LEAKED! - See the first picture of the so called E-Class Coupé

Apparently, Mercedes-Benz has really decided to give up on the name CLK and to rebaptize its entry-level coupe as the new E-Class Coupé. At least this is how our friends at Autoblog.nl have decided to call the vehicle in the pictures below, a world exclusive (hence the watermark).



Built over the C-Class platform, this car is also expected to have a hard top retractable version, also known as coupe cabriolet. We have got no more information than that, but we soon will, for sure. Meanwhile, feast your eyes with the new car, which is very likely to be presented at Geneva Motor Show.





Source: Autoblog.nl

SSC officially reveals information on Ultimate Aero EV, the world's fastest electric car

SSC (Shelby SuperCars) has officially revealed today its newest creation. As we would expect, it is incredibly fast and powerful. As we wouldn't, it is amazingly clean and revolutionary. This is all we can expect from the new Ultimate Aero EV, a car that wants to claim the title of "Wold's Fastest Electric Production Vehicle".



According to SSC, the car will showcase the new "All-Electric Scalable Powertrain", or AESP, a system that aims to prove electric cars can be even more fun to drive than combustion-engined vehicles. The reason for that is that electric cars have their full torque at 0 rpm. And, in Ultimate Aero EV's case, with its twin motor AESP, this full torque is 1,085 Nm and 1,013 bhp! That allows the car to accelerate from 0 to 96 km/h in 2.5 s and to reach a top speed of 335 km/h. Ultimate Aero EV uses a three-speed automatic gearbox with electronically controlled times of only 0.24 s.

With such a performance, it would not be a surprise if the car batteries ran out in 5 minutes, but this is not what happens to Ultimate Aero EV, according to SSC. The car can run up to 322 km on a single full charge, but, in case the driver depletes this charge with many runs at full speed (in a race track, for example), SSC has given this super electric car a system called "Charge on the Run". It allows a full battery recharge in only 10 minutes. Considering full charges normally take hours, this is quite an accomplishment. The only requirement is that the power outlet must be 220V.

As for using the car at its full speed, there must not be any concerns towards battery temperature (they may overheat in such conditions), once AESP is liquid cooled.

This is just the beginning for SSC Green division. By presenting AESP in such a majestic way, they will be able to supply the system to other carmakers or even to develop new products of their own. They plan 200 hp applications in economy and mid-size cars, 500 hp applications for light trucks and SUVs and up to 1,200 hp applications for delivery trucks, heavy-duty equipment, buses and military vehicles.

As it usually happens with something that seems so good, you could expect that old speech of development time and deliveries only in 2050, but SSC will present the Ultimate Aero EV in the second quarter of 2009 and start delivering it by the end of the year. Besides that, Jerod Shelby, the founder of the company, will drive the car in superspeedways at high speeds, along with special guests, pitting only to show how fast the car recharges. We can't wait to see that happen. And the good part it that it will happen soon.





Source: SSC

Loremo presents the car interior and news on its versions

We have already told you a word or two on Loremo. Our previous report on it stated it would have a different appearance. Even so, all the pictures of the current prototype are still refering to the old model, possibly due to cost reasons. Anyway, Loremo has recently informed some changes to the three versions of the car: LS, GT and EV.



The entry-level version, LS, will keep its two-cylinder engine. It will be a 700 cm³ powerplant produced by a German supplier, but Loremo refrains to say which one. Fuel consumption has dropped from 67 km/l to 50 km/l. Although still remarkable, it is a loss. The car range remains very good: 1,000 km with its 20-l fuel tank. The price, on the other hand, has increased from 11,000 euros to 15,000 euros. Some people may think it is too much for a car that reaches a top speed of 160 km/h and takes 20 s to go from 0 to 100 km/h, but no 3,80 m long car in the market weighs only 550 kg nor is so fuel efficient. And four people can travel on it.

The sportscar of the range, GT, will adopt a 850 cm³ two-cylinder Otto engine instead of the three-cylinder diesel. According to Loremo, a diesel engine would be heavier, less powerful (36 kW, or 50 bhp, against 45 kW, or 62 bhp, for the petrol engine), more expensive and difficult to develop. Even though it might be cheaper, the price tag for Loremo GT has also increased. From 15,000 euros, it is now expected to cost 20,000 euros. With the diesel engine, it could reach a top speed of 200 km/h and go from 0 to 100 km/h in 10 s.

Since everyone it heading for electric powertrains, Loremo has also decide to develop a version that runs on electricity, the EV (Electric Vehicle). With a 20 kW (27 bhp) engine, it would probably perform better (top speed of 170 km/h and 15 s for 0 to 100 km/h) than LS if it wasn't heavier. The good thing is that the lithium-ion batteries have helped the car to keep this extra weight to less than 10%. From 550 kg, the car has reached 600 kg. Range is 150 km. Curiously, the EV was the last one to start being developed, but will probably be the first to be presented to the public as a series production vehicle. Its price tag may impress, but it is not exaggerated when we remember it is an electric vehicle: 30,000 euros.

Loremo is expected to start selling its cars in 2009 and is very confident on a huge demand for its fuel efficient vehicles. We just hope the current financial mess does not harm this fantastic car.














Source: Loremo

EDAG proposes an "open source" vehicle, the Light Car

You have already seen electric vehicles. You have also seen vehicles that use LED headlights. But you surely has never seen an "open source" car, just like a computer program. This is what EDAG will propose with Light Car in the next edition of Geneva Motor Show. Both to customers and to carmakers.



