Lamborghini remembered that it started a teaser campaign a few months ago, and now, as the Paris Motor Show will open its doors at the end of the month, a new photo has been revealed, detailing a new supercar from the Italian company.

According to all reports up until now, this will be the fabled Lamborghini Jota, which will replace the aging Murcielago from the top of the Lambo range. The model was first introduced in 2001, and a vast array of improved or special editions followed up until now, culminating with the Murcielago LP670-4 Super Veloce.

Previous reports say that the replacement will develop around 700 HP and deliver extreme performance, but nothing concrete is known at this moment.

Source: Lamborghini

Post published on Rpmgo.com

Lamborghini teases new supercar, might be the Murcielago replacement

When the McLaren MP4-12C supercar was unveiled, people said that it will rival the Ferrari 458 Italia, as its twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 was capable of 600 HP and the price was pretty close to that of the fire-prone 458 Italia.

According to the CEO of McLaren USA, Anthony Joseph, things aren’t exactly so. In terms of customers, the British company competes with Porsche, as they both target people who want performance over brand name. Ferrari customers, on the other hand, want the prestige of the brand first, and performance later.

Still, even though it competes with lower priced Porsche models, Joseph says that around 2,700 letters of interest have been filed for the MP4-12C. Even though concrete orders haven’t been taken just yet, the new supercar is expected to exceed the first year sales estimates of 1,000 cars.

Last but not least, the McLaren USA CEO has also confirmed that new models and MP4-12C versions will appear in the next few years, as previously rumored.

Source: Autocar

Post published on Rpmgo.com

McLaren MP4-12C targets Porsche owners, US CEO says

Nissan definitely wants to stand out from the rest of the pack when it comes to its flagship GT-R performance model. We’ve already seen leaked details about the upcoming 2012 Nissan GT-R, and now new info on the premium version of the Japanese car has been uncovered.

According to Autocar, the more upmarket Nissan GT-R will get the ‘Egoist‘ name, instead of the rumored Spec M.

"Yes, there's a bit of tongue in cheek in the name, and yes, the word does mean self-conceited, but we just wanted to have some fun with the name," said a spokesman.

The Nissan GT-R Egoist will boast a revised front fascia, with a new front intake duct and larger air vents to provide cooling for the transmission and exhaust. The brakes have been enlarged, while the 10-spoke wheels are now even lighter. LED technology will be used on both the front and the rear of the sports car.

Expect an array of high end options to be available for the Egoist, as well as the changes that were already rumored for the 2012 Nissan GT-R.

Overall, it seems Nissan really wants to market the GT-R to other types of customers, not just performance enthusiasts.

Source: Autocar

Post published on Rpmgo.com

Premium Nissan GT-R to get ‘Egoist’ name

When the Citroen DS3 Racing hot hatch was revealed, many people were extremely excited about the limited edition sporty compact.

Now, as the Citroen DS4 has just been revealed a few weeks ago, rumors about a high performance Racing version are already flying around the web.

According to the rumor mongers at AutoExpress, a Citroen DS4 Racing is just a matter of time. The French company will apply the same philosophy as on the hotter DS3, and will throw in dozens of unique customization options, to differentiate the sporty DS4 from the regular model.

According to the British magazine, the future Citroen DS4 Racing will be using the new Hybrid4 technology, as seen on the Peugeot 3008, but combine the 96 HP electric motor with the 200 HP developed by the 1.6-liter THP gasoline engine.

As you can imagine, the DS4 Racing will pack one heck a punch, if it turns out to be true. Features like upgraded suspension, steering and brakes are also rumored, in order to keep that power under control. Seeing as how it uses the Hybrid4 system, all-wheel drive is a given, with rear-wheel drive only available in electric mode. Also, expect the fuel average and emissions to be extremely low, given its high power output.

Frankly, after seeing the CItroen DS3 Racing, a DS4 performance model might be even better.

Source: AutoExpress

Post published on Rpmgo.com

Citroen DS4 Racing hot hatch might arrive soon enough

Electric vehicles are soon going to become part of everyday life, as full pledge ones like the Nissan Leaf or extended-range ones like the Chevrolet Volt will be available for the large public.

This doesn’t mean that the infrastructure is up to par with the charging requirements these new models have. As such, the Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has come up with a new idea: mobile charging stations.

Basically, electric cars will connect to a general mainframe and inform it about the location where it is usually running out of power. These mobile charging stations will then be deployed in that area, in order to supply EVs with power. At night, the charging stations will fill up their own batteries, so as to not stress the power grid.

If these charging stations will become reliable enough, this might downright eliminate range anxiety for plenty of future EV owners.

Source: New Scientist via Gizmodo

Post published on Rpmgo.com

Mobile charging stations for electric vehicles may appear in the future

The Citroen DS3 is once again flaunting its stylish looks by another partnership with an influential fashion house. This time, after Yves Saint Laurent tried their hands with the French compact, Japanese house Kenzo has also revealed a one-off DS3.

Inspired by oriental designs, the fashion house took a pristine white DS3 and covered both its roof and the seats with unique patterns. It is also expected that the interior trim has been thoroughly upgraded, so that the show car will impress every fashion fan around the world.

The car is just a one-off, at the moment, but expect it to be flaunted by Citroen at the upcoming Paris Motor Show, as well as at upcoming fashion events where the Kenzo house will be present.

Source: Citroen

Post published on Rpmgo.com

One-off Citroen DS3 by Kenzo revealed

Passing a driver’s license exam can be a pretty hard thing, especially for those that can’t cope with stress. But everyone might just learn a thing or two about perseverance from a South Korean grandmother who passed her license test on the 960th attempt.

According to authorities, 69-year old Cha Sa-soon started taking the driver’s exam in 2005. At that time, she took it everyday, 5 days a week. After a period, she slowed down to just two days a week, but the didn’t give up.

Finally, last week, she passed both the written and the practical phases of the exam and got her license. She now appears in a TV advert for Hyundai and got a Kia Soul to take her kids to the zoo.

Her driving instructor is confident the little grandmother won’t be a danger on the road, as she always had problems with the written part of the exam. Hopefully she will put her new license to good work in the future.

Source: Yahoo
Photo Source: NYTimes via Automarket

Post published on Rpmgo.com

South Korean grandmother gets her driver’s license on the 960th attempt

The Paris Motor Show is approaching, and as such, Peugeot has decided to showcase more details about its upcoming compact electric city car, the iOn.

Based on the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, the Peugeot iOn will practically use the same systems as the Japanese model. This means it will have a lithium-ion battery pack that will power the 63 HP (47 kW) electric motor. It will enable the car to go from 0 to 62 mph in 15.9 seconds, and up to 81 mph.

The range for the Peugeot iOn is estimated at 93 miles (150 km), slightly worse than the standard i-MiEV. The battery pack can be charged from a regular outlet in 6 hours, and if a special three-phase 380-volt charger is used, the batteries will be charged at 50% in 15 minutes, and at 80% in 30 minutes.

The Peugeot iOn, as you can see, takes a few liberties with the exterior design of the Japanese i-MiEV. It is reminiscent of the existing Peugeot 107 city car, but bears a special logo and options like alloy wheels. On the inside, the iOn will pack features like A/C, a sound system with MP3 capabilities and can even be had with satellite navigation or a cold weather package.

The new Peugeot iOn is expected to appear at the Paris Motor Show later this month, and will be available as a five-year lease for €499 ($642) per month.

Source: Peugeot

Post published on Rpmgo.com

Peugeot iOn EV gets detailed