Lexus IS250C, 2010

Lexus IS250C, 2010

 

 

The new Lexus IS250C.
The new model combines the award-winning design of the IS sports saloon with outstanding open-top engineering ingenuity.
The IS250C displays Lexus quality and attention to detail in every aspect of its construction and is designed to exceed customer expectations with its fusion of top-down driving pleasure and uncompromised dynamic performance.
It also boasts the fastest opening time for a three-part roof design, with its lightweight aluminium structure folding away in just 20 seconds.

The EXTERIOR DESIGN
The Lexus IS250C builds on the elegant proportions, sweeping, sculptural lines and contrasting convex and concave surfacing of the IS saloon range to combine the muscular appeal of a sports coupe with the stylish lines of a convertible.
Only the bonnet, headlamps, door handles and mirrors are shared with the IS saloon, all other body panels have been redesigned to ensure they harmonise perfectly with the three-part folding roof.

The INTERIOR DESIGN AND COMFORT
The Lexus IS250C offers the same high levels of luxury and practical innovation as the IS saloon, with a number of bespoke technical revisions designed to ensure the on-board comfort and entertainment systems operate effectively when the roof is down.
The instrument panel, surrounding elements and the steering wheel are the same as on the IS saloon, but the instrument binnacle in front of the driver has been extensively revised to ensure good visibility is maintained during top-down driving.
The climate control system has been configured for top-down motoring, with the addition of speed sensitive control, which automatically increases air flow when the roof is lowered and further increases it in line with vehicle speed.


The RIDE COMFORT
The Lexus IS250C uses the proven front double wishbone and multink rear suspension format from the IS saloon range to give sporting, agile performance. Significant chassis revisions promote greater ride comfort suitable for a convertible and ensure consistent dynamic performance in both coupe and convertible guise.
Extensive temperature, vibration and shaking tests were carried out to ensure the changes to the bodyshell and chassis maintain NVH characteristics almost identical to those of the IS saloon. Class-leading low wind noise levels are achieved with help from acoustic glass for the windscreen and painstaking design of the roof, door and window panel seals.

The SAFETY
The Lexus IS250C has been designed to achieve a five-star frontal impact rating in Euro NCAP crash testing, with world-class safety performance in both coupe and convertible configuration. Numerous changes in the body structure enhance collision strength, roll-over protection and torsional rigidity, minimising cowl shake and optimising chassis control.

For added protection when driving with the roof down, the Lexus IS250C is equipped with new-design larger side airbags that provide head protection in the event of a side impact. The bodyshell also features additional energy-absorbing side impact pads for both front and rear seat occupants.

Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid

Porsche will mark its return to this year’s edition of the Nürburgring 24 hour race on June 25 with a newer version of its 911 GT3 R Hybrid that is more powerful yet lighter and more fuel efficient than its predecessor.
The 2011 edition of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid carries the geeky ‘Version 2.0’ moniker, and keeps the general layout of the 2010 model. The racer’s hybrid powertrain comprises of a 470HP 4.0-liter six-cylinder boxer engine at the rear and two electric motors driving the front wheels.

In the Version 2.0, the output of both electric motors has increased from 60kW (80HP) to 75 kilowatts (100HP) each, meaning that seconds at a time, pilots will now have an additional 200HP at their disposal.
According to Porsche, the extra power is automatically activated through use of the throttle pedal and can be very useful when overtaking.
Porsche has also optimized the hybrid system with the electric flywheel accumulator that stores energy now housed with the other hybrid components in a carbon fibre safety cell on the passenger’s side. 

In addition, thanks to the optimisation of the hybrid system’s high voltage components, the large louvres in front of the rear fenders were no longer necessary. The Germany company claims that these changes help reduce drag and lowers fuel consumption.
All in all, Porsche’s engineers managed to reduce the weight of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid from 1,350kg (2,976 lbs) to 1,300 kilograms (2,866 lbs).
“The emphasis of our work was on improving efficiency,” says Hartmut Kristen, head of Porsche motorsport. “That means we want to keep the lap times consis-tent with 2010 but use less energy, hence less fuel. In this way, we support future developments of road-going, sporting hybrid vehicles.”
Other changes for the 2011 model include the thoroughly updated cockpit as most of the displays and controls have moved to the steering wheel. According to Porsche, drivers can operate the rest of the functions via backlit buttons now situated on the centre console. 

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Ford BTCC Focus Race

The first ever touring race car version of the all-new Ford Focus will make its world premiere at this week's 2011 Geneva Motor Show, ahead of it is scheduled track debut in the British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch towards the end of March.
The BTCC Focus was developed by Arena Motorsport with technical support from Ford, and it's the first car to come out from a global initiative by Ford to support private teams around the globe in developing one common race car to S2000 specification.
To meet current local regulations, Arena Motorsport's UK-based Team Aon has opted for a 2.0-litre turbocharged Ford engine, instead of the 1.6-litre Ford EcoBoost engine other teams will use in Championships in line with international FIA regulations.
"There has been tremendous interest in new Focus from the racing community and it's the perfect fit for a global touring car," said Jost Capito, director of Ford Global Performance Vehicles and Motorsport Business Development.
"This new BTCC Focus is the first result of a collaborative effort between Ford and race teams around the world that have already built and raced successful Focus race cars. The teamwork has resulted in a global technical platform for racing using a common Focus with a safety cage built to FIA regulations – a competitive platform that can be tailored for regional competition, based on different rules," Capito added.
Ford said that the new Team Aon Focus touring car is expected to compete in all 10 rounds of this year's British Touring Car Championship .

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Ford Groundbreaking New Vehicle

As we're nearing closer to the 2011 Geneva Salon, automakers are providing us with more details about their plans. Today, Ford announced that it will display a number of new production and concept cars including what the company simply described as a "groundbreaking new vehicle" without getting into any specifics.
“Ford of Europe Chairman and CEO Stephen T. Odell will unveil a groundbreaking new vehicle during a Ford news conference at 14:30 on March 1 at the Ford stand,” the company said in a statement.
What Ford did reveal is that it plans to showcase an all-new version of the 2011 Ranger pickup-truck called Wildtrak, the Vertrek SUV concept that hints at the next-generation Kuga, the Fiesta RS WRC, the C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid that will be joined by a C-MAX HEV when they both go on sale in Europe in 2013, and a conceptual all-electric version of the Transit Connect.
Furthermore, the company will display its latest powertrain enhancements including a new 114g/km CO2 Mondeo ECOnetic that combines 115HP 1.6-liter turbo diesel with start-stop technology, as well as the new Ka Metal created through Ford’s Individual programme.
“Today Ford has its strongest product line-up ever and we’ve got an aggressive plan to keep our vehicle portfolio the freshest in the industry," said Odell. “We have at least 20 new models and derivatives coming across our entire European range – from small cars to commercial vehicles – and at Geneva we will be introducing some of these.

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Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid, 2011

Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid, 2011

 

Debut in Switzerland, the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid will be tested in long-distance races around the Nürburgring, Germany. The highlight of this test programme will be the 24 Hours race around the 14-mile Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit on 15/16 May 2010. However, the focus is not on the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid winning the race but rather serving as a spearhead for the technology and a 'racing laboratory' that will provide invaluable knowledge and insight on the subsequent use of hybrid technology in road-going Porsche sports cars.

110 years since Ferdinand Porsche - the company's founder - developed the world's first car with hybrid drive, the Lohner Porsche Semper Vivus, it is entirely appropriate that Porsche is once again employing this visionary drive concept in a production car-based GT racing programme.

The hybrid technology featured in the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid has been developed especially for racing, and is set apart from conventional hybrid systems in its configuration and choice of components. Uniquely, an electrical front axle drive with two electric motors each developing 60 kW supplements the familiar 480 hp (353 kW) four-litre flat-six 'boxer' petrol engine at the rear of the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid. Consequently, the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid has four driven wheels, offering even greater traction and agility.
Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid

A further significant point is that instead of the usual batteries of a conventional hybrid-powered road car, this 911 features an electric flywheel power generator - mounted inside the cockpit beside the driver - that delivers energy to the electric motors on the front axle.

The flywheel generator itself is an electric motor - with its rotor capable of spinning at speeds of up to 40,000 rpm - and stores energy mechanically as rotation, or kinetic, energy. The flywheel generator is charged-up whenever the driver applies the brakes, with the two electric motors reversing their function on the front axle and acting themselves as generators.

The driver is able to call upon this extra energy from the charged flywheel generator at his command for competitive advantage, such as when accelerating out of a bend or overtaking. The flywheel generator is slowed down electromagnetically in the generator mode and able to supply up to 120 kW to the two electric motors at the front axle from its resource of kinetic energy. This additional power is available to the driver after each charge process for approximately 6 - 8 seconds.

Energy formerly converted into heat, and thus wasted, upon every application of the brakes is now converted highly efficiently into additional drive power.

Depending on racing conditions, hybrid drive is used in this case not only for extra power, but also to save fuel. This again increases the efficiency and, accordingly, the performance of the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid, by reducing the weight of the fuel tank or making pit stops less frequent, for example.

Porsche Intelligent Performance

The Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid is a perfect example of the Porsche Intelligent Performance philosophy, a principle to be found in every Porsche and defined as more power on less fuel, more efficiency and lower CO2 emissions - on the race track and on the road. Already, customers can buy a Porsche 911 coupe with a six-cylinder 345 bhp engine which can return nearly 30mpg Combined and produces just 225 g/km CO2; a feat unrivalled in its performance class and just one example of the application of Porsche Intelligent Performance to maintain outstanding driving dynamics yet lower running costs and environmental impact.

Devising smart, individual engineering solutions to combine performance and efficiency with everyday usability is something for which Porsche is renowned, and is evident in such developments as lightweight body construction methods, Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) and the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetreibe (PDK) double-clutch gearbox.

BMW Confirms 5-Series for China and 2012 1-Series

For the past few months, we’ve been hearing various rumors about BMW’s future plans, but today, the German automaker came out with official details at a press conference in Munich starting with the debut of a plug-in hybrid version of the China market 5-Series at next month’s Shanghai Auto Show. 
“A highlight at the Shanghai Motor Show in mid-April will be the presentation of our New Energy Vehicle, said BMW Chief Executive Dr. Norbert Reithofer. “This model will be our e-car from China for China – a long version of the BMW 5 Series as a plug-in hybrid. This car will benefit from the strength and the excellent reputation of the BMW brand.”
Reithofer confirmed the presentation of the production version of the MINI Coupe, first seen as a concept model at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, and the second generation of the BMW 1 Series, both of which will be launched this year alongside the new M5 sports saloon and the 6-Series models. 

BMW also revealed plans to add a small displacement three-cylinder turbocharged engine to its range, though the Bavarian automaker did not get into any more details.
“We are gradually utilizing the BMW TwinPower Turbo technology in all petrol and diesel engines within our new BMW EfficientDynamics motor range,” said Reithofer. “This innovative engine technology package is based on a modular strategy. This holds true for future 4- and 6-cylinder engines as well as for our anticipated 3-cylinder drive. This modular system will generate significant economies of scale. It will also facilitate the standardization of interfaces and processes.”
Finally, BMW said it will begin assembling the X3 in India alongside the 3-Series, 5-Series and X1 for the local market from the second quarter of the year, while the firm’s new Tiexi plant in China which is scheduled to start production in 2012 will produce among other models, the X1 crossover.

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GM Design of Holden Commodore Due in 2013

Good news for Commodore fans; General Motors design boss Ed Welburn was in Melbourne recently to sign off on the styling of the next Holden Commodore, due in Q3 2013. The as-of-yet-unrevealed VF Commodore will be an evolution of the current generation VE, sharing the same rear-wheel-drive platform and V6 engines. "It's the absolute right Commodore for that market,” Mr. Welburn was quoted as saying, “I feel very good about it.”
Holden is said to be looking into lightening the VF’s components to improve fuel economy with the new model, and is also putting a strong emphasis on improving drivetrain efficiency. Though Mr. Welburn refused to comment on whether the Commodore would come to the U.S. badged as a Chevy, he did say:
“They are doing work for Holden and for other projects around the world. They are a very talented team – very talented – and I want to take full advantage of that. So, they are responsible for the look and feel of all Holden products, but they are doing work on Chevrolets, they have done some wonderful Buick work, and I could not be more proud of the work that they do.”

Holden has substantial experience in vehicle design, and is currently working on one of three new Opels expected in 2013. It’s still unknown which of the three – which includes a four-seat convertible and an Opel Corsa-derived MPV – Holden is working on.
Holden’s managing director and chairman Mike Devereux hinted that the Commodore will continue to be rear-wheel-drive, unlike its main rival the Ford Falcon which is rumored to go front-wheel or all-wheel-drive for its next model cycle. Carscoop will remain abreast of this project and bring you all the details as they come in.

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1970 Nissan Skyline GT-R Microcar Replica

We know what you’re thinking but stop right there. What you are looking at here isn’t the result of some crafty photoshop business - it’s the real deal; an actual factual microcar replica of a 1970 Nissan Skyline GT-R coupe that was created by Japanese tuning firm Liberty Walk Performance. The scaled down, single-seater clone of Nissan’s first-generation Skyline GT-R is based on a quad-bike and it’s perfectly drivable.
This is not the first time we’ve shown you a microcar replica from Liberty Walk Performance as some of you may remember the…Lambormini Murcielago snapped by our own Phil Alex at last year’s Tokyo Auto Salon.
The Japanese company has not yet added pricing info on the Skyline GT-R buggy on its website, but just to get an idea, the Lambormini starts from 1.88 million Yen, which comes to about US$23,250 or €16,750 at today’s exchange rates. Feast your eyes on the photo gallery and a couple of videos after the jump. 

