Motorward

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• Video: Corvette Racing Episode 2 – Engine Build
• Ford Ranger Wildtrak Promo Video
• Pictorial: Jaguar at 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed
• Video: Onboard Ferrari P4/5 Competizione
• Arden Range Rover Evoque City-Roader
• Infiniti M Hybrid Advertising Campaign Begins
• Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0
• Car Makers Rush To Help Japan
• Honda CR-Z Mugen Announced
• Chevrolet Celebrates Centenary at 2011 Goodwood FoS
• 2012 Volkswagen Tiguan Promo Video
• Red Bull Formula 1 Playseat
• AMG Driving Academy America Teaser Video
• Video: Hennessey Cadillac CTS-V Wagon vs Nissan GTR
• Audi R8 GT U.S. Pricing Announced

Video: Corvette Racing Episode 2 – Engine Build Posted: 17 Mar 2011 10:50 AM PDT The second episode of the 2011 Corvette Racing Track to Street series is a good one! In this film we get to know the Corvette Racing’s GT2 engine which will power the car in this weekend's season-opener at Sebring, and throughout the 2011 ALMS season. This engine shares the same block with the LS7 V8 that you can buy in the Z06. Of course the race-spec unit has substantial differences with the production engine which you will learn about watching the video, but it just feels good if you have a race-winning engine in your everyday car! That shows how serious the ‘Vette is as a performance machine. Plus, motorpsort pedigree is the coolest feature any road car can have.

Ford Ranger Wildtrak Promo Video Posted: 17 Mar 2011 10:32 AM PDT A pickup truck with leather seats that have contrasting stitching on them. Knowing that is enough for you to realize this is something special! We’re talking about the new Ford Ranger Wildtrak which to all intents and purposes is a pickup GTI. The Ranger itself is a hard working Australian-built truck, but the Wildtrak is a special treat for the European market. Apart from the visual upgrades, the car is also loaded with features and gets a 200 hp fuel efficient engine. More details on the car can be found Here. Ford Ranger Wildtrak should stop Europeans nagging why they don’t get the Raptor!

Pictorial: Jaguar at 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed Posted: 17 Mar 2011 10:22 AM PDT Today at the launch 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed Jaguar wowed the crowed by bringing along some cute chicks and, more importantly, the magnificent XKR-S. The XKR-S is currently our favouritest car in the world because of one very good reason: it is built just for fun! So it’s OK if it has a massive chin and nostrils and a giant wing at the back. We like the idea that they’ve put a great effort into making a car that makes driving more fun and desirable. The visitors will see two XKR-S posing besides the legendary E-Type in red and white and the car looks menacing in both. Alright, scheme through this brief press release and scroll down for the pictures: Present at the launch were Yasmin Le Bon with her daughter and fellow model, Amber, who posed alongside arguably the most famous E-type of all – one of two cars to have made an epic, high-speed journey from Coventry to Geneva in March 1961 at the behest of Sir William Lyons.  The car, a prototype Series One E-type roadster carrying the registration ’77 RW’, was delivered by Norman Dewis, Chief Test Driver at the time. Norman’s modern day successor, Mike Cross, Chief Engineer, Vehicle Integrity, at the wheel of the new Jaguar XKR-S, marked the event in style with a series of dramatic demonstration runs up the notorious Goodwood hill. Joining Mike in taking on the hill was ex-Le Mans and BTCC racer Anthony Reid driving an XFR – his enthusiastic driving style won him the TAG Heuer ‘Most Spirited Getaway’ award. The 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed will see Jaguar take centre stage with a dramatic sculpture being commissioned for the lawn in front of Goodwood House.  Enthusiasts will be able to view an array of Jaguars from the past, present and a little way into the future with the XK120, and examples of the C-, D- and, of course, E-type taking part in demonstration runs in front of the crowds.

Video: Onboard Ferrari P4/5 Competizione Posted: 17 Mar 2011 10:00 AM PDT I know we just had a video of the Ferrari P4/5 Competizione like two days ago, but they released an onboard video of the car lapping Paul Ricard circuit and we had to feature it! Just listen to its smooth engine and try to imagine how does it feel racing a one-off ultra-exclusive Ferrari. And it’s on the prestigious Paul Ricard track, it cannot get any better! This brainchild of James Glickenhaus will go down in the history books as one of the all time great cars. We can’t wait to see the finished product in a real race.

