Cool Cars

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Horrific accident on Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway near Ghantoot

Dubai Accident


Abu Dhabi: At least three people were killed and nearly 350 injured in a horrific 60 vehicle pile-up on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai highway near Ghantoot on Tuesday.

However, Gulf News has learnt that the death toll could be five. The 25km stretch of the UAE's busiest highway from Abu Dhabi to Dubai was closed for more than five hours, resulting in huge tailbacks during rush hours.

Police said among the 347 injured, six people were critical, while 39 suffered medium injuries. The remaining suffered minor injuries. Police said 25 vehicles caught fire following the accidents caused by poor visibility due to the thick fog and lack of attention by motorists.



Lieutenant General Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior, said coordination by officials contributed to limiting the fatalities. Quick response by the rescue and ambulance department officials helped save lives and in reopening the road to traffic at the earliest. He called on all road users to exercise caution, especially during early morning when visibility is low.

Colonel Osman Al Tamimi, Director of the Emergency and Safety Management section of Abu Dhabi Police said the central operations room received a call at 6.39am informing about a series of pile ups between Bahia bridge and Ghantoot bridge in the direction towards Dubai. Ambulances, fire engines and helicopters of the Air Wing were despatched immediately.

Dubai police and support teams from Armed Forces as well as a number of traffic patrols joined the rescue operations.

"The officials worked towards moving the injured to the nearest hospitals and extinguishing the fire," he said, adding that the roads were reopened for traffic in record time.

An Abu Dhabi traffic police officer at the crash site said: "The crash happened because everyone was speeding despite the severe weather conditions. Drivers weren't leaving a safe distance between cars and this resulted in everyone hitting each other after the first crash."

[Source: Gulfnews]

Speed Racer trailer

From writer/directors Larry and Andy Wachowski, the creators of the groundbreaking “The Matrix” trilogy, and producer Joel Silver comes the live-action, high-octane family adventure “Speed Racer.”

Hurtling down the track, careening around, over and through the competition, Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is a natural behind the wheel. Born to race cars, Speed is aggressive, instinctive and, most of all, fearless. His only real competition is the memory of the brother he idolized—the legendary Rex Racer—whose death in a race has left behind a legacy that Speed is driven to fulfill.

Speed is loyal to the family racing business, led by his father, Pops Racer (John Goodman), the designer of Speed’s thundering Mach 5. When Speed turns down a lucrative and tempting offer from Royalton Industries, he not only infuriates the company’s maniacal owner (Roger Allam) but uncovers a terrible secret—some of the biggest races are being fixed by a handful of ruthless moguls who manipulate the top drivers to boost profits. If Speed won’t drive for Royalton, Royalton will see to it that the Mach 5 never crosses another finish line.

The only way for Speed to save his family’s business and the sport he loves is to beat Royalton at his own game. With the support of his family and his loyal girlfriend, Trixie (Christina Ricci), Speed teams with his one-time rival—the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox)—to win the race that had taken his brother’s life: the death-defying, cross-country rally known as The Crucible.

Release date: May 9, 2008.

Lumma Design CLR X530

CLR X530

After recently unleashed the X5 as the X530 with brute-force 530 bhp, Lumma Design released the CLR X530 tuning kit for the diesel versions of the BMW X5.


Lumma has implemented the diesel motor tuning with its D-Power-Box. This additional electronic circuit now coaxes a generous 275 bhp out of the 3.0d, instead of the standard 235. The torque increases from 520 to a convincing 600 Nm. The 3.0sd attains performance data that makes some sports cars turn pale in comparison. This is because, a phenomenal 330 bhp, instead of 286, has been fitted and instead of 580, there are 660 Nm on the power train.


An even sportier rear appearance for the 3.0d and 3.0sd is guaranteed by LUMMA’s exhaust pipe covers, two on each side (120x95 mm). LUMMA continues to furnish the petrol versions with the complete sport exhaust system of stainless steel.

Press release

After LUMMA DESIGN recently unleashed the X5 as the X530 with brute-force 530 bhp, the German tuner has now also turned its attention to the diesel versions. They have also been treated to the broader X530 aerodynamic kit in addition to a substantial increase in power delivery and torque. This also cuts a good figure in white, which is complemented by white wheels (see photographic material). In addition, LUMMA has made changes to the chassis, sound and interior.


Performance enhancement for 3.0d and 3.0sd
LUMMA has implemented the diesel motor tuning with its D-Power-Box. This additional electronic circuit now coaxes a generous 275 bhp out of the 3.0d, instead of the standard 235. The torque increases from 520 to a convincing 600 Nm. The 3.0sd attains performance data that makes some sports cars turn pale in comparison. This is because, a phenomenal 330 bhp, instead of 286, has been fitted and instead of 580, there are 660 Nm on the power train.

