Saturday, May 31, 2008

SUZUKI ZUK CONCEPT

Hitting it big with the aftermarket crowd, the sport bike-inspired Suzuki Zuk offers features designed to please any car enthusiast. The 300-horsepower Zuk, designed for ultimate performance, features a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system, excellent stability and precise handling for sharp turns. Also appealing to aftermarket fans is the blue metallic paint that accents the exterior “lighted” ground effects. Mirrors, spoiler, exhaust and racing-styled seats also help give the Zuk its motorcycle-inspired finishing touches.

SUZUKI DUNE CONCEPT

The "Dune" Grand Vitara is designed for off-road enthusiasts who demand off-road capabilities. Well-equipped with 26 inches of ground clearance and a towing capacity of 3,000 lbs., the "Dune" provides enough muscle to add a huge dose of exhilaration to any weekend. The exterior features flared fenders and integrated cladding and running boards, all dressed in lightening yellow paint to match the color scheme of Suzuki ATVs. Roomy on the inside, the five-passenger "Dune" features a rear off-road gear storage and "mobile garage" workstation, ideal for last-minute adjustments. The "Dune" also offers a built-in GPS and navigation system.

SUZUKI BASECAMP

Based on the XL7, the Suzuki BaseCamp offers cutting-edge design and technology to fulfill the needs of outdoor enthusiasts. The BaseCamp’s exterior is blanketed with liquid metal body paint and finished with titanium cladding around the perimeter of the vehicle. Sitting atop the roof is a custom rack system that offers ample storage and a dual slot bike rack, complete with two Santa Cruz mountain bikes. A modern canopy with a carbon fiber frame can be attached to the roof rack, keeping adventurers dry in inclement weather or protecting against the sun, while creating a welcoming ambiance for visitors. Moving inside through the unique gull wing passenger side door reveals a warm, modern interior room and attachable peninsula bar work station with full media connectivity, including Wi-Fi Internet access, Bluetooth integration and iPod/MP3 capabilities.

TOYOTA FT-HS

The FT-HS Concept is designed to showcase Toyota's leadership in hybrid powertrain technology. Underhood is a next-generation performance hybrid system built around Toyota's punchy 3.5-liter V-6 and capable of delivering approximately 400 horses. Performance targets include a 0-to-60-mph time in the 4.0-second range. Toyota says the FT-HS is a vision for a 21st-century sports car: a sports car that's eco-friendly and fun to drive, as fast as a Ferrari, yet as fuel-efficient as a four-cylinder compact.

Styled at Toyota's Calty facility in Irvine, Calif., the sharp edges at the corners of the car are designed to manage airflow and the full undertray with rear venturis works with the unique combination taillight/rear wing to provide a measure of downforce. At the rear, floating C-pillars direct airflow into vents to cool the hybrid system's battery pack.

TOYOTA FINE-T

This compact, four-seat fuel-cell concept exploits an advanced powertrain to deliver high maneuverability via a four-wheel drive-by-wire steering system. The Toyota Fine-T Concept can spin on its own axis, or edge into tight parking spaces, and is driven by compact electric motors mounted within each wheel. The motors are powered by Toyota's latest generation fuel cell stack mounted beneath the flat floor. The fuel cell takes its hydrogen from a high-pressure tank also situated under the floor. Large gull-wing doors on either side reveal the roomy interior, and the driver's seat rotates outward at the press of a button to make access easier. As with the Fine-X, the Fine-T utilizes plant-based, carbon-neutral materials for interior elements like door trim, suede-like ceiling material, seat nets, and floor mats. Although Toyota is seriously evaluating fuel cells, company sources admit the technology is not likely to be viable until sometime in the next decade, primarily because of problems producing and storing hydrogen.

