AM Racing: Yamaha MT-01 Turbo

The Sweden-based AM Racing have prepared this turbocharged Yamaha MT-01, which packs 160 horsepower (measured at the rear wheel) and 230Nm of torque. When you consider the fact that a stock MT-01 has only 86bhp and 156Nm of torque, the turbocharged bike’s numbers begin to look very impressive…AM Racing’s Stage 2 kit for the MT-01 includes a Mitsubishi turbocharger, piggy-back computer (which controls boost), oil system for turbo with external oil pump, water/air intercooler, an extra injector mounted on the intake pipe, fuel pressure regulator, aftermarket air-filter, steel-braided oil and water hoses and an upgraded clutch.On the MT-01 Turbo here, the stock exhaust system has been replaced with a non-silenced exhaust from the turbo, and according to AMR, the noise levels, though a bit high, suit the bike’s appearance.The Stage 2 turbo kit costs 56,000 SEK, which is about US$8,600. For more details, visit the AM Racing website here. In the meanwhile, we wonder what these guys would do with a V-Max. A 400bhp, twin-turbo V-Max, anyone...?

1992 Kawasaki ZX-7R special

Found this rather interesting Kawasaki ZX-7R on EMA, and though the bike seems to be unfinished, the spec blows us away. The starting point was a 1992 ZX-7R, but very little seems to have been kept from the original bike.To begin with, the engine is from a 1997 Kawasaki ZX-9R, with 41mm flat-slide carbs, Muzzy headers and custom-built stainless steel exhaust. Two nitrous canisters live below the bike’s tail unit, so power delivery should be all right.Then there’s a long list of bolt-ons: PVM forged aluminum wheels, Metmachex single-sided swingarm, fully adjustable Ohlins rear shock, GSX-R1000 forks, Brembo billet brake and clutch master cylinders, ZX-7R fuel tank made in aluminum, with endurance caps and lots of carbonfibre bits everywhere. The fairing is from an MV Agusta F4, while the tail unit comes from a Yamaha R1.We don’t know who’s built the bike and power/performance numbers are not available. But still, this is one of the most interesting Kawasaki ZX-7R based specials we’ve seen in a long time…

2009 Suzuki Gladius 650 unveiled

The Suzuki Relentless by TAS team were victorious in almost every solo category at this year's Isle of Man TT races, taking Superbike, Superstock and Supersport wins. To celebrate, Suzuki GB have launched the GSX-R600 Bruce Anstey (left) and GSX-R1000 (right) Cameron Donald limited edition replicas. More information available on the official Suzuki GB website here

Specs and first official pics: 2009 Suzuki GSX-R1000

In the sportsbike world, the unveiling of a new Suzuki GSX-R1000, every year, is a fairly momentous occasion. Reduced weight, more power, more electronics (to safely harness all that power…), bigger/uglier exhausts and new colours (some of which can actually be quite bad). Those few things more or less sum up what we expect from new GSX-R1000s every year. And the 2009 model doesn’t disappoint.The 2009 Suzuki GSX-R1000 gets a lighter, more compact 999cc inline-four, which delivers more power and torque and offers enhanced throttle response across the engine’s entire rpm range. The K9 GSX-R1000 engine is now more oversquare than before, and the compression ratio has also gone up from 12.5:1 to 12.8:1.For those who may be interested, here’s a ton of technical details: The new GSX-R1000 engine employs bigger titanium valves, forged pistons, shot-peened conrods, Iridium spark plugs (for a stronger spark, for better combustion) and Suzuki Composite Electrochemical Material (SCEM) plated cylinders integrated into the crankcase, reducing friction and improving heat transfer, durability and ring seal.New, 12-hole fuel-injectors produce a finer fuel mist for more complete combustion, reducing fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. And as before, the Suzuki Drive Mode Selector (S-DMS) offers push-button selection of three performance settings to suit riding conditions and personal tastes. However, the switch has now been relocated on the left handlebar control module.The cable-operated back-torque-limiting clutch makes for efficient clutch operation with superb feel, claim Suzuki. And the new Suzuki Advanced Exhaust System (SAES) uses an under-engine chamber and low-slung, large-volume MotoGP-inspired titanium mufflers.

Face-off: Honda vs Zonda!

Two wheels and 178bhp inline-four vs four wheels and 678bhp V12? Bring it on!
Right, we admit part of the reason why we did this story was so we could use that headline. Some other shootouts may be more sensible, but for sheer fun, and for the heck of it, ‘Honda vs Zonda’ is hard to beat…Round 1: The StylingSo let’s start. And to begin with, we have Honda’s latest Fireblade. Launched last year, the new Fireblade’s rounded, bulbous lines were a radical break from the previous model’s sharper, more angular lines. We think the ’Blade looks a bit like its MotoGP cousin, the Honda RC212V, and how bad can that be? Still, most would agree that the current CBR1000RR can’t be compared to an MV Agusta F4 or Ducati 1098 in the looks department…Honda CBR1000RR FirebladeF&F Score: 6/10On to the Pagani then, and what we have here is the Zonda Cinque, a limited edition variant of what’s already one of the most exclusive supercars in the world! Indeed, the Cinque is the road-legal version of the racetrack-only Zonda R, and only five of these have been built. It isn’t beautiful to look at, ‘brutal’ is more like it. And we think those red leather seats are a bit excessive even in a car like this…

Both, the Honda and the Zonda, are performance fiends down to their last bhp...
Round 3: The PerformanceFully fueled and ready to go, the Fireblade weighs a claimed 199 kilos. With 178bhp (about 160bhp at the rear wheel) on tap, the bike accelerates from zero to 160km/h in 5.41 seconds and does the standing quarter-mile (400m) in 10.32 seconds. The Fireblade’s top speed is around 280km/h, which, from a standing start, it reaches in less than 20 seconds. Fast enough for you?Honda CBR1000RR FirebladeF&F Score: 8/10If the ’Blade is quick, the 1200-kilo Zonda Cinque doesn’t potter around either – it accelerates from zero to 100km/h in 3.4 seconds and from zero to 200km/h in 9.8 seconds. Top speed, for Bonneville Salt Flats regulars, is around 350km/h. And with its four super-fat Pirelli P-Zero tyres and full complement of electronic safety features like anti-lock brakes and traction control, the car is probably safer the bike at those triple-digit speeds. In fact, from 200km/h, the Zonda can come to a complete halt in just 4.3 seconds – something the Honda can’t match, despite the fact that the 2009 model is equipped with C-ABS anti-lock brakes.Pagani Zonda CinqueF&F Score: 8/10 So, the Honda scores 22 points out of 30, while the Zonda stands at 21 points. And that’s when we haven’t taken the price into account – US$11,800 for the Honda, US$1.5 million for the Zonda. That’s settled then. Honda beats Zonda…!

Prometheus Solar LLC’s solar-powered electric motorcycle

Below all that plastic, it's a Kaw Ninja 250 with its engine replaced with batteries...Pics: AutoblogGreen
What would you do if your wife had a Kawasaki Ninja 250 which she didn’t use much? Jim Corning, the man who founded Prometheus Solar LLC, was faced with exactly such a situation, and decided to convert the bike into a solar-powered electric vehicle. We suppose some people just won’t be bothered with riding down to the nearest petrol filling station…Being exhibited at the ongoing AltCar Expo, Corning’s electric bike has been designed on the lines of Craig Vetter’s Streamliner from the 1980s. And yeah, it looks as terrible now as it did back then.Anyway, the bike is powered by lithium-ion phosphate batteries, which are connected to a 10HP electric motor. The batteries can be charged using solar panels (which, apparently, Mr Corning has installed in his house…), and are powerful enough to provide a range of about 80km and a top speed of around 110km/h. But don’t laugh. Twenty years down the line, we might all be riding around on contraptions like this…

Peugeot HYmotion3 Compressor concept unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show

The Peugeot HYmotion3 Compressor concept, the coolest trike we've seen in a long time...!
For those who miss the BMW C1, Peugeot have designed the all-new HYmotion3 Compressor concept, a two-seater trike that features Peugeot’s ‘HYmotion’ hybrid/petrol technology.With its glass roof and three wheels, the HYmotion3 Compressor is a car/scooter hybrid that’s fitted with 3kW electric motors in each of its two front wheels, and a supercharged, 20bhp, 125cc petrol engine that drives the single rear wheel. The HYmotion3 can be ridden in electric-only mode, petrol engine only mode, or hybrid three-wheel-drive mode. The HYmotion3 Compressor also gets stop-start, probably the first non-car application of this technology anywhere in the world.

