First Drive: Porsche 911 Carrera 4

Porsche Carrera 4

Porsche’s new 911 Carrera 4 needs to be put into context. Driving the Cabriolet S version through the sweeping countryside of Germany in 35-degree heat is perhaps not the most appropriate way to demonstrate the sophisticated new four-wheel drive system. However, it did serve as a reminder that, for the most part, the Carrera 4 behaves in a very similar manner to that of the recently updated Carrera 2.

That means buyers get the same choice of two new direct-injection flat-six engines (which are both more powerful, yet more frugal, than their predecessors), the option of Porsche’s dual-clutch PDK transmission and a host of other detail improvements such as a vastly better infotainment system. To mark out the new Carrera 4 from its two-wheel drive brothers, Porsche fits a wider body shell and a red reflective strip between the shapely rear lights.

Buyers aren’t going to shell out the extra cash on a Carrera 4 for those reasons alone, as the spec is otherwise the same with the exception of a standard mechanical limited slip differential on the new four-wheel drive model. Ah yes, the four-wheel drive: Porsche has decided it’s time that the viscous multiple-disc clutch be given a carriage clock for its years of service and has endowed the new Carrera 4 with the all-wheel drive system from the 911 Turbo. In doing so, it prefers not to call it four-wheel drive, but Porsche Traction Management (PTM), as, along with the fancy electronically controlled torque split, the system uses an automatic brake ‘differential’ and traction control to divvy up the power between the four wheels. If that’s still not enough to keep you on the road, when you underestimate the laws of physics, then PSM (Porsche Stability Management) will do its best to scoop you up into its nice warm and fluffy arms and place you back on your desired trajectory.

Not that you’ll need any of this on a sunny day cruising down to Kinsale for lunch, but many buyers will appreciate the extra security and grip on offer when the weather turns nasty and you round a bend to discover that the local farmer hasn’t bothered to clean his muck spreader before taking to the road. There’s nothing like putting things into context to appreciate their usefulness.

Car Information
Porsche 911 Carrera 4 S Cabriolet
Engine 3,800cc ‘Boxer’ 6-Cyl
Output 385hp, 420Nm
Transmission 6-sp manual/7-sp PDK(SCPP)
Acceleration 0-100km/h 4.9/4.7 seconds
Top Speed 297/295km/h
Economy 10.7 litres/100km
CO2 Emissions 251g/km
CO2 Tax Band G €2,000 p.a.
Weight 1,565/1,595kg
Boot Capacity 105 Litres
Base Price €152,219/€185,310
(C4 Coupé/C4S Cabrio)
For Grip, stability, poise, noise
Against Carrera 2 is virtually as good, and cheaper
Rating 8/10

Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Austin Martin V8 Vantage

There is an awful lot of doom and gloom about at the moment. For a start, there is the weather, which has become so miserable that you can Sky+ the miserable weather forecast once and watch it over and over again. Not even the joy of the TG4 weather girls, growling in their guttural Gaeilge, can lift our spirits. If you live in the Midlands, you are more likely to want to sell your house for a canal boat – of course, that would be if your house were still worth any money, which it isn’t.

A few years ago, ‘Credit Crunch’ might have meant buying your breakfast cereal with a Visa card because you’d blown all your cash clubbing the night before, but today it means something rather more sinister. Up and down the country, families are scratching their heads with dismay as they wonder how much they can get for their 60-inch LCD television on eBay, just so as they’ll have enough to pay for the shopping in Aldi. Extra Virgin Olive Oil has given way to cooking oil, bruschetta to batch loaf and nights on the town to nights in. So what better time then, to get an Aston Martin delivered to my house, just to annoy the neighbours?

Those ever-curious people had cause to be curious again, as a large delivery van meandered its way into my humble estate. Inside was a green V8 Vantage, delivered the same way as if I had ordered it from IKEA: squeezed into the back of a covered truck and handed over by a friendly man with a clipboard. The V8 Vantage – the baby Aston – has become the most successful model in the brand’s history. Ireland has become quite fond of the Aston Martin brand of late, especially the DB9, and Aston Martin is paying attention. Rumours abound about a dedicated dealership opening in Dublin. Recession? What recession?

Awareness of this smallest of Astons is not that high on this side of the Irish Sea. Priced comparable to a Porsche 911, the Aston looks like it costs much more than that. Granted, €180,000 will never be called a bargain, and there are of course all those bespoke options to choose from, but at this price there are few cars that can offer so much kudos and instant presence. Critics have been kind to the Vantage too, apart from the usual Aston complaints of too much Ford switchgear and flavour. But with Ford out of the loop and the millstone of their financial woes off their necks, Aston has given the Vantage an executive health check and a trip to the tailors.

Gone is the 4.3-litre V8, replaced by a new 4.7-litre V8 that puts out 420hp. That’s up 11 percent over the previous unit, and there’s also been a 15 percent increase in torque to 470Nm. This means it’s quicker, too, with the 0-100km/h sprint taking just 4.8 seconds, and the acceleration continuing all the way to 288km/h.

There is nothing new about the exterior design of the car, but then there really didn’t need to be. Compact and poised, the Vantage is a car that looks good from every single angle. It even manages to do so in the rather dodgy green that Aston has attempted to ruin our test car with. Even in a colour only pond life could relate to, the stunning lines of the car still manage to win out.

Inside, things have improved since the previous model. There is a new centre console made from die-cast alloy with a silver graphite finish, and the cheap-looking Volvo key has been ditched in favour of the ECU (Emotional Control Unit), which is a fob made from glass, polished stainless steel and polycarbonate that you slide into the dashboard to start the car. It is a small detail, but one that buyers should appreciate.

