2011 Lexus IS-F

Lexus UK revealed today the first details on the 2011 IS-F Sports sedan. For the first time the car will be offered with limited slip differential, but also new high-tech features and a cool new all-white interior lead. In UK prices start at £55,595.

The 2011 Lexus IS F also comes with a new HDD satellite navigation system with a 40GB hard disc drive and a 10GB storage space for music. The 2011 Lexus IS F is equipped with a 14-speaker Mark Levinson 5.1 surround sound system that can receive DAB digital broadcasts and has a USB port.

The tuner in the IS F's 14-speaker Mark Levinson 5.1 surround sound system has been upgraded to receive DAB digital broadcasts and a USB port has been added (in addition to the Aux-in jack).

Customers could get the new version of the IS-F with a new white leather interior instead of the standard black finish and they could also get the car with a new set of 19″ wheels. Both of these changes are free options.





Press release

Sharper handling, new high-tech features and a cool new all-white interior lead the list of improvements and changes for Lexus’s ultra-high-performance IS F for 2011.

Limited slip differential

As announced at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show, the full-blooded sports saloon gains the benefit of a new limited slip differential. Fitted as standard, it gives the IS F significantly better traction and stability in high-speed cornering: Lexus test engineers were able to improve the car’s lap time around the Fuji International Speedway by a full two seconds.

The Torsen unit is robust enough to handle the 505Nm delivered by the IS F’s 5.0-litre V8 engine, automatically directing drive torque to the rear wheel with the most grip. Out-and-out performance is unchanged, with the IS F capable of nought to 62mph acceleration in 4.8 seconds and a top speed (electronically limited) of 168mph.

HDD satellite navigation

In keeping with Lexus’s reputation for effective use of advanced technologies, the IS F is fitted with a new satellite navigation system, powered by a 40GB hard disc drive (HDD). It is one of the fastest-responding and most accurate guidance systems on the market, giving full-map coverage across Europe, with automatic links to local traffic information data to ensure efficient route planning.

The HDD also provides an on-board ”sound library” function, with 10GB of disc space available for owners to store tracks from CD – space enough for around 2,000 songs.

DAB audio

The tuner in the IS F’s 14-speaker Mark Levinson 5.1 surround sound system has been upgraded to receive DAB digital broadcasts and a USB port has been added (in addition to the Aux-in jack), to allow for fully integrated connection of portable digital music players.

New leather interior and alloy wheel options

IS F can be ordered with a new white leather interior in place of the standard black finish and with new mesh-design 19-inch alloy wheels instead of the standard 10-spoke design. Both are no-cost options.

Prices

The 2011 Lexus IS F is on sale now, priced £55,595 on-the-road.


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2010 Honda Civic BTCC

The 2010 Honda Civic BTCC has been unveiled today and the company has also announced its drivers line-up for the new season. The 2010 Honda Civic BTCC will be painted in Championship White paint, the company's traditional racing color which is also on the 200 Civic Type R MUGEN units. The 2010 Honda Civic BTCC will be driven in the 2010 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship by Matt Neal and Gordon "Flash" Shedden.

The car will be painted in Championship White paint, Honda’s traditional racing color.
Also touring car fans will have the chance to win a one-off Civic Type R Mugen Concept car in a competition that will be running in participating Honda dealerships.





Press release

Honda (UK) and Team Dynamics Motorsport have announced the Honda Racing Team driver line-up for its assault on the 2010 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

Two time BTCC champion Matt Neal will once again be partnered by Gordon "Flash" Shedden – a reunion of the drivers who last competed together for Honda in 2007. This year’s racing Civics will wear Championship White paint, Honda’s traditional racing colour and that of the new Civic Type R MUGEN 200 cars.

Steve Neal, Team Dynamics Team Principal, said: "Team Dynamics and Honda have a huge heritage, it’s the brand that we won two championships back to back with and it’s great to get the support of Honda (UK) which is backing a car that’s built in Britain."

