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Wednesday, April 29, 2009
RPMGO.com (former Auto Unleashed) |
| Twitter giveaway: Fast and Furious DVDs and sountracks Posted: 29 Apr 2009 05:36 AM PDT  Guys and gals, we have an interesting little giveaway for you. We have a package with the first three movies from the Fast and Furious series and 3 soundtracks from the fourth (samples here). Though we weren’t very impressed with the fourth movie, its soundtrack sounds great and makes for an excellent driving music. And the first three movies from the series were really great, so we think you’ll enjoy the prizes. So, how can you get one? Well, for this one we’ll use Twitter. Don’t know what Twitter is? You should be ashamed of yourselves, because everyone’s talking about it. And of course, we have an account (@rpmgo). So all you have to do is: 1. Have a Twitter account (if not, it’s about time you create one!) 2. Log into your Twitter account. 3. Write a reply @rpmgo with what was your favorite movie from the Fast and Furios series (and you could also add why). 4. And that’s it! 5. Well, actually it’s not it because it would be great if you would also follow us One of the replies will get a package with the first three Fast and Furious movies and three other replies will get the original soundtrack from the fourth movie. So, what are you waiting for!?
Post published on Rpmgo.com Twitter giveaway: Fast and Furious DVDs and sountracks Related posts:
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| Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 999 Red Gold ‘Nightmare’ Posted: 29 Apr 2009 05:05 AM PDT  Actually, the car’s name is Red Gold Dream, but considering we’ve gone half blind when we saw it, we couldn’t call it a dream, on the contrary, most be one of the most hideous creations ever. This red nightmare was created by Swiss designer Ueli Anliker and it was unveiled at the Auto Emotionen tuning show in Berne, Switzerland. This abominable car is the result of 30,000 work hours and $4.35 million invested in it. Why so much you ask? Well, to decorate the SLR, they used 500 rubys and a lot of 24k gold. And this is an excellent proof that if you use expensive materials doesn’t mean you get a work of art. Oh, and not to mention the horrible body kit, I mean, what’s with that front spoiler, reminds me a little from the Alien monster. Anyway, we’re not saying the creators didn’t put a lot of work into this car, but for Christ’s sake, next time please consult a real designer. Photo Gallery: Mercedes Benz SLR 999 Red Gold Dream
[Source: Autoblog.nl] Post published on Rpmgo.com Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 999 Red Gold ‘Nightmare’ Related posts:
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| BMW X1 spotted during photo shoot, without any camouflage Posted: 29 Apr 2009 04:14 AM PDT  Last year, at the Paris Motor Show BMW unveiled the Concept X1, a concept car that previewed the BMW X1, a compact premium SAV (Sport Activity Vehicle) built on the 1 Series platform. Meanwhile, the German carmaker has announced the final production version will debut later this year, at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September. But now we won’t have to wait for the German show to see the car, because the car was caught without any camouflage, during a photo shoot in Koln, Germany. Unfortunately there’s only one photo and the quality is not very impressive, but we can tell BMW has managed to keep the car’s look very close to the concept’s, our friends from BMW Blog saying that the only changes the X1 will get are modified taillights and front bumper and it looks like they’re right. [Source: BMW Blog] Post published on Rpmgo.com BMW X1 spotted during photo shoot, without any camouflage Related posts:
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| Lamborghini Diablo crash caught on tape Posted: 29 Apr 2009 03:55 AM PDT No, it’s nothing serious, no one gets hurt but we bet the driver’s ego got so hurt. Not sure where this took place (somewhere in Europe), but what happend is that this Diablo driver tried to impress everyone with a flashy exit from the starting point and he ended up making everyone laugh when he couldn’t control the car and smashed it into a parked truck. What can we say…shit happends! [Source: Carscoop] Post published on Rpmgo.com Lamborghini Diablo crash caught on tape Related posts:
