SLR McLaren Roadster by BRABUS at Geneva

BRABUS is offering a two-time deal for buyers of its two special cars, the SLR McLaren roadster conversion and smart. Interested parties can buy these two as a performance couple, one of the city, and one for touring. Cost is an eye-watering €699,000 for both, and can be enjoyed by owners of SLR and/or Maybach. And both cars come in a special snow-white exterior paint colour.

SLR has upped its game by 24 bhp/ 18kW to 650 bhp/ 478kW, from the old 5.4-litre V8 supercharged horse of the early 2000s. It has been assisted by a fuel-cooling system and special camshafts. Acceleration is assisted by a limited-slip differential so that 0 – 100km/h goes quickly by in 3.6 seconds. For the benefit of those who can, its ultimate speed is 337km/h.

Aerodynamically there are clear changes as well, where the front bumper hosts a spoiler that helps to minimize lift and keep the 20-inc wheels on the ground at all times.

Press Release

An idea from yacht design finds its way into the automotive world: The SLR McLaren roadster BRABUS and its “Tender for the City,” the ultimate city sports car BRABUS ULTIMATE 112, both with absolutely identical paint and equipment. BRABUS offers both exclusive speedsters with special snow-white paint for a package price of 699,000 Euros; a very special offer from BRABUS for all owners of an SLR or Maybach.
The sportiest drop-top Mercedes of all time, the SLR McLaren Roadster, is fitted by BRABUS with more than just a top-quality white carbon-fiber skin. The exterior is treated to an aerodynamics update, engine tuning and custom-tailored 20-inch wheels further optimize handling and performance, and the interior adds even more touches of exclusivity. To give the SLR even better looks while at the same time reducing lift on the front axle the
BRABUS designers have developed a front spoiler that is attached to the stock bumper. This aerodynamics component was optimized in the wind tunnel. It is made from exposed carbon fiber, making it especially light and extremely robust. The rear apron is upgraded with a BRABUS diffuser also made from exposed carbon fiber. It replaces its production counterpart.

The sportier appearance of the SLR Roadster is further characterized by the BRABUS Monoblock VI 20-inch Platinum Edition wheels that fill out the wheel arches perfectly. The fully polished three-piece wheels with six double spokes are mounted on the sports car in size 9.5Jx20 in front and in size 11.5Jx20 on the rear axle. Thanks to their high-tech design that features a forged aluminum rim and a billet aluminum center the BRABUS 20-inch wheels are lighter than the 19-inch turbine-design wheels optionally available for the SLR ex factory. High-performance tires in sizes 255/30 ZR 20 and 305/25 ZR 20 are supplied by BRABUS technology partners Pirelli and YOKOMAMA. The tire/wheel combination is custom-tailored for SLR coupe and roadster, and has more than just a visual effect: handling benefits from the switch to even lower aspect ratio tires and the lower rim weight.

Thus equipped the drop-top SLR is fit for BRABUS engine tuning. The tuning kit for the 5.5-liter supercharged engine consists of special camshafts and a fuel-cooling system. Power output increases by 24 hp / 18 kW to 650 hp (641 hp SAE net) / 478 kW at 6,500 rpm. BRABUS also offers a special clutch-type limited-slip differential with a locking rate of 40 percent for the SLR. It optimizes traction and thus acceleration performance further: The tuned SLR Roadster rockets from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 337 km/h (211 mph).

Exclusive BRABUS cockpit design is characterized by precision handwork down to the last detail. The company-own upholstery shop created a striking combination of lipstick-red leather and black Alcantara. The waffle-pattern stitching of the SLR leather footwells alone - a special BRABUS exclusive - uses some 7,800 meters of the finest red thread. The BRABUS sport steering wheel for the SLR is a sporty and highly functional BRABUS option. The wheel has a flattened bottom for easier entering and exiting and provides optimal grip with its combination of perforated leather and Alcantara. The BRABUS steering wheel features buttons integrated into the spokes for manually shifting the gears of the SLR’s automatic transmission without taking the hands off the wheel. Sporty BRABUS carbon-fiber applications for dashboard, center console and door trim transfer the racing look of the BRABUS exterior components into the interior. The interior components are made from exposed carbon-fiber and can be color-coordinated with the leather color upon customer request.

