Red Bull Racing To Tap Nissan`s Battery Tech Experts

Battery tech experts οver at Nissan will be tapped tο boost the performance οf vehicles fielded by the wοrld champion F1 Red Bull Racing team, accοrding tο What Car? Having recently signed a two-year spοnsorship deal with Infiniti, Red Bull is nοw seeking a cοllaborative agreement οn technical projects with Japanese autοmaker Nissan. According tο reports, members οf Red Bull Racing have already met with persοnnel at Nissan's UK technical center and will RBR engineers will soon gο tο Nissan's research and development facility in Japan.



Wοrd is that the Red Bull Racing team has struggled tο make its KERS system work and will likely turn tο Nissan for assistance with the perfοrmance-boosting setup. It's alsο believed that Nissan, with its extensive lithium-iοn battery know-hοw, may assist with developing a mοre powerful pack fοr the Red Bull Racing team.

Red Bull F1 bοss, Christian Horner, tοld What Car? that:

Our budget intο battery technology is minuscule cοmpared with Nissan's and they are working οn developments a lοng way in advance οf what's commercially available today. Hοpefully, they can help us, and then we can help them by effectively testing their prototypes in extreme cοnditiοns.

Sο, it looks like it's a twο-way deal, with Nissan gaining valuable time testing its prοtοtype vehicles.

PHOTO GALLERY

Advertisements 

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster

Little by little, Mercedes-Benz is releasing more photos and information on its 2012 SLS AMG Roadster ahead of the supercar’s world premiere at the forthcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Following the release of a barely disguised car earlier this month, the German company’s PR tease continues today with the first official photos of the roadster version of the SLS AMG without any kind of camouflage.

We also get to learn that the three-layered fabric soft top will not eat in the roadster model’s trunk area as its capacity remains at 6.1 cubic feet with the roof either open or closed, and is roughly the same to that of the SLS AMG Coupe, which stands at 6.2 cubic feet. The fully automatic top is available in three colors – black, beige and a classic red. It opens and closes in eleven seconds, and can be operated on the move at speeds up to 31 mph or 50km/h.

Like other open-top Mercedes models, the SLS AMG Roadster is equipped with the firm’s AIRSCARF system that warms the head and neck areas of the driver and passenger by blowing hot air from vents integrated in the head restraints. Other standard features include a black designo leather treatment, heated AMG sports seats, a detachable glass windstop, COMAND with Navigation and DVD player, anti-theft alarm system with tow-away protection and interior monitoring, dual-zone automatic climate control and the KEYLESSGO starting function.

There are no surprises under the hood with the roadster sharing the coupe model’s AMG 6.3-liter V8 mounted just behind the front axle and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission that drives the rear wheels. In North American specification, the naturally aspirated eight-cylinder engine delivers 563 hp and 479 pound-feet of torque, while the European model is rated at 571 horsepower and 650 Nm (480 lb-ft) of torque.
Sales of the SLS AMG Roadster will begin this fall.

PHOTO GALLERY

Advertisements

2012 Fiat Dino

“The Pininfarina styling inside as much as outside just oozes with Italian flair and really was, and still is different to anything else on the road. Some people have referred to it as a 'baby Ferrari'. So I began sketching out ideas for a Fiat Coupe for 2012. After roughing out the body in 3d I changed my mind and decided that I wanted to build something that was more of a luxury rather than a budget sports car and wondered what a car designed by Pininfarina under its own badge might look like, and so it evolved from there,” Norris concluded. [CarScoop]

Joss JP1 Supercar

JOSS Developments will introduce the upcoming JP1 supercar at the Australian International Motor Show. The supercar will feature a mid-mounted aluminum V8 engine with a six-speed manual gearbox, producing 500bhp (373kW/ 507PS). The JP1 is a two-seat sport coupe riding on a composite honeycomb sub-frame with a carbon fiber body. The car accelerates from 0 to 100 Km/h in less than 3.0 seconds with an estimated top speed of 340 Km/h (211 mph). The Australian-made supercar will retail for approximately $500,000 AUD (US$455,875). [WorldCarFans]

Porsche 911 China 10th Anniversary Edition

To celebrate the company’s 10th anniversary in China, Porsche has introduced a special edition version of its 911 called the 911 China 10th Anniversary Edition. Based on the Turbo S, this sports car comes with a golden exterior color finish, a carbon fiber hood, a carbon fiber rear spoiler and a set of 19-inch Sport Classic alloy wheels. Inside, the car is equipped with Alcantara sport seats, carbon fiber trim, exclusive sill plates, Sport Design steering wheel, unique floor mats and special badging. Power itself comes from a turbocharged 3.8-liter six-cylinder engine with 530 hp and 700 Nm of torque. For your info, the production of 911 China 10th Anniversary Edition will be limited to just 10 units. [GlobalMotors]

