi_7OFDWb2a2ZIT_7sTCbF1h2a-qDGsUREIBxUQWF6AaMxdRvRTeRYaNb_cI/s1600-h/9080325.007.2L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181934448528735698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprRKhu999H4WiI4T92Y6EvibtcLw6NJpXfVbhw092RK4DrF_9n8kDb3LTJFznTlrND4YBRTVL2GSiSvnAKi_7OFDWb2a2ZIT_7sTCbF1h2a-qDGsUREIBxUQWF6AaMxdRvRTeRYaNb_cI/s400/9080325.007.2L.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> Renault proudly presented the GT model of their successful Laguna range at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, time to bring further details of the sporty Laguna. The new Renault Laguna has already been ordered by more than 50,000 people across Western Europe, allowing Renault to grab a larger market share in spite of the renewed models in the shrinking segment. The new Renault Laguna GT Saloon and Estate is powered by either a 2.0 liter turbocharged petrol engine producing 205 hp or a 2.0 liter dCi diesel putting out 180 hp. Top speed is clocked at 232 km/h for the saloon while the estate managed 222 km/h, 0 to 100 km/h should take the saloon about 8 seconds while the estate requires about 8,5 seconds. But more interesting than the bespoke engines is the Active Drive chassis. This new chassis features a four-wheel-steering system (4WS) to give the driver more manoeuvrability and steering precision. In the city the Active Chassis delivers a shorter turning circle, namely 10.80 meters, the same as the Renault Clio. The new Renault Laguna GT is scheduled to go on sale in France early next month, with the rest of Europe following this summer. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURTipB-mXer8FWFbYjqV_uobHwHb4W8LPeOPx-h817kycaEy4Ihb9YVN_fXogm_cDwD66NIWfxLvZMDivLOh-fzIvlhR_aTJv2wxBbwLe3hWJyhZCQknKbLj696XKe0XgstUev4ydEI5u/s1600-h/9080325.007.1L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181934203715599810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhURTipB-mXer8FWFbYjqV_uobHwHb4W8LPeOPx-h817kycaEy4Ihb9YVN_fXogm_cDwD66NIWfxLvZMDivLOh-fzIvlhR_aTJv2wxBbwLe3hWJyhZCQknKbLj696XKe0XgstUev4ydEI5u/s400/9080325.007.1L.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> <h4>Four-wheel steering for an exceptional ride</h4> The Active Drive chassis with four-wheel steering brings many benefits, starting with improved manoeuvrability, extremely rigorous dynamic response, and unequalled steering precision which gives the driver truly intuitive control over the cornering line, to attain new heights in driveability and active safety. The steering is immediately reassuring and agreeable, even at low speeds. In town and on winding roads, the car is easy to drive: manoeuvrable and precise. Advanced roll control, with specific settings and reinforced seat support, gives the impression that Renault Laguna GT corners flat, without leaning into the bend. The driver is pleasantly surprised by the lack of transient dynamic phenomena when cornering, and by the extreme precision achieved by very small steering wheel angles. The Active Drive chassis with four-wheel steering also excels in active safety, both under difficult braking conditions (with good control over asymmetrical grip, and ESP matched to sporty driving styles), and during avoidance manoeuvres at speed ('elk' test). <h4>Impressive low-speed manoeuvrability</h4> The Active Drive chassis with four-wheel steering makes Renault Laguna GT exceptionally easy to handle in town and superbly agile on winding roads. At speeds of less than 60kphh, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels, up to an angle of 3.5°. This brings two advantages: a smaller turning circle, for easy manoeuvring; and smaller steering wheel angles thanks to the more direct, specially calibrated steering. With four-wheel steering on the Active Drive chassis, Renault Laguna GT has a 10 per cent smaller turning circle than with two-wheel steering: 10.80 metres (the same as Clio!) with 18- inch tyres, instead of 12.05m. The greater the rear-wheel steering angle, the smaller the turning circle. Enhanced manoeuvrability is especially remarkable in tight parking situations and along narrow city streets. With front wheels and rear wheels turning in opposite directions, the car effectively pivots, which means smaller steering angles are needed for the same turning effect. Whereas it takes a 16° steering wheel angle to produce a 1° turn in the front wheels on New Laguna, it takes just 13.5° with the Active Drive chassis. And this drops to 12° when the rear wheels are turned at the maximum 3.5° angle in the opposite direction to the front wheels. Because steering is more direct, with less need for wide steering wheel angles, the impression of manoeuvrability and agility is greatly enhanced. For any given bend profile, the driver will need less action on the steering wheel. This makes for more effective avoidance, with the car seeming to weave effortlessly around obstacles. <h4>Ultra-precise steering control</h4> From 60kph, the emphasis is on steering precision. The rear wheels turn simultaneously in the same direction as the front wheels, to enhance stability, almost as if the car were running on rails. The Active Drive system with four-wheel steering counters the centrifugal force that tends to push the rear end outwards round bends, and thus raises the safe cornering speed. The rear axle is set on the ideal trajectory, with a rear-wheel angle of less than 2° in most situations, for stability and efficacy. The Active Drive chassis with four-wheel steering enhances dynamic handling, with sound, reassuring response for outstanding driving pleasure. <h4>Unparalleled active safety</h4> The Active Drive chassis with four-wheel steering also improves safety for heightened reassurance during avoidance manoeuvres. In an emergency situation, the rear-wheel angle can rise to 3.5°. Cut-in of the ESC (Electronic Stability Control) system, specially configured for a sporty driving style, is delayed, so that the manoeuvre can be performed both safely and more swiftly. ESC only switches in when necessary, and is applied gradually because it is synchronized with the rear-wheel turn action. Via the ESC/ABS unit, the 4WS control unit also detects asymmetrical braking situations, adapting the rear-wheel turn angle automatically to keep the car stable with no driver action required. This helps the driver keep control during critical situations, and ensures uninterrupted peace of mind during everyday driving conditions. <h4>Dynamic control logic</h4> Developed jointly by Renault and Renault Sport Technologies, the Active Drive chassis with four- wheel steering implements electronic control of vehicle dynamics. A sensor on the steering column sends steering wheel angle information via the CAN network to the 4WD control unit, located behind the rear axle. The 4WD control unit also inputs vehicle speed from the ESP/ABS unit. And it tracks steering wheel angle information to detect sharp steering wheel movements symptomatic of a sports driving style or avoidance situation. All these parameters are analysed to determine the required rear-wheel turn angle, which is implemented by means of an electric actuator on the rear axle. Dynamic vehicle behaviour is precisely modelled to set the ideal vehicle trajectory at each instant, on the basis of the driver’s input and the actual situation of the vehicle. The controller and electric actuator are supplied by Aisin, a Japanese equipment supplier reputed for its experience in four-wheel steering systems. <h4>High-performance engines</h4> The diesel version of Renault Laguna GT is powered by a 2.0 dCi engine, best-in-class for performance, driveability and acoustics. In this implementation, it yields exceptional peak power of 180hp (131kW) at 3,750rpm. Peak torque of 400Nm is available from 2,000rpm, for prompt, consistent, sustained build-up through to 5,000 rpm. A reduced-inertia variable-nozzle turbocharger enhances dynamic response at low revs to achieve superlative performance: 29.6 seconds for the 1,000m standing start, and 0 to 100kph in 8.5 seconds. This new unit is fitted with a particulate filter and EGR valve with enhanced cooling, which makes intense driving pleasure perfectly consistent with environmental protection: mixed-cycle fuel consumption is just 6.5 litres/100km, which translates into CO2 emissions of just 172g/km. With its ultra-fast glow plugs, the 180hp 2.0 dCi unit roars into action instantly when the Start button is pressed, even in conditions of extreme cold (down to -23°C). The petrol version of Renault Laguna GT is powered by a sports version (205hp/150kW at 5,000rpm and 300Nm from 3,000rpm) of the two-litre 16-valve unit, derived from Renault Sport technology as featured on Mégane Renault Sport, and specifically reworked for Renault Laguna GT, to yield the best in performance, handling and intense driving pleasure. It is superbly versatile, combining velvet smoothness with astonishingly crisp response, ideal for sports usage. Design features such as the special air-intake system and twin-scroll turbo ensure the rev- counter leaps forward at the slightest touch of the throttle। Renault Laguna GT 2.0T accelerates from 0 to 100kph in 7.8 seconds and takes 28s to cover 1,000 metres from standstill. Yet fuel consumption is a very reasonable 8.2 litres/100km, which makes for CO2 emissions of just 194g/km. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fNBzz0rJ1QPoVc-KZt_3-sXGMv2LjxWEeLYds3O1i_gIB0IeFAzdFF6WZxcBYmgMxhHXlZnHc-U9dQ65omUmwSCY4fxS-j4Qd1tZOk2BKef0SlX8pneBXYzOXhm929H_YwJUtgkUdT7z/s1600-h/9080325.007.3L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181934031916907954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fNBzz0rJ1QPoVc-KZt_3-sXGMv2LjxWEeLYds3O1i_gIB0IeFAzdFF6WZxcBYmgMxhHXlZnHc-U9dQ65omUmwSCY4fxS-j4Qd1tZOk2BKef0SlX8pneBXYzOXhm929H_YwJUtgkUdT7z/s400/9080325.007.3L.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><h4>Distinctive GT styling</h4> With its distinctive streamlined profile, Renault Laguna GT expresses an elegance that goes much further than sporting aptitude alone. The long plunging bonnet terminates in a highly assertive front-end with a radiator grille characteristic of the most powerful Renaults. Purposeful- looking lateral air-intakes suggest an insatiable appetite for the open road, corroborated by the wise gaze of the headlamps against the neat black background. Renault Laguna GT is fitted with generously sized 225/45 18-inch special high performance Bridgestone Potenza tyres, a Formula One spin-off, mounted on special Celsium wheels. The highly efficacious braking system uses 320mm diameter discs at the front and 300mm discs at the rear. Aerodynamic sills reflect the promise of the Active Drive chassis extend from the front of the car to the characteristic straight-section twin tailpipe at the rear. Sports tourer attributes run through to every last detail, such as the gloss black wing mirrors and smoked rear lamp units. <h4>Sports interior</h4> As well as appearing on the outside centre pillar, the exclusive GT logo is also embossed on the light grey alcantara of the front seatbacks. As on all Renault Laguna models, the interior design exudes a most impressive sense of comfort and quality, in all seats. Sports design details abound, highlighting the exclusive capacities of the GT version: special three-spoke leather sports steering wheel with grey stitching, cross-drilled aluminium pedal, sports gearshift lever knob, dark charcoal Riviera leather upholstery with reinforced lateral support. Extreme attention has been paid to materials and finish, true to the car’s unwavering commitment to pure motoring pleasure. <h4>Equipments and technology</h4> The Renault Laguna GT range starts with the Dynamique equipment level and features a long list of top-end equipment selected to favour travelling comfort, including a three-mode (Soft/Auto/Fast) dual-zone automatic climate control system complete with toxicity sensor and automatic air recycling. Driving comfort is enhanced by the availability of parking brake assist, cruise control with speed limiter and automatic headlamp and wiper activation, while acoustic comfort was dialled into the model from a very early phase in its development thanks to features that have made Renault Laguna a benchmark in this area, too. Nothing has been left to chance on the active and passive safety fronts either. Renault Laguna and the GT version particularly excel in terms of their active safety performance as demonstrated by the latest EuroNCAP test results. Its principal innovation concerns improved side impact protection thanks to a twin impact sensor system and new-generation double thorax/groin airbags. The affordable overall equipment and performance package of this flagship version sets it apart on the sports saloon marketplace and ensures the ultimate in reassuring driving pleasure. <h4>Advanced technology for an unforgettable ride</h4> Four-wheel steering systems of the 1980s were essentially mechanical, with the front and rear wheels linked and pre-determined angles aimed at making up for shortcomings in the vehicle's handling (e.g. a tendency to understeer). Such systems were gradually superseded by the advent of ESP. Meanwhile, towards the end of the 1990s, carmakers like Nissan were beginning to develop solutions based on electrically- and even hydraulically-operated activators with a view to taking the dynamic performance of their vehicles forward. Electronic control of the rear wheels has enabled handling to be fine-tuned even further, notably in the case of rear-wheel drive vehicles. The Active Drive system builds on this approach by ensuring a more dynamic and more reactive response to make the absolute most of the inherent qualities of Renault Laguna GT's remarkable chassis and consequently deliver even greater driving enjoyment. In addition to the complex modelling of the vehicle's handling, real-time response to the driver's instructions (every 10ms) and its ability to adapt to different conditions, New Laguna GT's Active Drive four-wheel steering system means that active safety systems are only required as a very last resort, which means drivers benefit from more efficient and even more reassuring reactions when faced with an unexpected driving situation. <h4>LAGUNA GT ENGINE</h4> <table border="1" bordercolor="#000000" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="95%"> <col width="102*"> <col width="77*"> <col width="77*"> <tbody> <tr valign="top"> <td width="40%">Hatch / Tourer </td> <td width="30%">PETROL </td> <td width="30%">DIESEL </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="40%">ENGINE </td> <td width="30%">2.0 TURBO 205hp MAN 6 </td> <td width="30%">2.0 dCi 180hp MAN 6 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="40%">Number of cylinders / valves </td> <td width="30%">4/16 </td> <td width="30%">4/16 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="40%">Maximum output in kW CEE (rpm) </td> <td width="30%">150 @ 5.000 </td> <td width="30%">131 @ 3.750 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="40%">Maximum torque in Nm (rpm) </td> <td width="30%">300 @ 3.000 </td> <td width="30%">400 @ 2.000 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="40%">PERFORMANCES </td> <td width="30%"> </td> <td width="30%"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="40%">Max speed (kph) </td> <td width="30%">232 / 227 </td> <td width="30%">222 / 217 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="40%">0 - 100kph (s) </td> <td width="30%">7.8 / 8.0 </td> <td width="30%">8.5 / 8.7 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="40%">1000m standing start (s) </td> <td width="30%">28.0 / 28.3 </td> <td width="30%">29.6 / 29.9 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="40%">CONSUMPTION </td> <td width="30%"> </td> <td width="30%"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="40%">Urban cycle (l/100km) </td> <td width="30%">11.5 / 11.5 </td> <td width="30%">8.6 / 8.8 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="40%">Extra-urban cycle (l/100km) </td> <td width="30%">6.5 / 6.5 </td> <td width="30%">5.5 / 5.7 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="40%">Combined cycle (l/100km) </td> <td width="30%">8.2 / 8.3 </td> <td width="30%">6.5 / 6.7 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="40%">ENVIRONMENT </td> <td width="30%"> </td> <td width="30%"> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="40%">Emission regulation </td> <td width="30%">Euro4 </td> <td width="30%">Euro4 </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="40%">CO2 emissions (g/km) </td> <td width="30%">194 / 196 </td> <td width="30%">172 / 177 </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <div class="bottomarea"> Source: Renault</div> Related entries: <a href="http://ddgg-newyorktimes.blogspot.com/2008/03/renault-laguna-gt-shows-up-in-geneva.html">Renault Laguna GT Shows Up in Geneva</a> <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2007/12/new-renault-laguna-coupe-concept.html">New Renault Laguna Coupe Concept Revealed</a> <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/02/renault-lineup-for-geneva-including-new.html">Renault lineup for Geneva - including new concept and Laguna GT</a> <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/02/renault-laguna-gt-revealed.html">Renault Laguna GT Revealed</a>

