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FORD AIRSTREAM CONCEPT

2007-05-15T05:28:00.000-07:00

The Ford Airstream is a new concept car which made its debut at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. The Ford Airstream is a retro-futuristic crossover SUV that was inspired by the classic Airstream recreational vehicle trailers built since the 1930s. The modern Ford Airstream concept includes a plug-in hybrid hydrogen fuel cell drive system, called HySeries Drive, that operates exclusively on electrical power. Ford calls the Ford Airstream Concept "a futuristic look at crossovers" as "modern touring vehicle(s)" for recreational travelers. The concept vehicle was designed in cooperation with Airstream - a division of Thor Industries.

Powerplant
The concept vehicle is powered by a rechargeable plug-in hybrid hydrogen fuel cell drivetrain, called HySeries Drive. This powerplant system was developed with partial funding from the United States Department of Energy, and is currently being tested on a prototype version of the Ford Edge. The Airstream Concept's wheels are driven by electric motors, which are powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. The Ballard Power Systems hydrogen fuel cell system recharges the vehicle's battery pack as needed, as a portable generator, and the vehicle can also be plugged in, to recharge between trips. The HySeries Drive delivers the equivelent of a combined city/highway equivalent fuel economy of 41 miles per gallon. In pure-battery mode, the Ford Airstream Concept is designed to travel about 25 miles, before the hydrogen-powered fuel cell begins operating to recharge the vehicle's 336-volt lithium-ion battery pack. With a full load of hydrogen, the range increases another 280 miles, for a total of 305 miles. The sole exhaust emission from the operating vehicle is water vapor.

Exterior

The Ford Airstream includes asymmetric doors. The passenger side door is a power clamshell hatch that runs two-thirds the length of the vehicle for loading of passengers and cargo. The crossover includes a rear hatch for loading cargo aft.

Interior

The interior was inspired by spacecraft images and environments portrayed in 2001: A Space Odyssey according to Ford. It is described as a "lounge atmosphere" meant to provide a relaxing experience while traveling. The instrument panel includes flush-mounted, touch-sensitive controls and a single multi-function gauge display with primary driving information. A center-mounted dual-view screen provides a camera view and secondary driver-oriented information, and also allows the front-seat passenger to view DVD films and work on the internet.

The front seats are captain's chairs that can swivel and rotate to face aft. The rear seats are lounge-like, and includes a 360-degree viewscreen for entertainment, games, internet access, and as a live camera feed. The concept vehicle seats include 4-point safety belts.

Specifications

* Powertrain: Ford / Ballard HySeries Drive plug-in hydrogen hybrid fuel cell
* Chassis dimensions
o Overall length: 185.0 in.
o Wheelbase: 125.9 in.
o Overall width: 78.9 in.
o Overall height at curb: 70.6 in.
o Front track width: 67.6 in.
o Rear track width: 69.2 in.
* Suspension
o Front: Double wishbone independent suspension
o Rear: Multi-link independent
* Interior
o Front headroom: 37.5 in.
o Rear headroom: 36.2 in.
o Front legroom: 39.6 in.
o Rear headroom: 33.1 in.

Ferrari ENZO FERRARI

2007-05-04T03:03:00.000-07:00

Ferrari is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello and Modena, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929 as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street legal vehicles in 1947 as Ferrari S.p.A.. Ferrari's cars are among the most desirable of vehicles to own and drive, and are one of the ultimate status symbols of wealth in the world. Throughout its history, the company has been noted for its continued participation in racing, especially in Formula One, where it has largely enjoyed great success, especially during the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, late 1990s, and 2000s.

The Enzo Ferrari is a 12-cylinder Ferrari supercar named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari. It was built in 2003 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fiber body, F1-style sequential shift transmission, and carbon-ceramic brake discs. Also used are technologies not allowed in F1 such as active aerodynamics. After a downforce of 775 kg (1709 lb) is reached at 300 km/h (186 mph) the rear wing is actuated by computer to maintain that downforce.

The Enzo's V12 engine is the first of a new generation for Ferrari. It is based on the architecture of the V8 found in sister-company Maserati's Quattroporte, using the same basic architecture and 104 mm bore spacing. This design will replace the former architectures seen in V12 and V8 engines used in most other contemporary Ferraris. The 2005 F430 is the second Ferrari to get a version of this new powerplant. In 2004, Sports Car International named the Enzo Ferrari number three on their list of Top Sports Cars of the 2000s.

Engine

The Enzo is a mid-engined car with a 43.9/56.1 front/rear weight distribution. The engine is Ferrari's F140 65° V12 with 4 valves per cylinder, dual overhead cams and variable valve timing. Bosch Motronic ME7 fuel injection is used and the engine is naturally aspirated. It displaces 5998 cm³ (366 in³) and produces 485 kW (651 hp/660 PS) at 7800 rpm and 657 N·m (485 ft·lbf) at 5500 rpm. The redline is 8200 rpm.

Chassis

The Enzo has a semi-automatic transmission using paddles to control an automated shifting and clutch mechanism, with LED lights on the steering wheel telling the driver when to change gears. The gearbox has a shift time of just 150 milliseconds.
The Enzo Ferrari has 4 wheel independent suspension with push-rod actuated shock absorbers which can be adjusted from the cabin, complemented with anti-roll bars at the front and rear.

The Enzo uses 483 mm (19 in) wheels and has 381 mm (15 in) Brembo disc brakes.

Performance

The Enzo can accelerate to 60 mph in 3.14 seconds and can reach 161 kilometres per hour (100 mph) in 6.6 seconds. The ¼ mile (0.4 km) time is in the low 11 seconds and the top speed is estimated at 350 kilometers per hour (217 mph). It is rated at 8 mpg US (29.4 L/100 km) in the city and 12 mpg US (19.6 L/100 km) on the highway.

LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO

2007-05-04T00:34:00.000-07:00

The Lamborghini Gallardo is the Italian supercar maker Lamborghini's "entry-level" car, sitting beneath the Murciélago. It is also the first car to feature the new Lamborghini V10 engine - only the third engine designed by the firm. 5,000 Gallardos were built in just three years, making it the company's most-produced model to date.
The car is named after a famous breed of fighting bull. Gallardo is also Spanish for the word gallant.
The Gallardo uses a V10 engine based on Audi's old straight-5 design. The engine was split again to become the straight-5 engine found in the new Volkswagen Jetta. The 5.0 L engine (basically the same engine featured in Audi's S6 and S8 models) is a current Audi 4.2 L V8 (featured in Audi's S4, A6, A8, and Q7 models) with two extra cylinders added and a slightly smaller bore diameter.

The Gallardo offers two choices of transmissions, a conventional six-speed manual transmission, and an advanced six-speed electro-hydraulically controlled auto-clutch manual, or, as Lamborghini abbreviates it to, "E-gear". The latter allows the driver to make shifts much faster than an automatic transmission would, with the control that a manual offers. The driver shifts up and down via paddles behind the steering wheel, and does not need to manually actuate the clutch.

Specifications

Performance
Top speed: 309 km/h (192 mph) / 327 km/h (204 mph)(Gallardo SE and 2006+)
0 to 100 km/h (62 mph): 4.0 s / 3.8 s (Gallardo SE and 2006+)
0 to 200 km/h (124 mph): 14.5 s
Standing km: 22.5 s
1/4 mile: 12.2 s at 118 mph(some SEs have run confirmed high 11s)

Engine
Type: V10
Displacement: 5.0 L
Power: 373 kW (500 bhp) / 388 kW (520 bhp) Base
Torque: 510 N·m

ASTON MARTIN DBS aka JAMES BOND CAR

2007-01-03T10:13:00.000-08:00

Ah, the sweet life of James Bond. Those custom made Brioni suits, the finest of hotels, Omega wristwatches, vintage champagne and caviar, a license to kill and oh, those amazing cars, especially the new 2008 Aston Martin DBS.

Throughout the film series, from the classic Aston Martin DB5 in "Goldfinger" to the car-turned-submarine Lotus Esprit S1 in "The Spy Who Loved Me", James Bond has had his share of vehicles to die for. And those that kill.

But the one constant about the Bond vehicles is the cutting-edge gadgetry designed and installed by Q. Take the bulletproof DB5 from "Goldfinger", conceived more than 40 years ago. Equipped with evasive gadgets like a smoke screen and oil slick, dual machine guns, tire spikes and, the most Bond of all features, an ejecting passenger seat, the silver Aston Martin helped to create the Bond persona for the entire series.

Key Technical Specs

Standard Engine

6.0L V12

Standard Transmission

6 Speed Automatic

Cylinders

Horsepower @ RPM

450@6000

Torque @ RPM

420@5000 (foot-lbs)