Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 1:46 am
by Vitaphone Racing
The final addition
Segment/Class F-Segment / Full Size Luxury
Segment/Class F-Segment / Full Size Luxury
The H-Series is a car for those who appreciate the finer things in life. A car that offers performance, yet practicality. Sports car dynamics with limousine comfort. The H-Series has, since its birth in the 1980's, symbolised success and wealth. The H-Series isn't a car for passengers, it is a car for drivers, and sitting up front is always the most exciting part.
Two diesel options are offered for those who would prefer their lage sedan to be powered by diesel motivation. The impressive features of the 6-cylinder and 8-cylinder diesel engines are the smooth running characteristics and low consumption and emission figures. This clean, efficient, power delivery is thanks to Forza's second-generation direct petrol injection process, which involves spray-guided combustion and high-pressure injection via piezo injectors. Fuel is injected rapidly and precisely at pressures of 2000 bar into the cylinderIn addition, a particulate filter reduces soot emissions to bring the V6 and V8 into line with even the most strict of emission laws. The Variable Geometry Turbocharger that accompanies the engine assists in providing the amount of boost required to mix the right amount of air with the fuel. Newly-developed ceramic fast glowplugs improve the cold running behaviour, while two Lanchester balancer shafts enhance smoothness of operation, enabling the highest degree of ride comfort.
The first of the two diesel engines is a 200kw 3.0 Litre Twin Turbocharged V6, the second is a 280kw/800nm 4.5 Litre Twin Turbocharged V8. The naturally low fuel economy of diesel engines combined with their effortless low-speed torque makes the diesel duo a perfect choice to power a car travelling on long journeys.
ACR Technology is the name given to Variable Compression Ratio technology that has been applied to Forza's small displacement engines. ACR stands for Adaptable Compression Ratio and literally means the engine can adjust the compression ratio of the engine while the engine is running. Changing the compression ratio of the engine can benefit fuel economy as heavy strains on the engine work best with low compression ratios while minimal strains are most effective with high compression ratios. With petroleum engines, the maximum fuel pressure during the compression stroke is limited, any value higher than the limit causes the fuel/air mixture to detonate rather than burn.
Yet, to attain greater power at the same engine speed, a greater volume of fuel must be burnt thus in turn needing more air. In order to meet this demand, forced induction is used in the form of Forza's twincharging system. To avoid detonation of the fuel/air mixture the compression ratio must be decreased, this is done by increasing the volume in the cylinder, in this case by the cylinder head being compressed and allowing the volume in the cylinder to increase. The cylinder head can be altered by a hydraulic system connected to the crank shaft which responds according to the load on the engine. In order to best meet the driving conditions being experienced, the inlet pressure and compression ratio is constantly adjusted.
The induction system is a variant of Forza's TwinCharger system; a single Roots-type Superchager is used to aspirate the engine at low RPM's with two Turbochargers, one for each bank of cylinders, aspirating the engine further down the rev-range. TwinCharging systems have a number of advantages over other forms of forced induction. Unlike Turbocharged engines, Twincharged engines do not experience turbo-lag, where the turbochargers are ineffective because they are not at operating speeds. Unlike supercharged engines, Twincharged engines can decouple the supercharger from the engine so that it won't drain power to operate while still maintaining boost from the turbochargers. The two forms of forced induction do not operate in parallel in a bid to avoid the extremely high manifold temperatures which would be produced by the supercharger blowing into the turbocharger.
The 3.2 Litre V6 is stroked version of the 3.0 Litre ACR V6 fitted to other models in the line up and offers an impressive 275kw of power along with 500nm of torque, delivered by a wide power band thanks to its twincharged set up. Using the variable compression technology and twin-charged set up, the 3.0 Litre reaches a specific output of 85kw/Litre while still retaining superb fuel economy and the reliability that you would never associate with a sport engine.
The V6 makes use of 'twin charging' where both a supercharger and a turbocharger are used to aspirate the engine. For lower engine speeds, the supercharger (which is driven directly by the engine) is used to provide boost, however when the exhaust pressure generated is sufficient to run the turbocharger, the supercharger shuts down so as not to consume power.
Two choices of V8 are offered across the range. The first selection is the naturally aspirated 5.4 Litre V8 engine, a silky smooth and responsive engine which puts its impressive power figures to good use through the highly advanced and capable transmission. The V8 makes use of technology such as cylinder deactivation, where the car can run on just four cyinders to better improve economy. Offered alongside the naturally aspirated V8 is a Supercharged version of the 5.4 Litre unit. The ProDrive Supercharger provides a low 0.8 bar pressure boost to slightly lift performance over the standard engine on paper, but in reality it gives a much linear throttle response with peak torque being reached much lower through the rev-range.
The first choice of performance engine is the 5.5 Litre naturally aspirared V10 engine. This powerful engine was inspired by Formula 1 race cars generates a stunning 375kw and 520nm an reaches a redline of 8250rpm, which is enough to see the H10 GT propelled to 100mph in little over thirteen seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 270km/h. The 5.5 Litre V10 uses strengthened internal components made from titanium to better deal with the heat energy generated from the high engine speeds associated with performance driving.
For those who desire even more, a twin turbo version of the 5.5 Litre V10 is available in the H10 GTR. Variable Geometry Turbochargers were selected to allow the aspect ratio of the turbocharger to be altered as the conditions change. This is done because optimum aspect ratio at low engine speeds is very different from that at high engine speeds. If the aspect ratio is too large, the turbo will fail to create boost at low speeds; if the aspect ratio is too small, the turbo will choke the engine at high speeds, leading to high exhaust manifold pressures, high pumping losses, and ultimately lower power output. By altering the geometry of the turbine housing as the engine accelerates, the turbo's aspect ratio can be maintained at its optimum. Because of this, VGTs have a minimal amount of lag, have a low boost threshold, and are very efficient at higher engine speeds. In exchange for a slightly lower redline, buyers can revel in an extra 50kw and 240nm over the naturally aspirated engine without losing any of the aural qualities produced by the naturally aspirated version. Performance is in an entirely different league, with 0-100kmh times dipping down into the mid-4 second range and the quarter mile demolished in just over 12 seconds.
