I really like this as basic transport for the family. Given that it’s slower than molasses, it would also, ahem, attract far less attention from Johnny Law (an ongoing issue around our parts).

- Gyro

Esse ai todo mundo vai querer um igual!!

Os números impressionam??

- Iate de 135 pés desenhado pela Porsche

- Área útil de 472 metros quadrados (o suficiente para hospedar 20 pessoas, incluindo o comandante e demais funcionários)

Espaço interno. Tudo o que você queria e um pouco mais!

- 208 metros de deck superior. 

- 41 metros de comprimento, 12,5 metros de altura

- Dois motores turbodiesel

- 4.600 cavalos

- Consumo de 750 litros de combustível por hora.

Cabine do Iate

Today, we live in a world with a decaying environment due to the use of, some would say primitive vehicles. As much as we need innovation to carry us over to a new era of driving, one problem remains. The environmentally friendly cars currently in the market carry none of the qualities which we have come to love. Looks are harder to find as well as some true performance. We aren’t quite there yet but I feel that we are begining to enter a new era of automotives. Cars which help with our global warming problem while providing all the fun, beauty and performance that we all love to experience. The Tesla is one of these cars. Yes there are flaws and it can be more but it is certainly a start. Now another car or concept can be fit into that category. The BMW Vision Efficient Dynmics Concept.

Just like the Tesla, it does have some more work to be done to it to truly do all it can to help our world but again, it is one hell of a start. So what put’s this BMW in a higher hybrid category? Well let’s start with what resides under the hood and the boot. A 1.5L turbo-diesel engine. This BMW uses its 163hp and 214lb-ft of torque to propel itself to the 100km/h mark in 4.8 seconds. With all its speed, it still manages to score 62.6 mpg on the EU test cycle. To power the hybrid motor of the Vision, a lithium polymer battery pack is used. This pack weighs just 187 pounds and can be charged in as quick as 2.5 hours.

All of this seems great, it does, but it isn’t what makes this BMW special. What put this concept in that special category is its use of aerodynamics. The diesel motor has been put in the back of the car which does a great deal to help with the drag. The engine sits just in front of this and the electric motor resides in front.

When it comes to the body; the concept is made around a full aluminum chassis and suspension. The roof and most of the car is made from a light sensitive polycarbonate. The glass portion of this actually gets darker as light shines on it.

Lastly, the German Automaker has also implemented what they have dubbed “forward looking energy management”. The point of this system is to anticipate what is to come and use its power train to save energy.

My Thoughts: I am not going to comment this time on this concept’s beautiful, progressive looks or it’s price. For this post, I want to talk about what this car represents. This concept is a look at what could be. BMW has combined heightened performance, beautiful looks, and smart gas consumption into one concept. Yes there is more that can be done to further reduce emissions and consumption but none the less, this concept is the start of a new era. It gives the driver what he wants. The attention of the people he drives by, the power needed for that adrenaline rush under his foot and the equipment to help lessen his carbon footprint on earth.  Will this concept come out as is? Unlikely. Can more be done to reduce pollution? Most likely. Is this car the beginning of an age of high performance with less consequences? Yes it is and it is my hope that as time goes on we will quickly but efficiently improve on this.

Após a Fiat/Abarth ter mostrado seu esportivo Coupé de duas portas, agora é a vez da Volks mostrar o seu. Ao que parece vem aí um roadster turbo da Volkswagen movido a diesel. Isso mesmo, um preview do Salão de Detroit de 2009 saiu sobre o modelo, e parece que vai ser mostrado com mais detalhes lá.

A única informação que temos é que o Volkswagen BlueSport motor seria 2.0 Turbo movido a diesel com 180hp e 260 libras de torque, o estimado pela VW é um 0-100 em 6.2 segundos, algo bom para um roadster.

Pelo jeito a fabricante alemã vai entrar de cabeça no mercado de roadsters, e pelo design e pelo motor já ganha um ponto, o carro ficou bem bonito e rápido, o jeito é esperar pra ver os detalhes finais no Salão de Detroit. Quem sabe num futuro vem para o Brasil? Sonhar não custa nada. =)

Fonte: Autoblog

Al ver este Alfa por primera vez es inevitable pensar en el 8C Competizione, se nota bastante la influencia de las líneas maestras del 8C en la carrocería del nuevo Mi.To, especialmente en los faros. Tiene unas dimensiones menores que las del 147, con 4,06 metros de largo se sitúa más cerca del segmento de los urbanos como los Grande Punto, Corsa, 207, Clio, Ibiza… que de el de los compactos. Su altura es de 1,44 metros, la misma que la del 147 actual.

Se pondrá a la venta en septiembre de 2008 con una gama de propulsores inicial que incluye dos motores de gasolina y uno diésel. Los motores de gasolina son un 1,4 litros de 95 cv y un 1,4 litros turbo con 155 cv, mientras que la mecánica turbodiésel será el 1,6 litros de 120 cv del Fiat Bravo. Habrá que esperar unos meses para la tan ansiada versión deportiva GTA.

El equipamiento de serie del Mi.To incluye, en todas las versiones, control de estabilidad (VDA). En las versiones más deportivas se podrá variar la respuesta del motor, el grado de intervención del ABS, la dureza de la dirección y de la suspensión a través de un mando que la marca denomina Alfa DNA y que incluye tres niveles de ajuste, Dynamic, Normal y un modo para condiciones de baja adherencia.

JUNIOR

• Airbags frontales, laterales, cortina y rodilla para conductor
• ABS + EBD
• VDC + DST
• Diferencial autoblocante Q2
• Hill Holder
• Sistema DNA
• Alcoholímetro
• Paquete eléctrico
• Radio CD MP3
• Volante de piel
• Ordenador de viaje

OPCIONES JUNIOR

• Control de velocidad 165 €
• Faros bi-xenón 550 €
• Sensor de aparcamiento 310 €
• Paquete visibilidad 300 €
• Aire acondicionado 950 €
• Cristales tintados 150 €
• Asientos con calefacción 300 €
• Tapizado en piel Frau 900 €
• Hi-Fi Bose 600 €
• Navegador, desde 500 €
• Blue&Me 500 €
• Llantas de aleación 550 €
• Pack Junior Sport (faros antiniebla, aire acondicionado, paragolpes específico, escape cromado, llantas de aleación, alerón posterior) 1.390 €

You didn’t think Subaru would be the only one with a 5 door turbo hatch did you? Well, Mitsubish plans on fully unveiling their new Lancer Evolution 5 Sportback at the Paris Motor Show in October, so the Subie doesn’t feel alone. Mitsubishi is also going to reveal the Ralliart version as well. Enjoy the pictures.

You can find the full article and press release here.

In case the first title was too long for the amazing gas mileage to be obvious, I want to call further attention to this recent article on the new VW TurboDiesel Jetta, coming to the US in 2009, and capable of meeting all of the toughest state emissions tests. I’m not a great fan of carbon-based fuels these days, but 60 Miles per Gallon merits mentioning and praise in any context.

I’m delighted to report that, according the Edmunds.com car site:

“Volkswagen of America spokesman Keith Price is now able to ballpark U.S. volume allotments on the ‘09 Jetta SportWagen. “We expect to sell 14,000-15,000 Jetta SportWagens in the U.S.,” he said. “About half will be diesel.” He said the gas-powered Jetta SportWagen will go on sale at the end of July, starting at approximately $19,000.

The clean diesel-powered Jetta SportWagen is slated to hit showrooms here at the end of August, starting at approximately $22,000. Price said formal pricing on the SportWagen will be announced later this summer.”

The bold emphasis is mine. So, you can have your car and a full tank, too!

James K. Bashkin © 2008

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Jeremy Clarkson takes an Audi A8 Diesel across Great Brittan in an 800 miles trek from London to Edinburgh on one tank of gas . . . this means he will be averaging 40 mpg in a car that can go from 0-60mph in 6 seconds and has a top speed of 150mph. We need these cars in the USA badly!

Here’s the clip . . .it’s very cool . . . you have to see this. . .

If you cannt get this clip to load, click here.

The HyundaI diesel-powered i30 won the 2007 CARSguide Car of the Year Award in Australia.  It was also voted CARSguide Green Car of the Year for its turbodiesel’s frugal and eco-friendly performance.  The judging panel praised its style, handling, and performance features.

Underscoring i30 CRDi’s eco-ability was its win last month in the Panasonic Solar Challenge Greenfleet category.

This is the first time a Korean-made car has won a national car of the year award in Australia.  Finishing second was VW’s Golf GT TSI “twin charger”.

Finalists were scored in a variety of situations.  The cars were driven in a range of environments and road conditions including city, freeway, highway, and country towns to evaluate them in critical driving situations.

Steering, handling, braking and acceleration were also rigorously evaluated.  The finalists were also “put through the paces” at Goulburn’s Wakefield Park race circuit for judges to assess grip thresholds, tire balance, chassis performance and suspension.

The winning i30 CRDi SX featured HyundaI’s Protectz pack option that is comprised of electronic stability control plus side and curtain airbags.

Kevin McCann, Director of Sales and Marketing, Hyundai Australia said, “we’re extremely proud the i30 has received these two esteemed awards.  With several classes –leading innovations and our traditional outstanding value, we had no doubt that the i30 would succeed in giving all its competitors-including hybrids- a run for their money.”

The i30 CRDi won by receiving 94 points out of a possible 99.  There were 10 criteria the judges used before ranking the vehicles 1 to 11.

“The new i30 is a reflection of Hyundai’s world-class design capabilities with its inspired European styling, innovative iPod/USB compatible audio and outstanding frugal turbo-diesel engine.  The i30 offers a suite of intelligent safety features and Australian optimized suspension and steering together with the class leading quality and reliability for which Hyundai is increasingly recognized,” said Mr. McCann.

The judges were nine motoring editors and senior motoring writers from The Daily Telegraph (Sydney), The Herald-Sun (Melbourne), The Courier Mail (Brisbane), The Adelaide Advertiser, Hobart Mercury and Perth Sunday Times.

The Daily Telegraph motoring editor, Kevin Hepworth said, “Quite simply, it (the i30) impressed more of the judges in more areas than any other car at the finals.”

Dawn

Zagato, originally uploaded by turbodiesel.

Giulietta Sprint, originally uploaded by turbodiesel.

Wedding party’s over, originally uploaded by turbodiesel.

612 (chinese) Scaglietti, originally uploaded by turbodiesel.