Cars | Patrick James

Tag Archive for Cars

Patrick James | February 12, 2009

Clever Icon Creator and Alfa Romeo

With the global downturn there has been a real lull in car sales… I think one of the things that has struck me most about early 2009 and the world credit crunch is the number of new models of car being released… and no-one to buy them. The new Opel Insignia for instance and the new Mitsubishi Colt and the list goes on!

One car manufacturer with a new car is Alfa Romeo with their new MiTO. Not content to take the credit crunch and an international reduction in car sales they have come up with a fun addition for their website. Now when you visit their website you can create YouTube styled Mini-clips and Icons… for example, for Valentine’s Day…

Category: Petrol-Head, Related Car Stuff, Something Else | Tags: Alfa Romeo, Cars, Clips, Icons, Mitsubishi, Motoring, Opel, YouTube

Patrick James | January 14, 2009

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At Last… 525hp Audi R8 V10

Now this is trullt beautiful… and it’s official! 525hp Audi R8 V10

Even though the 4.2-litre V8 in the current R8 offers outstanding performance, pundits wondered why Audi didn’t adapt the more potent V10 engine from its S8 saloon for use in the hottest car it has ever made. Audi answered the challenge with the introduction of its new R8 5.2. Faster and more powerful than its V8 sibling, this latest exotic from Ingolstadt goes on sale in Europe in the second quarter for 142,400 euros.

The 5.2-litre V10 in this R8 generates 525 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque — considerably more than the V8, which puts out 420 horses and 317 lb-ft of torque. The company did not say how much the R8′s new engine has in common with the V10 in the Audi S8 saloon or the Lamborghini Gallardo (Volkswagen/Audi owns Lamborghini).

MORE PHOTOS!

Source: MSN Cars

Category: AutoNews, BHP, Petrol-Head | Tags: Audi, Cars, Motoring, Photos, R8, V10

Patrick James | September 12, 2008

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Project RX7… Mazda FD3S Evo-R Lighting – Sep 12th 08

It has been a very busy week for Project RX7 with a few orders arriving for the Mazda from America and Japan. First on the list was the new set of Zacetec FD3S Black Diamond Front Indicators which I think are really going to make a nice replacement to the broken front indicator currently on the car! I think it will also enhance the overall look I am aiming for with the car.

Keeping with the theme of lighting the second product to arrive was a complete replacement kit for the OEM Pop-Up lights. After much thought I decided to completely redo the front end of the car and give it a sleeker, more modern look. I was really interest in finding projector lenses which I’ve always liked the look of… so several hours of Google later I found the perfect upgrade. My car needed a set of EVO-R Headlights with projector lenses and full HID kit. Last but no means (the devil being in the detail), third new arrival on the the list was a matching set of projector fog lights. All that delivered it means the front end’s parts are all ready for fitting and paint, with Finbar Cunningham when the car is delivered to him next week.

Next on the project is the tailgate!

Category: Petrol-Head, Project RX7, Related Car Stuff | Tags: Cars, Finbar Cunningham, Lights, Mazda, Modification, Modified, Motors, Performance, Project, Rotary, RX7, Zacetec

Patrick James | September 3, 2008

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Project RX7… Update (bodykit)! – Sep 3rd 08

When I picked up the RX7 one of the first thing I noted was a crack running through the front bumper and to be honest, it was split beyond reasonable repair… the victim of speed-bumps I would venture to guess! Needless to say, this made changing the bodykit on the Mazda one of the first jobs on my list of “to do”s and after hours-upon-hours of searching the internet I finally came across the look that warmed my heart! Well I’m pleased to say my new bodykit for the Mazda RX7 has arrived from America! So once through customs in Dublin Airport it’s off to the Bodyshop for a full respray of the car and fitting of the Bodykit… and needless to say, there is only one person for the job I have in mind, Finbar Cunningham of FC Autostyling, who has agreed to do the work. I can’t wait!

Category: Petrol-Head, Project RX7, Related Car Stuff | Tags: Cars, dreams, FC Autostyling, Finbar Cunningham, Imports, Mazda, Modification, Modified, Motors, Performance, Project, Rotary, RX7

Patrick James | August 31, 2008

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Project RX7… That Dream-Come-True! – Aug 29th 08

Recently, I mentioned in a post that “I have even got to fulfill one of my lifelong dreams!”… and that is TRUE!

Cars (in every sense) have always been a lifelong love of mine… I enjoy everything to do with motors (which probably explains my line of work involving training Driving Instructors) but performance cars have always held that mischivious allure for me! I’ve always wanted to take a performance car and turn it into a Show-car… so you can imagine the countless hours that have been spent on dreaming about the ways I was going to put my own mark on the car!

One car that always held a lot of appeal (in an almost scary way) was Mazda’s RX7. Sadly, the everyday commitments meant that I couldn’t afford to begin this dream project and that it was likely to remain exactly just that… a dream!

Well that was all up until very recently! Of late it seems that things in my life have been improving and I was finally in a position to start considering doing something about getting the car I had always wanted!

And so began the search… Luckily it didn’t take long! I came across a website H&H Performance Imports and they had what seemed to have a good clean example of the Mazda RX7. So… I decided to give them a call and got talking to a John Higgins who I must say was really helpful and to be honest, a pleasure to deal with… there was none of the all too common smarmy sales crap… John was straight talking and a gentleman… In truth I was a little nervous about buying my first Japanese Import (yet to arrive via Britain) but he was able to put my mind at ease and insured that the car was mechanically sound. he walked me through the process and put my mind at ease!

