2015 McLaren 650S

New 2015 McLaren 650S. In line with their plans to release a new car every year, the McLaren 650S follows on from the 12C, 12C Spyder and, of course, the awesome P1. Designed to sit between the 12C and the P1, the new McLaren 650S is essentially a major facelift for the 12C. McLaren have chosen to keep the car very drivable and offer some every day creature comforts like a rear parking camera and satellite navigation whilst improving performance and all-round drivability at the same time. Firstly the 650S has 25% new parts over the 12C, this is much more than a simple styling exercise to make it look like the P1. The revised styling helps create an astounding 40% more down force and through increased cooling they have been able to up the power by 25 hp and 80 Nm of torque. To complement the increase in power, gear changes are now faster and more engaging with a more responsive throttle response too.

These performance gains mean the 650S now squeezes 650 PS and 678 Nm of torque from the 3.8-litre twin turbo V8, improving acceleration, responsiveness and overall top speed. 0-100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration now takes only 3.0 seconds and 0-200 km/h (125 mph) only 8.4 seconds. This is faster than many ‘stripped out’ track-focused road cars, yet despite this the McLaren 650S also offers better fuel economy and is more usable every day. The 650S will go on to hit a maximum of 333km/h (207mph) and when the time comes will break from 300-0 km/h in just 271 m (889 ft) thanks to its carbon ceramic brakes.

2015 McLaren 650S Specifications Efficiency CO2 275 g/km Fuel consumption (combined) 24.2 mpg (UK) Power to weight (with lightweight options) 500 PS (493 bhp) / tonne CO2/power 0.42g/km per bhp Speed Maximum speed 333 km/h (207 mph) Acceleration 0-100 kph (62 mph) 3.0 s* 0-200 kph (124 mph) 8.4 s* 0-300 kph (186 mph) 25.4 s* 0-400 m / ¼ mile 10.5 @ 224 km/h (139 mph)* Braking 100-0 km/h 30.5 m (100 ft) 200-0 km/h 123 m (404 ft) 300-0 km/h 271 m 889 ft) *with standard Pirelli P Zero™ Corsa tyres As we know, power is nothing without control. The 650S has 22% stiffer springs, revised front top-mounts and this all works in line with a revised damper calibration to improve high and low speed handling. The McLaren Airbrake has also been refined and is now more intelligent in how and when it deploys. It doesn’t just work under braking, the rear wing now flattens at high speed in a straight line, like a Formula 1 DRS system and under full acceleration in Aero mode, improving air flow over the car.

So in conclusion the 650S isn’t exactly what we expected from McLaren and it does take the 12C and make some excellent improvements in all areas to create a far more enjoyable and involving drive, it also looks fantastic from a front 3/4 angle!

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OUR SPECIAL POST

Mercedes-Benz on the Silverflow - one of the standout designed encountered as part of our coverage of the Los Angeles Design Challenge 2007.The 2057 Mercedes-Benz SilverFlow is Mercedes’ design car for the future showing sleek lines inspired by Mercedes racers of yesteryears. The SilverFlow is crafted from micro- metallic materials which can be arranged by magnetic fields randomly on the car key fob. Sounds cool! It means when you are not driving it, you can melt it down and later re-assemble it with magnetic fields. The Mercedes-Benz SilverFlow can adapt to the conditions and transform its shape to best suit the needs.

The futuristic Silverflow vision comes from the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Center of North America in Irvine, California, which is headed by Gorden Wagener. On the surface, the design itself is reminiscent of Grand Prix cars from the 1930s with its drawn out shell and exposed wheels, but the study relies on some thought-provoking “technology of the future” to present its ideas. The shape-changing characteristics would be based on the use of billions of microscopically tiny metallic particles that could be adapted by magnetic fields to form different, yet stable configurations. The potentially limitless variants would be pre-programmed allowing the car to be morphed within a few seconds – parking would become far easier in a car that can make itself smaller, or even be completely dissembled into a pool of ferromagnetic material, and dents could be self-repaired using such a system.

The designers concede that it will be many decades – if at all – before the current two-dimensional graphic could approach reality. This is certainly a creative challenge with this futuristic concept. The SilverFlow reflects our successful motor sports history, while boldly suggesting innovative solutions for the individual mobility of coming generations" .

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The 2015 Range Rover Sport RS

Land Rover is set to launch a high-performance version of its Range Rover Sport for the first time, and we have a new set of spy shots of a prototype. The vehicle is expected to adopt R-S badging and will likely have around 550 horsepower on tap.

