Rabu, 28 Desember 2011

2011 Nissan Esflow Concept

Engine twin electric motors, 0-62 mph under 5 seconds
Putting the spark into electric vehicles
It may be a concept, but the Nissan ESFLOW electric sports car proves it's possible to remain environmentally sympathetic without having to give up the joy of driving.

It looks like a sports car, handles like a sports car and performs like one too. Using technology pioneered in the award-winning Nissan LEAF, the EV concept shows that driving can still be as much fun tomorrow as it is today.
At a glance
* ESFLOW - a pure EV sports car concept
* Rear-wheel drive two-seater
* Two electric motors, each driving a rear wheel
* Laminated lithium-ion batteries mounted low for best weight distribution
* Dramatic styling with wraparound windscreen for unobstructed visibility
* 0-100km/h in under 5 seconds
* Over 240kms on one charge

The Car
The ESFLOW is based on existing technology, implemented in innovative ways. An attractive, head turning composite body covers an aluminium chassis, incorporating its own roll cage. The powertrain unit, which employs the same technologies installed in the Nissan LEAF, is tuned to offer a sporty driving experience.

The Powertra
ESFLOW is rear-wheel drive and it runs on two motors. The car's graceful proportions allow the twin electric motors to be placed above the axis of the rear wheels, in a mid-ship position,. These motors independently control the left and right wheels, and so the torque is optimized to ensure outstanding vehicle stability and control as well as efficient power regeneration. The motors produce enough torque in an instant for it to reach a 100kph in under 5 seconds.

Power for the motors comes from the same laminated lithium-ion battery packs used in the Nissan LEAF, but in ESFLOW the packs are located along the axis of the front and rear wheels. This centralizes the mass of the car, and thus its rotation point, close to the driver's hips. These cleverly positioned batteries enable the car to travel over 240km on one charge.
The Driver
Daniel, an ESFLOW owner, works in tech, but lives for the weekend. On Friday night after work, he gets behind the wheels of his ESFLOW which instantly links with his pocket PDA and determines the fastest route to his girlfriend's home. Finding street side parking is a cinch as the ESFLOW's compact dimensions allow it to slip in to the narrowest of spaces. On Saturday he drives to a popular club to exhibit his DJ skills and his friends are impressed by his cool EV sports car.
On Sunday he drives through the mountains for leisure. ESFLOW's superb weight distribution and unobstructed view ahead enables him to effortlessly nail every apex, every time. His descent from the mountains is more relaxed and he allows the ESFLOW to overrun on the long sweeping curves, turning the potential energy he and the car gained climbing up the gradients back in to electrical energy he can use once he hits the roads around Barcelona.

As his ESFLOW sips energy in its garage Daniel prepares himself for the week ahead, batteries fully recharged.
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Selasa, 27 Desember 2011

2011 Chevrolet COPO Camaro Concept

Engine 5.3 liter V8, Aspiration supercharged

Chevrolet Introduces New ‘COPO’ Camaro Concept evokes the spirit of special-order models for Stock Eliminator competition
The COPO Camaro is back at Chevrolet, as a concept designed to the specifications for NHRA Stock Eliminator drag racing competition.

“The COPO Camaro is a proof of concept for what a Chevrolet Stock Eliminator entry could look like,” said Jim Campbell, GM U.S. vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “And it is a clear indication that Chevrolet intends to homologate the Camaro for sportsman drag racing.”

