Archive for the ‘Car Manufacturers’ Category

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Peugeot to End Endurance Programme

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

It has just today been announced that Peugeot is to pull the plug on its Le Mans programme with immediate effect. This is a big surprise to all in the endurance racing field, particularly as Peugeot has achieved such great success as one of the front-running manufacturers.

They had been Audi’s main rival for many years now, and they had embarked upon running a series of variants of its diesel powered 908 prototypes in the Le Mans 24 Hours and the related sports car series since 2007. This of course was a fantastic way to develop certain diesel technologies, including diesel particulate filters.

The greatest achievement for Peugeot in the endurance programme was winning the momentous Le Mans 24 Hours race in 2009. Further success came last year when they won the inaugural Intercontinental Le Mans Cup title before the series then transformed into the World Endurance Championship this year.

In a statement from the French manufacturer, Peugeot have said: “This decision has been taken in the context of a difficult economic environment in Europe. Peugeot has chosen to concentrate resources on its sales performance in 2012.”

Peugeot’s decision to pull the plug is perhaps a rather justified one when considering the fact that car sales for the company have been plummeting.

Peugeot’s of old were never the prettiest cars it must be said, however, recently they have turned a corner with their design and development. The Peugeot RCZ, and the new 508, both look great and it indeed makes me wonder whether such developments have come from the great work Peugeot have been carrying out at Le Mans and within the sports car series.

However, having said that, with Peugeot now concentrating solely on their road vehicles, and with these great cars already there as a base to build upon, we can hopefully expect to see even better things fly off Peugeot’s design board and onto our roads. Hopefully this will also, therefore, lead to an increase in sales for the company, and maybe one day they will be able to make a very welcome and valiant return to sports car racing.

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The Year Ahead

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

Now that the festive and New Year activities have more or less come to a close, and we are all (kind of) back into the swing of things we can look forward to the year ahead, and in terms of upcoming cars in 2012 there is a lot of reason to smile and get very excited. Especially if you are lucky enough to be genuinely thinking about buying, or already have ordered, one of the cars we are about to mention!

We start with America’s special offers this year. Ford look certain to launch a new Mustang GT500. The name alone evokes a feverish excitement deep within a petrol heads stomach whilst also creating some very sweaty palms. Remember the original GT500 that was showcased in Jerry Bruckheimer’s Gone in Sixty Seconds remake? Well this new, modern version is set to come with over 600bhp and around 600 lb-ft torque. This astonishing performance comes from a 5.8 litre powerhouse.

Ford have also been hard at work designing an aerodynamic body in order to make it as fast as possible in a straight line as they aim to smash the 200mph barrier. Be sure also that it will be fitted with one tasty sounding stainless steel exhaust system that will burble and shake the fillings from your teeth.

Also from America comes the new Dodge Viper which is expected to be fitted with an 8.7 litre V10 that will also produce more than 600bhp. Prototype Vipers have been reportedly blasting round the Nurburgring at some rate and so anticipation is building for the release of what should be a European supercar beater. Watch out Ferrari and Lamborghini!

Speaking of European supercars, there is a new Pagani on its way. The difficult to pronounce Huayra has been delayed since the end of 2010 and this has led to increased expectations and excitement for what should hopefully be the release of Zonda’s replacement.

The Zonda was, and still is, a truly awesome supercar. It had everything, beauty, power, performance, garishness and pizzazz, and so with the Huayra set to replace it, we would hope the new model would be even better! That is certainly a tough task but Pagani have obviously been hard at work and will only release the new car when they are more than happy with the end product, and when, in their eyes, it is a true Zonda vanquisher.

There is also a new Bugatti set to arrive in 2012. The Galibier is expected to have over 1000bhp and is currently looking like a four door Veyron. It is almost certain that it will be the fastest four door saloon the world has ever seen, and in typical Bugatti style will come with a big WOW factor. It will be loud, fast, grand, and fierce whilst also being able to settle down for a long, executive cruise. Perhaps a Bentley defeater? Or a Rolls Royce slayer? Expect the Bugatti to be quite a chunk more expensive however…

There are, of course, many more cars that will get tails wagging throughout 2012, stand by for reviews and previews here on the Longlife blog.

Happy New Year!

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Subaru S206 Announced

Friday, November 25th, 2011

Japanese car giant, Subaru, announced a harder, faster, superior upgrade to their Impreza WRX STI range; the S206. However, unfortunately, it will not be available here in the UK. Your only way of getting your hands on this particular Scooby is to have it imported.

