Future is now:2009 Toyota Supra

Toyota recognize that their entry needs a compelling differentiating quality. “We want to do something original,” says Hunter.
“We asked ourselves, ‘What can we do that no one else can do?’ The answer was a hybrid.” The FT-HS is a hybrid sports car–the name stands for Future Toyota Hybrid Sports. Its powertrain marries a 3.5-liter V-6 with a new-generation hybrid system to provide a combined output of some 400 hp driving the rear wheels.

It’s rumored that the upcoming Lexus LF-A sports car also could offer a hybrid powertrain (in conjunction with a conventional V-8 or V-10), but the FT-HS doesn’t share the platform of the Lexus. Size-wise, the two-plus-two is almost an exact overlay of the Nissan 350Z, a car that would be an obvious competitor, although, if you take the Supra’s price at the time of its departure ($40,000) as a ballpark starting figure, the Toyota would be considerably more expensive.

The FT-HS would be dramatically cheaper than its performance targets, however, which include the Porsche 911, the Ferrari F430, and the Chevy Corvette. At this early stage, Toyota is sharing only one performance target: 0 to 60 mph in four seconds. This while providing fuel economy in the mid-20s. Toyota concept planner Chiharu Tamura says the company aims to provide both on-road and on-track ability in the FT-HS. The latter comes in part from a more potent regenerative braking system, which would capture more braking energy than Toyota’s current hybrid system and would make that energy available for propulsion more quickly.

Despite the obvious weight penalty of a hybrid’s battery pack, the hybrid performance concept has more credibility than perhaps even Calty realizes: FIA president Max Mosley continues to discuss fitting regenerative braking and energy storage devices to Formula 1 cars by the end of the decade.

As with the powertrain, the goal of the design was to be unique. Again, Toyota took inspiration from its hybrids, namely the iconic Prius’s peaked-roof profile. That triangular theme repeats itself throughout the FT-HS’s dramatically creased exterior and into its cabin as well. The FT-HS further advertises its hybrid powertrain with its peek-a-boo hood, which features a hole through which one sees the engine cover with its Hybrid Synergy Drive logo. Calty’s Erwin Lui likens it to the shaker hood scoops of an earlier era. Another styling element that relates to the hybrid system are the flying buttress C-pillars, which are similar to those of the Ferrari 599GTB. Here, they direct cooling air to the car’s rear-mounted battery pack.

Like every other concept car, the FT-HS incorporates a number of gee-whiz features. The most obvious is the roof. A large, opaque panel slides rearward, like Porsche’s 911 Targa, but it then pivots down to allow visibility to the rear. The two-plus-two becomes a two-place sports car when the roof is open.
Source:Automobile Magazine

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The Honda CR-Z Concept

The Honda CR-Z Concept will make its world premiere at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show later this month. The Honda CR-Z is a lightweight, two-seater sportscar equipped with Honda’s petrol-electric hybrid IMA powertrain.

Following in the tire prints of the Honda Remix Concept (seen at LA Show last year), and the Small Hybrid Sports Concept (debuted at Geneva in March), the CR-Z Concept explores the potential of a compact, lightweight sportscar that’s exciting to drive, but has minimal impact on the environment.

The CR-Z features the latest Honda hybrid IMA powertrain to deliver low emissions and impressive economy.

The front of the car sits low, and is dominated by an imposing, large bumper with gaping air intakes. Meanwhile, the smooth lines across the glass roof and rear of the car minimize drag.

Tube shaped combination lamps at the rear improve rearward visibility, and other design details include stylish, high-visibility wing mirrors, LED headlights, fin-shaped sidelights and large 19-inch wheels to enhance the sporting appearance.

Inside, the aim was to give the concept car a light, spacious and sophisticated feel. The CR-Z’s hi-tech interior features a blue, neon-like finish across the main dash and centre console. Mesh material on a simple framework is used throughout, with sporty seats to help support the driver during cornering.

