Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid drives - first Test Drive!

This past August , the Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid made its driving debut on a closed road in Monterey California, just days prior to its appearance at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

After being shipped over from Germany by plane, engineers handed the keys of the new 918 Spyder Hybrid to Porsche AG Design Chief Michael Mauer. The car drove under its own power which comes from the mid mounted 3.4 liter V8 out of the RS Spyder as well as in all electric mode which powers just the front wheels.

The 918 Spyder prototype combines high-tech racing features and electro-mobility to offer a fascinating range of qualities: An emission level of just 70 grams CO2 per kilometre on fuel consumption of three litres/100 kilometres (equal to 94 mpg imp) truly outstanding even for an ultra-compact city car, on the one hand, combined with the performance of a super sports car and acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just under 3.2 seconds, top speed of 320 km/h (198 mph) plus, and a lap time on the Nordschleife of Nürburgring in less than 7:30 minutes, faster than even the Porsche Carrera GT, on the other. Be sure to check out this stunning machine in the video below and let us know what you think! Thanks for looking.

New Ferrari 458 Challenge Test Monza - Start Up, Downshifts and Accelera...

The Ferrari 458 Italia Challenge is probably one the best Ferrari’s in the current line up. Everything, except the spontaneous combustion problem, is perfect about it. In this video the Challenge version of the 458 Italia is spotted testing at Monza, Italy.

One remarkable change are the exhaust pipes which are double tipped instead of triple like on the standard 458, luckily that didn’t have any influence on the sound it just improved it. The Chassis Front and rear bumper change as well for more efficient aerodynamics, a Roll Cage for added stability, and a new 3 spoke steering wheel a signature Dash to complete the final package. We hope to hear more about this amazing creation in the near future and will be sure to keep you guys updated with all of the latest and greatest. Now Sit back and enjoy the video!

BMW Group Commitment in North America Continues

In a program to celebrate the opening of the new 1.2 million square feet BMW manufacturing facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina, BMW Group Chairman Dr.-Ing. Norbert Reithofer announced the plant expansion completes the company’s one billion US dollar investment in the U.S. market between 2008 and 2010.

“The U.S. will remain the world’s largest premium market for the foreseeable future and we intend to participate in the expected growth with the expansion of our activities here,” said Reithofer.  “Our investments, the creation of new jobs and our active involvement in local communities are proof of our deep commitment to the U.S. and its people and we will continue on this path into the future.” According to Reithofer, the BMW brand wants to remain the best-selling European premium brand in the U.S.  In September 2010, the BMW brand in the U.S. reported sales of 18,228 vehicles (+21.1 percent) and a year-to-date sales volume of 157,464 vehicles, up 9.2 percent.

US$ 750 million of the total investment plan have been used to prepare Plant Spartanburg to produce the all-new BMW X3 and included construction of a new assembly hall for the BMW X3 and expansion of the Body and Paint Shops for higher production capacities.  As a result, Spartanburg’s production capacity is set to increase by 50% from 160,000 to 240,000 units by 2011.

Since the start-of-production at the Spartanburg plant in September 1994 more than 1.6 million BMW vehicles have been manufactured for customers around the world and total capital investment now amounts to US$ 4.6 billion.

To support the increased production, a total of 1,600 new jobs are being created with about 1,000 already hired and another 600 to be hired by the end of the year.  The total number of jobs at the plant will increase to 7,600 by the end of the year. 

The balance of the US$ one billion investment was used to expand and modernize BMW Group’s U.S. headquarters campus in New Jersey and to build two new regional distribution centers in the Northeast and Midwest in 2008 and 2009.

Rally Car Driver Ken Block's New Film Is Crazier Than Ever

Be Sure to check out this insane video at the Gymkhana featuring Ken Block, The professional rally Cross driver, Destroying the track in his all new 600HP 2010 Ford Fiesta. This Car is Crazy Fast and handles like no other. We hope you enjoy!

Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale Official Video

Today, I Came across one of the most beautiful machines made to date. The new Maserati MC Stradale is the most potent Maserati GranTurismo ever produced. Inspired by the Trofeo GranTurismo MC and the race-winning GT4 Motorsports models, the new Stradale is every petrolhead’s dream. Check out the video below and feel what a sports car has to offer.

All New Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 Race Car Montage

After Seeing this beautiful creation I just had to share with you all. AMG has been producing racing versions of Mercedes-Benz cars and high performance street machines for over four decades. That tradition continues with the unveiling today of a GT3 spec version of the new 2010 Mercedes Benz SLS gullwing coupe. Sales will start this fall and AMG hopes to have the homologation process completed in time for the 2011 race season.

The GT3 SLS will use the same 6.3-liter V8 as the road car, but the FIA will determine its final output for racing. The aerodynamic enhancements are the main focus of interest here, with changes to the bodywork evident all over. The front end features a deep carbon fiber splitter that's only bested by the large rear wing out back. The hood sports a large cooling event and there are air intakes for brake cooling in the side skirts and cooling vents in the fenders behind the front wheels as well. Other race-spec features include a smooth underbody, rear diffuser, central-locking wheels and fuel filler pipes in the C-pillar.

