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Posts Tagged ‘cars’

I am not talking car movies with huge budgets and more CGI than 2012 (is that possible?) I am talking about the real stunts, ones that can actually be done. These stunts should most certainly not be tried at home and should only be tried by the people that know how they are doing! Here are the best ones.

Extreme Hill climbing

This is something that is done a fair bit and it does of course the only way that you can do this is by driving a dune buggy. These are very versatile vehicles and must be the only in the world that could achieve something like this. We are not talking a few steep hills and that's it but vertical climbs that would be impossible in any other vehicle.

Rally Jumping

Jumping a car isn’t the easiest of things to do and although rally cars are built to maintain small jumps jumping 171ft certainly isn’t what the cars were designed to do. Someone has done it and survived surprisingly so it is certainly all possible. The one thing that has been questioned, how far can it be jumped?

Two Wheelers
This is something that is more commonly seen and just because more people have been recorded doing it, that certainly doesn’t mean that it is actually easy to do at all. It takes great skill to tilt the car in such a way that it will tip onto its two wheels. The hardest part is making sure the car doesn’t tip over completely.

Loop

This has really got to be the most difficult on the list to pull of because if you get this one wrong you are most certainly injured. You have to get the speed exactly right to be able to pull this one off and that’s the simple part. It takes a lot of skill and knowledge to be able to pull this one off.

There is no way you should be going out and Luton van leasing or pickup leasing (I would recommend a car) as these stunts are dangerous and best left to the people that know what they are doing.

The snow has and still is terrorising the country making it almost impossible for many people to make it into work. Many schools have been shut since the teachers cannot make it in, many accidents have occurred thanks to the ice and many people have fallen over breaking bones. The cold temperatures must also have made a difference when it comes to some of the older people, they must be very cold.

The snow is soon set to melt for the last time and with this comes further problems. One of the key problems comes when it melts as it leaves the roads and pavements in a huge state. Dirty cars have been driving over the roads and have made them a bit of a hell hole and the same goes for people walking on the pavements.

Potholes are going to be such a problem as you will see the bigger ones growing even bigger and new cracks forming in the road in the next few weeks. This is because once the ice melts the water will go underneath the tarmac through the existing cracks. This seems to work fine until the evening comes and it all freezes up. When water freezes it expands and with nowhere to go it will force the tarmac to expand which forms even bigger cracks.The traffic then drives over this and forces the tarmac to collapse on itself making the pothole larger and larger.

What can you do in the snow? One of the best things to do is travel in something like a 4 by 4 to make sure you are safe. Failing this you could transit van leasing or of course large van lease as this will allow you to travel a bit easier.

If you need to get into work as a group why not try minibus lease.

Fifth Gear Top 5

What is the best Bond scene of all time, there have been a fair number of them here are my favourites.

Goldeneye- Tank

How about starting with the one that I love the most, the huge tank scene from Goldeneye. Although slightly unbelievable Bond was behind the wheel of a Russian tank for this one. If I am not mistaken this is the first and last time Bond had managed to get into a tank, an awesome scene without doubt. One of the main reasons that this is one of my favourites is simply because it was the one that I had grown up watching and although I have to say I prefer Connery as Bond It is hard not to say this was a brilliant chase scene.

Casino Royale- Madacascar

The reason that this was done was to show off Craig for the first time, they did this well and it turned into a great film. Facing a rogue bomber he chases him across the streets and jumps across buildings, streets and even climbs and jumps off a crane. This scene ends rather spectacularly with an explosion within an embassy landing Bond in bit of trouble just after he is given his 00 license.

Goldfinger

This is the classic and another great Bond chase scene. This one is great as it features a machine gunner franny, a metal hat throwing guy, smokescreens and of course the ejecter seat! Surely these things alone make it a fantastic chase scene! Cars were totalled, people are killed and Bond narrowly escapes death as he swerves and crashes into the side of a building.

