Friday, April 16, 2010

RPMGO.com (former Auto Unleashed)

RPMGO.com (former Auto Unleashed)


Video: Formula 1 driver Sebastien Buemi loses front wheels in 200 mph crash

Posted: 16 Apr 2010 02:30 AM PDT

Video: Formula 1 driver Sebastien Buemi loses front wheels in 200 mph crash

Formula 1 is getting ready for the start of the Chinese GP this weekend and the first practice laps are already being recorded at the Shanghai circuit.

Today’s session was, however, remembered for a dramatic incident involving Scuderia Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Buemi, who was involved in a dramatic crash. The pilot, who recorded poor times during the session, was heading into the last 10 minutes of free practice when his two front wheels both came off the car.

It seems that a faulty upright in the front of his car caused a huge strain on the front wheels, eventually resulting in the rupture of their supports. The Toro Rosso driver escaped unharmed but is still a bit shaken by the crash. His teammate, Jaime Alguersuari immediately entered the pits in order to prevent another crash.

Hit the jump to see the dramatic video of how Sebastien Buemi lost his wheels in a 200 mph crash at the Chinese GP.

Source: BBC Sport and Top Gear

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Video: Formula 1 driver Sebastien Buemi loses front wheels in 200 mph crash

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It’s not turbo lag, it’s foreplay

Posted: 16 Apr 2010 02:19 AM PDT

Summer is almost here and you need some good lines to get some attention from the lovely ladies, right? You know honking your horn at them in the middle of the street won't work. So why don’t you be the nice guy with the funny shirt, that gets asked questions like "What's turbo lag?". Then you can show her your car and let her know what turbo lag actually feels like so she can be mentally prepared for whatever may come next. ;) The same goes for the lovely ladies who like men which can appreciate proper throttle.

Car maniacs shop at the RevvNation store! Really, they do. :) And you know you want to do it too. (There, I made a poem. :) ) )

Post published on Rpmgo.com

It’s not turbo lag, it’s foreplay

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2011 Audi A8 L offers 500 HP 6.3-liter W12 in a luxury package

Posted: 16 Apr 2010 02:14 AM PDT

2011 Audi A8 L packs 500 HP 6.3-liter W12 in a luxury package

Last year’s premiere of the 2011 Audi A8 flagship limousine impressed a lot of people, but still had a few nay-sayers. With the premiere of the 2011 Audi A8 L long wheelbase variant, that is certainly going to change, as the Ingolstadt manufacturer is packing a huge amount of power in a complete luxury offer.

First off, let’s start with the premium features. The limousine now measures 17.28 feet (5.2 meters), half a foot longer than the regular A8. This allowed the German carmaker to throw in the luxury features like nobody’s business. The rear of the A8 is now decked out in premium leather while the two rear seats are heated and cooled, can be adjusted in almost every imaginable way and employ ten air bladders to massage their occupants.

Further highlighting the space available in the rear, there’s even a folding ottoman seat, just in case you want to show off to your rich friends. There’s the standard four-zone climate control, but it can now be adjusted with the help of no less than 25 separate motors. The center tunnel can accommodate anything from a standard table to a refrigerator and anything in between. It also helps you control the 1,400-watt 19 speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system or enjoy a video on the two 10.2-inch LCD displays.

The 2011 Audi A8 L will still give you quite a few reasons to replace your chauffeur, as it boasts a massive 6.3-liter W12 engine under the bonnet. It outputs 500 HP and 461 lb-ft of torque, and pushes it through an eight-speed automatic to all the four wheels, thanks to the quattro AWD system. Its power translates in a 0 to 62 mph time of 4.9 seconds and an electronically-limited 155 mph top speed.

The Audi A8 L long wheelbase will be revealed in Beijing next week and appear on the market this summer. Until then, check out the luxury limousine in the photo gallery below.

Photo Gallery: 2011 Audi A8 L

2011 Audi A8 L2011 Audi A8 L2011 Audi A8 L2011 Audi A8 L

2011 Audi A8 L2011 Audi A8 L2011 Audi A8 L2011 Audi A8 L

Source: Audi

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2011 Audi A8 L offers 500 HP 6.3-liter W12 in a luxury package

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Video: Ferrari 599 GTO presented in Italy, all sold out

Posted: 16 Apr 2010 01:46 AM PDT

Video: Ferrari 599 GTO presented in Italy, all sold out

The Ferrari 599 GTO has been eagerly awaited by the fans of the Italian carmaker, partly because it resurrects the famous GTO badge and partly because it is the fastest road-going Ferrari the company ever made.

After officially unveiling the model a few weeks ago and before it will take it to the Beijing Motor Show, the Italian carmaker saw fit to celebrate the 599 GTO and booked Modena’s Ducal Palace military academy to officially show off the car.

Besides military officials, Ferrari executives from the chairman, Luca di Montezemolo, to its vice-chairman and Enzo Ferrari’s son, Pierro, or the CEO, Amedeo Felisa, were also present to commemorate one of their most impressive works. Alongside them, 500 other privileged customers drooled over the 599 GTO.

As such, it comes as no surprise that even without a concrete asking price, all (!) of the 599 models have already been accounted for by people with deep pockets. This means you’ll only get to see it at the various shows the Italian company wants to bring it.

In order to please those who didn’t get a chance to order one, a video presentation of the Ferrari 599 GTO has been added after the jump.

Source: Ferrari

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Video: Ferrari 599 GTO presented in Italy, all sold out

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Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C ready for rallying

Posted: 16 Apr 2010 01:30 AM PDT

Subaru unveils Impreza WRX STI Spec C rally homologation special

Subaru folded from the World Rally Championship, but it still understands that private teams want to have a go with the Impreza WRX STI at least in the Group N category.

That’s why the Japanese company has unleashed the Impreza WRX STI Spec C model, a homologation special which has been lightened, toughened and prepped for anything rally competitions can throw at it. While the power levels from the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine are still at 304 HP and 311 lb-ft of torque, the engineers threw in a new, faster twin-scroll turbocharger, as well as a reprogrammed ECU that boosts mid-range thrust for the Japanese model.

While it may not seem as much, 66 lbs (35 kg) have been shaved from the Spec C, while the chassis will be stiffened according to customer specifications, at anything between 15 or 30% more than the regular WRX STI. Rigidity has also been increased thanks to a thicker anti-roll bar and other additions.

Overall, if you’re serious about racing/rallying an Impreza WRX STI Spec C, then this is just for you. Sadly, as of yet, the Spec C is only available in Japan.

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Subaru Impreza WRX STI Spec C ready for rallying

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Race-spec Ford Mustang GT3 is ready to take on Europe

Posted: 16 Apr 2010 01:11 AM PDT

Race-spec Ford Mustang GT3 is ready to take on Europe

The FIA GT3 racing championship offers quite a lot of thrills, not only through its races but also through the multitude of great models that are battling one another in the championship.

Now, Ford is keen to enter the fray, and with the help of a Canadian-Belgian partnership, will race a GT3-spec Mustang in the European competition. The car has been modified by the Canadians at Multimatic and will be raced by the Belgians at Marc VDS Racing Team.

Race-spec Ford Mustang GT3 is ready to take on Europe

As you can imagine, the pilots that will be handling the racing ‘Stangs will be Belgian Eric De Doncker and Canadian Scott Maxwell. Currently the model is being tested at Ford’s Bedfordshire track where its 5.3-liter V8 is being honed to output 560 HP.

The 2010 season of the FIA GT3 racing championship will start on May 2 at Silverstone. De Doncker and Maxwell will race the #98 Ford Mustang Marc VDS GT3, while the racers for the #99 ‘Stang have yet to be announced.

Source: Marc VDS Racing Team via Autoblog

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Race-spec Ford Mustang GT3 is ready to take on Europe

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Toyota may have found fix for Lexus GX460 drifting, NHTSA opens investigation

Posted: 16 Apr 2010 12:37 AM PDT

Toyota may have found fix for Lexus GX460 drifting, NHTSA opens investigation

Toyota has been taking the tail-happy Lexus GX460 quite seriously, after Consumer Reports said that the luxury SUV is dangerous to drive because of its faulty traction control, that results in the big truck going out of control.

