Aston Martin V12 Zagato doubles up on Nurburgring 24 Hour race

After the British at Mini surprised us with their contender for this years 24 Hours of Nurburgring, in the shape of the 2012 Mini Coupe racer, the ones at Aston Martin also have something to say.

Their award winning Aston Martin V12 Zagato is going to be participating in the 24 hour German race and they are doing it fittingly, in massive style.

Aston Martin V12 Zagato Zig Zag racers

Aston Martin is going to use gorgeous looking cars, V12 power, and they’re even using a special trick for their team in the form of two racing cars with “twin” names.

These two cars from Aston Martin are getting a full reveal today after some teasing along the way and we also get to find out their names.

Naming is important, mostly because Aston Martin isn’t going to refer to their cars by their number and stuff like that. According to Dr. Ulrich Bez, their chairman, the British will be naming the cars Zig and Zag.

Aston Martin V12 Zagato Zig Zag racers

It’s quite the captivating idea but as far as the race marshals are concerned, the Aston Martin V12 Zagatos are labeled cars number 3 and number 5.

The number 5 Aston Martin V12 Zagato is going to be the Zig that wears a green (not really what we know as the British Racing sort) paint whereas the number 3 version we’ll be wearing the red shade with a white go faster stripes.

As if this sort of presence isn’t enough the drivers of these two V12 Zagato racers at the Nurburgring are going to be something we don’t get to see often these days in motorsport.

Aston Martin’s V12 Zagato racing cars will be driven by what’s known as Gentlemen racers. Forget the overpaid racing drivers that have been fed speed since they were five.

Aston Martin V12 Zagato Zig Zag racers

The 24 Hours of Nurburgring will see some “decently paid” managers and CEO drive for Aston Martin. The Zig V12 Zagato will be driven by Chris Porritt, Oliver Mathai and Peter Cate.

Chris Porritt was the infamous Aston Martin’s One-77 Chief Engineer, experienced sports car driver Oliver Mathai, Richard Meaden is a seasoned automotive journalist and Peter Cate is an amateur.

The second Aston Martin V12 Zagato gets Aston Martin CEO, Dr. Ulrich Bez, the company's Nürburgring Test Centre Director, Wolfgang Schuhbauer and automotive journalists Horst von Saurma and Matthew Marsh.

Aston Martin V12 Zagato Zig Zag racers

You have to hand it to Aston Martin, they sure know how to make a presence even on the race track and on top of these special V12′s a less blue blooded V8 will be present.

An Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4 racer that’s also running under the company name will be nicknamed the Smurf and it’s driven by company customers.

Lupica G. 23 Jun, 2011

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Source: http://www.automotorblog.com/aston-martin-v12-zagato-doubles-up-on-nurburgring-24-hour-race/
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JCW takes Mini Coupe Endurance Racing at the Nurburgring

Well, now this is what I’d call it when a company means business with it’s new coupe sports model they launched just days ago.

The 2012 Mini Coupe’s pictures are still so fresh the paint may run on the fingers of those who hold them to admire the British fun machine.

2012 Mini Coupe JCW Endurance racer

Despite that, there’s no time being wasted, Mini already announced that they plan to take a John Cooper Works (JCW) version of the 2012 Coupe racing.

Focusing on the endurance side and with the 24 Hours of Le Mans being over and dealt with for this year, the JCW Mini Coupe will hit up the Nurburgring.

No endurance race is easy, but the 24 Hours of Nurburgring demand that more of a special attention as the track itself is known for being one of the toughest around.

2012 Mini Coupe JCW Endurance racer

In order to prep for the immense job at hand, there’s been some tweaking done by Mini to the aerodynamics of the Coupe shifting focus from things like fuel economy and looks towards downforce.

This is why we see a new body kit that now includes a front splitter and a rear diffuser. Also looking for that little bit more downforce is the rear spoiler JCW placed on the back of the 2012 Mini Coupe.

Last but not least, the lower part of the front bumper was opened up further to improve the cooling of the powerplant and all its auxiliaries under the bonnet.

