Friday, November 12, 2010

Sport Car

Mercedes-Benz is planning to release soon in the market a SLR McLaren super sports car roadster with a top. And in keeping with the Formula 1 vehicles of today the German division of DaimlerChrysler will employ carbon fiber--- which is a type of material used for vehicles of today that possess a very high degree of safety and extreme torsional stiffness---similar to the SLR McLaren coupe version. This will provide the upcoming super sports car roadster with a combination of racing type chassis coupled with outstanding ride characteristics.
The new Roadster will be powered by same AMG V8 compressor engine as the McLaren coupe producing 617 bhp, and uses the same AMG Speedshift R five-speed automatic transmission that will enable the Roadster to sprint from 0 to 62 mph in a matter of 3.2 seconds. The maximum speed of the Roadster will remain at 332 km/h or 207 mph same as that of the coupe.
The retractable top of the Roadster provides pure open-air driving pleasure and despite its luxurious feel it still makes a suitable mode of everyday transport. With the coming of the new Roadster it will surely open up a new dimension in terms of refinement for convertible super sports car.
And just like the McLaren coupe version the new Mercedes SLR McLaren Roadster will also be equipped with loads of stunning Mercedes-Benz accessories. It is also said that the new Roadster is more of a blend of the legendary SLR racing models dating back to the 50s with that of the innovative technology of modern Formula 1 vehicles from the Vodafone-McLaren-Mercedes team.
The new Roadster will also sport some typical styling elements like the arrow-shaped tip derived from the Formula 1 Silver Arrow, distinctive lateral louvers, wide opening gullwing doors, and side pipes behind the front wheels are styling from the SLR legend of the 50s.
The new Roadster has benefited immensely from the long years of experience of both Mercedes-Benz and its Formula 1 partner McLaren. It is demonstrated in every components and styling details that the Roadster has. Take for instance the vehicle’s two aluminum engine frames and its entirely carbon-fiber body which makes the vehicle unique from among the high-performance sports cars.
The Roadster’s carbon-fiber technology was developed further for the monocoque chassis which resulted to its low weight and outstanding energy absorption capability providing occupants with additional amount of safety and a degree of torsional stiffness which have not been attained in any open-top vehicles ever produced. This leads to remarkable ride qualities which are only found in closed-top super sports cars.
The incomparable qualities of the new SLR McLaren Roadster are also attributed to the fully retractable top that blends perfectly with the fluid lines of the Roadster. Moreover its newly developed roof material available in three colors is not only suitable for everyday weather conditions but also provide the Roadster with characteristics that are unique in a roadster. For instance at 332 km/h which is the maximum attainable speed of the roadster, conversation is still possible even with the top opened and such is attributed to the remarkable aeroacoustics that the vehicle possess.
The top is also very easy and quick to operate. It only takes 10 seconds to open and close the top. And since aluminum cover is incorporated into its front section, the roof gracefully closes off the top once retracted. If there’s one thing that the new Roadster can boast of it would be its high degree of safety which is guaranteed by its one-of-a-kind carbon fiber crash elements, steel reinforced A-pillars and tow fixed rollover bars. Add to it the comprehensive list of safety features that include adaptive airbags, knee and side airbags, belt tensioners, and a tire-pressure monitoring system.
Its exclusive standard equipment is comprised of semi-aniline-upholstered carbon-fiber bucket seats which are adaptable to both the driver and the front passenger through the use a range of seat pads; a high-quality BOSE premium sound system; dual-zone automatic air-conditioning; a multifunction sport steering wheel with gear-change paddles, and a Navigation system with integral radio and CD Player.
The new SLR McLaren Roadster just like the McLaren coupe is going to be built at McLaren’s Formula 1 factory in Woking, England and would be created in accordance to the strict quality criteria of Mercedes-Benz. The new Roadster is scheduled to hit dealerships in September 2007.
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Dwyane Thomas is a part time cook and full-time auto-enthusiast. This 31-year old Civil and Environmental graduate is a consultant at one of the engineering firms in Pennsylvania.




One of the most popular sports cars from the 1960s is the Jaguar E-type, which was manufactured in between the years 1961 and 1974. The car, which is sometimes known as the Jaguar XK-E, has ranked high on many sports car lists, because it was unique, powerful, and certainly ahead of its time. The cars were sold for over 14 years, and coupled with a low price, this lead to over 70,000 E-types sold.
Over the years there were three different versions of the car released. In the beginning, the car was designed to be a race car. However, it gradually turned into a sports car and was first shown to the public in Switzerland in 1961 as a car for long trips and as a convertible. The public immediately enjoyed the car, most likely due to its shape. The aerodynamic shape of the car was unique for its time and highly influenced other sports cars that came after it.
When the car was introduced in the United States, it was shown in its gold color and was accompanied by a popular actress named Marilyn Hanold.
For a car released in 1961, the power was also unheard of. There were four wheel disc brakes, which was only found on race cars at the time, a double overhead cam engine, and completely independent rear suspension. The price at the time was only $5,600, which proved the Jaguar E-type to be a great deal.
In 1969, the second version of the car was released. New features included open headlights without glass covers and a better cooling system. The car now offered an air conditioning and power steering options, while the car seats were designed to be more comfortable. The interior and dashboard also experienced a redesign, as new American health and safety regulations had to be met. The second series of the E-type lasted on three years, but that was because the third version was released in 1971.
An upgraded Jaguar V12 engine was used in the third design of the car. This also came with better brakes and standard power steering. The third series of the Jaguar E-type also had its own unique look, with a front grill and a V12 badge on the rear. The car's wheel arches were also different. This was the last series of the E-type, as the Jaguar XJ-S attempted to replace the car in 1975. Most can agree that the car did not pass the legendary status of the Jaguar E-type.
To this day, the Jaguar E-type is considered to be one of the best sports car ever built. It's truly a popular coupe, as it is still shown on the cover of some car magazines. The car hasn't slowed down in recent years either, as many E-types are sold online, ranging in price from $10,000 to $60,000. Fans of the original might even be interested in the current Jaguar model, the XK8, which is regarded by many fans as being the spiritual successor to the legendary sports car.




One of the most classic American sports cars is the Chevrolet Corvette, which was first introduced in 1953. It was the first completely American sports car built by an American car company, which is why it is often referred to as "America's Sports Car".
Today, Corvettes are manufactured in the city of Bowling Green, Kentucky, where they are created with great care. Though the main complaint with the car was its handling, Corvettes' handling has been continually improved to be on a par with popular European sports cars. However, they still remain relatively affordable, which is perhaps another one of the reasons why they continue to be such popular sports cars.
Corvettes are also created to be far simpler than the technical sports cars seen in Europe, which is one of the reasons they are cheaper. Due to their simplicity, Corvettes tend to be smaller and weigh less than sports cars manufactured abroad. The famous car designer Harley Earl was the person who originally designed the beloved Chevrolet sports car. He noticed that soldiers after the Second World War were bringing back European sports cars and that America didn't really have one. At the 1953 Motorama car show, the Corvette that Earl designed was finally unveiled to the shocked public.
The body of the car was originally made with fiberglass, which was brand new at the time. The performance of the car was similar to other Chevrolets produced at the time, but when Chevrolet released it with the first V8 engine in 1955, it became more powerful and therefore quite popular.
Since it was first introduced, there have been six different generations of Corvettes. The first version of the Corvette had about 290 horsepower and a relatively new fuel injection system. There were several options available to it, including power windows and a convertible top. The second version of the Corvette is also quite important as it was known as the Corvette Sting Ray and had four-wheel disc brakes. There are only five of these coveted models left in existence.
The third version had the oddest introduction of the entire group, as it was shown to the public through Mattel's Hot Wheels line, which had been released a few weeks before the actual car was meant to be shown. The fourth generation was praised for its aerodynamic design, which was uncommon at the time. The fifth generation celebrated the Corvette's fiftieth anniversary, but also improved the car's power in nearly every area. The sixth generation Corvette was recently released and has focused on improving the power of the car, rather than creating a new look.
Even though the Corvette name has been around for over fifty years, it continues to be noteworthy to automobile enthusiasts. In 1984 and 1998, it won Motor Trend's Car of the Year and has appeared on dozens of Ten Best Car lists. The car truly is a piece of automobile history. In fact, the oldest Corvette in existence recently sold at an auction at the price of one million US dollars. The classic American sports car truly is the Chevrolet Corvette, which is why it has been able to survive and remain popular for over half a century.



The MG is a British brand of sports car, which has been around for over eighty years. Although the last model of the MG went bankrupt in 2005, the ownership has been moved to Nanjing Automobile Group, who plan to produce the cars once again in 2007. The "MG" name stood for "Morris Garages", who was a car dealership in Oxford. The company started creating customized cars with designs from Cecil Kimber, who eventually became the General Manger of the company. Now, under its new ownership, the "MG" is going to stand as "Modern Gentleman". Zhang Xin, the boss of the group, says that he wants "to see that this brand represent grace and style".
Although MG is mostly known for their two-seat sports cars, the company has also produced coupés and saloons. The company was originally based in Oxford, but in 1925, one year after it was created, MG moved to the larger Bainton Road premises, due to high demand for the vehicles. After the car was finally shown at the London Motor Show, demand of their cars went higher still and they were forced to move again. In 1929, MG moved to their permanent location, which is Abingdon, Oxfordshire. In 1935, William Morris, the owner, sold the company to Morris Motors. The consequences of this deal were that the British Motor Corporation would later absorb the MG brand in 1952. During the 1960s, British Leyland had control of the brand, but was in trouble due to a lagging economy. Up until 2005, the MG brand was part of the MG Rover Group, which was based in Longbridge, Birmingham.
The original 1924 model MG, known as the MG 14/28, was essentially a sports car body on a Morris Oxford steel frame. It wasn't until 1929 that the popular vertical MG grille was finally on the car. The main sports car that MG created was in the Midget series. The car company quickly got recognition as it did quite well in international automobile racing. A more modern sports car was built in 1962 due to high demand for the company to create a more modern car.
Unfortunately, due to the numerous ownership trades and financial problems, the car company ran out of steam in 2005. There are rumors that Project Kimber might want to work with Nanjing, the group that now has the rights to the MG name, in order to create a new sports car inspired by the design of the discontinued microcar Smart Roadster.
Although the car has had a tough history recently, it was quite popular when it was first released to the public due to its power at the time. The car is also famous for its distinctive look, which sports the classic grille and popular classic car body. Unfortunately, car enthusiasts will remember the car not only for its great design and performance, but for its financial troubles and constant switching of ownerships as well. Hopefully Nanjing Automobile Group will be able to revive the brand as "Modern Gentleman" and really make the car shine once again.


Perhaps the most popular 1980s sports car to come out of Japan was the Toyota AE86. Often known as the Hachi-Roku, which means eight-six in Japanese, the sports car became incredibly well liked especially after its appearances in the Japanese manga and anime series called Initial D. The Toyota AE86, which was first introduced in 1983, is also famous for being the last small, rear wheel drive coupe.
The car came in two different body styles, the Levin and the Trueno. They were essentially the same thing, with the only difference coming in the shape of its headlights. More variations between the two models later came in 1986, when Toyota changed the tail lights and hatchback styles as well. The cars produced before this change were commonly called "Zenki", which is Japanese for "early period". Toyota AE86 cars made with the new changes were called "Kouki", which unsurprisingly means "latter period" in Japanese.
The sports car was also very popular at car shows and was used in various racing sports, particularly circuit racing and rally driving. Even now, after it has been discontinued, the car remains popular in rally circles and club races. The car was particularly adept at cornering, especially when it was going downhill. As a result, this made it a very common car for mountain pass street races in Japan, known as hashiriyas. The sports car was light, quite powerful, easily modifiable and balanced very well. Keiichi Tsuchiya, the legendary racer in Japan known as Dori-Kin, or "drift king", had also used the car. In fact, with the Toyota AE86, Keiichi Tsuchiya popularized the sport of drifting. To this day it is still popular in drifting competitions because of its fantastic cornering and early association with the sport.
The Japanese manga and anime series, Initial D, also sparked a new interest in the car among automobile and drifting fans all over the world. The car remains so well received that it has been featured in the high-selling, realistic videogame racing series Gran Turismo. Because of its recent attention, the resale value of the car has increased.
The car was originally released in North America under the Corolla name, which stood for "crown of a flower" and came out in 3 different versions. It was also fairly popular in North America, as one version known as the GT-S stayed in production until 1991. The AE86 sports car was also released in Australia under the name Sprinter, but unfortunately, it did not sell so well because the stock engine was poor. However, many Australian car enthusiasts switched the engine and it has been stayed popular for rally and track racing due to its good handling.
Even though it has been over twenty years since its release, the legendary car is still highly regarded among car enthusiasts due to its wonderful handling and drifting abilities. It continues to gain fame years later since it has been featured in many different car shows, cartoons, games and television series. Since it was also the last of its kind and was used by the legendary drift king, Keiichi Tsuchiya, it looks like the Toyota AE86 is here to stay and drift for years to come.

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