NISSAN LEAF GOES RACING

On June 26, a 100 percent electric Nissan LEAF will compete in the 89th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with veteran Nissan off-road truck racing champion Chad Hord behind the wheel.  The Nissan LEAF will compete in the Production Class for electric vehicles and, other than the removal of some interior parts like seats and carpets to make room for safety equipment, such as a roll cage, racing seats and safety harnesses, the LEAF will be very close to the way it left the factory.

Like every production Nissan LEAF, the Pikes Peak LEAF will be powered by a lithium-ion battery composed of 48 compact modules and a high-response 80kW AC synchronous motor that generates 107 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque.  However, unlike most of the other vehicles competing at Pikes Peak, the LEAF will have no tailpipe, no emission of greenhouse gases and will make the climb in near silence.

 “This is another innovative way to showcase the fun-to-drive nature of the Nissan LEAF and highlight that 100 percent electric vehicles perform very well in demanding situations like the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb,” said Ron Stukenberg, senior manager, Marketing Communications, Motorsports.  “The instant torque available from the electric motor makes the LEAF a fun car to drive and the abundance of corners on the hill climb will give Chad a chance to take advantage of that torque.”

The Pikes Peak Hill Climb will be the motorsports competition debut for the Nissan LEAF, but Nissan recently showcased the Nissan LEAF NISMO RC at the New York Auto Show.  The Nissan LEAF NISMO RC is designed and constructed as a real racing machine, starting with its full carbon fiber monocoque bodywork.  The three-piece bodywork includes removable front and rear sections, fixed windows, LED headlights and taillights and driver-adjustable rear wing. The powertrain is straight from a production LEAF and repackaged to provide a mid-ship placement for the motor, inverter and battery pack as well as rear wheel drive.

The Nissan LEAF NISMO RC will likely make a series demonstration runs later this summer at various motorsports venues around the world.

“Nissan is committed to taking an innovative approach to showcasing the Nissan LEAF and Pikes Peak is an excellent venue to do just that,” added Stukenberg. “Nissan LEAF owners are fully embracing this new world of zero-emission technology.  We believe the same potential exists in the motorsports world, and we’re proud to be one of the first on the grid.”

FORD FIGO CRACKS TOP 3 MARKET SALES

Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa’s (FMCSA) May sales performance nearly tripled that of the market driven by strong sales of Figo, Fiesta, Bantam and Ranger. Ford passenger car sales also grew more than three times the South Africa new vehicle market trend.

FMCSA dealer sales accounted for 94.5% of total company sales, indicating the continued strong consumer demand for Ford and Mazda products. “Our strong sales performance is not driven by government or fleet deals, but by real customer demand,” said FMCSA’s Vice President Marketing, Sales and Service, Dean Stoneley. 

May 2011 new vehicle sales recovered well after the challenging short sales month of April 2011 to post 6.1% growth in the market over May 2011, according to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa). 

“The South African market outlook remains positive,” said Stoneley. “The disaster in Japan doesn’t appear to have had a major impact on sales as stock levels remain relatively stable.”

Passenger car sales grew 12.1% over the same period last year, while the Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) market declined 7.9%. New vehicle sales ended May on 41 555 units.

“The entry-level market continues to drive market growth, evidenced by the Ford Figo’s strong performance – it was South Africa’s third best-selling car in May,” continued Stoneley. “June will be a critical month for industry to round out the half-year sales results and begin formulating a clearer forecast for the rest of the year.”

STORY BY FORD

Ducati 1000 CC

Ducati 1198 SP

Awesome Ducati SBK for several generations, an invention is even more desirable, since the beginning of 1098 / 1198, released in 2007 series, extended later 1198 in powerful 2009 cubic centimeters. Gorgeous, emotive and devilishly hard, Ducati 1198 is very special.

 

But for fans of bags, especially the Italian motorcycle fan, based on 1198 may not be very special.

Re-enter the award to Ms Ducati Superbike 1198 2011.

SP is a synonym for the production of sport, which is the nomenclature that Ducati has been used for decades indicate some of the top models in the range of his superbike series. This line is extended to 851 SP that debuted in 1989.

Additional equipment, powerful 1198 SP adds all the bits of the old 1198 S (suspension Ohlins and false Marchesini in), as well as a clutch of fast Ducati, Ohlins TTX (former T36PR), pantoufle shocks and an aluminium fuel tank. Sells for $21.795, only $200 more than the previous version of s.