2012 Mini Coupe JCW Endurance racer

The new cooling possibilities were laid out in order to preserve the life of the 1.6 liter turbocharged engine throughout the 24 hours of pain it’s going to get.

Pain is only part of the equation, performance is the other. While the 1.6 liter turbocharged engine didn’t apparently change, there’s 250 horsepower coming out of it thanks to all the racing tech added.

Some fancy re-tuning of the direct injection system, turning up of the turbocharger pressure helps JCW develop the 50 extra ponies on top of the standard powerplant and provide the driver with an overboost facility.

2012 Mini Coupe JCW Endurance racer

The interior of the 2012 Mini Coupe also got a lot of changes only the extreme stripping of the luxuries and sound deadening means there’s a lot less on the table.

The final weight of the 2012 Mini Coupe Endurance Racer is said to stop at just under 2.200 pounds sitting still so we can see the downforce necessity we spoke of earlier.

All this stuff was set up so that when the Nurburgring 24 hour endurance race starts up the Mini John Cooper Works Coupe Endurance will be competing in the “SP 3T” class.

Lupica G. 23 Jun, 2011

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Source: http://www.automotorblog.com/jcw-takes-mini-coupe-endurance-racing-at-the-nurburgring/
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Bugatti’s Galibier Concept to enter production as a Royale

Not since it started and laid out its first steps in history has Bugatti been a car company that fits into the crowd.

Exclusive by nature and prone to offer only the finest of what technologies and accommodations are available, Bugatti’s production cars were, and are, the ones to have.

Bugatti Galibier 16 C Concept

This sort of public likability and automotive media thirst to promote whatever comes out of the French company’s gates means that Bugatti can have it their own way when making a new car.

It is a statement which was made clear during the development and production of the Bugatti Veyron, with countless delays and redesigns. Now though, Bugatti announced that they are putting the Galibier 16 C Concept into production so let the spoon feeding begin.

Soon there after we will begin seeing more spyshots of the Bugatti Galibier Concept’s prototypes and test vehicles out and about.

Bugatti Galibier 16 C Concept

What I really am hoping for is that Bugatti keep us in the dark as much as possible. We already know the basic shape and specs, from now on just develop it and don’t tell us every time you sort out the brakes or pick the right clock for the interior.

I may say that now and in hoping I don’t get bored by the time the Galibier rolls off the production line in a final state I’m going to enjoy the latest announcement we have on it.

Bugatti is reportedly going to call the production version of the Galibier 16 C Concept nothing other than a Royale model.

Bugatti Galibier 16 C Concept

For a quick reminder, the original Bugatti Royale is regarded as one of the largest and finest automobiles ever produced. Built all the way back in the 1920′s and 1930′s it redefined Bugatti as an above all else brand.

Back then, the Bugatti Royale was powered by a straight eight cylinder engine that used 12.7 liters and developed between 275 and 300 horsepower. At the time the engine was so brilliant it was actually used in high speed trains.

The modern Bugatti Royale will make use of an equally impressive and rare powerplant in the form of a W16 800 horsepower job. Though smaller and more powerful, Bugatti claims the engine in the new Royale will also be flex-fuel capable.

Bugatti Galibier 16 C Concept

In case sir would feel the mood to go vegetarian, he would be happy to know that his Bugatti four door supersports sedan can do the same.

If one would want to go even further than that but doesn’t want to lose the prestige and image offered by a new Bugatti Royale, this would be possibly as rumor has it there are hybrid and electric versions in the works.

Lupica G. 23 Jun, 2011

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Source: http://www.automotorblog.com/bugattis-galibier-concept-to-enter-production-as-a-royale/
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2012 Buick LaCrosse has an official engine upgrade planned out

In preparation for a 2012 model year for the Buick LaCrosse, GM announced a second surprise they have up their sleeve for their customers.

The first surprise has been out there for a while now and it is the 2012 Buick LaCrosse eAssist, the version that has fuel economy in mind.

2012 Buick LaCrosse

The second surprise is what we’re now hearing about just months before it enters production and it is a new more powerful V6 engine.

