RMR RM500: Rhys Millen and Hyundai Stuff Tau V8 in Genesis Coupe

RMR RM500: Rhys Millen and Hyundai Stuff Tau V8 in Genesis Coupe:

Hyundai and drifting/rally driver Rhys Millen have an established history of creating crazy, lampshade-on-the-head hooligan rides, including a 550-hp Genesis coupe drift racer, a 500-hp, rear-engined V-8 Genesis coupe, and even a purpose-built, 750-hp Pikes Peak racer.

For the 2011 SEMA show, Millen’s company, RMR, and Hyundai once again dropped a V-8 into a Genesis coupe, but this time, they’ve “kept it real,” so to speak—i.e., drivable, recognizable, and actually somewhat plausible. How plausible is cramming Hyundai’s largest and most powerful mill into the snug confines of the Genesis coupe’s engine bay? Well, according to Hyundai spokesman Miles Johnson, the 5.0-liter Tau V-8 “fits right in,” saying that modifications included the engine mounts but little else. Based on conversations we’ve had with Hyundai engineers in the past about this exact subject, however, there may be more than a few other things that need to be changed, and a production V-8 Genesis coupe remains forbidden fruit. (A supercharged V-6 continues to tantalize, however; another 2011 SEMA car called the Genesis Hurricane SC featured such a powertrain, and blown Genesis mules have been spotted.)

Other RMR contributions to this one-off include a custom stainless-steel exhaust system, plus a new oil cooler, a rear differential cooler, an RMR lightweight clutch and flywheel, and an RMR adapter plate. In the process, RMR unlocked another 21 horsepower for a total of 450, compared with the 429 hp of the Genesis 5.0 R-spec sedan. Considering that the coupe’s top-dog mill soon will be a naturally aspirated, direct-injected 3.8-liter V-6 making 333 hp, 450 hp would vault the sports coupe into the Mustang GT and Camaro SS’s league.

Still, Millen and Hyundai might have slapped some turbos on the Tau and received 600-plus ponies for the effort, but they didn’t. While the RM500 isn’t exactly a snooze to look at, a similar sort of judiciousness characterizes most of its other modifications. These include Brembo-sourced carbon-ceramic front brakes, 19-inch HRE wheels, Hankook Ventus tires, Sparco seats, and RMR-designed carbon-fiber body addenda (front lip, rear diffuser, decklid spoiler, side skirts, roof overlay, grille, and fog-lamp inserts). RMR also provided yellow fog-lamp lenses, a one-inch steering-column extension, new seat brackets, and suede upholstery.

Floating It Out There, But Don’t Hold Your Breath

The chief reasons for building the RM500, according to Johnson, are to showcase how the Genesis coupe can perform with Hyundai’s new Tau V-8 under the hood, and more significantly, to gauge customer interest in such a package. We’re pretty confident that the RM500 is riotously fun to drive, but even if Hyundai somehow found a way to make Tau installation work in the coupe, we know that it will then have to federalize the car according to emissions and crash regulations. And then sell enough of them to pay for that. And hopefully then make a profit. Good luck.

In any case, the RM500 represents Hyundai’s most visible effort yet to explore fiercely loyal V-8 sports coupe segment. We’re no more optimistic than before that a V-8-powered Genesis coupe will happen, and even if it does, there’s no guarantee it will succeed in winning over any members of the muscle-car crowd. We’ll admit we wouldn’t mind seeing Hyundai try.

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Nissan Drops Info on 2013 GT-R; More Power, Revised Gearbox and Suspension

Nissan Drops Info on 2013 GT-R; More Power, Revised Gearbox and Suspension:

In what’s become an annual rite—and following a major update for 2012—Nissan’s GT-R supercar has once again been tweaked for the 2013 model year. The GT-R’s twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter V-6 now makes 545 hp—a 15-hp increase over the 2012 model’s 530, which was itself a 45-horse bump from the previous year. Of course, peak twist also increases, from 448 lb-ft of torque to 463. The additional power comes courtesy of enhanced intake efficiency, larger intake ducting for the intercooler, and exhaust modifications.

