| Light rail transit systems are developed and expanded intensively in many cities throughout the world. These systems are an efficient and viable solution for public transport, and even mature cities in developed countries are installing new tramways and other urban rail transit networks. Among other leading manufacturers of rail transport equipment, the Vossloh Group is tapping into the trend. This major European manufacturer of locomotives and passenger trains places an expanding focus on tramways, train-trams, metro trains and commuter trains at its Valencia-based subsidiary Vossloh España, S.A. Stainless steel has for long been a key part of Vossloh España’s production programme in suburban trains. Stainless provides the corrosion resistance and strength in structural sections of car bodies to meet the company’s commitment to build sustainable public transport equipment. Up until today Vossloh España’s stainless steel reference grade in structural sections has been ferritic EN 1.4003. This is a chromium stainless steel that offers a superior alternative to mild (carbon) steel in structural applications in moderately corrosive operating environments. On a new commission from a major metropolitan customer, Vossloh now seeks to develop a tram with longer design life and lower maintenance needs compared to conventional designs. During the early R&D phase of the new tram, Vossloh España was introduced by Outokumpu to duplex LDX 2101®, a lean duplex stainless grade developed and produced by the stainless steel company. After a review of the properties of this duplex grade against the customer requirements, Vossloh replaced ferritic 1.4003 with duplex LDX 2101® despite the substantially higher cost of the latter material. “We chose duplex LDX 2101® because of its strength and corrosion resistance,” says a representative of Vossloh España’s engineering department. He elaborates, “First, the duplex grade’s yield strength is 60% and tensile strength 45% higher than the values presented by the ferritic grade. “Second, duplex LDX 2101® has corrosion resistance similar to that of the austenitic stainless steel grade EN 1.4404 (ASTM 316L). This is much higher compared to ferritic 1.4003.” LDX 2101® (EN 1.4162) is a low-alloyed, general-purpose duplex stainless steel. It features high proof strength, similar to that of other duplex grades. Duplex LDX 2101® is one of the high-strength stainless steel options offered by Outokumpu for rail transport. High-strength stainless steel grades help to reduce vehicle weight, reduce maintenance and improve energy efficiency. They can be applied to arrive at designs optimised with respect to strength, maintenance, durability and long-term cost efficiency. Some of their benefits are safety-related and include high energy absorption at impact and a greater level of fire resistance, in addition to less likelihood of weakened structures owing to corrosion. Outokumpu supplies a comprehensive range of stainless steel grades, dimensions and finishes. They provide designers and engineers with exceptional possibilities to create innovative, light-weight railway vehicles of the future. | | A metro train car body under construction at the plant of Vossloh España. Photo courtesy of same. A metro train supplied by Vossloh España. Photo courtesy of s |
| This year at Scandinavia’s largest subcontractor trade show, Elmia, there was a real crowd catcher at the Outokumpu exhibition booth. On display was a prototype racing steel motorcycle by Highland Group of Sweden, custom-designed and manufactured with the help of Outokumpu using high-strength grades of stainless steel. The steel motorcycle, named Highland 450cc Supermoto, has drawn a lot of worldwide attention after Martin Lind of Sweden rode the bike to finish in second place at the Swedish Supermoto 2008 championship. With the help of the pioneering bike, he also clocked up a number of wins in the United States. The problemSupermoto is a combination of motocross and road racing, where the racing course alternates between a racing track and a dirt section in the infield. The motorcycles combine road-racing and off-road features. Compared to normal motorcycle racing, the tracks are short, twisty and incorporate high jumps. This means that manufacturers need to consider many other features aside from outright machine performance. Highland Group is a spearheading motorcycle design house that develops complete motorcycles for established brand owners. In early 2006, Highland were looking for a new focus in their product development. For them, Supermoto presented the ultimate environment to test motorcycle performance against stress, shock and fatigue loads. Their first idea was to develop a new motorcycle frame replacing carbon steel with aluminum. But when Outokumpu’s R&D unit for automotive applications, Prinox, caught wind of Highland’s ambitions, they jumped in, and suggested that Highland introduced high-strength stainless steels as optimal materials to create