Jaguar S-Type, 2008

Jaguar S-Type, 2008

The latest S-TYPE continues to be loved and admired by customers throughout the world, attracted on an emotional level by its spirit of individuality, iconic sporting performance. There is also a rational attraction as well, with the recent addition of the acclaimed twin-turbo 2.7-litre diesel engine which offers outstanding performance alongside superb fuel economy.

For the 2008 Model Year, all S-TYPE versions feature an updated front end, with the addition of the sporting S-TYPE R bumper and mesh grille to all models. The new-look front is more contemporary, giving every S-TYPE a more poised and dynamic appearance.

A new series of beautiful alloy wheels adds to the sporting appearance of the 2008 Model Year. Entry level versions now come with the multi-spoke 17-inch Antares wheel as standard. The 18-inch Triton alloy wheel is standard on all SE models (18-inch Triton on UK Sport version), while the top-of-the-range S-TYPE R now comes with the stunning 19-inch Barcelona wheel as standard.

The interior is upgraded, with the introduction of multi-function Sport seats (with non-perforated leather) instead of the previous Classic seat for all SE and Sport models. Entry-level S-TYPE models come with a leather-trimmed steering wheel as standard, while a new Satin Mahogany veneer is available as an option across the range. Choice is further extended with the option of a beautiful new Ivory and Charcoal leather colour combination for SE models.

Model Year S-TYPE at a glance

+ Executive Jaguar saloon with four engine variants including class-leading 2.7-litre twin-turbo diesel, 3.0-litre V6 petrol and renowned 4.2-litre naturally aspirated and supercharged V8s
+ Streamlined styling combined with advanced technology and legendary Jaguar ride and handling make the S-TYPE the epitome of the contemporary, sporting Jaguar saloon
+ From the top-of-the-range 400bhp (DIN), 155mph supercharged S-TYPE R which is capable of 60mph in just 5.3 seconds to the highly acclaimed twin-turbo 2.7-litre diesel which offers a 0-60mph time of just 8.1 seconds yet returns 41.5mpg on the combined fuel economy cycle, outstanding Jaguar innovation is clear across the range
+ The diesel-engined S-TYPE is offered with either a much-admired six-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission. The 3.0-litre petrol is available with either a five-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox, while both 4.2-litre V8 models are equipped with the six-speed automatic transmission
+ AJD-V6 diesel engine is the lightest unit of its type and size, weighing just 202kg
+ Latest generation, high pressure, common-rail direct-injection technology, including 'multiple pilot' injection with piezo-electric control, ensures maximum efficiency
+ Maximum power of 152kW (207PS) EEC, 153kW (206bhp) DIN and maximum torque of 435Nm (320lb ft) make this a diesel Jaguar with real performance: a top speed of 230kph (143mph), and 0-100kph (0-60mph) in just 8.5 (8.1) seconds in the manual version and 8.6 (8.2) seconds in the auto
+ An impressive combined fuel economy figure of 6.8l/100km (41.5mpg) with manual gearbox, and a low CO2 figure of only 179g/km
+ Comprehensive safety features in every S-TYPE include front, side and side-curtain airbags, Jaguar's Adaptive Restraint Technology System (A.R.T.S.) and Anti-lock Braking System
+ Comprehensive security system includes remote central locking and driveaway locking, ultrasonic intrusion sensing, radio frequency remote control and engine immobiliser (Thatcham 1 approved)
+ Key optional features include 19-inch wheels across the range, electrically adjustable pedals, Front Park Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control with Forward Alert, in addition to existing driver aids.

Holden W427 Concept, 2008

Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) W427 Concept, 2008

Holden Special Vehicles unveiled at the 2008 Melbourne Motor Show, the last instalment of the company s 20th anniversary celebrations.

A new six piston front braking system will provide a 50% increase in pad area, while the Holden W427 also receives a revised ESP calibration, six air bags, improved handling and new Magnetic Ride Control settings.

The Holden W427 receives a bimodal active exhaust system to improve noise quality and back pressure management.

Styling and design highlights include an all new front fascia, a three piece carbon fibre rear spoiler, 20 inch machined faced alloy wheel, unique exhaust tips and red leather interior.

Specifications

* Exterior
o All new Front Fascia exclusive to W427
o All new three piece rear spoiler in carbon fibre
o All new 20 inch wheel

* Interior
o HSV performance seats in full red hot trim with W427 logo, steering wheel, gear shifter and console lid in full red hot leather

* Powertrain
o 7.0 Litre, LS7 Engine with HSV specific calibration
+ 370kW @ 6500 rpm
+ 640Nm @ 5000 rpm
o Over radiator style cold air induction system with high flow air filter
o Dry sump lubrication system with 2 stage pump
o Hand fabricated aluminium oil reservoir, with internal baffles for high G loading
o Front mount, 13 row engine oil cooler
o Ceramic coated, high flow four into one extractors
o High flow catalytic converters and exhaust system (3 into 2 ¾ )
o Active bi-modal rear mufflers for exhaust back pressure management to improve noise quality
o High strength limited slip differential
o New high strength six speed manual gear box (TR6060)
o GMPT LS7 Clutch with new actuator and pedal assembly for high clamp loads

* Suspension
o New springs, 30% stiffer than GTS
o Revised ride height 20mm lower than GTS
o New stiffer rear suspension bushing
o All new MRC calibration

* Brakes
o New 6 piston front braking system (50% increase in pad area)
o Strap drive, 2 piece floating front rotors (380 x 35mm compared to 365 x 32mm one piece on GTS)
o High friction pad material

Holden HSV W427 Concept, 2008

Holden HSV W427 Concept, 2008

 

Holden Special Vehicles unveiled a seven litre program at the 2008 Melbourne Motor Show, the last instalment of the company s 20th anniversary celebrations.

The car to be known in its final development stages as the W427 is finished in the same Panorama Silver paint scheme as the original Group A SS VL Commodore, released at the Melbourne Motor Show of 1988, exactly 20 years ago.
HSV Managing Director, Scott Grant, said the W427 was a tribute to how far the company has come in just twenty years.

A new six piston front braking system will provide a 50% increase in pad area, while the Holden W427 also receives a revised ESP calibration, six air bags, improved handling and new Magnetic Ride Control settings.

The Holden W427 receives a bimodal active exhaust system to improve noise quality and back pressure management.
Styling and design highlights include an all new front fascia, a three piece carbon fibre rear spoiler, 20 inch machined faced alloy wheel, unique exhaust tips and red leather interior.
The Holden W427 will go into production in the middle of the year and will be available for sale in dealerships in the third quarter of 2008.

Specifications
    * Exterior
          o All new Front Fascia exclusive to W427
          o All new three piece rear spoiler in carbon fibre
          o All new 20 inch wheel
    * Interior
          o HSV performance seats in full red hot trim with W427 logo, steering wheel, gear shifter and console lid in full red hot leather
    * Powertrain
          o 7.0 Litre, LS7 Engine with HSV specific calibration
                + 370kW @ 6500 rpm
                + 640Nm @ 5000 rpm
          o Over radiator style cold air induction system with high flow air filter
          o Dry sump lubrication system with 2 stage pump
          o Hand fabricated aluminium oil reservoir, with internal baffles for high G loading
          o Front mount, 13 row engine oil cooler
          o Ceramic coated, high flow four into one extractors
          o High flow catalytic converters and exhaust system (3 into 2 ¾ )
          o Active bi-modal rear mufflers for exhaust back pressure management to improve noise quality
          o High strength limited slip differential
          o New high strength six speed manual gear box (TR6060)
          o GMPT LS7 Clutch with new actuator and pedal assembly for high clamp loads
    * Suspension
          o New springs, 30% stiffer than GTS
          o Revised ride height 20mm lower than GTS
          o New stiffer rear suspension bushing
          o All new MRC calibration
    * Brakes
          o New 6 piston front braking system (50% increase in pad area)
          o Strap drive, 2 piece floating front rotors (380 x 35mm compared to 365 x 32mm one piece on GTS)
          o High friction pad material

Farbio GTS, 2008

Farbio GTS, 2008

 

Farbio GTS has a full carbon fibre body, space framed chassis, complete flat underfloor (incorporating a rear diffuser), giving the GTS an exceptional aerodynamic grip level. It has exquisite, flowing lines and an understated elegance combined with style, giving a truly refined sports car with outstanding performance.

Base price is £59,925 for the normally aspirated model and £71,675 for the Supercharged version.
The Farbio GTS is mid-engine ranging from a 262bhp normally aspirated model with 0-60mph in 4.8 seconds (est), up to 384bhp for the Rotrex Supercharged version with 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds (est).

The Farbio GTS has an impressive power-to-weight ratio of 360bhp per ton (250bhp per ton for the normally aspirated car). It is lightweight, weighing in at a nimble 1066kgs for the Supercharged model and 1048kgs for the normally aspirated version.
Brakes are AP Racing with Four Pot Callipers, 350mm vented front discs and 328mm rear, giving immense braking capabilities.
Suspension is fully adjustable dampers with Eibach coil-over springs to give the car an exciting, precise driving experience - a feature omitted from many modern day sports cars.

Farbio GTS customers will be able to tour in comfort with the spacious, ergonomic interior, with fully adjustable Sparco reclining seats allowing for a 6'6" driver. The controls have an easy accessibility with the touch-screen featuring satellite navigation, air conditioning and sound system as standard.
Long distance touring is made easier due to the 76 litre fuel tank and 220 litre boot capacity, which can incorporate a full size set of golf clubs or luggage.

GMC Denali XT Concept, 2008

GMC Denali XT Concept, 2008

50-percent increase in combined fuel economy over comparable small pickup trucks when running on gasoline, and it incorporates a new, muscular form in a performance-styled, hybrid sport-utility truck (SUT).

The Denali XT has a unibody architecture and rear-wheel drive, enabling its distinctive design and efficient performance. It builds on the equity of the Denali line and its reputation for advanced engineering and refinement, the first combination of GM's two-mode hybrid system with an E85 ethanol-capable engine. Denali XT's new, more efficient 4.9L version of GM's small-block V-8 features fuel-saving technologies such as direct-injection technology and Active Fuel Management.

The engine is matched with GM's unique two-mode hybrid propulsion system, giving the powerful SUT exceptional fuel economy and uncompromising capability - including all-electric drive at low speeds. It is a powertrain combination that makes the Denali XT perfectly suited to a variety of active lifestyle activities, such as hauling skis and snowboards to the mountain or towing a sport jet boat to the lake.

With its unibody structure, the Denali XT is lighter than conventional body-on-frame trucks, with great ride-and-handling characteristics. This design enhances fuel economy while giving the vehicle a sporty driving experience. True to its GMC Professional Grade heritage, the Denali XT is filled with technologies and features that maximize its flexibility, including a cargo space-enhancing Midgate and height-adjustable suspension.
The Denali XT's proportions are framed around a high cowl and 123.4-inch (3,134 mm) wheelbase. This enhances the vehicle's truck functionality, but packages it in an efficient, unibody architecture.

Design and construction were spearheaded by Holden Design, within the Australian arm of GM's global design and engineering network.

The Inside,
The Denali XT blends mechanical functionality with leather-trimmed comfort.
Billet-metal surrounds, controls and instruments convey the cold precision of an aircraft cockpit. This is balanced by the warmth of bespoke saddle-leather trimmed seats and other contact surfaces.

The Denali XT seats four. The high-cowl vehicle architecture enables higher seating positions, allowing the couple distance between front and rear occupants to be reduced without compromising knee room. This packaging efficiency creates generous interior and cargo bed dimensions within a more compact package.

Truck capability
With stiffness that is greater than most conventional, body-on-frame trucks, the Denali XT's unibody structure supports a very capable truck platform. It also serves as the mounting point for a four-wheel independent suspension that gives the vehicle its performance feel on the road. The multilink front suspension features a forward-mounted steering rack and dual lower links with ball joints at the outer ends, providing sharp responses to driver input. At the rear, a four-link suspension design uses coil-over shocks and a decoupled stabilizer bar to enhance cornering control, reduce body roll and optimize longitudinal compliance. In short, it's a truck that hauls more than cargo on twisting roads.

The rear cargo area is wide, deep and flat, with no suspension or wheelhouse protrusions; the cargo floor measures 55 inches long (1,397 mm) by 47.5 inches wide (1,206 mm). It all adds up to the space to haul a wide variety of lifestyle accessories.

The easy-to-operate Midgate can be lowered to extend the cargo-carrying capacity inside the vehicle. The rear seats fold flat to provide a longer floor for carrying items such as skis, surfboards or wood from the home improvement store. A fixed rear window allowed engineers to retain the vehicle's structure, reducing mass and complexity.

The Denali XT has an estimated payload capacity of 1,100 pounds (499 kg) and a towing capacity of an estimated 3,500 pounds (1,587 kg). This capability is delivered through unique vehicle and powertrain integration, where the multiple modes of GM's two-mode hybrid system provide towing capability.

New 4.9L SIDI V-8 and two-mode hybrid system
The GM's rear-wheel-drive two-mode hybrid transmission is paired with a smaller-displacement version of the small-block engine. The new V-8 4.9L E85-capable engine powers the Denali XT with an estimated 326 horsepower (243 kW).
It uses direct-injection technology to produce the power of a larger engine, but consumes less fuel and produces lower emissions.

The Denali XT's two-mode hybrid system is partnered with the 4.9L engine and uses an electrically variable transmission to enhance fuel efficiency in city and highway driving. In city driving, all-electric propulsion is used at low speeds; on the highway, fixed-gear operation enables efficient performance even when towing a trailer.

Hummer H2, 2008

Hummer H2, 2008

The heart of the '08 H2 is a new, 6.2L V-8 engine that uses variable valve timing technology to maximize performance and fuel efficiency. It is rated at 393 horsepower (293 kW) and 415 lb.-ft. of torque (574 Nm). The engine features lightweight materials, including an aluminum cylinder block, which helps reduce the vehicle's overall mass.

The 6.2L V-8's technologically advanced features also help it meet new federal emissions standards a year before mandatory implementation.

A new six-speed Hydra-Matic 6L80 RWD electronically controlled automatic transmission backs the 6.2L engine. The 6-speed automatic has a wide, 6.04:1 overall ratio - including two overdrive gears - that helps deliver an excellent balance of performance and fuel economy. Also, the 6L80 has a "tap up/tap down" capability that allows the driver to manually select upshifts and downshifts with a button on the column shifter.

The new powertrain combination helps the 2008 H2 and H2 SUT deliver an additional 1,500 pounds (680 kg) in towing capacity - an increase from 6,500 pounds (2,948 kg) to 8,000 pounds (3,629 kg). A host of additional powertrain revisions contributes to the H2's improved performance and efficiency:

• Larger-capacity cooling system complements larger, more powerful engine
• Electric engine cooling fans reduce "drag" on engine, enabling more horsepower
• Regulated voltage control maximizes fuel economy by charging electrical components only when necessary
• New LAN electrical architecture is more efficient and uses less electrical energy
• Standard 3.73 rear axle ratio

Off-road acumen also was enhanced with the new powertrain system. The 6L80 transmission's tap up/tap down feature provides more control on grades and it offers automatic grade braking. It also improves the off-road crawl ratio to approximately 39:1 - an improvement of about 20 percent.

The transfer case is improved in the '08 H2; it is stronger with improved performance. A new traction control system also is standard, which helps ensure sure-footed traction in most driving conditions.

Driving performance off the road or on is enhanced by a revised steering gear that has a quicker ratio and improved on-center returnability. The driving experience also is quieter and more refined, thanks to new, tuned air intake and exhaust systems.

Safety standard

Complementing the H2 lineup's performance and comfort changes are enhancements to the safety system. They include several new standard features:

• Roof rail head curtain side air bags for first-, second- and third-row passengers with rollover sensing system
• Safety belt pretensioners (first-row seats)
• Electronic stability control system with rollover mitigation technology
• New traction control system
• Tire pressure monitoring system

The first application for a full-size GM truck or SUV - which detects emergency braking situations and maintains maximum brake pressure to help stop the vehicle more quickly and with more control. It is a standard feature on all H2 models. Also, the standard OnStar system now offers the optional Turn-By-Turn navigation system. Additional optional features that contribute to a safer driving experience include HUMMER's Rear Vision System - a rearview camera system - and a navigation system.

Exterior enhancements

All 2008 H2 models are distinguished from previous models with functional changes that maintain HUMMER's instantly recognizable design identify. The iconic, seven-slot grille features larger openings and the lower grille also is enlarged, accommodating the cooling needs of the more powerful 6.2L V-8 engines. The lower bumpers on '08 models are painted silver (previous models had black lower bumpers).

The soul of a HUMMER

While the '08 H2 is offered with a new powertrain and interior, its foundation remains the same: a fully welded ladder-type frame that features a modular, three-piece design incorporating a number of hydroformed components. This design delivers outstanding strength, stiffness and dimensional accuracy.

The H2 has short overhangs for radical approach and departure angles, and exceptional ground clearance for minimal impact on trails. Standard 17-inch wheels, heavy-duty independent front suspension and a five-link rear suspension provide superior handling, carrying and towing capability. The solid rear axle ensures durable sure-footedness, particularly in tight, off-road situations. Also standard is underbody protection and rocker protection. These elements help the H2 deliver on HUMMER's mantra of capability, including traveling through streams 24 inches (508 mm) deep, climbing 16-inch (406-mm) steps and rocks and paddling through deep sand or snow.

A new, four-channel anti-lock braking/traction control system (ABS/TCS) provides optimum control on slippery surfaces. In addition, the ABS can detect and adjust its braking capabilities to rough off-road surfaces like gravel and potholes. The TCS also includes the ability to gain traction through a single wheel, if necessary, and more wheel slip in a second traction control mode for sand and desert racing conditions.

H2 SUT - maximum utility and fun

Like the H2, the H2 SUT carries passengers and cargo, but does so with a twist: an open cargo bed enables convenient storage of larger items. When cargo requires more space, a 4-foot by 6-foot (122-cm by 244-cm) pickup bed can be created by powering the rear window into the Midgate, then folding forward the Midgate and rear seat. With four passengers on board, the bulkhead at the rear of the SUT's passenger compartment remains upright, still providing ample cargo-carrying capacity.