RPMGO Car Blog |
- Cars We Hate Part 9 – FAB Design Cadillac Escalade
- Aston Martin Zagato Unleashed
- BMW F10 M5 Engine, Photos Surface The Web
- Honda CR-Z Mugen, Photos Now Available
- 2012 Chevrolet Camaro To Get V6 3.6-liter Engine
- UK Gets Special Edition Nissan 370Z GT
- Aston Martin Cygnet EV, Out In 2013
- GM Will Increase The Production Of Its 2012MY Chevrolet Volt
- Lotus Elan Delayed Until 2016, At Least
- Rumors – Ram Working On Minivan-based Pickup
| Cars We Hate Part 9 – FAB Design Cadillac Escalade Posted: 20 May 2011 04:30 AM PDT  FAB Design Cadillac Escalade If you've read our previous article about the Cadillac Escalade you know that we're not big fans of this huge SUV. However, if we look at FAB Design's version, the standard Escalade doesn't look that bad anymore. The Swiss tuners have managed to take a very ugly car and turn it into an automotive design nightmare.  FAB Design Cadillac Escalade A North African client asked Roland Rysanek, who is the owner of FAB Design to heavily modify his Cadillac Escalade. The very eccentric owner wanted an interior cabin lined with real snake leather along with crocodile-imitating leather. As you can see from these pics, he got what he wanted.  FAB Design Cadillac Escalade Pro Wildlife, an animal rights group said that too many of these snakes are being used to satisfy the tastes of luxury lovers. The owner of FAB Design replied that the leather that was used for this Cadillac Escalade came from snakes that were killed in a humane way, if there is such a thing.  FAB Design Cadillac Escalade Let's forget about the "special" interior and have a looksie at the exterior appearance of this American SUV. As you can see, everything was modified and to be honest, I can't find a single thing that I like, maybe the rims but that's about it.  FAB Design Cadillac Escalade The car is still powered by the standard engine, a V8 6.2-liter unit that produces 409 hp.  FAB Design Cadillac Escalade No word about the price for this customization, but I'm sure that it wasn't cheap.  FAB Design Cadillac Escalade Source: Auto Bild via Carscoop Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Posted: 20 May 2011 04:00 AM PDT  Aston Martin Zagato The British automaker Aston Martin along with the Italian design house Zagato have finally unveiled their V12 Zagato, based on the 12 Vantage. It was created in order to celebrate 50th years since the exquisite DB4GT Zagato. This 2-seat coupe benefits from a handcrafted aluminum body, a bespoke steel roll cage and a bonded aluminum structure. It also features a very nice double-bubble roof.  Aston Martin Zagato To be honest, the back of the car doesn't look so good, especially with those taillights that look just about the same as the ones on the Ferrari California. Other than that, it looks very beautiful, as it should if we take into consideration that the Vantage is one of the most beautiful cars ever made.  Aston Martin Zagato Anyway, the car is powered by a massive V12 6.0-liter mid-front mounted engine that generates 510 hp (517 PS / 380 kW) and 420 lb.-ft (570 Nm) of torque. This power unit is mated to a 6-speed automated manual gearbox that was mounted in the rear, where it sends all of the power.  Aston Martin Zagato The car will make its official debut tomorrow at the Villa D'Este Concous. On May 28th, it will participate in the 4-hour VLN race at the famous Nurburgring track. Next month it will make an appearance at the 24 hour Nurburgring endurance race.  Aston Martin Zagato Source: Aston Martin via WCF Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| BMW F10 M5 Engine, Photos Surface The Web Posted: 20 May 2011 03:30 AM PDT  BMW F10 M5 4.4 liter V8 Engine Thanks to the guys over at M5board.com, we have a couple of pictures with the 4.4-liter V8 engine that will power the highly-anticipated BMW F10 M5. Benefiting from the TwinPower technology, this engine will be linked to a 7-speed double clutch M DCT Drivelogic gearbox, but details regarding the exact output are not certain at the moment.  BMW F10 M5 4.4 liter V8 Engine If we were to believe the latest estimations, the engine will deliver about 567 hp (575 PS / 423 kW) and 531 lb.