Shelby - one of the greatest sports car

Carroll Shelby has had a remarkably long career as a driver, owner, team manager, manufacturer, consultant, and visionary.Early in his career, Carroll’s accomplishments as a race car driver included breaking land speed records at Bonneville in 1954 for Austin Healey and winning the 24-hour Le Mans in 1959 alongside teammate Roy Salvadori. As a team manager, Carroll was a part of the FIA World Grand Touring Championship as well as Ford GT victories at Le Mans..

When his health caused him to give up racing in 1960, Carroll got out of the driver’s seat and turned his attention to design. He had a vision of creating a racecar made from a lightweight European chassis with American V8 power.
The result of this vision was what is considered perhaps the greatest sports car and one of the fastest road cars ever constructed - the Shelby Cobra. The aluminum-bodied 289 and 427 Cobra models and the subsequent Shelby Mustangs he built for Ford, made Carroll Shelby a household name in the 1960s.

The best cars in NZ unveiled

The best car in New Zealand has been unveiled and there were a few surprises in store for those who think size is everything.
Car-makers are cottoning on to a changing market where being small, smart and efficient counts.
Whether it is performance, style or safety that catches your eye in a car, there is a new consideration that is driving manufacturers - size.
Large cars have dominated the AA Motoring Excellence Awards since they began, but that is all changing, with more smaller cars and a lot more diesel vehicles.
“I think there’s more awareness of fuel efficiency and the environment and manufacturers are now changing their vehicles to suit those conditions,” says Stella Stocks, technical manager from the Automobile Association (AA).
13 winners were announced out of 89 entries, including a double triumph for a car that used to be a figure of fun, but keeps on going from strength-to-strength.
The Skoda Roomster won best compact car and the Skoda Octavia Scout was best small crossover car.
If safety is your thing, then you might want to take a look at the Subaru Impreza.
It won the award thanks to its five star score for occupant safety and it’s the first vehicle to win a maximum four stars for pedestrian protection.
“Often what you find is that the safety features are on the top of the range. But with this model it’s across the whole range, so that’s a really good result,” Stocks says.
The environmental award went to the VW Bluemotion.
But what everyone really wants to know is this year’s supreme winner.
A good year for Subaru and if you want to get your hands on its winning top of the range Impreza you’ll need to fork out just under $65,000

BMW H2R Hydrogen Record Racecar

BMW’s H2R (Hydrogen Record Car) is powered entirely by the clean-burning process of liquid-hydrogen combustion, and this futuristic racecar has already set nine speed records of 300 km/h and above.Ford Mustang GT

The New Mercedes Benz CLC: Sports Coupe

The Automotive news blog updated daily with car news, modified car talk, F1 News, virtual rides, and much more. Read the auto blog at , The AutoWorld to get the latest news and opinions, view the newest concept cars.A blog on the automotive industry. Includes test drives, reviews, previews, motoring tech articles and automobile FAQ. All About Car News, Car Review, Car Comparisons, Road Tests, Car Price, Concept Car, Hybrid Car And Super Car

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled a stand-alone model series in the guise of the new CLC, the compelling entry-level model in the Mercedes-Benz coupé family. The Sports Coupé’s design, technology and equipment meet the discerning requirements of young drivers looking for an athletic car that gives an involving drive, while at the same time delivering the hallmark Mercedes quality standards in terms of safety, comfort, environmental compatibility and functionality.

Compared with the previous Sports Coupé, the Mercedes engineers have newly developed or enhanced over 1100 components. Engineering highlights of the CLC include a new direct-steer system for even more agile cornering, state-of-the-art infotainment systems featuring a colour display, Europe-wide DVD or hard-disc navigation and media interface, as well as an uprated four-cylinder engine that now develops 135 kW/184 hp. Fuel consumption has been reduced by up to 10.8 percent compared with the outgoing model.

The compact body dimensions and the muscular lines emphasise the sporty appearance of the new CLC. The Mercedes designers have completely redesigned the front and rear so that the Sports Coupé embodies the contemporary Mercedes design idiom with its distinctive coupé radiator grille featuring a large Mercedes star in the centre, and the new projection-beam headlamps. The redesigned large tailgate conceals a variable boot with up to 1100 litres of luggage capacity. The new tail lights, the long row of LEDs which make up the third brake light unit and the rear bumper subdivide the rear and emphasise its width.
The interior of the new Mercedes-Benz CLC is akin to a contemporary tailor-made suit - custom-fit and comfortable. Sports seats with better lateral support than ever, a three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, automatic climate control and brushed aluminium trim elements form part of the standard specification.
Mercedes-Benz offers four four-cylinder and two six-cylinder engines with power outputs ranging from 90 kW/122 hp to 200 kW/272 hp for the new CLC. The 135 kW/184 hp powerplant in the CLC 200 KOMPRESSOR now develops an extra 15 kW/20 hp while consuming just 7.8 to 8.2 litres per 100 kilometres in the NEDC cycle, the equivalent of up to 0.7 litres less than before. The CDI models boast operating ranges of over 1000 kilometres with a full tank (62 litres).

