DREAM AUTO

2009-03-23T10:38:00.000-07:00

Running With the Big Dogs
By Alistair Weaver, European Editor Email
Date posted: 02-24-2009

The 2010 Jaguar XFR sneaks up on you. You have to drive with one eye on the speedometer, cross-checking your perception of speed with the reality displayed in black, white and red. The XFR is not a raw-edged racing sedan; it's a supercharged 510-horsepower express that baits the BMW M5 with its sheer sophistication.

The Jaguar XFR is a fast, beautiful and very British challenge to the hegemony of German sport sedans, good enough to makes moustaches quiver in Ingolstadt, Munich and Stuttgart. If the introduction of the XF sedan last year woke Jaguar from its self-induced slumber, the 2010 XFR gives it a potent shot of caffeine.

With the 2010 Jaguar XFR, the guys at Jag have finally delivered the car they've been promising ever since Ford began pumping money into the company in 1990. It's ironic that new owner Tata Motors will be the one to get the credit.

As Always, It Starts With an Engine
It's been a long time coming, but the new 5.0-liter Jaguar V8 is finally with us. A naturally aspirated example will follow soon, but it's the supercharged version that concerns us here. It might be known as the AJ-V8 Gen III, but this is effectively an all-new motor with just two parts shared with the old 4.2-liter V8. The key technology in this R-Type application is direct injection, variable valve timing for both intake and exhaust, twin intercoolers and the latest Roots-type, twin-vortex supercharger.

Turbochargers have been in the news a lot lately, especially with BMW's decision to implement the technology in its street cars, but a new generation of supercharger technology has also recently arrived. Jaguar chose to continue its past work with supercharging in the interests of throttle response, efficiency and packaging. Now that AMG has largely abandoned the Kompressor, the use of supercharging also gives the Jag a key point of difference compared with its German rivals. The new engine is mated to the familiar ZF 6HP28 six-speed automatic, although it's been uprated to cope with the extra thrust.

And the thrust ratings are certainly impressive, as the Jaguar engineers targeted 500 hp in the belief that this is now a prerequisite for entry in the hyper-sedan club. To this end, the 2010 Jaguar XFR's supercharged 5.0-liter V8 offers up 510 hp between 6,000 and 6,500 rpm, with 461 pound-feet of torque between 2,500 and 5,500 rpm. This compares pretty impressively with the Audi RS6's ratings of 580 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque, the BMW M5's output of 500 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque and the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG's 507 hp and 464 lb-ft of torque.

Get Down the Road
Those figures are impressive, even in a car that weighs 4,169 pounds. Jaguar claims the XFR gets to 60 mph from a standstill in 4.6 seconds on the way to the quarter-mile in 13.1 seconds. It accelerates from 50 mph to 70 mph in just 1.9 seconds and top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph. This is a thunderous car, and you don't have to work for the performance as you do in the naturally aspirated Merc or BeeEm. You rely not on the power but on the huge dollops of torque served up by the compressor.

This distinctive power production together with the superbly smooth gearbox is the key to the XFR sedan's stealthy performance. Plus the engine is so quiet that you're never aware that it's working very hard. Jaguar has all but eliminated the supercharger whine that always laid down a soundtrack to the old blown 4.2-liter V8, and the 5.0-liter V8 emits a deep, bass woofle that's never more than subdued. And just like the 2010 Ford Mustang and 2009 Ford Focus RS, there's a system in place to introduce engine sounds into the cockpit for a little more personality.

Nevertheless, this engine is actually too quiet. After all, if you've spent this much on a sport sedan, you deserve a bit of theater. The 2010 Jaguar XFR is another modern car that sounds better from the sidewalk than it does from the driver seat. Perhaps Jaguar might do well to offer an optional version of the new active exhaust system featured by the latest Jaguar XKR sports car.

A Sport Sedan That's Sporting
There are two significant chassis developments that the R-Type designation brings to the XF sedan: Active Differential Control (ADC) and Adaptive Dynamics. ADC is simply a differential that uses electronics to control the torque distributed to each wheel, operating only when required. The differential control works in conjunction with the stability control to manipulate the horsepower in all road conditions. It is hugely effective, enabling the car to pull away smoothly and cleanly with significant steering input, even on a wet surface.

Meanwhile, the Adaptive Dynamics system modifies the throttle and gearbox response depending on the way you're driving, while also altering the parameters of the continuously variable suspension damping. Put simply, it recognizes that you now want to play and will quickly switch to a more aggressive damping setting. As a result, you can take advantage of the suspension's comfort without having to sacrifice readiness for the fun zones.

Of course, this technology also makes the 2010 Jaguar XFR nowhere near as raw as an M5. The BeeEm demands your full attention, all of the time. The Jag isn't like that. The ride, while significantly firmer than a standard XF, is still pleasingly supple. Even with standard 20-inch wheels and tires plus a fast-acting steering ratio, the R-Type feels more sophisticated than the M-car. Yet this shouldn't be mistaken for a lack of talent, or ambition. The XFR sedan is stealthy, but still capable and entertaining.

The harder you try, the better it responds. You brake hard and deep into the corner (the front discs now measure 14.9 inches) to offset any initial understeer and then lean on the throttle pedal and ride the engine's torque. In high-speed corners, the XFR starts to feel lighter and smaller than it actually is, helped by crisp, accurate and well-weighted steering that's significantly better than that of the opposition. The six-speed ZF automatic is also an ideal foil for the V8, swapping cogs swifty with the aid of the shift paddles on the steering wheel and, in manual mode, refusing to change up without human intervention.

The stability control also has two modes: standard and track. In theory, the latter allows you to play a little, but it still intervenes strongly and relatively early. Of course, you can also turn the system off altogether, at which point the Jag can easily be tempted into glamorous, heroic powerslides, the sort of thing Jaguar development driver Mike Cross has spent a lifetime perfecting. The Jag XFR is much more amenable to oversteer than an M5 or an RS6. It isn't the Jag's default setting, but if you want to be a hooligan, it's happy to oblige.

The Look of Speed
The XF has been designed from the outset as a sport sedan, but the R-Type has given it an added dose of machismo. The chrome-mesh air ducts in the redesigned front fenders and the usual R-Type mesh grille are the most obvious visual changes that contribute to the car's aggressive new face. You'll also notice a deeper front bumper, louvers in the hood, extended rocker-sill skirts, a subtle spoiler on the deck lid, quad exhaust tips and of course the big 20-inch wheels inscribed with "supercharged." It's a comprehensive package that stays on the right side of tasteful.

The revisions within the interior are modest. You get discreet "R" badges on the steering wheel and fascia, a new twist to the aluminum trim, plus sport seats that move in 14 different directions. The only other tweak is to the instrument dials, which now boast a "supercharged" logo and a red needle. The Jaguar XFR remains a thoroughly nice place to be, even if there isn't as much room in the rear seat as you'd find in the Audi RS6.

The Price of Speed
The 2010 Jaguar XFR will come with a price tag of $80,000, which is a long way from the $52,000 of the entry-level XF sedan, but also a fair way below the supercharged $96,000 XKR coupe. Most important, the XFR sedan's price tag is $5,500 less than a BMW M5.

Just as with the XF sedan, the new R-Type probably won't get the instant badge recognition of a car from AMG, the M division or Quattro GmbH, but this new Jag deserves to run with the best. Handsome, massively quick and hugely capable, this car fulfills the XF's potential.

At last Jaguar is back in the game.

2009-03-23T10:05:00.000-07:00

2009 Jaguar XFR
Top Cat: New 510-hp Leaper is the Best of the Breed
By Mike Connor

You know you're suffering from hp-war battle fatigue when your first reaction to the news the Jaguar XFR's all-new, supercharged 5.0L direct-injection V-8 develops 510 hp is a faintly disappointed "Oh..." It might outgun the 500-hp BMW M5 and the 507-hp Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG, but it comes up short against Cadillac's mighty 556-hp CTS-V and Audi's head-banging 572-hp RS6. We're here to tell you, however, that sheer horsepower ain't everything. Just point the new XFR at your favorite stretch of gnarly two-lane, nail the gas, and you'll soon see what we mean.

The XFR is, of course, the new flagship car in an upgraded and expanded XF range for the 2010 model year. By now you will have noticed the entirely predictable exterior mods: a new front bumper fascia with large air intakes, deeper sills, a vented hood, new 20-in. alloy wheels, and quad tailpipes. Inside, the XFR retains the XF's cool and charismatic interior design, though Dark Oak veneer is the standard wood trim, complementing a unique dark mesh-aluminum dash panel. The XFR's front seats feature electrically adjustable bolsters for greater side support.

The big news is all under the skin: suspension tweaks that include magneto-rheological shocks, bigger brakes, an active differential, and the supercharged version of the all-new AJ-V8 Gen III engine.

The 5.0L Gen III has been designed in-house at Jaguar. The new engine is almost an inch shorter than the current 4.2L V-8, thanks to the relocation of the oil pump. The aluminum block is now a high-pressure die-cast item with cross-bolted main bearing caps. The four-valve cylinder heads are made from recycled aluminum, and the camshafts feature variable valve timing activated by the torque motions of the valves themselves instead of oil pressure, enabling the oil pump to be reduced in size. The engine features what Jaguar claims is an industry-first direct-injection system with centrally mounted, multihole, spray-guided injectors.

2009-03-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

First Drive: 2009 Infiniti FX35

Nissan builds a faster cheetah
David Booth, National Post Published: Friday, February 20, 2009

The Infiniti FX35 gets an improved 303-horsepower V6 engine

Of all the vehicles I have tested, one of the least likely candidates for cult classic status is Infiniti's FX35. Oh, sure, from its inception it sported a striking visage, what with its "bionic cheetah" styling, big ol' wheels and a countenance that is just a bit more daring than your average sport-utility replicant.

But, SUVs, sporty or not, are a dime a dozen these days and, except for odd creatures with specific abilities -- such as Land Rovers -- few seem to generate much loyalty. Everyone might lust after an SUV (even if they don't buy one for economic reasons), but few are undyingly loyal to a specific vehicle -- except for the first-generation FX35.

I have known many an Infiniti owner who swears by them, enough that most actually lament the end of their lease. Convinced that they entered the leasing market to switch vehicles, many FX35 owners have trouble giving up their old paint.

In marketing circles, the loyalty to the first-gen FX35 was even odder as it was the runt of the litter. Pride of place in the FX series went to the FX45, powered by a 4.5-litre V8. But, as all powerful as the 45 was, it was a rough-riding beast that sacrificed much in the way of creature comforts for its sporting aptitude. No such comprises marred the FX35 and, for a select crowd, there was nowhere they could get a dramatically styled SUV with so much performance for so little money. In other words, there are some very big shoes for the totally revamped 2009 version to fill.

One could accuse Infiniti of wimping out a little in the styling department, as the 2009 version doesn't look much different from the '08. But, to give Nissan's luxury brand credit, at least the modest changes the company made haven't softened the FX's edge. The new model's gaping front grille looks even more predatory than before and the bulges on its quarter panels are a little more pronounced.

It's under the hood-- where the updated VQ35HR 3.5L V6 lives -- where the real upgrades have transpired. Now breathing through twin throttle bodies, the FX35 boasts 303 horsepower. That's enough muscle for a mid-six-second run to 100 kilometres an hour, reason enough to (almost) forget about the fuel-hogging 5.0L FX50 version.

What's truly surprising is how sporting the six-cylinder engine sounds. V6s are notoriously difficult to make aurally appealing. Just ask Mercedes, which, despite its many abilities, still hasn't found a way to make the C-Class family of V6s sound like anything other than a tramp steamer. The Infiniti motor, on the other hand, sounds rorty as all get out, like it wants to--as Eddie Murphy sang with mediocrity -- party all the time. Matched to a close-ratio, seven-speed automatic with paddle shifters, the 3.5L likes to spin, its penchant for high rpm very much like Nissan's 370Z sports coupe. The allusion is apt since its engine is all but identical.

The FX35 also does an admirable job of emulating the Z's cornering ability. Though it rides on higher-profile, 18-inch tires rather than the FX50's 20s, there's still plenty of grip and precious little roll. It seems (oxy)moronic to buy an SUV so it can emulate a sports car, but, if that's what you want, that's what the FX35 delivers. It also does so without the buckboard ride of its V8-powered sibling (or the BMW X5 that the FX50 so slavishly tries to emulate). It may not be Lexus RX soft, but it won't shake the fillings out of your teeth.

Inside, there's an elegance that was missing from the first generation. The '09's build quality is excellent as are the materials. And even if they aren't quite up to Audi's top-notch standards, they'll do quite nicely. The FX35's cabin also doesn't lack for amenities, loaded to the gills (properly packaged, of course) with one of the better navigation systems, an excellent stereo and ventilated as well as heated seats. But, the killer app -- that technological thingy you can boast to all your friends -- is Infiniti's Around View Monitor system, which essentially offers a 360-degree view of everything around the vehicle via a set of four exterior cameras and the navi system's LED screen.

In just about every way, the 2009 FX35 improves upon its predecessor. It is larger, sportier, more powerful and better appointed -- succeeding where so many sophomore efforts have failed. The question, then, is whether those improvements are sufficient to guarantee the second-generation model the same cult status the original enjoyed.

THE SPECS

Type of vehicle: All-wheel-drive, mid-sized SUV

Engine: 3.5L DOHC V6

Power :303 hp @ 6,900 rpm; 262 lb-ft of torque @ 4,800 rpm

Transmission: Seven-speed manumatic

Brakes: Four-wheel disc with ABS

Tires: P265/60R18

Price: base/as tested: $50,700/$56,450

Destination charge: $1,825

Transport Canada fuel economy L/100 km: 13.3 city, 9.3 hwy.

Standard features: Power door locks, windows and mirrors, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, Bose 11-speaker AM/FM/ CD/MP3 audio system, XM satellite radio, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, cruise control, power glass sunroof, information display, power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, leather seats, eight-way power front seats, heated and cooled front seats, auto headlights, dual front air bags, front seat side air bags, front and rear side curtain air bags, rollover sensor, immobilizer and antitheft systems

2009-03-20T09:52:00.000-07:00

Infiniti Essence Concept Revealed
Embodies Core Infiniti Values for the Future
by Sam StockleyMarch 3, 2009 2:31 PM

L'eau d'Infiniti. A brand personification; Infiniti's 'Essence' in concept form. Presented this week at the Geneva Motor Show, the Essence showcases Infiniti's core values for the future and a compact celebration of the brand's past. Heralding a future of Infiniti's 'Inspired Performance' into the luxury super-coupe market for the first time, the Essence aims at re-establishing Infiniti at the heart of the world's most vibrant brands and positioning it towards the most exclusive.
With a first for Infiniti, the Essence provides the company's first motor show preview of their petrol/electric hybrid powertrain. Dubbed appropriately as 'responsibly powerful', the combination of 3.7-litre twin-turbo V6 engine and the firm's new 3D electric motor feed a mighty 600 PS to a rear-wheel-drive setup. An equally mighty 160 PS being chanelled from the electric motor, the technology works on optimisations to the layout of the electromagnetic coils and permanent magnets - decreasing the lithium-ion battery's size and increasing output.
But the concept's essence requires further investigation. Turning to the design, the Essence is not about showing signs of wealth or success, says Shiro Nakamura, Senior Vice President of Design. It's a 'driver's car', but not an 'aggressive sports car'. Infiniti's "Dynamic Adeyaka" is said to inspire design from both the human and natural worlds, bringing a new classical and dynamic shape to the brand not experimented with in Infiniti's 20-year history.

