Suzuki SX4-FCV

The SX4-FCV, a fuel cell based car using US General Motors fuel cell technology finally got final approval from the Japanese government.

As a reminder, the SX4-FCV specifications are:
- 5 Seat capacity
- 4.190x1.730.1585mm
- 2.500 mm wheelbase
- Fuel-Cell output = 80kW
- Motor output = 68kW
- 70MPa high-pressure hydrogen tank
- Fuel type = High pressure hydrogen
- Maximum Speed 150km/h
- Range = 250km.


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Top Gear: Ferrari Scuderia F430

It has a silly name. This is the only flaw that Jeremy Clarkson at the conturbante Scuderia F430. You open it with proof of the beast of Maranello the eleventh season of fun BBC programmed dedicated to engines. The dear JC is simply enchanted, and secondly the renowned British journalist, the Scuderia is designed simply half with a purpose: to be fast so surprising.

All that revolves around the mechanics and its aerodynamics is designed expressly to meet this requirement. The change is faster than a beat of eyelashes study aerodynamic Ferrari reiterates the magnificence of down force genera bile once more. How to say, more via fast, the car will happily crushing ground ensuring a grip enormous.

According to Clarkson the Scuderia is the perfect synthesis of how each Ferrari should be, and its engine, its exchange and its exciting sound still leaves room for a character from tigre inferocita: perfect in the hands right but ready to bite when detached whole massive electronic, the pilot mistaken. At the end of proof Jeremy can only say that it had no words to describe how this makes him happy Ferrari. The test ends with the classic lap on the track made by the legendary Stig that detaches an exceptional time on the test track of Top Gear but that still fails to match the time recorded with the Enzo. Although on the Scuderia Ferrari circuit has recorded times below even the legendary V12 from 660cv.

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Interest rates on local car loans may be lowered

Interest rates on car loans, especially for non-national cars, are expected to go up next month while those for national cars such as Proton and Perodua will be reduced slightly.
Banking and automotive sources said banks are expected to fix the interest rates at 3.5 per cent.It is understood that Maybank, AmBank, CIMB and Public Bank top officials met last week on the move.Together, these four banks control 70 per cent of the car hire-purchase segment of the banking business.

Sources said the move was aimed at standardising the interest rates, which were currently in favour of the non-national cars.
Banks are now offering loans with an interest rate of 2.5 per cent for non-national cars and between 3.8 per cent and four per cent for national cars, namely Proton and Perodua models.

Several car distributors and dealers told the New Straits Times that they have heard the news, but had yet to be notified by the banks. A car dealer handling both national and non-national cars said the interest rates on the national cars, the bulk of which were market-entry level cars affordable among the low-income earners, were higher because "the risk of loan defaulters are higher".

"Banks are basing it on statistics.

"They see that the non-performing loans are higher for loans given for national cars," the source said.

Meanwhile, Association of Finance Companies of Malaysia chairman Tan Sri Tay Ah Lek said the interest rates for car loans depended on a number of factors such as the tenure of the loans, type of car being financed and the customer's risk profile.

He said the prevailing low interest rates for car loans were partly due to the subsidy by car dealers to sell more cars.

In light of the rising long-term rates, banks would need to review their present interest rates for car loans.

Tay said the decision to raise interest rates on car loans, if any, would be made by the individual institutions.

"As of now, the association is not aware of any decision by any financial institutions raising their interest rates on car loans next week."

One non-national car dealer said the higher rates would have an impact on sales, but the effect would be across the board.


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The new Mercedes-Benz E listed in March next year

Recently, Beijing Benz - DaimlerChrysler Automotive Ltd., general manager of sales and marketing Lihong Peng in an interview that the whole new generation of Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedans will be released worldwide in March next year. At present North Ben - DaimlerChrysler-made Mercedes-Benz E-Class is launched in 02 of the fourth generation Mercedes-Benz models, chassis number W211. 7 years in accordance with the Mercedes-Benz models and updating laws, chassis number for the whole new generation of Mercedes-Benz W212 E-Class sedans will be available next year reasonable.

Through the new C-Class Mercedes-Benz cars worldwide in March last year and March this year, the first officially went into operation in the domestic law, we can see that the whole new generation of Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedans China has also entered the countdown. Through the spy as analytical, to join us in our understanding of the new fifth-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedans and the sales of Mercedes-Benz E in the end what is the difference.

