2012 Lotus Elise Club Racer

Lotus has releases a new entry-level sports car, the Elise Club Racer 1.6, priced in Europe from around $45,000. which will have its world debut at the Geneva motor show next month.

The Elise Club Racer is a full 52 pounds lighter than the standard car, and Lotus achieved this by removing the noise insulation and using a motorsport-derived lightweight battery. This might not seem like an enormous weight savings, but when you consider that the base Elise already weighs in under the 2,000-pound mark, even a small weight reduction is noticeable.

Powering the Elise Club Racer is the same 1.6-liter four cylinder VVT-I engine with an output of 136 PS (100 kW / 134 hp) as on the series' variant. Lotus did not provide new performance numbers for the Club Racer but the standard Elise does the 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint in 6.5 seconds, which the Club Racer can only beat, if but slightly.

Priced at £27,500 / €34,450 / $46,750, the Elise Club Racer marks the new entry level sports car from Lotus. Customers can choose from a range of six exterior colors (Sky Blue, Saffron Yellow, Ardent Red, Aspen White, Matt Black and Carbon Grey), plus various bespoke design elements.




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Lotus Elise Club Racer

Maximum fun, minimum collateral

Anyone harbouring under the misapprehension that Lotus might be moving away from performance through lightweight only needs to take a quick ride in the new 1.6 Lotus Elise Club Racer to know that's definitely not the case. The bright engineers at Lotus put even the lightest of Lotus' modern cars on a diet and managed to shed a further 24kg.

So how did Lotus manage to make one of the lightest models on the market even lighter? The engineers behind the Elise Club Racer took a stripped-to-the-bare-bone approach visualised by the body-coloured seats but materialised in many ways such as the motorsport derived lightweight battery and the deletion of noise insulation. Attention to even the smallest of details has ensured that Lotus' passion for performance through lightweight has been translated throughout the car.

For the first time ever an Elise variant comes complete with a Sport setting for the DPM (Dynamic Performance Management) allowing even the less experienced sports car drivers to feel at the top of their game, while the ability to switch it off completely will please the more established track orientated drivers. DPM combined with improved agility courtesy of Lotus finely tuned sport suspension and an adjustable anti-roll bar will make the Elise Club Racer equally versatile for both road and race track fun.

Wolf Zimmermann Chief Technical Officer Lotus Cars said: "The traditional Lotus approach of reduction and purity has lead to one of the most zeitgeist and contemporary sports cars around. For over 15 years the Lotus Elise has become an icon in the sports car market, carving out a niche market with a dedicated following of lightweight fans. The new Club Racer will definitely give these people something extra to get their teeth stuck into. This car epitomises everything that's cool about the Elise - it's fast, raw, responsive and a huge amount of fun to drive."

Quality throughout the vehicle has been a top priority, highly regarded component suppliers such as Eibach for springs and Bilstein for dampers ensure that the Elise Club Racer is a car of substance as well as style.

The Elise Club Racer pleases the eye as well as the soul with a choice of six striking colours (Sky Blue, Saffron Yellow, Ardent Red, Aspen White, Matt Black and Carbon Grey) and bespoke design elements that emphasise the character of the car.

It's pocket pleasing too, at £27,500 / €34,450 / CHF48,900, the Elise Club Racer marks the new entry level sports car from Lotus. And with the Elise standard of just 149g CO2/km plus the weight reduction, the new Club Racer provides maximum fun without so much of the green-guilt usually associated with high performance driving.

Lotus Elise Club Racer: Purity, performance, pleasure - a TRUE Lotus.

EDO Lamborghini Murcielago LP750

Edo Competition have released today the LP750 program for the Lamborghini Murcielago. Based on the Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, this package produces 750hp, 740Nm of torque and has a top speed of 365km/h, 15km/h more than their previous version, the LP710. This all means that it now boasts times of 0-100km/h in 3.1 seconds, 0-200km/h in 9.7 seconds and 0-300km/h in 24.5 seconds!

The Edo Competition LP750 Lamborghini Murcielago represents a 40 HP increase over the tuner's previous upgrade program which squeezed 710 horses out of the Italian supercar, which means the 6.5-litre V12 engine has been dialed at 750 HP and 740 Nm of torque.

New high-speed wheel and tire set: ultra-lightweight 18/19 alloy wheels with special Michelin 265/35 ZR 18 front and 345/30 ZR 19 rear tires.Edo Lamborghini Murcielago LP750 competition has also developed a new single plate clutch to fortify the drivetrain in light of the extra power. On request, the edo Lamborghini Murciélago LP750 can be converted from all-wheel to rear-wheel drive, resulting in weight savings of 40 kg (88 lbs) and even more agile handling.




