AGV Dainese Valentino Rossi special helmet for Mugello MotoGP race

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } AGV Dainese Valentino Rossi special helmet for Mugello MotoGP race, upload feito originalmente por Dainese1972.

Spy shots :next-gen 2012 Volkswagen Passat

Volkswagen's next-generation 2012 Passat is expected to up the stakes against Germany’s luxury carmakers, with the car’s designers hoping it will be mentioned in the same breath as the BMW 3-Series, Mercedes Benz C-Class and Audi A4. Photographers have caught it undergoing testing on Germany's famous Nürburgring.


While the test-mule wears the current Passat body, we can see slight modifications in the form of wider wheel wells and lengthened B-pillars. This clearly indicates that the next generation Passat will be longer and wider than today's model. Clear giveaways on this test-mule are the extended wheel arches and a stretched B-pillar.

Under the hood, a replacement for the VR6 engine will be in place, putting out close to 300hp (224kW) from a displacement of 3.0L. To improve mileage and maintain power, the new engine will also be using direct injection, while the rest of the powertrain lineup is expected to benefit from some form of forced induction as well. Other models will include a new hybrid as well as a high-performance diesel with AWD.

To give the Passat some much needed panache, VW will be pulling out all the stops to make the next-generation a technological showcase, with features that should have the traditional German manufacturers feeling a little worried.

Expected to debut in late 2011 as a 2012 model, the next-generation Passat is tipped to feature a host of new technologies, including airless tires, a wiperless window cleaning system, and an advanced user interface. There may also be an electronic stability system with a feature that automatically offers counter-steering assistance in adverse driving conditions.

One year after the launch of the Passat sedan will be the station wagon. This will be followed closely by a new high-performance model to replace the current R36.

Spy shots： Mercedes Benz SLS AMG ‘Gullwing’ up close

The successor to the Mercedes Benz SL Gullwing (and replacement for the SLR) has been spotted in prototype form in and around Germany’s Nurburgring test circuit for several months now, but what only a select few knew is that the car is being developed completely in-house by Mercedes’ official tuner, AMG. Thus, the brand new model will be called the SLS AMG when it hits showrooms in the first half of next year.
In the lead up to its final unveiling, planned for later this year, Mercedes has released a ton of info on the car, including several images of actual prototypes and technical drawings. As the successor to the legendary SL Gullwing from the 1950s, the new SLS AMG will also feature gullwing doors but picks up a new aluminum spaceframe to provide an almost perfect front-to-rear weight distribution of 48-to-52%.

Powering the SLS will be a revised version of AMG’s now-familiar 6.2L V8 mated to an all-new 7-speed dual-clutch transmission mounted on the rear axle. Peak output will stand at 571hp (420kW) and 479lb-ft (650Nm) of torque. Changes to the engine include a new magnesium intake with eight separate velocity stacks, two electronically controlled throttle plates, a high-flow exhaust and a new dry-sump lubrication system.

The engine will be located up front but will be mounted behind the front axle for better weight distribution. The SLS’s final kerb weight will be around 1,620kg, and with the V8 engine it should be able to accelerate from 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds and reach a top speed in excess of 315km/h.

As for the new dual-clutch gearbox, the unit was developed by AMG and boasts fast gear changes with no loss of tractive force. The driver has a choice of four different driving modes, ranging from comfortable to extremely sporty, as well as a ‘RACESTART’ function. The suspension set-up is equally advanced, with double wishbones and hub carriers made of lightweight forged aluminum. Stopping power comes from carbon-ceramic discs, and these are mounted within 19in light-alloy wheels.

The car’s dimensions have also been revealed, measuring in at 4.65m in length, 1.95m across and just 1.25m in height. The wheelbase stretches just 2.7m. Previous renderings give us a clue as to what the new car could look like, showing a vented bonnet and a new headlight design not seen on any previous Mercedes models.

Furthermore, new shots of the interior show a familiar Mercedes steering wheel and a unique dash fitted with silver accented controls similar to that used in the current SLR supercar. Another interesting feature is the retro styled air-vents, which look similar to the units used by Mercedes Benz during the 1970s. The COMAND system knob located on the center console is also identical to the units used by other Mercedes models.

Premium materials abound on every surface, with materials such as nappa leather, solid metal and (optional) carbon-fiber facings emphasizing the ‘custom-built’ nature of the car. Seating will be strictly limited to two.

The price of the SLS is expected to be roughly $300,000 with production numbers likely to fall between 3,000 and 5,000 units per year. This should see it compete nicely with cars like the Lamborghini Gallardo and Ferrari F430.

Porsche wins 'most recommended brand' title, Japan and Detroit dominate 'most recommended vehicles'

According to a survey performed by marketing research firm AutoPacific, Porsche wins 'most recommended brand' title with a recommendation rating of 91 percent.
The survey, which was given to around 25,000 people who had bought cars between September and December 2008, asked the simple question of whether or not purchasers would recommend their new vehicle to a friend or relative.The respondents were given just three choices: 'Yes, definitely', 'Yes, with reservations', or 'No'.

The survey also determined what America's most recommended cars were in each segment, with some surprising results. Interestingly, European manufacturers were relatively hard to find on the list, while Japan dominating the passenger vehicle segment and Detroit winning a number of categories in the light truck/SUV segment.

When it comes to individual models, all of Porsche’s vehicles did well, but the top spot actually belongs to Infiniti’s G37. An amazing 95 percent of new G37 buyers would recommend that their friends buy the same car. This result also gave the G37 the title of most recommended Aspirational Luxury Car.

In the luxury car category, the Premium Luxury segment was dominated by the Lexus LS. Toyota also took home the most recommended in the Large Car category for the Toyota Avalon, the Premium Mid-Size Car category for the Camry, the Luxury Mid-Size Car category for the Lexus ES, the Image Compact Car category for the Prius, the Minivan category for the Sienna, the Compact Pickup category for the Toyota Tacoma and the Premium Mid-Size Sport Utility category for the 4Runner.

In total, Toyota took the most class wins with eight, while Ford scored six “Most Recommended” wins and Honda took home three.

Not surprisingly Ford took home the top spot for Large Light-Duty Pickups with the F-150 and Large Heavy-Duty Pickups with the F-Series Super Duty. The Mustang took home the spot as the most recommended sporty car, while the Flex and Edge won for the Large Crossover SUV and Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV categories.

The full list of cars can be found below

Most recommended brand: Porsche
Most recommended Passenger cars:
Premium Luxury Car - Lexus LS
Executive Luxury Car - Jaguar XF
Aspirational Luxury Car - Infiniti G37 (most recommended – 95%)
Large Car - Toyota Avalon
Luxury Mid-Size Car - Lexus ES
Premium Mid-Size Car - Toyota Camry
Mid-Size Car - Volkswagen Jetta
Image Compact Car - Toyota Prius
Mainstream Compact Car - Subaru Impreza
Economy Car - Honda Fit
Premium Sports Car - Chevrolet Corvette
Sports Car - Nissan 350Z
Sporty Car - Ford Mustang

Most recommended Light trucks:
Large Light-Duty Pickup - Ford F-150
Large Heavy-Duty Pickup - Ford F-Super Duty
Compact Pickup - Toyota Tacoma
Luxury Sport Utility - Lincoln Navigator
Large Sport Utility - GMC Yukon XL
Premium Mid-Size Sport Utility - Toyota 4Runner
Mid-Size Sport Utility - Dodge Nitro
Compact SUV/Off-Road Vehicle - Jeep Wrangler
Luxury Crossover SUV - Land Rover LR2
Large Crossover SUV - Ford Flex
Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV - Ford Edge
Mainstream Mid-Size Crossover SUV - Honda CR-V
Compact Crossover SUV - Honda Element
Minivan - Toyota Sienna

Randy de Puniet MotoGP Riders Kawasaki Team

Randy de Puniet (born February 14, 1981 in Maisons-Laffitte, France)Randy de Puniet MotoGP Riders Kawasaki TeamRandy de Puniet Stand on the side of the motorcycle racingRandy de Puniet Doing acceleration

Wayne Rainey American former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer

Wayne Wesley Rainey, born October 23, 1960Wayne Rainey American former Grand Prix motorcycle road racerWayne Rainey Legend RidersWayne Rainey Show Off

Toyota’s hydrogen fuel-cell car coming in 2014

Bio-ethanol, biodiesel, E85, pure electricity - there are almost too many "alternative" fuels out there already, but hydrogen is shoving its way into the room. Honda's FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle has grabbed lots of headlines, as has BMW's combustion-powered Hydrogen7 and Mazda's rotary RE line of vehicles, including the RX-8. But Toyota is working on a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle too, and it could be on the streets by 2014.
The company had previously released plans to have a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle on the road by 2015, but that schedule has been bumped up a year to meet the incentives within California's Zero Emissions Vehicle mandate. Toyota has already shown a hydrogen hybrid prototype in the form of the Highlander.

“So much of what happens is directly related to the California ZEV mandates — they’re followed by at least 14 states, and they affect nearly half of the cars on the market in the United States. Phase IV of the mandates covers model years 2015 through 2017, so that means we could begin complying in late 2014," John Hanson, a Toyota spokesperson, told the New York Times.

California's ZEV scheme has previously influenced Toyota and other carmakers, including General Motors, to introduce zero-emissions vehicles, including the RAV-4 EV and the much-discussed EV-1.

This time around, the monetary benefits to California's program are such that it's now a valid business case for Toyota to build the hydrogen fuel-cell car.

Preview: Sporty Mini Cooper Speedster

Mini has been a giant success story for BMW, with the iconic little cars becoming almost ubiquitous throughout cities these days. With brand success comes more models, and BMW has already capitalized on the Mini name in a big way with new variants such as the Clubman as well as an upcoming crossover model, and this trend is likely to continue with the introduction of a possible two-seater convertible speedster.

There has been speculation about a two-seater convertible Mini for some time, and according to latest reports the car has been given the green light for production.

