NICK LIDSTROM - CORVETTE Z06

by Fancy Hockey Cars

CORVETTE ZO6

The red, white and blue Corvette Z06 pace car that Lidstrom was piloted is Chevrolet’s flagship performance car. The Z06 has a top speed of 198 mph and will go from 0-60 in 3.7 seconds. ...
"I'm really excited about driving the pace car," Lidstrom said. "I've never done anything like this before so I'm really looking forward to it. I actually haven't driven the Z06 before but I am a fan of sports cars and I've heard a lot of great things about this particular Corvette so I know it will be a lot of fun."


"In looking for a pace car driver for this event, we wanted somebody who really represents the city of Detroit," said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. "Nick Lidstrom, a local hockey hero, fit the bill perfectly, especially with his love of cars. We're proud to have him behind the wheel of a Corvette Z06, Chevy's flagship performance car, pacing an event that we're so gladly welcoming back to the city."


NICK LIDSTROM. DETROIT RED WINGS

AND JUST IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW:

Corvette Z06 refers to a high-performance version of the Chevrolet Corvette. There are two iterations of the Z06:

C5 Z06 - Based on the C5 Platform from 2001 - 2004
C6 Z06 - Based on the C6 Platform from 2006 - Present
The Z06 was on a one year hiatus in 2005

MERCEDES. HISTORIA MOBILIS.

Historia Mobilis supports the staff and retirees of Daimler in their passion for historical vehicles. This passion for classic cars forms the basis for joint undertakings, an exchange of knowledge, charitable activities and PR for the company.

Professor Jürgen Hubbert about Historia Mobilis

“Historia Mobilis is an expression of the passion of Daimler staff for the history of the automobile. This passion is as strong as ever, as evidenced by some 2,300 members of staff and retirees who already are members of Historia Mobilis and who own over 3,000 classic vehicles between them.
To provide these people with a suitable platform for an exchange of interests, the Classic unit founded Historia Mobilis. Committed to the virtues and traditions of Daimler, this organization is to provide a hands-on experience of the fascination emanating from classics and classics-to-be, as well as winning over new fans and ambassadors for the traditional brands of the company.”

by http://www.mercedes-benz-classic.com

2009 Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion First Impressions

by auto123.com

Transport Canada recently showcased its ecoTECHNOLOGY for Vehicles (eTV) fleet and I personally had the privilege of driving a 2009 Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion. The goal of this demonstration by the federal government was to display and put to the test various new technologies and alternative powertrains, meaning different from what we’re generally used to.



The little VW Polo BlueMotion, unknown to most North Americans, is a really fascinating car in terms of advancements and environmental friendliness. It brilliantly helps drivers rediscover the joys of fuel economy.

Our tester, a three-door hatchback model, was powered by a tiny 1.4-litre, three-cylinder, turbocharged engine featuring direct fuel injection. Output is a meager 80 horsepower but, more importantly, the available torque amounts to 144 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm.

The main purpose of this Volks obviously lies in its incredible fuel efficiency, which is rated at 4.9 L/100 km in the city and a ridiculously-low 3.2 L/100 km on the highway. These numbers easily best any hybrid currently sold in Canada.

Simple solutions, big results
In order to maximize the thriftiness of the engine, the German automaker is using simple techniques and technologies that deliver impressive results.

Of course, it goes without saying that a 1,422-cc powerplant is not a gas-guzzling V8, but there are many more features that make the Polo so efficient. The variable-geometry turbocharger works like a charm to maximize torque distribution across the entire rev range. The lower the revs, the smaller the opening in the turbine.

Mated to a 5-speed manual transmission with extended 3rd, 4th and 5th gear ratios, the engine of the Polo BlueMotion improves cruising characteristics, saves a considerable amount of fuel and, as a direct result, produces much fewer greenhouse gases.