Kenwood MNA-350 Double Din Car Audio System

Kenwood Japan has released the MNA-350 Double Din Car audio system that comes with a CD receiver and GPS. The device can play Audio CD and MP3, WMA, AAC files from CD-R/RW discs. It also has a built in AM/ FM tuner, a 3.5 inch touchscreen, GPS functionality, and delivers an output of 50W x 4 channels. In addition, you can also hook up the optional KCA-iP501 iPod connector which allows you to control the Apple iPod using the touchscreen itself. The gadget also packs in a SD card slot for updating the navigation data and not for music playback. The Kenwood MNA-350 is now available in Japan for $835.

Kenwood MNA-350 Double Din Car Audio System

Kenwood Japan has released the MNA-350 Double Din Car audio system that comes with a CD receiver and GPS. The device can play Audio CD and MP3, WMA, AAC files from CD-R/RW discs. It also has a built in AM/ FM tuner, a 3.5 inch touchscreen, GPS functionality, and delivers an output of 50W x 4 channels. In addition, you can also hook up the optional KCA-iP501 iPod

Alpina Returns to Racing with B6 GT3

After a 20 year hiatus, BMW specialist/manufacturer, Alpina, will return to motorsports with an entry into the 2009 FIA GT3 European Championships in addition to a few other prominent endurance races.

Alpina's motorsports history boasts of winning three European Touring Car Championships with such legendary drivers from F1 and Touring Cars as Niki Lauda, Jacky Ickx, Hans Stuck and Dieter Quester. Alpina drivers also won the Nürburgring 24 Hours numerous times, as well as the 24 Hours of Spa in 1970.

With Alpina's B6 S model as the basis, the B6 GT3 will step into a starting grid of 45 pure-bred challengers such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and Aston Martin to name a few. The B6 GT3 uses the super-charged 4.4 liter V8 engine from the B6 S making 530 HP, 725 Nm.

The prime directive, besides winning, is to raise Alpina's brand recognition as well as increasing exposure to markets new to the Alpina name. However, motorsports will be Alpina's fourth business venture as the B6 GT3 will not only be a factory car but sold to private parties, collectors and race teams as well.

See press release below for available Alpina team positions.

Press release:

ALPINA look back on a long and successful history in international motorsport. Well-known F1 and Touring Car drivers such as Niki Lauda, Jacky Ickx, Hans Stuck and Dieter Quester gripped an ALPINA steering wheel on their way to winning three European Touring Car Championships. ALPINA pilots also won the Nürburgring 24 Hours numerous times, as well as the 24 Hours of Spa in 1970.

“We think that the BMW 6 Series – especially with the super-charged, torque-laden 4,4 l V8 ALPINA engine from the B6 S (530 HP, 725 Nm) – provides the ideal basis to challenge pure-bred sportscars such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and Aston Martin within the framework of GT3 regulations“, said Andreas Bovensiepen, ALPINA proprietor.

After 20 years out of racing, ALPINA will field a factory team, running the B6 GT3 in the 2009 FIA GT3 European Championship, our race car based on the BMW ALPINA B6 S road car. ALPINA will field its this team in the FIA GT3 European Championship, as well as racing in selected important endurance races.

The idea of going racing with street-based dream cars has proven to be a great success for drivers, spectators and manufacturers alike. With this involvement in racing, ALPINA will be able to raise awareness of the ALPINA brand, especially in markets new to ALPINA. With ten distinguished automotive marques, the GT3 Championship is the Crème de la Crème, and with starting grids of 45 cars in the European Championship and multiple national championships, quite compelling. ALPINA see a well-thought-out concept at relatively reasonable cost. With his long racing history, Andreas Bovensiepen sees the benefit racing can bring, and has been the initiator of the new GT3 project from the very beginning.