While Nissan was fiddling with the engine, it also refined the GT-R’s six-speed dual-clutch transmission to make it a bit more livable in daily driving. To that end, the 2013 car gets a beefier shift fork arm and a firmer fixing bearing for the flywheel housing, and it uses the same differential oil as Nissan’s GT-R race cars. Nissan says the changes will improve shift feel and result in quieter gearbox operation, but we’ll reserve judgment until we drive the car ourselves. The internal adjustments come on top of a software update for the 2012 car that was intended to iron out the GT-R’s sometimes clunky shifts. Speaking of smoothness, the 2013 GT-R rides on a revised suspension with slightly higher spring rates that provide a better shock and spring balance. Combined with a new bypass valve in the shocks, Nissan claims the new setup improves the GT-R’s ride and already-prodigious handling.

The GT-R’s two current trim levels, base Premium and up-level Black Edition, carry over and a back-up camera is now standard. Previously optional, the back-up camera is pretty much a must-have if you plan on ever, well, backing up. There’s new gauge lighting and the Black Edition gets a handmade “dry carbon” rear spoiler.

What do the changes mean for the GT-R’s already heroic performance capabilities? We’ll have to wait until we can strap our testing equipment to one to be sure, but the 2012 GT-R hit 60 in just 2.9 seconds in our testing. To current GT-R owners who may feel jilted, allow us to repeat a bit of advice from our first test of last year’s car: “Your vehicle is still a stunning, ballistic Corvette killer, even next to the new machine.” Pricing will be announced closer to the 2013 Nissan GT-R’s on-sale date in January 2012.

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New Volkswagen R-Line Package Announced for Tiguan, Won’t Come Here

New Volkswagen R-Line Package Announced for Tiguan, Won’t Come Here:

On paper, the Volkswagen Tiguan crossover reads something like a tall GTI—a 200-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged four with a six-speed manual transmission and a multilink rear suspension are all on the menu—but it wasn’t even close looks-wise, even with its recent face lift. Until now. In, uh, Europe. There, a newly optional R-Line style package brings some toughness to the Tig’s countenance, but the CC will remain the only U.S.-market model available with R-Line trim.

Here’s what we’re missing: To create the full R-Line look, two packs must be ordered. The first is the R-Line exterior appearance upgrade and the second is an R-Line interior job; to get the interior goods you have to first order the exterior stuff. The exterior kit includes a set of sharp-looking 19-inch wheels, a body kit with a rear “diffuser,” a rear spoiler, and a monochromatic paint scheme (the standard Tiguan has more black plastic addenda). R-Line buyers can order their Tiguan in white, silver, black pearl, dark blue, and gray. The R-Line interior pack bundles a pair of front sport seats, a black headliner, stainless-steel pedals, and R-line badges on the steering wheel and head rests.

The R-Line exterior pack will cost Europeans €2460, while the interior goodies pile on an additional €840. Upgrading to leather boosts the price by a further €2120. For budget-minded R-Line wannabes, VW is offering the R-Design rear spoiler and black headliner as individual options available to all Tiguan customers. This model joins VW’s excellent 2.0-liter diesel four-cylinder on the list of current Tiguan variants we don’t get here, but we’ll likely get a diesel when the next generation of the small crossover hits in a few years, so hope perhaps isn’t lost for a future R-Line.

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2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe Tested: The M3’s Closest Competitor Yet

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe Tested: The M3’s Closest Competitor Yet:

The BMW M3’s closest competitor yet distinguishes itself in one very urgent way.

Many cars have challenged the perpetually great BMW M3 over the years, with the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG sedan—introduced in 2008—among those that have come closest to knocking off the M3’s crown. With the C-class coupe debuting this year, AMG’s newest product was a bit of a no-brainer. Still, we don’t see the C63 AMG coupe so much as a two-door version of a sedan, but rather as the M3’s most formidable and natural competitor yet.

