Monday, September 20, 2010

2010 Jaguar Sport Cars XKR GT2

GT racing legend Paul Gentilozzi is taking a break from a gruelling development programme to feature the XKR in the largest dedicated trade motorsport exhibition in Europe. The racecar will be on display at the Jaguar sport cars stand alongside a production model XKR, XFR, and the fastest Jaguar ever – the Bonneville XFR prototype, which Paul drove to 225.675 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats in 2008.
Rocketsports Racing officially announced a GT2 program for the American Le Mans Series that will see the East Lansing, Michigan-based team reunite with the Jaguar sport cars brand by entering a Jaguar XKR for a partial season in 2009 with a full-season championship effort in 2010. Jaguar asked the Michigan-based RSR team to help create a race car to compete in GT2 racing in 2010. The Jaguar sport cars engineering and design teams, based in Coventry, have jointly developed the car from a standard road-going XKR with the RSR team. It is the first and only chance for the public to see the stunning new 2010 Jaguar Sport Cars XKR GT2 in the metal before it heads back to the US to compete in the entire 2010 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in North America.
“It has been difficult to be out of competitive racing for nearly a year,” said RSR team owner Paul Gentilozzi. “We are most fortunate to be able to return to what we know, winning sportscar championships."
RSR will be entering the ALMS with Jaguar as a technical and marketing partner. Jaguar has provided vital engineering, information and support to assist the team in the homologation and construction process. Construction of the Jaguar XKR is near completion at the RSR facility. A parallel engine development process is also underway for the new AJ-133 direct injected 5-liter normally aspirated engine. The company’s plan is to begin testing and development in June and enter the ALMS series mid-summer. RSR will be building at least three XKR’s this year and will have cars available for customer use in 2010.
The Jaguar sport cars XKR GT2 racer competing at Le Mans is being run by JaguarRSR, and shares many of the basic components and technologies with the road-going XKR. Jointly developed by Jaguar's engineering and design groups and the RSR team, the racer features the road car's lightweight aluminium body structure and a tuned version of its 5.0-litre supercharged AJ133 V8 engine developing in excess of 500 horsepower.
2010 Jaguar Sport Cars XKR GT2 
After taking centre stage at the car show, the JaguarRSR XKR GT will visit 'home' by making stops at Jaguar headquarter sites in Whitley and Castle Bromwich in the UK. 'It will be incredibly exciting to take the JaguarRSR XKR GT back to the team at Jaguar who worked so hard to make this dream a reality,' added Gentilozzi. 'A picture may be worth a thousand words, but seeing this car in person is priceless.'
The competition car uses the standard Jaguar XKR lightweight aluminium monocoque together with additional steel reinforcements and safety structure developed by RSR. The 5.0-litre V-8 engine boasts 550 horsepower at 7000 rpm and a maximum speed of 180mph.
The JaguarRSR XKR GT made its racing debut during the Petit Le Mans event at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, in September 2009. The car took its first green flag in the American Le Mans Series season finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in October and is set for a full-season championship effort in 2010. Jaguar has huge experience in the 24H Le Man races, so we expect them to perform well and bring good satisfaction of the million fans.

Chaparral

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Chaparral F2
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Sunday, September 19, 2010

Bentley's traveling roadshow shows off heritage piece by piece



by Jonathon Ramsey

A cross-country road trip with enough spare parts to practically build another car? Sounds like something from Paris-to-Peking, but in this case it's actually the Bentley Heritage Roadshow -- and it's here in the U.S. Bentley's putting 1,000 rare items from its Heritage Parts and Accessories division on display, traveling across 8,000 miles of American countryside to do so.

Most of the Bentleys that have ever been built are still running today, and the marque's customers are fascinated with the range of available vintage, hard-to-find parts. Crewe is playing on this and laying it all out for enthusiasts via the traveling show – from owner's manuals to engine blocks. Follow the jump for the press release and have a look at the mobile chop shop in the photo gallery below.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Chevrolet Camaro SS Indy 500 Pace Car 2010

From Chevrolet and Indianapolis Motor Speedway unveiled the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS Indy 500 pace car at the Speedway's Hall of Fame Museum.
The 2010 Chevy Camaro Indianapolis 500 pace car is a 21st century sports car that looks to the future with a nod to both the car's and the race's heritage. The first year for Camaro to pace the Indianapolis 500 was in 1967, the year the Camaro made its debut. Camaro has since paced the race in 1969, 1982, 1993 and 2009.

