Citroen has revealed the spectacular new Metropolis – a sleek and muscular concept car that pays homage to China’s extraordinary development. Created by Citroen’s international design team – based in Shanghai since 2008 – Metropolis will be on show in the French Pavilion at the Shanghai World Fair from 1 May to 31 October, 2010.Reflecting China’s avant-garde status, grandeur and vitality, the sleek limousine concept immerses itself in ‘Creative Technologie’, balancing environmental responsibility with luxurious comfort and driving pleasure.Incorporating a plug-in hybrid drivetrain and Hydractive suspension, Metropolis produces CO2 emissions of just 70g/km – approximately one fifth that of a conventional engine with equivalent performance.Metropolis’ distinctive silhouette is a vision of creative and sophisticated luxury with an imposing stature (5.3m long, 2m wide & 1.4m high), reflecting the dynamism and ambition of China in the 21st Century.Powerful and engaging, Metropolis’ subtle ‘Pearl Silk’ body colour changes under different light conditions, revealing the model’s generous curves and ultra-honed detailing.Metropolis carefully balances width and stability with flowing aerodynamic lines – incorporating an active spoiler – and signature Citroen design flourishes, such as a concave rear window. Chrome touches around the side windows visually elongate the cabin, while ‘origami’ quarter-lights appear to float in the air – and also house a light source.China is the world’s largest automotive market and Citroen’s second largest outside Europe – having been established there for 20 years.
Welcome to our ode to the modern era of vee-eight glory. Here, in no particular order, are eight rip-roaring v8s that rocked our world and fried our tyres.
Porsche buyers clamouring for production version of 918 Spyder Concept.Good news this week for supercar shoppers keen to get their hands on the Porsche 918 Spyder Concept, with Porsche reporting that it has received nearly 900 “serious enquiries” from potential buyers.Speaking with Britain’s Autocar last month, Porsche supremo Michael Macht said that while the 918 is technically a concept, the company would consider putting it into limited production if there was genuine interest in the market.“There is no-one inside Porsche who doesn’t want to build the 918,” he said. “The response has been marvellous; we will ask buyers to sign letters of intent.”Macht and his team have set the bar at 1000 cars. With 900 buyers apparently nailed in already, it seems the 918 will be on the road soon enough. The question, of course, is one of price. For now, Porsche is remaining tight-lipped on that subject.The 918 Spyder draws power from a hybrid system made up of a 373kW V8 and two axle-mounted electric motors offering a combined output of 160kW.Thanks to the V8 and the additional all-wheel-drive poke provided by the electric motors, the 918 Spyder reaches 100km/h in 3.2 seconds, on its way to a top speed of 320km/h.
Some of the most expensive cars in the world cannot be insured because they would just cost too much to replace.
RateCity highlights the safest cars for 2010 and shows why safety is up there with comprehensive car insurance.One of our favourite Australian past-times is piling into the car and going for a drive. We love any excuse to get out of the house and take the car on the windy open road, but have you ever stopped to think about how safe your car is if you were involved in a collision?According to a recent report from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development & Local Government, there have been 338 fatalities throughout Australia this year alone, with 111 during March. Even though these numbers have decreased since last year, road safety is still a major issue and concern for all.
Star ratings guide the way
On a lighter note, there is something that you can do to ensure that you and your family are safer on the road. The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) conducts thorough safety tests of motor vehicles by using four tests: pedestrian, offset frontal, side impact and pole impact.It keeps drivers up-to-date with information on the level of protection provided if vehicles were involved in a serious crash. All cars are given scores which is then turned into a star rating from one to five, with one being the lowest.So if you are in the market for a new car, why not consider one of the following cars as tested and rated by ANCAP as the safest cars so far for 2010.VW Polo (LHD) five door (5 stars) Ford Territory 4L (5 stars) Kia Sorento 2.2L (5 stars)
Increase your safe driving
Driving is one of those things that we regularly take for granted, but accidents can happen anywhere at any time, so always make sure that you reduce the risk of being in a crash by following these tips:• Be alert and always observe what is happening around you.• Always take extra care when changing lanes and overtaking. Watch out for your blind spots.• Don’t just think that because the light is green that this is the all clear, be careful when going through intersections.• Slow down when wet or when driving conditions are extreme and at night time.• Never use a mobile phone while driving.• Keep a safe distance between the car in front of you, especially when driving in the country.• Take your time, it is better to be late than sorry.
Car insurance and safety go hand in hand
Apart from everyone’s safety the last thing you want to worry about is the costs involved to repair your car if you were involved a collision. If you do happen to be involved in a car accident it is beneficial to be insured with comprehensive car insurance. Compare car insurance companies online to find the best level of car insurance for your car.
We invest a lot of time and money into purchasing our cars, so it only makes sense to want to look after them and protect them with car insurance for all their love, hard work and time they have given us.Regardless of the age of your car; whether it is a few years old or brand spanking new, with the proper care and attention your car will last longer, go further and perform better. What’s more, you won’t have to outlay additional funds to replace it because it is old, battered and tired.Here are six tips on how to get the most out of your car for years to come while making it safer, more reliable and in tip top shape.
1. Go by the book.
Book your car in for its regular service and maintenance checks as stipulated in your cars log books. By sticking to the book and getting it serviced regularly you will avoid the opportunity for major costly things to go wrong as your mechanic will stop them in their tracks.
2. Check oil and coolant levels.
Check the level of your cars oil and coolant every couple of weeks to avoid premature wear on your engine, continuous low levels and wear on the engine can lead to engine damage which not only is costly but reduces long term car reliability.
