it’s a truism to say that car technology is improving. What is really happening is that the level of base car technology has dramatically improved in the last five years – especially here in Australia – as the trickle-down of features previously available only on prestige cars now greets the masses. Lots of airbags, stability control, ABS, sophisticated engines – even sat navigation – were once things that you had to pay a huge amount for. But, wonderfully, not any more.So what happens when you now step into an AUD$80,000 car? Well, the short answer is that you don’t see a helluva lot for your money. Even in Noise Vibration Harshness (NVH), the differences are now minimal between an $80K car and one that costs half that. When analysed in terms of the engine, suspension, in-cabin features, NVH, handling, safety, comfort and space, the advantages of these more expensive cars simply aren’t there any more.

(more…)

The order book for the super-sports-woman of Nissan is opened on a specific site. A deposit is required.

GT-R Nissan with its aggressive style has a muscular motorization: V6 of 3,8 liters developing bi-turbo 480 hp and 588 Nm. This racing car capable of running to more than 300 kph instigates the passions. By waiting for the first European deliveries in March, 2009, Nissan opened a dedicated site on which it is possible to spend preorder. To be on the waiting list, it is already necessary to pay deposit of 5000 euros. The price varies, according to countries and finish, between 70 and 80.000 euros. And to answer the requirements of the clientele, the brand developed a network of high-performance centres for the distribution and the maintenance of the GT-R.

The passionate persons having paid deposit for this Nissan capable of buckling Nürburgring in 7 minutes and 38 seconds, will be spoiled by waiting to see her(it) in their garage. Indeed, the builder will invite them to specific events within the framework of a relational marketing ” aillé customized “. Furthermore, they can already taste the sensations of the GT-R by discovering it and trying it before the delivery. A whole program of preparation skilfully orchestrated.

The designer Idries Noah who lies in South Africa shows us here his virtual realization on a base of Corvette ZR1. Name of its project? Concept Fireblade. Indeed, only by looking at the digital image, all this has nothing at first sight of a wet firecracker. From there to imagine a possible production in limited units…

If you vibrate for the universe of develop the muscle of buses, your experts’ eyes indisputably noted the inspirations of the South African designer Idries Noah in the realization of the body of its Fireblade Concept. You found? We indeed find more or less clear touches of Stingray Corvette, Gillet Vertigo or Shelby Daytona to quote only some models. Although virtual, the project already has an engine to equip it.  The same that that of the Corvette ZR1, the engine LS9 V8 which we can besides appreciate in transparency on the hood. Will simple digital projection this project be born in average or long term? Hard to anticipate. Unless a millionaire, an example an oil tycoon, falls in love with the model and commands a copy…

At Mercedes, year 2008 seems to be dedicated to the restylage. SL, SLK, CLS and even the new CLC: it is by slim retouch that the Star sees again its models. Latest, the SUV Classifies M offers itself some welcome knocks of bistoury. But no more …

Not much…

Launched in 2005, the ML always remains one of the most appreciated SUV. Prestigious question naturally, but especially of look, quite at the same moment muscular, aggressive and thoroughbred. The Star had from then on no reason for modifying appreciably a style so asserted: for its restylage said about “middle-life”, the ML thus contents itself with the minimum.  A mainly facial face-lift which offers him(her) a more penetrating glance with optics inspired by the SL, a radiator grill was enlarged as well as of new wheel rims. Inside, the changes are also poor. Besides the appearance of a saddlery bi-tone new, the evolution most meaning is the appearance of a new steering wheel, henceforth in 4 branches.

The consumption rather than the power
Other evolution, mass arrival of the systems of safety NECK-PRO (headrests anti-rabbit punch) and PRE-SAFE (automatic braking before impact), up to here only available optional. As a result, you doubtless have to say yourselves: ” so much the better, it is thus under the hood that the ML takes advantage of it! ” The Same step … In a initiative corresponding to the ecological requirements of moment, the builder of Stuttgart prefers to offer to his customers a decline of the consumption (-0,4 l / 100 km on average) thanks to an electronic management and to a system of escape seen again(revised), rather than a substantial gain of power. The sign of time. It remains to be seen whether price rates will undergo too an inflation or not.

Transformed!

Audi has his Quattro system, Mercedes his its 4matic today it is in the tour of Saab to present its complete transmission XWD. The slightest of things for a builder whose country is taken under the snow during a good part of the year. Boosted by this transplant and a substantial gain of power, the berlin 9-3 meets it itself transformed.

A little of lexicon!

