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Volvo Takes Design Award*


After weeks of design work, engineering and testing the Volvo Extreme Gravity Car finally got the chance to go head-to-head against competition from five other major design studios. The results: Grand Prize for design, 3rd place overall, a strong showing considering it was Volvo's first attempt at the fourth annual charity race to benefit foster children.

"I'm very pleased with how the car performed," commented Volvo Strategic Design Chief Doug Frasher, creator of the Volvo Extreme Gravity Car. "Our design was unconventional, to say the least, so we knew we were breaking a lot of the conventional wisdom of soap-box-derby racing."

Grudge-match-style qualifying races allowed the Volvo to outrun the entries from Nissan, Bentley and Mazda. "We noticed that our car was always first to the bottom of the ramp, and were excited by this hint that our design has some great potential," said Frasher.

The transition point between the ramp and street, however, subjected the car to repeated impacts. In a move to ensure safety, team Volvo removed all 45 pounds of ballast from the vehicle's rear section to minimize the risk of breaking something critical at the bottom of the ramp. Even so, there were increasing signs of stress on the car after each race and action in the Volvo pits was intense.

In the end, the entry from General Motors took the checkered flag with the Volvo taking home the "Best Design" award. "We were thrilled to be the recipient of the Best Design award since it was judged by our fellow competitors," noted Frasher. "Overall, we loved the event. It was a fun day of racing and the seeing the expressions on the faces on the kids during their races made the whole effort worthwhile."

The Extreme Gravity Competition, founded by Don MacAllister of America Works for Kids, is a charitable event that raises money for foster children to help them become independent, working young men and women in the community. Additionally, through Gravity Series, Inc., foster children will gain valuable, paid work experience as they become involved in all aspects of the event.

"We are developing the most exciting extreme gravity racing series in the world and really appreciate the support of these professional car design teams,” said MacAllister. “A portion of proceeds from the sale of each team’s original design renderings, as well as racing merchandise will be donated to support inspirational training workshops for foster kids."

Volvo is already preparing for next year. "We have another car that's already in development," Frasher said. "And I think we'll see the checkered flag in 2005."

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2004 Volvo Extreme Gravity Car*1

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2004 Volvo Extreme Gravity Car*2

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2004 Volvo Extreme Gravity Car*3

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2005 Vauxhall Monaro VXR



---- Specifications ----


Price
£37,000 Production
--
Engine
6 liter LS2 V8 Weight
--
Aspiration
natural Torque
391 lb-ft
HP
400 hp HP/Weight
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HP/Liter
66.7 hp per liter 1/4 mile
--
0-60 mph
5 seconds (estimate) Top Speed
180 mph + (estimate)

(from Vauxhall Press Release) Could this be the car to go where no Vauxhall has ever gone before? With 404PS of power supplied by the Corvette’s 6.0-litre LS2 V8, the new Monaro VXR is set to be the first ever production Vauxhall to top 180mph, finally overtaking the Lotus Carlton to become the fastest ever Vauxhall.

The latest version of the company’s performance flagship takes over from the original Monaro VXR, which sold out within three months of going on sale earlier this year. The new car takes the VXR brand to even further extremes, with more power and torque than any other production car to wear the Vauxhall badge.

Under the new ventilated bonnet sits the new high-output 6.0-litre LS2 V8 engine, which recently made its debut in the Corvette C6. As you’d expect from a supercar engine, power figures are impressive, with 404PS (up from the last model’s 388PS) and a massive 530Nm of torque (compared to 510Nm). Although performance figures have yet to be officially recorded, it’s expected that the VXR will be able to comfortably surpass the 177mph record set by the Lotus Carton in 1990. A 0-60 time of around 5.0 seconds is also predicted.

But the new version of the Monaro VXR hasn’t just been built for outright speed. Along with the new engine, virtually the entire drivetrain has been upgraded with revised suspension and bigger brakes to ensure that the latest version can keep the power tamed while still being thrilling to drive. With its classic front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout, the Monaro has already gained a reputation for being an enthusiastic driver’s favourite.

Since those enthusiasts also loved the way the last VXR looked, the styling changes have been kept to the bare minimum. To help the car breathe more efficiently and keep the engine cool, a pair of distinctive ‘nostril’ vents has been added to the bonnet, while the rear now gains quad exhaust tail pipes. New

10-spoke, 19-inch alloy wheels allow onlookers to see the new grooved discs and VXR-branded brake callipers.

