Latest
News
23 Dec,
2007
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| Corvette ZR-1 stuns ! |
The long awaited Super Vette has been unveiled officially. Previously
known as Blue Devil, Sting Ray or Corvette SS, its name is finalized to
be ZR-1, taking from the Lotus-engined fourth generation Vette from
1990-95. The ZR-1 is priced at around US$100,000, compare with
US$45,000 of the base Corvette and US$70,000 of Z06. The maximum volume
will be 2,000 cars per year.
Externally, the car doesn't depart a lot from the standard car or Z06,
but there are obvious differences, such as the extended lip spoiler,
rear spoiler and sills, the larger side air vents, more aggressive
wheels and tires and, how can we miss it, a bonnet with more pronounced
power dome to accommodate the larger engine. The latter is visible
through the transparent Lexan window on the power dome, very much like
some Ferraris and Lamborghinis, but it is probably the first of its
kind we see in front-engined sports car !
The supercharged LS9 V8 might not be a delight for purists (which
purists prefer supercharged engines than high-revving normally
aspirated one?), but its superior output is undeniable. Still under
fine tuning, but the chief engineer says it will produce at least 100
horsepower per liter. The capacity is 6162 cc (the same as the standard
2008 Corvette but smaller than the 7.0-liter Z06), so that means it
will boost at least 620 horsepower ! Enough to beat the new Viper (600
hp) and many other European exotics. As for torque, it will be around
600 lb-ft. The ZR-1 will be about 100 kg heavier than Z06, so it is
still lighter than most other rivals.
The LS9 does not displace as much as LS7 of Z06 because it needs extra
wall thickness to withstand the higher stress. Its bore and stroke
dimensions are the same as the standard LS3, but everywhere is
strengthened. Like Z06, it employs expensive high-performance parts
like forged crankshaft, titanium connecting rods, titanium intake
valves and sodium-filled hollow exhaust valves. In addition, it has
forged aluminum pistons (LS7 has cast aluminum pistons). The cam timing
is less aggressive, as its the 9.3:1 compression, because it has a
supercharger.
The Eaton supercharger sits partly inside the V-valley. It is a new
generation roots-type supercharger with 4 lobes instead of 3 in its
rotors. This produce more efficient supercharging - for example, at
full boost it consumes 80 horsepower instead of 120 horsepower of
conventional 3-lobes design. The supercharger produces a maximum 0.73
bar. A compact twin air-to-air intercooler sits above the supercharger
so that not to intrude to much into the bonnet.
 
Inevitably, the supercharged engine puts more weight to the nose. Chevy
partly compensated that with a carbon-fiber bonnet and front fenders.
Still, weight distribution worsens from 50:50 in the Z06 to 52:48. This
compare unfavourably with the slightly rear-biased Viper and, of
course, the mid-engined Ferrari F430 and rear-engined Porsche 911 GT2.
We don't expect it to handle as well as its rivals.
Apart from bonnet and fenders, the ZR-1 has more body parts made of
carbon-fiber to save weight - the roof, the rollover bar (B-pillar),
lip spoiler and side sills. Besides, it employs Brembo carbon-ceramic
brakes as standard. The front brakes employ 6-piston calipers and 394
mm discs; The rear employ 4-pot calipers and 380 mm discs. They come
from Ferrari FXX and Enzo respectively ! The tires are 285/30ZR19 front
and 335/25ZR20 rear Michelin PS2.
 
The suspension tuning is not as aggressive as Z06, but it adopts
Magnetic Selective Ride Control as standard. Chevy says the ZR-1 is a
more rounded car than the track-biased Z06, although it will surely
return faster lap time.
The gearbox is a strengthened version of the existing Tremec 6-speed
manual. Gear ratios are revised to give top speed at 6th. The steering
ratio has been quickened from 2.78 in Z06 to 2.54. Variable ratio
steering rack has been adopted to give more direct feel at locks and
less nervousness on center.
We won't know fast fast it will actually go until seeing the first road
test. Chevy provides a conservative estimation of 200-205 mph. This is
easily achievable, considering the 505hp Z06 already tops 199 mph. 0-60
acceleration will depend more on traction. However, more important to
us is real world speed. Can it beat, say, a Skyline GT-R or 911 GT2 in
Nurburgring ? Despite of the stunning figures, we feel that the
Corvette ZR-1 is still a raw and old-fashioned machine.
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23 Dec,
2007
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| Aston V12 Vantage RS concept |
This could be the first new car produced by the now-independent Aston
Martin. Earlier this year AM showed a concept car called V12 Vantage
RS. As you can guess from its looks, it is a V8 Vantage converted to
V12-powered. The wheelbase has been stretched a little to accommodate
the company's 6-liter V12, now tweaked to produce 600 horsepower and
509 lb-ft of torque. The increased weight is compensated with
carbon-fiber bonnet, boot lid and ceramic brakes. It will weigh less
than 1600 kg, roughly the same as V8 Vantage. Performance should be
awesome: 200 mph top speed, 0-62 in under 4 seconds and 0-100 mph in
8.5 seconds. The company said it could make into production if there is
sufficient demand. In fact, the prototype has undergone 100,000 test
miles, so I would be surprised if it doesn't get the green light.
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23 Dec,
2007
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| BMW twin-turbo V8 debuts in X6 |
 
