CHEVROLET HD CREW Z71 ‘BIG RED’

CHEVROLET SUBURBAN HD Z71

You may think it’s ugly (it’s definitely not pretty, but I would like to have one), but it’s hard to argue with those specs. Maybe someday BMW will bring it over the pond and let us Americans play with it. Hopefully in the next week I’ll get back to my normal couple updates a day. Just been working ton lately.

From TimesOnline.co.uk

Imagine a car with more power than the most powerful Lotus Elise, with better acceleration and a higher top speed than the latest VW Golf GTI. Now imagine that same car using less fuel than the smallest-engined Ford Fiesta, while also emitting less CO2. That would seem straight out of science fiction.

But it’s not: the car exists and is in your local BMW showroom right now. It’s the 123d, I’ve just driven it and it’s every bit as incredible as its statistics suggest. So this is perhaps a strange time to restate my long-held feelings of hostility towards the BMW 1-series.

- Dindo Capello/Allan McNish win at Laguna Seca
- Mike Rockenfeller and Marco Werner finish third
- 13th outright victory for the Audi R10 TDI

In the finale of the American Le Mans Series at Laguna Seca (US state of California), Team Audi Sport North America has once again given impressive proof of the performance of Audi TDI Power. With the Diesel technology which is set to enter the US market for road cars in 2008, Dindo Capello (Italy) and Allan McNish (Scotland) were able to beat the best Porsche in a photo finish. Mike Rockenfeller (Germany) and Marco Werner (Germany) completed Audi’s triumph in the final race of the season with a third place finish.

- Cleanest diesel engine in the world to go into production in 2008
- TDI engines achieve a major reduction in fuel consumption
- New drive technologies for even greater efficiency

Audi is launching its TDI initiative on the North American market. As early as next year, Audi will be putting the cleanest diesel engine in the world into production in the USA virtually in parallel to its launch in Europe: the 3.0 TDI with ultra-low emission system will initially be available for the Audi Q7, and later for the new Audi A4 too. Audi has been expanding steadily in the USA for many years now, and sees the market as holding high potential for its cutting-edge TDI engines. The low-sulphur fuel required for the engines’ operation was introduced throughout the country a year ago, paving the way for the initiative to begin.

New 200 PS five-cylinder Duratorq TDCi engine, increased payload and a more relaxed, quieter drive on long-haul routes

Ford of Europe’s commercial vehicle range continues to grow with the addition of an all-new engine and Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) capability improvements which are applicable to the Ford Transit – International Van of the Year 2007. These new models mark the culmination of a year of significant activity for Ford of Europe’s commercial vehicle programme resulting in even greater customer choice.

- Audi R10 TDI wins at Road Atlanta
- Outright victory and Drivers’ title for Capello/McNish
- Lucas Luhr with impressive performance

After the 12 Hours of Sebring and the Le Mans 24 Hours, the Audi R10 TDI has also won the third major endurance race of the year for Le Mans sportscars: At Road Atlanta (US state of Georgia), Dindo Capello (Italy) and Allan McNish (Scotland) won the 1000-mile “Petit Le Mans” race. This means Audi scored outright victories with the revolutionary diesel sportscar at Sebring, Le Mans and Road Atlanta for a second consecutive time.

176 kW/240 bhp of output and 550 Nm of torque – the latest version of the incredibly powerful 3.0 TDI six-cylinder engine is now available in the Audi Q7. The ultra-modern compression-ignition engine with Common Rail fuel injection system and piezo injectors impresses not only with its sheer power, but also, and even more so, with its remarkable efficiency. On average, the Audi Q7 3.0 TDI requires a mere 9.8 litres of diesel for every 100 kilometres travelled. This means that the new version needs 0.7 litres less than its predecessor, despite the significant increase in power output and torque.

It is the most favourite car for mechanics, and it is the prototype of family vans. It is a campervan perfect for travel and this since six decades. The Volkswagen bus is the ideal all purpose car for generations of Germans and as T5 it easily copes with all today’s challenges. As the all-round car from Wolfsburg celebrates its 60th birthday, the leading tuner of cars from the Volkswagen group offers a special Abt T5 Sport Plus package for all new VW T5 Multivans. Those who go for it do not only get Abt quality but additionally save money in comparison to the sum of the single elements.

From Autoweek

The gap between diesel and gasoline-powered Le Mans prototypes has been narrowed for next season. The Automobile Club de l’Ouest (organizer of the 24 Hours of Le Mans) handed the gas cars a small power advantage and at the same time reduced the minimum weight of all LMP1 cars, a move that appears intended to handicap diesel machinery.

The gas cars will receive a 3 percent increase in air-restrictor diameter, which roughly equates to a 3 percent power hike. The reduction of the minimum weight to 900 kg (down from 925 kg) could actually hurt the diesels further, because they may not be able to get down to that weight due to their engines’ construction. Both the diesel and gasoline camps hit out at the changes.