Automotive

Inter War years

2009-05-18T12:27:00.000-07:00

Inter War years

After the war the Continental engine was no longer available, so Morris arranged for the French company Hotchkiss to make a near-copy in their Coventry factory. This was used to power new versions of the basic Cowley and more up-market Morris Oxford cars. With a reputation for producing high-quality cars and a policy of cutting prices, Morris Motor Company continued to grow and increase its share of the British market and, in 1924, overtook Ford to become the UK's biggest car manufacturer, holding a 51% share of the home market. They had a policy of buying up suppliers with, for example, Hotchkiss in Coventry becoming the Morris Engines branch in 1923. In 1924 the head of the Morris sales agency in Oxford, Cecil Kimber, started building sporting versions of Morris cars, called "MG" — after the agency, Morris Garages. The MG factory was in Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

The small car market was entered in 1928, with the Morris Minor, using an 847 cc engine from the Wolseley Motor Company, a company which became part of Morris Motors Company in 1927. This helped the company through the economic depression of the time. The Minor was replaced at the 1934 London Motor Show by the Morris Eight, a direct response to the Ford Model Y and heavily based on it. In 1932 Morris appointed Leonard Lord as Managing Director and he swept through the works, updating the production methods and introducing a proper moving assembly line, but Morris and Lord fell out, and Lord left in 1936 — threatening to "take Cowley apart brick by brick". [1] Also in 1936 William Morris sold Morris Commercial Cars Limited, his commercial vehicle enterprise, to Morris Motors. In 1938 William Morris became Viscount Nuffield, and the same year he merged the Morris Motor Company (incorporating Wolseley) and MG with newly acquired Riley to form a new company: the Nuffield Organisation.

In the summer of 1938 the Nuffield Organisation agreed to build equip and manage a huge new factory at Castle Bromwich, which was built specifically to manufacture Supermarine Spitfires.[2]

[edit] Post World War II production

Production restarted after World War II, with the pre-war Eight and Ten designs. In 1948 the "Eight" was replaced by what is probably the most famous Morris car, the Morris Minor designed by Alec Issigonis (who later went on to design the Mini) and reusing the small car name from 1928. The "Ten" was replaced by a new 1948 Morris Oxford, styled like a larger version of the Minor. A later Morris Oxford (the 1956 Morris Oxford III) was the basis for the design of India's famous Hindustan Ambassador which continues in production to the present day.

[edit] BMC

In 1952, the Nuffield Organisation merged with its old rival the Austin Motor Company to form the British Motor Corporation (BMC). Nuffield brought the Morris, MG, Riley and Wolseley marques into the merger. Leonard Lord was in charge, which led to Austin's domination of the organisation. Badge-engineering was important to the new company and for many years the several marques would be seen on several families of similar vehicles.

[edit] British Leyland

In 1968, in further rationalisations of the British motor industry, BMC became part of the newly-formed British Leyland Motor Corporation (BLMC), and subsequently, in 1975, the nationalised British Leyland Limited (BL).

The Morris marque continued to be used until the early 1980s on cars such as the Morris Marina. The Morris Ital (essentially a facelifted Marina) was the last Morris-badged passenger car, with production ending in the summer of 1984. The last Morris of all was a van variant of the Austin Metro.

In the early 1980s, the former Morris assembly plant in Cowley was turned over to the production of Austin and Rover badged vehicles, and continued to be used by BL's Austin Rover Group and its successor the Rover Group, which was eventually bought by BMW, and then by a management consortium, leading to the creation of MG Rover.

The rights to the Morris marque are currently owned by MG Rover, but after that company's financial collapse, and partial purchase by one or more Chinese state businesses, it is not clear who will finally own the Morris marque. Neither of the Morris Assembly Plants now exist, they were demolished and replaced by a technology park, the adjacent Pressed Steel Compnay site ( Cowley Body Plant ) is owned and operated by BMW, who use it to assemble the new Mini. MINI.

