Cool Motors and Wheels Photos

Lamborghini Aventador supercar

2011-03-11T18:40:00.000-08:00

Lamborghini Aventador is based on an innovative monocoque made from carbon-fiber that combines exceptional lightweight engineering with the highest levels of stiffness and safety. The new twelve-cylinder with 6.5 liters' displacement and 515 kW / 700 hp brings together the ultimate in high-revving pleasure with astonishing low-end torque.

Thanks to a dry weight of only 1,575 kilograms (3,472 lb), which is extremely low for this class of vehicle, the weight-to-power ratio stands at only 2.25 kilograms per hp (4.96 lb/hp).

Even the fantastic 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration figure of just 2.9 seconds and the top speed of 350 km/h (217 mph) do not fully describe the Aventador's extreme performance.

And yet, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are down by around 20 percent compared with its predecessor, despite the considerable increase in power (+8%).

Recommended reading:
* Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera LP 570-4

Honda Fit electric concept car

2010-11-22T04:11:00.000-08:00

Honda's Fit electric concept car is unveiled at the LA Auto Show in Los Angeles.

Mercedes Benz F-Cell Hydrogen Fuel-Cell car

2010-11-21T04:10:00.000-08:00

A 2011 Mercedes Benz F-Cell Hydrogen Fuel-Cell car is seen on display at the LA Auto Show in Los Angeles.

Jaguar CX75 electric car

2010-11-20T04:06:00.000-08:00

Jaguar's CX75 electric car is unveiled at the LA Auto Show in Los Angeles

Toyota RAV 4 EV Concept

2010-11-19T03:48:00.000-08:00

The Toyota RAV 4 EV Concept car is unveiled at the LA Auto Show in Los Angeles.

Cadillac Concept

2010-11-18T15:39:00.000-08:00

Cadillac's Concept car is unveiled at the LA Auto Show in Los Angeles.

Chevrolet Holden Captiva 2011

2010-09-13T19:18:00.000-07:00

The European, Chevrolet version of the Korean-built Holden Captiva has been unveiled in updated form ahead of its Paris motor show debut at the end of the month, accompanied by the release of some provisional details.

Significant styling changes at the front include a reshaped bonnet, wider and narrower headlights and a bigger, two-piece grille.

The Captiva's rear adopts a cleaner design with a new, narrower tail-light design.

LED indicator lenses for the door mirrors are the main change for the Captiva's side profile.

The black plastic surround for bumpers, sills and wheel-arches is retained from the Captiva 7 (seven-seater) model, which is currently differentiated from the cleaner-looking five-seater Captiva 5.

General Motors has also updated the interior for a model that was launched in 2006. It will continue to offer the choice of a third row of seats.

The company says it has introduced new seat fabrics, finishes and cabin materials to create a more upmarket feel. The redesign includes a wraparound-style dash that blends into the doors, though no interior pictures have been released yet.

Features include hill-start assist and an audio system with Aux, USB and Bluetooth connectivity. A touch-screen sat nav system and a rear-view camera sit on the options list.

The Captiva's noise refinement is also claimed to have been improved, so owners should hear less from three new engines.

European Captivas will be offered with the choice of a 126kW 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol or a 2.2-litre turbo diesel - with a power output of either 120kW or 135kW. No torque outputs or fuel consumption figures have been supplied.

The petrol engine is a 23kW hike over the current 2.4 that powers the five-seater Captiva in Australia; both new diesels have a superior output to the existing 110kW 2.0-litre.

Power will be put to the ground via a new manual with an unspecified number of rations or a new six-speed auto for a vehicle that will again be offered in front-wheel-drive and (on-demand) all-wheel-drive formats.

Drive has criticised the current Captiva for its harsh ride and mediocre handling, but the revised Captiva promises improvements with a re-tuned suspension.

The new Captiva will arrive in European showrooms in the second quarter of 2011. Holden's version should go on sale about the same time.

The Captiva's sharp local starting price of $27,990 has helped establish it as the second-best-selling SUV in Australia, just behind the Toyota Prado.

Ford Fiesta SUV

2010-09-07T00:05:00.000-07:00

Ford looks set to launch a new mini SUV-style soft-roader based on its popular Fiesta city car.

As Drive's exclusive illustration and spy pictures show, the Fiesta-based 4WD-style wagon looks as though it won't stray too far from the car's sleek body lines, though there are some notable differences between the standard version and the upcoming high-riding variant.

Our spy pictures show a right-hand-drive British-registered mule of the new car, which features larger wheel arches than the regular Fiesta, and though they're not seen here, the production version is expected to wear a set of flared plastic wheel-arch mouldings to emphasize its intentions.

The car sits noticeably higher thanks to beefed up suspension, and the car seen in these spy shots also features tough looking steel wheels, though the production version is likely to be fitted with a chunky set of alloy wheels.

The front of the car - though covered up in our spy photos - looks to have also seen a few changes, and it is expected that Ford's new trapezoidal design feature will probably shift upwards towards the grille, giving the Fiesta soft-roader a more pig-nosed, masculine look.

Further details are pretty scarce, including whether or not the Fiesta-based SUV will wear a different badge, but no matter what its name ends up being the car is likely to carry over the engines and transmissions currently available in the Fiesta line-up.

There are whispers, however, that the Fiesta soft-roader will come with at least one of Ford's turbocharged EcoBoost engines, and it's also likely to come in a choice of two- or four-wheel-drive.

Ford Australia says it can't comment on the spy pictures, but if we were to take a guess, we'd speculate that the car would only make its way to Australia if it were to be built in Ford's Thailand Fiesta plant to take advantage of our free trade agreement with that country and ensure it was competitively priced in what is a price sensitive segment.

If the car were only to be built in Europe, the Fiesta soft-roader is more likely to be in the same basket as the company's long-awaited Kuga compact SUV, which the company continues to rule out for Australia.

Mazda recalls Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles

2010-08-17T19:55:00.000-07:00

Mazda Motor Corp. is recalling more than 300,000 Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles in North America to repair problems with the power-steering system that could lead to crashes, a problem the automaker dealt with in Japan a year ago.

The Japanese automaker told the government the recall involved model year 2007-2009 Mazda3 and Mazda5 vehicles built from April 2007 through November 2008. The recall involves 215,000 vehicles in the United States and an additional 100,000 vehicles in Canada and Mexico.

Mazda said the vehicles could have a sudden loss of power-steering assist, making it difficult for the driver to steer the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash.

The company said it has not received any reports of crashes or injuries that resulted from the problem.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation on June 28 into steering problems in 2007-2009 Mazda3s, citing 33 complaints alleging steering problems, including three crashes.

Mazda started fixing vehicles in Japan for the same problem last year and has investigated the issue for two years.

In a letter to NHTSA last week, Mazda said it was first informed of similar steering problems in Japan in March 2008. After receiving additional reports, the company began its own probe in July 2008.

By the summer of 2009, Mazda said it found that the problem was caused by rust forming inside the high-pressure pipe in the power steering system. Rust particles could enter the power steering pump and cause it to go into a fail safe mode and shut down to avoid overheating.

Mazda conducted an "improvement campaign" last summer to repair vehicles in Japan "due to a high occurrence rate of this problem," according to the letter to NHTSA. But the company did not issue a recall in North America.

Instead it issued a technical service bulletin to dealers since the "occurrence rate was low." The service bulletin included repair procedures for customers who reported the steering problems.

Mazda told NHTSA in the letter that in the spring of 2010, "we realized the occurrence rate was increasing in the North American market and then we began to study further field action for the market."

NHTSA opened its preliminary investigation in June. Most of the 33 complaints alleged loss of power steering assist while driving, making it difficult for the driver to maintain control of the vehicle.

Mazda told NHTSA that it "recognizes that there is no unreasonable safety risk" but it decided to conduct a voluntary recall "since we do not want any delay for field action on this issue."

Automakers are required to inform NHTSA within five days of learning that a safety defect exists in one of their vehicles.

NHTSA fined Toyota Motor Corp. $16.4 million this year for waiting more than four months to recall 2.3 million vehicles with sticking gas pedals.

The safety agency is investigating why Toyota waited nearly a year in 2005 to recall trucks and SUVs in the United States with defective steering rods, despite issuing a similar recall in Japan.

Transportation Department spokeswoman Olivia Alair said NHTSA was "currently reviewing the recall documents submitted by Mazda and will look at whether any additional action is necessary."

Mazda said in a statement that it would notify owners during the next few months of the recall and dealers will replace the power steering pump and two high-pressure lines at no charge. "Be assured that our customers remain Mazda's highest priority.

They remain safe in their Mazda3s and Mazda5s," the company said.

Egochine B - Razor-sharp style concept car

2010-08-05T18:05:00.000-07:00

Despite looking like a shaving razor, this concept is no promotional vehicle.

Created by Italian designer Paolo De Giusti, the Egochine B concept was a finalist in this year's Peugeot design contest.

The online competition, held every two years, gives designers and enthusiasts a chance to show off their ideas. The winning design is built as a full-scale model by Peugeot and displayed at an international motor show.

