This HAS to be the video of the month!
The BMW M3 GTS in HD yo!.
Suddenly I’m incapable of proper sentence structure.
Holy…..shit…..monster…..scary…….loud……sexy……..beautiful……….expensive……….climax…….christmas……..present…….
Prepare to be blown away….
…and again…..
Summed up in the most comprehensive way, Autoblog spews the stats of this beast.
“…after you look past the timely Halloween color scheme, you’ll notice a set of exclusive 19-inch competition alloys – coated with 225/35 rubber up front and 285/30 in the rear – protruding out of the bulging bodywork, housing six-piston calipers up front and four in the rear and mounted to yellow springs and an adjustable suspension. You can hardly miss the giant front splitter and rear wing protruding from either end, and the interior’s been stripped down with contoured racing buckets, an emergency cut-off switch and a fire extinguisher taking the place of the air-con, nav and radio, along with mounting points for a roll cage and six-point harnesses and a Macrolon rear windscreen to replace the stock glass, helping the M3 GTS tip the scales at just 1490 kg (3285 lbs), some 419 lbs less than the stock M3 coupe’s 3704-lb curb weight.”
If you still haven’t got your fix of the BMW M3 GTS, do follow the jump for the full gallery!
LAUNCH: The new Audi A5 / S5 Cabriolets
Look ma! Audi just launched a new Audi…again!
Just a month after Audi launched the breath-taking R8 V10, S3 Sportback and S4 sedan, they’re back again with the new A5 / S5 Cabriolets.
In the lush greenery nestled in Capella Sentosa, Audi unveiled the new cabriolets to journalists that were still dreamy eyed from the spa treatment they had earlier in the day.
Audi arranged for the journalists to receive a soothing and sensual spa treatment followed by a rejuvenating massage by professional therapists. While in their semi-lucid state, Reinhold Carl, Managing Director of Audi Singapore took the opportunity to coo facts about the new cabriolets to them.
Audi’s latest A5 cabriolet gives its owners the freedom of open-top driving with the confidence of its Quattro all wheel drive system. Powered by the 2.0-litre TFSI inline four, the unit chucks out 211 galloping ponies to all four wheels. Torque figures stand at 350Nm. Impressive for a car being marketed more as a lifestyle vehicle than a bruising drive.
The new S5 retains the same powerful lines of the coupe but with the metal roof replaced with a folding fabric variant. Audi claims that the fabric roof retains the same sound insulating qualities of a metal one due to the special coating used on the material.
Powered by the same 3.0-litre TFSI V6 powerplant found in the S4 Sedan, the S5 demolishes the autobahns with 333bhp. When push comes to shove, the S5 shoves back with 440Nm of torque. Enough to make your date turn a shade of green, but not too much. The century sprint is dispatched in 5.6 seconds up to a maximum limited speed of 250km/h.
The car comes equipped with Audi’s dual clutch S-tronic tranny with the new sports differential as an option. The sports differential accelerates the rear wheels individually. It improves the turn by diverting more power to the outside rear wheel when turning into and out of bends.
Both cars lose their tops in 15 seconds and 17 seconds to close. An advantage both cabriolets have over the competition is the ability to go topless while travelling at a reasonable and very convenient speed of 50km/h. The best of them can only achieve the topless act at 20km/h. Even with the roof folded, the owners will still find 320 litres of stowage space available and 380 litres with the roof up.
Personally, I can’t wait to test drive either of these cars. Spending a day with them would be as enchanting as a day out with Claudia Schiffer.
ORGASM OF THE WEEK #1
Every week from this week we’re going to be having the “Orgasm of the week”. Basically a picture or a series of pictures that we think has the ability to wet your pants and not in a bad way.
This week it’s the Mansory GT63!
Based on the Bentley Continental GT, the interior has been modified with precious materials, the finest leather, aluminium pedals, carbon fibre applications and a newly designed steering wheel, making this baby even grander than the one it’s based on.
On the outside, this fine example has been shod with the most gorgeous forked six-spoke rims in white, that compliments the rest of the body kit like the syrup in your Tau Huay.
Exuding such good taste, it’s no suprise the GT63’s Malaysian registered…they always seem to have the cooler cars.
Only the best in high-res I say!
Thanks Eugene!
NEWS: The world loses a Koenigsegg CCX
Don’t people have better things to do than to crash (other people’s) supercars ?
The first I remember reading about was the Red Enzo that a Swede crashed and sliced into half while dragging with an SLR on a Malibu highway. The crash then led investigators to the Swede’s criminal ties with the Swedish mafia and his exploits as a con-artists while indulging himself in the odd kidnapping and drug smuggling act.
Then there was that Bugatti (the one where the pictures were distorted?) in England that some idiot lent his friend (or was it brother), which the imbecile crashed and smashed the front of the car bad.