Start up the car and the V8 plays a delightful tune: part growl, part concerto. It actually remains quiet for most of your average journey, but press the throttle, and, like poking an angry dog with a stick, it responds ferociously. Heading out of Dublin, the SportShift transmission reveals its usefulness. In automatic mode, the ‘box makes light work of stop/start traffic and doesn’t leave you with a dead left leg like so many other manual supercars. Purists tend to complain about this kind of paddle-shift gearbox, but the arguments are wearing thin.

The SportShift features dual throttle map software. When ‘Comfort’ mode is selected, the engine reacts in a smoother manner than the more aggressive default ‘Sports’ mode. Heavy rain pummelling the windscreen doesn’t encourage much use of the latter setting, with the rear wheels searching for grip from the massive Bridgestones.

Austin Martin V8 Vantage

Away from Dublin, with the rain clearing and the roads opening up, Comfort mode is abandoned and the paddles are flicked in earnest. Pow – the car wakes up! That meaty exhaust note is hopelessly addictive, and you find yourself dropping gears and indulging in childish bursts of acceleration. The new car has been given suspension revisions, including stiffer spring rates front and rear, and there is also improved steering geometry to provide more feel. The road from Mitchelstown to Mallow is a welcome relief from the drudgery of the N7 and N8, and its winding, meandering shape and varied surfaces force you to stay alert. It’s a good test of any car’s chassis and it’s not a natural home for the Vantage.

In the standard Sports setup, the car struggles a little with pitted roads and isn’t quite as forgiving as a dedicated sports saloon like the BMW M5. You don’t really feel like pushing it harder and harder on this type of road; this is a car that is more suited to the south of France than the south of Ireland. On a better surface, however, the Vantage really comes into its own. Power delivery from the gorgeous V8 is smooth and potent, and the gearbox responds really well, allowing the driver to hold a gear as long as is required. The steering is incredibly accurate, requiring only tiny inputs and responding with an almost clairvoyant amount of feel.

Cork’s motoring nuts were enamoured with the Aston, and stopping for pictures on the city’s docks quickly drew a crowd, despite the pelting rain. You feel sure that the same would not happen with a mid-range Porsche 911. Perhaps it’s the car’s relative rarity in this country, or the fact that it has the edge in terms of outright beauty, but old men stopped and asked questions, mothers were lead by the hand by their children and most mentioned James Bond. You can’t see that happening with a 911.

After an overnight in Cork and just one tank of petrol down so far, we head for Rosslare. The road between Cork and Rosslare is one of Ireland’s hidden gems. Beautifully surfaced for the most part, this road allows the Vantage to come into its own, chewing up the kilometres with ease.

A day in and I am really starting to like this car. The cabin is a gorgeous place to be, with a superb navigation system that pops up from the piano black dashboard, a clever integrated iPod system and excellent climate control. Aside from visibility, which can be poor, especially if you are parking someone else’s €180,000 car, there is little to fault the interior except for the placement of the electric seat switch, which is easily bumped with your left leg. However, boot space is tight, so pack wisely for weekend jaunts to Monaco, or in my case Wexford.

After another fill-up (€78.50 from empty), it’s on to the ferry to bring the Aston home to Gaydon in Warwickshire. The once-pleasurable experience of England’s good roads has long since been ruined by speed cameras every five kilometres, and by Britain’s fondness for caravan holidays. However, Wales is one part of the UK that remains a little haven for the motorist. The perfect surfaces suit the Aston, allowing an excursion into Sports mode, where the car feels pin-sharp once more. Despite spending several days in the car at this stage, neither my passenger nor I are feeling too battered, though I still haven’t got the hang of the ECU used to start the car. Sure, I don’t miss the Volvo key, but this might be a step too far.

Some six hours later, we finally we reach Gaydon, the home of Aston Martin. There are still a lot of questions in my mind and I’m not much closer to knowing the answers. I am certain that I love the look of the car. It’s a cliché as old as the hills, but I really can’t stop looking at it when I walk away from it, and parked as I am in a very fancy hotel car park, the 911 two spaces down doesn’t look as well thought-out. For Irish buyers who might have become over-saturated with German performance cars thanks to the Celtic Tiger, the Aston provides a little more mystery and the feeling of a Saville Row suit. It just feels special, in a way that is very hard to put into any more words.

Sadly, this dilemma isn’t mine to worry about too much. The ECU gets handed back to the sharp suited Aston Martin PR man, and it’s into the back of an ’02 Primera for the jaunt to Birmingham Airport. Back to George Lee, Aldi orange juice and more credit crunch. Reality bites, eh?

Interior image caption: Inside, significant improvements over the previous model include a new centre console

Car Information
Aston Martin V8 Vantage SportShift
Engine: 4.7-litre V8
Output: 420hp, 470Nm torque
Transmission: 6-speed SportShift
Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds
Top speed: 288km/h
Fuel economy: 13.2 litres/100km
CO2 emissions: 312g/km
CO2 Tax Band: G (€2,000pa)
Weight: 1,630kg
Boot capacity: 300 litres
Base Price: €180,000
For: Stunning good looks, kudos, great V8
Against: Not great on poor surfaces
Rating: 8/10

Concept car. This word-combination is in a common use nowadays, but, as for me, I have never been thinking what it is all about. And not so far I made it clear to myself and now ready to share my knowledge with you.

A concept car can also be called a show car, it is not actually, a car – it is a prototype of car, produced in order to show a cutting-edge technique, a new way of car producing, styling and much more. As a rule, such cars are made to be shown at various motor shows and are aimed to draw public’s attention and to show main trends of the following season. Also, they can be made in order to see public’s reaction onto car design. But, pay attention, this car is not necessary will come into production.