The Essence is as much a driver's car in the cabin - while the cabin is as much a passenger's car. Two seperate 'cocoons' - the driver's side themed black and the passenger's side themed 'earthy red' - dominate the interior's design. But designers claim the real magic is the 'hidden tech' - allowing minimalism in place of controls and information overload. An exclusive range of luggage specifically designed for the concept car by Louis Vuitton harks back to the partnerships first made with coachbuilders in 1908.

Coinciding not only with the brand's 20-year anniversary as a platform for the three pillars of Infiniti (driving pleasure, hospitality and peace of mind), the Essence takes Infiniti forward with their current challenge: introduction into the European market.Source: Infiniti

2009-03-20T09:31:00.000-07:00

2009 Hyundai i20 and i20 Blue Concept - Auto Shows

Hyundai’s little subcompact makes its big debut.
BY TOM LUDWICK, PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHIAS KNOEDLER AND THE MANUFACTURER

The big news in Hyundai’s camp at the 2008 Paris auto show is the tiny i20 B-segment car. This all-new addition to the i line will replace the economic and reliable Getz predecessor.
The i20 was designed and developed in Europe, along with the i10 (which we don’t get in the U.S.) and the stylish i30 known here as the Elantra Touring. Thus the design elements are similar. Up front, a chrome-topped grille is flanked by teardrop headlights, and all models come standard with 16-inch alloys.
Inside, Hyundai claims the i20 blends luxury and versatility. There are four trim levels—classic, comfort, style, and premium. Each abounds with standard features such as climate control, CD and MP3 audio, a multifunction steering wheel, keyless entry, and power windows and mirrors.
To pack some practicality into its tiny body, the i20 employs the usual tricks. The rear seats split 60/40, there is a low lip in the rear cargo area, and it will swallow 10.4 cubic feet of junk. The glovebox is cooled much like the Chill Zone in Chrysler vehicles and there are many handy storage spaces throughout the cabin.
Under the hood, the i20 offers a smattering of powertrain options. There are three gas-powered flavors: 1.2, 1.4, and 1.6-liter inline-fours; with horsepower ranging from 77 in the 1.2 to 124 in the 1.6. The efficiency highlight of the gas engines is the 1.2, which returns 45 mpg on the European combined cycle. To meet the Euro demand for torquey and efficient diesels, there are two versions of the 1.4-liter and two versions of the 1.6-liter. The star here is the 113-hp 1.4-liter that delivers an impressive 55 mpg.
The Newest Member of the i-Blue Family
Following hot on the footsteps of the all-new i20, the i20 Blue Concept pushes the efficiency envelope even further. The ‘Blue’ concept includes enhancements to the powertrain, aerodynamics, and chassis.

Hyundai started with the 1.4-liter CRDi diesel engine and mated it to a six-speed manual. The ratios were altered in 3rd, 4th, and 5th to keep engine rpm low. The engine software was also tuned for the high efficiency and low emissions. Hyundai even went as far as to use low-friction, high-performance engine oil which has been known to improve mileage as much as two percent.
Other modifications include a start-stop system to cut the engine when the car is not moving and the tranny is in neutral. Outside, the ground clearance has been lowered an unnoticeable 15 mm and full-length covers enhance aerodynamics underneath.
Hyundai says the package should result in 64 mpg on the European combined cycle and a 15-percent reduction in carbon emissions. Performance from the 1.4-liter—which puts out 89 hp and 162 lb-ft—is a top speed of 109 mph and a 0-62 time of around 13 seconds.
No i20 for the U.S.
Set to be launched early 2009, the i20 will only be available across the pond with no word on a version for the States. The i20 Blue is so far only a concept but we wouldn’t be surprised to see it join the production Blue family along with the 2011 Sonata hybrid and Santa Fe Blue hybrid.

2009-03-20T09:11:00.000-07:00

2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Hyundai plans to meet the 35-mpg fleet average by 2015.

BY ALISA PRIDDLE AND JON YANCA

Hyundai used the L.A. auto show to announce its first U.S.-market hybrid vehicle. The next-generation Hyundai Sonata will be a full hybrid, meaning it can run on electricity alone at low speed and for a limited distance.
Hyundai will use a unique version of a two-mode—or parallel—hybrid system designed to operate at peak efficiency in both city and highway driving. The Sonata will be the first hybrid to use lithium-polymer batteries instead of the current nickel-metal hydride or planned lithium-ion applications. The Korean manufacturer says the use of lithium-polymer batteries will result in a more durable and space-efficient package than other hybrids. The Sonata hybrid will not be a plug-in hybrid but Hyundai plans to add such a system alongside a fuel-cell vehicle at some point in the future.
The Sonata hybrid is due to launch in 2010, likely as a 2011 model. This hybrid introduction, accompanied by high-mileage “Blue” editions of the Accent and Elantra, will help Hyundai achieve a fleet average of 35 mpg by 2015, five years ahead of the 35-mpg CAFE requirement’s 2020 effective date.

Hyundai has already said it plans to start selling an Elantra in Korea in July 2009 as the automaker’s first ever gas-electric hybrid vehicle.
Seven-Vehicle Plan

Hyundai will introduce seven new vehicles by the end of 2011 under what it calls its 24/7 Version 2.0 program. It is the second phase of a product onslaught that began with the original 24/7 that called for the launch of seven new vehicles from 2004 to 2006.
First up under the new plan is the Elantra Touring five-door hatchback, based on the i30 wagon sold in Europe, which is slated to begin production in November for sale in early 2009. Second to bat will be the 2010 Genesis coupe in the first quarter of 2009.

2009-03-19T11:50:00.000-07:00

2009 HUMMER H3T Alpha

By Sajeev Mehta
March 13, 2009

Walked into a HUMMER dealership lately? The poster child for everything wrong with the automotive industry went from a vibrant, stylish lounge for conspicuous consumption to a somber, museum-like tribute to modern architecture and failed business models. It’s a sad combination of soaring heights and eerie, uncomfortable silence. This also describes the HUMMER H3T Alpha to the proverbial T: the brand’s failed promises of functionality and fashion for a premium price culminate into the worst product rollout of the 2009 model year.
But wait a moment: can we still party like its 1999? The H3T’s rugged proportions, slender overhangs, unmolested lines and an unbelievably evocative front grille could’ve set the burgeoning SUV flame into a five alarm fire. It’s a brand honest effort in contrast to every other GM division that squanders, distorts or disregards their potential. The style is classically right, but socially wrong.

Which makes it right, in a historically perverse way. Driving the H3T down Houston’s boulevard of broken dreams feels like the (hopelessly optimistic) pink tailfins of a ’59 Caddy cruising Pennsylvania Avenue while a black armband protest against the Vietnam War looms in the background. Two generations, two schools of thought collide all over again: part of which is why the H3T is the coolest lifestyle-enhancing wannabe ever created. No matter what you think, there will never be a vehicle like this again.
And that’s gotta be worth something, since there’s not much worth cheering for inside. While HUMMER infused the Chevy Colorado’s interior with a great pair of contrast-piped leather seats and faux cowhide door inserts, the rest of the re-skin reeks of down market dour. Unyielding plastics are immensely stain proof, and the black chrome center stack absolutely begs for more reinforcements to justify the H3T’s lofty asking price. And from the mudslide of bass from the Monsoon Audio to the lack of a rear seat armrest, the baby HUMMER is lost in the dark ages of SUV interiors.

Note: if an H3 driver cuts you off in the shopping mall parking garage, don’t hate the player. Hate the game. The memorable styling of the HUMMER brand translates into side/rear visibility that makes a Chrysler 300 blush. The only lifeline to scratch free sheetmetal is a pair of gargantuan side view mirrors, creating a series of educated guesses as to where the 5-foot bed lies in relation to fixed objects. With these sightlines, the HUMMER lifestyle requires a damn good spotter for any serious four-wheelin’ event.
But things ease up back in the real world of the urban cowboy. The H3T is an easy rider, with basketball-height sidewalls and a softly sprung suspension. But the chassis has more flex than you’d expect in a modern pickup. No surprise there, the third-rate engineering of the Chevy Colorado shows up again. And this isn’t a hack job of the H3 SUV: the fully enclosed baby-HUMMER fares no better in back-to-back testing.
Which makes the off road ready H3T’s poor handling less of a surprise. The Alpha HUMMER still weighs in at a massive 5069lb, with more body roll, brake dive and understeer compared to the (relatively) refined movements of a full-size Chevy pickup. Maybe that’s fine—this brand makes no bones about it’s admirable off road manners coming straight from the factory.
Don’t like it? Don’t buy it. But that cocky attitude no longer works for the Big H.
So consider the H3T’s genuine truck bed with a handful of rails, tie downs and hidden storage tricks. Plus, being V8 motivated, this must be a manly man’s truck: the unique “Alpha” interior/exterior badging and brushed aluminum plaque bearing GM’s Performance Parts trademark (on the engine) mean something. Or not: the H3T Alpha has far more “area under the curve” over the standard offering’s five-pot mill, but the modest peak numbers and a quad-cog gearbox fail to motivate this leviathan in a fashion befitting Detroit’s other body-on-frame beasts.

So the H3T Alpha is the quasi-truck that prefers you not compare it to a real truck, much less the other poseurs at Chevrolet, Ford and Honda showrooms. That’s because the HUMMER’s payload capacity is almost 400lb less than the car-like Ridgeline, and tows about 1000lb less than the independently sprung Ford Sport Trac. The bed is an ergonomic triple threat: small, narrow and tall. Don’t even think about the folding mid-gate from the Chevy Avalanche as the H3T isn’t built on that GM platform. Oops.

If we still lived in the SUV’s heyday, the HUMMER H3T Alpha’s lack of substance wouldn’t mean squat. It’s got the right look, has a mean (sounding) engine and works like a somewhat incompetent pickup. But the market has changed, and even if HUMMER used their whole ass while creating the H3T Alpha they’d still screw the pooch. Hasta la vista, baby.

2008-10-30T08:56:00.000-07:00

Honda Fit - What the Auto Press Says

The 2008 Honda Fit ranks 2 out of 35 Affordable Small Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 66 published reviews and test drives of the Honda Fit, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

The Fit's configurable cabin, numerous standard amenities and peppy performance secure its place as one of the top affordable small cars and hatchbacks. With the escalating gas prices, it's also an economical purchase for its good fuel mileage.

Reviewers commend the 2008 Honda Fit's all-around appeal compared to similarly styled and powered subcompacts. Back in 2007, both Motor Trend and Road and Track conducted comparison tests featuring the Fit, Toyota Yaris and Nissan Versa. Both tests concluded the Fit is the standout of those three for its fun-to-drive demeanor on city streets, as well as its utility. Motor Trend calls the Fit "the right choice for the enthusiast who wants a car that handles twisties as well as it does chores, saves gas, and eases your budget." To Road and Track, the Fit is "the most fun to drive" of the three. A four-door hatchback, the 2008 Fit was introduced in the United States just last year in two trims, the base model or Fit Sport.

The 2008 Honda Fit has won more than comparison tests. It was selected as one of Car and Driver's 10Best for 2008, as well as one of Car and Driver's Top 10 Urban Vehicles. In 2007, the Fit received Popular Mechanics' Automotive Excellence Award. "For a small, so-called B-Car, the Fit has what may be class-leading handling, ride, steering feel and brakes," Popular Mechanics writes, adding, "Then, toss in the Fit's surprising interior adaptability with seats that flip, fold and offer more passenger and cargo carrying combinations than many minivans. Finally, Honda's hallmark quality and attention to detail…mean the sum of the parts makes the Fit seem much more than just another B-Car."

"Not only does the Fit deliver what you'd expect -- high mpg numbers and low ownership costs -- but it also delivers something you might not: high-quality interior appointments, a high level of usefulness, and a high fun-to-drive index." -- Car and Driver

"At first you want to drive it because it looks neat. Then, after utilizing its fantastically thought-out interior, you respect it for its usability." -- Road and Track

"It's a lot of fun to drive -- a car that you can be proud to own."-- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"You'd be hard pressed to find a car that can do so much with so little and be so lovable doing it. The Fit is one-half of the perfect two-car garage. Or even one-quarter." -- Los Angeles Times
Disagreeing with most experts, CNET says the Fit offers "low-speed power, maneuverability, nice cabin materials, and plenty of room inside for occupants and cargo. But even with these practical points, it's a car that doesn't live up to its potential." -- CNET

Fit Performance - 8.1 (Very Good)
The Fit earns its high performance score with its pleasing ride, as long as drivers keep in mind the Fit is a compact car, not a hot rod. After driving the Fit Sport, The Auto Channel reported, "It 'corners on its door handles,' as the old saying goes, but sticks well and is great fun to drive." Continue with our full Performance Review to learn how the Fit's power and precision compares to the other subcompacts on the test track, or how reviewers say the Fit absorbs road bumps with its tightly packaged suspension. continue

Fit Exterior - 7.7 (Good)
The 2008 Honda Fit has a more functional appeal than a fashionable one, leading to a relatively low exterior score for the class. Still, reviews like CNET's report, "We do like the design," and commend the car's "nice exterior look." Check out the 2008 Honda Fit Photo Gallery to see the four-door hatchback or continue with our Exterior Review to learn how others say the Fit's design compares to the MINI Cooper, Mazda3 or Honda Civic. continue

Fit Interior - 8.3 (Very Good)
The Fit's interior combines functionality with comfort and is considered one of the best interiors in the class. Car and Driver says, "There seems to be more room inside this car than the tidy exterior could possibly contain, the seats flop and fold to yield great cargo versatility, and the interior appointments would do justice to an Accord." Check out the 2008 Honda Fit Photo Gallery to see images of the Fit's "magic seat" and continue with our full Interior Review to learn more about the four different seating and cargo configurations available inside the Fit. continue

Fit Safety - 8.3 (Very Good)
The 2008 Fit receives five out of five stars in front crashes, five stars in front seat occupants' protection in side crashes, and three out of five stars in rear seat occupants' protection in side crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the 2008 Fit a "Good" rating -- the highest possible -- in both frontal offset and side-impact tests. Continue with our full Safety Review to learn more about the Fit's safety equipment, as well as how reviewers judge the subcompact's ability to protect against and prevent accidents. continue

Fit Reliability - 10.0 (Excellent)
The 2008 Honda Fit reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). The 2008 Honda Fit comes with a standard three-year or 36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty, as well as a five-year or 60,000 mile powertrain limited warranty. Check out our full Reliability Review to find out critics' opinion of the Fit's growing reputation
and build quality. continue

2008-10-30T08:29:00.000-07:00

Truck power and car-like fuel efficiency for 2009 Sierra / Silverado Hybrids
By Justin Pritchard

GM has been developing a large-SUV hybrid drive system in cooperation with Chrysler and BMW. Teaming up helps spread development costs across three different automakers, and the resulting Two-Mode hybrid system is already available to Tahoe and Yukon buyers. It's an innovative partial electric drivetrain that allows the huge haulers to consume as little fuel as a mid-sized sedan.