Keep Reading: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe – Instrumented Test

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Sweet and Tender Hoonigan: Rauh-Welt 911 Turbo Debuts at SEMA

Sweet and Tender Hoonigan: Rauh-Welt 911 Turbo Debuts at SEMA:

Thirty-one-year-old Brian Scotto came of age inhaling the detritus of New York Hardcore and reveling in the city’s fertile hip-hop scene. He’s also been friends with WRC driver Ken Block for years. The pair ran an STI together in the 2006 One Lap of America, and when Block needed a point man to run PR for his WRC team, Scotto was a natural pick. Now the two have embarked on a new venture together, called Hooonigan. And in an attempt to illustrate that the brand isn’t just about Ford and rally cars, they teamed up with Akira Nakai to customize Scotto’s 1991 911 Turbo.

In the past couple of years, Nakai-san’s Rauh-Welt Begriff (literally “rough-world concept”) 911s have gone from in-the-know whisper cult status to commanding respect and lustworthy drools from Porschephiles and tuner kids alike. Scotto’s always been a cat excited by new forms—the man was at the vanguard of the hi-riser movement—but he’s always wanted a Porsche. More specifically, a white 964 turbo with a Lobster Red interior, a classic case of the-car-one-drooled-over-as-a-kid made flesh. Meanwhile, he’d been as captivated as anyone with RWB’s cars during his stint at 0-60 Magazine.

While Scotto was in the early stages of planning Hoonigan with Block, Nakai was talking to marketing impresario Mark Arcenal of Fatlace about launching a U.S. arm. The two sides came to an agreement, and over four days last month, Nakai flew from Japan to California to work his magic on Scotto’s Andial-tuned Turbo alongside Arcenal’s 964 Carrera 4. The Hoonigan likens watching Nakai’s first slice into the 911’s fender as the closest he’s come yet to feeling like a father watching childbirth, referring to the experience as “brutal.”

The result of all this diligent butchery? A car that sits an inch and a half lower on its springs, with the fender radiuses tweaked to accommodate the drop. Scotto opted for RWB’s race-style bolt-on fender extensions, which Nakai-san spent hours massaging for the perfect placement. The Nimitz-wide humpty stance was achieved using a set of custom Fifteen52 wheels wearing Pirelli P Zero rubber. The front 18x11s are shod with 265/40s, while the 18×12 rears wear gargantuan 315/30s. Scotto left the engine alone, saying, “I didn’t want to have a car that was torn apart six ways ‘til Sunday and then have to shake everything down.”

Especially since he planned to drive the car 850 miles to the SEMA show in Las Vegas for the offical launch of the Hoonigan brand. The car handled the two-day blast without a hitch, although with its heater solenoid broken, he resorted to duct-taping the vents shut for a bit of a respite from the heat. According to Scotto, Nakai aligned the car by eye and “it tracks totally straight at 110, hands off the wheel. You hit a bump and it feels like, say, a GT3.” It’s a far cry from the stiffer-is-better setup the car had when he bought it, despite the bosozoku-meets-IMSA lowdown look.

The craziest thing Scotto had to contend with during the trip was the downforce generated by the Nakai-selected rear wing. “Out in the desert, we were on a two-lane road when a truck went by coming the other way at about 90. It felt like somebody pulled the handbrake.”

“Rough world” indeed.

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Building a NASCAR Engine in a Room with Swirly Carpet

Building a NASCAR Engine in a Room with Swirly Carpet:

Assembling an engine in a Las Vegas hotel conference room is surreal. Doing so while being timed is surprisingly nerve-wracking. I know this from recent experience.