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Porsche New Cajun SUV

Today, Porsche put an end to the rumors concerning the production location of the Cajun by confirming that the assembly will take place in Leipzig, in the Saxony region of Germany, alongside the Cayenne SUV and Panamera sports sedan model.
The facilitate production, Porsche plans to extend the Leipzig factory and turn it into a fully-fledged manufacturing site for the Cajun, including body assembly line and paint shop. Porsche said the decision to build the Cajun will create at least 1,000 new jobs in Leipzig and Stuttgart.

The Leipzig plant has been producing the Cayenne SUV since 2002, with Porsche expanding the factory in 2009 to accommodate the Panamera. To date, Porsche has invested around 280 million euro in Leipzig.
The Stuttgart-based automaker said the Cajun will come with typical Porsche traits such as “light weight” and “refined handling” adding that the baby SUV model “is expected to pave the way for new, younger customers to enter the world of Porsche”. The new model is expected to be introduced towards the end of 2012. 

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McLaren's MP4-12C GT3

After a photo preview at the end of last year, the racing version of McLaren's all-new supercar has been revealed in England, where the car undertook its first shakedown tests. Built by McLaren GT, a new company set up by the McLaren Group and CRS Racing, the MP4-12C GT3 had its debut test outings at the MIRA proving ground facility and the Silverstone Circuit.
Based on the standard MP4-12C, the GT3 version uses the same one-piece carbon MonoCell chassis, which weighs just 75 kilograms (165.3 lbs). Spectacular race spec composite body panels and a fixed rear wing have been added to the MP4-12C GT3, while the new aerodynamics package includes a new front splitter, door blade, rear wing, diffuser and louvres in the front fenders.
“The car is around 100mm wider than the standard production car and features a new suspension system which we have tested in the McLaren Simulator. Having now experienced this new set-up in the 12C GT3 car, I’m delighted with the progress we are making,” said Andrew Kirkaldy, McLaren GT project manager. The MP4-12 C GT3 uses the same 3.8-liter twin turbo V8 engine from the road car, tuned to race specification. The unit is linked to an all-new racing gearbox developed by Ricardo and fitted with paddle-shift system.
The tests were a good occasion for McLaren to introduce its newest test driver, 26-year-old Alvaro Parente, with the company planning to have a team of six test drivers by mid-2011. The shakedown will be followed by comprehensive tests scheduled throughout March and April at a number of FIA certified circuits across Europe. Details about the driver line-up and race programme for the McLaren MP4-12C GT3 will be revealed after these tests. Starting next year, McLaren GT will also supply and support a limited number of FIA GT3-compliant racing cars for privateers.

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BMW Vs Audi and Mercedes with Six M3 Race Cars

BMW's Motorsport division announced today that it will enter six M3 race cars in the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) starting from the 2012 season. The Bavarian company will be represented in the highly competitive championship by three teams, each entering two cars. The chosen teams are long-term partners BMW Team Schnitzer and BMW Team RBM, plus the newcomer Reinhold Motor sport GmbH.
Development of the M3 DTM car has been running at full speed in Munich for the past few months, with the first track tests are scheduled to begin this month. “The concepts presented by BMW Team RBM, BMW Team Schnitzer and Reinhold Motorsport GmbH ultimately convinced us. This is an excellent team line-up for BMW. For us, it is important that all three teams have absolute equal rights. We are looking forward to cooperating over the coming years – and hope to enjoy great success together,” said BMW Motor sport boss Mario Theissen.
No announcement has been made regarding the BMW driving line-up for the DTM. Of the three teams, only Schnitzer was part of BMW's DTM participation in the 80's and early 90's, winning the 1989 title.
BMW was officially involved in the DTM between 1987 and 1992, winning two titles with the M3 E30 in 1987 and 1989, with drivers Eric van de Poele and Roberto Ravaglia respectively. Before that, private team Gubin won the inaugural 1984 DTM season with Volker Strycek behind the wheel of a 635CSi.


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Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan

A massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit the northeast part of Japan earlier this morning triggering a 10-meter high tsunami on the coasts of the country sweeping away homes, cars and buildings. The disastrous earthquake, which was followed by many aftershocks, is said to be the world's fifth-largest since 1900 and the biggest in Japan in 140 years.
The full extent of damages caused by the earthquake and the ferocious tsunami remain unknown for now, but we’re already hearing news of people being evacuated and many homes and factories destroyed.
On the automotive front, Toyota and Honda were forced to shut down some of their production plants and evacuate their workers from several factories in the quake zone. According to reports, Toyota, which has a large manufacturing presence in northern Japan, was affected the most with the shutdown possibly affecting production of cars like the Yaris sedan and the Scion xB and xD models.
Honda initially closed down both its Suzuka and Sayama plants, but production at the first factory resumed shortly after. The Sayama plant, which manufactures the US-bound Fit among other models, remains closed. 

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