Renault Laguna GT: In Detail

Renault proudly presented the GT model of their successful Laguna range at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, time to bring further details of the sporty Laguna. The new Renault Laguna has already been ordered by more than 50,000 people across Western Europe, allowing Renault to grab a larger market share …

25Mar2008

Mercedes E-Class Latest Renderings

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLe6iHtqrYpt45_g4-fm_0dlzMgBZ-u5ZWHEKVjOHXAisoq87pmuLSWeGLUFIrH_wolhSy_sbGr8HWp2PcSwT8YzFxONE0vMgNV7qGTv0OYbGhYdk-6p-jMlpYx82awxIFJiDRwMXI0ld/s1600-h/_2009+_Mercedes_110707.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181926348220415394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYLe6iHtqrYpt45_g4-fm_0dlzMgBZ-u5ZWHEKVjOHXAisoq87pmuLSWeGLUFIrH_wolhSy_sbGr8HWp2PcSwT8YzFxONE0vMgNV7qGTv0OYbGhYdk-6p-jMlpYx82awxIFJiDRwMXI0ld/s400/_2009+_Mercedes_110707.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Brand spanking new Mercedes-Benz E-Class is due to go on sale in mid-2010, but as per normal the frenzy of spy pics has been feeding upon itself for months yet. Of course WCF has been at the<a href="http://ddgg-newyorktimes.blogspot.com/2008/03/new-2010-mercedes-e-class-clearest-spy.html">cutting edge</a> of this frenzy, and with that same spirit we bring you these renderings of what the E-Class will probably look like when it hits the market. Merc has demonstrated with their current crop of cars that they are ready for a design change. Sharper lines, more kink around the edges have signaled a harder approach to Merc, a sign that the world’s oldest luxury car maker is going aggressively at the younger market. Even their ad campaigns are a showcase of youth. Why C-Class is now sold as “your car, not your dad’s” for example. E-Class is expected to debut a few new technologies for its segment, while existing ones including Bluetech and Diesotto, are to make an even bigger presence. Engines worn on the two body styles saloon and estate as proper, will be petrol-based, diesel-bound, hybrid-origin and a surprise fuel mix. The AMG performance version of the E-Class will for the first time, surpass 400kW/ 536 bhp. Related entries: <a href="http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080310.013/new-mercedes-e-class-black-tape-camo-latest-spy-photos">SPIED: Every Mercedes Benz E-Class Model</a> <a href="http://ddgg-newyorktimes.blogspot.com/2008/03/new-2010-mercedes-e-class-clearest-spy.html">SPY PHOTOS: New 2010 Mercedes E-Class</a>

Mercedes E-Class Latest Renderings

Brand spanking new Mercedes-Benz E-Class is due to go on sale in mid-2010, but as per normal the frenzy of spy pics has been feeding upon itself for months yet. Of course WCF has been at thecutting edge of this frenzy, and with that same spirit we bring you these renderings of what the E-Class will …

25Mar2008

New Suzuki DZire for India

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3G4-x_UcbvU4028EZGQEVng1O1ZQyUb4lsmb87trVi8udiVtwEF2Oq1Rn0TrQAFnyV-ZJCskZax45LV-0uDZmiishZDBk_rb4J0ajJSeilSOgJhjaDcOwtlO2-BkW5CqWA9a1oVYbTJI/s1600-h/9080325.004.Mini4L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181678867909852562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3G4-x_UcbvU4028EZGQEVng1O1ZQyUb4lsmb87trVi8udiVtwEF2Oq1Rn0TrQAFnyV-ZJCskZax45LV-0uDZmiishZDBk_rb4J0ajJSeilSOgJhjaDcOwtlO2-BkW5CqWA9a1oVYbTJI/s400/9080325.004.Mini4L.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> <h4>Swift sedan</h4> Suzuki is planning on displaying some power in North America with a<a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/suzuki-kizashi-3-concept-headed-for-new.html"> </a><a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/suzuki-kizashi-3-concept-headed-for-new.html">new sports sedan</a>, in India they take a somewhat less extreme route. Tomorrow Maruti Suzuki will launch the Suzuki Swift DZire, a sedan version of the hatchback. Officially Suzuki has released some teaser images, but IBNLive has taken the new car for a test drive already and published the video on their <a href="http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/61705/you-will-dzire-this-maruti-upgrades-swift.html">website</a>. The front of the car stays mostly the same (new grille) but the rear has been radically redesigned resulting in double the trunk space. Suzuki is looking to compete in the entry-level mid-size segment with the Renault Logan and Tata Indigo. The new Swift DZire is expected to cost about Rs 75,000 (Euro 1,200) more than the Swift hatchback. Whether this Swift sedan will ever make it out of India is doubtful now that Suzuki has already debuted the SX4 sedan in North America and Europe.  <div style="text-align: right;">Source: <a href="http://www.marutidzire.com/">MarutiSuzuki</a> </div> <center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9aYib_bb4_706olAy5191EEXq4KIZYOa1o2mefNiqSLRW-a2zEtdb3lFYCvBQfV1_7o3eCrRjrIK2-atedOh-utgJc6gs4hCN0MTCp71iHo8z1D-HQS1RddphIQjtULlQ4hpMLOIqq3_/s1600-h/9080325.004.Mini3L.jpg"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181678554377239938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9aYib_bb4_706olAy5191EEXq4KIZYOa1o2mefNiqSLRW-a2zEtdb3lFYCvBQfV1_7o3eCrRjrIK2-atedOh-utgJc6gs4hCN0MTCp71iHo8z1D-HQS1RddphIQjtULlQ4hpMLOIqq3_/s400/9080325.004.Mini3L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 80px;" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACqtMPn8Eq-Bpr0JoGZI-4IuD3QPVYnP-zJ-GEZk7SJG6Rd8bGUqg-xDK6e3wzm9yy_IL1ul5sT8q1maeIHDp8ygnErjjxa5HmVdi8TqGhOJdcbE-U13kaysMlXJf7AogYYPHzlnGPVhw/s1600-h/9080325.004.Mini2L.jpg"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181678481362795890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhACqtMPn8Eq-Bpr0JoGZI-4IuD3QPVYnP-zJ-GEZk7SJG6Rd8bGUqg-xDK6e3wzm9yy_IL1ul5sT8q1maeIHDp8ygnErjjxa5HmVdi8TqGhOJdcbE-U13kaysMlXJf7AogYYPHzlnGPVhw/s400/9080325.004.Mini2L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 80px;" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9E-KsnWcseqO1dP-OeRbtr-b1xk-wobBN6OYRWFQ4QzIlmPWKrFqkPgSDEp7A2gLsHpSFgjlSJ1FYclkzfarGNHJ8Rk7v81F0_78Lsf4Tig7NqKRRhXiItmCALKsd0ztNB5IZARgPWsdH/s1600-h/9080325.004.Mini1L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181678305269136738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9E-KsnWcseqO1dP-OeRbtr-b1xk-wobBN6OYRWFQ4QzIlmPWKrFqkPgSDEp7A2gLsHpSFgjlSJ1FYclkzfarGNHJ8Rk7v81F0_78Lsf4Tig7NqKRRhXiItmCALKsd0ztNB5IZARgPWsdH/s400/9080325.004.Mini1L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 80px;" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PxlNRmzwDl9Y2fSXxFxnFfbvOQb30X_fbpZjzzUfRzOkt8UXSpn_lKlaCogSOaq-YiIUv1LjIVujAySuhoG_NLTl05eGGblvVP5N_g44hIut2t9RSKAORjJ-t2YtthxlQt2zv6TCIvgv/s1600-h/9080325.004.Mini5L.jpg"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181678197894954322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PxlNRmzwDl9Y2fSXxFxnFfbvOQb30X_fbpZjzzUfRzOkt8UXSpn_lKlaCogSOaq-YiIUv1LjIVujAySuhoG_NLTl05eGGblvVP5N_g44hIut2t9RSKAORjJ-t2YtthxlQt2zv6TCIvgv/s400/9080325.004.Mini5L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 80px;" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6eH4wvWAy17F6oHxeYUNp2cyQ_mKI1CBjDSBwNEUnxkkJ7JLlDjfDnVenP0wDg1_R2eCwuM4GewD_-Lr89X3QcQ840KSHAVRylAiV6s-Jz66aydMGV2BJd3hwqtFtfOb-zuX20-_EEZxL/s1600-h/9080325.004.Mini6L.jpg"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181678094815739202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6eH4wvWAy17F6oHxeYUNp2cyQ_mKI1CBjDSBwNEUnxkkJ7JLlDjfDnVenP0wDg1_R2eCwuM4GewD_-Lr89X3QcQ840KSHAVRylAiV6s-Jz66aydMGV2BJd3hwqtFtfOb-zuX20-_EEZxL/s400/9080325.004.Mini6L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 80px;" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGiP9R74Q5e8POtL1uAy0J5MCLYu9pnCPvtb_P4B-BSTAknP2nFo4StW090T0QyPFBZ5lhR0hxhdp4qsaIqQOkz9oJhet7kFs5zKvVT5jUJvZOX87OzigyY-qANoyx6sPXxRou1-9CujZ2/s1600-h/9080325.004.Mini7L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181677974556654898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGiP9R74Q5e8POtL1uAy0J5MCLYu9pnCPvtb_P4B-BSTAknP2nFo4StW090T0QyPFBZ5lhR0hxhdp4qsaIqQOkz9oJhet7kFs5zKvVT5jUJvZOX87OzigyY-qANoyx6sPXxRou1-9CujZ2/s400/9080325.004.Mini7L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 80px;" /></a> </center> Related entries: <a href="http://ddgg-newyorktimes.blogspot.com/2008/03/2008-suzuki-sx4-sedan.html">2008 Suzuki SX4 Sedan Debuts at NYIAS</a> <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2007/10/suzuki-kizashi-concept-at-frankfurt.html">Suzuki Kizashi Concept at Frankfurt</a> <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2007/11/suzuki-kizashi-2-concept.html">Suzuki Kizashi 2 Concept</a>

