RPMGO Car Blog |
- F1 Legacy – Ayrton Senna
- The History Of Green Cars
- DiRT3 Trailer Revealed
- Fast Five rulz, Vin Diesel parties
- Child Safety in the Car
- April’s U.S. Electric Car Sales, Same Pace As Before
- Nissan, Selected To Provide NY’s Taxi Fleet
- Italdesign BMW Nazca M12 Concept, Up For Sale
- Novitec Alfa Romeo 8C Spider Revealed
- Spy Shots – 2012 BMW 3-Series
| Posted: 05 May 2011 03:00 AM PDT
Ayrton Senna da Silva was probably the best Formula One driver of all times, despite the fact that there had been other pilots that managed to win more races and championships. The Brazilian racing legend was born on March 21, 1960 and managed to win the F1 championship three times. Senna's racing journey began in karting and in 1983 he moved on to the more competitive world of open-wheel racing. Two years later, he won the British Formula 3 championship and in 1984 he debuted in Formula One, behind the wheel of a Toleman-Hart car, before becoming a driver for the legendary Lotus-Renault team. Over the next three seasons, he managed to win six GPs.
Later on, he became a driver for another legendary team, McLaren-Honda, joining Alain Prost in 1988. That year, they've won all races, except for one, and Senna grabbed his first F1 title. One year later, Prost got his revenge, managing to win the championship, but Senna responded the next two years, with his second and third title. 1992 was the year when William-Renault began dominating Formula One, but Senna managed to finish the season in 2nd place, winning five GPs.
It all ended dramatically for him on May 1st, 1994 when he crashed his car into a concrete barrier while he was leading the San Marino Grand Prix held at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Italy. That weekend turned out to be a real tragedy, as a day earlier; Roland Ratzenberger was killed after he crashed during the qualifications for the race. These two incidents are considered to be a turning point in the safety of F1, prompting the implementation of various safety measures, along with the reformation of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association.
Ayrton Senna was a great man not only for his epic racing talent, but more for his generosity and goodness. He was a practicing Catholic, and after his tragic death, it was discovered that he had quietly donated millions of dollars to help children in need. Right before his accident, he created the foundation for an organization dedicated to children in Brazil, which later on became the Instituto Ayrton Senna. The irony is that Senna became more and more worried about the dangers of his dangerous profession and on the morning of his fatal accident he initiated the reformation of the GPDA safety organization as he wanted to work to improve the safety of the sport.
Soon after his death in 1994, the Brazilian soccer team who managed to win the World Cup dedicated its victory to Senna, recognizing his contributions to this sport. In Brazil, the main freeway from the Sao Paulo international airport, along with a tunnel, are named in his honor. In addition, one of the most important freeways in Rio de Janeiro was named "Avenida Ayrton Senna", while the main road in his resort at Quinta do Lago was also dedicated in his name.
On April 21, 2004, which marked the 10th anniversary of his passing by, more than 10,000 people attended a charity game in a soccer stadium near Imola. All of the money raised there was donated to the Instituto Ayrton Senna. On that same weekend, Bernie Ecclestone acknowledged that he believed Senna was and remained the best Formula One driver he had ever seen.
You all probably know that one of brains behind the epic Honda NSX was Senna himself. During the late 80s, the relationship between him and the Japanese automaker was very close, and the latter asked him to fine-tune the suspension of the NSX. At first, he said that the car's chassis wasn't stiff enough so the production version was reinforced in order to meet Senna's requirements. Ducati, the famous Italian motorcycle manufacturer produced limited Senna editions of its 916 superbike between 1996 and 1998. During those years, the company was owned by Claudio Castiglioni, who was a very close friend of Senna. Several years later, in 2002, another special edition was dedicated to Senna, the MV Agusta F4 750 Senna. Only 300 bikes were ever made, and all the money obtained from selling them went to the Ayrton Senna Foundation.
The Grand Prix circuit in Adelaide, Australia will remain in history as the last place where he won a race, and in his honor, the first chicane of the track was named the "Senna chicane". In addition, one of the streets in the suburb of Wingfield is named after him. Some say that the Adelaide circuit was one of Senna's favorite and he was unhappy to hear that F1 would move from Adelaide to Melbourne. During one episode of Top Gear that aired on July 25th 2010, the show paid a tribute to Ayrton Senna with Lewis Hamilton driving Senna's legendary MP4/4 car, the one with which he managed to grab the title back in 1988. In that episode, Jeremy Clarkson revealed that a documentary film will be released in fall 2010. The storyline of this documentary film revolves around Senna's life and tragic death. The film follows his struggles both on track against his all-time rival, Alain Prost, and off it, against the politics that had a bad influence on the competition. We highly recommend watching this documentary film, even though you are not a big fan of motorsport racing. Senna was more than just a very good F1 driver; he was a truly remarkable person with a big heart and an exceptional personality.