The COPO concept vehicle is designed to accommodate more than one engine option, including a naturally aspirated 427 engine (7.0L) – the same displacement as the original COPO Camaros from 1969 – and a supercharged 327 (5.3L) engine. Among the many racing-specific features and equipment is a conversion from the Camaro’s standard independent rear axle to a solid axle, as well as a full chrome moly roll cage.
The basic content for the COPO Camaro Concept includes:
• Provisions for two engine configurations (see below for details)
• Provisions for a Powerglide two-speed automatic transmission, a three-speed automatic or a five-speed manual
• High-rise cowl-induction hood
• Custom Aeromotive fuel system, with a fuel cell and integral high-pressure fuel pump
• Full, chrome moly roll cage
• Coil-over front suspension with Strange Engineering adjustable struts
• Custom rear suspension, based on NHRA requirements, with Strange Engineering shocks, Panhard bar and stabilizer bar
• Strange Engineering S-9 solid rear axle with aluminum third member, 35-spline spool, 35-spline axles and 4.10 gear set
• Lightweight, COPO-specific racing wheels
29×9-inch rear radial racing slicks and 4.5x28x15-inch front tires
• Manual steering system
• Strange Engineering lightweight racing brakes system with standard line lock.

The interior is all business, with most sound deadening and power accessories deleted. Instead, there is pair of racing bucket seats (and no rear seat), a safety harness for the driver, a competition floor shifter and Chevrolet Performance gauges by Auto Meter.
The engines
Intended for NHRA’s various Stock Eliminator classes, the COPO Camaro concept has provisions for two distinct engine packages – each built to conform to class guidelines. The details below outline the core specifications of each engine and their intended classes.

The concept vehicle is powered by a prototype version of the supercharged 327 engine, featuring an LSX cylinder block.

The COPO legacy
Since 1955, NHRA Stock Eliminator has been a straight-line proving ground for the quickest cars to come out of Detroit. Within Stock Eliminator, there are many classes, all defined by the ratio of vehicle shipping weight and the assigned horsepower factor. Because of this tightly monitored set of rules and historically brutal competition, Stock Eliminator is the ultimate test for factory muscle cars.
From the “Fuelie” ’57 Bel Air to the ’62 409 Impala and countless muscle cars that came later, Chevrolet has enjoyed a long, dominant position in this sportsman drag racing category. None of the cars, however, have dominated both the track and muscle car folklore like the legendary COPO Camaros produced in 1969.
From the “Fuelie” ’57 Bel Air to the ’62 409 Impala and countless muscle cars that came later, Chevrolet has enjoyed a long, dominant position in this sportsman drag racing category. None of the cars, however, have dominated both the track and muscle car folklore like the legendary COPO Camaros produced in 1969.In the Sixties, COPO was the acronym for Central Office Production Order, within Chevrolet’s vehicle special-order program. Although normally used for fleet orders of trucks and company-owned cars, it was manipulated by a few performance-minded dealers to order vehicles with larger engines than were available in regular-production models – mostly with the intent of getting them to Stock Eliminator racers.
By pushing Chevrolet’s Central Office Production Order special-order program to its limit, a number of dealers were able to get 427-cubic-inch big-block engines installed in a handful of Camaros, when the largest official engine available was a 396. Two versions of the 427 engine were wrangled out of the factory: COPO 9561 was the Corvette-based L-72 edition with an iron cylinder block and COPO 9560 was the racing-designed ZL1 engine with a lighter aluminum cylinder block.

The COPO Camaros opened up the NHRA rulebook to some exciting combinations for Camaro, helping keep Chevrolet at the top of the ultra-competitive form of motorsports. In fact, they were not only competitive in NHRA Stock Eliminator when new, but still hold the national ET and MPH records in several classes.

Racing enthusiasts who are interested in more information can go to www.gmperformanceparts.com to sign up for COPO Camaro concept updates.
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The supercharged 6.2L engine produces 638 hp

Introduced in the 2009 ZR-1 Corvette, the supercharged 6.2L engine produces 638 hp. Now you have the ability to use the same supercharger package with the front accessory drive and build up your own LS or LSX based supercharged engine. The intake bolt pattern and port configuration is the same for the LS3, LSX-LS3, L92, LSA and LS9 cylinder heads. The GM Performance Parts LS9 Supercharger kit includes the cast cover and intercooler, as well as the supercharger intake system and a gasket kit. It is completely assembled with injectors, front pulley and throttle body. Professional installation is suggested. The supercharger kit may require minor modification and calibration. * Note -- This kit installation is recommended with the LS9 front accessory drive kit.
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Samsung Galaxy S III fervor begin already, realistic press images leak

