Audi Reveals Urban Concept Car

 

Audi has released more detailed images of the Audi Urban Concept it plans to reveal to the public for the first time at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show next month.

The Audi urban concept has a sleek body. The wheels are free-standing, their surrounding protective plates feature blinking strips of LED lights.

Drive Out Your Confusion Over Buying A Car

Recently, I met this guy who has been unnecessarily worked up about buying a car. While talking to him in this regard, I realised that he is just one of many others who is feeling confused or anxious about buying a car. Guys, feelings such as these are a normal part of the car buying process. Take a deep breath and relax, here are some things that may help you make your choice easier.
1. Do you really need a car?
The first question you should ask yourself is why do you need a car right now. Isn't it absurd to drive to work when almost every office provides employees with transportation facilities? (The trend now is cycling to work).  Do you need a car for your regular shopping trip to a supermarket that is just two minutes away from home? When we travel long distances we mainly use buses or trains. Occasionally you can even hire a car. So why do you need a car? I'm not discouraging you, but think twice and convince yourself about the necessity for a car.
2. Should you buy a new or used car?
Now that you decided to go ahead with your plans to buy a car, another question arises: Used or a brand new car? Buying a used car is not better than nor is it worse than going for a brand new car. It's just a choice of preference. For some a car is a status symbol, while for others it is simply a means of moving around. The former would choose brand new cars whereas the latter might prefer used ones. However, the challenge of buying a used car is evaluating the condition of the car and determining whether you are getting a fair deal or overpaying. You could make use of Auto Calculators that could help you decide which is right for you.
3. The perfect car does not exist
No matter how much you research, discuss or test-drive, trust me, you are not going to find the perfect car. And that is not your goal, too. All you are trying to do is find the best vehicle for your needs, budget and happiness. And that's it. So keep it simple.
4. Re-examine your budget
Understanding your finances and getting a good price from the dealer is critical if you don't want the car buying experience to leave a bitter taste in your mouth. If you are going to pay for the car in one lump sum, there's not much to be anxious about. But most car buyers finance their purchase and make monthly installments and then the amount you spend on the car has a huge impact on your overall budget. Work out how much cash you practically have to spend after rent, bills, entertainment and other expenditure have been considered. There was a time when the average car loan was up to three years. Now five years is the standard and banks are even offering six years or more. This allows you to buy more expensive cars than you can really afford, by stretching the payments out until the car is almost fully depreciated. It's always better to buy a car that you can afford to pay off in 48 months, or even better, 36 months.
5. This is not a do-or-die situation
It's quite natural to feel restless about making a mistake, of buying the wrong car or spending too much money. However it may be that your anxiety is befogging your thinking. Remember, this is not a do-or-die situation. Nor is it a test — you are not being rated or ranked here. So I'm telling you again, relax!

Lasers could replace spark plugs in car engines

Car engines could soon be fired by lasers instead of spark plugs, researchers say.

A team at the Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics will report on 1 May that they have designed lasers that could ignite the fuel/air mixture in combustion engines.
The approach would increase efficiency of engines, and reduce their pollution, by igniting more of the mixture.
The team is in discussions with a spark plug manufacturer.
The idea of replacing spark plugs - a technology that has changed little since their invention 150 years ago - with lasers is not a new one.
Spark plugs only ignite the fuel mixture near the spark gap, reducing the combustion efficiency, and the metal that makes them up is slowly eroded as they age.

But only with the advent of smaller lasers has the idea of laser-based combustion become a practical one.

Ceramic powders             
 
A team from Romania and Japan has now demonstrated a system that can focus two or three laser beams into an engine's cylinders at variable depths.
That increases the completeness of combustion and neatly avoids the issue of degradation with time.
However, it requires that lasers of high pulse energies are used; just as with spark plugs, a great deal of energy is needed to cause ignition of the fuel.
"In the past, lasers that could meet those requirements were limited to basic research because they were big, inefficient, and unstable," said Takunori Taira of the National Institutes of Natural Sciences in Okazaki, Japan.

"Nor could they be located away from the engine, because their powerful beams would destroy any optical fibres that delivered light to the cylinders."
The team has been developing a new approach to the problem: lasers made of ceramic powders that are pressed into spark-plug sized cylinders.
These ceramic devices are lasers in their own right, gathering energy from compact, lower-power lasers that are sent in via optical fibre and releasing it in pulses just 800 trillionths of a second long.
Unlike the delicate crystals typically used in high-power lasers, the ceramics are more robust and can better handle the heat within combustion engines.
The team is in discussions to commercialise the technology with Denso, a major automobile component manufacturer.