Envisaged for a society in which private transportation is all but a distant memory, De Giusti says the Egochine B is an automotive expression of self-indulgence and goes against the grain of more efficient, mainstream vehicles.

Representing individualism, sportiness and luxury, the single-seater was "designed to carry the big ego of someone self-centred". De Giusti asserts his three-wheeled concept is inspired not by the modern razor but rather, historic classics such as the Isotta-Fraschini luxury cars of the early 20th century.

He admits his concept is a styling exercise rather than an example of handling prowess. It doesn't take a physicist to imagine the stomach-turning pendulum effect that enthusiastic oversteer (where the rear wheel swings wide) might cause.

A hairy ride indeed.

TW4XP

2010-07-31T06:54:00.001-07:00

The car, powered by an electric battery, has an unusual control mechanism. The XPrize Foundation explains, "Rather than the traditional steering wheel, it features pistol grips on either side of the driver."

Stats:
• Maximum speed > 80 miles/h
• Acceleration: 0 – 60 miles/h < 12 sec
• Range > 100 miles
• Energy Consumption < 16 kWh / 100 miles

Mazda RX-7 concept

2010-07-22T07:14:00.000-07:00

The rumour that won’t die has surfaced again. Mazda is reportedly prepping a re-born RX-7 sports car to replace the ageing RX-8.

British publication Autocar claims inside sources have told it the company will have the new sports coupe ready to go as early as 2013.

Speculation regarding the RX-7 has carried on almost non-stop since Mazda introduced the RX-8 as its replacement in 2003.

According to the latest report the new RX-7 would continue the rotary-powered tradition of its predecessors. The unique rotary format is reportedly struggling to meet increasingly strict emissions standards.

Mazda is said to be looking into a variety of ways to boost power and reduce emissions, including an electric turbocharger - a new system that uses ultra-high-speed turbine generator in conjunction with an air compressor.

Mazda has confirmed it will drop the RX-8 from its European line-up next month because it can’t meet the latest emissions standards.

The car will remain a part of the Australian line-up according to company spokesman Steve Maciver, though he denies any knowledge of plans to revive the RX-7.

“Nothing on the agenda at this stage... certainly nothing that we’re aware of [in Australia],” Maciver says.

However, he did confirm the company will continue working on its rotary engines, without revealing for which car.

The company already has a fleet of hydrogen-powered RX-8 models under going testing in Japan and Norway.

BMW X6 ActiveHybrid 2010

2010-07-18T08:14:00.000-07:00

The BMW X6 has always been a strange one. Not quite a car, or an SUV, and definitely not a truck, the sporty hard hat on wheels is a vehicular hybrid that could make the parents of a platypus proud. And now it’s available as…a hybrid, but not a typical one.

The 2010 X6 ActiveHybrid is the quickest hybrid in the world. It’s also the least fuel efficient. As with conventional engines, these things tend to go hand in hand.

The drivetrain combines a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine with two electric motors coupled to a 7-speed automatic transmission, and sends a total output of 480 hp and 575 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels. That’s a mighty amount of power, even in a nickel metal hydride battery-laden vehicle that weighs over 5700 pounds, a quarter-ton more than an X6 without all of the electronic goodies stuffed under that big hump in the hood.

The hybrid system is two-mode, so the X6 can cruise around on just the electric motors for short distances at low speeds – BMW says up to 37 mph - before the internal combustion engine comes to life. Driven with a light touch, the V8 usually lights up at around 20 mph, but you wouldn’t know it unless you were looking at the tachometer. The ignition is so smooth and quiet that the transition is absolutely seamless and better than any other hybrid on the road. Less so the other way around.

Lift off of the throttle and those motors start regenerating electricity so aggressively that they slow the car forcefully before you even step on the middle pedal. Some hybrids, like the Lexus HS250h, allow you to adjust this effect to a less intrusive, though less efficient level, but the X6 does not. When you do hit the brakes to come to a complete stop your sole is met with a spongy pedal, and the transition from regeneration to calipers squeezing disks about midway down is noticeable. You quickly get used to it, but this is a demon that most other hybrids exorcized long ago.

The accelerator is the more interesting place to put your foot, anyway. The X6 is absurdly quick for a green machine, and always ready to get out of its own and everyone else’s way. BMW says it can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 5.4 seconds. Even with all of the added bulk, it handles well, too. The street-focused, rear-biased all-wheel-drive system helps the not-so-tall crossover to approximate the responses of a sports sedan. The ride is supple on all paved surfaces – cobblestones included – and only let down by 20-inch wheels with fat, run-flat performance tires that can be harsh over sharp bumps. Don’t even think about taking them off-road.

When the X6 was introduced, BMW invented the Sports Activity Coupe moniker to describe it, owing to its low roofline and associated loss of some utility. But it’s not as bad as you’d think. Yes, there are only two rear seats, but they are darn comfy, and the roof is scalloped enough that six-plus-footers fit fine, though NBA starters other than Nate Robinson will still want to call shotgun. It’s the same story in the cargo bay where that sloping hatchback takes a couple of cubic feet out of the high side of the equation, but the cargo bay is long and wide enough to support four passengers’ worth of supplies and the back seats fold down to expand it even further for long, two-person road trips – but not too long.

The X6 wasn’t created to be BMW’s answer to the Toyota Prius. The EPA fuel economy rating is 17 mpg city, 19 mpg highway – call it 18 mpg combined. It’s unlikely that you’ll meet any environmentalists that will cheer that number, but it is 20 percent more than the lighter, less-powerful, but similarly quick non-hybrid X6 xDrive 50i can deliver. And that's the point: maintaining a desired level of performance while increasing efficiency. But, as is always the case with hybrids, it comes with a price. $89,775 to be exact, which is a whopping $21,950 more than the base price of the X6 xDrive 50i, but that's not the fairest comparison.

The X6 ActiveHybrid comes almost fully-loaded with everything from a comprehensive infotainment system to a head's-up display projected onto the windshield and cameras mounted around the car that give you a virtual bird's eye view of your surroundings to help out when parking. Load up an X6 50i with all of the same, and the difference shrinks to just a couple of grand. You still won't make it up at the pump anytime soon, but be patient, you may have just purchased a future classic.

The core mechanical technology behind the hybrid X6's was developed years ago through a joint venture between BMW, Daimler (then parent company of both Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler) and General Motors. The group has since broken up. BMW and Mercedes-Benz have moved on to an even more advanced lithium-ion battery-based hybrid system that is currently used in the top of the line full-size sedans of each company, and will be filtering throughout their lineups in the coming years.

So, as many believe the platypus to be, X6 ActiveHybrid may turn out to be an evolutionary dead end. But, like this odd BMW, those furry, duck-billed, egg-laying mammals are still pretty cool.

Recommended reading:
* BMW X9 off-roader concept coupe

Renault DeZir concept car

2010-07-10T11:22:00.000-07:00

Bright red, sensuous, highly aerodynamic, fast, and powered as much by gobbledygook as by electricity, this is Renault's vision of the future; the DeZir.

This first glimpse of the French firm's two-seater coupe concept car, ahead of this year's Paris motor show, is aimed, it says, at proving that electric vehicles and a love of cars are not incompatible.

According to Renault, its design study, which is claimed to hint at future directions the firm might take, would be powered by an electric motor capable of producing 150hp, enough to whisk the startling creation from 0-62mph in five seconds and on to a top speed of 112mph, while the batteries are good for a range of around 100 miles.

Weighing around 830kg, it has a super-low drag co-efficient of just 0.25, while the exterior cleverly incorporates a rippled surface that - when viewed from top to bottom rather than front to back - evokes a liquid, wave-like movement.

So far, so good. But some of the firm's claims border on the bizarre. DeZir apparently embodies Renault's new design philosophy, which is based on the customer's "life cycle".

This mystifying concept centres on "bonds that are gradually forged between the brand and its customers at watershed moments of their lives, such as when they fall in love, begin to explore the world, start a family, begin work, take time out to play and gain wisdom."

How the car embodies these characteristics remains unexplained, but DeZir looks great. It has gull-wing doors, 21-inch wheels, shapely aluminium side panels, headlight "eyelids" and a full-width air intake up front, while the headlamps take the form of backlit prisms.

"DeZir is a statement of our new formal design language which conveys notions such as movement, sensuality and emotion through ideal proportions, in much the same way as an object whose forms have been honed by nature," says Axel Breun, Renault's Director of Concept Car and Show Car Design.

$0.5million TranStar Dagger GT supercar

2010-07-07T10:59:00.000-07:00

1500kW twin-turbo engine. Circa-500km/h top speed. Half a million dollars. Ambitious Americans target world records with new supercar.

This is a car that could make the 431km/h Bugatti Veyron look like a slow-coach.

Just a day after the VW-owned French marque reclaimed the World's Fastest Production Car crown with the latest version of its $3.5m supercar, a US racing car company says it is targeting a top speed closer to 500km/h with its new Dagger GT roadster.

TranStar Racing has revealed details of its plans to hand-build an "uncompromised" street-legal roadster it claims will produce up to 1500kW of power and accelerate from 0-100km/h in 1.5 seconds.

The extremely ambitious company says it wants its Dagger GT to break records including world's fastest production car and quickest lap around Germany's Nurburgring, though it has yet to build even one example of the car.

TranStar plans to build five Daggers in 2011 and 10 per year beyond that, though production won't start until there are five confirmed buyers.

Few details are confirmed, though TranStar says the Dagger GT will be comprise a steel chassis and carbonfibre body and will be powered by a mid-mounted twin-turbocharged multi-fuel engine it says will produce 969kW using petrol or about 1491kW (2000hp) using race fuel.

Hypothetical performance figures include a top speed in excess of 300mph (483km/h) and quarter-mile run of less than 6.7 seconds. The company says it's confident the Dagger GT will match those numbers in the real world.

"The Dagger's nearest competitors will not be close in terms of performance or value," says a TranStar release. "This will not be a debatable issue once the performance runs are completed and independently timed in early 2011."

The two-seat Dagger GT will be priced about US$450,000 ($530,000), according to TranStar, which means the American supercar would offer significantly more bang for your buck than the $3.5m Veyron.

The Dagger GT, which will include a removable hardtop roof, has been designed by Phil Frank, the man behind another US supercar, the Saleen S7.

TranStar is inviting people to invest in the Dagger GT program, though they will need to have a net worth of US$2m ($2.35m) and bring US$200,000 ($235,000).

Recommended reading:
* Bugatti 16C Galibier - world's fastest sedan

McLaren T.25 Minicar

2010-07-01T01:54:00.000-07:00

A new tiny car designed by Gordon Murray, the man behind the 240-mph McLaren F1 supercar may top out at one third the speed (80 mph), but it can ride two to a lane, suggesting a new way to reduce congestion on city streets.

The T.25 runs on regular gasoline and will cost about $9,000. Its fuel efficiency is about 74 miles per gallon, partly because it's a lightweight 1,200 pounds.

The car has a modular interior that allows for six different configurations, which can be easily changed to fit passengers or cargo.

BMW X9 off-roader concept coupe

2010-06-29T01:13:00.001-07:00

BMW has seen some rather odd looking cars roll off the production line over the past 10 years, but Khalfi Oussama's new X9 off-roader concept coupe takes oddball Beemers to a whole new level.

The X9 Concept blends the sporty bodylines of a coupe with the rolling stock of an off-roader - much like BMW's chunky yet sporty-looking X6 soft-roader.

The X9's massive wheels and excessively wide (not to mention oddly patterned) tyres combined with its colour-matched side-steps and heavy-duty crash plates front and rear definitely showcase the car's intentions.

Confusing the off-road look, though, is the car's bulging fins, which are a tad reminiscent of Cadillacs of the 1950s - except that the X9's fins stick out, rather than up.

The X9 coupe also carries a new interpretation of BMW's signature kidney grille, although Oussama's version is considerably smaller than the current flock of BMWs. T

he grille sits alongside a set of unique twin-headlights, as well as a pair of tiny foglights that are set into the bumper.

Audi A1 - World’s smallest luxury car

2010-06-25T07:08:00.000-07:00

New Audi A1 is first sub-compact model from a luxury car maker, and it’s got its sights on the Mini.

This is it – the A1 sub-compact hatch that Audi hopes will terrorise the solid-selling Mini from BMW while confirming the motoring world is ready for its first true premium car of this pocket size.

After many months of cheeky flashing and some orchestrated leaking of some design elements, Audi launched the A1 in Berlin on Wednesday.

It looks a little off beat without being confronting, and certainly it’s a car capable of attracting new buyers to the German brand.

Bearing some high-tech gear from the latest flagship A8 limousine, the fuel-efficient front-drive three-door hatch will whoosh in to European showrooms in September, with the Australian launch following in the first quarter of 2011.

Premium small cars have been a hard sell in Australia in the past but perhaps the timing is right for the A1 with its attractive menu of standard styling, comfort, safety, economy, and badge upmanship.

Target buyers are more youthful than usual, core group of 29-39 year old urbanites who might otherwise go shopping elsewhere for their trendy wheels.

Audi Australia suggests that sales here may be evenly divided between the genders. The bulk will live in the larger cities and are interested in design, music, fashion and sports.

Not many A1 sales are anticipated in Bourke and Coober Pedy. The all-important pricing, along with the spec levels, are yet to be firmed up, but the A1 will obviously go to market in Australia below the entry point of the bigger A3 that is priced around $35,500.

If Audi is particularly aggressive with pricing, it’s not unfeasible for the A1 to start just below $30,000. The Mini, produced by rival BMW, starts at $33,450.

Maybe it’s the ripe old BMW versus Audi rivalry, but most media stories leading to the launch of the new car have highlighted the A1’s impending sales battle with the Mini.

Still, unlike the iconic Mini, which has more than 50 years of heritage to lean on, the A1’s history is measured in minutes rather than decades.

And while the reborn Mini is persistently trendy with an exterior that dips its lid to Alex Issigonis’s original design, the A1 doesn’t betray Audi’s hard-won reputation for consistently good design.

While it has some cute design cues inside and out, though, it doesn’t venture into the overtly mischievous interior of the Mini which arguably alienates some buttoned-down shoppers.

The design brief was simple, says designer Dani Garand, who was also responsible for the Q7 and the recently superseded A8.

“To make a small Audi that needs to remain an Audi.” He then briefly invoked the unspeakable, suggesting that while the Mini is a Mini and not a BMW, the A1 could not stray from the Audi DNA.

“Nor could it be a scaled-down A3; it had to have its own character, with a timeless design quality.” With its wide, aggressive stance, the A1 looks sporty.

And different without being too polarising. Defining style elements are the nose with the large single-frame grille, the distinctive new headlights and taillights, the side line with the distinctive roof arch (available in contrasting colours), the coupe-like C-pillars and the large wheel-arches.

Like the sporty TT and R8, the A1’s outside mirrors are fixed to the doors rather than the front guards. The cabin is typically Audi, with quality trim, sometimes using contrasting cloth and leather effectively.

Sports front seats are standard on the Australian models. Buyers can challenge themselves by customising the cabin with coloured air vents, and seat covers in expressive contrasting tones.

The local A1 will be sold initially with a choice of two four-cylinder direct-injection turbocharged engines from the VW family – a 1.4-litre TFSI (petrol) producing 90kW/200Nm and linked to either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission, or a 66kW/230Nm 1.6 TDI (diesel), paired with a five-speed manual transmission or seven-speed S tronic.

The manual TDI, which has a quoted European standard fuel cycle of 3.8L/100km, emits only 99 grams of CO2 per kilometre.

The S-tronic version of the TFSI returns 5.2L/100km, the manual 5.3. All models feature fuel-saving stop-start technology and recuperation system, which recovers energy during braking, temporarily stores it in the battery and helps driving off and acceleration.

A leather multi-function steering is also standard. Audi Australia is still arm-wrestling its parent company over the eventual specification of the A1 for Down Under.

But, as is the case with the A3, it will be offered in two trim levels, Attraction and Ambition. S-line options are to be offered, too.

A full safety suite of airbags is standard along with stability control with electronic limited-slip diff control. The infotainment and multimedia systems come directly from the luxury A8.

The top of the line is MMI navigation plus, a media centre that sets new standards in the compact segment. It gets the monitor that folds out from the instrument panel and the control unit, which uses MMI logic.

All Australian specification vehicles will boast standard iPod connectivity and Bluetooth telephone preparation, The A1 is based on a revised platform used by the VW Polo, though stiffened and so allowing revised dampers and other handling tweaks.

The A1 also has a wider track than the more humble Polo – a change reflected in its sharp, sporty and almost neutral handling.

The sportiest version acknowledged officially so far is an S1 model, due next year.

Recommended reading:
* Audi TT V.2.1

$3.5m gold Bugatti Veyron supercar

2010-06-17T06:58:00.000-07:00

A new 1:18 scale model of the Bugatti Veyron made of platinum and gold and encrusted with diamonds is worth more than the actual $2m supercar.

Bugatti’s $2 million Veyron is already the world’s most expensive production car, but the latest incarnation of the supercar is worth almost twice that amount – and you can’t even drive it.

The bespoke seven-kilogram model is made of solid 24-carat gold and platinum, with 7.2 carats of single cut flawless diamonds.

The best thing is that if you like to play with your toys, all of the Veyron’s doors open and shut, the steering wheel moves the front wheels, and there’s detail on the inside of the car and under the bonnet.

The project is a collaborative effort of luxury accessory manufacturers Robert Gulpen of Munich and Stuart Hughes of Liverpool (both well known names in high-flyer’s circles, apparently), and creating the Bugatti mini-masterpiece took two months.

Only three examples of the Bugatti Veyron Diamond Limited Edition scale model will be made, and each will be priced at a hefty £2 million (about $3.5 million).

If the Veyron doesn’t tickle your fancy, worry not – Robert Gulpen has a range of nine models available, including a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Roadster, Aston Martin DB5, and a Jaguar Mk 2.

Recommended reading:
* Bugatti 16C Galibier - world's fastest sedan

Fiat 500 Atomik

2010-06-06T01:12:00.000-07:00

The annual Salon Privé, a luxury supercar event and Concours d'Elégance that takes place this year in London from 21-23 July, will be hosting the UK debut of the all-electric Atomik 500 from Fiat.

Created by Paris-based maker, Atomik Cars, the Fiat-500 based model gets two electric motors, one up front producing 80kW and 840Nm (619 lb-ft), and one at the rear that makes the same power but a whopping 1,710 Nm (1,261 lb-ft) of peak torque.

Combined, the two electric motors punch out 160 kW (215 hp) and an unadjusted 2,550 Nm (1,880 lb-ft) of torque split 33/67 front to rear.

The company says that the 1,400kg 500 EV can hit 100km/h (62mph) from rest in less than 5 seconds, complete the 0-1,000 meter sprint in 26 seconds and achieve a top speed of around 200 km/h (electric cutoff is at 180 km/h), while providing a range of 200 km (124 miles).

Japan Super Scooters

2010-06-03T05:49:00.000-07:00

In Japan, if it can be customized, it will be. And invariably it’s not just one or two bored school kids doing it in the garden shed. Subcultures grow and spread around the pimped up versions and the Big Scooter phenomenon is no exception. Here’s a look at some of Tokyo’s brightest, shiniest, blingiest scooters, that make the Vespa and its fans look oh so dull.

While Bozoku bike gangs are famous in Japan for making trouble and lots of noise, these Big Scooter groups’ only agenda is to make their bikes look amazing and increase their performances by using lightweight parts.

Subaru Cosworth WRX STI supercar

2010-05-26T06:36:00.000-07:00

Subaru has teamed up with renowned tuning company Cosworth to create a limited-edition WRX STI hot-hatch with supercar-rivalling acceleration.

The new Impreza STI CS400 will sprint from standstill to 100km/h in 3.7 seconds according to the Japanese car maker, making the five-door quicker than many Lamborghinis and Ferraris.

Cosworth has made major modifications to the STI's 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder to generate 33 per cent more power than a regular, 221kW STI - 294kW produced at 5750rpm.

Subaru has yet to release further details, but Britain's Autocar magazine reports that the engine has 539Nm of torque and gains strengthened mechanicals, a high-pressure oil pump, remapped software and revised turbo.

The CS400 also sits on a revised, 10mm-lower suspension, reportedly co-developed by Cosworth, dampers specialist Bilstein and springs expert Eibach. New 18-inch black alloy wheels fill the hatch's wheel-arches, with the front wheels slowed by larger front brakes made by AP Racing.

Bodywork tweaks include revised front bumper with mesh for lower air intake and larger foglights.

Don't bother contacting you local Subaru dealer, though.

Only 75 CS400s are being built and will be sold from June in the UK only, priced at £49,995 ($87,000).

Toyota Rukus unveiled in Australia

2010-05-07T07:53:00.000-07:00

The squat "urban utility vehicle" was to be officially unveiled last night, not to the motoring media but to 250 of Sydney's hippest at a restaurant in North Bondi, who were to see two cars painted specially by the designers Fernando Frisoni and Kirrily Johnston.

Billed as a new class of car aimed at young singles and young urban families, the Rukus is the first of what Toyota says will be a stream of vehicles aimed at niche audiences, says Mike Breen of Toyota Australia.

''If you think of the Corolla or the Camry, Toyota has always really been about vehicles with mass appeal. This is a market that we've never really explored before. It's a very focused offer and a new thing for us."

For years Toyota successfully marketed itself as sellers of the everyman's car, of good quality and dependable.

But even before this year's recall of US models dented those values, the halo has been slipping. Toyota is losing market share; its 23.6 per cent share of the automotive market in Australia has fallen to 20.5 per cent. The need for Toyota to innovate and reinvigorate its brand is clear.

''Rukus is not a mass-market car: it's an acquired taste that will polarise opinions," said Scott Thompson, Toyota's marketing manager. He said it was aimed at trend-setters who had never considered a Toyota before.

Recommended reading:
* Toyota Rukus to enter Australia

MG Zero

2010-04-25T07:29:00.000-07:00

The Zero broke cover at Auto China in Beijing yesterday (Friday) and is the first truly all-new MG to appear since Shanghai-based SAIC took over the moribund brand back in 2007.

Measuring around 4.0m in length, rolling on a long 2.5m wheelbase and underpinned by a new architecture, the production version of the MG Zero is expected to be powered by the newly-announced NSE family of four-cylinder engines that SAIC is also using in its Roewe (that's the old Rover, by the way) line-up.

Capacity choices are 1.3 and 1.5-litre normally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engines, but the real performance interest will be found in a mooted 1.5-litre petrol-turbo.

Officially, the MG Zero's name is meant to refer to the design ideals of "zero restraint, zero distance and zero limit". A more prosaic explanation provided to Drive is the production car fits into the super-mini category, sometimes referred to as AO.

Nissan Dualis+2

2010-04-22T06:48:00.000-07:00

Nissan will launch a seven-seat version of its Dualis soft-roader in July.

The UK-built Dualis+2 is both longer and taller than the current hatchback, and also offers better storage than its predecessor (though not quite to the level of the larger X-Trail).

The Dualis+2 looks incredibly similar to the recently updated Dualis five-seat model, but there are several slight changes. The seven-seater gets new front and rear doors, a revised side glass-line, a new tailgate and a different look grille.

All seven occupants are covered for safety, too, with dual front, side, and front-to-rear curtain airbags standard on all variants, as well as active front headrests and stability control.

Both variants of the Dualis+2 are powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine attached to a continuously variable automatic transmission with a six-speed manual mode.

The engine remains the same as the five-seater, but Nissan has beefed up the suspension to cope with the Dualis+2’s extra 100-odd kilograms of weight.

Equipment levels have been boosted, and the multi-function steering wheel offers the driver control over the stereo, cruise control and Bluetooth. The four-speaker stereo also has MP3 connectivity.

The Ti gets more extras including a panoramic sunroof, leather trim seats and steering wheel, smart key, 18-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, and an upgraded stereo with six speakers.

The clever seven-seater layout offers individually-sliding middle-row seats, and the rear two seats can be stowed away for a bigger cargo capacity.

Nissan has, however, forgone the chance to offer a more flexible layout with the new Dualis+2, as the rear five seats cannot be removed. Some competitors like Kia’s Rondo7 and Peugeot’s 308 Touring offer more versatile seating plans with pull-out seats.

The updated five-seater version of the Dualis gets a more aggressive look, and the smoother lines also help the Nissan cut through the air more cleanly, resulting in a small claimed fuel-usage drop to 8.1 litres per 100km for the manual and 8.2L/100km for the CVT auto (a 0.1L/100km saving over the previous model).

The base-model five-seater ST gets added equipment, including new 16-inch alloy wheels (with a full size spare), steering wheel audio controls, Bluetooth phone system with steering wheel controls.

Kia Optima 2010

2010-04-20T01:56:00.000-07:00

Kia has revealed its all-new Optima mid-sized sedan that it will replace the Magentis.

The Optima continues Kia's design-led bid to step out of the shadows of its sister company, Hyundai, replacing the conservatively styled Magentis. It will be known as the Optima in all global markets except its home country, South Korea, where it will be called the K5.

The slinky Optima is longer, wider and lower than its slow-selling predecessor and was designed by Peter Schreyer, who penned the original Audi TT.

Its other big drawcard is the inclusion in the range of the same 206kW, direct-injected 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine as Hyundai's forthcoming Sonata replacement, the i45.

The Optima's safety package will have six airbags, stability control, anti-lock brakes, brake assist and hill-start assist.

Standard equipment will include dual exhausts, trip computer and an eight-speaker sound system with auxiliary, USB and Bluetooth connectivity, plus voice control on some models.

Mid-spec models are likely to get foglights, heated exterior mirrors and 17-inch alloy wheels. Higher trim levels add xenon headlights, LED tail-lights, a unique front grille, rear lip spoiler and 18-inch alloys.

Aston Martin Gauntlet Concept

2010-04-19T04:51:00.001-07:00

Renowned for being low, svelte and sinuous while oozing wealth and sophistication, the famous British sportscar brand has been a long-time favourite of Her Majesty's most famous secret agent. Ugur Sahin Design has added its own flavour to what must be among the most evocative automotive marques in the world.

Dubbed the Aston Martin Gauntlet Concept, its name is said to refer to "the way lines and surfaces emotionally overlap or complement each other [to] visually suggest the feel of wearing a protective armour, which its full power and potential is in control of the driver".

This curvy coupe combines current Aston design cues from the uber-exclusive, million-dollar One-77 flagship supercar and forthcoming Rapide four-door saloon while paying homage to the DB3S of the 1950s, a car that Sahin mentions as inspiration.

With an hourglass silhouette to blend — or dilute (depending on your opinion) — familiar Aston Martin proportions, Sahin adds curvaceous hips akin to BMW's X6 creating a sense of added girth to the car's high-waisted rear. Towards the front, slit-like headlights personify a dominant, sinister — albeit bracey — smile.

According to Sahin, the main goal of the Gauntlet Concept was to design a car that adheres to the existing Aston Martin line-up while redefining a design character with respect to the brand's history. But too much of the past, he warns, would look "retro" while too much of the future would look unrealistic.

Whether Aston Martin designers take inspiration from Sahin's design work for future Aston models remains to be seen.

Pay attention 007, your car is ready.

Audi TT V.2.1

2010-04-18T13:59:00.000-07:00

Audi has introduced the first changes to the second-generation model of its modern automotive icon that launched in 2007. Attention is certainly in the detail, however, with only mild styling tweaks and some revisions under the bonnet for a facelift due here towards the end of 2010.

A new front bumper design now incorporates slightly squarer and deeper air intakes either side of the dominant grille and chrome-ringed foglights. S-line TTs also gain LED daytime running lights as standard.

New alloy wheel designs are thrown into the mix, and a barely changed rear end features a slightly wider rear diffuser design.

The TT’s interior gains new colour choices and updated trim that includes faux-aluminium inserts and high-gloss finishes.

There’s bigger news in the engine bay, with the arrival of a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder from the latest VW Golf GTI. The new engine develops 155kW of power and 350Nm of torque, and replaces both the old 147kW turbo four and 184kw 3.2-litre V6.

The 118kW 1.8-litre petrol turbo and 125kW 2.0-litre turbo diesel continue, though with their consumption figures improved by up to 14 per cent thanks partly to a smart alternator that can recharge the car’s battery during braking or coasting.

3-wheeled Aptera EV

2010-04-17T08:45:00.000-07:00

The space-age Aptera might look like something straight out of a futuristic cartoon, but executives at the California start-up behind the electric vehicle say its time is now.

The Aptera, which has a 100-mile range per charge and gets some 200 miles per gallon equivalent, has three wheels and looks like a sleek, aerodynamic egg. It's often compared to a vehicle from the futuristic 1960s cartoon "The Jetsons."

The vehicle's structure and feel give the immediate impression it's nothing like the hybrid sedans and electric sports cars being produced by most of the big automakers -- which are planning to roll out electric vehicles of their own in the next two years.

The newest version of the vehicle features roll-down windows, a redesigned suspension, and front and back bumpers. It has a body that rides low to the ground, which makes getting in and out easy, and both front and side airbags.

Aptera's makers say it would meet crash safety standards.

POSTER CHILD OF EVs?

Electric vehicles are widely seen as a key weapon in the fight against climate change, by cutting emissions and helping reduce the need for gasoline.

But the market for them right now is extremely small. Battery electric vehicles are expensive and the charging infrastructure for the cars still needs to be built out.

Aptera would also have to go up against big automakers like Nissan, Ford and General Motors, which are planning to launch electric cars soon. Small players like Tesla Motors already sell them.

Still, Aptera executives say they have the world's most efficient vehicle and aren't worried about their competition.

Demand for electric cars is expected to grow sharply over the next two decades as fuel economy and emissions rules strengthen.

The cost of the vehicle is expected to be between $25,000 and $40,000, depending on features and whether buyers want an electric, hybrid or traditional powertrain.

The car can be recharged by plugging into a regular electric outlet, which Tom Reichenbach, Aptera's chief engineer, said should feel as comfortable and eventually as common as charging a cell phone.

Yezi concept car

2010-04-12T20:37:00.000-07:00

The concept car Yezi (leaf) made by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), is unveiled at the SAIC and GM pavilion of the 2010 Shanghai World Expo in Shanghai, east China, April 11, 2010.

Garia Golf Car for the rich and spendthrift

2010-04-08T06:53:00.000-07:00

New golf cart rolls out of the same factory as Porsches, costs more than some luxury cars. The latest plaything for the rich and, er, spendthrift is the all-new A$60,000 Garia Golf Car.

Notice the loss of the letter “t”? That’s because this battery-powered golf cart is more than just a lazy way to get around your local course - it’s actually a street-legal road car, too (well, anywhere that seatbelts aren’t obligatory, at least).

Along with being roadworthy, the Garia is also the world’s most expensive golf cart - in its fully optioned form including double-wishbone front suspension, a refrigerator and custom paint (whether it’s your favourite colour, or you want it matched to your other car) - it’ll set you back about $60,000.

Regular battery powered golf carts will set you back about the same cost as a light car (a $11,790 Suzuki Alto, for example), but this high-rolling 18-holer’s pricing starts a little higher on the scale, at $US17,499 excluding taxes and delivery.

Obviously for that sort of money the cart comes with leather seats - which can be trimmed to match the customer’s colour choice - but there are some additions that aren’t so run-of-the-mill, including: heated laminated windscreen; a choice of different styles of lightweight aluminium wheels; a digital speedo readout; and a multifunctional back section that can be adapted so you can cart more than just clubs. There’s even an optional surfboard strap.

Anders Lynge, designer of the Garia Golf Car and creative director of the Garia company says the car is all about quality.

“This is the first time ever that a golf vehicle of this kind has been assembled by a high-end automotive factory,” he says.

“And we are very satisfied with the result.”

Some of the parts that make up the Garia Golf Car include the aluminium profiles in the frame, which are made by the same company that supplies them to Aston Martin, Jaguar and Volvo. Other car-inspired bits included hydraulic brakes on all four wheels, with discs in the front and drums at the rear.

The Garia is manufactured at the Valmet Automotive factory in Finland, which is the same factory that also produces some Porsche Boxsters and Caymans. If you’re not familiar with the Valmet name, perhaps the niche brands TH!NK and Fisker will be a bit more recognisable.

Mercedes Gullwing SLS AMG GT3

2010-04-06T06:34:00.000-07:00

Mercedes has built a new version of its SLS ‘Gullwing’ supercar that will fly even faster on the bitumen. The SLS AMG GT3 has been created for customers who want to compete in sprint and endurance races, and was co-developed by Benz’s in-house tuning company and the company behind its German touring car (DTM) program.

The GT3 sits lower to the ground and a wider front end features larger air intakes and a carbon-fibre front splitter. The bonnet incorporates a large engine-cooling vent.

Mercedes says the GT3’s 6.2-litre V8 is virtually identical to the engine used by the half-a-million-dollar Gullwing due in Australia mid-year, which helps ensure the race car version complies with regulations set by the FIA, world motorsport’s governing body.

The GT3’s V8, however, is mated to a sequential six-speed race-style gearbox, and the engine also features dry-sump lubrication that ensures key mechanical parts remain oiled during high-speed cornering.

The GT3’s lighter weight, however, is claimed to make it quicker than the road-going Gullwing that already accelerates from 0-100km/h in a claimed 3.8 seconds and is capable of a 317km/h top speed.

Luxury features take a step back for the GT3, switching hand-stitched leather trim for suede and carbon-fibre. The cabin also abandons creature comforts such as sat-nav and audio systems, and introduces a steel roll-cage and bucket seats.

The road Gullwing’s leather round steering wheel is also swapped for a race-style U-shaped wheel.

Mercedes says the GT3 will be available in time for the 2011 motorsport season.

Hennessey Venom GT supercar

2010-03-31T01:51:00.000-07:00

A $1 million-plus supercar described as a “weapon of mass propulsion” that’s twice as powerful as a Lamborghini and can reach four times the speed limit. The Hennessey Venom GT is, in essence, a British-made Lotus Elise with a stretched body that’s fitted with an all-American 6.2-litre Chevrolet supercharged V8 engine.

The carbon fibre Venom GT weighs just 1070kg, less than most small cars. The base-model Venom’s will be offer 540kW of power and 1000Nm of torque from its Corvette-sourced V8 engine that’s also used in HSVs.

But if that’s not enough, the company says they will also be offering two twin-turbo versions: a 745kW/1220Nm model, and a stonking 895kW/1490Nm variant. With more power than a Formula One car that means it will be devilishly quick, with Hennessey suggesting the GT could sprint from 0-100km/h in just 2.4 seconds, and have an astronomical top speed of 421km/h.

The engine is mounted behind the seats, just like in the four-cylinder Lotus Elise, with power then sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. Keeping all that power on the road could be troublesome, but Hennessey has designed a programmable traction control system to help keep the car on the road (or the track).

An active aerodynamics system, including an adjustable rear wing, ensures that the right down-force is applied depending on the speed and situation. The Venom GT will also feature an adjustable suspension system which allows for adjustments to ride-height. The car’s 15-inch carbon-ceramic brakes mean stopping shouldn’t be impossible, too.

Company founder and president, John Hennessey, says the Venom GT draws on a history of American and British ingenuity. "This is not the first time that Britain and America have joined forces to produce a weapon of mass propulsion" he says.

"Over 50 years ago the American-built P51 Mustang fighter aircraft was flown into history powered by a British Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. "Today the Hennessey Venom GT promises to set a new standard of power to weight ratio in the rarefied air of today's supercar market."

The company’s Texas facility will be in charge of the engine side of the operation, and the powerplants will be air-freighted to the assembly facility near Silverstone, England.

