The Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition racing car will finally be made available come January, a concept race car that was initially shown at the SEMA 2008 in Las Vegas. It comes equipped with the TDI Cup Edition Kit which includes a front bumper, side skirts and rear valance. The Jetta TDI Cup Street Edition will also feature a 2.0-liter clean diesel engine loaded with 140HP paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. Other notable enhancements include an 18” Charleston wheels with performance all-season tires, sports seats and a multi-function steering wheel that features paddle shifters when equipped with the DSG transmission.

(Source) Press

Tags: clean diesel, diesel engine, dsg transmission, enhancements, front bumper, Jetta, jetta tdi, manual transmission, paddle shifters, race car, racing car, rear valance, season tires, SEMA, side skirts, sports seats, steering wheel, wheels

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I don’t know about you guys but I have a need for speed that’s why when I saw the video of Stillen’s Nissan GT-R sprinting from 0-60 in 2.9 seconds (included above) I just had to report it.

Stillen managed to pull a full 620HP from the car’s 2 turbochargers along with reducing the weight significantly thanks to a bunch of carbon fiber and lightweight seats.

Don’t expect to see this tuning kit made available for purchase as this is strictly a track car although I’d love to take it for a quick spin on the highway.

Read (Stillen)

Tags: gt-r, Nissan, race car, stillen, track car

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GreenGT of Switzerland has created an electric race car that has the requirements and specifications of Le Mans racing. Fashioned by French designer Thomas Clavet, the GreenGT design prototype is made up of an FIA-spec carbon chassis with a fiberglass body. It’s powered by a pair of 100 kW water-cooled electric motors, which are paired to a differential gearbox patented by GreenGT.

Power supply comes from flexcell photovoltaic solar panels and two lithium-ion batteries. Maximum speed of 171 mph, 0-62 mph in just under four seconds. The hope is to introduce two GreenGTs to LeMans in 2011, and then to produce 22 road-going models within the next three years.

Tags: Electric, GreenGT, race car, Switzerland

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The Indianapolis 500 is the buzz of the town these days and while the participants are getting ready to race, the matter of truck assistance for towing and recovery needs to be addressed. And this year, Hino Trucks are set to debut to act as support for the Speedway during the 2009 racing season.

“This is the start of a new chapter for Hino in racing,” says Glenn Ellis, Vice President of Marketing for Hino Trucks. “Hino Trucks has been a sponsor of Team Penske Indy Racing League race team for the past five years and our newly increased exposure at the speedway is a unique opportunity to demonstrate Hino product capabilities trackside.”

Race car support is apparent and the need for reliable trucks to do the dirty work is equally important to ensure driver and vehicle safety. Hino Trucks has been around and surely they will be an integral part for the Indianapolis 500, ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ on Memorial Day weekend.

(Source) Press

Tags: buzz, hino trucks, indianapolis 500, memorial day, memorial day weekend, motor speedway, new chapter, participants, product capabilities, race car, spectacle, team penske, trucks hino, vehicle safety, vice president of marketing

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Window World is a totally new player in providing sponsorship at NASCAR and it looks like they found the venture pretty much fruitful. In fact, they have extended their sponsorship of the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports car driven by John Andretti. Andretti finished 19th at Daytona.

One of the sport’s newest sponsors, Window World, will be the primary sponsor of the Front Row Motorsports Chevrolet at the Auto Club Speedway February 22, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway March 1, the Atlanta Motor Speedway March 8 and the Bristol Motor Speedway March 22.

“This is great news for Front Row Motorsports and Window World,” said Bob Jenkins, owner of Front Row Motorsports. “Daytona was the first time Window World sponsored a race car. On and off the track, their program was a success. Window World customers and employees have all rallied behind this program. We want to continue that momentum for another four races.”

(Source) Press

Tags: auto club, bob jenkins, bristol motor speedway, Chevrolet, daytona, john andretti, las vegas motor speedway, nascar, race car, sponsorship, vegas motor speedway

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