Tsvetan Varbanov – Page 24 – Automobiles Review

Wheelsandmore Lamborghini Gallardo LP620-4 Superleggera

Rest assured, the future is green. In fact, here’s some of it right now – a Laborghini Gallardo Superleggera. To the unsuspecting, yet adept eye, it’s an LP570-4. That indicates that it has 570 hp and an AWD layout. The thing is, Wheelsandmore have been working on it but it’s all very subtle. One of the most daring alternations made here is the name change – The Lamborghni Gallardo LP620-4 “Green Beret”.

That’s right. 620 hp for this one. What they have done to do that is remap the Gallardo’s 5.2-liter V10 engine, add some space-age air filters and an exhaust system which, as a bonus, has a remote controlled valve for a spectacle of sound. The end result stands at 50 hp more than usual ans 50 Nm of torque as well.

As for wheels, the Green Beret Lamborghini has been let loose with a size 9.0 x 20 (front) and 11.0 x 20 (back) 6Spotrz² , three-piece, forged rims. In turn, they have been properly treated with a set of 245/30/20 and 295/25/20 Continental Sport Contact tires. A stylish line goes on the edge of the rims as a complement to the body paint.

Not that it needs much correction, but the stance has also been revised. Thanks to a special coilover suspension with adjustable levels of rebound and compression, the “LP620-4” can now leap over speed bumps or scrape off the tarmac from the road.

That pretty much wraps it up – no aerodynamic kits, no gills, no wings. It’s subtle, clean and has nothing to prove. Still, don’t try to intimidate it in between the traffic lights.

Wheelsandmore Lamborghini Gallardo LP620-4 (LP570-4)

Source: Wheelsandmore

May 24, 2012

Tesla Model S: Deliveries Start on the 22nd of June

The Tesla Model S is as ready as it can be and the company, which is rather ahead of schedule, is pleased to announce that deliveries will start happening on the 22nd of June. The Tesla Model S is an all-electric, rear-wheel-driven, four-door sedan that brought along a lot of commotion when it was first announced.

It’s one of the most sizable EV of its time with a wheelbase of 116.5”, an overall length of 195.9” and a front track width of 65.4”. Inside you get loads of head room, rear legroom, front leg room and luggage capacity – 28.7 cubic feet at the back and 8.1 cubic feet at the front.

There will be a standard range simply called Model S which will have two sub-options: Model S and Model S performance. Then there will be a Model S Signature range (limited) that also has a “standard” model an a performance version. The cheapest one you can get is the 40 kWh Model S – $49,900. The 85 kWh Model S Signature Performance is prices almost twice as much ($97, 900). That’s a hefty price to pay for a bigger battery pack, 21-inch wheels, some Nappa leather and carbon ornaments. Well yes, you do get also an active air suspension and a sporty traction control but will the Tesla S be able to walk the talk?

According to the figures, chances are it can – The Model S Performance has a time of 4.4 seconds on the 60 mph sprint. The claimed top speed stands at 130 mph while at 55 mph the estimated charge range is 300 miles. Afraid about the diminishable life of batteries? Worry not as all 85 kWh packs have an 8 year/unlimited miles warranty.

George Blankenship, Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Ownership Experience want’s to point out other highlights as well. The Tesla Model S, he says, is widely customizable – the regenerative braking can be either smother or more efficient on request, the power steering can also be adjusted within the options Comfort, Standard and Sport and the suspension can lift up the car high enough to cover spiky rocks and pestering speed bumps, or lower the Tesla so that you get maximum efficiency.

Source: Tesla Motors

May 23, 2012

GSC Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG

German Special Customs (GSC), based in Chemnitz, Germany, like to add their own touch on already slightly mad vehicles. Take for example, the Mercedes-Benz CLS 63AMG (W218) – impressive enough, isn’t it? Well, the way they see it, there’s always room for improvement.

