2011 Ford Mustang Sports Cars Dub Edition

DEARBORN, Mich., May 3, 2010 – Ford Motor Company is teaming up with automotive lifestyle magazine DUB to roll out a specially customized version of the new 2011 Mustang, introducing the iconic sports car to a new generation of enthusiasts.

The DUB Edition Mustang is based on Ford’s outstanding new 3.7-liter V-6 Mustang and will be available this fall. A collaboration between Ford, DUB and Roush Industries, the DUB Edition Mustang will be offered as a coupe, convertible or with the best-of-both-worlds Glass Roof option. Both six-speed manual and automatic transmissions are available.

2011 Ford Mustang DUB Edition

The 2011 Ford Mustang DUB Edition, customized especially for the Grammy Award-winning artist Nelly, will be a part of the artwork for his new album. The 2011 Ford Mustang DUB Edition is based on the GT 5.0-liter V8 powered model that develops 412 hp and 390 ft.-lb. of torque. Nelly's 2011 Ford Mustang DUB Edition features a gloss black exterior paint job, flat black racing stripes and 22 and 24 inch rims.

“The Ford Mustang is the most customized vehicle in the world, and this collaboration pushes the boundaries even further,” said Fritz Wilke, Mustang brand manager. “We’re proud of our relationship with DUB and Roush and how they worked together to bring a new look to Mustang, helping the 2011 DUB Edition Mustang V-6 appeal to a whole new audience.”

For 2011, Mustang is available with a lightweight, all-new high-performance powerplant. Displacing 3.7 liters, the double-overhead-cam (DOHC) 24-valve V-6 uses Ford’s Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) to produce remarkable power output – 305 horsepower and 280 ft.-lb. of torque – while still achieving up to 31 mpg highway.

“Working with Ford and Roush is an honor and has been a dream come true for DUB,” said Myles Kovacs, president and co-founder of DUB magazine. “The Mustang is such an iconic muscle car and has always been a customizer’s favorite. The DUB Edition Mustang stays true to its roots, but I think we’ve successfully brought a ton of hustle to the muscle.”

Television commercials for the sporty new 2011 Ford Mustang V-6 – the first-ever car to deliver an unrivaled combination of 305 horsepower and 31 mpg highway – have already started airing and included an appearance by the new 2011 DUB Edition Mustang, a special edition collaboration between Ford, DUB and Roush Industries.

Drivers can get the most out of the new V-6 engine using either an all-new six-speed manual or automatic transmission. With either choice comes the flexibility and fuel economy benefit of six forward ratios. The 2011 Mustang has also received enhancements to its chassis to maintain the outstanding balance and driving behavior Mustang owners expect. Combined with state-of-the-art safety and technology features, the 2011 Mustang sets a new standard in the sports coupe class.

The new Ferrari 599 GTO

Ferrari says that its 599 GTO will be the fastest production car it has ever built.

The new Ferrari 599 GTO may not have the supercar looks of a McLaren MP4-12C or a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, but it should be right up there with those two in terms of speed and quickness.

Ferrari revealed the 599 GTO on Thursday in pictures, videos and specs over the Internet. Only a very limited number will be built. It is a homologation model for the Ferrari 599XX racecar, which has been sold to a few customers for GT competition.

“On the 599XX we have managed to make a vehicle that nobody else has ever made,” said Amadeo Felisa, the chief executive of Ferrari, in a video on the Ferrari Web site. “With structure and an architecture with the front engine, we have obtained a vehicle that nobody else will be able to equal in performance.”

2020 Minotauro Lamborghini Sports Car Concept

Concept cars never cease to fascinate car enthusiasts. If you claim to be a Lambo fan than this latest sports car concept creation is definitely for you. Andrei Avarvarii, a student at Milan's Scuola Politecnica di Design, with assistance from Lamborghini’s design head Filippo Perini, designed this amazing electric 2020 Lamborghini Minotauro concept.

