Best of Auto Car: November 2013

Morgan AeroMax

When Batman is getting ready to order his next car, he may want to drop in on Morgan. For the first time ever, the British manufacturer has come up with a machine which – complete with its jaw-dropping Batmobile-style rear end – could be a genuine rival to legendary models from Italian supercar brands Ferrari and Lamborghini. Auto Express is the first magazine in the world to get behind the wheel of the AeroMax. But has the maker, based in Malvern, Worcs, really got a contender that can steal buyers from the F430?

It’s certainly exclusive enough. The AeroMax was first commissioned by a Morgan fan called Prince Eric Sturdza. But while the model was conceived as a one-off, the company was looking at ways to expand – and decided to build an exclusive production run of 100 in time to go on sale in 2008.

Morgan AeroMax

Morgan AeroMax

Perodua Alza finally launched: a car or an MPV?

Here it is – the new Perodua Alza! We’ve been following the development of this MPV ever since we first got news of its existence back in early 2008, where it was reported that Toyota and Daihatsu were going to build a new MPV and produce it in Indonesia.

When the Daihatsu Luxio MPV came out we all got a shock – that more of a van so we waited patiently until Christmas last year when the Toyota Passo Sette was finally unveiled in Japan. Nearly a year later, the Perodua-badged model with a new front, rear and interior is here. Read the full details after the jump.

Dacia Duster: Every Concept Buzzword At Once

The Duster Concept embodies all the best thinking of the late 90's wrapped in a smoothly passive-aggressive shape. It marries the large body envelope and undeniable efficiency of an SUV with the pandering "X-treme" lifestyle marketing mantra of a different era. Anyone else get the feeling Dacia had this concept sitting around collecting dust in a warehouse and thought "Hey. we never used that show car, how about now?" It falls so far outside the current vogue of greenwashed fantasy-electric ecogasmic concepts it's going to look really awkward on the stands.

This is the Dacia Duster concept and it's bringing a totally original, unprecedented suicide-door sport activity youth-market crossover utility design with headlights stretching to the doors to Geneva. Yes, it's a rolling modern design cliche.

Audi A1: The Mini-killer gets ready

TFSI engines in various states of tune and a hybrid option will power the Audi A1 – which goes on sale late in 2009. A 1.4-litre turbocharged direct-injection (TFSI) four-cylinder engine producing 110kW and 240Nm and driving through the new seven-speed S tronic DSG gearbox will be the primary powerplant.

Internal combustion drive is augmented by a 30kW electric motor, which thrusts out 200Nm of torque, and is positioned on the rear axle. This unit drives the car exclusively at lower speeds or provides extra muscle (and all-wheel drive) under full throttle. The concept's lithium-ion batteries, which can be charged from a standard electric plug, will keep the Quattro Metroproject (as the A1 is grandiosely named) moving for about 100km.

Economy minded buyers can choose between a 1.2-litre 63kW petrol, and diesels ranging from 1.6-litres and 66kW to 2-litres – all with common rail direct injection. Buyers requiring more spirited performance should have a 125kW option available in the 1.4 TFSI engine available to them too.

Audi drive select – already available in South African on the latest A4 – and magnetic ride should endow the smallest of Audi’s with very tidy ride and handling capabilities.

Audi A1
Audi A1

Audi A1
Audi A1

DIMORA : World’s Most Expensive Car To Be Made Out Of Volcanic Rock

DiMora, an American private car builder is currently developing what they claim will be the most luxurious, technologically advanced, and most expensive production car in the market. With an expected price tag of over US$2million, the super luxury car will be offered in only the best gadgets and technology the world has to offer.

Plans are well underway to reach that goal and one of the latest developments state that in partnership with Barotex Technology Corporation, DiMora will create the strongest and most durable materials ever produced for an automobile
using “Barotex Inorganic Fiber” which is made from volcanic rock.

“In contrast, carbon fiber products are petroleum-based, and we know about the challenges that involves,” said Lilo Beuzieron, CEO of Barotex Technology Corporation and inventor of Barotex. “Not only is lava rock more abundant, but our manufacturing process requires far less energy. It is friendly to the environment, and the automobiles built with Barotex are lighter, so they use less energy every mile travelled.”

DiMora
DIMORA

DiMora
DIMORA

Chrysler Imperial Concept First Drive

Chrysler Imperial Concept - First Drive: Chrysler took a huge gamble with the redesigned 300 sedan, proving in the end that consumers will pay a premium for an American car when the product is exactly right. What made the Chrysler 300 so popular was its upscale design, backed by credible performance and quality materials in a package that didn't command a huge premium over look-alike workaday commuter sedans such as the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

The 300 had style, it had class, it could carry five in comfort, and it had a Hemi under the hood. To alleviate concerns about its rear-drive powertrain and V8 fuel economy, Chrysler even offered all-wheel drive as an option and installed a Multi-Displacement System for the engine to improve highway efficiency. The result was an automobile that people aspired to own, one that was actually attainable on a middle-class income, one that knocked the socks off the media and the masses.

Now Chrysler must decide if it can take that affordable, aspirational theme one step further, and the Imperial Concept is a bid to measure reaction from the public and the press. Introduced at the 2006 North American International Auto Show, the Imperial Concept rolled onto the stage with actress Eva Longoria riding in the spacious rear seat, adding a bit of star power to a vehicle already infused with presence. As with the 300 sedan, which unabashedly borrows styling cues from Bentley, Chrysler looked to British motorcar heritage as well as its own in creating the Imperial. The result looks much better in person than in pictures, especially when its lustrous Imperial Bronze paint is bathed in warm Southern California sunlight.

Chrysler Imperial

Chrysler Imperial

Porsche 911 – Fuel Consumption Record

Sport cars are frequently “accused” that they have a high fuel consumption, but, Porsche engineers wanted to prove the contrary and have obtained a record fuel consumption with a Porsche 911. Theoretically, a Porsche 911 Carrera equipped with the boxer “flat six” engine of 3,6 liters and 345 HP, is credited with an average consumption of 10.3 liters/100 km and 242g/km CO2 emissions. Pretty high, right?

Well, Porsche engineers wanted to demonstrate the contrary and have chosen a 650 km route on the Germany streets (190 km where national roads, 30 km urban route and the rest highway). The average speed was 84 km/h, and the maximum speed achieved in this test hasn’t exceeded 130 km/h. The result? Only 6,7 liters/100 km, unbelievable! But it must be very hard to own such a beast and drive like a amateur in order to save some liters.

Porsche 911

Porsche 911

Phoenix Power’s R35 at Dream Car Show 2008

Phoenix Power displayed their Nissan R35 GT-R at Dream Car Show 2008 this weekend in Toyama with a brand new body kit from Zele / Harrison as well as a colour matched grill. This car is also wearing some brand new BBS LM-DBK 20″ wheels, we got our first look at this week, and Pirelli tires.

This might be the first car we’ve seen with a full Zele / Harrison kit fitted up outside the famous orange demo car. It’s looking as great in red as it did in orange though.

Ariel Atom creator wins award (Designer honoured for adventurous design)

The creator of the Ariel Atom has won an award for his creation. Simon Saunders, designer and director of the Ariel Motor Company which launched the Ariel Atom sports/track car in 2001, has been awarded the prestigious Simms Medal by the Royal Automobile Club (RAC).

Named after Frederick Simms, the founding member of the RAC, the Simms Medal recognises a genuine contribution to motoring innovation by individuals or small companies that also exemplify the spirit of adventure. The Simms Medal Committee felt that Simon Saunders deserved the Award for his passionate development and manufacture of the Ariel Atom sports/track car, one of the most exciting pieces of automotive design, built for pure performance.

Best of Auto Car