Sunday, October 3, 2010

Audi A7: first drive

From: Car Guide - Australia

Another week, another Audi ­­­- though the latest version to emerge in the German carmaker's almost manic quest to have 42 distinct variants on sale by 2015 is among its most visually striking to date.
The A7 Sportback is a physical and logical extension of the equivalent A5, with which it shares two drivetrains and takes the luxury "five door coupe" design language to its fullest extent. Crucially, the A7 shares its underpinnings with the forthcoming new generation A6 sedan and wagon that, while successful elsewhere in the world, is a feeble sales performer in Australia.
Aside from being a designer's delight and an alternative to cars as diverse as Mercedes-Benz's CLS and Porsche's Panamera, the A7s we drove in Sardinia last week bode well for the A6 and suggest Audi Australia might at last have a challenger in more than name to the massively dominant E-Class and 5 Series.

DESIGN

In a word, stunning. If the A7 photographs captivatingly, its physical presence is overpowering. People stop and stare.

For all the talk of a "practical coupe", this is unapologetically an exercise in form over function. And for all its imposing dimensions (4.9m long by 1.9m wide) the A7 is only 1.4m high and houses four seats, though with 535 litres rear seats up/1360 down (accessible via an electronic hatch), its load space is capacious.

The more candid Audi folk smilingly call this a "styling decision". In other words they've done it because it looks great. The cutting edge shape is enhanced by a body-length tornado line almost sharp enough to draw blood, a reshaped single frame grille and a new line of daytime running lights. From the pert sloping rear hatch, a wing automatically raises at 130km/h - which means that it'll never be seen on an Australian road. Right?

As bold as it looks without, the interior statement is even more successful, with its cosseting, wraparound cockpit feel. Audi's inside story is as seductively class leading as ever, the option of a high quality wood finish a welcome and warm departure from the usual leather and metal look.

While, unlike the smaller A5 Sportback, taller adults can sit in the A7's rear pews without removing their heads or legs, the driver can barely see out back of the thing and the rear windows do not wind down.

VALUE

If your idea of bliss is a marriage of luxury feel and drop dead looks, then this is money well spent - whatever the sum. With local release not due for six months, Audi Australia is in negotiation with headquarters over specification and price.

Common sense points to it sitting above the rest of the A6 range and beneath A8 - so a $150,000-$160,000 starting point is our educated guestimate.  What's certain is that Australia gets quattro all wheel drive and seven speed S tronic dual clutch automated transmission as standard, along with a start-stop system and energy recovery.
A Bose sound system is also standard, as is Valcona leather and either wood grain or aluminum finish,  MMI navigation with touchpad and 8-inch display, convenience key, a three spoke steering wheel with shifting paddles and four zone air conditioning.
Options include quattro sport differential at about $3000, sports air suspension, which is an extra $2200 in the new A8 sedan, side assist, adaptive cruise control, Bang and Olufsen sound system, and an S line sport package with lowered suspension, 19-inch alloys, sports seats and bespoke trim. The brand's first self-reverse parking function is also on the options list, but its first heads up display is a possible standard fixture.

TECHNOLOGY

Aside from the fruit mentioned above, the A7's tech highlights are its excellent engines. The ones we'll see are familiar.

 The 3.0 TDI six cylinder turbo diesel is good for 180kW/500Nm, 0-100km/h in 6.3 seconds while using six litres of the good oil per 100km on the combined cycle. Its petrol companion 3.0 TFSI uses the supercharged V6 form the S5 Sportback that packs 220kW/440Nm, a 5.6 second sprint time and uses 8.2 litres of 98 RON per 100km.

A version with the 2.8 naturally aspirated V6 from the current A6 is under discussion.  The use of aluminum sheeting on the door bonnet and hatch, and cast aluminum keeps weight down, so that even with AWD, auto transmission and diesel donk, the TDI is 1770kg unladen, the TFSI 1695.

The standard quattro varies torque constantly between front and rear axles and brakes the inside wheels in hard cornering. The optional sports differential actively manages torque between wheels. The stop start function, new to this transmission, switches the engine off when fully halted, resuming when the accelerator is pressed.

SAFETY


The five star crash safety rating is a given with the full raft of active and passive safety features including ABS, ESP. There are airbags for the driver and passenger, at the front, side and curtains.  Active cruise control and side assist are among the likely options.