Quaker State invited me to the engine build as part of the launch for its new Defy motor oil, a product formulated to include more zinc, which we’re told is favorable for engines with flat-tappet cams. It just so happens that the Chevy R07 NASCAR V-8 uses flat tappets, so that’s what they had us put together and fill with the stuff. Then we got a 30-second demo—more on that later.

Two eight-journalist teams were split into four pairs, each responsible for installing a set of parts and sub-assemblies once their turn came. My partner and I were in the second group, handling the flywheel, oil pump, pistons, and oil pan. With some assistance from two Hendrick Motorsports crew members, we did our job in about 10 minutes. Impressive, right? It would be more so if I omitted the fact that the other team needed just 8. And I’m confident that the Hendrick guys coaching us could have done it in half that time. Blindfolded.

Our competitors completed their engine in 33 minutes and 8 seconds, while my team finished about two minutes later. From a strictly time-keeping standpoint, I couldn’t help but feel partly responsible, but my teammates and I were still hopeful that the other team had made a mistake in their haste. The competition wasn’t over until we proved that the engines were functional—a 30-second trial was required before the in-hotel engine-building victors were declared.

With both test stands wheeled into the hotel’s courtyard—safety first!—the engines fired right up, barking from their shorty headers. So the other team got the W. But the real winners were the hotel guests who were able to add “NASCAR engines idling poolside” to their list of things seen and heard in Vegas.

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First Drive: 2012 Volkswagen Golf R U.S.-Spec

First Drive: 2012 Volkswagen Golf R U.S.-Spec:

Wolfsburg’s baddest Golf is finally here. This is a good thing.

After spending six minutes behind the wheel of Volkswagen’s new Golf R, we can confirm that it is indeed a very special car. And it damn well better be. After all, we’ve been waiting almost three years for this thing. In one sense, the R is a more powerful four-wheel-drive version of the 10Best-winning GTI. But in another, it’s a more practical Audi TTS.

Keep Reading: 2012 Volkswagen Golf R U.S.-Spec – First Drive Review

Wolfsburg’s baddest Golf is finally here. This is a good thing.

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Green Car of the Year: Who’s Going to Win? – 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show

Green Car of the Year: Who’s Going to Win? – 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show:

The 7th annual Green Car of the Year will be named on Thursday, November 17, at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Selected by Green Car Journal and a panel of jurors, the winner will represent one of four competing automotive technologies: battery electric, compressed natural gas, diesel or gasoline hybrid.

Not being a juror, I’m free to share my own views on each. I’ll also pose a guess on which car Green Car Journal and its panel will pick. I encourage you to do the same.

Here, alphabetically, are the five entries:

.

Ford Focus Electric

The Focus Electric uses an ubiquitous lithium-ion battery pack but also the company’s 6.6-kW charger hardware (doubling the capability/halving the recharge time of competitors). Ford also notes that soy foam and wood fibers are part of the car’s green credentials, as well as its Best Buy-available charging unit containing 60-percent recycled materials. Soy, eh? There’s a famous photo of Henry Ford, hammer in hand, displaying the robustness of experimental soybean bodywork.

Honda Civic GX

Honda’s Civic GX, powered by compressed natural gas, has been on sale to the public since 2005, even earlier in the fleet market. CNG combustion comes with an enviably clean emissions profile. Piloting a Civic GX gets you into many HOV lanes around the country. And we seem to have abundant reserves of the stuff. For home refueling, you’ll need a dedicated compressor taking its gas line’s oz./sq. in. up to the requisite thousands of psi.

Mitsubishi i

The i-MiEV has been on sale in its home-market Japan since 2009. Our i is a wide-body version of this electric vehicle, as such bracketing between Japanese extreme kei-car tidiness and, for instance, the Ford Focus Electric’s compact status. Its styling is funky-fun; its $27,990-$29,990 price makes the i the most frugal of BEVs (as in battery electric vehicles). We certainly had good clean-green fun with the earlier i-MiEV.