This hardcore version of the Impreza will receive a power boost to 316bhp, with 318 lb-ft torque. This added performance comes in the shape of a new twin-scroll turbo, an upgraded ECU, a sports exhaust system, a larger intercooler, and an air filter that has been redesigned. This has all been added to the standard flat-four engine that we are all familiar with.

Subaru has not yet released any performance figures, however it is expected that new Subaru will benefit from a “heightened” accelerator response and extra low-to-mid range torque. The current Impreza we can buy over here in the UK has 297bhp and will hit 62mph (100kph) in 5.2 seconds whilst propelling its self all the way to 155mph. So, with that in mind, we can have a guess at what the new Impreza performance figures will look like. Expect 0-62 to be sub five seconds, and the top speed, if unrestricted, should be plus 160mph.

The chassis has been tightened also with STI-specific Bilstein struts, coils and dampers. When it comes to making a great chassis, Subaru certainly know what they’re doing thanks to their World Rally Championship experience and expertise. The new car will also have massive 18in Brembo brakes fitted, which it will no doubt need to reign in all that power and performance!

The new Subaru is also expected to be fantastic in the corners; after all, it shares the same DNA as the rally monsters that thunder around tight hairpins and asphalt spaghetti the world over.

In terms of visual updates, the S206 will have new front and rear spoilers, Recaro bucket seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel for added grip and comfort.

Subaru have announced that there will be just 300 models of the S206 made and that 100 of these will be special ‘NBR Challenge Package’ models. This is to celebrate Subaru’s class victory at this year’s 24 hour Nürburgring event. The NBR Challenge models will come fitted with a carbon fibre roof and a carbon fibre rear spoiler; all in the name of saving weight, and increasing raw performance of course. There is some bad news however: they are all sold out already; which will make it even harder for us over here to ever get our hands on one!

Come on Subaru – release this incredible instrument of speed over here in the UK, it’s sure to go down an absolute treat!

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Drifty Gallardo is one for Purists

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

It has been announced that a new rear wheel drive Lamborghini Gallardo is on its way! Lamborghini bosses claim that it is for the “purists” among us. Whilst the first shots of the car look incredible, it also sounds incredible on paper. The previous rear wheel drive Lambo was the Balboni, and that was an exciting piece of machinery!

This new Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder, it seems, is therefore one for the wealthy drifters out there. Lambo have decided to ditch the standard four-wheel drive setup for this model, and instead have had to tweak the car’s dynamics in order to deal with its new-found sideways lunacy. To emphasise this fact, Lamborghini have fitted the real axle with a 45% locking differential and programmed the “Corsa” setting to enable “larger drift angles” – Lamborghini themselves have said this, I kid you not!

The new Gallardo is also fitted with a very similar engine to the one in the previous Gallardo, however it is ever so slightly down on power. Still, the 5.2 litre V10 is no wimp! It kicks out 550bhp and 398 lb-ft torque, whilst simultaneously etching a very large smile across your face – it’s a clever car.

The Lambo will scream its way from 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds and will continuing blaring all the way up to 198mph. That V10 is an absolutely exquisite engine, and coupled with Lamborghini’s performance exhaust system, produces one of the greatest sounds in the automotive world – if you are lucky enough to hear, or drive one, then you will indeed know exactly what I mean.

The standard six-speed manual gearbox remains in place with the option to use the paddle shifters that tempt the driver behind the wheel. Although, if this car really is meant for purists, surely the proper stick shift manual is the only way to go!

The CEO of Lamborghini, Stephan Winkelmann, has been quoted saying: “With the Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder, we are expanding the Lamborghini line-up with a purist model that adds yet another dimension of driving fun.”

He has also stated that this particular Gallardo will “appeal to a very special group of customers that enjoy a spirited driving style and also like to experience the sheer pleasure of open-air driving”. Roughly translated, that means it will get sideways and make you giggle like a small child on Christmas Eve!

This new Gallardo is on its way in the New Year and will likely set buyers back a fair wad of cash, however, with all the ingredients considered the new Lambo is, so far, looking more than worth it. Now I’ve just got to find a spare couple of hundred grand from somewhere to satisfy my “purist” needs!

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Nissan to Launch Upgraded 2012 GT-R

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

We are absolutely delighted to bring you news that the new Nissan GT-R is set to launch in 2012. On the face of it, the new model does not look much different to the current GT-R, with the only exterior change coming in the form of a rear view camera, so it is even hard to call this an exterior change in all honesty. There are a couple of interior changes however, including an enhanced Bose audio system, which sounds tasty indeed!

Under the bonnet, things get a bit more interesting as there have been some very exciting new additions and improvements all aimed at one thing; performance!

The 530bhp 3.8 litre V6 engine has been boosted to 550bhp, and the 0-62mph time has reduced from 3.0 seconds to 2.8. That is the sort of performance you expect from hyper machines such as the Lamborghini Aventador, or the Bugatti Veyron.

The added speed comes thanks to some very important refinements and upgrades. Improvements include better heads, an improved intercooler, an upgraded performance exhaust system, and a better intake system. Such upgrades have generously contributed to the responsiveness of the engine and torque at low rev ranges, as well as improved power at high revolutions.

The GT-R has also benefited from some very welcome fuel efficiency improvements. The Nissan can achieve, they claim, 20mpg. If this is true in the real world then that is mighty impressive from a 550bhp machine.

Nissan have never been the most exciting car company, it must be said. However, the Skyline has always sparked a little excitement inside the majority of petrol heads, especially tuners! When Nissan released the first GT-R, it was, frankly, hard to believe how incredibly quick it was. Especially due to the fact that it had a Nissan badge stuck on the front. It’s important to remember that even the top of the line Skyline’s would come out of the factory with around 276bhp. So when the GT-R was released with over 500bhp, it was quite astonishing, and surprising! I constantly found myself questioning whether it really was a Nissan!

Well, yes it is, and the new model looks, on paper, to be even more of a thrill ride! Hats off to Nissan and keep it coming!

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New Citroën C3 to be Released

Monday, November 7th, 2011

Citroën’s brand new C3 is about to go on sale this month. It is reported to be their cleanest ever diesel, offering a fuel economy of 83.1mpg with emissions of 87g/km. These are extremely impressive figures, and if true, the C3 most certainly will be the cleanest diesel ever launched by the French manufacturer.

It starts at £15,290 and will be one of the most efficient non-electric cars on the market. The most efficient diesel is currently the Smart ForTwo with a fuel economy of 85.6mpg and efficiency of 88g/km.

The C3 e-HDI 70 Airdream EGS VTR+ was revealed at The Frankfurt Motor Show, and I doubt I am alone when I say that the cars title is quite a mouthful. Let’s hope it’s not as clumsy to drive as it is to articulate.

The C3 comes with 63bhp, which is reasonable from a small car, however Citroën believe the economic benefits will outweigh any concerns with regard to power and performance. Jules Tilstone, Marketing Director of Citroen UK has said: “With impressive fuel economy, low CO2 emissions, a BIK rate at just 13%, free VED and the benefit of no London Congestion Charge, this stylish model is a financially and environmentally attractive addition to the Citroën range.”

The C3 will benefit from micro-hybrid Stop & Start technology. This system is designed to switch the engine off while idle to save fuel before instantly rebooting when the accelerator is applied.

Clever stuff indeed, and another great, innovative way for emissions to be lowered for our small cars.

However, the C3, it seems is only really designed for city driving, much like most of the small cars these days. I’ve had the experience myself of taking a small, economical hatchback on the motorway and burning through a worrying amount of diesel because the engine just revs too high in order to do between 60 and 70mph. They say that you should take your diesel car for a run at around 2,500rpm for about half an hour every now and then in order to clear the Diesel Particulate Filter; however this will burn through diesel and your wallet and it will probably work out better to have your DPF cleaned out at regular intervals.

I have a lot of time for small cars, I’ve owned several, and they can be great fun to drive because they feel, or at least should feel, light and nippy. Whether the new C3 integrates these fun and familiar aspects is something that remains to be seen.

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Mopar Unveils V10 Powerhouse at SEMA

Thursday, November 3rd, 2011

Here at Longlife we are big fans of large, powerful, hair raising, adrenaline pumping, and ultimately fast engines and so we thought that it was only right to bring you the news that Chrysler’s tuning parts subsidiary, Mopar, have unveiled a brand spanking new engine at the SEMA Motor Show in Las Vegas, which we have been attending.

The engine in question is an 8.4 litre V10 monster!

The Competition Series V10 features an aluminium block and cylinder heads, a forged steel crankshaft and connecting rods along with forged aluminium pistons. It will deliver a furious 800bhp and a world spinning 695 lb-ft of torque. The engine will rev to a maximum of 7000rpm, at which point the world really will be spinning backwards whilst whatever car is being powered by the Mopar unit is sent hurtling through time!

The engine is currently unavailable for your road car however as it has been specifically designed for drag racing. Nonetheless, Mopar has hinted at the idea of it being put to use in future road racing projects along with a version that could be designed for off-road use.

Another serious and impressive engine that was showcased by Mopar at SEMA was a 590bhp version of Chrysler’s HEMI V8. Now this is an engine that can be bolted into your road car, provided it fits of course! The new HEMI will be 45kg lighter thanks to its cast iron block being replaced with a lighter aluminium one.

Furthermore, we have additional Chrysler news as the new Dodge Viper is currently being developed. This is very exciting news for all petrol heads as the Viper is an iconic machine that represents so much for petrol heads across the world. The Viper signifies speed, power, passion and sheer adrenaline. Even the name gets your heart pumping and your palms sweaty! The new Viper is likely to be fitted with a 600bhp, 8.7 litre V10. That may be smaller than the aforementioned Mopar unit, however, it is still a huge engine that will get your stainless steel exhausts burbling and put a very large smile on the face of whoever may be lucky enough to take the reins!

The new Viper will also come with stability control for the first time ever…let’s hope that can be switched off however…

Chrysler have said that the car is expected to launch in late 2012, with customer cars expected to be delivered in early 2013. If you want one, then we suggest you place your order fast!

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California on the Horizon

Monday, October 31st, 2011

Ferrari are set to release an updated version of their rather beautiful California. It has been reported that the new car will be launched in 2012 and it will be more powerful, lighter, and will also be fitted with a range of new technology.

Production for the Prancing Horse’s new model will begin in January 2012 with the first UK models set to arrive in March.

The new California will come armed with a direct-injection 4.3 litre V8 that will have 30bhp more than the previous model. The new car will therefore boast a ground shaking 483bhp. The torque figures have also climbed to 373 lb-ft.

Ferrari HQ has said that the increase in power is thanks to some new software and improved machining of the internals. An example of this is the new exhaust which is now “optimised micro cast”. Meanwhile, the ECU has been reprogrammed to deliver the power outputs across multiple types of petrol.

The new California will also weigh less, at 1705kg. This has been achieved by a lighter aluminium alloy that has been incorporated in certain parts of the chassis. The new Prancing Horse will now get from 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds. For a convertible of this size that is pretty quick!

The Ferrari also comes with an optional Handling Speciale pack and upgraded dampers.

Whilst writing this article, a thought occurred – will we ever see a diesel powered Ferrari? Diesel engines are being developed each and every year to race at the top level, for example the Le Mans series that goes all around the world and Audi seem to be leading the way in developing powerful diesel engines, so why have Ferrari not adopted a diesel car into their range?

Perhaps a diesel engine is indeed in the pipeline, however, would we even want to see a diesel powered Ferrari?

Surely one of the main aspects of a Ferrari is the noise it makes, yet even the diesel powered Le Mans racers are notoriously quiet. Furthermore, would Ferrari be able to develop the diesel components in order to handle all the power and fury that a Ferrari brings? How often would the diesel particulate filter have to be cleaned or changed for example? However, surely Ferrari would use their extremely clever minds to take diesels to new levels.

Diesel powered Ferrari’s are something that we may never see, and perhaps something we never want to see, or are they? As always it would be great to hear your views…

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The DeLorean is Back…in the Future

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

It has been announced this week that the legendary DeLorean that was made famous in the 1980s movie classic, “Back to the Future”, will be making a return to our roads. The DeLorean Motor Company, based in Texas, has teamed up with, the rather aptly named, Flux Power of California, in order to create a battery powered electric motor, similar to the one found in the successful Tesla Roadster.

The new DeLorean is set to launch in 2013, with the electric motor producing 200bhp that will propel the iconic looking car from 0-60mph in less than eight seconds. The prototype has already been tested on the road and the track, and these figures are certainly looking realistic. The DeLorean is also said to handle significantly better than the original, which was always dogged by handling issues, partly due to the four cylinder engine being mounted behind the rear wheels.

The president of DMC, Stephen Wynne, has said that he hopes to sell the electric DeLorean for around $90,000. The car will even come with iPod connectivity and satellite navigation; two things that weren’t even dreamed of back in 1985 when Doc Brown first got his hands on the stainless steel machine. With the car being powered by an electric motor, it’s doubtful that the new car will come fitted with stainless steel exhausts to match that famous body work though.

Whilst initially this is very exciting news, it leaves me with a slight twang of worry. The worry being that the iconic, and fabled reputation of the DeLorean, largely thanks to the hit film starring Michael J. Fox, will be somewhat tarnished.

Whilst the bosses over at DMC obviously see a fantastic money making opportunity, and whilst they also have an incredible marketing tool, the brand name along with the fame earned through the three “Back to the Future” films, I can’t help but think such a legend should be left how it is.

The electric DeLorean is something I am very sceptical about for this very reason. If we think about legends that have, in a sense been reborn, there are numerous examples of reputations that have been stained upon revival. Perhaps the most relevant example would be the Mini.

This was a British icon the world over, and also a very successful rally car. When the new BMW version came along it was very exciting news, and Mini’s were snapped up like the latest must buy fashion accessory, but as time has passed the new look Mini just does not compare to that legendary sixties icon. For a start it is no longer thought of as a truly British car, especially when the only place to buy them is a BMW dealership…

Furthermore, the Mini was all about how small and light it was, whereas now BMW have taken it places it was just never meant to go. For example the Mini Countryman and the Mini Coupé are just more ways for BMW to exploit that fabled name. The original Mini was voted as the second most influential car of the 20th century, I can almost guarantee the new Mini wouldn’t even be voted the second most influential car of this decade, let alone century.

My point is it would be such a shame for the DeLorean to return to criticism and disappointment. Whilst it all initially sounds great and is very exciting news, it can, provided the project isn’t a resounding success, be potentially damaging for the iconic DeLorean name.

Hopefully this is one DeLorean that will be more than welcome when it returns back to the future.

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The Latest Power Trained Ford Set to Arrive

Monday, October 3rd, 2011

The latest in the line of fast Ford’s has already been announced: the 2012 Focus ST. This will be available, worldwide, at some point in the new year. The new ST was revealed as early as the 2010 Paris Motor Show, and has since toured the majority of motor shows. The Frankfurt Motor Show, however, saw the first production version of the car which is already shaping up to be a popular choice for many.

The ST will be powered by a 2.0 litre twin-cam 16-valve turbocharged engine that will produce 247bhp and 260lb-ft of torque. The car will also come with a six speed manual, or Ford’s all new six speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

Ford themselves have stressed that the car will drive well, and will also sound special thanks to a specially modified performance exhaust system, similar to what was seen on the Focus RS and the exhilarating Focus RS500. Ford’s very own Jost Capito has stated: “People loved the sound of the previous Focus ST. The physics and acoustics of a five cylinder engine compared to a four cylinder are very different, but like Beethoven and Mozart – both of whom created fantastic yet very different music – we believe the engine note of the new Focus ST will delight enthusiasts in the same way.”

Ford have been producing powerful and exciting, yet affordable, cars for a number of years now. If we go as far back as the 1960s, Ford were producing the first Escort’s, and then in the 70s we saw the Escort Mexico models and further Mark II Escort’s. Of course in the 1980s we then saw the Sierra RS Cosworth, which came with fully fledged motorsport potential thanks to its race-going counterpart that was winning nearly every touring and rally car competition under the sun.

Then in the 1990s came the even more powerful, even more exciting, and my personal favourite of the affordable, iconic, performance Ford’s, the Escort RS Cosworth. It came fitted with a Cosworth YBT, turbocharged 2.0 litre engine that was highly tune-able, and produced around 220bhp. Although in most cases, owners would boost this power through various modifications.

This just gives us an example of the potential and pedigree the new ST has. With the factory model already starting with more power than the tuner-friendly Cosworth beasts of the 80s and 90s, it seems that Ford Focus ST owners may be keen to tinkle with the performance of their shiny new engine.

Ford has stated that they will be targeting the Volkswagen Golf GTI, the Mazda 3, and the Honda Civic Si as competition; however, if Focus ST owners follow the path of previous fast Ford owners, then we could be seeing a number of Focus ST’s challenging automotive royalty instead.

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