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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
 Yep, you heard me. I used "Civic Hybrid" and "Race Car" in the same sentence. British firm Oaktec has decided to see if the granny-spec Civic has any potential as a racecar and has contracted performance car specialists Lotus Engineering to help transform the humble Honda hybrid into a fire-breathing, electron-guzzling motorsports monster. Lotus has decided to keep the Civic's 1.3-litre petrol motor, CVT gearbox and hybrid drive system largely intact, however electricity generation and...
28/09/2008
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
 The Lancer Sportback Ralliart and it's regular, un-Ralliarted brother are still a week away from their official debut at the Paris Motor Show, however that hasn't stopped Mitsubishi from unleashing a slew of images of the attractive and sprightly 5-door ahead of the launch. And thank god they did. Honestly, prior to today I was adamant that if it came down to a battle between the Evolution X and the WRX STI to determine who would occupy a space in my fantasy garage, I would have declared the...
26/09/2008
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
 According to Automotive News, times are getting tough for Toyota's prestige arm Lexus. Slowing SUV sales, economic instability and an aging model line-up have reportedly spurred the manufacturer to put both the LF-A and the rumoured GS-F performance sedan on hold until conditions stabilise. The LF-A is also rumoured to be in trouble for not being able to meet Lexus's lofty expectations for the 373kW uber-coupe. Lexus wants it to be the fastest production coupe around the Nurburgring...
12/08/2008
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
 The fast thinking folk at Automobile magazine managed to snap off a shot of the LF-A's engine bay at the Nurburgring 24-hour enduro, which was held over the weekend. This is the first time the LF-A's V10 has been seen in public and while just looking at it is not quite as thrilling as hearing it in action, we can still deduce a thing or two from the appearance of this engine bay.Firstly, it appears that most, if not all, of the engine's mass is located behind the front axle centerline. While...
26/05/2008
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
 This video perfectly illustrates how having a RWD car can make even the most mundane driving tasks fun. Video after the jump.Have a good weekend, folks.
24/05/2008
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
 Lexus have officially announced their intention to enter the LF-A in the upcoming ADAC Zurich 24 hour race, to be held at the Nurburgring in May. The race will apparently serve as a testing ground for the LF-A - which has yet to enter production - and will challenge every mechanical system aboard the car to the extreme. Lexus know that the hype that's built up around the LF-A during its protracted development has raised expectations of what this car can deliver in terms of outright performance,...
21/04/2008
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
 Cripes. The LF-A is still stuck in the quagmire that has become its development and has a release date that's still in the distant future, yet Lexus are already hitting the track with what appears to be a prototype racing version of the prototype road-going version. The be-winged coupe was spotted around the Nurburgring (where else) sporting a host of rather serious external changes, none of which would presumably be suitable for road use. The rear wing is a full-width design, with tall...
17/04/2008
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
  And you thought the LF-A Concept couldn't get any sexier. Shame on you.
These days, it seems almost mandatory for every supercar maker to have a topless variant somewhere in its lineup.  Lamborghini has its Spyder and Roadster versions of the Gallardo and Murcielago, Ferrari has the F430 Spider, Porsche has the Carrera GT and now Lexus has the LF-A Roadster Concept. Of course, being a concept, the Roadster isn't exactly in production yet, but if the initial response to Lexus' first drop-top since the hideous SC430 is anything to go by, then it shouldn't be too long before we see a convertible version of the LF-A become available.
Lexus' press release (below) also provides the greatest insight into the LF-A's underpinnings to date. According to Lexus, the LF-A Roadster is built upon an aluminium/carbon composite body and features a 5-litre V10 mounted behind the front axle line. The V10, which allegedly pushes out in excess of 373kW, is connected to a rear-mounted sequential manual transaxle by a Corvette-style torque tube. The whole mechanical combo is said to be good for a top speed of over 322kph. By the way, those oft-speculated about rear vents? They're there to allow the two rear-mounted radiators to function, as are the vents just above the rear wheel well.
The LF-A Roadster Concept runs a staggered wheel/tyre setup, with 265/35R20s on the front, while the rear wheels feature massive 305/30R20. Huge tyres suggest huge performance, and it's looking to be a sure thing that the LF-A is going to upset the European supercar establishment once it hits the showrooms. Particularly if the rumours about its record-breaking Nurburgring lap turn out to be true.
January 13, 2008 - Detroit, MI - The engineers and designers at Lexus continue to use their groundbreaking LF-A premium sports car concept as a medium for expressing their ideas about what a high-performance sporting vehicle not only can be, but should be. In this latest expression of the LF-A, they have removed the car's top to create a high-performance roadster.
The LF-A Roadster is based on the sturdy yet lightweight carbon-fiber and aluminum body used for the LF-A coupe, which helps maintain the structure's strength and rigidity even without a top.
Like its coupe counterpart, the LF-A Roadster is powered by a high-revving V10 engine that approaches 5.0 liters in displacement. The V10, capable of more than 500 horsepower and test-track speeds greater than 200 mph, is mounted in front of the passenger compartment but behind the front-axle centerline in what the LF-A's engineers refer to as a "front-mid" configuration.
The engine is connected via a torque tube and propeller shaft to a transaxle that is controlled by paddle shifters. The torque tube is a structural member that adds rigidity to the drivetrain and chassis while also reducing vibration.
Styling is rooted in the Lexus L-Finesse design philosophy, conferring the LF-A Roadster's front end with a compact, low-profile, aerodynamic shape. Like its coupe counterpart, the LF-A Roadster stands just 48 inches tall, but the Roadster configuration adds a speed adaptive rear wing.
The rear is marked by a pair of wrap-around, arrowhead-shaped taillights that bracket a pair of large grilles. These grilles vent the heated air from the car's two rear-mounted radiators into the LF-A Roadster's aerodynamic wake. The radiators are fed cool air by two large intake ducts mounted just above the rear wheel wells. This aft radiator positioning not only allowed the designers to keep the car's front profile low and tight but also aided the LF-A's chassis engineers in their search for optimal weight distribution.
Helping to provide balance and scale to the design, which features an overall length of 175.6 inches and a wheelbase of 102.6 inches, are high-performance tires on turbine-styled alloy wheels. The front tires are 265/35R20s, while the rears are 305/30R20s. Like the LF-A coupe, the brakes consist of 14.2-inch cross-drilled, vented discs up front, and 13.6-inch cross-drilled, vented discs at the rear. The front brake calipers are six-piston units and the rear calipers use four pistons each.
An "F" logo, located on each front fender of the Roadster, indicates the vehicle's status as a part of the new "F" marque. The name is derived from the original "F" designation for the first Lexus LS prototype. That vehicle was internally coded "Circle-F," with the "F" standing for "flagship." The Circle-F designation further evolved into the code name Flagship One, or F1, and the first F1 concept developed into Lexus' first vehicle, the LS. Since then, the "F" code has come to signify a special vehicle program within Lexus that falls outside the normal engineering and development process. In addition, Fuji Speedway is the IS F's home circuit, and the shape of the F-logo was inspired by many of the track's turns. The all-new Lexus IS F sport sedan is the first production vehicle to carry the F marque.
Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept Preliminary Specifications
Body Type: Two seat roadster
Powertrain
Type: Front-mid-engine, rear-mid-transaxle
Engine: V10 (under 5.0-liters)
Transmission: SMT (sequential manual transmission)
Horsepower: More than 500
Top Speed: More than 200 mph
Tire Size
Front: 265/35R20
Rear: 305/30R20
Dimensions (inches)
Overall Length: 175.6
Overall Width: 74.6
Overall Height: 48.0
Wheelbase: 102.6
Head over to The Passionate Pursuit for more pics.
[Source: Lexus]
[Images courtesy of Lexus]
14/01/2008
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
 While we've yet to see any official images of the highly-anticipated Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart, the vehicle above - snapped by a Mitsubishi employee (who obviously has no desire to remain employed by MMC) while awaiting transport to "a motorshow" - carries so many visual hints that it practically HAS to be the Lancer Ralliart.
Firstly, there's the heavily vented bonnet, which for all intents and purposes, looks to be exactly the same as that fitted to the Evolution X. In earlier media releases, Mitsubishi mentioned the Ralliart's bonnet would be aluminium, and hey, what better way to reduce costs than to use the aluminium bonnet that's already fitted to the Evo X?
It's not just the bonnet that makes the Lancer Ralliart really is the spitting image of the Evo. the front bumper looks very similar (albeit with smaller apertures) to that of the big-daddy Evolution. The wheels and ride height tell a different story, though, with smaller diameter rims and taller suspension indicating that this is a rung below the flagship Evo. A Ralliart symbol in the front grille is perhaps the strongest indicator that this is Mitsubishi's new budget performance car.
We get the feeling we'll be finding out whether this is the real deal pretty soon.
[Source: EvolutionM, via Carscoop]
[Image courtesy of Evolutionm]
10/01/2008
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
22/12/2007
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
 The automotive aftermarket Mecca that is the SEMA show was held in the gaudiness capital Las Vegas just recently, and there was plenty to keep Japanese car fans happy. We reported earlier that 5 Axis Designs were bringing a modified IS-F to the party, but that turned out to be just another show car with a fancy bodykit. No need to fret though, as it turned out that Lexus themselves has all your IS performance needs covered.
Lexus released their F-Sport performance parts lineup at SEMA, with the F-Sport package focussing on handling improvements rather than power increases.
All the typical bolt-ons are there: Sway bars, springs, shock absorbers, brakes, clutches, low-restriction air-intakes and exhausts help you get more out of your IS 250/350, but most interesting was the full carbon-ceramic brake kit for the IS-F that was also on display. It looks like a serious piece of kit, however given past experience with other carbon-ceramic brakes it'll probably be of more use to track enthusiasts than Sunday-drivers.
All of the parts have been developed with the co-operation of TRD, so you can be assured that these parts are designed to go the distance. There's also a few cosmetic upgrades available too, such as a sportier bodykit, 19-inch rims, spoiler and a carbon-fibre engine cover, all of which can be seen at The Passionate Pursuit's gallery.
[Source: The Passionate Pursuit]
[Photo courtesy of Lexus]
04/11/2007
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
26/10/2007
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
 Well, it seems that almost every single online automotive publication has decided to simultaneously publish their test drives and driving impressions of Lexus' new super-sedan, the IS-F, with the car generating some pretty mixed reviews.
Styling was a bit of a fizzer, according to many writers. The pumped guards and swathes of carbon-fibre interior trim was described as "gimmicky" and like "an aftermarket special". The stacked oval exhaust tips were also exposed by Edmunds to be nothing more than decoration and were not directly connected to any exhaust plumbing whatsoever.
While styling was a sore point for many, all seemed to be forgiven once the 2UR-GSE 5-litre V8 was fired up. Power was described as being plentiful, while the 8-speed paddle-shifted automatic transmission also earned praise for its smooth and quick shifts. Car And Driver did have complaints about gearing, though, saying that the V8 seemed to hit its head on the 6800rpm redline too frequently, requiring much use of the paddleshifters to constantly swap through the gears. We think it's just a good excuse to play around with the gearbox more often, but perhaps a taller final drive ratio would allow the IS-F to really stretch its legs.
Ride quality was a dividing topic amongst most reviewers, as those who ventured onto a bona-fide racetrack (such as Auto Express, who actually sampled the IS-F at Fuji speedway) found it to be delightful, while those who conducted road testing found the ride to be too harsh and overly-stiff. Not all of them, mind you, just most of them.
They're all a good read, so check out Auto Express, Car And Driver, Inside Line, and Motor Trend to find out what they thought of the Lexus IS-F.
[Source: Auto Express, Car And Driver, Inside Line, Motor Trend]
[Photo courtesy of Inside Line]
25/10/2007
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
 Lexus has formally announced that the LF-A supercar concept will be on the stands at the Tokyo Motor Show on October 24.
Despite numerous sightings at the Nurburgring, there has been a heavy veil of secrecy surrounding what the car will look like once it goes on sale. While the overall shape is similar to the LF-A concept above, Lexus has shrouded their development prototypes in camouflage on every outing, so it's hard to put a finger on what the finer details of the LF-A will look like.
Lexus confirms that the engine will be a "high performance V10", however capacity is only listed as being "up to 5 litres". Lexus does mention that the LF-A will feature a lightweight body made from carbon fibre reinforced plastic like a genuine supercar. The LF-A will be 4460mm long, 1895 wide, 1220mm tall and have a wheelbase of 2605mm, however the details end there. Presumably more information will come to light once the show gets under way.
Lexus didn't even put up a picture to accompany the LF-A announcement on their press release, so JPCN is guessing that this time around the show car will look slightly different to the previous LF-A concepts.
Also interesting to note is the fact that Lexus are still referring to this car as the LF-A. Two months ago we reported that Lexus' supercar would be sold as the LF-1 sometime next year, but the veracity of this report may now be in question, as Lexus is still clinging onto the old name and still refers to the LF-A as a concept. We'll see soon enough.
[Source: Lexus]
[Photo courtesy of Lexus]
10/10/2007
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
 Hot off the electronic presses is Lexus' hype generator mini-site for the upcoming IS-F. Well, perhaps "mini" is not quite the word to describe it...
There is an abundance of material here, and not just the usual pretty pictures mashed together with a bit of text and some flash animations either. There are about 5 videos along with a short overview of the history behind the IS-F, as well as some details of what to expect when the model goes on sale early next year. There's a lot to occupy yourself with, so if you've got a hankering to waste some time Lexus-style, then head over to the IS-F mini-site.
[Source: Lexus]
[Photo courtesy of Lexus]
01/10/2007
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Partner- und Mitglieder-Blogs/jpcnews.blogspot.com
 According to a report in Automotive News, what we've been calling the LF-A will actually be released as the LF-1 early-to-mid next year. The new name is apparently an homage to Toyota's involvement in Formula 1 and the release date is said to coincide with Toyota's 70th birthday celebrations. According to AN, The LF-1 will definitely feature a 500hp V10 coupled to an all-wheel-drive drivetrain. As for other cars in the Lexus stable, the IS range will be expanded with the addition of a folding hardtop coupe, while the SC will undergo a major cosmetic redesign (thank god) as well as a powerplant change to a 4.6-litre V8. For details of what's in store for Lexus' less sporting models, visit eGMCarTech (Automotive News requires a subscription).
[Source: Automotive News, via eGMCarTech]
[Photo courtesy of Lexus]
21/08/2007
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Motorkultur Magazin 
