Endora SC-1 announced

A German company from Karlshuld has released the Endora SC-1, a sports car combining the past and the present. The SC1 is based on sixted generation Corvette technology.

The styling of the Endora SC-1 is inspired by the European and American models of the sixties and early seventies. It aims to combine dynamism, with elegance and individualism. The Endora SC-1 features HID headlights and LED fog-lights and taillights. IT has a long hood, an upward designed belt line and a dynamically shaped swing. In terms of aerodynamics, the Endora SC-1 features a rear diffuser, a wide front spoiler, and lode side skirts and a low ride height.

Under the hood, three different engines will be available. The entry-level model is powered by a 6.2-liter V8 that produces 436 PS (321 kW / 430 hp) and 424 lb-ft (574 Nm) of torque. Next up, the mid-range model has a 7.0-liter V8 with 512 PS (377 kW / 505 hp) and 470 lb-ft (637 Nm) of torque. Lastly, there's also a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that develops 647 PS (476 kW / 638 hp) and 604 lb-ft (818 Nm) of torque.

Every engine comes mated to a six-speed-manual gearbox, though customers opting for the base 430 horsepower mill can select an automatic transmission with paddle shifters.

Although no official acceleration times have been mentioned yet, it’s fair to say, in top-spec guise at least, the Endora SC-1 will perform like a retro muscle car, and at least keep up with the car it’s based on.




Press Release

Endora SC-1 - A Classic Sports Car-Design with modern technology

MUNICH - Presenting the brand-new SC-1 Endora-Cars® Germany proves what might be the best synergy of dynamic, elegance, individualism and lifestyle yet.

Dynamicly flowing body lines, a sporty sketched silhouette with a distinctive swing - the SC-1 picks up the looks and values of contemporary american and european Sports Cars once built in the sixties and early seventies and skillfully reinterprets it into the presence.

The Design
In its body shape the SC-1 among other things looks about the concept cars once built in the fifties, sixties and early seventies. Modern and timely interpreted without being too „retro" the SC-1 stands out due to its sharply patered front, holding high-intensity-discharge headlamps and LED-fog lights, a long engine hood, an upward designed belt line including a dynamicly shaped swing and a flowing rear end mit its extremly horizontally positioned back window.

The rear of the SC-1 houses two LED-taillights, optically accentuated through the black body part on which they were positioned. Below the beltline one can find an also black painted diffusor that contains the back-up- and fog-lamps.

A very special design cue is found on the side of the SC-1: Here a part of the body is formed in a contrasting color that somehow reminds of a design detail used on the classic sportscars once built in the fifties.

An amply dimensioned front spoiler not only lets the SC-1 be visually more to the ground, but also delivers a better compacting pressure to the front axle. Under consideration of all these details the car forms a harmonically designed, almost breath-taking entity. Uniqueness and polarization has a name - Endora SC-1.

The Technology
Under its flowing body lines SC-1-owners can trust on the modern technology of the current sixth generation of the Corvette. Therefore customers will get their Coupé equipped with a 6.2 Liter/376 ci Aluminum-V8 (437 hp, 424 lb-ft) already as the basic configuration. The second step in matters of power would be another eight cylinder, this time developing 512 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque out of its 7.0 Liter/437 ci engine. The top-of-the-line model will feature a supercharged version of the 6.2 Liter/376 ci V8, that will deliver an impressive 647 hp and 604 lb-ft of torque to the rear axle. Every engine is mated to a six-speed-manual gearbox, while an automatic transmission mit six gears and paddleshift is optional for the smallest V8.

The burned gasoline will be removed by sidepipes that end directly prior the rear wheel openings. The suspension of the SC-1 consists of cast aluminum upper and lower control arms, transverse-mounted composite leaf springs and monotube shock absorbers on all four ends. An electronic traction control is as standard as the Active Handling-system that monitors the driving dynamics. All Endora SC-1 will be delivered with 19 inch alloy wheels in the front and 20 inch rims in the back. As an option there will be 20 and 21 inch rims available.

2012 Opel Zafira Tourer【Video】

The Opel Zafira Tourer will make its world premiere at the 64th International Motor Show.