2020 Lamborghini Minotauro concept

The duo worked to achieve three different goals:

1. Aesthetic goal – Explore soft shapes for a new Lamborghini design language,

2. Technical goal – Redefine the Lamborghini supercar as an electric vehicle and

3. Functional goal: Integrate the new vehicle in the reality of the year 2020.

Designed tasty electric sports car concept Lamborghini, uses four electric motors and power sharing 30% / 70% front to rear. 2020 Lamborghini Concept Minotauro designed by a student getting a master’s degree in Milan Scuola Politecnica in Design, Andrei Avarvarii with the help of Filippo Perini head of Lamborghini Design. Li-Tec A flat-cell batteries in the rear and front of the KERS system will provide power.

A breathtaking beauty on wheels imagined for the year 2020, it mesmerizes you with both its looks and features. The concept creation would utilize four electric motors and split the power 30%/70% front to rear while a Li-Tec flat-cell battery out back and a KERS system in the front provide the power.

The Minotauro has two asynchronous 75-horsepower (56-kW, 76-PS) electric motors at the front that provide 30% of the car’s power, and two 175-horsepower (131-kW, 177-PS) electric motors at the rear. The system runs on a Cerio Li-Tec Flatcell battery, with a Kinetic Energy Recovery System also in place.

The press release goes on to explain the bonus of no big V12 out back: The absence of a big V12 engine in the rear creates enough room for a third passenger in a central position, like the legendary Mclaren F1. While the driver’s door would be normal, the passenger side’s would be bigger to provide access to the back seat.

What is more, the absence of the powerful V-12 engine in this concept creation makes room for a third passenger. Keeping this in mind, the passenger’s door would be bigger in order to provide access to the back seat.

But what are sure to appeal to every Lambo fan are the concept’s triangular intakes/exhausts that are not just visually pleasing but serve for battery cooling and act like the tubes of a subwoofer, channeling the sound of the electric motors, placed behind them.

A hi-tech creation, the owners would also be able to upload their own track ghosts to an online community. And if a real racetrack has been / is being covered, the GPS would record car placement / track time, allowing people worldwide to challenge an owner's record.

Guess when it comes to concepts, sky is the limit for the designers.

New Automotive ProductsTypically 2010 Mustang CarAutomotive ProductsTypically 2010 Mustang Car

Automotive ProductsTypically 2010 Mustang Car

Automotive ProductsTypically 2010 Mustang Car

Automotive ProductsTypically 2010 Mustang Car

New Automotive ProductsTypically 2010 Mustang Car

Automotive ProductsTypically 2010

Automotive ProductsTypically 2010

Automotive ProductsTypically 2010

Automotive ProductsTypically 2010

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Automotive ProductsTypically 2010

zaZen shows new ways to automotive enlightenment

Two of the world’s most innovative technology companies have joined to showcase a new automotive lighting technology and a transparent roof design in a concept car built for next February’s Geneva Motor Show. Rinspeed is one of the usual culprits – every year they show yet another bleeding edge automotive concept, and they always deliver a working prototype. This time it has conspired with Bayer Material Science to create a single-section roof dome made of the high-tech polycarbonate which enables some interesting illumination properties, including a holographic brake light. The entire roof dome from the belt line up is made of a single sheet of transparent Bayer polycarbonate which can be switched from transparent to opaque at the press of a button. This property also enables any superfluous knobs and displays on the dashboard to be “faded out” so the driver can concentrate on what is most important. And instead of a living-room atmosphere, the occupants sit in "glass-like" plastic seat shells in a bright and friendly orange colour. The interior is an invitation to meditative unity for man and machine. Everything has been reduced to essentials, hence the name of the concept car, the "zaZen".

On February 28, 2006, at the Geneva Motor Show, the exciting "zaZen" will go on show for the first time. The famous Swiss design company Rinspeed, and Bayer MaterialScience, one of the world's biggest plastics producers, have been working together for some time on this revolutionary new concept car that will point the way to enlightenment for future generations of automobiles. As if from nowhere, the conspicuously large third brake light shines out of what looks like a floating, transparent teardrop roof. The technical revolution in the car's design is that the transparent rear window has been turned into a luminous holographic area.

