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Tuesday, June 22, 2010
RPMGO.com (former Auto Unleashed) |
- Video: Porsche 911 beats Mini Cooper S in the Mini versus Porsche challenge
- 526 HP electric Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell prototype revealed
- A new Ferrari every year, thanks to the company’s new four-year product life cycle plan
- Tesla’s future plans revealed in IPO presentation
- Top Gear kicks off season 15 this Sunday
- Video: Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button try to assemble a McLaren Formula 1 car
- Toyota rumored to return to the World Rally Championship with Prodrive
- Jeep might once again release an entry-level pickup
- Cadillac announces free maintenance for all 2011 models
- Lotus reveals Roger Becker Elise and Exige special editions
| Video: Porsche 911 beats Mini Cooper S in the Mini versus Porsche challenge Posted: 22 Jun 2010 03:42 AM PDT  Yesterday, as we informed you, Mini held its Porsche challenge race against the German sportscar manufacturer. At a special circuit in the Road Atlanta race grounds, the Cooper S took on the 911 Carrera. As you could imagine, even if the track was laid out in favor of the Mini, the Porsche 911 still took home the crown, even if it wasn't driven by an official Porsche representative. The difference was about 2 seconds, or $38,000 a second, as Mini puts it. Still, the race was pretty interesting, so hit the jump and see how the Mini Cooper S faired against the Porsche 911, plus interviews with the two drivers. Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| 526 HP electric Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell prototype revealed Posted: 22 Jun 2010 03:30 AM PDT  Right after the stunning Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG supercar was revealed, we heard that an electric version would appear in the future. Now, the engineers at Mercedes-Benz and from its AMG performance division have just revealed the first electric prototype of the performance model: the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell. The fully-working prototype, decked out in AMG Lumilectric Mango (the best paint name in the world), is powered by four electric motors, with a pair on each axle. The units redline at a whopping 12,000 rpm and can produce a very impressive 526 HP and 649 lb-ft of torque (Mercedes didn't go the Audi way of blasting out outrageous torque ratings for its electric model).  This electric SLS AMG uses a lithium polymer battery pack, capable of a maximum output of 643 HP (480 kW). The pack is split between the center tunnel and a box mounted behind the cockpit. It also has twin cooling/heating circuits, in order to ensure optimum operating conditions. The aerodynamics of the car have also been improved, as the lack of an internal combustion engine allows for an optimized air flow. A new front splitter and a rear diffuser were added to the SLS AMG E-Cell. On the inside, the new car boasts an upgraded 10-inch touchscreen while new warning systems were added to let the driver know of the state of the battery charge. Expect the electric Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG E-Cell to debut in a production form around 2013. Source: Automobile Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| A new Ferrari every year, thanks to the company’s new four-year product life cycle plan Posted: 22 Jun 2010 03:19 AM PDT  We already know that Ferrari plans on releasing six new models in the following years, eventually replacing or upgrading the existing ones. Now, the product life cycle plan has also been revealed, guaranteeing one new Ferrari model each year. According to the Italian supercar manufacturer, every model will have an eight year long life cycle, with a refreshed M (standing for Modificato) version scheduled to appear at the four-year mark. Four essential models will continue to be present: two 'versatile' GT models (the California and 612 Scaglietti) and two proper sportscars (458 Italia and 599 GTB Fiorano). Besides these models, performance Scuderia or convertible Spider editions will appear, not to mention a hypercar model, like the Enzo. This new product plan will be kicked off by the 612's replacement next year, followed by the 2012 599 replacement and so on. Source: MotorTrend Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Tesla’s future plans revealed in IPO presentation Posted: 22 Jun 2010 03:09 AM PDT  Electric carmaker Tesla is getting ready for its initial public offering. As such, its CEO, the recently broke Elon Musk, has started giving out presentations to future investors, through which he is highlighting the strong points of the company. One of these presentations has now been revealed onto the Internet, and the biggest surprise concerns the future models of the EV manufacturer. Besides the Tesla Model S we're expecting in 2012, it seems that the same architecture will be used on a cabriolet, a crossover and a van. The Model S platform will boast new technologies, including its battery pack installed beneath the floor (like in the Nissan Leaf), but also liquid-cooled power electronics and motor. The new tech will jack up the price, but it is also expected to increase reliability for the future Tesla electric vehicles. More research is still needed before we can see any of these models on the road. Hopefully for Musk, the money from the upcoming IPO will get the company out of the financial hole it has dug for itself and allow for that research to take place. Source: Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Top Gear kicks off season 15 this Sunday Posted: 22 Jun 2010 02:53 AM PDT  Everyone's favorite entertainment (and usually car-related) TV show will be back this Sunday, as Top Gear's season 15 will start airing on BBC2 in the UK. The announcement has been made official, alongside a short tease of what the boys will be doing in the first show of the new series. Clarkson will tackle three-wheeled cars and why aren't contraptions like the Reliant Robin still in production. May will be pitting the hardcore Toyota Hilux pickup against Iceland's already infamous active volcanoes. And last but not least, Hammond will be giving the Chevrolet Lacetti a