No Radio, but It Gets 100 Miles a Gallon

Three teams of engineers won shares of a $10 million prize Thursday in a contest to design a vehicle capable of traveling 100 miles on the equivalent of a gallon of gasoline

Among the exotic-looking vehicles that shared the Progressive Insurance Automotive X-Prize was the Very Light Car, winner in the "mainstream" class. The four-passenger vehicle, developed by the Edison2 team, achieved the equivalent of 102 miles per gallon. It weighs just 830 pounds and burns E-85 ethanol in a one-cylinder, 40-horsepower engine.
The goal of the contest, launched in January 2008, was to "revolutionize the auto industry." But mainstream auto makers have mostly shunned the competition and have since overshadowed it by accelerating plans to roll out ultra-efficient cars to sell to consumers.
The Edison2 team, which garnered a $5 million prize, was put together by Charlottesville, Va., real-estate developer Oliver Kuttner and included several veterans of the auto-racing industry.

The two other winning teams, which were awarded $2.5 million each at the ceremony in Washington, D.C., fielded even more exotic vehicles in what contest organizers called alternative classes.
Li-Ion Motors Corp.'s Wave II, a battery-electric car designed to seat two people side by side, achieved the equivalent of 187 mpg. Li-Ion said the car can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 12 seconds and hit a top speed of 80 mph.
The Wave II has an aggressive, aerodynamic look, the result of hours of testing in wind tunnels aimed at reducing friction drag. Las Vegas-based Li-Ion converts conventional vehicles to electric drive and makes the Wave II and another car, the Inizio,to order.
The other prize winner was the E-Tracer, a two-wheel electric vehicle developed by a Swiss team. The vehicle looks like a large motorcycle with a wraparound body. The passenger sits behind the driver.
The battery-powered E-Tracer has a small set of training wheels that fold out to stabilize the vehicle. Contest judges said it could get the gasoline equivalent of 205 mpg.

Prize-Winning Cars

Very Light Car
MPG: 102
Fuel: Ethanol
Top Speed: 100 mph
Developed by Edison2 of Lynchburg, Va.
Wave II
MPG: 187
Fuel: Battery
Top Speed: 80 mph
Developed by Li-Ion Motors Corp., Las Vegas
E-Tracer
MPG: 205
Fuel: Battery
Top Speed: 120 mph
Developed by X-Tracer Team, Winterthur, Switzerland

X-Prize winners will also be eligible for financial support from the Department of Energy to develop their designs for sale to consumers.
The competition represents an approach to developing and promoting super-high-mileage cars that big auto makers are leaving behind. Nissan Motors Co., General Motors Co., Toyota Motor Corp. and other auto makers are trying to position their planned electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles less as exotic science projects and more as easily approachable appliances.
The Nissan Leaf, for example, is an electric vehicle due to launch later this year that looks like a conventional five-door hatchback—except for unusually bulbous front headlights designed to minimize wind noise, which is more noticeable because the car's electric motors are so quiet.
Also due on the U.S. market later this year is GM's plug-in hybrid, the Chevrolet Volt. Toyota and Ford Motor Co. have plans to launch mass-market electric vehicles in 2011 and beyond.

Luxury yacht comes with free custom supercar

As boat accessories go, a bespoke supercar is probably the most extravagant. But that's exactly what millionaire buyers of the £17m Strand Craft SC122 will get.

Beating the Bugatti Veyron hands down for exclusivity, the supercar has 880bhp from its twin-turbo V12 engine and a claimed top speed of 234mph. Only six will be built, each capable of hitting 60mph from rest in 3.2 seconds.

Designed by Eduard Gray, the car is so synonymous with the yacht that the company doesn't seem to have named it. The supercar will spend most of its time in the custom garage below deck while its owner enjoys the supreme luxury of the yacht.

The SC122 is a vision of absolute splendour inside and out, kitted out with 52-inch televisions and a Bang & Olufsen surround sound system in every room. There are four double bedrooms, too.

Its power dwarfs that of the accompanying supercar. Twin Rolls-Royce engines each pump out over 4,000bhp, and there's an optional 5,000bhp booster if the standard amount just won't do.

That power enables the yacht to reach 55 knots - though at just over 60mph, it's actually quite sluggish compared to the car.

Porsche Boxster is Back

Introduction

This Boxster, the basic 255bhp, 2.9-litre, entry-level model (as opposed to the more powerful S) provides perhaps the purest Porsche experience you'll find anywhere in the range. With a list price of £35,510 the Boxster is the cheapest car in the line-up, though Porsche's press fleet people haven't been able to resist adding £11,000 of options to it - extras that are all arguably surplus to requirements. All but one that is, with the sports exhaust a must if you're going to enjoy your Boxster to the maximum.

