BMW Unleashes new M3’s 420Hp 4.0-liter V8 – Soundbites included...

4.0-liter V8 420Hp, 400Nm of torque, maximum engine speed 8,300 rpm, want’ more? Get this; BMW’s new M5 V10 derived 4.0 V8 is not only 77Hp stronger than the straight-six fitted in the current M3 but most importantly weighing in at a mere 202 kg or 445 lb, its 15 kg or 33 lb lighter than the 3.2-liter six-cylinder power unit! Before you continue below to see the full details on the upcoming E92 M3's V8 engine, we’d advise you to check out the video above if you haven't done so yet. It includes a 9min long MP3 soundtrack from the BMW M3 V8 press kit we obtained in Germany dressed with still shots featuring the engine and its components. Sounds quiet promising doesn’t it… -Continued: Click “Read More…” below to see the official press release & an image gallery

BMW M3 V8 ENGINE PRESS RELEASE

The new V8 Power Unit for the BMW M3. Description in Brief.

-First eight-cylinder for the BMW M3 sports car.

-Supreme performance ensured by 309 kW/420 hp from 4.0 litres.

-Maximum torque of 400 Newton-metres (295 lb-ft) at 3, 900 rpm,
85 per cent of maximum torque over a speed range of 6,500 rpm.

-Unique thrust and muscle ensured by consistent implementation of the M high-speed engine concept, maximum engine speed 8,300 rpm.

-Consistent lightweight construction of engine and ancillary units,
new V8 power unit one of the lightest eight-cylinders in the world,
lighter than the straight-six power unit in the former model.

-Variable camshaft control, low-pressure double-VANOS for an
optimum charge cycle, system offering full power and performance even with normal engine oil pressure.

-Eight individual throttle butterflies for spontaneous engine response.

-Consistent and reliable oil supply with longitudinal and lateral acceleration up to 1.4 g ensured by two oil pumps and wet sump oil lubrication optimised for supreme dynamic behaviour.

-Exhaust system optimising cylinder charge, optimised for weight
and function by means of internal high-pressure remoulding,
exhaust emissions fulfil EU4 and LEV 2 standards.

-Upgraded MSS60 engine control unit for optimum coordination of all engine functions with the various control systems in the car.

-Ion flow technology recognising and distinguishing engine knocking phenomena as well as misfiring and miscombustion by measurement of ion flow in the combustion chambers.

-Brake Energy Regeneration with intelligent alternator control.

More in Every Respect: The new V8 Power Unit for the BMW M3.

Its name alone spells out the epitome of ultimate driving pleasure: the BMW M3. And now the new version of BMW M GmbH’s most successful high-performance sports car bears out this claim once again, at the same time providing a thrilling answer to the question asked by so many sports car fans around the world whether a further improvement is still possible at all. And the answer is yes – for the new BMW M3 offers more in every respect.

This applies not only – but particularly – to the power unit: After 15 years and two model generations, the trendsetting six-cylinder has now found its successor. The new BMW M3 is entering the market with an eight-cylinder power unit – more cylinders, larger capacity, more power, higher engine speed. And it is fair to say from the start that this will also mean an even more thrilling experience on the road.

The benchmark the new power unit was required to exceed could hardly have been greater: BMW’s 3.2-litre straight-six has gained fame and admiration the world over, receiving a long list of awards and prizes. Acknowledged several times as the “Engine of the Year” and developing a supreme 252 kW/343 hp in its last version, this power unit made the BMW M3 not only the ultimate performer in the segment of high-performance sports cars, but also a genuine best seller.

The fact still remains, however, that everything has its time. And now the time has come for the six-cylinder to bow out and leave the stage. The time has come for the advent of the new V8 in the new BMW M3.

The specifications of this new high-performance power unit alone clearly confirm the enormous progress this engine has to offer. Engine displacement is 3,999 cc, maximum output is 309 kW/420 hp. Peak torque of 400 Newton-metres or 295 lb-ft is just as impressive as the top engine speed of 8,300 rpm. So clearly, the new BMW M3 is striking out for the top right from the start through its thrilling performance.

Ideal dimensions for performance at its best.

Displacing 500 cc per cylinder, the new V8 power unit meets the ideal concept of the most demanding engine designers right from the start through its engine dimensions alone. And the other design criteria – all the way from the engine’s dimensions and filling capacities through the number of components to the weight of the engine – likewise represent the very best achievable today.

Over and above these qualities, the new eight-cylinder offers all the typical M-tuned features of BMW’s regular production cars such as double-VANOS, individual throttle butterflies, and high-performance engine electronics. At the same time the number of cylinders, the M high-speed engine concept, and the low weight of the engine clearly prove that the responsible engineers, in creating this power unit, were inspired and guided by the eight-cylinder featured in the BMW Sauber F1. For the new engine has many features in common with the latest power unit highlighted by BMW in Formula 1, with various technological concepts and principles, production processes and materials carried over from the Formula 1 engine to the drivetrain of the new BMW M3.