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| RPMGO Interview: Nicolas Stone, freelance automotive designer Posted: 28 Apr 2009 12:51 PM PDT   Some time ago we wrote about a very interesting concept car created by Nicolas Stone, a young automotive designer with a lot of talent. Then we had the idea of asking Nicolas for an interview (the first one ever done by us) and ask him a few questions about him and his work, because we really loved it. In the meantime, though he is still looking for his dream job in a large carmaker’s design department, Nicolas has launched his own website (nicstonedesign.com) where he has his portfolio, resume, bio, and a blog where he discusses various ideas and products, explaining what he would do to make them better. He’s also in the process of starting his own company with his business partner called “Element SA”, serving as a design and business consultancy. Their website (elementSA.com) is currently under construction. So, enough talking from us, we’ll let you read more of what Nic told us: 1. Let’s start with “Who’s Nicolas Stone and how did he end up designing cars?” Born in Atlanta, GA, my family moved to Miami, FL when I was 8 years old. It was there where I first discovered my artistic ability. Soon my passion for art and automobiles merged when I first saw the Dodge Viper. I realized that there was someone who gets paid to draw these things, and that it was what I wanted to do. Since the age of 11, I attended specialized art schools, including Design and Architecture Senior High (DASH), the only high school for industrial design in the country. In 2003 I won my first car design competition at the 2003 South Florida International Auto Show. Since then I have never stopped designing cars. 2. Tell us a little about the projects you’ve worked on. While at CCS, I worked on a total of 10 automotive projects. Before the Hyundai project, I did a project for Honda and the IRL (Indy Racing League). For that project, I designed a new hybrid IndyCar for 2011 that integrated wind turbines into the body of the vehicle, using the air passing over the car as high speeds to generate electricity for the engine/motor. Prior to that, I had a 5-month internship at Fiat Centro Stile in Torino, Italy. Other projects include the Dodge Dendro (an exo-skeletal sports car showcasing advanced steel technology), "rally wheels" for the new Dodge Challenger, a new Fiat Panda for the North American market, a Jaguar luxury sports-crossover, and even an ambulance designed specifically for the tight streets in urban China. 3. What exactly is a sponsored studio and how were these experiences to you? Sponsored studios [at CCS] are where a company directs/funds a class of students through out the 15-week semester. A design brief is given at the beginning of the project typically with an in-depth presentation from design, marketing, and engineering staff. The design process goes through research, ideation, refinement, package development, clay/milled scale models, and in some cases Alias (3D digital modeling) development. Students are guided by periodical visits from design staff throughout the project term, finished by a final formal presentation to design/marketing/engineering staff and in some cases even executives (CEOs, VP's, Directors, etc.). 4. What’s the project you’re most fond of and why? I would have to be most fond of my Dodge Dendro project, which was done during my internship with American Iron and Steel. It was the first project where I was really able to "break out of my shell." The projects I had done prior had fairly limiting, as they were more production oriented. It was also the first project where I worked closely with an engineer to realize my concepts and test my theories.  For this particular project, I wanted to design a exo-skeletal vehicle frame using a triangle, which is the strongest shape in geometry. In collaboration with the engineering student from University of Michigan, we were able to put my proposed design to the test, checking for various strength and impact requirements. According to the simulations, my design not only met the requirements, but actually even tripled the strength over the requirements in certain areas. 5. Which was the most challenging project and why? I would have to say the most challenging project was the Honda IndyCar. Open-wheeled race cars are completely different than regular bodied cars, especially from a volumetric stand point. In order to design a new IndyCar, I had to study the current platform, and more importantly the history of how it came to be over the almost-100 years of IndyCar Racing. Considering this was a 15-week project, I had to familiarize myself with this new type of vehicle rather quickly. What made it even more challenging was integrating my proposed wind-turbine system into the body of this light-weight open-wheeled race car. 6. Two weeks ago we wrote about the 2020 Hyundai City Car. That’s a really interesting concept, especially judging by the technologies it uses. I understood it’s something very similar to photosynthesis in plants. How exactly does it work? The 2020 Hyundai City Car is my proposal for a plug-in hybrid EV. That means the car runs off an electric battery charge and functions as current EV's do. However, my design also features a system of "artificial photosynthesis" that serves as a "back-up" power source. By electrically stimulating a central water tank, the water is split into oxygen and hydrogen. The hydrogen is stored in removable tanks that fit into the rear of the chassis. These hydrogen tanks (sold separately at your local dealer) could be pre-filled and kept in the rear storage compartment to extend the vehicle's range even further.  