The Buick Grand National is perhaps the proudest moment of the American motor industry during the ‘80s. It was the car that used the period ‘turbo’ frenzy better than any other fellow American model of the same time: with a stealthy all-black exterior and an easy-to-upgrade, sneezing 3.8-litre V6 under the bonnet, the Grand National became something like an urban legend.
Regular Car Reviews pays homage to this iconic model with his weird and funny rhetoric, with the specific BuickGrand National looking absolutely gorgeous.
And yes, if you belong to the people who complain about the auto-only option, you are just missing the point.
Audi has announced a new engine version for the all-new TT family which will act as the entry-level model. From July, the Audi TT will be available with a new 1.8 TFSI engine producing 180PS (178hp) and 250Nm (184lb-ft) of torque from 1,250 to 5,000 rpm.
Performance remains respectable despite the power deficit compared to other TT versions. The Audi TT Coupé 1.8 TFSI with six‑speed manual transmission sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.9 seconds (7.0 seconds with the optional six‑speed S tronic), while top speed is 241 km/h (150 mph).
The TT Roadster 1.8 TFSI with manual transmission needs 7.2 seconds to cover the 0-100 km/h sprint (7.3 seconds for the S tronic version), with a top speed of 237 km/h (147 mph).
In terms of fuel efficiency, the 1.8 TFSI Coupé averages as low as 7 l/100 km (33.6 mpg US), with corresponding CO2 emissions of 129 g/km. The TT Roadster 1.8 TFSI’s combined fuel consumption is 7.1 l/100 km (33.1 mpg US), with CO2 emissions of 132 g/km.
Prices in Germany for the entry-level Audi TT start from €32,100 ($34,455) for the Coupé and €34,500 ($37,040) for the Roadster.
Who would have thought that out of all the car manufacturers in the world, Chevrolet would be the first to design a real life time machine, go into the future, and bring back something like this. All jokes aside, their FNR Concept looks unbelievable. We had no idea that they would let their design team go crazy - and in a good way.
What GM have said is that this car was meant to showcase a unique and intelligent vehicle for the future, but in our eyes, they went far beyond that. This is what almost every car of the future looks like in almost every sci-fi movie with a decent-sized budget.
The FNR is menacing and futuristic at the same time, both inside and out. And to be honest, we do think that cars of the future will sort of look like this. A sleek design, very efficient, very space ship-like (for 2015 folk), and with fully autonomous features and interactive interiors.
Of course, this type of future is probably decades away, at least - from a design perspective. A lot of years will pass until car makers decide that it's time for certain shapes to go extinct like the traditional sedan. Take the 2016 BMW 7 Series for example. It comes out this year, and its life-span will carry it well into the 2020s. When they do replace it, it most certainly will be with something similar.
So design-wise (for production cars at least), times aren't exactly changing as fast as we'd expect if we were to look at how quickly new technologies tend to spring up.
Speaking of which, the Chevy FNR Concept is equipped with roof-mounted radar which can enable it to drive autonomously, iris recognition start and front seats that can swivel 180 degrees.
It reminds us of the cars we saw in Minority Report - where the action was supposed to be taking place in the year 2054, which sounds about right, at least design-wise.
Ferrari has unveiled a bespoke California T from the company’s Tailor Made program, created especially for the Shanghai Auto Show.
Illustrating the numerous possibilities for personalization, the unique California T is inspired by two great style icons: the actress Ingrid Bergman and Jacqueline Kennedy. The car features a “Grigio Ingrid” body color named after the legendary actress who chose this exact shade of grey for the Ferrari 375 MM given to her by Roberto Rossellini in 1954.
While the exterior has an understated appearance, the cabin is rich in materials and detail, taking inspiration from the worlds of interior and furniture design as well as luxury goods.
The seats feature a reddish brown, velvety “count prestige” leather, a reference to the Kennedee chair by Jean Marie Massaud, which in turn was influenced by the style of the Kennedy family. The luxurious ambience is also enhanced by the waxed edges of the leather covering the center console and the door panels.
These vintage elements are combined with contemporary accents such as the matte grey metallic details on the dashboard and center console, as well as the black Alcantara inserts in the seats. Finally, the floor mats are made of 100 percent pure virgin wool from New Zealand with a natural jute background, a carpet normally used in luxury home interior decoration.
Have you ever thought that a classic Mustang would be the ideal car for an electric conversion? Neither have I, but a guy from Texas did and followed through on his thought by building what is likely the fastest all-electric classic Mustang in the world.
Called Zombie 222, the Mustang fastback’s electric motors produce over 800hp and a monumental 1,800lb-ft (2,438Nm) of torque. It does 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 2.4 seconds and the quarter-mile in 10.7 seconds at 125 mph (201 km/h).
The silent but deadly fast Mustang was built by Mitch Medford, a muscle car enthusiast who gave up on a career in tech to start Bloodshed Motors, a company which converts classic cars into ridiculously fast electric vehicles. His first and only project so far is the Zombie 222 and you can learn more about it by watching the video that follows.
Get ready for the world’s safest bicycle, dubbed the Babel. It’s been designed to ensure maximum safety primarily for use in traffic-heavy areas, featuring leg-guards, a full seat with backrest, seatbelts and an actual roll cage. It’s not yet available for purchase, but you can support it on its Indiegogo page. The creators are currently seeking funds to complete development and bring it to market.
The man behind the project, Crispin Sinclair, says that after he was nearly crushed by a car in traffic, he “came up with the idea of a safety cell for a bicycle. It would be similar to the roll cage that racing cars have,” he says, adding that it’s “designed so you will be pushed away by the turning truck or bus – not crushed by it.”
Apparently, the structure itself really is very strong, as it was able to withstand the crushing force of a 38 tontruck, according to Sinclair.
Aside from the safety cell, it comes with an in-built electric boost system by market leaders Shimano, indicators, a loud car-like horn, lights, mirrors and disk brakes.
As expected, Cadillac announced the addition of a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain for its range-topping CT6 sedan at the Shanghai Auto Show. The powertrain combines a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine with an all-new rear wheel electric variable transmission (EVT) that incorporates two electric motors and draws energy from an 18.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack positioned between the rear seat and the trunk.
GM estimates the system is capable of producing a combined output of 335 hp (250 kW) and 432 lb-ft (586 Nm) of peak torque, stating that fuel economy will be "more than double that of the car’s conventional engine offerings, as measured by miles per gallon equivalent".
The driver will be able to choose among three operating modes named Normal, Sport and Hold:
• Normal: Designed for everyday commuting. Provides ideal balance of comfort, performance and maximized EV range and fuel economy. • Sport: Provides more aggressive pedal mapping for improved off-the-line feel and a stiffer steering response. • Hold: Allows owners to select when the CT6 PHEV uses its engine, reserving the remaining battery charge for later use. This feature helps enhance efficiency because owners who mix city and highway driving can save the battery charge for city travel, where the CT6 EV mode operates most efficiently.
The CT6 PHEV will get GM's Regen on Demand system that allows the driver to temporarily regenerate energy through steering-wheel paddles by slowing the car, such as when entering a turn, much like downshifting with a manual transmission. It also gets iBooster and Electronic Stability Program customized for hybrid electric vehicle regenerative blended braking. “The first-ever CT6 is a technological showcase throughout, making it an ideal platform for Cadillac to offer its first plug-in hybrid,” said Cadillac boss Johan de Nysschen. “In the CT6, Cadillac presents a new formula for prestige luxury. The advanced Plug-In Hybrid system is a key addition, providing a combination of exceptional fuel economy, crisp acceleration and strong electric-driving range.”
Posts
