TopSpeed Daily Update |  |
- Saab 9-3 To Get BMW Power...Officially
- The Best Songs To Test Your Stereo
- Volkswagen Golf R by Wimmer
- New Regulations Aim To Put A Stop To All Cell Phone Use While Driving
- Honda looking at releasing drop-top CR-Z
- Lincoln To Cut 40 Percent Of Dealers
- Porsche 911 GT3 Hybrid rendered
- Video: Horacio Pagani's carbon-fiber Zonda is so beautiful we want to cry
- Honda unveils CR-Z sports hybrid coupe 3D-style in Times Square
- Porsche might use the name 'Cajun' for upcoming baby Cayenne SUV
| Saab 9-3 To Get BMW Power...Officially Posted: 27 Sep 2010 05:00 PM PDT Sypker, the company that purchased Saab from General Motors, has released an official statement confirming talks with BMW about component sharing. These talks, which we heard about back in June, were originally thought to benefit the new 9-2 first, but it seems the larger 9-3 will get the first taste of BMW’s goodies. An all-new BMW-sourced motor that will produce around 220 horsepower, according to Bloomberg, could power the new 9-3 schedule to be released by 2012. The report also stated that a BMW engine might find its way into the 9-5. Though the 9-3 will be the first to receive the BMW treatment, we shouldn't rule out the 9-2. Saab hopes to launch the teardrop shaped car by 2014 if it can find a partner. The Mini Countryman's underpinnings might be used on the 9-2, as well as some small displacement motors from BMW. Check out Spyker’s brief statement after the jump. Saab 9-3 To Get BMW Power...Officially originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 27 September 2010 17:00 EST.
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| The Best Songs To Test Your Stereo Posted: 27 Sep 2010 04:30 PM PDT Who can say they don’t listen to music while they’re driving? If you raised your hand as if we could see you, then there is no need for you to read on. But if you love the sound of your favorite tunes coming out of the car’s stereo like we do, then, thanks to Matt Kirsch, we have some songs to test out those speakers. Kirsh, a former General Motors audio engineer has published a list of songs that tests the capabilities of your stereo. And no, they are not sings that will bust your eardrums. It should be interesting to see how many think of their systems after going through this ten song list. The list is varied between every sort of genre and artist and should give those tweeters, subwoofers, and mid-range units a real test. If you don’t want to search for all those songs, Kirsh has put them for download on iTunes. The Best Songs To Test Your Stereo originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 27 September 2010 16:30 EST.
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| Posted: 27 Sep 2010 04:00 PM PDT When Volkswagen unveiled the Golf R everyone was impressed. Called "the strongest Golf produced", the Golf R delivers 270 HP at 6,000 RPM and makes the 0-60mph sprint in 5.7 seconds. Not exactly a car we’d classify as a highlight on a any of our pages, but impressive enough for a Golf. Of course, not everyone thought so. Instead, Wimmer Tuning looked at the Golf R and said, "we can do better." After that, the „RED DEVIL V-Projekt", an impressive tuning package for the Golf R, was born and brought with it an amazing 478 HP. In order to obtain this impressive performance, the tuner had a lot of work to do. We’re talking engine electronics tuning, turbocharger tuning, changes in the piping and injection nozzles, TFSI tuning, tuning of the crank shaft, and tuning of the connecting rods. Wimmer also provided changes of the lamp coating, cylinder head, large aftercooler, air intake system, and air intake pipe. They weren’t done there either. The tuner then went on to add an additional fuel oil heater, another oil pump, and sport camshafts. Finishing it off was a completely handmade high-grade steel sports exhaust system with 84 mm in diameter, a 100 - cells sports catalyst converter, and a race sport coupling. The result in an impressive 478 HP (up from 270) and 610 NM of torque. Top speed has also been increased to 180 mph. Much more impressive than the Volkswagen Golf GTI that Wimmer tuned last year, the tuning package for the Golf R actually makes us want to take a ride in one, which is not a typical scenario for us. Wimmer absolutely hit the ball out of the park with this one. Nice job, fellas! Press release after the jump. Volkswagen Golf R by Wimmer originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 27 September 2010 16:00 EST.
