Mazda RX-8

If you're looking for something different in a car, consider the Mazda RX-8. While its radically distinctive styling is unlike that of anything else on the road today, that's not what really makes the RX-8 different. The real difference - hinted at outside, and none too subtly if you know what you're looking at - is under the hood. Where every other internal combustion-powered car on the road today has a reciprocating-piston engine, the RX-8 has a rotary-piston Wankel.

It was too different to be the fourth-generation RX-7. But, with few changes, it did become the RX-8 when it made its American debut last model year. With real room for four and a much lower price point than the last RX-7, the RX-8 is aimed at a much broader clientele than the 7, but it's still a real sports car. The new twin-rotor engine develops 238 horsepower in the manual transmission model, without turbocharging, or 197 hp with an automatic. Second-year changes are minor, limited to a new ``Whitewater Pearl'' color choice and available Sirius(r) satellite radio.

I've just finished a week with a manual-shift RX-8 and found it to have a fine, and most unusual, combination of sports car performance and looks and compact sedan space. It is a unique machine, and Mazda is to be commended for developing the rotary-piston engine that is the RX-8's heart and soul.

APPEARANCE: There is nothing else on the road like the the RX-8. Many different shapes comprise its multi-mass styling, but the overall result is cohesive. The front, with its separate fenders and protruding interpretation of the Mazda pentagonal grille, evokes images of the last of the front-engined sports-racing cars of the early 1960s, but taken as a whole, the design is ultra-contemporary. In profile, it exhibits a classic wedge shape, with a low hood and high trunk lid. Unlike a regular sports coupe, the passenger cabin is a major element of the RX-8's look, and it is almost limo-formal, with plenty of height over the rear seat. With the base of the windshield at the rear of the front wheels, and the base of the backlight near to the rear of the car, it's difficult to tell whether the car is front- or mid-engined. Such are the advantages of the Wankel's small size - it's in front, but placed toward the center of the car. The triangular Wankel rotor shape makes itself known in the hood, and both front and rear lower bumper fascias.

COMFORT: The RX-8 departs far from the sports coupe norm in passenger accommodation. The genre is notorious for rear seats that are better-suited to suitcases than humans over the age of 10. The RX-8 is different. With no central ``B'' pillar, access is easy for all four passengers. If four six-footers aren't quite in the design spec, a five-eight person can fit comfortably behind a six-foot front passenger. All four seats are comfortably-padded and bolstered for support in spirited driving - and check out the Wankel-rotor shaped inserts in the front headrests. A rear-facing child seat can be installed in the rear. Make no mistake, the RX-8 is a driver's car, with very good instrumentation and near-perfect positioning of the controls. For convenience, both front and rear passengers have small storage boxes and cupholders in the center console, and there is a passthrough to the trunk. Trunk space is almost at a compact sedan size. The RX-8 is as useful around town as it is fun to drive on the open road, and can easily be an only car, not just a weekend toy.

SAFETY: Active safety equipment includes four-wheel vented antilock disc brakes and available dynamic stability control. Passive safety features include front, front side, and side curtain airbags, a front crumple zone, and anti-whiplash seats. The RX-8 was the only car of 68 tested by NHTSA to receive a five-star rating in a rollover test.

RIDE AND HANDLING: The Wankel engine's small size and light weight allow it to be placed low far back in the chassis, in what Mazda calls ``an advanced front-midship'' layout. This, and a fuel tank ahead of the rear axle, centralize the car's mass and for perfectly-balanced 50/50 weight distribution. Despite the large door openings, the chassis is much more rigid than that of the last RX-7, providing a solid mount for the aluminum-intensive fully-independent double wishbone front, multilink rear suspension. Even with the stock suspension calibration, as on my test car, there is no doubt that an RX-8 is a sports car. At everyday speeds, relatively soft spring rates give good ride comfort, although damping is a bit firm. Push harder, and the RX-8 gets happier. When the suspension is worked hard, it works it best, and with its wide, sticky ultra-low profile tires and excellent electrically-assisted rack and pinion steering, the RX-8 gets down the road in the manner of a classic sports car - even with three passengers. A firmer sports suspension is available for the performance-oriented.

PERFORMANCE: Hummmmmmmm. Ah, the unique sound of the rotary-piston engine. The RX-8's 1.3-liter 13B twin-rotor example goes from a tenor hum at lower speeds to a frenetic shriek (suitably muted for civilized operation, of course) at the 9,000-rpm redline. While power is adequate down low, the engine is best kept above 4,000 rpm for optimum performance. This is not a problem with the short-throw six-speed gearbox that is standard fare. Power builds in a linear manner, with a moderate top-end rush, and because there are no reciprocating engine parts, the engine is exceptionally smooth. And power there is, with 238 horsepower at 8500 rpm and 159 lb-ft of torque at 5500 rpm - from 80 naturally aspirated cubic inches, mind you. No turbo necessary. The four-speed automatic transmission model features a retuned engine, with more torque - 164 lb-ft at 5000 rpm - and less power, 197 hp at 7200 rpm, to work better with the automatic.