The history of the company is commemorated in the Morris Motors Museum at the Oxford Bus Museum.

Post-Morris cars to have been built at Cowley include the Austin/MG Maestro, Austin/MG Montego, Rover 600, Rover 800 and (for a short time) the Rover 75.

Early history

2009-05-18T12:20:00.000-07:00

Early history

The Morris Motor Company was started in 1910 when bicycle manufacturer William Morris turned his attention to car manufacturing and began to plan a new light car. A factory was opened in 1913 in a former military college at Cowley, Oxford, United Kingdom, and the company's first car, the 2-seat Morris Oxford "Bullnose" was introduced.[1] Nearly all the major components were bought-in, with only final assembly being undertaken in the Morris works. In 1914 a coupé and van were added to the line-up but the chassis was too short and the 1018 cc engine too small to make a much-needed 4-seat version of the car. White and Poppe, who made the engine, wanted more money than Morris was prepared to pay for a larger version, so the company turned to Continental of Detroit, Michigan, United States for supplies of a 1548 cc unit.[1] Gearboxes and axles were also sourced in the US. In spite of the outbreak of the First World War the orders were maintained and, from mid-1915 a new larger car, the 2-seat and 4-seat Morris Cowley was introduc

Performance Package now available on 330i Coupes and Convertibles

2009-04-22T11:50:00.000-07:00

The widely-acclaimed 330i Performance Package, originally introduced on the 330i Sedan in January 2003, will make its debut on the 2004 330Ci Coupe and Convertible at the Los Angeles International Auto Show on December 29th, 2003. The 330i Performance Package has received rave reviews from the press on the strength of its performance and handling prowess. The extension of the Performance Package to these two additional models will raise the driving experience of the 330Ci Coupe and Convertible to an even higher standard.

The 330i and 330Ci Performance Package has been created exclusively for the North American market for enthusiasts by enthusiasts at BMW Individual, a division of BMW M GmbH. Every aspect of the driving experience has been enhanced by the Performance Package. Engine modifications, which include different camshafts and performance-modified Digital Motor Electronics, yield a 10 horsepower increase to 235 for the 3.0-liter in-line six.

New Competition Package for the 2005 BMW M3 Coupe

2009-04-22T11:49:00.000-07:00

All-New Competition Package for the 2005 BMW M3 Coupe
Already renowned for its performance and handling, the new Competition Package takes M3 performance to the razor's edge. Every aspect of the M3's handling has been tweaked resulting in the best-handling M3 ever.

The wheels are 19-inch forged-alloy wheels with high-performance tires. They connect to a suspension that has been tuned specifically for the Competition Package. Turn-in is quicker with a more direct steering

new ferari

2009-04-20T10:48:00.001-07:00

We found these pics while searching the blog-o-sphere over at motivemag.com. We gotta say the shape is ohh so Ferrari and ohh so sexy. We’re gonna guess video is coming next, we just have to get the hounds out to sniff it out. With these new pics, are you leaning towards liking the shape or not. Raise your voice.

ferari

2009-04-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

U mom gradi nema Ferarija-a, ali ima neceg sto nema u mnogim zemljama pa ni u Italiji, a to je simbol moga grada.Velik je kao kuca. Tockovi su visoki preko tri metra. Ovo je “manji primerak”. Postoji i mnogo veci ispod koga mozete komotno voziti auto…

Volkswagen GTI W12 650 Concept

2009-04-07T12:38:00.000-07:00

he Mk.V GTI might only be two years old (a year and a bit in North America),but Volkswagen has progressively produced faster versions of its famous hot hatchback, be it for production or for show. Recall the GTI Edition 30, a factory-tuned European specialty which commemorated the 30th Anniversary of the GTI by adding an additional 30 horsepower. If attention and looks are your ultimate desire, there's also the Fahrenheit GTI, which, besides special wheels, is bright orange inside and out. There was also the R GTI, the black and carbon fiber 375 horsepower “tuner” GTI that took SEMA by storm late last year. But none of these hold a candle to the ultimate GTI, which Volkswagen showed enthusiasts at the Wörthersee VW-Audi tuner show earlier this week, the GTI W12 650 Concept.

Before continuing on, let's quickly go over the facts on this beast. It's got three times the displacement, three times the cylinders, and twice as many turbochargers as the original, alswagen and the finest powerplant the brand has ever made. It's simply astounding. Though the Phaeton and A8 that use the W12 engine do not have turbos, there's a high chance that the engine was instead sourced from a Bentley Continental as they come standard with two quick-spooling turbochargers and all the vital plumbing. In any sense, this kind of firepower is more than enough to shift the compact GTI to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds and onto a top speed of 201 mph, which makes it the fastest GTI

VW GTI W12

2009-04-07T12:17:00.000-07:00

2007 Volkswagen Golf GTI W12 Top Speed

The Golf GTI W12-650 outpaces nearly all other cars of this world...1.76 meter) width and low 1.42 meter (production: 1.50 Meter) height of its body, engineers and designers have brought together automotive technologies not seen in this combination on any other car...Innovative body construction has also prevented the lines of the GTI W12-650 from being ruined by a roof-mounted wing...Every.

Volkswagen Sharan BlueMotion 7

2009-04-07T12:10:00.001-07:00

Germans are now able to buy a minivan that gets better mileage than most cars in the U.S. Probably better than most compact cars, even. The VW Sharan BlueMotion is a diesel 7-seater that burns 6 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (38 mpg US) and emits 159g/km of CO2 (compared to 177g/km for the non-BlueMotion version, and 104g/km for a Toyota Prius hybrid).

Specifications for the VW Sharan BlueMotion

The engine is a 140hp 2.0L turbo-diesel (TDI) with a particulate filter at the exhaust. With its 70-liter fuel tank, range between fill ups could be almost 700 miles. Prices start at €32,200. Lets hope that Volkswagen will consider bringing it to North-America (with its new cleaner diesel technology). It would be a very practical vehicle for those who need to carry many people, and running on biodiesel (from waste cooking grease or algae, preferably), it would be fairly green (not a bicycle for sure, but better than a lot of what's on the road).
The vehicle is fitted as standard with a comprehensive range of comfort and safety equipment including air conditioning, seven individual seats, six airbags and ABS.

08 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Pictures

2009-04-07T12:03:00.001-07:00

Subaru has at last revealed details of its hardcore new Impreza WRX STI which is substantially different to the non-turbo five-door models now being delivered to first customers.

And with a heavily-revised new 296 bhp turbocharged 2.5 liter 'boxer' engine, totally new platform and suspension plus even more advanced symmetrical all-wheel drive system, the World Rally Championship look-alike is sure to satisfy Subaru traditionalists.

At the rear, four exhaust pipes twinned in pairs at either side of the body not only give a distinctive look but reduce exhaust air-flow resistance by 38 per cent, increasing power and reducing noise.

new versions of the Impreza

2009-04-07T11:54:00.000-07:00

Considering it took Subaru nine years to expand from four to five global model lines, you might think it will be a long time before there is another bout of significant activity from the Japanese car maker.

But the opposite appears to be the case.

Subaru will build almost 600,000 cars this year. As an independent, that makes it too big to be niche, and too small to be secure. It has mid- to-long-term plans to increase sales to 800,000 a year.

An all-new Impreza hatch and sedan - including the iconic WRX turbo - are expected late next year. In 2008 we'll see the third-generation Forester and in 2009 the next Liberty/Outback.

But just as significant for Subaru's global growth target will be the debut of turbo-diesel technology. It should first appear in Europe late next year, where compression ignition engines now dominate most markets.

First up should be a 2.0-litre four-cylinder boxer and later a six-cylinder 3.0-litre boxer. These engines are expected to lift Subaru's European sales performance in the next few years and account for most of its increased global volume.

