Automobile News

The trend of carrying an automotive navigation system is increasing all over the world. It is nothing but a satellite navigation system that is specially designed to use in automobiles. You can acquire position data through this device. These provide very accurate information about roads and certain landmarks. The sat nav is provided with a number of accessories which enhances its performance. The GPS 20SM Power Adaptor Treo is one of the best Garmin accessories available in the market. This device is very useful as it is used to charge the device. Without the adaptor you will not be able to charge the device.

Another one of the most important accessories include the carry case. The Garmin sat nav is a very fragile device and cannot withstand any sort of shock or pressure. Hence you should always carry it in a carry case which is specially built for carrying the model you own. The carry case for your Garmin sat nav is made using quality material which makes it durable and tough. The carry case will protect your Garmin sat nav from all sorts of shocks and scratches. While buying you should make sure that the carry case is specially made for the model of sat nav you own.

One of the most important Garmin sat nav accessories includes External Microphone. You can use this mic from anywhere in your vehicle for the purpose of hands free calling. It also includes a number of clips and mounting options. Above mentioned are some of the most important Garmin sat nav accessories.

Racing bucket seats are manufactured by a number of companies all around the world. As the name suggest these seats are specially manufactured for races as these are very comfortable. Racing cars are fitted with these light weight bucket seats to enhance the comfort and performance of the car. Andy’s Auto Sport, GIAS and Bride Zeta III are the biggest companies engaged in manufacturing a wide range of racing bucket seats. Additionally you can choose from a wide variety of colours available in the market. These seats are built using tested material which provides hassle free performance for a number of years to come.

There are a number of benefits of using racing seats as these seats are very tough and durable and can withstand a bigger shock than any other seat. Generally in a race you have to drive for hours in one stretch which is bound to wear you down but by installing the racing bucket car seats you can enhance the comfort of driving. Even a cheap car seat designed for racing is often more comfortable than the stock car seats. Moreover, these bucket seats are also fitted with a knee support that helps you in high speed cornering. The seats are dyed properly which makes them colour fast and durable. The seat actually holds the driver firmly which further enhances the comfort.

The bucket seats are designed by some of the most experienced professionals which ensure best possible performance. These seats are available at different prices but will prove to be a total value for money. The racing bucket seats can be easily installed in any car as well.

After keeping every one hooked for a long time the Stile Bertone Mantide was finally revealed to the waiting eyes of car freaks. The momentous occasion was shared by the lucky few at the Shanghai Motor Show 2009. And from every count the long awaited debut was worth the wait.

The hypercar has been based on its donor car, the Corvette ZR1. The newer one is huge improvement over the older one and that is true about the price tag as well. The Bertone Mantide hypercar is going to cost remarkably high at £ 1.3 million which would be approximately 12 times as high as the Corvette ZR1.

One thing that is demanded from such cars always is the exclusivity, and rightly so. After all if someone were to shell out in excess of £ 1 million for a car he or she would be totally justified in asking for some kind of uniqueness. On the same line this hypercar is not going to disappoint any of its would be proud owners. The expected number of Bertone Mantide hypercars is not going to be more than ten.

For Jason Castriota who headed the team involved in designing the Bertone Mantide though designing masterpieces is more of a habit. For someone to be only 34 and still have the legacy of cars like Rolls-Royce Hyperion and Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and even single exclusive cars like the eye candy for American James Glickenhaus, this spectacular and impressive  offering was all but expected.

Technologically the car is absolutely marvellous. The body is made from high-end material like carbon-fibre and magnesium. As compared to the earlier car the weight has been reduced by as much as 100 kg. The car is able to move faster and more smoothly due to the reduction in drag by 25% and increase in the downforce by 30%. The hypercar also has enhanced manoeuvrability and easy handling making it a dream to drive.

With the highly targeted audience it would be a treat to watch who all are going to be proud owners of the Bertone Mantide hypercar.

