Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale

The Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale was unveiled at the 2003 Geneva Motorshow. It joined the Ferrari 360 Modena and the Ferrari 360 Spider in the Ferrari 8 cylinder range of road cars.
The Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale derives from the latest interpretation of the pure Ferrari tradition of making road cars directly derived from the race cars. With the Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale the racing expertise comes from the Ferrari Challenge International Championships and the FIA GT races, where the Ferrari 360 Challenge and 360 GT models are top protagonists, both in Europe and in the United States.
The strong links of the Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale road car to racing are underlined by a significant weight reduction, obtained also through a sporty set up and additional aerodynamic contents, enhanced braking performance and F1-style gearbox.

The engine is the 3,586cc V8, with five valves per cylinder and titanium conrods, which secured a worldwide success for the Ferrari 360 Modena and the 360 Spider. The all aluminium body and chassis are the ones designed and produced by Ferrari for the 360 Modena.

Lotus Elise Club Racer

Anyone harbouring under the misapprehension that Lotus might be moving away from performance through lightweight only needs to take a quick ride in the new 1.6 Lotus Elise Club Racer to know that's definitely not the case. The bright engineers at Lotus put even the lightest of Lotus' modern cars on a diet and managed to shed a further 24kg.
So how did Lotus manage to make one of the lightest models on the market even lighter? The engineers behind the Lotus Elise Club Racer took a stripped-to-the-bare-bone approach visualised by the body-coloured seats but materialised in many ways such as the motorsport derived lightweight battery and the deletion of noise insulation. Attention to even the smallest of details has ensured that Lotus' passion for performance through lightweight has been translated throughout the car.

For the first time ever an Elise variant comes complete with a Sport setting for the DPM (Dynamic Performance Management) allowing even the less experienced sports car drivers to feel at the top of their game, while the ability to switch it off completely will please the more established track orientated drivers. DPM combined with improved agility courtesy of Lotus finely tuned sport suspension and an adjustable anti-roll bar will make the Lotus Elise Club Racer equally versatile for both road and race track fun.
Wolf Zimmermann Chief Technical Officer Lotus Cars said: "The traditional Lotus approach of reduction and purity has lead to one of the most zeitgeist and contemporary sports cars around. For over 15 years the Lotus Elise has become an icon in the sports car market, carving out a niche market with a dedicated following of lightweight fans. The new Club Racer will definitely give these people something extra to get their teeth stuck into. This car epitomises everything that's cool about the Elise - it's fast, raw, responsive and a huge amount of fun to drive."
Quality throughout the vehicle has been a top priority, highly regarded component suppliers such as Eibach for springs and Bilstein for dampers ensure that the Lotus Elise Club Racer is a car of substance as well as style.
The Lotus Elise Club Racer pleases the eye as well as the soul with a choice of six striking colours (Sky Blue, Saffron Yellow, Ardent Red, Aspen White, Matt Black and Carbon Grey) and bespoke design elements that emphasise the character of the car.

It's pocket pleasing too, at £27,500 / €34,450 / CHF48,900, the Lotus Elise Club Racer marks the new entry level sports car from Lotus. And with the Elise standard of just 149g CO2/km plus the weight reduction, the new Club Racer provides maximum fun without so much of the green-guilt usually associated with high performance driving.

2011 KIA Sorento

The 2011 Kia Sorento compact utility vehicle (CUV) returned to the Kia line-up fully redesigned right down to the platform. The KIA Sorento also offers an impressive amount of safety features in addition to comfort and convenience, and was appointed a 2010 “Top Safety Pick” award by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shortly after its debut.

Completely redesigned for the 2011 model year, the KIA Sorento employs a unibody design with the ability to comfortably fit up to seven passengers, offering more space and ride comfort than the previous-generation model. Prominently displaying the signature tabbed grille and wraparound headlamps exhibited on all new Kia models, Sorento offers an aggressive stance and sleek profile.

Available in LX, EX and SX trim levels, pricing for the 2011 KIA Sorento begins at $22,3952 for the LX trim, offering standard convenience features, including air conditioning, a tilt and telescopic steering wheel, SIRIUS® Satellite Radio capabilities with three months complimentary service3, MP3 connectivity and Bluetooth®4 wireless technology and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. 
Moving around the vehicle, the 2011 KIA Sorento offers tasteful exterior features on all three trims, including 17-inch alloy wheels with 235/65R17 tires and wheel moldings, body-color heated outside mirrors with integrated LED turn signal indicators. The EX trim offers standard 18-inch alloy wheels outfitted with 235/60R18 tires, automatic headlamps, fog lamps (optional on LX trims) and a rear spoiler.