In terms of specific output, the new V8 significantly exceeds the benchmark of 100 hp per litre acknowledged as a convincing sign of sporting power and performance. But even so, power is not everything. Rather, the dynamic driving experience provided by a car depends to a great extent on its acceleration and handling, resulting, not least, from the weight of the car and the actual thrust of the engine. The thrust or traction acting on the drive wheels, in turn, results from engine torque and the overall transmission ratio.

The M high-speed engine concept allows optimum transmission and final drive ratios further enhancing the impressive thrust and power of the engine. Indeed, BMW M’s engineers have found a new dimension in developing the engine of the new BMW M3, with the eight-cylinder achieving maximum engine speed of 8,300 rpm.

The second factor crucial to thrust and performance on the road, engine torque, amounts to a mighty 400 Newton-metres or 295 lb-ft at 3, 900 rpm on the new V8 power unit. And about 85 per cent of the engine’s maximum torque is available throughout the enormous engine speed range of 6,500 rpm, with 340 Newton-metres or 251 lb-ft available from just 2,000 rpm.

High engine speed, low weight.

Mass (which, ultimately, means weight) is bad for acceleration – it makes any physical body seeking to accelerate slower and more sluggish. Precisely this is why BMW’s new V8, weighing a mere 202 kg or 445 lb, is a genuine lightweight, saving some 15 kg or 33 lb versus the six-cylinder power unit in the previous model. In other words, the new engine easily sets off the
weight of two extra cylinders. And a further point is that the high-speed engine concept allows a light drivetrain and very short transmission ratios.

Even so, the limits to physics inevitably approach step-by-step with increasing engine power: At 8,300 rpm, each of the eight pistons is moving at a speed of 20 metres or almost 66 feet per second, obviously exposing all materials to enormous loads. Precisely this is why BMW M’s designers and engineers have focused on the minimisation of masses on the new eight-cylinder.

Engine block straight from BMW’s Formula 1 foundry.

The engine block of the new eight-cylinder comes straight from BMW’s light-alloy foundry in Landshut near Munich, where BMW also builds the engine blocks for the Company’s Formula 1 racing cars. The cylinder crankcase, in turn, is made of a special aluminium silicon alloy, conventional cylinder liners being replaced by hard silicon crystals. The iron-coated pistons, finally, run directly in the uncoated, honed cylinder bore.

High engine speeds, compression forces and temperatures cause extreme loads acting on the crankcase. Hence, the crankcase is compact in its dimensions and comes in torsionally resistant bedplate design ensuring very precise crankshaft bearing and running conditions. The relatively short, forged crankshaft is likewise very stiff in terms of its flexural and torsional qualities, but weighs only 20 kg or 44 lb.

Double-VANOS with low-pressure operation.

With its extremely short control times, variable double-VANOS camshaft management perfects the cylinder charge cycle, reducing charge losses and improving engine output torque and response, as well as fuel economy and emission management.

Developed especially for the new eight-cylinder, the M double-VANOS now featured on the new engine requires no more than normal engine oil pressure in order to operate at maximum speed. As a function of load and engine speed, this sophisticated unit consistently sets the optimum valve angle synchronised to the ignition timing and injection volume.

Consistent and reliable oil supply even under extremely dynamic driving conditions.

Two volume-flow controlled pendulum slide cell pumps supply the eight-cylinder efficiently with lubricant, consistently delivering exactly the right amount for the engine. Wet sump lubrication optimised for engine dynamics, in turn, ensures appropriate lubrication also in extreme braking manoeuvres.

The entire system features two oil sumps – a small one in front of the front axle subframe and a larger sump further back. A separate reflow pump, in turn, extracts oil from the front oil sump and pumps it to the sump at the rear.

Eight individual throttle butterflies with electronic control.

Individual throttle butterflies for each cylinder, a technology commonly used in motorsport, are the ideal solution to give the engine an immediate, direct response at all times. The new power unit in the BMW M3 therefore comes with eight individual throttle butterflies, four on each row of cylinders operated by separate actuators. This high-tech throttle butterfly management is
fully electronic and extremely fast, giving the engine a smooth and sensitive response at low engine speeds and an immediate reaction to the driver’s commands whenever he wishes to use the full power of the engine.

Flow-optimised air intake.

To ensure an immediate response and superior dynamics of the engine at all times, the throttle butterflies in the intake manifolds are positioned very close to the intake valves. The specific length and diameter of the intake funnels also benefit the oscillating pipe charge principle. To minimise weight, finally, both the intake funnels and air collector are made of a light composite material with a 30 per cent share of glass-fibre.

Innovative exhaust system.

Through its design and configuration, the exhaust system for the new V8 power unit optimises the cylinder charge cycle, ensuring an optimum surge of power and torque at all times. And again, this component has been designed and built from the start for consistent lightweight qualities.

The exhaust manifolds are made in an internal high-pressure remoulding process, the desired contours of the stainless-steel pipes being shaped from inside under pressure of up to 800 bar. The result is extremely thin walls measuring just 0.65–1.00 millimetres (0.0256–0.0394´´ ) in thickness, optimising flow conditions with minimum resistance, light weight, and optimum response of the catalytic converters.

Exhaust emissions are cleaned by no less than four catalysts and the engine naturally complies both with the European EU4 standard and the US LEV 2 requirements.