Much like in the 1970s, ALPINA will also sell BMW ALPINA B6 GT3 race cars to private parties, collectors and race teams. This motorsport engagement will be ALPINA’s fourth business venture. It marks another milestone in ALPINA’s strategy of consistent, enduring growth. In addition to the race cars, ALPINA have been manufacturing road-going BMW ALPINA automobiles for over 40 years, and maintain a flourishing business trading in renowned wines from world’s finest growing regions. A new engineering centre, absolutely state-of-the-art in terms of its machinery and capabilities, will soon be completed. This will allow ALPINA to more quickly bring its products to market and to offer its engineering services to third parties.

Alpina Race Team Openings

So that we may build up our race team and successfully develop the race version of the BMW ALPINA B6 GT3, we’re looking for candidates with experience in motorsport. Your commitment and drive for perfection are the basis for future success. We expect a high level of flexibility, including weekends... Interested? Then compete for one of the following positions:

1.Project Manager
2.Automotive Race Engineer – Suspension and Aerodynamic Set-Up- Vehicle engineer: drivetrain and engine bay packaging construction
3.Automotive Engineer – Development, Chassis/Aerodynamic Panels
4.Automotive Engineer – Development, Drivetrain/Engine Bay Packaging
5.Race Mechanic, preferably with Lorry driving Licence
6.Technician, testing equipment and electronics
7.Purchasing/Logistics/Quality Control Specialist

Cadillac CTS by D3 Research

The self-proclaimed leader in Cadillac Tuning, D3 Research, introduces an exterior styling package for the 2008 Cadillac CTS. With a side order of good ol' American bling bling, D3 focused on creating a look which projects style and performance while integrating into the natural design of the CTS. Starting with the stainless steel wire mesh grilles, front bumper fascia with additional cooling brake ducts, side skirts, rear deck lid spoiler, roof spoiler and rear lower diffuser.
Press release:

008 Cadillac CTS – D3 Performance Exterior Package

D3 Cadillac, the leader in Cadillac tuning, introduces the new 2008 Cadillac CTS Performance Exterior Package. The exterior enhancements are not only exquisitely designed styling cues integrated seamlessly, they are functional as well. The front grill has a unique jewel like cut on the stainless steel wire mesh that signifies performance & class. The additional openings in the front allow for a larger surface area to induce adequate cooling for the engine compartment. This is important when you start squeezing more performance out of this engine, as heat is a byproduct of making more power. Not only were the factory brake ducts maintained, but the front fascia also introduces double the cooling by adding an additional brake duct pick ups on each side. Notice the angled lip towards the lower edge of the front fascia. This angled edge has been designed and measured for just the right amount of down force without creating too much drag. The side skirts offer a much more complete look and help transfer the styling from the front of the vehicle to the rear without loosing the theme of the design. The rear deck lid spoiler and rear roof spoiler help introduce down force at high speed while keeping the air stable coming off the backside of the vehicle. The rear lower diffuser helps keep the air uniform while passing the underside of the vehicle. While at speed the air is kept moving uniform rather than curling up behind the vehicle, often promoting rear end lift at high speeds.

2009 AUDI A3 FOR USA TO LAUNCH IN FALL 2008

- Innovative high-tech concepts in the 2009 model year
- Expressive exterior design, elegantly sporty interior
- S tronic transmission, Audi magnetic ride and efficient engines

Ingolstadt – The Audi A3, offered in the USA exclusively with the five-door body style, raises its sporty profile with a raft of improvements and an accentuated design. Innovative technologies such as the S tronic dual-clutch transmission and Audi magnetic ride, the suspension control system, makes for even greater driving pleasure. Its sharper, more striking design lends even greater expression to the A3. Dealer deliveries will coincide with the change of the model year, around September 2008, with pricing and equipment not yet finalized for the USA.

The Audi A3 strengthened the premium compact car segment upon its debut in 2005 in the USA. Since its worldwide market introduction in 1996, 1.9 million units of the Audi A3 have been built. After four successive record-breaking years, the one millionth second-generation A3 – which went into production in 2003 in Europe and 2005 in USA as a five-door – left the assembly line just a few days ago. Audi is now solidifying its lead.