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

Sports car manufacturer, Lamborghini is ready to make a breakthrough in September to introduce a new sports car. Lamborghini is not saying, but the news last blow that car was the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento.
According to the plan, Lamborghini will introduce a super sports car mat Tuesday at the Frankfurt Motor Show which opens on September 13, as quoted from leftlanenews next Wednesday (08/03/2011).

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento which is the production version will be introduced after the concept version shown at the auto show Paris Motor Show in 2010.
This car merupaka a very special car. For the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento using carbon fiber materials for the entire material. Sesto Elemento own name seems to refer to the number of carbon atoms of the element which is the figure 6 (Sixth Element).
By using the carbon fiber body weight of the car becomes very light which is only 999 kg. Super lightweight body is also a benefit for the speed enthusiast.
Due to the lightweight body, boost a typical malignant Lamborghini engine capable of carrying Sesto Elemento ran 0-100 km / h in just 2.5 seconds, with a maximum speed reaches 354 km / hour.

Ability is obtained from the ear of a capacity of 5.2 liter V10 engine that reportedly will strengthen the kitchen of this Italian car racing. This machine has a power of 560 horsepower.
Reportedly, this car will be produced only in very limited quantities of 20 units only. And because the specifications are almost perfectly with the amount of production very limited, it is no wonder that most likely the price of this car will greatly deplete the pockets of the millionaires. Chances are, Lamborghini Sesto Elemento be released at a price range of U.S. $ 2.9 million
When it does occur, then even this super-fast car will asked as the world's most expensive car the Bugatti Veyron to get rid of the crown which currently has it.
Because the numbers are slightly more expensive than the Bugatti Veyron's price tag is removed from the 1.45 million pounds or approximately up to 1.62 million pounds

Citroen C5

Recognised as one of the best-styled models in its segment, the Citroen C5 has been subtly upgraded. The changes enable the car to keep all its character while making it immediately visible and recognisable out on the road.

LEDs have been added under the headlamps. Active day and night and combined with a light guide, they subtly strengthen the car's light signature. The headlamps retain all the existing functions, including xenon dual-function directional lights and corner lights.

The rear lights get a new "Dark Crystal" treatment with clear glass in the central section.

e-HDi MICRO-HYBRID TECHNOLOGY FOR SPECTACULAR RESULTS

The Citroen C5 inaugurates the new micro-hybrid technology that will be widely applied to numerous models in the range. Initially it will be available with the HDi 110 DPFS version equipped with the EGS6 electronic gearbox system with steering-wheel paddles and low rolling resistance tyres.

The micro-hybrid technology consists of a second-generation Stop & Start system, which retains an alternator-starter, or reversible alternator, boasting enhanced performance. Power has been increased on the first-generation system, by 70% to 2.2 kW, and now includes a power electronics unit. Fitting the system on a diesel engine constitutes a world first for a passenger car.

Start-ups take just 400 ms, half the time of a starter, and remain completely transparent for users. Noise is eliminated through the use of a timing belt rather than the gears of a conventional starter. Vibrations have been eliminated - at start-up and cut-out - by using a twin-mass engine flywheel and a sealed air regulator and by attaining slowdown speed faster.

An onboard network assistance system, called e-booster, boosts the electricity supply of the alternator using super-output, temporarily adding to the power of the battery. This set-up has several advantages, namely:

• an increase in transmitted energy, improving start-up capacity for temperatures of as low as -5°C;
• onboard network support via complete transparency on the energy required by the alternator, to maintain the performance of the lights, windscreen wipers and radio;
• a function that optimises battery charge and super-output through energy recovery when drivers take their foot off the pedal or slow down, with a slight increase in the engine brake.

The Citroen C5 e-HDi is also equipped with an optimised watertight battery sized for up to 600,000 restart cycles. Engine suspension has been enhanced on the Citroen C5 for increased comfort during stops and re-starts.

The new equipment considerably reduces the Citroen C5's fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Over a combined cycle, the diesel model consumes 4.6 l/100 km and emits 120 g/km of CO2. In an urban cycle, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions are up to 15% lower.

