McLaren’s MP4-12C to get a soul

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The new McLaren supercar, the MP4-12C is genuinely fast and brilliant in every single measurable way but as early reviews have been telling us, it’s missing something.

Everybody appreciates the speed, the handling, the price, the engine, the brakes and so on but I’m guessing that this is the big reason behind the sales record of the British race car maker.

McLaren MP4-12C

The missing bit is, according to McLaren, going to be taken care of by the time “normal” customers actually take delivery of their MP4-12C.

Those looking for a very special modification to be done to the McLaren MP4-12C will be disappointed. This is because it seems that the Brits consider what they’re doing as a soul for a car.

In what I would define as a desperate idea from McLaren, we’re told that the MP4-12C will get a slightly faster throttle response and “more”.

McLaren MP4-12C

The highlight of the McLaren MP4-12C’s final production state will be the “fruitier” exhaust note. It may be the sort of thing that has an effect on the sort of fun you get from a car but will it be enough?

I’m afraid I don’t think so, particularly because the British mid-engined exotica still looks and feels clinical. Actually, the chances of improving the image and feel of the McLaren MP4-12C are better if done on a different level.

If we were to hear about it killing off the a chief test driver like the Lexus LF-A did or being crashed around several other incidents such as the Nurburgring testing it would make the MP4-12C considerably better.

McLaren MP4-12C

It would be even better if they changed the name but hey, some chaps are pleased with it just as it is so it might not be brave to consider either options right now.

That is mostly because even the newly added improved and louder exhaust system is described by McLaren as being something incredibly boring.

They used the intake notes actually and they’ve integrated into the pretty complicated to turn off traction control system.

McLaren MP4-12C

These new edits and updates to the world of the soul-less kid that is the McLaren MP4-12C, we’re told that won’t be affected.

So even though it feels like it’s going faster, sounds like it’s doing so, the McLaren MP4-12C will be a better contender for the big show something or other?

Lupica G. 21 Jul, 2011

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Source: http://www.automotorblog.com/mclarens-mp4-12c-to-get-a-soul/
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Caterham manages to send the Seven to China

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With China being the most interesting market for cars and various other products right now, it’s not that big a surprise to see more and more brands fighting for some market share.

There are a few brands however that aren’t expected to do anything new, much less something as important as going to China to sell their own cars.

Caterham goes to China

One of the surprising companies is the British one called Caterham. Making nothing more than “back to basics” track day enthusiasts and petrolheads, there isn’t that much to offer in China.

This essential problem for Caterham’s success in China is that the home ground isn’t really there. The People’s republic isn’t like Britain.

It’s not really full of race tracks or places where enthusiast Chinese owners can really put their Caterhams through their paces.

Caterham goes to China

Using a plural does feel a bit weird, particularly since the British company only announced shifting the Seven to the new market.

None of the other crucially different (2 seaters, no doors, an engine and a roll-cage) Caterham models are going to make it to China very soon.

As some may know, Caterham is already present in Japan and they’re even doing pretty well there. The far east isn’t a stranger to the Brits, but a Chinese market entry is going to take some time.

An Euro 5 compliant engine lineup, teamed with a very light car makes for oodles of fun without the spills. This sort of attitude is what Caterham hopes will attract buyers to their showrooms and retailers.

Caterham goes to China

Speaking of which, if you’re Chinese you’ll have to look out for extra news on how the six retailers the company will pick from key provinces of your country.

The sales plan calls isn’t ambitious at all. Even for a low production company such as Caterham, somewhere between 30 and 50 Sevens sold for the first year seems much more than acceptable.

Officially, the launch of the Caterham Seven in China will take place in 2012.

This new announcement comes from Caterham and the Chinese authorities but the with import firm Courtenay Trading International (CTI).

Caterham goes to China

CTI signed a deal to be the exclusive Caterham retailer for China and in order to celebrate this “success” has released the most important facts to the press already.

Caterham Cars' International Business Manager, David Ridley is pretty happy with how everything came around and he reckons that appreciation from China will confirm the importance of the brand overseas.

Source: Carscoop

Lupica G. 21 Jul, 2011

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Source: http://www.automotorblog.com/caterham-manages-to-send-the-seven-to-china/
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HLDI and IIHS have confirmed Volvo’s safety systems functionality

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Most likely when you talk about Volvo you immediately think at a very safe vehicle, the results of advanced and long term research. Today, the Swedish company gets appreciations from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), two important companies in this domain.

Volvo City Safety

The two institutes released a study which confirms that the current Volvo XC60 benefits from various safety systems able to reduce the accidents by 27%, mainly thanks to the City Safety system able to avoid obstacles at low speeds. To be more precise, the City Safety system works at speeds between 3 and 30 km/h and uses infrared lasers in order to avoid a possible collision with another vehicle.

According to the same official details, the chances to suffer no body injuries after a serious accident driving a Volvo XC60 increase by 51% if we compare to other models in this segment. Of course, there are a bunch of other innovative safety systems available out there such as the Pedestrian Detection, almost all these systems using sensors and lasers for detection.

Volvo City Safety

This system can fully stop the car if it detects pedestrians in front of the vehicle at speeds which don’t exceed 32 km/h. This task will be carried by the Full Auto Brake system and will do its job only when the driver has no response. It uses a special camera along a radar which scans the object around and provides a really fast response. This system comes with an impressive number of forms and object, somewhere around 10,000, being able to scan more than 60 objects/pedestrians in 50 milliseconds. The Swedish people from Volvo showed their intention to introduce the City Safety systems as standard on the current S60 and S80.