The exterior: even sportier profile

New visual details for the five-door A3 bring its stretched, sporty profile into the foreground. The front lid and fenders are more expressively styled, and the bumper and large single-frame radiator grille have been modified. A curved trim element in the headlamps known as the "wing" accentuates their technical perfection. Daytime running lights are standard features, and the optional bi-xenon headlamps incorporate LEDs. Down the sides, the highlight features are exterior mirrors with integral turn indicators, new door handles and attractive wheels.

At the tail end, the modified bumper and the lights help this car make a grand exit; the five-door A3 now has innovative fiber optic rods arranged in a flat, continuous strip that creates an impressive optical effect in the dark. The sporty proportions of the five-door A3 remain virtually unchanged at 4.29 meters (168.90 in) in length.

The interior: sporty elegance

Inside the car, too, the designers fine-tuned the atmosphere of sporty elegance. Aluminum-look elements on the air vents, light switches and center console accentuate the premium character of the Audi A3. The switches and controls beneath the audio system have been given a new, modern look. The instruments have black dials and red needles to reinforce the impression of precision and advanced technology, and a shift indicator displays the recommended gear in any given circumstances in the driver information system.
The A3's trunk is the roomiest in its class, at 370 to 1,100 liters (13.06 to 38.83 cubic ft.) on the five-door A3. On quattro versions, the trunk floor is a few centimeters higher, to accommodate the special rear axle. Audi can also supply the options of a panoramic sunroof for the versatile five-door A3.

Powerful drive: the engines

As before, Audi is bringing the five-door A3 onto the U.S. market with two different gasoline engines. The 2.0 TFSI has 200 hp, while the 3.2 quattro with its six cylinders musters 250 hp.

High tech from Audi: the new transmissions

The range of transmissions has been extended and become even more appealing. The 2.0 TFSI engine is supplied as standard with six-speed manual transmission, and the 3.2 is available exclusively with the S tronic dual-clutch transmission, now also available for all engine versions. The high-tech S tronic changes gears with extreme speed and smoothness. The driver can set it to operate in a fully automatic mode or change gears manually – either at the selector lever or with the standard shift paddles on the leather sport steering wheel.

The S tronic on the six-cylinder engine and the 2.0 TFSI has six speeds. Its clutches are dry-running – an innovative approach. This means that they do not need a separate oil supply, further adding to their already impressive efficiency.

New for the five-door A3 is the 2.0 TFSI quattro, available exclusively with S tronic transmission. In its latest technical form, the central hydraulic multi-plate clutch responds even faster when the engine's power needs to be redistributed between the front and rear wheels. This increases stability, traction and driving pleasure for the driver.

The standard-fit dynamic suspension, too, provides safety, dynamic handling and comfort all rolled into one. The captivating precision with which the five-door A3 handles and its well-balanced character owe a great deal to elaborate concepts such as the four-link rear suspension and the efficient electromechanical power steering. There is optional sport suspension that supports the body 15 millimeters (0.59 in) lower.

Way ahead of the competition: Audi magnetic ride

There is another new feature that puts the five-door A3 ahead of its challengers: The adaptive-action shock absorber control system by the name of Audi magnetic ride. This system overcomes the age-old conflict between dynamic behavior and ride comfort. The driver can choose between "Normal" and "Sport" programs by flipping a switch. A magneto-rheological fluid circulating in the shock absorbers changes its flow properties within milliseconds when a voltage is applied; this affects the damping characteristic, which can be varied from comfortably supple to crisply firm. In the U.S., this is optional on both 2.0 TFSI, and the top 3.2 version.