Even better performance than before: the engine control unit.

The engine control unit featured on the V8 has also been upgraded to an even higher standard than before, ensuring optimum coordination of all engine functions. Taking more than 50 input signals, for example, the control unit determines the optimum ignition timing individually for each cylinder and operating stroke, the ideal flow conditions, exactly the right amount of fuel injection, and the optimum injection timing. At the same time the system calculates and sets exactly the right camshaft angles (angle spread), as well as the respective position of the eight individual throttle butterflies.

And last but not least, the control unit enhances and masterminds specific BMW M functions such as the clutch, transmission, steering, and brakes. Yet a further function of the engine control unit is to perform a wide range of on-board diagnostic functions with various diagnostic routines for servicing at the workshop as well as other functions and the efficient management of peripheral units and systems.

An outstanding highlight in engine management: ion flow technology.

A particular highlight in engine management is ion flow technology detecting any knocking in the engine as well as the risk of misfiring or miscombustion. Contrary to conventional processes and technologies, this function is now performed directly where it counts, that is right there in the combustion chamber itself. To provide this highly efficient control, each cylinder is monitored and controlled via the spark plug to determine any knocking tendency. At the same time the system checks the ignition for smooth and correct operation, and recognises any misfiring.

The spark plug therefore serves as an actuator for the ignition and as a sensor observing the combustion process, distinguishing in this way between miscombustion and misfiring. And through this double function performed by the spark plug, diagnostic requirements in maintaining and servicing the engine are also facilitated.

Greater efficiency and dynamics provided by Brake Energy Regeneration.

To further enhance the efficiency of the new V8 power unit, Brake Energy Regeneration ensures intelligent engine current management concentrating the generation of electric power for the on-board network on the overrun phases and the application of the brakes. This serves to charge the car’s battery without tapping on engine power and, accordingly on the energy contained in the fuel burnt. As long as the engine is running under power, on the other hand, accelerating and pulling the car, the alternator generally remains disconnected.

Apart from particularly efficient generation of electric current, this also helps to provide more drive power when accelerating, making the car even more dynamic and agile on the road.

Technorati: BMW+M3, Video, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, pictures, images

Update: 2008 Fiat 500 Promo, Static & History Videos plus press pack

Due to go on sale on July 4, exactly 50 years after its historic predecessor made its first appearance to the public, the new Panda based 500 is Fiat’s proposition in the European mini-car segment. More particular, the 500 will compete in the niche category of this segment rivaling the Smart Fortwo and the basic versions of BMW’s MINI. After the jump (Click: “Read More…” below) check out two more videos including static shots of the new model and footage of its ancestor along with the press release.

Preview: the new Fiat 500

On July 4, 1957, in Turin, Fiat presented the Nuova Fiat 500, a real icon of our times, with which Fiat concluded a revival that had begun straight after the Second World War. On July 4, 2007, exactly 50 years later, again in Turin, Fiat will present the new Fiat 500 which will be marketed immediately after the launch. And the new car will conclude an equally important cycle of revival for Fiat Automobiles SpA.

Developed by the Fiat Style Centre and manufactured in the plant in Tychy (Poland), the new 500 is a 3-door model with very compact measurements: it is 355 cm long, 165 cm wide, 149 cm tall and has a wheelbase of 230 cm. The car is extremely entertaining to drive, due to its three engines: a 75 bhp 1.3 16v Multijet turbodiesel unit and two petrol engines, the 69 bhp 1.2 8v and the 100 bhp 1.4 16v, all of which are available with five or six speed mechanical gearboxes.

The model confirms Fiat Automobiles SpA’s undisputed leadership in this category - a result of its extraordinary heritage of technical, design and human experience accumulated in over a century - and it takes a quality leap forward in terms of comfort and safety, technology and equipment for this segment. The new 500 is the most up-to-date solution for the motorist who ‘enjoys’ his car in complete freedom, appreciates it for day-to-day use, but also wishes to drive a car that is entertaining and practical, environmentally-friendly and accessible, but also appealing and full of fun.

The Fiat 500, an icon of our time

Some cars go down in history for their technological or stylistic innovations. Others deserve to be remembered for the role they have played in the daily life of an entire generation or an entire country. Few succeed in combining the two: technology and sentiment. They leave an indelible mark, becoming a sort of icon of their age. The Nuova 500 is one of these. In a career lasting 18 years, from 1957 to 1975, exactly 3,893,294 were built, and it helped Italians and numerous other Europeans to satisfy the need for individual mobility that began to gain momentum from the early 1950s.

The Nuova 500, even more than the 600 (1955), also brought the end of the post-war emergency period for motorisation and the automotive industry in Italy, and the start of the striving for comfort, albeit minimal and economical. With the Nuova 500, and its four popular wheels, the country of the ‘Poor but beautiful’ became, or tried to be, not quite as poor (and to a certain extent it succeeded), but above all, able to move around more freely.

