(Bits&Pieces.us)
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
It's About Damn Time!
Alliance moves to block EPA from finalizing mpg rules
WASHINGTON -- A major auto trade group is making a last-ditch effort to block the EPA from finalizing tough fuel economy standards through the 2025 model year.
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a trade group representing General Motors Co, Toyota Motor Corp , Ford Motor Co, Volkswagen AG and Daimler AG, late Monday urged congressional negotiators to include language in a short-term budget resolution that would bar the Obama administration from finalizing the rules before it leaves office next month.
"EPA's sudden and controversial move to propose auto regulations eight months early -- even after Congress warned agencies about taking such steps while political appointees were packing their bags -- calls out for congressional action to pause this rulemaking until a thoughtful policy review can occur," said Gloria Bergquist, a spokeswoman for the group.
(AutoNews.com)
WASHINGTON -- A major auto trade group is making a last-ditch effort to block the EPA from finalizing tough fuel economy standards through the 2025 model year.
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a trade group representing General Motors Co, Toyota Motor Corp , Ford Motor Co, Volkswagen AG and Daimler AG, late Monday urged congressional negotiators to include language in a short-term budget resolution that would bar the Obama administration from finalizing the rules before it leaves office next month.
"EPA's sudden and controversial move to propose auto regulations eight months early -- even after Congress warned agencies about taking such steps while political appointees were packing their bags -- calls out for congressional action to pause this rulemaking until a thoughtful policy review can occur," said Gloria Bergquist, a spokeswoman for the group.
(AutoNews.com)
I Bet That It Was A Blast To Drive
What it's like to drive Bentley's Continental GT3 racecar
A few things set the 4.0-liter V8's power delivery apart from that of the street car. For starters, the engine, which is capped at 600 horsepower in race spec, feels like its twin turbochargers spool more quickly and seamlessly, almost masking the fact that there's any forced induction. The race engine seems to wind up more eagerly, as if the drastic weight loss includes a big reduction in rotational mass. Maximum revs aren't particularly high – after all, Bentley has always been known for low-revving torqueiness, not screaming redlines – but keeping an eye on the progressive shift lights keeps you from bouncing off the rev limiter like an amateur. It takes a firm stab of the middle pedal to slow the car down, but the unboosted brakes have breathtaking stopping power when you get into them. It stops just as effectively as it goes, maybe even better.
Once you get a feel for how authoritatively it can decelerate, the GT3 can be driven with more anger leading into corners. Don't overdo it with the stoppers, and there's a shocking amount of cornering grip thanks to the car's tremendous downforce and sticky race slicks. The disconnect between expecting the car to fly off the track and its insistence to stay grounded requires a leap of faith. But once you've conquered the fear of failure, the GT3 manages to guide itself through high-speed corners with a level of adhesion that simply cannot be matched by street cars, which are invariably tuned for aerodynamic neutrality not downforce.
Another curious thing about racecars: the faster they go, the more natural they feel. While upshifts are clunky at low speeds, they're bang bang fast when you're cooking; the GT3's brakes squeak and moan at piddling velocities, but clamp down for real when you're flying. Try to drive a competitive racecar slowly, and you're punished with the ignominy of looking graceless and hamfisted. Push it to wring out its performance, and it makes you look good, as long as you don't push too far.
(AutoBlog.com)
A few things set the 4.0-liter V8's power delivery apart from that of the street car. For starters, the engine, which is capped at 600 horsepower in race spec, feels like its twin turbochargers spool more quickly and seamlessly, almost masking the fact that there's any forced induction. The race engine seems to wind up more eagerly, as if the drastic weight loss includes a big reduction in rotational mass. Maximum revs aren't particularly high – after all, Bentley has always been known for low-revving torqueiness, not screaming redlines – but keeping an eye on the progressive shift lights keeps you from bouncing off the rev limiter like an amateur. It takes a firm stab of the middle pedal to slow the car down, but the unboosted brakes have breathtaking stopping power when you get into them. It stops just as effectively as it goes, maybe even better.
Once you get a feel for how authoritatively it can decelerate, the GT3 can be driven with more anger leading into corners. Don't overdo it with the stoppers, and there's a shocking amount of cornering grip thanks to the car's tremendous downforce and sticky race slicks. The disconnect between expecting the car to fly off the track and its insistence to stay grounded requires a leap of faith. But once you've conquered the fear of failure, the GT3 manages to guide itself through high-speed corners with a level of adhesion that simply cannot be matched by street cars, which are invariably tuned for aerodynamic neutrality not downforce.
Another curious thing about racecars: the faster they go, the more natural they feel. While upshifts are clunky at low speeds, they're bang bang fast when you're cooking; the GT3's brakes squeak and moan at piddling velocities, but clamp down for real when you're flying. Try to drive a competitive racecar slowly, and you're punished with the ignominy of looking graceless and hamfisted. Push it to wring out its performance, and it makes you look good, as long as you don't push too far.
(AutoBlog.com)
KW Just Upped Their Suspension Game
KW Launches Variant 4 Coilover
KW Suspensions, has just announced its new Variant 4 coilover. The German suspension manufacturer has used its vast motorsport experience, and the racing technology it has developed, to create a coilover that is both performance and practicality based.
Compared to conventional aftermarket suspension kits, the Variant 4 features 3-way adjustable high performance dampers in aluminium or stainless steel depending on application. The height-adjustable units are rebound adjustable with 16 clicks on the damper itself, with further adjustment independent of the rebound on the reservoir with six clicks of low speed compression and 14 clicks of high speed compression. This allows a quick and easy change from a comfort to a performance setup, enhancing the usability of the vehicle.
(SpeedHunters.com)
KW Suspensions, has just announced its new Variant 4 coilover. The German suspension manufacturer has used its vast motorsport experience, and the racing technology it has developed, to create a coilover that is both performance and practicality based.
Compared to conventional aftermarket suspension kits, the Variant 4 features 3-way adjustable high performance dampers in aluminium or stainless steel depending on application. The height-adjustable units are rebound adjustable with 16 clicks on the damper itself, with further adjustment independent of the rebound on the reservoir with six clicks of low speed compression and 14 clicks of high speed compression. This allows a quick and easy change from a comfort to a performance setup, enhancing the usability of the vehicle.
(SpeedHunters.com)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)