Interlaken, Switzerland

Interlaken is a town and municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the Swiss canton of Bern. It is an important and well-known tourist destination in the Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss Alps, and the main transport gateway to the mountains and lakes of that region.

The town is located on the Bödeli, between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, and alongside the Aar river that flows between the two lakes. Transport routes to the east and west alongside the lakes are complemented by a route south into the mountains following the Lütschine river.

The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Argent a Semi Ibex rampant couped Sable langued Gules.

Until 1891 Interlaken was known as Aarmühle. The convent of the Augustinian Canons was built around 1133 when it was mentioned as inter lacus Madon and lasted until 1528. The mill on the left bank of the Aare river was first mentioned in 1365 as Amuli, while the town on the right bank was mentioned in 1239 as villa Inderlappen.

Previously, printing, textiles, and to a smaller extent watchmaking were also of importance, but today tourism is the most significant source of income. Interlaken is one of the oldest tourist resorts in Switzerland, and it remains one of the most popular.

While some scattered Neolithic flint objects, early Bronze Age swords and Roman era coins have been found near Interlaken, there is no evidence for a settlement in the area before the Middle Ages. Interlaken Abbey was built around 1133 on imperial land on the left side of the Aare river. The abbey controlled a bridge over the river and generated an income from tolls. A village grew up around the abbey, along with a mill. On the right bank of the river, Interlaken village developed. In 1279/80 the village of Unterseen developed near Interlaken village. Also near the village were the imperial castle of Weissenau and the market town of Widen. The castle and market town became the possessions of the abbey, but fell into disrepair in the Late Middle Ages.

The frantic growth of the tourism industry abruptly ended in 1914 when World War I started, though it resumed somewhat after the war. World War II brought another dramatic slow down. Interlaken started to recover from the effects of the war in 1955 as Interlaken re-branded itself as a convention and conference center. Today, the two nuclei village have been joined by new construction between them. The municipalities of Matten and Unterseen are also connected by new construction to Interlaken and share a common infrastructure. A referendum to merge the three political municipalities into one was voted down in 1914 and again in 1927.

The town is principally a base from which to explore the surrounding areas. Among the main attractions are the mountains of the Jungfrau region, including the Jungfrau, 4,158 m, the Mönch 4,107 m and the Eiger 3,970 m. Whilst the peaks of these mountains are accessible only to mountaineers, a sequence of connecting mountain railways gives access to the Jungfraujoch, a coll 3,450 m between the Jungfrau and the Mönch, which is the highest point in Europe reachable by train.

Closer to Interlaken, the Harder Kulm 1,322 m, just to the north of the town, and the Schynige Platte 2,076 m, just to the south, are also accessible by railway, and provide extensive views of the higher mountains. Lake Thun and Lake Brienz are both close to the town, and the Aar river flows through the town. Boat trips operate on both lakes, serving various lakeside towns. One of these, Brienz, is the starting point for Switzerland's last remaining steam operated mountain railway, the Brienz-Rothorn railway.

Jungfrau Park, an amusement park, is situated just to the south of Interlaken. It was originally opened as Mystery Park, a paranormal-based theme park owned by author Erich von Däniken, but was closed in 2006 after three years because of financial difficulties. It re-opened in its current guise in 2009. 

Interlaken has a large selection of hotels of various grades, many of which are located along the Höheweg, a street that links the towns two railway stations and offers views of the mountains. Other hotels are clustered around one or other of the two stations, or located across the river in the neighbouring municipality of Unterseen.

Interlaken is also a destination for backpackers. It has numerous backpacker-friendly hostels and companies providing guided services in skydiving, canyoning, hang gliding, paragliding, and skiing.

Interlaken has two railway stations, Interlaken Ost and Interlaken West, which are both served by the BLS AG's Thunersee line that provides direct services to Spiez, Thun, Bern and beyond, with onward connections at Bern to the rest of Switzerland. Through international services are provided by TGV to Paris and ICE to Frankfurt and Berlin.

Besides being the terminal of the Thunersee line, Interlaken Ost is also the terminus of the Zentralbahn's Brünig line to Brienz, Meiringen and Lucerne, with onward connections to north-eastern Switzerland. The Berner Oberland railway also operates from Ost station, providing the first stage of several mountain railway routes into the Jungfrau region and, most notably, to Europe's highest station at the Jungfraujoch.

Boat services across Lake Brienz to Brienz and across Lake Thun to Spiez and Thun are operated by the BLS AG. The boats on Lake Thun operate from a quay adjacent to the West station, connected to Lake Thun by the Interlaken ship canal. The boats on Lake Brienz operate from a quay on the Aar river by the Ost station. The remainder of the Aar river between the two lakes is controlled by several weirs and is not navigable.

Interlaken is connected by the A8 motorway to Thun and Lucerne, with onward connections by other Swiss motorways to the rest of Switzerland. Local roads also follow both banks of the lakes to east and west, and follow the valley of the Lütschine river south into the Jungfrau region. However it should be noted that there is no direct road connection across the mountains of that region into the canton of Valais to the south, with the nearest such connections being the Grimsel Pass to the east, or using the vehicle transport service through the Lötschberg rail tunnel to the west.

In the more immediate area, two funicular railways, the Harderbahn and the Heimwehfluhbahn, provide service to nearby vantage points. Local and regional bus services are provided by PostBus Switzerland, whilst Verkehrsbetriebe STI operates a regional bus service to Thun.

 

Source:
Picture Link:
Wikipedia Link:

Orlando, Florida

Orlando /ɔrˈlændoʊ/ is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and a popular tourist destination. Located in Central Florida, it is the county seat of Orange County and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. Orlando had a population of 238,300 according to the 2010 census, making it the 77th largest city in the United States. The Greater Orlando metropolitan area has a population of 2,134,411, making it the 26th largest metro area in the United States, the sixth largest metro area in the Southeastern United States, and the third largest metro area in the state of Florida. Orlando is the fifth largest city in Florida, and the state's largest inland city.

Orlando is nicknamed "The City Beautiful" and its symbol is the fountain at Lake Eola. Orlando is also known as "The Theme Park Capital of the World" and its tourist attractions draw more than 51 million tourists a year, including 3.6 million international guests. The Orlando International Airport is the thirteenth busiest airport in the United States and the 29th busiest in the world. Buddy Dyer is Orlando's mayor.

As the most visited American city in 2009, Orlando's famous attractions form the backbone of its tourism industry: Walt Disney World Resort, located approximately 21 miles southwest of Downtown Orlando in Lake Buena Vista, opened by the Walt Disney Company in 1971; the Universal Orlando Resort, which consists of the two parks of Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure; City Walk; SeaWorld; Gatorland; and Wet 'n Wild Water Park. With the exception of Walt Disney World, most major attractions are located along International Drive. The city is also one of the busiest American cities for conferences and conventions.

