TESLA MODEL S

When it comes to electric vehicle, people tend to think of it as disgustingly green as broccoli. However, they will need to think twice!! The electric vehicle industry is no more about slow and go-green people. Tesla Motor is the first sport car manufacturer to produce luxury sport vehicle with fully engine driven by electric successfully. It becomes the revolutionary of new generation electric vehicle.

TESLA MOTOR head quarter

At first tesla started out with the roadster model, resembled the British brand, Lotus. The performance of Tesla’s first attempt vehicle is not quite successful as expected, yet enough to shock people what electric vehicle can do. With a lot of further research and design team located in Hawthorne, CA, the Model S introducing since 2012 becomes the crown jewel of Tesla Motor. In fact, Tesla Motor uses Porsche Panamera as their base research.

First Tesla Roadster resembles the Lotus

Model S

Model S in Factory

The first drive-in of Model S is a heart pounding experience. You can feel the interior parts from Mercedes Benz. If you are not a Mercedes fan, it is possible for you to miss this. All meters are electronic screens. However, the gem of this car is in the center of the dashboard, 17” touchscreen. With this gigantic touchscreen, you will be able to control digital instrument cluster, steering wheel controls, adjusting ride height of your vehicle and more. Basic controls also can be easy to access such as navigation system from Google Maps™, HD radio, Bluetooth®, USB audio devices, mobile phone connection, backup camera, etc. You can even go on internet with this 17” touchscreen.

The Liquid-cooled, lithium-ion battery located on the Model S platform is the key to Model S distinguish performance. Because the long last driving experience you can get as much as traditional refined petroleum, the battery completely replaces the gasoline usage. It comes with 3 options, 65Kwh, 85kWH, 85kWH Performance.

Battery of the Model S

With suggestion 85 kWH battery option, Model S has 94 city/97 highway miles, acceleration from 0-60mph in 5.4, 362 hp with 325lb/ft torque output. The feeling of the pedal is firm as expected in supercar class. The braking is way outstanding and precise. The price starts at $71,070.

Some of you might worry about the electric charging station that could be hard to find. The solution is in 17” touchscreen of Model S. It enables you to locate a charging station around the nation. Tesla Motors also has a project to install more of those cover 98% of the US population and parts of Canada in 2015. Also, charging one of Tesla car at these stations is free!! Because of the Solar Panel on top, it makes Tesla be able provide free energy.

Tesla Obelisk Marks the Location of Supercharger Station

Hidden Power Connection Port near Taillight 

Tesla Motor also comes up with many methods to make the road trip less interrupted. One of the methods is battery swap that uses only half the time to fill up the gasoline tank normal car.

With its astonishing achievements, Model S is ranked second place in Super Luxury Cars and Hybrid Luxury by U.S News. It also received the car of the year by Motor Trend’s 2013. Undoubtedly, there is no car can combine such performance with environmental awareness like Model S.

"M"

BMW M6

BMW's "M" division is one of the world's most widely recognized branches of BMW and especially in the realm of motoring and all things automobiles. The vehicles produced in the "M" division all deliver a substantial amount of styling, design, comfort, and performance. Germany's two other main automotive companies, Mercedes-Benz and Audi have also been on the map with their high-performance divisions, AMG and S/RS, respectively, which rivals BMW's "M" performance branch. 

Currently, BMW's "M" line of vehicles are the BMW M3, M5, M6, and the X6 M. But the one that stands out the most in this pulverizing line-up of cars is the M6. A higher performance model derived from the original BMW 6 series, the BMW M6 is the car that represents and exemplifies the M line-up of BMW vehicles and it also represents what the M vehicles are all about. Underneath the bonnet, there is a twin-turbo 4.4L V8 engine capable of producing 560 brake horsepower at 6000 rpm. That's about as fast as a Ferrari 458 Italia, which produces an approximate 562 bhp and is also twice as expensive as a BMW M6. The M6's engine also has direct fuel injection which comes in handy if you're ever in a position sprinting from 0-60. It produces 500 lb-ft of torque and does a 0-60 in just about 4.3 seconds. As with many cars in the six-figure range which are equipped with a high performance engine, there is an trade-off of performance for fuel economy. The M6 does 15 mpg (city), 22 mpg (highway), and 17 mpg (combined). This isn't anywhere near fuel efficient, but when you have 560 horses at your disposal and an engine that sounds like performance, you won't be considering how much petrol this car consumes.
 

 

The M6 also houses an M double-clutch transmission (DCT) gearbox with launch control This accounts for extremely quick gear changes and faster take-offs on the road. The M6 is equipped with dual paddle shifters as well for ease of access when shifting gears in manual. In 2012, BMW unveiled its 6 series Gran Coupe at the Geneva Motorshow. The Gran Coupe is the sedan version of the BMW 6 series and is also available in M as well. On the M6, BMW has added a unique feature known as "brake energy regeneration". Simply put, this feature allows the car's alternator to generate electricity when either driver's brake or take their foot off of the accelerator. "Unharnessed kintetic energy is transformed into electrical energy and then fed into the car's battery", according to BMW. As a result, driver's save fuel while producing electric energy. 

BMW M6 Gran Coupe

 

 

The price tag? The BMW M6 is available in three different options. It comes with 3 options: the hard top standard M6 (est. MSRP $111,200), the M6 Gran Coupe (est. MSRP $115,000), and the third option is a convertible model starting at an estimated MSRP $117,500. Staggering prices correct? Yes, the M6 doesn't come cheap. But one thing is certain. With a car in the six-figure range such as the M6, you know its going to be good.

