Wattsy

Audi R8 Diesel Supercar

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In a motoring first Audi has shown its R8 V12 supercar in turbo diesel form. The engine pumps out a whopping 500hp with 1000 nm of torque. Using an engine closely releated to the Audi R10 Le Mans winning vehicles the car is a true super car. Top speed is well over 300 kph and it can do 0-100 in 4.2 seconds. The engine was built at the Gyor plant in Hungary nd it looks that the TDI V12 will go into production for this amazing vehicle. The engine already fulfills all the Euro 6 emission standards which wont be in effect until 2014. One intresting styling feature on the vehicle is red illuminated LED’s in the engine bay so the engine can be seen through the window all lit up at night. How cool is that!

For more Information:

Audi official press release for the R8 V12 TDI

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Saab Aero-X concept

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Saab premiered its Saab Aero-X concept at the Paris Motor Show. This 2.8 litre twin turbocharged V6 produces 400hp and an impressive 0 to 100km in 2.9 seconds and runs on pure ethonol. The 7 speed manual transmission is controlled by paddles mounted on the steering wheel and the gages are all use LED techology displaying on clear acrylic panels. The body is made of carbon fiber and as you can see from our photo the gullwing like doors are conected to the windscreen making a cockpit canopy. Saab have been quoted as saying something very similar may reach production, and expecially after the great reaction it got in Pairs chances are looking pretty good word is it will probably based on a shortened Epsilon 2 platform.

Chrysler ecoVoyager

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Chrysler has an interesting concept vehicle on show at the Detroit Motor Show, and full of style and cutting edge technology with the ecoVoyager. The futuristic looking vehicle as the name might suggest is environmental friendly with lithium -ion battery pack and also a fuel cell and some very clever interior packaging. The car has been cleverly designed for the family as a practical and functional recreation vehicle.  The 268 horsepower electric motor powers the front wheel drive car and is designed to run about 40 miles without a recharge. Brakes help recharge the battery and for longer trip the fuel cell kicks in and gives approx 400 miles with hydrogen tanks under the cargo bay, and the only thing that comes out of the tailpipe is fresh water. The interior features high levels of luxury with full leather and cherry wood inserts. The chairs look like what you would expect on a private jet. 

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Ford Discovery Centre – Australia

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Back in 1925 Ford started their Australian production in Geelong Australia and today the city is still home to their Stamping facilities and Research and Development centre. Within a few metres of their original works near Geelong’s waterfront the Ford Discovery Centre now stands. Offering visitors an extensive showcase of vehicles that the Marquee has become famous for from the Model T to the latest model Falcon. The centre is much more than a car museum it is a hand’s on technology centre where people especially the young can come face to face with production robots, vehicle cutaways and visit a mock up of Ford Australia’s top secret design studio where full size real clay model vehicles are on display. The center fun and education and is a very popular learning centre for many of the states primary schools. The center has many one off concept vehicles and show cars, historic vehicles including the world’s first utility vehicle the 1932 Ford Ute and some of the latest iconic vehicles in it’s ever changing display.

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TATA Nano – the worlds cheapest car

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Indian car manufacturer TATA has just unveiled their new model to be known as the Nano. The 600cc microcar has gained the auto world spotlight since TATA released the details that the starting price will be the equivalent of US$2500. TATA intends to sell the car in India to middle class Indians who previously could not afford a new car. Environmentalist do-gooders have caned the car, complaining that India’s roads are already overcrowded and this car is going to make things worse. Check out the launch video above to see what 2500 bucks can get you.

The Airbus 380 Super Jumbo

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The first commercial flights of the Airbus 380 has commenced with Singapore Airlines taking the first delivery. Our photo shows one of the prototype Airbus 380’s decked out in Qantas paintwork visiting Melbourne Australia on one of it’s test flights. The new Airbus has revolutionized travel with luxury and comfort never before seen on an aircraft. The Singapore Airlines plane even offers suites to its first class guests, where travelers have full size beds, a cinema style television and even an area for office work. So far Airbus has 177 orders for this massive double decker plane and Qantas, Emirates and Singapore Airlines are among the lucky few expected to receive their new jets in 2008.

The Zundapp Janus- one of the worst cars ever

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Time Magazine one of the world’s most respected magazines has voted today’s car, the Zundapp Janus one of the ’50 worst cars ever made’. We found this interesting little pink car in Germany at the Sinsheim Auto & Tecknic Museum. The car was actually German, it was built in Nuremberg and this model is from 1958. The vehicle was made by a motorbike factory after motorbike sales fell off during the 50’s. The company thought (wrongly) they should get into the car market. Probably the best bit of this car was the rear seat, it faced backwards so you could see people behind you frustrated with the single cylinder twin stroke 14hp engine running at a snail like pace and the fear of seeing much faster and better cars rear ending you. The car had two doors, one at the back and one at the front making it really difficult to see which end was which. Safety on the Zundapp Janus wasn’t an option either- there was none. 6902 of the vehicles were produced in the 18 months or so production before the factory was sold to Bosch.

The National Car Museum of Iran

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The National Car Museum of Iran opened in 2001 in Karaj which is a city about 20 km west of the capital Teran. The museum has an amazing collection of classic vehicles which were owned by the last Shah of Iran who was exciled and died in 1979. The collection includes several beautiful Rolls Royce’s including a Siver Spirit, Phantom III, IV, a Stutz Blackhawk, several Ferraris including a 500 Superfast, and 365GT BB, a Maserati Ghibli Coupe and even a Mercedes Benz 500K which was owned by Hitler . The cars were hidden underground and even pushed into water when the Shah fled Iran, they have since been found, restored and put on display.