2015 Lotus Elise Appears in Paris - With Live Pictures and Video

The new Lotus Elise jumps into entirely new styling territory, not so much evolving from the current model but fully reinventing itself as a baby Esprit. The only similarities are the mid-engine layout driving the rear wheels and 2-seats around corners.

Below, Lotus has been kind enough to provide a nicely-designed chart for your convenience instead of spreading all the car's stats across a 15,000-word press release.

The new baby Lotus will get a standard 6-speed manual (with an optional 7-speed DCT) and be powered by a Toyota 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine putting out 320-horsepower.

If the Elise is putting out that kind of go for a £35,000 [around US$55,500] base price, this is looking to be a bargain basement killer. To make that 320 ponies extra green, it will also offer mild hybrid tech and an optional start/stop system when it comes out in Spring 2015.

By Phil Alex

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Retour vers le futur: Renault's Amazing 800HP Espace F1 MPV Prototype

I don’t have children, but I bet school runs can become pretty boring. However, if parents could get their hands on a Renault Espace F1, I’m sure they'd sing to a different tune when they'd return back from school... Unveiled in 1995, this über-Espace was not your typical soccer-mom transporter. Created to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the French MPV and Renault’s decade-long involvement in Formula 1, the concept was literally an F1 racer in disguise.

Power was sourced from the 1993 Williams-Renault FW15C single seater racecar. The 3.5-liter 40-valve V10 powerplant initially developed 700 hp, but engineers managed to squeeze another 100 ponies pushing output to 800 hp. As with the F1 car, the V10 was mounted in the center sending power to the rear wheels, through a 6-speed semi-automatic transmission.

Performance was simply mind-boggling: the Espace F1 could reach 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 2.8 seconds and 200 km/h (124 mph) in 6.9 seconds. Top speed was pegged at 312 km/h or 194 mph.

Stopping power was equally impressive. Fitted with carbon-ceramic brakes, the special Espace could accelerate from 0 to 270 km/h (168 mph) and then brake to standstill in less than 600 meters (1,969 ft).

Is this the ultimate MPV or what? Check out the videos below to see it in action.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Renault / Youtube

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Transformers 3 "Dark of the Moon" Trailer goes Live

Get ready for the third installment of Michael Bay's Transformers franchise as the first trailer of the upcoming new movie called Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon, has hit the air. Being that Megan Fox abandoned the series, we're somewhat less excited about this one, and the new trailer, which gives a fictional twist to Neil Armstrong's 1969 moon landing, ain't helping much either. In any case, you can watch the clip right after the break.

Via: Jalopnik

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VIDEO: 800 hp Shelby GT500 Blows Up During Dyno Test

We don’t know if this is a factory 800-horsepower Super Snake or a privately tuned GT500, but something went very wrong during this dyno test... It might have happened due to insufficient cooling or a faulty component - we just don't know. Whatever the cause, the owner is one unhappy guy. Follow the break and watch the engine going up in flames and a cloud of smoke.

By Csaba Daradics

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Slow Down App Uses Music to Warn Heavy Footed Drivers

If for some reason you find yourself constantly violating the speed limits, then you may want to take a look at this new app for Apple's iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad products. The "Slow Down App" does what it implies; it slows down the music or even shuts off the volume completely to warn drivers that they have exceeded the speed limit. The music resumes when the driver gets back in order. The application makes use of the GPS to work out the car's driving speed. It was created by OVK, an organization in Belgium supporting the Parents of Child Road Victims. Watch the video after the jump.

Thanks for the tip Glen!

Source: Slowdown , Link: Apple App

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BMW Lifts the Veil off All-new 1 Series M Coupé [Video]

It's only a matter of hours before BMW drops the ball on its much anticipated 1 Series M Coupé, but for now, the Bavarian automaker has released a video showing the production version of the sports car completely undisguised for the very first time. The short story is that the 1 Series M Coupé is based off the 135i featuring a straight-six engine capable of 340-horsepower or more, a wider body, upgraded chassis and all the other usual tweaks you'd expect from a car wearing the M badge. For the full story, we'll have to wait until tomorrow.

Source: BMW , Via: E90post

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Moon Regan Transantartic Expedition’s Concept Vehicle is Cooler than Ice [with Video]

Most people can get through the winter driving ordinary vehicles just fine as long as they follow some simple rules. But when the going gets tough and the snow hits the fan, you need a special ride, like this Bio-Inspired Ice Vehicle (BIV). Built in 2008 with Lotus know-how, the BIV is currently used by the Moon Regan Transantartic Expedition for an epic Antarctic crossing.

The team reached the South Pole on December 3, after a week. Their resilience was put to the test by the bad weather, highly irregular terrain (known as sastrugi) and mechanical problems. Taking on the lead vehicle role, the BIV is “an agile route-finder”, according to the expedition’s official website. Two, six-wheeled Ford Econolines with 7.3-liter diesel V8s, handle the role of the support vehicles

With moving parts kept to a minimum, the BIV is fitted with three skis and independent suspension, which allow for optimum weight distribution and increased stability. Weighing in at just 700 kg (1.543 lbs), the BIV’s biggest advantage over conventional vehicles is that it can be hauled by people in situations when moving on its own is impossible. Spiked brakes provide stopping power.