Arden Range Rover Evoque City-Roader Posted: 17 Mar 2011 09:25 AM PDT The old tuner of Jaguar and Land Rover cars Arden announced a new package for the latest member of the family, Range Rover Evoque. They call it a City-Roader, and that’s the only silly thing about it! As it’s the case with all Arden Range Rover, with this car too they totally disregard the fact that it should have some off-road capability. They practically ruin that with their body kit that brings the car too close to the ground. You might even catch that nose on speed humps. The kit however makes the car look much cooler. The new front and rear aprons and the new side skirts which can be illuminated as well, plus the new exhaust tips and a new set of ARDEN Dakar II wheels give the car an air of exclusivity. You can even order a bespoke stainless steel plaque that includes with personal lettering. Arden AR8 City-Roader also gets upgraded multimedia systems and a slight upgrade for its 2.0-liter turbo petrol engine up to 270 hp.

Infiniti M Hybrid Advertising Campaign Begins Posted: 17 Mar 2011 08:38 AM PDT The new Infiniti M35h, or M Hybrid in America, is possibly the best hybrid vehicle made to date because of it offers the best compromise between performance and fuel economy. Professionals realize that easily, but for ordinary people to get the picture as well Infiniti has come up with a number of cool commercials! Let’s focus a bit more on why the M hybrid is so good. Well for starters, the car doesn’t look like a hybrid at all! I mean they all tend to make you look like a complete idiot with their gutless design and dull faces. But the Infiniti not only steers clear of that, it offers a cool an dynamic body like a proper sports sedan. It’s not the prettiest sedan mind you, but for a hybrid it’s great. Then there’s the magnificent powertrain. It offers 360 hp combined output which is in the same league as big V8 motors of much more expensive vehicles. And it still manages an incredible 32 mpg. It offers the best of both worlds. Not to mention the car is equipped like an Infiniti which means it comes with more luxury than you ever need! With a fully integrated campaign, Infiniti is boldly challenging consumer perception that hybrids are boring. To drive this point home, Henry Rollins, former frontman for the band Black Flag, is the voice of the campaign. "The new Infiniti M Hybrid provides the same level of luxury and performance as the rest of our lineup and builds on the strengths Infiniti has always been known for," said Infiniti Vice President Ben Poore. "Style, luxury and performance will always be the cornerstone of everything Infiniti does."

Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0 Posted: 17 Mar 2011 08:21 AM PDT Porsche announced a new version of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid for this year’s Nurburgring 24-hour race. It’s simply called GT3 R Hybrid 2.0 like a new software! And like a new version of a software it features many upgrades. It gets more power, well the electric motor does, it’s lighter by 20 percent, and it also has slightly different looks and better aerodynamics. To make sure the car won’t fail this time around on the ‘Ring, Porsche has revised the systems and made the world famous flywheel that propels the car’s hybrid system more efficient. You can still spot the flywheel in place of the front passenger seat spinning  in its cocooned carbon fiber case! They’ve also lightened the car by 50 kg. These changes are not meant to make the car any faster, but more efficient. That means the car can do more laps on one single tank of fuel than before and that means less time wasted in the pit. The output of the car’s flat-six remains 470 bhp but the revised electric motors make 200 bhp which is only occasionally used for overtaking, gaining traction or in the corners when the situation gets a little tricky. As you see in the picture above Porsche has also given this car a Formula 1-style steering wheel with all the data and buttons littered all over it. That’s to make it more ergonomic and easier for the driver to operate, thus making him more efficient at the job of driving. I’m kinda getting sick of all this efficiency! Racing used to be more manly in the olden days.

