2010 Vauxhall/Opel Meriva shows suicide doors

Spy photographers where in two different places in Germany to get you the best spy pictures yet of the new Vauxhall/Opel Meriva. The photos show the newcomers innovative rear-hinged rear doors and overall design. Previous cars had false rear door handles, extensive disguising around the 3/4 window, front & rear lights and bodywork and 5-spoke alloy wheels.

The new compact MPV is an all-new design, and these pictures, taken in Germany, show the car takes styling cues from both the Insignia and new Astra, whilst staying to true to concept, introduced in 2008 at the Geneva motorshow.

These pictures clearly show the wide-opening rear-hinged doors, without the flunky door handles previewed on earlier mules & prototypes. The car's flexibility is also reported to have been improved by a redesigned monorail system for the rear seats that allows them to be folded away entirely or slide back and forth independently for better leg room or luggage room.

Russelsheim designers have also worked hard to eliminate the Meriva’s often-criticised blind spot at the base of the windscreen pillar and have included stepped rear-side windows to allow children a better view. The new Meriva has a longer wheelbase and wider track than its predecessor, as well as a longer front overhang for better crash protection. The newcomer should measure around 4.1 metres long.

Engines will be taken from the new Astra. Two 1.4s & 1.6s will be available including the new 138bhp turbo petrol with 147lb ft of torque for the former. The latter will get a new turbocharged engine. Three diesel engines will be available – a 1.3, a 1.7 and a 2.0 litre, all featuring common-rail fuel injection. EcoFlex models will join the line-up after launch. Due to slow sales, there will be no sporty VXR/OPC variant.

Before the Vauxhall/Opel Meriva is expected to be launched at the Geneva motorshow in March 2010, engineers will take pre-production prototypes to Scandinavia for final cold-weather testing, Austria for engine testing and the UK for some chassis tuning, before going on sale in during Summer 2010.

Meriva Concept:

Top 10 Fastest Cars in the World

As a lover of fast cool cars, we have created the top 10 fastest cars in the world. Many believe the Bugatti Veyron to be the worlds fastest production car which is incorrect. It actually comes in 4th position so starting at 10th position and working our way down, here are the 10 fastest cars in the world...

10th Fastest Car in the World = Jaguar XJ220 - 227mph

9th Fastest Car in the World = Ultima GT-R640 - 231mph

8th Fastest Car in the World = TVR Cebera Speed 12 - 240mph

7th Fastest Car in the World = Mclaren F1 - 240mph

6th Fastest Car in the World = Koenigsegg CCX - 241mph

5th Fastest Car in the World = Saleen S7 Twin Turbo - 248mph

4th Fastest Car in the World = Bugatti Veyron - 253mph

3rd Fastest Car in the World = Koenigsegg CCXR- 254mph

2nd Fastest Car in the World = Porsche GT9 - 254mph

The Fastest Car In The World Is....

So we've gone through the top 10, and here is the fastest car in the world, the Shelby Super Cars (SSC) Ultimate Aero. The 1287 hp V8 powers this carbon fibre clad "Hyper-car" all the way to 257mph! It gets to 60 mph in 2.78 seconds, and will power it's way down a 1/4 mile strip in 9.9 seconds. This is one FAST car!

Number 1 Fastest Car in the World = Shelby Super Cars (SSC) Ultimate Aero - 257mph

Video of the SSC Ultimate Aero

Interesting to know that SSC are working on (and will be producing) the Ultimate Aero EV. This will be the first 200mph+ electric car powered by a single 500bhp electric motor. It's worth mentioning that SSC are playing around with bolting 2 of their 500bhp motors together for a 100hp electric Hyper-car. Who says you can't have an economical Hypercar?

Check out the rest of this cool cars blog for more cool cars or check out the fast cool cars blog.

Gold Ferrari

Check out these pictures of this cool gold Ferrari for the ultimate car paint...for the ultimate show off.

 

 

Cool Car Sofas

A collection of cool car sofas using car parts to create living room comfort!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mercedes to shift C-Class production to U.S?

Several car firms have shifted production to the United States in the past few years to avoid rising labour costs and exchange rates and Mercedes could be expanding that initiative. According to the latest reports out of Germany, Mercedes-Benz in mulling shifting some C-Class production to the U.S.

Mercedes is considering moving some production of its popular C-Class to the United States. If the plan is approved, production of the C-Class would shift from Sindelfingen, Germany to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, presumably at the company’s current M-Class facility. Mercedes’ is considering the shift due to lower wages rates at the Alabama plant. The move would also help safeguard Mercedes’ profits against unfavorable Dollar to Euro exchange rates.

Mercedes has yet to confirm the report – only saying that “there is neither a decision nor a recommendation on C-Class location politics” – but rumors suggest the 4 door, 2 door and wagon variants of the C-Class could be built at the Alabama plant, with the latter likely for export.