TOYOTA F3R

The automotive world continues to look for a hip minivan. Toyota's latest try is the F3R, or Freedom 3-Row Concept. Hybrid powered - of course, it's a Toyota, and the company can do anything with a hybrid powertrain. The F3R has six side doors. The front two are conventional, and the rear four are pillar-free suicide doors with a reinforcement ring, like the Honda Element. They open to reveal a "lounge interior," with three conventional rows of seats that can be arranged into a kind of big oval couch, like those family room "pits" popular in the '90s. The driver's seat reclines and swivels, but the system is designed so that you can't drive the minivan when the seats are configured like this. Even if the driver's seat is in place, the second row can't be reclined while driving because it makes seatbelt use tough. There are two track-mounted video screens and a three-tier instrument panel, the upper strip with a mode for driving and a mode for the lounge. The main floor is covered in a kind of mid-century style recyclable rubber (the front seat area uses recyclable bamboo and the textured seats, set up "stadium style" in their driving configuration, are of a nice supple non-leather material. Toyota describes the styling as a wedged-shaped profile with a high beltline.

TOYOTA A-BAT

Toyota returns to its compact-truck roots with its latest concept vehicle, the A-BAT (Advanced Breakthrough Aero Truck). The A-BAT uses a hybrid powertrain reported to provide modern versatility, roominess, and style for a new kind of buyer.

"Driving from the suburbs to the city is a way of life for many people," says Kevin Hunter, president, Calty Design Research, Inc. "We've taken Toyota's truck heritage to a different level by envisioning a vehicle capable of maneuvering the suburbs as well as dirt roads. This compact truck is as comfortable for long commutes as it is for road trips. It can accommodate outdoor toys and home-improvement supplies. Plus, customers benefit from the hybrid powertrain's low emissions and fuel economy."

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Spycam: Cadillac CTS Wagon

The wagon variant of the Cadillac CTS has been caught testing ahead of its likely debut at the Paris Show in October, where it will probably be shown with the new 250hp, 406lb ft 2.9-liter V-6 turbo-diesel that will be critical for CTS' success in the European market.

The CTS wagon will be produced along side the sedan and coupe versions at the Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in Michigan starting in the spring of 2009. Production volume is expected to be around 10,000-12,000 vehicles, with the majority destined for Europe.

The CTS wagon has been the subject of huge debate within GM. Execs with a North American focus couldn't see the point of doing a wagon because volumes would be small; more global oriented execs realized a wagon had a lot more acceptance in Europe, and would help grow (with the Coupe) perception of the CTS as a family of vehicles.

In the U.S., the CTS will help the upcoming Lambda-based crossover -- which will not, despite reports to the contrary, be called the BRX -- fill the void left by the moribund SRX, which gets the axe in the first half of 2009.

Approving the development of the CTS wagon was a critical step in the globalization of GM, and of the Cadillac brand.

Spycam: Lincoln Navigator with new 4.4-liter diesel

The only sign that this mule isn't a run-of-the-mill Lincoln Navigator is dual exhaust coming out the passenger side of the Ford SUV, a fairly clear indication that Ford's new 4.4-liter diesel engine is lurking under the Navigator's hood. Eariler today an F-150 mule was also caught prowling around, also with the diesel on board.

Details of the 4.4-liter V-8, which will also appear in many of the expected places such as the F-150, Super Duty, and E-Series large vans, were leaked earlier this month after a recent Ford dealer meeeting. The engine is closely related to the 3.6-liter turbodiesel installed in European Jaguars and Land Rovers and is being designed in-house to be built at the automaker's Chihuahua, Mexico engine plant.

Compared to the current 5.4-liter V-8 found in many of Ford's larger vehicles, the new diesel is said to achieve nine percent more horsepower, 15 percent more lb-ft. of torque, and 20 percent better fuel economy, respectively. The automaker says 0 to 60 times in the two engines will be about the same. In addition, Ford is developing a urea injection system along the lines of Mercedes' Bluetec diesels to keep the new 4.4-liter running clean.

The diesel variant of the Navigator should arrive shortly after its expected freshening for 2010, either as a late-introduction 2010 model or as a 2011. It should also make its way into its Expedition sibling about the same time.

Scoop! 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt

Under the camo is Chevy's all new Cobalt sedan, scheduled to debut as a 2010 model. Codenamed GMX071, the next-gen Cobalt will begin production at GM's Lordstown plant in July or August of next year. A coupe version will also be available.