Very sophisticated, very high-tech and proof that 'environment friendly' doesn't have to be boring
Two aluminium roll-over bars support the HYmotion3’s glass bubble roof, which provides a reasonable amount of weather protection to the trike’s occupants. There’s a rear-view camera in there, by-wire controls for everything, parallelogram type front suspension (which allows the front wheels to tilt) with a transversely mounted damper at its centre, tubular steel chassis, anti-lock brakes and a regenerative braking system that charges the batteries which power the dual electric motors.The HYmotion3 will accelerate from zero to 100km/h in 11.2 seconds, do the standing quarter-mile (400m) in 17.6 seconds and is capable of hitting a top speed of 110km/h. Sure, it’s no road-rocket, but the numbers indicate that this trike should have enough performance for the city and it should be way more fun (and easier to park) than most cars. For us, this smart little three-wheeler from Peugeot proves that ‘hybrid’ and ‘environment friendly’ doesn’t necessarily have to be boring…

2009 Buell 1125CR riding impression

MotorBox recently had the opportunity to test ride the new Buell 1125CR. Here are some excerpts from what they have to say about the machine:Erik Buell always dreamt of getting his hands on a high-performance engine – something significantly more powerful than air-cooled Harley v-twins – because such an engine would unlock the true potential of Buell motorcycles. And with the liquid-cooled Rotax Helicon v-twin, which produces 146bhp at 9,800rpm and 111Nm of torque at 8,000rpm, that dream has come true…The 1125CR’s Rotax mill, the same engine that’s also used on the 1125R, gets a freshly tweaked fuel-injection system for better low-rpm power delivery and reduced fuel consumption. The cooling system has also been fettled for better heat dissipation, and those who ride 1125CR now needn’t have their legs roasted.
The 2009 Buell 1125CR’s gearing has been altered for better low-rev acceleration, at the expense of a small loss in top speed – a step in the right direction. The swingarm is now 5mm longer, and is supposed to offer better high-speed stability.It certainly won't beat litre-class repli-racers around a racetrack, but on the street, for having a few laughs, the Buell 1125CR is pretty cool...
The 1125CR’s chunky, muscular styling oozes testosterone, but this certainly isn’t a beautiful looking bike. The riding position reminds you of older Ducati Monsters, the spacious saddle lets you move around a bit till you find a position that’s comfortable for you, and the clutch and brake levers are adjustable.On the move, the Buell 1125CR feels unexpectedly docile. At least in the beginning. But open up that throttle and you feel a direct connection between the accelerator and the rear wheel. And the six-speed gearbox is quiet, precise and quick.The 1125CR can be hustled around corners pretty quickly. The bike’s aluminum perimeter frame, which also doubles as a fuel tank, mated to a 47mm USD fork at the front and monoshock at the back, works well. The Pirelli Diablo Corsa III tyres are excellent, and the 375mm single brake disc at the front, with its eight-piston calipers, is quite capable of hauling up the Buell in a hurry.With its rather extreme steering geometry, the 1125CR is very agile and changes direction in a snap. But the surprising bit is that it also manages to remain stable at elevated speeds and remains planted in high-speed corners. The suspension, however, may benefit from some recalibration – the bike tends to hop around a bit when the roads get rough.For the full ride report, visit the MotorBox website here

2009 Roehr 1250SC riding impression

When it’s launched in November this year, the US$50,000 Roehr 1250SC is likely to be the quickest, fastest, most exotic superbike from the US yet. With its supercharged, liquid-cooled, 60-degree, 8-valve v-twin producing a claimed 168 horsepower at the rear wheel, and the bike weighing in at 196 kilos dry, the 1250SC’ performance is likely to be a bit special.Kevin Duke, at Motorcycle.com, recently tested the Roehr 1250SC. Here are some excerpts from what he has to say about the bike:The Roehr is powered by the ‘Revolution’ v-twin from Harley-Davidson’s V-Rod lineup [and] a belt-driven Rotrex supercharger is the key to big power from this engine.Mounted under the faux fuel tank and driven by a toothed belt, the Rotrex supercharger weighs just 3kg. It basically operates like a belt-driven turbocharger, but pumps the intake system with pressurized air that rises proportionally to engine speed. During idle, cruise and deceleration, a bypass valve recirculates unneeded air into the compressor, reducing parasitic drag and allowing the engine to function in its normally aspirated form. It’s a brilliant system, and operates as advertised.The Rotrex unit supplies a very linear surge of power throughout its powerband, before running into a 9100rpm rev limit. Oddly for a bike with this much power, there are no steps in the powerband that create the palpable surge of output like a normally aspirated engine.As such, winding out the 1250SC through the gears wasn’t as viscerally exciting as expected. However, watching the V-Rod-sourced speedometer speedily ratchet upward left little doubt about this engine’s efficacy. Dual underseat Akrapovic mufflers have quieting inserts to keep the big twin’s bellow relatively modest, while the supercharger whistles away almost imperceptibly.Response from the stock V-Rod fuel injectors was glitch-free everywhere except for a slight kink when dialing on throttle from a closed position. But once the right grip is twisted open, you’d best be prepared for a never-ending blast of grunt that sweeps through its five-speed gearbox like nothing else on wheels.There is plenty to like here. First off, it’s simply gorgeous, and I think it should assume the title of most dazzling American motorcycle ever to wear a fairing. Second, it’s exotic in a way few others are – there are 50 units planned for production, making a Desmosedici seem like a CBR. It’s all enough to almost make you forget it costs $49,999.

Confederate Fighter: The US$110,000 Christmas present

If you’ve got US$110,000 to spare and if you’re looking for an early Christmas present, head over to Neiman Marcus, who have this Confederate Fighter on their catalogue. Built by the Confederate Motor Company, who’re making only 45 units of this bike, the limited edition Fighter is powered by a 1,966cc, 45-degree radial twin. Power output is not specified, but top speed for the bike – which weighs 194 kilos – is a claimed 300km/h! Surely, they must be kidding...Go through the specs sheet and you’ll find a lot of CNC billet this, alloy that and titanium/carbonfibre something-or-the-other. But what’s interesting is the front suspension, which is a multi-link, girder-type design, with a single centrally-mounted shock absorber. Certainly looks very cool.The gearbox is a close-ratio, five-speed unit, the 19-inch (front) and 18-inch (rear) wheels, made of carbonfibre, are shod with Pirelli ZR-rated rubber, and the headlamp and taillamp are LED units. Sounds good? You can order your bike here. In the meanwhile, just in case Santa Claus is reading this, we’re begging for a 2009 Yamaha R1 for Christmas. Please, please, please…

Pettinari’s Triumph Specials: Daytona 675 and Street Triple

Pettinari have worked their special brand of high-performance magic on the two Triumphs you see here. Starting with the Daytona 675, the three-cylinder has been tuned and fettled to produce 130 horsepower (at the rear wheel), and the bike is now capable of hitting a top speed of 293km/h!The Daytona’s stock exhaust has been replaced with a complete Arrow system, while the stock ECU has been replaced with a Magneti Marelli Marvel 4 unit, which now controls the bike’s fuel injection, data acquisition, traction control and launch control systems. The bike’s stock fork has been retained, but with fully reworked internals, while the rear shock is a fully adjustable Bitubo unit.The Pettinari Street Triple gets a special red-and-black paintjob, 3-into-1 aftermarket exhaust system, and slightly lower gearing for better acceleration. The suspension and brakes have been tweaked and fine-tuned for improved performance. The red anodized fork and red painted wheels look a bit over the top to us, but otherwise the bike looks good…
Visit the Pettinari website here for more details

2009 Hyosung GT650R gets fuel injection, more power

The Korean-made 2009 Hyosung GT650R, now with fuel-injectionPic: MotoFlash
The Korea-based S&T Motors Co. Ltd. (formerly Hyosung) has announced its 2009 GT650R, which will now be fitted with a fuel-injection system instead of the earlier carburetor. The bike’s DOHC, 8-valve, liquid-cooled, 647cc v-twin engine is being updated, and will now produce 80bhp and 67Nm of torque – an increase of around 9bhp and 9Nm of torque over the carbureted model.The Hyosung GT650R, which weighs around 208 kilos, rides on 17-inch wheels, with 120/60 (front) and 160/60 (rear) ZR-rated tyres. The bike is fitted with a six-speed gearbox, adjustable monoshock at the back, USD fork, 300mm twin brake discs at the front (with radial-mount, four-piston calipers) and 230mm rear disc brake. The 2009 GT650R will be priced at around US$6,500.

Norton: The revival-bust-revival story continues...

The legendary Norton Commando 850, and a custom-built Norton cafe-racer with a Wankel rotary engine and the iconic JPS livery...
Norton’s gone bust. Norton’s been revived! Norton’s gone bust again. Norton’s being revived… and so on. A lot of people – including many hard core fans of the legendary British motorcycle brand – have gotten so tired of this routine, they’ve stopped caring. And yet, Norton is being revived again, yet again.After close to fifteen years of American ownership, Norton is not only being revived, it’s also coming back to the UK. Stuart Garner, a UK-based businessman who also owns Norton Racing Ltd., has bought all the trademarks to the Norton, Manx, Atlas, Commando and Dominator brands.Back in the early-1990s, these British brands were bought by the US-based Norton Motorcycles Inc., who then proceeded to spend a truckload of money towards developing the Norton Commando 961. The bike never became production reality, but now, with Garner having bought everything, a new Commando is likely come out in 2009.‘This has been a challenging and exciting period for us. We are proud to have brought the brands back home and we now intend to focus on re-establishing Norton as a premier motorcycling brand across the World,’ says Garner. Norton Racing Ltd. is said to be developing a rotary-engined racebike, and a new road bike that’s likely to have a conventional engine.With its new factory and office complex being based at Donington Park, Norton seems to be back where it really belongs. However, whether they’ll really make a contemporary, state-of-the-art motorcycle that people can actually walk into a Norton showroom and buy, remains to be seen. In the meanwhile, you can see what Kenny Dreer is up to these days, here. And for some very cool old Norton advertisements, see here

Kawasaki GPZ 750 Turbo: Blow hard!

The new ZZR 1400 is vastly quicker and faster, but wouldn't you still want to have a go on the GPZ 750 Turbo? Just once... :-)
Kawasaki’s most powerful motorcycle ever - the ZZR 1400 - packs 197bhp and sure, it's insane. But it still doesn't have a turbocharger, which the 1980s GPZ750 did! Oh, okay, given the added weight, cost and complexity, turbochargers on motorcycles aren’t probably worth the hassle. But then, a ‘factory turbo’ badge has to be worth a point or two down at the pub, swapping tales over a pint. Wind on the boost, and from stoplights, the mid-1980s GPZ Turbo will still leave your neighbour’s Porsche Cayenne for dead. This bike was, after all, the first production motorcycle ever to run the quarter mile (400m) in less than 11 seconds.
The bike featured digital fuel injection and was fitted with a Hitachi HT-10B turbocharger. Power output, in stock form, was 95bhp, but with a bit of fettling and tweaking, some tuners claim to be able to release more than 200bhp! Said Motorcyclist magazine, in October 1983, "The 750 Turbo is far more than the hottest. It's a milestone in motorcycling." Many will argue that the normally-aspirated GPZ 900R was the better machine, but come on, everyone should own at least one turbocharged motorcycle, at least once in their lives...

2009 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade

All right, so the speculation has come to an end - what you see here isn't some computer-generated rendering, but the real deal, the brand-new, 2008 Honda CBR1000RR. Wet weight is 199 kilos, while power output is 178bhp at 12,000rpm. As you can see, the bike has been heavily restyled - the fairing is all new, as is the MotoGP-inspired rear end and the stubby exhaust system. The wheels are new, the chassis and swingarm have been redesigned, turn-signals at the front have been integrated into the rear-view mirrors, and the air-intakes ducts have been reworked and repositioned. The 2008 Fireblade also gets a slipper clutch (finally...!) and a new, sophisticated steering damper. This is a big, big makeover for the CBR1000RR, and Honda must be hoping the new Fireblade will not only be able to take on the R1, GSX-R1000 and ZX-10R but also beat those bikes in sheer performance terms. Honda have also shown their 2008 VFR800, and surprisingly, it carries on unchanged from the 2007 model. We had earlier reported that Honda are likely to replace the VFR800 with a brand-new, high-tech VFR1000. However, that may indeed still happen. Honda might have two sports-tourers in their range and the VFR1000 may be the range-topper. It's also almost 100% certain that the inline-four-powered 2008 Fireblade will be the last of its ilk. Honda are expected to replace the CBR1000RR with an all-new, V4-powered 1000cc superbike in 2009, which will also be their WSBK contender.

2008 BMW HP2 Sport: More pics and details

Yesterday, you saw MCN’s first ride video of the awesome 2008 BMW HP2 Sport, and now we have new pictures of the bike. This bike, along with BMW’s decision to go racing in World Superbikes in 2009 (with an all-new four-cylinder machine…), shows just how serious the Bavarian company is about taking on the R1s and GSX-Rs of this world.As is already known, the BMW HP2 Sport is based on the BMW R1200S, though in the former, the boxer twin gets new cylinder heads, with double overhead cams and bigger valves. Along with its new forged pistons, new con-rods, and new stainless steel exhaust system, the 1170cc twin makes a respectable 130 – 140 horsepower and 115Nm of torque.The HP2 Sport gets a six-speed close-ratio gearbox, and there’s also a quickshifter there to keep racer-types happy. Other fancy bits are Öhlins suspension, forged wheels, various carbonfibre parts, Brembo monoblock brakes with radially mounted four-piston calipers at the front, and a MotoGP-style digital dashboard. ABS is optional.With this all-singing, all-dancing HP2 Sport, BMW should indeed be able to make people – especially the Japanese and Italian factories – sit up and take note. Yes sir, BMW are back, and how!

2008 Yamaha R6 and R125 shown

Yamaha have released these pics of the 2008 R6 and R125 bikes. The 2008 R6 gets a mild style makeover, new chassis and swingarm, freshly fettled 599cc engine with titanium valves, slipper clutch and better front brakes.With the new YZF R6, Yamaha are going all out on the performance front – they’ve increased the engine’s compression ratio from 12.8:1 to 13.1:1 and fitted their YCC-I (Yamaha Chip-Controlled Intake) system found on the 2007 R1. This system essentially comprises of a variable-length air-intake system which boosts power at higher revs.

The 2008 R6 also gets remapped fuel injection for better throttle response.

2008 R6 paintjobs look good, but we're still undecided about the gold painted wheels...
The new R6's chassis gets a magnesium alloy subframe, which is supposed to improve mass centralization. Other changes are increased brake rotor thickness for better heat dissipation, and new colour schemes. The 2007 Honda CBR600RR had thrashed the Yamaha R6 in most bike magazine shootouts this year. Whether the 2008 R6 can claw its way back to the top remains to be seen...

The learner legal 2008 Yamaha YZF R125
For those who are just starting off with bikes, Yamaha have also shown the new YZF R125, which is learner legal. The bike is fitted with a liquid-cooled, four-valve, 124cc, fuel-injected, single-cylinder engine, which is mated to a six-speed gearbox. Styling cues are taken from the latest R6, which is so important when there are teenaged girlfriends to impress…

2008 Kawasaki ZZR1400: Improved power delivery, less pollution...

With Suzuki having launched a heavily reworked Hayabusa for 2008, Kawasaki couldn’t possibly do nothing about it. So we have the 2008 ZZR1400, and while it looks more or less the same as before, Kawasaki say they’ve made small, but significant changes everywhere, improving the bike significantly.To begin with, there’s the ZZR1400’s 190bhp, 1352cc, DOHC inline-four, which is now fully compliant with Euro III emissions regulations. Kawasaki claim that the engine’s new intake ports and fine-atomising fuel injectors reduce mechanical noise and help boost power throughout the rev range. (This is supposed to take care of some riders’ complaints that at lower speeds, the ZZR1400 didn’t feel like a 190bhp, 1400cc sportsbike.) Also, a third honeycomb catalyzer has now been added in the exhaust collector, and this joins the two catalyzers already present in each silencer.The ZZR1400’s chassis has also been revised – the aluminum monocoque is now die cast (rather than gravity cast) for reduced weight and increased stiffness. In keeping with the bike’s hyper sports-tourer positioning, ergonomics have been further refined for long-distance riding. And with a price tag of US$11,999 the big Ninja remains an excellent value for money proposition.

2008 BMW HP2 Sport: More pics and details

Yesterday, you saw MCN’s first ride video of the awesome 2008 BMW HP2 Sport, and now we have new pictures of the bike. This bike, along with BMW’s decision to go racing in World Superbikes in 2009 (with an all-new four-cylinder machine…), shows just how serious the Bavarian company is about taking on the R1s and GSX-Rs of this world.As is already known, the BMW HP2 Sport is based on the BMW R1200S, though in the former, the boxer twin gets new cylinder heads, with double overhead cams and bigger valves. Along with its new forged pistons, new con-rods, and new stainless steel exhaust system, the 1170cc twin makes a respectable 130 – 140 horsepower and 115Nm of torque.The HP2 Sport gets a six-speed close-ratio gearbox, and there’s also a quickshifter there to keep racer-types happy. Other fancy bits are Öhlins suspension, forged wheels, various carbonfibre parts, Brembo monoblock brakes with radially mounted four-piston calipers at the front, and a MotoGP-style digital dashboard. ABS is optional.With this all-singing, all-dancing HP2 Sport, BMW should indeed be able to make people – especially the Japanese and Italian factories – sit up and take note. Yes sir, BMW are back, and how!

2009 Lotus Exige Cup 260

Extensive use of carbon fibre and lightweight components for the latest homologated-for-the-road Lotus Exige Cup 260
Lotus Cars Ltd, has unveiled the MY2009 Exige Cup 260. A direct development of the 2008 Exige Cup Car, this years car uses advanced light weight components and carbon fibre body material, to reduce the overall weight by 38 kg to a total mass less than 900 kg. Maximum power output of 257 hp (260 PS), remains the same as the 2008 car, but with careful attention to weight reduction detail, the 2009 Model Year Exige Cup 260 provides a more agile and dynamic track focused drive and is more than capable of taming Europes most challenging race circuits.
Unusually for such a focused track and road machine, the 2009 Model Year Exige Cup 260 is fully homologated for road use in Europe and key markets in Asia - a must have for many race competition programmes where a road legal car has to be entered. The Lotus Exige Cup 260 is also eligible to compete in the newly announced 2009 Lotus Cup Europe race series organized and run by LoTRDC.
The Exige Cup 260 exploits the Lotus philosophy of using weight reduction to increase performance and reduce emissions.
Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive of Group Lotus commented, Lotus is now recognised globally as one of the leaders in the green automotive revolution. Colin Chapman, the founder of Lotus is attributed as saying Adding power makes you faster on the straights; adding lightness makes you faster everywhere and this statement is more relevant today than it ever has been, as decreasing weight increases the cars performance and most importantly efficiency.
The Exige Cup 260 follows this philosophy closely - the weight saving programme has looked at all areas of the car where components can be replaced with a lighter version (without pushing the costs beyond the reach of the serious track day driver or clubman racer) or where components can be removed completely without detracting from the purity of the driving experience:
Carbon fibre (resulting in a weight saving of 12kg):- Roof Panel FIA and HANS compliant Driver and Passenger Seats* One piece Carbon Fibre Dash Top Panel Rear Tailgate Front Access Panels Front Splitter Side air intake ducts Rear Spoiler
Lightweight components (resulting in a further weight saving of 22kg):- Lightweight 'Motorsport' Battery Ultra-light 12 Spoke Forged Alloy Wheels Revised Rear Engine Subframe with lightweight Coating Lightweight Fly Wheel Lightweight composite bulkhead panel replaces rear window Alloy Supercharger U bend pipes Footwell Pads
Removing some other non essential components and equipment such as the interior and boot carpets, front mudflaps, battery cover, interior mirror, sunvisors, rear tailgate gas strut, results in a further weight saving of 4kg.
However, should a customer wish, air conditioning and an interior noise reduction pack are available, together with the complete range of Lotus metallic, lifestyle and premium paint colours.
The MY2009 Exige Cup 260 weighs in at just 890 kg, giving an impressive power to weight ratio of 288 hp / tonne (291 PS / tonne). But, of course, power to weight alone does not make a highly competitive race or track car, so in addition, the Exige Cup 260 has a formidable list of standard performance focused equipment, as follows:-
Wheels and Tyres
Ultra lightweight wheels, that reduce the unsprung mass and contribute a weight saving of approximately 10 kg (22 lbs) over the already super light forged Exige wheels, are shod with Lotus specific LTS construction and compound Yokohama A048 LTS tyres to maximise grip and achieve the ride and handling targets set by Lotus Engineering.
Safety Equipment
Lotus Exige Cup 260 cars have the safety equipment expected of a race car, with FIA and HANS compliant carbon fibre lightweight sports seats*, normal 3-point Webb Lock harnesses (four or six point driver and passenger seat belt harnesses are available for track use only).
(* The seats are FIA compliant when fitted in conjunction with fixed seat runners that are available as a track only dealer fit option).
A high tensile steel roll over hoop is now fitted with a body coloured Lotus Sport AFrame as standard and the chassis is already pre-drilled to fit a full front roll cage a simple dealer fit process involving just the removal of the roof panel for access prior to fitting. Completing the additional safety equipment is a FIA compliant electronic ignition kill switch, with cockpit and external activation, and a FIA compliant plumbed electrically activated fire extinguisher system, again with cockpit and external switches.
Like all current Lotus cars, the Exige Cup 260 is built around a very strong extruded and bonded aluminium chassis tub. Attached to the chassis is a sacrificial energy absorbing composite front structure designed to help absorb crash energy in the event of impact.
Suspension
Eibach springs, one way adjustable Bilstein dampers and a stiffened and adjustable front anti-roll bar allows customers to tailor the handling characteristics of the car to their own requirements. As the Exige Cup 260 cars are equipped for track use, a double shear track control arm brace is provided to cope with the expected kerb abuse during racing or hard track day driving.
Brakes
The brake system includes large diameter 308 mm 2-piece aluminium belled cast iron cross-drilled and ventilated front discs and 282 mm cross-drilled and ventilated discs at the rear, upgraded Pagid RS14 sports brake pads set into the brake calipers (AP Racing two piece radially mounted, 4 piston at the front and Brembo sliding at the rear), and stainless steel braided brake hoses - all linked to the proven Lotus track tuned servo-assisted four-channel ABS system that enhances braking performance and minimizes stopping distance without taking over from the skill of the driver.
Performance, Economy and Emissions
The Exige Cup 260 is one of the quickest road cars around a circuit. Key to this incredible performance is the aerodynamic package, which produces over 40 kg of downforce at 160 kmh increasing grip and stability at higher speeds. With a top speed of circa 245 kmh (152 mph) and a zero to 160 kmh (100 mph) in circa 9.9 seconds, 0 to 100 kmh in circa 4.1 seconds (0 to 60 mph in circa 4 seconds), the MY2009 Exige Cup 260 is the perfect partner for the serious racer. Combined Fuel Consumption is 9.1 l/100km and the CO2 emissions 216 g/km.
Engine
The supercharged and intercooled engine in the Exige Cup 260 has a maximum power output of 260 PS (257 hp) at 8000 rpm and a torque figure of 236 Nm (174 lbft) at 6000 rpm. This significant amount of extra power and torque now available together with the VVTL-i variable cam system ensures that there is a smooth and linear delivery of power from low engine speeds all the way to the maximum 8000 rpm (8500 rpm transient for 2 seconds). The Roots-type Eaton M62 supercharger (with a sealed-for-life internal mechanism meaning that it does not require the use of the engines oil) is run from the crankshaft and has an integral bypass valve for part load operation. Charge air (air under pressure from the supercharger) is cooled through an air-to-air intercooler (the air enters via the enhanced roof scoop) before being fed into the engine itself. All charge air ducting has been kept as short as possible with large diameter pipes to minimise restriction and maximise throttle response and efficiency. Four high capacity injectors and an uprated fuel pump add additional fuel under hard acceleration or continuous high speed driving.
A lightweight flywheel is fitted (giving even greater flexibility and response to the gear change), a sports-type clutch plate and heavy duty clutch cover transfer the engine power and torque to the lightweight C64 six-speed gearbox (with an aluminium casing) with the same perfectly spaced ratios as the Exige S. A torque-sensing limited slip differential is fitted as standard, with a plate type limited slip differential available as an option. An Accusump (engine oil accumulator unit) is included in the whole package as an oil reservoir back-up for extreme track use ensuring that, under those conditions, the engine oil pressure remains constant.
Electrical supply is provided by a lightweight motorsport battery which saves a massive 5 kg of weight sitting behind the rear axle again weight saving is not just the removal of mass but ensuring that this mass is removed where it most effects performance and handling.
Lotus Launch Control and Lotus Traction Control
Keen to pass on lessons learned on the track with the Exige GT3 racing programme, Lotus Sport has contributed another important technology launch control combined with variable traction control. This combination has already made its production debut with the track-oriented Lotus 2-Eleven.
The launch control allows the driver to determine the number of revs they wish to use during a standing start. Having programmed that limit, the driver then holds their foot down fully on the throttle pedal and sidesteps the clutch pedal for a very quick departure from the line. The clutch damper cushions the severity of the clutch to transmission engagement to minimise the stresses to the drivetrain. The launch control also keeps wheel-spin at bay until 6 mph, after which the traction control assumes its duties.
As with launch control, the driver can control the amount of traction control you require from the drivers seat, altering it on the move to suit the characteristics of particular corners. The amount of traction control can be varied in over 30 increments from an optimum 7 percent tyre slip to completely off. The message display in the new instrument pack displays what degree of traction control you have currently dialled in.
Roof Scoop
For 2009, the Lotus Sport Exige Cup 260 now has a high flow, full-length carbon roof scoop as part of the lightweight carbon roof panel, which not only saves 4 kg but also ensures efficient cooling through the intercooler, which in turn allows the Exige Cup 260 to gain a higher charge density in the cylinders.
Specification
The standard specification Lotus Exige Cup 260 is road legal within the European Union, and can be registered for road use.
The Exige Cup 260 is available now for sale in mainland Europe. Individual recommended retail prices for some major European markets are listed below:
Retail prices for the UK (MSRP)
Recommended retail price (including VAT) is 45,995, (an additional 950 is charged for on the road costs. These include delivery, PDI, first service, number plates, first registration fee, valet, 12 months Road Fund Licence and a full tank of fuel.
Recommended retail prices for the following markets (MSRP) (including transport, delivery, local taxes and first service (but excluding registration, license plates and or a full tank of fuel):
Belgium 68,650 France 67,950 Germany 67,600 Italy 68,650 Netherlands 91,800 Switzerland CHF 100,000
Recommended retail prices for the following markets (MSRP) (excluding transport, delivery, local taxes, first service, registration, license plates and full tank of fuel):
Luxembourg 56,034 Spain 56,034 Austria 56,034 Greece 56,034
For recommended retail prices for the following markets (MSRP): Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Russia, Sweden please contact a member of the PR Team.
Warranty
The Lotus Exige Cup 260 will have a limited manufacturers warranty unless used for competition or timed runs. Any type of timed or competitive vehicle use requires that a suitably qualified specialist applies expert levels of vehicle preparation, servicing and maintenance. The purchasers statutory rights are not affected.
Lotus Cup Europe:
Lotus Cup Europe has a new organiser and follows a new format with a six round, twelve race calendar for the 2009 season.
The series will be organised and run by LoTRDC Ltd. who, with MSVR runs the successful Elise Trophy series in the UK. LoTRDC is an independent company which is not connected to Lotus. The Proposed Calendar will have drivers racing on some of the most prestigious and demanding circuits in Europe:-
The provisional calendar is as follows: Donington Park (UK) Le Mans (France) or Zolder (Belgium) Zandvoort (Holland) Brands Hatch Grand Prix (UK) Dijon-Prenois (France) Spa Francorchamps (Belgium) The calendar and race regulations for Lotus Cup Europe will be finalised by November; it is expected that there will be three classes available to ensure that the majority of Lotus owners across Europe can compete. The 2-Eleven and the new 2009 Model year Lotus Exige Cup 260 will also be eligible.
For 2009, Lotus Cup Europe will have a different format from the past race series, as follows:- 20 minutes qualifying Race 1 (minimum 20 minutes duration) Race 2 (minimum 20 minutes duration) The grid will consist of Lotus product only and all cars will run on Yokohama A048 LTS tyres.
Further details are available at: http://www.lotuscupeurope.com/
About Lotus
The main operating subsidiary of Group Lotus plc is Lotus Cars Ltd, which has two operating divisions - Lotus Engineering and Lotus Cars. Lotus Engineering is an internationally recognised automotive engineering consultancy based in Norfolk, UK.
Global facilities include those in Michigan (USA), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), China and offices in Germany and Japan.
Lotus Engineering provides comprehensive and versatile consultancy services to many of the world's OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, offering a full engineering service from initial concept and project design through development and integration of the complete vehicle to meet all worldwide markets and customers to full production. This includes third party 'niche vehicle' engineering and manufacture worldwide. Lotus Cars builds world class, prestige, high performance sports cars for sale in 37 countries. These include the iconic Lotus Elise, and the Exige and Europa. Lotus is a global high-tech company, expanding rapidly and committed to driving forward technology for both Lotus Cars and its Engineering clients, spearheading research into such areas as hybrids, electric vehicles and renewable fuels.

2008 Mazda Kiyora Concept

Mazda revealed the direction its new technology development would take when it announced the Sustainable Zoom-Zoom plan last year. In line with this plan, Mazda is focused on making cars that achieve harmony between Mazda’s hallmark driving pleasure and environmental and safety performance. Mazda Kiyora demonstrates how Mazda will achieve a 30 percent improvement in fuel economy in the near future and introduce new vehicles that are exciting to look at and drive. Featuring next-generation environmental technologies, Kiyora was envisaged as a fun and cool concept for young European urbanites, and one that only Mazda could produce.Mazda Kiyora gives an indication where Mazda could go with a small, eco-friendly city car in the near future. It is highly fuel efficient, with a very small CO 2 footprint, delivering Zoom-Zoom driving fun and high levels of safety. The car achieves this by taking Mazda’s acclaimed lightweight strategy to a new level by employing an extremely rigid and lightweight carbon-fibre body structure beneath a small, aerodynamic outer skin and a spirited, small-displacement 1.3-liter direct-injection engine. Mazda Kiyora also features Mazda’s unique Smart Idle Stop System (SISS) and a newly developed six- speed automatic transmission with direct feel and fuel efficiency similar to that of a manual. With these technologies, the Mazda Kiyora concept would produce CO 2 emission of under 90g/km.Themes for the Mazda Kiyora concept include cleanliness, health and safety. These key aspects are essential for young city dwellers as well as any compact car in the current global environment. The concept was based on Mazda’s sustainable technology vision, which aims to ensure customers can continue to enjoy a Zoom-Zoom experience in the future. Water was also selected as a theme for this concept, due to its association with the aspects mentioned above, and the car was named Kiyora (meaning ‘clean and pure’ in Japanese) to reflect this. It features next-generation technologies clothed in a friendly and cool design that is as functional as it is beautiful. This is the first concept to express Nagare ‘low’ in the patterns and colours of water.
Defining the Concept, “Urban Hub” – Advanced Product Strategy
Mazda Kiyora is a redefinition of the small coupe and is dedicated to embody the same fun-to-drive nature as every other Mazda vehicle, combined with innovative ideas that minimize its impact on the environment. This concept is the translation of Mazda’s Sustainable Zoom-Zoom philosophy into a lifestyle vehicle for progressive urbanites.The idea for this car was born from research that identified market opportunities to address future unmet customer needs with innovative concepts and ideas. The very first step taken by Mazda Motor Europe’s Advanced Product Strategy (APS) team was an in-depth analysis of the small city car segment in Europe. Having defined several potential customer profiles in this segment, the team focussed on the urban customer with a post-modern lifestyle.APS found that exterior styling, compact size, manoeuvrability and flexibility were just as important to these young people as high fuel efficiency. European urbanites, then, will continue to commute and use their cars in the city of the future; but they will expect them to use less fuel and produce fewer toxic emissions, while still being fun to drive, easy to park and use. To achieve this, the vehicle must be lightweight and small. Kiyora is even smaller than the new Mazda2. Reducing vehicle weight is a key concept that is crucial to achieve the goals set out in the Sustainable Zoom-Zoom plan. Kiyora takes Mazda’s ‘gram strategy’ — that has been used previously to produce new vehicles, all of them lighter and more fuel eficient than their predecessors — to the next level. It should also be flexible, a kind of ‘urban HUB’ that would allow you to go to university during the day, go shopping in the early evening, and take three friends clubbing at night before driving home, thanks to its lexible interior that can be used as a two-seater with boot, or as a 2+2 seating arrangement. The car should have a next-generation cockpit and be fun to use on a daily basis. And it should be safe and environmentally friendly.
Zoom-Zoom Experience and Environmental Performance
Mazda Kiyora supports the active lifestyles of young people with its agility, cleanliness, and excellent economic performance. Mazda’s next-generation 1.3-litre DISI* petrol engine is an evolution of technologies used for the 2.3-liter DISI petrol engine that currently powers Mazda’s sports crossover SUV, the CX-7. Improved direct- injection technology and newly designed combustion chambers enable more precise ignition control. The engine’s efficiency is increased by a combination of advanced dual sequential-valvetiming (S-VT), variable-valve timing and lift mechanism, and optimal valve control. The engine is spirited as well as clean and efficient and, in combination with a compact and lightweight six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control, it would make Mazda Kiyora powerful and cultivated, even at low engine speeds. In stop and go urban traffic conditions, Mazda’s newly developed Smart Idle Stop System (SISS) would save fuel by automatically shutting down the engine when the vehicle is stationary, and achieves a quick and quiet restart for stress free driving. The system injects a small amount of fuel directly into the engine’s cylinders and ignites it to generate downward piston force which, with the aid of an electric motor, rapidly returns the engine to idle speed. Emissions would be among the lowest thanks to a new catalyst that more effectively removes harmful exhaust materials by employing single-nanotechnology to control catalyst particles that are smaller even than those controlled by conventional nanotechnology. Combined with reduced weight and improved aerodynamics, these insightful technologies would result in CO 2 emissions of 90g/km or less.
Exterior – Fusing Form with Function
“Mazda Design has been working hard over the past two years to develop an exciting new design message with its Nagare series,” says Peter Birtwhistle, Chief Designer, Mazda Motor Europe. “Mazda Kiyora is the latest iteration of that philosophy.”The Mazda Kiyora concept car is formed in the shape of a water droplet on its side, as are its two side windows. Its diminutive size and low roofline give it a small front cross-section. This is combined with an elaborate underbody that controls wind swirl, a rear roof spoiler, and specially sculptured body lines for a highly aerodynamic form with a coefficient of drag that is over 10 percent lower that of the current Mazda2. This outstanding fusion of engineering and the Nagare design was a key target.“The architecture of the car has been rethought,” says the concept’s lead exterior designer, Mickael Loyer. “The main structure of the car is an ‘in and out’ frame, like a shell that protects you from the outside environment, and lets you be opened and linked to it at the same time, thanks to the transparency of the top and the side windows, which also gives a lightweight feeling.”About 10 cm shorter than the new Mazda2 sub-compact, Kiyora is also an environmentally friendly city car that is cute and agile, and invites you to climb in for a ride. It uses a soft design language and lowing lines, while retaining an overall style that is really expressive and sporty. Here is the expressive five-point grille first used on the Mazda Sassou concept three years ago – backlit when the car is on with soft, red lighting – but now further developed with Nagare low lines that are carved and more three-dimensional. They are formed to guide air into the interior of the car without the use of fans, which saves weight. Its silhouette features character lines that are sleek and smooth, and move upwards and rearwards, fusing into the rear spoiler. Combine it all with 18-inch alloys and extremely small overhangs, and you have a truly sporty look in a small package.Though small, Mazda Kiyora has a rear boot big enough to carry a large suitcase, a briefcase and a notebook. It is accessible via a liftgate that opens very high (with a low load floor level) for easy loading and unloading, and it’s flexible. When the rear seats are not in use, you can push your luggage forward and stow even more, while the strong yet flexible seat material stretched over the seats holds the luggage in place. This system also has the advantage that it hides whatever is stored in the boot from prying eyes outside the car.The roof of the new Mazda Kiyora is another example of how Mazda designers were able to combine functionality and design aesthetics. It is transparent, for an open-air feeling on the inside, and has photovoltaic solar cells which provide electricity for the car’s interior systems.“Kiyora is about water fluidity and transparency,” says Mr. Loyer. “It’s all about layers of perception. You start with a shape and there is a shape behind and another one behind that. It’s like water; the deeper you go the more details appear. Nagare low here has different layers lowing into each other. Repeated layers lead you into the car. And because the inside of the car is visible, it becomes part of the exterior design.”The doors and side windows of Mazda Kiyora are fused into a single unit and function as both. These ‘windoors’ are made of plastic, which provides the same transparency and refraction properties as glass, and the strength of a thin-panel door, but with far less weight. They are also easy to use and practical. Touching the surface of the front tip of the door activates a sensor, which opens the doors up and away from the car, a plus when parking in tight city spaces. They also allow a view into the interior when the doors are closed. But looking into Mazda Kiyora is more than just looking through glass.“Using various layers of materials, combined with forms and colours on the inside, gives the impression of looking into water with its depths and lowing shapes below the surface,” says Luca Zollino, who assisted Mr. Loyer in creating the exterior. “For instance, there is a body shell side member shaped like sea grass that is visible just behind the surface of the doors and, when you look deeper into the car, there are the lowing shapes of the dashboard and centre console.”The design of the wheels also supports the water theme. Its front spokes are convex and shaped like the blades of a boat propeller, while the concave back spokes are joined to the wheel rim and have a reinforcement that seems to grow out of the spoke itself. Kept very smooth, the wheels of Mazda Kiyora give a twirling, twisting surface articulation.
Interior Design – Visualised ‘Nagare’ Design and an Expression of Lightness
The interior shapes not only provide aesthetic motifs, they also function to stiffen the passenger compartment with minimal weight. Mazda’s strategy of shedding excess grams wherever possible in its production cars was taken to a new level in Mazda Kiyora. The visible body structure is a real structural element of the car – stiff and crash-resistant. It is indicative of Mazda’s approach to conduct a thorough structural analysis to solve complex issues such as safety and rigidity requirements instead of simply replacing materials with more expensive ones. The rear seats that are integrated into the body framework are also examples of this approach. Lightweight materials such as aluminium and a special resin foam, which is under development at Mazda, would be used not only for interior parts such as the instrument panel, but also for the bonnet, tailgate and sections of the chassis. Their effective usage contributes to improving the yaw moment of inertia and reducing the unsprung mass, and leads to superb handling.The Mazda Kiyora has interior shapes that express Nagare ‘low’ by looking as though they are floating in a current of sea water that is moving from front to back. The instrument panel starts at a single point and lows around the driver and to the right of the front passenger as if it were several blades of sea grass growing out of a rock underwater. The front seats seem to float above the floor, and the arms of body structure twist like sea weed at the sides and top of the cabin. As well as being an integral design element, the door structure also functions as a side member and, in combination with the side sills, would effectively protect occupants in the event of a side impact.“Rapid prototyping was used for most of the natural shapes,” says Jo Stenuit, Assistant Chief Designer and Project Leader. “We have a very natural design with complex lowing shapes. Normal moulding processes would not have allowed us to produce such elaborate designs.”
New Liquid-Skin Display IP Concept
This display would be a simple yet very practical type of instrument panel that uses advanced touch-screen technology with tactile feedback. Using liquid-skin display technology, it would mimic the rippling that water makes when you touch it with your finger. When the car is off, the IP looks like ice, frozen and hard. When the car is switched on, the display appears to turn into water. Information icons would appear and float downwards to pre-programmed positions in front of the driver. The driver would be able to move the icons around with his finger and could even organise them however he wished. He could lip through menus, select settings for temperature, and even send an email.“We call Kiyora’s IP a liquid-skin display,” said Gergory Vera, who designed the interior, “because it is conceived to ripple like water when you touch it. Icons bounce off each other as if they are floating in water. This would be a logical next step in intuitive-feedback, flexible-screen displays and is a natural and easy way to operate the systems of a car.”From this touch-screen display, you could also control a hard-disk drive with advanced sensors that would provide environmental information like how much fuel you used and how many grams of CO 2 you released into the atmosphere on a particular day. It could also calculate how many toxins the car filtered out of the air and water during the same period.
Considerations for the Cabin Environment
Mazda Kiyora would be able to filter out toxins from the outside air and use it inside the car. The right side of the dashboard consists of a large, single piece of thick activated carbon, which is a natural resource that has been used for centuries in Asia as a purifying material. The above-mentioned Nagare low lines at the front of the car guide outside air into the car and through this charcoal, which filters out and captures toxins better than most filter systems, without the need for an electric fan or inorganic materials. Taking advantage of rain as a natural resource the roof of the Mazda Kiyora channels rainwater firstly through an activated carbon filter and then into a specially commissioned drinks bottle designed for Mazda by LIFESAVER® systems. The LIFESAVER® bottle citi™ is located between the front seats for easy access, and uses state of the art ultra filtration hollow fibre membranes. With a pore size of 15 nano-meters these membranes remove microbiological contamination including bacteria and viruses without the aid of chemicals, delivering safe fresh drinking water to the user any time.The bottle is removable so can be taken out of the car and used to gather water from other natural sources such as rivers, lakes and streams.Colours and Materials – A Triumph of Material Engineering Mazda Motor Europe’s Colours + Materials team has distinguished itself in the development of new kinds of materials for its concepts. In Sassou, it was translucent plastic treated in a way to match the body colour and to hide light effects, and in Hakaze it was the brilliant use of surface textures that mimic the feel of natural materials. With the Mazda Kiyora, the colours and materials team faced its greatest challenge yet – to express the theme of ‘pure water’ in visible and touchable ways.“Based on the extreme requirements of Kiyora, as a new eco-friendly car with a fully lexible interior, we needed to research in unusual fields,” said Maria Greger, Senior Designer at Mazda Motor Europe and head of the Colours + Materials team. “We looked for materials and processes that are not yet used in the automotive industry. We had to find materials that not only work in covering parts, but are directly related to function. The best example is the material used for the floor and rear seats. This is the same textile, but treated differently to best adapt to the function it needs to fulfil.”The exterior of the Mazda Kiyora is blue-green and has transparent, polycarbonate doors, chosen to underscore the purity of water. On the inside you can see forms – like the wavy side member of the body structure – that look like lowing sea grass. These were given a colour scheme that, when seen through the doors from outside the car, makes it seem as though you are looking into water.“We chose bluish and greenish colours, which is colour of water,” said Luciana Silvares, Senior Designer at Mazda Motor Europe. “The deeper you go, the deeper the colour of water gets. We wanted to give this car the feeling of water and ice, sea or lake (from the surface to depth), showing transparency and gradient.”The interior is a masterpiece of materials engineering. The body shell is visible, like an inner skeleton, and supports the water theme with its wavy, lowing shapes, while functioning as a true body structure. And the interior has a colour scheme that makes the front seats seem to float above a floor that looks like frozen water. For the instrument panel and door inners, soft coatings and light metallic effects are employed to enhance this impression.The rear seats are one of the concept’s most interesting features and a perfect example of how to combine material and design to express the theme of water, while saving weight and losing nothing in functionality. They are made of only two components: a seat skeleton that is part of the body structure at the back of the cabin, and a flexible and robust textile stretched over this. This textile allows a person to sit down into the seat and acts as a irm surface to sit on like a lawn chair, and then to spring back to its original shape when the person leaves the car – effectively hiding the seats. This ‘hidden seat’ is designed for short trips in town, and is far lighter than traditional car seats.“The material for the rear seats is an extremely stretchable textile that we developed with the Company Straehle und Hess,” said Ms. Greger. “It is made of knitted polyester that has the ability to return to its original shape. With a special construction of two laminated layers, this material is, despite its extreme stretch ability, also extremely stable.”The rear seats also work in conjunction with the floor to contribute colour-wise to the overall theme of pure, watery depths. Both the seats and the floor are made of the same materials, but treated differently to maximise their functionality. Two-dimensional printing was employed for the colours and sea grass graphics on the seats, and a unique, three-dimensional (3D) casting process was used for the floor surfaces. The 3D casting process was inspired by the PU micro-injection printing process used on textiles for sportswear. This allowed the team to give the floor surface the durability and abrasion strength needed to function as a real floor, and to create the image of deep and layered surface to express the image of water and ice.

GTbyCITROËN: CROSS OVER TO THE VIRTUAL WORLD…

With GTbyCITROËN, a show-car presented at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, Citroën becomes the first vehicle manufacturer to cross over to the virtual worlds: An original take on a road car, GTbyCITROËN is a style replica of a vehicle from the digital world. The car is the result of a partnership between Citroën and Polyphony, designer of the driving simulation game Gran Turismo 5 on Playstation 3. Already shipped in more than 50 million units worldwide, Gran Turismo is renowned for its quality, design and realism.
In the game, GTbyCITROËN features an electric drive train powered by a fuel cell with no pollutant emissions. It is a car designed to square up to the strongest competition. “GTbyCITROËN shows how the worlds of virtual and real-life motoring can join together to create a truly innovative partnership. We were delighted that Citroen approached us and gave us the opportunity to combine our creative strengths to build this very special concept car. To see the car take shape in game and then for real has been a truly unique experience as our work normally stays in the digital world. I just hope I can get behind the wheel of GTbyCITROËN and drive it on a real race track!”Kazanori Yamauchi, President of Polyphony Digital Inc and creator of Gran Turismo
• Performance first and foremost
GTbyCITROËN is geared to the world of motor racing, with its dynamic styling, sculpted lines and sharp graphics. The rear end is oversized, made exaggeratedly long in order to create an effect of retinal persistence. The idea is to make the concept car even faster visually. The white-to-grey gradation on the body side further underlines this impression of continuous movement.
• Top-level driving
The cabin of GTbyCITROËN, designed to seat two adults, expresses the grand touring vision behind this show-car. The on-board ambience allies premium, extensively worked materials with a more high-tech effect for the driving position. The layout of the low driving position was dictated by driving pleasure. The aim is for the driver to be able to concentrate on the road, assisted by a head-up display clearly displaying driving information.
RACING SPIRIT BY CITROËN
- Power and flowing lines The design of GTbyCITROËN reflects a quest for optimal aerodynamic design. The show-car is a vehicle of flowing, taut lines, stretched to the extreme. The cleanly drawn sides, ribbed at the top, and the pearlescent shade of the bodywork enhance the vehicle's sleekly muscled looks.The determined look of the front end is enhanced by wide air intakes and clear-cut horizontal headlamps. The headlamps feature penetrating blue LEDs in order to light the road effectively and keep rivals at a respectful distance! The chrome chevrons on the smooth bonnet express the Marque's identity. The carbon rearview mirrors on their finely profiled supports appear to be suspended as if to cleave the air, giving GTbyCITROËN an excellent on-road stance.The large wraparound windscreen flows seamlessly into the roof and on into the rear mobile airfoil with its exaggeratedly long shape. The fast-flowing lines create the impression of a car in perpetual movement. The whole body expresses performance and continuous movement. GTbyCITROËN also expresses strength and power through generous volumes, (length: 4.960m, 2.080m and height: 1.090m) underlined by strongly marked wheel arches. The diamond-effect 21-inch aluminium wheels enhance the car's sporty personality.- Exceptional handlingThe interior design confirms the vehicle's dynamic and powerful style. The interior of GTbyCITROËN, designed to seat a driver and co-driver, expresses the racing spirit of this concept. The on-board ambience allies rich, premium, extensively worked materials with a more high-tech effect for the driving position, inspired by the world of motorsports.Looking beyond the spectacular visual effect, the gullwing opening of the two doors gives GTbyCITROËN a level of accessibility rarely seen on this type of vehicle. The driver and co-driver can therefore slip into their seats and get out on the track as quickly as possible.The dark interior of this show-car is a surprise, compared with the light bodywork. Upholstered in black leather with subtle touches of rare materials such as copper and steel, the cabin of GTbyCITROËN is distinctly sporty.
Two padded racing seats upholstered in dark leather, each fitted with a four-point harness, enfold the driver and passenger for exceptional driving sensations. Placed low down to highlight the impression of speed, the elegant seats are a perfect fit with the rest of the interior.The top-stitched leather of the door panels and floor adds to the opulence of the interior. The driving position expresses the spirit of competition. The design was objectively guided by the motivation to win.
The dashboard, with its clean uncluttered design, flows into the receding lines of an imposing copper sculpture. The thrusting modern lines of the sculpture become the central tunnel of the vehicle, illustrating the power of GTbyCITROËN and appearing to catalyse its strength.Created in a twist of this same copper sculpture, the leather-and-steel steering wheel also reflects the sporting spirit of the cabin. To promote maximum concentration, the driver of GTbyCITROËN has a head-up display for driving information. Using red LEDs, this system projects key driving information – such as speed and navigation data – onto the windscreen in the driver's direct line of vision.The head-up display makes a significant contribution to safety with its direct read-out. Drivers assimilate data more quickly and do not have to look away from the road.- Aerodynamics optimised to combine performance and driving sensationsSpecial emphasis was placed on the aerodynamics and flowing design of GTbyCITROËN, these being key Citroën values. The objective was to enhance the vehicle's dynamics and to create exceptional driving sensations. Looking beyond its taut, dynamic lines, this racing car features innovative equipment such as enlarged air intakes at the front, a flat underside, and a mobile spoiler and air diffuser at the rear. All these features play an active role in reducing lift and – above all – drag, to pin the car to the ground.With its flowing lines, original architecture and its use – in the game – of what is potentially the best environmental technology, GTbyCITROËN embodies the sporting spirit as seen by Citroën and underlines the Marque's ambitions to meet new challenges.

Venturi Volage Concept

The result of close technological collaboration between Venturi Automobiles and Michelin, the Venturi Volage, presented for the first time at the “Mondial 2008” (Paris Motor Show), marks a major step forward in the evolution of the Automobile.This new Venturi incorporates innovations which have enabled radical changes in terms of the vehicle’s architecture, style, dynamic behaviour and, more generally, the design of a modern vehicle. All these changes constitute several world premières which, with the presentation of the Venturi Volage, reinforce Venturi’s capability for constant innovation, as well as its position as the most advanced company in the field of electric vehicles.
POWER TRANSMISSION & ACTIVE SUSPENSION
With 4 drive wheels with active suspension, the Venturi Volage has no equivalent. “Michelin Active Wheel” technology in fact incorporates 2 electric motors per wheel (1 for suspension and 1 for drive), ie. a total of 8 electric motors piloted in real time by spearhead electronics.Like the mechanism of a watch, all the components, motors, gear reduction units and suspensions, are miniaturized and built into the wheels.The active electric shock absorber system allows for total adaptation to the type of road surface and driving. Combining Michelin’s experience in the area of surface liaison with that of Venturi for the chassis, the Venturi Volage represents in its road holding, drivability and silent functioning, the summum of today’s automotive technology.
THE CAR OF THE DIGITAL ERA
Playing down the mechanical aspect in favor of electronics, close to the concept of a robot, this car belongs to a new era, the digital era. Thanks to a dashboard touch screen, the driver can configure the vehicle entirely as he wishes. This total control marks significant progress in terms of management, particularly of the energy stored in the car’s batteries: the driver can, for example, decide to give preference in certain cases to range rather than power, comfort rather than speed, an important factor for an electric car.
A CHASSIS UNIQUE WORLDWIDE
The only part that the Venturi Volage shares with the Venturi Fétish is its carbon fiber bodywork. Developed by the Venturi Design Office, this body is still a unique concept worldwide, as it is the only one to have been specifically designed to be that of an electric car and thus carry batteries within its very structure.Thanks to this innovative design, both the Fétish and the Volage benefit from an unequalled level of safety, for both the cars’ passengers and also the batteries they carry. The ideal distribution of the Venturi Volage’s masses - 45% at the front, 55% at the rear – and its perfectly mastered weight of 1,075 kilos enable it to attain 100 km/hr (62 mph) in less than 5 seconds.
PRODUCTION MODELS
A real demonstration of spearhead technology, the car presented in its world première is entirely operational and prefigures the production of a limited series of this model, scheduled as from 2012.Like the Venturi Fétish assembled in our workshops in Monaco, the Venturi Volage will be assembled by hand, in the form of very limited production.The technological repercussions of these two cars positioned at the very top end of the market are to be found on other vehicles bearing the Venturi brand, enabling as many people as possible to benefit from the firm’s advances in the field of sustainable mobility.
DESIGN OF VOLAGE, BY SACHA LAKIC
“Like a light and sensual veil, the Volage’s bodywork clings close to its exceptional technical features. Active suspensions and motors incorporated into the wheels, a flat bottom, aerodynamic tunnels: these choices and technological advances have enabled me to “design the void” usually occupied by the engine and suspensions, and thus explore audacious new paths in terms of styling.The void is part of the Volage style; it has been designed by subtraction.Volage has been fashioned by the wind.The science of aerodynamics is the main tool that has been used to elaborate its shape. It is easy and enjoyable to imagine the movement of flows of air, on and across its bodywork.Volage finds itself in a totally original and decidedly contemporary formal category. The relationship with Venturi’s other models is obvious, though it is also possible to see, in a few details, a subtle tribute to certain icons among French cars of the pre-war era, the most elegant, the ones that were way before their time.

Chevrolet Volt Leads General Motors Into Its Second Century

DETROIT - General Motors launched its next 100 years today by unveiling the much-anticipated production version of the Chevrolet Volt - a vehicle that delivers up to 40 miles of gasoline- and emissions-free electric driving, with the extended-range capability of hundreds of additional miles. "Revealing the production version of the Chevy Volt is a great way to open our second century," said Rick Wagoner, GM Chairman and CEO. "The Volt is symbolic of GM's strong commitment to the future ... just the kind of technology innovation that our industry needs to respond to today's and tomorrow's energy and environmental challenges."
Form follows function
The design of the Chevrolet Volt production car has evolved from the original concept that was unveiled at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Because aerodynamics plays a key role in maximizing driving range, GM designers created an aerodynamically efficient design for the production vehicle. Many of the design cues from the concept vehicle endure in the production Volt, including the closed front grille, athletic stance, rear design graphics, outside rearview mirrors and more. The Volt's rounded and flush front fascia, tapered corners and grille are functional, enabling air to move easily around the car. In the rear, sharp edges and a carefully designed spoiler allow the air to flow off and away quickly. An aggressive rake on the windshield and back glass help reduce turbulence and drag.Working closely with GM aerodynamicists to shape the Volt, design and engineering teams developed one of the most aerodynamic vehicles in GM's history. They spent hundreds of hours with the Volt in GM's wind tunnel, testing and re-testing parts such as the front and rear quarter panels, rear spoiler, rockers and side mirrors. Aerodynamic improvements enabled GM to reach the Volt's target of driving up to 40 miles (based on EPA city cycle) without using gasoline or producing emissions.Inside, the Volt offers the space, comfort, convenience and safety features that customers expect in a four-passenger sedan, and it delivers them in a variety of interior color, lighting and trim options unlike any offered before on a Chevrolet sedan. Modern controls and attractive materials, two informational displays, and a touch-sensitive infotainment center with integrated shifter distinguish the Volt's interior from other vehicles in the market.Some of Volt's interior technological features include:
-- Driver-configurable, liquid crystal instrument display -- Standard seven-inch touch screen vehicle information display -- Touch screen-style climate and infotainment controls-- Optional navigation system with onboard hard drive for maps and music storage-- Standard Bluetooth for cellular phone and USB/Bluetooth for music streaming
New era in automotive transportation
The Chevrolet Volt is leading a new era of electrification of the automobile by creating a new class of vehicle known as the Extended-Range Electric Vehicle, or E-REV. The Volt uses electricity to move the wheels at all times and speeds. For trips up to 40 miles, the Volt is powered only by electricity stored in its 16-kWh, lithium-ion battery. When the battery's energy is depleted, a gasoline/E85-powered engine generator seamlessly provides electricity to power the Volt's electric drive unit while simultaneously sustaining the charge of the battery. This mode of operation extends the range of the Volt for several hundred additional miles, until the vehicle's battery can be charged. Unlike a conventional battery-electric vehicle, the Volt eliminates "range anxiety," giving the confidence and peace of mind that the driver will not be stranded by a depleted battery.The Chevrolet Volt can be plugged either into a standard household 120v outlet or use 240v for charging. The vehicle's intelligent charging technology enables the Volt's battery to be charged in less than three hours on a 240v outlet or about eight hours on a 120v outlet. Charge times are reduced if the battery has not been fully depleted. At a cost of about 80 cents per day (10 cents per kWh) for a full charge that will deliver up to 40 miles of electric driving, GM estimates that the Volt will be less expensive to recharge than purchasing a cup of your favorite coffee. Charging the Volt about once daily will consume less electric energy annually than the average home's refrigerator and freezer units.
Charge out of driving
The Chevrolet Volt offers spirited driving performance in a remarkably quiet interior. More than 220 lithium-ion cells contained within the Volt's battery pack provide ample power. The Volt's electric drive unit delivers the equivalent of 150 horsepower, 273 lb-ft. (370 Nm) of instant torque, and a top speed of 100 miles per hour. The lack of engine noise, combined with special sound-deadening materials, make the Chevrolet Volt an extremely quiet vehicle to drive.GM estimates that the Volt will cost about two cents per mile to drive while under battery power compared to 12 cents per mile using gasoline priced at $3.60 per gallon. For an average driver who drives 40 miles per day (or 15,000 miles per year), this amounts to a cost savings of $1,500 annually. Using peak electric rates, GM estimates that an electrically driven mile in a Chevy Volt will be about one-sixth of the cost of a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle. The cost savings are even greater when charging during off-peak hours, when electric rates are cheaper.The Chevrolet Volt is expected to be built at GM's Detroit-Hamtramck manufacturing facility, subject to GM successfully negotiating satisfactory government incentives. Production is scheduled to begin late 2010 for models in the United States. Pricing has not been announced. Visit media.gm.com/volt for more information.General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 77 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 266,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2007, nearly 9.37 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.