RPMGO Car Blog

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• Nissan Leaf Will Participate In The Pikes Peak Hill Climb
• Hotter BMW M3 Sedan In The Works
• VW Golf GTI Reifnitz Revealed At Worthersee
• China-only BMW M3 Carbon Edition Revealed
• Ford Reveals Tiny 1.0-liter EcoBoost Engine
• Mosler Announces 2012 Raptor
• Audi R8 GT Spyder Goes Official
• Top 10 Cars In Movies
• Parents’ Wakeup Call – from BMW’s “DON’T TXT & DRIVE” Campaign
• BMW’s New Lighting Tech

Nissan Leaf Will Participate In The Pikes Peak Hill Climb Posted: 04 Jun 2011 12:30 AM PDT We have some surprising news coming from Nissan. Earlier this week they've announced that their highly acclaimed all-electric model will participate at the 89th edition of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb which will be held this month on the 26th. What makes it even more interesting is the fact that they'll use the regular Leaf, not the NISMO RC version. Behind the wheel of the EV will be Chad Hord, a veteran off-road truck racing champion. The only modifications brought to the car will be the addition of a roll cage and a 5-point seatbelt. Other than that, it will be standard. In other words, it will feature the same modest 80-kW electric motor that generates 107 hp and has a peak torque of 207 lb.-ft. Stay tuned for more information about the upcoming Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Source: GreenCarReports Post published on Rpmgo.com Nissan Leaf Will Participate In The Pikes Peak Hill Climb

Hotter BMW M3 Sedan In The Works Posted: 04 Jun 2011 12:00 AM PDT We've learned from our colleagues at autocar.co.uk that BMW is working on a more powerful and faster version of the M3 sedan, before the next generation of the 3-Series debuts next year. These spy shots were taken on the Nurburgring track and we know that this hotter M3 will get the same V8 4.4-liter engine as the one in the M3 GTS. In addition, the car will go on a diet and lose some pounds, making it a more track-focused model. The 0-62 mph sprint should be done in a mere 4.5 seconds, while top speed will be almost 190 mph. Expect to see some changes in the suspension and braking configuration of the car. From these spy shots we can see that the new variant of the M3 sedan will look a little bit more aggressive, featuring updated front and rear bumpers, along with new front and rear splitters as well as some lighter body panels borrowed from the aforementioned M3 GTS. In addition, it will take the GTS' lightweight sports exhaust system. The car will be slotted above the standard M3 and under the M3 GTS, which usually was M3 CSL territory, but we don't know if the car will wear this moniker. Source: AutoCar Post published on Rpmgo.com Hotter BMW M3 Sedan In The Works

VW Golf GTI Reifnitz Revealed At Worthersee Posted: 03 Jun 2011 11:30 PM PDT Volkswagen Golf GTI Reifnitz One of the many special Golfs revealed this week at the 2011 Worthersee show is this Reifnitz model which has been developed by VW's apprentices. What they managed to achieve is quite impressive, increasing the power of the 2.0 TSI engine to 370 PS and 480 Nm of torque. They did it by installing a Stage III turbocharger system, a RSC performance exhaust and a new intercooler, all of them being borrowed from APR. Volkswagen Golf GTI Reifnitz They didn't stop there as you can see from these images that this Golf GTI comes with new front & rear bumpers, new side skirts and a brand new bonnet that has two air vents for cooling down the engine. Inside, we find a roll cage, sport bucket seats and a new shift lever. Volkswagen Golf GTI Reifnitz Source: VW via ZerCustoms Post published on Rpmgo.com VW Golf GTI Reifnitz Revealed At Worthersee

China-only BMW M3 Carbon Edition Revealed Posted: 03 Jun 2011 11:00 PM PDT BMW M3 Carbon Edition Yet another special edition of the BMW M3 will be reaching the Chinese market in the future. This time, it is the M3 Carbon Edition that follows the M3 Matte Edition, which was introduced just a few months ago. The new one has a bespoke look with a black-painted grille, a front bumper that has black carbon accents, side body stripes, along with a new set of 19-inch alloy rims. Inside the cabin, there is two-tone leather upholstery, special badging (of course) and carbon fiber trim. This special edition is powered by the same engine we find in the regular M3, which is a V8 4.0-liter unit that generates 414 hp (420 PS / 309 kW) and has a peak torque of 295 lb.-ft (400 Nm). This engine will be mated to a 7-speed, dual clutch gearbox, which will allow the car to do the 0-62 mph sprint in 4.6 seconds, before reaching a limited top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h). BMW will make only 111 units of this M3 Carbon Edition and prices start from 1.23 million yuan. Source: autohome.com.cn via m3post.com via WCF Post published on Rpmgo.com China-only BMW M3 Carbon Edition Revealed

