Auto 2011: June 2008

BMW GINA

Occasionally a car comes alone that completely rewrites the rulebook. The BMW GINA is such a car.

Under the direction of Design Chief Chris Bangle, the BMW team came up with the clumsily titled Geometry and Functions In "N" Adaptions (GINA). Conceived as a design tool rather than a concept per se, the car is underpinned by a defunct Z8 Roadster chassis. Bolted to this is a flexible skeleton framework with a textile 'skin' instead of body panels.

This ingenious idea allows the car to shape itself according to the driver's wants and needs. For example, headlights can simply fade away when not needed. A spoiler can rise up in the bodywork at speed, or fade away in city traffic.

The fabric bodywork also makes the car amazingly graceful, with seamless edges set at unusual angles. In order to create this appearance, it was necessary to move beyond all previous conceptions of car body configuration, design and materials. Therefore, BMW dispensed with the usual body elements found on production vehicles such as front apron, bonnet, side panels, doors, wheel arches, roof, trunk lid and rear deck. Instead, a new structure with a minimum amount of components took their place. A special, highly durable and extremely expansion-resistant fabric material stretches across a metal structure.

The most striking example of the opportunities this presents is in the headlight design. In normal position, when the headlights are not active, i.e. when there is no necessity to illuminate the road, they are hidden under the special fabric cover. As soon as the driver turns on the lights, the contour of the front end changes. Activated by the metal structure that lies beneath it, the previously closed fabric cover opens to the right and left of the BMW kidney grille and reveals the BMW double headlights.

The turn indicators and the taillights function without changes to the shape of the outer skin. Their position, however, is only revealed upon activation. The emitted light shines through the translucent fabric cover, which is permeable to light but not transparent.

The filler caps of the engine oil, cooling and wiper water tanks open for servicing. Opening and closing is similar to the mechanism on a doctor's traditional medical bag, where clip-lock fasteners are held together in the middle by a rail.

When the car is parked, the steering wheel and the round instruments - rev counter, speedometer and fuel gauge, which are vertically arranged on the centre console, are in idle position. This provides the driver with maximum comfort upon entering the car. Likewise, the seat only assumes its optimised functional position and shape if and when the driver sits down on it.

The innovative GINA approach to design has already led to a variety of innovative concepts and production vehicles in ways that are completely new and unprecedented by any other car manufacturer, says BMW.

New Seat Ibiza Sport-Coupe (SC) Details & Photos

Within few months of the Seat Ibiza five-door's international debut, the Spanish automaker is back with the stylish Ibiza SportCoupé. It is the three-door variant of the new SEAT Ibiza and is due to make its first public appearance at the upcoming 2008 British Motor Show in London. Targeted specifically towards sports-orientated supermini buyers, the SportCoupé's 1.6-liter (105 PS) powerplant will be offered with a seven-speed DSG double-clutch gearbox. It is expected to go on sale in UK before the end of this year.

Checkout Seat's official press release for the new Ibiza SportCoupé and some of its high resolution photos below.

Press Release.
Hot on the heels of the smart SEAT Ibiza five-door's international debut, the dynamic Spanish car maker is today revealing its stunning new Ibiza SportCoupé.

With two fewer doors and an even more svelte shape than its stylish five-door supermini sibling, the sassy SportCoupé is tailored very clearly towards drivers keen to mix fun and functionality with a head-turning shape.

The SportCoupé's bespoke silhouette – at 1,428 mm it is 17 mm lower than the five-door with a markedly different and more aggressive design treatment throughout – clearly signals the sporting intentions of the latest addition to the new Ibiza family.

And that dedication to driving excitement is underlined by the newcomer's technical highlights which include the option of cutting edge seven-speed DSG double clutch gearbox technology – a world first for the supermini segment.

The ultra slick-shifting automatic/sequential manual 'box will be available on 105 PS 1.6-litre versions of the new car, while crisp handling and a composed ride are assured courtesy of the Ibiza SC's all-new supermini platform – the first application of this particular engineering base in the Volkswagen Group.

There's also a different interpretation of designer Luc Donckerwolke's 'Arrow Design', with lowered headlights and repositioned radiator grille serving to reinforce the muscular new motor's obvious kerb appeal.

Precise engine and trim combos have yet to be confirmed, although it's already clear that more potent FR and Cupra versions of the new Ibiza will certainly sport SC styling when they make their debuts over the coming months.

SEAT Head of Marketing, Steve Robertson, said of the important addition to the new Ibiza family: 'Traditionally, a significant part of our business has been built on the success of three-door Ibiza, so the unveiling of this stunning new SportCoupé is a key moment for us.

'I know our existing Ibiza owners, as well as sports-orientated supermini buyers generally, will be thrilled at what they see. Personally, I can't wait to see the new Ibiza SC on the road here in the UK!'

Source: Seat
Read More On: Cars From Seat

Photo Gallery: New 2009 Model Seat Ibiza SportCoupe Pictures.

Teaser Photo: Upcoming 2010 Lotus Eagle Sneak Preview

Lotus is gearing up for July 22 world debut of it Project Eagle, a mid-engined 2+2 Lotus sports car at the British Motor Show. This event would mark the first significant launch by Lotus in past 13 years. The photo that you see here of a black sheet drapped car with its headlights and fog lamps lit is what we think to be the sneak preview of upcoming Eagle. And this picture has been released in preparation for the Lotus diamond (60th) anniversary celebration that will be held in September.

The unlike the earlier Eagle spy photos & video, this preview photo doesn't reveal much about the looks of the car except for the shape and placement of front lights. But one thing is quite clear, the camo makes the car's front-end look like one big smile but we imagine it hides a very aggressive looking 'Eagle' underneath.

Going into production at the beginning of 2009 as a 2010 model, Project Eagle will enter the market as Lotus' flagship performance car above the Elise, Exige and Europa. Based on an all-new aluminum chassis that's set to underpin the forthcoming Esprit supercar, the Eagle is rumored to be powered by the modified version of 3.3 and 3.5-litre V6 Toyota engines.

Lotus has already confirmed that unlike the current Elise/Exige family, the larger Eagle will have a hydraulic assist system for the steering rack and would use the Versatile Vehicle Architecture (VVA) that consists mainly of bonded aluminum extrusions.

Mike Kimberley CEO of Group Lotus had earlier said: "This is a very exciting period for us at Lotus and the whole company is enjoying the challenge of delivering such an exceptional new Lotus car... we are proving that the new Lotus is a reality and that VVA is an advanced ecological technology from which further Lotus models will be produced, thus giving Lotus a true "multi-platform" line up over the next 5 years".

We are expecting that the new 2010 Lotus Eagle will debut in UK with a price tag of around £45,000. Now don't get too serious about the number, its just an estimate.

Source: Lotus60thAnniversary
Read More On: Lotus Eagle

2009 Nissan GT-R To Hit US Showrooms This July, 70% Already Booked

From July 7th, Nissan will begin the delivery of new 2009 GT-R's first batch to the 671 GT-R Certified Nissan dealers in USA. More than 1,700 of the exotic 480-horsepower GT-R supercars, or approximately 70 percent of the first year allocation for the United States market, have already been spoken for since the order books opened in last January.

The base model of the fifth-generation GT-R comes with a price tag of $69,850 while the GT-R Premium model goes for $71,900 plus the $1,000 for destination and handling costs. Car comes equipped with a standard 480-horsepower, twin-turbo 3.8-liter V6 engine and advanced 6-speed dual clutch automatic transmission.

All new 2009 Nissan GT-R has been holding the record for the fastest lap time of 7 minutes 29 seconds achieved by a production-spec vehicle at the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife. But two days back this lap-record was broken by the GM's upcoming 2009 Corvette ZR1. Its has managed to set a faster laptime of 7:26.4. But please don't get us wrong as we are not trying to compare the two cars, nor can they be compared. Why?, because Corvette ZR1 is a 640Hp supercar that costs $103,300 which is almost twice the cost of GT-R and comes with 160 more horses. They are both supercars but in a different league. And we suppose that a sportscar’s Nurburgring lap-time shouldn't be a factor in your car buying decision if you won't be frequently hitting the Ring.

"After years of speculation and anticipation, the wait for a U.S.-spec Nissan GT-R is over," said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc. "GT-R is one supercar that more than lives up to its promise, with independent testing by the leading auto enthusiasts magazines and online sites producing performance results that only a handful of production cars have ever attained – much less at a $70,000 MSRP."

Mr Castignetti you just hit the bulls-eye.

Source: Nissan
Read More On: Nissan GT-R

Alfa Romeo Launch Prodrive Tuned Brera S For UK

There is soon going to be a new sports car on the block, developed specifically for roads in Britain. Alfa Romeo is planning for the new, limited edition Alfa Brera S with a hand from Prodrive, the world-leading motorsport specialist. Alfa says the engineers worked intensively for a year on suspension and chassis development and the result is a sports coupe that subtly enhances all that is good about the original Alfa Brera, while giving it crisp driver feedback & handling.

Distinctly different from the rest of the line-up, this unique addition to Alfa Romeo's UK range includes refined styling changes, inside and out. And to ensure ultimate exclusivity, production of the Alfa Brera S will be limited to just 500 individually numbered models. Power comes from a choice of two existing direct injection petrol engines – the 185 bhp 2.2 JTS and the 260 bhp 3.2 V6 JTS.

For the record, the 2.2 JTS and 3.2 V6 JTS Alfa Brera S can reach 62 mph from rest in 8.6 and 7.0 seconds respectively, on the way to maximum speeds of 139 and 155 mph.

To reduce roll and pitch and achieve an even flatter cornering attitude, Prodrive commissioned bespoke Eibach coil springs and Bilstein dampers. Spring rates are increased by over 50 per cent compared to the standard Alfa Brera, giving the car a more nimble and agile feel, while the specially tuned gas-filled mono-tube dampers give tighter body control. To further enhance suspension geometry and achieve lower centre of gravity, the cars have been lowered by 10 mm front and rear.

At each corner of the Alfa Brera S, unique Alfa 8C Competizione-inspired, lightweight 19" alloy wheels and Pirelli PZero Nero tyres have been fitted. The Prodrive stamped exhaust comes finished with chrome embellishers and has been altered to mirror the shape of the rear lights. The list continues with the Prodrive branded front stone deflectors, and a bespoke red 'S' or 'SV6' on the C-pillar.

Inside the 3.2 V6 JTS Alfa Brera S, changes are more obvious. Not only are the sports seats upholstered in soft black Frau® leather with red stitching, so are the dashboard fascia, door panels, steering wheel and gearlever. Foot pedals are fashioned from drilled aluminium and the headrest recess houses a limited edition Brera S aluminium plate, featuring the flags of Italy and Britain. This interior can also be specified on the 2.2 JTS version.

The transition from Alfa Brera to Brera S takes place at Alfa Romeo UK's dedicated import centre, near Bristol, and is overseen by Prodrive.

Source: TheyReviewed
Read More On: Alfa Romeo

Photo Gallery: Alpha Romeo's Limited Edition Prodrive Brera S High-Res Wallpaper Pictures.