Samsung Galaxy S III fervor begin already, realistic press images leak

When it comes to Android device releases, nothing is more exciting than a Nexus smartphone or tablet, except when it comes to the Samsung line of Galaxy S devices of course – and today we’ve got what very well may be the next generation: the Samsung Galaxy S III in leaked press images and details. The story goes like this: Concept Phones, a blog that specializes in conceptual renderings of devices, has intercepted a couple of images and some details sent in from a fellow by the name of Ivan Ilchenko who reported them appearing on Samsung’s “official” page on a Russian social network by the name of Vkontakte. If you’ve got all that, good, because here’s the confusing part: the device may well be the first smartphone to be dual-booting Android and Bada OS right out of the box.


This device is being called the Samsung GT-I9500 Universal, and its details are rather incredulous. While the renderings appear really quite crisp and certainly in line with what we’ve seen from Samsung lately, specifically with the Galaxy Note and the Galaxy Players, the magic inside might be too far-fetched to be realistic. Behind a 5-inch HD Super AMOLED 1280 x 720 pixel resolution display you’ll find a 9mm thick body and a 12 megapixel camera on the back with both LED flash AND Xenon flash. Weird stuff to be sure!
Then there’s a front-facing 2 megapixel camera, availability of 32 or 64 GB internal memory, and a microSDXC slot for memory expansion. This device is said to come with a stylus like the Galaxy Note, but doesn’t appear to have the same onboard slot for carrying said pen like its big cousin does, USB 3.0 capability, and 4G LTE connectivity in its first iteration. Also onboard is a quad-core Samsung Exynos 4412 1.5GHz processor, and the whole thing works with TouchWiz 5.0.

And it all works with both Android and Bada OS. That’s just too strange to be realistic – why on earth would anyone want such a thing? Also we’ve never seen a display like this outside of conceptual renderings as a bezel allows for the display to have some overlap around the edges – how this will work is outside my understanding. Finally, before you cut up the idea of this device because of the buttons at the bottom of the display running against what’s recommended for Ice Cream Sandwich, know that Android 4.0 does have the ability to easily run with these buttons still in-tact.
We’ll either find this device to be real relatively soon or the name Galaxy S III wont pop up again until early 2012. The possibility also exists that this device is close to what we’ll see in the USA release of the Galaxy Note. We’ll see! Thanks for the tip, Alex!
UPDATE: Per Concept Phones:
“Samsung Russia just contacted us and said this is not a real phone. Here’s what they said: “The mock-ups, published in the article on Concept-Phones.com, were posted in the “Imagined Phones” section of “Samsung Phones Owners’ Club” group on VKontakte.ru. This section contains unofficial artworks and designs, created by group members, and are products of pure imagination, sometime even a joke”.” – Concept Phones

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Senin, 26 Desember 2011

The 2011 Lexus RX 350 Review notes

Base Price: $40,250
As-Tested Price: $52,775
Drivetrain: 3.5-liter V6; AWD, six-speed automatic
Output: 275 hp @ 6,200 rpm, 257 lb-ft @ 4,700 rpm
Curb Weight: 4,343 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 20/18.4 mpg

The 2011 Lexus RX 350 is the near-luxury crossover to beat, targeted by the likes of the Cadillac SRX and the Lincoln MKX from the United States, the Acura MDX and the Infiniti FX from Japan, and the BMW X5 and the Mercedes-Benz M-class from Europe. C’mon, Mercedes, where’s the X? It can’t be a crossover without an X, right?

Anyway, suffice it to say that the Lexus has a big bull’s-eye on its tailgate right now. Having spent seat time in nearly all of the above-mentioned utes, I can tell you that the RX remains competitive, but just barely. Fortunately for Lexus, a few simple changes will help tremendously.

From a ride-and-handling perspective, the RX 350 handles itself just fine. There are no surprises, nor is there engagement. That’s just how the vast majority of Lexus customers like their cars. Ditto the powertrain: perfectly adequate, nothing to see here, please enjoy the stereo.
Options: Dual-screen rear-seat entertainment with navigation including rear-seat DVD system with wireless headphones, a/v inputs, 120V power outlet and navigation with voice command, XM weather and traffic, backup camera, remote starter ($5,005); luxury package including semianiline leather trim, one-touch open/close moonroof, retractable electrochromic heated outside mirrors, wood and leather steering wheel/shift knob, wide-angle camera, 19-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires, power rear door, illuminated scuff plates, headlamp cleaners ($4,900); comfort package including rain-sensing wipers with mist control, high-intensity headlamps, adaptive front lighting system and driver/passenger heated and ventilated seats ($1,950); 12-speaker audio system with in-dash six-DVD changer ($610); cargo net ($59).
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Know More In Mazda 8

We can only judge this Mazda8 normal appearance! Glance at the Kijang Innova, Previa or Mitubishi Grandis. The question that may arise, why Mazda put a premium segment with prices half a billion rupiahs?

Exterior
To answer, we must look at the exterior and interior details of this MPV. On the exterior, Mazda MPV trying to make it more stylish appearance, or stylish. This is seen from the lower bumper grille design is impressive dynamic with chrome accents, fog lamps with diamond-like design house.

Another technology is installed for xenon headlights (for melee) with autolevelling that can be disabled, type rear sliding side door is equipped with “power door” and remote, LED type rear combination lamps, and exhaust with two holes, rear spoiler with lights Srem (yes familiar!) and sun-roof.

Interior
In the interior, is very obvious with luxurious upholstery and door trim smooth leather-clad. In accordance with the target consumers, second-row seats can pamper and please passengers. This seat is also equipped with a heated body!
As for why the third line – smaller – aimed at children. Nevertheless also for adults with head and leg room is limited.

The doors, sliding side can be opened via the remote or the buttons in the car. It was all very pleasant. Can also be operated via a remote thin, similar to the card. To start the engine, turned the knob on the right side steering wheel.

The sliding door is equipped with a “safe mechanisme Hour”, to prevent limb pinched when the door is closed. Rear side doors can be opened 785 mm, which allows passengers out of the cabin.

The second and third seat can be regulated by a variety of positions, from sitting to relax until bedtime. In addition it also provided plenty of places to put a variety of equipment ranging from gloves, place mimumman and so on. On the ceiling of the front there is also a box for glasses.
Centre Speaker
AC also can also be set individually, between the driver and front passenger, beigut also behind. MPV is also already ielengkapi with center speaker that produces theater effects when used to play DVDs.

Another addition is the monitors outside temperature and jakm which is above the system information. Mirrors can be folded by pressing a button. Moreover, in addition to the rear camera for parking, also for tire repair kit.

So, for those who actually opened the deflated tire or a leak, can do semenara appearance and add wind with gear ang accompanied on this MPV.

For color, the options are disedikan Metropolitan Gray Mica (gray), Crystal White Pearl Mica (White) and Back Sparkling Mica (Black).
Specifications Mazda 8
Dimensions and weight
Long
4860 mm
Width
1850 mm
High
1685 mm
Wheelbase
2950 mm
The lowest gap
155 kg
Weight
1780 kg
Turning radius
5.7 meters
Machine
Type
4-sli, 16 valve, DOHC
with S-VT, VIS and ETC
Capacity
2260 cc
A comparison of compression
9,7:1
Max power
120 kW (163 PS) @ 6500 rpm
Torque max.
203 Nm (20.7 kg-m) @ 3500 rpm
Fuel system
Electronic injection
Fuel tank capacity
68.5 liters
Transmission
Activematice 5-speed
The size of wheels and rims
215/65SR16
Front and rear brakes
Discs with ABS and EBD plus BA
Passive Safety
6 air bags,
seat belt pretensioners
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2012 Nissan GTR

Specifications: Price $89,950, Engine 3.8 liter V6, Aspiration twin turbocharged, Torque 488 lb-ft, HP 530 hp, HP/Liter 139.5 hp per liter.

2012 Nissan GT-R Features More Horsepower, New “Black Edition,” Revised Fascias and Carbon Fiber Interior Trim
Nissan’s Multi-Dimensional 530-Horsepower Supercar Makes North American Debut at Los Angeles Auto Show, Set to Go On Sale in Early 2011

Entering its fourth year of availability in the North American market, the 2012 Nissan GT-R has a new look, new colors, new wheel design and, most important to fans of pure power, more horsepower under the hood. In addition, a new “Black Edition”– with unique seats, interior colors and wheels – joins the GT-R Premium model. The latest iteration of Nissan’s legendary supercar makes its North American debut that the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show and will be available at official “GT-R certified” Nissan dealers across the United States in early 2011.
The 2012 Nissan GT-R’s advanced VR38DETT 3.8-liter twin turbo V6 now produces 530 horsepower (versus the previous 485 horsepower) and 488 lb-ft of torque (versus the previous 434 lb-ft) – a result of modifying the boost pressure of the turbocharger, valve timing and air mixture ratio, and through reducing intake air resistance by enlarging the inlet pipe diameter. In addition, exhaust air resistance was reduced through use of an enlarged section of exhaust pipe.

GT-R’s already impressive aerodynamics have been improved for 2012 with downforce increased by about 10% and the coefficient of drag reduced to 0.26 (from 0.27). Stability is improved by enlarged fascia and grille openings, which also help reduce air resistance inside the engine compartment. The volume of air that passes through the radiator and cools the front brakes is also increased.

The newly refreshed front fascia features aggressive double rectifier fins and new integrated high intensity LED running lights. Additional plated parts are used for the headlight inner panels, enhancing the car’s strong visual presence.
The redesigned rear fascia features a lower center of gravity than the previous design, created by using a sculpted lower section and extended length. Underfloor cooling performance is also enhanced and air resistance reduced by extending the rear diffuser.

In addition, cooling performance for the muffler is improved and rear downforce is increased by about 10% through use of a new rear fascia outlet and new vents on the lower rear fenders that help remove air from the rear wheel wells. Newly designed larger diameter tailpipe finishers are also adopted. Six exterior colors are available, including two new colors: Deep Blue Pearl and Jet Black. Other available colors are Solid Red, Gun Metallic, Pearl White and a limited production 4-stage metallic Super Silver.
GT-R’s newly designed, lighter weight and more rigid forged aluminum 20-inch wheels, once again manufactured by RAYS®, help improve suspension response. Knurling inside the wheels is modified to help keep the tires from slipping around the wheels under heavy acceleration or braking. The wheels also feature a new premium dark (near black) finish, which provides a high quality, high-performance look. The Black Edition features special black six-spoke RAYS® lightweight wheels in place of the Premium model’s 10-spoke design.

Inside, the revisions for 2012 include new carbon fiber trim and upgraded materials. The Black Edition adds custom red-trimmed Recaro® seats, red and black interior trim and a dark headliner.
“The Nissan GT-R continues to be a multi-dimensional performance machine that lives up to the concept of ‘the ultimate supercar that can be driven by anyone, anytime, anywhere,’” said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc. “With the enhancements for 2012, including its 530-horsepower twin turbo V6 and revised styling, the GT-R legend continues to grow. We can’t wait for its arrival in Nissan showrooms, and on the streets, here in the U.S.”

Additional information on the 2012 Nissan GT-R, including on-sale date, will be available in the coming months.

Now entering its fourth year of availability in the North American market, the 2012 Nissan GT-R has a new look, new colors, new wheel design and, most important to fans of pure power, 35 more horsepower under the hood. In addition, a new “Black Edition” – with unique seat design, interior colors and wheels – joins the GT-R Premium model. The starting MSRPs for the 2012 Nissan GT-R are $89,950 USD and $95,100 USD for the Premium and Black Edition respectively.

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