The 2015 Range Rover Sport RS has been spotted testing again. Land Rover seems to have given up covering the car in body cladding as the latest spy pictures of the car shows it camouflaged in a blue-white wrap which looks more of a paint job. Cosmetic upgrades on the Range Rover Sport RS include new redesigned alloys, restyled front bumper with huge air dams, exposed quad-exhaust pipes and a diffuser at the rear. The biggest change though, is under the hood. The car is powered by the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine, also found in the Jaguar XKR-S, which produces 542bhp and 680Nm of torque. This kind of power is enough to propel the huge car from a standstill to 100kmph in under five seconds, going on to an electronically limited top speed of 264kmph.

The Range Rover Sport RS will also feature tuned mechanicals and bigger brakes to handle all the extra power. The company will be tinkering with electronics like traction control along with the steering, suspension and dampers. The car had previously been spotted testing in Nurburgring, which indicates Land Rover’s intent of making the car handle better, rather than just load up the car with huge amounts of power. The car is expected to globally go on sale early next year and will be up against other performance SUVs like the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, BMW X5M, Mercedes-Benz GL63 AMG and the Audi Q7 V12 TDI, the 500bhp monster. Land Rover sells the Range Rover Sport Autobiography, currently the most powerful SUV from the company.

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Zenos E10

The first production model from Zenos Cars is an open-top, two-seater lightweight car which will have a starting price of 24,995 GBP. The E10 tips the scales at just 650 kg (1,433 lbs) and is powered by a mid-mounted Ford-sourced 2.0-liter engine outputting 200 bhp (149 kW) which will enable the track-focused yet street-legal car to run the 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) sprint in less than 5 seconds.

Output of the Zenos E1 0will be sent to the rear axle through a 5-speed manual gearbox or an optional six-speed manual. At an additional cost, customers will be able to configure the E10 with a limited slip differential. The vehicle's lightness has to do with its carbon tub and aluminum construction and the automaker is estimating a top speed of approximately 135 mph (217 km/h).

The E10 has been designed to accept a Ford 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, with output registering at 200 horsepower and 154 pound-feet of torque, though modifications are possible. Owners can expect 0-60 mph acceleration in about 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 135 mph.

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Trion Nemesis Promises 2,000 HP, 'Predator Mode': American Vaporware

 A new American supercar is coming, according to its manufacturers. The Trion Nemesis claims to offer 2,000 horsepower from a twin-turbo V-8 as well as a "Predator Mode."

Along with its monstrous horsepower output, the Trion Nemesis is claimed to be capable of 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds and a top speed of more than 270 mph. An eight-speed sequential transmission and lightweight carbon fiber body and chassis "with Inconel elements" is also part of the package.

Even better, it can seat drivers as tall as 6'4" in any of its myriad forms, and even seven-footers when purchased as a hard top!

The design telegraphs its supercar intentions, to be sure, from the "front growl" to the large rear wing.

Hand-crafted by skilled artisans in America, Trion SuperCars has developed an advanced ultra-luxury, high performance line of vehicles designed around the driver. We provide the excitement throughout the vehicle design.  The exterior lines are flawless from the front growl to the captivating tail configuration. The interior packaging will comfortably accommodate 96th percentile (6’4″) drivers in all models and the hardtop can accommodate 107th percentile (7’0″) drivers.

The Nemesis cabin offers a unique blend of cutting-edge technology with reduced volumes to optimize the space. Digital flat panel controls provide access to the latest internet crazes while masking the core function of vehicle programming.  The displays provide access to program the Nemesis powertrain as well as a few predefined operating options.  The “Predator Mode” will modify interior illumination, height, suspension, exhaust and rev limits.

We wish Trion the best--really, we do; who wouldn't love to see another American supercar?--but we're not holding our breath, either. For now, and likely for the foreseeable future, file this one under "vaporcar."

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Introducing a new form of exhilaration. The Volvo Air Motion Canyon Carver.. (OUR SPECIAL POST)

The Volvo Air Motion concept car is the vehicle Volvo entered into the LA Auto Show Design Challenge competition. The Air Motion is designed to meet the 2010 competition's design brief - which was to produce a vehicle which weighed less than 1,000 lbs (454 kgs), and could safely and comfortably carry up to four people.