Like other major cities in the Sun Belt, Orlando grew rapidly during the 1980s and into the first decade of the 21st century. Orlando is home to the University of Central Florida, which is the second-largest university campus in the United States in terms of enrollment as of 2012. In 2010, Orlando was listed as a "Gamma−" level of world-city in the World Cities Study Group’s inventory. Orlando ranks as the fourth most popular American city based on where people want to live according to a 2009 Pew Research Center study.

Perhaps the most critical event for Orlando's economy occurred in 1965 when Walt Disney announced plans to build Walt Disney World. Although Disney had considered the regions of Miami and Tampa for his park, one of the major reasons behind his decision not to locate there was due to hurricanes – Orlando's inland location, although not free from hurricane damage, exposed it to less threat than coastal regions. The vacation resort opened in October 1971, ushering in an explosive population and economic growth for the Orlando metropolitan area, which now encompasses Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake counties. As a result, tourism became the centerpiece of the area's economy. Orlando now has more theme parks and entertainment attractions than anywhere else in the world.

Another major factor in Orlando's growth occurred in 1962, when the new Orlando Jetport, the precursor of the present day Orlando International Airport, was built from a portion of the McCoy Air Force Base. By 1970, four major airlines were providing scheduled flights. McCoy Air Force Base officially closed in 1975, and most of it is now part of the airport. The airport still retains the former Air Force Base airport code.

Today, the historic core of "Old Orlando" resides in Downtown Orlando along Church Street, between Orange Avenue and Garland Avenue. Urban development and the Central Business District of downtown have rapidly shaped the downtown skyline during recent history. The present-day historic district is primarily associated with the neighborhoods around Lake Eola where century old oaks line brick streets. These neighborhoods, known as "Lake Eola Heights" and "Thornton Park," contain some of the oldest homes in Orlando. Orlando is also the favorite place of Elder Kevin Price, protagonist from the "Book of Mormon" musical.

Metro Orlando has a total of 71 completed skyscrapers. The majority are located in Downtown Orlando and the rest are located in the tourist district southwest of downtown. Skyscrapers built in downtown Orlando have not exceeded 441 ft since 1988 when SunTrust Center was completed. There has never been an official reason why, but local architects speculate restrictions imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration, as the Orlando Executive Airport is located four miles east of downtown Orlando.

Source:
Picture Link:
Wikipedia Link:

BMW 1 Series (E87)

The first-generation BMW 1 Series is a small family car produced by the German automaker BMW since 2004, when it replaced the BMW 3 Series Compact range as the smallest and cheapest vehicle in the BMW range. As of May 2013, the 3-door and 5-door hatchbacks have been superseded by the F20 and F21 models, however the E82 coupe and E88 convertible variants are still in production.

The 1 Series featured a rear-wheel drive chassis, 50:50 weight balance, longitudinally-mounted engine and aluminum multilink suspension. A range of straight-4 straight-6 petrol and diesel engines were used. It was produced in the following body styles: 3-door hatchback, 5-door hatchback, coupe and 2-door convertible.

The 1 Series accounted for nearly one-fifth of the total sales in 2008.

The 1 Series was developed alongside the E90 3 Series. Design work was done by Christopher Chapman in 2001, which was frozen for series production at the end of 2001. The 2002 CS1 Concept previewed the 1-Series design elements at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show.

The 1 Series was launched globally in Autumn 2004 and shares many structural, chassis, powertrain, hardware and electronic elements with the larger E90 3-Series. The model was started to provide a lower point of entry into the BMW range as the 3 Series moved gradually up-market. Initially launched as a five-door hatchback, a three-door version was also launched in July 2007.

The 1 Series Coupé was unveiled in Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung 2007, which went on sale on November 24, 2007.

The 1 Series coupe and convertible went on sale in the United States and Canada in model year 2008 as the 128i and the 135i. Other countries received the 120i and 125i in both platforms. The convertible, unlike the 3 Series convertible, uses a soft-top instead of a folding hardtop.

The North American introduction of the coupe and cabriolet was during the second quarter of 2008, which was credited for helping BMW overtake Lexus as the top luxury brand.

The first-generation 1 series shares shares over 60% of components with the E90 3-Series. including front and rear suspension.

The 1 Series Coupé was marketed in the US as a successor to the BMW 2002, a two-door from the 1970s known for its light weight and relative high performance at the time and its long bonnet, slim cabin and short rear.

In the 1-series hatchback commercial, Kermit the Frog was shown driving a BMW 1 Series around in a desert making figure eights, showcasing the car's agility.

Jeremy Clarkson and other journalists raised aesthetic complaints about the 1-series, adding at the end of his review for the Sunday Times 'The 1-series is crap.

Critical response has changed in recent years with the introduction of the Coupé, and convertible model - which have been described as 'returning BMW to its roots', and the 135i has been described as the successor of the original E30 M3 of the 2040. Clarkson himself awarded the 2008 model five stars, and had the following to say: 'The 135 coupé is the best car BMW makes.

The BMW 118d won the 'World Green Car Award' in 2008 as a performance-oriented car with CO2 emissions and fuel consumption comparable to Toyota Prius.

 

Source:
Picture Link:
Wikipedia Link:

Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano

The 599 GTB Fiorano was an Italian gran turismo produced by Ferrari. It was the brand's two-seat flagship, replacing the 575 M Maranello in 2006 as a 2007 model, but was replaced for the 2013 model year by the F12 Berlinetta.

Styled by Pininfarina under the direction of Ferrari's Frank Stephenson, the 599 GTB debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in February 2006. It is named for its total engine displacement, Gran Turismo Berlinetta nature, and the Fiorano Circuit test track used by Ferrari.

The Tipo F140C 6.0 L V12 engine produces a maximum 620 PS, making it the most powerful series production Ferrari road car of the time. At the time of its introduction, this is one of the few engines whose output exceeds 100 hp per liter of displacement without any sort of forced-induction mechanism such as supercharging or turbocharging. Its 608 N·m of torque will also be a new record for Ferrari's GT cars. Most of the modifications to the engine were done to allow it to fit in the Fiorano's engine bay.

A traditional 6-speed manual transmission as well as Ferrari's 6-speed called "F1 SuperFast" is offered. The Fiorano also sees the debut of Ferrari's new traction control system

The 599XX is a car designed for track use only and is not street legal, based on 599 GTB. The rev. limiter is raised to 9000 rpm, with the engine rated for 730 PS at 9000 rpm. Weight is reduced by reducing the weight of the engine unit components, the use of composite materials, and the use of carbon-fiber body parts and brake pads. A new gearbox shift strategy is introduced to cut overall gear change time to 60 ms. Aerodynamics were retuned to give more downforce 280 kg at 200 km/h, 630 kg at 300 km/h. The car also includes 29/67 R19 front and 31/71 R19 rear tyres with 19 × 11J wheel rims at the front and 19 × 12J at the rear.

The car was unveiled at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show.

Ferrari announced at the 2010 Beijing International Auto Show that the 599XX had completed the Nordschleife circuit at the Nürburgring in a time of 6 minutes and 58.16 seconds - the fastest time ever recorded for a production-derived sports car.

