Auto 2011: March 2008

Jaguar

And now a car brand that is near and dear to my heart.
(Cause I own one...LOL)
Jaguar.

Jaguar Cars Limited is a luxury car manufacturer, based at Whitley, Coventry, with two UK production plants at Castle Bromwich, Birmingham and Halewood, Merseyside. It was founded as the Swallow Sidecar Company in Blackpool in 1922, changing to SS Cars Ltd in 1934 in Coventry, and finally becoming Jaguar Cars Ltd in 1945, followed by several subsequent changes of ownership.

The name is pronounced "jag-u-ar" with the term "Jag" being used colloquially.

Although many media reports stated that on 2008-03-26, Jaguar and Land-Rover became owned by the Indian company, Tata Motors, the Ford Motor Company and Tata Motors stated, in press releases on the same day, that the sale is not due for completion until the second quarter of 2008.

It is understood that Ford Motor Company Ltd. will not retain any shareholding in either the Jaguar or Land-Rover companies, unlike Aston Martin where on its sale a small shareholding was retained; the total sum to be paid in cash by Tata Motors is approximately US $ 2.3 billion, Ford will then contribute up to US $600 million to the Jaguar Land Rover pension plans.

Jaguar Cars holds Royal Warrants from HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Prince Charles.

Founded as the Swallow Sidecar Company in 1922, by two motorcycle enthusiasts, William Lyons and William Walmsley, the SS Jaguar name first appeared on a 2.5 litre saloon in 1935. The Jaguar name was given to the entire company in 1945.

Jaguar made its name in the 1950s with a series of elegantly-styled sports cars and luxury saloons. The company bought the Daimler Motor Company (not to be confused with Daimler-Benz), in 1960 from Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA). From the late 1960s, Daimler was used as a brand name for Jaguar's most luxurious saloons.

Porsche Cayman

The Cayman is a mid-engined 2-seat sports car produced by Porsche AG of Germany. First launched in the 2006 model year, the Cayman is the coupé version of the second generation Porsche Boxster convertible. Like the Boxster, the Cayman is assembled in Finland by Valmet Automotive.

The Lamborghini Reventón

Lamborghini Reventón is a mid-engined sports car that debuted at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show. It is currently the most powerful and expensive Lamborghini road car to date, costing one million euro. The official press release states that only 20 will be built (and one for the Lamborghini Museum). The exterior styling was inspired by the F-22 Raptor. Although the exterior is partially new, almost the entire mechanics (including the engine) are taken directly from the Murciélago LP640.

Initial reports suggest that the 6.5 litre V12 may receive a power boost of approximately 15 kilowatts (20 horsepower), bringing the new ouput close to 490 kW (650 horsepower). In spite of this, and the car's carbon fibre components, the Reventón accelerates to 100 km/h (62 mph) in the same time as the Murciélago LP640 (3.4 seconds).

The instrument panel in the Reventón comprises three TFT liquid crystal displays (LCDs) with two different display modes. The instruments are housed in a structure milled from a solid aluminum block, protected by a carbon fiber casing. The G-Force-Meter is completely new and it is one of the talking points of the Reventón. It displays the dynamic drive forces, longitudinal acceleration during acceleration and braking, as well as transversal acceleration around bends. These forces are represented by the movement of an indicator on a graduated 3D grid depending on the direction and intensity of the acceleration. Formula One teams also use a similar device to analyze dynamic forces.

By simply pressing a button, the driver can switch to the second, quasi-analogical display, where there are the usual circular instruments; speedometer and tachometer. The G-Force-Meter still remains at the center of this display mode.

Lamborghini has also picked up some of parent company Audi's design language. For the first time, Lamborghini incorporated daylight running lights with the headlamps of the Reventón. Seven Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) at each headlamp flank the Bi-Xenon main beam and they stay lit whenever the car is in movement. Due to the high temperatures in the rear lower part of the car, special heatproof LEDs are used for the indicator and hazard lights, stoplights and rear lights with a triple arrow optical effect.

The Reventón is named after a fighting bull according to recent Lamborghini tradition. The car's namesake, owned by the Don Rodríguez family, is best known for killing famed bullfighter Félix Guzmán in 1943. Reventón means "explosion" or "burst" in Spanish, when used as a noun.; in automotive terms, it means "blowout, flat tire" when used as a noun. When it was used as the name of a bull, however, it was intended to be interpreted as an adjective a quality or property of that bull in particular. Then Reventón means "he who is used to making things burst".

"I think this world is perfect...": Getting Closer...

The Lamborghini Gallardo

The Lamborghini Gallardo is a sports car built by Lamborghini. The Gallardo is Lamborghini's most-produced model to date, with 5,000 built in the first three years of production. It is less expensive than Lamborghini's larger, more powerful Murciélago.

