Ad Watch: Lexus LFA Breaks Champagne Glass Without Moving

In Lexus' latest advertisement for the already sold-out LFA, the 552-horse exotic remains stationary. It's strapped to a dyno, next to a champagne flute. As it races towards redline, the 4.8-liter V-10's exhaust note, channeled through a microphone and speaker, shatters the glass.

The ad, called "Pitch," began airing this month. In part, it aims to show the efforts taken by Lexus' to make the LFA's unmistakable exhaust note. Lexus says, in a press release, "After studying the unmistakable soundtrack generated by Formula 1 cars at maximum revs, the team created the signature LFA sound beginning by emphasizing the secondary combustion frequency of the engine and then introducing primary, secondary and tertiary firing harmonics."

Lexus claims to have used no camera tricks or computer-generated imagery in the ad. Instead, the team sourced a flute that would shatter at the frequency emitted by engine at redline. Click here to watch the ad. Click here to download audio clips of the LFA (under "Digital Premium").

Source: Lexus

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New Audi A2, The Audi Between A1 And A3

New Audi A2, The Audi Between A1 And A3
Audi prepares the A2 recovery, a city model that not had a expected success at the first generation because it had a big price. Will be able delete this image new Audi A2?
Do you remember the Audi A2, the city model built entirely of aluminum with a highly controversial design which was considered a failure because the market was poorly positioned in terms of price? Well, the German brand prepare a new A2, which serves as sponge the negative reputation of the
According to preliminary data published in the international press, the new A2 will be built on Volkswagen’s Up platform! or of the new Audi A1. The German model design is to retain the characteristics of a mini van, but it will not be boring lines, but some dynamic, borrowed from the A1. Although we can see stylistic assumptions at the digital mode yet, the A2 forms promise to attract mainly the interested female customers to a city model with premium equipment.
Rupert Stadler, the Audi manager said last time ago that they have a new city model, called Audi A1, so clearly exist a free place between Audi A1 and Audi A3.
New Audi A2 will have after its launch also an E-Tron electric version, but also a hybrid version which will act to make contact between standard gasoline engines and the electric propulsion unit.

source by mibz

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Panoz Unveils New Abruzzi ‘Spirit of Le Mans’ at Le Mans

Many manufacturers make a big deal of their latest models with spectacular unveilings at major auto shows in front of thousands of press and industry big wigs. Not Panoz Motor Sports Group -- the small Georgia-based automaker is appropriately talking up its latest sports car -- the Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans -- at the Circuit de la Sarthe.

“[The Abruzzi] is a culmination of equal parts time, effort, and dreams,” said Don Panoz. “The Panoz brand always has prided itself on hand-building and delivering an exotic automobile experience to our customers. Our new offering takes this to a completely new level.”


If the Spirit of Le Mans suffix didn’t clue you in, the Abruzzi is very much inspired by Panoz’s past Le Mans race cars, especially the roadsters and coupes it fielded in LMP and GTR1 classes, respectively. The slinky body is designed to incorporate the company’s new three-stage cooling system, which incorporates a rear-mounted radiator and air intakes integrated into the rear and side quarter windows.

The sophisticated cooling system will likely be necessary for the Abruzzi’s monstrous engine. For now, Panoz hasn’t detailed the engine specs, but says it will produce 600 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. That’s impressive, but coupled with the new composite material Panoz developed for the car, it’s likely to be blessed with an astonishingly low curb weight. The REAMS material is reportedly dent resistant, completely recyclable, and is both stronger and lighter than carbon fiber.

Corresponding to the car’s exotic nature, Panoz will only build 81 examples of the Abruzzi -- one for each 24 Hours of Le Mans race held from 1923 to 2013 (the year Abruzzi production will cease). The vehicle will be so intrinsically linked to the race that Panoz will incorporate the specific race date and initials of the winning driver in each chassis number.

Panoz will also deliver completed vehicles in a very Le Mans-centric way. Each car will be hand-built in Hoschton, Georgia, and then shipped to the Circuit de la Sarthe. There, the new owner will receive driving instruction on the Bugatti circuit of the track. New owners will be invited to attend the race as guests of the ACO -- a major sponsor of the Le Mans enduro -- but they’ll be invited to drive a parade lap around the track next year.

Pricing for the car has not yet been released, but unfortunately for those hoping to grab one in the U.S., it won’t be street legal in this country. Panoz says that the car will only be homologated for street-use in Europe.

Source: Panoz Motor Sports Group

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Build Your Own: Dealers Design Last Batch of Special-Edition 2010 Dodge Viper

Dodge has had no trouble crafting its own special-edition models to celebrate the end of the 2010 Viper's production run, but it's now opening the fun to select dealerships as well.

