Lamborghini Insecta

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

2011-05-11T21:49:00.000-07:00

Fitting a large object whole into a confined space with an impossibly smaller entrance is one of the oldest tricks in the book (e.g. ship in a bottle). However, in this case involving the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 there's no deception or trickery involved.

On the occassion of the "La Forza del Toro" exhibition at the Lamborghini Museum in Rome, the Italian auto maker had its engineers assemble in a small room one example of their new hypercar.

In this video Lamborghini breaks down the process for us in just over 2 minutes. Unfortunately, they didn't tell us exactly how long it took from start to finish. Hopefully, they won't have to take it out anytime soon.

Pandora Internet Radio

2011-05-02T01:12:00.000-07:00

The BMW Apps option will allow owners to pick their own Pandora stations, create new ones, skip songs and like others, all through BMW’s iDrive interface. The iPhones plug into a USB port or through a unique adapter in a BMW’s center console, which allows the iDrive center controller and steering wheel buttons to control music functions.
“We’re excited that BMW is making Pandora available to customers across its full range of vehicles and that drivers will be able to tune into their personalized radio stations from the road,” said Jessica Steel, a vice president for Pandora.

With current BMWs featuring AM/FM radio, CD changers, XM satellite radio, iPod integration, Bluetooth, USB support, and the soothing voice of mademoiselle Satellite Navigation, it’s refreshing to see BMW give its owners some long-needed variety. The BMW Apps option is $250 on all new models, and its hands-free integration capabilities will allow BMW owners no excuses for being unable to grasp the finer points of turn signal operations.

Lamborghini LP570-4 Superleggera

2011-03-30T01:23:00.000-07:00

There’s absolutely no denying this is an Italian exotic of the highest lineage. Sitting an almost immeasurably low distance from the ground, it’s wide, angular and looks about as terrifying as A real bull that’s lost a few rounds to a matador.

Accentuating the characteristics of this Lambo are dark painted lower trim items like the Reventon-inspired front bumper and rear diffuser – with matching blacked-out quad exhaust pipes. Exposed high-gloss carbon fiber is used for the side mirrors and for the thin side skirts, while a large black spoiler out back takes inspiration from the Gallardo Super Trofeo racing series cars.

A final note on the exterior of the car is the absolutely stunning set of lightweight forged aluminum 19-inch wheels that save a total of 28.6 lbs compared to the rollers on the LP560-4.

Our Tesla Founder Is Better Than Your Tesla Founder

2010-10-14T23:54:00.000-07:00

Our founder is better than the founder of Tesla Tesla

Thus, the relationship with Tesla Motors Toyota went very well, Toyota, a small manufacturer of electric cars new public signing of an agreement for electric RAV4. The presumption is that the Tesla / Toyota RAV4 on the old General Motors / Toyota joint venture NUMMI plant in Fremont, California, will be assembled, but when the press has been no official word from both companies confirm. A new product to be released NUMMI alleviate the enormous political pressure from California to Toyota, who went to the GM plant.

Akio Toyoda Word is in full agreement with Tesla Chairman Elon Musk and CEO for less than an hour before the president and CEO of Toyota, an investment of $ 50 million in the original manufacturer of the California electric car.

The mercurial Moss, who fired in recent years, many of its senior officers on the road to development, which promises a cost-effective, sub-$ 60,000 (with tax credits), seven-passenger electric sedan, has the its share of supporters and critics. A few years ago, according to which Musk Tesla Motors CEO Martin Eberhard and Eberhard said, underestimated the cost of buildings, Model S electric sedan. Eberhard Tesla continues off the pitch and the right to call himself a "founder" of society.

Martin Eberhard
Click to view gallery
Martin Eberhard
Eberhard landed Volkswagen Electronic Research Lab in Palo Alto, California, where the director of electric vehicles. VW jobs Eberhard was silent for about 18 months if VW CEO Martin Winterkorn in Palo Alto car flew effort to talk about electric cars.

Volkswagen is building a golf course, electric and Up! in calendar year 2012, one of them, VW introduced the first power in the United States is a hybrid Jetta in the USA '12, then a mid-size hybrid and a hybrid-golf. Audi A8 and Q5 Hybrid, a production company e-tron at the end of '12 followed, and Porsche Cayenne hybrid confirmed recently, 500 hp, 918 V-8/hybrid supercar. With all these Winterkorn expects only 3 percent of sales of the VW group models of electric traction in 2018.

Eberhard, an engineer can work hard for a German automaker considers regulated electric vehicles, most cars and trucks will be sold by 2030. He thinks the Chevy Volt one step on the all-electric car with a range of 300 miles and recharges quickly. Eberhard and Musk warriors that two keys, it seems, VW and Toyota are battling for position as a world leader in the production of electric cars.

Honda CR-Z Type-F

2010-09-03T13:52:00.000-07:00

Honda CR-Z Type-F – Click above for high-res image

Nearly one year later, we're still digging the idea behind Meguiar's Wraptivo system. For under $2,000 you can design and have a professional installer wrap your car in vinyl, complete with custom graphics and textures. And to drum up more interest in the program after its debut at last year's SEMA show, Meguiar's has picked up a 2011 Honda CR-Z and enlisted the tuning talents of RJ De Vera and rendering artist Jon Sibal to show what it has planned for the 2010 show.

Naturally, the CR-Z Type-F Concept is focused on the matte black and "carbon fiber" wrap, but the real party pieces are underneath the vinyl.

A supercharger will be fitted to the anemic 1.5-liter four-pot, with a custom exhaust system and a Hondata ECU used to extract maximum power. Accessories from Honda's performance line will join a Tein suspension, HKS components and some Volk TE37 wheels, while the inside will benefit from a pair of Recaro buckets, Alcantara trim and a new shift knob. And while it might be easy to dismiss the Type-F (which apparently stands for "Fun") as a SEMA show queen, Meguiar's plans to enter it in Source Interlink's annual Super Lap Battle the week after the show. Get all the details in the press release after the jump and check out Sibal's high-res rendering above.

BMW not ruling out X4M

2010-07-20T20:11:00.002-07:00

The automotive landscape must be stacked to the sky with kindling right now. It seems like it takes little more than a spark of interest in one odd duckling of a model to create a wildfire of a new segment. From the monsoon of crossovers currently drowning our fair nation's freeways to weird hatch/crossover/sedan creations like the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo and Honda Accord Crosstour, market segmentation is all the rage right now, and it doesn't look like it'll be slowing up anytime soon.

According to Autocar, Land Rover may have started something with its ~~LRX~~ Evoque. The site claims that BMW may be looking to broaden its X lineup with the addition of an X4 – which would predictably fall just above the X3 and below the X5 – to do battle with the new low-riding Land Rover. Odds are that where Land Rover and BMW trod, others soon will follow. Autocar even goes on to say that an X4 would make it easy for the company to roll out an X4 M, complete with a 350-horsepower 3.0-liter twin-turbo I6 borrowed from the upcoming 1 Series M Coupe. Yes, it would probably sell like hotcakes, even if we can see no reason to blast the X stable into ever finer divisions.

Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni gets its launch on

2010-07-20T20:11:00.001-07:00

Lamborghini Gallardo Valentino Balboni - Click above for high-res image gallery

Autoblog friend David Kaiser, the same man who brought us images of the Tramontana F1 in full jet fighter camouflage regalia, has struck again with stunning pictures fromLamborghini's launch of the Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni in Zürich, Switzerland. According to Kaiser, this was the third stop of the car's initial European tour following appearances in Paris and Lyon in France. Next, the Italian crew will pack up and take their show on to various locations in the United Kingdom.

In case you your memory needs refreshed, the new Lambo was named in honor of the automaker's longtime test driver. Featuring a 550-horsepower version of the Gallardo's familiar V10 engine and a comparatively low 3,042-pound curb weight, the rear-drive LP550-2 is reportedly capable of scurrying to 60 in just 3.9 seconds and up to a top speed of 199 mph. Check out the photo gallery below and pay special attention to the unique black-and-white racing stripe, Scorpious wheels hiding bright yellow brake calipers and transparent engine cover. Thanks, David!

Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Valentino Balboni Zurich unveil

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Electric car travels record 623 miles

2010-06-02T15:43:00.000-07:00

The plug-in aficionados of the Japan Electric Vehicle Club hit the track this weekend in a Daihatsu Mira Van with a 74 kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery to see how far they could go on a charge. The last time the crew attempted this feat in November 2009, they managed to squeeze out 345 miles before running out of juice.

This time out, the members reduced some mass with new features likes a carbon fiber seat and even lower rolling resistance tires from Toyo. The van used the same Sanyo battery as the previous record drive and continued rolling for an amazing 623 miles before running out of electrons.

Seventeen drivers participated in the 27.5-hour drive with an average speed of just under 25 miles per hour. While getting over 600 miles on a charge is certainly impressive, we aren't likely to see many 74 kWh batteries in production vehicles any time soon thanks to their prohibitive cost. Plus, the driving style on the closed course was doubtlessly extremely conservative, which doesn't bode well for real-world driving. Regardless, it's quite a feat. A tip of the hat to Paul!

Ferrari 599 HY-KERS

2010-05-11T09:56:00.000-07:00

Ferrari 599 HY-KERS – Click above for high-res image gallery

By now, you've likely seen the various hybrid vehicles shown off by Ferrari, both for racing and for street-legal models in concept form. Purists might be more than a bit put off by the idea of a supposedly eco-friendly vehicle wearing the famed Prancing Horse badge, and it seems that Ferrari head Amadeo Felisa commiserates with them.

Speaking to Autocar at the recent Beijing Motor Show, Felisa had some rather interesting remarks on the future of his company, notably regarding the powerplants needed to meet future emissions and fuel mileage requirements. Says Felisa:

Our customers are looking for the essence of Ferrari – the emotion, the performance, the technology and so on. The way in which we fix emissions is not their problem but ours. If we are not able to fix it, only then will it become a problem for them.

That's rational, we'd say. But here's the point where Felisa's comments seem sure to garner a few raised eyebrows amongst the environmental set:

[Hybrids will come in] 2015, if we are forced to by the [government] regulations. The issue of emissions for Ferrari is more a political one than real one. Lowering emissions of every Ferrari will not save the planet, but it will cost us a lot of money... In the next five to 10 years, hybrid technology will develop and maybe something else will come up. Maybe it'll be hydrogen, but for our cars only hybrid is ready.

So, hydrogen isn't ready for Ferrari (or vice versa) and the only reason the sportscar manufacturer is even looking at hybrids is because the various governments of the world are making them. Oh yeah, and nothing with more than two doors. At least that much we can all agree upon.

Gallery: Ferrari 599 HY-KERS

Subaru Impreza WRX Sedan and Hatch Revamped with Wide-Body Designs

2010-03-24T20:15:00.000-07:00

2011 Subaru Impreza WRX Sedan and Hatch Wide Body Revamped Models

Continued development of the Impreza WRX, Subaru announced today that it will present the 2011 model-year versions of the cars during the next week in New York International Motor Show. Inspired by the TSI model of the brand, which benefit both five-door hatchback and four-door sedan Impreza WRX with a new design for wide-body look more masculine.

Subaru WRX engineers widened front and rear tracks by 1.5-inches, while the car is even stronger rear sub frame connectors and 17-inch wheels and larger tires (235/45R17 vs. 225/45R17).

With the wheel arches, the 2011 WRX models feature polished edges and wider bumper, fog lamps and a redesigned black-out grill. Subaru says this changes the unladen weight of the WRX in 2011 increased by 33 pounds.

2011 Impreza WRX sedan and hatchback models of Subaru dealers in the United States this summer. Both are 265-hp 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder with a 5-speed manual, which remain unchanged for the year 2011 model powered related.

The Emperor's New Range Rover Sport: Hamann's Conqueror

2010-03-09T20:12:00.000-08:00

The blacked-out Range Rover Sport before you is Hamann's Conqueror II. Much like the original Sport-based Conqueror, the package consists of door decals and a slew of body parts (fender extensions, carbon fiber hood, and "diffuser-look" rear apron, among other tidbits) that widen the Sport's stance and also make it appear to be doing its best GT3 impression when viewed from behind.

That center-mounted exhaust is an option, so don't think your Hamann Rover needs to be as over-the-top as this example.

Lowered by 40mm in front and 30mm in back, the Conqueror II also puts out 560 horsepower (+50 over stock) and 685 Nm / 505 lb-ft (+60 Nm / 44 lb-ft over stock) in 5.0-liter supercharged V8 form, or 280 horsepower (+35) and 660Nm / 487 lb-ft (+60 Nm / 44 lb-ft) when equipped with the 3.0 TDV6.

Inside, trim can be had in optional carbon fiber or black anodized aluminum, while no doubt if your pockets run deep enough they could fill the seats with caviar instead of foam if so desired.

Cost of entry for something like the Conqueror II? Probably more than you've got (but if you've got it, avoid those matte-black spiderweb 23-inchers).

- by Phil Alex

the Eleanor Shelby GT500 using a fourth generation

2010-01-17T22:30:00.000-08:00

There have been countless efforts to replicate the 1967 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Eleanor from the 2000 blockbuster movie "Gone in 60 Seconds" with Nicolas Cage. We've seen Eleanor replicas based on everything ranging from a Toyota MR2 to even -the most ridiculous of all- a Smart Fortwo.

At this year's edition of the Tokyo Auto Salon, the students from Saitama University's automotive course presented their take on the Eleanor Shelby GT500 using a fourth generation (1993-2002) Toyota Supra sports coupe as a base.