Car Makers Rush To Help Japan Posted: 17 Mar 2011 07:12 AM PDT As the situation is getting worse in Japan following the devastating earthquake, tsunami and then several nuclear reactor explosions, car makers one after another are joining the international efforts to help the victims. Japanese car maker Mazda was one of the firsts to step in. The Board of Directors of the Mazda Foundation (USA), Inc., has unanimously approved a donation of $150,000.00 to the American Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief Fund. “Mazda and its U.S. employees are deeply concerned for the safety and well-being of its Japanese colleagues, suppliers, employees and their families in the affected region of Japan,” said Mazda Foundation Chairman Jim O’Sullivan. “We extend our thoughts and prayers to the people of Japan as they recover from this terrible tragedy.” BMW too donated a total of 1 Million Euro emergency aid to the international non-profit organization "Save the Children" and the Japanese Red Cross. Funds are earmarked for the treatment of traumatized children, emergency aid and reconstruction work. Additionally BMW Group employees can show their solidarity with the victims of the disaster by contributing to both these campaigns. The company's Board of Management expressed their shock at the tragedy unfolding in Japan. "We are deeply moved by the horrific suffering in the affected regions," stated Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG. "During this difficult time, our thoughts and sympathies are with the Japanese people." BMW and Volkswagen have also provided help for their employees in Japan to return home safely. UPDATE 1- Hyundai just announced the Korean company will donate 100 million yen (approximately US$1.3 million) to the Korean Red Cross and delivered to the Japanese Red Cross to purchase immediate needs like blankets, food, and water. UPDATE 2- Renault joins the party as well! The French company has now set up a special fund and will donate €500,000. Its employees will also be invited to donate and their contributions will be matched by the company. All the money raised will be handed over to the Red Cross, a charity with whom Renault is a partner. Keep’em coming! picture: Red Cross

Honda CR-Z Mugen Announced Posted: 17 Mar 2011 06:56 AM PDT Honda’s in-house performance arm Mugen announced their European division is developing a ‘highly-tuned’ version of Honda CR-Z Hybrid. Think of it as the CR-Z Type-R. That’s what Mugen Euro promises. They say the car will deliver "Type R-like" performance from the hybrid's petrol-electric powertrain – and may offer even better fuel economy! Now that’s a big leap because as we know the car’s standard engine makes a miserable 120 hp. So what are they going to do with it? Well, they can only reveal that they will upgrade both the 1.5-litre i-VTEC petrol engine and the Honda IMA system to boost power and torque without confirming any figures yet as it’s still under development. The are optimistic that the changes, specially those made to exhaust and induction, will result in greater mpg and lower CO2 emissions. But who cares about that. All we want from the CR-Z is big power! The car will also be fitted with bespoke brakes and suspension to cope with the enhanced performance. As you see in the official sketches, the car also gets a visual treatment with lightweight components, including a carbon fibre bonnet, front and rear bumpers, and a spoiler. The CR-Z is a good looking car and these changes can only make it better. The concept car will make its world debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July. What’s slightly worrying is that Honda says the CR-Z MUGEN is being developed purely as a one-off prototype, with no plans for a production version. Come on Honda, this is an obvious winner. Don’t be a coward and make it! "We wanted to extend the performance of the CR-Z," says Hiro Toyoda of MUGEN Euro. "It is already a fun car to drive, with an excellent chassis, but we thought that with more power and enhanced torque delivery it could be even more exciting. However, as with all MUGEN projects, we have stayed true to the Honda design and philosophy, and the electric motor is still a vital ingredient to boost performance and economy." The CR-Z MUGEN is a joint project between Honda (UK) and MUGEN Euro – the Northampton-based subsidiary of Honda's long standing tuning partner MUGEN. In 2009, MUGEN Euro produced the Civic Type R MUGEN, an extreme, 240PS version of Honda popular hot hatch. "This will be one quick hybrid," says Martin Moll, Head of Marketing for Honda (UK). "With more torque, more power and MUGEN's experience of working with Honda cars, we're expecting great things. It promises to show how hybrid cars can be even more exciting to drive."

Chevrolet Celebrates Centenary at 2011 Goodwood FoS Posted: 17 Mar 2011 06:39 AM PDT Chevrolet returns this year to the Goodwood Festival of Speed celebrating its 100th anniversary with a larger stand and special treats to make it a memorable event for visitors. Besides the iconic models, Volt, Corvette and Camaro, Chevrolet will also display a couple of new models like the Orlando, New Captiva and Cruze 5-dr and some of the vintage models. The other highlight of the show will be Chevrolet's 2010 British Touring Car Driver's Championship Cruze which will go up the hill all tall and proud! The range-extending electric Volt, 2011 USA Car of the Year, will be making its UK debut at the festival, alongside the Camaro and the Corvette. Chevrolet’s stand itself will also be something special as the cars will be displayed against a fascinating backdrop – a journey through Chevrolet's history in the form of a road trip, with a distinct Americana theme. The Festival of Speed kicks off this year on Thursday June 30th with the Moving Motor Show, where guests can drive the hill themselves, and runs until Sunday July 3rd. Lets hope no body gets run over this year! Chevrolet UK Managing Director, Mark Terry, said: "What better way could there be to celebrate our brand's centenary than to do so at the world's finest celebration of motoring? The Goodwood Festival of Speed is as much of an icon as Chevrolet itself, and we're proud to be such a significant part of this year's event."