On November 10, 2011, the first images of the 599XX EVO surfaced, featuring a radically restyled aero and exhaust package as well as electronic upgrades and Pirelli tyres. On 1 December 2011 Ferrari confirmed details for the 599XX "with evolution package" in preparation for the 2011 Bologna Motor Show. It weighs 35 kg less than a standard 599XX and has slightly improved peak power and torque. One of the key features of the EVO is its active rear wing which can adjust automatically to provide increased cornering performance. It costs £160,000 on top of the £1m-plus entry cost for the privilege.

The 599 replacement was announced on 29 February 2012, a few days prior to the Geneva Motor Show. Ferrari released a video featuring Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa driving the car at Ferrari's own test track, the Pista di Fiorano. The replacement vehicle, the F12 Berlinetta, was officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show on March 6, 2012.

Source:
Picture Link:
Wikipedia Link:

Ferrari F40

The Ferrari F40 is a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-door coupé sports car built from 1987 to 1992. The successor to the Ferrari 288 GTO, it was designed to celebrate Ferrari's 40th anniversary and was the last Ferrari automobile personally approved by Enzo Ferrari. At the time it was the fastest, most powerful, and most expensive car that Ferrari sold to the public.

The car debuted with a factory suggested retail price of approximately US$400,000 in 1987, although some buyers were reported to have paid as much as US$1.6 million. 1,315 F40s were manufactured in total.

As early as 1984, the Maranello factory had begun development of an evolution model of the 288 GTO intended to compete against the Porsche 959 in FIA Group B. However, when the FIA brought an end to the Group B category for the 1986 season, Enzo Ferrari was left with five 288 GTO Evoluzione development cars, and no series in which to campaign them. Enzo's desire to leave a legacy in his final supercar allowed the Evoluzione program to be further developed to produce a car exclusively for road use.

Power came from an enlarged, 2.9 L version of the GTO's twin IHI turbocharged V8 developing 478 PS under 110 kPa of boost. The F40 did without a catalytic converter until 1990 when US regulations made them a requirement for emissions control reasons. The flanking exhaust pipes guide exhaust gases from each bank of cylinders while the central pipe guides gases released from the wastegate of the turbochargers. There are claims that the car always had more power than Ferrari declared, saying it were over 500 PS.

The suspension setup was similar to the GTO's double wishbone setup, though many parts were upgraded and settings were changed; the unusually low ground clearance prompted Ferrari to include the ability to raise the vehicle's ground clearance when necessary.

The factory never intended to race the F40, but the car saw competition as early as 1989 when it debuted in the Laguna Seca Raceway round of the IMSA, appearing in the GTO category, with a LM evolution model driven by Jean Alesi, finishing third to the two faster spaceframed four wheel drive Audi 90 and beating a host of other factory backed spaceframe specials that dominated the races. Despite lack of factory backing, the car would soon have another successful season there under a host of guest drivers such as Jean-Pierre Jabouille, Jacques Laffite and Hurley Haywood taking a total of three second places and one third.

Although the F40 would not return to IMSA for the following season, it would later be a popular choice by privateers to compete in numerous domestic GT series including JGTC. In 1994, the car made its debut in international competitions, with one car campaigned in the BPR Global GT Series by Strandell, winning at the 4 Hours of Vallelunga.

In 1995, the number of F40s climbed to four, developed independently by Pilot-Aldix Racing and Strandell, winning the 4 Hours of Anderstorp. No longer competitive against the McLaren F1 GTR, the Ferrari F40 returned for another year in 1996, managing to repeat the previous year's Anderstorp win, and from then on it was no longer seen in GT racing.

The F40 was discontinued in 1992, and in 1995 the F50 was intended to be its successor in GT1 racing; but only three racing F50s were produced and none ever actually competed in a race.

The F40's light weight of 1,100 kg and high power output of 478 PS at 7000 rpm gave the vehicle tremendous performance potential. Road tests have produced 0–100 km/h times as low as 3.8 seconds, with 0–160 km/h in 7.6 seconds and 0–200 km/h in 11 seconds giving the F40 a slight advantage in acceleration over the Porsche 959, its primary competitor at the time.

The F40 was the first road legal production car to break the 200 mph barrier. From its introduction in 1987 until 1989, with its only competitors being the Porsche 959 and the 1988 Lamborghini Countach, it held the record as the world's fastest production car, with a top speed of 201.4 mph. During the 2006 Bonneville Speed Week, Amir Rosenbaum of Spectre Performance managed to take his F40 with small boost and air intake modifications to 226 miles per hour.

 

Source:
Picture Link:
Wikipedia Link:

Lamborghini Murciélago

The Lamborghini Murcielago was a sports car produced by Italian automaker Lamborghini between 2001 and 2010. Successor to the Diablo and flagship of the automaker's lineup, the Murciélago was introduced as a coupé in 2001. The Murcielago was first available in North America for the 2002 model year. The automaker's first new design in eleven years, the car was also the brand's first new model under the ownership of German parent company Audi, which is owned by Volkswagen. It was styled by Peruvian-born Belgian Luc Donckerwolke, Lamborghini's head of design from 1998 to 2005.

A roadster version was introduced in 2004, followed by the updated LP 640 coupé and roadster and limited edition LP 650–4 Roadster. The final variation to wear the Murciélago nameplate was the LP 670–4 SuperVeloce, powered by the largest and final evolution of the Lamborghini V12 engine. Production of the Murciélago ended on November 5, 2010, with a total run of 4,099 cars. Its successor, the Aventador, was released at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

In a continuation of Lamborghini's tradition of naming its cars after stars from the world of bullfighting, the Murciélago was named for a fighting bull that survived 24 sword strokes in an 1879 fight against Rafael "El Lagartijo" Molina Sánchez, at the Coso de los califas bullring in Córdoba, Spain. Murciélago fought with such passion and spirit that the matador chose to spare its life, a rare honor. The bull, which came from Joaquin del Val di Navarra's farm, was later presented as a gift to Don Antonio Miura, a noted local breeder; thus began the famed Miura line of fighting bulls, and the name for one of Lamborghini's greatest designs.

This promotional story, however, largely contradicts the history of Miura ranch, whose bulls first fought in corrida in 1849, 30 years prior to the "story of Murciélago". It is also doubtful that, after 24 deep stab wounds and the associated stress and blood loss, the animal could survive, let alone reproduce.

Murciélago is the Spanish name for the bat. The word is pronounced, with a voiceless dental fricative, in the Castilian Spanish spoken in most of Spain. However, the Italian automaker often uses the Southern Spanish and Latin American Spanish pronunciation, with an sound. Many people in Italy pronounce it, as if it were an Italian word.

In 2004, Lamborghini celebrated its 40th anniversary by releasing a limited run of 50 40th-Anniversary Edition Murciélagos. Enhancements over the standard vehicle included a limited-edition blue body color that was labeled "Jade-Green", carbon-fiber exterior detailing, upgraded wheels, a revamped exhaust system, and a numbered plaque on the inside of the rear window. The interior also featured unique leather trim.