Making the car a strict two-seater means that BMW can use the same platform that the Mini Cooper Cabrio currently sits on. With the back seats removed, the Speedster should have a decent sized boot, and BMW will be able to easily mix and match engines and other parts from its current stock for the eventual Speedster lineup.

At the front, Mini’s now hallmark bonnet will likely appear with a split grille, however, the speedster will be much sportier than the current range of Mini models. This means the speedster will likely be lower and wider than its four-seat siblings and will definitely be the most aggressive Mini of the bunch.

The car will most likely have a soft-top to keep weight down, but a removable hard-top should also be available. Under the hood, expect to see the plethora of engines that are currently seen in the MINI Cooper - including the 173hp (129 kW) 1.6L turbo engine found in the Cooper S.

While BMW is yet to confirm its production, a launch date for the car is rumored to fall sometime in 2011.

2010 Opel Astra Revealed: Debut at this September’s Frankfurt Motor Show, Sales Start this Fall

Opel has reveal the 2010 Opel (Vauxhall) Astra with high-res photos and a few key details. The car will make its official world debut at this September’s Frankfurt Motor Show, before arriving in European showrooms by the end of the year.

The new Astra is crucial for Opel as it will need to recover market share lost by the current model to Ford’s strong-selling Focus hatch as well as fend off the Fiesta compact. Depending on the market, the new Astra will go on sale in Europe this fall. And whether the Astra will make it across the Atlantic and arrive in one form or another in U.S. showrooms due to the instability in GM's current situation and of course, the pending sale of the American automaker's stake in the Opel / Vauxhall brands.

This is the sixth generation of the Astra, which comes almost 30 years after the launch of the original, and its styling was led by Mark Adams, the British designer responsible for Opel’s award-winning Insignia. Clearly influenced by the Insignia, the new Astra has spent over 600 hours in the wind tunnel, benefiting performance, economy and overall refinement.

Beneath the car’s pretty sheet metal is a 4.4 metre-length body and an updated GM Delta platform with a 71 millimetre-longer wheelbase. Wider tracks front and rear feature, as does a new rear axle design, which not only improves stability and agility but improves ride and comfort as well. Enhancing ride quality further is the addition of Opel’s FlexRide adjustable damper settings, which allows drivers to select between standard, sport and tour suspension modes. Another special feature is adaptive bi-xenon headlights.

The highlight of the new Astra’s powertrain line-up is the introduction of an all-new, 138hp (103kW) turbocharged 1.4L petrol unit, which builds on Opel’s commitment to engine downsizing and reduced emissions and fuel consumption. This engine joins three further petrol engines, which range from 98hp (74kW) to 178hp (132kW), and four diesel engines ranging from 94hp (70kW) to 158hp (118kW). All engines are Euro 5 compliant.

Opel is also expected to launch a new two-mode hybrid version although it won’t arrive until the end of 2010. Opel's own brand difficulties, including a partial sell-off of GM's interest, could slow development down, however.

The Astra is based around the latest version of GM’s Delta FWD compact platform and will once again be available in coupe, three and five-door hatchbacks and wagon, as well as a sedan in select markets. Since the Delta platform is shared with the Chevrolet Cruze, which will be built at GM’s Lordstown Ohio plant, there’s the possibility that an Astra under one of GM's other brand banners, such as Buick - could also be manufactured in North America to keep costs low. There’s yet to be any official confirmation, however.

Preview: Opel Insignia 'GTC' Coupe

GTC is the name of the sport versions for Opel. We’ve already seen Opel expand its Insignia lineup with the Hatchback and Sports Tourer, as well as the more recent OPC performance variant, but there’s one more model in the works that’s destined to be the most exciting and extreme. The model in question is a new coupe variant based on 2007’s stunning Gran Turismo Coupe (GTC) concept car, naming Opel Insignia 'GTC' Coupe.

This computer generated rendering gives us a good indication as to what the new model will likely look like, suggesting the dramatic styling of the original GTC concept will be toned down significantly. Don’t despair, as some of the concept’s aggression will be reserved for a high-performance OPC version of the Insignia Coupe packing the same 325hp (242kW) turbocharged 2.8L V6 engine as the Sedan.

Another cool feature will be Opel’s new ‘HiPerStrut’ (High Performance Strut) front suspension system, as well as an electronic limited slip differential. The HiPerStrut system will be unique to the OPC model and serves two primary functions: firstly, to reduce torque-steer, but also to maintain negative camber during cornering, thereby improving grip levels in wet or dry conditions.

Lesser models will borrow other powerplants from the Insignia range, including four-cylinder and V6 options. Diesel engines may also be offered, as well as an EcoFLEX version, though this latter option is unlikely to make production due to low demand.

Given its current ‘sale’ status, Opel’s priorities right now lie in finding a suitable buyer for the brand but once the dust settles work on the new Insignia Coupe will continue. Expect its launch to fall late in 2011 or early 2012.

May 11, 2009 by German Car Magazine

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Many of these car pictures are from the website Car Walls.