-ft (720 Nm) of torque. Initially, it was though that the engine would be more powerful than that but it seems that BMW was having problems with the gearbox of the M5. Original reports mentioned a 600 PS power figure, but even in a lower output level than that, it will certainly be a lot more powerful than the V10 in the previous M5 while at the same time being 25% more fuel efficient. We are all waiting for the Frankfurt Motor Show in September when BMW will finally launch the F10 M5. Source: M5board.com via BMW Blog via WCF Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Honda CR-Z Mugen, Photos Now Available Posted: 20 May 2011 03:10 AM PDT  Honda CR-Z Mugen Honda has finally decided to share a couple of photos with the upcoming CR-Z Mugen which will make its official debut at the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed. From these pictures we can see that they've added an aerodynamic bodykit and 17-inch alloy rims. The car has been fitted with a high-performance braking system and a sport-tuned suspension.  Honda CR-Z Mugen The Honda CR-Z Mugen went on a diet and it will be 110 lbs (50 kg) in comparison to the standard CR-Z version. Under that hood it will feature a 1.5-lter power unit that will be paired to an IMA hybrid system, giving a total power output of about 197 hp (200 PS / 147 kW) and a peak torque of 181 lb.-ft (245 Nm). This should be enough for a 0-60 mph sprint in about 6.6 seconds.  Honda CR-Z Mugen More information should be out at the beginning of July during the Goodwood Festival of Speed.  Honda CR-Z Mugen Source: Honda UK via WCF Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| 2012 Chevrolet Camaro To Get V6 3.6-liter Engine Posted: 20 May 2011 02:30 AM PDT  2012 Chevrolet Camaro V6 Engine The upcoming 2012 Chevrolet Camaro will be available with a brand new V6 3.6-liter engine. This LFX power unit has been developed in order to be more powerful and fuel efficient, adopting an integrated exhaust manifold, reducing the possibility of a gasket failure while at the same time reducing the weight of the engine by 13 lbs (6 kg). This new V6 engine develops 323 hp (327 PS / 241 kW), which is 11 hp (11 PS / 8 kW) more in comparison to the previous power unit. Although it gets a boost in power, the V6-powered Camaro has an EPA-estimated 30 mpg highway rating. Source: General Motors via WCF Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| UK Gets Special Edition Nissan 370Z GT Posted: 20 May 2011 02:00 AM PDT  Nissan 370Z GT Edition If you live in the United Kingdom, you should know that Nissan has a special edition of its 370Z GT for you. This limited edition will be built in order to celebrate the model's 40th anniversary and will come with a choice of three colors: Black Rose, Kuro Black and Pearl White. It will also sport anthracite-finished 19-inch alloy rims and exterior body stripes to distinguish it from the standard model.  Nissan 370Z GT Edition Nissan also throws in GPS navigation, rear view camera, along with a retuned suspension with modified dampers, which according to the Japanese company will be able to "provide the ideal balance between ride comfort and high-speed handling."  Nissan 370Z GT Edition No changes in the engine compartment so expect to see a V6 3.7-liter unit that delivers 324 hp (328 PS / 241 kW) and a peak torque of 268 lb.-ft (363 Nm), enabling the car to do the 0-60 mph sprint in 5.3 seconds, on its way to a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).  Nissan 370Z GT Edition The Nissan 370Z GT special edition will hit the dealerships on June 1st and will have a base price of 35,000 pounds. Source: Nissan UK via WCF Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Aston Martin Cygnet EV, Out In 2013 Posted: 20 May 2011 01:30 AM PDT  2011 Aston Martin Cygnet It seems that the British automaker Aston Martin is working hard in order to keep up with the increasing environmental pressures if we were to believe the latest rumors that tell us about a possible 2013 Cygnet EV model. Basically, this car will be nothing more than a rebadged Toyota iQ EV and will feature an electric motor that generates 63 hp (64 PS / 47 kW) which will be powered by a 11 kWh lithium-ion battery. The car will be able to "sprint" to 60 mph in an agonizing 14 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 78 mph (125 km/h). The good news is that the drivers will be able to use the car for up to 65 miles (105 km) before the battery is drained. To recharge it completely, you'll have to wait about four hours but if you are in a hurry, in 15 minutes you'll charge the battery to 80% of its capacity thanks to the rapid charging cycle. Source: Car Magazine Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| GM Will Increase The Production Of Its 2012MY Chevrolet Volt Posted: 20 May 2011 01:00 AM PDT  2011 