In May 2010 in the United States, Lamborghini recalled 428 of its 2007–2008 Murciélago coupés and roadsters because of the possibility of weld failure on the fuel pump support inside the fuel tank, potentially leading to a fuel leak and possible fire.

Source:
Picture Link:
Wikipedia Link:

Maybach 57

The Maybach 57 were the first automobile models of the Maybach brand since the brand's revival by DaimlerChrysler AG. They are derived from the Benz Maybach concept car presented at the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show. The concept car was based on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan, as are the eventual production models. The Luxury Brand Status Index 2008 voted the Maybach 1st place, ahead of Rolls-Royce and Bentley. The models will cease production in 2013, due to continued financial losses for the marque, and sales at one fifth the level of the profitable Rolls-Royce models.

Wilhelm Maybach was an engineer who worked with Gottlieb Daimler to design combustion engines. The first Daimler-Maybach automobile was built in 1889.

Over the years, the Maybach name developed into a brand name for automobiles that were typically very large, powerful, and luxurious. For example, the Maybach Zeppelin DS 8 Cabriolet built in 1929 had side sections that could be lowered completely to allow it to be used as a car in a parade.

In April 1998, DaimlerChrysler AG's competitor, BMW AG, purchased the ultra-luxury brand Rolls-Royce/Bentley.

The Maybach brand name was reintroduced in 2002 to be a direct challenger BMW's two top vehicles the Bentley Arnage and the BMW Rolls-Royce Phantom.

Both Maybach models are variants of the same ultra-luxurious automobile. The model numbers reflect the respective lengths of the automobiles in decimetres, the 57 is more likely to be owner-driven while the longer 62 is designed with a chauffeur in mind.

Standard features of all models include, but are not limited to: a navigation system with voice recognition, air conditioning with 4-zone climate controls, power rear sunshade, rear-seat DVD entertainment system, interior air filter, front and rear seat massage, 21-speaker premium sound system, power tilt/telescopic heated wood/leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio and climate controls, power trunk open/close, voice-activated AM/FM radio with 10-disc CD changer, keyless start, heated front and rear seats, cooled front seats, adaptive cruise control, premium leather upholstery, 18-way power front seats, 14-way power rear seats, heated cupholders, rearview camera, iPod adapter, wireless cell phone link, outside-temperature indicator, universal garage door opener, night vision.

Options for the Maybach 62 and 62S include: 18-way power rear seats power side sunshades, cooled rear seats, wireless headphones, electrochromic power panoramic sunroof  steering wheel mounted navigation controls.

The company offers various options for customers to personalise their vehicles, and provides various equipment combinations.

The engine is a Mercedes-sourced 5.5-litre twin-turbo V12, generating 405 kilowatts.

The Maybach 57 accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in about 5.1 seconds, the Maybach 62 and 57 S, about 4.8 seconds, the Maybach 62 S, 4.5 seconds, and the Landaulet, 4.5 seconds. Though not extraordinary by today's sports-car standards, such acceleration is impressive for cars weighing well over 6,000 pounds. Maybachs in general are extremely powerful: the 57 has 518 bhp, the 57 S, 559 bhp, the 62, 570 bhp, the 62 S, 612 bhp, and the Landaulet, 633 bhp.

Source:
Picture Link:
Wikipedia Link:

Aston Martin Vanquish

The Aston Martin Vanquish is a grand tourer that was introduced in 2001 as a successor to the ageing Virage range. The first-generation V12 Vanquish, designed by Ian Callum, was unveiled at the 2001 Geneva Motor Show and was produced from 2001 to 2005. It featured as the official James Bond car in the film Die Another Day. The Vanquish S was unveiled in 2004 with a more powerful engine and improved aerodynamics. The Vanquish S and V12 Vanquish were replaced by the DBS in 2007. In 2012 the Vanquish name was revived for the successor to the DBZ.

Aston Martin unveiled the Project AM310 Concept at the Concorso D’Eleganza at Villa D'Este on the shores of Lake Como, Italy. The concept showed how the future successor to the DBS would look. Aston Martin later announced that the concept would be put into production as the all new Aston Martin Vanquish.

The exterior styling of the Vanquish is an evolution of the DBS with many styling cues such as the elongated side strakes being inspired by the One-77. The boot lid includes an integrated rear spoiler designed to look as if it is impossible to make; this was done on the orders of Aston Martin Chief Executive, Dr. Ulrich Bez. The car has an exposed carbon fibre skirt showing its all carbon fibre body. The Vanquish uses the new Generation 4 VH chassis which is lighter and uses more carbon fibre than the Generation 2 VH used in the DBS.

The car features an all new interior based on the one found in the exclusive Aston Martin One-77. The standard interior is trimmed in hand stitched leather and alcantara available in a range of colours. The centre stack features an improved infotainment system over the one found in the DBS. The car is available as either a 2-seater or 2+2.

The Vanquish uses an upgraded version of Aston Martin’s flagship V12 engine with a power output of 573 PS at 6,750 rpm and torque of 620 N·m at 5,500 rpm. Like most Aston Martins, the engine is front mid mounted with the power going to the rear wheels. It uses a fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust system with active bypass valves. The Vanquish uses an updated touchtronic2 transmission, Aston Martin's automatic gearbox, and unlike the DBS is only available as an automatic. It will be the first Aston Martin available with launch control.

The brakes are ventilated carbon ceramic discs, 398 mm in six-piston callipers in the front and 360 mm four-piston callipers in the rear. The suspension is a lightweight aluminium front sub frame with hollow castings with independent double wishbone incorporating anti-dive geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers in the front and independent double wishbones with anti-squat and anti-lift geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers in the rear. It has a three stage adjustable adaptive damping system including normal, sport and track modes. The tires are Pirelli P Zeros, 255/ZR20 in the front and 305/30 ZR20 in the rear.

As part of Aston Martin's 100th anniversary celebration, a Vanquish was airlifted onto the helipad of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on January 17, 2013.

Deliveries in Europe began in late 2012.

Aston Martin introduced a special Vanquish named the "Centenary Edition" in 2013 to commemorate 100 years of the Aston Martin company, along with special editions for the DB9, V8 Vantage, and Rapide. It features a graduated silver paint colour featuring enamel inlays and a special Aston Martin hallmark. Among the exterior are deep soft leather and contrast stitching, an interior scheme similar to that found in the Aston Martin One-77. The Vanquish Centenary Edition is a limited series of only 100 cars.

Source:
Picture Link:
Wikipedia Link:

Koenigsegg CCX

The Koenigsegg CCX is a mid-engined sports car built by Koenigsegg Automotive AB. The project began with the aim of making a global car, designed and engineered to comply with global safety and environment regulations, particularly to enter the United States car market. To sell cars in the US many alterations were made to the design of the CCR; the previously used Ford Modular engine was replaced by a Koenigsegg engine designed to run on 91 octane fuel, readily available in the United States, and to meet the Californian emission standards.