The BMW M6 is one of the most beautifully crafted and engineered cars in its class. Some other options for drivers who want a car in this price range could be a V8 Audi R8 or a Mercedes CL550. Besides the price of this car, the M6 delivers on so many levels. Performance, handling, comfort, and all of the known BMW amenities such as leather trimmed seats and a flawless Bang & Olufsen sound system, you won't be disappointed and you know that the M6 is going to be good. 

 

BMW M4 HEADS-UP REVIEW

Beware the M4

M series in BMW industries always creates a fun time with its performance. From this year, they launch the new product line will be the 4 series. This 4 series is derived from the previous 3 series. The easiest way to distinguish the new 3 series from the new 4 series is to call all sedan models in 3 series as 3 series, while the coupe and the convertible of the old 3 series will become 4 series.

 

Showcase of all new M4

Not only the number changed, but also the engine type is changing in the new M product line. The new M3 and M4 stop running with the old 4.0 S65 V8 engine 

(it is Naturally Aspirated which is called NA). They start putting new 3.0 S55 I6 engines (this is turbochargers). In addition, they shrink the volume of the engine; however the new engine provide with more horsepower as an outcome. The new engine gives out 430 hp while compare with the old one that only has 420 hp. Not to mention the torque, from the old 295 lb-ft to 369-lb-ft. Since the new engine being developed with higher horsepower and higher torque, yet they also worked hard on better Fuel Consumption and lower the Emission Produce by 25%!!

Engine 3-D model released

Even though they made so many changes in the engine and the outlook of the car, their significant DCT (Double Clutch Transmission) transmission is still being provided as an option for this car. Another important change they made is lower the car's weight as much as possible. For people who want to track their car, they definitely care a lot about their car's weight. This new M4 only weighed 3306 lb. (this is without passengers and with 90% fuel) while compare to E92 ~3600 lb., to C63 AMG ~3900 lb., and to RS5 ~4000 lb. This is definitely a big advantage, when you look to other brand's similar performance cars.

M4 performing on racing track

Even the new M4 seems really huge and unique in a lot of ways, but there are some points are being discussed by the current M3 owners. One of the thing people seems to care a lot is the sound of the car. The supercharge cars will never have a better sounds while compare to the NA equipped cars. The truth is people having this kind of street racing cars are tend to modify their cars way off. The exhaust is the first part that they swab out in order to get a better roaring sound. People not only want their car to be loud but also want the sound to be legit. As a downfall, the new supercharge engine will never be able to have better sounds when comparing to those OLD NA engines.

Despite of the points that may let the potential buyers down, but a lot of people are still counting for the release of this new M model. The good news is people can start to pre-order their new F82 M4 as well as F80 M3 at the beginning of 2014 around Jan – Feb. The car will be delivered by late Spring - early Summer.

FERRARI F430 Spider

How the venue of speed starts...

In the sports car world, we can’t deny that the most iconic exotic car is the Ferrari. The previous article talked about the German invention, BMW i8. It soon will be available!!! In this article, I will go back in time to the beginning of my obsession in sport cars. I believe everyone has dreamt to own one of these wheels; just a look of it can stun you for a while. Why do these gorgeous cars have so much power of attraction to me? Why are they so expensive?

First let’s go back to my story how I start to love sport cars. When I was a kid, I got the model car of Ferrari 1984 Testarossa to play with. The bright flaming red color was so extravagance for kids. After my first hand-on experience with Ferrari as a model car, my dream comes true!!! In 2008, I have the first experience with the real Ferrari by one of my patrons who is extremely generous. Even though, it was not the 1984 Testarossa that I admired, but the Ferrari F430 SPIDER can stop my heart.

 

 

First debut of F430 SPIDER at Geneva Motor Show 2005

Ferrari F430 SPIDER is the latest model that has been added to the V-8 engine car. In the Geneva Motor Show (March 2005), the Prancing Horse made the press impressed with Italian innovation once again. This F430 carries the technologies of Formula 1 inside the hood. Traction control is more powerful than before with the technology that is developed by Scuderia division or the Formula 1 racing team. The wheel of the Spider has been added with commutator switch or known to F1 racing division as manettino, which promotes the car’s set up adjusting rate to be faster. 

Picture from private collection shows the interior 

with commutator  switch (Manettino)

The design of the Spider’s body is not just for attraction, but it serves as the aerodynamics promoter as it directs the central air flow towards the flat underbody. With bigger rear intakes that connect to the front radiator, the engine produces more stances. The designer Pininfarina also put this engine under the glass cover to show off the mechanism inside the engine bay.

Picture from private collection shows the rear intakes 

 

The engine bay of F430 SPIDER

With the Formula 1 gear box in the Spider, the 4,308cc V8 engine produces 490 hp, which can push the car to a top speed of over 310 km/hr. With F-1 gearbox, the Spider can accelerate from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in just 4.1 seconds (ferrari.com) because of gear shifting times down to 150 milliseconds. According to the official Ferrari, this lightweight and highly compact power unit produces a specific output of 114 hp per litre with a weight-to-power ratio of 2.9 kg (6.4 lbs) per horsepower.

This car was debuted with the price range from $186,925 to $217,318 in the United States.  It offers the default brake with carbon-ceramic disc co-developed with Brembo and Bosch. Moreover, the engine has been decreased in size to compact into the engine bay.

The Spider that changes everything... 

Exotic car is like a fine art, that people willing to pay the price to appreciate it. Ferrari becomes the masterpiece that make track performance car available to the everyday road. It’s all about the story of the making, design, and performance of the car that can make people around the world fall for this Italian Innovation.