Given the racing heritage of the original SL from the 1950s, seeing a gullwing back racing on the track will be the best kind of déjà vu for fans of the three-pointed star. Follow the jump for the official press release from AMG and Mercedes-Benz that includes a few more specifications. Be sure to subscribe to our blog site for more great articles like this one with all of the latest news the Automotive industry has to offer. Thanks for looking!

2012 McLaren MP4-12C -- 360 View and Start-Up

Be Sure to check out this awesome video of the all-new Mclaren Mp4-12C with the start-up of the engine. Such a stunning car, the MP4-12C is motivated by a twin-turbocharged, 592-hp, 3.8-liter V-8, which was developed by McLaren in partnership with Ricardo. Now that we’ve all seen the car in person, we agree that it looks better than in photos, especially with this car’s matte-black wheels. A few people would say it’s a little bland in the styling department, however, although the fact that the body panels exist solely for aerodynamic purposes is a good excuse.

Weight remains an obsession for McLaren, and it offered this pearl of an anecdote to show just how far it went: The supplier building the magnesium cross brace had planned to emboss the part—in raised lettering—with the McLaren name; McLaren rejected the idea because it would add weight, instead suggesting that the lettering be recessed into the brace. The resultant weight savings: approximately a hundredth of an ounce. But wait (or is it weight?), there’s more (or less): The wiring for the car uses hexagonal sheathing in order to keep things tidy—they fit together better than round ones—and inside you’ll find wires made from aluminum, rather than the traditional copper, saving roughly nine pounds. This infatuation with avoiding fatness has resulted in a claimed dry weight of 2866 pounds; we expect a curb weight of roughly 3200 pounds, or about 200 lighter than a Ferrari 458 Italia. Expect this vehicle to be sold in the United States Late September, early October. Thanks for looking!

2011 BMW 6 Series Concept Revealed!

As we approach the world premiere of the new BMW 6 Series Coupe, new photos of the concept continue to surface.

The car will be officially unveiled on September 30th at the Paris Auto Show and the first production model will arrive at Geneva in 2011.

The redesigned 6er Coupe will continue to fight for the crown in the high-end segment of premium, luxurious, sporty Coupe vehicles.

The 2+2 coupe inherits some design cues from the regrettable CS Concept and it aligns itself with the design language seen on the new 5 and 7 Series. The 6 Series retains the two door design with the forthcoming Gran Coupe carrying the 4-door coupe design.

As with the new 5 and 7 Series, the aesthetics of the interior design have moved up the luxury scale, with fluid lines and higher quality materials. BMW remains true to its core design elements and the BMW Concept 6 Series Coupe continues to feature the driver-oriented cockpit, which underlines the sporty character of the 6 Series.

The interior is dominated by the large 10.2 inch display that reveals the latest infotainment system from BMW. Framed by a chrome plated frame, the flat-screen takes a more upright position, in contrast to the built-in approach we have seen in previous models.

(Source: BMWBLOG)

BMW and Dunlop. 24 hour race 2010

In this Video, We show you BMW's great success with the help of Team Dunlop in this 24 hour race.

For every racecar the tires play an important role for the victory. Tires connect the car

with the ground. Depending on the car, the weather and many other conditions the tire-

engineers have to find the perfect tire for the car. With Team Dunlop, the BMW Group

came above the rest and took the victory. We hope you enjoy! Be sure to subscribe to

our blog for all of the latest and greatest in the Automotive industry. Thanks again for

watching!

Lamborghini Delivers a new Sports Car!

The 2010 Paris auto show is just weeks away, and that means Lamborghini's upcoming Paris concept. Today we have a new teaser image of the car, but more importantly, we have Lamborghini's sports car "manifesto." The game is about to change for Lamborghini, and this is how it will happen.

Weight. It's the enemy of all sports car enthusiasts, and the necessary accompaniment to almost every new regulation, whether it originates with safety or fuel economy in mind. Lamborghini can't change the global political climate, so it's changing the way it builds its cars. The solution? More carbon fiber. Lots more.

According to Stephan Winkelmann, president and CEO of Lamborghini, the average weight of the company's cars has increased by 1,100 pounds since the mid-1980s, due almost entirely to additive regulations. Obviously safety can't be sacrificed, nor can performance, so the only answer is less weight.

Along the way, they'll also drop the focus on top speed, since the stratospheric levels of most supercars are so high you "cannot reach [them] even on a racetrack, let alone normal roads," says Winkelmann. That's undoubtedly true, so the new focus along with lighter weight, will be improved handling and acceleration. All of this requires less focus on total power output as well--itself an answer to rising pressure on emissions and fuel consumption.

To deliver the volumes of carbon fiber Lamborghini will need to significantly lower the weight of its cars, the company will leverage its two laboratories (one in Sant'Agata, the other in Seattle) to meet its demand.

The new manifesto of lightness won't just apply to the Jota, however. "Every new Lamborghini will make the best use of carbon fiber to reduce weight," according to Winkelmann. The focus on carbon fiber will also preserve and possibly enhance Lamborghini's other primary asset: the design of its cars, which together with handling and acceleration will be part of its new triumvirate of ruling principles.



(Source: Motorauthority)