Battle of the Beasts: Tuned Dodge Viper ACR vs Koenigsegg CCXR

The Dodge Viper ACR is one of the fastest production cars around packing an 8.4-liter V10 with 600HP and 560 lb/ft (760 Nm) of torque that allows it to accelerate from 0-60 mph (96km/h) in less than 4.0 seconds. It has also proved its mettle by breaking lap records in famous and difficult tracks such as Laguna Seca and the Nürburgring.

But it's one thing going against a Corvette and totally different story when you're challenged by the likes of Koenigsegg and its CCXR that boasts a twin-supercharged V8 delivering close to 1,100-horsepower.

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F1: Hungarian Grand Prix Results

It seems like someone was bound to get a present this Sunday at the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix. But it wasn’t meant to be Fernando Alonso, who yesterday turned 30 and also raced for the 30th time with Ferrari. Read more »

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Speed, the Real Life Russian Edition: Crazy Bus Driver Simply Won't Stop

In the Academy Award-winning film "Speed" from 1994 starring Keanu Reeves as Police Officer Jack Traven and Sandra Bullock as accident-prone ditz Annie Porter, the bus had to go more than 50mph or else it would explode.

But that was only a Hollywood blockbuster whereas the incident you're about to see in the video after the break happened in real life, reportedly somewhere in Russia.

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Wallpapers BUGATTI VEYRON GRAND SPORT L'OR BLANC

