Motorward

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• Video: 2012 Nissan GTR Nurburgring Lap Record
• Video: Ferrari FF V12 GDI Engine In Details
• Ken Block Rally Of Portugal Crash Video
• Brilliant Transportation Mercedes Sprinter Van
• Kaspersky Internet Security Ferrari Edition
• Kia Exports 10 Millionth Vehicle
• Renault Samsung SM7 Teaser
• BMW M3 Pickup – Just For Fun
• Video: McLaren MP4-12C Up Goodwood Hill
• Mercedes Zetros 6×6 Expedition Vehicle
• Gallery: Hennessey Venom GT In Red
• Johnny Herbert Drives Audi R8 LMS At Spa 24 Hour
• Porsche Pajun – Baby Panamera In The Works
• Hyundai ‘Boot Shoot’ App

Video: 2012 Nissan GTR Nurburgring Lap Record Posted: 24 Mar 2011 10:49 AM PDT Finally, there’s a video of 2012MY Nissan GTR round Nurburgring Nordschleife which give us a confirmed lap record of 7 minutes 24.22 seconds. So if you do some math, the 2012 model’s extra 38 hp over the 2011 model has bought it nearly two and a half seconds! That is a staggering difference, in motorsport world 2.5 seconds is like 2.5 years in normal life. Of course there’s more to the new GTR than just its 523 hp – 451 lb/ft engine. They’ve deeply revised dynamics of the car to get razorsharp precision. That also enables it to achieve a sub 3 second 0 to 60 time. Sadly, that precision also makes it feel more like a laptop and less like a machine with soul. Still, you can’t deny its technical excellence.

Video: Ferrari FF V12 GDI Engine In Details Posted: 24 Mar 2011 10:16 AM PDT With the FF Ferrari is relying heavily on web to promote the car and explain its new features, and it’s got a whole lot of new features. a while ago we had an animation explaining the car’s 4RM all-wheel-drive system, and here’s anew episode providing an in-depth look of the FF’s new V12 GDI engine. This weapons-grade V12 pumps out 660 PS and 683 Nm of torque, that’s more than what Enzo offered. And it owes it to the direct high-pressure injection system. Ferrari shouldn’t bother complaining all this, everybody knows they are technically brilliant. They should find a way to convince people the FF also looks good! No body seems to love it to be honest. If you compare it to the 612 though, it might make some sense.

Ken Block Rally Of Portugal Crash Video Posted: 24 Mar 2011 09:53 AM PDT Ken Block is awesome! Even when he is not doing his Gymkhana thing you can expect him to entertain you every time he gets behind the wheel of car. His latest trick though was not intentional, but still magnificent. Here’s the footage of his crash at Rally de Portugal shakedown run, and as you see he rolls the car several times in the air before landing it on the roof in the ditch. The crash was violent but fortunately Kenny is alright, although he had to check into the hospital for some check ups. The sad thing is he totaled the Fiesta RS that he was supposed to race with in Rally of Portugal! So he’s out of this one.