These pix reveal a contemporary new design direction for the Cobalt. The now-familiar two-tier Chevy grille dominates the front end, and the bodyside is delineated by a sharp boneline rising to the rear below a twisting concave surface that hints of current BMW 5-series. The trunk is well hidden, but the logical extension of the bodyside treatment suggests a raised central section and mild shoulders over rear wheel openings.

But what's more important is what's under the skin: The new Cobalt is one of the first cars to come off GM's new global compact vehicle architecture, which will also underpin the next gen Saturn Astra and the Chevy Volt. More than just new hardware, the global compact vehicle architecture represents a new approach to product development for GM.

The global compact vehicle architecture will replace five GM small car architectures worldwide by 2014, generating huge cost savings in materials and product development. One of the key attributes of the architecture is its high degree of dimensional flexibility, which allows GM to build vehicles as diverse as coupes and crossovers on the same assembly lines using many of the same parts.

Not only will the global compact vehicle architecture enable GM to get more products to market more rapidly -- company insiders hint more than 30 new models will be launched worldwide off the architecture in just four years -- but it allows easier sharing of powertrains and other advanced technologies.

Which is good news for GM. With gas prices continuing to rise and the subsequent boom in small car sales, the Cobalt is likely to be even more of a major player in the U.S. market than originally planned. GM now has the ability to rapidly expand the Cobalt range to include hatchbacks and crossovers if customers demand, and easily install diesel engines and other gas-saving technologies such as electric power steering.

Spycam: Porsche small SUV

The Porsche Cayenne's yet-unnamed baby brother was caught for the first time running laps around the Nurburgring and, to use Porsche's slogan for the Cayenne GTS, the bloodlines are unmistakable.

The styling clearly draws on the Cayenne, showing similar cues at the front and rear end. But the new Porsche is actually based on the upcoming Audi Q5, with which it shares its architecture.

Base engine will likely be the Cayenne's 3.6-liter V-6, with a V-8 likely for higher-end models as the Q5 architecture has enough room for one under the hood. As with the Cayenne, Porsche is likely to offer an off-road pack, with extra under-body protection. Air suspension may be also an option.

When placed side by side with the Q5, the similarity between the two SUVs becomes quite apparent. The middle sections of both cars are nearly identical despite vastly different in the front and rear-end styling.

The most noticeable difference comes from the Porsche's flatter roof, which creates its sharply-raked D-pillar and sloped rear window. Other, more subtle differences include the increased arc of the rear-door cutline and the placement of the rear-view mirrors. These are mounted onto the doors just below the greenhouse rather than between the front side window and A-pillar.

The small Porsche 'ute will likely arrive after the Panamera sedan, likely sometime during the 2011 model year.

Spycam: 2009 Acura TL

The 2009 Acura TL is still months away from its debut in the fall, but the magic 8ball is already saying "outlook not so good" for the latest Acura to get a redesign based on these recent spyshots.

Looking pretty inoffensive from the front, the 2009 TL bears shape and proportions similar to those of the current Nissan Maxima. Though the camouflage bra hides the front end well, it does reveal the shape of Acura's now-signature "dynamic power plenum" grille and headlight styling that look to be close to the mug found on the 2009 TSX.

Things take a turn for the ugly in the rear, however. Acura decided that the trapezoidal shape of its new grille would work great in the rear as well as it does in the front and superimposed it on the trunk lid and part of the rear fascia. The unconventional trapezoidal shape not only makes for a small trunk opening, it's disproportionate to the relatively small taillights.

The presence of large dual exhausts is a telltale sign that a V-6 lurks under the hood. Rumors leaked out of a recent dealer meeting suggest the present TL's 3.2-liter six will be dropped, with the 3.5-liter in the TL Type-S becoming the base engine in either front or all-wheel-drive configurations, with an available, range-topping 3.7-liter with 300 horsepower and AWD becoming the new Type-S engine option.

