The World's Ten Fastest Cars

The World's Ten Fastest Cars

by Anthony Fontanelle

The world where auto enthusiasts thrive is filled with variables that to outsiders would mean nothing at all. Terms like rpm, 0-60, 0-100, 100-0, horsepower, torque, and the likes may seem unfathomable for those who live outside this realm. But what everyone knows about is speed. When it comes to cars, the faster your car, the better it is.

While manufacturers tagged their vehicles with top speeds of so and so, it is really hard to find the fastest cars just by looking at the numbers supplied by their makers. That is where the acceleration from a standstill to 60 miles per hour or 100 kilometers per hour is checked. By testing different cars for their acceleration, it is possible to rank the fastest cars in the world today.

That is what automotoportal.com has done to come up with the list of the ten fastest cars in the world. The cars considered for the test, of course, excludes the concept on one-off cars due to their unfair advantage.

Coming in at the tenth place is the Lamborghini Gallardo. The Gallardo is Lamborghini's "entry-level" car, if you can consider a pricey car such as this to be an entry-level car. The Gallardo is the first car to be equipped with the massive Lamborghini V10 engine which produces as much as 520 horsepower. The engine gives the Gallardo a time of 13.65 seconds going from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour.

Translated to 0-60 mph, the Gallardo's time is 4 seconds. This makes the Gallardo even faster than the Murcielago.

Taking the ninth spot is the Porsche 911 Turbo. The 911 has been making waves in the supercar arena since its introduction in 1964. For its length of tenure as a mass produced car, the 911 has undergone a lot of changes which have made it faster and faster year after year.

While the Porsche 911 produces only 480 horsepower, it uses its integral drive system which reduces wheel slipping which means that limited power is wasted. The 911 achieved a time of 12.5 seconds in the 0-100-0 test.

The Caterham CSR260 sits at the eighth position. The CSR is the latest installment from supercar manufacturer Caterham Cars and it is the most modified vehicle from the sports car manufacturer. While its 2.3-liter engine produces only 250 horsepower, it has a relatively low weight which gives the CSR a time of 11.95 seconds to speed to a hundred kilometers per hour from a standstill.

The CSR's weight is only 555 kilograms which gives the car an astonishing mass to power ratio of 0.5 horsepower per kilogram.

The seventh fastest car in the world is the Pagani Zonda. This mid-engine sports car is made by the Argentinean car manufacturer Pagani which is currently based in Italy. The company produces about 25 Zondas every year. Its powerplant is of German origin which makes the Zonda truly an international car.

The Mercedes AMG 7.3-liter V12 engine that it carries provides horsepower that is equal to the weight of the CSR in kilograms. With 555 hp, the Zonda can cruise to 100 kilometers per hour from a stationary position in just 11.8 seconds.

Another Porsche made it to the list of the ten fastest cars in the world. This time, the Porsche Carrera GT takes on the sixth place. The Carrera's engine is a huge 5.7-liter V10 engine capable of rocketing up to speeds of a hundred kilometers per hour from a standstill in just 11.6 seconds.

One factor for this vehicle is the fact that the Carrera is made out of lightweight carbon fiber material which allows the Carrera to accelerate at such a short time span.

The fifth spot went to the McLaren F1 LM. This car is one of the most unique in the world of sports car. McLaren built only five of these fast cars in honor of the five McLaren F1 GTR's that won the famous Le Mans in 1995. The car created to become the fastest although it only landed in the fifth spot but its time of 11.5 seconds from a standstill to a full 100 kilometers per hour is truly amazing.

Its engine, a BMW gold-plated V12 engine, can provide a whooping 627 horsepower with a maximum speed of 240 miles per hour.

The fourth place is occupied by the Ferrari Enzo. The Enzo is the fastest Ferrari of all time and it is only fitting that it should be named after the founder of the world-famous Italian car manufacturer. The Enzo timed in at 10.9 seconds after the acceleration test. The uniqueness of the Enzo is made possible by the fact that there are only 399 Enzos produced in its entire history.

The third fastest car in the world is probably the most unusual in the list. The Ariel Atom, which is made by the Ariel Motor Company based in Somerset, England, combines the chassis and the body of the car. In fact, the chassis of the Atom is its body. The Atom weighs less than the CSR at 456 kilograms and its Honda Civic Type-R engine is aided by a turbocharger to produce 300 horsepower propels it to 100 kilometer per hour from a standstill in just 10.88 seconds.

Coming in at a close second is the Bugatti Veyron 16.4. This is sports car differs than most of its contemporary due to the fact that its interior speaks of luxury, not only of performance. Sports cars usually have limited features but the Veyron provides good comfort for two occupants. Weighing in at almost two tons, the Veyron is the heaviest of the cars in the list.

With its W16 engine or 2 V8s mated in a "W" position capable of producing 1001 horsepower, the Veyron completed the 0-100-0 test in just 9.9 seconds. That amount of power will surely test brake pads such as EBC brake pads to their limit.

Rocketing to the first place and claiming the title as the fastest car in the world is the Ultima GTR. The GTR is the handiwork of Ultima Sports Ltd based in Hinckley, Leicestershire, England. It completed the 0-100-0 acceleration test in just 9.4 seconds beating the Veyron by just five tenths of a second making it faster than the Veyron.

Toyota 'world's largest carmaker'

Toyota 'world's largest carmaker'

Japan's Toyota has overtaken US rival General Motors to become the world's biggest carmaker, a spokesman for the company has said.

According to company figures, Toyota sold 2.348 million vehicles in the first three months of 2007.

That compares with General Motors' sales of 2.26 million cars and small trucks during the same period.