The front bumper is new and harbors massive lower mesh grills and some LEDs. The hood has also been replaced with something that is most certainly not waterproof. Move to the sides and you’ll notice that the side skirts are now a bit more pronounced and as for the back, the bumper is entirely new along with its carbony rear diffuser. GSC have dubbed the whole aerodynamic project as “Stealth” which sounds inappropriate since it’s pretty noticeable. However, it does make the car very edgy and slightly unconventional much like F117 Nighthawk airplane – designed to deflect radar signals. In addition, that matte overall finish makes us think that this particular AMG has been borrowed from the set of The Avengers movie.

And much like Captain America, this CLS has also been scientifically buffed. Normally, AMG manage to pump out 525 hp from its 5.5 bi-turbo V8. GSC have raised that bar up to 750 hp and 1,150 Nm of torque. In order to achieve that, the company’s engineers replaced the two turbochargers with ones that are… well… bigger, replaced the exhaust system and have also added another intercooler. As a result, the “Stealth” now does the 0 to 100 kph sprint in just 3.7 seconds and will continue gathering velocity until it reaches 350 km/h.

That however, would not have been possible with the performance upgrade alone. To tame all that power, a more-proper suspension is needed and that’s where a KW coilover adjustable suspension kit comes in place. Take into account the 20-inch rims, the 255/30R20 and 295/25R20 Continental tires on them and you get a well rounded ultra-performance four-seater.

Source: GSC

May 23, 2012

Suzuki Swift DDiS MPG Marathon

Apparently, pushing the boundaries of fuel efficiency is a thing these days. Motoring journalist Donn Anderson recently took a Suzuki Swift DDiS (diesel) on a journey with Auckland (the Northern part of the North island of New Zealand) as a starting point and an end point at the bottom of it, in Wellington. No petrol stations were harmed during the trip. In fact he turned around and started for home afterwords. The fuel tank came 60 km short before finishing the whole epic journey.

The total distance covered turned out to be 1,240 km (764 miles). The fuel tank has a capacity of 42 liters so that would mean an average fuel consumption of 3.36 liters/100 km or 83.4 mpg. Wherever possible, Mr Anderson tried to keep the car cursing between 50 and 60 mph and would have managed even more miles if it wasn’t for the torrential rains and high winds that he encountered during the marathon.

This isn’t the first time a Suziki Swift DDiS proves stunning frugality. Last year, in the UK a Swift 1.3 achieved 86.4 mpg while a second one came close with 84.6. The records were taken from the local MPG Marathon.

The DDiS engine is actually a JTD Fiat engine in disguise. It’s 1.3 liters of displacement give an output of 74 hp and 107 lb-ft of torque. As proven, the mpg figure is bigger than the power output. Eco-minded people can now celebrate with some organic waffles.

Source: Suzuki

May 23, 2012

K-Tec Racing Upgrade For Clio 197/200

K-Tec Racing tend specialize in Renault-tweaking. Today, the have a new engine upgrade for the Renault Sport Clio 197 or 200. It sounds dodgy, but it isn’t. They are even offering a 12 month/ 30, 000 miles warranty. Besides, the jump in power is not stunningly drastic.

According to K-Tec, many throttle friendly owners of the Clio 197/200 express minor discontent at the low and mid sectors of the rev counter. Their upgrade is specifically targeted for the car’s F4R 830 engine. It’s called the “KTR215” and you pay for it £1,366 ($2,156) you get. In return you get:

1 x set of Cat Cam 402 high performance billet steel camshafts
1 x genuine Renault cam timing belt
1 x set genuine Renault camshaft caps
Installation by K-Tec Racing’s technicians
Bespoke K-Tec Racing OBDII ECU remap

That means an additional lump of 12lb-ft. of torque at 3600 rpm and 10lb-ft more between 5200-7500 rpm. In terms of horsepower – plus 10 hp more at 5200 rpm and 15 more at 7000 rpm. The end result is a maximum output of 215 bhp and 175lb-ft of torque. These numbers will matter in real life situations and on the track as well.

K-Tec Racing Renault Sport Clio 200 with KTR215 Upgrade

Source: K-Tec Racing

May 22, 2012

Renault Alpine A110-50 in Monaco?

Much like in a pre-earthquake situation, subtle seismic activity is currently jolting the realm of the automotive industry. This is a render of the supposed incoming Alpine A110-50 Renault based concept. We might know for sure however, this weekend at the Monaco F1 round.

