What's So Special About These Cars

[Hibeam2]

Watched a documentary called Apex where they talked about hypercars.

The ghost emblem on Koenigsegg belonged to an old fighter plane squadron.

Koenigsegg converted the old hanger into a manufacturing plant. 

Only the cars built there will carry this ghost emblem;  koenigsegg cars built elsewhere do not carry this emblem.

 

[Carbon82]

Watched a documentary called Apex where they talked about hypercars.

The ghost emblem on Koenigsegg belonged to an old fighter plane squadron.

Koenigsegg converted the old hanger into a manufacturing plant. 

Only the cars built there will carry this ghost emblem;  koenigsegg cars built elsewhere do not carry this emblem.

 

Yes, Christian Erland Harald von Koenigsegg, the founder and CEO of the Swedish high-performance automobile manufacturer Koenigsegg Automotive AB, explains that they stick a little ghost on all their cars because of a fire. A fire that forced them to move into an old airplane hangar that once housed the Swedish air force’s Johan Röd squadron, a squadron that used the ghost symbol and the English motto “the show must go on” on their Saab AJS37 Viggens and other aircraft.

 

By adopting the ghost badge, Koenigsegg is helping keep the show going on for the old squadron, which is a pretty worthwhile thing to do.

 

Just to 27:00 mark for the fire and ghost symbol

 

And some planes that featured the ghost symbol

[Watwheels]

Actually car makers not just sell cars they also sell in-car gadgets.

 

I wonder how Audi and Citroen sell their cars in the US when their regulation requires the car tail lights to be fixed when the boot opens? To them it's a safety concern.

[Carbon82]

Anyone know there are how many way to pop open a car bonnet?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OK, what about this Audi A2?

 

 

Does it has a different way to open it bonnet? I will let the video tell the story... But I am quite sure you will be like this     after finishing the video.

 

[Carbon82]

This is the 1st RS estate in Audi history. Beside that, what is so special about this Audi RS2 Avant?

Hint: Look at its rim. From which auto manufacturer?

 

 

... ...

 

 

... ...

 

 

And the answer lies under the bonnet...

Yes, you are not seeing things, the heart of this speed monster is from Porsche! And here are the details.

As you may be able to tell from the 964 Turbo wheels, this Audi RS2 Avant (a.k.a. Audi 80 RS2), was a limited edition, high-performance Audi five-door, five-seat estate / station wagon, manufactured from March 1994 to July 1995. Collaboratively designed as a joint venture between Audi AG and Porsche and built on Audi's 80 Avant. Like the Mercedes 500E, the RS2 was given a comprehensive going-over by the sports car boys from Stuttgart, improving the cars performance in almost every way over the stock 80 Avant the car is based on.

It was powered by a modified version of Porsche 2,226 cc inline 5 DOHC 4 valves/cylinder 20 valves turbocharged petrol engine. This internal combustion engine produced a motive power output of 315 PS / 232 kW @ 6,500 rpm and 410 Nm torque @ 3000 rpm. Although much of the car's underpinnings were manufactured by Audi, assembly was handled by Porsche at their Rossle-Bau plant in Zuffenhausen, Germany, which had become available after discontinuation of the Mercedes-Benz 500E, which Porsche had manufactured there under contract. The cooling, braking and exhaust systems also got Porsche’s attention, turning this family wagon into Audi’s first RS monster.

The RS2 could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, and achieve a maximum speed of 262 km/h (electronically restricted), despite weighing over 1,600 kg. Part of it can be attributed to the six-speed manual gearbox, with gear ratios of 1st: 3.500, 2nd: 1.889, 3rd: 1.320, 4th: 1.034, 5th: 0.857, 6th: 0.711. Audi's Torsen-based 'trademark' quattro permanent four-wheel drive system was standard. Front and rear final drive units contained a conventional 'open' differential, and have a ratio of 4.111, although the rear also has an electro-mechanical diff lock.

Although it was not widely exported outside of Europe, except for a few to Hong Kong, South Africa, Brazil and New Zealand, the RS2 has amassed an impressive cult following worldwide, and it is often regarded as being the vehicle that finally firmly established Audi as a producer of practical high-performance vehicles: its estate body, seating for five persons, and Audi's 'trademark' quattro permanent four-wheel-drive system as standard made it usable as a comfortable daily driver, even in poor weather conditions.

[Carbon82]

OK I know this car is not sold here, but there is 1 feature that I ready wish it could be had on all car.

It is something not too sophisticated and can be very useful for our kind of weather, and I believe animal lover would love it too. Yes, I am referring to the retractable rear windscreen.

