the Mini Cooper

The MINI Cooper was originally designed in response to British fuel rationing, when sales of large vehicles dropped dramatically, and German compacts grew in popularity. Head of the British Motor Company, Leonard Lord, hated the design of "Bubble cars" and set out to make a "proper" compact. Turned out the MINI is not only proper; it's a legend. Today, Cooper fans have a lot more options from which to choose. What is the difference between the MINI, Cooper S, and John Cooper Works models?

The MINI Cooper could hardly be described as "basic," but it is the model from which all the others spring. A new MINI features a 16-valve, 4-cylinder aluminum alloy engine, 121 horsepower, multi-link rear suspension, ABS brakes with Cornering Brake Control and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Dynamic Stability Control, 121mph top speed, performance suspension, Getrag 6-speed manual transmission or optional Aisin 6-speed automatic transmission, 5.7 cubic feet of space with rear seats up, 24 cubic feet of space with rear seats down, 32mpg combined, and the distinctive wide "bulldog" stance for which the Cooper is known.

This car has an MSRP of about $20,000 before options, making it a relatively affordable choice for car enthusiasts.

The Cooper 6 ramps things up with a twin scroll Turbocharged, 16-valve, 4-cylinder aluminum alloy engine. It boosts horsepower to 181 and top speed to 141, while lowering fuel efficiency only slightly to a respectable 30mpg combined. Many of the Cooper S's features are the same as the MINI, such as the transmission and cargo space, but the S model adds standard 16-inch alloy wheels, rear spoiler, and aggressive air-intake hood scoop. Some details are added to the S, such as aluminum alloy foot pedals and a chrome fuel cap.

The Cooper S has an MSRP of about $23,000; another affordable choice for those who want power and performance.

The John Cooper Works model is "bred for the racetrack." It offers another boost in power and speed with its Turbocharged, 16-valve, 4-cylinder aluminum alloy engine. It delivers 208 horsepower and a top speed of 147mph. It has more torque than the Cooper S at 192 lb-ft at 18500-5000rpm compared to 177 lb-ft at 1600-5000 rpm. Other features include Electronic Differential Lock Control, air-intake hood scoop, exclusive 17-inch Challenge-Spoke wheels, dual chrome sport tailpipes, and other sport details, like stainless steel foot pedals.

Mazda RX8

Since its launch, the Mazda RX8 has been the subject of close scrutiny by enthusiasts. The high level of attention is not only due to the car's admirable driving dynamics but, in part to the early reports of below-than-expected performance. To be more specific: wheel horsepower measured on several chassis dynamometer runs resulted in values well below the expected 17%~20% drivetrain parasitic losses. And quarter mile runs of anywhere between 0.5 and 1.5 seconds off of those produced by magazines on allegedly pre-production vehicles.

In connection with the RX8's horsepower rating: the original marketing material from Mazda North America (MNAO) advertised the 6 speed manual transmission RX8 at 247hp @ 8,500rpm. Assuming parasitic drivetrain loses between 17%-20% -common for modern rear wheel drive vehicles, a stock RX8 should measure between 205~197 horsepower at the rear wheels (rwhp) -depending on elevation, barometric pressure, temperature and correction factors applied. Instead, a stock RX8 chassis dyno run shows results ranging anywhere from mid-high ~160 to ~185rwhp. Such readings would represent parasitic drivetrain loses in excess of 25%. To say that, it is unacceptable to experience such a high level of loss through the drivetrain of a "sports car" with a carbon fiber drive shaft -amongst other things- is an understatement.

To further consolidate doubts about the actual power output of the new Renesis, several owners were unable to reproduce mid-low 14 second quarter mile passes -as seen published by well known U.S. car magazines. Low trap speeds were another hint towards the apparent lack of power output.

Shortly after, several debates on online enthusiast forums and discussion boards turned into heated arguments as to what was causing such poor "straight line performance." Many former Miata owners remembered a previous "snafu" in Mazda's history, when the manufacturer admittedly overstated the horsepower figures of their redesigned Mazda Miata.

Red Mazda RX-8 pictures

Lamborghini Aventador Red Photos

The ISR transmission is unique among road-going vehicles, guaranteeing the fastest shifting time (only 50 milliseconds) and a highly emotional shift feel, while the lightweight chassis with pushrod suspension delivers absolute handling precision and competition-level performance. The expressively-designed interior offers hi-tech features ranging from the TFT cockpit display with Drive Select Mode system. The Aventador will be built to the very highest quality standards in an all-new production facility in Sant'Agata Bolognese.

"With the Aventador LP700-4, the future of the super sports car is now part of the present. Its exceptional package of innovative technologies is unique, its performance simply overwhelming," says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. "The Aventador is a jump of two generations in terms of design and technology, it's the result of an entirely new project, but at the same time it's a direct and consistent continuation of Lamborghini's brand values. It is extreme in its design and its performance, uncompromising in its standards and technology, and unmistakably Italian in its style and perfection. Overall, the dynamics and technical excellence of the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 makes it unrivalled in the worldwide super sports car arena."

Aventador: the name of one of the most courageous of all bulls

According to its tradition, Lamborghini's new flagship bears the name of a bull - naturally, a particularly courageous specimen from the world of the Spanish Corrida. Aventador was the name of a bull that entered into battle in October 1993 at the Saragossa Arena, earning the "Trofeo de la Peña La Madroñera" for its outstanding courage.

The doors open upward - of course

Truly impressive proportions come from an overall length of 4,78 meters (188.19 in.) matched with an impressive width of 2,26 meters (88.98 in.) including the exterior mirrors, and further accentuated by an extremely low height of just 1.136 mm (44.72 in.). It goes without saying that both doors of the carbon-fiber monocoque open upward - a feature that was first introduced in the now legendary Countach and then used for subsequent V12 models such as Diablo and Murciélago. However, the Aventador also evokes its immediate predecessor the Murciélago - electronically managed air intakes open depending on the outdoor temperature and the need for cooling air,ensuring maximum aerodynamic efficiency. And for those whishing to flaunt the heart of their Lamborghini, the optional transparent engine bonnet exhibits the twelve-cylinder engine like a technical work of art in a display case.

Exclusive and high-tech interior

The Aventador's spacious interior combines the fine exclusivity of premium materials and perfect Italian craftsmanship with state-of-the-art technology and generous equipment. The red switch cover on the broad center tunnel encloses the start button used to awaken the twelve-cylinder. The interior is dominated by a next-generation dashboard - as in a modern airplane, the instruments are presented on a TFT-LCD screen using innovative display concepts. A second screen is dedicated to the standard-fit multimedia and navigation system.

Carbon-fiber monocoque

The new Lamborghini flagship has a full monocoque. The entire occupant cell, with tub and roof, is one single physical component. This ensures extreme rigidity and thus outstanding driving precision, as well as an extremely high level of passive safety for the driver and his passenger. The entire monocoque weighs only 147.5 kilograms (325.18 lb).

The monocoque, together with the front and rear Aluminium frames, features an impressive combination of extreme torsional stiffness of 35,000 Newton meters per degree and weighs only 229.5 kilograms (505.9 lb).

Maximum revs, amazing sound

For the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4, the engineers in Lamborghini's R&D Department have developed a completely new high-performance power unit - an extremely powerful and high-revving, but very compact power unit. At 235 kilograms (518 lb), it is also extremely lightweight. A V12 with 515 kW (700 hp) at 8,250 rpm sets a whole new benchmark, even in the world of super sports cars. The maximum torque output is 690 Newton meters (509 lb-ft) at 5,500 rpm. The extremely well-rounded torque curve, the bull-like pulling power in every situation, the spontaneous responsiveness and, last but not least, the finely modulated but always highly emotional acoustics are what make this engine a stunning power plant of the very highest order.

Innovative transmission for maximum performance

Engineers at Lamborghini have created the perfect mate for the new twelve-cylinder engine with the highly innovative ISR (Independent Shifting Rods) transmission. The development objective was clearly formulated - to build not only the fastest robotized gearbox, but also to create the world's most emotional gear shift. Compared with a dual-clutch transmission, not only is the ISR gearbox much lighter, it also has smaller dimensions than a conventional manual unit - both key elements in the field of lightweight engineering for super sports cars.