Of course, LUMMA also continues to offer a performance enhancement for the 4.8 litre pertrol-V8 by a moderate 28 bhp or by considerably more horsepower to 530 bhp, in this case with compressor.

An even sportier rear appearance for the 3.0d and 3.0sd is guaranteed by LUMMA’s exhaust pipe covers, two on each side (120x95 mm). LUMMA continues to furnish the petrol versions with the complete sport exhaust system of stainless steel.


CLR X530 look for the diesel models
What already looked good on the 4.8i is naturally just as perfect on the diesel X5. The LUMMA body kit CLR X530 is composed of a front spoiler with fog lamps in extravagantly-formed air inlets plus racing grid, a rear apron with a diffuser look, broader wings at the front and back that radiate power, new side sill mouldings as well as the lettering “CLR X 530“. All components are largely made of PUR-RIM in original equipment manufacturer quality.

The body kit can be expanded by further components. LUMMA offers a roof spoiler extension which can simply be affixed to the upper rim of the boot lid. A very special eye-catcher is the high-quality, handmade LUMMA sport-look light-weight hood (10.5 kg) made of carbon/Kevlar composite material, with its characteristic opening for discharging warm air from the engine bay. A set of LUMMA sport design exterior mirror caps, which have replaced the original parts, complement the LUMMA body kit perfectly through their aerodynamically-optimised design. The mirror caps are also available in the motor sport material par excellence, carbon. LUMMA restores a more “serious” look to the headlights of the CLR X530 with the help of a set of covers. Similarly, LUMMA also equips the taillights with a set of covers (4-part and likewise adhesive). The dark-tinted LUMMA taillights form a welcome contrast to a bright (or white, see image material) paint finish (export only!).

A good idea, which makes sense in multi-storey car parks or other places that are badly-lit or not lit at all, is the LUMMA entry illumination. On each side of the car floor, five LEDs go on when the doors are opened or unlocked and light the way for the passengers getting into the car.


Wheels in 22 inch and lower suspension setting
With its complete wheel sets, LUMMA lets its customers choose from three 22-inch possibilities. For one, there’s the wheel set with the new 10x22 inch sports rim LUMMA “Racing 1” in multi-part look with silver or matt black wheel spider and polished stainless steel rim flange, as well as the lettering “LUMMA Racing” on the centre cap. The second possibility is the wheel set “Racing 3” with a one-piece rim in multi-part look and polished rim flange.

The wheel set “Racing 2” can be especially recommended for white vehicles with its one-piece sports rim in the ice crystal-like Y-Design “LUMMA Edition”, which is also available in white to match the vehicle, or, at an extra charge, in any other desired colour.

LUMMA fits all three versions with high performance tyres of the dimension 295/30-22. For example, with the PROXES S/T (300 km/h approval!) of its technology partner Toyo. LUMMA also supplies the wheels with rims in 9.5x20? and a tyre dimension of 275/40-20.

LUMMA achieves a somewhat lower centre of gravity and more agile handling by mounting LUMMA/H&R lowering springs. A good compromise between comfort and maintaining vehicle height, which still suffices for uneven terrain.


Sporty elegant ambience in the interior through wood, carbon or piano varnish
The LUMMA program offers a very large range of additional accessories for the CLR X530 interior. Ergonomically formed and with a root wood or leather trim – the LUMMA sports steering wheel communicates a stronger bond with the vehicle. The LUMMA gear stick head is likewise a feast for the eyes in a root-wood version. The elegant cockpit is also equipped with coloured instrument faces (see photographic material: matching the vehicle colour white; speedometer up to 330 km/h) as well as aluminium door sills. Racing car atmosphere is transmitted by LUMMA aluminium pedals and an aluminium foot rest. A foot mat in high quality velour with an embroidered emblem and real leather edging (colour as desired) makes the cabin homier. LUMMA also offers a matching boot mat of the same material.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Bugatti Type 12-2 Streamliner

 Bugatti Type 12-2 Streamliner
About a future 2+2 model from Bugatti there are already lots of rumors. And with all those rumors around it was normal for designers to gave their own point of view of how the car might look like. Today’s preview comes from 31-year-old freelance designer Reuben Zammit from Malta.

The 2+2 seater will be a strong competitor for model like Ferrari 612 Scaglietti.

 Bugatti Type 12-2The aim was to get the type 12-2 immediately recognizable, yet make a signature of it’s own for a specific marquee. A classic front engine rear wheel drive layout. The shape allows for a boot bigger than its rivals, yet keeping the lines flowing. The doors take a large part of the side and the roof for easier access.

The idea is to use a VW derived W12 engine with a twin turbo layout hence the name 12-2. Although not as extravagant as the W16 used in the Veyron, there would be enough power to propel the Type 12-2 to over 200 mph