The world premiere of the "zaZen", with its holographic brake light and smoothly contoured single-section roof dome made of the high-tech polycarbonate Makrolon, marks the beginning of a new era in lighting technology in vehicle design. This, at any rate, is how Ian Paterson, the member of the Bayer MaterialScience Board of Management responsible for innovation, sees it.

The innovative light is also an important step for Rinspeed's boss, Frank M. Rinderknecht, on the way to attaining automotive enlightenment. The name of the new concept car has been deliberately chosen to reflect the overall attitude with which both companies have driven the entire project forward over a period of many months. After all, Zen – borrowed from Buddhist teaching – is a special form of insight that is only attainable if you are prepared to give up preconceived ideas.

This highly transparent four-wheeled creation, the product of one vision and many imaginative ideas, is currently taking shape at the Swiss engineering specialists, Esoro.

It is an automotive interplay of veiling and unveiling.

The entire roof dome down to the belt line is made of a single sheet of transparent Bayer polycarbonate. The amazing thing about it is that the material can be made non-transparent at the press of a button to protect the occupants from curious gazes. Because the transparency can simply be switched on and off, it means that any superfluous knobs and displays on the dashboard can be simply faded out so that the driver can concentrate on what is most important, the speed indicator, instead of being bombarded with unnecessary information. And instead of a living-room atmosphere, the occupants sit in "glass-like" plastic seat shells in a bright and friendly orange color. The interior is an invitation to meditative unity for man and machine.

Everything has been reduced to essentials, to what really matters. This is the heart of the "zaZen". The extremely organically designed body does not assault the eye with harsh colors but exerts a quiet fascination with its mineral-white color. This is achieved in an understated yet breathtakingly beautiful manner through the use of millions of tiny precious Swarovski crystals protected by a self-healing polyurethane clear coat. In its made-to-measure suit, "zaZen" seems to belong to another world. In our world, it will make its first appearance at the end of February at the Geneva Motor Show. After that, who knows? We might see some of these exclusive vehicles actually driving along our roads.

New automotive EMC test equipment

TRaC has purchased new automotive transient test equipment. TRaC customers can now benefit from testing automotive Electronic Sub-Assemblies (ESAs), with a continuous high current rating to the latest automotive transient specification ISO7637-2:2004, complementing the existing equipment.

Vehicles are in a very different environment from a house or office where large voltage transients are caused from the vehicle during a typical journey. These transients include cranking the engine, switching of large inductive loads (e.g. air conditioning), cables being disconnected inadvertently and other forms voltage spike.

ISO7637-2:2004 forms the basis of almost all the specific manufacturer specifications as well as the automotive directive 2004/104/EC (used for e-marking) and also products that are used in this environment to the EMC Directive (2004/108/EC). The new NSG5000 system enables all the core pulse parameters to be adjusted to meet an individual manufacturer specification if required.

In addition to meeting transient immunity legislative requirements, this system will enable TRaC customers to benefit from an increased scope of manufacturers test specifications with most of the main vehicle manufacturer specifications covered, Ford, BMW, GM, Toyota to name but a few.

To complement our growing military testing scope this additional test equipment also enables us to offer testing to DEF STAN 61-5 part 6: 2009 for equipment fitted to military vehicles. This enables very specialised high power products used in these vehicles to be tested thoroughly before entering active service.

ISO7637-2 forms just part of the overall technical challenges presented to engineers designing products for automotive use. Other requirements (covering both military and civil) include conducted and radiated emissions and radiated susceptibility tests.

In addition to being UKAS accredited, TRaC is appointed by the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) in the UK as an approved test house and Technical Service providing a complete solution for automotive products.

TRaC performs vehicle testing on a wide range of products and whole vehicles for both civil and defence customers in our specialised EMC test chambers which are installed with rolling roads and fume extraction. Using our EMC expertise and our partners facilities we are able to provide a complete solution for virtually any product used on the highway.