Prices have yet to be confirmed, but it’s expected that the new Monaro VXR will still cost half the price of other 180mph supercars at around £37,000. The first cars will reach customers in March.

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2005 Vauxhall Monaro VXR

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TechArt 911 CT3

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TechArt Boxster Widebody

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TechArt GT Street S

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TechArt GT Street XL

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2005 Volkswagen VW New Beetle Cabriolet Dark Flint



The New Beetle Cabriolet will begin the next open-air season in an attractive, limited “Dark Flint” version: the anthracite coloured open-top New Beetle will be available with a garnet red hydraulically-operated top and Bordeaux red leather interior trim in a limited series of 250 vehicles from January 2005.

The special model moves on 17-inch alloy wheels with colour-coordinated trims to match the top. Design is the central focus of this model: alongside the gearstick knob, hand brake lever handle and grab handle in Bordeaux red leather, great importance has been given to even the finest details, such as Bordeaux red seams on the comfortable perforated leather seats, on the leather steering wheel and on the leather centre arm rest.

Air-conditioning, Parkpilot, winter package (incl. heated front seats and fog lights), “gamma” radio with CD player and 10 speakers, windbreak and the Highline package complete this limited series, making it a real eye-catcher. Not forgetting the flower vase of course, which rounds off the unique appearance of the Cabrio.

Remote control central locking and electric windows are of course also included.

The New Beetle Cabrio “Dark Flint” is available with four engines:

1.6l 75 kW (102 PS), 5-speed €26 300

2.0l 85 kW (115 PS), 5-speed €27 550

2.0l 85 kW (115 PS), 6-speed automatic €29 450

1.9l 74 kW (100 PS), TDI, 5-speed €28 125

The price saving is more than €2 500.

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2005 Volkswagen VW New Beetle Cabriolet Dark Flint*1

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2005 Volkswagen VW New Beetle Cabriolet Dark Flint*2

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2005 Volkswagen VW New Beetle Cabriolet Dark Flint*3

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2005 Volkswagen VW Touareg Expedition



“South-South-West” could be the display on the off-road navigation system of the Touareg Expedition if customers use it to find the nearest oasis in the Sahara. The Touareg has already proven its off-road qualities impressively. Volkswagen Individual now offers the first fully-fledged expedition version of Volkswagen’s off-road vehicle.

17-inch AT tyres on “Canyon” aluminium rims and sports suspension with the vehicle raised by 25 millimetres in the basic package ensure that the vehicle remains in contact with the ground even on treacherous corrugated desert tracks. The roof and exterior mirrors are painted in Reflex Silver metallic, and are thus optically differentiated from the rest of the vehicle which is painted in Off Road Grey metallic.

To illuminate the darkest of nights, two additional spotlights are located on the robust roof rack. The roof rack also has room for the optional car-roof tent – an excellent viewing platform for watching the sunset in the Sahara or at the local lake. Alternatively, the roof rack can be fitted with a second spare wheel and two 20-litre fuel canisters – the nearest filling station could be quite a distance away.

The equipment package also includes further features such as the exterior spare wheel, tyre pressure system, rear differential lock, a second battery, front fog lights, removable towing attachment, net partition, rubber mats in the footwells, tinted side and rear windows, and the robust Crystal Grey Cricket leather upholstery. The Touareg Expedition is available with a choice of engines: the V6-engine, the R5 TDI diesel and the V6 TDI. Prices start at 50,800 euros for the R5 TDI.

Underbody protection, tried and tested at the Dakar rally, is available as an optional extra: sill protection and seven high-strength aluminium parts shield all sensitive underbody parts from stones and rocks.

However, if the vehicle does get stuck, the optional winch with a pulling power of 3,600 kilograms will get it back on solid ground. The customer can have transparent protective films applied to the vehicle below the windows to protect the paintwork against scratches sustained in the undergrowth.

Glass fibre reinforced plastic traction plates and an expedition case with recovery strap, shackles, an Airjack vehicle recovery jack, and folding spades can be ordered as expedition extras.

The Touareg Expedition can be ordered ready for adventure in tough expedition conditions.