With the partnership between Bugatti and the Königliche Porzellan-Manufatur Berlin (KPM) the renowned manufacturer emphasizes the ability in creating pieces of automotive art. The "L'Or Blanc" celebrates its world premiere with an exclusive unveiling ceremony on June 30, 2011 at the KPM workshops in Berlin. This unique version of a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport is the world's first motor car to wear the finest porcelain on its body, as well as in its cabin. It captivates with an abstract exterior design. The security officer nods, the door opens. Amidst pure white walls bright spotlights illuminate a Bugatti Grand Sport that is placed in the center of the spacious room. We have entered the hidden world of the Bugatti Design Studio. The team around Bugatti's Head of Design Achim Anscheidt works in a quiet and focused atmosphere as they walk around their latest object of desire. Several times they stop, take a step to the left and to the right; they bend down and up again, looking intensely at the Grand Sport from different angles. They analyse the reflections of light on the car's body before they step back for a moment to get an overall impression of their work. Thin blue lines flow over the bright white exterior of the fastest convertible in the world. It feels like visiting the atelier of an American pop-art artist. The creation bears the name "L'Or Blanc." It represents an automobile that redefines the art of design. If you look at it through the eyes of a designer, you will recognize that it is the reflection of the studio lights on the body that attracts their interest. Positioned beneath a special light, the car is set in an ideal environment that provides an excellent image of the reflections. The studio light is reflected on the invisible edges between the body shapes of the Grand Sport. In numerous stages each reflection line is translated by Bugatti's designers onto the car body that has been pre-painted in a vibrant white tone. They use a precision tape made of Japanese soft tissue that can be easily torn off by hand. It adheres perfectly to sulphur-containing plasticine. By stretching them to a certain degree, these tapes are "lined" in pieces up to five meters long across the whole exterior of the car. If the line does not fully meet the intention of the designers, they place a correction tape above the original line. This process is repeated until the final line has the right tension and character. Between the styling steps, the team looks at the car from a distance to evaluate the relation of the stripes to the white spaces. This is also the best way to ensure that lines flow from one side of the body across the roof and the rear to the opposite side. Even the smallest imperfections are being revised meticulously, as the final target is to achieve unrivalled perfection. Finally, the lines stretch across the perfectly shaped Bugatti like a grid of light reflections. Over the course of several weeks, the team of designers develop the final composition of dynamic bends and delicate lines that run over the automotive piece of art like the serpentines of the Italian Stelvio Pass. "The 'L'Or Blanc' is evidence of the capabilities of the craftsmen at both brands. The distinctive structure of lines does not only mirror the elaborate hand painting on porcelain but also the process of modelling in automotive design," says Achim Anscheidt. In the next step, Bugatti's paint specialists dedicate themselves to the further completion of the masterpiece. Over the course of three weeks, each millimeter of the marked lines are being filled by hand with the characteristic blue color. In addition, the whole body receives five layers of clear lacquer. A varying and powerful gradient of the two colors is generated because the team had used a combination of tapes with different widths. While the blue lines dominate over the white spaces in the lower section of the convertible, the relation of colors inverts on the way to the roof so that the intense white appears even stronger. Twelve elements, made of finest porcelain at the Berlin based manufactory, complete the aesthetic approach of this special Grand Sport. Let us change the location and visit the workshops of the Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur in the heart of Berlin. Following a tradition of around 250 years, at this location more than 170 craftsmen and specialists produce precious items, as today's expression of porcelain art. Hand-made plaster moulds are needed to craft the unique porcelain elements that appear in the exterior and interior of the Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport "L'Or Blanc", and with a tremendous attention to detail, each mould is created and optimized in a several-week-long process at the research and development department. The team has to run a number of dedicated tests with the raw material to check the impact of the natural shrinkage of around 16 percent during firing and drying. Finally, the porcelain elements fit seamlessly to the Bugatti components. "Porcelain is one of the strongest materials but the grade of quality depends significantly on the excellence of the manufacturing process. We had to assure that the inlays perfectly fit to the filler caps, it has been a challenge for us to exactly calculate the shrinkage of porcelain," explains Thomas Wenzel, Head of Design at KPM. The Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport "L'Or Blanc" is the world's first automobile to be equipped with porcelain, and the development team invested a lot of effort to guarantee that each item is capable of performing in every driving situation in the most powerful car on the market. Before their application to the car, the porcelain elements were extensively examined in regard to automotive safety and quality to optimally protect the passengers in case of an accident. As part of the exterior design, porcelain is used for the inlays of the centre wheel badges, the fuel filler cap and the oil filler cap as well as the signature "EB" badge at the rear. Their shiny white surface blends in with the brilliant bright finish of the paint suggesting that the car would be coated with a thin layer of porcelain, too. "At first, it seems to be an unusual idea to use porcelain in a car, especially in the world's fastest convertible," comments Dr. Stefan Brungs, Director of Sales and Marketing at Bugatti Automobiles. "But this is what Bugatti stands for: the realization of exceptional ideas whilst striving for the utmost in quality and aesthetics. This allows us to continue Ettore Bugatti's heritage, who himself loved to experiment with new materials." Besides the signed porcelain inlays on the sides of the centre console, an intarsia made of finest porcelain is fixed to the rear panel between the seats. Similar to the exterior porcelain elements this item carries the relief of the famous elephant in an upright standing position that has been created by sculptor Rembrandt Bugatti. His brother Ettore had used the original draft to cast the radiator mascot for the Bugatti Royale. This elephant is a synonym for the brand still today. Embedded in the top of the centre console, there is a fine porcelain dish with edges finished in an exclusive diamond polishing - a technique that has been applied by the Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin for the very first time. The precious dish can be removed and is part of a picnic set that was exclusively designed by KPM for the Bugatti car. "The impulse for that partnership came from Rembrandt Bugatti's renowned elephant," tells Jörg Woltmann, owner of the Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin (KPM) and car aficionado. "At the beginning, we wanted to integrate the sculpture in our product range, then we thought about the potential for a comprehensive service and finally the synthesis of ideas led us to this outstanding Grand Sport." Woltmann is enthusiastic about the "L'Or Blanc". "A number of superlatives are associated with porcelain from the Königliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Berlin: one says it has the most beautiful shapes and decors, it has the hardest weight and the whitest tone. Now, it is also the fastest porcelain." The Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport "L'Or Blanc" presented in Berlin, is a one-of-a-kind creation. Nevertheless, the partnership is supposed to be continued, and Bugatti's designers received a lot of inspiration from porcelain painting offering a variety of new opportunities for the design. The price of the Bugatti L'Or Blanc is 1.65 million EUR.

source : Bugatti Press

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Car wallpapers BMW i8 Concept - Photo

 

