Another hybrid Porsche on the way

Porsche Panamera hybrid

(Credit: Porsche AG)

Porsche announced today that it's developing a hybrid version of the Panamera, a four-door GT car that will debut in a traditional combustion engine version in 2009.

The hybrid system will use a combustion engine, plus an electric motor and an additional clutch, along with a battery pack to store power. The system can switch between the combustion and electric motor, or combine power from both, depending on driving conditions. And although we haven't seen specific technical data yet, this system sounds strikingly similar to GM's "two-mode" hybrid system, which can yield anywhere from zero emissions to pretty much standard combustion engine-level emissions, depending on how hard the car is driven. Porsche claims their hybrids will reduce fuel consumption by 30 percent over standard models.

Porsche isn't saying exactly when the hybrid Panamera will go on sale, but says it will be offered at "a later date" than the purely gas-powered 2009 Panamera. It could be a while, since Porsche recently announced that the hybrid version of its Cayenne SUV would be delayed until 2010.

First drive: 2008 BMW M3 Coupe

2008 M3 coupe

(Credit: BMW NA)

As a fan of the predecessor to this current M3, the e46, I was skeptical about driving what some called a heavy, underpowered car that didn't quite live up to its ancestors' legacy. A few die-hard enthusiasts, amid cracking tired Bangle jokes that are oh-so-five-years-ago, called it the MPIG, bemoaning the addition of more sensors and high-tech gadgets that added weight and deterred DIYers. And I almost bought into it.

Sure, I'll never love the look of the car like I love the e46. But the new M3 is, for better or worse, one of those cars you have to drive to truly appreciate.

On a recent press trip in Monterey, we had the opportunity to drive the M3 as it should be driven: On empty, windy roads. And later, even better: Madza Raceway Laguna Seca.

The 2008 M3 is powered by an all-new, 4.0-liter V8 engine. This is a drastic departure from the inline six used on the previous generation of the 3 Series cars. The bigger motor catapults the output to 414 horsepower at 8300 rpm, with 295 pound-feet of torque. But the sound of the car remains refined. The engine sounds big, but still reminiscent of M3s past. Sure, there are bigger engines out there, but the M3 is powerful without being raucous. Acceleration is still plenty fast, and the engine revs so high, you could drive around town without changing gears -- if you really wanted to.

On the road portion of our drive, my driving partner and I were amazed at how soft the ride was while driving over uneven pavement. This was due to an optional Electronic Dampening Control (EDC) feature on our car which has three suspension settings: comfort, normal, and sport. But even in "comfort" mode, softness didn't equate to mushiness. The car still felt dynamic and responsive, even while going over potholes and railroad tracks.

The steering was about as tight as I'd ever felt on any BMW. Although faced with a slew of considerably sharp turns as we wound our way through the hillsides, I never had to take my hands off the three-and-nine position. And the nice thick M wheel was comfortable and pleasurable to grip.

At the track, it was time to take it to a whole other level. My manual coupe really let it rip when I got on the throttle, and the brakes bit down hard and fast before the turns. Even though I was only on stock Michelin Pilot Sport tires, the car stuck like glue through the apexes, and the car's back end came around nicely as I gave it more gas out of the turns. Only a few times did I push it hard enough to get those tires to "sing," but I never felt out of control. Admittedly, I did the whole track in third gear, but even so I never lacked for power or torque.

That said, the 2008 M3 is not a "track car" in the true sense of the word. But that's not the point. The beauty of the e92 M3 is that it can be a sensible, dignified daily driver, and still tear it up on track days. And although I am coupe-biased, I think the re-introduction of the M3 sedan will even further the M3's image of an all-around car that can serve many purposes and still be a thrill to drive.

Oh, and about that heaviness thing; BMW lightened the new chassis up quite a bit to compensate for the weight increase. An aluminum hood and suspension, as well as a carbon-fiber roof, shave some weight off, although the "unladen" weight of the coupe is still 3704 pounds, with the sedan weighing in a tad heavier at 3726 pounds. By comparison, the e46 M3 coupe is 3415 pounds. So just imagine the kind of horsepower boost the 2008 M3 could get if it were 300 pounds lighter. But if you're the kind of person who's bothered by that kind of heft, you're probably better off buying an old M3 and ripping all the seats out.

AutoRAI 2003: the concept cars

The Alfa Romeo Scighera was one of the oldest show cars present this year. But this design by Fabrizio Giugiaro, son of the well-known designer and founder of the ItalDesign studio Giorgetto Giugiaro, looks timeless. It's a mid-engined super sports car aimed to connect Alfa's modern technology to their famous racing past. At the time of its introduction at the Geneva Auto Show in 1997 the board of the Fiat Group, of which Alfa Romeo is a part, weren't impressed by it and more or less neglected the car., but in the way time works this was all to change, as you'll see further on.
The name of this car refers to a type of fog and in this case indicates secrecy and stealth. Originally it was presented in full red Alfa Romeo racing livery, but later its paint job was changed to this more sedate metallic grey, reminiscent of its ancestor, ItalDesign's BMW Nazca of 1991.

The Scighera is not just some show car, it's actually fully registered for road use. Even a limited scale production was considered for some time by ItalDesign. It's powered by Alfa's 3-litre V6 from the 164 sedan model, which is boosted to produce some 400 hp by a twin-turbo system. To get this amount of power on the road it features the four wheel drive technology from the Lancia Delta Integrale (which was also offered on the Alfa 155) and a 6-speed sequential transmission. At a vehicle weight of 1200 kg it must be a bomb to drive.
To ensure a limited vehicle weight the chassis frame is constructed from aluminum-carbon fibre composite material and the body is made from aluminum. If it gets hot under the dome like glass roof the side panels can be removed to let some air in. For easy access the roof panels fold upwards when the doors are opened.

It's an amazing car to look at, but it must have cost a fortune to build and to be honest: I liked the original Nazca better.

The Brera is a more recent attempt by ItalDesign at designing an Alfa Romeo sports car, and it looks to be a more viable one too. It was first shown at the 2002 Geneva Auto Show and remarkably its characteristics are not that much different from the Scighera, they're only more realistic in execution. The Brera is also constructed from lightweight materials, with a body made entirely from carbon fiber, and features 400 hp with all-wheel drive and sequential transmission as well. Only in this case a 4.2-litre V8 of Maserati origin, placed in front of the passengers compartment, is used to obtain a 402 hp power output.
It seems that ItalDesign is very committed to giving Alfa their sporting heritage back and after getting a shoe in at the Fiat Group by designing the Maserati coupe and spider the Giugiaros seized the opportunity to make another attempt at an Alfa sports car. And this time they found an open door at Alfa for this project. While the Fiat Group is in dire straights at this moment and looking frantically to expand their market, Alfa Romeo is committed to return on the US market. To make a big entry and to establish a selling point of stylish sportiness a model emphatic conveying these aspects is very much needed. And that's where Alfa and ItalDesign found each other.

This time the design is credited to Giugiaro senior and the exterior is not so much timeless as it is modern contemporary. It has the "blob" like appearance as shown by a number of concepts by other manufacturers/designers, apparently the current fashion for 2+2 GT cars. But its razor sharp front-end design, the creases on the sides and the pointy rear makes this design stand out in a positive manner. The long, aggressive nose makes no secret of the road-devouring potential of this car, and its width (1.9 m) combined with its low height (1.3 m) makes it seem to have a rock-solid road holding.

What impressed me most about the Brera was not its exterior design, but its interior. What is it with Italian designers that they can make utilitarian objects like buttons, switches and levers look so desirable? The interior is both wonderfully classic as it is uniquely modern. I love it.

Alfa Romeo is contemplating to start a limited production of 1.000 Breras, slightly adapted to mass production at more or less affordable prices. That reminds me of the Alfa Romeo SZ, Alfa's previous attempt to revive times of old. Still, it would make an enticing addition to the current range of Alfa Romeo models.
Added 2006: now we know that the Brera concept has in fact spawned two production models, the Brera coupe and the Spider cabriolet. The production coupe looks remarkably like the concept, though it has been completely redesigned. Unfortunately the interior design of the concept has not been carried over. The Spider, without the bulgy roof, looks even better than the coupe.

Hyundai Motor India Limited plans to launch its new 800cc car in India in next three to four years. Research teams from Hyundai in Hyderabad and Chennai shall jointly work on the new car concept that would compete with Maruti's 800cc car directly in the small car segment.
“We are working on a 800cc car which will be similar to the Maruti 800. The car is under joint development in our Indian and Korean R&D facilities. The ultimate desire is to become India’s largest car maker,” said Hyundai Motor India MD & CEO H S Lheem.
Maruti Suzuki currently leads the small car segment in India with Hyundai trailing at the second position. HMIL plans to expand its market share and occupy larger market share in the country. It has set a target of 22 percent market share in the current year.
“The small car market is going strong and will continue to do so. Our small car will be meant for both the domestic and the export market. However, we neither have the technology nor any plan to fight the Nano,” said Lheem.
Hyundai also plans to bring its new model i20 in India by the year end. The new model shall be launched in Paris Auto Show in October this year. Hyundai currently sells 20,000 i10 per month which records as the highest selling model for the company. HMIL has already sold 2 lakh units this year and exported more than one lakh cars.

Competes with: Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Ford Focus
Looks like: A baby Camry
Drivetrain: 132-hp, 1.8-liter four-cylinder or 158-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder
Hits dealerships: February 2008
The Toyota Corolla is arguably Toyota's second-most-important model, and it took a long time for a new version to get here. The look certainly mimics the current-generation Camry, with an angled grille and sharp headlights. The exterior may not be radical, but Toyota rarely dares too much, especially in mainstream cars. That's why it has Scion, after all.Inside gets a nice new look — everything seems clean, simple and well-laid-out, hopefully with improved materials.Power for Standard, LE, XLE and S trims is rated at 132 horsepower from a revised version of the previous four-cylinder engine, with mileage figures of 27/35 mpg city/highway. There aren't any specifics on mileage with the different transmission choices yet. The outgoing Corolla gets 28/37 mpg using new 2008 EPA testing. A performance XRS trim level will reappear for 2009 with the same 158-hp four-cylinder found in the Scion tC and xB. It gets 22/30 mpg in this application and is mated to either a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic.We'd expect prices to stay close to the $14,405-$15,615 starting prices of the 2007s, as has been the trend for other recently redesigned models.

High Tech Concept Car

High-Tech Concept Cars
Fifty years ago, General Motors called its high-tech concept cars "Dream Cars." Most of them, like a turbine-powered car that looked like a jet airplane, remained just that—a dream. Today's high-tech dream cars are rooted in much more practical concerns, especially fuel efficiency and weight savings, which were not on the pop-culture radar in the 1950s. Today's concept cars are much closer to making dreams like fuel cells, which generate electricity from hydrogen and emit only water vapor, come true.

Honda PUYO

The eco-friendly design of the Honda PUYO fuel-cell vehicle is meant to create a soft, friendly impression and entertain the occupants as well as the people around it. The “seamless soft box” design gives PUYO a spacious interior and the charm of a cute pet that begs to be touched. PUYO’s “gel body” made from soft materials is designed to enhance safety, while embedded headlights and other illumination shine through the soft, translucent skin in the hope of fostering a more tender relationship between human and machine.

Mazda Taiki

The hyper-aerodynamic Mazda Taiki is the fourth vehicle in Mazda’s Nagare series of cars based on the concept of “flow.” Inspired by Japanese koinobori (decorative carp-shaped streamers), Taiki’s design is meant to visually express the flow of air (incidentally, taiki means “atmosphere” in Japanese). With outstanding environmental and driving performance, Taiki’s next-generation rotary engine and front-engine rear-drive layout may well figure into Mazda’s future sports cars designed to help achieve a more sustainable society.

Dreamy concept cars at Tokyo

In recent days, Japanese automakers have been releasing the details of concept cars to be unveiled at the upcoming 2007 Tokyo Motor Show (October 26 to November 11). Here is a roundup of some of the more fantastic designs.

——————–
- Toyota RiN



(Toyota RiN)
Designed to promote harmony with nature and evoke a warm, fuzzy feeling inside, the eco-friendly Toyota RiN concept car features heated ergonomic seats, an oxygen level regulator, a spot humidifier, a “mood training” steering control system that monitors the driver’s psychological state, and greenish glass that protects against UV and infrared light while enhancing the natural beauty of the view outside. The exterior design was inspired by Japan’s old-growth Cryptomeria trees known as yakusugi, which are found on Yakushima island, a natural World Heritage Site known for its pristine, ancient forests.

Renault Nepta Concept Car to debut

The Mixim concept car

2008 Mercedese Wagon

Diesel engine overview:
C 200 CDI:
100kW / 136 hp
270 Nm
C 200 CDI:
125 kW / 170 hp
400 Nm
C 320 CDI:
165 kW / 224 hp
510 Nm
Petrol engine overview:
C 180 Kompressor:
115 kW / 156 hp
230 Nm
C200 Kompressor:
135 kW / 184 hp
250 Nm
C 230:
150 kW / 204 hp
245 Nm
C 280:
170 kW / 231 hp
300 Nm
C 350:
200 kW / 272 hp
350 Nm

Clean cars at Guangzhou Auto Show

__________________

Honda FCX Clarity

The Honda FCX Clarity is a hydrogen fuel cell automobil manufactured by Honda.

Currently there are more than twenty 2002 prototype-based, leased vehicles in the hands of customers in three different American states, including the state of New York, city of Las Vegas, Chula Vista, San Francisco and the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Limited marketing of a latest fuel cell vehicle based on the 2007 concept model is to begin in 2008 in Japan and the United States. Honda believes it could start mass producing vehicles based on the FCX concept by the year 2018.

BMW 135i

After months-and-months of hype the BMW 135i is finally coming to America. The smallest sedan in the current BWM line-up may be its most exciting. At 306-hp the twin-turbo 6-cylinder engine still expected to rate around a 31-mpg. The hype has been huge for the 135i and nearly every indication seen so far shows that BMW has delivered with this car. Even Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear (a known BMW critic and ridiculer of BMW drivers) judged the 135i very favorably in a recent test. If you can find one at MSRP and without all the extras in 2008 then grab it up. It is the well equipped price of nearly $50,000 that keeps the 135i from being Number 1 on this list. Well… that and the car that IS Number 1.

Lexus IS-F

Being a fan of the IS-350 it was very pleasing to me to see Lexus bolster their line-up by building up a purely athletic model from their IS body. The IS-F punches out 400-hp and accelerates in a zero-to-60 test in the mid-four second range. It will be interesting to see how the IS-F fares against the BMW M class, Audi S4’s and Mercedes-Benz AMG’s. No matter the comparisons in class the Lexus IS-F will give plenty of people another reason to stop by their local Lexus dealership… and for some of us our first exciting reason to stop by a Lexus dealership.

Chevy Camaro

Speaking of classic muscle the Chevy Camaro comes in at number 6 just ahead of the Challenger. Part of the reason for the Camaro’s edging out the Challenger is price (Chevy intends to make the Camaro comparable in price with the Ford Mustang… although I am not sure which variation of the Mustang they are targeting) and part of the reason is I just favor the design of the Camaro. The new Camaro not only takes from the classic lines of the 68 Camaro model, but in part provides a more interesting modernization of its classic heritage. Expect GM boys to gobble up the Camaro as fast as GM can build them.

Dodge Challenger

Despite the $20,000 premium over the MSRP that the Dodge Challenger SRT-8 is getting in pre-orders at local dealerships we still applaud the return of this muscle car icon. While the glossy copy of the original design done by Dodge’s designers is not a far stretch from the classic lines it is meant to embody the new Challenger is just what many fans were looking for. If the pre-order numbers are any indication we think the Challenger is going to be a welcomed success for Dodge and will rekindle for many that classic muscle car era.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo-X

With brash styling, a new engine and great suspension the Mistubishi Lancer Evo-X is one of the most exciting sedans to hit the market in 2008. Part of that excitement is also the price. The base-level GSR will come in at $34,000 and come with 295-hp and 300-ft.lbs. of torque. While comparisons between the Evo-X and the Subura Impreza WRX STI will continue on for many our choice has been made. Price and performance are close between the two comparable cars, but the appearance of the Evo-X edges out the WRX STI on our list.

The Tesla Roadster

When the Tesla Roadster was first introduced the buzz was palpable and the Promise was very much on target with what many in the Green market had been waiting on. To bring to market a two-seat roadster with the performance (and price) of an exotic sports car that would not require a drop of gasoline. While many of the rich and famous have made their deposit to acquire their own Tesla EV Roadster not one of them has seen a delivery. Transmission problems have slowed the building progress of the Tesla, but we still remain high on its Promise. Let’s just hope the Tesla Motors can come through on their Promise.

Ferrari 430 Modena

A site dedicated to the awesome Ferrari Modena. Sex on wheels, as it is sometimes described, the Ferrari Modena is a luscious looking / performing automobile.

There is not a soul alive that wouldnt kill to get their hands on one. If this were legal perhaps this would be more common so for the most we can only dream of owning such a car. Well this site should give you the next best experience to owning one. So dive in and check it out.

History of Ferrari
The name Ferrari is synonymous with power, performance, and speed. When many think of their "dream car" it's a sleek, rumbling Ferrari going 180 miles per hour down the highway. Since it's humble beginnings in 1947, the Ferrari stable has always been stocked with some magnificent machines.

Enzo Ferrari was born on February 18, 1898 near Modena, Italy. He saw his first motor race at the age of 10, and could drive by the time he was 13. Connected for many years with Alfa Romeo, Ferrari himself built a only a few sports cars bearing his own name and his famous prancing horse badge.

Ferrari Facts

• The mid-engined Dino 246GT was unique in that no where on the car did the word 'Ferrari' appear
• The best selling Ferrari was the 1986-89 328 GTS, 6,068 were made
• The most expensive Ferrari was a 250GTO which sold for $12m
• The 1976 Ferrari 400GT was the first to feature an automatic gearbox






Updated Ferrari 430 News

Ferrari is to replace its 'entry-level' 360 Modena with this: the 430 Monza. Ferrari is said to have registered the numbers '430' as a trademark, indicating that the company's 4.2-litre V8 engine could be enlarged for this new model to 4.3 litres; an output of 450bhp is estimated. This engine will remain mid-mounted.

Its front and rear-end Pininfarina-penned styling, with vertically-stacked headlights and redesigned air intakes, is heavily influenced by that of the Enzo Ferrari: more angular, and more aggressive in its stance. Like the Enzo, the 430 could feature an adjustable rear spoiler. It is expected to be formally unveiled early next year, possibly at the Detroit Motor Show in January, with sales following in summer 2005. A convertible version and a lightweight, stripped-out Challenge Stradale model are predicted to follow in 2006.

New Cars Online

A site dedicated to new cars online. Reliable cars, fast cars, sports cars, family cars: all new cars online.

You'll find the best car reviews on the latest new cars online. Search car review archives to read auto reviews from past years of all new cars. No matter what auto make or model, you can be sure we have an online review of the new cars or used cars that you're looking for.

"New Car Smell" Less Toxic, But The Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder Smells Funny For A Reason

A group that keeps tabs on toxic car chemicals has released a study showing that new cars are improving in terms of the amount of interior toxins they off-gas: What we euphemistically call "new car smell." General Motors, Mazda and Nissan showed the greatest improvements over the inaugural year of the survey, according to HealthyCar.com. The best performing vehicle this year was the Acura RDX, which scored a 0.6 on their incomprehensible 10-point scale. It wasn't all coming up roses, as there are still many vehicles emitting that oh-so-pleasing and apparently oh-so-toxic smell.

The 2009 Mitsubishi Eclipse GT Spyder tops the list of cars that still cause serious concern, though we could have told you were concerned about Eclipse GT buyers before the study

Hot Cars in Pakistan, Nissan 350Z in karachi

Lada 4X4, made in Egypt

In 2008 at the Lada-Egypt assembling entity as of AvtoVAZ sub Lada 4X4 will be made.

Now this entity is a producer of Lada 2107 within the full assembling cycle, AK&M reports.

The cooperation between AvtoVAZ and Lada Egypt started in 2002. In 2006 the new assembling production line was launched as having the increased production capacities.

Lada 2107 is rather popular in Egypt; over the 8-month period 1.8ths auto sets for this model were delivered.

Russia’s largest carmaker AvtoVAZ [RTS: AVAZ] announced on Thursday plans to start production of Lada off-road vehicles in Egypt in summer 2008.

Production will be handled by Lada Egypt, a local car assembly plant, which will produce Lada 4×4 cars from AvtoVAZ auto components. The Russian auto manufacturer plans to deliver over 900 auto kits for the vehicle’s production at the Egyptian plant in 2008.

In 2007, AvtoVAZ produced and shipped 3,312 auto kits for Lada 2107 assembly at the Lada-Egypt plant, and plans to deliver over 5,300 sets for the manufacture of the vehicles in Egypt in 2008.

Fastest Cars Of Pakistan !

this hatchback civic which is said to be around 650bhp it was first in the hands of adil in isb but now maxpower have bought it



this skyline r33 is said to be of 1000bhp

you can also count salmans white civic among them it is said to be of 550bhp
Pictures/URLs of other Pakistani websites are not allowed [Mod Edit]

Essen Motor Show 2008 Scirroco Cup Racer

Leader Ready for Round Two

Pre-teen Trenton Briley dominated the competition during Round One of the Mickey Thompson/Kalgard Lubricants SXS Stadium Series presented by Skin Industries.

Trophy Kart driven by 12-year-old Trenton Briley with LTR 450 Suzuki quad racer motor and K&N air and oil filters at Perris Speedway in California

Briley climbed his way to the podium by working hard. He overcame issues that took him out of first position and threw him back into the pack. Driver Connor Hart was in the lead when Briley took him on in a head-to-head battle in his Trophy Kart. At the finish, Briley took the win.

Trenton Briley will compete in Round Two of the SXS Stadium Series presented by Skin Industries in Perris, California, photo by Matt Rodgers

The Middle School student's Trophy Kart has a LTR 450 Suzuki quad racer motor. “We use K&N air and oil filters,” said Trenton’s father Rob Briley. “We have dyno records that show we pick up 5 horsepower on a 40 horsepower motor. K&N helps us out on and off the track. We’ve used K&N for as long as I can remember on our street cars and trucks. K&N is a well known product in our family.”

Briley placed 2nd overall in the J1 Modified Elite Trophy Kart Class in the 2008 SXS National Series and placed 9th overall the 2008 CORR Series Modified Elite Class. He was in the video From the Dirt and will have a spot in From the Dirt Part Two.

The Acton, California resident races almost three weekends every month. “We have to stay focused,” said Natasha Briley, Trenton’s mother. “We’re busy. Trenton is also competing in a complete Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series in a 450 modified.”

Audi R8 race car to tackle Nürburgring 24 hrs

This year's Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race will feature perhaps the most wicked Audi R8 yet: a lightweight, custom-built racer that makes the road car look tame by comparison. To comply with the requirements for participation in the race, the stock 4.2L V8 donates its block and is rebuilt from there. The race-spec motor's displacement drops to 4.0 liters but it delivers a hefty 530 horsepower and 353 lb-ft of torque. The R8's stock front and rear bodywork is replaced by new, widebody carbon kevlar panels. Those outboard intakes in the nose are replaced by blanks, and out back, the custom exhaust's dual outlets poke through the spot where the license plate would reside on the production car. Other obvious additions are the front splitter, large rear wing, rear diffuser, and multiple cutouts in the aft bodywork to help with engine cooling. The entire package weighs in at just 2,755 pounds -- this thing should absolutely haul. German magazine Sport-Auto has been covering the car's development. We'll see how the car fares in competition next week.