Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Pirelli working with Brembo and Magneti Marelli on Cyber Tire]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/01/pirelli-working-with-brembo-and-magneti-marelli-on-cyber-tire/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/01/pirelli-working-with-brembo-and-magneti-marelli-on-cyber-tire/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/01/pirelli-working-with-brembo-and-magneti-marelli-on-cyber-tire/#commentsFiled under: ,



Pirelli's Cyber Tire will provide real-time tire performance information via a chip/transponder setup in the tire tread. Operating temperature and pressures, typology of the road's surface, and vertical load exerted on the tire will be among the data collected and monitored. The system will work in conjunction with another Pirelli invention, the Cyber Wheel, which will convey wheel information such as hub loads in the same way.

Now that the tire company has partnered with Brembo and Magnetti Marelli on the Cyber Tire, the tie-up could mean a system that quickly transfers information from the tire to the driver, car, and brakes, allowing for more informed and instantaneous performance changes based on driving conditions.

[Source: Pirelli]

Pirelli working with Brembo and Magneti Marelli on Cyber Tire originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Feb 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The auto industry's crème de la crème have been on the receiving end of Pirelli's exclusive, high-style calendar since its introduction in 1964. And while we're still waiting for our name to be added the mailing list, Pirelli has been kind enough to give us peons a glimpse of the 2009 edition, along with a host of outtake images. For the 45th installment, Pirelli has finally nixed any and all automotive references, opting instead for an artsy safari theme that brings elephants and nipples together in a NSFW extravaganza. You can check it out here, but be sure to have someone staked out at the edge of your cubicle.

[Source Pirelli via 0-60]

Pirelli calendar goes native, loses its mind for 2009 [NSFW] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20092009 pirelli calendar2009PirelliCalendarcalendarpirelliTue, 25 Nov 2008 15:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirelli debuts 2009-spec racing slick at Grand-Am testing session in Daytona]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/13/pirelli-debuts-2009-spec-racing-slick-at-grand-am-testing-sessio/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/13/pirelli-debuts-2009-spec-racing-slick-at-grand-am-testing-sessio/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/13/pirelli-debuts-2009-spec-racing-slick-at-grand-am-testing-sessio/#commentsFiled under:

While the motorsports season is coming to a close, manufacturers and teams are already preparing for the 2009 season. Pirelli is getting a jump start by debuting their new P Zero racing slick this week at Daytona International Speedway for the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona test session. Both prototype and GT cars will run the upgraded rubber next season, and reports are coming back that the new tire has both a higher level of performance and increased longevity. The Rolex 24 Hours will kick off the 2009 Grand-Am series from January 24-25. More info on Pirelli's new racing slick can be seen in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Pirelli]

Continue reading Pirelli debuts 2009-spec racing slick at Grand-Am testing session in Daytona

Pirelli debuts 2009-spec racing slick at Grand-Am testing session in Daytona originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Daytona 24 HoursDaytona24HoursGrand-AmPirelliPirelli P ZeroPirelli P Zero racing slickPirelli racing slickPirelliPZeroPirelliPZeroRacingSlickPirelliRacingSlickThu, 13 Nov 2008 09:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirelli calls for a junior World Rally Championship]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/06/pirelli-calls-for-a-junior-world-rally-championship/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/06/pirelli-calls-for-a-junior-world-rally-championship/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/06/pirelli-calls-for-a-junior-world-rally-championship/#commentsFiled under:

The World Rally Championship has lots of problems. Many of the manufacturers have dropped out, and the action just isn't compelling as it once was, relegating top-tier rallying to obscurity. We've got our own ideas on how it might be fixed, but more on that later. Italian tire maker Pirelli, meanwhile, which supplies the control rubber to the series, has a proposal of their own.

While other motorsport disciplines like formula, stock car and even motorbike racing have feeder series, as in steps along a continuous ladder that starts with the most accessible and tops out at the pinnacle, rallying, for the most part, does not. A junior class of rallying would allow aspiring drivers to showcase their talents and top-tier teams, on the other hand, to scout new drivers (and co-pilots, for that matter). Pirelli, for its part, is trying to start up such a program with the Pirelli Star Driver initiative, which will pit a field of five drivers against each other in identical cars - possibly Group N-spec Subaru Imprezas or Ford Fiesta STs - on six rounds of next season's WRC calendar. But more support would be needed to turn Pirelli's junior driver program into a full-on WRC2, and Pirelli hopes that parties behind the existing WRC will ante up in an effort to save the sport.

