Car articles

Mar 10 2012

2013 Chevy Malibu’s turbo four rated at 259 HP, 0-60 in 6.3 seconds

2013 Chevy Malibus turbo four rated at 259 HP, 0 60 in 6.3 seconds
We weren’t exactly smitten with the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco when we got the chance to take one out for a spin, thanks in part to the eAssist wizardry aimed at improving the vehicle’s fuel economy. With a lackluster drivetrain, regenerative brakes and low rolling resistance tries, the Malibu Eco simply isn’t capable of keeping its head high among the competition.

Even so, we were told to wait for the Ecotec 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder set to debut this year. Now we know why. According to General Motors, the engine is good for 269 259 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. More importantly, all that torque comes on at a very low 1,700 rpm.

The direct-injection engine helps the Malibu hit 60 mph in a scant 6.3 seconds. Trust us when we say that’s an improvement over the Eco model. While there’s no word on fuel economy, we would expect the engine to return well better than the 17 mpg city and 26 mpg highway supplied by the outgoing 3.6-liter V6, an engine that was only good for 252 horsepower.

This isn’t the first time GM has dabbled with a turbocharged four-cylinder. The company supplied buyers with a 2.0-liter Ecotec in vehicles like the Pontiac Solstice GXP, HHR SS and Cobalt SS that put out 260 horsepower.

Source: General Motors

Mar 6 2012

Lamborghini Aventador J roadster

Lamborghini Aventador J roadster
The Aventador J adheres to a pretty simple recipe, namely dispense with everything unnecessary to going fast, like the climate control and nav systems. Lambo has also given the roof and windshield of the Aventador LP700-4 coupe the Sawzall treatment, fitting small wind deflectors instead. The company says it’s going for a two-seat sport-bike effect, so it’s done some other interesting things to lower the curb weight of the J.

Powered by the same 700-hp 6.5-liter 12-cylinder as the standard Aventador, the all-wheel-drive J is capable of speeds over 300 kph (186 mph), meaning the driver and passenger had better have their helmets at the ready.

Feb 12 2012

BMW debuts 560-hp twin-turbo M6

BMW debuts 560 hp twin turbo M6

At its heart, the M6 Coupe and Cabriolet are all about the engine, and as expected both models use the same twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 (ironically codenamed S63) to output 560 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque, the latter of which peaks between 1,500 and 5,750 rpm. Those figures should sound familiar, as they’re almost exact duplicates of the M5′s specs (the sedan makes an additional two lb-ft of torque), including the 7,200 rpm rev limiter and Valvetronic system.

Mated to the same seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox as the M5, BMW claims the M6 Coupe will run from a rest to 62 mph in 4.2 seconds, with the cabrio taking an additional tenth of a second to hit the same mark. According to our sources, a six-speed manual option is under consideration, but it won’t be available at launch. And again, just like the M5, fuel consumption has been reduced by 30 percent while power has increased by around 10 percent.

Also included is BMW’s Active M Differential, an electronically controlled multi-plate limited slip diff that works in conjunction with the DSC and the new Dynamic Damper Controls that electro-hydraulically tweak damping force on-the-fly depending on the settings and the situation.

Inside the subtly blistered wheel arches are massive 16.1-inch carbon ceramic rotors in front, gripped by six piston blue calipers, with equally impressive 15.6-inch rotors out back held by a single-piston caliper. The standard wheels are M-specific 19-inch alloys with 265/40 R19 ultra-high performance summer tires in front and 295/35 R19 rubber in the rear, with 20-inch lightweight hoops available as an option.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 »