TRD Spices up New Toyota Aqua / Prius C Hybrid with Sport Package in Japan

Toyota is losing no time in pushing out its aftermarket proposals for the all-new Aqua hybrid that will be marketed as the Prius C in markets outside of Japan and which will make its North American debut at the forthcoming Detroit Motor Show in January.

On the same day that the regular Aqua went on sale in its home market, Toyota's TRD racing and performance division announced a slew of tuning upgrades for the sub-compact hatchback.

Starting with the exterior package, TRD's offerings include a new front apron with additional air vents and optional LED daytime running lights, matching side skirts, a roof spoiler, and a rear apron that incorporates a diffuser in a matte black finish.

For the interior, there's a new TRD push-button start while performance mods are limited -for the time being- to a sports exhaust system with a pair of chrome tailpipes, larger alloy wheels and a suspension package with new springs and shock absorbers that lower the car's ride height.

TRD said that it will release more styling accessories and performance mods in the near future.

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Audi: The Low-Down on the R8's Upcoming Facelift and 2014 Replacement

The first true supercar to be created by Audi, the R8, has won universal praise thanks to its handling, quality, every day usability and, in the V10-equipped model, performance numbers.

Despite the fact that it wouldn’t seem out of place if it were launched today, the truth is that Audi’s mid-engined wonder is already five years old, having been introduced in 2006.

Therefore, its replacement is already being developed and is due in 2014, with the open-top Spyder model to follow the next year.

But first, the current R8 will receive an update in 2012. According to Car Magazine, the refreshed R8 will get a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox replacing the sequential six-speed unit, while the upgraded V10 will receive a small bump in power and the interior will sport the latest MMI multimedia interface.

The big news, as far as the first-generation R8 is concerned, is the launch of a limited-production electric version towards the end of 2012.

The British publication reports that the second generation R8 will differ in many ways from its predecessor. For one, the aluminum bodywork and chassis will be replaced by a new architecture which, while still aluminum-based, will also feature carbonfiber for the transmission tunnel, the B-posts and the rear firewall.

Total weight will be reduced by around 100 kg (220 lbs), while torsional rigidity will increase by 13 percent.

On the engine front, we won't see many changes as Audi is said to continue with its two naturally aspirated units. The base version will still be powered by a 4.2 V8, with its output bumped from 420 to 450HP, and the top version by a 5.2-liter V10 with 550HP.

However, down the road Audi may switch to the new turbocharged V8 that was recently unveiled in the Audi S7 and Bentley Continental GT, probably with a hike in power to 600HP.

As previously reported, the second generation R8 and the Gallardo's replacement will make use of Audi's MSS (Modular Sports car System) architecture, while the third generations of both models will employ a new platform developed primarily by Porsche.

Story References: Car Magazine

 

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New BMW M5 gets an Acoustic System that Replicates the Engine Sounds in the Cabin

As with any new BMW, the latest V8-powered M5 F10 comes packed with an array of gadgets and gimmicky features, some of which you may like, some of which you may not.

One of the sports saloon's new features that may dismay purists is the Active Sound Design. To explain, this system is designed to –according to BMW- "accurately replicate" the sounds of the bi-turbocharged V8 engines inside the cabin through the vehicle's audio system.

BMW says that the electronically controlled system evenly spreads the sound across all five seats and that it takes into consideration a variety of factors including the performance mode settings. More details on the new feature in the press blurb after the jump.

Story sources: BMW via Jalopnik

 

From BMW Press Release:

Active Sound Design delivers precise feedback.

M5 drivers will be given an even more direct reminder of their car’s performance capability by technology that brings the distinctive sound of the high-performance V8 – in all its glory – into the cabin of the new BMW M5. The Active Sound Design technology specially developed for the new BMW M5 takes its cues from the driving situation at any one time to deliver an accurate reproduction of the engine’s sound through the car’s audio system.

The system’s digital signal processing exchanges data directly with the engine management, allowing it to reflect the engine’s revs and torque, and the car’s speed over the road. The result over a smoothly driven journey is a discreet soundtrack in keeping with the harmonious and assured characteristics of the V8 powerplant. A stamp on the accelerator, meanwhile, prompts an immediate audible response to match the instantaneous – and typically M – burst of power from beneath the bonnet.

In generating its signals, Active Sound Design takes its cues from the firing sequence of the eight-cylinder engine and the frequency range of the exhaust system. This gives the driver an extremely accurate impression of current engine load and an even more intense sensation of the V8’s high-performance characteristics.

At the same time the Active Sound Design control unit ensures an even spread of sound across all five seats of the new BMW M5, while observing the legal guidelines governing noise emissions inside and outside the car. The characteristics of the sound produced by the technology also adjust to the engine settings selected by the driver. For example, switching to “Sport” or “Sport+” mode sharpens not only the engine’s responsiveness but also the acoustic experience inside the car.

 

 

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Poland's Arrinera Supercar Ready for Production with the help of Lee Noble

British car designer Lee Noble is back with a vengeance. If you are a Carsccop regular, you’ll remember the Arrinera.

And if you’re wondering who Lee Noble is, you’ll be interested to learn that he has been designing and manufacturing cars for three decades, almost all of them hardcore machines focused on pure driving pleasure. The first of them, the Ultima, was used as the test mule for none other than the McLaren F1.

Although contributing to the genesis of the F1 is a nice thing to have on your CV, Lee Noble didn’t stop there: in 1999 he established Noble Automotive that produced a series of supercars the latest of which, the carbon fiber-chassis M600, is a Ferrari F430 rival powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 pushing out 650HP.

After leaving the company bearing his name he founded Fenix Automotive and is now a member of the board, as well as a shareholder for Arrinera Automotive S.A., a Polish-British joint venture that intends to rival established supercar manufacturers.

The first sample certainly looks convincing. It sports a dramatic body designed by Pavlo Burkatskyy that is full of creases and sharp angles and looks a bit like the offspring of a Lambo Aventador and a spacecraft. The cab-forward look and the upwards-opening doors reinforce the Lambo impression.

However, it is the rear end with the LED tail lamps, large diffuser and centrally mounted exhausts that draws most attention.

The Lee Noble-designed chassis is made of variable-section high-strength steel and, as the company claims, it is extremely light while at the same time offering exceptional deformation resistance. As an option, the car’s body, interior and floor can be made out of carbon/Kevlar composite materials.

The Arrinera is powered by a mid-mounted 6.2-liter V8 engine with an output of 650HP and 820 Nm (604.8 lb-ft). The Polish firm says it accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.2 seconds and covers the quarter mile (0-400 m) in 11.0 seconds. It also reaches a top speed of 340 km/h (211.5 mph) and a lateral acceleration of 1.3 g in curves.

The sports car also features an all-around multilink suspension and 19-inch alloy wheels with 255/35 front and 335/30 rear tires. Breaking is taken care of 380 mm front and 350 mm rear discs, with 6- and 4-piston calipers respectively.

On board, the Arrinera's cabin is covered in leather and composite materials and boasts a comprehensive suite of standard features. It also gets four-point harnesses and roll bars positioned behind the seats for additional safety. A night vision camera that detects objects exceeding ambient temperature, like pedestrians or animals and displays a clear image in the center console screen is optional.

The completion of the prototype means that testing and preparation for the production version, that will be made in Poland, can begin, a process that is expected to take at least 12 months. Pricing for the Arrinera is expected to start at around ₤100,000 ($158,500).

Arrinera Automotive added that it soon plans to begin work on a second model. The Polish company said it will be a ₤70,000 ($111,000) roadster in either single or two-seat configurations, without any luggage space, weighing in at under 500kg and powered by an unspecified engine delivering from 200HP to 300HP.

 

 

Arrinera Specifications [Press Release]


• Extraordinarily almost-perfect traction throughout the speed range,
• Brake deceleration of 1,1-1,3 g (10,79-12,75 m/s²),
• Power/weight ratio of 1,1-2,9 kg/1HP,
• Acceleration 0 - 200 km/h below 10 seconds,
• Acceleration 0 - 300 km/h below 30 seconds,
• Acceleration to 100 km/h below 4 seconds,
• Braking from 300 to 0 km/h below 7 seconds,
• The 0-300-0 km/h test below 40 seconds,
• Cornering g-force over 1.3 g ,
• 1/4 mile time below 12 seconds,
• Centrally positioned engine

Dimensions and projected technical specifications

Length (mm): 4450
Width (mm): 2056
Height (mm): 1190
Wheel track front (mm): 1594
Wheel track rear (mm): 1744
Wheelbase (mm): 2695
Engine capacity (l): 6.2
Engine: V8
Power (HP): 650
Maximum torque (Nm): 820
Gearbox: Graziano
Weight (kg): 1300
Weight/power (kg/1 HP): 2.0
0-100 km/h: 3.2
0-200 km/h: 8.9
0-200-0 km (s): 14.3
200-0 km/h (m): 133
1/4 mile time (s): 11.0
Max. speed (km/h) : 340
G force in curves (g): 1.3

 

 

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