Sex-o-Cars

Saleen S5S Raptor

December 17th, 2010 Comments Off

New York, America — America's pre-eminent super car maker, Saleen, stunned New Yorkers with the new S5S Raptor concept.

Due to hit the American market in 2010, the brand-new exotically styled super car is driven by a supercharged 5.0-litre V8, which explains the S5S name.

Launched at the 2008 New York Auto Show, the concept car is expected to have a very high top speed: in excess of 320km/h (200mph) thanks to it's wind-cheating aerodynamic shape and powerful engine.

It uses a supercharged V8 positioned behind the driver, a la Ferrari F430, which helps improve its handling and lower its centre of gravity.

Though the vehicle that Saleen launched is technically a concept car, the production version due in 2010 is expected to share much of the design.

Ssangyong C200 – New Direction

December 15th, 2010 Comments Off

Paris, France — It seems that Ssangyong has finally changed it's ways.

Instead of just using Mercedes powertrains, it now uses the German company's naming conventions too.

In all seriousness, this is the first Ssangyong in history that doesn't look like it was formed out of some unholy union between a Daewoo and hammerhead shark (see the car at the bottom of the page for evidence).

Simply put, it's a nice looking motor car.

There are big changes afoot at the Korean car company, who no longer desires to be the butt of car design jokes; the C200 is the first new model in a bold new range of vehicles that will begin hitting the road from 2010.

In Australia, Ssangyong has signed a deal with Sime Darby (the same company that handles Peugeot) so the chances of seeing this vehicle in Australia are fairly good.

Looking for all the world like a confident, well-proportioned compact SUV, the C200 was shown at the Paris Motor Show and is the first product fromSsangyong and it's new (cashed-up) partner Shanghai Automotive Industries Group.

With more capital available due to the partnership with the Chinese company, Ssangyong contracted the European design house ItalDesign to create the new look, with 70-year-old design guru Giugiaro leading the team.

2011 McLaren MP4-12C

December 13th, 2010 Comments Off

Woking, United Kingdom - Through a rich history, McLaren’s automotive division has already built the world’s most critically acclaimed supercar, the McLaren F1 (1993-1998) and the world’s best-selling luxury supercar, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren (2003-2009). McLaren Automotive now looks to the future with its new latest creation – the 2011 McLaren MP4-12C.

The 2011 McLaren MP4-12C boasts a 3.8-litre V8 engine that produces 447kW of power and 600 Nm of torque. The variable valve-timed, flat-plane crank, dry-sumped 90-degree V8 engine is developed by McLaren.

Power is delivered via the seven-speed SSG dual clutch gearbox that features 'Seamless Shift' technology. Seamless Shift offers variable settings that include - normal, sport and high performance modes.

Wondering why McLaren have named their new model the MP4-12C?

Well dating back to 1981 all McLaren Formula 1 cars have used MP4 as a chassis designation – which stands for McLaren Project 4. The ‘12’ refers to McLaren’s 'secret' internal Vehicle Performance Index. And the ‘C’ refers to Carbon, highlighting the unique application of carbon fibre used - Carbon MonoCell.

The McLaren MP4-12C has a 80 kg (176 lbs) one-piece carbon fiber chassis - dubbed the Carbon MonoCell - which was specially designed to be lightweight, strong, and durable.

Suzuki Grand Vitara

December 10th, 2010 Comments Off

With a long history of making compact-but-capable rock hoppers, you could look at the Suzuki Grand Vitara and know right away that it's a 4x4, but like many other popular compact SUVs this one claims to be a serious off-roader.

Suzuki says the first things they addressed were "even higher on-road performance and tougher off-road capability" to ensure 4WD enthusiasts would be catered for.

"No matter how refined the styling or the modifications, the off-road performance cannot be allowed to suffer and that is the essence of the Grand Vitara," says Suzuki, who is obviously trying to attract active sporty people who like the outdoors.

There are now five models with three engines to choose from, with new petrol engines headlining the changes including a 2.4-litre 4-cylinder VVT engine, a 3.2-litre V6 and not to forget the 1.9-litre intercooled and turbocharged diesel engine.

Here's the new pricing for the Grand Vitara range:

3-Door: $24,990 (auto $26,990)

5-Door: $29,990 (auto $31,990)

5-Door diesel: $34,990

5-Door Prestige: $36,990 (auto only)

5-Door Prestige V6: $39,990 (auto only)

Electronic stability control is now standard across the Suzuki Grand Vitara range, and looking at the new models it would seem that it's suffering from an identity crisis.

