Fornasari RR99

Fornasari Thor UDV

2011-04-04T20:57:00.000-07:00

Yet Fornasari shows up at every Geneva auto show, filling its floor space with outlandish vehicles, such as an SUV resembling a yacht tender. At the 2011 Geneva auto show, Fornasari put forth its wildest concept yet, a toy for very big boys, the Thor UDV.This vehicle, clad in bright orange bodywork, is hard not to notice. According to Fornasari, it came out of the company's Tactical Vehicles Group, and was developed in conjunction with Astro Bionix, an Austrian company that provides industrial emergency services, according to its Web site, and uses the slogan Air - Land - Sea - Space.
Fornasari Thor UDV
UDV stands for Ultimate Deployment Vehicle. Fornasari specifies tasks for it such as simulated planetary exploration, scientific and rescue operations, paramilitary urban security, and exfiltration/infiltration. To accomplish these tasks, Fornasari specifies options such as night vision, a pressurized occupant compartment, cryogenic organ transport equipment, a land mine detection system, and a 7.62 mm Gatling gun.

Fornasari creates RR99 5-door offroader

2010-11-29T18:43:00.000-08:00

The RR99 is the response to the wave of powerfull 4 doors SUV.
Luxury, Powerful, Lightwheight, 5 seats, all wheels drive with a strong chassis.
Like all ours cars the RR99 is hand-made using hight quality materials choice, hight quality metal and woods and finest italian leathers.
All ours cars are only made on customer request.
We are studying all Custumers inquiries.

Exterior color exclusivly on custumer choice
Wheels: large choice from 20' up to 24'
Interior made with Finest Italian Leathers, Luxury Essences Wood, Aluminium

Body:
Epoxy Fiber Glass
Carbon or Kevlar (on request)

The 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX and WRX STI

2010-08-01T19:56:00.000-07:00

Perhaps it is unfair to consign the last-generation Subaru Impreza WRX STI to a place in history best occupied by the likes of New Coke and the Pet Rock. Yet when Subaru unveiled the 2008 STI--the replacement for its legendary, flame-snorting predecessor which launched in the United States in 2004--there was no escaping the feeling that its performance flagship might have lost as much as it gained along the way. And for what?

Yes, the 2008 STI was smoother and quieter. It also felt softer and easier to drive, even--and this was the depressing part--tame in comparison with the original. Some of that feeling was simply perception born from inevitable refinement, but it remained in place to some degree even as Subaru's engineers improved the car's suspension and engine for 2009, with even more suspension upgrades added to last year's STI Special Edition. Unfortunately for the product planners and the early adopters, this is often the case when an inspiring machine evolves, especially one that arrived on the scene providing a driving experience so genuine that it earned a diverse loyalist following spanning traditional gearheads, rally nuts and the sterotypical street-racer fan boys trained on PlayStation more than their local road courses.

Two and a half years later, Subaru does not feel a need to apologize for the last STI, as sales have remained relatively stable at around 3,000 to 3,500 cars sold per year. It does, however, acknowledge “a difference in [company] philosophy when that car was launched,” as one spokesman said on the eve of the 2011 model's introduction. “You can't please everybody.”

No, but first drives of the new WRX and WRX STI indicate that Subaru has come much closer to doing so this time around.

The most obvious distinction is the return of a sedan, which joins the five-door hatchback in the STI lineup. Subaru has always offered a four-door version of the WRX but binned the STI sedan for 2008 because it wanted to sell potential buyers on a direct link between the road car and the hatchback-based World Rally Championship contender of the time. Still, while the five-door's shorter overhangs made it easier for WRC driver Petter Solberg to know where his rally car's corners were, and therefore keep it in one piece at speed through the forests of Wales and the snow banks of Finland, the design failed to resonate with a fair portion of hard-core customers.

“Consumer feedback [said] that a lot of people didn't like the hatch; a lot wanted the sedan,” Subaru's spokesman said. “When we took that away, [some thought the car was] too mild, too mellow.”

There is far less chance of that now, even if you still feel that the latest design lacks the original's raw visual impact and apparent singularity of purpose. The WRX and STI sedans and hatches now share aggressive, wide-body panels. The appearance is all new to Impreza sedans, while revised lightly in the front on five-door versions. To distinguish the STI as the top-of-the-line edition, the sedan once again flaunts a tall signature rear wing, now noticeably convex in sculpting, and all STIs receive bigger wheels and tires and, of course, STI badging.

If you were hoping for increased power, you'll want to skip the following section, as engines and transmissions remain unchanged. The WRX's 2.5-liter turbocharged boxer four still features maximum boost pressure of 14.2 psi and produces 265 hp at 6,000 rpm and 244 lb-ft of torque at 4,000. The STI engine, with 14.7 psi of boost, remains rated at 305 hp at 6,000 rpm and 290-lb-ft at 4,000. Subaru engineers say that the WRX still runs from 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, the STI in 4.9. Experience shows that Subaru's official acceleration numbers tend to fall into the conservative zone, though; as with the old cars, you should be able to shave 0.2 to 0.3 second from those times. Officially, the WRX tops out at 142 mph, while the STI sedan's improved aerodynamics bump its top speed to 158 mph, 3 mph faster than the hatchback.

Straightline running, though, is not what will make this generation of cars memorable or significant to the lineage, as they feel identical to their predecessors when you crack the throttle in pursuit of pure velocity. And as nice as the wide-body design and mildly reworked interior are (there's a new audio system and instrument cluster, and STIs are now available with leather seats and power moonroof in Limited trim), that's not enough to earn them a new chapter in the Book of Impreza. But what lies underneath just might, as it positively improves the handling with seemingly no reduction in ride quality.

According to Hiroshi Mori, the cars' general manager, “all [mechanical] changes for 2011 [are intended] to improve driver confidence, handling and response.” Initial impressions from a day behind the wheel of the WRX and STI say that he and his team achieved their target.

The key modifications lie within the suspension, which features a wider track (by 1.3 inches in front, 1.5 rear) made possible by the flared bodywork. WRX wheel and tire sizes increase as well, with 17- x 8-inch wheels versus the previous edition's 17 x 7. Tires measure 235/45, up from 225/45. As for the STI, wheel size carries over (18 x 8.5), as does tire size (245/40). The WRX also receives firmer rear suspension subframe bushings, and our brief drive on Colorado mountain roads indicates that there is less body roll through corners to go along with more grip.

Extended time in the STI, though, reveals the real performance story. Mori's engineers fitted the front suspension with a feature well known to racers and aftermarket performance-part junkies. “Pillow ball” bushings—or spherical bearings, if you prefer—attach the aluminum lower control arms to the front suspension's subframe. Whereas the old STI used economical rubber bushings with steel sleeves, the new design's proper steel bearings provide twice as much resistance to fore/aft forces and improve camber and toe stiffness.

From there, it's a trickle-down effect throughout the suspension. Front spring rate increases by 15.6 percent, the rear by an impressive 53 percent over the standard 2010 STI and 18 percent versus the aforementioned STI Special Edition. Antiroll bars are slightly larger (21 millimeters versus 20 in front, 19 versus 18 out back), and the ride height drops by 5 millimeters. Mori says that the STI now generates 0.93 g of maximum lateral grip compared with the 2010's 0.90, and there is 33 percent less body roll. The collective changes and newfound rigidity make better use of the front tires, which previously suffered high wear on the outer third of their tread.

Your backside relays the message better than any numbers on a chart ever could. Our drive on the road indicated improvements in grip, dive, roll and corner turn-in, with the STI taking a quicker, firmer and more confidence-inspiring attitude through corners that will be apparent to drivers of varying skill levels—just as Mori said.

Back-to-back drives in 2010 and 2011 STIs on Aspen Motorsports Park's twisting layout confirmed those feelings. While the 2010 car's tires roared in tortured pain, the 2011's rubber only chirped, even during deliberate attempts to push harder and harder in order to unsettle the chassis, to find the spot when an inherent “softness” emerged as it did in the old car. Such a scenario never happened. Front-end bite is much better, with less understeer and improved grip through all phases of cornering. The new STI appears to handle lateral transitions significantly better than the old, and without doubt, the difference between the two generations was indisputably laid bare.

As this was a first drive, plenty remains to be discovered about the latest WRX and STI. There are many more miles to cover in the real world before we have a definitive sense of whether Subaru has taken a major step toward rediscovering the line's old magic. But if initial impressions prove correct, there's only one thing to say about the previous incarnation.

It's history.

2011 Subaru Impreza WRX

On Sale: Late August/early September

Base Price: $26,220

Drivetrain: 2.5-liter, turbocharged, 265-hp, 244-lb-ft H4; AWD, five-speed manual

Curb Weight: 3,208 lb

0-60 MPH: 5.4 sec (mfr)

Fuel Economy (EPA): 21 mpg

2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI

On Sale: Late August/early September

Base Price: $34,720

Drivetrain: 2.5-liter, turbocharged, 305-hp, 290-lb-ft H4; AWD, six-speed manual

Curb Weight: 3,384 lb

0-60 MPH: 4.9 sec (mfr)

Fuel Economy (EPA): 19 mpg

New Compact Buick Sedan Revealed in China

2010-06-09T20:18:00.000-07:00

This is the Buick Excelle GT, a new model for the Chinese market that will go on sale shortly. Look famliar? It should. This is the new small sedan from Buick that was previewed late last year at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show.

In China, the Excelle GT will offer either a base four-cylinder with 138-horsepower or a turbocharged, 1.6-liter with 181-horsepower. Good chance the U.S. version will stick with the latter only. Expect to see it on sale here early next year.

China's IAT-Auto to Reveal Three New Concept Cars at Beijing Show

2010-04-26T00:59:00.000-07:00

At this year's edition of the Beijing Auto Show that runs from April 23 to 27, a Chinese company called IAT-Auto that few have heard outside its home market will take the veils off three new concept studies.

The most interesting prototype is the Wu Feng II which is a follow up to the Wu Feng I. It's a compact coupe with gullwing-style doors that's said to have a top speed of 200km/h or 124mph and can reach 100km/h (62mph) from standstill in 7 seconds.

The other two concept models are the eTAXI, a mid-size sedan powered by an electric motor, and the all-electric Bamboo Wind, a futuristic take on the A-Class the small MPV segment.

According to the official website, IAT-Auto is a company that "mainly engages in the development and design of automobile, engine and its power train, and their relative manufacture business."

SR1 Concept Takes Peugeot Design in a New Direction

2010-03-09T21:49:00.000-08:00

Peugeot says its SR1 hybrid concept "reveals the stylistic design trends for its future models", and to that Peugeot fans should be saying thank God. This is arguably one of the nicer concepts from the Geneva show, and a home run for the fugly French brand (barring the double-bubblized RCZ).

Meant to be an all-wheel drive, 4-wheel steering GT of the HYbrid4 caliber and packing a combined output of 313 horsepower (while releasing 119g/km in emissions), the SR1 accomplishes one very important goal: it sets a new course in the world of design for a brand that, frankly, has been aesthetically sinking for quite some time.

Inside, there's a funky 2+1 three-person setup which, if someone has a child, ends up making just a bit of sense; consumers driving around with two kids stuffed in the back seat of a GT are trying way too hard. Another nice feature is the custom Bell&Ross watch integrated into the dashboard that's removable.

The HYbrid4 technology, which mates a 218 horsepower 1.6 liter THP 4-cylinder to a 95 horsepower electric motor at the rear, should debut in the highly-unexciting 3008 in 2011. Now, if that same tech were to ever appear in a production version of an SR1 that returned 48 mpg US (4.9L/100km), people would need to get very interested in Peugeot in a hurry.

General Motors did not say which platform the concept

2010-01-13T19:24:00.000-08:00

Meet the Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept that made its world debut at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Officially, the XTS is just a design study that showcases Cadillac's emerging top-of-the-line Platinum series of models, but unofficially, it previews the Detroit firm's DTS replacement in the full-size sedan segment that's pegged make its way onto the market by 2012.

General Motors did not say which platform the concept is based on, but judging from the XTS' wheelbase length of 111.7 inches or 2,837mm that is identical to the new Buick LaCrosse, we'd say that it rides on a modified version of the Epsilon II.

Even though it shares the same wheelbase with the LaCrosse, the XTS is 6.6 inches longer at 203.5 inches (5,170mm) and 1.7 inches wider at 74.8 inches (1,900mm).

You may have noticed that we haven't said anything about the XTS' exterior design. That's because we can't decide if we find it elegant or boring. We're probably leaning towards the second, but feel free to tell us what you think in the comment section below.

The concept's interior is a bit more intriguing style-wise, but nothing groundbreaking - or at least not for anyone under the age of 50...

Moving on the XTS Platinum concept's hardware, Cadillac fitted the full-size sedan with a plug-in hybrid electric propulsion system (PHEV). It combines a direct-injection V6 petrol engine and electric motors to drive all-four wheels. The system delivers an estimated output of 350 horsepower (260 kW) and 295 lb.-ft. of torque (400 Nm).

CADILLAC XTS PLATINUM CONCEPT SPECIFICATIONS

Vehicle type:	luxury sedan concept
Wheelbase (in / mm):	111.7 / 2837
Length (in / mm):	203.5 / 5170
Width (in / mm):	74.8 / 1900
Height (in / mm):	59.1 / 1500
Track (in / mm):	62.6 / 1589 (front); 62.8 / 1594 (rear)
Powertrain:	plug-in hybrid system with 3.6L Direct Injection gas engine (with variable valve timing); lithium ion battery
Suspension:	four-wheel independent with Magnetic Ride Control.
Brakes:	four-wheel disc with electric park brake system
Wheels:	20-in front / 20-in rear
Estimated power:	350 hp (260 kW) / 295 lb.-ft. (400 Nm)

Denali treatment adds new features

2010-01-13T18:54:00.000-08:00

The 2011 GMC Acadia Denali made its first public outing at this week's Detroit motor show. Scheduled to arrive in GMC's dealerships in the third quarter of the year, the Denali treatment adds new features and unique styling cues to the firm's crossover model that can seat up to eight passengers.

The exterior package adds a chrome honeycomb grille, 20-inch two-tone alloy wheels, unique lower front and rear fascias, body colored cladding, rocker moldings and fender flares along with dual chrome exhaust tips and chrome accents.

Inside, the Denali model comes with all the bells and whistles including but not limited to, perforated leather seats with matching leather door panel trim, head-up display, chrome, lighted sill plates with the Denali logo, Dual SkyScape sunroof system, with sliding front sunroof and fixed rear section, leather-wrapped steering wheel with mahogany wood inserts, navi, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system and a tri-zone automatic climate control.

There are no changes under the hood as the Denali model is powered by the same 288HP 3.6-liter V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission as the other Acadia models.

the Detroit motor show

2010-01-13T16:26:00.000-08:00

BMW Group's MINI brand brought along a new concept, or rather a new variant of the concept model that previews its forthcoming Crossover model, to the Detroit motor show. The all-wheel drive, open-body Beachcomber study was designed to capture the spirit of the original Mini Moke of the 1960s.

The Beachcomber gets a new all-wheel drive system called ALL4, as well as an elevated seating position with the British brand supporting that it can be driven without doors and a conventional roof. However, just to be on the safe side -in theory of course- it comes with a soft top and lightweight doors made out of plastic material.

The concept model is supposed to provide us with new clues about the MINI Crossover will be available in Europe later this year and in the US in early 2011. The Crossover will be the first production MINI to have all-wheel-drive, four doors, four full-size seats and measure around four meters in length.

Who in the world would say no I don’t want a McLaren SLR

2010-01-03T23:32:00.000-08:00

Who said Germans don’t have sense of humor?! Well he should check this out! Behold the magnificence of Gemballa Tornado 750 GTS, a car that is based on Porsche Cayenne Turbo and designed to look like Porsche Carrera GT inside and out. If there were an award for the ugliest tuned car ever, this would won it in a heartbeat!

Gemballa has actually gone to simply enormous length to make this car look like a CGT, but they should have stopped somewhere along the way and ask themselves WHY?! It’s a big chunky SUV, what’s the point for it to look like a wide and low supercar? But they haven’t, and they made the car. The result is, well you see what the result is! A ridiculous car which is like the bastard child of a snake and an elephant! GOD it’s awful!

Now if you scroll down and see the car’s interior where they have ruined the whole design for the sake of that CGT-like central console, you’d be convince too that something’s really wrong with the designer’s brain!

The Tornado has one good feature though, its engine. Based on the V8 Turbo, the car packs a massive punch in form of 750 horsepower and 1,050 Nm of torque. That means 0 to 100 Km/h in 4.3 seconds and top speed of as near as makes no difference 300 km/h.

