New Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren

Mercedes-Benz has put motor racing technology (modern Formula 1) into it's latest high-performance SLR McLaren Roadster. The car is made entirely of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) apart from two aluminium engine frames. It is powered by an AMG V8 compressor engine which is coupled to an AMG Speedshift R five-speed automatic transmission. The front-mid-engine delivers 460 kW/626 hp, is 332 km/h and and a maximum torque of 780 Nm. The Roadster can go from zero to 100 km/h in a mere 3.8 seconds.

The design borrows a little from it's heritage - in the distinctive lateral louvers, side pipes behind the front wheels and the wide-opening gullwing doors similar to that of the SLR legend of the 50s.

Roof
The fully retractable top blends harmoniously into the flowing lines of the SLR McLaren. The roof opens and closes semi-automatically in less than ten seconds. To open, the roof merely needs to be disengaged from the windscreen frame and briefly raised, after which it folds away electro-hydraulically.

Safety
A high level of safety is assured by the unique steel-reinforced A-pillars and two fixed roll-over bars. It also features adaptive airbags, knee and side airbags as well as seat belt tensioners and a tyre-pressure monitoring system. The car is equipped with high-performance carbon-ceramic brake discs.

Extras
The exclusive standard equipment includes semi-aniline-leather-upholstered carbon-fibre bucket seats which can be individually adapted to the driver and front passenger by means of differently sized seat pads; dual-zone automatic air-conditioning; a high-quality BOSE premium sound system; a multifunction sport steering wheel with gear-change paddles, and a navigation system with integral radio and CD player.

The new Mercedes-Benz SLR Roadster, is produced at McLaren's Formula 1 factory in Woking, England, and will be available as from September 2007.

According to their website, they will also market its SLR McLaren roadster with a top.

Dodge Demon concept

DaimlerChrysler's Dodge Demon Concept will debut at the 77th International Motor Show in Geneva next month.

Here are the Preliminary Specs:

Dimensions in inches (millimeters) unless otherwise noted.

Engine: 2.4-liter petrol World Engine
Maximum Power: 172 hp SAE (128 kW) @ 6000 rpm
Maximum Torque: 165 lb.-ft. (224 Nm) @ 4400 rpm
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive
Overall Length: 156.5 (3974)
Overall Width (max. @ body): 68.3 (1736)
Overall Height: 51.8 (1315)
Wheelbase: 95.6 (2429)
Overhang, Front: 30.6 (777)
Overhang, Rear: 30.3 (769)
Curb Weight (estimated): 2600 lbs. (1179 kg)
Tire Size, Front/Rear: 58.7 (1491)
Wheel Size: 19 x 8 in.
Outer Diameter: 25.2 (640)
Exterior Color: Bright Amber Pearl
Interior Color: Carbon Black

Chery to build Chrysler cars

Chinese Chery Automobile and DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group signed a strategic cooperative agreement in Beijing today.

Under this agreement, Chery will assemble small-and medium-sized cars under the Chrysler brand name and export to U.S. , the European markets and other countries. The first cars produced is expected to be based on Chery's A1 hatchback and carrying the Dodge badge.

Dodge Nitro T-shirt contest sponsors disappear

I finally realized I was scammed after repeated e-mails to the contact person and the company who sponsored my Dodge Nitro T-shirt contest, remain unanswered.

The winners of the contest will not go empty handed. I have already sent them a t-shirt each from my own 'Auto Enthusiast' online shop. I really apologise for not being able to deliver the promised prizes. This is a big lesson for me.



Read the whole series of events here, right from the start when a lady named Corrie Zielinski contacted me. I later found out that she was the Online Brand Manager of an online advertising company called New Media Strategies.

UPDATE: 5 June 2007
I am really happy to announce that everything turned out great in the end. The whole fiasco was due to e-mail problems.

Chrysler sold for $7.4B

I am sure all of you must have heard the news by now. DaimlerChrysler has sold 80.1% stake of the struggling Chrysler unit to private-equity firm Cerberus Capital Management for $7.41 billion. Read the press release here.

According to Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management of DaimlerChrysler AG and Head of the Mercedes Car Group:

We’re confident that we’ve found the solution that will create the greatest overall value – both for Daimler and Chrysler . With this transaction, we have created the right conditions for a new start for Chrysler and Daimler.

Shares of DaimlerChrysler jumped on the news, indicating that investors were confident that Cerberus could turn around the ailing unit. Read the Forbes report here.

Cerberus beat two other bidders, a partnership between Blackstone Group and Centerbridge Capital Partners, and Magna International (a Canadian auto parts company).