Ferrari FF 

Revolutionary 12-cylinder

Ferrari FF

The FF: the Ferrari Four. Four as in four-wheel drive. Four as in the four comfortable seats that cocoon driver and occupants alike. A four-seater that utterly changes the whole GT sports car concept, hailing nothing short of a revolution in the automotive world. Even the most cursory glance at the FF’s sleek, Pininfarina-penned super model profile will tell you that. Drive it - anywhere, any time, in any weather or road conditions – and you’ll know why it’s so radical. It may be a car that has elegance, beauty and art in its soul, but there’s much, much more to the FF than sophisticated allure. It was, in fact, designed specifically to tackle the toughest, most complex and ambitious of driving challenges. The kind of challenges that the most uncompromising and discerning drivers will want to set it. Drivers that demand their cars give of their all. Effortlessly. Regardless of weather or surface. The FF will more than match anything that’s asked of it because it is quite simply the most versatile car ever produced by the pens, computers, wrenches and milling machines used by the Prancing Horse technicians, engineers, designers and mechanics.

The FF: a name, as we said, inspired by the car’s four generous, body-hugging seats and, more significantly, the new Prancing Horse-patented four-wheel drive system. Purists will be overjoyed to know that it is still the rear wheels that actually provide the power, with torque being transferred only to the front axle when required and even then intelligently and predicatively distributed to all four wheels. Yet another reason why this is the most versatile Ferrari ever built.

But take note: the FF is also the most exclusive GT on the market, the very pinnacle of achievement in the “extreme GT” segment, the most powerful four-seater in the world. It has it all: exceptional, class-topping performance that pushes its signature Ferrari thoroughbred DNA and driving pleasure to the utmost, regardless of weather or terrain. Even on snow, ice and dirt. The FF also sets a new benchmark in terms of sheer innovation: it is the first four-wheel drive V12 with a rear-mounted electronic differential, the E-Diff. The Ferrari-patented four-wheel drive system is unique and is also integrated with the new generation F1-Trac traction control developed specifically for the track. The FF is also the first and only V12 in the world to sport a seven-speed dual-clutch F1 gearbox and it boasts a 20 per cent increase in power with a 25 per cent reduction in fuel consumption. The FF offers four occupants superb comfort with body-hugging seats and absolutely unprecedented cabin and luggage space for a car in its category. Unparalleled chassis engineering gives authentic sports car dynamics, with powerful brakes and an uncompromising suspension set-up. It also boasts the best weight-power ratio ever achieved, thanks in part to the fact that its patented four-wheel drive system is just 50 per cent the weight of a traditional version. Style-wise, the FF is sculptural yet streamlined: it has an innovative shooting brake shape, modern styling cues, and third millennium aerodynamic and conceptual solutions to underscore its sporty stance. It is also unique on several levels: for instance, special exterior colours were specifically designed for the FF and the leather that adorns the interior has been subject to an innovative treatment to enhance its natural beauty. The FF is tailored to perfection to suit the exclusive style of its owner. It’s as much a car for day-to-day driving as it is for extraordinarily unique occasions. A car you can drive alone or share on a road trip with three other occupants. A car to take it easy in or really push to the limits. A Ferrari that demands to be driven. A Ferrari to test your skills in. A dream car.

The FF: the Ferrari Four. Four as in four-wheel drive. Four as in the four comfortable seats that cocoon driver and occupants alike.

Brain implants let paralyzed woman move robot arm...

Thanks to electrodes in her brain, quadriplegic Jan Scheuermann can manipulate objects for the first time in years.

Jan Scheuermann can't use her limbs to feed herself, but she's pretty good at grabbing a chocolate bar with her robot arm.

She's become the first to demonstrate that people with a long history of quadriplegia can successfully manipulate a mind-controlled robot arm with seven axes of movement. Earlier experiments had shown that robot arms work with brain implants.

Scheuerman was struck by spinocerebellar degeneration in 1996. A study on the brain-computer interface (BCI) linking Scheuermann to her prosthetic was published online in this month's issue of medical journal The Lancet.

Training on the BCI allowed her to move an arm and manipulate objects for the first time in nine years, surprising researchers.

It took her less than a year to be able to seize a chocolate bar with the arm, after which she declared, "One small nibble for a woman, one giant bite for BCI." Check it out in the video below.

