Snowman: A low-cost Volkswagen Touareg from Skoda?

Skoda may be fully considered a success, both within the industrial group VAG and compared to the global automotive industry. However, there are departments that seem to be very promising, and this advantage also comes from the parent corporation that provides unconditionally optimal technical platforms.

It seems that the company is preparing its offensive to the large SUV segment. Most likely, the platform used by the Czechs will be the Volkswagen Touareg. However, is not excluded the elongation of compact MQB platform from which will benefit the future Volkswagen Golf and Passat, and the new generations of Seat Leon and Audi A3.

Skoda’s SUV would wear the name Snowman, which retains the name of Czech 4×4 cars. Even so, it is likely that the final name to be Grand Yeti, in the case of adoption of the two technical platforms.

The great advantage that the SUV will have on the car market will be given by the possibility that the upcoming version to be offered in both standard and long wheelbase, but here’s a hot detail: it seems that Skoda prepares an SUV-coupe with four doors, inspired by BMW X6, which supreme argumet will consist of very tempting price.

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The Alliance Between GM and PSA Brings Two New Cars

Although  just a few weeks have passed after formalising the partnership between GM and PSA, the two already began to exchange the employees for a successful cooperation.

GM’s CEO, Dan Akerson says that it wants to develop at least two passenger cars by early autumn 2012. These cars would go into production in 2015 in the U.S. market and in 2016 in the rest of car markets. Although there is great concern in PSA group on the purchase of new materials and services, the head of GM, said that joint projects could become more important due to the alliance.

They want to produce a car which will fit in small class and a sedan in larger class. The small class will be sold on the European market. Initially will focus on markets from South America and even consider the Chinese market, where currently the partner models are sold individually, while the local partnerships are well established and safe for both GM and PSA.

Both companies have manufacturing plants in Brazil and Argentina where sold mainly small cars sold. It seems that in this region PSA wants to launch new models in the same time as in the European market and not after, as they did in the past.

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Lithium-ion Batteries, Cheaper in 2014

The number of hybrid or electric cars grows slowly, from year to year. However, the potential customers of cars like Toyota Prius, Honda Insight, Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe have to face the same problem, regardless of the environmental benefits, purchase price is relatively high.

The situation is about to change, since the green car market increases and the cost of equipment is likely to decrease. A recent study shows that the price of lithium-ion batteries will decrease by not less than 30% until 2017.

The conclusions of the study give as safe a fulminate increase of the battery market, its value will reach $14.6 billion from the current $2 billion. A rate of 25% will be overtaken by the models for Europe and North America, whose lower prices are a direct consequence of production.

» Read More...

Lithium-ion Batteries, Cheaper in 2014

The number of hybrid or electric cars grows slowly, from year to year. However, the potential customers of cars like Toyota Prius, Honda Insight, Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe have to face the same problem, regardless of the environmental benefits, purchase price is relatively high.

The situation is about to change, since the green car market increases and the cost of equipment is likely to decrease. A recent study shows that the price of lithium-ion batteries will decrease by not less than 30% until 2017.

The conclusions of the study give as safe a fulminate increase of the battery market, its value will reach $14.6 billion from the current $2 billion. A rate of 25% will be overtaken by the models for Europe and North America, whose lower prices are a direct consequence of production.

» Read More...

Teaser for the next Citroen DS

Citroen DS range seems to fill quickly. In just two years the concept has translated into DS3, DS4 and DS5. The French are preparing to enter in the most difficult area of the premium segment, the next DS will be the largest in the range.

Even today, Citroën has published on the official Facebook page, first-teaser picture of the future flagship. Although we are dealing with an artistic image, made quite clear, intentional, we observed a significant influence of the concept Citroen Metropolis.

Limousine, presented as a concept at Shanghai Auto Show 2010, announce a new design for the brand of Hexagon, marked by sharp lines and large consoles. With a spectacular design, the show car was made even by the design team organized by Citroen in Shanghai. The car from teaser presents the same proportions, but the headlights look to be new, and the doors seem to be conventional.

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Hyundai Santa Fe official preview

The current generation of Hyundai Santa Fe is the oldest car of the Koreans range, which is likely to affect the car sales. Asians, however, take advantage of New York Auto Show to present the first official renderings of the SUV.

