RPMGO Car Blog |
- GWA Tuning Ciento Once Revealed
- History Lesson – 1961 Elite S1
- Guide To Safe Driving During Winter – PART 1
- 2012 Buick Verano Revealed
- In Depth – 2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage
| GWA Tuning Ciento Once Revealed Posted: 06 Jan 2011 03:48 AM PST  GWA Tuning Ciento Here is something that you don't see every day, a revival of a very interesting 1970s Mercedes-Benz Gullwing prototype that never received the green light for production. GWA Tuning is responsible for this exciting car and they offered a modern flavor to this classic car.  1970 Mercedes C111 II First of all, let's talk about the original car developed by the German automaker. In 1970 at the Geneva Auto Show, MB shocked the world with its very bold second C111 experimental test car and people immediately started dreaming about the revival of gullwing Mercs. For those of you that remember this car, it was one of the most sought-after vehicles of the decade, along with the Lamborghini Countach, the legendary Lancia Stratos (a car that also got a revival) and the Porsche Turbo. Similar to its predecessor, the second iteration had a very lively orange paint which unfortunately isn't available for the modern SLS. The car was equipped with a 345 hp rotary power unit that was installed behind the driver and passenger seats and was linked to a 5-speed manual transmission. With its fiberglass body, the C111 II was able to reach 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds, onto a top speed of 186 mph (the magic 300 km/h mark of the 70s).  1970 Mercedes C111 II Although it was a hit at Geneva, Mercedes didn't put the car into production because of the power unit. 10 years ago, Dr. Hans Liebold, the guy responsible for this car said that "The Wankel engine was not yet mature enough to be handed over to customers in line with company standards". Time to end the history lesson and talk more about the GWA Tuning Ciento Once. The engine under the hood of the car is a powerful 408 hp capable unit that is linked to a 6-speed Cima H type transaxle transmission. The car also benefits from a very special tuned exhaust system, a coil-over suspension while the braking system was borrowed from the Mercedes-Benz S55.  GWA Tuning Ciento This modern iteration of a classic features a handmade aluminum body and an aerodynamically functional rear diffuser and front spoiler. In addition, it sports an electric-operated rear adjustable wing. With a curb weight of only 1,400 kg and with more than 400 hp under the hood, it should offer enough performance. Moving inside the car we will find carbon fiber seats along with brushed aluminum pedals as well as illuminated door sills. The wheel-tire configuration is identical to the one found on the Mercedes SLS AMG as in the front you will find 19×9 rims wrapped in 265/35/19 tires and the back wheels measure 20×11, covered by 295/30/20 tires. The price for this car has not been announced yet because the vehicle is still in its prototype phase. We hope that it will go into production as it is the perfect revival of a very interesting car presented back in the 70s along with other interesting models that changed the automotive world. Post published on Rpmgo.com   |
| History Lesson – 1961 Elite S1 Posted: 06 Jan 2011 03:21 AM PST  1961 Elite S1 Today we are talking about the beautiful Lotus Elite, manufactured from 1958-1963. The car you see in these pictures was acquired as a basket case, dissembled and incomplete by its current owners back in 1983. Over more than 17 years, this Elite was brought back to life and it has been fully restored to current racing configuration. In 2004 the car participated in its first Historic race and has also run in other vintage races since then. The car was also present for three years at the Wine Country Classic and in 2007 made its very first appearance at the Monterey Historic Automobile Races. The Lotus Elite was the first road-worthy, real production closed automobile developed by Colin Chapman. The racing program was funded with the money earned by the company from their road cars which were a huge hit during those times. This racing Elite features a glassfibre monocoque that is comprised of eight box sections. For that decade, the car was both strong and light and it featured a 4-cylinder aluminum 1216 cc power unit thanks to Coventry Climax. The car was capable of doing the 0-60 mph sprint in about 12 seconds, onto a top speed of 115 mph, pretty impressive for the early 60s. The engine was linked to a 4-speed manual transmission and disc brakes were used for all four wheels for proper braking. The suspension of this Elite S1 was independent, a rarity in comparison to other cars back then.  1961 Elite S1 The first prototype was launched a year earlier than the production model at the Earls Court Auto Show. During its production years the Lotus Elite was manufactured in 1050 units and then it was replaced by another hit, the Elan model. Without any doubt, the Elise was a road worthy vehicle, but it also managed to grab a couple of class wins at the very demanding 24 Hours of LeMans, making it a suitable car for both road and racing environments. The Lotus Elite is considered to be the first modern car from the British automaker with a curb weight of only about 1,300 lbs thanks to its fiberglass unit-body construction. The Elite's entire structure was composed of fibrous material in comparison to the more popular fiberglass body-on-steel frame design of those days. The engine of the Elite was also something impressive. Manufactured by Coventry Climax, it was capable of outputting between 75 and 105 hp, depending on the tune. Although it was a very common single overhead cam conventional four cylinder power unit, it was capable of reaching very high horsepower levels in reference to its size. The 4-speed gearbox we mentioned before was made by both ZF and MG during the car's lifespan. The car was known for its very good handling capabilities thanks to its very modern suspension configuration, aside from the low curb weight. It had wishbones and coil springs in the front while at the back it sported a MacPherson-like strut, also known as the "Chapman strut".  