September 12, 2005
More 1600x1200 Wallpapers
Dieselstation is another great archive of very high quality wallpapers of some amazing cars. Be sure to check it out!
Posted by Hubert at 10:25 AM | Comments (2)
Heel-and-Toe Shifting
If you have heard of the term "heel-and-toe" downshift before, but you've never known what it means, you've come to the right place. It is the mission of this article to make you a heel-and-toe master, a proverbial Jackie Chan of downshifts.
A heel-and-toe downshift refers to a specific technique used to downshift a manual transmission car. It might seem bizarre to the general populace, but racecar drivers use it all the time. Once mastered, the heel-and-toe downshift offers the benefits of reduced vehicle wear-and-tear, better driver control and faster lap times on a racetrack.
The heel-and-toe downshift is a rather complex action involving both of the driver's feet, the driver's right hand, all three vehicle pedals and the gear shift lever. The purpose of the heel-and-toe is to smoothly match engine speed to wheel speed. Here is a generalization of how a normal person downshifts a manual transmission car.
Let's say Frank is driving his '01 Volkswagen Passat around town. He is approaching a right-hand corner while in fourth gear at 50 mph. He is going too fast to make it around the corner safely, so he starts braking until he drops the Passat's speed to about 25 mph. Frank sees on the tachometer that his engine revs are dropping too low, so he pushes in the clutch as he goes around the corner. As Frank thinks about accelerating, he realizes that the Passat is still in fourth gear, which isn't suitable for strong acceleration at such slow speeds. So he moves the shifter from fourth to second gear, lets out the clutch and motors away.
The problem with Frank's technique is that when he lets out the clutch, it is not going to be a smooth shift. The Passat is going to buck a little. Why? Because when Frank goes around the corner with the clutch pushed in, the engine revs drop to idle speed. When he releases the clutch, the mechanical locking effect between the engine and the front wheels (the wheels powered by a Passat) forces the engine revs to match the rotational speed of the rear wheels. In this case, 25 mph in second gear would mean the engine has to be at roughly 2,600 rpm. When Frank lets out the clutch after moving the shifter to second gear, his car's engine must instantly go from idle to 2,600 rpm. This sudden change causes the car to buck, as well as causing undue wear-and-tear on the clutch, transmission and engine mounts.
The simple solution for Frank would be to give the car some throttle before he lets out the clutch. Specifically, he should raise the engine speed to 2,600 rpm. This way, the engine speed is equalized to the wheel speed for second gear, making the shift much smoother. For racecar drivers, however, this technique is too slow and also means that when the car is going around the corner, the clutch is pushed in, a serious no-no in a racecar.
The racer's answer is the heel-and-toe downshift. The technique combines braking and downshifting at the same time. Using our example again, if Frank used a heel-and-toe downshift, he would have downshifted while he was braking for the corner. This way, he would have had power while he was going around the corner and he could have quickly applied more throttle once he exited the corner. These are critical elements to a racecar driver, but they can also be useful to any driver on the street.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to heel-and-toe downshift. It will explain how to shift from fourth gear to third gear, though the technique will work for any downshift.
Begin braking for the corner with your right foot. The location of the pedals and the size of your foot will dictate where you position your foot on the pedal, but most likely it should be canted a little to the right, closer to the throttle pedal.
Push in the clutch with your left foot.
Move the shifter from fourth gear to neutral
This is the hard part. With your right foot still applying pressure to the brakes, roll the outside edge of your foot outward and downward to touch the throttle pedal. The pedal design on some cars makes this easier to do than on others. Use the outside of your right foot to blip the throttle. Blipping the throttle means temporarily raising the engine rpms to match the wheel speed. The exact amount of revs needed is dependent on a variety of factors, but it is usually between 1,000 rpm to 2,000 rpm more than the current engine rpm for a one-gear downshift.
Move the shifter from neutral to third gear.
Release the clutch with your left foot.
As you can see, "heel-and-toe" is a misnomer. It actually involves the ball of your foot and the side of your foot. We'll be the first to tell you that heel-and-toe downshifts aren't easy. We've found that a good way to practice is to just sit in your car in your garage and pretend you are doing a heel-and-toe downshift with the engine off. Keep repeating the steps until you are familiar with the process. Once you are ready, try it out for real. Most likely, your early attempts will be botched. Keep trying, though. Practice each step slowly and then work your way to making them all one, fluid motion. Skilled drivers can execute a heel-and-toe downshift in less than one second.
The trickiest part is getting the correct amount of rpms to match the new gear. If you blip the throttle too much, the engine has too much speed compared to the wheels and is forced to drop down to the wheel speed when you let out the clutch. If you don't blip the throttle enough, the engine rpms are forced to rise up. Either way, you know you didn't do it right as the car will jerk a little.
