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Thursday, May 27, 2010
RPMGO.com (former Auto Unleashed) |
- Porsche preparing 918 Spyder hybrid for 2011 24 Hours of Nurburgring
- Toyota unintended acceleration death toll at 89, NHTSA says
- Video: 2011 Audi A8L W12 limousine shows off its luxury features
- Second generation Chevrolet Volt might use two-cylinder or rotary engine as range extender
- Ferrari racing game cockpit takes you one step closer to owning a supercar
- Infiniti Performance Line (IPL) arrives this year, targets BMW’s M and Mercedes’ AMG
- Ford recalls manual-equipped 2010 Ranger pick-ups
- Honda researching EV battery technology in China, says a breakthrough is needed
| Porsche preparing 918 Spyder hybrid for 2011 24 Hours of Nurburgring Posted: 27 May 2010 04:49 AM PDT  Porsche really shocked everyone this year when it announced that its first ever hybrid race car, the 911 GT3 R Hybrid, would be competing in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring endurance race. The event was held a few weeks ago and the 911 hybrid proved to be a worthy adversary, leading the whole race for quite some time. Now, for next year’s race, the Stuttgart supercar manufacturer is preparing an even bigger surprise: a race-ready version of the 918 Spyder hybrid concept we saw at the beginning of the year in Geneva. For those who don’t remember, the 918 Spyder packed a combined output of 718 HP by mating a 3.4-liter V8 engine with three electric motors capable of a combined 218 HP. It’s electric only range was 16 miles, but it more than made up with the 78 mpg (US) average. 0 to 62 mph was achieved in 3.2 seconds and reached 200 mph. While the stunning Porsche 918 Spyder concept doesn’t need any more hype around it, as it was welcomed with open arms by the media and enthusiasts, a race-ready version would further augment its popularity ahead of a possible production debut. Source: Auto Motor und Sport via Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Toyota unintended acceleration death toll at 89, NHTSA says Posted: 27 May 2010 01:22 AM PDT  Toyota’s unintended acceleration scandal caused a quite a lot of damage to the image of the Japanese carmaker, but the problems with the cars also caused tragedies in the families of people involved in accidents or crashes because of either the sticky pedal or the jammed floor mat. According to a new statistic from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 89 deaths can now be attributed to unintended acceleration incidents that occurred between 2000 and May of 2010. Until now, around 52 deaths were pinned to these Toyota problems. Alongside the new 89 deaths, 57 injuries were recorded from the over 6,200 incidents the NHTSA recorded in that time frame.
The Japanese company recently revealed that more than 3.2 million vehicles have been fixed but 4.6 million still await for a remedy to be implemented in order to eliminate unintended acceleration worries. Source: Washington Post Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Video: 2011 Audi A8L W12 limousine shows off its luxury features Posted: 27 May 2010 12:51 AM PDT  Audi really upped the luxury feature ante when it revealed the 2011 A8 flagship limousine. In Beijing though, it blew the ante sky high with the reveal of the A8L W12 long wheelbase version. We were told it included features from the Bang & Olufsen sound system to the massive LCD displays or even the folding ottoman-style seat. Now, the Ingolstadt company released the first promotional video for the 2011 A8L version, and we have to say luxury never looked better. Hit the jump to enjoy the video that makes almost all of us a bit poor in comparison. Source: ZerCustoms via Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Second generation Chevrolet Volt might use two-cylinder or rotary engine as range extender Posted: 27 May 2010 12:36 AM PDT  The Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle saw a lot of iterations until its final design and powerplant technology were nailed in place. Until it was confirmed that it will use a 1.4-liter inline-four cylinder internal combustion engine in order to charge up the batteries in the car’s extended range mode, we were treated to a plethora of rumors. Now, with the first Volt not even close to rolling off the assembly line, speculations are already flying around about the range extending engine in the next generation Volt, set to arrive in three to four years from now. According to InsideLine, GM is currently studying a few possibilities for the internal combustion engine. The company might use a smaller, two-cylinder unit or even a rotary engine to provide juice for the battery pack. While the Wankel engine might sound a bit peculiar, do remember that Audi also used such technology on the A1 e-tron concept it showcased in