Magna Steyr MILA Alpin Concept at Geneva

The Austrian based Magna Steyr company is maybe best known for contract building the BMW X3, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300C for Europe and is rumored to build the upcoming MINI SUV. Magna Steyr also helped out on Lada's Project C Concept but they also build their own concept cars. Back in 2005, Magna Steyr revealed their single-seater, 150hp, CNG powered MILA Concept, the Magna Innovation Lightweight Auto.

This year Magna Steyr will be revealing the MILA Alpin, an innovative and extremely compact off-road concept car, capable of climbing 45 degree inclines. Power will come from a clean CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) hybrid 3-cylinder engine and can seat 3+1, but we will have to wait and see at the show how 3+1 seating works.

Stay tuned for live, high resolution images from the Geneva Motor Show

Press Release

MILA Alpin: Compact Off-Roader with Alternative Drive Options

MAGNA STEYR presents the third concept vehicle in the MILA innovation family at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show.



The MILA Alpin is a compact off-roader with a body specially designed for integrating various different types of alternative drives. This means: Excellent all-terrain capability, wide-ranging uses and emissions of under 100 g CO2 per kilometer.

Creating an attractive vehicle was by no means MAGNA STEYR's only priority in the MILA Alpin project. The entire product development process was also designed always to make assembly as cost-efficient as possible – whatever the market demands.
A new vehicle segment

Its unique configuration makes the MILA Alpin a vehicle that stands out because of its excellent all-terrain capability and outstanding rough road characteristics. As a result, it is not only suitable for recreation but also as a utility vehicle for special uses. What allows such wide-ranging applications is the mid-engine layout with a low-cost, but effective all-wheel drive system. Its climbing ability is impressive: 100% or 45 degrees. On the road, too, exceptional handling makes the MILA Alpin great fun to drive. What's more, the hybrid drive using natural gas reduces the impact on the environment.

The MILA Alpin's shape language also adds to its attraction – inspired by Nature, its lines are as clear as rock and ice.
Engineering

The engineers at MAGNA STEYR set themselves the challenge of developing an off-roader in several variants with maximum climbing ability – all at low cost. And they certainly succeeded.

The frame consists of straight sections, which are made of different materials to guarantee low weight and enable a flexible body concept. Modular design makes it easier to use components and systems from volume production and combine them with various different innovative modules and optional extras. Thanks to independent suspension and ESP, the chassis guarantees safe on-road characteristics. The mid-engine layout ensures good traction. The considerable ground clearance, large overhang angles, option of locks in the transfer case and axle drives, and low crawling speed all go to make driving safe and relaxed off the road.

A higher sitting position that is relatively far forward and large panoramic roof give the driver and passengers perfect visibility. The MILA Alpin has 3 + 1 seats.

There is also the option of a CNG drive, a hybrid or a small, supercharged gasoline engine.
From concept to reality

To manufacture a vehicle with low production volume and high number of variants economically, tool investment has to be reduced as far as possible. This fact in particular was taken into account when designing the MILA Alpin. Given the modular design, automation can be kept at a low level and, at the same time, flexibility in assembly at a high level. The MILA Alpin concept can therefore be used for volume production without any problems – especially by a flexible specialist in engineering and vehicle assembly, such as MAGNA STEYR. The requirements for production have been met by optimizing the overall process and the individual systems at every stage of development. This approach also enables the costs of any subsequent modifications due to market demand to be kept down to a minimum.

All the innovative components, such as energy storage systems, and the expertise for hybrid drives stem from in-house advance development.

MAGNA STEYR has developed and designed the vehicle to be brand neutral. It can therefore be built together with various OEMs.

The MILA Alpin:
• Compact off-roader with alternative drive options
• CO2 reduction as optional extra
• Wide-ranging uses
• Optimized product development chain (reduction in tool investment; cost-effective, flexible production)

Source: Magna Steyr

Morgan AeroMax goes into production

Morgan's funky retro-modern AeroMax coupe, originally built as a custom vehicle and displayed at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, is going into production. The startling AeroMax combines Morgan's familiar lines with a modern envelope body. It's a love-it or hate-it design, but enough people love it that Morgan will build 100 of them.