Touring Car fans will also have the chance to win a one-off Civic Type R MUGEN Concept car in a competition that will be running in participating Honda dealerships, at each BTCC round and on honda.co.uk/btcc from the start of the season.

Honda (UK) will be hosting special ‘Question of Motorsport Live’ events at Honda dealer showrooms near to each of the BTCC rounds on the Saturday evenings after qualifying. Tim Harvey will again be host, keeping charge of the two captains, Matt and Flash. The competition promises to be as fierce off the track as well as on, with the two drivers competing against each other in this fun test of their motorsport knowledge. For details of these events, visit honda.co.uk/btcc from the 1 April.

The Honda Racing Team is also pleased to announce support of Yuasa, a world leader in battery design and manufacture and number one in the UK for aftermarket automotive and motorcycle batteries and industrial batteries.

Both Honda (UK) and Team Dynamics look forward to meeting motor racing fans throughout this BTCC season, starting at Thruxton on Sunday, 4 April.

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Prodrive releases new Impreza Group N

Prodrive has launched the Impreza N2010, its latest FIA specification group N rally car.

The Impreza N2010 uses the new larger 33mm air restrictor, introduced by the FIA to help balance the performance of Group N and the unrestricted Super2000 rally cars. Increasing the restrictor diameter from 32 to 33mm, fitting high flow fuel injectors and recalibrating the ECU increases peak power by 20 bhp, but more significantly, improves torque and responsiveness throughout the rev range.


The improvements in engine performance have been matched by enhancements to the car's dynamics. The N2010 Ohlins dampers have been revised with extra travel front and rear, while all the suspension bushes have been strengthened.


"The engine and suspension changes make the N2010 far more competitive," said Graham Prew, Prodrive sales manager. "On gravel the Impreza is certainly a match for any Super 2000, but it is on tarmac, that the additional engine performance will really come into its own and make the N2010 a competitive alternative to a Super 2000, but at about half the price and with significantly lower running costs."

The Impreza N2010 prices start at £120,000 and for the first time Prodrive has introduced a financing option to enable the car to be leased over two years with an option to buy the car at the end of the agreement. The package includes insurance and system rebuilds.


N2010 specification

Engine:
Flat 4-cylinder boxer:
Capacity: 1994 cc
Bore: 92.0 mm
Stroke: 75.0 mm

Turbo charger:
IHI twin scroll with new design regulation 33 mm restrictor with new roller bearing.

Electrical:
Spark plugs: BRISK
Lightweight battery: Odyssey

Controllers and displays:
Engine: Prodrive-Pectel programmable with removable data storage card.
Centre diff: Prodrive-Pectel programmable fully CAN compliant with selectable diff maps.
Driver's screen: GEMS CD25 5.5" colour VGA screen with multiple pages including engine, transmission and steering information. Increased integration of control systems and co-driver's screen.

Exhaust
Hi-flow motorsport catalyst with silencer options available in stainless or titanium.

Fuel system
FIA approved FT3-99 95 litre safety tank centrally mounted under floor.

Transmission
Gearbox: Prodrive-Hewland five-speed manual dog engagement with revised gear linkage and 2-stage shift light.
Front diff: Plated limited slip
Centre diff: Electro mechanical locking
Rear diff: Plated limited slip

Clutch
STI, 240 mm six paddle competition, single plate homologated STI cover.

Roll cage
Prodrive manufactured rollcage to FIA compliant MSA homologated.

Suspension
Revised Öhlins dampers with improved travel, strengthened rear cross-member high performance uprated suspension bushes.
Front: Prodrive-Öhlins TPX 44 MacPherson strut, three-way adjustable with front hydraulic bump stop.
Rear: Prodrive-Öhlins TTX 44 coil-over damper, three-way adjustable on multi-link rear suspension.

Steering
Power assisted quickrack (13:1) for left and right hand drive.
PAS cooler (optional)
Wheels: Speedline or Work
Tarmac: 18" x 8" or 17" x 8"
Gravel: 15" x 7"
Snow: 16" x 5.5"
Brakes: AP Racing
Tarmac: front: four-piston 355 mm rear: two-piston 285 mm
Gravel: front: four-piston 295 mm rear: two-piston 285 mm
Handbrake: WRC style vertical lever using STI/AP homologated piston.

Dimensions
Front track: 1,550 mm
Rear track: 1,540 mm
Length: 4,415 mm
Weight: 1,350 kg

For more information contact:
Ben Sayer, Prodrive: T: +44 1295 754320
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Spyker relocating vehicle assembly to the UK

Spyker Cars N.V., manufacturer of exclusive premium sports cars, announces today that it will relocate vehicle assembly to its supplier, CPP (Manufacturing) Ltd, UK.

By relocating its assembly lines from Zeewolde to Coventry, Spyker will achieve considerable improvements in efficiency and substantial cost-reductions. The relocation is expected to be completed by the end of this year.


Of the 135 Spyker employees in the Netherlands, approximately 45 jobs will be directly affected. A full social plan will be prepared in consultation with the trade unions, and Spyker will work with the trade unions to assist the employees concerned in finding a new job. Engineering, Corporate staff functions, Sales, After-Sales, Marketing and "Spyker Squadron", the company's Works' GT race team, will remain in Zeewolde. Management will continue its efforts to reduce costs and further headcount reduction may not be excluded.

Victor R. Muller, CEO of Spyker Cars stated: "In these challenging times, a small manufacturer like Spyker has to find ways to reduce costs as well as improve its efficiency. By relocating vehicle assembly to CPP (Manufacturing), which was Spyker's very first contracting partner at the inception of our company in 2000 and has been one of our most trusted partners ever since, we secure the future of our business".


"With approximately half of our vehicles' parts and components sourced in the UK, and virtually all key suppliers being located there, moving closer to our suppliers and engineering partners will result in substantial savings and tangible efficiency improvements".

"We realise that jobs will be affected in the Netherlands but we believe this move is necessary under the current economic circumstances and is in the best interest of the company and all of its stakeholders," he added.


Brendan O'Toole, Managing Director of CPP (Manufacturing), stated: "We have worked closely with Spyker since 2000 when we built their very first prototype chassis, and have grown with Spyker to become one of the leading low-volume manufacturers in the industry. We will maintain the highest standards of quality in the assembly of Spyker vehicles, while at the same time achieving significant cost reductions and operational efficiencies for Spyker".
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2010 Toyota Land Cruiser UK Pricing Announced

The Toyota Land Cruiser has built a formidable reputation around the world for its ability to take even the most extreme conditions in its stride. From arid deserts to polar wastes, Land Cruiser has demonstrated its unrivalled toughness and durability in a heritage that spans six decades.
This background of achievement makes the launch of an all-new Land Cruiser a particularly significant event and Toyota has wasted no effort to ensure its new model builds on the pedigree of its ancestors. It is equipped with a raft of new and advanced handling and driver assistance systems that take its off-road capabilities to new heights. At the same time, it has been engineered for greater poise, comfort and performance when driving on-road.
In the UK new Land Cruiser is offered as a five-door model powered by a revised 171bhp 3.0-litre D-4D engine, matched to a five-speed automatic transmission. Three equipment grades are offered - LC3, LC4 and LC5 - with seven seats fitted as standard on all but the entry level version (on which third row seats are an option). Customer orders are being taken now with first deliveries from early December. On-the-road prices range from £29,795 to £44,795.