Harley Earl – famous car designer form General Motors is a great contributor into popularization of the concept car image. To tell the truth, concept cars have to to be changed a lot before going into production, because only in such a way, they can correspond to the following demands: safety, quality and price. Concept cars designers make emphasize on one part of the car, for example on engine (too powerful, but no safety standards are thought after) or design (it can be too exotic, too unusual – with 3 wheels, gullwing doors etc.). Moreover, their development is very time-consuming and extremely expensive. That’s why, most of the models will never became more than computer drawings , I mean will never become real cars. Most of the cars are made from wax, metal, plastic (when they will for sure be only projects), and if a car will be a real car, it is made as a modification of the exiting car or, at least, at the same platform as one of the existing cars.

When the show is over, cars are destroyed, but, sometimes, manufacturers, can leave them “alive” and put in their own museum. By most people, Buick Y-Job considers to be the first concept car.

So, as you see, I even started a new category about concept cars, and it is time to pay your attention to one of the most beautiful concept cars. Ladies and gentlemen, Audi R-Zero Concept Car!

Its motto: sport, power and ecological friendliness. It is an electric car, but it doesn’t lack of bright design. Do you still remember the Protocol of Kyoto? I think, in a couple of years, most of the Earth generation will change their cars for electric and eco-friendly. It is a muscular sport car, look a little bit like Audi TT. This car can breathe, because of a special interior and exterior design – air can circulate free inside it. Audi R-Zero was designed and developed in France and it represents a car of the future, nothing tells us, that it is an electric car, driving it you can see and feel only a powerful car with incredible opportunities for a driver.

Technical specification:

• engine: four electric in-wheel motors;
• top speed: 286 mph;
• weight: 4850 Lbs;

Unfortunately, its price and year of production is still unknown. Let’s hope for better!

Nissan Pivo 2 Concept Car – Unbelievable Cuttie

As the Frankfurt Auto Show 2007 has finished, it is came time to open new shows and to view new cars, the next show, that I am going to pay my attention at is – Tokyo Motor Show (October 26 to November 11).

The funniest and the most unusual model of this show will be (I am almost sure) an electric-powered Pivo 2 concept car from Nissan manufacturer. Pivo looks like a space ship and has the most bold design of the year and may be the following years as well.

The new Pivo possesses a cabin that revolves 360-degrees, so you don’t have to reverse, also, a front door can be accessed from any position. This car has only 2 seats. It is rather small, so the maneuverability is extremely high.

Pivo is a very user and environmentally friendly car. Because of: Nissan’s Around View Monitor (reduces the appearance of blind spots), mounted in dash infrared commander – provides to driver an opportunity to operate the navigation and stereo systems with a single finger movement. Also, Pivo has lithium-ion battery and new Nissan Super Motor.

Nissan Pivo 2 is aimed to be an ideal car for city driving. It is easy to park and easy to drive, also, it is easy to push through crowded city roads. The length of the car is just 2,700 mm. The driver will seat in the middle and can take 2 more passengers, they will seat side-by-side. A door is also electrically powered.

By the way, have you heard a Russian word PIVO? That means beer. But, this car has no connection to it, its name came from the English word PIVOT (meaning a turning point). Also, because of its extremely sophisticated parking abilities.

Surrealistic appearance

Nissan Pivo is a unique combination of innovations, it is even hard to believe, that such number of innovations can be united in one car. Pivo offers incredible packaging characteristics, high distribution of torque to 4 wheels and possesses 2 electric motors. This concept car is based on a drive-by-wire technologies (the car weigh less and has less mechanical parts). I mean, you can do everything by wire: to stop, to steer, to park. Thus, a steering wheel is so comfortable and compact.

A dash-mounted infrared (IR) commander provide a driver with a possibility to switch radio and audio system without taking eyes from the road. Moreover, Also, Pivo can be proud of a new human-machine interface. For example, if you want to make music louder, just raise your finger. You will never feel lonely with Pivo 2, it has a Robotic Agent, that will make your life funnier and more exciting. Conversations are possible in English and Japanese.

New Volt Electric Cars from Chevrolet

To 2010 will be made 60,000 Chevrolet Volt Electric Cars, according to the words of General Motors czar Bob Lutz. The perspective itself is very intriguing, but, the realization of it is a tricky question. In order to produce such cars, there must be made a new battery technology (it doesn’t exist yet) and some other important details, and namely these details will be able to determine the year and time of these cars appearance on the market.

These cars are going to hit the world and be on the top of sales! Why? There are a lot of reasons for them to be so popular. First of all, they’ll be capable of running on 4 different materials: E85, biodiesel, gasoline fuels and electricity. To fulfill this Chevrolet is going to use GM’s new E-Flex Propulsion System.

In addition to ecologically free driving (that will help to reduce the emissions of gases) and fashionable look, this car can offer a rather quick acceleration, can take cargos and 5 passengers, has air bags for driver and passengers. Chevrolet EV can run up to 40 miles (with its first charge) and the car will be recharged without any problems, while motion.

Manufacturers are optimistic about both car “birth” and its rate of popularity, but we shall see what we shall see!

2008 Lightning GT

For many years, people have been trying their best to make a battery electric vehicle, that will be able to utilize chemical energy, use batteries and do not pollute our environment. Each car manufacturer at least once in his life thought and dreamt about replacing an internal combustion engine with its cheaper and better analogue – electric motor. The Universe is the only one and we all live there, and it is not important how rich are you, we breath the same air, and because of greenhouse defects, air pollutants from large industrial enterprises. But, everything is not so easy, the cost of batteries for such engines is incredibly high, the distance of traveling is limited by the battery re-charging. Sometimes, these cars can do a sudden harm to a person – they present an electrical hazard. But nobody wants to loose in this games, so a lot of models will be made, but let’s turn out attention to one of the most prominent cars in this category.

2008 Lightning GT. The Lightning Car Company in 2006 made a decision to develop a brand-new electric technology for a prestigious sport car. Finally, the new car was made. It is powered by a very popular technology NanoSafe™, has an incredible acceleration speed 700 bhp and can develop a speed more than 130 mph. 2008 Lightning GT it is a some kind of hybrid, it is a car made from combination of classic car design with design of British sport cars, adding racing technology, multiplied by an implementation of electric motor. This car was designed in UK and was much spoken about.

Main characteristics of 2008 Lightning GT:

• Unbelievable economy (it is much cheaper to have this car than a petrol car)
• Luxurious interior (contains the whole possible innovations, such as i-pod interface)
• Great safety features (a new technology of battery production helped to make them thermally stable and more than safe)
• Applying of new technologies (NanoSafe™ and Hi-Pa Drive™)
• Smooth electric power
• Innovative braking system (every time you are stopping or slowing down, batteries charge economizes)
• Environmental-friendly car (it doesn’t pollute air)
• Hand-made body work

Sometimes, we use terms, notions and even don’t know their authentic or (what is even worse) right meaning! For example, let’s take such word as NanoSafe™. I suppose not everybody knows for sure what does it mean (actually I didn’t know before this). All the concepts of previous electric cars were based on the a rather unsafe technology of production, but due to the US company Altairnano Inc., in 2006 there appeared a completely new technique of ultra safe battery production. the result is Nanotechnology-made batteries. They are: longer-lasting, safer than the previous ones, they can charge easier and faster and they are much more powerful.

Hi-Pa Drive™. It is another notion, that is almost in a common use nowadays, but let’s clarify this term as well. This technology was developed by PML Flightlink Ltd and deals with motor boosting. Due to this technology we can speak about an ultra high power density. Due to this technology yin can press the wrong button and! Nothing bad will happen, because this failure won’t stop Lightning GT from operating right.

What is more – this car is a good-looking car. It will help you to make first of all your street, then your city and THEN the Earth around us cleaner and our children will breath fresh air!

Maserati Quattroporte S

Maserati Quattroporte

I’m disappointed. Maserati’s new Quattroporte S doesn’t provide the same rousing soundtrack as its GranTurismo S sibling. It’s got the same engine – albeit with slightly different power output – but the people at Maserati haven’t added the trick valve-bypassed exhaust pipes that allow Maserati’s glorious 4.7-litre V8 to reveal its more devilish side. It seems Quattroporte S owners might want the extra pace the bigger heart brings but also want to slip by a bit more discreetly than they would if the exhausts were emitting waves of V8 sound to rival its Modena relatives.

Not that the Quattroporte is very good at being discreet, as try as you might you’ll never be unnoticed in the Maserati. It’s such an unusually elegant and beautiful car that it stands out in the traffic unlike any other saloon. It really is a stunning looker, made even more so by the small mid-life styling nip and tucks that combined give it a more chiselled face and sleeker profile. On the S, the re-profiled front grille gets vertical slats, but Maserati left the non-S Quattroporte with the 4.2-litre V8 on the price list. Why?

Unlike its coupé sister, the S transformation for the Quattroporte doesn’t bring with it red-accented trident badges, and the forks are clearly a bit less devilish on the big saloon – much like its soundtrack. There are new wheels though, as beautiful 19-inch alloys are part of the standard kit on the S. Larger lights that contain the de-rigueur LED accents frame the new grille, while new rear-view mirrors and side skirts add to the understated assertiveness of the big saloon.

Subtle yet effective as the styling revisions are, it’s the inclusion of the 4.7-litre V8 that really transforms the Quattroporte S. The 4.2-litre V8 of the standard car has always struggled to muster the sort of low-down sledgehammer delivery offered by some of its competitors. The 4.7-litre engine goes some way to redressing the balance. With 425hp and 490Nm of torque, the increases that the 0.5-litre growth in capacity brings aren’t huge, but they feel significant on the road. Key to this is the flatter, fatter torque curve, making the Maserati far more tractable in the mid-range and more linear in its power delivery. That’s not to say the red-crackle-paint-finished V8 doesn’t sing at high revs. Its peak power is delivered at a lofty 7,000rpm, which ensures that it demands to be driven, as unlike rivals the Quattroporte S’s engine still needs working to deliver its best, though the increased performance on offer also makes it an easier day-to-day drive at lower revs.

The power of that new 4.7-litre heart isn’t dealt with by the robotised manual transmission of its GranTurismo S sibling. Instead, Maserati sensibly opted for the smooth, ZF-sourced, six-speed automatic for the 4.2-litre car. It’s a transmission that suits the slightly more refined gait of the Quattroporte, allowing it to waft when required in town and slush through its shifts smoothly. It works well when you want to raise the pace, too, letting you bang through the gears with more conviction when you select Sport and take over the shifting with the paddles behind the steering wheel. Disappointingly, though, there are no throttle-blippery antics on downshifts, as it just shifts quietly down regardless of the gearbox setting.

Give the Quattroporte S everything and it will reach 100km/h in 5.4 seconds and top out at 280km/h. It never feels as quick as those numbers suggest, perhaps due to the absence of aural stimulation. Indeed, the predominant noise at high speeds is wind noise rather than the background accompaniment of an Italian V8.

Maserati Quattroporte

Really push the Quattroporte S, though, and it impresses. Only then does Maserati’s constant reference to its 49 percent/51 percent front-to-rear weight balance really make sense. The steering is very crisp – to the point of nervousness on the motorway – but it delivers faithful response when the roads are more interesting. The Quattroporte S’s nose is quick to turn in, and understeer is only apparent on tighter corners with too much entry speed. There’s a little body roll – more so than you’ll find in other sports saloons – but that’s the price you pay for the fine ride. Beautifully neutral through longer bends, it will provide an entertaining degree or two of rear slip when you’re really committed, though it’s all remarkably controllable given the size of the S.

