photos of the 185rwhp Buell 1190RR race bike

Take a look at these photos of the 185rwhp Buell 1190RR race bike. They were taken right before the bike was shipped to a customer in Germany.

Although we’re aware that the machine will spend its life on race tracks, we can’t help but wonder how would a press release of the road legal bike have sounded? It looks to us like a pair of headlamps and mirrors sit in between it and street homologation as this project originally started life with plans to become a street-legal superbike before Buell was discontinued by the uninspired American giant.

German BMW tuner AC Schnitzer finally got superbike

German BMW tuner AC Schnitzer finally got its hands on the S1000RR and turned it into a much better daily use superbike. That’s right. It may be hard to believe, but their approach aims towards comfort and practicability simply because the bike doesn’t need any upgrades on the performance side.

So, what’s new on it? Take the adjustable handlebars and yoke for instance. They’re straight and feature an adjustable clamp, definitely not an everyday fitment on a bike like this. Other new features on the AC Schnitzer S1000RR are the brake and clutch levers, a carbon fiber exhaust silencer, crash bungs, performance air-filter and a numberplate hanger, all leaving a distinct mark on the already kind of unique bike.

BMW S1000RR by AC Schnitzer

BMW S1000RR by AC Schnitzer

new all-electric five-door hatch – the Leaf – will be built in the UK Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/249700/nissan_to_b

Nissan has announced that its new all-electric five-door hatch – the Leaf – will be built in the UK at the company’s Sunderland plant.

The Leaf is set to be the first mass produced car with zero emissions, and will be the start of a range of eco vehicles from Nissan, with production due to begin early in 2013.

It will be powered by an 80kW (107bhp) electric motor, twinned with rapid charging lithium-ion batteries, which Nissan claims will give the Leaf a top speed of over 90mph and a range of 100 miles.

The production of the Leaf, and the construction of a new facility to supply the lithium-ion batteries for the car, due to begin in April, represents a £420m investment by Nissan in the UK car industry, and will ensure job security for the 4,100 employees at the Sunderland plant.

The Leaf will be launched in Japan later this year, but we won’t see it on British roads until the worldwide launch in 2012. Nissan plans to build 50,000 Leaf’s per year at the plant, which will also be responsible for producing thenew Juke compact SUV.

Andy Palmer, senior vice president, and boss of the company’s global electric car strategy, said the Leaf “is a five-seater hatchback that offers the same space, practicality, and performance of a similar car in its class – minus the tailpipe emissions.” There is no word yet from Nissan on prices, but expect it to cost slightly more than the equivalent FordFocus.

Auto Express talks to McLaren boss Ron

AE: What key characteristics define a McLaren road car?

RD:
If you take the F1 as the start of the story of our road cars, and the 12C as the latest chapter, then there are common themes: engineering integrity, an obsession with reducing weight, Formula 1 integration in the development of the cars, and design driven by function, in particular aerodynamics. They are very different cars in concept, but are both steeped in McLaren DNA.



AE: Why should people buy a McLaren – what does your car have that Ferrari’s 458 doesn’t?


RD:The fundamental concept behind what we are doing at McLaren is that we are not just launching a new car to rival the world’s best sports cars, but a whole new car company from a blank sheet of paper. You would expect McLaren to say that the 12C and future models will compete toe-to-toe with our competitors’ products, but where we believe we will differ and present a further competitive advantage is in how we will treat our customers. Our aim is to launch cars that out-perform the competition in all aspects – speed, emissions, dynamics – but we also want to offer a new standard of customer relationships.



AE: We had heard that financing the build of your production facility had proved challenging. Is the funding in place for your new factory?


RD:It would be churlish to say that finding £40 million has been easy, but despite the economic conditions under which we have developed the project, the interest in supporting McLaren Automotive, whether from potential retailers or investors, has been very positive. The new McLaren Production Centre was always planned to begin construction as soon as planning permission was granted and that is exactly what has happened.
 


AE: What have been the key differences in designing and launching the McLaren road car, versus the McLaren Formula One car?


RD:It is more enlightening to talk about the similarities. Automotive and Racing are under one roof, so there is total integration between the teams. For example, Formula 1 aerodynamicists discuss problems and solutions with the 12C development team regularly. And the 12C has been developed on the same simulator used by the racing team. Despite the fact that a road car takes years to develop and a Formula 1 car, though based on evolution, just a few months, the fundamentals remain the same: rapid problem solving, absolute individual responsibility for every engineer and clear focus on the goals.
 