a frame with superior stiffness and strength. Highland was convinced by the pitch and saw the benefits of using Outokumpu’s high-strength stainless steels to create a superior steel motorcycle. The solutionHighland engineers lacked experience with stainless steel, so they partnered with Prinox in product development. As a result of the partnership, a complete prototype steel motorcycle with a stainless steel chassis was presented at the Milan Motorcycle Fair in November 2006, nine months after the beginning of the product development process. The main frame of steel motorcycle Highland 450cc Supermoto is in austenitic HyTens1200®, and the engine cradle and rear sub-frame are in duplex LDX 2101®. The chassis weight is 20 percent less than that of the best rivaling motorcycles. The precisely tuned chassis stiffness gives Highland 450cc Supermoto steel motorcycle additional competitive advantage over its competitors. A number of factors put a stainless steel motorcycle frame at a distinct cost advantage over an aluminum frame. For example, austenitic high-strength stainless steel has excellent formability in the cold conditions. But aluminum requires lengthy procedures and elevated temperatures to transform it to a state where it can be used for applications such as this. Stainless steel also requires no surface treatment, whereas aluminum requires anodizing. HyTens® stands for high-strength austenitic stainless steel grades specifically developed for the needs of automakers. Among their many benefits, HyTens® products can reach strengths many times higher than carbon steel in cold deformation, allowing considerable weight savings in structural components. HyTens® is highly formable, putting few limitations to component shapes. The engine cradle and rear sub-frame of Highland 450cc Supermoto steel motorcycle are made from LDX 2101® square tubing. This is the first tubular application of this duplex grade. It features a combination of high strength and formability unmatched by competing tubular products. It is expected to find many uses in the automotive and other sectors, according to Stefan Ekblad of Prinox. The resultThe success of Highland 450cc Supermoto steel motorcycle, on and off the track, is a testament to Outokumpu’s strength as providers to the transportation industry. Supermoto racer Martin Lind comments on his ride: “The Highland bike is very stable, yet nimble and easy to flick from side to side in turns. This is because we have achieved a favorable distribution of stress throughout the frame. Also, we have managed to reach a very low frame weight and, as a result, achieved a low center of gravity.” He continues: “A major difference from my previous bikes is that this one is very predictable in its response when you’re over the limit. You don’t get into trouble as easily on this bike as you do on the competition.” | Martin Lind on Highland 450cc Supermoto. Courtesy of Highland Group
Highland 450cc Supermoto at Elmia 2008
The stainless frame of Highland 450cc Supermoto. Courtesy of Highland Group Elmia is the largest subcontractor trade show in Scandinavia, catering for the needs of all manufacturing industries. There were more than one thousand exhibitors at the Elmia show of November 2008, among them Outokumpu as the only stainless steel producer. Visitors numbered approximately 15,500. |
| Carbon dioxide is an important raw material for a wide range of industries, including food, oil and chemical. Transformed into liquid for convenient handling, it is classified as a hazardous material, and its storage and transportation are governed by codes for dangerous goods. Liquefied carbon dioxide is transported at a low temperature and an elevated pressure in road tankers specially designed for the application.
The concept
The solution
The resultsOwing to the high strength of duplex stainless steel, OMSP Macola reaps a 30-percent saving in the road-tanker container weight compared to containers fabricated from conventional steel. This is because the high pressure produced inside the tank to accommodate for the operating temperature range, which allows the high strength of LDX 2101® to be utilized. In addition to the high mechanical strength of duplex that enables the remarkable weight reduction, OMSP Macola reports that they are pleased with the excellent ductility and weldability of LDX 2101®. According to company technical managers, the material is ideal for use in road equipment, meeting the high fatigue performance requirements set by the design codes of the Transportable Pressure Equipment Directive. As such, LDX 2101® helps enhance safety on roads.
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| A self-supporting road tanker manufactured by OMSP Macola. Courtesy of same |
Development of cryogenic road tankers for liquefied carbon dioxide, for operating temperature range -40 to 50 degrees Celsius, using Outokumpu’s duplex LDX 2101® plate to fabricate the inner, load-containing layer of the insulated double hull.