The World Is Not Enough- Thames

Many people think that this is the only really good scene in the movie and felt that the writers had started to lose it a bit when it came to this film. Although not as bad as the really terrible, Die Another Day, there was something about this film that just didn’t do it for many Bond fans. However the Thames boat chase was really great and featured everything a great chase should have in it, machine guns and a diving boat.

The next movie chase scene has got to be a great one considering the budgets that these films get nowadays and the fact the first two that Craig have done have been very good.

So although it isn’t likely that we are going to see bond go out and get large van lease the next Bond chase could be a cracker. He must have bad credit car loans.

The Mercedes Benz 300 SL “Gullwing” is one of the coolest sports cars of all time. It is so named because of its very striking and unique roof hinged doors, the Gullwing was the Enzo of its time, stupendously fast, insane, outrageously expensive and yet so elegant. Clark Gable owned one; Andy Warhol painted one; Ava Gardner crashed one. No Mercedes sports car since, not even the Mercedes-McLaren SLR, has come close to matching the Gullwing’s iconic appeal. And now the Mercedes SLS.

The SLR was a bastard-child of a supercar that neither McLaren nor Mercedes-Benz engineers truly felt was their own. McLaren’s Gordon Murray, designer of championship-winning Brabham and McLaren grand prix racers, driving force behind the McLaren F1 supercar, thought the SLR overweight and overwrought; the antithesis of his personal automotive design philosophy. For Mercedes SLS engineers they were uncomfortable with McLaren’s free-wheeling, swift development culture and were skeptical of their methods. The culture-clash car that resulted was blindingly fast and supremely robust, but oddly styled and strangely uninvolving to drive.

All of which perhaps explains the new Mercedes SLS AMG, a lightweight, high-tech, 571 hp super-coupe that represents the distilled wisdom of some of the best and the brightest engineers at the world’s oldest automaker. And yes, it has gullwing doors.

Like the SLS, the Mercedes SLS is a front mid-engine coupe, with its 6.3-liter V-8 (actually, it’s 6208 cc) positioned entirely behind the front axle center-line. The engine is based on the M156 V-8 from the SL63 AMG, but has been tweaked and primped sufficiently to warrant a new in-house codename — M159. Mercedes SLS claims over 120 parts and components that have been redesigned. The most notable change, however, is a dry sump system that allows the M159 to nestle low in the frame. The engine delivers 571 hp at 6800 rpm, and a 479 lb-ft. at 4750 rpm. Some 402 lb-ft is available from just 2500 rpm.
The engine drives the rear wheels via Mercedes SLS new 7-speed dual clutch transmission, repackaged in a transaxle housing at the rear of the vehicle to aid deliver the SLS’s 48/52 front/rear weight distribution. Engine and transmission are inter-connected by a sand-cast aluminum torque-tube, inside which is a carbon-fiber drive shaft. The transmission offers four modes — basic, Sport, Sport+ and Manual — each with different shift protocols. The transmission also has a launch-control mode that allows full-commando starts with electronically controlled wheelspin to prevent the engine bogging down off the line.

As a prestigious company, AMG was created in 1960’s in Germany by two noted engineers that has previous works with Mercedes and they produced amazing racing engines. Design and testing of new engines was the new AMG’s early role. Mercedes have expanded their main business into creating prime cars, based on the stringent standards of Mercedes cars but it was not until late 1993 that the first and ever true Mercedes AMG was finally built with the C36.

You may notice that when you compare the rates of AMG Mercedes SLS as against the production models, the upgrades do add to the price ticket.

Through the early 2000s, AMG Mercedes Benz focused on two engines, both V8, both 5.5.liter, one standard four stroke and the other a supercharged engine. In 2006 however, AMG scrapped both versions of the M113 engine and replaced it with the M156. Again a V8, 5.4 litre, but updated and also now commercially available in a very turbo charged setting.