The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Mercedes-Benz still maintained a stable feature of the elegant, than in the sale of fourth-generation E-Class even more dynamic. In the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedans on the signs of "four" headlamps design will be cancelled, the former Bianchang fog lights from the LED lamps replace the existing circular design.

Through the car hood and side panels of the front wing joints from the front wheel arch and began running through the door handles curved edges can be seen, the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedans and the new C-class in the language of interoperability. The new Mercedes-Benz E-class sedan not only more fashionable appearance, but will also increase the body length of 7 cm. So, the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedans in the internal space will also be more spacious.

In the dynamic allocation, the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedans will be equipped with gasoline and diesel engines. One petrol engine for the output power of 137 kilowatts and 406 kilowatts of inline 4-cylinder and V8 gasoline engine. And the power output of diesel engines for the 101 kilowatts and 264 kilowatts of the four-cylinder engine and V8 engines. In addition, in 2010 about the new Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedans will also carry hybrid engine.

Through the spy as described above, you believe that the new fifth-generation Mercedes-Benz E-Class has a certain understanding. Its shape a more dynamic tends to fashion, and the longer the body seems to be tailored for the Chinese people. For the full new generation of Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedans will bring us those surprises, I believe that with the approaching date of its listing, the answer will be announced on January 1.


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The ADAC analyzes the anti-overturn protection of the C3 Pluriel, MINI Cabrio and 207 CC

The Automobile Club of Germany, ADAC, in collaboration with RAC (Spain), RACC (Spain), Motormannen (Sweden), ÖAMTC (Austria) and TCB (Belgium) has published a comparative safety of anti-overturn cabriolets based utility segment B . The Peugeot 207 CC got the highest score, but in terms of protecting the rear passengers.

The sensor monitors anti-overturn if the car is starting a turnaround, if that happens, the arches are deployed security with a pyrotechnic device. In just 175 milliseconds (which leads tabs) 20 centimeters are deployed to protect the head of the occupants.

However, the A pillar was not so tough and hence the current BMW MINI Cabrio (the new evidence is) gave a better result. The Peugeot 207 CC has the advantage over the German in which anti-overturn their bows and assets are not fixed, the MINI Cabrio are effective only with height less than 1.75 meters.

The third model analyzed, the Citroen C3 Pluriel, had the worst result in protecting the front and rear occupants.


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Chrysler First Hybrid Model

Chrysler’s first hybrid models, the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen SUVs, are about to go on sale but they could soon be followed by even more petrol-electric models in many different segments. The technology could quickly and easily be adapted to more models and is likely to filter into Chrysler’s RWD sedan range next.

“These are our first hybrids, but they are not going to be our last,” Michael Berube, a senior manager for Chrysler brand marketing, told reporters from The Detroit News this week. “In the future, hybrid and another fuel-saving technology will come in all sizes, shapes and colors.”

These latest comments reflect previous claims from Chrysler President Jim Press, who back in March revealed his desire to make every model available with a hybrid option.

Next year will see the launch of a hybrid version of the Dodge Ram pickup truck but after that the hybrid system will likely filter across to the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger sedans. The two-mode hybrid system, developed jointly with GM, BMW and Daimler, is designed primarily for RWD models but Chrysler’s hybrid powertrain chief engineer, Glenn Denomme, says the technology could easily be adapted to FWD models as well.

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Nissan Infiniti coupe

Nissan is currently developing the heir of the 350Z, provisionally called 370Z, but the plans for the sports category medium-high do not stop here, because even the Infiniti something bubbles in the pot.

The premium brand part of the giant Franco-Japanese fact, has in store a coupè that share the mechanics with the less noble (but not least hold) and Nissan will have a look yet enigmatic, early in this first teaser rather indecipherable.

A source Nissan has confirmed that the concept car will arrive within the next 12 months, and that the model series will mount a "small" 2.5 V6, not going to interfere in the territory of hunting G37 coupè. Its size will approach those of a Mercedes SLK and its attitude will be less exasperating the next 370Z, in accordance with the legacy of elegance and driving smoothness of the mark.

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Mazda Hybrid on Public Road Test

Mazda announced today the Japanese government allowed the manufacturer to start testing its Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid minivan on public roads. The automaker hopes to complete the tests and offer the Mazda5-based hybrid as a commercial lease in the 2008 fiscal year. On hydrogen, the rotary-powered hybrid has a fuel range of 125 miles, while power is increased by 40 percent, now at 147 horsepower.

The Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid uses a dual-fuel system, which allows drivers to switch between hydrogen or gasoline power at the push of a button. Mazda claims this is the first hydrogen hybrid that allows such flexibility. The electric motor, meanwhile, gets power from lithium ion batteries, and the advanced powertrain was taken directly from the RX-8 Hydrogen RE, which was the first commercially available hydrogen hybrid when it debuted in 2006.

Both hybrids will be demonstrated at the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit in Japan next month. By approving the public road tests, Japan’s Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport marked another milestone in Mazda’s long-standing history of hybrid development, dating back to 1991.

To further cement its green image, Mazda will use its Biotechmaterials for interior trim and seating surfaces.

“We are committed to improving the performance of our hydrogen rotary engine vehicles to help promote a more eco-friendly place for the automobile in society,” said Akihiro Kashiwagi, Mazda’s program manager in charge of hydrogen RE development.




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Electric Smart ForTwo in 3 years

Smart will use the Mercedes A-Class’ unusual chassis as a shortcut to a two-model full-electric car range inside three years. While the first electric car from Smart will come in the form of a modified ForTwo, a larger vehicle based on the Mercedes platform (and similar to the now defunct ForFour) is also in the cards.

Mercedes insists Smart will be one of the first carmakers to use breakthrough Lithium-Ion battery technology to boost its full-electric recharge range. It has had a fleet of 100 electric Smarts roaming London’s streets for a year and is committed to a full-electric two-seater within the life of the current generation Smart fortwo.

“We will have a Lithium-Ion car on sale during the current life-cycle of the Smart. It will get the lithium battery in full electric in large numbers,” the Director of Mercedes-Benz’s Research and Development Group, Dr Thomas Weber, admitted during a technology forum in Seville, Spain, earlier this month.

“The battery is the key. Lithium-ion technology offers advantages that others haven’t mastered, and we have 25 patents on it.”

“But production will be a step-by-step approach for Smart. The next step should be a production run of above 1000 but below 10,000 cars, but internally we are a little bit more precise,” he said.

A-Class-based electric Smarts?

Senior Mercedes management has hinted that the electric ForTwo will be followed up by a four- or five-seater, based on the A-Class.

While both generations of A-Class have had only petrol or diesel engines, both use an expensive, space-limiting sandwich floor construction, originally conceived to carry either a bolt-in fuel cell or an electric battery pack.

While the next-generation A-Class won’t use this platform, future Smart models might.

“On the market today there is no better architecture for electric cars than the A- and B-class and we won’t waste that,” explained Weber.

“If there is a need for pure zero-emission vehicles, if the time comes for a zero-emission vehicle to be a stand-alone car then with this architecture, Smart is in much better shape for this than any of our competitors.”

And, while Smart last year ceased production of its sporty coupe and Mitsubishi-built ForFour, Daimler management believes the oil-price crisis has brought the market back to a frugal, city-focused mini car range.

“I believe we are on the border of a great new definition for personal mobility,” he said.


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Nissan GT-R Race Academy

As if being on the waiting list to receive the all-new 2009 GT-R wasn’t enough to make us jealous, Nissan has now launched the ‘Race Academy’ for GT-R pre-order customers that could lead to them obtaining a full racing licence. In particular, UK GT-R customers will be offered the opportunity to participate in Race Academy events at Silverstone or at the Nürburgring race track in Germany.

The events will take place during August and September with customers having the unique opportunity to get up close and personal with the 2009 GT-R, long before taking delivery of their own vehicle. The track day experience will include a one-on-one tuition and over 45 minutes behind the wheel of the GT-R, while there will also be the opportunity to learn how to ‘drift’ in a Nissan 350Z.

Stephane Cottin, Vice President, Marketing for Nissan in Europe, said: "All of us at Nissan who have been working on the launch of this fantastic car want to provide a customer experience for GT-R customers which reflect the passion they have for GT-R, a passion which is matched by our own. It's important to us that GT-R customers enjoy everything about the car - and these customer events will give customers the opportunity to fully enjoy the GT-R's capabilities on a track, while they await delivery of their car

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Honda NSX Prototype Spy Photo

After much chatter on the return of Honda NSX, legendary Japanese sport born in the early 90's, arriving here is the first spy photos.The shots depict a prototype of the future of the sport during testing at Nürburgring. Of course, it is still early to talk about line, but at least at first sight one can speak of a compact collection and aggressive (very original terminals exhaust), which could be marketed under the Acura brand.

If this news, by early Dutch AutoWeek, were to prove true, would mean that even Honda has decided, after Toyota (Lexus) and Nissan (Infiniti), to land in the Old Continent with its luxury brand, though not the first 2010.








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PSA Peugeot Citroen and Mitsubishi cooperate electric vehicle

PSA Peugeot Citroen and Mitsubishi are extending their cooperation in the field of electric vehicles. The two companies announced today that they will be working together on the development, the manufacture and the use of an electric powertrain for small urban vehicles. In a joint statement, the companies said that this agreement will step up the viability of electric vehicle projects and accelerate their market introduction.

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Crude Oil Price Hit Near to $140 per barrel

The price of crude oil has hit a new high of close to $140 a barrel in New York trade, despite Saudi Arabia agreeing to increase output in July.US light crude rose to $139.89 a barrel, surpassing the previous high of $139.12 on 6 June.The price later fell 25 cents to $134.61 at the end of New York trade.

On Sunday, Saudi Arabia said it would boost production by 200,000 barrels a day next month to meet growing worldwide demand.That would make a total rise of 550,000 barrels a day, or over 6%, since May and would take Saudi output to its highest monthly rate since August 1981.The news was announced after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon met Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi in Jeddah for talks on the high oil price.

Last month, Saudi Arabia increased its production by 300,000 barrels a day.The country is thought to be the only oil producer with the ability to pump substantially more crude.It argues that the current high prices are caused by speculators rather than any shortage of crude oil.

Oil prices had fallen by almost $2 on Friday after reports that Saudi Arabia might boost oil production but many believe that this pledge is too little too late to bring down oil prices.

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Honda FCX Clarity hydrogen Cars

Japanese car manufacturer Honda has begun the first commercial production of a zero-emission, hydrogen fuel-cell powered vehicle.

The four-seater, called FCX Clarity, runs on hydrogen and electricity, emitting only water vapour.

Honda claims the vehicle offers three times better fuel efficiency than a traditional, gasoline-powered car.

Honda plans to produce 200 of the cars, which are initially only available to lease, over the next three years.

One of the biggest obstacles standing in the way of wider adoption of fuel-cell vehicles is the lack of hydrogen fuelling stations.

The first five customers are all based in southern California because of the proximity of hydrogen fuelling stations, Honda said.

US actress Jamie Lee Curtis will be among the first to take delivery of the vehicle, the firm added.

'Monumental step'

The car will initially be available for lease in California starting in July, and then in Japan later this year.

It is being built on the world's first dedicated production line for fuel-cell vehicles in Japan.

"This is an important day in the history of fuel-cell vehicle technology and a monumental step closer to the day when fuel cell cars will be part of the mainstream," said John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda.

Honda says it expects to lease a few dozen units in the US and Japan in 2008, and about 200 units within three years.

It said the cost of the car, on a three-year lease, would be $600 (£300) a month.

The FCX Clarity is based on Honda's previous-generation hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, the FCX concept car. Honda delivered around 34 of these cars, mainly in the US, of which 10 remain in use.

Booming demand

Many auto makers are developing cleaner, more economical vehicles because of high fuel prices and as consumers become more concerned with the environment.

Toyota said it was struggling to keep up with booming demand for its hybrid vehicles because it is unable to make enough batteries.

Hybrid vehicles, such as Toyota's top-selling Prius, switch between a petrol engine and electric motor.

Toyota Motor Corp's executive vice president, Takeshi Uchiyamada told the Associated Press that new battery production lines can't be added until next year.

"Hybrids are selling so well we are doing all we can to increase production," he said. "We need new lines."

Volkswagen, Europe's biggest car maker said on Monday it wanted to produce a Golf which consumes three to four litres of petrol per 100 kilometres compared with 4.3 litres currently for the most fuel-efficient model.

"In the next few years, we are not going to do without petrol and diesel motors, but the future belongs to the electric car," VW chairman Martin Winterkorn told German newspaper Bild-Zeitung.




