2011 LINCOLN MKX BEST IN CLASS

Ford has announced that the new 2011 Lincoln MKX has been officially rated at 19 mpg city and 26 mpg on the highway, with a combined fuel economy of 21 mpg by the EPA. Those numbers put the 2011 MKX at the top of its class.

The 2011 MKX is powered by a 305-hp 3.7L V6. For the 2011 MKX, engineers integrated the new 3.7-liter V6 engine, which uses twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT) to increase the vehicle’s power and fuel economy. The broadened torque curve allows the intake valve to be advanced, delivering about a 10 percent power increase compared to non-Ti-VCT engines. Variable timing control of both the intake and exhaust camshafts helps extract more energy from each drop of fuel, leading to a 4.5 percent improvement in fuel economy.

2011 FERRARI 458 CHALLENGE

Lately, the Ferrari 458 Challenge has made its world premiere debut in Maranello during the Annual Dealer Meeting. Ferrari 458 was presented the 2010 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The Ferrari 458 Challenge introduces a number of important modifications to adapt it for competition use. This car use the direct injection 4497 cc V8 remains strictly in production tune, with an output of 570 hp at 9,000 rpm. Modifications have been made to the gear ratios and calibration of its dual-clutch F1 gearbox to guarantee higher torque at lower revs. It is also equipped with the E-Diff electronic differential already employed on the road-going version.

The new Ferrari 458 Challenge also has a specific suspension set-up with solid aluminium bushings, stiffer springs, single-rate dampers, centre-nut 19? racing rims, larger dimension Pirelli slicks and a ride height lowered by 30mm all round with the new generation Brembo CCM2 brakes.

For a Ferrari Challenge model is the adoption of the F1-Trac traction control system, the most sophisticated of its kind. The F1-Trac system constantly monitors levels of grip for maximum high-performance road-holding. Two specific track-biased calibrations wet and dry, have been developed for this application.