But as visible as the lane filling A7 is, LED lights ablaze, the driver doesn't ensconced in those high sills and thick pillars. Vast wing mirrors and reversing camera compensate for the mail slit of rear window. The spare is a space saver.

DRIVING

The A7 doesn't alter those Audi inevitabilities. You know them by now: BMW provides a sharper drive, a Merc will likely ride better in our patch of the planet, and the steering cries out for more feel.

But Audi's growing army of customers could care less. Treat the A7 as a grand tourer with infusions of sport and you're on the right track - though preferably a wide track with a seamless surface.

The TFSI, especially when equipped with the air suspension to compliment its adjustable steering, throttle and accelerator response, is a surprisingly agile and abundantly responsive drive, very much a bigger brother to the S5. The diesel, with all its extra weight over the front axle is more obviously the GT of the two, though far from disgraced when going through the third and second gear bends, its massive and immediately accessible torque almost enough in itself to win the day on straights, to say nothing of its greater cruising range.

And carp as we might about the weighting of the steering wheel in any mode, the new electro-mechanical system is linear and progressive. Ever more sophisticated, quattro is seamless and confidence enhancing, a boon to safety and dynamics. Brakes abet the cause, with the just the right combination of progression and bite.

VERDICT

Looks and feels the goods.  70/100

AUDI A7 SPORTBACK

Price: from $150,000 (est)
Engines: 3.0 litre V6 turbo diesel (180kW/500Nm); 3.0 litre supercharged V6 petrol (220kW/440Nm)
Transmission: 7-speed dual clutch auto
Thirst: 6l/100km (diesel); 8l/100km (petrol)

RIVALS

Mercedes-Benz CLS (from $150,000)
Porsche Panamera (from $193,000)
BMW 5 Series GT ($143,000)

Cool Cars and Girls Blog

Cool Cars 

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Cars produced in the World

Article extracted from: World 'O' Meters - Cars

Cars produced in the world - sources and methods

The data on global car production displayed on the Worldometers' counter is based on the latest statistics on worldwide car production issued by the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA).

A formula based on the current data available, historical trends, and projections is used to estimate total cars produced in the current year.
Because the auto industry is an important sector of the global economy, numerous analysis of sales data and future outlook are issued by financial and economic institutes worldwide.

National trade organizations are surveyed on their annual data by OICA. Each summer, a survey on the last six months provides a first estimation of the year’s production figures .


Definition of "car" and "production"

By "car" we are referring to passenger cars, which are defined as motor vehicles with at least four wheels, used for the transport of passengers, and comprising no more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat. Cars (or automobiles) make up approximately 87% of the total motor vehicle annual production in the world.
The remaining 13%, not included in this statistics, is made up by light commercial vehicles and heavy trucks (motor vehicles with et least four wheels, used for the carriage of goods), buses, coaches and minibuses (comprising more than eight seats in addition to the driver's seat)

By "production" we are following the convention used by national trade organizations and referring to completely built vehicle (CBU) as opposed to assembly of completely knocked down (CKD) or semi-knocked down (SKD) sets when vehicle parts originate in another country.



How many cars are produced in the world every year?

For 2009, global vehicle sales remain in the midst of a precipitous fall-off, led by sharp declines in the mature markets of the United States, Western Europe and Japan. We project total cars produced at 51,971,328.

In 2006 there were 49,886,549 passenger cars produced in the world, with an increase of 6.45% over the previous year. The increase for 2007 was more modest, and 2008 showed a decline. Analysts from various institutes had in fact pegged the year 2007 as the year which would end the 5-year cycle (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006) of record global auto sales worldwide.
year cars produced
in the world
2009 (projection) 51,971,328
2008 52,940,559
2007 54,920,317
2006 49,886,549
2005 46,862,978
2004 44,554,268
2003 41,968,666
2002 41,358,394
2001 39,825,888
2000 41,215,653
1999 39,759,847

Which country produces most cars?

A third of all cars in the world is produced in the European Union (see chart below)
China became the world’s third-largest car market in 2006, as car sales in China soared by nearly 40% to 4.1 million units. China should become the world’s second-largest car market by 2010, as low vehicle penetration, rising incomes, greater credit availability and falling car prices lift sales past those of Japan. Furthermore, vehicle penetration in China stands at only 24 vehicles per 1,000 people, compared with 749 vehicles per 1,000 people in the mature markets of the G7.