New Car 2010 Volkswagen Polo GTI Review Pictures

The New features on Volkswagen Polo GTI Car: As well as sporting the VW Group’s newest TSI vehicle engine, the hot Volkswagen Polo has a push of engineering modes. The XDS electronics, as on the Golf GTI, act as a steadiness control system to cope with the 184lb ft torque wave from 2000-4500rpm, in a bid to avoid the steering wheel having a mind of its own under weighty acceleration. Springs and dampers are updated, the ride is 15mm lower than stock Polos and the just transmission available at launch in August 2010 will be VW’s dry-clutch seven-speed DSG twin-clutch box. There is no mistaking the Polo hot hatchback for anything other than a GTI: those 17in telephone dial alloys are identical to its big brother’s, and the steering wheel has taken a tumble with a flat bottom as is the fashion these days in go-faster VW Group products.

The Volkswagen Car company manufacturer design just presented the sample photos of 2010 new car design Volkswagen Polo GTI. Tazcafe (dot) com will make some reviews about the new feature of this automotive car design, detail specification included pictures gallery. The Volkswagen Polo GTI sport car is not the most attractive great looking automobile design, but do not let the looks trick you. The Volkswagen Polo GTI does not seem very much different from the Polo TDI model before, which of course was a disappointment. Once you are inside the car though, and begin driving it, you will see that the car performance standards absolutely exceed those of the appearance exterior design. Despite some of the downfalls that this sport car might have in the looks and suspension departments, it is a best automobile to buy for a fantastic cost. Though it might not be appropriate for somebody who wants a car with space, it would completely suit someone for a first car.

Hyundai Genesis sedan most awarded car of 2009

The 2009 Hyundai Genesis sedan winning the 2009 North American Car of the Year award marked the first time a Korean brand has ever achieved the award. However, the Genesis refused to stop there earning more than 20 top honors from media outlets and automotive organizations in North America. In fact, that makes the Hyundai Genesis sedan the most honored car of the 2009 model year.

“As the awards accumulated, we realized not only how well designed the Genesis was, but how far the Hyundai brand had come,” said Scott Margason, director of Product & Strategic Planning for Hyundai. “Consumers and automotive industry influencers really embraced the idea of Hyundai producing a luxury product.”

The entry-level 2009 Hyundai Genesis is powered by a 290-hp 3.8L V6 while the top-range Genesis carries a 375-hp 4.6L V8. Prices start at $32,250 and max out at $42,000 for a fully loaded Genesis

New smart fortwo BRABUS

German automotive performance company Brabus regularly graces our pages, most notably by continually breaking its own record for the world’s fastest sedan. The name is synonymous with Mercedes and Smart performance tuning and the company’s latest effort involves the next generation Smart fortwo. With a reengineered 72 kW/98 bhp three cylinder turbo engine the smart fortwo BRABUS and the smart fortwo BRABUS Xclusive have 30 percent more power than before and still boast low fuel consumption. The sporty two-seater accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 9.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 155 km/h. Ex factory prices for the pocket rockets range from EUR16,490 (US$22,160) to EUR 22,430 (US$30,150) depending on the equipment line and body type.

The sporty character of the new smart fortwo BRABUS is immediately apparent. For example, it features "Monoblock VI" alloy wheels with wide tyres measuring 175/50 R 16 at the front and 225/35 R 17 at the rear, wider rear wheel arches, a sports exhaust system with centrally positioned stainless steel tailpipes and a body that has been lowered by ten millimetres. In the interior cockpit instruments with specially designed dials, BRABUS sports pedals and a three-spoke leather steering wheel with shift paddles underline the exclusiveness of this model. The transmission and suspension also have a sporty setup.

The smart fortwo BRABUS Xclusive lives up to its name with additional equipment details such as H7 projection headlamps with titanium coloured surrounds, a front spoiler with enlarged air inlets, striking side skirts and a rear apron painted in the colour of the body. The seats are covered with fine leather and are heated. The leather-effect instrument panel features aluminium-look trim components.