The Nuova 500 also concluded the rebirth of Fiat and of its product range, after the devastation of the Second World War. Dante Giacosa, the ‘father’ of the Nuova 500, but also of the previous 500 Topolino and of numerous other models, said in his book ‘Progetti alla Fiat prima del computer’ (Design at Fiat before the computer), that when the 500 was launched on July 4, 1957, Fiat ‘realised its programme of renewing its models, to replace those born before the Second World War’. At two-year intervals, the 1400, 1900, 1100 – 103, 600, Nuova 500 and their derivatives were launched on the international market.

In just 10 years, Fiat had conceived and begun manufacture of four completely new basic models that had their roots in the technological culture that had grown up in its own offices and laboratories. No Italian or foreign model influenced the development of these projects. It may seem overly emphatic to underline this fact today, but it was utterly comprehensible at the time, in the late 1940s and 1950s, when Lancia and Alfa Romeo both operated autonomously in Italy and were therefore Fiat’s competitors, whereas abroad, in Germany, and above all in the United States, the domestic industry still seemed to be one step ahead in many ways.

Dante Giacosa also wrote about the launch of the Nuova 500 and said that the ‘Press Office, run by Gino Pestelli assisted by the hyperactive Mariuccia Rubiolo, wanted me to collaborate on the advertising launch’. Once the name ‘Nuova 500 had been chosen to recall the famous Topolino’, the message soon followed, with a slogan that claimed: ‘twenty years after the original 500 (the Topolino was launched in 1936), on a similar wave of success, here comes the Nuova 500, completely new, modern, less expensive, more economical, a worthy successor to the world’s first runabout, built by Fiat’.

Giacosa also revealed that the term ‘Big little car’ was also coined at Mirafiori, but the pragmatic engineer commented that ‘people just called it the 500’. Fifty years after that Summer of 1957, in an age when television is even available on mobile phones, with shots and reports from all over the universe, it is entertaining to read that ‘the launch was held in great style. National television installed itself in the Mirafiori workshop on a boiling hot evening in July, and even I was invited for a live interview on the assembly line.’

18 years after that ‘boiling hot evening in July’, during which time almost 3.9 million cars were built, another very hot day dawned, August 4, 1975, the day on which the ‘last’ car, at least of the 1957-75 Nuova Fiat 500 series, was built, not at Mirafiori but at the SicilFiat plant in Termini Imerese (Palermo).

Technorati: Fiat+500, Video, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, pictures, images

Porsche Commercial: Hot lady flashes 911 Cabrio...

…and it gets pretty aroused as you’ll see for yourselves in the end. A witty (and unfortunately, so true), commercial that aired in Europe.

Technorati: Porsche+911, Ad, Commercial, Video, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, pictures, images

Video: Tragic Arabian drifting accident

You know, doing something stupid with a car is one thing, but doing it without wearing a seat-belt is something I can’t even begin describing. Unfortunately, these Arabian folks learned it the hard way as their car tumbled over in high speed, tragically ejecting them into the air. Via: Motorpasion

Technorati: Video, Accident, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, pictures, images

Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe "12-second video ad" winner

12-seconds; that’s the time needed for the MX-5 Roadster Coupe’s retractable hard-roof to open and close. With that in mind, Mazda set-up a pan-European video contest where all participants had to create a 12-seconds long video of the new MX-5 Roadster Coupe. About 200 videos where submitted across Europe, with the winner being Marianna Shafranskaya from Russia. We haven’t seen the rest of the videos, but we sure enjoyed Shafranskaya’s one. The later will receive a new Mazda Roadster Coupe, while nine other finalists will have to be content with prizes including Bose home entertainment audio systems. Via: Motorpasion -Continued: Click “Read More…” below to see the press release

PRESS RELEASE: Novice filmmaker wins Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe Video Contest

Mazda Motor Europe has announced that Marianna Shafranskaya from Russia has won its pan-European 12-second video contest. The contest is the highlight of a unique advertising campaign for the new MX-5 Roadster Coupe – whose power retractable hard top opens and closes in a record 12 seconds.

The campaign included an interactive website where budding filmmakers were challenged to capture their interpretation of Mazda’s Zoom-Zoom feeling on film. From a total of nearly 200 videos submitted from across Europe, a jury selected Ms Shafranskaya’s entry as the grand prize winner. She will receive a new Mazda Roadster Coupe, while nine other finalists will receive prizes including Bose home entertainment and audio systems.

The jury comprised of Mazda’s agency Creative Director Eddy Greenwood, website producer Scott Bedford and Seamus Masterson, director of the viral marketing. "Mazda’s new Zoom-Zoom roadster with the retractable hard top," said Greenwood, ”is a thriller”. That’s why we asked the public to submit their own version of a thrilling 12 seconds, filmed in a way that is surprising and fun. All the final 10 videos were very good, but we felt the grand prize winner best reflected Mazda’s spirit of fun and ingenuity.”

Technorati: Mazda+MX-5+Roadster-Coupe, Mazda+Miata, Video, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, autos, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Video: Opel Corsa OPC including Nurburgring footage

GM’s brand-new Opel Corsa OPC has left a good first impression to most journalists in Europe with its punchy 192Hp strong 1.6-liter Turbo engine and its sexy exterior looks –don’t you just love those Lambo-styled rims? After you see our compact sized video that includes footage from Nurburgring click here to check out more facts on GM’s Europe only hot hatch -thank the 20.000+ Euros – 26.000+ USD price tag for that.

