2012 Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid

The 2012 Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid incorporates several of Lotus's new developments.

The car features the latest technology in long-range electric propulsion.

It also uses the very latest technology innovations in electronics to assist the driver and has a totally new roof system and brand new interior design.

Performance

The drivetrain system has been developed in-house by Lotus Engineering. The two engines have been limited to delivering 207hp and 295lb-ft of torque to each wheel. This means the car can deliver different torque levels to each wheel and leads to higher stability without sacrificing response.

Part of the design concept for the Evora 414E Hybrid is to make the transition from standard internal combustion engines to hybrids as seamless as possible. The car is fitted with a simulated paddle shift that allows for lightning-quick gear changes and helps make the car feel like a standard sports car.

When the paddle shift, which is mounted on the steering column, is used to change gears, the synthesized engine sound also changes and modulated torque is used to create the sensation of a gearshift jolt.

Braking

The system also permits simulated engine braking by allowing the driver to downshift, something that is rare in hybrid cars because of the need to use dissipated energy to recharge batteries.

The driver can therefore dictate the braking characteristics, just as in a normal car. Alternatively, this feature can be switched off for reduced driver control leading to a more relaxed driving experience.

Exterior & Interior

Visually, the 2012 Evora 414E Hybrid is very much a Lotus but with a distinctive color scheme. The interior design team has come up with a copper theme for both the exterior and the interior. The theme, inspired by the colors associated with electrical wiring, is used extensively from stripes in the seats to inserts on the instrument panels.

The battery pack can be charged overnight from a standard mains socket, and the car can travel up to 35 miles on battery power only. The standard Lotus Range Extender gas powered engine can also recharge the batteries.

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Posted in: Evora,Hybrid,Lotus

2012 Porsche Panamera GTS

The new 2012 Porsche Panamera GTS enters the year with more power, an upgraded braking system, and lowered body, this car is fit for the racing circuit.

Modifications

The technical modifications have made it fast, safe, and efficient, so that you can have speed, without sacrificing the practicality of a four-passenger vehicle.

All Performance

This Sedan could fool you by its looks. With its V8, 4.8 liter engine and great design features, it can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds, with a top speed of 178 miles per hour.

The Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) – offers 7-speed sports performance in manual, and automatic mode. The PDK allows rapid change in gears with no interruption of power flow.

Porsche Traction Management (PTM) – all-wheel drive and electronic and map controlled clutch with automatic brake differential and anti-slip regulation.

Direct Fuel Injection – DFI injects the fuel directly into the combustion chamber for more effective combustion, improving internal cooling, and ensuring engine efficiency.

Interactive Features

Auto Start and Stop Function – the system will automatically turn the engine off at a stop light, saving fuel, and then restart the engine, as soon as you release the brake pedal. This can be activated or deactivated with the push of a button.

VarioCam Plus – automatically alters the intake camshafts, and changes the lift of the intake valves for acceleration power, and low fuel consumption.

Exhaust System – the tailpipes are made of long lasting stainless-steel alloys, and painted in matte black. The catalytic converters heat rapidly, delivering more effective emissions control.

More Upgrades

The Panamera GTS has adaptive air suspension, and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM), the body was lowered by 10 millimeters, and upgraded the brakes, making the technical modifications which were necessary to have speed performance, without taking away practicality.

With stiffer shocks and wheel spacers to increase the rear track, and the Standard Sport Chrono Package with launch control, delivers a speedy car with a high-quality drive.

Interior & Exterior

The four-passenger sedan comes in metallic, standard, or special colors such as Carmine Red, Crystal Green Metallic, GT Silver Metallic, Cognac Metallic, or Amethyst Metallic, and has black highlights.

The interior shows off adaptive sport seats, a SportDesign steering wheel with shifting paddles, and GTS leather upholstery and Alcantara surfaces, making it sporty yet classy looking.

If you need a practical car, but want a sporty, fast car, the Porsche Panamera GTS is the one to test.

Specifications

General Info

Vehicle Type: Coupe	Base Price: $109,900.00
Fuel Tank Capacity: 26.4 gallons (99 liters)	Miles Per Gallon: NA

Dimensions

Length: 195.6 in. (496 cm)	Wheel Base: 114.9 in. (291.8 cm)
Height: 55.4 in. (140.7 cm)	Width: 76 in. (193 cm)
Curb Weight: 4232 lbs (1919 kg)	Ground Clearance: NA
Luggage Capacity: 15.7 cu ft	Maximum Seating: 4 people

Performance

Engine: Front V8	Displacement: 4.8 Liter
Horsepower: 430 HP	Max RPM: 6700 RPM
Torque: 384 lb-ft	Transmission: 7-Speed PDK
0-60 mph: 4.3 seconds	Maximum Speed: 178 mph (286 km/h)

 

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Posted in: Panamera,Porsche

Fisker Atlantic hybrid sedan revealed in NYC

Fisker recently revealed its new Atlantic at the New York auto show, a plug-in hybrid sedan that with its good looks sets a new high for hybrids.

Although Fisker hasn’t been very vocal about all-electric range, cost or an estimated delivery date, for now the car speaks for itself.  It’s a ‘mid-sized sports sedan’, about the size of an Audi A5 Sportback, with a long bonnet that’s slightly uptilted in classic American style, an ultra-short rear deck and hidden rear door handles.

One thing executive chairman Henrik Fisker was very happy to talk about was that the Atlantic is a car that will be built and will go into production. It is “a promise we are going to deliver,” he said.

When it does eventually arrive, the Atlantic is likely to look very similar to the vehicle revealed with Fisker stating in his presentation that the company does not do concepts making reference to the little change seen in the Karma from auto show reveal to showroom.

However, the Karma has received some bad press recently with the first 239 units being recalled in December 2011, and a later unit braking down during a Consumer Report test. So, Fisker would do well to bring out a more reliable car to the market as soon as possible.

With regard to the engine, It’ll also sport Fisker’s second-generation EVer (Electric Vehicle with extended range) powertrain with the official press release stateing that “Its four-cylinder gasoline engine, which acts as a generator and is not mechanically connected to the wheels, is tuned to offer maximum economy and high torque. The standard powertrain will be configured for rear-wheel drive and an all-wheel drive version will be offered as an option.”

Source: Auto Blog 

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Posted in: Atlantic,Fisker,Hybrid,revealed,sedan

2013 SRT Viper Leaked Ahead Of New York Debut

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It was inevitable. Everyone in the know predicted it would happen today, and it has. The first images of the 2013 SRT Viper have leaked, courtesy of an "anonymous tipster" and a mysterious video of the car in action.

The images, dredged up by InsideLine, show the new Viper as we expected, and as several renderings making the rounds of the Web have predicted: sleeker, smoother, in many ways more like the original Viper. But still big, mean, and aggressive.

We'll have the full details on the 2013 Viper when they're available--including live shots and whatever else we can get our hands on--but until then, enjoy the pre-pre-show.


Source: Motor Authority

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Posted in: Third,Viper

Third 2013 SRT Viper Teaser Pics

After falling just short of its goal of adding 2,013 fans in 2,013 minutes, and then falling just short of its goal of 300 shares on a Facebook status update, DriveSRT has chosen to release yet another teaser, its third so far, for the 2013 SRT Viper.

This time however the teaser revealed on Facebook give a sneak peek of what the interior of the vehicle will look like. It doesn’t give much away at all, but the images showcase a car that looks far more polished, high-tech and supercar-like than anything seen before.

It also reveals that the vehicle will be equipped with a stick shift instead of paddle-shifters.

Production of the vehicle is slated to begin late this year at the automaker’s Conner Avenue Assembly Plant. Chrysler announced it was reopening the shuttered plant in coordination with announcing the vehicle in December.

Last year, Chrysler made SRT, or Street and Racing Technology, its own high-performance brand.

The 2013 SRT Viper will be revealed next week in fill at the 2012 New York Auto Show.

View the images below:

Sources: Motor Authority, MLive

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Posted in: Teaser,Third,Viper

2012 BMW i8 Spyder Concept

 

BMW, that will be chopping the top off its i8 hybrid for the upcoming Beijing Auto Show, has recently revealed some images of the new convertible i8 Spyder supercar a few weeks ahead of the official unveiling in China.

It’s a sign that Munich will offer a convertible i8 alongside the tin-top coupe when BMW i8 sales kick off in 2014. The convertible will sport a two-section folding back roof, converting the coupe into the roadster in just a few seconds.

The i8 cabrio gives a few pointers to the likely format of the production cars. The Spyder has a slightly shorter wheelbase and overall length, suggesting that showroom i8s will be more compact than the concepts seen so far.

Despite its cabriolet silhouette, the vehicle will be keeping its swan doors that fold upwards. This is enabled by the carbon rich structure of the i8 which makes for a very stiff structure. The passenger ‘Life’ cell is made from carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) while the ‘Drive’ platform underneath is made from aluminium. The ithium battery can be found in the car’s spine assisting with providing a low sense of gravity and BMW’s 50:50 weight distribution.

Like the i8 coupe, this car has a plug-in hybrid powertrain to produce supercar performance, the emissions from which BMW claims are very low.

A 129bhp electric motor drives the front wheels, while a three-cylinder turbo petrol engine sends 220bhp to the back axle. Total output is 349bhp and 406lb ft of torque. This results in the vehicle reaching 0-62mph in just 5 seconds reaching a maximum speed of 155mph.

A domestic socket will charge up the lithium-ion battery in ‘less than two hours’, giving a 19-mile range on EV power. On cold days, the battery and cabin can be set up to be warmed up to operating temperature in advance.

In early March, BMW announced that its i3 electric hatchback production version would be ready for 2013.

Source: Car Magazine

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Posted in: Concept,Spyder

Cheryl Burke Heads To Practice In Her Porsche

Cheryl Burke has the dance moves and good taste in cars. Cheryl was spotted heading to practice in her new Porsche Cayenne recently. What do you think of the new body style for the Cayenne?

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Posted in: Burke,Cheryl,Heads,Porsche,Practice