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Edge On Motorcycling- The BMW HP2 Sport

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The BWM HP2 Sport is the latest iteration of the Bavarian Motor Company's foray into producing performance driven motorcycles. The quiet, staid, and lets just admit it boring motorcycles that came out of BMW in years past is history.

The HP line is BMW's new high performance, cutting edge line up. It's the motorcycle equivalent of their M line of performance cars.

The HP2 Sport is the third motorcycle in the HP line following the releases of the HP2 Enduro and the HP2 Megamoto.

The HP-2 Sport is based on the R1200S but is out and out designed for sports riders who are looking for a machine that has performance as well as endurance.

The HP2 Sport keeps some of the concepts that BMW motorcycles have become known for such as the BMW Motorrad Telelever front suspension and the EVO Paralever rear suspension. Other components have been newly developed or highly modified for use in the motorcycle.

The HP-2 Sport is powered by a twin Boxer motor that has a capacity of 1170 cc. The engine's cylinder heads were completely redesigned which allows the engine to rev as high as 9500 rpm. The engine has a 101 mm bore and a 73 mm stroke and produces a maximum of 130 hp at 8,750 rpm and 85 lb-ft of torque at 6,000 rpm.

The bike has a close ratio six speed gear box, with first and second gear having higher ratios. This puts the gear increments closer to each other and results in less of a rev drop when progressing up through the gears.

The bike also has a gear shift assistant which allows the rider to shift gears without using the clutch. It works by sensing when the gear lever is activated. If it senses gear lever activation without the use of the clutch, it electronically reduces power to the engine which puts the engine in a low load state and makes it possible to shift without the clutch. If the rider uses the clutch, the system becomes inactive.

The riding position of the HP-2 sport can be described as relaxed. BMW has extensive experience with endurance racing and knows that for racers to be fast over a long period staying power is more important than a full racer's tuck.

The dashboard was developed by 2D Systems, which also provides analytic recording systems to Moto GP racing.

The dashboard has two modes and is switched by two controls on the left handlebar. In road mode, typical information such as speed, rpm, time, and distance are displayed. In race mode data such as top speed, circuit times, number of gearshifts and rpm is shown.

The HP2 Sport will push BMW further into the world of performance motorcycling.
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Bluetooth Car

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Bluetooth technology opens up a whole new world for cell phone users, especially those behind the wheel. Using a short-range wireless signal, Bluetooth phones can be used with Bluetooth-enabled cars to allow drivers to select contacts and dial using either voice recognition or controls mounted on the steering wheel and to carry out their conversations hands-free. But the world of in-car Bluetooth is not as straightforward as it sounds. Many drivers with a Bluetooth phone and a Bluetooth-enabled car find that the two are often incompatible. Some handsets work with most cars; some cars will recognize only a limited number of handsets. To cut through the confusion, we've put together a chart that enables you to see at a glance which phones work with which car models--and vice versa
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The new and highly anticipated 2008 BMW M3 embodies many qualities that made BMW's reputation. This rear-wheel-drive slugger leaves a little room to play with the handling, so expert drivers can learn to work with the car on track days, yet it works perfectly well in the daily commute, with many creature comforts, such as cutting-edge cabin tech, and fine low-speed drivability. With its sizable trunk and usable rear seats, you could even make the argument that it is practical, as long as you ignore the fuel economy.
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Review: 'Car Audio For Dummies'

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The world of car audio can be a tricky place for beginners. With so much information to absorb and so many different products available, the novice (and sometimes even the seasoned) car audio enthusiast could find himself quickly overwhelmed--or worse, misinformed. With this in mind, we looked at Car Audio for Dummies (one in a long line of "...For Dummies" books) to see how helpful the book could be.

As it turns out, author Doug Newcomb has just stuffed this book full of good advice and thorough explanations. Divided into 5 major sections and 25 chapters, the book guides the reader through all of the major steps to creating an audio installation that is satisfactory, from deciding what sort of car audio system to get to installing, tuning, and securing the system.

The range of information contained in Car Audio for Dummies covers nearly the entire gamut of enthusiasts. There's advice for building every level of system, from mild installs that maintain stock components to wild overhauls that completely transform the vehicle. There's very basic information for novices and very detailed facts for users with more experience.

Car Audio for Dummies organizes its information in a way that's easy to navigate. Chapters are ordered so that a dummy could start at the front and use the book as a step-by-step guide for setting up their first system. Each of the major components of a car stereo system (head unit, amplifiers, speakers, and subwoofers) gets a chapter dedicated to choosing the right component and an additional chapter with pointers on installation.