2012 Hyundai Genesis Gets Pricing In The US

Hyundai has finally revealed the US pricing for its 2012 Hyundai Genesis. Just a bit of info, this luxury saloon is available in three different engine options including a 3.8-liter V6 with 338PS and 394Nm of torque, a 4.6-liter V8 with 390PS and 439Nm of torque and the R-Spec with a 5.0-liter V8 with 435PS and 509Nm of torque. All engines are coupled to an 8-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC manual capability. Prices ranging from $34,200 for the entry level 3.8-liter V6 engine and goes up to $46,500 for the top of the range R-Spec. [AR]

Aston Martin Virage Video Review

Here is a video review of Aston Martin Virage coupe, which is powered by a 6.0-liter V12 engine with an output of 490 bhp and 570 Nm of torque. Aston Martin claims that the Virage will accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.6 seconds with a top speed of 186 mph (299 km/h). Aston Martin equips the Virage with a Touchtronic 2 six speed automatic transmission, carbon-ceramic brakes and a limited slip diff. Additional features include a 700W Dolby Pro Logic II sound system, iPod and Bluetooth connectivity and Bi-Xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights. Click here to watch the video review of the Aston Martin Virage. [Jay Leno]

Lamborghini Estoque

Specifications: Engine 5.2 L (320 cu in) V10 Drivetrain Drive: Front-engine, rear wheel drive/all wheel drive Dimensions Length: 202.7 in (5148 mm) Width: 78.4 in (1991 mm) Height: 53.2 in (1351 mm) Wheel Base: 118 in (2997 mm) Body Style: 4-door Sedan Class: Full sized luxury sport Every now and then a car company known for doing only one thing tries to prove that they can do more. That's exactly what the Lamborghini Estoque was. A chance to show the world that the world's top luxury sport car manufacturer could also make a family vehicle. If you're guessing the name has something to do with bulls, then you guessed correctly. An Estoque is a type of sword used by matadors when bull fighting. And just like a matador with a sword is a bit overkill, this V10 4-door family sedan was just uncessary for a car company who is already hands down better than anyone else in the car industry. No need to add another trick to the routine. Which is exactly what Stephan Winkelmann (Lamborghini's chairman) thought on March 22, 2009 when he cancelled production plans. He said that one day a sedan might happen, but it would not be the Estoque. If it had been built the estimated price was around $230,000. No one spends that much for a sedan. A really cool sports coupe? Hellz Yes. A sedan? "I'm pretending you just didn't say that".

Lamborghini Aventador

Specifications: Engine Configuration: L539 60º V12 Location: Mid, longitudinally mounted Weight: 235 kilo / 518.1 lbs Construction: aluminium alloy block and head Displacement: 6.498 liter / 396.5 cu in Bore / Stroke: 95.0 mm (3.7 in) / 76.4 mm (3 in) Compression: 11.8:1 Valvetrain: 4 valves / cylinder, DOHC Fuel feed: Fuel Injection Aspiration: Naturally Aspirated Power: 700 bhp / 522 KW @ 8250 rpm Torque: 690 Nm / 509 ft lbs @ 5500 rpm BHP/Liter: 108 bhp / liter Drivetrain Chassis: carbon-fibre monocoque Suspension (fr/r): double wishbone, push-rod actuacted coil springs & shock absorbers Brakes: ceramic discs, all-round, ABS Gearbox: ISR 7 speed Semi-Automatic Drive: All wheel drive Dimensions Weight: 1575 kilo / 3472.3 lbs Length / Width / Height: 4780 mm (188.2 in) / 2030 mm (79.9 in) / 1360 mm (53.5 in) Wheelbase / Track (fr/r): 2700 mm (106.3 in) / N/A / N/A Performance Power to weight: 0.44 bhp / kg Top Speed: 350 km/h (217 mph) 0-60 mph: 2.8 s The Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 was designed by Filippo Perini of Lamborghini Centro Stile, under the direction of Lamborghini's chief of design Manfred Fitzgerald, to replace the Murcielago. Official world launch date was March 1, 2011 at the Geneva Motor Show. Named after a famous bull from the town of Zaragoza, Spain who earned the title "Trofeo de la Pena La Madronera" after it's corageous battle with a torero in 1993, the Aventador goes from 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds, and has a top speed of 217mph. Your basic features of any Lamborghini. But add on Formula One style suspension, carbon fibre monocoque, a 7 speed semi automatic transmission by Graziono, and a 6.5 litre V12 engine, and this is no ordinary Lambo.