Chevrolet Volt Good news for those of you who are still waiting to buy a Chevrolet Volt as General Motors has announced that for the 2012 model, the Volt (along with the Opel Ampera) will be produced in 60,000 units and approximately 45,000 of them will be sold in the United States. In addition, GM will increase the production of this year's model by 16,000 units. The bad thing is that this production increase will not commence right away due to the reason that General Motors has shut down its Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant, where they assemble the Volt, so that it could be upgraded in order to prepare the factory for building the upcoming 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. You probably know that the 2011 Chevrolet Volt is not available everywhere in the U.S. The states in which you can purchase one are: New York, California, Texas, Virginia, Washington D.C., Connecticut, Michigan, Maryland and New Jersey. The company has said that by the end of this year, the Volt will be available nationwide in the U.S., as well as in Canada, Europe and of course, China. Source: General Motors via WCF Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Lotus Elan Delayed Until 2016, At Least Posted: 20 May 2011 12:30 AM PDT  Lotus Elan Concept It seems that we have some bad news for those of you who were waiting for the revival of the Lotus Elan. A spokesperson for the company told our colleagues from Car and Driver the other day that the 2-seat, mid-engine coupe will not be out until 2016, at least. The car that we saw last year at the Paris Motor Show was supposed to be out sometime in 2013 or 2014, replacing the Evora. Lotus says that its Evora model, which was introduced in 2009, will be "allowed to have a more traditional life cycle". In other words, it means that the British company will continue to produce the model for at least 5-6 years. There are good chances for a second generation of the Evora, but nothing is certain at the moment. If there won't be a second-gen Evora, Lotus will roll out the Elan, but we don't know if the company is considering two distinct cars, one Elan and one Evora II. We do know that more variants of the Evora will be launched in the following years. This year, Lotus will roll out the Evora S with a 345-hp engine and the Evora IPS which will feature an automatic gearbox. Although this is good news, these two new variants will not pay the company's bills and the executives over at Lotus know this so more tweaked Evoras will certainly be launched in the future. If you didn't know, the car was developed from start to accommodate an open-roof model and we will probably see one in 2-3 years or so. It shouldn't come as a surprise if we'll see a more lighter and track-oriented Evora, following the same recipe of just about every model ever made by Lotus. The Lotus Esprit is set to arrive in dealerships in 2013 which means that until then the Evora will be the only model produced by the company, taking into consideration that starting with this summer; the company will discontinue the production of its legendary Elise and Exige models. As a reminder, back in September last year at the Paris Motor Show, the British automaker said that they are developing six new different models. It seemed a little bit too much ambitious at that time and now we have the confirmation that they can't live up to their promises. We believe that other scheduled introductions will also be delayed. Let's hope we're wrong about this one. Source: Lotus via Car And Driver Post published on Rpmgo.com |
| Rumors – Ram Working On Minivan-based Pickup Posted: 20 May 2011 12:00 AM PDT  2006 Dodge Rampage Concept If we were to believe the latest rumors that have surfaced the Internet, Ram is working on an entry-level pickup truck that will be based on the next-generation version of the Dodge Grand Caravan and the Chrysler Town & Country. Nothing is official at the moment, but the "TR Ram Lifestyle Truck" will probably be built in Canada as a main rival for the Honda Ridgeline. The model is considered as a replacement for the Ram Dakota and it is thought to be a fuel-efficient model for those customers that want the flexibility of a pickup truck but they do not need the huge towing capacity and big powerful engines. The pickup should be out in late 2013 or early 2014. Stay tuned for more information. Source: Windsor Star via Automotive News via WCF Post published on Rpmgo.com |
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