AutoMill

Holden Special Vehicles - W427 Commondore

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 05:32:10 -0700

Impressed or not we're still going to tell you about it. The new W427 Commondore sedan by Holden Special Vehicles got its specs out. The Australian auto-maker will only produce 427 units priced at $150,000 AUD (~$142,500) which should output 375kW (502hp) and 640NM (472 ft/lbs) of torque coming from the 7.0-liter LS7 V8 from the Z06 Corvette.

The exterior is going to pack new exclusive front fascia, new 3 piece rear carbon fiber spoiler and 20-inch wheels.

Here are some specs of the new W427 Commondore Sedan:

Powertrain

7.0 Litre, LS7 Engine with HSV specific calibration o 375kW @ 6500 rpm o 640Nm @ 5000 rpm
Over radiator style cold air induction system – with high flow air filter.
Dry sump lubrication system with 2 stage pump.
Hand fabricated aluminium oil reservoir, with baffles for high G loading.
Front mount, 13 row engine oil cooler
Ceramic coated, high flow 4 into 1 extractors
High flow catalytic converters and exhaust system (3” into 2 3⁄4”)
Active bi-modal rear mufflers * Exhaust back pressure management
Improved noise quality
High strength limited slip differential
New high strength 6 speed manual gear box (TR6060)
GMPT LS7 Clutch with new actuator and pedal assembly for high clamp loads

Suspension

New springs, 30% stiffer than GTS
Revised ride height – 20mm lower than GTS

Source: HSV

Alfa Romeo MiTo - video

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 18:22:58 -0700

The details on the new MiTo, which is a collaboration (Milano - Torino) between Alfa Romeo and Fiat have surfaced. It's a sporty new model that is intended for new drivers (I suppose, most of them young) both males and females. We got our hands on a new video with the 4 cylinder engine MiTo and though it's not exactly Top Gear caliber the MiTo could be a big hit when it gets available on the market. Check out the video below and tell us if you'd buy or at least drive one!?

Renault Megane III more spy shots (video)

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 15:10:20 -0700

Lots of people expect the new Renault Megane III but until we have something official, like the world debut, we can only look at spy shots or at that video. The bad part is that we still get a camouflaged version as if the French automaker is trying to hide something extremely hot. Could that be it?

The current Megane with the 230hp R26 version sets the precedence in terms of power, so we're expecting the new Megane III to inherit at least a few of these when it's going to be unveiled at Paris in September.

Check out the video on World Car Fans

New Seat Exeo

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 04:53:42 -0700

To be honest I wasn't expecting a new Seat sedan but this came in as a nice surprise. In a recent announcement Seat said the will be launching a new D-segment model in 2009 which will be called Exeo. Available in two versions, sedan and family car, the new Exeo is not going to replace Toledo, but rather sit alongside.

The name comes from the Latin word “Exire” which means “to go beyond” or “to go further” and is different from the other models, which could mean that Seat is on a new direction? The new Seat Exeo will be manufactured at the Martorell plant and will probably make world debut at the Geneva Motor Show.

Source: Seat

Peugeot 3008 mini-SUV

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:00:55 -0700

Peugeot is coming up with a new car model, dubbed Peugeot 3008 and has been spotted by photographers while it was undergoing tests in hot weather conditions.

Fighting in class with Renault Scenic, Volkswagen Touran and Citroen Picas the new car is a mini- SUV in appearance and features a full three-row seven-seat layout and a much higher roof.

Apparently the two rear seats are too small.

The engine looks very similar to Peugeot 308, featuring a new generation petrol and HDI engines ranging up to a displacement of 2.4-liters. The car is still under construction and is believed to be launched some time next year.

via WCF

Peugeot 608 goes to Paris

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:26:56 -0700

Peugeot 608 is all set to be launched at the Paris Motor Show this year along with the Peugeot 308 RC Z. 608 will come up with a new and unique styling while keeping the instantly identifiable shape, the Peugeot trademark.