Dealers who managed to sell high volumes of Dodge's two-seat sports car have been awarded the chance to design their own special-edition cars. For the most part, the custom Vipers are relegated to special paint schemes for the SRT10 roadster, the SRT10 coupe, and the SRT10 ACR coupe.


Thus far, Chrysler's revealed three examples of the dealer-custom program. The snake crafted by Woodhouse Dodge in Blair, Nebraska, is perhaps most unique -- the yellow Viper breaks from tradition and applies many of the unique touches found on the Viper ACR coupe to a drop-top roadster. Tromball Dodge created the "Reverse SRT10 ACR," which inverts the color combination used earlier this year on the Snakeskin Green Special Edition. Roanoke Dodge in Roanoke, Illinois, chose to apply dual Plum Crazy racing stripes on a black SRT10 coupe.

As is the case with the umpteen other special-edition Vipers we've seen this year, production of the Dealer Exclusive Program cars will be limited to 50 in total -- roughly ten percent of the entire 2010 Viper production run.

Source: Dodge

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Mercedes-Benz Crafts GT3 Racing Car Out of SLS AMG

Mercedes-Benz Crafts GT3 Racing Car Out of SLS AMG

Mercedes-Benz’s legendary 300 SLR was explicitly built for racing, not the street.  So perhaps it’s fitting that its spiritual successor -- the new 2011 SLS AMG -- will also be offered in a track-ready version.

The car, likely dubbed the SLS AMG GT3, is designed to compete in the FIA’s GT3 racing class alongside competitors like the Audi R8 LMS, BMW Z4 GT3, and the Aston Martin DBRS9. Overall, the car looks largely stock, although it is treated to taller side sills and bumper fascias for aerodynamics, a gigantic rear spoiler, and sliding Plexiglas window inserts.

We’ve yet to see an official release on the racer, but expect it to be much lighter and somewhat more powerful (i.e. 600 horsepower from the 6.2-liter V-8) than the roadgoing model.

AMG says it should have cars delivered to customers before the start of the 2011 GT3 season.

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FEATURES: Eight Great Volkswagen-Italdesign Collaborations(1995)

1995 Lamborghini Cala

Talk about déjà-vu. Eight years before Italdesign was hired to design the Lamborghini Gallardo, a smaller, more affordable Lamborghini, it was hired to design the Cala -- a smaller, more affordable Lamborghini.

Lamborghini's portfolio was bolstered with the 1990 launch of the Diablo, but the company had no replacement for the less-expensive Jalpa, which died in 1988. At the time, parent firm Chrysler saw no need to replace it, but that mentality shifted once the Indonesian Megatech consortium took over in 1994. A less-expensive Lamborghini -- perhaps one utilizing a V-10 -- was seen as key to introducing new customers to the brand and expanding the company's marketshare.


Megatech wasted little time -- the L140 program was launched soon after it bought the company, and early prototypes (which closely resembled Diablos) were shown to dealers that November. The public would have its first look at the car come March of 1995, when Italdesign unveiled the Cala at the 1995 Geneva motor show. Lamborghini executives hinted the car was a preview of the new "baby Lambo," and even let some journalists drive the functioning show car on the open road.

Sadly, the project never came to fruition. After the Indonesian owners ran into a number of legal, fiscal, and political troubles, Lamborghini was sold to Audi, and the Cala was shelved. Executives, however, still saw value in a smaller Lamborghini, and ultimately pushed for the addition of the Gallardo to the portfolio. A wise decision, as it's now the brand's most popular product.

...next page >>
source by automobi

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Subaru Launches Impreza WRX STI Spec C for Japanese Market

We wouldn’t exactly call Subaru’s WRX STI “soft,” but the Japanese automaker has just launched the WRX STI Spec C--a performance-tuned variant exclusively for the Japanese market.

Sure, the Spec C still uses the same 2.0-liter turbocharged boxer-four underhood, but engineers made a few small tweaks to boost performance. A redesigned turbocharger, along with a re-mapped engine computer, are said to help reduce turbo lag and improve the car’s top-end. The STI Spec C also receives an intercooler water injector, allowing intake air to remain cool, even at speed.

In the twisties, drivers will likely notice tighter steering and less body roll, thanks in part to a reinforced front suspension crossmember, stiffer coil springs, and unique rear sub-frame bushings. Subaru also replaced the rear differential with a Torsion-type unit, designed to enhance traction in corners.


If that weren’t enough, engineers put the STI on a crash diet. The Spec C gains an aluminum hood, laminate side windows, a smaller battery, and loses a spare tire in the name of saving weight. Subaru also developed a new set of 18-inch aluminum wheels (shod in Bridgetson Potenza RE070 rubber) said to further reduce unsprung weight.
If this sounds like your dream Impreza, rest assured it will remain that way. Only 900 examples will be built, and unless you’re living in Japan, it won’t be sold in your neck of the woods.

soure by automobilemag

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