2010 Audi A9 Concept Design

Audi has just released its latest concept design. It is known as the A9 concept and it is unlike anything we have seen in any production car to date. Audi plans to project its A9 concept at a higher standing than its current top dog, the A8. Audi predicts that this concept will be advanced enough to overwhelm first-class luxury models from competitors such as the Porsche Panamera, and the Lamborghini Estoque if ever it will be put into production.

The form and features of the 2010 Audi A9 Concept were motivated in part by the magnificent structural design of Santiago Calatrava’s architecture in The City of Arts and Sciences located in Valencia. Such inspiration can be seen in the smooth, sleek and flowing contours of the vehicle along with its futuristic structure. Calatrava’s constructions seem as if they were taken from centuries in the future, and Audi’s concept emulates the same ideals.

The windshield of this concept car is fully integrated into the roof, and is composed of material using nanotechnology. Note that this technology does not exist at this time, since it is designed to automatically adjust from clear to opaque, change color and repair damage. Changing colors to the preference of the driver is a feature also reserved for the body kit of the A9. This means that at the touch of a button, the car can change from white to black, to red, to blue, etc.

Propulsion for the A9 concept is achieved via a sophisticated fusion between electric-powered motors found in each of the four wheels of the vehicle, working in concurrence with an internal combustion engine using a renewable source of fuel. Once again, such technology does not exist as of yet, but the plans for this vehicle certainly sound fascinating.

August 23, 2010 at 10:36 am | 42 comments

2010 BMW Alpina B3 S Bi-Turbo

Enthusiasts might appreciate the fact that the 2010 BMW Alpina B3 S Bi-Turbo is available as a coupé, convertible, touring or saloon vehicle. Also, rear-wheel and all-wheel drivetrain options are available for the car.

The BMW Alpina B3 S Bi-Turbo relies primarily on its 3-liter inline-6 twin turbocharged engine, which yields 400 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 397 lb-ft (540 Nm) of torque at 4500 rpm. The engine cleverly allocates 133.3 horsepower per liter of gasoline, and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. The engine can go up to 7000 rpm, and the top speed clocks in at 186 mph (300 km/h). Massive power is distributed across the powerband using the Alpina Switch-Tronic; a set of buttons behind the steering wheel that essentially removes the need for a traditional gear handle. Using the Switch-Tronic, the driver can shift between gears with no perceivable loss in acceleration. This innovative feature also allows the driver to make use of the whole revolution range of the engine before shifting between gears, and utilizing the top gear is feasible for any driving circumstance. A heavy-duty cooling mechanism with added radiators preserves favorable temperatures when driving. The engine of the B3 S Bi-Turbo also maintains outstanding fuel economy.

Looking at the exterior, the car’s lively aesthetics are identified through the front spoiler, scooped hood, rear diffuser and a pair of unique double-ended mufflers. Alpina Classic 19 inch light-alloy rims emphasize the entire figure of the vehicle, complete with Michelin tires.

The interior is upholstered with leather sport seats, and a blue Alpina display beneath the dashboard. The display contains a digital speedometer and indicates important information such as engine and oil temperature.

August 22, 2010 at 10:36 am | 5 comments

2010 Brabus T65 RS Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series

When it comes to performance, the Brabus-tuned T65 RS Mercedes Benz SL 65 AMG Black Series doesn’t disappoint. Brabus boosted the performance of the SL 65 AMG by adding twin turbochargers and four large intercoolers to the engine package. This is further supplemented by twin mufflers raising the horsepower of the vehicle to 800 hp at 5500 rpm. Torque values also increased to 811 lb-ft at 2100 rpm. The car can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.6 seconds and achieves a speed of 200 km/h in 9.8 seconds. The car’s top speed is measured at over 330 km/h, but due to safety standards and regulations, it is limited to 320 km/h or 200 mph.

Brabus also pays special attention to the interior detailing of the SL 65 AMG. The power comfort seats of the vehicle are covered in a unique blend of black leather and Alcantara, making the seats soft and breathable. The same combination of materials is applied on the headliner, dashboard and door panels. Accentuating the interior design of the car are accurately-sewn red seams found all over the interior, perfectly matching the black ambiance of the car.