As a company, Alpine has been around for more than a half of a century. In 1973 however, Renault acquired what most of it with the idea to introduce a high performance range of cars to the world. Sadly, the last thing ever to come out as an Alpine was the A610 back in 1991. Renault are now using the facilities to built their Megane and Clio Renault Sport models there but, evidently the Alpine badge is not in ashes just yet.

Not much is out yet on the A110-50 Concept but roomer has it that it will be based on the Renault Megane Coupe Trophy and that it will have a 3.5-liter, mid-mounted V6 engine. Expect around 400 bhp and a weight of less than a ton.

This could have been here earlier but the global financial downfall of 2009 tended to freeze ambitious ideas like that.

Source: Motorsport-Magazine via Sport Auto

May 22, 2012

Abarth 695 Maserati Edition – Price and Specs

You remember the Abarth 695 Maserati Edition, right? The one that is based on a Fiat 500c? It now has a price tag and a full list of specs. Both of them are big.

The Abarth 695 Maserati Edition is a followup of the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari project which was a big hit three years ago. There will be only 499 examples of this new one and as the name suggests, it will carry a Gran Turismo feel wherever it goes.

First, the oily bits: under the hood hides a 1.4 Turbo T-Jet 16v engine that sends 180 bhp trough an Abarth Competizione gearbox. Pass the 3000 rpm mark and your years will have the pleasure to endure the aria sung by the variable back-pressure “dual-mode” exhaust pipes. Stomp on the brakes and a set of Brembo monoblock brake calipers will squeeze the front 305 mm floating discs so hard, that afterwards you’ll have to feel your way under the seat in search of your face. All the while, Koni shock absorbers make sure you come home with an intact spine.

As a trademark, the Abarth 695 Maserati comes in a characteristic Pontevecchio Bordeaux – a three-layered shade from Maserati’s catalog that we can only describe as red. The thing that sticks out as gray is the fabric of the soft top. Another mark of Maserati engineering represents the wheels – Neptune design alloy wheels, 17-inches in size and wrapped up in performance tires.

Inside, the predominant theme is beige which sounds a bit tasteless, but the overall effect is quite surprising. A 695 logo is embossed on the headrests, the dashboard and console trim has a lining of carbon fiber and the door panels and rear panels have been treated with UV-LUX for that extra gray “flocking” effect. In front of you, there’s a black-leather steering wheel with patches of beige, flappy paddles for the gearbox, an instrument panel by Jaeger and aluminum pedals in the foot well.

Final summation – £32,000 or $50,553

ENGINE
	4 cylinder in line, 4 valves per cylinder, 1368cc Power: 180bhp (132 kW) at 5500rpm Maximum torque 250 Nm in sport mode at 3000rpm Supercharged with Garrett 1446 turbo
TRANSMISSION
	Abarth Competizione gearbox with 5 speeds, C510 gearbox family with gear paddles on the steering wheel
SUSPENSION
	Front Abarth Koni shock absorbers with FSD valvesRear Abarth Koni shock absorbers with FSD valves Lowered ride
STEERING
	Electric power steering with sport mode
BRAKES
	Floating, perforated and self-ventilating front discs ø 305mm × 28mm Ventilated rear discs ø 264mm × 22mm TTC – Torque Transfer Control
WHEELS
	Neptune Design 7×17″ alloy wheels Tyres: 205/40 R17″
EMISSIONS
	Euro 5 EEC-F5 Standard
CO₂ EMISSIONS
	151 g/km
FUEL CONSUMPTION
	Urban consumption (mpg): 33.6Combined consumption (mpg): 43.4 Extra-urban consumption (mpg): 52.3
PERFORMANCE
	Max speed >140mph.Acceleration 0–62mph: <7 secs.
STANDARD EQUIPMENT
	Special ‘Pontevecchio Bordeaux’ paint from MaseratiXenon headlights Titanium Grey soft top Automatic climate control Leather steering wheel with radio controls Blue&Me TomTom satnav Beige leather seats Dashboard, fascia and gearbox trim in matt carbon Door panels, console and tunnel in ‘Flocked’ UV-Lux Dual mode exhaust with Maserati-inspired design JBL hi-fi system Bag set by Tramontano

Source: Abarth

May 22, 2012

Anderson Casino Royale Aston Martin DBS

Here’s a treat from Anderson (Düsseldorf, Germany). It’s called the Aston Martin Casino Royale DBS – an evident reference to the James Bond franchise. And it certainly looks exclusive enough to bare that image – shady, sleek and, inside, a bit over the top but don’t worry. That’s why the windows are tinted – it will be your dork secret.