2009 Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid

The technology will soon make the leap from SUV's to pickup trucks. GM has already announced the upcoming availability of the GMC Sierra Hybrid and Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid models, which promise buyers the power of a hefty six-liter engine combined with a hybrid drive system for fuel savings. GM says the new hybrid pickups offer the handsome looks and power owners are used to, while offering a 25 percent reduction in fuel consumption.

All-electric driving is possible at speeds under 30 miles per hour courtesy of the Two-Mode hybrid system. At low speeds and under low-load, the gas engine can go to rest completely, allowing the truck to be driven solely on battery power. This uses no fuel, emits no emissions and is completely silent.

When the accelerator is depressed, Sierra Hybrid's 6.0 liter V8 instantly goes to work to deliver a familiar sound and acceleration. The V8 engine helps the Sierra Hybrid along at highway speeds, while employing some fuel-saving technologies of its own. These include Late Intake Valve Closing (LIVC) to help in the emissions department, and Active Fuel Management to de-activate cylinders when appropriate.

The latter feature allows the engine to put cylinders to 'sleep' when not needed- allowing the big V8 to boast smaller-engine fuel consumption in certain situations. Sierra hybrid also gets a specially tuned exhaust system which takes the hybrid powerplant's unique characteristics into consideration.

GM says the Sierra and Silverado Hybrids will allow owners to realize a fuel savings even when the truck is fully loaded or towing a trailer. The hybrid hardware will be sold on crew-cab bodied trucks in two and four wheel drive. A stability control system, trailering package and locking rear axle are standard on hybrid models, and towing capacity is 6,100 lbs.

2009 GMC Sierra Hybrid

Jim Bunnell, GMC general manager, comments on the Sierra Hybrid model. "The Sierra Hybrid represents GMC's commitment to engineering excellence, delivering a fully functional truck that offers a significant improvement in fuel economy. Sierra Hybrid will deliver fuel economy that is expected to be the best in the full-size pickup segment, exceeding the current mileage leader - the non-hybrid Sierra."

The Silverado and Sierra hybrid twins go on sale later this year.

2008-10-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

Toyota confirms - again - plans to build production plug-in hybrid vehicles

by John Matras, Automotive Examiner

Plug-in hybrids and lithium-ion batteries are the Next Big Things and Toyota, it would seem from the recent flurry of electric car news, might be losing its grip on first place in the hybrid/lithium-ion battery race.
Lithium-ion batteries developed in a joint project between Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Continental (who will make the batteries) are used in the 2009 Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHybrid as well as a BMW 7-Series hybrid concept car, and will be the sole power source for the pure electric Mini E. Of course, General Motors has the much ballyhooed 2010 Chevrolet Volt almost ready for primetime.

So has Toyota been resting on its Prius?

Not hardly, says Irv Miller, veep of Toyota’s American corporate communications. Says Miller, “Let me be clear about this: We believe strongly in the viability of plug-in hybrids in some applications, and in their use of lithium-ion batteries. We believe so strongly, in fact, that we plan to begin production of PHEVs late next year.”

Toyota has a joint venture (60 per cent owned by Toyota) with electronics giant Panasonic, which will begin production-line assembly of lithium-ion batteries developed entirely in-house.

Toyota, along with Advanced Power and Energy Program at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB), began a test of plug-in hybrids equipped with nickel-metal-hydride (NmH) batteries to accumulate real-word data in late 2007. However, the NmH batteries, even in an oversized battery pack, gave only about seven miles of pure electric operation, and as such was not intended for general distribution.

While conceding that seven miles would be adequate for most weekend trips, Toyota still almost frustratedly cited the advantage of its current hybrid system as being independent of the extension cord.

So as announced by Katsuaki Watanabe, president of Toyota Motor Corp., at last year’s Detroit Auto Show, Toyota will build and deliver what he called "a significant fleet" of plug in hybrids to fleet users in the latter part of 2009.

Toyota will introduce the third generation of Prius at the Detroit auto show in January, and (purposefully?) leaked photos of it have been circulating the web and have been confirmed by Toyota as being accurate. Presumably at that time we’ll know, too, whether that plug-in hybrid will be in the form of a specially-equipped Prius.

What we won't know is when Toyota will offer a PHEV to the general public. Or will we? Stay tuned.

2008-10-21T04:06:00.000-07:00

10 Most Popular Cars of the Year

By the Road & Track Staff

September 2008

What's the hottest car on the market? Depends on who you ask. But Yahoo! knows which car it is, thanks to an exhaustive tracking plan that factors in numerous criteria. Yes, user interest is high on that list, but so too is the intent and satisfaction of each Yahoo! visitor, which is measured not only by search queries and leads submitted, but also by ratings and reviews.

And you know what? The results may surprise you. While 2008 has seen the introduction of some of the most powerful sports cars ever, concerns over gas prices have focused buyer attention like a laser on fuel-efficient transportation. Smoky burnouts may be fun, but great fuel economy, affordable sticker prices and dependability are top priorities in today's market.

This shift in consumer attitudes is best reflected in the top 10 Yahoo! cars. The list is dominated by compact and subcompact fuel sippers, hybrids and two of the most popular family sedans on the market today. Still, the fact that the Ford Mustang cracked this elite group shows that even in a time of volatile gas prices, the American love affair with the automobile is still alive and well.

The list of top 10 cars of 2008 is arranged alphabetically, with pricing, fuel economy, competitive set, hot features and capsule summaries of each provided by the editors of Road & Track magazine. The top car of 2008 as determined by Yahoo! users will be announced at the 2008 Los Angeles International Auto Show in November.

Top 10 Contenders for the Yahoo! Autos Excelerator Award:
Ford Focus
Ford Mustang
Honda Accord Sedan
Honda Civic
Honda Fit
Kia Rio
Toyota Camry
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Prius
Toyota Yaris

FORD

2008-10-20T07:13:00.000-07:00

Detroit Auto Show: 2009 Ford F-150

By Matt Hardigree

The 2009 Ford F-150 has arrived and, for potential buyers, there are two major stories here other than the new frame and exterior: more standard/available features and more model variations. Now standard is the AdvanceTrack with Roll Stability Control (RSC), Trailer Sway Control, the new Tailgate w/ box side steps and the new "Easy Fuel" capless fuel-filler system that uses a a sensor to automatically seal shut when the nozzle is removed. Available on all F-150's is the SYNC system (with all goodies), new 700-watt Sony sound system, integrated trailer brake controller (segment first on light-duty pickups) and rearview camera assist. There are going to be a total of 35variations of the new F-150 (XL, STX, FX4, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch), including the new Platinum series, which adds extra detailing and chrome on the outside and features such as ash wood accents, 10-way adjustable leather captain's chairs and standard 20-inch polished aluminum wheels.

In the power department, the 4.2L V6 is out as the base engine, with a 2-valve 4.6-liter V8 that is promised to produce more horsepower with the same fuel economy. The mid-range engine is a new 3-valve 4.6-liter and the top of the line is the familiar 5.4-liter Triton V8 which has been tweaked for more horsepower and now capable of running on E85 corngas blends. Across the range there's a fleet-average 1 mpg improvement in fuel economy, despite having no V6. Both diesel and EcoBoost options are planned for the F-150 in 2010. The new F-150 gets fully boxed frame construction with bolstered steel side rails. The new frame is lighter and provides 10% more torsional rigidity.

On the space front, the SuperCrew cab has been stretched six inches to grow the interior to 57.6 cubic feet of space behind the front seats and 47.9 inches of height (leaving enough room to lay in a 45-inch flatscreen television with room to spare). Out back the new pickup box, in addition to the aforementioned side steps and optional stowable bed extender, now has a capacity of 65.5 cubic feet. Full press release below — plus, as an added bonus — some video from Mike Levine of PickupTruck.com on the interior of the new F-150 Platinum edition.

NEW 2009 FORD F-150: MORE CAPABILITY, MORE CHOICE, MORE 'SMART' FEATURES FOR AMERICA'S TRUCK
The vision for Ford's truck team was clear: Redesign America's favorite truck inside and out to give customers unrivaled capability, unprecedented choice and a host of smart, game-changing features.
The result is the new 2009 Ford F-150, the new benchmark in the full-size pickup segment from the industry's truck leader - which has built more than 33 million F-Series pickups since 1948.
The Ford truck team adopted a holistic, 360-degree approach to revamping the new 2009 F-150 - from its segment-first features to the tough new exterior highlighted by a dramatic three-bar grille and more spacious, flexible and refined interior, to the unparalleled choice of cab styles and trim levels - including a new Platinum series that redefines truck luxury.

The improvements are just as dramatic beneath the sheet metal. A new high-strength, lighter-weight chassis is the backbone that allows this tough truck to deliver more horsepower, better fuel economy and safety, and additional towing and payload capacity.

"The Ford F-150 is an American icon," said Mark Fields, Ford's president of The Americas. "Ford is the truck leader, and F-150 customers expect and demand the best truck on the market.
"Our team not only met those expectations, they exceeded them with the new 2009 F-150," Fields added. "With Ford's product-led transformation in full swing, the new F-150 could not have come at a better time - for Ford and for our customers."

FIAT

2008-10-20T06:49:00.000-07:00

2009 Fiat 500 Abarth Essesse, Paris Auto Show Preview

Written by Suzanne Denbow

Surrendering to the endless bombardment of pre-Paris reveals, for the next few days leading up to the 2008 Paris Auto Show, RideLust will be exclusively covering all the leaks and teaser shots of the major impending Paris reveals. To kick things off, we’re starting with the 2009 Fiat 500 Abarth Essesse, Fiat’s sporty revision of the compact Fiat 500 Abarth that launched earlier this year.

Full gallery after the jump

Getting the full street racing treatment, the Fiat Abarth Essesse is trimmed with a full aerodynamic body kit, complete with a hefty rear spoiler, Brembo brakes, and 17″ Alloy wheels. Under the hood the Fiat Abarth Essesse is expected to feature a 4-cylinder engine 1.4L turbo charged engine, producing a respectable 160-hp. According to Fiat, they already have 200 workshops toiling away to put the kits on the market, and hope to give the Mini Cooper S a run for it’s fierce little compact money.

DODGE

2008-10-20T06:17:00.000-07:00

LA Auto Show Preview: 2009 Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid

By Matt Hardigree

It's Chrysler's other first production hybrid... and it's got a HEMI... it's got the same HEMI! The 2009 Durango HEMI Hybrid is maybe the cooler, rougher, slightly less-suburban brother of the Aspen HEMI Hybrid. Other than the big cross-hair grille and other cosmetic touches it's basically the same vehicle. This model also gets the two-mode 5.7-liter HEMI setup, the LED headlights, MyGIG entertainment system and other stock goodies such as a rear park assist camera, electronic roll mitigation and a bunch of airbags. Look for a deeper discussion of the two-mode HEMI hybrid system later today. Full press release after the jump.

Dodge Durango offers style, comfort, convenience and superior versatility in a real SUV, with three rows of seating and room for eight.
The Dodge Durango's styling is enhanced with a high beltline emphasizing its bold appearance, while short front and rear overhangs contribute to the vehicle's expression of concentrated power. Crisp angles and chiseled surfaces highlight a strong and confident front-end design. The Durango's signature crosshair grille stands out prominently, flanked by rectangular headlamps with dual-halogen bulbs wrapped around the corners of the fenders. The rear design of the Dodge Durango is marked by "afterburner" taillamps, and a chrome appliqué accentuating the rear liftgate.

Standard interior appointments include wood-accented door panels and instrument-panel center stack, air conditioning, overhead console with HomeLink® Universal Transceiver and Electronic Vehicle Information Center, front and rear LED lamps that can be individually aimed, MyGIG Entertainment System with navigation, floor console with rear power accessory outlet, and 60/40 third-row bench seat.

Standard equipment also includes leather-trimmed bucket seats, eight-way power driver's seat with memory, four-way power passenger seat, heated front-row seats, and a second-row bench seat, providing seating for eight.

Dodge Durango rides on a torsionally stiff, fully hydroformed frame with independent front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering, providing a turning radius of 37.5 ft. — shorter than a Honda Pilot. Suspension and steering are finely tuned to deliver superior ride and precise steering. Dodge Durango's rear suspension features coil springs and a solid rear axle secured with a Watt's linkage system, resulting in refined ride and handling characteristics.
Advanced safety and security features include standard Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Stability Program with Electronic Roll Mitigation and Trailer Sway Control, side-curtain air bags for all three rows, ParkSense® Rear Park Assist System, Tire Pressure Monitoring system, Sentry Key® engine immobilizer, and ParkView™ Rear Back-up Camera System.

New 2009 Chrysler Aspen HEMI® Hybrid and Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid
Chrysler LLC's First Production Hybrid Vehicles
• Hybrid fuel efficiency combined with full-size SUV performance, capability and utility
• HEMI® Hybrid delivers more than 25-percent overall fuel economy improvement
• Full-size SUVs boast nearly 40-percent fuel economy improvement in city
• HEMI Hybrid features Chrysler's Multi-displacement System (MDS)
Chrysler and Dodge are bursting onto the hybrid scene in a big way.
With the introduction of the new 2009 Chrysler Aspen HEMI® Hybrid and 2009 Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid, Chrysler LLC delivers two hybrid-electric vehicles that combine fuel-efficient advanced-hybrid technology with full-size sport-utility vehicle (SUV) performance and capability.

"The new 2009 Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid vehicles will offer our customers the sought-after blend of performance, utility, capability and vastly improved fuel economy — all in one package," said Frank Klegon, Executive Vice President - Product Development, Chrysler LLC. "Combined with Chrysler's Multi-displacement System (MDS), our advanced, two-mode hybrid technology immediately delivers a more than 25-percent fuel economy improvement to our full-size SUVs — and up to a 40-percent improvement in the city."

The 2009 Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid vehicles are Chrysler's first entries in the hybrid market.

Capable of towing 6,000 lbs., the 2009 Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid vehicles deliver 385 horsepower — seamless, dependable power and performance on demand, in an efficient package. With an electrically variable transmission (featuring the best characteristics of an automatic transmission and hybrid drive) and two different hybrid modes of operation, the drive system dramatically improves fuel economy around town and at highway speeds.
The new 5.7-liter HEMI Hybrid is expected to deliver an overall fuel economy improvement of more than 25 percent, including an improvement of nearly 40 percent in the city. For customers who desire the performance and capability of a large SUV, the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango Hybrid vehicles will reduce fuel consumption by several hundreds of gallons of gas per year.

The renowned HEMI powerplant, in hybrid form, will continue to feature Chrysler's MDS, which allows the engine to seamlessly alternate between four-cylinder mode when less power is needed and V-8 mode when more power is in demand. The two-mode hybrid system provides assistance from electric motors allowing the HEMI V-8 to remain in four-cylinder mode more often than without a hybrid powertrain, improving overall fuel economy.

Built at the Newark Assembly Plant in Delaware, the new 2009 Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid vehicles arrive in showrooms in mid-2008.

Fifth Gear BMW F1 VS BMW M5

2008-10-10T17:56:00.000-07:00

(MUST SEE VIDEO!!)