The smallest, current, turbocharged AMG Mercedes SLS Benz is the G55 and it’s standard V8 powered sibling is the SLK55.For those looking for a slightly larger AMG Mercedes Benz, the SL63 and the E63 are the models on offer, unless you really want to make an impression? In which case, the mystical Black Series CLK63 is top of the tree.As if this wasn’t enough, there is always AMG’s offering of a true super car!

Available now in Europe, but disappointingly not until Spring 2010 in the U.S., the AMG Mercedes Benz SLS, a gull winged super sports car is unleashed. With a whooping speed of 197 mph, and that is very electronically restricted! The SLS boasts a 6.3ltr V8 that develops 571 hp at 6800 rpm.

This new AMG Mercedes Benz supercar has just been voted the world’s best super sports car by over quarter of a million readers of 25 European motoring publications, so if you’ve got a spare US5,000 you’d better get your order in quick.

In the 1950’s, the war was over and the American economy was on the upswing. The future looked so promising and customers were in the lookout for something new and exciting, so a race car can best match the enthusiasm of the generated interests. Mercedes responded with the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL in 1954, an icon of design and innovation. Its doors were hinged at the roof and when opened, looked like the outstretched wings of a seagull. Given the name ‘Gullwing’ for its authentic upward-opening doors, the Mercede SLS was the first ever car to be equipped with the fuel injection technology. This doubled the engine’s power from 115 hp to 240 hp and helped the Gullwing achieve a top speed of 260 km/h, making it the fastest production car of the period.

Following the success of the Gullwing on many racing circuits, Mercedes Benz decided to create a luxury sports car class based on it. Minus the Gullwing doors, the body make and style remained as a 2-door coupe convertible with a hard roof that can be retracted well lower down the body frame. Body styling emphasized aerodynamics, given the nature of the Gullwing as a race car. This also attracted more buyers as the body styling at the time dislayed aggresiveness, and a curvilinear form. Owing it to its origins of technical wonder, Mercedes SLS parts prides of precision steering, and independent suspension, allowing a better drive control and ease of use. The class was named SL which stood for Sport Light.

In 1957, the Mercedes 300 SL roadster rolled out of the popular assembly lines. A similar looking line 190 SL was also started. The 190 SL had a 105 hp engine and enjoyed a bigger production than the 300 SL, selling a total of 25,881 units. Both W198 models were discontinued in 1963, replaced by the “pagoda-roof” W112 models. Cars of this line sported advanced Mercedes SL parts like a fuel-injected, six-cylinder engine and lightweight aluminum fittings. All Mercedes models were rear-wheel drive and equipped with its own independed rear suspension. Many early models came with both a retractable hard top and a soft top, but there were also versions such as the “California Coupe” that only had hardtop configurations. Members of this line included the 230 SL, 250 SL, and 280 SL.

During the period between 1972 and 1989, several SL models in the R107 (Reihe series) were introduced to replace the aging W112 line. These models were a cross between the SL line and the Mercedes W114 model, carrying a small chassis with the SL’s large engine. R107 was later replaced by R129, starting with R129 300 SL in 1989. A variant of this class, the 600 SL, was most luxurious and heaviest SLs ever built. It featured options such as a CD changer, all-leather interior, V12 engine, and other standard Mercedes SL parts. While the SL series underwent slight design modifications in 1994 and 1999, it was becoming apparent that the decades-long SL series is losing ground to its more aggressive competitors.

Mercedes completely overhauled the SL line and in 2001, unveiled a brand new SL boasting a brand new body style with an electrically-controlled folding steel roof. This was followed by the 2004 Mercedes Benz SL and 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG. In 2005, the entire SL lineup was again refreshed. Mercedes SLS parts for these new models included an automatic climate control, power steering and locks, active body control suspension, an anti-theft mechanism, and a cruise control. Safety features, which Mercedes has been known for, were standard in all models.

