Road

2011 Lotus Elise has new lower emissions engine

This means that the Elise has the lowest CO2 for its performance level for any gasoline sportscar in the world.

Not only does this low emissions figure give a greener drive with less guilt but it also relates directly to fuel consumption with the new Elise turning in an impressive figure of 56.1 mpg (5.04 litres per 100 km) extra urban. This means that the Lotus Elise could travel a colossal 500 miles (800 km) on one tank of fuel – the equivalent of Paris to Marseille or London to Aberdeen.*

Fed up with the figures yet? Stay with us, there’s more.

These world leading emissions and economy figures are a direct result of Lotus’ commitment to its core values of performance through light weight and efficiency. The Elise weighs just 876 kg and to put this weight into perspective, a nameless convertible sportscar from Stuttgart (Germany) weighs in at 1335 kg.

Aerodynamics have been improved by 4% and a new super efficient, 1.6 litre 4 cylinder VVT-I engine has been installed which is 200 cc smaller than the engine in the outgoing Lotus Elise S and produces the same power. And the performance figures speak for themselves: 0-60 mp/h in 6.0 seconds and 0-100 km/h in 6.5 seconds!

Sales increase for BMW in the USA

It has been a good month for BMW in the USA as they record an increase in sales compared to the same month last year.

The BMW Group in the U.S.A (BMW and MINI combined) reported March sales of 21,670 vehicles, an increase of 2.6 percent from the 21,125 vehicles sold in the same month of 2009.  For the first quarter, the BMW Group also reported a total sales volume of 55,051 vehicles, up 7.4 percent compared to 51,244 vehicles sold in the first three months of last year.

BMW Brand Sales
Sales of BMW brand vehicles increased 3.1 percent in March for a total of 18,060 vehicles mainly driven by BMW’s 3 Series (9,413 units; +11.2%) and the Sports-Activity-Vehicles range consisting of the X3 (716 units; +58.1%), X5 (2,536 units: 26.7%) and X6 (363 units; +21.4%). January through March, BMW brand sales were up 8.4 percent to 46,323 vehicles compared to 42,731 vehicles sold in the same period of 2009.

Diesel-powered vehicles continued to show good acceptance. Combined sales of the two vehicles available in the US – the BMW 335d and X5 xDrive 35d – introduced at the beginning of 2009, increased more than fivefold to 991 units in March. With 2,154 units sold in the first quarter, the X5 Advanced Diesel remains the best selling premium diesel powered vehicle in the US.

“This month concludes a very positive first quarter for BMW as we are on track with our profitable growth targets,” said Jim O’Donnell, President of BMW of North America, LLC.  “In reality, we are anxiously awaiting the market introduction of our new 5 Series in June and while we manage the challenge of very little inventory of the current version until we get there, we are delighted with the performance of our other products picking up the pace.”

BMW Used Cars
In March, sales of BMW’s used vehicles (Including certified pre-owned vehicles) sold through BMW’s dealership network increased 26.5 percent to 15,938 vehicles. January through March, used vehicle sales were up 0.6 percent to 39,848 vehicles, again with over half of these buyers new to the BMW brand.

MINI Brand Sales
MINI USA’s sales volume remained stable at 3,610 cars, versus the 3,605 units reported in the same month a year ago.  Year-to-date, MINI USA also reported sales of 8,728 automobiles, an increase of 2.5 percent.

Rolls-Royce Ghost receives prestigious design award

The new Rolls-Royce Ghost has received the prestigious “red dot: best of the best” award for the very highest level of design.

The red dot award recognises unusually high quality and groundbreaking design. The Rolls‑Royce Ghost has a unique character expressed by an exclusive, unmistakable appearance whose design reinterprets the classic values of the brand in a modern style for the 21st century.

Speaking on the news of this prestigious award, Chief Designer Ian Cameron passed credit to his design team. “This is a tremendous accolade for the entire Rolls-Royce design team”, said Ian Cameron. “As a designer the challenge lies in translating ideas into a medium which others can see, touch and feel. We are very proud of what we have achieved with Ghost and are delighted to have been recognised with this very special award.”

Ghost’s flowing lines are dominated by its majestic ‘Yacht Line’ styling. Large, uninterrupted surfaces flow between finely sculpted horizontal lines that provide definition, highlighting the solid, luxurious and supreme character of the vehicle. Powerful shoulders and flanks draw in sharply as they flow from the rear wings to the tail lights. While incorporating classic Rolls-Royce design cues – the elevated prow, long bonnet, short front overhang, sharply raked A-pillar and elegant tail – Ghost exudes an informal aura. Contemporary touches include self-righting wheel centres and the Xenon headlamps that frame the latest evolution of the Rolls-Royce grille. Here the sides of the intake have been curved inwards and the vanes set back into the opening. “We wanted this to be less reminiscent of the traditional Parthenon style and more like a jet intake,” says Cameron, which, along with touches such as the optional chromed exhausts, hint at a more dynamic nature of the most powerful Rolls-Royce ever built.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D89c5-PyxKQ

The red dot award is one of the most important awards in the world for product design. It was first awarded in 1955 and recognises outstanding design work in a wide range of categories including not only automobiles, architecture, household and home electronics but also fashion, life science and medicine. Previous winners include the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé, which was acknowledged for outstanding design quality in 2008.

Ferrari auction raises $601,000 for Haiti Relief

Ferrari has raised $601,000 for relief efforts in Haiti by the CMMB (Catholic Medical Mission Board) and the William J. Clinton Foundation. At a gala event held last night, Ferrari, the world’s leading luxury brand, auctioned the first Ferrari 458 Italia to arrive in the United States for $530,000. Party was hosted by Piero Ferrari, Deputy Chairman, Amedeo Felisa, worldwide CEO of the company, and Marco Mattiacci, the newly appointed North America CEO.

Over 500 guests and Ferrari aficionados, including John Mayer, Jeremy Renner, Patrick Dempsey, Aaron Eckhart, Joel McHale, Malin Ackerman, Mollie Simms, Katie Cassidy, had the opportunity to bid on Ferrari Formula One driver Fernando Alonso’s original racing suit (which raised $31,000) and on two experiences as a Scuderia Ferrari team member at the Canadian Gran Prix in Montreal next June (which went for $20,000 and $21,000).

In choosing recipients organizations which would deliver the highest caliber of aid to the people of Haiti now and in the long-term, Ferrari focused its ongoing commitment to social responsibility to a cause that close to everybody’s hearts and still in need of tremendous support. Both organizations have strong ties to Haiti, the CMMB working in Haiti since 1912 and Bill Clinton having been asked by President Obama to spearhead a U.S. effort there with the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.

It was announced during the evening’s program that the Department of Orthopedics and Hand Surgery of the University of Modena, which has a longtime relationship with Ferrari, will make its knowledge and resources available to help CMMB in Haiti. In particular, Dr. Landi’s team of hand and microsurgery specialists, whose studies have been financed by Ferrari, will be an asset in the training and capacity-building for the Haitian medical community, in cooperation with CMMB’s extensive healthcare network in the country.

Grammy Award winner John Mayer donated his time to perform. Director and Ferrari collector Michael Bay was acknowledged for his long-standing friendship with the company.

The auction of the Ferrari 458 Italia was conducted by the Wall Street Journal automotive journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winner Dan Neil.