Dodges New 2010 Viper SRT10 ACR X Special Alluring Enough For Car Enthusiasts

Dodge unleashes its new and special edition of Viper SRT10 named as 2010 Viper SRT10 ACR-X Special. This car is stuffed with real and hot accessories including a low restriction exhaust system which really boosts up the car to 640 hp. 2010 Viper SRT10 ACR-X Special is exclusively designed with the needs of car racers kept in mind. The new model has been pimped up with standard vipers 8.4 -liter V10. The suspensions has been upgraded exclusively for the
track usage and some weight has been shed as well which is now approx. 160 pounds.

The Dodge company claims that that the car features some aerodynamic modifications which is now better than ever, increasing traction and down force. This really has put some positive effects on the stability and road grip especially on the high speed cornering.

As it says that the needs of the car racers have been especially catered, but all the focus has not been on the speeding it up. The car comes with usual factory fitted, safety equipments including fuel cell, race seat and exclusively designed roll cage.

Dodge further claims that during Viper SRT10 ACR-Xs testing, by the reknown professional driver, Kuno Wittmer, during the SCCA Pro Racing Speed World Challenge Touring Car Championship series,it was able consistent 1:31:00 lap times around the 20238-mile, 11-turn course. Showing some improvements against the old Dodges street legal viper STR10 ACR. This car holds the production car track record at Leguna Seca raceway.

According to Wittmer himself:

"The Dodge Viper ACR-X is incredible," said Wittmer. "After a short warm up, I was running lap times as quick as exotic GT race cars. I was blown away by the power and acceleration, and even more surprised at how the ACR-X navigated the challenging Laguna Seca corners and how friendly it was to drive at the limit."

The new Dodges 2010 Viper SRT10 ACR-X Special will be in the market in the next spring of 2010 with prices starting from $110,000.

Nissan rolls out Platinum edition X Trail in the UK

Nissan makes a whole mess of different crossovers, and not just the ones we get here in North America. Overseas, the Japanese automaker has even more, like the Qashqai, the Koleos (sold by sister-company Renault) and the vehicle you see here, the X-Trail.

Not to be confused with the Xterra, the X-Trail is a small but rugged-looking little ute built atop the same platform that underpins the Rogue and the Sentra. Though its not exactly what youd call cheap, it is more affordable than most other crossovers on the market overseas, but Nissan is now bridging that gap by offering a new premium version called the Platinum edition.

The special model is visually distinguished by the extra protection plates on the bumpers front and rear, and the chrome side steps and door moldings. Inside the Platinum gets leather trim and motorized, heated front seats, touch-screen infotainment system and a back-up camera displayed in the rearview mirror.

A 2.0-liter diesel pulls all those luxury touches along with 170 horsepower, in a package limited to 200 examples selling for about £30,000 (depending on whether you take the automatic or manual transmission option). Thats nearly $47k at current exchange rates, and includes the UKs relatively high Value-Added Tax.

BMW X1 2012 The X Factor

The new BMW X1 2012 is the fourth model in the range “X” of the Bavarian manufacturer, and is already a bestseller for BMW. In fact, 115,000 copies were sold in other markets worldwide since the launch of this model in late 2009. The BMW X1 2012 also had its North American premiere at the Auto Show of Montreal and is brought into the Canadian market with several months ahead of the United States.

Turbo engine and eight-speed box

In Europe, the BMW X1 2012 is available with a choice of diesel or gasoline engines, but it is only available in Canada with the new four-cylinder turbocharged 2.0-liter paired with the eight-speed automatic transmission as well as ‘with AWD. Its engine is intended therefore comparable to that adopted by the direct rival what the Audi Q5.

This new engine is equipped with a single twin-scroll turbocharger and develops 241 horsepower at 5000 revolutions / minute while delivering a couple impressive 258 lb-ft from the threshold of 1250 rev / min. This makes the BMW X1 2012 accelerates briskly and never seems to run out of power, and, despite its weight of 1690 pounds. It is also noteworthy that this new engine is very mild and does not vibrate like a typical 4 cylinder but perfectly emulate the smooth inline six of the Bavarian manufacturer in this area. This is due to the fact that the engine has two balancer shafts positioned at different heights in order to compensate for vibrations and a centrifugal force pendulum is integrated into the dual-mass flywheel of the engine reduces. The result is that the BMW X1 2012 leaps with aplomb without causing vibrations at low revs.

200 km / h? No problem …BMW X1 2012

During a first contact in the Munich area, we obtained an average consumption of 11.7 l/100 km high and this data can be explained partly by the fact that the test model had the box six-speed manual. Note that the BMW X1 2012 for the Canadian market are equipped with an automatic transmission with eight reports, and that the route taken included a section on autobahn traveled 200 kilometers / hour … Even at this speed, BMW X1 2012 inspire confidence by showing good stability and only a fairly steady wind noise around the pillars ‘A’ and side mirrors reminded us that we were driving at twice the legal limit on Quebec highways. In a subsequent trial in Canada, we got a average fuel consumption of 9.2 l/100 km with the model with the eight-speed automatic transmission that demonstrates flexibility.

A long list of options

As is often the case with brand vehicles, the BMW X1 2012 has a long list of optional equipment such as metallic paint ($ 800) or leather upholstery ($ 1,900), as well as several sets of options.

Moreover, it is also possible that the current owners of the BMW X3 instead choose BMW X1 2012, rather than the new generation X3, simpement because the template and the amount of space inside the BMW X1 2012 are very similar to those of the first X3 generation. Add to that the fact that the BMW X1 2012 is cheaper and it could mean that these two models BMW would engage in a fratricidal struggle then, in addition to measuring competitive models from other brands. The outcome remains to be seen …BMW X1 2012

BMW X1 2012 News

BMW X1 2012 : The X Factor

KTM X Bow R 2011

 

 

 

•  KTM X-Bow R, 2011

The KTM X-Bow R has been completely revised and even if the new developments of the KTM X-Bow R are not obvious at first glance from its outward appearance, a lot of things have been changed around the carbon monocoque. The engineers did not restrict themselves to improvements to the engine. In fact there have been improvements in all other relevant components to ensure that an optimal performance can be achieved. And that is because the customers had clearly expressed their wishes that the super sports car that many of them want to take to the racing circuit weekend after weekend, should be even more extreme, even faster and even more powerful.

In 2011 the product range of the super sports car with the carbon monocoque includes the KTM X-Bow R, the most powerful version yet developed. The "R" is the result of concentrated further development of this spectacular lightweight sports car. In the rear of the "R" is a 300 hp 2.0 Liter TFSI engine from Audi with a maximum torque of 400 Nm and this ensures an unbelievable driving experience both on and off the racing circuit, because naturally the KTM X-Bow R is homologated for use on the road.

At the German premium carmaker Audi, KTM chose one of the most efficient and powerful engines with a 2.0 litre displacement. This is all about an engine block that was used by the Ingolstadt-based company for a long time in the S3 model and which generated up to 265 hp. there. It was later also used in the TT-S with 272 hp. For use in the KTM X-Bow R, the reinforced block has a bigger turbo, an altered fuel injection system and the engine electronics have been additionally updated by Bosch Engineering Group (BEG). This means that the performance not only increases to 300 hp but also the torque: to be exact 400 Nm are set free at 3,300 revs and results in a very smooth torque curve which provides impressive drive in all situations.

The was how the KTM X-Bow evolved into the R but it was far from complete. For the engineers, the additional power meant that the entire periphery - from the engine mounting to the suspension had to be reviewed. And that is why, in addition to the engine, very many other parts of the vehicle were either changed or completely newly constructed.

The stay of the torque support arm has been completely changed
60 hp more - a good 25 percent - caused far more extreme forces that meet and must be absorbed on the engine mounting points on the aluminium rear frame. It was the aim of the development not simply to meet the additional burden but to strengthen the rear beyond that of the 240 hp model. The solution was to reposition the torque support arm. Up to date this had been attached to the rear frame, now it sits directly on the carbon monocoque. With this, the torsional stiffness is significantly increased, especially when accelerating out of corners and the KTM X-Bow R handles even better on the road as its "little brothers" the X-Bow Street and Clubsport.

The entire drive train unit has been lowered by 19 millimeters
By relocating the torque arm and its connection, the developers then faced another demand. The entire engine unit should be lowered to lower also the center of gravity. The initial target could be even exceeded thanks to clever construction so that the drive unit now sits lower in the rear frame by a massive 19 mm. The main effect: the vehicles already impressively low center of gravity has been moved even further down towards the road surface so that the central center of gravity of the vehicle is lower by 15 mm. As a direct consequence even higher cornering speeds and greater lateral acceleration of more than 1.5 g is possible and the handling of the KTM X-Bow R is significantly improved.

The suspension has been significantly revised
25 percent more power, higher cornering speeds, greater G-loads. All this has resulted in a significant additional burden on the chassis, which in combination with the tires represents the final link in a long chain for achieving optimal contact with the road. The push rod suspension on the front axle, which comes directly from the Formula racing sport, but also the suspension on the rear axle has been revised. The first step was trying to reduce the friction on the wishbones of the X-Bow. For this purpose special Teflon washers have been used to reduce the friction and play, which at the same time improving the precision and the response of the suspension In addition to this the engineers devoted time to the springs and shock absorbers: stiffer springs in the front and rear suspension and new damping characteristics meant that the KTM X-Bow R is characterized by an additional increase in the handling, even more extremely exact and delicate than up to this stage of the development.

The price of the KTM X-Bow R is € 58,795 (excluding national taxes and import duties).

The standard equipment (extract)

•     Carbon fiber racing monocoque with crash box in visible carbon fiber
•     Audi 2.0 TFSI engine with direct fuel injection and 220 kW (300 hp)
•     Mechanical limited slip differential
•     Smooth surface racing underbody with a rear diffuser in aluminium composite
•     Individually adjustable pedals
•     Adjustable and removable multi functional steering wheel
•     Sports suspension, adjustable in rebound and compression damping
•     Keyless go system
•     Painted rims
•     4-point safety belt
•     Special paint work in "R" design