2012 Volkswagen Tiguan Promo Video Posted: 17 Mar 2011 06:24 AM PDT Volkswagen has been a bit lazy with the new Tiguan facelift marketing and media campaigns. They unveiled the car in a disinterested way with a couple of rubbish pictures, and that followed by official details in like two weeks! And now a month or so later here comes the first video showing the car in motion. That’s not fair because the new Tiguan has been thoroughly upgraded and deserves more attention. apart form the Touareg-like new design, it also gets a range of efficient petrol and diesel engines producing from 110 to 210 PS. With a base MSRP of 24,175 Euro it is also well priced.

Red Bull Formula 1 Playseat Posted: 17 Mar 2011 06:15 AM PDT You have the cheap and cheerful steering wheel joystick thingy and you have the high-tech and expensive simulators. This Red Bull F1 Playseat slots somewhere in between. It’s got the seat, steering wheel, pedals and the controls to make you feel you’re behind the wheel of an F1 car, but it doesn’t come with the rest of the stuff you need to play! That means you have to hook it up to an Xbox or a PS3 and a biga$$ TV screen to really enjoy it. It is also reasonably priced at around $1400. That’s a lot for what’s basically a joystick, but it also works as a cool decor in your room! It’s got adjustable steering column and pedals and everything. And if you are wondering why those pedals are so high up, that’s because it has the exact form of a Formula 1 cabin. Red Bull Formula 1 Playseat is a classy way of expressing your interest in the sport and having some fun, unless your are not a fan of Red Bull! via: Autoblog

AMG Driving Academy America Teaser Video Posted: 17 Mar 2011 06:02 AM PDT Mercedes Benz USA released a promo video for the AMG Driving Academy to remind you of what it’s all about. BMW fans tell you that AMG cars are soft and roly poly machines that just sound dirty and go fast in straight line, and that they can’t corner properly. At AMG Academy they will show you that those words are absolute rubbish! An AMG-powered car in the hands of an expert is a lethal weapon that can murder any rival on road and track. Racing stuff aside, they will also teach you how to drive safer in tricky condition, and on the whole get the best out of your car. At the end of the day, it’s huge fun and that’s what an AMG Merc is all about!

Video: Hennessey Cadillac CTS-V Wagon vs Nissan GTR Posted: 17 Mar 2011 05:50 AM PDT One good thing about Hennessey Performance, America’s biggest tuner, is that they always put their money where their mouth is! So when they tell you that they managed to squeeze 650 hp out of Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon family car, they can actually prove it to you. And what better way of proving that than a good old drag race! Here they put the Caddy Wagon up against a brand new Nissan GTR, a full-blooded performance machine. Hit the play and see the result.

Audi R8 GT U.S. Pricing Announced Posted: 17 Mar 2011 05:41 AM PDT The official MSRP for the new R8 GT has been confirmed by Audi of America. The limited edition supercar of which only 333 units will be made (90 units for U.S.) is priced at $196,800. You also have to pay $1,250 for destination charge and handling. The GT is the tarted-up lightened more powerful version of the wildly popular Audi R8. It is based on the 5.2-liter V10 FSI model but that engine is modified to deliver 560 horsepower (35 hp more than the R8 Coupe 5.2 quattro and the R8 Spyder 5.2 quattro). Add to that a lightweight body with rear hatch, spoiler and diffuser that is over 180 lbs lighter than the standard car, and the R tronic sequential manual transmission and you can hit 60 mph from standing still in just 3.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 199 mph. The car is equipped with quattro four-wheel-drive system, but it has a setup for fun with 43/57 front/rear axle load which makes it one of the sweetest handling cars money can buy today. You can also order carbon-fiber reinforced ceramic brakes, and a 12-speaker, 495-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system among other options if you think you like to round the price up to 200 grand!

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