Opel Zafira Tourer 2012: Unveiled at Geneva as a concept car + video

Here's Zafira Tourer Concept will be presented at the show in March and Helvetic foreshadows a few details that will be the next generation Zafira. Opel Zafira Tourer is very close to the illustrations we have known for months and the front listing the evolution of style car brand in flash.In terms of surprises first announced by the German manufacturer, we learn that if it still has its 7 place
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2011 Nissan Sports Cars 370Z Hybrid

2011 Nissan Sports Cars 370Z Hybrid

2011 Nissan 370Z is a hybrid sports car, with a 3.7 liter engine performance and fuel economy to about 50%. 2011 Nissan Sports Cars 370Z Hybrid is equipped with  interior features a very nice and will soon release in late 2010. For 2011, Nissan is taking a giant leap with the 370Z with the release version of a hybrid for both coupe and convertible stylings.

2011 Nissan Sports Cars 370Z Hybrid

Z is still like a roadster. Puritans can not ignore, but the opening of Z is supported by an equally strong manual 3.7-liter V6 and six-speed gearbox or seven-speed automatic, like a coupe. suspension settings and the same increase in weight only 200 pounds to help roadster retains most of the quick reflexes and acceleration.

But 370Z coupe is not without flaws. V6, while strong, does not feel the sophistication and high-speed machines. This may be the reason, but significantly reduces the implementation races living on the open road, coupe is quite noisy, especially when equipped with larger wheels and tires are optional. In addition, performance cars such as the Z machine records verdien’n refreshing, and some protection against the motorway route will not run heavy throughout the roar.

The 2011 370Z from Nissan has the same 3.7-liter , V6 engine with 332 hp at 7,000 rpm, just like that of the previous model year. Optional manual transmission features six speeds, while the automatic transmission is a 7-speed with a manual shift assist.

2011 Nissan Sports Cars 370Z Hybrid

Falling far short of the fuel efficiency figures for Nissan’s drawing board hybrid model, the 2011 Nissan Sports Cars 370Z Hybrid reports 18 mpg in traffic and 25 mpg on the highway, manual or automatic alike. These high-performance vehicles use high-test fuel as well. The NISMO 370Z delivers an upgrade in power, with 350 hp and 270 pound feet of torque in a 3.7 liter V6.

The 2011 Nissan Sports Cars 370Z Hybrid will not be sacrificing any of the previous power and performance to a new hybrid engine in accordance with the Nissan, but it remains to be seen how they will achieve it by using the same gasoline motor vehicle weight while improving significantly with lithium-ion battery and a second motor.

2011 Nissan Sports Cars 370Z Hybrid

Nissan is offering three models of the 370Z convertible roadster: the standard entry level model, the Touring car, and the 370Z Touring with Sport Package option. The price range extends from $37, 520 to $43,890. The 370Z Coupe series features three model options plus the NISMO 370Z. The price span extends from $30,610 for the base model to $39,990 for the NISMO.

2011 Nissan Sports Cars 370Z Hybrid

The interior of the 2011 Nissan Sports Cars 370Z Hybrid is always wide enough for vehicles in its class, and the addition of a new battery for the car will hopefully not impact important features. Standard features for the Nissan 370Z interior will remain almost identical to those available in models 2010 and includes keyless ignition and entry, climate control, tilt steering wheel, and auto-dimming rearview mirror.

2011 Nissan Sports Cars 370Z Hybrid

Tom Cruise's Cars

The car driven by Tom Cruise in action film Minority Report is expected to fetch £64,000 (about $125,654 US dollars) when it goes under the hammer next month. The sleek red Lexus 2054 is just one of three models created for the movie and only has 38 miles on the odometer.

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BMW 6 Series Retro Racer

BMW 6 Series Retro Racer review. As we know BMW has recently introduced the first incarnation of the new 6 Series in the world. We talk about the 650th Convertible, a vehicle that aims to become a star. Unfortunately, the embodiment of the vehicle cut has not yet been published, with car enthusiasts around the world still awaits the coming of Bavaria two doors cast a spell on them. Its has futuristic performance you can see the picture. As you can imagine, we are also killed by the anticipation created by the expectation of the vehicle. And every time I enter a state like this, we use a practice (keyboard) approach, seeking a virtual creation that our thirst. Now you expect us to tell you that we have been looking for a rendering of the model, spending hours choosing what seems the most accurate. Well, we did not, because the BMW 6 Series Coupe Concept is certainly closer to the product that any future rendering. Instead, we thought it would be fun to try an optimization of this project based on the future of the World Series Coupe 6. We chose a setting that takes us back in the history of the BMW race, arriving with a striking blend of retro style and visual aggression. As you can see, the vehicle’s fair to take the series 6 bases, bringing an entirely new design.

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Nissan Yuki-onna at SEMA 2010

At the annual SEMA Show Nissan demonstrated environmental Racing Car – Nissan Yuki-onna.
Design Concept Nissan Yuki-onna has been suggested that the student Alfredo Garcia Marin from Barcelona.
Noble line of cars were created under the inspiration of the shape of Japanese women in the snow. The elegant and attractive car was designed as a roomy sedan that embodies the true spirit of modernity and the commitment of ecology.
Nissan Yuki-onna has two doors, the chassis is carbon fiber and powered by electric motors on each of the four wheels.


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New Mazda MX-5 Special Edition with Bilstein-tuned Suspension

A new special edition version of the MX-5 with some very minor styling and suspension upgrades has been added to Mazda's vehicle range in Australia. A total of 200 MX-5 Special Editions are being brought into the country with Mazda announcing that the upgrades are being added at no additional cost.
However, this should not comfort Australian buyers as the list price of the limited edition model is a hefty AUS$47,200 (~US$47,800), or roughly the same as a 430HP 2011 Corvette Coupe (US$48,950) in the U.S. We understand that prices between different markets are not comparable for a variety of reasons, but close to $50 grand for an MX-5? The highlight of the special edition model is the addition of a Bilstein-tuned suspension, which promises to further improve the roadster's handling. A bright painted strut tower bar is also part of the suspension package.
On the outside, the MX-5 Special Edition gets new bright painted 17-inch alloy wheels and the choice of two new colors, Dolphin Grey Mica and Sparkling Black Mica, along with an Aluminium Metallic finish.

Inside, the driver and passenger are greeted by unique grey colored leather seats which are complemented by a leather steering wheel and handbrake both featuring grey highlight stitching, while the chrome meter rings and air vent bezels complete the look.
Mazda Australia marketing manager, Alastair Doak, said "The Mazda MX-5 is an iconic car with enthusiasts across the world making it the best-selling two seater roadster of all-time. Offering a limited number of MX-5 Special Editions to Australian consumers will ensure it appeals to the enthusiasts out there who are seeking something a little different."

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Citroën E-3POD Antistatic Concept for a Future Electric Vehicle

This here is the E-3POD Antistatic design study and it was revealed at the Royal College of Art’s Interim Degree Show in London as part of the Double Challenge project sponsored by Citroën and aerodynamic simulation software company EXA. The task of the second year students was to envision an ultra-compact vehicle that could influence the design language of the automaker’s future electric cars.
Created by Heikki Juvonen, the E-3POD Antistatic was favored by the judges due to its “bold and engaging take on an urban three wheel electric vehicle”. Winning the competition gives the talented student the opportunity to work at the PSA Design Center in Paris for six months.
“I’m thrilled Citroën selected my design as their favorite and I can’t wait to work with their talented team in France. As a designer I strive for new and better solutions. Good and sustainable design not only improves manufacturer brand image and sales, but can also help to preserve our environment”, Heikki said.

According to the designer, the single-seater electric trike is meant for urban commuting, but it doesn’t replace cars. Instead, it could be an addition to future households, positioned between bikes and cars.
The E-3POD has a simple, lightweight construction and excellent aerodynamics meaning that it can be powered by a small battery, which in turn reduces manufacturing costs and final price, making the theoretical production version affordable.
The advantages of the E-3POD reside in its small footprint, allowing for easy parking, and closed cockpit, which, unlike bicycles and public transport, creates a “comfortable and isolated personal space”. Furthermore, the short overall length transforms the design study into an agile vehicle, excellent for tackling heavy urban traffic.
“We’re delighted to be involved in this important RCA project. The students have produced some truly exceptional ideas for the future design of electric Citroën vehicles. This type of powertrain is increasingly recognized as an important solution for economically and environmentally viable urban transport; so it’s fantastic to see the electric visions of these potential car designers of tomorrow”, said Philippe Holland, Responsable Style Graphique at Citroën.

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2011 Ford Explorer

Ford's freshly launched 2011 Explorer SUV has received its first safety recall for a problem concerning the second row of seats. The recall affects approximately 1,658 Explorers made between July and December of last year.
According to a filling with federal safety regulators, the manual recliner mechanisms of the second row seats may "have components that are out of dimensional specification". The NHTSA said that in the event of a crash, "the seat back may not provide the required strength, increasing the risk of injury." The Detroit automaker said that as of January 21, 2011, it is not aware of any reports of this condition on vehicles in customer service.
Ford said it will notify owners and dealers will repair the seats free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about February 14, 2011. Owners of the affected models may contact the company's customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

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New Opel Zafira Tourer Concept

Opel chose a rather unique way to inform us about its new concept model that previews the next generation of the Zafira people carrier, and which is scheduled to make its world premiere at the Geneva Salon in March. The company published a short video accompanied by a photograph showing the firm's design boss Mark Adams holding an iPad through which a hologram of the concept car pops out.
The Zafira Tourer Concept will give us a pretty good idea of what the actual production model will look like (see the latest spy shots here) inside and out when it hits European showrooms within the next 12 months. The minivan's front end styling is obviously inspired by the Ampera, or Opel's version of the Chevrolet Volt, while we can also see that the new Zafira won't be getting sliding rear doors.
GM's European subsidiary describes the car as a “Lounge On Wheels” with the company claiming that the concept brings "on-board flexibility to a new level of sophistication and comfort."

“We’ve applied the lounge concept to a motor vehicle,” says Mark Adams, Vice President Opel/Vauxhall Design. “A lounge is a place you want to escape to and relax, a place where you really want to be. We wanted to offer the same feeling in a monocab and make it the lounge you want to spend time in.”
The new Zafira is based on the Astra's hardware and shares its underpinnings with the Chevrolet Orlando. It will feature seating for seven passengers in three rows of individual seats, with power train options to mirror those of the current European market Astra.


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Topspeed Hall Of Fame: World’s Fastest Solar-Powered Vehicle

By most engine-powered automotive standards, a car than can run 88.8 km/h (55.2 mph) is best described as a snail trapped in an enormous steel chassis. That’s how far technology has come in today’s world with supercars capable of running over 250 mph on a good day.

But if you take away a car’s engine - the heart and soul of any vehicle – then you’re pretty much stuck with a car that can only go as fast as how hard you push it. That is, unless you rely on another understated energy source, one that, ironically, is the most powerful form of energy in the universe: the sun.

Over the past few years, numerous people have built solar-powered cars with the intention of setting the land-speed record for such a vehicle. Entering the year, the world record for the fastest solar-powered car belonged to the General Motors Sunraycer, a car that clocked in a top speed of 79 km/h while being powered by silicon solar cells back in 1988.

Two weeks into 2011, a team from the University of New South Wales in Australia broke the 22-year old record with the Sunswift Ivy.

Continued after the jump.

Designed by a team of students from the Engineering department of the University of New South Wales, the Sunswift Ivy weighed only a tenth of what an average car would weigh and came with a 98% efficient Brushless CSIRO 3-phase DC motor and an array of 400 silicon cells. To achieve the team’s target speed of 85 km/h, they would only need to generate 1,300 watts of solar generated power. In layman’s parlance, that’s about the same amount of energy as a lot of counter microwaves being sold in department stores have.

When the car was ran at the HMAS Albatross navy base airstrip in Nowra, Australia, the Sunswift Ivy clocked in a top speed of 88.8 km/h (55.2 mph), a little under nine km/h faster than the previous record.

Piloting the Sunswift Ivy during its Guiness-certified record-setting run included Barton Mawer and Craig Davis, both of whom are racing drivers from Tesla.

As with all other records of this magnitude, the attempt to chase and surpass a record comes with a steep price. In this case, that involves the amount of money spent on the whole project, which, was estimated to be around AUD $280,000, or about $284,000 based on current exchange rates.

Seeing as the previous record lasted 22 years without the advantages of technological advancements, it’s highly unlikely that the Sunswift Ivy’s record as the fastest solar-powered car in the world won’t last as long as it’s predecessor. Who knows, we might even see a solar-powered car break the 100 km/h barrier pretty soon.

In the meantime, though, the record belongs to the Sunswift Ivy after earning each and every source of speed it’s solar-powered-ness could handle.

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Chicago Auto Show 2011: the first steps of the Volkswagen Jetta GLI 2012 Live Photos

Volkswagen Jetta GLI presented its 2012 for the first time today at the Auto Show in Chicago. The car will be launched in May and will include several elements distinguishing it from other versions, both in terms of performance as standard features.

The turbocharged 2.0-liter engine used in several other vehicles from the German manufacturer will supply the GLI, developing 200 horsepower and a torque of 207 lb-ft available at 1700 rpm. This power will be transmitted to the wheels via a gearbox six-speed manual.

2012 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec Sedan Chicago Auto Show 2011 Live Pictures

Back in 2008 Hyundai surprised everyone by presenting a large saloon capable of standing up to the Germans in terms of quality and excellence. Dubbed Genesis, has also been a bestseller and has improved the image of the South Korean firm.

Taking advantage of the Chicago Auto Show, Hyundai has small changes that affect aesthetics, with a current grid, optical and darkened taillights with new shades. You can add new exhaust outlets and introducing LED technology for illumination and the increasingly common DRL daytime running lights. Other developments affect the design of alloy wheels and mirrors, which now feature floor lights.