History of Toyota Supra

Toyota Supra underwent a few minor changes for 1998. The exterior remained the same, except for the removal of the Anniversary emblems on the front fenders. Inside, a new 3-spoke steering wheel replaced the previous 4-spoke wheel, the cloth sport seats had a bolder design, and the radio was redesigned. The Naturally Aspirated I6 got Variable Valve Technology with Intelligence (VVT-i), which lead to an increase of 5 bhp and 10 lb-ft over the year before. The Twin Turbo I6 remained unchanged. The 5-speed manual transmission was dropped, even though the 6-speed manual was still available only on the Twin Turbo. Therefore, the base model was only available with an automatic. Faced with declining sales for Japanese super cars, this would be the last year that the Toyota Supra would be sold in the U.S.
for detail of Toyota Supra history,go to musclecarclub.com

Mercedes Benz Brabus

Mercedes Benz Brabus , as usual, a very nice stand with almost the whole range on show.Several of the cars were equipped with this engine, Brabus´
version of the twin-turbo V12 called SV12, first introduced in the
Maybach but also powering Mercedes´ 600-models. Brabus has increased
the displacement from 5,5 litres to 6,3 litres which is achieved through
the installation of a unique steel-billet crankshaft, larger diameter
lightweight alloy pistons and precision-balanced connecting-rods.
The engine is also fitted with sport camshafts, precision-machined
cylinder heads, a high-performance sport exhaust system and reprogrammed
engine electronics. The engine is amazingly powerful, 640 bhp at 5100
rpm and a maximum torque of 1026 NM from 1750 rpm. This engine is
available for the SL-, CL- and S600 and the upgrade costs 44900 EURO
plus an installation cost of 1980 EURO. But it is also available in
the E-class in a model called EV12. The EV12 is only available as
a complete car, built in exclusive small-series production, which
means that you can´t upgrade your standard E500 with the V12-engine,
you have to buy the EV12 directly from Brabus. It is one of the most
amazing 4-door cars ever built.

Mercedes Benz Brabus

Mercedes-Benz sells 500000th SLK

Chrysler Dodge Jeep

Hyundai i20 on British soil

Its not unusual for Hyundai to test cars in the UK. This is the first sighting of the firms new car on British roads, since engineers are currently in the Austrian Alps and Germany.

The new i20 will replace the aging Getz hatchback when it arrives early next year. This mule was spied on back of a tow-truck between Coventry and Leeds, Northern England.

The Getz replacement will take styling hints off the larger i30 to make it look more distinctive than its rivals. The interior will be improved immensely over the outgoing model. The current models dull, hard, cheap-looking interior will be ditched in favour for soft-touch plastics, upgraded fabrics and silver styling elements to give the interior a posher feel.

2 petrol engines will be available, producing around 80bhp for the 1.2 litre and 109bhp for the 1.4 litre, with an optional automatic transmission. A 1.5 litre 110bhp diesel will arrive and likely to be hooked to a manual gearbox.

The newcomer will premier at October's Paris motorshow in 5-door form. Sales are expected in Spring 2009 with prices starting around £7,500, however, 6 months down the line, the 3dr will arrive.

Related links:

Hyundai i20 undisguised

Hyundai i20 spied in Spain

2009 Honda Jazz specifications revealed (EU)

Honda's smallest baby, Jazz, has been on the Europe market since 2001. In the UK, the Jazz clocked up over 161,000 sales. The newcomer is set to follow in the predecessor footsteps when its arrives in November.

Surprisingly, there will be no diesel engines under the bonnet as Honda believes the refinement, fuel economy and performance of its i-VTEC petrol engines justify shunning a diesel. So, the 1.2 and 1.4-litre petrol engines will power the new Jazz at launch and a hybrid will come during 2009, promising no road tax.

Emissions fall from 129g to 120g/km for the 1.2 litre, which is mated to a 5 speed manual. Instead of 78PS, the 1.2 now has 90PS and returns 55.4 mpg combined. The 1.4 litre emits 124g/km from 137g and 139g and is teamed up with Honda's new 6-speed automated manual i-SHIFT transmission that replaces the previous CVT. A 5 speed manual is also optional. Power is increased from 83PS to 100PS and returns 53.3 mpg combined.

The UK Jazz line-up should consist of the entry-level S, followed by the mid-range SE, ES, and rising to the flagship EX. The 1.4 litre EX receives the heat absorbing, panoramic glass-roof with electric shade.

Set to be officially unveiled at the Paris motorshow on the 17th October, prices for the Jazz will start at £10,000, rising to around £14,000 for the 1.4-litre model.