"This is a spectacular leap toward greater function and independence for people who are unable to move their own arms," senior investigator Andrew Schwartz of the University of Pittsburgh's Pitt School of Medicine said in a release.

"This technology, which interprets brain signals to guide a robot arm, has enormous potential that we are continuing to explore. Our study has shown us that it is technically feasible to restore ability; the participants have told us that BCI gives them hope for the future."

Scheuermann's brain was implanted with two quarter-inch square electrode grids. They have 96 tiny contact points for brain areas that control right arm and hand movement.

The electrodes pick up neurons firing to activate arm movement. Within a week of surgery, she could reach in and out, left and right, and up and down with her robot arm.

Her rapid progress has led researchers to estimate that similar robot arms could be available to far more patients in 5 to 10 years. The next step for the work will be to include feedback potential in the electrodes, so the brain can interpret sensations like grip strength from the arm.

Scheuermann will continue to test the device over the next two months.

"This is the ride of my life," she was quoted as saying. "This is the roller coaster. This is skydiving. It's just fabulous, and I'm enjoying every second of it."

TOMAHAWK

 The World’s Fastest Bike!

Well, there is a reason I did not go out of my way and call it the fastest two wheeler on turf and that is quite simple because it ain’t one. The Tomahawk is still a bike but it seems to have four wheels under it. To carry this super heavy weight among the bikes that is pretty much a requirement. But that does not take away an iota of style or sheer intimidating appearance that the Tomahawk carries. This is pretty much the “Iron Mike’ among the bikes and is designed to deliver that early second round knock out. That does not mean that there is nothing pretty about this machine.

tomahawk 1  

The Tomahawk is a Viper V-10 based motorcycle, a 500 horsepower engine with four wheels beneath it. Chrysler will be selling the original Tomahawk concept and nine replicas through Neiman Marcus, for up to $555,000 each. A Chrysler spokesman told Reuters they were meant as rolling sculptures. Rumors had the Tomahawk would be selling for under $200,000, most likely at a loss or break-even price, for publicity purposes - but still fully drivable. Wolfgang Bernhard, Chrysler’s not particularly respected first mate, was said to be enthusiastic about that project, so much so that hundreds were projected to be built at under $200,000 each. They reportedly cost Chrysler over $100,000 to build.

tomahawk 2

This super heavy weight is crafted to intimidate and destroy all competition. That does not mean that you can carry this on to the road as you would never be able to obtain a license for it. So they are nothing but rolling sculptures and that is a heavy price to pay for something that you can’t take out and flaunt. The bike, if needed to run, runs on 93 octane unleaded premium and has a 10-cylinder V-type engine. Reminds me so much of the days when I started to play ‘RoadRash’. Now this piece of automobile mastery is not for all and is not designed for daily use obviously. But if you want to just take a look at this super monster then you can visit the nearest auto show sporting it. With a top speed of well over 350 mph (nearly 560km/hr), this thing will blur everything around!

Dodge Tomahawk 2003

Picture credits - The respective copyright holder or manufacturer. MORE General information Model: Dodge Tomahawk Year: 2003 Category: Prototype / concept model Rating: 63.7 out of 100.  Engine and transmission Displacement: 8277.00 ccm (505.06 cubic inches) Engine type: V10, four-stroke Power: 500.00 HP (365.0 kW)) @ 5600 RPM Torque: 712.00 Nm (72.6 kgf-m or 525.2 ft.lbs) @ 4200 RPM Top speed: 482.8 km/h (300.0 mph) 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph): 2.500 seconds Max RPM: 6000 Compression: 9.6:1 Bore x stroke: 102.4 x 100.6 mm (4.0 x 4.0 inches) Valves per cylinder: 2 Fuel system: Injection Fuel control: OHV Cooling system: Liquid Gearbox: 2-speed Chassis, suspension, brakes and wheels Frame type: Monocoque, engine is central, stressed member Front brakes: Double disc Front brakes diameter: 508 mm (20.0 inches) Rear brakes: Double disc Rear brakes diameter: 508 mm (20.0 inches) Physical measures and capacities Weight incl. oil, gas, etc: 680.4 kg (1,500.0 pounds) Front percentage of weight: 49.0 Rear percentage of weight: 51.0 Seat height: 737 mm (29.0 inches) If adjustable, lowest setting. Overall height: 937 mm (36.9 inches) Overall length: 2,591 mm (102.0 inches) Overall width: 704 mm (27.7 inches) Ground clearance: 76 mm (3.0 inches) Wheelbase: 1,930 mm (76.0 inches) Fuel capacity: 12.30 litres (3.25 gallons)

IBM Supercomputer "Watson" To Help In Cancer Treatment

Oncologists hope that IBM's Watson supercomputer can help them improve the speed and efficacy of cancer treatments, IBM announced.



