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Wednesday, April 21, 2010
RPMGO.com (former Auto Unleashed) |
- Shootin brake/break – A guide to the newest automotive fad
- Video: Ken Block presents the Gymkhana Three Ford Fiesta
- Alfa Romeo plans centenary rally in Milan with 3,000 cars
- Video: The Porsche Panamera Turbo Taxi appears in Germany
- GM officially repays US and Canada $5.8 billion
- Production Toyota FT-86 to have increased price, targets older audience
- Luca di Montezemolo steps down from Fiat, remains Ferrari chairman
- SAIC E1 electric vehicle revealed, boasts 30 minute 80% recharge time
- Volkswagen enters Scirocco GT24 CNG racer in 24 Hours of Nurburgring
- Rhys Millen’s Pikes Peak racer rendered
| Shootin brake/break – A guide to the newest automotive fad Posted: 21 Apr 2010 04:26 AM PDT  Lately we’ve been hearing a lot about the ‘newest’ automotive fad: shooting brake or break designs. From elaborate concepts, like the Mercedes-Benz Concept Fascination or the recent Shooting Break, to real-life applications like the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, this new hatchback coupe combination is taking the auto world by storm. But before designers around the world hailed it as the second coming, the term had a more antiquated definition and was used for simpler activities. Curious to learn just what the shooting brake or break terms mean? Then hit the jump and find out. This is where the brake comes in. It was a type of carriage used to ‘break’ in young or wild horses. Because people were a bit simpler and because the two words are homonyms, the variation was easily accepted. Slowly but surely the denomination was used on larger carriages. When hunters began using them to haul around their weapons, equipment and sometimes partners, the ’shooting’ term joined. Coming back to more recent times, some car designers began to adopt this philosophy and came up with elongated wagons, sometimes with two front doors and a hatchback, or side hinged ones in the rear. Seeing as how wagons or tourers were also popular at the time, the ‘Shooting brake/break’ name came back, denouncing a refined but a bit more practical design.  Such designs aren’t wagons though, as they are usually accompanied with longer front ends and a sloping rear, creating the illusion of a coupe. While in some cases they can generate huge interest, like the Mercedes concepts, in other cases they might spark some heated arguments, like the BMW 5 GT. Either way, seeing as how more and more people are starting to like this type of design, you can expect other companies to jump on the shooting brake … wagon. What do you believe? Do such cars have a place on today’s roads or do we just need to stop the fad and opt for either a wagon or coupe? Share your thoughts below. This has been a part of our RPMGO Answers feature, which tackles various automotive debates or questions, and tries to find a simple explanation or to reveal all sides of the discussion. If you want a specific question to be answered, why not contact us? Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Video: Ken Block presents the Gymkhana Three Ford Fiesta Posted: 21 Apr 2010 02:03 AM PDT  Ken Block is a great rally driver, but his popularity really took off when he decided to drift his Subaru Impreza WRX STI and call the video Gymkhana. This sparked a true phenomenon and Internet fame was guaranteed for the American driver. But given his move from Subaru to Ford, many thought the wild rides will be over. Not a chance, as Block revealed yesterday the customized Ford Fiesta he will use this summer for Gymkhana Three. Worried it won’t live up to expectations set by the Impreza? Relax, as this Fiesta has been modified by Olsbergs Motorsport Evolution, who added a special-built turbocharged 2.0-liter engine capable of a whopping 850 HP. The power rating was limited to 650 HP and 660 lb-ft of torque for the future Gymkhana Three video, but it’s still mighty impressive. The power is going to be controlled by a MSE Maktrak six-speed sequential transmission, that will send it to all four wheels. 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) time for the little Fiesta? A supercar-crushing 2.0 seconds flat. Ken Block also released a smoke-filled teaser video with the Gymkhana Three Ford Fiesta, so hit the jump and check it out. Source: Ford Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Alfa Romeo plans centenary rally in Milan with 3,000 cars Posted: 21 Apr 2010 01:44 AM PDT  Alfa Romeo is a very loved brand, and this fact was made more apparent by the centenary celebrations the company announced. From new concepts like the Bertone Pandion, the Pininfarina 2uettottanta or the recent Zagato TZ3 Corsa, to the newly released Giulietta hatchback, Alfa Romeo is getting much love all around. Alfa owners, the Alfisti, will also be in for a special celebration in Milan, on June 26 and 27. The carmaker will organize a rally (more like parade) around the city for all its fans. Officials are expecting over 3,000 Alfa Romeo models, who will also be greeted by concerts and a special sculpture designed by the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo. Those that want to take part in the celebrations can visit this website, but bear in mind the company didn’t say it’s going to have mechanics present, so bring your toolkit. Source: Alfa Romeo Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Video: The Porsche Panamera Turbo Taxi appears in Germany Posted: 21 Apr 2010 01:24 AM PDT  The Porsche Panamera definitely marked a new era for the Stuttgart-based luxury carmaker, offering four seat and four-door Porsche sedan experience. The new model didn’t just attract rich people that want to haul around their family with them, but also a German taxi driver, who opted to turn the powerful Panamera Turbo into a cab and drive customers around through Hamburg (from what we can tell, as our German is a bit rusty). As such, the 493 HP Panamera Turbo was decked out in the traditional taxi color from Germany, fitted with a meter and it now offers thrills to anyone willing to hail it. Still, we dread to think what the fee is. Anyway, hit the jump to see this Porsche Panamera Turbo Taxi in action. Source: AutoBildTV via Automarket Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| GM officially repays US and Canada $5.8 billion Posted: 21 Apr 2010 01:04 AM PDT  As was rumored yesterday, General Motors CEO Ed Whitacre revealed that the company has officially repaid its outstanding debt to the US and Canadian governments, worth $5.8 billion. The company has refunded, through this measure, the amount of money the two governments gave to bail it out, back in the sumer of last year.
The main goal now for the company is to go public, so that the US government can get back some of the $50 billion it currently has in plain and preferred stocks, totaling 60.8%. This event is likely to take place later this year, but given the eagerness of GM to prove that it’s on the right track, we might see it sooner. GM definitely won some major confidence points from both the average consumer and the US and Canadian governments for paying back the money ahead of schedule. Now, it needs to get its act together and become the automaker it once was. Source: Automotive News Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Production Toyota FT-86 to have increased price, targets older audience Posted: 21 Apr 2010 12:48 AM PDT  It’s been a while since we heard something about the stunning Toyota FT-86 rear-wheel drive coupe concept, but now some new rumors were picked up by the guys at Autocar. It seems that unforeseen development costs and the fact that further research needs to be made, so that the Subaru boxer engine will become more fuel efficient and ‘green’, will jack up the price of the production-ready FT-86. As such, when the car will arrive later 2011, the base price might be around $23,000 while a range-topping edition will go as high as $26,000 or more. This, plus the fact that new market research studies are claiming the original target audience of people in their 30s aren’t that interested, will no doubt force Toyota to market the car to those in their 40s. Now I don’t know about you, but such a recipe just screams mid-life crisis car. As you know, the Toyota FT-86 was meant to continue the legacy of the Supra or the Celica, and offer a cheap, rear-wheel drive coupe for the masses. Now, the concept might be forced to take on a whole new role. Source: Autocar Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Luca di Montezemolo steps down from Fiat, remains Ferrari chairman Posted: 21 Apr 2010 12:27 AM PDT  Fiat announced yesterday that its chairman, Luca di Montezemolo, a man much loved by Ferrari fans, will be stepping down from his position. He was first named chairman of the Fiat group in 2004. The executive revealed that he “completed the assignment given to him,” and will now return to act as chairman for Ferrari. Montezemolo will still hold a place in the Fiat’s board. While the press statement makes it look like a normal move, it is currently speculated that Montezemolo didn’t approve of the upcoming product plant that Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne will reveal later today. The word on the Italian street also says that Montezemolo, now 64, might try his hand at politics and start a new party. Whatever his decision, we applaud Luca di Montezemolo for his long career at Fiat and Ferrari, and hope he will continue to point the Italian supercar maker in the right direction … as long as it doesn’t lead to driving in sand traps. Source: Autocar Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| SAIC E1 electric vehicle revealed, boasts 30 minute 80% recharge time Posted: 21 Apr 2010 12:07 AM PDT  SAIC (Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation) has just presented a new type of electric vehicle, dubbed the E1, which boasts that its battery pack can be recharged up to 80% in just 30 minutes. The SAIC E1 owes this impressive feat to the new lithium iron phosphate battery pack. It allows the car, a three-door four-seater, to have a range of 88 miles, while being able to reach 75 mph. The small weight, just 2,292 pounds (1,040 kg), makes the SAIC E1 accelerate from 0 to 31 mph in 5.5 seconds, while the 62 mph (100 km/h) mark is reached in less than 16 seconds. SAIC is also the first Chinese carmaker to attach an actual mass production date to its electric vehicle, as the E1 will commence rolling off the assembly line in 2012. Stay tuned for more details at the end of the week when the Beijing Motor Show will start. Source: Autocar Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Volkswagen enters Scirocco GT24 CNG racer in 24 Hours of Nurburgring Posted: 20 Apr 2010 11:54 PM PDT  Volkswagen will enter a green racer in the upcoming 24 Hours of Nurburgring endurance race that takes place on the circuit also known as the Green Hell. The model in question is a specially-tuned Scirocco Cup car, that is currently racing in its own one-make series. The vehicle, in case you forgot, uses compressed natural gas (CNG) to squeeze 330 HP from the 2.0-liter TSI engine normally found on the ‘Rocco. As such, even though it has the credentials to be a proper race car, the Volkswagen model will boast 80% lower CO2 emissions than its gasoline-powered sibling. Besides the eco-friendly fuel, the Scirocco GT24 CNG will have an electro-hydraulic differential system and a new braking system, all to maximize both efficiency and handling. As you know, the 24 Hours of Nurburgring is going to boast a lot of exotic rides, from the Peugeot RCZ 200 Ans to the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid or the Aston Martin Rapide. Source: Volkswagen Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Rhys Millen’s Pikes Peak racer rendered Posted: 20 Apr 2010 11:13 PM PDT  Few races in the USA can boast the same heritage as the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The event saw its first race back in 1916 and is now one of the most important ones for a lot of drivers. One of them is Rhys Millen, who was already rumored to debut a new race car for this year’s edition. Now, the first renders of Millen’s new ride are in, and we can say that they’re pretty bold. The model looks more like a Le Mans prototype racer than the usual modified rides we see in the Pikes Peak event, but we’re sure Millen is up to something.  The official name of the car is the Rhys Millen Racing Hyundai Genesis PM580, and is powered by a turbocharged 4.1-liter V6 that sens 750 HP to all four wheels. The car also has two aces up its sleeve, as not only its tubular steel chassis guarantees reduced weight, but the massive rear wing is fully adjustable, set to provide maximum downforce on the corners and less on the fast straights of the Pikes Peak course. Overall, we’re mighty impressed, but until the start of the race, on June 27, we have a lot of waiting to do. Source: Hyundai via Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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