Saturday, February 7, 2009
Inside the McLaren Factory
Supercars come from super places. This video from the McLaren Technology Center where the Mercedes McLaren SLR is made proves it. The footage was taken back in 2005, so don’t try and spot any Stirling Moss editions in production.
$2M DiMora Natalia SLS 2 to get - wait for it - world's first MP3-enabled horn
Spend two million bucks on a car, and you'll get to have whatever the hell you want as a horn tone. Alfred DiMora is back, adding more splashy aftermarket items to the list of standard equipment on his Natalia
The Horntones system has 256MB of flash memory that can be loaded up with MP3 files. Once your files are in the Horntones system, there's a 150-watt speaker to delight everyone within a quarter mile by blaring your audio with a 110dB sound pressure level. DiMora contends that the Horntones rig is the most significant development in car horns in the last 100 years. We disagree – after all, the Dukes of Hazzard General Lee had that bitchin' setup that played Dixie.
[Source: DiMora Motorcars]
Beyond Honking: Horntones Give Drivers Sound Choices in $2 Million Natalia SLS 2
DiMora Motorcar is first OEM to include downloadable sound selection capability.
San Clemente, CA (PRWEB) February 5, 2009 -- DiMora Motorcar announced today that Horntones Corporation mobile horn systems will be factory equipment on all V16 Natalia SLS 2 sport luxury sedans.
FX-550, Horntones' patented system, is the world's first and only MP3-enabled vehicle horn. It features 256MB of internal flash memory, 150 watts (RMS) of audio amplification, and a weatherproof, ruggedized, compression-driver speaker. The FX-550 can deliver hundreds of different sounds at an impressive 110db sound pressure. The Horntones system won four SEMA 2007 Global Media Awards for "Best New Product". The FX-550 is the ultimate in vehicle horn personalization, and can be used in a variety of applications, such as standard horn sounds, passenger pick-up signaling, personal safety alerts, etc.
We are excited that DiMora Motorcar is setting the standard by becoming the first automotive original equipment manufacturer to incorporate Horntones technology in every vehicle. Working with Alfred DiMora and his team has been a pleasure. Their plans for the Natalia SLS 2 are truly visionary. We are thrilled to be a part of the design!
The Horntones system is probably the most radical change in car horns in the past century. It allows the driver to communicate something more than just a general alert.
We are pleased to have Horntones as a creative Technology Partner. This is another example of American innovation being showcased on the Natalia SLS 2.
"We are excited that DiMora Motorcar is setting the standard by becoming the first automotive original equipment manufacturer to incorporate Horntones technology in every vehicle," said Horntones President Mike T. Kosco. "Working with Alfred DiMora and his team has been a pleasure. Their plans for the Natalia SLS 2 are truly visionary. We are thrilled to be a part of the design!"
The Horntones system will be customized and integrated into the ergonomic and aesthetic design of the Natalia SLS 2.
"The Horntones system is probably the most radical change in car horns in the past century. It allows the driver to communicate something more than just a general alert," said DiMora Motorcar Founder Alfred DiMora. "We are pleased to have Horntones as a creative Technology Partner. This is another example of American innovation being showcased on the Natalia SLS 2."
About Horntones
Based in San Clemente, California, Horntones Corporation provides innovative, state-of-the-art mobile audio products. The company has developed, as its flagship product, the Horntones FX-550, the first MP3-enabled vehicle horn. For more information, please visit www.horntones.com.
Toyota loses top credit rating
Moody's Investor Services has lowered its credit rating for Toyota from the top-level Aaa to Aa1 and given it a "negative" outlook. Toyota had maintained Aaa status since 2003. The automaker, recently crowned as the largest in the world, is currently dealing with what must be the worst crisis that the Japanese company has ever faced since its inception in 1937. In what is decidedly uncharted territory at Toyota, the automaker saw its global sales fall by 4% last year and it is widely expected to post its first-ever loss – a whopping 150 billion yen ($1.65 billion) – over the full year ending in March. The worst bit of news, though, is that there's no light at the end of the tunnel. Sales figures are not expected to improve in the coming months, which could very well lead to another loss next year according to industry experts.
