Saturday, January 8, 2011

RPMGO Car Blog

RPMGO Car Blog


Shanghai GM’s Buick GL8 Now Available

Posted: 08 Jan 2011 01:57 AM PST

2011 Buick GL8

Since its debut in the Chinese market which occurred in 1999, Buick has managed to sell 330,000 units of the GL8 model and for 2011, China's first family of executive wagons builds on the luxury MPV heritage of the first generation, according to the official press release. Available starting with this month, the new model brings 27 technological breakthroughs and seven innovations. The car was developed by Shanghai General Motors in close collaboration with the PATAC – Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center.

The new design of the GL8 is highlighted by the company's distinctive double sweep spear running from front to back. The chrome portholes and the waterfall grille are new to the 2011 model alongside with the decorative metal bands.

2011 Buick GL8

The 2011 Buick GL8 luxury MPV has a length of 5,256 mm, a width of 1,878 mm and a height of 1,800 mm. According to Buick, the car offers plenty of space for all of its passengers and the interior "merges Eastern and Western aesthetics." Inspired by luxury yachts, the GL8 has a 360-degree wraparound design and ice-blue atmosphere lightning.

Some of the most important amenities of this luxury MPV include the following: 10.2-inch WVGA HD display located in the back, 7-inch touch screen located upfront, 5.1-channel Bose sound system with 10 speakers, one-touch electric lift rear door, electric anti-pinch sliding door, two-piece panorama sunroof, two-tone ergonomic genuine leather seats as well as communication and security service.

The suspension of the car has been enhanced by the independent front and back sub-frames that will offer a smooth ride, Shanghai GM promises. The proprietary QuietTuning developed by General Motors will reduce, block and absorb the interior noise.

The new model will be available with one of the two following engines: a V6 SIDI 3.0-liter intelligent direct injection power unit or with a 2.4-liter Ecotec. As standard, both engines are linked to a 6-speed automatic gearbox.

As far as safety is concerned, the 2011 Buick GL8 has a super-solid body frame and premium handling is guaranteed by the Bosch 8.1 ESP system, the company promises. Some of the models are fitted with large disc brakes and tires alongside with six airbags. In order to ensure maximum visibility, Shanghai GM fitted the car with multi-dimensional blue ray Bi-Xenon HID headlights as well as chrome LED taillights.

2011 Buick GL8

The car will have a retail price between RMB 288,000 and RMB 388,000, depending on the trim level and engine choice.

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Shanghai GM’s Buick GL8 Now Available

Special Edition Ford Mustang Up For Auction

Posted: 08 Jan 2011 01:31 AM PST

2012 Ford Mustang Grabber Blue Boss 302 Laguna Seca

At the 40th Annual Barrett – Jackson Scottsdale Auction there will a one special edition Ford Mustangs listed. The Grabber Blue Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca will be auction for charity on Saturday, January 22nd, in order to help Barrett-Jackson celebrate its 40th Annual Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. All of the earnings above the MSRP will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, which is a leader in research as far as curing Type 1 diabetes.

Considered the best-handling Mustang ever, the Boss 302 Laguna Seca is powered by a V8 5.0-liter capable of outputting 444 hp. A one-of-one production car, it was made entirely for this auction and will have a Grabber Blue surround, Recaro Seats with Grabber Blue seam embroidery as well as distinctive black accents on the C-Stripe, Citic Dicastal wheels, spoiler, mirrors and on the roof. The Laguna Seca package borrows the technology of the 2012 Boss 302, offering an aggressive suspension, chassis as well as some aerodynamic tweaks.

The Boss Mustang was developed to be the fastest, straight-production, best-handling Mustang of all times made by Ford. The company will not give this Mustang the green light for production until it proves to be better than the 2010 BMW M3. In comparison to the standard Boss edition, this one is one tenth of a second quicker in the 0-60 mph sprint, offers 1.03g of lateral acceleration and has the capability of stopping three feet quicker from 60 mph in comparison with the standard Boss. The company expects that the car will be two seconds quicker on a normal road course.