Formed in 1967, AMG was the brainchild of 2 former engineers from Mercedes who set out to perfect racing engines. Their early years were spent most on the new engine
design and then testing of these designs. After several years have passed of tweaking the standard Mercedes cars, in late 1993 the engineers have signed up a gig with their former employers to provid the C36, the first mass produced Mercedes Benz AMG.

You will notice that when you compare prices of the AMG Mercedes Benz against the production models, the upgrades do add significantly to the price ticket.

Over in the German manufacturing place, each Mercedes Benz AMG engine is exquisitely and meticulously hand crafted by a single engineer to ensure it is well-done and boasts of quality make. Amazingly, you can track down any AMG engine right back to the engineer that built it by the stamped signature that is applied to every engine as it is completed. You will find the AMG Mercedes Benz lined up alongside it’s unmodified sister model at most dealers as a ploy to feature the enhancements.

The main engine stalwart for the AMG Mercedes Benz earlier this decade was a 5.5 Litre V8 engine designated the M113 that carries the “55″ designation and came in both naturally as an aspirated and supercharged models. Mercedes AMG phased out both the naturally aspirated, all-new improver and supercharged 5.4 L engines in favor of the new, M156 V8, with optional turbo charging, beginning in 2006.

The current smaller models in the AMG Mercedes Benz range include the G55, with the turbo charged M156 engine, and the standard V8, SLK55.For those looking for a slightly larger AMG Mercedes Benz, the SL63 and the E63 are the models on offer, unless you really want to make an impression? In which case, the mystical Black Series CLK63 is top of the tree.As if this does not suffice, there is always the AMG offering of a true and astounding super car!

To take us into the future, released in November 2009 in Germany and because in the Spring of 2010 in the U.S. Mercedes SLS AMG is the new and long-awaited gull winged car. With a top speed of 197 mph, and that it is electronically limited! The SLS boasts a 6.3ltr V8 that develops 571 hp at 6800 rpm .

The good news is that 250,000 European motoring readers have just voted the AMG Mercedes Benz SLS the best super sports car in the world for 2009. The bad news is that if you haven’t got 5,000 to spare, you can only dream.

Marion’s husband recently cashed some major stock options to accomplish their life-long dream of owning an AMG Mercedes Benz. Marion said that when he is finished polishing it on a weekend, they even sometimes head for a quick drive!

This German wonder car is already confirmed with the soaring pricetag beyond half-million US dollar and now Mercedes SLS has been revealed to be road-ready.

The obvious highlight is the upward-opening ‘gullwing’ doors that – like the front-end styling – take their inspiration from the classic Mercedes SL coupe of the 1950s. But the 21st century gullwing is a very popular modern machine with an aluminum space-frame body, a 420 kilowatts V8 engine set just in front of the 2-seater cabin, 19-inch front, and 20-inch rear alloys, and AMG’s first seven-speed dual clutch semi-automatic transmission.

Most of the early news and gossip about the gullwing-no one really expected it to be called the SLS – is about the design, from the all new and sleek gullwing doors to the 50’s inspired air intakes and the muscular body is wrapped around the wheels. But the GLS is an AMG road rocket and that means it is a genuine supercar with a top speed which has to be held back to 317km/h and a 0-100km/h sprint time of 3.8 seconds. In some ways the Mercedes SLS AMG is a successor to the Mercedes-McLaren SLR, but it is around one third of the price and is a full-on Benz manufacturing, not a collaboration with its F1 partner.

Customers are already lined up in Australia for the first gullwings, which are expected to land in the first quarter of next year and to feature at the exclusive AMG drive day held at Albert Park on the Australian Grand Prix circuit. “Yes, we are holding sizeable deposits on the car. We have several orders for five cars this early and we perceive that the huge problem will have to be the allocation will be big enough,”McCarthy says. “We do not have the final tab yet but it will definitely be a very competitive among its class. Companies like Ferrari and others make supercars, but we’re talking a production run of around 1200 cars and that’s pretty serious numbers.”