Press Release:

Honda's all-new Jazz is once again set to redefine the B-segment parameters of practicality and interior space. The 5-door hatchback will achieve class leading interior space and combined it with significantly improved fuel economy and 120 g/km CO2 emissions (1.4-litre i-SHIFT and 1.2-litre). The exterior design is at first glance an evolution rather than a revolution, but this subtle change of appearance is only one small part of the thousands of changes that push the all-new Jazz forward. It retains the concepts of the previous Jazz with its centre fuel tank layout and Magic Seats which gave it world beating interior flexibility.

Yet while the best features are retained, including cabin space to rival mid-sized saloons, the new Jazz brings change to every area, raising the bar even further and promising to expand on its success in the supermini segment. The previous generation was given more than fifty awards and has sold over two million around the world since its 2001 launch. A slightly larger, ‘cab forward' style body brings better visibility and means Jazz is even more spacious, benefiting rear legroom and boot space in particular. The Magic Seats now dive down in one easy action and their versatility is now complemented by a new Double-Trunk boot feature in the luggage bay.

There are greater levels of safety equipment including the introduction of Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, active front seat head restraints and VSA. Larger wheels, revised suspension and a longer wheelbase/wider track bring greater agility while enhancing ride comfort. And new 90 PS 1.2-litre and 100 PS 1.4-litre i-VTEC engines deliver better performance characteristics while boosting economy to exceptional levels - 5.1 and 5.3 l/100 km combined, respectively. CO2 emissions for both the 1.2-litre and 1.4-litre engines have also been significantly reduced. The 1.2 litre engine now emits just 120g/km (down from 129g/km), while the 1.4 litre produces 123g/km in manual or 120g/km with the i-SHIFT transmission (down from 137g/km)

Greater economy and lower emission from two new engines:

New, more powerful petrol engines, capable of outstanding economy, are designed to appeal to customers who might be downsizing as well as those looking to achieve fuel economy comparable to diesel powered models. Their balance between economy and lively performance are unmatched in the class. Adopting Honda's VTEC technology (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control), the new 1.2 and 1.4-litre four-cylinder engines are connected to either a 5-speed manual transmission or, on 1.4 models, Honda's i-SHIFT 6-speed automated manual transmission which includes steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Offering 90 PS compared to the 78 PS of its predecessor at a slightly higher 6,000 rpm and torque up from 110 to 114 Nm for improved performance, the 1.2-litre engine nevertheless achieves 5.1 l/100km combined, down from 5.5 l/100km, while CO2 emissions are also improved, reduced from 129 to 120 g/km. It is a similar story with the new 100 PS, 127 Nm 1.4-litre engine. Compared to the previous i-DSI unit which produced 83 PS and 119 Nm, fuel economy is now 5.3 l/100km for the manual model (down from 5.8 l/100km) and an even better 5.1 l/100km when equipped with the i-SHIFT semi-automated manual transmission (5.9 l/100km for the previous 1.4-litre CVT). CO2 output drops to 124 and 120 g/km, respectively (down from 137 and 139 g/km). The new SIL (Shift Indicator Light) fitted to manual models, similar to that found on the new Accord, provides a visual prompt of the best gear shift points to maximise economy.

Transmissions:

The 1.2 and 1.4-litre models are equipped with an evolution of the previous 5-speed manual transmission with gear ratios optimised for a more sporty driving experience while ensuring good fuel economy. Key improvements include a revised clutch pedal stroke, carbon-type synchroniser on third gear to minimise shift load, crisper shifting through reduced clutch disc inertia and improved refinement. Manual transmission-equipped models feature the new SIL (Shift Indicator Light) within the centre of the rev counter, also found on the latest Honda Accord. Providing the driver with a visual prompt of the best gear shift points to maximise economy, it has been demonstrated to provide meaningful fuel economy improvements.

i-SHIFT (6-speed automated manual transmission):

As well as a 5-speed manual gearbox, the 1.4-litre engine can be teamed up with Honda's latest i-SHIFT transmission. The first time a 6-speed automated manual transmission has been offered in this vehicle class, the gearbox offers better fuel economy than is possible with either a true automatic or a CVT (continuously variable transmission). The unit is a development of the system first fitted to the Civic, with improvements made including; reduced gear change times, smoother shifts and more intelligent automatic mode shift logic.