That’s a measure of how confident the Quattroporte S makes you feel behind the wheel. The body control is excellent, as the Skyhook variable damping system has been significantly reworked for the S to good effect. With the Quattroporte S weighing in at a fairly hefty 1,990kg the brakes need to be good, as it’s easy to arrive at a corner with more speed than you really should. Thankfully, the dual-cast Brembo discs do a great job – with little apparent fade and decent pedal feel. Maserati’s electronic safety systems are all bundled under the heading Maserati Stability Programme – traction and stability control, ABS, electronic brake force distribution and engine torque control all help keep things in check. It’s a nicely judged system, and its intervention levels are high enough to prevent it from detracting from the driving experience.

Inside, the Quattroporte is much the same as its predecessor. That means acres of stitched leather, wood or metal trim inserts and a weird-shaped clock in the centre of the dashboard. Maserati claims to have revised the seats, but they’re still perched too high and offer little in the way of lateral support – leaving you hanging onto the steering wheel when enjoying the big saloon’s dynamic prowess.

There’s an updated infotainment system inside too, which adds a 30GB music server, sat nav and Bluetooth telephone connection; none of which is as intuitive to operate as rival systems from Audi and Mercedes. That’s forgivable, though, as no German rival is able to offer the sense of occasion the Quattroporte S brings, even if the interior isn’t quite as successful as the exterior and sometimes betrays Maserati’s small-volume status with some less-than-perfect fit and finish.

It’s not that spacious inside either – the back seats are pretty cramped and the boot is nowhere near as capacious as its competition. But then it’s difficult to pigeon-hole the Maserati Quattroporte S; it’s unlikely to be a car that people will buy having come out of what you might consider its natural competition. Against cars such as the BMW M5, AMG E 63 and Jaguar XJR, the Quattroporte S is outgunned on the road, while larger models from the same companies do a better job of carrying people in hushed comfort.

But then buying a Maserati was never about rationalising decisions; you buy a Maserati because you want one rather than because you need one. It’s like all beautiful things: you’ll be prepared to put up with a few shortcomings for the sheer pleasure of ownership. And the Quattroporte S promises to bring a huge amount of pleasure to its owners. Me? I could just sit and stare at the chrome rimmed vents on the wings for hours. But I’d end up wondering why the engine that lies behind them has been so cruelly silenced.

Verdict

Maserati’s best big saloon is still technically bettered by its competition, but we’d have one in our garage regardless.

Car Information
Maserati Quattroporte S
Engine: 4,691cc V8
Output: 425hp, 490Nm
Transmission: 6-sp automatic
Acceleration 0-100km/h 5.4 seconds
Top speed: 280km/h
Economy: 13.0 litres/100km
CO2 emissions: 365g/km
CO2 Tax Band: G (€2,000 p.a.)
Weight: 1,990kg
Boot capacity: 450 litres
For: Stunning looks, beautiful poise, exclusivity
Against: V8 needs to be a bit less cultured, not spacious, hopeless seats
Rating: 8/10

I Just Bought My Brand New Car!

I couldn’t be happier at the moment! I just bought my BRAND NEW 2009 Toyota Corolla!!!!!! I love it! It was kindof sad saying goodbye to my old car (a 1997 chevy cavalier with 102,000 miles) but it was the right decision. I love my new car with all it’s little features! I have power windows and locks and 4 doors!! My old car was a coupe and was a pain in the ass to get in and out of. I have a heater that works! When it was cold outside it was terrible because I only had 1 setting that worked and it made you feel like you were in the pits of hell. I used to lower my window because at least I would get a happy balance in temperature. My car is such a pretty color too! It’s a bright blue and I love it! It’s a nice change from the fading red. I also have a cd player that works. For the past 5 months I haven’t had use of my cd player. It was never that good to begin with because everytime I hit a bump in the road or pressed the breaks too hard the cd would skip. All I can say was thank goodness for the IPOD. I just feel like such a grown up now out of school with a brand new car and job. I am actually pretty happy for the first time since I graduated from college.

2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Better than: Hyundai Tiburon
But not as good as: BMW 335i
GRM Bang For The Buck Index: 96.60

In case you haven’t heard, Hyundai is on a roll these days with their Genesis Sedan and Coupe. We were already won over by the Genesis Sedan, so we were anxiously looking forward to the Coupe. And we weren’t disappointed.

The Sedan and Coupe are positioned and marketed differently, but underneath they have a lot in common—in particular, the Genesis rear-wheel-drive platform, V6 engine and much of the suspension. This is not a bad thing. In both V6 and 2.0-liter turbo forms, we think Hyundai has a winner on their hands with the Genesis Coupe.

The Coupe certainly looks—and acts—the part, with attractive and aggressive styling and performance to match. Our V6 test car offered strong acceleration with a pleasant growl. However, with 3400 pounds of ground-hugging weight and tall gearing, the Coupe doesn’t offer the violent shove you’d find in a V8 Mustang or 370Z. Still, Hyundai claims a 5.5-second zero-to-60 time, which isn’t too shabby.

Inside, you’ll find pleasant ergonomics, supportive seats and feel-good controls. The materials may be a bit on the cheap side for a car nudging 30 large, but the details are right. Visibility is good, too—something many of the Coupe’s competitors can’t claim.

The Coupe feels very stable, with good grip from the Bridgestones and nicely weighted steering. The overall driving experience is one of smooth competence—much like the Genesis Sedan, only sportier.

Hyundai sees this car as more of the Infiniti G37 mole than a V8 Mustang or Camaro competitor. After spending a bit of time with the car, we’d have to agree. The V6 Coupe is a composed, sporting GT machine. The 2.0T R-Spec version appears poised to be Hyundai’s track monster. Stay tuned for a full track workout in an upcoming issue.

