WheelTronix

Your daily automotive news!

UK car production halves

Yield of cars in the UK during December 2008 came down to almost half of the output seen in December 2007. This news is based on the latest figures from the SMMT.

GERMANY

Lengthened shutdowns at most of the Britain’s car plants during the Christmas period added to the 47.5% decrease in output. The manufacturers clambered to deal with more of unsold vehicles.

Nevertheless, car production fell only by 5.7% on 2008’s output for the year on the whole. The decrease in production will persist in 2009.  There are temporary plant closures, short shut-downs and elimination of shifts at factories which might add to the reduction.

Shelby to build up quickest ever electric car

Shelby Supercars has planned to make an electric super-coupe, and announces that it will be the quickest all-electric car in the world.

Shelby Supercars

Shelby Supercars

The all-electric Ultimate Aero of SSC will be set up this spring, and it is supposed to ’set a new standard in the electric car industry’.
It is set to speed up from 0-60mph in 2.5 seconds, arrive at a top speed of 208mph and has a 150-200 mile series on a solitary recharge.

The electric powertrain of SSC can be assembled for productions from 200bhp-1200bhp, the second suitable for military vehicles, delivery trucks, buses, or other heavy-duty machinery. The company hopes to supply the technology for furniture in cars from small economy vehicles to SUVs.

Preview of Mini One Clubman at the Geneva Motor Show

The fresh cheap priced Mini One Clubman will be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in the month of March.

Mini One Clubman

Mini One Clubman

Mini One Clubman

It is priced at £13,290, and will be powered by the 1.4-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine which can be found in the Hatch version of the Mini One. It gives 95bhp and 103lb-ft of torque. Its top speed is 114mph and it will go from 0-60mph in 11.6 seconds.
Brake power renewal, stop-start and a maximum shift pointer are the standard features on the car. It will be able to deliver a collective fuel utilization of 52.3mpg. The yearly road fund license will cost £35 because carbon dioxide discharges are 130g/km, placing it in VED tax band C.

Air conditioning is now furnished as normal with every new Mini and new external colour combining will be obtainable for the Mini One Clubman. It will now be possible for you to specify silver or black versions of this model with the same colour C-pillars.

The car will be on sale from March 28th.

BMW to revive ‘02′

BMW is to call back the spirit of its favorite ‘02′-series sports saloons with its next-generation 1-Series, based on reports this week.

Official BMW 1-Series Sedan two-door saloon

The new 1-Series range may include a two-door saloon, and a lighter-weight, more performance tailored model. It will be known as the ‘1-Series Super Sport’, and this is to avoid confusion with the original M1 super-coupe.
This model will successfully be a modern-day 2002, but significantly more prevailing. It is tilted to get a turbocharged four-cylinder engine which will deliver up to 300bhp, with dual-clutch sequential-shift gearbox and a 0-60mph time of around 5 seconds.

The mainstream 1-Series range will carry on with hatchbacks and cabriolets, although a little Touring estate may also fall in the line-up

(more…)

Porsche discloses 911 GT3 RSR

Porsche has declared its 2009-spec 911 GT3 RSR racer is all geared up to vie in events such as the Nurburgring 24 Hours and the American Le Mans Series races.

The engine of GT3 RSR will be enlarged to 4.0 liters to meet the criteria. It now delivers around 450bhp and 317lb-ft, with its revolutions per minute limit up at 9000rpm. The 2009 GT2-class policy has assigned a step-down in the size of air restrictors.

Porsche  911 GT3 RSR

Porsche  911 GT3 RSR

Porsche  911 GT3 RSR

Porsche  911 GT3 RSR

The nose has been restyled, with big air outlets, to cope with a retro radiator/ventilation system and air conditioning is elective.

Underbody dynamics have been amended: the back wing can now be aligned to a larger degree, and both the wiring system and the brakes are lighter. The cockpit has a new multi function exhibit with gear change indicator, and new power functions such as setting the blinking frequency of front lights. There’s a new oil filler on the back deck lid, and an air jack scheme to aid a pit crew.