Pricing and equipment will be available in Fall 2008 upon arrival at U.S. dealers.
Source:Audi




Related entries:
NEW 2009 AUDI A3 (SPORTBACK) - PRODUCT SUMMARY - USA

VW Jetta BlueTDI for the North American market

At the International Vienna Motor Symposium (24-25 April), Volkswagen is to introduce the production version of the BlueTDI, a next-generation turbo diesel developed especially for the North American market. The common rail engine is based on the high-tech TDI, which was first introduced in Europe in 2007 with the Tiguan. This engine already satisfies the Euro-5 standard that comes into effect in autumn 2009. In order to meet specific operating conditions in the U.S., this four-cylinder engine was redeveloped with internal engine modifications and a NOx trap.
Background information: Five U.S. states1, including California, currently have the strictest emissions standards in the world (BIN5/LEV2). In spite of variations in fuel quality, which are more dramatic in the U.S. than in Europe, the new BlueTDI meets these emissions standards. The engine will debut in the U.S. Jetta this summer. For years, the Limousine has been the most popular and successful European-manufactured car on the American market, especially as a diesel.

The Jetta BlueTDI will debut as one of the cleanest and most economic cars of its class in the world. In the run-up to the Vienna Motor Symposium, Dr. Ing. Jens Hadler, Director of Volkswagen Powertrain Development comments, “high fuel prices and a dramatic change in environmental consciousness means that diesel is becoming more and more attractive for American drivers every day.” Dr. Hadler continues, remarking, “this is why many customers, especially in California, have been waiting for a super-clean diesel like our BlueTDI. I think this motor will help the diesel get its big break in America because it consumes so little and yet can go such long distances on a single fill-up. And in a country as big as the United States, this is a priceless advantage. On the highway, for example, this engine can reach up to 60 miles per gallon. This is an improvement of 12 percent over its predecessor, which had a lower capacity and higher emissions.”

A key aspect in the development of the BlueTDI (2.0 litre engine displacement, 103 kW/140 PS, 320 Nm) was the reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions (NOx); the American BIN5/LEV2 standards stipulate a nitrogen oxide limit of only 0.05 g/mile. The engineers in Wolfsburg met this limit and the general reduction of raw emissions by using internal engine modifications, some of which are unique worldwide, and implementing the maintenance-free NOx trap.

These internal engine changes include modifications to the design of the injection system of both the American and European TDI as well as the implementation of cylinder pressure sensors. This allows for a completely new type of cylinder pressure-based combustion control, which is both faster and tailored to each specific cylinder. Also new on-board: an optimised high-pressure injection pump. Another unique feature is the combination of a high-pressure exhaust gas recirculation system with additional low-pressure exhaust gas recirculation. This dual exhaust gas recirculation (dual circuit EGR) is an effective means of reducing nitrogen oxides in the engine. The dual circuit EGR system alone reduces NOx by up to 60 percent.

Outside of the engine, it is the NOx trap – connected downstream of the oxidation catalytic converter and the particle filter – that reduces nitrogen oxide to an absolute minimum. Implemented together, these measures reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 90 percent. Drive the Jetta BlueTDI and you will be driving one of the most economical and environmentally friendly cars in America.

Source: Volkswagen

Officially Official: Corvette ZR1 makes 638 hp and 604 lb-ft

When Chevrolet officially announced the new Corvette ZR1 just before the Detroit Auto Show this year, it hadn't yet finished the certification of its new power-plant, the supercharged LS9. At that time, all the engineers would tell us was that the supercharged 6.2L V8 would produce a minimum of 100hp/L or 620 hp. Three months have passed since we got our first official look at the LS9 and the numbers are now in. According to GM, the LS9 has now been SAE Certified at 638 hp and 604 lb-ft of twist. The official EPA fuel economy testing hasn't been finished and for people who buy a ZR1 it probably won't matter anyway. Nonetheless, GM expects the LS9 to be the most fuel efficient 600+hp engine in the world, a dubious distinction if ever there was one. A special team of technicians will be hand-building and testing the LS9 at GM's Performance Build Center in Wixom, Mich. Check out the articles below f
or all the details on the ZR1 and LS9.
Source: General Motors via autoblog