But even this brilliant engine fails to save this car, as it costs an insane 400,000 Euro! Who in the world would say no I don’t want a McLaren SLR, I don’t want a Pagani, I wanna spend half a million dollar on a stupid and ugly car which scares children!

Next UAW president to be Ford lead negotiator King

2009-12-14T23:11:00.000-08:00

Ron Gettelfinger, the United Auto Workers' (UAW) president during the recent tumult, is moving on from his post, and has thrown his support behind Bob King. King is currently a vice president in the union and manages the relationship with Ford.

While the outlook is positive for King's nomination, he's going to have some reconciliation to do. In the last go-round with Ford, King asked his membership to agree to concessions that took strikes off the table, which the UAW's rank and file promptly denied. Despite the contention, King has been thought of as Ron Gettelfinger's replacement for some time, and the union hopes King will be a tougher customer in the throes of negotiation.

F1 grid comes into focus as Lotus signs Trulli and Kovalainen 2010

2009-12-14T23:00:00.000-08:00

The pieces to the puzzle that is the upcoming Formula One season are coming together bit by bit. In the latest development, the upstart Lotus F1 Racing team has announced the signing of two veteran drivers: Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen.

A former Monaco Grand Prix race winner, Trulli has driven for five different teams over the course of the past twelve years on the grid. Speculation was that he could switch to NASCAR following a recent test with Michael Waltrip Racing, particularly as the Toyota team for which he'd been driving for the past six years announced its withdrawal from the series. Finnish driver Kovalainen, meanwhile, is also a former race winner, left without a ride when McLaren replaced him with reigning world champion Jenson Button. Local aspirant Fairuz Fauzy, formerly of Malaysia's A1GP team, will serve as reserve/test driver.

The announcement was made by Malaysia's prime minister, whose government is backing the team. Although the outfit has no direct ties with the automaker of the same name – save for mutual patronage by Malaysia's state-run Proton – the British sportscar-maker and engineering firm could buy into the team at some point in the future as part of its comprehensive racing plan, giving Lotus the kind of operation Ferrari has run for decades.

With the Lotus drivers in place and Force India having recently confirmed the retention of Adrian Sutil and Tonio Liuzzi, the 2010 grid is rapidly taking form. The only remaining seats are with Mercedes/Brawn GP (which has yet to announce Nico Rosberg's team-mate as speculation intensifies over Michael Schumacher's return), Renault (which has yet to announce a wingman for Robert Kubica as the team's future remains in question), Sauber (which was only recently approved for next season), Toro Rosso, Campos Meta (which has announced only Bruno Senna), Virgin/Manor (which has confirmed only Timo Glock so far) and USF1.

Follow the jump for the full press release from Lotus.

Fornasari intros five-door RR99 performance SUV

2009-12-02T02:33:00.000-08:00

Fornasari RR99 – Click above for image gallery

Fornasari, the independent purveyor of exotic sport-utes, has been in the game since before Porsche came along with the Cayenne, but despite its blend of Italian craftsmanship with American muscle, the three-door body-style of the Fornasari RR450 and RR600 relegated the quirky exotic truck to the fringe. Now Fornasari, has come back with its first proper (or not) five-door SUV.

Dubbed the RR99, the latest from the Creazzo-based automaker is some 25cm longer than its three-door predecessors, but thanks to a lightweight tube frame, it weighs only 1850 kg (just over 4000 lbs), significantly less than competing performance SUVs. This despite the six-liter General Motors V8 sitting up front, which Fornasari says it has optimized for near-50/50 weight distribution, driving 610 horsepower to all four wheels with a 40/60 rear-biased torque split via limited slip differential and six-speed Borg Warner transmission.

Wheels are available up to 23 inches, packing optional Brembo brakes mounted to F1-style triangular suspension. But the most ambitious figures come down to the performance: Fornasari claims its exotic sport-ute can rocket to 62 mph in just 3.8 seconds en route to a 174 mph top end. Those are eyebrow-raising numbers, and if the RR99, with substantially-improved styling over its oddball predecessors (upon which we reported three years ago), can actually come anywhere near those projections, count us among the flabbergasted.