Hyundai Veloster 2011 scooped photo

2010-03-30T01:57:00.000-07:00

Spy cameras have caught Hyundai's new small coupe in testing ahead of its expected 2011 launch. The new coupe, based on the sexy Hyundai Veloster concept car first unveiled at the 2007 Seoul motor show, is expected to be built in both right-hand- and left-hand-drive versions.

New sporty and frugal Hyundai coupe set to go on sale in 2011.

Don't expect the big black tarpaulin as an option, though - sources are suggesting that the plastic camouflage at the rear of the car may be there to hide (at least one) rear door.

The new Hyundai coupe is expected to be a three-door, four-seater. The front doors are different lengths - the driver's side is longer, for easier entry and exit, while the passenger side will have a shorter door and a rearward-opening 'suicide' door - and they're similar to those used on the current Mini Clubman.

But unlike the Clubman, the Veloster is expected to have the third door on the kerbside for both left-hand- and right-hand-drive markets. Mini was heavily criticised for leaving the Clubman's rear passenger door on the wrong side when it re-engineered the car for right-hand-drive.

GM EnV Miao

2010-03-29T01:09:00.000-07:00

General Motors and its Chinese joint venture partner Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation has created GM EnV Miao, a car that can drive itself. It's tiny, too. The EN-V is only 1.5-metres long, and weighs just 500kg. If the numbers don't seem to add up, that's because of the EN-V's extra weight, which comes from the bank of lithium-ion batteries that are used to power the twin 3kW electric motors.

GM EnV Miao (magic)

GM EnV Miao (magic)

Recommended reading:
* GM EnV Xiao

GM EnV Jiao

2010-03-27T01:04:00.000-07:00

The GM EN-V is an upright two-wheeled electric vehicle that has been developed by General Motors and its Chinese joint venture partner Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation. The EN-V - or Electric Networked-Vehicle - is a new two-seater zero-emissions vehicle (provided it's recharged using 'green' energy), and the city runabout is designed to be plugged in to a regular powerpoint overnight, with a range of only about 40km.

GM EnV Jiao (pride)

GM EnV Jiao (pride)

GM EnV Jiao (pride)

GM EnV Jiao (pride)

The EN-V also operates like a social networking website, allowing occupants to communicate wirelessly with friends or business associates while on the road.

GM EnV Xiao

2010-03-25T15:31:00.000-07:00

The EN-V - or Electric Networked-Vehicle - is a new two-seater concept vehicle that offers an autonomous mode which uses GPS and vehicle-to-vehicle communications along with distance-sensors and cameras to duck and weave its way through traffic using the quickest route.

GM EnV Xiao (laugh)

GM EnV Xiao (laugh)

The GM EN-V is an upright two-wheeled electric vehicle that has been developed by General Motors and its Chinese joint venture partner Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation.

Saab Spyker by Gray Design

2010-03-22T08:12:00.000-07:00

Take a look at the futuristic Saab Spyker concept by Gray Design.

Rumours abound that Swedish car maker Saab could soon spawn a smaller 9-2 compact sedan, or an even smaller 9-1 micro-car as its new owner begins to explore what's possible for the brand.

There's also the return of the 9-5, due some time later this year, and the 9-4x soft-roader due next year. Oh, and an all-new 9-3 in the works.

However, they're all Saab designs penned under the influence of former owner General Motors. What if Spyker decided to put its own spin on the marque?

Swedish amateur designer Eduard Gray thinks he may have the answer with this, the 9+ Saab Spyker Tribute. Described by Gray as a "tribute to the newly formed Saab Spyker Automobiles", Gray's design features a mid-engined sports car that straddles the middle ground between Saab's visionary Aero X concept car, and Spyker's C8 sports coupe.

It features a low-slung, distinctly curved coupe with a sweeping windscreen that forms a glass canopy reaching right to the rear.

The headlights are formed in a single, sweeping slash along the face of the car, with the tail-lights incorporated into a similar design.

A high-set diffuser incorporates a Pagani-style single rear exhaust.

"The union of Saab and Spyker presents a unique opportunity to create a design that takes the best of each brand and distils their qualities into a single product," Gray says when explaining his inspiration.

"Spyker lends us its supercar chassis with a

mid-mounted engine and low-down aerodynamics, while Saab contributes with the style, character and engineering, making for a design that is as pleasant to look at as it is to drive," he says.

"When the purchase of Saab finally went through it was a great relief for all those in (Saab's home town of) Trollhattan who have connections to this great brand. This design, the '9+ Saab Spyker Tribute', is just a quick expression of my optimism for the future of the brand."

Bugatti 16C Galibier - world's fastest sedan

2010-03-19T01:44:00.000-07:00

This is the Bugatti Galibier, the car destined to be the world’s fastest sedan.

The Volkswagen-owned supercar maker has built a prototype of the new sedan to gauge customer reaction to the fast-back four-door sedan. If the feedback is positive, the project will go ahead.

The Galibier four-door is named after a hill that makes up part of the Tour de France road course. It uses the same 8.0-litre W16 engine as the two-door Veyron supercar, which is capable of speeds of more than 400km/h.

There are some differences to the Veyron, though. The Galibier drops the quad-turbos in favour of a pair of mechanical superchargers, and the engine is mounted in the front of the car rather than behind the seats.

The Galibier uses four-wheel drive, and reports suggest it will produce somewhere in the region of 600kW and more than 1000Nm of torque.

The car is expected to be fitted with a regular eight-speed automatic transmission, rather than the seven-speed dual-clutch version fitted to the Veyron.

Inside, brown leather abounds, with some of the finest fit and finish work around. There are some neat touches, like the flip-away clock and the circular speedometer that reads all the way up to 390km/h.

There’s even an optional range of hand-made leather luggage to match the interior - though it’s probably likely to set you back about the cost of a Commodore. Per bag.

The Galibier is expected to be somewhere in the $2 million range if it indeed does make it to production, and Bugatti are reportedly keen to get the first of up to 300 Galibiers on the road by 2013.

Bugatti’s Veyron production run is scheduled to end in 2012, so the Galibier could well be its successor.

KIA Magentis

2010-03-18T01:15:00.000-07:00

Kia's all-new Camry-fighting Magentis has been unveiled online ahead of its international debut at the New York motor show next month.

The Korean made medium-sized sedan will be pitted against the likes of the Ford Mondeo, Toyota Camry and Mazda6, but Kia hopes that its new Magentis will pack enough punch to give the big names in the mid-sized game a real fight.

The Magentis has had something of a lacklustre sales history in Australia, having never really had a significant impact on mid-sized car sales. Over its four-year history in Australia, Kia has sold just 1783 units - which is less than the number of Toyota Camry usually sold in a month. The car was previously sold as the Optima, and Kia managed 2166 sales locally.

But Kia says they're hoping that their recent improvements - both in sales and in product - will make a more compelling case for the new Magentis, which is due in Australia before the end of the year.

The styling of the car carries over from other recent releases from Kia, and high profile design boss Peter Schreyer says the Magentis will surprise many.

"It's a car that people will simply not expect from Kia - and that's exactly what we set out to achieve," he says.

Schreyer recently discussed Kia's "dry" image exclusively with Drive, saying the company needed to address the desirability of its cars, and that his hopes were pinned on appealing to people's desires.

"This new model embodies Kia's confident new design direction," he says. "It's a global car with individual appeal."

The Magentis will be based on sister company Hyundai's i45 platform, and although no details have been confirmed as far as drive-trains are concerned, it's likely to be fitted with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine. There could be a V6 option for more appeal, and there are also whispers of a diesel option to be sourced from the recently released Hyundai ix35 (which will also be fitted to the all-new Sportage).

The Magentis (whose moniker could be changed prior to being released) has all the sleek lines of a European-designed saloon with its coupe-inspired raked roofline and high door beltline and its shallow glasshouse giving the new Magentis a much sportier look.

The new Magentis is longer, lower and wider making it look more luxurious than its predecessor.

The front of the car wears a wider version of the 'Schreyer' grille (named after Kia's head designer), and the car's broad bumper and bulging bonnet look a little bit Aston Martin-esque.

The rear of the Magentis looks very coupe-like with its steep rear glass, and the tail section looks to have combined some styling cues from both Mitsubishi (tail-lights) and Lexus (boot line).

Kia says the car will get a stylish new driver-oriented interior with plenty of luxury features as standard.

The all-new Magentis is expected to be priced a little higher than the current budget-friendly model (which starts at around $24,000), but it should still start below the $30,000 mark.

I+SOLO pedal powered car

2010-03-17T01:03:00.000-07:00

But before you rush out to buy the latest super-economical vehicle, the I+SOLO, be warned: some pedalling is involved.

The Hungarian manufacturers of this three-seater believe there is a market for a vehicle that requires human input along with the more conventional form of propulsion.

Pedals allow the driver and passengers to help the hybrid system, which consists of lithium-ion batteries that power four electric hub motors and a multi-fuel engine that can be used for long-distance trips. "[The pedals] make it possible to exercise while travelling," the company enthuses on its website, solo-duo.hu.

