Special Edition New Fiat 500 Prima Edizione

Attendees of a Club Fiat-Lancia Unlimited accommodated in Asheville, North Carolina aftermost weekend—really, the Italian car club met in North Carolina—were accustomed a appropriate befalling to assets a limited-edition adaptation of the Fiat 500. The car is dubbed Prima Edizione, or Aboriginal Edition, and assembly is bound to aloof 500 copies. The cars will be corrective white, red, or gray, and will abrasion Prima Edizione badges. The sole drivetrain advantage will be a 1.4-liter Multiair agent with a chiral transmission.Special Edition New Fiat 500 Prima Edizione

Because assembly of the 500 for the North American bazaar won’t alpha for addition few months, Fiat hasn’t yet bent what accessories will be included with the cars, said a spokesman. Those reserving a car at the accommodated were able to opt for a across-the-board bottle roof or agent block heater. The special-edition cars will be some of the aboriginal 500s awash to barter in the U.S., answer the name and why Fiat admirers were accustomed aboriginal dibs.

As not all 500 cars accept been reserved, Fiat may accessible up anxiety of the cars to the accepted public. They will go on auction by the end of this year and will be congenital at the Toluca, Mexico bulb that acclimated to accumulate the PT Cruiser.

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Peugeot 508 revealed

Ahead of its unveiling at the Paris Motor Show in September, Peugeot has released the first details of the new 508.

It replaces both the so-so 407 and the slow-selling 607, and will be available as either a saloon or estate from launch. Based on the same platform as the Citroen C5 and outgoing 407, the 508 saloon is 4790 mm long, while the estate is 4810 mm. Those measurements are increases of 99 mm and 47 mm over the respective 407 versions, and reflect the 508’s dual segment role.



The 508 sees the arrival of a new design language for Peugeot. Gone, thank goodness, is the gaping wide-mouth look typified by the 407 and 4007 SUV. The new model also manages to be less fussy at the front than more recent Peugeot offerings such as the 5008 MPV, but some of the details - like the ‘Peugeot’ name badge on the grille, and the strange bonnet lip that comes down to meet it - seem a bit unnecessary. The rest of the car looks neat enough though, the most striking feature being a strong shoulder line that runs the length of the body.

For many prospective customers, cabin fit and finish will be key factors when deciding whether to buy the 508. However, Peugeot has yet to release any interior design details.



Similarly, technical information is sparse, but it is known that the diesels will get an improved stop-start system to reduce emissions and improve fuel economy. Also promised soon after launch is a Hybrid4 version. This combines a diesel engine driving the front wheels with an electric motor powering the rears. Peugeot claims the package offers 200 horsepower performance combined with CO2 emissions of just 99 g/km. That’ll be very attractive for UK drivers, because it means no road tax and potentially no London Congestion Charge.

When sales start in early 2011, the Peugeot 508 will doubtless have to face the usual challenges of a non-prestige large car in Europe. However, it may be the case that success here is secondary to Peugeot’s objective of strong sales in China, where the car will also be built.

2010 British GP

Mark Webber deserved his British Grand Prix win, especially after the Red Bull team’s fiasco on Saturday. The strange decision, made just before qualifying, to take the new design of front wing off the Australian’s car and give it to team-mate Sebastian Vettel instead certainly caused trouble.



Webber’s "Not bad for a number two driver" radio message to team boss Christian Horner on the slowing down lap was especially telling. It seemed to be evidence of a growing tension in the team, something that has been brewing ever since the two Red Bulls had their infamous coming together during the Istanbul race.



Further proof was Vettel’s cryptic comments in a post-race interview, which suggested the ‘good fun happy family’ image of Red Bull is just a thin veneer that’s starting to crack in places. "Obviously I focus on myself and so does he I guess," said the German. "Especially after what happened in the past people have different opinions. I have opinions, I have my experiences and sometimes, good and bad, you get to know people a little better and see their true faces. So I think I have learned my lesson and focus on myself."



At least Red Bull managed to get both its cars into the points. Over at Ferrari, it was a disastrous afternoon at Silverstone. Fernando Alonso unsurprisingly seemed a bit miffed at the stewards’ decision to give him a drive-through penalty after he cut a corner to pass the Renault of Robert Kubica.



Arguably it was a harsh punishment, especially as Alonso didn’t really have anywhere else to go, and Kubica then retired soon after. The icing on the cake was that the penalty had to be served immediately after the Safety Car had been out, which meant most of the field could stream by as the Spaniard drove slowly down the pit lane.



But maybe Alonso should have let Kubica back through straight away after the incident, instead of getting on the radio to ask Ferrari to sort something out with the race officials? He certainly didn’t bother with the radio much after his drive-through, petulantly telling his team not to talk to him for the rest of the race. And he wasn’t in the mood for a chat afterwards, either, apparently being ‘too angry’ to be interviewed. A while later though Alonso had calmed down enough to say, allegedly without any hint of sarcasm, "What the stewards say is always right so I am not too upset." Yeah, right.



Conversely, McLaren managed to salvage a decent result from what could have been a race to forget. Jenson Button clawed his way up from fourteenth on the grid to an eventual fourth place, thanks to some decent early overtaking, retirements and a good pit stop strategy. Only a rumoured lack of fuel meant he couldn’t go on to challenge Nico Rosberg in his Mercedes for third place.



Team-mate Lewis Hamilton meanwhile secured second spot, benefiting from Vettel’s first lap puncture. He now leads the championship with 145 points, 12 ahead of Button in second.

1,000 bhp Camaro

A standard Camaro SS is already pretty powerful, with 426 bhp (317 kW / 431 PS) available from its 6.2 litre V8. But that now looks a bit weedy when compared to what Hennessey Performance has achieved.



The latest in Hennessey’s line of increasingly powerful upgrade packages for the Camaro is dubbed the HPE1000. And yes, as the name implies, that means 1,000 bhp (745 kW / 1,013 PS).

To achieve such an output, first the standard engine is ditched in favour of an LSX block from GM Performance Parts. Its capacity is then increased to 7.0 litres, and twin turbochargers plus an intercooler get bolted on. That’s not all, though. Essentially, just about every other component is modified including the pistons, connecting rods, camshaft, cylinder heads, intake manifold, fuel injectors, fuel system, air filters and oil cooler.



In order to cope with the huge increase in power, cars with the six-speed manual gearbox require a dual friction clutch, while those with an automatic transmission need a torque converter upgrade - unsurprising given that the HPE1000 has over 1,000 lb ft (1,355 Nm) of torque.



Hennessey Performance badging and plaques for the engine and dash complete the package, although a body kit, lightweight wheels, coilover suspension (probably a wise choice?), exterior graphics and a leather interior are all available as options.



This YouTube video shows the HPE1000 on the dyno. Admittedly, race fuel was used for the run, but Hennessey Performance reckons that after a few more tweaks the figures will be easily attainable using normal pump petrol. No word on fuel consumption, strangely enough…

2010 Renaissance Bugatti Sports Cars Concept

2010 Bugatti Sports Cars Concept Renaissance

The 2010 Bugatti Renaissance is a concept car created by Canadian designer John Mark Vicente. He is a graduate of the Communication Design program at the Emily Carr University, has come up with some ideas of his own. Look like it’s same with Bugatti Veyron Supercar, but it’s his proposal for next supercar from Bugatti. Come with Veyron, 16-cylinder, but it’s still concept car.

Along with the obvious genes from the current Veyron, the Bugatti Renaissance Design Concept throws in some touches of the Audi R8 and some serious styling.

The Renaissance is a model based on the Bugatti Veyron, the vehicle that replaces it. Although running on the same platform as the Veyron, the exterior design of this concept Bugatti is far more aggressive, and overall…better.

At the front of the car, the grill has grown in size and the headlights have been redesigned, now resembling the ones on the Audi R8 and also it has a carbon fiber skirt that fits great. Above the cockpit we notice that the twin roof vents are now slightly larger.

At the back, there are two larger vents, redesigned tail lights and the Bugatti logo framed by a red line that goes all the way to the roof scoops. The car uses impressive 26 inch rims.

