Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder |  |
- Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder
- BMW, Klatten steal march on VW in carbon fibre race
- Volkswagen eT! is today’s Kleinlieferwagen
| Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder Posted: 18 Nov 2011 09:04 AM PST Automobili Lamborghini is expanding the most successful model line ever built under the sign of the bull with a very special car – the new Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder combines the open spyder body style with purist rear Wheel Drive. This version brings together that stunning level of open-air driving fun that can come only from a super sports car with a folding roof and an unbelievably agile and spontaneous handling.
The most important technical characteristics of the Lamborghini LP 550-2 Spyder are already recognizable from the model designation – LP stands for Longitudinale/Posteriore, for the mid-engine built longitudinally in front of the rear axle. 550 refers to the power output in hp, and the 2 stands for the drive to the rear wheels. At Lamborghini, the word spyder means the ultimate synthesis of a fascinating, powerfully expressive super sports car design, the ultimate open-air thrill and sheer pleasure for all the senses. A driving experience of the highest precision The Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder with rear-wheel drive is the perfect fit for the kind of sports car driver that enjoys a particularly hands-on and spirited style of driving. The setup is laid out to ensure that the rear end remains reliable and stable at all times, while the front axle steers with the highest level of precision and limits movement to an absolute minimum. Thanks to the supremely powerful V10 engine, controlled oversteer is not a problem, although always and only to the extent prescribed by the driver. Its easy-to-control road manners and the ESP assistant system developed for these vehicles make the Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder an outstandingly safe sports car to drive. Further developed chassis, drive system and engine In order to shape this unique character of driving fun and safety, the engineers in Sant'Agata Bolognese carried out extensive modifications to the Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder, developing it specifically for these new characteristics. Not only was drive concentrated on the rear axle, the vehicle was also completely retuned in all its dynamic details. This Includes a specific dampers setting. The aerodynamics were also adapted to account for the change in the distribution of forces. The vehicle show out its goods with a rear axle with the 45-percent locking differential, and the adoption of the e-gear transmission. All completed with a fine adaptation of the ESP stability control system. While the standard program puts a priority on stability, the CORSA program allows larger drift angles and delivers a highly intensive appreciation of the full dynamics of the LP 550-2. All the excellent characteristics of the Gallardo chassis are fully retained – its pleasing bodyroll comfort, as well as its excellent directional stability at high speed. Outstanding performance is guaranteed The heart of the Gallardo – the 5.2-liter ten-cylinder – was also retuned and its characteristics optimized for rear-wheel drive, delivering that perfect and breathtaking synthesis of high-revving pleasure, pulling power, exuberant temperament and powerful melody in all keys. In the LP 550-2 Spyder, the compact and lightweight power unit delivers 405 kW (550 hp). Thanks to systematic Lamborghini lightweight design and an extremely low dry weight of just 1,520 kilograms, phenomenal performance is guaranteed – the LP 550-2 catapults itself from zero to 100 km/h in just 4,2 seconds. And its top speed of 319km/h guarantees it a place among the ultimate super sports cars. The soft-top of the Gallardo Spyder is designed for unlimited top-speed enjoyment both open and closed. Careful individualization of the lineup With the Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder, Lamborghini is expanding its most successful model line of all time (to-date a total of nearly 11.800 have been built in Sant'Agata Bolognese) with a stunning variant that continues the successful individualization of its lineup. This includes the LP 560-4 Spyder, as well as the ultra-high-performance Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder Performante, which boasts an even further weight reduction through carbon-fiber lightweight engineering. The latest version among the coupe variants is the Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale – the road-going version of the race car featured in the world's fastest single-brand racing series. - Lamborghini Related posts: Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Spyder
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| BMW, Klatten steal march on VW in carbon fibre race Posted: 18 Nov 2011 07:53 AM PST Germany’s richest woman, Susanne Klatten, tightened her hold on SGL Carbon, putting herself well ahead of Volkswagen in the race for carbon fibre technology. Carmaker BMW, in which Klatten and her family are a major investor, said on Friday it had secured a 15.2 percent stake in SGL, adding to the 29 percent stake already held by the German heiress. Shares in SGL Carbon rose more than 7 percent in early trade and were up 4.2 percent at 44.95 euros by 1244 GMT. The use of carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP), which are 30 percent lighter than aluminum and 50 percent lighter than steel, is one of the hottest trends in the car industry’s drive to lower its carbon dioxide emissions.