Inside, there's enough space only for the driver, who is greeted by a bucket seat and a sport steering wheel.

The initial concept featured a 1.2-liter BMW engine, modified to run on E85 bioethanol but it was replaced with a more powerful Rotax 914 turbocharged unit, better suited for low temperatures and higher altitudes. The engine drives a three-blade variable-pitch propeller that can push the BIV to a top speed of 84 mph (135 km/h) in ideal conditions.

The Antarctic crossing is expected to last at least 40 days and will cover a distance of 5,800 kilometers or 3,604 miles. You can check out the team’s progress using the live tracker found here. Also, don’t forget about the video below, in which engineer Kieron Bradley presents the highlights of the BIV.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Moon Regan Transantartic Expedition

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VIDEO: BMW Teaches us a Lesson about Winter and Summer Tires

When we shared with you a list with winter driving tips in our previous post -see here- we stressed the importance of using winter tires. The reason? Summer tires will lose most of their elasticity at 7 degrees Celsius (44.6 F) and it only gets worse as temperatures drop further. Grip will be almost non-existent and having four-wheel drive doesn’t help either. If you still have doubts, follow the break to check out a video from BMW showing the new X3 with summer tires rendered useless in the snowy Austrian Alps.

By Csaba Daradics

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Back to the Future: Formula One Racecar Lapping the Nürburgring Circuit in 1967

The Nürburgring circuit is called “The Green Hell” for a good reason. Measuring 24.4 km (15.2 miles) in today’s combined version that uses a part of the Formula 1 track, it’s not an easy circuit to master. Complete a fast lap was even more difficult in the late ’60, when Formula 1 was nowhere near the high-tech parade it represents now. Back then, fearless drivers raced cars with skinny tires that had very few, if any safety features and weren't exactly easy to drive.

Check out the video after the break to see 1967 Formula 1 car running the Green Hell. At the time, the Nordschleife measured 22.8 km (14.2 miles) and had 174 turns.

By Csaba Daradics

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A Video Tour of the Porsche Classic Workshop

Porsche Classic is a specialized workshop owned by the German automaker, responsible for repairing, servicing and even restoring classic vehicles, like this 1973 911 T Coupe. Every year, a team of 30 highly trained specialists work on around 250 cars, keeping Porsche's heritage alive. According to the Stuttgart-based company, more than 70 per cent of all Porsches ever built are still on the roads today, which is pretty impressive if you think about it. Video follows after the break.

By Csaba Daradics

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VIDEO: New Porsche 911 GT2 RS "Driven to Extreme"

Gordon Robertson is back. Having previously tamed the GT3, the chief driving consultant of the Porsche Experience Center at Silverstone now takes on another of Stuttgart's iconic 911s: the GT2 RS.

Capable of 620 hp and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque, the 911 GT2 RS is the most powerful road-going Porsche ever built. It accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.5 seconds and hits the 200 km/h (124 mph) mark in a staggering 9.8 seconds. Clearly, you need some impressive skills to drive pace the GT2 RS through a twisty circuit, but for now, you can enjoy Mr. Robertson at work in the video after the break.

By Csaba Daradics

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Your Neighbor's Kid and his Power Wheels Never had a Chance: Motorized Toy Classics

Is your child a fan of driving 1950's Jags while wearing a Herringbone blazer and smoking a bubble pipe? Perhaps with a nice set of driving gloves and goggles? If so, or if you simply deem Power Wheels too plebeian for your progeny, then the Harrington Group and Pocket Classics have something for you (and the kid, should he be home from boarding school in Switzerland).

Both shops have a similar selection of classics such as a Porsche 356, Jaguar E-Type, 300 SL, Willys Jeep, and Bugatti T35 in which your child can stylishly cruise around the country club.

No word on price from the Harrington Group, but keep reading and you'll see how it could probably end up pretty steep. Each car features a composite chassis and body, "can be driven by anyone 6 and up" (hell yes!), is offered with automatic or manual transmissions, and is powered by various engines (from 50-cc up to racing kart engines). Also, the power unit can be upgraded over time.

The rest of the features make these little spoiled bastard-mobiles better than my daily driver (really...REALLY). Said features include: disc brakes, electric start, reverse gear, working lights / horn, rack and pinion steering, an optional leather interior, 6-month warranty, and a damn fitted car cover.

The Jag and Bugatti get some special options, too, other than available racing numbers; personalized plates, national flags, and carpet are on available on the Jaguar, while the Bugatti can get brass knockoffs and a brass brake handle (the basic one is poor-man's turned aluminum), a wood-rim steering wheel, racing exhaust, and white wall tires.

They even make push scooters, but for that info you'll have to click the link. This is a car site, Richy Rich.

By Phil Alex

Links: Harrington Group & Pocket Classics

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