In 1953 America got its first American made sports car and since then there was no looking back. Since then Chevrolet has released almost six different generations of Corvettes. The latest is the C6, which costs around $100,000 and is in production. The performance of corvette has improved through generations. This is the car America drives.
C1 or the first generation Corvette was in production during the years 1953 to 1962. Then in the year 1962 the car was replaced by C2. This car is remarkable in the automobile history as this featured the Corvette Sting Ray coupe. Larry Shinoda and Lawrence Kiyoshi Shinoda were the designers of the car. The concept of stylization was done entirely by Bill Mitchell. Classic corvettes like Mako Shark or the Sting Ray soon became very popular. Corvettes are not only sports cars-they are representations of generations with their own characteristics. (Read post…)
Racing wheels are basically a product of specialist manufacturers, which are high in quality and standard.
Choices to upgrade cars alternative to re-modelling has been led in the aftermarket area by wheel manufacturers who are inspired by racing car trends & a desire to make the standard car look sporty. Enkei wheels are racing car inspired whilst racing car wheels are performance driven for serious on track performance.
Racing wheels are inevitably installed & engineered to enhance efficiency and performance of the vehicle. These wheels are generally dearer & sought after by the serious race car driver. These wheels are extremely light in weight resulting in better car performance; they are also perfectly engineered to achieve wheel flex & strength particularly during extreme cornering. (Read post…)
The Chrysler LLC group has rolled out fresh pictures and a new video with some B-Roll footage of its all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee a couple of weeks ahead of the SUV’s U.S. market launch in early June.
The 2011 Grand Cherokee will be offered with a choice of two engines including the Chrysler Group’s all-new 290HP 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine that delivers up to 23 mpg, and a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 with 360-horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque. (Read post…)
Ever since Opel lifted the covers off the stylish GTC Concept back in 2007, there have been rumors flying throughout the internet and the media about a production version of the study that would essentially replace the Vectra-based Calibra of the 1990.
And while many (yours truly included) may support that an Astra-based sports coupe sounds like a more reasonable and lucrative proposal for Opel, Car Magazine has returned with an update on the Calibra II / GTC Concept story.
The report claims that the four-seater coupe is still under consideration but if it gets the final okay, it could go on sale as early as 2013, which sounds plausible given that the car would be more or less a two-door version of the Opel Insignia (sold in the U.S. as the 2011 Buick Regal). (Read post…)
When I first saw the press pictures of the all-new Porsche Panamera, I thought: “it looks like a giant roach.” At a recent showing at Quail Lodge during the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance weekend in California, I had the chance to see it up close. What a difference in person! Not only does it not look like a roach, it’s absolutely stunning in person. Now I know as a member of the Fourth Estate, I am supposed to be composed and non-biased in my writing. Forget it! I am gaga over the Panamera and I don’t mind losing a journalistic point or two by saying it.
The Panamera is the first ever sedan (technically a four-door hatchback) from Porsche, and their marketing tag line for the car is “Four, uncompromised.” And boy did they get it right. It is a true Porsche in every detail, and should have no trouble swaying even the most diehard 911 owner to at least test drive one. Porsche has not always been successful in straying away from the “pure,” rear-engine layout that made the 911 a legend. The 924 was tagged a VW in disguise, and the 944/968 and 928 were blasphemed for having water cooled, front engine layouts. Boxster and Cayman arrived with true Porsche DNA, and the Cayenne literally saved the company. With that trio, the so-called mistakes of the past had been corrected. And now, a Porsche sedan. (Read post…)
Automobile fascination paired with spectacular race car design – that is the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3. The racing version of the SLS AMG has been conceived as a customer sport vehicle for participation in race series based on FIA GT3 regulations. Meticulous lightweight construction and optimized chassis, brakes and aerodynamics deliver uncompromising dynamics. The extra special SLS AMG will make its race track debut in 2011.
As defined in the FIA GT3 regulations, the AMG 6.3 liter V8 engine is virtually identical to that of the series production vehicle. Thanks to its low weight, the acceleration figures for the GT3 – 3.7 seconds for the sprint from 0 to 60 mph – are considerably below the already excellent figures for the series production vehicle. Depending on gear ratio, the top speed is more than 186 mph. In contrast to the series production vehicle, the SLS AMG GT3 is equipped with a six-speed racing transmission with sequential shift. Thanks to its compact construction, the race-tested transmission offers considerable packaging benefits – ultimately, the GT3 version has less ground clearance than the series production vehicle. The driver shifts gear using two shift paddles on the steering wheel. The transmission is mounted directly on the rear axle and connected to the V8 engine via a torque tube, which has a very high degree of flexural and torsional stiffness. (Read post…)
BMW used the 2010 New York Auto Show as a chance to showcase its fan favorite, the 2011 Alpina B7. The ’11 Alpina B7 is based off of the current 750i but under the hood, the Alpina is pure performance. The twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter direct-injection V8 mated a six-speed automatic transmission with Alpina Switchtronic transmission control produces 500 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. With the Alpina Switchtronic transmission control, there are Sport and Manual modes. (Read post…)
At this years New York Auto Show, Porsche debuted the new 2011 Porsche Cayenne Hybrid and improved Cayenne Turbos.
The all-new Cayenne S Hybrid features a highly sophisticated parallel full hybrid drive system. With a combined power output of 380 horsepower from the supercharged V6 combustion engine and an electric motor, the Cayenne S Hybrid combines the performance of a V8 with the economy of a V6. Like many hybrids, the Cayenne S Hybrid can cover short distances on electric power alone, free of emissions and noise up to almost 40 mph. For aggressive acceleration, the motor provides an extra ‘boost’ to the gasoline engine. (Read post…)
At the 2010 New York International Auto, Volvo showed off their new S60 sport sedan. It seems that Volvo is banking on the S60 to take them to the top of the sport sedan world: “There is no doubt the all-new S60 will be going head-to-head with the best sport sedans in the world,” said Doug Speck, VCNA President and CEO. “But with 300 horsepower, all-wheel drive and a very attractive starting price, I’m confident we’ll be popping up on many driving enthusiasts’ shopping lists.”
The all-new S60 will be launched stateside with the T6 engine, an upgraded, more powerful version of the T6 engine currently offered in the XC60 premium crossover. All T6 models come standard with Volvo’s all- wheel-drive system. The turbocharged T6, displacing 3.0 liters, has been improved with lower internal friction and is the most powerful six-cylinder engine currently offered by Volvo. It now puts out 300 horsepower and a stout 325 lb.-ft. of torque. Maximum torque is achieved from just 2,100 rpm and remains available throughout the rev range. Power is transmitted to the wheels via Volvo’s second-generation six-speed automatic Geartronic transmission. (Read post…)
Volkswagen brought their second generation Touareg (with a twist) to the 2010 New York Auto Show. The 2011 Touareg features a hybrid powertrain, showcasing the brand’s first-ever hybrid. The Touareg offers three available engines to suit a variety of different drivers: A V6 FSI gasoline engine, a V6 TDI Clean Diesel engine, and a V6 TSI gasoline hybrid engine. With the hybrid model, a 3.0-liter supercharged, direct injection V6 gasoline engine is paired with a special electric motor that reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by about 40 percent.
An eight-speed automatic transmission, helps the Touareg Hybrid achieve approximately 25 mpg and 21 mpg during highway and city driving respectively. A special clutch can disengage the transmission from the engine when the engine is not powering the Touareg, allowing it to coast forward emission free to further aid in fuel savings. The electric motor can also recover kinetic energy during braking to help recharge the nickel metal-hydride battery pack. With the V6 engine and electric motor combined, a total of 375 horsepower and 428 lbs.-ft. of torque are available, allowing for full towing capacity of up to 7,700 pounds. (Read post…)