Anderson are quick to announce that because of the ECU tweak, the new manifolds and exhaust system with sports catalysts, the power of the Casino DBS is up by 55 ps. So that’s 572 ps and 569 Nm of torque coming from the Aston’s epic sounding V12. However, for the guys at Düsseldorf, epic is not enough. That’s why there’s a remote controlled valve somewhere down the line so that there are three sound levels. Also, the complete mass of the exhaust system is around 21 kg less than the standard one. Has it been made with tinfoil?

As for the body, we can clearly see that predominant matte gray color. Anderson claim however, that there are two shades of it – various components such as the window borders, tailgates block and radiator case are more “shiny gray”. Right…. As additional components there’s a front lip spoiler and a rear diffuser. All the while, 21-inch Anderson wheels complement the whole look while 255 tires at the front and 295 at the back give the necessary grip.

The brake calipers and some external logos bare a bronze motive which continues inside. Bronze stitching on the Alacantra upholstery and bronze embossing. Otherwise, almost everything else is carbon fiber – black, gray, you name it. If you stare at its patterns long enough your eyes will start to bleed. That being said, we will most definitely not decline an overnight stay inside because at the end of the day – it’s an Aston Martin… with a James Bond feel on it. What more does one need?!

Source: Anderson

May 21, 2012

Gemballa’s Diamond Finish: Sparkle, Sparkle

Gemballa which are known for this and this, have now taken up a somewhat bonkers project. As far as we know, the first of April was a long time ago but, lo and behold, it’s the “world’s first diamond coating for the interior and exterior finish of vehicles”. So there you go. Now you can have soulless Hyundai look like a backstage prop from the Wizzard of Oz. And yes, we are talking about actual diamonds:

“When GEMBALLA speaks of diamonds, we really mean it”, explains CEO Andreas Schwarz. “Our complex process uses genuine diamonds as its key ingredient – not metal pigments, glass fragments, or crystals.”

We are dumbfounded in the search of what one might gain from that. As an argument, Gemballa suggest that diamonds have the strongest light refraction properties which in layman terms means sparkly. Very sparkly. We hate to think what happens when the car form the oncoming traffic bathes you in high-beams. Also, you wouldn’t want to leave your diamond-coated car in front of the grocer’s, would you? Of course not, shopping at the grocer’s is for mortals. A private helicopter supplies you with organic caviar from Spain.

Gemballa continue on saying that the diamond is one of the hardest naturally occurring substances known to man which is a comforting thought. Knowing that my interior is now seasoned with thousands of pieces of diamond, I would love to scrape off my face on them should an accident occur.

The tuners are confident that that is the right finish for their already carbon fiber abundant cars. We, on the other hand, are not.

Source: Gemballa

May 21, 2012

Vorsteiner GTS-V BMW 1M Coupe

It has arrived. Vorsteiner‘s GTS-V program for the BMW 1M Coupe is a fact of life – “Autoclave Pre-Preg” carbon fiber aerodynamic components, some wheels and a sport exhaust system that’s beneficial to the power output.

The finished product is laden with character yet remains subtle. We have a GTS-V add-on spoiler for the front that also flings air to the disk brakes and a rear diffuser with a splitter and jutted fins. For the sake of lightness, the boot lid has been replaced entirely and now weighs only 11.5 lbs. A set of the company’s 20 or 21-inch VS-400, forged, multi spoke wheels also helps keep the unsprung weight down.

