Hummer H4 to arrive by 2010

In an interview to the Australian GoAuto magazine, Hummer's general manager Martin Walsh has confirmed that GM is indeed planning to create another SUV, which will be even smaller than current Hummer H3 sport utility vehicle. The Hummer H4 is supposed to compete against such premium-segment compact SUVs as the Nissan Murano, not the much smaller Jeep Wrangler as it was speculated a year ago.



It is still not clear, which platform will be chosen as a basis for the new Hummer, but the Hummer H4 is still supposed to "offer legitimate off-road capability" upholding the brand's trademark off-road capabilities. Read More.....

Mercedes SLS AMG officially revealed!

The Mercedes Gullwing is ready for its maiden flight! A handful of images were leaked onto the web yesterday, but now Mercedes has released all the details and a full set of images of its all-new supercar, before its world premiere in Frankfurt.

Designed to evoke memories of the iconic 300SL Gullwing from the fifties, the Mercedes SLS AMG also fills a gap in Merc's range left by the outgoing McLaren SLR. And judging by these detailed photos its styling promises to be every bit as dramatic as its forebearers.

Gullwing-style doors, hinged at the roof, will no doubt be the big talking point, but what's under the skin is just as impressive. Packing a 555bhp AMG 6.3-litre dry-sumped V8 with 650Nm of torque, it's capable of covering the 0-60mph sprint in 3.7 seconds and continuing on to a top speed of 197mph. Fortunately carbon-ceramaic brake discs will be offered as an option to scrub off the speed with ease.

An aluminium space-frame body helps to keep weight down to a manageable 1.620kg. Combine this with the latest seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and a near-perfect 47:53 front-rear weight distribution and the front-engined Merc should be as good to drive as it's on-paper figures suggest.

It's not just the Gullwing doors that link this car to it's predecessor from the Fifties, either. The elongated bonnet, extra-wide grille and oversize three-point star are all reminiscent of the legendary 300SL. But modern touches like the extendable rear spoiler (which deploys above 75mph for added downforce), LED running lights and unique alloys (20-inch at the rear, 19-inch at the front) ensure a classic design is brought bang up to date.

Climb inside the compact passenger compartment and you're greeted by jet-engine inspired air vents. The silver instrument cluster features an F1-style LED shift lights and the speedometer runs all the way to 225mph, while taking pride of place on the centre console is the seven-inch multi-media screen. Finest-quality materials are used throughout the cabin, and nowhere is this more perfectly demonstrated than with the magnesium-backed sports seats - a metal that's particularly strong and light.

Prices are likely to start from around £130,000 when it goes on sale in summer 2010 - less than half the price of the Mercedes McLaren SLR.

Check out next weeks magazine - on newstands September 16 - for full details on the stunning SLS and all the cars that matter in Frankfurt.

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2010 Lamborghini Reventón Roadster - Official Photos Leaked

With the plethora of hot metal being released at this month’s Frankfurt auto show, it’s of little surprise that stuff keeps trickling out. We can now add the 2010 Lamborghini Reventón Roadster to the list of too-hot-to-hold-onto reveals, as the first pictures of the topless, road bound cruise missile have surfaced on Autocar.com. We’ll be bringing you a full plate of info on this limited-edition Lambo next week when the show gets under way, but we can see here from these initial shots that it’s a proper, open-air follow-up to the Lamborghini Reventón coupe that debuted at the 2007 Frankfurt show.

Based on the Murciélago, but with more sinister styling, loads more carbon fiber, and a jet-fighter-inspired cockpit, fewer than 20 examples will reportedly be built, with each carrying a price tag likely well in excess of $1 million. Power will likely come from the same 641-hp, 6.5-liter V-12 found in the hardtop, with a six-speed automated manual and all-wheel drive comprising the rest of the drivetrain. Performance also should be similar, with 60 mph arriving in as little as 3.4 seconds. However, the roadster’s top speed is likely to be a bit less than the 224 mph claimed for the coupe. Inside, expect acres of Alcantara and more carbon fiber, as well as unique aviation-themed LCD instrumentation. Check back next week for the full breakdown on Sant’Agata’s latest exotic. Read More.....

McLaren MP4-12C: First batch of details and images surface

Today's a big day for McLaren. After ambitiously launching its own separate automotive division to follow in the footsteps of arch-rival Ferrari, the British race engineering firm has finally released its long-anticipated new supercar. Called the MP4-12C, it's been developed entirely in-house, and features the latest advances in automotive technology derived from the Formula 1 circuit.

Ooh, where to start? The MP4-12C is built around an extremely light and rigid carbon fiber tub. But rather than the heavier multi-piece tubs used by its competitors and predecessors, the MP4's is made from a single piece, weighing a spritely 176 pounds). The body panels are all carbon fiber and composites, making the new McLaren more expensive to build than its competitors and resulting in an expected £160,000 ($265k) price tag – higher than either the new Ferrari 458 Italia or the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, but lighter in weight, too.