It looks like the designers have been peeking at plans for the new Toyota RAV4.

With its similar lines, flared guards, front fog lamps and bulging front bar, a cynic would say the only thing setting them apart are the badge and rear tail lights.

Fiat Punto Evo

December 8th, 2010 Comments Off

Turin, Italy – Making its debut at this years Frankfurt Motor Show, Fiat has released new photos and details about the 2010 Punto Evo.

The Fiat Punto Evo is the “evolution of the Grande Punto”. The car is said to receive a wide range of different engine variants which include, a second generation 1.3-litre Multijet diesel and a 1.4-litre petrol engine with the revolutionary MultiAir technology Developed by Fiat Powertrain Technologies it will eventually incorporated in all Fiat Group engines.

Joining the engine line up will be a dual fuel methane engine, which produces 115 g/km of CO2 (making it the most ecological engine in its segment), as well as a LPG engine that can travel up to 1,500 km in the extra-urban cycle.

Fiat state that their MultiAir engines produce "more power (up to 10%) and torque (up to 15%), but consume significantly less (up to 10%) and emitting less CO2 (up to 10%)" than conventional petrol engines of the same size.

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster

December 6th, 2010 Comments Off

As Mercedes' flag-ship model, the SLR creates an important halo effect for the German automakers other performance cars, and the new Roadster model will bolster this further with its hard-to-ignore folding roof and gull-wing doors.

But the best feature of the new car? Conversation will still be possible at well over 200km/h on open-air journeys thanks to the car's highly developed 'aeroacoustics'.

Linking all the super car thrills of what is the fastest automatic transmission equipped car in the world with top down motoring, the new Roadster model joins the standard Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren and the 2007 Mercedes-Benz SLR 722 Edition.

The Roadster model is for the driver who wants to show off not only his car, but also his hairstyle and choice of eye wear, and it also gives the low-volume super car range a sophisticated new 'high style' model. Interestingly however, the new model won't feature a standard metal folding roof but employs carbon fibre for the roof, assuring its status as a bespoke dream car affordable by only society's elite.

Like it's fixed-roof sibling, the new SLR McLaren Roadster displays a number of design cues pioneered by the 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR, such as the wide gull-wing doors, huge side vents, and the side-mount exhaust pipes. The arrow-shaped nose of the SLR Roadster is likewise a visual reminder that much of the car's technology comes from the ideas developed by McLaren-Mercedes in its Formula One race cars.

Sadly for Australian super car aficionados, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster will no be coming Down Under. "Unfortunately, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster, like its coup? sibling, will not be offered to Australian customers as it is only produced in left-hand drive," explained the Mercedes Car Group's manager corporate communications, Peter Fadeyev.

Along with a lightweight body shell made from carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (or CFRP), making the vehicle an exception among high-performance convertibles, the complex carbon-fibre technology ensures that the car has an extremely high occupant safety cell and according to Mercedes-Benz it also has a degree of torsional stiffness that is rare in the open-top vehicle world (higher torsional stiffness usually improves a car's handling).

Mercedes SLS AMG E-Cell Prototype

December 4th, 2010 Comments Off

Stuttgart, Germany - Mercedes-Benz has released details of its first electric powered supercar the SLS AMG E-Cell Prototype.

Based on the SLS AMG Gullwing the AMG E-Cell replaces the beefy V8 for a bank of batteries and four electric motors.

The SLS AMG E-Cell is fully powered by electricity through lithium-ion polymer battery modules that are located in the centre tunnel just behind the two seats.

Small adjustments were made to accommodate the new powertrain, including using an independent multilink front suspension with pushrod damper struts, instead of the double wishbone used by the V8 petrol model.

Four electric motors (two at each axle, meaning the electric Gullwing is all-wheel-drive) produce 392kW of maximum power and peak torque of 880Nm. The electric AMG E-Cell is said to be able to go from 0-100km in 4 seconds.
Mercedes are yet to comment about the vehicles range or battery recharge times .

Keeping all the electrics cool are a pair of separate cooling circuits, an extended front apron also assists airflow under the body, as well as an adjustable front splitter which can be activated by the driver through the press of a button. The SLS's also comes with the option of ceramic composite brakes with sizes 18.5-inches up front and 14.2-inches at the rear are fitted.