The new technologies incorporated in this vehicle can be used to dramatically extend the range of an EV, making them far more versatile. More importantly, this technology (pending future development) could potentially hold the answer to the world's energy crisis. 7. What’s the difference between a transparent solar panel and a regular one and why is it better? The transparent solar panels used in my Hyundai project are actually referred to as "solar concentrators." Typical solar panels contain many tiny expensive mirrors and tracking systems that have to follow the sun as it moves through the sky. These new solar concentrators are clear glass or plastic panels that are coated with a special organic dye that re-directs the ambient light to the edges of the panel, where tiny solar cells collect the light and convert it to electricity. These new panels can also be applied to existing solar panels, increasing efficiency up to 25%. This technology was developed by 3 MIT students, who started Covalent Solar (www.covalentsolar.com) to further develop this material. From a design standpoint, these new solar concentrators could create a whole new aesthetic for cars, buildings, houses, etc. 8. You’ve worked with a lot of big companies, like Hyundai, Fiat or Honda. How was that experience to you? As a student-designer, nothing is more valuable than interaction with companies. The various sponsored studios at CCS that I took part in allowed me to get "real-world" feedback and guidance from studio design managers. Since each company has their own design approach, you become more versatile as a designer as you work with each company/brand. Those experiences also gave me the opportunity to network with designers for each company, which helps when looking for a job after graduation. 9. How do you see the future of car design? Despite the current gloomy global situation, I personally believe we are on the verge of an "automotive renaissance". More than ever before, the public, corporate, and even government sectors are being forced to confront the global environmental issues. The carmakers now have to respond, and respond quickly. [In my personal opinion] we have the potential to see the greatest leap in automotive evolution since "body-on-frame" design. These new EV technologies can dramatically change the way the cars are built and designed. As "design" as an industry is becoming more mainstream, people's attention to design has also grown. It may take a decade or two, but I see an incredibly bright future ahead. 10. Recently, Chris Bangle decided to quit his position at BMW. He was a really controversial figure. What do you think about his influence on the BMW design philosophy? Fortunately, I had the opportunity to meet Chris Bangle at this year's Detroit Auto Show (shortly before his resignation). I am a huge fan of his work. It is amazing how he was able to take such a conservative company as BMW and generate some of the most provoking (although controversial) designs on the road. The current BMW line-up, which Bangle left his mark on are hands-down the most sculptural and unique looking cars on the market, and always stand out as a step above the competition. While certain features on some vehicles are either love/hate (ex. "Bangle-butts"), what is un-doubtable is the profound impact he left on the entire industry. 11. Are there any car designers which you really admire and who have influenced your work? Besides Chris Bangle, I wound have to say I was a great admirer of Franz Von Holzhausen's work at Mazda, especially with the Nagare Concept Series. Those vehicles were simply amazing; unlike anything else I have ever seen. The elegance and artistry in the surfaces and details bring a whole new language to car design; offering something truly uniquely beautiful, making even exotic supercars look somewhat – average. Those designs re-affirmed to me that there are truly no limits in design, beyond the ones we put in-front of ourselves. 12. Americans are famous for not designing the most beautiful cars around, while everyone loves European (especially Italian) designs. You’ve worked in both American and European design centers. What’s the difference between these two design philosophies? The largest difference I noticed was in "approach". In Europe, designers tend to take a more emotional approach to design, where as Americans designs tend to be more about problem solving and tradition. Aesthetically, I think European designs are more refined and sensitive to details; As opposed to American designs, which tend to be more bold, big, and aggressive. However, American companies are becoming more global-minded (as well as the consumer) and therefore [for once] both sides are starting to move in the same direction. 