When Street Rod builders Randy Grubb and Michael Leeds came across two M47 Patton Tank engines, they immediately bought them and began sketching ideas for cars to build around the massive engines. The 1792cid SOHC aluminum V-12 engine is air-cooled and fed by dual 2-barrel carburetors. Power output is estimated at 910hp and 1500lb-ft of torque. The massive powerplant is mated to an Allison 4-speed automatic transmission that was originally designed to handle the workload of a Greyhound bus. The first Blastolene Special was finished in 2002 and then quickly sold to Jay Leno.
This is the second and only other tank powered car built by the artists at Blastolene. The hand-built aluminum body was formed in the spirit of the shark-nosed Watson Roadsters that were very successful at Indy in the '50s and '60s, but nearly twice the size. With a 160" wheelbase and an overall length of 270", it's no wonder that this creation weighs in at 8,400lbs. This wonderful piece of automotive art is very capable on the open road and is a thrill to drive. **TITLED AS A 1952 UUU WATSON ROADSTER**
New spy photos of the 2011 Ford Mondeo facelift have surfaced six weeks before its introduction in Geneva. The car was spied during cold weather testing along European route E45, a road that runs from the northern Sweden/Finland border down to the southern tip of Sicily, Italy. The new pictures show a car, powered by the TDCi engine, that has faced at least one challenge: the car looks to be scratched and dented at the bottom of the rear passenger-side door.
Under Ford's Kinetic Design scheme, engineers included a new front bumper with other changes expected on the facelifted model. The prototypes are still sporting black tape covering up details here, which may include LEDs. A new grille is also expected here. Test vehicles also seem to indicate that the next model will have new side mirrors, as well as rear LED clusters. Changes to the rear bumper are also possible, and interior upgrades are anticipated.
Look for the 2011 model year Mondeo to get the Galaxy facelift's 200-horsepower 2.0-liter Ecoboost engine mated to a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, and the 2.0-liter Duratorq TDCi diesel. The diesel will be available with either 113, 138, or 160 horsepower.
Eventually, a four-cylinder 1.6-liter Ecoboost producing up to 180 hp may also be offered.
Look for the 2011 Ford Mondeo facelift to be introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March. More Photos
Nick Knight, one of the 21st Century's most influential and innovative fashion photographers, provides a spectacular example of Mercedes-Benz's commitment to fashion in his presentation of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. With a completely open brief, Knight has collaborated with British fashion designer Gareth Pugh and German model Julia Stegner to combine design, fashion and technology in a uniquely powerful visual campaign.
Few vehicles can claim to represent the same level of innovative, visionary technology as the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. And few contemporary photographers embody the fascinating interplay between fashion and technology better than Nick Knight - a pioneer in state-of-the-art image creation. Working together with Gareth Pugh, the futuristic designer celebrated throughout the fashion world, the design and look is in keeping with his motto, "Fashion as Performance".
The end result is a symbiosis between two cutting edge artists - Knight and Pugh - and the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG - all with a spectacular aesthetic. The images propose a highly-modern visual language. One that is always at the outer limits of possibilities and ahead of its time - the very attributes of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Head of Design, Gorden Wagener and his team have referenced the original Mercedes-Benz sports car models with a strikingly new design vocabulary. In doing so, they have reinterpreted the car as a design classic for this new decade.
Anders Sundt Jensen, Vice President Brand Communications Mercedes-Benz Cars, underscores the significance of this symbiosis of design and style: "Having a vision and breathing life into it is an essential part of the Mercedes-Benz success story. Driven by a passion for design, technology and materials and an instinct for style and the spirit of the times, innovative designers develop their creations. And innovation is just as vital in fashion as it is in car design. Forward-looking design is always a combination of exceptional ideas, a personal signature and an unmistakable style - the key characteristics of Mercedes-Benz."
The motif as creative dialogue.
In developing their visual motif, Mercedes-Benz presents an exciting new direction for its international commitment to fashion. The content remains relevant to the brand and matches the theme at the highest creative level. From this dialogue, a fresh message emerges with each campaign. And the Mercedes-Benz commitment to fashion becomes a long-term framework involving artists, designers, photographers and new media into a contemporary international platform for creativity and innovation.
