Jeep Performance Enhancers at Parts Train for the Jeep Gladiator Concept Car 2005Written by Jenny McLane
Why concept cars? For obvious reasons - to get a visible, tangible look at a design before production so its feel can be evaluated, possible problems can be foreseen, and, for concept cars shown to public, so reactions of non-gear heads can be judged. In testing particular ideas, concepts are best - for example, they could be a test bed for exterior and interior colors and materials, new controls and dashboard layouts, variations on packaging, etc.Driving concept cars is a wonderful experience knowing you have driven a future car first hand. Designs that you can only see in futuristic movies become suddenly real and many are exaggerated versions of what will actually appear. The Jeep® Gladiator Concept Car features historic box side-mounted spare of past models as well as an open-air canvas top, an expandable truck bed and a stowaway rear seat cushion, has a rugged functionality only found in Jeep. The engine is a 2.8-liter diesel ideal for off-roading yet environmentally friendly, since gas mileage of diesels is better and do not pollute like those of years past. It can presumably also be run on biodiesel, which both reduces amount of energy spent on processing and avoids toxic spills. The engine has an abundant 295 foot-pounds of torque and 163 horsepower. The short rear overhang allows a good departure angle for off-roading. There is a solid front axle, and in rear, a trailing arm system with coil-within-a-coil. There are a front winch, front and rear locking differentials, and skid plates. On driver's side, there is a cabin storage access panel, and a lockable storage box in front of rear wheel where jack is stowed. The Gladiator looks like shape of Wranglers to come, and rumor has it that's exactly what it is: a first try at getting dimensions and shape of next-generation Wrangler, due around 2006 (partly to meet new safety standards). We've been told that Gladiator retains classic Jeep live axles, with a similar 4x4 system and length, but with more width for better stability and comfort (the Gladiator is ten inches wider, but we suspect actual increase will be half that). The suspension will be updated for additional capacity and safety, and we suspect some electronics will be thrown into mix. If Gladiator is any indication, ground clearance will also be considerably better - which will be helpful given new competition from Hummers, Porsches, and like.
| | The 2006 BMW M6: BMW Performance Parts, Aftermarket Parts now available at Parts TrainWritten by Jenny McLane
The all-new M6 features weight-saving technologies such as a carbon-fiber roof and 19-inch forged aluminum wheels that are almost four pounds lighter than regular cast wheels. With almost 500 horsepower available, BMW claims M6 will hit 60 mph in under 4.6 seconds, and it will run to 20 5mph without traditional 155-mph speed limiter. The suspension, though similar to that of M5, is specially tuned to take advantage of M6's shorter wheelbase and lower center of gravity. Massive cross-drilled brakes enable M6 to pull up from 60 mph in less than 118 feet.It is most powerful 6 Series yet to be produced as it shares its power unit with recently released M5. Acceleration is from 0-100 km/h comes in 4.6 seconds and M6 reaches 200 km/h about 14 seconds. Top speed is limited to 250 km/h. It has a 5-litre V10 engine with a power output of 373 kW at 7 750 r/min, while torque is 520 Nm at 6 100 r/min. In city driving where not much power is needed, BMW M6 automatically sets off in its comfort-oriented P400 performance program with 296 kW (400 bhp) engine output. The V10 power unit requires roughly twice as much cooling air as V8 in BMW 645Ci. The V10 is indeed most demanding engine in technical terms. BMW’s high-speed engine concept allows an optimum gearbox and final drive transmission ratio. The two five-cylinder banks in V10 are arranged at an angle of 90° in order to optimize standard of vibration control and motoring comfort offered by full mass compensation on crank drive. Taking substantial forces of combustion process, high engine speeds and vibrations into account, crankcase comes in bedplate design. The extremely stiff crankshaft, in turn, runs in six bearings. The engine control unit is ionic current technology serving to detect any tendency of engine to knock, misfire and suffer mis-combustion. BMW’s seven-speed SMG transmission is precisely right manual gearbox for conveying power of V10 via drivetrain to rear wheels. This gearbox from BMW M is indeed world’s only sequential transmission with seven gears and Drivelogic. With qualities even greater than on a six-speed SMG gearbox, this transmission allows manual selection of gears with extremely short gearshift times as well as comfortable cruising qualities thanks to automatic gear selection function.
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