New Suzuki DZire for India

Swift sedan Suzuki is planning on displaying some power in North America with a new sports sedan, in India they take a somewhat less extreme route. Tomorrow Maruti Suzuki will launch the Suzuki Swift DZire, a sedan version of the hatchback. Officially Suzuki has released some teaser images, but IBNL…

25Mar2008

Ferrari Dino Spied

<center><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OgZpgndQlgM&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OgZpgndQlgM&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object></center> This footage is showing a mule of the new car. Based on a 599 body it doesn’t yet give away so much but at least a little of what will become the new Dino. What identifies the test car as a mule for the Dino is the engine sound, or should we say the lack of it. It clearly doesn’t sound as sharp as a F430 for example. The Classic Dino was built between 1968 and 1976, and its name honours the founder Enzo Ferrari´s son, Alfredino “Dino“ Ferrari, who died in 1956 at the age of 24 from a muscular dystrophy. While that vintage Dino had a V6 behind the driver, the new one will be powered by a V8 with 400 bhp. Ferrari will most likely start with a Coupe, but expect a Spider later on. There is a high possibility that Pininfarina will do the design work with input from former Ferrari design boss Frank Stephenson, who now heads Fiat´s Centro Stile operation. The Dino will be starting at approximately 100-110.000 Euros. Insiders are saying that it’s possible to sell up to 4000 Dinos annually once the car gets the green light for production. Such a figure would instantly double Ferrari´s yearly production and give the make a whole new group of customers. Talk is also about the new Dino to be built at the Maserati factory in the city of Modena. This city is very important to the history of Ferrari, as it is the town where its founder Enzo Ferrari was born. Even if Ferrari is still denying the project, we expect to see it on the roads in 2009. Source: Copyright by AUTOMEDIA Related entries: <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/01/ferrari-new-2009-dino-renderings.html">Ferrari New 2009 Dino Renderings</a> <div><a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/01/new-baby-ferrari.html">New Baby Ferrari</a> </div>

Ferrari Dino Spied

This footage is showing a mule of the new car. Based on a 599 body it doesn’t yet give away so much but at least a little of what will become the new Dino. What identifies the test car as a mule for the Dino is the engine sound, or should we say the lack of it. It clearly doesn’t sound as sharp as a…

25Mar2008

Meet the FireBlade Concept, A ZR1 In Meaner Clothing

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lAslSrxifwa-dTwl95CLpj37jZdTcJl58D2Oex79geZdxESEEeJytSE8Ig7gkLPrqnRMPtKC1Nnt5QwYk3615numJ2PGyI0QqftqnxbF2MLIx0tRKDVUqkdmAPL8huw5CXFNvTZGUd7Y/s1600-h/9080325.005.Mini2L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181660725967994146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lAslSrxifwa-dTwl95CLpj37jZdTcJl58D2Oex79geZdxESEEeJytSE8Ig7gkLPrqnRMPtKC1Nnt5QwYk3615numJ2PGyI0QqftqnxbF2MLIx0tRKDVUqkdmAPL8huw5CXFNvTZGUd7Y/s400/9080325.005.Mini2L.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>The new <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/01/chevrolet-joins-supercar-realms-with.html">Corvette ZR1</a> could not look meaner, could it? Well, what if we said it could? The proofs are the images on this article, created by Idries Noah, the New Zealand’s designer that has also drawn another incredible machine, the <a href="http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080324.001/f250-concept-new-zealands-guess-for-a-new-ferrari-dino">Ferrari F250 Concept</a>. The idea for the FireBlade was to “reflect raw power” and to “be a brute, a car that has muscle car qualities”, according to Noah. Inspired on mythical vehicles such as Shelby Daytona and Corvette Stingray, the FireBlade would have a promising career if it ever had the chance to see the production lines. Meanwhile, it is just a reinterpretation of an already fantastic machine. Anyway, considering the automotive world is very dynamic, we would not be surprised if someone got interested in bringing this car to life. We just hope it to be soon! <div style="text-align: right;" class="bottomarea">Source: <a href="http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/2008/top-2008-Fireblade-Concept-Design-by-Idries-Noah.htm">SeriousWheels.com</a></div> <center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGhPEBfdd0UEkBYgZofbOiL7irIu5u_5U7zmoAQH1UUJI51VYjgiVF1dRDLFwWF8m2mhHucrQrk8NObG8JS31rnHkwYVgmgF-DBisbl8hjjmWItjbD0dYehnUgb-G66_M9iOz1hcal2mq/s1600-h/9080325.005.Mini1L.jpg"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181660605708909842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGhPEBfdd0UEkBYgZofbOiL7irIu5u_5U7zmoAQH1UUJI51VYjgiVF1dRDLFwWF8m2mhHucrQrk8NObG8JS31rnHkwYVgmgF-DBisbl8hjjmWItjbD0dYehnUgb-G66_M9iOz1hcal2mq/s400/9080325.005.Mini1L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 80px;" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3W_eI0_VDn1bETlI9WmbEdUlaMRrIc8qe2PcrcAuOND9cAdWqsCzhfwTa1RRI6L0IjAHkFVzLiGkQABZoDkCEgY_9m91FpaSCmJywWHntlxc5ZBi5wYMs2c5NztdlzVcLIUKc4og22oXC/s1600-h/9080325.005.Mini3L.jpg"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181660511219629314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3W_eI0_VDn1bETlI9WmbEdUlaMRrIc8qe2PcrcAuOND9cAdWqsCzhfwTa1RRI6L0IjAHkFVzLiGkQABZoDkCEgY_9m91FpaSCmJywWHntlxc5ZBi5wYMs2c5NztdlzVcLIUKc4og22oXC/s400/9080325.005.Mini3L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 80px;" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-Ti7Kk8xyaaQHk7dnmY0tyfdaicJEot7mat-C4FrR1XCw_2_tsMqsCCqBiKTpyrJTK2ytrmX7UCjj0Kk3NUYIPdQB4EIe-FUpkOwjogfJ6z___M4v5u4R_GkBSKIPz6Mjlyuwgr8hH5X/s1600-h/9080325.005.Mini4L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181660352305839346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-Ti7Kk8xyaaQHk7dnmY0tyfdaicJEot7mat-C4FrR1XCw_2_tsMqsCCqBiKTpyrJTK2ytrmX7UCjj0Kk3NUYIPdQB4EIe-FUpkOwjogfJ6z___M4v5u4R_GkBSKIPz6Mjlyuwgr8hH5X/s400/9080325.005.Mini4L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 80px;" /></a> </center> Related entries: <a href="http://ddgg-newyorktimes.blogspot.com/2008/03/f250-concept-new-zealands-guess-for-new.html">F250 Concept. New Zealand’s Guess For A New Ferrari Dino</a> <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/01/tropical-renault-alpine-interlagos.html">Tropical Renault Alpine: The Interlagos</a><a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/02/phoenix-gtuirapuru-800-hp-brazilian.html"> Phoenix GT/Uirapuru, the 800 hp Brazilian Sports Car</a> <a href="http://cars-space.blogbus.com/logs/17651934.html">Small, cheap, safe and runs on ethanol? Call it Pompéo</a>

Meet the FireBlade Concept, A ZR1 In Meaner Clothing

The new Corvette ZR1 could not look meaner, could it? Well, what if we said it could? The proofs are the images on this article, created by Idries Noah, the New Zealand’s designer that has also drawn another incredible machine, the Ferrari F250 Concept.The idea for the FireBlade was to “reflect raw …