The name CCX is an abbreviation for Competition Coupé X, the X commemorating the 10th anniversary of the completion and test drive of the first CC vehicle in 1996.

The CCX was unveiled at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show, sporting body modifications to meet US regulations and a new 4.7 L twin supercharged V8 engine capable of producing 806 PS at 7000 rpm and 920 N·m at 5700 rpm of torque while running on 91 octane gasoline. There were 14 CCXs produced between 2006 and 2010.

The new engine is of all aluminum construction, made out of 356 aluminum with a T7 heat treat to further enhance block integrity and cylinder bore chill during casting. Specifically created and cast for Koenigsegg by Grainger & Worrall, a casting specialist with F1 experience in drivetrain components, the engine is built, assembled and tested at their Ängelholm production plant. The engine is lubricated with a dry sump system with a separate oil pump and the pistons are cooled by means of an internal cooler that sprays oil onto them in order to run high cylinder pressure with 91 octane fuel making it capable of 14 mpg in combined cycle and 18 mpg in highway travel. Available transmissions are a Cima 6-speed manual and a 6-speed automated manual. Power is fed to the wheels through a torque-sensitive limited slip differential.

The chassis is made from carbon fiber reinforced with kevlar and aluminium honeycomb like previous models and while the body keeps the targa top body style and the "dihedral synchro-helix" actuation doors it is completely reworked, there is a new front bumper design, enhanced brake cooling, fog lamps, US position lights, a new fresh air intake on the bonnet that acts as ram air booster, air intakes behind the front wheels to enhance airflow and a glass window over the engine.

The CCX has frontal area of 2,894 sq in and a drag coefficient of 0.30., with a CdA of 0.56 m2 It also has a flat underside with venturi tunnels at the rear and an optional rear spoiler to improve aerodynamics. At 200 km/h there is 60 kg of downforce over the front axle and 65 kg over the rear. The car is 88 mm longer to comply with the US rear impact regulations and to free space around the rear muffler. On the interior side, there is 51 mm  of extra headroom as well as specifically designed Sparco carbon fiber seats.

First in the industry carbon fiber wheels are optional equipment, 3 kilograms lighter than the standard forged alloy wheels, both using center locking nuts. Diameter is 19 inches at the front and 20 inches at the rear  equipped with 255/35 Y19 front, 335/30 Y20 rear Michelin Pilot Sport 2 tires, 8 piston caliper carbon ceramic brakes measuring 380 mm in diameter at the front and 6 piston caliper 362 mm at the rear are optional, saving another 2 kilograms of unsprung weight.

Source:
Picture Link:
Wikipedia Link:

Pagani Zonda

The Pagani Zonda is a sports car built by the Italian manufacturer Pagani. It debuted in 1999, and production ended in 2011, with three special edition cars, the Zonda 760RS, Zonda 760LH and the Zonda 764 Passione, being produced in 2012. By June 2009, 135 Zondas had been built, including test mules. Both 2-door coupe and roadster versions have been produced. Construction is mainly of carbon fiber.

Some of the early Zonda engineering was done by Formula One champion Juan Manuel Fangio. The car was originally to be named the "Fangio F1" after him but, following his death in 1995, it was renamed for an air current above Argentina.

The Zonda R Evolution is an updated version of the Zonda R. It features many changes over the previous Zonda R. Also the car takes many pieces and inspirations from the Zonda 760RS. It is finished in pearl white with exposed carbon-fibre on the nose. The 6.0L V12 engine is uprated to 800 hp. The body work is still the same but has improved aerodynamics. It features a bigger air spliter above the two standard air spliter on the front bumper and a pair of small splitter on the sides of rear bumper. A bigger rear central fin and a small spoiler added below the standard Zonda R spoiler improves aerodynamics and increases downforce.

Pagani Automobili unveiled the final version of the Pagani Zonda Revolución to clients and family members during Vanishing Point 2013 - The International Pagani gathering. The central monocoque is carbon-titanium, the needle on the scale stops at 1070 kg. The AMG Mercedes engine is an evolution of the Zonda R powerplant. The 6.0-liter V12 now develops an output of 800 hp and 730 Nm of torque, resulting in a power to weight ratio of 748 hp per tonne. The 6 speed magnesium transversal and sequential gearbox changes gears in 20ms. The traction control developed by Bosch with 12 different settings and the renewed ABS system, allows the driver to adapt the behavior of the car to his driving style. The aerodynamics feature new deflectors on the front bonnet, as well as a vertical stabilizer mounted on the rear bonnet. Pagani Zonda Revolución also features a DRS on the rear wing. The system has two different operating modes, both can be activated by the driver at any time. The manual system is controlled with the DRS button on the steering wheel. The rear wing changes between maximum and minimum downforce settings, at the occurrence of a lateral acceleration of + / - 0.8 g and a minimum speed of 100 km / h. Holding down the DRS for more than two seconds engages the DRS to work automatically according to the algorithms developed by the Pagani Automobili engineers during the development phase. The Brembo braking system adopts new F1-technology derived CCMR discs. With a weight saving of 15% compared to the previous CCM discs, the CCMR offer higher stiffness and lower operating temperatures on extreme track use. This contributes to the life of the disc which is increased by four times, with no sign of fading and a significant overall increase in braking power. Pagani Zonda Revolucion is on sale at a price of 2.2 million Euros plus taxes.

Source:
Picture Link:
Wikipedia Link:

Chevrolet Camaro

The Chevrolet Camaro is an automobile manufactured by General Motors under the Chevrolet brand, classified as a pony car and some versions also as a muscle car. It went on sale on September 29, 1966, for the 1967 model year and was designed as a competing model to the Ford Mustang. The car shared its platform and major components with the Pontiac Firebird, also introduced for 1967.

Four distinct generations of the Camaro were developed before production ended in 2002. The nameplate was revived again on a concept car that evolved into the fifth-generation Camaro; production started on March 16, 2009.

The Camaro was one of the vehicles in the SCCA-sanctioned Trans-Am Series. Chevrolet worked with Roger Penske to operate their unofficially factory-backed Trans Am team, winning the title in 1968 and 1969 with Mark Donohue. Jim Hall's Chaparral team replaced Penske for the 1970 season. Warren Agor of Rochester, NY, was the series' leading Camaro privateer, his orange #13's o, 1993, 1994, and 1998.

There was also another SCCA Trans-Am Series Camaro that was not popular because of racing but because of its body modifications. This Camaro, number 13, had been built and driven by Henry “Smokey” Yunick. Smokey Yunick was a car builder who worked to reduce the weight of his cars by acid-dipping body parts and installing thinner safety glass.

The Penske/Donohue Camaros also had the front sheet metal dropped, all four fenders widened, windshield laid back, front sub-frame “Z’d” to lower the car, the floor pan moved up and even the drip-rails were moved closer to the body. This Camaro had always kept its stock look and had a 302 engine that was able to produce 482 horsepower.. One part that had come out of his testing was the Edelbrock Cross-Manifold. To this day the Smokey Yunick 1968 Camaro is owned by Vic Edelbrock Jr.