Two years ago, "Watson" beat all-timeJeopardy! champions. Dr. Larry Norton, Deputy Physician-in-Chief for Breast Cancer Programs at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center had wondered then whether the IBM Watson system might be harnessed to improve cancer care and research. Mark Kris, MD, Chief, Thoracic Oncology Service at Sloan-Kettering, heard Dr. Norton's comment and became interested too.

The two doctors felt that combining Watson's ability to process huge amounts of data and use natural language processing might accomplish much more than winning Jeopardy! "Might it not also revolutionize cancer care and research and speed up progress for patients?" they wondered.

A year ago, a team at Memorial Sloan-Kettering started working with an IBM and a WellPoint team to train Watson to help doctors choose therapies for breast and lung cancer patients. They continue to share their knowledge and expertise in oncology and information technology, beginning with hundreds of lung cancers, the aim being to help Watson learn as much as possible about cancer care and how oncologists use medical data, as well as their experiences in personalized cancer therapies.

During this period, doctors and technology experts have spent thousands of hours helping Watson learn how to process, analyze and interpret the meaning of sophisticated clinical data using natural language processing; the aim being to achieve better health care quality and efficiency.

An opportunity to improve how medicine is taught, practiced and paid for

According to the American cancer Society, approximately 1.6 million new cancers will be diagnosed in the United States in 2013 alone. The studies have shown that about 20% of patients have received either an incomplete or wrong diagnosis.

In a communiqué, IBM wrote "These statistics, coupled with a data explosion of medical information that is doubling every five years, represents an unprecedented opportunity for the health care industry and next generation cognitive computing systems, to combine forces in new ways to improve how medicine is taught, practiced and paid for."

Manoj Saxena, IBM General Manager, Watson Solutions, said:

"IBM's work with WellPoint and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center represents a landmark collaboration in how technology and evidence based medicine can transform the way in which health care is practiced. breakthrough capabilities bring forward the first in a series of Watson-based technologies, which exemplifies the value of applying big data and analytics and cognitive computing to tackle the industry's most pressing challenges."

Using evidence-based medicine to advance oncology

So far, Watson has ingested:

• Over 600,000 pieces of medical evidence


• 2,000,000 pages of text from 42 academic journals and human studies (clinical trials) based on oncology research


• A huge number of patients' records spanning decades of cancer treatment history, including medical records and patient outcomes. Watson can sift through 1.5 million pieces of such records and provide doctors with evidence-based treatment options within seconds

In less than 12 months "Memorial Sloan-Kettering has immersed Watson in the complexities of cancer and the explosion of genetic research which has set the stage for changing care practices for many cancer patients with highly specialized treatments based on their personal genetic tumor type," says an IBM communiqué.


Watson has started off learning about 1,500 cancer cases. Memorial Sloan-Kettering doctors and analysts are training Watson to retrieve and interpret laboratory results, clinical research and physician notes, and using data on hundreds of thousands of cancer patients to put forward treatment suggestions and possible diagnostic observations.

Craig B.Thompson, M.D., President of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, said:

"It can take years for the latest developments in oncology to reach all practice settings. The combination of transformational technologies found in Watson with our cancer analytics and decision-making process has the potential to revolutionize the accessibility of information for the treatment of cancer in communities across the country and around the world. Ultimately, we expect this comprehensive, evidence-based approach will profoundly enhance cancer care by accelerating the dissemination of practice-changing research at an unprecedented pace."

The first adopters of this capability include the Maine Center for Cancer Medicine and WESTMED Medical Group. Their cancer specialists will start testing the product and providing valuable feedback to IBM, WellPoint and Memorial Sloan-Kettering.

