Cars And Automotive: February 2009

Event Alert: March Calendar of Automotive Events

Besides the gradual thawing of most of the country, March means the beginning of the Formula One season as well as Sebring, the Geneva Motor Show, the Amelia Island Concours, and NASCAR ramping up to full speed.

Those events alone would be enough to sate even the healthiest automotive appetites, but there's plenty more going on in the motoring world. As always, we tried to list the highlights as well as a few smaller events that we hope will be of interest to you. Feel free to use the comments section to add or modify listings.
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More on TAC Motors' Stark raving awesome Brazilian bomber in Video

It's not the love child of a Smart Fortwo and a Jeep Wrangler -- it's the TAC Motors Stark 4X4. While we're not entirely sold on the looks of its four-piece composite shell, this off-roader is now aequipped to handle whatever terrain you might happen to encounter.

Previously available with an ethanol-burning Volkswagen engine, power now comes from a 2.3-liter turbodiesel making 220 lb-ft of torque. It's mated to a five-speed synchronized transmission that sends power through a Borg Warner transfer case back to a stout Dana 44 rear axle. A set of skidplates looks to keep it all protected.
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First Drive: 2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid and GMC Sierra Hybrid

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Once again, this time-honored dictum is proving true as pickup trucks regain their rightful place at the top of the U.S. sales charts following a precipitous fall from grace last summer.

As you've undoubtedly noticed, the cost of gasoline has dropped to a more manageable level, with an average gallon of regular-grade fuel going for half the price it was less than a year ago. So is it back to business as usual? Not quite. As we found out (again) in 2008, the volatile nature of gasoline stocks means that the market price for a barrel of crude can and will change on a whim. Does anyone really think fuel is going to stay cheaper than bottled water forever? Not likely.

However, America's love affair with the pickup truck will continue to burn bright even though the status quo is changing. All vehicles, regardless of type, must travel more miles on each gallon of gasoline. Enter GM's latest duo of fuel-saving pickups: the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra Hybrids.

These two workhorses were first announced at the LA Auto Show in late 2007, though the 2009 editions are just now beginning to show up at dealerships across the country. For the new model year, GM has made a few tweaks to its range of heavy haulers, most notably switching to a new set of hydraulic body mounts to compensate for the extra weight of the large battery pack. Are there any good reasons to consider these hybrid trucks over their highly-respected standard siblings? To find out, we strapped ourselves behind the wheel of each, followed a route through the streets of San Antonio, Texas, and recorded our mileage along the way.
more detail. ...

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Geneva Debut: Sportec SPR1 M with 858hp

Sportec with an update on the above SPR1: the SPR1M. This car is 3 seconds from 0 to 100!

The sprint from 0-200 is perhaps even more impressive, it does the SPR1 in 8.6 seconds! Perhaps the SPR1M that take? The available power is 858 hp with a max torque of 880 Nm. Sportec will next week unveil the car at the Geneva car show, then it will also be shown the Autorai (April). The SPR1M is based on the 997 Turbo and completely rebuilt by hand using a lot of carbon. To ensure exclusivity, only 10 copies made.

The Sportec SPR1 continued in 2007 the second time down to Nardo, there was achieved a top speed of 378 km / h. The SPR1M this should increase to 390 km / h.
via autoblog

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Geneva Preview: Porsche Cayenne Diesel gets the TechArt Treatment

For some reason, Porsche tuner TechArt has decided to release an exclusive aerokit for the recently introduced Cayenne diesel used Audi-derived, 240-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 TDI engine. Although less extreme than the company's other adjustment package, accessorized Cayenne diesel certainly come to the fore.

TechaArt the Aero package includes a pre-spoiler with additional lights, side skirts, roof spoiler, a tailgate on the proliferation and integrated headlights / tail light decoration. All the components are from high quality polyurethane RIM Corporation.

Package to be complemented by a set of 21 inch alloy wheels 295/35 tires continental tires, but buyers can also choose 22-inch alloys. If your pockets can handle it, TechArt also provides a wide range of internal upgrades, including a new steering wheel, alloy pedals, and the full leather treatment.

via:carscoop

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Glow in Dark Car

Check out this for a cool car mod...glow in the dark paint job...Nice!

Report: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-class convertible unveiled at Frankfurt

2010 Mercedes-Benz E-class coupe and convertible enough to clearly indicate that these two cars close to a statement. The coupe will bow next month in Geneva, according to Edmonds' inside the roadster will debut this autumn in Frankfurt, in line with market expectations.

It's official: E-class coupe and convertible models will replace the clock. Tire specifications convertible is still a possibility on the basis of the test found in the prototype, but the soft-top was inevitable. By a modified two door sedan version of the chassis, longer wheelbase and more interior space than the outgoing clock. The roadster is expected to share the same power system can be in sports.

What are these? Ah, Mercedes's first direct injection four-cylinder engine is based on power, 1.8 liters turbocharged unit of decision-making 204 horsepower. Ah four common-rail diesel power can also be, but neither the four-cylinder (designated E250 CGI and ignition of gasoline and diesel models, respectively) is expected to make it to North America. American will have to content with the E350 Coupe and Cabriolet 231 hp 3.0 liters V6 engine. V8 engine provides the E500. Of course, the high power of the AMG version are inevitable; expected 500-horsepower AMG or if shoehorns its 6.2 liters V8 engine, the engine E-Class sedans Bay.

Other progress will be found a similar high-tech E - Class sedan, including revised Command System PRE - SAFE braking and a driver assist system detects drowsiness attention.

Please note: Photos are included in this article was originally published February 11, 2009.
Source:World Car Fans

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New rules do not halt F1 innovation

F1's new bodywork rules may have brought an end to a lot of the cars' overt aerodynamic detail, but it has not halted the innovation of the teams

At the winter test tracks so far, plenty of clever features are on display, including Williams and Toyota's controversial rear diffuser designs

Sam Michael, Williams, technical director, said on Thursday he expects "50 per cent of the grid" to have honed-in on the idea by the time late March and the Australian grand prix roll around

Also spotted recently is a new design of carbon-fibre front wheel covers on the 2009 McLaren

Described as a sort of "snorkel" by the German publication Auto Motor und Sport, the innovation is expected to be fitted to the MP4-24 in Australia

Meanwhile, on Williams' 2009-spec FW31 at the Grove factory on Thursday, reporters could not miss the addition of new fins on the cockpit

"They're called 'skate fins' because they're similar to what you see on a surfboard," Australian Michael said
Source: GMM

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Mercedes-Benz Extends G-Class Production Until 2015

The "Highlander" of the automobile industry, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class that has been in production since the spring of 1979, will continue to live on for at least six more years as Daimler AG has signed an agreement with Magna Steyr to produce the robust off-roader at the company's plant in Graz, Austria until 2015. In the 30 years that the G-Class has been in production, Mercedes-Benz has sold around 200,000 examples of the vehicle worldwide.

To celebrate the G-Class' 30-th anniversary, Mercedes-Benz recently launched two special edition versions of the rugged off-roader called EDITION30 and EDITION30.PUR

via:carscoop

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Button agrees to slash 2009 retainer

Jenson Button has agreed to cut his 2009 retainer in half as the Honda team survives the withdrawal of the Japanese manufacturer.

A management buyout headed by Ross Brawn has apparently been green-lighted by the carmaker's Tokyo board, but it will mean a drastically reduced budget this season.

The Daily Telegraph in Britain claims up to 300 of the 700 Brackley based staff will be shed, while 29-year-old Button voluntarily cuts his contracted $15m salary for this season in two.

Some of the Brackley staff, however, are reportedly unhappy with the Brawn buyout and prepared to strike.

If Honda had folded the team, the manufacturer would have dished out healthy severance packages, while under the Brawn deal, many staff will still be shed but not compensated as handsomely.

Those surviving the job cuts face pay cuts, the Telegraph added.

Source: GMM