All engines feature cylinder deactivation technology. Cylinder deactivation is used to reduce the fuel consumption and emissions of an internal combustion engine during light load operation. In typical light load driving the driver uses only around a quarter to a third of an engine’s maximum power. In these conditions, the throttle valve is nearly closed and the engine needs to work hard to draw air for combustion. This causes an inefficiency known as pumping loss. Some large capacity engines need to be throttled so much at light load that the cylinder pressure at the zenith of the cylinder is approximately half that of a small engine half the size. Low cylinder pressure means low fuel efficiency and fuel consumption begins to sky rocket.
The use of cylinder deactivation at light load means there are fewer cylinders drawing air from the intake manifold which works to increase its fluid (air) pressure. Operation without variable displacement is wasteful because fuel is continuously pumped into each cylinder and combusted even though maximum performance is not required. By shutting down half of an engine's cylinders the amount of fuel being consumed is much less. Between reducing the pumping losses which increases pressure in each operating cylinder and decreasing the amount of fuel being pumped into the cylinders. Fuel consumption for large capacity Forza engines can be reduced by 20 to 35 percent in highway conditions.
Cylinder deactivation is done by keeping the intake and exhaust valves closed for a particular cylinder once the cylinder is filled with fuel and oxygen. By keeping the intake and exhaust valves closed, it creates a spring effect in the combustion chamber – the trapped gases are compressed during the piston’s upstroke and push down on the piston during its downstroke. The compression and decompression of the trapped exhaust gases have an equalising effect; overall, there is virtually no extra load on the engine so the engine does not need to work harder.
In this latest generation of cylinder deactivation systems, the engine management system is also used to cut fuel delivery to the disabled cylinders using Forza's Variable ValveTechnology (VVT). The transition between normal engine operation and cylinder deactivation is also smoothed using changes in ignition timing, cam timing and throttle position thanks to electronic throttle control and VVT.
Transmission on base models is an Aisin six-speed automatic, with sports shifter. The Aisin was selected over at Double Clutch Gearbox due to its smoothness and cohesiveness, while still retaining fast shift speeds. When Sport Shift mode is engaged, which can be done through Command, changing gears takes 0.2 seconds. When Sport Shift mode is not engaged, the changes are softened so as to not disrupt the E-Series' serene yet dynamic personality. For those who prefer a manual shift, a Tremec T6 6-Speed manual is also available at no extra cost.
For the sportier models, the automatic transmission is substituted for the Tremec TCR Double Clutch Transmission. In Double Clutch Transmissions the two clutches are arranged concentrically with the larger outer clutch drives the odd numbered gears (1,3,5,7)whilst the smaller inner clutch drives the even numbered gears(2,4,6). Shifts can be accomplished without interrupting torque distribution to the driven roadwheels, by applying the engine's torque to one clutch at the same time as it is being disconnected from the other clutch. Since alternate gear ratios can pre-select an odd gear on one gear shaft whilst the vehicle is being driven in an even gear. This means the Double Clutch Gearbox can change gears much faster than any single clutch transmission and much more smoothly. Shift times of less than 0.02 seconds can be expected. The Transmission can be fully automated or set to manual, and shift times can be changed so the driver may strike a balance between performance and comfort. The DCT also offers a launch control system which can be set by selecting drive, holding the gear lever to the right and fully compressing the throttle. Once pressure on the gearlever is released, the car will launch.
Suspension makes use of several new technologies such as magnetic dampers and Magic Ride Control (MRC) which can be adapted to harden and soften the suspension at the touch of a button using the Command system. Ride height, Damper Bound & Rebound, Spring stiffness and the anti-roll bar can all be adjusted to provide the best possible setting for the car. Three standard settings are available (Comfort, Dynamic & Sport) along with a fourth choice which can be preset by the driver to better suit their needs. In this system, the damper fluid contains metallic particles. Through the onboard computer, the dampers' compliance characteristics are controlled by an electromagnet. Essentially, increasing the current flow into the damper raises the compression/rebound rates, while a decrease softens the effect of the dampers. Information from wheel sensors (about suspension extension), steering, acceleration sensors and some others is used to calculate the optimized stiffness. Very fast reaction of the total system allows, for instance, make softer passing by a single wheel above a bump or a rock on the road.
The H-Series is a large car easily capable of seating five adults in its interior. From the outset, the H-Series was designed as nothing less than a large family car that offered interior space for a large family. Another benefit of a large interior, aside from passenger comfort, is the load carrying ability that the H-Series offers. The sedan version of the H-Series offers a large 520 litre boot with a 60/40 split folding rear seat which further increases the boot capacity to an enourmous 1640 litres. Theoretically, this is more than enough to carry anything from groceries to a bicycle. The H-Series also features items such as luggage belts, collapsible cargo nets and dividing cross bars to keep objects in the boot from rolling around in the cargo compartment.
The interior of the car is designed to be efficient and ergonomic of impeccable quality without being too brash. Sobering and somewhat austere, everything from the brushed aluminium switches to the sapphire backed gauges is designed to seamlessly fit in with the luxurious personality of the Forza H-Series. Only the highest quality leather makes it into the Forza plant, cows which come from areas of high humidity or too hot areas are turned away in favour of those from more temperate environments. Wood, unlike many cars, is real and is applied to the centre console and also to the rear seat divider. If the buyer finds wood not to be too his taste, he can suppliment wood for brushed aluminum or traditional plastic. Plastics used are designed not to be too brittle, too hard to too slippery yet be soft, inviting and tactile.