The replica, which is called "Moto Supra", maintains the Supra's six-cylinder powerhouse, though it's not clear if the students performed any upgrades on the sport coupe's hardware. More photos after the jump.

Photos by Phil Alex with the help of friends Mike and Aaron

At the recent 2010 NAIAS

2010-01-17T21:20:00.000-08:00

Exclusive Interview with the Head of BMWNA Product Planning and Strategy/BMW Motorsport Manager, Martin Birkmann – A Look into the Future World of ///M Cars, Racing, and Current Engine Tech. At the recent 2010 NAIAS, we got a chance to speak with Martin Birkmann who is the Head of Product Planning and Strategy with BMW NA, as well as BMW Motorsport Manager in the U.S. If you haven’t already, we advise you get some coffee brewing or pop-corn popping – what follows is extremely interesting information about current and future BMW products.

With BMW’s new engines, the revamped N54 and now the N55, what have you upgraded on the N54?

Martin Birkmann: With the N54 we’ve basically changed the mapping of the engine, pressure of the engine, given it a more sporty, more torque, and peak oriented performance curve.

What are the differences between the N54 and N55?

Martin Birkmann: At first glance we’ve changed something in the architecture, we made the engine more compact, but in terms of costumer benefit the biggest change is the application of VALVETRONIC. With variable valve lift we eliminate the throttle and so we’ve made the engine again more efficient than the N54. The N55 is maintaining the N54’s base performance level, but gives you a lot of enhancement on the efficiency side

Will we see the N55 engine across the range?

Martin Birkmann: We started announcing the N55 for the 5 series GT so you can expect to find it in the regular 5 series sedan, one series, and we’ll roll it out for more and more applications.

With the new 5 series, what kind of changes can we expect to see on the new M5?

Martin Birkmann: I think it’s been widely speculated and confirmed that we’ve somewhat seen the dawn of the end of the NA engine. M is no exception, we’ve launched our first turbo M engines and I think that will be the biggest difference if you look at the tech spec sheet – that we will go with turbo charging for the M5. There is speculation that I don’t want to comment about; we will clearly see a change in the transmission strategy, we are still examining the need for a second transmission variant. We’ll know more about that as we go forward, as you know, every one should know that BMW NA in persona is a big proponent of manual transmissions and three pedal vehicle operation, but it’s not a trend that you see in the market gaining a lot of momentum right now. Our customers want more semi-automatic transmissions, so that’s a must, and everything else is a can. We’ll see as we approach the launch of the car.

What clear future do you see for BMW and racing?

Continued

Read Article

Fenix - On sale: 2011

2010-01-07T22:51:00.000-08:00

World exclusive: If you thought 2009 was an eventful time for British manufacturers, just wait until you see what they have in store for 2010! Auto Express is kicking off the New Year by gathering together a home-grown crop of the coolest coupés and supercars around. And at the very top of this list is the sleekest big cat to emerge since the legendary XJS…

Jaguar XJ - See it: 2010
The dust has barely settled on the unveiling of Jaguar’s flagship XJ saloon. However, design director Ian Callum has already let slip that a two-door XJ Coupé has been drawn up by his team. Our exclusive renderings show for the first time how such a car might look.

Enthusiasts will recall the ultra-rare XJC, made from 1975 to 1978. This came with a 4.2-litre straight-six or a 5.3 V12, and was based on the Series II Jaguar XJ – and only 8,378 were built. The new car will revive the XJC’s badge and a selection of its distinctive design cues.

More steeply raked front and rear windscreens give a classic coupé profile, while a full-length sunroof adds to the flowing lines. Body-coloured B-pillars help to visually elongate the XJ’s already
substantial footprint on the road.

The car is likely to be offered with supercharged and naturally aspirated versions of Jaguar’s 5.0-litre V8, as well as the 3.0 V6 diesel producing 600Nm of torque. It will go head-to-head with Mercedes’ two-door CL-Class replacement – to be renamed the S-Class Coupé – when it goes on sale in 2011.

Lotus Esprit - See it: 2010
even though the firm’s new Evora has won plaudits for its laser-like handling and refined nature, bosses aren’t resting on their laurels. Lotus is developing a successor to the mighty Esprit – the mid-engined flagship sold between 1976 and 2004. And with a choice of six, eight and 10-cylinder engines, the model has the Ferrari 458 and Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 firmly in its sights.

The wedge-like styling is clearly inspired by the shovel-nosed original, but the similarities end there. Lotus plans to exploit its close links with Toyota and make use of three of the firm’s most powerful engines. Entry-level cars will have a 300bhp version of the Evora’s 3.5-litre V6. Meanwhile, V8 fans can opt for the 414bhp 5.0-litre from the Lexus IS F. The range-topper will use the 550bhp 4.8-litre V10 from Lexus’ LFA.

A longer and wider version of the Evora’s platform should preserve Lotus’ trademark agility and driveability. But with the V10 version scorching from 0-60mph in less than four seconds and on to more than 200mph, the new Esprit promises to be like nothing seen before from the brand when sales start in 2011.

MINI Coupé JCW - See it: 2010
The MINI plant in Oxford is already one of the success stories of the UK auto industry, churning out more than 1.4 million new cars since 2001. And with the introduction of a new Coupé in 2011, its workforce
is preparing to be busier than ever.

The MINI Coupé Concept wowed visitors to last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show with its dramatic floating roof, and the maker soon confirmed production of the two-seater will begin this October.

Its most potent format will be the John Cooper Works variant shown in our image above. Yet while the bonnet stripes and ground-hugging bodykit could have been predicted, there’s a surprise package under the bonnet.

Our sources say MINI might rekindle its engine supply partnership with Peugeot. And as the British firm jointly developed the new range of EcoBoost units with Ford, these powerplants could find their way into the MINI Coupé, too.

Expect a 1.6-litre turbo with around 250bhp to make the Coupé JCW the fastest MINI to date – but with lower emissions than any JCW before it. For fans of the Coupé, there’s even more good news on the horizon.

A Roadster is also on the way, with a production-ready version slated to appear in 2011. And let’s not forget the firm’s first 4x4, the Crossman, is due in showrooms in September, too.

Fenix - On sale: 2011
Like a ‘Fenix’ from the ashes, Lee Noble has left the company bearing his name to rise again at the helm of Fenix Automotive – and this is the first official picture of the firm’s new model.

The as-yet-unnamed supercar features a basic design that is, ironically, reminiscent of the Noble M600. However, where that styling is relatively simple, the Fenix gets aggressive and angular lines, similar to those of the fighter jet-inspired Lamborghini Reventón.

Under the bonnet is a choice of two Corvette engines, giving 480bhp and 638bhp. The latter is lifted from the supercharged ZR1, and is said to propel the Fenix from 0-100mph in just under seven seconds.