Brilliant Transportation Mercedes Sprinter Van Posted: 24 Mar 2011 09:28 AM PDT The ongoing trend for converting vans into super deluxe mans of transportation continues with this, the Mercedes Sprinter Brilliant Van. No that’s the actual name of the car! That’s because it’s made by a company called Brilliant Transportation, so you expect them to be really brilliant. Richard Fertig, the man behind Brilliant Transportation says what sets his vans apart from the rivals is the unusual design of the interior “which feature a clean aesthetic with neutral colors and include rich hardwood floors, oversize leather seats, refrigerators, stowaway desks and built-in cabinets.”. As it’s the case with such cars, there’s loads of equipments stuffed in there including some high-end up to the minute multimedia features. The Brilliant Sprinter gets a premium eight-speaker audio system, two 32-inch flat-screen TVs with satellite-based Direct TV and wireless headphones, as well as 3G Wi-Fi capability, color printers and a hands-free conference call system. The reason we think you should consider buying one of these instead of say a Maybach, is the amount space you get inside the car. It has a simply enormous cabin which as Mr. Fertig points out, an NBA player can stand up in with room to spare. On the downside, this car is still a van, which means you can’t take it to the red carpet! But then, this is a sort of cars businessmen use, not movie stars. Fertig says, “We’re introducing a new mode of travel we call Private Motoring¨ that often replaces air and rail transport. Although a number of our clients didn’t realize at first that Mercedes-Benz makes large vans, they know and love Mercedes, which makes our chauffeur-driven Brilliant Vans a natural extension of the way they choose to travel. Our New York-based Sprinters offer a distinct environment for business trips to Boston and DC, social events in Manhattan such as Lincoln Center or family weekends to the Hamptons and the Vermont ski country. With a similar range of use, our just-opened L.A. operation makes frequent trips to Las Vegas, Santa Barbara and San Diego.”

Kaspersky Internet Security Ferrari Edition Posted: 24 Mar 2011 09:07 AM PDT You may remember last year we told you about Ferrari’s partnership with Kaspersky Lab for promoting the brand on their Formula 1 cars. Now at the beginning of 2011 season, the antivirus makers release a special Ferrari Edition of Kaspersky Internet Security software. The Kaspersky Internet Security Special Ferrari edition was launched today at the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro hospitality area in the paddock at Melbourne's Albert Park Circuit, by Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali, Eugene Kaspersky, co-founder of the Kaspersky Lab. The new software promises speed and reliability of service for users, excellent levels of safety and usability without consuming lots of resources. That’s good because as a K.I.S user myself, I’m not very happy with the speed of the thing either in loading or scanning! It is also apparently bundled with a simulator from the Ferrari Virtual Academy. This is a solution aimed at Ferrari fans and other computer users all over the world who love speed and innovation. It comes courtesy of Kaspersky Lab, the leader in the sector of IT security and a sponsor of the Maranello team since November 2010.

Kia Exports 10 Millionth Vehicle Posted: 24 Mar 2011 08:40 AM PDT Kia Motors achieves another significant production milestone as a Snow White Pearl Optima sedan embarks on a journey to USA. This is the 10,000,000th vehicle the South Korean firm exports. Last year Kia Motors posted USD11.2 billion in exports and accounted for 2.4% of all South Korean exports. During the past six years they exported five million vehicles, which is a direct result of the increased demand for Kia cars all around the world, specially for the new generation of models including Picanto, Rio, Sorento, Sportage and Optima. And they owe this to improved design, superb build quality, uncanny reliability and amazing value for money of their products. In Europe, the company's production facility at Žilina, Slovakia, also announced today that it has set a new output record, having produced a total of 229,500 cars in 2010, representing a 52 per cent year-on-year increase.  Engine production was also up 31 per cent on last year, with more than 320,900 units produced. To commemorate this milestone event, a celebration ceremony was held today at Pyeongtaek Port which was attended by some 400 guests including Kia Motors Vice Chairman & CEO Hyoung-Keun Lee, local government officials and numerous foreign dignitaries stationed in Korea. “The last year was an exceptionally positive one for Kia Motors, and we expect to build on our momentum through 2011," comments Benny Oeyen, Vice President Marketing and Product Planning, Kia Motors Europe.  "These production success stories are a clear indication that Kia is designing cars that are relevant to the current market and that are highly desirable to consumers.  The fact that half of our 10 million global exports have been achieved in the past five years is further proof that our design-led product revolution has achieved its aim of establishing Kia as a major player in the global automotive market.