25Mar2008

Saleen S5S Raptor Concept Finds the Web a Day Before Debut

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64V90uerDz8Ej1uibyWrPt0_T3SH6YaPDo5vVMR_4fMKQCF57TIxp1AHS1B65Th23aBC6I6xP-45rQrQSBG6PxwIfvA-iSNbkuIS37kEvCqD79MABIvKj1kH8fmrdgsziXcY7Oo_Nrvoi/s1600-h/9080319.015.Mini1L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179821028266359938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64V90uerDz8Ej1uibyWrPt0_T3SH6YaPDo5vVMR_4fMKQCF57TIxp1AHS1B65Th23aBC6I6xP-45rQrQSBG6PxwIfvA-iSNbkuIS37kEvCqD79MABIvKj1kH8fmrdgsziXcY7Oo_Nrvoi/s400/9080319.015.Mini1L.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> A day before the S5S Raptor by Saleen is undressed at the New York Auto Show and we have official pictures as well as what latent talents the Raptor may have. S5S turns out to be worth some 650 bhp from the 5.0-litre supercharged engine. The 630 lb-ft of torque goes straight to the rear wheels, aided by a 6-speed manual transmission, to guarantee a time of 3.2 seconds from zero to 60 mph. A sequential gearbox will be delivered along after 2010 when the car goes to market, and as is the norm nowadays, it should prove even quicker than the manual. Said rear wheels measure 315/35ZR20s, while the front sports 275/35ZR20s. The Saleen S5S Raptor carries a price tag of around USD185,000 considered by some as a bargain considering the types of figures we’ve just thrown about. You do pay for speeds in excess of 200 mph. On top of it all the S5S will run on E85, proving that clean doesn’t have to be performance-dumb. Live pictures from the show will be going up on this site soon after the car’s unveiling. Thanks to <a href="http://www.automotorsport.se/saleen-s5s-raptor-med-650-hk/13813">AMS Sweden</a> for the hi-res photos <div class="bottomarea">Source: Motortrend via <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/19/new-york-2008-saleen-s5s-raptor-revealed/">Autoblog</a></div> <center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYF8a4JgYsQqIr1OCy5sC3z2SghdsRUWmLmx5v71CfwqNEn9H1R1X_Peprm4JR-7NxmQXp1IttyRoQAWgfr4bxdiubIDsL0N0-q0g5YSv14MtABoA8F3fT5IAufcGMEz3m8GdMsff1wFE2/s1600-h/9080319.015.Mini2L.jpg"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179820839287798898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYF8a4JgYsQqIr1OCy5sC3z2SghdsRUWmLmx5v71CfwqNEn9H1R1X_Peprm4JR-7NxmQXp1IttyRoQAWgfr4bxdiubIDsL0N0-q0g5YSv14MtABoA8F3fT5IAufcGMEz3m8GdMsff1wFE2/s400/9080319.015.Mini2L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 80px;" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOVyLYi3dL3OGfUadmUgsY5l5-TIQgRJThzUekHGS_fvyx1pOXmoi_RkdABTIoXg9FjStwTI2VIVYvlV339UDhSheyCbqPnQBXYrDCK61s25YBba3GCrtRD1w_5Jvj2dM6B3KUyVmQCrs/s1600-h/9080319.015.Mini3L.jpg"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179820774863289442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOVyLYi3dL3OGfUadmUgsY5l5-TIQgRJThzUekHGS_fvyx1pOXmoi_RkdABTIoXg9FjStwTI2VIVYvlV339UDhSheyCbqPnQBXYrDCK61s25YBba3GCrtRD1w_5Jvj2dM6B3KUyVmQCrs/s400/9080319.015.Mini3L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 80px;" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLpfuIE50fTEWDGAopLqtTfYgUNqXjssNkRc5Ws4OA3FnNQqR9g0nG55KBLJmYnezTRVyA_V_uybYPTVFyeT0tgrgjDbhjMK3D3AMJ9P4LTgoJdo0weaf_9G3ijVH3r_HvAsF3-thcVzb/s1600-h/9080319.015.Mini4L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179820701848845394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLpfuIE50fTEWDGAopLqtTfYgUNqXjssNkRc5Ws4OA3FnNQqR9g0nG55KBLJmYnezTRVyA_V_uybYPTVFyeT0tgrgjDbhjMK3D3AMJ9P4LTgoJdo0weaf_9G3ijVH3r_HvAsF3-thcVzb/s400/9080319.015.Mini4L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 80px;" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqVdom6s_kF8LL766WDoYno3ovzYOH3sLO2ns6IlCAHdx18tZL8JDWyJ8Kq8p-FL6PuwWAEPYbKzKY608XIIT5maD6-gU_lRTpC2ziVzBUBL4Bd9EIO_siXSfcrizssytIjBUhabgS-v3/s1600-h/9080319.015.Mini5L.jpg"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179820615949499458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqVdom6s_kF8LL766WDoYno3ovzYOH3sLO2ns6IlCAHdx18tZL8JDWyJ8Kq8p-FL6PuwWAEPYbKzKY608XIIT5maD6-gU_lRTpC2ziVzBUBL4Bd9EIO_siXSfcrizssytIjBUhabgS-v3/s400/9080319.015.Mini5L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 80px;" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3HLhiGFN7n1sz_V32Vd1xeL4rkaX0JVOdS-Npo_nKxUqj75gqoaqY1PCCFKT-a7W_G5A6BaFuSPw4rJ3NI0GcmAw4bEo0ydyhyH7_sNR5UD3qWWM8dHW_kOdZjG1HJsmwrk7JJJl_bzL/s1600-h/9080319.015.Mini6L.jpg"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179820560114924594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3HLhiGFN7n1sz_V32Vd1xeL4rkaX0JVOdS-Npo_nKxUqj75gqoaqY1PCCFKT-a7W_G5A6BaFuSPw4rJ3NI0GcmAw4bEo0ydyhyH7_sNR5UD3qWWM8dHW_kOdZjG1HJsmwrk7JJJl_bzL/s400/9080319.015.Mini6L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 80px;" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUSTG3T-z0Y-7iDheRRZPH2KhMd_lddJnOB4AmfFUi9-1nQXHKVYnGqEEOKwSZRJhyT_P2xCZs_lJWv7bGmuFFwhOq8wnEF730d_RQ6MPnnyjb3S5WUcekxuCWoDnrbsW3SqVXIUMu439/s1600-h/9080319.015.Mini7L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179820487100480546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUSTG3T-z0Y-7iDheRRZPH2KhMd_lddJnOB4AmfFUi9-1nQXHKVYnGqEEOKwSZRJhyT_P2xCZs_lJWv7bGmuFFwhOq8wnEF730d_RQ6MPnnyjb3S5WUcekxuCWoDnrbsW3SqVXIUMu439/s400/9080319.015.Mini7L.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 80px;" /></a> </center> Related entries: <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/02/saleen-s5s-raptor-concept-to-debut-in.html">Saleen S5S Raptor Concept to debut in New York</a> <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2007/12/saleen-af-s281-dedicated-to-troops.html">Saleen AF S281 Dedicated to Troops</a> <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2007/11/saleen-reveals-two-new-mustangs.html">Saleen Reveals Two New Mustangs</a> <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2007/10/2008-saleen-s281-rf.html">2008 Saleen S281 RF</a>

Saleen S5S Raptor Concept Finds the Web a Day Before Debut

A day before the S5S Raptor by Saleen is undressed at the New York Auto Show and we have official pictures as well as what latent talents the Raptor may have. S5S turns out to be worth some 650 bhp from the 5.0-litre supercharged engine. The 630 lb-ft of torque goes straight to the rear wheels, aide…

20Mar2008

Hyundai Genesis Coupe Revealed in NY

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxnrnHc2GqjAS8fzEc3OMDojITKiAli7Lj55ZO8acKPj4iyyEqdprWgF9RMMAw_VvlkK2fm6ZAWuZEdyEeisQxbHrDvrqint-WhzBziH_lqs3hoJYRPAwpQ-jGmyKx7g8M4MLL1oVOmzM/s1600-h/9080320.001.1L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179817673896901650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxnrnHc2GqjAS8fzEc3OMDojITKiAli7Lj55ZO8acKPj4iyyEqdprWgF9RMMAw_VvlkK2fm6ZAWuZEdyEeisQxbHrDvrqint-WhzBziH_lqs3hoJYRPAwpQ-jGmyKx7g8M4MLL1oVOmzM/s400/9080320.001.1L.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> Any doubts as to the ability of the new Hyundai Genesis Coupe to perform were quickly dispelled in New York as a pair of the cars greeted the press by sliding wildly around the Javits Center Galleria with stunt drivers at the wheel, backed by a pounding rock'n'roll soundtrack। With rear-wheel drive and a choice of turbocharged four-cylinder or V6 power, the new coupe represents a significant push into the sports car market for Hyundai. Shown as a concept in Los Angeles last year and carrying hints of past Hyundai concept cars, the Genesis Coupe is an Infiniti G37-sized car with serious sporting potential. It goes on sale in the spring of 2009 as a 2010 model. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33OnLGXEl_Fh7sHzyTU4xXrzKqeAxEIUJTFaq8JI9RxVrLGExDNvp8uZadPz7iVk3194qcYmLXcDqQSXpXQFqPFkUE-GP0_m9LaX3uGHP4sW0h2RY3_HdeZN6mrS50AzMlRvcTbhAM3Dm/s1600-h/9080320.001.Mini11L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179817420493831154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33OnLGXEl_Fh7sHzyTU4xXrzKqeAxEIUJTFaq8JI9RxVrLGExDNvp8uZadPz7iVk3194qcYmLXcDqQSXpXQFqPFkUE-GP0_m9LaX3uGHP4sW0h2RY3_HdeZN6mrS50AzMlRvcTbhAM3Dm/s400/9080320.001.Mini11L.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Engine choices are a 2.0 liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 212 horsepower and a 3.8 liter V6 shared with the Genesis sedan that's good for 306 horses. Both engines feature standard six-speed manual transmissions and dual cat-back exhaust systems, and a limited-slip rear is available as well. The hot setup will be the Genesis Coupe SE, with big Brembo brakes at all four corners and a track-tuned suspension. Expect more details as the year goes by. <div class="bottomarea">Source: Hyundai</div> Related entries: <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/photos-leakedhyundai-genesis-coupe.html">Photos Leaked:Hyundai Genesis Coupe</a>

Hyundai Genesis Coupe Revealed in NY

Any doubts as to the ability of the new Hyundai Genesis Coupe to perform were quickly dispelled in New York as a pair of the cars greeted the press by sliding wildly around the Javits Center Galleria with stunt drivers at the wheel, backed by a pounding rock'n'roll soundtrack। With rear-wheel drive …

20Mar2008

Scion Reveals Hako Coupe Concept

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgvC7Y1DD4aXgsn3PYa-br5HtremVLwxc5utTMTzBG3MsnB-Z02iN2SJNDgB7N2DrRipA1isTUxPa757D-hNzKF6sd18WX-qWhV8OiK3lvgKxd5HuJD3hMwnp7eMutyN82tteSBbATS-t/s1600-h/9080319.017.Mini8L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179815011017178082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgvC7Y1DD4aXgsn3PYa-br5HtremVLwxc5utTMTzBG3MsnB-Z02iN2SJNDgB7N2DrRipA1isTUxPa757D-hNzKF6sd18WX-qWhV8OiK3lvgKxd5HuJD3hMwnp7eMutyN82tteSBbATS-t/s400/9080319.017.Mini8L.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Scion’s 145.7-inch long Hako Coupe Concept being shown at the New York International Auto Show is something to behold. That is, if you are young, feisty and a trendsetter. Inspired by the xB, Hako draws from Japanese and American youth influences to create what Scion says is “a global perspective on today's youth”. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-A0Vk8X9HuoPG2R0FNB3k7uBUM8cEyQh_e4Zyho2A13vwN1vY0jLIYZSraYJmz-idJZ863PEzM75TpEgl-ruQRgu6__MjvMDutO1yQB0ROq_K7zUfypqezJQG296W88hLPY0_SfOJVr2/s1600-h/9080319.017.Mini4L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179814895053061074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-A0Vk8X9HuoPG2R0FNB3k7uBUM8cEyQh_e4Zyho2A13vwN1vY0jLIYZSraYJmz-idJZ863PEzM75TpEgl-ruQRgu6__MjvMDutO1yQB0ROq_K7zUfypqezJQG296W88hLPY0_SfOJVr2/s400/9080319.017.Mini4L.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Look at the vertical windscreen that extends slightly into the roof, the trapezoidal LED headlights and 18-inch five-spoke wheels. The Hako’s lines are bold, they mingle with other lines one wouldn’t necessarily put inside the same box. They challenge the eye while giving mystery to their destination. How hot is that wrap-around glass that integrates frameless door windows and rear window. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZ1quAdMCJwYWQJwEmIxnIuZw-FpnQisvSGvrL7dEYZPvvfhJhnGdFkuez20w1daqWWsvqCCWsnY8XC4nxH6YK-NCzd6E-AXGh9Z2zpFspWjF9z4HPF4r1qXj4AscOT-_HrO0dseTAdqp/s1600-h/9080319.017.Mini10L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179814671714761666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZ1quAdMCJwYWQJwEmIxnIuZw-FpnQisvSGvrL7dEYZPvvfhJhnGdFkuez20w1daqWWsvqCCWsnY8XC4nxH6YK-NCzd6E-AXGh9Z2zpFspWjF9z4HPF4r1qXj4AscOT-_HrO0dseTAdqp/s400/9080319.017.Mini10L.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>The theme of youth, what Scion is essentially all about, is carried through by cool items like Bluetooth connection, two video monitors that play stuff connected through the Bluetooth utility. This function is controlled by a large sort of rollerball at the center console, giving Scion’s idea of an onboard computer mouse. Lots of storage space, regardless of the fact that Hako is a four-seater baby, is available for small carry-alongs like cell phones and magazines. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTIcjWdJyOlVIoVpifVohy6nbAfPF4a9yg_ZFhwDEitbUHMl4waZIMlDPKrHqOK9NKG_Sui_q4ByGoPCO74nwqPyjNcbIaoRUunV4ecZiCugZ3DpgZe50IpWAq1djd_7P3oyiQvz27iAN/s1600-h/9080319.017.Mini11L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179814529980840882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTIcjWdJyOlVIoVpifVohy6nbAfPF4a9yg_ZFhwDEitbUHMl4waZIMlDPKrHqOK9NKG_Sui_q4ByGoPCO74nwqPyjNcbIaoRUunV4ecZiCugZ3DpgZe50IpWAq1djd_7P3oyiQvz27iAN/s400/9080319.017.Mini11L.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> Maybe the coolest thing though are the cameras mounted just below the A-pillars, which can capture moments that driver and/or passengers can later edit for show. Imagine spying a concept car with one of these without even having to leave your car. Really cool.<div class="bottomarea"> Source: Scion</div>