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Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series Scoop Photo

More bad so it is difficult to imagine: the Mercedes SL65 AMG Black Series is (intra) see again on the road, showing all the muscles and the evil at its disposal, despite the protective panels that partially conceal the features.

Less than a month away from debut expected, the super car that promises fascia thanks to 670 hp and 1000 Nm of its 6.0 V12 bi turbo ago really impression, both in spy photos that in the virtual reconstruction proposals.

Huge, enlarged carriageway and appendices aerodynamic carbon fiber that culminate in threatening rear spoiler, are the aesthetic counterpoint to the exquisite dynamic promises from the diet of 300 (!) Kilograms and the new, refined distribution of the masses.







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Sumitomo Supercondutor Electric Car

Sumitomo Electric has developed what is being called the world’s first automobile powered by a superconducting motor. The electric passenger sedan (a modified Toyota Crown Comfort), which is powered by a high-temperature superconducting motor cooled by liquid nitrogen, was unveiled in Osaka on June 12 and will go on display at the Hokkaido Toyako G8 Summit on June 19.

Superconductors — energy-efficient materials that can carry electrical current without resistance — are used in applications ranging from medical devices to linear motors for trains. Until now, however, they have never been used to power an automobile, says Sumitomo, who developed an ultra-powerful 365-kw superconducting motor last year.
Sumitomo’s motor uses high-temperature superconducting wires instead of the copper wire typically used in the coils in electric vehicle motors. When cooled to -200 degrees Celsius, electrical resistance and current loss are reduced to nearly zero, so the motor can operate with greater energy efficiency and torque — in other words, the motor uses less electricity to do the same amount of work. The company says the prototype vehicle can travel more than 10% farther than conventional electric vehicles running on the same type of battery.

The development comes as demand for electric vehicles grows, and as manufacturers step up efforts to improve battery and motor performance to increase the distance that vehicles can travel on a single charge.

Sumitomo intends to further improve the motor with the aim of putting a vehicle on the market in the not-too-distant future. The company is looking to develop superconductor motors for buses and trucks as well.

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Transformer 2 Bumblebee Spotted.

Here we go again; just as we were getting used to not hearing anything about the Transformers Movie, our friendly Autobot Bumblebee from the second installation of the Tranformer film called “Rise of the Fallen” has made its way into the internet well before the movie hits the screens in summer 2009.

The film’s producers –in cooperation with GM of course- have given the Camaron based Autobot a more aggressive look thanks to a Z28-like sport treatment that includes a new front bumper with a spoiler, a hood scoop and a slightly different paint job.











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Suzuki Swift XG Body Kit

The cute Suzuki Swift, widely available in Asia, Europe and so on (but not in the USA), is one of the most attractive, design-wise, Japanese compact 3 or 5 doors vehicle on the market.
Available in different stream and even in a GTI like version, the Sport, our little Swift is also now sold with a new kit, the XG Aero.


The XG Aero Kit is a stunning sport like kit which gives to our swift, muscular lines thanks to its front spoiler, side skirts and rear bumper as well as a very aggressive rear spoiler. If the Style is one thing, unfortunately under the hood we will be stuck with a regular asthmatic 1.2 or 1.3l engine.






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BMW GINA Flexible Skin Car

GINA is a roadster concept on which the usual body sheet metal found on production vehicles such as bonnet, side panels and doors have been all replaced with a special, flexible, highly durable and extremely expansion-resistant fabric material that stretches across a metal wire structure.


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A number of elements of the substructure are actually moveable and the driver can shift them by means of electro and electro-hydraulic controls resulting to a change the shape of the outer skin. For example, when the headlights are not active they are hidden under the special fabric cover. As soon as the driver turns on the lights, the contour of the front ends changes revealing the twin-headlights –just like a human being opens his eyes.

BMW and its Head Designer Chris Bangle (rightfully) support that in reality, the aspects of crash and stiffness and ride handling can all be handled in a spaceframe type vehicle entirely without the skin. So why should designers and for that matter, car manufactures, restrict themselves in the use of common materials for the outer body? -Continued after the jump

Why not use a flexible textile cover that could not only open an all-new world in car designing but also save money and consume less resources and energy than previous solutions. It goes without saying that a concept vehicle is one thing and putting it into production a totally different story, but we must confess that we like the innovative thinking of those Bavarian folks –ok, Chris Bangle is American.


























































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