1970 Volkswagen Porsche Tapiro

Posted on July 9, 2012 by melwin23

Article By Grease n Gasoline

The starting point for the Volkswagen Porsche Tapiro was the Porsche 914/16, but between this prototype and the production version there isn’t the slightest similarity.

The formal trend refers to de Tomaso Mangusta more than the Iguana, presented a year before.Softness and litheness give way to abrupt lines, straight radii and pronounced corners.

1970 Volkswagen Porsche Tapiro

1970 Volkswagen Porsche Tapiro

The wedge is used here for the first time, and it will be used again in many other cars in years to come. Doors and hoods are very exotic and considered fancy solutions for the time like seagull wing opening door for passengers and engine. This solution imposed the design of a “cross” steel central structure that carries longitudinally the hinges of doors and hoods, while transversally becomes a roll-bar. Lights, foldaway, are protected by a square overhang.

1970 Volkswagen Porsche Tapiro

The Volkswagen Porsche Tapiro was bought by a private collector, but faced a cruel fate: in the 80’s this unique prototype was found completely burned after a car accident.
(source: ItalDesign)

1970 Volkswagen Porsche Tapiro

Volkswagen AG To Buy Out Porsche

Posted on July 9, 2012 by melwin23

Article by Grease n Gasoline ~ Volkswagen buys Porsche
German giant Volkswagen spends £5.4bn to buy the remaining stake in Porsche. The deal takes effect on 1 August
Porsche Automobil Holding has announced plans to complete the sale of the 50.1% stake in the sports car business to Volkswagen AG as quickly as possible to decrease its tax liability.

Volkswagen buys Porsche

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Volkswagen plans to purchase the rest of the unit for about €4.5 billion and bypass a potential income tax charge of around €1.5 billion, despite criticism it will cost German tax payers. A loophole in German legislation allows the companies to avoid income tax, if VW transfers one voting share to Porsche along with the purchase price. With the procedure the deal would then be considered a reshuffle, not a direct sale.
With the spare cash Porsche plans to invest in new business fields, including renewable energy and auto materials. Recently VW acquired an 8.2% stake in SGL Carbon SE to secure access to carbon fibre, which reduces vehicle weight and therefore decreases fuel costs.

The sale of the Porsche unit is part of a 2009 agreement to integrate the companies. As VW had to give up plan for a merger with Porsche’s holding firm last year due to legal obstacles, the companies have been mulling alternatives, such as buying the rest of the Porsche brand to fold into VW.

Meanwhile investors are bracing to sue Porsche in the US and Germany, accusing the company of alleged market manipulation during the attempt to merge with Volkswagen in 2008. The company faces €4 billion in damages if found guilty.

Horex VR6 cylinder – German Technology at its best

Posted on January 9, 2012 by melwin23

The Horex VR6
perhaps doesn’t look all that forward thinking or futuristic, in fact it has quite a sedate and traditional appearance. However the unique powerplant – one which the company now has a patent for in motorcycles – is certainly something new.

At the center of the Horex VR6 is a, surprise, surprise, VR6 engine.

The engine is called a VR6 because the cylinders are laid out in a ‘V’ configuration, the ‘R’ stands for ‘Reihenmotor’ – the German word describing an inline motor, and 6 for six cylinders. The unconventional arrangement of the cylinders – they are staggered and mounted at only a 15 degree angle – means that they are packaged in a much smaller overall space than other 6 cylinder engines. The engine itself is only slightly larger than an inline 4-cylinder, and considerably shorter than a conventional V6. VW were the original inventors of the VR6 engine, and as Horex cite VW as a technical partner in the Horex VR6 project, there’s a pretty good chance the bike uses a VW derived unit.

Not content with just your everyday run-of-the-mill naturally aspirated VR6 engine, Horex decided that the addition of a supercharger would be the cherry on the cake. This means that the 1,200 cc engine produces a substantial 197 horsepower, and 110 lb-ft of torque. To ensure smooth power delivery, the engineers opted for a tough rubber belt to transmit the power to the rear wheels.

Styling
In the looks department the Horex VR6 isn’t anywhere near as adventurous as its clever engineering. It’s still a good looking bike – not a stunner – but a good looking machine. Horex state that; “This design will polarize”. No it won’t. It looks too sensible for that. What it will do however is prove that you’re a buyer who chooses substance over style – and pays a good chunk of change for the privilege. €20,000 will secure you one. Sales are to start in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Later sales are set to expand into the rest of Europe and North America.