Wallpapers BMW i8 Concept

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Video BMW i8 Concept

			The BMW i8 Concept and the fascinating approach that underpins it embody the vision of a sustainable contemporary sports car brought to life. Its innovative plug-in hybrid concept combines the modified electric drive system from the BMW i3 Concept - fitted over its front axle - with a high-performance three-cylinder combustion engine producing 164 kW (220 hp)/300 Nm (221 lb-ft) at the rear. The electric motor in the BMW i8 Concept is a full-capability unit which can also power the car on its own, if required. However, working in tandem allows the two drive systems to display their respective talents to the full, delivering the performance of a sports car but the fuel consumption of a small car. Acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in under five seconds combined with fuel consumption in the European cycle of under three litres per 100 kilometres (approx. 94 mpg imp) and average customer fuel consumption of between five and seven litres per 100 kilometres (40.4 - 56.5 mpg imp) - even when driven hard - are figures currently beyond the capability of any vehicle powered by a combustion engine of comparable performance. Thanks to its large lithium-ion battery, which can be charged from a domestic power supply, the BMW i8 Concept can travel up to 35 kilometres (approx. 20 miles) on electric power alone. A large proportion of short everyday journeys can therefore be completed with zero emissions. The car's electric-only mode allows it to enter emissions-capped central areas of cities with access restrictions in place for petrol or diesel-powered vehicles. The i8 Concept's efficiency rating is further enhanced by its ability to generate energy at both axles. The electric motor at the front axle recoups maximum energy every time the driver brakes, while a high-voltage alternator hooked up to the combustion engine charges the battery, if required. Added to which, the 2+2-seater offers enough space for four people, giving it a high level of everyday practicality. The emotional design of the BMW i8 Concept ensures its qualities are clear for all to see. Its dynamic proportions give the BMW i8 Concept the appearance of surging forward before it even turns a wheel and lend visual form to its extraordinary performance. The sophisticated concept behind the upward-swivelling doors fixed to the A-pillars underlines the car's sporting capability and opens up access to the front and rear seats at the same time. A series of air inlets allow the air to flow through and around the vehicle to optimum effect, ensuring extremely low drag. They also add visual emphasis to these advanced aerodynamics. Airflow plays an extremely important role at the rear of the vehicle as well. Intakes behind the passenger cell and at the rear provide a cooling flow of air through the engine compartment, while outlets in the rear diffuser and the flow of air around the rear wheels ensure the car is extremely efficient in terms of lift and downforce at both axles. The LifeDrive architecture of the BMW i8 Concept has been carefully adapted to enhance the vehicle's sports car character, and therefore to deliver unbeatable performance and excellent driving dynamics. The motor in the front axle module and combustion engine at the rear are connected by an "energy tunnel", which houses the high-voltage battery. This gives the car a low centre of gravity - and the dynamic benefits that come with it. The positioning of the electric motor and engine over their respective axles and the space-saving and well-balanced packaging of all components result in an optimum 50/50 weight distribution. The weight of every component inside the BMW i8 Concept has been minimised down to the very last detail, allowing the extra weight of the electric drive system and battery to be cancelled out. The BMW i8 Concept therefore presents the ideal environment in which to sample this very special drive concept on the road. The passengers sit - in typical sports car style - in an extremely low and enclosed position inside the CFRP-constructed Life module (mounted above the Drive module). The sporting character of the BMW i8 Concept continues into the interior. Boasting a driver-focused environment unmatched by any BMW Group vehicle before it, the BMW i8 Concept immerses the driver fully in the unique driving experience. The purpose-built driver's position is geared squarely towards the person at the wheel and gives optimum access to all information and controls. The three-dimensional displays are crystal clear and flash up the relevant information for the driving situation at hand. The interior as a whole is defined by the functionality of a classical BMW sports car and majors on lightness and ease of use. The BMW i8 Concept is the sports car for a new generation - pure, emotional and sustainable.
source : BMW i8 Concept

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Honda Civic (2012): the first teaser info and video

Honda has gone official with the new 2012 Civic. Sort of. It's issued this single disguised photograph of the new Civic, and a brief video with some background on the chassis development.
As yesterday's scoop of the Civic showed, the 2012 Civic will be a bit longer and lower than today's model. And there will be a new range of engines powering the front-drive chassis, eventually including a new compact diesel thought to be around 1.4 litres in capacity.

