Baby On Board

I saw something like this while on my walk to work this morning:

"Thanks dad, sure I don't need a helmet. My skull is fully developed by my age"

Although this is a random pict of what I witnessed this morning, it does the job. Although, a picture doesn’t quite capture the instability or roughness of what the baby actually feels in the back. Cause the kid I saw this morning looked like he was experiencing a jeepney ride through a bumpy jungle road from Saigon to Phnom Penh. My first thought was, “a car’s gonna sideswipe that baby trailer like nobody’s business”. My second thought was, “every time I see one of these bike accessories, its rolling past me in a yuppie part of the Bay or being taken out of an Audi. Always by a white dude”.

So I’m gonna go ahead and state a gross generalization. White people like to put their babies in harms way more than Asian folks. Agree or disagree? Cause my white uncle’s literary thrown my little cousins into walls and ceilings and done this, seriously:

Look at that smile on the baby's face! Wait, only the dad's smiling... That little girl looks like she's gonna shit herself.

Niemiecki konflikt pokoleń

Brytole z Autocar często przeprowadzają dość ciekawe testy, może nie są one tak emocjonujące jak te z Top Gear, ale mimo to pomysłowość tych dziennikarzy na prawdę zasługują na szczere uznanie. Nie są tak nudne jak te przedstawiane przez Niemców, a największym ich plusem są zestawienia nietypowych dla siebie przeciwników. Porównania aut, które nigdy nie mogłyby się ze sobą zmierzyć, gdyby nie Autocar. Tym razem wyspiarze wpadli na pomysł przedstawienie poważnego problemu z jakim stykamy się w naszych domach, a mianowicie konfliktu pokoleń. Audi Quattro nie rozumie tej całej elektroniki, diod LED no i tego dziwacznego spoilera. TT-RS z kolei chce emanować swoją agresją, a model Quattro traktuje jako niechcianego emeryta. Ten jednak chce pokazać “wnusiowi” na co go jeszcze stać.

The 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI is Pretty Darn Fun

Supercars are famous for being a lot like exotic snakes – if you’ve got enough cash you can own one, but you do so at your own risk. In either case, if you lose control for just a split second, you are going to get bit; though unfortunately no anti-venom in the world can quell the humiliation and financial ruin of a totaled supercar. Or at least that’s how it used to be, until the advent of the Audi R8.

Named after Audi’s five-time Le Mans winning prototype, the R8 may go down as the world’s first truly forgiving supercar. Its mid-engine balance and Quattro all-wheel drive make the relentlessly fast and immensely capable R8 astonishingly easy to drive at speed. And now they’ve gone and wedged a V-10 in it. Don’t get us wrong, the standard V-8 R8 was no slouch, but it hung out more in the Porsche 911 circle than it did with the supercar crowd. But now that it boasts 525 horsepower and a robustly exotic V-10 soundtrack, it has true supercar credentials. Inside, drivers enjoy typically stellar Audi build quality, not to mention the sound of that mid-mounted engine cranking away. Certainly people will find a way to wreck even this most tolerant of land rockets, but with such impeccable balance, grip and agility, they’re going to have to kick this snake pretty hard before it bites back.

What’s to Like
This car doesn’t go unnoticed – it’s pretty much like driving around in the Millennium Falcon, though a Chewbacca-esque presence is purely contingent on who you choose as your passenger. Rampant acceleration, insane grip and controlled poise are coupled with a comfortable cabin to create a truly usable performance machine. Plus, have you ever been from 0-60 in under 4 seconds?

What’s Not to Like
The price of exclusivity is high, and the R8 is no exception – expect big, big car payments. Cargo space is there, but in no way is it overwhelming. The R tronic automatic sequential transmission can be somewhat bothersome on hills, as it engages the clutch much like traditional manual transmission and is therefore prone to stalls, or at the very least, doesn’t seem completely controllable… Read the full review here!

Audi e Mercedes-Benz apresentam as suas “máquinas” elétricas

Canal do Transporte

Quando se fala em marcas como Audi e Mercedes-Benz, logo vem à mente imagens de carros superesportivos potentes, velozes e com design invocado. No Salão de Frankfurt 2009, que acontece na Alemanha, as duas montadoras acrescentam um detalhe a mais às suas belas máquinas: motores elétricos, que equipam os conceitos Audi e-tron e Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG eDrive.
Mercedes-Benz

A Mercedes-Benz está apresentando o “SLS AMG eDrive”, conceito elétrico com a mesma plataforma do SLS AMG com motor V8 de 6,3 litros e 420 kW/571 cv, que também fez sua estréia no Salão de Frankfurt. A carroceria, com direito à porta “Asa de Gaivota”, é a mesma, mas a diferença está na motorização do protótipo: quatro motores elétricos, com pico máximo combinado em 392 kW e torque máximo de 880 Nm.

Os quatro motores elétricos do SLS AMG eDrive estão posicionados próximos às rodas, sendo que uma transmissão por eixo imprime a força, reduzindo substancialmente as massas não suspensas em comparação aos motores de cubos de roda. De acordo com a montadora, este sistema inteligente de tração “all-wheel drive” permite uma transmissão de força otimizada sem as perdas por meio da vetorização de torque, ou seja, uma aceleração específica direcionada a cada uma das rodas.

O SLS AMG movido à eletricidade incorpora uma bateria lítio-íon resfriada por meio líquido, de alta voltagem, e design modular, contendo em energia 48 kWh e capacidade de 40 Ah. De 400 volts, ela é alimentada por meio de uma regeneração controlada durante a frenagem, enquanto o carro está sendo conduzido.

A velocidade máxima do SLS AMG eDrive não foi divulgada pela montadora, somente sua aceleração: 0 a 100 km/h em cerca de 4 segundos, praticamente a mesma do novo SLS AMG com motor convencional apresentado em Frankfurt. Mas por se tratar de um modelo elétrico, não deve passar nem perto deste último, que chega a 317 km/h.

Audi

O elétrico da Audi também não deixa a desejar. O e-tron é igualmente equipado com quatro motores, dois no eixo dianteiro e dois no traseiro, e bateria de íons de lítio que oferece energia de 42,4 KW/h e permite autonomia de 248 quilômetros. Com 313 cv de potência e 4.500 Nm de torque, o conceito da marca alemã acelera de 0 a 100 km/h em 4,8 segundos e tem velocidade máxima limitada a 200 km/h.

No e-tron, a bateria colocada atrás da cabine de passageiros promete ótimo centro de gravidade e uma perfeita distribuição de carga entre os eixos, enquanto a potência dos quatro motores elétricos é distribuída entre as rodas de acordo com a necessidade. A montadora destaca algumas tecnologias revolucionárias presentes no e-tron, como uma bomba de calor para esquentar de forma eficiente o habitáculo; um inovador sistema de gestão térmica que controla sistema de propulsão, potência eletrônica e bateria; além da conexão eletrônica do carro com o exterior, a chamada Car-to-X, ainda em estudo, que permitirá comunicação com outros veículos e tráfego.

Ao invés do clássico painel de instrumento, o e-tron incorpora um display central com funções MMI, controlado por meio de uma superfície tátil situada no volante (MMI touch), elemento inspirado nos smartphones. Enquanto um velocímetro analógico informa à direita a velocidade, à esquerda o condutor recebe informação sobre a potência gerada. Pequenos componentes foram eliminados e a unidade de comando do ar-condicionado está à direita do volante, com sistema de controle deslizante e tátil.

Como nos atuais carros elétricos, o e-tron pode ser recarregado na tomada. No entanto, os engenheiros da Audi estão trabalhando uma solução sem cabos (wireless). A estação de carga por indução, que pode ser colocada na garagem de casa ou nos edifícios, é ativada automaticamente ao conectar o veículo em uma base.

Fonte: Canal do Transporte/José Carlos Cabral | www.canaldotransporte.com.br

Audi prepara A3 1.6 TDIe para Europa

Com maior tecnologia, motores a diesel vem emitindo menor quantidade de poluentes que a maioria dos similares a gasolina. E é isso que o consumidor brasileiro perde com a proibição da venda de automóveis com este combustível, além da melhor qualidade do diesel para todos os propulsores deste ciclo. A novidade da vez é da Audi, que prepara uma versão mais moderna do A3 1.6 TDI para o mercado europeu. Ele chega em 2010 com a promessa de emitir apenas 99 gramas de CO2 por quilômetro.

O atual 1.6 TDI chegou recentemente à Europa. Com injeção common-rail e 105 cv, entrou no lugar do antigo 1.9 TDI, que gerava a mesma potência. Ele chegará à uma nova versão, batizada de  TDIe, com câmbio de relações mais longas, pneus de baixa resistência e sistema Stop&Start. A transmissão, com cinco velocidades, ajuda a garantir a média superor a 25 km/l.

Ele chega à Europa no início de 2010.

Novo LED CAN BUS para Matricula

Well-Done apresenta um novo modelo LED compatível com a maioria do  vehículos CAN BUS do mercado.

http://www.welldone-portugal.com/index.php?id=verproducto&producto=35

Graças a este novo modelo não é necessário acrescentar resistência e fazer alterações para a instalação original

São totalmente Plug & Play.

Feitos de High Power LEDs em um bloco de alumínio para dissipação de calor

Seu preço é de 19 € / par.

Resultado:

Audi TT mk2

Audi A3 8P

Golf V (Halógena vs LED)

Salonul Auto de la Frankfurt '09

In contextul crizei mondiale, Salonul Auto de la Frankfurt din acest an a fost mai sarac din punct de vedere al expozantilor si publicului. Cu toate acestea, Frankfurt ‘09 a adus si o multime de noutati. Au fost expuse in premiera 48 de modele de serie si 14 concepte in premiera mondiala. Evenimentul a inceput ieri si va dura 10 zile.

Iata cateva dintre cele mai interesante modele:

Aston Martin Rapide

Audi A5 Sportback

Brabus E V12 Black Baron

Ferrari 458 Italia

Lamborghini Reventon Roadster

Mansory Cyrus

Audi E-Tron

Citroen Revolte

Peugeot BB1 Concept

Seat IBZ Concept

Buick verses Lexus. Wait. Really?

The Ad Age article titled, Buick Pokes Fun at Lexus in New Billboard Ads, announced that Buick recently launched a series of outdoor ads featuring the LaCrosse that challenge Lexus. The billboard headlines include, “EX your Lexus” and ”Something else for Lexus to relentlessly pursue.”

I found three things noteworthy of sharing while reading the article:

1. Since when have Buick and Lexus been competitors in the same category? Lexus is a luxury brand. Personally, I don’t associate Buick with luxury. In fact, I’ve never seen anyone, besides Buick themselves, categorize the brand as luxury.

2. Google served up an online ad selling Lexus cars, directly beneath a version of the article that discussed Buick calling out Lexus. While this placement is not nearly as bad as the time a Volvo ad about safety was placed next to an article about a car crash, I’d still consider it a failure.

3. Singling out the competition (direct or indirect) can be a slippery slope as seen by two of my favorite dueling brands: Audi verses BMW. In early 2009, when Audi launched an outdoor campaign showcasing the luxurious A4, they got a little too egotistical in thinking it was clever to put up a billboard proclaiming, “Your move, BMW.” BMW’s tactical and ingenious response included strategically placed boards adjacent to the Audi ads with the beautifully simple headline of, “Checkmate.”  Point for BMW. Humiliation for Audi. I am excited and curious to see if and/or how Lexus will respond to Buick’s call out. Although I am assuming it’s fake, hopefully it’s better than the response below. Stay tuned.

2010 Audi 3.0 TDI clean diesel quattro would make an excellent gift to the U.S.

The 3.0-liter, 240-hp diesel that first served in the Audi Q7 has been assigned to duty in the Audi A4. We drove the 3.0 in the Q7 during last year’s Audi Mileage Marathon, and both mileage and power didn’t disappoint. Put into the A4, the oil burner with 369 lb-ft should shine like Alpha Centauri.

Audi says it will get you to sixty in 6.2 seconds with the six-speed Tiptronic and return 35 mpg at the same time as it already meets the Euro 6 standards coming in 2014. It’s unlikely we’ll get the treat in this corner of the Western Hemisphere, but that doesn’t mean we won’t keep looking out for it… especially as an Avant… with those wheels…

Audi revela R8 elétrico

Carsale

A Audi apresentou, no Salão de Frankfurt, na Alemanha, o e-tron, um protótipo movido a eletricidade baseado no esportivo R8. O modelo está equipado com quatro motores elétricos, um em cada roda, e é capaz de entregar 230 kW, que equivalem a 312 cavalos, além de incríveis 458,9 kgfm de torque.

De acordo com a Audi, o e-tron pode sair da inércia e atingir os 100 km/h em 4,8 segundos. A velocidade máxima é limitada eletronicamente em 200 km/h. A marca das quatro argolas ainda anuncia uma autonomia de 248 quilômetros em ciclo combinado. Os motores elétricos são alimentados por baterias de íons de lítio que podem ser recarregadas em uma tomada comum em um período que varia entre seis e oito horas. Uma carga rápida pode ser realizada em duas horas e meia em uma saída de 430 V.

Em relação ao R8, o e-tron distingue-se pelo parachoque dianteiro com formato mais aerodinâmico. O destaque fica por conta das duas entradas de ar frontais e na grade, que abrem e fecham de acordo com a necessidade de refrigeração do motor. O conjunto ótico é dotado de diodos emissores de luz (leds) que dispõem de um sistema adaptativo inteligente, capaz de ajustar a iluminação de acordo com as condições meteorológicas e de tráfego.

Fonte: Carsale | www.carsale.uol.com.br

viento_y_mar

Se está celebrando la Audi MedCup 2009 en Cartagena, el Trofeo Caja Mediterráneo Región de Murcia y están, claro, todos ahí preparados para la faena o preparándose. Esta mañana estaba el aire calmado así que he podido acercarme y verlos por ahí por los pantalanes preparando sus cosillas y de buen rollito, tanto que si no salen hoy a la mar creo que no les iba a trastocar ningún plan.

Audi’s new Q7, redefining Luxury SUVs !!

The German luxury car manufacturer, announced the launch of the new Audi Q7, touted as one of the most successful luxury SUV’s.

With greater sporty elegance, added refinement, and enhanced multifunctional luxury, the sporty SUV comes packed and available with 3 powerful engines, 3.0 TDI Quattro 240 hp, 3.6 FSI Quattro 280hp and the 4.2 FSi Quattro 350hp.

The Q7 is sporty, comfortable, high on performance, perfect for leisure and business. This comes trough in not just its great look and design , with a low window area, arched roof line and a taut curvy body with a deliciously coupe-like silhouette (in an SUV!)

The Audi Q7 at a glance.

Power train:

Six speed tiptronic and Quattro permament all wheel drive with 40:60 torque split

Chassis:

Wheel Suspensions in lightweight design with speed dependant steering control alongwith adaptive air suspension with electronic damping control.

Body:

Sporty design with revised contours

Xenon headlights, light emitting diodes arranged to form U-shaped bands to provide the daytime running lights

Turn signals are c0omposed to LEDs

Elegant interior with exclusive material and further refinements in styling

Extremely spacious and highly variable interior, with upto seven seats as a customer option and luggage space of upto 2,035 litres.

Equipment:

MMI operating system with audio system

LED taillights

Optionally available, very high end entertainment system

Electrically operated tailgate

Optional available panorama sunroof.

New accents at the front and rearview contribute to even more elegant styling and visual impact. New single frame radiator grill in high gloss black with vertical chrome bars adds robustness to the car in conjunction with new Xenon headlights and LED daytime running lights. The optional high-end headlights that not only integrates low beam, high beam and turning and cornering lights, but for the first time also a special superhighway beam. The restyled tailgate presents a more forceful contour. All engines in the Audi Q7 program are powerful and efficient direct-injection versions.

The new Audi Q7 range starts ex-showroom at INR 53,40,000 for 3.0 TDi Quattro, INR 55,20,0000 for 3.6 TDI Quattro and 42, 696 euros for the 4.2 FSI.

Tuesday's Obscure Car of the Day

Welcome to another installment of obscure car of the day. Today’s car is the 2009 Boehler Concept Audi BS3. The styling of this vehicle bears a striking resemblance to the boxy, legendary Quattro with power to match: 328 horsepower and 313 ft-lb out of a 2 Liter inline 4 cylinder engine.

The 328 horsepower O.CT-Stage 3 Kit includes a specially developed Engine control unit, a deep throated Sport exhaust with an integrated Control folds as well as an improved Air Intake System. Furthermore, an additional Intercooler keeps temperatures in check.

A fully adjustable O.CT Coilover Suspension helps to put all that extra power to the ground effectively, while an 8-piston braking system with 372 Millimeter discs/rotors offer fade-free stopping prowess.

The “Boehler concept.BS3″ will be produced in a highly limited volume of 100 vehicles with a price tag of roughly 67.000 Euros equivalent to $98,200 Dollars

Oh and like I mentioned before Kanye is a worthless sack of shit

Courtesy of seriouswheels.com

2011 Bentley Mulsanne: One Eye On The China Market?

Will Bentley Follow The Success Of Rolls-Royce In The Chinese Market? Or Will More Chinese Luxury Buyers Opt For Rival Brands?

The Bentley Mulsanne includes many features popular in the Chinese market, such as a spacious interior and chauffeur-ready driver's seat

As we’ve pointed out time and time again, with the global doldrums cutting into the vehicle budgets of many luxury consumers in developed markets like North America, Japan and Europe, high-end car companies like Rolls-Royce have increasingly looked to emerging markets like China to get them through the economic crisis and create a new, loyal buyer’s market. As Chinese luxury models become more prevalent (and popular) over time and truly begin to rival the dominant luxury models by BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, automakers at the highest end are already starting to plan ahead for a strong China strategy to ensure their brands remain at the top of the heap for years to come.

Following the lead of the 2010 Porsche Panamera, which was unveiled at this year’s Shanghai Auto Show, Bentley has taken the lid off of its 2011 Mulsanne, with what is sure to be an eye towards the Chinese market — where the country’s ultra-rich still have no domestic alternative that can match Bentley quality. After making its initial debut in August, the Mulsanne has become the talk of the high-end luxury scene, not least because it is the first all-new Bentley model to roll off the production line since the 1930s. As Motor Authority writes, though this car is most certainly beyond the budgets of most lustful car enthusiasts, it is a sight to behold and has an engine to match:

Named for the 90-degree turn at Le Mans, the Mulsanne arrives in the middle of next year with a pricetag likely approaching $300,000, before any custom finishes or materials are specified.

The design’s a blend of a traditional silhouette with some modern detailing, less so than the smaller Continental range. Echoing the Bentley S-Type of the 1950s, the Mulsanne features a bold frontal design dominated by the traditional Bentley matrix grille and highly prominent round inner headlamps with chrome surrounds, flanked by two smaller outboard lamp clusters. The iconic ‘Flying B’ retractable radiator mascot is available as an option. Uniquely designed 20-inch wheels (and optional 21-inch) reinforce the Mulsanne’s powerful, sporting stance.

So what does this powerful, pricey beast have to do with China? Well, for one thing, China has rapidly emerged as one of Bentley’s most important markets, with sales increasing 93% over the previous year back in 2007, the announcement by Bentley that it expects sales in China to overtake U.S. sales by 2012, and recent reports suggesting that Bentley’s sales will show growth in 2009 despite ongoing global economic uncertainty. Since entering the Chinese market in 2001, Bentley has seen the number of its cars on the roads in China increase from a little over 100 to upwards of 1,000 — with expectations that this number will grow by 1,000 year-over-year by 2012.  The Mulsanne will most definitely become a feature on the more luxurious streets in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou — where Bentley opened a new dealership to much fanfare only two months ago.

With wealthy Chinese becoming world-class investors and asset diversifiers, we can expect to see a number of these new Bentleys residing within extravagant courtyard estates and becoming the newest must-have among that country’s super-rich — alongside luxury watches and jewelry, contemporary Chinese art, fine wines and a set of top-of-the-line golf clubs.

Bugatti Reveals the C16 Galibier

They’ve been teasing us for months now; it all started with dark images of the tail lights and other vehicle accents.  Then an image was leaked out after a private unveiling of the new 4-door saloon. Now Bugatti has released an official video with narration so good, it rivals the Lord of the Rings…

Here’s what we know so far:

• 8-liter W-16 engine (same as the Bugatti Veyron)
• The engine is now front-mounted and can be run on Ethanol
• Insane hood with twin-fin mechanisms to display the engine
• Estimated top speed of 217 MPH
• Carbon fiber body work that shines blue when under direct light

We’ll keep our ear the ground, check back later for more details!

Forza 3 Demo 24 Eylül'de Geliyor!

Microsoft ve Turn-10, coşkuyla beklenen yarış simülasyonu serisi Forza Motorsport’un 3. oyununun “neredeyse tamamen hazır” olduğunu ve 24 Eylül’de Xbox Live üzerinden demosunun indirilebileceğini açıkladı.

Demoda oyunculara Camino Viejo yolunda 5 araç kullanma şansı verilecek. Ayrıca tur zamanları online olarak diğer oyuncularla karşılaştırılabilecek, fakat direk multiplayer yarış olmayacak. Kullanılabilecek araçların listesi:

• 2007 Porsche #80 Flying Lizard 911 GT3-RSR
• 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro
• 2009 Ferrari California
• 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X GSR
• 2009 Mini John Cooper Works

Forza 3 27 Ekim‘de piyasaya çıkacağına göre bu demo oyunculara tam 1 aylık bir deneme/alışma süreci verecek.

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