Dakar Rally

2008-02-27T14:20:29Z

It’s a sad year for motor sport fans when the world’s ultimate rally of off road driving is cancelled because of concerns over safety. 2008 should have been the 30th year of the annual Dakar Rally, but the epic cross-country rally was called off due to the perceived risks of holding eight of the race’s fifteen stages in Mauritania.

Formerly known as the ‘Paris Dakar’ or ‘Paris to Dakar Rally’, the endurance race is now simply known as the ‘Dakar Rally’ or ‘Dakar’ since the course changes slightly every year, and has recently been starting from Lisbon. From Portugal, the race was scheduled to traverse Morocco, Western Sahara, and Mauritania to the Senegalese capital, Dakar. Basically it’s a lot of awesome 4x4 driving across sands and grasslands. The race is famed for stunning images of cars, bikes, quads and trucks in a desert abyss and video clips of these vehicles hurdling through the unknown of each stage. Over 500 teams take part in the event, with the vast majority of competitors taking motorbikes or cars. A truly international event, the 2008 rally participants were set to represent fifty nationa lities.

So what’s the solution? I think the answer is simple. The time has come for all my fellow couch-potatoes to get out there and partake in a little extreme do-it-yourself. Why not recreate your own Dakar Rally with a few mates and a driving gift experience? There are plenty of centres and organisations offering driving gift vouchers – just a quick search online reveals a whole host of unbelievable adrenaline-rush afternoons and weekends away. Don’t procrastinate and put it off for some Christmas gift ideas, treat yourself and your mates today – get out there and have the experience of a lifetime!

Italdesign Giugiaro Vadho

2007-03-20T09:58:44Z

Italdesign will be coming up with a brand new alternative-fuel sports car at this years Geneva Auto show. The car goes by the name of “Vadho” and will feature a BMW Hydrogen 7’s dual powered V12 which runs on gasoline and hydrogen and gives an output of 260Hp. This engine will be positioned at the center right of the car next to the passenger seat.]]>

Hyundai QarmarQ Concept

2007-03-15T22:07:39Z

Definitely more of the better looking cars in the Geneva Auto Show the Hyundai QarmarQ Concept is more of Hyundai showing off their technologies than a design study. It showcases over 30 different environmentally progressive technologies led by the innovative “Elastic Front™”, an innovative solution that can help reduce the risk of severe injuries in Crossover Utility Vehicles (CUV) pedestrian collisions. Video After Jump]]> The QarmaQ develops and validates over 30 key technologies, which will be selectively incorporated into Hyundai’s new models to be rolled out from 2008-2014. “At Hyundai, we believe in innovation for humanity, and QarmaQ demonstrates our commitment to safety innovation and our determination to bring more environmentally responsible technologies to the market,” said Dr. Kwon Moon-Shik, Hyundai Motor's vice president of advanced technology. “We chose to partner with GE Plastics because of their commitment to the environment and their wide range of innovative materials and technical capabilities. Technologies from QarmaQ will provide Hyundai owners with a safer, more environmentally responsible car and a better driving experience.” The car is a treat to look at and no matter how I describe it; it won’t do justice to this awesome design. It would be best for you to refer the images and video of the car.

Hyundai i30 FD

2007-03-15T22:01:13Z

Here are some images and the video for the Hyundai i30 FD that will be introduced at this year’s Geneva Auto Show. The folks over at Hyundai were planning on exclusive press presentation of its European developed i30 compact hatch on the 5th of March at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues at Geneva –a day before the Geneva Show press opening but some of the images were leaked prior to that. Something the company wasn’t happy about! Video After Jump]]> However, here are some images and a video form the official press release of the company. The dimension of the car stands at 4,245 mm long, 1,765 mm wide and 1,480 mm high and with the addition to the long wheelbase of 2,650 mm the car offers more spacious inside. It also offers 820mm length 1020mm width and 558mm height in the luggage area. Under the hood the car offers a new 108PS 1.4l petrol engine with sparkling combination of fuel economy and performance with 13.5kg.m torque. A new 1.6 engine gives 121PS and 15.4kg.m torque, while the range topping 2.0 offers 140hp with 18.8kg.m torque. In terms of diesel a new 1.6 CRDi is available in 90PS and 115PS versions, both with 26kg.m torque. At the top end, the 2.0 CRDi puts out an 140PS with 31kg.m torque. All feature variable geometry turbo charging (VGT), low friction balance shaft technology and high-pressure common rail diesel injection for minimised engine originated NVH. Here are some images and a video of the car.

