car nissan

Nissan e Sony Computer Entertainment Italia eleggeranno il campione italiano della GT Academy2010 il 13 febbraio, a Roma. I 24 piloti più veloci si sfideranno virtualmente in una gara che eleggerà i due migliori: il premio, per loro, sarà Silverstone, dove gareggeranno, stavolta su un circuito vero, contro i 18 giocatori più talentuosi degli altri paesi partecipanti.

A partire dal lancio della competizione, il 17 dicembre 2009, oltre 70.000 videogiocatori italiani di Gran Turismo (e più di 1.000.000 nei 15 paesi europei coinvolti, in Australia e in Nuova Zelanda) si sono cimentati su PlayStation Network, tentando di registrare il giro più veloce per accedere alle fasi finali.

Queste, come scrivevamo in apertura, si terranno sabato 13 febbraio dalle 11 alle 17, presso la Sala Multimediale di RDS, dove i 24 "piloti virtuali" gareggeranno in anteprima su una selezione di circuiti e automobili di GT5 per PS3.

Ford Focus RS WRC Edition

La filiale svizzera del gruppo Ford ha realizzato cinquanta esemplari della Focus RS WRC Edition, amarcord sovralimentato e prima vettura a sancire il passaggio negli "anta" del reparto RS, nato nel 1970 e subito prosperato con la sempiterna Escort RS1600. La sportiva dell'Ovale Blu sarà commercializzata nella colorazione Frozen White con grafiche suggerite (e votate) da internauti elvetici potendo scegliere fra cinque proposte, mentre i cerchi in lega da 19 pollici, bruniti, rientrano nella linea OZ Superturismo GT.

La Focus RS WRC dispone di una targhetta interna con gli autografi dei piloti ufficiali Mikko Hirvonen e Jarmo Lehtinen. Il motore 2.5 turbo eroga i medesimi 305 cavalli garantiti dalla RS in listino, cosicché le prestazioni (0-100 km/ in meno di 6 secondi per 263 km/h di velocità massima) ne rispecchino il bell'andare. Ciascuno dei cinquanta esemplari è proposto a 37.950 euro.

The Cadillac

The Cadillac World Thorium Fuel concept is a design study for a futuristic vehicle powered by a nuclear powetrain and built to last 100 years without any maintenance. The author is designer Loren Kulesus.

The Cadillac World Thorium Fuel concept was designed with longevity in mind: it is powered by a Thorium nuclear powertrain andfeatures redundant major systems.

Replacing the conventional wheels are four sub-systems made up of six individual tires, each integrating an induction motor, for a total of 24 units.

As Loremo Kulesus explains: "The vehicle would require the tires to be adjusted every five years, but no material would need to be added or subtracted."

About the Designer

Graduated from the Art Center College of Design, Loremo Kulesus has worked - among the others - for General Motors Advanced Concepts (2006-2008) and Nissan Design America, San Diego (2006).

• Personal portfolio: Coroflot

(Source: Coroflot via Autoblog.com)

toyota recall models

On a mid-July morning, Doug Landry pulled into the passing lane in his 2009 Toyota Avalon. He passed a car at 90 kilometres an hour, then took his foot off the gas when the speedometer hit 110.

The car sped up, racing along Highway 11 north of Huntsville, Ont. When it hit 155 kilometres an hour, Mr. Landry said, he put both his feet on the brake pedal and all but stood on the brakes to try to slow down.

"You've got two feet on the brake and the car's not screeching to a halt," he recalled. "It's going as if there's a ghost in the car. It was as if I had somebody with their foot on the gas."

This is sudden, unintended acceleration and it lies at the heart of a serious and growing crisis for Toyota Motor Corp. (TM-N71.78-1.71-2.33%) in the face of two massive recalls of its best-selling North American vehicles.

Toyota, now the world's largest auto maker, has begun repairing potentially sticky accelerator pedals in some 2.3 million vehicles by inserting a tiny piece of steel. An earlier recall, made in November and expanded last month so that it now covers about 4.8 million vehicles – including Mr. Landry's Avalon –affects cars with floor mats that might cause a gas pedal to stay depressed.  read more

RCA Design Students

Bentley Motors has selected four finalist projects among eighteen futuristic concepts created by the Master students from the Vehicle Design Course at the Royal College of Arts, UK. The selected entries will be refined at the Company's design studio.

From the official Press Release:

Bentley Design Sketches by Bora Kim

Some young designers from London's Royal College of Art (RCA) have created a series of remarkable 'Bentleys of the Future' designs in partnership with the British company.

Eighteen Vehicle Design Course Masters students have spent the last few months studying the work of Bentley's leading designers, including Head of Exterior Design Raul Pires who played a key role designing the company's new Mulsanne flagship.

Drawing on Bentley's proud design heritage. they have sought to develop a range of futuristic car designs.

