2009 Cadillac XLR V

Ever since its arrival in the exclusive world of luxury roadsters in 2004, the Cadillac XLR has been a valued member of this elite club. This is certainly true of the version available in Europe, propelled by the powerful 4.4-litre Supercharged Northstar V8 engine (330 kW / 450 hp) from the famed Cadillac V-series. For model year 2009, the XLR-V has been technologically refined, and the design has been fine-tuned in a number of important respects.
The most obvious refinements can be seen at the front and rear of the car, where a clear family likeness to the prize-winning CTS sports sedan can now be discerned. At the front, new fog lamps are an eye-catching feature, as is the two-piece grille. The redesigned air intakes along the car’s flanks also bring out the family links. The result is an appearance that is more powerful, that matches the capabilities of this luxury, high-performance roadster perfectly.

Lotus Eagle

Never mind all the spy photography - here's the first official look at the 2010 Lotus Eagle, the latest sports car emanating from the house that Chapman built.

Scheduled for an official unveiling at the British motor show on August 22, the Eagle, a 2+2 coupe, is the first all-new Lotus car since the 1995 Elise (the Elise-based Europa S, apparently, doesn't count).

Designed for enthusiasts who need a little more practicality, the Eagle includes a backseat, although, with provisions to anchor car seats, Lotus admits it's a kids-only zone. While the rear trunk was designed to fit a set of golf clubs, customers looking for extra storage space may opt for a two-seat model with a cargo shelf in lieu of the rear seats.

Though Lotus provided only one photograph, it can be seen that the Eagle's shape seems much more organic and proportionate than that of the Europa S. We note, however, that the styling is very derivative of the M250 concept, originally shown to the public nearly eight years ago in Geneva.

Like the Elise, the Eagle sources its engine from Toyota, but this time in the form of a 3.5-liter V-6. Essentially the same motor found in the pedestrian Camry sedan, Lotus tweaked the engine ever so slightly to yield 280 hp. No performance figures have been released yet, but Lotus claims the car is quicker and more stable around the Nurburgring than the Elise.

Production, expected to total 2000 cars per year, will begin in early 2009. Unlike the Europa S, expect the Eagle, in either 2+2 or two-passenger form, to eventually cross the pond into North America.

---

BMW GINA Light Visionary Model

BMW's design department has been working overtime lately. Just last month, the German automaker unveiled its M1 Homage Concept at the Villa d'Este Concours on the shores of Lake Como, Italy. Now, Munich has officially taken the wraps off of a new design study called the GINA Light Visionary Model, a creation BMW says shouldn't be thought of as "just another concept car," but rather "a whole new approach to automotive design."

With its GINA (Geometry and Functions In "N" Adaptions) model, BMW set out to explore the creative freedom that might be offered with future cars while using a traditional front-mounted eight-cylinder engine and rear-drive platform. The surface of the concept features a new fabric material that BMW says is highly resistant to expansion, durable, and flexible. Underneath the covering material is a light aluminum subframe that is moveable via electric and hydraulic controls, allowing the surface itself to be reshaped according to the owner's desire. The usual elements of production cars -- doors, wheel arches, a trunk lid, engine hood, and roof -- are not present in the conventional sense. Rather, the body consists of just four components: a front panel that leads to the edge of the windscreen, two side panels (one on each side of the car), and a rear deck panel.

BMW is particularly proud of the headlights on the GINA project. When the headlights are not active, they are hidden under the car's skin. When turned on, the metal subframe moves the covering fabric skin laterally away from either side of the trademark kidney-shaped grille, exposing the double lights. Other sections of bodywork are moveable as well: the rear panel shifts to allow a spoiler to rise when traveling over a specified speed, while the rocker panels move to narrow or widen the side air intakes and extend an additional protruding rocker panel line. Even the aforementioned kidney grille is able to be widened, adding separate distinct body lines in the

Lamborghini Diablo GTR

After campaigning the Diablo SV-R for four years in the Diablo Supertrophy Lamborghini launched a completely new car for the 2000 season. This Diablo GTR is a modified version of the 6 litre GT version of the Diablo launched in 1999. In comparison with the Diablo GT, GTR most important features are a modified chassis frame with integrated roll bar, improved suspensions, central fixing nut for the rims, race braking system, additional radiators for transmission oil cooling, very high performance rear wing (directly bolted to the chassis), simplified interiors and weight reduction. The engine is basically the same V12, 6 litre, of the Diablo GT which thanks to the adoption of a specially tuned exhaust system, without catalyser, delivers 590 hp (575 in the GT model).

The engine management system is based on the proprietary Lamborghini LIE electronic engine control system tuned for racing. Fuel injection is sequential multipoint and ignition is static with individual coils. Lamborghini Data Acquisition System, LDAS, and diagnostic functions are integrated in the engine electronic management system.

For the engine cooling, two water radiators in parallel are side mounted to the engine and an engine oil cooler is front mounted as in the Diablo GT. Additional coolers for gearbox and differential oil are installed in order to better match the racing overloads.

The transmission is on the rear wheels through a Lamborghini 5 speed gearbox with one basic gear ratio option and an alternative option for a shorter 5th gear ratio. The gear box lever is in an asymmetric position on the central tunnel in order to be closer to the steering wheel, for better control. The steering system is power assisted.

The tubular chassis frame integrates the roll bar and is directly connected to the rear wing. The front suspension is modified for racing. Shock absorbers and anti-roll bars are adjustable. The rims are lightweight magnesium alloy with central fixing nut and they accept racing type tyres. A special racing fuel tank with fast filling system has been installed. The braking system is based on the Diablo GT high performance module. New racing brake calipers have been adopted to better match the very severe racing conditions.

Most of the body is carbon fibre made, except for the roof, which is made of steel for torsional rigidity, while the doors are made of aluminium, for safety reasons.

The cockpit fittings are simplified to meet racing requirements. The driver seat has been moved towards the longitudinal axle of the car, reducing the size of the central tunnel, to ensure a better driving position. Racing switches for ignition and for other functions have been adopted instead of the series push buttons. The fire extinguisher system is installed on the right side of the cockpit with activating switch on the tunnel. The driver's seat is of racing type with a six-point safety belt and the steering wheel is also racing type.

A production run of 30 cars was planned at the launch of the car at the 2000 Bologna Motorshow, but at the end of the run 40 cars were built.

First official look at the 2009 Acura TL

After all the spy shots we’ve seen up until now, Acura today released the first official image of the 2009 Acura TL. You can take your first look at the front with the milk mustache grille as seen on the 2009 Acura TSX.

The very short press release from Acura said that it will be available in fall of 2008 in two different variants including the first ever use of Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive system on a TL. Acura says that the 2009 TL will also feature the most powerful Acura engine ever - we’re guessing that means the range-topper will carry Acura’s 3.7L that produces 300-hp.

Let us know what you think of the new 2009 Acura TL in the comments section.

source:egmcartech.com

VW debuts Tiguan HyMotion Fuel-Cell Concept

Originally shown at the Shanghai Motor Show, the Volkswagen Tiguan HyMotion Fuel-Cell Concept is powered by 107-hp engine which produces a total of 138-hp with the help of an electric motor. 0-60 for the Tiguan HyMotion comes in at 14 seconds with a top speed of 93mph.

A lithium ion battery with a charge capacity of 6.8 Ampere-hours serves as an auxiliary energy storage device capable of a maximum power output of 22 kW. The battery resides in the trunk beneath the cargo floor and the 700 bar hydrogen tank is integrated under the rear seat and cargo area. The tank can hold up to 3.2 kilograms of hydrogen