Behind the tub sits a twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 engine producing around 600 horsepower and 433 lb-ft of torque, offering what McLaren claims is the highest horsepower to CO2 ratio of any internal combustion engine on the market – gasoline, diesel or even hybrid. Contrary to earlier speculation that suggested Mercedes could continue furnishing its erstwhile partner with at least the engine blocks while producing its own SLS supercar and furnishing Pagani as well, McLaren says the unit was developed entirely in house. The bespoke mill features a flat-plane crank, dry sump and can rev up to 8,500 rpm, though 80% of the torque is said to be available from as low as 2,000 rpm. That ought to be good for a 0-60 time in the low threes and a 200+ mph top end.

While you might have expected carbon ceramic brakes to keep all that power and speed in check, McLaren says its conventional discs actually weigh less. They're aided by a Brake Steer system that brakes the inside rear wheel to combat understeer. But the real trick system is in the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, where Pre-Cog lets the driver load up the next gear by half-squeezing the paddle and then engaging with gunshot speed.

With the new MP4-12C, McLaren's betting the economy will bounce back soon. It's planning on building 1000 units in 2011, a quarter of which will go each to the domestic UK market and over here to the United States. The C designation also suggests that they're planning a roadster version to join the coupe. But for now, we'll just enjoy this first batch of images in the gallery below and peruse the lengthy press release after the jump. Read More.....

Toyota and Lexus hybrid sales top two million

Worldwide sales of Toyota hybrid vehicles have topped the two million mark, with more than 200,000 of these hybrids sales in Europe.

Since the launch of the world’s first mass-produced hybrid, the Prius, in Japan in 1997, more than 2.01 million hybrid vehicles have been sold worldwide.

Toyota currently sells 13 hybrid vehicle models in 50 countries and regions around the world, including three commercial vehicle models in Japan.

Toyota calculates that since 1997, its hybrid vehicles have led to approximately 11 million fewer tons1 of CO2 emissions would have been emitted by petrol-powered vehicles of similar size and driving performance.

Sales of Toyota hybrid vehicles began in the UK with the launch of the original Prius in 2000. Toyota has since sold more than 30,000 Prius models in the UK. The new, third generation Toyota Prius, launched in August 2009, has already generated more than 3,000 customer orders in the UK.

Lexus remains the only premium brand in the UK to offer three full hybrids as part of its range: GS 450h, LS 600h and the newly-launched RX 450h. Together, these models will comprise over 45% of Lexus sales in the UK in 2010.

By the early 2010s, Toyota plans to offer 10 different hybrid models in the UK. In July, Toyota announced that it would manufacture a hybrid version of its C-segment hatchback, Auris, in the UK from mid-2010, a critical first step in the company’s plans to offer a hybrid version of every model in the early 2020s. Read More.....

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics Concept: 100 High-Res Photos and Video of 356HP Diesel-Electric Hybrid

This is BMW's vision of the sports car of the future; a lightweight 2+2 coupe with plug-in hybrid drive technology that promises to offer 'M' car-level performance and driving dynamics with Toyota Prius-like fuel economy and emissions figures. Set to take center stage at the Bavarian automaker's stand at the 2009 Frankfurt Show in September, the Vision EfficientDynamcis showcases an array of technologies many of which are said to be planned for use on upcoming BMW, MINI and Rolls Royce models.

At the heart of the concept is a high-performance diesel-electric hybrid system that combines a small diesel engine with two electric motors and a newly-developed version of BMW's double-clutch transmission (DCT) with six speeds.

Mounted in front of the rear axle (behind the back seats), the 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbo diesel engine that drives the rear wheels delivers an output of 163HP and 214 lb-ft of torque. The compact-sized electric motor that is positioned between the diesel engine and the DCT produces 33HP and 214 lb-ft but can supply momentarily up to 51HP.

The second electric motor is situated on the front axle offering continuous output of 80HP and peak torque of 162 lb-ft but it can produce 112HP for a period of up to 30 seconds, and, for a 10-second "burst," 139HP.

The overall system output is 356 horsepower and 800Nm or 590 lb-ft of peak torque. The arrangement of the two motors and diesel engine allows all-wheel drive when driving in all-electric mode.

BMW says that the Vision EfficientDynamics concept can accelerate to 100km/h (62mph) in 4.8 seconds and has an electronically governed top speed of 250km/h or 155mph. The Bavarian automaker claims that average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle is a mere 3.76 lt/100 km which is equal to 62.6 mpg US, and the CO2 emission rating are just 99 grams per kilometer - however, let's not forget that we're talking about a concept car...

The electric motors are powered by a lithium-polymer battery pack that collects energy either from regenerative braking or by plugging the car into the mains. When connected to a standard EU power outlet (220 V, 16 Amps), the system requires a maximum of 2 and-a-half hours to fully charge and 44 minutes if there's a source with higher voltage and amperage (380 V, 32 Amps).

