Monday, November 16, 2009

Ferrari 360 sports super car

The V8 powered Ferrari 360 is available in both an open top convertible version known as the Spider and various hard top models including the Modena.
The 360 Spider and Modena are powered by Ferrari's 90 degree V8 engine which displaces nearly 3.6 litres and produces some 400bhp at around 8,500 rpm.

This engine is placed in a mid/rear postion and delivers it's
power through a limited slip differential unit.

Ferrari 360 Spider

Brakes on these cars consist of large discs both front and back.
Suspension on the Ferrari 360 is of the double wishbone type at both the front and rear. Ferrari's setup uses anti-squat and anti-dive geometry for the high speed
level handling these super cars are famous for.

The convertible Spider versions have an automated hood system which deploys the roof in around 20 seconds.

Rover 600 series 1850cc

The Rover 600 series was introduced in 1993 and was a product of Rover's partnership with Honda. Models available initially were the 2 litre in two versions one developing 115bhp the other 131 bhp, and the 2.3 litre model that pushed out 153 horses.
The Rover 600 shares the same chassis and running gear as the Honda Accord, a car that it was jointly developed with. Indeed the above mentioned engines are Honda units.
The car pictured on this page is a 1850cc Rover 600 series of 1997 vintage. This 16 valve 115 BHP model was first introduced in 1996.

Fiat Punto


Fiat launched it's second version of the Punto in 1999, and continued with the design until 2003 when the MK3 was introduced. The car was made with a variety of petrol and diesel engines ranging from 1.2 litre petrol units to 1.9 litre diesel engines.

This little front wheel drive hatchback was made in both two doo
r and four door bodies.
At launch in 1999 the Punto range included a choice of 1.2 litre petrol powered cars including a 16v version, a 1.8 litre petrol engined car (the 1.8HGT) and a couple of 1.9 diesel powered cars.

The Punto has had a fair amount of flak over reliability issues including early onset of suspension problems requiring replacement parts amongst other things.



The bottom of the range 59bhp, 8 valve 1.2 Punto has a modest level of performance. Acceleration to 60 for this
model is a pedestrian 14.3 seconds and the top speed is about 95mph. The 79bhp 16 valve 1.2 shows a good improvement with a 0-60 time of 11.4 seconds and a maximum speed of around 106mph.
Moving on to the larger engines in the range, the 1.8 Punto which develops around 130bhp will see 60mph in about 8.6 seconds and keep on moving to a top speed of over 125mph.
The 1.9 diesel is unsurprisingly lacking in the accelertion stakes with a 0-60 time of 15 seconds and maximum speed of about 95mph.

Toyota Hilux UK

Toyota's Hilux pickup truck has been a workhorse in the UK and around the world for a great many years now since it's early 70s launch. It has evolved over the years but still retains the essence of the original design.

The truck still uses leaf springs at the rear which support a rigid axle. This helps the truck carry heavy loads without creating strange wheel geometry.
Front suspension is of the double wishbone type.

One of the finest sports cars ever made

Gearboxes on the 2004 Porsches are six speed manual units. You can also buy your Porsche with the Tiptronic gear change system which combines automatic transmission with manual wheel mounted shifters.
Modern Porsche 911s have water cooled engines.

The superb Porsche 911 GT2 sports car. Outstanding looks and performance to match.

Current 2004 model line up consists of a dizzying array of models including the Porsche 911 Carrera and Carrera S, Porche 911 Turbo and Turbo S, 4 wheel drive versions, targa versions and convertables, plus most mixes of these. You can also buy a GT2 Porsche producing 483bhp.

Most of these 2004 models have a 3.6 litre flat 6 engine producing varying amounts of power. Top speed varies from very fast to extremely fast (174mph-196mph) depending on the version. Acceleration is massive also, the 320 bhp 4 wheel drive Porsche Carrera 4S gets to sixty in around 5.1 seconds. If thats too slow for you then the GT2 will do 60 in about 4 seconds.

Inside the cockpit of the Porsche

Over the years this car has seen constant development. Engines have become increasing larger and more powerful, while the technology fitted to the Porsche has become increasing sophisticated. The yuppy wasting Porsche of the 80s has been somewhat tamed by clever technology to keep the rear end behind the front. Quite a feat considering all of that weight hanging off the back of the car.

The car has also been made increasingly a luxury drive instead of the raw stripped down road racer the car started out as.
Over the years this car has seen constant development. Engines have become increasing larger and more powerful, while the technology fitted to the Porsche has become increasing sophisticated. The yuppy wasting Porsche of the 80s has been somewhat tamed by clever technology to keep the rear end behind the front. Quite a feat considering all of that weight hanging off the back of the car.

The car has also been made increasingly a luxury drive instead of the raw stripped down road racer the car started out as.

Porsche 911 Turbo

The Porsche 911 started life way back in 1963 in the form of the re-named Porsche 901. This first version of the classic design had the rear mounted flat six air cooled engine the mark became famous for, this intial version displaced 2 litres.
The rear positioned engine spun the rear wheels via a 4 speed gearbox and pushed the early 911 to a top speed of around 130mph, not too shabby for the early to mid sixties.

This basic rear drive rear engine layout has remained throughout the 30 plus year history of the car. In the latest versions though the engine is water cooled unlike the classic air cooled units fitted throughout most of the cars history.

Ferrari 360 cockpit

Ferrari also make the 360 GTC which has a tweaked V8 engine capable of producing up to 445bhp at 8,750 RPM. This car uses a sequencial gearbox with six speeds and has added wings for increased downforce. The 360GTC is a development from the earlier Ferrari 360 GT racer.
Dry weight for this car is a mere 2425 pounds, which is a large reduction on the Spider and Modena cars.


The Ferrari 360 looking fast standing still


Performance of the Ferrari 360 is extemely high as would be expected from a Ferrari. Top speeds are over 180 mph and 0-60mph acceleration times in the 4 second bracket. This power is laid down through big an
d wide low profile tyres (275/40 at the rear of the Spider).

Formula one experience at Ferrari has been paying dividends in the company's road going sports car range. Such things as downforce have made their way into cars like the 360, not with wings but through chassis and body design. The 360 Spider can produce up to 374lbs of downforce helping to keep the car glued to the black stuff.

Landrover Defender short wheel base 2002 model


LandRover Defender 4 wheel drive vehicle. This is the 4 wheel drive to beat all others. Available in three wheelbases the vehicle is used the world over by farmers, military units, builders and anyone else who requires a dependable offroad work-horse.

The modern examples of this vehicle are superb pieces of engineering.

Ford Sierra 1.8CVH

The Ford Sierra entered British life in 1982 replacing the well loved Ford Cortina. The car fast became the family car and rep-mobile of choice. Production ended around 1993 with the introduction of the Mondeo.

Range Rover MK1

The Range Rover MK1, 4 wheel drive off road capable car. This 1970 design has made itself an institution around the world, combining luxury travel with off road driving ability to almost match the LandRover,