2010 pace car features an Inferno Orange Metallic paint scheme with White Diamond rally stripes that travel from the front to the rear over the top of the body, as well as extending to the instrument panel. The design is a modern interpretation of the original rally stripe that debuted on the 1969 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car.

"The car's tribute to '500' history and its sports car feel will be a big hit with our fans, and it will look great leading the Indianapolis 500 field on Race Day."

The 2010 pace car is equipped with a stock 400 hp 6.2L V-8, an RS appearance package and leather interior with Inferno Orange interior accents. The pace car also features unique design cues that further enhance the Camaro's head-turning design.

Features unique to the pace car:
* 2010 Indianapolis 500 event logo painted on doors and embroidered on driver and passenger headrests
* 2010 Indianapolis 500 event logo badges on front fenders
* All-new front grille insert that Chevrolet plans to offer as a future Camaro accessory
* Amber lens tail lamps
* Complete safety strobe light system with custom interior light bar in the rear window (no rooftop light bar)
* All-new GM Accessory floor mats with red and orange accent stitching

Starting at approximately $23,000, and offering an EPA-estimated 29 highway mpg on the V6-powered car, the all-new Chevrolet Camaro is a budget-friendly sports car that doesn't sacrifice on performance. Despite the recent economic challenges, the Camaro has overtaken its closest competitor to lead the regular sports car segment in sales for the last six months.

Chevrolet Camaro SS 2010


The Design features
With a design that is very close to the original concept, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro acknowledges its heritage from the first-generation Camaro, produced from 1967 through 1969. The two-door sports coupe features classic proportions over a 112.3-inch (2,852 mm) wheelbase. The overall length of the Chevrolet Camaro is 190.4 inches (4,836 mm); width and height are 75.5 inches (1,918 mm) and 54.2 inches (1,376 mm), respectively.
The long hood and short deck are pushed to the far corners of the muscular fender forms and a fast, 67-degree rake windshield contributes to aerodynamic performance that includes a 0.37 coefficient of drag (Cd) on V-6 models and a slightly sleeker 0.35 Cd on the V-8-powered SS model.

The Interior details
Inside the four-passenger cabin, a well-executed balance of heritage, modern design and attention to detail conveys simplicity and refinement with contemporary details in the cluster, switches, dials and lighting.

The Safety
The Chevrolet Camaro offers a comprehensive system of safety features - starting with a robust body structure and integral safety cage around the passenger compartment. High-strength steel and ultra high-strength steels are used in key areas throughout the structure.
The Powertrains
When it comes to performance, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro delivers in unexpected ways. An advanced 3.6L direct-injected V-6 with variable valve timing is standard on LS and LT models. It offers power and efficiency, with 304 horsepower (227 kW) and EPA-rated 29 mpg in highway driving.
The performance-oriented Chevrolet Camaro SS offers a pair of 6.2L V-8s, including one with Active Fuel Management that helps improve fuel economy by shutting down four cylinders during certain light-load driving conditions. That model delivers 25 mpg in EPA-rated highway fuel economy.

3.6L direct injection V-6
Chevrolet Camaro's 3.6L direct injection (DI) V-6 delivers more power through increased efficiency, while maintaining fuel economy and lowering emissions - including a 25-percent drop in cold-start hydrocarbon emissions. Direct injection optimizes fuel delivery to the combustion chamber by introducing fuel closer to the combustion chamber. The fuel injectors are located beneath the intake ports and fuel is injected directly into the cylinder. The result is better efficiency in the combustion process leading to increased fuel efficiency at part and full throttle.

The 3.6L DI engine produces 304 horsepower (227 kW) at 5,900 rpm and 273 lb.-ft. of torque (370 Nm) at 5,200 rpm. Its 60-degree cylinder block and cylinder heads are cast aluminum to help reduce mass. A forged steel crankshaft provides optimal strength in the bottom end. The cylinder heads include four valves per cylinder, with a dual overhead camshaft design incorporating infinitely variable cam phasing.
A full dual exhaust system, with dual catalytic converters, helps reduce back pressure for optimum power. It also helps the engine reach operating temperature quicker to help burn off cold-start emissions. And despite a compression ratio of 11.3:1, the 3.6L DI engine is designed to run on regular gas.

The Brakes
Front brakes for LS and LT models include single-piston calipers with 321 mm x 30 mm rotors. For long life, performance and consistent feel, organic, non-asbestos compounds are used with FE2 brakes. At the rear are vented rear discs measuring 315 mm x 30 mm, with a single-piston aluminum caliper.
The SS front brake package includes Brembo 355 mm x 32 mm vented rotors with four-piston aluminum calipers. Semi-metallic brake linings are used at all four corners on FE3 models for superior fade resistance and pedal feel. The rear brakes are vented Brembos measuring 365 mm x 28 mm, with aluminum four-piston calipers.

Chevrolet Camaro Transformers, 2010





Fans of the new Chevrolet Camaro and the blockbuster Transformers movies can now combine their love of the car and the films with the Chevrolet Camaro Transformers Special Edition announced today at Comic-Con in San Diego.

Features such as an EPA-rated 29 highway mpg on the V6-powered Chevrolet Camaro, Bluetooth phone connectivity, USB connectivity, XM Satellite Radio and OnStar combined with Transformers design cues add to the car's status as a 21st century sports car.

Chevrolet Camaro Transformers Special Edition:
* Autobot shield on the driver and passenger side panels
* Autobot shield on each of the four wheel's center cap
* Autobot shield embroidered on interior center console
* "Transformers" logo on driver and passenger doors' sill plates
* "Transformers" logo embedded into the hood rally stripes
* High-gloss black center rally stripe package
* Manufacturer's suggested retail price of package: $995

The V6-powered Chevrolet Camaro uses a 3.6L engine with variable valve timing to optimize performance and fuel economy. It is SAE-certified at 304 horsepower (227 kW) and 273 lb.-ft. of torque (370 Nm). A six-speed manual transmission is standard with the 3.6L engine; a Hydra-Matic 6L50 electronically controlled six-speed automatic, with TAPshift control.

The high-performance Chevrolet Camaro SS is equipped with a powerful 6.2L V-8, with a choice of a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. Manual transmission-equipped models receive the LS3 engine, SAE-certified at 426 horsepower (318 kW) and 420 lb.-ft. of torque (569 Nm). It is paired with a TR6060 six-speed transmission.

The L99 V-8 engine is used on automatic transmission-equipped SS models. It is based on the LS3, but also includes GM's fuel-saving Active Fuel Management feature. It is SAE-certified at 400 horsepower (298 kW) and 410 lb.-ft. of torque (556 Nm). It is matched with a Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed transmission that helps delivers an EPA-estimated 25 mpg on the highway.

Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport




The Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport combines the Corvette's LS3-based powertrain with unique, wide-body styling and a racing-bred suspension for a distinctive model that delivers a great balance of road and race track performance.
Both coupe and convertible body styles, with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The LS3 6.2L engine is rated at 430 horsepower (321 kW) and 424 lb.-ft. of torque (575 Nm) with the standard exhaust system. An optional two-mode exhaust system elevates the power ratings to 436 horses (325 kW) and 428 lb.-ft. (580 Nm).

The Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport replaces the Corvette's previous Z51 package and brings a greater degree of handling performance, with wider wheels and tires; revised shock, stabilizer bar and spring specifications; and specific gearing. The equipment enables cornering capability of 1.0 g, as well as a 0.2-second improvement in 0-60 acceleration vs. standard LS3-powered models.

Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport coupe models equipped with the manual transmission are uniquely outfitted for race track competition, too, with a dry-sump oiling system, differential cooler and a rear-mounted battery.

The Grand Sport history
The original Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport was a promising idea that led to the production of five special prototypes in 1963. The project was later shelved, following GM's agreement to stay out of manufacturer-backed motorsports.

The 5 prototypes were based on the styling of the 1963 Corvette and were hand-assembled under Duntov's watchful eye. But while they looked like production models, the prototypes were purpose-built race cars that shared little with their assembly-line cousins. Duntov also oversaw the Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport engine program that featured a special, 377-cubic-inch small-block V-8 with side-draft carburetors.