There is certainly potential for improvement. Subaru's annual sales in Australia outnumber the combined sales of Germany, France, Britain, Spain and Switzerland.

The 2.0-litre turbo-diesel should first appear in the Outback, arriving in Australia late in 2008 or early 2009. Petrol engines aren't being ignored, with a bigger 3.6-litre six-cylinder said to be under development, along with improved turbos that will help to power the next-generation performance models.

Further out, a newly formed alliance with Toyota - replacing an unsuccessful relationship with General Motors - has given Subaru access to hybrid technology. But don't expect to see a petrol-electric Subaru this decade.

And what of an expansion beyond five model lines? According to Australian managing director Nick Senior, the emphasis will be on the styling of the next generation of existing models, starting with Impreza.

Versatility and flexibility will also become a design imperative. Senior revealed that Ikuo Mori, the new president of Subaru's parent, Fuji Heavy Industries, had reopened studies into several projects aborted by the previous leadership. These include a vehicle based on the Liberty platform that is similar in concept to the Mercedes-Benz B-Class compact people-mover.

"It is being looked at again," confirmed Senior. "It is one of a number of cars with potential."

New Subaru

2009-04-07T11:50:00.000-07:00

Subaru’s managing director Richard Taylor believes that the Banbury-based outfit will be back fighting for wins in 2008.Subaru have really struggled in the last two years in the
WRC and haven’t won now since 2005. During the season just gone the team only just finished ahead of the Ford ‘B’ team in the manufacturers’, 6 points up on the Stobart outfit and with only two podiums all season there was little to get excited about. Despite that though, Taylor is hopeful that with the new Impreza they will be able …

BMW New Class

2009-04-05T02:43:00.001-07:00

The New Class (German: Neue Klasse) was a line of compact sedans and coupes starting with the 1962 1500 and continuing through the last 2002s in 1977.

Powered by BMW's celebrated four-cylinder M10 engine, the New Class models featured a fully independent suspension, MacPherson struts in front, and front disc brakes. Initially a family of four-door sedans and two-door coupes, the New Class line was broadened to two-door sports sedans with the addition of the 02 Series 1600 and 2002 in 1966.

Sharing little in common with the rest the line beyond power train, the sporty siblings caught auto enthusiasts' attention and established BMW as an international brand. Precursors to the famed BMW 3 Series, the two-doors' success cemented the firm's future as an upper tier performance car maker.

New Class four-doors with numbers ending in "0" were replaced by the larger BMW 5 Series in 1972. The upscale 2000C and 2000CS coupes were replaced by the six-cylinder BMW E9, introduced in 1969 with the 2800CS. The 1600 two-door was discontinued in 1975, the 2002 replaced by the 320i in 1975.

NASCAR Racing

2009-04-05T02:33:00.001-07:00

NASCAR Racing has become one of the most popular sports in America and its popularity is increasing every year. For those of us who are NASCAR fans we completely understand why it has increased in popularity, but many others don't understand why. To those non-NASCAR fans, they ask, "What is there to love about a sport with just left turns?".

So why is NASCAR racing so popular? It is hard to say, but I think that there are several reasons that come up over and over. This article will explore why NASCAR fans love the sport so much..

The first reason that NASCAR racing is so popular is that it is easy to follow. My wife has watched football all of her life, but to this day she does not truly understand the rules. However, the rules of NASCAR racing are fairly easy. As with any race, the NASCAR driver that finishes first wins. It doesn't get much easier than that.

Over 100,000 NASCAR fans show up at the racetrack every week to watch their favorite NASCAR drivers race toward the Sprint Cup. But many million more fans have a Sunday ritual of watching television on race day. This doesn't even count the many more who gain access to BUSCH races, qualifying sessions, and practice sessions. There are also many race fans who make big weekend events out of races with tailgating and barbeque grilling.

nascar testing

2009-04-05T02:30:00.001-07:00

Man, how crazy is this? While wind tunnel testing is perfect for planes and other flying vehicles at times they’re not so perfect when dealing with cars, especially at very high speeds. The road surface sometimes leads to incorrect readings since wind travelling at 200+ mph likes to stick to the floor. So for a more accurate way to test their cars the Haas CNC Racing NASCAR team has created this full-size rolling road testing facility called WindShear Inc.