 

[Carbon82]

Now, what is that special feature in this Citroën XM?

Nope, I am not going to talk about it Hydractive system (hydropneumatic self-leveling suspension), nor single spoke steering wheel.

 

Hint: It has a total of 13 glass panel! (Now go look at the 1st photo again and count the glass panel).

 

 

 

...

 

 

 

...

 

 

 

I bet all of you would have counted only 12 glass panel. YES, it has 13 panel, no typo here. So where exactly is the 13th glass?

Anyone noticed that it has 2 rear windscreen? See again...

OK, most if not all hatchback / estate / MPV / SUV drivers would have experienced cool air escaping from the cabin when the rear door was lifted, and so does people living in 4 seasons countries (gush of cold air rushed into the cabin when the rear door was opened during winter time).

Being ingenious, Citroën came up with this double rear windscreen design to "solve" the problem (but giving it added disadvantage in veicle weight.

[SGMCF328]

1 hour ago, Carbon82 said:

Now, what is that special feature in this Citroën XM?

Nope, I am not going to talk about it Hydractive system (hydropneumatic self-leveling suspension), nor single spoke steering wheel.

 

Hint: It has a total of 13 glass panel! (Now go look at the 1st photo again and count the glass panel).

 

 

 

...

 

 

 

...

 

 

 

I bet all of you would have counted only 12 glass panel. YES, it has 13 panel, no typo here. So where exactly is the 13th glass?

Anyone noticed that it has 2 rear windscreen? See again...

OK, most if not all hatchback / estate / MPV / SUV drivers would have experienced cool air escaping from the cabin when the rear door was lifted, and so does people living in 4 seasons countries (gush of cold air rushed into the cabin when the rear door was opened during winter time).

Being ingenious, Citroën came up with this double rear windscreen design to "solve" the problem (but giving it added disadvantage in veicle weight.

Is this Citroen that can be driven on 3 wheel? How the engineers actually make it work, since the car has weigh at all 4 wheel?

Any Citroen expert to share the engineering behind this magic carpet ride? I hope I get the term right as I remember a relative of mine mentioning it after he sat in a Citroen. 

[Ceecookie]

7 hours ago, Carbon82 said:

Now, what is that special feature in this Citroën XM?

Nope, I am not going to talk about it Hydractive system (hydropneumatic self-leveling suspension), nor single spoke steering wheel.

 

Hint: It has a total of 13 glass panel! (Now go look at the 1st photo again and count the glass panel).

 

 

 

...

 

 

 

...

 

 

 

I bet all of you would have counted only 12 glass panel. YES, it has 13 panel, no typo here. So where exactly is the 13th glass?

Anyone noticed that it has 2 rear windscreen? See again...

OK, most if not all hatchback / estate / MPV / SUV drivers would have experienced cool air escaping from the cabin when the rear door was lifted, and so does people living in 4 seasons countries (gush of cold air rushed into the cabin when the rear door was opened during winter time).

Being ingenious, Citroën came up with this double rear windscreen design to "solve" the problem (but giving it added disadvantage in veicle weight.

The Daewoo Espero also share identical design with the XM, coz both vehicles were designed by Bertone.

Anyone rmb the Espero in local roads during 1990s? Haha

[Toeknee_33]

12 hours ago, Ceecookie said:

Anyone rmb the Espero in local roads during 1990s? Haha

Yes I do, 1.5L car with the size of a 2L car for the price of 1.3L. Super value for $$!

[Toeknee_33]

19 hours ago, SGMCF328 said:

Is this Citroen that can be driven on 3 wheel? How the engineers actually make it work, since the car has weigh at all 4 wheel?

Any Citroen expert to share the engineering behind this magic carpet ride? I hope I get the term right as I remember a relative of mine mentioning it after he sat in a Citroen.

Citroens equipped with the hydropneumatic suspension can be drive with 1 of the rear wheels off. You do this by raising the ride height to the maximum (highest and stiffest setting). 

 

 

The magic is that the front and rear suspensions are interconnected, and due to the properties of gas and oil, the suspension system is self-damping and doesn't need shock absorbers.

 

 

This is a demonstration of how effective the hydropneumatic suspension is, compared to a conventionally sprung car.

 

Edited April 13, 2020 by Toeknee_33

[Heartbreakid]

13 hours ago, Ceecookie said:

The Daewoo Espero also share identical design with the XM, coz both vehicles were designed by Bertone.

