RPMGO Car Blog |
- Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion Averages 4.1 liters / 100 km
- Study: Distracted Driving, How It Modifies As We Age
- BrandZ Top 100 Places Toyota On No.1 Spot
- Bugatti Veyron by Bijan Pakzad
- Oil Price Drops, Gas Price Increases
- Rumor – Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid In The Works
- Fiat Bravo MyLife Revealed
- Caterham Planning New Models
- VW Confirms Hybrids For 2013
- Ferrari 458 Italia by SR Project
| Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion Averages 4.1 liters / 100 km Posted: 09 May 2011 10:00 PM PDT  2011 Volkswagen Passat BlueMotion The new Volkswagen Passat Blue Motion was unveiled in September last year during the Paris Motor Show, and now the German automaker has released the final specifications of this model. It can be ordered in sedan or estate variants, and features a 1.6-liter TDI power unit that delivers 103 hp (105 PS / 77 kW) and a peak torque of 184 lb.-ft (250 Nm). With this engine, the sedan version can do the 0-60 mph sprint in 12.2 seconds, on its way to a top speed of 198 km/h. The estate model is a little bit slower, as it can reach a top speed of 196 km/h, while the 0-60 mph sprint time remains the same. This car wasn't designed to be fast, as it is aimed for those looking to get a fuel-efficient vehicle, and the VW Passat BlueMotion is, as it manages to average 4.1 liters / 100 km and has CO2 emissions of 109 g/km, for the sedan version. The wagon achieves 4.3 liters / 100 km and 113 g/km. These impressive figures have been achieved thanks to the start/stop system, along with the better aerodynamics and the lowered ride height. In Germany, the price starts from 26,450 Euros and is already available. Source: Volkswagen via WCF Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Study: Distracted Driving, How It Modifies As We Age Posted: 09 May 2011 09:00 PM PDT
The guys over at Auto Observer had a recent discussion at the MIT AgeLab to learn more about a new study regarding distracted driving and how it modifies as we age. They place drivers of various ages into a simulator in order to collect data related to distraction. After taking a closer look at the eye movement and heart rate of each driver, they've figured out that different age groups are distracted by different stimuli. One of the researchers, Bryan Reimer, said that in the vast majority of the cases, reducing distracted driving is not so much a matter of leveraging technology in order to make current vehicles considerably easier to use. However, it can be done by educating the drivers. Source: Auto Observer via AutoBlog Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| BrandZ Top 100 Places Toyota On No.1 Spot Posted: 09 May 2011 08:00 PM PDT
Despite a long and agonizing recall campaign, the Japanese automaker Toyota has managed to regain its position as the most valuable auto brand in the world, jumping 11% to $24.2 billion in the BrandZ Top 100 annual ranking, overtaking BMW, last year's number one brand. These results have been compiled by the Millward Brown research company. From 2006 to 2009, Toyota was the most valuable auto brand in the world. Mercedes-Benz managed to grab the 3rd spot this year, with a 12% increase, overtaking Honda, which was followed by Porsche. Nissan achieved a 17% increase, mostly by its highly-acclaimed Leaf model, finishing the top on the 6th place. Millward Brown measures brand equity, based on interviewing more than one million consumers globally and analyzing business and finance performance of each automaker by using data from Bloomberg and Datamonitor. Here is the top 10 of the world's most valuable car brands in $ billion; rank in top 100; % change 1. Toyota $24.2 — 27 –11% * Did not qualify for the top 100 This year's top 100 ranking is led by Apple, with a brand value of $153 billion, followed by last year's Google, with $111 billion. Source: Millward Brown via AutoNews Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Bugatti Veyron by Bijan Pakzad Posted: 09 May 2011 07:00 PM PDT
On April 16th, Bijan Pakzad, an Iranian-born fashion designer died at a hospital in Los Angeles, California, after suffering from a stroke. During his life, he became famous for dressing well-known people, like Carry Grant, Frank Sinatra and today's most influential person in the world – U.S. President Barack Obama. Click here to view the embedded video. He loved cars and had a generous collection of luxurious limos and supercars that he actually drove on a regular basis. In addition, he teamed up with lots of automakers for special editions. For his latest project, he joined forces with Bugatti for rolling out a special edition based on the company's 1,001 hp Grand Sport model. His version of the open-top hypercar was finished six weeks ago and comes with a bespoke two-tone theme and other additional goodies. Source: Carscoop Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Oil Price Drops, Gas Price Increases Posted: 09 May 2011 06:00 PM PDT
We live in a crazy world where the price for gas increases, although the oil price drops. According to Lundberg Report, the average price of a gallon of gas in the United States rose to 4$ a gallon, which is 12 cents more than two weeks ago. According to some analysts, $4-4, 50 is the tipping point at which the drivers change their driving patterns by riding with friends, trying to combine trips or simply reduce the numbers of miles covered. Over the last few months, one of the hottest car segments was the compact, fueled by the launch of the Chevrolet Cruze and the Hyundai Elantra. Due to the reason that the Japanese auto industry is still affected by the natural calamities, the inventory levels of high-mileage hybrids will be limited through this following summer. Source: Reuters via Yahoo! News via TheCarConnection via GreenCarReports| Photo: WorkSmarterNotHarder Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Rumor – Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid In The Works Posted: 09 May 2011 05:00 PM PDT  2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid (prototype) It seems that next year Toyota will launch the highly-anticipated plug-in hybrid version of its popular Prius model, which will be sold alongside with the standard model. If we were to believe Japan's Nikkei business daily, this will become a standard option for the model in 2014. Until then, the cost of this technology will most likely go down and thanks to the superior gas mileage that it offers, these plug-in hybrids will eventually eliminate the need for the conventional hybrid cars. When it will hit the dealerships next year, the plug-in hybrid Prius will probably feature a price premium of at least $5,000 over the existing $35,000 price tag for the top-spec version. The first 60,000 units that will be sold will attract a considerable $2,500 federal tax credit. The electric drive range of the car is expected to be about 14 miles and will be Toyota's second model that will get a lithium-ion battery pack, replacing the nickel-metal hydride chemistry. The first one is the European-spec 7-seater 2012 Prius V station wagon. The U.S.-spec version has a 5-seat configuration and the old technology. Source: Nikkei via Reuters via GreenCarReports Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Posted: 09 May 2011 01:00 PM PDT  Fiat Bravo MyLife You probably know that Fiat's Bravo model hasn't been successful at all. The company latest attempt to boost sales is this "MyLife" version that brings some mild styling updates, more standard features and an attractive price tag. Looking at its exterior, we notice the glossy black finish for the upper and lower grilles, the fog light framings, chromed door handles and a new set of two-tone 16-inch wheels.  Fiat Bravo MyLife This version comes as standard with the company's Blue&Me infotainment system that packs Instant Nav satellite navigation system, Bluetooth phone connection and a USB port. The GPS sports a generous 6.5-inch display and contains the map of Europe. The driver can control the car's infotainment system through the buttons installed on the steering wheel or by voice. Other standard goodies include 6 airbags, fog lights with cornering function, manual AC, ESP (with Hill Holder), electric windows and a leather-covered steering wheel and gearshift lever. The price tag for the model fitted with the 90-hp 1.4-liter gasoline is $21,450 (14,900 Euros), while the 120-hp 1.6-liter diesel model is offered at $25,340 (17,600 Euros), same as the 105-hp 1.6-liter Multijet version.  Fiat Bravo MyLife Customers can also opt for a T-Jet 1.4-liter that produces 120 hp or a more powerful 1.4-liter Multiair Turbo that delivers 140 hp and has the start/stop technology. The car can be already ordered in Italy. Source: Fiat via Carscoop Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Posted: 09 May 2011 12:30 PM PDT
After being purchased by the Formula 1 outfit Team Lotus, Caterham Cars has announced that they will expand their lineup, rolling out new models which won't be based on the company's popular Seven range. Team Lotus Enterprise, which is the Tony Fernandes-led holding company that owns Team Lotus and Caterham, said that they want to take the current SP.300/R and Seven models to new markets. Other plans include offering more F1 exposure for Caterham, along with transmitting the technology available in the Team Lotus F1 cars to the road-legal Caterhams. Later on this summer, the company will launch a SP.300/R sports prototype, which will be the first car that won't be based on the Seven, a Lotus Elise-style 21 roadster of the 90s. Source: Caterham via AutoCar.co.uk Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Posted: 09 May 2011 12:00 PM PDT  VW Golf 7 (rendering) VW's chairman, Martin Winterkorn, has confirmed that the automaker will enter the hybrid market in 2013. He told the International Vienna Motor Symposium that there are going to be a "range of important models with plug-in hybrid technology starting in 2013/14". Most likely, the first cars are going to be the 7th generation of the Golf and the 3rd generation of Audi's A3 model, both of them based on the front-drive MQB platform. However, VW will not build a full electric version of the Golf in order to grab some customers away from the Nissan Leaf. Another possibility is that the upcoming Golf 7 will get an official EU combined fuel economy of more than 100 mpg, due to the reason that the powered delivered by the batteries doesn't contribute to the official CO2 emissions of the vehicle. Once more information becomes available, we'll let you know. Stay tuned. Source: AutoCar.co.uk Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Ferrari 458 Italia by SR Project Posted: 09 May 2011 11:30 AM PDT  Ferrari 458 Italia Zeus by SR Project Whenever I think of a Ferrari, I always imagine it either red or yellow, never gray. However, this Vancouver-based tuner has decided to give it this special paintwork and I have to say that it looks astonishing.  Ferrari 458 Italia Zeus by SR Project Dubbed "Zeus", this beautiful 458 Italia features an aerodynamic kit from Novitec that includes a brand new front lip spoiler, a gloss-black roof, side and rear skirts, along with a rear spoiler.  Ferrari 458 Italia Zeus by SR Project Akropovic provided the sport exhaust system for this tuning that probably adds a few ponies to the 458 Italia, but SR Project did not say anything about any additional power. The car now rides on Forgiato Aguzzo wheels, measuring 21 inches in the front and 22 inches out in the back. Also from Novitec, this tuning kit consists of lowering springs for the suspension.  Ferrari 458 Italia Zeus by SR Project Source: SR Auto Group via TeamSpeed via WCF Post published on Rpmgo.com |
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