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New car review

Nissan Skyline GT-R

Published by on Aug 14th, 2007, 5 Comments

nissan_skyline_gt_r_01.jpgNissan engineers are working hard on putting the finishing touches to the new Nissan Skyline GT-R, which will debut at the next Tokyo auto show (october 24th). While we wait for official photos, the japanese magazines Response.jp and Holiday Auto have some very interesting information regarding the price and the engine of this new super-car from Nissan.

According to Holiday Auto, the engine will be called VR38, part of a new family of extremely light engines, built with extensive use of aluminium, titanium and magnesium. The VR family will be very different from the VQ family of V6 engines, used in a good portion of Nissan/Infiniti coupes and sedans.

The VR38 engine will be a V6 with a 3.8-liters capacity, with two variable geometry turbines with a pressure of 1.47 bar. Valvelift and timing will be variable, thanks to the new Nissan system called VVEL.

Power output will be 480 ps at 6,800 rpm, but the VR38 engine will have more than 90% of top power still available between 6,800 and 7,500 rpm (redline at 7,600 rpm). Torque will be impressively linear: 580 Nm constant between 1,700 and 5,600 rpm.

The GT-R will be based on a Premium Midship platform, which has a weight distribution of 50/50 on the front and rear axles. The 4WD system and the weight distribution is a good premise for the road handling characteristics of the GT-R.

Top Gear reviews the Ocean Drive Concept

Published by on Aug 12th, 2007, No Comments

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Top Gear has gotten the chance to review a car that will not likely see the light of day, but we can say with certainty that a lot of its new ideas will find the way to many of the future Mercedes models. TG’s first impression of the car is great, saying that “the Ocean Drive has more potent sex appeal than all of the gravel-voiced rocker’s Rod Stewart wives and girlfriends put together.”

Their review is very entertaining, just like their shows, so head over to Top Gear and read their review on the Ocean Drive Concept

Lightweight Caparo-T1 dethrones Bugatti

Published by on Aug 10th, 2007, 2 Comments

Caparo T1

The Bugatti Veyron’s reign as fastest accelerating supercar seems to have met its fate. The soon-to-be world’s fastest accelerating car has broken cover during the final stages of test and development. The Caparo T1 is a high performance two-seater sports car with highly resolved aerodynamics, which has been designed with the looks and performance of a Formula One race car. The T1’s 500 kg weight and 550 bhp give it a power-to-weight ratio of 1100 bhp/tonne – better than any current supersport motorcycle and approaching that of a genuine F1 car. (more…)

Another Bentley coupe for oil magnates

Published by on Jul 18th, 2007, 2 Comments

Bentley Brooklands

In a show of unwavering commitment to the emulation of its own performance and luxury coach building history, Bentley Motorcars has released the Brooklands, a new coupe that picks up where the Continental R left off. That means more prestige, more technology and more power. It delivers all of that in spades: Interior decor includes leather-ensconced foot wells, and the twin-turbo V-8 makes a thunderous 530 horsepower, the highest output of any Bentley to date. (more…)

Golf 6 draws closer

Published by on Jul 12th, 2007, 24 Comments

VW Golf 6

As according to VWs plans, development of the next generation Golf is well underway. The Golf VI is being developed to be cheaper to build than the current Golf V, which has had VW management lamenting many ills: the electronics are too complicated and require highly qualified personnel, increasing training costs. The doors and the multilink rear suspension also require complex assembly techniques, leading to production times almost double those of rivals which leads to high production costs. The result is a car which in 2004 generated €900 million less than expected, one of a myriad reasons why VW has considered a replacement much earlier than originally planned. (more…)

Porsche prepares four-door slingshot

Published by on Jun 28th, 2007, 3 Comments

Porsche Panamera

As part of its drive to expand its product range, Porsche is currently known to be working on development of a new saloon/hatch vehicle. The new car, called the Panamera, is allegedly to use the 8 cylinder 4,5L mills that currently do service in the Cayenne range. Also mulled for inclusion is an Audi-sourced V10 – initially, the V10 from the Carrera GT was tipped as the range-topper, but production limitations are said to have precluded it from inclusion. (more…)

The Truth about Power

Published by on Jun 26th, 2007, 5 Comments

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You have just taken ownership of your new 225kW BMW 335i. At the traffic lights a normal Mazda 6 MPS pulls up next to you. The petrol head that you are, you know every cars’ power output like you know your two times table. From the last car magazine you read you know this car pushes out 191Kw. You have a whole 34kW more so you figure out that you could smoke him and decide to take him on. Something just never went to plan as you struggled to shrug him off. You trying to understand why he kept up with you and the first thing that pops to mind is that this car must be modified although it was stock standard. (more…)

Somebody dial 9-1-1

Published by on Jun 26th, 2007, No Comments

 Porsche 997 Turbo Cabriolet

Porsche’s iconic 911 range has , since its inception in the early Sixties, been the benchmark by which other sports cars are judged by many. The cars embody the manufacturer’s notable dedication to epic performance backed by astounding reliability and provocative soundtracks. These traditions continue with the latest 997 911 Turbo Cabriolet, a soft-topped version of Porsche’s turbocharged all-wheel-drive supercar. (more…)

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