Design and Construction
The new Land Cruiser is only slightly larger than its predecessor, which helps maintain its off-road agility. The styling combines the model's traditionally robust looks with styling cues that were first introduced on the larger Land Cruiser V8.
Intelligent interior packaging provides more space inside the cabin, with Toyota EasyFlat third row seats that can be raised of folded flat at the touch of a button (LC4 and LC5 models). The usable loadspace has been significantly increased and a new rear glass hatch allows items to be loaded without having to open the full side-hinged tailgate - ideal for tight parking places.
Toyota has retained the body-on-frame construction that has always been an integral part of Land Cruiser's exceptional off-road ability. Careful attention to the suspension design and NVH measures ensure high standards of on-road ride, handling and comfort are maintained.


Technology for on and off-road performance
New Land Cruiser introduces a series of advanced but user friendly features that help the driver tackle even the most challenging routes. These include: -
* Electrically modulated Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS), which minimises body roll and gives positive steering on-road, and increases wheel articulation off-road.
* Full-time All-wheel drive with Torsen limited slip differential.
* Multi-Terrain Select (MTS), with four driver-selectable modes to tailor vehicle settings for different off-road conditions.
* Multi-Terrain Monitor, a world-first system of front and side view cameras that give the driver a real-time view of areas immediately around the vehicle that can't be seen from the wheel.
* Crawl Control, which controls the engine and brakes to maintain a slow, safe speed when driving off-road or wading, so the driver only needs to concentrate on steering. This operates in both forward and reverse gears.
* Active Traction Control (A-TRC), Multi-Terrain ABS and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) are fitted as standard on all models.


Equipment highlights
There is nothing spartan about life on board the new Land Cruiser. 17-inch alloys, roof rails, fog lamps, climate control, cruise control, Bluetooth and Smart Entry and Start system are all part of the LC3 specification.
LC4 models add triple-zone climate control, 18-inch wheels, powered folding third row seats, leather upholstery, electrically adjustable heated front seats, dusk-sensing headlights, auto-dimming rear-view mirrors, rear parking monitor, 17-speaker JBL premium audio package and a hard disc drive (HDD) navigation system with a 10GB sound library.
At the top of the range the LC5 models come with Adaptive Variable Suspension with Active height Control, sunroof, Crawl Control, Multi-terrain Monitor, Steering Angle Display, Multi-terrain Select and a rear seat entertainment system for DVD playback and gaming.
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2010 Mitsubishi i-MiEV Testing Set to Begin in the UK

Excitement is building as the first 25 full production all-electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV’s arrive at Bristol’s Royal Portbury Docks. Final preparation has already begun before the cars hit the road on December 12th 2009 as part of a West Midlands based government trial.

The i-MiEV’s left Japan by boat six weeks ago and their arrival has been eagerly awaited, especially by the end users and everyone following their progress via Mitsubishi Motors UK’s i-MiEV Facebook fan page.


i-MiEV – Leading The Market
The multi award winning Mitsubishi i-MiEV is a fully electric city car and the first real-life EV with zero tailpipe emissions made available by a mainstream manufacturer. It's a genuine car, ensuring no compromise in cabin space, seating 4 adults and room for luggage. It has a top speed of 81 mph, a range of 100 miles and can be trickle charged from flat to full in 6 hours at any UK three-pin socket – and it only costs 96p for a full charge.


An Early Sales Triumph
The i-MiEV, on sale in Japan since July this year, has been a sell-out success. The 1,400 units allocated by Mitsubishi for the 2009 Japanese market have flown out the door and an impressive 900 orders have already been placed in Japan from the 2010 build allocation.

European production will begin in October 2010 with left hand drive i-MiEV’s available in markets across Continental Europe towards the end of the year.


Real-World Trials
The cars are taking part in one of the Government’s Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator projects, run by the Technology Strategy Board. Through an extensive selection process, members of the public have been selected by consortium partner, Coventry University, to trial the cars for 12 months allowing analysis of driving and charging behaviour.