Noble M600 - On sale: 2010
although founder Lee Noble has moved on to an exciting new project (see above), the Brit maker’s latest model is aiming for the supercar elite.

Featuring a Volvo-sourced 4.4-litre V8 boosted by two turbos, the M600 produces a huge 650bhp. That’s enough for 0-60mph in three seconds and 225mph – leaving the Ferrari 458 trailing. Yet a £200,000 price could make stealing loyal customers from the Italian legend trickier than Noble thinks.

Jaguar C-type - On sale: 2012
It’s the big cat’s small car! In the new C-Type, Jaguar is looking to reinvent an old name to take the fight to German rivals such as the Audi TT, Mercedes SLK and Porsche Cayman. As with the XK, the new C-Type’s chassis will be a lightweight yet incredibly strong and stiff aluminium monocoque, which should make the model as nimble as its competitors. Power will come from the latest 380bhp 5.0-litre V8. A supercharged 500bhp R model is also likely to be built.

McLaren MP4-12C - On sale: 2011
While its F1 predecessor was the ultimate supercar, McLaren’s latest model is described as “the most efficient, driveable, high-performance sports car in the world”. With a 600bhp twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8 and carbon fibre monocoque, the MP4-12C should prove itself a worthy competitor to Ferrari’s upcoming 458 Italia. At £150,000, it’s £10,000 cheaper, too. Log on to www.autoexpress.co.uk to see US chat show host Jay Leno taking a ride.

Climax sport racer - On sale: 2010
Coventry-based Climax Cars has confirmed its stunning two-seater Ariel Atom rival, the Sports Racer, for 2010. It will have a 345bhp 4.6-litre V8, plus a hand-crafted aluminium body. There’s even a 450bhp supercharged version. Prices start from £92,000 – and with only 200 set to be built, exclusivity is guaranteed.

Aston Martin One-77 - On sale: 2010
The One-77 really is the Best of British; it’s the fastest, most desirable Aston ever, and with a limited run of only 77, it looks set to take a place in the supercar hall of fame. The intricately detailed body – which has already won an Auto Express design award – hides a 7.3-litre V12 that produces 690bhp. Weighing only 1,500kg, the One-77 will sprint from 0-62mph in around 3.5 seconds, and in a recent high-speed run it was clocked at more than 220mph. Owning Britain’s best comes at a price, though: the newest Aston sells for £1.2million.

Arash AF-10 - On sale: 2010
Britain’s answer to the Ferrari Enzo gives a choice of power outputs. A 550bhp version of the AF-10, costing £320,000, will be joined in 2011 by an 800bhp supercharged variant, at £450,000. Arash is also said to be considering a £1.6m Bugatti beater with 1,200bhp.

We can absolutely understand where Playboy is coming from here

2010-01-07T19:30:00.000-08:00

There are now so many Car of the Year awards given out that the whole idea of one vehicle being honored above all others has lost its impact. But when the giver of said award is Playboy Magazine, well, the honor means a little more. Why? Because Playboy doesn't pick a winner based on such tangible criteria as horsepower, miles per gallon or MSRP. They don't care so much about the fastest, greenest or most significant car in its segment. They care about cool. Which car is going to get you to that VIP event and make all eyes turn towards you on arrival? For 2010, Playboy says that car is the Porsche Panamera.

We can absolutely understand where Playboy is coming from here. You just have to imagine yourself as Hugh Hefner: Porsches are both cool and fast, but a Porsche that can accommodate me, my smoking jacket and three bunnies is worthy of a place in the Playboy Mansion garage and perhaps an X-rated car wash in the driveway.

Playboy gave out eight other awards in such categories as Best Horsepower Value (Nissan 370Z), Best Mean and Green (Ford Fusion Hybrid) and Best Reborn Beauty (Ford Taurus SHO) among others. You can check them all out in the press release after the jump, and while we're not sure how many automakers will place their new Playboy awards front and center in the corporate trophy case, we're sure behind close doors they're... well, let's not talk about what they're doing behind closed doors.

2010 Porsche Panamera

Subtlety is the key for Mercedes

2010-01-07T19:11:00.000-08:00

Subtlety is the key for Mercedes. Our spies captured this facelifted C-Class testing with only a few minor styling updates over the model it replaces. Most noticeable are the re-designed bumper, headlights and wheels.

Despite the similar looks, it's likely that Mercedes will offer a refreshed interior and a host of mechanical updates to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. Among these changes we can expect to see direct fuel injection and a stop-start system, as well as an ultra efficient BlueTec diesel engine.

Reports suggest that there may also be a new C-Class Coupe added to the range, which will replace the smaller CLC.

The facelifted C-Class is likely to be unveiled at the Los Angeles Motor Show in December.

sales began to rise at the end of 2009

2010-01-03T22:42:00.000-08:00

This just in from Hard Numbers News: From 2000 to 2007, an average of 16.8 million vehicles were sold in the States. In 2008, that figure dropped to 13.2 million. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the tally for 2009 is expected to put the sales needle somewhere around 10.4 million. According to Bloomberg, that would make last year the worst for new car sales since 1982, when there was not only a recession but also 25 percent fewer Americans.

The good news: sales began to rise at the end of 2009, having sustained themselves nicely after the revelry of cash-for-clunkers. The final data isn't in yet, but Bloomberg's survey of analysts suggests two months of gains in November and December. Predictions estimate that Ford, Toyota, Honda and Nissan saw increases, with General Motors and Chrysler looking at slipping sales.

The silver lining? Meager sales could "indicate significant pent-up demand." That kettle of demand is going to take some time to boil, but a rise in household spending is penciled in for late 2010, along with greater availability of credit, and a drop in unemployment numbers is in the forecast as well. The road to recovery will be a slow one, but hopefully with the turn of the calendar year will come a turn in fortunes for the U.S. economy.

This new 5.o liter aluminum block V8 has four-valves per cylinder

2010-01-03T21:37:00.000-08:00

So the all-new Mustang five-point-oh is revealed in its full glory! Using a new and sophisticated V8 engine, this car brings back the “5.0″ badge which means a lot to ‘Stang fans. And of course it won’t disappoint them when it comes to action, as it’s got 412 hp and 390 pound-feet of torque. And it’s efficient as well, sort of!

This new 5.o liter aluminum block V8 has four-valves per cylinder and comes with Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) technology. This system results in increased volumetric and thermal efficiency, and that results in faster response across a broad range of engine speeds. It also has specially designed tubular exhaust headers. Ford has announced any performance figures yet.

The 2011 Mustang 5.0 can be had with either a six-speed automatic transmission which returns 25 mpg highway and 17 in the city, or a six-speedmanual transmission with 24 mpg highway and 16 city. These are great numbers considering the class of the car.

