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New Pagani Huayra: Zonda successor finally revealed!

January 27, 2011 at 1:53 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars

This is the Pagani Huayra, the successor to the Zonda, named after Aymara Huayra Tata, a South American Andean god of wind which supposedly commands the winds, hurricanes and blizzards. The design is easily identifiable as a Pagani, from the forward cab shape to the rear end which shows off its quad tailpipe design.

The Huayra’s monocoque is built of carbon-titanium, and to access the cockpit you lift up gill wing doors that take up quite a good portion of the roof. The whole vehicle weighs just 1,350kg dry, with the full exhaust system constructed with titanium weighing less than 10kg.

The 85 litre fuel tank is positioned in a protected reinforced area behind the “pilot”, and when you hear how much horsepower this baby makes you’ll understand why a total of 85 litres of fuel per tank is needed. Two microprocessor-controlled fuel pumps send fuel to the engine in precise amounts.

At the heart of the new Pagani Huayra is a Mercedes-Benz AMG 60 degree V12 with 5,930cc of displacement designated to M158, and thanks to two turbochargers it makes over 700 horsepower and torque of over 1,000Nm. That’s a huge torque upgrade over the Zonda R’s 710Nm, but that’s to be expected thanks to the forced induction.

Two radiators cool the motor down, and the turbos pump air through an intercooler mounted above the cylinder head. Pagani is especially proud of the fact that the cooling system can handle ambient temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celcius found in areas like Death Valley.

Power goes to the wheels via an Xtrac 7-speed sequential AMT gearbox weighing 96kg. Pagani says they experimented with a twin clutch system which is the trend nowadays but the idea was scrapped because the twin clutch system would lead to a weight gain of 70kg, negating the effects of the slightly faster shifts.

Look after the jump for a full hi-res gallery of the new Huayra.
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Toyota FT-86 II set for Geneva debut: Toyota’s new sports car refined and closer to production

January 27, 2011 at 1:09 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Toyota

We think the Toyota FT-86 Concept was pretty much very near to production car status already, but Toyota has further refined it and will unveil a new revision called the Toyota FT-86 II at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show this year, which will give a clearer indication of the final design of Toyota’s new sports car.

This shot of the FT-86 II hiding behind a garage door is the only image that Toyota has revealed at the moment. Those are some nice headlamps there – they’ll give the FT-86 some more ‘move aside please’ cred when you look at it come up from behind through the rear view mirror.

Can’t wait for Geneva!

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What really happened at the Lotus vs Lotus hearing?

January 26, 2011 at 6:41 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Formula 1, Lotus, Motorsports

Both parties painted their own interpretation of whatever transpired at the hearing when it was decided that the trial between Group Lotus and Team Lotus be brought to a full trial in March 2011.

We’ve obtained the full transcript of the proceedings – so now, for whoever’s interested, you can read what actually happened after the jump, between Mr Silverleaf for Group Lotus Plc, Mr Morpuss for Team Lotus and Justice Peter Smith.
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Kia Morning – photos galore of the next-gen Picanto

January 26, 2011 at 6:40 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Kia, Koreans

Well, there’s definitely no shortage of photos of the next-generation Kia Picanto, what with plenty available of the Korean version of the car, which is called the Morning.

Besides the plethora of Morning pix, the domestic Kia website lists some basic details about the upcoming car for the home market – the Kappa 1.0 litre petrol model, which offers 82 hp at 6,400 rpm and 94 Nm at 3,500 rpm, will be available with a choice of four-speed auto or five-speed manual transmissions, with what looks like five different trim levels to pick from.

At the entry level, the car comes with a completely gray coloured interior and wears 13-inch steel wheels and 155/70 series tyres, and pretty much everything is basic – the side mirrors are of the manual adjustment variety, though the car comes replete with driver/passenger as well as side and curtain airbags.