Mercedes SLS spent a lot of time ensuring the gullwing is both fast and refined, a major criticism of the track-tuned SLR. It still weighs 1620 kilograms and the seats are only 369mm above the road, but the seat backs are made from magnesium, there is a useable glovebox and a Bang&Olufsen surround sound system. “It is unmistakably a Mercedes. There is an awful lot of 300SL in the design, but it is not a copy. It is a homage for Mercedes, but it moves the entire history along.

“When we specified that the cars were two items we have made standard – the fitted car cover and the trickle charger. It means the car can definitely sit in the garage and be ready for instant and any action.”

The Mercedes SLS Gullwing is ready for its maiden flight! A handful of images were leaked onto the web yesterday, but now Mercedes has released all the details and a full set of images of its all-new supercar, before its world premiere in Frankfurt.

It is designed to call to memory the iconic 300SL Gullwing from the 50’s, the Mercedes SLS AMG also filled the missing link in the Benz’s range since the McLaren SLR. And gauging form detailed leaked photos it is a very promising vehicle as its predecessors.

The gullwing-style doors, hinged at the roof, will definitely no doubt be the best marketing feature, and wait until you see the interior which is ten times impressive. Packing in a whooping 555bhp AMG 6.3-litre dry-sumped V8 with 650Nm of torque, it’s capable of covering the 0-60mph sprint in 3.7 seconds and continuing on to a top speed of 197mph. Fortunately carbon-ceramaic brake discs will be offered as an option to scrub off the speed with ease.The obvious highlight is the upward-opening ‘gullwing’ doors that – like the front-end styling – take their inspiration from the classic Mercedes SL coupe of the 1950s. But the 21st century gullwing is a thoroughly modern machine with an aluminium space-frame body, a 420 kiloWatt V8 engine set just ahead of the two-seater cabin, 19-inch front and 20-inch rear alloys, and AMG’s first seven-speed dual-clutch manu-matic transmission.

The German supercar is already confirmed with a soaring pricetag beyond 0,000 and now Benz has revealed the road-ready car and its full technical specification.

An aluminium space-frame body helps to keep weight down to a manageable 1.620kg. Combine this with the latest seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and a near-perfect 47:53 front-rear weight distribution and the front-engined Merc should be as good to drive as it’s on-paper figures suggest.

Prices are likely to start from around £130,000 when it goes on sale in summer 2010 – less than half the price of the Mercedes McLaren SLR.

The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG coupe debuted this year at the Frankfurt Motor Show, scheduled to go on sale as early as next year. For most people who have seen this charm, the concept of a convertible look makes an entire perfect look.

Yes the Mercedes SLS AMG convertible version has been leaked onto the internet, spurring rapid-fire rumors of its existence. The rumors, photos and videos have only served to amp-up anticipation for this exotic beauty.

So let’s compare the Mercedes coupe and the convertible. The distinct change is that the convertible model spied lacks the suave gullwing doors which is most popular, which now is replaced by the standard doors. It may be less James Bondish, but it is ideal for warm weather destinations. We perceived that it would make a graceful addition to any kind of fleet of for rent cars, adding a very trendy yet sporty alternative to appeal to the buying public.

If the news is true, then the doors will mark as the striking difference between the new Mercedes SLS and the SLS AMG coupe. Both are said to feature the same 6.2-liter V8 engine which has the speed of 563 HP and a 650 NM of torque.

As for the 0-60 test, the Mercedes SLS AMG coupe version hits it in an impressive 3.8 seconds, and that leaves us to assume that the topless version will lag somewhat behind, likely at an even 4 seconds.

It is always a welcome addition when a great supercar paves the way to a “convertible” or often named “roadster” version of itself. The market for exotic convertibles and exotic rental convertibles will certainly have room for one more!

While you await the release of the new Mercedes convertible, you can get in the mood behind the wheel of a Mercedes rental Miami style, or exotic rental car of your choice for y our next business or pleasure excursion.