Sex-o-Cars

Renault’s new Golf rival

October 29th, 2010 Comments Off

The Megane's big bum rear end has gone but it's up to the new-generation model to give Renault sales a kick up the backside in Australia.

It's nearly 10 years since the French brand returned to the local market with bold plans for more than 25,000 sales a year. Over the decade, its best figure has been 4565 units. This year it will struggle to break 2000 sales.

So a new Megane, if not quite a do or die model, is certainly at the heart of Renault Australia's turnaround plan. The hatchback and sedan (called Fluence) are expected to account for about 2000 of the company's circa-3500 sales target for 2011.

French firm unveils compact coupe with hybrid power at 2010 Paris motor show

October 25th, 2010 Comments Off

Peugeot's already wowed us with the incredibly gorgeous EX1 concept car and the world's first diesel hybrid, but the French company isn't resting on its laurels. Here at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, it's also churned out a new HR1 'urban concept', which comes with a built-in tablet PC.

The car isn't as attractive as the EX1 -- it's tall, chunky and ever so slightly odd-looking. But it does have some interesting tech additions. The most notable of these is an Archos 9 PC Tablet mounted in a tray on the passenger side of the vehicle.

Peugeot says the tablet can be used to while away the hours on long journeys. It has an 8.9-inch resistive touchscreen and runs Windows 7 Starter, so it'll do just about anything you ask of it. It'll play movies, basic games and let you surf the Internet via an optional 3G broadband dongle.

The driver gets some funky tech to play with, too. The HR1 has a gesture-based user interface that lets you scroll through and select menu items in the infotainment system by making hand gestures, rather like in Minority Report. The car also has a head-up display and some rather beautiful instruments, flanking a colour display behind the steering wheel.

BMW ConnectedDrive offers rolling Wi-Fi, in-car browser, Street View

October 19th, 2010 Comments Off

Back in the day, in-car entertainment mainly consisted of playing I spy or singing Coming 'round the mountain until a small piece of you died inside. That's all changed now, though. For example, BMW's newly updated ConnectedDrive infotainment system now comprises a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, an integrated Web browser and a sat-nav that features Google Street View.

ConnectedDrive, available on most BMW models, offers a variety of features designed to improve the comfort, safety and entertainment value of your journey. Arguably the most exciting of these is BMW Internet, a feature that gives users unlimited access to the Web via a browser on the car's integrated display.

From a stationary vehicle, the driver and front passenger can surf the Internet via the car's iDrive user interface, twisting and pressing the joystick on the centre console to control an on-screen cursor.

Volkswagen Releases Facelifted Eos Photos

October 17th, 2010 Comments Off

Since Walter de'Silva took over as Head of Design at Volkswagen, the manufacturer's range has seen some drastic changes in looks. LED lighting all around, chrome accents in front, and big, deep air intakes have been a de'Silva trademark since he took the reigns in 2007. This gives all the cars in the range a distinct lineage, with a uniform look that makes it easy to tell if a car is a VW at a passing glance.

Today the Eos, Volkswagen's hard-top convertible, has been brought into the fold, receiving an update to its aesthetics. The large, round headlamps from the old model have been replaced with much more angular units similar to those seen on the Golf and GTI. Around back, the taillights receive the same treatment, with much squarer lights mirroring those on the Golf as well.

The car, which will officially debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and should be available in January in Europe, and February in the States, will also receive some minor feature upgrades such as keyless go, and Park Assist.

Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4

October 15th, 2010 Comments Off

The French have always been leaders in designing throughly modern-looking cars, but when it comes to the very modern craze of hybrid drivetrains, they haven't exactly been at the front of the pack. Peugeot has decided that, rather than slowly catching up, it's time to leapfrog ahead. Meet the 3008 Hybrid4, a car you'll surely never see here in the United States.

It isn't the prettiest car the French have ever built, but it is packed with a cutting-edge drivetrain. Two of them, actually. The 3008 Hybrid4 uses what's called a "through-the-road" hybrid system, meaning that the electric motor and the internal combustion engine, in this case a small diesel, aren't connected by anything but a few wires allowing them to communicate. All the transfer of power between the two is done--you guessed it--through the road. This allows the 3008 to run in four unique modes:

Auto mode lets the car's computers decide which powertrain works when and how hard. Transfer between the diesel engine and electric motor is all automatic, and the car is programmed to seek the best compromise of dynamics and efficiency for any given situation.

Renault DeZir

October 13th, 2010 Comments Off

Renault will begin selling its all-electric Fluence Z.E. sedan and Kangoo Z.E. minivan in Europe and Israel in 2011. It also has shown several concept vehicles that could expand the Z.E. lineup in the future. One of the most exciting is the performance-oriented, two-passenger DeZir coupe that will debut at the 2011 Paris Auto Show. Renault has not said whether the DeZir will go into production.

The DeZir uses the same synchronous electric motor as Renault’s other Z.E. (‘zero emission’) electric vehicles. For the DeZir, the motor has been upgraded to 150 horsepower (110 kW) and drives the rear wheels. In supercar fashion, the electric motor is located mid-ship for optimum front/rear weight distribution. Rated at 167 lb-ft torque, the motor can accelerate the 1830 pound concept car to 60 mph in 5 seconds. Helping here is a Kinetic Energy Recovery System that recoups and stores braking energy that is available for launch assist on demand via a steering wheel button.