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| New Regulations Aim To Put A Stop To All Cell Phone Use While Driving Posted: 27 Sep 2010 03:30 PM PDT California, a state that once tried to ban Happy Meals from McDonalds, has decided to take on distracted drivers. The state has proposed a regulation that would ban drivers from all types of cell phone use. "GHSA supports a total ban of cell phone use (hands free and hand held) and text messaging for all drivers," the resolution obtained by The Detroit News says. "GHSA also supports a ban on electronic devices used for entertainment purposes with video screens that are within view of the driver and a ban for school bus drivers on text messaging or using electronic devices except in emergencies." If you read that correctly, it basically means that if you own a new Ford and live the Golden State, then the wonderful Sync system could put you in jeopardy. We all know that states have been cracking down on cell phone use, but hands free systems never seemed to be an issue. Needless to say, the automakers are a bit unhappy. "We support state laws that ban texting or calling while driving if a driver’s using a hand-held device. But we realize people are going to have conversations, read maps and directions, and listen to music while they drive. Automakers have worked to make sure this can be done while still maintaining focus on the road," spokesman Wade Newton said to the Detroit News. If this law does pass, it should be interesting to see how systems like Sync and OnStar will adapt. New Regulations Aim To Put A Stop To All Cell Phone Use While Driving originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 27 September 2010 15:30 EST.
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| Honda looking at releasing drop-top CR-Z Posted: 27 Sep 2010 03:00 PM PDT Car magazine Road & Track has unearthed a rumor involving Honda and a possible convertible sports car in the company's future. Before you go shrieking and jumping up and down about a possible return of the S2000, you need to know that it won't be happening. Instead, Honda is looking at making a droptop version of the CR-Z. Weird as that may sound considering the CR-Z is a hybrid, but Honda may be in the process of giving the car a major upgrade in the engine department with a more powerful powertrain that could qualify it as a sports car. We don't know whether there's any validity to this rumor, but we are curious to see how Honda plans on turning the CR-Z into a sports car. We're not doubting them in the least bit, but at this point, we have more questions than answers on whether Honda can successfully transform the CR-Z into a sports car that can give a car like the Mazda MX-5 Miata a run for its money. Honda looking at releasing drop-top CR-Z originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 27 September 2010 15:00 EST.
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| Lincoln To Cut 40 Percent Of Dealers Posted: 27 Sep 2010 02:30 PM PDT Ford is hoping to move Lincoln up the automotive ladder, and in order to accomplish this goal, the company will cut at least 200 dealers, mostly in major metropolitan areas. "The future direction of the Lincoln ownership experience has been charted on a joint basis between Ford Motor and select dealer representatives," spokesman Christian Bokich told Automotive News. "It is important that Lincoln dealers are the first to hear about this information from the company." Ford's luxury brand currently has 1,221 U.S. stores, with around 276 stand-along Lincoln-Mercury dealers. Up to 40 percent of these dealers will be cut, as Lexus, the nation’s leading luxury brand, has just 236 stores. Maybe Lincoln should be cutting 40 percent of its chrome as well. The company currently ranks eighth among luxury brands and should sell around 83,000 vehicles in 2010. With so many dealers, the company sells fewer cars per outlet than any other luxury brand. Ford hopes that these cuts will help that statistic. Lincoln To Cut 40 Percent Of Dealers originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 27 September 2010 14:30 EST.
