2FastLane

Porsche RUF CTR3 – The Third Generation CTR

2fastlane — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:35:09 +0000

CTR3 is the third generation model of the CTR and it is tuned by RUF, the famous German tuning house. The record-setting 700 horsepower energy output and an awesome 235mph speed entitle the CTR3 to be called as the fastest Porsche on offer. The 3.8-liter flat-6 engine of the new Porsche is powered with a twin-turbo and has a displacement of 229 cu in. The power 700bhp is available at 7000rpm and it produces a torque of 657 lb-ft.

The body of the latest CTR is recreated by the RUFâ€™s aluminum and carbon-fiber fittings. The new fittings, thus, reduces the weight of this sporty model considerably making its function more smooth on the roads. The lattice tubing space frame that is applied in its body work is another important feature that contributed for the weight reduction.

The six-speed sequential manual gearbox is responsible for the top speed achieved by this super model. It can achieve acceleration from 0-62 mph in a span of 3.2 seconds. The body of CTR3 has got an elegant sporty look with its vented roof, the aerodynamic front and the flattened rear. The body appearance alone will catch the attention of the car aficionado all over the world. On the other hand, the interior looks sanguine with more red added in each component of it.

It was exactly 20 years back the original CTR was launched, and since then, the CTR has been known for beating many of its competitors. The story of CTR3 is not going to be different at all, according to Porsche and RUF.

The base price of CTR3 is fixed as $510,000. Are you ready?

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Subaru Impreza

2fastlane — Mon, 07 May 2007 09:26:25 +0000

Subaru Impreza, the elegant model from Subaru, has its debut at the New York International Auto Show, and the product will be available in the market soon this summer.

The important modifications of the new model include the chic style and interior design along with additional space and comfort to ensure a smooth driving environment.

The Subaru is provided with the Symmetrical All â€“Wheel drive facility with the help of horizontally opposed engine.

The engine has a capacity of 2.5 liter. The SOHC feature of this engine enables it to deliver mid to low-end torque and improve the fuel efficiency considerably. The intake manifold, intercooler and turbocharger are also redesigned in order to fit them to the new model. There are both transmissions available, both manual and automatic.

The additional contributing factors for the higher efficiency of the Impreza is its new body construction, chassis and the drivetrain. To improve the suspension and shock absorbing features, the Impreza is provided with double-wishbone rear suspension. The Boxer engine used in the Impreza is characterized by its ability to lower the center of gravity and thus ensure better balance on the roads.

The Impreza body features attractive unique panel curves and sweeping lines on the side. The projecting front fenders and rear quarters give the perfect sporty look to the sports model. The interior is modified to add more space and comfort. The aluminum-look insets, the navigation screen and elegant dashboard, and the high-quality fabric seat are among the important interior features.

2007 Nissan 350Z

2fastlane — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 21:49:24 +0000

This is the era of modifications for the Nissan. Having an origin from the 1970 Datsun 240 Z, the new 2007Nissan 350Z brings new definition for car style and performance.

The 2007 model comes with three chic colors â€“ carbon silver, solar orange and San Marino Blue. To tempt the sporty car lovers, the Touring and Grand Touring Coupe models have been provided with a Bluetooth hands-free phone system.

The VQ35HR engine is worth of its value. With the extended power of this 3.5-liter engine, the vehicle can now boast of 306 horsepower power output at 6,88 rpm

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Audi Abt R8

2fastlane — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:18:36 +0000

The Abt R8 is a super sports model from Audi. Abt R8 will be one of the fastest of all the Audi models, and thus it gets the credit of a top-class racecar. In competition it will excel the most talked-about Lamborghini or Porsche models.

The engine efficiency alone makes this model to be classified as the perfect of its genre. The 4.2-liter V8 engine delivers an awesome 530bhp output, an increase of 110 bhp from its earlier version that had already achieved a lot of accolades for its performance. The new engine is fitted with Abt supercharger, and so all the credit for the new show goes to Abt.

This all-drive-wheel model has got acceleration from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.9 seconds, and it attains a top speed of 197 mph. There are significant modifications done in the suspension parts too. The Abt suspension allows the car to make necessary adjustments in its height, pressure and performance according to the different driving conditions. Thus it ensures maximum comfort while running a sporty drive.

The exterior of the R8 has got a typical Abt appearance. The rear of the car has got a unique appearance with the four inclined exhaust pipes fitted on it. The typical additions made in the form of the air diffuser or the rear wing gives the car a totally new appearance and at the same time a proper downforce to maintain the balance on the front and rear axis.

The body of the car is made of carbon-fiber parts, and thus it reduces the weight of the car considerably. Apart from that is its aerodynamic design that gives it an athletic feel.

The Abt R8 will soon appear on the roads, setting a new formula in competition on roads.

2008 Honda S 2000 CR Concept

2fastlane — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 08:15:25 +0000

The American Honda Motor Co. launched the race-inspired model of the S2000 roadster at the recent New York International Show. The racer model will be available at the dealers by September 2007.

The entire body of the roadster is reworked to fit the new model in a racerâ€™s shoe. The aerodynamic body package is the most important feature of this aggressive performer on the roads. The body weight has been reduced considerably and the chassis balance is improved giving an easy feel to it in stressful driving conditions.

The chassis is featured with Bridgestone Potenza RE070 tires. Apart from the bigger rear tyre and better springs and dampers, the new model is provided with larger stabilizer bars and a new wheel design, ensuring a quicker steering ratio.

The body is now featured with a removable hard aluminum top to replace the original soft top present in the S2000 base model. When removed, the weight of the car gets reduced by 90 pounds.

Then comes the engine efficiency. Capable of delivering 237 horsepower at 7,800 rpm and a 162 lb-ft of torque at 6,8000 rpm, this engine is not far behind its counterparts on the racing roads. The performance guarantee is strengthened by the additional care taken in modifying the front and rear double wishbone suspension and adding an electric power steering and a torque-sensing limited slip differential.

The interior has been reworked considering the growing demands from the car enthusiasts across the world. The new cloth seating, the spherical aluminum shifter and the carbon fiber-style trim panels are innovative interior features of S2000 CR. The car also comes with optional air conditioning and AM/FM stereo and CD player.

2008 Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series

2fastlane — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 15:45:33 +0000

This sporty model is derived from the Official F1 Safety Car. Originally a coup, the CLK 63 is powered with AMG 6.3liter engine that is capable of delivering a 500bhp power and 470 lb-ft torque. With the 25bhp upgraded power, the super car now accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, faster than the earlier 475bhp model. The top speed achieved is 186 mph (300km/h).

There are effective modifications done on the suspension and wheel system. The new model is characterized by the sophisticated AMG suspension along with the 19-inch AMG forged wheel system. To face the challenges on the road, the car is provided with a large cooling intake system with larger radiator, an optimized power steering cooler, and an additional transmission cooler in the left front wheel arch. Other significant modifications include the AMG-powered brake system with the composite disks, flared wheel arches, diffuser-type rear apron, and carbon-fiber airflow breakway edge.

There are significant alterations made in the interior of the vehicle. By dispensing the rear seats, the new coupe has been changed into a two seater now. The AMG instrument panel is now provided with a lot of modern features. These include the status indicators for the current gear in action, engine oil status, temperature of the engine, and battery voltage, in addition to the innovative race timer. The race timer helps the driver to keep a watch on the lap times in a closed course and also enables him to record the fastest lap, average speed, maximum speed, etc.

Formula One technology is redefined here.

2007 Ford Focus World Rally Car (WRC)

2fastlane — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 10:56:18 +0000

The new Ford Focus Rally Car is a modified version of its 2006 model. The new race model that is added with more intelligence and power is based on the Ford Focus ST road car.

The man behind the technology of this powerful version of the Ford Focus ST is Christian Loriaux, the technical director at M-sport, a British-based company that is known for the Blue Ovalâ€™s WRC programs.

The engine of the WRC has not been changed from its base road car model. Therefore, to meet the race conditions, the new WRC has to be fitted with additional engines that qualify the racing criteria. Thus the car has been now provided with a 2.0-liter Duratec engine unit, along with a turbocharger and 34-mm inlet restrictor by M-Sports, to meet the current demands. The all-alloy block of this engine reduced its weight considerably and made it racer friendly.

There are slight modifications made in the suspension parts too. In order to take the new model in the racing grounds, the weight reduction and the cost reduction were imperative according to the WRC engineers. Thus they reduced the use of titanium material in the body and provided the racer model with a cheaper and lighter material. There were proper adjustments done in order to have a better balance between the handling and traction.

Another notable change is in the gearbox. The Ricardo gearbox is featured with five gears instead of the earlier six gears. This facility again is intended for weight reduction and less energy loss through friction, but without any compromise on the performance.

2007 Porsche Boxter – Box stir!

2fastlane — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 11:16:30 +0000

Undoubtedly, the Porsche Boxter has created quite a stir around. One of the best brands in the sports car segment, you can trust a Porsche with your eyes shut. Their 2007 release of the Boxter gives sports car enthusiasts what they have been waiting for- a car that they would kill to get.

When you see it, you will loose your mind over the sheer beauty of the car. It looks totally amazing and you can practically feel yourself whizzing by, the top down and your spirits up- such are the images conjured by one look at this car.

It is as comfortable as it is sexy. The seats are ergonomically engineered to make you feel like you are in heaven and are a dream to sit in. Though it is a two seater, it is not in the least cramped and makes driving bliss even for tall, long-legged drivers.

The engine- donâ€™t get us started on that one. It has a 2.7 liter engine which gives as much as 245 horsepower- a totally amazing feeling. Not only this, but the pick up has also improved considerably. As if this was not enough, the Boxter is equipped with the new Porsche VarioCam plus setup – this is for better lift control and valve intake. The end result is a vroom machine which will blow your mind away.

So those of you who are completely mesmerized with the Porsche Boxter- go right ahead and check it out because this baby has your name written on it!

2008 Ford Shelby GT- H Mustang Convertible

2fastlane — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 18:38:23 +0000

The new GT-H Mustang Convertible project is part of the Ford-Shelby GT-H “Rent-a-Racer” program that was initiated in 2006. The new version of the Ford Mustang GTs will be soon available from the Hertz Fun Collection through their selected dealers at Arizona, California, Colorado, and Hawaii towards the end of the year.

The 2008 Convertible’s exterior appearance resembles the 2006 Shelby GT-H Mustang Coupe. However, the blackish exterior will be modified with the “Le Man” sporty stripes and “Shelby GT-H” rocker stripes. It will be provided with a unique hood and front fascia. The hood will feature the running horse emblem on a brushed aluminum grille. The front fascia will be featured with integrated lower grille and a set of body side scoops.

The 2008 Convertible will be powered with major engine modifications. The Power Pack offer from the Ford Racing Performance Group, combined with the Ford Racing Handling Pack will make the Ford-Shelby GT-H power train the best of its category sports cars. The 4.6L V-8 five-speed automatic transmission will yield a 319-horsepower output. Added to this engine features are the special-tuned dampers, lowering springs, sway bars and a strut tower base. The new rear axle assembly features an extra off-the-line acceleration.

Ford and Shelby will produce 500 units of the 2008 Convertible in the beginning exclusively for Hertz. Thus the muscular 2008 Convertible will offer a new sporting experience to the fans of Hertz and will open a new arena of thrilling racing experience.

2007 Hyundai Tiburon

2fastlane — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 09:38:42 +0000

Many would consider Hyundai to be a novice in the sports car segment and rightly so- they are new to this field. The brand canâ€™t be expected to deliver the best and be in competition with the high players for another couple of years. May be in the next decade, they will be one of the decent competitors.

Most would think the above things and would be wrong because it sure looks like Hyundai did their homework and only then came up with the 2007 Hyundai Tiburon. This sports car coupe base model comes in less than $17,000. Surprised? So were we. An unbelievable price for a sports car. But what is more unbelievable is that it actually is not a bad model at all and delivers more than it promises. The Tiburon is very new and is also a very big threat to the big boys. They better buckle up.

The car looks like a typical sports car- just what the market wants. The body is nice and rounded and gives an impression of being really smooth- which it is. The side lines are rakish in style- not so structured and it adds to the appeal of the sports car.

Next up, letâ€™s talk about the engine. It has a regular V6 engine and gives about 172 HP. Not bad at all. The suspension is really remarkable and the handling so smooth and easy, it beats the competition big time.

The interiors are also done up in style. The indicators are all in a stylish blue light and the rear view makes you feel like you are in a sports car.

All in all, a super buy and an excellent choice.