Anyone rmb the Espero in local roads during 1990s? Haha

I remember this. It was the biggest small cc body available then. It has side aircon vents mounted at the door panels (like the 90s Suzuki swift) and it has side markers whereby the signal lamp will light up when the lights are turned on. A pretty unique feature for our RHD local market.

[iamahbee]

13 hours ago, Ceecookie said:

The Daewoo Espero also share identical design with the XM, coz both vehicles were designed by Bertone.

Anyone rmb the Espero in local roads during 1990s? Haha

I remember this car for having the same huge steering wheel with airbag as the Alfa Romeo GTV (916). 

[Sdf4786k]

On 4/12/2020 at 11:23 PM, Ceecookie said:

The Daewoo Espero also share identical design with the XM, coz both vehicles were designed by Bertone.

Anyone rmb the Espero in local roads during 1990s? Haha

 

the bertone design was nicely done on the Fiat x1.9 as well.

Not so by another designer that was flogging their badge

9 cars you didn't know Pininfarina designed - DriveTribe

https://drivetribe.com/p/9-cars-you-didnt-know-pininfarina-ShxXa8KOS7e3HhCoOUqFMQ?iid=Cgi4f0E6QRCDaNooe1Rv5A

[Sdf4786k]

mustang may not be common.

But the wheels are quite unique made.

Image Credit: Drew Phillips / Autoblog

Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R

Road Test Editor Zac Palmer: The carbon fiber wheels on the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R have always mesmerized me. Ford managed to put carbon fiber wheels on a car that was under $70,000 when it was first released. It’s the kind of thing we see on supercars that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. And even then, many don’t go the carbon fiber route.

Carbon Revolutions actually produces the wheels for Ford. They account for a 58-pound weight savings over regular GT350 wheels, which is huge when you’re talking unsprung weight. That aids both acceleration and braking hugely. I am disappointed that Ford didn’t go for an exposed carbon fiber look, opting for a much more low-key appearance

[Achtung]

On 4/13/2020 at 12:35 PM, Toeknee_33 said:

Citroens equipped with the hydropneumatic suspension can be drive with 1 of the rear wheels off. You do this by raising the ride height to the maximum (highest and stiffest setting). 

 

 

The magic is that the front and rear suspensions are interconnected, and due to the properties of gas and oil, the suspension system is self-damping and doesn't need shock absorbers.

 

 

This is a demonstration of how effective the hydropneumatic suspension is, compared to a conventionally sprung car.

 

I recalled driving home with 3 wheels in my Citroen Xantia Manual after a nights out at Pleasure Dome. Love it when I heck care when I have a puncture. It can wait till tomorrow. I, too, do not give a damn about humps and love floods when I could jack it up higher.

For Daewoo, weirdly, our family owned a Leganza. Big car but very sparse inside. When we scrapped it at 9 years, only clocked 45k kms.

Nice memories.

[Achtung]

On 4/14/2020 at 10:07 AM, Sdf4786k said:

the bertone design was nicely done on the Fiat x1.9 as well.

Not so by another designer that was flogging their badge

9 cars you didn't know Pininfarina designed - DriveTribe

https://drivetribe.com/p/9-cars-you-didnt-know-pininfarina-ShxXa8KOS7e3HhCoOUqFMQ?iid=Cgi4f0E6QRCDaNooe1Rv5A

The Hafei Lobo was a shocker!

[Carbon82]

On 4/12/2020 at 11:23 PM, Ceecookie said:

The Daewoo Espero also share identical design with the XM, coz both vehicles were designed by Bertone.

Anyone rmb the Espero in local roads during 1990s? Haha

If this article is for real, then this Espero is actually the original design for Citroen Xantia!

Citroen wanted to add a new mid-size car in around 1989. Many designs have been generated (both exterior and interior). The winning designs seen in the photo below were what Xantia was supposed to look like (the intended model to be added to Citroen lineup). However, these designs was not selected eventually as Citroen thought they are very much associated with another car in their lineup, the XM.

Daewoo liked this project / design and bought it from Bertone (the blue model in the photo).

 

On 4/14/2020 at 10:07 AM, Sdf4786k said:

9 cars you didn't know Pininfarina designed - DriveTribe

https://drivetribe.com/p/9-cars-you-didnt-know-pininfarina-ShxXa8KOS7e3HhCoOUqFMQ?iid=Cgi4f0E6QRCDaNooe1Rv5A

I posted about Hyundai Matrix and the Hafei Lobo before in the other thread. BTW, both the Lobo and its twin, Naza Sutera, were sold here in the mid 2000.

And do you know that Pininfarina was also involved in a few other B&B car? Just to name a few: