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Wednesday, May 19, 2010
RPMGO.com (former Auto Unleashed) |
- Bugatti might launch 1,200 HP ultimate Veyron
- BMW planning hardcore M3 GTS-R?
- Video: Third video in Audi’s The Next Big Thing series revealed
- Chrysler repays $1.9 billion in government loans
- BMW confirms 3 Series hybrid coming soon
- Video: Lotus Exige bursts into flames at Nurburgring 24, driver escapes unharmed
- NHTSA opens investigation into C5 Chevrolet Corvette models over leaky fuel tanks
- Mystery buyer orders 10 Aston Martin One-77 hypercars for $17 million
- GM’s OnStar mobile app to use Google Maps for Chevrolet Volt navigation
- Tuning company Gemballa shuts down, founder still missing
| Bugatti might launch 1,200 HP ultimate Veyron Posted: 19 May 2010 02:24 AM PDT  The Bugatti Veyron is nearing the end of its lifecycle, so a rumor has appeared that the company, owned by the Volkswagen Group, might be making one last special edition of the iconic hypercar. No, it won’t be any collaboration with a fashion house or boast special paint, as this time the company will tweak the massive 16.4-liter W16 engine in order to produce around 1,200 HP and presumably travel through time. The rumor comes from none other than Ferdinand Piëch, former Volkswagen chairman and one of the biggest supporters of the Veyron project. It seems that the professor, while speaking at the Vienna University of Technology, let slip that an ultimate SuperVeyron is coming. Considering that Bugatti will soon replace the Veyron with another car, maybe the 16C Galibier, a last swan song for the old hypercar would be more than welcome. What do you think? Share your thoughts below. Source: MotorLine.cc via Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| BMW planning hardcore M3 GTS-R? Posted: 19 May 2010 02:08 AM PDT  The BMW rumor mill has once again started spinning, right after the Bavarian company won the 24 Hours of Nurburgring endurance event with the M3 GT2 race car. It seems that in honor of the win and because the M3 GTS has been almost sold out, the company is preparing an even more hardcore and performance oriented M3 GTS-R model. Essentially, this speculated car will improve on the 450 HP of the regular GTS and further decrease the weight by adding carbon fiber all around. Expect the orange paint scheme to be replaced with a lighter matte black while new aerodynamic touches might appear. Last but not least, there’s even word that BMW might be preparing a KERS-based system, which will add that extra boost of power for overtaking maneuvers. While all these news will definitely get any BMW fan excited, we’re not exactly holding our breath. Still, seeing as how the E92 M3 is nearing the end of its lifecycle, this ultimate M3 GTS-R might make for one heck of a send off. Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Video: Third video in Audi’s The Next Big Thing series revealed Posted: 19 May 2010 01:42 AM PDT  Audi is keeping up with the marketing push for its A1 model and has released the third video in ‘The Next Big Thing‘ film series. We’ve already seen the first and the second videos, but the third one takes the awkwardness factor much higher. Luckily we get to see the lovely Dania Ramirez doing some more provocative fighting. Anyway, by now you’re either intrigued or turned off by this marketing attempt, so hit the jump if you want to check out the third video. Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Chrysler repays $1.9 billion in government loans Posted: 19 May 2010 01:15 AM PDT  After General Motors and Chrysler were bailed out by the government in summer of 2009, things have been slowly getting back on track for the two carmakers. Since then, GM has been riding high as it pushed out new and attractive models, as well as completely paying back the cash loans it received from the US and Canadian government. Meanwhile, at Chrysler, things have been pretty quiet, with Fiat busy reorganizing and trimming down the US corporation. Now, team Pentastar finally has a reason to celebrate a bit, as it has repaid another batch of its government loan. The company has just paid back $1.9 billion, taking its total to $3.9 billion. For those who forgot, the carmaker owes around $14.3 billion to the federal government, so it still has a lot of cost cutting to do. Still, even with loans to pay and new models to develop, Chrysler execs are feeling confident and say that things are going to get even better. Do you believe them? Share your thoughts below. Source: Market Watch via Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| BMW confirms 3 Series hybrid coming soon Posted: 19 May 2010 12:53 AM PDT  BMW’s ActiveHybrid range is going to receive a smaller model soon in the form of the best selling 3 Series. The model, according to BMW head honcho Norbert Reithofer, will join the 7 Series, X6 and the recent 2011 5 Series concept. The Bavarian executive revealed this fact in a recent shareholder meeting where he highlighted that hybrids are becoming increasingly important and popular in specific markets (USA or Japan). As such, the 5 Series ActiveHybrid prototype we saw in Geneva a couple of months ago will be making its way into production next year, followed by a 3 Series hybrid, presumably based on the next generation model. Besides reaching to hybrid-friendly markets, the new models will further augment the eco-consciuos image of BMW as well as lower the CO2 emission average across the whole lineup. Source: Autocar Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Video: Lotus Exige bursts into flames at Nurburgring 24, driver escapes unharmed Posted: 19 May 2010 12:16 AM PDT  The 24 Hours of Nurburgring saw some pretty sweet racing action, pitting BMW versus Porsche and Audi. While the main race was won by a BMW M3 GT2 model, the rest of the event wasn’t without surprises. One of the biggest incidents in the race through the ‘Green Hell’, as the Nurburgring Nordschleife is nicknamed, involved the #114 Lotus Exige. The car was being driven by Roger Green, an editor of British car magazine EVO, and, on one of the laps, the car’s rear-mounted engine burst into flames. Green showed some nerves of steel and managed to keep driving the Exige until a patch of grass was found, after which he quickly jumped out of the flaming Lotus. Thankfully he was unhurt and the fire team quickly intervened so that the blaze was extinguished. Hit the jump to see the whole flaming Lotus incident from the 24 Hours of Nurburgring endurance race. Source: Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| NHTSA opens investigation into C5 Chevrolet Corvette models over leaky fuel tanks Posted: 18 May 2010 11:57 PM PDT  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has just announced that 2004 C5 Chevrolet Corvette owners might have a big problem with the fuel tanks fitted to their sportscars. It seems that the federal authority received 30 complaints regarding the leaky fuel tanks, which result in spilled gasoline or fumes coming from the back of the C5 Corvette. 33,000 2004 Chevrolet Corvette models will now be examined by the NHTSA, and GM has announced that even though it wasn’t aware of the fuel tank problems, it will cooperate fully with the federal team. Most probably this will result in a future recall affecting all models. Until then, if you’ve noticed potential leaks with your own Corvette, perhaps it might be time to stop using it and contact your local dealership. Source: The Detroit News Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Mystery buyer orders 10 Aston Martin One-77 hypercars for $17 million Posted: 18 May 2010 11:41 PM PDT  Aston Martin kicked up its exclusivity factor into overdrive when it announced that only 77 models of the upcoming One-77 hypercar will be made. But while people were blown away by its performance figures, over 700 HP drawn from its 7.3-liter V12, a new bit of info is certain to get some more hype going around the future model. It seems that an anonymous buyer, presumably from the Middle East, has placed an order for a ‘few’ One-77 models. How many, you ask? Just 10 cars, totaling about $17 million. That’s right, one lucky (or crazy) guy dropped that money to get 10 Aston Martin One-77 hypercars, each set to be distinguished by exterior and interior trim. Aston doesn’t want to say who that specific buyer is, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see a trailer with 10 such models rolling around the Arab Emirates when the cars start shipping. So, remaining rich people, you should definitely order a One-77 as soon as possible until they’re all accounted for. Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| GM’s OnStar mobile app to use Google Maps for Chevrolet Volt navigation Posted: 18 May 2010 11:19 PM PDT  At the end of the year, when GM will officially start rolling out the new Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle into select markets, we know that a mobile OnStar application will also be released. It will allow owners to check battery charge levels and find out other important things about their car. Last week, we also heard that GM might be talking with software and search engine giant Google, in order to use its Android mobile operating system on future cars. Many people expected to find out something about this partnership yesterday, at a prepared press conference. Sadly, at least for those who wanted a Google Android-powered car, the announcement wasn’t that groundbreaking. It seems that for the aforementioned OnStar app, GM will use the Google Maps mobile navigation software, instead of its own system. It won’t be available at launch with the OnStar app, but will be featured in the 2.0 variant, which isn’t even dated for release. Who knows what other plans GM and Google may be talking about, but if they’re still about navigation, then we’re not that excited. Source: GM Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Tuning company Gemballa shuts down, founder still missing Posted: 18 May 2010 10:54 PM PDT  Germany has no shortage of tuning companies, but one of the most popular was definitely Gemballa, with a history of over 30 years in customizing mainly Porsche models but also dabbling in Ferrari work. As you might have heard, at the beginning of the year, the company’s founder and CEO, Uwe Gemballa, had gone missing in South Africa. It seems that he went there in search of new investors for his future projects, and also visited Abu Dhabi before going to the African nation. After quite a few months of searching, local police have found nothing to indicate his whereabouts. Sadly, it now seems he might not have anything to come back to, as the Gemballa company has been closed down by German authorities after becoming incapable of paying its own employees, effectively going bankrupt. We still can’t say for sure if Mr. Gemballa’s disappearance was premeditated or not, but we will certainly miss the great tuning and customization projects his company released over the years. Source: Auto Bild via Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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