For a breakdown of production by country in the world, see chart table below:
Country
Cars
Commercial Vehicles
Total
Total Change
Argentina
263,120
168,981
432,101
35,1%
Australia
270,000
60,900
330,900
-16,2%
Austria
248,059
26,873
274,932
8,6%
Belgium
881,929
36,127
918,056
-1,2%
Brazil
2,092,029
519,005
2,611,034
3,3%
Canada
1,389,536
1,182,756
2,572,292
-4,3%
China
5,233,132
1,955,576
7,188,708
25,9%
Czech Rep.
848,922
5,985
854,907
41,3%
Egypt
59,462
32,111
91,573
32,2%
Finland
32,417
353
32,770
51,4%
France
2,723,196
446,023
3,169,219
-10,7%
Germany
5,398,508
421,106
5,819,614
1,1%
Hungary
187,633
3,190
190,823
25,5%
India
1,473,000
546,808
2,019,808
24,2%
Indonesia
206,321
89,687
296,008
-40,1%
Iran
800,000
104,500
904,500
10,7%
Italy
892,502
319,092
1,211,594
16,7%
Japan
9,756,515
1,727,718
11,484,233
6,3%
Malaysia
377,952
125,021
502,973
-10,8%
Mexico
1,097,619
947,899
2,045,518
22,4%
Netherlands
87,332
72,122
159,454
-11,8%
Poland
632,300
82,300
714,600
14,2%
Portugal
143,478
83,847
227,325
3,7%
Romania
201,663
11,934
213,597
9,6%
Russia
1,177,918
330,440
1,508,358
11,6%
Serbia
9,832
1,350
11,182
-21,1%
Slovakia
295,391
0
295,391
35,3%
Slovenia
115,000
35,320
150,320
-15,5%
South Africa
334,482
253,237
587,719
11,9%
South Korea
3,489,136
350,966
3,840,102
3,8%
Spain
2,078,639
698,796
2,777,435
0,9%
Sweden
288,583
44,585
333,168
-1,6%
Taiwan
211,306
91,915
303,221
-32,1%
Thailand
298,819
895,607
1,296,060
15,2%
Turkey
545,682
442,098
987,780
12,4%
Ukraine
274,860
20,400
295,260
36,8%
UK
1,442,085
206,303
1,648,388
-8,6%
USA
4,366,220
6,897,766
11,263,986
-6,0%
Uzbekistan
100,000
10,000
110,000
14,8%
Supplementary
411,982
129,210
541,192

Totals
49,886,549
19,240,607
69,127,156
4,0%


Which are the manufacturers and how many cars they produce?

The statistics on world car production include the following auto-makers: Anhui, Avtovaz , Beijing, BMW, Brilliance, Byd, Chana, Changhe, Chery, China National, Chrysler, Daewoo, Daihatsu, DaimlerChrysler, Dongfeng, Faw, Fiat, Ford, Fuji, Fujian, Gaz, Geely, General Motors, Great Wall, Guangzhou, Harbin, Hino, Honda, Hyundai, Ij-Avto, Isuzu, Kamaz, Kia, Mahindra&Mahindra, MAN, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Multicar, Nanjing, Navistar, Nissan, Nissan Diesel, Paccar, Porsche, Proton, PSA, Renault, Saic, Scania, Suzuki, Tata, Toyota, Uaz, Vaz, Volkswagen, and Volvo.
For detailed statistics on production by manufacturer, make, country and type visit the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers

How many cars are there in the world currently?

It is estimated that over 600,000,000 passenger cars travel the streets and roads of the world today.
In the United States alone, 247,421,120 "highway" registered vehicles were counted in 2005, of which 136,568,083 passenger cars. (Bureau of Transportation Statistics U.S. Department of Transportation)