Renault Samsung SM7 Teaser Posted: 24 Mar 2011 08:25 AM PDT Renault-Samsung alliance in South Korea is going really strong. I mean look what they have in mind for the new SM7! This fantastic looking sketch previews the new version of the locally popular mid-size sedan. The current SM7 looks like an old Nissan Sunny, it is actually based on a Nissan platform, but the new one by the looks of things has global potentials. It has a sleek and elegant four-door coupe form like the Mercedes CLS and features a beautiful face with nicely proportioned air intakes and a big signature grille. We also quite like the buffed up fenders and the chiseled headlights. Not sure how many of these good features will make it to the finished product though. If Renault can design such cars for Samsung, why their own cars look so… French?! To find out we have to wait for the next Seoul Motor Show in April. Enginewise, the SM7 should get an upgraded lineup of the same VQ powertrains from the current model.

BMW M3 Pickup – Just For Fun Posted: 24 Mar 2011 08:07 AM PDT A pickup truck version of the BMW M3? Yes, it does exist. But don’t worry it doesn’t mean anything! A couple of weeks ago spy photographers scooped this car on the Nurburgring and the speculation about it began. The idea of a production M3 pickup is so daft and ridiculous that no one even mentioned it. It is most likely a pointless test mule or something, some even say it is a very fast delivery truck for transporting goods on the ‘Ring. But the fact is this car is a joke, an April Fool’s joke! Maybe BMW wants to show us they have some sense humor too. It makes a good looking Ute though, doesn’t it. [video courtesy of Auto Motor und Sport]

Video: McLaren MP4-12C Up Goodwood Hill Posted: 24 Mar 2011 07:47 AM PDT Goodwood Festival of Speed is the proper place for Britain’s fantastic new supercar, the McLaren MP4-12C to shine. Here’s some footage of the car from this year’s event it goes up Goodwood’s world famous driveway, courtesy of AutoExpress. They’ve hooked up McLaren chief test driver Chris Goodwin too who explains a couple of things about the car as they go along. The MP4 is a technically brilliant car, spot on perfect. But in terms of pure excitement and thrill, it’s still behind the Ferrari 458. While it’s faster, more comfortable and better in general, it doesn’t move you the way that Fezza does!

Mercedes Zetros 6×6 Expedition Vehicle Posted: 24 Mar 2011 07:29 AM PDT Mercedes Benz Zetros is one of the toughest trucks out there suitable for transporting stuff to seemingly inaccessible places. This particular 6×6 2733 Zetros you see here however has been  converted to become a luxurious expedition and leisure vehicle. This special Zetros is apparently a bespoke model ordered by two businessmen from Mongolia. They each customized one Zetros as a sort of luxury off-road RV for their multi-day excursions into the Altai mountains, for example, where they hunt for wolves with an eagle! Now that’s what I call an outdoor event! These vehicles are perfectly up to the job. Not just in terms of performance, which they are brilliant in since they’re based on the Actros and Axor series and powered by the OM 926 LA 7.2-litre 6-cylinder in-line engine developing an output of 240 kW (326 hp) and an impressive maximum torque of 1300 Nm, but also because they are just as comfortable and luxurious as a mansion! The job of customizing the cars were given to body specialist Hartmann in Alsfeld and the interior equipment specialist Huenerkopf in Neukirchen. The Zetros’ standard cab features include a padded sleeping berth for the driver, an air conditioning system, a 24 V audio system with CD player, a CD changer, a Bluetooth hands-free system and a 7-inch touch­screen to which a reversing camera is connected. A carrier system with a load capacity of up to 100 kg is installed on the cab roof. Four auxiliary spotlights and a twin air horn are mounted on this carrier, and the radiator grille houses four flashlights in red and blue. At the rear there is a carrier for two spare wheels, with a dedicated lifting system which also enables cargo to be hoisted onto the cab roof. The reversing camera is able to activate additional spotlights at the rear for safe manoevring at night. An adequate operating range in remote areas is provided by diesel tanks holding 300 and 200 litres. Then there is the luxury garnish. They get bedrooms at the back, comfortable leather seating group for four to six people is in the front, luxurious bathroom with a marble floor and underfloor heating, as well as a large galley. The galley is fully equipped with a ceramic hob, microwave with grill, refrigerator/freezer, bar and coffee machine. The sink has a hot and cold water supply, and a precisely fitted dinner set for eight people is also on board. For outdoor use the vehicles have mobile twin-burner gas cookers with two 11 kg gas bottles. The bathroom has a separate shower cubicle, a WC/bidet combination, washbasin and three-door vanity unit. Oh and there’s also 40-inch and 46-inch flat screen TVs, one each facing the bedroom and seating group. In line with the intended use as a hunting vehicle, a safe for valuables (400 x 400 x 300 mm) and a gunsafe for hunting rifles are permanently integrated into the interior. Neither is there any lack of entertain­ment, as the vehicles are equipped with a SAT receiver with an electrically self-aligning SAT dish, a DVD/CD player, an MP3 player, a Bose hi-fi sound system and a Mac Mini plus W-LAN router. With all those amazing features I don’t think it’s necessary to mention that these Zetros’ have state of the art underfloor air conditioning system, separate water systems supply drinking water and water for the shower/toilet, and even an exterior shower! Not sure how much money they blew up on these bad boys, but they’re worth it. I mean it’s a bloody crib on wheels.

