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Monday, November 9, 2009
RPMGO.com (former Auto Unleashed) |
- BMW says more hybrids will be made, hybrid diesels a possibility
- Carl-Peter Forster leaves Opel, Bob Lutz to step in as chairman
- Classic Recreations to commence building Shelby GT500CR models
- BMW M3 GTS showcases its track and drifting potential in two new videos
- Renault confirms Twizy and Zoe zero-emissions electric vehicles for 2011 and 2012
- Study says dogs are more pollutant than SUVs, gets quickly debunked
- Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG goes retro with Panamericana body kit from Gullwing America
- GM reveals the Grand Sport Heritage accessories offered for the 2010 Chevrolet Corvette
- JE Design reveals tuning options for Seat Leon FR before Essen debut
- AVUS Performance unveils Black Arrow tuning package for Audi A4 Avant
| BMW says more hybrids will be made, hybrid diesels a possibility Posted: 09 Nov 2009 04:16 AM PST  Hybrids are currently the next big thing in the automotive industry, and not a single company can afford to ignore them in the long run. Even BMW is getting very involved with the technology, and has just released the new ActiveHybrid X6 model. The lead manager on the project, Peter Tuennermann, has revealed a few very interesting things about the hybrid strategy of the Bavarian automaker, including the fact that certain models, like the 3, 5 or 7 series will receive mild hybrid technology, meaning the electric engine will only help the petrol one in its tasks, while the SUV lineup, like the X3, X5 or X6 will receive a full hybrid technology, in which the electric motor is big enough to power the car for a certain length.
Tuennermann also touched on the idea of seeing a diesel hybrid anytime soon, revealing that the EfficientDynamics concept revealed in Frankfurt is a firm statement that the company is researching the field, but that it is just one of the solutions it has in mind for its hybrid business. Would you like to see more BMW models feature a hybrid drivetrain? If yes, then what models? Share your through in the comment section below the article. Source: Autocar Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Carl-Peter Forster leaves Opel, Bob Lutz to step in as chairman Posted: 09 Nov 2009 03:52 AM PST  Just a short time before GM’s board announced that it will keep German automaker Opel, its chairman, Carl-Peter Forster, revealed that it was for the best that the new owner should be Canadian partsmaker Magna. You can be sure that GM didn’t like that, and after canceling the deal with Magna, proceeded to make a few modifications inside the German company. Forster was, of course, one of the first to go, and his place will be taken by GM’s current vice chairman and head of marketing and communications (also part time racer) Bob Lutz. While this is definitely a boost in the reputation for Lutz, he will be handling the job as Opel chairman, and with it the role of GM’s European relations, only until the company will find another person qualified for the job. According to some rumors, the US company will choose someone from Germany, in order to save its reputation, which took some massive blows in the last year. Source: Bloomberg via Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Classic Recreations to commence building Shelby GT500CR models Posted: 09 Nov 2009 03:39 AM PST  While the current generation Ford Mustang is quite attractive for muscle car fans, many can’t deny that the classic 1960s Mustangs were some of the most beautiful cars ever made, with the cherry on top being the special editions released by performance companies like Shelby. Now, in order to bring back those classic times, coach builder Classic Recreations has announced that it has secured the licensing deal with Shelby to commence building the classic GT500CR based on the 1967 and 1968 Ford Mustang models.
What’s even more interesting, especially for purists, is that each model built by Classic Recreations will feature a unique serial number in the Shelby database. Each car will be made with performance parts, guaranteeing the best satisfaction. This is certainly great news for Mustang fans, but no other details or prices were given yet, so you’ll have to wait a few more weeks. Source: Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| BMW M3 GTS showcases its track and drifting potential in two new videos Posted: 09 Nov 2009 01:13 AM PST  I’m certain that most of you guys are extremely excited about the new BMW M3 GTS model and in order to please you, BMW has just posted two new videos, showcasing the new lightweight and more powerful GTS version of the M3. This time these two videos aren’t teasers and reveal the performance model on the track, where it was made to be, drifting and racing, all in some beautifully directed shots. Hit the jump so you can see and enjoy the two videos!
Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Renault confirms Twizy and Zoe zero-emissions electric vehicles for 2011 and 2012 Posted: 09 Nov 2009 01:01 AM PST  Renault really wants to push its new electric vehicles out on the roads as soon as possible and has just announced that two zero emissions models will commence manufacturing as soon as 2011. The first model to enter production in 2011 at the Valladolid plant in Spain will be the Renault Twizy, which will be largely based on the funky-looking 1+1 mini car presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show a few months ago. It will be propelled by a 20 HP electric unit which also develops 70 Nm. Its projected autonomy is around 100 km, perfect for city use.  The Renault Zoe will enter production a bit later, in 2012, at the Flins plant, right next to Paris. It will only take some styling cues from its respective concept, but will be the spearhead of electric vehicles for Renault, which projects that two thirds of its sales will be represented by it. An electric unit will be placed under the bonnet, capable of developing 93 HP and will go with a single charge for about 160 km. Overall, it seems that the French manufacturer wants to dive head first into the electric car market, and steal it from the large German automakers. Will it succeed? Only time will tell, but you can too by leaving a comment below. Source: Drive-Test Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Study says dogs are more pollutant than SUVs, gets quickly debunked Posted: 09 Nov 2009 12:47 AM PST  Wacky study time everyone! A couple of researchers from New Zealand have revealed in a new study that a mid-size dog produces more pollution than a big old Toyota Land Cruiser V8 SUV. That’s right, according to Robert and Brenda Vale from the Victoria University in Wellington, we should trade in our lovely pooches for big SUVs in order to save the planet. According to the findings, a dog consumes around 90 grams of meat and 156 grams of cereal every day, leaving a so-called ecologic footprint of 0.84 hectares, while Land Cruiser only leaves a 0.41 hectare footprint. Needless to say, the research team at the Seattle Institute quickly found some big holes in the logic used by the two scientists, as they didn’t take into account the fact that secondary products might be used for making dog food, or didn’t even consider the CO2 emissions produced by the car. But reputed magazine New Scientist did reveal that due to the problem of excrements, dogs still produce some pollution. Honestly, my mind is boggled by the things scientists want to study these days. Let’s hope that this new study will make Greenpeace and PETA go at it and pollution rules will be applied to dogs (just kidding). Source: New Scientist via TheCarConnection via Automarket Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG goes retro with Panamericana body kit from Gullwing America Posted: 09 Nov 2009 12:17 AM PST  As you know, Mercedes-Benz’s newest supercar, the SLS AMG is a throwback to the classic Gullwing 300SL model which was quite important in the history of the German carmaker. In order to honor this heritage, the team at Gullwing America, led by Arturo Alonso, devised this Panamericana body kit for the new model, which adds a bit of retro feel to the upcoming model, which will be released in 2010. Although the company released only a batch of renders, as Mercedes hasn’t started delivering OEM body parts to tuning companies, you can still be amazed by the new SLS AMG. Everything from the new body panels, which will be made from a hybrid concoction of aluminum and carbon fiber, to the very attractive paint finish will definitely make Mercedes fans interested. Changes include new Xenon headlights, a set of custom five-spoke wheels which measure 19-inch at the front and 20 at the back, new Alcantara inserts in the interior as well as the Panamericana logo on the new lit aluminum door sills.  Either way, this new body kit should definitely be on the radar of people wanting a new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG next year. Source: WorldCarFans Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| GM reveals the Grand Sport Heritage accessories offered for the 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Posted: 09 Nov 2009 12:02 AM PST  Next year will bring a very special treat for Corvette fans, as GM will re-introduce the Grand Sport version, which is essentially a track-oriented model of the normal Corvette, featuring many upgrades from wider wheels and tires to performance suspension. In order to get the hype going around it, the company revealed a special version of the Corvette Grand Sport at last week’s SEMA show, which had all of the accessories from the new Heritage Package, that customers can order with their new 2010 performance model. Besides the very interesting Cyber Grey exterior, the Heritage package includes things like mesh inserts in the front fender vents, new ZR1-style front splitter, rear spoiler and wheels spats (all in satin black finish), tinted dark chrome fender badges, a Tech pattern decorating the engine cover, Grand Sport logos on the hood blanket, floor mats and leather console cover or even racing-style pedal covers. All of these new accessories will go on sale in early 2010 with the Corvette Grand Sport. Source: WorldCarFans Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| JE Design reveals tuning options for Seat Leon FR before Essen debut Posted: 08 Nov 2009 11:49 PM PST  After North American tuners had their “little” get together at the SEMA show in Las Vegas last week, it’s time for the European companies to prepare for their own convention, at the Essen Motor Show in Germany, which will start on November 28 and end on December 6. This means that already quite a lot of companies are revealing to the press the creations which they will debut in Essen. The latest to do so is JE Design, which has revealed some very special packaged for the Seat Leon FR models, both the diesel and the gasoline variants. Although the team preferred not to mess with the inner workings of the engine, by adjusting the ECUs, JE Design managed to squeeze 270 HP from the TFSI unit and 204 from the TDI one (as opposed to the standard 211 and 170 HP, respectively. Torque has also been increased to 355 Nm for the petrol and 380 for the diesel one. The engine modifications result in a 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.2 seconds for the TFSI and 7.6 for the TDI. Other impressive modifications include a double-lipped front spoiler, side skirts and center diffuser, as well as new headlights and a set of very popular LED daytime running lights. In the back, you’ll observe a quad-pipe exhaust system, which joins the new springs, which lowered the car by 35 mm, the adjustable coilover suspension and the set of polished, multispoke 19-inch wheels.  As you can see from the pics, the major enhancement, at least in the eyes of JE is the Lamborghini-style vertical doors. They let you enter a leather interior, with the material coating everything from the heated, massage seats, doors, armrest or steering wheel. In case this tuning package sparks your interest, you’ll need to fork out €12,652 for the gasoline TFSI version and €12,552 for the TDI one. Source: WorldCarFans Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| AVUS Performance unveils Black Arrow tuning package for Audi A4 Avant Posted: 08 Nov 2009 11:30 PM PST  Who said family estate cars can’t enjoy tuning options? Certainly not the team from AVUS Performance, which has just revealed the Black Arrow tuning program for the Avant version of the Audi A4. Basing itself on the 2.7-liter TDI engine, which has received a stage 1 enhanced ECU and a few other electronic tweaks, the Black Arrow outputs 230 HP and 358 lb-ft of torque, as opposed tot eh stock 190 HP and 295 torque. Don’t worry if you have another type of engine in your A4 Avant, as AVUS ensures plenty of tuning options for any supercharged engine in the lineup.  In terms of style, as the name suggests, the model received a wrap in matte black, although other colors are available, as well as a set of 21-inch wheels, attached to a new coilover suspension. Other features which you can order include 19 and 20-inch wheels, as well as LED taillights. Source: WorldCarFans Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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