Geneva. The second goal for the second generation Volt is the use of cheaper batteries, in order to get the cost down as low as possible. More research is needed, according to GM, but it can be achieved. Seeing as how the first Volt is set to arrive at the end of the year, GM’s engineers are certain to make key decisions in the near future for its follow-up. Source: InsideLine Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Ferrari racing game cockpit takes you one step closer to owning a supercar Posted: 27 May 2010 12:15 AM PDT  While most of us are quite satisfied with playing racing games with a console controller or even a keyboard, it seems that there are quite a few people bent on having a much more realistic experience. If the $191,000 Cruden Hexatech assembly didn’t really blow your mind, then Thrustmaster has revealed a new product, much cheaper but with a true Ferrari feel. The Ferrari Wireless GT Cockpit 430 Scuderia Edition will take you one step closer to actually driving an Italian supercar, but all in the comfort of your home. The rig is compatible with the PC and PlayStation 3 systems, and is completely wireless, so no worries about fussing around with cables through the living room.  It also has a few special features, including the 11-inch wheel or the special brake pedal with ‘magnetic resistance’ in order to offer a more real-life experience. The whole assembly weighs 23 pounds, so you won’t be toppling over while approaching those virtual corners. The cost for this Ferrari-themed racing fun? Just $249.99. Source: Thrustmaster via Gizmodo Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Infiniti Performance Line (IPL) arrives this year, targets BMW’s M and Mercedes’ AMG Posted: 26 May 2010 11:55 PM PDT  It seems that the ‘hip’ new thing to do when you’re a carmaker is to open up your own line of performance accessories and parts, thus satisfying people who want that extra bit of power from a car. BMW has its M division, Mercedes-Benz has AMG, heck, even Volkswagen has its new R subsidiary. As such, Infiniti doesn’t want to miss out on this opportunity, and has just filed a trademark for IPL. What does that mean? Infiniti Performance Line. This name will cover various performance upgrades developed by the Japanese luxury brand and offered for their various models. Such accessories include air filters, cat-back exhaust systems and, most importantly, turbochargers and superchargers. The new line of performance parts is expected to debut in Pebble Beach in August, so until then you can just dream about the upgrades that will arrive for your Infiniti model. Source: Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Ford recalls manual-equipped 2010 Ranger pick-ups Posted: 26 May 2010 11:39 PM PDT  The Ford Ranger is one of the most neglected vehicles in the Blue Oval lineup. Still, this doesn’t make the new recall centered around its 2010 model year any less important. It seems that 2,934 2010 Ford Ranger pick-up trucks that are equipped with a manual transmission will be called back to dealerships over a faulty parking brake cable. According to the warning, in colder climates, the cable can become disconnected from the right rear actuator, so that the parking brake shoe can become frozen in an applied position. The specific vehicles affected in by this defect were made between June 8, 2009 and February 2, 2010. Owners will be notified immediately to go their nearest dealer for a free parking brake assembly replacement. You can contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Source: NHTSA Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Honda researching EV battery technology in China, says a breakthrough is needed Posted: 26 May 2010 11:17 PM PDT  Honda has been covering all its bases in terms of future technologies, with projects involving hybrids, electric vehicles and even fuel-cell cars. While many carmakers are just focusing on electric vehicles, Honda’s CEO, Takanobu Ito, has revealed that a breakthrough in battery technology is required in order to really make EVs profitable from a business standpoint. In order to acheive such a thing, his company is currently looking into opening research centers in China, given the fact that the country has vast resources for such endeavors. Also, the government subsidies for research into electric vehicle technology are quite attractive, according to the Japanese executive. Concluding, Ito revealed that another 10 to 20 years are required in order for electric vehicles to become reliable in everyday use and attractive from a price standpoint for the average consumer. Until then, Honda will continue to push hybrids like CR-Z (pictured above) and research other technologies. Source: Autocar Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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