Apparently Ford was determined to make the new Mustang a proper handling car, because they went to enormous length tuning the chassis and suspension. The car comes as standard with Electric Power Assist Steering (EPAS), 11.5-inch front and 11.8-inch rear vented disc brakes, and an enhanced suspension featuring an improved rear lower control arm and stiffened rear stabilizer bushings. Stabilizer bar diameters, spring rates and dampers all have been tuned for improved dynamics.

As an optional package, you may order the Brembo braking system with 14-inch vented front discs from the GT500, unique 19-inch alloy wheels and summer performance tires. Ford says these features are for serious enthusiasts!

2011 Ford Mustang also comes with a few styling tweaks, new 160 mph speedometer and the tachometer redline which now begins from 7,000 rpm instead of 6500! But the main feature is the “5.0″ badge on the fenders. There’s also three new colors available including Yellow Blaze Tri-Coat, Race Red and Ingot Silver. Other new convenience technologies include:

Standard message center
Integrated blind spot mirrors
MyKey programmable vehicle key
Illuminated visors
Universal garage door opener
Sun visor storage

new hybrid variant to the Q5 range which is being made in Spain

2010-01-03T21:17:00.000-08:00

Audi had quite a good 2009 so they are confident enough to announce that they are expanding business and will introduce eight new models in the new year. One of their main projects is to add a new hybrid variant to the Q5 range which is being made in Spain, to be launched in late 2010 as a 2011 model.

So the Q5 Hybrid will be the first fully fledged hybrid vehicle by the the Inglostadt-based company in the market before they implement the system on other models. The Q7 full size SUV will also get a hybrid powertrain which will be very similar to the one that Porsche is developing for the Cayenne Hybrid.

Apart from the SUVs, Audi will unveil a bunch of luxury, small and sports cars in 2010, increasing their range of 34 models to 42. The list contains the recently introduced A8, the A1 city car and the A7 Sportback. Audi e-Tron, which is a full-electric supercar is also set for limited production for 2012.

Kia is already offering $3,000 in cash back and some other discounts

2010-01-03T20:51:00.000-08:00

Since its birth, Kia Borrego, also known in some markets as Mohave, has been known as a very good SUV that was launched in a very bad time! And by bad time we mean early 2009 when the world’s economy was in its worst condition. Obviously in that condition with high fuel prices, the last thing you can expect people to buy is a big thirsty SUV!

So even its good value for money and above the average quality and ride didn’t help with the sales, even in its homeland Korea. Now Kia has announced that they are not going to bother updating this model for 2010, in fact they are not going to do anything about it! They say that the car’s future is uncertain. So you can read between the lines that Kia just wants to sell their current inventory of Borregos and just drop it off the production line.

It’s a shame because Borrego is a good car. But on the plus side, you can expect to get some sweet deals on brand-new Borregos which will be sold as 2009 model! Kia is already offering $3,000 in cash back and some other discounts, you can learn more about it by contacting your local dealer. Just take into account that depreciation will be steep!

Ford Fiesta S2000 rally car

2009-11-22T04:38:00.000-08:00

Ford Fiesta S2000 rally car - click above for high-res image gallery

Ford Motor Company and noted rally masters M-Sport have pulled the veil off their latest collaborative rally machine, the Fiesta S2000. It's their first global rally car, and as such will be able to compete in a whole bevy of international competitions ranging from IRC to the S2000 World Cup to Aatos and Aamu's Finnish Tree Bash. Long story short, going by past history alone, this should be one bruiser of a successful rally car.

Right, so let's talk stats. The Fiesta S2000 comes with a naturally aspirated 1998cc I4 Duratec S2000 engine good for 280 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of twisting torque all the while spinning to an 8,000 rpm redline. That mill gets mated to a permanent all-wheel drive system hooked up to a sequential manual transmission with an AP clutch. Sizable Brembos are at all four corners (and like the wheels, vary in size depending on asphalt or gravel). Ready for the best part? It weighs just 2,640 pounds – and that's with the roll cage. And get this – the Fiesta S2000 is "due for homologation in January 2010." Fake, well-produced "spy video" after the jump, gigantic high-res gallery below.

Ford and M-Sport Fiesta S2000 rally car

Honda to show off Personal-Neo Urban Transport concept

2009-11-22T04:28:00.000-08:00

Jim Kenzie of the Toronto Star tries out the U3-X - click above for high res-image gallery

When we visited Honda's headquarters last month after the Tokyo Motor Show, we asked company officials what they would be showing at upcoming auto shows. As you might have guessed, they were reticent to provide specific answers. What we were told, however, is that they would be following last year's pattern of showing an advanced concept in Los Angeles and then a new production model in Detroit. The Detroit is broadly expected to be the final production version of the CR-Z hybrid sport coupe.

Today, Honda did provide a hint of what the LA concept will be, although they provided no images. The Personal-Neo Urban Transport or P-NUT is some kind of very small coupe. Based on the very brief description Honda has provided, it sounds like Honda's take on what General Motors tried to do with the Segway-based Puma concept shown in New York earlier this year. The idea is to provide increased personal mobility in crowded urban environments without resorting to actual cars.

Presumably, the P-NUT will be somewhat larger than the U3-X unicycle we saw in Tokyo, although we wouldn't be surprised to see Honda incorporate the novel Omni-traction drive wheel that can go in any direction.

Honda mobility devices

Ferrari preparing hardcore 599 GTO?

2009-11-22T04:11:00.000-08:00

Ferrari 599XX – Click above for high-res image gallery

Ferrari often uses its World Finals event to unveil exclusive new versions of its most enticing road cars. The FXX Evoluzione was unveiled there a couple of years ago, and the 16M Scuderia Spider made its debut at the event last year. But aside from a mishap involving Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa and Luca di Montezemolo in a California convertible, this year's event at Valencia came and went with nothing new to offer. However, the latest churns from the rumormill indicate Maranello could be working on an exciting new project.

Supposedly leaked pre-order sheets reportedly refer to a "599 GTO Limited Edition", named in deference to the iconic 250 GTO (to say nothing of the ground-pounding 288 GTO). Based on the 599 GTB Fiorano, the GTO could be Maranello's answer to arch-rival Lamborghini's Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce.

Incorporating design cues and technologies from the 599XX program, the 599 GTO could benefit from a weight-reduction program to cut some 100-150 pound off the curb weight thanks to the extensive use of carbon fiber, while squeezing out as much as 700 horsepower from the Enzo-derived 6.0-liter V12. Pricing would be expected to jump by as much as a quarter to nearly $400,000, and if the reports prove accurate, the 599 GTO could be ready for debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March with the first of just 500 examples slated for delivery by this time next year.

Ferrari 599xx

Hyundai, Kia and Subaru all report +40% increase in sales

2009-11-07T00:34:00.000-08:00

Hyundai, Kia and Subaru all report +40% increase in sales

If you've been paying attention to recent editions of By the Numbers, you'll have noticed that the amount of green on our chart below is growing. Month after month, more and more brands and manufacturers are managing to produce sales numbers that exceed the same month last year.