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Fancy Car Paint 6 [Click Picture to Enlarge]

2008-10-08T03:08:00.000-07:00

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TOYOTA

2008-10-07T04:38:00.000-07:00

Toyota unveils 3 new models in Paris

Post on 7 October 2008 : by Neil Winton

PARIS -- Toyota of Japan launched three models at the car show, including the iQ, a Smart minicar lookalike which can carry four people.

Toyota also unveiled the Urban Cruiser, a small SUV which slots into the lineup under the RAV4, and a new Avensis, Toyota's biggest sedan for the European market.

Toyota Europe Senior Vice President Andrea Formica said despite its size the iQ would protect its passengers well.

"IQ is ultra-safe. It features nine air bags, including the world's first rear-window curtain shield air bag. It is also based on a newly developed multi-load path body structure. And it includes ABS, VSC and traction control as standard. With such an extensive 360 degree protection, we're aiming for 5-star NCAP safety rating," Formica said.

That is the European Union's safety organization's highest rating.

Sales of the iQ start in January, and annual sales should reach around 80,000. Engines include a 1.0-liter gasoline and 1.4-liter diesel motor.

The Urban Cruiser's basic engine is a 1.4-liter diesel with four-wheel drive. A 1.33-liter petrol engine will include stop-start, which switches off the engine in traffic and fires it up again when the clutch is engaged. The annual sales target is 30,000.

The big Avensis was the star of the Toyota presentation, featuring tumbling gymnasts, smoke and loud music. When the Avensis emerged into the light, the new car looked rather handsome, with lines reminiscent of the top-of-the-line Lexus LS, made by Toyota's premium subsidiary. This was a surprise to those used to the Avensis's traditional sober, even dull lines.

Toyota hopes to move 115,000 Avensis models annually, including sales in Russia

CHRYSLER

2008-10-07T04:16:00.000-07:00

Chrysler planning 20 new models by end of 2009

Posted 7 October 2008: by Siddharth Raja

With the sale of the Chrysler Group to Cerberus Capital Management, analysts are predicting that an injection of funds from the investment firm could see many popular projects and concepts enter the production pipeline. The transfer of ownership should be finalized by the third quarter and by that time the upcoming Dodge Challenger will be just around the corner, while several other models should have been given the green light.

Chrysler spokesman Rick Deneau, who spoke with reporters from Autoweek, mentioned that there’ll be significant investment in Chrysler’s future product lineup. To save costs, seven slow-selling models will be dropped and engineers will reduce the current portfolio of 12 separate platforms to just seven. Chrysler’s new owners are said to be as enthusiastic about the carmaker’s future as its CEO Tom LaSorda, with Deneau commenting that they “have seen the product lineup, and are quite bullish on it”.

Part of Chrysler’s plan is to add 20 new models and 13 major facelifts by the end of 2009, reports Autoweek. Some of the new models include the Challenger, fifth-gen Chrysler minivan, Sebring and Avenger based crossovers and brand new Ram pickup. Out the door are the Dodge Durango and Chrysler Aspen SUVs, but these may be replaced with several all new models including possible production versions of the Chrysler Imperial and Dodge Demon concepts.

One new model that’s guaranteed will be a Chinese sourced minicar based on the Dodge Hornet concept shown at last year’s Geneva Show. This will be a global model similar in size to BMW’s Mini and could be the first of several Chinese built vehicles sold under the Chrysler umbrella.

FERRARI

2008-10-07T03:58:00.000-07:00

Ferrari's lineup goes green and practical in 2009

Posted 07 October 008 : by Nelson Ireson

The end of the 2008 production year is drawing near and the industry, carmakers and consumers alike, are looking forward to what 2009 will bring. The desolate global economic situation presents few bright spots, but Ferrari's perennially brilliant Prancing Horse will offer some new features and refresh some familiar ones before the next year is out.

Ferrari's blockbuster hit - the California - is already out, however, and nothing to rival it is scheduled for a 2009 debut. Though the folding-hardtop 'daily driver' Ferrari is already public knowledge, the actual customer cars won't begin delivery until mid-2009, so there's still much to look forward to, however. Powered by a 460hp (343kW) 4.3L V8 with the company's first implementation of direct-injection and the all-new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, the California is a technological tour de force that also brings a very slightly greener tinge to the lineup. The efficiency-enhancing effects of the direct-injection and dual-clutch technology are well known, though it's hard to believe the California is tuned for anything but performance, daily driver or not.

Another bright spot in 2009 is the expected redesign of the F430, though we'll have to wait until the later part of the year to see the results, reports Automotive News. In addition to gaining the direct injection and dual-clutch transmission, the F430 will also get a new aluminum chassis. A test mule has been spotted, and though it's not certain what exactly the car is, one possibility is that it's the next-gen F430.

Rumors of a possible Spyder version of the 430 Scuderia - the track-focused hyper-430 - have been flying about wildly in recent months, but as yet there has been no official confirmation of the car.

Further down the line, Ferrari is thought to be working on a successor to the Ferrari Enzo. Taking inspiration from the eco-conscious FXX Millechilli concept and not due until 2010 or 2011, the car is still little more than speculation, despite spy shots of a test mule on the streets of Maranello.

Whatever the nature of the next Ferrari limited-edition hypercar, it will almost certainly be reined in from its V12 past. The pinch of emissions and efficiency regulations in the EU and elsewhere are being felt even at the highest levels of the industry, and Ferrari could be backed into using a twin-turbo V8 - though a forced induction V12 reportedly remains an option as well. Final output will be between 700hp (522kW) in twin-turbo V8 form and 750-800hp (560-596kW) in twin-turbo V12 form.

About 300 of the cars are to be built, with starting prices in the neighborhood of $500,000.

Also taking a longer view of things are the updates to the 612 Scaglietti, due for replacement in 2011, and the 599 GTB Fiorano, which will get a retractable hardtop model in 2011 or 2012. The Fiorano has a year-long waiting list at the moment, however, so purchasing for the new folding hardtop variants will likely start sometime in late 2009 or early 2010. Both models are now eligible for the unique One-to-One personalization program via a worldwide chain of ateliers.

DODGE

2008-10-07T03:20:00.000-07:00

Dodge ZEO concept let loose at NAIAS

Posted 07 October 2008 by Nelson Ireson

As petroleum prices skyrocket and hydrogen fuel-cells remain in the semi-distant future, more and more auto makers are turning to the electric vehicle as the solution for the present. The futuristic styling aside, the Dodge ZEO presents a decent argument for the practical possibilities of an EV. Not that those futuristic looks are in any way out of place or unwelcome - Dodge's new EV is rather sexy.

The 2+2 mates practicality with electro-hot-rod tendencies, such as the 23-inch rims, the muscular fender swells and the powerful 200kW (268hp) electric motor - the same one powering the hydrogen fuel-cell ecoVoyager concept. The combination of strong power and light weight give the ZEO a 0-60mph time that should come in under five seconds, according to Chrysler, which it says 'rivals [its] famed HEMI powerplant.'

The dramatic exterior styling is the focus of the ZEO, which draws inspiration from muscle cars of the past, mathematical concepts and tried-and-true principles of aerodynamics. The heavily sloped A-pillars are derived from the Möbius strip - a loop with only one exterior surface - that twists and joins into the rearward part of the canopy. The wrap-around windshield runs from the front almost all the way to the rear, giving a jet-like canopy to the sporty EV. Scissor doors and unique lighting accents finish the 'custom' feel of the ZEO.

Inside, organic forms are the mode. Aimed at the younger market - people who might actually buy such a car - the ZEO is replete with technological gadgetry. The long, narrow center console divides the cockpit into two regions, rising at the rear to complete the division. The unique steering-column/instrument panel unit are freestanding.

Weighing in at just 2,650lbs, the ZEO provides approximately a 10:1 lbs/hp ratio - just slightly better than a Nissan 350Z. Wheelbase and overall length are close to the Z as well, and with its 2+2 architecture (like the Mazda RX-8) the rear-wheel drive ZEO could prove to be a serious contender - and not just among EVs. Although, with a range of just 250mi, it's not quite ready for long-distance touring.

CITROEN

2008-10-07T02:52:00.000-07:00

Staying Alive With the Citroen C4 Robot

The latest commercial to feature Citroen’s cult C4 robot, sees the talented android with rhythm transported to the streets of Manhattan to strut its stuff for the launch of the restyled and updated New Look Citroen C4.

Published: 07 October 2008

Set to the current hit-remix, ‘Staying Alive’ by MC Lita (aka Klas Ahlund), the 50-second commercial saw its first airing on Channel 4 on Sunday 14th September 2008.

The advert features a funked-up version of the New Look C4 robot – complete with jewelled teeth, disco lights and glitter-ball beret – dancing a series of contemporary urban and classic disco moves as it vaults around New York’s streetscape checking its reflection in skyscrapers and swinging from subway scaffolding.

The latest advert is the fourth to feature the dancing C4 robot, which has become an internet viral sensation since its first award-winning advert appeared in 2005.

The low CO2 emitting New Look Citroen C4 is on sale this September with a restyled exterior, new equipment levels and a series of new petrol engines co-developed with BMW which deliver a combination of fuel economy and green performance.

The Revised Citroen C4 Range

Published: 07 October 2008
The Citroen C4 range is now more alive with technology than ever before. An exciting new look gives the popular model even more appeal with new exterior and interior styling, updated equipment, body colours and wheel designs, as well as the introduction of two new low CO2, fuel efficient, petrol engines co-developed with BMW. HDi models will also be available with new low-rolling resistance Michelin tyres for improved fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Changes to the exterior focus on restyling the vehicle’s front end, bringing the C4 in line with the prestigious looks of the recently launched C5. Its new bonnet features a more rounded, curvier design, whilst the grille benefits from restyled integrated chevrons. The front bumper has also been revamped and the number plate repositioned for a stronger, sportier, more dynamic look.

The rear lights of the C4 Coupe are now finished in transparent crystal and a choice of three new alloy wheel styles – either 16-inch or 17-inch – as well as two new body colours – Bourrasque and Recif blue are now available. For added elegance, chrome inserts are featured on some models.

In the cabin, the Citroen C4 has been improved for enhanced comfort whilst, for greater clarity, the rev counter has been relocated to the innovative translucent central display unit. As with the award-winning C4 Picasso, a plush grain is now featured on the dashboard and doors for a more upmarket feel. New decors have been designed with an improved quality finish whilst the integrated scented air freshener makes the interior smell as good as it looks.

The C4 also retains much of the innovative equipment that made it a standard-setter when it was launched. Drivers can benefit from convenient and reassuring technology such as directional headlamps, front and rear parking assist, lane departure warning system, hill start assist, laminated side windows, speed limiter and cruise control.

The new C4 arrives with all of the safety equipment that made the original C4 such a reassuring car to drive, including the unique to Citroën torso shaped driver’s airbag that can be incorporated because of the fixed-centre steering wheel. The original Citroen C4 achieved some of the highest EuroNCAP ratings in the segment for frontal impact, child protection as well as a 3-star pedestrian safety rating.

Citroën’s latest generation navigation system, NaviDrive, has also been introduced, which features a hi-resolution 7-inch colour screen with Europe-wide satellite navigation, real time traffic reports as well as an audio system with built-in 30GB hard drive. The system also offers a video auxiliary socket and a USB connection.

The C4 is now available with two new petrol engines which have been co-developed with the BMW group – the 1.6 16v VTi 120hp and the 1.6 16v THP 150hp. Both units offer the optimum blend of performance, driving pleasure and fuel economy, with significantly lower consumption and CO2 emissions.

C4 1.6 16V VTi 120hp (Variable valve lift and Timing Injection)

The VTi 120hp petrol engine, with a manual or automatic gearbox, replaces the 1.6i 16V 110hp unit, offering an economical and responsive driving experience, with fuel efficiency of 42.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 159g/km on the combined cycle (down 6% on the former unit).

The VTi unit is fitted with an aluminium block and cylinder head and features continuously variable valve timing. The intake valves also benefit from a system that allows their maximum travel to be adjusted gradually depending on the force applied to the accelerator pedal. These two features boost engine efficiency and increase responsiveness with some 90% of maximum torque available all the way through the rev range from under 2,000 through to 6,000rpm.

The new THP 150hp (Turbo High Pressure) engine provides the perfect blend of higher performance, driving pleasure and economy with significantly lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. With its six-speed manual gearbox, the THP 150hp’s fuel consumption is 40.9mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 164g/km.

The THP 150hp features engine technology that is new to the C4 range with the introduction of direct sequential injection and a twin-scroll turbocharger as well as continuously variable inlet valve timing. This gives the engine excellent low-down pulling power with maximum torque of 177lb.ft almost all the way from just 1,400 through to 3,500rpm and continues strongly through the rev range.

Citroën’s HDi diesel engine line-up is widely recognised for its frugal, clean and dynamic qualities, and in keeping with the model’s upgrade, the C4’s diesel engine range has also been improved.

The 2.0HDi unit with six-speed manual gearbox and particulate filter fitted as standard, boasts fuel efficiency of 53.3mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions of just 140g/km. The other diesel powered models – the 1.6HDi 92hp and 1.6HDi 16V 110hp DPFS EGS – are just as dynamic as before and now even greener thanks to a switch to low rolling resistance Michelin Energy Saver® tyres, available on 16-inch wheels, which reduce the fuel consumption and lower the CO2 emissions.

The original C4 was one of the most environmentally friendly cars in the small family segment with two models returning emissions of 120g/km. Now, with its reduced emissions, the Citroen C4 is even cleaner and even greener.