Both BRABUS models of the new smart fortwo are available as a coupé or a cabrio.

The turbo engine that has been improved in numerous details is the heart of the new smart fortwo BRABUS. From capacity of one litre the three-cylinder engine now develops 72 kW/98 bhp at 5500 rpm and lends the 770 kilogram two-door car remarkable agility. The weight to power ratio is just 7.8 kg/bhp - 24 percent lower than that of the previous BRABUS variant.

The turbo in-line engine develops maximum torque of 140 Newton metres at 3500 rpm. The BRABUS variant of the smart fortwo sprints from zero to 100 km/h in 9.9 seconds and reaches an electronically limited top speed of 155 km/h.

With combined fuel consumption of just 5.2 litres per 100 kilometres the new smart fortwo BRABUS is one of the most economical cars in its size and power category. Carbon dioxide emissions stand at 124 grams per kilometre.

Nissan, Honda Models Rank Highest in Thailand

BANGKOK: 27 November 2007 — Three Nissan models and two Honda models rank highest in their respective segments in new-vehicle design and performance, according to the J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2007 Thailand Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) StudySM released today.

Now in its fifth year, the APEAL Study is a consumer-reported measure of what excites and delights owners about their new vehicle’s performance and design during the first two to six months of ownership. Redesigned in 2007, the study is comprised of nearly 100 attributes covering 10 vehicle components: exterior; interior; storage and space; audio/entertainment/navigation; seats; HVAC; driving dynamics; engine/transmission; visibility/driving safety; and fuel economy.

The study finds that new-vehicle design and performance in Thailand averages 876 points on a 1,000-point scale in 2007. Visibility/driving safety and fuel economy are the top two components that contribute most to overall satisfaction among customers in the passenger car, utility vehicle and pickup segments. Driving dynamics is also particularly important in the utility vehicle and pickup segments, while vehicle interior is more critical to owners in the passenger car segment.

Nissan Tiida ranks highest in the entry midsize car segment with a score of 864, performing well in exterior; interior; storage and space; seats; engine/transmission; and visibility/driving safety. The redesigned Toyota Vios (863) closely follows and the Honda Jazz (855) ranks third in the segment.

Among midsize cars, the Honda Civic leads the rankings for a second consecutive year with a score of 879, performing particularly well in eight of 10 vehicle components: exterior; interior; storage and space; audio/entertainment/navigation; seats; engine/transmission; visibility/driving safety; and fuel economy. The Mazda3 (873) follows the Honda Civic in the segment rankings, performing well in storage and space, HVAC and driving dynamics, and the Toyota Corolla Altis (848) ranks third in the segment.

The redesigned Honda CR-V ranks highest in the SUV segment with a score of 887, performing particularly well in exterior; interior; storage and space; audio/entertainment/navigation; seats; and visibility/driving safety. The Isuzu MU-7 (876) follows in the segment, performing well in HVAC and fuel economy. The Toyota Fortuner (867) ranks third, receiving high ratings in the area of engine/transmission.

In the pickup extended cab segment, the Nissan Frontier Navara (900) ranks highest, performing particularly well in nine vehicle components examined: exterior; interior; storage and space; audio/entertainment/navigation; seats; HVAC; driving dynamics; engine/transmission; and visibility/driving safety. The Chevrolet Colorado (899) follows the Nissan Frontier Navara in the segment rankings, performing well in visibility/driving and safety. The Toyota Hilux Vigo Prerunner (895) ranks third in the segment, performing particularly well in the areas of vehicle exterior, vehicle interior, and storage and space.

The Nissan Frontier Navara (891) also ranks highest in the pickup double cab segment. The Isuzu D-Max Hi-Lander (886) follows the Navara in the segment rankings, performing particularly well in vehicle interior and fuel economy. The Toyota Hilux Vigo Prerunner ranks third in the segment with 882.

“New and redesigned models tend to perform particularly well in APEAL, which is rewarding to those manufacturers that make significant efforts to improve and renew their vehicle design and performance,” said Loic Pean, country manager at J.D. Power Asia Pacific, Singapore. “Models performing well in APEAL can also expect greater positive word of mouth than competitors within the same segment.”