Improving patient care by speeding utilization management

According to WellPoint Inc., during its utilization management pilot, Watson ingested over 25,000 test case scenarios and 1,500 real life cases "and gained the ability to interpret the meaning and analyze queries in the context of complex medical data and human and natural language, including doctors' notes, patient records, medical annotations and clinical feedback. In addition, more than 14,700 hours of hands-on training were spent by nurses who meticulously trained Watson."

Even now, while on the job Watson continues to learn as if it were a medical resident, while working side-by-side with the WellPoint nurses.

In December, Watson started processing common, medical procedure requests by providers for members in WellPoint affiliated health plans; this was later expanded to include another five provider offices in the Midwest.

Watson will help speed up the review process between the patient's doctor and their health plan.

Lori Beer, WellPoint's executive vice president of Specialty Businesses and Information Technology, said:

"The health care industry must drive transformation through innovation, including harnessing the latest technology that will ultimately benefit the health care consumer. We believe that WellPoint's data, knowledge and extensive provider network, combined with the IBM Watson technology and Memorial Sloan-Kettering's oncological expertise can drive this transformation."

IBM, Memorial Sloan-Kettering and WellPoint are now introducing the first viable products based on Watson. The three teams say that these innovations represent a breakthrough in how doctors may apply advances in analytics and natural language processing to "big data", together with the clinical knowledge base, including genomic data, so that evidence-based decision support systems are created.

These Watson-based systems have been created to help scientists, medical centers, insurance carriers, and doctors - the ultimate aim being to improve the quality and speed of care.

The creators of the Watson system have not disclosed the price. Hospitals and health care networks that sign up can buy or rent Watson's advice either from their own server or from cloud.

Two years ago, Watson occupied the area of a master bedroom, now it fits into a server the size of a pizza carton.

Over the past 24 months, Watson's processing speed has increased by over 240%. What was once a bit of IT fun, has become a real business for WellPoint and IBM. WellPoint is currently the exclusive seller of the technology.

What does Watson do?

Watson does not tell the physician what to do. Rather, the system provides a number of options for each case, backed up with supporting evidence, which the doctor can use to come to a faster and hopefully more beneficial decision for the patient.

The physician can write something into an iPad in simple speech, for example "my patient has blood in her urine". Within 30 seconds Watson comes back with a series of well considered treatment options.

According to IBM, over 90% of the nurses who have worked with Watson follow the guidance the system gives to them.

ATHLETE 

NASA'S NEXT ROBOT MOON WALKER

To build and supply a lunar base, astronauts will need heavy-duty space trucks for transporting gear. There’s just one problem: no roads. That’s why NASA engineers designed the rover they call ATHLETE (All-Terrain Hex-Limbed Extra-Terrestrial Explorer)—to handle any terrain, whether dusty, rocky, or crater-y.

The key is the rover’s six bendable spider legs and wheeled feet. On smooth surfaces, it rolls on those wheels; when it runs into an obstacle it can’t clear, it simply steps over it. ATHLETE can also split into a pair of robots that together pick up and haul specially designed shipping containers. (A lander would bring a container to the surface separately.)

So far, engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory have demonstrated that their $2 million half-size prototype—which consists of two semiautonomous, three-legged robots—can move cargo, walk on inclines, and use tools. The researchers say the actual, 26-foot-tall rover could be ready to start working in space by 2017.

1) The ATHLETE moon rover has 48 stereo cameras, which stream 3-D video from its limbs, frame, and wheels to human operators on Earth or the moon, allowing them to look for hazards and maneuver tools. ATHLETE will have more cameras than any previous rover. (Curiosity has 17.)

2) The rover can refill its hydrogen fuel cells at a solar-powered station that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen (for astronauts to breathe).

3) ATHLETE’s wheeled limbs let it walk, drive, or climb, depending on the environment. Each has seven motorized joints that bend and twist. ATHLETE controls each leg separately so that it can keep cargo level even while climbing uneven terrain.

4) Drills, scoops, and grippers collect rock and soil samples for analysis. One set of motors operates both the wheels and tools, which saves weight and makes the rover cheaper to launch into space.

5) Clamps on the wheels hold interchangeable tools.

6) A tool belt stores gear when not in use.

7) Airless tires can’t burst or go flat.

HOW IT HAULS

8) Drive: People in mission control (on Earth or on the moon) tell the ATHLETE rover to drive to a lander that has just touched down, carrying a cargo pallet. Incoming supplies must land far from the astronauts’ base to prevent jagged moondust from damaging equipment.