THEN there was ex-Formula 1 Champion of the world Lewis Hamilton’s dad who crashed his son’s Porsche Carrera GT (I actually smiled reading this one).
Now this. Worst still, this wasn’t a friend or a family member who crashed the owner’s car. It was the agent who sold the damn car that decided to take the car for a spin, into a wall and into a 2009 GT2.
Sure you could argue that it isn’t all bad since the engine’s at the rear, but fixing up this car will probably cost half of what the bugger originally paid (more than a US$1 million).
Truly a black Thursday.
Thanks for the lead Alex Chen!
NEWS: Kia Motors posts 40.4% increase in September global sales
Kia Motors Corporation announced today its global sales figures for passenger cars (export sales, domestic sales, and sales from overseas plants), recreational vehicles (RVs), and commercial vehicles for September 2009, recording a total of 155,223 units sold.
This figure represents a year-on-year increase of 40.4%.
Kia posted year-on-year sales increases in every region, including China (25,356 units sold, a 130.3% year-on-year increase), Korea (39,006 units, a 60.4% year-on-year increase), Europe (36,037 units, a 27.6% year-on-year increase), North America (26,138 units sold, a 23.6% year-on-year increase) and general markets (28,686 units sold, an 11.0% year-on-year increase).
Cumulatively, through the first nine months of 2009, Kia’s global sales increased by 11.8% year-on-year and reached 1,187,795 units. The Chinese market experienced the highest gain with 166,869 units sold to date, representing a 48.3% increase.
To date in 2009, Kia’s best selling model in overseas markets has been the C-segment Cerato (known as ‘Spectra’ or ‘Forte’ in some markets) with 208,627 units sold. Kia’s Sportage compact SUV and the B-segment Rio followed closely with 127,342 and 125,092 units sold, respectively. The C-segment cee’d takes fourth place with 92,124 units sold, while the Picanto completes the top five with 73,991 units sold.
In terms of vehicle category sold overseas, Kia’s passenger and recreational vehicles achieved year-on-year increases in September of 45.0% (76,021 units) and 20.2% (36,985 units), respectively.
Hyoung-Keun Lee, President of Kia Motors Corporation, said, “We are pleased to see Kia post sales growth across all markets this month. Although scrappage programs in many key markets are currently being phased out, we are confident that we are well positioned for continued growth with our new, exciting product introductions that will continue into next year and beyond.”
NEWS: Hummer’s fate sealed by Chinese construction company
GM, working to cut its U.S. brand count in half as it recovers from bankruptcy, today completed an agreement to sell the Hummer SUV brand to China’s Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. Ltd
The companies did not disclose financial terms in announcing the deal. News reports Thursday said Tengzhong would pay $150 million.
The accord moves GM a step forward in its effort to remake itself by selling brands it had taken on over the past two decades. Last week, a deal to sell Saturn to Penske Automotive Group collapsed a day before it was expected to close.
Tengzhong will purchase Hummer through an investment entity, in which it will hold an 80 percent stake. Entrepreneur Suolang Duoji, whose holdings include Chinese chemical maker Lumena, will control the other 20 percent.
Tengzhong is scheduled to buy the brand, its trademarks and licensing rights to make vehicles and will assume U.S. franchise agreements. GM had 158 Hummer franchises at the start of the year. Tengzhong will also get manufacturing, business services and some components from GM during a transitional period, which was not defined.
GM had said in June that it expected to sell Hummer to the Chinese heavy machinery maker, which has no experience in the auto industry. Hummer’s 64 percent sales decline through September from year-earlier levels was the steepest of any volume brand in the United States.
Hummer’s U.S. sales peaked at 71,524 in 2006, before demand was choked by gasoline prices that soared above $4 per gallon last year. Sales through September of this year dwindled to 8,193.
GM had estimated in the summer of 2008 that the sale of Hummer “might realize $500 million or more,” CEO Fritz Henderson said in documents filed during the automaker’s 39-day bankruptcy.
Source: Automotive News
INTEREST: Want to save the earth? Get rid of speed humps
‘Smart’ speed bumps being developed in Mexico
Speed bumps are so common in Mexico (as in Singapore) that residents sometimes decorate them for the holidays, painting “Happy New Year” or “Happy Independence Day.” One rock band, The Sam-Sam, even has dedicated a song to them.
Yet concerns over the environment — and the utter annoyance of having to brake and accelerate frequently — have prompted one Mexican state government to embrace a “smart” speed bump that could make driving smoother, without sacrificing safety.
The government of Mexico state, the populous state that surrounds Mexico City on three sides, sees enough promise in it that it is providing grant money and legal help to get the invention patented in Mexico and abroad.
A study by Mexico City Autonomous University in 2006 found that cars traveling over speed bumps used significantly more fuel and emitted more pollutants.