AUTO LATEST NEWS

2008-10-06T06:01:00.000-07:00

ASTON MARTIN
Aston Martin One-77
MG supercar blows its top
ACURA
All New 2009 Acura TL Revealed
ALFA ROMEO
MiTo is new baby Alfa
AUDI
Paris concept: Audi A1 Sportback
BENTLEY
The New Bentley Continental Flying Spur
Blast from the past: Bentley Hunaudières concept
BMW
BMW releases new images for 2009 7-series
BUGATTI
Geneva 2008: Bugatti Veyron Fbg by Hermes, scepter and empire not included
CADILLAC
2009 Cadillac CTS-V
Will concept revitalize electric vehicles in America?
CHEVROLET
Chevrolet Cruze Sedan: Pictures from 2008 Paris Show
CHRYSLER
Chrysler will offer wireless Internet access in 2009 models
2008 Detroit Auto Show: Chrysler ecoVoyager Concept
Chrysler planning 20 new models by end of 2009
DODGE
Dodge ZEO concept let loose at NAIAS
LA Auto Show Preview: 2009 Dodge Durango HEMI Hybrid
FERRARI
Ferrari's lineup goes green and practical in 2009
FIAT
2009 Fiat 500 Abarth Essesse, Paris Auto Show Preview
FORD
Detroit Auto Show: 2009 Ford F-150
TOYOTA
Toyota unveils 3 new models in Paris
Toyota confirms - again - plans to build production plug-in hybrid vehicles
GMC
Truck power and car-like fuel efficiency for 2009 Sierra / Silverado Hybrids
HONDA
Honda Fit - What the Auto Press Says
HUMMER
2009 HUMMER H3T Alpha
HYUNDAI
2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
2009 Hyundai i20 and i20 Blue Concept - Auto Shows
INFINITI
First Drive: 2009 Infiniti FX35
Infiniti Essence Concept Revealed
JAGUAR
Running With the Big Dogs
JEEP
KIA
LAMBORGHINI
LAND ROVER
LEXUS
LINCOLN
LOTUS
MASERATI
MAYBACH
MAZDA
MERCEDES
MERCURY
MG
MINI
MITSUBISHI
NISSAN
NOBLE
OPEL
PAGANI
PEUGEOT
PONTIAC
PORSCHE
PROTON
PRODUA
RENAULT
ROLLS ROYCE
ROVER
SAAB
SATURN
SCION
SUBARU
TOYOTA
TVR
VAUXHALL
VOLKSWAGEN
VOLVO

CHRYSLER

2008-10-06T05:02:00.000-07:00

2008 Detroit Auto Show: Chrysler ecoVoyager Concept

Posted by David Thomas on January 13, 2008

-Looks like: Chrysler’s take on the Toyota Prius
-Defining characteristics: Dual vertical skylights
-Ridiculous features: Retractable mousepad to control functions
-Chance of being mass-produced: Zippo, until electric power is commonplace

We don’t like to be totally down on a concept car — they’re supposed to be flights of fancy. But Chrysler begins its press release about the ecoVoyager — and two other electric concepts, the Dodge ZEO and Jeep Renegade — by saying that all car companies have access to the same technology. Meaning that even though Chrysler hasn’t confirmed that it’s developing the electric and gasoline-electric hybrid technology it says will power these concepts, that doesn’t mean it can’t show off the concept. GM, Ford and Toyota have either shown working prototypes or will begin testing them soon.

That disclaimer out of the way, we can talk about the Chrysler ecoVoyager. Its futuristic look and slight resemblance to the Toyota Prius are supposed to evoke feelings of environmental friendliness, and at that it succeeds. The bulbous shape should be aerodynamic, and its small size should help keep weight down. Those are two characteristics necessary in ultra-efficient cars.

A small electric motor powers the four wheels. Most similar systems we’ve seen haven’t mentioned such lofty equivalent horsepower numbers, so this concept’s claimed 268 hp sounds quite lofty. The motor alone should go 40 miles on a full electric charge. If it doesn’t, something Chrysler calls a range extender will kick in to recharge the batteries. The ecoVoyager’s range extender is a hydrogen fuel cell that will allow for a 300-mile range. All of this sounds very similar to what GM said when it rolled out the Chevy Volt at last year’s Detroit auto show.

The ecoVoyager is a nifty design, but we’re not sure car buyers will be willing to wait for Chrysler to catch up to the competition simply for design’s sake. There are a lot of photos below, so if the look thrills you — or not — let us know.

Chrysler will offer wireless Internet access in 2009 models
By Ken Bensinger, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
June 25, 2008

The struggling automaker's announcement comes shortly before California enacts a law that requires hands-free cellphone use while driving.

Have you ever thought rush hour on the 405 Freeway might be more bearable if you could check your e-mail, shop for a book on Amazon, place some bids on EBay and maybe even, if nobody is looking, download a little porn?

Then perhaps you should be driving a Chrysler.
The nation's third-largest automaker is set to announce Thursday that it's making wireless Internet an option on all its 2009 models. The mobile hotspot, called UConnect Web, would be the first such technology from any automaker.

Struggling Chrysler is hoping that providing motorists access to the information superhighway will set it apart from competitors and help reverse a dismal year; through May, sales are down 19.3% compared with 2007, the worst drop-off in the industry.

"It's a notion of always wanting to be connected wherever you are," said Scott Slagle, Chrysler's senior manager of global marketing strategy, who has been testing the technology since last week, allowing his daughters to surf the Web from the back seat. "There's a demand for that."

Coincidentally, Wi-Fi on wheels is being unveiled just days before new hands-free legislation goes into effect July 1 in California and Washington state. Those laws, designed to reduce accidents caused by driver distraction, prohibit talking on a cellular phone without a headset or other hands-free device.

Perhaps not surprisingly, safety advocates were less than overwhelmed by Chrysler's innovation.

"Surfing the Web is something people really don't have any business doing while they drive," said Jonathan Adkins, spokesman for the Governors Highway Safety Assn. "It's definitely a distraction."

His and other safety groups say the only way to drive safely is without using any electronic devices, headset or no.

Chrysler says that when the car is in motion, the service is intended to be used only by passengers. The privately held company acknowledges, however, that there is no way to prevent a driver from steering with one hand and Web surfing with the other.

"We're relying on the responsibility of the consumer to follow appropriate legislation," said Keefe Leung, Chrysler's engineer for the product.

In that case, Californians tempted to Google and drive can breathe a big sigh of relief: The new laws don't proscribe use of computers or the Web, except for drivers under 18 years old. There is a different law on the books preventing the use of television screens or video screens farther forward than the rear of the front seats, but it's unclear whether that measure applies to computers browsing the Internet.

State Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), who authored the California laws, is trying to clarify that situation. He's introduced legislation prohibiting drivers from using any "mobile service device" (including computers) or text-messaging while driving.

"It's great to see technology advance," Simitian said. "But this raises a lot of concerns."

In Chrysler's defense, it's not the first company to offer Internet access in cars. Avis Rent A Car introduced Avis Connect in January 2007. Like UConnect Web, Avis Connect (which costs $10.95 a day) operates on the 3G network using a cellular-based signal.

The device used by Avis is also available through its manufacturer, Autonet Mobile, for $595 plus a $39 monthly subscription rate. Users get download speeds of 600 megabits to 800 megabits per second.

Avis spokesman John Barrows said the device, which is portable, is fairly popular but not in as much demand as GPS units.

"We emphasize that this is not for use by the driver while operating the vehicle," Barrows said.

Chrysler will formally roll out the technology Thursday at an event in Detroit spotlighting its 2009 lineup, which will appear in showrooms in September. The automaker did not disclose pricing, but said there would probably be a base charge for the option, plus a monthly or annual fee.

UConnect Web is an extension of the company's UConnect system, which provides Bluetooth connectivity for cellphones and MP3 player integration with the car stereo. Rival Ford provides similar services, but without Web access, in its popular Sync system.

With the added Internet connectivity, drivers and passengers will be able to get such devices as laptop computers and Nintendo Wii consoles online. As to what users can download while in the car, Chrysler's Leung said anything was fair game.

"There are no limitations in content," he said.

CHEVROLET

2008-10-02T12:38:00.000-07:00

Chevrolet Cruze Sedan: Pictures from 2008 Paris Show

In a special European premiere event at the “Le Pavillon Dauphine”, located in the heart of Paris, GM showed off its new Chevrolet Cruze to the world press. If you follow the jump you’ll see that apart from the scenic pictures of the Cruze under the Eiffel Tower, we also have a detailed gallery of Chevy’s new global compact sedan’s interior which looks pretty good in terms of design. -Continued

In Europe, the Cruze will be initially offered with 112 HP 1.6-liter and 140 HP 1.8-liter gasoline engines and a new 2.0-liter turbo diesel, developing 150 HP and 320 Nm of torque. The gearbox menu will include a five-speed manual gearbox and an all-new 6-speed automatic transmission.

The 1.6L and 1.8L gasoline engines deliver zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration in 12.4 and 9.8 seconds, with combined cycle fuel consumption of 6.7lt and 6.8 lt/100 km (35.1 and 34.6 mpg US) respectively. The 2.0 diesel accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 9.4 seconds with a fuel consumption over the combined cycle of just 5.8 lt/100 km or 40.6 mpg US. After the Cruze’s launch, a 125 HP version of the 2.0 Diesel with 300 Nm of torque will also be offered.

Sales of the Chevy’s new compact sedan will start in Europe in March 2009, followed by other global regions including the U.S. in 2010.

Will concept revitalize electric vehicles in America?
Chevrolet Volt Concept Shocks at Detroit Auto Show

At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, General Motors stunned the press with the introduction of the Chevrolet Volt, an electric-powered vehicle.

While such vehicles, known also as “EVs”, have been in the press lately due to Tesla Motors’ roadster, none of the major automakers has expressed interest in pursuing what many deemed a futile alternative to gasoline-powered engines. Hybrids, especially plug-in models, also pushed thoughts of a viable EV further into the background. Finally, GM’s name is almost notorious due to its EV research documented in the movie, “Who Killed The Electric Car?”

The Chevy Volt concept is an electric-powered four-door with both an electric motor and gasoline engine. While the setup at first sounds like a hybrid, there are marked differences. Unlike full-hybrids like the Toyota Prius, which alternative using its two engines; or mild hybrids, like the Honda Civic, which uses the electric motor to support the regular engine, the Volt runs fully on its electric engine. The gasoline engine only activates to replenish the Volt’s battery if the charge is too low. A plug-in feature also allows the Volt to be charged while parked as well. GM estimates the Volt can get up to a staggering 150 miles per gallon for drivers who regularly recharge the Volt and live drive 60 miles round trip to and fro work.

More details, like the Volt’s E85 capability, are detailed in the press release below. Our take? The concept looks promising, pulling from both GM’s prior EV work and today’s hybrid engines. We don’t see such a vehicle, though, in the near future: as GM readily admits, a major technological hurdle (the battery) has to be overcome before it can even consider creating a production version. If/when GM does build such a vehicle, though, future vehicles will be treated in a whole new way.

Press release via General Motors/Chevrolet

The Chevrolet Volt concept sedan, powered by the E-flex System – GM’s next-generation electric propulsion system – could nearly eliminate trips to the gas station.

The Chevrolet Volt is a battery-powered, four-passenger electric vehicle that uses a gas engine to create additional electricity to extend its range. The Volt draws from GM’s previous experience in starting the modern electric vehicle market when it launched the EV1 in 1996, according to GM Vice Chairman Robert A. Lutz.

“The EV1 was the benchmark in battery technology and was a tremendous achievement,” Lutz said. “Even so, electric vehicles, in general, had limitations. They had limited range, limited room for passengers or luggage, couldn’t climb a hill or run the air conditioning without depleting the battery, and had no device to get you home when the battery’s charge ran low.

“The Chevrolet Volt is a new type of electric vehicle. It addresses the range problem and has room for passengers and their stuff. You can climb a hill or turn on the air conditioning and not worry about it.”

The Volt can be fully charged by plugging it into a 110-volt outlet for approximately six hours a day. When the lithium-ion battery is fully charged, the Volt can deliver 40 city miles of pure electric vehicle range. When the battery is depleted, a 1L, three-cylinder turbocharged engine spins at a constant speed, or revolutions per minute (rpm), to create electricity and replenish the battery. According to Lutz, this increases the fuel economy and range.

“If you lived within 30 miles from work (60 miles round trip) and charged your vehicle every night when you came home or during the day at work, you would get 150 miles per gallon,” Lutz said. “More than half of all Americans live within 20 miles of where they work (40 miles round trip). In that case, you might never burn a drop of gas during the life of the car.”

In addition, the Chevrolet Volt is designed to run on E85, a fuel blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Using E85, fuel economy of 150 mpg would translate into more than 525 miles per petroleum gallon. In the event a driver forgets to charge the vehicle or goes on a vacation far away, the Volt would still get 50 mpg by using the engine to convert gasoline into electricity and extending its range up to 640 miles, more than double that of today’s conventional vehicles.

A technological breakthrough required to make this concept a reality is a large lithium-ion battery. This type of electric car, which the technical community calls an “EV range-extender,” would require a battery pack that weighs nearly 400 pounds (181 kg). Some experts predict that such a battery – or a similar battery – could be production-ready by 2010 to 2012.

Jon Lauckner, GM vice president of Global Program Management, said the Volt is uniquely built to accommodate a number of advanced technology propulsion solutions that can give GM a competitive advantage.

"Today's vehicles were designed around mechanical propulsion systems that use petroleum as their primary source of fuel." Lauckner said. Tomorrow's vehicles need to be developed around a new propulsion architecture with electricity in mind. The Volt is the first vehicle designed around GM's E-flex System.

“That’s why we are also showing a variant of the Chevrolet Volt with a hydrogen-powered fuel cell, instead of a gasoline engine EV range-extender,” said Lauckner. “Or, you might have a diesel engine driving the generator to create electricity, using bio-diesel. Finally, an engine using 100-percent ethanol might be factored into the mix. The point is, all of these alternatives are possible with the E-Flex System.”

The Volt concept car is built on a modified future architecture, Lauckner said, similar to the one GM uses for current small cars, such as the Chevrolet Cobalt and HHR.

According to Larry Burns, GM vice president for research and development and strategic planning, the world’s growing demand for energy and its dependence on oil for transportation is the common theme behind today’s headlines.

“Whether your concern is energy security, global climate change, natural disasters, the high price of gas, the volatile pricing of a barrel of oil and the effect that unpredictability has on Wall Street – all of these issues point to a need for energy diversity,” said Burns. “Today, there are more than 800 million cars and trucks in the world. In 15 years, that will grow to 1.1 billion vehicles. We can’t continue to be 98-percent dependent on oil to meet our transportation needs. Something has to give. We think the Chevrolet Volt helps bring about the diversity that is needed. If electricity met only 10 percent of the world’s transportation needs, the impact would be huge.”

GM’s E-flex System moves automobile toward new electric age
GM’s E-flex System enables multiple propulsion systems to fit into a common chassis, using electric drive to help the world diversify energy sources and establish electricity from the grid as one of those sources.

“The DNA of the automobile has not changed in more than 100 years,” said Burns. “Vehicles still operate in pretty much the same fashion as when Karl Benz introduced the ‘horseless carriage’ in 1886.

“While mechanical propulsion will be with us for many decades to come, GM sees a market for various forms of electric vehicles, including fuel cells and electric vehicles using gas and diesel engines to extend the range. With our new E-flex concept, we can produce electricity from gasoline, ethanol, bio-diesel or hydrogen.

“We can tailor the propulsion to meet the specific needs and infrastructure of a given market. For example, somebody in Brazil might use 100-percent ethanol (E100)
to power an engine generator and battery. A customer in Shanghai might get hydrogen from the sun and create electricity in a fuel cell. Meanwhile, a customer in Sweden might use wood to create bio-diesel.”

The Chevrolet Volt is just the first variant of the E-flex System. The Volt uses a large battery and a small, 1L turbocharged gasoline engine to produce enough electricity to go up to 640 miles and provide triple-digit fuel economy. GM will show other variations of the propulsion systems at future auto shows.

“GM is building a fuel cell variant that mirrors the propulsion system in the Chevrolet Sequel (fuel cell concept),” Burns said. “Instead of a big battery and a small engine generator used in the Volt, we would use a fuel cell propulsion system with a small battery to capture energy when the vehicle brakes. Because the Volt is so small and lightweight, we would need only about half of the hydrogen storage as the Sequel to get 300 miles of range.”

Future concepts might incorporate diesel generators, bio-diesel and E-100.

Environmentally conscious vehicles can be aesthetically appealing
With exterior proportions associated more with classic sports cars, the Chevrolet Volt conveys an immediate message of agility and sophistication. Twenty-one-inch wheels and sheer, taut surface relationships reiterate the statement. The Volt’s athletic design challenges the notion that an environmentally conscious vehicle can’t be beautiful and possess an aesthetic spirit that matches its driving characteristics.