That has led to a mad dash for carbon fibre specialist SGL Carbon, with Klatten, Volkswagen and engineering company Voith snapping up stakes this year. “This is a power struggle that’s going on without any economic logic,” one German analyst said, who asked not to be named, adding there were a number of SGL competitors who could supply carbon fibres just as well. SGL’s stock has gained more than 60 percent so far this year, while Germany’s midcap index has declined by more than 5 percent. VW declined to comment on Friday, while Voith said it was a positive sign that SGL was opening up more to carmakers. Logical Step BMW did not say how much it paid for its stake in SGL, but the current market value of the shares is close to 450 million euros ($608 million). “Lightweight construction will play an increasingly important role in the automobile industry in the future,” BMW finance chief Friedrich Eichiner said in a statement. “Our stake-holding in the SGL Group is a logical step that will further strengthen our successful cooperation.” In October 2009, SGL struck a cooperation deal with BMW on lightweight carbon parts for its i3 electric vehicle, also known as the MegaCity project, a few months after Klatten emerged as a major shareholder in SGL. “Just strategically, this is a very good step. But really, BMW is turning up late to the party, it should have done this a year ago,” said Daniela Bergdolt, who represents small BMW shareholders for association DSW. Klatten, whose estimated $15 billion fortune made her the target of a blackmail plot in 2007, this year secured a blocking stake of about 29 percent in SGL, giving her the right to veto strategic decisions. Klatten holds 12.6 percent in BMW, while her family owns a combined 46.7 percent of the carmaker. If Klatten and BMW were considered an investor pool, their combined stake would now have risen above 30 percent to about 44 percent, which would trigger a mandatory full takeover offer for SGL under German regulation. But Klatten’s investment vehicle Skion said it was not involved in BMW’s decision to take a stake in SGL and said it had no plans for a full takeover of the carbon fibre maker. A spokesman for BMW also said the carmaker was not acting in concert with Klatten. - Reuters Related posts: BMW, Klatten steal march on VW in carbon fibre race
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| Volkswagen eT! is today’s Kleinlieferwagen Posted: 18 Nov 2011 06:45 AM PST After the Goggomobil had reached its limits, the German Postal Service commissioned Volkswagen to design a postal van. At their request, the vehicle needed to have 71 cubic feet of storage, a payload of up to 882 pounds and meet a length of 12.3′, a width 4.7′ and height of 5.6′. In addition two sliding doors were needed. This was 1961. After working with the Beetle Cabriolet in the designs VW moved over to the Type 14 Karman Ghia platform ending up with the Type 147 “Fridolin” Kleinlieferwagen. The odd appearance was due to the combined use of the Type 1 Beetle, Type 14 Karmann Ghia, Type 2 Transporter and Type 3 VW 1500 in its creation. Mass production started in 1964 at Westfalia with over 6000 produced until 1971. For over 60 years now, commercial vehicles from Volkswagen have maintained a visual presence on the world's streets. They are helpers in everyday life, which bring us people goods, services, postal deliveries and occasionally emergency assistance as well. Volkswagen Group Research, which is responsible for the world of tomorrow, together with the German Post Office ('Deutsche Post AG'), which is one of the largest customers of lightweight commercial vehicles – as well as the University of Art at Braunschweig – formed a think tank on future transport and mobility issues. Finally, these research activities led to a completely new vehicle concept for the delivery and logistics field: eT! Prof. Dr. Jurgen Leohold, Director of Volkswagen Group Research: “We analyzed process flows and customer needs in detail, and from these analyses we derived ideas on how the segment of delivery and courier vehicles could be further developed over the long term. In this context, we focused on zero-emissions driving and available space in urban areas, semi-automatic driving functions that offer relevant support and simplify work processes and the integration of new communication technologies. On top of that, we also set out to design a very emotionally appealing commercial vehicle. To attain these goals, our teams not only looked towards the future from the past, but also worked from a future perspective to implement an advanced development concept based on technologies available today.” The eT! research vehicle could someday actually revolutionize the world of lightweight commercial vehicles. Completely re-conceptualized, driven with zero emissions, thought through to the last detail and driving semi-automatically if necessary! Just how wide-ranging the significance of this research project could be for sustainability in the transportation field is underscored by the support for the eT! project by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. “The eT! research vehicle,” explains Dr. Wolfgang Schreiber, spokesperson for the Board of Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, “unifies a whole gamut of innovative functions, which will gain in future importance, specifically for logistics businesses. In particular, the possibility of driving the car semi-automatically – and electrically – in downtown areas unifies economical and environmental aspects more systematically than ever. As a vision of the future, the eT! is showcasing what is the maximum feasible technology for electric vehicles in the commercial market today with a special design that systematically addresses future customer needs.” “eT! is a pure electrically powered transporter that systematically transfers E-mobility to the area of commercial use,” says Dr. Rudolf Krebs, Group Manager for Electric Traction at Volkswagen AG. And continues: “As a transport specialist, the eT! is advancing to become the automotive building block for an innovative, future-oriented logistics concept, which not only drives with zero emissions in urban areas – thanks to its electric wheel hub motors – but also offers maximum freedom in maneuvering and turning as well as optimal utilization of the vehicle's interior space. If 'refueled' with electricity generated from renewable energy sources, the eT! can indeed be operated with zero emissions. Naturally, the eT! is not a vehicle which – unlike the Golf or up! with an electric motor – could become available very soon. But we must make plans today for what the world of lightweight commercial vehicles might look like starting in the second half of this decade, including with regard to electrical drives.” To make the working world of mail delivery personnel and courier drivers simpler and safer, to optimize the logistics of delivery and to shorten delivery times, eT! can be operated semi-automatically in certain situations. The car can follow the delivery person from house to house (“Follow me”), or the car can return to the delivery person on command (“Come to me”) – driverless! As an alternative, the driver can direct the car's movements via a 'drive stick' from the passenger's side that also offers a standing seat and quick access to the vehicle. On the passenger's side – the side that faces the sidewalk and therefore the working area of the delivery person – there is therefore an electrically opening sliding door that opens to 2 different stages; this enables extremely quick entry into the vehicle as well as quick access to the mail parcels. This makes unnecessary walking movements around the vehicle a thing of the past. Variants of this lightweight transport vehicle could be implemented for all conceivable business uses. And these derived concepts are also the focus of research activities. Meanwhile, the eT! concept shown in a world premiere at the Design Centre of Potsdam was specially designed for delivery of mail shipments of all types. The research vehicle will now be integrated in a driving test study and further analyzed.        - Volkswagen Related posts: Volkswagen eT! is today’s Kleinlieferwagen
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