For October 2009, the list is topped by three familiar players: Hyundai (+49%), Kia (+45%) and Subaru (+41%). The South Koreans and this lone Japanese brand have bucked the trend all year, and now that other brands are beginning to sell relatively well, they are distancing themselves from the pack even further.

Their success shouldn't overshadow the rest of the industry, though, which includes many players surprisingly high on our chart. All four "Core" brands of General Motors (Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac and GMC) posted positive numbers, and GM as a whole, which still counts sales from "non-Core" brands like Hummer, Pontiac, Saab and Saturn, managed to post a 4.1% gain in sales. Likewise, the Ford brand (+3.6%) and Ford Motor Company (+3%) both reported sales gains versus October of last year. The rest of the big Japanese manufacturers, meanwhile, were close behind but didn't quite manage to earn a green cell this month, while the Chrysler Group LLC landed farthest off the mark with a drop of 30.4%.

Have industry sales turned the corner? Are we headed into a bright future of 14+ million sales per year and green cells for every automaker? Hardly, though it's increasingly clear that new product, being competitive in key segments, and creative marketing and incentives are the best recipe for climbing out of the red.

*Brands and companies are both displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 28 selling days in October 2009 and 27 selling days in October 2008, so the change in monthly sales volume will be different than the change in the average daily sales rate (DSR) for each brand/company.

Brand	Volume %	10/09	10/08	*DSR%**	DSR 10/09	DSR 10/08
Hyundai	48.92	31,005	20,820	43.60	1,107	771
Kia	45.26	22,490	15,483	40.07	803	573
Subaru	40.66	18,169	12,917	35.64	649	478
Cadillac	21.60	11,602	9,541	17.26	414	353
Mercedes-Benz	21.32	18,193	14,996	16.99	650	555
GMC	20.44	25,423	21,109	16.14	908	782
Lexus	19.77	19,502	16,283	15.49	697	603
Volvo	19.37	4,437	3,717	15.11	158	138
Buick	18.46	9,053	7,642	14.23	323	283
Porsche	15.07	1,642	1,427	10.96	59	53
Chevrolet	8.50	116,436	107,313	4.63	4,158	3,975
Nissan	7.69	53,664	49,833	3.84	1,917	1,846
Volkswagen	7.23	17,037	15,889	3.40	608	588
Ford	3.57	119,072	114,969	-0.13	4,253	4,258
Honda	-0.01	75,751	75,756	-3.58	2,705	2,806
Mercury	-1.14	6,676	6,753	-4.67	238	250
Audi	-1.14	7,358	7,443	-4.67	263	276
Toyota	-2.32	132,663	135,818	-5.81	4,738	5,030
Acura	-3.53	9,751	10,108	-6.98	348	374
Lincoln	-8.97	6,735	7,399	-12.23	241	274
Infiniti	-9.29	6,451	7,112	-12.53	230	263
Pontiac	-18.45	10,646	13,054	-21.36	380	483
BMW	-18.61	16,443	20,203	-21.52	587	748
Mini	-20.79	4,176	5,272	-23.62	149	195
Dodge	-22.21	26,265	33,763	-24.99	938	1250
Chrysler	-35.61	12,815	19,903	-37.91	458	737
Jeep	-36.80	13,500	21,360	-39.05	482	791
Mitsubishi	-48.34	3,867	7,486	-50.19	138	277
Suzuki	-49.89	1,745	3,482	-51.67	62	129
Saturn	-57.79	3,623	8,583	-59.30	129	318
Smart	-70.44	661	2,236	-71.49	24	83
Saab	-74.03	513	1,975	-74.95	18	73
Hummer	-77.56	307	1,368	-78.36	11	51
Mazda	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

COMPANIES
General Motors	4.11	177,603	170,585	0.40	6,343	6,318
Ford Motor Company	3.07	136,920	132,838	-0.61	4,890	4,920
Nissan NA	0.28	60,115	59,945	-3.30	2,147	2,220
Toyota Mo Co	0.04	152,165	152,101	-3.53	5,434	5,633
American Honda	-0.42	85,502	85,864	-3.98	3,054	3,180
BMW Group	-19.06	20,619	25,475	-21.95	736	944

The biggest auto show award

2009-11-06T23:53:00.000-08:00

Guess what boys and girls, the auto show season is ramping up and that means the constant flow of Car of the Year awards is upon us. The biggest auto show award in our quaint little hemisphere is likely the North American COTY award, which, we would have thought included Canada, Mexico and our United States. Well, not so much. The Canadians have their own international show and their own COTY, complete with car and utility honors from among 12 categories and 52 award-eligible vehicles of all shapes and sizes.

After pouring over vehicles ranging from the Mazda3 to the Porsche Panamera and everything in between, the Canadians have narrowed their focus to one vehicle in each of the 12 categories. Volkswagen is the best-represented automaker in the final 12, with three VW models, two Audis and the Panamera. The Mazda3 wins in two different categories and the Ford Taurus is the only finalist among Detroit automakers.

Also shut out – somewhat surprisingly we may add – are the Honda and Toyota brands, although the Lexus Lexus RX450h was voted the top crossover/SUV over $60,000. The 2010 Canadian International Auto Show begins February 12. Hit the jump to view the rest of the winners.

[Source: AJAC via Auto North]

SMALL CAR (under $21k)
Mazda3

SMALL CAR (over $21k)l
Mazda3 Sport

FAMILY CAR (under $30k)
Volkswagen Golf Wagon

FAMILY CAR (over $30k)
Ford Taurus

LUXURY CAR (over $50k)
BMW 335d Sedan

PRESTIGE (over $75k)
Porsche Panamera

SPORTS / PERFORMANCE (under $50k)
Volkswagen Golf GTI

SPORTS / PERFORMANCE (over $50k)
Audi S4

CONVERTIBLES
Audi A5 Cabriolet

SUV / CUV (under $35k)
Subaru Outback

SUV / CUV ($35k-$60k)
Volkswagen Touareg TDI Clean Diesel

SUV / CUV (over $60k)
Lexus RX450h

Germany not happy with GM abandoning Opel sale 2009

2009-11-06T23:30:00.000-08:00

It was an exhausting 7-month process that finally winnowed down a pool of suitors for Opel, General Motors' European subsidiary, to Canadian parts maker Magna and Russian bank Sberbank. The deal was all set to go through, but GM pulled the plug yesterday at the 11th hour, claiming that because of Europe's improving markets and its own better-than-expected financial footing, the automaker could do better for Opel and employees than any of its proposed buyers.

