2009 LA Auto Show Coverage by Autoblog

Sam Abuelsamid

Ypsilanti, MI - http://sam.abuelsamid.com

After 22 years of working as an engineer for car companies and automotive suppliers I now spend my days writing about cars and alternative fuels.

ALMS champs Highcroft to run updated LMP2 Acura in 2010

Highcroft Racing Acura ARX-02a - click above for high-res image gallery

2010 is bringing some changes to the class lineup in the American Le Mans Series, and defending LMP1 champions Highcroft Racing are adjusting. The new structure will combine the former P1 and P2 classes at all races except for Sebring and Petit Le Mans. As a result, Highcroft will campaign a new evolution of Acura's original ARX-01 P2 car dubbed 01c. Highcroft has been part of the Acura ALMS program since its inception in 2006 and is slated to continue in 2010 as the lead development squad.

According to Highcroft spokesman Paul Ryan, the team plans to run only the 01c in 2010, and at this point, only one car is confirmed. If the team can line up sufficient sponsorship, a second 01c may be added to the program.

ALMS spokesman Bob Dickinson has informed Autoblog that the final technical rules for 2010 are still being ironed out by sanctioning body IMSA, but in all likelihood, existing P1 and P2 cars will run together in a common class with weight and restrictor adjustments for equivalency.

At this time, we also don't know the fate of the other two Acura teams, de Ferran Motorsports and Fernandez Racing – or the ARX-02a. The last we heard, Fernandez is still looking for 2010 funding and may end up dropping out while de Ferran previously announced an expansion into IndyCar for 2010. Given Gil de Ferran's longstanding relationship with Honda, we would expect to see an ARX-01c in de Ferran colors next season. For its part, Honda Performance Development couldn't tell us anything about Acura's 2010 plans beyond what Highcroft has already announced. According to HPD spokesman T.E. McHale, plans are still being finalized and an announcement is planned for early December,



[Source: American Le Mans Series]
Photos Copyright ©2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

VIDEO: Chevrolet Volt tests driver-controlled audio warning system with the blind



As the popularity of hybrids has grown over the last few years, advocates for the blind have been raising a red flag about noise, or -- more to the point -- the lack of it. Because electric-drive vehicles emit much lower levels of sound on the street, blind pedestrians who've relied on the noise emitted from traditional vehicles lose a major source of information when navigating the streets and sidewalks.

There have been movements in various legislatures to mandate some minimum sound level from electric vehicles to ensure that blind pedestrians can tell when they're approaching, and General Motors recently conducted a test session at its Milford Proving Grounds with a group of the visually-challenged to assess the audible warning systems on the Chevrolet Volt.

The engineers have employed the car's horn to emit a series of warning chirps when a pedestrian is in proximity to GM's gas-electric hybrid, evaluating the nature and level of the warnings to alert pedestrians rather than startle them. GM spokesman Rob Peterson tells us that on the first generation Volt the warnings will be manually activated by the driver, although future iterations are likely to incorporate some sort of active system. Currently, the biggest hurdle is developing an active system that can distinguish a pedestrian from another vehicle. Otherwise, without a reliable detection system, the horns would be going off at all times, increasing noise levels and making it largely useless.

[Source: ChevroletVoltage.com]

Read more →

Renault introduces Twingo Gordini R.S. hot hatch

Renault Twingo Gordini R.S. - Click above for high-res image gallery

A few weeks back, Renault announced plans to revive the classic Gordini badge for its new high performance variants and now, the first model has been unveiled. Based on the automaker's smallest model, the Renault Twingo Gordini R.S. should prove to be mighty quick, with a 133 hp 1.6-liter engine to twist its 17 inch front wheels, along with an uprated suspension package and brakes.

Outside, the Twingo is coated in the historic blue hue that adorned French racing cars in the days before corporate sponsor colors took everything over, and buyers can also opt for pearlescent black to go with the white accents. Renault is displaying the car at their "Christmas in Blue" exhibit in Paris through the holidays and deliveries will start in March. Pricing hasn't been announced, but it will surely come in at a level that would make American consumers blanche for such a small car.



