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- Test Drive: MINI Cooper S 50 Mayfair
- SSC hints at new supercar to dethrone Bugatti Veyron Super Sport
- McLaren F1 successor might arrive as early as 2012
- BMW M5 E60 production ends, 2011 BMW M5 F10 arriving soon
- Video: Rental car companies accused of sending out recalled vehicles without repairs
- Chrysler backing away from Hemi badging, wants a more refined, green image
- Video: Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Rob Dyrdek create the first skateboard car
- Fiat might add CNG or LPG engines to Chrysler vehicles
- Chrysler presents Mopar ‘10 Challenger limited edition
- BMW Innovation Days – Joy really is futureproof
| Test Drive: MINI Cooper S 50 Mayfair Posted: 08 Jul 2010 04:00 AM PDT  Lately, we've been hearing a lot about new, premium city cars getting ready for launch, like the Audi A1 or Citroen DS3, all targeting the Mini Cooper S. While Vlad already had a chance to test drive the convertible version last summer, I was still a Mini 'virgin' (so to speak). So, after being fed up with Vlad's constant praise for the British model, I decided to test drive a more special version of the potent little city car, the Mini Cooper S 50 Mayfair edition. So, was it all I hoped it would be or did the Mini turn out to be a not so pleasant experience? Read on to check out our complete test drive. Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| SSC hints at new supercar to dethrone Bugatti Veyron Super Sport Posted: 08 Jul 2010 01:51 AM PDT  A few years ago, Bugatti received plenty of accolades for building the Veyron, which broke the world’s fastest production car record, achieving 253 mph. Soon after, SSC (Shelby SuperCars) revealed the Ultimate Aero model (pictured above), which, thanks to its twin-turbo 6.2-liter V8, capable of 1,183 HP, broke that record, achieving 256 mph. As you all know, a few days ago, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport was revealed, which broke the Aero’s record, achieving 268 mph. SSC released an official statement, through which it congratulates Bugatti for its impressive effort.
Still, that doesn’t mean SSC won’t put up a fight, as it continues in the statement to hit at a new supercar, which will be even more powerful than the Ultimate Aero, and take back the world record from the Germans.
So, it seems that design is a done deal, thanks to Castriota, and SSC just needs to upgrade the existing technologies from the Ultimate Aero. Hopefully its engineers will be able to come up with something impressive. Either way, we’re in for one heck of a battle. Source: Jalopnik Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| McLaren F1 successor might arrive as early as 2012 Posted: 08 Jul 2010 01:33 AM PDT  After revealing the mighty impressive McLaren MP4-12C, the British supercar manufacturer can now focus on developing a successor to the iconic McLaren F1 hypercar. While some report have deemed a possible release date around 2014, a new report coming from the blokes at Autocar suggests that the F1 replacement might be revealed as early as 2012. According to the British magazine, McLaren engineers are hard at work developing the best car the company can create, with “revolutionary” styling and performance specifications. Knowing McLaren and its attention to detail, the F1 successor will no doubt be an impressive beast. Still, 2012 is awfully close, so until we hear it straight from Ron Dennis, don’t get your hopes too high. Until then though, the MP4-12C is more than adequate to fill the gap. Source: Autocar Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| BMW M5 E60 production ends, 2011 BMW M5 F10 arriving soon Posted: 08 Jul 2010 01:16 AM PDT  As soon as BMW officially revealed the 2011 5 Series F10, hardcore fans eagerly awaited the announcement of the next generation M5 F10, which would replace the current M5 E60. Now, we’re one step closer to the next generation, as BMW has announced that the current M5’s production has come to an end. The M5 E60, presented in 2005, has achieved impressive sales, moving 20,548 units in the five years it’s been with us. It was powered by a massive 5.0-liter V10 engine, capable of 507 HP, and although it suffered from the controversial Bangle design, it still impressed a lot of people. The 2011 M5 F10 has been rumored for quite some time now. All we know is that it will use the same 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine from the X5 M and X6 M, but will be upgraded to develop somewhere around 560 HP and 530 lb-ft of torque. Controversial styling and all, we’ll still miss the BMW M5 E60. Hopefully the M5 F10 will more than make up for the departure of its predecessor. Source: BMW Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Video: Rental car companies accused of sending out recalled vehicles without repairs Posted: 08 Jul 2010 12:45 AM PDT  We cover recalls on our website because most of them are extremely important. As such, every owner should be warned even before the recall letter arrives, that the model might be dangerous to drive in its current condition. Sadly, it seems that car rental companies don’t feel the same way. A news report from ABC has showcased a worrying lack of response from rental companies to recalls, as instead of immediately stopping the car from going on the rental cycle, they continue offering it to customers. A terrible example was shown, concerning the death of two California women. They rented a Chrysler PT Cruiser from Enterprise. The car company neglected to tell them that a recall was was made a month before, concerning a leak from the power steering system, which can cause a fire. The women were involved in a crash while driving the car, as the PT Cruiser caught fire, veered onto oncoming traffic and smashed into a semi, as you can see above. The parents of the girls, one age 24, the other 20, sued Enterprise, which, in some records, reveals that the company has no policy on what to do when a car has been recalled, and it’s up to the regional manager if the faulty model will continue to be rented out. The jury awarded the family with $15 million, but the notion that rental car companies are deliberately putting out dangerous cars on the road, without any warning, is downright scary. Hit the jump to watch the complete news story, and before you rent a car, be sure to check if there’s any outstanding recalls for it. Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Chrysler backing away from Hemi badging, wants a more refined, green image Posted: 08 Jul 2010 12:12 AM PDT  Even though CNG or LPG-powered engines might not make it to the Chrysler range, the company needs to improve and promote a greener image. As such, according to a recent report from the Wall Street Journal, Chrysler will begin removing the Hemi badging from most of its vehicles, in order to promote a classier attitude. According to the report, for regular models like the 300C or the new 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee, even though they are equipped with the 5.7-liter Hemi V8, all future marketing efforts will address it as simply a 5.7-liter V8. You’ll still be able to find Hemi badges on the outside of performance SRT8 models or on Ram trucks though, but you won’t see them on other models. Instead, technologies like the Hemi’s Multi Displacement System, which improves fuel economy, will be marketed more aggressively, in order to highlight its eco-friendly attitude. Still, even though you won’t find badges on the outside, the engine cover of the 5.7-liter V8 still wears a big HEMI cover, in order to please the hardcore fans. Frankly, we’re a bit disappointed with Chrysler, as the Hemi badge made a lot of owners proud, and eliminating it might cause some issues. What do you think? Share your thoughts below. Source: Wall Street Journal via Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Video: Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Rob Dyrdek create the first skateboard car Posted: 07 Jul 2010 11:45 PM PDT  Vaughn Gittin Jr. is one of the most respected drivers from the Formula D drifting championship, taking his Ford Mustang sideways more times than anyone can count. Rob Dyrdek is one of the most respected skateboarders in the USA, known for his flamboyant schemes. So, what do you get when you combine the two personalities during the MTV show ‘Rob Dyrdek’s Fantasy Factory’? You get a skateboard car. Essentially, the guys took one of Gittin Jr.’s drifting Mustangs and fitted a grind plate on its underside, in order to cope with the rails and tricks a skateboard is usually subjected to. Afterwards, the car was taken to a custom skateboard course, complete with quarter pipes, rails and ramps, where the two guys went wild. Hit the jump to check out a small video of the drifting shenanigans, and tune in to MTV on June 12 at 9:30 pm ET/PT to check out the full show. Source: YouTube via Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Fiat might add CNG or LPG engines to Chrysler vehicles Posted: 07 Jul 2010 11:18 PM PDT  Fiat definitely has its hands busy with trying to get Chrysler back on its feet. In order to do that, the Pentastar needs to become more popular with the US public. Now, thanks to a statement from Fiat boss Sergio Marchionne, it seems that a quick way to boost Chrysler’s green credentials would be to add engines capable of running on CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) or LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) to the vehicles within the Pentastar range. While this may see like a good idea, especially considering Fiat has plenty of experience from South America and its native Europe, you shouldn’t get your hopes high. Marchionne admitted, afterwards, that the infrastructure in the USA is still far from being capable of sustaining CNG or LPG-powered vehicles. Still, seeing as how both Fiat and Chrysler still have a lot of work to do until they get electric or hybrid powertrains up to par for a production model, cars running on LPG or CNG might become more tempting. Source: NGV Global via Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Chrysler presents Mopar ‘10 Challenger limited edition Posted: 07 Jul 2010 11:01 PM PDT  Chrysler, even though it isn’t the best economical situation, wants to keep its hardcore fans happy. That’s why it has just revealed a new limited edition series, entitled the Mopar ‘10 Challenger. It is based on the capable Dodge Challenger R/T, and is equipped with basically all of the options you can get from the Mopar accessories and performance catalog. The Mopar ‘10 Challenger uses the same 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine, but it is now equipped with a hood venting system, cold air intake, unique engine cover and a front and strut-tower braces. No word yet if these mods will augment the power output, but the stock 372 HP isn’t that bad either. On the outside, things like a darkened grille, black wheels, a functional hood vent and hood pins are available. All of the Mopar ‘10 Challenger models will be decorated with the brilliant black clear coat, and a choice of either red, blue or silver decals. For the interior, Chrysler and Mopar fitted Katzkin leather seats, special gear shifters, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and, as usual, a serialized plaque for each car. Just 500 Mopar ‘10 Challenger models will be built, so you’d better act fast if you want all this Mopar goodness sitting in your driveway. The automatic costs $38,000, including destination charges, while the manual costs $1,000 more. Source: Chrysler Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| BMW Innovation Days – Joy really is futureproof Posted: 07 Jul 2010 05:30 AM PDT  Last Sunday, RPMGO.com, together with our colleagues from Revvnation, were invited to the BMW Innovation Days event, held at a local dealership. At the event, two workshops and two drive tests were organized, showcasing the new technologies being developed by BMW in all of its fields, from the new systems for regular cars, to its hybrid and electric endeavors. If you want to check out our impressions of models like the 2011 5 Series, 2011 X5, Z4 sDrive35is, X6 ActiveHybrid or 7 Series ActiveHybrid, then hit the jump and find out! Even though we made fun about the repositioned foglights, the 2011 X5 does have a lot of new tech under its body. From the Integral Active Steering (which Vlad applauded in our 5 GT test drive) to the Head Up Display or Night Vision with pedestrian recognition. Afterwards, the real fun started, as a test drive with the newest BMW models was organized. Among them, the 2011 X5, 2011 5 Series (530d version), Z4 sDrive35is or X1 (xDrive20d).  