Bob Jane won both the 1971 and 1972 Australian Touring Car Championships at the wheel of a Camaro.

The Camaro was the official car of and used in the International Race of Champions starting in 1975 and lasting for 12 years until 1989. It was the first American car of the series succeeding the Porsche Carrera RSR.

Today, Camaros are raced in many forms of auto racing throughout the world. They are a favorite in drag racing and can be currently found in several series from the National Hot Rod Association, International Hot Rod Association, and United States Hot Rod Association. Road racing Camaros can currently be found in the Sports Car Club of America's American Sedan series. They have also been the vehicle used in the Swedish Camaro Cup series since 1975.

The Camaro was the Indianapolis 500 Pace Car in 1967, 1969, 1982, 1993, 2009, 2010, and 2011. The Camaro also paced races at Daytona, Watkins Glen, Mosport in Canada, and Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The Camaro was also a regular in the IMSA GT Series.

The fifth-generation Camaro is expected to take to the tracks in 2010 in the GT class of the Grand Am Road Racing Championship. Stevenson Motorsports has announced it is seeking to run a two-car team of Pratt & Miller built cars, based on the same spaceframe as the Pontiac GXP-R. The team also competes with Camaros in the Grand Sports class of the Grand-Am's Continental Tire Challenge.

In 2013, the Camaro was the car used for almost all the Chevy teams in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Source:
Picture Link:
Wikipedia Link:

Tian Shan

The Tian Shan, also spelled Tien Shan, is a large system of mountain ranges located in Central Asia. The highest peak in the Tian Shan is Victory Peak, 7,439 metres.

The Chinese name for Tian Shan may be derived from the Xiongnu language name Qilian, which was described by Sima Qian in the Records of the Grand Historian as the homeland of the pre-Xiongnu peoples of the region, the Yuezhi, and has been said to refer to the Tian Shan rather than to the range 1,500 kilometres further east now known by this name. The nearby Tannu-Ola Mountains bear the same name.

On the north margin of the Tarim basin between the mountain chain of the Kokshaal-Tau in the south and that one of the Terskey Alatau in the north there stretches the 100 to 120 km wide Tian Shan plateau with its set up mountain landscape.The Kokshaal-Tau continues with an overall length of 570 km from W of Pik Dankowa up to east-north-east to Pik Pobedi and beyond it. This mountain chain as well as that of the 300 km long parallel mountain chain of the Terskey Alatau and the Tian Shan plateau situated in between, during glacial times were covered by connected ice-stream-networks and a plateau glacier. Currently the interglacial remnant of this glaciation is formed by the only just 61 km long South Inylschek glacier. The outlet glacier tongues of the plateau glacier flowed to the north as far as down to Lake Issyk Kul at 1605 m asl calving in this 160 km long lake. In the same way strongly glaciated was the in excess of 50 km wide high mountain area of the Kungey Alatau connected north of Issyk Kul and stretching as far as the mountain foreland near Alma Ata. The Kungey Alatau is 230 km long. Down from the Kungey Alatau the glacial glaciers also calved into the Issyk Kul lake.Its Chon-Kemin valley was glaciated up to its inflow into the Chu valley.the glacial glaciers flowed down as far as into the mountain foreland down to 900 m asl. Among others the Ak-Sai valley glacier has developed there a mountain foreland glacier. Altogether the glacial Tian Shan glaciation occupied an area of c. 118 000 km² .The glacier snowline as altitude limit between glacier feeding area and melting zone had decreased about 1200 altitude metres compared with today. Under the condition of a comparable precipitation ratio there would result from this a depression of the average annual temperature of 7.2 to 8.4°C for the Würm-ice age compared with today

The Tian Shan holds important forests of Schrenk's Spruce at altitudes of over 2,000 metres the lower slopes have unique natural forests of wild walnuts and apples.

 

Source:
Picture Link:
Wikipedia Link:

Mercedes-Benz 300SL

The Mercedes-Benz 300SL was the first iteration of the SL-Class grand tourer convertibles and fastest production car of its day. Internally numbered W198, it was introduced in 1954 as a two-seat sports car with distinctive gull-wing doors and later offered as an open roadster.

Built by Daimler-Benz AG, the fuel-injected production model was based on the company's highly successful yet somewhat less powerful carbureted 1952 race car, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL.

The idea of a toned-down W194 tailored to affluent performance enthusiasts in the booming post-war American market was suggested by Max Hoffman. As such, it was introduced at the 1954 New York Auto Show rather than the Frankfurt or Geneva shows at which other Mercedes models made their debuts. The "300" in its name referred to its three litre engine displacement, and "SL" stood for "Sport Leicht". 

The 300SL was best known for its distinctive gull wing doors, first-ever consumer fuel-injection, and world's fastest top speed. The gull wing version was available from March 1955 to 1957, the roadster from 1957 to 1963. It was followed in the Mercedes line by the 230SL.

New York Mercedes distributor Max Hoffman, Daimler-Benz's official importer in the USA, suggested to Daimler-Benz AG management in Stuttgart that a street version of the 300SL would be a commercial success, especially in America.

The racing W194 300SL was built around a tubular chassis to offset its relatively underpowered carbureted engine. Designed by Daimler-Benz's chief developing engineer, Rudolf Uhlenhaut, the metal skeleton saved weight while still providing a high level of strength. Its unique architecture gave birth to the model's distinctive gull-wing doors, as part of the chassis passed through what would be the lower half of a standard door. Even with the upward opening doors, the 300SL had an unusually high sill, making entry and exit from the car's cockpit problematic. A steering wheel with a tilt-away column was added to improve driver access.

The 300SL's body was mainly steel, except for the aluminum hood, doors and trunk lid. It could also be ordered with an all-aluminum outer skin at tremendous added cost, saving 80 kg.

More than 80% of the vehicle's total production of approximately 1400 units were sold in the US, making the Gullwing the first Mercedes-Benz which sold in considerable numbers outside its home market and confirming the validity of Hoffman's suggestion. The 300SL is credited for changing the company's image in America from a manufacturer of solid, but staid, automobiles to that of a producer of sporty cars.

Source:
Picture Link:
Wikipedia Link:

Ford GT

The Ford GT is an American mid-engine two-seater sports car. Ford Motor Company produced the Ford GT for the 2004 to 2006 model years. The designers drew inspiration from Ford's GT40 racing cars of the 1960s.

The Ford GT began as a concept car designed in anticipation of the automaker's centennial year and as part of its drive to showcase and revive its "heritage" names such as Mustang and Thunderbird. At the 1995 Detroit Auto Show, the Ford GT90 concept was shown. At the 2002 auto show, Ford unveiled a new GT40 Concept car. Camilo Pardo, the head of Ford's "Living Legends" studio, is credited as the chief designer of the GT and worked under the guidance of J Mays. Carroll Shelby was brought in by Ford to help develop the Ford GT; which included performance testing of the prototype car. While the project was still secret, it was called Petunia.