The vertically-mounted 24 kWh lithium-ion battery located behind the bench seat provides a range of 100 miles, just like the Renault Z.E. models. This is the same battery used in the Nissan Leaf – not surprising because of the alliance between Renault and Nissan.

2011 Scion TC

October 6th, 2010 Comments Off

Overview
The all-new 2011 Scion tC arrives after seven years with the original. This second-generation tC rides on a new platform, keeping the same length but offering a bit more room. A new engine brings 180 horsepower and 173 pounds-feet of torque, with a quickened pace: from 0 to 60 in 7.6 seconds with the manual transmission.

The 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine uses the latest lightweight technology, with Dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i), roller rocker arms and a variable-induction intake manifold system that changes the length of the air-intake pipe to supply more torque on demand. Fuel mileage is improved by 3 mpg to an EPA-estimated 26 mpg in combined city and highway driving, and the emissions rating remains at ULEV II. Overall, there's been a weight gain of about 100 pounds.

Both transmissions are new for 2011, with a 6-speed automatic and 6-speed manual replacing the antiquated 4-speed automatic and 5-speed manual. We preferred the manual gearbox because the automatic doesn't offer a sport mode.

The styling has changed direction somewhat. In an apparent attempt to be edgy, the roofline is sharper at the A-pillar and C-pillar. And the nose of the new tC has more rounded shoulders with large wheel cutouts, a more current look.

2011 BMW Z4 sDrive35is revealed

October 4th, 2010 Comments Off

BMW revealed pictures and details of the latest edition of the Z4 model which will debut next month during Detroit Motor Show. The 2011 Z4 sDrive35is, terrible name by the way, is set to be the top performer in the roadster segment. It actually explains why BMW killed plans for a M-powered Z4. As you have noticed, this car has the letter “s” at the end of its names, and that alone gives the game away!

You see this new model is equipped with an updated version of BMW’s 3.0 liter twin-turbo direct-injection I-6 engine which develops 335hp and 500 Newton-metres/369 lb-ft of torque. That’s 35hp more than the current model. This powerunit combined with a seven-speed Sport Automatic featuring double clutch operation, help the Z4 to deliver amazing performance. zero to 100 km/h takes only 4.8 seconds, but as usual top speed is limited to 250. The average fuel consumption for this engine is 9.0 liters per 100 kilometers (equal to 26.1 mpg US) while CO2 emissions is 210 grams per kilometer.

Modified engine management on the BMW Z4 sDrive35is also allows the use of an Overboost function briefly increasing engine torque under full load by another 50 Newton-metres or 37 lb-ft. The car also receives some gifts form BMW EfficientDynamics department, such as Brake Energy Regeneration, EPS Electric Power Steering and on-demand control and management of ancillary units likewise help to reduce both fuel consumption and emissions.

One other cool feature of this engine is its characteristic exhaust noise. The engine is fitted with special sound flaps and modifications on the silencers in order to have a deep rumbling sound. Th Z4 sDrive35is also comes as standard with an M Sports Package including the M Aerodynamics Package and adaptive M Suspension featuring electronically controlled dampers for even greater agility without making any concessions in terms of comfort.

Lamborghini Gallardo LP600/4 by Edo Competition

October 2nd, 2010 Comments Off

German tuner Edo Competition is one of the world’s top five tuning companies who also has an exquisite taste! They are so advanced that they only pick supercars for the job and make them twice as good. Edo’s latest project is this Lamborghni Gallardo LP560-4 which has been turned into the LP600 because, well, the power has gone up from 560 to 600 hp! Therefore the Gallardo is now capable of doing 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds, and 340 km/h top speed.

Part of this power increase is due to the new stainless steel sport exhaust system that Edo has installed on the Lambo. It has butterfly valves in it which let you adjust the engine’s soundtrack remotely! They also weigh 12 kg less than the stock exhausts.

One of the good things about Edo is that they don’t mess too much with the car’s styling. For the Gallardo too, they just tweaked the aerodynamics by adding a front spoiler lip which improves the handling at high speed. Of course the looks of the car is enhanced thanks to the new adjustable sport suspension and the 19 inch three-piece racing wheels with artificially-aged cast center-sections, hand-polished outer rims and 39 stainless steel screws.

Electric Porsche Cayene by RUF

September 30th, 2010 Comments Off

Ruf, as one of the oldest and finest Porsche tuners, has taken a new path in modifying different models of this car maker since 2008 by introducing the eRUF brand. What they do here is simple, they turn these sports cars into Electric Vehicles! Not a miserable one of course, a sports EV. Their first product, the 911-based Greenster was quite good, and now they are unveiling the Stormster, which is based on the Cayenne SUV.

Like the Greenster, the Stormster is also powered by Siemens electric motor and lithium ion accumulators supplied by Li-Tec Battery GmbH. This powertrain generates 270 kW (367 bhp), which is impressive, but given the 2,670 kg weight of the car, it is not what you call a performer!

Reaching 100 km/h from standing still takes 10 seconds in the Stormster, while it has a top speed of only 150 km/h. Fully charged, this electric Cayenne can cover a distance of about 200 Km.

Ruf maintains the car’s AWD system and fits the car with lightweight RUF classic 5 spoke wheels wrapped in Hankook winter tires size 295/30 R 22.

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