The limited edition of the Laguna Seca will be manufactured at the AutoAlliance International Assembly Plant in Flat Rock, Michigan, alongside with the Mustang Boss 302.

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Special Edition Ford Mustang Up For Auction

New Details Of The Ford Focus Electric

Posted: 08 Jan 2011 01:08 AM PST

Ford Focus Electric

Although the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt were the big hit as far as electric cars in 2010, Ford is hoping that their new Focus Electric will steal all the thunder of EV cars in 2011. The Focus EV, a zero-emission car will make its official debut at the 2011 CES – Consumer Electronics Show and officials at Ford have said that the car will be available at North American dealerships at the end of this year and as far as Europe is concerned, customers will have to wait until 2013.

Looking at the car, you will notice that it looks a little bit different than the conventional Focus, employing an Aston Martin-inspired front fascia, the necessary charging port that has a LED ring and is located to the left of the driver's door. In addition, the Focus EV will have a new set of 17-inch 15-spoke rims which will be covered by low-rolling resistance tires. The car will have improved aerodynamics in order to improve the drag. The conventional Focus has a LED eyebrow above the headlamp only for the European model, but Ford said that the North American Focus EV will also be available with this feature.

Moving on to the most important aspect of the car, the Focus EV will be powered by a 100-kilowatt electric motor that will have a 23-kWh battery which is capable of outputting 123 hp and a respectable torque of 181 pound-feet. Although the company didn't say anything about the official capable range of the car, they did mention the fact that it will be able to reach a top speed of 84 mph.  Some sources say that the car will be able to do about 100 miles on a single charge, just like the Nissan Leaf. According to Ford, a full charge will take about three hours using a 240-volt outlet and about 20 hours on a 120-volt outlet.

Ford Focus Electric

The most interesting aspect about the car is how the manufacturer will be able to make electric vehicle ownership a piece of cake. The wall-mounted two-piece charging stations will be available for purchase from Best Buy and the people over there will be responsible for install them. In addition, Ford developed the all-new MyFord Mobile application which allows the Focus EV owner to monitor and interact with the car at all times. Ford has formed an alliance with Microsoft for offering value charging, a new system that "allows our customers to reduce their electricity costs by taking advantage of off-peak or other reduced rates from their utility without a complicated set-up process."

The Ford Focus EV will be built together with the conventional Focus at the company's Michigan Assembly Plant, located in Wayne, Michigan.  Ford is at the moment thinking where will the European-spec Focus EV be built starting with 2013.

Getting back to the MyFord Mobile application, it will offer the owner of a Focus EV (and other future EV cars from Ford) the following data: info about the vehicle's status information; capability of performing key functions remotely; monitor the vehicle's state of charge as well as current range; get alerts when the vehicle should be charged or when the charging has finished and also the possibility to remotely program change settings and download the car's data for analysis.

Ford Focus Electric

As far as the batteries are concerned, Ford teamed up with supplier LG Chem in order to develop the advanced lithium-ion battery system that uses heated and cooled liquid in order to help maximize the life and fuel-free driving range. This active liquid system is capable of heating or chilling a coolant before pumping it through the system in charge of the battery cooling. This loop will be capable of regulating the temperature throughout the entire system against external conditions. During the hot days of the year, the chilled liquid will absorb the heat coming from the batteries and will disperse it with the help of a radiator, prior to pumping it through the chiller again. During the cold days, the heated liquid will warm the batteries and will bring the system temperature to a level in a gradual manner which will allow it to accept charge energy in an efficient way and will provide the necessary discharge power for expected car performance.

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New Details Of The Ford Focus Electric

Guide To Safe Driving During Winter – PART 3

Posted: 08 Jan 2011 12:26 AM PST

Winter Driving

In the first and second part of the article we talked about considering alternative transportation and how to prepare your ride for the snowy season. Also, we shared a few tips about how to drive on snowy and icy roads. In this third and final part of the article we are going to talk about emergency measures and what to do when you get stuck in the snow.

