Saturday, February 7, 2009
Inside the McLaren Factory
Supercars come from super places. This video from the McLaren Technology Center where the Mercedes McLaren SLR is made proves it. The footage was taken back in 2005, so don’t try and spot any Stirling Moss editions in production.
$2M DiMora Natalia SLS 2 to get - wait for it - world's first MP3-enabled horn
Spend two million bucks on a car, and you'll get to have whatever the hell you want as a horn tone. Alfred DiMora is back, adding more splashy aftermarket items to the list of standard equipment on his Natalia
The Horntones system has 256MB of flash memory that can be loaded up with MP3 files. Once your files are in the Horntones system, there's a 150-watt speaker to delight everyone within a quarter mile by blaring your audio with a 110dB sound pressure level. DiMora contends that the Horntones rig is the most significant development in car horns in the last 100 years. We disagree – after all, the Dukes of Hazzard General Lee had that bitchin' setup that played Dixie.
[Source: DiMora Motorcars]
Beyond Honking: Horntones Give Drivers Sound Choices in $2 Million Natalia SLS 2
DiMora Motorcar is first OEM to include downloadable sound selection capability.
San Clemente, CA (PRWEB) February 5, 2009 -- DiMora Motorcar announced today that Horntones Corporation mobile horn systems will be factory equipment on all V16 Natalia SLS 2 sport luxury sedans.
FX-550, Horntones' patented system, is the world's first and only MP3-enabled vehicle horn. It features 256MB of internal flash memory, 150 watts (RMS) of audio amplification, and a weatherproof, ruggedized, compression-driver speaker. The FX-550 can deliver hundreds of different sounds at an impressive 110db sound pressure. The Horntones system won four SEMA 2007 Global Media Awards for "Best New Product". The FX-550 is the ultimate in vehicle horn personalization, and can be used in a variety of applications, such as standard horn sounds, passenger pick-up signaling, personal safety alerts, etc.
We are excited that DiMora Motorcar is setting the standard by becoming the first automotive original equipment manufacturer to incorporate Horntones technology in every vehicle. Working with Alfred DiMora and his team has been a pleasure. Their plans for the Natalia SLS 2 are truly visionary. We are thrilled to be a part of the design!
The Horntones system is probably the most radical change in car horns in the past century. It allows the driver to communicate something more than just a general alert.
We are pleased to have Horntones as a creative Technology Partner. This is another example of American innovation being showcased on the Natalia SLS 2.
"We are excited that DiMora Motorcar is setting the standard by becoming the first automotive original equipment manufacturer to incorporate Horntones technology in every vehicle," said Horntones President Mike T. Kosco. "Working with Alfred DiMora and his team has been a pleasure. Their plans for the Natalia SLS 2 are truly visionary. We are thrilled to be a part of the design!"
The Horntones system will be customized and integrated into the ergonomic and aesthetic design of the Natalia SLS 2.
"The Horntones system is probably the most radical change in car horns in the past century. It allows the driver to communicate something more than just a general alert," said DiMora Motorcar Founder Alfred DiMora. "We are pleased to have Horntones as a creative Technology Partner. This is another example of American innovation being showcased on the Natalia SLS 2."
About Horntones
Based in San Clemente, California, Horntones Corporation provides innovative, state-of-the-art mobile audio products. The company has developed, as its flagship product, the Horntones FX-550, the first MP3-enabled vehicle horn. For more information, please visit www.horntones.com.
Toyota loses top credit rating
Moody's Investor Services has lowered its credit rating for Toyota from the top-level Aaa to Aa1 and given it a "negative" outlook. Toyota had maintained Aaa status since 2003. The automaker, recently crowned as the largest in the world, is currently dealing with what must be the worst crisis that the Japanese company has ever faced since its inception in 1937. In what is decidedly uncharted territory at Toyota, the automaker saw its global sales fall by 4% last year and it is widely expected to post its first-ever loss – a whopping 150 billion yen ($1.65 billion) – over the full year ending in March. The worst bit of news, though, is that there's no light at the end of the tunnel. Sales figures are not expected to improve in the coming months, which could very well lead to another loss next year according to industry experts.
[Source: Bloomberg]
2010 Lexus RX350 starting at $36,800
For those of you aching to get behind the wheel of the 2010 Lexus RX350, your time has almost arrived. The new luxury crossover from Lexus will hit dealerships later this month, with a base MSRP of $36,800 for the front-wheel-drive model and $38,200 for the all-wheel-drive variant (neither price includes the $825 destination charge).