Honda Jazz VTi

December 1st, 2010 Comments Off

Sometimes called a supermini or subcompact, the smallest class of car sold in Australia also makes up one of the biggest markets, and Honda's Jazz falls smack-bang in the middle of the lucrative genre.

It was created jointly by Honda's Japanese and European designers, in a bid to appeal to a wide range of markets, and the end result scooped awards in both Japan and the UK, from Japanese Research and Automotive Journalists and Auto Express magazine respectively.

It also won accolades in the Courier Mail as Queensland Car of the Year, New Zealand’s National Business Review Small Car of the Year, was a finalist in Wheels Magazine Car of the Year and runner up in News Limited Star Car Awards.

It's also the most cost effective vehicle Honda's ever released in Australia, but don't think that that equates to 'cheap' - far from it. With a number of intriguing interior design features and a clever engine/transmission combination, the Jazz is off to a very smart start.

Make: Honda
Model: Jazz VTi
Price: $22,290
Transmission: CVT (quasi 7-speed)
Engine: 1.5-litre, inline four-cylinder, electronically fuel injected, SOHC with VTEC
Fuel Consumption: City cycle - 6.0-litres/100km, Highway cycle - 5.2-litres/100km
Seats: 5
Safety: Driver and passenger SRS airbags, ABS, seat-belt pre-tensioners

Despite the Jazz falling firmly into the subcompact category of cars, it's quite a tall-bodied car and shifting oneself in and out of it was a lot easier than I expected.

Holden Cruze CD Diesel

November 30th, 2010 Comments Off

I was anticipating this drive for some time. What will the new kid on the block offer local punters keenly focused on price and the environment? The Cruze Diesel has the makings of surprising the market with all that and provides quality too.

First impressions sitting in the car was that it was quite basic in respect to the interior. But once I got myself comfortable, and drove around town a little, I got a real sense that this Korean built Cruze has what it takes to deliver the local market a value for money, economical, low cost and even environmentally friendly car that actually looks pretty damn good too.

Even though the new Cruze is built in Korea, improved build quality seen in recent models sourced from the Gunsan manufacturing facility by Holden are present in the new Cruze. Plus Holden plans to build the Cruze in Australia at Holden's South Australian Elizabeth plant late in 2010, which will be a positive to their local economy.
I like a zippy car and have fallen in love with the low-end torque offered by the Holden Cruze CD Diesel.

The Cruze CD felt great while driving it around town. The best part was that the fuel gauge nearly stuck on full. This is a great feeling, especially with city driving.

Honda CR-Z

November 28th, 2010 Comments Off

Las Vegas, United States - Honda has unveiled twelve modified 2011 CR-Z sport hybrid coupes at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Among the vehicles being unveiled at the show, are the 2011 CR-Z equipped with MUGEN accessories, the CR-Z Hybrid R Concept and the HPD CR-Z Racer.

Only 300 CR-Z MUGEN kits will be available. The MUGEN kits include a beefed up body kit, a new front grille, a rear wing spoiler, and 17-inch "XJ" aluminum wheels. Stepping inside, the interior features a black aluminum shift knob, sport mats and a serial-number plaque, designating each kit as one of 300 available. Pricing details will be made available closer to the on-sale date.

The CR-Z Racer was built to demonstrate the potential of the CR-Z for both street and racing. Honda engineers have upgraded the IMA hybrid system and equipped the 1.5-litre power plant with a turbocharger. Boosting power to 149kW and 237Nm of torque. A performance clutch, limited-slip differential, ‘circuit-tuned' suspension, upgraded brakes and aerodynamic components round out the package.

Honda plans to enter two HPD CR-Z Racers into the 25 Hours of Thunderhill endurance race in December.

The Bisimoto Engineering CR-Z also boasts a turbocharger as well as a six-point roll cage, a coil-over suspension, and 18-inch wheels with Falken tires.
Eibach Springs decided to equip their CR-Z with a K&N intake and a Magna flow exhaust. Other goodies include a C-West body kit, 17-inch Work Emotion wheels, and Sparco seats.

Reaching out to the import community, Honda invited six independent vehicle tuners to build and display their CR-Z hybrid concepts at the SEMA Show. Tuners were asked to push the limits to improve fuel economy and performance with their builds, and the vehicles on display show the variety of directions in which a personalised sport hybrid can go. Beyond this group, both the Los Angeles Auto Show and Honda Tuning Magazine displayed their CR-Z special project cars in the Honda booth.

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