Lamborghini History Ferrucio Lamborghini was born during 1916 in a Italian farming village called Renazzo di Cento, Ferrara. He was drafted into the Italian service during World War II where he repaired vehicles. After the war, Ferrucio began building tractors out of his garage using army surplus left behind by the Allied Forces. There was a strong demand for his products and which allowed for him to move into larger facilities. In 1959 the Lamborghini production was extended to burners and air conditioning units. The businesses became so successful that he became one of the wealthiest individuals in Italy.
You might not have picked up the seismic tremors in North America, but jaws thunked to earth in places as far flung as Australia, Africa, Russia and the Middle East when Nissan confirmed its Patrol heavy-duty SUV was trading in its good ol' live axles for independent underpinnings.
So what's the Patrol and why should you care? Well in plenty of places, it's a 4x4 icon, conquering the tough terrain of the Middle East since the 1950s and in 1962 becoming the first vehicle to successfully cross Australia's scorching Simpson Desert.
So it's a tough, old-style truck -- go anywhere, do anything, tow anything. Mechanically, it's barely altered in the last 25 years. Philosophically, not at all through 60 years and six generations.
But it's all changed now, much to the chagrin of traditional fans, who fear such things as those newfangled double wishbones will compromise the Patrol's legendary off-road ability.
It's the requirements of North America that have a big role to play in this fundamental shift, because the Patrol is finally headed for the world's largest SUV playground, albeit as the new-generation Infiniti QX56.
Scheduled for unveiling in New York in April, the luxury SUV will have its own external and internal styling features, its own seats and instrument panel, but all the important mechanical and technical stuff and much of the equipment will be shared.
Previously the QX was twinned with Armada, both built in Nissan's Canton, Missouri, plant alongside the Titan pickup. The new QX will be built in Kyushi, Japan, on the same line as the Patrol.
So what happens to the Armada? Pretty much nothing, says Carla Bailo, program manager for the P61G Patrol.
"Right now [the future of the Armada] it is still to be determined," she explains. "The current model based on the current Titan we are going to continue building as long as physically possible, meaning as long as it meets all the emissions and safety requirements.
"We are going to have a next Titan, but whether we turn that into an SUV is still TBD."
So what about turning the Patrol into the Armada? "This is a little bit more sophisticated than the Armada, quite frankly," responds Bailo. "So we are not sure if it is right for that segment. We would have to do some tuning and decontenting."
We say nearly identical because, from what we can see here, the only discernible difference is the convertible roof. Even then, it closely follows the roof line of the fixed-roof coupe, with only its smaller rear and quarter windows and a slight dip at the top of the engine cover deviating from the coupe, and that's a good thing. We do get a better look at the new taillights this time.
Though there isn't much new to see here, our sources have learned a few more details about this car. We noted last time that the headlights appeared farther apart and more upright, and our sources confirm that this has been done to meet pedestrian crash safety regulations. We've also learned that this car will be more of a refresh than a redesign, with minor enhancements to the current model's direct-injected flat-six engines. They'll remain mated to either a six-speed manual gearbox or Porsche's fabulous PDK dual-clutch gearbox and send power to either the rear wheels or to all four wheels. Inside, the traditional handbrake will be replaced with a modern electronic one.
We still don't know a release date yet, but when the car does debut, it'll likely be the coupe leading the way. The Cabrio seen here is expected to follow some six months later, then the Targa a year after the initial launch.
It's not really clear to us why people with perfectly average driving styles like to drive cars with big tires, huge fenders, and an altogether aggressive look. But whatever—people gotta drive something, and if their stylistic preferences mean even-meaner-looking, actually purposeful stuff for us, then we’ll let it slide. Volkswagen is catering to both preferences within one model lineup at this year’s Geneva auto show, satisfying speed merchants with the already revealed Polo GTI and serving the rest with this crossover-inspired CrossPolo.
Compared to the standard Polo, the CrossPolo’s body has been raised by about an inch, which should help immensely for off-roading expeditions through city parks. Rugged gray plastic skirts and fenders will take almost any kind of shrubbery-inflicted abuse. But the 17-inch alloy wheels will demand your utmost attention during parallel parking to avoid curb damage.
The CrossPolo comes only as a five-door hatchback, emphasizing its practical nature. Six colors are available, including exclusive Magma Orange, which highlights the wild and crazy nature of the car, and Terra Beige Metallic, which takes on the spirit of your last trip to the Gobi desert. Standard roof rails will support the fuel and water supplies for your next exploration mission.
VW is offering three diesel engines and three gasoline engines. The diesels are all 1.6-liter four-cylinder units making 75, 90, or 105 hp. The gas engines include a 70-hp, 1.2-liter four; an 85-hp, 1.4-liter four; or a turbocharged 105-hp, 1.2-liter—you guessed it—four-cylinder.