Hyundai Santa Fe is designed according to the company’s new design language, called suggestively Storm Edge. This is an evolution of current topics of graphics used at Hyundai cars, Fluid Sculpture. The picture shows us the new model from the front, but the back it is a complete mystery.

However, we see that the car lines are a blend of fluids forms, adopting the current technology and take angular reasons. The lights are using DRL technology (Daylight Running Lights), the high hood and bumper creates a massive majestic, typical for SUV. The new trapezoidal grille brings a new image.

The side remembers of the current ix35, and chrome line of windows separates from the “shoulder” above the rear wheels, all ending with a flaring. Stops are extended on rear wing and wheels in five-spoke twins create a sporty design. We’ll see how the production car will materialize, and this will happen just in time because Ford Kuga and the new Honda CR-V receive a new rival.

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Artistic Vision for Bugatti 16C Galibier

Bugatti 16C Galibier is the dream of many tycoons who, perhaps, have already grown tired of their old Veyron. For them and for us, all who are curious to see how it will manifest the most luxurious Bugatti ever, Macedonian designer Dejan Hristov has the ideal solution.

Macedonian’s car comply the allure of the concept presented by Bugatti in 2010, but brings elements altogether and from an entirely new angle. For example, the front has some small optical block, which when are not in use, are “hiding” under some retractable flaps, with a protective role.

The back does not keep much of the original concept. Large and semicircular lights used by Galibier, are replaced with a LED piece, grouped around a chrome bar. The access to the interior is made through some gullwing type doors, which eliminated the need of pillar. Regardless of how Bugatti 16C Galibier will go into production, studies like this do not make anything more but to stir up spirits among those who will buy the car.

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Disco Volante â€" The Italian star at Geneva 2012

It seems that Touring Superleggera is very nostalgic, especially when it comes to Alfa Romeo cars from the past. However, the small Italian company is not just thinking about that. Thus, the development of Disco Volante, which honors the eponymous model Alfa Romeo in 1952, is one of their main concerns.

The car uses the technical platform of Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione and uses a 4.7-litre V8 engine, centrally located. The sequential gearbox and limited slip differential helps to perfect the sporty potential and performance is a logical consequence: 4.2 seconds from 0-100 km/h and a top speed of 292 km/h.

The interior is also taken from 8C, but is customized according to customer brand preference. No fewer than 4,000 hours of labor required Disco Volante, which translates into eight months of waiting, after the client has surrendered 8C Competizione in the hands of the designers from Touring Superleggera.

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Fiat: The “Greenest” Manufacturer in 2011

The consulting company Jato Dynamics prepares a top of greenest car manufacturers every year by looking at the average CO2 emissions of the cars sold in Europe. Specifically, experts gather CO2 emissions of each model, then divide the resulting amount by the total number of vehicles sold.

Fiat has taken the first place with an average of only 118.2 g/km, down by 4.9 g/km compared to 2010. Even taking all brands of Fiat Group into account (Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Ferrari, Maserati), the Italians remain favourites with an average of 123.3 g/km CO2 emissions. That’s 2.6 g/km lower than in the last year.

In 2006 Fiat cars had an average of 137.3 g/km, so within 5 years they have reduced emissions by 14%. Moreover, Fiat has already managed to surpass the limit of 130 g/km, which EU will require the car manufacturers to reach by 2015.

The factors which have helped the Italian manufacturer to maintain this result for the fourth year in a row are a particular interest in LPG engines and serious investments to increase efficiency of the TwinAir 2-cylinder engine (which won the title of the Engine of the Year 2011).

» Read More...

Fiat: The “Greenest” Manufacturer in 2011

The consulting company Jato Dynamics prepares a top of greenest car manufacturers every year by looking at the average CO2 emissions of the cars sold in Europe. Specifically, experts gather CO2 emissions of each model, then divide the resulting amount by the total number of vehicles sold.

Fiat has taken the first place with an average of only 118.2 g/km, down by 4.9 g/km compared to 2010. Even taking all brands of Fiat Group into account (Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Ferrari, Maserati), the Italians remain favourites with an average of 123.3 g/km CO2 emissions. That’s 2.6 g/km lower than in the last year.

In 2006 Fiat cars had an average of 137.3 g/km, so within 5 years they have reduced emissions by 14%. Moreover, Fiat has already managed to surpass the limit of 130 g/km, which EU will require the car manufacturers to reach by 2015.