There are many F1 drivers that managed to win the championship, but people will always remember Senna for the incredible way in which he managed to win his three titles. Fans will never forget his epic rivalry with Frenchman Alain Prost. I really believe that we won't be seeing that fierce competition between two talented pilots anytime soon, which is a real shame, because without interesting battles like the ones between these two pilots, F1 or any other motorsport competition, is pretty boring. Ayrton Senna, you will be missed… Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Posted: 05 May 2011 02:29 AM PDT
When the carriage and the horse were phased out in the 1800s, more and more manufacturers started to believe that cars of the future were going to be powered by steam, just like locomotives. During those days, one of the most popular manufacturers was the legendary Stanley Motor Carriage Company, known for its Stanley Steamer, which was produced from 1896 until 1924.  Stanley Steamer The very first electric carriage was launched in 1832, and until 1839, electric vehicles became more and more popular in Europe thanks to the fact that they ran considerably quieter and a lot smoother in comparison to other cars. North America followed that trend in the late 1800s, and the cars made by William Morrison and AL Ryker were the most popular. In 1897, electric commercial vehicles were launched, as part of NY's taxi fleet.  Porsche Semper Vivus 1900 was the year when the first hybrid car in the world was revealed, Ferdinand Porsche's Semper Vivus. It had two 3.5 hp electric hub motors. The second iteration of the model had 4 hub motors, making it the very first 4WD car. The 80-volt bank of 44 batteries had a curb weight of 1800 kg and there were no possibilities of charging from an external source, but it was charged via a rear-mounted internal combustion engine.  Detroit Electric Coupe During the early 20th century, the Detroit Electric Coupe was probably the most popular electric vehicle and one of the drivers of this car was Henry Ford's wife. On a single charge, the car could have been driven for 80 miles, managing to reach a top speed of 20 mph. During the turn of the 20th century, people bought more electric-powered cars than any other types of vehicles. It all changed in 1907 when Ford began making the legendary Model T, which marked the end of electric cars for several decades. Mass-production gasoline-powered cars were 50% cheaper and their capabilities were far better than any other green car on the market, thanks to the fact that they could have be driven for significantly longer distances and were capable of achieving higher top speeds.  Citroen Rosalie The diesel engine was developed and patented in 1893 by Rudolph Diesel. However, the first diesel-powered passenger car was launched 40 years later, when Citroen rolled out the Rosalie model. General Motors started working on cars that were powered by diesel engines, while in 1936; the German car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz launched the 260D, marking the beginning of a solid alternative to gas engines.  Vespa 400 Green cars were revived during the late 50s and early 60s with the introduction of the Vespa 400, which was manufactured between 1956 and 1961. More than 28,000 units were sold and it will go down in history as the only car of those times that was produced by a motorbike company. Built between 1957 and 1964, the Messerschmitt KR200 had a single-cylinder two-stroke power unit. There were other popular green cars during those days, like Mini and the Austin Healey Spirite. Car manufacturers started seeking alternative fuels in the early 70s when the oil crisis kicked in. There were lots of electric cars presented, but most of them had limited capabilities and futuristic designs, thus failing to grab the attention of the large audience. In the 80s era, more and more attempts were made to develop green cars. There was even a competition for solar-powered vehicles, which was held in Switzerland between 1985 and 1995.  Citroen Citela Moving on to the 90s, in 1991, BMW rolled out two battery-powered E1 concepts, but they never made it to the production phase. Later on that same year, Citroen launched the Citela, which was considered the car of the future, managing to offer a driving range of 130 miles and hitting a top speed of 70 mph. It failed because it relied heavily on assistance from the companies in charge of delivering electricity, companies that weren't very pleased with the idea.  Peugeot 106 Electric Between 1996-1999 GM produced its very first electric vehicle, known as the EV1. There were other cars launched during the 90s, like the Fiat Downtown and most importantly, the Peugeot 106 Electric, which was quite popular in France.  Toyota Prius The turn of the millennium brought more and more green cars, especially hybrid vehicles that offer the perfect balance between conventional-powered and electric cars. Important examples are without any doubt the Toyota Prius, followed by the Toyota Camry. The first one became the world's number one selling hybrid in 2007. The hybrid concept was introduced to bigger cars, like the Lexus RX400h, a serious off-roader.  