There are at least 18,000 speed bumps in central Mexico City alone, according to the government. Few police officers have radar guns, and speeders who are caught usually get off with a warning by paying a bribe of a few dollars, Camba says.
“So the government takes the easy way out and builds a speed bump,” Camba says. “Or sometimes neighbors just get so frustrated that they build one themselves. It’s a symptom of a lack of respect for the law.”
The speed bump will require no electricity, costs about $1,500 per lane and will last about 10 years with annual $50 maintenance, Cano says.
The mechanical version can be set for speeds up to 25 mph, but the company also has an electric prototype that can be used in faster speed zones.
Some drivers have doubts.
“I think they’ll get stolen, or they’ll break because the government doesn’t maintain anything,” says Marielena Ramírez, 27. “They should just get rid of speed bumps, not try to make them smarter.”
Source: www.usatoday.com
LAUNCH: Alfa Romeo joins the automotive circus in Leng Kee Road
Passionate Alfa fans gathered at Teban Gardens to convoy down to the new showroom together in a spectacular display of Alfas past and present
Alfa Romeo today celebrated the opening of their newest showroom located at 11 Leng Kee Road, in the heart of Singapore’s automotive district. Renovated to reflect the passion and spirit of motoring that is at the heart of the Alfa brand, the showroom will play host to some of the industry’s most beautiful cars in addition to a very select range of Alfa Romeo merchandise and collectibles.
The showroom was inaugurated to the mellifluous bellow of Alfa’s supercar – the 8C Competizione, of which there are only 500 in existence. After delighting the crowd with what has to be one of the most moving exhaust notes in the world, a beaming Melvin Goh, Managing Director of official importer EuroAutomobile said “it’s fantastic to finally secure a location for Alfa that will bring it to more people. There are some great cars in the range that people simply don’t know about. With the new showroom we are able to get more people to try the cars – and we are very sure that once they try it, every driver will fall in love with the Alfa difference, I certainly did”
There are rumours flying around that Melvin owns the red 8C unit you see in the pictures.
With Alfa Romeo celebrating their 100th Anniversary in 2010 the Leng Kee address is expected to provide a central location and platform for centennial celebrations. As well as hosting car buyers, the new home is expected to attract brand enthusiasts, who will always be welcome for a discussion on latest Alfa gossip, news and trivia.
This is the first time in the marque’s history that they have had such a prime location, so it is expected that traffic at the showroom and interest in the brand will increase dramatically. Along with this dramatic increase in accessibility for car shoppers comes a range of activities aimed at exposing the brand to people that may never have experience the Alfa passion, or may have outdated perceptions of the brand.
By outdated they mean the fact that Alfa’s tend to give problems some years of ownership. They did launch the MINI-rivaling MiTo last year but with only a manual unit in town, take-up of the car hasn’t been spectacular. Infact I haven’t seen any registered units on our roads.
Not suprising considering the interior door panels can be depressed and same with the side arm handles, creaking when slightly twisted. A real pity…
NEWS: Overfinch launches the coolest Range Rover out there
The unique special edition will be limited to just 100 units annually, and customer can choose from two models for customisation. Overfinch will offer either the Supercharged V8 model with 503bhp, or the TDV8 model with 270bhp.
Holland & Holland has clearly made their mark with the Range Rover, with the wood inserts available in either “gunstock walnut” or “wood veneers”. Seven different tones of leather for the seats are available, using the same material found in private jets. A special, quilted-leather headliner is also available, while there is also the choice of alcantara. Overfinch says that refurnishing the trim alone takes “over 150 man hours.”
More Holland & Holland details can be found in the interior, with Overfinch saying that the custom steering wheel can be engraved with the “customer’s own shotgun”. There is also a numbered “shotgun grade steel plaque” installed in the interior. Other features include a floor-mounted refrigerator with crystal bucket and flutes.
Outside, the Overfinch Holland & Holland Range Rover can be specified in four body colours, although two-tone paint can also be ordered. Standard 20-inch Tiger wheels with all-weather tires can be replaced by normal 22-inch wheels for owners who don’t go off-roading. Winter wheels can also be ordered.
More unique features include the lockable removable hand-crafted gun cabinet, and the vehicle will come with a full stock of Balvenie single malt whisky, Hendrick’s single batch gin, Ivan the Terrible vodka, Pol Roger Champagne, and Willow Spring bottled water. The beverages will be refilled at no cost during the first year of ownership.
NEWS: Malaysia boleh!!
I recently bought myself a t-shirt with the words “Malaysia boleh, everything also can” written in white on a luminous green speech bubble. Now, since I’ve been wearing it to work, everyone except our Malaysian colleague have been asking me what’s so boleh about Malaysia. Smoking anywhere, the ability to share some of your money with the friendly police officers and the very fact Malaysia is not part of Singapore are three of the more common reasons why Malaysia will always be more boleh than it’s neighbour.
I just found a new reason.
