Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Kia Naimo - electric concept car




Taking its name from the Korean word “Ne-mo”, (pronounced ‘Neh-mo’, meaning ‘square shape’), the Naimo electric crossover utility vehicle (CUV) was conceived by Kia’s international design team in Seoul, and is characterized principally by its simple lines and solid, muscular stance.
The uncomplicated overall design is accentuated by a number of striking key details, such as the wraparound windscreen and asymmetric sunroof design, and the front and rear dot-style LED head- and positioning-lamps. This juxtaposition of simple and complex is a common trait of many traditional Korean arts and crafts. Asian Celadon-style pottery, in particular, was a major influence on the car’s styling – with the pottery’s asymmetric form lending itself to the sunroof design, and the typical jade coloring giving Naimo its unique exterior finish.
Naimo’s interior was designed to evoke a strong sense of tranquility and features hand-crafted materials throughout. Korean oak is used to trim the interior door panels and the entire interior floor, Korean “Han-ji” paper is used for the head lining. Alongside these traditional elements sit modern features such as a TOLED (transparent organic light emitting diode) storming display instrument panel and full device connectivity.
Power comes from a PMSM (Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor) electric motor with a maximum output of 80 kW (109 ps) and maximum torque of 280 Nm, enabling Naimo to reach a top speed of 150 kph (93 mph).
A twin-pack 27 kWh battery is located under the trunk floor and uses innovative LiPoly (Lithium Ion Polymer) technology that offers numerous advantages over other battery types. Equipped with this battery, Naimo provides a driving range of 200 km (124 miles) on a single charge. To enhance range, the showcar is fitted with special low-drag 20-inch diameter alloy wheels.
Under the quick recharging cycle (50 kW) the Naimo’s battery can be recharged to 80 percent of its capacity within 25 minutes.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Yas Racing Team clinches victory in the Cytech UAE GT Championship

The Yas Aston Martin GT4 driven by Sheikh Hasher bin Maktoum Al Maktoum and Saeed Al Mehairi sealed a thrilling victory on Saturday in the final round of the Cytech UAE GT Championship one-hour endurance race, which was a support race for the FIA GT1 event on Yas Marina Circuit.

GT1 World Championship Abu Dhabi 2011





Results Championship Race
started : 17 classified : 15 not classified : 2


Drivers Team Car Laps --Total Time Gap--- Kph Lap Time-- Kph

1 3 C.Piccione/S.Dusseldorp Hexis AMR(FRA) Aston Martin DB9 31 1:00:02.053 146,5 17 1:53.095 150,6

2 22 P.Dumbreck/R.Westbrook JR Motorsports(GBR) Nissan GT-R 31 1:00:02.527 0.474 146,5 22 1:52.837 150,9

3 38 M.Winkelhock/M.Basseng All-Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport(DLEaUm)borghini Murcielago 670 R-SV 31 1:00:16.592 14.539 146,0 18 1:53.762 149,7

4 4 C.Hohenadel/A.Piccini Hexis AMR(FRA) Aston Martin DB9 31 1:00:17.349 15.296 145,9 18 1:53.937 149,5

5 8 S.Mücke/D.Turner Young Driver AMR(DEU) Aston Martin DB9 31 1:00:17.987 15.934 145,9 16 1:53.846 149,6

6 7 A.Müller/T.Enge Young Driver AMR(DEU) Aston Martin DB9 31 1:00:18.766 16.713 145,9 17 1:52.579 151,3

7 5 K.Wendlinger/P.Kox Swiss Racing Team(CHE) Lamborghini Murcielago 670 R-SV 31 1:00:19.330 17.277 145,8 17 1:53.245 150,4

8 41 M.Martin/F.Makowiecki Marc VDS Racing Team(BEL) Ford GT Matech 31 1:00:24.106 22.053 145,7 22 1:52.431 151,5

9 21 D.Brabham/J.Campbell-Walter Sumo Power GT(GBR) Nissan GT-R 31 1:00:35.005 32.952 145,2 19 1:53.350 150,2

10 11 M.Hezemans/N.Catsburg Exim Bank Team China(CHN) Corvette Z06 31 1:00:41.858 39.805 144,9 18 1:54.137 149,2

11 37 N.Pastorelli/D.Schwager All-Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport(DLEaUm)borghini Murcielago 670 R-SV 31 1:00:48.531 46.478 144,7 22 1:52.655 151,2