Honda Small Hybrid Sports Concept

2007-03-15T21:56:40Z

Just like the name suggests, this car is a Small Hybrid Sports concept that combines the fun of driving a sports car with the idea of being environmental friendly. Now the car’s exterior design may not be as interesting of eye catching as most sports car but at least the company is headed in the right direction with concept. ]]>

Honda CR-V Aero Pack

2007-03-15T21:52:41Z

Honda introduced this “Honda CR-V Aero Pack” at this year’s Geneva Auto Show along side the Small Hybrid Sports Concept. This new “Aero” pack for the CR-V consist of new Aero bumpers, aerodynamic running boards, a tailgate spoiler, sports suspension and 19-inch machine-finished alloy wheels.]]>

Gumpert Apollo Sport

2007-03-15T21:48:44Z

Aptly named, the Apollo can be expected to be the unrivaled god of the race tracks with an insane eight cylinder, bi-turbo mid-engine which generates up to 800 horsepower and is capable of catapulting this 1200 kg car from 0-100 km/h in only 3 second.]]>

Ford Mondeo 2008

2007-03-15T21:43:14Z

"The exciting new Mondeo is very important to us", said Roelant de Waard, Ford of Britain's Chairman and Managing Director. "It's probably the most elegant car we've ever launched, and it's certainly the most technologically-advanced. Like the S-MAX, Car of the Year 2007, the new Mondeo will attract many new customers to our showrooms as well as delighting our loyal UK customer base," he said.]]>

Fiat Grande Punto Abarth Turbo

2007-03-15T21:37:59Z

This car marks the return of the legendary Abarth Scorpion, a line of Fiat cars from the past that sport the Abarth logo featuring the Scorpion. Grande Punto Abarth will be Fiats answer to the Peugeot 207 GT 1.6T and the VW Polo GTI. The car will be launched at the Geneva Auto Show along with its rally version the Grande Punto Abarth S2000. The rally version will step into the 2007 Italian Rally Championship with Giandomenico Basso and navigator, Mitia Dotta.]]>

EDAG LUV Concept

2007-03-14T21:48:52Z

The EDAG LUV Concept was unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show this March. The LUV stands for Luxury utility vehicle. The car however doesn’t look all that good to me. It looks very similar to a Mercedes-Benz GL and when you take a closer look you’ll see that it is in fact based on the Mercedes-Benz GL.]]>

Donkervoort D8 GT

2007-03-14T21:45:04Z

The Donkervoort D8 GT was introduced at the Geneva Auto Show this March and all I could think when I saw the car was – “damn that car is hot”. Bring it in production in a pure black color and I’ll jump in it wearing a batman-suit any day! The car styling is done along it predecessors and has been improved upon and taken to the next level.]]>

Dodge Demon Concept

2007-03-14T21:40:25Z

The new Dodge Demon concept is the car introduced by Dodge at the Geneva Auto Show to go against the Mazda MX-5. And it also looks like the folks over at DaimlerChrysler are serious this time and have done a good job of keeping the car under wraps for so long. Video After Jump]]> They have also freely admitted that car was build while keeping the Japanese roadster in mind. Comparing the two cars the Demon is a bit shorter but a bit wider, taller and heavier. It will be equipped with Chrysler’s 170Hp 2.4-liter motor with 165 ft-lbs. of torque to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. Dodge officials also said that a number of engines could be used in the Demon, including the 1.8 or 2.0L World Engine with a 300-hp motor. The car just like any other Dodge does look very impressive. However, I cant help but think that the car lacks the sting like others in its family when it comes to exterior looks.

New 5-seat Citroen C4 Picasso

2007-03-14T21:35:48Z

The new 5-seat Citroen C4 Picasso is one car that is trying its best to make MPVs look good. One of the major changes in this car being the removal of the 7-seater “soccer-mom” arrangement and reducing it to a 5-seater just as the name suggest, the car had managed to provide ample of space and even improved on the looks.]]>

2008 Citroen C-Crosser

2007-03-14T21:24:16Z

The Citroen’s C-Crosser made it World Show debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Citroen’s first ever SUV is reported to go on sale in Europe later this summer. It will come with a flexible 5+2 seating configuration and a powerful and environmentally friendly diesel engine giving a fuel efficiency of almost 40mpg on the combined cycle.]]>

Chevrolet considering bringing the HHR to Europe

2007-03-14T21:20:35Z

“We’re considering to bringing the HHR to Europe” is what Chevrolet said recently and will be showing the car at the Geneva Auto Show this March. And if they are going to show the car at the Geneva auto Show, then you can be almost certain that they will-bring-it-to-Europe. ]]>

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