Manufacturer:
OMSP Macola S.r.l. of Italy, a company specializing in the design, manufacture and servicing of industrial vehicles: tank trucks, tank semi-trailers, self-supporting tanks and specially adapted vehicles for the transportation of dangerous goods. See http://www.omspmacola.it/eng/index_eng.php
Partner in product development:
IVENA S.r.l. of Italy, a consulting company specializing in design, inspections and training in codes for ADR (agreement concerning international transport of dangerous goods), RID (règlement concernant le transport international ferroviaire des marchandises dangereuses) and IMDG (international maritime transport of dangerous goods)
Stainless steel makes for the best passenger railcars. Alstom relies on Outokumpu’s custom-developed high-strength steel in the shells of metro railcars to stay ahead.
| Alstom is at ease with a key material used to manufacture world-leading metro railcars at their Lapa site in Brazil. Since 2008 they have used Outokumpu’s high-strength stainless steel in the car shells. No more challenges with unreliable coils, resulting in continual new setups, cracking and waste of time. Importantly, in the fiercely competitive railway business, Alstom has found a partner who takes worries away from them in ensuring that they use the most technically innovative product. “We have appreciated good support from Outokumpu,” a representative of Alstom at Lapa says, affirming that they expect close cooperation from their suppliers in identifying optimal solutions. “Outokumpu has shown good performance in technical issues.” The optimal solution for Alstom in the shells of metro railcar bodies is Outokumpu’s temper rolled austenitic grade ASTM 301LN (EN 1.4318), which provides the unique combination of very high strength and good formability. The grade has been developed especially for structural railcar body components where strength and toughness are required. Sustainable railcar bodies Leading railway equipment manufacturers have embraced 301LN as the best product on the market for railcar bodies to boost their competitiveness. The grade’s list of benefits explains why. The high strength allows for use of thinner gauges and so helps to reduce weight. It can also lower maintenance costs compared to other materials. Temper rolling not only hardens the steel but also gives the surface an aesthetically pleasing look – important when railcar bodies are not coated. Leaving the surfaces uncoated markedly increases sustainability in railcars. The corrosion resistance of 301LN is the same as that of the most widely used stainless steel (ASTM 304 / EN 1.4301) and, important for passenger transport equipment, the grade features excellent fire resistance. Manufacturers commend the grade for ease of fabrication. Increasingly the choice by transportation authorities Stainless steel is embraced by an increasing number of public transportation authorities as the solution that gives them vastly longer service lives of equipment compared to other railcar shell materials. Lighter and stronger than the alternatives, stainless contributes to environmentally friendly transportation. Today Outokumpu stainless steel helps to transport passengers in major cities of the world from Melbourne to Vienna to Los Angeles. Among the many satisfied customers, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority lauds their stainless steel metro railcars. “There is no need to repaint every two to three years, as there is with other materials. Stainless steel increases the lifespan of cars. Normally we’d expect a 30-year life, but stainless gives us 40 years,” explains Metro spokesman Rick Jager (in an interview to Outokumpu unrelated to Alstom). | | Manufacture of metro railcars at Alstom’s Lapa plant. Alstom Transp |
While we were looking into Mansory's Geneva Motor Show world premieres, the tuning house's Swiss subsidiary came out with a set of photos announcing its upcoming program for the latest BMW 7-Series.
Mansory Switzerland is keeping all details under wraps for now, so we can only tell you about the styling treatment which includes a new front bumper with massive air vents that incorporates vertical LED daytime lights and carbon fiber spoilers, and an alternative version of BMW's trademark kidney grille with horizontal instead of vertical bars also made out of carbon fiber.
At the back, there's a new bumper with a rear diffuser and horizontal quad tail pipes plus discrete boot lid and roof spoilers. The new alloy wheels complete the exterior look, while Mansory has also fiddled around with the BMW's interior.
We'll check back and update this post as soon as Mansory Switzerland comes out with full details.
While we were looking into Mansory's Geneva Motor Show world premieres, the tuning house's Swiss subsidiary came out with a set of photos announcing its upcoming program for the latest BMW 7-Series.