9) Split: ATHLETE divides into two identical, three-legged rovers, called Tri-ATHLETEs, by lifting motorized hooks that latch across its center.

10) Stretch: The rovers straighten their legs until they’re 27 feet tall—high enough to reach above the lander to the cargo pallet—and use their motorized hooks to grab pins on either side of the cargo.

11) Walk: If the rovers travel over rocky terrain too uneven for driving, they can walk while keeping the cargo level.

12) Deliver: The rovers crouch down until the pallet is on the ground and then release it.

VMAX the Legend continues…

CONCEPT

During the late 90’s Yamaha’s VMAX project team started to work on the rebirth of a legend. The team understand just how special the original VMAX is to its owners – as well as those fans who admired the bike without ever riding one. The project team identified a set of four goals that would enable them to create a worthy successor to the legendary original model.

Awesome acceleration feeling together with strong performance
Distinctive, precise and sharp handling
A sophisticated chassis with unique bodywork

With these main aims in mind, the development team have created an all-new powerful state-of-the-art 1,679cc V4 engine providing 200 PS and 166.8 Nm of torque combined with Yamaha’s finest and latest electronic engine control technology such as YCC-I and YCC-T. We’ve also created an all-new low-profile diamond-type frame, which uses the engine as a stressed member in order to deliver the right balance of rigidity, which makes for excellent straight line stability – together with precise and sharp levels of cornering. All packed in a head-turning and forceful appearance.

Owners of the original model – as well as newcomers to the VMAX world – can be sure that the new VMAX delivers an unforgettable combination of innovation and acceleration.

The new VMAX stays true to the philosophy of the genuine hot-rod. Imagine yourself gripping the drag bars and feeling the mega-wide 200/50 R18 rear tyre transfer all the V4’s incredible 200 PS and 166.8 Nm of throbbing torque to the ground – it’s got to the ultimate adrenaline ride. We are proud to say the VMAX is back!

   

   SPECS

It's a genius idea − unite a hi-tech 1,670cc V-twin with an aluminium sports frame and cutting-edge suspension and brakes − and you've got a sports riding revolution.

Engine type	Liquid cooled, 4-stroke, DOHC, 4-valve, V-type 4-cylinder
Engine Cooling	Liquid cooled
Displacement	1,679cc
Bore & Stroke	90.0 x 66.0 mm
Compression ratio	11.3:1
Maximum output	200.1PS / 9,000 rpm
Maximum torque	166.8Nm / 6,500 rpm
Lubrication system	Wet sump
Fuel system	Fuel injection
Starter method	Electric
Clutch type	Wet, multiple-disc
Ignition system	T.C.I
Transmission system	Constant mesh, 5-speed
Final transmission	Shaft drive
Primary/Secondary reduction ratio	1.509/3.082
Gear ratios	1st gear=2.375, 2nd gear= 1.81, 3rd gear= 1.4, 4th gear= 1.115, 5th gear = 0.935
Fuel tank volume	15 litres
Engine oil volume	5.9 litres

Aluminum, Diamond-shaped
Suspension (Front/Rear)	Telescopic fork/Swingarm
Wheel travel (Front/Rear)	120/110 mm
Caster angle	31°
Trail	148 mm
Brake Type (Front/Rear)	Dual Hydraulic disc Ø 320 mm/Single Hydraulic disc brake Ø 298 mm
Tyre Size (Front/Rear)	120/70 R18M/C (59V)/  200/50 R18M/C (76V)

Overall Length x Width x Height	2,395 x 820 x 1,190 mm
Seat height	775 mm
Kerb weight	310 kg
Wheelbase	1,700 mm
Minimum ground clearance	140 mm
Service weight	310 kg

1679cc V4 , FI engine.
YCCI.
YCCT.
Slipper Clutch.

Fully adjustable 52mm inner tube F.fork with black oxidized titanium coating.

Aluminium cast frame.

Speed / Tach meter with shift timing indicator.

18-Inch Front tyre.
320mm floating double wave disk.
Monoblock 6pistons caliper.
ABS.

18-Inch Rear tyre.
298mm wave disk.
ABS.

LED tail light.

OEL Multifunction display.

LAMBORGHINI PREPARES TO UNVEIL ITS FASTEST CAR EVER........