The concept can run completely under electric power, with the turbodiesel engine alone, or a combination of both power sources. The diesel engine offers a range of around 650 km or 430 miles while in all-electric mode, the range is 50 km or 31 miles. The overall range is close to 700 km or 431 miles.

As a technological showcase, the Vision EfficientDynamics concept car features an array of innovations including a thermo-electric generator in the exhaust system that converts thermal energy contained in the exhaust emissions into electrical energy which is then used to power features such as the steering and air conditioning.

The chassis and suspension of the 2+2 coupe are made out of aluminum while the roof and the outer skin on the Gullwing-style doors are made almost completely of a special polycarbonate glass that automatically darkens as a function of the light shining on the car.

The overall weight of the coupe that measures 4.60m (181.1-in.) in length, 1.90m (74.8-in.) in width and 1.24m (48.8-in.) in height, is 1,395kg or 3,076 pounds. BMW says that the car can carry a maximum load of 445kg or 981 pounds and has a luggage capacity of 150 liters or 5.3 cu ft.

Created under BMW Group design boss Adrian van Hooydonk, the concept's shape was largely dictated by aerodynamics with the company claiming a drag coefficient of just 0.22. As for the interior, BMW says that the focus was likewise on both the "fascinating driving experience" and, in particular, "on transparent, hands-on technology and maximum reduction of weight."

Understandably, the Vision EfficentDynamics overly futuristic styling does not point to a specific model, but expect to see some ideas such as the design of the front end which is reminiscent of the M1 Hommage to influence BMW's future cars.

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Most Expensive Cars In The World: Top 10 List 2009-2010

World's Most Expensive Cars

What is the most expensive car in the world? The 1931 Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe was sold for $8,700,000 in 1987. However, that car and many alike will not be included in this list because it is not available on the market today. It is hard to imagine someone would actually spend 8 million dollars on a car instead of using it for something more productive. However, if you have the money and the opportunity, you will definitely spend a small fraction of it to place a few of these supercars in your garage. Here is the 10 most expensive production cars on the market.

1. Bugatti Veyron $1,700,000. This is by far the most expensive street legal car available on the market today. It is the fastest accelerating car reaching 0-60 in 2.6 seconds. It claims to be the fastest car with a top speed of 253 mph+. However, the title for the fastest car goes to the SSC Ultimate Aero which exceed 253 mph pushing this car to 2nd place for the fastest car.

2. Lamborghini Reventon $1,600,000. The most powerful and the most expensive Lamborghini ever built is the second on the list. It takes 3.3 seconds to reach 60 mph and it has a top speed of 211 mph. Its rarity (limited to 20) and slick design are the reasons why it is so expensive and costly to own.

3. McLaren F1 $970,000. In 1994, the McLaren F1 was the fastest and most expensive car. Even though it was built 15 years ago, it has an unbelievable top speed of 240 mph and reaching 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Even as of today, the McLaren F1 is still top on the list and it outperformed many other supercars.

4. Ferrari Enzo $670,000. The most known supercar ever built. The Enzo has a top speed of 217 mph and reaching 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. Only 400 units were produced and it is currently being sold for over $1,000,000 at auctions.

5. Pagani Zonda C12 F $667,321. Produced by a small independent company in Italy, the Pagani Zonda C12 F is the 5th fastest car in the world. It promises to delivery a top speed of 215 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.5 seconds.

6. SSC Ultimate Aero $654,400. Don't let the price tag fool you, the 6th most expensive car is actually the fastest street legal car in the world with a top speed of 257 mph+ and reaching 0-60 in 2.7 seconds. This baby cost nearly half as much as the Bugatti Veyron, yet has enough power to top the most expensive car in a speed race. It is estimated that only 25 of this exact model will ever be produced.

7. Saleen S7 Twin Turbo $555,000. The first true American production certified supercar, this cowboy is also rank 3rd for the fastest car in the world. It has a top speed of 248 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.2 seconds. If you are a true American patriot, you can be proud to show off this car.

8. Koenigsegg CCX $545,568. Swedish made, the Koenigsegg is fighting hard to become the fastest car in the world. Currently, it is the 4th fastest car in the world with a top speed of 245 mph+, the car manufacture Koenigsegg is not giving up and will continue to try and produce the fastest car. Good luck with that!

9. Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren Roadster $495,000. A GT supercar, the SLR McLaren is the fastest automatic transmission car in the world with a top speed of 206 mph+ and reaching 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. It is a luxurious convertible with a really powerful engine, which results in outstanding performances and style.

10. Porsche Carrera GT $440,000. A supercar with dynamic stability control and a top speed of 205 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.9 seconds. The Porsche Carrera GT applies the absolute calibers of a true racing car to offer an unprecedented driving feeling on the road.

January 22nd, 2008

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