Ford Reveals Tiny 1.0-liter EcoBoost Engine Posted: 03 Jun 2011 10:30 PM PDT A few days ago, Ford announced a new engine in its lineup, the 3-cylinder 1.0-liter EcoBoost power unit, which will be the smallest one available and it will be offered on a global scale. This new small power unit will benefit from a turbocharger, twin independent variable camshaft timing (aka Ti-VCT) and direct injection. We don't know the exact output of this engine but Ford says that it will offer similar performances in comparison to the bigger, 4-cylinder 1.6-liter unit that they use in the Fiesta, which means that power output should be around the 120 hp (122 PS / 89 kW) and 112 lb.-ft (152 Nm) mark. We'll have more information in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show. PS: The engine in this photo is a 4-cylinder EcoBoost gasoline unit from Ford. Source: Ford via WCF Post published on Rpmgo.com Ford Reveals Tiny 1.0-liter EcoBoost Engine

Mosler Announces 2012 Raptor Posted: 03 Jun 2011 10:00 PM PDT Mosler MT900 GTR XX We have big news from Mosler as this week they've revealed the first details about their upcoming 2012 Raptor supercar which will have to face up some serious competition in this segment. It will feature a huge V8 twin-turbo 7.0-liter engine that produces 650 hp (695 PS / 485 kW). We know that you are probably wondering why only 650 hp from a 7.0-liter engine. We're wondering that ourselves. Anyway, the good thing is that the Raptor will have a curb weight of only 2,500 lbs (1,134 kg) which will make it 476 lbs (216 kg) lighter than Pagani's Huayra supercar. We hope that more information will be revealed in the future as this car promises to be very interesting. The one you see in this picture is a MT900 GTR XX, not the upcoming Raptor. Stay tuned. Source: automobilemag.com via WCF Post published on Rpmgo.com Mosler Announces 2012 Raptor

Audi R8 GT Spyder Goes Official Posted: 03 Jun 2011 09:30 PM PDT Audi R8 GT Spyder About one year since they've launched the GT version of the sexy R8 coupe, the German automaker Audi has revealed earlier this week the R8 GT Spyder, which like its coupe sibling, there will only be 333 units available. The car is motivated by the same engine as we find in the coupe variant, which is a V10 FSI 5.2-liter that produces 552 hp (560 PS / 412 kW) and has a peak torque of 398 lb.-ft (540 Nm). In comparison to the R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI Quattro, the GT Spyder version is 85 kg less heavy, managing to achieve a curb weight of only 3,616 lbs (1,640 kg). It managed to lose those pounds thanks to the usage of carbon-fiber reinforce polymer for some of the body panels, along with the glass fiber-reinforced polymer for the seats. Audi R8 GT Spyder The car can do the 0-62 mph sprint in only 3.8 seconds, on its way to a maximum speed of 196 mph (317 km/h). 19 seconds will be necessary to deploy or retract that fabric soft-top and it can be done at speeds of up to 31 mph (50 km/h). The base price in Germany for the Audi R8 GT Spyder is 207,800 Euros. Audi R8 GT Spyder Source: Audi via WCF Post published on Rpmgo.com Audi R8 GT Spyder Goes Official

