NEW TOYOTA LANDCRUISER V8

The new Land Cruiser V8 replaces the current model and is the eighth generation of Toyota’s legendary Land Cruiser large-scale SUV. It remains true to its heritage in being a thoroughbred off-roader. More than that, it is equipped with world-first technologies to ensure safety, comfort and secure handling both in the rough and on the open road. Toyota’s “no compromise” approach is clear in vehicles with traditional body-on-frame construction, crucial to the vehicle’s ability to tackle the toughest terrain. This tried and tested approach is matched by sophisticated handling, suspension and drivetrain systems that extend the off-road capabilities and enhance comfort and stability in normal driving.

New V8 diesel engine
The Land Cruiser V8 is powered by a new 4.5-litre V8 D-4D engine. It is the first Toyota eight cylinder diesel engine and is equipped with common rail injection technology. The unit is the most powerful Toyota diesel yet, producing 282bhp (286 DIN hp) and a prodigious 650Nm of torque, available from just 1,650rpm. Thanks to its high efficiency, the engine has the lowest emissions and fuel consumption in its class, producing 270g/km of carbon dioxide and an official 27.7mpg in combined cycle driving. It is extremely tough, too, engineered to perform faultlessly in temperatures from -30 to +50°C. The V8 is matched to a new six-speed automatic transmission with a manual sequential gear selection mode. As befits a serious offroader, it incorporates low ratio gearing.

World-leading suspension and handling technology
The Land Cruiser V8 is one of the most technically advanced four-wheel drive vehicles ever produced and is equipped with a series of advanced dynamic and handling features. These include the world’s first four-wheel Active Height Control and Adaptive Variable Suspension (4-Wheel AHC & AVS), a fully adjustable system that also provides spring rate control. Not only does this give exceptional performance off-road – wheel articulation is so great, the car can crawl over steps with a 630mm height difference without lifting a wheel off the ground – it regulates pitch and body roll on-road to maintain ride comfort and refinement. The full-time all-wheel drive has a new transfer unit governing the distribution of torque between the front and rear axles, with a newly developed Torsen torque-sensing limited slip centre differential, which gives improved cornering performance and driving stability. The transfer shift system lets the driver move from H4 (high) gearing to L4 (low) gearing by means of a rotary switch on the dashboard, when the vehicle is moving at low speed (up to 3mph).

Rugged and modern design
The vehicle’s design is rugged yet modern, developing styling cues from the Land Cruiser’s distinguished past while embracing themes from Toyota’s contemporary “Vibrant Clarity” design philosophy to bring the Land Cruiser brand fully up-to-date. An equally bold approach is taken inside the cabin where the sense of ruggedness and reliability is combined with comfort, quality and a great sense of spaciousness.

Luxury specification
The Land Cruiser V8 may be engineered to cope with extreme environments, but the cabin is designed to provide premium levels of comfort, convenience and safety. Available in a single luxury specification, it is equipped as standard with four-zone climate control air conditioning, full-map satellite navigation, Bluetooth, rear parking monitor, nine-speaker sound system with six-DVD autochanger and leather upholstery. A premium JBL audio system which includes i-pod integration and ICE (in-car entertainment) pack with rear seat DVD monitors are available as options. The flexible seven-seat interior is easily adapted to accommodate passengers or additional loads, with tumble-and-fold second row seats dividing 40:20:40 and the two rearmost seats folding to the side. High safety standards Occupants are protected by 14 airbags, including front knee airbags and curtain shield airbags along the entire length of the cabin. Active safety provisions include new multi-terrain ABS, which automatically adapts braking performance to suit the surface on which the vehicle is travelling. And to help minimise the consequences of an accident, a pre-crash safety system automatically tensions the driver and passenger front seatbelts when sensors detect a dangerous situation, such as the vehicle spinning or emergency braking.
Launched in the UK on 15 February, the Land Cruiser V8 is priced £55,995

TOMAHAWK -Beat 'em

FEATURES OF TOMAHAWK BIKE ENGINE

1. 500 bhp (372 kW) @ 5600 rpm (60.4 bhp / liter); 525 lb.-ft. (712 Nm) @ 4200 rpm

2. 10-cylinder 90-degree V-type, liquid-cooled, 505 cubic inches (8277 cc)

3. 356-T6 aluminum alloy block with cast-iron liners, aluminum alloy cylinder heads

4. Bore x Stroke: 4.03 inches x 3.96 inches (102.4 x 100.6)

5. Two pushrod-actuated overhead valves per cylinder with roller-type hydraulic lifters

6. Sequential, multi-port electronic fuel injection with individual runners

7. Compression Ratio: 9.6:1

8. Max Engine Speed: 6000 rpm

9. Fuel Requirement: Unleaded premium, 93 octane (R+M/2)

10.Oil System: Dry Sump; takes 8 quarts Mobil1 10W30 Synthetic

11.Cooling System: Twin aluminum radiators mounted atop engine intake manifolds, force-fed from front-mounted, belt-driven turbine fan.

12. Takes 11 quarts of antifreeze.

13. Exhaust System: Equal-length tubular stainless steel headers with dual collectors and central rear outlets

SUSPENSION:

Front: Outboard, single-sided parallel upper and lower control arms made from polished billet aluminum. Mounted via ball joint to aluminum steering uprights and hubs. Five degrees caster. Single, fully adjustable centrally located coil-over damper (2.25-inch coil with adjustable spring perch); pullrod and rocker-actuated mono linkage. Center-lock racing-style hubs.

Rear: Hand-fabricated box-section steel inboard swing arms, incorporating "hydral-link" lockable recirculating hydraulic circuit parking stand. Single fully adjustable centrally located Koni coil-over damper (2.25-inch coil with adjustable spring perch); pushrod and rocker-actuated mono linkage. Center-lock racing-style hubs

BRAKES:

Front: 20-inch perimeter-mounted drilled machined stainless steel rotors, one per wheel. Two four-piston fixed aluminum calipers per wheel (16 pistons total), custom designed. Blue anodized caliper finish. Hand-activated.

Rear: 20-inch perimeter-mounted drilled cast-iron rotors, one per wheel. One four-piston fixed aluminum caliper per wheel (8 pistons total), custom designed. Blue anodized caliper finish. Foot-activated.

The Tomahawk is a Viper V-10 based motorcycle, a 500 horsepower engine with four wheels beneath it.Chrysler will be selling the original Tomahawk concept and nine replicas through Neiman Marcus, for up to $555,000 each. The motorcycles cannot be licensed, so they cannot be legally driven on public roads. A Chrysler spokesman told Reuters they were meant as rolling sculptures.Rumors had the Tomahawk selling for under $200,000, most likely at a loss or breakeven price, for publicity purposes - but still fully drivable. Wolfgang Bernhard, Chrysler's not particularly respected first mate, was said to be enthusiastic about that project, so much so that hundreds were projected to be built at under $200,000 each. They reportedly cost Chrysler over $100,000 to build (admittedly the work is outsourced).

The Dodge Tomahawk can reach 60 miles an hour in about 2.5 seconds, and has a theoretical top speed of nearly 400 mph. Each pair of wheels is separated by a few inches and each wheel has an independent suspension.. Bernhard said four wheels were necessary to handle the power from the engine.The Tomahawk remains on display at auto shows - though well out of reach of the general public, elevated on a special display.

PERFORMANCE: 0- 60 mph: 2.5 seconds (est.)Top Speed: 300+ mph (est.)

DIMENSIONS:

Length 102 inches

Width 27.7 inches

Height 36.9 inches

Wheelbase 76 inches

Seat Height 29 inches

Weight 1,500 lbs.

Track Front: 8.75 in

Track Rear: 10 in

Weight Dist 49F/51R

Ground Clearance 3 in

Fuel 3.25 gallons

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:

Alternator 136-amp high-speed

Battery Leak-resistant, maintenance- free 600 CCA

Lighting: Headlights consist of 12 five-watt LEDs, front, with beam-modifying optics and masked lenses. Eight LEDs, rear. Headlamps articulate with wheels.

TRANSMISSION:

Manual, foot shifted two-speed Aluminum-cased two-speed, sequential racing-style with dog ring, straight-cut gears

Gear Ratios 1st 18:38; 2nd 23:25

Clutch Double-disc, dry-plate with organic friction materials, hand lever actuated with assist Final drive Dual 110-link motorcycle-style chains

Front Sprockets 14 teeth

Rear Sprockets 35 teeth Longitudinal, centrally mounted engine, rear-wheel drive layout; monocoque construction, engine is central, stressed member. Body of billet aluminum .

SUZUKI KIZASHI

Suzuki unveiled a new concept car named ‘kizashi’ at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show. This car is sure to cause fever to Honda and Toyota , ya, suzuki’s new concept is not a small car but a smart mid size sedan. The Kizashi – a name meaning ‘prelude’ or ‘foretaste’ – suggests what form Suzuki’s future will take. The D-segment initiative- the kizashi revealed in Frankfurt represents the beginning of the third phase of the world strategy. The main objective of this phase is status. The first phase of the new world strategy was implemented with the focus on ‘Sporty’, a philosophy that resulted in great success with the launch of Swift, Grand Vitara and SX4. The new Splash represents the second phase for Suzuki.

Suzuki which was founded in 1909 is regarded as the best small car maker all over the world. But despite the small car success, Suzuki has not been able to continue many of the customers to stay with the automaker when purchasing subsequent, larger cars. Suzuki feels obliged to respond to increasing expectations and is convinced that it’s essential to offer a wider product range in order to accommodate customers’ diverse lifestyles. Consequently, Suzuki has decided to expand its lineup to cover all segments from A to D in the next few years. Suzuki’s first-ever D-segment car ‘kizashi’ will stand at the top of the range. Suzuki’s new plan will be reflected in its Indian line-up too.

Suzuki which already sources larger cars from General Motors will now make its own D segment car through its kizashi concept. Suzuki targets an uncompromised combination of affordability and emotional appeal with the new kizashi. Suzuki which has already given a sporty hatchback -the Swift Sport plans to carry the same for the D-segment. At the same time, kizashi will ensure the cabin roominess that is essential in the D-segment

Though the Suzuki’s kizashi concept is powered by a new 2.0-liter turbo diesel, Suzuki plans to use a hybrid arrangement (an internal combustion engine provides the main propulsion, and an electric motor provides assistance whenever extra power is needed) to achieve environmental compatibility. Kizashi’s dynamic performance will be enhanced all-wheel drive (AWD) a technology that Suzuki has refined over many years.

A production version of the Kizashi is slated to appear in 2008, with worldwide sales to start in 2009. Being the Suzuki’s prime market, India will get the kizashi at the same time. In Indian context, Maruti may strap its 1.6L SX4 engine or a 2.0L vitara engine into the kizashi. Suzuki says its Kizashi is planned as the automaker’s future competitor to the Accord and Camry. But Indian news agencies says the ‘big car’(kizashi) from the Maruti Suzuki will compete with the likes of Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and skoda octavia which comes in a price bracket of Rs 10-12 lakh.