Dashboard, Steering Wheel, Seats and Insert Leather all come available in an array of choices with contrast and blending stiching and piping also available. If the driver would prefer a more sportier feel, the leather can be substituted for alcantara seating with carbonfibre trim on the dashboard in place of the existing aluminium. Seats are heated to provide an extra degree of warmth to the driver on cold days and are also ventillated to prevent the seats from becoming hot and sticky on warm days. The seats themselves have memory for three different drivers and are ajustable in eight different directions. The Steering wheel comes with the required buttons to be able to control the Command function without the driver taking his hands off the wheel, information being displayed on the dashboard screen. The wheel is also heated and ventillated as are the seats. Steering wheel is ajustable in both height and reach.
The dashboard itself is dominated by the two huge dials which display the speed and engine speed of the Forza. To the outer of both gauges lie fuel, oil, boost and temperature gauges which are only illuminated once the car is started. Centered between the Speedometer and Tachometer is the central LCD display, proving only necessary information at a glance as well as trip computer and cruise control information.
To further personalize your vehicle, we have created Command. Command is a program which allows the driver to customize every aspect of their vehicle for any ever changing situation. Everything from the climate control to the suspension settings and throttle response can be changed by using the Command function. This allows you, the driver, to set up the car to reflect the conditions you are driving with considerable ease. Command is the basic control interface for all the technology in the car and controls everything from the multimedia system to the climate control and the cars suspension to providing warnings of flat tyres.
The H-Series comes standard with the premium audio system, comprising of a powererful 1.5kw array of eight speakers and two subwoofers mounted around the cabin. The centre media player which is located immediatley above the touch screen can play a range of mulitmedia discs including CD's, MP3 and DVD as well as offering iPod and USB integration for those who don't carry around CD's any more. A standard TV tuner is also fitted to the car and TV or DVD videos can be viewed on the center touch screen, or an auxilliary screen infront of the passenger seat. The Rear Seat Entertainment pack can either include a single 12 Inch Fold-down Screen mounted centrally or two 8 inch screens mounted in the rear of the front seat headrests. Using the TV Tuner or DVD player, rear seat passengers can indulge in a movie or television tuner to make the journey pass by sooner. The rear seat entertainment system is completely independent of the front seat multimedia; its possible for the driver to be listening to the radio while the rear seat passengers are watching video.
Working in tandem with Command, a communications array has also been set up within the S-Series. Bluetooth integration is offered throughout the cabin of the car, allowing the driver to answer phonecalls handsfree simply by pushing a button on the steering wheel. In addition, a SIM card can be installed into the car so that the car can make phone calls itself without the driver reaching for his hand-held phone. The owner can also use the system to browse the internet when the car is not in motion.
The H-Series features the sophisticated and clever LSN Calypso Sattelite Navigation system. The Calypso has access to 'street view' functions, a worldwide map coverage with extreme detail and extremely precise location finding. The Calypso also features voice control, alerts for speed and redlight cameras, and a feedback request for any missing information. The Calypso can be used to analyse multiple routes, work in tandem with the traffic channel and deduce what will be the quickest possible route for your destination. Also fitted standard with the LSN-B2 is the Suna traffic channel, providing updates of traffic jams, accidents, roadworks etc which allows the driver to avoid possible traffic delays. The LSN-Calypso provides a street view function for the driver so that they can see the route planned out as it would be in their eyes, a speed camera and red light camera warning function, a changing speed limit warning function which can even intergrate with the cruise control system, spoken street names and voice control. The system works in tandem with the HUD if fitted, with arrows displaying on the windshield signalling for the driver where to go. This is stored in the car's 8TB Hard Drive, along with other command related features.
As one could expect, Calypso is more than just a satellite navigation system - indeed, it can be described more as a virtual co-driver, plus a serious in-car entertainment suite. Calypso includes 2 front-mounted, 2 rear-mounted and 4 side-mounted visual/IR cameras, and front and rear active ultrasonic scanners, scanning the surroundings.
For processing all this data, the system includes a powerful (16-pipeline 3,200 MHz RISC) computer system, which compares the 3D data from the satellites to the positional information and camera input. Calypso also functions like a personal computer, offering the user 8 TB of hard drive space for films, games, music, and anything else. With a broadband network connection, it can be used for tasks ranging from browsing and high-speed downloading to stock trading.
While all the same 8" touchscreens as in Tarvos are available, and a full voice input is integrated, an innovation in Calypso is an optional display system derived from the one installed in ALC fighter jets. It involves installing a high-grade cathode ray projection system into the dashboard into the roof and applying a thin film selective-band reflector to the windscreen. With a resolution of up to 2x3200x2000 in the top model, Calypso is capable of projecting color images directly on the screen. Such images can include navigational markers, warnings, and, at dark time, a night vision view of the road ahead, overlaid with the actual visible image. Of course, the passenger's part of the windscreen (and the driver's part when not in motion) can be also used for entertainment purposes
Information and controls for the Command system, also comprising of the Satellite Navigation and Audio System, can be found on the J-Series' centrally mounted eight inch LCD touch screen monitor. The multi-function screen can not only display the menu for the command system, but also audio information, car telemetry, satellite navigation and DVD video.
Parktronic is a system in which the car can park itself with minimum input from the driver. The system is capable of reverse, parallel or straight in parking on any elevation and in any conditions. The parking sensors mounted along the car will attempt to find a gap large enough for the car to fit into, then, with driver approval, will drive into the parking spot. If the driver would rather park his own car, the system can be selected only to find large enough spaces or to provide information of any obstacles in the way.
Clearskies is a system in which the car will act to keep visability at its peak. Clearskies is an automatic system which controls the windshield wipers and defogging system to keep any obstructions to visability from taking effect. If the Clearskies system detects vapour on the inside of the windshield, it will use its own integrated defogging system to clear the vapour without effecting the temperature inside the car. At the same time, the windshield wipers will automatically ajust the period and speed of rotation to keep the winshield free of rain, mud and other obstructions.