[Source: Autosport | photo courtesy of Pirelli]

Pirelli calls for a junior World Rally Championship originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 09:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>junior rallyJuniorRallypirellipirelli rallypirelli start driverPirelliRallyPirelliStartDriverrallyrallyeworld rally championshipWorldRallyChampionshipwrcwrc2Thu, 06 Nov 2008 09:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Pirelli bringing 'chipped' tire to market in 2010]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/28/pirelli-bringing-chipped-tire-to-market-in-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/28/pirelli-bringing-chipped-tire-to-market-in-2010/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/28/pirelli-bringing-chipped-tire-to-market-in-2010/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Pirelli has announced a further innovation in the ongoing quest to remove the driving from driving. Sensors have been stashed in tires already for the hasty implementation of TPMS, but Pirelli has taken it a step further, putting a sensor package on the tire carcass itself. One implementation of the "Cyber Tire" is the "Lean," which harnesses power from the vibrations of the vehicle and beams information including tire pressure, temperature, and load to the vehicle's computer.

Cyber Tire Lean is setting things rolling for the eventual trotting out of full-blown Cyber Tire, which will be built into the tire. The high tech rubber will be more sophisticated and capable of communicating directly with stability control and anti-lock brakes to improve the effectiveness of dynamic safety systems. Cyber Tire will also carry a three-axis accelerometer that will facilitate real-time calculations of friction coefficients, contact force, and load. Pirelli is most proud of the edge the Cyber Tire will give the nanny systems to catch and correct idiotic driving faster than ever before.

[Source: The Auto Channel via Gumball144]

Pirelli bringing 'chipped' tire to market in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cyber tireCyberTirepirellipirelli cyber tirepirelli tirePirelliCyberTirePirelliTiretire sensorTireSensorThu, 28 Aug 2008 09:29:00 EST<![CDATA[VW brings back Golf GTI Pirelli in the UK]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/11/vw-brings-back-golf-gti-pirelli-in-the-uk/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/11/vw-brings-back-golf-gti-pirelli-in-the-uk/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/11/vw-brings-back-golf-gti-pirelli-in-the-uk/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the Golf GTI Pirelli

The Golf GTI Pirelli is back (but only in the UK right now). Celebrating its arrival after a 25-year absence, the Pirelli-themed Volkswagen hatchback features an enhanced version of the 2.0-liter T-FSI powerplant boosted to 230 PS (about 227 hp). Power is sent to the front wheels through a traditional 6-speed manual, or VW's very nice twin-clutch DSG gearbox. The added 30 horses over the stock VW GTI drops the sprint time to 60 down to just 6.8 seconds and raises the hatchback's maximum speed to 152 mph.

Differentiating itself from the standard GTI, the Pirelli version features a front splitter, side skirts, smoked rear lenses and tinted windows. Of course, it also gets 18-inch 5-spoke aluminum wheels wrapped in, you guessed it, Pirelli P-Zero tires. The Pirelli theme is carried to the interior with custom yellow-stitched sport seats and tire-tread imprints in all four seating positions. With a few added mechanical upgrades, several exterior enhancements, and a lot of interior branding, the GTI Pirelli package appears to be a slick package. That is, assuming you don't tire of it. (Oh, come on, we just had to say that.)

After checking our archives, we noticed that Volkswagen actually previewed the GTI Pirelli at the Wörthersee show last year, and we're happy to report that the spokes on each wheel are still exaggerated versions of the letter 'P'.

Gallery: Volkswagen GTI Pirelli


Gallery: VW Golf GTI Pirelli


[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading VW brings back Golf GTI Pirelli in the UK

VW brings back Golf GTI Pirelli in the UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>customgolf gti pirelliGolfGtiPirellipirellivolkswagenvolkswagen golfvolkswagen gtivolkswagen sciroccovolkswagengolfVolkswagenGtiVolkswagenSciroccoFri, 11 Apr 2008 13:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Latest Pirelli P Zero rated for 230 mph]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/01/latest-pirelli-p-zero-rated-for-230-mph/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/01/latest-pirelli-p-zero-rated-for-230-mph/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/01/latest-pirelli-p-zero-rated-for-230-mph/#commentsFiled under: ,

There are lots of ways to crank more power out of an engine -- bore it out, bolt-on superchargers, turbochargers, intercoolers -- if you're reading Autoblog, you know the drill. Putting that power down on the road is another story altogether, though. No matter how advanced the technology in the car, it all has to meet the tarmac the same way it has for over a century. Pirelli is celebrating 100 years in motorsports, and to commemorate the anniversary it has unveiled the newest version of its flagship high-performance tire, the P Zero.