The front grille will remain almost intact with very little changes, the front fascia will get sportier looks, and the lights will run further up the hood just like the 308 RC Z concept car. On the interior, there are a lot of changes and the new 608 features only high-tech equipment.

The engines that will power the new Peugeot 608 include the 2.0-liter & 2.2 liter diesel engines, 1.8-liter and 2.0-liter petrol engines. They all top with the 2.7-liter Hdi V6 engine pumping out over 200 hp.

Currently Peugeot-Citroen is developing the worlds first hybrid diesel engine and 608 may be the best candidate. Meanwhile we found out that the new 608 could be priced at £25,500 ($50,000) and should be available in 2009.

Source: autoexpress

Subaru Exiga

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:17:14 -0700

After showing it at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2007 Subaru started selling its new Exiga. The seven seater car with a functionality of a SUV but looking sleeker, like a wagon comes with a different front grille design.

The naturally aspirated models highlights refinement and simplicity with flowing chrome-plated contours while the design for the turbo models, stresses a sporty and muscular impression by adopting a powerful wing-shape embellishment in dark plating on a metal mesh background. All of them are equipped with distinctive wheels and individually designed spokes.

Subaru Exiga features decorative insets with a horizontally flowing pattern from the center panel of the dashboard to the door trim add spaciousness and a quality look to the interior, the center panel combines wood and metal finishes.

It is going to be offered in four different variants; 2.0i, 2.0i-L, 2.0i-S and the grand touring 2.0GT model. The GT model is powered by a turbocharged 2.0 liter DOHC horizontally-opposed boxer engine producing 225 hp while the other models go with the 2.0 liter DOHC boxer engine and start from 148 hp.

Source: Subaru

First Nissan Teana Rolls Out

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:05:42 -0700

Dongfeng Motor corporation, partner of Nissan in China has rolled out its first Nissan Teana off the production line at the Xianfang manufacturing plant.

Nissan thinks that china is the main market for its sales and the new Teana is based on Nissan's new D Platform and is designed to meet the needs of Chinese customers that results in a quiet, comfortable and relaxed ambience for both the driver and the passengers.

Nissan Teana is powered by Nissan's 2.5 liter VQ25DE V6 and 3.5 liter Vq35DE V6 engines attached to an Xtronic CVT transmission with Adaptive Shift Control and the base model uses a 2.0 liter MR20DE engine. The car is priced at RMB 190,800 ($27,652) and RMB 332,800 ($48,232) for the two versions, and Nissan expects to sell around 166,000 units.

Source: Nissan

LEW1S plate number - £200,000

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:00:55 -0700

Mercedes-Benz F1 racer Lewis Hamilton has spent a fortune, £200,000 (or about $392,000) to get a vanity number plate.

But don't go crazy for the guy because he's got the cash to pay for it. Critics say that he is still a kid and loves to write his name on the desk, bathroom stalls or on the tree trunks. Hamilton currently earns a base salary of around $27 million per season and that does not include his sponsorship deals with luxury watchmaker Tag Heuer, Boss clothing, Mobil oil as well as a reported huge $20 million contract with Reebok.

The plate is likely to come up on his his Mercedes SUV (cost: ~$112,000) or on the new Porsche Carrera GT he's about to buy. But maybe he'll be saving it forthe $4 million Mclaren F1 LM – a prize he is set to receive if he brings home the F1 drivers championship this year.

BMW M GmbH Celebrates 30 Years

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 05:37:46 -0700

BMW traditionally known for its sporty dynamic vehicles has recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of BMW M GmbH by selling 300,000 units.

The first car was produced in 1978 with a limited edition of the M1 model, featuring a mid-engine straight six-cylinder engine meant for motor sports homologation.

In 1984 BMW M GmbH started to develop high-performance automobiles suitable for everyday use and was distinguished by discrete aesthetics and sports influenced suspension technology with a 210 kW/286 bhp engine, it was called BMW M5.

Later in 1986, BMW M GmbH produced the M3 which is the largest portion of BMW M GmbH sales.

Currently 9 models of BMW M series are in production and it has highest demands in the USA and Europe.

We at AutoMill, wish them a long and prosperous life!

Audi TT-RS Spied on the Track, Again

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:30:16 -0700

Leading German Auto maker Audi has been caught testing the RS concept car many times since 2005. Earlier this year the much hyped performance car Audi TT-S debuted in Detroit and it also announced the production of TT Clubsport.

Audi TT-RS (seems to have a TT-S body - picture) prominently displays its wide oval tailpipes that fit the dual exhaust slots of the TT-S rear bumper in addition to RS wheels and RS brake calipers. It's going to feature a 350 HP 2.5 liter turbo inline 5 cylinder engine and rumors talk of a possible Volkswagen 3.6-liter 280bhp V6 from the Passat as a great candidate to power the small beast.

We'll get to see it shown this October in Paris, but the production schedules could be altered as the TT-RS and RS5 schedules overlap.

via WCF

Volkswagen Touareg by Hofele

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:20:36 -0700

More or less, the German tuning house Hofele tried to tell us that there are improvements on how the new Volkswagen Touareg could look like. Though the SUV experienced a minor face lift last year, this new body kit consisting of a new front bumper, new rear apron with trapezoidal tailpipes, sides skirts, roof spoiler and removable under ride protection is quite neat.

However, it does come with a new 'Power Dome' hood scoop and 22 inch Reverso 22 (295/30 R22) wheels. Either a sport springs or ETS module for the air suspension lowers the car by 40mm. Too bad they didn't do anything to the engine.

Source: Hofele

Nissan GT-R V at Paris

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 03:46:21 -0700

After the grand success of the Nissan GT-R, Nissan is planning to launch its new version dubbedof GT-R called GT-R V at the Paris Motor Show in September. Sales will begin as soon as December for the Japanese market but the European and American markets will have to wait until close to 2010.

Voices say that the car is powered by 512 bhp turbocharged engine with carbon-fibre body that will contribute to a 100kg reduced dry weight and capable of a 7:25 Nurburgring laptime which is 18 seconds faster than the GT-R. The Nissan GT-R V-Spec prototype features a revised front splitter, additional air intake slits, new six-spoke wheels and a new braking system.

Who's waiting in line for one?

via Motor Authority

Saab 9-4X

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 05:25:58 -0700

Saab began development of its all new Biopower concept car dubbed 9-4X, that has been displayed at the North American international motor show. Now that they entered the Biofuel technology business, Saab is going to test it a little bit on the Nurburgring circuit in Germany. World debut will be in Detroit next year.

The interior features a sweep up-center panel with infotainment controls lit by green illumination lighting and you will also find an Altimetre, The car features a sliding floor with a fold-out aluminum ski holder.

Saab 9-4X comes with a powerful 2.0 liter (Bio) power turbo engine which is designed to run on bio ethanol fuel and can produce a 300 HP and 400 Nm of torque. For the first time Biopower technology has been combined with an all wheel drive technology in this segment.

via jalopnik

Zircotec’s diamond black coating on Lambos

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 03:47:40 -0700

Lamborghini engineers have discovered that Zircotec’s diamond black coating inhibits the radiation of heat from the surface of the material, in other words the coating hold the heat inside.

Zircotec is orginally developed for the nuculear industry to hold the radiation inside but apparenty it can also be applied in the car industry on components like exhausts, turbos and catalysts.

Applied to the coating it makes it creates an extremely hard and durable surface that is highly resistant to vibration, mechanical damage and thermal shock.

Lamborghini is looking for a durable solution that can protect the composite bodywork and components of the rear of the car as the paint finishes were not able to meet the stringent quality and durability requirements. The coating is plasma-sprayed and is offering better performance than any other solution.

Would that increase the price? Probably!