New cab forward styling and increased dimensions:

At 3900 mm long, 1695 mm wide and 1525 mm tall, the new Jazz occupies its own unique niche between superminis and compact MPVs, offering the style of the former and the practicality of the latter. Overall height remains the same, but the length of the new Jazz is up by 55 mm and it is also slightly wider - by 20 mm. A wheelbase increase of 50 mm, and front and rear track increases of 35 mm and 30 mm, respectively, aid handling stability. Despite those increased dimensions, the turning circle at 9.8 m kerb to kerb is no larger than that of the previous Jazz and together with improved visibility, the new car's around town abilities are even better.

Prom-night leads to a Porsche Carrera GT getting wrecked (U.S)

A giddy father decided to loan his very own Porsche to his son in Atlanta, GA. The car is now sitting on a truck cargo bed in an Atlanta parking lot. The driver of the truck that made a pit stop at the parking lot after bringing the car from Miami claimed the Carrera GT was destroyed by a teenage driver during prom night.

Perhaps bumping up the driving age to 18 years old?

2009 Audi Q5Review : Hot Looks, Sporty Moves

the Audi Q5 as an Audi A4 Avant that can wade through 20 inches of standing water and scramble across a mildly muddy two-track trail. The standard Quattro all-wheel-drive system has the same 40:60, rear-drive biased torque distribution, and the Audi Q5 packs the same sweet 265 hp 3.2-liter V6 with 243 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine is paired with a ZF six-speed automatic, and Audi estimates the combination will net 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. If we're honest, that is a bit disappointing, especially when compared to the powertrains they'll offer in the homeland. German Audi Q5s can be had with three of Audi's most impressive engines—the four-cylinder gasoline 2.0 TFSI, and two diesels: a thrifty 2.0 TDI or the powerhouse 3.0 TDI V6, which belts out 407 lb.-ft. of torque. Oh yes, they all get better mileage than our V6.

The Audi Q5 cabin is nearly identical to the A4's, which is no bad thing. It is all quite intuitively designed, right to the flip-down rear seats, which are easily actuated from the cargo area. Only leather will be offered, and upscale niceties like a climate-controlled cup holder and ventilated front seats can be optioned. Audi's MMI (Muti-Media Interface) is much improved too, with small pop-up windows sliding onto the screen to note temperature or seat heat adjustments. The navigation system now shows details on buildings, and can be viewed in "bird's eye" format—quite chic, indeed. But we'd still like to have touchscreen controls.

Toyota May Raise Prius, Luxury Vehicle Prices in Japan

Jiji Press reported that Toyota Motor Corp. is considering raising prices in Japan of its Prius gasoline-electric hybrid car and luxury models, company officials said.

The Japanese auto industry leader is expected to raise prices by one to 3 pct on average due to soaring costs of raw materials such as steel, informed sources said.

The company is likely to make a final decision as early as August and start introducing new pricing by the end of this year, the sources said.

It will be the first time for Toyota to raise its vehicle prices without model changes since 1992, when the company increased prices for some commercial vehicles.

Unlike the United States, it is unusual for Japanese automakers to raise prices without remodeling. But other Japanese automakers are highly likely to follow suit as they also struggle with higher costs.

Toyota seems to be finding it easy to raise the prices of the Prius and luxury models because their sales are apparently less vulnerable to a price increase than other lineups including smaller cars.

The Prius is in short supply because of its strong demand. Higher materials prices take a heavier toll on the Prius than on other models because the hybrid car uses a lot of rare metals, of which prices are rising steeply. [ theautochannel.com ]

Porsche 911 Targa after feyslifting

The company continues to update Porsche 911 model range - following the zadneprivodnymi Carrera and Carrera S, as well as full power Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S, a procedure feysliftinga postponed another polnoprivodnaya model - 911 Targ and 4 and 4S.


From modifications to the bodywork compartment existence of these cars are different panoramic glass roof area of more than 1.5 square meters, central section which can shift into a special compartment in the trunk.All the changes that have taken place with the model Targa, already familiar in other modifications 911. For example, the new system full of drive Porsche Traction Management (PTM), where the transfer front-wheel drive train instead viskomufty manages multi grip with electronically controlled, first appeared at the 911 Turbo and now installed on all versions wheel compartment and cabriolets.



In addition, Targa will now be manned modernized 3.6 - and 3.8 - litre engines with direct fuel injection, a robotic CPR with two adhesion (PDK) will replace the outdated hydromechanical "automatic" ZF. From zero to one hundred kilometres per hour and 911 Targa 4 will be able accelerated for five seconds, and Targa 4S - for 4.7 seconds. Maximum speed - 284 and 297 kilometres per hour respectively.Changes in the exterior is almost invisible: the new bumper and rear-view mirror, other rear lamps, LED "cilia" "dimensions", as well as new collection of wheeled drive.