Facing the challenge of reducing CO2 emission, BMW is seeking more help
from turbocharging, something it strongly rejected until the recent 3.0
bi-turbo six. In the new X6 crossover vehicle, BMW introduces its new
generation direct-injection twin-turbo V8, which will replace the
naturally aspirated 4.8-liter V8 in its whole lineup. Currently, the
4.8 engine produces 367 horses and 361 lb-ft of torque. In contrast,
the new turbocharged engine produces 408 hp / 5500-6400 rpm and 442
lb-ft / 1800-4500 rpm from 4.4 liters. Although no comparable figures
are provided, we expect it will consume less fuel and emit less CO2.
We heard that its turbochargers are mounted inside the V-valley, a
surprising arrangement which intends to keep a compact size but is
likely to compromise cooling thus limit the ability to tune up.
Therefore the twin-turbo V8 is not supposed to be a
performance-oriented engine.
This is not the first turbocharged V8 from BMW, however. You might
remember that it built a twin-turbo 4.4 V8 for the original Bentley
Arnage.
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23 Dec,
2007
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| Mercedes SLK tweaked |
Mercedes SLK has received a facelift (see the new bumper) and
enhancement to engines. The best-selling 3.5-liter V6 has its output
increased from 272hp / 258 lbft to 305hp / 265 lbft, thanks to a higher
compression, modified valvetrain and intake manifolds. Now it no longer
looks unpowered compare with other 3.5-liter powerplants in the market.
The SLK200K also has its 1.8-liter supercharged engine pumped up from
163hp to 184hp. The SLK280's 3-liter V6 remains unchanged in output,
but like other engines, fuel consumption has been reduced. No big
changes else where, but the SLK remains unique in the market.
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23 Dec,
2007
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| Audi A3 Cabriolet |
 
What we miss in this generation's Volkswagen Golf is compensated by its
sister car Audi A3 - the Cabriolet version ! Yes, it uses a
fabric roof and still looks like a hatchback, so it could have image
problems compare with the likes of Eos and C70, but Audi claims it
provides ample rear seat room. Plus, once the rear seat back fold down,
luggage room increases to 674 liters ! Still want to buy a retractable
metal roof ? think twice.
The chassis of this car has been strengthened to partly compensate the
loss of roof. Rollover bars are added to protect the rear passengers. 4
engines are offered: 105hp 1.9TDI 8V, 140hp 2.0TDI 16V, 160hp 1.8TFSI
and 200hp 2.0TFSI. Gearbox is again 6M or S-Tronic (DSG).
 
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23 Dec, 2007
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| Industry News |
Renault takes
stakes in Autovaz
Renault beat GM to reach partnership
agreement with Autovaz (Lada). It will take 25% stakes in the Russian
car maker. Russia has been recognized as a booming market thanks to the
rising economy of the oil-rich Russia. The car market there is expected
to grow by 20% next year and reach 4 million units by 2015. Autovaz
currently has a capacity of 900,000 cars. The investment from Renault
will take that to 1.5 million units while improving its products and
efficiency. Without a partnership with foreign car makers, Autovaz is
difficult to survive in long term.
New Alfa Romeo boss
Luca De Meo, the right-hand man of Fiat CEO
Sergio Marchionne, has taken the post as Alfa Romeo's chief executive.
Besides this post, he keeps his existing duties as Chief Marketing
Officer of Fiat Group and the chief of Abarth. De Meo will have two
important missions: first, to increase sales from 152,000 units this
year to 300,000 units by 2010; second, to bring Alfa Romeo back to the
USA market in 2009.
GM China sales
exceeds 1 million cars
GM is to become the first foreign car maker
selling more than 1 million car in China this year. China is now the
second largest market for the auto maker, just behind its home market
USA.
7-speed DSG goes
on sale in Golf
After building 1 million 6-speed DSG gearbox,
Volkswagen and BorgWarner is introducing the new DQ200 7-speed DSG
gearbox. It will be initially available to Golf and Golf Plus, mated to
the 105hp 1.9TDI and 122hp 1.4TSI turbo engine. The new box uses dry
clutch instead of wet clutch to reduce weight, size and costs. It has a
torque capacity of 250Nm / 184 lbft, so more powerful engines will have
to wait longer.
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