The 2007 Thailand APEAL Study is based on evaluations from 3,991 owners who purchased their new vehicle between October 2006 and June 2007. The study includes 55 passenger car, pickup truck and utility vehicle models covering 10 makes. Fieldwork for the study was conducted from April to August 2007.

The APEAL study is one of four consumer-based studies that J.D. Power Asia Pacific conducts in Thailand. The 2007 Thailand Customer Satisfaction Index Study (CSI), which measures authorized dealer after-sales service in Thailand, was released in July. The 2007 Sales Satisfaction Index Study (SSI), which examines the new-vehicle sales process, was released in August and the 2007 Thailand Initial Quality Study (IQS), measuring problems experienced by new-vehicle owners, was released in October.

New Dyno Jet, Dynamometer Comming Soon

Thunder Performance is Perth's newest supplier and builder of automotive performance parts and performance engines for Holden, Ford and Chevy enthusiasts. Having over 25 years experience in the performance car scene we know what you need. Feel free to browse our new online store for our more popular products or drop by our new show room to see whats on display. Our friendly staff are available to advise and assist Mondays through Saturdays.

Here at Thunder Performance we specialize in anything performance, whether your after an exhaust on your new ride, or after that aggressive sound of a cammed up V8 we can work with you so you get exactly what your after.

We can build you a motor to suit your needs, whatever they may be.
Whether its your typical 355 Holden stroker or a 400+cube 1000hp blown burnout engine, right through to a 2400hp 6sec racing motor we can accommodate your needs. Give us a call or come in now to discuss your options.

Sport Truck Community

J. Bittle American (JBA) has expanded the services in its 15,000 square foot Performance Center in San Diego, Ca. to become one of the country’s largest and most complete automotive performance centers.

NEW YAMAHA FZ8 Unveiled

NEW YAMAHA FZ8 2010 picture

The Yamaha New FZ8 agent is ammunition injected, and uses both a burke valve and an electronically controlled sub-throttle valve to accommodate added ascendancy over assimilation airflow volume. Both the naked FZ8 and semi-faired Fazer8 models are accessible with alternative ABS. The ability assemblage develops 106.2 PS (78.1kW) at 10,000 rpm, and a acceptable 82.0 Nm of torque at 8,000 rpm. The bankrupt arrangement complies with the EU3 standards, application a short, ancillary army muffler and a 4-into-2-into-1 bankrupt arrangement with a bore blazon catalytic advocate adapted at the point area the attack pipes meet. The GT250 naked sports driver and the GT250R sports archetypal additionally affection EFI. Completely restyled with advancing new lines, LED stop/tail-lamp and bright indicator lenses, they are set to achieve their abode at the top of the 250cc sales charts

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EFI additionally takes a advanced row bench on the three-model 650cc GT range. The GT650 naked, the half-faired GT650S action tourer and the GT650R action all affection the new administration changes, additional bigger braking with four-piston callipers arresting 300mm semi-floating discs on all three models. Great account for abecedarian riders too. The 250cc models are automatically abecedarian approved, but so too are all four 650cc models. The LAMS accustomed 650cc EFI models now bear 40kw, up from 25kw on antecedent models. The non-LAMS 650cc versions pump out a advantageous 59kw.

NEW YAMAHA FZ8 WALLPAPER

"This is abundant timing for the Hyosung range. As Australia pulls out of its bread-and-butter dip, we accept a beginning new ambit for riders both new and experienced," said Hyosung Australia Brand Manager Simon Gloyne. "In 2006 and 2007 the Hyosung GT250R was the top affairs 250cc alley bike in Australia because of its massive amalgamation of appearance and achievement for such a low price. Now that amalgamation has beginning administration and ammunition bang beyond the absolute range, we are aiming for the cardinal one atom again."