The factors which have helped the Italian manufacturer to maintain this result for the fourth year in a row are a particular interest in LPG engines and serious investments to increase efficiency of the TwinAir 2-cylinder engine (which won the title of the Engine of the Year 2011).

» Read More...

Binz presents Mercedes-Benz E-Class XXXL

If megalomaniac spirit meets occasionally with the need of space, Binz has the ideal solution. The E-Class longer possible, but also the most strident. Binz is a German Company known for the extravagant projects, especially models such as Mercedes-Benz E-Class and S-Class, which are treated by stretching. This time, however, the tuner seems to have decided that the need for space goes hand in hand with the desire of show off.

Thus, the new E-Class Binz is the perfect tool for those who like attention. The orange pearl screaming fits perfectly with the carbon cap, and if you wonder how many cm in length gained the new model, well, the answer is 86.

The total length of the car reached at 5.76 meters, but Binz guarantee that its security was not threatened at all. ESP has been recalibrated against the new size and speed was limited to 210 km/h. The price for this car will be 125,000 euro.

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Fiat 500L â€" The Official details

The family Fiat 500 is complete. After the three-door version or the charming 500C, is the time to see how it looks the five-door version. Fiat 500L measures 414 cm in length, 178 cm wide and has a height of 166 cm. The increase in size required a new approach in terms of design, but the Italians have done a good job at this chapter.

The front has a stately air than the three-door version. The bumper has a very broad scale. The lights were considerably increased, and now have an elongated shape and the hood is arched. On the side, we can see new mirrors and chrome door handles. From the back, 500L is like the basic model. The taillights have a round shape, being embedded in a large chrome trim effect. The cargo door dimensions announce a very practical decision.

Under the hood, the car will be equipped with 0.9 liter TwinAir engine or with 1.4 liter petrol engine, and for diesel we can choose 1.3 liter MultiJet engine. The spiritual descendant of the legendary Fiat 600 Multipla will be introduced at the Geneva Motor Show.

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The New Audi Technologies in the Future

For the future of Audi electric cars, German engineers have teamed up with U.S. Company WiTricity to build wireless systems supply electricity to car batteries. Is not a new idea this “wireless charging”, but Audi will be sure that they provide the most reliable technology.

The principle is simple: in the parking space is mounted an induction coil, which generates a magnetic field when electric current is passed. The magnetic field reaches at a sufficient distance to produce, on its turn, electricity into another coil, this time mounted on the car.

So, without the need of cables, the car batteries can be charged simply, Audi engineers promised that this will not be affected by rain, snow or ice. They also promise that this technology will be available on production cars within two or three years.

Garage Parking Pilot

It is a system to which Volkswagen engineers are already working for. “Parking Garage Pilot” will combine the existing system Audi Parking Assistant with the new autonomous driving of the car.

The car systems will interact with the local wireless of the parking, which will communicate to. Avoid unwanted collisions will be provided by equipping cars with future system of vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

» Read More...

The New Audi Technologies in the Future

For the future of Audi electric cars, German engineers have teamed up with U.S. Company WiTricity to build wireless systems supply electricity to car batteries. Is not a new idea this “wireless charging”, but Audi will be sure that they provide the most reliable technology.

The principle is simple: in the parking space is mounted an induction coil, which generates a magnetic field when electric current is passed. The magnetic field reaches at a sufficient distance to produce, on its turn, electricity into another coil, this time mounted on the car.

So, without the need of cables, the car batteries can be charged simply, Audi engineers promised that this will not be affected by rain, snow or ice. They also promise that this technology will be available on production cars within two or three years.

Garage Parking Pilot

It is a system to which Volkswagen engineers are already working for. “Parking Garage Pilot” will combine the existing system Audi Parking Assistant with the new autonomous driving of the car.

The car systems will interact with the local wireless of the parking, which will communicate to. Avoid unwanted collisions will be provided by equipping cars with future system of vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

» Read More...

2012 Geneva: Magna Steyr MILA Coupic Concept

Magna Steyr is not a real automobile manufacturer, but is seriously involved in building cars – some of the sound names from auto world have externalized the production of certain models to Magna Steyr factories, best-known examples being Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Aston Martin Rapide or Mini Countryman.

MILA Coupic concept combines three cars in one. It’s about a SUV which can be converted into a sporty pickup or into a convertible life-style. At least about the SUV we give them right, the roof which plunges steeply to the rear and two-tone paint printing on the car a dynamic image.

Regarding to the style “open-air convertible”, Magna Steyr would be better to look at Range Rover Evoque. MILA Coupic Concept adopts, in fact, another solution: the roof is soft-top, made of small panels of glass, divided into two large sections which can be opened independently.

In the practical part, MILA Coupic can turn into a kind of pick-up thanks to a clever folding system at vertical of the back seat: pushing the button, it slides forward, ie the partition between the front and back is cleared, where can be transported bicycles or sports equipment.

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2012 Geneva Motor Show Highlights Part 2

With the public open days of the Geneva Motor Show almost over, let’s go over the cars which don’t have quite as much power as we mentioned in our first part.  Whilst most of the attention was focused on the supercars and SUVs of the show, there was no shortage of hot hatches and eco-friendly tech around…Though it didn’t seem as much of a big thing this year, the environment was definitely a focus of this year’s show.  There were plenty of EVs and hybrids, alongside some extremely efficient traditional engines.  Hopefully the lack of fanfare regarding the majority of these could mean that they are quickly becoming a normal part of the industry and accepted in the same way as more traditional motors.

Renault's new Zoe EV, set for release by the end of 2012 with a 130-mile range

Let’s start on a high-note, shall we? Renault had a great show in Switzerland this year, with the biggest news arguably coming from a nice little EV called Zoe.  The car was production-ready, and looks fantastic.  The 100% electric car boasts an equivalent power of 88bhp and a top speed of 84MPH.  The range is 130 miles on a full charge, though that is in ideal conditions.  The average user will probably get between 60 to 90 miles depending on the roads, type of driving and other factors.  The time it takes to charge this car?  30 minutes at a quick-charge point, but likely considerably longer from a home socket.  The biggest news about this car, though, is the price.  £13,650 once the £5,000 EV grant has been taken off.  That’s seriously affordable, and in all it makes a great family car.

Nissan's Invitation concept, looking fantastic and most likely to replace the Note

Just as exciting, though not as feature complete is the Invitation concept, a more aggressive looking traditional engined car from Nissan.  Designed to be sold between the Micra and the Juke crossover, Nissan have targeted the best model to fall below 100g/km CO2, but say that all of the upcoming models will be able to wear the Pure Drive badge with honour.  Due to be launched early in 2013, there are no pricing details yet, but I’m sure Nissan won’t take long to announce a production-ready model soon.

Fiat's MPV based on the extremely popular 500

If you need a little more space for the kids, a pile of kittens or all that shopping you need to do, but don’t want to sacrifice great Italian design, the Fiat 500L should satisfy all you desires.  Based on the incredibly well received 500 model, the 500L will launch with the choice of 2 gasoline engines (Fiat’s 900cc Twinair and a four-cylinder 1.4 litre model) and a 1.3 litre Diesel.  Not quite as cute as it’s little sister, the new machine will no doubt find fans in its European home market when it comes to launch towards the end of 2012.

Honda's EV-STER concept paves the way for more environmentally-focused roadsters

It’s not all tiny cars or family cars running efficient motors, however.  Honda held the European debut for it’s EV-STER roadster concept at Geneva, after a great reception at Tokyo last year.  The biggest headline from this car is the lack of a steering wheel.  Instead, the driver uses two vertical handlebars which are meant to represent more of a motorcycle’s steering system.  This, however, should not take away from the specs, being a 99mph top speed and 0-60 in 5 seconds.  These are some pretty impressive figures for an EV, and it looks like Honda have given the project a green light for production.  I’ll have 3, please!

Toyota's full-hybrid, ultra lightweight city car, the FT-Bh

An international motor show would never be complete wthout some crazyness from at least one of the Japanese automakers, and we had that in spades at Geneva.  This is the FT-Bh, Toyota’s experiment with creating something ultra-lightweight, stylish and environmentally responsible.  All evidence points to the Japanese firm as being successful in its goal.  25% lighter than the Yaris, yet still using existing materials, the car achieves 135mpg and just 49g/km of CO2, making it ridiculously efficient with its hybrid powertrain.  Though there don’t seem to be any plans for production of this slice of awesome from the far-east, we wouldn’t be surprised if the lessons learned here don’t filter down into the production line, and that can only be a good thing, right?

Thanks for reading this post!  If you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to leave your views below, and we will see you again soon.

» Read More...