Honda Civic (2012): the chassis

The rear axle sticks with a torsion beam suspension. Honda argues it give more boot space – something Honda claims will be class-leading – than a full independent system as found in the VW Golf or Ford Focus.
Honda engineers will bang on about their new fluid-filled compliance bushes on the ends of the twist beam, which are designed to improve ride and handling. The current, eighth-generation Civic has never been at the top of class for dynamics, an area Honda clearly wishes to address.
You can watch the Honda engineers talking about the new suspension in the short film below.

When will we see the new Honda Civic for real?

After a long teaser campaign. Expect a series of mini announcements before we see the car for real on 13 September at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show.
The new, ninth-generation Honda Civic goes on UK sale in spring 2012.


source : http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/First-Official-Pictures/Honda-Civic-2012-the-first-teaser-info-and-video/

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[ CAR review] Audi R8 V8 Spyder (2011)

The lesser-engined R8 is arguably the most conceptually perfect of Audi’s supercar family. Why? Because it’s the R8 that most closely resembles an extreme Audi without delusions of Ferrari. You can admire it as much for its honesty as for its ability. And, even without its roof, boy does it have ability…

No V10 and no roof? Compromised surely?

You might not be saying that at 186mph. In fact, you might not be saying ANYTHING at 186mph. But the R8 V8 feels perfectly engined, beautifully balanced and in no way structurally hampered by its rooflessness. It’s incredibly comfortable with the roof down, even at speed (though possibly not at 186mph) and driving it this way allows you to drink in the delightfully mellow throatiness of the 4.2-litre 24-valver behind you.
This isn’t a Ferrari-style howl or even the thunderous torque-rush of sister act Lamborghini – no, it’s more of a rising surge, an escalation of pitch rising to a racy crescendo up around the 7000rpm mark.

This model has a manual gearbox. Better or worse than the auto?

A matter of taste, obviously, but for me the manual wins through every time. You’ve got to hand it to Audi for delivering the six-speed shifter with an open gate, reminding us of the glorious past now busily being left behind by the supercar glitterati. The noisy clack of the aluminium stick slamming into the gate is delicious, and all the more so for the sympathetic stacking of the ratios which, unlike those long-geared, big-beat Lambos, allows you to play with the whole selection on a normal drive.
I recently had the pleasure of the open-gate manual in the Lamborghini Gallardo Balboni, but this R8 is even better because of that sympathetic usefulness. It defines the whole car. The R-tronic is naturally readily available and most R8s will pack it. Your call, but a nice dilemma to have.

What about the price? Can we call it good value?

That’s the beauty of the V8 model. Yes, it’s £96k, but that’s £20k less than the V10, and I absolutely guarantee you’ll never catch yourself yearning for those extra pots. Whether any Audi can ever really be lux enough to justify such a tag is a moot point. On the one hand, the interior is massively understated, beautifully built but willfully underdesigned, but on the other hand it’s pretty much knob-for-knob what you’ll get in your wildly pricey Gallardo.
If you wanted to criticise you’d have to admit that when the roof’s up the whole experience falters somewhat. It’s cramped in there, visibility is radically curtailed and the happy noise of the engine is replaced by a less pleasing vibey thrum from the wind. But you can say that about most super-cabrios.
And this R8 IS a super-cabrio.

source : http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/Search-Results/First-drives/Audi-R8-V8-Spyder-2011-CAR-review/

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[pictures] BMW i3 Concept (2011)

This is the BMW i3 Concept, a near-production preview of Munich’s new urban vehicle. Previously known as the Megacity Vehicle (MCV), it’s an all-electric carbonfibre and aluminium car that BMW will sell from 2013 as part of its new ‘i’ range – the i8 supercar has also been unveiled today. Both the BMW i3 and i8 concepts will be revealed at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show in September.