Scion Reveals Hako Coupe Concept

Scion’s 145.7-inch long Hako Coupe Concept being shown at the New York International Auto Show is something to behold. That is, if you are young, feisty and a trendsetter. Inspired by the xB, Hako draws from Japanese and American youth influences to create what Scion says is “a global perspective on…

20Mar2008

Camaro SS Spy Shot Surfaces

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWsNrfdKHYMfzTp58eEJ2Lc1N2IGqnH59XnuVnEegHcB3of3O6CsB26Qm2NDyouMAZB2aNoJ89gQJFUYBE26KRy2-F-sZuH4OMR4TnDXyPh72PbOA59FYTSLK_r189A9asJleTVE8mo4I/s1600-h/9080317.016.Mini2L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179810909323410338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWsNrfdKHYMfzTp58eEJ2Lc1N2IGqnH59XnuVnEegHcB3of3O6CsB26Qm2NDyouMAZB2aNoJ89gQJFUYBE26KRy2-F-sZuH4OMR4TnDXyPh72PbOA59FYTSLK_r189A9asJleTVE8mo4I/s400/9080317.016.Mini2L.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> Engineers have been road testing the upcoming Chevrolet Camaro for several months now and quite a few spy shots have surfaced in recent weeks. This latest picture was taken by a member of the Camaro5 forums, and it appears to be the first photo of the long speculated Camaro SS. Spotted near GM’s desert proving grounds, the car has a large hood bulge and emitted a whistling sound possibly indicating the presence of forced induction. The test vehicle also wears classic hockey stick side strips, a throwback to the 1969 Camaro SS. So far the best indication of engine choices for the Camaro is the Pontiac G8 sedan which rides on the same platform. The Pontiac G8 GXP features a detuned version of the LS3 V8 engine which produces 402 hp and 402 ft-lbs of torque, making it a credible candidate for the Camaro SS. However if the reported whistling heard by the photographer is indeed from forced induction, GM might have a monster on its hands. <div class="bottomarea">Source: <a href="http://www.camaro5.com/?p=76">Camaro5</a></div> Related entries: <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/chevrolet-camaro-caught-undisguised.html"> Chevrolet Camaro Caught Undisguised</a> <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2007/12/2009-chevrolet-camaro-spied.html">2009 Chevrolet Camaro Spied</a> <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2007/12/chevrolet-camaro-prototype-hardly.html">Chevrolet Camaro Prototype Hardly Camouflaged</a> <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/more-camaro-spied-in-florida.html">More Camaro spied in Florida</a>

Camaro SS Spy Shot Surfaces

Engineers have been road testing the upcoming Chevrolet Camaro for several months now and quite a few spy shots have surfaced in recent weeks. This latest picture was taken by a member of the Camaro5 forums, and it appears to be the first photo of the long speculated Camaro SS.Spotted near GM’s dese…

20Mar2008

Pontiac Solstice Coupe Leaked

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNAPaUJ-4H9-p81E4TOTD1qyu6YZMYHSx2SN4ELwvQlOYk0pzk7YX_MLewnBVPcgM126S9GtjkIm89lt34EGYcUuclWetoVGiu2uymwyh42Yk5aTTzyEXw44s6XQezaWM-Z2tXnpo-ojM/s1600-h/9080317.003.1M.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179804982268541842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNAPaUJ-4H9-p81E4TOTD1qyu6YZMYHSx2SN4ELwvQlOYk0pzk7YX_MLewnBVPcgM126S9GtjkIm89lt34EGYcUuclWetoVGiu2uymwyh42Yk5aTTzyEXw44s6XQezaWM-Z2tXnpo-ojM/s400/9080317.003.1M.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> <h4>On official Pontiac site</h4> Pontiac will be claiming a prominent place at the upcoming New York International Motor Show (NYIAS), starting this Wednesday. Firstly they will be showing the <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/pontiac-g8-sport-truck-unleashed.html">Pontiac G8 Sport Truck</a> aka El Camino, secondly the performance <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/pontiac-g8-gxp-to-debut-at-new-york.html">Pontiac G8 GXP</a> and now <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/16/new-york-08-preview-pontiac-solstice-coupe-spotted-on-pontiac/">Autoblog</a> noticed that they will also be bringing a new Pontiac Solstice Coupe to the show. Somewhat hidden on the <a href="http://www.pontiac.com/g8/index.jsp?brand=g8&style=&year=2008">official Pontiac website</a> is a small slide show (centre of the page, on the right of G8 GT info) which shows us a small glimpse of what can only be called a Pontiac Solstice Coupe. Stay tuned for more information and live shots from the New York this Wednesday! <div class="bottomarea"> <div style="text-align: right;">Source: <a href="http://www.pontiac.com/solstice/index.jsp?brand=solstice&style=&year=2008">Pontiac</a></div></div> Related entries: <a href="http://ddgg-newyorktimes.blogspot.com/2008/03/pontiac-top-tuner-solstice-ca.html">Pontiac Solstice GXP Performance Variant at LA Auto Show </a> <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2007/10/pontiac-solstice-sd-290-race-concept.html">Pontiac Solstice SD-290 Race Concept for SEMA</a> <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2007/11/pontiac-g8-wagon-and-sport-truck.html">Pontiac G8 Wagon and Sport Truck Planned</a> <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2007/11/holden-ve-ute-range-released.html">Holden VE Ute Range Released</a> <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/02/chevrolet-lumina-ss-ute-launched-in.html">Chevrolet Lumina SS Ute Launched in South Africa</a>

Pontiac Solstice Coupe Leaked

On official Pontiac site Pontiac will be claiming a prominent place at the upcoming New York International Motor Show (NYIAS), starting this Wednesday. Firstly they will be showing the Pontiac G8 Sport Truck aka El Camino, secondly the performance Pontiac G8 GXP and now Autoblog noticed that they wi…

20Mar2008

Pontiac Solstice GXP Performance Variant

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eywZDhamgklgTBI_IeZ5KiIGybJ83R3ORbL5ALMfpO4TCQefjiICMhDrdHRQmX2sLrYpNiRor7L0C9gBzPOUd6_vr5d_97rRKPLjphrBsn0VpJUAIVwVNSdTPD1S4lcA_6VSqp_CQAXG/s1600-h/solstice_gxp.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179796061621468034" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eywZDhamgklgTBI_IeZ5KiIGybJ83R3ORbL5ALMfpO4TCQefjiICMhDrdHRQmX2sLrYpNiRor7L0C9gBzPOUd6_vr5d_97rRKPLjphrBsn0VpJUAIVwVNSdTPD1S4lcA_6VSqp_CQAXG/s400/solstice_gxp.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a> PONTIAC REVEALS SOLSTICE GXP PERFORMANCE VARIANT AT 2006 LA AUTO SHOW LOS ANGELES – From its 2002 auto show introduction to an early-order program that sold 1,000 cars in 41 minutes, the Pontiac Solstice has always invoked a passionate response from customers. Now, Pontiac is taking the vehicle’s combination of sensuous styling and driving exhilaration to a new level with the announcement of the turbocharged 2007 Solstice GXP. “Creating a GXP performance edition of the Solstice is a natural extension of the capabilities of this car,” said John Larson, Pontiac general manager. “On its own, the base Solstice offers all of the qualities one would expect from a classic roadster – style, crisp handling, and spirited performance. The Solstice GXP takes that pure roadster DNA and pushes it to a new level, with a 47 percent boost in horsepower and other enhancements for a more thrilling driving experience.” The heart of the Solstice GXP is the Ecotec 2.0-liter turbo engine, GM’s first direct injection offering in North America . It produces 260 horsepower (194 kw) and 260 lb.-ft. of torque (353 Nm),* making it GM’s highest specific output engine ever, at 2.1 horsepower per cubic inch of displacement (130 hp / 97 kw per liter), and the most powerful production engine in the Ecotec family. A dual-scroll turbocharger with a lightweight turbine provides nearly instant power, and an air-to-air intercooling system boosts the turbo’s performance by reducing inlet temperatures. Dual cam phasing complements the turbocharging system by optimizing valve timing at lower rpm for best turbo response and quick access to engine torque. Direct injection technology helps the Ecotec engine produce more power while maintaining the lower fuel consumption of a small displacement port-injected engine. With direct injection, fuel is delivered directly to the combustion chamber to create a more complete burn of the air/fuel mixture. Less fuel is required to produce the equivalent horsepower, especially at normal cruising speeds, of a conventional port-injection combustion system. The GXP’s high-performance Ecotec turbo engine is connected to a standard five-speed manual gearbox, or an optional five-speed automotive transmission. Either transmission can propel the car from zero-to 60 mph in under 5.5 seconds. As with other members of GXP family, the Solstice GXP provides a number of standard features not available on the base model, including: * Unique front and rear fascias * High polish, dual-outlet exhaust * StabiliTrak vehicle stability enhancement system * 3.73 rear axle ratio * Interior refinements including unique GXP gauge cluster and Cobalt Red seat stitching The GXP also comes standard with a number of features available as options on the base model, including: * Sport suspension system * Four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock * Limited-slip rear differential * Power window/locks/mirrors and remote keyless entry * Leather-wrapped steering wheel with accessory controls and cruise control * Driver information center * 18-inch polished aluminum wheels Additional options include a rear deck spoiler, leather seating, sport metallic pedals, chrome wheels, enhanced audio options, including XM Satellite Radio, and OnStar. The 2007 Solstice GXP will be available in fall 2006. Pricing has not yet been established. <center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqcEmIxpoz_TTcZmBOFEv6PgRIZFQ-5uMsOHJP5A7_4nz2vneLzkzL2s9UQjB-o4tS5pDMoyojfzPJM_Z_2bSAR_j4LOCpBzhFjRV_hVbfOJp6J6_o6_HbFF-bUzsJQ_JAPk_ccuKnRD6/s1600-h/gxpabove.jpg"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179795889822776178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeqcEmIxpoz_TTcZmBOFEv6PgRIZFQ-5uMsOHJP5A7_4nz2vneLzkzL2s9UQjB-o4tS5pDMoyojfzPJM_Z_2bSAR_j4LOCpBzhFjRV_hVbfOJp6J6_o6_HbFF-bUzsJQ_JAPk_ccuKnRD6/s400/gxpabove.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 80px;" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglX32z15NbizpnMfbZf4QoJKQVoNl94511XxlIVD-w-v0QFknnyeO2N-YFSckhsHJHU_ncCv9ZBWioKBiReLSypS3a1XgLDY18mflvHMJs24vROkPPm9ZeRMKhO1Y8Rp2FYk4HTzEoaaax/s1600-h/gxp-r3-4.jpg"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179795786743561058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglX32z15NbizpnMfbZf4QoJKQVoNl94511XxlIVD-w-v0QFknnyeO2N-YFSckhsHJHU_ncCv9ZBWioKBiReLSypS3a1XgLDY18mflvHMJs24vROkPPm9ZeRMKhO1Y8Rp2FYk4HTzEoaaax/s400/gxp-r3-4.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 80px;" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRovuR1V5iuQAJzwCoNqOSH6C-458TPvFCi93IvZQ7dfFP6ypqwqr-96MAeTm8v29CFO2XNLLxFMNsuzDGZ20WjrA_5rrEs-qfu2SBdysAZrrVPRSJTXOZlgHzzp3JeWUS5Vudl72lzQU/s1600-h/gxpreardetail.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179795662189509458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRovuR1V5iuQAJzwCoNqOSH6C-458TPvFCi93IvZQ7dfFP6ypqwqr-96MAeTm8v29CFO2XNLLxFMNsuzDGZ20WjrA_5rrEs-qfu2SBdysAZrrVPRSJTXOZlgHzzp3JeWUS5Vudl72lzQU/s400/gxpreardetail.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 80px;" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7V_ZJ9v4inIXHutvv7SAT0noPiH0TfJIm0tAnv3Tjm0Uskb-9IlUykLQjxwvTzC79chS2yCPjiS99z55lsoKdI7mF4RM66u1m3Y-8XYNdoQmUYTl6_zKGq9RVp3-cp3XouPxa9P2Wt5lJ/s1600-h/gxpint.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179795541930425154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7V_ZJ9v4inIXHutvv7SAT0noPiH0TfJIm0tAnv3Tjm0Uskb-9IlUykLQjxwvTzC79chS2yCPjiS99z55lsoKdI7mF4RM66u1m3Y-8XYNdoQmUYTl6_zKGq9RVp3-cp3XouPxa9P2Wt5lJ/s400/gxpint.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 120px; height: 80px;" /></a> </center> Related entries: <a href="http://ddgg-newyorktimes.blogspot.com/2008/03/pontiac-red-bull-solstice-gxp-drifting.html">Pontiac Unveils Red Bull Solstice GXP Drifting Car</a> <a href="http://ddgg-newyorktimes.blogspot.com/2008/03/pontiac-top-tuner-solstice-ca.html">Pontiac Top Tuner Solstice (CA)</a>