The AeroMax features an all-aluminum body bolted to Morgan's signature ash wood frame. The complex body's twin rear windows are powered, allowing access to the luggage compartment with its available fitted Connolly luggage. Power is provided by a 4.8 liter V8 sourced from BMW, and the AeroMax is rated at 367bhp. In addition to being possibly the most aerodynamic-looking Morgan ever, the AeroMax is also the first Morgan to have an automatic transmission, as it's equipped with a six-speed ZF autobox. Morgan claims a 4.2-second 0-100km/h run and a 170mph top speed.

The modern technology bolted to the AeroMax' wood frame also includes electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), cruise control, a tire pressure monitor and anti-lock brakes.

The AeroMax is in production at Malvern, with the first cars to be delivered soon.






Press Release

Morgan AeroMax Enters Limited Production

Two years after world debut
Just 2 years after its debut at the 2006 Geneva Autoshow as a one off built to order for one of Morgan’s discerning customers, the AeroMax coupe has entered series production at the Morgan factory.
Such was the interest surrounding this unique design that it was decided, with the kind permission of its owner, to make a limited production run of 100 cars, all of which were sold within just a few weeks of its announcement.
Following a two year intense period of production development, and a number of minor improvements to the overall design, the first customer AeroMax is shortly to be delivered.
No expense has been spared in ensuring that the production quality mirrors expectations. Innovations include a world first, the use of high tech super formed aluminium panels for the entire body. This process allows the most complex of shapes to be made in aluminium which are then fitted over a traditional ash frame. Beautifully detailed inside, the coachbuilt ash frame proves that construction of the Morgan AeroMax remains true to Morgan philosophy. Using this unique mix of technology and high quality materials, the AeroMax is assembled with care and dedication by the craftsman and women in Malvern. This method of construction offers a minimum of carbon emissions and maximum sustainability.
The body is bolted to a stiff yet lightweight Aero 8 chassis which from 2008 is fitted with the 367Bhp 4.8 litre BMW V8 engine. This gives AeroMax performance to match its looks. For the first time a Morgan can have an automatic gearbox. The latest ZF 6HP 26 gearbox gives the fastest change in the world and endows the automatic with better acceleration and fuel economy than the manual thanks to its lock up clutch, low power loss and instant change characteristics. It also delivers lower CO2 emissions, 267 g/km, a figure not normally associated with a 0-62 mph (100 kph) capability of just 4.2 seconds and a top speed in excess of 170mph.
This will be the first Morgan to use Canbus software to control not only the engine functions but also some body technology such as lighting, wipers and instrumentation. Reassurance and security are provided by Electronic Brake Distribution, cruise control, tyre pressure monitoring, ABS and Siemens electronic airbags.
The twin electrically operated glass rear windows allow easy access for the optional stitched calf leather Connolly luggage.
The technically advanced engine and lightweight construction give the best of all worlds – performance, economy and low emissions, yet still with all of the safety systems one would expect in a modern performance car.
Morgan believes with AeroMax it leads the way in exclusive bespoke low volume car construction using quality raw materials and advanced technologies that are not available to Morgan’s competitors in the world of luxury car production. Owners of the Morgan AeroMax will be joining a very exclusive club with a unique opportunity to share their motoring dreams.

Source: Morgan




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Koenigsegg Edition CCX and CCXR limited edition

Koenigsegg owners must be the most sadistic bunch out there. Why? Because they have put Koenigsegg through making these two special edition CCX and CCXR models by sheer demand. What a painful experience it must have been for the Swedes to create these twins to the specs that they boast.

Both feature carbon wheels, amplifiers, Satnav or Bluetooth, a rearview camera for those of us whose parking skills go as far as our pinky fingers, and matched carpets. Don’t skip to the end yet, the specs are on their way; I’m just trying to work my way towards them, just to make sure I’m not seeing things here.