12 10 M.Matzke/M.Pavlovic Belgian Racing(BEL) Ford GT Matech 31 1:01:25.372 1:23.319 143,2 18 1:53.951 149,4

13 47 M.Rossi/J.Camara DKR Engineering(LUX) Corvette Z06 31 1:01:40.419 1:38.366 142,7 3 1:54.647 148,5

14 23 L.Luhr/M.Krumm JR Motorsports(GBR) Nissan GT-R 30 1:00:06.624 1 LAP 141,6 20 1:53.730 149,7

15 6 M.Nilsson/J.Janak Swiss Racing Team(CHE) Lamborghini Murcielago 670 R-SV 24 47:55.524 7LAPS 142,1 4 1:54.798 148,3

not classified

16 20 E.Bernoldi/R.Zonta Sumo Power GT(GBR) Nissan GT-R 21 43:13.973 10LAPS 137,9 17 1:53.531 150,0

17 9 A.Leclerc/F.Giroix Belgian Racing(BEL) Ford GT Matech 16 31:19.609 15LAPS 144,9 6 1:55.005 148,1

Fastest

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Yas Marina Circuit Photo Release


Corvette Z06 and Ford GT at the “corkscrew” during FIA GT1 testing at Yas Marina Circuit on Wednesday (23 March). The GT1 cars were using the corkscrew configuration of the circuit for the first time in advance of the Battle of the Brands race on Friday and Saturday.

Aston Martin DB9 in action during FIA GT1 testing at Yas Marina Circuit on Wednesday (23 March).

Corvette Z06 in action during FIA GT1 testing at Yas Marina Circuit on Wednesday (23 March).


Nissan GT-R in action during FIA GT1 testing at Yas Marina Circuit on Wednesday (23 March).

 Lamborghini Murciélago R-SV in action during FIA GT1 testing at Yas Marina Circuit on Wednesday (23 March)
About Yas Marina Circuit

Yas Marina Circuit is one of the most technologically advanced motor racing facilities ever developed. Located on Yas Island, the circuit debuted on 30 October 2009 with the final race of the FIA Formula One World Championship - the inaugural Formula 1™ Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - to a capacity crowd of around 50,000. Year round, Yas Marina Circuit hosts an extensive programme of leading international and national motorsport racing series as well as major entertainment events and corporate activities. Supplementary facilities include the Yas Drag Racing Centre, the Yas Racing School and the Yas Kartzone.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

New Audi A7 arrives in the UAE

Abu Dhabi/Dubai, March 21, 2011 – Ali & Sons Co LLC and Al Nabooda Automobiles, the authorized dealers of Audi in the UAE, announce the official launch of the new Audi A7 to the Emirates. Customers have the possibility of viewing Audi’s latest model on a specially designed exhibition area at Dubai Mall and Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi.
The new Audi A7 is a five-door luxury-class coupe with a unique combination of prestige, sportiness and functionality which blends together the benefits of a saloon, a coupe and a station wagon. On the interior Audi again gives proof of its leading role in automotive design. Even the tiniest details and the use of high-grade new materials document the craftsmanship level of care with which Audi builds its cars. The long rear hatch opens high to reveal a luggage compartment that is very easy to load and offers excellent functionality at 535-liter capacity.
The A7 offers a new level of technical intelligence with logical, self-explanatory ergonomics. The optimized MMI operating system with navigation plus and touchpad input comes standard. Among the optional equipment is the adaptive cruise control with stop & go function, that combined with the Audi pre sense safety system can reduce the severity of accidents and their consequences, the new head-up display, Audi active lane assist and the new park assist system, which relieves the driver of the chore of steering when parallel parking.
The settings of the new Audi A7 have been specially developed for the Middle East, particularly with regards to the climate conditions. The extensive standard equipment includes the four-zone automatic air conditioning, electrically adjustable front seats with memory function for driver seat, a multifunction leather steering wheel with shift paddles, DVD changer and Bluetooth mobile phone interface, heat insulated windows and a sunscreen for the rear window, glass sunroof, electric boot lid and key-less go, 18 inch alloy wheels, the parking system plus with rearview camera as well as Audi pre sense basic and a 5 years service package.