Now four of the RCA students have been shortlisted to refine their designs with Pires and his colleagues with a winner and runner-up both being invited to join the Crewe-based company for a six month secondment in the Bentley design studio.

Bentley Concept Rendering by David Seesing

Professor Dale Harrow, Head of Vehicle Design at the RCA explained: "Working with Bentley has inspired these young designers to create a coupe for the 21st Century that embraces the latest aerodynamics technology.

"The Vehicle Design Course attracts postgraduate students from across the world and it has been fascinating to see them make a connection with a British marque that has such a distinguished heritage."

A key part of the project has been the ability to combine strong visual design with the latest automotive software. Each car design has undergone extensive testing in a virtual wind tunnel to assess and enhance its aerodynamic capabilities. Professor Harrow added:

"We've had support from Exa and their PowerFLOW software which was used to create cars like the Bentley Continental Supersports.

Bentley Design Sketch by Marten Wallgren	Bentley Concept by Mikka Heikkinen

"The students realise the importance of optimising the aerodynamic qualities of their designs and Exa's technology allows each car to evolve constantly. Crucially, our young team has been working with top designers like Raul, learning how to combine great creativity with sound engineering solutions."

Raul Pires said the overall standard was extremely high and this convinced Bentley to add an extra place to the shortlist. Pires said:

"The RCA has an eviable reputation for attracting some of the best young design talent, with many of their graduates going on to work for the world's leading car manufacturers. The outstanding quality of work meant we have offered an extra place.

"These four finalists have captured the essence of our brand, recognising what makes a Bentley instantly recognisable on the road. Just as importantly, they've embraced Exa's leading-edge technology and grasped that excellent design should always seek to enhance a car's handling and performance, as well as optimising its environmental credentials."

During the next few days the four designers will be working flat-out with their course tutors and EXA's analysts to refine their work before meeting with Raul Pires and Bentley's design chief Dirk van Braeckel for the final review.

The four Bentley/Exa finalists are Bora Kim, David Seesing, Marten Wallgren and Mikka Heikkinen.

Bora (26) from South Korea has created a Bentley which enables the owner to easily select their preferred engine for any given journey whilst Sweden's Marten (27) has created a futuristic version of the Bentley Continental GT.

David Seesing (26) from Cologne in Germany hopes to be the third generation of his family to work in the motor industry and has impressed Bentley with his ability to combine radical design with impressive aerodynamics.

Completing the line-up is Finland's Mikka Heikkinen (26) who has created a high-performance Bentley and used his industrial design training to create a powerful, visually impactful concept vehicle.

David Seesing	Marten Wallgren	Mikka Heikkinen

Christine Gaskell, Member of the Board for Personnel at Bentley Motors, who has been following the project closely said: "Bentley Motors has long-established apprentice and graduate schemes and we are always seeking to find new ways to encourage and support people who want to work in the motor industry.

"We look forward to welcoming some of the Royal College's brightest and best to our design team later this year."

(Source: Bentley)

Daytona International

Held at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, January 30 through 31st. First race in the 2010 Grand-Am series and the 48th running of the endurance event. Twenty-four hours of non-stop action ended with Action Express Racing's Dayton Prototype earning the overall victory with SpeedSource Inc. triumphant in GT with their Mazda RX-8. The weekend was also supported by the 2.5-hour Continental Tire Challenge Fresh From Florida

Carlsson C25 preview

German tuning company Carlsson has presented a preview of the C25, a super GT based on the SL65 AMG Black Series and powered by a 753 hp 6.0 liter V12 engine. It will feature an in-house developed design and will be produced in a limited series of 25 units.

The C25 will be the first in-house developed car for German company Carlsson, specialized in Mercedes-Benz tuning.

The new super GT will be powered by the 6.0 V12 engine that is adopted on the SL65 AMG Black Series, which in this edition delivers 753 hp and 1320 Nm at 3750 rpm.

The 0-100 km/h acceleration takes just 3.7 seconds and the top speed is 352 km/h.

The C25 will debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show and will be produced in a limited series of 25 units, each tailored to the specific customer's requirements.

"We exclusively make the cars to order and the delivery quantity for 2010 is already sold out", says CEO, Dipl. Ing. (FH) Markus Schuster.

Among the technical highlights is the C-Tronic Suspension lowering system, which automatically recognises the road characteristics and driving manners and constantly adjusts the suspension setting accordingly.

The original design is characterized by the elongated front end with the tapered lobe between the powerful shoulders which craves ahead and the generously dimensioned air inlets in the typical Carlsson trapezoid form which supply the engine with the necessary ventilation.

The ultra-light and forged wheels 1/10 UL in the dimensions 9,5x20 and 12x20 inches have been specifically designed for the C25 and are equipped with high performance tyres measuring 265/30 at the front and 325/25 at the rear live axle.