Is the BMW i3 just an electric Mini with a different badge?
Oh no. Beneath the stylish skin is BMW’s new LifeDrive architecture. The Drive element comprises the suspension, battery and drive systems, plus the aluminium structural and crash elements, while the Life part is the high-strength and lightweight carbonfibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) passenger cell.
The LifeDrive set-up features in both the i8 and i3, but it’s different in the latter because of its all-electric configuration. The Drive element sits low, containing the big lithium-ion batteries (held in place and protected by aluminium ‘profiles’) for optimum weight distribution and a low centre of gravity, and the Life element is mounted on top. Think of the body-on-chassis configuration of American pick-up trucks – albeit a little more complex – and you’ll be along the right lines.

And this i3 is electric?

That’s right. An electric motor (mounted over the rear axle and driving the rear wheels via a single-speed gearbox) produces 168bhp and 184lb ft, the latter from zero rpm – it’s 40% smaller than the motor found in the Mini E. With a 1250kg kerbweight it’s enough, BMW claims, for 0-37mph in less than four seconds, and 0-62mph in under eight seconds. Top whack is 93mph, and the batteries can be fully charged in six hours from a domestic plug, or up to 80% in 60 minutes from a high-voltage socket.
But, just in case you’ve got range anxiety, there’s an REx (or range-extender) option, which installs a three-cylinder petrol engine into the i3 to power a generator and keep the batteries topped up. Stick with solely EV power and BMW reckons on a 80 to 100-mile range, or 140 miles if you really push it. An Eco Pro mode helps increase the range, and the Eco Pro+ mode dials back the air-con, heater and other ancillaries as much as possible.
Size-wise the i3 is 3845mm long, 1537mm tall and a chunky 2011mm wide, making it shorter and taller than a Ford Fiesta, but very nearly as broad as a Lamborghini Aventador. The 2570mm wheelbase is lengthier than the Blue Oval’s supermini, and although the 200-litre is pretty small, the rear bench folds and there’s a cubbyhole in the nose.

What else?

The horizontal LifeDrive split means there’s no traditional transmission tunnel, leaving space for full-width benches both up front and in the back. And (how cool is this?) there are suicide doors too – though BMW would rather we call them ‘coach’ doors.
Both the i3 and i8 feature a ‘three-layer’ interior, with the outer, supporting structures in white, the inner layer consisting of the seats and storage areas, and the black level inbetween made up of the instrument panels and other technical elements. There’s a 6.5in screen for the instrument panel, and a 8.8in central screen.
And BMW is very proud of the materials used in the interior: some of the instrument panel and door paneling uses natural fibres, the leather seats are naturally tanned, and 25% (by weight) of the interior plastics come from recycled or renewable raw materials.

What about the exterior styling of the new BMW i3?

Lots of aerodynamic elements crafted over transparent surfaces serve to make the i3 look much more interesting than any other small car. It’s not quite as extreme as the i8, but there are still ‘AirCurtains’ to ensure optimum air flow around the wheel arches, and aeroflaps in the sills behind the front wheels, both of which are claimed to substantially reduce drag. There’s also a completely smooth and enclosed underbody. The kidney grilles are blanked off (there’s no engine to feed), the wheels are tall but narrow 19in items, and there are energy saving LED headlamps, too.
And while the styling is fairly futuristic, so are some of the mobility solutions. Beyond the necessary smartphone connectivity (so you can check the charge of your EV remotely), the i3 also features BMW’s new Front Protection system, with a camera that scans the road ahead and warns of potential collisions – it can also detect pedestrians below 37mph and brake the car. Parking Assistant steers and manoeuvres the i3 into tight spaces without you need to do anything, and Traffic Jam Assistant steers, accelerates and brakes you in traffic jams at speeds up to 25mph, as long as you keep one hand on the wheel. Plus the ‘Last Mile Navigation’ system can guide you on foot for the last steps of your journey, and the ‘Intermodal Route Planning’ finds your best sat-nav route using private and public transport.
UK sales start in 2013, and prices are expected to be in excess of £20,000.

Sources:
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/First-Official-Pictures/BMW-i3-Concept-2011-first-official-pictures/

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