Ducati 1198 achieves significant improvements for 2011

In Italian motorcycle terms, the value of the cultures of rarely speak. But the basic model, the Ducati 1198 MY2011 is a value added proposition.

For the same price of $16.495 loaded in 2010, 1198 base comes now with Ducati Ducati traction control gearbox of Ducati as Analyzer fast standard data.

The old 1198 S replaces the SP again discussed here. 1198 Corsica $39.995 is removed from the range of 2011. Anyone who has an 1198 R contained special approval or Superbike, production was minimal, according to Ducati.

Also in the Superbike Ducati alignment is the new 848 EVO, which we recently tried the famous circuit of Imola in Italy

 

Italian dream date

If we had the historic Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, it costs some sessions in 848 EVO. With much more energy than a 600cc supersport and a superb chassis similar to Ms 1198 848 machine puts considerable ass around a race track.

Although the power of the 140 crankshaft is more than enough SP 1198 offers a supplement of 30 caballos-parte Ms keeps same engine optimization in 2010, if the SP should double the 147 hpAbbiamo seen on rear wheel of the 1198Nós s tried last year.

But in the mountains of the couple that has our attention during the removal of the pits in Imola, the front wheel is regularly produced the bridge with some deaf couple of rear wheel 87 pounds. 350 Cm3 extra from 1198 to grunt in 848 is impossible to ignore, brutally catapult of output from all the corners and making 848 saw a wimp compared.

And while speeding up, you will enjoy the new Ducati. Use a micro-conmutador of Exchange that provides a brief interruption in the fuel/spark Bang out top at full speed without dipping into the clutch. This is simply not practical for a pilot, but also reduces the time of journey of 230ms few seeking a reduction of 65% of the time.

DQS worked perfectly under my feet, while a runner in the event, said that it was not good enough as a Dynojet quick changeover. The quality of reducing deviation of Ducati is one of the few excellent areas for motorcycles, which mitigates the hand higher DQS. The 1198 also received this upgrade.

BMW M2 PATENTED, 2 SERIES COMING

Although it’s still in rumour stages, talk of a BMW 2 Series is persisting, despite denials from the company itself. Nevertheless news coming out of Germany and the US is that a BMW patent and trademark has been filed in the name of M2. Now why would they register M2, unless they are developing a 2 Series-based M car? And since there’s currently no 2 Series to speak of, are we to expect one soon?

The patent was actually applied for almost a year ago, but was only filed last month. Recently BMWs with the odd-number badges like 1, 3 and 5 have been normal bread-and-butter vehicles, while the only even-numbered one, the 6 Series, is a sporting coupe. That suggests future even numbers may be quite performance-based. Possible 4 and 8 Series then?

* Picture used is a rendering of a possible 2 Series.

SOURCE: 1ADDICTS

STASIS PULLS OVER 300KW FROM AUDI S5 CABRIOLET

STaSIS is a North American tuner that seems quite happy working with German products from Audi. The tuning house has released details of a tuned S5 Cabriolet. In Mzansi the S5 is still powered by the old 4.2-litre V8 engine, while elsewhere they are now using the 3.0-litre supercharged motor found in the S4 sedan.

STaSIS upgraded the power output through the remapping of the electronic control unit (ECU), from the factory standard 245kW up to an RS 4-chasing 302kW. It is said to go from 0 – 100km/h in 4.4 seconds. The exhaust was also changed and is now a stainless steel item. New Alcon 6-piston brakes, new dampers and new lightweight forged aluminium wheels make up the rest of the package.

AUDI A1 CLUBSPORT: THE POWER OF A BMW M5

Audi is presenting this 370kW Audi A1 Clubsport quattro at the 2011 Wörtherseetour. The show is one where manufacturers go really crazy with their vehicles and showcase performance normally not associated with certain models. Hence 370kW in the small A1.

The engine is the same as that of the RS 3 Sportback and TT RS, in that it displaces 2.5-litres through 5 cylinders. It also features a turbo. But obviously there’s much more power now than the standard 250kW. Peak torque was also dramatically increased from 450Nm to a thick-base 660Nm. As a result it propels the car from 0 – 100km/h in a mere 3.7 seconds, heading towards the highest speed of 250km/h.

The A1 Clubsport rides on 255/30 low-profile tyres wrapped around 19-inch alloy wheels in what Audi calls a “unique turbine design”. I call it the only unique moment of weakness in the otherwise excellent-looking project. Sadly this one-off is not for production, but for show.