Imagine a vehicle lighter than a Formula 1 racing car... Experiencing the adrenaline rush of carving through the canyons with up to 3 friends... Not using a drop of gasoline... Now just imagine if these dreams could be brought together in a single vehicle. The Volvo Air Motion Concept makes these dreams a reality and delivers this in a beautiful Scandinavian body. Designed like a clam shell and sculptured from ultra light carbon fiber. Minimizing weight and complexity, while maximizing driving enjoyment, is the philosophy behind this vehicle. Thousands of fewer components are employed than in a traditional car, thanks to the powerful, yet simple, compressed air motors that replace a heavy internal combustion engine. The motors cool down under load rather than heat up, thus removing the need for heavy cooling systems. An integrated approach to designing the chassis, interior and suspension also contribute significantly.

To compress the air needed for the centrally mounted air tank, Air Replenishment Sites are used. Powered by air turbines floating 1,000 ft. in the air, they harness the power of the wind and convert it to electricity to provide the compression. Aimed at the driving enthusiast, by a company synonymous with safety and environmental care, the Volvo Air Motion demonstrates the beauty and purity of Scandinavian design and delivers a guilt-free, raw driving experience. Facts about VMCC Volvo Air Motion has been developed at Volvo Monitoring and Concept Center (VMCC) that opened in 1986.

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BIOME Concept Car (Organic Car) – A Perfect Symbiosis With Nature (OUR SPECIAL POST)

The Mercedes-Benz Biome concept is a preview of the new supercar that will be released in 2015.The concept was developed at Mercedes' Californian design studio. The Mercedes Biome concept design a car which weighed less than 1,000 lbs (454 kgs), and could carry four people in safety and comfort. The Mercedes Biome concept is an extremely futuristic design which is not built, instead it is grown from a seed The Biome: The Mercedes-Benz Biome is an ultralight vehicle that utilizes technologies from nature to achieve unparalleled efficiency and seamless integration into the ecosystem.

Mercedes-Benz Symbiosis: Mercedes-Benz Symbiosis is a system in which the vehicle becomes part of the ecosystem like the leaves of a tree. Symbiosis vehicles collect energy from the sun and store it in chemical bonds, in the form of a fluid called BioNectar4534. Mercedes has also developed technology to retrofit trees with receptors which can harvest their excess solar energy into BN4534. This creates an incentive to plant more trees and collect more energy, while also helping the ecosystem. The vehicle can be composted after its lifespan is complete or used as building material.

Mercedes-Benz Nursery: All Mercedes-Benz Symbiosis vehicles are grown in an ecologically sustainable nursery, using primarily organic materials. Technologies from Nature: Mercedes Benz Symbiosis vehicles release pure oxygen into the environment, helping urban areas to meet air quality standards.There is no denying that Mercedes-Benz has been one of the greatest innovators in the car industry. But, the inventors of diesel, supercharged engines for passenger cars, antilock brakes, electronic stability systems and more may have one-upped themselves with the BIOME. The ambitious goal of Mercedes-Benz is to create a 100% organic and biodegradable car which can be grown in a laboratory. Not built. Grown.

The Mercedes-Benz BIOME grows in a completely organic environment from seeds sown in a nursery. Out on the road the car emits pure oxygen, and at the end of its lifespan it can be simply composted or used as building material.” To get an idea of how revolutionary this is, scientists have been trying for ages to make a car which runs on water/oxygen and releases hydrogen. This organic hybrid will be a complete symbiosis with nature, and does not run on oxygen — it breathes oxygen, thus improving the overall air quality of life as well. Not only would such a car prevent air pollution from increasing, it would also actively cause air pollution to decrease. The car would be made by growing a material called BioFibre, an organic material lighter than metal and plastic, yet stronger than steel. In total, there are six laboratory-designed BioFibre seeds which will grow into the car, and each seed will look like the signature Mercedes-Benz star. The interior of the BIOME will spawn from the DNA of the star on the front of the car, and the exterior will germinate from a star on the back of the car. Each wheel will also be grown by four other seeds. To top it off, like other plants, the Mercedes-Benz will be able to run off of sunlight and solar energy. The idea is that the BIOME would collect energy from the sun and bond this energy with a fuel alternative and emit oxygen as a by-product, appropriately named BioNectar4534 (BN4534). Mercedes-Benz has even developed a technology already which would allow the BIOME to use receptors to take excess solar energy from trees and harvest it as BN4534. At the moment though, the BIOME is simply a concept car. The BIOME is way ahead of its time, and does not even exist yet. However, with some inspired innovation and ingenious engineering. The seed has already been planted – it just needs to be watered. “As the inventor of the motor car to illustrate the vision of the perfect vehicle of the future, which is created and functions in complete symbiosis with nature. The Mercedes-Benz BIOME is a natural technology hybrid, and forms part of our earth’s ecosystem. It grows and thrives like the leaves on a tree

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