Toyota Prius v

Continuing this trend of one-letter car names, the v is Toyota’s first move in expanding the Prius nameplate; this one, a roomier crossover-like variant still retaining Synergy Drive virtues of excellent fuel economy. Others on the way (and, I’ll bet, future Green Car of the Year candidates) include a plug-in and a smaller compact version. Like the ur-Prius, they’re sure to carry just about every hybrid trick known to automotive science.

Volkswagen Passat TDI

This is the new Passat, built in North America and a bit upsized from previous VWs of this moniker. The TDI portion of its name implies it’s a turbocharged diesel (which, not incidentally, also characterized last year’s Green Car of the Year, sibling Audi’s A3 TDI). Its EPA-Combined 43 mpg is impressive indeed. Any “Clean Diesel,” though, should be put in perspective: They’re about as clean as the average gasoline car—not BEV zero-emissions (but for the power company supplying the juice), nor hybrid AT-PZEV.

A good technical competition

As noted in these capsule descriptions, each propulsion technology has its advantages and shortcomings. Among other aspects I might cite: I’ll be more confident about BEVs in anything but niche markets once I hear they’re proving useful in all climates. Heating especially involves a significant draw on energy—at a time when battery output is at its most challenged. And BEV batteries have a much harder life than those in traditional hybrids.

CNG has its proponents, including loads of fleets that profit from central refueling. Range is a lot better than a BEV’s, but gives up more than little to traditional gasoline. And—a word of experience—don’t try public CNG refueling right after the school day begins. The place will be crammed with yellow buses.

Diesels clearly aren’t the clattery beasts of song and legend (though, curiously, pickup truck drivers seem to prefer them that way). And I’m really impressed with diesel frugality and low-end torque. However, especially in a Green Car of the Year setting, I’d quibble with the term “Clean Diesel.”

Gasoline hybrids, especially as exemplified by Toyota’s Synergy Drive, have set commendable records of high mpg and low emissions. In our own comparison testing involving just about every venue we could devise, the gasoline hybrid beat the diesel which in turn beat the standard (albeit advanced-technology) gasoline car. And, as a nontrivial observation, in more than a decade of operation, their batteries are proving to last the life of the car—regardless of climate.

Who’s going to win?

If logic alone dictated a winner, a Prius with enhanced versatility—hey, I’ve even got a name for it: the “v”—would seem a good choice. However, it also lacks pizzazz.

Who should win Green Car of the Year?

My money is on the Ford Focus Electric. How about yours?

Come on back on Thursday, November 17, and we can compare notes with the Green Car Journal and its jurors.

Related posts:

1. Green Car of the Year Finalists Announced – 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show
2. 2013 Ford Flex – 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show Preview
3. Ford Fiesta ST Concept 5-Door – 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show Preview

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Jaguar XJ Sport and Speed Packs – 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show Preview

Jaguar XJ Sport and Speed Packs – 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show Preview:

Jaguar will reveal a pair of performance option packs for its luxury-laden XJ sedan during this year’s Los Angeles Auto Show. The aptly named Jaguar XJ Sport and Speed packs live up their promise, thanks to variety of cosmetic and mechanical changes. Top speed for either the 510-bph XJ Supersport or 470-bhp XJ Supercharged jumps to 174 mph – up from the standard car’s 155 mph limit.

The “Speed” pack for the XJ Supersport includes a new front air splitter and rear spoiler, 20-inch “Venom” or “Mataiva” style wheels, gloss black grille with chrome surround, black mesh in the side power vents, and red painted brake calipers. The “Sport and Speed” pack for the XJ Supercharged includes many of these same features, along with cabin refinements such as sport seats, suedecloth headlining, and a choice of Piano Black or Carbon Fiber veneer.

“The XJ is much more than a sedan. Its power and potential mean it can out-perform many so-called sports cars. The new Sport and Speed Packs allow customers to enhance that sporting dynamism even further and create an XJ that looks as good as it drives,” said Ian Callum, Director of Design for Jaguar Cars.

Related posts:

1. 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show Preview: 17+ Global Debuts
2. Over 50 Debuts Promised – 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show Preview
3. 2013 Ford Flex – 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show Preview

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Ford Evos Concept Connects with Cloud at CES

Ford Evos Concept Connects with Cloud at CES:

Ford is jumping on the cloud bandwagon when it shows off the Evos Concept at the 2012 International CES in Las Vegas in January. The Evos Concept was originally unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show back in September.

Ford says the Evos provides a glimpse at future technologies that will be enabled through the use of cloud computing. “Today, drivers have to adapt to the features and capabilities of their car,” said Paul Mascarenas, Ford chief technical officer and leader of the company’s global Research and Innovation team. “The Evos Concept changes the paradigm of how you interact with your car. Our vision is that the car should seamlessly adapt to the driver taking the driving experience to a whole new level of personalization and convenience.”

Ford says it will be possible to seamlessly exchange data between the car and the cloud just as is done with today’s latest smart phones. It will allow cloud-based information such as work schedules, music, traffic and weather conditions to be delivered through vehicle-to-vehicle communications.

Ford researchers have even incorporated technologies to enhance driver health and wellness. They include features such as a heart-rate monitoring seat and certified allergy-free interiors connect to the cloud to monitor the physical state and workload of the driver. The car can then adjust the driving experience accordingly. Here’s a video explaining how the car might monitor your wellness while driving.

Related posts:

1. Ford Fiesta ST Concept – A New Killer B
2. RM Auction Results: Ford Shelby GR-1 Concept
3. 2011 Geneva Auto Show Preview: Ford B-Max Concept

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Video: Hennessey Hammer Wagon

Video: Hennessey Hammer Wagon:

Station wagons. Like the Harley shirts say, they can’t be understood if they need explaining.

But Hennessey’s Cadillac CTS-V daily driver wagon is universally understood. That’s because no one has trouble comprehending 707 bhp, a top speed of 211 mph or a quarter mile at 10.69 seconds at 134 mph. That the Hammer Wagon has an enclosed rear storage area instead of a trunk is easy to overlook given that sort of thrust.

A smaller pulley on the supercharger for more boost, an improved charger cooler, camshaft, massaged cylinder heads, long-tube headers and improved exhaust yield the extra power. It’s all part of one of Hennessey’s speed packages; you can check them out at www.hennesseyperformance.com.

In the video the Hennessey Caddy Wagon blows some smoke and struts its 10-second quarter mile stuff just two weeks after running 189 mph in the Texas Mile.

Related posts:

1. Hennessey’s War Wagon
2. Video: 2010 Hennessey HPE700 Camaro
3. Official Specs, Prices and Video of the Hennessey Venom GT

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Ford’s First 3-Cylinder Ever

Ford’s First 3-Cylinder Ever:

For the first time in it’s 108 year history, Ford Motor Company is selling a 3-cylinder engine in automobiles.

Debuting in the European 2012 Focus, the all-new 1.0-liter EcoBoost inline is being built in Cologne, Germany. After its entrance in the Focus, look for the innovative powerplant in upcoming C- and B-MAX Fords in Europe, and later, around the world.

Obviously designed as a fuel saving and low carbon emission engine, the 1.0 liter is available in 100 PS (99 bhp) and 125 PS (123 bhp) tunes. The 123 hp version produces a nominal 125 lb.-ft. of torque, with an overboost capability of 149 lb.-ft.

Fuel consumption by the 1.0 liter in the Focus is rated as 5.0L/100km by Ford. That’s 1.3 gallons per 62 miles in standard units, or roughly 47 mpg in North American terms.

While small, the 1.0-liter packs considerable technical innovation. A twin-cam, 4-valve, the 1.0 liter employs twin independent cam timing, direct gasoline injection, turbocharging, an off-set crankshaft and long connecting rods for reduced friction, along with an exhaust manifold integral with the cylinder head for rapid engine warm up.

Ford invested $200 million in a new high-tech production line at their Cologne plant to build the 1.0-liter; in early 2012 a second plant Craiova, Romania will come on line. Total European production capacity is 700,000 engines per year, but total world-wide production in the future is estimated at 1.3 million engines per year.

Related posts:

1. Ford’s New Three-Cylinder Engine
2. 2012 Ford Focus SFE – Ford Focuses on 40 mpg
3. Ford Gets Their Buyer: Will Their Buyers Get Another Ford?

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Monster Minis to Tackle 2012 Dakar Rally

Monster Minis to Tackle 2012 Dakar Rally:

It looks like it’s BMW Group’s turn to win the Dakar Rally, only it may be a Mini not a BMW that takes the checkered flag in the grueling 2012 race.

For over a decade Mitsubishi had dominated Dakar. Then Volkswagen was finally able to take the victory for the past three years in a row. After Mitsubishi withdrew from competing, the Monster Energy Rally-X team of X3s, run by Sven Quandt as a semi-official BMW team, has come closest to triumphing over VW’s Race Touaregs.

Since Volkswagen has switched its allegiance to competing in the WRC series, the Rally-X team is clearly a favorite to win the 2012 Dakar. The team has entered no less than eight vehicles in the rally — five Mini All4 Racings and three BMW X3CCs.

The Rally-X team has recently been testing in the Moroccan desert. “Our vehicles are very strong in the sand,” said Monster Energy X-raid team manager Sven Quandt. “We, therefore, hope that we can benefit from the new route through the dunes at the end of the rally.“

The 2012 Dakar Rally officially starts on January 1, 2012 in Mar del Plata, Argentina instead of Buenos Aires. From there the route takes the participants through the Andes into Chile’s Copiapo where, on January 8, a rest day is scheduled. Then instead of returning to Argentina, as it has the past three years, the race will continue north through the Atacama Desert to Peru and on to the finish in Lima on January 15. A total of 465 vehicles (bikes, quads, cars and truck) will take part, including 171 in the car category.

Related posts:

1. 2011 Dakar Rally – The Other Winners
2. Mini and Ford Raptor Surprise Entries in 2011 Dakar Rally
3. 2011 Dakar Rally – Battle of the Energy Drinks

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Video: Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Aerodynamics Explained

Video: Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Aerodynamics Explained:

As the fastest Camaro ever, the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 has some very serious high performance credentials. Its 6.2-liter V-8 engine pushes out 580-bhp, enabling the ZL1 to hit 170 mph on the grueling Nürburgring Nordschleife race course. But that extra power isn’t worth anything if the Camaro is left spinning its wheels, struggling for traction and grip in every corner.

In this video the ZL1 engineering team explains how aerodynamics have helped raise the car’s performance bar even higher. Features such as a vented hood, new front fascia, revised rocker panels and larger rear spoiler haveall been tailored specifically for the ZL1. The result is an extra 65 lbs. of downforce at an equivalent 150 mph.

“From the driver’s seat, the added downforce makes a huge change in the feel, and responsiveness of the ZL1 at high speeds,” said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. “One of the best examples of how aerodynamics improved the performance of the ZL1 is the ‘Fuchsröhre,’ or Foxhole at the Nürburgring. In the ZL1, you can take that sweeping left-hand corner flat-out in fifth gear – nearly 160 mph.”

Related posts:

1. Special Corvette Tires and the 580 bhp Camaro ZL1
2. Spied! 2012 Chevrolet Camaro Z28
3. 2012 Chevrolet Camaro – Happy Anniversary

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Lorinser Infiniti FX

Lorinser Infiniti FX:

Better known for its revamping of Mercedes-Benz products, German styling house, Lorinser has now turned its attention to Infiniti.