623 hp, 427 cu. in. aluminum block pushrod overhead valve V8 engine, four-speed manual transmission, four-wheel independent suspension with transverse leaf springs, telescopic shocks and anti-roll bars, four-wheel disc brakes. Wheelbase 90" The odyssey of the Shelby Cobra is defined by the contributions of many people, marked by many important cars and by even more important moments. They weave a rich fabric of creativity, determination and persistence in the face of limited resources and epic challenges.
The saga of CSX 2196, the "Flip-Top" Cobra 427 prototype, is a bright thread in the tapestry of Shelby history.
The Cobra's first race win came at Riverside in February 1963 in the hands of Dave MacDonald. Just behind him in second place after pitting on the first lap and dropping to last place was Ken Miles in another Cobra, a very precise, experienced driver who had made a name for himself on the West Coast. Miles soon joined Shelby as Competition Director, assuming a central role in Shelby's frenetic pace of building and racing cars.
Miles was a Brit who spent the war wrenching tanks for the Royal Army and racing motorcycles when the chance, and a spare petrol ration, could be found. After the war he moved to Southern California as the MG distributor's service manager and quickly hit the tracks, winning his first race at Pebble Beach in 1953 in an MG TD. His TD-based Miles Special dominated California under-1500 cc events for years before it was succeeded by the [in]famous Flying Shingle, another TD-based special that was even lighter and more aerodynamic. Later, Miles drove Porsches for Johnny von Neumann but, unsatisfied with the cars from Stuttgart, built a Cooper-based, Porsche-powered Miles Special. He was so successful in it that Porsche eventually suggested to von Neumann that it was bad for the marque to be beaten by a distributor's employee driving a Porsche-powered home-built.
Miles also was President of the California Sports Car Club which organized some of the most famous and important road races held in North America. What SCCA was east of the Rockies, Cal Club was on the West Coast. It was Miles who led it to success.
At Shelby, the lessons learned in the crucible of international racing at Nassau, Daytona and Sebring quickly were translated into improved designs and strengthened components. The Cobra finally realized its international potential in the 1963 FIA season's last race, the 500 km test at eastern Long Island's Bridgehampton Road Race Course where Dan Gurney and Ken Miles finished 1-2. It was the first FIA victory for a U.S. car with an American driver. It was also the first victory for Ford power in an FIA sanctioned race.
The Cobra was a much hotter ride in late 1963 than it had been at the beginning of the season, but competition also was heating up with 4- and even 4.4-litre engines for Ferrari's 250 GTO in the offing and GM readying the lightweight, disc braked Corvette Grand Sport for 1964. There was just so much that even Phil Remington and Ken Miles could do to the AC Ace-based 289 Cobra.
What Shelby had undertaken in late 1963 was amazing. They were building 289 Cobras. They were supporting SCCA and USRRC racers throughout North America. They had a separate FIA Cobra for international events. There was a drag racing program. To compete on the major high speed circuits, the Daytona Coupes were being built, a complete evolution of the Cobra's design accomplished in an almost unbelievable three months.
At the same time, mid-late 1963, Shelby took on the task of creating the Sunbeam Tiger prototypes, the racing car built in Shelby's shop while in his own separate shop Ken Miles built the street prototype.
It was a breathtaking array of projects, but with one serious looming problem: the 289 Cobra was nearing the end of its competitive cycle. Competition – from Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin and potentially Chevrolet and Jaguar – was fierce. Ken Miles, involved in all aspects of Shelby's myriad production, development and racing activities, was uniquely placed to see the future and took the project on himself.
Miles' solution to the 289 Cobra's situation? Fit an even bigger engine in the existing Cobra to see how the engine's performance characteristics would relate to the chassis, then design, construct and develop chassis, suspension and bodywork in response to the new performance envelope.
It started with CSX 2196, the unique Cobra offered here. Ted Sutton stuffed a 427 big block into it, and the boss, Carroll Shelby, took it for a test drive (which must have been something to see). He came back with the concise instruction, "make it a race car." Nearly every component in the car had to be strengthened to withstand the power and torque of the four-barrel NASCAR 427.
After testing in early 1964 at Riverside with the Daytona Coupe, CSX 2196's first public appearance was at Florida's rough Sebring airport circuit. During practice, it got away from Miles and smashed into a tree, an obstacle so rare at Sebring that the team modified his nickname "Teddy Teabagger" – based on his fondness for his afternoon "cuppa" – to "Teddy Treebagger." Miles worked through the night to repair the damage done while he was at the wheel.
The 427 prototype took the green flag and Miles, who had hidden the fact he had broken ribs from the crash, drove the first two hours fighting teething problems and others arising from its hasty repairs. He was relieved by John Morton, who soldiered on through a series of stops to deal with clutch, fuel and brake problems until a blown engine eventually sidelined the 427 prototype, but not before it had shown its potential.
Upon its return to Venice, a comprehensive rebuild of CSX 2196 was undertaken to deal with its shortcomings. In addition to strengthening everything (again), the body was replaced by an imaginative aluminum structure in three pieces. The nose and tail were hinged at their extremities, flipping up and away from the center passenger's compartment for instant access to suspension, engine, driveline and brakes. Doors were simple panels hinged at the bottom to swing out and down. The hood and tail were lowered as much as possible to ease air penetration. It still looked like a Cobra, but one as described in the SAAC Registry "that had been lowered and slightly heated in the microwave."
Its body made it ideal for its next job at Shelby, testing the new Ford engines for the next generation Cobra, called at that time the Cobra II. As described in a Ford memo from Ray Geddes, Ford's liaison with Shelby, in August 1964 the first power was to be an experimental four-barrel aluminum block 390. After development and testing, it was to be replaced with an iron block four-barrel 427, then benchmarked against 289 and 325 cubic inch engines. The unusual body configuration earned it the nickname "Flip-Top."
Sources dispute the origin of CSX 2196's other nickname. Some, probably including John Morton who compared the original configuration's handling at Sebring to a '49 Buick, link it to the inevitable twitches associated with burdening a light chassis with a much heavier and more powerful engine. Others appreciated the potential of the power and torque from 138 more cubic inches operating at less critical rpm and suggested it was because it would "get up and @*%^ on the competition" or similar colorful language. In any event, it was quietly – mostly among the team mechanics – known as "The Turd."
First tests of the aluminum 390 were conducted at Shelby's familiar Riverside Raceway site. Subsequent testing and development is unclear. At the Flip-Top's first public appearance at the Nassau Road Races in November and December 1964, some sources (including the SAAC Registry) describe it as alloy 390-powered. Others give it 37 more cubic inches of cast iron Ford.
Miles and the Flip-Top were accepted into the GT class along with the Corvette Grand Sports (GT Prototype) and Ferrari 250LMs. In the five-lap preliminary race on November 29, Miles finished ahead of all the Ferrari LMs and second to Roger Penske in one of the Grand Sports. Later in the day in the feature GT contest, the Nassau Tourist Trophy, the Flip-Top sat on the front row alongside Grand Sports driven by Roger Penske and Jack Saunders. Ken Miles must have been sandbagging earlier, because on the opening lap of the TT, he smoked the Grand Sports, opening up a massive eight-second lead – enough to leave the Grand Sports a full straightaway behind.
Eventually differential problems slowed the Flip-Top, allowing Penske to catch up and enliven the race with a series of lead exchanges until the Flip-Top's engine expired.
Back in Los Angeles, attention turned to devising the production 427 Cobra. The Flip-Top, eligible only for modified classes in competition with mid-engined sports racers, languished and was eventually offered for sale in late 1965.
Eventually acquired by Al Rivera of S&C Motors in San Francisco, it was driven by Dave Ridenour in C/Modified races. Later it was sold to Mark King, then Dick Workman who installed a 302 Ford and later to Royal Krieger. Subsequent owners included Chris Gruys who brought it back to original specs with 427 Side Oiler power and began to vintage race it in 1980.
After a period in the famed collection of Bob Lee, it was acquired by its present owner in 1999 and since then has been regularly seen in West Coast vintage race events. In 2007 the Flip-Top Cobra 427 participated in the Goodwood Festival of Speed, its first international appearance since Nassau in 1964.
Powered by a Rex Hutchison alloy 427 Ford dynoed at 623 brake horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 611 lb-ft torque at 4,200 rpm, the Flip-Top 427 Cobra features extensively in all the definitive histories of Shelby American and the Cobra. It is the only prototype of the 427 Cobra and arguably the only "Cobra II" since that designation was not used for the production coil spring 427 Cobras. Design of the production coil spring 427 Cobras was done by Ford engineers, making CSX 2196 effectively the only 427 Cobra designed and built by Shelby. It is the Cobra that blew off the Grand Sports at Nassau and the Cobra conceived, assembled, developed and raced by Ken Miles, one of the legends of American road racing.
Available now for the first time in over a decade, CSX 2196 is one of the legends of Shelby and Cobra history. Fully developed, absolutely unique and blindingly fast, it is a milestone in the legendary history of Shelby, the Cobra and the Ford Motor Company's "Total Performance." No tapestry of Shelby, Cobra or Ford racing history is complete without the thread of CSX 2196, the prototype 427 Cobra. More Photos
Scottsdale, Ariz. – Earthquake relief efforts in Haiti will receive all proceeds from the auction of a limited edition 2008 Chevrolet Corvette at this weekend's 39th annual Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction.
The proceeds, which will be donated to the American Red Cross relief fund, are in addition to a $100,000 contribution from the GM Foundation to the Red Cross.
"This is a very good example of the compassion GM employees have," said Ed Welburn, Vice President of GM Design. Welburn will call the vehicle to the stage to start the bidding process at the event.
The limited edition 2008 Chevrolet Corvette was the last of 427 cars built specifically for North America and the only 2008 Z06 available in Crystal Red Metallic Tint Coat. Sporting a 7.0L V8 engine with 505 hp, the Corvette contains spider design chrome Z06 wheels, Z06 plates, a Stinger-style stripe on the front hood and fascia, chrome exterior badges and a painted Z06 spoiler and body color door handles. Inside, the Corvette contains a Dark Titanium leather-wrapped interior and special Crystal Red center trim plate.
All 427 of the limited edition Corvettes were signed and numbered in the center console area by Will Cooksey, the Corvette plant manager who retired in 2006 after 15 years running the plant. The Corvette also features "427" hood badges and engine cover emblems and "427" seat and floor mat embroidery.
The Corvette is Lot #1318 and will be auctioned on Saturday evening, Jan. 23, at the Barrett-Jackson event in Scottsdale, Ariz. Source: General Motors
Offering the best of both worlds: open air freedom or beautifully sculpted coupe, the 2011 Volvo C70 is offered at a starting price of just $39,950*. The price is inclusive of several standard features that were previously optional and represent an approximate $4,000 savings from a similarly equipped 2010 C70. For 2011, the Volvo C70 comes standard with an automatic 5-speed transmission, SIRIUS satellite radio and luxurious Sovereign Hide leather upholstery. First seen in the U.S. at the South Florida International Auto Show, the 2011 Volvo C70 receives a bold new look and a number of interior enhancements. With its new front appearance, the 2011 Volvo C70 reveals traces of the S60 Concept Car that was unveiled in early 2009. The C70 now relates more closely to the design language of the larger cars in the Volvo model range
Bodywork details such as the front fender have also been redesigned, contributing to the decidedly altered appearance. The nose is more wedge-shaped and has been given added three-dimensional depth by moving some elements of the front both longitudinally and vertically. The new headlights and the décor around the foglights, for instance, have been angled offset up and to the rear, at the same time as the detailing of the lower grille has been enhanced. From head-on, the front forms an open, inviting "V." The enlarged iron mark and the new, larger air intake reinforce the self-assured stance.
The exclusive high-tech LED lights, similar to what's found on the Volvo XC60, are the most noticeable update at the rear. The entire taillight unit is clearly integrated with the oval that frames the new C70's rear panel, making the rear appear wider and lower. Like the front end, new lines and details in the bumper and elsewhere have been integrated to emphasise the depth and dynamism of the design language.
The interior has been updated in several respects to create a unique ambience in the Volvo C70. The instrument panel has been redesigned, giving it a wider, sleeker look and the surface of the panel has a new texture that enhances the feeling of quality. The exclusive new instruments, with gauges and graphics specific to the C70, are yet another example of how the car's premium feel has been enhanced.
Complimenting the enhanced interior are the gorgeous Sovereign hide soft leather seats. This ultra-soft leather covers the entire seat, not simply the seat cushions, owing to a very premium look and feel throughout the interior.
Also new inside, the Cranberry leather seating surfaces (these are not Sovereign hides) is a no-cost option. Taking a cue from these seats is the new-for-2011 Flamenco Red Pearl exterior paint. Combined, they create a truly unique and eye-catching appearance.
One important part of the side-impact and rollover protection is the Inflatable Curtain, IC, which is installed in the door since there is no roof rail to utilize. The curtain has an extra-stiff design featuring twin rows of offset panels. As a result, the curtain can remain upright longer and help protect the head even if the window is open. Additionally, the curtain deflates slowly, helping to provide added protection in the event of a roll over situation.
In addition to the inflatable curtains on either side, the front seat occupants also have side-impact airbags. The size of these bags shield the chest and hips. What is more, the inflatable curtain interacts with the belt pre-tensioners to contribute to the best possible protection for front seat occupants in a side impact or rollover situation. All four seats come with safety belt pre-tensioners.
The Volvo C70 transforms smoothly from a stylish coupe into an open convertible in about 30 seconds. Just press a button and the three-piece steel roof folds quickly and silently away, disappearing neatly into the trunk.
But the Volvo C70 is about more than safety and an innovative roof. In the U.S., the 2011 C70 is offered with a powerful 227 horsepower turbocharged five-cylinder engine that's mated to a standard five-speed automatic transmission with driver selectable Geartronic shifting. Power is seamlessly distributed to the front wheels with Volvo's standard Dynamic Stability and Traction Control (DSTC) system
2011 Volvo C70 T5 - $39,950*
Convenience Package - $1,000 Keyless drive Homelink® remote garage door opener Rear park assist Integrated compass for auto-dimming rear view mirror
Multimedia Package - $2,600 Dynaudio 14-speaker (includes two 8-inch subwoofers) premium sound system with Dolby® Pro Logic® II surround sound Navigation system with real time traffic updates Map Care - Two complimentary map updates
Dynamic Trim Package - $1,000 18-inch "Midir" diamond cut alloy wheels Dual Xenon headlights with Active Bending Light (ABL) Sport steering wheel with aluminium inlay
Climate Package - $900 Heated front seats Interior Air Quality Sensor (IAQS) Headlight washers Rainsensor windshield wipers Humidity sensor
Stand alone options Metallic paint - $550 Premium Electric Silver metallic paint - $675 Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) - $700 Nordic Light Oak real wood inlay - $150 Tempa spare - No charge option Cranberry leather seating surfaces - No charge option Portable navigation system - $750 Wind Blocker - $495
The 2010 Volvo Cars model lineup includes the award-winning S40 and its wagon counterpart the V50; the award-winning XC90; the flagship S80 luxury sedan; versatile V70 wagon and rugged XC70 (Cross Country); the stunning C70 retractable hardtop convertible; the dynamic C30 and the new XC60 with standard City Safety. *prices do not include destination charges of $850 More Photos
Ford appears to be using any advantage it can, from any industry, to make better cars and make them more quickly. Last month we got word of the motion-capping tech The Blue Oval borrowed from video games and movies. This month the news is that it's putting all of that mo-cap work into its immersive Virtual Evaluation lab (iVE) with the help of United Space Alliance. Alliance is a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin that aids in virtual modeling for space missions. more detail. ...
During an interview with Argentina Auto Blog, Horacio Pagani confirmed the Zonda-replacing C9 will be launched towards the end of 2010. It will feature a 6.0-liter V12 Mercedes-Benz AMG engine with 700 hp and 1000 Nm of torque, which means the C9 will be almost as powerful as the Zonda R (which churns out 750 hp and 710 Nm of torque).
According to Horacio Pagani, the C9 "is a completely new car from concept, weight distribution, materials and dynamics." It will have 3770 new parts, a carbon-titanium chassis, specially developed Pirelli tires, and Bosch electronics. More importantly, the car will be able to meet U.S. crash safety standards and California's strict emission laws.
Production will likely be limited to 40 units a year, with a base price of roughly €900,000 ($1,265,000 USD).
Besides talking about the C9, Pagani stated 'normal' Zonda production will cease in September - but orders are still coming in for one-off versions and the Zonda R. In theory, the Zonda could live on for another three years. More Photos
is exactly the right choice for those who like adrenaline rush. This E-Class vehicle is clearly a winner type - smart and spry, which becomes instantly obvious looking at huge 20" forged three-part alloy rims (8,211.00 Euro for a set) with individually designed 245/30-20 or 285/25-20 high performance tyres and with sportive exterior carbon package. Thanks to the new VÄTH grill for Euro 797.00 without the Mercedes star the face of the new E-Class has got a sportive outfit, but still keeps its face.
The powerful silhouette with the wedgelike rising side line and the muscular car tail is furthermore supported by a boot spoiler lip for Euro 333.00 and a carbon-diffuser for Euro 1,773.00. The distinctively arrow-shaped front bumper has become still more sportive now thanks to the carbon front apron suspension for Euro 1,416.00. The VÄTH optics package warrants for the perfect harmony of dynamics and sportiveness.
As a matter of tradition, VÄTH Automobiltechnik guarantees also a high level of road safety. The road holding capacity has been improved by VÄTH by lowering the airmatics by about 30 mm (Euro 821.00).
But not only elegance counts here, but also hard facts, such as an output of 605 hp, a torque of 690 Nm and maximum speed of 340 km/h. After engine retrofitting made by VÄTH for 19.635,00 Euro, the AMG V8 drive unit provides for an acceleration of 4,1 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h. Engine retrofitting includes special forged pistons, valves, sports cam shafts, as well as big intake and exhaust valves. In addition, the crank drive has been improved, the cylinder head channels have been enlarged by milling and engine software has been updated.
Without regard to its sportive appearance, tuned by VÄTH E-Class 63 AMG sports sedan offers comfort inside. For this purpose VÄTH Automobiltechnik offers a carbon interior set for Euro 2,737.00 and velour floor mats with the embroidered VÄTH logo for Euro 226.00.
Sports braking system with 390 mm brake discs and with 8 pistons fixed caliper for the front axle is already available for Euro 5,355.00. More Photos
Kia just released this teaser shot of its Ray concept car that will debut at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show. It was drawn up in Kia's American design studio and is intended to give some direction to the company's idea for a plug-in hybrid vehicle. Doesn't look half bad. We'll see the rest in a few weeks when the 2010 Chicago Auto Show opens for the press on Feb. 10th. Via: Insideline
For 2010, the Ariel Atom becomes more attainable. Well, just. TMI AutoTech, the U.S. builders of the highly worshipped track toy, has introduced an entry-level Atom for $49,980.
The engine is still the Japanese-spec 2.0L Honda mill, though here it makes 219 hp. Keep in mind, there are just 1375-lbs to haul; TMI claims acceleration to 60 mph takes 2.9 seconds. Or, if you want silly, the naturally aspirated 245-hp and supercharged 300-hp variants are still available. TMI also offers a rolling chassis to customers who want to add their own drivetrain.
All models feature a six-speed manual with close ratios, limited-slip differential, PBR single-piston floating disc brakes, and Bilstein suspension. Options include Wilwood and Alcon brake packages, adjustable Bilstein suspension, chromoly aerofoil wishbones, quick-release steering wheel, and carbon fiber bodywork, among others.
- Spot to focus on Audi A3 TDI, the 2010 "Green Car of the Year" - 70's icons Cheap Trick will reinterpret one of their classic songs for the ad - Spot will air in the 4th quarter of the game
HERNDON, Va., Jan 8, 2010 - Audi of America today announced that it will advertise during Super Bowl XLIV, the brand's third consecutive time in the Super Bowl. The spot will highlight the Audi A3 TDI, recently named by Green Car Journal as the 2010 "Green Car of the Year" and will have a fun, tongue-in-cheek environmental theme. Rock legends Cheap Trick will reinterpret one of their classic pieces as the soundtrack to the commercial.
Returning to the Super Bowl after a nearly 20-year hiatus, the 2008 Audi spot delivered a parody of the movie "The Godfather" and signaled that the brand was ready to challenge the perceived luxury leaders. The 2009 effort featured actor Jason Statham in a series of high-speed chase scenes involving recent luxury models, sending the dual message that some things are best left in the past and luxury is evolving, with Audi at the forefront. This year, Audi will demonstrate its leadership position within the luxury segment with a brand spot that delivers the message that being environmentally conscious might not be easy, but the Audi A3 TDI clean diesel is now a proven environmental solution.
Audi TDI clean diesel technology has achieved amazing sales success and consumer acceptance in the United States in a very short period of time. Since their introductions in 2009, the Audi Q7 TDI accounts for 43% of the sales for that line, while the A3 TDI accounts for 53% of that line's sales. TDI clean diesel technology produces 20% fewer C02 emissions than comparably sized gasoline engines and uses substantially less fuel. In fact, the Q7 TDI has been EPA rated at 25 MPG highway, while using 30% less fuel than a similarly sized gasoline engine. The A3 TDI achieves 42 MPG on the highway. Green Car Journal's award of "Green Car of the Year" to the A3 TDI is a true validation of the quality and environmentally sound elements of this technology.