AE: What key skills do you posses that will make you a great car company boss?


RD:Within McLaren it is a matter of hiring excellent people and allowing them to take decisions. But not being afraid to also roll up your sleeves and understand the finer details of a possibility or a problem. Looking outside, it is no different to any business – understanding exactly what the market and customer desires and delivering that without compromise.


AE: Formula One, now road cars, what’s next from the McLaren Group? Do you have aspirations outside of the automotive industry?


RD:Our aim has always been to make McLaren Group an innovative, profitable, and multi-faceted company with engineering and technology principles at heart. If we grow the Group it will retain that ethos.
 


AE: Finally, on the eve of the launch of the new MP4-12C, what do you think is a greater challenge, taking a Formula One team to World Championship glory, or launching a new car company?


RD:Neither one nor the other. The challenge has been building up a great company full of empowered, enthusiastic and dedicated people. Then keeping that company at the top for those people. That started with winning Formula 1 World Championships, and launching McLaren Automotive as a fully-fledged car company is part of that story and a major contribution to our success.

Midget and Cayman rival exposed as designer opens up on ambitious plan Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/249550/mgs_secret

The project, codenamed X120, saw the Longbridge plant in the West Midlands working on a new Midget, a replacement for the TF roadster and an upmarket coupé to rival the Porsche Cayman. Although the models were canned when the company went bankrupt five years ago, they could make a return with the aid of Chinese investment.

Our pictures show the original illustrations of the cars, by designer Lee Mitchell. All were to be based on the same platform – a modified version of the existing TF’s. Power was set to come from a development of the K Series engine, which would have been offered with outputs of between 120bhp and 180bhp, and claimed impressively low emissions.

The disadvantage of using the TF’s platform manifested itself early in the programme, when it became clear the roadster’s compromised driving position would be carried over to the models. According to Mitchell, had MG added £2million to the project’s £50million budget, it could have used an all-new aluminium tub – but there simply wasn’t the money to pursue it. “It was a shame,” he explained. For relatively little investment, we would have had an amazing mid-engined platform that cured the packaging problems.

“The Midget was hobbled as it needed to carry over doors from the TF, but everyone loved the design.”

As the programme developed, the money ran out, and the operation was quickly scaled down. Mitchell recalled: “There was every intention to take the brand back to the US as MG Rover really needed to find new markets for its products. The business case relied on US numbers to turn a profit.”

Mitchell thinks the cars had success written all over them, and regrets the fact they never reached production. “I felt we were making history and it’s a pity it never came to fruition.” However, with new MG and Roewe models on the way, there’s every chance the MG sports car range could return.

Flying Car Could Sort It

Of collecting luxury cars became a hobby of football players. They not only have one car, but could be a row of expensive cars. The cars seemed to be the main accessory house.
For them, with billions of dollars in income a week, it is not impossible collecting luxury cars became his hobby.
Just look, David Beckham's house in Los Anggeles at least seven luxury cars in the garage. With revenues of more than USD 2 billion per week, Beckham collection complete with BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Porsche, Hummer, to Bentley.
Posh Victotia hobby husband is not new. Since Beckham is plotted as a football star with the highest incomes, he started buying luxury cars.
First Bentley car, valued at 170,000 pounds or approximately USD 2.5 billion dipermak-out at a cost of 70,000 pounds (USD 650 million), which he left in England when he moved to Real Madrid.
While in Madrid, British soccer star was seen driving an open-top Aston Martin V8 Vantage. He was also seen driving a Rolls Royce Phantom at left with his wife, in Manchester.
As quoted from various sources, since moving to America, Beckham was busy building a collection of luxury cars. For Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Cruope, Beckham would spend 300,000 pounds (USD 2.8 billion), which he used to drive pick-up their children to school.
Victoria itself is more like a Porsche that had dimodivikasi 100,000 pounds (USD 1.5 billion). For the family vehicle, this pair usually used Jeep Wrangler for 240,000 pounds (USD 3.5 billion).
One of Beckham's other car Lamborghini Gallardo is worth U.S. $ 206,400 (USD 1.9 billion). In addition he bought a Hummer H2 for U.S. $ 103,200 (USD 970 million). He also spent U.S. $ 33,800 (approximately USD 300 million) for the extra accessories for the car's luxury.
In addition to the cars he also kept a few other cars, such as the Mercedes S500 and Bentley Arnage for U.S. $ 312,080 (USD 2.9 billion), which he used to take the OBE from the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2003. The car has a 6.75-liter engine V8 and equipped with seats for infants.                                                                                           