Pontiac Solstice GXP Performance Variant

PONTIAC REVEALS SOLSTICE GXP PERFORMANCE VARIANT AT 2006 LA AUTO SHOWLOS ANGELES – From its 2002 auto show introduction to an early-order program that sold 1,000 cars in 41 minutes, the Pontiac Solstice has always invoked a passionate response from customers. Now, Pontiac is taking the vehicle’s co…

20Mar2008

Opel GT: In Depth

<div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPnfC688jGVg95Wb2EsKAkMzuMy6NhPtv3XupmWkFDpgS4IJdLN45Qzz8wuHwljE7Yb1lmgBhhV-cVcDo7Y-C1TRXV34O_q9yvYn8UpR_d0jk2FJGr5UmkuygmWf9CYe-ilkNGR1kChTi/s1600-h/2070126.004.Mini7L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179787372902628146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPnfC688jGVg95Wb2EsKAkMzuMy6NhPtv3XupmWkFDpgS4IJdLN45Qzz8wuHwljE7Yb1lmgBhhV-cVcDo7Y-C1TRXV34O_q9yvYn8UpR_d0jk2FJGr5UmkuygmWf9CYe-ilkNGR1kChTi/s400/2070126.004.Mini7L.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/opel-gt-in-depth_7038.html">1 </a>|<a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/opel-gt-in-depth_1066.html"> 2 </a>|<a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/opel-gt-in-depth_1803.html"> 3 </a>|<a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/opel-gt-in-depth_20.html"> 4 </a>|<a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/opel-gt-in-depth.html"> 5 </a>| <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/blog-post.html">6 </a>| </div> Opel Goes Roadster <ul><li> Classic proportions: sleek silhouette, long hood, short overhangs</li><li> Archetypal roadster architecture with front-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive</li><li> High-tech turbo direct injection and twin A-arms</li><li>Roadster fun and performance at affordable price: 264 hp for 30,675 euros</li></ul> The modern definition of an athletic two-seater finds its form in the new Opel GT. As a classic roadster, it has a powerful front-mounted engine, rear-wheel drive, a cockpit with sporty instruments and a tailor-made fabric roof. With a wide stance, sleek silhouette, long, front-hinged hood and short overhangs, the proportions are typical of this class. The Opel GT also brings new charm to this genre with its own unmistakable personality thanks to its exciting shape, which contrasts sharp edges with curved surfaces to create a dynamic look, and its configuration, which enables a refined driving experience, even on long journeys. The GT’s pricing is also attractive. For 30,675 euros (recommended retail price in Germany incl. VAT), customers get no less than 264 hp from the high-tech turbo engine with gasoline direct injection. Acceleration from zero to 100 km/h takes less than six seconds. The new two-seater carries its legendary name because it continues the tradition of the first Opel GT (1968 – 1973) and, like the original, competes in one of the most exciting vehicle classes. The new Opel GT also showcases the brand’s passion for dynamic cars, and the conviction that “Opel was never as young as today”. This is underlined by niche models with a high fun factor, such as the Astra GTC with panorama windshield, the Tigra TwinTop and Astra TwinTop cabrio-coupés, as well as the high-performance OPC family. They enrich the model portfolio and emotionalize the brand. The development of the Opel GT is a prime example of transcontinental collaboration within GM. It stems from the decision to expand the concern’s portfolio with a compact, rear-wheel drive, sporty vehicle architecture that can be implemented globally. The first step towards realizing this idea was the Solstice concept car in 2002, followed a year later by the Vauxhall VX Lightning concept, which was conceived at the GM Advanced Design Studio in Coventry, England. Strongly inspired by the VX, the Opel GT has been adapted to the current Opel design language at the GM Design Studio in Detroit and the GM Europe Design Studios in Rüsselsheim under the direction of Bryan Nesbitt. The Opel roadster will be built at the Wilmington/Delaware plant in the USA, where its highly successful American GM sister models, the Pontiac Solstice and the Saturn Sky, are also produced. The new GT’s story is reminiscent of that of its classic predecessor. In 1968, the original Opel GT set an automotive manufacturing precedent in Europe when it became the first car to go into production after being debuted to the public as a concept study. The legendary American sports car, the Corvette, made the same start in 1953 in the USA. The new Opel GT shares some engineering characteristics with the current Corvette, such as part of the architecture. <h4> Crisp, dynamic look with strong face</h4> Sharp lines coupled with taut surfaces give the new Opel GT a crisp, dynamic look. Its strong face is dominated by the fender’s accentuated sweep, the bold chrome crossbar with integrated Opel logo, the elongated hood with brand-typical center crease, chrome-bordered vents and bold 3-D headlamps in clear glass look drawn deep into the side panels. The GT’s especially sporty characteristics include the long air vents in the hood, the grooving in the front fenders with their dynamic, Opel-typical horizontal contours ? like on the Antara ?, the double-pipe exhaust system and the twin air scoops behind the head restraints, which are reminiscent of designs from roadster and motor sport history. 18-inch aluminum wheels in new five-spoke design fill out the wheelarches, and emphasize the roadster character, as does the fabric roof, which completely disappears beneath a cover for open-top driving fun. Chrome-ringed instruments in the cockpit clearly display all important information, while black piano lacquer and chrome finishes accentuate the high-tech nuance of the surface structures. These all combine with optional leather seats with visible stitching to highlight the sporty ambience. The short gear stick adds significantly to the driving fun: directly connected straight to the roadster’s five-speed transmission, its short gear travel enables quick gear shifts from the roadster-typical seating position. <h4> High-tech turbo engine with direct injection and variable camshaft phasing</h4> The new Opel GT does not just look quick, it is quick! Its longitudinally front-installed 264 hp engine with turbocharging and gasoline direct injection accelerates the roadster to 100 km/h from a standing start in just 5.7 seconds, and up to a top speed of around 230 km/h. “When it comes to high-performance roadsters, there is no better balance between price, driving enjoyment and fun,” says Alain Visser, Executive Director Sales and Marketing, Opel. There’s no question about it: no other Opel has ever produced 132 hp output per liter. The new Opel GT’s engine not only complements the car’s dynamic look perfectly, it also far outperforms today’s other roadsters and most two-seat sports cars. High-tech features such as gasoline direct injection, twin-scroll turbocharger with intercooler, double camshaft phasing and twin counter-rotating balance shafts provide the basis for the 1998 cm3, four-cylinder engine’s impressive performance data. Maximum output of 194 kW/264 hp at 5300 rpm and high torque plateau of 353 Nm between 2500 and 5000 rpm ensure plenty of power in all situations. The GT requires an average of 9.2 liters of super unleaded gasoline per 100 kilometers. Jointly developed by GM Powertrain engineers on both sides of the Atlantic, the all-aluminum ECOTEC unit is based on the 2.2-liter direct injection unit available in the Vectra model range since 2004, and on the 2.0-liter turbo induction unit, which debuted in the Vectra GTS in spring 2003. <h4> Chassis with classic sporty configuration</h4> For the Opel GT, engineers designed a classic, sporty configuration based on a rigid chassis, wide track (front/rear: 1543/1561 mm) and long wheelbase of 2415 mm: all four wheels are suspended from twin A-arms made from forged aluminum, the center of gravity is low, and the weight distribution of 51:49 percent (front/rear) is well balanced. A manual five-speed transmission with sporty, short gear travel and limited slip differential provide propulsion power. A torque beam between the transmission and rear axle suppresses reactions to acceleration/deceleration effects. While disk brakes on all wheels, ABS, Traction Control (TC) and the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) monitor safety, the driver can control the level of ESP and use of TC himself. Both systems are fully active after ignition, with the setup providing driving fun but also keeping the vehicle stable within the physical limitations. At the touch of the ESP button in the instrument panel, the Traction Control (TC) is switched off, but ESP remains active and intervenes as soon as the yaw angle exceeds certain thresholds. Two short presses change the ESP’s calibration to a sportier mode and keep the Traction Control (TC) deactivated. Pushing and holding the ESP again for around ten seconds until the “ESP Off” symbol illuminates, completely deactivates ESP and TC. A short press of the button in any mode returns the two systems to their normal states, which also occurs automatically with each new engine start. A display and control light in the instrument panel keeps the driver informed about the current status of both systems. <h4> Stiff vehicle structure with center tunnel and side members</h4> The typical roadster vehicle architecture was designed from the beginning to meet the special demands of an open-top, two-seat sports car without compromise. The vehicle structure, which consists of hydroformed side members and a supporting center tunnel made from drawn sheet steel, provides a solid basis for the car’s precise handling and passive safety. The hydroforming forging technique, in which components are manufactured from steel with the help of high water pressure, is already employed in automobile construction for chassis components in the Opel Vectra and Astra. Only the legendary American Corvette sports car is also based on hydroformed side members. But the Opel GT also breaks new ground in another regard: the GT model family belongs to the first car line produced in significant numbers to have numerous exterior parts made using a procedure that is relatively time-consuming, but provides designers with greater creative freedom. The hood is one example: thanks to unconventional hydraulic technology ? known as super forming ? the long hood section with its front hinges was optimally integrated into the roadster’s silhouette without a gap between the hood and fender. <h4> Extensive standard equipment</h4> Extensive standard equipment in the Opel GT includes: <ul><li> 18-inch alloy wheels with 245/45 R 18 tires</li><li> Anti-lock Braking System ABS</li><li> Electronic Stability Program ESP (can be adjusted and switched off)</li><li> Traction Control TC (can be switched off)</li><li> Two-stage airbags for driver and passenger</li><li> Occupant detection for passenger seat (with cockpit display)</li><li> Three-point safety belts with pretensioners and belt-force limiters</li><li> CD-Radio (six loudspeakers, steering wheel remote controls, MP3 player connection)</li><li> Power exterior mirrors</li><li> Power windows</li><li> Power height-adjustable driver’s seat</li><li> Cruise control</li><li> Air conditioning</li><li> Leather steering wheel and gearshift knob</li><li> Manual soft top with heated rear glass window</li><li> Fog lamps</li><li>Remote control central locking, including remote trunk-lid release</li></ul> The first Opel GTs will be on the road in March 2007 and dealerships have been accepting orders since summer 2006. U.S.A.  <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/opel-gt-in-depth_7038.html">1 </a>|<a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/opel-gt-in-depth_1066.html"> 2 </a>|<a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/opel-gt-in-depth_1803.html"> 3 </a>|<a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/opel-gt-in-depth_20.html"> 4 </a>|<a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/opel-gt-in-depth.html"> 5 </a>| <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/blog-post.html">6 </a>| <div style="text-align: right;">Source: Source: Adam Opel AG </div> <center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z-eYRIyTo08/R-JE8wXqOsI/AAAAAAAAERA/kQcvXiR3Fzs/s1600-h/2070126.004.Mini6L.jpg"> </a><center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pvr4NxjP_C6XACnJDvey07S90QYbWMejavXv0a6UeObinodGpWO9oMJ49Yj5__znj0lm7c90FXY1Vkc8mtvVa_oZ4U1eYD6JWiLhsDN073SHuYM6cCzh3Z8GMCAYlfb4jKAIsD-_3nI/s1600-h/2070126.004.Mini4L.jpg"><img alt="" height="195" href="http://not-a-real-namespace/https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJolQfReIxv2-MNOrIxghUBTWPRTSUN9MRJD7frOkhAjAS_8jSwKjgXvR4ZeYvjoCbRLwFUcjZ308L0iyCxTaGdPvygX1EV6bEQvtymawp6W6aPH4ug4Mo40bSihtbU-ws14eJ6tvJrg/s1600-h/2070126.004.Mini6L.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181655606366977250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pvr4NxjP_C6XACnJDvey07S90QYbWMejavXv0a6UeObinodGpWO9oMJ49Yj5__znj0lm7c90FXY1Vkc8mtvVa_oZ4U1eYD6JWiLhsDN073SHuYM6cCzh3Z8GMCAYlfb4jKAIsD-_3nI/s400/2070126.004.Mini4L.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 90px;" width="289" /><img alt="" height="210" href="http://not-a-real-namespace/https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUQjdI4Fd0bAFDtXqVuUqKmWMEQo1Gj0W_T-2KJWbtKAiBOYBobzjHRbShF4QRKPUWPLhw7YweknJ1_FKHO8vJVEAqP4dPfJ1Kdthw860j4-zB9fhRJeSqHywTab1bscA0nU7bzs8ucE/s1600-h/2070126.004.Mini12L.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181655258474626258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJolQfReIxv2-MNOrIxghUBTWPRTSUN9MRJD7frOkhAjAS_8jSwKjgXvR4ZeYvjoCbRLwFUcjZ308L0iyCxTaGdPvygX1EV6bEQvtymawp6W6aPH4ug4Mo40bSihtbU-ws14eJ6tvJrg/s400/2070126.004.Mini6L.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 90px;" width="270" /><img alt="" border="0" height="244" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181655082380967106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUQjdI4Fd0bAFDtXqVuUqKmWMEQo1Gj0W_T-2KJWbtKAiBOYBobzjHRbShF4QRKPUWPLhw7YweknJ1_FKHO8vJVEAqP4dPfJ1Kdthw860j4-zB9fhRJeSqHywTab1bscA0nU7bzs8ucE/s400/2070126.004.Mini12L.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 90px;" width="297" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZnU_76gYdEEMUnwdyLsqMs1Mf1sZ3T6-l202_gKqanIcPwjnmfIlURwNtyk8xWWGmNq6y5hpFsrmgdoYxHd4u-l7uXuFv1MRpOxZBTeHvYz88ETVlWt4Af5tCoJ5sDjwA8bzMhUBynU/s1600-h/2070126.004.Mini2L.jpg"><img alt="" height="367" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181654597049662642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZnU_76gYdEEMUnwdyLsqMs1Mf1sZ3T6-l202_gKqanIcPwjnmfIlURwNtyk8xWWGmNq6y5hpFsrmgdoYxHd4u-l7uXuFv1MRpOxZBTeHvYz88ETVlWt4Af5tCoJ5sDjwA8bzMhUBynU/s400/2070126.004.Mini2L.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 150px;" width="219" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDFcKrLRE8Ox0UAzo6zkrRVwUONNquQtiUpJLbxCKru6o2sHZuUzYzq49FWlxkYcORJWEcqNcD6idK0kA04MGDwC7orGpq9Bjdq51xxTA2cP6hGSojjxbKyam7KMTBiTYUq-ffqoTUgI/s1600-h/2070126.004.Mini3L.jpg"><img alt="" height="343" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181654081653587106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDFcKrLRE8Ox0UAzo6zkrRVwUONNquQtiUpJLbxCKru6o2sHZuUzYzq49FWlxkYcORJWEcqNcD6idK0kA04MGDwC7orGpq9Bjdq51xxTA2cP6hGSojjxbKyam7KMTBiTYUq-ffqoTUgI/s400/2070126.004.Mini3L.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 150px;" width="143" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GKss_-bgoW_rWMvI-7LE276ovPWArROAyhMH3T6KWFx6MbKbuHZ-NRTVsntX0oYELolsupgjggt4hsqBuq3VJmtsZlNTHJgzRNph65gaZu8mFDEPacJgsVSjX73D30W2iAbumC5JhJs/s1600-h/2070126.004.Mini5L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="150" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181653948509600914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GKss_-bgoW_rWMvI-7LE276ovPWArROAyhMH3T6KWFx6MbKbuHZ-NRTVsntX0oYELolsupgjggt4hsqBuq3VJmtsZlNTHJgzRNph65gaZu8mFDEPacJgsVSjX73D30W2iAbumC5JhJs/s400/2070126.004.Mini5L.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 155px;" width="250" /></a> </center> </center> Related entries: <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2007/11/steinmetz-gt-debut-in-essen.html">Steinmetz GT debut in Essen</a>