“We leveraged our resources around the globe to develop the design aesthetic for the Volt,” said Ed Welburn, vice president, GM Global Design. “It was important that the design capture the face of the Chevrolet as it’s recognized around the world.”

True to the heritage of its Chevrolet bowtie, the Volt’s exterior design suggests spirited performance and is wrapped in a stylish package, with classic Chevrolet performance cues that hint at both Camaro and Corvette. On the inside, near-term technologies and innovative materials combine with ingenious use of ambient light for an interior environment that’s light, airy and thoughtful.

“First and foremost, this is an advanced technology vehicle that uses little to no fuel at all. But we didn’t see any reason why that should compromise its design,” said Anne Asensio, executive director, GM Design. Asensio led the design team that created the Volt concept, with designs solicited from GM’s studios around the world.

“We wanted a size that connected with everyone, so we designed a small car,” said Asensio. “In the end, the interior design team from England inspired the final interior execution, and the exterior is the work of the Michigan advanced design team.

“Our job was to design a vehicle people could easily imagine,” said Asensio. “It couldn’t be a ‘science project,’ because that’s not what this car is all about. It had to be realistic, executable and carry the essence of the Chevrolet brand.”

CADILLAC

2008-10-02T10:35:00.000-07:00

2009 Cadillac CTS-V

By Aaron Gold, About.com

The CTS-V is the high-performance version of Cadillac's CTS sedan, and it's all-new for 2009. The old CTS-V packed a big 400 horsepower V8 and a manual transmission, a lot of hardware for a car its size. But the new CTS-V makes the old one pale: A bigger, supercharged V8 that pours out a whopping 556 hp, plus it's available with an automatic transmission. How does it all come together? Amazingly well, as it turns out -- read on. Pricing TBD (approx. $60,000 - $67,000, incl. destination and gas guzzler tax), EPA fuel economy TBD (approx. 13 MPG city, 19 MPG highway).

I wish everyone who has ever talked smack about General Motors' engineering prowess (or lack thereof) could test drive the 2009 Cadillac CTS-V. And I don't just mean a quick spin; I mean really drive it -- on the highway, through the curves, and on a race track, just like I did at Cadillac's CTS-V press preview. Anyone can stuff a huge, high-horsepower V8 into a small(ish) car and make something that goes really, really fast, but what's amazing about this car is its finesse. On the track, it's quick, precise and amazingly well behaved. Cruising down the highway, it's smooth and composed, with little to indicate that you're driving a car with more horsepower than a Lamborghini Gallardo. It's an amazing bit of engineering, this new CTS-V, and GM's slide-rule set should be very proud of what they hath wrought.

One could argue that the CTS-V is the wrong car for the times, and one would no doubt win that argument. But bear in mind that the CTS-V was conceived when gas was well under $2/gallon. Kudos to General Motors for not turning tail and pulling the plug.

Okay, enough pontificating, let's review the car!

From the outside, it's clear that this is no ordinary CTS. The CTS' big egg-crate grille is replaced by a double metal-mesh grille (link goes to photo) that increases airflow, while a bulge in the hood provides clearance for the supercharger and intercooler. Out back, the center brake light doubles as a functional spoiler, and those big tailpipes are attached to a true dual-exhaust system.

The CTS-V's interior is nearly identical to the regular CTS, which is a good thing; there's lots of room and while the controls are a bit button-happy for my tastes, there are cool details like the two-position display screen and individual climate controls. The CTS-V gets a few extra-cool bits like red LEDs that trail the speedo and tachometer needles, optional Recaro front seats (the standard seats are pretty good too), and a steering wheel covered in microfiber cloth, which looks and feels like suede but is easier to clean. But as you'd expect, the real story is not in the cabin, but under the hood.

The CTS-V's supercharged "LSA" V8 is closely related to the 638 hp LS9 engine in the Corvette ZR1. Its output of 556 horsepower and 551 lb-ft of torque lays waste to German rivals like the Mercedes C63 AMG (451 hp/443 lb-ft), Audi RS4 (420/317), and BMW M3 (414/295). Those cars are fast, but the CTS-V is in a different league. Caddy claims 0-60 in a blistering 3.9 seconds, less than half a second behind the ZR1. But the CTS-V is more than just a drag racer -- plant your foot at any speed and you are so outta there. Good luck sticking to the speed limit.

The CTS-V idles with a menacing burble; wind it up and there's a nice mix of V8 howl and supercharger scream, though it's almost a shame that the Corvette-like exhaust blat can't be heard from inside the car. Cruising at the legal limit, the CTS-V isn't quite as hushed as a proper Cadillac should be, but that's forgivable -- you can't cram 556 horses into such a small space and expect 'em to keep quiet.

On the Road: It should kill you, but it doesn't
The CTS-V offers both manual and automatic transmissions, both with 6 speeds. The manual is a tight Tremec unit with a light clutch. The automatic features steering-wheel-mounted buttons for manual control and an utterly brilliant "Sport" mode -- it takes input from the steering wheel, so it knows when you're driving fast on a curvy road and sticks to the lower gears. I'm a stick-shift devotee, but in the case of the CTS-V, I'd take the automatic -- it allows much easier access to all that delicious power.

On paper, the CTS-V looks like it should be trying to kill you. 551 lb-ft of torque in a rear-drive car is, generally speaking, a recipe for disaster. But thanks to its suspension setup, the CTS-V is amazingly docile -- not watered down, mind you, just docile. The steering is sharp, handling balance is near-perfect, and the brakes are awesome. With the StabiliTrack stability control system engaged, you can push as hard as you want and the CTS-V will always go where you point it; the system reins the car in so gently that you'll barely know it's working. Need more action? Activate StabiliTrak's Competition Mode, which let you flick the tail out with a well-timed dip of the accelerator but won't let things get too far out of hand.

The CTS-V even rides like a proper Caddy thanks to GM's magnetic ride control system, which allows the shock absorbers to stiffen at a millisecond's notice. There's little noticeable difference in ride quality between the suspension's Touring and Sport modes, and that's by design; the CTS-V corners flatter and a bit more precisely in Sport mode.

Journey's End: A ZR1 in a very nice suit

2009 Cadillac CTS-V
Photo © Aaron GoldI'm not just impressed by the CTS-V -- I'm completely blown away. Not long before reviewing the CTS-V, I tested the Corvette ZR1, one of the most thrilling cars I've ever had the privilege to drive. The Cadillac CTS-V isn't far behind -- it's nearly as quick and nearly as precise on the track. But while the ZR1 is a bit of a brute on public roads, the CTS-V is a perfect gentleman.

Cadillac hasn't announced firm pricing, but they say the CTS-V will range from just under $60k to around $67k including destination and gas-guzzler tax. That puts the CTS-V just a few grand higher than the BMW M3, Mercedes C63 AMG and Lexus IS F, about even with the Audi RS4, and around 20 grand cheaper than a BMW M5 or Mercedes E63 AMG. Of those, the C63 and RS4 are perennial favorites of mine, but when it comes to style, straight-line performance, and fun-to-drive factor, the CTS-V runs right over them.

Only one thing might keep me from buying one (besides my lack of $60,000): A CTS coupe is on the way, and it's going to be gorgeous. If Caddy were to make a V version of the coupe... I get weak in the knees just thinking about it.

Bottom line: The CTS-V is one of the best cars I've ever reviewed. Precious few cars do so many things so well, and the fact that it comes from General Motors, perennial whipping-boy of car fans everywhere, makes this an even sweeter victory. Well done, General Motors -- now just apply this same kind of engineering talent to your small, fuel-efficient cars, and everything will come up roses.

BUGATTI

2008-10-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

Geneva 2008: Bugatti Veyron Fbg by Hermes, scepter and empire not included

Posted Mar 4th 2008 12:02PM by Jonathon Ramsey

On the occasion of the 78th Geneva Motor Show (from 6 to 16 March 2008), Bugatti and Hermès co-present the fruit of their partnership: the "Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès", associat-ing Bugatti's technical performance with the expertise of Hermès and its craftsmen. In partnership with Hermès, designer Gabriele Pezzini has married the distinctive Hermès style to the legendary Bugatti Veyron 16.4, magnifying the car's personality.

This remarkable car features an array of excep¬tional characteristics: the innovative alliance of a technologically advanced engine, deliver¬ing 1001 horsepower, with an understated yet uncompromising silhouette reflecting the high performance capacities of state-of-the-art engineering and design, and above all, the pleasure these inspire in every Bugatti owner.

The fascination exerted by this sports coupé, capable of reaching 407 km/h, is due in large part to its unique alliance of the very finest motor-racing technology with comfortable handling for everyday driving. The 16-cylinder "W" configuration engine is fed by four turbochargers and features 64 valves, generating 1001 horse¬power at 6000 rpm. The engine draws on its 8-litre displacement to deliver a maximum torque of 1250 Newton-metres between 2200 and 5500 rpm. With full-time all-wheel drive, the car's phenomenal power produces breath-takingly dynamic handling, with acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 2.5 seconds. The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 benefits from aeronautical and aerospace technologies, making it the fastest production car ever made. The car also features a braking system designed to deliver unprecedented powers of deceleration, establish¬ing a new industry benchmark. The carbon-fibre discs provide brake pressure of up to 180 bars, combined with eight-piston monobloc callipers and titanium pistons fitted with fine steel heads and ceramic heat protectors. Apply the brakes at speeds above 200 km/h, and the rear wing acts as an airbrake, positioning itself at an angle of 113 degrees in less than 0.4 seconds, augmenting the Bugatti Veyron's already impressive stopping power. The airbrake increases negative lift at the rear of the car to 300 kg, enhancing the braking torque on the rear axle. At 400 km/h, emergency braking will bring the sports car to a complete halt in less than 10 seconds.

This, the world's most fascinating car, has pushed back the limits of physical engineering to offer a completely new sensation for driver and passenger alike. But it has also adopted a radically different stance to that of other sports cars: its features and finish are sure to impress the most demanding clientele. Hermès and designer Gabriele Pezzini have lavished attention on the interior and exterior of this exceptional car, to create the new Bugatti Veyron 16.4: the "Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès"

A harmonious design, inside and out
The official name of the highly exclusive Bugatti Veyron "Fbg par Hermès" refers to the historic Hermès headquarters on the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, in the heart of Paris's eighth arrondissement: the "Fbg" appellation evokes the house's "faubourg" address.

With the Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès, the exacting standards of Émile Hermès and Ettore Bugatti come together for the first time, in an exceptional collaboration: the culmination of their extreme attention to aesthetic and techno¬logical quality and performance.

Gabriele Pezzini has reinterpreted Bugatti's tradi¬tional two-tone carriage work, fostering a fluid, harmonious transition between the car's exterior and interior design. The colour of the hood extends to the interior of the cockpit, and re-emerges behind, at the level of the rear wing.

As a tribute to the celebrated 1924 Bugatti Type 35, undoubtedly the most famous of all time, thanks to its many successes on the racetrack, the new Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès features eight-spoked wheels in polished aluminium, central butterfly wheel locks branded with the letter H, and air vents around the rims repro¬ducing the characteristic appearance of Hermès saddle-stitching. The horseshoe radiator grille, and the lateral ventilation grilles flanking it, are made from lightweight alloys with a design of interlocking H's evoking the Hermès "signature".

A refined formal vocabulary
The inner surfaces of the Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès have been designed and sheathed in bull calfskin by the Hermès workshops in Paris. The care and attention to detail observe an extremely refined, minimalist formal vocabulary, reflecting the tradition of the very first Bugattis and the fundamental design principles of the house of Hermès. The door handles echo the fluid forms of handles on Hermès travel bags and luggage. And the dashboard, traditionally finished in brushed aluminium, is here clad entirely in bull calfskin. Passengers aboard the Bugatti Veyron Fbg par Hermès will find a dashboard glove compartment designed to hold a selection of small travel accessories and a zipped Hermès wallet. Both seats are covered in two-toned bull calfskin, and the panel separating the cockpit from the central rear engine – traditionally made of carbon fibre – is covered in the same fine leather. The leather-lined trunk holds a specially-fitted "Toile H" and leather case, hand-made by craftsmen from the Hermès workshops.

This exceptional model – in toning colours of ebony and étoupe, or ebony and brick – is priced at 1.55 million euros (not including tax), available at the end of 2008.

BMW

2008-10-02T09:42:00.000-07:00

BMW releases new images for 2009 7-series
Posted Mon Sep 22 2008 6:26 AM by James Martinez

BMW has finally released full details and images for its fifth-generation 7-series flagship following the premature leak yesterday of several images and sketchy details. As expected, the car picks up several influences from the previous CS Concept including new LED elements on the headlights, an oversized grille and more fluid taillights.

The rear end of the car is sure to draw criticism, just as the previous generation did, but overall the new model displays a much more elegant design than its predecessor. While the exterior changes appear to have been kept to a minimum, there are rumored to be a raft of significant changes underneath the sheet-metal, including a longer wheelbase and wider track, plus a range of new engine options including a hybrid version.

The range topping model is a new 750i and its 750Li extended wheelbase cousin, both of which are powered by a 400hp (298kW) 4.4L twin-turbo V8 engine with 450lbs-ft (610Nm) of torque. The only transmission available is a six-speed automatic, however BMW is expected to add a new eight-speed unit further down the track.

The 740i name returns, but is powered the award-winning 3.0L straight-six turbo engine instead of the former's V8 and delivers 326hp (243kW). In European markets there’s also a 730d turbodiesel with a 3.0L force-fed oil-burner churning out 245hp (183kW).

Performance is also improved through the extensive use of lighter multi-phase and hot-rolled steels in the body and chassis load-bearing structures, as well as aluminum for the roof, doors, hood and front fenders, plus on the front spring towers, engine block and differential housing.

An entirely new suspension system also features in the new 7-series. The design consists of a multi-link double-wishbone front suspension combined with a new ‘Integral V’ rear set-up. Self-leveling air suspension is also available. Rack-and-pinion steering with variable ratio and hydraulic power assist continues, but with a new-type hydraulic pump that delivers assist only when called for, thereby saving fuel. One key feature is the debut of BMW’s latest active steering system for the rear wheels.

The suspension system features further development of BMW’s active damper control system, which allows the driver to choose between four settings for shock-absorber firmness, transmission shift characteristics, engine-throttle response and power-steering assist.

The latest 7-series also picks up a new E-Shift gear selector located on the center console instead of the previous car’s steering column unit. Changing gears is done by tipping the E-Shift from side to side, while Park is engaged by a button atop the lever.

The car also debuts BMW’s second-generation iDrive system, which comes with a larger display monitor and a new menu and control system. Other new details include buttons for direct selection of the radio, CD, navigation and telecommunications menus, grouped conveniently next to the controller.

Advanced safety features include an active blind spot detection system and a new night vision set-up with pedestrian detection features. An optional adaptive cruise control system is also available, which can move the car automatically in stop and go traffic.

The blind spot system will vibrate the steering wheel and flash an LED on the exterior mirror upon initiating a lane change when there is an unseen vehicle in the blind spot or when there is a vehicle quickly approaching. The new system works in conjunction with BMW’s previous lane departure warning system, which also vibrates the steering wheel.