If your vehicle begins to slide, first you need to take your foot off the accelerator without hitting your brakes. For those of you driving a stick you should take your foot of the acceleration pedal, don't hit the brakes and fully depress the clutch pedal. You should steer into the direction that you want to go which in most cases is the same one with the direction of the skid. So, if the tail end of the car starts skidding to the right, you should turn the steering wheel to the right. The vehicle should start to self-correct if everything goes smooth. You need to accelerate in a gentle matter in order to get the wheels of the vehicle moving again and increase their traction. If you want to make a stop it is highly advisable to brake gently. It is best to avoid hitting the brakes hard because by doing so it will stop your wheels and will eliminate any traction that you have had.

For the cars equipped with antilock brakes, the brake pedal should be pressed gentle. There are very good chances that you will feel the brakes pulse, don't get scared as this is a very normal thing. For traditional brakes, you need to pump the brakes gently.

If you have the misfortune of ending up stuck on the side of the road or in a snowbank, it is advisable to press the acceleration pedal in a gentle matter in order to see if you can get free. Don't overdo it because if you hit the pedal very hard the wheels will most likely start spinning and you will remain in the exact same position as before.

If that doesn't work, now you can try rocking your way out. If the vehicle moved just a little bit, you should gently drive forward up to that point and after that release the acceleration pedal and hit the clutch (for those of you that have a manual gearbox), letting the vehicle slide back. With the risk of repeating ourselves, the idea behind this move is to nudge the vehicle back and forth by using a gentle touch of the acceleration pedal. Think of it like pushing on a swing. If you are lucky enough and you weren't badly stuck, in most cases you will make sufficient room in order to get enough speed to break out of the annoying snowbank. Whatever you do, it is best to avoid spinning the wheels of the car because by doing so, it will polish the packed snow under the car's wheels into ice. While rocking, you could very well steer by turning the vehicle to an angle opposite the snowbank.

If you haven't resolved the problem yet, you should put the vehicle in park, set the handbrake and get out of it in order to start digging the snow away from the vehicle's wheels and also under it if you think this is what stops you from going forward or backwards. In the first part of the article we mentioned the shovel, now would be a good time to use it as this is the only one that is able to get under the car and clear the snow. Don't try removing the snow with your hands, arms or any other body part, it is useless. The sand you hopefully packed should be placed under each wheel, especially on the drive wheels of the vehicle. For those of you that drive all-wheel drive cars or four-wheel drive, sand should be placed on each of the four wheels of the vehicle.

If all of the above don't work for your situation, try flagging down an incoming motorist or call a friend/member of the family who could arrange for a tow truck. Most likely they will try to help you by pushing your vehicle, but remember the following: In the front, by turning your wheels while spinning, the tires will throw stuff in the direction of the helper and in the back, a spun tire will throw stuff back, which again isn't a fortunate situation for the helper.

If you have the extra money to spare, you could increase your car insurance by adding towing coverage. Another idea would be to get an automobile club membership; the decision is up to you.

If you decide to stay close to your immobilized vehicle, avoid sitting in the front of it and try sitting in the back in order to let other motorists see you better and who knows, they might stop and give you a hand. In addition, if another motorist plows into the back end of your vehicle, we are certain that the last place where you would want to be is in the front of it.

As you can see, driving a car on snowy roads can get a little bit tricky if you don't take the necessary precaution measures. If something really happens when driving, like getting stuck in a snowbank, you should be aware of the fact that there are a couple of ways to get out, without having to call for a towing truck. With the risk of repeating the same thing all over again, do your best and don't press the acceleration pedal too much. It is highly advisable to drive slow and be very attentive at what is going on around you as the risk of getting in an accident is high in these difficult weather conditions. As they say, better safe than sorry. Good luck and safe driving, especially during the winter months of the year.