The car is named after a famous breed of fighting bull. The Spanish word gallardo translates into "gallant".

The Gallardo was designed as a competitor to the Ferrari 360, and now competes with its replacement, the Ferrari F430. The Gallardo has a rear-biased all-wheel drive system which differentiates it from its rear-wheel drive competitors. Lamborghini's parent company Audi is renowned for its Quattro AWD system, however Lamborghini uses a system of its own.

Unlike the Countach, Diablo, and Murciélago models, the Gallardo does not have scissor doors.

The Gallardo was designed by Luc Donckerwolke, who won the 2003 Red Dot Award for the design of both the 2003 Gallardo and 2002 Murciélago.

At current U.S. prices, a 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo coupe costs USD $186,250 - $222,800, while a 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo spyder costs USD $201,595 - $263,595.

As at March 2008, the Gallardo is the only model to use the Lamborghini V10 engine.

The Gallardo offers two choices of transmissions, a conventional (H-Box) six-speed manual transmission, and an advanced six-speed electro-hydraulically controlled 'semi-automatic single-clutch sequential manual', which Lamborghini abbreviates to "E-gear". The "E-gear" allows the driver to make shifts much faster than a manual transmission would, however with this option one sacrifices a certain measure of control that the manual transmission would offer. The driver shifts up and down via paddles behind the steering wheel, and does not need to manually actuate the clutch.

The Audi R8 sports car, launched in early 2007, is based on the Gallardo platform, and uses a 4.2 litre V8 in place of the Gallardo's V10 to avoid competing directly with the Gallardo.

For the 2008 model year, an onboard computer, iPod connectivity with USB, heated mirrors, Q-citura stitching that originally could only be found on the Nera model, and a beige soft-top on the Spyder, were added to the Gallardo.

technorati tags:ferrari ,lamborghini ,cars,sports cars, exotic cars, classic car,porsche sports car,search sports car

Force India-FI Racing

Formula 1 Racing

Team:FORCE INDIA(former Spyker)

Owner:Vijay Mallya

Drivers:Giancarlo Fisichella(Italy) & Adrian Sutil(Germany)

Chief Technical Officer:Mike Gascoyne

Current Results:Just started.

The Billioner Vijay Mallya had a passion for race driving which led him to buy the former formula 1 team Spyker.Its recent budget is $106 million and hopes to be the top ten team in the coming times.However currently not performing very well in their first ever race,well it was a known fact that they dont expect much in the current season.They have high hopes for coming Malaysian circuit.

some Facts about FI racing:

There are more than 1000 parts in an F1 car.
One engine is used only for two races.
During the Monaco Grand Prix, cars change gears around 3,100 times.
The oldest race winner was Italian Luigi Fagioli in 1951, aged 53 years and 22 days

Vijay mallya is also the owner of an established airliner "Kingfisher Airlines".

He is the owner of Kingfisher Beer and is a big Liquor Baron.

He is a Phd in chemistry and a very lively person who believe in living life kingsize.

Lamborghini Murciélago, part 4

The Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT is a race-only version of the Murciélago, developed jointly with Reiter Engineering and Audi Sport. It has rear-wheel drive unlike the standard Murciélago to comply with the FIA, ACO, and JAF rules. The car retains the standard Murciélago V12, but has air restrictors to manage power. Its acceleration and top speed are highly dependent on the gearing selected for a particular race track.

In March 2006 at the Super GT Suzuka 500 km, a Murcielago R-GT specifically built for Super GT (and rebadged RG-1) for the Japanese Lamborghini Owners Club (JLOC) recorded the first win ever for a Murcielago when they earned a win in the GT300 class. In March 2007 in the FIA GT Championship, the All-Inkl.com Racing Murciélago won the Zhuhai 2 Hours.

In December 2006, Reiter Engineering tested an upgraded Murcielago R-GT LM, featuring redesigned body work and a new rear wing with less drag.

Kobe Bryant's wife Vanessa is the only person in the world to own a converted automatic Murciélago. The car was given to her as a gift by her husband, but upon realizing she could not drive a manual transmission, Kobe Bryant had the car converted to an automatic. The estimated cost of the car after conversion and customization was US$400,000.
German tuner Hamann Motorsport produced a one-off LP640 Roadster with enhanced aerodynamic components, new rear silencer, new wheels and some interior enhancements.
In the first season of Bullrun, a game show, Team 10 raced with a Murciélago.