Tesla Roadster BMW introduced in 2006 a hydrogen-powered 7-Series, and one year later, Ford revealed the Airstream, sporting a lithium battery and a hydrogen fuel cell. Electric cars later on became fast, with the introduction of the Venturi Fetish, a car that was capable of doing the 0-60 mph sprint in less than five seconds. Another fast EV is the Tesla Roadster, which can accelerate to 60 mph in only 3.9 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 125 mph. With the batteries full, the car can be driven for up to 244 miles (393 km).  Chevrolet Volt / Nissan Leaf Nowadays, everyone is talking about the Nissan Leaf and the Chevrolet Volt. Both of them were launched in December last year. The Leaf, an all-electric car, uses a front-mounted electric motor that drives the wheels, powered by a 24 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that generates 120 hp (90 kW). 0-60 mph is done in 9.9 seconds, while top speed is about 93 mph (150 km/h). EPA's official range for the Leaf is 73 miles (117 km). The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid vehicle, capable of doing up to 50 miles on electric mode. The electric drive unit uses a 220-cell, 16 kWh lithium-ion battery, generating 150 hp and a peak torque of 273 lb.-ft. Once the battery is dead, a 1.4-liter gasoline engine kicks in, which generates 80 hp and increases the Volt's range up to 310 miles. The future will probably bring us EVs with an increased driving range and less time necessary for charging the batteries. Source: TheGreenCarWebsite Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Posted: 04 May 2011 11:08 AM PDT
Another trailer of the latest installment in the DiRT franchise developed by Codemasters has been revealed at the beginning of this month, preparing us for May 24th when the game will hit the shelves, for the PC, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 platforms. Click here to view the embedded video. This trailer showcases the newest additions to the game, like Gymkhana, night racing, weather conditions and a wide array of breathtaking locations. Codemasters has also revealed the fact that some retailers will offer a Superteams Pack, as a pre-order incentive, which features four exclusive teams: Texaco Racing Team, Brembo Racing Team, Team Yokohama and the Mobil 1 Performance Team; along with 14 cars, like the Fiat 131 Abarth, the legendary Ford RS200 Rallycross and the epic Lancia Delta HF Integrale. Source: Codemasters via YouTube Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Fast Five rulz, Vin Diesel parties Posted: 04 May 2011 08:55 AM PDT While Fast Five sets the tempo in box office battle with a couple of hundred millions $ in the first week, Vin Diesel gets the credits from the fans. Check out Vin in Rome after Fast Five launch a couple of days ago having a blast with these beautiful twins. Who said acting is easy?
Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Posted: 04 May 2011 08:45 AM PDT
As parents, we are all concerned to keep our children safe while we drive our car, and a mean taking into account every aspect, especially seatbelts, child-safety seats or door locking. We all know that not all the kids feel good while staying buckled up in the car or, even if they have no problem with that, they still can stretch and pull the door handle or who knows what other surprising things. Even more, studies have revealed the fact that children are able to unbuckle their own car seats, most of them being boys younger than 3. How can a parent avoid those incidents? So, what other safety recommendations do you have for the rides with your child on the back seat? [Source: Motherproof, Photo] Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| April’s U.S. Electric Car Sales, Same Pace As Before Posted: 04 May 2011 08:30 AM PDT
April is over so now we can look over the figures of EV sales in the United States. Last month, Nissan sold 573 Leafs while Chevrolet managed to deliver 493 units of its Volt model, which means that since January, 1,025 Leafs were sold and 1,703 Volts. Back in December 2010, when each of these two models came on sale, people bought 19 Leafs and 326 Volts. The very first Nissan Leaf was delivered on December 12th, and three days later, the first Chevrolet Volt was sold. Chevrolet had said that the company's April total would be a little bit lower in comparison to the 608 units sold in March, due to the reason that they've diverted cars that might otherwise have been delivered to paying customers in order to provide more dealers with demonstration vehicles. This trend might not end in the following eager if we take into consideration the difficulty Nissan faces in resuming full-scale production of its various cars made in Japan, including the Leaf. Until early 2013, all the Leafs targeted for the United States market are going to be manufactured at Nissan's plant in Oppama, Japan. Chevrolet stated that they will sell approximately 10,000 Volts this year, just about the same as Nissan with its award-winning Leaf model. Up until now, Chevy managed to sell a total of 2,029 Volts, making it the best-selling highway-capable electric vehicle in the United States, surpassing the estimated total delivers of 1,650 units for the Tesla Roadster since it went on sale in late 2008. Source: Nissan, Chevrolet via GreenCarReports | Photo: Inhabitat Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Nissan, Selected To Provide NY’s Taxi Fleet Posted: 04 May 2011 08:00 AM PDT  Nissan NV200 NYC The Japanese automaker Nissan proudly announced at the beginning of this week that it is going to be the exclusive supplier of New York's taxi fleet. The city's Taxi and Limousine Commission said that the Nissan NV200 will be a part of the fleet in late 2013. Also in consideration for this position were Ford and a Turkish vehicle manufacturer by the name of Karsan, but after a two years trial period, Nissan managed to pull ahead and win the competition.  