Vorsteiner would not leave it to that however. A stainless steel (or titanium optionally) system ups the power output by around 15 hp and 5 lb-ft of torque and will most probably make your ears bleed. So that would be 350 hp and 337 lb·ft of torque from the 1M’s 3.0-litre straight six. We reckon that it will do the naught to sixty run faster than the 4.3 second mark (the stock one’s time) on a drag strip. A real life evidence would be most welcomed.

Source: Vorsteiner

May 19, 2012

Superchips Power Upgrade for Ford EcoBoost Range

Superchips – the guys from Buckingham that deal exclusively with ECU remapping – have come up with “Bluefin Plug-in and go” product for the Ford EcoBoost range – think in terms of Ford C-Max, Grand C-Max, Focus, Galaxy, Mondeo and S-Max.

At a glance, “Bluefin” might sound like it’s something you install on your browser but the fact is, this is one potent piece of technology. Well, it is as easy as installing an add-on on your browser, it’s just that your are doing it on your Ford or more specifically the On Board Diagnostic port in it. Just plug in the the Bluefin handset there and follow the instructions on screen. If you do however experience difficulties with the installation process, you can always turn to one of the approximately 80 UK Superchip centers.

Applicable to the 148bhp, 158bhp and 178bhp variants of the turbocharged petrol EcoBoost, this gadget will increase the power output as following:

150PS 1.6-litre Ford Ecoboost C-Max, Grand C-Max and Focus models Superchips’ Bluefin gains 30bhp @ 5341rpm and 51Nm @ 1923rpm
160PS 1.6-litre Ford Ecoboost Galaxy, S-Max and Mondeo models Superchips’ Bluefin gains 34bhp @ 5341rpm and 59Nm @ 1923rpm
182PS 1.6-litre Ford Ecoboost used in Ford Focus Superchips’s Bluefin gains 20bhp @ 3760rpm and 44Nm @ 1923rpm

Put simply: more power, more torque and more fun. More is always better, right? Supposedly one would also spend more time at gas stations but to assure us, Superchips have given their word that the overridden engines retain “high levels of fuel economy and driveability”. If for some reason, you need the old figures back, the process is completely reversible. The “stock” data is stored in the module and is within your grasp.

To get one, you just have to cough up £445 ($702). For that you also get a Customer Service Guarantee and a 12 month/30,000 miles full vehicle warranty.

Source: Superchips

May 18, 2012

Chevrolet SS Performance Sedan

It’s official: Chevrolet are going to have a V8 RWD performance sedan back in it’s fleet. It will be called the Chevrolet SS and, as a class, will slot right above the Impala. It will also provide the base for Chevrolet’s NASCAR Sprint Cup racecar which is set for a debut at the 2013 Daytona 500.

“As a passionate race fan and performance enthusiast, I am thrilled that Chevrolet will deliver a true rear-wheel-drive NASCAR racecar in the SS that is closely linked to the performance sedan that will be available for sale,” said Mark Reuss, president of GM North America. “The Chevrolet SS is a great example of how GM is able to leverage its global product portfolio to deliver a unique performance experience that extends beyond the track. I am personally looking forward to driving it.”

Not much to think about here, except that name – the SS. Back in the days, Chevrolet used to label their performance edition with a Super Sport designation. First appeared in 1957 on a Corvette prototype race car, it stuck on and became a synonym for power, performance and exclusivity. The firs production car to come with an SS edition was the 1961 Impala – only 453 were ever made and all of them had their chassis and suspension revised, power brakes (big deal back then), a tachometer on the steering wheel column and some flashy wheels. One of the Last SS models to come from Chevrolet is the 2010 Camaro. Now, when the upcoming V8 rear-wheel-driven, sedan is a full-blown SS, one has to wonder if it lives up to it’s name. Also, Chevrolet should consider coming up with a new name if they are going to make a hardcore version of the SS (SS SS) would be kind of redundant.

The production Chevrolet SS will start as a MY 2014 with production starting late in 2013, so there will be more updates to come. In the mean time catch a glimpse of the camouflaged NASCAR Chevrolet SS provided by the company itself.

Chevrolet SS

Source: Chevrolet

May 18, 2012

Author: Tsvetan Varbanov