After just a few days since the news broke out, Japan’s Nikkei newspaper already reports that the engineers at Toyota may have already found a fix for the drifting Lexus. It seems a reflash of the SUV’s ECU, alongside “other changes” are enough to keep the GX460 from sliding all over the place if you take your foot off the throttle mid-corner.

Still, the NHTSA has already revealed that it is inspecting the specific 2010 Lexus GX460 model tested out by Consumer Reports and will showcase its findings soon. As of yet, there’s no word if the 2010 model year GX460 models are going to be recalled, but it’s quite likely.

Source: TTAC and The Detroit News

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Toyota may have found fix for Lexus GX460 drifting, NHTSA opens investigation

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BMW adds xDrive AWD to 5 Series GT

Posted: 16 Apr 2010 12:25 AM PDT

BMW adds xDrive AWD to 5 Series GT

BMW is still quite confident in its 5 Series Gran Turismo (GT) model, and has just announced that it will be adding its xDrive all-wheel drive system to the crossover-ish model.

The new technology will be on display at the upcoming Beijing Motor Show and will slowly appear in all of the major markets, including Asia, Europe and North America. The first versions that will be getting AWD will be the 550i and the 530d GT editions, this June.

After that, BMW will also throw xDrive in the 535i and the 535d version of its 5 Series Gran Turismo in September, this year. While it’s at it, the company also said that xDrive is going to appear for the 740d 7 Series by the end of the year.

Source: BMW

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BMW adds xDrive AWD to 5 Series GT

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Formula 1 might see the return of turbocharged engines

Posted: 16 Apr 2010 12:06 AM PDT

Formula 1 might see the return of turbocharged engines

Turbochargers are definitely one of the easiest ways to increase the power of an engine while keeping emissions around the same level as before. As you can imagine, the most technological headway made into their research appeared when Formula 1 teams used them in the 1980s.

Their use was promptly banned by the FIA, as cars were producing in excess of 1,000 HP and reached dizzying speeds that proved a challenge for even the most talented drivers. Now, the F1 governing body might be keen on going back and once again allowing the use of turbochargers in races.

Why? Because it will promote fuel efficiency and lower emissions. Also, in order to further help this initiative, the KERS systems might be making a comeback next year, after its lackluster debut in the 2009 season.

Bear in mind this is just a rumor for the moment, but seeing as how the FIA wants to get more fans interested in Formula 1 and to get other companies like Volkswagen or Michelin to partner up, this decision would definitely make sense.

Source: PitPass

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Formula 1 might see the return of turbocharged engines

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GM goes to church for first Ride and Drive event

Posted: 15 Apr 2010 11:47 PM PDT

GM goes to church for first Ride and Drive event

GM, alongside its Minority Suppliers and Dealers, will be starting new Ride and Drive events around the Detroit area, in order to show people how improved the new car lineups are and, hopefully, get back some of its lost reputation.

So, what’s the first ideal location for such a car event? A church, naturally. The Hartford Memorial Baptist Church will be hosting, after the Sunday sermon on April 18, the first GM Ride and Drive event, where people will get a chance to experience the new cars made by the General.

“Minority suppliers play an important role in the automotive industry by providing complex and sophisticated goods & services,” says Leon C. Richardson, President of ChemicoMays, recently named a 2009 GM Supplier of the Year. “We also play an intricate role in our community by providing employment opportunities, academic scholarships, and leadership development. General Motors also believes in community outreach and the Hartford Memorial Baptist Church 2010 GM Ride & Drive will allow consumers to directly experience how corporations, minority suppliers, dealers and the community are all tied together.”

GM is going to show off a variety of vehicles, including the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. Also, child car seat specialists are going to be present and give free demonstrations of how these devices need to be set up in the car. For those who’ll be really impressed, representatives from banks and financial consultants are going to attend the event and help those who want to buy a new GM car.

Overall, a pretty novel idea which, if all goes well, might earn some big points for GM in the public eye. What do you think? Is GM’s church-going nature going to clear a path in its way to resurrection?

Source: Hartford Memorial Baptist Church

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GM goes to church for first Ride and Drive event

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