We'll know much more leading up to the new TL's auto show debut, which should take place at either this November's Los Angeles auto show or the 2009 Detroit show.

First Look: Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro Concept

Audi likes to use the Lake Worther Tour, held annually in southern Austria at the end of May, as a place to show off some fresh ideas. Last year, the automaker brought out the radically styled TT Clubsport Concept. Bowing this year is the A3

Clubsport Concept, a rehash of the not-for-U.S. A3 three-door that would drive any Eurotuner green, or perhaps red, with envy.

First up is the business end. Under the hood is a clean, Euro 5-compliant 2.0L four-cylinder turbodiesel pumping out 224 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque, which propels the hatch to 62 mph in 6.6 seconds on to a top speed of 149 mph. The gearbox is a six-speed manual, and power is sent to all four wheels via Audi's famous quattro all-wheel-drive system.

Stopping power at the front comes courtesy of potent six-piston calipers gripping lightweight, carbon-carbide 14-inch discs. Strangely enough, however, Audi couldn't be bothered to upgrade the rear brakes, which are straight from the production model. At least the brakes aren't drums.

Audi also equipped with A3 Clubsport with a stiff sport suspension that reduces the ride height by 1.42 inches and fitted it with the automaker's drive select driving dynamics system and magnetic ride adaptive damper control to maximize handling when necessary and ride comfort when not.

Visually, the car's goal is simple: Get attention. This it accomplishes well, for better or worse. The white-and-red paint scheme is eye catching, especially the No. 8 on the side. It's also hard to miss the giant front grille that brings memories of the Q7 V12 TDI Concept from the 2007 Detroit Auto Show or the massive honeycombs in the lower fascia. The rear fascia features two giant exhaust pipes that Audi says generate a "sonorous soundtrack," and there's a DTM-style spoiler mounted on the rear window. Rounding out the exterior changes are flared doors and quarter panels, Xenon headlights with LED running lights, bolt-on wheelarch extensions, and 20-inch, 10-spoke wheels.

The interior didn't undergo the same radical transformation as the exterior. The most notable changes over the standard A3 are the racing-style sport bucket seats, TDI Power-badged illuminated door sills, aluminum shiftgate, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel. The door panels and floormats also have been redesigned.

The result is that the A3 Clubsport weighs in at 3252 lb, is 0.63 in. longer than a standard 166.85-in.-long three-door A3, sits 1.42 in. lower with a height of 54.53 in., and boasts a wider track -- 61.73/61.14 in. front/rear, increases of 1.34 and 1.81 in., respectively. And it would fit in perfectly parked at a funny angle at a late-night enthusiast meet.

Chicago 2008: Acura reveals 2009 RL with more style, more power, more...

click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Acura RL

Here in Chicago this morning, Acura unveiled the redesigned 2009 edition of its flagship RL sport sedan. One of the main criticisms of the current RL has been the anonymous face and rather bland overall styling. For '09, Acura has re-skinned the RL in an attempt to give it a more aggressive look with crisper contour lines and a much more prominent grille. According to Honda Sales EVP Dick Colliver, the face being shown on this car will spread to the rest of the lineup as the TL and TSX sedans are redesigned later this year. In spite of the sharpened focus, the overall profile of the exterior remains largely the same as the current model, which is not a bad thing. The handsome and functional interior is pretty much carried over, as well.

Under the skin, the new RL gets a new 3.7L V-6 with an upgraded VTEC valve-timing system boosting the output up to 300 hp and 271lb-ft. The Super Handling-All Wheel Drive system has also been revised with faster responses to changing conditions at each individual wheel to help improve the handling. One of the coolest features of the current RL and other Acuras is the AcuraLink system that can call up real-time traffic data to show you where there are accidents or road work in your vicinity. For 2009, the traffic data has been integrated into the nav system allowing it to automatically re-route you around congestion. We can't wait to try out that one during road construction season this summer.