The XWD (Cross Wheel Drive) conceived by Saab is a system of complete drive which bases itself on the information of the case ESP to distribute intelligently the couple between axles before and back. The X version, available mass special, refreshed besides a back differential with limited gliding: the eSLD transfers until 40 % of the couple on the wheel offering the best adhesion.  In the facts, the XWD anticipates the reactions of the driver. So, the power is transferred from the release of box towards the propeller shaft, then towards the device of transfer of couple (TTD for Torque Transfer Device) which commands, via the module of back transmission (RDM - Rear Drive Module), the distribution of the couple between front wheels and back.

Drive or propulsion? Two my general!

Here is for the lexical sequence. But this transmission system also has another advantage. That to transform the car into real chameleon: sometimes drive, sometimes propulsion, sometimes complete. A Haldex system indeed allows to transfer automatically until 100 % of the couple on back wheels when the driver adopts a sports driving. On the other hand, when the car is stabilized in constant speed (on freeway for example), the couple is transferred to 90 % on front wheels. As soon as the system detects a loss of drive of one of four wheels, the couple is automatically distributed and the set ESP-XWD reacts immediately to put back the car in the straight and narrow. Magic!

A fooling result
Here are for the theory and the explanations. But quid of the result on road? Simply fooling! Saab 9-3 is transformed. Resting on the frame of former Opel Vectra, this station wagon had shone up to there never with a transcending behavior, whereas the train before had more and more difficulty to take the powers - always more important of the blocks. The XWD system erases all its defects.

A beautiful tribute
Available at the moment on the versions berlin and Sport-Hatch of 9-3, this system is associated with the V6 turbo 2.8 the power of which was pushed to 280 ch instead of 255 usual. The couple takes advantage of it too, in increase of 15 % to 400 Nm. In parallel, Saab throws on the French market a special series X Turbo, a tribute in the original model of the 70s.  Besides the transmission XWD and the eLSD, this 9-3 quite of black dressed is endowed with a frame and with brakes sport, of wheel rims 18 “, of black leather seats, inserts carbon on wood panels and on board of edge and the same manometer of pressure of overeating as 900 Turbo. A sort of black destroyer of the apocalypse which can leave nobody indifferent. Neither the pilot, nor the curious onlookers who will cross it and even less your wallet (51.000 € all the same).

The pick-up NP300 will be redistributed in Europe by Nissan. It was formerly known under the name of Nissan Pick-up.

Big pick-up for the difficult tasks on delicate ground, the NP300 is thought as a real utility with several types of bodies and three variants of cabin. The Single Cab version offers a surface of load 2235 mm long and 1485 mm wide. In King Cab, a protected storage space is added to both places while Double Cab can welcome five persons.

Under the hood, we find a turbodiesel 2,5 liters of 129 ch (98 kW) and 304 Nm. This solution gives it a 700 km autonomy, a capacity of 3 ton towing and the possibility of crossing slopes until 39 °. This real cross-country vehicle shows a guarding on the 230 mm ground, an angle of attack of 31 ° and a passage of 450 mm ford. The engine is combined in a manual gearbox to five connections.

The frame is above all thought for routesin hostile ground. So, if the suspension is independent from front wheels, the back shows itself strong with a stiff axle and leaf springs. All the versions are available in four driving wheels and receive automatically a back differential in limited gliding. Furthermore, NP300 Nissan is equipped with a protection for the crankcase of oil and the reservoir. In the cockpit, the comfort is assured by various equipments, as the heating seats and the leather steering wheel, for example.

Nissan will reveal to the show of London, on July 22nd, a declension in seven places of its cross-over Qashqai.

To welcome the third row of seats, Nissan a little lengthened its Qashqai. So, Qashqai+2 is 211 mm more. The footing was also stretched out by 135 mm. The measurements of this version also show a greater height of 38 mm. However, both supplementary seats cannot welcome that children or small-sized adults. Nevertheless, in configuration five places, the safe gains 90 liters of useful volume, that is 500 liters all in all. This addition of places also required some light aesthetic and mechanical adaptations.

Besides the size of the automobile, Qashqai+2 differs from the original version by a remodelled back drawing and the installation of new car doors. The panoramic roof stays in the catalog, but it is more 140 mm long. Finally, by the 100 kg increase in weight, the power steering and the suspensions were adapted.

Qashqai+2 will be available both in drive two driving wheels and in four driving wheels All Mode. He will propose two engines gasoline and two Diesel, namely 1,6 l of 115 ch and 2 liters 140 ch gasoline and 1,5 dCi 105 ch and 2,0 dCi 150 ch. This automobile built in United Kingdom, to Sunderland, will arrive on the European markets next October.