It’s worth noting that VW is actually sort of a pioneer in the crossover arena. The 1990 Golf Country, a sort of jacked-up Outback-ish model based on the second- generation Golf, was sneered at in its time, but is a sought-after collector's item today.
While we poke a bit of fun at it here, the VW CrossPolo really is a fun twist on an efficient little car. Sales start in May in Europe and Japan, but this Polo variant is unlikely to make it to the U.S.
This is the first spy photos of the Citroen DS4 crossover testing.
The DS4's styling is set to be previewed by the High Rider concept car, which will be on display at next month's Geneva motor show. It will give the firm a rival to the Nissan Juke and Mini Countryman when it enters production in early 2011.
It uses the new Citroen C4’s platform, itself due to be launched later this year, and is taller and wider than the current C4 hatch at 1480mm and 1820mm, although it is slightly shorter than the current C4 at 4260mm.
However, the styling is much more radical than the C4’s, drawing influence from both the smaller DS3 and the C-SportLounge concept from 2005.
Much of the High Rider’s front-end styling is borrowed from its smaller DS3 sibling, including the grille, headlights, bonnet sculpting and badging, all of which should carry over to the DS4 production car. More radical design features, such as its fog lights, 19-inch alloys and fabric roof, are unlikely to feature.
The DS4’s Engines are likely to be borrowed from the next C4 range and a version of the concept’s diesel-hybrid powertrain should also make production. The electric motor sits on the rear axle, providing extra power and torque to the rear wheels under certain driving conditions. The diesel engine drives the front wheels ensuring the car is four-wheel drive.
The DS4 will be further removed to the C4 than the DS3 is to the C3 and its origins are less obvious than the DS3’s. It will be pitched as a more refined and luxurious model within the C4 range, which includes hatchback and Picasso models, rather than the DS3’s billing as a sporty, more dynamic version of the C3.
The DS4 is scheduled to go on sale early next year, before a C5-based DS5 arrives later in 2011.
MEET the latest incarnation of Vauxhall's electric dream! This is the Flextreme GT/E, a striking five-door luxury coupe concept that will be the star of the firm's stand at the Geneva Motor Show.
Previewing a future Vauxhall design direction with a lightweight body made of aluminium and composite materials, it gets a more powerful version of the Ampera's plug-in hybrid range extender that allows a top speed of 125mph and 0-60mph in nine seconds.
Produced over the last twelve months by design director Mark Adams and his team in Russelsheim, Germany, it points the way forward to a future large flagship for the range, as well as showing how the firm's electric powertrains are developing.
As you can see, it's a remarkable looking car with a low roofline – some 19cm lower than the Insignia's – complete with bold recessed headlights, a wide grille and a dramatic waistline that kicks up over the rear wheels. This detail hides movable aerodynamic 'blades', which automatically deploy to keep the airflow attached at the rear, drastically reducing drag. Overall, the Flextreme GT/E has a drag factor of just 0.22 – a figure Adams believes could go even lower.
Similar in size to an Insignia, the concept uses aluminium and carbon composite materials to reduce weight to a similar level to the Ampera. Speaking to Auto Express, Mark Adams said: "Whether these details will make it onto a production car is down to cost. But I could certainly invisage active aero aids and exotic materials on a more expensive top end car."
Power comes from an uprated version of the Ampera's E-REV pack, with a 161bhp electric motor hooked up to a range-extending 70bhp 1.4-litre petrol engine, which kicks in when charging is required. Some 370Nm of torque is sent to 21-inch front wheels which feature narrow 195/45 tyres. Vauxhall engineers estimate a battery-only range of 40 miles, a total range of around 300 miles and an average CO2 output of just 40g/km. Top speed is 125mph while 0-60mph takes around nine seconds.
There's every chance the Flextreme GT/E will make it into production sitting above the Ampera in Vauxhall's range. Expect its design details to feature on upcoming models too. "This is not a flight of fancy. This is to electric cars what the Insignia was to our prodcution car portfolio. A flagship," Adams told Auto Express.
Expect to see more concept cars based around the architecture too. Adams reckon they'll be great to look at as well. "Flextreme GT/E is just one expression of our intent. The design of the E-REV pack allows much more design freedom. Packages could become smaller, with reduced bulk around the nose, allowing us to improve design and meet tough pedestrian protection laws."
We'll learn more about the Flextreme GT/E at Geneva on March 2nd.For more details click here. Thanks to: Auto Express
This Alfa Romeo concept car has been designed by a company named Bertone. they going to show a prototype of this car in Geneva motor show this year. it has a muscle car look and they have been used BMW vision concept to design the car. also it may have a 4.7 liter V8 engine which generates 450hp power.