Released as the fastest and costliest car when it hit the market, the impressive Veyron was an absolute stunner. Equipped with an 8.0 litre W16 engine delivering an incredible 1001 horses, Veyron had a top speed of 408.5 kmph (253.8 mph). It catapulted from standstill to 100kmph in just 2.5 seconds and cost above 1.55 million U.S. dollars.

Mopar ’10 Challenger

While Fiat is busy launching the ultra-economical TwinAir engine, events at its recently acquired Dodge subsidiary are taking a very different direction.



Perhaps in an effort to help get over the recent demise of the Viper, it has just unveiled the Mopar ’10, a special edition based on the Dodge Challenger R/T. Limited to just 500 examples, this is the first time Dodge and Mopar have combined to produce a complete car that can be bought from a dealer.

Power comes from a 5.7 litre Hemi V8, and it’s reckoned the standard car’s 372 bhp (277 kW / 377 PS) has been increased by around 15 bhp (11 kW / 15 PS). That’s thanks to a functional bonnet scoop which feeds a revised cold air intake system. Chassis enhancements meanwhile are restricted to Mopar front and rear strut braces, although the Mopar ’10 has 20” forged black finish wheels in place of the standard 18” items.



The only colour option is Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl, and the grille gets a black chrome surround to match. Apart from the copious Mopar logos dotted about the car, there are also prominent side stripes which can be specified in either blue, red or silver. The chosen colour is then carried through to the stitching on the leather steering wheel and black Katzkin leather seats. Other interior features include a dash plaque and a special gear shifter - either a pistol grip for manual cars or a T-handle for automatics.



In the US, the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price for the Mopar ’10 with automatic transmission is $38,000, including destination charges. Buyers who opt for a manual gear change will, surprisingly to European eyes, have to pay $1,000 more. Those prices put the Mopar ’10 right between the $34,940 R/T Classic and $43,680 SRT8 in the Challenger line-up.



The Mopar ’10 Challenger is available from August, and orders are being accepted now.

Fiat 500 TwinAir arrives

The Fiat 500 continues to be a huge success, so much so that the chances of getting any discount are still virtually nil. Now, in time for the 500’s third birthday, Fiat has announced a revolutionary new range of two-cylinder petrol engines for its diminutive city car.



Called TwinAir, they use the MultiAir electro-hydraulic valve management system - which debuted in the Punto Evo earlier this year - to significantly reduce emissions and fuel consumption.

Power outputs will eventually range from 64 to 103 bhp (47 to 77 kW / 65 to 105 PS), but appearing first in the 500 will be a 900 cc turbocharged version. This generates 83 bhp (62 kW / 85 PS) and has carbon dioxide emissions of only 95 g/km, or 92 g/km if the Dualogic robotised transmission is specified. Similarly, fuel economy is impressive, with manual cars achieving 68.8 mpg (4.1 l/100km) on the urban cycle.



Those figures effectively make the 1.3 MultiJet diesel - previously the ‘greenest’ 500 - obsolete. Also, for UK customers at least, getting below 100 g/km is important. That’s because it means no road tax and no London Congestion Charge (assuming the proposed changes currently being considered are approved).



The TwinAir-powered 500 is no slouch either. Producing more power than the existing 1.2 petrol engine, top speed is 107 mph (173 km/h), and it’ll accelerate from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in a respectable 11 seconds.



As well as a ‘Stop&Start’ system and gear shift indicator, the TwinAir versions will also feature two driving modes as standard. Normal mode is as the name implies, and full torque (145 Nm) is available to the driver. In Eco mode though, the emphasis is on reducing fuel consumption. Consequently, maximum torque drops to 100 Nm, while steering assistance is increased to give a lighter feel around town.



One of the inherent characteristics of a twin-cylinder engine is its smaller physical size. Interestingly, as a result of this, Fiat is already talking about pairing the TwinAir with an electric motor to create a hybrid. A methane-powered version is also coming.



A less desirable feature of only having two cylinders is the potential for increased vibration and harshness. However, Fiat reckons that the TwinAir shouldn’t be any worse than a normal four-cylinder engine, thanks to reduced friction between internal components and the fitment of a balancing countershaft.



The TwinAir engine will be available in the Fiat 500 from September.