Other staff views:

Tom Heath Webmaster:

I liked the Genesis Coupe a lot; it was surprisingly comfortable as a highway cruiser and the rear seats seemed genuinely usable. The V-6 model was pretty fast, and I think we’ll be seeing lots of them at track days and autocross events. I don’t consider any aspect of the Genesis to be necessarily class-leading, but the combination of capability, comfort, and cost seem like a good solution for new car buyers.

The R-Spec car is very intriguing; the Genesis Coupe is very capable for a sporty drive with a smooth suspension tune, so a more aggressive setup with a bit less weight should be a lot of fun to drive, and it should be pretty easy to develop more power from the turbocharged four-cylinder.

Tommy Suddard SonDork:

I liked the Hyundai. It had more than ample power, was comfortable inside, and handled real well. It also had a decent trunk to boot zing I would buy it before a G37, even at the same price point. The only problem with this car is the rear seat, which is fine for occasional use, but not for everyday. My head hit the roof.

David S. Wallens Editorial Director:

Color me impressed. Good power, nice styling and a really good seating position. Unlike so many other sporty coupes out there, I didn’t feel like I was driving a bathtub. It was also quiet and comfortable on the highway yet had plenty of zip where needed. Nice gauges, good interior details.

My biggest gripe was the steering wheel. I know I have complained about sub-standard wheels before, but this one really let me down—really, really cheap-feeling plastic. You only get one chance to make a first impression, and this one said, Hi, we cut some corners here. Here, have a taco.

I have only driven the V6 car, but I’m really eager to try the turbo four. Sure, it gives up some power, but giving up some weight should really help the chassis come alive. Now that people are buying new cars again, hopefully we’ll see a few more Genesis Coupes out there.

Scott Lear Production Editor:

Although it’s a bit bigger overall than I was hoping for, the Genesis Coupe is a pretty stellar achievement for Hyundai. My wife Ashley isn’t very car oriented, so I like using her for baseline responses on cars: When I took the Genesis Coupe home and asked her what was parked in the driveway, she said, “An Infiniti?” Somewhere, a Hyundai executive got his wings.

It’s well screwed together, drives nicely, sounds better than a 350Z to my ears, had a very capable automatic (although naturally we’d have preferred a stick), and was every bit as good as the buzz surrounding it. Joe’s review in the magazine commented that the displays were hard to read, and I have to agree with him, at least at night: unlike the Honda Civic’s neon blue background with white letters, the Genesis gets a similar neon blue background but with black LED digits, and they don’t exactly jump out at you. I’m even more eager to get my hands on a turbo four Genesis now having had a taste of the more cruiser-oriented V6.

Distinct Aroma Offers Temporary High

I have realized during my stint here at Mother Proof that a definite altered state occurs when one encounters New Car Smell. For me, any initial positive, lovey feelings I get from a car must be held at arm's length, knowing the unbelievable sway New Car Smell has on me. I can't produce a negative comment when high on NCS. I can drive a real lemon, but as long as it smells new, it doesn't seem so bad. Any car can make me pretty happy as long as it has that smell; it's like vehicular pheromones.

Many studies have been done analyzing New Car Smell. Turns out it's a nasty combination of Volatile Organic Compounds from all the glue, dye, plastic, leather and other things that go into a new car (thus explaining why the perfume at the carwash doesn't quite do the job). Great; yet another thing I like that's bad for me.

Some foreign manufacturers like Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mitsubishi, Mazda and Volvo are adhering to new standards that reduce the number of VOCs. Still some others aren't, and there are no standards in the United States to which manufacturers have to adhere. Environmental groups are working to change that, but apparently 90 percent of these VOCs are emitted during the first three weeks of ownership of a new car. So maybe we just need to keep the windows open more often after we initially purchase a car.

Or you can breathe deeply and blissfully ignore those weird noises coming from the backseat. Oh, wait. Those are the kids. It's up to you.

Toyota FT-HS Hybrid Sports Car Concept

Toyota is going to show to the world its latest Hybrid sport car concept at the Detroit auto show. The new concept is called the FT-HS Hybrid Sports Concept. It is a 2-door sports coupe using the Lexus GS450h engine which can put out 400 horsepower.

By combining a 197hp electric engine with a 292hp 3.5L V6, Toyota has created a sports car version of the GS450h – a car that was supremely quick but turned into a yacht when you wanted to take a corner. And with its light weight, the FT-HS should be able to hit the 60mph mark in just 4 seconds, undercutting the GS450h by over a second.

The Future of Motoring

As the UK Prime Minister promises support for the electric vehicle industry, Green MotorSport asks whether he is backing the right people. The British electric vehicle industry has traditionally led the world and already has the finest electric drive trains, but we have to wait another two years for the automotive industry to get its act together before grants are available for people wanting to buy electric vehicles. Competition from innovative energy industries could conserve the UK’s diminishing fuel resources, create new jobs and make Britain a leading exporting country again!

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has challenged the Government to back his ambitious plans to make London the electric car capital of Europe, helping to create jobs, cut carbon emissions and improve air quality. The Mayor has outlined a series of major initiatives to achieve at least 100,000 electric vehicles on the capital’s streets as soon as possible, equating to five per cent of total vehicles. The plans include working with businesses, boroughs and other public sector organisations to deliver 25,000 charging spaces in London’s workplaces, retail outlets, streets, public car parks and station car parks by 2015.

Transport to cut C02 emissions

The Committee on Climate Change, which was set up under the terms of the Climate Change Act, has proposed that there should be a statutory requirement for the UK to make substantial reductions in C02 emissions, including those of road transport, by 2020. That is only eleven years away, so we need to start now to build up electric vehicle fleets and buy our own electric cars if we are to meet climate change targets.