What are its rivals?

The Boxster's obvious rivals include Audi's TT, BMW's Z4 and the Mercedes-Benz SLK, though to that you can add Nissan's 370Z and a whole lot of big-power hot hatches, many of which have power and performance figures to better the Boxster. Few are as aspired to though, that Porsche badge meaning a lot, even when it's stuck on the bonnet of the most inexpensive car in the range.

How does it drive?

Forget the raw performance figures and concentrate on the purity of the driving experience and none of the Porsche's roadster rivals can come close to the Boxster. Something like a Nissan 370Z Roadster delivers more brawn, but the Boxster's balance, beautiful feel and feedback make it a real joy to drive. It's not savagely fast, instead the Boxster gaining momentum with an easy, forceful linearity that has you reaching for the redline before every slick gearchange. With pedals positioned perfectly for throttle-blipping heel-and-toe downshifts the real enjoyment to be had driving the Boxster is making the most of its output and revelling in its brilliant poise and incisive feel. The optional sports exhaust is a must here, as it adds a layer of sound to the experience that's just delicious, with a more assertive rasping tone overlaying the flat-six engine sound.

The steering is sharp, well weighted and rich in feel, while the standard suspension copes with all the vagaries of UK roads with little fuss. Strong brakes with lots of feel through the pedal and a gearshift that's one of the best out there combine with the Boxster's other qualities to make it a hugely entertaining driver's car.

What's impressive?

The feel and feedback. Most modern cars lack any real information through their controls, with responses muted by the electronic assistance thanks to manufacturers' endless pursuit of safety, refinement and comfort. Porsche is different, and the entry-level Boxster demonstrates that better than anything this side of a 911 GT3. The steering is fantastically crisp, while the accelerator, brakes, gearshift and clutch all operate with a rare unity that makes driving the Boxster such a pleasing experience. Porsche achieves this without making the Boxster edgy or difficult too, its thresholds of grip high, its safety systems extremely competent and refinement and comfort exemplary, too.

It's also practical thanks to a deep front boot and a wide and flat rear one. The hood operates quickly and easily and economy and emissions are respectable - at 30.1mpg and 221g/km on the combined cycle - for a car that's able to reach 62mph in 5.9 seconds.

What's not?

It's disappointing that to really enjoy the 2.9-litre's sound you need to spend an extra £1,434 on the sports exhaust.

The hood is quick and easy in its operation, but the need to manually unclip it from the header rail before the electrics take over is disappointing. Porsche cheekily asks £218 for the necessary wind deflector, and solidly built as the interior feels it's not exactly the most stylish driving environment.

The optional satnav with Bluetooth failed repeatedly to connect to an iPhone - something we've experienced before with the £1,995 option on other Porsches.

Should I buy one?

Absolutely. The more powerful S is tempting, but on our camera-strewn, speed-restricted roads the additional performance it brings is of little use. A standard Boxster with that Sports Exhaust option is all the sports car you really need in the UK. Forget the 'poor man's Porsche' or 'couldn't you afford a 911' jibes from the uninformed and enjoy the brilliant feel, feedback and excellent poise that the Boxster delivers. Experience it once and you'll not care what anyone else thinks - as you'll know better.

Six tips to spot a clocked car

Clocking is one of the biggest threats to used car buyers. If you've never heard the term before, it's when a crafty seller tinkers with the odometer to make it look as though a car has covered fewer miles, which increases its value.

What's worse is that it's almost impossible to spot, so you could be paying well over the odds for a car that's a lot more tired than it looks.

A BBC 'Watchdog' investigation recently uncovered serial car clocker, Ashley Singh, who sold such cars from home via used car sales websites. Singh used fake identities and doctored service histories to keep buyers in the dark, and it was only when he bought a car from the 'Watchdog' team that he was discovered.

Journalists from the programme sold Singh a car with 128,000 miles on the clock for £2,300, but later found him selling the same vehicle for £6,000 with a claimed 47,000 on the clock.

With that in mind, it's essential to be as knowledgeable as possible when you're buying your next second-hand car. Our top six tips for spotting a potentially clocked vehicle will keep you in the know and dodgy dealers at bay.

Check the service history

It's tempting to just skim through the service history when you get caught up in the excitement of buying a car - but don't. Inspect every document thoroughly.