[Source: Renault]

Read more →

Top Gear builds Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust, an ER-EV to answer the Chevy Volt

Click above to watch videos after the jump

Many electric vehicle fans out there are constantly complaining about how long it's taking automakers to bring plug-in vehicles to market. We've had commenters on this site claim that automakers should be able to bring EVs to the street in six months. Apparently even six months is too long for the crew at Top Gear.

For those unfamiliar with the format of the show, most episodes involve the producers giving a challenge of some sort to hosts Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond. The most recent episode, aired this week on the BBC in the UK, included just such a challenge. The boys were tasked to build their own answer to the extended-range EV Chevrolet Volt.

In a mere 18 hours they transformed a TVR Chimaera (interesting choice since a chimaera is a mythological creature composed of parts of a number of animals) into the Hammerhead Eagle i-Thrust pictured above. Once the i-Thrust was completed, it was turned over to Autocar magazine for an independent road test. As you might guess based on the photo, the results were not surprising and are a testament to perhaps taking all the time you need when developing a car. You can grab a copy of AutoCar's full road test as a PDF or just watch the entire Top Gear segment and video of the Autocar road test after the jump.

[Source: Autocar]

Read more →

All Grown Up: Audi celebrates 20th birthday of TDI


Audi A3 TDI – Click above for high-res image gallery

As Audi begins to roll out the A3 TDI to its U.S. dealers in the coming weeks and the diesel version of the Q7 takes an ever larger share of sales, it's time to celebrate. This Fall marks the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the first ever TDI engine. TDI, for the uninitiated, stands for turbocharged-direct-injection, and refers to modern diesel engines from the Volkswagen group. Today's TDI technology has evolved from the 20 year-old 2.5-liter five-cylinder in the Audi 100.

Back then, the first TDI engines retained distributor type injector pumps, although the fuel was sprayed directly into the combustion chambers rather than a pre-chamber. Later, the company used something called Pumpe Düse – pump-injectors – for fuel delivery. This design integrated the high pressure pump and injector for each cylinder. These days, TDI uses common rail injection where a single pump pressurizes a single fuel rail that feeds all of the injectors. Regardless of the injector type, TDI has gone a long way towards improving the power output and reducing emissions of diesel engines. Audi and Volkswagen have built over five million TDI powerplants and remain committed to the technology. Congratulations on the double-decade milestone, guys.


Photos Copyright ©2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

Read more →

Officially Official: BMW unveils all-new 5 Series sedan


2011 BMW 5 Series - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 5 Series is an important model for BMW, particularly in North America where it's the brand's second best seller behind the 3 Series. Heading into 2010, BMW has expanded its mid-size line with the new Gran Turismo body style already on sale. However, the volume leader for the 5 Series is the four-door sedan, which officially debuts today. The 2011 model transitions to a new platform architecture shared with the latest 7 Series as well as the upcoming Rolls-Royce Ghost. The 5 Series sedan gets a four-inch shorter wheelbase than its siblings, but at 116.9 inches, it still stretches well past its competition. The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class runs a mere 113.1 inches between its axles and the Cadillac CTS is 113.4 inches.

From a technical perspective, the new 5 Series picks up much of what can be found in the 7 Series and the Gran Turismo. Read on after the jump to learn more about it.

UPDATE: Nine videos added and more images uploaded into gallery.



[Source: BMW]

Read more →

New Hyundai 2.4-liter GDI four-cylinder makes 200 hp in 2011 Sonata

Hyundai 2.4L Theta-II GDI - Click above for high res image gallery

When Hyundai's all new Sonata goes on sale early in 2010, it will arrive in U.S. showrooms with only one available engine, a thoroughly revamped version of the 2.4-liter Theta-II four cylinder. The new engine is Hyundai's first production powerplant with gasoline direct injection, but John Juriga, director of powertrains at the Hyundai-Kia Technical Center (HATCI), promised it wouldn't be the last. Juriga told a media briefing at HATCI recently that Hyundai was planning to roll out GDI across its lineup in the coming years.

For now though we have to be content with the new Sonata engine, which is now more powerful than the engine it replaces with 200 hp and 186 pound-feet of torque. The basic internal dimensions are carried over from the 2010 port-injected edition, with bore and stroke of 88 mm x 97 mm for a total displacement of 2,359 cc. The new fuel delivery system has allowed the engineering team to bump the compression ratio from 10.5:1 up to 11.3:1. Like other direct injected engines, the charge cooling effect of injecting the fuel in into the high temperature compressed aid allows the elevated compression without the risk of knock. Read on to learn more about the first GDI Hyundai engine.