Nissan NV200 NYC The company's NV200 Taxi features a 4-cylinder 2.0-liter engine that has a bunch of fuel saving technologies, along with various CO2 emissions reduction systems. Nissan said that this NV200 can offer more passenger and cargo space than any other current taxi. The taxi sports a "low-annoyance" horn, independently controlled rear air conditioning system that has several filters for cleaning the air, along with sliding doors and an environmentally friendly seat fabric.  Nissan NV200 NYC Other goodies of Nissan's NV200 include the 6-way adjustable driver's seat, the transparent roof panel and telematics and navigation systems. Safety-wise, the car features several airbags, traction control and Vehicle Dynamic control (aka VDC), along with lights designed to alert other motorists that the car's doors are going to open. The price starts from $29,000. Source: Nissan via ZerCustoms Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Italdesign BMW Nazca M12 Concept, Up For Sale Posted: 04 May 2011 07:30 AM PDT  Italdesign BMW Nazca M12 Concept If you are in the market for a very rare and expensive sports car, you might want to take a closer look at this Italdesign BMW Nazca M12 Concept. This car was designed by Giorgetto Giugaro (the same genius that worked on the BMW M1) and only a few were ever made. The Nazca M12 debuted back in 1991 and one year later, the sportier Nazca C2 was launched, and it was followed in 1993 by the open top version, dubbed Spider C2.  Italdesign BMW Nazca M12 Concept A dealer in Czech Republic has one of these beauties up for sale, based on the body of a Nazca M12 built in 1991, featuring a massive V12 5.7-liter engine that was prepared by Alpina, sourced from the golden days of the 850i.  Italdesign BMW Nazca M12 Concept This power plant produces 379 hp, while the original M12 coupe model had a V12 5.0-liter engine from the 850i, delivering 300 hp. The aforementioned C2 Coupe had a V12 that offered 350 hp, also prepared by Alpina, while the C2 Spider had the V12 5.7-liter available in the 850 CSI, producing 380 hp.  Italdesign BMW Nazca M12 Concept Price for this rare beauty? Almost $1.1 million (725,000 Euros).  Italdesign BMW Nazca M12 Concept Source: Mobile via Gtspirit via Carscoop Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Novitec Alfa Romeo 8C Spider Revealed Posted: 04 May 2011 07:00 AM PDT  Novitec Alfa Romeo 8C Spider The Italian tuners from Novitec have managed to add more muscles to Alfa's gorgeous 8C Spider model. They've installed a brand new supercharger for the car's V8 4.7-liter engine, which they've borrowed from sister outfit Novitec Tridente, known for their tuning programs developed for various Maserati models. In order to install it, they had to modify it a little bit so that it could fit under that beautiful hood.  Novitec Alfa Romeo 8C Spider With this supercharger, the V8 engine now produces 592 hp (600 PS / 441 kW) and a peak torque of 434 lb.-ft (588 Nm), up from the standard 444 hp (450 PS / 331 kW). 0-60 mph is done in only 3.9 seconds, and the top speed is 189.5 mph (305 km/h).  Novitec Alfa Romeo 8C Spider They've fitted the car with a height-adjustable threaded coil-over suspension kit, along with 3-piece NA3 rims that measure 9Jx21 and 11.5Jx22, covered by 255/30ZR21 and 315/25ZR22 Pirelli rubber, front & back.  Novitec Alfa Romeo 8C Spider Customers can also opt for a stainless steel high-performance exhaust system and an interior finished in Alcantara and leather, any color that you like.  Novitec Alfa Romeo 8C Spider Source: Novitec via WCF Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Posted: 04 May 2011 06:30 AM PDT  2012 BMW 3-Series Our colleagues from WCF have managed to grab a couple of spy shots with the upcoming 2012 BMW 3-Series, wearing less camouflage and we are able to see that it has grown a little bit in size, looking more like a 5-Series. As you can notice, it will feature a prominent grille, a V-shaped bonnet, along with L-shaped taillights.  2012 BMW 3-Series As far as the engines are concerned, the new model should feature just about the same as the current one, plus a new 2.0-liter turbocharged plant that churns out 242 hp (245 PS / 180 kW) and 258 lb.-ft (350 Nm) of torque.  2012 BMW 3-Series The hybrid variant will feature a 3.0-liter turbocharged engine that produces 300 hp (306 PS / 225 kW) and an electric motor that generates 54 hp (54 PS / 40 kW).  2012 BMW 3-Series Source: WCF Post published on Rpmgo.com |
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