For customers, "open source" must mean the possibility of configuring the car just like they configure a computer's desktop. The Light Car presents a technology called (O)LED, or organic light-emitting diodes. It allows the driver to arrange the whole appearance of the headlights and taillights. Do you like cars that seem to have a smiling face? Or do you prefer the ones that look more aggressive? It is just a matter of setting the best appearance for you. The entire body of Light Car seems to be made of glass or Makrolon, the same material that has been used by Rinspeed in eXasis, the transparent sportscar. When the car is off, it is entirely dark. When it is turned on, the (O)LEDs under the body shine the way the car has been set to do and the magic happens.

Aesthetics are not the only function of (O)LED technology. It can also prevent accidents by communicating with other cars around about, for example, how hard the driver hits the brake pedal.

It does not happen only outside of the car. All the gauges can also be configured to the tastes of the driver. It doesn't matter what you want to change. (O)LED allows everything to be changed in size, style or position.

For automakers, "open source" means the technologies EDAG ha showcased are available to anyone who would like to use them. And EDAG does not refer only to the (O)LED technology or to the Makrolon body of the car. It also refers to the ASA.TEC fibre, a basalt fibre that can be used as carbon fibre and is fully reciclable. It is used in the structure of Light Car.

Although it looks small, the concept car is 4 m long. But it has a generous wheelbase of 2.90 m, thanks to hub-mounted electric engines. Steering, brake, drive and suspension systems are all inside the four wheels. The car moves thanks to lithium-ion batteries that can give it a range of 150 km. Its structure can also be used as a basis for many body types, not only the monocab Light Car is.

Considering most drivers would love to have an "open source" car, it is just a matter of convincing automakers such a vehicle would be a sales hit. Or convincing EDAG to try its luck at producing automobiles besides engineering them...





Source: EDAG via CarScoop

Chicago Auto Show will bring Ford Taurus SHO back to life

SHO stands for Super High Output. This acronym has found a good place in Ford's history and, apparently, it is getting back to life. This is what these pictures, taken by our friends at BringbacktheSHO.com, seem to confirm.



The 2010 Ford Taurus will very likely be the first modern vehicle to wear the SHO badge again. It is expected to use the 3.5-litre EcoBoost (turbocharged) V6, an engine that produces 355 bhp on Ford Flex, for example. We would like it to be stronger in Taurus, what is not a remote possibility. Chicago Auto Show will have the honor to reintroduce SHO to the world.




Source: BringbacktheSHO.com via Autoblog

Zolfe presents its first vehicle, the Orange

Some cars are good to drive. Some other, fantastic. The difference between them is a simple recipe: low weight, high output engine and great dynamics. This is what the British company Zolfe has attempted to do with its newest product, the Orange.



Orange uses a Duratec 2.3-litre engine, the same one used by the previous version of the North American Ford Fusion, but with a higher output (185 bhp, instead of 162 bhp). It also weigths only 700 kg. Only prices could be a little lower. It will cost 27,500 pounds. Production could also go beyond the 30 units that will be produced every year, but that will be up to demand to decide.








Source: Zolfe via Motor Authority

Tesla presents the new Roadster Sport with 292 bhp

Tesla has created an amazing car. The Roadster is the first modern electric sportscar. It is able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 s. It reaches a top speed of 200 km/h. It also runs solely on electricity and with a reasonable range: over 350 km. Apparently, Tesla is not satisfied with it. This is why all clients of the company can now order the Roadster Sport.



With a higher price tag (US$ 128,500, against US$ 109,000 of the regular Roadster), the car has received a stronger engine. It now produces 292 bhp, a 42 bhp increase over the 250 bhp powerplant of Roadster. It allows the sportscar to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 s.

No info has been released on an increase in top speed or on a lower range. Only about the price and the fact that the people that are waiting to receive their Roadster cars (over 1,000 people) can upgrade them to the Sport version. With a US$ 19,500 addition.

This new powertrain will be the same one used by Model S, a five-seat sedan that will be released in 2011. Probably to compete with Fisker Karma, which has price tag that is much lower than Roadster's. This electric car competition will be very interesting.










Source: Tesla

Bewerp will present its Savage Rivale Roadyacht GTS in Amsterdam

If a car was to be presented in April 1st, what would you think it is? A very ellaborate lie, for sure, but Emile Pop and Justin de Boer, the founders of the Netherland based company Bewerp, must not have had another way to present their first car in their country other than in this date. The new Savage Rivale Roadyacht GTS will make its official world premiere at AutoRai, in Amsterdam, exactly in April Fool's Day.



Althought the car may not want to fool anyone, it will certainly blur some definitions. As an example, it aims to be a supercar, but it is a four-door coupe, what could make it be mistaken for a GT. It will also be a coupe cabriolet, or else, a hardtop convertible. The first series production four-door coupe to bring a retractable hardtop. Besides, as if it was not enough, all doors are scissor doors. The front ones open in the traditional way and the back doors are what we call suicide doors. They rise from the middle of the car to the back.

The engine this supercar will have is the same one used by Corvette Z06, a V8 LS7 equipped with a supercharger. It is possible that Bewerp decides to replace it with the LS9 engine, used by Corvette ZR1, but Bewerp may want to keep the output in 601 bhp at 6,200 rpm and 750 Nm at 4,800 rpm. Savage will be a rear-wheel drive car, with an automatic transmission.

The official presentation will probably take place on April Fool's Day (at least it is announced to happen in this date), but the real joke may be the presence of the car at Top Marques Monaco. Although it has also been informed that the car will be there, the official website of the event does not include Bewerp as one of its official exhibitors. Things may change in the next few days.















Source: Savage Rivale via Autoblog