Smartlight is the system which controls exterior and interior lighting for the car. Smartlight controls where the headlamps point, how long they remain on for and the subsequent beam they give. When the car is in motion, Smartlight will angle the inner beam of each headlamp (there are two beams per head lamp) to follow the road ahead, allowing the driver to see where he is going as opposed to where he was going. When the car is stopped, Smartlight can keep the lights on for up to two minutes before turning off the lights which can provide light for the driver, something they may need to find their key to get inside the house. At the same time, Smartlight prevents the lights from being turned on for periods of over ten minutes, after which a serious strain on the battery will be placed.
Interior Lighting can also be controlled by the Smartlight system. The Interior Lighting pack which comes standard with Luxury models comprises of a set of five reading lights and one overhead lamp in the centre of the vehicle. There are no on and off buttons; occupants can turn the lights on simply by touching them. The lights can also be brightened or dimmed simply by moving ones hand from the center to the right of left of the light.
Radar Cruise Control is a feature which is also offered standard on Luxury models. Like a normal system, the driver sets this speed and then can let the car maintain this speed with minimal input from the driver. Unlike a normal system, RCC can detect when another slower moving vehicle is blocking the path of the car and will automatically reduce speed to avoid a collision. When the vehicle in front speeds up, the car will follow however will not exceed the limit preset by the driver. RCC is controlled by the Magic Wand stalk on the steering column. To set the system, the driver moves the column up and the system activates, holding the current speed. To increase speed, the driver can push the stalk forward which increases speed by 1km/h or hold it forward to increase in 10km/h increments. The driver can also set the distance between cars in front and behind simply by flicking the knob to select a preset distance. 50m, 30m, 20m, 10m 5m and 'BMW-Close' settings are all available.
Further active safety featues are available. One is LastChance braking system: using the radar employed by the cruise control, if the car detects a stationary or slow moving object infront of the car, an alarm will sound and the steering wheel will vibrate to alert the driver to this hazard. Should the driver not act in time, the car will brake with maximum force to minimize the impact of the collision. Another is Fatigue Warning. The car will monitor the grip on the steering wheel and the eye movements of a driver, if the driver is detected to be fatigued, the car will suggest the driver pulls over for a stop by lighting up a fatigue alert on the dashboard screen. Blind spot monitiors are also available to alert the driver to any cars likely to be hit should the driver choose to change lanes; cars are represented by red lines on either side of the dashboard screen. Lane Departure warnings alert the driver when the car begins to stray outside of the lane, and lastly, a Heads-Up-Display projects speed, gear and RPM's onto the windshield so the driver doesn't have to take his eyes off the road to check his speed.
J6 $110,000
J6 LWB $120,000
J6D $115,000
J6D LWB $125,000
J8 $125,000
J8 LWB $135,000
J8-S $134,000
J8D $140,000
J8D LWB $150,000
J10GT $210,000
Performance
Standard Features:
Electronics & Multimedia
Eight Inch LCD Touch Screen
LSN Calypso Satellite Navigation System
Element Ultimate Audio 10 Speaker Package with Subwoofer
Bluetooth
CD/DVD/MP3 Player with iPod & USB integration
Command
Rear Seat Entertainment package (two eight inch screens or one twelve inch screen)
Comfort
8-Way Power Seat Adjustment with Memory,
Electric Steering Column 2-Way Adjustment with Memory,
Leather Upholstery,
Powered Windows,
Powered Mirrors with Memory,
Climate-Controlled Glove compartment,
Climate Controlled Floor Bins,
2x 12V Power Sockets,
Auto-Dimming rear view mirror,
Auto-Retractable Antenna & Exterior Mirrors,
ISOFIX Child Seat attachments,
Keyless Go
Rear park assist.
Quad-zone Climate Control,
Heated Seats
Massage Seats
Panoramic Sunroof
Functionality
Radar Cruise Control,
nVidia NightVisionSystem
Suna traffic channel,
Heads Up Display,
swivelling bi-xenon headlamps,
Parktronic,
SmartLight Package.
Clearsky Visability Package,
Blindspot Cameras (front, rear, C-Pillar)
Adjustable Suspension
Standard Safety & Security features:
Foglights,
8 airbags,
Anti-Lock Braking System,
Electronic Braking Distribution,
Electronic Stability Program,
Traction Control, Brake Assist,
Seatbelt Pre-tensioners,
load limiters,
crumple zones,
Lane Departure Warning,
Fatigue Warning,
Alarm,
Immobiliser,
DataDot
Optional Features
Runflat Tyres,
Windshield Tint,
Metallic Paint
Two diesel options are offered for those who would prefer their lage sedan to be powered by diesel motivation. The impressive features of the 6-cylinder and 8-cylinder diesel engines are the smooth running characteristics and low consumption and emission figures. This clean, efficient, power delivery is thanks to Forza's second-generation direct petrol injection process, which involves spray-guided combustion and high-pressure injection via piezo injectors. Fuel is injected rapidly and precisely at pressures of 2000 bar into the cylinderIn addition, a particulate filter reduces soot emissions to bring the V6 and V8 into line with even the most strict of emission laws. The Variable Geometry Turbocharger that accompanies the engine assists in providing the amount of boost required to mix the right amount of air with the fuel. Newly-developed ceramic fast glowplugs improve the cold running behaviour, while two Lanchester balancer shafts enhance smoothness of operation, enabling the highest degree of ride comfort.
The first of the two diesel engines is a 200kw 3.0 Litre Twin Turbocharged V6, the second is a 280kw/800nm 4.5 Litre Twin Turbocharged V8. The naturally low fuel economy of diesel engines combined with their effortless low-speed torque makes the diesel duo a perfect choice to power a car travelling on long journeys.
ACR Technology is the name given to Variable Compression Ratio technology that has been applied to Forza's small displacement engines. ACR stands for Adaptable Compression Ratio and literally means the engine can adjust the compression ratio of the engine while the engine is running. Changing the compression ratio of the engine can benefit fuel economy as heavy strains on the engine work best with low compression ratios while minimal strains are most effective with high compression ratios. With petroleum engines, the maximum fuel pressure during the compression stroke is limited, any value higher than the limit causes the fuel/air mixture to detonate rather than burn.
Yet, to attain greater power at the same engine speed, a greater volume of fuel must be burnt thus in turn needing more air. In order to meet this demand, forced induction is used in the form of Forza's twincharging system. To avoid detonation of the fuel/air mixture the compression ratio must be decreased, this is done by increasing the volume in the cylinder, in this case by the cylinder head being compressed and allowing the volume in the cylinder to increase. The cylinder head can be altered by a hydraulic system connected to the crank shaft which responds according to the load on the engine. In order to best meet the driving conditions being experienced, the inlet pressure and compression ratio is constantly adjusted.
The induction system is a variant of Forza's TwinCharger system; a single Roots-type Superchager is used to aspirate the engine at low RPM's with two Turbochargers, one for each bank of cylinders, aspirating the engine further down the rev-range. TwinCharging systems have a number of advantages over other forms of forced induction. Unlike Turbocharged engines, Twincharged engines do not experience turbo-lag, where the turbochargers are ineffective because they are not at operating speeds. Unlike supercharged engines, Twincharged engines can decouple the supercharger from the engine so that it won't drain power to operate while still maintaining boost from the turbochargers. The two forms of forced induction do not operate in parallel in a bid to avoid the extremely high manifold temperatures which would be produced by the supercharger blowing into the turbocharger.
The 3.2 Litre V6 is stroked version of the 3.0 Litre ACR V6 fitted to other models in the line up and offers an impressive 275kw of power along with 500nm of torque, delivered by a wide power band thanks to its twincharged set up. Using the variable compression technology and twin-charged set up, the 3.0 Litre reaches a specific output of 85kw/Litre while still retaining superb fuel economy and the reliability that you would never associate with a sport engine.
The V6 makes use of 'twin charging' where both a supercharger and a turbocharger are used to aspirate the engine. For lower engine speeds, the supercharger (which is driven directly by the engine) is used to provide boost, however when the exhaust pressure generated is sufficient to run the turbocharger, the supercharger shuts down so as not to consume power.
Two choices of V8 are offered across the range. The first selection is the naturally aspirated 5.4 Litre V8 engine, a silky smooth and responsive engine which puts its impressive power figures to good use through the highly advanced and capable transmission. The V8 makes use of technology such as cylinder deactivation, where the car can run on just four cyinders to better improve economy. Offered alongside the naturally aspirated V8 is a Supercharged version of the 5.4 Litre unit. The ProDrive Supercharger provides a low 0.8 bar pressure boost to slightly lift performance over the standard engine on paper, but in reality it gives a much linear throttle response with peak torque being reached much lower through the rev-range.
The first choice of performance engine is the 5.5 Litre naturally aspirared V10 engine. This powerful engine was inspired by Formula 1 race cars generates a stunning 375kw and 520nm an reaches a redline of 8250rpm, which is enough to see the H10 GT propelled to 100mph in little over thirteen seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 270km/h. The 5.5 Litre V10 uses strengthened internal components made from titanium to better deal with the heat energy generated from the high engine speeds associated with performance driving.
For those who desire even more, a twin turbo version of the 5.5 Litre V10 is available in the H10 GTR. Variable Geometry Turbochargers were selected to allow the aspect ratio of the turbocharger to be altered as the conditions change. This is done because optimum aspect ratio at low engine speeds is very different from that at high engine speeds. If the aspect ratio is too large, the turbo will fail to create boost at low speeds; if the aspect ratio is too small, the turbo will choke the engine at high speeds, leading to high exhaust manifold pressures, high pumping losses, and ultimately lower power output. By altering the geometry of the turbine housing as the engine accelerates, the turbo's aspect ratio can be maintained at its optimum. Because of this, VGTs have a minimal amount of lag, have a low boost threshold, and are very efficient at higher engine speeds. In exchange for a slightly lower redline, buyers can revel in an extra 50kw and 240nm over the naturally aspirated engine without losing any of the aural qualities produced by the naturally aspirated version. Performance is in an entirely different league, with 0-100kmh times dipping down into the mid-4 second range and the quarter mile demolished in just over 12 seconds.
All engines feature cylinder deactivation technology. Cylinder deactivation is used to reduce the fuel consumption and emissions of an internal combustion engine during light load operation. In typical light load driving the driver uses only around a quarter to a third of an engine’s maximum power. In these conditions, the throttle valve is nearly closed and the engine needs to work hard to draw air for combustion. This causes an inefficiency known as pumping loss. Some large capacity engines need to be throttled so much at light load that the cylinder pressure at the zenith of the cylinder is approximately half that of a small engine half the size. Low cylinder pressure means low fuel efficiency and fuel consumption begins to sky rocket.
The use of cylinder deactivation at light load means there are fewer cylinders drawing air from the intake manifold which works to increase its fluid (air) pressure. Operation without variable displacement is wasteful because fuel is continuously pumped into each cylinder and combusted even though maximum performance is not required. By shutting down half of an engine's cylinders the amount of fuel being consumed is much less. Between reducing the pumping losses which increases pressure in each operating cylinder and decreasing the amount of fuel being pumped into the cylinders. Fuel consumption for large capacity Forza engines can be reduced by 20 to 35 percent in highway conditions.
Cylinder deactivation is done by keeping the intake and exhaust valves closed for a particular cylinder once the cylinder is filled with fuel and oxygen. By keeping the intake and exhaust valves closed, it creates a spring effect in the combustion chamber – the trapped gases are compressed during the piston’s upstroke and push down on the piston during its downstroke. The compression and decompression of the trapped exhaust gases have an equalising effect; overall, there is virtually no extra load on the engine so the engine does not need to work harder.
In this latest generation of cylinder deactivation systems, the engine management system is also used to cut fuel delivery to the disabled cylinders using Forza's Variable ValveTechnology (VVT). The transition between normal engine operation and cylinder deactivation is also smoothed using changes in ignition timing, cam timing and throttle position thanks to electronic throttle control and VVT.
Transmission on base models is an Aisin six-speed automatic, with sports shifter. The Aisin was selected over at Double Clutch Gearbox due to its smoothness and cohesiveness, while still retaining fast shift speeds. When Sport Shift mode is engaged, which can be done through Command, changing gears takes 0.2 seconds. When Sport Shift mode is not engaged, the changes are softened so as to not disrupt the E-Series' serene yet dynamic personality. For those who prefer a manual shift, a Tremec T6 6-Speed manual is also available at no extra cost.
For the sportier models, the automatic transmission is substituted for the Tremec TCR Double Clutch Transmission. In Double Clutch Transmissions the two clutches are arranged concentrically with the larger outer clutch drives the odd numbered gears (1,3,5,7)whilst the smaller inner clutch drives the even numbered gears(2,4,6). Shifts can be accomplished without interrupting torque distribution to the driven roadwheels, by applying the engine's torque to one clutch at the same time as it is being disconnected from the other clutch. Since alternate gear ratios can pre-select an odd gear on one gear shaft whilst the vehicle is being driven in an even gear. This means the Double Clutch Gearbox can change gears much faster than any single clutch transmission and much more smoothly. Shift times of less than 0.02 seconds can be expected. The Transmission can be fully automated or set to manual, and shift times can be changed so the driver may strike a balance between performance and comfort. The DCT also offers a launch control system which can be set by selecting drive, holding the gear lever to the right and fully compressing the throttle. Once pressure on the gearlever is released, the car will launch.
Suspension makes use of several new technologies such as magnetic dampers and Magic Ride Control (MRC) which can be adapted to harden and soften the suspension at the touch of a button using the Command system. Ride height, Damper Bound & Rebound, Spring stiffness and the anti-roll bar can all be adjusted to provide the best possible setting for the car. Three standard settings are available (Comfort, Dynamic & Sport) along with a fourth choice which can be preset by the driver to better suit their needs. In this system, the damper fluid contains metallic particles. Through the onboard computer, the dampers' compliance characteristics are controlled by an electromagnet. Essentially, increasing the current flow into the damper raises the compression/rebound rates, while a decrease softens the effect of the dampers. Information from wheel sensors (about suspension extension), steering, acceleration sensors and some others is used to calculate the optimized stiffness. Very fast reaction of the total system allows, for instance, make softer passing by a single wheel above a bump or a rock on the road.
The H-Series is a large car easily capable of seating five adults in its interior. From the outset, the H-Series was designed as nothing less than a large family car that offered interior space for a large family. Another benefit of a large interior, aside from passenger comfort, is the load carrying ability that the H-Series offers. The sedan version of the H-Series offers a large 520 litre boot with a 60/40 split folding rear seat which further increases the boot capacity to an enourmous 1640 litres. Theoretically, this is more than enough to carry anything from groceries to a bicycle. The H-Series also features items such as luggage belts, collapsible cargo nets and dividing cross bars to keep objects in the boot from rolling around in the cargo compartment.
The interior of the car is designed to be efficient and ergonomic of impeccable quality without being too brash. Sobering and somewhat austere, everything from the brushed aluminium switches to the sapphire backed gauges is designed to seamlessly fit in with the luxurious personality of the Forza H-Series. Only the highest quality leather makes it into the Forza plant, cows which come from areas of high humidity or too hot areas are turned away in favour of those from more temperate environments. Wood, unlike many cars, is real and is applied to the centre console and also to the rear seat divider. If the buyer finds wood not to be too his taste, he can suppliment wood for brushed aluminum or traditional plastic. Plastics used are designed not to be too brittle, too hard to too slippery yet be soft, inviting and tactile.
Dashboard, Steering Wheel, Seats and Insert Leather all come available in an array of choices with contrast and blending stiching and piping also available. If the driver would prefer a more sportier feel, the leather can be substituted for alcantara seating with carbonfibre trim on the dashboard in place of the existing aluminium. Seats are heated to provide an extra degree of warmth to the driver on cold days and are also ventillated to prevent the seats from becoming hot and sticky on warm days. The seats themselves have memory for three different drivers and are ajustable in eight different directions. The Steering wheel comes with the required buttons to be able to control the Command function without the driver taking his hands off the wheel, information being displayed on the dashboard screen. The wheel is also heated and ventillated as are the seats. Steering wheel is ajustable in both height and reach.
The dashboard itself is dominated by the two huge dials which display the speed and engine speed of the Forza. To the outer of both gauges lie fuel, oil, boost and temperature gauges which are only illuminated once the car is started. Centered between the Speedometer and Tachometer is the central LCD display, proving only necessary information at a glance as well as trip computer and cruise control information.
To further personalize your vehicle, we have created Command. Command is a program which allows the driver to customize every aspect of their vehicle for any ever changing situation. Everything from the climate control to the suspension settings and throttle response can be changed by using the Command function. This allows you, the driver, to set up the car to reflect the conditions you are driving with considerable ease. Command is the basic control interface for all the technology in the car and controls everything from the multimedia system to the climate control and the cars suspension to providing warnings of flat tyres.
The H-Series comes standard with the premium audio system, comprising of a powererful 1.5kw array of eight speakers and two subwoofers mounted around the cabin. The centre media player which is located immediatley above the touch screen can play a range of mulitmedia discs including CD's, MP3 and DVD as well as offering iPod and USB integration for those who don't carry around CD's any more. A standard TV tuner is also fitted to the car and TV or DVD videos can be viewed on the center touch screen, or an auxilliary screen infront of the passenger seat. The Rear Seat Entertainment pack can either include a single 12 Inch Fold-down Screen mounted centrally or two 8 inch screens mounted in the rear of the front seat headrests. Using the TV Tuner or DVD player, rear seat passengers can indulge in a movie or television tuner to make the journey pass by sooner. The rear seat entertainment system is completely independent of the front seat multimedia; its possible for the driver to be listening to the radio while the rear seat passengers are watching video.