Technorati: Opel+Corsa+OPC, Vauxhall, Video, Geneva+Motor+Show, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Video: 2008 Volvo XC70

As you might remember (…) Volvo’s SUV flavored V70 made its worldwide debut at the Geneva Salon. This video includes footage from the Swiss show along with commented static and driving scenes.

Technorati: Volvo+XC70, Geneva+motor+Show, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, pictures, images

Ford’s "Casino Royal" Ad cut due to misleading implications!

Remember Ford’s Casino Royal Ad that we showed you last year? Well, take a good look at it cause you’re not going to see it again on TV. See, Britain’s Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) announced that it has banned the "Focus Zetec Climate" ad that featured footage from the new Bond film 'Casino Royale' due to complaints from two viewers who said that it was misleading because it mainly showed the Mondeo (it appeared in the film), but ended by showing the Focus Zetec Climate which didn’t participate in the movie at all. Who can blame them... -Continued: Click “Read More…” below to see ASA’s official press release

ASA PRESS RELEASE

Ad
A TV ad, for the Ford Focus Zetec Climate, showed a car entering a bright white stage in black silhouette. The ad contained footage from the new Bond film 'Casino Royale' interspersed with shots of the car. On-screen text stated "Retail only. Ends December 18th." After further scenes from the film, the James Bond gun barrel revealed a car in silhouette. On-screen text stated "FOCUS ZETEC CLIMATE LICENCED AND LOADED FROM JUST £12,995". The ad ended with the on-screen text "CASINO ROYALE IN CINEMAS NOVEMBER 16" followed by the Ford logo.

Issue
Two viewers said the ad was misleading because it mainly showed the Ford Mondeo, which they said was due to be released in 2007 and appeared in the film 'Casino Royale', but ended by showing the Focus Zetec Climate. The viewers said the ad misleadingly implied that the Focus Zetec Climate was used in the film 'Casino Royale'.

Response
Ford believed the ad was not misleading and said it promoted Ford's link with the film 'Casino Royale'. They explained that the main part of the ad, which contained scenes from the film purely to engage and entertain viewers, showed the link between Ford and Bond. They asserted that some scenes from the film featured a car whilst others did not and that the ad's final scenes gave specific details of the Focus Zetec Climate's name, price and image.

Ford provided the ASA with three ads, which featured three different Ford vehicles alongside James Bond imagery, to further demonstrate the wide-reaching nature of the Ford and Bond agreement.

The Broadcast Advertising Clearance Centre (BACC) reiterated that Ford had negotiated an exclusive brand association deal with Sony / Eon, whereby Ford promoted the 'Casino Royale' film launch-date in return for using the Bond assets and iconography across advertising for the Ford brand. They said that had resulted in various national press ads showing Bond imagery alongside the Ford Ka, Fiesta and Focus, for example. They explained that they approved the ad on the basis that the connection between the Bond film and Ford went beyond the Ford Mondeo that was featured in the film and related to a range of Ford products.


Assessment Upheld
The ASA acknowledged that Ford and Sony / Eon had a contract which involved running a series of promotions linking Ford cars with the film 'Casino Royale'. We noted the final scene of the ad showed the Focus Zetec Climate, with on-screen text identifying it as such, alongside a specific price. Nevertheless, we considered it was not clear that the car that appeared in shots interspersed with footage from the film was different from the car identified at the end of the ad and that viewers were likely to believe that only one car was being advertised throughout the whole ad. We considered that, because of the difficulty in differentiating between the two cars, the ad was likely to give the misleading impression that the Focus Zetec Climate was used in the film 'Casino Royale', which could make it more attractive to some viewers.

The ad breached CAP (Broadcast) TV Advertising Standards Code rules 5.1 (Misleading advertising), 5.2.2 (Implications) and 5.4.1 (Visual techniques and special effects).

Action
The ad must not be broadcast again in its current form.

Technorati: James+Bond, Casino+Royale, Ford, Ads, Commercials, Video, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, autos, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Video: 4wheeler rounda..fall

Talking about snow on our previous post reminded me of a funny video-link I received today. I know its totally stupid and immature but I really couldn’t help stop laughing with this one!

Technorati: Video, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Video: Honda’s are (made) forever...

After seeing this "poor" Honda Civic taking the beat of its lifetime and still continuing to run, do you still have any doubts about Japanese reliability? Unbelievable...

Technorati: Honda+Civic, Video, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, pictures, images

Video: Monster Motorsports Mazda Miata / MX-5 V8

Ok, I know this story isn’t exactly new but this is the first time I’ve seen Monster Mototrsport’s Miata V8 in real-life action. I'm not sure if the company exists anymore since their site (www.monstermotorsports.com) has been down for a long time now. What I do know though is that the Southern Californian based tuner made a reputation by replacing Miata’s stock 4cylinder 1.6 with a 5-litre EFI Ford V8 engine that was offered with several outputs, starting out from about 250Hp and going up to 500Hp with the addition of a supercharger.

