Jash Auto Exclusive : Expensive Car Audio System ( $ 300k )

Looking for a top of the line audio system to put in your spacious new SUV? Why not try the world’s most expensive car audio system? Up and coming luxury audio system creators Rogue Acoustics made a splash when they unveiled their premiere car audio system, the RA:1K.

While the RA:1K is highly customizable, the majority of systems will be installed with nine or ten drivers—four tweeters, four mid-range drivers and one or two subwoofers. These will be supported with up to six amplifiers capable of delivering extraordinarily clear sound at equally extraordinary volumes (0.0008% harmonic distortion at 100 watts and a signal-to-noise ratio higher than 115dB). All of these features will ensure that your car stereo will sound better than it ever has.

Additionally, the central amp will include a cellular connection allowing Rogue technicians to remotely tune the system or even disable it if it’s stolen. The system can even diagnose itself and, if necessary, automatically request that a service appointment be scheduled.

The most basic version of the most expensive car audio system can be purchased for $72,000, but a serious audiophile can spend over $300,000 on all the bells and whistles that may be included.

Prior to the unveiling of the Rogue Acoustics Audio System, Critical Mass’ CES5.1 Electrostatic Surround Sound System was the most expensive car audio system available. It was lauded for the twelve relatively small electrostatic speakers included in the system; such speakers are normally quite large. In fact, the system outfitted four seats with independent left, right and center drivers while a single pair of rear speakers and a UL12 subwoofer dominated the back of the car. Only ten of these systems were made and they were priced at $259,000.

Bose - Transforming the Suspension principles from Hydraulic to Electromagnetic

Bose® Suspension Front Module­While there have been enhancements and improvements to both springs and shock absorbers, the basic design of car suspensions has not undergone a sign­ificant evolution over the years. But all of that's about to change with the introduction of a brand-new suspension design conceived by Bose -- the same Bose known for its innovations in acoustic technologies. Some experts are going so far as to say that the Bose suspension is the biggest advance in automobile suspensions since the introduction of an all-independent design.

How does it work? The Bose system uses a linear electromagnetic motor (LEM) at each wheel in lieu of a conventional shock-and-spring setup. Amplifiers provide electricity to the motors in such a way that their power is regenerated with each compression of the system. The main benefit of the motors is that they are not limited by the inertia inherent in conventional fluid-based dampers. As a result, an LEM can extend and compress at a much greater speed, virtually eliminating all vibrations in the passenger cabin. The wheel's motion can be so finely controlled that the body of the car remains level regardless of what's happening at the wheel. The LEM can also counteract the body motion of the car while accelerating, braking and cornering, giving the driver a greater sense of control.

Unfortunately, this paradigm-shifting suspension won't be available until 2009, when it will be offered on one or more high-end luxury cars. Until then, drivers will have to rely on the tried-and-true suspension methods that have smoothed out bumpy rides for centuries.

Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X - Can EvoX take over the Merc C and the Audi A4

The tenth Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution car has been going around places and one of its future destinations is the Indian automobile market. By next year, Evo X is slated to debut in India, which will be the follow up model of Mitsubishi Motors for its upcoming sport utility vehicle dubbed as Outlander.



Evo X, which will follow the launch of the Mitsubishi Chennai facility-made Mitsubishi SUV, will penetrate the car market by the first quarter of 2009. The initial batch of Lancer Evolution units, however, will be imported, according to the Japanese company. Because the cars will be made outside India, the base price will likely be a bit higher. At present, a standard Evo X sedan is sold for around $30, 000 and a different modification costs about $32, 000 in other markets. The range for that in India rupee is Rs 12 lakh to Rs 13 lakh but since the cars will be imported, the tag price is estimated at Rs 21.70 to Rs 23. lakh.




“We are planning to bring Evo 10 to India through the completely built route (import),” an unnamed Mitsubishi executive said. “This may push the cars’ end cost but the company has no plans to locally build the car yet.”

The Mitsubishi executive also pointed out that whether the four-door Lancer Evolution sedans will be manufactured in India or not will greatly depend on how the Indian market will accept the Japanese car.



When finally released in India, the four-wheel drive Evo X, which is powered by its 300-horsepower capable 4B11T two-liter DOHC engine, is expected to go against counterparts from fellow Japanese companies Honda and Toyota as well as from models of German automakers Volkswagen and Audi. The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, which is the latest installment in the popular sports car series, will go bumper to bumper with Honda Accord, Volkswagen Passat, Toyota Camry, and Audi A4, among others, for the Indian car market.