Shown at the recent Essen show the FX features a new front apron with LED daytime running lights. At the rear, there’s a roof spoiler and redesigned rear apron with twin double tailpipes for the standard exhaust system.

Matching all this are side skirts and new Lorinser light-alloy 22-inch wheels fitted with high-performance Continental Cross Contact, 285/35R22 tires.

Related posts:

1. Lorinser Gives the E-Class Coupe Some Flair
2. Revealed: 2012 Infiniti FX
3. Vettel’s Infiniti FX Enters Production

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Audi A7 Wins Motor Press Guild Award

Audi A7 Wins Motor Press Guild Award:

Last month journalists attending the annual Motor Press Guild (MPG) Track Day were invited to vote in the first-ever Motor Press Guild Vehicle of the Year (VOTY) award. Today the winner was announced – it’s the 2012 Audi A7.

It beat out the other four finalists, which were (in alphabetical order): the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic, 2012 Fiat 500, 2012 Ford Focus and the 2011 Hyundai Elantra.

Vehicles were rated in the categories of Safety, Quality, Value, Performance/Handling, Design/Style, Environmental/Green Impact and Technology/Innovation. In addition, journalists were encouraged to consider models that reflect the unique style of Southern California.

Disclosure notice: I was one of the initial group of journalists who helped select the five finalists. The Audi A7 was the only one of the five I chose. When I actually voted on the day I found myself in a dilemma. The Chevrolet Sonic was so much better than I expected and it was so good to see Chevrolet producing a world-class small car that I gave it my vote. Of course, the Audi A7 is a great car, but it’s exactly what we have come to expect from Audi. Congratulations, Audi.

Related posts:

1. Hottest Vehicles Award – 2011 SEMA Show
2. 2011 Audi A7 Driving Impression
3. Audi Puts Finishing Touches on its RS 7 Hatchback

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Mitsubishi Concepts: 2011 Tokyo Auto Show Preview

Mitsubishi Concepts: 2011 Tokyo Auto Show Preview:

The auto show season is quickly ramping up, with the 2011 Los Angeles and Tokyo Auto Shows running almost back-to-back this year. There are plenty of new cars in the pipeline, and Mitsubishi is the latest automaker to unveil what it has in store for Tokyo, which opens its doors to the media on November 30. The biggest news is the Concept PX-MiEV II Concept, a compact crossover with a hybrid powertrain and complex all-wheel-drive system.

Mitsubishi says the PX-MiEV II is capable of driving solely on electric power for distances of approximately 30 miles. After that point, a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder gas-powered engine kicks in, to provide additional driving range and to serve as a generator to the lithium-ion battery pack. Depending on battery charge and driving conditions, the engine sends power to the electric motors or directly drives the wheels while helping to recharge the batteries.

The electric motors are located in the front and rear of the vehicle, where they provide power to each axle separately. This four-wheel-drive hardware is also linked to Mitsubishi’s Super-All Wheel Control (S-AWC) traction system, as seen on the high performance Lancer Evolution X models. A socket fitted to the vehicle can draw on the battery pack to power appliances when camping, or during other outdoor pursuits. The quick-charge port can also be used to charge the PX-MiEV II with a household plug and outlet. Expect much of the technology and exterior design of this vehicle to appear on the production version of the Outlander Hybrid, due to arrive in 2013.

Next up is a car small in size and horsepower, but one that’s hugely important for Mitsubishi sales in emerging markets. The Mirage is a budget conscious 5-door hatchback, motived by a 1.0-liter 3-cylinder engine and CVT transmission. A low entry-level price and excellent fuel economy will be this car’s main selling points when it goes on sale next year. Unlike the Outlander Hybrid, the Mirage will almost definitely not be coming to the U.S.

Related posts:

1. Suzuki Concepts – 2011 Tokyo Auto Show Preview
2. Mitsubishi at the Geneva Auto Show
3. Green Car of the Year Finalists Announced – 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show

Source : Google Reader