Not so says government officials in Germany, who are reportedly crying in their steins and cursing the day Fritz Henderson was born (we're guessing). Of course, there's money involved, but GM has vowed to pay back the €1.5 billion bridge loan it received from the German government to keep Opel afloat during the selling process. It reportedly only borrowed €1.1 billion and has already paid back €200 million, so Germany is still owed about €900 million.

Aside from the money, German officials and Opel employees in the country are concerned that there will be more job cuts and plant closings by GM than there would have been if the company had been sold to Magna. As such, some of the unions in Germany that had agreed to concessions in order to woo Magna into ownership have vowed not to extend those same concessions to GM.

Outside of Germany, however, GM Europe workers are reportedly happy with the decision to keep Opel in the family fold. Their jubilation stems from fear that had Germany succeeded in brokering the sale of Opel to Magna, other countries like the UK, Spain and Belgium would bear the brunt of restructuring instead of Deutschland. This way, GM is more likely to evenly spread out the costs of restructuring, including job loss, without one region being able to exert too much influence.

Hennessey HPE700 Camaro

2009-11-06T23:11:00.000-08:00

Hennessey HPE700 Camaro - Click above for high-res image gallery

We like subtle and we like power. But at SEMA the two are usually mutually exclusive. Usually. After laying eyes and hands all over the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro HPE700 LS9 and talking at length with John Hennessey, we think we've found our favorite Chevy of the show.

We've been covering its development from the beginning, so just a quick recap: After moving a few vacuum lines, fabricating a custom header and spending three months working out the wiring, Hennessey and his crew shoehorned the Corvette ZR1's supercharged LS9 into the engine bay, fitted a new intercooler and pulleys and tuned the Camaro to 725 hp (at 6,400 RPM) and 741 lb-ft of torque (at 3,200 RPM).

According to the man behind the machine, the HEP700 is putting out 651 hp and around 650 lb-ft of torque to the wheels on a Dynojet, good for a 0-60 MPH time of 3.5 seconds and a quarter mile sprint of 11.3 seconds at 126 MPH. And the mods didn't end with the engine. A set of KW V3s are fitted at all four corners and coupled with the 20-inch wheels with 275/35 (front) and 305/35 (rear) rubber, contributes to a claimed skid pad of 1.01g. Six-pot Brembos clamp onto 15.1-inch discs in front, while 14.1-inch rear rotors are squeezed by four-piston calipers, helping the HPE700 stop from 60 in 104 feet.

If you're aching to get your hands on one of the 24 ZR1-powered Camaros, you'd better drop a dime post haste -- there are only five remaining, each carrying a price tag of $119,500.

Hennessey HPE700 Camaro

Massa hasn't been in an F1 car since July's Hungarian Grand Prix

2009-10-13T08:01:00.000-07:00

Ferrari just announced that injured driver Felipe Massa could be back in the saddle as early as Monday. Massa hasn't been in an F1 car since July's Hungarian Grand Prix, when a spring from another car flew up and hit him above his eye, fracturing his skull.

The first time he has even been back on track was last week when he took the wheel of a kart. Because of testing bans in place this season in F1, Massa can't drive the current car he was running until Hungary. As he gets back up to speed, the FIA has granted him permission to drive a 2007-spec car fitted with GP2 tires.

Massa has also spent time on Ferrari's racing simulator. Word has it he's already mastered Barcelona and is working hard at beating the Interlagos circuit now. Before taking the wheel of the 2007 car, he still needs to pass an examination, but once he's cleared, he could be on track in Italy by Monday. This will be testing only as the driver isn't expected to compete for Ferrari any more this season.

Cars and Coffee roadshow headed for New England

2009-10-10T07:40:00.000-07:00

Cars and Coffee, the informal and inclusive wheeled hootenanny originated in Irvine, California has been spreading across the country faster than swine flu. There's no stage with bad cover bands, not a trophy in sight, but you're always likely to see some astounding vehicles.

Herb Chambers, New England dealership juggernaut, has thrown his support behind a New England gathering. "Herb himself is a super car enthusiast," says John Covell, Director of Marketing for the Herb Chambers Companies, "He thought that others would enjoy it." A new BMW dealership in Sudbury, MA, where the event is being held this Saturday, October 10th, is a supporting cast member.

Cynics may dismiss this as another ploy akin to inflatable dinosaurs, but when was the last time you were invited out by a car dealership to drink free coffee and ogle a McLaren F1 on a Saturday morning? Running from 7-10 AM, the inaugural event will be over before many people's days get under way. "Herb is passionate about cars and he's passionate about this business. If our customers understand that we share their passion, that's a good thing," sums up Covell. Hey, if he doesn't mind us drooling all over his McLaren, we'll agree.

GM marketing boss Mark LaNeve apparently unaware that diesel is now cheaper than gas 2009

2009-06-05T23:58:00.000-07:00

Over the last several years, we've heard a lot of excuses from many auto executives as to why their companies aren't offering diesel engines in their American market cars. Yesterday, General Motors' Mark LaNeve, the company's vice president of sales and marketing, made an appearance on C-SPAN's Washington Journal. The final question of the segment came from a viewer wondering why GM has failed to offer U.S. consumers the chance to buy some of the high-mileage diesel cars it offers in Europe.

It would appear that LaNeve might have done better to take a pass on the question. Instead of talking about the cost of making those diesels meet U.S. emissions regulations or the difficulty in helping Americans overcome the misconceptions about the fuel, he claimed that no one has successfully cracked the diesel passenger nut in the U.S. (which based on VW's May sales appears to be wrong). More startlingly, LaNeve went on to claim that diesel is $1.25 a gallon more expensive than gasoline. According to the Energy Information Agency, the national average for diesel this week is $2.35 / gallon while regular gas is $2.52 or $0.17 more than diesel. Admittedly, the fact that diesel is now cheaper than 87 octane gas is a recent development (a trend that nobody is sure how long it will last), but – going on national television and quoting outdated fuel prices as a reason for your bankrupt company's business decisions... well, that doesn't strike us as a terribly hot idea.

You can hear the question and response at 20:30 into the video replay over at C-SPAN.

Lamborghini Insecta Concept Details and Images, Lamborghini

2009-03-31T03:14:00.000-07:00

It’s a Lambo with extra bite! Meet the Lamborghini Insecta Concept, the brainchild of Romanian design student Iulian Bumbu. The Milan-based designer claims the car is a fusion of the Italian carmaker's current design language and the exoskeletons, or body armour, found on insects.

And the two-seater mid-engined supercar certainly has a bug-like quality to it – with it’s tightly-wrapped carbon-fibre bodywork, wide-set eyes and winged scissor doors.

Occupying the same footprint on the road as a Gallardo – the Insecta is designed to make use of the baby Lambo’s V10 powertrain, too. So despite remaining a purely computer-based concept at the moment – if any of Lamborghini’s designers are watching, it could point the way for future models.