Mansory Switzerland is keeping all details under wraps for now, so we can only tell you about the styling treatment which includes a new front bumper with massive air vents that incorporates vertical LED daytime lights and carbon fiber spoilers, and an alternative version of BMW's trademark kidney grille with horizontal instead of vertical bars also made out of carbon fiber.
At the back, there's a new bumper with a rear diffuser and horizontal quad tail pipes plus discrete boot lid and roof spoilers. The new alloy wheels complete the exterior look, while Mansory has also fiddled around with the BMW's interior.
We'll check back and update this post as soon as Mansory Switzerland comes out with full details.
In September of 2010, Fiat's U.S. arm announced that the special allotment of five hundred Fiat 500s to come to America, called the "Prima Edizione", were all sold out to the Italian firm's fans. Well, it seems that at least one of the buyers was more of a fan of the almighty dollar than anything else as the owner listed the collector-edition Fiat 500 Prima Edizione for sale on eBay as soon as it landed on the lot.
The specific model is finished in white (the other two available colors for this edition were red and grey) and comes with an optional sunroof. The car is located in Florida and the 'Buy it Now' price on eBay is a hefty $29,870, or about twice as much as the basic, non-special edition Fiat 500. We should note that the eBay seller has not uploaded any photos of the car that's said to be No35 out of the 500 built for America.
In terms of coolness, Aston Martin’s are ice cold, baby. You have proper classics like the DB5 and the DB4GT Zagato and modern classics like the Vanquish and DBS. The less said about the Cygnet the better. So now there’s a new kid on the block, the Virage, for those who want something a little faster than the DB9 but not quite as fast as the DBS.
So that’s that, then? Well, no quite. You see, it’s getting to the stage where you need a trainspotters guide to tell one Aston model from another. They’re great cars, though without a tape measure and an eye for subtle differences in head- and taillights and body vents, they’re very similar looking. Too similar, one might say.
Enter two Polish industrial design students, Norbert Adamowicz and Łukasz Kadula, whose take on Aston Martin is something completely different yet strikingly traditional. The DBX is a sharp edged, mid-engined two seater targeted towards younger customers. The two 21yo students say it extends the design language introduced on the awesome limited edition One-77.
Read more...
Kia has released details and pricing on its new turbocharged 2011 Sportage SX compact CUV, scheduled to arrive in the firm's U.S. showrooms later this month. The Sportage SX is Kia's second vehicle in the States to feature the company's 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with direct-injection technology and a twin-scroll turbocharger that delivers 256 horsepower and 264 pound-feet of peak torque.
The 2.0L Turbo is linked to a six-speed automatic transmission and is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions. Kia said the FWD model returns 22mpg in the city (10.7 lt/100km) and 27mpg on the highway (8.7lt/100km). In addition to the new powertrain, the Sportage SX also gets a sportier-tuned suspension with firmer shock and strut rates for improved handling over the standard versions along with several bespoke styling features such as the unique 18-inch alloy wheels and grille trim, dual exhaust, and special side sill moldings. The exterior updates are complemented by SX-specific interior appointments including standard aluminum door sills and a modified gauge cluster. Prices for the 2011 Sportage SX start from $26,490 for the front-wheel drive (FWD) model and from $27,990 for the AWD model, with both MSRPs including a $695 destination and handling fee.
Unlike the makers of Geritol or Depends, automakers never target the senior market with their products. "Bunkie" Knudsen, the man credited with transforming GM's Pontiac division from a tired, dull brand of the 1950s into GM's excitement division during the 1960s is reported to have said, "You can sell an old man a young man's car, but you can't sell a young man an old man's car."
This axiom proved so accurate that nearly every manufacturer AOL approached for this story prefaced their comments by saying, "We don't market cars for old people."
What automakers do market, however, are vehicles engineered with physical characteristics that -- either by design or coincidence -- accommodate individuals with restricted mobility and reduced visual acuity. We find that's important not only for older people, but drivers of all ages.
The transport industry faces many challenges. Arguably the most important is in developing new technologies and materials to ensure today’s vehicles are sustainable, efficient and economic.
