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New car lines
publication date: Nov 11, 2009
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author/source: Robin Roberts
| Renault is reviving the Gordini name for a new generatioin of compact sporting models.
The Gordini versions are derived from sports models that are already renowned for their outstanding performance.
Twingo
Gordini will be unveiled on 25 November at L'Atelier Renault on the
Champs Elysées in Paris as part of the ‘Christmas in Blue' exhibition.
It will be launched next spring. Clio Gordini will be launched a few
months later.
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Here are the first official pictures of the all-new Volvo S60 - sportier and more dynamic than any previous Volvo car.
"The all-new Volvo S60 is sculpted to move you. It looks and drives
like no other Volvo before and the car's technology will help you to be
safer and more confident behind the wheel," says Stephen Odell,
President and CEO at Volvo Cars.
The Volvo S60 can be equipped with
Pedestrian Detection - a groundbreaking safety feature that can detect
pedestrians in front of the car and brake automatically if the driver
doesn't react in time.
The all-new Volvo S60 will be unveiled at the
Geneva Motor Show in the beginning of March next year. Production of
the sporty saloon will start early summer 2010 at Volvo Cars' plant in
Gent, Belgium. | |  |
In line with its philosophy of constant improvement
to its high performance icon, Nissan has introduced a series of minor
but key updates to the GT-R.
Under the skin, by changing the front spring and damper rates, the
ride comfort is improved, while handling becomes even more dynamic
thanks to improved responsiveness and more accurate control of
suspension movements. At the rear, the stiffness of the suspension
radius rod bushings has been increased, giving improved feel and
responsiveness during cornering.
The logic controlling torque
distribution between the front and rear axles when the GT-R is
manoeuvring at low speeds just after start-up, when fluids are cold,
has been altered to reduce rear-axle ‘binding'. Furthermore, the logic
in the gearbox has been changed to give a later downshift from 6th to
5th when being driven in automatic mode, but a more aggressive
downshift pattern is adopted when changing down from 4th to 3rd, and
from 3rd to 2nd gear.
To improve cooling around the rear of the car,
two additional NACA cooling ducts have been added to the carbon fibre
underfloor diffuser which will provide additional cooling to the
exhaust and gearbox. Furthermore, a new, larger diameter pipe
connecting the oil cooler will reduce gearbox temperatures.
Another
small, but significant update has been to the front transmission mount,
which has been stiffened, reducing vibration through the driveline
under high-load conditions.
The balance of the electonic brakeforce
distribution bias has been moved slightly rearwards, giving greater
braking stability in dry conditions, while a change in design of the
rear brake cross spring has reduced noise and a modified air deflector
increases rear brake cooling.
Changes to the emissions system now
ensure GT-R is Euro 5 compliant, without loss of output or performance,
with CO2 emissions having dropped by 3g to 295g/km.
Visually, front
and rear bumpers now benefit from a double coat of clear paint, giving
a deeper colour finish, while inside the speedometer and rev counter
now sport gun metallic finish surrounds.
Finally, uprated insulation has been fitted to the rear seats, further improving cabin refinement. | |  |
The wraps are off the new Citroen C-Zero, jointly developed with the Mitsubishi MiEV model.
The
new Citroen city car is designed to make urban mobility easier - thanks
to its compact dimensions, rapid charge and generous range for
day-to-day car journeys.
Having already produced more than 5,500
electric vehicles, citroën has the experience vital to being a
front-runner in a market segment that is set to significantly grow in
the coming years. It is due in the last quarter of 2010.
The Citroën
C-zero is a full-electric vehicle powered by a permanent magnet
synchronous motor delivering 47kW or 64bhp EEC from 3,000 to 6,000rpm.
Maximum torque of 180Nm is available from 0 to 2,000rpm. Power is
transmitted to the rear axle via a single-speed reduction gear. The
motor is powered by a latest-generation 330-volt lithium-ion battery
system comprising 88 50Ah cells (for onboard energy of 16kWh), mounted
in the centre of the vehicle. |
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