The RX350 comes packing a revised 3.5-liter V6 sending 275 hp and 256 lb-ft of torque to a new six-speed automatic transmission. The AWD version features an Active Torque Control system that splits power anywhere between 100:0 to 50:50, front to rear, depending on the conditions.
For 2010, the RX350 is equipped with ten standard airbags, but Intelligent Adaptive front headlamps, Pre-Collision System and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control are all optional.
Chrysler temporarily closing four plants in February
The Detroit Free Press is reporting the Chrysler LLC will close four of its assembly plants from February 9-13 due to "economic conditions". The four plants to be idled are in Brampton, Ontario; Sterling Heights, MI.; Belvidere, IL and Detroit. The Brampton plant builds the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger, while Sterling Heights Assembly handles the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring. The plant in Belvidere builds the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and Patriot, and the Detroit plant builds just the Viper. These four, along with the rest of Chrysler's assembly plants, were also idled from December 19th through January 19th during an extended shut down period over the holiday break. Apparently they weren't shut down long enough, as falling sales as rising inventory are still hurting the company. Last month, Chrysler LLC sales were down 54.8% by volume compared to January 2008. More temporary plant closings would not be surprising, as Chrysler reportedly reviews its production schedule on a weekly basis.
[Source: Detroit Free Press]
Audi Q5 hits America carrying $37,200 MSRP
Audi has finally announced U.S. pricing for its new Q5 mid-sized crossover. For America, there is currently only one powertrain combination available, a 3.2-liter FSI V6 with quattro all-wheel drive, and that comes with a starting price of $37,200.
Just as Starbucks calls a small coffee "Tall", Audi's entry level Q5 is labeled as Premium. From there, you can go to Premium Plus specification or Prestige at $41,500 and a lofty $48,200 respectively. Add the $825 delivery charge, taxes, and other ancillary fees, and it should be easy to go well north of 50 grand.
The Q5 comes standard with Audi's third generation MMI system that adds three-dimensional rendering to the nav display, as well as a 4,400-pound towing capacity. Q5s are expected to start arriving at dealers next week and the vehicle officially goes on sale in March
[Source: Audi]
New Porsche Museum in Stuttgart
The new monochromatic steel structure at Porscheplatz is designed to be a symbolic icon of the "Porsche Idea" presented, in all its complexity, inside. More than three decades after the original Porsche Museum opened in Stuttgart, Germany, the family-owned automaker invested more than $130 million in an all-new facility to present the storied history of the marque. The new museum is designed to welcome more than 200,000 visitors each year. In addition to the 80 historic vehicles on rolling display, the inspiring building houses a workshop for restoration, historical archives and generous conference areas. We were invited to a special preview of the new Porsche Museum just days before the doors officially opened last week.
With more than 30 years of engineering expertise already under his belt, Ferdinand Porsche opened his own office for "engineering and consultation on engine and vehicle design" in Stuttgart, Germany, on April 25, 1931. The history of Porsche, the automaker, had officially started. Over the next four decades, the company historically launched as "Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche KG" would engineer, manufacture and successfully race some of the most influential vehicles in automotive history.
The first Porsche Museum opened its doors in 1976. Located in Zuffenhausen, a district of Stuttgart, the original museum was small and intimate. It was only large enough for about 20 exhibits, although there were literally hundreds of near-pristine cars in storage out of the public's eye. Nearly five years ago, Porsche set out to build an all-new museum. The new museum would be significantly larger than the original, and it would include an operating workshop, historical archive center open to the public, conference center, coffee bar, museum shop and upscale restaurant. More than 170 architects from all over Europe applied for the project. In 2005, the bid was won by Delugan Meissl Associated Architects based in Vienna, Austria. Construction started in October of 2005, and was completed in December of 2008.
Delugan Meissl's winning architecture features a spectacular "floating" museum supported on several massive pylons. Much more impressive (and imposing) in person, the angular exterior of the museum is finished in monochromatic white, offset by panels of polished stainless steel and glazed glass. Underneath the façade is a sophisticated three-dimensional lattice framework engineered from high-strength steel and reinforced pre-stressed concrete. Together, they bear the weight of the 35,000-ton exhibition hall hovering above. Below ground level, and hidden from view, is the building's multi-story parking garage. Sitting prominently in the middle of Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen at Porscheplatz, the dramatic architecture is striking in a European city that traces its roots back more than 2,000 years.