proper sendoff, as a new reasonably-priced car will be revealed. Is that enough to make you giddy for the new season? Then good for you. UK viewers should tune in to BBC2 this Sunday (June 27) at 8 PM, while the rest of the world will have to wait (*cough* download it on Monday *cough*). Source: BBC Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Video: Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button try to assemble a McLaren Formula 1 car Posted: 22 Jun 2010 02:46 AM PDT  Back in the day, Formula 1 racing was a pretty simple affair, as many people just brought their own cars and handled the mechanics on their own or with the help of a few friends. Now, the motorsport competition has come a very long way from its humble origins. In order to highlight the importance of a specialized team, McLaren's main sponsor, Vodafone, tasked the team's two drivers and former F1 champs Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button with assembling the MP4-25 race car without the help of their team. As you can imagine, even with one F1 title under their individual belts, things didn't go as planned. Check out the hilarious video after the jump. Source: PistonHeads via Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Toyota rumored to return to the World Rally Championship with Prodrive Posted: 22 Jun 2010 02:37 AM PDT  British racing team Prodrive has always had a close relationship to the World Rally Championship (WRC) competition. As such, when its factory backer, Subaru, pulled out from the WRC, David Richards, the team principal, revealed that the whole crew will be back sooner or later. Now, according to new rumors, the Prodrive team will be back with the help of Toyota, which wants to feature its brand in a new global motorsport, after backing out of Formula 1 at the beginning of the year. Do bear in mind that this is just a rumor at the moment, but Richards, in a recent interview, didn't deny that Toyota is interested in rallying. As you all know, BMW is also rumored to be talking with Prodrive in order to get its Mini brand in the WRC. The Toyota speculation does have a bit more pull, as scouters from the Japanese company were spotted at the Rally of Monte Carlo and Rally of Portugal stages. You shouldn't forget that Richards, who is also chairman of Aston Martin, already has a partnership going with Toyota, in regards to the Aston Martin Cygnet city car, based on the Japanese iQ. One thing's for sure though, Prodrive will be returning next year to the WRC. Only time will tell with what brand it will do the racing. Source: PitPass Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Jeep might once again release an entry-level pickup Posted: 22 Jun 2010 02:20 AM PDT  When you think of Jeep as a brand, the image of an off-road beast, capable of conquering any trail, immediately comes to mind. Still, you shouldn't forget that utility also plays a part in Jeep's strategy. That's why, according to its new CEO, Mike Manley, the company is looking into new directions in order to expand the offer into segments that will be profitable not only in the US but also in the rest of the world. Such a segment is the entry-level pickup truck one, which, according to Manley, might yield some interesting results if it will be attacked with the right kind of model. Jeep fans are certain to remember the Comanche pickup from the early 1990s, but also some interesting pickup concepts like the 2005 Jeep Gladiator, pictured above, which generated a lot of positive feedback from the media and regular users. Seeing as how the Ford Ranger is still generating decent sales in the US and how Indian company Mahindra is raking in vast amounts of money through its compact pickups, Jeep might be onto something big. Still, seeing as how Chrysler as a whole is just trying to get back on its feet, don't expect anything concrete to be announced anytime soon. Source: PickupTrucks Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Cadillac announces free maintenance for all 2011 models Posted: 22 Jun 2010 02:11 AM PDT  Right after Ford’s Lincoln premium brand has announced that it is offering free maintenance to anyone purchasing a model from now to Labor Day in September, GM's Cadillac division has also announced its own offer. Cadillac has revealed that it will be offering free maintenance to all 2011 model year vehicles, starting with the CTS Coupe which hits dealerships at the end of summer. The offer, named Cadillac Premium Care Maintenance, covers a four year or 50,000 miles period, much better than Lincoln's. It only guarantees scheduled oil changes, tire rotations, filter changes and regular inspections though, unlike Lincoln's which also covered brake pad or wiper blade replacement. Even though it has been experiencing some pretty good sales, Cadillac has been lagging when compared to last year's sales figures. As such, this free maintenance offer might help improve the sales of new models like the CTS Coupe, as well as established ones like the CTS sedan or the SRX. Source: Cadillac Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Lotus reveals Roger Becker Elise and Exige special editions Posted: 22 Jun 2010 02:02 AM PDT  British carmaker Lotus has just announced that two final editions of its Exige and Elise supercharged models will be on sale, bearing the name of Roger Becker. For those who won’t know, Becker has worked with Lotus for over 44 years, and led vehicle development for quite a long time. It is thanks to him that we now get to admire models like Elise, Exige or Evora. Seeing as how the Toyota supercharged four-cylinder engine no longer meets the Euro 5 emissions regulations, Lotus wants to commemorate the end of the unit’s life cycle with two special Elise and Exige editions. As such, the Elise SC and Exige S RGB editions will be able to develop 217 HP and 257 HP, respectively. Besides the upgraded engines, the RGB edition will boast white, yellow, black and gray paint schemes. Forged black wheels are standard as is a signature by Becker, featured on the B pillar of the lightweight sportscars, set these special models apart. Source: Lotus Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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