New electric car charging stations ready for deployment

The Electric Vehicle Solar Canopy has been developed to provide protection from the weather for the vehicle as well as generating electricity from the integrated solar roof. The rooftop fits perfectly into a standard parking space and consists of a semi transparent solar array, allowing around 20% daylight through between the PV Cells, and providing shade from the sun and protection from the rain. The green electricity can be used either to charge the batteries on electric cars or it can be used in the adjacent building. The Canopy is a modular design which contains 6 special solar laminates each rated at 260 watt peak (Wp), providing a total output from each parking Canopy of 1.5 kilowatts peak (kWp). In the UK this Canopy will generate around 1,100kWh/year. For more information about this brand new solar recharging station please contact a member of Green MotorSport. Currently solar charging stations start at around 15,000 pounds per unit.

lotus-motorsport

lotus-motorsport

Ssangyong Motor Names Mahindra as Preferred Bidder

-strapped South Korean automaker Ssangyong Motor selected India's Mahindra & Mahindra on Thursday as the preferred bidder to buy a majority stake, a move that promises to give India's top utility vehicle maker greater global reach.

Three companies — Mahindra, Raghav Industries and Daewoo Bus — submitted binding bids earlier this week out of the six bidders that qualified in June to examine Ssangyong Motor's accounts and business, Ssangyong said Thursday.

The car maker went into court-approved bankruptcy protection early last year amid falling sales and mounting red ink. It was majority-owned by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp., or SAIC, one of China's largest vehicle manufacturers, until SAIC lost management control during the bankruptcy process.

Ssangyong Motor Co., South Korea's fifth-largest automaker, is far smaller than domestic rivals Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors Corp. It mostly manufactures light SUVs, but also makes a luxury sedan, the Chairman.

"We made our decision after evaluating the offered bidding prices, fund-raising capability, management plans after acquisition, job guarantee for current employees and other terms," Ssangyong said in a statement.

Mahindra will pay Ssangyong a deposit of 5 percent of the acquisition price it offered and Ssangyong and its top executives will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Indian company by the end of this month.

Ssangyong did not reveal how much Mahindra will pay for the stake, but South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, without citing the source of the information, that Mahindra offered $480 million.

The Indian sport-utility vehicle maker will conduct a final due diligence on Ssangyong next month before settling on an acquisition price in October. The final contract is scheduled to be signed in November.

Mahindra & Mahindra has long wanted to be a bigger global player, and executives say Ssangyong's over 1,200 global dealerships, 7 models and 5 brands will help it access new markets across Europe, Russia and Latin America.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X FQ400 2009

Mitsubishi has unveiled the Lancer Evolution X FQ400. The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X FQ400 is powered by 2.0-litre turbocharged MIVEC lightweight aluminum engine that has been upgraded and develops 403bhp and 387lb.ft of torque on offer from just 3,500rpm. The top speed of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X FQ400 is limited to the same 155mph, but the 0 to 62 mph acceleration time has dropped to 3.8 seconds which makes it the fastest Evolution lineup yet.


Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X FQ400 also comes with the 18-inch lightweight, nine spoke alloy wheels it’s possible to see the Alcon brakes on the front, while the Toyo Proxes R1R tires underline the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X FQ400’s potency with their aggressive ‘cut slick’ tread pattern. Inside, the driver is held tightly against the FQ400’s sensational accelerative, braking and cornering forces in Recaro bucket sports seats, the range-topping Lancer Evolution X also gaining an Mitsubishi Evo X FQ400 liveried handbrake handle and carbon fiber gearknob.


The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X FQ400 price starts at 49,999 GBP and will go on sale in June 2009.

Kicherer E 50 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe 2010

Engineers, technicians and designers of the car refiner Kicherer in Stockach have taken on the 500 E-class coupé derivative. This new ex-works E-class is the currently most powerful production model coupé that Mercedes-Benz can offer with 388 PS and 530 Nm torque. Therefore, the Kicherer E 50 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe is dedicated for customers who like the coupe with a more dynamic and sportier touch.

To give the E50 Coupé aerodynamics, Kicherer have employed the Kicherer Performance Series Package, a final polish with regards to performance and looks. This package includes a front lip, side skirts, a rear diffuser and special mirror casings. All are made of top quality and ultra-light carbon, including the three-bladed sports grill which is optionally available.


The elegant side view of the coupé is perfected by the sportily filigree Kicherer RS-1 20 inch wheels, behind which you get hints of the braking power of the 6 and 6 piston high performance brake system with composite discs and modified flexible steel tubes. At the rear, an almost rectangular tail pipe can delight both eye and ear, since it produces an exciting but not obtrusive sound. Inside, Kicherer offered the interior elements and entry strips in epoxy resin laqueur complements the outer appearance of the E50 Coupé.

Finally, by means of software update and a sport exhaust system, the V8 performance of the E50 Coupé was increased by 42 PS and 20 Nm. As a result, the 430 hp engine can freely run to reach the speeds of up to 330 km/h.

Brabus Mercedes-Benz G V12 S 2010

BRABUS have recently built the five-door by hand based on the latest Mercedes G-Class, giving birth to the Brabus Mercedes-Benz G V12 S that celebrated its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show 2010. This exclusive special model, also named as the BRABUS G V12 S Biturbo WIDESTAR, is available with an extensive list of luxury appointments.


The engine bay of the G-Class vehicle houses the BRABUS SV12 S engine originally developed for the BRABUS ROCKET with a top speed of 365.7 km/h (227.2 mph). The high-performance engine is based on the V12 Biturbo engine from the latest Mercedes S 600 model.