1961 Elite S1 Aside from all of these technical figures which are very impressive for a car made in the late 50s / early 60s, the Lotus Elite is even now considered to be a very beautiful car. With its long nose and the short tail lent made the tiny Elite look more like much bigger grand touring cars. The cabin of the car was very comfortable and airy and it sported pretty good materials along with the simple yet very intuitive switches. The very nice 3-spoke steering wheel had a light wood rim contrasting the simple dashboard. Without any doubt it will remain in the history of automotive as being one of the best road cars of its period, combining great looks with high-performance engineering, all wrapped in a lightweight package that made the car very fast back then. Also impressive is the Elite's 0.29 coefficient of drag which is a very impressive figure even in 2011, regardless to say that in 1957 it was unheard of. Source: ConceptCarz.com Post published on Rpmgo.com  |
| Guide To Safe Driving During Winter – PART 1 Posted: 06 Jan 2011 02:34 AM PST  Winter Traffic For drivers, winter is by far the hardest season of the year and the rate of accidents during these months goes sky high. For this reason, we have come up with a couple of tips to make your life easier during these months. First of all, consider alternative transportation for getting from point A to point B. Before starting to search for your car through the pile of snow, think of the advantages and disadvantages of driving today. Of course, you might want to say: Why the hell did a bought a car from my hard-earned money if I'm going to take the bus? Of course, driving a car is far more convenient than taking the bus but during the winter months, a bus is considered by many to be more suitable and faster. If you choose to take the car, you will be spending at least 20-30 minutes getting rid of all that annoying snow. A bus nowadays is safer than any type of car and provides the necessary warmth and in many cases (more than you might think) it could get you to the destination faster. However, if you still want to take the car (and we fully understand that) you should prepare it ahead of time (a little bit too late now, but bookmark this article for the next winter). The first thing to do is take out your wallet and spend a couple of hundreds of dollars for snow tires. In addition, you could also get a set of tire chains and deposit them in the trunk of your car. If you haven't used them before, you will be shocked to find out how much traction they offer to the automobile. More than that, in some mountain passes it is obligatory to use chains. On the flip side, in some states in the US the use of chains is prohibited due to the fact that they cause damage to the road so make sure you check the current laws. You should pack a sleeping bag or a blanket if you plan on going far away from home on long rides. Don't forget to take the old shovel with you, along with flares, matches, candle and a small bag of sand; you don't know when you might need it. The blanket will help you keep warm if get stuck somewhere. You will be using the flare in order to alert incoming motorists. No point on explaining what you should do with the shovel. If you plan on travelling longer distances don't forget to pack some food and water supplies. Speaking of water, it is useless once it's frozen and for this reason it is highly advisable to keep it in the passenger compartment with you, otherwise the container might burst and no point of explaining the mess it will create. Once you arrive at the hotel, take the water with you. A flare is very useful if you have had an accident but the downside is that it lasts only a few minutes. For this reason, it is highly recommended to get a battery-powered strobe which will last you a few hours. You might as well tie or tape it to the antenna of your car so that the wind won't take it away. Here is something that not many people know, if you take a roll of toilet tissue and remove the cardboard inner tube and stuff it in your coffee can, you will now have a stove that will help you survive the harsh cold inside the vehicle. Don't forget to pack 3-4 12 oz. bottles of isopropyl alcohol which you will use to light the toilet tissue. Also, remember to take with you disposable aluminum pie plates. In order to set the stove on as a heat shield, take one of those plates and turn upside down and use it. The heat can be controlled with the other plate by simply covering the part of the can opening. Although this type of alcohol does not emit carbon monoxide it is advisable to open the window of your car just a little bit in order to allow fresh air to come in. You will be surprised of how useful this so-called stove can prove to be when you are stuck. Just as well you could pack a bar or a towing rope in your car so that if you are stuck somebody could help you or vice versa. If this situation occurs, remember to carefully read the owner's manual to find out the suitable attachment points for tow ropes because if you are not attentive, the car's plastic bumper could become history. It is highly advisable to remove all of the snow from your car before driving away. For this reason, you must scrape the ice/snow located on the windows, headlights, taillights and side mirrors. NEVER start driving if the windows are still fogged. Let the vehicle warm up at least until the windows are not fogged anymore. Before heading out, check all the doors of the car to see if they open and close properly. You never know when a door will open during driving due to frozen latch hardware. By removing all the snow from your car, you will probably get some of it on your clothes. Most likely, this snow will spill into the edges of your shoes/boots too. Remove all of the snow from your clothing and shoes before getting inside the vehicle because if you don't do so, the snow will melt and soak all of your clothing as well as the seat of the car which means that you will have a very unpleasant drive. With the risk of repeating the same thing, warm up the car before leaving home and also remove your coat and hat before driving the car. It is advisable to take off your boots and use sneakers for better paddle handling. Join us tomorrow for the second part of our guide. Stay tuned. Post published on Rpmgo.com  |
| Posted: 06 Jan 2011 01:30 AM PST  2012 Buick Verano The 2011 Detroit Auto Show is just around the corner but automakers are already starting their 2011 attack. The 2012 Buick Verano was just announced and in our humble opinion it is a "baby Regal" as there are many similarities between these two models. The new Verano is made on the Delta II platform developed for the Chevrolet Cruze and it is very close as far as the dimensions are concerned to the larger Epsilon II-based Regal model, making the Verano half Cruze / half Regal. Standing at 181-inches long, the 2012 Buick Verano is only 9 inches shorter than its Regal sibling and only half inch shorter in height. In the front, you will notice the LaCrosse-inspired fascia which makes it very attractive, at least we think so. The new Verano borrowed the upward sloping lower character line on the sides from the Regal. The car comes as standard with 17-inch rims but for extra money it can be fitted with more generous 18-inch wheels, available on the higher trim levels and in two variations. Similar with the Regal, the Buick Verano can be bought only with a front-wheel drive and like the first one; it uses a 2.4-liter direct injection power unit that churns 177 hp and 170 pound-feet of torque. The car will do 22 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway with this engine. The Cruze however uses different engines, either a 1.4-liter turbocharged or a normally aspirated 1.8-liter.  2012 Buick Verano Moving inside the car, the interior is the result of mixing the Cruze with the Regal as the Verano borrowed its styling from these two cars and added a few Buick-spec materials here and there to make it feel more familiar to the company's fans. In comparison with the Regal, the Buick's cabin is only approximately two cubic feet smaller and this should be quite enough for most of us taking into consideration that the Chevrolet Cruze offers plenty of room for four adults. Some of the most important optional features available for the 2012 Buick Verano include the push-button engine start, the dual-zone climate control with standard air conditioning, heated steering wheel, heated leather-appointed seating, uplevel front and rear reading lamps, steering wheel radio controls, console armrest that slides and locks, electronic parking brake and power windows with express up/down in the front and express down in the rear. In the front, the Verano utilizes a decoupled MacPherson struts suspension that allows a better isolation and provides greater separation of extreme road conditions. In the back, the car sports a technically advanced Watts Z-link design that aids during cornering the center of the axle, improving the car's handling on both left-hand and right-hand turns. In comparison to a regular fully independent rear suspenson, the Z-link design requires less space and is lighter, making the car lower its curb weight.  2012 Buick Verano In order to efficiently stop the car, the engineers at Buick fitted the Verano with four-wheel disc brakes that feature standard anti-lock as well as electronic brake distribution plus the StabiliTrak electronic stability control (with traction control). In the safety compartment, the 2012 Buick Verano offers 10 airbags as standard, OnStar with Automatic Crash Response and a collapsible pedal system. Official pricing will probably be revealed once we get closer to the car's official launch date which should be at the end of this year. The expected retail price of the 2012 Buick Verano should start from approximately $21,000 for the entry-level models and work his way up to about $26,000 for the top-of-the-range models. More information should be available next week when the car will be presented at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. Post published on Rpmgo.com  |
