Sport compact cars are all the rage, and you’d think by the recent rash of small performance models and their popularity in American culture that the idea of these high-horsepower “pocket rockets” was a new one. In fact, VW pioneered the idea with the original GTI, and since 1983, Americans have consistently looked to Volkswagen dealers for cheap thrills.
rsportcars.com says:
Now comes a new R32 based on the Golf V generation. This time it packs 250 bhp under the bonnet; the permanent 4MOTION four-wheel drive again promises excellent roadholding. The new model has been unveiled at the 59th Frankfurt Motor Show (15 to 25 September 2005). Americans are able to buy them since February 2007.
From the outside, the best Golf ever is not only recognizable by the R32 logo. Similar to its predecessor, the new top Golf has a design and equipment all of its own. The Golf R32 has a top speed of 155 mph and comes either with a 6-speed manual gearbox or the optional dual clutch gearbox (DSG). Equipped with the DSG the "R32" is even faster: 6.4 seconds from 0-60 mph. Despite all this, the model is unusually easy to handle.
Like the previous car, the new 2007 Volkswagen Golf R32 is no stripes-and-spoilers special. Aiming squarely at the Subaru WRX STI and the Mitsubishi Evolution IX, the new R32 trades a bit of performance for a dose of refinement that Volkswagen hopes will lure some customers considering those rally-ready but rough-edged competitors to the more sophisticated and luxurious Golf R32.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Volkswagen Golf R32 Tuned
Monday, April 2, 2007
New look of Volkswagen - Golf VI
“We lost our way,” says Walter de’ Silva, Volkswagen group’s new design chief. Silva was promoted February 1, 2007 leaving his previous job as Audi’s top designer. Automotive News reports that Silva is planning to give Volkswagen a new look when the next generation of Volkswagen starts to arrive in the next 18 months.
Production of the next generation Golf VI was delayed a bit after Silva became VW’s design chief. It seems that a lot of Japanese automakers are doing their best to take over Volkswagen’s top seller in Germany.
We’re fans of the current Golf, or Rabbit, and have a soft spot for the Touareg and Eos as well. But the Passat and the Jetta need a major overhaul. Let’s hope Silva turns things around for those two models.
taken from eGMCarTech
BMW Z9 Tuned
A new convertible was spied in Munich today and it appears to be a successor to the BMW Z8, or possibly now called Z9. While the Z8 was a hit with enthusiasts, the new version of the car is expected to be successful beyond merely a few thousand enthusiasts and a starring role in a James Bond film. With that, expect the price of this new car to extend well beyond the Z8’s base price of $128,000. Well above $150,000 would be a good guess.
BMW is testing new prototypes for a new convertible. Whether this is the new Z4 or the more upscale Z9 is a matter of intense conjecture at this point. We originally thought Z4, but closer inspection suggests that this could be BMW’s SL-fighter–the Z9. This prototype is clearly larger than today’s Z4, but that also supports earlier reports that the next-gen Z4 would be growing up a bit to make room for an entry-level Z2 roadster.The most noteworthy details on this prototype are the side windows–a glass-to-glass pillarless design reminiscent of the BMW 8-series and
the Mercedes CL. Is that enough of a clue to prove this is the Z9?
Quite possibly, especially when taking into account the slim, sleek convertible roof that appears to be a fake canvas top glued to a retractable hard roof that’s hidden beneath. Consider that the Z9 is aimed squarely at the tin-topped SL, and is reportedly similarly equipped, and the clues further point to this as the Z9.
The Z9 program looks right on target to hit the market in 2010, as a front-engined, retractable hard-topped, high-performance alternative to Mercedes’ SL.
Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG Black Series
The last CLK DTM built by Mercedes AMG division was limited to a production of 100 cars, but they probably had orders for more than that. This is why AMG has apparently decided to build a new CLK DTM version now.
And since the first series was a limited edition, its successor needed a new design. Here are photos of a test car during high speed testing at Nürburgring. Not looking as wild as the first edition, the newcomer looks somewhat more discrete but still powerful.
Expect about the same horsepower as the first generation with the new 6.3 litre V8 delivering between 580 and 600 hp. AMG Chief, Volker Mornhinweg said in an recent interview that they might give the new 6.3 liter engine turbo and the new CGI fuel injection technology, thus a perfect engine for the AMG CLK DTM.
The pictures are showing an almost undisguised prototype, except for some camouflage on the air outlets in the front fenders
The new CLK DTM is expected to cost around 230,000 Euros, just like its predecessor. Not really a bargain, but for that money the dedicated buyer gets a car that accelerates to 200 km/h faster than he will be able to pronounce its name.
New Inside Tuning of 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX
AutoBeat team have done inside tuning of new Subaru Impreza. Inside elements are done in blue colors.
Some information about new Subaru Impreza from edmuns.com:
"By the time the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX makes its way to the U.S. later this year, much of the whining about its conservative styling will have subsided. The WRX die-hards will have calmed down, put their blue-and-gold socks back on and started to appreciate the 2008 Impreza's modest improvements.
The rest of the car-buying public will probably take notice, too. A much improved interior, additional features and a new hatchback body style to go along with the standard sedan should give this Impreza considerably more mainstream appeal than its predecessor.
Courting mainstream buyers has led Subaru to focus its engineering resources on improved packaging and build quality instead of higher-horsepower engines and more complex transmissions. The result is an Impreza lineup with more spacious, higher-quality interiors powered by carryover engines hooked to four- and five-speed transmissions.
Most of the extra interior room comes from a wheelbase that's 3.7 inches longer. There are also an extra 2 inches of living space between the doors, although the exterior width is unchanged. The hatchback is 1.7 inches shorter in overall length than the wagon it replaces, while the sedan measures 4.9 inches longer than its predecessor. Both are expected to arrive with fractionally reduced curb weights.
A tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel makes getting comfortable in the driver seat easier than before. We also sat in the backseat of the hatchback with the driver seat adjusted for a 6-footer. There's plenty of knee and toe room to sit comfortably, but it's the increased headroom that really makes this Impreza feel bigger inside.
Higher-quality materials are used throughout and the overall dash design is similar to the good-looking layout in the Tribeca . It's a relatively simple setup that maintains the Impreza's standard three-dial climate-control arrangement and clear analog dials. A navigation system finally makes its way onto the options sheet of the WRX, along with Subaru's electronic stability control system.
In addition to the extra passenger room, a new double-wishbone rear suspension helps clear some room in the cargo area, too. Open up the hatch and the suspension struts no longer poke their way into the available loading space. The sedan's trunk is positively huge for a midsize four-door, although Subaru didn't give us any hard numbers. The front suspension is an almost direct carryover from the current Legacy setup. Standard Imprezas will get 16-inch wheels, while the higher-performance WRX models will get 17-inch wheels with 205/50R17 Bridgestone RE92A tires at each corner.
Enthusiasts hoping to see big power gains will be disappointed. Both the base model Impreza and the more powerful Impreza WRX models will use carryover engines with minimal upgrades. The turbocharged 2.5-liter engine in the WRX will continue with roughly 225 horsepower and 226 pound-feet of torque, but more of that torque will arrive earlier. A five-speed manual remains the standard transmission and a four-speed automatic is optional.
Subaru has been tight-lipped about changes to the all-wheel-drive system. It has promised some improvements, but provided no details on what to expect. Same goes for the steering, although a quicker ratio is confirmed. No word on any upgrades for the brakes and we don't expect any. Additional details will be released as the car gets closer to its on-sale date in the fall. An ultrahigh-performance STI version will debut around that time and go on sale early next year."
Sunday, April 1, 2007
BMW M5 Lumma Design (Orange)
For those who want a car to make themselves noticeable, Lumma Design prepared a BMW to stand out from the crowd. This was named CLR 500 RS and made its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show this week. First of all the car is other at the exterior thanks to some unique features like a wide body-kit. This includes bigger wheel arch extensions and front and rear bumpers with an integrated racing-diffuser. The trunk lid is made of carbon-fiber and has a rear spoiler integrated.
To improve the dynamics they changed the suspensions and now the car sets lower on the ground with 40mm because of H&R sport suspension. New Wheels were added to the overall look, a three-piece 21in lightweight alloy wheels painted in black coat.
Inside there is a lot of carbon fiber, painted in orange, two-toned leather upholstery a Lumma Design steering wheel and aluminum racing pedals. The signature is present everywhere in the car. I will pay to get rid of that.
But that’s not all. They spent some time to improve the performances of an already fast car. What they manage to squeeze? First of all they added a full racing exhaust system with a high-flow catalytic converter, to improve the breathing of the engine. Than they tweak the ECU and the car power was lift to 560hp from the standard output of 507hp. The final piece was to remove the car’s electronic speed limiter, so the driver can go behind 155mph, to a top speed of 203mph. For the aesthetics of the engine they put a carbon-fiber air-intake and a red cylinder-head cover.
source: topspeed.com
Zender tuning of BMW 3-series