Force India : Plans for 2010

Force India was a force to be reckoned with in the latter half of the 2009 season, and particularly at the Belgian Grand Prix where Giancarlo Fisichella started from pole position and finished second, and at the Italian Grand Prix, where Adrian Sutil qualified second and finished fourth. The aim of the team is to take that momentum into the 2010 season. “Towards the end of the season the performance was markedly better than at the beginning of the season,” said team CEO Otmar Szafnauer. “We'll try to stay on that glide path, understand how that happened and the reasons for it, continue to exploit those efficiencies and benefits, and also enhance the places where we were less competitive. Those were the goals and objectives over the winter, and we will soon find out how we perform relative to the others.” What are the team’s goals for 2010? “We want to be regular points scorers this year,” Szafnauer said, “and also challenge for podiums when we're in a position to do so. Some podium finishes for sure, but let's be in the points regularly. If we can do that, we'll have a successful year. It's very much dependent on how competitive we are relative to the others. We're quietly confident, the numbers look good, but we'll soon know.” Design director Mark Smith said the team worked hard during the offseason to increase the car’s aerodynamic downforce. “We did have a car that was very low drag, comparatively, so we have focused a little bit of attention on trying to look at the circuits outside of the two or three that were very good to us, to try and have a more balanced approach,” he said.Adrian Sutil faces the season with confidence. “My personal aim, and that of the team, is to be competitive for the first race and keep that up, and carry it through the season,” he said. For sure I want to be where we ended up last year. Close to the podium would be amazing. But I think top ten, points hopefully every race, would be a good step for us. At the moment it's too early to say anything clear because I don't know the car's performance.” After he drove for Force India in five races last year, Tonio Liuzzi has been promoted from test driver to fulltime race driver this year. “I suffered when I was in the test seat because I had already done two years of racing, so it has been difficult,” he said. “But it made me more mature for this comeback. I did five races last year and now I think I'm ready for a strong 2010 together with Force India. We are all looking forward to this season.”



Force India press conference with drivers Adrian Sutil and Tonio Liuzzi, test driver Paul di Resta, and design director Mark Smith and CEO Otmar Szafnauer.

Q. Adrian, last year was a breakthrough for Force India. What would you say the turning point was?
Adrian Sutil: The turning point in 2009 was definitely Belgium. We'd already done some good updates during the season - like at Silverstone - but the biggest one was Belgium, and Monza especially for me.
e didn't expect such a change - we suddenly raced for the victory. But it was one of those circuits that suited us really well and everything came together. But also the last few races of the season were also quite good and in qualifying we were quite successful. So that was the turning point, and now it's important to do a good season.

BMW Gina - Best concept car in the world

The GINA Light Visionary Model is a fabric-skinned shape-shifting sports car concept built by BMW. GINA stands for "Geometry and functions In 'N' Adaptations".[1][2][3] It was designed by a team led by BMW’s head of design, Chris Bangle, who says GINA allowed his team to "challenge existing principles and conventional processes." Other designers include Anders Warming.
The construction began in 2001.

Fabric body

BMW says the flexible, stretchable water resistant translucent man-made fabric skin – polyurethane-coated Spandex, is resilient and durable. It resists high or low temperatures, does not swell or shrink and the movement does not slacken or damage the fabric.[6] The body changes its shape according to exterior conditions and speeds, and it also allows the driver to change its shape at will. The fabric is stretched over a moveable frame;[1] essential shapes are formed beneath the skin by an aluminium wire structure, though at points where movement is needed (ducts, door openings, spoiler) flexible carbon struts are used.[1] The shape of the frame is controlled by many electric and hydraulic actuators, for example, the headlights are revealed when small motors pull the fabric back in an eyelid like fashion. As the fabric is translucent the taillights shine through it.

Exterior

GINA has just four panels — the bonnet, the two side panels and the boot.[1] Its skin appears seamless, but it can “grow” a higher rear spoiler for stability at high speed.[6] Its doors open in a butterfly style, and are each covered by a fabric piece reaching all the way from the nose of the car to their trailing edge which when closed leaves a perfectly smooth surface. Access to the engine can be gained through a slit that can open in the middle of the bonnet.

Interior

When the car is parked, the car’s steering wheel and instruments sit in an ‘idle’ position on the centre console to allow the driver easy entry.[6] The steering wheel and instruments assume their correct positions when the driver presses the start button and the headrest rises from the seat once the driver is seated, making it easier to get in and out of the car.