Entering the museum, visitors are drawn in as they descend a sloping ramp from the street. The gaping monolith opening is more than 30-feet tall, with embedded illumination in the ground reflected by the polished stainless panels far above. It is impressive, and it sets the tone immediately and rather dramatically. Mirroring the exterior, the interior of the Porsche Museum adopts the same monochromatic appearance. According to the designers, many different types of vehicles, in all shapes, sizes, and colors, would be on display. To avoid unnecessary distraction, a near seamless stark appearance was a necessity. The floors are a crystal wth synthetic glass/stone mixture that is impervious to chemical staining, while the walls are finished with a bright white seamless synthetic acrylic polymer material (it looks and feels much like Dupont's solid surface Corian).
Paying the €8 admission fee (about $10), visitors are met by the coffee bar directly ahead, and the museum store off to the right. Enthusiasts will bypass both as their eyes are immediately drawn to the large glass walls in the middle of the first floor. Framed on the other side is the operating workshop, a place where Porsche restores and repairs both vehicle exhibits and cars owned by customers. Opposite the workshop is the escalator bank carrying guests nearly 100 feet into the upper part of the building, and the heart of the 53,800 square foot exhibition space.
The exhibition floor spirals around logically in a contiguous chronological path. The automaker has divided the displays into two groups: the history of Porsche prior to 1948 and the history of Porsche after 1948 (the first vehicle with a Porsche badge was a 356 Roadster built in 1948). All told, there are about 80 vehicles represented in the museum. As most all of the cars are in running condition, a fact verified by their ongoing participation in historic races worldwide, Porsche will be moving cars in and out of the displays as needed. It is a decision that will undoubtedly encourage repeat visits and has little effect on the overall presentation.
With the exception of the vehicles on raised platforms along the walls, nearly all of the cars are openly presented on the floor sans barriers or barricades. While one would expect the mostly all-white museum to bathe exhibits harshly, the overall illumination is soft. Each of the cars is spotlighted individually from overhead. This allows for excellent observation and scrutiny from nearly every angle (the pristine white floors encourage dropping to one knee to check out the suspension, brake and wheel details!). While all of the cars have been "restored" to working condition, this does not mean each is a sterile piece of untouchable art. Thankfully, it appears just the opposite. Compared to many museums with their mindless curators who find it necessary to erase history with a full ground-up restoration, Porsche has left most of its inventory with original race scars, paint chips, and blemishes. Get close enough, and you can even smell the oils and lubricants on the engines. It is an overall impression that reaffirms Porsche's passion for driving.
During our whirlwind tour, limited to just a couple hours, we crossed paths with some amazing machinery. These included the legendary Porsche Type 64, Porsche 356 America Roadster, and the Porsche 356 B 2000 GS Carrera GT (noted for an all-synchromesh gearbox in 1960). We stumbled over the Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7, and the 1200-hp turbocharged Porsche 917/30 (the most powerful Porsche of all time). The turbocharged street models are on chronological display, too. Sitting on floor-level turntables, the 930, 964 Turbo, 993 Twin-Turbo, 996 Twin-Turbo, and the current 997 Twin-Turbo rotate silently in unison opposite the museum's upper-floor steakhouse.
Each visitor will undoubtedly pick out their favorite, whether it is the street-legal Porsche 959, Porsche 959 (actually type 961) Paris-Dakar, Martini racing Porsche 935, or the sleek 911 GT1. Some of the more impressive concepts include the Porsche "T7" Type 754 (the 911's predecessor), the Porsche Boxster Concept, and the early Porsche 924. If you are not current with your Porsche history (or the German language), placards and audible narration via headset help guests navigate the expansive space, and add credence to Porsche's extensive motorsports history. Plan a whole afternoon to take it in – there is plenty to absorb.
Porsche spent a reported €100 million (about $130 million) on the new facility. Their significant investment has delivered a world-class exhibition to serve as a central hub for vehicle restoration, an extensive historical archive, and a literal Mecca for Porschephiles. The automaker expects 200,000 visitors to follow our footsteps and walk the monochromatic halls of the Porsche Museum each year. The chronicled presentation is engaging and well worth the small price of admission--even if you aren't a flat-6 aficionado.
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