[Source: Bloomberg]
2010 Lexus RX350 starting at $36,800
For those of you aching to get behind the wheel of the 2010 Lexus RX350, your time has almost arrived. The new luxury crossover from Lexus will hit dealerships later this month, with a base MSRP of $36,800 for the front-wheel-drive model and $38,200 for the all-wheel-drive variant (neither price includes the $825 destination charge).
The RX350 comes packing a revised 3.5-liter V6 sending 275 hp and 256 lb-ft of torque to a new six-speed automatic transmission. The AWD version features an Active Torque Control system that splits power anywhere between 100:0 to 50:50, front to rear, depending on the conditions.
For 2010, the RX350 is equipped with ten standard airbags, but Intelligent Adaptive front headlamps, Pre-Collision System and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control are all optional.
Chrysler temporarily closing four plants in February
The Detroit Free Press is reporting the Chrysler LLC will close four of its assembly plants from February 9-13 due to "economic conditions". The four plants to be idled are in Brampton, Ontario; Sterling Heights, MI.; Belvidere, IL and Detroit. The Brampton plant builds the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger, while Sterling Heights Assembly handles the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring. The plant in Belvidere builds the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and Patriot, and the Detroit plant builds just the Viper. These four, along with the rest of Chrysler's assembly plants, were also idled from December 19th through January 19th during an extended shut down period over the holiday break. Apparently they weren't shut down long enough, as falling sales as rising inventory are still hurting the company. Last month, Chrysler LLC sales were down 54.8% by volume compared to January 2008. More temporary plant closings would not be surprising, as Chrysler reportedly reviews its production schedule on a weekly basis.
[Source: Detroit Free Press]
Audi Q5 hits America carrying $37,200 MSRP
Audi has finally announced U.S. pricing for its new Q5 mid-sized crossover. For America, there is currently only one powertrain combination available, a 3.2-liter FSI V6 with quattro all-wheel drive, and that comes with a starting price of $37,200.
Just as Starbucks calls a small coffee "Tall", Audi's entry level Q5 is labeled as Premium. From there, you can go to Premium Plus specification or Prestige at $41,500 and a lofty $48,200 respectively. Add the $825 delivery charge, taxes, and other ancillary fees, and it should be easy to go well north of 50 grand.
The Q5 comes standard with Audi's third generation MMI system that adds three-dimensional rendering to the nav display, as well as a 4,400-pound towing capacity. Q5s are expected to start arriving at dealers next week and the vehicle officially goes on sale in March
[Source: Audi]
New Porsche Museum in Stuttgart
The new monochromatic steel structure at Porscheplatz is designed to be a symbolic icon of the "Porsche Idea" presented, in all its complexity, inside. More than three decades after the original Porsche Museum opened in Stuttgart, Germany, the family-owned automaker invested more than $130 million in an all-new facility to present the storied history of the marque. The new museum is designed to welcome more than 200,000 visitors each year. In addition to the 80 historic vehicles on rolling display, the inspiring building houses a workshop for restoration, historical archives and generous conference areas. We were invited to a special preview of the new Porsche Museum just days before the doors officially opened last week.
With more than 30 years of engineering expertise already under his belt, Ferdinand Porsche opened his own office for "engineering and consultation on engine and vehicle design" in Stuttgart, Germany, on April 25, 1931. The history of Porsche, the automaker, had officially started. Over the next four decades, the company historically launched as "Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche KG" would engineer, manufacture and successfully race some of the most influential vehicles in automotive history.
The first Porsche Museum opened its doors in 1976. Located in Zuffenhausen, a district of Stuttgart, the original museum was small and intimate. It was only large enough for about 20 exhibits, although there were literally hundreds of near-pristine cars in storage out of the public's eye. Nearly five years ago, Porsche set out to build an all-new museum. The new museum would be significantly larger than the original, and it would include an operating workshop, historical archive center open to the public, conference center, coffee bar, museum shop and upscale restaurant. More than 170 architects from all over Europe applied for the project. In 2005, the bid was won by Delugan Meissl Associated Architects based in Vienna, Austria. Construction started in October of 2005, and was completed in December of 2008.