2012 Geneva Motor Show Highlights Part 2

With the public open days of the Geneva Motor Show almost over, let’s go over the cars which don’t have quite as much power as we mentioned in our first part.  Whilst most of the attention was focused on the supercars and SUVs of the show, there was no shortage of hot hatches and eco-friendly tech around…Though it didn’t seem as much of a big thing this year, the environment was definitely a focus of this year’s show.  There were plenty of EVs and hybrids, alongside some extremely efficient traditional engines.  Hopefully the lack of fanfare regarding the majority of these could mean that they are quickly becoming a normal part of the industry and accepted in the same way as more traditional motors.

Renault's new Zoe EV, set for release by the end of 2012 with a 130-mile range

Let’s start on a high-note, shall we? Renault had a great show in Switzerland this year, with the biggest news arguably coming from a nice little EV called Zoe.  The car was production-ready, and looks fantastic.  The 100% electric car boasts an equivalent power of 88bhp and a top speed of 84MPH.  The range is 130 miles on a full charge, though that is in ideal conditions.  The average user will probably get between 60 to 90 miles depending on the roads, type of driving and other factors.  The time it takes to charge this car?  30 minutes at a quick-charge point, but likely considerably longer from a home socket.  The biggest news about this car, though, is the price.  £13,650 once the £5,000 EV grant has been taken off.  That’s seriously affordable, and in all it makes a great family car.

Nissan's Invitation concept, looking fantastic and most likely to replace the Note

Just as exciting, though not as feature complete is the Invitation concept, a more aggressive looking traditional engined car from Nissan.  Designed to be sold between the Micra and the Juke crossover, Nissan have targeted the best model to fall below 100g/km CO2, but say that all of the upcoming models will be able to wear the Pure Drive badge with honour.  Due to be launched early in 2013, there are no pricing details yet, but I’m sure Nissan won’t take long to announce a production-ready model soon.

Fiat's MPV based on the extremely popular 500

If you need a little more space for the kids, a pile of kittens or all that shopping you need to do, but don’t want to sacrifice great Italian design, the Fiat 500L should satisfy all you desires.  Based on the incredibly well received 500 model, the 500L will launch with the choice of 2 gasoline engines (Fiat’s 900cc Twinair and a four-cylinder 1.4 litre model) and a 1.3 litre Diesel.  Not quite as cute as it’s little sister, the new machine will no doubt find fans in its European home market when it comes to launch towards the end of 2012.

Honda's EV-STER concept paves the way for more environmentally-focused roadsters

It’s not all tiny cars or family cars running efficient motors, however.  Honda held the European debut for it’s EV-STER roadster concept at Geneva, after a great reception at Tokyo last year.  The biggest headline from this car is the lack of a steering wheel.  Instead, the driver uses two vertical handlebars which are meant to represent more of a motorcycle’s steering system.  This, however, should not take away from the specs, being a 99mph top speed and 0-60 in 5 seconds.  These are some pretty impressive figures for an EV, and it looks like Honda have given the project a green light for production.  I’ll have 3, please!

Toyota's full-hybrid, ultra lightweight city car, the FT-Bh

An international motor show would never be complete wthout some crazyness from at least one of the Japanese automakers, and we had that in spades at Geneva.  This is the FT-Bh, Toyota’s experiment with creating something ultra-lightweight, stylish and environmentally responsible.  All evidence points to the Japanese firm as being successful in its goal.  25% lighter than the Yaris, yet still using existing materials, the car achieves 135mpg and just 49g/km of CO2, making it ridiculously efficient with its hybrid powertrain.  Though there don’t seem to be any plans for production of this slice of awesome from the far-east, we wouldn’t be surprised if the lessons learned here don’t filter down into the production line, and that can only be a good thing, right?

Thanks for reading this post!  If you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to leave your views below, and we will see you again soon.

» Read More...

It’s official â€" Renault Zoe from 20,700 Euro

With a length of 4,084 metres, a width of 1,730 metres and a height of 1,568 metres, Renault Zoe is powered by an electric motor of 88 hp and a torque of 220 Nm, with a top speed of 84mph.

The car has a range of 130 miles, but the French manufacturer says that at winter, the autonomy is between 62 and 93 miles, depending directly on the outside temperature. Importantly at a pure electric car is the battery charging time.

Manufacturer says that at a normal socket, the required time of a fully charged battery is included in a range from 30 minutes to nine hours. Renault Zoe is equipped with a system called very suggestively, Range Optimizer, its role is to improve the autonomy of the car.