Affectionately referred to as P Zero the Hero, the latest version of the vulcanized performance icon is rated for speeds up to 370 km/h (230 mph). That's a mighty high top end that few cars can reach, and even fewer drivers will ever hit, but in speed ratings you don't want to be pushing the limits of adhesion at the risk of both car and driver.

The latest Pirelli P Zero is already being fitted to some of the best-performing cars on the road. It's standard equipment on the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, Lamborghini Murciélago and Gallardo, Audi R8 and S8, Aston Martin DB9, Maserati Quattroporte, Jaguar XK, the upcoming Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione and an array of high-performance models from Mercedes AMG, Porsche and BMW. Sure, other manufacturers make high-performance tires. But there's only one P Zero.

[Source: Gizmag]

Latest Pirelli P Zero rated for 230 mph originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Mar 2007 09:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>100heromotorsportnewppirellitireyearszeroThu, 01 Mar 2007 09:07:00 EST<![CDATA[The bull and the bat: Lambo LP640 in next Batman flick?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/28/the-bull-and-the-bat-lambo-lp460-in-next-batman-flick/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/28/the-bull-and-the-bat-lambo-lp460-in-next-batman-flick/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/28/the-bull-and-the-bat-lambo-lp460-in-next-batman-flick/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Lamborghini has been on something of a roll lately. It had a record year last year with 2,087 units sold. It introduced special editions of the Murcielago and Gallardo, as well as upgraded the "regular" Murci to LP640 status. A roadster version of the LP640 was a no-brainer and showed up soon after. They also let slip that a super lightweight version of the bread-and-butter Gallardo would be debuting in Geneva. So there are lots of reasons to smile if you're with Lamborghini or an enthusiast who follows the way of the bull. One particular highlight must have been seeing a Murci Roadster pop up in Batman Begins. As playboy Bruce Wayne, the Dark Knight escorts a pair of lovelies to dinner and makes a most dramatic exit after an impromptu dip in the fountain. Uma Thurman will also be piloting a Lambo on the small screen in Pirelli's mini feature "Mission Zero", though this time a Gallardo Spyder. Well, it looks like we might be seeing even more of Lamborghini on the big screen in the near future.

Despite the good press for Lamborghini, there have been rumblings that VW might want to shed its supercar brand. And even with more than 2,000 sales last year, that was less than half of archrival Ferrari's U.S. total. Even though Volkswagen has said it is committed to keeping Lambo, and Bugatti for that matter, a sales boost sure would help. Lamborghini's highest profile vehicle, the Murcielago Roadster LP640 was a star of the recent North American International Auto Show last month in Detroit, but getting it into the next Batman movie should get it even more international attention, and that appears to be the plan. Brandweek recently sat down with Automobili Lamborghini CEO, Stephan Winkelmann, to discuss the company's U.S. strategies. Follow the read link for the whole interview.

[Source: Brandweek]

The bull and the bat: Lambo LP640 in next Batman flick? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Feb 2007 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BatmanBatman BeginsBatmanBeginsBruce WayneBruceWayneLP640 RoadsterLp640RoadsterPirelliStephan WinkelmannStephanWinkelmannThe Dark KnightTheDarkKnightUma ThurmanUmaThurmanWed, 28 Feb 2007 18:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Uma Thurman in a yellow Lambo. Yeah, baby!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/12/uma-thurman-in-a-yellow-lambo-yeah-baby/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/12/uma-thurman-in-a-yellow-lambo-yeah-baby/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/02/12/uma-thurman-in-a-yellow-lambo-yeah-baby/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



The first Pirelli film titled "The Call" was more of a satanic, tire-smoking standoff than a forum for promoting tires. But it was artsy, very well photographed with plenty of cool special effects and intriguing; a thinking man's endorsement of Pirelli tires.

The next film called "Mission Zero" premiers Monday at pirellifilm.com but I had a chance to screen it Sunday. "Mission Zero" is a no-holds-barred action film with Uma Thurman driving a yellow Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder trying to evade assassins shooting at her from an old Mopar B-body with a fake supercharger. The conflict stretches from Beverly Hills to the Los Angeles port and is action for the sake of action. Very little to think about in this short film, which was directed by Kathryn Bigelow (Point Break), except why a Lambo can't outrun a sled from the late '60s in a 20-mile chase. The action isn't limited to the asphalt. There are knives, machine guns and a shoulder-fired rocket; all of which sometimes feels like a bad homage to the "Kill Bill" series.