Lamborghini Insecta Concept makes insects look way too cool

2009-03-31T03:13:00.000-07:00

Insects are just pain and trouble for most of us, but Romanian designer Iulian Bumbu added a little inspiration from insects to the raging bull theme and created a good looking concept. The concept takes some inspiration from the armored casings that protects beetles, and adds the same to the Gallardo-like vehicle.

Insecta has angular lines, scissor doors, is the same length as Gallardo and also uses the same engine and powertrain. The concept sits lower than the Gallardo, and is wider with a slightly longer wheelbase. Body panels on the concept are all carbon fiber to keep it light. Interiors get bucket seats, a U-shaped sports steering wheel and a high center console.

Design Project: Lamborghini Insecta Concept Shows a New Styling

2009-03-31T03:11:00.000-07:00

The Lamborghini Insecta Concept is a design study of a 2-seater mid-engined supercar created by Romanian Iulian Bumbu. The design combines the brand's styling cues with elements inspired by insect exoskeletons.

As Iulian Bumbu explains "The idea was to create an extreme race-oriented supercar with a style that introduces softer and more organic lines and integrate them into the geometrical style of Lamborghini."

The main inspiration came from nature, and in particular from the exoskeletons found in insects (bugs). This kind of "armour" appearance is particularly visible in the back and top views.

"I tried to apply this tipe of organic movements and translate them into Lamborghini's style so that when you see the car, you can immediately recognize it as a Lambo."

The dimensions af the car are a length of 4,300 mm (the same as the Gallardo), a height of 1,000 mm and a width of 2,000 mm, with a wheelbase of 2,650 mm. The body structure and panels are made of carbon-fiber and the powertrain is the same adopted on the Gallardo.

About the Designer

Iulian Bumbu was born on 21 July 1981 in Bechet (Romania).

He received a Master Diploma in Car Design from Scuola Politecnica di Design Milano (2007-2008), and a degree from National University of Art Bucharest - Product Design Department (2004).

Among his professional experience are a three-months internship at Centro Stile Alfa Romeo (2008) and three years of experience as a 3d modeler and texture artist at AMC Studio.

Lamborghini Insecta Concept | Automoblog

2009-03-31T03:10:00.002-07:00

Click above for a hi-res gallery of the Lamborghini Insecta concept

Playing a quick game of automotive-animal word association, you'd probably link Lamborghini to a bull. Between the emblem on the hood, supercars named after famous fighting bulls and the farming roots of the company, the association is well established. Iulian Bumbu thinks otherwise. The aspiring Romanian car designer, who interned at Alfa Romeo's styling department after earning his master's in car design in Milan, created the design study you see here.

Called the Insecta, the radical concept's design elements were borrowed from bugs instead of bovines.
Combining organic shapes with Lamborghini's trademark geometric angles, the Insecta concept integrates themes culled from the body armour observed on certain species of insects. With its dimensions and powertrain borrowed from the Gallardo, the Insecta would pack a sting as sharp as its buzz, and it could make a compelling successor to the current LP560-4 – but Lambo would have to drop a load of bull first.

Lamborghini Insecta | Auto Express News | News | Auto Express

2009-03-31T03:10:00.001-07:00

The other day we told you about the eye-catching Audi Shark hovercar concept. Now here's an equally alluring Lamborghini design based on an insect. The carbon fiber-bodied Lamborghini Insecta concept (above) was created by Iulian Bumbu, a Romanian designer and graduate of the Alfa Romeo-sponsored Transportation Design Master Course at Milan's Scuola Politecnica di Design (SPD). As the name suggests, the Insecta concept was inspired by the world of insects, particularly the armored casings which protect beetles.

The Insecta's resemblance to a beetle's sheath is especially apparent viewed from the side and above. The Insecta is similar in dimension to Lamborghini's Gallardo, though it is lower and wider with a slightly longer wheelbase. It gets its power from the same 5.0 liter V10 engine and drivetrain found in the Gallardo, but the design enhancements and use of carbon fiber make it lighter and faster. A glass engine cover seamlessly blends into the glass roof providing a clear view of the mid-mounted engine for optimum visual appeal.

Lamborghini Insecta Concept Makes Insects Look Way Too Cool - Auto

2009-03-31T03:09:00.000-07:00

Because poor people will be throwing their milkshakes at you when you drive this bad mother down the street. It’s called the “Lamborghini Insecta Concept,” and it’s got no real defense against strawberry or vanilla flavoring. The coloring has some sort of nice relationship with mint though, don’t you think? It’s length is the same as a Lamborghini Gallardo, it’s 1k mm tall and 2k mm wide, and it’s got a 2,650 mm wheelbase. Made for super fast power creepin’.

It’s designer, Romania-born Iulian Bumbu, says, “The idea was to create an extreme race-oriented supercar with a style that introduces softer and more organic lines and integrate them into the geometrical style of Lamborghini.”

The aim of this vehicle was to put the Lamborgini brand and a bunch of armored insects in a blender, maybe add some mint flavoring (like I said earlier), and hit the blend button. It is often an excellent idea to call upon the aesthetics of mother nature’s defense systems. What about this bigtime shell?

As I often say to Takashi - “when they send Yanko a promo copy to test out, put me on top of the list.”

Designer: Iulian Bumbu [ Via: Car Body Design ]

Lamborghini Insecta Concept by Iulian Bumbu » Yanko Design

2009-03-31T03:08:00.002-07:00

Romanian industrial designer Iulian Bumbu has just released these Lamborghini Insecta concept pictures, inspired by insect exoskeletons. It is his take on what future Lamborghini styling might look like.

Iulian explains “The idea was to create an extreme race-oriented supercar with a style that introduces softer and more organic lines and integrate them into the geometrical style of Lamborghini.”

Lamborghini Insecta Concept Pictures | CarZi

2009-03-31T03:08:00.001-07:00

Occupying the same footprint on the road as a Gallardo – the Insecta is designed to make use of the baby Lambo’s V10 powertrain, too. So despite remaining a purely computer-based concept at the moment – if any of Lamborghini’s designers are watching, it could point the way for future models.

Lamborghini Insecta Concept - CarBuyersNoteBook

2009-03-31T03:07:00.001-07:00

What you see above are the final workings of Romanian designer, lulian Bumbu.

As you could proably already tell from its name and looks, Bumbu incorprated styles that Lamborghini is already known for while combining them with insect body inspired elements. Since it is a Lambo, the carbon fiber body panels and Gallardo power train are to be expected.

“I tried to apply this tipe of organic movements and translate them into Lamborghini’s style so that when you see the car, you can immediately recognize it as a Lambo,” comments Bumbu

If the Insecta were to be produced it would have a theoretical length of 4,300, height of 1,000 mm, width of 2,000 mm, and wheel base of 2,650 mm.

Lamborghini Insecta

2009-03-23T08:05:00.000-07:00