The BRABUS upholstery shop creates a special sporty and luxurious interior to customers’ exact specifications, down to the last detail. The power comfort seats offer excellent lateral support without constricting the occupants. In this true BRABUS one-off car, made to the specifications of a longtime customer, they are upholstered in an exclusive combination of especially soft and breathable black leather and Alcantara. The same materials are found on door panels, headliner and dashboard. Precision-sewn red seam add striking highlights to all interior elements. Final adjustments to the interior include stainless steel scuff plates with an illuminated logo and a custom-built speedometer.

August 20, 2010 at 10:36 am | 14 comments

2010 DeltaWing IndyCar Concept

The design of the 2010 Deltawing IndyCar Concept is a departure from traditional vehicles we see every day. DeltaWing LLC Indianapolis introduced this concept as a test-bed for technological advancement in the automotive industry, directed primarily at a younger group of enthusiasts.

The form of the vehicle is unlike anything we have seen on the road to date. The design follows an ultra slim front track contour, meant to reduce weight and diminish aerodynamic drag. Fairings for the Firestone Firehawk tires avert wheel interlocking. Airflow remains undisturbed even during high velocity laps on the track, producing efficient downforce with negligible wake to guarantee the smallest loss in aerodynamic potential. This allows the DeltaWing Indycar Concept to overtake another vehicle on track, if ever the driver finds himself trailing behind. The inverted aerofoil or spoiler is substituted with a prominent tail fin to increase YAW stability and eliminate drag while speeding through straight-aways on the racetrack. The vehicle is a single-seater, true to the appeal of racecars on the track.

The prototype car is planned to rely on a 2.0 liter 4 cylinder turbocharged engine. This is estimated to produce around 300 horsepower at 7000 rpm. True to racecar tradition, the car will use a 6-speed oval transmission with paddle shift controls, or a 5-speed transmission with reverse. The focus of the concept is primarily on eliminating aerodynamic drag and epitomizing lighter mass and weight. The anticipated weight of the vehicle will be 1030 lbs including the driver. The car’s weight distribution is directed more toward the rear, with more than 70% of the mass carried by the hefty rear tires. This means that 80% of the downforce comes from the rear of the car, augmenting inline traction while the car accelerates using its rear tires. It is said that DeltaWing LLC will release the prototype by August 2010.

August 19, 2010 at 10:36 am | 12 comments

2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8

The 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 is a re-issue of an old and world renowned muscle car. It is powered by a naturally aspirated 6.1 liter HEMI V8 engine capable of producing 425 horsepower at 6200 rpm, and 420 lb-ft (569 Nm) of torque. This allows the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, and the engine generates a massive 69.8 horsepower per liter of gasoline. Such enormous power is kept in line using either a TREMEC TR 6060 six speed manual transmission with a pistol-grip gear handle, or a standard five speed automatic transmission with an Auto Stick.

Driving feedback is provided via a 180 mph speedometer in the center of the display beneath the dashboard, surrounded by four-bomb gauges including a tachometer. Similar to the Dodge Charger SRT8, the Challenger SRT8 also comes equipped with an exclusive Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) with Performance Pages, granting the driver crucial information on g-forces, times and speeds.

The new Challenger SRT8 truly appeals to the desires of the modern muscle car enthusiast. Using fog lamps for headlights and the full-width grill were favorite aspects of the old Challenger, and are re-applied into the 2010 model for the sake of fulfilling the “Dodge Performance Attitude”. The dual scooped hood with a raised center is also retrofitted into the new Challenger SRT8. True to muscle car heritage, racing stripes have also been applied.

Interior detailing did not fall behind for the Challenger SRT8 either. They include racing tuned and reinforced bucket seats, complete with leather upholstery and red accents. The stitched accents are further applied to the steering wheel. Finally, the 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 comes furnished with useful 21st century features such as Uconnect™ Multimedia, Uconnect Navigation, Uconnect Phone and Keyless Go.

August 18, 2010 at 10:36 am | 6 comments

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