2006 Caterham Superlight R400

In the tradition of designing race cars for the road this new superlight R400 takes its original design from the C400 via the rover k-series. The British sportscar maker Caterham has released its new model that can do a standing jump from 0-100kph in 3.8 seconds from its 210bhp at 7600rpm. That is equivalent to 400bhp per ton and 150 lb-ft of torque at 6300rpm kept ridgid by its substantial 14% increased torional rigidity making it corner and handle better than before. The 2.0ltr inline-4 has a top speed of 140MPH(225kph) and is housed by a new chassis from a new supplier who apply sophisticated new laser cutting and robot technology

2007 BMW 3 series coupe

The new BMW 3 series coupe is about to be released. The flagship coupe at this stage before the 414 hp M3 is released, will be the twin-turbo direct injection 335i with inline six-cylinder engine and 306 hp and 300 lb-ft +/- of torque. BMW's magnificant xDrive all-wheel drive system will available for the first time as an option on the coupe.

The power and torque of the twin turbo 335i result in outstanding performance. The 335i Coupe accelerates from 0 – 60 mph in just 5.3 seconds, or 0-100kph in about 5.5. Top speed is 150 mph, when equipped with sport package.

I expect to see this new BMW 3 series coupe on these shore in September. I expect it to be a great seller for BMW.... I simply love turbo cars. Audi has dropped them, Mercedes uses a few of them, but it looks like BMW is making the investment in turbo's and I hope that there are more to come.

Sourced from autospies.com and bmwusa.com

2006 Caparo T1

Well tickle me silly if this isn't the closest you can get to F1 racing on an open road. I know your looking at the pictures going Hmmmm looks ineresting well to wet your appetite take a review of these stats.
0-60mph in 2.5 seconds flat from a supercharged V8 using engineered lightwieght materials makes the power to weight ratio to 1,000 bhp per tonne and all at the cost of 215k euro's. Furthermore to add is that while it can reach 0-60mph in 2/5 seconds, it can reach 0-100mph in 5 seconds but can the brake 0-100-0 in under ten seconds making it the worlds accelerating and braking road car in the world. Stat's also show that the car pulls 3g's in cornering making it incrediably fast around courners with cornering abilities taken from le mans prototype vehicles.

Ethanol as an oil alternative?

Over the past three decades Brazil has worked to create a viable alternative to gasoline. With its sugarcane-based fuel, the nation may become energy independent this year. Brazil’s ethanol program, which originated in the 1970s in response to the uncertainties of the oil market, has enjoyed intermittent success. Still, many Brazilians are driving “flexible fuel” cars that run on either ethanol or gasoline and allow the consumer to fill up with whichever option is cheaper – often ethanol. Countries with large fuel bills such as India and China are following Brazil’s progress closely.

The US is taking small steps towards the use of ethanol, but its process, relying on corn, is lengthier and more expensive. In addition, countries such as Japan and Sweden are importing ethanol from Brazil to help fulfill their environmental obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. Running cars on carbohydrates instead of fossil fuels may not be a new idea, and ethanol has drawbacks such as high water content can damage engine parts over the long term, and ethanol burns at a higher temp to conventional oil based petrolium therefore creating starting problems in the morning if the temp is cool. The thing is that ethanol offers an attractive alternative as oil prices climb, and it is possible to make the stuff from pretty much anything that you can brew alcohol out of.

New Zealand / USA does not grow sugarcane to my knowledge, therefore the corn option seems to be the best bet although sugarcane based Ethanol is more potent than corn based ethanol. Brazil has got to the point now that they can get about 6000 liters of ethanol from 2.5 acres of land. When they started in 1975 with their project that was at 2500 liters. Brazil is the world leader in this technology. I think that they are going to reap their rewards from now on as the really have everything covered from spending money in their own country to power their vehicles, to excess power generation created by the ethanol plants which in turn sell the power to the local grid..... All very self sufficient.

I think that NZ should take advantage of Brazils knowledge and start producing Ethanol in NZ to subsidise our dependence on international oil. The other option is to do as Sweden and Japan is doing and importing Brazilian Ethanol for the time being until an infastructure can be created. It is not going to be difficult to get flex fuel vehicles produced for the NZ market, and hey.... It is green and good for the environment.

Time that someone within the governement looks into this.

Mercedes Benz E63

Mercedes-AMG presented the E 63 AMG for the first time at the New York International Auto Show today. Powered by the new, naturally aspirated AMG V8-engine, which develops a maximum output of 378 kW/514 hp and a maximum torque of 630 newton metres from a displacement of 6.3 litres, the E 63 AMG is the most powerful E-Class of all time.
This car / beast is available as a stationwagon and a sedan.

The 6.3 litre engine was developed completely independently by AMG, this hot V8 engine is the world’s only power unit to combine the high revving concept with a large displacement so they say. The result is around 20 percent more torque than from comparable engines in this output class. In line with Mercedes AMG tradition, the new powerpack is hand-built in the AMG engine workshops on the "one man, one engine" principle. Thus equipped, the E 63 AMG Saloon accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds (Stationwagon: 4.6 s). The maximum speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h, although I am sure you could get over 300kph out of her if there was not limiter.

This will be a smoking hot vehicle. I just hope that the electronics don't ruin the drive.

2006 Indy 500

This year the presence of a racing legend will grace the event at this years Indy 500 which brings in the contradiction being that this racing legend made his make on two wheels as opposed to four and whats even more out of the ordinary taking into account this calibre event is that this remarkable sportsperson raced without a motor, infact he 'was' the motor.

I'm talking about 7 times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong whom will be driving the pace car to lead this years feild into the 90th year of Indianapolis 500. Armstrong will be driving the 505bhp corvette Z06