Top 10 Cars In Movies Posted: 03 Jun 2011 09:00 PM PDT Do you guys remember our top ten about the best movies with cars? We figured out that we need a different top 10 in which we name some of the greatest cars that we've seen in motion pictures. Let's kick things off with a car from xXx, starring Fast Five's Vin Diesel. 10. Pontiac GTO (from xXx) This purple-painted 1967 Pontiac GTO should be considered as an American version of the Bond car, filled with gadgets and featuring a badass look. Would you want a poster of this one on your wall? I definitely would, but probably not with that purple paint. 09. Aston Martin V12 Vanquish (from Die Another Day) Speaking of a Bond car, our number nine goes to the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish from Die Another Day. Why it made it into this top? Well, it looks absolutely gorgeous and it packs daylight stealth technology and some machine guns. In addition, it handles very well on a frozen lake, managing to escape from the missile-packed Jaguar. Enough said. 08. Bumblebee (from Transformers) I have to admit that I'm not a big fan of the Transformers franchise but I do love that yellow Chevrolet Camaro. That muscular body and those huge wheels look great. I hope that in this year's Transformers: Dark of the Moon we will be able to see other American muscle cars, maybe the Mustang. 07. The Interceptor (from Mad Max) Let's go back into the 80s and have a look at Mel Gibson's Interceptor from the popular Mad Max franchise. The car was in fact an Australian version of the Ford XB Falcon Coupe, featuring a sinister black paint and other modifications that made it look very cool. 06. Frankenstein's Monster (from Death Race) If you haven't seen Death Race, you've missed seeing Jason Statham in this 2006 Ford Mustang GT which has been heavily modified to give it a killer look and in my opinion they've accomplished that. Those wheels could have been a little bit bigger, but hey, who's complaining? 05. The Tumbler (from Batman Begins) Basically just about all batmobiles have been awesome looking cars but the one we've seen in Batman Begins is the coolest of them all. This one was not based on a single car as its design is based on the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter jet and from Frank Miller's graphic-novel depiction in "The Dark Night Returns". Regardless of where they've got their inspiration for The Tumbler, it's a badass piece of machinery. 04. Mini Cooper S (from The Italian Job) Imagine making the movie with another car. It's virtually impossible. The success of the motion pictures revolves around the nimble feet of those Mini Coopers. Although the cars weren't very powerful, no other model would have been more suitable for that intense driving in congested streets, subway tunnels and parks. 03. Pontiac Trans Am (from Smokey and the Bandit) Remember the movie? It was about getting a truckload of beer from Texas to Atlanta. What we remember is Bo "Bandit" Darville in his Trans Am. Add to this recipe Burt Reynolds' mustache and the funny car chases and you get a classic movie. 02. Ford Mustang GT 390 (from Bullitt) Speaking of classic movies, who could forget about the Mustang from Bullitt? And that 7-minute long chase scene between the original pony car and a 1968 Dodge Charger. Why is the Mustang more famous than the Charger? Well, we have to root for the good guy, don't we? 01. DeLorean DMC-12 (from Back To The Future) It definitely isn't the prettiest car from this top, nor the fastest or most powerful. However, it has something special that no other car ever had in a movie: a "flux capacitor" and 1.21 "jigowatts". All three Back to the Future movies were awesome and the car played an important role, along with Michael J. Fox and Christopher Loyd, two great actors. Of course, these are only ten examples of great cars that took the spotlight in epic movies. There are others of course, here a just a few that didn't make it into the top: the Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger; the beautiful 1961 Ferrari 250 GT from Ferris Bueller's Day Off or the 1959 Cadillac Ambulance from Ghostbusters. Feel free to add your suggestions. Post published on Rpmgo.com Top 10 Cars In Movies

Parents’ Wakeup Call – from BMW’s “DON’T TXT & DRIVE” Campaign Posted: 03 Jun 2011 07:45 AM PDT This month, BMW North America has unveiled a national advertising campaign to help combat distracted driving. The theme of the campaign is "DON'T TXT & DRIVE" and it has started with some very emotional video spots, in which over-protective parents are careless when it comes to texting while driving. The result is that they expose their family to risk and fail their "job" as parents when they text while being behind the wheel. The entire campaign will be built around this concept, involving both kids and parents, and will also use suggestive ads (television, print, online and radio) to illustrate different situations of distracted driving. In addition to this, campaign's message will also be incorporated in more than 100 teen driving schools from across the United States. “Distracted driving is an epidemic in America, and it has deadly consequences for thousands of people on our roads each year. (…) Putting a stop to these needless deaths, as well as hundreds of thousands of injuries will require everyone to take personal responsibility for safe driving. I am grateful to BMW for their efforts to raise public awareness about distracted driving and for urging drivers to put down their phones and focus on the road. I hope that other automakers will follow their lead.” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood BMW's initiative is to raise awareness of the fatal effects of texting while driving. It is already known that, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 5500 persons died in car accidents involving distracted drivers, and nearly 87 percent of teens admit they text while driving. This isn't the first initiative of this type came from BMW: in Spartanburg, South Carolina, BMW's Teen Driving Shool has trained in safe driving more than 3000 young drivers for the last 10 years. The "DON'T TXT & DRIVE" campaign runs through the rest of the year. This is the first video released: Click here to view the embedded video. So, what do you think about the video: is it too emotional? [Source: Autoblog, Photo] Post published on Rpmgo.com Parents' Wakeup Call – from BMW's "DON'T TXT & DRIVE" Campaign

BMW’s New Lighting Tech Posted: 03 Jun 2011 07:00 AM PDT BMW has recently announced that it will start using two new lighting technologies on its cars: 1. “BMW Dynamic Light Spot”: a system with infrared sensor which detects animals or people at 328 feet (the equivalent of 100 meters) in front of the vehicle. Whenever something is detected on the road, a beam of light focuses on the object and alerts the driver. 2. “Glare-free high beam assistant”: a system that is meant to increase safety by preventing glare. It uses a camera which locates the oncoming vehicles and then "adjusts" the headlights, even if the high beam has been already switched on. In addition to those technologies, BMW has also worked to an optional full-LED headlight, debuting in the new BMW 6 Series Coupé. By using this lighting technology, BMW increases considerably the safety for night driving. Apparently, the DLS will be included in the Night Vision package. What is your opinion about BMW's new lighting technology? [Source: Worldcarfans, Photo] Post published on Rpmgo.com BMW's New Lighting Tech

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