Automotive Industry Headline Animator

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Toyota RZ Engine

In 1996, some models of Hilux went back to 4-cylinders with the RZ. The RZ was a family of 4-cylinder engines that consisted of the 1RZ-E, 2RZ-FE and 3RZ-FE. Their displacements were 2.0 litres, 2.4 litres, and 2.7 litres respectively and they produced 78 kW (105 hp), 106 kW (142 hp), and 112 kW (150 hp) also respectively. The 1RZ saw limited production mostly in Japan and select parts of Asia. The 2RZ first came to life in 1995 and ceased production in 2004 (2004 being the last model year this engine was used in a Hilux). Like the 2RZ, the 3RZ also came to life in 1995 and it's still in use to this day. ...........Read More

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Volkswagen Karman Gias

John Figg likes early Karmann Ghias so much that he has three of them, the best being the rate 1959 Amazon Green cabriolet seen in our studio pictures: "It's the looks that appeal so much. I love the rounded shape, and in my opinion the 'low-light' version is the prettiest."........Read More

Hino 258ALP


2008 Hino 258ALP chassis with Danco 21' x 102" wide bed. Chassis comes with Exhaust Brake, Digital Driver Display, Cold Weather Package (Glow Plugs, Block Heater, Heated Pre-fuel, Heated Mirrors) DAVCO fuel filter, Power Windows and 3 piece black bumper.......Read More

Toyota Camry Solara

The 2008 Camry Solara is a 2-door, up to 5-passenger family coupe, or convertible, available in 11 trims,ranging from the SE 5-Spd MT to the SLE Convertible....Read More

The 2009 Mazda CX-9

The 2009 CX-9 is a 4-door, 7-passenger sport-utility, available in 6 trims, ranging from the Sport FWD to the Grand Touring AWD..........Read More

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Jeep, Landrover and Hammer

It's been quite a while since we've heard any new news or rumors on the Mahindra truck launch in the United States. Is Mahindra steadily and methodically moving forward with their plans? We assume they continue to see the opportunity before them through the haze of Detroit's implosion.

On the surface, it seems like bad timing for Mahindra's plans to bring a rugged diesel truck to the US market. But take a deeper look at what is going on with the competition and all of the necessary justification is right there:
Hummer - is rotting on the vine. It's on GM's chopping block. AM General and a Chinese company are the only interested parties and their intentions are uncertain at best. Still a great unique line of vehicles with strong premium brand identity. GM could do so many things to make it a viable brand, but apparently they can't figure it out.

Jeep - is the emasculated shell of its former self. At one time it was a brand that made a strong statement about the individuality and outdoor lifestyle of its owner. Now it is a gelded byproduct of Chrysler platform sharing and build quality that never made it past 1983. The only hope for Jeep's legacy is that Cerberus sells the name outright, and someone comes in and puts the Compass, Liberty, and Patriot out of their misery.

Land Rover - has managed to keep its identity and prestige intact even though sales are horrendous. That is a real testament to Ford's ability to make it a shining star in their now dismembered Premier Auto Group. Land Rover will carry on, now owned by Tata Motors. This is extra incentive for Mahindra to compete head to head with their Indian rival.

By competition, we mean that we are only considering unique brands. Mahindra does not intend to go head to head with Chevy, Ford, Dodge, Nissan, and Toyota pick ups or SUVs. They hope to carve their own niche with a more exotic and unique vehicle. A heavy duty, mid-sized, luxury, diesel or diesel/hybrid pick up and SUV. This is why we consider the closest comparable brands and vehicles to be: Hummer, Jeep, and Land Rover.

Mahindra will be offering a vehicle that is on par with these premium brands for quality and luxury, but far more rugged and for a much lower price. Picture a Hummer H2T with a diesel, better load and towing capacity, and for less than half base price. Okay, maybe you don't get the 'look at me' value of a Hummer, but if that is a concern for you, you certainly aren't going to drive a Mahindra anyway.
Cheers to Mahindra and their continuing efforts.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Koenigsegg CCXR

The Koenigsegg Edition has been created to break records in the traditional Koenigsegg way. Our aim with the Edition is to deliver superior performance - on the track, in a straight line and on country roads - and to do so in style and comfort. According to our comparative studies, no other supercar can match the Edition in terms of power-to-weight ratio, aerodynamic balance, downforce and chassis stiffness. At the same time, the Edition maintains the CCX's fantastic drivability and its ability to absorb uneven road surfaces like no other supercar.

Both models are fitted with a remapped, 4.8 litre twin-supercharged Koenigsegg engine, and have been track-tuned by the inclusion of modified shock absorbers, stiffer springs and anti-roll bars, reset dampers and a lowered chassis.Downforce has been enhanced by the addition of an optimised rear wing, front winglets, a larger front splitter and nolder, all of which have been designed to create as much downforce as possible. In total the Edition produces over 350 kg of downforce at 250 km/h. The aerodynamics have been verified and optimized, both in CFD and during live testing on the Koenigsegg test track in Sweden and on various proving grounds in Europe.

The clean, Scandinavian design is accentuated by the clear lacquered finish, which reveals the bold, linear beauty of the carbon fibre construction. Each individual section of carbon fibre bodywork has been painstakingly matched and then joined together inside out like a tailored suit, to create a stunning pinstripe effect. The process is so time-consuming that it takes almost twice as much time to create the clear-coated visible carbon body compared to the normal painted carbon CCX body.

The exquisite leather interior, specially anodised aluminium trim and redesigned Koenigsegg Chronocluster and centre console combine with our unique forged aluminium wheel design to confirm the Edition's exclusive status. Standing beside the car, you would be forgiven for thinking it is already in motion - such is the dynamic presence of this breathtakingly stunning vehicle.The Edition comes with the free option of Michelin Cup Tyres, and a unique set of wheels designed to optimise their size and characteristics. These state-of-the-art tyres reduce braking distance, deliver faster acceleration from standstill and higher cornering G-force in dry conditions.

The CCX Edition runs on regular petrol and produces 888 Bhp, whilst the CCXR Edition has been modified as a bioflexfuel car, and can run E85, E100, regular 98 octane petrol (Europe) or a mixture of the three. When run solely on petrol, the engine produces 888 Bhp, but the higher octane E85 fuel makes higher compression, boost pressure and increased spark advance possible, enabling the engine to deliver a staggering 1018 Bhp.For the first time we can offer paddle-shift as an option for the Edition cars. In fact all manual Koenigsegg cars can now be altered to paddle-shift at a later stage, if so desired by the customer.

Prices for the CCX Edition start at 1,330,000 Euros net.
Prices for the CCXR Edition start at 1,500,000 Euros net.
Both cars come with a five-year factory warranty.

Production of the cars will be strictly limited: just 14 of the CCX Edition and 6 of the CCXR Edition will be made.