The new Flex7 seating system also offers greater cabin comfort than the standard Zafira. The two third-row seats still fold down for a larger luggage area, but the second-row bench has been replaced with separate seats that can slide longitudinally by 210 mm. An optional Lounge Seating system extends that to 280 mm and allows for the middle row to also be converted into a more comfortable two-seat combination.

When the Zafira Tourer launches in Europe this fall it will be available with three different versions of the 2.0L CDTI common-rail diesel engine with either 110, 130 or 165 horsepower. If you prefer a gasoline engine, the 1.4L Ecotec engine is available with either 120 or 140-hp. The engines can be mated to either six=speed manual or automatic transmissions.





Press Release

New Opel Zafira Tourer: First Class Transformer
2011-05-18

• Quantum leap: Flexibility master embraces premium qualities
• Exclusive seating concept: Individual wellness grows beyond family functionality
• Dynamic look: Athletic silhouette combined with striking front design
• Comfort and Safety: Innovative driver assistant systems enhance relaxed drive
• Rüsselsheim. The Opel Zafira Tourer will make its world premiere at the 64th International Motor Show in Frankfurt am Main, September 15 - 25, 2011. Offering a perfect blend of functionality and wellness, the Zafira Tourer brings Insignia premium quality values and innovative technologies as well as Opel's design philosophy - "sculptural artistry meets German precision" - to the monocab segment.

The "Tourer" in the name marks a quantum leap forward: With an extensively re-designed Flex7 seating system, the third generation of Opel's compact monocab establishes new standards in cabin flexibility and quality. But the metamorphosis goes beyond this enhanced ability to transform its cabin layout: The overall experience is upgraded. Relaxed driving comes with premium qualities thanks to a refined design, airy cabin atmosphere, an upgraded chassis and innovative technologies that increase comfort and safety.

The benchmark for flexibility offers rear passengers a new, first-class feeling

When it was launched 1999, the first generation Opel Zafira was not only the first seven-seater in its class. It also set new standards with fully integrated on-board flexibility. This means there is no need to remove and store heavy seats. Since 1999, Opel has sold more than 2.2 million units of two Zafira generations in Europe. Along with the Meriva, the European class leader in small monocabs, the Zafira has established Opel as the benchmark in flexibility and in the monocab segment.

Premium flexibility is the business card of the new Zafira Tourer. Opel engineers have substantially upgraded the clever Flex7 seating concept. While the entire third row can still be folded down flush with the floor of the luggage compartment, the second row has been completely re-designed: No longer a bench, it now consists of three separate, individual seats that can be folded flat and moved independently of each other. Each can slide longitudinally by 210 mm.

In addition, passengers in the second row can benefit from the unique, optional Lounge Seating system, providing generous limousine-like seating space and comfort. Thanks to a clever folding mechanism, the back of the middle seat in the second row folds down and rotates to offer comfortable armrests for the passengers in the outer seats. The longitudinal movement of the outer seats in this case is extended to 280 mm - 70 mm more than in the standard version, and 80 mm more than in the current Zafira. Moreover, the outer seats slide by 50 mm towards the center of the cabin, a true novelty in the segment.

The combination of both longitudinal and lateral movements ensures first-class comfort and the unique feeling of travelling in a "lounge on wheels", with maximum individual space and ergonomics, as passengers can change position at their convenience while travelling. This emphasis on personal comfort makes the Zafira Tourer much more than just a family vehicle. Opel designers turned the flexible interior into a wellness oasis, a place to relax and enjoy the spacious atmosphere - be it on a business trip or a long journey with friends.

Unique features further enhance Zafira Tourer's flexibility

Thanks to its generous cabin space and flexible seating system, the Zafira Tourer offers 710 liters load volume in a five-seat configuration (65 liters more than the current Zafira), and up to 1,860 liters (+ 40 liters) when all rear seats are folded down.

It also provides ample storage space including the revolutionary multi-functional FlexConsole, an enhancement of the innovative FlexRail system introduced last year in the Meriva. This standard-setting innovation is just another example of premium flexibility in the Zafira Tourer. The armrest featuring a storage box and the cup holder trail both slide on the aluminum rails to the desired position, enabling flexible use of the generous storage space between the front seats - exactly where it is most accessible and useful.