According to the Japanese design team, CR-Z stands for Compact Renaissance - Zero.

Click on image for larger view

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2009 Audi RS8 - more info

As you already know Audi will launch a V10-powered version of the R8 sports-car. The company has finished the development of the 530 hp V10 engine, but because of the high demand of the regular demand, Audi has pushed back the launch of the car until well into 2009.

The V10 engine will deliver with 110 hp more than the regular version. Compared to the Lamborghini Gallardo, from there the RS8 will borrow the engine, the RS8 will feature more room inside and will have a different price tag.

The RS8 will be just one of the R8 versions that will follow in the near future. First to follow will be a roadster version of the V-8, succeeded by a roadster V-10. For packaging reasons, the R8 roadsters will likely feature a retractable softtop similar to those used on convertible versions of the Gallardo and Ferrari F430.

A V12 diesel version is also under consideration, but Audi engineers are having trouble packaging the particulate trap-required to meet stringent U.S. emissions standards-and the bumper beam needed to meet U.S. crash standards at the rear of the car.

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The HAMANN Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder

Following up on the Ferrari F430 Spider, with its customized Lamborghini Spyder, HAMANN has now introduced a second top-class, open-top Italian racer into its tuning range. Like its cousin from Maranello, this sports car (with the bull in its logo) also stands out after being revamped at HAMANN with its racing flair and sportier look.
Aerodynamics with racing look

From a visual aspect, HAMANN lends the masculine, angular contours of the Gallardo Spyder an additional shot of testosterone. The extensive aerodynamics suite, which has been perfectly matched to the body of the “compact” Lamborghini, includes a downforce generating front spoiler, which is additionally equipped with an adjustable cup front spoiler lip borrowed from the racing scene. The muscular appearance of the Gallardo Spyder is enhanced by the HAMANN side sills – which also make the car look lower on the road, besides lending it a “fuller” appearance. Further features HAMANN borrows from the racing scene are incorporated into the rear end of the Gallardo. In addition to a three-piece rear spoiler, as an alternative, the Laupheim tuning specialist also offers a racing car-like rear wing, which helps to generate greatly enhanced downforce. The latter is given yet a further boost by being fitted with the HAMANN diffuser. All the components are available both in fiberglass and Carbon-Kevlar. The aerodynamics body-styling kit is rounded off by fiberglass covers, designed as a trim for the HAMANN 4-tailpipe rear muffler.

Wing doors – a real eye-catcher

An even more profound modification to the body involves the fitting of the HAMANN in-house developed wing doors. The objective of the car customizer here was to design a stable, but relatively inconspicuous system. The hinges of the HAMANN wing door conversion are only just about visible, without giving the impression of having been retrofitted. This ensures that the Gallardo still cuts a fine figure when the entrance area is inspected. The conversion is performed at HAMANN and takes about a week. The HAMANN wing doors are characterized by the fact that they open upwards at an angle – as already seen in the models Countach, Diablo and Murciélago on which they are based.




Performance injection

Needless to say, HAMANN also lends the Lamborghini Gallardo more power and performance. The car customizer has obtained this by fitting two types of sports rear mufflers – one version can be used in conjunction with the original tailpipes, thanks to the supplied adaptors, while the other version has four tailpipes each with a 76mm diameter – from V2A stainless steel. When fitted in conjunction with HAMANN sports metal catalysts, they increase both the bhp/kW values and the torque. For the Lamborghini Gallardo, HAMANN is also offering the option of recalibrating the standard ECU coupled with optimized mapping. This leads to an increase in power of 30 bhp / 22kW (series 520 bhp / 382 kW) and a 40 Nm increase in torque for this Italian powerhouse. The top speed increases by 6 to 320 km/h.