When selecting materials for the industry, engineers and technicians are looking for metals and materials that are strong, light weight, easy to fabricate, low maintenance etc. Particularly within heavy transport, engineers need to consider cargo contamination and, where appropriate, the corrosive nature of any materials being carried.
The use of stainless steel gives engineers extra flexibility in their design due to its excellent corrosion resistance, weight to strength and fabrication properties.
Stainless steel is ideal for use in the following applications:
Typically, when an automaker and a watchmaker team up, it’s to spec out a special-edition watch. But Lamborghini and Blancpain have already done that. The two marques are also behind the Super Trofeo racing series, which Lamborghini claims is the fastest spec racing series on today’s circuits. The season just wrapped up at Vallelunga, where the two companies took the wraps off the new Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Blancpain Edition.
The special-edition Lambo is distinguished from the standard model with such unique touches as a vented engine cover and a big rear wing, along with carbon fiber parts, Skorplus wheels and carbon-ceramic brakes. A matte black finish with yellow accents further set its apart inside and out. The most interesting spec however, is the Blancpain Edition’s weight; at 2954 pounds, Sant’Agata lauds it as the lightest vehicle in Lamborghini’s roadgoing range. Couple that with the 5.2-liter V10 boosted to 570 horsepower (like the spec racers) and Lambo claims a 3.4-second sprint to 62 mph from a standstill, topping out a hair under the double-century mark.
We’re on our way to Paris to get a closer look at this among the myriad other excitements making their debut later this week. In the meantime, we invite you to read more about the Blancpain Edition in the press release after the jump and have a closer look in the image gallery below.
The whole ‘Batmobile’ comparison gets thrown around an awful lot on websites like this one. And this car’s not even black, so we’ll wave off of that this time. But consider the following: in the most recent Batman movie, Bruce Wayne drove a Lamborghini Murciélago. Into a truck, unfortunately. His alter-ego’s drive, meanwhile, was on the other side of the more extreme Reventón. Now along comes JB Car Design with a kit to bridge the gap. And they call it the Bat, suitably enough.
The German tuner’s retrofitted Murci LP 640 can be had with 710 or 750 horsepower (a not-inconsequential improvement on the stock 640) through the installation of new cats and exhaust. But in this case, the defining factor is the car’s styling. A new front bumper and splitter, side skirts, and rear bumper with diffuser give the LP640 a more Reventón-style look, with a two-piece carbon fiber rear wing, LED lights and 20-inch modular alloys rounding out the package.
Meanwhile, the interior been re-trimmed in different leather, Alcantara and carbon fiber, along with a new steering wheel and sound system. Each of these components for engine, body and cabin can be purchased separately or as a comprehensive package, but JB says it will only make 75 examples of the body kit. Check out the photos in the gallery below
Like the vast majority of humanity, we were never able to lay our hands on one of the 20 Lamborghini Reventón models the company built for the fabulously wealthy. We had neither the $1.27 million it took to call the car your very own nor the connections to be one of the few to even have the chance to purchase said Raging Bull. That’s just fine, though, because Lamborghini has partnered up with De Agostini to build a 1:10 scale R/C replica of the car for the masses. Well, maybe not the masses per-se – the company is only building 65 examples, so this ain’t your garden-variety Nikko or Tamiya.
Each one of the cars is crafted with impressive detail and features a 3cc gasoline engine mated to a two-speed transmission, a fully-independent suspension with hydraulic shocks and four-wheel disc brakes – all on an R/C car. Insane? Sure, but it’s our kind of crazy. Unfortunately, with so few of the cars being produced, we’re guessing they won’t be cheap enough for anyone we know to afford. History repeats itself. You can head over to the R/C car’s site for a closer look.
Obama has said he wants Americans to be driving 1 million EVs by 2016.
"I think we'll miss it by maybe a year or two," Britta Gross, GM's director of global energy systems, said at an Edison Foundation conference here. "We have to watch demand."
Gross said manufacturers such as GM, which makes the Chevrolet Volt, are prepared to meet Obama's goal. It's not yet clear, however, whether consumer tastes will respond that quickly, she added.