Finally, there is also a high beam assist, which automatically dims the headlights for oncoming traffic.

The new 7-series will make its world debut at the Paris Motor Show in October before going on sale by the end of the year.

BENTLEY

2008-10-02T09:23:00.000-07:00

The New Bentley Continental Flying Spur

Published: 9th June 2008

The new Bentley Continental Flying Spur is set to deliver even greater levels of refinement, comfort and opportunities for customer personalisation. The class-leading 12-cylinder luxury saloon will also be joined by the 600 bhp (610PS) Continental Flying Spur Speed. The most powerful 4-door car ever produced by the British manufacturer, the Flying Spur Speed offers the pure driving experience and uncompromising performance synonymous with all Bentleys bearing the Speed legend.

The Continental Flying Spur has been an extraordinary success story for Bentley since its launch in 2005. Its unrivalled combination of exciting performance, luxury, craftsmanship, style and four-door practicality has broadened the appeal of the Continental range. The Flying Spur has become the most successful 12-cylinder luxury saloon in the world and has played a pivotal role in the revitalisation of Bentley.

The instantly recognisable style of the Flying Spur undergoes a subtle evolution with changes to the front and rear design. The new, more upright grille and bolder lower air intake accentuate the distinctive Bentley profile, while the new rear bumper delivers a more aggressive and sleek appearance.

A comprehensive range of noise-absorbent measures including acoustic glazing, tri-laminate body undertrays and wheelarch liners ensure that cabin refinement, already a hallmark of the Continental Flying Spur, is best in class.

The new Flying Spur may now be specified with a sophisticated follow-to-stop, radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control system, which monitors traffic ahead and manages the throttle and brakes to maintain a pre-set time gap, up to a driver selected set speed.
As a further option, the new Naim for Bentley audio system provides the world’s best in-car sound stage. Designed exclusively for Bentley by Naim, the renowned British hi-fi manufacturer, the system features an 1100 Watt amplifier, the most powerful unit offered in a production car, and 15 custom-built Naim speakers, including dual Naim sub-woofers. The next-generation Digital Signal Processor further enhances the listening experience.
The aluminium-intensive suspension of the Flying Spur features revised spring and dampers and a new bespoke 19-inch Pirelli UHP tyre for outstanding levels of ride quality, comfort and refinement.

Bentley’s commitment to the highest quality of craftsmanship and customer personalisation is highlighted with an enhanced choice of beautifully crafted wood marquetry and chrome inlays. In addition, seat piping, a traditional Bentley feature, is introduced on Flying Spur together with two new hide colours. Three new colours and four duo-tone paint combinations are added to the exterior paint palette.

The 600bhp Continental Flying Spur Speed unleashes the same potent performance and intense levels of driver engagement as its highly acclaimed stablemate, the Continental GT Speed.
Inspired by Bentley’s legendary ‘Speed’ models that first appeared in 1923, the Flying Spur Speed offers a range of headline performance figures including a 0-60mph sprint time of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 200mph.

A lowered ride height, uprated and redesigned suspension as well as retuned steering deliver outstanding agility and body control. Exceptional grip comes from the unique 9.5Jx20 multi-spoke alloy wheels with bespoke Pirelli P-Zero UHP performance tyres.

The Flying Spur Speed is distinguished by subtle design cues which emphasise its performance credentials, including dark-tinted radiator and air intake grilles, wider rifled exhaust tail pipes and unique 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels.

Bentley Chairman and Chief Executive, Dr Franz-Josef Paefgen explains the rationale behind the new range:
“The global success of the Continental Flying Spur has created a new generation of Bentley owners. Responding to their feedback, we have refined an already remarkable car and with the debut of the Flying Spur Speed we are extending its appeal.”

Blast from the past: Bentley Hunaudières concept

Posted 07 Oct 2008

Less than a year after being purchased by Volkswagen for the princely sum of £430 million, Bentley Motors created one of the most breathtaking and technical masterpieces in the automotive world. The Bentley Hunaudières Project, as it was known, was developed to proclaim to the world that Bentley was not just a manufacturer of ultra-luxury limousines. Instead it would showcase that the small automaker from Crewe was capable of being modern and dynamic, with serious sporting intentions behind its label.

Revealed to the masses at the Geneva Motorshow in 1999, the Hunaudières laid the groundwork for the popular Continental GT. Under the smooth, green exterior resided an 8.0-litre, mid-mounted W16 engine mated to a five-speed gearbox, which developed 623bhp (463kW) at 6,000rpm and an equally impressive 561ft-lbs (760Nm) of torque at 4,000 rpm. Comparable with many of today’s supercars, the Hunaudières W16 showed that a large capacity, multiple-cylinder engine could be delivered in a fairly compact package. The engine itself was only 634mm long and 690mm wide, similar in size to a conventional V8.

We now know that the car was never meant for production, but was in fact harbinger of the company's future developments. Technologies first displayed in the Hunaudières can now be found in high-end cars across the VW Group's performance range, including the Bugatti Veyron, which uses a variation of the 8.0-litre W16 engine.

Bentley is now more successful than ever. Last year it was rated the tenth most popular European brand in the American market with sales totalling 3,654 for the US alone.

AUDI

2008-10-02T09:05:00.000-07:00

Paris concept: Audi A1 Sportback

Kyle Fortune 2 Oct 2008

Audi's A1 Sportback Concept develops the A1 project quattro theme further in Paris. A five-door version of the concept first revealed in Tokyo last year, the A1 Sportback concept is a hybrid vehicle that blends enjoyable performance with an environmentally responsible drivetrain.

What's all the fuss about?

Every single manufacturer in Paris is talking about downsizing and Audi is no different. The A1 represents a logical step for the German firm, offering customers all the attributes that they expect in a premium badged Audi, but in a smaller, more efficient package. Mating a 150bhp 1.4-litre TFSI petrol engine to an electric motor, the A1 Sportback concept either boosts its performance out of town by combining the two drivetrains, or drives on the electric motor alone to completely remove emissions in and around the city. In electric-only mode the A1 Sportback has a range of around 30 miles.

Any new technology?

The A1 Sportback's hybrid drivetrain gives it the potential to reach 62mph in just 7.9 seconds, yet it produces a CO2 figure of just 92g/km. Fuel consumption of around 72.4mpg would also be possible thanks to the petrol-electric hybrid transmission. Neat concept touches include LED lights all round, a split rear tailgate and a pop-up gearstick which rises when the driver wishes to take control of gearshifts - it works in a sequential fore and aft fashion. The infotainment centre is a key interior technology, the A1 Sportback's system able to communicate with mobile technology and integrate a telephone's communication, navigation, Internet and music functions over a wireless network - the A1 learning when, what and where its driver likes to listen to particular tracks and creating playlists for playback.

Will it ever see the light of day?

Still very much a concept car, the word is that an A1 will join Audi's product range, but not until around 2012.

ALFA ROMEO

2008-10-02T08:42:00.000-07:00

MiTo is new baby Alfa

Shane O' Donoghue 2 October 2008

What is it?

Alfa Romeo's new entry-level model: a car that should seriously boost the company's sales figures given that it hasn't been present in this market segment since the '70s. Alfa is positioning the MiTo further upmarket than the Fiat Grande Punto it shares its underpinnings with and should be considered to be a genuine rival to the MINI.

For now, the MiTo will only be available as a front-wheel drive three-door hatchback. Nearly all models at launch will be turbocharged, with several petrol and diesel options ranging from a 94bhp 1.4-litre to the range-topping 153bhp turbocharged petrol unit and 1.3- and 1.6-litre turbodiesels. Alfa will offer the MiTo in Turismo and Veloce levels in the UK, though buyers will have a huge range of customisation options, including different colours for the light surrounds and mirrors.

Is it any good?

First impressions certainly are favourable. The MiTo is of much higher perceived quality than the Fiat Grande Punto it is based on, so between that and the undisputed style, the premium Alfa demands is justified. As to whether it truly competes with the MINI on the road, we're not so sure. We tried the 118bhp 1.6-litre turbodiesel and the 153bhp turbo petrol engines and both are punchy, giving the little MiTo the performance to match its extrovert looks. It's an agile car too, with direct steering and very little body roll. The only doubts we have are concerning the car's ride quality, which is possibly a little too firm, even given the sporting image. The upshot is decent body control, but the MiTo doesn't quite tickle the fancy of the keen driver quite as well as the MINI does. Perhaps the forthcoming GTA hot hatch version can redress the balance.

Should I call the bank manager?

It shouldn't take too much persuasion to get your local branch to lend you the necessary for the MiTo. Prices start at just under £11,000 in the UK, with Irish buyers offered the new car at a little under €20,000 and there will be tempting insurance and finance deals too. Even the most expensive model - the 1.4-litre turbo Veloce - will only come in at £14,975 in Britain, which neatly slots it between the MINI Cooper and Cooper S. All MiTos will be well equipped as well, with climate control, seven airbags and alloy wheels on every model, along with the fancy driving electronic aids. If you're keen you can place your order from October, but neither British nor Irish buyers will get their hands on the MiTo until the start of 2009.

Summary

The word 'downsizing' cropped up more than once on the launch of the MiTo and though the new hatch isn't quite the baby sports car Alfa would like us to think of it as, it is achingly stylish, seemingly well made, very well equipped (and priced) and has the performance to stand out in the supermini class. It's definitely a rival for the MINI.

ACURA

2008-10-02T03:42:00.000-07:00

All New 2009 Acura TL Revealed

August 11, 2008 2:00 PM by Clinton Deacon

An initial front three-quarter teaser image of the 2009 Acura TL was released early last month giving consumers and autofans a first look at the all new model and in particular the much debated front fascia. Now for all you comment happy punters out there, we can show you the Acura TL from all angles and with it, a few more juicy details to spice things up a little.

You are looking at the next evolution (following the TSX) of Acura's “Keen Edge Dynamic” design language, it aims to add a more aggressive stance to the Acura line-up and judging by what we see before us, we can arguably confirm the 2009 TL has achieved this.

The dimensions of the model come in a little higher than its predecessor, the length, width and height are increased by 6.2 inches, 1.8 inches and 0.5 inches respectively. The new platform sees a slightly longer wheel base of 109.3 inches and it features a strengthened chassis with a double-wishbone front suspension and multilink rear suspension.

A choice of two engines will be available at launch, the 3.2-liter V6 engine is replaced with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280hp and 254 lb-ft of torque – a modest increase of 22hp and 21lb-ft. Moving up to the performance model, we find the TL Type-S has been replaced by the brand new TL SH-AWD (Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive) with a powerful 3.7-liter V6 producing 305hp and 275lb-ft of torque. Both are mated to a five-speed automatic transmission system.

Acura will have high hopes the 2009 Acura TL can help reverse their declining sales when it goes on sales this fall.

MG supercar blows its top

2008-10-02T03:19:00.000-07:00

MG supercar blows its top
Topless sports car is latest creation of British firm – and it spearheads the next step in the brand’s revival.

Text: Mark Nichol / Photos: Mike Bailie
02nd October 2008

It’s the British supercar that some said would never see the light of day! But these world-exclusive images prove MG’s drop top SV-S WRC is more than a dream, as it gets set to raise the roof in the supercar class.Auto Express was first behind the wheel of the X-Power SV in Issue 1016, and once again we’ve got the scoop on the latest model to wear the famous British badge.
The prototype MG X-Power SV-S WRC (William Riley Convertible) you see here is the very first and only example of the car – and Auto Express was granted exclusive access to it.
The drop top is the British maker’s second new model since the marque was bought by former racing driver William Riley from the ashes of the MG Rover collapse.
Hand built at MG X-Power’s production and development centre in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, first cars will be completed by January before production is moved to a new facility in the West Midlands early next year. Customer deliveries are expected to begin in summer 2009.
The SV-S is powered by a 5.0-litre supercharged V8, while the Kevlar bodywork means the convertible gains only 12kg in weight compared to the coupé. A manual cloth hood dispenses with the need for heavy mechanical moving parts, too. Every car will also come with a removable hard top, which Riley claims will make the SV-S “a true all-weather convertible”.
Performance is astonishing, with a claimed 0-62mph sprint time of 3.8 seconds, so the supercharged convertible loses none of the coupé’s crushing acceleration. However, top speed drops slightly to 195mph. A non-supercharged version will be available, too. Called the SV-R WRC, it will have 420bhp, but it will still do 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds and have a top speed of 185mph!
With a price tag of £87,000 for the supercharged version, the WRC has supercar heavyweights such as Porsche and Aston Martin in its sights. However, Riley hopes the hand-built ‘made in Britain’ status of the SV will win over enthusiasts looking for something unique.
For those seeking similar thrills on a lower budget, another version of the is on the way. This model will be powered by a 3.5-litre Ford V6 and uses fibreglass in place of the more expensive Kevlar chassis. This model is set to cost less than half the price of the flagship.
While fibreglass will provide the necessary strength and stiffness for a powerful sports car, it is a slightly heavier material. However, the lighter V6 under the bonnet should counter the increase and still provide excellent pace.
Set to cost less than £40,000 when it goes on sale by mid-2009, this ‘entry-level’ model – which will be available as a coupé and convertible – should plug the gap left by TVR. MG X-Power aims to sell 700 of these cars in the first year of production, ramping up to 2,000 the following year.
While sales targets are ambitious, there’s no doubt that the MG X-Power SV-R WRC is an exciting addition to this competitive sector of the market. One thing is certain, though: with MG X-Power around, the future of the British sports car seems alive and well.

Aston Martin One-77

2008-10-02T02:59:00.000-07:00

Aston Martin One-77
Aston Martin releases a second murky picture of the Project One-77 supercar.

By Mark Nichol 29th September 2008

Aston Martin has officially unveiled a second teaser shot of the One-77 supercar – days after it leaked onto the Internet.

As the name suggests, only 77 will be made with a base price of £1,050,000, not including VAT or any extras! Exclusivity is therefore guaranteed.

At present there’s little by way of official information about this new halo product, but Aston has now confirmed that deliveries will begin at the end of 2009 and given away rough engine specs.

Set to be powered by a 7.3-litre V12 engine with an output ‘expected to top 700bhp’, the One-77 will boast a top speed of over 200mph and feature ‘active aerodynamic technology’. Presumably that refers to a retractable rear spoiler, which would explain the cut out section seen clearly beneath the rear glass in this new image.

Underpinned by a new carbon fibre monocoque body, the two-seater retains the classic Aston Martin look, though adds aggressive side scoops and detailing like roof creases and bonnet vents to set it apart. Weight is expected to hover around the 1,500kg mark, and the car will get adjustable suspension and carbon ceramic brakes.

All 77 One-77 customers will be able to specify either a right or left hand drive car, with the opportunity to work with Aston Martin in creating a completely bespoke vehicle – with the entire interior and chassis setup open to customisation.

Click here for our up-to-the-minute Paris Motor Show coverage - live from the show floor!

Aston Martin One-77
Shock new Aston supercar breaks cover carrying a £1.2m price tag.