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Guide To Safe Driving During Winter – PART 3

Tesla Motors – Present & Future

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 06:43 AM PST

2012 Tesla S

First of all I would like to say that I find the Tesla S to be one of the most beautiful cars in the world, next to my personal favorite, the now archaic Peugeot 607. Tesla Motors became famous with the introduction of the Roadster which showed the world that the company is fully capable of designing a top-notch electric car. With the Model S, they showed us that they are able to come up with an extraordinary, almost perfect design. However, building the S model is somewhat problematic.

Tesla has already made three "alpha build" Model S cars and all of them were assembled at the company's headquarters in Palo Alto, sunny California. The bodies of the car were made by a supplier located in Michigan. In the months to come, the company will test the hell out of these cars to find out the good and bad parts of the subsystems and components. In the near future (hopefully), Tesla Motors will enter the "beta builds" stage by making the cars at its factory located in Fremont, California. The cars that will roll out of the factory will be most likely used for federal crash-testing and certification as well as for various additional tests and system integration.

Some people say that the entire fate of the company relies on the success or failure of the Model S. The officials at the company promised some time ago that the S will be able to offer a range of up to 300 miles. In addition, they said that the car will feature all the luxury of a BMW 7-series and space for seven passengers. Speaking of the interior cabin, I really doubt that seven people will fit in the car, maybe five adults and two midgets. Moving on, the company received $465 million from the United States Department of Energy for building the S model; we hope that the money were put to good use and the car will get the green light for production in the near future.

The Tesla S will feature an aluminum body and the company targets a curb weight of about 4,000 pounds, similar to the Audi A8, another all-aluminum model that is considered to be a benchmark for Tesla's car. Another promise made by the company regards the fact that the S will have the "best in class" aerodynamics from a body designed in-house with the help of Franz Von Holzhausen, the guy responsible for the beautiful Pontiac Solstice and for the bold Mazda Furai concept car. In addition, the aerodynamics of the car will be further tweaked by Robert Palin (ex Williams F1 driver) and Shaun Johnson (ex Ferrari driver).

2012 Tesla S

What we don't know about the S is the size of the battery pack, but taking into consideration that the Roadster sports a 53 kilowatt-hour unit, the S should have one just about the same. Although the new S model will be a lot more heavier than the Roadster, people over at Tesla Motors said that the two models will use just about the same amount of energy to cover a given distance. Most likely, the S will be capable of reaching the autonomy of the Roadster thanks to its efficient drivertain and superior aerodynamics.

Kurt Kelty, who is the director of Tesla's storage technologies, said that the car will get more performance out of the battery packs. The pack used for the Roadster offers an energy density of 120 watts-hour / kg that was boosted to more than 135 in the packs that Tesla made for the Smart Electric Drive prototypes.

As far as the suspension is concerned, it was designed by Huibert Mees, a man that worked on the legendary Ford GT and it is tuned by a Lotus employee, Malcolm Burgess. Tesla Motors decided to design its own suspension configuration, although they could have very well chosen to pass this responsibility to Toyota or Mercedes-Benz, companies that have a partnership with Tesla. In the front, the suspension consists of double control arms whereas in the back the S will be fitted with a multilink configuration. Basically all of the major and important components of the car were made in-house – bushings, steering knuckles, control arms and so on, all of them made out of cast and extruded aluminum. The company borrowed other components from big time suppliers like Bilstein, Bosch and Brembo.

2012 Tesla S

Thanks to the fact that all of the above mentioned major components will be placed under the car, the cabin will be more than spacious. According to Tesla, the S will have a trunk where the engine is installed on most cars and will feature an optional rear-facing third row jumpseat, offering the car room for seven people. The company promises to offer 29 cubic feet of cargo space which should be more than enough for most of us.

In addition to all of these goodies, the S promises to be "a driver's car". Officials at Tesla said that their new car will offer the best handling capabilities in its class, better than what Lexus, Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are offering in the segment. We are very eager to find out if this statement will come to life. But in order to find this one out, Tesla needs to make the car, a production model not an alpha/beta one.