The West Midlands CABLED (Coventry and Birmingham Low Emission Demonstrators) consortium combines the expertise of Arup – design and engineering consultant and project leader, power provider E.ON, the city councils of Birmingham and Coventry, three academic institutions, and five other car manufacturers, and is supported by Advantage West Midlands.
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Toyota Aygo Platinum: New Top-Of-The-Line Model for UK Market

A new range topping model that goes by the name Platinum has been added to the Aygo's UK line-up. Building on the specification of the Aygo+ model, the Platinum trim adds 14-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels, Crystal Silver metallic paint, six-speaker audio system, Alcantara and leather seats and gear knob trim.

Buyers may also opt for the Xtra Protected pack which is priced at £380 adding rear parking sensors and additional side and rear protection mouldings while Toyota's Vehicle Stability Control can also be specified as an option, at £340.
more detail. ...





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Noble founder working on new 650-horsepower supercar?

Like the Noble M12, it will be built in South Africa, and like the newer Noble M600, it will incorporate a Graziano six-speed manual. But Lee says he wants to learn from what he calls previous mistakes and keep production numbers low, amounting to a maximum of 100 units each year. Beyond that, Lee says his new project will offer between 400 and 650 horsepower, weigh less than 1200 kg (2,645 pounds) and cost no more than £100,000 (~$160k) even in top spec. That's one hell of a compelling package, and we can't wait to see what it can do.


Lee Noble may be known best for his eponymous sportscar firm, but the British designer has experience that extends beyond the small company that bears his name. Before forming Noble Automotive, he penned such greats as the Ascari Ecosse and the record-setting Ultima GTR, to say nothing of the Rossion Q1 and Salica GT spawned from his design. Now he's sold his company and is going it alone once again with a new initiative, details of which have just begun to emerge.


The guru of small-batch supercars has yet to give his new project a name, but you can expect the format to follow the same formula as his previous works. That means a lightweight, mid-engine frame with a minimum of electronic nannies.


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2010 Bentley Mulsanne puts in some face time at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel

Bentley invited a few of us auto journo types down to the decadently posh Beverly Wilshire Hotel to meet its COO Christophe Georges and admire the company's new super land yacht, the 2010 Bentley Mulsanne. Not only that, but they spilled the beans on all the juicy technical details that makes the Mulsanne, well, special. And please trust us, the Mulsanne is special.


One small catch, however. All them juicy details are embargoed until next week during the Frankfurt Motor Show. So even though we know the exact, staggering amount of power the Mulsanne will be sending to its rear wheels – and trust us again, it is staggering – we can't tell you. Yet. Infuriating, no? But, we did learn a couple of juicy details that we can share with you in this here teaser post. Better than nothing, right?
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The 2010 Model Year Lotus Exige Cup 260

Starting with the release of the Exige Cup 240 in '06, Lotus has built up quite the following for its track-focused but built-for-the-road model. For the 2010 variant called the Exige Cup 260, Lotus shaves off a few pounds by upping the carbon-fiber treatment.


Design-wise, the front end was restyled with a more angular air intake and a new aerodynamic splitter. By adding a carbon-fiber roof panel, rear tailgate, center tunnel, front splitter, side air ducts and rear spoiler, more than 25 pounds of weight was shaved - a hefty contribution to the close to 84 pounds total cut from last year's model.



Handling is improved with its 30 percent stiffer rear chassis, forged alloy wheels wrapped in Yokohama A048 rubber and two-way adjustable Ohlins dampers. Stopping power comes from huge 12.1-inch front and 11.1-inch rear cross-drilled and ventilated brake discs with AP Racing and Brembo calipers. Buyers can opt for a programmable launch control system that allows the driver to choose the number of RPMs they wish to use during a standing start.


Taking design cues from the Exige GT3 racecar, the 260 has a supercharged and intercooled four-cylinder Toyota engine that makes the sprint to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds. It lays down 257 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque and comes standard with a lightweight flywheel, torque-sensing limited-slip diff, sports-type clutch plate and a smaller battery that further cuts weight.


he car retails for just under $75,000 in the U.K. and is street legal within the entire European Union and North America.
Source:blogs.edmunds



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