Hot News: Rolls-Royce Ghost Hybrid Confirmed

Rolls-Royce is working on a hybrid version of its upcoming luxury saloon, the Ghost.

The Rolls-Royce Ghost hybrid will share the BMW ActiveHybrid 7's green technology. The F01 7-series and the Ghost share the same standard rear-wheel drive platform, so the engineering on the Ghost hybrid has been fairly straightforward.

The Ghost’s 6.2-litre V12 563bhp, 575lb ft petrol engine will be assisted by an electric motor in a mild hybrid application, with no electric only propulsion possible. An automatic start-stop system also comes into play to further reduce fuel consumption.

The car’s 20kW/155lb ft electric motor will be sandwiched into the car’s eight-speed ZF-engineered automatic transmission. Kinetic energy created during overrun and braking will be collected and stored in a 0.6kW/h lithium-ion battery pack mounted in the boot.

There will be no traditional alternator in the Ghost hybrid, with the engine being started via a 20kW electric motor, which should provide a smoother and quieter start-up.

Fuel consumption in the hybrid model should be around 15 per cent better than the standard model, while the extra torque and power provided by the additional battery should provide a subtle improvement to overall performance.

Thanks to: Autocar

Heidi Klum and Five New Angels at Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

I am so excited with the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on November 19, 2009. With just a few weeks before the actual fashion event, Victoria's Secret announced that Heidi Klum will host the event.

Here's more! Since Heidi Klum, Karolina Kurkova and Adriana Lima will not be strutting on the runway, Victoria's Secret summoned five models that will be part of the Angels. Chanel Iman, Emanuela de Paula, Lindsay Ellingson, Candice Swanepoel and Rosie Huntingon-Whiteley will flaunt their new wings on the upcoming fashion show. The winner of the nationwide search for the next angel will also join the rank.

Kate Hudson Dumps Her Girl-Next-Door Image for Elle UK December 2009

You'll be surprised with the new look of Kate Hudson! The actress got rid of her girl-next-door image for a sexy one in the December 2009 Issue of Elle UK. In this issue, Kate Hudson revealed some of her secrets about her new body, new man and new movie.

Checkout Kate Hudson's images for Elle UK December 2009 Issue:



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Hot News: Toyota Returns to Profit

Toyota has unexpectedly returned to profit for the first time in nine months, just a day after announcing it would be pulling out of Formula One.

The Japanese firm posted a 21.8 billion yen (£145 million) profit for the second quarter of the current financial year, which ended three consecutive quarterly losses.

In the last financial year, Toyota recorded the worst financial loss in its history and had originally forecast a 450bn (£3bn) yen loss this year. But on posting its current quarter results, Toyota said it now expects to see a loss of 200bn yen (£1.3bn).

The firm has also revised its targets for new car sales this year by 6.5 per cent, to 7.03m units.

Toyota pulled out of Formula One yesterday, citing financial reasons. CEO Akio Toyoda said the firm could no longer commit the necessary funding to be able to compete in the sport and was focused on developing exciting road cars instead.

Thanks to: Autocar

Hot News: Magna Rules Out Volvo Bid

Magna has ruled out making a bid to buy Volvo from Ford after its takeover of Opel/Vauxhall collapsed.

The Canadian parts firm had long been expected to complete a deal to but the European firm from General Motors, but GM yesterday decided to pull out of the deal and go it alone with Opel instead.

Don Walker, Magna's co-chief executive officer, said the firm would not be looking to takeover any other manufacturers, including Volvo, and would instead be looking to acquire other auto parts businesses.

“It's not in our plans,” said Walker, referring to the likelihood of Magna taking over another manufacturer. “We will be focusing on the parts business.”

Speaking at a press briefing at the Chrysler-Fiat press conference yesterday, Walker said he was neither surprised nor disappointed with GM’s decision, although he acknowledged it had wasted lots of time and money on the failed takeover.

“This was a situation where we could help our biggest customer [GM],” said Walker. “They saw that now it was better to hold on to it.”

He also said Magna could emerge stronger from the situation, as it has saved cash which can be invested into other business interests.

“We see a lot of opportunities out there during the next few years,” he said, adding that the company still had a strong balance sheet despite keeping its plants operating in the industry downturn.

Thanks to: Autocar

Hot News: Next Mazda MX-5 to be Lightweight

The next Mazda MX-5 will be smaller and lighter than the current car in an attempt to replicate the spirit of the original, according to Mazda insiders.

The firm’s R&D team is working on making the new car as light and compact as the first MX-5, which was launched 20 years ago. A Mazda source described the current car as “just too heavy”; with a 2.0-litre engine its kerb weight is 1098kg, compared with the original’s 970kg.

So engineers are targeting a kerb weight of 1000kg. That would give the new car a figure similar to that of the recent 980kg MX-5 Superlight concept, the first of a series of design studies that will define the direction Mazda will take with the new car.

Much of this weight loss will be achieved through a smaller and lighter engine, likely to copy the original’s 1.6-litre capacity. “We are testing both 1.6 and 1.8-litre engines, which undercut our current 2.0-litre unit but deliver the same 160-170bhp power range,” said our source.

The dimensions of the car’s platform and wheelbase will stay much the same, but Mazda is known to be looking at reducing the front and rear overhangs.

Lightweight construction techniques will also be employed. Mazda is experimenting with using new steel construction methods that enable less metal to be used in its bodyshells. Mazda is also employing the chief engineer of the first MX-5, Takao Kijima, as a special advisor for the new car.

The new MX-5 is due to be unveiled in 2011, possibly at the next Tokyo motor show. Sources suggest that the price could come down, too, to reflect the new

MX-5’s more simple appeal.

Thanks to: Autocar

New Car: 2011 BMW M3 GTS

TAKE a look at the most extreme M3 ever! This tangerine dream is the GTS – a hardcore track-inspired flagship that takes BMW's popular coupe into new territory with an uprated V8 engine, a roll cage and a price tag in excess of £100,000.

Like Porsche's 911 GT3 RS, it's aimed at owners who like to occasionally take their car to racing circuits. And with much of the testing of the newcomer done at the famous Nurburgring – our spy photographers caught a prototype there last month – the GTS will certainly be at home on the track.

Under the bonnet lies a new 4.4-litre V8, which is based on the 4.0-litre unit found in the standard car. Power goes up by 36bhp to 450bhp, while the six-speed manual transmission is swapped for the twin clutch seven-speed M-DCT system, which boasts tweaked shifts.

In addition, the chassis gets a whole host of upgrades, including new springs and dampers (the rear axle support is bolted into place for extra rigidity too) while new 19-inch alloys get 255/35 front and 285/30 rear tyres. Aerodynamics are enhanced by a huge rear wing that produces actual downforce, along with a larger front splitter. Both are adjustable.

Weight saving measures go far beyond the standard car's carried-over carbon fibre roof too, and include lightweight racing seats, a new titanium exhaust, the removal of the car's air conditioning system and the rear seats. In their place is a roll cage (for added body stiffness and safety on the track), along with a fire extinguisher.

There's no word on whether the GTS will be available in right-hand drive, but it's unlikely as the car is only being made to order in Germany, where it commands a price tag of 115,000 euros. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express