Right. The carbon fiber body compliments the wide wing design and lowered chassis. So special are these cars that only 14 of the CCX are being made available, while the CCXR will be as scarce as an honest politician.

We move on from the gravy and on to the meat. CCX would be the base model, as base as you can get in so far as Koenigsegg is concerned. The same 4.8-litre V8 of cast aluminium origin is employed for heavy wheel-spin duty on both cars. Accompanying it are two superchargers that blow harder than Little Red Riding Hood’s proverbial wolf, forcing 888 bhp/ 662kW and some 920Nm of torque to the wheels. Zero – 100km/h is dispatched in two blinks of an eye, at 2.9 seconds, running out of speed shortly after 400km/h.

Big brother CCXR is a notch up, offering only 6 examples in the entire universe. Those 6 lucky customers, one of who can collect at the Geneva Motor Show where the cars are to be parked, will each drive away with 1018 bhp/ 759kW, 1060Nm of Eiffel Tower-pulling torque. They also collect a free driving course, though some need it more than others. Sprint times are 0 – 100km/h in 2.9 seconds, top speed reaches 417km/h. As a WCF fanatic you’ve probably heard of another hyper production car that did 407km/h on TV a while ago…

The Stig will probably not get his hands on this Koenigsegg, not after the last time…






Press Release

Due to request from certain Koenigsegg Clients and Customers, Koenigsegg has created a Limited Edition version of its sought after cars. The Koenigsegg Edition comes in two limited versions, the CCX and CCXR models.

It features a 4.8L twin supercharged Koenigsegg engine, together with many other unique features. The car is more track biased compared to the standard models, as it has stiffer springs and anti-roll bars, reset dampers and lowered chassis. It also features a fully visible carbon body a large adjustable rear wing, larger front splitter and side strakes for increased down force and a unique forged wheel design.

The interior is also reworked and features; color matched leather carpets, Edition side step plates, Edition chronograph instrument cluster, New edition only layout for the center consol control panels.

All other extra equipment comes as standard, such as Carbon Wheels, Special interior trim and color, Rearview camera, Satnav or Bluetooth, Amplifiers, complete Inconell exhaust system in order to save weight.

The Edition cars will be built in two different versions, a CCX model limited to 14 cars with 888 bhp and a CCXR (Bio flexi fuel) model limited to 6 cars with 1018 bhp. The price for the 888 hp CCX is 1 330 000 Euro, and 1 500 000 Euro for the 1018 hp CCXR (E85/petrol flexfuel) version. The two first of each version are already spoken for.

Each car comes with 5 years free Service and Warranty.

Unveiling of the Edition versions will be at the Geneva Motor show in March 2008, where the first delivery will take place.

Source: Koenigsegg



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Melbourne-built E-Vade to Make World Debut at Melbourne Motor Show

Step aside for a minute there Ariel Atom; there’s a new sheriff in town. E-Vade is the name and Australia is the county. Well, country in this instance. The E-Vade is the result of a lifelong dream by former naval Commander David Walter. He and his wife Peta have been working on the dream for over six years, and the results should be astonishing both on and off the track.

Instead of going the kit-car way like many would and have, Walter took the road less travelled by designing and building his own sports car. Using lightweight materials, the E-Vade came out a two-seater in the mould of normal roadsters. This was achieved by utilizing a steel space-frame chassis clad in fiberglass. Thus 995kg is all the E-Vade weighs on a scale, that weight reduced by 50kg for the track version of the car.

Thrust is provided by a 3.5 V6 engine from Nissan, which is longitudinally mounted behind the driver and kicks out 300kW (405 bhp). The lighter track version of the E-Vade gets more beef in the form of 500kW (680 bhp). Each version uses a 5-speed transaxle.



E-Vade should be more popular in track form for track days since speed laws Down Under are seriously enforced. It’s easy to see how this thing can evade angry traffic officials though. A sweet feature is the built-in hydraulic jack system that can lift the car up to 20cm high to change tyres and so on.

Although to be shown at the Melbourne International Motor Show which runs from February 29, the car is not meant for public sale, rather for the builder’s own private enjoyment. However, Walter reckons if they do end up selling them to interested parties “then that's something extra".