Somewhere in between gets you black-coloured trim for the interior, as well as black faux leather seats, faux leather door trim and a leather steering wheel, while at the top end of things (the Special Deluxe version, no less), wheel size goes up to 15-inches, with 175/50 series rubbers adorning the Black Luxury Wheels. At this level, keyless ignition, Bluetooth and steering wheel audio controls are standard fitment.

Until Geneva, when it makes its official debut, have a wonderful Morning viewing the photos after the jump.

Update: Reader Deep wrote in to say that the quoted output above should be 69 hp, which should be the case given the preliminary – if sketchy – figures coming off Kia, but according to the specs listed on the Korean Kia website, the Morning’s 1.0 litre dual CVVT Kappa pot is placed to offer 82 hp. A case of wrong numbers, or higher specification output for the domestic market? All rather murky with this one.
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Team Lotus TL11 racecar to be unveiled in online magazine

January 26, 2011 at 5:44 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Formula 1, Motorsports

Team Lotus will be unveiling its 2011 racer – the Team Lotus TL11 – online in its new Team Lotus Notes magazine at 0500 hours GMT on Monday, January 31. Team Lotus Notes is a new free publication about the team and you can subscribe to it free at this form.

The TL11-01 will make its first test debut at Valencia with Trulli and Kovalainen at the wheel. The team will not be participating on the 1st February test, instead opting to do a private test day on the 4th instead, together with on-track filming.

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China becomes GM’s largest market – 2.35 million units sold

January 26, 2011 at 12:35 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, China, General Motors, International News

For the first time in its 102-year history, General Motors’ largest market isn’t the United States, but China. The company sold more cars and trucks there than it did in the US in 2010, managing 2.35 million vehicles sold, 136,000 more than that shifted in the US.

Shanghai GM achieved 1.03 million of the total figure, with GM’s other joint ventures accounting for the rest. In total, the number is a 29% increase from 2009. China, of course, is the world’s biggest automotive market – passenger car sales in 2009 amounted to 13.7 million vehicles, with total vehicle sales registering above 18 million.

Total global sales for the US automaker was 8.39 million, up by 12% over 2009, and though it is still in the world No. 2 spot behind Toyota, it’s virtually a case of neck and neck – the Japanese automaker reported a global sales volume of 8.42 million units in 2010, just 30,000 more than GM. In China, Toyota managed to sell 846,000 units, just over a third of what GM accomplished.

GM reported double-digit jumps in five of its top 10 markets in 2010, including a 12.4% increase in Russia and a 10.4% jump in Brazil.

Still, China remains the bright star, and the company isn’t going to take its foot off the pedal, planning to export US$900 million in vehicles and parts to the country under a two-year agreement signed with Shanghai GM, its flagship JV.

Vehicle exports worth US$500 million and components worth US$400 million will come under the agreement, which was among various trade and investment deals signed in connection with Chinese President Hu Jintao’s state visit to the US.

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Kylie Minogue to promote the Lexus CT 200h

January 26, 2011 at 11:54 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Lexus

Call it an endorsement, call it a partnership, in fact, call it what you will, but Aussie pop queen Kylie Minogue is the latest superstar signed on to plug a specific car model, in this case the upcoming Lexus CT 200h.

The new relationship will see Kylie supporting the introduction of the CT 200h through the cross-media Quiet Revolution marketing campaign and other forms of publicity. In addition to appearing in the upcoming TV commercial and print advertisements, Kylie will take delivery of her own personally specified CT 200h, which of course isn’t a bad thing.

It’s not the first time she’s helping to promote a car – the Ford StreetKa Roadster was, in 2002. Chances are she’ll find this one to be more comfy.

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Aston Martin V8 Vantage S – peppier and zippier arrives

January 26, 2011 at 11:02 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Aston Martin, Cars, International News


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Aston Martin has introduced a leaner and meaner form of the bog standard V8 Vantage called the V8 Vantage S, which is heavily influenced by the 2011 Vantage GT4 race car – it’s meant for the driver looking for significantly more go.