GM is striving to boost Volt output and plans to apply the car's technology to other models down the road. GM CEO Dan Akerson wants the automaker better prepared with more fuel-efficient models in the event gasoline prices remain elevated.
Some industry analysts, such as HIS Global Insight's Rebecca Lindland, have expressed skepticism that Obama will come close to meeting his target date.
They have cited the cost of EVs, questions about whether there will be enough charging stations, and "range anxiety" among EV drivers Read more...
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co. plans to hold the line against price discounts in the U.S. market despite pressure from competitors who have spent more heavily on incentives to boost sales in the first months of the year, Executive Chairman Bill Ford said on Thursday.
"One of the things that comes with having a better portfolio is the ability to hold back on discounts," Ford said in an interview at the Wall Street Journal ECO:nomics conference in Santa Barbara.
"We've planned our production very conservatively so we're not caught in the game of cranking out too many vehicles and then figuring out how we have to push them out the door."
Ford's rival General Motors Co. logged an industry leading 46 percent sales gain in February, stoked by incentives that also led the industry. Ford's sales were up 14 percent for the month.
"You can't be completely immune to what your competitors are doing, but we've shown a lot of restraint in the marketplace, and I think that's appropriate," Ford said.
With gas prices surging, Ford said he expected to see consumers shift to buying smaller, more fuel-efficient cars -- a market Ford is better able to serve than it was the last time oil prices spiked in 2008.
U.S. oil prices were near $102 a barrel on Thursday, the highest level in nearly 2-1/2 years.
"You will see a shift, I believe, to smaller cars, smaller SUVs," Ford said. "We are very prepared. I love our portfolio because it plays right into our strategy, which is to be the fuel economy leader."
Ford is making small, more fuel-efficient cars more attractive to consumers by incorporating premium-priced features, including electronics and navigation systems, that also help boost the margins on those sales, Ford said.
"If you look back at what used to be considered Green vehicles, it really meant very small vehicles that were no fun to drive and that were stripped of all content ... you were lucky if you got an FM radio," Ford said.
"What's different today, though, is that our smallest cars in many cases have more technology than some of the bigger cars. We choose to introduce technology first into that segment. As content goes into the vehicles we can price for it."
Ford rolled out the early version of its Sync audio and phone system developed with Microsoft Corp. on its Focus small car for the 2008 model year.
Ford executives have said repeatedly that the automaker's intent is to compete by offering vehicles that hold their value without big, up-front incentives -- a strategy that Honda Motor Co. and others have long followed in the U.S. market.
Ford's average incentive spending per vehicle in the U.S. market in 2011 has been just under $2,800, less than the amount spent by GM, Chrysler and Nissan Motor Co., according to market research firm Autodata Corp.
Ford's 2012 Focus, set to be launched shortly, is the first real test of Ford's strategy of using fewer platforms and fewer suppliers to reduce costs.
In addition, Ford is marketing the Focus with a first-of-its kind global ad campaign that will highlight technology available for the small car, including a rear view camera and rain-sensor wipers.
Bill Ford said it was a sign of the company's progress that it was manufacturing the fuel-efficient Focus at its Michigan Assembly plant outside Detroit and making money on it.
"That's not something that would have been possible years ago," he said.
Ford also said that the economic recovery, albeit "fragile," appeared to be continuing despite higher fuel prices.
"Any time you see inflation, whether it's in basic commodities or oil or food, they all cumulatively become an issue," Ford said. "So far it looks as if the fragile recovery that we've been in is still continuing. So I think that's a good sign. But who knows? Who knows what next political event may trigger another dislocation in price."
Read more...
We know many of you will find it hard to believe at a first look, but this here is the completely new, North American market, 2012 Honda Civic. Even though it may seem otherwise, the 9th generation Civic has been designed from the ground up and shares very few parts -if any- with its predecessor, well that is, aside from its styling personality which has gone from bland to blander...
Not surprisingly, Honda managed to remove all the styling elements that made the Detroit Motor Show Civic concepts somewhat worth a second look from the production models.
The design similarities with the 8th generation Civic are not only visible on the outside but continue inside as wells with the dashboard styling and the near identical layout.