But enough nit-picking. The film is free and it features Uma in a yellow Lambo. She now joins my personal cinema hall of fame populated by hot blondes with cool cars: Suzanne Somers in a T-bird, Susan George in a Charger, Joy Harmon on a DeSoto. Go girl!

[Source: pirellifilm.com]

Uma Thurman in a yellow Lambo. Yeah, baby! originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Feb 2007 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Kathryn BigelowKathrynBigelowPirelliMon, 12 Feb 2007 11:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Smart tires get smarter: Pirelli to chip tires for better performance]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/11/smart-tires-get-smarter-pirelli-to-chip-tires-for-better-perfor/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/11/smart-tires-get-smarter-pirelli-to-chip-tires-for-better-perfor/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/11/smart-tires-get-smarter-pirelli-to-chip-tires-for-better-perfor/#commentsFiled under:



It seems like everywhere you look nowadays there's a microchip being put into objects and applications that would have seemed like science fiction a decade or two ago. Nowhere is that more noticeable than in the automotive world, with all the electronic gadgetry on today's cars and trucks. Ask old school mechanics and they'll bemoan the number of technical degrees needed to do their jobs in this modern age. And with so much riding on our tires, it was inevitable that computers would get into our tread.

Specifically we refer to Pirelli, which has apparently been working on a "CyberTyre" for some time now. The idea is that an embedded microchip can relay information to an onboard computer to analyze road data that allows the car to make changes or issue warnings to make the driving experience safer. We imagine such data coming from your rubber as road temperature that could tip off the driver to slippage in low temp or low traction situations, or perhaps your wheel will remind you that you've already gone past the mile limitation on that donut you've been using for a month.

To help move this closer to reality, Pirelli recently bought the patent for this type of tire-monitoring technology from Italian auto technology and design company Fioravanti. Along with the microchip system, Pirelli is also working on additional low-pressure monitoring systems under the X-Pressure name. It's a whole array of technologies designed to tell you that your tires are low. There's X-Pressure Optic (a visual warning on the stem and cap), X-Pressure Acoustic (warnings through your radio), and X-Pressure Acoustic Blue, which actually calls your cell phone with a warning using Bluetooth. And then there's the Safety Wheel System, which uses a compressed air canister located inside the wheel rim to add air as needed. The future is now people, and it's in your tire.

Source: Motor Authority]

Smart tires get smarter: Pirelli to chip tires for better performance originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Dec 2006 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fioravantilow-pressure monitoring systemLow-pressureMonitoringSystemPirellitire technologyTireTechnologyTPMSMon, 11 Dec 2006 13:33:00 EST<![CDATA[2007 Pirelli Calendar released]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/21/2007-pirelli-calendar-released/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/21/2007-pirelli-calendar-released/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/21/2007-pirelli-calendar-released/#commentsFiled under:

We thought we heard rumblings that the 2007 Pirelli Calendar was on its way, but it turns out we missed its official debut that occured on November 16th. No worries, though, as our friends over at Jalopnik tipped us off to its arrival. If you click the read link you'll be taken to the Pirelli Calender Club website where you can view all 26 photos in this year's calendar. The models include five of tinsel town's most talented ladies: Sophia Loren (trust us, she looks 100x better than the shot at right taken at the calendar's premier), Penelope Cruz, Hilary Swank, Naomi Watts and Lou Doillon (who?). The photographers responsible for this year's snaps are the Dutch duo of Inez Van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin and their vision is marked departure from recent editions of the Pirelli Calendar. Known in the past for featuring nude or topless shots of the world's most desireable women, this year's edition drops the glitz and glamour and puts each model in a room with a bed and a sheet. Sure, there's a nipple here and some arse there, but as the Jalop guys point out, "the whole calendar's pretty tame compared to past years' nip-slip mania. Damn puritan culture cycles." Seriously, and our sincere thanks go out to Adobe, creator of Photoshop CS2, which no doubt had a hand in Ms. Loran's transformation.

[Source: Pirelli Calendar Club via Jalopnik]

2007 Pirelli Calendar released originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Nov 2006 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>pirellipirelli calendarPirelliCalendarsophia lorenSophiaLorenTue, 21 Nov 2006 19:26:00 EST