Opel GT: In Depth

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |Opel Goes Roadster Classic proportions: sleek silhouette, long hood, short overhangs Archetypal roadster architecture with front-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive High-tech turbo direct injection and twin A-armsRoadster fun and performance at affordable price: 26…

20Mar2008

Opel GT: In Depth

<div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOCvxN8GaWBlG1Lu5ibNQMpjfq6yYddvcKVE2vEUVFfAXX2F313JV9WlgOgnZTPwMJy9d9Zedm0LmQT65tHpKgnRxi2eg3E38E9P91c4RvLWv7QNQ63ShLs5-t2Eav5EO3JvGKX2T4hts/s1600-h/2070126.004.2L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179786724362566434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOCvxN8GaWBlG1Lu5ibNQMpjfq6yYddvcKVE2vEUVFfAXX2F313JV9WlgOgnZTPwMJy9d9Zedm0LmQT65tHpKgnRxi2eg3E38E9P91c4RvLWv7QNQ63ShLs5-t2Eav5EO3JvGKX2T4hts/s400/2070126.004.2L.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/opel-gt-in-depth_7038.html">1 </a>|<a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/opel-gt-in-depth_1066.html"> 2 </a>|<a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/opel-gt-in-depth_1803.html"> 3 </a>|<a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/opel-gt-in-depth_20.html"> 4 </a>|<a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/opel-gt-in-depth.html"> 5 </a>| <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/blog-post.html">6 </a>|</div><h4> New Icon in Roadster Scene</h4> <ul><li> With 264 turbo hp for 30,675 euros, new GT offers plenty of power for the money</li><li> Ample fresh air and driving enjoyment means lots of roadster fun for two</li><li>Legitimate heir to the ’68 cult coupé</li></ul> With a wide stance, long, front-hinged hood, sleek silhouette, bold rear, cockpit for two and a tailor-made fabric roof, which completely disappears under a cover, the new athletic two-seat Opel GT storms into a segment that is charged by emotion more than any other. As a clear commitment to pure driving fun, the GT is a roadster that perfectly fits into the Opel model range, even if its goal is not top marks for luggage compartment space, flexibility or family suitability: the new two-seater continues a tradition first started by the Opel GT in 1968. The new Opel GT also showcases the passion for building dynamic cars, and the conviction that “Opel was never as young as today”. This is underlined by niche models with a high fun factor, such as the Astra GTC with panorama windshield, the Tigra TwinTop and Astra TwinTop cabrio-coupés, as well as the high-performance OPC model family. They enrich the model portfolio and emotionalize the brand. But the GT would not be a true Opel if it did not also appeal to customers’ more practical side. “When it comes to high-performance roadsters, there is no better balance between price, driving enjoyment and fun,” says Alain Visser, Executive Director Sales and Marketing, Opel. The new GT also follows in the footsteps of its predecessor when it comes to its 30,675 euro price tag. At 10,767 German marks, the first GT also caused a sensation with its price in 1968. At that time, this was equivalent to roughly 10 months’ average gross wages; around 490 euros a month today. Almost 40 years later, the price ratio for the new GT is now even somewhat improved. Today, the average wage has risen to 3500 euros, and while buyers no longer get a steel roof, they do get almost three times the power of the 90 hp GT 1900. <h4>The legend lives on</h4> The legend of an affordable sports car lives on. The new two-seater has the advantage of being designed on roadster architecture right from the start. The original GT from the 1960s was based on a pre-existing Opel sedan model. The reason for this was the limited production capacity at the time. In order to undertake assembly at the Bochum plant, the ’68 model had to be based on the Kadett. The bodies were produced in France, and the sale of one of the plants to a competitor in the automotive industry was a key reason for ceasing production in 1973. Up to that point, 103,000 units had been built. The new 2007 Opel GT will be built in the roadster plant in Wilmington/Delaware in the USA, together with its highly successful American GM sister models, the Pontiac Solstice and the Saturn Sky. The only extra apart from brilliant or two-coat-metalic-paint is the Premium package, which costs 1285 euros. It includes leather upholstery in ebony black or cobalt red/black, and a CD-Radio with 6 x CD changer. An original Opel wind deflector and tailored luggage set are also available. The first GTs will be on the road in March 2007 with prices starting from 30,675 euros (recommended retail price ex works incl. VAT in Germany). Dealerships have been accepting orders since summer 2006. <h4>First Opel GT – The Cult Coupé of the 60s and 70s</h4> “Only Flying is More Exciting” – this slogan has become a classic in advertising history, and even an everyday saying in German-speaking countries. It belonged to a car which has itself long since become a classic – the Opel GT. Its career got off to a flying start in 1965 when, to everyone’s surprise, Opel presented an aerodynamic “Experimental Concept” at the IAA in Frankfurt – a car which did not fit into the usual world of central European high volume automobile production. In view of the sensational design, it was no surprise to see the production version on the road three years later. But what few people knew was that Opel had set a precedent: for the first time in Europe, a vehicle went into production that had initially debuted as a concept car. The story of the original GT’s creation mirrors that of one of the best American sports cars. 15 years earlier, the original 1953 Corvette had become the first car in the world to be presented to the public as a concept before going into series production. The 2007 GT has also followed a similar path, and is a prime example of GM’s transcontinental cooperation. As a young Opel manager, Bob Lutz played an important role in the original 1968 GT’s launch, and initiated the expansion of the product portfolio with an architecture for a compact, sporty two-seater with rear-wheel drive. The motto: “Simple, pure, attractive!” The Solstice concept was created in 2003, followed by the Vauxhall VX Lightning concept, which was developed at the GM Advanced Design Studio in Coventry, England. Finally, in addition to the highly successful Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky roadsters in the USA, came the Opel GT. The final Opel GT design was completed jointly at the GM Europe Design Studios in Rüsselsheim and the GM Design Studio in Detroit under the direction of Bryan Nesbitt. The 1968 Opel Coupé could not deny a certain similarity to the legendary 1968 American Corvette, nor did it want to. It followed a new design style called the “Coke Bottle Shape”, which also outstanding the Stingray. “Besides having a fantastic look, the Opel sports car was primarily designed to impress with sophisticated aerodynamics,” explains Erhard Schnell, GT designer at the time. A sleek front end with retractable headlamps that rotate on the longitudinal axis, broad fender, tapered flanks in the door area, then bulky rear fenders which flow into the rear with sharp separating edges and round lamps – these were the Opel GT’s key design characteristics. “Safety belts are standard, please buckle up” – this was the Opel advertisement that promised GT occupants outstanding acceleration. And the driving performance the sporty 90 hp two-seater offered was truly top class in the late 1960s. Its 1.9-liter engine accelerated the GT from zero to 100 km/h in 10.8 seconds, and on to a top speed of 185 km/h. Almost 40 years ago, this was really fast. As a top model in the upper mid-class segment at that time, the Opel Rekord 1.9 had a top speed of 160 km/h, for example. The200 km/h threshold was like the sound barrier, and had just been crossed by the muscle cars of that generation, such as the Mercedes 280 SE 3.5 with a 200 hp V8 engine. A Porsche 912 – which was commonly considered to be a car in the shape of the first 911, with four cylinders and 90hp, just like the Opel GT ? also had a top speed of 185 km/h, but took 12.5 seconds from zero to 100 km/h. The 1968 GT’s sporty handling matched its performance figures thanks to a chassis with front twin A-arm axle and rear center-joint rigid axle with bolted springs, longitudinal control arm and lateral track bar. Did you know that…? <ul><li> … from 1968 to 1973, exactly 103,464 units of the GT were produced? The GT is a permanent collectors highlight, and a well-maintained model can fetch a fortune.</li><li> … 85 percent of the entire GT production run was exported, and 70,222 units (around 70 percent) went to the USA alone?</li><li> … the GT’s body in white was created by French specialists Chausson (Reims), while Brisonneau & Lotz in Creil, north of Paris, took care of lacquering, electrics and interior equipment? The final car assembly took place in Bochum, where the body was ‘married’ to the powertrain and chassis. It was also the production center for the Kadett, upon which the GT was based.