No word on when the shift might occur, but the Mercedes SL-Class would likely fill the C-Class' spot at the Sindelfingen plant.

News in brief

GM cancels plans to build unibody pick up trucks - Via Insideline

Russian built Nissans due in 2012 - Via Autocar
2010 Lexus ES sedan pricing announced - Via Edmunds.com

Electric Rolls-Royce Phantom under consideration - Via WorldCarFans

Opel workers in Spain take to the streets to protest - Via Autocar

Office of Fair Trading (OFT) launched an inquiry into second hand cars (UK) - Via MSN UK

Turkey investigates pricing fix - Via Autocar

Audi RS6 V10 set to be replaced by twin-turbo V8 - Via WorldCarFans

Protesters dump manure on Clarksons lawn (UK) - Via Autotrader UK

Land Rover Defender replacement due in 2012 - Via Autocar

Ploue "Peugeots have lost their beauty" - Via Autocar

Uninsured? Say good-bye to your car (UK) - Via WhatCar?

Vauxhall Astra pricing announced (UK) - Via Autocar

Mexcian buyers get more incentives (MX) - Via Edmunds.com

New Alfa Romeo MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde

The ne Alfa Romeo is back at the Frankfurt International Motor Show with world premieres and models currently in production. Alfa Romeo MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde will be powered by a 1.4 MultiAir TBi engine developing 170 hp. The Alfa MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde comes with the 17″ satin titanium-finished wheels which is based on the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione supercar. The same color is used for the headlight frames and the wing mirrors, while the dark finish of the headlight parabolas is achieved by a brand new metal sublimation technology.

Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

Showcasing the cool 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. The Raptor launches with the proven three-valve Triton 5.4 litre V8 engine delivering 320 horsepower and 390 ft.-lb. of torque; a new 6.2-liter engine with an estimated 400 horsepower and 400 ft.-lb. of torque becomes available shortly after launch. Both engines underwent extreme laboratory testing, including running the engines at over 6,000 rpm for more than 150 hours. The engines also were put to the test in the desert on a 62-mile evaluation loop to prove out the durability demanded by high-performance, off-road enthusiasts.

 

 

Ford F-150 SVT Raptor Videos

Mike Harrison’s enthusiasm for V-8 engines is apparent. Harrison, Ford Motor Company’s premium V-8 systems manager, is particularly excited about the availability of the new 6.2-liter V-8 that will power the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor. Producing an estimated 400 horsepower and 400 ft.-lb. of torque, Harrison rattles off the new engine’s components and features quickly and easily, pointing them out and explaining them with more than a trace of pride.

Harrison wants that engine to perform to its maximum capabilities so that customers of the F-150 SVT Raptor won’t have anything to worry about. In short, if the engine can withstand the rigorous testing Ford demands during the development cycle, it can withstand almost anything the most enthusiastic off-roader can dish out, even desert racers.

  

 

The testing is intense. It’s cruel, dusty and dirty. By working in the lab to push the engine to its limits, the process simulates how a customer would use the engine. But then it goes a little bit further.

“Running it over 6,000 rpm for more than 150 hours, which is over the peak power limit of the engine, really puts it through its paces,” Harrison said. “We’ve tested it in harsher operating conditions on the engine dyno than would ever be seen by a customer who races.”

Features of the new 6.2-liter V-8 engine include:

• Cast-iron engine block and four-bolt main bearing caps, with additional cross bolts, for durability
• Aluminum cylinder heads, with two valves per cylinder head and two spark plugs per cylinder to more efficiently burn the fuel-air mixture in the combustion
• Single overhead camshaft with roller-rocker shaft drivetrain, which creates a stiff valvetrain that allows optimized camshaft lift profiles and results in better low-speed torque. The roller-rocker shafts allow valve angles to be splayed, resulting in optimized intake and exhaust port layout for better engine “breathing”
• Dual-equal variable cam timing means intake and exhaust valve opening and closing events are phased at the same time to optimize fuel economy and performance throughout the engine speed range and throttle positions Core to the improvements is using a larger bore and shorter stroke. This approach to creating power has its roots in storied Ford racing engines from the past. The large bore (102 mm) allows for larger intake and exhaust valves for improved engine breathing, and the shorter stroke (95 mm) allows higher engine speed for increased horsepower. Still, peak horsepower is generated at a relatively modest 5,500 rpm. Piston cooling jets squirt oil on the underside of the pistons to keep the piston crowns cool under extreme operating conditions.
  

The 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor launches with Ford’s proven three-valve Triton 5.4-liter V-8 engine. The new 6.2-liter engine will become available in early 2010. Visit the Ford Raptor website for more information.