Source: Melbourne Motor Show

Australian Hyper Car E-Vade Takes to the Track

WCF reported on the E-Vade previously, with a drip of drool and a glint of excitement in our eyes. Finally the Melbourne Motor Show will reveal the finished product to the public, and these are the first pictures for yours and our own pleasure.


A bit of performance testing at VACC Park in Port Melbourne has been underway to make sure the car’s go matches its look। While many have compared the concept to something akin to an Ariel Atom or similar, the E-Vade is still heavy, thanks to, in no small part, to its V6 engine.


Both versions that have been produced will be on display at the show। Designer and builder David Walter took one of the cars to a dockyard in Williamstown where his ship is docked.



Source: Melbourne Motor Show




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Ariel Atom 500 V8 Breaks Cover

Ariel is about to rewrite history with its upcoming Atom 500, a V8-powered mini-space shuttle that pulls out figures of over 1,000 bhp per tonne. This from a 2.4-litre V8, which is perhaps paying homage to current Formula One rules. It is supercharged and revs to 10,000 rpm.

The 6-speed sequential gearbox is just the correct package to go with Atom 500, that along with launch control will quickly make toast of the wheels on take-off, probably almost every time. Built with an integrated function steering wheel, carbon fiber panels and aerofoils, Atom 500 is all about lightness, as seen on the bathroom scale when it hits its maximum mass of 500 kilograms.

“For a few customers the Atom 500 will be the ultimate expression of lightweight performance,” says Simon Saunders who is director at Ariel, “and represents the outer limits of what is achievable in a road registered car. We also use this sort of project to explore the possibilities of how we can improve our standard cars.”

Pricing will be confirmed soon and production is strictly limited to a few units. Those lucky, or brave enough to buy one, will probably experience what very few humans on earth have ever experienced.

Source: PistonHeads.com




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2008 Yes! Roadster 3.2

2008 YES! Roadster 3.2

GROSSENHAIN, Germany — First seen in prototype form at the 1999 Frankfurt Auto Show, the second-generation YES! Roadster 3.2 is coming to North America, including a potent new turbocharged edition.
Hand-built in Germany by Funke & Will, the YES! Roadster 3.2 Turbo is powered by Audi's 3.2-liter V6, boosted to 355 horsepower and 358 pound-feet of torque, driving the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. Built of fiber-reinforced composite on an aluminum space frame and weighing just over 2,000 pounds, the 3.2 Turbo jets from zero to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and hits a top speed of 175 mph. An even more extreme version, rated at 415 hp, can push the Roadster to nearly 200 mph.
Even in normally aspirated form, the YES! Roadster 3.2 is impressive, with 255 hp and 243 lb-ft of torque on tap. The 0-60-mph sprint takes only 4.8 seconds.
The latest versions of the Roadster feature a longer wheelbase with more front and rear overhang। The cars are handmade to customers' specs, right down to seat, pedals and switchgear. Options range from heated seats to satellite navigation. Customers can also select exterior colors and a range of cockpit materials and trim, including leather and chrome.


In preparation for a spring launch, Funke & Will has established YES! North America and expects to name its first U.S. dealers in late February. Prices will likely start at around $75,000.

Black Gumpert Apollo Ready for Geneva

New color and new distributors

The Gumpert Apollo and the Geneva Motor Show go hand in hand. 2006 saw the unveiling of the production ready 641 hp Gumpert Apollo super car, and last year Gumpert brought the race-ready 800 hp Apollo Sport with them.

This year Gumpert will not be bringing a new version of their popular Apollo, but they will be displaying two Apollo's in a new color, black. Regretfully, no image is available yet of a black Apollo so we photo-shopped one instead. The original color of this particular Apollo is blue.

Roland Gumpert, founder and manager, takes an optimistic view of the future. "apollo enjoys a very strong interest. Currently, talks are underway both in Germany and abroad. This year we are planning on establishing at least three domestic distributors." The new Swiss distributors will be at the Geneva Motor Show where they share the stand with Yes!