Not every car will have a full service history, but the more documents, the better. Look for stamps from a genuine dealer, as these are good signs that the work has been carried out by a professional - and you can trace each fix, MoT or service back to an individual garage.

Get an HPI check

Vehicle history specialist HPI reckons that one in 12 used cars has a mileage discrepancy, so it's well worth shelling out the nominal cost for a comprehensive history check. Single HPI checks start at £19.99 and the company has a database of 135 million mileages. If you're paying a four figure sum for your next car, £20 for peace of mind seems worth it.

Double check the mileage on collection

A common trick by cheeky fraudsters is to wind the mileage figure back to a lower level when the buyer first comes to view the car, then change it to its correct level shortly before the car is collected.

Make a note of the mileage - and the general condition of the rest of the car - during your first viewing. On the second visit, give it a quick once over to make sure everything matches before you hand over your cash.

Talk to the previous owner

If you're buying the car from anyone other than a private seller then it's worth contacting the previous owner. Their details can be found on the front page of the vehicle's logbook - write them down and contact the last owner before you buy.

See if what the previous owner says matches the service history. They're not likely to know everything off by heart, but if there are any glaring differences then it could be time to walk away.

Look for wear and tear

Clocked cars are hard to spot, but if a vehicle has covered a lot more miles than the seller claims, then there are telltale signs. Worn steering wheels and seats and damaged or loose interior trim suggest that the car has been used heavily.

Look for new but easily replaceable parts too, like wiper blades hub caps. This could mean that the seller has shelled out a small amount to get the car looking tidy, when in fact, it's not up to scratch.

Trust your judgement

Check out the front page of the logbook. If the previous owner was a fleet or business then the mileage will usually be quite high. If the car was for business use only and it has only covered 6,000 miles in a year then you have reason to be wary. Stay savvy and keep your wits about you and you have far less chance of buying a dud.

Mercedes Benz SLK 55 AMG

SLK 55 AMG

With its 5.5-litre V8 engine putting out an impressive 360 hp, the new SLK 55 AMG is the ultimate powerhouse in the SLK-Class. Speedshift 7-speed automatic transmission, high-performance brake system and AMG Sports Suspension combine to give an exceptional driving experience.

Eye-catching 18-inch AMG light-alloy wheels, twin chromed tailpipes and AMG bodystyling give the SLK 55 AMG a dynamic presence on the road. Its ergonomic AMG sports steering wheel with gearshift buttons, AMG sports seats, tactile nappa leather trim and top-quality AMG instrument cluster ensure the interior is just as impressive.

Prices

SLK 55 AMG: £51,585.00 *

* Recommended on-the-road price: these prices reflect the Road Fund Licence applicable to the standard model plus £613.93 additional costs necessary to put your car on the road. Included are a standard UK delivery charge (£489.36 incl. VAT), new vehicle registration fee (£55.00), number plates (£19.57 incl. VAT) and fuel (£50.00 incl. VAT)

VAT is calculated at the standard rate of 15.0%

Some of the Features

7G-Tronic 7-speed automatic transmission with Tipfunction, AMG Speedshift, cruise control and Speedtronic variable speed limiter


Aerial on rear wing


AMG Alloy wheels (4) - multispoke design.
Front: 7.5J x 18 (225 / 40 tyres), Rear: 8.5J x 18 (245 / 35 tyres)


AMG bodystyling with exclusive AMG front apron


AMG high-performance braking system with composite front brake discs


AMG spoiler lip on the boot lid


AMG sports exhaust system with twin-chrome tailpipes (2)


AMG Sports Suspension


Bi-xenon headlamps incl. headlamp wash


Door mirrors - electrically operated and heated


Electric-hydraulic vario-roof


Remote boot release


Spare wheel - space saver


Tinted glass


Engine



Arrangement / cylinders / valves
V / 8 / 24


Bore / stroke (mm)
97.0 / 92.0


Total displacement (cc)
5,439


Performance



Power (hp at rpm)
360 / 5,750


Torque (Nm at rpm)
510 / 4,000


Top speed (mph)
155*


Acceleration 0-62 mph (s)
4.9


Fuel consumption (mpg)