Modified deceleration values

Drivers of fast cars are often underestimated by other road users. Precarious situations can often be defused safely by fitting better brakes. Accordingly, for the Gallardo Spyder and its hard-top variant, HAMANN offers sports braking systems both for the front and back. The braking system for the front consists of two slotted and inside-vented HAMANN brake discs in the dimensions 380 x 34 mm and two HAMANN eight-piston fixed caliper brakes in red (other colors optionally available). HAMANN equips the braking system for the rear with two slotted and inside-vented brake discs in the dimension 360 x 32 mm, two six-piston fixed caliper brakes in red and special handbrake linings.
Both sports braking systems are supplied complete with HAMANN special brake pads and HAMANN adapters along with all the fastenings.

Wheel rims in 19- and 20-inch

The stylishly, sporty concept of the HAMANN Lamborghini Gallardo is rounded off by the composite, forged ANNIVERSARY II light alloy wheel. This exclusive wheel in its multi-spoke design conveys a sense of pure, unadulterated motor racing. The silver rim with its mirror-finished rim flange looks both stylish and luxurious. The front axle is fitted with wheels in the dimensions 9 x 19 inches, with size 235/35 Z R19 tires. The rear axle is fitted with the ANNIVERSARY II wheel rims in the dimensions 12 x 19 inches and tires in the size 295/30 Z R19. With this solution, HAMANN enables its customers to continue using the series tires of the original wheel on a new rim. HAMANN also offers the ANNIVERSARY II as a 20-inch version, namely at the front, in 8.5 x 20 dimensions with size 235/30ZR20 tires, and at the rear in 11.5 x 20 dimensions with size 325/25ZR20 tires. A new addition to the range is the HAMANN 20 inch light alloy wheel “Edition Race”. This wheel is fitted on the front axle in an 8.5 x 20 dimension with size 235/30ZR20 tires and on the rear axle in an 11.25 x 20 dimension with size 325/25ZR20 tires.

Upon request, HAMANN can also upgrade the vehicle interior. For instance, this car customizer offers an 11-piece kit of decorative carbon-fiber trims. True to the motto of “Nothing’s impossible”, as you might expect, HAMANN designs the interior entirely to suit the customer’s needs.

Source: HAMANN GmbH

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Top 13 Hottest Sports Cars of 2008

Speed and style are still the operative words for sports cars, but they’re getting plusher and more luxurious, thanks in part to an aging consumer base.

Sales of sports cars in 2007 show that the rich are getting richer, and as the average age of sports-car buyers steadily creeps up, more models with added luxury and amenities are rolling into showrooms.

Click through for the list of ForbesAutos Top 13 Hottest Sports Cars of 2008. We’re not going to lie, we’re a bit disappointed to not see the BMW M3 Coupe and Sedan, Mercedes C 63 AMG and the Lexus IS-F on the list.


Top 13 Hottest Sports Cars of 2008:

13. Aston Martin DBS
12. Audi R8
11. Audi TT
10. Bentley Continental GT Speed
9. Chevrolet Corvette
8. Dodge Viper SRT10
7. Ferrari 430 Scuderia
6. Lamborghini Reventon
5. Lotus Elise/Exige
4. Maserati GranTurismo
3. Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster
2. Nissan GT-R
1. Porsche 911 GT2

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Hottest Sports Cars of 2008

Speed and style are still the operative words for sports cars, but they’re getting plusher and more luxurious, thanks in part to an aging consumer base.

by Jim Gorzelany
ForbesAutos.com

Sales of sports cars in 2007 show that the rich are getting richer, and as the average age of sports-car buyers steadily creeps up, more models with added luxury and amenities are rolling into showrooms.

The healthiest segment of the small but highly profitable sports-car market is at the extreme upper end. Sales of “ultra-luxury” makes like Aston Martin, Ferrari, and Lamborghini, whose vehicles tend to have longer product cycles, are down by the smallest margin so far this year, 6.9 percent, according Bandon, Ore.-based, CNW Marketing Research.

