Report: Jaguar considering uber-performance F-Type to follow the way of the XKR-S GT
AutoCarUK reports that Jaguar is planning an uber-performance F-Type, which is to be tuned by their in house engineers that have brought us other potent cats like the XKR-S GT. The model would be the range topper and could be powered by a V8. Collectively, the efforts of the “GT” performance line are Jaguar’s greater attempts at competing against similarly subdivided higher-performance lineups from Germany.
That V8 would be the brand’s standard third-generation AJV8 displacing 5.0L and donning supercharger. Word is output could go behind the current 542hp rating currentliy found in cars like the aforementioned XKR-S GT and the newly reintroduced XJR.
Though the report also says that Jaguar’s CEO Adrian Hallmark hasn’t confirmed the project, but he did tip that “more limited-series vehicles in the spirit of the XKR-S GT” are “likely to happen.” This is to establish halo cars for Jaguar for which they could use as bargaining power against some of the other stiff competition. Additionally, the extra pricing on the halo cars would allow Jaguar to expand their product range even more.
“Clearly, building a run of 30 to 50 exclusive GTs isn’t going to have any impact on the fortunes of the company in sales terms, but the importance of these projects lies in the knowledge they give us,” Hallmark told AutoCarUK. “Jaguar is already well known for its ability to create sporty, dynamic cars, but the XKR-S GT project has shown us that we can learn more by pushing the envelope. Lessons learned from the dynamics, aero and braking work on that car will enter the mainstream.”
Report: Renault may build new Alpine A110 coupe on Alfa 4C chassis, and why you should be excited w/ video
Rumors have suggested that Renault has been working on reviving their classic Alpine brand along with a successor and modern interpretation of the classic Alpine A110 “Berlinette” sports coupe from the 1960s and 1970s. For those who are not familiar, Alpine was a small French automaker that specialized in motorsports and sports cars utilizing Renault engines that sat at the ass end. So in a sense, you could say that they were France’s Porsche. Renault later absorbed the brand in 1978, which then went defunct in 1995.
Fast forward to today and Renault has already confirmed that they were reviving the Alpine brand. But in order to do so and to substantiate its potential success, the French automaker has to reestablish some market awareness and footing in an already competitive worldly automobile industry. So their answer is to revive the A110.
Currently, Renault has been seeking partners to help them build their future Alpine models, even this specific A110 Berlinette revival. That said, AutoCarUK reports that Alfa Romeo’s recently introduced 4C sports car may be used to underpin this future Alpine. It may also used for a future Caterham sports car in hopes to perpetuate the growing sub-supercar niche, aimed specifically at us younger driving enthusiasts and traditionalists. In other words, this sounds like nothing short of a miracle…
Aston Martin to be the first hydrogen car to race at the 24-Hour Nürburgring to help pioneer zero emissions motorsports
Aston Martin seeks to up the ante in motorsports at the 2013 ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nürburgring at the world’s most difficult race circuit. Their weapon of choice: a pioneering Aston Martin Rapide S with a bespoke hybrid hydrogen powertrain.
The new Aston Martin Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S will be the first hydrogen-powered car to compete in an international race event and will also be the first zero CO2 emissions sports car to complete a lap of the Nürburgring 24-hour race.
The engineering marvel of an engine is a prototype twin-turbocharged 6.0L V12 that can run on gasoline, pure gaseous hydrogen, or a combination of both. And of course, if the V12 is running on hydrogen, the only byproduct coming out of the exhaust pipe is water. Sixty zooms by in just 4.9 seconds while the top run ticks over at 190 mph.
“Aston Martin has a strong track record of innovation and, with our superb history of competition and testing at the Nürburgring, it is only right that we showcase this amazing new technology at this year’s 24-hour race,” said Aston Martin’s CEO, Dr. Ulrich Bez.
Ford Motor Company and General Motors confirm agreement to co-develop nine- and ten-speed automatics
In a sort of competitive sacrilege, Ford Motor Company and General Motors have both officially confirmed an agreement to jointly develop a completely new generation of nine- and ten-speed automatic cog swappers for cars, crossovers, SUVs and trucks.
The transmissions will be used in front- and rear-wheel drive automobiles with hopes to improve fuel economy and performance.
“Engineering teams from GM and Ford have already started initial design work on these new transmissions,” said Jim Lanzon, GM’s global transmission engineering vice president in the press release. “We expect these new transmissions to raise the standard of technology, performance and quality for our customers while helping drive fuel economy improvements into both companies’ future product portfolios.”
Peugeot 308 GTI, 308 XY and 208 R models part of upmarket move
A genuine Peugeot 308 GTI hot-hatch, a luxury-focused 308 XY and a range-topping Peugeot 208 R are all set for production as the French brand extends its model ranges upwards.
Peugeot is planning to create a sub-set of more upmarket variants among some of its models, comprising a mix of four badges: XY for luxury, Air for hybrid, GTI for sportiness and R for its raciest cars.
The company says it plans to extend both the GTI badge beyond the 208 GTI that launches internationally in April as well as the R badge that features on the upcoming RCZ R, a 260hp version of Peugeot’s Audi TT coupe rival.
“Is spirit of GTI only a one shot? No,” Peugeot’s director of product communciations, Christophe Chateau, told CarAdvice at the Geneva show. “We have the objective of moving upmarket for the Peugeot brand so GTI is one of these products we want to have for this.
“But it is not the only [product]. At Paris 2012 we had the RCZ R [pictured below]. That’s another proposal in that segment.
“…We have two good engines: 200hp [with GTI] and 260hp [with R]. So you can imagine for the future we will have some other versions.
Ford and GM to Jointly Develop Nine- and Ten-Speed Automatic Transmissions
The advent of seven- and eight-speed transmissions has changed drivers’ interactions with their cars. In the old days, we could determine which gear we were in based on speed, engine note, and the tachometer; and, if we were lucky enough to be driving a car with a stick or an automatic featuring a manual-shifting function, we could make a decision as to which gear would be necessary for an upcoming stretch of road. It was all part of the fun. But automakers seemingly have determined that seven or eight gears aren’t enough. As have Chrysler and others, GM and Ford have decided it is a good idea to equip future cars and trucks with nine- and ten-speed automatics, and that’s just what they plan to do.
Both companies have announced the joint development of slushboxes with nine and ten speeds for all vehicle classes and for front- and rear-wheel-drive applications. The cooperation is supposed to lower the cost of development and testing; it follows previous cooperation that focused on the development of six-speed automatics for front-wheel-drive vehicles. That team effort resulted in the six-speed automatics fitted in “some of America’s favorite vehicles,” as the joint press release gushes. This includes some of America’s least exciting vehicles, such as the Ford Explorer and the Chevrolet Malibu.
Nine- and ten-speed transmissions allow engineers to optimize their engines for smaller sections of the rev band; they can oscillate around an engine’s optimal point of efficiency, as does a—loathsome—CVT. Says GM’s transmission guru Jim Lanzon, “We expect these new transmissions to raise the standard of technology, performance, and quality for our customers while helping drive fuel-economy improvements into both companies’ future product portfolios.”
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Render: BMW MZ8 Concept Design by Christophe Jourd’hui
With the rise of digital technologies and the internet, prospective automotive designers have been able to create and publish their very own designs unlike just over a decade ago.
As a result of this, us automotive enthusiasts are continually flooded with concept designs about what future supercars could look like and the following BMW MZ8 concept created by Christophe Jourd’hui is without a doubt one of the best we’ve seen.
Inspired by iconic BMW cars such as the BMW Z8 and BMW 8-series, the MZ8 features a removable hardtop and some insanely impressive lines.
One of the most notable features about the BMW MZ8 are its front kidney grilles which are dramatically sharper and much more aggressive than BMW’s current grille design.