Renault DeZir Concept - Auto Shows 2010

The French once again show their passion for design with this Paris-bound concept.
French carmaker Renault retreated from the U.S. market in 1987, leaving behind the rotting hulks of stuff like the Alliance and the Le Car. But there’s another way to look at the brand; Renault has long been well regarded for its advanced concepts and for its willingness to take risks and experiment. Indeed, some of the cars created by former Renault design chief Patrick le Quément are timeless classics, and the company also has churned out some damn impressive hot hatches, many based on the diminutive Clio. It is this Renault that excites us, and this concept, the DeZir, is stoking the fire.

The DeZir (pronounced “desire”) is the first concept penned by le Quément's successor, ex-Mazda design head Laurens van den Acker. The capital Z in the car’s name is marketing spin at its finest—it stands for “zero emissions,” as the DeZir is fully electric. There is one electric motor, which is mounted behind the passenger compartment and makes 148 hp and 167 lb-ft of torque. That’s plenty to move this concept with some verve—in theory, of course—given the low, 1830-pound curb weight, achieved through the use of a tube frame and Kevlar body panels.

Renault says the DeZir could run from 0 to 62 mph in five seconds. Its hypothetical top speed is governed to an unimpressive 112 mph, however, and its range would be just 99 miles. The lithium-ion battery pack can be charged conventionally via a plug or swapped out quickly; the latter would involve so-called Quick Drop battery stations that could automate the process.

The DeZir shows an array of clever styling ideas. The front end hints at a possible new corporate face, and features horizontal bars and very prominent (and backlit) Renault diamond badge. The scissor doors are front-hinged on the driver side and rear-hinged on the passenger side—Renault waxes philosophical about the doors’ yin-and-yang–style "amorous harmony," although that just sounds like a pretentious double entendre to us. Horizontal taillights grow out of the bright red body and look fabulous.

The interior, inspired by the idea of “an amorous encounter,” is extremely innovative, with smooth, fluid curves; pulsating lights; and a one-piece, amorous-encounter-facilitating bench seat that features indentations to keep occupants from sliding around once they’re spent and on the road again. (Of course, the location of the floating center console might put a crimp on the action.) The trim of the red-and-white interior is asymmetrical. There is no rear window, but two rear cameras do their best to inform the driver about his or her surroundings. It's all rather fanciful and stylish compared to the cabins of regular cars.

The DeZir debuts at the Paris auto show this October, and Renault says it points the way for future production cars. We think that with this two-seater, Laurens van den Acker has proven himself to be the right guy to lead Renault design. With its sensuous shape and its refusal to settle for commonplace solutions, the DeZir is a typical Renault concept car in the best sense. Renault rightly pulled out of the U.S. market 23 years ago, but this concept is a reminder that we’re missing out on some impressive creativity and unconventional thinking.

New Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe - Short Take Road Test 2010

In a strange reversal, Mercedes-Benz—the company that led the current trend toward the coupification of the sedan with its CLS—is heralding the sedanification of the coupe via the 2010 E350. This is a two-door in body only; its spirit is that of a sober four-door, and it and the CLS appear to be converging on a single point: buyers who want a sedan but without all the space and convenience.

Like a poker player, the E350 has a visual “tell,” a cue that signals its intentions. Here, it is the small quarter-windows in the rear side glass. These allow the rear windows to go all the way down into the bodywork, but their presence also suggests rear doors. Once you mentally draw the cut-lines for two more portals, phantom openings keep insinuating themselves onto the sides of the car. Pull back, and it’s less of an issue. From a distance, the E coupe can be confused with the larger CL coupe, which is clearly a two-door but also—ahem—fully sedan-sized.

A Tidier E-class

Dimensionally, the E coupe is smaller than the E sedan. Its wheelbase is clipped by 6.2 inches, and the coupe is almost seven inches shorter overall, losing about one-quarter of the four-door’s rear-seat space. But despite the mildly less graceful ingress and egress (the car’s pillarless-ness helps in this regard), you hardly feel the squeeze from the back seat, where head- and legroom are almost as gracious as the sedan’s. The car feels far more luxurious overall than the CLK it replaces in the lineup, thanks to the rectilinear dash and interior theme from the E-class sedan. The features list befits a car in this segment, too—burled-wood trim, a central info screen, 11 airbags, drowsiness warning, and leather—and the options list includes the requisite high-end audio, a sport package, and more leather and wood.