BRABUS S V12 S displacement engine produces 700 hp (690 bhp) / 515 kW at 5,100 rpm. The turbocharged twelve-cylinder engine delivers its peak torque of 1,320 Nm (973 lb-ft) at 2,100 rpm. In the car peak torque is electronically limited to 1,100 Nm (811 lb-ft). The car can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 4.3 seconds. Top speed is limited electronically to 240 km/h (150 mph). And without the self-imposed limit, the high-tech G-Class model could reach 260 km/h (163 mph).


BRABUS offers WIDESTAR owners a wide selection of custom-tailored tire/wheel combination with diameters ranging from 20 to 23 inches. The WIDESTAR version is available for all five-door G-Class models. The most exclusive option for the WIDESTAR features three-piece 11Jx23 Monoblock E PLATINUM EDITION alloy wheels on front and rear axle. The corresponding high-performance tires in size 305/35 R 23 are supplied by Pirelli and YOKOHAMA.


The custom interior of the BRABUS G V12 S Biturbo WIDESTAR includes an ergonomically shaped sport steering wheel, stainless-steel scuff plates with illuminated BRABUS logo, a handcrafted BRABUS fully leather interior made from especially soft and breathable BRABUS Mastik leather, and etc. The ultra-powerful 4×4 Brabus Mercedes-Benz G V12 S starts at 394,900 Euros MSRP. More info at www.brabus.com.

Nuri Incar Anak-anak Kampus Nasionalis

Mobil nasional garapan PT Super Gasindo Jaya, Nuri, yang saat ini sedang dalam tahap pengembangan, nantinya akan dipasarkan pada masyarakat umum. Pabrikan nasional ini bakal menjadikan anak-anak kampus yang mengaku nasionalis sebagai pangsa pasarnya.

Hal tersebut diutarakan langsung CEO Super Gasindo Jaya, Kuntjoro Njoto. Ia mengatakan, segmen menengah akan menjadi incaran pemasaran Nuri kedepannya.

"Kelas menengah, khususnya para mahasiswa-mahasiswa yang peduli dengan produk dalam negeri menjadi pangsa pasar kita, mobil ini cocok untuk mereka," ujarnya ketika berbincang dengan detikOto, Senin (19/4/2010)

Selain dimensinya yang kecil, kapasitas mesin yang diperbesar bakal menjadi daya tarik tersendiri bagi para mahasiswa yang ingin tampil ekonomis dan efisien, namun tetap mengedepankan fungsi, sehingga Nuri dinilai cocok untuk mendukung aktifitas mereka.

Karenanya, sampai saat ini, Nuri terus dikembangkan terutama mengenai urusan safety dan kenyamanannya nanti, sehingga ketika mulai dipamerkan bulan Juli mendatang, sudah dalam keadaan yang siap untuk dipasarkan kepada konsumen umum.

Jadi Taksi: Dukung produksi massal mobnas pemerintah bisa tiru jepang dan Inggris

Taksi dibeberapa negara sudah diwajibkan untuk ikut serta dalam komitmen pelestarian lingkungan. Karenanya sejumlah perusahaan taksi dunia sudah menggunakan mobil bertenaga listrik.

Bila beberapa waktu lalu sempat muncul taksi yang menggunakan Mitsubishi i-MiEV di Jepang, kini Inggris pun mulai menerapkan hal serupa. Hanya saja bukan mobil listrik Mitsubishi tersebut yang digunakan, melainkan Mercedes-Bez Vito bermesin elektrik.

Hebatnya, program sosialisasi penggunaan taksi elektrik ini dibiayai oleh Goverment Advantage Niche Vehicle Research & Development Programme, di London, Inggris.



"Kami ingin di London taksi sudah menggunakan mobil listrik pada 2012 mendatang," ungkap Sales and Marketing Director of Zytek Automotive, Steve Tremble, seperti dikutip dari Autoevolution, Jumat (2/4/2010).

Mercedes menyebut taksi elektirk ini E-Vito. Mobil itu mampu mengangkut hingga enam orang sejauh 120 km dalam sekali pehgisian baterai listriknya. Bila baterai habis, dapat diisi ulang lagi dengan memakan waktu enam jam.

E-Vito menggunakan motor listrik bertenaga 75kW (95hp) yang disuplai dari baterai Li-ion yang mempunyai power 35 kWh. Untuk motor listrik dipakai keluaran Zytek, sementara baterai listriknya dipasok dari Valence.



Sedang transmisi E-Vito, pabrikan Jerman itu memilih merek Vocis yang disuplai oleh Graziano. Selain itu, disematkan pula teknologi yang memungkinkan roda belakang bisa membelok. Dengan begitu radius putar E-Vito bisa mencapai 7,6m.

Posisi motor listrik terpasang di atas mesin dan ada penambahan air untuk mencegah panas dari mesin. Kabel-kabel listrik bertegangan tinggi dan rendah saling berhubungan. Begitu juga sistem lainnya seperti ABS (antilock braking system), ESP (electronic stability program) dan OBD (onboard diagnotics).

Untuk memuluskan proyek kendaraan listrik ini, Mercedes-Benz Inggris memberi kepercayaan kepada Zytek, Valence Technologies & Penso. Untuk pemasaran akan diserahkan kepada Zyteck.

Ajanta Group working on e-car for India: Zindabad!!!

The Ajanta Group, which already sells electric scooters in India under the Oreva brand, claims it will soon launch its electric car in the country. Though technical details are not available at this time, Rakesh Nathwani, Oreva’s national marketing head, claims that the car will be able to run 200-250km on one full battery charge.

It is ironic that Tata Motors have finally chosen Sanand village in Gujarat where the Nano will be made, because the Oreva electric car – which is also expected to be priced at around Rs one lakh – will also be made at Morbi, in Gujarat. Ajanta/Oreva already manufacture their e-scooters at their facility in Morbi, and will also launch their e-car from the same factory.







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