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Burton Elementz Kitcar Concept

Can an old car, like the Citroen 2CV, give birth to a thrilling car, both on design and performance? The performance stuff still lacks confirmation, but the appearance item can be easily checked. Just look at the pictures used in this article. They relate to the Burton Elementz, a kitcar designed by the Dutch engineer Rob Wolkers and built over the 2CV architecture.

The car was Wolkers' response to the challenge proposed by the Burton Design Contest 2007, a kitcar company that uses 2CV parts to produce its vehicles. Elementz is the project that has won the contest and, therefore, Burton should put it to production soon, but, as well as performance, this is something we still have to check.

According to CarBodyDesign.com, Wolkers wanted to “maximize the fun and driving experience”, what was achieved by keeping the weight low and by making a very open body. This is the same idea used for the Ariel Atom, apart from the fact that Atom uses a modern frame and an updated engine, but this is something that would make a kitcar cost way more than it should.

Besides Burton’s prize, the project has also been the winner of the SolidWorks Product Design Contest 2007.

Source: CarBodyDesign.com

Artega GT

Up-start automaker Artega has unveiled its Artega GT. Designed by Henrik Fisker — a former Aston Martin designer — the sports car uses a rear-engine configuration and measures in at 157 inches long and 74 inches wide. The Artega GT is powered by a VW-sourced 3.6L V6 mated to a DSG transmission.

Power output has not been released for the Artega GT, although the automaker claims the car can accelerate from 0-60 in under five seconds on its way to a top speed north of 155 mph.

The Artega GT is slated for European production with an estimated price tag of €70,000।

Fioravanti Celebrates its 20th Anniversary With the Hidra

Last year, Fioravanti has presented the Thalia Concept at last year’s edition of the Geneva Motor Show। It was basically a five-door coupe that aimed to propose a new way to store alternative sources of energy. For 2008, the year in which Fioravanti completes 20 years of activities, Geneva will witness the appearance of the Hidra Concept, basically a five-door coupe that aims to propose a new way to store alternative sources of energy. We know that “déjà vu” is a French expression, but it will suit the Italian design studio just fine. Apart from the different tops, Thalia and Hidra look exactly the same. Maybe this is because the official press release is not in Fioravanti’s site so far (anyone willing to get more information could solve the problem with Thalia’ pictures and information).

Since we have mentioned info (technical specs, engines etc.), we are sorry to say there is none besides what VirtualCar.it and cars-space have brought us: the car will present revolutionary solutions for glass surfaces and will be an MPC (Multi Purpose Coupe)। More information on the vehicle will only be released at the Geneva Motor Show.

Meet the Gemballa GT 4.0L RS

Gemballa has come out with a new car based on the Porsche 987-C Cayman S, and to compare them one needs to look no further than the movie Twins. The Cayman S is like Danny DeVito to Gemballa's Arnold Schwarzenegger. Sure, DeVito's character had redeemable attributes, but seriously, who would you pick in a race?

Or a fight to the death, for that matter...

The Gemballa GT 4.0L RS has a massive 4.0 liter engine, upped from the 3.4 liter capacity engine on the Cayman S. Silver-toned carbon fibre gives this tuner an exquisite look without making it look tacky, and new front and rear spoilers really do look nice. Appearance aside, these three elements likely combine to really make the GT 4.0L RS stand apart from its Stuttgart-bred relative. 20-inch black racing wheels surround a huge, perforated disc brake system. Although the yellow brake calipers appear a little over-the-top when viewed individually, the car does benefit from a little bit of color.

We said, "a little bit of color." Not the blinding yellow and black Alcantara and carpet interior. If there was anything wrong with this racehorse, its that inside it looks like a yellow dye-pack exploded in a bank robber's high end getaway car.

Nonetheless, we wish we could take a more critical look at the car, but Gemballa has provided no specs or pricing for the vehicle. Currently, the Gemballa GT 4.0L RS is not featured on the US, UK, and Aussie web sites of the company. But you can see a little more of the car at gemballa.com.

Source: Gemballa