[Source: Hyundai]

Read more →

Hyundai bumps the output of Genesis V8 by 10hp for 2010



Even with two completely redesigned models debuting in the coming weeks, Hyundai won't leave its carryover models alone for the 2010 model year. Engineers have tweaked the 4.6-liter V8 in the Genesis sedan and extracted an extra ten horsepower from the Tau to bring peak output up to 385 hp at 6,500 rpm.

Hyundai Technical Center powertrain director John Juriga acknowledged that the performance stats will remain the same, but drivers will be able to feel the increased grunt. The revisions not only increase output, but also improve the refinement and driveability of the V8 to feel more responsive at the low end of the tach.

To achieve its goals, Hyundai added a two-step variable induction system that varies the flow through the intake manifold at low and high rpm, along with continuously variable valve timing on both intake and exhaust, larger valves, and a chromium nitride coating on the pistons to reduce friction. The updated Genesis sedans will be arriving in dealerships later this year.



[Source: Hyundai]

Spy Shots: First look at the 2011 Chevy Aveo

Back in August, in the wake of General Motors emergence from its pre-packaged bankruptcy, the automaker gave select members of the media a preview of several upcoming products. Among those was the next Chevrolet Aveo, which will take up the B-segment mantle to battle the new Ford Fiesta, Mazda2, Honda Fit, and Toyota Yaris. Unlike the current Aveo, which is built in South Korea by Daewoo, the new model will be built at the Orion, MI assembly plant north of Detroit.

While there had been speculation that the ungainly-looking Chevy Viva from Brazil would be the Aveo replacement, that is an entirely different car – although it will likely share some mechanical bits with the Aveo.

At the August preview, GM design manager Bob Boniface confirmed to us that the Aveo moniker would be retained because, in spite of the baggage the current model carries, it does have recognition and launching a new nameplate has been deemed too expensive a proposition. Of course, that was three months ago and the Aveo is still a year or so away from launch, so things could change. Whatever it's called, early spy shots from Brenda Priddy and Co. suggest that it's shaping up to be a better-looking car than the current model, with a wider stance that looks less tippy.

[Source: The Detroit News]

VIDEO: Audi teases the new A8 ahead of Sunshine State debut


Audi A8 teaser – click above to watch the video after the jump

We still have a bit over a week until Audi officially pulls the wraps off its next-generation A8 flagship sedan in Miami. As a holdover, however, they have released a teaser video, and we've got it for you. The operative word here is tease. As usual, very little of the car is actually shown, although a variety of phrases are overlaid on the imagery which feature terms like "creativity," "aesthetics," and "art factory." From a couple of the images (including the one captured above), it appears that the new A8 will probably be more sculpted than previous models, and it will likely feature elements like the so-called "tornado line" used on the side of the A4 and A5.

As a brand headliner, the A8 will surely feature an "intensive abundance of research and ideas" such as the rumored touch pad interface with handwriting or gesture recognition for the controls. No doubt more details will be trickling out over the coming week, and we'll be on hand in Miami to give you the full details as the car is revealed. In the meantime, you can check out the video now by clicking past the jump.

[Source: Audi]

Read more →








Autoblog Podcast #154: Gobbling up the News

Chris, Sam, and Dan kick out a podcast just in time for the long holiday drive.

 
 

Featured Galleries

  • 2011 BMW 5 Series sedan
  • Texas unveils new Vanity Plates
  • Spy Shots: Next-gen Buick Excelle for China
  • 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe
  • Hyundai 2.4L Theta-II GDI
  • Ginetta G50EV and John Surtees at the Channel Tunnel
  • 2010 Toyota Land Cruiser
  • Review: 2009 Infiniti G37x S Sedan
  • Quick Spin: Superformance MKIII-R
  • 2011 Buick Regal Live Unveiling
  • BMW Concept 6
  • Zenvo ST1 Details

AOL Autos

Find Your Next Car

Autoblog Video


Autoblog Green

Daily Finance

Download Squad

Engadget

Joystiq

Autoblog Spanish

Switched.com

FanHouse

Asylum