First off, the 2011 X5. Although I only got a chance to be a passenger in it, the new X5 was still extremely impressive. First off, the interior is gorgeous, sporting some improvements over the older SUV. The iDrive system has gotten rid of its cluttered interface, and is now much more user-friendly. The high seating position really makes you feel like you’re king of the road, but the xDrive system make sure that you stay on it. We approached a few corners with high speed, but the heavy beast of car wasn’t even impressed, largely due to the aforementioned all-wheel drive system and the integral active steering. Next up, and my personal favorite, the 2011 530d model. In my opinion, this is the car that symbolizes what BMW can do. On one hand, if you put it on comfort, let the eight-speed automatic do its thing and just enjoy the great seats, it’s a great limousine. On the other hand, if you put it into sport, shift the gearbox in sequential mode and use the paddles behind the steering wheel, you wouldn’t even feel the large weight of the car. Even if it was just the 530d version, the engine was quiet and extremely responsive to even the slightest touch of the gas pedal. The acceleration was extremely smooth, thanks to the new eight-speed automatic gearbox. Next up, the BMW Z4 sDrive35is, the most powerful roadster the Bavarian company currently offers. After the hulking X5 and the comfortable 5 Series, the Z4 was a completely different experience. The roadster offers some true thrills, not just through its power, but the way it sticks to the pavement. Also, the sound coming out of the twin exhaust is music to the ears of any car fan. Quite honestly, if BMW didn’t put a sound system in it, you wouldn’t hear any complaints. After the massive amounts of fun we had with the aforementioned models, it was time for a new workshop, this time about BMW’s EfficientDynamics strategy as a whole, presented by Alex Seremet.  Here we learned that EfficientDynamics isn’t just about a concept sportscar, but a strategy designed to combine both the continuing pursuit of performance with the need to create more efficient, eco-friendly technologies. Currently, for regular BMW models, the EfficientDynamics package includes things like Auto Stop-Start, brake energy regeneration, optimized gearboxes as well as the use of lightweight materials. But as a whole strategy, it also means the use of new power resources like hybrid or electric drivetrains. This is where we talked about the new ActiveHybrid range, currently consisting on the 7 Series mild hybrid, where the electric motor is used for an acceleration boost, and the X6 full hybrid, where it is possible to run in electric mode. The range will no doubt expand, seeing as how a 5 Series concept was revealed at the beginning of the year, but this doesn’t mean BMW will focus on just hybrid efforts. Instead, the company also has Project i in development. This includes electric drive technologies, as seen on the Mini E prototypes that are currently beings tested in Europe. The conclusion of Project i will be the MegaCity electric vehicle, a compact city car designed for busy urban environments. The main goal of the model will be to combine a fun-to-drive experience, with everything you need in a busy city life. After this second workshop, it was time for another test drive, with the ActiveHybrid range from BMW. Specifically, the BMW 7 Series ActiveHybrid and the BMW X6 ActiveHybrid models.  First off, we drove the X6. This was the first time for me in the luxury model, and I was pretty surprised. The coupe look didn’t really impress me on the exterior, but the interior of the X6 is very nice. Immediately though, I was shocked by the poor rear visibility, as I saw just the roof of a 7 Series behind me. Still, poor visibility aside, the X6 ActiveHybrid is a true beast. Its 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 is always ready to flex its muscles, and the addition of the electric motors to further help the acceleration offers anyone behind the wheel or sitting as a passenger, a stunning sensation. I did manage to drive for a bit in electric mode, and the feel wasn’t that bad. You couldn’t even tell, aside from the revvcounter standing still at 0, that you were using just the power from the batteries. As soon as you hit the gas though, the internal combustion engine comes to life and delivers its power. Next up was the BMW 7 Series ActiveHybrid. This was a much tamer beast than the X6, as you were treated with a more respectful attitude. You felt you were in a composed limousine, not in a brute of a SUV/SAV. Still, thanks to the electric motors running in tandem with that same 4.4-liter turbocharged V8, the acceleration is unbelievable. Still, seeing as how it didn’t have the xDrive all-wheel drive system, the ActiveHybrid 7 felt a bit more ‘wild’ than the X6. With that in mind, the 7 Series hybrid still felt extremely good. If you bought such a model for yourself, you really must drive it yourself, instead of a chauffeur. The sensation is great and the car is filled with more luxury features than you can shake a diamond-encrusted stick at. Overall, BMW’s Innovation Days really respected its tagline: Joy is futureproof. With the technologies from the EfficientDynamics package and with hybrids and future electric models, BMW is ensuring that it will continue to offer great models, with the same performance but ready for the future. Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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