The second generation of Opel's exclusive integrated FlexFix bicycle carrier system also premieres in the new Zafira Tourer. To date around 60,000 Opel customers have opted for this highly acclaimed carrier that is integrated in the rear bumper and is simply pulled out like a drawer. Building on the experience of the first generation, the system has been re-engineered and features a new fastening device that makes it even more functional and easier to use.

Zafira Tourer stands out with athletic look

"The Zafira is Opel's flexibility icon, and we wanted to bring more emotion and premium qualities into its third generation," says Mark Adams, Vice President, Opel/Vauxhall Design. "The Opel Zafira Tourer makes a statement with its sleek, sporty look and premium feel."

The distinctive front with its bold twin "boomerang" graphics sweeping from the top of the headlights to the bottom of the fog lamps, its characteristic Opel center crease and proud trapezoidal grille create a dynamic, progressive look, unusual for a monocab. In line with all other models in the range, the headlights feature the Opel-typical "wing shaped" daytime running light graphic.

The streamlined, aerodynamic bodywork design of the Zafira Tourer lends it a silhouette that is reminiscent of a high-speed train. The belt line sweeps upwards in a hockey stick-like gesture and visually propels the vehicle forward, while the Opel characteristic "blade" sculpts and adds motion to the body side.

The wing-shaped graphic from the headlights is repeated in the tail lamps, which can be enhanced with LED technology. The horizontal chrome bar carrying the Opel logo stretches far into the split light elements, giving the Zafira Tourer a broad, sporty look in the rear and adding a premium touch.

As for the interior, driver's visibility has been dramatically improved thanks to a completely re-designed front layout with slim A-pillars, large side windows and a repositioned side rear view mirror - now mounted on the door panel.

The high-class quality cabin is dominated by dynamic, sculptural shapes and a feeling of spacious comfort. The bright, airy lounge atmosphere in the Zafira Tourer can be enhanced by the optionally available panorama windscreen - an innovation that Opel introduced in 2005 in the Astra GTC. It flows into a generous glass sunroof that visually extends all the way to the back of the vehicle.

Adaptive FlexRide chassis control enhances driving comfort and safety

For a relaxed driving experience, the Zafira Tourer mechatronic chassis has been designed to provide an outstanding level of comfort and safety. Compared to the previous generation, the wheelbase and tracks have increased substantially to the benefit of ride comfort and dynamic stability: The wheel base is now 2,760 mm (+ 57 mm), while the tracks are 1,584 mm in front (+ 96 mm) and 1,588 in the rear (+ 78 mm).

The Zafira Tourer features the front axle of the Insignia, with an isolated sub-frame and a McPherson strut. The layout of the rear axle is unique in the monocab segment. Like in the Astra, it combines a compound crank with a Watt's link. This construction has multiple benefits: While it provides outstanding stability/control, comfort and noise insulation, it is lighter and more compact than a multi-link axle that for instance would not leave enough space to fit the integrated FlexFix bicycle carrier offered in the Zafira Tourer.

Still a rarity in the monocab segment, the intelligent, fully-adaptive FlexRide chassis control system in the Zafira Tourer enhances driving comfort and safety on demand. It automatically adapts to road conditions, cornering speed, vehicle movements and individual driving style to provide maximum stability, and offers a choice between three settings: the balanced Standard mode, the comfort-oriented "Tour" mode and the more active "Sport" mode.

Greater driving safety thanks to intelligent assistant systems

A host of innovative Driver Assistant systems enhance driving comfort and overall safety in the new Zafira Tourer.

A new feature in the Opel range, the radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Collision Mitigating Braking (CMB) constantly monitors the distance to the vehicles ahead. If the set safety distance is not observed, the system automatically reduces vehicle speed or, in extreme cases, triggers emergency braking to prevent a collision.
The Opel Eye front camera system of the second generation also premieres in the Zafira Tourer. While it still features the familiar Lane Departure Warning (LDW), its Traffic Sign Recognition functionality (TSR) is improved and widely extended. The camera also supports new functions such as:

A Following Distance Indication (FDI) that visually informs the driver about the distance to the vehicle ahead.
A Forward Collision Alert (FCA) that warns the driver via visual and acoustic signals about an imminent collision with the vehicle ahead.
An Intelligent Light Ranging system (ILR) that adds a new function to the Bi- Xenon Advanced Forward Lighting system (AFL+): It adjusts the headlamp low beam pattern to the distance from the vehicle ahead and continuously adapts it to optimize roadway illumination without blinding.
Further innovative driver assistant systems also make their premiere in the Zafira Tourer:

The Side Blind Spot Alert (SBSA) warns the driver of an imminent collision when changing lanes.
To facilitate parking maneuvers, the Advanced Park Assist (APA) helps the driver finding an adequate space to park and guides him to get in; and the Rear View Camera makes even difficult maneuvers in tight spaces child's play.
Highly efficient diesel and gasoline engines available at launch

At launch this fall, the Opel Zafira Tourer will be available with three versions of the 2.0 CDTI common-rail turbo diesel engine familiar from the Astra and Insignia. Outputs are
81 kW/110 hp and 96 kW/130 hp, while the unit topping the offer has been reworked to deliver 121 kW/165 hp. The gasoline range comprises two downsized, fuel-efficient
1.4 ECOTEC turbo-charged gasoline units, with 88 kW/120 hp and 103 kW/140 hp. Six-speed manual and automatic transmissions are available.

Opel's new Start/Stop technology that brings further fuel savings, particularly in urban stop and go traffic, is offered with both the 1.4 Turbo gasoline and 2.0 CDTI powertrains.

Soon after its debut, the Zafira Tourer offer will expand with a super fuel-efficient ecoFLEX model as well as variants powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG). A few months later, high-performance powertrains will also be introduced, including gasoline units of a completely new generation.
Opel's extended monocab offer comprises two Zafira models

As the segment of the compact monocab has resumed its growth since the beginning of 2010, it is expected to be further energized by Opel. The current Opel Zafira will remain on offer next to the new, more refined Zafira Tourer, allowing traditional customers to benefit from a functional, flexible compact monocab at a very affordable price.

Opel's monocab range thus consists of the mini Agila (length: 3.74 meters), the small Meriva (4.29 m), and the compact Zafira (4.47 m) and Zafira Tourer (4.66 m).

Both Zafira models will be built exclusively in Opel's Bochum plant in Germany.

2012 Honda CR-Z Mugen concept

Honda has released the first pictures of the CR-Z Mugen, ahead of its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

2012 Honda CR Z Mugen Rear View 495x355 2012 Honda CR Z Mugen
After a further 15 per cent increase in power over this ‘stage 1′ engine and with over 50 kg reduced from the chassis, overall performance is set to meet Mugen’s original targets.

That achieved 0-60mph in 6.6 seconds, and the team says the test version has already passed that, thanks to a hike in power to 200bhp and 245Nm of torque.

The regular 1.5 i-VTEC engine develops 113bhp, while Mugen's bolting on a supercharger and fettling the IMA hybrid system for nearer 200bhp and 181lb ft. And Mugen's dieticians have stripped out 50kg of unnecessary heft, to make the CR-Z more agile. The bonnet is made from carbonfibre while the wheels are lightweight Mugen alloys.

Mugen also has upgraded handling and performance, fitting adjustable shocks and large disc brakes, increasing track and reducing weight. Mugen GP 17-inch forged alloy wheels are part of an exterior package that includes front and rear airdams, side skirts and a rear wing.

Press Release

FIRST IMAGES OF CR-Z MUGEN REVEALED

Honda (UK) and MUGEN Euro have revealed the first official photographs of the CR-Z MUGEN - the higher-performance hybrid coupe.

Development of the supercharged Honda CR-Z is on track, with performance figures already looking promising.

Early tests with a prototype car based on a standard CR-Z and a mid-tune engine have given 0-60mph times around that of the Civic Type R.

After a further 15 per cent increase in power over this 'stage 1' engine and with over 50kg reduced from the chassis, overall performance is set to meet MUGEN's original targets.

"Early fuel consumption tests have also been encouraging," says Colin Whittamore from MUGEN Euro. "We've retained the three driving modes from the standard car and economy ranges from 50+mpg in 'eco' mode to mid-30 mpg when tapping into the supercharged power in a special 'MUGEN' mode."