Volvo City Safety

HDLA and IIHS president, Adrian Lund, said the statistics show the belief that Volvo drivers are safer than those driving other brands is false: "Driver mistakes are responsible for 90% of accidents. Collision avoidance systems can help distracted motorists who fail to notice an impending accident".

Rikk 21 Jul, 2011

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Source: http://www.automotorblog.com/hldi-and-iihs-have-confirmed-volvos-safety-systems-functionality/
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VIDEO: Porsche teases the next-gen 911 ahead Frankfurt

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Most likely this post will cheer up a lot of Porsche fans considering that the German company just released an official video teaser along some new details for the next-generation 911, a model which is scheduled to debut at the upcoming Frankfurt Auto Show in September. As expected, the new 911 brings nothing completely new in terms of exterior styling but this is somehow understandable, the success of the current model having to be continued with an evolved design rather than an all-new approach.

2012 Porsche 911

Recently, the Germans from Porsche revealed an official teaser letting us to familiarize with the new generation of the famous model. In terms of performance, the German model obtained a lap time of 8:04 on Nurburgring while the 911 S is around 14 seconds faster.

If there is any need, we remind you that the new Porsche Carrera will benefit from a 3.4-liter engine able to deliver 350 horsepower. The same powerplant is expected to be seen on its brother, the Boxster S. The new Carrera S is rumored to get 400 horses while you will be able to choose between two transmissions, a seven-speed manual and a seven-speed PDK gearbox.

Other features of the new 911 include the Launch Control function, electronic parking brake and a longer wheelbase. Also, the Germans increased its dimensions, therefore, the next-gen model is 6,4 cm wider while the wheelbase is 10,2 cm longer. According to the current rumors, Porsche might introduce a hybrid version of this model but this is unlikely to happen until 2016. In terms of styling, we know that the Germans will offer a variety of alloy wheels with sizes of 19 or 20 inches.

Fuel consumption is also expected to be improved by 15% while a more stylish look will be offered by a new sunroof which stretches all over the roof. With this been said, I invite you to watch the official video teaser of the new 911, a video shot in South Africa while the model was undergoing serious tests at specific high temperatures.

Rikk 21 Jul, 2011

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Source: http://www.automotorblog.com/video-porsche-teases-the-next-gen-911-ahead-frankfurt/
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Lorinser CLS

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A N D O N I S 20 Jul, 2011

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Source: http://andoniscars.blogspot.com/2011/07/lorinser-cls.html
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And the Winner is... Ferrari design contest

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SEOUL'S HONGIK UNIVERSITY WINS FERRARI WORLD DESIGN CONTEST 2011
Students from Seoul's Hongik University have won the Ferrari World Design Contest, a competition in which 50 highly prestigious universities across the globe took up Ferrari's challenge of imagining its cars of the future. The Korean school was chosen ahead of the second-placed IED of Turin in Italy in the final with London's Royal College of Arts finishing in third position.
The first three classified models are:
1) Eternità- Kim Cheong Ju (Rep. of Korea), Ahn Dre (Rep. of Korea), Lee Sahngseok (Rep. of Korea) - Hongik University (Seoul)
2) Xezri- Samir Sadikhov (Azerbaigian) - IED (Turin)
3) Cavallo Bianco - Henry Cloke (UK), Qi Haitao (China) - RCA (London)
Following the prize-giving ceremony, Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo commented: "Nurturing the creativity of young people is a fundamental strategy in every walk of life. The Ferrari World Design Contest represents a window that we want to keep open on the world and the creative energy of the next generation. I saw at first hand the many genuinely innovative ideas that these talented youngsters sent us and could feel the enormous passion and commitment that had gone into them. I am certain that some of these suggestions will come to light in the Ferraris of the future."
The Seoul students provided the finest interpretation of Ferrari's design brief for a thoroughbred hypercar brimming with new generation technologies and materials, aN extreme ("hyper") car not only in its architecture but also in every other aspect. Having completed an initial 2D design, the entrants then generated 3D models in 3D Autodesk® Alias as well as making a physical 1:4 scale model with particular emphasis on detailing and the car interior in addition to more functional concerns.
All of the design concepts focused on reducing fuel consumption through alternative propulsion systems, particularly hybrid engines. Another common thread was the boosting of driving pleasure through weight reduction. More geometric forms alternated with sinuous, almost organic lines in the various design projects.
There were also two special prizes. The "Autodesk Design Award", for the best use of Alias software in the design process, was presented by the technical partner to the contest to Hongik school. The second prize, the "Most Unexpected Technological Solution" award, went to the team from Jiangnan University (China) for the audacious technical solutions contained in The Drake concept. The prizes were presented by Brenda Discher, Autodesk's Vice President Industry Market, and Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa.
The three finalists, however, received their prizes from Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo, CEO Amedeo Felisa, Paolo Pininfarina, Chairman of the Pininfarina Group which has partnered Ferrari in the styling of its cars for over six decades, and Flavio Manzoni, director of the Ferrari Styling Centre, which organised the contest.

A N D O N I S 20 Jul, 2011

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Source: http://andoniscars.blogspot.com/2011/07/and-winner-is-ferrari-design-contest.html
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