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Performance issues resolved

Wednesday October 21, 2009
Carfolio.com has been struggling under the weight of massive amounts of spam over the last few days. Performance degraded to the point where it was almost unusable. Parts of the backend code have been completely rewritten to use resources more efficiently whilst the underlying spam issue is tackled as best we can. Your patience over the last few days has been appreciated.

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2009 IAA Frankfurt Show in brief

Wednesday September 16, 2009
New model launches, concepts and supercars are the order of the day from Frankfurt. Here's a quick listing of some for which the specs have been made known:

• Audi R8 Spyder V10 power for the R8 without a top.


• Bentley Mulsanne twin turbo V8 with over 1000 Nm of torque on tap


• Ferrari 458 Italia official initial public showing of Maranello's latest supercar


• Lotus Exige 260 yet more tweaks for the tough little Lotus


• Maserati GranCabrio 4.7 litres of V8 Maserati power for the drop-top version of the GranTurismo.


• Mazda MX-5 Superlight lightened Mazda MX-5 concept


• Porsche 911 Turbo yet another 911 variant.


• Porsche 911 GT3 RS lighter, louder, more powerful GT3.


• Volkswagen L1 Concept - ultra-efficient 2 seater from Volkswagen, the specs will stun you

That was just some of day 1!

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New details about the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing

Thursday September 10, 2009
The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG "Gullwing" is due to debut at the Frankfurt motor show on 15 September 2009. Having released some details about the new coupé some time back, today Mercedes-Benz have given us more details about the car, and a few new pictures too.

Particularly around the frontal area and the iconic gullwing doors, the bodywork is evocative of the legendary Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing. Sitting on a 2680 mm wheelbase, the 4638 mm long coupé is slightly longer than the original 300 SL Gullwing, which was 4520 mm long and sat on a 2400 mm wheelbase. The length:wheelbase ratio is slightly smaller for the new Gullwing, at 1.73, compared to 1.88 for the older model.

The SLS AMG is powered by a 6208cc V8 engine, called the M159, which is based on the M156 as used in the E 63 AMG and certain other AMG models in the Mercedes-Benz lineup. The bore and stroke remains at 102.2 mm and 94.6 mm, but high-strength components, forged pistons, improved dry sump lubrication, an optmised crankcase structure and reduced overall weight make this engine an even better performer than the M156. In this application it boasts some 571 PS (420 kW) at 6800 rpm and 650 Nm of torque at 4750 rpm. This is enough to propel the 1620 kg coupé to 100 km/h from rest in a claimed 3.8 seconds, and on to an electronically-limited top speed of 317 km/h. Claimed CO₂ emissions are just 314 g/km.

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A roundup of updates

Monday September 07, 2009
A bunch of new manufacturers make their appearance in the Carfolio.com database for the first time. Well, new to the database anyway. Most are now-defunct US manufacturers. Thanks to the Internet Archive and also Google Books, some material has surfaced that has helped us add a number of older models to the database. Here's a few of the more interesting ones:

1. 1909 Sears Motor Buggy - a mail-order car from Sears Roebuck


2. 1917 Jackson Wolverine 349 - yes, a car called "Wolverine"!


3. 1917 Pierce-Arrow 66 A-4 Touring - 13.5 litre engine

There will be many more to come over the next while.

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Ferrari's new 458 Italia

Tuesday July 28, 2009
Ferrari have released some details about their F430 replacement, the Ferrari 458 Italia. The 458 Italia features direct petrol injection - the first such application in a mid-engined road car for Ferrari, and an enlarged 4499cc V8 that produces 570 PS (419 kW) at 9000 rpm and 540 Nm of torque at 6000 rpm, an impressive 127 PS/litre specific output. The 90-degree V8 utilises a dry sump lubrication system. Even with these impressive power figures, the CO₂ emissions are just 320 g/km. Mated to a seven speed F1 transmission, the car is capable of a 3.4 second 0-100 km/h sprint, and has a claimed top speed of over 325 km/h.

Despite having a 50 mm increase in wheelbase over the F430, the 458 Italia is just 15 mm longer than the Ferrari F430. It is slightly lighter too, tipping the scales at 1380 kg. Weight distribution remains at 42/58% front/rear. The ABS brakes have been improved too, with a stopping distance from 100 km/h of just 32.5 metres.

Suspension at the front is by double wishbones, whilst a multi-link setup is used at the rear. Ventilated brakes are fitted all round. Tyres are 235/35 ZR 20 at the front and 295/35 ZR 20 at the rear, on 8.5 and 10.5 rims respectively.

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Porsche's 4 door Panamera specifications revealed

Tuesday May 12, 2009
The eagerly-anticipated Porsche Panamera specifications have been released in full. The Panamera range comprises of three models, the Panamera S, Panamera 4S and Panamera Turbo. All are powered by a 4806 cc all-aluminium direct petrol injection V8, featuring twin overhead camshafts and 4 valves per cylinder, with Porsche's VarioCam Plus variable valve timing. The 4S and Turbo Panameras have full-time all-wheel drive and feature Porsche's new PDK double-clutch transmission, whilst the Panamera S is rear wheel drive and is available with either a six speed manual shifter or the 7 speed PDK transmission.

The 4 door saloon body measures just under 5 metres in overall length, at 4970 mm. The wheelbase is a fairly long 2920 mm, and it is a wide car, at 1931 mm. This impacts the frontal area significantly, with all models having a frontal area of 2.33 m². The Panamera Turbo has a decent 0.30 coefficient of drag, and the Panamera S and Panamera 4S a very good 0.29.

Porsche's 4.8 litre V8 engine is oversquare, with a 96.0 mm bore and an 83.0 mm stroke. The Panamera S and Panamera 4S are naturally aspirated, with a compression ratio of 12.5:1, and produce 400 PS at 6500 rpm, with 500 Nm of torque from 3500 to 5000 rpm. The Panamera Turbo runs at a lower 10.5:1 compression ratio, and with its twin turbochargers produces 500 PS at 6000 rpm, with torque of 700 Nm between 2250 and 4500 rpm, or 770 Nm at the same revs for the Sport Chrono Package-equipped models.

The manual Panamera S weighs 1770 kg, and has claimed acceleration figures of 5.6 seconds for 0-100 km/h, 12.1 seconds for 0-160 km/h, and takes 24.5 seconds to cover the standing kilometre. Its top speed is a stated 285 km/h. With the PDK transmission, the S shaves 0.2 of a second off the 0-100 km/h time, hits 160 km/h from rest in 11.7 seconds, and the standing kilometre is covered in 24.3 seconds. Top speed is slightly lower at 283 km/h. CO₂ emissions are 293 g/km and 253 g/km respectively.

The 4S tips the scales at 1860 kg, and boasts slightly quicker acceleration. The 0-100 km/h dash takes it 5.0 seconds, 0-160 km/h 11.5 seconds, and the standing kilometre 24.0 seconds. The top end is slightly lower, at 282 km/h. CO₂ emissions are slightly worse than the PDK Panamera S, at 260 g/km.

With its twin turbos giving it a boost, the Panamera Turbo storms through to 100 km/h from rest in 4.2 seconds, hits 160 km/h in 9 seconds dead, and runs through the standing kilometre sprint in 22.1 seconds. It is claimed to carry on to a top speed of 303 km/h, and has CO₂ emissions that just beat the standard manual Panamera S, at 286 g/km.

• 2009 Porsche Panamera S
• 2009 Porsche Panamera S PDK
• 2009 Porsche Panamera 4S
• 2009 Porsche Panamera Turbo
• 2009 Porsche Panamera Turbo Sports Chrono Package

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