Working in tandem with Command, a communications array has also been set up within the S-Series. Bluetooth integration is offered throughout the cabin of the car, allowing the driver to answer phonecalls handsfree simply by pushing a button on the steering wheel. In addition, a SIM card can be installed into the car so that the car can make phone calls itself without the driver reaching for his hand-held phone. The owner can also use the system to browse the internet when the car is not in motion.
The H-Series features the sophisticated and clever LSN Calypso Sattelite Navigation system. The Calypso has access to 'street view' functions, a worldwide map coverage with extreme detail and extremely precise location finding. The Calypso also features voice control, alerts for speed and redlight cameras, and a feedback request for any missing information. The Calypso can be used to analyse multiple routes, work in tandem with the traffic channel and deduce what will be the quickest possible route for your destination. Also fitted standard with the LSN-B2 is the Suna traffic channel, providing updates of traffic jams, accidents, roadworks etc which allows the driver to avoid possible traffic delays. The LSN-Calypso provides a street view function for the driver so that they can see the route planned out as it would be in their eyes, a speed camera and red light camera warning function, a changing speed limit warning function which can even intergrate with the cruise control system, spoken street names and voice control. The system works in tandem with the HUD if fitted, with arrows displaying on the windshield signalling for the driver where to go. This is stored in the car's 8TB Hard Drive, along with other command related features.
As one could expect, Calypso is more than just a satellite navigation system - indeed, it can be described more as a virtual co-driver, plus a serious in-car entertainment suite. Calypso includes 2 front-mounted, 2 rear-mounted and 4 side-mounted visual/IR cameras, and front and rear active ultrasonic scanners, scanning the surroundings.
For processing all this data, the system includes a powerful (16-pipeline 3,200 MHz RISC) computer system, which compares the 3D data from the satellites to the positional information and camera input. Calypso also functions like a personal computer, offering the user 8 TB of hard drive space for films, games, music, and anything else. With a broadband network connection, it can be used for tasks ranging from browsing and high-speed downloading to stock trading.
While all the same 8" touchscreens as in Tarvos are available, and a full voice input is integrated, an innovation in Calypso is an optional display system derived from the one installed in ALC fighter jets. It involves installing a high-grade cathode ray projection system into the dashboard into the roof and applying a thin film selective-band reflector to the windscreen. With a resolution of up to 2x3200x2000 in the top model, Calypso is capable of projecting color images directly on the screen. Such images can include navigational markers, warnings, and, at dark time, a night vision view of the road ahead, overlaid with the actual visible image. Of course, the passenger's part of the windscreen (and the driver's part when not in motion) can be also used for entertainment purposes
Information and controls for the Command system, also comprising of the Satellite Navigation and Audio System, can be found on the J-Series' centrally mounted eight inch LCD touch screen monitor. The multi-function screen can not only display the menu for the command system, but also audio information, car telemetry, satellite navigation and DVD video.
Parktronic is a system in which the car can park itself with minimum input from the driver. The system is capable of reverse, parallel or straight in parking on any elevation and in any conditions. The parking sensors mounted along the car will attempt to find a gap large enough for the car to fit into, then, with driver approval, will drive into the parking spot. If the driver would rather park his own car, the system can be selected only to find large enough spaces or to provide information of any obstacles in the way.
Clearskies is a system in which the car will act to keep visability at its peak. Clearskies is an automatic system which controls the windshield wipers and defogging system to keep any obstructions to visability from taking effect. If the Clearskies system detects vapour on the inside of the windshield, it will use its own integrated defogging system to clear the vapour without effecting the temperature inside the car. At the same time, the windshield wipers will automatically ajust the period and speed of rotation to keep the winshield free of rain, mud and other obstructions.
Smartlight is the system which controls exterior and interior lighting for the car. Smartlight controls where the headlamps point, how long they remain on for and the subsequent beam they give. When the car is in motion, Smartlight will angle the inner beam of each headlamp (there are two beams per head lamp) to follow the road ahead, allowing the driver to see where he is going as opposed to where he was going. When the car is stopped, Smartlight can keep the lights on for up to two minutes before turning off the lights which can provide light for the driver, something they may need to find their key to get inside the house. At the same time, Smartlight prevents the lights from being turned on for periods of over ten minutes, after which a serious strain on the battery will be placed.
Interior Lighting can also be controlled by the Smartlight system. The Interior Lighting pack which comes standard with Luxury models comprises of a set of five reading lights and one overhead lamp in the centre of the vehicle. There are no on and off buttons; occupants can turn the lights on simply by touching them. The lights can also be brightened or dimmed simply by moving ones hand from the center to the right of left of the light.
Radar Cruise Control is a feature which is also offered standard on Luxury models. Like a normal system, the driver sets this speed and then can let the car maintain this speed with minimal input from the driver. Unlike a normal system, RCC can detect when another slower moving vehicle is blocking the path of the car and will automatically reduce speed to avoid a collision. When the vehicle in front speeds up, the car will follow however will not exceed the limit preset by the driver. RCC is controlled by the Magic Wand stalk on the steering column. To set the system, the driver moves the column up and the system activates, holding the current speed. To increase speed, the driver can push the stalk forward which increases speed by 1km/h or hold it forward to increase in 10km/h increments. The driver can also set the distance between cars in front and behind simply by flicking the knob to select a preset distance. 50m, 30m, 20m, 10m 5m and 'BMW-Close' settings are all available.
Further active safety featues are available. One is LastChance braking system: using the radar employed by the cruise control, if the car detects a stationary or slow moving object infront of the car, an alarm will sound and the steering wheel will vibrate to alert the driver to this hazard. Should the driver not act in time, the car will brake with maximum force to minimize the impact of the collision. Another is Fatigue Warning. The car will monitor the grip on the steering wheel and the eye movements of a driver, if the driver is detected to be fatigued, the car will suggest the driver pulls over for a stop by lighting up a fatigue alert on the dashboard screen. Blind spot monitiors are also available to alert the driver to any cars likely to be hit should the driver choose to change lanes; cars are represented by red lines on either side of the dashboard screen. Lane Departure warnings alert the driver when the car begins to stray outside of the lane, and lastly, a Heads-Up-Display projects speed, gear and RPM's onto the windshield so the driver doesn't have to take his eyes off the road to check his speed.
J6 $110,000
J6 LWB $120,000
J6D $115,000
J6D LWB $125,000
J8 $125,000
J8 LWB $135,000
J8-S $134,000
J8D $140,000
J8D LWB $150,000
J10GT $210,000
Model | J6 | J8 | J8-S |
L/W/H | 5202/1810/1605 | ||
Wheelbase | 3320 | ||
Body | Aluminium/Steel: 4 doors 5 seats | ||
Boot capacity | 520L | ||
Weight (kg) | 1860 | 1890 | 1950 |
Brakes Front/Rear | Discs Ventilated 310mm/300mm | Discs Ventilated 340mm/310mm | Discs Ventilated 370mm/350mm |
Suspension Front | Multi-links, coil springs, anti roll bar | ||
Suspension Rear | Multi-links, coil springs, anti roll bar | ||
Tyres | Bridgestone Potenza | ||
Drivetrain | Front Engine Rear Drive | ||
Engine | 3.2L V6 TwinCharger | 5.4L V8 | 5.4L V8 Supercharged |
Output power/torque | 275kw/500nm | 300/550 | 350/650 |
Power/Weight Ratio | 158kw/Tonne | 167kw/Tonne | 184kw/Tonne |
Transmission: | Tremec TCR 7-Speed DCT | ||
Redline: | 7000rpm | 7500rpm | 7550rpm |
Fuel | :91 RON/Slush Hydrogen | 91 RON/Slush Hydrogen | 91 RON/Slush Hydrogen |
Fuel Consumption | 8.2L/100km | 10.5L/100km | 12.5L/100km |
Performance
Model | J6 | J8-S | J8-SX |
0-100kmh | 7.2 | 5.5 | 5.2 |
0-160kmh | 14.2 | 13.8 | 13.6 |
0-400m | 15.14 | 13.85 | 13.70 |
Speed in gears | |||
1st | 65 | 75 | 75 |
2nd | 95 | 115 | 120 |
3rd | 130 | 140 | 150 |
4th | 170 | 185 | 190 |
5th | 220 | 250 | 250 |
6th | 250 | 260 | 270 |
7th | 255 | 270 | 270 |
Model | J6D | J8D | J10 GT |
L/W/H | 5202/1810/1605 | ||
Wheelbase | 3320 | ||
Body | Aluminium/Steel: 4 doors 5 seats | ||
Boot capacity | 520L | ||
Weight (kg) | 2160 | 2190 | 2050 |
Brakes Front/Rear | Discs Ventilated 310mm/300mm | Discs Ventilated 340mm/310mm | Discs Ventilated 370mm/350mm |
Suspension Front | Multi-links, coil springs, anti roll bar | ||
Suspension Rear | Multi-links, coil springs, anti roll bar | ||
Tyres | Bridgestone Potenza | ||
Drivetrain | Front Engine Rear Drive | ||
Engine | 3.0L V6 TwinTurbo Diesel | 4.5L V8 TwinTurbo Diesel | 5.5L V10 TwinTurbocharger |
Output power/torque | 200kw/600nm | 275/800 | 450/800 |
Power/Weight Ratio | 100kw/Tonne | 125kw/Tonne | 219kw/Tonne |
Transmission | Tremec TCR 7-Speed DCT | ||
Redline: | 7000rpm | 7500rpm | 7550rpm |
Fuel | :91 RON/Slush Hydrogen | 91 RON/Slush Hydrogen | 91 RON/Slush Hydrogen |
Fuel Consumption | 8.2L/100km | 10.5L/100km | 12.5L/100km |
Model | J6D | J8D | J10 GT |
0-100kmh | 7.2 | 5.5 | 4.2 |
0-160kmh | 14.2 | 13.8 | 12.2 |
0-400m | 15.14 | 13.85 | 12.10 |
Speed in gears | |||
1st | 65 | 75 | 75 |
2nd | 95 | 115 | 120 |
3rd | 130 | 140 | 150 |
4th | 170 | 185 | 190 |
5th | 220 | 250 | 250 |
6th | 250 | 260 | 270 |
7th | 255 | 270 | 270 |
Standard Features:
Electronics & Multimedia
Eight Inch LCD Touch Screen
LSN Calypso Satellite Navigation System
Element Ultimate Audio 10 Speaker Package with Subwoofer
Bluetooth
CD/DVD/MP3 Player with iPod & USB integration
Command
Rear Seat Entertainment package (two eight inch screens or one twelve inch screen)
Comfort
8-Way Power Seat Adjustment with Memory,
Electric Steering Column 2-Way Adjustment with Memory,
Leather Upholstery,
Powered Windows,
Powered Mirrors with Memory,
Climate-Controlled Glove compartment,
Climate Controlled Floor Bins,
2x 12V Power Sockets,
Auto-Dimming rear view mirror,
Auto-Retractable Antenna & Exterior Mirrors,
ISOFIX Child Seat attachments,
Keyless Go
Rear park assist.
Quad-zone Climate Control,
Heated Seats
Massage Seats
Panoramic Sunroof
Functionality
Radar Cruise Control,
nVidia NightVisionSystem
Suna traffic channel,
Heads Up Display,
swivelling bi-xenon headlamps,
Parktronic,
SmartLight Package.
Clearsky Visability Package,
Blindspot Cameras (front, rear, C-Pillar)
Adjustable Suspension
Standard Safety & Security features:
Foglights,
8 airbags,
Anti-Lock Braking System,
Electronic Braking Distribution,
Electronic Stability Program,
Traction Control, Brake Assist,
Seatbelt Pre-tensioners,
load limiters,
crumple zones,
Lane Departure Warning,
Fatigue Warning,
Alarm,
Immobiliser,
DataDot
Optional Features
Runflat Tyres,
Windshield Tint,
Metallic Paint