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The 2012 Civic lineup includes a sedan and a coupe with a conventional 1.8-liter gasoline engine, a new "HF" high fuel economy version with the same 1.8-liter unit, two sporty "Si" performance versions, along with one hybrid and a natural gas alternative-fuel variant.
Starting with the all-new Civic HF, it is powered by a 1.8-liter i-VTEC engine delivering 140HP and an estimated fuel economy of 41 mpg on the highway.
The most fuel efficient model of the range is of course the Hybrid, which will be outfitted for the first time with a lithium-ion battery and a larger 1.5-liter i-VTEC engine producing a combined 110HP. Honda said the Civic Hybrid is expected to achieve an EPA-estimated city/highway combined fuel economy of 45 mpg, an improvement of 4 mpg compared to the 2011MY Civic hybrid.
Both the Civic HF and Civic Hybrid models are equipped with aerodynamic components for improved efficiency as well as with the Honda ECO Assist system.
The regular Civic Sedan and Coupe models get the 140HP 1.8-liter i-VTEC (but not the aero improvements) and are expected to return an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 39 mpg on the highway, an improvement of 3 mpg over the current model. The Civic Natural Gas model is anticipated to earn a 7 percent improvement in fuel economy compared to the current version.
Finally, the sportiest model of the lot is the Si which get a larger and more powerful 2.4-liter engine as well as a new 6-speed manual transmission. Honda said it the new engine will deliver 200 horsepower with 170 ft-lb of torque. According to the company, the Si models are anticipated to achieve an EPA-estimated highway fuel economy of 31 mpg; an increase of 2 mpg when compared to the current model.
"The Civic is the only model in the industry that can deliver on all fronts – fuel economy, sporty performance, smart packaging, alternative fuel and long-term value," said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales for American Honda Motor Co.,Inc. "For the ninth-generation Civic, we are emphasizing improved fuel economy across the board, from the hybrid sedan to the sporty Si model."
Honda will release more information on the new 2012 Civic closer to the on-sale date, which is expected this Spring.
2012 HONDA CIVIC SPECS
Civic HF, Sedan, Coupe and Natural Gas Specifications
- 140 horsepower, 1.8-liter i-VTEC™ 4-cylinder engine
- 5-speed automatic transmission
- ECO Assist technology
- EPA-estimated Civic HF highway fuel economy: 41 mpg
- EPA-estimated Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe highway fuel economy: 39 mpg
Civic Hybrid Specifications
- 110 horsepower, 1.5-liter i-VTEC™ 4-cylinder engine (combined gasoline + electric)
- Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
- Lithium-ion battery
- ECO Assist technology
- EPA-estimated Civic Hybrid city/highway combined fuel economy: 45 mpg
Civic Si Specifications
- 200 horsepower and 170 lb-ft, 2.4-liter i-VTEC™ 4-cylinder engine
- 6-speed manual transmission
- EPA-estimated Civic Si highway fuel economy: 31 mpg
Swiss automobile builder Sbarro, in league with the Espera Sbarro design school, has brought a very interesting concept to the Geneva Motor Show this year: the Evoluzione. The prototype seen here is an eye-popping mix of various themes: it takes Lamborghini's recent efforts at making drivable razors, puts in a spoonful of motorcycle, and then adds McLaren F1-style seating.
Sbarro's Evoluzione took thirteen weeks to complete with twenty-five students working in teams on both the engineering and design sides of the project. Pierre Guenebaut, a teacher at the design school, explains, "Being present at the Geneva Motor Show is a reward for them. They will have the opportunity to explain their project to the public while investing in relationships and communication."
The delightfully naked rear end houses a 180 horsepower 1.8T sourced from Audi. In front of the engine are three staggered Recaros with the driver front and center, flanked by two "wingman" passenger seats.
Rolling on what appear to be 20-inch OZ's, this funky three-seater makes Lamborghini's Aventador look downright boring.
Bertone and Jaguar have joined forces again, and the result is this lovely little concept called the B99. Celebrating 99 years of existence, Bertone's B99 is meant to showcase what a Jaguar 3-Series could look like (and thankfully there's no silly black C-pillar as found on the XJ). While some may disagree with this design's placement in the lineup, one thing is certain: an X-Type this ain't.