One wheel just weighs 11.2 kilograms and is 40 percent lighter than custom light alloy wheels.

The brake system has 405 mm race discs at the front and 380 mm race discs at the rear.

The elongated flat rear screen and the restrained tearing edge on the boot lit as well as the generously dimensioned double diffuser render the required downthrust and therefore the C25 does not need any extensible spoilers.

In order to emphasise the uniqueness of the C25, Carlsson has also developed a new rear- and front lights design.

Inside, the characteristic trapezoid elements at the front and back are also found on the steering wheel. On the seats and the centre console the edged shape is used as well.

Among the high quality materials used are real carbon, tanned buffalo leather and ultra-suede in special colours.

(Source: Carlsson)

Car Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz has deftly redefined its mid-size offerings with the addition of a new E-Class option; the new E Coupe and Cabriolet are larger than outgoing CLK duo they essentially replace, and the Cabriolet has a trick up its sleeve.

The E-Class family will now soon be available in sedan, coupe, cabriolet, and wagon bodystyles.

In a notably short (particularly in the current economic environment) period of time, Mercedes-Benz has all but completely revamped its E-Class lineup.

The convertible variant is scheduled to arrive at dealerships May 2010.

Exterior

Those familiar with the current E-class will find very little surprising about the exterior styling on the cabriolet.  Overall, the vehicle has a strong presence and solid stance.

The pronounced creases in the surfacing exude quality and refinement.  It maintains its teutonic reservations, but appears quite confident and reassuring with a forward cant to the overall directionality of character and parting lines.  

An exercise in subtlety, the rocker's forward light catch is cleanly derived from the door shut line.

 A body color tonneau/rear head restraint fairing furthers the lux-market feel of the car.

 Rather than add the complexity and cost of a hard top, Mercedes has swathed the folding top with fabric–is this a touch of traditionalism?

The new-face E lamps, grill, and fogs are welcome. The tiny hockey-stick-shaped fog lamp elements may present a bit of whimsy, but combining them with the aggressive angles of the headlamps and markers makes for a unique DRG.

A possible failing in the graphics department is the tail lamp design; whilethe detailing is at (perhaps only barely) an acceptable level, there is a resemblance to contemporaries from Hyundai and Toyota.  

This may be just a chicken-or-egg argument, but the similarity is undeniable and can't be pleasing to anyone in the Daimler camp.

Interior

A strong focus was put on making this a usable, comfortable driver with an emphasis on counteracting the usual caveats of convertibles–soft and hard top alike.

Innovations like the AirCap and the familiar AirScarf ensure that this will be what Mercedes refers to as "a 4-seater for all 4 seasons".

During top-down cruising, the AirScarf will keep your neck warm while the AirCap keeps cabin turbulence and noise in check.

Initial reactions to seeing the AirCap in action will be mixed as it isn't the most handsome of devices, though there's little doubt that it will perform its duties admirably.

Protruding from the top of the windshield frame, it appears to serve as a windbreak that works in conjunction with a not unusual-looking screen between the rear headrests to create a pocket of calm air in the passenger compartment.

At the time of its introduction to the US market, only two engines will be made available.

The E350 will be powered by a 268HP 3.5-liter V6; opting for the 382HP 5.5-liter V8 will earn you the E550 badge.

(Source: Mercedes-Benz)

Geneva Motor Show Supercar Gallery

Michelin is our favorite tire company from now on. Without resorting to the cheap, albeit highly effective and entertaining, trick of hiring booth babes to draw attention to themselves, this French tiremaker still had one of the largest crowds of any vendor at the show. Accomplished with an elegant simplicity that had us drooling from the moment we saw the space. The plan was so breathtakingly simple that we hope others will follow their lead in the future. OK, we wouldn't complain too much if there were still some lovely ladies around as well, but this being an automotive show, putting cars above all else seems to be a pretty good idea.

What they pulled off went a little beyond the ordinary and deserves some kind of award. After working your way past dozens of individual wheel and tire booths with everything from clear rims to those 34-inch monster truck-worthy numbers, you round a corner in the tires and wheels hall and see one of the cleanest, most spectacular sights. Especially if you are a fan of exotics and supercars, but even if you're not, it's quite striking. More story and pics after the jump.

A Fisker and a Ruf sit at the top of an arcing ramp, high above the rear of the display. In front of them are a Saleen S7 tt and a Pagani Zonda, respectively. In front of THEM are a Koenigsegg CCX and McLaren F1, almost touching the ground And sitting in the center of the almost completed circle is a turntable. A turntable with a Bugatti Veyron slowly rotating on it. And if that isn't enough, a glance to the side will reveal a Caparo T1.

Now think about that for another few minutes while you look through the incredible high-res gallery provided to us by Drew Phillips of Fast-Autos.net. If these were heavyweight boxers you'd be looking at the likes of Ali, Holmes, Frazier, Tyson, Marciano, Louis, and Dempsey. All in one place at one time. True champions that still command respect.

The Fisker is a bit more of a looker than an outright supercar like the others, but can still manage some respectable speeds. The RUF and Zonda can crack 210. The F1 has done 241. The CCX and Veyron a little better still. The Saleen hasn't proven its top speed claims but should be able to manage something very close to the others, and the Caparo, being little more than a Formula 1 car with better aerodynamics might not set the top speed bar any higher, should provide thrills in every direction. Some of the worlds fastest cars, all on display together, latent energy almost palpable. Despite our pleas, our offer to run them out to Nellis for some quick testing, was politely refused. Thanks anyhow, Michelin. All the pics are clickable

wallpaper.

Car Maruti Suzuki

Even at such global crisis, Maruti Suzuki recently launched their much talked about A-Star, which comes loaded with a 998cc KB Series 3 cylinder engine, a peak power of 67/6,200(PS/rpm). A impressive peak torque of 90/3500(Nm/rpm) and will shift its gears 5 times.

Automotive Rendering Techniques

cmiVFX has published a video tutorial by Swedish designer Mikael Lugnegård titled "Automotive Rendering Techniques", which explains in detail the rendering process of a 3D sketch model, from the 3D mockup in Maya to the final touches in Photoshop. It can be purchased online at $19.95.

Automotive Rendering Techniques is a new instructional video published by cmiVFX which provides an insight on how to get quality images by using Photoshop to accelerate final render times for client review.

Created by Swedish 3D-artist Mikael Lugnegård, Automotive Rendering Techniques can be purchased at $19.95 USD from the online store.

For more information visit cmivfx.com or see the gallery of screenshots published by Virtual Car.

The video is part of a new series of training videos called cmiDirect, which focus on one topic at the time. Below we report the complete Press Release.

Automotive Rendering Techniques

3D Mockup in Maya

Starting off in Maya we will quickly show a very rough car model that will be the foundation for the design. The car is done with traditional polygon techniques which are not covered in this tutorial. The car was modeled in just a few hours and is very rough, but serves the overall purpose of a sketch model.

By toggling between a standard polygon mesh and a smooth mesh preview you will get an instant preview of the final surfaces. This technique is very useful when making sketch models. Sketch models are important in the process as it allows for easy straight-on modeling and evaluation. Using a polygon modeler like Maya makes the process both faster but also more flexible then it would be with Nurbs.

Rendering in Hyper Shot

Export the entire model to an .OBJ file and then import into Hyper Shot. Learn how to apply materials, change the environment, set up the camera for a successful rendering. Hyper Shot is indeed a great application for fast renderings and this section aims to reveal how it can be used in a slightly more advanced way and efficient way.

Different camera angles are evaluated and once the camera is locked down. Multiple renderings can be created using the same exact camera. Different materials and environments are tried out and this material will later be composited together in Photoshop.

Image Assembly and Color Correction in Photoshop

The renderings are now brought into Photoshop for assembly and initial color corrections. Bits and pieces from different renderings are put together using layers and blend modes. Some initial color correction can be made to make sure that the overall palette is consistent and coherent.

By using adjustment layers it is possible to work in a non-destructive manner and really tune the levels and colors.

Learn how to work with the path-tool to create sharp and accurate design element such as cut-lines, vents and body creases.

Utilizing a set of brushes in combination with selections created with the path-tool a painted look is achieved. This technique allows for both precision rendering as well as for a more painterly style.

Details

Utilizing the path-tool, details and color trims are created in a fast and creative manner. The front is given some extra attention as well as a number of other key elements. Headlamps and splitters are designed and painted in using different tools.

Final Touches

Learn to fine tune the project by continuing the work all over the rendering, adding details and sharpness, paying extra attention to textures. Utilizing a variety of techniques, learn to add sharpness, key lines and highlights to accentuate.

The final step before completion is the introduction of overlay textures that really make the project come alive. By using a variety of textures, the original colors are mixed and blended in a very artistic manner. This technique is somewhat of a signature to the artist and really takes the rendering to a whole new level.

About the Author

Mikael Lugnegård is a Swedish 3D-artist who has worked as a freelancer and CG-instructor for many years now. He attended Umea Institute of Design in Sweden where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Design.

Mikael is proficient in Model Making, Graphic Arts, Photo Editing, High End Product Rendering, Project Management and more. He is passionate about the arts and education as well as photography, downhill skiing and is a snowboarding instructor. Mikael is currently a consultant and design for Red Digital Cinema and runs his own company Lugnegård Designs in Sweden.

(Source: cmivfx.com via Luciano Bove, Virtual Car)