Gallery: Hennessey Venom GT In Red Posted: 24 Mar 2011 06:17 AM PDT Even though the amazing Hennessey Venom GT looks like a badly stretched out Lotus to an uninterested eyes, it is one of the most thrilling cars you can buy today. Well, you can buy it if you got a very big lump of money burning a hole in your pocket, and if you are lucky enough to squeeze yourself into the list of 10 incredibly important people who have ordered this year’s production! Mind you, you could get one sooner and easier if you go for a basic 720 hp  version. And that’s jolly exciting for sure, but not quite as exciting as the full-fat 1,200 hp edition. It can hit zero to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds and an unofficial top speed of 267 mph. So yes it might not look like it, but the Venom GT is a serious rival for the mighty Bugatti Veyron. What’s astonishing is that unlike Bugatti which has space-age technology at its disposal, the Venom has been made by a couple of dudes in a workshop and then perfected by a couple of blokes in a shed! Here’s the third production unit of the Hennessey Venom GT in fiery red, on its way to its lucky owner. Drool at will!

Johnny Herbert Drives Audi R8 LMS At Spa 24 Hour Posted: 24 Mar 2011 05:55 AM PDT The Audi R8 LMS is currently our favorite endurance racer. Recently it took part in Australia’s famous Bathurst race for the first time and crushed the locals! Now it’s all set for 2011 Spa Francorchamps 24 Hour which is our favorite track, to be driven by Johnny Herbert, incidentally our favorite driver. The 46-year-old Brit will make its Spa debut this July after a two year break from endurance racing. He last raced at Dubai 24 Hour. He will join the lineup of Le Mans 24 Hour race winners and GP drivers Mark Blundell (GB) and Stefan Johansson (Sweden) plus Indy 500 race victor Eddie Cheever (USA). This lot will be driving Anglo-American United Autosports team's R8 LMS. This car has won seven championships across Europe since its début in 2009, the 5.2-litre sports car achieving a total 64 victories. Now if you are struggling to remember Johnny’s great achievements, here’s a little reminder: Having won the 1987 British Formula Three Championship, disaster struck Herbert the following year in an International Formula 3000 Championship race at Brands Hatch, an accident resulting in Johnny badly breaking his legs after a fearsome impact with the barriers. It was an act of huge bravery that saw him back in a racing car at the beginning of 1989, despite the fact he could barely walk. Even more remarkably, he was now in Formula 1, scoring points on his début in Brazil driving for the Benetton team. The amiable Herbert, who was born in Romford, Essex, won the 1991 Le Mans 24 Hours plus three Grands Prix during an 11-year F1 career with spells at Benetton, Jaguar, Ligier, Lotus, Sauber and Stewart. "To get the opportunity to do a 24 hour race again is wonderful and especially as it's at Spa which has always been one of my favourite race tracks. I've never competed in the Spa 24 Hours so I'm really looking forward to that aspect as well as competing for United Autosports for the first time and reacquainting myself with Audi. I raced an Audi sports-prototype for a number of years. And here’s some facts and figures about the astonishing Audi R8 LMS: V10 5.2-litre engine, 4 valves per cylinder, petrol direct injection, 523 PS, emission control by two racing catalytic converters, rear-wheel-drive, traction control (ASR), sequential pneumatic activated 6-speed sport gearbox with shift-paddles, Audi Space Frame (ASF) made of aluminum with bolted steel roll-cage, carbon-fibre composite/aluminum bodywork, Dunlop radial tires. Start weight TBA. Limitation at 8500rpm for every gear.

Porsche Pajun – Baby Panamera In The Works Posted: 24 Mar 2011 03:41 AM PDT Car makers should seriously hire some new naming experts! I mean we thought Pagani Huayra was bad, but Porsche is about to launch two new models called Cajun and Pajun! The first I’m sure you are familiar with, a sporty crossover that will arrive in 2013 taking on Range Rover Evoque. But the latter is yet to be confirmed by the officials. According to a report by AutoBild, Porsche is working on a sort of entry-level sedan, smaller than the Panamera, to rival cars like BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E Class. Yesterday we had in the news that Maserati is also thinking about such model. This new Porsche sedan is reportedly called the Pajun. So a smaller Cayenne is Cajun and a smaller Panamera is Pajun. What would they call a smaller Boxster? A Bajun?! Porsche has proved already with the Cayenne and the Panamera that no matter how daft their idea might be or how ugly their cars might turn out, they will sell like hot cakes. So it makes perfect sense to expand the lineup with these new models and reap the benefits. It will help them achieve ambitious production goals they’ve set for the next ten years. If the Pajun is for real, it’ll take up to 5 years to arrive. Engine-wise it’ll get the same V6 and V8s as the Panamera, minus the Turbo probably. Also a new flat-four turbo might be a good candidate to power this small sedan. Autobild

Hyundai ‘Boot Shoot’ App Posted: 24 Mar 2011 03:10 AM PDT Hyundai is a sponsor of Euro 2012, so it gave them an idea to use Football for promoting their cars in an entertaining way. That resulted in a game called ‘Boot Shoot’. In Boor Shoot, a couple of famous retired footballers set football challenges around a number of Hyundai cars. As the name suggests, they must shoot a football into the boot of a car, apparently! The idents are currently live and will be seen on Saturday's Sky coverage of the Wales vs England game. Due to the popularity of the game, Hyundai UK is going to launch a free iPhone application for it to engage consumers with Hyundai brand in an entertaining and fun way. To be released on March 26, Hyundai Boot Shoot app features latest technology to give a realistic 3D in-stadium feel, allows players to score points by flicking footballs into the open boot of a Hyundai ix35. The game has different levels of course and as you achieve higher score, targeting shots at the body work and windows of ix35 will be unlocked. For marketing purposes, the app will provide users with details of the Hyundai range as well as allowing them to arrange a test drive through their nearest dealership. There will also be a live recreation of app on the 22nd March in Berkeley Square, London with John Barnes, Ian Rush and Carly Cole. Hyundai UK’s Marketing Director, Andrew Cullis commented: “This March Hyundai embarked on the next stage of its brand evolution with the launch of a new brand positioning and a new strap line: New Thinking. New Possibilities. This positioning demonstrates how we as a brand think differently and how we are constantly looking for new ideas in all areas of the business for the benefit of our customers. For us, converting a successful piece of creative into an engaging game is a new way of connecting consumers with our brand. It is a great example of us developing content for use in multiple communication channels."

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