Prices start from £400,000.

Alfa develops Junior coupe and Mito GTA

Alfa Romeo’s long-bruited little sports coupe which is known as the Junior, will be built on the support of the Mito supermini.

Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo

The junior is due to be set in motion by 2011 and it will also be linked to the Lancia ‘new Fulvia’.
New Multiair camless 1.4-litre petrol will be the engines for the Junior. It will give  105bhp in naturally-drew out to form 130bhp with turbocharger. The hydraulically-triggered valve train leads to a power boost of around 10% from the present 1.4s. It is supposed to aid fuel economy and reduce emissions.

These engines, and a newly automatic-manual gearbox, will be utilized in the Mito range to be followed by a double-clutch ‘DSG’ gearbox in 2011.
Mito GTA will arrive even before the as it will be launched at the Geneva Motor Show this spring. It will be fitted with a 230bhp version of a new ‘1.75-litre’ four-cylinder engine with changeable-valve timing and straight injection

Mercedes E-Class gets AMG option

Mercedes-Benz has issued pictures of the AMG sports pack option for its new E-Class.

This titling pack can be governed with all engine versions and spec levels. It contains front end apron spoiler with huge air intakes, back apron, side skirts, refined stainless steel clone exhaust tailpipes, 18″ high-annotate alloy wheels, brought down deferment and punched brake discs.
The inner of the AMG include boasted-up microfibre or leather seats and covering, an AMG 3 spoke sports guiding wheel with gear lever paddles, AMG base mats, fleecy stainless steel treadles and a black roof drawing.

Prices for the pack ranges between €2915 and €4046 in mainland Europe, reckoning on E-Class version. UK pricing will be declared very soon.

Mercedes E-Class

Mercedes E-Class

Fastest Cadillac at UK

The most influential Cadillac ever is the all-new CTS-V which will be available in the UK from February 2009.

cadillac CTS-V

cadillac CTS-V

The price is £56,495 and it is boasted as a ’super saloon’ and applies an advanced 6.2-litre V8 engine that gives 560bhp. It speeds up 0-60 mph in just 3.9 seconds and runs onto 191mph.

‘The CTS-V constitutes the uttermost elongation of Cadillac’s present design language and its functioning technology capacities.

It is obtainable in left-hand drive and the cabin houses new, 14-way amendable Recaro performance driving seats. It contains good quality double stitched leather and seeded material. Other features are a voice triggered infotainment package having iPod combination with 40 GB hard drive and sat nav.

New 7-Series BMW: The new BMW 760Li

Time for some premium content! The new BMW 760Li! Yes you read it correctly. This will be a totally new BMW 7 Series.

There were similar images on the net of this car, but most people thought BMW would build a M7. Well these images are telling more. Underneath the tape, you can see clearly V12.

So this will be a brand new 7-Series, the 760Li. Completely new designed with a V12 engine with codename N74 . All we know is, that it’s horsepower would be something like 500 bhp.

Images thanks to: Carpassion.com

BMW 7-Series: 760Li Spyshot

BMW 7-Series: 760Li Spyshot

BMW 7-Series: 760Li Spyshot

BMW 7-Series: 760Li Spyshot

BMW 7-Series: 760Li Spyshot

BMW 7-Series: 760Li Spyshot

Smart Fortwo CDi on sale in March

The 83.1mpg Smart Fortwo CDi will be on sale in the UK in March.

Smart Fortwo CDi

Smart Fortwo CDi

Smart Fortwo CDi
It returns 88g/km of carbon dioxide – the smallest output of any product car presently on sale – and thus fits into tax band A.
The Fortwo CDi links up to the recently-launched stop-start Smart mhd in the line-up. It is a range gaining from the credit crunch. Fortwo sales in reality rose 43.3% last year to over 7,500.

Smart is also presently testing a fleet of 100 fully-electric Fortwos in the UK. The Fortwo ED can do 60mph and 70 miles with a lone charge; Smart is gearing up for a broader launch, letting in US sales, and is exercising with Tesla on lithium-ion battery packs and recharging systems for Mk2 versions.