Japanese carmakers have been boosting foreign sales and making gains in the US, the world's largest car market.

Date Set For North American International Auto Show 2008

Date Set For North American International Auto Show 2008

by Glady Reign

One of the top international shows in the world has announced their dates for next year. The North American International Auto Show recently announced the dates for their show next year. Not only is the date set but the venue as well - the show is to be held at the Cobo Center in Detroit.

The organizers behind the motor show chose January 13 through 27, 2008 to hold the annual auto show. The schedule for the Press Preview was set from January 13 until 15 while Industry Preview Days are set on January 16 and 17. The Charity Preview will be held on January 17 next year and will be a black-tie affair. The remaining days, from January 19 to 27, are reserved as Public Days and these days would give chance to the public to view the wide array of vehicles that will be shown off at the said event.

The international motor show promises to be another great affair which is what Robert Thibodeau Jr. stressed in his statement. "Each year the NAIAS committee's goal is to offer a world-class event to thousands of media, industry insiders, enthusiasts and consumers who visit the show", said the senior co-chairman of the recently concluded 2007 North American International Auto Show. Following the success of this year's installment of the auto show, Thibodeau said that it was his honor "to serve as senior co-chairman for the NAIAS 2007".

"I proudly pass the leadership role over to 2008 senior co-chairman, Carl Galeana, and 2008 co-chairman, Joseph Serra. Together, they are sure to raise the bar once again", Thibodeau added.

This year's installment of the auto show has been deemed a success, drawing 6,000 media from 62 countries all over the world and from 42 states. The group gathered at the Cobo Center in Detroit to witness the amazing array of vehicles unveiled at the said event. The number of vehicles unveiled at the auto show reaches 55 and are unveiled in 39 press conferences. The annual auto show has among their participants Chinese carmaker Changfeng which is the first time that the Asian car manufacturer entered the said event. The auto show is once again broadcasted through NBC Sports which features it as a two-hour special, reaching a large number of viewers. Indeed, the organizers behind this year's auto show managed to run the event as smoothly as a Volvo fan clutch engaging the engine fan.

This year's episode of the prestigious auto show is made more special by the fact that they have reached a milestone this year. The 2007 North American International Auto Show marked their hundredth year. Through its hundred years of existence, the auto show has grown so much from an event that only featured 17 exhibitors to this year's 90 exhibitors. They also have for the first time had their web page in partnership with MSN.com Autos Web translated into six languages and were made available in ten MSN international markets where they have reached a huge number of media and vehicle enthusiasts all over the world. And with the support of the car industry capital that is Detroit, the auto show featured the most vehicle debuts more than any other motor show in North America.

Capitalizing on the passion for cars in Detroit, the auto show has grown to be an internationally sanctioned auto show. And next year they will be celebrating their 20th year of this international recognition. They have become the only motor show in the US to merit the distinguished sanction from the Organisation Internationlae des Constructeurs d'Automobiles, an alliance of automotive trade groups and car manufacturers all over the world.

2007 World Green Car Award Finalist: The VW Polo BlueMotion

2007 World Green Car Award Finalist: The VW Polo BlueMotion

by Benjamin Hudson

The Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion sold in the European market was named as one of the finalists for the 2007 World Green Car of the Year. More than 40 automotive journalists from all over the world selected the top three finalists for this year's award. The other two finalists for the 2007 World Green Car of the Year award include the BMW Hydrogen 7 and the Mercedes-Benz E320 BLUETEC.

According to a Volkswagen Group official press release, "The Polo BlueMotion is Europe's most economical five-seat automobile, offering the equivalent of 60 miles per gallon. The key to the Polo BlueMotion's efficiency is the optimization of an already economical package. Incorporation of longer ratio gears in the standard five-speed manual transmission, application-specific light weight alloy wheels, and lower rolling resistance 165/70 R14 tires all contribute to increased fuel economy. The lightweight body structure has enhanced aerodynamics to further improve its efficiency. The Polo BlueMotion doesn't ask its owners to compromise, as its sprightly performance and sporty chassis dynamics provide the "fun to drive" element inherent in Volkswagen's brand DNA."

Introduced at the 2006 Geneva International Auto Show, the Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion hatchback model features a 3-cylinder TDI engine delivering 80 hp (59 kW) at 4,000 rpm and develops a maximum torque output of 144 lb.-ft. (195 Nm) rotating at engine speeds of 2,200 rpm. The engine significantly offers improved fuel efficiency with only 3.9 liters of fuel consumption. In addition, the Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion made it as a finalist in the 2007 World Green Car of the Year award because of the low exhaust (CO2) emissions provided by the 3-cylinder TDI engine. The reduced CO2 emissions was achieved, thanks to the engine's advanced systems including turbo diesel fuel direct injection, optimized exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), improved EGR cooler, and electrically powered EGR valve with VW valve cover and VW valve cover gasket. The engine is connected through a standard 5-speed manual gearbox.

Exterior highlights of the Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion incude side flasher lamps integrated in the outside rearview mirrors, rear spoiler, radiator grille insert, front and rear bumpers in sporty design, side trim strips, sill panel, 14-inch "Jerez" alloy wheels with 165/70 R 14 performance tires, and the "BlueMotion" badge at the rear.

Inside, the Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion comes with four spoke steering wheel, indicator lamps and service interval indicator, seat stripes in "Popcorn" or "Select" pattern, and electric window lifts. In addition, advanced active and passive safety systems are also available as standard equipments including driver and front passenger air bags with front passenger airbag deactivation switch, side air bags for driver and front passenger, height adjustable 3-point automatic front safety belts with belt tensioners, rear head restraints, and antilock braking system (ABS) with convenience braking assist (BA).