In terms of equipment levels, Renault Zoe will be available in three trim levels. The standard equipment “Life” will provide to customers facilities such as air conditioning, navigation system with electric management, MyZE package, a package which enables the connecting of smartphones, Eco-Mode and Voice ZE, the driver having three sounds for warning the pedestrians.

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Electric Ford Focus â€" Ford’s first electric car in Europe

The production version of Renault ZOE was not the only electric car at Geneva Motor Show 2012 – French manufacturers are countered by Ford, which are bringing their first electric car of large series in Europe, Ford Focus Electric, a model that already is on sale in the U.S. market.

Recently, the American Environmental Agency has established the official consumption of Ford Focus EV, which, with 105 MPGe, it turns out to be 6 MPGe better than of already known Nissan Leaf (MPGe – miles per gallon gasoline equivalent). In addition, Focus’s batteries are loaded on half of the time required for charging batteries from Leaf.

So, Focus Electric across the ocean with a very good visit card, especially since, on the Old Continent, Focus has earned a reputation as one of the best handling compact car class. The European version of the Ford Focus Electric announces a theoretical range of 160 km.

Ford Focus Electric is powered by a 23 kWh battery pack that can be loaded up to 4 hours. For the price we have to wait until the end of the year, Focus Electric can be ordered in most European markets – in U.S., the official price is 40,000 USD, very close to Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt.

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Builders of incredible homebuilt machines keep popping up and here's another example of a very impressive motorcycle designed for the purpose of handling the twisty roads of California's canyons. This bike consists of a Kawasaki 500cc 2 stroke triple engine, front and rear suspension from a ZX9 and everything else "Jaybuilt." Total weight is 310 pounds!

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The bikes all feature direct-drive by chain, and are recharged from either 110 or 220-volt household supplies. The street machines have larger battery packs than the off-road equivalents, and weigh a little more. But none of them is heavy. Zero claims 277 pounds for the dualsport DS model and 161 pounds for the X trailbike.

Designed by aero-engineer and accomplished mountain-bike designer Neale Saiki, the Zeros feature aviation-grade lightweight aluminum frames weighing just 18 pounds in the roadgoing models, and 13 pounds in the off-road editions. Light wheels and suspension components, mostly sourced from Taiwan, help keep the overall mass down.

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Suzuki Sport M 1800

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Suzuki GSX-R Streetfighter Motorcycles Modification

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The concept bike is meant is on the screen at Auto Expo-10 in a beautiful red and well executed and the white color and displays a sharp bikini fairing.



Unicorn Sports Concept also features a spoon tank performed well, the side body panels, heat shield and rear disc brakes.

Although there is no word yet from HMSI, on whether or not Honda Unicorn Sports Concept will be launched in India, HMSI go by track record, we're pretty sure that Unicorn Concept Sports will soon see light of day, especially since HMSI plans to accelerate growth within close to launching new models, and variants.

honda unicorn sport concept

honda unicorn speedometer

honda unicorn head light

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You see the Honda Classic small cc builds. Makes me wish I as 25 years younger and 100 lbs lighted. This Honda CB looks like cafe racer style

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Another item on the HP2 Sport to identify its racing bias is what BMW calls the "the gearshift assistant." This bit of wordsmith trickery translates into what is a type of ignition interrupt that allows the rider keep the throttle pinned whilst snicking up through the close-ratio six-speed gear-set, as used for several years on the roadracing circuit. BMW says it enables "fast gear changes without having to ease off the gas and operate the clutch," and that "this technology is offered for the first time in a series vehicle."

Here's a peek at the "gear shift

assistant." Us old timers know this as clutch-less upshifting, and have been doing it long before "gear shift assistants" were around. Okay, maybe BMW's system is a little more advanced...

If you intend to race this bike, you'll most likely make the wise move of using a reverse shift pattern, and for just such an application BMW offers (at an additional charge of course), a "suitable replacement pressure sensor" to adapt the quick-shifter to a GP-style race pattern. The forged-aluminum footpegs are adjustable.

A quick scan of the chassis shows fully-adjustable Öhlins shocks keeping the rear Paralever and front Telelever in check. What isn't quite as obvious at first glance is just how minimal the frame is. It's really nothing more than a small collection of tubular steel to hang the engine from and to provide a place for the bodywork and fuel tank to bolt to. Lacking a traditional subframe, the Sport utilizes a self-supporting carbon rear structure as a perch for the rider’s hiney.

This hopped-up head sports larger valves than those on the R1200S, and is part of the performance package that is claimed to produce 128 hp and 84.8 ft-lbs of torque.

Braking is handled by radially mounted four-piston monoblock Brembo calipers and Magura brake levers with radial-pump master cylinders attached to the adjustable handlebars. As an option, BMW ABS can be had, the version for this bike coming with a switch to disable it for track time, or any other time for that matter.

The German bike maker claims that the instrument cluster comes "directly from MotoGP sport" offering the usual ton o' data along with a lap timer and "racing relevant data."

Finally, along with all the carbon bodywork, no subframe and a lighter generator, the HP2 Sport rolls on lightweight forged-aluminum wheels to achieve its claimed dry weight of 392 lbs, and a tank-full (90%) weight wet of 439 lbs. That’s a savings of a significant 27 pounds over the standard R1200S.

The HP2 Sport not only draws its lineage from the R1200S, it also received plenty of development time from racing.
 

So, at this point in time that's about all we know on the latest addition to the HP2 family. Beyond the details that we're not privy to, a couple other things we don't know is if it'll be coming to U.S. shores, and when, exactly, in 2008 it will be available.

One thing we can be certain of, in typical BMW fashion, the HP2 Sport will probably be expensive! Expect a price north of 20 grand.

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Ducati 750 F1 Classic Superbike Motorcycles

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Motorcycle modification extreme enough, big enough machine is suitable for modification in this way and make this bike look fierce and strong.

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New Yamaha Byson 2010

Picture of New Yamaha Byson 2010

PT Yamaha Motor Kencana Indonesia or YMKI plans to unveil new sports product, Byson, in April 2010. This is because the earlier resignation had planned to release YMKI these products later this year.

"Just wait for four months from now," said the source from YMKI in Banyuwangi, Wednesday (2 / 12).

We have Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Indonesia (YMMI) has won a number type list numbers of motor vehicles produced in the Ministry of Industry 1195/IATT/TPT/11/2009 (Depperin) last November.

Manufacturers have proposed the amount of production to 80,000 units next year. Manufacturer bearing motor tuning fork will still carry the name for its newest product Byson. With the presence Byson, Yamaha fighting force in the national motorcycle market more robust, especially in the sports segment.

In India, this model is named after FZ and consists of several variants. This motor is more precisely a sports touring categories and engineered with the DNA Frazer.

Byson carrying 153 cc engines or larger than the V-Ixion, 149.8 cc. Of technology, the fuel supply system, V-Ixion more sophisticated, injection. While still relying Byson carburetor. Hence, the price is cheaper than expected V-Ixion.

FZ identity, or later transformed into Byson, using Monoshock suspension technology (Yamaha call monocross) with the special characteristics Muffler MidShip large. According to Yamaha, this design provides weight concentration of a better and efficient exhaust gas. Stable control for use in 140/60-17 rear tire.

Specifications Yamaha FZ (Byson)

MACHINE
Type

4 steps, SOHC, 2-valve, air conditioning
Capacity

153 cc
Diameter x step

58.0 x 57.9 mm
Comparison of compression

9.5: 1
Power max.

14 PS@7.500 rpm
Torque max.

14 Nm@6.000 rpm
Type carburetors

BS26
Chassis
The ratio of primary teeth and secondary

3.409 / 2.857
The size of the front and rear tires

100/80-17 & 140/60R17
Fuel tank capacity

12 liters
Dimensions: L x W x H (mm)

770 x 1975 x 1045
High saddle

790
Axle distance

1,335
Total weight

137 kg

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The new Sports Tourer from Honda with variable-cylinder engine, which enables the rear bank of cylinders to shut down completely, leaving the bike effectively a parallel twin on light loads, which should dramatically boost fuel economy and emissions performance. This trend with Honda seems to continue from Cars to motorcycles these days. First time we came across variable-cylinder engine was with Honda Accord V6, now its Honda V4 Sports Tourer.

The frame reminiscent of the first ZZR1100’s vast girders – hints at what must be approaching 200bhp potential. Honda goes next with its new V4 platform, what else is special about that V5-derived engine and what it means for the Blackbird and Pan-European.

source : http://bikeopedia.net/tag/sportsbike

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