SPECIFICATIONS
2005 Mazda RX-8

Base Price $ 26,875
Price As Tested $ 31.685
Engine Type 2-rotor Wankel rotary-piston
Engine Size 1.3 liters / 80 cu. in.
Horsepower 238 @ 8500 rpm
Torque (lb-ft) 159 @ 5500 rpm
Transmission 6-speed manual
Wheelbase / Length 106.6 in. / 174.3 in.
Curb Weight 3029 lbs.
Pounds Per Horsepower 12.7
Fuel Capacity 15.9 gal.
Fuel Requirement 91 octane unleaded premium gasoline
Tires P225/45 WR18 Dunlop SP Sport 8096m
Brakes, front/rear vented disc / vented disc,
antilock standard
Suspension, front/rear independent double wishbone /
independent multilink
Drivetrain front engine, rear-wheel drive

PERFORMANCE
EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon
city / highway / observed 18 / 24 / 20
0 to 60 mph 6.0 sec

OPTIONS AND CHARGES
Grand Touring package - includes:
Bose(tm) audio, leather-trimmed seats, 8-way power
driver's seat with lumbar support, heated front seats,
Homelink, day/night mirrors, tilt & slide moonroof,
heated mirrors, xenon headlamps, foglamps,
DSC stability control $ 4,250
Delivery charge $ 560

Nissan 350Z

It's begging to be driven. And from the moment you turn the key, you'll feel it jumping out of its
230kW skin. Designed and built without compromise, the Nissan 350Z has raised the bar
in terms of V6 power, performance and style. Built upon the world-famous VQ-series V6
engine, the VQ35HR engine boasts 358Nm of torque, and can move the 350Z from 0 -
100kph in just 5.7 seconds. With sleek, aerodynamic styling and a cockpit tailored for
performance, sitting behind the wheel is an absolute blast.

• 3.5 litre, V6 VQ35HR engine
  


• 230kW power, 358Nm torque
  


• 5-spoke, 18" aluminium-alloy wheels
  


• Carbon-fibre composite driveshaft
  


• Drilled aluminium pedals
  


• BOSE audio system (240 watt) with 6-disc in-dash CD changer and 7 speakers including subwoofer


• Leather, power, heated sports seats
  


• Traction Control System (TCS)
  


• ABS Brakes with Brake Assist (BA) & Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD)
  


• Dual front, side & curtain airbags (Curtain airbags on Coupe models only)

Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

Key Features:

• Supercharged 5.4-liter four-valve V-8 engine w/intercooler
  


• 500 hp and 480 lb.-ft. of torque
  


• Stainless steel dual exhaust
  


• SVT tuned front and rear suspension- with unique dampers and springs
  


• Tremec 6-speed manual transmission
  


• Power four-wheel disc Anti-Lock Brakes with ABS
  


• Unique SHELBY badging on rear decklid
  


• GT500 side stripes (convertible)
  


• Over-the-top Racing Stripes and “GT500” side stripes (coupe)
  


• P255/45ZR 18 (front) and P285/40ZR18 (rear) performance tires
  


• Unique GT500 front and rear fascias and aluminum hood (with dual functional air vents)
  


• Unique rear spoiler
  


• 18 x 9.5-inch bright machined aluminum wheels
  


• Shaker 500 Audio System (AM/FM stereo w/CDx6, 6-speakers &MP3)
  


• Front seat side air bags; BeltMinder®.
  

Performance and PowerThere are many ways in which the GT500 stands apart from other Mustangs. For one, it boasts a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 engine capable of outputting an estimated 500 hp and 480 lb.-ft. of torque. If that’s not enough to win the hearts of performance enthusiasts everywhere, the GT500 features performance upgrades throughout. For instance, it comes with a MacPherson strut independent front suspension with Reverse-L lower control arms, backed by spring rates and an upgraded stabilizer for improved handling and stopping performance. Next, the GT500 is only available with a 6-speed manual transmission, designed exclusively for performance driving. In fact, the car’s heavy-duty transmission is the same in design as the race-winning Mustang FR500C.
As for braking, the GT500 boasts four-piston Brembo calipers, each fitted to 14-inch Brembo vented rotors up front. It also features 11.8-inch vented discs in the rear. As for tread, it’s available with 18 x 9.5 inch wheels featuring 255/45ZR high-performance tires up front and 285/40ZR high-performance tires in back. Talk about one mean machine!

Ferrari 599

Ferrari has unveiled its latest supercar, the Ferrari 599 GTB which will succeed the Maranello. This supercar is the most powerful V12 engine it has offered in a production car. Not just that - it actually is the most powerful engine ever in any production car produced on planet Earth!The 599 GTB is a mid-front engined two-seater coup�ith a massive 5,999cc V12 engine borrowed from the Enzo Ferrari supercar. This beast produces 620hp at 7,600 rpm. More shocking of all is the power-weight ratio, an astounding 2.6 kg per horsepower. Torque figures are unavailable at present. The Ferrari 599 GTB features an all-aluminium chassis and body. The 599 GTB will have a manual gear shift option, as well as the F1 paddle-shift. The car would have an option of 19 inch wheels in front and 20 inch ones at the back, or 20 inchers all around. Ferrari said that the 599 GTB follows in a long line of classics such as the 250 GT, the 275 GTB, and the 365 GTB4. The 575M Marannello will move out of the way, and the 599 GTB will take its place in Ferrari's model lineup. Classic Driver magazine said that "the Pininfarina design is a meld of 612, Enzo and F430 and gives the Ferrari 599 GTB aggressive yet elegant lines." The official unveiling of the ferrari 599 GTB will take place on 28th February 2006 at the Geneva Motor Show.For those of us - and that's almost all of us - who will never own the 599 GTB or any other Ferrari, we present the first official photos available in our photo gallery. Yeah, we like to rub it in, don't we?

Lamborghini Murcielago lp640

Lamborghini has turned the dial up to 11 for its latest show-stopper, the Murciélago LP640.Unlike the Miura concept shown at Detroit in January, the LP640 is very much for real and creates the ultimate road-going version of the company's flagship model.The LP640 will be unveiled at the Geneva motor show next week, but here we have an exclusive preview of the fastest production Lambo ever built. A 6.5-litre V12 engine lies at the heart of the LP640, where LP stands for 'longitudinale posteriore', which refers to the V12 unit mounted lengthways behind the cockpit.With deeper and wider cylinder bores than the previous 6.2-litre V12, the new 6.5 ups power to an imperious 631bhp at 8,000 good-for-the-soul revs per minute. Coupled to a new six-speed gearbox, which can also be ordered with Lambo's e-gear sequential paddle shift, the LP640 howls from 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds - 0.4 seconds quicker than the 6.2-litre model.And it's helped on its way by an electronic launch-control device called, rather brilliantly, Thrust.Lambo has yet to announce a top speed, but word is that the LP640 will top 210mph, while low-speed driving is improved with variable valve timing and an aircraft-style drive-by-wire throttle. Helping it to achieve this colossal speed and remain stable are plenty of aerodynamic changes for the LP. Reshaped front and rear bumpers direct air more efficiently, while the exhaust is now incorporated into the rear diffuser to help cancel out aerodynamic lift at high speeds. Lamborghini has also created a larger air intake on the left side to feed the oil cooler.For those wishing to show off the LP's 6.5-litre V12 to full effect, a glass engine cover can be ordered.Under the steel and carbon fibre skin, revised suspension copes with the increased performance, while ceramic brakes are an option to help bring things to a halt more swiftly and efficiently. There's also a four-wheel-drive system that normally splits 70 per cent of the torque to the back, but can allocate up to 100 per cent to each end depending on where the grip is running out. There are also new 18-inch Hermera alloy wheels running huge 335/30 tyres at the rear, but one thing that hasn't changed with the LP640 is the Murciélago's signature scissor-opening doors. Inside, there are reshaped seats for improved comfort and greater headroom, while a revised instrument panel is flanked by a new stereo system. Lamborghini will announce prices in Geneva, but expect to pay a £15,000 premium over the 6.2-litre model's £170,000 price tag.

Lamborghini Gallardo LP560

With the new Gallardo LP560-4, Lamborghini once again sets a higher standard for super sports cars. With its new engine, permanent four-wheel drive transmission and new suspension, it delivers clearly improved performance and dynamics. In parallel, its innovative design takes the classic lines unique to the Lamborghini brand one step further. Powerful elegance has never been so defined before.
The Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 is the successor of the most successful Lamborghini model of all time. Approximately 7100 Gallardo models have left the Sant'Agata Bolognese production plant since its launch in 2003. "The LP560-4 will consolidate this success story," states Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. "It will outclass its predecessor in every aspect; its dynamics are distinctly breathtaking and its design sets new standards. With the introduction of the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, we will consistently continue Lamborghini's growth strategy".
The powerful heart of the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 is the new 5.2 litre V10 engine with an output of 560 PS (412 kW) at 8000 rpm. The increase of 40 PS compared with that of the previous Gallardo, and the approximate 20 kilogram reduction in weight, improves the power weight ratio to 2.5 kilograms per PS (hp) and thus enhances performance. The LP560-4 accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds, its speed at 11.8 seconds is 200 km/h and its top speed lies at 325 km/h. At the same time the new, highly efficient engine enthrals its driver with its direct fuel injection system - "Iniezione Diretta Stratificata". Despite its clearly increased power, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions have been reduced by a staggering 18 per cent.