13. If you were to give the “Nic Stone Design Awards” for existing cars and concepts, which would be your top 3 and why? Hands down, I would have to declare the BMW GINA Concept undoubtedly as the best concept car ever created. When it comes down to it, design is about innovation. New solutions are what we [as designers] strive for. Breaking conventions is what we are here to do, to remind people that there are no limits except the ones you put in front of yourself. The Mercedes-Benz CLS is another car I really admire, which created a whole new product category, a four-door coupe. Although the Audi Sportback Concept was a beautiful and more modern interpretation, the CLS is the true innovator. I would also have to give a special mention for the new Chevrolet Camaro. The way the GM design team took the design from concept to production should stand as a model example for all future development (and let's hope they follow suit with the 2nd gen Volt). Honestly, my personal tastes always favored European brands, but the Camaro might be enough to make a "GM-believer" out of me [and that is not an easy accomplishment]. 14. I understand you’re looking for a job. What is your dream job? My dream job is to ultimately become the director of design for a major automotive brand/manufacturer. I want to be able to contribute to the development of future vehicles, helping to take "the automobile" to the next level. I personally believe we could be on the verge of a new energy/technology renaissance; one which could dramatically change the way our world looks and operates. I wish to help the automotive industry move in this forward-thinking direction. Those positions take years of hard work and loyalty, so right now I am simply looking for an opportunity to prove myself, and earn a spot in a design studio.  Thanks a lot for your time Nicolas and we wish you all the luck for the future! Post published on Rpmgo.com RPMGO Interview: Nicolas Stone, freelance automotive designer Related posts:
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| GM looking for potential buyers for Opel, Fiat might be interested Posted: 28 Apr 2009 08:51 AM PDT  In what looks like an attempt to get some more money coming in, General Motors is currently looking for potential buyers for their European arm, Opel. “We are continuing to work toward a restructuring of our German and certain other European operations, which could include a third-party investment in Adam Opel GmbH that would own all or a significant part of our European operations,” GM said in a regulatory filing outlining its revised restructuring plan. Opel, which was acquired in 1929, has been the core of GM Europe operations and is doing pretty well now, comparing with the rest of GM, which is on the edge of bankruptcy. Asked whether selling Opel would affect GM’s global operation, Fritz Henderson, the company’s CEO, said “”I think GM will remain a global corporation without a doubt,” Henderson said, “but there’s no question in my mind that the nature of those global relationships will change.” He also said that GM has held talks over the past month with several investors interested in Opel, but declined to give any names. However, according to The Detroit News, among the companies interested in Opel are the Italian giant Fiat and Magna International Inc., one of the world’s largest auto parts supplier. [Source: The Detroit News] Post published on Rpmgo.com GM looking for potential buyers for Opel, Fiat might be interested Related posts:
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| Anniversary one-off Bugatti Veyron Specials unveiled at Villa d’Este Posted: 28 Apr 2009 08:36 AM PDT  Last week we told you about the four special editions Bugatti Veyrons which were planned for this year’s Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza and this weekend the four models were unveiled at the Italian event. After the Bleu Centenaire which debuted last month in Geneva, the four special editions celebrate Bugatti’s 100th anniversary, by paying an homage to the generation of legendary Bugatti Grand Prix race cars which made history during the 1920s and the ’30s. Each car is named after a Bugatti driver and features the racing colors of the respective countries: Blue for Jean-Pierre Wimille from France, Red for Achille Varzi from Italy, Green for Malcom Campbell from England and White for Hermann zi Leiningen from Germany. The four Veyron Specials were exhibited alongside the original Type 35s racing cars for the first and only time. “We have put a lot of effort into translating colour and material, the defining characteristics of our historic role models, into the designs of the modern-day Veyrons,” explains Alasdair Stewart, Director Sales & Marketing at Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. “We have taken extreme care to match the original colours of the original race cars, exterior and interior” However, if you missed the Geneva Motor Show or the Concorso d’Eleganza, Bugatti will continue its series of anniversay events planned for this year at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California in mid-August and the main event in Molsheim, France on September 12, when more surprises might be on their way. Photo Gallery: Bugatti Veyron Centenaire Specials