The 4.7 litre V8 engine on this one has been reworked to offer 430 hp at 7,300 rpm and 490 Nm of torque at 5,000 rpm, working with a new ground-up developed Sportshift II transmission.

Specifically designed for the car, the seven-speed automated manual transmission – with a single clutch system – is offered as standard fitment. Highlights include 20% faster gear changes compared to the Sportshift box, and the extra gear permits shorter, well-spaced ratios which, combined with a shorter final drive ratio of 4.182:1, delivers quicker acceleration and a more sporting feel.


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In addition to this, the Vantage S features a ‘Sport’ button which quickens the gear changes and gives the driver a more aggressive throttle response while also opening the exhaust bypass valves across most of the engine speed range.

Other dynamic revisions include a quickened steering rack ratio of 15:1 (compared to 17:1 on the standard car) and a larger diameter front brake disc, with new six-piston front brake calipers. There are also new springs and dampers, as well as wider rear wheels.

The car also gets a new dynamic stability control (DSC) system specifically tuned to it, as well as a new brake module providing features such as Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA) and Hill Start Assist (HSA).


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Exterior tweaks include a new lower front bumper finished in perfectly-aligned carbon fibre, which houses a larger air intake feeding the engine and front brakes; the splitter, combined with the extended deck lid ‘flip,’ work in harmony to provide increased downforce at speed. A new rear bumper and side sills, to optically widen the car, are also on.

New 19-inch ‘V’ spoke wheel styles come fitted as standard, with a 10-spoke lightweight forged wheel available as an option, and these wear bespoke Bridgestone rubbers.

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Ferrari Four V12 – additional photos of the FF

January 26, 2011 at 10:09 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Ferrari, International News


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More photos have come about for the new Ferrari Four, or by its acronym, the FF, including a new studio shot of the 6.2 litre V12-powered car in an elegant Grigio Ferro Metallic grey.


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Besides the studio pix, there are images of the prototype development mule – used during the long-term testing of the Ferrari-patented 4RM system – clad in camouflage, taken while the car was undergoing development testing of the four-wheel-drive system over the snow-bound roads of Sweden and Finland.

The 660 hp beast, which is the first ever 4WD offering from the Prancing Horse, makes its debut in Geneva in March, so there’ll be more on it then.

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Lotus: 1MRT statement misrepresents Judge’s decision

January 25, 2011 at 10:14 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Formula 1, International News, Lotus, Motorsports

A lot of you have expressed curiosity as to why Team Lotus seemed a little too happy about the UK High Court’s decision to proceed with a full trial in March this year.

I had initially thought the case had been thrown out after reading the first paragraph of the release. Clearly Group Lotus wasn’t too happy about the ‘angle’ of the release as they have just shot out this press release an hour ago in response:

Group Lotus and Proton are delighted with the outcome of yesterday’s hearing in which the Judge ordered a full trial of this matter to be heard as soon as possible given the proximity of the start of the new 2011 Formula 1™ season in a few weeks. The trial has been fixed at the English High Court for 21 March 2011.

Group Lotus and Proton have been made aware of the press release issued by 1Malaysia Racing Team (1MRT), it is completely incorrect and a misrepresentation of the Judge’s decision suggesting that Group Lotus’ application was “thrown out”. No decision was made on Group Lotus’ application. The Judge proposed that the better procedural route was to order a speedy trial of all the issues in dispute in the case. 1MRT initially resisted the Judge’s approach to resolve all matters quickly and before the start of the 2011 Formula 1™ season but the order was subsequently made and the first available date was 21 March.

Group Lotus and Proton have always held the view that this matter should be resolved as soon as possible in the interests of Formula 1™ and the fans. We therefore welcome this decision and look forward to the full trial. We are confident that at the trial Group Lotus will succeed in preventing 1MRT, Mr Fernandes and his companies, from using the Lotus name in Formula 1™ once and for all.

Well, 2 months to go until the hearing in March!

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