Sections are clearly defined and located where we logically expected them to be, which also makes this a pretty good reference book. Pictures, charts, and icons designating reminders, warnings, and tips help the reader find relevant information at a glance.

While an experienced enthusiast can still learn a thing or two while reading Car Audio for Dummies, the book is primarily targeted at the novice user. Consequently, most of the information is of a pretty basic to intermediate level. Most advanced and vehicle specific information is found for free on the many car audio forums on the Internet. With the relatively low amount of advanced information between the covers, this is hardly a justifiable purchase for the seasoned vet.

We definitely recommend Car Audio for Dummies to someone with little to no prior knowledge of car audio. This book is a great guide for a car audio newbie and will serve as an excellent reference as their interest grows. - CNET

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Camera with GPS logger could help collect crash data

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Needless to say, automobile accidents aren't pleasurable experience. Often, the ordeal devolves into finger-pointing, pitting one person's word against another. By providing in-car video evidence, Voyager hopes to help drivers deal with the situation.

Voyager Pro Car Camera, product shot(Credit: Brickhouse Security)

The just released Voyager Pro car camera with GPS logger packs an accelerometer that can detect fender benders and triggers a video recording of the 10 seconds leading up to and 20 seconds following an accident. The video is then stored on a removable 1GB SD card.

Additionally, the product lets drivers pinpoint the location of the accident by logging the GPS coordinates for later retrieval using an included software package. It looks like the device only packs a forward-facing camera, so you're still on your own if rear-ended.

If it works as advertised, the Voyager Pro might make dealing with fender benders a little less painful (unless, of course, you're the one at fault).

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London 2008: Lotus unveils the Evora

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Project Eagle has finally been unveiled today at the 2008 British Motor Show as the Evora, and Lotus is beaming over its little eaglet. The Evora will be the most grown up and accessible Lotus in the British manufacturer's lineup. To illustrate, the automaker claims it will fit two American males in the front seats (did they just call us fat?). It's a mid-engine, 2+2 coupe (a convertible is planned) with 3.5L V6 sourced from Toyota but elevated by Lotus above its humble origins to produce 276 horsepower. The car weighs just 2,976 lbs., which might be a lot for a Lotus but is well below the average weight of most cars. The interior is unlike any you've seen from this automaker, which is to say that occupying one won't be like staying in a hostel compared to a four-star hotel. You've got leather all around, a nav system, and Lotus promises ingress and egress have been vastly improved over its other models.

The Evora will be built on a new assembly line at the company's assembly plant in Hethel, England at the rate of 2,000 annually, but has been designed to meet safety and emissions requirements around the world. That many cars for so many markets means the Evora will be exclusive, although we don't expect Lotus to leave money on the table if there's big demand for its new, softer, more accessible sports car. Other vehicles will also eventually be built on the Evora's new aluminum chassis, which is called the Versatile Vehicle Architecture (VVA) and was first seen on the Lotus APX Concept. It can be stretched, widened and carry a vehicle weighing over 4,000 lbs. One new Lotus is enough for now, though, as we try to wrap our heads around a Hethel-based car with creature comforts.
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Audi introduces the next MMI

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If you're buying an A8 this year, prepare to spend a lot of time getting to know your new MMI system. We have consistently thought that Audi's buttons-and-knob interface is the best, and it looks like they've put an entire NASA team on the job of making it better. A seven-inch TFT screen with 800x400 resolution is now controlled by an 8-position joystick. Moving from one screen to another is done via "elegant crossfades," which sounds a bit PowerPoint-ish, but we'll wait until we see it to judge. And among other improvements, navigational maps can be rendered in "birds-eye perspective" 3D, with topographical map coloration. The only thing missing is the Encyclopedia Britanica. You can check out the exhaustive press release after the jump.

[Source: Audi]
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Volkswagen unveiling two-door Elise fighter in LA, new sports car

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Over the past five years, Volkswagen has continued to tease us with sports car concepts that never seem to come to fruition. Back in 2003, VW unveiled the Concept R in Frankfurt to critical acclaim and two years later, the wraps came off the EcoRacer, proving that the automaker was still kicking around the idea of a lightweight, affordable roadster for the masses.

In the interim, VW had two similar concepts that never left the studio, but when the Los Angeles Auto Show rolls along later this year, a new mid-engine coupe will be revealed, and this one actually has a shot at production.