The six-speed manual transmission comes as standard with all engine variants. Mercedes-Benz can also supply a five-speed automatic transmission for the four cylinder units, and the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission for the V6 models.
Posted by latestcarinfo

Lamborghini Reventon

Born in Sant’Agata Bolognese
The Lamborghini Reventón has been entirely designed in Sant’Agata Bolognese, the original birthplace of the Lamborghini and the native home of every super car born under the sign of the bull. The design drawn up in Lamborghini’s Centro Stile (Style Centre) is fine-tuned in close collaboration with the Lamborghini Research and Development Department. Thus, the Reventón is not only “haute couture” but it also stands out for its elevated dynamism whilst being entirely suitable for every day use.
The Lamborghini Reventón is not destined to remain a one-off. A total of 20 Lamborghini friends and collectors will be able to own this extraordinary car and, naturally, enjoy the incomparable pleasure of driving it.
The name Reventón has been chosen according to Lamborghini tradition. Reventón was a fighting bull, owned by the Don Rodriguez family. It is included in the list of the most famous bulls ever and is known for killing the famed bullfighter Felix Guzman in 1943.
Inspired by the fastest airplanes
The present day Lamborghini models are distinguished by the clear language of their shape. The coherent proportions of the Murciélago and Gallardo highlight their power and dynamism. Sharp edges, precise lines and clean surfaces: these are ingredients of a style reduced to the essential. Each element is created exactly according to its function; ornaments and decorations are totally foreign to a Lamborghini.
With the Reventón the Centro Stile designers have coherently developed this philosophy, inspired by another sphere where speed and dynamism reign absolute: modern aeronautics, responsible for the fastest and most agile airplanes in the world. This has created an extremely precise, technically striking style with a new vitality: interrupted lines and contorted surfaces create a fascinating play of light, giving the car incredible movement.
Made of carbon fibre and precision
Although it is based on the extraordinarily successful Murciélago LP640, the exterior design of the Reventón is completely new. Just like the base model, the exterior is made of CFC, a composite carbon fibre material, which is as stable as it is light. The exterior components are glued and fixed to the body comprised of CFC and steel.
The front is characterised by the acute angle of the central ‘arrow’ and by the powerful forward-facing air intakes. Although they do not supply air directly to the turbine like an airplane, bearing in mind the 650 hp, an abundant volume of air is necessary to cool the carbon brake disks and the six cylinder callipers.
Born to become a legend
Since its foundation, Lamborghini has been a creator of trends in the world of sports cars and has always manufactured cars with an absolutely unmistakable character. Models such as the Miura or Countach, for example, were veritable forerunners and rapidly acquired the status of timeless classic cars. From the moment they are launched, every new Lamborghini promises to become a legend, destined to become a sought-after and precious possession.
With the Lamborghini Reventón, Lamborghini has done it again; it has created an unequalled super car; the perfect synthesis between the exclusivity and appeal of a limited edition design masterpiece, and the dynamism and driveability of a standard sports car. Thus, the Lamborghini legend is further enhanced by another, stylish future classic.
Lamborghini Reventón - Technical data
Frame
High strength tubular steel structure with carbon fibre components.
Bodywork
In carbon fibre, except roof and door external panels (steel)
Steering
Type: Mechanical (rack and pinion) power-assisted
Right-hand turning circle: 12.55 m (41.17 ft)
Wheels and tyres
Front: 245/35 ZR 18
Rear: 335/30 ZR 18
Engine
Type: 12 cylinders at 60°
Bore and stroke: 88 mm x 89 mm (3.46 in x 3.50 in)
Displacement: 6496 cc (396.41 in3)
Compression ratio: (11 ± 0.2):1
Maximum power: 650 HP (478 kW) at 8000 rpm (guaranteed through the engine selection)
Maximum torque: 660 Nm (487 lb-ft) at 6000 rpm
Engine position in vehicle: Longitudinal central-rear
Cylinder heads and engine block: Aluminium
Intake system: Variable geometry with 3 operating modes
Performance data
Top speed: 340 km/h (211.3 mph)
Acceleration 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph): 3.4 s (before: 3.8 s)
Fuel Consumption (according to DIR 1999/100/CE)
Urban: 32,3 l/100km
Extra-urban: 15,0 l/100 km
Combined: 21,3 l/100 km
CO2 emissions: 495 g/km

VW Races Jetta TDI Diesels To Prove Efficiency, Cleanliness

So bent on proving the efficiency and cleanliness of their new 2.0-liter TDI turbodiesel four-cylinder making its appearance in the 2009 Jetta TDI clean diesel, Volkswagen has employed them in race duty. In fact, they set up the Volkswagen Jetta Diesel TDI Cup, a multi-race series wherein basically stock Jetta TDIs race on circuits from Lime Rock, Connecticut to Road Atlanta.The engines are boosted to 170 hp and 258 lb-ft torque, up from the stock Jetta TDI diesel's 140 hp and 236 lb-ft. And despite these fuel-consuming upgrades, the cars still averaged 25 mpg during the summer and fall in all-out race duty. Beyond that, the race cars emitted extremely low levels of pollution, meeting California's stringent Tier II, Bin 5 regulations by employing ultra-clean piezo-electric injectors, exhaust-scrubbing catalysts, and exhaust particulate traps.Robert Bosch LLC, as we reported yesterday, brings much of the technology innovations that allow modern diesels like VW's 2.0-liter TDI to run cleaner and make more power and torque than ever before. Wolfgang Hustedt, Motorsports Manager for Bosch, explained that the latest common rail technology is responsible for the impressive performance and cleanliness, working in concert with "rapidly switching piezo injectors, which have 75 percent fewer moving components and mass, allowing them to switch at double the speed of previous solenoid-valve injectors. This allows the piezo injectors to significantly lower diesel emissions, increase the achievable engine power and noticeably lower engine noise."--Colin Mathews

2007 Ferrari F430 Coupe

Body type:
Coupe
Engine:
4.3L V8 FI DOHC 32V
Exterior color:
Red

Transmission:
Automatic
Fuel type:
Gasoline
Interior color:
Black

Drivetrain:
Rear Wheel Drive
Disability equipped:
--
price:
US $204,900.00