Archive for the 'Auto' Category
Top Gear: Stig Tops Zonda In a Koenigsegg CCX
Third time is a charm. After nearly destroying a Koenigsegg CCX in his second attempt around the track (see 04:43), the Stig gets another chance to get the fastest track time ever on Top Gear…with the help of a new spoiler.
Find [via YouTube]
Photos courtesy of Koenigsegg.com.
CCX stands for Competition Coupe X. The CCX commemorates the 10th anniversary of the completion and test drive of the first CC prototype, which was rolled out in 1996.
The straight line performance of the CCX is just as impressive. The 4.7-liter twin-supercharged V8 engine belts out 806 bhp @ 6900 RPM and 678 ft/lb of torque. This car shoots from 0-60 in about 3.2 seconds (2 tenths quicker than a Lamborghini Murcielago LP 640). And you’ll blow the doors off of just about anything in a quarter mile sprint — Koenigsegg proposes that the CCX is capable of a 9.9-second run @ 146 mph, although I have yet to see this happen. It is also expected to reach a top speed of 245 mph. But don’t assume that power is its only discrimination. The body and chassis are one piece…all made of light-weight carbon fiber (as seen below). The car’s weight can be decreased even further with optional light-weight carbon fiber wheels and ceramic brakes.
Semi monocoque made of pre-impregnated carbonfibre and honeycomb (Koenigsegg.com).
At $650,000, the 2007 Koenigsegg CCX is about half the price of a Bugatti Veyron. The really good news is that there is an additional 50 mm in headroom, making the CCX the most spacious super car on the market. Koenigsegg believes to have found a niche by enabling really tall drivers to fit well inside the car, still with its highest point only 1120mm above the tarmac. Well, considering I’m a little over 6′5″, I shouldn’t have problem. Now if I can just figure out how to pay for one.
Apply for the Discover® Open Road Card today! link goes direct to application
Popularity: 10% [?]
2007 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640
Photo courtesy of Automobile Magazine
Lamborghini has come a long way for a company that began as a tractor builder. Almost eight years after being acquired by Volkswagen, Lamborghini has made notable impact in the supercar niche with the release of its potent Murceilago LP640. The LP640 differs in several ways from the previous Mucielago. But the most significant is perhaps the 0.3 liter increase in its engine size…bumped from 6.2 to 6.5 liters for a 60hp increase to 640hp at 8,000 RPM.
With a larger rear-diff and the optional e-Gear transmission, this Murcielago is worthy of a dig rematch with the Pagani Zonda. With the e-Gear activated, the 4-wheel-drive transmission won’t engage the clutch until it hits 4,000 RPM at which point you’re basically launched down the drag strip. The result is 0-60 in 3.4 seconds. But while it goes straight real fast, you’d better hope a challenge “in the twisties” means a drifting contest.
Photo courtesy of LamboCars.com
For the 2008 model year, the Murcielago LP460 gets a haircut with the release of the roadster. Rather than liter this post with vivid pictures of this breathtaking beast and a list of its specs and improvements, why not get all that and see it in action…Top Gear style. It finished 6th in Top Gear’s road course trial, just 1 back of the Ariel Atom, with a time of 1:19.8.
Find [via YouTube]
Popularity: 4% [?]
Top Gear Video Compilation of Odd Vehicles
Just when you think you’ve seen everything on Top Gear, check out this video comparo of unusual vehicles, including a driveable living room set. They settle things with a race to proclaim one of these as the “Fastest Stupid Car Ever”.
Find [via Google Video]
Popularity: 5% [?]
Now She Can Breathe Easier
For you car nuts, I just received a brand new Fujita Cold Air Intake for my Maxima. The black wrinkled finish matches the rest of the car. But besdies being aesthetically pleasing, this thing has been dynoed to add 14-17 hp…to the wheels. That’s alot for an intake on a V6. But, I quickly found out that it could very well be the case after I disassembled the stock intake. There were so many boxes, resonators, pipes, etc that it required that I jack up the car, and remove the bumper…well, the fender well lining. After about an hour, I had a new intake.
I immediately took it for a spin. While the butt dyno results weren’t as noticeable as I thought with the supposed horsepower increase, it sounds pretty darn wicked in the top of the RPM band. Luckily, it still preserves some of the considerate sound levels during normal driving. Anyway, just thought I’d share.
Popularity: 2% [?]
2007 Lexus LS460 Revisited
If you recall in my previous LS 460 post, I said that “Lexus has outdone itself” with all the new gadgets in the LS 460, but also wondered how many “over/under bets you could wager on how many of these things will break before your warranty is up”. Well, a couple of the folks over at Automobile Magazine tried using the perpendicular parking function and had an interesting time doing so.
See the video for yourself.
Popularity: 2% [?]
First Spinners, Now Crystal-leens
I really don’t know what to say to this other than spinners (aka. Spreewells) are out. Clear wheels are in. Of all the things you could see at SEMA 2006, this had to be on display, or rappers would run out of lyrics.
No really…check it out.
…or go to Forgiato.com.
Popularity: 2% [?]
2007 Lexus LS460
Lexus has redesigned its latest adaptation of its flagship sedan, the LS. In its 17th year of LS production, you could say Lexus has outdone itself…and maybe the competition. And in order to put itself in contention with the likes of the Mercedes S-class, the BMW 7 series, and the Audi A8/S8, Lexus has added a number of luxurious apppointments into the new LS. Lexus has also added a first-ever long wheel base version.
Many of the neat features include push button start, tuck away side mirrors (I have these on my car and probably play with them too often), rear seat massage (it might be time to hire that driver you’ve always wanted), a motorized 9-inch drop down screen for the rear passengers (of course), and a Gen V GPS system with a 30 GB hard drive. However the there are two more notable features in the LS.
First, the LS includes an 8-speed transmission, which has fewer moving parts than its 6-speed predecessor using about the same amount of space. Why an 8-speed? Well, fuel and engine efficiency are definite advantages of having the transmission shift at earlier RPM levels. This is also the case with the recent utilization and improvement of CVT transmissions. Second is the nifty automatic parallel parking feature. Using bumper-mounted sonar and a rear camera, the LS will stuff itself into that curbside parking space that you refuse to park in for fear of bumping into someone.
While all of these “neat” things might seem like overkill, not to mention the over/under bets you could wager on how many of these things will break before your warranty is up, Lexus has proven itself in recent years as producing quality automobiles. This confidence shouldn’t change with the new LS. Personally, I still prefer a Mercedes, and probably a BMW, to a Lexus. Perhaps I should change my mind.
See the car for yourself in this TheWeekendDrive.com podcast.
Popularity: 2% [?]
Popular Posts
Categories
TAGS
Recent Comments
- PSI: Good for you for not taking advantage of these hybrid only parking spots. We could ALL use the exercise.
- derrich: I believe it was around $850 at the time. Now it may be less.
- derrich: Thanks for the clarification, Dave. But that is precisely the meaning I was using. I was comparing multiple...
- Dave Vinyard: Just fyi, maybe you intended it, but the expression, “mano a mano” does not mean “man...
- derrich: Sorry, D. When I had the redesign done, they only included a number of links. I need to do an update.