The GT is similar in outward appearance to the original Ford GT40 cars, but bigger, wider, and most importantly 3 in taller than the original 40 in; as a result, a potential name for the car was the GT43. Although the cars are visually related, structurally, there is no similarity between the modern GT and the 1960s GT40 that inspired it. Three production prototype cars were shown in 2003 as part of Ford's centenary, and delivery of the production Ford GT began in the fall of 2004.

A British company, Safir Engineering, who built continuation GT40s in the 1980s, owned the "GT40" trademark at that time. When they completed production, they sold the excess parts, tooling, design, and trademark to a small Ohio company called Safir GT40 Spares. This company licensed the use of the "GT40" trademark to Ford for the initial 2002 show car. When Ford decided to make the production vehicle, negotiations between the two firms failed. The production cars do not wear the GT40 badge.

The GT was produced in model years 2005 and 2006, with the first customers taking delivery in August 2004. The GT began assembly at Mayflower Vehicle Systems in Norwalk, Ohio and was painted by Saleen in their Saleen Special Vehicles facility in Troy, Michigan. The GT is powered by an engine built at Ford's Romeo Engine Plant in Romeo, Michigan. Installation of the engine and manual transmission along with interior finishing was handled in the SVT building at Ford's Wixom, Michigan plant.

Of the 4,500 GTs originally planned, approximately 100 were to be exported to Europe, starting in late 2005. An additional 200 were destined for sale in Canada. Production ended in 2006 without reaching the planned lot. Approximately 550 were built in 2004, nearly 1,900 in 2005, and just over 1,600 in 2006, for a grand total of 4,038. The final 11 car bodies manufactured by Mayflower Vehicle Systems were disassembled, and the frames and body panels were sold as service parts.

As with many exotic vehicles, when the Ford GT was first released, the demand outpaced supply, and the cars initially sold for premium prices. The first private sale of Ford's new mid-engine sports car was completed on August 4, 2004, when former Microsoft executive Jon Shirley took delivery of his Midnight Blue 2005 Ford GT. Shirley earned the right to purchase the first production Ford GT at a charity auction at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Auction after bidding over $557,000.

A few other early cars sold for as much as a US$100,000 premium over the suggested retail price of $139,995. Optional equipment available included a McIntosh sound system, racing stripes, painted brake calipers, and forged alloy wheels adding an additional $13,500 to the MSRP.

The production run of 4,038 GTs ended the 2006 model year on September 21, 2006, short of the originally planned 4,500. The Wixom Assembly Plant has stopped production of all models as of May 31, 2007. Sales of the GT continued into 2007, from cars held in storage and in dealer inventories. During the GT's lifetime, the car was featured on the cover of the video game Gran Turismo 4.

The GT won Top Gear's Gas Guzzler of the Year award in 2005.

 

Source:
Picture Link:
Wikipedia Link:

GT by Citroën

The GT by Citroën is a sports car that debuted as a concept car on October 2 at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. The car is a collaboration between the French automaker Citroën and the Japanese racing simulation developer Polyphony Digital. Six cars are expected to be built. The expected MSRP is $2,100,000.

The GT by Citroën concept car was specially created, designed and produced for the video game Gran Turismo 5 and was included through download in its latest version Gran Turismo 5: Prologue. Its designer came up with the project and sold it to both Polyphony Digital and Citroën.

The car's exterior design was made by Takumi Yamamoto, a Japanese designer from Jean-Pierre Ploué's Style Citroën design team. Takumi Yamamoto was a childhood friend of Kazunori Yamauchi, director of Polyphony Digital and creator of the popular Gran Turismo franchise, also known as "Gegge". According to a Yamauchi interview at the Paris Motor Show 2008, he and Yamamoto started collaborating on this project back in 2003. A press release published on the North American Gran Turismo official website describes the Citroën and Polyphony Digital collaboration as a « a joint effort first talked about at the Geneva Motor Show past March ». Yamamoto convinced Jean-Pierre Ploué to submit his concept to Citroën's head office in Paris who agreed to start the production process and manufacture the real car. The concept car's rear was carefully designed to fit what the gamers will actually see in the game since it is the more powerful featured vehicle, argues Yamamoto.

As a world leading racing simulation developer shipping more than 50 million copies since 1998 Polyphony Digital had collaborated with real life Japanese performance parts makers and tuners, mainly related to Nissan, since January 2002. Notable collaborations include aero parts development for the Nismo Fairlady Z s-tune, Nismo Skyline Coupé, Amuse S2000 Street Version, Nismo Fairlady Z, Opera Performance's Carmate Opera Z Tokyo Auto Salon show car. Polyphony Digital also did exterior design for the Amuse S2000 GT1 and artwork design for the Formula Nippon racing team Impul racer.

Most of these cars had their virtual counterpart featured in the Gran Turismo games as "Concept by Gran Turismo". Some of the parts designed by Polyphony Digital such as the Carmate Opera Z's full aero kit including front bumper, sideskirt, rear bumper and rear spoiler, were eventually manufactured and sold by Japanese tuner Opera Performance as the 350Z RS aero kit. Latest collaborations include interior design of the Nissan GT-R with the creation of the Multifunction Meter device and aero parts design for the Amuse GT1 Turbo. The GT by Citroën project with its complete production process is a step further in design for Polyphony Digital.

In June 2009, Citroën confirmed plans to produce an extremely limited number of GTs for sale to the public. Only 6 will be built, each costing $2.1 million. In July 2010, rumours that production was suspended began to surface.

 

Source:
Picture Link:
Wikipedia Link:

AC Cobra

The AC Cobra, sold as the Ford/Shelby AC Cobra in the United States and often known colloquially as the Shelby Cobra in that country, is an American-engined British sports car produced intermittently since 1962.

Like many British specialist manufacturers, AC Cars had been using the Bristol straight-6 engine in its small-volume production, including its AC Ace two-seater roadster. This had a hand-built body with a steel tube frame, and aluminium body panels that were made using English wheeling machines. The engine was a pre-World War II design of BMW which by the 1960s was considered dated. Bristol decided in 1961 to cease production of its engine and instead to use Chrysler 331 cu in V8 engines. AC started using the 2.6 litre Ford Zephyr engine in its cars. In September 1961, American automotive designer Carroll Shelby airmailed AC a letter asking them if they would build him a car modified to accept a V8 engine. AC agreed, provided a suitable engine could be found. Shelby went to Chevrolet to see if they would provide him with engines, but not wanting to add competition to the Corvette they said no. However, Ford wanted a car that could compete with the Corvette and they happened to have a brand new engine which could be used in this endeavor: Ford's 260 in³ HiPo engine – a new lightweight, thin-wall cast small-block V8 tuned for high performance. Ford provided Shelby with two engines. In January 1962 mechanics at AC Cars in Thames Ditton, Surrey fitted the prototype chassis CSX0001 with a 260 ci Ford V8 borrowed from Ford in the UK; the 221 ci was never sent. However, early engineering drawings were titled "AC Ace 3.6". After testing and modification, the engine and transmission were removed and the chassis was air-freighted to Shelby in Los Angeles on 2 February 1962. His team fitted it with an engine and transmission in less than eight hours at Dean Moon's shop in Santa Fe Springs, California, and began road-testing.