That track is actually a 1mm thick steel belt capable of rolling at over 180 mph! It has sensors located underneath that can take readings for each wheel and the whole setup seen here will be used inside a massive wind tunnel to accurately recreate the driving conditions on a NASCAR track. Minus of course the left-hand turns.

[ Jalopnik - Haas Builds Rolling Road Wind Tunnel ] VIA [ Autoblog ]

A larger picture of the testing rig is available after the jump that better shows the scale of this setup.

ferari article

2009-04-05T01:56:00.000-07:00

Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1928 as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles in 1947 as Ferrari S.p.A.. Throughout its history, the company has been noted for its continued participation in racing, especially in Formula One, where it has enjoyed great success.

After years of financial struggles, Enzo Ferrari sold the company's sports car division to the Fiat group in 1969 to ensure continued financial backing. Enzo Ferrari retained control of the racing division until his death in 1988 at the age of 90. Earlier that year he had overseen the launch of the Ferrari F40; the last new Ferrari to be launched before his death, and arguably one of the most famous supercars ever made.

Ferrari also has an internally managed merchandising line that licenses many products bearing the Ferrari brand, including eyewear, pens, pencils, electronic goods, perfume, clothing, high-tech bicycles, watches, cell phones, and even laptop computers.

Mugen Motorsports

2009-04-05T01:47:00.000-07:00

Mugen Motorsports (M-TEC Co., Ltd) (無限) is a Japanese company formed in 1973 by Hirotoshi Honda, the son of Honda Motor Company founder Soichiro Honda, and Masao Kimura. Mugen, meaning "Without Limit", or "Unlimited", (hence the commonly placed word "Power" after, denoting "Unlimited Power") is an engine tuner and parts manufacturer closely associated with the Honda Motor Company. Despite the family connections, however, Mugen is not, and has never been, owned by Honda. Things were complicated for some time as Mugen was owned and run by Hirotoshi Honda, who has been the major shareholder in Honda since his father's death in 1991.

The company tunes and races Honda vehicles in the Super GT championship, and, additionally, sells aftermarket parts to amateur enthusiasts. It was part of partnerships that won the Formula 3000 championship in 1990 and 1991, and that eventually led to Mugen's involvement in Formula 1, from 1992 to 2000, and up to 2005 was the exclusive supplier of Formula Nippon engines.

Jeep Concept

2009-04-05T01:36:00.000-07:00

The 2008 Jeep Renegade Concept, shown at NAIAS, is “a sporty B-segment-sized two-seater ideally suited for the all-weather delights of off-roading and dune surfing. Featuring a cut-down speedster windshield, a roll bar, openings in the door lowers and a hose-out interior, it is an ‘eco-friendly’ vehicle with minimized use of materials – designed for those who want to enjoy the earth while taking care of its future. The propulsion system combines a 40-mile lithium-ion battery pack and a small-displacement BLUETEC diesel engine. The result: fuel economy of more than 110 miles per gallon.”

mazda rx8

2009-03-23T12:03:00.000-07:00

The new revision of the Mazda RX-8 debuted at the 2008 Detroit Motor Show, with production model year starting in 2009. Meaningful changes have been described by Autoblog as being:

Some additional chassis bracing increases rigidity, along with a trapezoidal strut tower brace and new suspension geometry that keep things planted out back.

Additionally some minor cosmetic changes have been made most notable in the front fascia, fenders, and tail lights. No changes to the engine's power output have been made, though the manual transmission models will see a lower final drive ratio of 4.777 from the previous standard of 4.444.^[3]The updated version is slightly slower than the previous model (0-100km/h in 6.7s from 6.4).