Attendance down at Frankfurt motor show
While waning attendance at the Australian motor shows may have forced Sydney and Melbourne to alternate hosting duties each year, it appears even the headlining Frankfurt motor show is suffering similar decline according to official numbers released today.
Around 850,000 people attended the 10-day exhibition, down some 150,000 on 2007 which...
MINI Coupe Concept at Frankfurt Motor Show
Believe it or not, the iconic MINI has been around for 50 years, and things have never looked better for the brand, if their presence at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show is any indication.
Here’s a number to think about, more than 1.5 million new generation MINI’s have been produced since production got under way in 2001. That...
Hyundai i30 CRDi Sport at Frankfurt Motor Show
With all the action on Hyundai’s stand this year, I very nearly walked past what looked like a nice clean, but stock i30 CRDi, until I noticed a subtle “Sport” badge on the tailgate.
On closer inspection I also noticed the stylish dual exhaust tips, rear diffuser and superb carbon look, sports wheels. The car also had a lowe...
Hyundai ix-Metro at Frankfurt Motor Show
If you like Sci-Fi movies such as Star Trek and I, Robot and you’re a young European urbanite, then here’s a car for you.
Hyundai call it, the ix-Metro and Rogelio J. Flores, Chief designer on the project, would have you believe that this is something …out of this world” and I reckon he’s spot on.
Inspired by NASA a...
The main novelty of the R10 is its engine: a TDI turbodiesel engine, running on Shell V-Power Diesel. It is a 5.5 L (335.6 ci) all-aluminium bi-turbo 90° V12, with common rail direct injection of more than 1600 bar (23,206 psi). Its output should be 485 kW (650 hp) (regulated) and 1100 N·m (811 ft·lbf) of torque, and its usable power band is between 3000 and 5000 rpm. Its benefits are a broad range of usable power, high torque and economy.
Two Garrett TR3076R turbochargers limited by the regulations to 2.94 bar (42.64 psi) absolute breathe through two 39.9 mm intake air restrictors. It uses the latest Bosch Motronic (MS14) management, provided by Bosch Motorsport, 1600 bar piezo injectors, and makes a low noise for a race car. It can be difficult to hear the R10 on a track when other cars are present because of the much lower noise level.
The weight of this engine is a problem for Audi. The latest Audi TDI 3.0 L V6 (183 ci) weighs 220 kg (485 lb) and the 4.2 L V8 255 kg (256.2 ci, 562 lb) but their blocks are made of CGI iron. The V12 is rumoured to weigh upwards of 200 kg;[6] Audi engineers admit that the weight per cylinder is the same as the precededing 3.6-litre FSI V8 of the Audi R8.[7] The wheelbase has been increased over the R8 to 2980 mm to account for this. This is unfavorable against the 130 kg (287 lb) of a concurrent Judd V10, and even the 180 kg of the Ricardo turbodiesel prototype based on it.
The restrictor is larger than necessary, the car is rumoured to produce 700 hp in qualification, limited by the fuel combustion quality. This value couldn’t be maintained in race because it could clog the particulate filter. The peak pressure in the cylinder is probably around about 200 bar, compared with 85 bar for an atmospheric petrol engine.