Production proved to be easy, since AC had already made most of the modifications needed for the small-block V8 when they installed the 2.6 L Ford Zephyr engine, including the extensive rework of the AC Ace's front end. The most important modification was the fitting of a stronger rear differential to handle the increased engine power. A Salisbury 4HU unit with inboard disk brakes to reduce unsprung weight was chosen instead of the old ENV unit. It was the same unit used on the Jaguar E-Type. On the production version, the inboard brakes were moved outboard to reduce cost. The only modification of the front end of the first Cobra from that of the AC Ace 2.6 was the steering box, which had to be moved outward to clear the wider V8 motor. 

The first 75 Cobra Mark I were fitted with the 260 cu in. The remaining 51 Mark I model were fitted with a larger version of the Windsor Ford engine, the 289 cu in V8. In late 1962 Alan Turner, AC's chief engineer completed a major design change of the car's front end and was able to fit it with rack and pinion steering while still using transverse leaf spring suspension. The new car entered production in early 1963 and was designated Mark II. The steering rack was borrowed from the MGB while the new steering column came from the VW Beetle. About 528 Mark II Cobras were produced to the summer of 1965.

Source:
Picture Link:
Wikipedia Link:

Honda CBR1100XX

The Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird was a Honda motorcycle made from 1996 to 2007. The bike was developed to challenge the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-11 as the world's fastest production motorcycle, and Honda succeeded with a top speed of 178.5 mph. Two years later the title passed to the Suzuki Hayabusa, which reached 194 mph. The Blackbird is named after the Lockheed SR-71, also a speed record holder.

In the mid 1990s, Honda was determined to produce the world's fastest production motorcycle and to take over the associated bragging rights and marketing impact, at the time held by Kawasaki's Ninja ZX11. This led to the creation of the CBR1100XX Super Blackbird. The Blackbird name is a nod to the Lockheed SR-71 aircraft, the world's fastest aircraft.

In the February 1997 issue of Sport Rider magazine, the CBR1100XX was tested at a top speed of 178.5 mph, compared with 175 mph for the ZX-11. Its supremacy over the ZX-11 was confirmed in April 2007 by Motorcycle Consumer News, although the speeds achieved were slightly lower and the margin was narrower.

In 1999 the Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R overtook the CBR1100XX. It was listed in the 2000 Millennium Edition of Guinness World Records as the world's fastest production bike with a top speed of 194 mph.

Production of the Blackbird began in 1996 and halted in 2007. Imports to North America ended in 2003 but sales continued in Europe until 2007. Major changes to the Blackbird were introduced in 1999, when Honda switched from carburetors to PGM fuel injection. The 2001 Blackbird received an LCD instrument cluster. Since then, mostly the color schemes have changed but changes to the exhaust and fuelling systems have been made to meet emission standards and maintain or improve fuel efficiency.

Specific variations to the initial model are:

Modification to the thermostat housing. The other changes are minor.

Source:
Picture Link:
Wikipedia Link:

MTT Turbine Superbike

The MTT Turbine Superbike, also known as the Y2K Turbine Superbike, is a wheel-driven motorcycle powered by a turboshaft engine. When MTT president Ted Mclntyre decided to add a motorcycle to his firm's range, he appointed Christian Travert, a former bike racer and custom builder, to head the project. The machine is powered by a Rolls-Royce-Allison Model 250 gas turbine producing 320 shp at 6,000 rpm. Unlike some earlier jet-powered motorcycles, where a massive jet engine provided thrust to push the motorcycle, the turboshaft engine on this model drives the rear wheel via a two-speed gearbox and chain and sprocket.

The engines used in the motorcycles are second-hand, having reached the FAA-mandated running time limit, after which they have to be rebuilt, regardless of condition. To get around the problem of procuring the kerosene usually used in turbine engines, the engine is also able to use diesel, or jet fuel.

In 2008, MTT promised to release a more powerful "Streetfighter," another turbine bike with a more powerful 420 hp from the Allison 250-20b engine, but it was never released and the orange bike only featured the standard shaft turbine. Due to the converted 3 speed Toyota gearbox and right angle bevel drive, the power loss was quite high and the bike only made around 270hp at the rear wheel. The bike has never achieved a speed even close to 250mph and many people feel it is impossible due to not making enough horsepower to achieve such a terminal speed.

Greatest Ever: Motorcycles, a television program by Discovery Channel, ranked the Turbine Superbike the fourth greatest motorcycle, stating that it held a Guinness World Record for the world's fastest production motorcycle, and that it was also the most expensive. Paul Garson praised its audacity, while Jay Leno, who had owned a Turbine Superbike for almost four years at the time of the broadcast, said of it: "It really does scare you half to death, but it's great fun."

However, in the same program, author and former Classic Bike editor Hugo Wilson said the Turbine Superbike had "as much relevance to motorcycling as a fish." Racer and author Mat Oxley went further, calling the Turbine Superbike "an exercise in technological masturbation." Leno introduced the Turbine Superbike as "really a stupid motorcycle."

 

Source:
Picture Link:
Wikipedia Link:

Badab-e Surt, Iran

Badab-e Surt is a natural site in Mazandaran Province in northern Iran, 95 kilometres south of the city of Sari, and 7 kilometres west of Orost village. It comprises a range of stepped travertine terrace formations that has been created over thousands of years as flowing water from two mineral hot springs cooled and deposited carbonate minerals on the mountainside.

Badab is a Persian compound of Bād "gas" + āb "water", translating to "gassed water", referring to the springs' waters being carbonated mineral waters. Surt is an old name for the Orost village and a Persian word meaning intensity.

Badab-e Surt's springs are two distinct mineral springs with different natural characteristics, located at 1,840 metres above sea level. The first spring contains very salty water that gathers in a small natural pool; its water is considered to have medicinal properties, especially as a cure for rheumatism and some types of skin diseases and skin conditions. The second spring has a sour taste and is predominately orange mainly due to the large iron oxide sediments at its outlet.

Badab-e Surt's terraces are made of travertine, a sedimentary rock deposited by flowing water from the two distinct mineral springs; they were formed during Pleistocene and Pliocene geological periods. When the water, supersaturated with calcium carbonate and iron carbonate, reaches the surface, carbon dioxide degases from it, and mineral carbonates are deposited. The depositing continues until the carbon dioxide in the water balances the carbon dioxide in the air. Iron carbonate and calcium carbonate are deposited by the water as soft jellies, but they eventually harden into travertine.

As a result, over the course of thousands of years the water from these two springs emanating from the mountain range have combined and resulted in a number of orange-, red- and yellow-colored pools shaped as a naturally formed staircase. The surrounding vegetation to the north consists of pine forests while to the east it mainly consists of short trees and shrubs; and rock quarries can be seen to the west of the site.

Source:
Picture Link:
Wikipedia Link: