BMW 1 Series - 120d for customer racing WTCC / Group N

BMW Motorsport launches BMW 120d for customer racing

THE GERMAN manufacture is extending the range of models available for customer sport with its latest offer of a race version of the BMW 120d. The racing kit is expected to cost 95,000 euros when it goes on sale in March 2006 and is available from BMW Racing Parts.

The 245 hp racing model was developed by BMW Motorsport and is suited to both rally racing and endurance events across the globe. Like its production counterpart, the turbocharged four-cylinder inline diesel engine driving the 120d race version is also coming from BMW Motoren GmbH Steyr in Austria.

BMW is thus perpetuating its customer racing tradition in the year 2006. After the BMW 320i E46 took both the Manufacturers’ and the Drivers’ title in the 2005 World Touring Car Championship, next year will see numerous private teams lining up alongside the BMW national teams to contest the FIA WTCC with its successor model, the BMW 320si. To date, 114 kits of the E46 series forerunner have been sold around the world by BMW Racing Parts.

In extending its product range with the new BMW 120d, BMW is driving forward its successful concept of offering 200-plus customer teams around the globe a wide range of opportunities to gather racing experience and successes. In addition to the recently unveiled version – with its flared wings modelled on the 320si built for the WTCC – the 120d will also be available with slightly modified bodywork to meet the FIA regulations for Group N.

SPECIFICATIONS:	120d
Length:	4,227 mm
Width:	1,845 mm
Height:	approx. 1,360 mm
Wheelbase:	2,660 mm
Vehicle weight:	1,135 kg (with driver)
Chassis/body:	unitary construction steel body
Aero package:	front apron, rear apron, CFRP front wings and rear flared wheel arches, rear diffusor
Front axle:	double-joint spring strut axle with adjustable anti-roll bar
Rear axle:	five-link axle with adjustable anti-roll bar
Shock absorbers:	Sachs with adjustable compression and rebound
Brake system front:	332mm steel discs with six-piston AP fixed callipers
Brake system rear:	284mm steel discs with four-piston AP fixed callipers
Wheels:	aluminium rims, 9″x17″ BBS
Seat:	Recaro ProRacer HANS

ENGINE	120d
Engine type:	four-cylinder inline diesel
Displacement:	1,995 cc
Peak torque	450 Nm at 3,000 rpm
Peak output:	approx. 245 bhp at approx. 4,200 rpm
Max engine speed:	5,000 rpm
Cylinder block:	grey-cast
Engine control:	DDE6.0
Tank capacity / Fuel:	100 litres, diesel

Chevrolet Camaro Concept-design timeline

GM released official pictures from the Chevrolet Camaro concept, where they show us how the car was developed from sketch to reality. It should be mentioned that according to GM sources, the car we saw at the Detroit Show was their second interpretation of the model. The story has it that while GM executives had the car ready in July, they decided to have a “private” sneak preview of the concept. The special guest’s (not from GM) who saw the car, told Tom Peters, director of design for GM’s global rwd performance cars, the it was a little too retro for their taste. Obviously, that had an impact to GM people who went back to design board.

Another interesting story that came from Autoweek is that GM is revising its rear wheel platform plans. Below is a part from the Autoweek story:

GM revived its rwd plans late last summer after halting efforts to develop North American vehicles on Zeta last winter. Last winter, GM executives said that the initial plan for the Zeta vehicles was not workable but pledged to develop a new strategy. Possible Zeta vehicles included the Buick Velite concept, Pontiac GTO and Impala.

Stefanyshyn would not reveal the entire lineup under consideration but said the next-generation Impala "is a possibility." GM's styling studio has prepared both rear- and front-drive versions of the next Impala, according to an industry source who did not want to be identified. The engineering of the new group of vehicles will be handled by GM's Holden subsidiary in Australia, which built the Holden Monaro that is the basis for the current Pontiac GTO.

The architecture will debut in the second half of this year on a redesigned Holden model. GM also is considering a rwd model for China. Stefanyshyn was named vehicle line executive for the Zeta architecture a year ago. After the program stalled, he canceled plans to move to Australia. Now that the program has been revived, he will relocate to Australia in February and restart the vehicle development program for North America.

Long wheelbases

GM vehicles on the global rwd architecture will have long wheel-bases and short overhangs. All-wheel drive will be available. The Camaro and Velite, a convertible concept introduced at the 2004 New York auto show, demonstrate the possibilities for the architecture.Stefanyshyn says the global rwd architecture can be used for a wide range of vehicles. Vehicles will be assembled in Australia and North America.But Opel no longer is considering such a car, says Hans Demant, managing director of Adam Opel AG. Says Demant: "It is just too big" for Europe.

GM GROUP Rear Wheel Drive candidates

Buick Velite convertible

Buick flagship sedan

Pontiac Grand Prix

Redesigned Pontiac GTO

Chevrolet Camaro

Chevrolet Impala

Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee

Retro craze in the US has gone banana wild as after the Challenger & Camaro prototypes, Dodge is remembering its past once again, this time with a special edition of its Charger. Below the official press release:

Offered in Detonator Yellow with black accents, the 2007 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee is the first special edition of the Charger on Steroids. Powered by the Street and Racing Technology-engineered 6.1-liter HEMI producing 425 horsepower, the Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee features special logos on front and rear fenders, contrasting yellow stitching on the seats, steering wheel and shift knob. It will be available in dealerships this fall.
Before the re-introduction of the Super Bee designation on the 2007 Dodge Charger SRT8, the only previous Dodge Charger available as a Super Bee was a 1971 model. Immaculately restored examples now sell for $80,000 to $100,000

Opel GT

After a long period of wait, Opel is returning to it’s heritage resurrecting the famous GT at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The original model, produced between 1968 to 1973 sold over 100.000 units

That, of course, is what the official press release say’s as the new GT model is in fact, another version of the Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky models. Opel’s version will draw much closer to the Sky as this model was designed in collaboration with both the German and American teams. The new GT remains faithful to its predecessor having a front engine-rear wheel platform. What is not known up till now, is which engines the Opel GT will get. Inisde info leads us to believe that the GT will get a 1.8 (140 hp) and two or more, 2.0 Turbo engines (175, 200 & 240 hp).

Toyota Tundra 2007

(PS-Click to See Official Pics and Info:
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2006/02/2007-toyota-tundra-full-size-pickup.html )
TOYOTA announced that it is going to show it’s all new, second generation Tundra at the 2006 Chicago Auto Show. The full size Japanese truck was introduced to the US market in 1999 as a 2000 model. The completely redesigned 2007 Tundra will be bigger, more powerful and will offer new body and engine configurations. A concept version of the pickup was displayed in January 2005 at the Detroit auto show.

A heavy-duty, diesel-engine Tundra won't be available when sales of the new model begin in 2006, said Jim Lentz, U.S. general manager of the Toyota brand, in an interview in Detroit. The company is studying offering both heavy-duty and hybrid gasoline-electric Tundras. Lentz said the automaker isn't sure how big the market for such models will be.

"You have to take a look at the cost of all these engines, how many you are going to be selling, to make sure it really makes financial sense before you jump into that market,'' he said.

The all-new Tundra will be built in America at both Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Indiana and the new San Antonio,Texas plants.

James Bond New Aston Martin DBS

Aston Martin announced that in the next 007 film, “CASINO ROYALE” that is due to be released in November 2006 by MGM/Sony, James Bond will drive one of their supercars.

Daniel Craig, who will play James Bond in the film, will be the lucky “chump” driving the high tech DBS model. The model is assumed to be a super fast edition based on the V8 Vantage. The name DBS is not new to Aston as the British company produced a homonym model in the late 60’s (1967 to 1972)

Dr Ulrich Bez said: “It is great news that Bond will drive an Aston Martin again and we have built him something special to enable him to do his job in style.”

The association of James Bond with the marque began in 1964 with the film “Goldfinger” when the DB5 was fitted with “optional extras” such as ejector seats and rockets. The last Bond film, “Die Another Day”, featured Aston Martin’s flagship model, the Vanquish.

Mercedes SL Model 2007 (facelift)

Mercedes-Benz’s top selling Roadster just received a minor aesthetic facelift for the 2006 (2007 for the US) models. The most significant exterior changes concern the modified grille and the new rear light crystals. However, Merc’s engineers had a lot more to do than the designers as the engine range has been refreshed. The basic SL350 wears a new and more powerful 3,5 litre V6 engine with 272 hp (previous V6 3.7 with 245 hp) while the SL 500 has a new 5,5 litre V8 engine producing 388 hp (previous V8 5.0 with the same hp). The powerful SL 55 AMG has gained 17 hp reaching now 517 hp

Model	SL 350	SL 500	SL600	SL 55 AMG	SL 65 AMG
Engine	V6 3.5	V8 5.5	V12 5.5	V8 5.4 Kompressor	V12 6.0 TwinTurbo
HP	272	388	517	517	612
Top Speed	250 km/h	250 km/h	250 km/h	250 km/h	250 km/h
Acceleration 0-100 km/h 0-62 mph	6,6 sec.	5,4 sec.	4,5 sec.	4,5 sec.	4,2 sec.
Weight	1.825 kg	1.910 kg	2.045 kg	1.960 kg	2.120 kg