Technorati: Mazda+Miata, Mazda+MX-5, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Video: Giugaro Ford Mustang Concept

Italdesign’s controversially styled Mustang Concept is more than your usual static concept as you’ll discover in Motortrend’s video when editor Arthur St.Antoine takes the Italian “stud” for a spin. Designed by Fabrizio Giugiaro and unveiled at the 2006 LA Show in December, the Mustang Concept is equipped with a supercharged version of the Mustang's stock 4.6-liter V8 delivering 500Hp. -Continued: Click “Read More…” below to see Italdesign’s Mustang Concept Promo Video

Technorati: Ford+Mustang, Giugiaro+Mustang, LA+Show, Video, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs

Video: Man takes his Mitsubishi Outlander for a catastrophic joyride in Mall!

I don’t know what the heck going around this man’s head when he decided to take a stroll with his Mitsubishi Outlander SUV in the Augusta Mall but he sure gave another meaning to the term... party crasher! Listen to what Lt. Tony Walden of the Richmond County Sheriff's Office had to say about the incident: "He drove through locked glass doors. Continued through the mall and made a left turn and proceeded toward where the new food court is. When he gets to the new food court, the vehicle turns right. The vehicle then drives through those glass doors and exits the mall". -Continued: Click “Read More…” below

Finito la musica? No cause once the man drove out the Mall, he resisted arrest from the Richmond County deputies. As you can see from the surveillance video he was quite pissed at the officers and at some point he actually attacked them! In the end though, thanks to a pint of pepper spray, the deputies managed to restrain the distraught driver and arrest him.

Via: WindingRoad Info: NBC

Technorati: Mitsubishi+Outlander, SUV, Accident, Video, Mall, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, autos, Carscoop, blogs

2008 Mazda2 - Demio Video including driving & static shots

The promo video gives us a real life example of what we can expect from the all-new Mazda2 - Demio in Europe and Japan later this year. It'll also make its apperence in the US beginning in 2008. And since vids are almost always more entertaining than pics, this one was worth the time to find. But, in the name of all that is holy... ixnay on the color-ay.

Technorati: Mazda2, Mazda+Demio, Geneva+Motor+Show, Video, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Motorcycle Accident Video: Always check your mirror

Car-drivers and motorcyclists; two different worlds coexisting on the same roads. Not always successful as this video of a motorcyclist trying to overtake a Seat Cordoba somewhere in Europe (unfortunately) proves… Via: Motorpasion

Technorati: Motorcycle, Youtube, Video, Accident, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

GENEVA: Hyundai QarmaQ SUV Concept Video & Press Pack

More of a technology showcase vehicle than your typical design study, Hyundai’s QarmarQ s features over 30 key technologies, which, according to the Korean company, will be selectively incorporated into Hyundai’s new models from 2008-2014. Among others, QarmarQ features polycarbonate glazing materials that are about 50 percent lighter compared to your usual glass and an “Elastic Front” safety system that significantly improves pedestrian protection. -Continued: Click “Read More…” below to see the official press release & more high-res images

PRESS RELEASE: Hyundai Unveils QarmaQ

-Sporty Crossover Coupé makes debut in Europe-

-Elastic Front safety system reduces pedestrian injury-

-Eco-focused technologies lower weight, fuel consumption and CO2-

At the Geneva International Motor Show today, Hyundai Motor Co. and GE Plastics presented QarmaQ, a first in the Crossover Coupe segment. The QarmaQ is Hyundai's Advanced Technology Demonstration Vehicle (ATDV) that showcases over 30 different environmentally progressive technologies led by the innovative “Elastic Front™”, an innovative solution that can help reduce the risk of severe injuries in Crossover Utility Vehicles (CUV) pedestrian collisions.

Designed at Hyundai Motor Europe's Design and Technical Center in Russelsheim and engineered in close cooperation with GE Plastics, QarmaQ develops and validates over 30 key technologies, which will be selectively incorporated into Hyundai’s new models to be rolled out from 2008-2014.

“At Hyundai, we believe in innovation for humanity, and QarmaQ demonstrates our commitment to safety innovation and our determination to bring more environmentally responsible technologies to the market,” said Dr. Kwon Moon-Shik, Hyundai Motor's vice president of advanced technology. “We chose to partner with GE Plastics because of their commitment to the environment and their wide range of innovative materials and technical capabilities. Technologies from QarmaQ will provide Hyundai owners with a safer, more environmentally responsible car and a better driving experience.”

The QarmaQ is lighter, stronger and more economical than any current production CUV in its class. It also offers significant recycling advantages both in construction and eventual disassembly. In short, it is a viable and realistic glimpse of the future potential of personal automotive transport.

Pedestrian Safety

The issue of pedestrian safety is a growing one. In the EU, one-fifth of all traffic fatalities – 7,000 people per year – are pedestrians hit by a vehicle. In densely populated Korea, the rate is as high as 39 percent. QarmaQ's Elastic Front™ safety system, which encompasses the whole front end of the vehicle, is arguably the world's first global pedestrian protection solution on a CUV. Three energy-absorbing structures are fully integrated underneath the futuristic styling of QarmaQ and this system takes advantage of several advanced materials that offer inherent energy absorbing properties. The QarmaQ's body panels have been designed to work in concert with energy-absorbing systems on the underside of these panels to manage and dissipate the force of a pedestrian/CUV collision. The Elastic Front™ has been engineered to meet EEVC WG17 Phase2, Euro NCAP, and JNCA pedestrian impact requirements and is currently undergoing testing for final validation.

A totally relevant concept

The Hyundai QarmaQ concept car is the result of the fusion of exceptional expertise and engineering foresight from Hyundai and GE Plastics. More than a design concept, QarmaQ illustrates that environmentally responsible solutions can be elegantly incorporated to enhance safety, design and performance.

"GE Plastics is committed to developing greener, lighter and aesthetically pleasing solutions to support our customers in creating vehicles with reduced environmental impact," said Gregory A. Adams, vice president and general manager, GE Plastics – Automotive. "We are delighted to have collaborated with Hyundai and we believe that working together we helped them develop an exciting new CUV that demonstrates greater environmental responsibility as well as improved safety, dramatic design, and high performance."

Firmly positioned as a crossover Coupe/CUV, the QarmaQ derives its name from traditional Inuit dwellings, constructed from earth, whalebone and animal skins. Like them, QarmaQ challenges conventional ideas on construction methods and materials. Also in common with the original structures, it boasts unusual strength, resilience and protection.

By combining leading edge design, advanced engineering techniques and the benefits of GE materials technology, QarmaQ demonstrates the ability to meet necessary, but problematic areas of legislation dealing with pedestrian safety and eco-responsibility.

The choice of a crossover coupe/CUV format for QarmaQ underlines the commitment of Hyundai to design innovation in this market sector. With Santa Fe, Tucson, and Veracruz, Hyundai created pioneering vehicles.

This 2+2 vehicle targets the important empty next baby boomers demographic, who are rediscovering a new-found freedom while remaining the wealthiest demographic in history. Today, this key group of consumers is beginning to spend their nest egg and enjoy the fruits of their labour, not on material possessions, but on experiences. The QarmaQ soulfully blends the driving experience of a Coupe with the ability to manage multi-terrain driving of a CUV, providing empty nesters with effortless access to their outdoor playground.

Design: Freedom of shape

As a joint project with GE Plastics, QarmaQ endowed designers with greater expressive freedom to create complex three-dimensional shapes that could not have been achieved with conventional production methods and materials such as metal and glass.

"The powerful profile and stance of the design incorporates dynamic, sculptural qualities and elegant sportiness on one hand, with smooth refined surfaces on the other," said Thomas Bürkle, chief designer, Hyundai Motor Europe. "Moreover, the various properties of the GE materials allowed more freedom in meeting or even exceeding safety requirements. The result is a uniquely balanced and harmonic design both inside and out," he added.

Departing from conventional car design that combines a lower body and a glass cabin on top, QarmaQ blazes a new trail with panoramic wrap-around glazing area using GE’s Lexan™ polycarbonate resin. This part sits between the two pronounced “muscles” above the front and rear wheels. The C-shaped side window enables innovative helicopter-like downward visibility and is a key design feature demonstrating the new glazing technology.

Exterior: Fluidity of line

Connected by unique glazed surfaces, the exterior design relates strongly to, and interacts effortlessly with the interior. The unique division between the solid bodywork and transparent glazed areas creates a new perspective, whether viewed from inside or from the pedestrian standpoint.

The exterior contours and fluidity of line have been refined to give an immediate impression of movement frozen in motion. This aesthetic is mirrored in the interior, so that the fusion and merging of the perceptual boundaries between inside and out delivers a feeling of integration and synchronization to the overall appearance.

Although QarmaQ does not have a high waistline or small window area (conventional methods to convey a feeling of protection), the exterior design still communicates a commanding presence and a feeling of protection to the occupants.

”The QarmaQ’s exterior design communicates a commanding presence and a feeling of protection to the occupants,” said Robert Butterfield, global market director, GE Plastics. “ The twin domes on the sunroof, facilitated by the new glazing technology, increases the inner space for the rear passengers and creates a unique design feature.” The wrap-around windscreen, in combination with the elongated bonnet delivers dramatic, almost classic, proportions and gives the car a unique sporty feeling. Finally, the contrast of the strong dark coloured areas to the lighter tonal areas emphasizes QarmaQ’s off-road DNA.

Interior

In response to shrinking family sizes and emergent customer preferences, QarmaQ is specifically designed to carry four people in above average comfort. The extensive use of new materials and techniques has resulted in a more fluid, more unified interior, by allowing seamless integration of otherwise intrusive elements.

As the sporting exterior proportions suggest, QarmaQ is primarily a driver’s car. Within its unique interior architecture the cockpit is isolated in an active, yet protective pod structure. This helps promote a sensorial and highly self-indulgent driving experience.

One of the main aims of the interior design was to develop a practical and interactive space, which wraps around the occupants. The driver-oriented cockpit, which combines functionality with organic sculpted shapes, creates an attractive, fun-to-drive atmosphere. This is further underlined by:

• Inclusion of smooth surfaces embedded with discrete or hidden touch activated sensors

• “Floating” elements pulsating and glowing with tinted ambient lighting

The interior is brought alive by a variety of technologies, effects and surfaces, including:

• Thoughtful ambient LED lighting by Lumination, LLC glows through ceramic components

• Silicone applied next to leather, to give a pleasing tactile and visual experience

The colour harmony of the interior has been designed to enhance the feeling of serenity and spaciousness, which in turn relates directly to the high level of comfort enjoyed by the passengers. The mixed effects, textures and colours add sophistication to the dynamic forms and strong presence of the car. Functional elements made from aluminium emphasise the more technical aspects, contrasting with and highlighting the softness of the interior materials.

New materials, new directions in comfort and safety

Current composite technology is usually thought too expensive and too difficult to fabricate to be of use anywhere but the aerospace and motor racing industries. The QarmaQ is physical proof that this need not be so.

The wrap-around GE Lexan™ windscreen and extensive use of GE polycarbonate glazing materials provides a weight saving of up to 50 percent in relation to glass, while simultaneously allowing more adventurous shapes than flat glass. The glazing features a unique technology from Exatec™ which deposits a thin protective layer of glass on the Lexan™ to add protection from scratching and the effects of weathering.

The QarmaQ also introduces new curved and moving side glazing in Lexan. As well as allowing such advanced applications, the impact resistance and other properties of this material also helps increase both occupant and pedestrian safety.

Exatec™ infrared coatings on the whole transparent areas reflect heat, helping cool the interior and reducing the power demands upon the infrared regulated air conditioning. Lighting is achieved by incorporating mood illumination into the actual material, delivering a unique interior ambience. The material also facilitates a perfectly flat, fully integrated fractal radio antenna within the roof structure.

Among other milestones in the construction of QarmaQ, the front wings were designed from the beginning to be one very large single injection moulded component. Together with the deformable bonnet and precise bumper mouldings, these also form a major addition to pedestrian impact safety. The sophistication of the material and manufacturing technique also played a major part in the ability to fully encapsulate the complex headlight shape into the whole frontal styling.

At the other end, the tailgate breaks new ground by bonding different materials, including the glazing and rear light assemblies, to create a one-piece component structure. This increases the integral strength, while at the same time simplifying vehicle assembly and reducing weight.

Another major safety advance is the use of sensors to detect vehicle presence in the blind spots of the rear view mirrors when pulling out or overtaking, and audio-visually alert the driver.

Euro5 diesel engine

The QarmaQ's 2-liter diesel engine is fully compliant with EURO5 emission regulations. It features the very latest technologies such as high pressure fuel injection and fine fuel spray atomization for higher torque and better power output. Regulated emissions such as CO, THC, NOx and PM, were reduced drastically while a Catalyzed Particulate Filter system, CPF, is capable of cleaning about 90 percent of the particulate matter from the diesel emissions. Furthermore, by switching the position of CPF from the under-floor area to a location more closely coupled to the exhaust manifold, it was possible to minimize the catalytic light-off time and to enhance the naturally regenerative characteristics of the CPF.

A greener future

Thanks to extensive use of advanced materials, QarmaQ is 60 kg lighter than a comparable vehicle made with traditional materials.

GreenOrder, an environmental strategy firm based in New York, N.Y. that audited QarmaQ estimated that the 60 kg. that have been taken out of the QarmaQ, means the vehicle would require about 80 fewer litres of diesel per year, and would cut annual greenhouse gas emissions by more than 200 kg. Furthermore, if every new vehicle registered in the European Union (EU-15) in 2006 had reduced fuel consumption by the same amount, the result would have been an annual savings of more than 7.4 million barrels of diesel fuel -- or enough to sustain the European Union (EU-15) diesel demand for three days.

As a result, the greenhouse gas savings would equal approximately 3.1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. According to Joseph Malcoun, an Associate with GreenOrder, cutting edge material technologies are expected to make a major contribution to increasing the fuel economy of tomorrow’s passenger vehicles. “As consumer demand for more fuel efficient vehicles continues to grow, we expect the use of advanced materials to play an increasing role in reducing the greenhouse gas footprint of the cars we drive.”

HPPC composites for horizontal body panels significantly reduce part weight - up to 50 percent per part - while maintaining strength equal to that of steel. This lighter-weight cladding contributes to better fuel efficiency and improved power-to-weight ratio for drivers and its energy absorbing qualities are harnessed to create the Elastic Front™ safety system.

The QarmaQ's body panels use an environmental responsible plastic, Xenoy iQ™ and Valox iQ developed as part of GEs ecomagination™ initiative to address three critical environmental concerns: conserving energy, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and up-cycling or re-using materials such as PET plastic bottles. The QarmaQ re -uses approximately 900 PET bottles that would otherwise become landfill.

Another environmentally progressive aspect of QarmaQ’s design is the use of GE paint replacement technologies, including Visualfx™ resins with Lexan™ films, to replace painting operations that can release toxic and greenhouse gases.

To eliminate dependency on PVC in the wiring, GE’s Noryl resin technology was used for wire and cable coating. Replacing PVC, these ultra-thin coatings can reduce cable weight by up to 25 percent.

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