| In Depth – 2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage Posted: 06 Jan 2011 01:03 AM PST  2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage The 2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage looks better than previous generations and according to the guys responsible for this automotive work of art, nothing on the car was altered only for cosmetic purposes as all of the changes were done in order to enhance the Vantage's driving dynamics. The aerodynamic lift was reduced thanks to a couple of things borrowed from the N24 race car program and this has been done without any penalty in drag. The very aggressive looking front splitter is now channeling the air more efficiently to the big front brakes and the radiator of the Vantage, but at the same time it still produces downforce. The uberlight carbon fiber louvers cut right into the aluminum hood allow the heated air into the power unit compartment to escape, thus lowering the air pressure and lift which occurs at very high speeds. When you look at the new side sills you will probably say that they look good and there's nothing more to it, you'd be wrong as even these are functional. The side sills channel the air around the Vantage rather than under it. Another modification brought to the 2011 model is in the rear decklid spoiler which is now a little bit bigger, allowing the carbon fiber lower diffuser to channel the air through the high-capacity rear-mounted oil cooler and increase the downforce. The top-of-the-line V12 Vantage borrows its platform from the entry-level V8 Vantage but this isn't a downside of the car. Under that gorgeous aluminum body hides an all-alloy aluminum monocoque platform, dubbed VH architecture. This framework is not only strong but also very rigid, the perfect solution for a robust powertrain, like the one found on the V12 Vantage.  2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage Inside the car, you won't notice anything out of the ordinary but there are a couple of things that should draw your attention. First of all, the driver and passenger seats are covered with one of the finest leather and Alcantara materials and are upholstered for both holding power and comfort. The carbon fiber handles of the doors look and feel very nice and the gearshift is made out of aluminum. Updates have been brought also to the instrument clusters in order to guarantee an improved clarity as the engineers at Aston Martin used higher contrast numerals and an intuitive splash of color for allowing the driver to find the necessary information faster than before. The baby Vantage is equipped with a V8 4.7-liter 32-valve power unit that churns 420 hp and 346 pound-feet of torque. With this engine the V8 Vantage will do the 0-60 mph sprint in 4.7 seconds which isn't bad at all, but there are many other cars, less expensive, that are able to beat this time very easy. Maybe for this reason, Aston Martin decided to put its biggest and most powerful engine into its smallest platform. As a consequence, the 2011 Aston Martin Vantage was fitted with a massive V12 6.0-liter 48-valve engine that displaces 5,935 cubic centimeters, producing 510 hp and a generous torque of 420 pound-feet. All this large amount of power is transmitted to the rear mid-mounted transaxle with the help of a carbon-fiber propeller shaft. The engine is linked exclusively to a traditional yet very efficient 6-speed manual gearbox. The regular mechanical limited-slip differential is in charge for keeping the rear wheels in check. As far as the suspension compartment is concerned, nothing new on the horizon as the V12 Vantage has an independent double wishbone up front that incorporates monotube dampers, an anti-roll bar, coil springs and the anti-dive geometry. In the back, the 2011 Vantage uses independent double wishbones with monotube dampers, an anti-roll bar, coil springs and anti-lift / anti-squat geometry. Something different from the baby Vantage is the more compact dual-rate spring design which allows a more aggressive wheel/tire configuration. In addition, the V12 Vantage's spring rates have been stiffened by 45% and also the anti-roll bars are now 15% stiffer in the front and 75% in the back. The ride height of the 2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage has been lowered by .59 inches which means that the center of gravity has also been lowered. The ADS – Adaptive Damping System developed by Aston Martin is not available (or necessary) on the big Vantage.  2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage In order to efficiently stop this monster of a car, the Vantage has been fitted with 15.67 ventilated and drilled carbon ceramic discs in the front that have 6-piston calipers. In the back, the car is equipped with 14.17 ventilated and drilled carbon ceramic discs that have 4-piston calipers. The 19-inch wheels are forged aluminum alloy and are covered by 255/35ZR19 Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires in the front and 295/30ZR19 in the rear. The downside of this power upgrade is the fact that the car is now heavier as the V12 power unit is 220 pounds heavier than the V8 plant, but thanks to the massive use of lightweight materials, the big Vantage is only 100 pounds heavier than its V8 sibling. The curb weight of the V12 Vantage is 3,704 pounds and weight distribution is almost perfect, standing at 51/49. The 0-60 mph sprint is done in exactly 4 seconds, onto a top speed of 190 mph. The price for all these goodies starts from $176,995. Don't forget adding the $1,615 destination charges and the $3,000 gas guzzler. If you want one of those special paints, you have to add another $1,895 to the final price tag. Other worth-getting optional features would have to be the $1,250 satellite radio and the $7,200 Bang & Olufsen Audio. Sum all of these up and you get a $193,755 price tag which is quite expensive but we believe that Aston Martin won't have any problems in selling 1,000 units of their 2011 V12 Vantage. Although there are other cars less expensive and probably faster, the Vantage stands out from the crowd with its wonderful bodywork, making it one of the most beautiful cars in the world. Post published on Rpmgo.com  |
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