A Lamborghini Miura concept car was presented at the Museum of Television & Radio on January 5, 2006 alongside the Los Angeles Auto Show, though it was not present at the show itself. Instead, the Miura officially debuted at the North American International Auto Show two weeks later. It was the first design by new Lamborghini chief, Walter de'Silva, and commemorates the 1966 introduction of the original Miura in Geneva.

Lamborghini president and CEO Stephan Winkelmann has denied the concept will return the Miura to production, saying “The Miura was a celebration of our history, but Lamborghini is about the future. Retro design is not what we are here for. So we won’t do the Miura.”

Lamborghini's own Reventón is a mid-engined sports car that debuted at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show. It will be the most powerful and expensive Lamborghini to date, costing one million euro. The official press release states that only 20 will be built, but it is rumoured that the total number could be 100. The exterior styling was inspired by the F-22 Raptor. Although the exterior is partially new, almost the entire mechanics (including the engine) are taken directly from the Murciélago LP640.

Lamborghini Murciélago, part 3

LP stands for Longitudinale Posteriore, referring to the longitudinally-mounted, 6.5 L V12 engine, capable of producing up to 633 bhp (472 kW) at 8000 rpm. Along with a new six-speed manual transmission, which can come in Lamborghini's optional paddle shift "E-gear" package, the LP640 can go from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds: 0.4 of a second quicker than the previous Murciélago. The LP640 is accommodated by an electronic Launch control device called "Thrust."

The new Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 Roadster was presented on the 2006 Los Angeles Autoshow. It features the same engine as the LP640 coupé and replaces the 6.2 Liter Murciélago Roadster. The only design changes were oil cooling vents behind the air intakes, interior changes, and a reinforced body.

Presented at the Paris International Autoshow, the Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 Versace is a special edition version of the LP640 Coupé, with all the same performance features. The only difference is the two tone white-black trim, shown on both the exterior and interior of the car. However, Lamborghini de Spa have also built 1 black LP640 & LP640 Roadster. It also features custom Versace leather seating and a Gianni Versace logo plaque inside the vehicle. The Versace material costs $10,000 per seat.

In late 2003, Lamborghini announced a special 40th Anniversary Edition of the Murciélago, following in the footsteps of their Countach and Diablo Anniversary Editions. The limited production run of 50 vehicles featured enhancements including a limited-edition body color, carbon-fiber exterior detailing, upgraded wheels , a new revamped exhaust system, and a 40th Anniversary numbered plaque displayed along the side. The interior featured a new leather trim and additional electronic features.

technorati tags:porsche ,ferrari ,jaguar ,lamborghini ,lotus ,bugatti ,aston martin,maserati ,alfa romeo,cars,sports cars, exotic cars, classic car,porsche sports car,search sports car,porsche sports

BMW 1 Series Coupe 128i

2008 BMW 1 Series Coupe 128i
MSRP: $28,600-$34000 (Estimated)
Year:2008
Average User RatingOverall-very good
Satisfaction -very satisfied
Appearance -Class on its own
Comfort -excellent
Performance-after all german engineering
Value -very good for value.

Standard Engine:3.0L I6, 24 valve, 230 hp @ 6500 rpm
6 speed manual (standard) or 6 speed automatic transmission
Not Available city / Not Available hwy
Green Rating: Unavailable

Key Standard Features:
• AM/FM Radio With 205-Watts and 10 Speakers Total; CD Player; MP3 Player
• 4-Wheel Anti-Lock Brakes
• Seat Mounted Front Side Airbags

Standard Features: Mechanical FeaturesTransmission
• 6-Speed Manual Transmission With Overdrive

Steering
• Tilt Steering Column
• Power Engine Speed Sensing Rack and Pinion Variable Assisted Steering
• Telescopic Steering Column

Suspension• Independent Strut Front Suspension With Coil Springs and Gas Charged Shock Absorbers
• Independent Multi-Link Rear Suspension With Coil Springs and Gas Charged Shock
Absorbers
• Rear Stabilizer Bar
Electrical
• Battery
• Cigarette Lighter
• Drive-By-Wire Control For Throttle
• Sirius(R) Satellite Radio, Audio, Telephone and Security Pre-Wiring

Braking & Traction• 4-Wheel Anti-Lock Brakes
• Front Power Ventilated Disc and Rear Power Ventilated Disc Brakes
• Traction Control
• Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) Vehicle Stability Control System Operated Via ABS and Traction Control Measures Steering Wheel Angle, Yaw Rate, Wheel Speed and Lateral Acceleration
• Electronic Brake Force Distribution
• Rear Electronic Limited Slip Differential
• Electronic Brake Assistance

Safety• Seat Mounted Front Side Airbags
• Trunk Anti-Trap Device
• Driver Airbag With Dual Threshold, Dual Stage Deployment
• Passenger Airbag Cutoff Sensor Activated By Weight
• Front Passenger Airbag With Dual Threshold, Dual Stage Deployment
• Head Protection System (HPS) Front and Rear Side Head Curtain Airbags
• Front Passenger and Rear Automatic Locking Retractors
• Front and Rear Crumple Zones
• Front and Rear 3-Point Seatbelts
• Front Pretensioners With Force Limiters
• Side Guard Door Beams

Anti-Theft & Locks
• Radio Anti-Theft
• Power Door Locks Operated Via Internal Switch
• Selective Unlocking
• Vehicle Anti-Theft Via Double Locking and Engine Immobilizer
Remote Controls & Remote Releases
• Remote Fuel Door Release

Seats• Rear 60/40 Split Folding Bench Seat With Manually Adjustable Headrests and Fold-Down Armrest
• Front Dual Reclining Bucket Seats With Dual Adjustable Seat Height and Manually Adjustable Headrests
• Rear Seat Pass Through
• Leatherette Seats

Storage• Covered Lower Console Storage Located On Floor
• 2 Front; 2 Cupholders Total
• Front Dual Door Mounted Storage
• Lockable Glovebox
• Rear Armrest Storage

Instrumentation• Cruise Control
• Check Control Vehicle Monitor System With Pictogram Display Warning Lights Include Brake Fluid, Oil Levels, Door or Trunk/Tailgate Ajar, and Defective Interior and Exterior Lighting
• Exterior Temperature Gauge
• Steering Wheel Mounted Controls For Audio and Phone
• 8000-RPM Tachometer
• Tire Pressure Monitor
• Trip Computer With Miles To Empty and Fuel Range Remaining
• Service Interval Indicator For Oil Quality
Exterior Lighting
• Halogen Headlights
• Variable Intensity Brake Lights
• Daytime Running Lights
• Front Halogen Foglights
• Automatic Headlights

Wheels & Tires• SBRP205/50R17, All-Season Tires
• Alloy Wheels, 17-In. X 7-In.
• Run Flat Tires
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers• Front Tinted Glass
• Manual Sunshade Located On Moonroof
• Dual Body Color Folding Power Adjustable Heated Exterior Rearview Mirrors
• Front Power Windows With One-Touch Up, One-Touch Down
• Rear Window Defroster
• Front Dual Sunvisors
• Heated Washer System
• Rain Sensing Variable Intermittent Windshield Wipers
Exterior, Design, Paint & Finish• Front and Rear Body Color Bumpers
• Front Air Dam
• Chrome Located On Exhaust Pipes

Lamborghini Murciélago, part 2

The name Murciélago, means "bat" in Spanish, comes from a bull that survived 24 sword strokes in an 1879 fight at the arena of Córdoba, and fought with such passion and spirit that the matador chose to spare its life, a rare honor. In another Lamborghini tie-in, the bull was later presented as a gift to Don Antonio Miura, who was a noted breeder and whose bull ranch the Lamborghini Miura was named after, and went on to sire a line of famous fighting bulls.

The LP640 version was first shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2006, as a facelift for the coupé version. It features a 6.5 Liter engine, now producing 631 bhp (471 kW), improving performance substantially. Like the base Murciélago, the engine is mounted "backwards", with the transmission in front of the engine and the differential behind it, instead of a transaxle normally seen on mid-engine cars. There were also a few minor external changes, primarily to the low air intakes.

The front and rear bumpers have been reshaped to channel air more efficiently, and the new exhaust has been shaped into the rear diffuser to minimize aerodynamic lift. The air intake on the left side has been enlarged to accommodate the feeding of the oil cooler. The car's body is made up of steel and carbon fiber, while underneath a revised suspension has been added to keep up with the car's performance. It also has an all-wheel-drive system that normally distributes 70% of the torque to the rear wheels, but can allocate up to 100% to either end depending on where the grip is running out. There are also new 18-inch (460 mm) Hermera alloy wheels running huge 335/30 tires at the rear. The LP640 retains the original car's scissor-opening doors. The LP640 coupè U.S. MSRP rests at $318,800.

Inside the LP640, the seating has been reshaped to accommodate greater headroom, while an upgraded instrument panel is flanked by an improved stereo system.

The LP640's optional equipment includes ceramic brakes for swifter braking, chrome paddle shifters, and a glass engine cover which shows off the LP640's 6.5 Liter V12 engine.

A special edition version of the Murciélago LP640 was introduced at the Paris Motor Show. The Versace edition features a customized all-white exterior and a matching white interior. However, a 1-of-a-kind black LP640 Versace and LP640 Roadster Versace were also presented by the factory.

Lamborghini announced the LP640 Roadster version at the 2006 LA Auto Show.