City 16.0

Extra urban 32.1

Combined 23.5

Ferrari unveils new 458 Italia

Ferrari has unveiled its new 458 Italia, a mid-engined replacement for the F430. Unlike the launch of its California model, Ferrari hasn't drip-fed us the details, instead dropping them all in one release today (July 28). They take a bit of digesting too, the stunning 458 Italia exceeding even our lofty expectations as to what Ferrari would deliver to replace the highly regarded F430. Like the F430 the Italia is mid-engined, with 58 percent weight distribution to the rear, the 458 badge referring to the engine's 4.5-litre capacity and V8 layout.
Its engine produces 562bhp at a high 9,000rpm from its eight cylinders, which combined with its torque output of 398lb.ft at 6,000rpm allows the Italia to sprint to 62mph in under 3.4 seconds and onto a 202mph top speed. Driving through a seven-speed, twin-clutch, paddle-shifted transmission the 458 Italia benefits from all of Ferrari's latest F1 know-how. Making up its impressive electronic driver aid arsenal is Ferrari's E-Diff and F1-Trac, which will enable the 458 Italia to corner with staggering speed. The suspension comprises of double wishbones up front and a multi-link rear set up and the Italia is certain to be offered with Ferrari's variable magnetic damping system. Like its predecessor, all the electronic control systems are likely to be controlled by the Manettino dial mounted on the steering wheel, much like Ferrari's F1 drivers use.
The 458 Italia's development has been heavily influenced by Michael Schumacher, his input into cars like the 430 Scuderia underlining that the Italia should be very special to drive. Ferrari suggests that the 458 Italia is quite a departure from the usual replacement model cycle, its all-new car even more driver focussed thanks to the inclusion of the more practical California at the 'entry' point of Ferrari's line-up.
It's clear then that Ferrari is aiming the 458 Italia at a hardcore driving audience. Setting records for specific output per litre and torque output per litre Ferrari describes the Italia as 'designed for owners for whom the priority is uncompromising on-road performance and occasional track day capability.' Like all cars in Ferrari's current range the 458 Italia's shape is honed as much to cleave through the air as efficiently as possible as it is for style. The results are certainly spectacular, its shape more sensuous and organic than the F430, its rear reminiscent of Ferrari's Enzo hyper-car. The front exhibits some real aggression, with the LED equipped headlamps cutting dramatically into the bonnet.
It's not just efficient in the wind-tunnel either, the 458 Italia improving economy and emissions over its predecessor. CO2 emissions of 320g/km and a combined fuel consumption figure of 20.6mpg might not sound brilliant in isolation, but in the context of the 458 Italia's performance they are rather impressive. Production models will already be working their way down Ferrari's lines in Maranello in anticipation for the rush of orders following its Frankfurt show unveiling, so if you've not got your order in already then it's likely you'll be in for a long wait. It sounds like it will be worth it though.

CITROËN C3 Picasso the real Nice car

The all-new CITROËN C3 Picasso may take some inspiration from its elders, yet it takes funky styling, cheeky character and striking good looks to another level entirely. A mini-MPV of quite stunning poise and revolutionary design, it’s far bigger on the inside than its outward appearance may suggest. And there’s no sense of compromise here. The CITROËN C3 Picasso is practical, but great fun. Roomy, yet agile and easy to park. Safe and adaptable, but certainly not lacking in head-turning style or driving pleasure.
One of its many plus points is the reassuring feeling it gives you and your passengers. Despite being one of the most compact MPVs on the market, its bristling presence still manages to make you feel safe, sturdy and confident in any environment. To some, the CITROËN C3 Picasso is an urban phenomenon, perfectly suited to the city bustle with its nippy engine and great visibility. Others picture it ruling the country lanes, with its rugged looks, great handling and oodles of interior space for kids, outdoor gear, pets or groceries. That the debate continues means CITROËN has cracked it yet again. It’s perfect for both.

£2,000 scrappage allowance* for your qualifying old car

Or 0% APR

over 3 years with a minimum 20% deposit on selected non scrappage models

Available on this model when purchased by 30/09/2009

£12,595 'On the Road' M.R.R.P

£12,595 OTR price


Let’s talk about room, too. There’s plenty to discuss here – the new CITROËN C3 Picasso gives you up to 1,506 litres of flat space behind the front seats, more than any of its rivals. And if you manage to use all of that, there are plenty of other handy compartments throughout the cabin for safely storing personal belongings. The CITROËN C3 Picasso’s boot also has two positions which enables space for up to 385/500 litres of storage.

The CITROËN C3 Picasso comes with a choice of two petrol and two diesel engines, so there’s one for every preference. CITROËN’s 1.6HDi engines give great fuel economy and low emissions without conceding horsepower. And if you prefer petrol, the 1.6 16valve VTi puts a reassuring 120hp under your right foot, while achieving surprising fuel economy figures.

So here’s the distinctive face of the new CITROËN C3 Picasso – a welcome addition to the famous CITROËN Picasso family.