Audi offers the A7 with a 300 hp 3.0 TFSI engine an S tronic transmission and the latest generation quattro permanent all-wheel drive system as a standard. Its efficiency sets new standards in the vehicle class and features a recuperation system and thermal management as a standard.
Jeff Mannering, Managing Director of Audi Middle East, commented on the importance of the new model “The Audi A7 is a completely new concept. It is not only a design icon, but sets a high standard for performance and handling as well. We expect the A7 to contribute well to C segment sales in the UAE.”
The new Audi A7 is available as of now starting from AED 263,000.
Design
Audi is once again breaking new ground in design with the A7, whose lines convey aesthetic athleticism and elegance on a grand scale. The five-door coupe measures 4.97 meters in length and 1.91 meters in width, but only 1.42 meters in height. Its long engine hood, the sportily flowing C-pillars and the sharply dropping rear create a dynamic overall impression.
The A7 is an Audi in new top form. Its low, dynamically drawn roofline lends it the character of a coupe. The design presents the aesthetics of modern technology in every detail – in the sharp, precise stroke of the lines, for instance, or in the athletically taut surfaces. Up front, optional LED headlights accentuate the distinctive expression. They use light-emitting diodes to provide all functions and consume little energy. LED tail lights are standard.
The sinewy sportiness of the exterior carries over into the interior of the A7, where Audi again gives proof of its leading role in automotive design. The salient element is the “wrap-around” – a horizontal line encircling the driver and the front-seat passenger.
The arc extends from the driver’s side across the instrument panel to the passenger’s door. The instrument panel has a wave-shaped application strip and generates significant tension.
In the interior, even the tiniest details document the care with which Audi builds its cars. The quality of the workmanship is on a craftsman’s level. High-grade new materials such as layered wood veneers are a treat for the senses, and an optional ambient lighting system adds highlights to the interior. The front seats are available with optional ventilation and massage functions.
The five-door coupe from Audi combines supreme long-distance comfort with a sporty character. The interior noise level is very low even at high speeds, with the engine providing subtle acoustic feedback as their power unfolds. Behind the excellent acoustics are new structural design methods, the bundled use of high-end materials such as microfiber fleeces, and the systematic conceptual design of multifunction parts, such as acoustically active wheel well shells and underbody panels.
Cultivated atmosphere: excellent body characteristics
The cultivated atmosphere is due in part to the excellent vibrational comfort. This is the result of painstakingly tuning all components, systematic hydraulic damping in the axle and drivetrain bearings, and the extremely stiff body. Comprised primarily of aluminum and high-tech steels, it is exceptionally lightweight and very safe. The long rear hatch opens high to reveal a luggage compartment that is very easy to load and offers excellent functionality. Its ample standard 535-liter capacity swells to 1,390 liters with the rear seat rests folded down.
The A7 offers a new level of technical intelligence with logical, self-explanatory ergonomics. The optimized MMI operating system comes standard; among the optional equipment is a new head-up display that projects the most important information on the windshield. The MMI touch operating system combines a hard drive navigation system with the groundbreaking convenience of touchpad input. The driver can use the touchpad to perform numerous functions conveniently and intuitively, such as using his or her finger to write the letters of the destination or the digits of the telephone number.
Part of the fine range of hi-fi choices are the Bose sound system and the Advanced Sound System from Bang & Olufsen, which features 1,300 watts of power and 15 speakers.
The adaptive cruise control with stop & go function recognizes complex scenarios and combined with the Audi pre sense safety system can reduce the severity of accidents and their consequences. The Audi active lane assist, which will be available later on, helps the driver to keep the A7 firmly on course, and the new park assist system relieves the driver of the chore of steering when parallel parking.
Cultivated power: the V6 engine
Audi offers the A7 with a 300 hp 3.0 TFSI engine. Its efficiency sets new standards in the vehicle class and features a recuperation system and thermal management as a standard.
The sporty seven-speed S tronic sends engine power to all four wheels. The quattro permanent all-wheel drive system is state of the art. Featuring a crown-gear center differential and torque vectoring, it is particularly flexible and dynamic. The optional sport differential actively distributes the power between the rear wheels.
The chassis, too, combines sporty precision with luxurious comfort. The Audi

A7 rolls on large wheels measuring from 18 to 20 inches in diameter. Its links are made of aluminum; the newly developed power steering features a highly efficient electromechanical drive. The Audi drive select dynamics system is standard and can be supplemented by the optional adaptive air suspension with controlled damping. The dynamic steering system, which varies its steering ratio according to the speed being driven, will follow somewhat later.