Citroen C5 HDi 200 DPFS, A BLEND OF POWER AND ECONOMY

A new engine is making its appearance in the Citroen C5 range, a new-generation 2.2 litre powerplant bringing across-the-board progress on power, torque, silence, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Upgrades made to this engine are in line with those already used on other diesel units in the range (4- cylinder, 1.6 l and 2 l, 3 l V6). They chiefly concern the common rail system, now third-generation, with maximum injection pressure up to 2,000 bars, combustion chambers retaining ECCS (Extreme Conventional Combustion System) technology, and a lower compression ratio (16 to 1), for enhanced operating silence and lower emissions. Engine feed is still via two turbochargers, whose parallel sequential set-up provides plentiful torque from the lowest engine speeds.

The Citroen C5 HDi 200 DPFS develops 150 kW EEC (204 bhp) at 3,500 rpm and maximum torque of 450 Nm to 2,000 rpm. Mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox, the engine provides remarkable performance, with a top speed of 230 km/h (225 km/h for the Tourer), 0-100 km/h in 8.3 seconds (8.6) and combined-cycle consumption of 5.9 l/100 km (6.1). The saloon emits 155 g/km of CO2 and the Tourer 159 g/km. Like the Citroen C5 HDi 240 DPFS, the new version stands out visually with its chrome-finished double tailpipe.

Citroen C5 VTi 120 WITH EGS6, THE NEW PETROL POWERPLANT The Citroen C5 range is now available with a new petrol engine mated to the 6-speed electronic gearbox system (EGS6). Developed with the BMW Group, the 1.6 litre powerplant develops 88 kW EEC (120 bhp). Mated to the EGS6 gearbox, with wheel-mounted paddles, combined-cycle fuel consumption is 6.2 l/100 km and CO2 emissions are 144 g/km.

Citroen eTouch AVAILABLE ON C5

Citroen eTouch is now available on the C5. Comprising a package of services including the emergency and assistance calls, Citroen eTouch also proposes a virtual maintenance manual and an Eco-Driving service accessible via the MyCitroen personal area on the web. For calls, Citroen eTouch works completely independently. The system is equipped with a GPS module and a SIM card, with no need for a call plan and unlimited over time. The vehicles features two buttons, "SOS" for emergency calls (the call is also triggered automatically in the event of impact) and "Double Chevron" for assistance calls. The emergency call gets emergency services to customers faster, for accident victims and bystanders alike. The two services are free and available 24-7.

2011 Martinsville: NASCAR Sprint Cup - Tires Have Cup Drivers Skittish

 Sprint Cup drivers say they are concerned about tires for Sunday’s race as the Goodyear tires are leaving marbles of rubber on the track and have not rubbered in the Martinsville Speedway.

The .526-mile racing surface is a mix of asphalt with concrete corners. Goodyear brought a
different tire to prevent grating on the left-side tires as they slide across the concrete. Softer right-side tires were selected to add grip and compensate for the change in grip of the lefts.

Tire issues, which surfaced Friday, are not rare for the track. Some teams saw significant wear, but it’s not necessarily an issue about wear as much as grip and getting the track rubbered in to avoid the marbles.

"The tire is not failing," NASCAR Sprint Cup Series director John Darby said. "The tire has some different drivability characteristics that everybody is dealing with in both the truck series and Cup series.

"It’s a combination of a little tougher left side and a little softer right side; it makes the cars feel different. It’s really hard to make a judgment either way right now until we see 500 laps of racing."

If the tires continue to marble, it will make passing difficult because drivers won’t want to take a higher line in an attempt to advance through the field in Sunday's Goody's Fast Relief 500.

"The tire is really crappy, but that’s just the way it is," Dale Earnhardt Jr. said. "There’s not much they can do about it. … Once you get in the marbles, you ruined that set. There’s no way to get them off.

"We don’t go fast enough here to really get them off. It was real messy all day (in practice)."

Because Cup drivers had both practice sessions on Friday and were on the track for only two laps of qualifying Saturday, they hope that the track rubbered in during Saturday afternoon’s Kroger 250 Camping World Truck Series race.

"We have seen (these issues) before here on a clean racetrack," Jeff Gordon said. "I’m just surprised it never really laid rubber. … Great intentions (by Goodyear), and we all want that more grip.

"But we’re really struggling a lot with some really bad loose conditions, getting in the corners and getting off the corners. I’m just glad we weren’t alone in that."

Kyle Busch said the tires are wearing out in 25-30 laps more than usual but not yet to the cords. He said it feels as if they’re just spinning without grip. Busch’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Joey Logano crashed his primary car when it just spun around on him during practice Friday.

"They just go away really quick," Busch said. "It’s unfortunate we’re not seeing rubber down—that’s what we’re worried about."