So, two weeks later, the right price and several conversations with John, the deal was done and the car was here in Ireland. When I saw the RX7 2.6 Twin Turbo with Rotary engine I was delighted… SHE was finally here! MY Mazda RX7! SHE was lovely and under the bonnet was untouched (unmodified) as promised with very low genuine miles. Granted there were a few touch-ups needed (purely cosmetic) but nothing that I hadn’t been advised of prior. Only downside was the colour but I’d planned to change that anyway!

With all that done Project RX7 begins! I have already started bringing in parts from Japan and America so I intend to keep a blog diary with info. and photos as the car develops! and if anyone has any suggestions on things to consider for the project or stories of their own please post a comment as I would love to hear them!

Category: Petrol-Head, Project RX7, Related Car Stuff | Tags: Cars, dreams, Imports, Mazda, Modification, Modified, Motors, Performance, Project, Rotary, RX7

Patrick James | April 24, 2008

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VRT – Co2 Emissions Poll… Eco-Intitiative or Motorist Burden?

CO2 Emissions have become a major concern, in particular for motorists, with the new VRT (Vehicle registration Tax), based on a car’s carbon emissions. In a bid to address the environmental effects of vehicle’s, all new cars registered from 1 July 2008 will have their motor tax rate based on the CO2 emissions level. A detailed list of vehicle emissions’ ratings is available from vrtireland.com . This will see many people buying cars with a lower emissions rating in order to avoid the higher tax brackets, but are cars with lower emissions any friendlier to the environment.

While lowering the motoring carbon footprint is the responsibility of each individual, does buying a car with low emissions really mean you are easing the burden on the environment… or are we getting an unbalanced perspective with car buyers being made scapegoat. In some instance a vehicle may have low emissions, but a high carbon footprint as a result of production, materials used or just by the car manufacturer’s neglect of its corporate responsibility to the environment. The production of a car alone can offset the benefits of lower fuel consumption and emissions, if manufacturer’s neglect their corporate burden.

The new VRT is a great idea and should in theory reduce the effects motoring has on the planet, but if we want real change, is it not time the Irish government and governments in general place a corporate burden to produce eco-friendly car, firmly on car manufacturers? I believe, that if there was a manufacturer’s tax placed on car makers (based on emissions & overall carbon footprint) and the companies required to foot the bill, we would inevitably see an earnest attempt towards more eco-friendly vehicles.

Do you think that, the Irish government should place a corporate burden on car makers to pay a tax based on CO2 emissions? Who should be held accountable for a car’s effects on the environment? I would appreciate if readers would take a moment to complete the CO2 emissions ‘micro poll’ (Below) and let me know what you think!

Useful related links: CO2.ie Blog / vrtireland.com / Sustainable Energy Ireland

Category: Eco-Driving | Tags: Cars, Co2 Emissions, Driving, Environment, Government, Green, Motoring, Survey, Tax, VRT

Patrick James | April 18, 2008

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Green options – What Gasoline Alternatives?…

Most petrol-heads would agree that there’s nothing like the appeal, sound and power of a 5.0L V10 engine – but let’s be honest: It’s time to change that mindset… the appeal of clean air rates pretty high too! So what are the alternatives to gasoline:

Battery-electric and hybrid-electric vehicles:
Battery-electric cars draw all their power from an onboard battery, while hybrids use a combination of battery and gas motors to drastically increase fuel efficiency.

Biodiesel:
A non-toxic fuel made from vegetable oils, animal fats and waste cooking oil. Biodiesel can be mixed with regular diesel fuel in just about any diesel engine and helps reduce emissions by about 60 to 80 per cent…

Ethanol:
A fuel made from the fermented sugars and starches found in agricultural products like corn and wheat. Ethanol burns with roughly 40 per cent lower emissions than gasoline and is a renewable fuel source. Most modern gasoline engines can already run safely and effectively on a blend of up to 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent gasoline and many gas stations across Canada already offer gas with 10 per cent ethanol content.

Fuel Cells & Hydrogen:
Probably the most interesting and controversial option are fuel cells. Fuel cells combine hydrogen and oxygen to create electrical current, with the hydrogen capable of being sourced from a variety of fuels. Engines running on hydrogen produce virtually no emissions other than water and vapour, and can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by between 30 and 90 per cent depending on the source fuel used.cross Canada already offer gas with 10 per cent ethanol content.

Natural Gas:
Popular in Europe and Asia, natural gas is abundant and runs cleaner than gasoline. Many taxi and bus fleets already run on the fuel. Regular gasoline vehicles have to be modified to run on natural gas, but conversions can be expensive.

Propane:
Propane is a clean-burning fuel that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 20 per cent and also contains many fewer toxic pollutants than gasoline. Contrary to popular belief, propane is actually less likely to ignite in a car accident than gasoline, due to requiring higher concentrations and a much higher temperature to ignite.

Source: Metro

Related News: Petrobas creates biofuels unit.

Category: Eco-Driving | Tags: Biofuel, Cars, Eco, Energy, Ethanol, Green, Industry, Trends

Patrick James | February 29, 2008

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Lukworth Links! February 29th, 2008

Birdchick.com report the fascinating story of the “Bird Boy” who does not understand any human language and communicates instead by chirping and flapping his arms.

Not overwhelmed by first appearances of the new fourth-gen’ Apple MacBook Pro (with Penryn and multi-touch)!

Anyone who wants to “recycle” that certain something rather than throw it away should check out Freecycle.

Writers looking for advice might want to Ask the Brontë Sisters!

Here’s a first appearance that does catch my eye… Toyota FT-HS concept (next Supra???)