The A3 TDI is one of the many new models Audi has introduced in the last few years. Joining the stunning R8 sports car, the A5, the A4, the Audi Q5 crossover and the Audi Q7 TDI, among others, the A3 TDI is another terrific vehicle that combines incredible fuel economy with the Audi brand's commitment to stunning interiors, tremendous performance and excellence in overall engineering. Audi now has one of the industry's most complete and compelling model line-ups.
"Despite the difficulties the automotive industry has faced, our brand has continued to grow through this past year, introducing new and exciting models, and getting people talking about Audi," said Scott Keogh, chief marketing officer, Audi of America. "In short, the Super Bowl has worked. The brand has never been stronger, market share is increasing and we are setting the stage to increase our momentum in 2010 by letting more of America in on the great secret that is Audi TDI clean diesel technology."
The advertising agency for Audi, San Francisco-based Venables Bell & Partners created the ad. More Photos
Prodrive has launched the Impreza N2010, its latest FIA specification group N rally car.
The Impreza N2010 uses the new larger 33mm air restrictor, introduced by the FIA to help balance the performance of Group N and the unrestricted Super2000 rally cars. Increasing the restrictor diameter from 32 to 33mm, fitting high flow fuel injectors and recalibrating the ECU increases peak power by 20 bhp, but more significantly, improves torque and responsiveness throughout the rev range.
The improvements in engine performance have been matched by enhancements to the car's dynamics. The N2010 Ohlins dampers have been revised with extra travel front and rear, while all the suspension bushes have been strengthened.
"The engine and suspension changes make the N2010 far more competitive," said Graham Prew, Prodrive sales manager. "On gravel the Impreza is certainly a match for any Super 2000, but it is on tarmac, that the additional engine performance will really come into its own and make the N2010 a competitive alternative to a Super 2000, but at about half the price and with significantly lower running costs."
The Impreza N2010 prices start at £120,000 and for the first time Prodrive has introduced a financing option to enable the car to be leased over two years with an option to buy the car at the end of the agreement. The package includes insurance and system rebuilds.
N2010 specification
Engine: Flat 4-cylinder boxer: Capacity: 1994 cc Bore: 92.0 mm Stroke: 75.0 mm
Turbo charger: IHI twin scroll with new design regulation 33 mm restrictor with new roller bearing.
Controllers and displays: Engine: Prodrive-Pectel programmable with removable data storage card. Centre diff: Prodrive-Pectel programmable fully CAN compliant with selectable diff maps. Driver's screen: GEMS CD25 5.5" colour VGA screen with multiple pages including engine, transmission and steering information. Increased integration of control systems and co-driver's screen.
Exhaust Hi-flow motorsport catalyst with silencer options available in stainless or titanium.
Fuel system FIA approved FT3-99 95 litre safety tank centrally mounted under floor.
Transmission Gearbox: Prodrive-Hewland five-speed manual dog engagement with revised gear linkage and 2-stage shift light. Front diff: Plated limited slip Centre diff: Electro mechanical locking Rear diff: Plated limited slip
Clutch STI, 240 mm six paddle competition, single plate homologated STI cover.
Roll cage Prodrive manufactured rollcage to FIA compliant MSA homologated.
Suspension Revised Öhlins dampers with improved travel, strengthened rear cross-member high performance uprated suspension bushes. Front: Prodrive-Öhlins TPX 44 MacPherson strut, three-way adjustable with front hydraulic bump stop. Rear: Prodrive-Öhlins TTX 44 coil-over damper, three-way adjustable on multi-link rear suspension.
Steering Power assisted quickrack (13:1) for left and right hand drive. PAS cooler (optional) Wheels: Speedline or Work Tarmac: 18" x 8" or 17" x 8" Gravel: 15" x 7" Snow: 16" x 5.5" Brakes: AP Racing Tarmac: front: four-piston 355 mm rear: two-piston 285 mm Gravel: front: four-piston 295 mm rear: two-piston 285 mm Handbrake: WRC style vertical lever using STI/AP homologated piston.
Dimensions Front track: 1,550 mm Rear track: 1,540 mm Length: 4,415 mm Weight: 1,350 kg
For more information contact: Ben Sayer, Prodrive: T: +44 1295 754320 More Photos
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