GM has indefinitely cancelled plans to build a V12 powered flagship sedan in order to move further with plans to build a replacement for the STS and DTS sedans.
According to InsideLine’s sources, Cadillac has now shelved plans to produce what was known as the XLS sedan (based on the Sixteen Concept) and its V12 engine to focus fully on single high-end luxury model. The sedan is internally known as the DT7 and will be based on the rear-wheel-drive ZETA platform currently used on the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro.
Production is scheduled to begin...
Get ready America, the new 6th generation BMW 5 Series Sedan was unveiled in Munich today, and will be heading stateside very soon. BMW says the 5 Series has an athletic and executive look with “innovative comfort and safety features” that reflects its standards for high-performance vehicles. This sedan has the longest wheelbase in the segment, a long sleek hood, short overhangs, and a coupe-like roofline—the new BMW 5 Series will be available with one V-8 and one inline-6 gasoline engine. Autoblog reports that “the new 5 Series picks up much of what can be found in the 7 Series and the Gran Turismo.”
Audi’s flagship four-door is getting an overhaul for the 2011 model year with a new “Audi Space Frame” lightweight aluminum body, crisper lines, and a whole host of bleeding edge car technology. The car will launch with an efficient 4.2 FSI engine with 372 horsepower which is matched to a standard 8-speed Tiptronic transmission and of course, Audi Quattro all-wheel-drive. The car also boasts an overflowing amount of drool-worthy options such as a 1,400 watt 19 speaker Bang & Olufsen soundsystem, night-vision assist with pedestrian detection, “emotionally charged interior lighting” (whatever that means, but we’ll take it), and much much more.
Nissan is currently testing its Next Generation Micra in UK and this will be built on a new global platform.
With the Kawasaki ZX12R Ninja, Kawasaki plunged into the high-performance sportbike war raging among the Japanese motorcycle manufacturers. The Ninja's liquid-cooled, 1199cc DOHC, 16-valve 4-cylinder engine generates a peak power of 178 bhp at 10500 rpm. The Kawasaki Ninja's revolutionary all-aluminium monocoque frame and cast steering swingarm pivot areas realise an extremely stiff structure and contribute to the bike's superb high-speed stability and supersport handling performance. The ZX12R's wind-tunnel designed fairing was developed with help from Kawasaki's aircraft division and the redesigned upper cowl has a shorter nose for improved aerodynamics and a sportier look. In honour of an agreement reached among Japanese manufacturers, starting with 2001 models, Kawasaki introduced speed limiters in the ZX-12R to reduce the bike's top speed to 300
The Yamaha YZF-R1 bike, launched in 1998, revolutionized the sportbike landscape by successfully combining the awesome power available previously in the true liter class (1,000cc) with the lightweight and responsiveness that a 600-class chassis affords. Over the years, despite maintaining its distinctive sharp look, the R1 has undergone technical upgradations to keep pace with the times. The 2006 edition features a short-stroke 998cc DOHC, 20-valve, liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder engine that produces a peak power of 175 bhp. The dual-valve fuel injection system uses motor-driven secondary throttle valves and 32-bit ECU for responsive, instantaneous power delivery. The refurbished Deltabox V frame, revised forks and a 20mm longer swingarm facilitate superb handling in the R1. In 2006, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Yamaha racing in America, Yamaha released a Limited Edition yellow/white/black YZF-R1 in original Yamaha racing colours.
Suzuki introduced the sportbike Suzuki GSX1300R, popularly known as the Hayabusa, in 1999. Since its inception the Suzuki Hayabusa was widely regarded as the fastest production motorcycle in the world until major Japanese motorcycle manufacturers voluntarily imposed speed regulators in their bikes. The Hayabusa derives its name from the Japanese term for the Peregrine Falcon, the fastest creature on the planet with speeds in excess of 300 km/h in its hunting dive. The Hayabusa's 4-stroke, four-cylinder liquid-cooled 1299cc engine enables it to generate an enormous peak power of 175 bhp at 9800 rpm and reach from 0-100 km/h in three seconds flat. The Hayabusa's roaring success prompted other motorcycle manufacturers to come up with similar speed merchants like the BMW K1200S and the Kawasaki ZX-14R.
If you’re into something that’s a little more than a simulation of a DJ’s audio mixing application you can always have a dig at the cool DJ Mouse from DJ-Tech. It gives users a real feel of vinyl with the cool Jog dial, that’s built-into the mouse. You can even scratch your discs as they spin around with a blue LED to mark the same. It comes along with a special mat that helps optimize the scratch performance. The mouse comes with an application that is compatible with Mac and Windows systems.