2008 Acura MDX

The first iteration of the Acura MDX--an SUV equally utilitarian and reliable--competed with the Mercedes-Benz ML and the Lexus RX300, but the newest generation of the MDX aims straight at the BMW X5 and the Porsche Cayenne. Cargo capacity and off-road capability are no longer the key metrics when contesting market share with those lithe Germans. To instill the same level of driving excitement in the MDX as is found in its new competitors, Acura's engineers headed to Germany's Nurburgring, which is prized for its ability to expose chinks in a car's driving dynamics.

The new MDX's exterior styling underwent a similarly rigorous workout. According to Frank Paluch, the chief engineer of both the original and second-generation MDX models, the goal was to provide a "stealth family package," which the design team accomplished by lowering the visual center of the vehicle, what they call the C-line, and angling the D-pillar sharply forward to camouflage the third-row seating. Paluch adds, "The vehicle looks smaller, but it's wider, longer, and lower." Until we spend time behind the wheel, we cannot say if the MDX can hang with the fast crowd--but at least it's wearing all the right clothes. Acura is being coy about powertrain performance, but Paluch says they have aimed for best-in-class V-6 performance. When asked if that translates to 300 hp, he remarks, "that's a difficult goal."

Although the vehicle is only a concept and in fact has no interior or powertrain, we expect that Acura will retain 99 percent of its exterior styling for the production model, which goes on sale this fall.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Motos Tuning - Hot Wheels

Mais uma moto tunada!
Moto da Hot Wheels!

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Motos Tuning - Yamaha

Mais uma moto tunada!

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Suzuki SXBox Concept: Really Freakyyyyyy...

The Suzuki SXBox is designed for ultimate video game enthusiasts. While the high-flow intake, cat-back exhaust, sport suspension and wheel and tire package add to the performance, the real upgrades are featured on the small car’s ultra-high-tech interior. The SXBox is outfitted with a dashboard-integrated Xbox 360 gaming console, coupled with a digital projection system to display enthusiasts’ game of choice on the interior of the vehicle’s retractable hood. A second Xbox 360 video game system powers two separate LCD display screens in the seat backs of the SXBox to provide gaming excitement for rear passengers. The SXBox’s multi-speaker surround sound system with wide frequency response and thundering bass provides an intense atmosphere of video game stimulation. For gamers who prefer to stand and play, the SXBox concept is also equipped with a 30-inch retractable rear projection screen in the cargo area.

Suzuki HIP-HOP Concept:

Built in conjunction with SiTV, an English-language Latino cable network, the "Hip Hop" Grand Vitara offers innovative design, style and technology to appeal to hip hop music enthusiasts. Designed to be the ultimate mobile recording studio, the "Hip Hop" Grand Vitara features:
• 20-inch custom painted wheels and tires
• Custom interior
• Gull wing window features slide out audio mixing equipment, including telescoping microphone boom, drum machine and digital recorder
• In-dash touch screen video monitor
• 20-inch video screen in back door panel
• Nokia 770 Internet tablet
• Rear exterior mounted speakers and spare tire mounted subwoofer
• Chrome antenna housing, exhaust and mirrors

Suzuki Reggaeton Concept:

Showcasing the latest in personalized car styling trends, the "Reggaeton" Grand Vitara offers innovative design and technology to appeal to urban teens and young adults. Built in conjunction with SiTV, an English-language Latino cable network, the project vehicle reflects Reggaeton dance music, a combination of Reggae with a Latin dance beat. Designed to be a fully operational DJ station, the "Reggaeton" Grand Vitara features:
• 20-inch custom painted wheels and tires
• Custom interior painted trim on speaker rings and door panels
• Vinyl-wrapped exterior, featuring a map of the three hottest Reggaeton locations (Miami, New York, San Juan, Puerto Rico)
• Rear swing-arm DJ recording table with double iPod mixer
• In-dash touch screen video monitor with DVD player
• Vinyl-wrapped rear spare tire cover of Liz Hernandez of Power 106
• Interior LED lights and under car glow lights
• Lowered suspension

Hummer H3T:

This baby Hummer brings the brand's defining cubist styling and rugged abilities down to a more affordable and garage-friendly size. Riding on a 118.6-inch wheelbase and measuring 74.5 inches wide, the H3T embodies the classic Hummer proportions - wide stance, low roofline, and wheels at the corners. Pushed outward, the 34-inch tires and 11.5 inches of ground clearance give the H3T a staggering 51-degree approach angle and a 50-degree departure angle. For rigidity, the cab and 5.5-foot bed are engineered as a single structure. Power for this concept comes from a turbocharged Vortec 3500 I-5 engine producing 350-horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. Other notables include side access doors for cargo bed, power-operated fabric sunroof, extensive use of aluminum trim, hose-out rubber floor, Nike-inspired interior materials, and docking stations for portable MP3 player and GPS units.

Ford Mustang GT-R Concept:

Officially the Mustang GT-R is a concept car, but it was developed and built by Saleen Specialty Vehicles in Troy, Michigan, to be capable of competing as a racecar. It also aims to show grass-roots racers that they can take a stock Mustang (85 percent of the GT-R's body structure is unchanged), and build a competitive vehicle at a reasonable price using parts from the Ford Racing catalogue, like the 440-hp 5.0-liter "Cammer" crate engine that retails for $14,995 and can be tuned to over 500 hp. That power is routed through a Ford Racing TTC-T56 six-speed transmission, a custom metal matrix composite aluminum driveshaft, and into a race-spec 4.56:1 differential. Big Brembo brakes, 20-inch Pirelli racing slicks, and competition suspension (retaining the live rear axle) round out the package. Carbon fiber is used for the hood, grille surround, and underbody belly pan, and the orange paint is meant to evoke the Grabber Orange 1970 Mustang Boss 302 Trans-Am racecars.

Suzuki Flix Concept:

Built by the Carlab of Orange, Calif., and based on the 2007 XL7, the Flix offers film and entertainment enthusiasts the ultimate mobile movie experience. The Flix's ultra-rich, super-clean and modern exterior accentuates the redesigned body of the all-new XL7. The concept is dressed in midnight black paint with platinum accents and deep crimson "theater red" perimeter LED linear emitters encircling the lower valence of the midsize SUV.

In addition to its eye-catching exterior appearance, the Flix is outfitted with an unprecedented in-vehicle movie system. After parking at the optimal film-viewing destination, Flix's clamshell roof can be opened, revealing a maximum-size moonroof that serves as a 60-inch movie screen. Additionally, the XL7 concept's front roof panel vents, giving way to a high-density digital projection system to display a family's movie of choice. For those who prefer the traditional drive-in movie experience, Flix's projection system can be positioned to display movies nearly anywhere - the side of a building, a billboard or almost any wall.

The interior look of the Flix resembles a contemporary private screening room, dressed in plush materials to evoke elegance and sophistication. The XL7 concept features four individual bucket seats that pivot 180 degrees to view the elevated giant screen. The Flix also is equipped with a next-generation, high-definition DVD player with integrated hard drive for maximum AV storage, a professional THX/SDS-theater quality sound system, pivoting quarter window speakers and red door/floor strip lighting to further enhance the in-vehicle movie experience.

Chrysler ME Four_Twelve Concept:

Chrysler execs were beaming as they unveiled the company's first-ever mid-engine super car – the ME Four-Twelve. Conceived as a follow-up to the Viper-powered Tomahawk motorcycle, the ME took less than a year to create, from concept to functional show car. The name comes from the powertrain, a quad-turbo V-12 developed by Mercedes' performance arm, AMG. The 6.0-liter engine produces 850 hp at 5750 rpm and 850 lb-ft of torque, translating to 142 hp per liter. This massive Hemi-embarrassing output is managed by a seven-speed Ricardo double-clutch transmission developed specifically for this car. Weighing just 2880 lbs, the carbon-fiber-bodied ME Four-Twelve reportedly can go 0-60 mph in 2.9 seconds and blaze the quarter-mile in 10.6 seconds at 142.0 mph. Calculated top speed is 248 mph.

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

©The Best Otomotif - Todos os direitos reservados.

Template by The Best Otomotif | Kopler