Friday, April 23, 2010

RPMGO.com (former Auto Unleashed)

RPMGO.com (former Auto Unleashed)


Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce China limited edition revealed

Posted: 23 Apr 2010 04:22 AM PDT

Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce China limited edition revealed

Did you think Bentley was the only luxury carmaker revealing limited editions of its models for the Chinese market at the Beijing Motor Show?

Well, you’re wrong, as Lamborghini pulled out all the stops and announced that 10 limited models of its Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce supercar will be sold in the Asian country.

What’s so special about this edition? Not a lot, as the Chinese will only be getting a gray paint job with black and orange accents, while the inside will be decked out in Alcantara, carbon fiber and orange accents. Throw in a special numbered plate and you’re all set.

Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce China limited edition revealed

For those who forgot what power lies withing the Murcielago LP670-4 SV, its 6.5-liter V12 now develops 670 HP with a torque of 487 lb-ft. This power is sent to all four wheels and, thanks to the reduced weight, will make the Lambo sprint from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.2 seconds, eventually stopping at 213 mph (342 km/h).

Source: Lamborghini

Post published on Rpmgo.com

Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce China limited edition revealed

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BMW Megacity EV arrives in 2013, new details revealed

Posted: 23 Apr 2010 04:07 AM PDT

BMW Megacity EV arrives in 2013, new details revealed

Lately there has been much talk about BMW’s future Megacity electric vehicle. Now, the company decided to throw in some official information, just to keep the rumors from getting out of hand.

The Megacity compact will arrive around 2013, under its own separate brand (think BMW and Mini). It will use an electric powertrain capable, at least in the small city car, of a range of 160 miles. The impressive number is largely owed to a new type of regenerative braking system, more aggressive than the ones currently employed by some hybrids.

Also, the new carbon fiber materials and other lightweight technologies will help the Megacity achieve the impressive mileage mentioned above. Insight from the Mini E tests will also be fed to this project in order to lower research and development costs.

As opposed to many future EVs, the BMW Megacity won’t see its battery packs sold or leased separately. The Bavarian company is confident that the packs will still be 85% operational when the lifespan of their cars will end, making them fit for recycling.

Source: BMW

Post published on Rpmgo.com

BMW Megacity EV arrives in 2013, new details revealed

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Video: Toyota showcases stability fix for 2010 Lexus GX460

Posted: 23 Apr 2010 03:24 AM PDT

Video: Toyota showcases stability fix for 2010 Lexus GX460

2010 Lexus GX460 owners have seemingly received an added dose of fun danger with their luxury SUV, as the Vehicle Stability Control system couldn’t keep the car from drifting all over the place in high speed turns.

After the problem was spotted by Consumer Reports, the Japanese company acted quickly and immediately stopped selling the tail-happy SUV. Now, the rumored fix has finally been found: a software update for the VSC system which improves its electronics.

The result of the fix can be spotted above, as the company revealed a test video showing a 2010 Lexus GX460 before and after the drifting problem was solved. Check out the full video after the jump.

Source: The Lexus Enthusiast via Autoblog

Post published on Rpmgo.com

Video: Toyota showcases stability fix for 2010 Lexus GX460

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Chevrolet Volt MPV5 electric concept revealed

Posted: 23 Apr 2010 03:07 AM PDT

Chevrolet Volt MPV5 electric concept revealed

It seems that the patent sketches GM filed at the beginning of the week were true. The company revealed at the Beijing Motor Show the Chevrolet Volt MPV5 concept.

A blend between a crossover and a people carrier, this new vehicle, as we suspected, uses the Voltec powertrain, meaning it has the same 150 HP engine connected to a 16 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery used in the Volt sedan. The increased size and worse aerodynamics make the MPV5 electric crossover reach just a 32 mile electric range, as opposed to the Volt’s 40. When the battery is depleted, the range extending 1.4-liter generator kicks in, allowing the concept to travel around 300 miles.

Chevrolet Volt MPV5 electric concept revealed

As its name suggests, the MPV5 has five seats and can store 30.5 cubic feet behind those seats. If you fold them down, the capacity will extend to 62 cubic feet. On the inside it looks almost the same as the Volt sedan so you won’t have any big surprises.

The Chevrolet Volt MPV5 electric crossover/people carrier is just a concept at this moment, but you can clearly figure out that when the Volt sedan arrives on the market, the production version of this model won’t be far behind.

Source: GM

Post published on Rpmgo.com

Chevrolet Volt MPV5 electric concept revealed

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Ford Start concept debuts in Beijing

Posted: 23 Apr 2010 02:50 AM PDT

Ford Start concept debuts in Beijing

What you see above is the Ford Start design study. Before you say it, yes, it looks like an Audi A1 from afar, but the reasoning behind the concept is quite interesting.

While it does seem a bit on the simplistic side, especially when compared to the well-received Kinetic design direction we saw on cars like the Fiesta, the Start concept was made to showcase a move towards making the manufacturing process more efficient.

The structure of the Start uses aluminum and high strength steel in order to keep weight down but also keep the car secure. The body panels are made from recyclable composites and thus eliminate the need to actually paint the vehicle. Also, the shape of the concept demands less resources in the production cycle.

It’s worth mentioning the new MyFord Mobile infotainment system that relies on a connection with a smartphone in order to allow drivers to interact with the car and change various settings.

Ford Start concept debuts in Beijing

Still, don’t expect the Start to make it to production, as the only thing even remotely possible to see the light of day at the end of an assembly line is its engine, a 1.0-liter EcoBoost unit. In case you didn’t notice the name, the engine is both turbocharged and direct injected, meaning the three-cylinder unit can match the power output of a regular 1.6-liter inline-four, according to Ford. While official figures weren’t given, you can except power ratings to be around 100-105 HP.

While we’re not so crazy about the design, the promise of that EcoBoost engine is mighty tempting.

Source: Ford

Post published on Rpmgo.com

Ford Start concept debuts in Beijing

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Video: GM’s CEO says the company repaid its debt in new ad

Posted: 22 Apr 2010 11:40 PM PDT

Video: GM's CEO says the company repaid its debt in new ad

When General Motors was bailed out in summer of 2009, few people believed the company could make a comeback and actually repay the taxpayer money from US or Canada.

This week, the carmaker showed it’s doing great and paid back the loans it received from the two governments. As you can expect, it didn’t miss this opportunity for a great commercial and revealed an ad with none other than its own CEO, Ed Whitacre.

In it, the executive says he can even respect the people who weren’t confident in GM, but that the company is on an upswing and will gain back the trust of the consumer. Also, there are a few easter eggs in the video, including the new Cadillac CTS Coupe or the Chevrolet Cruze.

Check out GM’s new ad with Ed Whitacre after the jump.

Source: GM

Post published on Rpmgo.com

Video: GM’s CEO says the company repaid its debt in new ad

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New rumors appear about Mazda RX-7 revival

Posted: 22 Apr 2010 11:27 PM PDT

New rumors appear about Mazda RX-7 revival

The revival of the iconic Mazda RX-7 sports coupe is bound to happen sooner or later. As such, rumors about the project’s existence and various other technical data are appearing like clockwork every few months or so.

The newest addition to the rumor pile surrounding the RX-7 comes from MotorTrend, who say that the next generation 16X rotary engine that will power the new coupe will have a huge ace up its sleeve. According to them, the new engine will be able to run on both gasoline and diesel without major drops in power.

This fact, if it’s true, might give the future RX-7 a big help in proclaiming a green image. As you know, the current RX-8 won’t be sold in Europe anymore as its own rotary engine can’t achieve Euro 5 emissions standards. The new unit in the RX-7, though, will be able to boast lowered CO2 emissions, depending on what fuel you choose, and a power output of over 300 HP.

Still, before we get too excited, it’s better to wait until we hear it straight from the Japanese company.

Source: MotorTrend via Autoblog

Post published on Rpmgo.com

New rumors appear about Mazda RX-7 revival

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Bentley unveils special edition Continental models for China

Posted: 22 Apr 2010 11:10 PM PDT

Bentley unveils special edition Continental models for China

As any self-respecting luxury carmaker, Bentley knows most of its money is currently coming from China and just revealed two special editions based on its Continental lineup for the Asian country at the Beijing Motor Show.

First off, four-door lovers will be able to enjoy the Continental Flying Spur Speed China, which, alongside a more elegant trim line and accessory lineup, saw its exhaust system toned down and received a softer suspension. Still, this doesn’t stop Bentley from hyping up the model as the “world’s fastest luxury four-door saloon.”

Bentley unveils special edition Continental models for China

Chinese coupe fans weren’t neglected, with the British carmaker revealing Continental GT Design Series China model. The car has a bespoke interior (pictured above) with three-tone leather and new accents that can be ordered in a variety of colors.

Either way, if you happen to be passing by the Chinese capital, you can visit the Beijing Motor Show and check out these special Bentleys.

Source: Bentley

Post published on Rpmgo.com

Bentley unveils special edition Continental models for China

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Subaru presents ‘New EyeSight’ collision prevention system

Posted: 22 Apr 2010 10:58 PM PDT

Subaru presents 'New EyeSight' collision prevention system

It seems collision prevention systems are the next big thing at least in terms of vehicle safety. After Volvo presented its own take on this technology, Subaru has now revealed the ‘New EyeSight‘ system that will appear in its future models.

The technology uses two cameras mounted behind the rear-view mirror to detect any objects in from the car, from pedestrians to other hazards. If a potential crash is detected, the driver will be notified. If he/she does nothing, the pre-collision braking control will kick in and the car will grind to a halt.

The car will only be stopped if the difference in speed between the car and the hazard is less than 18.5 mph. If it is larger than that, the car will just be slowed down by the pre-collision system.

Another new safety feature announced by Subaru is a brake assist system which, if it detects the pedal being pressed down hard, will redirect more energy to the brakes and enable a shorter braking distance. Besides this, adaptive cruise control will become standard on Subaru vehicles, enabling them to detect the speed of the car ahead and change theirs accordingly when the cruise control is active.

When will we see these new technologies? Japanese customers will be able to order them, including the New EyeSight tech, as early as next month on Legacy models, but the rest of the world hasn’t received a concrete release date.

Source: Subaru

Post published on Rpmgo.com

Subaru presents ‘New EyeSight’ collision prevention system

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Scion tC might receive convertible edition

Posted: 22 Apr 2010 10:43 PM PDT

Scion tC might receive convertible edition

The rumor mill has started spinning once more, this time being fueled by the guys at Inside Line who proclaim that the Scion brand might see the introduction of its first convertible model, based on the newly revealed 2011 tC.

It seems that this move might go along nicely with Toyota’s plans to revive the brand and earn it more confidence in the eyes of the younger consumers, Scion’s targeted demographic. Also, given the accessible nature in terms of price for Scion models, the convertible tC might become a best seller, as entry-level cabriolets currently on the market are in low numbers.

This, coupled with the fact that the Toyota Solara, the only other convertible in the Japanese lineup (Lexus not withstanding), won’t be produced anymore, might make this rumor a plausible one.

We really like the 2011 Scion tC and a convertible edition might not be so bad. Seing as how the coupe will start at $17,000, there is still enough room for a pricier cabriolet that will slot in below Scion’s self-imposed $20,000 price limit.

Source: InsideLine

Post published on Rpmgo.com

Scion tC might receive convertible edition

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