//:: BMW Performance Edition

Earlier this month, BMW of North America announced a Limited Performance Edition to close out the remaining E90 3 Series Sedan production.

The limited edition 335i includes Black Kidney Grills and Stage 1 Software that adds 20 horsepower and 32 ft-lbs of torque which brings the performance level .02 faster in 0-60mph. It also includes a Performance Edition badging.

The 335i Limited Performance Edition only available on the 335 sedans in “i” and “xi” models, but requires a Sport package on the “i” and M-Sport on the “xi” models. The option code is ZMZ and will be available to order from the port as well as the dealer level.

Not the actual 335i Performance Edition

Today, BMWNA announces the availability of BMW Performance Edition parts for existing 135i and 335i customers. Pricing to purchase the contents of this edition as a retrofit will be announced in August 2011.

Press Release

Performance breeds excitement and the BMW Performance Edition for the 2011 335i / xDrive Sedan ensures that new car buyers are in for that extra thrill beyond the outstanding performance that can already be realized with these exciting vehicles. Customers can now option their vehicles with a special BMW Performance Edition (option code ZMZ) that includes an all-new Power Kit, black kidney grilles and a “BMW Performance Edition” badge for only $550.

The BMW Performance Edition for the 335i highlights a Power Kit which consists of engine tuning software (no additional hardware):

Increases the engine power output from 300 hp to 320hp and torque from 300 lb ft to 317 / 332 lb ft (manual / automatic transmission); this is the same horsepower rating as the 335is!
Acceleration from 0-60 mph is 0.2 seconds faster than the standard model and 0.5 seconds faster than the standard model from 50 mph to 75 mph.

Emissions and fuel consumption ratings are unaffected by the power upgrade.
Black kidney grilles and a BMW Performance Edition badge will visually identify these Performance Edition vehicles from other 3 Series vehicles.

The BMW Performance Edition is offered only for a limited time on 335i Sedans through the end of 2011 which will ensure that owners of these vehicles will belong to a very special club of performance purists.

BMW is also pleased to announce that the contents of the BMW Performance Edition will be made available to existing 135i and 335i customers. Pricing to purchase the contents of this edition as a retrofit will be announced in August, 2011.

BMW Sports, M, BMW Power, Sports Car //TAGS

//:: Ferrari's secret hybrid tech

Ferrari is preparing the world for its first hybrid supercar — and this prototype looks to be solid proof that the project is well under way.

The Maranello firm has been talking about a hybrid supercar since the 2010 Geneva motor show when it unveiled the Hybrid Concept, based on a standard 599. The firm’s goal is to develop hybrid technology to get its fleet average CO2 emissions down to around 240g/km by 2018, a significant reduction from last year’s figure of 310g/km.

Spied testing in Germany, this two-seater looks at first glance to be a ‘cut and shut’ 599 GTO, running as a mule for the all-new 599 due in 2013.

But its red-on-white German ‘pre-registration’ plates give away its identity as a test bed for Ferrari’s hybrid tech. Ferrari prototypes normally wear Italian ‘Prova’ identification plates, but those have been ditched while this prototype is driven in Germany to throw spy photographers off the scent.

Ferrari is keen to disown any knowledge of its hybrid prototype, but the ‘S’ on this car’s plates means it is registered in Stuttgart, home of German supply giant Bosch, which is thought to be helping Ferrari with the engineering and software set-up.

The cut-about 599 GTO body panels are covering up a well finished car underneath, whose details appear to mark it out as a California, Ferrari’s V8-powered coupé-convertible. The California’s headlamps, wheels, chromed wheel nuts, folding metal roof shutlines, brake caliper position and distinctive instrument binnacle can all be seen.

However, the revised arrangement of the test mule’s exhaust pipes is an important new detail. The standard California stacks its twin rear pipes on top of each other, rather than two pairs of side by side pipes as seen here.

That may be linked to new routings for the exhausts, dictated by the hybrid powertrain and its space-consuming battery.

Ferrari’s chosen design package for its hybrid sports cars can be seen in its patent drawings (see above right). It features two electric motors — a low-capacity one at the front to drive ancillaries when running on electric power alone, and a rear-mounted one rated at 100bhp and 110lb ft — with a pack of slim battery cells spread over the floorpan.

Although the hybrid electric equipment added 100kg to the kerb weight of the 599 Hybrid Concept shown last year at Geneva, Ferrari was confident that its on-road performance was improved, with 0-100mph in 10.4sec, an improvement of 0.6sec. Interestingly, the 599 concept’s centre of gravity — a key factor in determining a car’s dynamic ability — remained the same.

Also under development are a super-fast traction control system that works by reversing the electric motor’s torque rather than cutting engine power, and an ‘electronic torque shaping’ system that feeds in small torque inputs from the electric motor during acceleration. This helps maintain momentum during gear changes and is felt as a more linear throttle response. The California test mule is likely to be running this set-up.

Related Post: Ferrari 599 Hy-Kers

Note: Re-post from http://www.autocar.co.uk/

Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, Super fast cars //TAGS

top cars wallpapers

Car and Driver magazine annually nominates a list of what it considers the Ten Best cars and Five Best trucks.

All production vehicles for sale in that calendar year are considered with these restrictions:

The vehicle must be on sale by January
It must be priced below 2.5 times the average car price for that year
The manufacturer must provide an example for testing
Only substantially changed vehicles and the past year's 10 best winners are nominated

The magazine sometimes selects a specific trim and other times a whole family of vehicles.

top cars

top cars

top cars

top cars

top cars

super cars nice cars

Supercar is a term used most often to describe an expensive high end car. It has been defined specifically as "a very expensive, fast or powerful car".[1] Stated in more general terms: "it must be very fast, with sporting handling to match," "it should be sleek and eye-catching" and its price should be "one in a rarefied atmosphere of its own".[2]

super cars

super cars

super cars

super cars

super cars nice cars

Supercar is a term used most often to describe an expensive high end car. It has been defined specifically as "a very expensive, fast or powerful car".[1] Stated in more general terms: "it must be very fast, with sporting handling to match," "it should be sleek and eye-catching" and its price should be "one in a rarefied atmosphere of its own".[2]

super cars

super cars nice cars

Supercar is a term used most often to describe an expensive high end car. It has been defined specifically as "a very expensive, fast or powerful car".[1] Stated in more general terms: "it must be very fast, with sporting handling to match," "it should be sleek and eye-catching" and its price should be "one in a rarefied atmosphere of its own".[2]

super cars

super cars

super cars

super cars

super cars

ferrari california wallpapers

The Ferrari California is a grand touring sports car that was launched by Ferrari at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. It is a two door "2+2" hard top convertible. The California is powered by front-mid mounted gasoline direct injection 4.3 L (260 cu in) V8, sending a claimed 460 PS (340 kW; 450 hp).[2] The car revives the "California" name used for the late-1950s Ferrari 250 GT.

ferrari california

ferrari california

ferrari california

ferrari california

ferrari california