The base changed Porsche 911 Targa 4 in Germany will cost 97,907 euros and more powerful Targa 4S - 108.855 euros.

Toyota Mark X Zio hydrogen snagged

Its extremely rare to see a Toyota Mark X Zio in the U.S since the minivan is exclusively sold in Japan only. Anywho, this is no ordinary petrol powered Mark X, it is in fact running on hydrogen fuel cell. Spied undergoing hot-weather testing in Death Valley, CA, unusually the mule is wearing Michigan plates and is left hand drive...?

Following in the steps of BMW and Honda, will hydrogen be the answer to future fuels? Toyota is of course very well known for its world-leading hybrid technology, but as we all know hybrids are just a step forwards. Other automakers will be extremely interested in this vehicle if it gets shown publicly and still runs on hydrogen, because Toyota is a pioneer and leader of the hybrid cell system.

Hyundai cuts Santa Fe prodcution (U.S)

Following a 10.6% drop in net profit during the second quarter, Hyundai is cutting back on production of the Santa Fe in their Montgomery, Alabama plant. Production will be cut down by 40,000 units due to slowing sales and sky-rocketing fuel prices.

Hyundai has already cut production of the Santa Fe over the last several months, and increased the output of the Sonata sedan. Thus, Hyundai will not be forced to cut workers or shifts due to the switch.

However, in 2010 when the Santa Fe receives a facelift, a 2.4 litre 4 cylinder Theta engine will be available, alongside the current 2.7 and 3.3 litre V6's. The new engine should offer 22mpg (26.4mpg UK) in city driving and 32mpg (38.4mpg UK) highway driving. That means it offers better fuel economy than the Nissan Rogue crossover.

Renault Megane III coupe caught uncloaked in U.S!

Following the leaked images of the 5dr Megane and a journalist getting arrested, spies have caught the 3dr completely undisguised in the U.S, getting ready for a photoshoot. The new Renault Megane III will be launched at the Paris Motor Show in October and as you can see, will be a strong departure from the current Megane design.

The 5dr and 3dr Megane are almost ready for production with sales kicking off just before early 2009, after the debut.

Related links:

Renault takes a scenic route

'08 Renault Megane undisguised

2010 Renault SportMegane?

Motorshow: 2008 British International Motorshow

Yesterday, we attended the British International Motorshow (BIM). Although, in the morning it wasn't crowded, during the afternoon, it was heaving.

Its not surprising that Ford attracted heaps of attention thanks to the new Fiesta hatchback and Kuga SUV. Both cars had people swarming around them, particularly the Fiesta. So much so, there was a queue just to sit inside it. To draw more people in, Ford did a song and dance exclusively for the Fiesta's launch. The Fiesta looks just as good in pictures as in real life.

The Top Gear stand showed off Richard Hammond's pink Suzuki Vitara police car, alongside James May Lexus LS and Jeremy Clarksons Fiat Coupe police cars. Although the cars belonged to the BBC, no-one was allowed to sit in them.

The all-new Nissan Murano showed up with the Qashqai+2, Cube Denki and GT-R super-car, including the half-cut GT-R. The Qashqai+2 is a slightly revised and longer version of the regular Qashqai, just with a tweaked bootlid, boxier roofline and radiator grille.

The Murano sat alongside another 2 new Murano's. The interior was defiantly an improved over the outgoing model. Its fresh, practical and stylish. The front fascia turned me and others off since it looked as if the headlamps and radiator grille seamlessly blended into one, unlike the previous model. The 3.5 V6 petrol engine now emits 261g/km of CO2 and returns 18.5mpg around town and 25mpg combined. The current V6 emitted 295g/km CO2 and had a combined fuel economy of 23mpg. A diesel isn't planned but could find its way under the hood sometime in 2010. Both the Qashqai+2 and Murano crossover will go on sale in October with the Murano statring at £33k. All 3 GT-R's were on stands so no-one had any access into the cars. The Cube Denki looked chic and stylish. Its LED headlamps turned many heads along with its futuristic exterior and interior. The production version of the Cube will be unveiled at the Los Angeles motorshow in October.

The Renault Megane concept wowed the crowds with its unique gull-wing opening doors and its sleek, smooth exterior styling. This will be its last motorshow debut, before the production model premieres at October's Paris autoshow. The Laguna Coupe concept also stood with the Megane in its own stand. A production-version of the Kangoo MPV will go on sale in Spring 2009.

Like many other cars at the show, Telsa didn't let anyone sit inside their new Roadster, which uses electricity to power it. A host of other electric cars were on display like the Smart ED, G-Wiz, Paggio Porter and the Quiet Car Company electric car.