Jash Auto Exclusive : Top 10 expensive cars

10 : Maybach 57

Price: $430,355 in US

Rs 5.36 crore in India

The Maybach 57 S has a 12-cylinder engine, goes from 0 to 100 in 5.2 seconds and is designed to be a sportier alternative to the other models. It has more power than the 57 or 62 models, 604 hp versus their 543 hp. As in the other models - Maybach 57 and 62 - the maximum speed is electronically limited.
Top Speed: 250 kmph




09 : Porsche Carrera GT

Price: $440,000 in US

Rs 5.47 crore in India


Despite claims that the Carrera GT supercar had gone out of production, the car is very much available in the US and is in the list of one of the world's most expensive cars. The car has 605 hp @ 8000 rpm, can go from 0 to100 in 3.9 seconds and has a ten cylinder engine - a type of rarely seen outside of racing.
Top speed: 330 kmph



08 : Maybach 62

Price: $448,153 in Europe

Rs 5.59 crore in India

Maybach's 62 ultra-luxury sedan is made by Mercedes-Benz and has proved that even a car this expensive to build can turn a profit. The Maybach 62 accelerates from 0 to 100 in just 5.4 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited but can be reached rapidly and with virtually no apparent effort.
Top speed: 250 kmph




07 : SLR McLaren

Price: $452,750 in US

Rs 5.64 crore in India

The SLR McLaren is as comfortable and sophisticated as a street-legal racecar can be. It is a collaboration between Mercedes and legendary British racecar builder McLaren. With the help of a 617 hp and 5.4-liter supercharged V8 engine, the SLR sprints from 0 to 100 in just 3.6 seconds.
Top speed: 343kmph




06 : Koenigsegg

Price: ₴58,000 in Europe

Rs 6.94 crore in India


The Koenigsegg is a Swedish car that sports a supercharged V8 engine. It can go from 0 to 100 in 3.2 seconds with its hp of 806 @ 7000 rpm. The Koenigsegg CCR currently holds the Guinness World Record for the most powerful car in series production.
Top speed: 395 kmph




05 : Saleen

Price: $ 637,723 in US

Rs 7.95 crore in India

Started by former racing driver Steve Saleen, the Saleen car company produces some of the fastest cars in the world. The S7 is designed to compete with the fastest and most luxurious grand touring cars.. It can go from 0 to 100 in six seconds has 750 bhp @ 6300 rpm and sports an all-aluminum V8, 2-valve.
Top speed: 320 kmph




04 : Leblanc Mirabeau

Price: $645,084 (Global)

Rs 8.03 crore in India


Leblanc is ramping up production of its new Mirabeau supercar. The company hopes to make the vehicle street legal for the US by early 2007. With a six-speed sequential transmission, more than 700 bhp @ 7600 rpm, the Leblanc Mirabeau's interior is optimized for maximum acceleration.
Top speed: 370 kmph


03 : Shelby Super Car

Price: $654,500 in US

Rs 8.17 crore in India


The most expensive American car is also the fastest. Automaker SSC estimates this vehicle is capable of going from 0-60 in just 2.9 seconds and the base model has a supercharged 6..2-litre V8 engine rated 787 bhp @ 6600 rpm. The SSC Ultimate Aero requires 104 octane gasoline.
Top speed: 400 kmph





02 : Pagani

Price $667,321 in Europe and US

Rs 8.31 crore in India

Pagani is an Italian boutique automaker that builds radical-looking racecars. This version of its Zonda flagship has 555 bhp @ 5900 rpm, can go from 0 to 60 in 3.6 seconds and is propelled by mid-mounted V-12 DOHC engines.
Top speed: 344 kmph






01 : Bugatti Veyron

Price: ₱,000,000 in Europe

Rs 15.17 crore in India


Volkswagen's production delays are finally over and the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 is ready to hit the road. The car sports a W16 engine fed by four turbochargers, can go from 0 to 100 mph in six seconds and uses unique cross-drilled and turbine vented carbon rotors that draw in cooling air for braking.
Top speed: 407 kmph

Uniqueness of Mercedes : Distronic plus(speed limiter)

Distronic Plus and Brake Assist Plus, the Mercedes-Benz assistance systems based on sophisticated German engineered radar technology, are proving to be effective contributors to accident prevention. This is the conclusion reached after an analysis carried out by Mercedes-Benz on the basis of representative accident research data. With the help of this technology an average of one fifth of all rear-end collisions could be prevented in Germany alone. And on motorways, rear-end collisions could be reduced even further: by an average of 36%. The Mercedes-Benz systems warn drivers when they are maintaining too little distance from the vehicle traveling in front and provide support in the event of emergency braking.