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even more power …

edo competition beats its own record with the fastest Lamborghini Murciélago in the world

About one and a half years ago the tuning specialists from Ahlen laid hands on a Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 and turned into the fastest and most powerful Murciélago in the world. Back then, the edo competition team managed to extract 710 horsepower and 700 Nm (516 ft-lb) of torque from the 6.5 liter V12 engine. This car was clocked at over 352 km/h (219 mph) on the Papenburg high speed test track, a mark that remains unmatched to this day.

But this was not the end of the line, as edo competition is proving with the new Murciélago LP750.

A top speed of up to 365 km/h is possible. The engine’s power output was increased to an impressive 750 horsepower and the torque output now stands at 740 Nm (546 ft-lb). The LP750 hits 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.1 seconds, 200 km/h (124 mph) in 9.7 seconds and the magical 300 km/h (186 mph) mark in 24.5 seconds.

The LP640 still provides the basis for this monster. To achieve the enormous boost in power, the cylinder heads were modified and a high flow airbox was installed. The completely revised intake system for this engine features a new hand-made intake manifold as well as modified air ducts. This system helps to increase the intake air mass and velocity, an effect that becomes even more pronounced at higher speeds. High performance exhaust headers, high flow catalytic converters, more aggressive camshafts, bucket tappets, mufflers, exhaust tips and high flow air filters were developed from the ground up and installed on the vehicle. The ECU was reprogrammed to make ideal use of these modifications.

Complementing the engine modifications is an optimized aerodynamics package which improves high-speed stability and adds to the dynamic and elegant appearance of the vehicle. A re-designed, beautifully shaped rear wing, now featuring an adjustable lip spoiler, rounds off the package.

New high-speed wheel and tire set: ultra-lightweight 18/19 alloy wheels with special Michelin 265/35 ZR 18 front and 345/30 ZR 19 rear tires.

A new edo competition high performance exhaust system made from stainless steel, along with a revised exhaust tip, provides a great soundtrack and adds to the rear of the car. A butterfly valve system is optional and a remote control is available on request. The entire exhaust system is plasma-coated – a process that has been used in the aerospace industry for years.

edo competition has also developed a new single plate clutch to fortify the drivetrain in light of the extra power. On request, the LP750 can be converted from all-wheel to rear-wheel drive, resulting in weight savings of 40 kg (88 lbs) and even more agile handling.

All modifications are carried out exclusively at edo competition Motorsport GmbH in Ahlen.

Chevy to debut MyLink infotainment system

Chevrolet Announces MyLink Infotainment System, Puts it in 2012 Equinox and Volt

The MyLink system, which was previewed earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show, includes a 7-inch color display, but the majority of the system’s features are designed to give drivers additional in-car media choices. Perhaps the most significant option lies with audio streaming — after pairing a smartphone to the system via Bluetooth, drivers can use the data connection to stream music or talk radio via Pandora and Stitcher, respectively.

The voice-activated technology of Sync made it an instant front-runner in the ever-evolving in-vehicle infotainment environment when Ford introduced it in early 2007 — eons ago in electro-tech years. Ford has adopted upgrades and improvements for Sync — including the divisive new MyFord Touch interface — but Bly told Inside Line that while Sync was and is a formidable achievement, Chevy's new MyLink technology is vastly better to use.




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Chevrolet MyLink Creates Smartphones on Wheels

Smart interface design allows drivers to take advantage of mobile communications technology while the phone remains safely stowed

NEW YORK - Consumers who seek a higher level of in-vehicle wireless connectivity and customized infotainment options, plus the unmatched safety and security of OnStar need look no further than the 2012 Chevy Volt and Equinox.

When these vehicles go on sale later this year, they will be the first to offer Chevy MyLink - an in-car infotainment package that builds on the safety and security of OnStar and seamlessly integrates online services like Pandora® internet radio and Stitcher SmartRadio® using hands-free voice and touch-screen controls via Bluetooth device connectivity.

"There is a new generation of car buyers who don't want to settle for mass market radio," said Rick Scheidt, vice president of Chevrolet Marketing. "They want to create their own individual stations and have access to them wherever they are. Chevrolet vehicles have offered customers the ability to use portable media devices since 2006 and the introduction of MyLink takes media personalization to a new level. "

MyLink adds stereo audio streaming and wireless control of smartphones, building on the voice-activated Bluetooth hands-free calling capability already offered in most Chevy vehicles. MyLink also includes a seven-inch, high-resolution, full-color touch screen display that makes media selection easy to navigate.
"Chevrolet MyLink is the next logical step for in-vehicle connectivity," said Karl Stracke, vice president for Global Product Engineering. "MyLink leverages the mobile broadband capability and the sophisticated, online services made possible by today's smart phones."