Delugan Meissl's winning architecture features a spectacular "floating" museum supported on several massive pylons. Much more impressive (and imposing) in person, the angular exterior of the museum is finished in monochromatic white, offset by panels of polished stainless steel and glazed glass. Underneath the façade is a sophisticated three-dimensional lattice framework engineered from high-strength steel and reinforced pre-stressed concrete. Together, they bear the weight of the 35,000-ton exhibition hall hovering above. Below ground level, and hidden from view, is the building's multi-story parking garage. Sitting prominently in the middle of Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen at Porscheplatz, the dramatic architecture is striking in a European city that traces its roots back more than 2,000 years.
Entering the museum, visitors are drawn in as they descend a sloping ramp from the street. The gaping monolith opening is more than 30-feet tall, with embedded illumination in the ground reflected by the polished stainless panels far above. It is impressive, and it sets the tone immediately and rather dramatically. Mirroring the exterior, the interior of the Porsche Museum adopts the same monochromatic appearance. According to the designers, many different types of vehicles, in all shapes, sizes, and colors, would be on display. To avoid unnecessary distraction, a near seamless stark appearance was a necessity. The floors are a crystal wth synthetic glass/stone mixture that is impervious to chemical staining, while the walls are finished with a bright white seamless synthetic acrylic polymer material (it looks and feels much like Dupont's solid surface Corian).
Paying the €8 admission fee (about $10), visitors are met by the coffee bar directly ahead, and the museum store off to the right. Enthusiasts will bypass both as their eyes are immediately drawn to the large glass walls in the middle of the first floor. Framed on the other side is the operating workshop, a place where Porsche restores and repairs both vehicle exhibits and cars owned by customers. Opposite the workshop is the escalator bank carrying guests nearly 100 feet into the upper part of the building, and the heart of the 53,800 square foot exhibition space.
The exhibition floor spirals around logically in a contiguous chronological path. The automaker has divided the displays into two groups: the history of Porsche prior to 1948 and the history of Porsche after 1948 (the first vehicle with a Porsche badge was a 356 Roadster built in 1948). All told, there are about 80 vehicles represented in the museum. As most all of the cars are in running condition, a fact verified by their ongoing participation in historic races worldwide, Porsche will be moving cars in and out of the displays as needed. It is a decision that will undoubtedly encourage repeat visits and has little effect on the overall presentation.
With the exception of the vehicles on raised platforms along the walls, nearly all of the cars are openly presented on the floor sans barriers or barricades. While one would expect the mostly all-white museum to bathe exhibits harshly, the overall illumination is soft. Each of the cars is spotlighted individually from overhead. This allows for excellent observation and scrutiny from nearly every angle (the pristine white floors encourage dropping to one knee to check out the suspension, brake and wheel details!). While all of the cars have been "restored" to working condition, this does not mean each is a sterile piece of untouchable art. Thankfully, it appears just the opposite. Compared to many museums with their mindless curators who find it necessary to erase history with a full ground-up restoration, Porsche has left most of its inventory with original race scars, paint chips, and blemishes. Get close enough, and you can even smell the oils and lubricants on the engines. It is an overall impression that reaffirms Porsche's passion for driving.
During our whirlwind tour, limited to just a couple hours, we crossed paths with some amazing machinery. These included the legendary Porsche Type 64, Porsche 356 America Roadster, and the Porsche 356 B 2000 GS Carrera GT (noted for an all-synchromesh gearbox in 1960). We stumbled over the Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7, and the 1200-hp turbocharged Porsche 917/30 (the most powerful Porsche of all time). The turbocharged street models are on chronological display, too. Sitting on floor-level turntables, the 930, 964 Turbo, 993 Twin-Turbo, 996 Twin-Turbo, and the current 997 Twin-Turbo rotate silently in unison opposite the museum's upper-floor steakhouse.
Each visitor will undoubtedly pick out their favorite, whether it is the street-legal Porsche 959, Porsche 959 (actually type 961) Paris-Dakar, Martini racing Porsche 935, or the sleek 911 GT1. Some of the more impressive concepts include the Porsche "T7" Type 754 (the 911's predecessor), the Porsche Boxster Concept, and the early Porsche 924. If you are not current with your Porsche history (or the German language), placards and audible narration via headset help guests navigate the expansive space, and add credence to Porsche's extensive motorsports history. Plan a whole afternoon to take it in – there is plenty to absorb.
Porsche spent a reported €100 million (about $130 million) on the new facility. Their significant investment has delivered a world-class exhibition to serve as a central hub for vehicle restoration, an extensive historical archive, and a literal Mecca for Porschephiles. The automaker expects 200,000 visitors to follow our footsteps and walk the monochromatic halls of the Porsche Museum each year. The chronicled presentation is engaging and well worth the small price of admission--even if you aren't a flat-6 aficionado.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
MK III Austin Healey 3000 Improved due to engine modifications.
The Austin Healey 3000
The Austin Healey 3000 was the replacement car for the Austin Healey 100/6. The Austin Healey 3000 was a superior car to its predecessor, equipped with many improved features and updated parts. During its production lifetime the Austin Healey 3000 went through three different versions, the MK I, MK II and MK III.
The Austin Healey 3000 MK I (1959 - 1961) was fitted with a 3.0 litre inline six cylinder engine developing 124 horsepower. The engine was equipped with twin SU carburetors. And the car featured disc brakes at the front.
The Austin Healey 3000 MK II (1961 - 1963) introduced several improvements and design changes. The engine was enhanced by the fitment of triple SU carburettors which bumped the power up to 132 horsepower. In 1962 the BT7 2+2 version was introduced. This seating layout became the only option from 1962 onwards. The Austin Healey 3000 MK IIa introduced wind-up windows, a curved windscreen, and a convertible hood.
The Austin Healey 3000
The Austin Healey 3000 MK III (1963 - 1967) was the final version of the 3000 model. The performance was improved due to engine modifications. Peak power was raised to 148 horsepower, giving the 3000 MK III a top speed of 120 mph. The brakes were also enhanced with the fitment of a servo.
In 1967, due to new safety regulations in the cars biggest market - America, the Austin Healey 3000 was discontinued. It's replacement, the MGC, was nowhere near as popular as the Austin Healey 3000.
During its lifetime the Austin Healey 3000 proved to be a capable racing car. And it competed successfully in rally and road races around the world.
Audi wants a new Murcielago competitor?
Audi R8 is a pretty impressive car, it’s only been in production since 2006, and it is already a future classic. So while the dust hasn’t even begun to settle on the V10 version we’re surprised to hear that Audi isn’t satisfied.
According to Inside Line, Audi officials confirmed that they are working on a car that car take on the Lamborghini Murciélago LP640. That’s impressive for two reason. First, Audi controls Lamborghini, so using a corporate sibling as a competitor is a little odd. Second, the V10 in the 5.2 R8 is plucked from the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, so to get a car to compete with the next Lambo up the ladder is going to take a lot of work.
A natural starting starting point for this car might be the Audi R8 V12 TDI diesel concept car, but as it turns out that’s been officially killed off. Instead Audi is working an even faster supercar. We don’t have any real details on this car. Plus the current economy and potential for cannibalization of a corporate sibling make this car a little hard to understand. The one thing that we do know is that there can never be enough supercars in this world...Bring it on Audi.
[Source:Inside Line]
BMW considering five possible variants of next 1-series, turbocharging galore
A report by AutoBild states that BMW's designers are hard at work on the next iteration of the 1 series and that five different body styles are under review, with only one headed for production.
The variations include a three-door shooting brake, a five-door wagon, a "Progressive Activity Sedan" smaller than the X1, a lifted "Sports Activity Coupe" with a glass roof and, coinciding with an earlier report, a more traditional "sports tourer" that could be the spiritual successor to the 2002.
According to AutoBild, no matter which model makes the cut, BMW plans to downsize the displacement of its engines and begin the wide-scale implementation of turbocharging and direct injection across the 1 series range. The 116i model will make use of a 136 hp, 1.3-liter turbo, the 118i will use a 1.3-liter turbo tweaked to produce 177 hp, the 120i will get a 218 hp 2.0-liter turbo and the 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six will put out an estimated 326 hp. Both new diesel engines and mild hybrid variants are also planned, and BMW's dual-clutch gearbox will be available on more sport-oriented models, while a standard slushbox will be employed on the rest of the range.
The new 1 series is expected to hit Europe in 2011, with a the Super Sport model debuting in 2012 and a convertible variant arriving a year later.
[Source: AutoBild]
Pagani's R-rated swansong debuts
While the closest that most of us will ever get to driving one of Horatio Pagani's creations will be via a Playstation or xBox controller, that doesn't mean we didn't nearly puddle ourselves at the mere sight of the new Zonda R. As we somehow missed out on an invitation when the car debuted in Vienna a few weeks ago, we are nonetheless happy to bring you these first official photos.
Although the Zonda R's sexy self is a sendoff for the current model range, the exoticmaker reports that the car is in fact 90% new. Built using a spendy carbon-fiber/titanium mix (reportedly an industry first) and being at once longer, wider and lower than the Zonda F, the R figures to have real presence to go along with its 739-horsepower 6.0-liter V12 engine. Zonda says the supercar was inspired by Group C racers, and street legality was not a consideration.
Thanks in part to its light weight (1,070 kilograms, or about 2,360 pounds) and Pagani's first-ever paddleshift gearbox, the rear-drive R will launch to 60 mph in three seconds dead and run up to a 233 mph top speed, provided Sir has paid the help to make sure the adjustable aero bits are properly tweaked.
A total of 16 Zonda Rs are planned, with 15 being offered to the public (the 'extra' model will stay in company hands) at a tidy €1.4M – about $1.8 million Yankee bucks. That's a shedload of cash to be sure, but given that the carbon-titanium work alone is said to have cost more than four times that of the Zonda F, it might actually be a small bargain.
[Source: iMotor]
Aston Martin V12 Vantage won't make it Stateside
Dropping big engines into small sportscars is as American as apple pie, but the British are equally adept. Proof came yesterday in the form of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage, revealed ahead of its pre-production debut at the Geneva Motor Show. Only 1000 examples will be made, but unfortunately none of them will be making the transatlantic voyage to these shores (not legally, anyway). After speaking with a member of the U.S. Aston team last night, we discovered there are some problems with the overstuffed front end passing U.S. crash tests, and the airbag-less optional Alcantara-wrapped carbon-Kevlar bucket seats are completely out of the question, making the Nardo-verified 190-mph supercar persona non grata on these shores.
Disappointing though that may be, the V12 Vantage is only one of four anticipated new launches from Aston Martin this year. We've already seen the first official shots of the Rapide four-door coupe, the DBS convertible is tipped to bow at Geneva alongside the V12 Vantage, and despite economic conditions, Aston is still said to be going ahead with the launch of the first model in its revived Lagonda line (to say nothing of the full reveal of the One-77.)
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Report: - January 2009
All the numbers are in for the first month of sales in 2009... and they aren't pretty. Chrysler LLC and General Motors continue to lead the pack with sales drops of 54.8% and 48.8%, respectively. While the overall economy is weak and access to credit limited, the fact that Americans watched both domestic automakers plead for and receive federal aid in December may have contributed to their particularly poor sales performance in January. Adding support to that theory is Ford Motor Company, which saw its sales fall only 40.2% last month, while Honda (-27.9%), Nissan (29.7%) and Toyota (-31.7%) all fared better though still experienced significantly lower sales.
Despite dismal sales results from nearly the entire industry, there were two brands that did manage to post positive numbers. Kia sales were up 3% by volume, though its daily sales rate fell by 0.5%. Subaru also reported an impressive 8% gain in sales by volume, which makes it this month's Biggest Winner. The Biggest Loser this month, however, was the Chrysler brand, which reported a 68.9% fall in sales by volume (-70.1% DSR).
UPDATE: Corrected sales numbers for Hyundai, which actually reported a 14.3% rise in sales volume.
| BY THE NUMBERS - January 2009 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Vol. % Change | Total Sales 1/09 | Total Sales 1/08 | DSR % Change | Daily Avg. 1/09 | Daily Avg. 1/08 |
 Acura | -29.7% | 7,856 | 11,168 | -32.4% | 302 | 447 |
 Audi | -26.4% | 4,722 | 6,418 | -29.3% | 182 | 257 |
 BMW | -15.5% | 12,232 | 14,475 | -18.7% | 470 | 579 |
 Buick | -45.3% | 6,969 | 12,749 | -47.4% | 268 | 510 |
 Cadillac | -42.5% | 8,499 | 14,792 | -44.8% | 327 | 592 |
 Chevrolet | -48.4% | 77,186 | 149,548 | -50.4% | 2,969 | 5,982 |
 Chrysler | -68.9% | 10,685 | 34,372 | -70.1% | 411 | 1,375 |
 Dodge | -50.4% | 34,638 | 69,884 | -52.3% | 1,332 | 2,795 |
 Ford | -39.5% | 79,322 | 131,074 | -41.8% | 3,051 | 5,243 |
 GMC | -40.8% | 19,120 | 32,270 | -43% | 735 | 1,291 |
 Honda | -27.7% | 63,175 | 87,343 | -30.5% | 2,430 | 3,494 |
 HUMMER | -59.9% | 1,222 | 3,050 | -61.5% | 47 | 122 |
 Hyundai | 14.3% | 24,512 | 21,452 | 9.9% | 943 | 858 |
 Infiniti | -17.7% | 7,115 | 8,644 | -20.1% | 274 | 346 |
 Jeep | -49.2% | 16,834 | 33,136 | -51.2% | 647 | 1,325 |
 Kia | 3.5% | 22,096 | 21,355 | -0.5% | 850 | 854 |
 Lexus | -27.5% | 14,722 | 20,299 | -30.3% | 566 | 812 |
 Lincoln | -23.7% | 6,091 | 7,985 | -26.7% | 234 | 319 |
 Mazda | -27.3% | 15,420 | 21,212 | -30.1% | 593 | 848 |
 Mercedes | -42.9% | 10,433 | 18,275 | -45.1% | 401 | 731 |
 Mercury | -44.2% | 5,183 | 9,296 | -46.4% | 199 | 372 |
 MINI | -15.4% | 2,082 | 2,460 | -18.6% | 80 | 98 |
 Mitsubishi | -34.5% | 4,730 | 7,226 | -37.0% | 182 | 289 |
 Nissan | -31.2% | 46,769 | 67,961 | -33.8% | 1,799 | 2,718 |
 Pontiac | -60.5% | 9,104 | 23,025 | -62% | 350 | 921 |
 Porsche | -36.1% | 1,658 | 2,595 | -38.6% | 64 | 104 |
 Saab | -46.1% | 955 | 1,772 | -48.2% | 37 | 71 |
 Saturn | -59.8% | 6,172 | 15,359 | -61.4% | 237 | 614 |
 Subaru | 8.0% | 12,194 | 11,289 | 3.9% | 469 | 452 |
 Suzuki | -48.7% | 3,655 | 7,120 | -50.6% | 141 | 285 |
 Toyota | -32.3% | 102,565 | 151,550 | -34.9% | 3,945 | 6,062 |
 VW | -11.6% | 12,744 | 14,412 | -15.0% | 490 | 576 |
 Volvo | -63.8% | 2,910 | 8,036 | -65.2% | 112 | 321 |
| COMPANIES | ||||||
| BMW Group | -15.5% | 14,314 | 16,935 | -18.7% | 551 | 677 |
| Chrysler LLC | -54.8% | 62,157 | 137,392 | -56.5% | 2,391 | 5,496 |
| FoMoCo | -40.2% | 93,506 | 156,391 | -42.5% | 3,596 | 6,256 |
| General Motors | -48.8% | 129,227 | 252,565 | -50.8% | 4,970 | 10,102 |
| Honda America | -27.9% | 71,031 | 98,511 | -30.7% | 2,732 | 3,940 |
| Nissan NA | -29.7% | 53,884 | 76,605 | -32.4% | 2,072 | 3,064 |
| Toyota Mo Co | -31.7% | 117,287 | 171,849 | -34.4% | 4,511 | 6,874 |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)