3. Tyre pressure.
Check the pressure of your tyres once a week or a fortnight is ideal. Low tyre pressure can affect your fuel economy, handling of the car and comfort. It is also an idea to have your tyres rotated and balanced regularly as uneven tyres can cause unusual wear and tear and you may have to replace them much sooner than you had hoped.
4. Wash, wax and polish.
To keep your car free from rust and to avoid the colour from fading it is important to regularly wash and polish your car. Don’t forget the inside of your car to dust and vacuum, you will feel like you are driving a brand new car all over again.
5. Warning, warning, warning.
If a warning light comes on while driving don’t hope that it will go away, have a mechanic check it out immediately. It may be nothing major but it’s worth investigating rather than letting it get worse and costing you more in the long run.
6. Listen.
Always keep an ear out for odd noises from your car while driving. If you hear something that you aren’t sure about, get it checked straight away out by a mechanic.
7. Compare car insurance.
If you want to keep your vehicle for a long time, you will want it to provide maximum safety protection and by having it covered will ensure this. You can be covered in the event of an accident, theft or if your windscreen needs replacing. This will also save you money long term as well as provide you with peace of mind. To find the best cover for you compare online and save.By sticking to these tips your car will perform better, last longer, be much safer, more economical and you will save in the long run. Even though the initial outlay for services and maintenance may be expensive, avoiding them and not looking after yourself and your car can essentially cost you much more.
MERCEDES-BENZ has taken the wraps off a wild new race version of the SLS AMG as part of celebrations commemorating the original 300SL Gullwing’s victory in the 1952 Carrera Panamericana.
Not everyone would see the appeal in spending several million dollars on a car that may or may not have been ridden in by someone who never had a driving licence. Even if said person was a self-proclaimed car enthusiast, and was instrumental in putting the automobile within reach of the common man.Plenty of people would actually be discouraged to learn that their used car had originally been delivered in 1935 to an A. Hitler of Berlin.There again, it seems plenty of others wouldn’t.Last November, Dusseldorf classic-car collector and dealer Michael Froehlich spouted that he had “tracked down” a 1935 Mercedes-Benz 770K (kompressor) Grosser limousine that had been used by Adolf Hitler.In fact, it was one of a group of six similar 770 models – four of them also former Nazi state cars – that Froehlich had located at the request of a mystery Russian billionaire buyer.The Russian was said to be paying a sum well into eight figures for the six cars, owned by a collector in Bielefeld, Germany. The blue-black, open-roofed ‘Hitler’ car, which is fully armoured, weighs about five tonnes and carries the registration 1A 148 461, might itself be worth $10m.Nasty Nazis or not, the Mercedes-Benz 770 was one of the world’s most significant cars during a 13-year production run that began with its launch at the 1930 Paris motor show. The production comprised Series 1 (W07) and the 1938 Series 2 (W150), which brought a new chassis and coil-spring suspension. Only 117 Series 1 and 88 Series 2 cars were built.The Grosser was suitably imposing, on a 3.75m wheelbase and weighing close to three tonnes, depending on coachwork. Power came from a 7.7-litre straight-eight engine driving through a four-speed Maybach gearbox.In standard guise, the ohv engine developed around 110kW. All but 13 examples, however, were fitted with the optional, clutch-actuated Roots supercharger that lifted power to 150kW in the Series 1 and 171kW in the re-tuned Series 2 (which also gained a five-speed ’box). Thankfully, the enormous hydraulic drum brakes were vacuum-boosted.What truly distinguished the 770 Grosser was its customers. Along with the top-ranking Nazi officials, these included exiled German emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II (who had a grey cabriolet), Japanese emperor Hirohito (red limousine) and Finnish president Baron Gustav von Mannerheim, who took delivery of a black cabriolet in 1941.Mannerheim’s four-tonne example was armoured with 3mm-thick body panels, a 6mm floor and 40mm bulletproof windows. Its fuel consumption of 27L/100km necessitated a 197-litre tank. This car’s 1948 shipment to the US and starring role in the 1951 film The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel often had it mistakenly branded as ‘Hitler’s Mercedes’.For six years, it sat alongside the blue-black sister car 1A 148 461 in the collection of Arizona developer (and Barrett-Jackson auction co-founder), Tom Barrett. When auctioned in 1972, the Mannerheim car fetched a then-record US$176,000 and the ‘Hitler’ car US$93,000.The latter hardly needed to be tracked down: for several years it was owned by colourful Las Vegas businessman, Ralph Engelstad. In a room at his Imperial Palace casino, Engelstad displayed the 770K among a collection of Nazi staff cars and memorabilia, and his-’n’-his paintings of himself and Hitler in full Nazi uniforms. The car was eventually sold to the German after Engelstad’s death in 2002.Car dealer Froehlich, 50, is one who doesn’t get Engelstad’s humour. “I was of two minds about tracking down the car of this shit Hitler,” he bluntly told Germany’s Der Spiegel. “The vehicle disgusts me, I have to say.”Others were more sceptical than disgusted. Within days of Froehlich’s ‘find’ being reported, Mercedes-Benz factory historian Josef Ernst keenly refuted that 1A 148 461 was anything special. The Chancellery at that time, he explained, simply bought and maintained a fleet of cars. “Who drove in what and when, is practically impossible to determine,” he said.“There is no such thing as Hitler’s own car.”
soccer stars and their supercars
Here are five essential V8 facts all enthusiats should know