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| Porsche 911 GT3 Hybrid rendered Posted: 27 Sep 2010 02:00 PM PDT After revealing the GT3 R Hybrid, Porsche is at it again. This time the hybrid masterpiece will come in the shape of the Porsche GT3. There aren’t any pictures of the model - heck, there isn’t even a steadfast announcement that we’ll be getting the GT3 hybrid - but that doesn’t mean that Porsche won’t be developing one. And, according to a TeamSpeed forum member, it will look like this. The future model will more than likely feature Porsche’s KERS system, which is why rumors are circulating that the GT3 sports car will be a hybrid. It will also feature a 4.0 liter RSR engine with 500 HP, extensive use of carbon fiber and aluminum, and a decrease in weight. The exterior of the car will see a larger rear wing, a new splitter, new graphics, flared fenders, intakes on the rear fenders, and a carbon hood. There might also be a PDK option optimized for the track and acceleration biased gearing. The GT3 R Hybrid on the other hand is powered by a 480 HP 4.0 Liter flat six engine with two electric motors developing 60 kW each as well as an electrical flywheel power generator fitted in the cockpit next to the driver. This unit is used to deliver energy to the electric motors and is charged whenever the driver applies the brakes, with the two electric motors reversing their function on the front axle and acting themselves as generators when not providing four wheel drive traction. Sounds pretty promising, even for a hybrid. And, if things keep going the way they are, we are pretty much going to have to get used to the idea of a speedy hybrid. Porsche 911 GT3 Hybrid rendered originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 27 September 2010 14:00 EST.
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| Video: Horacio Pagani's carbon-fiber Zonda is so beautiful we want to cry Posted: 27 Sep 2010 01:00 PM PDT
Jealousy aside, we can't help but be in awe of Horacio Pagani's very own carbon fiber Pagani Zonda C12S. Some lucky dude who goes by the name of MrAlexV10 not only got a chance to take a video of the carbon fiber supercar, but, as luck would have it, he also got an opportunity to meet the brand's founder, Horacio Pagani. While we're certainly envious of the guy for getting close to this one-off supercar built for the man who started the brand, meeting Horacio Pagani himself is one of those things that are scribbled in our bucket lists, so you can just imagine how green we turned when we found out that young Mr. AlexV10 not only met Pagani and his wife, but also convinced the man to actually rev his carbon fiber Zonda C12S just for him. To Mr. AlexV10's credit, he was nice enough to share the video with us, although our gratitude for his gesture won’t change the fact that we certainly wouldn't have hesitated switching places with him on the day he met Horacio Pagani. Video: Horacio Pagani's carbon-fiber Zonda is so beautiful we want to cry originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 27 September 2010 13:00 EST.
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| Honda unveils CR-Z sports hybrid coupe 3D-style in Times Square Posted: 27 Sep 2010 12:30 PM PDT Honda's ramping up its efforts in introducing the 2011 CR-Z to the American market and they did so New York style. Not content with just a standard run-of-the-mill unveiling, Honda went and set up shop at Times Square in New York City to do the first 3D unveiling in company history. With a crowd of over 250,000 – that's what Honda is saying, although the number may be a tad inflated – in attendance, Honda put on quite a show with hip-hop group N.E.R.D performing for the crowd and getting everyone up on their feet, jumping and hollering with each passing beat. The highlight of the whole spectacle, of course, was the CR-Z, and as promised, Honda unveiled the car in 3D by broadcasting footage of a new commercial centered on the sports hybrid coupe at Times Square's iconic Spectacolor screen, much to the delight of the 250,000 people that supposedly came in to watch the entire festivities. Honda unveils CR-Z sports hybrid coupe 3D-style in Times Square originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 27 September 2010 12:30 EST.
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| Porsche might use the name 'Cajun' for upcoming baby Cayenne SUV Posted: 27 Sep 2010 12:00 PM PDT Here's a little scoop for all of you that have been pining for Porsche to finally release a baby brother for the Cayenne SUV. Until now, Porsche has kept tight-lipped on the prospect of releasing one in the first place, but Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkom may have let the cat out of the bag in an interview with the "Spiegel" when he mentioned that a new Porsche SUV – one that's smaller than the Cayenne – is in the works and that it won't come with the Roxster label that it has been previously associated with. Instead, according to Winterkom, the new Porsche SUV would be called "the Cajun". "Volkswagen wants to bring more to radiate the Porsche brand," he said. "There will be an additional model…a new SUV…a little brother for the Cayenne, the Cajun." Take this for what it’s worth because we're holding our judgments until a formal announcement is made. But it is worth pointing out that since the quote came from Winterkom himself, it's got a lot more weight to it than just hearing it from some random person. Porsche might use the name 'Cajun' for upcoming baby Cayenne SUV originally appeared on topspeed.com on Monday, 27 September 2010 12:00 EST.
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