</li><li> … space for the 1.9-liter engine, which was also used in the Rekord, was so small that the hood had to be power domed and the cylinder-head cover skewed in the front section? The “Power dome” was not just for show!</li><li> … the Aero GT concept with removable targa roof was presented in 1969 at the IAA? One of the two prototypes can be found today in Opel’s classic collection.</li><li> … the company founder’s grandson, Georg von Opel, reached 188 km/h in mid-1971 at Hockenheim in a converted Opel GT with electric propulsion? The following year, a team of motoring journalists and race car drivers set 20 world records at the Opel Test Center in Dudenhofen in the “Diesel World Record GT 1972”.</li><li> … many reasons led to the end of production in August 1973? These included demands from the USA ? the most important export market ? to fit bulky safety bumpers, which did not match the style of the car, and the fact that Brisonneau & Lotz was bought by Renault, signaling the end of the contractual relationship with Opel.</li><li> … Robert A. Lutz, “car guy”, GM Vice Chairman, Global Product Development, was a sort of godfather to both Opel GTs? In 1968, in his position as Manager at Opel, he played a decisive role in speeding up the decision on series production, and he also gave the green light to the new General Motors roadster troop ? Solstice, Sky and GT.</li></ul> <h4> Saturn and Opel partner for new vehicles in North America, Europe</h4> The integration of transcontinental thinking and resources within General Motors grows every year. One example is the increasingly important bi-lateral design and technology alliance between Opel in Germany and Saturn in the United States. The latest examples of this trans-Atlantic collaboration are the Opel GT and the Saturn Astra. The Saturn Astra will be manufactured alongside the Opel in Antwerp and will share nearly all its componentry. While the Astra is bound for North America, the Opel GT may literally cross its wake in the Atlantic since it will mirror that program, sharing a manufacturing facility in Wilmington, Delaware, and componentry with the Saturn Sky roadster. Saturn is one of the newest GM brands, marketing vehicles exclusively in the United States and Canada. The brand focuses on innovative products with high technological quality, solid value and excellent customer service. Formed in 1985 with a mission to bring new buyers to GM, Saturn took its name from the rocket that powered American astronauts to the moon during the space race with the USSR in the 1960s. The brand’s first car left the production line at 10:57 a.m. on July 30, 1990 at a new plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Sales began on October 25, 1990, as did the brand’s innovative sales philosophy. Saturn retailers have stores dedicated only to selling Saturn vehicles, offering attractive “no-hassle, no-haggle” prices and a consumer-friendly sales and service experience. The launch of the mid-size L-Series in 1999 marked the first cooperative effort between Saturn and Opel, with the new vehicle derived from the platform and powertrains of the Opel Vectra of that time. Since then, the cooperation between the two brands, which are both solidly positioned in their own home markets, has steadily increased. Today, the two brands share the technological basis and numerous components for the new Opel Antara and Saturn Vue crossovers, Opel Vectra and Saturn Aura sedans in the mid-size class, as well as the previously mentioned Astra, GT and Sky. When the Astra debuts late in 2007, no Saturn model will have been in the market more than 20 months, giving the brand one of the freshest product lineups in the industry. “The Astra is the perfect addition to the Saturn range,” says GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz. “It is another example of how General Motors can strengthen our individual brands through cross-continental cooperation. Saturn and Opel are a natural fit. They share similar demographics and brand positioning in their respective markets. Their collaboration means that each brand will have strong, broad product lineups that will attract buyers to the brands in North America and Europe.” U.S.A.  <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/opel-gt-in-depth_7038.html">1 </a>|<a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/opel-gt-in-depth_1066.html"> 2 </a>|<a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/opel-gt-in-depth_1803.html"> 3 </a>|<a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/opel-gt-in-depth_20.html"> 4 </a>|<a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/opel-gt-in-depth.html"> 5 </a>| <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2008/03/blog-post.html">6 </a>| <div style="text-align: right;">Source: Source: Adam Opel AG </div> <center><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z-eYRIyTo08/R-JE8wXqOsI/AAAAAAAAERA/kQcvXiR3Fzs/s1600-h/2070126.004.Mini6L.jpg"> </a><center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pvr4NxjP_C6XACnJDvey07S90QYbWMejavXv0a6UeObinodGpWO9oMJ49Yj5__znj0lm7c90FXY1Vkc8mtvVa_oZ4U1eYD6JWiLhsDN073SHuYM6cCzh3Z8GMCAYlfb4jKAIsD-_3nI/s1600-h/2070126.004.Mini4L.jpg"><img alt="" height="195" href="http://not-a-real-namespace/https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJolQfReIxv2-MNOrIxghUBTWPRTSUN9MRJD7frOkhAjAS_8jSwKjgXvR4ZeYvjoCbRLwFUcjZ308L0iyCxTaGdPvygX1EV6bEQvtymawp6W6aPH4ug4Mo40bSihtbU-ws14eJ6tvJrg/s1600-h/2070126.004.Mini6L.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181655606366977250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pvr4NxjP_C6XACnJDvey07S90QYbWMejavXv0a6UeObinodGpWO9oMJ49Yj5__znj0lm7c90FXY1Vkc8mtvVa_oZ4U1eYD6JWiLhsDN073SHuYM6cCzh3Z8GMCAYlfb4jKAIsD-_3nI/s400/2070126.004.Mini4L.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 90px;" width="289" /><img alt="" height="210" href="http://not-a-real-namespace/https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUQjdI4Fd0bAFDtXqVuUqKmWMEQo1Gj0W_T-2KJWbtKAiBOYBobzjHRbShF4QRKPUWPLhw7YweknJ1_FKHO8vJVEAqP4dPfJ1Kdthw860j4-zB9fhRJeSqHywTab1bscA0nU7bzs8ucE/s1600-h/2070126.004.Mini12L.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181655258474626258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJolQfReIxv2-MNOrIxghUBTWPRTSUN9MRJD7frOkhAjAS_8jSwKjgXvR4ZeYvjoCbRLwFUcjZ308L0iyCxTaGdPvygX1EV6bEQvtymawp6W6aPH4ug4Mo40bSihtbU-ws14eJ6tvJrg/s400/2070126.004.Mini6L.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 90px;" width="270" /><img alt="" border="0" height="244" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181655082380967106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUQjdI4Fd0bAFDtXqVuUqKmWMEQo1Gj0W_T-2KJWbtKAiBOYBobzjHRbShF4QRKPUWPLhw7YweknJ1_FKHO8vJVEAqP4dPfJ1Kdthw860j4-zB9fhRJeSqHywTab1bscA0nU7bzs8ucE/s400/2070126.004.Mini12L.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 90px;" width="297" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZnU_76gYdEEMUnwdyLsqMs1Mf1sZ3T6-l202_gKqanIcPwjnmfIlURwNtyk8xWWGmNq6y5hpFsrmgdoYxHd4u-l7uXuFv1MRpOxZBTeHvYz88ETVlWt4Af5tCoJ5sDjwA8bzMhUBynU/s1600-h/2070126.004.Mini2L.jpg"><img alt="" height="367" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181654597049662642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZnU_76gYdEEMUnwdyLsqMs1Mf1sZ3T6-l202_gKqanIcPwjnmfIlURwNtyk8xWWGmNq6y5hpFsrmgdoYxHd4u-l7uXuFv1MRpOxZBTeHvYz88ETVlWt4Af5tCoJ5sDjwA8bzMhUBynU/s400/2070126.004.Mini2L.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 150px;" width="219" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDFcKrLRE8Ox0UAzo6zkrRVwUONNquQtiUpJLbxCKru6o2sHZuUzYzq49FWlxkYcORJWEcqNcD6idK0kA04MGDwC7orGpq9Bjdq51xxTA2cP6hGSojjxbKyam7KMTBiTYUq-ffqoTUgI/s1600-h/2070126.004.Mini3L.jpg"><img alt="" height="343" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181654081653587106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDFcKrLRE8Ox0UAzo6zkrRVwUONNquQtiUpJLbxCKru6o2sHZuUzYzq49FWlxkYcORJWEcqNcD6idK0kA04MGDwC7orGpq9Bjdq51xxTA2cP6hGSojjxbKyam7KMTBiTYUq-ffqoTUgI/s400/2070126.004.Mini3L.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 150px;" width="143" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GKss_-bgoW_rWMvI-7LE276ovPWArROAyhMH3T6KWFx6MbKbuHZ-NRTVsntX0oYELolsupgjggt4hsqBuq3VJmtsZlNTHJgzRNph65gaZu8mFDEPacJgsVSjX73D30W2iAbumC5JhJs/s1600-h/2070126.004.Mini5L.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="150" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181653948509600914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GKss_-bgoW_rWMvI-7LE276ovPWArROAyhMH3T6KWFx6MbKbuHZ-NRTVsntX0oYELolsupgjggt4hsqBuq3VJmtsZlNTHJgzRNph65gaZu8mFDEPacJgsVSjX73D30W2iAbumC5JhJs/s400/2070126.004.Mini5L.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 155px;" width="250" /></a> </center> </center> Related entries: <a href="http://benzs.blogspot.com/2007/11/steinmetz-gt-debut-in-essen.html">Steinmetz GT debut in Essen</a>

Opel GT: In Depth

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | New Icon in Roadster Scene With 264 turbo hp for 30,675 euros, new GT offers plenty of power for the money Ample fresh air and driving enjoyment means lots of roadster fun for twoLegitimate heir to the ’68 cult coupé With a wide stance, long, front-hinged hood, sleek …

20Mar2008

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