We all knew the 2013 Geneva Auto Show would be bringing us something special from Automobili Lamborghini SpA, in fact the entire 2013 year will be special for the Sant'Agata based factory as it is celebrating 100 years of innovation in 50 years ... being founded in 1963 the company is exactly 50 years old, and that calls or a special celebration.

In May we will see the amazing Giro in and around Sant'Agata, bringing together hundreds of Raging Bulls to enjoy a once in a lifetime event bringing together both owners and enthusiasts as a tribute to one of the most coveted car builders ever, the late Ferruccio Lamborghini just didn't take no for an answer and created what we now know as one of the most innovative makes on the exotic car market ... or as Stephan Winkelmann, current CEO and director of the company puts it :'always different, always Lamborghini'.

Back to the 2013 Geneva Auto Show that will open its doors in a few weeks, usually the stand holds three models, this time we can be fairly sure there will be a MY2013 Aventador LP700-4 with the optional Dione wheels and carbon fiber pack next to the brand new Aventador LP700-4 Roadster, the current flagship V12 convertible ... that has a delivery delay of 18 months by now, while being unveiled only months ago.

But the third model should draw all the attention this time ... a lot of talk has been going round the last few weeks, some sources mention an upgraded LP720-4 evolution as a 50th Anniversary edition, with 20 hp more than the regular models, finished in a special color and with modified bumpers ... in line with the magnificent Diablo SE30 ... and if we take a look at both the 30th and the 40th Anniversary models I think we'll be seeing a custom interior for the 50th Anniversary Aventador edition too.

Earlier Anniversary edition Raging Bulls like the Diablo and Murciélago derivatives were always built in a very limited, numbered edition, the Diablo SE30 was made 150 times, the Murciélago 40th Anniversary was limited to 50 units ... on the other hand the Countach 25th Anniversary was initially intended as a limited edition too, but it left the factory doors 657 times, so we can hardly call it limited now can we.

According to the Lamborghini design director Filippo Perini the 50th Anniversary edition model will be extremely limited, we first heard numbers like 100 units of an Aventador LP710-4, later we learned from an interview with Mr Perini in Miami production would be limited to less than 10 units of something truly special ... naturally with a price to match ... and Mr Perini mentioned most of them were already sold right now ... as usual I guess, the Sesto Elemento was also already sold out by the time Mr Winkelmann announced the limited production of 20 units.

What we did learn from the interview with Filippo Perini is the fact this special edition Lamborghini will be the fastest ever made ... which isn't so hard if you think about it. The current Aventador LP700-4 puts 350 Km/h down as the top speed ... which is the fastest production Lamborghini ever right now ... add 20 or more hp and drop some weight and you will no doubt end up with a Bull that's even faster ... instantly making it the fastest Lamborghini ever made.

You might ask why Lamborghini wants to create such a car in so little numbers ... the answer is as simple as it is logical ... to shock the world as Mr Perini states, and just in case you are wondering about it ... Lamborghini director of research and development Maurizio Reggiani confirmed this new car will be completely street legal, unlike the Sesto Elemento that is a track only car ... and Lamborghini still managed to sell all 20 units of the latter one at a staggering €1.9 million ($2.5 million) a pop.

So despite the economic problems still being around for most of us, there is no shortage of avid fans that can spend a lot of money on a very special car like a limited edition, wild looking Lamborghini ... just look back at the 2012 Geneva Auto Show when they showed the one of a kind Lamborghini J ... the most aggressively styled Aventador yet impressed ... not let's make that 'shocked' the world ... it even overshadowed the competition with their FF at the time. Still it was sold the same day it was unveiled to the VIP invited to the evening show, for a solid €2 million ... and to make things even more impressive ... they had three people ready to pay this amount right there.

So whatever Automobili Lamborghini SpA will unveil in Geneva this years, I'm sure it will sell like hot cakes ... if they make only 10 and put a price tag of €1 million on it I just know it will be sold out before it hits the stand in Geneva ... just look at the Reventón ... same price, even higher production ... and sold out from the start ... history is bound to repeat itself.

Mr Reggiani did state it will not be a totally new model, but more a radical evolution of an existing model, and I sure hope it will remain true to the anniversary models of the past and be based on the V12 flagship model ... so an Aventador 50th Anniversary edition ... and according to Stephan Winkelmann they will continue to invest in special edition cars, he stated: "One-offs and low volume special editions are part of Lamborghini's DNA – they allow us to be purists."