David Wurster, president of research firm Vincentric in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., sees the high end of the sports-car market holding strong in the coming year. “So-called ’supercars’ costing $200,000 and up are in a different sort of marketplace,” he says. “It’s a good example of the widening gap between the rich and poor in this country — we’re apparently going to see more wealthy people at the top who can afford to own the very best.”

Overall, sports car sales are in a slump, but that’s not stopping manufacturers from releasing hot new models for 2008.

Sales of “premium” sports cars (which include the Audi TT, BMW Z4, and Chevrolet Corvette) are down 10.2 percent during the first 10 months of 2007 compared to the same period a year earlier, according to CNW data. “Upper premium” models (Dodge Viper SRT10, Mercedes-Benz SL, Porsche 911, etc.) are off by 13.5 percent.

In these categories, where models tend to get refreshed every four or five years, significant models for 2008 include redesigned versions of the Audi TT and the Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe and Roadster; the latter gets a major boost in power, with its massive V10 engine now pumping out 600 horsepower.

Arguably the most anticipated new sports car in recent years debuts next spring as an early 2009 model: The Nissan GT-R will be powered by a twin-turbo V6 engine and be able to reach 60 miles per hour in less than four seconds.

This sleek all-wheel-drive coupe has long been a performance icon in Japan (where it has been called the “Skyline GT-R”) but is just now coming to America. “It will be a true ‘halo’ vehicle for Nissan,” says Francois Gravigny, an analyst with the market research company R.L. Polk and Company in Southfield, Mich. “The Japanese had gotten away from selling high-performance vehicles in the U.S., like the Acura NSX and the Toyota Supra, and Nissan is timing the return to that segment of the market perfectly.”

Among new models for 2008 in the exotic segment are the Maserati GranTurismo, an elegant and civilized near-exotic coupe, and the stunning Audi R8, which is that company’s first foray into the realm of uber-sports cars. The R8’s traffic-stopping looks — we mean that literally; people jumped out of their cars in the middle of traffic to take pictures of it on our test drive — and boasts a 420-hp V8 engine. Its price extends into six figures and Audi has made it clear that the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S is one of its chief rivals. “The R8 is the perfect model that illustrates the Audi’s new performance-based philosophy,” Gravigny says. “It’s the first time any German manufacturer is really going up against the Porsche 911.”

Also new for 2008 is the first modern electric-powered sports car, the low-slung Tesla Roadster. The San Carlos, Cali.-based startup says the car production will be limited to 800 units for its first model year and, pending no further hold-ups (it was originally due to be released this fall but was delayed, reportedly because of transmission problems), the car will enter production next spring.

The Tesla Roadster borrows the ultra-light aluminum chassis of the Lotus Elise and the company says it will run for 245 miles on a charge and reach 60 mph in less than four seconds.

Tesla expects both well-heeled environmentalists and sports-car aficionados to be drawn to the $98,000 Roadster. “A strong motivation for many of our customers is the fact that the Roadster will be the only production car available that produces zero emissions,” says Darryl Siry, Tesla’s vice president of sales, marketing and service. “But the design and performance of the car are each a powerful draw on their own.”

Analysts hope an infusion of new models in the years ahead, combined with a market shift as aging Baby Boomers’ transportation needs change and their disposable income increases, will breathe new life into the broader end of the sports-car segment. “The sports car market will improve a bit in terms of volume as America ages and can afford them,” says Vincentric’s Wurster. “There’s a lot of guys waiting out there for their kids to graduate college so they can indulge themselves.”

According to the Power Information Network, the sports car segment is still dominated by the youngest group of buyers with an average age of 42. But that average has been steadily inching up in recent decades. The average Porsche buyer’s age rose from 42.7 years old in the 1970s to 51.2 in the 1990s, according to CNW data. The average Corvette buyer was 38.1 in the Nixon/Carter era, yet rose to 49.6 in the Bush/Clinton period.

Upward age creep could be one reason sports cars have been gaining computer-controlled suspensions, advanced chassis-control features, dual-clutch semi-automatic shifters, and luxury-car convenience features. “As people get older, and the population of this country is clearly getting older, they want more amenities and comfort,” Wurster says. “But you can still go and buy yourself a Lotus Elise and get a car with no amenities if you want to be a true-blue sports car guy.”



Technorati Tags: Cars, Car, Auto, Automobile, Vehicles, Technology, Auto News, News, Automotive, Lamborghini, Maserati, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Audi, Porsche, Nissan, Mercedes, Lotus

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2008 Dodge Viper

Dodge Viper. A grand big center stage car from Chrysler Group i.e 2008 Dodge Viper, 600-horsepower, 8.4-liter V10 engine with 560 lbs of torque will make other models like 500-horsepower Corvette ZO6 and 500-horsepower BMW M6 search for corners. Dodge Viper sport car enthusiastic will no longer wait for the new 2008 Dodge Viper



Chrysler primarily focused on the Dodge brand Dodge Viper in the final press conference at 2007 North American International Auto Show at Detroit and as expected their highlight was on official curtain raiser for the 2008 Dodge Viper.

2008 Dodge Viper would zoom from 0-60mph in just under 4 seconds and 0-100-0mph in 12 seconds. Now, that is impressive. The problem for the Dodge Viper is that it is outrageously powerful and not just powerful. Once you zoom on the road with the new Dodge Viper expect the world to follow behind you, i.e the power of 600 hp. Now Dodge Viper is going to be interesting war of horsepower and more auto rockets Dodge Viper could be seen in near future Dodge Viper.

The increased horsepower of Dodge Viper comes from extra 0.1 liter of displacement, new cylinder heads of Dodge Viper and variable valve timing for Dodge Viper. The other prominent cosmetic change in new Dodge Viper include new and improved hood that has a larger scoop for air intake and louvers thus improving engine cooling fro Dodge Viper. 5 body colors of Dodge Viper will be added in 2008 Dodge Viper which will take the total color count to 8 now for latest Dodge Viper. The interior styles of Dodge Viper are going to be wide with 5 interior color of Dodge Viper combinations and a choice of bezel and center console finishes.

In conclusion, the Dodge will Dodge 'ing' you with the Dodge Viper. Preliminary action of Dodge Viper will rise the competition of sport car. Lambo, Ferrari, Japanese icon GTR Skyline EVO 10, you name it...

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Chevrolet Camaro convertible

Starting MSRP: NA


Vehicle type: sports car

EPA fuel economy: NA

Available engines:
400-hp, 6.0-liter V-8
302-hp, 3.6-liter V-6

Available transmissions:
six-speed manual
six-speed automatic


Drop-top continues comeback of legendary marque
From Chevrolet

The Camaro convertible concept is based on the 2006 Camaro coupe concept, with only minor changes required to accommodate the convertible body style.

"The Camaro convertible concept instantly evokes an emotional response," said Ed Welburn, vice president of global design for General Motors. "It's a vehicle that you want to make room for in your garage."

The convertible embodies the strong heritage of the original 1967 to 2002 Camaro muscle car while appealing to a new generation of customers who seek a distinctive statement in a new car.

Chevrolet has announced production plans for the Camaro coupe, which will go on sale in 2009. A production convertible model will be added later that year.

Like the Camaro coupe concept, the Camaro convertible blends a dramatic, forward-looking design that is mindful of the brand's storied heritage.

The convertible is motivated by a V-8 engine that sends power to the rear wheels via a manual transmission.

"There is an undeniably fun spirit with the Camaro convertible concept," said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. "The promise of fun made by the convertible top is reinforced with the Camaro's 'let's go' stance. It's a car that begs to be driven."

Additional design details include a tonneau cover over the folded top, "halo" headlamps, LED taillamps and a rear spoiler.

"Camaro has always represented the American ethic that style and performance don't belong exclusively to the wealthy," said Brian Smith, exterior designer. "Camaro has always been everybody's sports car, and these new concepts demonstrate its spirit is relevant for a new generation."

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