According to Autocar, this newest concept aims to be a budget alternative to the Lotus Elise, balancing performance and fuel economy in a low-cost package. Sources suggest that the coupe will feature either a 168 hp, 1.4-liter TSI gasoline engine or a 125 hp, 1.6-liter TDI mounted amidships and sending power to the rear wheels via a seven speed DSG gearbox. If and when the production version debuts in 2011, the coupe's curb weight is pegged at just over 2,200 pounds, allowing it to run to 60 in under seven seconds while still returning over 55 mpg.

If the project is given the green light, the same architecture that underpins the VW variant could form he basis for the oft-rumored and continually denied Audi R4. And with Porsche's stake in V-Dub, that means a 914 successor is just a badge and prayer away.
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Spy Shots: 2009 Acura TL in the buff

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The 2009 Acura TL has been spied enough times to rival the Chevrolet Camaro and Nissan GT-R, and even though Acura has already released a teaser of the TL ahead of its official launch, the overly airbrushed glamour shot doesn't accurately reflect what the TL will look like in the flesh.

Our new friend Dariusz came across a handful of images of the TL hanging out in a parking lot, with only the badge on the bonnet and boot obscured by tape and the steering wheel cloaked in a towel. Check the gallery to get a detailed glimpse of the new TL and check back next month for our First Drive.
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Rendered Speculation: V8-powered BMW Z4 hardtop

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AutoExpress' artists worked their magic on the next generation BMW Z4 and even though the exterior is more appealing than its predecessor, what lies beneath the evolved flame-surfacing has us aching to get behind the wheel.

As reported before, the next Z4 will feature a retractable hard top, but a cloth roof will continue to be offered on entry-level models. Motivation will come in several different flavors, beginning with naturally aspirated four- and six-cylinder powerplants. A diesel is also being considered – a first for the Z4 – and there's no doubt that the 3-series-based roadster will come packing the twin-turbocharged, 3.0-liter inline six that's proliferated throughout BMW's lineup. More importantly, rumors are beginning to swirl that the M version will be equipped with the 4.0-liter V8 currently found in the M3. If that happens, it's all but guaranteed that the twin-clutch gearbox will find a happy home in the transmission tunnel.

[Source: AutoExpress]
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Is A Hybrid Car For You

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You may have seen one zipping past you in the high occupancy lane, a lone driver at the wheel. It's a gasoline-electric hybrid car and driving in the HOV lane is just one of the benefits of ownership in many states. But what is a hybrid? How does it work? Is it the right car for you and your family?

A hybrid car has a both a gasoline engine and a battery. The battery is recharged by energy from the gasoline engine that would normally be lost during braking or decelerating. The car uses either the battery or the gasoline engine depending on several factors including how fast the car is traveling. Sometimes, both will work together to provide an extra boost of power without using too much extra fuel.

The result of this technology is cars that get significantly better gas mileage and produce less carbon dioxide emissions that traditional gasoline powered cars. For example, according to Honda, the 2006 Civic Hybrid gets 50 miles to the gallon on the highway, 14 miles to the gallon better than the 2003 regular Civic. When driven the national average of 12,000 miles, that represents a savings of 69 gallons of gas and 258 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.

In the early days of hybrid cars, there were few models to choose from. People desiring to purchase a hybrid car were stuck in tiny cars with little cargo space. Today, however, manufacturers produce hybrid cars and light trucks in nearly every category including family-sized sedans, sport utility vehicles and minivans. The smallest cars still get the best gas mileage, but larger hybrids consistently outperform their regular siblings in gas mileage and carbon dioxide emissions.

Unfortunately, hybrid cars cost more than regular models. In the case of the 2006 Honda Civic, the hybrid model costs almost $7,000 more than the regular model. Congress passed a law providing tax credits for hybrid car owners that took effect on January 1, 2006 that would save the buyer of a 2006 Civic Hybrid $2,100. It would take several years to break even on the purchase of a hybrid counting gasoline savings alone. However, many hybrid owners are as dedicated to the environmental benefits of driving a hybrid as they are to the money they save.

One of the fears when hybrid cars first became available was that maintenance and insurance costs would be prohibitive. Research has shown that regular maintenance costs for hybrid vehicles are no higher than for regular vehicles. Additionally, hybrid car owners are less likely to be involved in accidents and some insurance companies have begun offering discounts to hybrid car owners.
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