Friday, 2 April 2010

Audi TT TDI Quattro

Vital statistics
Model Audi TT TDI quattro

Engine type 1997cc, four cylinders

Power / Torque 170bhp @ 4200rpm / 258 lb ft @ 1750rpm

Transmission Six-speed manual

Fuel / CO2 53.3mpg (combined cycle) / 139g/km

Performance 0-62mph: 7.5sec / Top speed: 140mph

Road tax band C (£120 for 12 months)

Price £26,350


The opposition
Model
BMW 123d M Sport £26,350

For Great blend of power, economy and emissions

Against Cramped rear seats, ugly from some angles


Model Alfa Romeo Brera 2.4 JTDM £26,995

For Beautiful inside and out, smooth, powerful engine

Against Not great to drive, lacks German build quality

Saturday, 27 March 2010

New Lagonda


Aston-Martin is a production-based sports car, production line is relatively simple. At present, lots of sports car factories switch their eyes to SUV. Porsche cayenne is a classic example. This made Aston-Martin could hardly sit still, and it plans to introduce a SUV. Aston Martin shocked the Geneva motor show, and it unveiled the Lagonda Concept, a V12-engined SUV. It’s the fruit of a new collaboration between Aston and Mercedes-Benz, which will provide the 4x4 hardware and engine tech-from the Merc GL SUV. The Lagonda Concept is based on the four-wheel drive chassis of Mercedes GL, so it’s four-wheel drive, but unlike its donor car, the Lagonda version seats just four and features a V12 engine up front.
But to pacify those with a conscience, Aston Martin promises it is ‘committed to innovative new propulsion technologies’, so Mercedes or another supplier will provide alternative powertrains such as flexi-fuels, hybrids and diesels. It is not a finished car though- Lagonda won’t have a production car on the road for at least three years.

Wednesday, 24 March 2010

Audi R8 VS Ferrari F430

Today I saw a Audi R8 race with a Ferrari F430. Though it just have few seconds, it is Amazing. Especially the engine sound, so great. It seems that the acceleration of the R8 is faster than F430.
Two monsters, two GTs, two of the most famous cars in the world. One German, one Italian. They are both two-seater coupes with a rear-centre mounted V8 engine. The F430 it is powered by a V8 engine delivering 490 hp while the R8 delivers 420 hp. The R8 has a top speed of 187 mph. The F430 has a top speed of 196 mph. The F430 makes 0 to 100km/h in 4 seconds, covering 1000m from a standing start in 21.6 seconds. The R8 takes an extra six tenths of a second to reach the 100km/h mark. Each has its own character, its own beauty. Again, they are hard to compare.

Thursday, 18 March 2010

The New MultiJet II Diesel Engine For The Alfa Romeo MiTo


The Alfa Romeo MiTo range has offered economical yet powerful diesel derivatives since it was launched in the UK in 2009. Now Alfa Romeo is ushering in the next generation of diesel technology with the introduction of MultiJet II.
The MultiJet II diesel engine marks its arrival in the form of the Alfa Romeo MiTo 1.3 JTDM-2. This new engine perfectly complements the Alfa Romeo MiTo philosophy of lowered emissions and fuel consumption without compromising performance and drive satisfaction.
Developed by Fiat Powertrain Technologies (FPT), MultiJet II is a continuation of FPT’s remarkable technologies pedigree.
Introduced in 2003, MultiJet was a development of UniJet which debuted on the Alfa 156 JTD in 1997. It improved the thermodynamic efficiency of the engine by introducing five injections during the same combustion cycle. Now in 2010 the Alfa Romeo MiTo benefits from the next generation of MultiJet technology.
Thanks to a new balanced solenoid servo valve, MultiJet II is able to control with high precision, the quantity of fuel injected into the cylinder, with a quicker and more flexible injection sequence. In fact, the new MultiJet II system can manage eight injections per cycle.
It all means that the second generation 1.3-litre MultiJet provides the driver with an engine that complies with Euro 5 emissions legislation, yet in 95bhp form gives the Alfa Romeo MiTo a 0-62mph acceleration time of 11.6 seconds while returning 65.7mpg (combined cycle) and emitting just 112g/km of CO2.

Monday, 15 March 2010

My favorite game, My favorite car- Porche Carrera GT

I initially recognized the Porsche CarreraGT from NFS. It is my favorite car in the racing game. The price is $444,000 dollars. It is well worth its price if we count the 5.7 litre V10 engine producing 612 DIN (605 SAE) horsepower (450KW) and the acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62.5 mph) in 3.9 seconds, touching a maximum speed of 330 km/h (205 mph). The design is stunning too. The following video is the CarreraGT in the racing game and it is shot by myself. I have uploaded it to Youtube.

Saturday, 13 March 2010

Audi Innovation- Quattro

In 1980, the Audi Quattro which is appeared at the Geneva Motor Show caused a sensation in car industry, not because of its angular shape of the coupe, nor its amazing 200-horsepower engine. The real secret exists in the aspect that the car’s driving model - four-wheel drive. At that time, four-wheel-drive technology is limited to off-road vehicles; the emergence of Audi quattro opened a new chapter in the history of civil-wheel-drive cars.
In the 30-year history, the Audi quattro all-wheel-drive system has undergone six times innovation, each time of evolution set new standards for all-wheel-drive technology.
1980, first generation-hollow shaft











1986, second generation-Torque-sensing differential-A















1988, the third generation-first time applied to automatic models
















1994, the fourth generation-torque-sensing center differential-B; first time to use EDL (Electronic Differential Lock)


















1997, the fifth generation-optimized Torque-sensing differential-A















2005, the sixth generation-Torque-sensing differential-C; the birth of the Audi Q series




Wednesday, 10 March 2010

Ferrari Factory


The name of Ferrari seems to always link with the movement and speed, the hot-blooded red color and the symbol of unruly horse has become a king of totem in the minds of many people. The factory of Ferrari is located just outside the small town of Maranello south and a bit west from Modena.

The gate of Ferrari factory seems disproportionate with brand; gray cement building is incredibly simple. Imaginary Ferrari red and Horse signs are not found. But here is the original office of Mr. Enzo Ferrari who was the founder. Enzo Ferrari was born on February 18, 1898 near Modena, Italy. The factory of Ferrari in Maranello is composed of headquarters, R & D institutions, workshops and test track. In order to avoid be too excited, gray color has replaced the red color; it becomes the main colors of factory buildings.

It is a garden factory, even in the workshop it can be seen green everywhere. Strolling in the workshop, it totally doesn’t see a general picture of the factory-busy, stress and busy do not exist in worker's face. This is hardly surprising, Ferrari is different from the general depot, its production is small and mainly uses hand-assembly methods, and communication replaces the mechanical work to become an important content of the daily work. The factiry in Maranello is fact just assembly plants, car body stamping, welding and of many accessories are manufactured in other places. Therefore, it can not hear a deafening noise, and smell the pungent odor.

In 2002 Ferrari factory was elected by ILO as the most suitable place to work, there is a motto: workers here are willing to take to the streets dressed in working clothes after work.





View Larger Map