Both lengths of E350—coupe and sedan—feel cut from the same bolt, sharing as they do a common C-class–derived suspension. This is also due to the character of the cars’ 268-hp V-6 engine and seven-speed automatic transmission combo, which conspires to keep both 0-to-60 times at 6.3 seconds, despite an almost 200-pound difference in curb weight. You’d think the coupe would be faster, not only because it’s lighter but also because a two-door ought to be.

That sprint, although respectable on its own, pales quickly when compared with the similarly hefty Infiniti G37S coupe’s time of 5.2. Even the down-on-power Audi A5 2.0T Quattro—cheaper, sportier, and better-looking—eked out a 10th on the Mercedes in our testing. And the 230-hp BMW 328i sedan—also sportier and cheaper—gets the job done almost a half-second quicker, as it’s more than 400 pounds lighter. Stopping distances from 70 mph are similarly out of whack. The Benz’s 170-foot squawk is 15 feet longer than the Audi’s and 10 feet longer than the BMW or the Infiniti needs.

Mission Control

So the E350 coupe isn’t bringing the heat performance-wise, but as noted above, that doesn’t appear to be its mission. Its virtues are the classic Mercedes sedan virtues: rock-solid straight-line stability, long-haul comfort in the seats, and a throttle pedal calibrated to hold a given speed unto eternity.

It gets a little confusing, then, when you start optioning the E350 coupe as though you wanted a sporty car. Check the box for the $1950 Appearance package, which includes 18-inch wheels, shift paddles, and a sport suspension, and the car feels strangely bipolar. The sport suspension’s springing is too stiff for all but the smoothest of roads and jostles the car and its occupants around in misery over broken pavement. The harder suspension does help the car settle quickly into turns, but the steering, so nonlinear off-center, doesn’t want to hear about it. Its laziness is at odds with the directness of the car’s newfound body control.

Our advice: Stick with the base suspension, and keep the E350 coupe honest. Keep it a two-door sedan. You’ll hold it close to its $48,925 base price, and you’ll enjoy it a lot more.

Best Chevrolet Offers Corvette Z06 and ZR1 Buyers the Option to Assemble their Own Engines

Hardcore Vette enthusiasts will recall that the LS7 and LS9 engines in the Corvette Z06 and ZR1 are hand-built in the metro Detroit area, meaning they’re touched and assembled by a real person’s hands rather than a series of robots. Now, buyers of the 2011 Z06 and ZR1 can opt to partake in that construction, building their very own V-8 as part of the Corvette Engine Build Experience.

The new program is more than just a marketing gimmick. Customers start with a bare engine block and install pistons, manifolds, and everything else necessary for a functioning motor. No need to worry if you’re not the most technically-savvy person, a GM technician shepherds the customer through the process so your hand-built engine will be just as reliable (and powerful) as any other. At the completion of the build, the customer’s name is affixed to a plaque on the engine—how’s that for bragging rights at cruise nights?—and the powerplant is sent to the Corvette assembly plant in Kentucky to be installed in the customer’s car.

The Performance Build Center (PBC) option must be chosen when a customer orders a 2011 Z06 or ZR1, tacking on $5800 to the car’s purchase price. The price includes food, lodging, and local transportation, but customers must pay for travel to and from Detroit, Michigan.

And if getting your hands dirty with your new machine doesn’t appeal, Chevrolet also has programs catering to the whims of other Corvette buyers. A customer can follow his or her new car along the assembly line at the assembly plant in Kentucky, or take delivery of a new car at the National Corvette Museum. Buyers of the ZR1 can also elect a complimentary high-performance driving school to help them learn the car’s performance characteristics. All are pretty cool ways to get intimate with this high-performance machinery.