[Source: Bugatti] Post published on Rpmgo.com Anniversary one-off Bugatti Veyron Specials unveiled at Villa d’Este Related posts:
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| Daimler agrees to give up on remaining Chrysler stake Posted: 28 Apr 2009 07:24 AM PDT  Yesterday, the German giant Daimler AG announced that it will give up it’s final 19.9 percent stake in Chrysler, considering the Auburn Hills carmaker’s extremely tough period. According to Daimler’s spokesmen, the company will relinquish its stake after settling a dispute with Cerberus Capital Management, Chrysler’s current owner, over their 2007 deal. This means that Daimler has decided to forgive a $1.5 billion loan to Chrysler which was given when ownership was transferred to Cerberus. But that’s not all the money Daimler will lose, because yesterday they also signed a deal with the U.S. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., according to which they agreed to pay $600 million into Chrysler’s pension plans, in three installments, $200 million each year until 2011. This money will ensure pension payments for the former DaimlerChrysler employees. So I guess it’s safe to say Chrysler, which cost Daimler $36 billion back in 1998 has been a major pain in the ass for Daimler ever since, with the German company losing a lot of money since they decided to drop the Auburn Hills carmaker, in 1998. As for Chrysler, things aren’t easy for them, the carmaker’s management working hard these days to come up with a viable restructuring plan imposed by the Government in exchange for continuing financial aid. Beside the agreement with Daimler, Chrysler also has to seal the alliance with Fiat and deal with the $6.9 billion debt to different banks, including J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs. [Source: Financial Times] Post published on Rpmgo.com Daimler agrees to give up on remaining Chrysler stake Related posts:
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| Spied: Audi RS5 with retractable rear spoiler, could be the modern Ur-quattro? Posted: 28 Apr 2009 06:41 AM PDT  The Audi RS5 is getting closer and closer to debut and spy shots are showing up everywhere. However, the latest ones, taken on the Nurburgring track, are definitely the most interesting ones, because for the first time we see the RS5 being equipped with a retractable rear spoiler, just like the other sports cars in the Audi range, the R8 or the TT. So what does this mean? Well, we don’t know for sure, but there are a lot of rumors going around about Audi planning to revive the legendary 1985 ‘Ur-Quattro’, one of Audi’s most successful sports cars ever. According to these rumors, the car will weight less than 1,400 kg (3,086 lbs) and, powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.0 liters V6 delivering 425 hp, will offer an incredible experience. If all these are true, we should expect the special RS5 to debut in 2012 at a starting price of around 70,000 Euros ($91,000). [Source: Auto Express]
Post published on Rpmgo.com Spied: Audi RS5 with retractable rear spoiler, could be the modern Ur-quattro? Related posts:
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| Carlsson tuning package for the new Mercedes Benz E Class Posted: 28 Apr 2009 06:14 AM PDT  The German tuner Carlsson has announced that this weekend, at the Tuning World Bodensee, they’ll unveil their tuning program for the new Mercedes Benz E Class. One of the highlights of this program is the new aerodynamics kit, developed by Carlsson’s head designer Rolf Schepp, which features a newly designed front apron, completely re-engineered front wings, side rails, new rear apron with integrated diffuser framed by four stainless steel end pipes and a new rear spolier. The entire body kit is made of lightweight polyurethane (PUR-RIM). The car’s sporty look is completed by a set of 20-inch 1/5 REVO Carlsson wheels, painted in matt black and matt-varnished gloss-turned silver strut. Carlsson also ‘played’ with the E Class’ engines, so power upgrades are available for almost all the engines in the Mercedes range. The E250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY received a 40 hp upgrade (available from June), the E350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY got a 46 hp upgrade (available from July) while the top of the range E500 got a CM50K compressor kit which includes a new exhaust system with racing header, high-performance catalysts and stainless steel mufflers, and is responsible for a 55 hp power increase. To make sure that extra power doesn’t doesn’t fo to waste, Carlsson offers their intelligent lowering kit C-Tronic SUSPENSION, which lowers the car by 43 mm and continuously adjusts the balance between sporty and taut settings for optimal comfort and performance. Photo Gallery: Mercedes Benz E Class tuning by Carlsson
[Source: Carlsson] Post published on Rpmgo.com Carlsson tuning package for the new Mercedes Benz E Class Related posts:
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