Mercedes has made its intent to seize the latent potential of the market at the higher echelons very clear with the launch of its latest model. This model is considered to be the most hardcore version of its iconic SLR super car yet. The launch will also signify the end of production of the company’s next generation super sports cars, which is currently under production by its racing unit, HWA, as well as its in-house tuner, AMG, who is the manufacturing partner of MacLaren. The new version will have an initial production of just 75 units, with the provision to increase it depending upon the market response.

The latest version called the SLR Stirling Moss is a class apart from the current model on which it is based. Customers will be blown away by the Mercedes-McLaren SLR’s rather uncharacteristic but appealing specifications, as it features an open-top design, which radically incorporates a roofless design, and is, bereft of any windshield or for that the contemporary vertical lifting doors. The design to an extent resembles the C16 Speedster based on the Corvette from Callaway that was launched last year.

The car is provided with the discretion to zoom to 100 km/hr from standstill in 3.5 seconds flat, and has an equally impressive top speed of 350 km/h, which is a notable 13 km/hr faster than one of its earlier models the SLR 722. Meanwhile, the heart of the engine is powered by a supercharged 5.5L V8 engine which remains at a heady 650hp.

The performance of this scintillating device is further boosted by the lighter kerb weight, which helps it in shedding as much as 300kg of the excess baggage.

Speaking on the sidelines of the launch, a company spokesman revealed that the model is specially designed to suit the needs and comfort levels of the elitist customer who is ever ready to splurge that additional buck to get the same.

The Audi R8 V10 was introduced last week on 8th December, 2008. It has an eight-month waiting list in the car’s home market of Germany.

The version of Audi includes 5.2 litre V10 engine that produces 528 hp of power and has a 390 lb-ft torque much below that of Lamborghini Gallardo. The R8 V10 can rocket from 0-62 in 3.9 seconds and has a top speed of 196 mph. Officials mentioned that even though the R8 V10 sports extra two cylinders ,it will largely resemble the “base” model.

The ten cylinder engine will receive more air through the larger scoops in the body design which goes well with its increased power. Bang and Olufsen system is installed inside which cost a fortune. The leather finish inside this giant is made of Nappa Leather.

The demand for this vehicle in its home market of Germany is so high that there is an eight month waiting period. In the US market, where 50 units are likely to be sold, the supply is scarce for the interested buyers. With the diesel version soon to be launched the demand will skyrocket upwards. Audi is undeterred by the demand claims that it can’t produce more than 27 R8’s a day and no more. This is likely to keep the car dearer to the owners and those who are likely to purchase it.

The car will first hit the market in Germany with a price of about £120,000.

So let’s go ZOOOOMMMM!!

Tags for this article: audio, high end

Porsche is on the threshold of unleashing the company’s first four-door sports car, the Porsche Panamera, which incidentally will be the fourth vehicle in the German luxury carmaker’s lineup. The details of this new development were released by Porsche SE on the 24th November, 2008. Company sources also added that the teardrop shaped Panamera sports has front air intakes instead of the traditional radiator grille model.

The model measures 76 inches in width and 55.8 inches in height which is comparatively wider and lower compared to similar other models by the other companies.

The production of this new model will be carried out at the company’s plant in Leipzig, Germany, with a slated world wise release in the spring of 2009. The first models of the car will however be released in the US in the fall of next year.

The car is actually based on the V-engine model and will be available in either a V-6 or V-8 configuration, and will have an output range of between 300 and 500 horsepower. We can also expect the car model to include numerous luxuries, such as a voice guided sat nav, handsfree kit, quality seats, and more. On the sidelines of the release of this model, the company also hinted that it will very soon come up with a more fuel-efficient version replete with a hybrid powertrain.

The Panamera, in addition, will feature all-wheel or rear-wheel drive models the detail of which, including pricing and other vehicle specification will be available in spring.
It is important to note that Porsche has seen a sharp decline in fortune in recent times, with unit sales tumbling by a precarious 23% in the current year. Nevertheless, the company has managed to withstand the disaster all thanks to its stake in Volkswagen AG, where it earned a reported profit of 52%.

Electric cars seem like the new hot trend. Gordon Brown is saying the country should completely switch to them by the year 2020, and electrically powered sports cars, like the Tesla Roadster, or even the 500 horse power SSC Ultimate Aero EV, are showing people just how powerful the technology can be. Even so, the technology still has some notable drawbacks, such as expense or time spent charging the battery, that are preventing it from completely and immediately taking over the auto combustion engine world. However, one car currently being presented at the British Motor Show in London, might at least put one of these concerns to rest.

The Electric Lightning sports car, from the Lightning Car Co., was unveiled yesterday at the British Motor Show. Aside from its high performance, a key feature of the car is the battery technology it employs, which is actually quite revolutionary. Most electric sports cars, or indeed all electric cars, use lithium-ion technology, the same as is commonly found in mobile phone batteries. The Electric Lighting on the other hand, makes use of new and far more efficient lithium-titanate battery technology. In fact, the new battery technology is so efficient that the entire car can be charged in a matter of minutes (no more than 10 minutes), while drivers of ordinary electric cars typically have to charge their vehicles overnight or at least wait for many hours. This vast improvement in charging time completely eliminates one of the inconveniences associated with the electric car, namely, the time it takes to charge.

Such an innovation clearly gives the Electric Lightning an advantage over its competitors and, should the technology prove to be reliable, will probably be the future of electric cars. Of course the company themselves assert that the technology has been tested and is full-proof. Should this in fact be true, then we can get excited over a huge innovation in the electric car industry and look forward to faster charging cars in the future.

Electrically powered super sports cars are currently the favourite goal for many small car manufacturers. The American company Shelby Super Cars (SSC) wants to gain some attention through their announcement of a new model with up to 1000 HP. The Ultimate Aero EV should come onto the market in the beginning of 2009 and at first only possess an electric engine with 368 kW/ 500 HP; but later it should add an additional engine to double its performance. The battery technology is said to be truly revolutionary: according to the company, the power accumulator only needs to be charged after a few years of use.

The technical feasibility of such a car remains in doubt, but SSC is clearly appealing to a new trend. After the Californian company Tesla began building their own super fast electric sports car despite multiple delays, other companies are following suit with similar models. LCC already introduced an electric model at the London Motor Show with 700 horse power, and Fisker wants to build a luxurious Gran Turismo with a hybrid engine.

The special rally race car “Rallye N’ Style” edition of the Suzuki Swift is now immediately available. The small black car, complete with an ornamental red stripe running along its roof and bonnet, should remind people of the Japanese race cars in the “Suzuki Rallye Cup”. The stainless steel pedals, race car seats, and 17 inch light alloy rims all help to increase the race car feeling. Moreover, the buyer will also receive an exclusive package of fan items. A petrol engine with a 92 kW/ 125 HP performance provides for the three door vehicle’s propulsion, and the price lies at around £14,300.

After the super sports car Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren was phased out of production, an extreme high performance version of the SL roadster has stepped up to fill its shoes. The Mercedes SL 65 AMG Black Series comes with a supercharged 12 cylinder petrol engine, complete with a 493 kW/ 670 HP performance and torque of 1,000 Nm. The car also uses the 6.0 litre driving gear from the SL 65 AMG, but with enhancements, including a different bi-turbocharger and a modified exhaust system.

The new model is 280 kilograms lighter than the standard version, because of the decision to manufacture numerous car body panels from lightweight carbon fibre. The sports car can go from zero to 62 mph in just 3.9 seconds, while the top speed has been electronically restricted at 198 mph. An automatic 5 gear system provides the transmission on the rear axle. The suspension has been reworked, and limited slip deferential on the rear axle should help provide for extra traction.

The open two-seater is immediately distinguishable by its expanded wings, wheel-away back spoiler, and a rear apron with fins. The completely black interior is marked by a sports car bucket seat, black speedometer, and a white RPM meter. The first editions will be released in November and, although the prices remain unknown, we can expect something in the £215,000 range.