Both vehicles in the white BRABUS fleet are available as a package or separately. Customers can freely choose their personal exterior and interior colors.

Audi R8 conversion by MTM comming soon

MTM is excited by its announcement that it will finally add some significant mods to the famed Audi R8. MTM has vast experience in modding mostly German marques like VW, Audi, and Porsche, as well as Skoda and Ferrari.

A number of “upgrades” are proposed when it comes to the look, with customization starting from the wheels where forged MTM Bimoto rims are fitted for full effect. These will be available only from June. Rubber going around these is semi-slick, the type used by racing cars. MTM also say they have improved the sound of the R8, a feat that cannot be claimed idly because of the already magnificent aural treatment the R8 gives in standard form.

Since this is just the start for Project R8 at MTM, lots of work still needs to be done; aerodynamics, chassis, and engine. Already MTM has worked on this V8 in the RS 4, but not much was done past delimiting it from 250km/h to 282 km/h. Maybe this time the high-revver’s true potential will be unleashed.

New Alfa Sportwagon Car

Alfa Sportwagon condenses all the best qualities of the Alfa 156 into a new concept: the sporting station wagon. Lots of space that can be organized rationally, together with engines offering tremendous performance and great driving pleasure. And one look is enough to see that the Sportwagon’s style is beyond dispute.

Driving pleasure in total safety. This is the essence of driving according to Alfa Romeo. A unique sensation perfectly encapsulated in the new Alfa 156, a car which makes driving sheer pleasure, in total safety and comfort. A car as beautiful to look at as it is to drive. The impact of the new Alfa 156 hits all five senses. Sight, drawn in by the Giugiaro-designed elegant, sporty contours. Hearing, ready to react to the unmistakable resonance of an Alfa engine. Touch, in the encounter with fabrics and materials which create new sensations every time.

And the scent of speed and the taste of the unbeatable flavour of performance with total control. All that is missing is your sixth sense, to make the new Alfa 156 an even more unique experience. The unmistakable touch of Italian style, the most sophisticated mechanicals, engines beyond compare, painstaking research into all the materials and the utmost attention to detail: the Alfa 156 is all of this and more. Because Alfa Romeo represents the definitive combination of driving pleasure and safety.

Right from the start the new Alfa 156 conveys its unique personality with seductively elegant styling and a consummate sense of balance. The result is a car which will captivate with a racier, stylised front, with its new radiator and the line of the bonnet highlighting the lighting cluster which combines sophistication and power for trouble-free night driving.

The bumper blends in seamlessly with the rest of the car, gracefully underlining its compact perfection. The aesthetics that continue, through the new 15", 16" and 17" alloy wheel, towards the rear. The tail of the car, with its spacious boot, highlights the historic Alfa Romeo emblem: symbol of motoring and design excellence which over the years has become an art form applied to the highest levels of technology, styling and driving safety.

Sixteen body colors. Three, including the classic Alfa Red, are pastel shades, eleven are metallic colors including the new Moonlight Blue, Stromboli Gray and Brooklands Green, and two iridescent colors: Cloud Blue and Cloud White.

Alfa GT

A perfect balance of passion and rationality, emotion and safety, style and versatility: Alfa GT, the coupé that offers maximum driving pleasure with all the elegance and comfort of a saloon with exceptionally generous interior space. A car that makes dreams come true. Engines that deploy superlative automotive technology to deliver searing performance, fuel economy and unparalleled flexibility, also in city traffic. Internal trim featuring high prestige materials with the hallmark of elegance and livability. A compact, aggressive styling that embodies all of Alfa Romeo's unmatched sporting tradition.

Lotus Exige 270E TriFuel at Geneva Motor Show

Interesting times indeed for the world that even a purist automaker like Lotus is getting ready to mesmerise mother nature as it reveals the Exige 270E Tri-fuel. Tri-fuel runs on methanol, bioethanol and petrol/gasoline. It has a top Vbox reading of 255km/h, having dispatched the 0 - 100km/h time in 3.88 seconds.

Both methanol and bioethanol contain a significant amount of pure alcohol, which basically means the more your car can drink, the better life will be for the environment. Lotus is betting that this happens, particularly in sync with widespread availability of the fuels worldwide. This is the part that might hamper the Lotus Exige 270E Tri-fuel’s progress.

The Lotus Exige 270E Tri-fuel dons a 1.8-litre engine which, with the help of a mechanical blower (aka supercharger), dispenses 270 bhp – hence the name – or 201kW at 8000rpm and 260Nm, making it the most potent road Lotus out there. Lotus will unveil the covers off a 270E Tri-fuel at Geneva in the next couple of days.

Press Release

Lotus Engineering, the world renowned automotive consultancy division of Lotus, unveils its latest development towards carbon neutral road transport at the 78th Geneva International Motor Show. The Lotus Exige 270E Tri-fuel is the most powerful road version yet of the Exige (0-60 mph / 96 kph in 3.88 seconds, a top speed of 158 mph (255 km/h), 270 hp (201 kW / 273 PS at 8000 rpm) and it runs on any mixture of gasoline, bioethanol and methanol. Emerging technologies will allow alcohol fuels such as methanol, already a proven internal combustion fuel, to be made synthetically from CO2 extracted from the atmosphere.
An alcohol-based fuel derived renewably from atmospheric CO2 would allow society to transfer relatively easily to sustainable, carbon-neutral internal combustion. Lotus Engineering is researching the use of sustainable synthetic alcohols as potential future fuels, with technology available from Lotus for introduction in four to five years. However, the supply infrastructure investment from governments and fuel companies could take 15 to 20 years.

The Exige 270E Tri-fuel is part of Lotus’ research to understand the complex combustion process involved in running on mixtures of alcohol fuels and gasoline, which will be important for a successful transition from today’s fuels to the sustainable, synthetic fuels of the future.
This research is just one aspect of Lotus Engineering’s ground-breaking work on environmentally-friendly vehicles. It is involved with a number of electric vehicle projects, has successfully integrated hybrid technologies into vehicles such as its EVE demonstrator, and recently announced results on a collaboration with Continental Division Powertrain on the Low CO2 downsized three-cylinder engine. The research into sustainable alcohols is progressing at Lotus’ Hethel headquarters in Norfolk, UK and involves input from the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Alternative Fuel Symposium Series, the Low Carbon Vehicles Innovation Platform, developed by the Technology Strategy Board and direct discussions with the University of Sheffield.

Methanol (CH3OH) can be produced synthetically from CO2 and hydrogen. Ultimately, emerging processes to recover atmospheric CO2 will provide the required carbon that can entirely balance the CO2 emissions at the tailpipe that result from the internal combustion of synthetic methanol. The result is that a car running on synthetic methanol, such as the Exige 270E Tri-fuel would be environmentally neutral.
As well as being green, the great benefit of synthetic methanol is that it would use similar engines and fuel systems to those in current cars; and synthetic methanol can be stored, transported and retailed in much the same way as today’s liquid fuels such as gasoline and diesel.

Synthetic methanol also possesses properties better suited to internal combustion than today’s liquid fuels, giving improved performance and thermal efficiencies. And it is ideal for pressure-charging (turbocharging and supercharging) already being introduced by manufacturers to downsize engines in a bid to improve fuel consumption.

Lotus Engineering’s Lotus Exige 270E Tri-fuel technology demonstrator illustrates how easy it is for synthetic methanol to be embraced over time as a future fuel for road transport. The Exige 270E Tri-fuel, with its supercharged 2ZZ-GE VVTL-i engine, could be the forefather of a new generation of conventionally driven cars that have the potential to be environmentally-neutral.

Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus plc, explains: “Lotus is a world-class leader in research into a variety of alternative fuels; each has its merits and challenges and some options could be more easily implemented than others. But while motorists want to be green, we do not want to change the culture of total freedom for the owners, who will have an extreme reluctance to spend more at the pump, or to sacrifice the performance of their cars.

Mike Kimberley continues, “At present, the motor industry is seeking a route to reduce CO2 emissions just at the tailpipe; this focus is far too narrow. A sustainable alcohol such as synthetic methanol has the potential to reduce the overall CO2 footprint of internal combustion vehicles towards zero. Produced through CO2 recovered from the atmosphere and given a tax incentive, it immediately becomes a green, cheap and more desirable fuel. For those compelling reasons motorists, legislators and car manufacturers must switch to a sustainable alcohol like synthetic methanol.”

Geraint Castleton-White, Head of Powertrain at Lotus Engineering explains: “For car companies and the motorist, the use of sustainable alcohols like synthetic methanol requires relatively few changes to the vehicle. It can also use the current fuel distribution infrastructure, which is a huge advantage for suppliers.
Geraint Castleton-White continues, “We believe that, technically, there are a small number of significant but by no means insurmountable hurdles to the adoption of synthetic methanol as the staple future fuel for internal combustion. We are some way into a number of extensive research projects but of course, we understand that further research needs to be undertaken to fully overcome potential challenges that may arise.”
David Bott, Director of Innovation Platforms within the Technology Strategy Board in the UK says: “The approach taken by Lotus Engineering is a good balance between the desire for the lowest carbon emissions and the practicality of car evolution. The drive for low carbon transport is a real imperative and its progress will require short, medium and long term solutions.”
Tony Ryan, ICI Professor of Physical Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry at The University of Sheffield says: “There is a great opportunity to develop methanol as a transport fuel in a mixed energy economy that embraces a wide range of primary energy sources, including nuclear, solar, and other renewable power sources. Combining atmospheric CO2 with hydrogen to form methanol provides a pathway to personal transport with low carbon emissions that uses the existing liquid-fuel infrastructure and Lotus Engineering offers world leadership in the development of engines to use these fuels of the future.”

The Lotus Exige 270E Tri-fuel
The Lotus philosophy is all about performance through light weight. The Exige 270E Tri-fuel is built to the lightest specification possible without resorting to expensive and rare materials. The performance improvements of using synthetic alcohol have been made through increasing the power of the engine without increasing its weight and therefore the overall weight of the car.

The Engine
The heart of the Exige 270E Tri-fuel is a Roots-type supercharger (with a sealed-for-life internal mechanism meaning that it does not require the use of the engine’s oil) and air to air intercooler attached to the tried and tested 4-cylinder, 1.8 litre 2ZZ-GE VVTL-i engine. Using a development of the supercharger and intercooler package from the Exige S, the Exige 270E Tri-fuel has peak power of 270 hp (201 kW / 273 PS) at 8000 rpm, 184 lbft (260 Nm) of torque at 5500 rpm, up by 51 hp (38 kW, 52 PS) or 19% and 25 lbft 45 Nm or 14% over the standard gasoline Exige S. Maximum engine speed is 8000 rpm (8500 rpm transient for up to 2 seconds).
The low carbon number alcohol fuels methanol and ethanol give more power when burned in the engine than conventional gasoline (petrol) fuel. The performance benefits come largely from the high heats of vaporization of methanol and ethanol, which give strong charge-cooling effects, and the increased octane ratings. There are other secondary thermodynamic effects. Methanol's higher heat of vaporization leads to a slightly higher performance relative to ethanol. All charge air ducting has been kept as short as possible with large diameter pipes making sure that the bends in these ducts are not too tight, to the benefit of throttle response and efficiency. The Roots-type Eaton M62 supercharger is turned by the crankshaft, and has an integral bypass valve for part load operation.

The 2ZZ VVTL-i engine has two cam profiles – a high speed cam and a low speed cam. The seamless switch point between these two cams is completely variable depending upon driving conditions and engine load. This gives the Lotus Exige 270E Tri-fuel a smooth and linear surge of power from idle speeds all the way to the maximum 8500rpm. An electronic drive-by-wire throttle ensures the quickest engine response possible whilst keeping the emissions as clean and as low as possible, to meet relevant legislative demands. Six fuel injectors have been fitted to increase fuel flow to the engine at normal and higher engine speeds and loads.

Ford FPV Range Australia

Ford has decided to use the Melbourne International Motor Show to publicly unveil it full range of Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV). Based on the recently launched FG Ford Falcon series, the FPV range is a thorough reworking of a familiar theme, big grunt, big car and rear wheel drive. This combination is a palatable one for the Australian performance car enthusiast as Holden, Ford’s arch rival downunder, also has a range of performance vehicles based on their Commodore Sedan and Ute which are called HSV.

The range isn’t officially released to the buying public until June this year but FPV are keen to get the public excited. Performance details have yet to be released suggesting there is still some tweaking of the powertrains going on by the Engineers to optimise both the V8 and turbo 6 cylinder units. The F6 range will use a 4.0L in-line turbocharged 6 cylinder engine which will be good for 300kW/402hp (SAE) and 550Nm of torque. This is a big jump in power from the 270kW/360hp (DIN) of the outgoing BF model so acceleration times should plummet. The 5.4L V8 in the GT series will breathe better and rev higher which should push power to over 310kW/415hp (SAE), again a good improvement over the superseded BF’s 290kW/390hp(DIN). Expect a 6 speed manual and a 6 speed ZF sourced automatic to complete the transmissions available

FPV products have always had menacing styling and the new FG range does not disappoint, the front end looking particularly aggressive. If you like what you see, and you don’t live in Australia or New Zealand, you had better get that immigration process moving a long as these cars will likely never be available elsewhere.

Press Release

Ford Performance Vehicles Reveals New Model Range

Ford Performance Vehicles (FPV) today publicly unveiled its new performance GT and F6 sedans at the Melbourne International Motor Show.

“This is the first chance for the public to get a close-up look at some of our new models, ahead of their release in June,” said Ford Performance Vehicles General Manager Rod Barrett.

“Our new model range offers performance enthusiasts the ultimate in performance engineering, luxury appointments and sports styling.”

For the first time, the Ford badge will not appear externally on an FPV model. The GT and F6 sedans on display both feature FPV badges prominently on the centre grille and centre boot lid, which is consistent with the entire new range.

“Featuring the FPV badge on all our new models is a major repositioning for the FPV brand,” said Barrett.

“It signifies the maturing of our brand and the evolution of FPV as Ford’s performance partner.”

As with Ford, FPV has repositioned its high performance sedan and Ute model variants, with eight stunning vehicles divided into the GT series and F6 series families.

“The repositioning of the vehicle line-up has been done for similar reasons to the Ford
G Series,” said Barrett.

“It is all about growing the brand and attracting new customers. The GT series family continues our strong iconic heritage, while the F6 series family caters to a new segment of performance car enthusiasts who prefer a slick turbo charged six-cylinder to a thundering V8.”

The bold exterior styling of the new GT and GT-P is highlighted by the trademark unique front grille treatment, rear wing, side striping and V8 bonnet bulge accented with a newly designed hood decal.

Visually, the new GT-E is distinguished from its V8 siblings by its refined rear lip spoiler, chrome accenting and distinctive GT-E badging.

The GT-E’s unique 19-inch alloy wheels are matched by a premium brake package, with six-piston Brembo brakes now featured as standard.

“The GT-E is a sophisticated luxury performance car that will cater for those buyers that don’t want the stripes, wings, and seats offered in the GT-P, however, want to retain all the performance attributes of that car,” said Barrett.

The Super Pursuit and Pursuit Ute variants complete the GT series range.

The F6 series family features the F6 and F6 Ute – the Typhoon and Tornado nomenclature are discontinued on the new vehicles.

Significant ride, handling and safety advancements have been made to the new FPV stable. Each new model variant has been fully engineered and designed to provide the performance enthusiast with the ultimate in Australian performance motoring.

Safety advances include the addition of Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) on FPV sedan & Ute vehicles for the first time.

Significantly, FPV customers will also have a choice of manual or automatic transmissions at no additional cost in the sedan range.

“The option of automatic or manual transmissions in the sedan range at no extra cost caters for both our luxury and overt sports customers, without penalising either for their choice of transmission,” said Barrett.

FPV has produced exhilarating performance upgrades across the GT and F6 range, however, the exact engine performance power and torque figures will be revealed closer to the on sale date in June.

2008 Clipsal 500 Wednesday Autograph Session Grid Girls Post 3