You'll also know it when you did it right. A proper heel-and-toe downshift is so smooth and so satisfying that, once done correctly, you'll find yourself using the technique all the time. The great thing is that you don't have to be a racecar driver or be on a racetrack to use it. Additionally, using the heel-and-toe downshift technique on the street can improve safety. In certain emergency situations, you might be required to brake heavily and then accelerate quickly. By heel-and-toe downshifting, your car will be in the best gear to achieve maximum acceleration.
So, let's recap. It's fun to do. It improves driving safety. It reduces the amount of powertrain wear on your car. Other than the amount of time it takes to learn, there is no downside. What more could you want?
Posted by Hubert at 10:22 AM | Comments (1)
Wrecked Exotics
Welcome to the internet's largest collection of exotic car crash photos. We display over 6,000 wrecked exotic cars to show you the real consequences of reckless driving.
These car crash pictures involve some of the most expensive automobiles ever produced including Lamborghini, Ferrari, Mclaren F1, Bugatti and more. All in all, you'll find almost a quarter of a Billion Dollars worth of damage within this car crash collection. That's enough to make any insurance company weep.
Posted by Hubert at 10:16 AM | Comments (4)
Volkswagen Eos
Just 18 months after the concept C study made its much lauded debut at the Geneva Automobile Salon, Volkswagen now presents the series version of its new convertible coupe in the form of the Eos. This is the world's first four-seater car with a five-section CSC roof; the folding hard top combines the characteristics of a coupe, sliding and convertible roof. When closed, the CSC roof curves in an arc between the rear end and the windscreen, giving rise to an outstanding coupe roof which is both elegant and sporty. The roof's curve is elongated, the rear end muscular and the overall impression is one of high quality. Equally important: When the roof is open, the Eos also clearly shows that it has been specifically developed as a convertible coupe.
Full Article courtesy of VWVortex
Posted by Hubert at 10:12 AM | Comments (0)
September 9, 2005
2007 Mitsubishi Evo
The 2007 Mitsubishi Evo X is expected to be a completely revamped version of the Evo we all know and have come to respect. The 2007 Mitsubishi Evo X. The 2007 Evo X is expected to be powered by a 2.0L turbo charged motor pushing out just over 300 horsepower.
The 2007 Lancer Evo X is anticipated to be released at the Tokyo Motor Show later on this Fall. It looks as though the Evo X will bring plenty enough to the plate to keep enthusiasts interested, and the Evo X on tracks world wide.
The Evolution series cars of the past have demanded respect - and earned it. The 2007 Mitsubishi Evo X should be no different - lots of power, and handling like it's on rails. The Evo has, and presumably will continue to be near the pinnacle of automotive performance. The 2007 Evo X is almost guaranteed to outperform the likes of the Evo XIII and the Evo IX hands down. With a little nudge in horsepower - provided the same rock solid drive train is used, it's going to happen.
Posted by Hubert at 1:16 PM | Comments (0)
Car Tinting Laws
Confused about the tinting laws in your state? Want to see how different levels of tint will look on your ride? Autowindowtintings.com provides a nice tool that allows you to choose between various combinations of front and rear tints. It also shows that states the chosen combination is legal in. A great reference for modders.
Posted by Hubert at 1:09 PM | Comments (0)
Internet Movie Car Database
You rely on IMDB to find all the information you'd ever want to know about pretty much every film ever made. Now you can find information about every car ever featured in a movie! Check out Internet Movie Car Database (IMCDB) to see all the cars that have been in movies in the past. A very extensive and intertesting site for both car and movie buffs alike.
Posted by Hubert at 1:03 PM | Comments (0)
September 8, 2005
Jay Leno offers Harley on ebay for Katrina relief
In an effort to help raise money for victims of Hurricane Katrina, “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno†will once again partner with Harley-Davidson to have celebrity guests sign a motorcycle that will be auctioned on eBay. Beginning on September 6, guests who will hopefully add their signatures to the motorcycle include Samuel L. Jackson, Reese Witherspoon, Cameron Diaz, Matthew McConoughey, Donald Trump, Denis Leary, Benjamin Bratt, Chris Rock, Jennifer Garner, Nicollette Sheridan, Jessica Alba, Ellen DeGeneres, Bon Jovi, Dolly Parton and many more, including surprise walk-ons.
Jay Leno's Harley
Posted by Hubert at 10:32 AM | Comments (0)
Honda Motorcyles to have airbags
TOKYO (Reuters) - Honda Motor Co. on Thursday unveiled the world's first airbag system to be mounted on a production model motorcycle, with plans to offer it on the new Gold Wing touring bike to hit U.S. showrooms next spring.
