Selasa, 27 Desember 2011
Jumat, 23 Desember 2011
2012 Maserati GranTurismo MC
Included in the MC’s touchups is a sport exhaust system that, besides being 12 pounds lighter than the base tubing, transmits more of the 4.7-liter V-8’s warbling, wailing, feral howl to the cabin. A little more, anyway. Activate sport mode, and the exhaust bypasses lock open for even more auditory pleasure.
It’s nowhere near as shriekalicious as a Ferrari 458, say, but luxury-oriented Maserati, with its smoother and more docile four-plane-crank, wet-sump version of the shared V-8, doesn’t care to be Ferrari. Still, we’d like to hear even more. It’s like being forced to listen to Pavarotti with the volume too low.
Opt for the MC, and you get 444 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque, 11 hp and 15 lb-ft more than the regular 4.7 GranTurismo. Friction reduction accounts for the increase, says Maserati, thanks to the strategic use of “diamond-like coating,” an antifriction technology derived from Formula 1, on wear parts such as the cams and followers.
In auto-sport mode, a revised “MC Auto Shift” transmission program knocks up to 50 percent off the upshift times in the ZF six-speed automatic, claims Maserati. There are five control modes: auto-normal, manual-normal, auto-sport, manual-sport, and ice. In manual-sport, the MC gives you full control with the banana-shaped paddles, so bounce it off the rev limiter if you like. On downshifts, you get pleasing little throttle blips.
Base price to base price, the MC is $17,000 more than the base GranTurismo S automatic coupe, but when you factor in all that is standard on the MC and available as an option on the base GT (mostly appearance items such as carbon-fiber interior trim for $2550 and Alcantara headliner for $1750), the price difference is about $3515. For that sum, you get the MC’s extra horsepower, the zippy exhaust, the special hand-modified fenders and hood, and the unique wheels. It would be a roaring bargain if you could add only $3515 and the power, bodywork, and so on, to the base car and call it a day.
Competitors to the MC include the $104,375, 510-hp Jaguar XKR and Porsche 911 flavor of your choice. The aforementioned 911 Turbo starts at $138,450. The MC asks for more money but offers Italian heritage, machismo, and rarity in return. And with that chrome trident on the grille, let’s face it, it’s somewhat more special than the others.
Selasa, 20 Desember 2011
Senin, 19 Desember 2011
Jumat, 16 Desember 2011
Selasa, 13 Desember 2011
It's good to know where you are, so you get to where you want to go.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of actually getting to skate yesterday, and was doubley excited for 2 reasons! first, trying out the new Bont Velocity Wheels and second, getting to set up the Fusion Sport Timing Gates to record some 100m times (using 4 gates to break up each time at 25m points).
So the wheels: they claim to grip where other wheels can't, and this is most definitely true. The wheels felt like glue, and actually provided too much grip where I needed to have a smoother push/crossover. Because of the surface of Madison, which isn't like most indoor circuits, this wheels probably arent the best choice, at least not without the combination of other wheels, on their own on a sports hall surface they would probably be immense, however I will have to invest (or hope some grant money comes in!) in other wheels to mix and match for the British Indoors in March.
Onto the times!
The timing gates (for those who don't know) are incredibly accurate, and as such are going to play an integral part in improving my 100m. Observationally, I need to work on my start and my entry/exit into corners, most notably the last corner into the finish. The problem is, I was actually producing too much power leaving me unable to effectively navigate the track... this actually leaves me pretty happy for the outdoor track time trial, however - for champs, I simply CANNOT go 100%, because the track simply isn't wide enough to get a decent entry into the corners.
Anyway - i'll put a proper analysis of the times up later, for now - i'm off to teach some applied physiology!
Jon
So the wheels: they claim to grip where other wheels can't, and this is most definitely true. The wheels felt like glue, and actually provided too much grip where I needed to have a smoother push/crossover. Because of the surface of Madison, which isn't like most indoor circuits, this wheels probably arent the best choice, at least not without the combination of other wheels, on their own on a sports hall surface they would probably be immense, however I will have to invest (or hope some grant money comes in!) in other wheels to mix and match for the British Indoors in March.
Onto the times!
The timing gates (for those who don't know) are incredibly accurate, and as such are going to play an integral part in improving my 100m. Observationally, I need to work on my start and my entry/exit into corners, most notably the last corner into the finish. The problem is, I was actually producing too much power leaving me unable to effectively navigate the track... this actually leaves me pretty happy for the outdoor track time trial, however - for champs, I simply CANNOT go 100%, because the track simply isn't wide enough to get a decent entry into the corners.
Anyway - i'll put a proper analysis of the times up later, for now - i'm off to teach some applied physiology!
Jon
Sabtu, 10 Desember 2011
2013 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe Black Series
Like its predecessor -- the much-loved CLK63 AMG Black Series -- this new guy (which we'll just call Black Coupe for brevity's sake) is a hopped-up, raced-out version of a "lesser" AMG product. One of the major differences between the normal C63 and Black Coupe is more power, always a good thing. In this case, you get 510 horsepower (up from 451 in the regular flavor C63, and 481 with the P31 Development Package option). The torque flow also increases, from 443 to 457 lb-ft. Like the P31 pack, this version of Benz's awesome (and sadly soon leaving, because of its high emissions) M156 6.2-liter V-8 uses high dollar internals from the range-topping SLS AMG. Expect the Black Coupe to hit 60 mph in a little less 4 seconds and go low 12s in the quarter.
Other performance-minded standard pieces include adjustable coil-over shocks and composite brakes. AMG widened the car quite a bit, actually swapping in the rear half shafts from the E63 AMG. Somewhat curiously, if not silently, Mercedes opted to use the same basic axles for its C-, E-, and S-Class cars. This always struck me as overkill, because the C-Class would pay a weight penalty. However, it allows Mercedes to easily swap high-dollar components, like we see here on the Black Coupe. Anyhow, more power, better suspension, and a wider stance comprise the basic differences.
How much cabbage are you going to need to cough up in order to own an example of the third AMG Black Series model? Probably less than the $134,000 price tag for the original CLK Black. At one point we heard under $100,000, but the actual number is probably closer to $125,000. Get your deposit in now: AMG is bringing only 90 examples to the U.S., meaning that this very special car will be that much more precious. And be on the lookout for dealers charging huge premiums.
Jumat, 09 Desember 2011
Not a great week, but better than nothing!
Well, the DOMS hit me MASSIVELY this week - essentially stopped any decent training for occuring Monday & Tuesday. All I did was two really (and I mean really!) light 20 minute cycles on the WattBike, just to keep the legs moving, circulating all those precious nutrients around my legs!
Wednesday however, I managed a double day! morning was upper body: chest, biceps, back and abs and in the evening I hit the WattBike for 30 minutes. Still sore, but a lot better.
Yesterday, I started warming up in the morning to do another WattBike session but saw that my heart rate was at 130bpm and I had only been cyling for a minute or two! this coupled with me feeling really tired, decided that I wouldn't train, on the chance I was picking up a cold.
This worked well, as I awoke this morning feeling a lot better (energy-wise) and was able to do a plyometric session before work! :)
Later I plan to test the effects of Beetroot juice on an hour wattbike cycle, the Nitric Oxide is supposed to improve blood flow to the working muscles - hopefully, i'll see an improvement!
Jon
Wednesday however, I managed a double day! morning was upper body: chest, biceps, back and abs and in the evening I hit the WattBike for 30 minutes. Still sore, but a lot better.
Yesterday, I started warming up in the morning to do another WattBike session but saw that my heart rate was at 130bpm and I had only been cyling for a minute or two! this coupled with me feeling really tired, decided that I wouldn't train, on the chance I was picking up a cold.
This worked well, as I awoke this morning feeling a lot better (energy-wise) and was able to do a plyometric session before work! :)
Later I plan to test the effects of Beetroot juice on an hour wattbike cycle, the Nitric Oxide is supposed to improve blood flow to the working muscles - hopefully, i'll see an improvement!
Jon
Minggu, 04 Desember 2011
Sabtu, 03 Desember 2011
Good week!
This week has been a bit of a "reminder" to my muscles that I intend to punish them repeatedly over the course of next season. Fingers crossed my bad streak illnesses and injury is behind me, with my knee feeling better each day and (touch wood) my abscess has long gone!
Monday & Tuesday saw me do an easy 30 mins on the Wattbike, building on my skate session with the National team on Sunday in Nottingham. Wednesday, I gave my upper body a work out, which had been log overdue for about 4 weeks! (abs are still aching a bit now!) Thursday I gave myself a day off, making sure my body got a bit of recover time. Yesterday I got my hour on the WattBike done an it felt great (killed me... But you know what I mean!) and this morning I blitzed my legs with some plyometrics:
3 x 12 30kg side lunges onto a bench/step up box
Superset:
3 x 12 box jumps
3 x 10kg split squat box jump
2 sets of 10m low walk & frog jumps
1 set of 20m low walk & frog
Jump
Dead.
Now I'm on the train heading to Hyde park London for winter wonderland! Woo!
Full week of training next week - cant wait!
Jon
Monday & Tuesday saw me do an easy 30 mins on the Wattbike, building on my skate session with the National team on Sunday in Nottingham. Wednesday, I gave my upper body a work out, which had been log overdue for about 4 weeks! (abs are still aching a bit now!) Thursday I gave myself a day off, making sure my body got a bit of recover time. Yesterday I got my hour on the WattBike done an it felt great (killed me... But you know what I mean!) and this morning I blitzed my legs with some plyometrics:
3 x 12 30kg side lunges onto a bench/step up box
Superset:
3 x 12 box jumps
3 x 10kg split squat box jump
2 sets of 10m low walk & frog jumps
1 set of 20m low walk & frog
Jump
Dead.
Now I'm on the train heading to Hyde park London for winter wonderland! Woo!
Full week of training next week - cant wait!
Jon
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