The B99 measures 4.5 meters long, 1.35 m tall, and 1.95 m wide with a 2.8 m wheelbase. As befits all Jaguars, there's a leaper on the hood; this time, though, it uses some snazzy pedestrian safety sensors that can retract it at airbag speeds should an impaling be imminent. Think of it as dab of Rolls with your Jaguar.
There's more retraction action at the trunk end of things, too, with a speed-sensing spoiler in the trunk.
Inside are a slew of "hidden riches", as per Bertone. Examples of these little ditties include a hideaway multimedia screen, "Ebony Macasar African Wood", and air vents hidden behind the wraparound wing that floats above the dash. Suspended between the wing and the dashboard are "trumpet" gauges wrapped in aluminum. This unique style also carries over to the transmission shifter/infotainment controller which rises up from the center console.
Now, about those sexy seats; they're definitely Jaguar with their flip-down trays, but with an added touch of flair. Also, all four seats are nestled between their own floating armrests, adding an "at home in the recliner" feel to this luxury sports sedan.
Power comes from an extended range hybrid unit developed by Bertone Energy; in the B99, this system utilizes two 150 kW / 201 hp motors housed at the rear axle and a range-extending 1.4-liter, 125 kW / 168 hp gasoline engine. With their powers combined, these power units create an impressive 425 kW / 570 hp while returning a potential 700 km / 435 mile range (100 km / 62 miles in EV mode) and only emitting 30 grams of CO2 per kilometer.
Also showing up in Geneva is a 2.5 meter wide B99 GT, forecasting a potential track fighter. Not only is it wider, it also sits 100 mm lower and has 50 mm of space between its washboard stomach and the pavement. Also, it gets two more electric motors up front for an all-wheel drive system and 725 total kilowatts (972 hp). You can see most of the other mods, along the with standard B99, in the gallery below.
The specific styling cues may work for the 8C Competizione but if you ask me, the 4C looks just as silly as the MiTo does. Granted; the true essence of the 4C Concept lays under the skin and in particular the mid-engine / rear-wheel drive architecture, but would it be much to ask for some of that styling magic Alfa Romeo has served us over the years?
Mansory put up quite a show in Geneva this week as the tuning house unveiled no less than three world premieres. Aside from the Mercedes SLS AMG Cormeum and the Ferrari 458 Italia Siracusa, that we've already told you about, the tuner's Swiss subsidiary also revealed a new program for the latest generation of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo SUV.
They are two of the most hotly anticipated and talked about cars at this week's 2011 Geneva International Motor Show. We're talking of course about the Ferrari's first ever four-wheel drive model, the FF, and Lamborghini's replacement for the Murcielago, the Aventador LP700-4.
Though catering to different tastes and needs, these two supercars have something in common, and we're not referring to their Italian roots nor their twelve-cylinder powerplants, but to the fact that both are sold out for their first year of production even before they arrive in showrooms across the world.
Hyundai is one of the world’s biggest automakers, and the most visible of South Korea’s business and industrial acumen. So you would think a company that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Toyota and pre-bailout GM would be pretty consistent with its model naming conventions, right?
Well, not exactly. When Hyundai first launched the i30 hatchback in Europe, Australia and other markets, it seemed that familiar nameplates such as Elantra and Sonata would soon be dead and buried. Not so. In fact, the i30 CW (basically, the station wagon version of the i30), is still sold in the U.S. as the Elantra Touring.
Called the 700 Biturbo, Brabus' iteration of the SLS AMG received the Widestar treatment, which means the car is 20 millimeters (0.8 in.) wider at the back, creating the necessary space for the extra wide 11Jx21 wheels (9.5Jx20 on the front).
Brabus says the entire body was subjected to aerodynamic tunnel tests to ensure the car is stable at high speeds. The front spoiler, the covers for the air inlets, the gills, the rear spoiler and the diffuser are all made from carbon-fiber and contrast the silver paint of the 700 Biturbo. Brabus also added carbon side skirts fitted with air vents for the rear brakes
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