The airbag module is built in between the bike's handles and activates when four crash sensors detect a severe frontal collision, creating a buffer as the rider is flung forward on impact.
Honda (Research), Japan's third-biggest car manufacturer and the world's top motorcycle maker, said the airbag would significantly reduce fatalities and serious injuries, citing data which shows most harm occurs during frontal collisions.
Honda will eventually offer the airbag option in Europe and Japan, Operating Officer Suguru Kanazawa told a news conference. The company declined to say how much the add-on would cost.
The 1800cc Gold Wing is Honda's biggest motorcycle and starts at $18,600 in the United States. It sold 12,000 units in North America last year, 1,600 in Europe and 270 in Japan.
Officials said Honda aimed to offer the airbag on more motorcycles in future, but acknowledged a number of hurdles.
Because the airbag works by absorbing kinetic energy from the forward-flying rider, the motorcycle itself needs to be heavy enough not to tip over, otherwise the driver would be thrown over the deployed airbag.
The airbag also needs enough space to blow up safely in front of the rider, meaning the system can't be mounted on a sporty bike where the driver leans forward into the handle.
Still, Chief Engineer Satoshi Iijima said having the airbag could mean the difference between life and death. While the system works best in a straight-angle frontal collision at up to 50 km (31 miles) an hour, the airbag can slow down the rider being thrown off at twice the speed, causing only a minor injury in an accident that would otherwise result in death.
Honda is at the forefront of vehicle safety technology, offering Japan's first airbag in 1987 on the Legend high-end sedan. It began research and development on motorcycle airbags in 1990.
As part of its safety drive, Honda has also developed technology to warn motorcyclists of oncoming cars that are hidden from the rider's view, and headlight designs that help others on the road better gauge the distance from the motorcycle.
Those technologies are not yet available on production models.
Posted by Hubert at 10:19 AM | Comments (0)
MacVroom
Apple Mac Mini's tiny footprint and powerful technology makes it perfect for installation in a car. For roughly $500 and some technical know-how, you can turn your car into a mobile multi-media powerhouse. MacVroom is a site that details every aspect of this new fad. The site features how-to's and a gallery of submitted vehicles that have installed Mac Mini's for various purposes. Install your own mac mini in the glove box and a lcd screen on the dash to enjoy a dvd or itunes visualizations on that long drive.
MacVroom
Posted by Hubert at 10:10 AM | Comments (0)
Car Configurator
Want to tune your car but don't have the cash to buy the top-of-the-line parts? Maybe you want to see how some new shiny wheels would look on your car before you make the investment? Look no further. Car Configurator is a excellent flash applet that allows you to customize one of six cars. You can modify everything from wheels and paint to suspension. Give it a try and make some your dreams a reality!
Posted by Hubert at 10:07 AM | Comments (0)
High Resolution Car Wallpaper
Car-desktop.com has an amazing collection of high-resolution wallpapers for your computer desktop. Most the images are 1600x1200, making them perfect for even the largest of displays. Check out this site for a huge collection of great cars.
Car-desktops
Posted by Hubert at 9:57 AM | Comments (0)
September 6, 2005
Mercedes Benz 190E Evo II
An extremely rare 190E Evo II is currently available for sale on Autotrader.com Only 502 units of this car were built and it wasn't even originally sold stateside. An amazing car for every collector and enthusiast.
"The Mercedes-Benz 190 (201 series) introduced in 1982 rapidly made a name for itself as the “Baby-Benzâ€. But who would have thought that it would also acquire a reputation as a compact sports car over the years and after several engine and equipment refinements? This development finally culminated in the 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II which made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1990."
Posted by Hubert at 10:08 AM | Comments (0)
Renault Clio renaultsport Concept
As production of the highly successful Clio Renaultsport 2 litre and V6 three-litre comes to an end, sports car enthusiast can rest assured that Renaultsport, the competition and sports car branch of Renault, has some exciting replacements waiting in the pipeline. The all-new Clio III goes on sale in October and Renaultsport has built a more extreme “concept†version of next year’s Clio Renaultsport 2.0 as a preview.
Clio Renaultsport Concept is the highest performance trim of the new Clio III
Assertive lines, a powerful character and an exclusive interior make this a show car that blends refinement with high performance. A demonstration of Renaultsport Technologies expertise, it is set to become a worthy successor to the Clio Renaultsport 2.0 182 and it brings a first to this market segment: an underfloor air diffuser. Like the extractor vents in the front wings, it is derived directly from Formula 1 racing cars. The independent mountings for the front suspension guarantee that the handling will be precise and sporting. Clio Renaultsport Concept heralds the production model that is due to go on sale in 2006.
Posted by Hubert at 9:54 AM | Comments (0)