Car Joke of the Day

From: The Joke Hold - Car Jokes

A hip young man goes out and buys a 1997 McLaren F1. It is the best and most expensive car available in the world, costing about $2,500,000. He takes it out for a spin and while stopping for a red light, an old man on a moped (both looking about 90 years old) pulls up next to him. The old man looks over the sleek, shiny surface of the car and asks, "What kind of car ya' got there, sonny?" The young man replies, "A 1997 McLaren F1. They cost about two and a half million dollars!" "That's a lot of money," says the old man, shocked. "Why does it cost so much?" "Because this car can do up to 230 miles an hour!" states the cool dude proudly. The moped driver asks, "Can I take a look inside?" "Sure," replies the owner. So the old man pokes his head in the window and looks around. Leaning back on his moped, the old man says, "That's a pretty nice car, all right!" Just then the light changes so the guy decides to show the old man what his car can do. He floors it, and within 30 seconds the speedometer reads 230 mph. Suddenly, he notices a dot in his rear view mirror. It seems to be getting closer! He slows down to see what it could be and suddenly, whhhoooossshhh! Something whips by him, going much faster! "What on earth could be going faster than my McLaren F1?!" the young man asks himself. Then, ahead of him, he sees a dot coming toward him. Whoooooosh! It goes by again, heading the opposite direction! And it almost looked like the old man on the moped! "Couldn't be," thinks the guy. "How could a moped outrun a McLaren F1?!" Again, he sees a dot in his rear view mirror! Whooooosh Ka-BbblaMMM! It plows into the back of his car, demolishing the rear end. The young man jumps out, and it IS the old man! Of course, the moped and the old man are hurting for certain. He runs up to the dying old man and says, "You're badly hurt! Is there anything I can do for you?" The old man moans and replies, "Yes, could you please unhook my suspenders from your side mirror?!" 

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Interesting Car Facts

From: Sports Cars - Fast Cars

Top fuel dragsters accelerate at up to 5g from standing start. The nitromethane injection produces 6000 BHP. The fastest time for removing a car engine, and replacing it is 42 seconds for a Ford Escort, on 21 November 1985.
An airbag moves up to 4500 mph within a second when triggered. A force of 200g is generated. They are designed to explode at an impact speed of 19 mph. The bag inflates within 40 milliseconds of a crash.
The Ferrari Formula 1 team is unique in the fact that it produces both chassis and engines for its cars.
Ferrari makes a maximum of 14 cars every day.
There were only 107 models of the Ford GT40 made of which only 7 were road cars.
The Worlds longest traffic hold-up was 110 miles long, between Paris and Lyon on the French Autoroute in 1980. A more recent contender for the title was a 100 mile long traffic Jam, near Hamburg in Germany in 1993.
The first known automobile was built in 1668, it was a two foot long steam powered model constructed by Ferdinand Verbiest, a Belgian Jesuit preist.
Luxembourg has the most crowded roads in Europe with 570 cars per 1,000 people.
The first car race ever seen in the United States was held in Chicago in 1895. The track ran from Chicago to Evanston. The winner was J. Frank Duryea, whose average speed was 71.5 miles per hour.
In 1924 a Ford automobile cost $265.
The first auto insurance policy is purchased in Westfield, MA, in 1897.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Fresh life breathed into Pontiac Firebird

words - Gautam Sharma
Michigan-based customiser is offering 50 examples of its modern-day Pontiac Firebird, priced from $US60,000
 
Pontiac's iconic Firebird was finally laid to rest in 2002 after a 35-year lifespan and, disappointingly for fans of the screaming eagle, the rebirth of the Chevy Camaro in 2006 didn't result in a new lease of life for the former.
Well, said individuals need despair no longer because Michigan-based customiser Classic Design Concepts has conjured up a modern-day Firebird and dubbed it "The FireBreather".
The Camaro-derived coupe was originally conceived as a prop for the film Jinn (perhaps inspired by the Bumblebee from the Transformers), but its creator is now offering 50 examples of the FireBreather to the public.
Splashing out $US85,000 gets you a 6.2-litre (Camaro SS-based) tarmac burner with Eibach suspension, a tuned exhaust and a beefier wheel/tyre package. Those on a lesser budget can opt for the V6 version, which costs $US60,000.
Going on the accompanying images, we'd say the body mods are well executed, drawing inspiration from 1960s/'70s Firebirds, rather than the third-generation car that starred in the popular Knight Rider TV series.
The pronounced beak is there, along with partially hooded headlights and a TransAm-esque power bulge in the bonnet. Its creators have also emblazoned FireBreather logos on the steering wheel, seats and wheel centres.
Collectable status seems assured as each car will be individually numbered, and the not-unreasonable pricetag suggests it mightn't be a bad investment.
The idea for the car came from the director (AJ Ahmad) of the film in which it stars, and his goal was to link the developing Michigan film industry to the state's history.
We applaud the initiative, and we'd go so far as to suggest The FireBreather could inspire another Smokey and the Bandit sequel. Burt Reynolds has had enough facelifts to just about still pull it off...

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Published : Thursday, 5 August 2010