This new V6 powerplant is rated by GM at a very pleasant sounding 303 horsepower and 264 lb-ft of torque and it means 23 horsepower more than the current 2011 model of the Buick LaCrosse.

So what makes GM’s newly upgraded heart for the 2012 Buick LaCrosse tick? According to the company, the 3.6 liter V6 engine got a different cylinder head design, larger-diameter intake valves in the heads and new intake camshafts which stay open for a longer period.

2012 Buick LaCrosse

Don’t think they only went for muscle, according to Buick, part of the new engine upgrade is making the car feel better with it. After a bit more engineering went into it, the 2012 Buick LaCrosse’s V6 lost 20.5 pounds in total mass and has yet another surprise.

The newly added performance of the GM 3.6 liter V6 does not affect the fuel economy figures we’re used to from last year. In the front wheel drive model at least, Buick still rates the LaCrosse V6 at 17 mpg city and 27 highway.

An all wheel drive variant may or may not suffer from any differences in efficiency either but since no official figures are in yet we’ll keep that one under our hat.

2012 Buick LaCrosse V6

In light of the surprise engine upgrade and the new technical data, Doug Osterhoff, LaCrosse product marketing manager, couldn’t help but state the obvious. According to him, all the improvements were made so that customers get better acceleration and overall performance without losing out on the frugal aspect.

I’ve found much more interesting stuff than that in the press release. How, for example this upgraded V6 will go on sale along with the rest of the 2012 Buick LaCrosse lineup later this summer.

I’m not in a hurry to buy one, but I’m sure plenty of people are going to do so and once they see themselves in a Buick showroom another surprise is being readied for them.

2012 Buick LaCrosse

The 2012 Buick LaCrosse is planned out to sell with the new 3.6 liter V6 as a no cost option.

Lupica G. 23 Jun, 2011

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Source: http://www.automotorblog.com/2012-buick-lacrosse-has-an-official-engine-upgrade-planned-out/
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Citroen DS4 priced from £18,150 in the United Kingdom

With the Goodwood Festival of Speed just around the corner, the French people from Citroen released the pricing alongside further details on the engine range and trim levels of the new DS4, a model aimed to compete with the C-Segment cars such as VW Golf, VW Scirocco, Honda Civic and Mini Countryman.

Citroen DS4

The new Citroen DS4 comes in the UK with a starting price of £18,150 and five different engine options (two diesel and three petrol units) developing from 110 to 200 horsepower. In terms of styling, Citroen comes with three trim levels, DSign, DStyle and DSport to be more precise, the pricing considerably climbing up with each new package.

For the beginning, if you are a diesel fan, you can choose the HDi engine able to deliver 110 horsepower, a more potent 160 horsepower version being available too. Moreover, Citroen offers an e-HDi 110 hp version which gets the micro-hybrid technology. With this setup and some help from a Stop & Start system, the French model obtains a fuel consumption improved by 15% and CO2 emissions of 114 g/km.

This unit is available exclusively with a six-speed EGS (Electronic Gearbox System) transmission and is priced from £19,445. The petrol engines lineup include three 1.6-liter units developed together with the Germans from BMW. There is a VTi engine producing 120 horsepower and to versions of the 1.6-liter THP unit offering 155 and 200 horsepower, respectively.

Citroen DS4

The top of the range engine which is the 200-horsepower 1.6-liter THP is able to comes with a manual gearbox and is able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 8,5 seconds. The top speed of the model is 235 km/h while the fuel combined cycle is 6.4 liters/100 km (44.1 mpg UK) and CO2 emissions stop at 149 g/km.

Citroen DS4

In terms of dimensions, the new Citroen DS4 measures 4,27m in length, 1,53m in height and 1,81m in width while it provides a boot capacity of 359 liters. As mentioned, the 120-horsepower VTi unit fitted with a manual gearbox starts at £18,150 while the most expensive version is the HDi 160-horsepower with a six-speed manual transmission at a price of £23,950.

Rikk 23 Jun, 2011

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Source: http://www.automotorblog.com/citroen-ds4-priced-from-18150-in-the-united-kingdom/
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