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Video: Fastest Car in the World
From Italy comes the world's fastest production car, and its top speed of 253 mph (408 km/hour) makes it faster than a Formula 1 machine. Watch this entertaining BBC "Top Gear" video clip as James May takes this 16-cylinder, 1,000 hp super sports car to its top speed on a highly secure VW test track.
Is There an Air (Powered) Car in Your Future?
You've got to give them credit. Despite plenty of nay-sayers, Guy and Cyril Nègre — the father-son team that heads Motor Development International (MDI) — have kept their eyes on the target and are now one step closer to mass production of cars that store energy into compressed air tanks. Their latest effort, the 2 m long AirPod, is said to be more efficient than electric vehicles and able to travel as far as 200 km (about 125 mi) on a two-minute charge. Cyril explains the car and its technology during a showing in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. |
Anyway, its a pretty fascinating story. The Lambo uses the exact OEM
Our discussion reached this topic when we were discussing just how expensive it is to produce custom headlights. The example given to me was that even well established car companies like Lamborghini often will use existing products to keep development costs reasonable on their cars.
Another example he gave me was the Lotus Esprit using AE86 Corolla/Levin tail lights. I’ve later found that the Saleen S7 and Pagani Zonda use the same tail lights. I suspect there are dozens of stories like this, so feel free to share if you have more to add!
I apologize to those of you who already knew this, but IMO this is must know information for any car nut out there. I wish someone would have told me these cool facts earlier! I was truly in disbelief at the idea of a Lamborghini using Z32 headlights, its amazing they pulled it off without getting more heat from the press and their customers!
German tuner Hamann turned its attention to one of the most ‘tuned’ cars around, the Bentley Continental GT Speed. The package, called Hamann Imperator, consists of a new body kit, performance upgrades and set of exclusive modifications for the interior. The body kit features a completely redesigned front fascia with larger air inlets and LED daytime running lights, large extensions at the front and rear wings (makes the car 70 mm wider), new Hamann side skirts and at the rear we have a spoiler and an integrated diffuser rear skirt. The car’s aggressive look is completed by new Anniversary Race Anodized with high-gloss polished rim flange and black anodized rim star, available in 22- and 21-inch sizes. Under the hood, by modifying the ECU and by adding a sports end muffler with oval stainless steel end pipes, Hamann managed to squeeze 40 hp and 90 Nm more from the 600 hp W12 engine, which translates into a top speed increased by 5 km/h. The interior features a newly designed 3-spoke sport steering wheel, new Hamann upholestry with carbon fiber inserts and personalised floor mat. |
The Enzo Ferrari , also known as Ferrari Enzo, is a 12 cylinder mid-engine berlinetta named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari. It is currently one of the most powerful naturally aspirated production cars.[citation needed] It was built in 2002 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fibre body, F1-style electrohydraulic shift transmission, and Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide (C/SiC) ceramic composite disc brakes. Also used are technologies not allowed in F1 such as active aerodynamics and traction control. After a downforce of 775 kg (1,709 lb) is reached at 348.8 km/h (217 mph) the rear wing is actuated by computer to maintain that downforce.
The Enzo's V12 engine is the first of a new generation for Ferrari. It is based on the architecture of the V8 found in sister-company Maserati's Quattroporte, using the same basic architecture and 104 mm (4.1 in) bore spacing. This design will replace the former architectures seen in V12 and V8 engines used in most other contemporary Ferraris. The 2005 F430 is the second Ferrari to get a version of this new powerplant.
In 2004, Sports Car International named the Enzo Ferrari number three on their list of Top Sports Cars of the 2000s.