Sources say that the S will enter the production line next year, but the company still needs to finish the car, equip the factory and train the employees. Automotive experts are a little bit concerned regarding the bold 2012 target, although Tesla does not have any problems with money or talent. Basically we will have to wait and see when the car will be launched and if it will stand a chance against the electric 7-Series from BMW which has a starting price of $70,650. The S model will have a base price tag of $57,400 which is very attractive in my opinion.

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Tesla Motors – Present & Future

Guide To Safe Driving During Winter – PART 2

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 05:55 AM PST

Winter Driving

If you haven't read the first part of our article now would be a good time to do it. If you are planning to take out the car during winter and you obviously will otherwise you wouldn't read this article, top off the windshield-wiper fluid and replace it with de-icing fluid which will protect your windshield even at temperatures below -30 degrees Celsius.  Some people recommend that the gas tank of the car should be filled as this extra weight will offer additional traction especially on slippery roads. The full tank gas will also come in handy if you get stuck somewhere and you will definitely want to keep the car running to provide the necessary heat. Check the tires before taking the car and fill them to the recommended PSI level. If the pressure is low, it will lower the car's reaction to steering.

If you happen to live in an area where you rarely need studded snow tires, you might as well mount normal tires with chains in advance of the snow storm. Try to get some cheap steel rims from a salvage yard or any other place where you can get them and purchase also two used tires to match, make sure they fit the wheel! Once you got the tires, chain them up. Go to a tire shop so that the guys over there will remove the excess chain links. After that, inflate the tires you've got to the recommended PSI level. Drive slowly and carefully on these chained tires in order to minimize the risk of broken cross-links.

The vast majority of the new chain models can be fitted on the car even if you are already stuck in a pile of snow as you won't need to remove the wheel or drive on them. It is advisable to practice mounting them on a dry environment and warm weather to get the hang of it. For people living outside the US, with other words, people that use a manual gearbox, it is highly recommended to park the vehicle in reverse of first gear, not on the handbrake as the brake has the tendency to freeze up and on brined roads it tends to rust stuck. If the brake of your car gets stuck because of frost or rust, gently tap it by using a hammer, don't overdo it! If this won't work, try to find the car's parking brake cable housing and give it a yank or two, this should do it.

Once you get down the road make sure that you wear your seatbelt at all times and take it easy. When driving on difficult snowy roads, it is crucial to move slowly and be very attentive at what is going on around you. One of the most important causes of accidents during winter is high speed. For this reason, it is recommended to accelerate and brake in a gentle manner and evenly. Try to look ahead of obstacles, intersections and turns before you encounter them. Avoid making sudden movements which will most likely cause your vehicle to lose traction and fishtail or slide.

The lights of the car should be on at all times. Most of the new models (2009 and forward) are equipped as standard with DRL – day-time running lights, which are very useful during the day, improving the driver's visibility. The high beam lights should be used only during the night for extended vision when necessary. Once a vehicle approaches, dim them immediately.

Especially on downhills, it is advisable to downshift if you want to decelerate, instead of using the car's brakes. When climbing up a hill, use a low gear to have more power. When you are downshifting be very attentive because if you have too much speed and shift into an inferior gear, the transmission will force the wheels to skid some while the wheel-speed will reduce in order to match the gear ratio. In order to avoid this situation it is advisable to release the clutch in a slowly and gentle matter.

Be very attentive on those roads that are more apt to be icy, like on lightly-traveled roads and especially when you are crossing bridges. While you are driving and you happen to notice a truck that is dumping salt on the road, it is best to not overtake it and stay well back from the equipment. It is best to use a higher gear if possible and shift in a smooth matter with low rpms. If possible, set your automatic transmission in the winter-setting mode. Some people say that the best gear to drive off the car is the second one, give it a try.

If you have a front-wheel drive car and you use chains make sure that you are very careful when decelerating. The vehicle will have the tendency to break out from the back due to the fact that the braking force on the front wheels is considerably bigger in comparison to the one for the back wheels. A standard modern car is most likely equipped with ABS – anti-lock braking system and drive stability systems like ESP – electronic stability program, which work like a charm during these harsh conditions. This anti-spin control system should be turned off in special occasions when it detects wheel spin and will refuse to give power to the car's drive wheels.

If the car starts to slide it is advisable to avoid hitting the brake. You should however take the foot off the accelerator pedal and if you are driving a car with a manual gearbox, fully depress the clutch pedal, without hitting the brakes. You should steer the vehicle in the direction you plan on going. In most cases, this is the direction of the skid so if the tail end of your car is skidding left, steer left.

Join us tomorrow for the third and final part of our article where we will be offering useful info for when you get stuck on the road.

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Guide To Safe Driving During Winter – PART 2

In Depth – 2011 Subaru Forester

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 05:54 AM PST

2011 Subaru Forester

Subaru sure took their time in updating their powertrain lineup in the last two decades, a period where most of the manufacturers focused their attention in implementing the newest technologies for squeezing every last bit of energy from every drop of gasoline. Subaru's parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries recently revealed the 3rd generation of the boxer engine, a power unit aimed to keep the pace with the emissions and fuel economy standards that get tighter day by day.

Giving the new engine a quick look, you will say that nothing has really changed as the 3rd generation offers basically the same horsepower, fuel economy figures as the old one. Unlike other rivals that invested plenty of money in direct-injection systems, Subaru decided to skip this technology entirely. The question is: what are the new improvements of this engine? What most of you don't know is that Subaru invested plenty of money in opening a new factory, especially for the 3rd generation of this engine. To see what the new power unit is capable of we need to have a closer look at the 2011 Forester model.

The 3rd generation of the Forester was launched back in 2008 and it still looks quite fresh, at least in our humble opinion. Nothing has really changed if we put the 2010 and 2011 models head-to-head but the car still looks quite good for a CUV. In the front, the swept headlights along with the grille come together in order to create a rather cohesive look that will most likely draw you eye down the side of the car. The SUV flavor is more accentuated thanks to the boxy side-view mirrors along with the flared fenders and large insets for the fog lights.

2011 Subaru Forester

Moving inside the car, the feeling of old-new is there, with the same well-grained plastics that do a pretty decent job, but the entire cabin could have been a little bit colored and cheerful. The driver will enjoy the well-sorted steering wheel of the Forester, a wheel that has controls for stereo, hands-free calling and cruise within the reach of the driver. Although the gauges are quite plain, they can be easily read both during day and night. By having a quick look at the cabin you will find that everything is in order, except the position of the switches for the heated seats which are installed under the car's arm rest on the driver's side of the cupholder. It goes without saying that passengers have literally no chance of finding them without browsing the instruction manual. It would have been wise to place them somewhere near the center where they could have been accessed more easily.

Although the new engine has just about the same figures as the old one, it is indeed an upgrade because the old one had a belt-driven, single-overhead design whereas the new one comes with a more modern chain-driven dual-overhead cam configuration, making it more efficient. Thanks to this upgrade, the car is now one mpg in the city more efficient according to the EPA ratings. In comparison to the old engine, the new one has a larger bore and a longer stroke as the tweaking displacement has grown from 2,457cc to 2,498cc which means that the 2011 Forester is capable of offering an additional four pound-feet of torque at 300 rpm sooner than the old powertrain.

Although the engine has received some minor yet well-deserved updates and improvements, it still is linked to the same old 4-speed automatic gearbox, making this configuration quite similar to what we were used to in the previous generations of the Forester.  The new engine is however more smooth and considerably more quiet than the last generation.

2011 Subaru Forester

The 2011 Subaru Forester still is a great car to drive despite its cons in the engine and gearbox department. The new model is very well capable of offering terrific driving dynamics, mostly because it borrowed a couple of things from the very popular WRX.

The starting price of the 2011 Subaru Forester 2.5X Premium is $23,495. For an optional package that will set you back $1,095, you get windshield wiper de-icer, heated front seats (with the annoying controls) and a useful TomTom navigation system. If you want the very outdated automatic gearbox you will have to pay another $1,000. Don't forget about the destination charge which is $725. Add all these and draw the line, you will notice the price tag is not very affordable, standing at $26,315.

In the opinion of many, getting the car with that archaic 4-speed gearbox would be a terrible thing to do. It is best to get the 5-speed manual transmission or wait until Subaru launches a proper modern automatic gearbox. If you are looking for a CUV that offers plenty of cargo room and a lot of space for the passengers, the 2011 Forester is a viable solution to your requirements despite its flaws.

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In Depth – 2011 Subaru Forester

Renault fears industrial espionage

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 05:12 AM PST


The next few years we’ll certainly see a great interest about electric cars and the automakers are on a wild race to launch new models and new technologies. Of course, in this high stake affair, egos and technological advancement are two elements that will, sooner or later, collide. We have a concrete situation to depict this situation: at Renault 3 executives were suspended (including the vice president of advanced engineering) after a long lasting investigation in which they are accused of exposing company assets.
The entire affair was portrayed as “serious” and with the potential to trigger "economic warfare" by a French government minister. Eric Besson, the French minister for industry, is concerned with the risk that industrial espionage poses to French companies.
We’re waiting for further information on the matter, but we think this may be the beginning of a serious problem within the auto industry, like it’s not enough that there are a lot of problems it’s facing form the outside. The last thing it needs is an inside dispute.

Source: Autocar.co.uk.

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Renault fears industrial espionage

Review – Hurst Hemi Challenger Series 5

Posted: 07 Jan 2011 05:07 AM PST

Hurst Hemi Challenger Series 5

The Challenger is considered by many as one of the greatest muscle cars in the world, but what does it happen to it if it gets the Hurst treatment? Simple, it gets better. The standard version itself is a true-core muscle car, but by making it even meaner, louder and lower, the result is simply outstanding.

The primary target of the Hurst Challenger is to keep the philosophy of the original car and instead of messing it up; they enhanced the car's gentleman hotrod core. The pre-production model had a rear spoiler that stuck up similar to a duck's tail. Luckily, this isn't a problem anymore as the retail version simply extends back flat from the Challenger's decklid. In addition, the "Hurst" badge is now history. The car is fitted with massive 20-inch wheels covered by BFG KDW tires, which give the car a very masculine look.

Hurst Hemi Challenger Series 5

Both the white and black versions are equipped with a very powerful 527 hp HEMI engine that has a massive torque of 528 lb-ft. Fitted with an automatic gearbox you simply just have to get in the car, start it and push the pedal to the medal for the ride of your life. Of course, this car was not designed for your daily commute; you would be better off with a BMW 5-Series or other similar cars. The centrifugal Vortex supercharger kicks in similar to a traditional turbo and adds more boost in a progressive matter – the more power you need, the more it will give you, simple as that.

If you leave the driving aids on while you start off in first gear, you will get very accustomed to the traction control lights, if you know what I mean. For pure fun and excitement, turn off all the driving aids and enjoy the raw power of this monster., but be careful as the level of power this has to offer is out of this world.  As far as the suspension is concerned, the Hurst Hemi Challenger Series 5 comes with a high-performance Eibach kit which is fully capable of keeping the vehicle's weight and mass in check, maintaining it even through turns and steady for those side-to-side inputs.

Hurst Hemi Challenger Series 5

It would be a very bad move to consider this a sports car as it isn't. Although it is a highly tuned car it still is a proper "Challenger", which should be able to tell you about the purpose of it and what it is capable of doing. Think of this Hurst Challenger as a toned-down Dodge Viper that has rear seats and a decent trunk, without losing any of the performance of the legendary car. This is the ultimate gentleman's hot rod and one of the most frightening cars that were ever produced in the US of A.

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Review – Hurst Hemi Challenger Series 5