To round out the alternative fuel sources, high-efficiency solar cells positioned on the roof collect, on average, enough energy to travel up to 25 kilometres at city speeds. The first production cars are scheduled to be on the road next year.

But the maker has even loftier ambitions. It is also planning a six-passenger vehicle with a consumption of 2.0-2.5 litres per 100 kilometres and which it claims could be a serious competitor against popular family minivans. And Drive Life thought family road trips couldn't get any more painful.

Aussie Invader to break sound barrier

2010-03-16T06:19:00.000-07:00

The Australian team behind an attempt to set a new land speed record is making a few design tweaks to its vehicle.

Rosco McGlashan's Aussie Invader (pictured) is one of several vehicles around the world being built to break the 1000mph (1600km/h) limit. Plans are progressing well but recently the team realised it needed a more resistant structure to cope with breaking the sound barrier.

Team members have now redesigned the underbelly of the rocket-car to include V-shaped ribbing, which it is hoped will reduce the forces on the vehicle when it goes from transonic to supersonic speed.

Depending on the conditions, jet fighters break the sound barrier at speeds in excess of 1200km/h. McGlashan says: "Unlike a plane, where the shock wave can dissipate in all directions, ours cannot. It will hit the ground, bounce back up and hit the car."

Bentley Speed 12 Bluetrain

2010-03-14T19:30:00.000-07:00

Speed 12 Bluetrain Special by Ernesto Rodriguez

Los Angeles-based industrial designer Ernesto Rodriguez's vision for the future direction of British car maker Bentley attempts to answer that question.

The 30-year-old, who has completed internships with Mazda and sports-car builder Fisker, took it upon himself to create a new look for the staid brand.

His Speed 12 Bluetrain Special recalls the Bentley Speed Six, released in the late 1920s, which became known as the "Blue Train Bentley" after beating a famed French locomotive in one of the epic "car-versus-train" races that were popular in the day.

Rodriguez says his futuristic interpretation would preserve Bentley's sheen of exclusivity by combining old-world hand-shaped and polished aluminium pieces with modern sheetmetal-stamping processes for a finish of unrivalled quality.

The defining element of his Bluetrain Special is a steeply raked windscreen.

DOK-ING XD super-mini electric car

2010-03-13T06:30:00.000-08:00

This is the DOK-ING XD, a Croatian-made super-mini electric car, that isn’t faster than a Ferrari. But it’s no slouch.

The 1100kg XD is just 2.8-metres long but it’s the same height as some small SUVs at 1.6-metres tall, and offers plenty of room inside for three (the XD is 1.7-metres wide).

The DOK-ING super-mini’s sprint time is enough to make some hot hatches sweat. The XD can sprint from a standstill to 100km/h in just 7.7 seconds, which is almost a second quicker than some turbo-charged Audis.

It manages this feat thanks to its 80kW/360Nm electric motor which is powered by the XD’s banks of lithium-ion-phosphate batteries.

The car’s designers didn’t take it slow, either. The DOK-ING XD project took just three months from concept to completion.

The XD’s cutesy yet muscular styling is enough to make it stand out from the crowd, and that bulging front bumper and the band-aid look tail-lights round off the package.

The batteries can recharge in eight hours, and the recharge will need to be quick as there are miles of gadgets and gizmos on board the XD. Sat-nav, Bluetooth, DVD and touch-screen infotainment are just some of the features.

Other important interior items include the XD’s 360-degree airbags which ensure that no matter where you are inside the car, you’ll be protected from serious impact.

The driver sits in the middle seat, slightly closer to the windscreen, while the passengers slide in either side of the driver.

The brochure claims that the XD is designed with emotions and environment in mind.

Alfa Romeo Bertone Pandion Concept

2010-03-12T01:22:00.000-08:00

Bertone has returned to the 2010 Geneva motor show, unveiling a concept car as an homage to Alfa Romeo.

Toyota FJ Cruiser

2010-03-11T05:15:00.000-08:00

The FJ Cruiser, a tough-looking off-roader based on the more sedate Toyota Prado. The FJ Cruiser bucks the trend of the current breed of ‘soft-roaders’, which are traditionally 4WD lookalikes with little to no off-road capability.

The FJ Cruiser is built on a Prado platform, so it’s got the same level of capability that a Prado does off-road. But it’s got an urban feel to it, a more urban look to it.

It is expected that the FJ Cruiser will carry over the same engines from the US model – all of which are fitted with a 4.0-litre V6 engine with either a five-speed automatic or a six-speed manual.

Some of the notable elements of the FJ Cruiser include its clever ‘suicide’ doors – the rear doors open towards the back of the car, and there’s no middle pillar. The appearance of the car is an artistic and modern take on the classic FJ LandCruisers of old.

Toyota admits the FJ Cruiser’s love-it-hate-it looks will undoubtedly have the same polarising effect on buyers as the Rukus. Toyota says the Rukus is like Vegemite; an acquired taste.

Toyota Rukus to enter Australia

2010-03-10T01:38:00.000-08:00

A new model from Toyota to be introduce to Australia. To be called the Toyota Rukus, the new vehicle is said to be very much like Vegemite, in that it’s an acquired taste. Toyota Rukus is a local version of a car sold in Japan as the Toyota bB, and re-badged in the US as a Scion xB

Some readers suggested that Toyota Rukus is an eyesore and the horrible looking car is something you might expect from a Chinese or Indian low budget manufacturer.

Ford Focus ST

2010-03-09T01:31:00.000-08:00

The Ford Focus ST uses a turbocharged, five-cylinder engine rated 225 horsepower and tuned to provide both hard acceleration on open roads and smooth response in traffic.

Sport seats and an easy-shifting manual transmission enhance the fiesty personality of the Ford Focus ST.

Plastic bodywork and special wheels distinguish the ST from other Ford Focuses.

Ford Focus ST is eye-opening in a couple of ways.

•Under the hood. A 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbocharged engine rated 225 hp. Enough to make the lightweight Focus coupe a hustler.

And a smooth one. No turbo lag, no touchiness to make you fret every time you let out the clutch on the manual transmission. It would take, oh, two seconds for this Focus to become the small-car-enthusiasts' new best buddy in the U.S.

•Under the floor. It's the storied "Euro-spec" Focus chassis we finally get in the U.S. next year.

The 2012 Focus, unveiled at the Detroit auto show in January, will be global. No more dumbed-down U.S. version. With luck, that new-generation Euro chassis should be even better than the one underpinning the ST test car.

Seems odd that such a runner would be available here, where gasoline is around $7 a gallon, but not in the U.S. where it's less than $3. The test car, driven with enthusiasm, registered 17.4 miles per gallon (5.75 gallons per 100 miles).

Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera LP 570-4

2010-03-08T01:48:00.000-08:00

Meet Lamborghini's newest model - the diet Gallardo. The new Superleggera LP 570-4 version of the Gallardo is the lightest road-going Lamborghini in the Italian car-maker's range - but it still has all the right bits.

Superleggera is Italian for 'super-light', and the toned new Gallardo tips the scales at 1340kg - which is 70kg lighter than the already trim Gallardo LP560-4.

Just a handful of cars are expected in Australia, with three confirmed for delivery later this year with a not-so-light price of about $550,000.

Along with dropping some extra kilos, the Gallardo Superleggera gains extra power. The Superleggera makes use of the same direct injected 5.2-litre V10 engine as used in the normal Gallardo, with an extra 8kW boosting the Lamborghini's power output to 419kW..

Lamborghini says the Superleggera will dash from zero to 100km/h in just 3.4 seconds - three tenths faster than the 'regular' Gallardo. And if a hundred isn't quick enough, the car reaches 200km/h in 10.2 seconds, with the speedo topping out at 325km/h.

Despite being more powerful, the direct-injected Superleggera is also greener, particularly when fitted with the standard 'e-gear' automatic transmission, which helps get the power to all-four wheels.

Claimed fuel consumption for the auto is 13.5L/100km (14.4 for the optional six-speed manual), and the carbon emissions figure of the Superleggera comes in at 319g/km (344g/km for the manual).

There are no tricky weight loss plans or lemon detox diets here - the Gallardo 570-4 Superleggera loses so much weight by making good use of carbon-fibre, both inside and outside.

The rear spoiler, sills, diffuser, exterior mirror casings and some underbody panels are made of the super-strong lightweight material, as are the car's centre console, door panels and seat shells.

Other mass-minimisers include the polycarbonate rear windscreen and side windows, and lightweight forged aluminium 19-inch wheels which are bolted on with pricey titanium nuts.

"Even firmer, even more precise" is the promise made in the media release about the handling of the new Gallardo Superleggera, so don't expect it to ride like a limousine.

Lamborghini says it has paid particular attention to the handling of the lightweight Gallardo, which is stiffer thanks to reinforced anti-rollbars and hardened suspension mounts.

Citroen GQ concept

2010-03-07T01:24:00.000-08:00

Ladies look away – this car’s for men’s eyes only. Despite decades of trying to tempt women into cars, French maker Citroen has joined forces with UK men’s lifestyle magazine GQ to create what is claimed to be the “ultimate gentleman’s accessory”.