I'm really looking forward to seeing this car in Geneva in a few weeks ... if all goes as planned I will once again be at the press conference on March 5th ...

FUEL INJECTION SYSTEMS

Single-point or throttle body injection (TBI)
The earliest and simplest type of fuel injection, single-point simply replaces the carburetor with one or two fuel-injector nozzles in the throttle body, which is the throat of the engine’s air intake manifold. For some automakers, single-point injection was a stepping stone to the more complex multi-point system. Though not as precise as the systems that have followed, TBI meters fuel better than a carburetor and is less expensive and easier to service.


Port or multi-point fuel injection (MPFI)
Multi-point fuel injection devotes a separate injector nozzle to each cylinder, right outside its intake port, which is why the system is sometimes called port injection. Shooting the fuel vapor this close to the intake port almost ensures that it will be drawn completely into the cylinder. The main advantage is that MPFI meters fuel more precisely than do TBI designs, better achieving the desired air/fuel ratio and improving all related aspects. Also, it virtually eliminates the possibility that fuel will condense or collect in the intake manifold. With TBI and carburetors, the intake manifold must be designed to conduct the engine’s heat, a measure to vaporize liquid fuel. This is unnecessary on engines equipped with MPFI, so the intake manifold can be formed from lighter-weight material, even plastic. Incremental fuel economy improvements result. Also, where conventional metal intake manifolds must be located atop the engine to conduct heat, those used in MPFI can be placed more creatively, granting engineers design flexibility.



Sequential fuel injection (SFI)
Sequential fuel injection, also called sequential port fuel injection (SPFI) or timed injection, is a type of multi-port injection. Though basic MPFI employs multiple injectors, they all spray their fuel at the same time or in groups. As a result, the fuel may “hang around” a port for as long as 150 milliseconds when the engine is idling. This may not seem like much, but it’s enough of a shortcoming that engineers addressed it: Sequential fuel injection triggers each injector nozzle independently. Timed like spark plugs, they spray the fuel immediately before or as their intake valve opens. It seems a minor step, but efficiency and emissions improvements come in very small doses. 



Direct injection
Direct injection takes the fuel injection concept about as far as it can go, injecting fuel directly into the combustion chambers, past the valves. More common in diesel engines, direct injection is starting to pop up in gasoline engine designs, sometimes called DIG for direct injection gasoline. Again, fuel metering is even more precise than in the other injection schemes, and the direct injection gives engineers yet another variable to influence precisely how combustion occurs in the cylinders. The science of engine design scrutinizes how the fuel/air mixture swirls around in the cylinders and how the explosion travels from the ignition point. Things such as the shape of cylinders and pistons; port and spark plug locations; timing, duration and intensity of the spark; and number of spark plugs per cylinder (more than one is possible) all affect how evenly and completely fuel combusts in a gasoline engine. Direct injection is another tool in that discipline, one that can be used in low-emissions lean-burn engines.

TPI: Tuned Port Injection
Is the same system as MPFI, just for more cylinders and a fancier name.

Each basic system has one or more sub systems and that can get confusing.

If you want to be really thorough, and talk GM injection, you could mention the Cross Fire injection system, which was 2 TBI systems on a cross ram intake. Kinda cool really.

Also, as far as Tuned Port goes, from a purely "injector" point of view, it is a stright forward batch fire system. But that somewhat ignores the beauty of the TPI system. Namely, it's tuned length runners, which helped accentuate low end torque.

Also, in the truck world, there is CPI (Central Port Injection). It's sort of a hybrid of TBI and MPFI. It uses cental injector, like a TBI, but this time mounted down inside the intake manifold. Attached to the business end of the injectors is a platic tube assembly, that somewhat resembles a spider. Each leg of that spider runs right to a port where a mechanical poppet style injector is located. When an electrical (central) injector fires, it send pressurized fuel through the spider to the poppets, which open at a specified pressure. On a Vortec 350, there are 2 central injectors, and 8 poppets. It's a neat system that works quite nicely. There was also a varient of this system in the early '90s used on 4.3L V6s that used a tuned intake with an active valve, to change the runner lenghts.