   

For European soccer players, especially England, the car is no longer just a means of transportation. But, the vehicle's engine has also become a symbol of luxury than a hobby.
No exception El Hadji Diouf. Blackburn Rovers star Senegalese origin was also a fan of luxury cars. Diof not want to buy a car just like that without a touch of his taste.
29-year-old player was very happy with chrome. He's got a chromatised Cadillac gold so that each drove in the streets, car Diouf was invited attention. Apart from expensive cars, gold chrome also makes very special and luxurious impression.
This car reportedly worth 100,000 pounds (about USD 1.5 billion). Diouf never drove his own car to Manchester. In Blackburn, this car is also often he brought to the gym or just a walk.
Wait. That's not a car termewahnya Diouf. He still has a Mercedes. Well, here's the car chrome silver color. It seems also very luxurious and grand.
Of course many people will be salivating to see it. Because the car is worth up to 420,000 pounds (about USD 6.3 billion). Certainly only the rich could have a heavy car like this and indeed in the UK, including pebola sprinkled with money.
Diouf still has a few cars, but he's not too proud of. Two cars that he particularly liked and proud. However, if the total, the price of two cars valued at 320,000 pounds (about USD 7.8 billion).

PT Lamborghini Jakarta today launched the Lamborghini LP560-4 Spyder. Super sports car is offered with a starting price of EUR 588 (approximately Rp 5 billion).
"Lamborghini LP560-4 Spyder, we present to complement other Lamborghini has been in Indonesia," said Chief Operation Officer Jakarta Endy Kusumo Lamborghini in his speech at the Pacific Place, Jakarta, Saturday (10/10/2009).
Equipped with 5.2 Liter V10 engine, LP560-4 Spyder able to generate power by 560 hp (413 kW) at 8000 rpm with a torque of 540 Nm (398 lb-ft) at 6500 rpm.
With the endorsement effort, this convertible car capable digeber to 324 km / hour. Meanwhile, when asked to accelerate from 0-100 km / h takes just 4 seconds.
Like other luxury cars, besides the body color can be selected according to taste some optional packages are also available for this car.
Among the color mamapu soft top opens and closes in just 20 seconds is available on the choice of colors black, blue, silver, and beige.
In addition to any KALIPER disc brakes once only available in black color variants as well as silver, is now available orange color options.
Endy confirmed Lamborghini LP560-4 Spyder is specifically provided for in Indonesia Lamborghini enthusiasts who want to be different.

Dream to bring the flying cars will soon be a reality. Therefore, this flying car will go on sale to the market in the coming 2011.
Earlier this year the world saw the first flight of a car called the Transition Roadable Aircraft. And as quoted from Leftlanenews, Friday (1/1/2010), the creator, Terrafugia, will begin marketing it next two years.
Actually, the issue of the presence of 'flying cars' already there for years. But until now there has been no development of a more serious direction for the vehicle can be used in road and air.
And Terrafugia have successfully made a prototype vehicle capable of operating on air as far as 724 km. And when the street car can be driven overland to 185 km / hour.
Aircraft equipped Roadable transition that can be folded wings automatically in 30 seconds, similar to the time it takes to open and close the convertible roof.
When the wings are folded, the car will run normally like other four-wheeled vehicle and still fit if parked in a normal car garage.
"All of these vehicles to make flexible enough to fly to various places," said Terrafugia.
If interested, he said that this flying car can be ordered now by paying unag front of 10,000 USD (approximately Rp94 million). But do not say how much the price of this flying car would.

Car Show Girls-Hot Import Nights Nightshift Chicago

Lots and lots of great rides at Hot Import Nights Nightshift Chicago this year, all quality customized cars and an overall fun atmosphere sustained by various artists on stage, different cars engaged in drifting sessions, others in dyno tests and of course also by the hot HIN models. Check out the pics and see exactly what i mean.