It blends British military efficiency with clean French flair and was co-designed by the company that made Winston Churchill’s suits.

It goes hand-in-hand with the recently unveiled Citroen Survolt concept, which was designed for ladies.

Citroen now has the ultimate his and hers duo.

The GQ by Citroen is a car designed for someone that GQ magazine editor Dylan Jones labels as the ‘GQ man’.

“I think the GQ man is someone who understands the luxury market. Discerning, elegant: he hasn’t got, sort of, blind acceptance, I suppose.”

But this isn’t about who reads the magazine, it’s about the stunning lines and bold bulges of the GQ by Citroen concept car.

“We just love the way it looks,” says Jones. “It’s got that brilliant thing of looking sporty, but also looking very very practical.”

Citroen designer Mark Lloyd says the French car-maker was keen to work with the magazine as a marketing study.

“We were very interested in working with GQ because it is a meeting of worlds. It’s a meeting of minds,” says Lloyd. “This kind of meeting is always a generator of new ways of looking at things – new ways of seeing.”

The car’s styling and the environmental impact of modern cars were both high on the agenda, says Lloyd.

“Environmentalism is obviously a major issue for car manufacturers,” he says. “But in our opinion, it is not a justification for bland, anonymous styling.”

Mechanical details are scarce, as the car is simply a thought process at the moment. But reports are suggesting under the GQ by Citroen’s curvaceous bonnet hides a direct-injection 1.6-litre engine combined with an electric motor. The hybrid powertrain would reportedly be able push the GQ by Citroen from 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds, reaching a top speed of 250km/h.

The car was also co-designed by hoity-toity Savile Row tailor, E. Tautz and sons. Mark Henderson of GQ magazine says that the French styling of the Citroen needed some British balance, so GQ opted for the tailored look.

“We wanted that bespoke element that comes with Savile Row,” says Henderson. “E. Tautz have been around since the seventeenth century. They were Winston Churchill’s favourite tailor, and Patrick Grant (creative director of tailoring company, E. Tautz) has taken that into the 21st century.”

Grant says the interior was already fantastic, but GQ wanted something unique.

“We started with the fantastic simple interior that Citroen provided us with. And we overlaid a very British, military feel,” says Grant.

You can get your hands on the GQ by Citroen in April ... or at least some pictures of it, as it will feature in the April edition of the magazine.

Recommended reading:
* Citroen Survolt concept

Hyundai i-Flow concept

2010-03-06T05:38:00.000-08:00

Hyundai i-Flow is i40 in minimal disguise.

It looks pretty wild and wacky but Hyundai executives insist the i-Flow concept car that made its world premiere in Geneva this week is closer to the 2011 i40 production car than you might think.

And while it is primarily aimed at Europe where it will compete in a fleet-driven sector that stretches from the Ford Mondeo to BMW 3 Series, the i40 could also be headed to Australia in 2011 to take on the likes of the Mazda6 and Subaru Liberty.

In Europe the i40 will take over from the Sonata. However in Australia the i40 would be a supplement to the Sonata replacement, the i45, which goes on-sale in the second quarter.

Effectively, i40 and i45 would form the same sort of double-up strategy that Honda has employed successfully here for some years with the Accord Euro and Accord.

Both the i40 and i45 share the same underpinning architecture. But while the i45 will offer Australians V6 and four-cylinder petrol power, the i40 would add turbo-diesel to the mix.

The Geneva concept is powered by a production-ready diesel-electric hybrid drivetrain that averages just 3.0L/100km and 85g CO2/km. However, a petrol-electric drivetrain is expected to be offered with i40, at least in left-hand drive markets.

Hyundai Australia is yet to confirm it is taking i40, spokesman Ben Hershman offering only a terse “nothing has been decided yet” when asked by Drive.

Hyundai’s European design chief Thomas Burkle dismissed Drive’s theory that the i-Flow was a typically out-there Hyundai concept car.

“You will be surprised,” he said. “I can see a production car and Hyundai is very ambitious about the future.

“Definitely things will be modified but basically this concept is very serious.”

Considering the exaggerated swales and cuts of the latest iteration of Hyundai’s fluidic sculpture design language that the i-Flow presents, Burkle’s claim might be hard to believe. But he is insistent.

“Yes they will be retained, also the proportions, we are talking about the short front overhang and also the flowing roof that has the peak in the rear instead of the A-post, and this flowing long tail, or boat-tail, which is a very distinctive part of the car.”

The unusual exterior certainly plays its part aerodynamically as well as stylistically, Hyundai claiming a 0.25 Cd. The i-Flow is also a big car, sitting on a 2800mm wheelbase and measuring up overall at 4780mm.

Intriguingly, the i40 will be first launched in Europe as a wagon early in 2011, with the sedan following late in the year.

Burkle told Drive this was an intentional strategy because wagon buyers were less formal in Europe than sedan buyers.

“The sedan is a very prestigious car in Europe… but the station wagon buyer is a more lifestyle guy and he is open to new brands. This is why we say the wagon first. It is a very unique strategy.”

Also unique to i-Flow are some new technologies developed with chemical giant BASF. These include new light weight seat material called Steron and a sprayed skin for the upper dashboard called Elastoskin.

BASF and Hyundai engineers have also developed thermal engine encapsulation, which ensures the engine reaches optimum operating temperature more quickly, by retaining heat when the car is at idle. This translates into fuel savings and emissions cuts of five per cent during summer and up to nine per cent during winter.

Another pioneering technique introduced in collaboration with BASF is thermo-electric waste heat recovery. This process equates to reductions in fuel consumption of up to five per cent.

Porsche 918 Spyder concept

2010-03-05T05:32:00.000-08:00

Porsche 918 Spyder concept revealed at General 2010 Motorshow.

918 Spyder eco supercar concept can accelerate to 320km/h – while using less fuel than a Prius.

The first post-GFC supercar has broken cover in the form of the $1 million-plus Porsche 918 Spyder that’s tipped to go on sale as the flagship of the sports car maker’s range.

The Porsche 918 Spyder is powered by a hybrid drivetrain that delivers almost as much power as a modern Formula One car, accelerating the two-seat drop-top to 100km/h in 3.2 seconds on the way to a top speed of 320km/h.

Despite its explosive performance the Porsche 918 Spyder is claimed to use an average of 3.0 litres of fuel per 100km, or 23 per cent less than the Toyota Prius.

Porsche says the 918 Spyder is a car with “extremely low fuel consumption, supreme performance and long electric range” representing “an essential milestone in Porsche’s strategy on the way to genuine electro-mobility”.

“Electric cars will be important in the future for sports cars,” says Porsche boss Michael Macht.

The recently installed head of Germany’s famous sports car maker says the 918 Spyder has typical Porsche genes and that there’s a strong chance the company will put it into production.
“Porsche has never shown a concept car that wasn’t built. Let’s wait and see what the reaction in Geneva [at motor show] is.”

The 918 Spyder borrows its 3.4-litre V8 engine from the Porsche RS Spyder Le Mans race car. On its own the engine makes about 375kW.

However, in the Porsche 918 Spyder concept the V8 is teamed with three electric motors, which can boost power a further 160kW, taking overall output to about 540kW.

Electrical energy can be generated either by the Lithium-ion battery – which can also be recharged in a regular powerpoint – or a giant flywheel that can convert the kinetic energy that would normally be lost in heat through the brakes.

The 918 Spyder has four different modes, including one that allows the car to be driven for up to 25km as a pure electric vehicle. There are three other modes – Hybrid, Sport Hybrid and Race Hybrid – which use the V8 engine and electric motors for varying levels of performance and power.

A button on the steering wheel allows the driver to choose between the four modes.

Porsche says the 918 Spyder is the fastest road car it has built to lap the infamous Nurburgring race track, with a claimed time less than 7 minutes 30 seconds.

The Porsche 918 Spyder also has retractable air intakes designed to improve aerodynamics and shove air into the engine under pressure for increased power, as well as an adjustable rear wing.

The Porsche 918 Spyder is the latest supercar concept to showcase hybrid technology as a way to boost performance and use less fuel.

BMW last year showed its three-cylinder Vision Efficient Dynamics concept car, a vehicle the company said could accelerate to 100km /h in 4.8 seconds and use just 3.8L/100km.

Ferrari will also show its 599 Hybrid car, a version of which is expected to go into production about 2014.

However, while Ferrari has confirmed it is developing a million-dollar-plus supercar to effectively replace the Enzo, it is at least two years away with scant details available.

The Porsche 918 Spyder is seen as a successor to the Porsche Carrera GT that was only ever sold as a left-hand-drive model. Porsche has not confirmed whether the 918 Spyder will be built in right-hand drive to make it suitable for markets such as Australia.

Porsche is working on a range of petrol-electric hybrid cars as well as an electric sports car in an effort to reduce fuel use and meet demand for more efficient vehicles.

Citroen Survolt concept

2010-03-04T04:58:00.000-08:00

Citroen sprung one of the few real surprises of Geneva's Motorshow 2010 opening press day when it revealed the Survolt sports car.

Motors Links

2010-03-04T04:47:00.000-08:00