BMW could create a twin turbo V8 powered M5

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It appears that the German luxury automaker, BMW is struggling with whether or not to replace the engine in their high performance halo car for 2011. The next generation BMW M5 will either powered by a more efficient version of the current car’s V10 engine or if speculators have their way, the next 5 Series super sedan could be motivated by a healthy helping of boost. That is because BMW is already running a high performance twin turbocharged V8 in both the X5M and X6M sport activity vehicles, and with a little bit of innovative German engineering the BMW boffins could have the mill screaming to the tune of over 600 HP.



Reports have shown that BMW are cautious about continuing to use the V10 because of the CO2 emissions regulations in the U.S. a problem that can be avoided by going with a pair of less pistons. However if the M5 is to maintain its status as one of the brand’s premier vehicles then it would help to have something special under the hood, something not found in any other Bimmer, something to make it even more desirable.



So the question that the BMW engineers have to ask themselves right now is, what would be the better plan for the future? An all out high performance naturally aspirated V10 might sound like a fantastic idea for a sports car power plant, but with the current trend of environmentalism and efficiency, the idea of downsizing and turbo charging is becoming a widely accepted practice in the automobile industry. So what is BMW going to do? Stay tuned to find out.





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Gemaballa releases the Mistrale based on the Porsche Panamera

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The German tuning firm Gemballa has been moodifying Porsches since the early 1980s. They currently have a customization program for almost all of the sports car maker’s models: like the Avalanche based on the 997 Carrera, the Tornado and GT Aero versions of the Cayenne SUV as well as the almighty Mirage GT based on the Carrera GT super car. Well today they have added one more name to the mix, Mistrale and it is based on the automaker’s latest four door sensation, the Panamera.



Gemballa goes ahead and practically redesigns the entire exterior of the Panamera in order to create a much more aggressive looking sports sedan filled with all sorts of scoops and other aerodynamic upgrades. The kit includes a redesigned front bumper complete with integrated LED driving lights, hood taken directly from their Cayenne styling department with a pair of long teardrop shaped vents on either side of the bulge, however the tail of the Panaemera is one place where the Gemballa design team spent plenty of time, they not only incorporated an all new rear diffuser into the mix, but also changed the location of the exhaust to exit out through the rear bumper, much like the Carerra GT.




Rounding out the appearance package are a set of 5 spoke alloy wheels which not only improves the looks of the car but also make room for a little extra rubber making this particular Panamera stick to the road even better than the factory version



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2010 Opel Insignia OPC

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Source: GM Media Online * Bold design features accelerate the heartbeat * 239 kW/325 hp 2.8 V6 Turbo propels Opel’s strongest production car ever * FlexRide chassis with adaptive 4x4 heralds efficiency and fun



Rüsselsheim. Dynamic and passionate driving has a new name at Opel: Insignia OPC. Its 2.8 V6 Turbo powerhouse with 239 kW/325 hp and a massive 435 Nm of torque makes it Opel’s most powerful production car of all time. The high performance Insignia sedans reach a top speed of 250 km/h (restricted) and race from zero to 100 km/h in a mere six seconds. The OPC variants of the Car of the Year 2009 will be available this fall in all three body styles – notchback, hatchback and Sports Tourer.



To mark the tenth anniversary of its successful OPC range, Opel has packed the Insignia with extra high tech features. It is the first OPC variant to offer adaptive all-wheel drive and an electronic rear limited slip differential as standard. Its FlexRide damping system is specially tuned to give OPC drivers a more active driving experience. And, the Recaro front seats with four-way lumbar support and cushion extension are the first high performance seats in the industry to receive the most coveted seal of excellence from the independent orthopedic experts from Aktion Gesunder Rücken (Action for Healthy Backs).



The car looks as hot as it performs, with tiger tooth-shaped air intakes in the front bumper, rocker panels, an integrated rear spoiler and specially designed 19” OPC wheels. Satin chrome finishes and expressive dual exhaust pipes integrated into the rear bumper add to the appeal.

Inside, designers created a sporty dressing, with a dark headliner, a special shifter and a flat-bottomed, performance steering wheel. The instrument panel illuminates red when drivers press the OPC button on their FlexRide system, putting the car in its feistiest mood.



“While the ecoFLEX version shows our commitment to outstanding environmentally friendly cars, the OPC instills some hot chili flavor into the Insignia family. It spices up the driving experience,” says Hans Demant, Managing Director, Adam Opel GmbH. “It opens a new generation of OPC cars, offering mature power, refined efficiency and a lot of fun.”



Chassis: Sporty and safe driving, yet comfortable, too

For the first time, an OPC model is equipped with an adaptive 4x4 system and an electronic rear limited slip differential (eLSD). The four-wheel drive management unit has been recalibrated to adapt torque distribution to the sporty philosophy of the OPC.

The Insignia OPC comes with the FlexRide electronic system which adapts damping and other driving functions to drivers’ preferences. OPC drivers choose between a standard mode, for all-round performance ideal for everyday driving or a special Sport mode, in which the chassis suspension stiffens and reduces body roll for more agility. When selecting the OPC button, the drive goes into the third dimension: Steering gets more direct, the throttle is more responsive and the chassis settings go into performance mode.

The High Performance Strut (HiPerStrut) front suspension architecture is designed especially for the Insignia OPC. With a reduced kingpin inclination and a shorter spindle length, it significantly evolves the McPherson strut from the standard Insignia. HiPerStrut reduces torque steering reactions, improves grip and increases cornering power, offering Insignia OPC drivers the crisp feel they expect, with enhanced precision and feedback.

The Insignia OPC is equipped with 18” Brembo front brakes with large, 355 x 32 mm, cross-drilled discs, four-piston, high-strength aluminum calipers and high performance brake pads. Specially developed Co-Cast floating discs consist of a cast iron brake rotor and an aluminum disc bell.

After intensive testing on public roads and at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, engineers from the Opel Performance Center in Rüsselsheim selected Pirelli P Zero 245/40 tires, which are fitted with flow-formed 19” wheels. An optional upgrade with 255/35 units is available on forged 20” wheels.

The most powerful production engine in Opel history ever

The Insignia OPC reaches a restricted top speed of 250 km/h and sprints to 100 km/h in six seconds. Elasticity, too, is remarkable: In only 7.1 seconds, it accelerates from 80 to 120 km/h in fifth gear.

The 239 kW/325 hp OPC version of the 2.8 V6 Turbo benefits from a specific calibration of the engine management unit, an increased turbo boost pressure to 0.9 bar and a reworked exhaust system with a significantly reduced counter pressure. Developed by the specialist Remus, this stainless steel exhaust line is 20 percent lighter than the standard one. Because sound is so important in the appreciation of an engine, Opel acoustic engineers developed new center and rear mufflers.

The high-tech 2.8 V6 Turbo engine comes with a 6-speed manual gearbox. To offer optimal performance, the final drive ratio was slightly shortened from 3.76 to 3.90:1 compared with the standard V6 Turbo Sport and Cosmo versions.

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MUGEN tunes the 2010 Honda Insight

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An exciting piece of news for hybrid sports car fans: MUGEN, the experienced Japanese tuning firm responsible for years of Civics and Accords miles in front of their stock counterparts, has developed and released a tuning program for the as-yet-unreleased Honda Insight.





While the Insight is similar to the Prius in nearly every way, including styling and powertrain, the very idea of a TRD Prius sounds completely ridiculous. MUGEN's relationship with Honda is longstanding, think Ford and Roush here in the States, and you can bet that if a MUGEN-tuned Honda Insight is making such a loud entrance, it is fully sanctioned by the Insight's builder.





Specifics under the hood are nothing fancy by tuner car standards. A new performance intake is paired with an oil cooler to supposedly keep the gasoline and electric motors stoked and cooled, and larger, wider alloys should make a huge difference on the road.

If Honda's current product line is any indication, a factory Insight should prove more agile and spirited in driving than its Toyota hybrid counterpart. MUGEN would not be putting their name in front of the car without some degree of confidence that the Insight tuning package makes a tangilble performance difference.

The new MUGEN Honda Insight even features an aero kit MUGEN claimes significantly improves the Insight's already-stellar aerodynamics, complete with rear spoiler. What?

The MUGEN-tuned Honda Insight is not expected to be offered as a standalone model in the United States, but enterprising tuners will of course get their hands on the parts. A Ronn Scorpion, Tesla or Fisker is one thing, but a sub-$20,000 hybrid car with real tuner potential?

Depending on critical reception to the 2010 Honda Insight's driving dynamics, the MUGEN Insight may seem like one of the greatest business decisions in the entire energy efficient car industry, or a big joke.

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ITALIA - Ferrari’s innovative new V8

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The 458 Italia is the latest incarnation of the mid-rear engined berlinetta and will be unveiled at the next Frankfurt Motor Show

Maranello, July 28th 2009 – While it’s true that every Ferrari is innovative by definition, it’s equally true that in the course of the Prancing Horse’s history, certain cars have marked a genuine departure from the current range. This is very much the case with the Ferrari 458 Italia, which is a massive leap forward from the company’s previous mid-rear engined sports cars.



The new model is a synthesis of style, creative flair, passion and cutting-edge technology, characteristics for which Italy as a nation is well-known. For this reason Ferrari chose to add the name of its homeland to the traditional figure representing the displacement and number of cylinders.



The Ferrari 458 Italia is a completely new car from every point of view: engine, design, aerodynamics, handling, instrumentation and ergonomics, just to name a few.

A two-seater berlinetta, the Ferrari 458 Italia, as is now traditional for all Ferrari’s road-going cars, benefits hugely from the company’s Formula 1 experience. This is particularly evident in the speed and precision with which the car responds to driver inputs and in the attention focused on reducing internal friction in the engine for lower fuel consumption than the F430, despite the fact that both overall displacement and power have increased. However, Ferrari’s track experience makes its presence felt in the 458 Italia not only in terms of pure technological transfer but also on a more emotional level, because of the strong emphasis on creating an almost symbiotic relationship between driver and car. The 458 Italia features an innovative driving environment with a new kind of steering wheel and dashboard that is the direct result of racing practice. Once again input from Michael Schumacher - who was involved from the very start of the 458 Italia project - played an invaluable part.




The Ferrari 458 Italia’s Pininfarina design provides further evidence of the complete departure from the past that this new car hails. The Ferrari 458 Italia has a compact, aerodynamic shape, underscoring the concepts of simplicity, efficiency and lightness that inspired the project. As with every Ferrari, the car’s styling has been very heavily influenced by the requirements for aerodynamic efficiency, as can be seen from the downforce of 140 kg at 200km/h generated by the new model. The front features a single opening for the front grille and side air intakes, with aerodynamic sections and profiles designed to direct air to the coolant radiators and the new flat underbody. The nose also sports small aeroelastic winglets which generate downforce and, as speed rises, deform to reduce the section of the radiator inlets and cut drag.



The new 4499 cc V8 is the first Ferrari direct injection engine to be mid-rear mounted. It has a very low piston compression height typical of racing engines which contributed to achieving its compression ratio of 12.5:1. Equipped with the traditional flat-plane crankshaft, the engine delivers 570 CV at 9000 rpm and, with an outstanding power output of 127 CV/litre, sets a new benchmark not only for the whole Ferrari range and the history of company, but also for the entire market segment. Maximum torque is 540 Nm at 6000 rpm, over 80 per cent of which is available from 3250 rpm. Specific torque is a record 120 Nm/litre. However, what is truly extraordinary is the amount of torque available while still maintaining high levels of power at low revs.

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