MyLink retains all the capabilities of today's entertainment units, including AM/FM/XM tuners, CD player with MP3 playback, auxiliary and USB inputs. But, Stracke says, "These are the essentials and we're building from there."

Among the new benefits provided by MyLink:

• Enhanced hands-free voice control system powered by Nuance®, which allows simple voice commands to initiate phone calls and select radio stations or media from portable MP3 players and smartphones. A tap of a button on the steering wheel enables intuitive verbal control of smartphone applications like "play (artist name)" or "call (name of contact)" to keep the driver's hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
• Pandora® internet radio allows users to create personalized radio stations based on favorite artists or genres and Stitcher SmartRadio® enables access to thousands of audio programming choices allowing customers to build a personalized listening experience. MyLink integrates control of both of these apps for a driver directed listening experience.
• Gracenote®: identifies the music collection on the driver's smartphone or MP3 player and presents information such artist name, genres and album cover art on the MyLink screen and enables users to select similar music to the tunes they love. Gracenote also improves the accuracy of MyLink's voice activation system by allowing users to access music using artist nicknames, such as "The Boss," "G.N.R," or "The Fab Four" simply by using MyLink's touch-screen or steering wheel buttons and voice control interfaces.
• Upgraded USB connectivity: While Chevrolet has offered auxiliary device connectivity since 2006, MyLink adds flash memory capability to its USB device connections. This provides users with the ability to access approved applications that will make their MyLink system even more functional, while assuring that driver's maintain eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.

The debut of Chevy MyLink extends the OnStar experience from safety and security to information and entertainment by seamlessly integrating the capability of a smartphone into the vehicle so that hand-held phones may be safely stowed while driving.
When OnStar debuted in 1996, it pioneered in-vehicle connectivity with the auto industry's first embedded telematics system. It has grown from primarily offering automatic crash notification and security features to include remote vehicle diagnostics, turn-by-turn navigation and the ability to slow down stolen vehicles.

In November 2010, OnStar released a smartphone application for all 2011 Chevy vehicles that incorporated remote start, lock/unlock, and vehicle status checks as well as battery management functions for Volt owners. Volt owners also have the MyVolt.com website to provide those remote management features and other Chevy owners soon will have access to similar web-based OnStar services.

The combination of MyLink and OnStar will soon be joined by the integration of the Powermat® charging system - eliminating the need for charging cords. Chevrolet MyLink will be available beginning with the 2012 Chevrolet Volt and Equinox this fall before expanding to other vehicles in the Chevy lineup over the next 18 months.

500C Abarth by Romeo Ferraris

The Italian tuning company Romeo Ferraris has released a tuning program for Fiat 500C Abarth.

The Romeo Ferraris Fiat 500C Abarth features a chrome plaited two-tone exterior paint job, with chromed side mirrors. At the interior, the 500C features black leather seats with diamond stitching and various chrome accents.

The car’s 1.4 liter turbocharged engine has been gifted with a new air filter, turbocharger (this also includes turbo accessories), a downpipe with fresh catalytic converters, as well as high-performance engine oil. The powerplant, which develops 140 hp when it leaves the factory, now produces 203 hp, allowing the person behind the wheel to play with big boys from the hot hatch segment.

Romeo Ferraris Fiat 500C Abarth also comes with a competition grade suspension system including adjustable sport shocks and springs, and wheel spacers. The tuned 500C Abarth stands on 17″ wheels, which house a big Brembo brake system.





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TECHNICAL DATA - ABARTH 500C ANNIVERSARY

DESIGN
- Chrome-plated two-tone paint
- Mirrors Chrome

INTERIOR
- Painted in red chrome bridge
- Coating black leather seats with diamond stitching

MECHANICS
- Competition Engine Kit (+63 hp), including:
electronic
Air Filters
increased turbine
turbo accessories
downpipe with catalytic metal
Central Sports
Sports Terminal
high-performance engine oil
racing engine oil additive

ALIGNMENT AND BRAKES
- Competition trim kit consists of:
adjustable sport shocks and springs
wheel spacers
- Replacement axle shock absorbers with uniball
- Mechanical limited slip differential
- Competition brake kit includes:
front brakes. Plus Brembo discs and calipers with 280 mm 4
pistons
Cross-drilled rear discs