By Sam Hardy 08th August 2008

The wraps have come off the ultimate Aston Martin. This stunning machine is an all-new supercar from the famous British firm that will go on sale late next year, taking the company into uncharted territory carrying a £1.2million price tag and power from a 7.0-litre V12 engine.
More expensive than the Bugatti Veyron, the newcomer will be limited to a production run of just 77 cars – hence its current codename, One-77. A real bolt from the blue, Aston has managed to keep the entire project under wraps until now. It will be inviting a select group of customers to see a finished model before the end of the year.
Details are scarce but the One-77 will be powered by a 7.0-litre V12 – boasting around 650bhp – get a handcrafted aluminium body and a carbonfibre chassis. As a result it is likely to do 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds and have a top speed to 220mph. Aston says potential owners will be able to personalise virtually every aspect of the car.

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"CL 65 AMG in Monaco" Fifth Gear
Enjoy One of the best Mercedes ever. ... Mercedes benz topgear Monaco cl65 AMG ...

Fifth Gear - Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster
fibre supercar is made in Woking, at the same factory that produces Lewis Hamilton's Formula 1 car. ...

Fifth Gear - Porsche Cayenne Turbo
£75000 SUV has 500 bhp, a 171 mph top speed, and gets to 62 in 5.1 seconds. ...

5th Gear - TVR Tuscan 2 vs. TVR Sagaris 2
Closely followed by Vicki Butler-Henderson in a TVR Tuscan 2 in the 5th gear show. The sound is a little off, but the ...

Fifth Gear's Gadget Car
When Fifth Gear wanted to outfit a vehicle with all the latest hi-tech gadgets, they turned to Connect2Car's MFC System ...

Fifth Gear - Cheapest Cars, Steepest Hill
Jonny Smith tries to take some of the cheapest cars in Britain up the steepest road in Britain, the Hardknott Pass in the ...

Subaru Impreza Type-25
Litchfield Imports' T25 Impreza tested on Fifth Gear. 415bhp @ 6500rpm (400bhp from 5800rpm − 7000rpm) 570Nm / 420lbft ...

Fifth Gear Bentley Continental GTC
Tiff Needell enlists the help of some beautiful ladies to try out the swanky new Bentley Continental GTC. ...

Fifth Gear - Audi R8 vs. Porsche 911
Jason Plato races it head-to-head with Tiff Needell in a Porsche 911. ...

Golf R32 Vs. BMW 1 Series; Fifth Gear Test
Tiff races the new vw golf r32 vs the bmw 1 series...

Fifth Gear review of VW R32 against BMW 130

VW GTI 5th GEAR REVIEW
Think about buying anything else! ...

Nissan GTR 2008 USA Japanese UK fifth gear

Fifth Gear TV show, killing a nice Mercedes!!

RX8 5th Gear

New BMW M3

Fifth Gear's W124 Built Quality Test Part 2

Fifth Gear - Bugatti Veyron (Part 2)

Fifth Gear Crash Test Badly Repaired vs Good

Fifth Gear reviews the SLR

Fifth Gear - Handbrake Turn

Fifth Gear's W124 Built Quality Test Part 4 Final Test

Fifth Gear Drives Nissan Murano GTC

Fifth Gear - Ford Shelby GT500

Fifth gear wake boarding test with BMW X5

Fifth Gear Extreme Machines 0-60 Challenge

Audi S3 2006 in 5th Gear

2007 Vancouver Motorcycle Stunt Show

Fifth Gear: 135i vs. Cayman Pt 2.

Fifth Gear Test of the new Citroen C6

5th Gear - Lottery winner, Korean subtitle

Honda CR-V Fifth Gear

Lexus ISF vs BMW M3 Fifth Gear II

Fifth Gear Mercedes C Class

Fifth Gear - the new 2008 Subaru WRX STI Review

Fifth Gear - 4x4 Crash Test

Lottery Winner buys Ferrari F430

Fifth Gear - Bugatti Veyron (Part 1)

Fifth Gear New MINI Test Drive

Vauxhall VXR8

Land Rover Defender

Fifth Gear - Maserati Gran Turismo Tested

Lotus Elise and VX 220 Turbo

Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT

Lexus ISF vs BMW M3 Fifth Gear I

Fifth Gear. Civic Type R x Focus x Leon Cupra

Fifth Gear Present: Ferrari F430 Scuderia vs Enzo Ferrari !!

Fifth Gear Mazda MX-5 Shootout

Subaru Impreza Type-25

5th Gear Tests the new M3

Fifth Gear - Golf GT

Top Gear- Audi RS4 Avant

Fifth gear DSG review

Fifth Gear Destroy Cinquecento

Fifth Gear Vauxhall Astra VXR versus Renault Megane Sport 22

Fifth Gear - Exeter Trial

Fifth Gear BMW F1 vs M5

Fifth Gear - 10x02 - Renault Clio RS - Tiff

5th Gear BMW X5 E53 DAKAR

5th Gear - Evo9 FQ360 vs plane!!!

Citroen C4 Picasso

Aston Martin DB9

Fifth Gear - Golf GTI going sideways

Fifth Gear A-Team Van Vs VW Transporter Sportline

Fifth Gear - Mitsubishi iCar

Ferrari F430 Challenge

FOCUS ST225 Review

James Toseland Vs Tiff Needell

Fifth Gear - Shelby GT 500

Nissan Silvia S15 Extreme

Fifth Gear - Ariel Atom 0-60 World Record

Nissan 350Z Vs. Audi TT Q. Sport - Fifth Gear

Massive Robin Reliant Crash on Fifth Gear!

Audi TT VS BMW Z4

Subaru Impreza P1 Ltd Ed WRX STi Vs Evo6

F430 Scuderia Tiff Needell Fifth Gear

Ford GT40 (Fifth Gear)

Brabus Rocket bei Fifth Gear

Fastest Cars in the World and Car Crashes from Fifth Gear

Nissan GTR 35 Fifth Gear

Fifth gear a team vs vw van

Fiat Panda 100HP

Clio 197 vs Corsa VXR

VW Touareg towing a Boeing 747 - Fifth Gear

Fifth Gear - BMW M5 Touring

Fifth Gear - Porsche Cayman S

Clio vs civic type r

British TV show "Fifth Gear" reviews Ford Shelby GT500

Ferrari enzo part 2

Fifth Gear-Ferrari 599 GTB

Fifth Gear - Evo X FQ300 v Impreza WRX STI

Fifth Gear - Porsche 911 GT2

New ford focus Vs Hyundai I30 on fifth gear
the new ford focus is out, and it is tested against a new Hyundai ... New ford focus
Vs Hyundai I30 on fifth gear

Fifth Gear Supercar Club Experiment SLR Vs. LP64

Nissan pulsar GTI-R vs Dodge viper GTS - Fifth Gear

Ariel Atom on Fifth Gear

Test Gallardo SE by Fifth Gear

Fifth Gear top 10 Ferrari's part 1 of 3

Dom Joly in a road legal tank

Fifth Gear Daihatsu Charade

How Effective is Stability Control

2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th Gear Wheelie

Top Gear 2007 Porsche 911 turbo

Mosler MT900 Photon Fifth Gear Tiff Needell

Vicki Butler Henderson banged up (good quality)

Fifth Gear - 60mph Head On Crash

Drifting Supercars

GTI vs. WRX 5th Gear Shootout

Dom Joly goes Trigger Happy in a tank - crash!

Ferrari Fiorano 599 GTB Test By Fifth Gear

Fifth Gear - Dukes of Hazzard v Starsky & Hutch Shoot-Out

Top Gear - Best Buy Super Car

Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Parking Getaway Fifth Gear

Old Merc Destruction Test

5th gear toyota soarer drift

Fifth Gear - Armoured Rolls-Royce

Fifth Gear 07 350Z

Fifth Gear - BMW M3

Proton Savvy on Fifth Gear

Fifth Gear New Smart Fortwo

Fifth Gear - Driven To Destruction - Audi Cold Start

Ferrari F599 GTB Fiorano 5th Gear

FRONT vs REAR vs ALL WHEEL DRIVE

Fifth Gear - Gumpert Apollo

5th gear 360 straight line turn and handbrake park

Banger Racing (5th Gear)

Fifth Gear - Volvo V50 T5 v Subaru Legacy Sports Tourer

Fifth Gear - BMW M6

Fifth Gear - Renault Modus v Volvo 940 Crash Test

Nissan GTR vs Porsche 911 Turbo Fifth Gear

Fifth Gear Maserati GranTurismo

Fifth Gear - Evo 6 Tommy Makinen Edition

Fifth Gear Hot Hatches

Fifth Gear top 10 Ferrari's part 2 of 3

Mugen Civiс RR vs S2000

Chevrolet Corvette Z06 2006 - Top Gear

Fifth Gear - Mercedes Benz S Class

Fifth Gear - Bosch ABS, TC, and VSC

2008 Audi TT

Mercedes SLR Mclaren

5Th Gear - CBR600's @ Donington

Fifth Gear - Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Fifth Gear CTR JDM vs. EUDM

fifth gear - motorway pile up

Fifth Gear - Evo 9

BMW F650GS vs BMW X5

Fifth Gear - Porsche 911 CS VS Exige 240R

Fifth Gear - Ronnie O' Sullivan - Part 1

5th gear - BMW M3

Fifth Gear eighties night cut

Tidd Needle Races the DBRS-9 (Part 1)

Fifth Gear BMW X3 3.0i SE drivetest

5th Gear - Drift Club

Fifth Gear Veyron Pt.2

Fifth Gear - VXR8 vs Lotus Carlton

Suzuki Swift vs Peugeot scooter

Cool Parking Trick

Fifth Gear - Driven To Destruction - Drop Tests

Smart for Two : 70 mph Crash Test

Porsche boxter fifth gear

Fifth Gear- BMW 1series Coupe VS.Porsche Cayman DOG FIGHT!!!

5th gear z06

Land Rover Defender

2008-10-01T18:30:00.000-07:00

Vauxhall VXR8

2008-10-01T18:29:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear New MINI Test Drive

2008-10-01T18:28:00.001-07:00

Fifth Gear - Bugatti Veyron (Part 1)

2008-10-01T18:25:00.000-07:00

Lottery Winner buys Ferrari F430

2008-10-01T18:24:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear - 4x4 Crash Test

2008-10-01T18:22:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear - the new 2008 Subaru WRX STI Review

2008-10-01T18:21:00.002-07:00

Fifth Gear Mercedes C Class

2008-10-01T18:21:00.001-07:00

Lexus ISF vs BMW M3 Fifth Gear II

2008-10-01T18:19:00.000-07:00

Honda CR-V Fifth Gear

2008-10-01T18:17:00.000-07:00

5th Gear - Lottery winner, Korean subtitle

2008-10-01T18:15:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear Test of the new Citroen C6

2008-10-01T15:40:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear: 135i vs. Cayman Pt 2.

2008-10-01T15:38:00.000-07:00

2007 Vancouver Motorcycle Stunt Show

2008-10-01T15:36:00.000-07:00

Audi S3 2006 in 5th Gear

2008-10-01T15:35:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear Extreme Machines 0-60 Challenge

2008-10-01T15:34:00.000-07:00

Fifth gear wake boarding test with BMW X5

2008-10-01T15:33:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear - Ford Shelby GT500

2008-10-01T15:32:00.001-07:00

Fifth Gear Drives Nissan Murano GTC

2008-10-01T15:28:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear's W124 Built Quality Test Part 4 Final Test

2008-10-01T15:26:00.002-07:00

Fifth Gear - Handbrake Turn

2008-10-01T15:26:00.001-07:00

Fifth Gear reviews the SLR

2008-10-01T15:24:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear Crash Test Badly Repaired vs Good

2008-10-01T15:23:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear - Bugatti Veyron (Part 2)

2008-10-01T15:22:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear's W124 Built Quality Test Part 2

2008-10-01T15:21:00.000-07:00

New BMW M3

2008-10-01T15:20:00.000-07:00

RX8 5th Gear

2008-10-01T15:12:00.000-07:00

Tokyo Drift - Behind the Scenes with Fifth Gear

2008-10-01T12:40:00.000-07:00

FIFTH GEAR VIDEO SERIES (SORT BY POPULARITY]

2008-10-01T12:39:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear TV show, killing a nice Mercedes!!

2008-10-01T12:16:00.001-07:00

Nissan GTR 2008 USA Japanese UK fifth gear

2008-10-01T12:14:00.002-07:00

VW GTI 5th GEAR REVIEW

2008-10-01T12:14:00.001-07:00

Fifth Gear review of VW R32 against BMW 130

2008-10-01T12:11:00.002-07:00

Fifth Gear - Audi R8 vs. Porsche 911

2008-10-01T12:11:00.001-07:00

Golf R32 Vs. BMW 1 Series; Fifth Gear Test

2008-10-01T12:06:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear Bentley Continental GTC

2008-10-01T12:04:00.000-07:00

Subaru Impreza Type-25

2008-10-01T12:03:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear - Cheapest Cars, Steepest Hill

2008-10-01T12:02:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear's Gadget Car

2008-10-01T12:01:00.000-07:00

5th Gear - TVR Tuscan 2 vs. TVR Sagaris 2

2008-10-01T12:00:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear - Porsche Cayenne Turbo

2008-10-01T11:59:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear - Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster

2008-10-01T11:58:00.000-07:00

"CL 65 AMG in Monaco" Fifth Gear

2008-10-01T11:57:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear - Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster

2008-10-01T11:55:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear Caterham R500

2008-10-01T11:54:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear - BMW 3 Series (E90) Review.

2008-10-01T11:53:00.000-07:00

5th Gear Dream Garage

2008-10-01T11:51:00.000-07:00

5th Gear - Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

2008-10-01T11:50:00.000-07:00

General Lee vs Ford Grand Torino

2008-10-01T11:46:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear New Audi TT

2008-10-01T11:45:00.000-07:00

5th Gear: Ferrari F430 Challenge RaceCar

2008-10-01T11:44:00.000-07:00

Brad Paisley Jet Tour 2007

2008-10-01T11:42:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear's W124 Built Quality Test Part 1

2008-10-01T11:41:00.002-07:00

Fifth Gear Aston Martin DBS

2008-10-01T11:41:00.001-07:00

Fifth Gear - The Ultimate Smart Car

2008-10-01T11:36:00.001-07:00

5th Gear- BMW 745i

2008-10-01T11:34:00.000-07:00

Ariel Atom 300hp 0-60 3 sec

2008-10-01T11:32:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear's W124 Built Quality Test Part 3

2008-10-01T11:31:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear - The new Mercedes C-Class

2008-10-01T11:30:00.000-07:00

Tiff Needell testing Lexus IS-F

2008-10-01T11:29:00.000-07:00

Fifth Gear Corvette C6 vs. Viper SRT-10

2008-10-01T11:28:00.000-07:00

Golf GTI Robot

2008-10-01T11:07:00.000-07:00

New Mondeo test by Fifth Gear

2008-10-01T11:06:00.002-07:00

Fifth Gear - Lotus Exige 265E

2008-10-01T11:06:00.001-07:00

5th Gear - testing Kawasaki ZZr-1400 (ZX-14)

2008-10-01T11:05:00.000-07:00

Acura RL vs Audi A6 vs BMW 530i

2008-10-01T11:04:00.000-07:00